Long Beach Herald 01-05-2023

tables

Donna Gayden resigns as city manager

By JAmes BeRNsteiN jbernstein@liherald.com

The search for a new city manager in Long Beach will begin soon, after the surprise announcement Tuesday night that Donna Gayden, who has held the post for almost three years, has resigned, effective immediately.

day night’s regular council meeting.

Corporation Council Rich Berrios said at the beginning of the meeting that while Gayden’s contract was not set to expire until December 2023, she and the City Council had held discussions about ending it early.

Author, musician has had no shortage of challenges

By BReNDAN cARPeNteR bcarpenter@liherald.com

Life has thrown a lot at David Feldman — drug addiction, spinal problems, intestinal issues, cancer. But he fought through all of it, and now has published a new novel, “The Neighborhood,” about 1970s Valley Stream.

That’s not all: Feldman, 65, of Long Beach, has written numerous books, including a mystery series about a character named Dora Ellison. He still plays piano, and performs around Long Beach and Nassau County. He plays for seniors at the Nautilus, in Atlantic Beach, and is half of a duo called J-Bird and Dave that

performs at local restaurants. He played at the Long Beach Historical Society’s Centennial Gala in October.

He also paints. His artwork varies from portraits and landscapes to paintings of places around Long Beach, including the Magnolia pier and the food trucks on Riverside Boulevard.

“I’m frequently stunned when people like my art. I go, ‘Really? I can paint?’ he said. When I grew up, I was told to stop banging on the piano. A lot of us, back then, our parents wanted us to be lawyers. This is what I’ve got.”

Feldman was born in Brooklyn in 1957, and

Gayden, 62, who has a year remaining on her contract, will be temporarily replaced by city Police Commissioner Ron Walsh, who will hold both posts until a new city manager can be found. Only one other city official, Michael Tangney, served as both police commissioner and city manager, for a short time in 2017. Tangney died in March 2022, years after he retired from city employ.

Gayden, who led the city through the worst of the coronavirus pandemic, settled a multimillion-dollar lawsuit brought by developer Sinclair Haberman and helped revive the city’s shaky finances, was not at Tues-

“Now was the time to transition to another organizational structure,” Berrios said.

While a number of people at the meeting expressed surprise, a pathway to Gayden’s exit had been created last November, when council President Karen McInnis appointed a committee to look into a possible replacement for Gayden should she decide to leave before her contract expired.

In a news release Tuesday night, the city stated that Gayden leaves her position “in accordance with the central terms and conditions of the agreement signed between her and the council, except for a pro-

Tim Baker/Herald

DAViD FelDmAN coNtiNUes to play the piano, often performing around Long Beach in restaurants, at local events and in senior homes.

i truly believe that I have achieved everything I was brought here to do.

DoNNA GAYDeN outgoing city manager

Public hearing over boardwalk tables tabled

By BRENDAN CARPENTER bcarpenter@liherald.com

The Long Beach City Council was expected to set a public hearing regarding the tiff over tables for boardwalk eateries at Tuesday night’s meeting, but instead tabled the discussion for the next meeting, on Jan. 17.

The council voted 4-1 to table the discussion, with only Council President Karen McInnis voted to set a hearing, saying she did so “on advice of the council.”

The issue arose last month when Brian Braddish, the owner of Riptides, the popular boardwalk spot, held a news conference on Dec. 19 denouncing the city, and saying that its move would put him out of business. He received a letter from the city saying his tables must be removed from the boardwalk or the city would remove them.

The other boardwalk spots, Beach Burger, Marvel, Skudin Surf and Shakers and Shuckers all received the letter, though the biggest issue has been with Riptides.

Kevin Braddish, Brian’s father, attended Tuesday night’s meeting and addressed the council, saying “I am somewhat perplexed on the voting on this resolution.” He also complained about the $500 fee that his son pays the city to have his tables on the boards.

Riptides agreed to pay $100 per year per table on the boardwalk, with five total tables.

At the moment, tables and chairs would still be permitted under an awning on Riptides’ premises, which extends a few feet onto the boardwalk, but they would not be allowed to encroach on the northernmost walking lane.

The new lease with the city that Braddish signed last year, includes the $100-per-table fee, expires in September 2025.

Braddish did not attend the meeting, although he did the Dec. 20 meeting, the day after his news conference, tell-

ing the council, “I work my ass off. I’m not walking away from this. I will settle. Otherwise, we’ll see a lawsuit.”

At the meeting last month, McInnis acknowledged that “the city could have done a better job of explaining the bigger picture of what we are trying to accomplish here before we sent the letter to all five boardwalk concessionaires.” She explained that city code prohibits tables or chairs anywhere on the boardwalk, and that this had been the rule since 1985.

But, McInnis added, “any exceptions to this rule must be codified for the sake of efficiency and clarity,” which, she said, is why she asked Berrios to prepare a proposed amendment to the city code.

McInnis said she regretted that “the issue has been inflated to such proportion.” She said that an amendment to the code should be added at the next council meeting in January.” That meeting came and is now tabled until the next.

Brendan Carpenter/Herald

ThE CiTy CouNCil planned to set a public hearing over the boardwalk table issue, but tabled it instead.

LIJ V.S.brings much-needed holiday joy

By BRENDAN CARPENTER bcarpenter@liherald.com

Luz Bove lost her husband, Vincent, to cancer just two months ago. The 54-year-old mother of two wasn’t up to putting up her Christmas tree this year.

Her children pushed her and she granted their Christmas wish while trying to make this first holiday season without their dad as normal as possible. She told them the presents would be light this year, because of the circumstances.

Little did she know, someone will make their holiday bright.

Each year, Northwell Health celebrates Hispanic Heritage from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15. At this year’s celebration in October, a relationship was made that will last way more than a month – a lifetime.

Bove has worked for Northwell Health in Manhasset for over a decade, starting as a rehabilitation aide in 2012. She now serves as a program manager. She was involved with the Hispanic Heritage event while Vincent was under hospice care at home.

Vincent, 54, a longtime cameraman for NBC Sports, was unexpectedly diagnosed with stage four salivary gland cancer in January of 2019. He passed away Oct. 23, not too long after the event.

“One of our fellow leaders for the event wanted to just acknowledge my presence and appreciate my presence there because of the fact that I was currently managing this other whole side of my life at home with my husband caring for him home on hospice while also working,” Bove said.

Chris O’Brien is the chief financial officer for Long Island Jewish Valley Stream Hospital Northwell Health. He spoke at the celebration, just before Bove spoke to the crowd. She spoke about her husband and what her family has been going through. O’Brien, after hearing her story, wanted to help.

“Specifically with people in my company, whenever I hear somebody is going through that, I really do try to reach out to the family and lend my support,” he said. “My wife, early on in our marriage, was diagnosed with cancer as well. So I understand the struggle and what it’s like, as a family member, to see somebody that you love going through such a thing.”

After the event, O’Brien and Bove met and talked for about an hour, just learning about each other. What hit home for him, was that Bove has two children – a 12-year-old son, Vincent Jr., and an eight-year-old daughter, Ava.

O’Brien has a daughter the same age, with similar interests. So, wanting to help out as much as he could, he made a long-term goal and short-term goal. The long-term goal is to be the first donation for a foundation Bove is starting in her husband’s name and the short-term goal of gifts for the entire family were presented a few days before Christmas.

At LIJ Valley Stream, employees donate money to help families in need

as part of their annual giving tree, where Northwell employees donate money for Christmas gifts for people and families in need. Bove and her family were number seven on the tree, her husband’s lucky number. About $2,000 was raised for them, $1,000 on the first day.

Bove walked through numerous hallways at the hospital Dec. 23 before arriving at the meeting room, where she was surprised with gifts, including a mini basketball hoop, coloring books, games, an easy bake oven and tickets to both a Ranger game and Disney on Ice, among many others. It was exactly two months after Vincent passed away.

“It’s been an outpouring and a collective effort from a lot of people that heard this story and immediately want-

ed to do something for this family,” O’Brien said of his co-workers. “She’s just such an infectious person and just for somebody to have such an optimistic view on life at a time when pretty much everything is pointing towards her not having that, I thought again was just so incredible. And I think that’s going to serve her kids very well.”

It’s amazing how people who were once perfect strangers, have had such a profound impact on each other.

“Sometimes you never understand why people cross your path,” Bove said to O’Brien. “I said to myself, with everything we’ve gone through as a health system and just healthcare and we just went through a global pandemic, it almost restored your faith in people humanity because, I barely know you.

MANy iTEMs wERE donated, including sports gifts for Vincent Jr. and Barbie doll for Ava, by Northwell workers.

We just met and I can tell immediately the kind of person your character right away just from that initial meeting.”

Along with the gifts, the short-term goal, O’Brien addressed the room, and Bove, saying that the long-term goal was also going to be fulfilled. He had money remaining from the giving tree and rather than buying more gifts, he said the money is going to become the first donation for her future foundation.

Christine Rivera/Herald

Luz BovE wAs overcome with emotion at LIJ Valley Stream when she saw all the Christmas gifts Chris O’Brien and other Northwell employees fundraised for her family.

Christine Rivera/Herald

Courtey Luz Bove BovE wiTh hER husband, Vincent, and their two children, Ava and Vincent Jr

David Feldman just released his latest book

his family — his parents, Lawrence and Enid, his brother, Matt, and sister, Cynthia — moved to Valley Stream later that year.

David attended Valley Stream South High School until he was a senior, when his parents decided to send him to the Wooster School in Connecticut for his final year. He remembers having to wear a suit and go to chapel. It was a Catholic school. Feldman is Jewish.

There were three subjects that he enjoyed: English, history and art. “There was a community art center attached to the school,” he recalled. “They had a figure-drawing class with nude models, which was just terrific for an 18-year-old boy. Along with that, I got my education from reading books and reading about history.”

Feldman attended Drew University in Madison, New Jersey, after graduating from high school in 1975. He edited the college paper, the Drew Acorn, and played rugby. When he finished college, his mother said he should continue using his skill with words. So he found a proofreading job in New Jersey that dance. I asked her if she lived in (New York) city, and she said no, but she would visit if she had a reason,” he recalled of their dance. “It flew right over my head at first. But eventually I asked her out, and now we’ve been married for 35 years.” They have two sons Michael, 32, and Daniel, 28.

Feldman had moved to Long Beach in 1983, while doing the proofreading job remotely. He would work nights and sleep on the beach during the day, near his old home on Monroe Boulevard.

Life was going well, and then there were hardships.

Growing up, Feldman smoked marijuana and cigarettes. He said he and his friends would go through their families’ medicine cabinets as well, taking Valium, and they used cocaine. But in 1991, he began his journey to sobriety. He has been sober since April 14, 1994.

