Franklin Square/Elmont Herald 08-31-2023

Wellness

Elmont High welcomes its new principal

By NIColE WAGNER

Summerfest provides free backpacks and family fun

A group of volunteers from One Church Elmont were able to give away 250 free backpacks. The house of worshiprovided some family fun to close out the summer. Story, more photos, Page 10.

Franklin

nwagner@liherald.com

New Elmont Memorial High School principal Marya Baker has met her staff and many students of her new school and is now looking forward to meeting the community as the 2023-24 school year gets underway.

“I’m excited to be a part of the life of the school community,” Baker said. “All of the wonderful activities and events that happen after school, I’m excited to have that opportunity to just jump right in and be part of that community.”

Baker’s addition to the Sewanhaka Central High School District is not the only new principal added to the district’s roster. Jennifer Alaimo joins H. Frank Carey High School as its principal this year as well.

However, Alaimo is not a new face for the community, having previously served as assistant principal at Floral Park Memorial High School.

A meet the principals event was held on Aug. 23, where about 150 community members including board members, parents, teachers and students met the COnTinuEd On PAgE 4

Square teacher honored for high-tech classroom

Through pandemic, Jean D’Aurio helped colleagues with virtual class instruction

By NIColE WAGNER nwagner@liherald.com

From a young age, Franklin Square native Jean D’Aurio knew that she wanted to be a teacher. Today, she walks the same school halls as a teacher that she did as a student growing up.

D’Aurio, who has taught in the Franklin Square School District for the past eight years, has strongly believed in incorporating technology into classroom instruction, particularly when it comes to helping special needs children to learn.

As a result, the Nassau Board of Cooperative Educa -

tional Services, or BOCES, and the Nassau Association of School Technologists, or NASTECH, recently recognized D’Aurio for advancing the use of technology in education. She was honored at NASTECH’s fifth annual awards ceremony held at Nassau BOCES’ Brookville Outdoor and Environmental Education Center on Aug. 10.

For the past seven years, D’Aurio has worked with sixthgrade special needs students at John Street School, after having taught at Polk Street School and Washington Street School.

With such a technology

affluent world, D’Aurio said she believes that teaching students how to use technology appropriately is important.

“I think it’s super beneficial, especially with the population I work with,” D’Aurio said. “There’s a lot of accessibility features on their iPads and stuff that can help them in their real world life.”

Features like voice instruction or reading accessibility on technology can help those with special needs accomplish everyday tasks they might otherwise struggle with.

She said one of her students struggled with a severe case of dyslexia, a learning disorder

that affects the ability to process speech sounds and how they relate to letters and words. She said students that are dyslexic usually have a high level of comprehension, but this student was unable to read books because of this learning disorder.

“Getting them set up with audio books, how to use them,

and getting them exposed to more literature that they weren’t able to get exposed to before, I think that’s been one of my highlights with the students,” she said.

D’Aurio earned a Masters degree in education technology from SUNY Buffalo in 2018, which came in handy when

COnTinuEd On PAgE 12

Keith Rossein / Herald

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Enjoy 40 German wines at first Plattduetsche Weinfest

By NICOLE WAGNER

nwagner@liherald.com

While most remain familiar with the lagers and beers found during the festivities of Oktoberfest, Plattduetsche Park Restaurant, Catering and Biergarten looks to open people’s palettes to German wines this year.

After seeing interest from customers about offering wines at the venue, Plattduetsche Biergarten decided to partner with Wunderwein LLC to host a German wine tour and tasting. The original German wine festival, Das Weinfest, will come to Franklin Square Sept. 10, and run from 1-6 p.m.

Folks can look forward to tasting 40 different wines from various German vineyards.

German Wine Queen Katrin Lang, a winemaker and oenologist for Weingut Zahringer, will be in attendance to host various tastings including a complimentary dessert wine tasting.

Plattduetsche Biergarten General Manage

Matt Buck said that the organization is excited to have Lang at the event to teach people more about wine.

“She is a production person, so she’s familiar with the whole process when it comes to producing wine,” Buck said. “So, I think people will get a really unique opportunity to learn from one of the best.”

Buck hopes that his event can just add to the versatility that Plattduetsche is able to offer to the public in its variety of events. The ability to offer highquality wines from Germany and not be pigeonholed as a “beer place” is an exciting opportunity for the venue.

In addition to Lang, many wine makers will be at the event to speak with people about the winemaking process and guide tastings. The event will also feature live music by The Austrian Boys and Eric Justvig.

Admission for Das Weinfest will cost $35 per person and includes three tastings plus two complimentary tastings of a dessert wine and a vermouth tasting. People can also purchase additional tickets for sampling for $3 a tasting or $25 for 10 tastings.

Food available for purchase at the event will include authentic German food prepared by Plattduetsche Park Executive Chef Herbert Aigner and his team. Attendees can dig into wursts, pretzels, potato pancakes and apple struedel.

Tickets can be purchased online at ParkRestaurant.com or in person at the Plattduetsche Park Restaurant with cash located at 1132 Hempstead Turnpike in Franklin Square.

For anyone looking forward to Oktoberfest activities, Plattduetsche will kick off the season with its annual Omphafest event on Sept. 17 at 11 a.m. The annual festivity that follows the Steuben Parade in Manhattan to celebrate German-American culture will feature cultural demonstrations.

Admission for Omphafest will cost $12 for adults and children are admitted free of charge. The event will wrap up around 8:30 p.m. that night.

“A lot of the groups that come from Germany and march down 5th Avenue, and come back to us the next day to perform,” Buck said.

There are always three stages going at one time during Omphafest, and this year the largest group from Germany participating in the festivity is over 55 pieces.

“It’s a great way for us to celebrate the big kick off to Oktoberfest,” Buck said.

Music for the event will include Johnny Koenig, die Spitzbaum, Bavarksi, and the Foehrer Musik Freunde. German special guests at the event will be Tambourkorps Buderich, DraufgangerGuggies Meerane and Trommlercorps Kirchborchen.

As usual, various dancing troupes will perform authentic regional German dances and include willing audience members.

For Oktoberfest at Plattduetsche, the public can look forward to traditional German music bands and dancing on weekends from Oct. 5 through Oct 14. To see the bands in the Biergarten, a $5 cover fee will be charged.

Courtesy Plattduetsche Park Restaraunt

Last year’s Ompahfest, which follows the Steuben Parade in Manhattan to celebrate German-American culture, is an annual festivity at Plattduetsche Park Restaurant, Catering and Biergarten.

As an annual follow up to the Stueben Parade, Plattduetsche Park kicks off the Oktoberfest season with an all-day festival to celebrate German heritage.

Everyone 21 and older is welcome to enjoy a nice cold drink at Ompahfest every year. This year, Plattduetsche Park introduces Das Weinfest to the community to offer a wide selection of German wines to taste.

I think people will get a really unique opportunity to learn from one of the best

MAtt BuCk Plattduetsche Park Restaurant, Catering and Biergarten general manager

FRANKLIN

Marya Baker brings passion for educating to Elmont H.S.

Sewanhaka school district’s new principals.

Previously, Baker was the principal at Carol and Frank Biondi Middle and High School at the Rising Ground Agency in Yonkers for nine years. Before working at these schools, she worked as the principal of Opportunity Charter School in Harlem for six years.

A high need population was served at the Carol and Frank Biondi schools with individualized education initiatives supporting their learning programs.

“I was able to bridge a lot of the instructional gap and create a strong foundation for instructional work there,” Baker said. “But I also understood that our students, in conjunction with the academic support, they really needed a lot of therapeutic support too.”

As principal, she helped create programs and partnerships with social-emotional learning. She implemented K-9 and equine assisted therapy programs. The school was also able to provide support for its transgender population and create a space where students felt “seen, heard and valued.”

One Stop

At Elmont Memorial High School, similar work has already been done. Baker hopes to elevate and refine the foundation built to support student needs.

“I love children, and I love being an advocate for children,” Baker said. “So, any opportunity to do that is a wonderful job to have.”

From a young age, Baker knew she wanted to be part of the education process for children. Her love of teaching and the impact that it has on children fueled her aspirations.

“It’s something that my family always said that I’d be really good at, and it took me a while to really understand what they meant by that,” she said. “You know I wanted to do some other things first, so I

came into education a little bit later in my life.”

The lasting impact that education has on students’ lives was an important part of Baker’s decision to pursue a career here.

Baker received several degrees throughout her educational journey. She finished her undergraduate in 1990 at Avila College, now Avila University, and earned bachelor’s degrees in music and English. She earned a master’s in English from Northwestern University in 1991.

She earned her teaching certification in English from Pace University in 2005 through the New York City teaching fellows program.

In 2007, she earned an administrator certification for kindergarten through 12th grade from the College of Saint Rose.

Prior to her work as a principal in Harlem and Yonkers, Baker worked as a English and literacy coach in Bushwick and the New York City school system for several years.

The new principal looks to create a vision for success with the community to bring into Elmont Memorial High School for years to come.

“We’re going to have an amazing year and I’m looking forward to it,” Baker said.

■

Courtesy Sewanhaka Central High School District Marya Baker is eager to meet the community as the new principal of Elmont Memorial High School this year.

D’Esposito settles in, but loves coming home

By HERNESTO GALDAMEZ hgaldamez@liherald.com

It’s been a fast eight months for Congressman Anthony D’Esposito into his first term as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives. The former New York Police Department detective and longtime volunteer firefighter who would work his way to being elected a Hempstead town councilman is well known for commitment to being anywhere and everywhere in his community.

In fact, it’s like having someone who has their “boots to the ground,” as he might say.

Now, D’Esposito’s boots are in Washington, nearly 300 miles away from Long Island. But that doesn’t mean home isn’t on his mind. In fact, the congressman thinks about the part of Nassau County he represents a lot.

So, what’s the work-life balance been for the congressman?

“It’s early days into late nights,” D’Esposito said. “Whether it’s having committee hearings, markups for legislation, voting on the floor, having meetings with groups and organizations and concerns to deliver, it’s really a nonstop job.”

D’Esposito is the first Republican since Dan Frisa — who won the seat back in 1995 — to represent the congressional district. He defeated Laura Gillen in what had become a Long Island “red wave” last year, flipping the seat to the GOP after

Democratic congresswoman Kathleen Rice retired. Before her, Carolyn McCarthy kept the district blue.

The Island Park native takes pride in being involved in his community — an involvement he has since brought to Washington.

In his first month, D’Esposito joined three committees. With the House Committee on Homeland Security, he’s tasked with safeguarding national security from threats both foreign and domestic, The House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure is tasked with overseeing the nation’s air, rail, road and transportation networks as well as the country’s infrastructure. And lastly, the House Committee on House Administration is tasked with operations of the congressional lower chamber, as well as federal elections and Capitol complex security.

But being a congressman is more than just Joining committees. D’Esposito recently hopped onto a long flight to Israel as part of a 20-person bipartisan congressional delegation formed by House Speaker Kevin McCarthy to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Israel’s independence.

“It was a historic visit,” D’Esposito said.

Now, D’Esposito is committed with other members of Congress to work on continuing peace efforts in the Middle East, expanding on the Abraham Accords — which seeks to find peace among the three major Abrahamic religions of

Christianity, Islam and Judaism — as well as visits to Israel, or their government leaders coming to the United States.

Most recently, the spike in crime to fentanyl overdoses has pushed for the creation of a congressional task force aimed at combating Mexican cartels. The congressman — tapping into his former police experience — was named to the group to share his expertise.

Still, being so far away from home is not something D’Esposito looks forward to. But good communication helps, something the congressman praises his staff for maintaining, so he can remain in touch with the concerns, questions and needs of his constituents while the House is in session.

“We make ourselves very accessible on social media platforms and emails to ensure that we’re meeting all their needs,” D’Esposito said. “I’m usually on the first flight out right after our final vote. And as soon as I land, we’re heading into the district.”

That means meeting with local leaders, members of village boards, and even spending time working with Hempstead Town Supervisor Don Clavin and Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman.

Now back on Long Island as part of an August break, D’Esposito has kept himself busy. In Wantagh, he joined the celebration of 40 years of the family-owned Mulcahy’s Pub and Concert Hall. He also has community events and meetings lined

up with local elected officials on the state and village level.

“It’s making sure that every inch of this district — whether it’s in the west closest to the city, or in the east in Seaford and Wantagh, or down along the Barrier Island or up in Garden City and everywhere in between — making sure that they understand that they have somebody who has their boots on the ground,” D’Eposito said, “their ears open, and want to be representing their communities as best they can.”

