Long Beach Herald 03-28-2024

Ford honored by legislature Page 2

Joel Russell Brown, who recently moved to Long Beach, appeared in ‘the Lion King,’ on Broadway or on tour, about 350 times. He spent years doing other shows, auditioning for ‘Lion King’ and taking african dialect classes before finally being offered a role in 2005. He spent 12 years with the show, filling in as Mufasa and Scar, and performing in the chorus of hundreds of shows.

Also serving Point Lookout & East Atlantic Beach

Easter Bunny visits l.B. early Page 11

Meet ‘Lion King’s’ Mufasa, a new Long Beach neighbor

By BRENdAN CARPENTER bcarpenter@liherald.com

Russell Joel Brown has had an enviable career as an actor, appearing on Broadway hundreds of times, and becoming a millionaire along the way.

Brown’s journey has been a unique one, with no shortage of ups and downs. All he has done and all has been through so far, he said, has led him to Long Beach, where he moved in January.

Brown, 60, grew up in Augusta, Georgia, the youngest of seven children. His parents

sent two of his siblings to an Episcopal school in 1965, and they were its first Black students. The public schools in Augusta weren’t integrated until 1971.

Brown considers that time very important in his own development, because, he said, “We were a black family growing up in the segregated South there, and this major event has happened for a family with support from the school, and from our church, and from the Black community as well as some people in the white community.”

His sister Karen was a talented ballet

Continued on page 10

School board starts budget talks Page 16

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Turning her tragic loss into help for others

By ANGElINA ZINGARIEllo azingariello@liherald.com

In the aftermath of tragedy, Angela Skudin found herself not only grappling with enormous loss, but also recognizing a significant gap in support for those who endure traumatic incidents like hers. That prompted the creation of the Casey Skudin 343 Fund.

HAngela’s husband, Long Beach native Casey Skudin, a decorated New York City firefighter and a member of the renowned Long Beach Skudin surfing family, died on June 17, 2022, at 3:43 p.m., in an accident in a windstorm in North Carolina.

la said. “The first responders that showed up, they’re the first ones on the scene, and they have to see more traumatic sights than anyone, including myself, and they all took it home.”

e was a hero. He helped everyone.

Skudin, who joined the FDNY after the Sept. 11 attacks, worked at Ladder 137 in Rockaway Beach, and had received a number of awards for his rescue efforts, including during Hurricane Sandy in 2012.

ANGEl A SkudIN founder, Casey Skudin 343 Foundation

Skudin was driving with Angela and their two sons on Casey’s 46th birthday when a tree limb fell on their car at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville. Angela was unharmed, but Casey was killed, and their youngest son, C.J., sustained injuries and was hospitalized.

“I had learned at the scene of my husband’s death,” Ange-

Not long after he died, Angela established the Casey Skudin 343 Fund, dedicated to aiding first responders in accessing holistic and alternative treatments for trauma and mental health difficulties arising from work their work at fires, accidents and other emergencies.

“It affected every single one of them on a different level, because they were a first responder,” Angela said. “And then having gone through it as a widow, there was just this need for spousal support that Continued on page 5

Courtesy Joel Russell Brown

Denise Ford honored for Women’s History

By ANGELINA ZINGARIELLO azingariello@liherald.com

Former Legislator and Long Beach resident Denise Ford was honored in celebration of Women’s History Month, acknowledging her decades of service and commitment to her community at a legislative meeting on March 25.

Throughout the event, speakers, including colleagues and successors, shared anecdotes and praises, highlighting Ford’s dedication to her constituents and her impactful career.

“She’s just interested in just being a good representative and doing what the people want to do with the people,” Howard Koepel said. “And making sure that everyone is taken care of in the right way.”

Ford, who held her position and served Long Beach for 20 years, was commended for her strength and perseverance as well as her ability to remain connected and attentive to community needs, even when faced with personal challenges. Her tenure was characterized by a close relationship with her community, where she was known to be always there to listen and support.

The recognition ceremony provided a platform for colleagues to reflect on Ford’s substantial contributions, not just within her district but also across Nassau County.

Ford expressed her gratitude and

humility upon receiving the honor, sharing reflections on her career and the relationships she’s built along the way.

“To everybody here, and especially when I look at these young women behind me, never be afraid to try to achieve what you want to,” Ford said.

“You never know where your life is going to bring you. And I’m going to take something from what Patrick has said; sometimes, you may be dealt with moments where you have to find within yourself that you can make lemonade. And even though life may throw lemons at you before you know it, you’ll still be

able to squeeze something out of it.”

“You certainly will always have something inside there that will keep you moving forward,” she continued. “And remember, always remember, that no matter what happens, you can achieve. You can really excel in some way. So, thank you all. This is indeed an honor.”

Her speech also highlighted the collaborative nature of her work and the collective accomplishments achieved during her time in office.

Ford encouraged current and future legislators to cherish their roles and the opportunity to make a difference, emphasizing the importance of perseverance and optimism in public service.

As the ceremony concluded, Ford’s legacy as a dedicated public servant was firmly celebrated, leaving a lasting impression on all those in attendance.

Her story and achievements during Women’s History Month serve as an inspiration, not only to women in politics but to all those committed to serving their communities with passion.

“Legislator Ford has been a tireless fighter for her constituents and was never afraid to speak her mind or make her voice heard,” Legislator Patrick Mullaney said. “I learned everything about being a Legislator from her, and I could only hope I will be half the person she is.”

Courtesy Nassau County Legislature

Ford with Patrick Mullaney, who replaced her in the legislature.

Empowering bodies and minds at the JCC

By KEPHERD DANIEL kdaniel@liherald.com

Dozens of athletes gather at Oceanside’s Friedberg JCC each week for a unique lineup of boxing classes that are quickly becoming the undisputed champion in the community. The program has taken off under the leadership of North Merrick resident Steve Solomon.

The JCC offers three classes — one for those with special needs, another for those with Parkinson’s disease, both for JCC members, and a third for the general population. The general class is open to JCC members and nonmembers alike, and has quickly become a favorite among boxing enthusiasts across Long Island. The center becomes a sanctuary — a place where they can push their physical limits and find solace in the rhythms of the ring.

Kevin Payne, 24, of New Hyde Park, says the classes have changed his life. Battling weight gain and searching for a sense of belonging, Payne found refuge in the gym. With the guidance of Solomon and the support of his classmates, Payne not only shed pounds, but also gained a newfound sense of purpose.

“I was 215 pounds, and I’m down to 168 now,” he said. “I was going down a bad track. I wasn’t taking care of myself, and I was super-unhealthy. But I was able to come here every day, and I’m in way better shape now. The thrill of it is what kept me doing it. There’s nothing similar to it.”

Payne, who praised Solomon for helping him get into shape, is looking to enter the world of professional fighting.

“I’m trying to get into MMA,” Payne said, referring to mixed martial arts. “I want to go to different gyms and get all the work possible. Just get good at fighting, because I want to be able to protect myself and my kids one day, and if I have a son, teach him.”

The general class is open to men, women and teens, and Solomon likes to keep things fun, mixing obstacle courses and a variety of exercises with the boxing training and sparring.

Gabe Santiago, a freshman at Oceanside High School, is the youngest member of the class at 15. He had tried wrestling before, but after watching the boxing film “Creed,” Santiago became enamored of boxing, has enjoyed the classes at the JCC and said he wants to stick with it.

“I really like that you can get some instruction, but then also do your own thing, too,” he said.

Solomon is a respected figure in the local sports scene, and boasts many years of boxing on Long Island, dating back to when he was a student at East Meadow High School. He took part in a boxing program at Echo Park, in West Hempstead, run by the late Arthur Mercante Sr., one of the sport’s best-known referees, who worked the legendary heavyweight championship between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier in 1971, as well as other title bouts.

Solomon taught special-needs students health and phys. ed. in several school districts throughout his career, including 30 years in the Uniondale School District. He implemented boxing in the schools, and when the JCC was looking for a boxing

coach last year, Solomon was recommended for the position for his extensive work with the special-needs population.

D.J. Dingle, 40, a Long Beach native who works with the special-needs community in a multi-sports program at the JCC, found himself at a crossroads after a knee injury from basketball sidelined him two years ago. Hesitant to return to the court, Dingle discovered a new passion in boxing.

“I was out for, like, 12 weeks when I broke my knee, and as soon as I was able to come back, I was pushing basketball to the side and I’m focusing more on this,” he said. “It builds some discipline, and especially working with the special-needs community, you need patience and discipline, and that kind of transfers to them, because they feed off of that energy.”

Solomon’s son Zach, 23, is following his father’s path, and has a background in adaptive physical education. An alumnus of Sanford H. Calhoun High School in Merrick, Zach started working with people with special needs at the JCC along with Dingle, and assists his dad in the general boxing class. Zach also attends Adelphi University part-time, and, like his father, is a skilled boxer and an allaround athlete.

“I was around (the special-needs) population, so I have a nice, big heart for them, and I always wanted to help them out,” he said.

Zach was inspired when he saw his father box when he was young, and his dad coached him in multiple intramural sports, including basketball. As the boxing program continues to grow, Steve said, he hopes to be able to continue coaching alongside his son, even after he starts coaching at a local school district.

“We want to coach together,” Steve said. “I got my license and he’ll get his. Maybe we’ll be working in the schools together because together we’re a good combination.”

