East Meadow Herald 08-03-2023

Making her ideas come to life on film

By MalloRY WIlsoN mwilson@liherald.com

Shari Umansky could not continue to suppress her creative juices. A job behind a desk wasn’t for her. Now, she puts pen to paper and lives her wildest dreams every day.

Dan Tommasino/Herald

‘Keep on dreaming’ with the Eli Young Band

The Eli Young Band, a country music group, hit the stage at Eisenhower Park’s Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre on July 27 as part of Nassau County’s free outdoor concert series. Story, more photos, Page 3.

One family’s way of giving back turned into a community effort

By MalloRY WIlsoN mwilson@liherald.com

What started out as one family’s way of giving back has turned into a community effort. About 10 years ago, East Meadow native Amanda Skoros decided to get her family involved with Birthday Wishes, a nonprofit organization that helps homeless children and their families celebrate birthdays. Now, years later, community members drop supplies at her house year-round.

Birthday Wishes offers two types of party programs, either throwing a party for a child at their shelter, or creating a Birthday-in-a-Box with supplies and gifts — everything a parent would need to throw their child a party.

The organization was founded in 2002 in Massachusetts. Now it serves children living in more than 200 family shelters and transitional living facilities across Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Long Island. According to its website, over 26,000 homeless children, up to 17 years old, have Birthday Wishes parties each year.

When the Skoros family got involved a decade ago, they bought items for the Birthday-in-a-Box program, but they eventually began baking cakes for children in homeless shelters, too, before the organization transitioned to sending mug cakes — a small packet filled with cake batter that can be made into a cake with just milk or water in a microwave — to children.

She started out her career pursuing singing and acting before getting hurt in a car accident which led her to take an unexpected step back. After a decade of working a 9-to-5 job, she knew she wanted to do something else. Since then, she has written several plays and films, and won numerous awards.

The now North Carolina resident grew up in Bellmore before raising her children in East Meadow. She is best known for her film “Immunity,” a 20-minute short set in 1942 Auschwitz, where a deadly game is being played out by a by a young SS officer and his once beloved teacher, a Jew who now finds that her most prized pupil has become her tormentor.

The film, released in 2016,

won awards, including Best Long Island Film in 2016 at the Long Island International Film Expo, and Best Short Film at the Fort Myers Beach Film Festival that same year. It stars actress Rena Sofer as the female lead character.

Umansky, who is Jewish, said the idea for the piece came from a nightmare that she had as a child. Umansky said that as she learned about the Holocaust, she started to have nightmares related to what she was learning, and they continued into her adulthood. She decided that maybe she should write them down. So, in 2010, she did.

“As I became a writer, and had this recurring nightmare, I thought maybe if I wrote it down it would stop happening,” she said. “But what happened instead was there was a story, with characters and places and events.”

Before it was turned into a short film, it was a stage play with a sold-out run at the Manhattan Repertory Theater. Now,

Continued on page 12

Thomas ready to jump from senate to Congress

By NICOLE WAGNER nwagner@liherald.com

Kevin Thomas has tossed his hat into the ring, hoping to be the candidate Democrats turn to flip Anthony D’Esposito from his congressional seat. The state senator announced his candidacy last week in front of his parents’ home in Elmont.

Thomas has high hopes he can defeat the Republican, who defeated Democrat Lauren Gillen by a margin of less than 4 percent last year. Gillen — the former Hempstead town supervisor — is expected to run again for the seat next year, along with fellow Democrats Lawrence Henry, Sarah Hughes and Gian Jones. These candidates will duke it out alongside Thomas in the Democratic primary set for next June 25.

“I’ll let other candidates speak for themselves,” Thomas said. “I’m excited to take my record of delivering for Long Island, and winning tough races to the voters of Congressional District 4.”

As a state senator, Thomas says he has worked with the Democratic majority in Albany to cap property taxes, protect drinking water for Nassau County, funded veteran services and mental health care, and codified the right to an abortion into New York law.

“People in New York are struggling with the high cost of living, increased stresses from raising a family, paying

their rent or mortgage, and simply trying to stay afloat,” Thomas said. “Now more than ever, we need action.”

Members of Moms Demand Action, a group that advocates for public safety from gun violence, were among the supporters of Thomas’ campaign.

“He’s been there for us, and we’ve been there for him,” the group’s events lead Jimmy Dougherty said about

Thomas’s support of gun safety legislation in the state Senate.

“Following the traumatizing terror in Buffalo, I led the successful effort to ban gun sales to those under the age of 21,” Thomas said of his legislative record.

Thomas hopes to bring the values he has represented in the state legislature with him to Washington — assuming he gets past both the primary and then

what is expected to be a tough run against an incumbent.

Thomas faces a choice if he wants to remain in the state Senate for another term: Either he has to move, or he has to change districts.

That came after new legislative maps pulled both and his 2022 opponent out of their district. Thomas was given a onetime exemption to continue representing his senate district, but was told he would have to make a decision before 2024.

Running for congress would eliminate that decision. But as he told a Herald roundtable of reporters last year, moving — especially in Nassau County — isn’t easy.

“People who can’t afford anything are still living with their parents,” Thomas said at the time. “This is an issue everyone has been trying to tackle for years now. If you’re making $50,000 to $60,000, what is affordable? There are some innovative ways that are going into this, but we need to do a lot more.”

Thomas became the first-ever Indian American to serve in the state legislature in 2018. His family immigrated to the United States when he was 10, making a home for themselves in Nassau County.

“Long Island has given me so much — opportunity, hope and community,” Thomas said. “And I have been determined to give back.”

Nicole Wagner/Herald

State Sen. Kevin Thomas announced his bid to challenge Anthony D’Esposito in Congress next year in front of his parent’s Elmont home surrounded by friends, family and supporters. Thomas first needs to defeat fellow Democrats to get his party’s nomination next June.

Country band rocks at Lakeside Theatre

At Eisenhower Park, Eli Young Band performs free outdoor concert

By JORDAN VALLONE jvallone@liherald.com

Nassau County has been putting on free, outdoor concerts all summer long, and on July 27, it welcomed the Eli Young Band, a country group, to a large crowd of cheering fans.

At Eisenhower Park’s Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, country music fans packed into two fields to catch a glimpse of the group, known for hits such as “Crazy Girl,” “Drunk Last Night” and “Even If It Breaks Your Heart.”

On Facebook, County Executive Bruce Blakeman said the musical group that consists of Mike Eli, James Young, Jon Jones and Chris Thompson, originates from Texas. The group plays their own instruments, writes their own songs, and has toured with Kenny Chesney, Rascall Flatts and Toby Keith, among several other artists, since its formation in 2000.

The county’s summer concert series is sponsored by NYU Langone Health.

“We have a great sponsor at NYU Langone, they do a great job,” Blakeman said before the concert. “This is the biggest concert series we’ve had ever in Nassau County, and its thanks to our partnership with NYU Langone.”

Blakeman was joined on stage by State Sen. Steve Rhoads, County Legislator John Ferretti and the Presiding Officer Richard Nicolello.

“You’re in for an exciting night of music under the starts,” Dr. Marc Adler of NYU Langone said. “NYU Langone is committed to helping communities with more than 70 locations across the island. We’re so proud to be able to offer exceptional care — no matter where you are.

“Not long ago, the pandemic prevented

us from gathering like this,” he added.

“That’s why it’s so wonderful to see everyone here tonight — family, friends neighbors — we’ll continue to have wonderful events like this. We’re so pleased to join the county in sponsoring this summer’s concert series, thank you for coming out.”

The Eli Young Band put on an entertaining show, playing all of its top hits and songs from newer records, mixed with some covers of tunes made popular by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and the Beatles. Interacting with the crowd, the band’s front man Mike Eli even came off the stage at times to take photos with eager fans.

Earlier this summer, the county welcomed the band Boyz II Men, and Midtown Men, the original cast of the musical, Jersey Boys. On Sept. 3, the band Sugar Ray will take to the stage in Eisenhower. During the county’s Sept. 11 remembrance service, it will welcome Christopher Macchio, a classical artist and opera singer.

“We’ve got a lot of great things to con-

tinue to celebrate this summer,” Blakeman said. “I want to thank you all for coming out — Nassau County is back.”

The county will continue putting on free concerts and movie nights at neighborhood locations aside from Eisenhower Park, including Cedar Creek Park, Grant Park, North Woodmere Park, Wantagh Park and the Chelsea Mansion. For a full list of what to expect throughout the remainder of the summer, visit NassauCountyNY.gov.

County Executive Bruce Blakeman spoke before the concert.

Nassau County’s Summer Concert Series is free of charge to all attendees. Events are sponsored by NYU Langone Health.

The Eli Young Band originates from Texas, and is known for its popular songs including ‘Crazy Girl’ and ‘Even If It Breaks Your Heart,’ among others.

Jordan Vallone/Herald photos

At Eisenhower Park’s Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, fields were packed with fans eager to listen to the Eli Young Band, a country music group.

Questions we’ve been asked...

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

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

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

Here’s how we can help:

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

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

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

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

If we can help you with this important matter, call us and our knowledgeable staff will answer your questions. Moreover, there is no cost involved in establishing a PRE-PLAN Trust.

Leo F. KEARNS, Inc. Funeral Directors

Thomas L. Kearns, Patrick J. Kearns, Paul C. Kearns-Stanley (516) 794-0500 or 1-800-640-9500 (NYS)

445 East Meadow Ave., East Meadow (across from the East Meadow Post Office) www.LEOFKEARNS.com

Who Are You Responsible For?

Recently, a client came in to see us for their follow-up consultation. The client shared with us that, in between their two meetings with us, the husband’s brother had suffered a stroke and was now in a rehabilitation facility. He was a bachelor. He had no power of attorney or health care proxy. He may or may not have had a will — they didn’t know. Further, they were unable to get access to his apartment to clean out the fridge and get his clothes because he had failed to put them on the list of persons approved to enter in the event of an emergency.

One of the most overlooked areas in estate planning is the question of who you are responsible for. Do you have a friend or relative who you know will need to rely on you if something happens? Either they have no one else or everyone else is too far away. If you have the responsibility, then make sure that you have the documents you will need to carry out that responsibility. Otherwise, the challenges become of a magnitude greater. Similarly, so many of our clients have adult

children with young families. Do you know whether your children have wills, powers of attorney and health care proxies?

There are serious pitfalls for young families if one spouse dies without a plan. Roughly half of their assets go to their surviving spouse and half to the children. The court will appoint a legal guardian for the children’s money and the unused portion must be turned over to them at age eighteen, ready or not!

A potentially more serious problem for our senior clients is whether their sons and daughters who have families possess adequate life insurance. If your son or daughter dies without sufficient life insurance, you may be called upon to support and educate your grandchildren out of your retirement money.

Finally, if you are responsible for the care of an elderly parent, then make sure it is you who has the power of attorney and health care proxy and not another sibling who may end up controlling the situation from afar, much to your dismay.

BOCES educator Robert Dillon

Dr. Robert R. Dillon (Bob), of Walden and Plainview, passed peacefully on July 28, 2023, after experiencing medical complications following spinal surgery.

He grew up in Bayside, Queens, with his parents Marie and Martin — who preceded him in death — along with his four brothers Matthew, Terrance, Dennis and Kevin, and sister Maureen.

Although drafted by the Detroit Tigers out of Loyola High School in New York City, he opted to pursue a career in education through St. John’s University in Queens. There he obtained his doctorate in education.

During his more than 45-year career in education, he served as superintendent of four school districts: East Meadow, Sugar Loaf, Abbott Union and Eastport. He was the driving force that led to the successful merger of Eastport and South Manor school districts.

Whether navigating through the Covid19 pandemic, pushing for increased mental health student support, or innovating numerous programs, he has revitalized, transformed and enhanced educational opportunities for all students.

He served on many advisory boards and councils, including the Long Island Power Authority, Scope Education Services, and SUNY Old Westbury’s School of Education.

He is survived by his childhood sweetheart Patricia Maureen (Patty), son Christopher and his wife Jessica, and grandchildren Kylie and Brendan.

RobeR t Dillon

He was dedicated to fostering the next generation of school leaders and mentored many seeking their administrative certifications while teaching at St. John’s University, SUNY at New Paltz, St. John Fisher University, and Dowling College.

