Long Beach Herald 06-08-2023

Also serving Point Lookout & East Atlantic Beach

Former student helping school

Mount Sinai

‘ologists’ set to open in L.B.

By JAMES BERNSTEIN Special to the Long Beach Herald

cy center next to the ruins of the old hospital in 2015.

A sinkhole snarls traffic

Construction crews continue to work on a massive, 20-foot deep sinkhole that opened on Lido Boulevard on May 31. There have been lane closures and even major delays in Oceanside with many going alternate routes. Repairs could take up to two more weeks.

City lifeguards off to busy start Multiple saves and rookie tests to begin season

By BRENDAN CARPENTER bcarpenter@liherald.com

It’s still early in the beach season in the city, with lifeguards having been on duty only since May 27. Nevertheless, they have had an unusually busy start.

Hundreds of beachgoers thronged the shore over the Memorial Day weekend, and the first unofficial days of summer passed without any major incidents. On June 1, though, guards had to make some off-duty saves.

Sometime after 6 p.m., when the lifeguards were no longer on duty, five teens were seen struggling in the ocean, between National and Edwards boulevards, by the beach supervisor and lifeguard emergency response crew. They guards were out check-

ing on the beaches because the tide was changing, which they always see as a time to gauge the conditions. Sure enough, they were in the right place at the right time.

“We weren’t on duty — we’re just an emergency response team,” Lifeguard Chief Richard Borawski said. “We’re there to respond if something happens. Sure enough, as we’re walking by, (the swimmers) basically went right into a hole. The lifeguards reacted at a moment’s notice.”

All five swimmers were saved by being maneuvered around the jetty from National to Edwards and then brought in to shore. The Fire Department had also been called, just in case. The swimmers were examined at a local hospital, but there were no injuries.

Mount Sinai South Nassau’s sparkling new ambulatory medical facility in Long Beach — on the grounds of the nearly century-old Long Beach Hospital, which was extensively damaged in Hurricane Sandy in 2012 — is scheduled to open later this month, and it facility already has a nickname: “the ologists.”

That’s because specialists in cardiology, gastroenterology and urology will staff the $35 million, 15,000-square-foot facility, which will be known officially as Mount Sinai Doctors-Long Beach. It will also offer pain management care, lab services and X-ray and ultrasound imaging.

Since the Long Beach Hospital was all but destroyed, the barrier island has been without a major medical facility, much to the displeasure of residents of Long Beach, Atlantic Beach, Lido Beach and Point Lookout. Mount Sinai opened an emergen-

Mount Sinai South Nassau’s main campus is in Oceanside, a 340-bed facility staffed by over 900 physicians and 3,000 employees.

Mount Sinai spent more than $100 million of Federal Emergency Management Agency funding to build a new power plant and a four-story patient pavilion at the Oceanside campus.

Long Beach residents were clamoring for more on the barrier island, and the hospital has said that it heard them. “The people in Long Beach don’t like to cross a bridge,” the hospital’s president, Dr. Adhi Sharma, said during an exclusive tour of the new facility for the Herald last week. “Local care is important. If it’s important to them, it’s important to us.”

Residents of the barrier island have to cross a bridge to get to Mount Sinai’s main campus, or St. John’s Hospital in Far

Continued on page 10

Tim Baker/Herald

The people in Long Beach don’t like to cross a bridge.

DR. ADhI ShARMA president, Mount Sinai South Nassau

Temple Emanu-El has a busy month ahead

By BRENDAN CARPENTER bcarpenter@liherald.com

Temple Emanu-El of Long Beach has been an epicenter of cultural and religious events across the city for quite some time. Special Shabbats, performances and talks have brought many different people together as one.

Coming up next on the calendar is a musical tribute to Joel Grey on June 10. The event, Shades of Grey, will have music, dessert and raffles for everyone.

Shortly after, is a big event. The temple will be hosting its Pride Shabbat on June 16, right in the middle of the countrywide Pride Month. Pride Month is currently celebrated each year to recognize the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan. The Stonewall Uprising was a major point during the Gay Liberation Movement in the country.

The Shabbat will be having some special inclusions. There’ll be songs that are all related to the theme. There will also be rainbow flags all over the temple. Rabbi Jack Zanerhaft said they really want to make it clear that the temple is very inclusive and embraces all different kinds of thinking.

“This is an important message for the society, religion and this community at this service,” Zanerhaft said. “We feel very strongly about making sure people are included. Whether it’s people who are Jewish, have a partner who’s Jewish, or not, have a place to pray, a place to come together and a place to celebrate holidays.”

Zanerhaft said people can often be not so accepted, so he hopes the temple can achieve becoming a place they always are. The temple has been hosting this special Shabbat since 2017.

Collette Lee-Morales, co-founder of NY Fit Fest, a major fitness and health event that comes to Long Beach

each year, will be a guest speaker at the Shabbat.

Then, on June 28, a much different event will be happening. There will be an informative lecture on the Jewish influences on the life and work of Albert Einstein.

The temple will have numerous more events throughout the year, including special and unique one, like when there was a little bit of the green there. That was when the temple celebrated “Shabbat for Irish History Month”

to connect the Jewish and Irish communities on the barrier island in March.

“It’s really such an important slice of our mission to really demonstrate and reach out to all parts of the community,” Zanerhaft said of that event. “Long Beach has a very strong Italian community, Irish, African American, Latino, Asian and so many others. So in this age of divisiveness, we really want to create togetherness.”

Sue Grieco/Herald

AT ThE TEmPlE’s first-ever Pride Shabbat in 2017, candles were lit to usher in the Sabbath and represent a message of inclusion. The next installment of the annual Shabbat will be next Friday, June 16.

Learning how to save someone else’s life

Narcan training in Long Beach gets another installment to teach about opioid overdoses

By SEAN KENNEDY Herald intern

Throughout the nation, the opioid crisis has severely impacted thousands of households. One solution, though, is hoping to minimize the opioid deaths in the Long Beach community.

In March, after recommendations and pressure from the medical community, the Food and Drug Administration approved a revolutionary drug, Narcan, for over-the-counter sales at pharmacies across the nation.

Long Beach city officials said in March that the federal government’s approval of Narcan, the leading version of the overdose-reversing drug naloxone, is going to prove a benefit to Long Beach.

Narcan has been a staple in the medical community for years to help prevent, or reverse, opioid overdoses. Narcan itself is a popular brand name of a nasal spray version of naloxone, a drug that blocks the drug’s effect on the brain and can give a victim a chance of recovery before it is too late.

Naloxone can help reverse overdose effects on numerous drugs including heroin, fentanyl, Percocet, oxycontin and Vicodin, in addition to other deadly drugs.

With the efficacy of Narcan being praised by medical professionals and officials alike, the Long Beach Police Department offered a training session on how to administer the drug this past Saturday at a Key Food in west Long Beach.

Dozens of residents attended a pop-up stand outside Key Food in Long Beach’s West End to receive a free, five-minute training, held by the city’s police department, which could turn out to be vital in saving a life.

“We were surprised by the turnout,” said Raymond Tormey, who put on the exhibition together with his wife, Kate. “To have entire groups of people coming over and learning was great.”

The training started with Kate making sure that the responders could recognize the situation as it was happening.

“It doesn’t matter whether it’s a 12-year-old or an 85-year-old, this can help anyone,” said Kate Tormey, the lead demonstrator at the training session. “Anyone can be suffering an overdose, and every situation can be unique.”

In the case of a potential overdose, symptoms could be if a person is passed out and cannot be woken up, if they are not breathing or breathing very slowly, if they are making gurgling sounds or if they have lips that are a blue or grayish color.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, naloxone will not harm someone if you give it to them and they are not overdosing on an opioid.

Although the administration of Narcan is an effective measure to help reduce opioid overdoses, Kate emphasized through her training to call 911 for medical backup if the case ever arises. “It’s great to save someone’s life, but you

need lifesavers afterwards, too,” she added.

Kate also stressed to not have any doubts about saving someone from an overdose, especially if one is worried about potential charges or lawsuits arising from the victim during the situation.

“You’re always protected under New York State’s Good Samaritan Law,” she said. “It allows you to call 911 without fear of arrest or litigation if you witness someone overdosing.”

The New York State Department of Health website also emphasizes this law for anyone who witnesses an overdose of any kind.

One of the only complaints amongst many in the medical industry is the current price of the drug, especially when purchased over the counter. Biotech company Emergent BioSolutions said in April that they plan to price two doses of their Narcan product under the $50 mark.

For the Tormeys, they had a simple reason behind offering these free training sessions.

“Long Beach has always been a community of people looking out for each other,” Kate said. “We just want to carry that on as long as we can.”

If interested, anyone can attend a similar training session again Saturday at Key Food, 663 E. Park Ave. Training sessions and supplemental materials will be given out in addition to free Narcan kits.

NArcAN wAS ApprovED for over-the-counter sales at pharmacies across the nation earlier this year. rAYmoND AND KAtE Tormey, who organized and trained residents to use Narcan.

Herald file photos

LASt wEEKEND’S trAiNiNg was another installment in the efforts to teach residents about how to treat overdoses.

City says it has no shortage of lifeguards

There has been a serious lifeguard shortage at beaches and pools across the country for the past three years. Last year, Hempstead Town Supervisor Don Clavin said the state could solve the problem by lowering the minimum age requirement for certification from 16 to 15.