Life wasn’t done throwing challenges his way, though.

He had been playing piano at a steak and sushi house in Southampton each summer for a few years. Then, all of a sudden, in 2020, he couldn’t play correct-

ly, and he stumbled as if he were drunk, even though he wasn’t. He went to the Hospital for Special Surgery, in Manhattan, and was told he had spinal problems so severe that they could cause paralysis. He had spinal fusion surgery in October 2020, preventing the paralysis.

Days after the surgery, he started vomiting, and went to Long Beach Hospital, where he was told he had air in his intestines and needed surgery. He was immediately loaded into an ambulance and taken to South Nassau hospital, now Mount Sinai South Nassau. After the surgery, he had to wear a colostomy bag for three and a half months.

“Then I needed a hip replacement,” he said, in 2021. “Five days before that surgery, my urologist noticed something, took a biopsy, and revealed I had Level 7 prostate cancer.”

All told, Feldman has had seven surgeries in the past four years, including another for trigger finger, and he is still dealing with lung issues and facing another potential hip replacement.

He has no plans to slow down.

DaviD FelDman, the Long Beachbased author and musician, hasn’t let his life challenges bring him down.

Tim Baker/Herald

spotlight athlete

Herald sports

High expectations for Long Beach

By toNY BellissiMo tbellissimo@liherald.com

Despite some untimely injuries leading up to the Nassau County D1 wrestling tournament last season, Long Beach managed a fifth-place finish behind the amazing story written by Dunia Sibomana.

aNDie aDaMs

Lawrence Senior Basketball

there’s a NeW an all-time leading scorer for Lawrence’s girls’ hoops program. Senior point guard Andie Adams, who last winter reached the 1,000 mark, entered this season 46 points away from breaking 1999 graduate Danielle Moorer’s record of 1,049 career points and did so in a win over Roosevelt on Dec. 6. Adams earned AllCounty honors last season and averaged 23.5 points per game.

gaMes to WatCh

thursday, Jan. 5

Gymnastics: Oceanside at South Side 7 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 6

Wrestling: East Meadow at Long Beach 6 p.m.

Boys Basketball: Syosset at Freeport 7 p.m.

Boys Basketball: Port Washington at Oceanside 7 p.m.

Boys Basketball: East Meadow at V.S. Central 7 p.m.

Girls Basketball: V.S. Central at East Meadow 7 p.m.

Wrestling: Mepham at MacArthur 7 p.m.

Wrestling: Roosevelt at Hewlett 7 p.m.

saturday, Jan. 7

Girls Basketball: Clarke at North Shore 10 a.m.

Boys Basketball: MacArthur at Long Beach 12 p.m.

Boys Basketball: Jericho at Mepham 12 p.m.

Boys Basketball: Roslyn at Elmont 12 p.m.

Boys Basketball: Kennedy at South Side 12 p.m.

Boys Basketball: North Shore at Clarke 12 p.m.

Boys Basketball: Manhasset at Hewlett 12 p.m.

Girls Basketball: Glen Cove at Carey 12 p.m.

Girls Basketball: South Side at Kennedy 12 p.m.

Girls Basketball: Mineola at Lynbrook 12 p.m.

Girls Basketball: Hewlett at Lawrence 12 p.m.

Girls Basketball: Long Beach at MacArthur 12 p.m.

Boys Basketball: Seaford at Lawrence 4 p.m.

Sibomana won the county and state championships at 99 pounds as an eighth-grader and headlines a strong group of returning starters that includes All-County honorees Michael Berube (sixth at 126) and Gregory Milone (sixth at 132.)

The Marines stormed out of the gate in December by winning their host tournament as well as the King of the Mat (Hewlett) and South Side tourneys, pushing them to the top-ranked team in Nassau and No. 7 in the state. Long Beach was the preseason No. 3 in the county.

“We’re not too concerned about rankings until the end of the season,” coach Ray Adams said. “We’re just worried about getting better every day.”

Sibomana, who took the wrestling community by storm last season, is now competing at 110 pounds and eyeing a repeat state title, Adams said. Sibomana went 35-2 is his inaugural varsity campaign and followed with an outstanding offseason that saw him travel all over the country to face top-tier opponents in various wrestling styles. “He’s taking on a new challenge and has a target on his back after winning it all last year,” Adams said. “He’s focused and has everything it takes.”

Berube is bumping up to 132, and Milone to 152. “We’re looking to Michael for senior leadership and to be in the mix for a county championship,” Adams said of Berube, ranked fourth in the county. “When he’s on, he’s capable of beating anyone.”

The coach said Milone dedicated himself to the sport throughout the offseason and is one of the hardest workers in the room every day. Milone captured the South Side Tournament on Dec. 17. “The work he puts in will pay off,” Adams said.

s e

Senior Jack Valentin is on a mission to go all the way at 145 pounds after a shoulder injury derailed his chances a year ago. He’s served notice early with two tournament wins and a runner-up finish at the Battle at the Beach. Senior Freedom Excel is also at 145 and was a qualifying tournament champ last season.

At 172 pounds, Luke Anfossi has high expectations and All-County talent, Adams said. Anfossi got his senior season off to a bang by pinning defending county champ Noah Corwin of Wantagh in the semifinals on the way to capturing the Battle at the Beach.

Senior Hector Morabel seeks a spot on the All-County podium at 160 after being

sidelined by a wrist injury last winter. The same goes for junior Matan Greenfeld, who won three matches in the county tournament.

Sophomore Brody Franklin (110) also won three times on the big county stage and has what it takes to go far, Adams said. Franklin took first at South Side. Seventh-grader Ethan Andreula (99) is already making a name for himself after capturing the Battle at the Beach in his first-ever varsity action.

Other keys to Long Beach’s county title hopes include seniors Ben Shapiro, who took the Battle at the Beach at 285, Hayden Sofield (189) and Jack Miller (215), and sophomore 118-pounder Gregory Walpole.

Paul Grassini/Herald

N ior JaC k Vale N ti N , top, coming off a shoulder injury last season, is off to a huge start this winter with two tournament wins and a runner-up finish.

Grandmother leads charge in N. Park barricade battle

By JAMES BERNSTEIN jbernstein@liherald.com

The seven-year-old effort to persuade the powerful Metropolitan Transportation Authority to agree to the construction in Long Beach of barriers near LIRR tracks to help prevent serious flooding was given a major boost over the years by a 65-year-old grandmother - a retired Nassau County employee who kept the pressure on the city and the authority until an agreement was announced at the end of December.

Crystal Lake, who retired in 2021 after a 20-year career working in the accounting department at Nassau County Community College, attended practically every city council meeting over those years to plead for the barricades. James Hodge, a community activist and former chairman of the Martin Luther King Center in the North Park, ministers and other community members, often joined her.

Lake and the others seemed to be getting nowhere. Meeting after meeting, city corporation council Rich Berrios would say only that the city and the MTA were still negotiating. The MTA, which operates the LIRR, was demanding huge insurance coverage to protect its workers while the barricades were being built for what is known as the North Shore Critical Infrastructure project.

Finally, at its Dec. 20 meeting, Berrios announced an agreement had been reached, without providing many details.

“It’s done,” Berrios said. “It’s final.” A cheer went up from those at the council meeting.

Lake, in her usual soft voice, said, “This is amazing.”

City Council President Karen McInnis, who said in a recent, email, “Crystal has been a positive presence at City Council meetings for many years now, paid her a compliment. I’ve always admired her tenacity in advocating for her community.” She credited Lake with helping to bring off the agreement with the MTA. “After years and years of hard work, (she) brought about the signing of the North Shore Critical Infrastructure project across the finish line.”

“As Crystal recently told me, she is a grandmother of 16,” McInnis continued. “No wonder when I would talk with her face-to face to avow that we would get it done, and she smiled back at me, I knew we HAD to get it done.”

In an interview at her small home on East Market Street just before New Year’s Eve, Lake made one thing perfectly clear: she is not done.

“It’s a great accomplishment for the community,” Lake said. “But the project has to go forward. The project could take two years. Things do happen that could cause delays. It’s not a win-win until it’s done.”

Lake was bon in 1957 in Washington Heights and moved to the North Park section a few years later to live with a great-uncle, Gold James Pitts and a great-aunt, Francis Pitts, in a bungalow on East Harrison Street, a rundown block.

“There was tremendous flooding,” she said of those early days. “I remember going down the street in a rowboat with my great uncle.” But, she said, “I didn’t come from poverty. I was never hungry.”

She got into the fight over the barricades in about 2008, after moving to East Market and coping with numerous flooded streets. She got pastors and others in the neighborhood involved. Despite her full-time job at the college, Lake said she worked nights at her computer home.

“I was up late at my research. I attended about 98 percent of the City Council meetings. I thought it was ridiculous, that something should be done.” She tracked down key MTA officials and kept after city officials, and she is not satisfied.

The City Council is to make a presentation to the public outlining the project, but no date has been set. Long Beach Public Works Commissioner Joe Febrizio said initial work could begin in a few months.

She said that Dr. Harold Bellinger, assistant to the president for affirmative action and diversity at Nassau Community College, had become a mentor and advisor. At first, she said, “He told me, You don’t know what you’re getting into. But I was persistent. He told me what to read. He said, Yes, you will have all your paperwork when you talk to people. But it won’t happen until you have it in your heart.”

For Immediate Release: December 13, 2022

Nassau County Bridge Authority Announces Greater Discounts for Barrier Island Residents

Lawrence, NY - The Nassau County Bridge Authority is proud to announce the implementation of an Electronic Tolling System, E-ZPass® on the Atlantic Beach Bridge. Set to take place in the Spring of 2023, this significant improvement will make the customer’s driving experience safer and timelier.

In addition to the implementation of E-ZPass®, the Authority has proposed significant discounts for Barrier Island residents, shown in the chart below. These proposed rates are scheduled to be voted on by the Board of Commissioners. NCBA tolls remain among the lowest in the region and deliver support for critical infrastructure improvements for the Atlantic Beach Bridge.

“After a public hearing and consultation with elected officials and community leaders, I am recommending to the board that we adopt our initial plan amended with a further reduction in the annual fee for Barrier Island residents who use the bridge on a daily basis.” Said Nassau County Bridge Authority Chairman Samuel Nahmias. “The bridge has not had a toll increase in 17 years, and in order to guarantee the safe operation of the bridge into the foreseeable future, in these inflationary times, it is necessary for the board to take this action.”