Keith Rossein/Herald photos

This boxing class packs a punch. From left are Max Muzykus, Ken Altman, Zachary Solomon, Gabriel Rodriquez, Kevin Payne, instructor Steve Solomon, Gabriel Santiago, Adrien Resto and Tyler Corcoran.

Instructor Steve Solomon sparring with his son Zachary.

Ken Altman working on the speed bag.

EASTER LETTER

Thoughts for holiday season

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Happy Easter to you and your families! Thank you for your love for the inspired Word of God. Thank you for your love for the Resurrection appearances of our Lord in this Easter season and the way your lives are set on fire in your meditation and contemplation of these mysteries.

Thank you for your fidelity to the Eucharist and the Sunday Mass and your Catholic spirit of evangelization. Thank you for being instruments of Eucharistic Revival.

In The Joy of the Gospel, Pope Francis states:

storms of history” and we rely on the Risen Lord and his glorified wounds to touch the wounds in Ukraine, the Middle East, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Armenia and Azerbaijan, the region of the Sahel, the Horn of Africa and Sudan, as well as Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan and so many other troubled areas of the world. We ask the Risen Lord and his glorified wounds to touch the wounds experienced in our own country.

ReveRend

John o. BaRRes

“Christ’s resurrection is not an event of the past; it contains a vital power which has permeated the world. Where all seems to be dead, signs of the resurrection suddenly spring up. It is an irresistible force...Each day in our world beauty is born anew, it rises transformed through the storms of history ... Such is the power of the resurrection, and all who evangelize are instruments of that power.” (276)

We continue to live through “the

In The Everlasting Man, G.K. Chesterton captured the power of our Lord’s Resurrection experienced in the cycles of history. He wrote: “Christendom has had a series of revolutions and in each one of them Christianity has died. Christianity has died many times and risen again; for it had a God who knew the way out of the grave.”

This Easter and every Easter we celebrate this Everlasting Man who knew his way out of the grave and who invites us and the Catholic Church on Long Island to a great Resurrection.

Sincerely yours in the Risen Lord, Most Reverend John O. Barres

Lido students take part in an interactive museum

Lido Elementary and pre-K students recently displayed their creative works and learning progress through a Museum of Learning Activities.

The interactive museum, marking the end of their museum unit, showcased student projects in the pre-K hallway and classrooms, offering an immersive experience for all.

With themes ranging from Fairy Tales to Transportation, Life Cycles, Castles, and Dinosaurs, each class explored various subjects throughout the unit. As students explored the exhibits, they received a special stamp in their MOLA Passport Book, enhancing their engagement and interaction with the learning process.

The MOLA showcased the students’ creativity and made learning fun. It was a hands-on experience that helped the young learners at Lido Elementary understand different topics better while having a great time exploring.

–Angelina Zingariello

Students even saw some crocodiles during their learning experience.

Photos courtesy Long Beach Public Schools Pre-K students expressed their curiosity through an interactive museum.

Angela Skudin continues on her mission

just didn’t exist . . . certainly not on a first responder’s salary. My husband was just a helper. He was a hero. He helped everyone, and in his honor, and in his spirit, the Casey Skudin 343 Fund was born.”

Through a grant program, first responders can apply for financial assistance to access alternative healing methods that may not be covered by traditional health insurance plans. They range from infrared saunas to acupuncture to psychedelic-assisted treatments like ketamine therapy, and they can help address the complex trauma and unique challenges faced by first responders for whom traditional treatments aren’t effective.

The fund is run entirely by volunteers, and every donation goes directly to first responders and their families.

Angela had contracted Lyme disease, which prompted her and Casey to explore unconventional healing methods when traditional treatments failed her.

“I went through a battle with Lyme disease before he departed, and it was from 2018 until just right before he died to heal from that, and nothing that I needed was covered by his health policy,” she recalled. “I ran out of prescriptions, I ended up bedridden, covered in sores, misdiagnosed, and then finally properly diagnosed and on the road to recovery. But a big part of my healing

came from alternative healing modalities — from infrared saunas, it came from acupuncture, it came from the hyperbaric oxygen chamber.”

Angela’s recovery, marked by her restored health and spirit since 2022, highlights the transformative potential of unconventional approaches.

saving legal fees and taxes.

with the least amount of taxes and legal fees possible. These are the five steps to creating such a plan.

Step One: Understanding the Family Dynamics. Clients often overlook the inestimable value of getting to know the family dynamic. We are firm believers that the social goes first and the legal should serve the social. Too often it is the other way around. Once we understand who’s who and everyone’s interpersonal relations with each other, we are far better able to craft a plan that will work socially as well as legally. The failure to address the social aspects has led to many a plan tearing the family apart.

Step Two: Reviewing the Client’s Assets. IRA’s and other “qualified” assets (i.e. tax deferred) are treated quite differently, on death or disability, from “non-qualified” assets. The determination of the amount and value of all assets, who owns them, and whether they have named beneficiaries are of the utmost importance in planning correctly, including

Step Three: Reviewing Existing Estate Planning Documents: Not having been prepared by an elder law estate planning attorney, clients’ documents rarely have adequate provisions to take advantage of the many benefits the law provides for our aging population. Wills instead of trusts have often been prepared either because the client was considerably younger and a trust was not needed or a trust was needed but the general practice lawyer was unfamiliar with the specifics of preparing a trust.

Step Four: Developing the Elder Law Estate Plan. We are now in a position to determine which persons are best suited to handle your legal, financial and medical affairs on disability or death, what type of plan should be used and how the estate should be distributed -- keeping in mind the preservation of harmony in the family.

Step Five: Executing and Maintaining the Plan. Legal documents are explained and executed, assets are retitled and beneficiaries on assets changed in keeping with planning objectives. The client is called in to the law firm every three years to ensure the plan meets the client’s current wishes and conforms with any law changes.

As the 343 Fund continues its efforts to support healing first responders, the second annual Casey Skudin Memorial Volleyball Tournament is scheduled for June 21, at 1300 Lido Boulevard, across from the entrance to the Loop Parkway. The event serves not only as a fundraiser, but also as a reminder of the resil -

ience and spirit of service that Skudin embodied.

Registration will begin at 8:30 a.m., the opening ceremony will take place at 9:45, and tournament play will commence at 10. The registration fee of $75 per player will serve as a charitable donation, and include an event shirt.

Last year’s inaugural event attracted more than 500 participants.

Beyond financial aid, the organization provides comprehensive support to grant recipients, including pre- and post-treatment coaching and access to other healing methods recommended by coaches or practitioners. The goal is to empower first responders to embark on holistic journeys of recovery, free from the stigma that often surrounds mental health issues in their line of work.

In the past year alone, the organization has awarded $170,000 in grants, helping 40 first responders access treatment services.

“There was ignorance in this industry for an incredibly long time,” Angela said, “and the facts are there’s growing suicide epidemics. We’re having opioid epidemics, we’re having alcoholism at disturbingly high rates. We’re having PTSD and treatment-resistant depression. It overruns society with these things. Scientifically, these new modalities are what is the new medicine. And it’s time for the rest of society to catch up and for people to be informed.”

Courtesy Jay Belsky

angela Skudin at last year’s inaugural volleyball event benefiting the 343 fund.

Hofstra baseball swings for the fences

By ANDREW COEN sports@liherald.com

The Hofstra baseball team missed out on a chance to defend its conference title last year and is fueled for a return to the championship stage in late May this spring.

After reaching the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history during a magical 2022 season, the Pride bats were driven back to earth in 2023 with an eighth-place finish that left the team just short of qualifying for its league’s sixteam double-elimination tournament held Memorial Day weekend.

This season the Pride were picked ninth in the 12 team Coastal Athletic Association and is looking to prove the doubters wrong to have an opportunity to once again compete for the conference’s automatic bid into the NCAAs.

“We got off to a slow start and then towards the end of the season we started playing better and we just missed out on making the tournament,” said third-year Hofstra head coach Frank Catalanotto, a former 14-year Major League Baseball player from 1997 to 2010 with the Detroit Tigers, Texas Rangers, Toronto Blue Jays, Milwaukee Brewers and New York Mets. “It’s a motivating factor for not only the coaching staff, but also for the student athletes to be ready to play these games.”

Hofstra began the 2024 season with two narrow losses to then 14th-ranked Virginia before taking two of three from Liberty and New Mexico on the road the following two weekends. The Pride entered the start of CAA with two close losses at Columbia and Fordham.

Senior catcher Matt Pelcher, a Merrick native, has emerged as one of Hofstra’s leading hitters this season with a .328 average entering the CAA schedule. Pelcher, who played high school baseball at the prestigious IMG Academy in Florida, hit a home run in an 10-8 season-opening loss at Virginia and went 3-for-4 in a narrow 3-2 defeat at St. John’s on March 8.

“He’s made big strides with his swing and has really bought into what we’ve been teaching,” said Catalanotto of

Pelcher, who registered an RBI double in Hofstra’s 12-8 loss at Columbia on March 19. “He’s a big part of what we do and his versatility helps us out quite a bit.”

Pelcher is among four starters hitting above .300, including sophomore Dylan Palmer at a team-leading .450 starting the conference schedule. He earned Second Team All-CAA and CAA All-Rookie honors as a freshman. Senior outfielder Alex McCoy and graduate student third baseman Santino Ross are also shining offensively so far with .364 and .386 batting averages, respectively.