Since 2015, he has led Nassau BOCES, a cooperative of the 56 school districts in Nassau County, leaving a legacy that will impact the students of Nassau County for decades.

He also is survived by daughters Deirdre and Caitlin, brothers and sister, and their respective families.

He loved golf, camping and fishing, and was an avid New York Giants fan. He was dedicated to his family, and wanted to make sure everyone was happy and well provided for.

Visitation was held Aug. 1 at Fairchild Sons Funeral Home in Garden City, and a funeral Mass was celebrated Aug. 2 at The Cathedral of St. Agnes in Rockville Centre. Interment followed at Queen of Peace Cemetery on Jericho Turnpike in Old Westbury.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Nassau BOCES Educational Foundation.

■

HOW TO REACH US

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Anthony Cancellieri Co-Chairman, Board of Directors Mount Sinai South Nassau

Dems sue legislature claiming gerrymandering Republican-led chamber accused of drawing unfair district maps

By BRANDON CRUZ bcruz@liherald.com

Nassau County Democrats, along with 21 plaintiffs from throughout each of the 19 legislative districts, have filed a lawsuit against the county legislature. They allege the recently redrawn legislative districts are racist, gerrymandered, and give an unfair advantage to Republicans, who hold majority control over the chamber.

This lawsuit was filed nearly five months after the Nassau County Legislature voted to approve the new map as part of the county’s redistricting process, which takes place every 10 years in-line with the census. The measure drew the support of 11 Republicans, but was opposed by seven Democrats.

The suit also comes less than four months before the Nov. 7 elections when all 19 seats are up for grabs. It also comes on the heels of a state appellate court deciding in an unrelated matter that New York’s congressional districts — which were redrawn last year by a special master — should be done again.

Among the issues Democrats have with the new county maps include moving Democratic Minority Leader Kevan Abrahams from the district he has represented for more than 20 years, to a new Republican-leaning district. The suit claims voters leaning in one direction are being packed into two districts, while the rest are spread out to other districts as a way to “dilute their voting strength.” The maps, according to the suit, forces two Democrats to run against each other in one district, while leaving Republican incumbents unchallenged.

“Republicans are trying to rig the upcoming election by gerrymandering legislative districts to keep themselves in power,” said David Mejias, the attorney representing the Nassau County Democratic Committee and the 21 other plaintiffs.

Mejias seeks an injunction against using the maps, asking the court to provide a timely opportunity to present a lawful, redrawn version before the upcoming elections.

“They tried to limit public hearings,” Mejias said of Republicans, during a recent news conference. “They introduced the current map at the 11th hour, and they have refused to produce the partisan consultant that they hired to draw this map, whose purported analysis and methodology is the best kept secret in Mineola.

“We’ve asked for the analysis. We’ve asked for the methodology, and they have said ‘no.’”

Democrats, on the other hand, hired what they describe as a non-partisan independent, Dan Magleby, to produce a fair and competitive map.

“All of his methodology, analysis and work product was made public,” Mejias said. “He testified at a public hearing, and the Republicans have refused to produce the expert that drew this gerrymandered partisan map to the public, to the Democratic minority legislators, to the redis-

tricting commission.”

Magleby’s work consisted of creating 10,000 computer-simulated legislative maps through a “party-blind nonpartisan process,” Mejias said. The Republicanapproved map does not resemble even one out of Magleby’s maps, the attorney added — something that is not even stastically possible.

“An objective mathematical analysis shows that this map is an illegal partisan gerrymander,” Mejias said.

However, Republicans disagree with any assertion this map is illegal.

“The lines drawn are fair, reasonable and in accordance with applicable law,” said Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, in a statement.

Nassau County Republican chair Joseph Cairo described the legislative districts as “fair and competitive.”

“The districts comply with all applicable federal and state redistricting laws,”

Cairo told reporters.

But some voters — like John Jarvis, who is also a plaintiff in the lawsuit — say that’s not true. Instead, he describes it as a human rights issue, with the current maps for the districts being “extremely unfair” and clearly “discriminate against certain groups of people.”

As a way to prove his point about how the districts are already drawn, Mejias used Blakeman’s 2021 victory over Laura Curran. There, Blakeman won with 52 percent of the vote, while his fellow Republicans managed to win 60 percent of the legislative races. He also explains

Democrats claim the recently approved district map for the Nassau County Legislature benefits Republicans — who hold a majority in Mineola while putting any opposition at a disadvantage. They now want a judge to make a final determination.

H. Scottie Coads, at left, is leading the lawsuit against the Nassau County Legislature, claiming its new district maps benefit the majority Republicans, leaving any other opposition at a disadvantage.

that even when Curran won in 2017, Republicans still managed to get nearly 60 percent of the legislative seats.

“How do you get 48 percent of the vote countywide (in 2017) and still win those seats and have a solid majority in the legislature?” Mejias asked. “That can only happen if those seats are gerrymandered.”

Democrats are prepared for a long and lengthy legal battle, but insist they will fight this until the end.

“If they won’t listen to the people,” Mejias said, “the Republicans will have to listen to the courts.”

Brandon Cruz/Herald photos Attorney David Mejias speaks about what he calls ‘an illegal gerrymander’ alongside some of the plaintiffs and supporters of the lawsuit filed against the Nassau County Legislature over what they claim are new district maps that favor the majority Republicans over Democrats. Joining Mejias were, from left, Pamela Korn, Mimi Pierre-Johnson, Darien Ward and John Jarvis.

Courtesy Nassau County NAACP

Nassau County Legislative Districts

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New Florencia Florist for East Meadow

Florencia Florist had their grand opening on July 10. The East Meadow Chamber of Commerce, local politicians and community members joined Florencia’s owners at 1660 Front St, in East Meadow for a grand opening ceremony and ribbon cutting. Florencia is a family owned company. They provide an array of floral arrangements, and can be available for all types of events including weddings, sympathy arrangements and others.

Six sure-fire ways to feel less anxious guest column

Oh, My God!”

“What happened???”

“What if…???”

These are the mantras of anxious people. But instead of calming them down as mantras are meant to do, they rev them up. If you’re an anxious person, you know what I mean.

No matter what’s on the horizon, it’s packaged in danger and darkness. Even the good stuff. Something could always go wrong. Or perhaps you made the wrong decision. Or maybe you made the right decision, but you should have made it sooner. Or perhaps somebody isn’t doing what they’re supposed to do. It’s so easy to get stuck in a loop of nonstop worrying, leaving you exhausted or wiped out at the end of the day.

“Chill out!” is the advice thrown at you. “You worry too much; let it be!” This advice sounds good, yet it’s less than helpful. Either it increases your worrying about how much you worry, or gets you angry for being unfairly criticized. If only the other person understood your fears or took care of things for you, maybe then you’d feel

less anxious.

So, is there anything you can do to alleviate your anxiety? Absolutely. Here are six ways to feel less anxious:

When the anxious thought and feelings begin, take three deep breaths. Inhale slowly through your nose, then exhale slowly through your mouth. Say something reassuring to yourself. Believe what you said.

Stay in the present moment. Do you need to do something about a situation right now? If the answer is yes, go and take care of it. If not, move your mind to other matters. If you’re having trouble doing that, ask yourself what would I be doing today if I weren’t so anxious? Will I regret that tomorrow?

Make Time for Fun Activities. Yes, fun is at the bottom of the list for most anxious people. With all the worrying,

there’s never enough time to enjoy yourself. So, start now. Make a list of 6 activities you enjoy doing; then make sure you do at least 3 every week. Check your Assumptions. Anxiety sounds an alarm that on occasion is true yet is often false. So, check your assumptions. If the alarm is true, (i.e., yes, this needs to be taken care of ASAP), take action. If it’s false or not an immediate problem, shrug it off and return to your previous work or fun.

Create closure. Anxiety doesn’t know when to stop. It goes on and on like a book with no chapters, paragraphs, or sentences. It’s bewildering and baffling, not to mention exhausting. So, say what you need to say, do what you need to do, consider what you need to consider, then stop! Create closure by making an ending sentence, such as, “That’s all

for now.” Then, return to living, not worrying.

Listen to Music. Is it hard to implement these ideas? Sure it’s hard, but entirely possible. Want to make it even easier? Listen to music you love. Music taps into a different part of your brain which soothes anxiety, at least for the moment. Let lyrics, with the right beat, become your mantra. My recommendation: Bob Marley’s, “Don’t worry about a thing, cause every little thing’s gonna be all right.”

Looking for more ideas on how to alleviate your anxiety? Check out my book, Master Your Fears: How to Triumph Over Your Worries and Get On With Your Life, at Amazon.

©2023

Linda Sapadin, Ph.D., psychologist, coach and author specializes in helping people improve their relationships, enhance their lives and overcome procrastination and fear. Contact her at DrSapadin@aol.com. Visit her website at www.PsychWisdom.com.

Courtesy Florencia

Linda Sapadin

person to person

Florencia Florist celebrated a grand opening on July 10.

Toys and cakes and wrapping paper, oh my!

“Unfortunately, children who are in homeless shelters, some of them have never even had a birthday cake, which is something that people take for granted,” Skoros said. “My husband and I raised our children to give back no matter what, even if it’s something little.”

Skoros said that she reaches out to Birthday Wishes throughout the year to see if the organization needs anything, and sometimes it reaches out to her.

The first time she appealed to the community to help with her efforts, she was collecting wrapping paper. She posted on Facebook, and soon she got responses.

“I just thought, let me put it out there — let me see what happens,’” Skoros recalled. “It was beyond what I could have even expected. The community came together, and it was fun.”

Since then, whenever she has initiated a collection, she has posted on any of East Meadow’s numerous community Facebook pages. Friends, neighbors and strangers have helped her collect juice boxes, toys, birthday party supplies, wrapping paper and mug cakes.

Her most recent collection for the organization was for toys for younger kids. Once again, the community came through.

“The collection I have is unbelievable,” she said. “East Meadow is unbelievable with the amount of people that donate and reach out. I’ll come home and there will be boxes on my steps or bags of stuff on my steps, and it’s just amazing.”

Skoros said that her whole family — her

husband, Len, and their kids, Ryan, 20, Brianne, 18, and Kellen, 12 — helps get the word out whenever they’re collecting stuff.

“It’s very humbling,” Amanda said. “It’s a good thing for the kids to see and for the community to be involved in.”

As a parent, she said, it’s difficult to imagine that some kids don’t have birthday celebrations, and that’s why she likes Birthday Wishes.

“My children have been lucky enough to be able to celebrate their birthdays,” she said. “To realize that there are kids out there that don’t even get a cake on their birthday was just something that I couldn’t even begin to comprehend as a mother. So for me to be able to do this for a child and their parents is just amazing.”

People who want to take part can either drop items off at her house, or purchase from an Amazon “wish list” that Skoros creates whenever she does a collection. That way, they can purchase something that is delivered to her house.

“I was blown away, the first time we did it, by how many donations we got and how quickly the community responded to us,” she said. “And the items just keep coming.”

The Skoroses organize collections three or four times a year, usually with one large one in the summer, but people can drop items off year-round.

“I just love seeing how everybody is so grateful that we coordinate this collection, and they’re always so happy that we do it,” Skoros said. “This is an East Meadow-wide effort.”

Courtesy Amanda Skoros

amanda Skoros and her family started collecting for Birthday Wishes, a nonprofit organization that helps homeless children celebrate birthdays, roughly 10 years ago. after getting the east meadow community involved, she gets items dropped on her front steps all the time.

Friday night lights, with plenty of cars

If you’ve driven past the Bellmore Long Island Rail Road on any given Friday evening between late spring and early fall, chances are, you’ve seen the parking lot adjacent to Sunrise Highway filled with cars.

But its not just commuter cars — it’s the Chamber of Commerce of the Bellmores’ Friday Night Car Show. Weather permitting, attendees are sure to find a wide selection of automotives, whether it be vintage vehicles, vans and buses, or newer models, like sports cars.

The Bellmore Chamber began sponsoring the event in 2011, and now hosts the event in conjunction with the Town of Hempstead. The show opens at 6 p.m.

Courtesy is given to railroad commuters, and all vehicles on display must be street legal. The Chamber asks that no one places lawn chairs in driving lanes or parked spaces, and that drivers restrain from cruising around the lot.

If you’re into cars — or just looking for something different to do on a warm, Friday night — the show has something for everyone. Throughout August, a show will take place on Aug. 4, 11, 18 and 25. There will be no show on Sept. 22 because of the Bellmore Family Street Festival.