2022 2023

Annual Fee - Barrier Island Resident Passenger Vehicle $130.00 $162.50

E-ZPass® - Barrier Island Not Available Resident Passenger Vehicle in 2022 $2.50

Annual Fee - Nassau County Resident Passenger Vehicle $130.00 $199.00

Annual Fee - Non-Nassau County Resident Passenger Vehicle $175.00 $349.00

Pass CardPassenger Vehicle 20 trip $15.00 $30.00 All Cash Tolls Passenger Vehicle $2.00 $4.00

Note: Effective January 1, 2023 all Cash Tolls will be $3.00 until the implementation of E-ZPass®, at which time all Cash Tolls will increase to $4.00.

Decals will be phased out in 2023. Decals will be replaced by unlimited E-ZPass®, which will provide the same function as the decal.

Tim Baker/Herald

CRySTAl lAkE, who played a major role in securing bulkheads from the MTA to prevent serious flooding in the mostly Black North Park section.

Echo Park closing doors for $2 million renovation

By MARK NOLAN mnolan@liherald.com

The Echo Park indoor pool complex in West Hempstead has a long history of providing entertaining relief for Hempstead town residents. But that history will have to pause over the next several months while town officials push through the first phase of renovations, closing the pool until at least around Labor Day this year. And those $2 million worth of construction is just the beginning.

potentially save on energy bills.

That should bring Echo Park into the late summer or early fall, a town spokesperson said. What comes next is still being decided by town officials.

“The new and improved Echo Park will surely make a splash when completed,” Clavin said.

In the meantime, typical Echo Park visitors can travel to East Meadow instead to use the indoor pool there. The Nassau County Aquatic Center will accept passes issued by the Town of Hempstead during the renovation project.

DON

“The renovation of Echo Park is a multimillion-dollar project that will be completed over the next few years,” said Hempstead Town Supervisor Don Clavin. “The Town of Hempstead is committed to upgrading this facility while minimizing the inconvenience for our local swimmers who frequent the park year-round.”

The first phase of construction includes a new air ventilation system, something that has taken on even more importance during the Covid-19 pandemic era. Other scheduled work includes a new state-of-the-art pool filtration system, new energy-efficient lighting, renovation of the north and south interior walls, and recaulking windows to prevent air leaks and

Echo Park is generally open to all town residents, providing a rate discount to those who don’t live inside an incorporated village or special park district. Daily rates there are typically $8 to $9 for individuals, and $4.50 for children between 5 and 9, as well as senior citizens, the disabled, and volunteer first responders.

Nassau County offers similar rates in its East Meadow complex for those living in the county who also buy a three-year “leisure pass” for $36. Those without the pass, and those who don’t live in Nassau County, could pay daily rates as high as $22 for adults, and $14 for children.

And renovations in Echo Park aren’t exactly new. The West Hempstead complex

reopened in January 2018 after a $208,000 renovation that included resurfacing several indoor areas and refinishing the diving boards. The year before, Echo Park was part of a town-wide $1.26 million recreational facility improvement plan that focused on restroom and locker room upgrades.

Despite the inconvenience this time around, town councilman Thomas Muscarella says the upgrades are needed.

“Improvements to the pool are long

overdue,” he said. “Echo Park is a beloved facility in our area. Residents frequent the indoor pool all year.”

Other than this brief closure each winter, the Nassau Boulevard Echo Park facility is open seven days a week, year-round. It’s also home to a number of other yearround aquatic, physical fitness and cultural arts programs.

For more information on the center and using the Nassau County facility, call the Echo Park office at (516) 483-7400.

“Elder Law Estate Planning” is an area of law that combines features of both elder law and estate planning and relates mostly to the needs and concerns of the middle class.

Estate planning was formerly only for the wealthy who wanted to shelter their assets from taxes and pass more on to their heirs. But today estate planning is also needed by the middle class who may have assets exceeding one million dollars, especially when you consider life insurance in the mix.

Estate planning with trusts became popular starting in 1991 when AARP concluded that probate should be avoided and trusts should be used to transfer assets to heirs without a court proceeding. Trusts are also widely used today to avoid guardianship proceedings on disability, protect privacy, and reduce the chance of a will contest in court.

As the population aged and life expectancies increased, the field of elder law emerged in the late 1980’s to help people protect assets from nursing home costs by using Medicaid asset protection strategies.

The two fields of elder law and estate planning still tend to be separate, which can

work against a client needs. For instance, a client may see an elder law attorney for Medicaid asset protection planning in the event of disability, but overlook the benefits of estate planning, such as avoiding estate taxes or keeping assets in the bloodline. Similarly, a client may have prepared an effective estate plan for death with an estate planning attorney, but failed to avail themselves of Medicaid asset protection strategies for their lifetimes.

For this reason, we have been practicing “elder law estate planning” together for over thirty years to address these needs:

• Getting your assets to your heirs, with the least amount of court costs, taxes and legal fees possible.

• Keeping your assets in the bloodline for your grandchildren and protecting those assets from your children’s divorces, lawsuits and creditors.

• Protecting your assets from the costs of longterm care and qualifying you for government benefits to pay for your care either at home or in a nursing facility.

• Avoiding guardianship proceedings if you become disabled and probate court proceedings on death.

The new and improved Echo Park will surely make a splash when completed.

CLAviN Hempstead town supervisor

Herald file

A $2 MiLLiON renovation project will shut down the Echo Park indoor pool complex in West Hempstead through this coming summer, instead redirecting swimmers to the county facility in East Meadow.

MLK Day kicks off Jan. 16 with parade and speeches

Martin Luther King Day kicks off this year at 11:30 am Monday, Jan. 16, at Laurelton Boulevard and West Park Avenue.

With temperatures expected to be moderate and many covid restrictions lifted, crowds are likely to be larger this year than in years past.

Just before the traditional march, there will be a short rally outside the MLK Center in the North Park section of Long Beach. The center is now under the jurisdiction of Cedrick Coad, whose family has been associated with the center for generations.

“It’s good as long as we can keep the tradition going,” Coad said.

Many residents of Long Beach and Rockville Center still recall the day King visited on March 26, 1968 –about a month before he was assassinated at a Memphis motel where he was supporting a strike by sanitation workers in that city.

King’s visit to Long Beach and Rockville Centre came at a critical time in America. The conflict in Vietnam was worsening, street protest against the war was growing, and the civil-rights movement was gaining momentum.

In a Herald story in 2018, a woman named Catherine Pucciarelli, who was then 83, said she was at a King event, sitting about 12 rows back on the right of the stage. She recalled in the Herald interview that King did not have notes.

“There was hardly a sound,” she said. “He just held the audience captive with his talk and the tone of his

speech.”

Monday’s march is certain to include the young and the old, banners, chants, singing and speeches. A list of speakers was not available at press time.

In celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s birthday, the City invites elementary, middle and high school students from the barrier island to participate in honoring the legacy of King by submitting a poster or essay.

The contest will help students reflect on King’s ideas and their impact on the community. Students in elementary school are invited to enter the poster contest, and middle school students have the option of entering either the poster or the essay contest. High School students can enter the essay contest.

The theme of the contest is “Living the Dream, It Takes A Team.” The deadline is Jan. 27. Winners will be announced on Monday, Jan. 30 and displayed on the City’s website, social media, and at the Magnolia Center.Judging will be based on interpretation of the theme, technical skill and originality. Posters should represent the theme of unity, service and collaboration.

Essays should reflect on King’s dream and should be no more than 500 words for high school students, and 300 words for middle school students. The cover sheet must contain the student’s name, school, grade, home/cell phone number, address, and email address.

–James Bernstein

Chairman of the Nassau County Bridge Authority Issues Response to Decal Concerns

Dear Atlantic Beach, Long Beach and Neighboring Resident Communities:

The Nassau County Bridge Authority (NCBA) is a separate functioning Authority. Unlike other bridges, the NCBA does not receive Tax Payer, Property Tax, County and State Funding. The NCBA funds 100% of its operations through toll revenue. The Atlantic Beach Bridge spans 1173 feet (40%+ greater than its neighboring Long Beach Bridge)

When I was nominated for this role, I was honored to give back to the communities. Unfortunately, timing is not something we can all control.

My first initiative as Chairman was to review the status of our finances, revenues and capital needs. My second initiative was to work with our engineers at Hardesty & Hanover and our auditor to ensure that we have adequate capital to address our required infrastructure needs. My third initiative and quite an important one, was to address the public outcry on the failing toll plaza.

Over the past three-years, the Authority has lost nearly $1M per year (excluding goodwill). One can assume that this was due to the COVID pandemic and loss of toll revenue. While the Authority was hoping for a return back to profitability, unfortunately this proved impossible at our current revenues.

Just like all American businesses, citizens and public authorities, we are not immune to inflation. We have encountered inflation unlike anyone has seen in 40+ years. This has affected all aspects of the Authority’s finances. We are scheduled to lose over $2M in 2023 and headed towards a path of insolvency unless we address the issues.

In my learnings, I discovered that our prior toll increase took place roughly 17 years ago and the study at the time, indicated that it was only good for about 5 years. The prior board did as much as they could to extend this until now. However, no-one could have predicted the pandemic and subsequent high inflation.

After a vigorous review, our auditor and board determined that a toll increase is required for the viability of the Bridge Authority. As a point of reference, bridges are rated 7 to 1, 7 being in excellent new condition and 1 being the opposite. The Atlantic Beach Bridge is rated a 5, which is incredible for a 70-year-old bridge. Make no mistake, this is because we were setup as a separate Authority from the start, in order to maintain our own bridge.

The decision to raise tolls does not come lightly, especially at a time when our residents are hurting due to high inflation. That is why we made the decision to raise the residents at a much lower amount vs. non-residents and commercial vehicles. While going from $2.00 to $3.00 seems excessive, until EZ-Pass is implemented, it is still far below what $2.00 would be worth 17 years later with inflation.

The implementation of EZ-Pass was sound and logical considering the latter. The board could have simply spent similar amounts to upgrade the failing system and keep it as a cash toll. This seemed counterintuitive given the number of complaints ranging from pedestrians not having cash, commercial vehicles having to pull to the side, delivery drivers not knowing what to do and of course the dangerous conditions it causes when vehicles must back out. This is on top of the heavy summer traffic build-up on the 878, that occurs due to only accepting cash.

The biggest issue I want to clarify, is the circulation of ongoing misinformation (see figure #1 below). Misinformation has been circulating that the Decal system and its benefits are being completely eliminated. This could not be farther from the truth. In fact, we are upgrading how we treat Decals. While we are phasing out the Decal “stickers” by mid-2023, we are incorporating the Decal benefits into the EZ-Pass system. Travelers will be able to enjoy all of the benefits of their prior Decals with the current EZ-Pass Reader/Transponder. Travelers will be able to login to their EZ-Pass account and add the Atlantic Beach Bridge to their annual unlimited use for $199 (residents) and $349 (non-residents).

