Franklin Square/Elmont Herald 12-08-2022

Setting the stage for future college success

By ANA BoRRUTo aborruto@liherald.com

The Elmont Memorial Library and Plaza Theatricals are harnessing the power of the arts to unite the community for a great cause. On Thursday, Dec. 29, they are scheduled to put on their annual fundraiser for col lege scholarships, featuring a live performance of “Pinkali cious” the musical.

The show begins at 11 a.m. in the Elmont Library Theatre, at 700 Hempstead Turnpike, and tickets are $8 each. All proceeds would benefit eligible high school students and their ability to attend the college of their dreams.

Jean Simpson, the library’s

director, said this marks the fundraiser’s 16th year, raising more than $50,000 for local high school students.

“I think that’s so important because the schools do their best with trying to bring the arts in,” Simpson said. “With having a theater here, we’re so fortunate.”

This year’s fundraiser focus es on all the students enrolled in the Elmont School District. At the end of the year, the Elmont Library gets the necessary paperwork together and sends it off to the guidance counselor’s office, where students can apply for scholarships.

The next step is for the Elmont Library’s Board of Continued on page 10

That’s the holiday spirit

By ANA BoRRUTo aborruto@liherald.com

Community leaders and horse racing enthusiasts are urg ing state legislators to go to the whip for Belmont Park and give their approval for a major upgrade at the racetrack.

Representatives from We Are NY Horse Racing visited Albany last month to encourage state leaders to approve a $455 million redevelopment project for Bel mont Park racetrack, at 2150 Hempstead Turnpike in Elmont.

If approved, the project would require Belmont Park essential ly to be torn down, built back up from scratch and transformed

into a winterized horse racing facility complete with a new clubhouse and grandstand — all at no cost to taxpayers, according to the New York Racing Associa tion (NYRA). The NYRA plans to borrow the money and pay it off over the span of 30 years through state-backed bonds.

The NYRA would be responsi ble for all debt service obliga tions on the bonds and no tax payer funds would be used for the project. Since the state owns Belmont Park, the NYRA would essentially be spending its own funds for the modernization project.

“It really is this economic engine for New York State, “ said

Jack Sterne, a spokesperson for We Are NY Horse Racing. “There hasn’t been any real major project down at Belmont in over 50 years. If we do mod ernize it, we’re going to be able to supercharge that impact for the entire state.”

Founded in September 2021, We Are NY Horse Racing is a coalition of small businesses, labor unions, non-profits and trade associations. Sterne and the other more than 50 members have spoken with lawmakers, participated in legislative hear ings and hosted grassroots events to inform the public about the impact of horse racing on the state economy.

The coalition has launched a full-fledged campaign to secure the funds necessary to recon struct Belmont Park. Sterne said the goal is to urge state lawmak ers to make the park’s redevelop ment a top priority when they reconvene in 2023.

“Modernizing Belmont Park is a transformational project that would establish one of the

finest sports and entertainment destinations anywhere in the country, especially when coupled with the new UBS Arena next door,” Patrick McKenna, NYRA’s vice president of communica tions, said. “NYRA appreciates the hard work and support of the We Are NY Horse Racing coalition, whose membership

Taylor Oliphant/Herald

SophiA NAVARRA, 8, of Franklin Square, had her face painted by one of Santa’s elves. Story, more photos can be found on Page 3.

Meet the two fire commissioner candidates

By ANA BORRUTO aborruto@liherald.com

The Franklin Square & Munson Fire District elec tions take place on Dec. 13 at 841 Liberty Place, behind the Franklin Square Post Office, from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. Les Saltzman and Ted Braun are running unopposed for two fire commissioner seats.

Saltzman said there are five fire commissioners for the district, each serve within a five-year term and elec tions for these positions are held once every five years. He has been the fire commissioner for the district since 2005 and is seeking reelection for his 4th term, which would be another five-years that would begin on January 1, 2023 and end Dec. 31, 2027.

Braun is running for a one-year term to replace the late fire commissioner Joseph Torregrossa, who died on March 21, 2022 from COVID-19. If elected to serve, Braun would finish out the position on a one-year term, which begins on January 1, 2023 and ends December 31, 2023. He will then run again next year for a five-year fire commis sioner seat.

“The main thing is we have an excellent relationship with the chief’s office, they are great people and we work well together,” Braun said to the crowd at a Franklin Square Civic Association meeting on Nov. 30. “Anything you guys need and the chief need from us, you guys got it.”

In addition to serving as the district’s fire commis sioner, Saltzman has been an active firefighter of the Franklin Square & Munson Fire Department for 32 years. He also has a 40-year career as a pharmacist on his resume and owned a community pharmacy for 20 years.

The taxes that the district commissioner handles pays for the 24/7 services the fire department provides to the public, including emergency medicine. Due to the

decrease in volunteers over the years, the fire depart ment began looking into a paid EMS program. Right now, Saltzman said the goal is to ultimately have either one paramedic, one EMT or two paramedics 24/7.

If reelected, Saltzman said he wants to strengthen engagement with the community through continuous open houses, fire prevention drills with school children, fire safety demonstrations with the local girl and boy scout troops and more.

The Franklin Square & Munson Fire Department is

Why are fire commissioner elections important?

When understanding the difference between the fire department and the fire district, it is important to remember that the commissioners are in charge of the district, which oversees the operation of the fire departments.

Fire protection is primarily funded through taxpayers — the fire district collects taxes, disperses them, saves funds and uses them for resources to benefit the fire department. Fire district board members also create and approve their own budgets. They have a final say on the budget’s approval.

Some proposed changes could pertain to fire protec tion services, municipal reorganization, shared service initiatives and more. Electing a fire commissioner gives the public some control over such decisions.

— Ana Borruto

also always seeking new members, Saltzman added.

“One thing I come across the whole fire department is our passion,” Saltzman said. “Because there’s no reason for us to do it — most of us have at least one, sometimes two jobs, have a couple of kids, if not more, and it’s something you do because you want to do it.”

For more information about the upcoming election, contact the district office at 516-488-1858.

Courtesy Frank Culmone

Les sALTzmAN, LefT, and Ted Braun are the two candi dates running for fire commissioner seats. Both are unop posed, Saltzman is running for re-election of a five-year term and Braun is running for a one-year term.

Winter Festival makes a triumphant return

Dozens of community members bundled up and jumped into the holi day spirit at the annual Franklin Civic Association’s Winter Festival and tree lighting at the Rath Park Gazebo in Franklin Square on Dec. 3.

After a two-year COVID-19 pause, The Franklin Square Historical Soci ety brought back its 35-year-old tree lighting tradition. Santa and Mrs. Claus also returned to the festival and hitched a ride from the Franklin Square and Munson Fire Department.

Children got to ask Santa what they want for Christmas, say hi to Frosty the Snowman and hang out with San ta’s elves.

Attendees also enjoyed music, hot chocolate and balloons at the free event as well. The civic association also handed out complimentary gifts to the children, something the group has done since the Winter Festival’s begin nings.

Santa and mrS. Claus were the guests of honor at the Winter Festival, It was their first time back at the Rath Park Gazebo in two years.

four-Yearold dominic avallone gets excited as he watched an elf make a balloon ani mal for him.

the franklin Square Historical Society’s holiday tree lighting up the night. The 35-year-old tradition also made a comeback this year after a two-year pause.

— Ana Borruto

Taylor Oliphant/ Herald Photos

William Youngfert, left, Councilwoman Missy Miller, Tom Scanlon, Councilman Tom Muscarella and Councilman Ed Ra await the tree lighting at the Winter Festival.

Elmont community officials weigh in on revamp project

recognizes the importance of a new Bel mont Park for the future of thoroughbred racing in New York and the state econo my overall.”

Sterne added that 19,000 state jobs are created and sustained, thanks to the sport of horse racing, and has a $3 billion annu al economic impact on the state. The proj ect could also lure the Breeders’ Cup world championship — which he described as the Super Bowl of horse rac ing — back to New York. The last time the event was hosted at Belmont Park was in 2005 and has not returned due to the ven ue’s aging infrastructure.

“We secured a commitment from the Breeders’ Cup that if Belmont is modern ized, they will come back to New York, and that would have an estimated eco nomic impact of $100 million,” Sterne said.

“We’re trying to be first out of the gate to talk about this issue, both on Long Island, across the rest of the state, and specifically up at Albany.”

According to a poll released by We Are NY Horse Racing, 68 percent of voters statewide and 75 percent of voters on Long Island support using the state bond ing authority to construct new horse rac ing facilities at Belmont Park.

Julie Marchesella, president of the Elmont Chamber of Commerce, said she supports the modernization of Belmont Park, which she said is “in a state of dis repair” and needs to be updated.

“From what I understand, there are toilets that don’t work, it’s not handicap accessible, which certainly, in this day and age, it should be,” she said.

Legislator Carrie Solages said he also supports the redevelopment of Belmont Park, as long as the project doesn’t nega tively impact the Elmont community. He said the project would generate economic benefits for the area, but he has received concerns about the construction process.

“My main concern is that the commu nity has a say in this project,” Solages said, adding that community residents should have an opportunity to get jobs from the project and be able to address quality of life and transportation issues.

Marchesella added that most people don’t realize Belmont is a public park with facilities that can be used for picnics and other gatherings, and a revamp of the area could draw in more visitors.

“I think with the clubhouse being redone, it would certainly bring more peo ple into the community and see that part of Elmont that they don’t always get to see,” she said.

franklin square/elmont

Courtesy We Are NY Horse Racing

Todd ShimkuS, lefT, of the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce, Naija Thompson of New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Joe Appelbaum of the New York Thoroughbred Horse Association, Jeff Cannizzo of the New York Racing Association and Heather Mulligan of the Business Council of New York travelled up to Albany to voice their support for the Belmont modernization project.

ConTinued from fronT page

Franklin Square restauranteur found guilty

Facing up to 20 years in prison alongside Hempstead school food services director

An Elmont woman plead guilty on Oct. 27 to partici pating in a kickback scheme with the former director of food services for the Hempstead Union Free School Dis trict, who plead guilty on Nov. 29.