Clavin called on Gov. Kathy Hochul to do just that, saying that 15-year-olds could guard kiddie pools and splash pads. Hochul agreed, and approved the change the same night she received Clavin’s letter.

The town wasn’t struggling through a shortage quite like the rest of the state. It has nearly 200 beach lifeguards on call, and another 300 staffing pools. Hempstead managed to avoid a shortage by offering classes in the winter, Clavin said last year, preparing lifeguard trainees to work last summer.

Long Beach had a similar situation. As is the case everywhere else, guards come and go each year, but the city hasn’t had a dire need for new guards.

“In terms of shortage, we lose these guards every year,” Borawski said. “Obviously the college graduates move on to their careers and stuff like that, and we usually lose, every year, about 15 guards.”

He said last week he was confident that enough new guards would try out, qualify and be trained to prevent a shortage. Tryouts were held last weekend. “We are feeling that we’re going to have a lot of people

trying out,” he said. “One, because of the raise in salary that’s comparable to Jones Beach and the Town of Hempstead. And also because of the fact that we do have open positions every year.”

Last month, the city lifeguard corps approved a new contract that increased the starting pay to $20 per hour, but eliminates guaranteed minimum hours. That will give the city financial relief on rainy days.

“They used to have a provision in

Qualifying for Medicaid to Pay for Long-Term Care

Spend-down. Look-back. Penalty Period. Uncompensated Transfer. These are just some of the terms Medicaid uses to determine eligibility for long-term care coverage. Medicaid is a combined federal and state program that pays for long-term care at home (community Medicaid) or in a nursing facility (institutional Medicaid). Asset, income and gift rules vary for community Medicaid versus institutional Medicaid.

To qualify for community Medicaid, an individual cannot make more than about $1,700 per month and cannot own more than about $30,000 in assets. A married couple cannot make more than about $2,300 per month and cannot own more than about $40,000 in assets. Applicants can “spend down” excess income to the allowed amount by paying for medical expenses.

To qualify for institutional Medicaid, an individual can keep $50 per month (the excess goes to the nursing home) and cannot own more than about $30,000 in assets. For married couples, the spouse at home can keep about $3,700 per month and can own between about

$75,000 and $130,000 in assets. If the spouse at home makes more than $3,700 per month, she may have to contribute some of the excess to the spouse’s cost of care. For married couples, the residence, up to value of about $1,000,000 and one car are exempt (not counted as assets). Everyone can have a burial trust worth up to $1,500 or any amount in an irrevocable pre-paid funeral trust.

Community Medicaid and institutional Medicaid also differ in “look-back” and gift rules. An institutional Medicaid application asks if you transferred (gifted) any assets in the last five years, hence the “five-year look-back period.” If the answer is yes, the transfer creates a penalty period, which causes a period of ineligibility for Medicaid coverage.

Community Medicaid does not currently have a look-back period, so you may transfer assets out of your name this month and qualify for Medicaid next month. New York is considering imposing a new thirty month lookback for community care in 2024. Now is the time to act to protect your assets.

there that guaranteed them 40 hours a week,” Acting City Manager Ron Walsh explained. “We worked with the lifeguards to adjust the contract, giving them much deserved raises and giving the city more flexibility.”

Walsh said the city was paying lifeguards less than other municipalities in pay, and was starting to lose guards, but he believes Long Beach is now more than competitive, which will help it maintain staffing.

“We also feel that we probably have the best life lifeguard program in the state,” Walsh said. “We’re very competitive, very professional, and we have a reputation that we wanted to make sure we protected.”

Taking the test

The city’s rookie lifeguard test — which, like most other lifeguard organizations, including Jones Beach, is substantially harder than the test for returning guards — was administered over the weekend. The applicants, age 15 and older, were given hearing and vision tests,

swam 400 yards with a torpedo buoy, or “torp,” and rescued a play-acting victim with a buoy and with a surfboard. They took a written test as well, on which they had to score 80 or higher.

The results had yet to be released this week.

“We were sufficiently staffed Memorial Day weekend with all the guards that returned,” Borawski said. “We were very happy with that. What they usually do, though, is eventually let us know what their full-time intentions are before we start fully at the end of June. So we’re almost to that.”

An emergency response crew has already rescued five swimmers who got into trouble last week.

Herald file photos

Long BeAch LifeguArds had a busy Memorial Day weekend, starting the beach season in the city.

Open Houses

Wednesday, May 3

Bridgeview Yacht Club, Island Park

11 a.m. – 2 p.m., 4 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Thursday, June 8

Allegria Hotel, Long Beach

11 a.m. – 2 p.m., 4 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Please Join Us!

We are excited to welcome you to Equinor’s upcoming Empire Wind Open Houses. Join us at one or more of the events to meet one-on-one with project experts to learn more about offshore wind, and about the Empire Wind project.

The Empire Wind projects are being developed with a robust approach to community engagement to ensure public input is considered in project planning. These open houses will provide the community with an opportunity to ask questions, contribute ideas, and visit with project experts.

An activity table will be available for children attending with their parents or guardians. Spanish interpretation services will be available, and light refreshments will be served.

A link to a virtual version of the open houses will be provided at www.empirewind.com/community/communityevents/

For more information and to register to attend, scan the QR code.

We look forward to seeing you there!

www.empirewind.com

Long Beach denied by Garden City, 9-8

By ANDREW COEN sports@liherald.com

For the second straight year Long Beach found itself a goal short of topping Garden City on the county championship stage.

A late goal by Garden City’s Kendal Morris with 2:41 left in the second half proved the difference in a 9-8 win in the Nassau Class B girls’ lacrosse final at Adelphi’s Motamed Field June 1.

The result once again denied Long Beach of the program’s first county title. The Marines also fell to Garden City by a 9-8 score on the same field in the 2022 Class B finals when the Trojans netted the game-winner with just 1.7 seconds remaining.

“This is a driving force for our program,” Long Beach coach Rachel Ray said of the quest for that first county crown. “We wanted to rewrite the script and have a different ending after last year. It was heartbreaking, but I’m proud of them.”

Following the eventual winning goal, Garden City won the ensuing draw control and was able to run out most of the remaining clock before Long Beach successfully challenged an illegal stick to give the Marines possession with 19.4 seconds left. Junior midfielder Ava Main ran nearly the length of the field against stiff Garden City pressure but the Marines were unable to generate a shot at the tying goal.

Long Beach (12-7) knotted the score at 8-8 on a Ella Timperio goal off an assist from Skylar Kilfeather with 6:44 left just over two minutes after goalie Emily Backlin made a point-blank save to keep it a one-goal game. The Marines won the ensuing draw control, but Garden City

goalie Niamh Pfaff intercepted a pass near the net which set up the ultimate game-winner.

The Marines traded blows with the Trojans throughout the second half after trailing 6-5 at halftime starting with a Delaney Radin tying tally early in the period. Kilfeather knotted the game at 7-7 with 12:40 remaining before Garden City answered just 40 seconds later on a Maureen Arendt goal.

Sophomore midfielder Delaney Chernoff led the Marine offense with three goals with her second giving Long Beach its only lead of the game at 2-1 with 20:11 left in the first half off a pass from Radin. The University of Florida-bound Radin finished her heralded Long Beach career with three assists and a goal while facing constant double teams.

“She is really an extension of the coaching staff with her strong lacrosse IQ,” said Ray of Radin, who finished the season with 147 points and had 412 for her Long Beach career. “She is a once in a generation type of player to coach.”

The Marines had four players earn All-County honors in Radin, Main, Backlin and senior Keira Bauer. Radin is also expected to earn her third All-American recognition this month.

While the quest for Long Beach’s first county championship continues, the 2023 team underscored how far the program has grown under Ray’s leadership, competing in its second straight Class B finals and third in the past six seasons. Long Beach graduates Radin, Bauer and midfielder Nora Codianni, but brings back a sleigh of talent poised to once again contend for a championship.

“This is a driving force for the program,” Ray said. “We are right there every year.”

Photos by Brian Ballweg/Herald

DElANEy ChERNOff, lEft, celebrated one of her three goals in the Nassau Class B title game defeat to Garden City June 1.

DElANEy RADiN RACkED up 147 points this spring and finished her high school career with 412.

Magnolia Park finished, reopening next week

Long Beach families came out to Magnolia Park Thursday, May 27 for its much-anticipated ribbon rutting. The city was finally able to officially show the playground to the community, and the everyone seemed thrilled in return.

The park will officially reopen on Saturday, June 17 for everybody to use.

Magnolia Park underwent a complete reconstruction and is entirely new. New slides, bars, games and traditional playground items were all replaced improved. The existing mural along the southern portion of the park was one of the only features that remained.

In addition, two pieces of equipment for young children and safety surfaces were installed at Leroy Conyers Park, and will be replacing the current shuffleboard courts.

All projects were hoped to be completed by Memorial Day and are funded by a grant obtained by then-Senator Todd Kaminsky. The grant itself was for $1 million, with $750,000 going toward Magnolia and $250,000 for Leroy Conyers Park, according to City Spokesman John McNally.

Along with the work from that grant, another grant was obtained for work to be done at Pacific Park, which was for about $300,000. The main jungle gym area of the playground was recently removed and will be replaced. Pacific Park is expected to be finished in the fall.

–Brendan Carpenter

Courtesy City of Long Beach

Neighbors came out to Magnolia Park May 27 to celebrate the ribbon cutting to show off the renovations.