As our commitment to the Atlantic Beach, Long Beach and Neighboring Resident Communities, presently we do not plan to raise tolls again until at least January 2028 and beyond. We are looking towards other revenue streams to help offset our costs and to date are pursing the following:

1. Placing our liquidity in higher interest-bearing accounts at today’s rates. This will result in a financial benefit of roughly $200K annually.

2. Restricting overnight openings for the drawbridge to a schedule which will decrease costs by roughly $100K.

3. We have explored refinancing the bonds and are waiting for the right opportunity to save significantly.

4. Exploring the use of vacant land.

Lastly, with the EZ-Pass upgrade, the security gates in the toll lanes will remain in place. We are planning to add better LED lighting to the bridge, security cameras and having more of a police presence at the Bridge Authority. Rest assured that we are working for the benefit of the people.

Sincerely,

Chairman

Figure #1: Misinformation:

***Please Note The Bridge Authority of Nassau County is*** changing the prices of the Atlantic Beach Bridge from $2 to S3 for all Nassau County Residents, and $4 for all Non-Nassau County Residents. They are also planning to remove the Atlantic Beach Bridge pass entirely in 2024. This means that the price will rise from $130. a year (the current decal price for nassau county residents), to approximately $4000. per car per year, because in 2024 the decals will be eliminated. We need to have a meeting with the Nassau County Bridge Authority to determine what can be done to minimize damage to residents and businesses in Atlantic Beach, Long Beach, Lido Beach, Point Lookout, and the entire Barrier Island who rely on using the Atlantic Beach bridge for work, school, shopping, and life’s activities.

Herald File Photo

The annual long Beach MLK Day march will take place on Jan. 16, moving down Park Avenue.

he just held the audience captive with his talk and the tone of his speech.

CaTherine PuCCiarelli spectator, King 1968 speech

Samuel Nahmias

of the Nassau County Bridge Authority.

City will start search for a replacement soon

vision for healthcare for the next six months in exchange for a general release and her waiver of separation payments, in accordance with the personnel code.”

She will receive six months’ severance pay, and has agreed to assist during the transition period.

Gayden was hired in February 2020, and signed a new contract in November 2021. That contract included a base salary of $203,000, a $13,000 increase over her initial pay.

She was unavailable for comment Wednesday, according to city spokesman John McNally.

In a statement distributed Tuesday night, Gayden said, “The work is never done, but I truly believe that I have achieved everything I was brought here to do.”

She was credited with improving city operations, making progress on bargaining with the police and firefighters unions, which have been working without contracts for years, and improving communications with Long Beach residents.

Several council members, including John Bendo, praised Gayden Tuesday night. “I’m the one who found Donna and convinced her to come here,” Bendo said. “That’s probably the best decision I have ever made in my time on this council.”

McInnis added, “Donna arrived in Long Beach at one of our lowest moments, which also happened to be the start of the pandemic, and all of the uncertainties that it brought. She worked tirelessly over the next nearly three years, developed an operating bud-

get that did not rely on borrowing, while carrying a surplus that is indicative of dramatically improved financial health.”

Gayden, a municipal financial expert who had previously worked in the Midwest, took over in Long Beach just before the coronavirus crisis began. All public

meetings were transmitted on Zoom, and the city followed guidelines established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention regarding masks.

During her tenure, Gayden appeared at numerous sporting and community events. She was clearly not a politician or politically connected, and in public maintained a professional demeanor.

When she arrived, she found the city in dire financial shape, criticized by the state comptroller for shoddy practices when it came to the issuance of separation payments and pensions for former employees.

Wall Street rated the city’s bonds at one step above junk. And Haberman had filed a $130 million suit against the city, claiming it had failed to support his proposal to build condominiums off the boardwalk.

Now, less than three years after Gayden’s tenure began, the city is no longer in financial crisis, according to the comptroller’s office. Wall Street has posted more positive reviews of its finances. Haberman settled for $75 million, and that matter was closed.

The city confirmed that Walsh would continue to serve as police commissioner, but that Long Beach would also expand the duties of some police officers “in acknowledgment of his work as acting city manager.”

Bob Arkow/Herald

Long Beach city Manager Donna Gayden resigned from her post Tuesday, nearly a year before her contract was set to expire.

STEPPING OUT

Dancing With The Stars Live

Heroism unfolds in an epic adventure

By Karen Bloom

elcome the New Year with another dose of that wonderful world of Disney. The latest Disney ice extravaganza arrives at UBS Arena in Elmont to the delight of families who can’t get enough of their favorite Disney moments. Audiences can relive some of the iconic characters and stories — classic and new — when Disney on Ice’s “Into the Magic” brings a lineup of Disney “royalty” here for four days, opening Jan. 5.

WHERE WHEN

• Thursday through Sunday. Jan. 5-11; times vary.

• Tickets start at $20 (pricing may fluctuate based on demand); available at Ticketmaster.com or DisneyOnIce.com

• UBS Arena, 2400 Hempstead Turnpike, Elmont

This production showcases inspiring favorites from the Disney canon, including those spunky royal sisters, Anna and Elsa, from the always popular mega-hit “Frozen.” Joining this spirited pair are the forever-enchanting Belle, dauntless Rapunzel and the charming bandit Flynn, the determined Cinderella, the aspiring young musician Miguel, and the daring and fearless Moana. Their courage and plucky grit to live their best lives are set forth in lively — albeit condensed — re-tellings of “Beauty & the Beast,” “Coco,” “Tangled,” “Cinderella,” “Frozen” and “Moana.”

These unforgettable characters and their adventures are brought to life on ice in a captivating production that transports audiences to worlds where imaginations soar and in true Disney spirit “anything can happen if you just believe.” Guided by Mickey and Minnie and their crew, of course — with the assistance of two hosts this time around — these tales are told through graceful, artful skating and dynamic special effects, set to the soundtrack fans know and love.

In keeping with longstanding Disney tradition, it’s a fast-paced spectacle with rapidly changing segments.

“All celebrate why these stories are so special,” says Chase Belmontes, who performs as Gaston, Belle’s strapping suitor. “The uplifting nature of these stories all end strongly with an inspiring message about finding your dreams and finding your inner hero.”

That message surely resonates with the 27-year-old Las Vegas native, who is in his third year with Disney On Ice. “I grew up with Disney as a

kid,” he says. “I loved Disney and watched all the movies. Being here now is a personal accomplishment.”

As with his fellow cast members, Belmontes’ competitive skating skills enhance the high level of athleticism that is the hallmark of these productions. Solos, pair and fast-paced ensemble skating with high-flying jumps add to the appeal of the stories the audience knows so well.

“There are so many iconic moments,” he says, noting the pairs sequence in his “Beauty and the Beast “ portion, which also includes a dramatic ensemble routine. “It’s all very exciting.”

And, of course, “Frozen” elicits an enthusiastic response. As Belmontes says: “Always a fan favorite.” Especially when it comes time for “Let It Go.”

“It’s absolutely magical,” he continues. “Everyone sings along to every single word. It’s such a wonderful experience.”

There’s plenty of singing, with the audiences up on their feet throughout the show. And, naturally, Belles, Cinderellas and many others are scattered throughout the arena.

“Everyone dresses up in costume, even adults.” Belmontes says. “It’s amazing. So sit back and soak it all in. There’s a lot to look at and enjoy.”

indeed.

The popular dance showcase is back on tour this winter to celebrate its 31st season. The tour delivers electrifying dance performances from world-renowned dancers including Brandon Armstrong, Alan Bersten, Sasha Farber, Gleb Savchenko, Emma Slater, Britt Stewart, and ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ winner Alexis Warr, who now appears on ‘Dancing with the Stars.’ See the ballroom brought to life in this new production featuring your favorite ‘Dancing’ pros, plus special guest stars, performing original numbers as well as some of the showstoppers featured in Season 31. With dazzling routines in every style, fans will enjoy an unforgettable night full of all the magic of the television competition series and more. Experience the excitement, glitz and glamour they see in the ballroom live, up-close and personal.

Tuesday, Jan. 10, 8 p.m. $99, $79, $59, $49. Tilles Center for the Performing Arts, LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Blvd., Brookville. (516) 299-3100, or TillesCenter.org.

Literary Luncheon

Madison Theatre hosts Deborah Goodrich-Royce, who discusses ‘Reef Road,’ her latest psychological thriller that explores the psychology of criminals and their victims, while drawing from real-life events that happened before she was born. Goodrich Royce is the author of the widely praised psychological thrillers ‘Ruby Falls’ and ‘Finding Mrs. Ford.’ A former film and television actress, she is remembered by soap opera fans as Silver Kane, sister of the legendary Erica Kane, on ABC’s ‘All My Children.’ She later worked as a story editor for Miramax Films and was instrumental in developing such films as ‘Emma’ and ‘A Wrinkle in Time.’ With her husband, Chuck, she restored the Avon Theatre in Stamford, Connecticut, which now operates as a not-for-profit dedicated to independent, classic, foreign, and documentary films.

Wednesday, Jan. 18, noon. $50. Molloy University’s Larini Room, Public Square Building, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre. (516) 323-4444, or MadisonTheatreNY.org.

Photos courtesy Feld Entertainment

Photos: Old and new favorites lace up their skates for a show that encourages everyone to ‘find your inner hero.’

THE SCENE

America

The perennial classic rock favorite is still going strong, appearing on the Tilles Center stage, Friday, Jan. 27, 8 p.m. Founding members Gerry Beckley and Dewey Bunnell celebrate the band’s 53rd anniversary on their current tour, on the LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Boulevard, Brookville. The pair (along with former band mate Dan Peek), who met in high school in London in the late 1960s, quickly harmonized their way to the top of the charts on the strength of their signature song “A Horse With No Name.” America became a global household name and paved the way with an impressive string of hits following the success of their first #1 single. Forty plus years later, these friends are still making music together, touring the world and thrilling audiences with their timeless sound. Tickets are $99, $79, $69, $59; available at TillesCenter.org or (516) 299-3100.

Art talk

Join Nassau County Museum Director Charles A. Riley II, PhD, for a Director’s Seminar, Tuesday, Jan. 10, 4 p.m. He’ll discuss “Photography: Beauty and Truth,” in a session that is keyed to the photojournalism of Robert Capa and the Magnum group as well as the pioneering work of Walker Evans and Lewis Hine. He’ll compare their approach with the digital manipulation of images (including video) in the media of our time and consider the relationship between the photographer as documentarian and as artist who holds the mirror up to nature. Participation is limited; registration required. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. (516) 484-9337 or NassauMuseum.org.