56-year-old Sharon Gardner, the director of food ser vices at the Hempstead school district, helped secure lucrative contacts for Maria Caliendo, 57, of Elmont and her company, Smart Starts, to provide prepackaged breakfast meals for the public school students.

In exchange, Caliendo — also the owner of Prince Umberto’s restaurant in Franklin Square — kicked back a portion of the contract proceeds totaling more than $100,000 to Gardner through fraudulent payroll deposits and other payments. The illegal payments were deposit ed into a bank account created under the name of one of Gardner’s family members.

Gardner spent the kicked back funds on international vacations, a leased vehicle and home furnishings. She also withdrew approximately $13,000 of the kicked back funds in cash from ATM machines located near her home and workplace.

Caliendo and Gardner await setencing and face up to 20 years in prison. As part of their respective pleas, Cali endo agreed to forfeit approximately $160,000 while Gar dener will forfeit approximately $120,000.

Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly said Gardner abused her power as a school district official to put money into her own and Caliendo’s pockets for near ly two years. She added that Gardner orchestrated the scheme, avoided her duty to follow a legitimate bidding process and handed over the contract to Caliendo, who previously hosted Gardner’s holiday parties at her res

taurant.

“Public funds are precious and finite,” stated Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly. “Individuals

who exploit their positions to access those funds for their own financial gain will be found and prosecuted.”

— Ana Borruto

Ana Borruto/Herald

Hempstead public scHools director of food services Sharon Gardner pocketed thousands of dollars in a span of two years with the help of Maria Caliendo.

Clavin, Khzouz, Richner honored at gala

Money raised will help Nassau Community College feed the hungry

By ANDRE SILVA asilva@liherald.com

It was a night to remember, and a night to recognize the people and businesses that help make Nassau Community College what it is.

It was the annual gala of the Nassau Community College Foundation, taking place not far from the campus at the Cra dle of Aviation Museum in Garden City.

Among those honored were Hemp stead town supervisor Don Clavin, NICE Bus chief executive Jack Khzouz, NCC administrator Charmian Smith, and Richner Communications, the parent company of Herald Commu nity Newspa pers.

Adorned in their best suits, ties and dresses, guests were immediately offered cham pagne and given a chance to pose for photos in front of a red carpet display. From there, it was a tour of the model planes and his toric aviation displays before being invited to sit at their respective tables in the main dining room.

ChARmIAN SmITh interim VP, academic student services, NCC

Leading the night off was Donna Drake of her self-titled inspirational tele vision show introducing guests like Joy Dedonato, an NCC alum, and executive director of the NCC Foundation.

“I’ll never forget the people I met and the values I learned at Nassau Communi ty College,” Dedonato said. “This place taught me to hit the wall, where you can not go further, and then go further any way.”

NCC president Maria Conzatti then introduced the honorees, selected for their support. Like Clavin and Richner Communications, both of which publi cize important notices to students, while also providing advertising and market ing.

Clavin, in fact, is a staunch supporter of the college, Conzatti said, thanking him for what he has done as an elected official. Like helping to organize The Nest at NCC — a non-profit organization that aims to alleviate hunger for stu dents, employees and their families.

“Some people say it takes a village to raise a child,” Conzatti said. “And were proud that this village raised so many students who come back to support our college.”

Baldwin’s Charmian Smith is NCC’s interim vice president of academic stu dent services, telling the crowd she was honored to know her colleagues recog nized her in such a way.

“This gala helps to bring us all togeth

er after the years of the Covid-19 pan demic,” she said. “It’s a great time to cel ebrate each other, our accomplishments, the community, and our families.”

Clavin is an NCC alum, and has count ed some of the professors there as actual members of his family.

“So many of my friends started their lives at this institution,” the town super visor said. “To be recognized is just hum bling.”

Stuart Richner talked about the importance of providing well-rounded learning experiences.

“Educating young adults takes a team of professionals and advisers, which we understand,” the Herald Community

Newspapers publisher said. “Here at Richner, we work as a team to pro vide hyperlocal news to our commu nities.”

Khzouz described his being hon ored by the foundation “amazing.” NICE Bus employs more than 1,000 people, transporting more than 70,000 each day in 450 vehicles. That’s more than a million miles a month.

“We have a mission, which we live every day,” Khzouz said. “That mission is to make sure our bus services are an asset to Nassau County institutions and its citizens.”

And now NICE is celebrating 10 years

in Nassau County.

“We use large complex vehicles to drive through Nassau County and Queens at peak rush hour with impatient New Yorkers. What could go wrong?”

Khzouz joked. “Yet, we prevail anyway.”

Proceeds from the gala will help The Nest at NCC food pantry. To make a dona tion, too, visit tinyurl.com/GiveNCC.

Tim Baker/Herald photos

ThE NASSAu CommuNITy College Foundation honored Hempstead town supervisor Don Clavin, NICE Bus chief executive Jack Khzouz, NCC administrator Charmian Smith, and Richner Communications, parent company of Herald Community Newspapers, during a fundraising gala last week.

mARIA CoNzATTI, pRESIDENT of Nassau Community College, honored Baldwin’s Charmian Smith during the Nassau Community College Foundation Gala last week.

SuppoRTERS AND INVITED guests gathered to celebrate four honorees at the Nassau Community College Foundation’s annual gala last week at the Cradle of Aviation Museum.

It’s a great time to celebrate each other, our accomplishments, the community, and our families.

Showcasing Franklin Square’s holiday past

The Franklin Square Museum brought visitors back in time to the early days of traditional German holiday celebrations at their open house on Dec. 4.

Nancy Youngfert, president of the Franklin Square Historical Society, said the organization wanted to show people what a Christmas would look like in a German home in Franklin Square.

The centerpiece of the space was a nine-foot-tall Christmas tree decorated in old-fashioned, hand-blown German orna ments. A friend of the historical society also donated an artificial fireplace. The historical society set up shoes and a rock

ing chair to replicate the tale of “Father Christmas.”

The second wave of immigrants who came to Franklin Square were Italian, so that piece of heritage was also honored with a nativity scene called the “crèche.”

While perusing the décor, attendees also helped themselves to some free hot dogs, cider and a German bread called “stollen.” They tried their luck with a 50/50 raffle and shopped around the his toric afghans, pillows and books for a unique Christmas gift.

— Ana Borruto

the nine-foot-tall christmas tree adorned in handblown German ornaments was the main attrac tion of the open house event.

legislator John giuffre and past president of the Franklin Square Historical Society Paul VanWie admire the Italian nativity set.

franklin square’s italian heritage was on display as well. The traditional nativity scene called the “crèche” is a representation of Jesus Christ’s birth in the manger.

Taylor Oliphant/Herald photos

Bill Youngfert, secretarY of the Franklin Square Historical Society, welcomes the public to the Franklin Square Museum’s holiday open house. He offered brochures detail ing the community’s rich German history.

Chambers advocate for small businesses

Nov. 26 marked Small Busi ness Saturday on Long Island and the Franklin Square Chamber showed its support for the neighborhood’s brickand-mortars.

Lisa DelliPizzi, president of the Franklin Square Cham ber of Commerce, joined Eric Alexander president Vision Long Island and founder of the Long Island Main Street Alliance, Frank Camarano, president of the Nassau Council of Chambers, Luis Vazquez, president of the Long Island Hispanic Cham ber of Commerce, Lisa Unmansky, president of the Rockville Centre Chamber of Commerce, Giovana Bracci, executive director of La Fuer za CDC, and Misolino Silva, president of the Peruvian American Chamber of Commerce outside of the Polka Dot Pound Cake Bakery & Cafe in Rockville Centre to speak on the importance of shopping local, especially during the holiday season.

DelliPizzi said she encourages the pub lic to take the time to browse their com munity’s chamber website, whether it be when looking for dining options or stores to shop at, the Franklin Square Chamber of Commerce provides a catalog of the town’s establishments.

She added that those who choose to shop locally will be “glad that they did.”

“Small businesses are the heartbeat of our neighborhood, the spine of the local economy and the spirit of your town,” DelliPizzi said. “It really matters to shop local.”

For more information about small businesses in Franklin Square and upcoming chamber-organized events, visit franklinsquarechamber.com.

— Ana Borruto

LIJ Medical Center is in the top 10% of hospitals nationally for oncology, according to U.S.News&WorldReport.

Our doctors are raising health by pioneering innovative approaches to cancer — from novel chemotherapy techniques to first in the nation robotic mastectomies with minimal scarring. Because when it comes to cancer, there’s no status quo. There’s only “how far can we go?”

Photos courtesy Lisa Dellipizzi

Frank Camarano, leFt, president of the Nassau Council of Chambers and Franklin Square Chamber of Commerce president Lisa Dellipizzi stop in the Polka Dot Pound Cake Bakery and Cafe in Rockville Centre.

eriC alexander, president of Vision Long Island, Lisa Unmansky, president of the Rockville Centre Chamber of Commerce and Lisa Dellipizzi support shopping local.

CITY CELLAR

Plaza Theatricals to perform ‘Pinkalicious’ on Dec. 29

Trustees to consult the nominating com mittee, which chooses the recipients for the awards. The money accumulated from the ticket sales goes towards the scholarships.

This year’s musical, “Pinkalicious,” tells the story of a young girl who cannot stop eating pink cupcakes, despite warn ings from her parents. Her pink indulgence leads to a diagnosis of “pinkititis,” which turns the main charac ter pink all over. The story also encourages self-expres sion and the importance of following one’s dreams.

Producing and directing the musical is Kevin Har rington, founder of Plaza Theatricals, which is Nassau County’s first equity theater and only professional theater in residence at the Elmont Memorial Library. He said this is Plaza Theatrical’s fourth year being involved with the college scholarship fundraising event.

“It’s a natural partnership and it is Plaza’s commitment to the community that we donate the show to the library, which, in turn, they use as a fundraiser for the scholarship fund,” Harrington said. “It’s all professional actors and fully staged, so it includes scenery, costumes, props, and the set design is based on the illus trations in the book so that young people are familiar with the settings.”

