Franklin Square/Elmont Herald 03-24-2024

“State champions!”

Andy Camp/Herald

Spartans bring home title!

Elmont High School captured the New York State Class AA boys’ basketball title last Saturday night, defeating West Genessee, 51-44, at Cool Insuring Arena in Glens Falls. Story, additional photos, page 9.

Education board not sure what to do with Jaime

By NIColE WAGNER nwagner@liherald.com

Schools are no place for vulgar words and name-calling, and neither should education board meetings.

At least that’s what a number of parents are demanding in the wake of one Elmont education board trustee reportedly doing just that in the middle of a meeting — and now they want him to answer for his transgression.

But what can be done is really a major question — one the Elmont education board itself is trying to answer.

It all started at an education board meeting at Elmont Road School last month. With his microphone turned on, trustee Michael Jaime could be heard calling a member of the audi-

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Spelling bee scholar advances to Long Island regionals

By NIColE WAGNER nwagner@liherald.com

Elmont Memorial High School eighth grader Annemiriam Alexis carefully spelled ‘coccidiosis’ during the school’s first-ever Scripps Spelling Bee contest in January.

Alexis described that word — which means a disease of birds and mammals that chiefly affects the intestines — as the most challenging she was tasked with spelling, helping her to earn the title as the school’s spelling bee champion.

She will now advance to the Long Island regionals on

March 21 at Half Hollow Hills

East High School in Dix Hills.

The top three performers there will be invited to the National Scripps Spelling Bee Competition, held in Washington D.C. from May 28-30.

Alexis never doubted herself as she progressed through the written portion of the contest in November, emerging victorious along with 14 other students out of the 221 eighth graders at the school. She received a perfect score on the written part, where students were tested on 20 words.

“I knew that I advanced because I was so positive in the cafeteria that I knew all of the

It was exciting, but also very nervewracking.

ANNEMIRIAM AlExIS spelling bee champion, Elmont Memorial High School

words,” Alexis said. “And even the ones that people got tripped up on, I was able to advance. It’s a great opportunity.”

The written portion of the test was held in the school’s junior and senior cafeterias, one for seventh graders and the other for eighth graders. Twen-

ty-four seventh-grade students, out of 253, advanced to the oral portion of the spelling bee.

Alexis credited her victory to vigorously applying herself for the written test and taking the oral exam at a slow pace.

“If I didn’t think it through, then I would be out,” Alexis said of her technique going through the oral portion of the

spelling bee. “So, I think before I speak.”

To prepare for both portions of the contest, hosted at the school in January, Alexis studied 450 words from Scripps National Spelling Bee. She would record herself saying the words on her phone, and play them back to test her spelling

Continued on page 11

300 community members pack BOE meeting

Students, parents remain in the dark about when their beloved Polk Street principal might return

By NICOLE WAGNER

nwagner@liherald.com

Having an educator that touches students’ lives, making sure they feel seen and appreciated every day is no small feat.

For many Polk Street School parents and members of the Franklin Square community at large, Principal Gilbert Torossian is a staple in their lives. At the end of the summer, he is asking how everyone’s summer went, remembering every parent and student’s name as he greets them during morning drop off.

Aman Kumar’s son started school at Polk Street School two years ago. When he gets to school, Kumar said the first thing his son does is run and give Torossian a hug.

“Everyone loves Mr. T,” Kumar said. “You know, everyone has that teacher where they go, ‘They changed my life.’ I never had that teacher… But you know, when I drop my kids to school, I used to look forward to looking at Mr. T.”

Outraged and bewildered by the idea that Torossian disappeared from their lives without notice from the school district for several weeks, 300 community members packed Washington Street School’s gymnasium to express their support for him during an education board meeting for the school district on March 13.

Sabrina Essig, of Franklin Square, said that Torossian’s absence at school has “broken the community.”

“Taking the kids’ sense of community away is going to be devastating,” Essig said. “I can’t imagine what will happen if he doesn’t come back.”

The beloved administrator’s absence was announced in an email Superintendent Jared Bloom sent to parents on Feb. 27 because of “unforeseen circumstances.” His absence was deemed “temporary” in the email, but community members like Essig expressed distrust over whether he would return.

Board president Stephen Toto told the crowd that none of the board members take the situation “lightly.”

“While the trust might not be there right now, we hear you,” Toto said. “The five of us hear you, and we are not taking what is going on lightly.”

Vanessa Batthany, of Franklin Square, said her children miss Torossian dearly. She asked what parents should tell their kids about his absence, since the community has received no explanation as to why Torossian is not in school, nor when he will return beyond the temporary leave of absence notice.

“We just need to know when this is going to end,” Batthany said. “We can’t keep telling them, ‘He’s coming back. It’s only temporary.’ Because we don’t trust that this is temporary.”

A Change.org petition that Franklin Square resident Jennifer Schmidt started, has received more than 1,100 signatures, expressed the community’s support for Torossian. She spoke of his connection with students, calling Torossian the “heart and soul” of Polk Street.

“The biggest prize at Bingo is lunch with Mr. T,” Schmidt said. “He is an absolute asset to our community.”

Kristin Cirotta, president of the Franklin Square interschool parent teacher association, said that morale at Polk Street is low following Torossian’s absence.

The next meeting of the education board will be held on April 16, at 8 p.m., at Washington Street School.

Polk Street School kindergartener Lorenzo Abreu and third-grader Mia Abreu made a sign to express how much they miss Principal Gilbert Torossian, whose absence form school went unexplained for weeks last month. Community members have expressed their upset with the Franklin Square school district’s education board about Torossian’s unexplained absence.

Courtesy Vanessa Batthany

Polk Street School second-graders Eva, Shifa, Emma and Alyssa wore shirts with a ‘T’ to show their support for Principal Gilbert Torossian who is on a temporary leave of absence.

Courtesy Concetta Moryl Polk Street School student Grace Moryl celebrates Halloween with Principal Gilbert Torossian in 2023 at the parent teacher association-sponsored Halloween party.

Courtesy Antonia Abreu

Golf courses added to Lifetime Liberty Pass

By JORDAN VALLONE jvallone@liherald.com

The Town of Hempstead officials announced a new program Monday at the Merrick Golf Course that will allow qualifying, disabled veterans to play golf for free, at courses throughout the township.

The resolution was adopted at the Town Board meeting on March 12 and was officially launched Wednesday.

Joined by local veterans, golf enthusiasts and representatives from the Metropolitan PGA Foundation, Town Supervisor Don Clavin and other members of the Town Board, shared the details of the program. Representatives from PGA HOPE — which stands for Helping Our Patriots Everywhere — were also present.

PGA HOPE is an adaptive golf program offered to veterans free of charge, to introduce to them to the game in effort to enhance their overall quality of life. While the program is open to all veterans, it is geared specifically towards those suffering with disabilities.

In the Town of Hempstead, there are two golf courses — a 9-hole course in Merrick, and an 18-hole course in Lido Beach. Each course has a driving range. Veterans currently pay $10 for every round of weekday golf, and $12 on the weekends. Non-veterans pay $20 on weekdays, and $23 on weekends.