Are you an ambivert? guest

As with any dual classification system (smart-stupid, shyoutgoing), most people don’t definitively fit into one category - even if others believe they do. You may be a smart psychologist, yet a really stupid physicist. (Umm, do you imagine I’m talking about me?) Or, you may be shy in one environment, yet outgoing in another.

gy. As the conversation goes on, you’re thinking about how to make a quick exit. Calm environments appeal to you. Loud noise, frenetic energy, and lots of people overwhelm you.

Person to Person

Personality traits exist on a spectrum. It’s true that some people fall closer to the extremes, most of us, however, are somewhere in the middle. Hence, though others may perceive you as an extrovert, you alone – since you know what’s going on inside of you – may identify as an introvert.

It could be that:

■ You enjoy being social. You like spending time with friends. But every night? Not a chance. It’s simply too much people time, not enough alone time.

■ You may be enjoying yourself, still yakety, yak, yak talk drains your ener-

■ You often feel anxious before an event, worrying about who will be there, who to talk to, what to wear, etc. This anxiety may stretch out to the event itself. Yet, as the event progresses, you usually warm up to people. When people respond positively to you, you relax and reveal more of the extraverted part of your personality.

■ Though you like people, you don’t have many friends like extroverts do. Only a few friends, but that’s fine with you. You don’t need lots of people in your life; two or three special friendships will do.

■ When people cancel plans, you often feel more relieved than disappointed. You now have free time. No worries about the details of getting together. Now you’ll have time to be alone or have quiet time with that special some-

one in your life.

■ When you’re with people you’re comfortable with, chatting away on topics you’re interested in, you’ll appear to be an extrovert. You may even enjoy being the center of attention, as some conversations energize you. Yet you know in many social situations, you prefer to be quiet, as you’re really more of an introvert.

If you’re relating to my description of introverts that people think are extroverts, know there’s a word that describes you. No, it’s not confused or befuddled. It’s an ambivert. Not an introvert or an extrovert but someone in the middle. An excellent place to be, I believe, since those who occupy the extremes create problems for themselves and others. So smile, you ambivert! And appreciate who you really are!

©2023

Linda Sapadin, Ph.D., psychologist, coach and author specializes in helping people improve their relationships, enhance their lives and overcome procrastination and fear. Contact her at DrSapadin@aol.com. Visit her website at www.PsychWisdom.com.

news brief

Meet Long Beach’s new summer intern!

Sean is a junior at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, where he plans to complete a degree with a focus in journalism.

A native Long Islander, Sean graduated from South Side High School in Rockville Centre in June 2021. A fan of the Islanders, Yankees and Jets, Sean is a proud New York resident.

While in Winston-Salem, Sean has covered nationally ranked sports teams, including his school’s top ranked collegiate baseball team. Sean has also covered his school’s national champion women’s golf team, as well as their football and basketball teams.

In addition to sports coverage, Sean has covered a variety of topics, including the use of renewable energy in Forsyth County, North Carolina, and the national legislation surrounding Name, Image, and Likeness in collegiate sports.

So far, Sean has covered community stories about everything from the Offshore Wind project to shark sightings to local training about Narcan.

State of the Art Dental Technology

Linda Sapadin

Sean Kennedy

New medical facility, ‘the ologists,’ will open

continued from front page

Rockaway.

Leah Tozer, co-chair of the Long Beach Chamber of Commerce, said that residents wanted more than an ambulatory center, but she added that such a facility is certainly a benefit for many.

“It’s here,” Tozer said. “We tried to fight it. The neighborhood wanted something different, but we didn’t get it.”

City Council Vice President Liz Treston said she visited the facility, “especially after some concerns by the surrounding neighbors.” She said she found that, with “new fencing and more cleanup (it) was complete.”

But, Treston added, “While I’m disappointed the barrier island does not have a freestanding hospital, especially when we just fought and won to have the standing ER remain up and running 24/7, I understand that the medical system in the United States is changing. The number of patients being admitted to hospitals is decreasing, because fewer patients require hospital beds with these newer outpatient services.”

Joe Calderone, a spokesman for the hospital, cited a study by Bruce Vladeck, who, during the administration of President Bill Clinton, headed the federal Health Care Financing Administration. The agency concluded that Long Beach did not generate the volume of patients needed to support a full-service hospital, and recommended the type of facility now about to open.

“It is highly unlikely the (state) Health Department would have ever approved a full-scale hospital,” Calderone said.

Mount Sinai Doctors, situated not far from Reynolds Channel, has an emergency landing zone that can accommodate a helicopter. Its walls are a light pastel, and its large front windows offer a view of the channel.

“We took advantage of the beachyness of the area,” Sharma said.

Mount Sinai said it spent more than $73 million on what it called a “health care revitalization plan for Long Beach,” including the emergency department and the new facility. There will be no overnight stays there, and the specialists will be available by appointment only.

Mount Sinai Doctors has 15 private patient examination rooms, four procedure rooms, an X-ray room and eight rooms for procedure preparation and recovery. It will create about 30 jobs, including front-desk support, medical assistants, X-ray and lab technicians as

well as doctors.

Two of the five damaged Long Beach Hospital buildings remain standing. Hospital officials say they would like to convert them into some type of housing facility, perhaps for health care workers.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony is planned for June 20 for the facility, which took almost two years to build, according to James Smyth, its senior project manager.

Hospital officials point with some pride to a new electronic health-record system that will allow patients to access their records, schedule appointments, renew medications and receive information about the care they receive.

There are 35 Mount Sinai Doctors facilities on Long Island. One in Carle Place opened in January.

The hospital has invited members of the City Council, the chamber of commerce and the fire department in for tours.

All new equipment will be utilized, including stillwrapped beds. the lobby of the facility is ultramodern, and offers a view of nearby Reynolds Channel.

Dr.

president of Mount Sinai South Nassau, inside Mount Sinai Doctors-Long Beach during a tour for the Herald.

ADhi ShArmA,

Tim Baker/Herald photos mount SinAi DoctorS-long Beach is a $35 million ambulatory facility on the grounds of the old Long Beach Hospital, which closed after Hurricane Sandy in 2012.

SUMMER YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM

Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) is the nation’s largest youth employment program, connecting the Town of Hempstead (TOH) and City of Long Beach youth between the ages of 16 and 20 with career exploration opportunities and paid work experience each summer.

By participating in structured project and work-based opportunities, Long Island youth are better prepared for careers of the future.

WHAT THE PROGRAM OFFERS

Career Exploration: Hone your research skills and uncover exciting new career possibilities.

Structured Work-based Opportunities: If you're a TOH and City of Long Beach youth between the ages of 16 and 20, you can get paid to learn about different careers and make a positive impact in your community through work-based activities.

Work Experiences: TOH and City of Long Beach youth between the ages of 16 and 20 can develop job readiness skills and explore diverse career pathways through paid summer jobs in various industries throughout Nassau County.

Earn Money: Don't miss out on the chance to earn money while gaining valuable experience and exploring your career options!

WORKSITE PARTNERS

Partner with the Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) at HempsteadWorks and provide valuable work experience to youth while expanding your business's staff at no cost. The program pays participant wages in full, so there's no financial burden on the hosting employer. As a SYEP worksite, you can play a vital role in the region's economic development and access a pool of talented, hyperlocal youth who are the future workforce.

Please review the important information below for details on this summer's program.

SYEP 2023:

Participants can work up to 30 hours per week

Rate of pay is $16 per hour, paid by the TOH Participants go through physical clearance and drug screening

Worksite Responsibilities:

Ensuring youth time and attendance procedures are followed, and the timesheets are complete and accurate Supervision of participants, along with guidance and training as appropriate Monitoring youth attendance, punctuality, and job performance

Don Clavin Supervisor

New art exhibit coming to Long Beach

Betzalel Art of Long Beach, a dynamic new initiative spearheaded by local artists, announced its first annual Spring Bounty Exhibit on June 11.

There will be a vibrant display of visual art pieces that will adorn the entrance hall of Long Beach’s Temple Israel synagogue, capturing the essence of spring. At the reception, the community can revel in the beauty of art and bid farewell to spring while welcoming the forthcoming summer season.

Learn about Chinese puppetry at library

Long Beach’s Artists in Partnership, Inc. will be presenting Chinese Theatre Works, hands-on Shadow Puppetry Workshop on Saturday, June 17. The event in the Long Beach Public Library auditorium, 111 West Park Ave., at 2 p.m.

The workshop will be a fun way to learn about storytelling from another culture while engaging in puppet-making Chinese shadow performance has a history going back over 2,000 years. This theater tradition uses beautifully carved and colored animal-hide figures, manipulated behind cloth screens in order to portray vivid episodes from history, literature and folktale.

In this workshop, learners will examine the world history of shadow theater through playing with puppets from around the globe and learning techniques for designing, building, and operating shadow puppets.

Workshops focus on traditional onscreen shadow theater, and contemporary overhead projector shadow theater.

The workshop is limited to 30 participants, grades 3 and up, who will have an opportunity to engage in hands-on activities.

Find out more about workshops and events hosted by Artists in Partnership, Inc. by visiting them at AIP4Arts.org.

This exciting initiative is a collaborative effort with local art groups and nonprofits, including West End Arts and Long Beach Jewish Experience. By partnering with these organizations, Betzalel Art aims to create a bridge between artists and the community, offering a platform for them to showcase their work and fos-

tering connections with local centers like Temple Israel and its congregants.