Last year, Plaza Theatricals worked with students from the Sewanhaka

School District on a summer musical theater intensive — the young thespians rehearsed and performed the popular musical “Newsies” at the Elmont Library.

“Anytime we can help out young peo ple — high school students achieve their dreams — it’s a wonderful thing,” Har rington said. “And quite honestly, with the world we’re living in, we need goodness to shine, gen erosity to shine.”

Harrington said two per formances of “Pinkalicious” would be added — will those dates yet to be announced. Normally the theater oper ates on a school calendar year from September through August.

Tickets are on sale now for this month’s show at the cir culation desk inside the Elmont Library and can be purchased on the day of the show at the library theater box office.

Simpson added that the library receives constant feedback on its events and the hope is to continue to offer Broadway-quality pro ductions in the Elmont com munity.

“They come in all day long, say how beautiful the library is, and they can’t believe we’re able to put on these performances,” Simpson said.

“We are one of the bigger libraries around — also we have a very good bud get for our arts and entertainment — so we really pride ourselves on bringing in different things.”

Courtesy Mark Schoen

Continued from front page

Quite honestly, with the world we’re living in, we need goodness to shine, generosity to shine.”

Kevin Harrington founder Plaza Theatricals

pinKerton Can’t stop herself from eating pink-colored foods, like these pink cupcakes.

STEPPING OUT

The festive tradition continues to delight arrives on local stages

By Karen Bloom

New

40th

of the holiday classic, presented in the style of the legendary George Balanchine, on the John Cranford Adams Playhouse stage at Hofstra University.

The dance theatre closely follows the Balanchine tradition — from storyline through choreography, as well as sets and costumes. It is the largest production on Long Island, according to new artistic director, — and dance theatre alum Nicole Loizides Albruzzese.

The dance theatre’s version keeps to the tone set by company founder Frank Ohman, which remains true to the spirit of New York City Ballet’s Lincoln Center production. As a former student and New York City Ballet soloist under George Balanchine, Ohman was one of a select few authorized to use the original pas de deux choreography of his mentor, which continues to distinguish this production.

Through the years, Ohman created original dances and scenes to enhance Balanchine’s iconic vision. Now Albruzzese — who was a student at the dance theatre’s Ohman School of Ballet under Ohman and performed most of the children’s roles in “The Nutcracker” during her time there — returns as a professional dancer in the role of the Sugar Plum Fairy before her international dance career, follows in her mentor’s footsteps in keeping to the Balanchine standard.

Special guest artists New York City Ballet principal dancers Indiana Woodward and Daniel Ulbricht take on the roles of Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier, joining a cast of Ohman School students to bring the holiday classic to the stage.

With the elegant Christmas party scene, the battle of the toy soldiers and giant mice, the intense snow storm, and elaborate dancing in the Land of the Sweets, this “Nutcracker” is sparkling treat that maintains its enduring appeal.

Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 17-18, noon and 5 p.m. $42, $32 seniors and children 12 and younger. Hofstra University, John Cranford Adams Playouse, Hempstead. For tickets, call (631) 462-0964, or visit OhmanBallet.org.

Curry’s interpretation at Tilles Center stars New York City Ballet soloist Miriam Miller as the Sugar Plum Fairy and New York City Ballet principal Tyler Angle as her Cavalier. Also of note, Fox Weather meteorologist (and Instagram and TikTok sensation) Nick Kosir joins the cast of more than 60 students and professional dancers as Dr. Stahlbaum, Clara’s father.

The Park Avenue Chamber Symphony, under the baton of maestro David Bernard, performs Tchaikovsky’s glorious score.

“This year, I’ve taken some elements and changed them to keep the production fresh,” Curry says. “Our professional dancers, along with our incredibly talented academy students, have accepted the challenge of these new variations and character developments. I’ve enriched the production with more theatricality and many new dramatic elements.

“Having our guest artists from New York City Ballet and the wonderful Nick Kosir is like having a very sweet cherry on top of an already decadent sundae.”

Company member Briana Laman dances the role of Clara, with fellow company member Ryan Cavaline as Nutcracker Prince. For this production, Curry has reinterpreted the central first act pas de deux in the prelude to Waltz of the Snowflakes (usually danced by a Snow Queen and a Snow King) for Clara and the Nutcracker Prince.

“Having this pas de deux danced by these two characters intensifies the connection between the two,” he says. “We see the arc of their relationship and gives the opportunity for Clara’s dream to have a more poignant and personal effect on our audiences.”

Saturday, Dec. 17, 1 and 6 p.m.; Sunday, Dec. 18, 2 p.m. Tickets are $89, $69, $59, $49. Tilles Center for the Performing Arts, LIU Post, Route 25A, Brookville. For tickets, call (516) 299-3100 or visit TillesCenter.org or EglevskyBallet.org.

Neil deGrasse Tyson

How real is what you’re seeing up on the big screen? Astrophysicistlecturer Neil deGrasse Tyson knows and he’ll clue us in, separating fact from fiction — in a new installment of ‘An Astrophysicist Goes to the Movies: The Sequel.’

Derived from yet another set of 30 films/television shows that range from ‘The Wizard of Oz’ to ‘Mary Poppins’ to ‘Game of Thrones’ to ‘Harry Potter’ to ‘The Lion King,’ this lecture is an entertaining and enlightening review of all the science that our favorite entertainment got wrong, combined with some of the stuff they got right. This lecture also incorporates the latest films as well as some classics that you may not have known had any science in them at all.

Friday, Dec. 9, 8 p.m. $250 (VIP), $100, $75, $50. $250 VIP ticket includes a post-show Q&A. Tilles Center for the Performing Arts, LIU Post, Route 25A, Brookville. (516) 299-3100, or TillesCenter.org.

Kenny G’s

The Miracles Holiday & Hits

Ring in the holiday season with smooth jazz saxophonist Kenny G. The crossover jazz icon has enjoyed phenomenal success across the pop, jazz and R&B charts for more than three decades. Known for his lyrical and emotive style, his music has garnered a devoted fan base and made him one of the biggest-selling instrumentalists of all-time. The sound of his sax is as iconic as his curly coif. Indeed, both are instantly recognizable. Expect an evening filled with a festive spirit and contemporary classics. A reprise of last year’s successful outing,’The Miracles Holiday & Hits Tour’ features a mix of holiday hits and fan favorites infused with his captivating and distinctive blending of genres. The tour follows the release of his 19th studio album, ‘New Standards,’ and the acclaimed HBO documentary ‘Listening to Kenny G.’

Thursday, Dec. 15, 8 p.m.

NYCB Theatre at Westbury, 960 Brush Hollow Road., Westbury. TheTheatreAtWestbury.com or LiveNation.com, or (516) 247-5200.

New York Dance Theatre’s ‘The Nutcracker’

York Dance Theatre offers its

season

Those sugar plum fairies and various figments of a young girl’s imagination come alive this month. The beloved holiday confection never goes out of style.

Courtesy New York Dance Theatre

Photo: Clara is enchanted with her nutcracker in the party that opens the ballet.

Eglevsky Ballet’s innovative ‘The Nutcracker’ Long Island’s professional dance company is known for its inventive staging of Clara’s delightful journey, featuring additional choreography by Executive Artistic Director Maurice Brandon Curry.

Courtesy Eglevsky Ballet

Photo: The enchanting snow scene is a shimmering showstopper.

THE SCENE

Shrek The Musical

See the uplifting tale of an unlikely hero who finds himself on a life-changing journey, presented by Nassau Community College Theater Department, now through Sunday, Dec. 11, 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, 2 p.m. All the beloved characters you know from the film are brought to life on stage for an incredible adventure that includes a wisecracking

Christmas Tree of Lights celebration

Mercy Medical Center Council of Leagues invites the community to its annual Christmas Tree of Lights celebration, Tuesday, Dec. 13, 5:30 p.m. Enjoy some of your favorite holiday songs sung by Mercy’s carolers and refreshments. The festivities take place in front of the hospital, 1000 N. Village Ave., Rockville Centre. Proceeds

Rocking into the Holidays

Enjoy holiday tunes and more with entertainer Jim Papa, Friday, Dec. 9, 12:30 p.m., in the Elmont Memorial Library Theater. Journey back in time with a combination of doo wop, rock and pop hits from the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. Papa also plans on singing his renditions of traditional holiday songs. No registration required. The free event, at 700 Hempstead Turnpike, is first-come-first-seated. For information, visit ElmontLibrary. org.

Holiday Market

Browse among holiday items when Friends of the Franklin Square Public Library hosts a curated holiday shopping experience, Saturday, Dec. 10, 11 a.m- 4 p.m., in the Meeting Room, 19 Lincoln Road. Almost

Photo: Angel A. Perez

Dec. 9

Christmas Concert

Hear Christmas tunes at Wesley United Methodist Church, at 619 Fenworth Blvd. in Franklin Square, Friday, Dec. 9, p.m. Soloist and pianist Weiyu Zhang and saxophonist Richard Braithwaite perform an “Evening of Hope With Jesus.” The church will be collecting donations for hurricane relief. Refreshments will follow the performance. For information, call (516) 481-1797.

Sugar Plum Ball/ Galactic Gala

Bring the kids to celebrate the season at festivities hosted by the Cerebral Palsy Association of Nassau County, Sunday, Dec.11, noon-4 p.m., at the Chateau Briand in Carle Place.

Holiday fun

LI Warriors Sock Hockey Clinic

Add some skills to your sock skating game with members of the LI Warriors recreational hockey league at Long Island Children’s Museum, Saturday, Dec. 10, 10 a.m.-noon. Learn about stick handling and passing as you master wrist and slap shots on the LICM “ice” in a hockey clinic for ages 3 and up. Long Island Children’s Museum, Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 224-5800 or LICM. org.

Kids ages 4-12, accompanied by their adult guest (Mom, Dad, grandparent, etc.), will enjoy a unique party featuring food, fun and some special guests including princesses, fairies and visitors from a Galaxy Far Far Away. With lunch, DJ, magic show, dancing, raffles, games, photo ops, and more. Cost is $75 per child, $100 per adult.

Advance reservation only. All proceeds benefit CP Nassau. Register online at CPNassau.org or call CP Nassau at (516) 3782000 ext 651.