“A number of our veterans have point-

ed out a great program in New York state called the Lifetime Liberty Pass, and it gives an added bonus for veterans who have a disability of 40 percent or more,”

Clavin said. “I’m happy to announce that after the advocacy of our wonderful veterans, and of course Town Board members, we’ll be passing legislation where we will be adding the town facilities, particularly our golf courses, to the Lifetime Liberty Pass.”

The Lifetime Liberty Pass permits qualified New York state veterans with disabilities discounted use of state parks, historic sites and recreational facilities. It includes free vehicle entry to most state parks and other facilities.

To qualify, a veteran must reside in the state and have a 40 percent or greater service-connected disability, as certified by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. Veterans who have been awarded an allowance by the federal government towards the purchasing of an automobile because of their disability at any time in their life may also be eligible.

Once the pass is issued, it never expires.

“This is a piece of legislation that makes sense,” Clavin said. “How do you say thank you to the men and women who put their lives out there? And now for those who have disabilities — they want to enjoy our town facilities, and they will.”

Town Councilman Dennis Dunne,

who represents Levittown and parts of Bellmore, East Meadow, Merrick, Seaford and Wantagh, played a major part in introducing the program to the board. A United States Marine Corps veteran, who served in the Vietnam War, Dunne has been at the forefront of advocating for veterans while in public office. He was previously a Nassau County legislator, before his appointment to the Town Board in 2017.

“If you have a 40 percent disability or more, you’re entitled to this free pass,” he said. “We’re including our golf courses in it, which means a lot, because (there’s) a short period of time in our lives where we’re going to be able to physically play golf without the pain. This is for the guys and gals that are serving right now, and the guys and gals that have served, that still have the ability to get out on the course.”

Dunne said the program is all about helping people.

“I love what we’re all about — helping people, helping disabled (people) and especially helping the men and women who served our country,” he said.

Clavin said veterans who want to apply for the pass must also go through the state. Visit ParksNY.gov/Admission/ Lifetime-Liberty-Pass.aspx for more information on the program and to learn how to apply.

Clavin said the program is just one small part of what the Town of Hempstead has done, and will continue to do for veterans.

“We can never do enough to thank our vets,” he said. “This is just a small step and if anybody has any other ideas about what we should be doing more of, we always will embrace it.”

For more on the town’s golf courses, visit HempsteadNY.gov/274/Golf-Courses.

“We’re working very closely with the state,” Clavin said. “If anybody ever has a question, where to get it from the state, you can talk to any of our teams at any of our town facilities, and we’ll direct you there.”

Jordan Vallone/Herald Town Supervisor Don Clavin announces program at town golf courses, allowing veterans with disabilities to golf for free.

Community calls for removal of board trustee

Continued from page 1

ence a “crazy bitch.”

While it was not clear to whom the comment was directed, the words can be heard on the recording published on the district’s website a few days later.

This is not the first time Jaime has found himself in some hot water. Just last year, the trustee was questioned about using an Elmont school bus the previous fall to attend an event in Manhattan hosted by The Obama Foundation. The bus was used without communication or proper paperwork, critics said, who also challenged the appropriateness of its use.

More than two dozen people rallied outside of Stewart Manor School last week ahead of the education board meeting that was scheduled there, calling for Jaime’s removal. His current term expires next year.

Dwayne Palmer is one of those who were out there that evening demanding for Jaime’s removal.

“Any elected representative that thinks that their constituency are ‘Crazy b’s’ do not deserve the seats that they have been entrusted with,” Palmer told the crowd.

Lynette Battle, president of the Elmont Memorial High School Parent Teacher Student Association, focused her ire not on Jaime, but instead of the women on the school board for not calling him out when he made the comment.

“What these women are doing with their silence is giving this individual the OK to do it again and again,” she told the rally. “Trust and believe that this wasn’t his first time. He was way too comfortable.”

Throughout last week’s board meeting — which ran until around 1 a.m. — board president Nancy Garlick asked the audience to maintain decorum throughout the meeting.

“It starts with us, and you,” Garlick said, to a sea of jeers.

As estate planners, we consistently meet with people who are suffering from traumatic relationships with their children or grandchildren. Children themselves may become estranged or at odds with parents or their siblings. Sometimes, an in-law is involved that seems to turn the client’s son or daughter into someone completely different from the child they raised. The pain that these clients are going through is palpable.

Some wise sage once said that all pain comes from resistance. Many of these relationship issues may be difficult or impossible to overcome, but one thing we can all do is work on ourselves — by accepting what is. Accepting what is does not mean agreeing with or condoning certain behavior. What it does mean is that you stop saying to yourself that it is not fair, it “should” be otherwise, etc. That will not do you one bit of good and may do you considerable harm. Stress has been called “the silent killer”.

We recall reading a pithy quote a while back that went something like this “when someone disappoints you, you have two choices, you

When it was their turn to speak, a handful of people expressed their feelings about the issue before tempers in the room started to flare.

Trecia Wong demanded Jaime apologize.

“Just like if a student or an employee had committed the same infraction, we need to lead by example,” she said. “The board sets the policy and governs the school. And if the behavior is not acceptable in our schools, then

can either lower your expectations or walk away”. What is disappointment but dashed expectations? Those who learn to expect less are disappointed less.

“Accepting what is” cannot be accomplished overnight. It is a concept or thought process that improves your outlook the more you think about it, work on it and form new neural pathways to forge the new outlook.

Estate planners inevitably become “therapists” for their clients, because estate planning involves social relationships. Over the years, we have observed that many social problems occur between the client’s two ears. As Shakespeare said in Hamlet “There is nothing good or bad, but thinking makes it so.” Forget about what’s fair or right and what’s not. You are only hurting yourself. The other person is often blissfully unaware of how you’re feeling. Michael J. Fox, the actor known for his optimism despite suffering from Parkinson’s, put it best when he said “My happiness grows in direct proportion to my acceptance, and in inverse proportion to my expectations”.

it should not be acceptable from a board trustee.”

Garlick said there would be no apology, but that “all board members were spoken to about decorum and professionalism.” Yet, board vice president Tiffany Capers expressed her own apologies to the crowd before Garlick interrupted her, admonishing her about addressing the community about the issue.

“You have no business doing that,” Garlick said.

But Capers — acknowledging the board had not granted her permission to speak on its behalf — didn’t let up.

“As a human — as a woman — I’m apologizing,” she said.

As tensions in the room grew, Garlick and Jaime joined a few of their staffers in exiting the room. When they returned, Jaime read from a statement, but made no other comments for the duration of the meeting.

“Upon reflection, I realize that my words were inappropriate and do not reflect my true character or beliefs,” Jaime said. “I take full responsibility for my remarks. I regret the impact of my words, and understand the importance of upholding professionalism and respect at all times — whether in public or private settings, regardless of public commentary.

“I understand that words have power, and that as a trustee, I hold myself to a higher standard of behavior.”

Garlick then apologized for the lack of decorum before calling for a motion to adjourn. Instead, trustee Angel Ramos made his own motion to expel Jaime from the board. Although that motion was seconded by Capers, it died without a vote after board attorney Candace Gomez said there was no precedent for removing a trustee based on a singular comment.

Instead, the board decided to table Ramos’ motion for a future meeting, although no specific date was given. However, the next education board meeting is scheduled for April 9, at Alden Terrace School.

