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Elmont High School’s boys’ basketball team captured the Nassau County Class AA championship last Saturday, beating South Side 51-34 at Farmingdale State College. Story, additional photos, Page 6.
For a month, students at Franklin Square’s Polk Street School have been without a head principal to greet them during morning drop-off. At a special meeting of the school district’s Board of Education on Feb. 28, emotions ran high as parents spoke of the beloved principal, Gilbert Torossian, with tears in their eyes, asking why he hadn’t been in school and how they could support him.
Students noticed Torossian’s absence beginning the week of Feb. 5.
Lynette Solina, of Franklin Square, said she felt that the lack of notification for weeks was “really disappointing.” She said her son, who is in second grade, immediate-
In a matter of hours on Jan. 27, a chaotic fire, which started at Jadwiga’s Polish American Deli on West Lincoln Avenue, swept through the heart of the village’s business district, trampling over a trio of locally-owned corner stores on Rockaway Avenue – Long Island Hearing Center of Long Island, Valley Stream Pharmacy, and Orange Skye Day Spa.
The destruction leveled against the storefronts, all of which have stood there for years, and in some cases
decades, was so complete that they were practically dislocated from the village’s downtown. Now, their business owners are struggling to make their stores whole again, and for most of them, questions of where to restart and how soon remain unclear.
For Dr. Larry Cardano, owner of the Long Island Hearing Center, it was not long after the fire he began scouring for a new location for his hearing practice – and he found one. His new officespace, located at 20 West Lincoln Avenue, is a stone’s throw away from his original spot, which he openedin 1996.
While some elements of the new office space are still under construction, Cardano’s been seeing patients since early February. What’s more, he says that despite the tragic loss of the original office, the new space represents a net gain for himself and his patients.
“Our patients don’t have to travel that far from the original site,” he said he refashioned the new office space in a way that allows him to upgrade his equipment based on the newest methods of treatment.
The Hearing Center’s quick rebound, however, appears to be an exception.
For the businesses that remain, it stands to reason that replacing what was lost has not been simple. For weeks, family, friends, and employees of the affected business owners have looked online for outside donations. Jadwiga’s Polish American Deli is one of them.
For those unfamiliar with Jadwiga’s, the once narrow storefront, operated by Jadwiga Strzepa and her family for nearly two decades, had garnered a reputation as the go-to destination for traditional Polish products, ranging from well-known classics like kielbasa to lesserknown items like pickled mush-
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Around 200 members of the Elmont community gathered at Gateway Christian Center in Valley Stream last weekend to celebrate Black History Month and Women’s History Month.
The event was hosted by Universal Interactions, an Elmont-based nonprofit with hopes of bridging the gap between generations in the community.
“We just wanted to highlight people in our community,” said Christiano Marcello, an executive director of Universal Interactions.
Marcello said the event was dedicated to recognizing women in the community. He said the event was held March 3 so that Universal Interactions could highlight both Women’s History Month and Black History Month together.
Musicians, dancers, singers, spoken word performers and more performed at Gateway Christian Center for the crowd last weekend. In total, there were 11 acts that performed.
Singers included Jay Forbes, Geniale Rebecca Medna, Diamond, Soley, Kimberly and Isaiah Tart. Dancers included Elmont Memorial High School Dancers, Bianca’s Dance Academy, Etana, LaRock, Christiano Marcello, Marc and Mickey. Musicians Roland Cameau, Mark Mellowkeys, and James Onwodi performed for the crowd. Marjorie Dejour Morales and Pastor Curtis performed spoken word. The event was cosponsored by Gateway Christian Center and Krystie Foundation.
–Nicole Wagner
Colombo Crime Family captain Vincent Ricciardo, of Franklin Square, was sentenced to 51 months in prison on Feb. 28 for extorting and attempting to siphon funds from a Queens-based labor union.
U.S. District Judge Hector Gonzalez sentenced Ricciardo, 77, also known as “Vinny Unions.” The court also ordered Ricciardo to pay $350,000 in forfeiture and $280,890 in restitution for his involvement in the long-running extortion of a senior official of the labor union and other criminal schemes he carried out as captain of the Colombo crime family of La Cosa Nostra, which is commonly known as the Mafia.
Ricciardo pleaded guilty to racketeering in July 2023 and admitted to his participation in the extortion as well as various conspiracies to commit money laundering, loansharking and fraud in connection with workplace safety certificates, according to federal prosecutors. He is the 10th defendant to be sentenced in the case regarding extortion of the labor union and other schemes.
“This prosecution represents our continued commitment to combatting organized crime and prosecuting the individuals who seek to enrich themselves at the expense of hardworking union members and their employers,” U.S. Attorney Breon Peace said in a news release on
Your
Feb. 28. “Today’s sentence holds Vincent Ricciardo accountable for his long-running extortion scheme, as well as for his years-long participation in the wide range of crimes committed by the Colombo crime family.”
According to federal prosecutors, Ricciardo and members of the crime family’s administration allegedly agreed to use extortionate means, including threats of bodily harm, to force the senior union official to give over a portion of his salary and make decisions that would financially benefit the crime family.
Tground right in front of his wife and kids, right in front of his (expletive) house,” and he continued with a profanity-laced tirade about not being afraid of going to prison and said he would shoot the union official in front of his family.
sentence holds Vincent Ricciardo accountable for his long-running extortion scheme.
This included applying pressure to force the trustees of the labor union’s associated health care benefit fund to select vendors who were associated with the crime family. The crime family’s administration allegedly sought to divert more than $10,000 per month from the health fund’s assets to themselves.
Prosecutors also said that Ricciardo allegedly threatened to kill the senior union official in a consensually recorded conversation. In the conversation, Ricciardo said that the senior union official would continue to obey him because he knew Ricciardo would “put him in the
by Joan Chittister
subtitled “Growing Old Gracefully”, written by her at age seventy, the same age your writer turns this year.
Inevitably, we come to see things differently as we age. In “The Gift of Years” these changes in the “capstone years” as she calls them, present the gift of becoming more fully alive than ever. Cicero notes that old age is richer in reflection, force of character and judgement. The maturity and mellowing of character allows the older generation to provide a behavioral model for younger generations showing them the way to a fullness of life.
Seneca said these years abound with pleasure if we know how to use them. Free of obligations and deadlines, there is freshness in these years. Understanding, enjoyment and love of life all increase, allowing for deeper, richer and more important experiences. The world looks different — more to be treasured, explored and enjoyed.
A certain serenity sets in.
Chittister writes “But we are here to depart from this world as finished as we can possibly become. Old age is...exactly the time to grow in new ways [making] sense out of all the growing we have already done. It is the softening season when everything in us is meant to achieve its sweetest, richest, most unique self”.
Chittister calls it a damping-down time of life where anger, jealousy, envy, and pride subside to awaken another whole level of life.
“As Agatha Christie put it, we ‘bloom’ as we grow. New abilities emerge, new insights arise. New vision is possible.”
A certain urgency and intensity in living sets in as we become aware of the presence of time. With forty short chapters on subjects such as Regret, Joy, Possibility, Letting Go, Success, Wisdom, Time and Appreciation, “The Gift of Years” provides an indispensable guide to aging well.
Ricciardo also allegedly worked with Bonanno crime family soldier John Ragano, 61, also from Franklin Square, known as “Bazoo” and the “Maniac,” in a scheme issuing fraudulent workplace safety training certifications from two occupational safety schools that Ragano allegedly operated on Long Island.
Prosecutors said that Ragano, John Glover, 64, of Queens, and Domenick Ricciardo, 57, another Franklin Square resident, allegedly falsified paperwork for hundreds of workers submitted to the U.S. Department of Labor and other government agencies, representing that they had competed construction safety training courses when they had not. Vincent Ricciardo had allegedly plotted to funnel union workers to Ragano’s schools and used the facilities to conduct meetings involving members of La Cosa Nostra.
Domenick Ricciardo pleaded guilty to racketeering in December 2022 and was
sentenced in June of last year to 28 months in prison, forfeiture of $25,000 and $280,890 restitution. Ragano pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit fraud in connection with a means of identification in November 2022 and was sentenced in April of last year to 57 months in prison and forfeiture of $500,000. Glover faces up to 15 years in prison.
Several other alleged members of the crime family were previously sentenced for various felony charges regarding the money laundering scheme from healthcare benefit fund contracts.
Colombo crime family captain Theodore Persico Jr., 59, of Brooklyn—who the government alleged would be the family’s next crime boss—pled guilty to racketeering and was sentenced to 60 months in prison and $280,890 restitution.
Underboss Benjamin “Benji” Castellazzo, 85, from Manahawkin, New Jersey, pleaded guilty to money laundering and was sentenced to 15 months in prison.
Ralph DiMatteo, 68 of Merrick, pleaded guilty to racketeering and was sentenced to 36 months in prison and $280,890 restitution Michael Uvino, 57, of Garden City, pleaded guilty to racketeering and was sentenced to 41 months in prison, forfeiture of $66,000 and $280,890 restitution.
Alleged Colombo crime family captain Richard Ferrara, 61, of Brooklyn, pleaded guilty to racketeering and awaits sentencing.
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Doubling up South Side in the first half of last Saturday’s Nassau Class AA boys’ basketball championship game proved crucial for Elmont, which went the entire third quarter without a field goal and clung to a three-point lead heading into the fourth.
The fifth-seeded Spartans remained stone cold from the floor early in the final quarter but had ice in their veins from the foul line and shutdown defense, propelling them to a 51-34 victory at Farmingdale State College for their first county title in four seasons.
Senior Cassius Moore had a game-high 16 points and junior Nassir Edwards added 10 as Elmont (20-4) avenged a loss in last year’s semifinals to the Cyclones, who went on to capture the Nassau and Long Island Class A crowns. Sophomore John Pericolosi paced No. 2 South Side with 10 points.
“It feels great to bring the title back to Elmont,” said Moore, who finally broke the Spartans’ field-goal drought in the second half with 3:43 remaining in the game with a three-pointer for a 43-31 lead. “Two years ago we were 5-14 and last year South Side sent us home in the semifinals,” he added. “We definitely had a fire under us to go all the way.”
Elmont, which scored the game’s first 10 points and built a 32-16 halftime cushion, will take on Half Hollow Hills East in the Long Island Class AA championship game next Saturday at 3 p.m. at Farmingdale State.