The exhibit will be on display at Temple Israel for one week only from June 11 to June 16. The reception requires reservations. To secure your spot, email BetzalelArtLBNY@gmail.com.

Betzalel Art of Long Beach was established in early 2023 and is an innovative initiative founded with the vision of bringing artists together and fostering stronger bonds with the community through public showcases of their talents. The founder, Chaplain Michele Huttler Silver, a photographer with over 25 years of experience, uses art as a means of communication and collaboration. Currently, she teaches others how to harness the power of the camera as a tool for creative expression.

Long Beach’s newest art gallery will join the ever-growing city arts.

Courtesy Artists in Partnership

STEPPING OUT

by the basketful

Adventures await in local strawberry fields

By Karen Bloom

Get outside and get pickin’. Strawberry season has arrived, and those luscious berries beckon. So gather up your gang and venture out to one of the many “u-pick” growers for a day in the berry patch.

Strawberry season reaches its peak here with the transition from spring to summer, as the fruit grows and ripen throughout May and June. Of course, local is always best, so skip the California and Florida fruit from the supermarket and pick your own.

When you return with your bounty, settle in to whip up some yummy strawberry treats. These fresh gems are always terrific on their own, of course. But when used in a recipe? They’ll jazz up any meal.

in strawberry puree until blended. Pour batter into cooled pan. Bake cheesecake about 1 hour 20 minutes, or until edges are just set and center jiggles slightly. Remove from oven and let cool on wire rack 5 minutes.

Stir together sour cream and remaining 2 tablespoons sugar in a medium bowl. Spread sour cream mixture on top of cheesecake in an even layer. Return to oven and bake 5 minutes longer. Turn oven off and prop the door ajar with the handle of a wooden spoon. Let cool in oven 1 hour. Remove from oven and cool completely. Place in refrigerator and chill until cold throughout, 4 to 6 hours, or overnight.

Using the remaining strawberries, halve them and arrange in concentric circles on top of cheesecake to serve.

Iris DeMent

The Americana singer-songwriter Iris DeMent visits the Landmark stage with her timeless songs blending traditional folk, country and gospel influences. With an inimitable voice as John Prine described, ‘like you’ve heard, but not really,’ and unforgettable melodies rooted in hymns and old country music, Iris DeMent is considered one of the finest singer-songwriters in America today. Praised for her storytelling and songwriting abilities, her career has spanned more than three decades, seven studio albums, and collaborations with Prine, Emmylou Harris and Steve Earle, among others. On her new record, ‘Workin’ On A World,’ DeMent faces the modern world — as it is right now — with its climate catastrophe, pandemic and epidemic of violence and social injustice — and implores us to love each other, despite our very different ways of seeing.

Friday, June 9, 8 p.m. $43, $38, $33. Jeanne Rimsky

Theater at Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington. (516) 767-6444, or LandmarkOnMainStreet.org.

Strawberry Rhubarb Crumble

• 1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour

• 1-1/2 cups sugar

• 1 teaspoon fine sea salt

• 16 tablespoons (2 sticks) cold unsalted butter, cut into 1-inch cubes

• 1 cup rolled oats

• 2 pounds rhubarb, strings removed, stalks cut diagonally into 1/2-inch-thick slices

Double Strawberry Cheesecake

A classic cheesecake takes on added flavor with the addition of some luscious berries.

Graham cracker crust

• 1-1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs (about 9-1/2 crackers)

• 1 tablespoon granulated sugar

• 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

Filling and topping

• 16 ounces strawberries

• 4 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, room temperature

• 1-1/4 cups plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar

• 1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

• 4 large eggs

• 1 cup sour cream

Prepare graham cracker crust:

Preheat oven to 350° F. Stir graham cracker crumbs, melted butter and sugar together in a medium bowl. Press into bottom and at least 1-inch up sides of a 9-inch non-stick springform pan (if pan is not nonstick, brush first with melted butter). Bake until crust is golden brown, about 12 minutes. Let cool completely on a wire rack. Reduce oven to 300° F.

Then prepare filling and topping:

Hull 1/2 of the strawberries and puree in a blender or food processor. You should have about 3/4 cup puree. Beat cream cheese and 1-1/4 cups sugar in an electric mixer fitted with paddle attachment on low speed until smooth. Beat in vanilla until well combined. Add eggs, 1 at a time, on low speed, beating well after each addition, and scraping sides of bowl as needed. Beat

• 4 pints strawberries, sliced

Preheat an oven to 375°F.

In a food processor, pulse together 1-1/2 cups of the flour, 3/4 cup of the sugar and the salt until combined. Add the butter and pulse until the mixture resembles coarse bread crumbs. Add the oats and pulse to combine. Transfer to a bowl.

In another bowl, stir together the rhubarb, strawberries, the remaining 1/4 cup flour, and the remaining 3/4 cup sugar. Spread the fruit filling in a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Using your fingers, press the topping into large clumps and scatter it over the fruit. Bake until the fruit is bubbling and the topping is golden and crisp, about 1 hour. Alternatively, divide the fruit and topping among eight 1/2-cup ramekins and bake for 30 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature. Serves 6 to 8.

Strawberry

Smoothie

• 1 cup coconut milk (or almond milk or your preferred milk)

• 1 cup strawberries (tops removed)

• 1 banana

• 1 cup frozen pineapple chunks

Combine all of your ingredients in your blender in the order that they are listed (liquid on the bottom and frozen on top). Blend until smooth.

His ‘Bronx Tale’

Chazz Palminteri is back on the Paramount stage with his solo version of ‘A Bronx Tale.’ The powerful one-man stage play depicts his bruising childhood, which included witnessing a gangland killing in the Bronx when he was 9. Palminteri plays 18 characters — friends, enemies and family all come alive on stage. ‘A Bronx Tale’ became a hit after he wrote it in 1989, and the most sought after property since ‘Rocky.’ This is the original show he wrote and performed that made him an in-demand character actor and served as the basis of the acclaimed movie and Broadway musical. In the tradition set forth in the 1970s by such icons as director Martin Scorsese and actors Robert DeNiro, Al Pacino and Joe Pesci, Palminteri has brought grit, muscle and an evocative realism to the sidewalks of his New York neighborhood, violent as they are and were.

Sunday, June 11, 7:30 p.m., $99.50, $89.50, $79.50, $59.50, $49.50. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Visit Ticketmaster.com or ParamountNY. com for tickets/information.

THE SCENE

The Bacon Brothers

That ‘Footloose’ feeling comes alive when Kevin Bacon takes to the stage, Friday, June 23, 8 p.m., as one-half of the Bacon Brothers, at The Space at Westbury. Bound by blood and a mutual love of American roots music, Michael and Kevin Bacon have spent the past quarter-century in a creative whirl, funneling their shared DNA into a genre-bending sound. They call that sound “Forosoco” — a blend of folk, rock, soul, and country influences, delivered by two songwriters who were born to collaborate — and it’s taken the siblings across the world, from shows in Japan to performances at American landmarks like Carnegie Hall and the Grand Ole Opry. The Bacon Brothers turn a new page with their 11th release, “Erato,” whose five songs showcase the duo’s dynamic contrasts: quiet moments and big payoffs, organic instrumentation and electronic textures, self-penned songs and high-profile collaborations. Ticket are $45-$80; available at TheSpaceAtWestbury.com. The Space, 250 Post Ave. Westbury.

On exhibit

Nassau County Museum of Art’s exhibition, “Eye And Mind: The Shin Collection,” highlights the extraordinary collection masterworks assembled by 31-year-old connoisseur Hong Gyu Shin, an internationally recognized figure in the global art world. He shares his treasures, including works by Whistler, Lautrec, Boucher, Daumier, Delacroix, Klimt, Schiele, Balthus, Warhol, de Kooning, Gorky and many other important names from art history provocatively juxtaposed with the painting and sculpture of our own time from both Asia and the West. On view through July 9. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. (516) 484-9337

Art talk

Join Nassau County Museum Director Charles A. Riley II, for a Director’s Seminar, Tuesday, June 20, 4 p.m. He’ll discuss “Baldessari and the Making of the Avant-Garde.” John Baldessari’s roster from Cal Arts featured famed artists, from Eric Fischl (who never technically took a class with him) to David Salle, James Casebere, Tony Oursler, Ericka Beckman, Ross Bleckner, Carrie Mae Weems, James Welling and so many other art stars. Examine not only Baldessari’s own art but some of the famous assignments offered by the man many consider the most influential art school teacher of the 20th century. Participation is limited; registration required. $40, $20 members. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. Visit NassauMuseum.org or call (516)

Breastfeeding Support Group

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

Arts in the Plaza

Arts in the Plaza takes over Kennedy Plaza each Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Handcrafted art, custom jewelry, gifts, photography and more can be seen and purchased. For more information, visit ArtsInThePlaza.com.

Yard Sale

The Long Beach Historical Society, 226 W. Penn St., will be having its popular yard sale on Saturday, June 10. Jewelry, holiday decorations, glassware, collectibles and other unique items from the gift shop will be on sale from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call (516) 432-1192.

Empire Wind Open House

Equinor hosts an open house about the Empire Wind project, Thursday, June 8, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and then again from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., at the Allegria. The community has an opportunity to ask questions, contribute ideas and visit the Empire Wind Project team. 80 W. Broadway. For more information, visit EmpireWind. com.