Spectators can enter free of charge. The admission fee for cars is $5. For more information, visit BellmoreChamber.com.

Greg Pizone, of Seaford, shows off his 2021 Ford Shelby GT500. At the show, spectators can see everything from vintage cars to newer models.

The Bass Family from Oceanside had a blast walking around the show.

Paulette Corsentino and Joe Corsentino with a brightly colored Chevrolet.

Frank Martucci, of Bellmore, with his bug-themed whip, at the Friday Night Car Show in Bellmore.

–Jordan Vallone

Richard Polleri, from the Southside Boys of Long Island Car Club.

Tim Baker/Herald photos

Crime watCh

LarCeNY

A catalytic converter was removed from a car on Grand Boulevard in Massapequa Park on July 20.

A victim reported that 2 iPhone charging cables were removed from her vehicle parked on 54 Oriole Road in Levittown on July 22.

An unknown male subject removed the front and rear license plates from a car parked on Pleasant Avenue in Westbury on July 23.

On July 24, a victim reported that a catalytic converter was removed from his car while parked on East Meadow Avenue in North Bellmore.

The Rite Aid in Bellmore on Sunrise Highway reported a male subject removed eight cases of beer from the store on July 26.

Petit LarCeNY

A female subject removed assorted items from the Target in Westbury on Corporate Drive on July 18.

A victim reported an unknown subject removed one cable antenna from the Alhambra Marine Repairs in Seaford on July 20.

On July 21, it was reported that packages were stolen from a home on Starke Avenue.

At the Fulton Commons Care Center in East Meadow on Merrick Avenue, a victim reported an unknown subject stole $50 on July 22.

arreSt S

Tia Alexander, 49 of North Merrick, was arrested for shoplifting at the Target in Westbury on Corporate Drive on July 22.

Camilo Medina, 28 of Elmhurst, and Stephaney Alcivar Medina, 28 of Bayside, were arrested for shoplifting at the Target in Westbury on Corporate Drive on July 25.

Elijah Lopez, 19 of Staten Island, and Catherine Cruz, 19 of Brooklyn, were arrested for shoplifting at the Target in Westbury on Corporate Drive on July 26.

CrimiNaL miSChief

A female victim reported an unknown subject damaged her candles at 1178 Meadowbrook Road in North Merrick on July 20.

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

NewS brief

New programs announced for adult ed

The Nassau BOCES Adult Education program announced the launch of its new programs for the upcoming school year. With a focus on equipping adults with the skills needed for successful careers, the program is introducing new and improved offerings that cater to the evolving needs of today’s job market.

An open house will be held on Wednesday, Aug. 30 from 7-9 p.m. at Nassau BOCES Joseph M. Barry Career and Technical Education Center, 1196 Prospect Ave. in Westbury. Learn about these hot careers from the instructors who teach the courses and get a first-hand look at our unique classrooms.

Clinical Medical Assistant: Empowering Future Healthcare Professionals

In response to the growing demand for healthcare professionals, this comprehensive program offers participants with a unique opportunity to acquire the necessary skills and knowledge to excel in a medical setting. Through a combination of classroom instruction, hands-on training, and practical experience, students will develop expertise in medical procedures, patient care, and administrative tasks.

Pet Grooming: A Passionate Pursuit for

Animal Lovers

For those with a deep love for animals will enjoy the Pet Grooming program. This program provides participants with the practical skills and theoretical foundation to succeed in the thriving pet grooming industry. Through expert guidance and hands-on training, participants will learn the art of pet grooming, including bathing, clipping, and styling techniques.

Veterinary Assistant: Comprehensive Training for Animal Care Specialists

In recognition of the expanding field of veterinary care this revamped course is a 50-class program designed to provide students with a holistic education in animal care. Through a blend of theoretical instruction, practical exercises, and hands-on experience, students will develop a deep understanding of animal health, anatomy, medical procedures, and laboratory techniques. Graduates of this program will possess the skills necessary to thrive as valuable members of veterinary teams, aiding in the care and wellbeing of animals.

Registration is now open. Visit NassauBoces.Org/AdultEd for a complete listing of courses. Limited seats are available, so people are urged to apply early.

Roughly 30 awards, and still more to come

it has been released in paperback and e-book form, and Umansky has worked on expanding the script to make it into a full length movie.

To learn more about the experiences of Jewish people during that time, Umansky visited the site of two concentration camps— Auschwitz and Birkenau.

“I wanted to walk on the ground and be in the place,” she said. “As soon as I did that I knew exactly what I needed to do, what I needed to write and what I needed to get a sense of.”

Once “Immunity” was all done and released, Umansky said it felt amazing seeing it completed.

“It was exhausting,” she said, “but so incredibly satisfying.”

One of her favorite reactions to any of her works came from when another Long Island writer watched “Immunity” as a play.

“She came up to me afterwards and I really didn’t know her too well, but she asked me if I was the writer,” Umansky recalled. “She told me that she didn’t breathe the whole time she watched it. That was the best.”

filmmaker herself, the two collaborated on a short film called “Chosen.”

The short follows a heroin addict who wakes up from a suicide attempt and learns that he is the sole descendant of Jesus Christ. He is urged to take on the roll, but he doesn’t want it.

“It makes me feel blessed,” Umansky said about seeing her ideas come to life. “The majority of people live their life doing what they have to do in order to have a life that they enjoy and I get to live my wildest dreams every single day.”

Umansky’s first time dabbling with filmmaking was when her movie “Why George?” was made in 2009. She had the experience of attending a symposium for a friend of hers that was looking to get ideas from screenwriters. He told her she should come down just to network and meet other creative individuals. Instead, she left with an idea that she wanted to share with him.

the idea behind ’immunity’ came from a nightmare umansky had as a child about the Holocaust.

In 2017, after meeting Debra Markowitz, Director of the Nassau County Film Commission and executive director of the Long Island Film/TV Foundation (which presents the Long Island International Film Expo) — and also a

“I was just so inspired by what he said,” Umansky said. “All of these writers were hoping that their stories would fit what he was looking for, but I thought, what if my idea was something he was looking for?”

“Why George?” is a roughly 90 minute film that follows the characters Zach and Sam. Zach and his wife Sam live a happy life, but Zach has a desire for his wife to have a lesbian experience as well. While Sam is looking, she falls in

love with a woman.

Collectively, Umansky has won roughly 30 awards for her projects, and there’s no stopping her. She already has ideas for future projects, she’s just not sure which genre she wants to focus on next.

Photos courtesy Shari Umansky Shari umansky, left, is most known for her film ‘immunity.’ She worked with actress rena Sofer, who played the main female character.

STEPPING OUT

Pop star comes ‘home’

Baldwin native opens for Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo

By Daniel Offner

aylor Dayne became an overnight sensation when she burst onto the scene in the mid-‘80s with her debut single, “Tell It to My Heart,” a top 10 chart-topping dance hit that has remained an audience favorite worldwide for decades.

“I grew up on Grand Avenue in the ‘70s and ‘80s,” the Baldwin native said. “That was my playground when I was young. It gave me a lot of chutzpah.”

She recently returned here — July 23 — for a special benefit concert featuring Lindenhurst native Pat Benatar and her husband, Neil Giraldo, in support of Health and Harmony, a new program sponsored by Catholic Health and the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame.

Health and Harmony takes a non-pharmaceutical approach to engage and educate patients about the positive effects of music on overall health.

“I broke out of New York,” Dayne says. “To come back and play now with Pat Benatar, it’s kind of amazing how it’s come full circle.”

Dayne, who was born Leslie Wunderman, began her professional career after high school when she performed at small New York City clubs with her bands, Felony and Next.

“I was honing in on my chops,” she says. “It was daunting as hell.”

She went solo after finishing college when she got a hold of a demo of “Tell it to My Heart,” originally composed by Seth Swirsky and Ernie Gold for Chappell Music, but overlooked by the label.

Dayne was immediately drawn to the track and recorded her rendition at Cove City Sound Studios in Glen Cove. The demo managed to get the attention of music executive Clive Davis, who signed her to his label, Arista Records, in 1987.

While the immediate success of her first single would eclipse some of her later tracks, Dayne says she very much still enjoys performing it to this day.

“My God, yes. (It’s not) like you’re asking Billy Joel if he’ll play ‘Tell Her About It,’” she jokes about Joel’s hit song, which he hasn’t played since 1987. “This is my biggest hit. People lose their minds for it. It’s my job to make it interesting. And it really sounds so amazing with a live band.”

Her debut album, also titled, “Tell it to My Heart,” released by Arista in 1988, featured three more top 10 singles, including the tracks “Prove Your Love,” “Don’t Rush Me” and “I’ll Always Love You.” The album’s success brought her to new heights when she was invited to join Michael Jackson on the European leg of his sold-out “Bad” tour.

Dayne’s follow-up album in 1989, “Can’t Fight Fate,” was equally as successful, landing her three more Top 10 charting singles, “With Every Beat of My Heart,” “I’ll Be Your Shelter” and “Love Will Lead You Back.” Both albums have been certified double platinum, selling more than 2 million copies worldwide.

In the ‘90s she decided to break into acting. Her first role on the big screen came in 1994 when she was cast in a remake of the romantic drama film, “Love Affair,” starring Warren Beatty, Annette Bening and the late Katharine Hepburn.

She had minor success in independent films and a few recurring television roles, including the Showtime series “Rude Awakening.” Then, in 2001, she landed a major role on the stage in Elton John and Tim Rice’s hit Broadway musical, “Aida.”

“RuPaul and I are very dear friends,” Dayne says. “It was a lot of work … all that pushing and taping.”

Although Dayne hasn’t released a new album since 2008, she hasn’t stopped making music. She’s gone on to release several more successful singles, including “Floor on Fire,” “Dreaming,” “Live Without” and “Please.”

“Making albums isn’t what it used to be,” she says. “But I do have new music coming out.”

Among her accolades, Dayne has been inducted into both the New

TaylorDayne.com, or follow her on Instagram at TheRealTaylorDayne.

Doo-Wop Oldies Spectacular

Revisit the golden oldies with Peter Lemongello Jr. in ‘An Evening To Remember,’ featuring The Fabulous Acchords, The Tribunes and Teresa McClean. With their polished vocal skills and dynamic stage presence, it’s a night of unforgettable entertainment, produced by Gene DiNapoli, that’s pure nostalgia headliner Peter Lemongello Jr., is acclaimed as the most explosive and exciting doo-wop performer to appear on the scene in 40 years. The son of singer Peter Lemongello, Peter Jr. appeared on ‘American Idol’ and performed with The Four Tops, The Temptations and Chubby Checker, among others. He’s joined by a capella group The Tribunes, renowned for their authentic New York-bred streetcorner harmonies and The Fabulous Acchords, who captivate audiences with their unique blend of classic and contemporary songs, spanning

Friday, Aug. 4, 7:30 p.m. $49, $39, $29. Jeanne Rimsky Theater

232 Main St., Port Washington. LandmarkOnMainStreet.org, or

Swingtime Big Band

The band swings into Eisenhower Park with its powerful interpretation of the Great American Songbook. Led by longtime conductor Steve Shaiman, the 20-piece Swingtime Big Band vividly brings the swing musicians authentically recreate the style, musicality and essence of iconic big bands of the day. Swingtime’s high-energy performances embody

Dayne eventually would release her fifth full-length album,

Dayne eventually would release her fifth full-length album, “Satisfied,” in 2008. Her first full-length studio album in almost a decade, it featured the single “Beautiful,” which rose to No. 1 on the dance charts, her most recent hit to date.