Catalanotto is also hoping two of his other top hitters, Will Kennedy and Steve Harrington, can produce during the CAA schedule after hitting slumps in March.

The pitching staff is led by senior Michael O’Hanlon, who recorded seven strikeouts in a 9-1 victory against Manhattan College on March 15. O’Hanlon

has stepped into the ace role after serving as the closer the last two years.

The Pride has a number of pitching options out of the bullpen including Rockville Centre native Danny Kelleher, a former South Side High School standout who tossed three scoreless innings in a 9-6 loss at New Mexico on March 3. Catalanotto is hoping Kelleher can continue to make strides on the mound and live up to his full potential.

“He’s been doing a good job and he’s gotten much better from last year,” Catalanotto said of Kelleher. “He’s throwing a lot of two seam fastballs that sink and also a good change-up so he’s keeping the ball down and getting ground balls.”

Another local arm on the roster is freshman Nick Apollo, who earned All-

County accolades at Seaford High School last year and led the Vikings to a county title. The versatile Apollo, who Catalanotto sees potential in for a strong future, received playing time at first base in a 17-6 loss to Manhattan on March 16.

Hofstra travels to longtime CAA foe Towson this weekend before hosting Delaware in another critical three-game conference series from April 5-7. The CAA regular schedule concludes at home against Monmouth on May 18 before the conference tournament commences from May 22-28 at UNC-Wilmington.

“It’s a really tough conference,” Catalanotto said of the CAA, which added last year’s 22nd-ranked team Campbell this season. “We are going to have to bring our best every single game.”

Senior outfielder Alex McCoy is off to a strong start at the dish with a .364 batting average.

Photos courtesy Hofstra Athletics Communications Pitcher Danny Kelleher, a South Side High School graduate, is a key member of the Pride bullpen.

Lawmakers, publishers rally to save local news

An advocacy group determined to save local news in New York rallied in Albany in an effort to bring more lawmakers to their cause.

The Empire State Local News Coalition — a statewide advocacy group of more than 150 local news outlets — joined elected officials at the state capital last week to support the Local Journalism Sustainability Act.

OThe bill — sponsored by state Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal and Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner — is intended to provide tax credits to local news outlets that employ journalists in their communities. HoylmanSigal joined the rally, along with colleagues like Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages, state Sen. Monica Martinez, and Assemblyman David Weprin.

ur local papers are here. They are objective. They provide information. And we need to preserve that.

“This is a full-blown crisis,” HoylmanSigal told those who gathered for the rally in the halls of the capital building. “We live in a deliberative democracy. That means our voters need to be informed to make wise choices. How are they informed? Largely through local news.”

The senate included the Local Journalism Sustainability Act in its One House budget resolution, which organizers describe as a major sign of the bill’s growing support in the legislature.

Both the senate and the Assembly release preliminary One House budgets in response to the governor’s own preliminary budget, which was released earlier this year. The state’s final budget is due April 1, and policies in the final budget almost always must be in one of the three preliminary budgets.

“It is time that New York state steps up and supports one of the most important industries — not just to our economic well-being, but to our democracy,” Hoylman-Sigal said. “The Local Journalism Sustainability Act, which is part of the senate One House budget, will assist in that regard.”

The rally was intended to signal growing pressure on lawmakers to offer much-needed benefits to the local news industry, which has experienced a significant downturn over the past two decades.

The state has lost hundreds of newspapers since 2004, resulting in the loss of not only thousands of jobs, but also thousands of stories that helped keep communities informed. In fact, there are a growing number of communities with little to no access to local newspaper coverage, according to coalition officials. More than a dozen New York counties are down to just one newspaper.

Capped at $20 million statewide, the Local Journalism Sustainability Act is a bill with bipartisan support that provides payroll tax credits for the employment of local news journalists.

News organizations would receive a 50 percent refundable tax credit against the first $50,000 of each newsroom employee’s salary — up to $200,000 per outlet.

The benefit would be limited to print and online newspapers and broadcasters, with 100 employees or less, that cover local community news. This, sup-

porters say, ensures that only truly local news outlets will qualify for this assistance.

“Someone once said that ‘newspapers are the textbooks of democracy, and the lifeblood of freedom,’ and that’s a responsibility newsrooms like ours take very seriously,” said Michael Hinman, executive editor of Herald Community Newspapers, which employs more than 30 journalists across 24 newspapers on Long Island and in New York City.

“Communities depend on their local newspaper, because there is nowhere

else you’re going to get the news about and for your neighborhood, written by someone who knows your neighborhood. Time and time again, it’s been proven that the best communities in America are communities with a strong, local newspaper. And if we don’t do something now, those great communities will be lost to history.”

But in order for this particular bill to move forward, it needs to be supported not just by the senate, but also by the Assembly and by Gov. Kathy Hochul, so that it is included in the final state budget.

“The fight to save local news is a fight to save our democracy,” said Zachary Richner, founder of the Empire State Local News Coalition and director of Richner Communications — the parent company of Herald Community Media.

“Hometown newspapers deliver the hyperlocal updates and investigations necessary to sustain a community’s civic and financial well-being. As local news declines, critical stories are lost, and communities become more polarized.

“We’re proud to have the senate’s support, and we call on Gov. Hochul and the Assembly to support this industry-saving bill and protect critical newsroom jobs.”

Michaelle Solages says she’ll continue to push for the bill’s inclusion in the final state budget with her colleagues in the Assembly.

“We’re continuing our work on Long Island making sure the local story — the story that matters to individual New Yorkers — are heard,” Solages said. “But we really need to make sure we are investing into our community, investing into local journalism, and combatting this growing social media that is spreading misinformation.

“Our local papers are here. They are objective. They provide information. And we need to preserve that.”

Photos courtesy Empire State Local News Coalition

Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages joins lawmakers and supporters like Assemblyman David Weprin, at left, and state Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal, at right, to call on her colleagues to support the Local Journalism Sustainability Act. The measure — currently included in the senate’s One House budget — would provide tax credits to local news outlets, so they can keep local reporters on the ground and covering communities.

State Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal, right, has pushed to put the Local Journalism Sustainability Act into the state senate’s One House budget, to provide tax credits to news outlets employing journalists to cover local communities. The measure is championed by the Empire State Local News Coalition, founded by Zachary Richner, director of Richner Communications, left.

MICHAELLE SOLAGES Assemblywoman

Long Beach students

Long Beach High School’s theatre company presented the musical “Chicago, Teen Edition.” Set in the roaring twenties Chicago, the awarding-winning musical about fame, fortune and acquittal.

Students presented four performances. The performances were on March 14, 15 and 16.

The show featured 58 cast members, including the featured dance troupe and ensemble, 19 musicians and a backstage crew of 15 students. The production team included Director Jordan Hue, along with Musical Director Michael Capobianco, Pit Orchestra Director/ Conductor Leigh Rynecki and Choreographer Christianne Vella.

“This year’s show was different because we had two casts of leads, so it was twice the reason for people to attend more than once,” said Hue. “Each cast brought something unique to the roles and interpretations of these incredible characters. The students really enjoyed working on it!”

The spring production opened with “All That Jazz” followed by various musical numbers including “Funny Honey,” “Mr. Cellophane,” “Roxie,” and “Me and My Baby.” Lead characters, Roxie Hart played by students Sarah Heller and Max Rosenzweig, Velma Kelly played by students Isabella Alley and Megan Meyer, Matron Mama Morton played by students Stephania Robinson and Justin Frangella, Billy Flynn played by students Nate White and Matthew McCaffrey and Amos Hart play by students Joshua Cohen

There were tree performances on March 14, 15 and 16, where students

and Nanichi Arroyo-Hill.

“These dedicated and talented students lit up the stage with their energy, leaving the audience wanting more,” said Julia Lang-Shapiro, Long Beach director of Media, Visual and Performing Arts.

Broadway actor moves to Long Beach

Continued from page 1

dancer, and dance interested Russell as well. Her teacher, the late Ron Colton, had danced with the New York City Ballet, alongside Arthur Mitchell, the first Black dancer in the company. When Colton persuaded Mitchell to come to Augusta to see Karen dance, Mitchell was impressed, and brought her to Manhattan to perform after she graduated from high school in 1973. She danced with the city ballet for 22 years.

When Russell’s parents took him to see her debut at the Loew’s Victoria Theatre in Harlem in 1973, he came home having decided that that was what he wanted to do with his life. So he enrolled in the Augusta Ballet School, and studied there for eight and a half years. He danced with different companies each summer, and he got some feedback from one instructor that changed the trajectory of his life.

“They said, ‘He’s a wonderful person, he’s tall, he has great leaps, he has great extension,’” Brown recounted. “‘But if he’s serious about being a ballet dancer, he’s going to have to do something about those feet, because they don’t point.’ I desperately wanted to be a ballet dancer, so I asked what it would take, and they said I’d have to have my feet broken and reset. I decided it (wasn’t) that important to me.

“Luckily, I had this beautiful voice,” he added. “I had been in choirs all along, and so it was easy for me to transfer from ballet over to the theater.”

Brown gave up ballet in his senior year of high school. He was an excellent student, and was offered a full scholarship by Morehouse College, in Atlanta, to study engineering.

His first week there, he auditioned for, and was accepted in, the Morehouse Glee Club. Then, about three months into his freshman year, he realized he didn’t want to be an engineer anymore. His grades were slipping, and he lost his scholarship.