“It was so important that we stayed together when South Side made its run,” Elmont head coach Ryan Straub said. “We knew it was coming. You’re not going to run a great and well-coached team like that out of the gym. We’ve been through a lot of ups and downs this season and I knew we were going to tough this one out and find a way.”
Senior Kymani Dias drained a pair of treys in the first half, while senior Osagie Ekhator and junior Ebubenna Nwabudu chipped in four points apiece while holding their own in the paint against a sizeable opponent.
“They have four guys who are 6-foot-5 and that concerned us,” Straub said of South Side’s Ryan Kennedy, Patrick Mullin, Ryan Schmitt and Francis Sweeney. “I thought we did as good a job as we possibly could down low.”
The Cyclones (20-4) outscored the Spartans 15-2 in the third quarter and a game that had the markings of a blowout was suddenly up for grabs.
Elmont responded, however, scoring the first nine points of the fourth quarter to lead by a dozen. Moore went 4-for-4 from the foul line and Edwards went 2-for-2.
“Elmont is a dynamite team and put us in a hole early,” South Side head coach Jerry D’Angelo said. “I give our guys a lot of credit. They fought so hard to get within three after being down 16. We just couldn’t sustain our run in the fourth quarter.”
Edwards capped the victory with an electric dunk in the closing seconds.
“I thought we kept our heads up and stuck to the game plan,” Edwards said. “We’ve come a long way in two years and this was our goal ever since last season’s semifinal loss.”
The diverse Long Island real estate scene includes industry experts from every niche specialty from construction and design, to insurance and sales. And the best of the best were honored last week as part of Herald Community Newspapers and RichnerLive’s third annual Real Estate Achievement and Leadership Awards, or REAL Awards.
“It’s a relatively small island, but a lot of things are happening,” said Chris Kelly, the marketing vice president at Tritec Real Estate Co.
Held at The Heritage Club at Bethpage, this year’s awards once again honored many leaders in the space who have been in the game for decades, as well as up-and-coming professionals — all with successful projects and happy clients to show for their work.
Antoinette Biordi, four-time Emmy Award-winning anchor and reporter for News 12, handed out a number of awards split into nearly 30 categories that included Broker of the Year, Construction Group of the Year, and the top residential and commercial broker.
Sara Gore, real estate saleswoman and four-time Emmy Award-winning television host for “Open House” and “New York Live” on NBC, was a keynote speaker and recipient of the special “Trailblazer” award.
“I’ve been in this business for a long time,” Gore said. ”But now to be on the other side of things — and be on the real estate side and really feel like I’ve solidified my place, my stake in this industry — it feels really good to be a part of it.
“I’m so proud to be included within this group of professionals that are here tonight.”
Mel Pulatani and son Dan of MP Construction D — a general contracting company specializing in luxury residential and sophisticated commercial projects — were given the Father & Son Power Team special award.
“I mean it’s obviously an honor to be honored at this event,” Dan Pulatani said. “But I have to give all credit to my father. He’s the real reason we’re here. He’s the guy that makes the dream happen. I’m lucky and honored to be his partner every day.”
Eric Alexander, executive director of Vision Long Island, accepted the NotFor-Profit special award.
“The theme of our work is connecting to local communities,” Alexander said. “And that’s how real estate development is successful: When they work with local communities. It means a lot when a number of the other honorees, too, are connected to local communities. I’m in great company.”
Steven Krieger, chief executive of B2K Development, was selected as Power Developer of the Year.
“Hard work leads to luck,” Krieger said. “I’ve been so lucky to meet so many great people in this business.”
Beth Donner, founder of Melvillebased Beth Donner Design, was honored
with the Interior Designer of the Year special award. Christopher Robinson, president of R&M Engineering, accepted the engineering special award, while also celebrating 25 years in the business.
Elisabetta Coschignano, of the Sahn Ward Braff Koblenz Coschignano law
firm, was among those honored in the commercial real estate category.
“I pride myself on being prepared in the Long Island real estate world, and especially as it relates to zoning and land use,” Coschignano said.
Connie Pinilla, principal agent for the
Connie Pinilla Team at Compass, received the brokers’ award in the residential category for her 21 practicing years.
“I love real estate,” Pinilla said. “It makes me feel on top of the world.”
Gold Sponsors of the event included B2K Development and Beth Donner Design.
Silver Sponsors were All State Abstract, Amazon, Anthony A. Nozzolillo Esq., Breslin Realty Development Corp., Brookhaven Industrial Development Agency, Brown Harris Stevens, Champion Elevators, Cronin & Cronin, Damianos Realty Group, Empire Electrical Corp., GC Advisory Group, Harris Beach PLLC, Long Island Board of Realtors, Men on the Move, Merritt Environmental Consulting Corp., Metropolitan Realty Associates, Mojo Stumer Associates, MP Construction D, PX4 Development, R&M Engineering, Sahn Ward Braff Koblenz Coschignano, Signature Premier Properties, Suffolk County Industrial Development Agency, the Connie Pinilla Team at Compass, the Crest Group and Tritec.
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ly noticed Torossian’s absence.
“I’ve known Mr. T a long time, and he’s the kind of man where if he was sick or something, I feel like he would have wanted the community to know,” Solina said.
Community members said they felt blindsided by his sudden leave of absence “due to unforeseen circumstances,” which was announced in a Feb. 27 email sent to parents by district Superintendent Jared Bloom.
The email added that Washington Street School Assistant Principal Dominic Gobbo would be stepping in as interim principal effective March 5. Gobbo has been in his Washington Street position for the past five years, and was a teacher in the district for 16 years.
“He is known by the teachers — he knows our community,” Bloom said at the meeting the following day, to which one voice in the audience could be heard responding that Gobbo “doesn’t know our kids.” Bloom reiterated to the crowd that the situation is temporary.
Around 60 people attended the special meeting to express their support for Torossian. They also voiced their outrage about their children having gone to school for weeks without a head principal, and for not receiving a timely notification from the district of his absence.
Community members defended Torossian’s character and his irreplaceable role in their children’s lives throughout his 13 years as principal of Polk Street. They described him as a principal who goes above and beyond, knowing every student by name at the school, celebrating their accomplishments over the P.A. system, giving out birthday stickers and much more.
John Fratarcangeli, of Franklin Square, described Torossian as more than a principal, also a “lunch buddy and a friend” to the students.
“His sudden absence has left a lot of families in disbelief,” Fratarcangeli said. “While we may not know exactly why he’s on leave, we do know that Polk Street isn’t the same and will not be the same until he returns.”
Community members repeatedly asked how they might be able to support Torossian, since they haven’t been able to get in touch with him for weeks.
Lisa Pigeon, of Franklin Square, said that his absence from the school has been “heartbreaking.”
“If there’s anything that we need to do to or to know to make this happen, I personally want to be involved, and I think everyone wants to be involved as well,” Pigeon said of finding a way to bring Torossian back to the school. “Because he is the absolute backbone of Polk Street and of this community.”
School district attorney Michael Vigliotta told the audience at the meeting that the board couldn’t discuss personnel matters with the public. “We completely have to maintain the privacy rights of all parties involved,” he said.
Attendees were left dissatisfied with the answers given by the board, asking what they should tell their children
can keep saying, like, ‘We have to just carry on, and it’s about the kids,’” Batthany said. “These kids notice his absence.”
about Torossian’s absence. They were not given a time frame as to when they could expect his return.
Kristin Cirotti, of Franklin Square, said she was disappointed in how the situation was handled, and felt there was a lack of transparency. She compared Torossian to the show “Cheers,” “Where everybody knows your name.”
“Having someone like Mr. Torossian in our school is priceless,” Cirotti said in tears, adding that no students or parents had gotten to say goodbye to him
before his sudden absence.
“No one got to give him his last hug, and I know that doesn’t mean a lot on an educational level, but for kids it means everything,” Cirotti said.
Vanessa Batthany, of Franklin Square, said she believed “there will never be anyone to fill Mr. T’s shoes.” She demanded answers from the Board of Education as to when he would return.
“We need to be able to tell them when this man is coming back, because you
On Feb. 29, students made signs that were put up in front of the school to express their support for Torossian. They were removed before school the next morning.
“The children who made these signs were absolutely devastated today that they were taken down,” said Sabrina Essig, of Franklin Square, who said her daughters made some of the signs.
The school board’s next meeting is scheduled for March 13, at 6:30 p.m., at Washington Street School.
A number of state electeds are calling on the governor to slow down her plans to make school buses electric by 2035 — something they say could have a devastating impact on district finances.
Some like state Sen. Steve Rhoads and state Sen. Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick joined Assemblyman John Mikulin and other officials handling fire and safety at schools at the Levittown Public School bus yard in Wantagh last week hoping they can convince Gov. Kathy Hochul to extend the deadline for that mandate deeper into the future to ensure it’s affordability for communities like those in Nassau County.
“There’s nothing magical about this New York state school bus mandate,” Rhoads said.
Citing the main character from the popular children’s television animated series “The Magic School Bus,” Rhoads said “even Ms. Frizzle herself would agree that this burdensome mandate takes chances, makes mistakes, and gets messy.”
The state’s current budget mandates all school buses must have no environmental impact through emissions by 2035, with districts only allowed to purchase electric school buses by mid-2027.
The idea, according to Hochul, is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 85 percent by 2050. The state’s environmental conservation department blames the transportation sector overall as one of New York’s largest sources of emissions, which contributes to climate change impacts such as increased heat waves, sea level rise and flooding.
“Old school buses are putting children’s health at risk, spewing toxic fumes and pollutants into the air that are proven to have negative health impacts,” Hochul’s office said, in a statement. “After New York vot-
ers approved an Environmental Bond Act that allocated $500 million for zero-emission school buses, Gov. Hochul is working with communities across New York to allocate these funds and ensure they are fully utilized.”
But Rhoads says the mandate does not account for the logistical and financial challenges that school districts, bus companies and power companies will face in implementing the plan. A new, full-sized electric bus costs as much as $450,000 — triple the price of a conventional.
With some 45,000 school buses on the road in the state, Rhoads says the full conversion by 2035 would cost in the neighborhood of $20 billion.