Having an event?

Visit the streets of 19th century London during the darkest days of the year, in this adaption of the classic “A Christmas Carol,” with the Experiential Theater Company, Thursday and Friday, Dec. 8-9, 10:15 a.m. and noon; Sunday, Dec. 11, 2 p.m.; Wednesday and Thursday, Dec. 14-15, 10:15 a.m. and noon, on the Long Island Children’s Museum stage. Meet the Cratchit family, Mr. Scrooge, and the ghosts of past, present and future in this interactive show that weaves together music, humor, puppetry and collaboration. Celebrate the change of seasons through this beloved literary tale. Long Island Children’s Museum, Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 2245800 or LICM.org.

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

On exhibit

Photography’s ascent in the art world is an international phenomenon. Nassau County Museum of Art’s star-studded exhibition spans the historical roots of the medium. View works by Ansel Adams and his generation and the thrilling, large-format color works of such contemporary masters as Cindy Sherman, Thomas Struth, James Casebere and Gregory Crewdson, among others. From the documentary to the painterly, images bear witness to the times.

On view through March 5. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Drive, Roslyn Harbor. (516) 484-9337 or NassauMuseum.org.

Matinee time

Join crafty Jack Frost on a magical, musical winter adventure, in Plaza Theatrical’s production of “Jack Frost,” Saturday, Dec. 10, 11 a.m.; Sunday, Dec. 12, noon. The story, narrated by a groundhog name Pardon-Me-Pete, tells us about the immortal winter sprite, who falls in love with a human girl named Elisa after rescuing her. Tickets are $15. Bring the kids to the Plaza stage at The Showplace at Bellmore Movies, 222 Pettit Ave., Bellmore. For tickets, call (516) 599-6870 or visit PlazaTheatrical.com.

Balloon Mission is up and away to save

In its early stages, nonprofit sets tone for future

By JORDAN VALLONE jvallone@liherald.com

Where do helium-filled bal loons go when they’re released into the sky?

Cynthia Seibold had that same question. And she discovered that the old axiom was true: What goes up must come down. But not in ways people might like.

The North Merrick resident with a background in insurance underwriting, spent a lot of time outdoors at the start of the coronavirus pandemic. She noticed, however, that among all the litter found in the various parks, preserves and beaches she visit ed, one category stood out: bal loons.

Or rather, shreds of bal loons. Seibold found their strings and what was left of their plastic or rubber bodies impacting trees and plants and, of course, wildlife — animals that could easily mistake bal loon pieces for food.

It’s not that bal loon releases — or how they poten tially threaten the environment — is something new. But the pandemic created a new surge of such helium-intensive events as a different way to share birth days, graduations and retirements.

“Balloons are (a) leading cause of pol lution in our waters and our air,” Seibold said. “They break down into microplas tics and nanoplastics. I kept saying to myself, ‘There has to be a better way.’”

She found it with her nonprofit, Bal loon Mission.

“Our program is to collect balloons before they end up on the land and in oceans, reducing our carbon footprint and the harmful microplastics that are gener ated from balloons,” Seibold said. “And for every balloon that is sold and respon sibly collected, we feel it’s going to be one less piece of litter that’s harming our wildlife.”

Still, Seibold wants to make one thing very clear: She is not “anti-balloon.”

“This is a growing issue,” she said. “I think people need to know that there are options of ballooning responsibly. We’re not telling you to not have your balloons, but discard them in an appropriate man ner.”

Although the nonprofit is in its early stages, Seibold has already received a great deal of support while building rela tionships with local and statewide organi zations. That includes the Hempstead town sanitation department, and the state environmental conservation department.

One of Seibold‘s primary goals is to

the get the message out that Balloon Mis sion is collecting balloons with plans to set up collection bins as early as January so people can properly dispose their holi day balloons.

Those bins will be cardboard boxes with Balloon Mission signage, Seibold explained. Locations are still being deter mined, but she hopes to have them in community-oriented locations like fire houses, Veterans of Foreign Wars halls and libraries.

On a national level, Seibold said, peo ple are noticing the effects balloons have on the environment.

“There was actually a New York Times article that came out in March of 2022 that talks about this surge in balloon fren zy,” she said. “We couldn’t celebrate and we couldn’t do things when we were in lockdown.

“We did these big balloon displays, and they’ve gotten even bigger, and it’s not going away. People want this — they want a balloon collection. They want options. They want to feel like they’re part of the solution, not part of the problem.”

Through her research and communica tion with Hempstead town officials, Sei bold learned the municipality actually passed a local law prohibiting the inten tional release of balloons in 2019. Yet, bal loon releases still happen, she said, mak ing it important that signage goes up — perhaps sometime next spring — advising

against such activities.

Seibold is working closely with ACDS, an organization that offers lifetime services to people of all ages with intellectual disabilities. Formerly the Association for Chil dren with Down Syndrome, the organization has locations in North Merrick and Plainview.

Jane Cohen, the day habilita tion services supervisor at ACDS, says it’s important for her group to offer volunteers to various envi ronmental organizations, and that its members are excited about helping Seibold’s nonprofit.

“In January, we’re going to start collecting (balloons) from various pickup sites, and then we’re going to bring them back to our hub sites and sift through them,” Cohen said. Volunteers “can work on their office skills and note-taking, so they can feel like they’ve accomplished some thing. It’s very rewarding for our individ uals.”

ACDS plans to provide some 200 volun teers to Balloon Mission.

“We feel this is a symbiotic relation ship,” Seibold said, adding it “works in keeping with ACDS’s goal of increasing life and social skills, and work readiness for their participants.”

She also hopes to educate people on alternatives to balloons.

MANy ARE uNAwARE the helium-filled balloons they release can harm the environment. Sea turtles and other animals can mistake the balloons for food.

a practice of the past.

“I’m not looking to get rid of balloons — they make people light up,” she said. “I would like to start thinking of alterna tives. Can we blow bubbles? Can we send up a nice waft of smoke or sage into the air? It’s about finding these other ways of commemorating those moments in our life.”

Seibold hopes her nonprofit will get people thinking about ways to help find solutions.

“There are people that are smarter than me out there,” she said, “and I need those people in on the Balloon Mission.”

Photos courtesy Cynthia Seibold

CyNthiA SEiBOLD, fOuNDER and executive director of the nonprofit Balloon Mission, found an abandoned balloon at Lido Beach, a Hempstead town park. Seibold is on a quest to raise awareness about how damaging to the environment helium-filled balloon releases are, with hopes of making that

we’re not telling you to not have your balloons, but discard them in an appropriate manner.

CyNthiA SEiBOLD Founder, Balloon Mission

LEGAL NOTICE

Public Notices

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

BY THE BOARD OF APPEALS

Pursuant to New York State Town Law Article 16, New York State Public Officers Law Article 7, and the Town of Hempstead Building Zone Ordinance, NOTICE is hereby given that the BOARD OF APPEALS of the Town of Hempstead will hold a public hearing in the Old Town Hall, 350 Front Street, Room 230, Second Floor, Hempstead, New York on 12/14/22 at 9:30 A.M. & 2:00 P.M. to consider the following applications and appeals:

THE FOLLOWING CASES WILL BE CALLED STARTING AT 9:30 A.M. 830/22. FRANKLIN SQUARE - Mohammed Amin, Variances, lot area occupied, rear yard, construct roof over terrace attached to dwelling., E/s Center Dr., 137.61’ N/o Oak Dr., a/k/a 868 Center Dr.

THE FOLLOWING CASES WILL BE CALLED STARTING AT 2:00 P.M. 848/22. ELMONT - KTK Group LLC, Special exception for place of public assembly & amusement; Variance in off-street parking (proposed event space in part of existing shopping center)., S/E cor. Dutch Broadway & Tuxedo Dr. running thru to Virginia Ave., a/k/a 1763-1791 Dutch Broadway

ALL PAPERS PERTAINING TO THE ABOVE HEARING ARE AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION AT THE BOARD OF APPEALS, TOWN HALL, 1 WASHINGTON STREET, HEMPSTEAD, NY 11550.

This notice is only for new cases in Rockville Centre within Town of Hempstead jurisdiction. There are additional cases in different hamlets, towns and villages on the Board of Appeals calendar. The full calendar is available at https://hempsteadny.gov/ 509/Board-of-Appeals

The internet address of the website streaming for this meeting is https://hempsteadny.gov/ 576/Live-Streaming-Video Interested parties may appear at the above time and place. At the call of the Chairman, the Board will consider decisions on the foregoing and those on the Reserve Decision calendar and such other matters as may properly come before it. 135800

LEGAL NOTICE

REFEREE’S NOTICE OF SALE IN FORECLOSURE SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON F/K/A THE BANK OF NEW YORK, AS TRUSTEE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE CERTIFICATEHOLDERS CWABS INC., ASSETBACKED CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2007-BC3, Plaintiff - against - COLIN WINTERS A/K/A COLIN PETERS, et al Defendant(s).

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered on April 25, 2019. 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 15th day of December, 2022 at 2:00 PM. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, situate, lying and being at Elmont, in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York.

Premises known as 245 Stone Street, Elmont, (Town of Hempstead) New York 11003.

(Section: 32, Block: 461, Lot: 41)

Approximate amount of lien $979,111.91 plus interest and costs.

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

Index No. 3507/08.

Anthony C. Ciaccio, Esq., Referee.

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

Dated: October 20, 2022

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.

135447

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF ADOPTION OF TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD LOCAL LAW NO. 77-2022

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that, pursuant to Article 9 of the New York State Constitution, the provisions of the Town Law and the Municipal Home Rule Law of the State of New York, both as amended, a public hearing was duly called and held November 22nd, 2022 , by the Town Board

of the Town of Hempstead on the proposed adoption of Town of Hempstead Local Law No. 77-2022, and following the close of the hearing the Town Board duly adopted Town of Hempstead Local Law No. 77-2022, amending Chapter 202 of the Code of the Town of Hempstead, to include and repeal “REGULATIONS & RESTRICTIONS” to limit parking at various locations.