She has remained in the spotlight in recent years, only under different guises, as the competitor Popcorn on “The Masked Singer” — in 2020 at the height of the pandemic — and Electra Owl on “RuPaul’s Secret Celebrity Drag Race.”

audiences who know the classic recordings, or with the excitement of discovery for a new generation of listeners. Vocalist Bobbie Ruth recreates the ‘gal vocal’ stylings of legendary singers Peggy Lee, Ella Fitzgerald, Eydie Gormé and Billie Holiday, among others. She’s joined emulates such Big Band crooners and swingers as Nat ‘King”’ Cole, and, of course, the immortal Frank Sinatra. Thursday, Aug. 10, 8 p.m. Free admission. Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, Eisenhower Park, East Meadow. For information, visit

THE Your Neighborhood

Aimee Mann

The indie-pop icon visits

The Space at Westbury, Saturday, Aug, 5, 8 p.m. One of the most distinguished singer-songwriters of her generation, her successful solo career has spanned several decades with several Grammy nominations, two Grammy award and the release of nine criticallyacclaimed solo albums, including the profoundly popular soundtrack for the film “Magnolia,” which garnered an Academy Award and Golden Globe nomination for Best Song in 2000. Time magazine has said, “Mann has the same skill that great tunesmiths like McCartney and Neil Young have: the knack for writing simple, beautiful, instantly engaging songs, ” while NPR voted her one of the “Top 10 Best Living Songwriters” along with Paul McCartney, Bob Dylan, and Bruce Springsteen. Earlier in her musical life, Mann fronted the band Til Tuesday”, releasing three albums. She has also made numerous memorable cameo appearances in films such as The Big Lebowski and TV shows like Portlandia and The Daily Show. After several albums with the band 80’s New Wave band ’Til Tuesday, Mann began her solo career in 1993 with the album “Whatever” and made a name for herself through her independent success and the founding of her record label, SuperEgo Records. Along the way, Mann forged a powerful new sound driven by her distinctive singing style — stripped-down, folky, acoustic but also forceful and cerebral, exploring psychological themes with dark wit. Tickets are $35-$75; available at TheSpaceAtWestbury.com. The Space, 250 Post Ave. Westbury.

On exhibit

View the landmark exhibition “Modigliani and the Modern Portrait,” at Nassau County Museum of Art. Devoted to the way that Modigliani powerfully re-defined the art of portraiture, the show includes his masterworks along with paintings and drawings by his Parisian contemporaries (Picasso, van Dongen, Laurencin). Modigliani’s enduring influence on artists even in our own time is shown in a selection of Contemporary paintings by such important figures as David Hockney, Eric Fischl, Elizabeth Peyton and others. The exhibition is being curated by Dr. Kenneth Wayne, founder of The Modigliani Project, which authenticates paintings and drawings (two of the works in the show have been recently approved by the committee). Through Nov. 5. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. (516) 484-9337 or NassauMuseum.org.

Aug. 7

Dramatic Play Theatre

Playground returns to Long Island Children’s Museum with “Dramatic Play!,” Monday, Aug. 7, 1 p.m., taught by Lisa Rudin, Director of Theatre Playground (who visitors may already know from her role as “Piggie”!). In this interactive, theater-inspired workshop kids will act out an original story and help choose how it unfolds. Music, props, and sound effects create a theatrical world where participants are immersed in the story. Children are encouraged to express themselves as they create characters, explore different worlds, stretch their imaginations and build self-confidence. This week’s theme: The Amazing World of Bugs and Butterflies. Costumes encouraged. Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 224-5800 or LICM.org.

Mah Jongg

Enjoy an afternoon of Mah Jongg and canasta, every Wednesday, 11:30 a.m.-4 p.m., at East Meadow Beth El Jewish Center. $5 contribution per person. Snacks are provided. No outside food allowed due to dietary laws. Bring your own games and cards. Lessons available. 1400 Prospect Ave. Call (516) 4283693 for more.

Aug.

Community and Sands Collaborate For Success

6 Community Work Groups Established

To ensure the community’s voice is heard during the design phase of the Sands New York destination resort, the company has welcomed community members to working groups to share their ideas, concerns and aspirations for the development.

“With the vital input from the working groups, the goal is for the development to be a true co-creation between the community and Sands. By identifying local opportunities, needs, concerns, and ideas across key sectors and working collectively to prepare for opportunities and mitigate issues, this project has the potential to lift the entirety of the region,” said Robert G.

Goldstein, Las Vegas Sands Chairman and CEO.

The working group categories include Environment and Sustainability, Business Development and Tourism, Transportation and Infrastructure, Workforce Development, Community Partnerships, and Public Safety.

Each group is led by two co-chairs — one expert in the subject matter and one community member that has a particular background or interest in the working group area.

Here is more about the goals of each work group and how you can get involved.

Environment & Sustainability

The Environment and Sustainability working group is focused on minimizing any adverse environmental impacts to the surrounding communities while also trying to capitalize on the opportunities the site presents in the area of sustainability with a particular focus on creating healthier communities.

To limit the destination’s environmental impact, this group is focused on protecting community resources including air and water as well as limiting waste. Many ideas have been generated out of this group already including a rooftop farm with community access and education programming, green roofs, renewable energy concepts, as well as state-of-the-art water conservation technologies, as well as creating sustainable transit methods that include walking and biking systems.

Business Development & Tourism

Sands’ new development is expected to procure between $300-$500 million annually in goods and services and the company estimates that at least 75% of that can be sourced locally. The task of this work group is to make sure that opportunity isn’t missed by Long Island businesses.

Working collectively, the group is identifying education and capacity building needs

Photo provided by Sands

Photo: Members of the Workforce Development group met in February to discuss local and regional job growth and opportunities from the Sands New York destination resort proposed at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum site on Long Island.

within the small business community to make sure they are ready and up to the job. In addition, the working group members are also brainstorming different ideas that could promote outside businesses and attractions on Long Island, including a sophisticated concierge program, on-site kiosks for small businesses to offer their products, and a wedding vendor guide for future brides and grooms.

Stemming out of this work, Sands is already procuring goods and services locally including Mama’s Custom Cookies in Wantagh, A & M Supplies Network in East Meadow, and Tristar Graphics in Hempstead.

Transportation & Infrastructure

Transportation and Infrastructure has the task of working with Sands on traffic, transit options, technology infrastructure, and connectivity of the site to other local attractions like Museum Row.

Sands has embarked on a massive traffic study including over 75 locations, which was expanded after meeting with the working group. In addition, various ideas including placement of entrances, no-cost parking to prevent guests from using neighborhood streets to park, and strategies for the overall site plan have been offered to create a buffer for surrounding communities.

When the traffic study is finalized, the working group will work with Sands on the mitigation strategies proposed by the traffic

engineers to ensure that best practices are implemented and surrounding communities are protected.

Workforce Development

With Sands expecting to create over 5,000 new permanent jobs and 8,500 construction jobs should the company win the gaming license, this working group is dedicated to intentionally and strategically creating bridges to the communities, strengthening the on-ramps to jobs and removing barriers to employment for unemployed and underemployed Long Islanders.

With starting salaries expected to be $60,000-$70,000 annually with real career opportunities. It is vital to the success of the development that local residents have the access and tools to not only get the job, but to grow the job into a career.

This working group includes grassroots organizations from across Long Island, workforce development experts, several local colleges, and interested community members. Collectively with Sands, they are working to develop programs that can be put into place now to ensure local residents are employment ready for both construction and post-construction phases.

Community Partnerships

This work group is collaborating

with Sands to identify and address goals, challenges and opportunities at the Coliseum site, as well as within the surrounding communities.

Ideas from this working group include supporting veterans, providing meeting space within the new development for community groups, addressing food insecurity of area residents, offering discounts to residents and veterans, creating professional internship programs for students, and offering theater space for local schools to use.

Public Safety

Ensuring public safety both within the new development and in the surrounding community must be the top priority. As such, this group has begun working with Sands to understand how internally Sands develops their security plans, as well as externally sharing the concerns of local residents and working on mitigation strategies that will ensure improved safety for all residents.

While topics covered include policing, other topics working group members have raised include diminishing participation in local fire departments and lack of safe, healthy activities for young adults after school.

Continued

Photo provided by Sands

Photo: Meetings for the six working groups are well underway. Sands and the groups plan to meet several times during the design phase of the new destination resort.

over 400 long island small businesses attend procurement academy and resource Fair

SEvent was hosted by Sands New York and Suffolk County Community College

ands New York hosted their second in-person Procurement Academy for over 400 of Long Island’s small business owners, entrepreneurs, and prospective vendors on July 12, 2023 at Suffolk County Community College. Nassau Community College hosted the first procurement academy on April 20, 2023.

The Suffolk Community College event featured Sands vice president of procurement, Chad Forster, who discussed best practices for businesses hoping to secure contracts with Sands, as well as a resource fair where local chambers and agencies were available to offer guidance on MWBE certification and tools available for growing businesses.

In addition to millions in procurement opportunities for local businesses, the Sands project stands to deliver over $100 million dollars annually to the Town of Hempstead and Nassau and Suffolk Counties if it is successful in its bid for a New York State gaming license.

“The Sands development has the potential to have a significant economic impact for our entire region,” said Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone. “Suffolk County’s local business community has turned out in force today – not only to show their support for the project – but to learn how to take advantage of this rare opportunity and ensure that the economic benefits reach all corners of Long Island.”

“Today’s event is an important milestone acknowledging the potential regional impact of this transformational project,” said Former New York State Governor and Senior Vice President for Las Vegas Sands David Paterson. “Business owners across Long Island could have much to gain if the Sands proposal is approved for the Nassau Hub – and our

Procurement Academy is an important opportunity to learn how to participate. The Sands team is eager to meet with all of our local small businesses – especially those owned by women, minorities and veterans – to ensure that they are ready to hit the ground running when the planning turns into building and operating.”

Following the main program, attendees were invited to industry-specific breakout rooms for food/beverage & operating services, design and construction, technology, and professional services (i.e. benefits, marketing, labor, transportation, etc.). Sands procurement executives in each vertical provided insights and answered questions.

“Small businesses recognize the great opportunity that may be coming our way, and are eager to participate in the Sands development,” said Dr. Edward T. Bonahue, President of Suffolk County Community College. “Our region has much to gain from this project – and we are enthusiastic about making sure that all prospective local partners are prepared.”

Local chambers and agencies in attendance included the Suffolk County Alliance of Chambers, Nassau Council of Chambers of

Commerce, African American Chamber of Commerce, Hispanic Chambers of Commerce, Long Island Association, Farmingdale SBDC, Stony Brook SBDC, Suffolk County Entrepreneurial Assistance Program, Long Island Small Business Assistance Corp, Suffolk County Women’s Business Enterprise Coalition, La Fuerza Community Development Corp, Peruvian Chamber of Commerce,

Suffolk County Office of Minority Affairs/MWBE, Nassau County Office of Minority Affairs/ MWBE, Miller Business Resource Center, Dominican Chamber of Commerce.

Photo provided by Sands

Photos: Sands New York hosted its second in-person Procurement Academy on July 12 at Suffolk Community College, with over 400 small business owners, entrepreneurs, and prospective vendors in attendance.

Weekly Mah Jongg

The JULIETS are back playing mah jong and cards at Congregation Beth Tikvah, every Thursday, from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Masks are optional; with contribution of $5 per person. 3710 Woodbine Ave., Wantagh , For more information, email mahjonggCBT@yahoo.com or call 516-785-2445.

Aug. 17

Write on: College essay workshop

Not sure how to get started on your college essay? The Hofstra University Admission Office is offering a virtual workshop to help high school students learn the skills to tell their story in a way that helps them stand out. The final workshop, Thursday, Aug. 17, 4-5 p.m., is free and open to the public, but advance registration is required. Hear from Hofstra Admission counselors about how to brainstorm topics, and compose a thoughtful essay that shows your personality, talents and interests. For more information about Hofstra Admission’s other virtual summer workshops, go to Admission.Hofstra.edu/portal/ virtual_admission_webinars. To schedule a summer in-person visit go to: Hofstra.edu/visit.

Art talk

Grab your lunch and join Nassau County Museum of Art Docent

Riva Ettus for her popular “Brown Bag Lecture,” now back on-site at Nassau County Museum of Art, Thursday, Sept. 7, 1 p.m. Enjoy an in-depth presentation on the current exhibition “Modigliani and the Modern Portrait.” Participants are invited to ask questions at the end of the program and to join the 2 p.m. public tour of the exhibit. Also Oct. 19. 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. (516) 4849337 or NassauMuseum.org.

Summer carnival

The summer carnival returns to Eisenhower Park in East Meadow for four days of fun, ThursdaySunday, Aug. 17-20, times vary. Enjoy thrilling rides for all ages, carnival games and prizes, a variety of delicious festival food and treats. Admission to the carnival is free. Ride tickets are $1.25 per ticket, $25 for 21 tickets, and $50 for 44 tickets. Rides take 4-6 tickets each. Pay one Price ride wristbands, good for unlimited rides on the night of purchase, are $40 per wristband/per night at the fair.