Tim Baker/Herald file U.S. Rep. Anthony D’Esposito has stayed busy since filling the seat previously occupied by U.S. Rep. Kathleen Rice.

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HERALD SPORTS

Hofstra aims for another CAA Crown

By ANDREW COEN sports@liherald.com

Hofstra women’s soccer defied the odds last year to repeat as conference champions and will look for a far clearer postseason path this fall in the Coastal Athletic Association.

The Pride was in danger of missing the 2022 CAA tourney following a 2-1 defeat to Stony Brook in the regular-season finale but moments after the game learned they had earned the league’s final tournament spot when results in other matches went Hofstra’s way. Hofstra proceeded to take full advantage of its renewed life to win its fifth CAA title in six years as the eight seed starting by knocking out top-seeded Monmouth and culminating in a dramatic overtime win at Northeastern.

“Once you face the jaws of defeat, I think it’s easy to have a new lease of life,” said 18th-year Hofstra women’s soccer head coach Simon Riddiough, who has guided the Pride to seven CAA titles and nine NCAA Tournament appearances since taking over the program in 2006.

“To get that opportunity again was like a breath of fresh air and new impetus.”

Riddiough returns seven starters off last year’s 10-8-4 team that reached the NCAA Tournament for the sixth time in eight seasons. After a season-opening 2-1 loss at Albany, Hofstra rebounded in a major way with a 1-0 upset win at Big Ten power Rutgers on Aug. 20 on a late goal from junior midfielder Olivia Pearse on a counter attack in the 88th minute.

Pearse, a former standout at Seaford High School, has emerged as one of Hofstra’s most impactful players on both ends of the field. She netted two goals and two assists as a sophomore.

“She has come in fetter than I have ever seen her and with a new attitude,” said Riddiough of Pearse, who switched from the wide forward to fullback role last season. “She wears her heart on her sleeve and she leads by example.”

Hofstra returned last year’s leading scorer Dagny Run Petursdottir, who registered 19 points on seven goals and five assists as a freshman out of Iceland and was named to the Preseason All-CAA Honorable Mention team.

Another Iceland product, Thorhildur Thorhallsdottir, also shined as a first-year college player with three goals and two assists.

Sophomore midfielder/defender Wiktoria Fronc, a London native, also made her mark on Long Island from across the pond with seven assists to earn AllCAA Third Team and All-CAA and CAA All-Rookie Team honors.

While the Hofstra roster is global in nature featuring 10 international players from four countries to go along with 10 U.S. states, the team boasts many impactful local players led by Pearse and graduate student defender Cailey Welch, a former standout at North Shore High School. Freshman defender Jill Conlon, a two-time all county player from Calhoun High school in Merrick, could potentially see some minutes on the backline during her rookie college season on the college soccer pitch.

“She’s composed on the ball,” Riddiough said of Conlon. “She’s a wonderfully nice kid who cares and I’m assuming will work hard to get to where she needs to go.”

Graduate student starting goalie Skylar Kuzmich has missed the beginning of the season due to injury,

but Riddiough hopes to have her back during the heart of CAA play. Junior goalie Mackenzie Sullivan has stepped up in Kuzmich’s absence and recorded five seasons in the Rutgers victory.

Hofstra kicks off its home schedule this Sunday against Atlantic 10 oe Saint Joseph’s at 1 p.m. before beginning its quest for another CAA title on Sept. 10 when it hosts league newcomer Campbell at 1 p.m.

The Pride’s home schedule is highlighted by a CAA finals rematch against Northeastern on Oct. 1 at 1 p.m.

The Pride were picked to finish third in the CAA Women’s Soccer Preseason Poll behind Monmouth and Northeastern.

The top six finishers in the 13-team conference will earn spots to the CAA Tournament that commences on Oct. 26.

“If we stay healthy I think we can compete and beat anybody in the conference,” Riddiough said.

Photos courtesy Hofstra Athletics Communications Thorhildur Thorhallsdottir, above right, a native of Iceland, shined as a first-year college player with three goals.

Midfielder/defender Wiktoria Fronc, a London native, made her mark from across the pond with seven assists as a freshman.

Job

fair with 30 Nassau school districts

Nassau BOCES, in partnership with Nassau County school districts, is holding a job fair on Wednesday, Sept. 20, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

This exceptional opportunity for job seekers event takes place at the Freeport Recreation Center, located at 130 E. Merrick Road in Freeport.

Representatives from Nassau BOCES, SCOPE Education Services and several school districts will be present at the job fair offering an exclusive platform for candidates to explore a wide range of exciting career opportunities within the field of education. Attendees can look forward to engaging with representatives from 30 school districts, including East Rockaway, Lynbrook, Malverne, and West Hempstead.

Job seekers get details about career opportunities at last year’s job fair.

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Job seekers, whether seasoned professionals or fresh graduates, can explore positions as teacher aides, bus drivers, security personnel, naturalists, bus dispatchers, registered professional nurses, maintainers, food service personnel, cleaners/laborers, HVAC and electrical technicians, groundskeepers, and more.

The event features: information booths from each participating district, offering insights into their educational programs,

work culture, and career advancement opportunities; face-to-face interactions with district representatives, allowing candidates to ask questions, discuss job openings, and showcase their skills; networking opportunities with fellow job seekers and educational professionals and on-site resources and workshops to help attendees refine their job search strategies, improve interview techniques, and create effective resumes.

Prospective attendees are encouraged to dress professionally, bring copies of their resumes, and prepare to make an impression. Admission to the job fair is free, and no prior registration is required. For more information visit NassauBOCES.org/jobfair.

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Courtesy Nassau BOCES

Church Summerfest gives away 250 backpacks

Families were welcome at One Church Elmont to grab a free backpack and have some family fun as the summer comes to a close.

The act of kindness for the community at the event, as described by Pastor Cecil Matthew, aimed to help young people and families in need. With school starting and the stress of back-to-school shopping looming over parents’ heads, the church wanted to take a bit of that anxiety away.

The church had 250 bags stuffed with school supplies aimed toward elementary-aged students and collected the materials over several weeks.

“We know the school year is close to starting and a simple ask for school is a backpack full of supplies so parents don’t have to worry about that,” Pastor Georgy Varughese said.

The event took place on Aug. 26 in the church parking lot on Meacham Avenue. It wasn’t just a place to collect a bag for school, as the house of worship held activities for family fun at the event. Activities included a bounce house, dunk tank, face painting and live music.

People were also welcome to enjoy a classic car show in the parking lot. Healthcare professionals provided health and vision screenings were provided at the event as well.

— Nicole Wagner

Keith Rossein / Herald photos

One Church Elmont hosted a backpack giveaway at the annual Love Our City Summerfest event to wrap up the summer. There was an assortment of colors for the backpacks that students were able to choose from.

Joseph Beauchamp of Gideons International addressed the volunteers to get them excited for the event.

Dr. Rio Varghese examined Franklin Square’s Jonah George, 10, with a stethoscope. Health and vision screenings were provided at the event for free.

Families were able to have some fun at Summerfest with activities like face painting. Sarah Sunil, 15, from New Hyde Park showed off her artistry by painting 16-year-old from Herricks Jeremiah Mathew’s face.

Car enthusiasts were welcome to take a peak at some cool cars here as well, as Summerfest offered a mini car show in the One Church Elmont parking lot. Franklin Square locals Justin Mathew, Zack Samuel, Nino LoGrande enjoyed the show.

A group of colunteers at One Church Elmont were able to give away 250 backpacks and provide some family fun to close out the summer.

Alzheimer’s Foundation brings walk to Nassau

By JORDAN VALLONE jvallone@liherald.com

They are walking for a cure at Eisenhower Park this year — a cure for Alzheimer’s disease.

The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America bringing its annual walk to Nassau County this year on Saturday, Sept. 9. Fundraising efforts center around enriching the lives of those with the disease, and creating hope for a future without it.

Bert Brodsky founded the group in 2002, a decade after he lost his mother to the disease after a 12-year struggle. Today, the foundation provides support, services and education to individuals, families and caregivers affected by Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias worldwide. It also funds research for new treatments — and hopefully, one day, a cure.

This is the first time the East Meadow park is hosting the walk — something that had previously been held in the Town of Babylon, according to Chuck Fuschillo, the foundation’s president and chief executive who also is a former state senator. Eisenhower Park caught the attention of organizers after it opened a respite care area this past May.

The respite care park, Fuschillo said, serves many purposes.

“One, is for caregivers to go with the person they’re caring for in a beautiful setting,” he said. “It’s also for themselves, to avoid caregiver burnout. But it’s also educational — there are signs along the

park that provide education about Alzheimer’s disease, and tips and strategies for caregivers.”

Signage also provides contact information for the foundation’s national helpline at (866) 232-8484, which connects callers to licensed social workers trained to help with situations that may arise when caring for Alzheimer’s patients.

The foundation’s national Walk in the Park weekend will include physical walks on Long Island, and on Sept. 10 in New York City’s Battery Park.

“We encourage people to participate in both walks, but we have walkers through-

out the entire country that create their own walks and support the work of the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America,” Fuschillo said. “So, we’re very appreciative of individuals doing this throughout the entire country on that weekend.”

The walk serves as a major fundraiser for some of the foundation’s programs and initiatives. For example, the organization recently finalized the purchase of a building in Amityville, which will become the its Long Island education and resource center. There, the foundation will offer daily therapeutic programs, dementia training to professionals and

nonprofessionals in the health care industry, memory screenings and more.

“It will be one of the largest therapeutic and domestic training centers on the island,” Fuschillo said. “You know, this disease has affected so many people and it’s continually growing throughout Long Island — there’s more than 60,000 people living with it now. We want to make sure that we have support services for families. And we’re also providing hope with the research dollars that we provide.”

The foundation also funds research at Stony Brook University and NYU Langone, as well as the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research at Northwell Health in Manhasset. Some of it includes finding new treatment for Alzheimer’s patients who experience hallucinations and agitation — work that takes place at Feinstein.

The foundation also provides scholarships to high school seniors across the country who submit essays detailing how Alzheimer’s disease has impacted their lives. To date, the foundation has awarded more than $450,000 to college-bound students.

Registration for the walk can be done so ahead of time at AlzFdn.org/walk. Individuals can register with a team or as a solo walker. They can also sign up onsite, the day of the walk.

This year’s goal is to raise $300,000, with nearly $85,000 already collected.

In-person registration opens at 9 a.m. at Field 6, located at 1899 Park Blvd. The walk officially kicks off at 10.

Courtesy Alzheimer’s Foundation of America

The Alzheimer’s Foundation of American host its national Walk in the Park weekend this year at Eisenhower Park in East Meadow. The walk is slated to take place Saturday, Sept. 9.

LAKESIDE THEATRE

Teacher brings technological advancements into classroom

schools switched to virtual instruction during the pandemic.

“That’s when the education world got thrown on its head in terms of technology,” D’Aurio said. “Everyone really needed to immerse themselves in it.”

Described as a tireless educator, D’Aurio continues to introduce new technology and programs to her students. She is available for colleagues and students as the go-to person for technology questions in Franklin Square as a technology mentor, and is one of nine mentors throughout the district, with three mentors stationed at each school.

“Jean D’Aurio is an exemplary teacher, technology mentor and asset to the Franklin Square community,” said Casey Hauptman, the school district’s director of technology, innovation and data systems, who nominated D’Aurio for the award. “Her dedication to students with disabilities is matched only by her commitment to empowering her fellow educators. Her collaborative spirit and technological expertise have had a profound impact on the success of students and staff alike.”

In her role as a technology mentor, D’Aurio also helps other educators learn how to implement new technology initiatives introduced to the district

by Hauptman.

NASTECH award recipients are selected for the honor by their school districts, and the awards were created to recognize educators for their technological initiative, leadership and innovation.

At this year’s ceremony, 27 educators were honored for their achievements.

“I was very honored that they thought of me, and I was very grateful that Casey gave me the opportunity to meet all of those people and be a part of that day,” D’Aurio said.

D’Aurio was inspired by her educators in the district and by her cousins, who went into the same career field.

In high school, D’Aurio worked at a local day care, which strengthened her desire to work with children.

“That kind of just solidified that I wanted to be in that field,” she said.