The Levittown school district — with a fleet of 80 buses — is in the beginning stages of the mandate. Superintendent Todd Winch said it would cost the district as much as $32 million to replace their fleet, and will purchase its first electric bus this year.
“We don’t replace a whole fleet for maybe 20 years, but now they’re asking us to replace the whole fleet from 2027 to 2035,” Winch said. “Now you’re talking about a very short time period to replace the whole fleet, which would be very, very difficult.”
In addition, the Levittown bus yard would require 40 charging stations, each one costing between $30,000 and $50,000, Winch added.
The state has offered to help, but Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick said the $500 million offered would only cover a little more than 1,200 buses. The rest would have to paid for by local taxpayers — and that’s not even including infrastructure and charging stations.
“Where’s the rest of that money coming from?” the state senator asked. “You, from the taxpayers, because that’s what the school districts will be forced to do to meet this mandate.”
But the current high costs associated with electric buses are expected to come down over time, Hochul said. The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority announced last September it believes the price of an electric school bus should be on-par with a gasoline-powered bus as early as 2027 thanks to advances in battery technology, more manufacturing, as well as lower fuel and maintenance expenses.
Rhoads calls Hochul’s mandate a rushed plan.
“We all want to see a greener future,” he said. “There is no question about that. But we have to make sure that if our goal is providing affordable, safe, and reliable transportation to our students, we have to make sure we have a plan which gets us to that future, but still accomplishes that primary goal.”
rooms. Kaisa Jankowski, a lifelong friend of the Strzepa family, launched a GoFundMe campaign to save the deli.
“She (Jadwiga) didn’t think twice when someone asked for help and it is times like these, we need to lend a helping hand to such a selfless and caring individual,” Jankowski wrote on the GoFundMe page.
“That is why as friends and customers of Jadwiga and her Deli, we ask for your help in getting the family back on their feet. Although thankful that no one was injured, the family is devastated that their long-time family business, in a matter of minutes, is gone.”
As of press time, Jankowksi, who declined to be interviewed, has accrued nearly $8,000 for the family.
Alisha Sohail, an intern at the Valley Stream Pharmacy, also launched her online fundraising campaign to help its owner, Azzam Elcheikh.
“Azzam has become a beloved figure in Valley Stream by consistently providing essential services, ensuring access to medications, and offering friendly, personalized care through his pharmacy,” she wrote in her plea for support. “The devastating fire took away eight years of hard work and dedication in an instant.”
The online fundraiser, which is now closed, raised about $1,300. And there seem to be some encouraging signs regarding the pharmacy’s comeback.
Chamber organizes relief efforts
“It was discussed at a recent chamber board meeting that the pharmacy has found a new space on Rockaway,” said Joosoo Kim, a realtor and board member
for the Valley Stream Chamber of Commerce. Many of “the businesses want to stay on Rockaway.”
Kim jump-started her online fundraiser on behalf of the Chamber and has racked up less than half of their $10,000 goal as of press time. Whatever money is raised, with the fundraiser expected to close by the end of the month, will be split evenly among the five businesses.
The fifth store was Integral Electric Co. which Kim said sat just to the right of the Polish Deli and experienced “smoke contamination and their interior was damaged.”
Even though only a single Chamber member, the L.I. Hearing Center, was hurt by the fire, the Chamber felt that “helping all these local businesses was the only right thing to do,” noted Kim. “It’s easy for us to forget other’s suffering when it’s not our family or friends involved. So, when these businesses do open, you know, we must welcome them back and let them know they were missed.”
A modest donation will also be given thanks to droves of residents and organizations who came out in a big show of solidarity at a fundraiser at BJ’s Brewhouse on Feb. 16. In partnership with the Chamber, BJ’s Brewhouse pledged to donate 20 percent of food and soft beverage sales for every flyer with a donation code presented during the fundraiser.
“We fundraised over $600,” said Joey Verrengia, general manager of the restaurant and brew house at Green Acres. “We wanted to step up and provide the resources that we have as a company to help give back. The event had a great turnout and a lot of first-time guests.”
A project timeline and updates about the construction of new thoroughbred racing facilities at Elmont’s Belmont Park were announced by Gov. Kathy Hochul on March 4.
The New York Racing Association, known as NYRA, which will oversee construction at the property, released a series of architectural renderings that bring the project’s vision to life.
“The redevelopment of Belmont Park is a critical investment in one of New York’s most historic sporting venues,” Hochul said in a news release. The last renovation to Belmont was made in the 1960s.
The existing 1.25 million-square-feet grandstand will be replaced with a roughly 275,000-square-feet building, featuring the modern amenities and hospitality offerings sports fans now expect. It will have the same 50,000-person capacity as the existing venue.
The demolition of the current Belmont Park grandstand and clubhouse is expected to begin in March and continue through early July. According to Hochul’s news release, the new building will begin to take shape in early 2025 with the installation of structural concrete. The remaining elements of the building including the exterior façade, roof and sweeping canopy will be added throughout 2025.
The new Belmont grandstand is being designed by architectural firm Populous with NYRA. The building will increase the amount of unstructured green space available to fans by reducing the overall footprint of the building.
“The future of Belmont Park is deeply important to Elmont,” said Belmont Park Local Advisory Board Member Sandra Smith in a news release. “So, it’s exciting to see a plan that expands green space for the community while modernizing the overall facility.”
Vehicular and pedestrian tunnels will provide access
to the 45-acre Belmont infield for the first time, providing fans and the surrounding community with more open space than ever before.
“Belmont Park stands at the very center of Elmont, and has been a focal point of our community for decades,” said Elmont Chamber of Commerce President Julie Marchesella in a news release. “That’s why families in Elmont have eagerly awaited a renewed Belmont Park, and we applaud Governor Hochul and our friends at NYRA making this project a reality.”
A winterized building, new racing surfaces and a synthetic track will allow Belmont Park to host thoroughbred racing on a year-round basis.
NYRA is committed to modernizing the Belmont barn area and backstretch, including three new dormitories by 2026. It also plans to improve the on-site medical facility, install a modern Blue Light security system, upgrade the recreation hall and track kitchen facilities, renovate the on-site gymnasium, implement new flood mitigation strategies, ensure access to reliable Wi-Fi, replace fencing throughout the backstretch, improve multi-modal travel through construction of bicycle storage shed, and assess the feasibility of subsidized assistant trainer efficiency apartments.
a new 275,000-squarefeet grandstand and clubhouse, planned to take shape starting in early 2025, which increases green space available to fans at Belmont park.
As previously reported, the running of the 2024 Belmont Stakes will be held at Saratoga Race Course. The Stakes will be run on June 8 as part of the annual fourday festival.
The project is expected to be completed in 2026 and generate $1 billion in construction-related economic impact and create 3,700 construction-related jobs, according to NYRA. Once thoroughbred racing returns to Belmont, additional racing and non-racing activities will generate an estimated $155 million in annual economic output and produce $10 million in new state and local tax revenue per year.
NYRA is committed to working with organized labor alongside state certified Minority- and Women Owned and Service Disable Veteran-Owned Businesses to construct the building.
“The transformation of Belmont Park into a renewed economic driver is underway with backstretch improvements and world-class amenities – and it’s all being done with our union partners,” said Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages in a news release. “These details and milestones underscore New York’s commitment to the community, and I thank Governor Hochul for working with me to make this project a reality.”
By Karen Bloom
All roads lead back to Lynbrook it seems. Certainly for Joe Gatto.
He’s stepped away from his comfort zone — “The Impractical Jokers” — to the dismay of many folks. His loyal cadre of fans came to know him from the popular improvisational hidden camera show, which he hosted with his buddies Brian “Q” Quinn, James “Murr” Murray, and Sal Vulcano, for nine seasons.
Fans were certainly disappointed when he moved on from Q, Murr and Sal in 2021 to focus on co-parenting his two kids, Milana and Remington (now 9 and 7).
But you needn’t fret. Gatto is doing just fine — as is “Jokers,” now in its 10th season.
Since leaving his pals to carry on “Jokers” without him, the jokes certainly continue as Gatto’s taken his energy — and his comedic talents — to the stand-up circuit.
His tour, “Joe Gatto’s Night of Comedy,” arrives Friday at The Paramount in Huntington. Minus his friends, fans get an hour of Gatto, as he riffs on life, his family, and probably even his dogs.
“I’m extremely proud of this hour of comedy I’ve put together, and am so excited to film it at the first theater I performed on this tour back in February 2023,” Gatto says. “It also happens to be one of my favorite theaters, too, which is nice since it’s in my ‘hometown’ of Long Island.”
Of course, there were some nerves involved in going solo.
“After my time with ‘Jokers,’ I needed to figure out the next step in my career,” Gatto reflects.
• Friday, March 8, 7 and 9:30 p.m.
• $59.75, $39.75, $29.75
• Tickets available at Ticketmaster.com or ParamountNY.com
• The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington
“I needed to figure out different ways to make people laugh because that’s what I love to do. Stand-up presented itself as a way to do that. My agents and managers were like, ‘Why don’t you give stand-up a shot?’”
And so he did, on a winter’s evening in a small club in Appleton, Wisconsin, in January 2022, for a brief 35 minutes.
“I enjoyed it right from the get-go,” he says. “It quickly graduated into an hour show, and I moved up to theaters. Fans were coming out, and we’re having a great time. Telling stories of my life and thinking about different ways that I could express myself to get people to know me a bit better has been a really fun journey.”
Gatto readily admits it’s been a learning experience.
“It was a different format that I wasn’t necessarily versed in, so I was a little nervous,” he says. “The biggest thing for me was I had never performed live before. For 20 years, I was part of an ensemble, stand-up being its own art was a thing I needed to adapt to. I quickly took to it.
“The challenge of writing the hour, curating it, and thinking of what stories I want to tell and how to tell them and punch up the jokes, was fun to do.”
Everyone’s in on the fun right along with him.
“I’ve always been pretty open on ‘The Impractical Jokers,’”
talk about parenting, I’ve got lots of stories of my kids, also
he says. “I was always myself. I didn’t play a character, so when people watched it, they really to got to know the sense of me, my personality. Even a lot of my personal life was in that show as well. People who come to my show know me already from that. But here I get to tell different stories. I talk about parenting, I’ve got lots of stories of my kids, also the craziness of animal rescue with my dogs, growing up with my crazy Italian mother on Staten Island, and of course, my friends, the Jokers. There’s no shortage of stories.”