Nicole Wagner/Herald protesters call for elmont education board trustee michael Jaime’s removal during a meeting last week at Stweart manor School, after he reportedly called someone a vulgar name during a feb. 6 board meeting.

Embracing AI — but in a responsible way

By Rachele Terranova, Parker Schug & Brendan Carpenter

Continuing a series exploring the presence of artificial intelligence in our schools — and, over time, in society as a whole. Thoughts? Questions? Ideas? Email us at execeditor@liherald.com.

What place does artificial intelligence have in schools? Should it be feared? Embraced? Somewhere in between?

These are conversations that didn’t even exist a year ago — at least as far as education is concerned. But as AI becomes more and more accessible, students and teachers alike are finding they can use software to ask questions, find answers, and even complete their work faster — and maybe even better — than they ever could.

But no matter how some may feel about AI — or simply not even understand what AI is — the tool is making its way into schools and curriculum. How fast and how much depends on the district. But at this point, it seems teachers and administrators on Long Island are accepting AI rather than running from it.

Revolutionizing teaching and learning

One of those districts is Bellmore-Merrick Central High School, which is not just introducing AI to its students — it’s already turning it into a college-level course.

Offered through the computer science department at Calhoun High School in Merrick, the magnet course partners with Long Island University to offer the college credit to not only Calhoun students, but also those from Kennedy and Mepham high schools in Bellmore, too.

“Each project is aligned with artificial intelligence topics that showcase the practical applications of AI,” said Danielle Caliendo, the district’s mathematics and computer science chair.

Students learn the Python programming language while creating AI chatbots. They also program a robot created by a French technology company to use AI features like facial recognition. And they fly drones.

Students also completed a linear regression project designed to make predictions based on existing data, like how public company stocks might perform.

Each project is aligned with AI topics that showcase the tool’s practical applications.

Joe Innaco, who leads the district’s administrative and instructional technology efforts, sees technologies like ChatGPT— a free chatbot system designed to provide a human-like response to a prompt— as fascinating possibilities.

try class.

“If you look at the history, there was a lot of resistance because it would eliminate all the thinking of doing trigonometry,” he said. “It was used, and it was embraced. And it saves more time for creative thinking and innovation.”

“Our vision is of opportunity and innovation,” he said. “That’s how we see technologies like these. Opportunities and innovations for teachers. We want to provide training. We want to encourage exploration in model classrooms, spotlight success, and really host conversations about it.”

Embracing AI goes right to the stop of the Bellmore Public Schools district, where superintendent Joe Famularo already serves on several AI advisory boards at institutions like Adelphi University, New Tech Institute and LIU. He also participates in think tanks conducted to discover how to incorporate AI into the classroom in a safe and responsible way.

While change might be daunting to many, Famularo points out that it’s not unprecedented. Just think about how much opposition there was to bringing something as simple as a slide ruler into a trigonome-

Eventually came scientific calculators, and then the internet. Both received significant pushback, but now who could imagine a classroom without them?

Learning responsible use of AI Instructors at Lawrence Woodmere Academy in the Five Towns are guiding students there in to use AI responsibly. John Tiliakos — who teaches computer science in the middle and upper schools — tends to let his students lead discussions surrounding AI.

AI is coming into his middle schoollevel engineering and technology classes, as well as his more high school-level courses in aviation, aerospace and computer programming.

But even before that, Tiliakos was spreading the word about AI, teaching a class at LWA on how artificial intelligence works in our world.

While that class no longer exists, Tiliakos said he and the other teachers at LWA are still focusing on the same values of providing knowledge for proper use of the technology.

“AI is a great tool,” Tiliakos said. “There’s nothing wrong with it, if it’s used in a positive way.”

That’s why he focuses so much of his attention on inputs — the written instructions given to AI systems. Tiliakos believes that inquisitive nature of teenagers could lead to devious uses of the technology — like writing term papers and the like.

His responsibility, Tiliakos said, is to direct students toward feeding AI prompts that result in helpful information to be used for beneficial causes.

“When you use AI, you see scenarios based on what you did,” he said. “Every action is a reaction.”

But some teachers — even at LWA — aren’t too keen about the AI presence.

“I don’t think it’s positive or negative,” said Christopher Clark, a senior at the school. “It just depends on how you use it.”

One unlikely way of putting AI to use is through another somewhat newer technological offering: podcasting.

“AI is still new. But for podcasting, it’s still very, very new,” said Henry McDaniel, a theatre arts and oration teacher at LWA. “What it can do is help you write a script for your podcast.”

Podcasting students also can use AI to reproduce their own voice to read their scripts, McDaniel said. They then post the productions online.

“Our motto here is ‘at home with the world,’” he said. “What we’re trying to do is give them skillsets, but (also) teach them the responsible way of using those skillsets.”

Testing the waters

Implementing AI has been a little slower going in Long Beach, where the discussion on how best to use it continues.

Lorraine Radice, the school district’s literacy director, has worked to alleviate many of the fears some Long Beach teachers might have when it comes to AI, while looking for ways they could try to implement the technology into their respective classrooms.

“Over the summer, I taught two professional development courses in the district and taught teachers how to use ChatGPT,” Radice said. “I surveyed teachers in the fall across the district as to who was using ChatGPT and who knew about it. Even in the fall after about nine months of ChatGPT being in social media circulations and in the news — not as many people had used it as I expected.”

While Radice would very much like developing ways on how AI chatbots like ChatGPT can be used in classrooms, a lot of her time is still focused on educating teachers what exactly the AI software is.

“So, part of the goals of those summer professional development courses was to raise awareness of how to use it,” Radice said,” and then to really start to support teens in thinking about how it could be used from the planning side of being a teacher. And then also how it can be used as a tool to provide support and equitable access to writing and generating ideas for

Courtesy Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District

New to schools in Bellmore and Merrick is a college-level artificial intelligence course. Partnering with Long Island University, the class is offered at Calhoun High School, where students can earn college credit by learning about the emerging technology.

Some teachers worry AI goes a little too far

ConTinued From PreViouS PAge

kids.”

Having access to AI has impacted classrooms already by allowing students to use it to aid research, while many teachers worry they could go too far and have AI completely answer questions and even write essays for them.

But that just means adapting.

A I is a great tool. There’s nothing wrong with it, if it’s used in a positive way

John TiliAkos teacher, Lawrence Woodmere Academy

“A teacher raised a great question during a session when talking about using artificial intelligence tools to analyze classical texts,” Radice said. “The same question has been asked so many times, and she asked, ‘If I could just get the answer from a tool like ChatGPT, then what’s the point of even asking this type of question?’

“That’s a great thing for people to think about. What is the point of this question? Can I rephrase this question that really puts the student at the center of the thinking, and not so much (a) media tool?”

But there is still a ways to go before AI becomes more commonly accepted in classrooms, Radice said. At least on Long Beach.

“I wouldn’t say that there is a push,” she said. “I think part of that is because of the privacy. We want to make sure that we’re using tools that are safe to use in school. And once we do that, then it can become a more consistent part of our practice.”

Parker Schug/Herald

Lawrence

HERALD SPORTS

Hofstra pushes for CAA playoff berth

By ANDREW COEN sports@liherald.com

After an up and down nonconference schedule, Hofstra women’s lacrosse gets a chance to hit the reset button with the start of conference play.