She began as a substitute teacher when she graduated from Mount Saint Mary College in 2015 with a Bachelor’s degree in mathematics and childhood special education. She helps in co-teach classrooms and splits her days between two classrooms, where she helps with general education instruction. For students that need some extra help, D’Aurio works in smaller groups to provide support.

Courtesy Nassau BOCES

Jean D’Aurio, a teacher in the Franklin Square School District, was awarded for her advancements of technology in education. Casey Hauptman, the district’s director of technology, innovation and data systems, congratulated D’Aurio for her achievements.

STEPPING OUT

Anders Osborne Duo

Backyard pleasures

…even as summer winds down

By Karen Bloom

Home is a place of refuge. Now more so than ever, we’ve rediscovered the pleasures of our abodes to entertain, relax and otherwise “chill out.”

We learned as we endured the coronavirus pandemic that moving our living spaces to the outdoors — with many of the creature comforts of indoors — has so many benefits. It’s something we’ll continue to enjoy to fullest in the seasons — and years ahead.

Your backyard is the ideal location to create summers full of memories for you, your family and friends, which will easily continue through fall. Easy to access? Check. Affordable? You bet. Able to accommodate all sorts of activities? Absolutely.

Your backyard’s potential is really only limited by your imagination and willingness to roll up your sleeves to create a sensational space. Plus, you can get the whole family involved in the process — from start to finish.

“Home is not where you live your life – it’s how you live your life,” says food stylist and consultant Wendy Perry.

Today’s outdoor vocabulary includes words like al fresco (in the fresh air), patio (Spanish for back garden), lanai (Hawaiian covered room), veranda (open-walled roofed porch) and portico (covered walkway with columns supporting it).

“We’ve all been practicing our ‘backyarding’ skills for the last few years, taking our indoor lives out into the green space around us,” says Kris Kiser, president of the TurfMutt Foundation. “Now’s a great time to turn your yard into the ideal outdoor room.”

She cites a recent poll commissioned by the TurfMutt Foundation and conducted by The Harris Poll, that reports more than three-quarters of Americans who have a yard (76 percent) say the family yard space is one of the most important parts of their home.

Backyards can become your personal oasis. Fire pits, now all the rage, can be used for warmth on a chilly fall night. Overhead awnings can be used to shade you from the hot sun. Careful landscaping can turn a stone walkway into a tempting journey.

You might want to consider the approaching Labor Day weekend as an opportunity to get all hands on deck to begin the process of giving your yard a facelift. The first step to establishing a fun zone is to work with what you have. Think of it as a pre-fall cleanup. Clean out flowerbeds. Clear the yard of debris. Spread a fresh layer of mulch around trees and bushes. And keep the grass mowed.

See what additional trees, shrubs and plants might be needed.

List all the fun you want to continue to have outside. Identify activity zones for games, entertaining and relaxation. Can your lawn lure your kids away from their screens and into the great outdoors for cornhole bocce ball, croquet, or a giant checkers board game? Do you have a patio table or deck where family game nights can be held? Have a swimming pool where you can plan a “dive in” movie night, and invite your neighbors to bring their favorite pool float? Not to mention a memorable family “staycation” in your own backyard with camping, parties and more.

Bring learning outdoors. Learning is, of course, a year-round process. Keep “summer slide” at bay by setting up an area for outdoor learning, like a space under a shade tree where your kids can do summer reading. Create games and do experiments outdoors.

Don’t forget Fido. Pets are part of the family, too, so think about what backyard improvements you can make to ensure they fully enjoy their outdoor time. Add a water feature for them to cool off. Plant some bushes for napping in the shade. Use a row of hedges to separate their “business” spot from the rest of the backyard activity areas. Just remember when planting to check the ASPCA’s list of toxic and non-toxic plants. Make outdoors as inviting as indoors. Think about ways to make your outdoor living area just as comfortable as your indoor spaces. String lights add a warm glow. That fire pit is great for toasting marshmallows. Consider the good you’re doing. Whether putting in a vegetable garden, planting pollinator-supporting shrubs and flowers, or creating activity zones, your family yard can do a lot — all at once, both for your family and the environment. A grassy area is not only a field for play, but it’s also an excellent carbon-capturing and oxygen-producing space.

Planting shrubs and flowering plants feeds our birds, bees and butterflies. A leafy tree is a perfect perch for a relaxing swing in a hammock, and it provides shade to combat the heat island effect. It also produces oxygen and captures carbon. A garden where you can grow some food for the family gets you digging in the dirt, proven to be good for our immune systems and happiness. (Soil is the new Prozac, after all.)

The roots/Americana rocker brings his acclaimed sound to the Landmark stage. Between the potency of his richly detailed songwriting, intensely emotional, soulful vocals and his piercing, expert guitar work, New Orleans’ Anders Osborne is a true musical treasure. He is regarded among the most original musicians writing and performing today. Osborne’s six-string virtuosity, inventive musicality, and poetic songcraft underpin an everexpanding three-decade catalog celebrated by fans and critics alike. As a sought-after studio talent, his writing resounds through Keb Mo’s award-winning ‘Slow Down,’ Tim McGraw’s ‘Watch the Wind Blow By,’ and more. His extensive touring history encompasses collaborations and performances alongside everyone from Derek Trucks, Warren Haynes, and Stanton Moore, to Phil Lesh and Jackie Greene. Not to mention, he lit up the screen on an episode of the HBO hit ‘Treme.

Sunday, Sept. 3, 7 p.m. $48 and $43. Jeanne Rimsky Theater at Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington. (516) 767-6444, or LandmarkOnMainStreet.org.

Sugar Ray

Sugar Ray closes out the summer concert season at Eisenhower Park. Most everything continues to change, yet Sugar Ray never seem to go out of style. While leaders cycle in and out of office, trends come and go. Vinyl dies, then comes back to life. Television shows go off the air and end up somewhere on the internet. Sugar Ray might just outlast them all. Beyond sales of 10 million records, four top-10 songs, streams in the hundreds of millions, and tickets sold, Sugar Ray — co-founded by Mark McGrath (vocals) and Rodney Sheppard (lead guitar) — embodies the endless summer of popular music and culture. Furthermore, how many acts can claim sharing the stage with the Rolling Stones, KISS, and the Sex Pistols; collaborating with Run-DMC, and interpolated by Post Malone? Just Sugar Ray. As always, bring seating.

Sunday, Sept. 3, 8 p.m. Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, Eisenhower Park, East Meadow. For information, visit NassauCountyNY.gov/parks.

Photos: The backyard is an important extension of a home’s living space, so it makes sense that your family’s individual style be reflected in its design.

THE Your Neighborhood

Sept. 8

George Thorogood & The Destroyers

Since 1975, George Thorogood & The Destroyers have sold over 15 million albums, played more than 8,000 ferocious live shows, and built a catalog of classic hits that includes “Who Do You Love”, “I Drink Alone”, “One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer”, “Move It On Over” and “Get A Haircut.” Their definitive badass anthem “Bad To The Bone,” deemed the most popular song for bikers by Spotify, celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2022. Now “one of the most iconic bands in rock & roll history” (according to the Rapid City Journal, among others) celebrates it all with their tour Bad All Over The World: 50 Years Of Rock, visiting the Paramount stage, Friday, Sept. 8, 8 p.m. For the past 50 years, it’s been very good to be George Thorogood & The Destroyers. And in 2023, their tour Bad All Over The World: 50 Years Of Rock will prove why like never before. “If you’re content, you may as well be dead.” George says. “I think everyone has thoughts about retiring, but the phone keeps ringing. ‘You want me and The Destroyers to come to your town, set up our gear, wear some cool threads and play ‘Who Do You Love?’ End of conversation. Let’s rock!” $89.50, $59.50, $49.50, $39.50. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. (800) 745-3000 or Ticketmaster. com or ParamountNY.com.

Here’s TheSCOOP

Sept. 9

Bird walk

On exhibit

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

The South Shore Audubon Society welcomes all to join its members for a bird walk, at the Oceanside Marine Nature Study Area, Saturday, Sept. 9, starting at 9 a.m. Walk leaders, other birders and nature enthusiasts are happy to share their knowledge and experience with you. Bring binoculars. 500 Slice Drive, off Waukeena Ave. To register, text your name and contact information to (516) 467-9498. Also text regarding questionable weather conditions. For more information, visit SSAudubon.org

Leaf Peepers

Celebrate fall and all the colors of the season with the family at Long Island Children’s Museum, Saturday, Sept. 23, 12-2 p.m. Use your imagination to make animal art out of colorful leaf shapes, focusing on the seasonal shades of vibrant yellow, deep purple, and fiery orange, at the dropin program. Suitable for ages 3 and up. Long Island Children’s Museum, Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 224-5800 or LICM.org

St. Jude Run/Walk

Registration is open for the St. Jude Walk/Run Long Island, presented by Tweezerman International during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, Sunday, Sept. 10, 9 a.m., at Marcum Corporate Offices & Park. The St. Jude Walk/Run offers everyone a chance to walk or run and gather in-person or virtually to raise funds and awareness for the St. Jude mission: Finding cures. Saving children. Besides the walk/run, the event features entertainment, food and activities for the whole family to enjoy. Participants will even have the opportunity to connect with St. Jude patients and learn firsthand how their support makes a difference. 10 Melville Park Road, Melville. Register or learn more at StJude.org/walklongisland.

Wine tasting

Grab a glass and expand your palette with German wine. Wunderwein LLC will offer some of the best wines from Germany at Das Weinfest, the original German wine festival, Sunday, Sept. 10, 1-6 p.m., at Platteduetsche Park Biergarten. $35 per person includes three tastings, also an additional two complimentary tastings with the option of a dessert wine. Additional samplings are available for purchase, $3 individually or 10 for $25. 1132 Hempstead Turnpike, Franklin Square. Visit ParkRestaurant.com for information.

Sept. 7

Art talk Grab your lunch and join Nassau County Museum of Art Docent Riva Ettus for her popular “Brown Bag Lecture,” now back on-site at Nassau County Museum of Art, Thursday, Sept. 7, 1 p.m. Enjoy an in-depth presentation on the current exhibition

“Modigliani and the Modern Portrait.” Participants are invited to ask questions at the end of the program and to join the 2 p.m. public tour of the exhibit. Also Oct. 19. 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. (516) 4849337 or NassauMuseum.org.

Poetry workshop

Join Poet Laureate of Nassau County Dr. Linda Opyr, author of six collections of poetry, Thursday, Sept.7, 4-5:30 p.m., at Elmont Memorial Library. Write and share your poetry with fellow The event is open to all with limited space. Registration is not required. 700 Hempstead Turnpike. Visit ElmontLibrary.org or call (516)-354-5820 ext. 223 for information.

Having an event?

Storybook Stroll

Bring the kids to Old Westbury Gardens for a storybook adventure, Saturday, Sept. 2, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Stroll the gardens and open your ears to Mary Howitt’s classic tale The Spider and The Fly.” Later create a unique take home craft. For ages 3-5. Old Westbury Gardens, 71 Old Westbury Rd., Old Westbury. For information visit OldWestburyGardens.org or contact (516) 333-0048.

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

Westbury House Tour

For many years visitors to Westbury House at Old Westbury Gardens asked what was beyond the first floor corridor. Now go beyond the door and discover “secrets of the service wing,” during a 60-minute guided tour, Sunday, Sept. 3, 1:30 p.m. Be introduced to the intensive labor required to create the lifestyle experienced by the Phipps family and their guests; tour the many rooms that were “behind the scenes” to create the formal dining experiences of early 20th century. Go along the corridors to the butler’s pantry and silver cleaning room then descend to the kitchen, scullery, and wine storage rooms located on the ground floor. Reservations required. 71 Old Westbury Rd., Old Westbury. For information contact (516) 3330048 or visit OldWestburyGardens.org.

Sept. 5 STAR program assistance

Those looking for help filing for their qualified tax exemption can bring copies of their 2022 federal and state income tax returns for a workshop at Franklin Square Public Library Tuesday, Sept. 5, 1-3 p.m. For homeowners who were not enrolled in the STAR program before Jan. 2, 2015, apply for basic or enhanced STAR with the state. The workshop will be sponsored by County Executive Bruce Blakeman in partnership with the county legislature. 19 Lincoln Road. For more information, call (516) 571-1500.