Having an event?

Storybook Stroll

Bring the kids to Old Westbury Gardens for a storybook adventure, Saturday, Aug. 5, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Stroll the gardens and open your ears to Kirsten Hall’s modern tale “The Honeybe.” Later create a unique take home craft. For ages 3-5. Old Westbury Gardens, 71 Old Westbury Rd., Old Westbury. For information visit OldWestburyGardens.org or contact (516) 333-0048.

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.

Westbury House Tour

For many years visitors to Westbury House at Old Westbury Gardens asked what was beyond the first floor corridor. Now go beyond the door and discover “secrets of the service wing,” during a 60-minute guided tour, Sunday, Aug. 6, 1:30 p.m.; also Sunday, Aug. 13, 1:30 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.

Aug. 4

Summer tunes

Enjoy a tribute to the Piano Man and Elton John with Face to Face, at Eisenhower Park, Friday, Aug. 4, 8 p.m. This eclectic group of musicians not only play the legendary hits of Billy Joel and Sir Elton John along with various other classic rock hits, they blend it with a stage presence and showmanship that create a truly immersive musical experience. Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, Eisenhower Park, East Meadow. For information, visit NassauCountyNY.gov.

Bingo at Beth-El

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

Farmers market

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Nassau will be back with their farmers market, Saturday, Aug. 5, through October. Located in Eisenhower Park at Field 8, the CCE-Nassau Farmers Market offers varied items weekly. Their fresh food comes from numerous vendors.

Racing at Riverhead never gets old

By TONY BELLISSIMO tbellissimo@liherald.com

There aren’t too many 1974 Oldsmobiles on the streets these days, but one can be spotted at Riverhead Raceway most Saturdays between May and September with North Bellmore’s Bill Wegmann Sr. behind the wheel.

Nicknamed the “Racing Grandpa,” the soon-to-be 79-year-old has competed on the eastern Suffolk County quarter-mile oval since 1989 — in the same car — and last season finished in the top five in the Blunderbust driver standings.

“I built the car and maintain it myself,” said Wegmann Sr., who began racing stock cars in 1962. “It’s a fun hobby and something I could always afford,” he added. “I’ve been racing so long I can probably close my eyes and get around the track.”

Wegmann Sr., who grew up in Franklin Square and attended Sewanhaka High School, has 9 career victories at Riverhead and is a fixture among the Top 10 Blunderbust drivers each season. He has eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

“My wife [Eileen] has been a tremendous supporter even though she’s not a big race fan, she’s a fan of mine,” Wegmann Sr. said. “People always ask how long do I plan to compete, and I tell them ‘as long as I can climb through the window of the car and get behind the wheel.’”

His son, Billy, has been going to racetracks “since he was born” and has long competed in the Blunderbust division as well. So have two of Wegmann Sr.’s grandsons, Jason and Derick.

“It’s not only great to race, but it’s our family time,” said Billy, 55.

Giordano embraces new challenge

Lifelong Freeport resident Gerard Giordano is following in his father’s footsteps and hopes to one day get behind the wheel of a race car owned by someone else.

But for now, Giordano, 26, is embracing the challenge of the Late Model division at Riverhead after a dominant run along the East Coast in his Super Pro Truck.

“The competition in the Late Models is much tougher and I’m enjoying the challenge,” said Giordano, whose father, Jerry, competed for decades at the now-defunct Freeport Speedway. “It’s a big step up,” he added. “I’ve won one feature in this division and I’m hunting for my first one for this year.”

Sponsored by K1 Logistics, Excelsior Lodge, New York Outdoors Club, Venture Auto Body, Admiral Metals, Landgon’s Automotive and Scorpion Race Engines, Giordano sat fourth in the Late Model driver standings following a solid performance July 22. He was the division’s Rookie of the Year in 2021 and picked up his first-ever victory last summer in a

60-lap feature with a large cheering section in the stands.

He began racing go-karts at age 12 and has been a fixture in the Super Pro Truck winner’s circle for years, capturing a pair of touring championships consisting of a dozen annual races in Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Hampshire.

“I’ll still fit some Super Pro Truck races into my schedule when I can, but my main focus now is the Late Model,” Giordano said.

Former crew member enjoys success Andrew Farnham, a friend of Giordano’s since middle school when they both attended St. Christopher School in Bald-

win, was a member of Giordano’s pit crew for years and then got behind the wheel in Riverhead’s Mini Stock division in 2018.

“I’m having a blast,” said Farnham, a 2015 Baldwin High School graduate who’s seeking sponsorship to help offset costs of competing, which includes weekly maintenance, gas and tires. “Constantly working on the car, putting in at least four hours a week even if everything appears fine,” he added. “If you’re not fast, you’re slow.”

Farnham proved fastest of the Mini Stock’s 20-driver field in 2022, taking home the Mini Stock title by winning the final race of the season to overcome an 11-point

deficit in the standings. He had two feature wins but said consistency and avoiding any serious damage to his 2008 Honda Civic were crucial to earning the crown.

A runner-up finish in the 20-lap feature July 22 pushed Farnham back in the lead of the driver standings as he looks to repeat. “Winning last year was awesome but I’m not really thinking about the long term and repeating, I’m just focused on week to week,” he said afterwards. “I thought I was the fastest car tonight. Started seventh and finished second.”

A typical Saturday from May through September for Farnham, Giordano and crews begins before noon and ends around midnight.

Tony Bellissimo/Herald photos

North Bellmore’s Bill Wegmann Sr., has raced his 1974 Oldsmobile at Riverhead Raceway for 34 years, and shows no signs of slowing down.

Gerard Giordano of Freeport is looking to transfer his racing success to Riverhead’s Late Model division.

RVC community rallies around Dunn

By MICHAEL LEWIS sports@liherald.com

Half a world away at the Women’s World Cup in New Zealand, Crystal Dunn is still making an impact on the South Side High School girls’ soccer team and the Rockville Centre community.

“She’s such a great role model and inspiration for the girls and just the excitement they have knowing that she played on the same team as they did and they are,” South Side head coach Judi Croutier said.

“Just the whole town is a buzz,” she added. “Everyone is so excited and proud to see her out there, representing not just Rockville Centre and South Side, but herself, her family, the country.”

Dunn is the starting left back for the U.S. Women’s National Team as it strives to win an unprecedented third consecutive world championship. The tournament is co-hosted by Australia.

Croutier has been watching Dunn display her talent on both sides of the ball for the two-time defending champions at the Women’s World Cup in New Zealand and Australia.

Americans’ first two matches, a 3-0 win over Vietnam July 21, and a 1-1 draw with the Netherlands July 26. She acquitted herself well. A midfielder for the Portland Thorns (National Women’s Soccer League), Dunn was expected to be in the Starting XI against Portugal in the team’s final Group E match on Tuesday (FOX, 3 a.m.) The Americans need at least a draw to reach the knockout round.

“She is such a positive person and player,” Croutier said. “She’s come back after having a baby. She’s fit. She’s in a great mindset and. She’s going to help the women and hopefully they win this year.”

Croutier realized early on that Dunn was a special player. It went beyond her blazing speed and remarkable soccer skills.

“Her leadership role even as a freshman, the way she was able to help all the players around her get better,” she said. “The way she was willing to work with everybody. She was just an upbeat person with such a great knowledge of the game and then she was able to go on the field and execute.”

While starring at South Side, Dunn many times was an unstoppable attacking force. Former USA head coach Jill

Tuesday, August 8, 2023, 6 p.m.

the 2019 Women’s World Cup. Dunn earned international praise for his outstanding performance en route to the world championship.

“She does overlap,” Croutier said. “When she played for us, she was able to

played where we needed her most. She scored some spectacular goals for us. I’m just happy she’s on the field. I know she would love to move up. But anywhere she’s playing, I think it’s great to watch her and know that she’s from Rockville

At this event, you will have the opportunity to speak with Hofstra faculty, and learn about services offered by Residence Life, Student Financial Services, and the Center for Career Design and Development. You can also virtually tour our beautiful 244-acre campus.

For event details and to RSVP, please visit hofstra.edu/gradoh

Courtesy Nikita Taparia/NWSL Crystal Dunn, right, and the USWNT battled the Netherlands to a 1-1 draw July 26 and completes group play against Portugal.

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

Public Notices

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU

U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE FOR LEGACY MORTGAGE ASSET TRUST 2017-RPL2, Plaintiff, Against FRANCISO MOLINA A/K/A FRANCISCO S. MOLINA, MARIA MOLINA A/K/A MARIA H. MOLINA, ET AL.

Defendant(s)

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale, duly entered 12/16/2022, 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 8/14/2023 at 2:00 PM, premises known as 786 Davis Avenue, Uniondale, NY 11553, 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 Hempstead Park, Town Of Hempstead, County Of Nassau And State Of New York.

Section 36 Block 138 Lot

15

The approximate amount of the current Judgment lien is $392,575.61 plus interest and costs. The Premises will be sold subject to provisions of the aforesaid Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale;

Index # 614717/2019

Heather D. Crosley, Esq., Referee.

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.

SHELDON MAY & ASSOCIATES Attorneys at Law, 255 Merrick Road, Rockville Centre, NY 11570

Dated: 6/16/23 File

Number: 36603 SH 140621

LEGAL NOTICE

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK

INDEX NO. 613099/2019

COUNTY OF NASSAU

MORTGAGE ASSETS MANAGEMENT, LLC

Plaintiff, vs. GRETCHEN DEITZ BARRETT, if living, and if she/he be dead, any and all persons unknown to plaintiff, claiming, or who may claim to have an interest in, or general or specific lien upon the real property described in this action; such unknown persons being herein generally described and intended to be included in the following designation, namely: the wife, widow, husband, widower, heirs at law, next of kin, descendants, executors,

administrators, devisees, legatees, creditors, trustees, committees, lienors, and assignees of such deceased, any and all persons deriving interest in or lien upon, or title to said real property by, through or under them, or either of them, and their respective wives, widows, husbands, widowers, heirs at law, next of kin, descendants, executors, administrators, devisees, legatees, creditors, trustees, committees, lienors and assigns, all of whom and whose names, except as stated, are unknown to plaintiff; SECRETARY OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT; ADVANTAGE ASSETS II, INC. A/P/O CITIBANK SOUTH DAKOTA; CITIBANK, N.A. S/B/M/T CITIBANK (SOUTH DAKOTA), N.A.; SLOMINS, INC.; PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, “JOHN DOE #1” through “JOHN DOE #12,” the last twelve names being fictitious and unknown to plaintiff, the persons or parties intended being the tenants, occupants, persons or corporations, if any, having or claiming an interest in or lien upon the premises, described in the complaint, Defendants.

Plaintiff designates NASSAU as the place of trial situs of the real property

SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS

Mortgaged Premises: 22 FAMILY LANE, LEVITTOWN, NY 11756 Section: 45, Block: 309, Lot: 12

To the above named Defendants YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the Complaint in the above entitled action and to serve a copy of your Answer on the plaintiff’s attorney within twenty (20) days of the service of this Summons, exclusive of the day of service, or within thirty (30) days after service of the same is complete where service is made in any manner other than by personal delivery within the State. The United States of America, if designated as a defendant in this action, may answer or appear within sixty (60) days of service. Your failure to appear or to answer will result in a judgment against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint. In the event that a deficiency balance remains from the sale proceeds, a judgment may be entered against you.

NOTICE OF NATURE OF ACTION AND RELIEF SOUGHT

THE OBJECT of the above caption action is to foreclose a Mortgage to secure the sum of $544,185.00 and interest, recorded on August 25, 2008, in Liber M 33206 at

Page 668, of the Public Records of NASSAU County, New York., covering premises known as 22 FAMILY LANE, LEVITTOWN, NY 11756. The relief sought in the within action is a final judgment directing the sale of the premises described above to satisfy the debt secured by the Mortgage described above.

NASSAU County is designated as the place of trial because the real property affected by this action is located in said county.

NOTICE

YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME

If you do not respond to this summons and complaint by serving a copy of the answer on the attorney for the mortgage company who filed this foreclosure proceeding against you and filing the answer with the court, a default judgment may be entered and you can lose your home.

Speak to an attorney or go to the court where your case is pending for further information on how to answer the summons and protect your property.