Dated: November 22, 2022

Hempstead, New York

BY ORDER OF THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD DONALD X. CLAVIN, JR. Supervisor KATE MURRAY Town Clerk 135772

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF ADOPTION OF TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD LOCAL LAW NO. 78-2022

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that, pursuant to Article 9 of the New York State Constitution, the provisions of the Town Law and the Municipal Home Rule Law of the State of New York, both as amended, a public hearing was duly called and held November 22nd, 2022, by the Town Board of the Town of Hempstead on the proposed adoption of Town of Hempstead Local Law No. 78-2022, and following the close of the hearing the Town Board duly adopted Town of Hempstead Local Law No. 78-2022, amending Section 202-1 of the Code of the Town of Hempstead, to include and repeal “PARKING OR STANDING PROHIBITIONS” at various locations.

Dated: November 22, 2022

Hempstead, New York BY ORDER OF THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD DONALD X. CLAVIN, JR. Supervisor KATE MURRAY Town Clerk 135786

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF ADOPTION OF TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD

LOCAL LAW NO.81-2022

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that pursuant to Article 9 of the New York State Constitution, the provisions of the Town Law and the Municipal Home Rule Law of the State of New York, as amended, a public hearing was duly called and held on the day of November 22nd, 2022, by the Town Board of the Town of Hempstead, on the proposed adoption of Town of Hempstead Local Law No.81-2022, and following the close of the hearing the Town Board duly adopted Local Law No.81-2022, to amend Section 192-1 of the Code of the Town of Hempstead by the

insertion of a location into subdivision “G” thereof, in relation to gross weight restrictions upon commercial vehicles using certain town highways in Elmont.

Dated: November 22, 2022

Hempstead, New York BY ORDER OF THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD DONALD X. CLAVIN, JR.

Supervisor

KATE MURRAY Town Clerk 135791

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 23th day of November 2022, 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 A REFURBISHMENT OF A 2009 FERRARA REAR MOUNT LADDER TRUCK FIRE APPARATUS AT A COST, INCLUDING COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH SUCH TRANSACTION, NOT TO EXCEED THREE HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND ($350,000.00) DOLLARS WITH FUNDS FROM THE FIRE APPARATUS CAPITAL RESERVE FUND. This resolution shall not take effect until thirty (30) days, unless in the meanwhile a permissive referendum as provided by the General Municipal Law is required to be held.

Dated: November 23, 2022

BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS ELMONT FIRE DISTRICT TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD ATTEST: FRANCES ANDINO Secretary 135805

LEGAL NOTICE CASE NO.21527 RESOLUTION NO.1176-2022 Adopted: November 22, 2022

Councilmember Muscarella offered the following resolution and moved its adoption: RESOLUTION

ESTABLISHING AND SETTING ASIDE CERTAIN PARKING SPACES FOR MOTOR VEHICLES FOR THE SOLE USE OF HOLDERS OF SPECIAL PARKING PERMITS ISSUED BY THE COUNTY OF NASSAU TO PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED PERSONS AND THE REPEAL OF CERTAIN OTHER LOCATIONS, WHICH WERE PREVIOUSLY, SET ASIDE AS PARKING SPACES FOR PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED PERSONS.

WHEREAS, pursuant to Resolution No.1160-2022 adopted October 3rd, 2022, a public hearing was duly held on the 22nd day of November, 2022, at the Town Meeting Pavilion, Hempstead Town Hall, 1 Washington Street, Hempstead, New York, on the proposed establishment and setting aside of certain parking spaces for motor vehicles for the sole use of holders of special parking permits issued by the County of Nassau to physically handicapped persons, in accordance with Section 202-48 of the Code of the Town of Hempstead, all as set forth in said resolution; and WHEREAS, after due consideration, this Town Board finds it to be in the public interest to establish and set aside certain parking spaces for motor vehicles for the sole use of holders of special parking permits issued by the County of Nassau to physically handicapped persons; NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that in accordance with Section 202-48 of the Code of the Town of Hempstead, the following parking spaces be and the same hereby is set aside for the sole use of holders of special parking permits issued by the County of Nassau to physically handicapped persons:

FRANKLIN SQUARE GRANGE STREET - west side, starting at a point 300 feet south of the south curbline of Fenworth Boulevard, south for a distance of 20 feet.

(TH-446/22) McKINLEY AVENUE - east side, starting at a point 236 feet south of the south curbline of Roosevelt Street, south for a distance of 20 feet.

(TH-449/22)

ROOSEVELT

EAST PENNYWOOD AVENUE - south side, starting at a point 150 feet east of the east curbline of Nassau Road, east for a distance of 20 feet.

(TH-468/22)

UNIONDALE NEWPORT ROAD - east side, starting at a point 390 feet north of the north curbline of Braxton Street, north for a distance of 20 feet.

(TH-445/22) and on the repeal of the following locations previously set aside a parking spaces for physically handicapped persons:

ROOSEVELT

EAST PENNYWOOD AVENUE - south side, starting at a point 150 feet east of the east curbline of Nassau Road, east for a distance of 20 feet.

(TH-030/17 - 2/28/17 (TH-468/22)

SOUTH HEMPSTEAD IRENE STREET - north side, starting at a point 148 feet west of the west

curbline of Grand Avenue, west for a distance of 33 feet.

(TH-415/88 - 12/20/88) (TH-444/22)

; and, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Town Clerk shall enter this resolution in the minutes of the Town Board and shall publish a copy of this resolution once in a newspaper having a general circulation in the Town of Hempstead, and shall post a copy hereof on the signboard maintained by her, and file in her office affidavits of such publication and posting.

The foregoing resolution was seconded by Councilmember D’Esposito and adopted upon roll call as follows: AYES: SIX (6) NOES: NONE (0) 135792

To

YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the Complaint in this action and to serve a copy of your answer, or, if the Complaint is not served with this Summons, to serve a Notice of Appearance, on the Plaintiff’s Attorneys within twenty (20) days after the service of this Summons, exclusive of the day of service (or within thirty (30) days after the service is complete if this Summons is not personally delivered to you within the State of New York); and in case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint.

516-569-4000 x232

LEGAL NOTICE

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU ANDREA LESZCZYNSKI AND DANIEL LESZCZYNSKI, Plaintiffs, - againstJERRY M. BOYD, NANCY WEBB KUEMMERLE, AND PATRICIA WEBB, as the Known Surviving Heirs-atLaw of Eleanor D. Evensen (now deceased), and Any and All Other Persons Who May Claim as Heirs-at-Law, Next-ofKin, Devisees, Distributees, Legal Representatives, and Successors in Interest of said Eleanor D. Evensen (now deceased), Their Spouses, Creditors, Mortgagees, Lienors, Assigns and Legal Representatives of Them, and the Successors in Interest of said Heirs-atLaw, Next-of-Kin, Devisees, Distributees and Legal Representatives of Them and, If Any Specifically Named Defendant or Any Defendants Named as a Class Be Dead, Then Their Heirs-at-Law, Next-of-Kin, Devisees, Grantees, Distributees, Spouses, Widows, Widowers, Executors, Trustees, Administrators, Assigns, Mortgagees, Lienors, and Successors in Interest and, Generally, All Parties Having or Claiming to Have an Interest in or Lien Upon the Premises Described in the Complaint, or any Amendment Thereto By, Through, or Under Any of Said Specifically Named Defendants Herein or By, Through or Under any of the Other Defendants Herein Named Specifically as a Class, All of Whom and Whose Places of Residence Are Unknown to the Plaintiffs and Cannot After Diligent Inquiry Be Ascertained, Defendants.

SUMMONS AND NOTICE Index No.: 608938/2022 TO THE ABOVE-NAMED DEFENDANTS:

Pursuant to CPLR 507, Nassau County is designated as the venue of this proceeding as judgment demanded in the Complaint would affect the title to, or the possession, use or enjoyment of, real property located in Nassau County.

Dated: July 6, 2022

TO THE ABOVE-NAMED DEFENDANTS: The foregoing Summons is served upon you by publication, pursuant to an Order of the Honorable Danielle M. Peterson, a Justice of the Supreme Court, dated November 16, 2022.

This action is brought pursuant to Article 15 of the Real Property Actions and Proceedings Law, to compel determination of claims to a 100-foot long by 20-foot-wide parcel of real property known and identified on the Nassau County Land & Tax Map as Section 33, Block 349, Lot 31 (“Tax Lot 31”).

Tax Lot 31 is more particularly described as follows:

All that plot, piece or parcel of land, situate, lying and being in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, known and designated as and by Lot 31 in Block 14 on a certain map entitled “Floral Park Lawns, Section 3, Town of Hempstead, Nassau County, New York, Lot plan, property of Bernstark France Corp. Cyril E. Marshall C.E., November 28, 1925”, filed in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Nassau on December 10, 1925 as Map No. 586, Case No. 3561. That said lot being located on the west side of Schenk Boulevard, 60 feet north of Drew Avenue, having dimensions of 20 ft. by 100 ft.

Tax Lot 31 is part of a larger 100-foot-long by 80-foot-wide parcel of real property located at 1310 Drew Avenue, Floral Park, New York, which property is known and described on the Nassau County Land & Tax Map as Section 33, Block 349, Lots 128, 30 and 31.

The relief sought in the

above-referenced action, and the relief which may be granted in the event of a default, is a declaration by the Court that the Plaintiffs, Andrea Leszczynski and Daniel Leszczynski, are vested with an unencumbered fee simple title to Tax Lot 31 and are entitled to immediate and continued possession of same, and that the Defendants and every person claiming under them, be barred from all claim to an estate or interest in Tax Lot 31.

SAHN WARD BRAFF KOBLENZ PLLC

Ralph Branciforte, Esq. 333 Earle Ovington Boulevard, Suite 601 Uniondale, New York 11553

516-228-1300

Attorneys for the Plaintiffs, Andrea Leszczynski and Daniel Leszczynski 135568

LEGAL

NOTICE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU Index No.: 605260/2021 Dated Filed: 4/28/2021

SUMMONS

Deutsche Bank National Trust Company, as Trustee for NovaStar Mortgage Funding Trust, Series 2007-1 NovaStar Home Equity Loan AssetBacked Certificates, Series 2007-1 , Plaintiff, -againstArslan K. Choudhry a/k/a Arslan Choudhry; Ramel Smith & Associates, LP; Tiniqua Frasier; Nassau County Clerk’s Office

“JOHN DOE #1” through “JOHN DOE #12,” the last twelve names being fictitious and unknown to plaintiff, the persons or parties intended being the tenants, occupants, persons or corporations, if any, having or claiming an interest in or lien upon the Subject Property described in the Complaint, Defendants.