Breastfeeding Support Group

Mercy Hospital offers a peer to peer meeting for breastfeeding support and resources, facilitated by a certified breastfeeding counselor, every Thursday, 10:30 a.m.–11:30 a.m. Bring your baby (from newborn to 1 year) to the informal group setting. All new moms are welcome, regardless of delivering hospital. Registration required. Call breastfeeding counselor, Gabriella Gennaro, at (516) 705-2434 to secure you and your baby’s spot. Mercy Hospital, St. Anne’s Building, 1000 North Village Ave., Rockville Centre. For information visit CHSLI.org.

Book Review:

Healthy at 100 by John Robbins (Part Two)

Last week we looked at the four major reasons people live longer: diet, physical activity, culture or socialization and respect for the elderly.

Taking a deeper dive, the book cites a preeminent expert on aging, John W. Rowe, M.D., Chairman of the MacArthur Foundation Research Network on Successful Aging who explains: “The bottom line is very clear: with rare exceptions, only about 30 percent of physical aging can be blamed on genes...MacArthur Research provides very strong evidence that we are, in large part, responsible for our own old age.”

Take the example of longest lived people in the world — the Okinawans “When Okinawans move elsewhere and adopt the diets of their new locations, they get the same diseases at the same rates and die at the same ages, as the people whose customs they embrace. The life expectancy of Okinawans who move to Brazil, for example, drops seventeen years.”

“Diseases of affluence” — including diabetes, coronary heart diseases and many forms of cancer are all linked to animalbased diets. Foods that decrease cholesterol levels are soy products, whole grains, fruits, vegetables, peas and beans. “As a result of the vast amount of information gathered... the scientific evidence indicates that a diet based on plant foods with a minimal amount of food derived from animals as the ideal diet for human beings.” Since almost all the cells in your body continually regenerate, “steps you can take” provides a guide “so what you eat today literally becomes your body tomorrow.”

Next up are physical activities. The Vilcabamba have a saying, that “each of us has two doctors — the left leg and the right leg.” People become passive and then the less they move the harder it becomes to do so. However, “those who think they have no time for bodily exercise will sooner or later have to find time for illness.”

Celebrating Pakistani and Indian independence

Indian and Pakistani community members gathered at Hempstead Town Hall to celebrate the countries independence.

Hempstead Town Supervisor joined the celebration of India’s independence. Town Councilwoman Laura Ryder and Town Clerk Kate Murray joined the celebration of Pakistan’s independence.

Nicole Wagner

Helping in-need students

The National Council of Jewish Women hosted its 8th annual Back 2 School Store event on Aug. 6, aiding elementary students from underserved communities in obtaining clothing and school essentials for the upcoming school year.

The annual event was jointly sponsored by the South Shore Section and the Peninsula Section of the NCJW. The South Shore Section includes several communities, including Baldwin, Freeport, Island Park, Long Beach, Oceanside and Rockville Centre, showcasing their commitment to the collective well-being of the children of these neighborhoods.

Over 250 volunteers came together to ensure the success of the event, which saw an attendance of approximately 800 elementary school students.

Children were paired with personal shoppers to pick out essential items without their parents. The young participants selected everything from winter jackets and sneakers to shirts, pants, socks, toiletries, backpacks, and other school necessities. Local and national businesses generously provided all-new items as donations for the event.

The goal of the B2SS event is to instill a sense of empowerment in the children, ensuring they feel confident and well-prepared as they start the new school year.

As the children were shopping, their parents had the opportunity to engage with the Family Resource Center. The center collaborates with various agencies and organizations throughout Nassau County, offering vital information on health and county-specific services beneficial for both the parents and their families.

An additional day was scheduled several days ahead of the main event. This exclusive day was specifically for children with disabilities, ensuring they could partake in the shopping experience comfortably and have a dedicated day tailored to their needs.

With the support of local businesses and tireless volunteers, this year’s B2SS event has once again highlighted the strength and unity of the community in ensuring every child starts the school year with confidence.

Angelina Zingariello

WINNERS’ SPOTLIGHT

TREAT YOURSELF WITH LONG ISLAND’S PREMIER SERVICES

Nominations for the 2023 Herald Long Island Choice Awards presented by PSEG Long Island are coming soon. Help your faves make it to the top 5!

BEST BARBER SHOP:

TRIMZ Barbershop

20 Guy Lombardo Ave, Freeport (516) 867-1466 trimzbarbershop.com

TRIMZ™ Barbershop maintains traditional barbering while embracing a contemporary and avant-garde space. Honoring the legacy of past barbers, TRIMZ™ stands as a cutting-edge establishment, dedicated to advancing our craft. They aim to provide every customer with the ultimate barbershop journey, offering tailored services by skilled and courteous barbers.

BEST HAIR SALON: East Coast Hair Studio

2869 Long Beach Rd, Oceanside (516) 208-5644

Instagram: @eastcoast_hairstudio

Discover a world of hair transformations at East Coast Hair Studio, where cuts, colors, and beyond come to fruition. Situated in Oceanside, this salon invites you to unleash your creative visions while being surrounded by vibrant, graffiti-inspired murals and captivating decor that add a playful touch to the atmosphere. Their team of skilled hairdressers and colorists stand ready to turn your vision into reality, making your salon experience truly exceptional.

BEST CBD STORE: Natural Remedies - Merrick

1060 Jerusalem Ave, Merrick (516) 992-8417 naturalremediesnewyork.com

Natural Remedies’ friendly and knowledgeable staff helps those looking to ease body pain, life stressors, or simply take a load off find the right CBD product for them. With upfront and honest answers and various ways to consume their products from tea, salves, and gummies, there’s something to suit everyone’s needs; for pets too!

BEST MANICURE: Ambiance Salon

1344 Broadway #5 Hewlett (516) 295-4011 theambiancesalon.com

Enjoy much needed “you time” with a fresh manicure at Ambiance Salon. It’s important to take care of yourself and that includes feeling good, inside and out. Treat yourself to a relaxing wash, color, and cut; facial, massage or electrolysis; nail treatments and so much more.

BEST PEDICURE: Belle Beauty Salon and Spa 327 Sunrise Hwy, Rockville Centre (516) 608-9583 bellebeautysalonspa.com

Belle Beauty Salon and Spa, located in Rockville Centre, is a haven of indulgence and rejuvenation. Their exceptional expertise in nail care and other salon services is renowned, attracting clients seeking the ultimate pampering experience. With a team of highly skilled professionals, Belle Beauty Salon and Spa continues to redefine the art of luxurious pedicures, offering a sanctuary where your relaxation and satisfaction take center stage.

BEST MASSAGE: Hand and Stone Massage & Facial Spa Multiple Locations (866) 889-STONE handandstone.com

Returning or first-time customers will enjoy a spa treatment that’s unique to you by licensed/certified/ registered massage therapists or estheticians. The serene environment makes your spa sessions a comfortable and desirable place to be. Each room is private with its own light and sound controls with heated tables and fresh linen so you can become fully immersed in your own tailored experience.

BEST LASER TREATMENT CENTER: Flawless Beauty NY 1177 Broadway, Hewlett (516) 218-2376 flawlessbeautyny.com

At Flawless Beauty NY, their top priority is enhancing your natural beauty. With their expert team of beauty professionals, they work closely with each client to create a personalized combination of treatments that will bring out their unique beauty from the inside out. Their luxurious services include non-surgical body contouring, non-surgical face lifts, facials, lash lift & tint, brow design & tint, teeth whitening, and more.

BEST SPA/MEDICAL SPA: Rainforest Med Spa 1757 Front St, East Meadow (516) 900-7772 rainforestmedspa.net

Rainforest Med Spa located in East Meadow, has experts ready to carry out a number of services from facial treatments targeting acne, wrinkles and pigmentation to innovative treatments such as Fractional Radio Frequency. They also have body treatments, some of which include body contouring and cellulite treatments. There are also removals and PRP from vampire facials to face lift PRPs.

BEST WAXING: Calla Lily Rose Beauty Spa 1260 Old Country Rd - Suite 15, Westbury (516) 805-2082 callalilyrose.com

Located in Westbury, Calla Lily Rose Beauty Spa is dedicated to making their clients feel pampered, while looking and feeling beautiful at the same time. Their clients get to relax, unwind and enjoy luxury facial services, laser hair removal and body wraps from a licensed esthetician. Additional services include massages including prenatal massages and assisted stretching from a licensed massage therapist.

Courtesy Town of Hempstead photos Community members gathered at Hempstead Town Hall to celebrate India’s independence.

To celebrate Pakistan’s independence, people gathered at town hall

LEGAL NOTICE

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORKCOUNTY OF NASSAU BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., V. MINERVA LIPSKI, INDIVIDUALLY AND AS TRUSTEE OF THE MINERVA LIPSKI REVOCABLE LIVING TRUST, ET. AL. NOTICE OF SALE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure dated January 17, 2023, and entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Nassau, wherein BANK OF AMERICA, N.A. is the Plaintiff and MINERVA LIPSKI, INDIVIDUALLY AND AS TRUSTEE OF THE MINERVA LIPSKI REVOCABLE LIVING TRUST; ET AL. are the Defendant(s). I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the RAIN OR SHINE at the NASSAU COUNTY SUPREME COURT, NORTH SIDE STEPS, 100 SUPREME COURT DRIVE, MINEOLA, NY 11501, on September 12, 2023 at 2:30PM, premises known as 88 SQUIRREL LANE, LEVITTOWN, NY 11756: Section 45, Block 231, Lot

9: ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND, SITUATE, LYING AND BEING AT LEVITTOWN, TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, COUNTY OF NASSAU AND STATE OF NEW YORK

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 600982/2019. Jane P. Shrenkel, Esq. - Referee. Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC, 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310, Westbury, New York 11590, Attorneys for Plaintiff. All foreclosure sales will be conducted in accordance with Covid-19 guidelines including, but not limited to, social distancing and mask wearing. *LOCATION OF SALE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DAY OF IN ACCORDANCE WITH COURT/CLERK DIRECTIVES.

141177

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE FOR RCF 2 ACQUISITION TRUST, Plaintiff, vs. MARK GORDON, ET AL., Defendant(s).

Pursuant to an Order ReIndexing the Deed, Amending Caption, Confirming Referee’s Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on March 8, 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 September 12, 2023 at

2:30 p.m., premises known as 44 Seville Street, 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 Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 32, Block 434 and Lots 21-26. Approximate amount of judgment is $686,419.27 plus interest and costs.

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 618123/2019. Cash will not be accepted. 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.

Mark S. Ricciardi, Esq., Referee Knuckles, Komosinski & Manfro, LLP, 565 Taxter Road, Suite 590, Elmsford, NY 10523, Attorneys for Plaintiff 141169

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU FLAGSTAR BANK, FSB

Plaintiff, Against NATALIE PIQUANT, YVANA PIQUANT, JONATHAN PIQUANT, ET AL.,

Defendant(s)

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale, duly entered 11/30/2017, I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction rain or shine, on the North Front Steps of the Nassau County Courthouse, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY on 9/18/2023 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 1573 Miriam Court, Elmont, New York 11003, And Described As

Follows:

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

Section 32 Block 729 Lot

3

MCCABE, WEISBERG & CONWAY, LLC, 10 MIDLAND AVENUE SUITE 205, PORT CHESTER, NY 10573

Dated: 6/28/2023 File

Number: 385-0176 RS 141295

LEGAL NOTICE REFEREE’S NOTICE OF SALE IN FORECLOSURE SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU DEUTSCHE BANK NATIONAL TRUST COMPANY AS TRUSTEE FOR THE HOLDERS OF NEW CENTURY HOME EQUITY LOAN TRUST, SERIES 2005-A, ASSET BACKED PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, Plaintiffagainst - JEEWAN GOBIN, et al Defendant(s).

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered on December 3, 2018. I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, N.Y. 11501 “Rain or Shine” on the 19th day of September, 2023 at 2:30 PM. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being at Elmont, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York.

Premises known as 20 Heathcote Road, Elmont, (Town of Hempstead) New York 11003.

(Section: 32, Block: 377, Lot: 64 & 65)

Approximate amount of lien $533,298.85 plus interest and costs.

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed judgment and terms of sale.

Index No. 003693/2014.

Jane P. Shrenkel, Esq., Referee. Davidson Fink LLP

Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 400 Meridian Centre Blvd, Ste 200 Rochester, NY 14618 Tel. 585/760-8218

For sale information, please visit Auction.com at www.Auction.com or call (800) 280-2832

Dated: July 20, 2023

LEGAL NOTICE

REFEREE’S NOTICE OF SALE

IN FORECLOSURE

SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF

NASSAU

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, Plaintiffagainst - MARGARETTE DESINOR, et al Defendant(s).