Passion for Pride

Support PFY, a division of Long Island Crisis Center, at a 30th Anniversary Benefit celebration, Tuesday, June 13, 6-10 p.m. With drag bingo and performances by Ivy Stalls and Syn; also special guest honoree actor-author-activist Maulik Pancholy. The event, honoring PFY’s 30 years serving Long Island/Queens’ LGBTQ+ communities, is at Westbury Manor, 1100 Jericho Turnpike, Westbury. For more information and tickets, go to tinyurl.com/ pfyevent2023.

Having an event?

On stage

Families will enjoy another musical adventure, ripped from the pages of Mo Willems’ beloved children’s books, on the Long Island Children’s Museum stage, Friday, June 9, 10:15 a.m. and noon; Wednesday through Friday, June 14-16, 10:15 a.m. and noon. This musical comedy adventure stars Willems’ beloved character The Pigeon, who is eager to try anything and everything. When a bus driver takes a break from the route, a very unlikely volunteer springs up to take the driver’s place — a pigeon. The audience is part of the action, in this innovative mix of songs, silliness and feathers. $9 with museum admission ($7 members), $12 theater only. Long Island Children’s Museum, Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 2245800 or LICM.org.

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

Comprehensive Plan Open Houses

The City of Long Beach will be having open house meetings to discuss a draft of its comprehensive plan on Wednesday and Thursday, June 14-15 The plan outlines values, visions and goals for the next five to 15 years in the city. Wednesday’s meeting will be at the Martin Luther King Center and Thursday’s session will be at City Hall, both at 7 p.m. For more information, visit LongBeachNY.gov.

Celebrate Israel

Salute Israel and celebrate the nation’s 75 years of independence, while welcoming Eisenhower Park’s summer concert season, when Sid Jacobson JCC joins the Jewish Community Relations Council of Long Island for IsraelFest, Sunday, June 11. Enjoy family activities, 4-6 p.m., followed by concert with Israeli pop singersongwriter Harel Skatt, 6-8 p.m. The Long Island Cantors Ensemble also performs. Bring seating. Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, Eisenhower Park, East Meadow. For more information, visit SJJCC.org/israelfest.

Whale of a Drink fundraiser

Support The Whaling Museum by participating in Sandbar restaurant’s Whale of a Drink, Whale of a Cause fundraising effort, now through June 21 Enjoy the Sandbar’s iconic cocktail, the Whalebone, and a portion of the purchase will be donated to the museum. A “mocktail” version is also available. To help promote the fundraiser, mixologist Dan Leopold will offer a mixology demonstration and Whalebone tasting at the Museum’s Whales & Ales event on June 3, 2:30-3 p.m. Funds will support the Whaling Museum’s community education programs during its 2023 summer season. 55 Main St, Cold Spring Harbor. For information, visit SandbarColdSpringHarbor.com.

Through June

Pamela Alcala wins Young Pioneers Award

By KARINA KOVAC kkovac@liherald.com

Pamela Alcala, a clinical social worker and the program coordinator for the Friedberg Jewish Community Center’s Camp Ga’avah, is one of five recipients of the coveted 2023 Robert M. Sherman Young Pioneers Award. The award recognizes inspiring educators under 40 years of age who have made a significant impact on the communities they serve. The award will be presented by The Jewish Education Project at a ceremony in New York City.

As program coordinator for the Friedberg Jewish Community Center’s Camp Ga’avah, which serves LGBTQ+ youth, Alcala’s creativity, compassion and enthusiasm has enabled her to transform the typical “arts and crafts” camp curriculum into a deeper and more introspective process and experience for her students. Their primary facility is in Oceanside, but they have other branches in Merrick, Bellmore, Long Beach and Lynbrook.

Alcala explained her thought process saying, “Art is never perfect. There is a narrative that things have to be perfect to be beautiful. I disagree. Everything you are and everything you create is beautiful.”

During her time at Camp Ga’avah she introduced projects like acrylic pouring, where students were asked to analyze the significance of the colors used while creating the abstract paintings, instead of simply pouring the paint. Another activity she forged was mask making, an imaginative project that enables students to examine the masks they wear in their own lives while decorating blank ones to share their feelings.

“At Camp Ga’avah, many of the children are at the receiving end of a lot of unkindness,” Alcala

said, “We accept each individual as and where they are and impart the Jewish values of gratitude, strength, kindness and loving your neighbor. I love teaching and am happy to be able to help equip our campers with these important tools.”

Stephanie Abrams, Friedberg JCC’s director of camping services said, “There’s no question that Pamela epitomizes all facets of a pioneering educator. We are delighted to have her return to Camp Ga’avah for summer 2023 in a full-time capacity, where in addition to arts education, she will offer mental health counseling and support services to campers, their family members and staff.”

The Young Pioneers Award is named for Robert M. Sherman, the chief executive of The Jewish Education Project from 2007 until July 2019.

Since 2012, the Robert M. Sherman Young Pioneers Award has recognized 40 Jewish educators from greater New York that push the boundaries in Jewish education. Recipients work in day schools, camps, youth groups, supplementary schools, community centers, seminaries and in foundation settings.

The Jewish Education Project’s mission is to inspire and empower educators to create transformative Jewish experiences. For over 100 years, The Jewish Education Project has been supporting educators to build strong Jewish communities.

The Friedberg JCC’s mission is to promote Jewish life and values by providing health, wellness, cultural enrichment and social opportunities in a warm, caring environment, for people at all stages of life. Their programming includes adults, aquatics, camps, dementia services, early childhood, the Ezra Center for People with Disabilities, Parkinson’s programs, social services, and fitness and wellness.

Courtesy Friedberg Jewish Community Center

PAmelA AlCAlA wAs awarded the prestigious 2023 Robert M. Sherman Young Pioneers Award for her significant positive impact on local communities.

Fagin lives on through people he touched

By KARINA KOVAC kkovac@liherald.com

Dozens of local tennis players gathered on May 21 in Oceanside Park to remember their friend Jay Fagin, from Long Beach. Fagin died on Jan. 18, 2022, just shy of his 87th birthday, and was known by many in the community, always seen around town wearing a cowboy hat and humming a tune.

The players shared emotional stories about Fagin before unveiling a bench that they donated to the park in his honor. He would be out on any available court — mostly at the park — seven days a week, playing only on the deuce court, because he had only one working eye. The other was plastic, and for comic relief he’d tap on it.

Despite his age, “He was a very good tennis player, very strong,” said Judy Roth, one of his closest friends. People would try to go easier on him, “because he looked older — he looked like an old man. But … he was a very strong player and a very kind player.” Roth added, “He never slowed down. He was always ready to go.”

About eight years ago, Fagin saved a friend’s life on a tennis court. They were playing at Point Set in East Rockaway, and his friend fell; he was having a heart attack. Fagin gave him CPR until paramedics arrived. The U.S. Tennis Association gave him an award for effort.

He was known for his generosity, for always giving to anyone in need. “If somebody needed help — whatever kind of help — he would go out of his way,” Roth said. “… He was really a very special, very giving and very generous person. He really was. And you were lucky if you had him as a friend.”

The day after the dedication, Roth played tennis at the park, and said she could feel his energy emanating from the bench, which she had never felt before.

Fagin wasn’t all about tennis. He was a well-rounded man who loved the arts, who went see the orchid show

every year at the Bronx Botanical Garden. He was an avid theatergoer and a New York Times crossword puzzle solver. He was a gardener who loved his music loud. And on top of it all, he could make anyone laugh.

He graduated from Long Beach High School in 1952, and went to class reunions until the end of his life. After school he served briefly as a Marine at the end of the Korean War. When he returned from Korea, he was a textile salesman selling. He also owned two buildings on East Broadway in Long Beach, and you’d think he was the mayor, his friends said, the way people would grab him for a quick chat.

“The Town of Hempstead was extraordinary to me,” Roth said of helping to create the memorial. “Everyone I talked to tried to help and were there for me and made it

FRIeNds OF JAy Fagin, and Hempstead Town Councilwoman Laura Ryder, gather at a bench dedicated to Fagin in Oceanside Park. In the middle is the cowboy hat he wore everywhere.

easier. I can only compliment everyone that was involved in this from the Town of Hempstead — really superlative.”

“The Town of Hempstead was pleased to dedicate a beautiful park bench at Oceanside Park for avid tennis player Jay Fagin,” Councilwoman Laura Ryder said in an emailed statement. “The bench, adorned with an engraved plaque with Jay’s name, is situated right beside the tennis courts … the courts where Jay loved to play. I was honored to attend the dedication ceremony on behalf of the Town of Hempstead, with 30 of Jay’s closest friends, to pay tribute to a man who was a kind and generous friend. His friends expressed sincere gratitude to the Town of Hempstead for facilitating the bench dedication and remembering a very special man who touched the lives of so many.”

Courtesy Town of Hempstead

Long Beach schools stay busy as year nears end

Long Beach students are frequently being recognized for their achievements. Whether it be art, music, athletics or academic responsibilities, they’re seemingly always making waves.

This school year, Long Beach High School had over 20 students involved in Long Beach Riptide Robotics. This was the second year the high school robotics team was able to compete in person at Hofstra University in the For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology Robotics New York Regional.