In concert

David Alterman returns to the stage with Altzim, Friday, Jan. 13, at My Father’s Place supper club. Enjoy an evening of music that Alterman describes as “Dylan with a twist,” with special guest Cathy Rose Virgilio. Rich Demand and his band also appear. Doors open at 6 p.m., concert is at 8 p.m. The Metropolitan, 3 Pratt Blvd., Glen Cove. For tickets/ information, visit MyFathersPlace. com or call (516) 580-0887.

Poetry Open Mic Night

All poets, spoken word artists, lyricists and songwriters are being called to the Long Beach Public Library for a poetry open mic night, Wednesday, Jan. 11 The evening is hosted by Nassau County Poet Laureate Paula Curci. For more information and to register , visit LongBeachPL. LibraryCalendar.com.

Polar Bear Splash

The Long Beach Polar Bears will make their annual splash into the ocean on Sunday, Feb. 12 The splash will take place on Laurelton Boulevard and people will start going into the water at 1:30 pm. For more information, visit LongBeachNY.gov.

Mindful Meditation

Relax and unwind at the Long Beach Public Library during a meditation class on Thursday, Jan. 19. Re-center while focusing on your senses and aliveness in the auditorium and on zoom from 2:15 to 3 p.m. For more information, visit LongBeachPL.LibraryCalendar. com.

Pop-Up Eats

The Cabana Restaurant continues its weekly Pop-Up Eats, Monday, Jan. 9, in their parking lot, 1034 W Beech St. Various vendors serve up delicious bites; the bar will be open as well. Pop-Up Eats starts at 4 p.m.; no reservations are necessary. For more information visit TheCabanaLBNY.com.

Forest Bathing

Take a meditative Forest Bathing walk, led by certified guide Linda Lombardo, Saturday, Jan. 21, 2-4 p.m. Based on the Japanese tradition of ShinrinYoku, a wellness practice developed in the 1980s, the walk, on the grounds of the former summer residence of Howard Gould and later Daniel and Florence Guggenheim, inspires mindful connections with the natural elements of the woods for a range of healthful benefits. $40, $35. Pre-registration required. Sands Point Preserve, 127 Middle Neck Road. For information, visit SandsPointPreserveConservancy. org or call (516) 571-7901.

Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative March

The City of Long Beach and the Martin Luther King Jr. Center hold the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative March, Monday, Jan. 16. The march will begin on Laurelton Boulevard and West Park Avenue at 11:30 a.m. It ends at the MLK Center. For more information, visit LongBeachNY.gov.

Low-Impact Cardio

The Long Beach Public Library will have a low-impact cardio class to on Tuesday, Jan. 10. All levels are welcome, including beginners. The class will be held in the auditorium and on zoom from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. For more information, visit LongBeachPL.LibraryCalendar. com.

Having an event?

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.

Skate on

Long Island Children’s Museum’s “skating rink” is open for a final weekend, Friday through Sunday, Jan. 6-8, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Related crafts activities throughout the weekend. Long Island Children’s Museum, Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 224-5800 or LICM.org.

Located at 234 Merrick Road in Oceanside

Long Beach has a very busy 2023 ahead

By JAMES BERNSTEIN jbernstein@liherald.com

The New Year is going to be a busy one for the Long Beach City Council.

Startlingly, one of the first orders of business will be finding a new city manager, after Donna Gayden’s surprise announcement Tuesday night that she has resigned, effectively immediately. She had a full year left on her contract.

It is faced with a plethora of issues including agreeing on a new plan to guide the city’s future, the best approach to installing parking meters for the first time since a failed effort in the 1960s, negotiations over a budget for the new fiscal year, and an attempt to finally settle new contracts with the professional fire fighters and the unionized police officers.

At least one 800-pound gorilla of an issue from last year – the settlement of the $130 million suit by the developer Sinclair Haberman – has been solved, with the city agreeing to pay $75 million to resolve the matter.

City officials are eager to put in place what they call a Comprehensive Plan for Long Beach as it enters its second century as a municipality. It has hired a consulting firm, SLR, which has offices around the country including in New York City. SLR is working with another firm, Streetsense. The city is paying about $100,000 in consulting fees.

SLK has held several meetings in differ-

ent places in the city and more are likely ahead. The big question is what should Long Beach look like a decade or so from now?

In 2007, there was an attempt to implement a Comprehensive Plan. But it never got off the ground. This time, the city council and the administration are determined to make it work.

The consultants, in their presentations, said they want to focus on Long Beach’s commercial areas including its downtown business district. They envision a city with more bike paths, walkways, trees and more parks. The consultants made an appearance before the city council in early 2022 and asked residents for ideas. By the spring, it had received 500 responses.

On its website, the city said, “In New York State, comprehen sive plans are not required for municipalities, but many commu nities choose to adopt a plan in order to guide and support future develop ment. The City of Long Beach last updated its Comprehensive Plan in 2007.”

It said also, “These plans typically address housing, economic development, transportation, land use, as well as sustainability, historic and natural resources

protection, and infrastructure, among other issues.”

The city will also be dealing with some thorny issues, including the forever problem of parking spaces. Back in the 1970s, Long Beach installed parking meters in the central business district. The meters were done away with because, according to legend, coins kept disappearing from the meters.

Now, the city has heard from a national parking meter firm that says it can install computerized meters that accept credit cards and perform a host of administrative duties. The city is thinking of installing such meters in the central business district.

The Long Beach Chamber of Commerce issued a survey and found that most respondents did viewed the plan unfavorably.

According to the chamber, 93.6 percent of survey respondents opposed the plan to install parking meters, primarily in the city’s central business district. Additionally, 95.8 percent said they would not be willing to pay for an annual permit to park in designated spots in the business district.

The chamber reported that 1,684 people had responded to the online survey, which was posted in early February, and 85.2 percent were Long Beach residents.

City spokesman John McNally had said, “It’s a bit premature to be putting out a poll on a program that’s very much still in the development phase.

The city will be dealing with the issue this year.

Another hotspot will be new contracts with two unions – the professional fire fighters and the Police Benevolent Association. The PBA has been working without a new contract since 2017 and union members last received a pay raise in 2015. The PBA has also been contending with a ruling by a state arbitration panel that said Long Beach does not have the money to meet the union’s demands.

Sam Pinto, president of the 16-member professional fire fighters said, the contract covering those workers has also expired, in 2010, but the fire fighters have signed a memorandum of agreement to continue working while talks are ongoing. Pinto said more professionals are needed, as the department received 5,200 emergency calls in the last year.

“We need the city to focus” on an agreement, Pinto said.

And of course the city has already begun working on a new budget for the new fiscal year, which takes effect July 1. In the last fiscal year, the city brought in a $95.5 million budget that included a 5 percent take hike. The city said the tax increase was necessary to budget for $2.5 million in owed separation pay for former employees.

BEAUTY HEALTH & WELLNESS

ORTHOPEDIC GROUP: Mirza Orthopedics

Orlin & Cohen Orthopedic Group

The Central Orthopedic Group

ORTHOPEDIST: Craig L. Levitz, MD Justin Mirza, DO William A. Facibene, MD

PAIN MANAGEMENT: Hadi Medical Group - Long Beach Orlin & Cohen Orthopedic Group

Pain Institute of Long Island

PEDIATRIC DENTIST: Charles Pillar, DDS

Denise Cohen, DMD

Jennifer S. Zuckerman, DDS

PEDIATRICIAN: Matthew S. Cohen, MD

Roberto N. Marchitelli, MD

Stuart Schiff, DO

Vicki Ellin Jetter, MD

New York Brain Center

NSPC Brain and Spine Surgery | Long Island

The Stroke & Brain Aneurysm Center of Long Island

CARDIOLOGIST: Beevash Ray, MD

David Hersh, MD, FACC

Thierry Duchatellier, MD

CBD STORE: Curaleaf NY Carle Place

Natural Remedies - Merrick Sea Cliff Hemp Co.

CHIROPRACTOR: Adam Kritzberg, DC

Jill Feldhurn, DC

Matthew E. Goldschmidt, DC, PC

COSMETIC SURGEON: Antonio L. Uria, MD

Ari Hoschander, MD

James C. Marotta, MD

COSMETIC SURGERY GROUP: KH Plastic Surgery

Long Island Plastic Surgical Group, PC

Marotta Plastic Surgery Specialists

DENTIST: Alina Bergan, DDS, PC

Joshua S. Rolnick, DDS

Yefim Khanimov, DDS

DERMATOLOGIST: Elie B. Lowenstein, MD

Suzanne J. Sirota Rozenberg, DO

Tina Funt, MD

GENERAL PRACTICE DOCTOR: Carolyn M. Castiglia, DO

Ralph K. Della Ratta, MD

Sarah Marie Spadafina, MD

HAIR SALON:

Ambiance Salon

Belle Beauty Salon Spa

East Coast Hair Studio

HEALTH INSURANCE AGENCY: Grober Imbey Insurance Agency

JLS Insurance Solutions

UnitedHealthcare

HEALTH INSURANCE AGENT: Alexander Anderson - Allstate Insurance Jay Silverman - JLS Insurance Solutions

Michael Krantz - UnitedHealthcare

Calla Lily Rose Beauty Spa

Calmer U Holistic Health Center & Spa Hand and Stone Massage and Facial Spa

MEDICAL SUPPLY: Health Mart Pharmacy LifeVac LLC

Long Beach Surgical Supply

MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES/ORGANIZATION: New Horizon Counseling Center North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center Tempo Group, Inc.