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered on May 24, 2023.

I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, N.Y. 11501 “Rain or Shine” on the 14th day of September, 2023 at 2:00 PM. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, situate, lying and being in the Village of Elmont, in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York.

Premises known as 20 Peekskill St, Elmont, NY 11003.

(Section: 37, Block: 679, Lot: 0131.0)

Approximate amount of lien $159,082.67 plus interest and costs.

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed judgment and terms of sale.

Index No. 000065/2017.

Dominic A. Villoni, Esq., Referee.

McCalla Raymer Leibert Pierce, LLC Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 420 Lexington Avenue, Suite 840 New York, NY 10170 Tel. 347/286-7409

Dated: June 21, 2023

Couple gets married by town clerk

Elmont residents Frantz Desir and Marie Leo were married at Town Hall by Town Clerk Kate Murray Aug. 17. If interested in obtaining a marriage license or scheduling a wedding ceremony, call the town clerk’s office at (516) 812-3014 or visit HempsteadNY.gov/marriage.

Public Notices

The approximate amount of the current Judgment lien is $784,067.32 plus interest and costs. The Premises will be sold subject to provisions of the aforesaid Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale;

Index # 14-000987

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

Jane Shrenkel, Esq., Referee.

During the COVID-19 health emergency, bidders are required to comply with all governmental health requirements in effect at the time of sale including but not limited to, wearing face coverings and maintaining social distancing (at least 6-feet apart) during the auction, while tendering deposit and at any subsequent closing. Bidders are also required to comply with the Foreclosure Auction Rules and COVID-19 Health Emergency Rules issued by the Supreme Court of this County in addition to the conditions set forth in the Terms of Sale.

141275

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

During the COVID-19 health emergency, bidders are required to comply with all governmental health requirements in effect at the time of sale including but not limited to, wearing face coverings and maintaining social distancing (at least 6-feet apart) during the auction, while tendering deposit and at any subsequent closing. Bidders are also required to comply with the Foreclosure Auction Rules and COVID-19 Health Emergency Rules issued by the Supreme Court of this County in addition to the conditions set forth in the Terms of Sale.

141273

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT

COUNTY OF NASSAU

Citibank N.A., Plaintiff AGAINST Kathleen Brancaleone, et al., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered June 27, 2023, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on September 19, 2023 at 2:00PM, premises known as 497 Tulip Avenue, Floral Park, NY 11001. All that certain plot piece or

parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the Village of Floral Park, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, SECTION: 32, BLOCK: 273, LOT: 26. Approximate amount of judgment $542,666.53 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #609197/2019. The aforementioned auction will be conducted in accordance with the NASSAU County COVID-19 Protocols located on the Office of Court Administration (OCA) website (https://ww2.nycourts.gov /Admin/oca.shtml) and as such all persons must comply with social distancing, wearing masks and screening practices in effect at the time of this foreclosure sale. Scott H. Siller, Esq., Referee Frenkel Lambert Weiss Weisman & Gordon, LLP 53 Gibson Street Bay Shore, NY 11706 01-091795-F00 77206

141259

LEGAL NOTICE TO THE TAXPAYERS OF THE ELMONT FIRE

DISTRICT:

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a resolution was duly adopted by the Board of Fire Commissioners of the Elmont Fire District, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau, State of New York, on the 23rd day of August, 2023, subject to permissive referendum as provided for by the General Municipal law. An extract of the resolution is as follows: THE ELMONT FIRE DISTRICT SHALL PURCHASE AND INSTALL A NEW PHONE AND COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM AND RELATED INFRASTRUCTURE AT DISTRICT BUILDINGS AT A COST, INCLUDING COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH SUCH TRANSACTION NOT TO EXCEED ONE HUNDRED TWENTY-FIVE THOUSAND ($125,000.00) DOLLARS WITH FUNDS FROM THE BUILDING AND GROUNDS CAPITAL RESERVE FUND. This resolution shall not take effect until thirty (30) days unless in the meanwhile a permissive referendum as provided for by the General Municipal Law is required to be held.

Dated: August 23, 2023

BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS ELMONT FIRE DISTRICT TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD

Premises Consumption. SABOR A COLOMBIA II, INC. DBA SABOR A COLOMBIA BAR & RESTAURANT 141570

The aforementioned auction will be conducted in accordance with the Court System’s COVID-19 mitigation protocols and as such all persons must comply with social distancing, wearing masks and screening practices in effect at the time of this foreclosure sale.

Woods Oviatt Gilman LLP

Attorneys for Plaintiff 500 Bausch & Lomb Place Rochester, NY 14604 Tel.: 855-227-5072

LEGAL NOTICE STATE OF NEW YORK

SUPREME COURT: COUNTY OF NASSAU

SPECIALIZED LOAN SERVICING LLC

Plaintiff, v. HERNANDO SANCHEZ, ET AL.

Defendants. NOTICE OF SALE IN FORECLOSURE

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE

THAT

In pursuance of a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the Office of the County Clerk of Nassau County on March 2, 2023, I, Joy S. Bunch, Esq. the Referee named in said Judgment, will sell in one parcel at public auction on October 3, 2023 at North Side

141563

LEGAL NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

LEGAL NOTICE

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Board of Fire Commissioners will meet on Tuesday, September 12, 2023, at 7:00 pm at Fire District Headquarters, 833 Hempstead Turnpike, Franklin Square, NY for a 2024 Budget Preparation Workshop.

BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS

FRANKLIN SQUARE & MUNSON FIRE DISTRICT

Attest: Kerry Santina Fire District Secretary

August 23, 2023

141568

ATTEST: FRANCES ANDINO

Secretary 141569

LEGAL NOTICE

Notice is hereby given that a license, number 1364824 for Liquor, Wine, Beer and Cider has been applied for by the undersigned to sell Liquor, Wine, Beer and Cider at retail in a Restaurant under the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law at 700 Hempstead Turnpike, Franklin Square, NY County of Nassau for On

Steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Ct. Dr., County of Nassau, State of New York, at 2:00 PM the premises described as follows: 41 Hoeffner Avenue Elmont, NY 11003 SBL No.: 32-356-69, 70, 71, 72, & 73

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

The premises are sold subject to the provisions of the filed judgment, Index No. 025657/2009 in the amount of $755,589.60 plus interest and costs.

The Board of Water Commissioners of the West HempsteadHempstead Gardens Water District, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau, State of New York. To the residents of the West HempsteadHempstead Gardens Water District: Notice is hereby given that a public hearing will be held for the West HempsteadHempstead Gardens Water District on Thursday September 7, 2023 at the hour of 6:00 o’clock pm located at the District Office. For the review and public inspection of the estimate of proposed expenditures and revenues by the district for the year 2024. Pursuant to Article 13 Section 215 Sub Part 9-a of Town Law. A copy of the estimate of proposed expenditures and revenues is available for public inspection at the District office during business hours from September 1, 2022 through September 7, 2023. By order of the Board of Water Commissioners. West Hempstead-Hempstead Gardens Water District West Hempstead, New York 11552

Submitted: Jason Belle District Superintendent Dated: August 25, 2023 141555

Courtesy Town of Hempstead

CLASSIFIED

Fax your ad to: 516-622-7460

E-mail your ad to: ereynolds@liherald.com

E-mail Finds Under $100 to: sales@liherald.com DEADLINE: Monday, 11:00 am for all classified ads.

Seeking Candidates for the Following Positions:

TEACHER AIDES

Starting Salary: $18.65 per hour

Two years’ college preferred

SUBSTITUTE TEACHER AIDES

Salary: $17.00 per hour

Two years’ college preferred

SUBSTITUTE CLEANERS

Salary: $16.00 per hour

District Wide – All Shifts

SUBSTITUTE MONITORS

Salary: $15 per hour

District Wide

SUBSTITUTE REGISTERED PROFESSIONAL NURSE

Salary: $150 per diem

Must have Registered Nurse’s License, CPR and AED Certification SUBSTITUTE CLERICAL

Salary: $20 per hour

District Wide

SUBSTITUTE SECURITY AIDES

Salary: $20.00 per hour

District Wide

Must have continuing possession of NYS registration as a security guard issued by the NYS Department of State. Security and/or law enforcement experience preferred Candidates are to submit a letter of interest with resume and credentials to:

MS. Diane DrakoPouloS Personnel Clerk east rockaway uFSD

443 ocean avenue, east rockaway, nY 11518 (516) 887-8300 ext. 1-441 ddrakopoulos@eastrockawayschools.org

The Seaford Union Free School District has the following opening:

SCHOOL NURSE (Floater)

FULL-TIME

Effective Date: August 30, 2023

*Starting Salary $60,948

RN NYS License required, BLS certified

• Experience with school aged children, including students with disabilities preferred.

• Knowledgeable of CDC, OHSA, NYSDOH guidelines as they pertain to disease and or illness including COVID.

• Maintains records and performs screenings as per N.Y.S guidelines.

• Provides basic healthcare and first aid to students that are ill, medically fragile and/or injured.

• Provides treatment, documents injuries and maintains ongoing student medical records.

• Administers daily medications.

• Knowledgeable of diabetic care and seizure protocol in a school setting.

• Must have superior nursing skills to include experience in emergency procedures, anaphylaxis, injuries and general triage.

• Must be highly skilled communicator, with strong interpersonal and organizational skills.

• Must be collaborative in nature and contribute to the health and well being of the school community.

On-Line Applications Only www.olasjobs.org/nassau

Field Ser vice Technicians F/T

OUTSIDE SALES

Help Wanted

ASSISTANT TEACHERS For Yeshiva

Of South Shore. Afternoon Hours. Competitive Pay. Please Send Resume To: monika@yoss.org

ATTENTION HIGH SCHOOL /COL-

LEGE /GRAD SCHOOL STUDENTS :

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

CIRCULATION ASSOCIATE

Full Time/Part Time

Richner Communications, publisher of Herald community newspapers has an excellent opportunity for a

FT/PT Customer Service Clerk in our busy Circulation Department.

Basic customer service and administrative responsibilities include: heavy computer work, answering phones, making phone calls, entering orders, faxing, filing, etc.

STRONG knowledge of EXCEL a must! Knowledge of DATABASE maintenance or postal regulations a big plus. Qualified Candidates must be computer literate, able to multitask, dependable, reliable, organized, energetic, detail oriented and able to work well under deadlines.

For consideration, please send resume & salary requirements to: careers@liherald.com

DELI COUNTER AND PREP PERSON

Full Time And Part Time. Weekends A

EDITOR/REPORTER

The award-winning Herald Community Newspapers group, covering Nassau County's North and South Shores with hard-hitting news stories and gracefully written features, seeks a motivated, energetic and creative editor/reporter to join our dynamic (and awesome) team! This education and general assignment reporting position offers a unique experience to learn from some of the best in the business. Historically, reporters who have launched their careers with us have gone on to The New York Times, Newsweek, Newsday, the New York Daily News, New York Post, CNN, BBC, NBC News and The Daily Mail, among many others. We look for excellent writers who are eager to learn, enhance their skills, and become well-established and respected journalists in our industry.

To apply: Send a brief summary in the form of a cover letter describing your career goals and what strengths you can bring to our newsroom, along with a resume and three writing samples to mhinman@liherald.com

MULTI MEDIA

ACCOUNT DEVELOPMENT

Inside Sales

Looking for an aggressive self starter who is great at making and maintaining relationships and loves to help businesses grow by marketing them on many different advertising platforms. You will source new sales opportunities through inbound lead follow-up and outbound cold calls. Must have the ability to understand customer needs and requirements and turn them in to positive advertising solutions. We are looking for a talented and competitive Inside Sales Representative that thrives in a quick sales cycle environment. We offer salary, commission, bonuses, health benefits, 401K and paid time off. Will consider part time. Please send cover letter and resume with salary requirements to ereynolds@liherald.com Call 516-569-4000 X286

Richner Communications, One of the Fastest Growing Media, Event and Communications Companies on Long Island is Seeking a Sales/Marketing Candidate to Sell our Print Media Products and our Digital, Events, Sponsorships. Salary, Commission, Eligible for Health Benefits, 401k and Paid Time Off. Will Consider Part Time. Please Send Cover Letter and Resume with Salary Requirements to rglickman@liherald.com or Call 516-569-4000 X250

PART TIME ASSISTANTS

Garden City Childcare Center

Monday through Friday $15 per hour

HS Diploma Required Call 516-572-7614

PERSONAL TRAINER : Fitness Studio East Rockaway. Competitive Compensation. Experience Required. Email resume amplifiedems@gmail.com Call (516)253-5450

PRESS-ROOM/WAREHOUSE HELP

Long Island Herald has IMMEDIATE openings for a FULL-TIME Pressroom/warehouse helper in Garden City. We are a busy print shop looking for a motivated and reliable individuals to assist in various duties in the shop. Forklift experience is a plus and heavy lifting is required. Hours vary, so flexibility is key. Email resumes or contact info to careers@liherald.com

PRODUCTION ASSOCIATE FT: Medical Device Manufacturer in Baldwin. Duties/ Responsibilities Include Organizing, Assembling, Labeling And Stocking Of Inventory. Computer Literacy Required. Contact ncraveiro@elliquence.com Or Call 516-654-4000.