Oh yes, about those dogs. There are nine of them in the Gatto household, all older rescues.
“It’s like a pack mentality,” he says, laughing, insisting his four-legged companions “pretty much follow the house rules.”
Eventually the Gattos realized they couldn’t rescue every dog in need. Hence their nonprofit Gatto Pups & Friends, which facilitates adoptions for mainly senior and disabled dogs, opened in Glen Head in November 2022.
“We wanted to do it in our neighborhood,” he says. “We love being around here. We found a cool space for the storefront, right across the street from one of our favorite places for lunch. It just all aligned.”
Although firmly ensconced in Glen Head, the South Shore still calls out to him. Gatto frequently visits Lynbrook, where he lived between 2014 and 2017, and where his sister still resides.
His family ties bring him frequently back to visit.
“I love Lynbrook,” he says.“I had such a great experience there. There’s always something special about your first home.”
Plus, “Vincent’s is still one of my favorite pizzerias,” he adds.
You’ll even find him hanging out at Lynbrook’s Regal, taking in a movie with his niece and nephew.
“I go there all the time with them,” he shares. “They’re movie buffs like me, and that’s our go-to movie theater.”
In fact, a film may be in his future.
“I’m doing pretty good, enjoying my ride right now,” Gatto says. “But I’ve always wanted to write and direct film. That’s actually why I got into entertainment. So that’s what I’m focusing on now. That’s what’s left on the bucket list, along with always creating and thinking of new ways to make people smile.”
And as for his outing at The Paramount, it’s being filmed for a comedy special.
“I’ve been working to two years on the thing,” he says, “so I don’t it want it to just go away.”
And there’s always the possibility of another collaboration with his “Jokers” buddies.
“I never un-united with them,” he says. “They’re still my friends. We’re just not ‘friends from work’ anymore. I love creating with those guys, so who knows what the future holds.”
The comedian-actress, who reigns as the queen of the alt-comedy scene, is eager to speak her mind when she visits here with her latest stand-up tour. Considered by many as an American institution since she first burst on the scene in 1992, the outspoken activist has plenty to say, in her own inimitable comedic style. Known for her incisive cynical sense of humor, the SNL alum has branched out into film and television, including ‘The Truth About Cats and Dogs,’ ‘Wet Hot American Summer’ and ‘Ratatouille,’ among her memorable roles. Garofalo’s informed opinions and unflinching honesty on topics ranging from everyday life to pop culture inspire laughs and strike a chord with audiences everywhere. Often a lightning rod for controversy, Garofalo finds a way to get her point across with her trademark sense of humor. Known and respected worldwide, Garofalo was also instrumental in the successful launching of the first liberal radio network, Air America Radio, where she hosted her own talk show, ‘The Majority Report.’
Friday, March 8, 8 p.m. $33, $28. Jeanne Rimsky Theater at Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington. Tickets available at LandmarkOnMainStreet.org or (516) 767-6444.
The circus is back. The iconic Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey spectacle returns after a hiatus, re-imagined as a 360-degree experience that brings fans into the action. Packed with explosive excitement, ‘The Greatest Show On Earth’ begins and ends with a bang. Lauren Irving, Alex Stickels and Jan Damm join forces as Aria, Stix and Nick Nack, who serve as its soul, rhythm and funny bone. The trio, appearing as show guides, encounter never-before-seen stunts, acrobatic displays, and comedic acts along the way. An international cast of 75 performers take on a variety of enthralling circus acts, including new stunts like the Triangular Highwire, led by the Lopez Family, sixth-generation circus artists hailing from Mexico and Chile. There are also comic clowning, extreme sports, and acrobatic aerial feats — all enhanced with original music.
Friday through Sunday, March 8-10, times vary. Tickets available at Ticketmaster.com, or Ringling. com. UBS Arena, 2400 Hempstead Turnpike, Elmont.
When virtuoso Irish playing jumps the pond running through the wide open fields of Bluegrass and Americana, JigJam is born. This Offaly and Tipperary-born band has started the Irish invasion of Americana with a brand new band member from Glasgow injecting the magic of Scottish folk music. The lads bring their foot-stomping sound to the Landmark stage, for a St. Patrick’s Day celebration, Saturday, March 16, at 8 p.m. Described as ‘The best Irish band in bluegrass’ and ‘sparkling, infectious’ these gents have been hailed as ‘Ireland’s answer to New Grass Revival’. Founding members from Offaly Jamie McKeogh (lead singer and guitar) and Daithi Melia (5 string banjo and Dobro) were joined by Tipperary-born Gavin Strappe (mandolin and tenor banjo) in 2016. They’ve since added Glasgow native Danny Hunter (fiddle) to make up this iGrass (Irish Bluegrass) quartet. They’ve been hailed as “Ireland’s answer to New Grass Revival,” with a sound that has its roots in Irish music and Irish immigration. iGrass and JigJam is what happens when the Irish find their prodigal son. $38.14-$49.48. Jeanne Rimsky Theater at Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington. Tickets available at LandmarkOnMainStreet.org or (516) 767-6444.
Inspired by L. Frank Baum’s stories, this clever adaptation puts the audience front and center, literally, on the Long Island Children’s Museum stage, Friday, March 8, 10:15 a.m. and noon, Sunday, March 10, 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.; Wednesday and Thursday, March 13-14,10:15 a.m. and noon. Kids become cast members, singing dancing, and acting on stage alongside the professional cast.
One of our most interactive shows at LICM Theater, this production received rave reviews in its prior run. Going beyond the traditional telling of the Oz stories, “Journey to Oz” uses personal journal entries and historic newspaper headlines to bring the history of author L. Frank Baum and illustrator W.W. Denslow to life. Dorothy, the Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion take the audience with them on this lively, playful trip down the yellow brick road. $10 with museum admission ($8 members), $14 theater only. Long Island Children’s Museum, Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 224-5800 or LICM.org.
On exhibit
Nassau County Museum of Art’s latest exhibition, “Our Gilded Age,” examines the appearances and the realities of an era that mirrors our own in many ways.
Like the nation’s economy, American art and literature flourished during the Gilded Age. The art of John Singer Sargent, Childe Hassam, Louis Comfort Tiffany and others adorned palatial residences designed by Stanford White and Ogden Codman Jr., architect of the museum’s own quintessential Gilded Age mansion.
Drawing heavily upon the local literary history of Long Island, including William Cullen Bryant, Mark Twain (who named the Gilded Age), Walt Whitman, Edith Wharton and others, the exhibition will include paintings, fashion, decorative arts including period silver and china, photographs, manuscripts, first editions and other historic memorabilia.
The “Upstairs, Downstairs” approach to the life of a country house brings to life not only the storied conspicuous consumption for which the Gilded Age was infamous, but also the real lives of these many individuals who maintained the palatial estates where that lifestyle was enjoyed.
On view through March 10 Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. (516) 484-9337 or NassauMuseum.org.
Friends of the Franklin Square Public Library sponsor a trip to the John Engeman Theater in Northport to see “Jersey Boys,” Wednesday, April 3. Bus will depart from Franklin Square Library at 11:30 a.m. and return approximately by 5:30 p.m. $135 per person, including gratuities and transportation via deluxe coach bus. Payable by check or money order at the circulation desk.
Tickets are non-refundable and seats are limited. RSVP on or before March 20. 19 Lincoln Road. Visit FranklinSquarePL. org or call (516) 488-3444 for more information.
Franklin Square elementary school students are welcome to drop by Franklin Square Public Library for help with their homework, Wednesdays. Students will work in small groups with National Honor Society students from Carey High School. No registration required. 19 Lincoln Road. For more information, visit FranklinSquarePl.org or call (516) 488-3444.
Converse, collaborate and create at Family Saturdays at Nassau County Museum of Art, Saturday, March 9, noon-3 p.m. Get inspired by the art and objects in the galleries and then join educators at the Manes Center to explore and discover different materials to create your own original artwork. Kids and their adult partners connect while talking about and making art together. A new project is featured every week. $20 adult, $10 child. Registration required. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. (516) 4849337 or NassauMuseum.org.
Franklin Square Historical Society honors Franklin Square veterans and Boy Scout Troop 93, Friday, April 26, at 6:30 p.m., at Plattduetsche Park Restaurant. If you know of a Franklin Square veteran the Historical Society can honor, contact Bill Youngfert at (516) 775-7260.
The Elmont Board of Education meets, Tuesday, March 12, 8 p.m. at Stewart Manor School. 38 Stewart Ave., Garden City. For more information, contact (516) 326-5500.
See some birds with the South Shore Audubon Society. All are welcome to join members for another in its series of bird walks, at Massapequa Lake, Sunday, March 10, starting at 9 a.m. Massapequa Lake is at the south end of Massapequa Preserve, between Lakeshore Boulevard and Ocean Avenue. Use street parking on the westbound side of Merrick Road.
Walk leaders, other birders and nature enthusiasts are happy to share their knowledge and experience with you. Bring binoculars. The group will meet at the gazebo. To register, text your name and contact information to (516) 467-9498. No walk if rain or snow. Text regarding questionable weather. For more information, visit SSAudubon.org.
Items on The Scene page are listed free of charge. The Herald welcomes listings of upcoming events, community meetings and items of public interest. All submissions should include date, time and location of the event, cost, and a contact name and phone number. Submissions can be emailed to thescene@liherald.com.
Icon and superstar Whitney Houston, has left a lasting legacy that is celebrated an exhilarating spectacle. “Queen of the Night, A Musical Tribute to Whitney Houston,” Saturday, March 9 , 8 p.m., at NYCB Theatre at Westbury. An exhilarating tribute to Houston’s remarkable musical repertoire, the electrifying production, which premiered on London’s West End, honors her timeless songs with sensational vocalists and a full live band.
Named after the swaggering hard rock single from “The Bodyguard” soundtrack, the show celebrates 30 years of hits, from “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” and “Saving All My Love for You” to “How Will I Know,” “Greatest Love of All” and, of course, “I Will Always Love You.” With the accompaniment of a dynamic band, backing vocalists and dancers, “Queen of the Night” conveys Houston’s persona of Houston in a captivating production has been described as “a powerhouse performance that delivers on every level.” 960 Brush Hollow Road, Westbury. Tickets available at LiveNation.com or call (516) 247-5200.