NEUROLOGIST: Arthur E. Farkash, MD Mariel Brooke Deutsch, MD Tej-Preet Singh, MD

NEUROSURGEON: Daniel E. Choi, MD Kimon Bekelis, MD, FAANS Salvatore J. Palumbo, MD, FACS

NURSING HOME: Beach Terrace Care Center Grandell Rehabilitation and Nursing Center South Shore Rehabilitation and Nursing Center

OB/GYN: Arnelle H. Blinderman, MD Betsy Lantner, MD

Thomas Erhart, DO

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY: Metro Physical & Aquatic Therapy NY Physical Therapy & Wellness Theralympic Speech Therapy

ONCOLOGIST: Doron Weiner, MD Ryan Sugarman, MD Vincent Paul Vinciguerra, MD

OPHTHALMOLOGIST: Brad Kligman, MD Richard C. Nauheim, MD Stanley J. Berke, MD

OPTOMETRIST: Gail E. Correale, OD Steven B. Agin, OD Yael E. Gatenio, OD Doctor of Optometry

ORTHODONTIST: Christopher Paladino, DDS Natalie Bitton, DDS Seth Kleinrock, DDS

PEDICURE: Beach Nails Belle Beauty Salon Spa

Bewitched at Cheveux Salon

PHYSICAL THERAPIST: Joseph Cottone

Michael DeFeo, DPT Timothy Stauder, DPT

PHYSICAL THERAPY: Metro Physical & Aquatic Therapy

NY Physical Therapy & Wellness

Reddy Care Physical & Occupational Therapy

PODIATRIST: Gideon P. Tarrash, DPM

Jay Kerner, DPM & Daniel Zilberbrand, DPM Michael Klein, DPM

REHABILITATION CENTER: Beach Terrace Care Center

Grandell Rehabilitation and Nursing Center

South Shore Rehabilitation and Nursing Center

SPA/MEDICAL SPA: Clarity Spa

Dolce Aesthetics

Rainforest Med Spa

SPEECH THERAPY: Suffolk Center for Speech The Speech Language Place Theralympic Speech Therapy

SPINE CENTER: New York Spine Institute

Spine Medicine & Surgery of Long Island

The Central Orthopedic Group

URGENT CARE CENTER:

AFC Urgent Care

CityMD Urgent Care

Northwell Health - GoHealth Urgent Care

VEIN/VASCULAR CENTER: Island Vein Specialists of Mineola

Long Island Heart & Vascular Specialist

USA Vein Clinics

WAXING: Calla Lily Rose Beauty Spa

European Wax Center

Wax Addictss

WEIGHT LOSS CENTER: New York Bariatric Group

Nu Med - Med Spa & Integrative Wellness

Ultra Body Weight Loss Centers

Congrats to all the Top 3 Finalists in the 2022 Herald Long Island Choice Awards presented by PSEG Long Island!

back each week for the Top 3 Reveal in each category leading up to the Oscar-style awards ceremony in April 2023.

top?

www.LiChoiceAwards.com! *Finalists are listed alphabetically, not in order of placement.

Public Notices

LEGAL NOTICE

IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF LANCASTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA ORPHANS’ COURT DIVISION

IN THE ADOPTION OF: No.: 2022 - 1340

D.J.R.B

To: Jose Nicholas Reyes Marquez

A petition has been filed asking the court to put an end to all rights you have to your child D.J.R.B. with Gloria E. Gonzalez-Batrez. The court has set a hearing to consider ending your rights to your child. That hearing will be held on January 25, 2023 at 1:30 p.m. in Courtroom No. 11. You are warned that even if you fail to appear at the scheduled hearing, the hearing will go on without you and your rights to your child may be ended by the court without your being present. You have a right to be represented at the hearing by a lawyer. You should take this paper to your lawyer at once. If you do not have a lawyer or cannot afford one, go to or telephone the office set forth below to find out where you can get legal help.

Nassau County Bar Association LRIS 15th and West Streets Mineola, NY 11501 Phone: 516-747-4832 lawyerreferral@nassaubar .org 136407

LEGAL NOTICE

REFEREE’S NOTICE OF SALE IN FORECLOSURE SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU CITIMORTGAGE, INC., Plaintiff - againstMICHAEL D’ANTONI A/K/A MICHAEL DANTONI A/K/A MICHAEL E. D’ANTONI A/K/A MICHAEL EDWARD D’ANTONI, et al Defendant(s).

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered on May 26, 2022.

I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, N.Y. 11501 “Rain or Shine” on the 17th day of January, 2023 at 2:00 PM. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, situate, lying and being in the City of Long Beach, County of Nassau and State of New York.

Premises known as 30 Delaware Avenue, Long Beach, (City of Long Beach) NY 11561.

(SBL#: 59-260-13)

Approximate amount of lien $292,309.67 plus interest and costs.

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

Index No. 608466/2019.

Mark S. Ricciardi, Esq., Referee.

Davidson Fink LLP

Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 400 Meridian Centre Blvd, Ste 200

Rochester, NY 14618

Tel. 585/760-8218

For sale information, please visit Auction.com at www.Auction.com or call (800) 280-2832 Dated: November 7, 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.

135906

Place

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A., Plaintiff AGAINST MICHELE AVILA, et al., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered January 30, 2019, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on January 18, 2023 at 2:00PM, premises known as 328 EAST CHESTER STREET, LONG BEACH, NY 11561. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the City of Long Beach, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 59, Block 139, Lot 49 and 50. Approximate amount of judgment $383,969.90 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #612184/2017. The aforementioned auction will be conducted in accordance with the NASSAU County COVID-19 mitigation protocols and as such all persons must comply with social distancing, wearing masks and screening practices in effect at the time of this foreclosure sale. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, then the court appointed referee will cancel the foreclosure auction. Foreclosure Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine”. Oscar P. Prieto, Esq., Referee Gross Polowy, LLC 1775 Wehrle Drive Williamsville, NY 14221 17-005555 73859 135858

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT. NASSAU COUNTY. L&L ASSOCIATES HOLDING CORP., Pltf., vs. KATHLEEN O’LEARY, et al, Defts. Index #608995/2018. Pursuant to judgment of foreclosure and sale dated March 21, 2019, I will sell at public auction on the North Side steps of the Nassau Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY on January 24, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. prem. k/a Section 59, Block 138, Lots 26-27. Sold subject to terms and conditions of filed judgment and terms of sale and the right of the United States of America to redeem within 120 days from the date of sale as provided by law. Foreclosure auction will be held “rain or shine.” If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, then the court appointed referee will cancel the auction.

MICHAEL VENDITTO, Referee. LEVY & LEVY, Attys. for Pltf., 12 Tulip Dr., Great Neck, NY. #99941 136220

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LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT NASSAU COUNTY DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, AS TRUSTEE FOR RESIDENTIAL ACCREDIT LOANS, INC., MORTGAGE ASSETBACKED PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2007-QS1, Plaintiff against OMAR ARANA, et al Defendant(s) Attorney for Plaintiff(s) Fein Such & Crane, LLP, 1400 Old Country Road, Suite 103N, Westbury, NY 11590. Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered October 18, 2019, I will sell at public auction to the highest bidder at North Side Steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on January 23, 2023 at 2:00 PM. Premises known as 149 West Chester Street, Long Beach, NY 11561. Sec 59 Block 69 Lot 53-55. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, situate, lying and being in the City of Long Beach, County of Nassau and State of New York. Approximate Amount of Judgment is $690,257.04 plus interest, fees, and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No 602259/2018.

The foreclosure sale will be conducted in accordance with 10th Judicial District’s Covid-19 Policies and foreclosure auction rules. The Referee shall enforce any rules in place regarding facial coverings and social distancing. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, then the Court Appointed Referee shall cancel the foreclosure auction.

Foreclosure Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine.”

Ellen Durst, Esq., Referee PNNY046 136227

PUBLIC AND LEGAL NOTICES…

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LEGAL NOTICE

SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU

CITIMORTGAGE, INC., Plaintiff -against- SCOTT UNGER, et al Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered herein and dated April 25, 2017, 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, NY on January 26, 2023 at 2:30 p.m. premises situate, lying and being in the City of Long Beach, County of Nassau and State of New York, bounded and described as follows: BEGINNING at the corner formed by the intersection of the Easterly side of Lafayette Boulevard with the Southerly side of Hudson Street; being a plot 100 feet by 60 feet by 100 feet by 60 feet. Section 59 Block 44 Lot 1, 2 and 3.

All bidders must wear a face mask/shield at all times and social distancing must be observed by all bidders at all times. Bidders who do not comply with the face mask and/or the social distancing mandate will be removed from the auction.

Said premises known as 520 LAFAYETTE BOULEVARD, LONG BEACH, NY Approximate amount of lien $830,835.20 plus interest & costs.

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale.

If the sale is set aside for any reason, the Purchaser at the sale shall be entitled only to a return of the deposit paid. The Purchaser shall have no further recourse against the Mortgagor, the Mortgagee or the Mortgagee’s attorney. Index Number 014534/2012.

MATTHEW HUNTER, ESQ, Referee David A. Gallo & Associates LLP Attorney(s) for Plaintiff

47 Hillside Avenue, 2nd Floor, Manhasset, NY 11030

File# 9024.106

{* LONG BEACH*} 135994

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LEGAL

NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT

COUNTY OF NASSAU Deutsche Bank National Trust Company as Trustee for the Holders of New Century Home Equity Loan Trust, Series 2005-A, Asset Backed Pass-Through Certificates, Plaintiff AGAINST Andrea Reda, et al., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered February 5, 2020, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on January 19, 2023 at 2:30PM, premises known as 83 Wyoming Avenue, Long Beach, NY 11561. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the City of Long Beach, County of Nassau and State of New York, SECTION: 59, BLOCK: 235, LOT: 38. Approximate amount of judgment $300,481.37 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #005473/2014. The afore mentioned auction will be conducted in accordance with the NASSAU County COVID-19 Protocols located on the Office of Court Administration (OCA) website (https://ww2.nycourts.gov /Admin/oca.shtml) and as such all persons must comply with social distancing, wearing masks and screening practices in effect at the time of this foreclosure sale. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, then the court appointed referee will cancel the foreclosure auction. Foreclosure Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine”. For sale

information, please visit Auction.com at www.Auction.com or call (800) 280-2832. Brian J. Davis, Esq., Referee Frenkel Lambert Weiss Weisman & Gordon, LLP 53 Gibson Street Bay Shore, NY 11706 01-054900-F01 74135 136022

PUBLIC AND LEGAL NOTICES…

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LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, MTGLQ INVESTORS, L.P., Plaintiff, vs. CARMEN JAQUE, ET AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to an Order Confirming Referee’s Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on December 10, 2019, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the front steps on the north side of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY on February 2, 2023 at 4:00 p.m., premises known as 565 East Olive Street a/k/a 565 Olive Street, Long Beach, NY 11561. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the City of Long Beach, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 59, Block 171 and Lots 69 & 70.

Approximate amount of judgment is $669,824.95 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #009689/2014. Cash will not be accepted. This foreclosure sale will be held on the north side steps of the Courthouse, rain or shine. COVID-19 safety protocols will be followed at the foreclosure sale. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, the Court Appointed Referee will cancel the sale.

Thomas R. Scanlon, Esq., Referee Knuckles, Komosinski & Manfro, LLP, 565 Taxter Road, Suite 590, Elmsford, NY 10523, Attorneys for Plaintiff 136409

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU BANK OF AMERICA, NA, Plaintiff, AGAINST JAMES E MULVANEY, JR., BARBARA FISCHKIN, et al. Defendant(s) Pursuant to a judgment of foreclosure and sale duly entered on December 3, 2019.