NEUROLOGICAL REHABILITATION PROGRAM BY PARAGON HEALTHCARE

Long Island’s Premier Short-Term Inpatient Neurological Rehabilitation Team

Long Island’s Premier

Short-Term Inpatient Neurological Rehabilitation Team

Innovative Patient Centered Care Rehabilitating Patients with Brain Injury, Stroke, and other Neurological Disorders. Intense rehabilitation programming is provided up to 3.5 hours per day and up to 7 days per week.

Innovative Patient Centered Care Rehabilitating Patients with Brain Injury, Stroke, and other Neurological Disorders. Intense rehabilitation programming is provided up to 3.5 hours per day and up to 7 days per week.

PT/OT/Speech Therapy, Brain Training and Cognitive Rehab. Certified Brain Injury Specialists On Site.

PT/OT/Speech Therapy, Brain Training and Cognitive Rehab. Certified Brain Injury Specialists On Site.

HomesHERALD

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

East Atlantic Beach

FEMA Compliant Stunner

Welcome home to this totally renovated, 2 story home with parking for 3 cars plus storage. This brand new home boasts a main floor with living room, 3 bedrooms, full bath and deck. The top floor features a state of the art kitchen with quartz countertops and stainless steel appliances, a primary bedroom with full bath, office, half bath and deck with ocean views. There is ground level parking and storage, sliders to back deck, brand new CAC, washer/dryer, on demand hot water heater and sprinklers. You will love having your own private beach! Enjoy all the West End of Long Beach has to offer with the privacy of living in East Atlantic Beach!

The problems water causes

Q. Our attic air conditioning leaked into our ceiling. The ceiling is so wet we need to replace it. We now understand we’ll need to have the pipe that drains water out of our A.C. drain pan blown out every spring, and now have a service contract for that. The insulation is also wet. We were told to let it dry out and it will be fine. Is this true? Also, the ceiling joists over our 12-foot-wide master bedroom are only 2 x 6, which might cause the ceiling to sag and isn’t enough for the insulation, we’re told, which we understand has to be 10 inches thick. When we asked our contractor about this, he told us we can push the insulation down and then replace the plywood floor in our attic. What do you think?

OPEN HOUSES SUNday, 9/3/23 HEWLETT Bay Pa RK

190 Meadowview Ave, BA, Ever Dream of Living in A Castle?

This 8000 Sq Ft Mansion is Full of Character. Amazing Architectural Details, Soaring Ceilings, Stained Glass Windows. 5 BR, 6.55 Bths. Sprawling 1.3 Acre Prop with IG Gunite Pool. SD#14. Near All. Must See This Unique Home! REDUCED $2,700,000

HEWLETT

1390 Broadway #102, BA, NEW! Move Right Into This

Magnificent Newly Renovated 2 BR, 2 Bth Coop in Prestigious Hewlett Townhouse. Open Layout. NEW State of the Art Kitchen & Bths, HW Flrs, Windows, HVAC, Recessed LED Lights, Doors, W/D. Community Pool. Full Service 24 Hr Doorman, Valet Pkg, Elevator, Priv Storage. Gar Pkg. Near Shops, Trans & Houses of Worship $579,000

1534 Broadway #205, BA, Extra Large 2000 Sq Ft,

2 Bedroom A(Originally 3 BR), 2 Bath Condo in Prestigious

Jonathan Hall with Doorman & Elevator. Updtd Wood/Quartz Kit, LR & DR. Washer/Dryer in Unit. Underground Pkg.

Loads of Closets. Terrace Faces Back. Easy Ranch Style

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

WOOdMERE

504 Saddle Ridge Rd, BA , Move Right Into This Renovated

4 BR, 2 Bth Split with Open Layout in Prime Location! Granite/ Wood EIK Opens to Dining Room & Living Room. Lower Level Den. HW Flrs, Gas Heat, CAC. Oversized Property! SD#14. Near All! REDUCED!

Rhonda Healy Century 21 Verdeschi & Walsh Realty 1025 W. Beech Street Long Beach 516.236.7269 cell rhondaghealy@gmail.com

A. When it rains, it pours. The leaking was a wakeup call that A.C. unit condensation occurs every summer season, and even though you have a drain pan, if it doesn’t have a working sensor to shut off before the drain pan overflows and you never clean the drain pan pipe to the outdoors, the water overflows. You should, by law (code), have a floor in the attic around the unit, also, which can dry out, since it remains structural, and will be minimally affected by the water.

The insulation and the sheetrock are another story. If the sheetrock hasn’t loosened and isn’t sagging, then it can just be left to dry out. Make certain, even using a moisture meter, that the sheetrock is completely dry before repainting to avoid potential mildew and discoloration. The insulation, if it is either fiberglass or closed-cell foam, can be dried out also, but only if it can be exposed. This means removing the plywood flooring above so that air can get to the insulation.

In addition, the insulation should be inspected to see that it isn’t compressed by the saturation weight of the water, since compressing insulation, contrary to what you were told, actually takes away the ability for it to work properly. The principle behind insulation technology isn’t just the use of thermally resistant material but, most critically, the insulation forms tiny air pockets within the material that form the resistance to air passing through. Each trapped air bubble slows the transfer of cold or heat by first conducting or resisting the temperature change within the air molecules.

Heat moves by one of three mechanical principles, convection, conduction and radiation. If the air bubbles or pockets in the insulation are pressed closer together and the material made denser by this, the conduction or transfer of temperature is easier, so the insulation has less likelihood of resisting, and resisting is what you want insulation to do. It would be great to rebuild the floor with deeper joists or have closed-cell foam sprayed in, since it also resists water saturation to solve the problem. Good luck!

© 2023 Monte Leeper

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

Ask The Architect Monte Leeper

Homes

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

Open Houses

HEWLETT BA,1534 BROADWAY #205, BIG REDUCTION!! MOTIVATED SELLER!!Extra Large 2000 Sq Ft, 2 Bedroom(Originally 3 BR), 2 Bath Condo in Prestigious Jonathan Hall with Doorman & Elevator. Updtd Wood/Quartz Kit, LR & DR. Washer/Dryer in Unit. Underground Pkg. Loads of Closets. Terrace Faces Back. Easy Ranch Style Living...$579,000 Ronnie Gerber, Douglas Elliman 516-238-4299

HEWLETT BAY PARK BA,.190 Meadowview Ave Ever Dream of Living in A Castle? This 8000 Sq Ft Mansion is Full of Character. Amazing Architectural Details, Soaring Ceilings, Stained Glass Windows. 5 BR, 6.55 Bths. Sprawling 1.3 Acre Prop with IG Gunite Pool. SD#14.Near All. Must See This Unique Home!..REDUCED

$2,700,000 Ronnie Gerber, Douglas elliman 516-238-4299

REAL ESTATE

Open Houses

CEDARHURST BA, 332B Peninsula Blvd, Move Right Into This Updated 3 Br, 2.5 Bth Coop Townhouse. LR, DR, Gran/Wood Kit w/ Stainless Steel Appl. Trex Deck Off LR.Primary Ste Features Updtd Bth & WIC. Att Gar Plus 1 Pkg Spot incl in Maintenance. W/D in Unit.Pull Down Attic.SD#15. Convenient to Shops, Trans & Houses of Worship...$449,000 Ronnie Gerber, Douglas Elliman 516-238-4299

Open Houses HEWLETT BA, 1390 Broadway #102, NEW! Move Right Into This Magnificent Newly Renovated 2 BR, 2 Bth Coop in Prestigious Hewlett Townhouse.Open Layout. NEW State of the Art Kitchen & Bths,HW Flrs, Windows, HVAC,Recessed LED Lights, Doors, W/D. Community Pool. Full Service 24 Hr Doorman, Valet Pkg, Elevator, Priv Storage. Gar Pkg. Near Shops, Trans & Houses of Worship...$579,000 Ronnie Gerber, Douglas Elliman 516-238-4299

Parking Space Available

COMMERCIAL PARKING VANS, TRUCKS, TRAILERS, STORAGE CONTAINERS, OVERNIGHT, DAYTIME

516 996 5818

Garages For Rent

OCEANSIDE 2 CAR Garage.Great Location.Good for Classic Cars or Storage. Call For Further Informations. Must See! 516-476-8787

Florida Real Estate

WOODMERE BA, 504 Saddle Ridge Rd.,Move Right Into This Renovated 4 BR, 2 Bth Split with Open Layout in Prime Location! Granite/Wood EIK Opens to Dining Room & Living Room. Lower Level Den. HW Flrs, Gas Heat, CAC. Oversized Property! SD#14.Near All!..$999,000 Ronnie Gerber, Douglas Elliman 516-238-4299

Apartments For Rent

CEDARHURST NO FEE Private Entrance, Modern 1BR, 2BR, 3BR, CAC, W/D, Storage, Wall To Wall Carpeting, Indoor Parking Space. Starting At $1450 For One Bedroom When Available.

(516)860-6889/ (516)852-5135/ (516)582-9978

OCEANSIDE 1st Floor, 2Bds, 1Bath, Large EIK, Large LR, Fin. Basement/ Bath Yard, Oceanside SD. Call 516-476-8787

DELRAY BEACH, FL: For Sale, opportunity before it hits the market! Single Story Ranch Condo. Beautifully appointed in desirable Emerald Pointe gated community, Approx 1800 Sq Ft. Furnished, All Appliances, 2 Bed / 2 Bath, Eat-In Kitchen, Walk-In Closets, Great Interior Storage and Exterior Storage Room, Screened-In Porch with Dual Interior Access, New Rheem HVAC Jan 2019, Ceiling fans throughout, 4 Private Parking Spots, Clubhouse with Auditorium, Pool, Gym, Tennis, Pickleball (TBD), Game and Card Rms, Interior Walking-Paths, Pet Friendly, 55+ Community, Easy access to Palm Beach International and Ft Lauderdale Airports. Exciting Downtown Delray offers beautiful Beaches, Shopping, Restaurants, and Nightlife. Asking $309,999. Call David at 248-240-8154 SWCGRPMI@gmail.com

Herald

Home Sales

A sampling of recent sales in the area

Baldwin $670,000

Park Avenue. Other. 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms. Eat-in kitchen. Living room with fireplace. Formal dining room. Den/ family room. Master bedroom with fireplace. Charming historical details, including French doors.

Taxes: $13,593

East Meadow $785,000

Cleveland Avenue. Expanded Ranch. 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms. Finished basement. Updated eat-in kitchen with granite countertops. Formal dining room. Den/family room and home office. First floor master bedroom. Updates include cathedral ceiling, skylight and security system.

Taxes: $13,299.60

Elmont $692,500

Francis Court. Cape. 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms. Finished basement. Eat-in kitchen with stainless steel appliances. Front porch. First floor master bedroom. Updates include gas fireplace.

Taxes: $12,350

Lido Beach $999,000

Lido Boulevard. Split Level. 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms. Finished basement. Eat-in kitchen. Den/family room and home office. Updates include cathedral ceiling and skylight.

Taxes: $12,374.48

Lynbrook $861,000

Northumberland Gate. Split Level. 6 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms. Finished basement. Eat-in kitchen. Granite countertops. Formal dining room.

Taxes: $18,766.97

Merrick $720,000

Wynsum Avenue. Splanch. 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms. Partial finished basement. Large eat-in kitchen. Formal dining room. Den/family room with sliders to spacious yard. Laundry room on main level. Updates include cathedral ceiling. Great location within walking distance of Wynsum Avenue Park.