Hofstra entered the start of the Coastal Athletic Association portion of its schedule with a record of 3-4 and kicked off the league slate on an uplifting note with a 13-10 win at Campbell last Saturday.

The Pride is now looking to qualify for the four-team CAA tournament in early May after missing out on the postseason for the first time since 2018 last spring.

“I think it’s a great opportunity for a new season and I think we have started to find out a lot about ourselves and who we are as a team,” said 12th-year Hofstra head coach Shannon Smith. “Overall we have started to play better and we’re starting to hit our stride at the right part of our season when we go into conference play.”

The Pride have already equaled their win total from last season when Hofstra went 4-12 with two of those victories coming prior to a seasonending knee injury to rookie phenom Nikki Mennella. The now redshirtfreshman attacker is back healthy and is third on the team with 16 goals despite missing two games.

Graduate student Taylor Mennella, the older sister of Nikki, is tied for first on the team in scoring with 29 points on 19 goals and 10 assists. Hofstra has also gotten a boost from graduate student attacker Melissa Sconone, a University of North Carolina (UNC) transfer who also has 29 points.

“She brings a lot of leadership and a lot of experience and a calming presence,” said Smith of Sconone, who tal-

lied 35 goals during her UNC career and was part of the Tar Heels’ 2022 national championship team. “She’s been nothing but a tremendous addition and asset to our team.”

Senior midfielder Kerry Walser has provided key veteran leadership in her final season with —- goals so far. The Bay Shore native was an integral part of the 2021 Hofstra team that received an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament her freshman season.

The Hofstra defense– led by Trinity Reed, Brynn Hepting, Ashlyn McDonald and Christine Dannenfelser— held Wagner scoreless for three quarters in a dominating 15-2 win on March 5. Sophomore goalie Luchianna Cardello is starting in net for the second straight season and recorded 10 saves in a season-open-

ing 13-5 victory against Long Island University on Feb. 10.

The Pride’s roster features plenty of Long Island players including senior attacker Grace Pupke, who was a standout at Seaford High School. Pupke registered an assist late in the Wagner win and is often utilized in the player-up situations on the offense.

“Grace is one of our hardest workers on our team,” said Smith of Pupke, who registered 44 goals and 16 assists during her final high school season at Seaford in 2019. “She’s a great person and a great teammate and brings a lot of energy to our practices.”

Hofstra will host William & Mary in its CAA opener this Friday, March 22 at 5 p.m. before returning home Sunday to face Elon at noon. The Pride will also

host Monmouth on April 12 at 5p.m. and close the conference schedule on April 27 versus Drexel at noon. The remaining road league schedule is highlighted by an April 21 visit to Long Island rival and defending CAA champion Stony Brook at noon.

“Every game that you play is a backyard brawl and anyone can win on any given day in our conference,” Smith said. “I’m just super excited for the journey that we’re about to go on with our team for conference play.”

Photos courtesy Hofstra Athletics Communications Grad student Taylor Mennella is off to a sizzling start for the Pride with 29 points through seven games.

Redshirt freshman Nikki Mennella has found the back of the net 16 times already this spring.

HERALD SPORTS

Elmont caps season with state title

By TONY BELLISSIMO

tbellissimo@liherald.com

Defensive versatility, strong rebounding, streaky scoring and composure when trailing made Elmont the last team standing in New York State Class AA boys’ basketball.

The Spartans captured their second state title in program history last Saturday night, defeating West Genessee, 51-44, in the championship game at Cool Insuring Arena in Glens Falls behind senior Cassius Moore’s 24 points and senior Gemere FriasWalsh’s 10.

It was Elmont’s 23rd victory in 27 games and first state crown since the 2015-16 campaign.

“Our kids were talking state championship from the jump and they made it a reality,” head coach Ryan Straub said. “Ever since we lost in the county semifinals last season, they were on a mission. They wanted to become the best Elmont team ever.”

Moore scored 11 points in the third quarter and was the catalyst of an offense with a long list of contributors. Senior Osagie Ekhator and juniors Ebubenna Nwabudu and Arlyn Brown, who hit the game-winning shot at the buzzer in Elmont’s Long Island Class AA title game victory over Half Hollow Hills East, all chipped in 4 points.

“It feels great and will probably take a while to fully sink it,” Moore said. “We’ve all put in so much work since last summer. Our goal all season was to win our last game.”

Straub was an assistant coach under head coach George Holub when the Spartans last won a state title.

“There’s a ton of similarities between the two teams, but the bottom line is both were the best of the best and will be remembered forever,” Straub said. “Our ability to constantly change defenses this season, even on the fly, was incredible. This group is so smart and coachable and also worked as hard as any team I’ve seen.”

The Spartans trailed both Friday’s 52-38 semifinal win over Jamestown and the championship game after the first quarter. Jamestown held a 14-7 advantage through eight minutes of the semis, and West Genessee led the final 13-11 before Elmont held the Wildcats to two baskets in the second quarter and built a six-point halftime lead.

“The first quarter against Jamestown was eye-opening,” Straub said. “They were long, athletic and fast and were hitting everything early. We were able to lock in defensively and I feel we

also played a great offensive game after we went down by 10.”

Moore netted 17 points, Ekhator had 10 points and 12 rebounds and Nwabudu added 9 points and 11 rebounds against Jamestown. Junior Nassir Edwards was steady throughout and junior Khalil Muhammad provided a spark off the bench with 6 points.

“Our kids don’t care who scores,” Straub said. “In both games, when we needed a play, we made a play. And it was always collective. Always someone different stepping up.”

Frias-Walsh said after defeating Jamestown, it was a crash course getting prepared for the championship game. “We watched West Genessee in the semis and also had some film on them,” he said. “It wasn’t as much prep time as we’re used to, but we stuck to the game plan.”

Elmont, which earned the No. 5 seed in Nassau and beat South Side for the county title, loses five seniors, but FriasWalsh believes the Spartans have an excellent chance to repeat.

“The guys coming back are going to work just as hard,” he said. “We’ve built a great culture.”

Andy Camp/Herald photos

The Spartans celebrated the second state championship in program history last Saturday night after topping West Genessee in the title game, 51-44, in Glens Falls.

Senior Cassius Moore poured in 24 points in the state final after netting 17 in the state semifinal.

Senior Gemere Frias-Walsh scored 10 points in the historic victory over West Genessee.

HERALD NEIGHBORS

Bands perform at St. Patrick’s Day event

Neighbors gathered at the Plattduetsche Bier Garten to enjoy some Irish music on March 14.

Ancient Order of Hibernians Division 20 hosted a fundraiser at the Plattduetsche Bier Garten, featuring local performers The Narrowbacks and The Sporting Paddies.

Tom Scanlon, president of Ancient Order of Hibernians Division 20, said this was the first fundraiser of its kind hosted by the division at the Plattduetsche.

“We just want to spread our goal of appreciating the work of Saint Patrick and Saint Brigid, and to also show that we’re doing good, charitable work,” Scanlon said.

The Ancient Order of Hibernians is always welcoming new members. To find more information about events and how to get involved with the organization, visit NassauAOH.com.