I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction at the North Side Steps of the Nassau Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on January 26, 2023 at 2:00 PM premises known as 85 Dalton St, Long Beach, NY 11561.

Please take notice that this foreclosure auction shall be conducted in compliance with the Foreclosure Auction Rules for Nassau County and the COVID 19 Health Emergency Rules, including proper use of masks and social distancing.

All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the City of Long Beach, in the County of Nassau and State of New York. Section 59, Block 181 and Lot 25 and 26.

Approximate amount of judgment $371,916.17 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment. Index #611496/2017.

Gerald Chiariello, Esq., Referee, Aldridge Pite, LLPAttorneys for Plaintiff - 40 Marcus Drive, Suite 200, Melville, NY 11747 136322:

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB, D/B/A CHRISTIANA TRUST, NOT INDIVIDUALLY BUT AS TRUSTEE FOR HILLDALE TRUST, Plaintiff AGAINST MARY MARKS, RON MARKS AKA RON EVAN MARKS, ET AL., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered September 16, 2022, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the North Side

steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on January 30, 2023 at 2:30PM, premises known as 47 EAST BEECH STREET, LONG BEACH, NY 11561. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the City of Long Beach, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 59, Block 99, Lot 61-64. Approximate amount of judgment $1,405,702.49 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #600924/2018. The aforementioned auction will be conducted in accordance with the NASSAU County COVID-19 mitigation protocols and as such all persons must comply with social distancing, wearing masks and screening practices in effect at the time of this foreclosure sale. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, then the court appointed referee will cancel the foreclosure auction. Foreclosure Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine”. Fay Mattana, Esq., Referee Gross Polowy, LLC 1775 Wehrle Drive Williamsville, NY 14221 19-005692 74404 136311

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LEGAL NOTICE

Notice of formation of AXELROD PERFORMANCE CHIROPRACTIC PLLC, a professional limited liability company, Arts. Of Org. filed with the Secretary of State of the State of NY (SSNY) on 11/04/2022. Office location: Nassau County. SSNY has been designated for service of all process. SSNY shall mail a copy of any process to the PLLC, 275 Harbor Drive, Long Beach, NY 11561. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. 135827

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My building’s in need of a tenant

Q. I have a building that has been unoccupied for three years. I bought it because it was going to have a long-term tenant. They backed out, so I need to get the building rented. I have a prospect who wants me to get the permits for their animal grooming service operation, with possible overnight boarding. They’re only interested if the permits are ready to go. What is the minimum I can do to get the permit and get the tenant into the building to rent? The building is 8,000 square feet, and the tenant only needs about 5,000. Do I need more permits for another tenant, and can I get them both together to save money? I need to do this quickly, or the tenant will go elsewhere. What can be done?

A. Time and cost are a problem. You probably won’t get results in under seven months to a year. Building plans take time, and must involve the tenant’s specific input as to where walls, plumbing and equipment will be located.

Most people treat plans like they’re just a suggestion, to be changed later, but the reality is that the plans need to show very specifically what will be done. Those plans have to be filed with all the required application papers and a property survey with the building department, which will then put the plans in a lineup with all the other plan folders that come in that will eventually be reviewed. Depending on the size of the community, this process can take three to four months before you first hear back that your plans are objected to or rejected.

Once you learn that you can’t be approved with a straight-away permit, you may request that the file go into a request for varying from the zoning code, since most municipalities do not allow overnight animal boarding. This is the zoning variance request. A zoning case is separate from a building permit, and requires the preparation of a map of the property, along with neighboring properties — sometimes, depending on the community, as far away as 600 feet. For commercial use, some municipalities require that the map show the accurate outline of all buildings and names of tenants and owners on each property, prepared by a licensed land surveyor.

If the plans you submit on behalf of your potential tenant do not reflect the true layout of the shapes and sizes of rooms, the location of equipment, etc., you may find yourself applying again to repeat the process when a building inspector sees that the plans were not followed, so you and the tenant have to treat this process seriously.

Also, if the building is not yet outfitted with sprinklers, plan on another seven- to 10-month process with the fire marshal. It can take less, but this is a common time frame. This process cannot be rushed, and isn’t like getting a driver’s license. Each tenant’s plans will need to be filed for separately. 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.

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The ups and downs of 2022

Yes, 2022 was quite a year. Politics were at their ugliest. The world was in turmoil. War raged in the Ukraine. Overall, it was a tumultuous year. Here are some thoughts on it. The election had many surprises for New Yorkers. Kathy Hochul became the first elected woman governor in state history, but won her first full term by only 5 percentage points.

JERRY KREMER

Hochul ran a remote campaign, and failed to do local events. Her Republican opponent, Lee Zeldin, made it a closer contest than expected, using the issue of crime effectively.

Long Island made history by electing four Republican members of Congress, who helped their party cement its majority in the House. One of the winners, George Santos, turned out to have lied about his entire resume. Candidates sometimes exaggerate a chapter of their history, but not the entire story. At this writing, Santos was about to be investigated by the Nassau County district attorney. Even if he’s able to hang on to his job, he’ll definitely be a one-term member of Congress.

There were some other big local winners. Nassau Republican chair Joe Cairo’s candidates unseated two state senators, and his party now has seven out of nine Long Island senate seats. We can hope that the winning seven will find a way to work with the two Democrats whose party controls the senate. Cairo also produced a winning margin locally for Zeldin, which helped make the final results much closer.

Love him or not, President Biden had some big victories last year. Congress passed a bipartisan gun control bill, the first of its kind since the early 1990s. Of course, it took a number of major tragedies to spark a major defeat for the National Rifle Association, which had successfully blocked previous bills.

As well, new microchip legislation will pave the way for microchip factories in the United States. New York will get its own major chip facility upstate, which could bring thousands of jobs.

Another bipartisan win was the passage of a major bill that will fund the battle against climate change, a first in the country’s history. New York did its share by passing a $4 billion bond to combat global warming in the state. It will pay for

badly needed repairs to water and sewer systems and provide dollars for new forms of clean energy. Considering the measure’s high cost, its approval by voters was a miracle.

Those voters also sent a clear message to the Albany establishment on the issue of bail reform. Whether or not crime rates are as high in your community as some claim, the State Legislature will have to clean up the current law, or Democrats will take a bigger beating in 2024 and possibly lose control of the Senate.

And 2022 was supposed to be the year when cannabis would be sold at retail dispensaries. Some permits were given to people who’d had marijuana-related convictions, but otherwise the program stalled. New York is far behind Massachusetts and Rhode Island when it comes to legalized pot sales.

Our battle against the coronavirus last winter was successful. The number of New Yorkers suffering from the disease dropped dramatically. Covid vaccines proved to be effective. While mandates to wear masks were finally lifted, wearing masks in 2023 in crowded places will still be effective in keeping the numbers down.

Last November’s election results were historic. Over the past 50-plus years, the

president’s party has almost always lost seats in Congress, and has sometimes lost control of the House or Senate as well. But this time around, the Democrats, who some forecast would lose both houses, surprisingly kept control of the Senate, and almost retained control of the House.

So, 2022 was the year that prosecutors and the Jan. 6 committee painted a vivid picture of numerous wrongdoings by former President Donald Trump. He is facing grand jury deliberations, and even many of his staunchest supporters acknowledge that his reputation has taken a major hit. The failure of the candidates he endorsed in November didn’t help, either. This may be the year that he is called to account for his missteps.

The nation needs a cleansing from Trump’s grip on the Republican Party, which will help both political parties refocus on making government work — or at least they will try. This was quite a year. Hopefully, our leaders will learn from their mistakes, and produce some positive results for we the people.

Jerry Kremer was an Assemblyman for 23 years, and chaired the Assembly’s Ways and Means Committee for 12 years. He now heads Empire Government Strategies, a business development and legislative strategy firm. Comments about this column? jkremer@liherald.com.

Happiness is a reach, but we have long arms

Happiness is a reach, but we have long arms

As the new year begins, let us look up to the stars that light our winter nights.

The transition from 2022 to 2023 has been showered with starlight. Fresh off the front lines in Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky, the most unlikely of heroes, came to America to thank us for our support, and ask for more. As it turns out, the man in green fatigues roused something in us that had been beaten lifeless over the past few years: pride in our will to do good, faith in our democracy and a clear demarcation between right and wrong. Heroism is a rare commodity, but it walked into Congress on Dec. 21 and reminded us of who we are.

invaded, he stepped out of his old life and into battle dress. His visit to the U.S. shook something loose in our pervasive national cynicism and growing mistrust of one another. Here is a good guy, brave, not afraid to die for his country, a real David against a monstrous Goliath.

The Ukrainians face a winter without heat or running water, under constant bombardment by Russia. Their courage reminds us what death-defying bravery looks like after years of Trumpist self-serving corruption.

RANDI KREISS

“It is often in the darkest skies that we see the brightest stars,” the philosopher Hannah Arendt said. Just in these last weeks, as 2022 ended and as 2023 begins, the sky seems afire with hope.

human-rights and voter-rights legislation through Congress.

Heroes come in unlikely personas at odd times. Cassidy Hutchinson is in the news, too. The 26-year-old former assistant to Mark Meadows, the Trump White House chief of staff, a woman who knows right from wrong, decided to tell the truth about President Trump’s alleged crimes despite enormous pressure to dissemble. It is hard to overstate the significance of her testimony. She is key to the Department of Justice investigation of Trump and the insurrection. A woman who had to look up the history of Watergate to guide her may be key to preserving our democracy.

cal behavior at NYU Langone. The article alleged longstanding policies on the part of hospital administrators to offer favorable treatment to powerful donors and celebrities and political figures. The reporting stood boldly against those who think that might makes right, and in support of those who surrender to privilege or who are resigned to “the way things work.”

In the wake of the Times story, maybe those bending the rules will be held accountable. It’s going around.

The fact that we have newspapers and reporters who sweat the details and follow up and write truth to power is another bright star in our firmament.

Nothing about the Ukrainian presidential visit was business as usual. Zelensky’s superheroic persona was forged in the fires sparked by Russian missiles and tanks. Seems like a minute ago he was an entertainer raising a family in a safe and bustling society. But when the Russians

There was something uplifting in how it all looked: the man from Ukraine hugging the outgoing Speaker of the House and embracing the American president. Political pundits have been busy hounding aging boomers out of the public spotlight and urging older statespeople to retire. Yet it was 82-year-old Nancy Pelosi and 80-year-old Joe Biden who were getting things right, and getting the people’s work done. It was 72-year-old Sen. Chuck Schumer who pushed some critical

Then there’s the January 6th congressional committee and its 800-somethingpage report, released during these weeks of wonder. Another unlikely force for good, the committee, over 18 months, compiled a detailed and disturbing account of a rogue presidency, an attempted coup, and a coterie of accomplices to crimes against our nation.