Taxes: $22,916.44

Oceanside $745,000

River Avenue. Expanded Cape. 5 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms. Eat-in kitchen with granite countertops and pantry. Open layout. Den/family room. Skylight and wood burning stove. Updates include cathedral ceiling and security system.

Taxes: $13,057

Rockville Centre $1,775,000

Allen Road. Colonial. 4 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms. Gourmet eat-in kitchen with granite countertops. Formal dining room. Den/family room. Ample storage.

Taxes: $18,500

West Hempstead $630,000

Fairlawn Avenue. Cape. 3 bedrooms, 1.5 bathrooms. Updated modern open eat-in kitchen with granite countertops, island and stainless steel appliances. Living room with fireplace. Two bedrooms on first level, large bedroom with office on second floor. Private yard. Convenient location near transportation and shopping.

Taxes: $12,602

Source: The Multiple Listing Service of Long Island Inc,, a computerized network of real estate offices serving Nassau, Suffolk, Queens, and Brooklyn.

Stuff HERALD

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

MERCHANDISE MART

Antiques/Collectibles

We Buy Antiques, Fine Art, Coins & Jewelry

Same Day Service, Free In-Home Evaluations, 45 Year Family Business. Licensed and Bonded, Immediate Cash Paid.

SYL-LEE ANTIQUES www.syl-leeantiques.com 516-671-6464

FINDS UNDER $100

Finds Under $100

20LB YORK DUMBELL set and 12lb Reebok dumbell set. $40 for both sets.

516-707-0357

32 X 32 Mirror beveled edge etchings in corners, hardware included for hanging.$70.00 (516)579-9089 excellent

ANTIQUE BLUE AND white flow blue pitcher 8" and bowl 10". Excellent condition

$60 516-295-1548

ANTIQUE HALF DOLL lamp 7" tall original lace dress. needs plug, $55

516 295-1548

GIRLS FALL CLOTHES Size 5 New with Tags $8 each item. 917-420-5814

GIRLS FALL CLOTHES Size 8 New with Tags $9 each item. 917-420-5814

GOLDTONE LIGHTER BY Colibri, Brand new with butane refill, vintage $20,00 take all (516)579-9089

OUTDOOR CHRISTMAS DECORA-

TIONS: Lights, Lawn Ornaments, Tree Ornaments, 10 Figure Nativity Set w/Stable. Free! 516-889-3439

Finds Under $100

PROHT 100 INCH, Portable Tripod Projection Screen, New, $45, 516-816-7383, Wantagh

TABLETOP GRILL, PROPANE, 13"W x 19"L, New, $35, 516-816-7383, Wantagh

TOP FLIGHT GOLF clubs for sale. Irons

3-9 plus pitching iron. $99.00 516-333-9878

VINTAGE VOLTRON LION force 11" pull back motion action toy w/sword, shield.

$75. mint 516-707-0357

Finds $100-$350

DINING ROOM CHAIRS (6): Beige, Strong, Beautiful, Luxurious. 2 Slightly Soiled. $350 Negotiable. Call 516-889-0321

SERVICES

Appliance Srvc./Repair

APPLIANCE REPAIRS

Washers, Dryers, Ranges, Ovens, Refrigerators, Freezers, Dishwashers, Microwaves. Prompt, Reasonable, and Reliable. All Repairs Guaranteed. Licensed/ Insured. Family Owned For 44 Years.

$10 OFF Repairs - $12 OFF For Seniors. Appliance Doctor 516-764-7011

Brick/Block/Concrete/Masonry

*MICHAEL LO BAIDO CONSTRUCTION*

Cement Specialist, Brickwork, Interlock Bricks, Belgium Blocks, Stoops, Patios, Driveways, Sidewalks, Basement Entrances, Pavers, Waterproofing. Quality Work, Lic./ Ins. Owner Always Onsite Free Estimates 516-354-5578

Doors & Windows

DOOR INSTALLATION & REPAIRS Free Estimates! We Manufacturer, Supply, and Install All Types of Doors. Entrance Doors, Garage Doors, Patio Doors, Kantm Storm Doors. Custom Sizes Available. MR. DOORS 516-781-7596

Electricians

E-Z ELECTRIC SERVICES, INC. All Types Residential/Commercial Wiring, Generators, Telephone/Data, Home Entertainment, Service Upgrades, Pools, Spas. Services/Repairs. Violations Removed. Free Estimates Low Rates. 516-785-0646 Lic/Ins.

HErald Crossword Puzzle

Handyman

HANDYMAN

Repairs and Installations for the Household. Careful and Reliable and Vaccinated. Licensed and Insured. 30-Year Nassau County Resident. Friendly Frank Phone/Text 516-238-2112

E-mail-Frankcav@optonline.net

Home Improvement

BATH & SHOWER UPDATES in as little as ONE DAY! Affordable prices - No payments for 18 months! Lifetime warranty & professional installs. Senior & Military Discounts available. Call: 866-393-3636

HANDY DANDY HOME IMPROVEMENTS

* Full Or Partial Kitchens/ Baths *Painting *Sheetrock *Taping/ Spackling *Installations Ceramic/ Vinyl Tile *Carpentry *Alterations *Repairs/ More. FREE ESTIMATES. Dan 516-342-0761

Privacy Hedge! Arborvitae 6-foot Reduced to $125/each. Free Installation, Free Delivery. Fast growing, High-quality Beautiful & Bushy! Order now to reserve for early Fall delivery. LowCostTrees.com 518-536-1367

SECURE YOUR HOME with Vivint Smart Home technology. Call 866-601-1219 to learn how you can get a professionally installed security system with $0 activation.

Miscellaneous

BEST SATELLITE TV with 2 Year Price Guarantee! $59.99/mo with 190 channels and 3 months free premium movie channels! Free next day installation! Call 888-508-5313

Power Washing

POWERWASHING ALL SURFACES: Houses, Fences, Concrete/ Brick, Decks/Sealing. . ANTHONY & J HOME IMPROVEMENT, INC. 516-678-6641

Sprinkler Syst./Irrig.Wells

Health & Fitness

ATTENTION OXYGEN THERAPY USERS! Discover Oxygen Therapy That Moves with You with Inogen Portable Oxygen Concentrators. FREE information kit. Call 888-514-3044

HEARING AIDS!! HIGH-QUALITY rechargeable, powerful Audien hearing aids priced 90% less than competitors. Tiny and NEARLY INVISIBLE! 45-day money back guarantee! 855-598-5898

MY CARING PLAN'S local advisors have helped thousands of families with unique needs find senior living. Can you afford 2k a month in rent? We can help for free!

866-989-1812

VIAGRA AND CIALIS USERS! 50 Pills SPECIAL $99.00 FREE Shipping! 100% guaranteed. CALL NOW! 855-413-9574

AUTOMOBILE & MARINE

Autos For Sale

LEXUS, LS430, 2002: 107,533 Miles, Excellent Condition, Automatic, Green Grey, Leather Seats, Well Maintained, Dealer Serviced, Garage Kept, New Michelin Tires, $8,500. Motivated 516-760-0468

MAZDA MIATA 2015 Club Edition, Silver Black Interior, 17,000 Miles, Perfect Condition. If Looking for a Miata, This is a good One To Buy. $22,000 917-273-3737

Professional Services

Autos Wanted ***AAA*** AUTO BUYERS $Highest$ Ca$h Paid$. All Years/ Conditions! WE

Tree Services

T&M GREENCARE TREE SERVICE

*Tree Removal *Stump Grinding *Pruning *Roof Line Clearing. Residential and Commercial. "We Beat All Competitors' Rates." Lowest Rates. *Senior Discount. Free Estimates. *516-223-4525, 631-586-3800 www.tmgreencare.com

Satellite/TV Equipment

DIRECTV. NEW 2-YEAR Price Guarantee. The most live MLB games this season, 200+ channels and over 45,000 on-demand titles. $84.99/mo for 24 months with CHOICE Package. Some restrictions apply. Call DIRECTV 1-888-534-6918

DISH TV $64.99 For 190 Channels + $14.95 High Speed Internet. Free Installation, Smart HD DVR Included, Free Voice Remote. Some restrictions apply. Promo

Our children’s education can’t be all about numbers

imagine students who can not only grasp the concepts of science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM, courses through the diligent application of the scientific method, but also generate original and thought-provoking work in the humanities. Picture them creating intricate pieces in fine, performing and culinary arts, and graduating with a thorough comprehension of holistic health and physical wellbeing. Isn’t this the kind of holistic education that benefits society?

But such growth and learning cannot be conveniently distilled into numerical values. It’s a fallacy to assume that numbers hold the ultimate truth about the depth of our students’ learning.

The New York State Education Department has created a blue-ribbon

committee to present potential changes to graduation measures. One desired change is to shift toward more holistic assessments that evaluate a broader range of skills and knowledge alongside the traditional Regents exams, incorporating project-based assessments, portfolios, presentations and other methods.

Additionally, there is a need for more flexible pathways to graduation, acknowledging students’ diverse strengths, interests and career goals. New pathways could involve offering various courses, internships and experiences on college campuses, allowing students to specialize in their areas of passion.

A focus on real-world relevance is also important, emphasizing practical skills, critical thinking, problem solving and the application of knowledge to prepare students for future challenges. The aim is to create a learning environment that nurtures mastery, creativity and individual identity, in which students

can pursue their unique interests and meet their specific needs. By fostering each student’s unique identity, we can ensure equal opportunities for success and access to necessary resources and support, irrespective of their background or circumstances. It would require flexible scheduling, differentiated instruction, and opportunities for students to pursue their interests.

There is a prevailing concern that the Education Department might contemplate reducing standards and expectations. I am hopeful that it will do no such thing, and I strongly oppose any such direction of thought. All students, without exception, should be given the chance to display their mastery in all areas of learning. This encompasses a comprehensive understanding of subjects ranging from STEM to humanities, encompassing fine, performing and culinary arts as well as physical education and health.

Across the nation, societal divisions have deepened, yet our common ground outweighs our differences. Unfortunately, the decline of tight-knit neighborhoods, the excessive reliance on social media, and the neglect of reading have hindered genuine and civil interactions among us. Instead of engaging meaningfully with our neighbors, we often resort to shouting into the echo chambers of social platforms. Both classic and contemporary literary works are rejected as unworthy of our attention, further fragmenting our intellectual pursuits.

As educators, we possess the extraordinary power to give students the platform to realize their potential. I promote the idea of the hashtag “Read Write Think Critically Daily.” Rather than instructing students what to think, our role should focus more on guiding them in the art of critical thinking. I sincerely hope that any forthcoming changes in graduation requirements will be designed to unlock the full potential of every student.

Gone camping, better late than never

There are probably some experiences people shouldn’t try for the first time when they’re over 65, but I really wanted to go camping out West. I don’t much like the notion of a “bucket list,” with its attendant connotation of impending bucketkicking, but I knew I wanted to try camping while I’m still fit. My daughter, an experienced outdoorswoman, organized the adventure, and came along with her two kids, ages 6 and 4. My son and daughter-inlaw immediately signed on with their two kids, 10 and 8. We picked a week in August when my husband would be immersed in the most anticamping experience imaginable, a trade show in Las Vegas.

He didn’t go outside for six days straight, working, eating, sleeping in the hotel. We didn’t go inside for a week, except to sleep (briefly).

Long story short: I’m thrilled that I went. I did it all, and now I’m done.

We drove from San Francisco to the Big Sur Campground, about three hours south. First observation: To camp you must be willing to do an enormous amount of work that you wouldn’t need to do if you just stayed home in your house.

We had tents and sleeping bags, a medical kit, a cooler filled with food, bags of dry groceries, water, wool hats and gloves, layers of silk and wool and spare shoes, eyeglasses and medications. We brought wine and cheeses and salamis and bread and peanut butter and jelly.

We arrived at the campground in the late afternoon. Look at it through my eyes: a stunning expanse of land set among giant redwoods; a pictureperfect creek burbling around the perimeter of the campground; kids in rubber tubes floating by. But I expected wilderness, and we pitched our tents right next to cars and giant RVs. It was like sleeping in a parking lot, with a serious possibility of getting run over in the middle of the night.

We got the tents set up and put wood beside the fire pit and went off on a small hike. The smell of fresh pine trees was intoxicating, and I was really beginning to relax when I saw the posted sign warning about mountain lion attacks. It said that if a mountain lion leaps at you, try to look big. I wonder how one does that.