–Nicole Wagner

Collecting tickets at the door to raise money for the Ancient Order of Hibernians are are Vice-President Ed Doxey, of Floral Park, Marshal Joe Darcy, of Franklin Square, and Kevin Meaney, of Massapequa Park.

Keith Rossein/Herald photos

The Sporting Patties Band performing for the audience at the Plattduetsche Bier Garten on March 14. Calum Pascua on the fiddle, Mike Cassidy on the accordian, Tom Cassidy on the Uilleann pipes, flute and tin whistle, Marty Kearns on vocals and guitar and Denis O’Dowd on bass guitar.

JP Maroney, of New Hyde Park, Vinny Gallagher, of Rockaway Beach, John Patrick McClintock, of Floral Park, Brian McClintock, of Floral Park, and Matt Maroney, of New Hyde Park toast to St Patrick’s Day.

The Sporting Patties Band, including acordian player Mike Cassidy, fiddle player Calum Pascua, Tom Cassidy on the Uilleann pipes, flute and tin whistle, Marty Kearns on vocals and guitar and Denis O’Dowd on bass guitar, perform at the Plattduetsche Bier Garten for an Ancient Order of Hibernians St. Patrick’s Day fundraising event.

Student earns spot in regional spelling bee

Continued from page 1

skills — for two to three hours a day.

Since she couldn’t always have someone test her on the words at home, she said she improvised the studying technique for the contest. This marked the first time she has competed in a Scripps Spelling Bee, since spelling bees hosted at her elementary school, Alden Terrace School, were held on a voluntary basis.

The word Alexis spelled to win the spelling bee in January was “mainstay,” which is her favorite word and holds special significance for her when she spelled it out to win the spelling bee.

“It was exciting, but also very nervewracking,” Alexis said of participating in the spelling bee.

To help fuel her success, she visualized herself winning.

“Mainstay” was one of the 150 surprise words spelling bee facilitators could choose from to wrap up the competition, so Alexis didn’t study it beforehand. When she won, she felt relief.

elmont memorial High School seventh and eighth graders participated in the school’s first annual Scripps Spelling Bee contest in January. annemiriam alexis wins first kezie takes second place and aaron Walters wins third place. arya Baker stands alongside the three scholars.

the seventh-grade champion Evan Jimenez at Elmont Memorial High School took an online test from Scripps National Spelling Bee, evaluating their spelling and vocabulary skills. They were required to finish in the top 50 for

Long Island students to advance to the March 21 regionals. Jimenez fell short of qualifying for the regional competition by one point.

Alexis was the only Elmont Memorial High School student to advance to the

January, advancing to the L.i. regionals.

regional portion of the spelling bee. Until the March 21 competition, Alexis is using the same studying technique — though this time, she will study 4,000 words, she said.

Photos courtesy Sewanhaka Central High School District annemiriam alexis, an eighth grader at elmont memorial High School, wins the school’s Scripps Spelling Bee Contest in

STEPPING OUT

An artistic revolution on view at Hofstra Museum Unlocking the D

By Danielle Schwab

reams collide with reality and the subconscious reigns supreme. That’s the essence of the transformative approach of the avant garde artists at the forefront of the Surrealist Movement. Inspired by André Breton’s 1924 Surrealist Manifesto in France, artists, writers and filmmakers diverged from conventional thought to explore ideas such as the unconscious and the irrational.

Step into the fascinating creativity of the surrealists at Hofstra University Museum of Art’s new exhibit “Les Visionnaires: In the Modernist Spirit.” It’s a deep dive into what became a new movement that transformed how artists moved on from rigid historical styles to invent new ways to respond to their world.

The exhibit commemorates the 100th year of the Surrealist Manifesto, which forever changed artistic practice. More than 70 works from 1924 through the 1970s — sourced from the Museum’s permanent collection and the Howard L. and Muriel Weingrow Collection of AvantGarde Art and Literature from Hofstra University Special Collections — are on view.

something powerful,” Giordano adds. “Their partnerships and collective approach captured the realities and hopes of modern society.”

She cites Salvatore Dalí’s lithograph “Untitled from Memories of Surrealism,” (a suite of 12 prints he created in 1971 reflecting on his long artistic career) as a prime example of the movement’s significance.

Rick Wakeman

Keyboard wizard Rick Wakeman is headed back on the road for one last jaunt, ‘The Final Solo Tour.’ Known for his incredible talents, sense of humor, and multitudinous back catalog, expect to hear some of his best-known hits from both his solo career and his collaborations with Yes, Bowie and more among musings and hilarious tales from his 50-plus years in the music industry. Wakeman — who has become almost as well-known for his intimate piano shows as his prog rock extravaganzas — has decided that after a decades spanning career spanning he is calling a halt to lengthy American one-man show tours, in order to concentrate on composing, recording and collaborating with other musicians. In addition to his musicianship, Wakeman has evolved into a well-loved television presenter and author, with his bawdy British wit endearing him to audiences on both sides of the Atlantic.

Friday, March 22, 8 p.m. $75, $5, $45, $29.50. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at Ticketmaster.com or ParamountNY.com.

• Now through July 26

• Saturday and Sunday, noon4 p.m.; Tuesday through Friday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

• Emily Lowe Gallery, Hall, South Campus, Hempstead.

“The manifesto is important because artists from this time period are breaking away from the French Academy,” Alexandra Giordano, Hofstra University Museum of Art’s director and co-curator of the exhibit, explains. “It’s a concrete way to unify artists working in different styles. The manifesto really engages the unconscious mind, the importance of dreams and free association, the rejection of rational thought. It’s revolutionary because it’s really about the liberation of the imagination.”

• For information, and to RSVP to related events, call (516) 463-5672 or visit Hofstra.edu/ museum

Suddenly, artists whose work was tethered to the French Academy, established in 1635, realized that new modalities, mediums, and methodologies were a more appropriate way to respond to the rapidly changing world in which they lived. “Political, economic and cultural shifts inspired a new forward-thinking attitude in artists who, in turn, discovered radical innovations in aesthetic forms, techniques and content. Paris was the epicenter. Artists were drawn to the city, where a drive for pushing boundaries and sharing their transformative vision thrived,” Giordano explains in the forward to the exhibit catalog.

Jean Arp, Marc Chagall, Jean Cocteau, Salvador Dalí, Max Ernst and Joan Miró are among the 25 artists and writers represented here. Besides the artworks, first-edition books are on display including an original copy of the Surrealist Manifesto. Françoise Gilot, who had a tumultuous, decade-long partnership with Picasso and is the mother of two of his children, also figures prominently in the exhibit. Gilot had a close association with Hofstra and was awarded an honorary doctorate in 1982. She was an honorary conference chair of the 1985 Hofstra Cultural Center conference “Toward a Reappraisal of Modernism,” a program on avant-garde art and literature.

The Surrealist movement emerged in response to shifting political and societal landscapes.

“You had World War I and World War II that were devastating events, but at the exact same time you had Sigmund Freud’s interpretation of dreams,” Giordano says. “All of these new ideas were being explored, juxtaposed to these scary world events. Artists were responding to it all.”

Paris became a hub for artists to collaborate — sharing ideas, living spaces, lovers, and friends.