Accountability is in the air, and it isn’t only playing out in our government. More locally, The New York Times recently ran a front-page story detailing alleged unethi-

For these many years of political travail and pandemic grief, newspapers have kept us informed. Stories like the expose on NYU prove that we have people in our profession who care about public corruption and work hard to bring it to light.

Correspondents on the ground in Ukraine risk their lives every day to bring us the human story unfolding there.

We survived the shortest day of the year. As the daylight lingers, is it harmony in our homeland we see in the new year? Moments of happiness? Certainly the stars are brilliant in our cold, dark skies, and we can read that as hope.

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

I s it harmony in our homeland we see in the new year? Moments of happiness?

This was quite a year. We can hope that our leaders will learn from their mistakes.

2

Phone: (516) 569-4000

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When ‘it’s just government’ isn’t an excuse

it’s a new year. A time of renewal. A time when we look ahead to brighter days.

Many people, however, woke up a couple of days before Christmas to heavy rain and wind that once again brought a frightening amount of flooding to residential streets and primary roadways.

The early-winter storm evoked memories of 2012’s Hurricane Sandy, which was considered a once-in-a-century weather event. One South Shore resident even said that the storm was “giving me Sandy vibes.”

As early-morning motorists maneuvered through small rivers of water, it wasn’t surprising that some thought, “No, not again.” But they may have scratched their heads at the next thought: “Where are all those Sandy flood-mitigation projects we were promised?”

Less than a year after Sandy, New York state — under the direction of then Gov. Andrew Cuomo — established the Governor’s Office of Storm Recovery to centralize the rebuilding and recovery efforts. One of its programs, New York Rising Community Reconstruction, empowered local communities to provide input into resiliency projects. Sandy was one of three storms — along with Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee in 2011 — that were under the storm recovery office’s umbrella.

Roughly $4.4 billion was made available to the state through federal funding for an assortment of resiliency projects as well as for residential home rebuilding. For the NYRCR program, communities assembled committees of civic leaders. There were public meetings. Engineers were consulted. Ideas were exchanged. Public comment

letters

Does the columnist understand the waves?

To the Editor:

Re Matthew Adarichev’s column “The red wave that wasn’t, and the crime wave that isn’t” (Dec. 8-14):

I guess Adarichev didn’t see or understand the election results here, where people rejected the Democrats’ message of being soft on crime and bail reform.

He writes that fear of crime enabled Republicans to pull the red wave here.

So let me get this straight: We were supposed to elect people who couldn’t care less about us being free and safe in our neighborhood and homes while democracy and inflation were the two top issues?

The left loves throwing the word “democracy” around, but when you ask them for a definition, their minds go blank.

Adarichev goes on to say that there’s no

was collected.

From the list of NYRCR projects provided by the storm recovery office, 45 have been completed in Nassau County, while 30 others are in progress. These projects total nearly $334 million. GOSR has done a heck of a job.

However, getting to this point is one thing, but finishing is something else. What started as a well-run program looks as if it’s going to be a tough haul to complete.

Local officials tasked with cooperating with their state counterparts have found the process, which continues today, annoyingly slow and frustrating. There have been too many meetings, too much talk, and a lack of coordination — to the point where it felt like projects were constantly stopping and starting.

One of the problems appears to have been self-inflicted. As local officials pushed to move the projects forward, not only were there too many personnel changes in the state storm-recovery office, but the incoming officials, based in New York City, were unfamiliar with Long Island. Some projects went through nearly 10 iterations. It seemed that the process had to start from scratch any time there was a change in GOSR leadership.

Storm recovery representatives were also constantly interpreting federal language differently, creating more bumps in the road. The large volume of paperwork that moved back and forth between municipalities — requirements put in place by federal agencies as a response to the rampant fraud, waste and abuse of funds after Hurricane Katrina —slowed projects down.

Then, in 2020, the world shut down because of the coronavirus pandemic. Projects that were in the works were given extensions because of unforeseen conditions that created supply-chain issues. That was understandable.

But don’t misunderstand: Much has been accomplished. There is a pump station in Cedarhurst, for example, that surely could help reduce flooding on Peninsula Boulevard.

Cuomo’s idea of having one central entity to oversee the projects was a good one. And the grass-roots NYRCR program won numerous national awards. But as more projects move forward, the state’s execution needs to be better. Now that there is a record of what was done — good and bad — there should be an audit, and what is learned from it should be applied as soon as possible.

The state’s newly created — and much more permanent — Office of Resilient Homes and Communities will now take over the storm recovery office portfolio. We hope that a permanent department will mean less staff shuffling and a streamlining of the bureaucracy. Importantly, state officials need to be more familiar with the communities they are supposed to be helping.

At one of many public meetings held several years ago, one resident was heard to say, “It’s just government,” in response to proposed plans that neighbors did not completely agree with.

That’s not an excuse our government should hide behind. To start the new year off right, the state should move the remaining projects to completion as soon as possible — before the next storm strikes.

JAMES

Does Kirsten Gillibrand care about Long Islanders?

new York state’s missing U.S. senator, Kirsten Gillibrand, recently surfaced on Long Island. That must mean that Gillibrand finally got around to analyzing November’s election results and the near-death experience that will be seared into Gov. Kathy Hochul’s memory. Say what you will about our senior senator, Chuck Schumer — and there’s much to say — at least he knows where Long Island is. Before he became majority leader, Schumer seemed to be on the Island every weekend, holding news conferences on topics ranging from baby products to the width of airline seats. He understood the power of Long Island’s potent voter base and its propensity to swing right or left, depending on issues and personalities.

Schumer has been in our faces, like him or not, because he understands politics and the importance of engaging voters. He has long recognized that if you take Long Island for granted, you do so at your own political peril.

Gillibrand? She has long been absent on issues. Absent on voter engagement.

Absent on personal appearances. Just plain absent. Even Newsday was compelled at one point to ask, “Where is she?”

Well, you can tell that she has checked the calendar, and discovered that re-election is just two years away. Last month she met with journalists in Melville. In what was described as a wide-ranging discussion, Gillibrand announced that Long Island’s “red wave” would end in 2024. While suggesting that her party was trounced in November because “a lot of Long Island is libertarian,” she added, “I intend to run for re-election and win the state back, along with Long Island.”

These are bold words from someone who has failed to make a serious connection with Long Island voters. Over the years, Gillibrand has made a handful of announcements about federal programs, with little evidence that she pursued them specifically for our region, or even the state. In some instances, she has simply piggybacked off press statements from Schumer’s office.

To be fair, a search reveals that she held a town hall meeting at Hofstra in October. At that event, in which she engaged with students, the focus was the

Letters

crime wave, and that it’s OK to steal your catalytic converter. These thieves aren’t looking for their next meal or hanging out at soup kitchens. They are highly organized criminals, along with a few complicit junkyard owners, netting hundreds of thousand of dollars a year.

It sickens Adarichev that there’s another shooting, another corpse and some boyfriend beating up his girlfriend.

No mention of how the victims feel being pushed in front of a train or mugged on the street, or of bullets shot through children’s bedroom windows. Welcome to the world of bail reform, criminals’ get-out-of-jailfree card. But according to Matt, we have nothing to worry about.

Then he brings up a price cap to reduce the cost of gas. Here’s an idea: open drilling and exploration, like the last administration did. We were energy-independent and gas was $2 a gallon.

Now President Biden begs for gas from Venezuela, which is run by a dictator, and Saudi Arabia, which still hasn’t come clean about 9/11.

MICHAEL APPICE

Government shouldn’t control energy on L.I.

To the Editor:

The recent column by Ronald Rosenberg (“‘Energy efficient’ may become a contradiction in terms,” Dec. 1-7) hits the nail on the head. Proposed moves away from the current public/private energy setup, which works well, are supported by left-wing activists who want further government control.

Current conventional energy producers and purveyors tend to be Republican and conservative. The cries for clean and green energy have less to do with saving the planet and more to do with consolidating power among Democrats and socalled progressives. More and more analysis has shown that electric cars, wind power and solar power are fraught with failures. Wake up, folks — the real goal here is to consolidate power among the radical left, not to save the planet.

MIKE TARTAGLIA Franklin Square

Supreme Court’s ruling on abortion. She told the Herald that she was in favor of term-limiting the justices. Ironically, that’s a suggestion she has not proffered for members of the Senate.

Gillibrand described herself as “very progressive” in her Melville interview, which raises the question: Just how far out of step is she with the majority of New Yorkers and those Long Island “libertarians” who voted in the last election cycle? Does she appreciate that being “very progressive” may serve to short-circuit a primary challenge from the left, but leaves her totally at odds with moderates in both parties?

Being frightened of a left-wing primary challenge led Hochul to ignore such profound issues as crime, high taxes, and municipal zoning authority. Her election night turned rather tense as returns demonstrated that a state with nearly twice as many Democrats as Republicans wasn’t going to give her the margin of victory her consultants were touting.

Former Rep. Lee Zeldin has given no indication of what he plans to do for the next two years. He has been mentioned as a potential choice as the next state GOP chairman, who could infuse new blood and strategic vision into that posi-

tion. There is also speculation that he could run for Senate, confronting Gillibrand’s progressive candidacy with the grounded policies of moderates and conservatives who want an engaged senator who knows the difference between AOC and the LIE.

Another Long Islander who would make a formidable opponent to Gillibrand is Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman. He has quickly established his credentials as a tireless campaigner who embraces policies that are welcomed by those who describe themselves as Republicans, as well as independents who are in search of common sense. Comfortable before the media, popular “at home” and dedicated to public service, Blakeman would be an attractive candidate on many levels.

While two years is a lifetime in politics, Gillibrand’s recent return to Long Island is like Halley’s Comet, an event that happens very rarely. And her description of our red wave as the product of a bunch of libertarians is a reflection of the fact that she may visit every once in a while, but she doesn’t know us. And never has.

Ronald J. Rosenberg has been an attorney for 42 years, concentrating in commercial litigation and transactions, and real estate, municipal, zoning and land use law. He founded the Garden City law firm Rosenberg Calica & Birney in 1999.

Framework by Tim Baker

Preparing to ring it in at the Electric Light Parade — Long Beach

the senator may visit every once in a while, but she doesn’t know us, and never has.

Westbury

ronaLd J. rosenBerG

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