The Glee Club offered Brown a scholarship, but he was told that he needed to choose between engineering and singing. He chose singing.

He graduated in 1988 with a degree in psychology, and worked for a few years for Hyatt Hotels, starting as a cashier and working his way up to a management position. But Brown wanted to perform, so he asked to be moved to a hotel in New York so he could become an actor. He was transferred to the Grand Hyatt Hotel at Grand Central Station in 1990, where he worked the graveyard shift as a doorman.

For about three years, as a member of the Actors Equity Association, he performed in small shows, making about $225 a week and $30 per diem, while auditioning unsuccessfully for bigger productions.

In 1994, Brown got a job with Royal Caribbean, and performed in two shows a night for six months on cruise ships. Back in New York, he got a job at the Motown Café, on 57th Street. Then, in 1996, he got his first Broadway contract, to perform in “Smokey Joe’s Café.” He was a standby for one of the stars, and sang in a background quartet when the show toured a number of cities in the

U.S., as well as Japan.

In 1997, he began going to casting calls, known as “cattle calls,” for “The Lion King,” at which the play’s producers were mostly looking for chorus performers. Two years later he was asked to take a class in African dialect, and then, in 2000, Brown was called in to audition for the key roles of Mufasa, Simba and Scar. But nothing came of it.

He performed in “The Scarlet Pimpernel” for a year and a half, before going home to Augusta in the summer of 2001, when his father fell ill, and eventually died. Brown stayed in Georgia for four years, until, in August 2005, he got a call from the producers of “The Lion King” to be an immediate replacement on its West Coast Cheetah Tour.

“They called and said, ‘We have to see Russell tomorrow for an immediate replacement on the tour,’” he recalled. “I told them I can’t be there tomorrow. I live in Georgia, and I also can’t afford to fly to New York on a last-minute ticket.” So his agent paid his way.

The producers asked Brown to dance,

Brown created and starred in a one-man show called ‘mozart to motown’ after going home to augusta, georgia, when his father got sick in 2001. He had five sold-out shows at the imperial theater in augusta from 2002 to 2004. He got a call from the producers of ‘the Lion King’ in 2005.

sing and read, and less than two hours later, they called and offered him a role in the chorus and as the understudy for Mufasa and Scar. Over the course of eight years, he had auditioned no fewer than 15 times for the show. Over the next 12 years he would perform in four different companies of “The Lion King,” and make over a million dollars. He took the stage as Scar about 30 times, and as Mufasa about 350 times.

Brown still remembers how he felt the first time he took the stage, with the Cheetah Tour company in Portland, Oregon.

“I was as nervous as nervous could be,” he said. “Everything that happens in a long-running show like that is very specific — it’s not open to your interpretation. Yes, you’re bringing your heart, but there are specific things that you’re supposed to do.”

Brown retired from the stage in August 2017, at the end of the Gazelle Tour, “The Lion King’s” only remaining domestic tour.

“I came to New York to get to Broadway, and I made it to Broadway,” he said. “I’ve been in the biggest money-loser in Broadway history at that time, which was ‘The Scarlet Pimpernel,’ and I’ve been in the biggest money-maker in Broadway history, ‘The Lion King.’ There was nothing else to achieve, so I left New York and I went home to Augusta, and I took a job teaching at a brand new charter school.”

He taught at the School for ArtsInfused Learning, at which the arts were part of the core curriculum, for a year and a half before starting a program called Boys with a Future. There he helped underprivileged children learn to read and enhance their educational skills.

Then, earlier this year, Brown wanted to come back to New York. His best friend lives in Long Beach, so he joined him here. He is still getting to know the community, but is enjoying it, and he hopes to land a gig singing in a church, and to work again in theater — this time behind the scenes.

Brown, top right, with teens he helped with his ‘Boys with a future’ group. Brown has loved performing all his life, not only acting and singing but also studying ballet.

Photos courtesy Joel Russell Brown

The Easter Bunny visited L.B. a little early

Community members inside the Recreation Center despite rain

The City of Long Beach’s Department of Parks and Recreation held its annual Easter Egg Hunt on March 23, even with heavy rain and wind.

Children and families packed the inside of the Recreation Center to find some eggs and take some pictures with the Easter Bunny, all while staying dry.

Long Beach City Manager Dan Creighton accompanied the Easter Bunny is welcoming an early Easter to the city.

Photos courtesy City of Long Beach

The Easter Bunny made sure all children had a good time despite some lousy weather.

City Manager Dan Creighton, left, helped make sure all families got to celebrate Easter a little early.

Cricket World Cup looks to ‘hit for six’

By JORDAN VALLONE jvallone@liherald.com

The Nassau County International Cricket Stadium is starting to take form in Eisenhower Park.

The temporary 34,000-seat venue will serve as one of the hosting locations for the 2024 International Cricket Council Men’s T20 World Cup, set to take place this June in locations that also include Florida, Texas and the West Indies. And Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman emphasized Eisenhower Park’s involvement by joining ICC officials and renowned professional cricketers at a parade last week to officially bring the World Cup’s trophy “home.”

The trophy was displayed underneath an American flag arch, set up by the East Meadow Fire Department, and escorted by the Nassau County Police Department, dozens of emergency vehicles, bagpipers, and the county’s mounted unit to the stadium site.

“We are in the process of constructing this beautiful stadium that will be here for the duration of the tournament,” Blakeman said. “It’s going to be a great venue for everybody to enjoy cricket. There’ll be so many countries that will be here with their teams — we will have fans from all over the world.”

Eight games are slated for Nassau over the course of 12 days. Eisenhower Park will actually host one of the most highly anticipated games of the tournament — India vs. Pakistan — which both consistently fielding some of the best cricketers in the game.

The Cricket World Cup is the third-most popular sporting event across the globe, only behind the FIFA World Cup and the Tour de France.

“We call it the Super Bowl on steroids,” Blakeman said.

The stadium was designed by Populous, an architec-

At the construction site of the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in Eisenhower Park, Ali Khan, a professional cricketer on Team USA, spoke about the excitement surrounding the Cricket World Cup in June. The tournament’s trophy traveled to stadium last week in a ceremonious parade.

ture firm also responsible for creating Yankee Stadium, Citi Field and the UBS Arena, among others. The initiative is privately funded, and the stadium is being built in the open space behind the park’s aquatic center, adjacent to Field 6.

Tickets for games have been hard to obtain, but ICC officials say fans may still be able to secure some.

“The levels of interest in being part of the event are huge, with more than 3 million ticket applications in

the initial ballot,” Geoff Allardice, the ICC’s chief executive said. “I’m delighted to confirm today that we’ve worked closely with our partners to release more tickets to 51 of the 55 games of the event.”

For those unable to purchase tickets, Blakeman says the county will set up watch parties in various locations details of which will be announced at a later date.

Allardice also thanked the county and Blakeman for their support, saying the ICC had “found a true partner” that supports the council’s “vision and ambition.” The stadium had originally been planned for the Bronx, but moved to Nassau County after considerable resistance from neighbors surrounding Van Cortlandt Park there.

“It’s fantastic to stand here today and see our vision come to life,” Allardice said.

Ali Khan, a Pakistani-born American cricketer who plays for the United States, says he’s excited about returning home for the upcoming games.

“It’s really good to be here in Nassau County this morning — good to see all the people coming out,” Khan said. “We cannot wait to take the field here.”

Team USA will compete against India on June 12 in Eisenhower.

“That’s going to be a huge game for us as a host country,” Khan said. “I wish (that) a lot of people come, especially local supporters. Get your tickets now and come support your home team, Team USA.”

As part of county’s negotiations with the ICC, the stadium will be disassembled after the tournament, but the state-of-the-art cricket field will be left in place, along with practice facilities in Cantiague Park in Hicksville.

Local cricket teams and leagues will be able to use the fields when the tournament ends.

“Cricket,” Blakeman said, “is here forever now.”

STEPPING OUT

The Chocolate Expo returns with an exciting Wonka-twist

Everyone has a golden ticket to the Chocolate Expo

By Danielle Schwab

or the love of chocolate, there’s a sweet treat awaiting everyone at this year’s Chocolate Expo.

The popular event — proclaimed as one of the largest chocolate showcases in the United States — is back, ready to tantalize all on April 14.

Chocoholics will delight in the day-long food paradise. An array of 90-plus vendors — including those representing Long Island, New England and even international purveyors — will share their sweet and savory wares with the public during this unique food-centric festival at the David S. Mack Sports & Exhibition Complex at Hofstra University.

So Good: The Neil Diamond Experience

Robert Neary honors an icon with a tribute show like no other. With more than 35 years as a Broadway, television and film actor, Neary brings a special flair to his tribute show. With his powerful presence, from the moment he struts on stage wearing trademark black, gray, and silver sequined jacket, Neary, uncannily resembles Neil Diamond at the height of his touring career in the ‘90s and 2000s. His wit and mannerisms on stage are spot on, especially when he plays his guitar. When he speaks and tells the stories and trivia behind some of Neil’s most popular songs, his rich baritone gravelly voice can easily be mistaken for Neil’s own speaking voice. The title says it all. It is the quintessential Neil Diamond concert experience that concludes with a mind-blowing finale.

Saturday, March 30, 8 p.m. $49.50, $39.50, $35, $29.50, $25. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at Ticketmaster.com or ParamountNY. com.