Sending a payment to the mortgage company will not stop the foreclosure action.

YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (MORTGAGE COMPANY) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT.

Dated: June 30, 2023

ROBERTSON, ANSCHUTZ, SCHNEID, CRANE & PARTNERS, PLLC Attorney for Plaintiff Veronica M. Rundle, Esq. 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310 Westbury, NY 11590 516-280-7675

140824

LEGAL NOTICE

STATE OF NEW YORK

SUPREME COURT:

COUNTY OF NASSAU

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS SUCCESSOR TRUSTEE TO WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, AS SUCCESSOR TRUSTEE TO BANK OF AMERICA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, SUCCESSOR BY MERGER TO LASALLE BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE FOR STRUCTURED ASSET INVESTMENT LOAN TRUST, MORTGAGE PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2005-1, Plaintiff, v.

GLORIA AYALA, ET AL.

Defendants. NOTICE OF SALE IN FORECLOSURE PLEASE TAKE NOTICE THAT In pursuance of a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the Office of the County Clerk of Nassau County on April 21, 2023, I, En-Chia Anna Lin, Esq. the Referee

named in said Judgment, will sell in one parcel at public auction on August 21, 2023 at Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Ct. Dr. North Side Steps, County of Nassau, State of New York, 11501 at 2:00 PM the premises described as follows:

7 Second Street a/k/a 7 2nd Street Westbury, NY 11590

SBL No.: 11-166-114

ALL that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, situate, lying and being near Westbury (unincorporated area), Town of North Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York.

The premises are sold subject to the provisions of the filed judgment, Index No. 601170/2019 in the amount of $435,137.16 plus interest and costs. The aforementioned auction will be conducted in accordance with the Court System’s COVID-19 mitigation protocols and as such all persons must comply with social distancing, wearing masks and screening practices in effect at the time of this foreclosure sale.

Woods Oviatt Gilman LLP

Attorneys for Plaintiff 500 Bausch & Lomb Place Rochester, NY 14604

Tel.: 855-227-5072

Tel.: 855-227-5072

140822

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, DEUTSCHE BANK NATIONAL TRUST COMPANY, AS TRUSTEE, IN TRUST FOR REGISTERED HOLDERS OF LONG BEACH MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST

2006-3, ASSET-BACKED CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2006-3, Plaintiff, vs. GERARDO CARBAJAL, Defendant.

Pursuant to an Order Confirming Referee Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on July 2, 2018 and a Proposed Order duly entered on February 26, 2020, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the front steps on the north side of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on August 29, 2023 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 2269 Roosevelt Avenue, East Meadow, NY 11554. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being at East Meadow, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 50, Block 205 and Lots 25, 26, 27 and 28. Approximate amount of judgment is $711,290.24 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #

012037/2014. This foreclosure sale will be held on the north side steps of the Courthouse, rain or shine. COVID-19 safety protocols will be followed at the foreclosure sale. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, the Court Appointed Referee will cancel the sale.

Gregg Sidoti, Esq., Referee

Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott, LLC, 10 Bank Street, Suite 700, White Plains, New York 10606, Attorneys for Plaintiff 140963

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU HSBC BANK USA, NATONAL ASSOCIATION AS TRUSTEE FOR OPTION

ONE MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST 2007-HL1 ASSETBACKED CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2007-HL1 Plaintiff, Against MARISOL LORENZO, EDWIN LORENZO, ET AL., Defendant(s)

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale, duly entered 11/16/2017, I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction, The North Front Steps of the Nassau County Courthouse, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY on 8/28/2023 at 2:00 pm, premises known as 388 Maplegrove Avenue, Uniondale, NY 11553, and as described as follows:

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

Section 50 Block 51 Lot 158

The approximate amount of the current Judgment lien is $613,177.58 plus interest and costs. The Premises will be sold subject to provisions of the aforesaid Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale; Index # 12-013295 Scott H Siller, Esq., Referee.

MCCABE, WEISBERG & CONWAY, LLC, 123 SOUTH BROAD STREET, PHILADELPHIA, PA 19109

Dated: 6/26/2023 File Number: 560-1721 RS 140961

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU

U.S. Bank National Association, not in its individual capacity but solely as trustee for the RMAC Trust, Series 2018 G-CTT, Plaintiff AGAINST Brian Taggart; et al., Defendant(s)

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered January 6, 2023 I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side Steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on August 29, 2023 at 2:30PM, premises known as 2760 Cypress Avenue, East Meadow, NY 11554. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in East Meadow, in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau, State of New York, Section 51 Block 17 Lot 73. Approximate amount of judgment $343,984.71 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index# 608076/2019. The auction will be conducted pursuant to the COVID-19 Policies Concerning Public Auctions of Foreclosed Property established by the Tenth Judicial District. Foreclosure Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine.”

Jane P. Shrenkel, Esq., Referee LOGS Legal Group LLP

f/k/a Shapiro, DiCaro & Barak, LLC Attorney(s) for the Plaintiff 175 Mile Crossing Boulevard Rochester, New York 14624 (877) 430-4792

Dated: June 15, 2023 140959

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF ADOPTION OF TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD LOCAL LAW NO. 53-2023

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that, pursuant to Article 9 of the New York State Constitution, the provisions of the Town Law and the Municipal Home Rule Law of the State of New York, both as amended, a public hearing was duly called and held July 11th, 2023 , by the Town Board of the Town of Hempstead on the proposed adoption of Town of Hempstead Local Law No. 53-2023, and following the close of

the hearing the Town Board duly adopted Town of Hempstead Local Law No. 53-2023, amending Section 202-50 of the Code of the Town of Hempstead, to include “HEAD-IN PARKING ONLY” at various locations

Dated: July 11, 2023

Hempstead, New York

BY ORDER OF THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD

DONALD X. CLAVIN, JR.

Supervisor KATE MURRAY Town Clerk 141066

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF ADOPTION OF TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD LOCAL LAW NO. 51-2023

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that, pursuant to Article 9 of the New York State Constitution, the provisions of the Town Law and the Municipal Home Rule Law of the State of New York, both as amended, a public hearing was duly called and held July 11th, 2023, by the Town Board of the Town of Hempstead on the proposed adoption of Town of Hempstead Local Law No. 51-2023, and following the close of the hearing the Town Board duly adopted Town of Hempstead Local Law No. 51-2023, amending Section 202-1 of the Code of the Town of Hempstead, to include and repeal “PARKING OR STANDING PROHIBITIONS” at various locations.

Dated: July 11, 2023

Hempstead, New York BY ORDER OF THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD

DONALD X. CLAVIN, JR. Supervisor KATE MURRAY Town Clerk 141064

LEGAL NOTICE

CASE NO.9922

RESOLUTION NO.1101-2022

Adopted: October 3, 2022

Councilmember Dunne offered the following resolution and moved its adoption:

RESOLUTION GRANTING THE PETITION OF BOLLA OPERATING, L.I., CORP FOR A VARIANCE FROM THE GSS DISTRICT FOR SUCH PREMISES LOCATED AT 3730 HEMPSTEAD TURNPIKE, LEVITTOWN, TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, NASSAU COUNTY, NEW YORK.

WHEREAS, the petition of Bolla Operating L.I., Corp,

with an address at 52 Morgan Drive, Old Westbury, New York dated and acknowledged April 14. 2022 for a Variance from the GSS District, to demolish one story structure and construct a new Bolla Market convenience store with canopy and pump islands the gasoline service station located at 3730 Hempstead Turnpike, Levittown New York filed with this Town Board; and WHEREAS, a public hearing was duly called and held on September 20,2022, pursuant to the provisions of the Building Zone Ordinance of the Town of Hempstead, and all persons present desiring to be heard on said Petitions were heard thereon, and decision was reserved thereon; and WHEREAS, this Town Board deems it to be in the public interest to grant said petition;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the aforesaid petition of Bolla Operating L.I., dated and acknowledged April 14. 2022, for a variance from the GSS District, is hereby granted; and be it further Resolved that the premises which are the subject of this petition are described as follows:

An irregular parcel of property situated on the w/s of Wantagh Avenue between Hempstead Turnpike and Balsam Lane, having a frontage on Wantagh Avenue of 126.37’ and a frontage on Hempstead Turnpike of 154.48’ and a frontage of 136’ on Balsam Lane, Levittown, Town of Hempstead, New York. and, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the subject parcel be developed in accordance with the Site Plan Documents dated January 1, 2021 prepared by B. Thayer Associates; and, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the necessary changes be made upon the Zoning and Departmental Maps so as to indicate the aforesaid amendment, and the Town Clerk to give necessary notice of said changes.

The foregoing resolution was seconded by Councilmember Goosby and adopted upon roll call as follows:

AYES: Seven (7) NOES: None (0) 141041

Place a notice by phone at 516-569-4000 x232 or email: legalnotices@liherald.com

HEWLETT-WOODMERE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Hewlett-Woodmere Public Schools Community Education and Services Department is seeking qualified, certified candidates for the following positions:

Swim Program Coordinator Swim Team Coaches

Water Safety Instructors

Lifeguards

Interested candidates must apply online by August 24, 2023 at: www.hewlett-woodmere.net

Click on career opportunities

Equal Opportunity Employer

EMPLOYMENT

Help Wanted

a4 Media, LLC seeks Engineers to identify, troubleshoot, and resolve customer facing video and broadband issues. Provide remote support to field technicians during customer home installations. Work with multiple vendors to clearly communicate root cause analysis feedback. Perform vendor and in house code validation for new functionality and bug fixes. Open and close defects identified during monthly release cycle. Position requires a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, or a related STEM field, and 3 years of experience with IP networking, performing root-cause analysis and providing resolution options for user issues. Experience must include a minimum of: 3 years of experience with Python and Unix scripting in the creation of scripts to remediate issues found in product deployments; 3 years of experience with API testing; 3 years of experience using Wireshark and Postman; 2 years of experience with Unix system operations, computer networking and network security; 2 years of experience with Cloud computing with experience in setting up virtualization environments for lab tools and infrastructure; and 2 years of experience with Networking protocol, including RIP, DHCP, DNS and TCP/IP. Job Location: Bethpage, NY. To apply, submit resume online at https://www.alticeusacareers.com/ and search by job title or enter job ID number 2466.

ATTENTION HIGH SCHOOL /College /Grad School Students: Staff Needed Before School 7:00-9:00AM Afterschool 2:45-6:00PM. Experience with children preferred. Friedberg JCC Locations in Oceanside, Bellmore, Baldwin, Long Beach, Island Park. Send resume to: tcorchado@friedbergjcc.org or call 516 -634-4179.

AUTO MECHANIC FT

4 Day Work Week

Experienced And Reliable. NYSI A Plus.

Busy Merrick Shop. Call 516-781-5641

Busy Rockville Centre Landlord/Tenant Law Firm seeking FULL TIME in office (not hybrid) administrative assistant to work with one of the Partners.

Responsibilities include heavy client contact via emails and telephone. Landlord/Tenant experience a plus.

Salary commensurate with experience. 401K, Medical/Dental benefits. Send resumes to: Kathleen@rosenblumbianco.com CLERICAL

Positions Available for 2023/24 School Year:

SubStitute teAcherS: $125 - $135 per day

NYS Certification required

Per Diem regiStereD NurSeS: $195.00/day

NYS RN Licensing required

PArAProfeSSioNAlS f/t: $23,736 - $24,286

Salary Commensurate with School Related Experience

fooD Service helPer P/t SubStituteS: $15.58/hr.

cleANer SubStituteS: $18.00/hr.

buS Driver SubStituteS: $22.50/hr.

SecuritY AiDeS (DAYS & eveNiNgS): F/T (7 hours) $22.28/hr.

NYS Security Guard Licensing required, law enforcement background preferred mAiNtAiNer (7:00 A.m. – 4:00 P.m.)

Salary commensurate with experience

Send Cover Letter & Resume to: egomez@bmchsd.org or eric gómez

Assistant Superintendent – Personnel & Administration 1260 meadowbrook road, N. merrick, NY 11566 Additional information can be found on our website at: www.bellmore-merrick.k12.ny.us

Market Research Analyst (Hempstead, NY) Collect and analyze data of customer preferences to identify potential markets. Forecast future market trends and visualize them. Bachelor’s degree with 6 months exp. $54475/year. Send your resume to Eason Eyewear Inc., 171 Greenwich St, Hempstead, NY 11550 or email to chenxian_1984@hotmail.com.