At the event, which was held at Hofstra University, the Riptide were one of 49 teams who competed in the annual Long Island Regional Robotics Competition. Throughout the tournament, each team showcased their designs and robots were evaluated for retrieving and placing specific game pieces on designated spots and racing back to their own charge stations.

Riptide Robotics was ranked as high as fifth at times but ultimately finished qualifying as number 16 out of the 49 teams. They made it to the third round of the final tournament against some other veteran teams.

FIRST Long Island, formerly School and Business Partnerships of Long Island, Inc., was founded in 1984. Its vision is to create partnerships between

schools, businesses and community organizations to embrace school curriculum that inspires students to pursue careers in technology, engineering and science.

The high school’s spring athletics season came to a close recently as well. Kayla Carney, Jewel Jones, Kirsten Lilly and Mikella Gray competed in the Nassau County State qualifying meet at North Shore High School on Saturday, June 3.

That’s not the only big sports news in the district.

Long Beach High School swim coach

Lynn Volosevich was awarded as a 202223 National Federation High School Coach of the Year Award recipients for New York State girls swimming.

Also, late last month, Long Beach High School students involved in the Talented Writers and Creative Writing programs shared their accomplishments with members of the board of education.

Student writers have been awarded for their distinctions in writing this year, both individually and collectively. Their presentation highlighted numerous achievements as well as acknowledged the recent awards of the school’s literary magazine, Fragments.

–Brendan Carpenter

Courtesy Long Beach Public Schools

Kayla Carney, Jewel Jones, Kirsten Lilly and Mikella Gray competed in the Nassau County State qualifying meet at North Shore High School on Saturday, June 3.

Remembering someone by helping others

The Geri E. Yellin Scholarship assists graduating students, future endeavors

By SEAN KENNEDY Intern

As summer approaches and high school seniors look toward their transition off to college and their next steps, one scholarship at Long Beach High School not only benefits a senior — but also commemorates a life.

For Brooke Yellin, a former Long Beach High School student and daughter of Geri Yellin, this scholarship allows for her to do two things she loves — give back to her high school and keep her mother’s legacy alive.

The Geri E. Yellin Scholarship is given annually to one LBHS student who embodies the character of Brooke’s late mother, who died in 2018.

“I’m doing this for the people who are strong, brave, determined and kindhearted like my mom,” Yellin said. “It’s enjoyable to give back to those students that remind me of her.”

Yellin commended each of her past recipients of the award immensely for the qualities that she and the faculty at the high school saw in each of them. One of the former recipients was Robert Browne, a student who, despite being paralyzed from the chest down in a 2014 surfing accident, came back to walk the stage at his graduation in June 2019.

Like Browne, Yellin’s mother beat the

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Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 008412/2011. Mary Ellen Divone, Esq. - Referee. Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310, Westbury, New York 11590, Attorneys for Plaintiff. All foreclosure sales will be conducted in accordance with Covid-19 guidelines including, but not limited to, social distancing and mask wearing. *LOCATION OF SALE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DAY OF IN

odds herself. She survived a condition in which only five percent of her oxygen reached her brain as a child, one in which doctors told her family that she wasn’t likely to survive past two weeks old. She also beat the odds in having Brooke, surviving through endometrio-

sis to have someone “she really wanted.”

“I was truly blessed to have this woman as my mom,” Yellin said. “She worked tirelessly to give me the best life a child could ever have. She always fought tooth and nail to make sure that I was successful.”

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Pursuant to New York State Town Law Article 16, New York State Public Officers Law Article 7, and the Town of Hempstead Building Zone Ordinance, NOTICE is hereby given that the BOARD OF APPEALS of the Town of Hempstead will hold a public hearing in the Old Town Hall, 350 Front Street, Room 230, Second Floor, Hempstead,

ALL PAPERS PERTAINING TO THE ABOVE HEARING ARE AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION AT THE BOARD OF APPEALS, TOWN HALL, 1 WASHINGTON STREET, HEMPSTEAD, NY 11550. This notice is only for new cases in Point Lookout within Town of Hempstead jurisdiction. There are additional cases in different hamlets, towns and villages on the Board of Appeals calendar. The full calendar is available at https://hempsteadny.gov/ 509/Board-of-Appeals

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Last summer, Brooke organized a brand-new idea: a kickball tournament to raise funds for the scholarship. The event went exceptionally well, she said.

“Last year’s tournament went amazingly,” she recalled. “Everybody had so much fun and we were able to fundraise so well. We were able to raise the amount that I’m able to offer those students.”

As a full-time college student, Brooke has been able to juggle her studies with being able to organize the second year of the big event.

“Without people like my mom, and the people at Long Beach High School, I wouldn’t be able to pursue my studies to be a physical education teacher,” she added. “People like them are the reason why I’m going to keep giving back until I can’t anymore.”

This year’s edition of the kickball tournament will take place July 15 at Lincoln Orens Middle School in Island Park. The event will contain refreshments from local small businesses, raffles and other entertainment.

Teams can consist of 8-12 players, and registration is available via a Google Form link on the scholarship’s Instagram page, @geri.e.yellin.schol-

arship.

Photos courtesy Brooke Yellin ThiS YEAr’S TourNAmENT, the second year of it running, helped raise enough money for the group to continue giving out its scholarship.

BrooKE YElliN, A former Long Beach High School student, runs the Geri E. Yellin Scholarship, which is given annually to one student.

ThE group’S ANNuAl kickball game saw a large turnout in support of the foundation.

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Administrative Opening Monticello Central School

Assistant Secondary Principal

The successful candidate should possess: Knowledge of research-based instructional programs & practices; exp. w/ teacher supervision & evaluation; a record of successfully improving learning experiences and enhancing school to home communication; and can provide a supportive environment with knowledge of social-emotional competencies, restorative practices, and promote a culturally responsive educational climate.

Salary Range: $95,000 to $105,000

SDA/SDL/SBL Certification Required plus 3 yrs. exp. as a classroom teacher preferred. Please apply online by June 15th at https://monticelloschools.tedk12.com/hire or OLAS EOE

DRIVING

OUTSIDE SALES

Administrative Opening Monticello Central School High School Principal

The Monticello CSD is seeking forward thinking and dynamic School Building Principal who can lead MCSD’s highly engaged faculty, staff, parents, students, and community. The successful candidate will have a vision of educational excellence, be highly motivated, and demonstrates an ability to impact student learning.

Starting Salary: $150,000 NYS SDA/SAS/SBL Certification Required plus 2 yrs. of previous administrative leadership and 3 yrs. exp as a classroom teacher preferred. Please apply online by June 15th at https://monticelloschools.tedk12.com/hire or OLAS EOE

Assistant Elementary Principal

The successful candidate should possess:

Knowledge of research-based instructional programs & practices; exp. w/ teacher supervision & evaluation; a record of successfully improving learning experiences and enhancing school to home communication; and can provide a supportive environment with knowledge of social-emotional competencies, restorative practices, and promote a culturally responsive educational climate.

Salary Range: $95,000 to $105,000

NYS SDA/SDL/SBL Certification Required plus 3 yrs. exp as a classroom teacher preferred. Please apply online by June 15th at https://monticelloschools.tedk12.com/hire or OLAS EOE

EDITOR/REPORTER

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

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

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

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

PRESS-ROOM/WAREHOUSE HELP

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

UP TO $20.70 NYC, $20.00 L.I., $16.20

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Childcare Offered CHILDCARE AVAILABLE

BR, 2 Bth Coop in Garden Town. Gourmet Kit W/Thermdore St Steel Appl Opens Into DR & LR. Primary BR w/Bth Plus Spac 2nd BR. W/D in Unit. New Self Controlled CAC. Oak Flrs, LED Lights. Near LIRR. Parking Avail. SD#14. You Don't Want to Miss This...$359,000 Ronnie Gerber, Douglas Elliman 516-238-4299

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Open Houses

WOODMERE BA, 504 Saddle Ridge Rd., FIRST TIME ON MARKET! Move Right Into This Renovated 4 BR, 2 Bth Split with Open Layout in Prime Location! Granite/Wood EIK Opens to Dining Room & Living Room. Lower Level Den. HW Flrs, Gas Heat, CAC. Oversized Property! SD#14.Near

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Want to Miss This REDUCED! $359,000

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1534 Broadway #103, BA, Magnificent New Renovation! One of a Kind Ranch

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Just Move into This Gut Rvated, Spacious 2 BR, 2 Bath Apt with Open Layout. Large Designer Eat in Kitchen with Sep Pantry & Laundry Rm. Master BR Boasts Gorgeous Bth & Walk in Closet. Terrace Faces into Courtyard. Garage Parking Incl REDUCED & MOTIVATED!! $599,000

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Condo in Prestigious Jonathan Hall with Doorman & Elevator. Updtd Wood/Quartz Kit, LR & DR. Washer/Dryer

Removing a deck to add a room

Q. We started planning a project to add a room, 303 square feet, in 2015, and due to many delays, we received approval for a permit only in January of this year. The costs from when we originally started planning until now increased from an estimated $80,000 to almost $200,000. Part of the work was to remove the previous owner’s handicapped-accessible deck with a permitted roof, which, thankfully, we don’t need. We got an alternative estimate for a paving-block patio, which we understand doesn’t need a permit in our town if it’s on the ground. The contractor even said we could cover the entire yard. We still want to keep the roof, so do we need a permit for the patio, and do we need a permit for the footings to continue supporting the roof we want to keep?