“We have a wide variety of interesting products,” says Marvin Baum, the Chocolate Expo’s founder and creator. “It’s like going to a wine tasting. You’re trying something different and exploring. That’s really what it is, for people to come and explore all kinds of culinary delights. In this case, it’s with chocolates, baked goods, specialty foods, wines, cheeses and other products as well.”

Celebrate and indulge in delicious gourmet goodies — even treats for your beloved pooch. Of course, tasting is very much a part of the event, starting from the moment you enter.

• April 14, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

• $20 adult, $10 ages 5-12 ($30 adult, $15 ages 5-12 at door); available from TheChocolateExpo.com

• Hofstra’s David S. Mack Sports & Exhibition Complex, Hempstead

The scrumptious combination of savory and sweet includes chocolate-covered pretzels, artisanal chocolates, bonbons, fudge, rum cakes, hot chocolate, and even chocolate-covered bacon.

And, certainly, no chocolate event would be complete without big chocolate fountains. Guests are greeted by fountains overflowing with dark, white and milk chocolates, which can deliciously drench a selection of fresh fruit, marshmallows pretzels and Rice Krispies Treats.

Visitors will surely enjoy another special treat: An appearance by actors from the original 1971 film “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory.” Julie Dawn Cole (Veruca Salt), Paris Themmen (Mike Teevee), and Rusty Goffe (who in addition to playing an Oompa Loompa, has also been in five of the Harry Potter movies and in Star Wars ), are the festival’s special guests. Baum proudly proclaims this is the first Wonka cast reunion at a chocolate event.

“We found that there was a true emotional connection for a lot of people, between the movie and their own lives — whether it be with good memories with the family or as being part of an escape,” he says. “And so, for that reason, we think that a lot of people on Long Island are going to respond to and be really excited to see this get-together of the Wonka characters.”

If your palate reaches sensory overload, take a break to check out some of the many activities that round out the day. Shows and demonstrations include chocolate smashing, where participants can break a part of high-quality chocolate molds with hammers. There’s also a demonstration with DJ Chef, the first winner of Food Network’s “Cuthroat Kitchen,” known for spinning tunes while cooking.

The youngest “fun-sized” visitors will enjoy Kidz Zone, enticing them with face painting, balloon twisting and crafts.

The festival, according to Baum, has now taken on a life of its own.

“I said, ‘We need to do something where New York businesses can actually make some money. Instead of just doing tastings, let’s do something where we’re tasting and have sales.’ And basically, that became the first New York Chocolate Expo.”

Participating chocolatiers, bakers and related purveyors offer a mindboggling collection of goodies.

Among the enthusiastic local returnees, Wantagh-based Uncle Jeff’s Pecan Pies is not to be missed. Owner Jeff Church participated for the first time last year, and enthusiastically reports the response to his offerings was “beyond belief.” He’ll offer both his all-natural chocolate and regular pecan pies again this year.

“As soon as they opened the doors, people swarmed the tables saying ‘one of these,’ ‘one of those,’” he says. “It was insane.”

Another bakery, Valley Stream’s Chez Hedwidge, caters to folks with dietary restrictions. All products are gluten-free and soy-free, with vegan options available. Edwidge Oriol — who owns the business with her husband — has been involved with the Chocolate Expo for five years.

“Those who have these (dietary) challenges, they deserve a good treat,” she says.

Among the items Oriol will ll bring is her gluten-free chocolate tart, which won third place in a Culinary Federation of Long Island competition.

Whether you’re looking to grab your local faves or find a new delicious obsession, the expo is the place to indulge in some chocolatey fun.

“Everybody is welcome,” Baum says. “All the noise of day-to-day life, all that’s pushed to the side. We want to get together, have a good time, share memories, share some good food, and support local businesses.”

Academy of St. Martin in the Fields

The Academy of St. Martin in the Fields is recognized for fresh, brilliant interpretations of the world’s greatest orchestral music.

Formed by Sir Neville Mariner in 1958 from a group of London’s leading musicians, it’s become one of the world’s most respected orchestral ensembles. Joshua Bell, music director and Grammywinning violinist, has performed with virtually every major orchestra in the world, and is one of the most celebrated artists of his era. Led by violin virtuoso Bell, this performance showcases Mendelssohn’s deeply emotive Violin Concerto, with Bell himself taking the stage as both soloist and leader. The program also includes Rossini’s Il barbiere di Siviglia Overture, and Brahms’ Symphony No. 2 in C major, Op. 61. Set out with Bell and the orchestra on a passionate musical journey of passion and triumph as the extraordinary ensemble demonstrates their artistry.

Friday, March 29, 8 p.m. Tickets start at $80. Tilles Center for the Performing Arts, LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Blvd., Brookville. Tickets available at Ticketmaster.com or TillesCenter.org or (516) 299-3100.

The Chocolate Expo always is a showcase of scrumptious bites.

Photos courtesy Chuck Fishman

THE Your Neighborhood

April 6

Jaime Lozano y La Familia

Mexican

musical multi-hyphenate and Lincoln Center regular Jaime Lozano appears on the Tilles Center stage with his Familia, an all-star Latin lineup of Broadway and OffBroadway performers, Saturday, April 6, 8 p.m.

Heralded by none other than Lin-Manuel Miranda as “the next big thing,” Lozano’s newest work, “Songs by an Immigrant,” is a musical journey about diversity and integration.

Lozano honestly portrays the challenges of the first- and second-generation middle class U.S. immigrant experience: finding a new home, learning a new language, dealing with discrimination, pursuing the American Dream, and searching for ways to build bridges instead of walls. His Familia includes Mauricio Martínez, Shereen Pimentel and Mayelah Barrera, as well as a nine-piece orchestra. The spectacular celebration of Latin talent includes special guests who are students from Long Island University’s Theatre Arts Department, which adds an exciting dynamic to the performance, showcasing the next generation of rising stars in the industry. The collaboration between these seasoned professionals and up-and-coming talents is sure to create a truly unforgettable experience for all who attend. “Songs by an Immigrant” is an inspiring celebration of the immigrant odyssey. Tickets start at $50; available at TillesCenter.org or (516) 299-3100. LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Blvd., Brookville.

‘Listen to the Music’

Join L.I. Cabaret Theatre for their latest performance, Saturday, April 6, 2 p.m., at the Elmont Library Theatre. In this spirited show music is on the menu as the cast travels back to different years in the past to find clues and knowledge to save the Melody Diner from demolition. A cast of 35 keeps the action moving along, with a live band. The singers and dancers performs current hits, oldies and also tunes from the Broadway stage. Free admission. Elmont Memorial Library Theater, 700 Hempstead Turnpike, Elmont. (516) 3545280 or LICabaret@aol.com.

Shredding and E-Cycling Day

The City of Long Beach holds a free Shredding and Electronics Recycling day, Sunday, April 14, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., in the lot behind City Hall. Cars should line up via Centre Street for both shredding and e-cycling. The event is for Long Beach residents with proof of residency. 1 West Chester St.. For questions or more information, call (516) 705-7414.

On exhibit

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

Artists pushed the boundaries of what was considered “art” with a primary focus on street/graffiti art. The exhibit’s scope, guest curated by art collector/gallerist Christopher Pusey, offers an even broader view from other creative residents, who worked inside their studios but still contributed to the rich fabric of the downtown art scene from different vantage points and aesthetics.

Works include sculpture, paintings, photography, music, and ephemera from many noted and influential artists. On view through July 7. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. (516) 484-9337 or NassauMuseum.org.

Art explorations

Converse, collaborate and create at Family Saturdays at Nassau County Museum of Art, Saturday, March 30, noon-3 p.m. Get inspired by the art and objects in the galleries and then join educators at the Manes Center to explore and discover different materials to create your own original artwork.

Kids and adults connect while talking about and making art together. A new project is featured every week. $20 adult, $10 child. For ages 2-14. Registration required. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. Visit NassauMuseum.org for to register or call (516) 4849337.

Surfrider Canal Cleanup

The Surfrider Foundation holds their 10th annual Canal Area Clean-up, Saturday, April 20, at noon. Meet at the corner of Heron and East Chester Streets. Bring your own board if you want to collect trash in the canals, or just hit the neighborhood streets to collect debris before it ends up in our waterways. For more information, email Chair@ centralli.surfrider.org.

S.T.O.P. Program Collection

The City of Long Beach, in cooperation with the Town of Hempstead, holds it Stop Throwing Out Pollutants

Hazardous Waste Collection Program (S.T.O.P.) behind City Hall, Sunday, April 21, 8 a.m.-3 p.m. It provides provides residents with a safe, environmentally sound method of disposal of the many hazardous materials found in the average home.

By disposing of toxins as antifreeze, drain cleaners, and pesticides on any of the scheduled S.T.O.P. collection days, you can make a significant contribution to the protection of Long Island’s precious groundwater supply and the preservation of bays and estuaries. For more information, visit LongBeachNY.gov/stop.

City Council Meeting

Long Beach City Council meets, Tuesday, April 2, 7 p.m. Be informed about issues concerning the community, on the sixth floor at City Hall. For more information, visit LongBeachNY.gov.

Having an event?