To THE ABOVE-NAMED DEFENDANTS:

YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the Complaint in this action and to serve a copy of your answer, or, if the Complaint is not served with this Summons, to serve a notice of appearance on the Plaintiffs Attorney within twenty (20) days after the service of this Summons, exclusive of the day of service (or within thirty (30) days after the service is complete if this Summons is not personally delivered to you within the State of New York) in the event the United States of America is made a party defendant, the time to answer for the said United States of America shall not expire until sixty (60) days after service of the Summons; and in case of your failure to appear

Public Notices

or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint.

TO THE ABOVE NAMED DEFENDANTS: The foregoing Summons is served upon you by publication pursuant to an Order of the Hon. David P. Sullivan, a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nassau County, entered Nov. 18, 2022 and filed with the complaint and other papers in the Nassau County Clerk’s Office.

NOTICE OF NATURE F ACTION AND RELIEF SOUGHT THE OBJECT of the above captioned action is to foreclose a Mortgage recorded in the Public Records of the County of Nassau on March 24, 2009 in Liber M 33563 of Mortgages, page 532, covering premises known as 129 Terrace Avenue, Elmont, NY 11003 a/k/a Section 32, Block 453, Lot 46 and 47.

NOTICE YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME

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

Speak to an attorney or go to the court where your case is pending for further information on how to answer the summons and protect your property. Sending a payment to the mortgage company will not stop the foreclosure action.

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

Dated: April 21, 2021 Rochester, NY LOGS Legal Group LLP Frank M. Cassara, Esq. Attorneys for Plaintiff 175 Mile Crossing Boulevard Rochester, New York 14624 Telephone: (585) 247-9000 File No. 21-089055 #99940 135573

VELDA CUTTING, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF LIONEL CUTTING; MARK A. CUTTING, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF LIONEL CUTTING; DAVID DACOSTA CUTTING, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF LIONEL CUTTING; UNKNOWN HEIRS AND DISTRIBUTEES OF THE ESTATE OF LIONEL CUTTING, any and all persons unknown to plaintiff, claiming, or who may claim to have an interest in, or general or specific lien upon the real property described in this action; such unknown persons being herein generally described and intended to be included in the following designation, namely: the wife, widow, husband, widower, heirs at law, next of kin, descendants, executors, administrators, devisees, legatees, creditors, trustees, committees, lienors, and assignees of such deceased, any and all persons deriving interest in or lien upon, or title to said real property by, through or under them, or either of them, and their respective wives, widows, husbands, widowers, heirs at law, next of kin, descendants, executors, administrators, devisees, legatees, creditors, trustees, committees, lienors and assigns, all of whom and whose names, except as stated, are unknown to plaintiff; ANTHONY SPOSITO; PETRO, INC.; NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; “JOHN DOE” (REFUSED NAME) AS JOHN DOE #1, “JOHN DOE #2” through “JOHN DOE #12,” the last eleven names being fictitious and unknown to plaintiff, the persons or parties intended being the tenants, occupants, persons or corporations, if any, having or claiming an interest in or lien upon the premises, described in the complaint, Defendants.

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

SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS

Mortgaged Premises: 2268 RENFREW AVENUE, ELMONT, NY 11003

Section: 32, Block: 723, Lot: 21

To the above named Defendants

delivery within the State.

The United States of America, if designated as a defendant in this action, may answer or appear within sixty (60) days of service. Your failure to appear or to answer will result in a judgment against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint. In the event that a deficiency balance remains from the sale proceeds, a judgment may be entered against you.

NOTICE OF NATURE OF ACTION AND RELIEF SOUGHT

THE OBJECT of the above caption action is to foreclose a Mortgage to secure the sum of $243,750.00 and interest, recorded on March 05, 2012, in Liber M 36955 at Page 141, of the Public Records of NASSAU County, New York., covering premises known as 2268 RENFREW AVENUE, ELMONT, NY 11003.

The relief sought in the within action is a final judgment directing the sale of the premises described above to satisfy the debt secured by the Mortgage described above.

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

NOTICE YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME

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

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

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

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

Dated:August 3, 2022 ROBERTSON, ANSCHUTZ, SCHNEID, CRANE & PARTNERS, PLLC

LEGAL NOTICE

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORKCOUNTY OF NASSAU INDEX# 613184/2019 FILED: 11/14/2022

SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS

NASSAU County Designated as the place of trial on the basis of situs of realty.

Dowling most influential health care leader

Michael Dowling, who championed innovation to combat the Covid-19 pan demic as president and chief executive of Northwell Health, has been selected as America’s most influential leader in health care by Modern Healthcare magazine.

LEGAL NOTICE

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK INDEX NO. 613680/2021

COUNTY OF NASSAU

NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC D/B/A MR. COOPER Plaintiff, vs.

YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the Complaint in the above entitled action and to serve a copy of your Answer on the plaintiff’s attorney within twenty (20) days of the service of this Summons, exclusive of the day of service, or within thirty (30) days after service of the same is complete where service is made in any manner other than by personal

Attorney for Plaintiff Nadine D. Smith, Esq. 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310 Westbury, NY 11590 516-280-7675 135485

WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB, AS TRUSTEE OF UPLAND MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST A, Plaintiff, -againstMARY REYNOLDS, HEIR AT LAW AND DISTRIBUTEE TO THE ESTATE OF FRANK J. CASTRONOVO A/K/A FRANK CASTRONOVO; FRANK S. CASTRONOVO, HEIR AT LAW AND DISTRIBUTEE TO THE ESTATE OF FRANK J. CASTRONOVO A/K/A FRANK CASTRONOVO; ALFRED CASTRONOVO, HEIR AT LAW AND DISTRIBUTEE TO THE ESTATE OF FRANK J. CASTRONOVO A/K/A FRANK CASTRONOVO; SUSAN CASTRONOVO HEIR AT LAW AND DISTRIBUTEE TO THE ESTATE OF FRANK J. CASTRONOVO A/K/A FRANK CASTRONOVO; ANN CASTRONOVO, HEIR AT LAW AND DISTRIBUTEE TO THE ESTATE OF FRANK J. CASTRONOVO A/K/A FRANK CASTRONOVO; PATRICK CASTRONOVO, HEIR AT LAW AND DISTRIBUTEE TO THE ESTATE OF FRANK J. CASTRONOVO A/K/A FRANK CASTRONOVO; DANIEL CASTROVONO, HEIR AT LAW AND DISTRIBUTEE TO THE ESTATE OF FRANK J. CASTRONOVO A/K/A FRANK CASTRONOVO; SECRETARY OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICES; NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE-TAX COMPLIANCE DIVISIONC.O.-ATC; CARYLE DESIR; MARLENE DESIR, Defendants. TO THE ABOVE-NAMED DEFENDANTS: YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the Complaint in this action and to serve a copy of your answer or, if the Complaint is not served with this Summons, to serve a Notice of Appearance on the Plaintiff’s attorney within twenty (20) days after the service of this Summons, exclusive of the day of service, or within thirty (30) days after completion of service where service is made in a manner other than by personal delivery within the State. In the event the United States of America is made a party defendant; the time to answer for the said United States of America shall not expire until sixty (60) days after service of the Summons. In case of

Dowling was cho sen as No. 1 as part of the magazine’s annual list of the 100 mostinfluential people in health care, putting him ahead of national brand leaders like CVS Health, United Healthcare, and Mod erna as well as Presi dent Joe Biden and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services secretary Xavier Becerra.

The magazine’s ranking is deter mined by peers and the publication’s editors based on leadership and impact. Dowling has now appeared on the list 16 times, earning a second-place national ranking in 2020, and third last year.

Northwell is New York’s largest health care provider and private employer with 21 hospitals, 850 outpa tient facilities and more than 12,000 affiliated physicians.

It’s one that has worked to upend health inequalities Dowling has said were laid bare by the pandemic. One of those initiatives was the Center for Maternal Health, unveiled earlier this year, focused on under served communities addressing health con ditions that can occur before conception through the first year after a baby is deliv ered.

“This remarkable recognition truly is a reflection of the col laboration and work ethic elicited by thou sands of Northwell team members who deliver compassionate care to our patients each and every day,” Dowling said, in a release.

“Of course, our daily focus is on our sickest patients. But to serve our broad er community, we also look at health trends both looming on the horizon, and lurking under the cover of darkness.

“That’s why we’ve taken a stand against gun violence. That’s why we’ve opened Northwell’s Center for Maternal Health to reduce maternal mortality — especially among Black Americans.”

Let us Know

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Public Notices

your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint. NOTICE YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME If you do not respond to this summons and complaint by serving a copy of the answer on the attorney for the mortgage company who filed this foreclosure proceeding against you and filing the answer with the court, a default judgment may be entered and you can lose your home. Speak to an

attorney or go to the court where your case is pending for further information on how to answer the summons and protect your property. Sending a payment to the mortgage company will not stop the foreclosure action. YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (MORTGAGE COMPANY) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT. The Supplemental Summons is served upon you by publication pursuant to

an Order of the Supreme Court of the State of New York and filed in the Office of the Clerk of the County of NASSAU on 10/26/2022. This is an action to foreclose on a mortgage. ALL that certain lot, piece or parcel of land together with the buildings and improvements thereon, situate, lying and being in the County of Nassau and State of New York (Section 32, Block 384, Lot 43), said premises known as 13 PINE STREET, ELMONT NEW YORK 11003. As of

September 20, 2019, there is due and owing to the plaintiff, the principle sum of $261,461.55. The relief sought in the within action is a final judgment directing the sale of the premises described above to satisfy the debt described above.