IA. You can see, firsthand, what has happened with the economy and costs. Fortunately, you have an alternative to save money. People who are planning enclosed rooms aren’t as fortunate in the economy we’re now facing.

Avenue Rockville Centre NY, 11570 516.678.1510

I have always recommended patios, properly drained, supported and finished, over the other choice of decking, where possible, not just because many jurisdictions don’t require a permit for the paving, but also because the maintenance is less for a patio, and it will last much longer than a deck system. Some communities have regulations for a permit to be filed for paving to show the authorities that the paving is “permeable” — that it still allows rain to seep into the ground to recharge the water supply deep in the earth below. Your location is in a town that doesn’t require a permit for anything that’s built less than 8¼ inches above the ground. Incidentally, the magic of 8¼ inches isn’t arbitrary; it’s the maximum height of a step in the building code.

I just returned from a trade fair where I had the opportunity to discuss material pricing with many suppliers, and the consensus is that prices for commodity materials such a raw lumber and cement will begin to fluctuate downward, but many said that they don’t anticipate manufactured items to come down again. Just as real estate has seen a dramatic increase, so now have materials and construction in general.

The biggest concern we should all have, if we care about the next generation and the health of our economy, is whether they will ever be able to afford what their parents had. Currently, only 9 percent of the next generation of American families own or have a mortgage on a home, while the majority of the generation has had to find alternatives, such as multi-generational living arrangements or apartments, trailers or recreational vehicles as permanent living, according to Building magazine, among other building information resources. I hope the existing deck roof already has a correct supporting footing in the ground. If not, good luck!

© 2022 Monte Leeper

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Monte

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Now pitching, after five weeks on the injury list ...

Last week I had the opportunity to throw out the first pitch before a Long Island Ducks game against the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs. The game was played at the Ducks’ home field, the Fairfield Properties Ballpark in Central Islip. The Ducks played well, and won 9-2. A normal person reading this might say, that’s nice, but no big deal.

Real baseball fans, however, don’t fit the definition of normal.

For one thing, they never really grow up, and being on a professional baseball field, even just to throw one pitch before the game has even begun, is for many a childhood dream.

But living this dream includes living through and overcoming incredible tension and fear of failure. This is especially true if you happen to be a politician who knows that no matter how beloved you think you might be, there are thousands of fans just waiting to see you suffer the ignominious fate of bouncing the

pitch before it crosses home plate and settles into the catcher’s mitt. I know of several otherwise courageous politicians who will never accept the offer (or challenge) to throw out the first pitch. Or if they do develop some nerve, they throw the ball from well in front of the rubber, which, of course, is atop the pitcher’s mound, 60 feet, 6 inches from home plate.

To me, that shortened version doesn’t count as a real first pitch, so I always summoned the courage — more than I ever needed to deliver a major speech on the floor of Congress — to pitch from the rubber, and always succeeded, except for the one time, which I will never forget and always regret, when the ball faded away at the last instant and drifted off at the front of the batter’s box, forcing the catcher to make what looked like a hockey goalie’s acrobatic save.

Last week’s first pitch was particularly stressful. I had been successfully operated on for stomach cancer less than five weeks before, during which part of my stomach was removed and I was left with a 9-inch-long incision that

had to heal. The surgeon, who probably considered referring me to a psychiatrist, consented to my first-pitch antics if I threw it “softly” from in front of the mound. Reluctantly I agreed to those terms and conditions. Walking to the mound, I felt more tension than when I was being wheeled into the operating room.

But both times, my prayers were answered. The surgery had been successful, the pitch was over the plate, and the incision didn’t reopen.

Separate from my baseball delusions, I can’t tell you how much I appreciate being able to associate with the Ducks organization. The team and its owner, Frank Boulton, have been a Long Island institution for a quarter century. Playing in the Atlantic League, the Ducks bring a solid, high level of baseball to Long Island.

Their roster invariably includes future and past major leaguers, the most current and prominent being their designated hitter, former Mets great Daniel Murphy. Also notable is their manager, Wally Backman, the star second base-

man on the Mets’ 1986 World Series champion team. No one, though, has been more beloved in Ducks history than Bud Harrelson, the Mets’ All-Star shortstop when they won the 1969 Series, who was a Ducks coach and team vice president for so many years until he had to step aside because of Alzheimer’s.

The Ducks are an integral part of the Long Island community, being active in charitable and veterans events and making their home games family-friendly and affordable. Being at a Ducks game is like viewing a Norman Rockwell painting depicting real America: kids, parents and grandparents enjoying an afternoon or evening of baseball; members of local organizations singing the pre-game national anthem; veterans, police officers and firefighters being honored on the field. All this and so much more makes me appreciate the Ducks and what they mean to Long Island.

Boulton initially invited me to throw out a first pitch at a game back in 2002, and it has been an honor to be invited back over the years. I’m proud to call Frank my friend and proud to be a loyal Ducks fan. Play ball!

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

No, I don’t have time to answer your survey

You don’t have a moment, and neither do I, but what does that matter? Ubiquitous, intrusive and endless surveys are a good idea gone rogue.

Suddenly, all of life’s experiences are followed up with an emailed questionnaire asking you to rate your doctor, car rental, pet groomer, colorist, breakfast cereal, political candidate, wine, motel, coffee or underpants. Have a moment? Have a moment? Have a moment?

vey popped up on my phone before I even left the premises. It was pages long and asked my input on everything from the hygiene of the location to the friendliness of staff at all levels and my thoughts about ever returning to that center or recommending it to others.

meal

The basic idea of soliciting people’s opinions about service and products and experiences is sound. But, as with many decent ideas today, folks are beating it to death with overuse. You can’t make simple purchases without the inevitable survey landing in your inbox.

RANDI KREISS

Let’s agree that there are surveys you will consider answering and some you delete immediately for very good reason.

Example: I hurt my wrist last week and went to a local urgent care. The sur-

I was impressed with the place, the efficiency and the kindness of the staff and the thoroughness of the doctor. I was not so happy with one of the medical support people who poked around my wrist with some indifference to my pain level, and there was a place on the form to say so. I gladly filled out the online survey and happily signed my name. I will probably not go back there again, because I have my own doctor. That’s why I felt safe to relinquish anonymity.

A few days later, I had a follow-up appointment with my physician to check my wrist. I see him twice a year. I chose him as my doctor because I like him and the way he works with patients. By the time I got into my car, swish, the survey popped up.

In the most suspicious part of my

brain, I believe my doctor somehow can access the surveys and find out who threw him under the bus. I can imagine him in the evenings, poring over the surveys, tracking the patients who mentioned how freezing the examining rooms are or how frustrating the office phone system can be. He’s the guy with the needles and potions and sharp instruments at his disposal; I would never put anything online that wasn’t in the order of high praise. No. No surveys for me at my doctor’s office.

Open Table, the restaurant reservation website, sends surveys all the time, soliciting consumers’ opinions about everything from food to service to ambience. In one happy exchange, I wrote a seriously negative review of a restaurant we frequent, explaining that our experience seemed to be an anomaly but it was awful, and I wanted the owner to know. I signed my name.

The owner called me and invited us back for a free dinner. We went. It was great. I said so in a follow-up survey. Good. Good.

Now, if I had nothing to do in my life

but fill out surveys, I would be giving feedback to Chukar Cherries, my food gift outlet of choice; Optum RX, my mail order drug company; Amazon; The Washington Post; BridgeBase, my online game site; UPS; Marriott Hotels; Chewy, my go-to store for pet supplies; American Airlines; and every magazine to which I ever subscribed.

But I have a busy life, and in order to discover how well I’m doing in my own arena, I developed a small survey for my son and daughter to complete. Just five easy-to-answer questions, which I emailed to them last week:

1. Did you have a happy childhood?

2. Do you have any memories of the time I flipped out, took the car and ran away from home when you were 5 and 2?

3. Why don’t you call more often?

4. Have you ever told a therapist any family secrets?

5. What are your feelings about adult children taking in their parents?

No surprise: There has been a complete communication blackout. I guess answering anonymously wasn’t an option.

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

But we got a free

when I complained about an eatery we frequent.

This time I had no choice but to throw from in front of the mound.

HERALD

Our armed forces need your help

there were more than a dozen of them — some wearing caps denoting their military service, others in full uniform. They were veterans of various conflicts over the past several decades, many of them members of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2736 in East Meadow. They paid a visit to East Meadow High School ahead of Memorial Day to ensure that the true meaning of the annual observance of those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for freedom was not forgotten.

“We wanted to come here and tell the high school students what it was like to serve,” one veteran, Frank Belardo, said. “We wanted to do this before Memorial Day to teach the students, and honor those who did not come home.”

But that wasn’t the only thing on the minds of the veterans as they met with social studies classes that day.

“It seems like less kids are going down that route of joining the military,” Navy veteran Tom Kelly said. “So you just have to keep reminding them about the commitment to America, and how proud we are. It’s something that should be carried on. It seems like it’s a dying art these days, but I hope not.”

Kelly wasn’t exaggerating. America’s military forces are struggling to recruit new members. The Army, for example, missed its recruiting goal by 25 percent last year, according to the military industry news outlet War on the Rocks. In fact, the Army believes its overall forces will be reduced by 20,000 soldiers by September — part of an overall downward trend across the branches.