South Shore Symphony in concert

Enjoy the popular orchestra,as it continues its season,with special guests Deborah Lifton and the Adea Quartet, Saturday, April 6, 7:30 p.m., at the Madison Theatre. Program includes Rachmaninoff’s “Symphonic Dances,” Op. 45; Samuel Barber’s “Knoxville: Summer of 1915,” Op. 24; and Robert Schumann’s “Concertpiece for 4 Horns”, Op. 45. Molloy University, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre. Tickets available at MadisonTheatreNY.org or (516) 323-4444.

Ask the Tech Guy

Do you have questions about your computer or laptop? Want to learn more about Zoom, streaming movies, or downloading ebooks to your device? Join Long Beach Library’s Tech Guy, every Wednesday, 2-3 p.m., to get answers to your pressing tech questions. 111 W. Park Ave. For information, visit LongBeachPL.org.

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

Forest Bathing

Sands Point Preserve offers another in its series of Forest Bathing walks, led by certified guide Linda Lombardo, Saturday, April 13, 10 a.m.-noon. Based on the Japanese tradition of Shinrin-Yoku, a wellness practice developed in the 1980s, the walk, on the grounds of the former summer residence of Howard Gould and later Daniel and Florence Guggenheim, inspires mindful connections with the natural elements of the woods for a range of healthful benefits. $40, $35 members. Registration required. Sands Point Preserve, 127 Middle Neck Road. For information, visit SandsPointPreserveConservancy.org or call (516) 571-7901.

April 6

Country Jukebox

The North Shore Symphony Orchestra is joined by Broadway and New York cabaret stars for “Country Jukebox: Kenny, Dolly & Friends,” Saturday, April 6, 8 p.m., on Adelphi’s Performing Arts Center stage. Your toes will be tapping and your hands clapping during this evening of country classics from the 1950s to today’s hottest contemporary hits. The dynamic performers, with North Shore Symphony, salute such greats as Kenny Rogers, Dolly Parton, Tammy Wynette, George Jones, The Judds, Carrie Underwood and more. Tickets start at $45, with discounts available to seniors, students, Adelphi alumni and employees. Adelphi University Performing Arts Center, 1 South Ave., Garden City. (516) 877-4000 or Adelphi.edu/pac.

Art of Wellness

Artists in Partnership and Majestic Healing collaborate for the Third Annual “Art of Wellness” in Long Beach and the surrounding areas, Thursday through Sunday, April 11-14 The community-wide wellness initiative offers networking, spiritual discussions, healing workshops, and empowerment of local businesses in support of wellness education. Enjoy workshops, classes, spiritual talks and healing sessions across the barrier island all weekend. Bring someone special and join in the kick-off fundraiser on Thursday, April 11, 7-10 p.m., at Seven Restaurant. 777 W. Beech St. For more information, visit Majestic-Healing.com/wellness-workshops.

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 at the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on April 10, 2024 at 2:00PM, 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 79284 145235

LEGAL NOTICE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, COUNTY OF NASSAU

Index No. 614647/2021

SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS -----------------------------X

VL BUYER LLC, Plaintiff,against- JOHN A. CURRY, JR., as Administrator of the Estate of Amanda M. Shuler a/k/a Amanda M.

Curry, JOHN A. CURRY, JR, CECIL CURRY GRANT, CAROLYN CURRY, RALISHA M. TEEMER, as Administrator of the Estate of DAISY CURRY

TEEMER, CONSTANCE D.

CURRY, CILISTINE CURRY BARNES, DERICK

BENSON A/K/A DERRICK

BENSON, KIM BENSON MAYERS and CYNTHIA

CURRY SMITH, if they be living, if they be dead,

their respective heirs-atlaw, next of kin, distributees, executors, administrators, trustees, devisees, legatees, assignees, lienors, creditors, and successors in interest, and generally all persons having or claiming under, by, or through JOHN A. CURRY, JR., as Administrator of the Estate of Amanda M. Shuler a/k/a Amanda M.

Curry, JOHN A. CURRY, JR., CECIL CURRY GRANT, CAROLYN CURRY, DAISY CURRY TEEMER, CONSTANCE D. CURRY, CILISTINE CURRY BARNES, DERICK BENSON A/K/A DERRICK BENSON, KIM BENSON MAYERS and CYNTHIA CURRY SMITH, if they be dead, whether by purchase, inheritance, lien or otherwise, including any right, title or interest in and to the real property described in the compliant herein all of who and whose names and places of residence are unknown to the plaintiff; ESTATE OF AMANDA M. SHULER A/K/A AMANDA M. CURRY; L&L ASSOCIATES HOLDING CORP., US BANK AS CUST FOR PFS FINANCIAL 1; T11 FUNDING; POINT 62 LLC; SUNSHINE CARE CORP. D/B/A HEMPSTEAD PARK NURSING HOME; NASSAU COUNTY TREASURER; NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAX & FINANCE; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; and JOHN AND JANE DOES 1-10, the last ten names being fictitious and unknown to plaintiff, the persons or parties intended being the tenants, occupants, persons or corporations, if any, having or claiming an interest in or lien upon the premises described in the complaint, Defendants.

TO THE ABOVE NAMED

DEFENDANTS: YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the Complaint in this action and to serve a copy of your Answer or, if the Complaint is not served with this Summons, to serve a Notice of Appearance, on the plaintiff’s attorney within twenty (20) days after the service of this Summons, exclusive of the day of service (or within thirty (30) days after the service is complete if this Summons is not personally delivered to you within the State of New York); and in case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint. Plaintiff designates Nassau County as the place of trial. The address of the real property is 79 Hudson Street, Long Beach, NY 11561, which is the basis of venue, and the object of this action is to foreclose on said real property. NOTICE - YOU

ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME. If you do not respond to this summons and complaint by serving a copy of the answer on the attorney for the tax lien holder who filed this tax lien foreclosure proceeding against you and filing the answer with the court, a default judgment may be entered and you can lose your home. Speak to an attorney or go to the court where your case is pending for further information on how to answer the summons and protect your property.

Sending a payment to the tax lien holder will not stop this tax lien foreclosure action. YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (TAX LIEN HOLDER) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT. Notice of Electronic Filing: Efiling is mandatory for attorneys. For e-filing requirements, go to www.nycourts.gov.

ROBERT BICHOUPAN, P.C., By: Carolyn Bichoupan, Esq., Attorneys for the Plaintiff, 175 East Shore Road, Ste. 270, Great Neck, New York 11023 (516) 482-1186. 145206

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

Ronald J. Ferraro, Esq., Referee.

MCCABE, WEISBERG & CONWAY, LLC, 10 Midland Avenue, Suite 205, Port Chester, NY 10573

Dated: 1/31/2024 File Number: 18-301507 CA 145602

LEGAL NOTICE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE FOR C-BASS MORTGAGE LOAN ASSET-BACKED CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2007-CB4, -againstELLEN M. DAYTON, ET AL. NOTICE OF SALE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Nassau on December 6, 2023, wherein U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE FOR C-BASS MORTGAGE LOAN ASSET-BACKED CERTIFICATES, SERIES

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU

HSBC BANK USA, N.A., AS TRUSTEE FOR THE REGISTERED HOLDERS OF NOMURA HOME EQUITY LOAN, INC., ASSETBACKED CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2006-HE3 Plaintiff, Against MARIS LYNCH, WALTER LYNCH, ET AL

Defendant(s)

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale, duly entered 12/03/2019, I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction, on the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, N.Y. 11501 on 4/25/2024 at 2:30PM, premises known as 107 Atlantic Avenue, Long Beach, New York 11561, And

Described As Follows:

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 195 Lot 21 & 45

The approximate amount of the current Judgment lien is $1,127,561.67 plus interest and costs. The Premises will be sold subject to provisions of the aforesaid Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale; Index # 2119/2016

Board of Education and community discuss budget

By ANGELINA ZINGARIELLO azingariello@liherald.com

2007-CB4 is the Plaintiff and ELLEN M. DAYTON, ET AL. are the Defendant(s). I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the CALENDAR CONTROL PART (CCP) COURTROOM

OF THE SUPREME COURT, 100 SUPREME COURT DRIVE, MINEOLA, NY 11501, on April 29, 2024 at 2:00PM, premises known as 411 EAST HARRISON STREET, LONG BEACH, NY 11561; and the following tax map identification: 59-148-46 & 47.

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, TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, COUNTY OF NASSAU AND STATE OF NEW YORK

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No.: 615778/2019. Bruce W. Farquharson, Esq.Referee. Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid,

The Long Beach Board of Education Tuesday began discussing their the budget, in the East School gym, and parents were more than ready to speak their minds.

During the meeting, community members expressed worries about the future of East School and potential staff layoffs due to budget cuts.

The cuts have forced discussion about several options, including “repurposing” East Elementary, which has a declining enrollment and high maintenance costs. Under this plan, administrators from East School would move to Lindell and Lido elementary schools, with the possibility of cutting two assistant principal positions.

Alternatively, there could be staff and program reductions across the district.

Educators have been focused on state aid for local schools since Jan. 16, when Gov. Kathy Hochul unveiled her proposed fiscal year 2025 budget.

In response to a resident’s question

about what would happen to East School, Gallagher assured that the board would establish an advisory board to oversee all matters related to the school by June.

The governor’s spending plan includes about $35 billion in state aid next year, an increase of $825 million, or 2.4 percent. It is the largest investment in education in the state’s history.