“They show us how we can work with our peers to produce

“It reflects on the stream of consciousness with this out-of-body experience,” she says. “You have this large eye in the background, there’s a clock on the pupil and (in the forefront) there’s butterflies. It captures otherworldliness.”

Not only was a change of ideas happening at the time, but also a change of mediums.

“They focused on interdisciplinary vision using a lot of different materials,” Giordano says. “In addition to this dream-like quality and imagery, there is also this idea of collaboration for bookmaking, photography, collage, poetry, set design and film. These artists created these new ideas towards art, which was a deviation from the expected outcome.”

One of the ‘Les Visionnaires’ as they were known, was filmmaker and artist Jean Cocteau, who directed the 1946 adaptation of “Beauty and the Beast” (La Belle et la Bête). Based on the original fairytale with a surrealist twist, the film is a testament to bringing the traditional to reinvention. Visitors can view portions of the film throughout the exhibit.

As always, related programming enhances the exhibit. For those who want a more in-depth look, join Giordano for a guided exhibit tour and discussion, Tuesday, April 16, at 5 p.m. During the tour, as Giordano puts it, participants will learn all the “juicy tidbits.”

As Long Island’s only nationally accredited public-facing academic museum, Hofstra Museum is an important local resource.

“Our neighboring communities don’t realize that they don’t have to travel to New York City to see wonderful art, they can come here,” Giordano adds. “They can be nose-to-nose with important artists, and experience this beautiful art in their backyard.”

The exhibit includes Salvador Dalí’s etching and lithograph, Untitled, from Memories of Surrealism, Portfolio, 1971. A gift of Benjamin Bickerman. Also Françoise Gilot’s lithograph IX, from On the Stone: Poems and Lithographs (Sur La Pierre: Poemes et Lithographies), 1972. Courtesy of Special Collections, Joan and Donald E. Axinn Library, Hofstra University.

Comedy’s ‘Ivy League’

The Ivy League of Comedy arrives on Long Island with their elite brand of clever humor. Carmen Lynch (above), Ryan Reiss and Shaun Eli deliver the laughs in this fast-paced evening of stand-up. Lynch, who made it to the semi-finals of NBC’s ‘Last Comic Standing,’ is known for her deadpan delivery and riffs on life. A rising star from a bilingual family, who lived in Spain as a child, she’s appeared on a string of latenight television shows,’Inside Amy Schumer,’ and more. Funnyman Reis, also a writer-actor, began his career while attending NYU, and quickly became a favorite act on the scene. His quick wit and instant likability have made him one of the most sought-after comics on the club circuit. Eli has rightfully been called one of America’s smartest comics. Whether it’s a story about dining with a vegetarian or successfully fighting a parking ticket in criminal court, master storyteller Eli shows you that there’s hilarity in the ordinary if you approach life with a comedic warp. For just about anything he’s experienced he has hilarious stories at the ready.

Saturday, March 23, 8 p.m. $45-$50. Molloy University, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre. Tickets available at MadisonTheatreNY.org or (516) 323-4444.

Francois Gilot

Salvador Dali

THE Your Neighborhood

March 30

So Good: The Neil Diamond Experience

Get ready for an unforgettable night on the Paramount stage, Saturday, March 30, 8 p.m. Robert Neary honors an icon with The Neil Diamond Experience, a tribute show like no other. With over 35 years as a Broadway, TV, and film actor, Neary brings a unique touch to this production, weaving Neil Diamond’s greatest hits with stories from interviews, quotes, and autobiographical books. Neary creates an incredible cut above the rest tribute show. You will swear you are watching the master himself as he and the band perform Neil Diamond’s greatest hits. With his powerful presence, from the moment he struts on stage wearing trademark black, gray, and silver sequined jacket, Neary, uncannily, resembles Neil Diamond at the height of his touring career in the 90s and 2000s. His wit and mannerisms on stage is spot on, especially when he plays his guitar. When he speaks and tells the stories and trivia behind some of Neil’s most popular songs, his rich baritone gravelly voice can easily be mistaken for Neil’s own speaking voice. But make no mistake about it at all, if you close your eyes and listen to him sing any of the 22 classic Neil Diamond songs with the magnificent band behind him, you will swear you are listening to the Master himself. This truly is, the most authentic tribute to one of the greatest artists in musical history. The title says it all. It is the quintessential Neil Diamond Concert Experience. With a finale that will blow your mind, the show is guaranteed to have you on your feet dancing and cheering. $49.50, $39.50, $35, $29.50, $25. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at Ticketmaster.com or ParamountNY.com.

Bird walk

See some birds with the South Shore Audubon Society. All are welcome to join members for the next in its series of bird walks, at Norman J. Levy Park and Preserve, Sunday, March 24, starting at 9 a.m. The entrance road to the Norman Levy Preserve is located on the south side of Merrick Road, just east of the Meadowbrook Parkway.

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) 4679498. No walk if rain or snow. Text regarding questionable weather. For more information, visit SSAudubon.org.

Purim Celebration and Dinner

Elmont Jewish Center and Ohel Chabad Lubavitch invite all Elmont Jewish Center members, neighbors and families to their annual Purim Services and Megillah Reading, Saturday, March 23, at 8 p.m., and annual Purim Celebration and dinner, Sunday, March 24, 6 p.m. 119-19 230th St., Cambria Height. sHear the Megillah, enjoy a delicious Purim dinner, wear a costume and join the fun. To RSVP, contact Rabbi Blachman at rabbi. ejc@gmail.com or (718) 404-7822.

On exhibit

Nassau County Museum of Art’s latest exhibition, “Urban Art Evolution,” is a comprehensive exhibit featuring a diverse range of compositions from the 1980s through the present by creators who were based in the rough and tumble downtown area of New York City known as Loisaida/LES (Lower East Side/East Village) and close surrounding neighborhoods.

Artists pushed the boundaries of what was considered “art” with a primary focus on street/graffiti art.

The exhibit’s scope, guest curated by art collector/gallerist Christopher Pusey, offers an even broader view from other creative residents, who worked inside their studios but still contributed to the rich fabric of the downtown art scene from different vantage points and aesthetics.

Works include sculpture, paintings, photography, music, and ephemera from many noted and influential artists.

Opens March 23, on view through July 7. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. (516) 484-9337 or NassauMuseum.org.

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We asked for a variance and were turned down

Q. After a lot of delays, due partly to Covid, we were turned down for a zoning variance and are wondering what to do. We have a café that has been operating for over 20 years, which we bought from a couple who were retiring, and everything seemed to be legal. Our building department told us that we needed a variance because we didn’t have enough parking, and that we had 20 seats instead of 12. Twelve seats was a takeout, but these days, if you don’t have enough seats, you won’t stay in business very long. So we asked for a variance, and we were turned down. Also, our plans didn’t show that we do have parking on the street, and use a public lot and some other businesses nearby. What can you tell us about our situation? We don’t want to lose our location, and anything we do will need plans, and we realize our architect had never dealt with this before.

A. As common as this problem is, you would need to appeal your case by filing for the appeal with the court, with an attorney, within 30 days, in what is referred to as an Article 78. In order to make your case, you would need accurate plans, plus what you already have, the minutes of your hearing for an attorney to review, plus any documentation you already had through the process of the building application over all the time you described.