Take a meditative Forest Bathing walk, led by certified guide Linda Lombardo, Sunday, March 10, 2-4 p.m. Based on the Japanese tradition of Shinrin-Yoku, a wellness practice developed in the 1980s, the walk, on the grounds of the former summer residence of Howard Gould and later Daniel and Florence Guggenheim, inspires mindful connections with the natural elements of the woods for a range of healthful benefits. $40, $35. Registration required. Sands Point Preserve, 127 Middle Neck Road. For information, visit SandsPointPreserveConservancy.org or call (516) 571-7901.
Adelphi University Performing Arts students celebrate the music of Broadway during their semi-annual Best of Broadway concert, Sunday, March 10, 4 p.m. The theme of this season’s concert is a royal one, paying tribute to the kings, queens, “Aladdin,” “Camelot, “ “Six,” “Frozen,” “Anastasia,” “The Little Mermaid,” “Cinderella,” and more. $30, with discounts available to seniors, students, Adelphi alumni and employees. Adelphi University Performing Arts Center, 1 South Ave., Garden City. (516) 877-4000 or Adelphi.edu/pac.
We’ve heard a lot about the economy in the years coming out of the coronavirus pandemic — and those conversations will only get louder as we head into what is expected to be a rather contentious presidential election.
But when it comes to the economy on Long Island — at least for now, it’s rebounding. At least according to the man whose collection of gold in Manhattan far exceeds what’s found in Fort Knox.
John Williams, president and chief executive of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, paid the Cradle of Aviation Museum in Uniondale a visit last week, sharing the state of the economy with members of the Long Island Association. And there’s plenty to talk about.
“As business leaders, you all know all too well the impacts the pandemic had on our communities in our economy,” Williams said “In many way, Long Island’s economy mirrors New York City’s, and both were hit especially hard in 2020. In fact, much harder than what we saw in the rest of the country.”
Inflation was rampant, the job outlook was unstable, and the supply chain was struggling to regain its once super-efficient form.
But an important milestone was reached last year, Williams said: total employment numbers returned to what they were before the pandemic.
“Last year was also a turning point for the U.S. economy overall,” Williams said. “The economy grew far faster than anyone expected a year ago, boosted by increases in the labor force and productivity.”
The fact that the financial market has held for the past two years also is significant, Williams said, since that’s the longest stretch in five decades.
And although inflation continues to be a concern, at least as far as personal consumption expenditures go,
numbers are falling from the 40-year high experienced just a couple years ago to levels considered far more stable.
Williams visited with the LIA as part of an overall Long Island tour that included stops in Suffolk County as well as at Hofstra University. Although monetary policy itself is decided on Capitol Hill and the White House, the Reserve Bank of New York is where the nation’s monetary policy is implemented as part of the larger Fed.
Williams visited Long Island at a time when the economy here has stabilized, according to LIA president and chief executive Matthew Cohen.
“Our gross domestic product is $200 billion,” Cohen said. “About 45 percent of adults have a college degree — which is higher, actually, in both New York City, and the state as a whole. And, as a region, we have a low unem
ployment rate.”
That’s pretty significant for a region that is larger than 15 states. Which is why it’s important businesses on Long Island work together, Cohen added, to lead the rest of the nation in the ongoing recovery.
“We need to work together — everyone in this room, everyone in our region — to create new good-paying jobs to support the growth of both legacy sectors and these emerging industries,” he said. It’s also important to “cultivate entrepreneurship so that the next Apple can be built here.”
Over the decades, Long Island and the country has proven to itself it can weather a number of storms. But the economy is ever-changing, Williams said, and the pandemic proved it’s important to strengthen the country’s financial infrastructure.
“It’s kind of a recognition of our limits to that resiliency,” Williams said. “Supply chains have become extremely complex.
“That’s one of the lessons — that when you have extreme movements in demand supply … things can crack in that system. People are recognizing that, in terms of businesses, of having more resiliency.”
Williams can’t make predictions of what the economy will bring, but can say the world we live in now is already different, and will continue changing as we move forward. Like the movement of more and more people to continue working from home, or maintaining hybrid work environments where they may only be in the office a couple times a week.
A potential solution?
“To do office space in the modern world, you have to invest a lot to make that office space attractive,” Williams said. “It’s just one of those kinds of evolutions that is jarring that we go through in cities like New York where things have changed, and we need to adjust to that. I’m
Michael Hinman/Herald
LEGAL NOTICE
SUPREME COURT OF THE
STATE OF NEW YORK
COUNTY OF NASSAU
SUPPLEMENTAL
SUMMONS AND NOTICE
Index No. 605387/2023
Date Filed: 2/8/2024
U.S. Bank Trust National Association, not in its individual capacity but solely as owner trustee for ICW MAT Trust, Plaintiff, -againstSusan Dzrewicki; Melissa Fowler, if she be living or if she be dead, her spouses, heirs, devisees, distributees and successors in interest, all of whom and whose names and place of residence are unknown to Plaintiff; Capital One Bank USA NA; J&J Capital Realty Associates LLC; State of New York, and “JOHN DOE”, said name being fictitious, it being the intention of Plaintiff to designate any and all occupants of premises being foreclosed herein, and any parties, corporations or entities, if any, having or claiming an interest or lien upon the mortgaged premises, Defendants.
PROPERTY ADDRESS: 714
Elm Street, Franklin Square, NY 11010
TO THE ABOVE NAMED
DEFENDANTS:
YOU ARE HEREBY
SUMMONED to answer the complaint in this action and to serve a copy of your answer, or a notice of appearance on the attorneys for the Plaintiff within thirty (30) days after the service of this summons, exclusive of the day of service. The United States of America, if designated as a defendant in this action, may appear within sixty (60) days of service hereof. In case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the complaint.
TO THE ABOVE NAMED
DEFENDANTS: The foregoing Summons is served upon you by publication pursuant to an Order of the Hon. Jeffrey A. Goodstein, a Justice of the Supreme Court, Nassau County, entered Feb. 2, 2024 and filed with the complaint and other papers in the Nassau County Clerk’s Office.
NOTICE OF NATURE OF ACTION AND RELIEF
SOUGHT THE OBJECT of the above captioned action is to foreclose a Mortgage to secure $356,125.00 and interest, recorded in the Nassau County Clerk’s Office on July 21, 2021, at Book M 45647 of Mortgages, page 126, covering premises known as 714 Elm Street, Franklin Square, NY 11010 a/k/a Section 33, Block 444, Lot 21 Lot Group 21-24. 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. Plaintiff designates Nassau County as the place of trial. Venue is based upon the County in which the mortgaged premises is situated.
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 ANS PROTECT YOUR PROPERTY. SENDING A PAYMENT TO YOUR MORTGAGE COMPANY WILL NOT STOP THIS 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: October 19, 2023
Frank M. Cassara, Esq. Senior Foreclosure Attorney LOGS LEGAL GROUP LLP
Attorneys for Plaintiff 175 Mile Crossing Boulevard Rochester, NY 14624 (585) 247-9000
Fax: (585) 247-7380
Our File No. 22-091028 #101171 144882
of Marie King, New York State Department of Taxation and Finance, Internal Revenue ServiceUnited States of America
All the heirs at law, next of kin, distributees, devisees, grantees, trustees, lienors, creditors, assignees and successors in interest and the creditors, assignees and successors in interest thereof of the aforesaid classes of persons, if they or any of them be dead, all of whom and whose names and places of residence are unknown to the plaintiff of Marie King, Defendants.
TO THE ABOVE
DEFENDANTS: YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the complaint in this action, and to serve a copy of your answer, or if the Complaint is not served with this Summons, to serve a Notice of Appearance on the Plaintiff’s attorneys within twenty (20) days after the service of the Summons exclusive of the day of service or within thirty (30) days after completion of service where service is made in any other manner than by personal delivery within the State. In case of your failure to appear, or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in this Complaint.
TO THE ABOVE NAMED
DEFENDANTS: The foregoing Summons is served upon you by publication pursuant to an Order of the Hon. Jeffrey A. Goodstein, a Justice of the Supreme Court, Nassau County, dated January 24, 2024 and filed with the complaint and other papers in the Nassau County Clerk’s Office.
SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (MORTGAGE COMPANY) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT.
Dated:Westbury,New York
February 7, 2024
Edward Wiener, Esq. Stein, Wiener & Roth, LLP
Attorneys for Plaintiff 1400 Old Country Road, Suite 315 Westbury, NY 11590 (516)-742-1212
79742/RUSHMORE #101158 144855
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT
COUNTY OF NASSAU, SSA NE ASSETS, LLC, Plaintiff, vs. IMPERIOUS CORPORATION, ET AL., Defendant(s).
Pursuant to an Order Confirming Referee Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on September 29, 2023, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the front steps on the north side of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on March 27, 2024 at 2:30 p.m., premises known as 389 Hunnewell Avenue, Elmont, NY 11003. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Village of Elmont, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 35, Block 62 and Lots 19-20.
read aloud after 7:00 PM prevailing time, on the said date for the service as specified and the contract awarded as soon thereafter as practical for: RENOVATION OF BUILDING HVAC SYSTEM INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO REPLACEMENT OF TWO HEAT PUMP UNITS AND THREE ROOFTOP HVAC UNITS AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT AND PUBLIC WORK RELATED THERETO Specifications, proposal and proposed contracts may be obtained at the office of the Fire District located at 100 School Road, Elmont, New York 11003 from February 29, 2024 until March 26, 2024 between the hours of 10:00AM and 4:00PM, Monday through Thursday.
bid price. Exclude from all bids New York State Sales Tax on materials or supplies purchased for this project.
Pursuant to §220 of the Labor Law, the contract will contain a provision that every mechanic, laborer and workman employed in or about the work contemplated by the contract shall be paid not less than the prevailing rate of wages and provided with not less than the prevailing supplement which are set forth in the Bidding Documents.
petition, as provided for in the Town Law is filed with the Fire District Secretary requesting a Permissive Referendum.
BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS
FRANKLIN SQUARE & MUNSON FIRE DISTRICT
TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD
Attest: Kerry Santina
District Secretary February 27, 2024
145268
LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE OF ADOPTION OF TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD
LOCAL LAW NO. 10-2024
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE
WHEREAS, after due consideration, this Town Board finds it to be in the public interest to establish and set aside a certain parking space for motor vehicles for the sole use of holders of special parking permits issued by the County of Nassau to physically handicapped persons;
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT
LEGAL NOTICE
SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
COUNTY OF NASSAU
Index No. 609139/2023
SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS
Plaintiff’s Address: 11022 28th Drive, # 190 Phoenix, AZ 85029
Action To Foreclose Mortgage On Property Situated In NASSAU County CAG National Fund I LLC, Plaintiffs -againstThe Unknown Heirs of Marie King, James King as heir at law, next of kin, and devisee of the Estate of Marie King, Donald King as heir at law, next of kin, and devisee of the Estate of Marie King, Maureen Cassidy as heir at law, next of kin, and devisee of the Estate of Marie King, Robert King as heir at law, next of kin, and devisee of the Estate
THE OBJECT OF THE ACTION is to foreclose a mortgage recorded in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Nassau on June 28, 2006 in Liber 30666, mortgage page 158, covering premises k/a 750 Seabury Avenue, Franklin Square, NY 11010 a/k/a Section 35, Block 579, Lot 25.
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 your mortgage company will not stop this foreclosure action.
YOU MUST RESPOND BY
Approximate amount of judgment is $445,342.51 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 608286/2021. 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.
Jane Pastor Shrenkel, Esq., Referee Friedman Vartolo LLP, 85 Broad Street, Suite 501, New York, New York 10004, Attorneys for Plaintiff. Firm File No. 202085-2 144985
LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE TO BIDDERS
Sealed bids subject to all instructions, terms and conditions herein and pursuant to the specifications, will be received by the Board of Fire Commissioners of the Elmont Fire District at the Office of said District located at the Fire District Office, 100 School Road, Elmont, New York 11003, until 7:00 PM on March 27, 2024, where they will be opened publicly and
Each bidder wishing to obtain a copy of the bid documents, plans and specification for the project shall submit a check in the amount one hundred ($100.00) dollars payable to the “Elmont Fire District”, as a deposit to guarantee the safe return of such bid documents, plans and specifications. If thereafter the bidder submits a proposal together with the required bid security and thereafter returns such copy of the bidding documents, plans and specifications in good condition within thirty (30) days following the award of the contract, the full amount of such deposit for one copy shall be refunded to the bidder. No refund will be provided for deposits for additional copies of the documents. All bids must be accompanied by bid security in the form of either a) a certified check payable to the “Elmont Fire District.” in the amount of five (5%) percent of the bid price, or b) a bond with sufficient sureties to be approved by the Elmont Fire District in the amount of five (5%) percent of the bid price. If the bid is accepted, the bidder will enter into a contract in accordance with the bid and will furnish a suitable security bond in the sum of the amount of the contract, conditioned for the faithful and prompt completion of the work specified in the contract.
If the bidder neglects or refuses to execute the contract and furnish the bonds, the deposit of five (5%) percent of the bid price shall be forfeited and retained by the Elmont Fire District as liquidated damages or, in the case of a bid bond, the Elmont Fire District shall enforce payment of the bond for its benefit.
Performance, Labor and Material Payment bonds and a Maintenance bond in the forms specified for the full amount of the contract are required and shall be included in the
The Elmont Fire District reserves the right to waive any informalities in, to accept or reject any or all bids, to award the contract to other than the lowest bidder or to advertise anew if in the judgment of the Elmont Fire District it is in their best interests to do so. No bidder shall withdraw his bid within 45 days after the formal opening thereof.
Dated: Elmont, New York February 28, 2024
BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS ELMONT FIRE DISTRICT TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD
ATTEST: FRANCES ANDINO SECRETARY 145259
that, pursuant to Article 9 of the New York State Constitution, the provisions of the Town Law and the Municipal Home Rule Law of the State of New York, both as amended, a public hearing was duly called and held February 13th, 2024, by the Town Board of the Town of Hempstead on the proposed adoption of Town of Hempstead Local Law No. 10-2024, and following the close of the hearing the Town Board duly adopted Town of Hempstead Local Law No. 10-2024, amending Section 197-5 of the Code of the Town of Hempstead, to include “ARTERIAL STOPS” at various locations
Dated: February 13, 2024 Hempstead, New York
BY ORDER OF THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD
DONALD X. CLAVIN, JR.
Supervisor KATE MURRAY
LEGAL NOTICE
TO THE TAXPAYERS of the Franklin Square & Munson Fire District, Town of Hempstead, Nassau County, New York: NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a resolution was adopted by the Board of Fire Commissioners, Franklin Square & Munson Fire District, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau, State of New York at a regularly scheduled meeting thereof held on February 27, 2024, subject to Permissive Referendum as provided by Town Law. An abstract of the resolution is as follows: BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Board of Fire Commissioners of the Franklin Square & Munson Fire District, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau, shall expend monies for the Project management costs and fees associated with the construction of a new Fire Headquarters in an amount not to exceed, one hundred twenty five thousand dollars ($125,000.00). Said funds to be expended from Capital Reserve for Land and Building as authorized by Section 6-g of the General Municipal Law. This resolution shall take effect 30 days from the date hereof, unless within 30 days a valid
Town Clerk 145254
LEGAL NOTICE
CASE NO.21527
RESOLUTION
NO.140-2024
Adopted: February 13, 2024
Councilmember Goosby offered the following resolution and moved its adoption:
RESOLUTION
ESTABLISHING AND SETTING ASIDE CERTAIN PARKING SPACES FOR MOTOR VEHICLES FOR THE SOLE USE OF HOLDERS OF SPECIAL PARKING PERMITS ISSUED BY THE COUNTY OF NASSAU TO PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED PERSONS.
WHEREAS, pursuant to Resolution No. 135-2024, adopted January 23rd, 2024, a public hearing was duly held on the 13th day of February, 2024, at the Town Meeting Pavilion, Hempstead Town Hall, 1 Washington Street, Hempstead, New York, on the proposed establishment and setting aside of a certain parking space for motor vehicles for the sole use of holders of special parking permits issued by the County of Nassau to physically handicapped persons, in accordance with Section 202-48 of the Code of the Town of Hempstead, all as set forth in said resolution; and
RESOLVED, that in accordance with Section 202-48 of the Code of the Town of Hempstead, the following parking spaces be and the same hereby is set aside for the sole use of holders of special parking permits issued by the County of Nassau to physically handicapped persons:
BELLMORE FARMERS AVENUE - west side, starting at a point 400 feet south of the south curbline of Merrick Road, south for a distance of 17 feet.
(TH-603/23)
ROOSEVELT EAST PENNYWOOD AVENUE - south side, starting at a point 492 feet west of the west curbline of Park Avenue, west for a distance of 16 feet.
(TH-599/23)
(NR) VALLEY STREAM ALDEN AVENUE - south side, starting at a point 126 feet west of the west curbline of Charles Street, west for a distance of 20 feet.
(TH-604/23)
and on the repeal of the following locations previously set aside as parking spaces for physically handicapped persons:
FRANKLIN SQUARE MAPLE DRIVE - south side, starting at a point 90 feet west of the west curbline of Court House Road, west for a distance of 20 feet.
(TH-319/20 - 1/26/21)
(TH-598/23)
; and, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Town Clerk shall enter this resolution in the minutes of the Town Board and shall publish a copy of this resolution once a newspaper having a general circulation in the Town of Hempstead, and shall post a copy hereof on the signboard maintained by her, and file in her office affidavits of such publication and posting.
The foregoing resolution was seconded by Councilmember Muscarella and adopted upon roll call as follows: AYES:
145256
Food, raffles and a variety of suits and dresses will be available free of charge at a prom-attire giveaway in the Junior Cafe at Elmont High School from 1 to 4 p.m., on April 20.
The event, hosted by the Elmont Memorial Parent Teacher Student Association, brings community outreach group You’re Our Unity, joined by the Meera Empowerment foundation, to run its third annual prom dress and suit giveaway.
“The PTSA is happy to be supporting this event,” said PTSA President Lynette Battle. “The role on our end is to make sure that the word is getting out to the families. We know who the students in need are, so we try to make sure they are aware of the opportunity.”
In 2022, You’re Our Unity started running the annual event to get prom dresses into the hands of girls who could not afford their own. This year’s giveaway will see the addition of suits for young gentleman to come try on and take home, and attire for eighth grade prom students as well.
“Ever since we started doing the event, people have had a lot of interest in supporting the prom experience for the young boys in our community,” said Lashawn Walker, founder and CEO of You’re Our Unity. “So, this year we made sure that happened.”
The event is not exclusive to Elmont residents and
a
s long as you live in New York you can be part of the event. We want to give everyone that special service, everything is free.SavItre FerdInand Meera Empowerment
is open to any student in the area looking for a prom outfit. Last year, the giveaway helped more than 50 girls from the surrounding area and the organizers are expecting to help much more this time around with the addition of boys.
“People come from all over,” Savitre Ferdinand of Meera Empowerment said. “Brooklyn, Queens, Uniondale … as long as you live in New York you can be part of the event. We want to give everyone that special service, everything is free.”
Suit, dress or monetary donations can be made up until the day of the event. Donation arrangements can be made by contacting Walker or Ferdinand.
The event will also give the girls a chance to try on makeup and get vouchers to have that done before prom. The organizations are also looking for barbers
for the boys to get haircuts while attending.
A week before the giveaway, on April 13, Meera Empowerment, led by their 11-year-old CEO Selene Ferdinand, will be hosting a fashion pageant to raise funds for the event and their senior scholarship.
“This year is going to be our first year running this pageant.” said Selene. “As a pageant girl, I realized that a lot of people may not be able to experience and do the same things that someone like me would. I want to give them that opportunity.”
Savitre Ferdinand said that this pageant was made to boost the participants’ confidence on stage and to give them experience in public speaking by allowing them to give small vignettes about themselves and what they would like to do in the future.
RSVP for the event will be open until March 15, which will be a $199 package that includes a formal wear outfit of choice, a personal intro and program book, as well as the opportunity to win a crown, sash and cash prizes.