Nonetheless, some school districts, including Long Beach, are facing major potential cuts. In Nassau County, 10 districts are set to lose some aid funding in the proposed spending plan, including Long Beach, Oceanside, Island Park, Lawrence and Oyster Bay. In Suffolk, 34 districts would see less aid money.

This school year, the Long Beach School District received just over $28 million in total aid. In the governor’s proposed budget, the district would receive just over $25 million in 2024-25, a decrease of $3.3 million, or just under 12 percent. The district’s foundation aid would drop from $19.5 million to just over $15 million.

More information regarding the budget is to come soon.

Herald file photo

The Long Beach Board of Education held a meeting Tuesday discussing the budget and potential cuts.

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WOODMERE

WMaking an old home newer

Q. I live in the flood area, which happened during Sandy. I am required to lift my air conditioning unit. I was told it had to be at least 4 feet above the ground, and could be set on a platform or put on a bracket against the house. The platform seems to kill the space in my side yard, so I’m opting for the brackets. Now that I have discussed them with my neighbors, they told me the brackets, which will be on the outside of my bedroom, are going to make the air conditioner vibrations annoying, because I’ll hear them right through the wall. I don’t want that, but the platform would take up space and would be much more expensive to build. Is there another alternative, or can I prevent the noise from the vibrations from coming through the wall? It will drive me crazy if I’m awakened every time the unit goes on. What can I do?

Ask The Architect

Monte Leeper

A. This has been a problem addressed in different ways, either by dampening the unit or brackets, relocating the unit to a different place on brackets outside a room, such as a utility, laundry or storage room, building the platform or mounting the unit on a roof. The roof mounting is really a last resort, since the unit needs to be accessible and level. The only place I have designed roof-mounted units is on new homes where flat (low-slope) roof sections are planned. If you have a steeper-sloped roof with asphalt shingles, this method is not worth considering.

As for the less costly method, mounting brackets that are made for air conditioning outdoor condenser units have accessory dampeners and isolation cushions that can be installed, so obviously the industry recognizes the problem.

Comments I have gotten are that, over time, the brackets may wear down and screws and bolts may loosen. One person told me that he lessened the problem by tightening all the fasteners, but I believe this is temporary, and I don’t see the average homeowner climbing a ladder to tighten the connections unless they become completely frustrated. Only locating the condenser unit on a wall area of a seldom-used area of the home, like your utility, storage closet, garage or laundry room, will reduce this problem.

Otherwise, the separate tower is your best option, even though it will cost at least $1,000 more to do. I rarely hear of this problem, but it still does happen. The same thing occurs with washing machines and dryers located on a wood structure adjacent to bedrooms. In such cases, I design a separate, floating structure, isolated by gaskets and dampening shoes or pads. The other alternative is using concrete, but it still needs designed separation dampers. I hope you understand that moving or installing the unit is still costly with new wiring and refrigerant lines being installed to reach the relocated unit, whichever way you go. Good luck!

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In spring, all eyes turn to the

diamond

It has arrived. Baseball’s opening day.

When I was a kid growing up in Queens, this greatly anticipated moment was my reassurance that all was well with the world. Coinciding with the coming of warm spring weather and the sale of the new season’s edition of baseball cards, it focused the attention of my friends — whether Dodgers, Yankees or Giants fans — first on the upcoming pennant races, and then on the World Series.

pETER KInG

This was the golden age of baseball in New York. During the 11 seasons from 1947 to 1957, the Yankees won nine pennants; my team, the Dodgers, six; and the Giants, two. In every year but one, there was at least one New York team in the World Series, and both teams in the fall classic were from New York eight times.

As far as we were concerned, baseball was New York, and New York was baseball. There was nothing like going to Ebbets Field, Yankee Stadium or the

Polo Grounds and being struck by the colors of bright green grass, white baselines and players’ uniforms that were so intense compared with what we saw on our 12-inch black-and-white television screens. No other sport during that era generated such attention. The football Giants often played before a lot of empty seats in the Polo Grounds, and the Knicks actually played NBA championship games in a National Guard Armory because the circus was using Madison Square Garden.

My friends and I had to take the train to Flushing Meadow to play on grass.

Because there was no grass anywhere in our Sunnyside neighborhood, we adapted with our baseball simulations of stickball, curb ball, stoop ball and punchball or softball on the concrete field in the nearby city park. When we reached age 11, we formed our own team, enrolled it in the PAL and took the Queens 7 line train to Flushing Meadow, which had grass fields. The team’s equipment consisted of two bats and a catcher’s mask. Batting helmets were nonexistent, as were parents, or any adults at all. We were on our own. And if we lost or played badly, there was no one to console us.

Much had changed, of course, by the

time my son, Sean, started playing Little League ball at Seaman’s Neck Park in Seaford in the late 1970s: There were Opening Day parades, grass fields, uniforms, umpires, adult coaches, team batting helmets and stands filled with parents, grandparents and neighbors. That was all new to me, but made for great memories.

I really noticed the differences when, starting in 2013, my grandson Jack began playing, first in the Wantagh Little League and then on Long Island travel teams, including the Chiefs and Titans. The changes that struck me most were the equipment — individual batting helmets and customized bats — and the level of play — 11- and 12-year-olds routinely turning double plays and catching high fly balls. What was unchanged was the level of family support and community enthusiasm, with no Bad News Bears adult tantrums or boorishness.

Travel team baseball was a whole new experience. Not just the higher level of skill, but playing across Long Island and traveling to tournaments in upstate Cooperstown as well as Connecticut, Maryland and even South

Carolina. At every destination, the Long Island kids played well and distinguished themselves.

Now a new baseball season is upon us, from Little League to the major leagues. Much has changed over the years. The Dodgers and Giants abandoned us for California over six decades ago. Major League Baseball, which at one time never played west of St. Louis, has expanded from two eightteam leagues to 30 teams and six divisions, and plays regular-season games in Asia and Europe. There has been a diffusion of intense fan interest beyond baseball to the NFL, NBA and NHL. And there is now an overlap of sports seasons, with the NBA and NHL cutting into months of the baseball schedule.

At the local level, the travel team phenomenon draws away from Little League and high school play. Still, baseball remains strong in New York, with the Mets and Yankees, and especially on Long Island, with our outstanding facilities and, most important, supportive families and communities. I know I’m still enthused and ready. Play ball!

Peter King is a former congressman, and a former chair of the House Committee on Homeland Security. Comments? pking@ liherald.com.

Netanyahu is a supporter of one party: himself

Ihave known Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer since 1972. I have watched him grow from being a state assemblyman to one of the most powerful political leaders in the United States. Schumer is a serious and smart lawmaker, and he measures his every word with the greatest of caution. When he speaks, it is well planned, because he is conscious of the fact that the press will hold him accountable for his actions.

JERRY KREMER

Schumer’s recent call for new elections in Israel, and for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to step down, was a do-ordie plea for peace in the Middle East. I have heard some of my friends call Schumer out for that plea, and describe it as dangerous, or even as a form of terrorism, and I have tried to tell them to consider all the facts before they speak.

Netanyahu has been playing political games for as long as I can remember. He

is not some well-meaning leader of a country who is being picked on. To begin with, Bibi, as he is often called, has been in and out of courtrooms in Israel for two years. He has been charged with various forms of corruption. In Israel, cases like his can drag on for years with no resolution.

For the past two years, Bibi has been hopeful that if he can change the way the courts work, his case will be dismissed. He has pushed for a change in the law that would give the country’s legislature, the Knesset, the power to run the courts and end any kind of judicial interference. His efforts to undermine the judicial system have split the country in half and have given rise to massive demonstrations calling for his ouster. To stay in power, he has forged alliances with right-wing leaders who have their own plans to change Israel from a democracy to a banana republic.

er, and has lost the confidence of the people, are 100 percent correct. As a congressional leader, Schumer has every right to speak out on Israel’s political challenges, because America sends billions of dollars to Israel each year and is Israel’s strongest supporter.

C huck Schumer was right: Bibi has lost the confidence of his people.

Schumer’s speech calling for new elections in another country may have stepped over the line, but his claims that Bibi is no longer the nation’s true lead-

If your best friend thinks you have lost your way, he or she has every right to tell you so, out of love, and not any other motive. Schumer has been Israel’s most loyal member of Congress, and has fought off other members who have questioned the need to provide so much aid to other countries.

Israel had every right to invade Gaza after Hamas’s attack on Oct. 7, one of the most brutal assaults on any nation. The conduct of Hamas will go down in history as another Holocaust, and there had to be a response to such vicious conduct. Israel responded with an all-out war against a cruel and undisciplined mob that kills and steals from its own people.

The United States has asked Bibi what his plans are for Gaza when the

war is over and Hamas has been defeated, and he has no answer. As long as he stays in power, he can avoid having to face the possibility of going to prison. He has a plan, but it focuses on holding on to his job, even if his country no longer trusts him to be its leader. In the interim, he will try to hold on to power by playing partisan politics.

It’s no secret that Netanyahu has always embraced the American Republican Party. He worked against President Barack Obama, and came to Washington to promote Donald Trump on a number of occasions. He has every intention of holding on to his power in the hope that Trump will be elected again this year.

Bibi will do whatever it takes to keep his job. Schumer spoke out forcefully for one reason, which was to keep Israel a democracy. The world needs Israel to survive, and there is no question that under Netanyahu’s control, its very existence is threatened.

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.

HeraLd editoriaL Have you got the fire(fighter) in you?

they’re good people. They’re strong. And they’re heroes.