Ask The Architect

Monte Leeper

In addition, you would need all the old records of the property that were filed for any and all permits for the previous uses going back to the very beginning of the take-out or retail space. It sounds like a lot, and it might be, but you have a difficult case to prove, because parking on your property is usually the biggest issue in any use variance. A use permit always requires that there be adequate parking, and if there isn’t enough on-site parking, the request for a variance (to vary from the requirements) would then be your appeal.

By changing the use from takeout, where people are coming and going, to an assembly space of people who are lingering, triggers all kinds of building and safety codes. Once you get to a restaurant from a take-out by serving more than 12 people, you need male- and female-use restrooms or, depending on the jurisdiction, enough fixtures and privacy to serve the occupants, based on specific chapters from the plumbing code, the handicapped-access code and the building code, requiring more floor space.

You also have issues with fire marshal and fire safety equipment, depending on the area in square feet area and the number of occupants. Your attorney and architect can craft your case, but you have to be flexible enough to meet certain basic codes to be able to convince a court that the first level of the process can be overturned. You can do this! Good luck!

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Criminals aren’t in custody: Let’s reform bail reform

As a mother of four and a legislator deeply committed to public safety, I am compelled to address the recent horrific case in Babylon. This case — in which body parts were found in public spaces, including a park frequented by families, and a judge was unable to set bail and detain the defendants — highlights a disturbing trend: the prioritization of criminals over victims.

pATRiCiA CAnzoneRi-FiTzpATRiCk

If the grim nature of the crime itself was not disturbing enough, the aftermath was discovered by a student, which underscores the real-life impact this crime has had on the local residents. Standing in the park myself last week was unsettling, and I couldn’t help feeling as if I were a character in a horror movie. Imagine how the residents who live near that park feel. How do those children ever return to that park and not think about what discovered there? I think we would all agree that those who are credibly suspected of dismembering two bodies and tossing them

in a park like garbage aren’t people we want to be near in the grocery store, or in any public setting.

The suspects were quickly identified and charged with concealment of a human corpse, hindering prosecution, and tampering with physical evidence. Then, in a move that shocked residents, they were released back into the community. What should shock us all is that their release was required by state bail laws.

The threat a defendant poses often cannot be considered by a judge.

Our criminal justice system allows a judge to set bail to ensure that a defendant charged with a crime returns to court to face the charges. The delicate balance is that bail should be set at a level that a person can afford, but also be enough to give the defendant incentive to return to court. The current state of the law is that unless a crime is on the list of baileligible offenses, a judge is unable to set bail, and the threat the defendant poses cannot be considered. The inability of judges to consider that threat when determining whether to set bail or detain a suspect has allowed perpetrators of heinous crimes to go free.

These policies are a direct result of one-party rule prioritizing the rights of

Wcriminals over victims, and as a result, public safety has been compromised. The federal government and 49 other states allow judges to consider a defendant’s dangerousness in making these determinations, but New York stands alone in prohibiting this commonsense practice. In fact, the first bill I introduced in the Senate, which I carry with Assemblyman Ed Ra, would restore judges’ ability to keep dangerous defendants off the streets.

Alongside my colleagues in the State Legislature, including Sen. Anthony Palumbo and Assemblyman Michael Durso, I co-sponsored legislation aimed at rectifying some of the flaws in New York’s bail laws, which allowed the suspects in the Babylon case to walk free despite the gravity of their alleged crimes. Palumbo’s proposed bill aims to classify concealment or mutilation of a human corpse as a bail-eligible felony. Additionally, I introduced legislation to correct an egregious loophole after the district attorney warned that the suspects may be released from even GPS monitoring because New York’s bail reforms also placed the same time limitations on electronic monitoring as they

do on pre-trial detention. This case highlights why these measures are urgently needed.

To be clear, I don’t believe that anyone should be held in custody simply because they lack the means to post bail, and I don’t think advocates on either side of this issue think the system was working perfectly before 2019. No policy is perfect, but as lawmakers, it’s our responsibility to continuously assess how policies are impacting people’s lives. Oregon has backtracked on its radical drug decriminalization policy in an acknowledgement of its unintended consequences. But since bail reform was passed in New York in 2019, Albany has offered only Band-Aids in response to the disastrous outcomes we have seen resulting from these “reforms,” rather than the substantive corrections we need to help ensure the safety of our communities.

As a mother, a legislator, and an advocate for community safety, I am committed to closing the loopholes in our bail laws that force judges to release suspects, like those in the Babylon case, back into the community, and arbitrarily limit law enforcement’s ability to monitor potentially dangerous suspects pending trial.

Patricia Canzoneri represents the 9th Senate District.

It’s me, not ChatGPT . . . at least I think so

hy should I work this week?

No one works anymore, or if they show up, they bring attitude or the three stages of incompetence: Don’t care, don’t want to be here, don’t notice you standing there at my counter. (I don’t mean you, of course. Herald readers are all diligent, responsible people.)

Anyway, as an experiment with AI, and a way not to work, I thought I’d ask ChatGPT to write my column. What I specifically asked for in the query was: Write a 750-word column in the style of Randi Kreiss.

It took about two seconds, and I got a piece about the idea of detoxing ourselves from our exposure to screens and devices. Not an original idea, not a bad idea, but between you and me, I hope it wasn’t an example of how I usually write, because it was sooooo booooring.

This was the last paragraph of the pseudo-Randi column, written by ChatGPT:

“So let us embrace the digital detox not as a fleeting trend, but as a timeless

reminder of our innate capacity for connection, creativity, and contemplation. Let us reclaim our time, our attention, and our humanity from the clutches of the digital realm and rediscover the beauty of life beyond the screen.”

I mean, there’s nothing wrong with the writing; it’s just so blah-blah-blah. All of which leaves me with no other choice than to abandon AI and deploy my own skills, which are both modest and flawed.

WIf I were going to write about the toxicity of screens and devices — and I am, now that ChatGPT gave me the idea — I would connect it specifically to our current political madness. We are bombarded 24/7 by repetitious news about the threat to our democracy by former President Donald Trump and his acolytes. Is there really anything else to talk about that carries the gravitas of a looming democracy-destroying, unhinged presidency? The Orange Man lurks behind us just as he stalked Hillary in the 2016 debates. He is meaner than the last time around. His alleged crimes have earned him dozens of felony indictments. We can’t stand watching the coverage, and we can’t stop.

Other news outlets beat the drum about President Biden’s age and oratorical misadventures.

hen I asked it to write a column like I might write, it let me down.

For a long time, I tried to see the issues from all sides. I figured that I have more in common with Trump supporters than the issues that divide us. I figured that when he fully revealed himself as an authoritarian wannabe, folks would recoil, seeing the threat to our freedoms. I wanted to stand in their shoes and see what they saw, but Trump’s singular determination to take down our democracy blots out the sun. Legitimate disagreements over immigration, the economy and taxes pale compared to his promise to dismantle the pillars of government and build camps for people he determines are unwelcome or undesirable.

There isn’t a legitimate other side when the other side is a dictatorship.

Trump must be removed from political life, and we must find ourselves again. That means removing ourselves from obsessional newscasts. Watch the candidates’ speeches for yourself, without the filters, and believe what you see. Look and listen to who Trump is. Listen to Biden.