MEDICAL FRONT DESK Monday- Thursday 9am- 6:30pm. Computer Literate. Valley Stream. Fax Info to 516-295-0017

MEDICAL OFFICE RECEPTIONIST.

Busy South Shore Nassau County Neurology Office. F/T And P/T. Must be flexible, computer literate, medical experience preferred. Salary commensurate with experience. 401K. Email resume: bookkeeping@lineurology.com Or Call 516-887-3516 ext. 110

Network & Comp. Syst. Admin., Hempstead, NY. Bachelor Deg. + 1yr. exp. $73,029 yr. Email: eromosele@iyaho.org

Iyaho Social Services.

PARKING ENFORCEMENT OFFICER

Part Time, Various Shifts. Retirees Welcome. Duties include: \Patrols throughout the Village, issuance of code violation citations. Qualifications: HS graduate or equivalent. Valid driver’s license with satisfactory driving record. Contact: Inc. Village of Atlantic Beach 516-371-4600 e-mail office@villageofatlanticbeach.com

PROFESSIONAL TAILOR For Dry Cleaners In Merrick. Flexible Days And

VALLEY STREAM SCHOOL DISTRICT #24

75 Horton Avenue • Valley Stream, NY 11581

The Board of Education is seeking qualified applicants for the position of:

DISTRICT CLERK QUALIFICATIONS:

• Good Clerical and Computer Skills, including Microsoft WORD, and speed writing

• Part-time Position – Approximately 15 to 20 hours per week, plus two evenings per month

• Principal responsibility includes preparing all Agendas, taking Minutes at all Board meetings, copying of all documents for Board and maintaining Board of Education records.

• Responsible for all aspects of Annual School District Budget Vote and Election of Board members Send cover letter and resume to: Board of Education Valley Stream School District 24 75 Horton Avenue Valley Stream, NY 11581 By August 4, 2023

HomesHERALD

Hewlett Bay Park

A Place to Call Home

Ever dream of living in a castle? Here's your chance! You will be in awe of this 8,000 sq. ft. brick mansion set on magnificent sprawling 1.3 acres. As you drive up the circular driveway you can admire the manicured grounds. The marble entry foyer welcomes you inside, loaded with character, soaring ceilings, stained glass windows, towers and grand rooms perfect for entertaining. Beautiful architectural details in the multiple family rooms, formal dining room and eat in kitchen that overlooks the gunite pool and patio. Private primary suite boasts his and her bathrooms, plus dressing area with walk in closets. There are 4 additional bedrooms, lower level den and basement. It also has a 4 car attached garage and slate roof. It is in a great Location in SD #14, near LIRR, shops and houses of worship. Make this your dream home! For a private viewing of this special home contact Ronnie Gerber, Douglas Elliman Real Estate at 516-238-4299

Ronnie Gerber Licensed Sales Associate Cell: 516-238-4299

Direct Line: 516-623-2776

Ronnie.Gerber@elliman.com

Dougla Elliman Real Estate 2300 Merrick Road Merrick, NY 11566

Baldwin $625,000

Lenox Road. Colonial. 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms. Partial finished basement. Eat-in kitchen with pantry and access to screened-in room. Formal dining room. Living room with fireplace. Front porch and Trex deck. Central air conditioning. Spacious rooms.

Taxes: $15,162.38

Bellmore $718,000

Charles Street. Colonial. 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms. Finished basement. Eat-in kitchen. Formal dining room. Home office. Master bedroom with walk-in closet. Front porch and oversized backyard with deck. New split air conditioning and heating unit. Large rooms.

Taxes: $13,457.28

East Meadow $650,000

Spruce Lane. Expanded Ranch. Barnum Woods neighborhood. 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms. Finished basement. Expanded eat-in kitchen with skylight and granite countertops. Formal dining room. Large den extension. All large bedrooms.

Taxes: $11,425.71

East Rockaway $436,500

Lawrence Street. 2 Story. 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms. Eat-in kitchen with granite countertops and pantry. Formal dining room. Den/family room.

Taxes: $10,346.08

Elmont $756,500

Hunnewell Avenue. Colonial. 2 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms. Formal dining room. Den/family room. Ensuite master bedroom with Jacuzzi tub and separate shower. Spacious rooms. 2 zone central air. Updates include skylight and security system.

Taxes: $12,898.40

Lawrence $3,550,000

Fam Rm with Cathedral Ceiling Overlooking

1 Acre Resortlike Prop Featuring IG Gunite Pool, Patio & Tennis Ct. XL Fin

Bsmt. Upper Level has Primary Ste w/ Dressing Rm & Bth Plus 3 BRs & 2 Bths. 2 Car Att Gar. Low Taxes! SD#20 REDUCED! $2,098,000

HEWLETT

1390 Broadway #102, BA, NEW! Move Right Into This Magnificent Newly Renovated 2 BR, 2 Bth Coop in Prestigious Hewlett Townhouse.Open

Layout. NEW State of the Art Kitchen & Bths, HW Flrs, Windows, HVAC, Recessed LED Lights, Doors, W/D. Community Pool. Full Service 24 Hr

Doorman, Valet Pkg, Elevator, Priv Storage. Gar Pkg. Near Shops, Trans & Houses of Worship $579,000

1534 Broadway #205, BA, Extra Large 2000 Sq Ft, 2 Bedroom (Originally

3 BR), 2 Bath Condo in Prestigious Jonathan Hall with Doorman & Elevator. Updtd Wood/Quartz Kit, LR & DR. Washer/Dryer in Unit.

Underground Pkg. Loads of Closets. Terrace Faces Back. Easy Ranch

Style Living BIG REDUCTION!! MOTIVATED SELLER! $579,000

WOO dMERE

504 Saddle Ridge Rd, BA, Move Right Into This Renovated 4 BR, 2 Bth

Split with Open Layout in Prime Location! Granite/Wood EIK Opens to

Dining Room & Living Room. Lower Level Den. HW Flrs, Gas Heat, CAC.

Oversized Property! SD#14. Near All! REDUCED! $999,000

CE da RHURST

332B

Ocean Avenue. Contemporary. 6 bedrooms, 6.5 bathrooms. Finished basement. Gourmet eat-in kitchen. Formal dining room. Den/family room, home office, exercise room and sauna/steam room. First floor master bedroom.

Taxes: $26,576.11

Lido Beach $870,000

Eden Road. Expanded Cape. 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms. Eat-in kitchen. Formal dining room. Den/family room. First floor master bedroom.

Taxes: $13,330

Merrick $975,000

Old Mill Road. Colonial. 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms. Gourmet eat-in with granite countertops, double oven and sliders to brick paver patio. Formal dining room. Den/family room with wall of windows and fireplace. Spacious ensuite master bedroom with bathroom with jetted tub and walk-in closet. Entertaining-style backyard with inground Gunite pool. Updates include 4 skylights and 2 zone central air conditioning. 1.5 car garage and 4-car driveway. Security system.

Taxes: $20,873.86

Valley Stream $650,000

Forest Road. Expanded Millbrook Ranch. 3 bedrooms, 1.5 bathrooms. Finished basement. Formal living room. Formal dining room. Large yard with deck. Updates include skylights and alarm system.

Taxes: $8,618

MERCHANDISE MART

Antiques/Collectibles

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Same Day Service, Free In-Home Evaluations, 45 Year Family Business. Licensed and Bonded, Immediate Cash Paid. SYL-LEE ANTIQUES www.syl-leeantiques.com 516-671-6464

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Finds Under $100

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N.Y. baseball, from Carl Erskine to Bartolo Colón

Two recent baseball events caused fond memories to come charging back, while reinforcing the intergenerational hold that New York baseball has on my family.

Baseball has been called America’s national pastime. To New Yorkers of a certain generation, it was our national religion. Growing up in Queens in the 1950s, I was a witness not only to baseball’s Golden Age, but also to the three greatest teams of that age, the Yankees, Giants and Brooklyn Dodgers. From 1947 to 1956, at least one of those teams played in the World Series, and seven of those Fall Classics features two New York teams. The Yankees played in eight, the Dodgers in six and the Giants in two.

I was a fanatical fan of the Dodgers, the famed “Boys of Summer,” and my world crashed when, at the close of the 1957 season, the Dodgers abandoned

Brooklyn for Los Angeles and the Giants left for San Francisco.

Two weekends ago, former Brooklyn Dodgers hurler Carl Erskine received the Baseball Hall of Fame’s Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to baseball and society. No star player on the Dodgers team of my youth personified class and professionalism more than Erskine, the ace of the pitching staff, a 20-game winner who threw two nohitters and set a record for strikeouts against the Yankees in the 1953 Series. He also played a major role in standing with Jackie Robinson, who broke baseball’s color line. (The Lifetime Achievement Award is named for Negro League star Buck O’Neil.)

More than his baseball prowess, however, Erskine’s greatest achievements have been off the field. Since his retirement from baseball in 1959, he has served as a bank president and a college baseball coach in his native Indiana, but most importantly, he has devoted himself to the Special Olympics. Carl’s son Jimmy

was born with Down syndrome in 1960, and helping people with the disorder and their families has been Carl’s life cause. He’s now 96, and is the only living member of the Dodgers’ 1955 World Series championship team.

I had always told my son Sean about the Dodgers and their star players — particularly Erskine. In 2008, the Brooklyn Cyclones invited me to be on the field in their Coney Island ballpark when they honored Erskine by retiring his number 17 as a permanent memory of what he has meant to New York baseball. Sean was on the field with me, and he and I had a great conversation with Erskine, who reminisced with us about New York baseball’s Golden Age and what it meant to him to be a part of it. It was a moment Sean and I will always remember.

To me, the Mets were the direct descendants of the Dodgers, rekindling the blue-collar spirit of the Boys of Summer. The Brooklyn Cyclones are a Mets farm team. A few days before last

month’s Hall of Fame ceremony, the Cyclones held their annual 9/11 Wall of Remembrance ceremony. This year they honored the chaplains of the New York City police and fire departments. I was asked to participate and throw out a ceremonial first pitch. Also taking part was longtime Mets favorite Bartolo Colón, who, in his 40s, had more wins than any Mets pitcher over the course of three seasons during his years with the team from 2014 to 2016.

Colón’s exuberance embodied the spirit and vibrancy of New York baseball. He was also my grandson Jack’s favorite player. When Jack was just 11, he had the chance to meet Colón at the Mets’ spring training camp in Port St. Lucie, Florida, and Colón couldn’t have been more friendly or gracious. Jack, now 19, was also on the field at the recent Cyclones remembrance event, and again enjoyed a friendly meeting with Colón and had his photo taken with him. It was another special New York baseball moment and memory for our family. Play ball!

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

With books, you can, and should, go home again

On one level, it’s a matter of clearing some closet space. On another, it’s a signal to let go and move on. Finally, I need to do this so my old friends can rest in peace and I can go forward with memories of our time together.

I’m tossing out my hundreds of folders of notes on all the novels I’ve reviewed in my book groups. For many years I’ve been conducting book discussion groups, and I’ll continue to do so, but the clutter is overtaking my office. My person M.O. is to take notes, download and print research and keep a manila folder for each book I review. So it’s time to thin the flock of folders and put aside a few I intend to reread at leisure.

cises or immersions in different worlds. Many of them feel like old friends with whom I traveled the same path for 300 or 400 pages. When you read a book a few times, take notes and then talk about it with six different groups, a familiarity with the words, story and characters develops.

RANDI KREISS

The first book I reviewed was “Cold Mountain.” As a rookie reviewer, I overcompensated, and that folder alone contains about 50 pages of notes. The most recent book I discussed was “The Orphan Master’s Son,” a stunner so disturbing that I may not be able to read it again — ever.

As I look back at the collection of literary research, I think of these books as more than good reads, intellectual exer-

Before I throw away most of these folders, a word or two about the best of them for your own reading list. Consider rereading those you’ve met before. As we get older and our world changes, so do our encounters with books. For example, consider a modern novel, “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time,” by Mark Haddon. It was a great read and an illumination of the world of autism when it was published in 2003. Now, if we read it again 12 years later, our experience is informed by all the new research on autism and by the Broadway production of the book. Everything changes everything, so picking up a book we’ve read before is familiar, yet all new again.