KOSTERICH & SKEETE, L.L.C, 707 Westchester Ave, Suite 302, White Plains, NY 10604 135555

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To place a notice here call us us at 516-569-4000 x232 or send an email to: legalnotices@liherald.com

Michael Dowling

Store

Oversee

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Q. We purchased our home with minor damage from Hurricane Sandy, and were told that because there was little or no damage, just mold in the unfin ished basement and new boiler, the house was fine, no title problems. But when we tried getting a permit for a shed, we were told we needed a permit for stormrelated repairs, including proof of our home’s value. We decided not to get the shed because of this, but we got a letter saying we still need the storm repair per mit, regardless. None of the neighbors we spoke to ever got this permit. It seems we’re being punished for being honest and trying to do the right thing. Is there a way around this problem? What if we do nothing?

A. My answer may be as confusing as your situ ation. I have seen no con sistency in this dilemma as I go from one munici pality to another, and I’ve asked why some impacted jurisdictions don’t require as much paperwork and scrutinizing as others. The answer from officials was generally that each jurisdiction made assess ments of the specific properties, and then recorded which ones were uninhabitable compared to which ones had various levels of needed repairs.

It may have been that at the time, when people were so devastated by their personal property loss es, it seemed like a bad policy to hurt homeowners further with permit requirements and lots of administrative paperwork. The concerns for peo ple’s emotions at that time have, seemingly, dimin ished. Your jurisdiction chose to notify people to submit estimates and property value statements, over a decade later, mostly when they apply for per mits for unrelated projects.

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MoneyTo Lend

I sat down to a Sunday-morning breakfast chat in a diner with the top elected official in your juris diction in February of 2013, four months after the storm, as a concerned citizen as well as a licensed professional and columnist. It was nice that they paid for breakfast, but I’m not sure they acknowl edged the level of problems I was seeing, from the lack of communication and enforcement with the public. I suggested that it was better to notify every one with specifics, not randomly ambush people when they applied for other things in the future, like you’re now experiencing.

I advised that everyone damaged by the storm could file basic repair letters, be contacted by block and lot numbers instead of all at once, and put the effects of the storm behind us all as quickly and painlessly as possible, but in a way that officially recorded people’s repairs in letter form and in a simple way. Building departments were extremely helpful in assisting people to get backup docu ments, and I saw an earnest effort to help the pub lic. But many homeowners ignored letters, did nothing and seem not to be affected by require ments.

Your story is an example of the result I predict ed. I wish I knew the answer. It may take another decade to figure this out. Good luck!

© 2022 Monte Leeper Readers are encouraged to send questions to yourhousedr@aol.com, with “Herald question” in the subject line, or to Herald Homes, 2 Endo Blvd., Garden City, NY 11530, Attn: Monte Leeper, architect.

Ask The Architect

Monte Leeper

MERCHANDISE MART

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Health & Fitness

opINIoNS

Facing life — and death — with peace and love

John Casciani died last weekend. You don’t know him, but trust me, he wouldn’t want anyone to fuss over him. He came into this world quietly 88 years ago, and I’m sure would prefer the same exit now.

But you can’t have such a profound effect on someone’s life — to the point that you almost single-handedly changed it for the better — and expect them to experience your passing as an afterthought.

Writing isn’t just a profession for me. It’s how I cope. And the moment I learned of Mr. Casciani’s passing, I put pen to paper, sharing an anecdote from the very first time I met this fascinating chemistry teacher and photography club adviser from my high school days, and how he introduced me to the magical world of the darkroom.

I talked about the value of teachers, who are key to our self-discovery of who we are. I even shared Mr. Casciani’s way of making even the most mundane interest ing, like when he would wager his chemis try classes he could drink a glass of boiling water — and then actually do it.

But the moment I typed the final words of that piece, I closed the document and then dumped it in the trash. Not that Mr.

Casciani doesn’t deserve to be remem bered, but because I simply don’t know how to express my sadness that someone who touched and transformed so many lives as a teacher over the years no longer shares the same plane of existence we do.

I was going through a bad time when I first met Mr. Casciani. We all remember being teenagers, and few of us can say it was easy. But Mr. Casciani truly changed my life. Not just teaching me the skills that helped me land my first newspaper job — the fact that I could devel op my own film and print my own pictures helped get me through the door of a daily newspaper when I was still in high school — but being someone who taught me it was OK to be fascinated by the world around us. That we shouldn’t be ashamed of that sense of wonder.

Yet I simply couldn’t find the words to express any of that. Outside of a few Face book interactions, I hadn’t had a direct conversation with Mr. Casciani since I graduated from high school in the early 1990s. But he would occasionally send me a note, usually asking me to help him remember some details about projects we worked on — like our school’s television program in the days when creating televi sion at the high school level wasn’t so easy to pull off — so he could reminisce.

He would sign each of those messages

with “peace and love” — something you always felt around him. Peace and love.

I can usually write a column like this practically in my sleep, but nothing seemed right to honor this man who did so much for everyone, yet didn’t want anyone to notice.

But then I remembered something else Mr. Casciani taught me. Strength doesn’t come from not needing to ask for help — it comes from seeking help when you need it. Something pride inter feres with all too often.

So, I sought that strength inside of me and asked for help. Marcie Schellhammer is the assistant managing editor of the Bradford Era in north-central Pennsylvania, about 30 miles from where I grew up. She’s written so many beautiful columns about people that I cite her work to my own reporters when we need examples of the best way to honor people with our words.

I did everything I was supposed to do. I shared a favorite memory, and how what I learned from it changed my life. I shared the moment my eyes opened, and even talked about how Mr. Casciani helped mold me into the man I am now. But it still wasn’t working.

“That’s because you wrote it to write a column,” Marcie told me. “You didn’t write it with your heart. At least that’s my pro cess. I can’t write a memorial column with out crying.”

So, that’s what I did. I cried. Tears of sadness. Tears of happy memories. Tears of who I am. Tears of what I might have been if it weren’t for Mr. Casciani.

As always, Marcie was right. And the more I thought about it, the more I realized I couldn’t take the traditional approach in honoring Mr. Casciani. I can scream from the hilltops how important our educators are — and they indeed are. But the truest way to honor a man like Mr. Casciani is to put what he taught me into practice.

To admit when I’m struggling. To face it. To seek out help. And to never, ever be ashamed of it. I joke from time to time that Mr. Casciani would tell me the skills I was learning in the darkroom would be skills that would help me the rest of my life. And then, in my mid-20s, darkrooms went extinct in the shadow of digital pho tography.

But that has changed my life. I haven’t stepped inside a darkroom in about two decades, but the skills I learned there opened the doors at the beginning of my career that allowed me to sit here and write these words today. And for that, I will be forever grateful to Mr. Casciani.

We all have a Mr. Casciani in our lives. And we can never thank them enough for making the impact they did. So, if you can still thank them, please take a moment and do it now.

Peace and love.

Michael Hinman is executive editor of the Herald Community Newspapers. Com ments? Execeditor@liherald.com.

No, Gwyneth, I will not buy your face cream

In this season of marathon shopping, I started wondering why I buy what I buy. There are millions of choices when it comes to our cosmetics and cars and food and OTC meds and clothing and shoes and TV series and movies and furnishings and technology, and travel and education.

So why do I scan the shelves and pick out one sneaker among the many sports shoes for sale?

celebrity flogs a product, my avoidance mode kicks in. I love Matthew McCo naughey, but I’m not buying a Lincoln because he looks dreamy sitting behind the wheel in the TV commercials. I am not buy ing Gwyneth Paltrow’s skin cream thinking it will make me look like her.

does she know about shoes or me or the value of her product? As for the Kardashi ans, well, how much time do you have? Who are they, exactly, and how many of them are in the public eye, and what is their skill set?

ing crosses, and stigmata. After an outcry from religious groups, Pepsi canceled its ad.

My friends are my greatest influencers. I buy what they tell me to buy; I watch the TV that they suggest; I read the books they send my way.

I mean, why would I buy a Dior product because Charl ize Theron is their public face? She’s a gorgeous 8-foottall South African beauty. My life, inside this body of mine, bears no resemblance to her existence. Dior face cream will not help. I resist.

They endorse various hair products, and I imagine their pitch is to young people, but why? They are the most famous people who are famous just for being famous.

I also take seriously consumer reviews from reliable websites. I have found new doctors by reading online reviews.

We think we have the power of choice, but we are bedazzled by influ encers. Psycholo gists say that we are especially moti vated by celebrity endorsements that suggest we can acquire good looks, wealth, friends and celebrity itself by buying the car that George Clooney drives or wearing the ath letic shoes that Selena Gomez wears or drinking the Coke that LeBron James, Penelope Cruz or Michelle Kwan drinks. Various media put enormous money into advertising campaigns that feature celebrities touting their products. For me, it’s a waste of their time and money. When a

RANDI KREISS

I’m crazy about Reese Witherspoon and I love Crate & Barrel products, but I’m not buying a new couch because she’s their “brand ambassador.”

I can’t argue that celebrity endorsements don’t work, because apparently they pay off big time, or companies wouldn’t seek out famous people to push their products. I just don’t think it works for me, and I would urge others to look at their prospective pur chases in a clear-eyed way, setting aside the celebrity glam factor.

Drew Barrymore has associated herself with Crocs. What the heck? Should I buy a clutzy shoe because she tells me to? What

Epic flops and scandals have haunted the celebrity endorsement industry. Kanye West recently unraveled with his nonstop antisemitic rants. He lost Adidas, Balen ciaga, Foot Locker, Gap, and others. Michael Phelps was dropped by Kellogg’s years ago, after a photo circulated of him smoking marijuana. Today, with a net worth of some $80 million, he can boast associations with Intel, Sub way, Under Armor, Beats and Visa. The weed factor is passe.

Years back, according to E-News, Madon na landed a one-year contract as the celebri ty spokesperson for Pepsi. A two-minute family-friendly ad premiered wherein the singer revisited her eighth birthday. But the next day, Madonna’s video for “Like a Prayer” debuted. The video featured burn

I have one friend whom I love who has mysterious powers over my purchasing decisions. When we’re together, we some times shop. I find myself buying what she tells me to buy — even the outsized blouse with a geometric print that makes my eyes burn. Sometimes there’s a pricey item I don’t need, but if she tells me I need it, boom, it’s in the shopping bag. I don’t know what it is. My only defense is not to go shop ping with her too often. Because if she tells me I need the striped balloon pants in neon green, it’s circus time for me.