“I started this foundation because I wanted to inspire people in my community to follow their dreams,” Selene Ferdinand said. “I hope with this pageant we can make that happen.”
Layne Groom is a reporter with The SBU Media Group, part of Stony Brook University’s School of Communication and Journalism’s Working Newsroom program for students and local media.
Elmont community members learned about resources avaialble to them, including a free tax assessment grievances seminar last week at Elmont Memorial Library.
The meeting was hosted by County Legislator Carrié Solages and Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages, with representatives from the Nassau County Police Department, the Nassau County Board of Elections and Nassau InterCounty Express Bus, also known as the NICE Bus. The Solages also updated the community about current and upcoming projects, as well as legal, tax and budget changes this year.
An issue on community members’ minds was the need for the Elmont Community Center, which was delineated in the plans for the Belmont Park Redevelopment Project.
“A couple of weeks ago, a number of
community leaders who are here tonight came together and made a very clear message to UBS and the Arena partners that as per our community benefits agreement they are supposed to be investing in our community with a community center,” said Carrié.
Currently, Michaelle said the main thing to work on is finding a location. One problem is that these locations need a lot of repair.
“When we go to purchase a property, the price gets jacked up,” Michaelle said.
They noted that the UBS Arena is looking for interns who live within a four-mile radius of the arena.
Michaelle and Carrié announced that there will be a government task force dedicated to retail theft prevention. Another police matter community members are concerned with is illegal vapes being sold to both minors and adults. Michaelle said she would rather crack down on the distributors to address the
issue.
The problem of trash in the streets was discussed at length with the community members in attendance.
“There are specific rules,” Carrié said of the issue. “The town may be responsible, or the county or the state. But we have to work together. So, even though this may not be in my jurisdiction, I have to work with other people to get it done.”
There were several complaints from audience members about the rampant trash problem, which is exacerbated by the fact that a lot of this trash is on private property.
“That goes to our quality of life,” Carrié said.
The Board of Elections spoke with the audience about the restoration of early voting at the Elmont Memorial Library for the coming elections. They are also actively looking for election workers.
NICE Bus shared some figures about being one of the largest suburban transit agencies in the nation. On a daily basis, the NICE Bus has 70,000, 300 40-foot buses operating and 1,500 para transit door-to-door rides.
The NICE Bus system is hiring maintenance workers and bus operators, whether they have a commercial drivers license or not. Every job comes with full benefits and a chance at upward mobility.
“We need more services for seniors,” said community member Lynette Battle.
“We have a high senior population, and they’re like an afterthought. The NICE bus is good. But we just need a senior center, activities and resources—whether it’s medical or things of that nature.”
The largest portion of the meeting was dedicated to a tax assessment grievance seminar. For more information, visit the facebook group “NASSAUGRIEVE YOUR TAX ASSESSMENT FREE.”
“I didn’t know how to go about grieving my taxes, so this was very helpful for me,” said community member Suzette Morgan.
Part
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Q. We are suing our contractor and need some advice. A year ago, we finished our second-floor addon and first-floor kitchen and rear family room remodel by opening up walls to join them. Everything seemed fine until it rained the first time. The windows began to leak at the bottom, and then around the tops and sides. Our new sliding glass door did the same. The basement flooded, and we are not in a flood area. Then the air-conditioning company said somebody disconnected the ducts, and when we opened the ceilings, more water poured down. The house is now filled with mold, which we clean with bleach where we can get to it, but we couldn’t move out and have two small children under age 4.
Although we have many questions and hired an attorney, we’re wondering whether we should hire an architect to go over all the problems and identify them, with remedies, or hire one of the contractors who said they could fix the problems, or wait until the lawsuit is finished to make it possible for a jury to see the damage. The job architect, whom we never met, has now had their license revoked for the next two years, but we wouldn’t go to them, anyway.
A. Ugh! This is more common than you would think. It starts with not having the architect working for you and instead working for the contractor. I can guess that the contractor was contacted first, and you hired them to get their architect and provide plans. That was your first mistake.
Next, people are lazy, expecting that anyone they hire knows all the best techniques to build and knows all the rules, codes and laws. That was mistake number two. Even though you hire people, you should have gone over critical details, especially about waterproofing and structural techniques on the plans, to make sure that the building owner looks for those steps to be carried out. You, the building owner, I always say, are the “eyes and ears” on the job, since the architect often isn’t there at critical times, when waterproofing membranes and materials are joined.
Mistake number three was not doing a water test with a garden hose when the finish siding, windows roofing, etc., had been applied. Simulating rain by pointing a hose skyward so that the water cascades down — not a direct fire-hose hit — tells you right away if something is failing.
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DIVORCE
Growing up in Island Park, I was always acutely aware of how lucky I was to be surrounded by beautiful beaches, bountiful waterways and stunning coastlines. Preserving Nassau County’s coastal environs has been a main priority of my tenure in public office, and I am proud to represent so many community partners who share in that goal. Indeed, the pristine nature of our South Shore was recently threatened by a largescale offshore wind turbine project proposed by Equinor, but thanks to unified community opposition, this dubious plan appears to have stalled — for now.
The growing national push to advance offshore wind energy has clearly reached Long Island, and while Equinor’s plan was defeated due to the corporation’s failure to properly liaise with local stakeholders, there will certainly be other developers attempting their own offshore wind projects mov-
ing forward.
Now more than ever, it is vital that our communities make their voices heard on any projects that would impact our coastline, which is why I am proud to announce that I have been made a co-chair of the Congressional Offshore Wind Caucus. This bipartisan panel provides members of Congress from across the country a forum to discuss the growing utilization of offshore wind energy, compare notes on offshore wind projects being advanced, and strategize on how best to approach future development questions. What’s more, my leadership role in the caucus also provides neighbors in the 4th District with an enhanced voice when the panel communicates with turbine developers — ensuring that the thoughts, concerns and opinions of South Shore residents are made known.
We’ve seen interest from other developers seeking to take Equinor’s place.
residents of the Long Beach barrier island, Island Park, Oceanside and beyond during the development of its Empire Wind 2 offshore wind turbine plan. This lack of engagement justifiably led to distrust among community members, and fueled the successful grass-roots campaign to quash the project.
Like my neighbors along the South Shore, over the course of several meetings, Equinor representatives failed to provide me with adequate information on the long-term environmental impacts of the project or outline a proper plan to support the communities that would have hosted facets of Empire Wind 2 — which is why I fought to stop the project from moving forward.
ment, residents’ wishes are respected, and local communities’ bests interests are advanced. If a company can articulate a vision for an offshore wind energy project that safeguards our environment, incorporates robust stakeholder feedback into the development process, benefits the community, and creates good union jobs, I believe it is beneficial for the public to hear them out and approach the plan with an open mind. I intend to utilize my position on the Congressional Offshore Wind Caucus to hold corporate developers accountable by demanding full transparency on any proposed projects that come before the community.
Those residents have recently seen firsthand the difficulties that stem from a corporate entity outright ignoring the concerns of community stakeholders when developing a large-scale project. Indeed, Equinor failed to engage with
Now that Equinor appears to have realized the error of its ways and pulled back from its offshore wind plan, we have seen growing interest from several other developers seeking to take Equinor’s place. As the selection process plays out and companies vie for a chance to develop offshore wind energy in Nassau County, it is vital that stakeholders have a say in project advance-
I will continue to utilize all the tools at my disposal to advocate for the best interests of South Shore neighbors and ensure that our communities are not negatively impacted by overdevelopment. My position as co-chair of the bipartisan caucus will give our community a stronger voice in that arena, and ensure that any proposed plans include real benefits for the South Shore. Long gone are the days when developers like Equinor thought they could simply muscle their way past community opposition. We won’t allow it.
Democrats were understandably elated when former Democratic Congressman Tom Suozzi won the special election in New York’s 3rd Congressional District on Feb. 13, but they shouldn’t be popping any champagne. In truth, Suozzi’s victory over the Republicans’ candidate, Mazi Melesa Pilip, was a lot closer than it should have been.
Suozzi won just under 54 percent of the vote.
Doesn’t that seem a little low? After all, he’s a former mayor of Glen Cove, a former Nassau County executive, and a former three-term representative of the district in Congress. Pilip, meanwhile, is a sophomore county legislator.
An alarming sign for me is the money spent by each campaign for each vote. Suozzi spent $2.36 million and won roughly 91,300 votes, meaning he spent almost $26 per vote. In comparison, Pilip spent just $714,000 and won roughly 78,200 votes, or just over $9 per vote.
That means that Pilip needed on average one-third the cash to bring her vot-
ers out to the polls. That indicates to me that Pilip’s voters were more excited and zealous. Suozzi, on the other hand, had to fight to bring Democrats out.
If Pilip and Suozzi had had the same fundraising numbers, and the cash-pervote numbers held, Pilip would have garnered over three times her vote total. Even if we halved Suozzi’s advantage (to make the comparison a bit more realistic), Pilip still might have won, with over 58.5 percent of the vote, if she’d spent as much money as Suozzi.
HSo, Democrats, is this your grand victory?
Aside from that lingering question, Suozzi ran a good campaign. He attacked Pilip where he needed to and worked hard in just the couple of months that he had, barnstorming through the district. He held a large event in my native Westbury, which I appreciate. The difficult fight he had, and the difficult fight many Nassau Democrats have, was beyond his control.
e spent nearly three times as much campaign money as Pilip for each vote.
To top it off, state Democrats are going to get another chance to draw district lines this year, meaning that Suozzi is almost certainly going to be redistricted into a safer, more heavily Democratic district. Why sink millions into an election that you most likely would have won more easily in nine months?
I read the election results this way: A Democratic political veteran with high name recognition and a 3-to-1 fundraising advantage won an election with the second-worst margin he’s won his House seat with, against a neophyte opponent no one had ever heard of, whom he probably would have more easily defeated in nine months.
For one thing, the political landscape on Long Island is shifting against Democrats. For years in Nassau County, the number of new voters registering as Democrats outpaced those registering as Republicans, but that is changing. In the towns of North Hempstead and Oyster Bay and the City of Glen Cove, which account for most of the population of the 3rd District, voter registration data for the past year confirms that the ratio of Democrats to Republicans is shrinking.