Young people just don’t see the military in the same light that previous generations did. They are bombarded by images of war, death and gruesome injuries, as well as many soldiers returning home and dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder.

Yet that’s not the only factor causing a drain of personnel in the armed forces. The nation’s low unemployment rate means there’s less incentive for many to seek out the military. And the sheer number of people eligible to serve is lower than ever.

A Pentagon study last year determined that 77 percent of America’s 17- to 24-yearold population wouldn’t qualify without some kind of waiver. Many are overweight. Others abuse drugs and alcohol. And then there’s the growing number of young people who wouldn’t qualify because of mental and physical health issues, especially in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

More than 44 percent, the study concluded, would be disqualified for more than one reason.

U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis, of North Carolina, a ranking Republican member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, shared during a hearing last year that “every single metric tracking the military recruiting environment is going in the wrong direction.”

“To put it bluntly, I am worried we are now in the early days of a long-term threat to the all-volunteer force,” Tillis said, according to Military.com. There is “a small and declining number of Americans who are eligible — and interested — in military service.”

So, what can be done? Many military leaders and lawmakers are trying to figure that out. The branches already offer a number of incentives to new recruits — from signing bonuses to education funding, solid (and free) medical care, room and board allowances, and a month of vacation every year, among other things.

But we must do more — and maybe we can, right here, closer to home. The Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps has been a fixture in thousands of high schools — and even some middle schools — across the country since 1916. It gives young people a taste of what it’s like to serve, without leaving home. And it has been instrumental in not only providing stability for many young people over the decades, but recruiting for military service as well, since nearly half of them eventually do that.

The problem? There aren’t enough JROTC programs, especially in New York. Especially on Long Island. The vast majority are concentrated in the Southeast, according to the Rand Corp. South Caroli-

na and Georgia, for example, boast JROTC programs in far more than half their schools. New York? It’s less than 10 percent.

JROTC has been great at addressing demographic representation by being in many schools with larger ethnic diversity, Rand says. But geographic representation is severely lacking. Just 16 percent of young people live in states with high numbers of JROTC programs, while more than half of the total population of teenagers are in 28 states like New York where such programs are lacking.

More schools need to offer JROTC, but they can’t do it alone. Congress needs to expand JROTC overall — and pay for that expansion, retired U.S. Army Lt. Gen. David Barno and Johns Hopkins professor Nora Bensahel say. At the same time, members of Congress — on both sides of the aisle — need to stop using the military as a political football.

“Painting the entire U.S. military as either woke or extremist undermines public support for the institution and the people in uniform, and often deflects examination of concrete problems that are affecting military capabilities and readiness,” Barno and Bensahel told War on the Rocks. “Elected officials should stop making broad assertions about the entire force, and instead focus their legitimate oversight role on the senior officials who testify in front of Congress.”

The brave men and women — like those who visited East Meadow High School — should forever be honored by all of us. But let’s not let their service and sacrifice become part of a dying breed.

Why I voted for a casino at the Coliseum

since 2014 I have had the privilege of representing the residents of the 2nd District at the Nassau County Legislature. Throughout that time, I have contemplated and made decisions on a full spectrum of controversial and consequential issues. Deciding whether or not to execute a lease transfer agreement between the county and Las Vegas Sands was one of the most difficult decisions I have been confronted with to date.

What made it so challenging is the fact that I don’t have the luxury of analyzing this or any other issue that comes before me as a lawmaker through a one-dimensional lens.

Because I am entrusted with overseeing and safeguarding Nassau County’s fiscal future, I had to carefully considering the tax revenue, economic development and job creation opportunities presented by the resort and casino Las Vegas Sands has proposed building at the

Nassau Hub. The last two factors are especially vital for the economically disadvantaged communities that I serve as a legislator.

As a policy maker, I must always be aware of the legislative atmosphere in which I am operating — and in New York state, legal gambling is a growing reality. Online sports betting became legal in January 2022, and in a 2013 statewide referendum, 67 percent of Nassau voters cast ballots in favor of the siting of seven new casinos throughout the Empire State.

As a community advocate, I researched, vetted and deliberated on the heartfelt concerns my constituents expressed about potential impacts of the Hub development on public safety, traffic and behavioral health. One especially important element of advocacy is robust community engagement.

To get the pulse of the communities I represent, I took part in numerous events in Hempstead, Uniondale and Westbury. In Uniondale — the host community for any development at the Hub — I met with leaders of the public

Letters

Give neighbors a chance to manage L.I.’s electricity

To the Editor:

Re Jerry Kremer’s column last week, “The PSEG love affair is over”: Mr. Kremer opposes “giving a group of local neighbors the power to dictate to professionals” operating a Long Island power company.

“Dictate” may be hyperbole, but it identifies the general problem: unaccountable power. The history provided — LILCO, LIPA, PSEG — demonstrates consistently inadequate infrastructure, a focus on shareholders over ratepayers, the interference of friends in high places, and the general disdain for customer concerns characteristic of near-monopolies. We can agree that “John Q. Citizen” ought not “dictate” to professional operators, but Mr. Citizen is also a ratepayer, dissatisfied by the “professionals’” history of mismanagement, and now seeks greater transparency, accountability and responsiveness.

Dictatorship by professionals is well known, and is what must be curbed. So long as the primary interests remain short-term corporate goals, the future delivery of Long Island’s electrons will replicate its past. Municipalization may not be the answer, but our history of failures suggests we try a new arrangement.

BRIAN KELLY Rockville Centre

Clearing the air about marijuana

To the Editor:

Since the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act was enacted in New York in March 2021, confusion remains about marijuana’s legal and medical realities. As part of the North Shore Coalition Against Substance Abuse efforts to reduce the use and abuse of substances by our youth, we offer below some information on marijuana so you can inform yourself and your family.

The law allows those 21 and older to use cannabis wherever smoking tobacco is permitted, except in a motor vehicle or where the Clean Air Act is in effect. Specifically, it allows for adult possession of up to 3 ounces of cannabis and up to 24 grams of cannabis concentrate. An adult may grow up to three marijuana plants at home, and homes with more than one adult may grow up to six plants (three mature, three immature).

So, does that mean that adults can purchase adult-use marijuana locally now?

The answer may surprise you: no. Most Nassau County municipalities have opted out of permitting retail sales of marijuana in their jurisdictions. For a complete review of what is legal and illegal, go to government sites including NewYorkStateCannabis.org.

As important as legality is to the conversation about marijuana, equally critical is the discussion of its impact on teen health. Marijuana potency has steadily

library, the Fire Department, the Nassau County Land Bank and other key stakeholders to ascertain the community’s concerns and needs. I listened intently to public commentary presented through various media, and read dozens of emails we received from across the county to gain a fuller understanding of public sentiment.

During the Legislature’s May 8 Rules Committee hearing, it became abundantly clear to me that the lease transfer agreement would pass on May 22 with or without my vote. Given that fact, my charge was to ensure that the communities that would be most directly impacted by development at the Hub would not have to wait until its completion to receive the public benefits they were promised.

Following extensive and fruitful negotiations, I was pleased that Las Vegas Sands agreed to enhance its community benefits package by $25 million — $10 million for Uniondale, $10 million for East Meadow and $5 million for Hempstead Village. At least half of these funds would have to be disseminated during the construction of the proposed inte-

grated casino resort. Throughout that process, the collaboration with my legislative colleague Tom McKevitt, who represents East Meadow, which directly abuts the Hub, was invaluable in navigating the issues related to securing this funding for our respective constituents.

After balancing the array of public comments, completing a painstaking review of the more laudable elements of the Las Vegas Sands proposal, and factoring in the company’s agreement to invest tens of millions of dollars in bolstering crucial services and activities in the most directly impacted communities, I decided to vote in favor of the lease transfer agreement.

While the Legislature’s action on May 22 represents an important benchmark, there are many steps that must be completed before any construction begins. As this process continues to unfold, make no mistake: I will remain vigilant and focused on the series of actions to follow, and I will hold the entities associated with this project accountable for meeting their contractual obligations and fulfilling the commitments they made to the residents of Nassau County.

Siela A. Bynoe, of Westbury, has represented the 2nd District in the County Legislature since 2014.

Framework by Tim Baker

increased in the past decades, up from about 4 percent THC levels in the 1980s to an average of 15 percent today. More disconcerting is that marijuana extracts, used in dabbing and edibles, contain, on average, 50 percent THC, and can go as high as 90 percent.

Research suggests that kids who use cannabis may face greater mental health risks, such as worsened depression and anxiety, poor attention and memory problems. Specifically, using a cannabis product with a THC potency of over 15 percent

is linked to a three-fold increase in the likelihood of experiencing mental health and other problems. Studies also suggest that 17 percent of those who start using marijuana in their teens will become dependent on it.

Given these risks, it’s important that parents know the facts and talk to their kids. For more info, go to NSCASA.org.

Rocco, Myles and Lily Pad hanging out at the Memorial Day Parade — Wantagh

Iwanted to ensure that the communities most impacted would receive promised benefits.

ALISON CAMARDELLA KEVIN McGILLOWAY President and vice president, NS-CASA

Mount Sinai South Nassau Health Fair on the Long Beach Boardwalk

• Anxiety and depression

• Balance testing

• Blood pressure

• Body Mass Index (BMI)

• Diabetes risk assessment

• Head and neck cancer screening

• Limited podiatry exams

• Memory screening

• Prostate-specific antigen (PSA)