We hiked on. It was a walk that ended at a beach, a stunning landscape of rocks and crashing waves. Of course, no one can swim in the northern Pacific without a wetsuit, and the great whites are kind of a buzz kill, but the kids had fun on the beach.

Back at the campsite, we made a dinner plan. This being Northern California camping, we had a reservation at Nepenthe, a trendy restaurant a few miles away. Think $25 entrees. Set on a cliff over the sea, the place attracted elegant women driving expensive sports cars and men with just the right amount of shabby chic to disguise their immense wealth. It was as if the entire Silicon Valley was in Big Sur for the weekend. These people weren’t camping out unless it was at Clint Eastwood’s Carmel estate.

Back at the campsite, day was done. People were in their tents and RVs. I noticed it was dark. Not just dark but a total blackout, with just a sliver of moon in the sky over the trees. Where had I put my toothbrush? How would I brush my teeth? What if, heaven forbid, I had to go to the bathroom during the night? Turns out there were communal bathrooms and showers.

We slept, we ate well, we played in the creek and we toasted s’mores over our campfire. Still, I don’t get it. A campground does have some amenities, but it also has other people who cook smelly food and play music at night and bring their annoying dogs. The idea seems to be that you drag as much equipment — food and lights and tents and blow-up mattresses and portable stoves — as you can to make yourself comfortable when

Randi is on a brief leave. This column was originally published Aug. 29, 2013.

you could just stay home and not have to walk a quarter-mile in the dark to pee.

That’s the unromantic take on camping.

This is what I choose to remember: my four grandkids, sitting around the campfire at night, stuffing their faces with marshmallows and chocolate. They ask for a “Grandma Randi story” and I tell them one:

“Sabrina, Jacob, Elijah and Emi, when I tell you stories, they always begin the same way, with you four cousins, who love each other so much, going on an adventure. Well, kids, you’re living the story. Here you are together sleeping in a tent by a river. Put your arms around each other. This is a moment to remember.”

The next night, when we were gathered by the fire, they asked for another story, a “real” campfire story. “See that star up there next to the moon?” I said. “It’s actually a spaceship, and tonight, when you’re sleeping, it will land here next to our tents. Tiny aliens with enormous heads will lift the flap of your tent and carry you off to their planet, which happens to be made of ice cream.”

The grandkids looked giddy with excitement and fear. My work was done.

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

RAnDi KREiss

i

’ll remember my four grandkids, sitting around the campfire at night.

Daniel Rehman is the superintendent of the West Hempstead school district.

There is a need to acknowledge students’ diverse strengths and goals.

DAniEl REhmAn

Why supporting local news is so important

it’s called the Fourth Estate, a term used by journalists referring to their responsibilities and obligations as watchdogs of democracy, providing objective truth to the public they serve.

In a nation where we pride ourselves on freedoms, the First Amendment is the only line of defense newspapers — like this one — can rely on to maintain that Fourth Estate.

That’s why what happened in Kansas recently is so important. A small-town newspaper, the Marion County Record — not much different from this one — had its offices raided by police as part of an identity-theft investigation.

It’s not that media outlets work above the law — far from it. But raiding a newspaper office and retrieving materials that may have otherwise been protected under the First Amendment is something that can’t be done on a whim, and requires near-extraordinary circumstances.

This particular raid, according to reports, stemmed from a complaint by a local restaurant owner who felt that her privacy was violated when the Record uncovered her troubled driving record.

Police weren’t sure how the newspaper obtained the information on her 2008 drunken driving conviction, and concluded that it had to involve illegality of some sort. They said that the only way a reporter — or someone working with the reporter — could have obtained that information was by falsely claiming to be the restaurant owner. And if they did, they committed fraud.

But verifying information is what reporters do. Yes, they must use legal means, but a number of First Amendment advocates questioned whether there was enough probable cause against the newspaper to meet the extraordinarily high bar

Letters

WTC Health Program shouldn’t go begging

To the Editor:

of raiding the newsroom.

Eric Meyer, the publisher and editor of the Record, suspected the raid was retaliation for the paper’s coverage of the local police department, and may have even been an attempt to stall future reporting on the police chief. Instead, the raid — and the effort to justify it in light of nationwide criticism — has created new problems for law enforcement and prosecutors, whom we depend on to serve and protect all of us.

Newsroom raids are extremely rare thanks not only to First Amendment, but also the Privacy Protection Act of 1980, which prohibits law enforcement from searching or seizing information from reporters, with a few exceptions.

One of the exceptions is how an organization obtains its information, which is what law enforcement and prosecutors in Marion County claimed opened the door to the raid in the first place. In the initial fallout, those government officials defended the action, saying they had enough evidence to support it.

Yet less than a week after the raid, local prosecutors withdrew the search warrants and returned the seized items, determining that “insufficient evidence exists to establish a legally sufficient nexus between this alleged crime and the places searched and the items seized.”

Freedom of the press is a guaranteed right, and must be recognized by law enforcement agencies responsible for upholding our rights. The Founding Fathers made this protection explicit, because as Thomas Jefferson famously said, ”The basis of our government being the opinion of the people, the very first object should be to keep that right. And were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without news-

papers, or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter.”

The press must be allowed to work independent of government scrutiny. If a media outlet does violate the law, it should be prosecuted — but only in a way that keeps protections guaranteed by the First Amendment intact.

Otherwise, violations of the amendment not only threaten community newspapers like the Record, they also endanger democracy as a whole.

Reporters, armed only with an obligation to the truth, must be protected in carrying out their watchdog role, especially when it comes to investigating corruption or scandal. Journalists have a duty to hold public officials accountable, and without the protections of the First Amendment, they would be left to fend for themselves in the face of very powerful forces capable of changing anyone’s life forever.

We pity societies in which the press is not free. Where oppressive behavior like unjustified office raids is used by despots and dictators as a way to suppress knowledge and information from public view.

That’s why a threat to one local newspaper like the Marion County Record is a threat to all media. As reporters, we pride ourselves on our integrity — the only currency we have with you, our readers — and work hard to supply the news coverage you want and need to be engaged and informed.

Maybe law enforcement felt it truly was justified in its actions in Marion County. But in the end, it simply reminded us that our rights in the free society that is the United States are solely dependent on the people we put in place to govern us — and the independent media that exists to hold them truly accountable.

Re U.S. Rep. Andrew Garbarino’s op-ed piece last week, “It’s time to deliver on our promise to never forget”: The funding for the World Trade Center Health Program should be a slam drunk. But during these times, is it?

President Biden has requested an additional $25 billion from Congress for Ukraine, for a total of $135 billion since the war began. Funding provided by the American taxpayer, who just pays, but has no say.

The migrants arriving each day have to be funded by someone. The American taxpayer will be funding this as well. Another example of pay, but have no say.

The WTC Health Program should not need begging to be funded. Our homeless, our veterans, and citizens in need should be our priority. You take care of your family first, and then reach out to others.

A get-together of Republican all-stars

recently I was privileged to attend a reunion dinner, which Nassau County Republican Chairman Joe Cairo hosted at King Umberto’s Restaurant, in Elmont, for former Town of Hempstead councilmen and supervisors who served at various times over the past half century.

The town, whose population of almost 800,000 makes it the largest township in America, has always been the base of the Nassau GOP’s support and success. As county chairman, Cairo has done an outstanding job leading the party to repeated victories over the past several years. These successes include winning back the North Hempstead supervisor’s position for the first time in more than three decades; the offices of county executive, district attorney and comptroller; three State Senate seats in Albany; and congressional seats in Washington. These victories, in a county where registered Democrats outnumber Republicans, brought about Cairo’s election as New York’s national committeeman.

I believe much of his success as county chairman is attributable to the knowledge and experience he has acquired over his many years in politics and govern-

ment — particularly his service as a councilman on the Hempstead Town Board beginning in 1975. The board was known for working together, getting the job done and realizing that good government is good politics. I was elected councilman in 1977, and served until I was elected county comptroller in 1981.

Those attending the reunion dinner included:

■ Al D’Amato, who served as the town’s receiver of taxes, supervisor and presiding supervisor before his election to the U.S. Senate.

■ Leo McGinity, who was elected councilman in 1969 before being appointed to the bench in 1976 and ultimately serving as an associate justice in the Appellate Division of the State Supreme Court.

■ Jim Bennet, Greg Peterson and Rich Guardino, all of whom served as councilmen and supervisor.

■ Pat Zagarino, who served as councilman.

■ Bruce Blakeman, who was a councilman before being elected our current county executive.

This was a truly great evening of not just sharing stories and reminiscing, but getting input and advice from these pros after Cairo detailed the recent successes

Letters

Charity begins at home, yet in our country, our self-serving representatives have it butt backward.

TONY GIAMETTA Oceanside

Appointments or special elections?

To the Editor:

Re the editorial “Replace appointments with special elections (Aug. 17-23): The editors imply but don’t state the essential problem: The public perception that “equal justice” is undermined by our process for selecting judges. The only good sign may be that, last time, all parties offered the same candidates. This suggests some pre-election selection by insiders, making “local control” a sham. It need not be so, because it shows a path forward.

Selection by appointment risks partisan interference by those empowered to choose. But party control is threatened by elections, because they’re a gamble. Elections can be distorted by money, incumbency, and popularity over professionalism. All administrations, and all of

their opponents, have a motive to game the system.

A greater problem with elections is that, for voters, life gets in the way. The average citizen’s time for politics is limited by work, family and other commitments. Often there’s little available information about candidates, and the growing fog of misinformation also limits effective participation, depressing turnout and giving the advantage to insiders and partisan influences.

The ideal of “local control” may never be attained, but we can do better. I suggest a pool and random selection model. Make choices comparable with specific, relevant criteria. Candidates’ credentials, experience, performance record, and perhaps health and any potential conflicts, would provide a common base for evaluation. Extreme views are likely to be revealed, as are any obviously weak candidates.

All applicants would be vetted first by our professionals, who would all affirm acceptance of several candidates as “qualified.” Their ability to do so has been demonstrated. Those accepted would have their resumes published, with time for public, and press, comment. Transparency promotes engagement.

and the challenges ahead in the fastchanging world of politics and government.

Certainly, times have changed. Aside from Blakeman, none of us served on the board during a time of pervasive social media. Also, while politics was always a tough business, and stories of the “good old days” are usually exaggerated, there was nothing then like today’s bitter partisanship. Yet the underlying governmental and political precepts of those days are still meaningful: quick responsiveness to local governmental issues and problems, a strong year-round presence in the community, and doorto-door campaigning by candidates and local committeemen and women.

Most important, government officials should always be taking the political pulse of their constituents, and not be swayed by the media or elitist opinion makers. That was true then, and is just as true today, as was proven in the past two election cycles, in which Democrats’ advocacy of misguided proposals, such as bail reform and defunding the police, paved the way for Republican victories and devastating defeats for the Democrats in Nassau County.

Because those issues were largely ignored by the mainstream media, however, Republican candidates would not have prevailed without extensive paid

media advertising, a large social media presence and the unmatched Nassau GOP ground game of direct mail to voters, targeted telephone campaign calls, door-to-door distribution of campaign literature and saturation walk-throughs. All this was overseen and coordinated by Cairo, using the feedback he got from candidates and local campaign workers as well as polling results from campaign consultants such as John McLaughlin.

As I’ve said, much has changed in the Town of Hempstead and in Nassau County over the years, including demographics, party registration and the reality that so many households now have two working spouses. What Cairo and the county Republican organization have done is update and modernize the same methods of year-round hard work and attention to constituent needs and beliefs to achieve political and governmental success. That was certainly the conclusion of the “oldtimers” who attended the reunion dinner.

Nothing in politics is easy or guaranteed, and you can never afford to rest on your laurels, but we are confident that with Cairo at the helm, the Nassau GOP will remain the most effective and responsive political organization in the nation.

One additional lesson I learned is to take the same vitamins as Judge McGinity, who at age 96 is as sharp, alert and mobile as any of us!

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

Framework by Tim Baker

Finally, the selection from this group, which should be a manageable four to six qualified judges, would be done by the public. The “gamble” element provides some insulation against insider/partisan interference, is “fair” and should boost a general sense of legitimacy.

Otherwise, if there is to be a special election, ranked-choice ballots should be used, after the process described above, also with at least four candidates per seat.

Looking for a loving home at an adoption event at Bourbon & Brews — Merrick

Celebrating a number of victories, from Hempstead to Washington, for the party.