Area Democrats have also been suffering from guilt by association. The Nassau GOP has successfully associated local Democrats with their more leftleaning colleagues in New York City. The Long Islanders are branded with
negative labels like “radical” and “socialist,” or worse, “radical socialist.”
Finally, local Democrats continue to be hammered on bail reform, affordable housing and crime. These attacks are nonsense, but they stick because there is no apparatus in place to respond. None of this is Suozzi’s fault. Rather, the problem lies squarely with the Nassau and state Democratic committees, which have poor fundraising operations, abysmal organizing capacity, and virtually nonexistent communication with voters.
The party is failing to recruit new members, and cannot adequately defend its candidates, let alone go on the offensive. The state Democratic Party continues to fail candidates like Suozzi and the voters that make their existence possible.
That’s why I don’t consider Suozzi’s victory any kind of Democratic renaissance. His hard-fought win doesn’t portend more party wins in Nassau, because a successful two-month campaign can’t fix a state Democratic Party that has lost almost every position of power on Long Island in the past eight years.
Matthew Adarichev is a public policy major at Hofstra University, a political activist and an aspiring journalist whose work has appeared in the Hofstra Chronicle and the Anton Media Group.
as objective and independent news writers and editors, we have an imperative to cover the issues most important to you, the people of our community.
Every day, our team of reporters is on the ground questioning elected officials, telling the stories of community changemakers, and uncovering truths that some would rather keep hidden.
But amid industry challenges, it is no longer unfathomable to picture a future when New York state is completely without local newspapers and other local news outlets.
According to the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University, 2.5 newspapers now close each week in the United States. More than 3,000 newspapers have shuttered across the country since 2004, and New York has been particularly hard hit.
In 2004, New York boasted 501 newspapers. Today there are only 260. In 2022 alone, 30 newspapers closed across the state.
A quarter of New York’s counties are news deserts — down to their last newspaper. Orleans County recently became the first in the state to have none. These closures have also resulted in thousands of lost journalism and newsroom-supporting jobs.
Local news matters. Studies show that when a community loses its source of local news, it experiences decreased voter turnout and civic engagement. Increased municipal borrowing costs that lead to higher taxes. And decreased transparency among government and business officials, leading to increased waste, fraud and abuse.
As newspapers shutter, communities become more polarized, leaving us stuck in a never-ending doom loop where we lose sight of our shared values. During this era of intense national partisanship,
Let these elected officials know that we need to save local news
■ Contact Gov. Kathy Hochul: (518) 474-8390
■ Contact State Sen. Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick: (516) 766-8383
■ Contact Assemblyman Ed Ra: (516) 535-4095
■ Contact Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages: (516) 599-2972
Our newspaper is a proud member of the Empire State Local News Coalition. Support the coalition at SaveNYLocalNews.com.
local news offers a path forward.
The time to act is now. That is why the Franklin Square/Elmont Herald has joined more than 150 other New York local newspapers to launch the Empire State Local News Coalition.
Comprising both print and online local newspapers, this coalition is advocating for sound public policy that ensures the important work of local news organizations can continue in our state. Through our independent journalism, we aim to serve, inform, uplift and protect New York residents.
Our coalition cares deeply about our local communities as well as the future of New York’s free press. However, market forces are making it nearly impossible for us to survive. So, together, we are sounding the alarm bell for our leaders in Albany to hear.
At the heart of our advocacy is the
To the Editor:
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman’s recent signing of an executive order banning transgender girls from playing sports in county facilities was a disingenuous performance to ingratiate himself with the cruel anti-LGBTQ movement. These kinds of orders and bans do more harm than good, setting a dangerous tone that can send the message that hateful acts against the LGBTQ community are justified. Nex Benedict, the non-binary 16-year-old from Oklahoma who died last month after an altercation in a high school girls’ bathroom, comes to mind.
Sadly, by targeting transgender young people, Blakeman chose to use his executive power to sacrifice a very vulnerable group, already struggling for acceptance and facing far greater rates of depression and suicide than their peers, for his own political gain. Instead of doing something to help the transgender community in Nassau
Local Journalism Sustainability Act. Sponsored by State Sen. Brad HoylmanSigal and Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner — with the bipartisan support of 55 co-sponsors — this bill provides tax credits to local news outlets for the employment of local journalists. News organizations are incentivized to actually add jobs, returning reporters to many of the state’s newsrooms, which are becoming increasingly desolate.
Importantly, the bill is also contentneutral, meaning that any legitimate local news outlet — left, right or in between — can benefit from it. The objectivity of the bill’s eligibility requirements means the legislation cannot be weaponized to penalize news organizations that are critical of government officials.
As New York loses talented journalists, lawmakers must act to ensure the industry is allowed not only to survive, but also to thrive. Only local news outlets — with boots-on-the-ground journalists — can deliver the hyperlocal updates and investigations necessary to sustain a community’s civic and financial well-being.
Imagine no stories about the village or town board meeting, or the school budget debate. No pictures of your granddaughter’s first soccer goal. No obituary of your friendly (and eccentric) neighbor. No investigative reporting to hold public officials to account. And no trusted institution to rally the community around a family in need.
We need your help to save local news in New York. To get the Local Journalism Sustainability Act across the finish line, lawmakers need to hear from you about why our newspaper matters and why this bill is important to you.
If you would like to help, reach out to Gov. Kathy Hochul and your local state representatives to let them know you stand with local news.
Our communities need more doctors who look like me
I’m 26, and have lived virtually my whole life in Hempstead. I’ve seen a lot of health-related issues — lowincome people of color, like me, suffering from chronic conditions like asthma, diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, and untreated mental illness. Often they haven’t been able to receive proper treatment for their conditions. I wanted to do something about it, and soon I will be able to, because I’m on my way to becoming a doctor.
There was a one-in-a-million chance that I would ever reach this goal. I’m an African-American woman from a low-income neighborhood, raised in a single-parent household. My father was incarcerated by the time I knew what it meant to have one, and remains imprisoned to this day — though he’s using this time to reflect and to continue his education. My mother, a crossing guard, worked extremely hard to provide for my brother and me, but
there were days when the money she made didn’t seem like enough to put food on the table, or ensure that we would keep a roof over our heads, or keep us from falling victim to the violence that plagued our community.
TI had to fight every step of the way to become the person I wanted to be. I graduated from Hempstead High School in 2015 in the top 1 percent of my class, and then, thanks to Stony Brook University’s Economic Opportunity Program, I graduated in 2019 with a double major in biology and psychology, and went on to earn a master’s in physiology and biophysics. I was the first person in my family to go to college, so there was no blueprint to follow but the one I created along the way.
icine and Biomedical Sciences is lifechanging. There are classes to prepare me for the rigors of medical school, and a stipend I can use for living expenses so I can focus on my studies. I have mentors to turn to for help.
here was a one-in-amillion chance that I would ever be able to go to medical school.
I got jobs in the health care field, but becoming a doctor seemed out of reach until I was selected for the Diversity in Medicine pipeline program sponsored by Associated Medical Schools of New York. This post-baccalaureate program at SUNY Buffalo’s Jacobs School of Med-
County, he decided to put them at further risk. Blakeman claims that “boys” are bullying their way onto girls’ teams, but he’s the real bully here.
KARIN JOHNSON RVC Pride Rockville CentreIt was obvious why Republicans chose Pilip
To the Editor:
I read the Herald’s coverage of the special election between Tom Suozzi and Mazi Pilip. You didn’t mention that Pilip was a registered Democrat when she ran against Suozzi. She didn’t change her party affiliation until a few days ago.
Right from the beginning, Pilip didn’t want to take many questions from the press, and showed she didn’t know very much about the issues. The Republicans had her run because she was pretty, black, and Jewish, with an interesting background.
MYRON MARINBACH LynbrookTo the Editor:
It’s time to cut through the noise and tell the truth about immigration:
Most important, if I successfully complete the oneyear program, I will go to medical school in the fall, and could be selected to receive AMSNY’s Diversity in Medicine Scholarship to help defray the cost. This amazing program is 100 percent state-funded.
Pipeline programs like this are needed to help diversify the physician workforce. Research has shown that patients are more likely to visit and follow the instructions of doctors who understand their language and culture, resulting in better health outcomes. Yet in New York state, where more than 30 percent of the population identifies as Black or Hispanic, just 13 percent of the state’s doctors come from those groups.
Physicians from racial and ethnic groups that are underrepresented are
FRAMEwoRK
Our economy and community is stronger because of it. Some leaders would have us think it’s a zero-sum game when our country takes in immigrants, but that’s not true at all.
The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates that the U.S. economy will grow by an extra $7 trillion over the next 10 years thanks to immigrants!
But we don’t have to wait for the future to see how they are strengthening the economy. In 2021, immigrants paid $524.7 billion in taxes. That’s money that helps fuel our nation’s schools, Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security programs. Immigrants help support our communities as consumers and taxpayers.
Don’t believe it? Even former President Donald Trump’s appointed Federal Reserve chair, Jerome H. Powell, recognized the massive contributions immigrants make in an interview on “60 Minutes,” saying, “A big part of the story of the labor market coming back into better balance is immigration returning to levels that were more typical of the pre-pandemic era.”
So let’s give credit where credit is due, stop the anti-immigrant rhetoric and end the zero-sum mindset. Immigration truly is essential for our economic growth and our communities’ prosperity.
JOSEPH M. VARON
Long Island chapter, Bend the Arc West Hempstead
more likely to go into primary care and practice in under-served communities, where they are desperately needed. I have seen 30 to 40 people waiting, endlessly, to see a doctor; minor symptoms that were left untreated develop into chronic disease; and people with mental illness who are homeless, unable to pay for the care they need and jaded by past interactions with the health care system. People in these communities do not trust that system. I want to be a doctor who can change that, and earn their trust.
Growing up, I never saw a doctor who looked like me. Now I am one of 24 future physicians in this year’s AMSNY program who want to give back to our communities. I am immensely grateful to our state representatives and Gov. Kathy Hochul for making that possible.
In the past two years, the state’s investment in Diversity in Medicine programs has tripled. This funding must continue, and even increase, so more people like us can become doctors and leaders of change for our communities.
Shakia Miller is scheduled to complete the AMSNY Diversity in Medicine program in May.