We must retire the would-be dictator,

and that means re-electing Biden. Both men are too old for the job, but Biden and his team will keep faith with the American public. The country is sound and well-connected to our friends around the world. Biden’s experience has brought us through these difficult years. The alternative is more than a flirtation with authoritarianism and institutionalized racism. Young people do not realize how quickly bellicose talk can turn into tanks rumbling down our streets.

In many homes, the TV is on. It’s always there, in the background, too loud, too repetitive, too insignificant. We all know that news shows ran out of news long ago. Most of the time they reprocess the meat of a story until it comes out like sausage, link after link, hour after hour. Is it news when a knownothing anchor interviews a reporter who once interviewed a spokesperson who represents an insignificant staff member of a mid-level politician?

We can improve our lives by disconnecting from our devices. Voting is easy and analog. The conflation of politics and screens is wearing us down. Let the candidates speak for themselves.

Thanks, ChatGPT, for priming the pump. I just needed to say it in my own words.

Copyright 2024 Randi Kreiss. Randi can be reached at randik3@aol.com.

RAnDi kReiss

Traffic safety: a holistic approach

From my experience as a lawyer and as a county legislator since 2022, traffic safety is a topic high on my list of priorities. Rarely a day goes by when we don’t read, see or hear reports of accidents on our roadways, too often with tragic results. For virtually every Long Islander, traffic is a part of our everyday lives. Congestion on our roadways is ever present, and because of that, the safety of drivers, passengers and pedestrians should be the first priority for every driver and everyone on foot trying to cross a street.

JoHn GiUFFrÉ

Further proof to support that premise can be found in eyeopening statistics from the state Department of Motor Vehicles that show more than 2 million registered vehicles on Long Island alone. That equates to just over two vehicles per household in the NassauSuffolk region.

Today’s vehicles have changed dramatically in recent years. While govern-

ment regulations have improved automobile safety (for example, by requiring seat belts, airbags, collapsible steering columns, etc.), the increased level of performance of these vehicles has made many drivers more daring as they navigate our heavily trafficked roads, to the detriment of other drivers, passengers, pedestrians and personal property.

oSo what can be done to improve traffic safety? For starters, we must recognize that it is best achieved through a collaborative effort between local government and drivers. On Long Island, our road system is extremely complex. There are thousands of miles of state, county, town, city and village roads in Nassau County that are maintained by a variety of public works entities. The county is fortunate to have an excellent Department of Public Works that does a great job of maintaining our road system. The department also works closely with the other public works operations responsible for maintaining roads in their respective jurisdictions.

actively engaged the community, the county DPW, and the Nassau County Police Department for mitigation in and around my district that has helped improve traffic safety. Included in these efforts are the following:

ur vehicles’ enhanced performance makes many of us more daring at the wheel.

■ The installation of a traffic signal on Woodfield Road, at Linden and Lindberg Streets. This area of Woodfield Road has been the scene of numerous accidents over the past few years that have resulted in fatalities, including a senior citizen and two children.

■ The placement of advanced warning lights for a major crosswalk on Hempstead Avenue at Lester Court.

■ Frequent placement of speed-monitoring trailers at various locations in the 8th Legislative District. This was achieved with the help of the NCPD.

■ Increased speed limit signage on Woodfield Road. This was accomplished jointly with the Town of Hempstead.

will soon be driving on our roads can be accomplished by emphasizing traffic safety in driver education classes, and even among all juniors and seniors, regardless of enrollment in driver ed classes. Parents can also teach their children the importance of traffic safety while they are learning to drive, and even after they earn their licenses. Also, I recommend taking a defensive driving class. It will provide a discount on insurance premiums — and remind those who take it that a car can quickly turn into a weapon if it is mishandled.

For those who are interested, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is a great resource to tap into. There’s an entire area on the NHTSA website that offers traffic safety tips and a variety of other vehicle safety topics in an easy-to-navigate format. Go to nhtsa.gov/road-safety.

As your legislator, I will continue to advocate for traffic safety and welcome any thoughts Herald readers might have on this subject. I can be reached at (516) 571-6208, or by email at jgiuffre@ nassaucountyny.gov. I am also available to speak to your group or school about traffic safety.

Over the past two years, I have

Letters

the USA, became that because so many of its citizens are immigrants, or children of immigrants. They came mostly from civilized countries, and came legally.

With the Industrial Revolution booming, America needed skilled and unskilled workers, and they came in droves. Most were checked over at Ellis Island, and all were required to become citizens. Yes, we quarantined the sick for a couple of weeks, in not the most luxurious accommodations, but it worked.

We do not need the number and the caliber of those coming across our borders in illegal fashion. We don’t need the crime, and we don’t need what they turn our cities into. We can’t afford to clean up the world, and we aren’t all in desperate need of gardeners, but rather skilled welders, carpenters, etc.

Having these illegal immigrants among us costs us money, and destroys our school systems. They don’t even try to blend in — they dress, act and expect us to learn their culture. Sometimes the raw truth hurts, but they are the only ones benefiting from their crime of crossing our borders illegally. Politicians? Guilty.

RObERT CASALE Glen Head

We thought Randi was gone

To the Editor:

My wife and I, loyal readers of the Merrick Herald, are among Randi Kreiss’s biggest fans, and we were thoroughly dismayed

Education can also improve traffic safety. Educating high school teens who

when we thought she disappeared last year. but a letter to the editor in the Feb. 29-March 6 issue, “At your library, borrow a book — or a telescope,” which mentioned her column on libraries, made us realize that Randi is still here!

We have now read all her monthlies since she started them in September. What an ordeal she and her husband have been through. We wish both of them all the best, and are beyond delighted that Randi’s observations on our society, her humor, her book recommendations, and her overall words of wisdom can continue to be part of our lives.

KARIN SPENCER & MARISA HOHEb Merrick

Guess who opposes even-year elections?

To the Editor:

Yet another example of Nassau County Republicans’ blatant misuse of taxpayers’ money for partisan purposes is the legislative majority spending $500,000 for a politically connected law firm to prevent holding all elections in even years, even though even-year elections increase voter turnout and save taxpayers millions.

John Giuffré represents Nassau County’s 8th Legislative District.

Framework by Tim Baker

Nassau GOP machine officials justify this waste by claiming that even-year elections “will lead voters to ignore local issues when federal and state issues dominate.” Yet Republicans’ local campaigns are dominated by state and federal issues. Indeed, County Executive bruce blakeman just sent a glossy mailer smearing Democrats in Albany and Washington, misusing county taxpayers’ dollars on issues that have nothing to do with county government.

um or the Nassau University Medical Center debacle — critical county issues. Instead, every mailer attacks federal and state Democrats.

Last year, b lakeman took county government employees to New York City, and used a county podium to grandstand on an issue over which he had no jurisdiction. The GOP continuously misuses taxpayer dollars for political purposes. Neither county nor town GOP officials sent a single mailer on the plan for the casino at the Colise-

The Republicans win elections by gerrymandering, voter suppression, taxpayer-funded mailers and scare tactics. GOP officials use our tax money to fight voter participation. Clearly, they know that higher voter turnout will turn them out of office.

DAVE DENENbERG Merrick

An artisan’s work at Matinecock Lodge — Oyster Bay