As we go about our Christmas and Hanukkah shopping, it might be wise to consider who is influencing our purchases. One of the oldest and longest-running celeb rity endorsements was launched by Jell-O in the early 1970s, when they hired a 37-yearold actor named Bill Cosby. Presumably JellO has wiggled onward without him.

Copyright 2022 Randi Kreiss. Randi can be reached at randik3@aol.com.

I can’t argue that celebrity endorsements don’t work. Apparently they pay off big time.

W e all have a Mr. Casciani in our lives, and we can never thank them enough.

MICHAEL HINMAN

Roosevelt’s address to the nation, Dec. 8, 1941

Mr. Vice President, Mr. Speak er, members of the Senate, and of the House of Repre sentatives:

Yesterday, Dec. 7, 1941 — a date which will live in infamy — the United States of America was suddenly and deliber ately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.

The United States was at peace with that nation, and at the solicitation of Japan, was still in conversation with its government and its emperor, looking toward the maintenance of peace in the Pacific.

Indeed, one hour after Japanese air squadrons had commenced bombing in the American island of Oahu, the Japa nese ambassador to the United States and his colleague delivered to our secre tary of state a formal reply to a recent American message. And while this reply stated that it seemed useless to continue the existing diplomatic negotiations, it contained no threat or hint of war or of armed attack.

It will be recorded that the distance of Hawaii from Japan makes it obvious that the attack was deliberately planned many days or even weeks ago. During the intervening time, the Japanese gov

ernment has deliberately sought to deceive the United States by false state ments and expressions of hope for con tinued peace.

The attack yesterday on the Hawaiian islands has caused severe damage to American naval and military forces. I regret to tell you that very many Ameri can lives have been lost. In addition, American ships have been reported tor pedoed on the high seas between San Francisco and Honolulu.

Yesterday, the Japanese government also launched an attack against Malaya.

Last night, Japanese forces attacked Hong Kong.

Last night, Japanese forces attacked Guam.

Last night, Japanese forces attacked the Philippine islands.

Last night, the Japanese attacked Wake Island.

And this morning, the Japanese attacked Midway Island.

Japan has, therefore, undertaken a surprise offensive extending throughout the Pacific area.

The facts of yesterday and today speak for themselves. The people of the United States have already formed their opinions and well understand the impli

cations to the very life and safety of our nation.

As commander-in-chief of the Army and Navy, I have directed that all mea sures be taken for our defense. But always, will our whole nation remember the character of the onslaught against us?

No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute vic tory.

I believe that I interpret the will of the Congress and of the people when I assert that we will not only defend our selves to the uttermost, but will make it very certain that this form of treachery shall never again endanger us.

Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that our people, our territory and our interests are in grave danger.

With confidence in our armed forces, with the unbounding determination of our people, we will gain the inevitable triumph, so help us God.

I ask that the Congress declare that since the unprovoked and dastardly attack by Japan on Sunday, Dec. 7, 1941, a state of war has existed between the United States and the Japanese empire.

letters

Taking the air out of balloon releases

To the Editor: Thank you to Senior Reporter Jordan Vallone for her well-written piece, “Balloon Mission is up and away: Planning initial projects, nonprofit sets tone for future” (Bell more and Merrick Heralds, Dec. 1-7, liherald.com/merrick/stories/bal loon-mission-is-up-and-away, 152602). And bravo to Cynthia Sei bold, of North Merrick, for using the pandemic to start a nonprofit group, Balloon Mission, committed to stopping the inane practice of releasing balloons into the environ ment as a form of celebration.

Balloons are made of rubber, latex or nylon fabric, which does not break down easily — a polyure thane balloon can take up to 450 years to decompose, according to the University of Melbourne. In the wild, balloons get caught in trees and underbrush, where they are shredded by branches. Over time, they appear to disintegrate, but what is really happening is the bal loons are further breaking down

into microplastics, which then become ingrained in soil and water systems. From there, they are ingest ed by animals and marine creatures — and then by we humans at the top of the food chain.

In 2019, the Town of Southampton passed a law

banning the intentional release of balloons — with a fine of $350 or imprisonment for up to 15 days for a first offense. Subsequent offenses would receive harsher penalties. The Town of Hempstead has a similar ordinance on the books, also passed in 2019,

opinions

The red wave that wasn’t, and the crime wave that isn’t

Despite expectations, Republi cans ended up underperform ing on Nov. 8. Although Republi cans narrowly captured the House, Democrats kept the Senate and even managed to flip multiple state cham bers blue, including capturing the gover nor’s office in Arizona, of all places.

ing on the good people of Nassau County. For their part, the Democrats, as usual, were yet again unable to show a spine and attack the Republican narrative. But at any rate, it seems the Republican assault on our collective psyche was successful.

your chances of being a victim of grand larceny are? About 0.002 percent.

So what can we do?

aDaricHev

Peculiarly, however, Republicans had one of their best nights in none other than the deep-blue Demo cratic stronghold of New York. They flipped a stagger ing one-fifth of all Democratic con gressional seats here, and nearly unseated Demo cratic Gov. Kathy Hochul.

How did they pull it off? Fear of crime. While in most of the nation, inflation and preserving democracy were the top two issues, poll ing from New York City in May showed that the No. 1 issue on people’s minds was crime — and it wasn’t even close.

Leading up to the election, the Republi cans unleashed a barrage of fear-monger

Letters

There’s just one problem. There’s no actual crime wave.

It’s completely normal to be worried about crime; we all deserve to be safe in our neighborhoods. But the facts just don’t bear it out. Did you know that the num bers of murders, rapes and sexual crimes have all gone down this year compared with last, according to offi cial Nassau County Police Department data? Surpris ing, I know. And all things considered, we’re actually in one of the safest periods ever in our county.

There have been increases in crime, but they’ve been related to property, not violent crimes. And even with the increase in property crimes, it is still exceedingly rare for a Nassau resident to be a victim of such a crime. The most common crime defined as “major” this year was grand larceny. You know what

But I can definitely understand the claim that we all feel an air of crime here in Nassau. Blame the media: 2022 saw a spike in the media coverage of shootings in New York City that went far beyond the actual num ber of shootings.

It sickens me. You turn the page, a shooting. Anoth er page, a corpse. The third page, a guy arrested for beating his girlfriend. The media fills us with dread, all to make money. And I see how my neighbors increas ingly construct their own fortresses, replete with video cameras, dogs and floodlights, all out of fear of passersby.

This fear has serious consequences, increasing anxiety, social withdrawal, and unraveling the social fabric of neighbor hoods. This is no way to live.

At the same time, I don’t want to live in a county where we see an increasing number of desperate people turning to theft to survive. After all, if you can’t work, you go hungry, and stealing catalyt ic converters beats going hungry.

Let’s start with a price cap on gas in Nassau County, to fight inflation and bring relief to millions at the pump. Next, the county should put people to work at a good wage to finally fix these damn pot holes. And thirdly, let’s keep kids off the streets by fully funding schools, and lower violent crime by having Nassau replace our lead pipes, which contribute to lead poisoning, which researchers have tied to aggressive and impulsive behavior.

Too bad the Republican-led County Legislature won’t do any of that. In fact, when adjusted for inflation, Nassau’s 2023 budget actually has less funding for spe cial education and early-intervention pro grams. Nothing about lead pipes, or gas price caps. Don’t the Republicans care about preventing crime?

It’s OK to have a healthy fear of crime, and it’s OK to take measures to keep your self safe. But I implore my friends: Don’t let politicians and the media manipulate you. It is imperative that we do not fear our neighbor.

Matthew Adarichev is a public policy major at Hofstra University, a political activist and an aspiring journalist whose work has appeared in the Hofstra Chroni cle and the Anton Media Group.

Framework by Tim Baker

but the fine for intentional release cannot exceed $100, and there is no provision for jail time. I would like to see Hempstead pass an ordinance with stronger teeth.

As a town resident, though, I am heartened to see Hempstead working with Balloon Mission to educate the public about the myriad dangers that balloon releases present — particularly to the 17,000 acres and 180 miles of coastal waterways under the town’s jurisdiction.

Finally, each of us can play our part in helping to reduce plastics in the environment. When you see a plas tic bottle or rubber balloon on the street in your neigh borhood, pick it up and throw it away. I’m a runner. When you run and collect garbage, it’s called plogging, a Swedish fitness term. Hempstead would do well, though, to add more trash cans for recyclables at its parks, like those at the Levy Preserve in Merrick. This way, when folks are out collecting garbage, they could easily recycle plastic bottles and aluminum cans.

SCOTT A. BRINTON Merrick

Randi nailed it on air travel

To the Editor:

I really love Randi Kreiss’s columns in the Herald, and the one that I specifically liked was “Flying the notso-friendly skies” (Nov. 24-30), about JetBlue and the way they’ve changed their system so that they don’t really accommodate people very well.

I went on a trip about three weeks ago, and it was really hard to book a flight because I had a couple of problems, and, like you said, to reach somebody, it’s like reaching God. And yes, the snacks are pretty sad.

Thank you so much for your articles, Randi.

JuDITH WEITz Long Beach

Here’s hoping they’re bundled up out there — Sea Cliff Yacht Club

the numbers of major crimes in Nassau County have actually gone down this year.

mattHew

Buy a Brick

Celebrate or honor your loved ones this holiday season and give the gift of a lasting legacy in the Mount Sinai South Nassau garden, located at the corner of Oswald Court and One Healthy Way. Purchase an engraved brick, tree, or garden bench, or name the entire plaza and garden space that thousands of patients, visitors, and employees will see every year as they enter and exit the hospital’s front entrance

Honor a loved one or someone who made a di erence in your life. Remember a special person or celebrate a special occasion. Support Mount Sinai South Nassau’s mission and vision for a healthier tomorrow.