That’s how people in New York describe volunteer firefighters, according to a survey conducted by the Firefighters Association of the State of New York. And nearly half of all people who were asked said they would love to become one of these strong, good heroes.

And now they have their chance.

Volunteer fire departments — like the one in your hometown — are opening their doors the weekend of April 13 to not only remind our neighborhoods of how important those fire departments are, but also to help bring more firefighters to the fold.

It’s called RecruitNY weekend, and leading up to it, the firefighters association is asking businesses, government buildings and anyplace else where exteriors are lit to make those lights red to show solidarity with our firefighters.

“The lights symbolize our commitment to a tradition of community help, and a need for more volunteers,” Edward Tase Jr., president of the association, said.

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman is doing his part, lighting the dome red on the Theodore Roosevelt Executive and Legislative Building in Mineola in the first two weeks of April. The hope is that other major landmarks across the region and state will light up

Letters

Why isn’t the LIRR’s work at Jamaica finished?

To the Editor:

Long Island Rail Road riders have to ask why Phase 2 of the LIRR’s $168 million Jamaica Capacity Improvements wasn’t completed prior to the initiation of full-time service for the $11.6 billion East Side Access to Grand Central Madison in February 2023.

Phase 2 is scheduled to be completed by December 2026. The work will raise maximum allowable train speeds, increase train throughput — the number of trains that can pass through a section of line in a given time — as well as parallel routing capabilities, implement universal 12-car platform capacity and ensure a full state-of-good-repair throughout the Jamaica Station complex. It will include critical work on bridges carrying trains, and expansion of the Hall Interlocking.

Prior to this, there was the $450 million Phase 1 of the Jamaica Capacity Improvements, for which funding was approved in 2010, using grants from the Federal Transit Administration. It included capital improvements in and around the station, encompass -

red as well.

Being a volunteer fire department has been getting tougher. Membership has dropped, while calls have increased. And not because people don’t want to be firefighters — it’s just hard to make that commitment in our busy lives, amid a turbulent economy that requires many of us to work more than we may have in the past to pay the bills.

But there are benefits beyond simply making a difference — and potentially saving lives — to being a volunteer firefighter. And those are benefits worth considering. For example, volunteer firefighters get free training and free equipment, as well as tax breaks and essential insurance coverage — all provided by the Volunteer Firefighter Benefits Law, first passed in 1957.

Some of those tax breaks include income tax credits of $500 to $1,000 per year, as well as property tax reductions of up to 10 percent, assuming your local government has opted in.

And, depending on what individual departments have set up, there could be pension opportunities as well, established through the state’s Length of Service Award Program.

For younger people, there are scholarships and tuition reimbursement available, too.

Of course, becoming a volunteer firefighter isn’t about the financial incentives, although they help. What really

draws most people to serve is a chance to give back to the communities they love in ways they simply can’t do otherwise.

Volunteer firefighters play a crucial role in protecting their homes and neighbors from emergencies and disasters beyond simply putting out fires, although there is nothing simple about that. They are also there for medical emergencies and natural disasters like major storms, always contributing to public safety and well-being.

These days we see firefighters needed to respond to flooded basements, lithium-ion battery fires, downed power lines and car accidents.

Volunteers also get to fulfill a dream many of us have had since the moment we saw a firefighter for the first time. We knew that’s what we wanted to be, too. So why not do it?

Visit your local volunteer fire department next month. See what it’s like to be a firefighter, and how you can make a difference. And then ask where you can sign up.

President George W. Bush once said that “the willingness of America’s volunteer firefighters to risk their lives for others is a testament to the spirit of service that pervades our nation.”

Let’s continue prove him right. Find out how — and where — you can volunteer today. Visit FireInYou.org/volunteer.

ing tracks, signals, third-rail power and interlockings, designed to support increased operational capacity necessary for future service to Grand Central Madi-

son. When the FTA grants were approved, this proposed new service was many years away. Thirteen years was ample time to complete both Phase 1 and 2.

We must understand what antisemitism is, and isn’t

the American Jewish Committee recently released its annual State of Antisemitism in America 2023 Report, which revealed that 63 percent of American Jews say the status of Jews in the U.S. is “less secure than a year ago” — a 22-percentagepoint increase in just one year, and a 32-point increase over two years.

Forty-six percent of American Jews say they have changed their behavior out of fear of antisemitism, a jump from 38 percent last year.

While these numbers are daunting and cause for concern, several of the key takeaways from the report, on Holocaust and antisemitism education, are positive.

state offer varying degrees of Holocaust education, in accordance with State Education Department regulations, and we also know that quality Holocaust education has been shown to reduce antisemitism and all forms of hate.

eriC post

AJC’s report found that 92 percent of American Jews, and 89 percent of all U.S. adults in the Northeast, believe it is important for public schools to invest more resources in teaching age-appropriate lessons about the Holocaust to all students. There is also overwhelming support among both the Jewish community and the general public for teaching modern manifestations of antisemitism in public schools.

We know that schools in New York

Jewish students, however, should not be seen solely through the lens of the Holocaust. We should incorporate the Jewish community in any diversity efforts, and encourage the celebration of Jewish American Heritage Month in May, to promote awareness and appreciation of Jewish contributions to American society.

In addition, over the past several years, school districts across Long Island have implemented character education initiatives to address all forms of hate and racism, and help students understand the consequences of actions and words on others.

It is critical that we also teach about the modern manifestations of antisemitism, not just the historical ones. Since the Oct. 7 Hamas terror attack on Israel, we have seen a steep increase in antisemitic graffiti and incidents in Long Island public schools. This is on top of an already growing problem with anti-

Letters

Why wasn’t Phase 2 completed before the service to GCM began? And will its completion increase overall rush hour capacity, including additional Atlantic branch Brooklyn service, and reduce travel time between Jamaica and Penn Station, GCM, Flatbush Avenue, Hunters Point or Long Island City? LIRR commuters, taxpayers, transit advocacy groups and elected officials deserve a detailed explanation from MTA Chairman Janno Lieber and Acting LIRR President Robert Free for why this work was delayed so long.

LARRY PENNER Great Neck

Larry Penner is a transportation advocate, historian and writer who previously served as a director of the Federal Transit Administration Region 2 New York Office of Operations and Program Management.

Mistake-free Medicare?

You’re dreaming, Jerry.

To the Editor:

Re Jerry Kremer’s recent column “Check your Medicare statement carefully”: I think Jerry is naïve to think Medicare will have the time and manpower to investigate billing

semitism here and nationwide.

Given that antisemitism is often not well understood, education is crucial in fostering an environment with zero tolerance for anti-Jewish bigotry and all forms of hate. It is also critical to reassure Jewish families that districts see them in this moment, and are prioritizing their children’s safety and well-being. Several Jewish organizations, including AJC, offer training for students, teachers and administrators.

In these moments of uncertainty and anxiety for American Jewry, it is also important to consider what is being reported when Israel is in the news more than usual, as has been the case since Oct. 7. Criticism of Israel is not inherently antisemitic. In fact, it is a feature of its democracy, and Israelis do it all the time. But there are occasions when antiIsrael rhetoric can become antisemitic, including statements that deny the Jewish people’s right to self-determination.

sau and Suffolk counties, New York state and the federal government, criticism of Israel similar to that leveled against any other country cannot be regarded as antisemitic, but, for example, “applying double standards by requiring of it a behavior not expected or demanded of any other democratic nation” does cross that line.

The IHRA definition can be helpful in evaluating whether antisemitism exists in school settings. Establishing a system to report antisemitism and all forms of hate, reviewing and publicizing key school policies, including social media, and communicating with families when antisemitism and hate occur are also vital.

The more we all know about antisemitism, the more we can identify it, fight it and keep it on the fringe of society. When that happens, not only Jews will feel more secure, we all will.

scams, like the one he detailed involving catheters, when they are devoting resources to denying reimbursement for preventive services that are listed in their handbook. I will explain.

I recently had a PSA test whose reimbursement was denied because of a billing code error. I am 77 years old, and per Page 49 of the Medicare handbook, this is a preventive service to which I am entitled every 12 months.

I did not have this test for several years. I called Medicare to get the service reimbursed, and was told I had to get a letter from my doctor explaining the need for the service, and with that document to file an appeal. This meant the doctor had to send me a letter, and I had to fill out a claim form and mail it to Medicare. Medicare now has to evaluate the appeal and rule on it.

The request for an appeal for coverage of this preventive service couldn’t be approved with a phone call, even after I was transferred to two different people with hold times of roughly 20 minutes. Everyone I spoke to on the phone agreed that it didn’t make sense, but they had no authority to approve the service, even though it’s listed in their manual as one that’s covered.

LEWIS ALTMAN Merrick

As noted by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s Working Definition of Antisemitism, which has been adopted by the AJC and major American Jewish organizations, Nas-

Eric Post is the Long Island director of the American Jewish Committee. Bob Vecchio is the executive director of the Nassau-Suffolk School Boards Association.

Framework by Tim Baker

A scene from Baldwin Middle School’s production of ‘The Little Mermaid’

BoB VeCCHio

THE TRIPODI/SHEMTOV TEAM

TEAM

THE ALEX RUBIN TEAM

CYNTHIA ALTKIN

KARLA GRASSO Gold Award

JOYCE COLETTI Gold Award

BARBARA GUNN