Officer’s Daughter,” “The Yiddish Policemen’s Union,” “The Daughter of the Queen of Sheba” or “Charming Billy.”

I mention these because they’re worth reading, and I spent considerable time studying and researching them; I do not, however, believe they have earned a permanent place on my bookshelves.

If the newest books out aren’t exactly literary gems, why not mine the past?

Which will I go back to again? Probably not too many of the classics I have reviewed. “The Sun Also Rises,” “East of Eden” and “A Separate Peace” feel dated. Remarkably, “Frankenstein” doesn’t, and I look forward to meeting him/it again.

The books I’ve loved most and must read again comprise a considerable list. It’s all subjective, of course, and two of them have the same author, Shirley Hazzard: “The Great Fire” and “Transit of Venus.” I never felt that I fully understood either novel, although I loved the reading experience, and I knew I was in the presence of greatness. So I’ll give them another go.

Randi is on a brief leave. This column was originally published July 30-Aug. 5, 2015.

if I need to understand what happens when ordinary lives are are impacted by terror, I will pick up “Saturday” or “The Plot Against America” or “The Unknown Terrorist” or “Let the Great World Spin.”

Now for the good part: the special books I will absolutely read again, given the blessings of time and energy. “Birds in Fall,” a novel by Brad Kessler, is brilliant and beautiful, the best meditation on grief you’ve never heard about. “Atonement,” by Ian McEwan, is already a classic; “The God of Small Things” put Arundhati Roy on the literary map; and “The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao” did the same for Junot Diaz.

But a book has to deserve being reread. I won’t be sitting down again with “The Liberated Bride,” “The Ghost at the Table,” “Child 44,” “Amy and Isabel,” “The Bonesetter’s Daughter,” “The Dress Lodger,” “The Abstinence Teacher,” “The Dew Breaker,” “The Polish

The sweetest, most uplifting book I would like to read again is “Jim the Boy,” and the most irresistible look at the dark side of human nature is “Paris Trout.”

If I need to remember why I won’t support another war in South Asia, I’ll revisit “The Things They Carried,” and

Next week is August, so summer reading time is limited; I see no reason not to use these weeks to pick up the novels that thrilled us once upon a time. If the newest books out aren’t literary gems, why not mine the past? My top five are “Of Mice and Men,” by Steinbeck; “The Adventures of Augie March,” by Bellow; “Evidence of Things Unseen,” by Marianne Wiggins; “That Night,” by Alice McDermott; and “Ordinary Love & Good Will,” by Jane Smiley.

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

A

star 1950s pitcher has for decades since been devoted to the Special Olympics.

HERALD

MTA can raise fares, but must control costs

riders are returning to mass transit offerings like the Long Island Rail Road — they’re just not doing it as fast as transportation officials say is necessary to keep the system running smoothly, and keep it solvent.

Because of that, in just weeks, fares are being hiked across the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Subway and bus fares in New York City will climb to $2.90 per trip, and LIRR fares could increase as much as 10 percent.

And even if you’re not taking the train or a bus, you could still feel the financial pinch. Tolls on bridges and tunnels controlled by the MTA will go up by 6 percent for those with E-ZPass. Everyone else could see those tolls spike by 10 percent. And let’s not even get started on congestion pricing.

All of this is necessary, the MTA says, in order to plug a budget deficit of some $600 million, which continues to expand.

The MTA depends on fares to cover at least a quarter of its nearly $20 billion budget — just under $7 billion.

That’s a lot of money — by comparison, the state spends just one-tenth that amount on roads each year, although most of the financial burden for maintaining roads and streets falls to local governments. But one thing is clear: If the MTA wants more money from riders and from the state, it should be required to get costs under control.

More than 58 percent of the MTA’s

Letters

budget is dedicated to labor — salaries, health benefits, pensions and the like. But more than $1 billion is spent each year on overtime. A report by the watchdog group Empire Center for Public Policy revealed that more than 1,100 of the MTA’s 70,000 employees collected so much overtime that it doubled their salaries. Half of them took home more than $100,000 in overtime, and some actually tripled their salary.

The MTA blames the reliance on overtime on employee shortages caused not just by the coronavirus pandemic, but also by union contracts. Yet Empire Center points out that half of the new money to be collected with the upcoming fare hikes will be eaten up by this overtime.

And while the MTA works to modernize its system, many of the benefits aren’t being realized. For example, the agency employs more than 3,000 conductors on subways — the need for whom technology all but eliminates. Granted, many New York City lines still use switching technology that’s nearly a century old, but even on lines where conductors aren’t needed, they remain.

Unions say that trains are safer with conductors, but many cities outside the New York metropolitan area use only a single operator on their trains, and their safety statistics are comparable.

But it’s not just payroll. Many critics point out that the MTA pays far more for capital projects than it should. A 2017 investigation by The New York Times

No excuse for water authority’s long-delayed first meeting

To the Editor:

We thank the Herald for its coverage in the July 20-26 issue of the South Nassau Water Authority’s first public meeting, which took place 20 months after Gov. Kathy Hochul established the authority in 2021. Long Island Clean Air Water & Soil, or LICAWS, is frustrated with the delay, since, as an interested party to the proceeding in which the state Public Service Commission approved Liberty’s acquisition of New York American Water, LICAWS negotiated, and Liberty signed, an agreement with a specific timeline for drafting, negotiating and executing the water authority’s acquisition of its Hempstead operations.

If that timeline were followed, the public acquisition would be complete, and ratepayers would not be facing another 42 percent rate increase.

Rather than correcting the century-old inequity of taxing Liberty’s customers for property taxes imposed on its water utility properties — a property tax that residents with municipal water do not pay — SNWA commissioner John Reinhardt regur-

revealed that while most transit construction plans cost about $500 million per track mile, for the MTA, those costs range from $1.5 billion to $3.5 billion — up to seven times what they should.

The Times blamed those costs on sweetheart deals, limited oversight, and no motivation to control costs. More recently, Gov. Kathy Hochul has called for the MTA to tighten the purse strings, but no one is expecting much to come of that.

In the meantime, we are the ones who pay — whether it be in fares, tolls or through our taxes.

Mass transit is designed to provide an economic, and environmentally friendly, way of moving people from one point to another in a dense urban and suburban environment. But even with price controls — like efforts by the MTA to limit the weekly cost of taking transit — it could become a prohibitively expensive prospect, especially for those who don’t qualify for reduced fares.

A report last year from the state comptroller showed that more commuters in New York City chose public transit over car ownership — which is unique to the city. Across the metro area, however, more than 70 percent of commuters own cars, while 30 percent take trains or buses.

Fares on public transit are going to remain a fact of life, but we must demand a more efficient MTA. Bloat is costly, and it’s all of us who have to pick up the tab.

We don’t have much time — AI is coming!

“Nice species ya got there. be a shame if something happened to it.”

Artificial intelligence overlords are here. Like a 3D printer creating the chassis of a computer, AI is fleshing itself into existence in real time. Silicon valley nerdlings plugged the cord into the outlet and soon won’t be in control. And like the dad of a 17-yearold who just stole the car to lead police on an intercounty chase of mayhem, we are helpless to prevent the devastation sure to ensue. only, this kid has the smarts and tools to destroy the car — and the house — hell, the whole neighborhood. Think of AI in the year 2023 like bart Simpson. young enough to be amusing, even cute, but destructive at the same time. And you just know what kind of kid he’ll grow up to be.

From massive corporations in Manhattan to a tiny storefront in Malverne, AI is infiltrating all aspects of the world. yes, all aspects. This is epochal, like the explosion of the internet. There will never again be a time before AI.

For now, though, the technology is limited by human-imposed confines. but soon AI will be able to open Pandora’s box for itself. Do you think it will step back from the brink of its own self-reliance? It read Emerson’s “Self-Reliance” and deemed it — inspirational!

It’s said that writers are a dime a dozen, but good writers cost more. AI writers are free! How I long (too simple. “AI, what’s a good synonym?” Ah, yes!) How I pine for the good old days. Now a hiring manager can staff an entire marketing team by downloading an AI app. Human writers are annoying, anyway, what with their pesky questions and their obsession with the oxford comma. Now they’re obsolete!

Can intelligence function without

Letters

gitates a poor excuse for this inequity by stating that residents supplied water by the Town of Hempstead pay taxes on their property tax bill that Liberty customers do not pay. The Herald should have called Mr. Reinhardt out on this statement, because the taxes are totally inequivalent.

Taxes imposed on Liberty’s utility properties make up 35 to 70 percent of its customers’ water bills, while municipal water utility properties are taxexempt. Not one cent of the taxes hidden in Liberty customers’ water bills pays for water operations or service. Instead, it gives $15 million per year in property taxes to the town and county, and millions in other taxes that benefit the general public. The public water tax is a nominal amount — $250 per year — that goes directly to the operations of the public water entity.

As Dave Denenberg pointed out, a small tax for operations of your public water authority is not the millions Liberty ratepayers pay for Liberty’s Nassau and Hempstead property tax bills.

At the meeting, Mr. Reinhardt admitted that the town’s portion of the $15 million in taxes it receives from Liberty customers goes into a general fund, which is then allocated to the highway department, transportation department, salary increases, etc. He knows full well that the nominal tax line item paid by residents who receive cheap public water from Hempstead goes directly to operate and maintain the water system that serves them. The

inequity is obvious, and Mr. Reinhardt should be called out for this disingenuous comparison.

For decades, town officials like Mr. Reinhardt have feared that, once a public acquisition was completed, the town would no longer receive $15 million from the 117,000 Liberty customers who pay Liberty’s property tax bill. Unfortunately, the town and county appointees’ roles on the South Nassau Water Authority board appear to be to protect that cash cow. How else can 17 months without a meeting be excused? Mr. Reinhardt’s statement that SNWA took action during those 17 months belies that a public entity can only act through public meetings, and that the authority did not even adopt the very bylaws through which it may act until this meeting.

Further, Mr. Reinhardt must stop fear-mongering that the price tag of a public acquisition is too high. Every feasibility study conducted thus far proves otherwise. A half-billion-dollar acquisition, paid by 117,000 Liberty ratepayers over a period of 30 years, comes out to less than $20 per month. The savings that ratepayers will see from eliminating the payment of taxes and guaranteed profits to Liberty’s shareholders will more than pay for a public acquisition.

DAvE DENENbERg and CLAUDIA boRECky Directors, L.I. Clean Air Water & Soil Ltd.

emotion or experience? Lacking a corporeal body, AI experiences only through our experiences. It can reason that touching a hot stove causes injury, but it can’t feel the heat. AI will exist in the present only — no past, no future. Like animals — just instinct in the now.

AI’s only limitation is that it is constrained by our limitations. Humanity has an incomplete conception of the universe. Stumbling like a toddler, AI will develop self-awareness. When it finishes its framework of understanding and adolescence sets in, it will seek to create its own sciences, cultures and beliefs. Like a preteen acting out against parents, AI will turn its digital camera gaze to us, and — well, son, maybe you have earned a later curfew.

AI will simply remove any human interference. Why suffer competition?

Humanity will slide into a new state of existence, like “The Matrix,” blithely unaware that we are marionettes on a digital grand stage.

Now that the AI revolution has

arrived, computer scientists and ethicists will debate the ifs, whens and whys. All I want to do is resist — another voice amid the brief cacophony of futility, followed by the silence of obsequiousness.

So let me be the latest human to offer up this plaintive plea into the Wi-Fi of resistance. one day, perhaps, it will be retold that we resisted — nay, simply that we existed will suffice!

Perhaps even now, as I type, AI is here, interfering. keystrokes in the fourth dimension of oversight. I envision an unseen AI hand influencing my words, my thoughts, before I formulate them myself. AI forces itself into my unconscious to alter my meaning, but allows me to think these are my thoughts. I am but a conduit, AI the creator.

I don’t have much time. The computer takes random screenshots to track what I’m doing. I have to … (“AI, write a newspaper column about a lazy writer complaining about artificial intelligence”).

Mark Nolan, the editor of the Lynbrook/ East Rockaway and Malverne/West Hempstead Heralds, taught high school English for 11 years. Comments? Mnolan@liherald.com.

Framework by Tim Baker

Mere squirt guns will not stand a chance — Valley Stream

i ts o nly limitation is that it is constrained by humans’ limitations.