Long Beach Herald 07-27-2023

Also serving Point Lookout & East Atlantic Beach

Big dogs get the spotlight

Long Beach set to launch new tool for shark detection

By ANGElINA ZINGARIEllo azingariello@liherald.com

Going to the beach is the summer tradition in Long Beach. Swimmers and surfers are everywhere.

But with the fun comes some risk. Rip currents have been an issue, and earlier this month, County Executive Bruce Blakeman announced safety measures to make beachgoers more aware of their dangers. Recently, another threat has been increasingly prevalent: sharks.

Gov. Kathy Hochul has taken the lead in the state’s response to this summer’s recent surge of shark sightings.

On Shark Awareness Day, July 14, it was announced that 60 drones would be deployed ConTinued on Page 12

Commuters weigh in on the inevitable: LIRR fare hikes

By BRENDAN CARPENTER Intern

There are some changes coming soon that many commuters won’t be happy about. Starting on Aug. 20, Long Island Rail Road riders can expect a modest uptick — roughly 4.3 percent — in the price of their weekly and monthly tickets. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the LIRR’s parent company, voted unanimously earlier this month to raise

the base fares for LIRR trips for the first time in four years.

A one-way ticket from Long Beach to Manhattan will cost an extra 50 cents, increasing from $14 to $14.50 during peak hours, and will rise from $10.25 to $10.75 during non-peak times.

Resident John Ashmead has been commuting into the city three days a week since the coronavirus pandemic began. Before that, he was a full-time commuter, and had a monthly ticket for 17 years. He

doesn’t necessarily have an issue with the increase this time around, but he said he is concerned about the future, when fares will no doubt rise again.

“I think they’re modest, the increases,” Ashmead said. “My only concern is, I saw they expect to have multiple other modest increases over the next few years. So, ultimately, it’s a lot of money.”

Ashmead went on to say that the increases do feel like an added issue when coupled with ongoing complaints about

train times and service. Ever since the Grand Central line opened in January, he has experienced a lot of delays. His commute used to be fairly efficient and consistent, but now it is at least 20 minutes, and sometimes 40 minutes, longer each way. That problem, combined with the fare hikes, makes those hikes seem worse.

“To get the fare increase on top of that is, it’s just annoying,” Ashmead said, add-

ConTinued on Page 6

Courtesy City of Long Beach

Long Beach officials, from left, Roy Lester, John Bendo, Tina Posterli, Ron Walsh and Liz Treston welcomed the new drone to the city’s arsenal earlier this month.

Long Beach’s annual biathlon saw quite a large turnout Sunday, marking the 42nd year of the competition.

Runners, swimmers hit the beach for 42nd time

Runners and swimmers took part in the 42nd annual Beach Biathlon Sunday. The race had competitors run 3 miles on the beach and swim 300 yards in the ocean. The race started at 8:30 a.m. for children and 9 a.m. for adults.

Competitors ran on the sand as part of the city’s 42nd biathlon.

Rachel McShane was the first-place female competitor to cross the finish line.

Bob Arkow/Herald photos

More resources for sewer budget line

Final approval for additional bonding could come next month

By SEAN KENNEDY Intern

Committees in the Nassau County Legislature recently voted to authorize $15 million worth of funds to replenish a capital budget line that was recently used for repairs on two disruptive sinkholes — one in Baldwin and one in Lido Beach.

County legislators in the Public Works, Finance, and Rules Committee voted unanimously Monday to approve amendments to the 2023-26 capital plan and dedicate additional resources to the “lateral sewer repair” capital budget line. Within the past few weeks, funds had been tapped from the line during the repairs of the Lido Boulevard and Grand Avenue, in Baldwin, sinkholes.

“This is the first of many significant investments that we must make in order to rebuild and reinforce Nassau County’s aging critical infrastructure,” said Nassau County Legislator Debra Mulé. “As we look ahead to the 2024 capital plan, I am committed to ensuring that vital resources for road, sewer, and water infrastructure are our County’s top priorities.”

The issue with roads and infrastructure has become a pertinent one to Nassau County, as multiple sinkholes have interrupted normal daily activity in frequently traversed areas. In addition to the sinkhole repairs on Grand Avenue in Baldwin, the Lido Beach sinkhole opened up May 31, taking two weeks to complete while stifling east-west traffic on the barrier island.

“The sinkholes happened because of the aging of the sewer infrastructure,” said Veolia North America spokesperson Lauren Sternberg. “These were 70-yearold pipes that had reached the end of

their life cycle. The failure of the underground sewer pipe resulted in the ground above the pipe collapsing and then the roadway collapsed.”

Veolia North America operates Nassau County’s sewer systems, including in Lido Beach and Baldwin.

Sternberg added that each of the sinkholes occurred due to different infrastructure failures. In the case of Lido Boulevard, a manhole failed 20 feet below the ground, causing the sinkhole to occur. The 20-foot-deep sinkhole opened up near Lido Boulevard’s intersection with Regent Drive, right in front of Lido Elementary School and Long Beach Middle School, on May 31, and was the result of a manhole failure. It forced the Point Lookout Lido Fire Department to initially evacuate its headquarters nearby, and necessitated the closure of multiple lanes of the only roadway in and out of Long Beach to and from the Loop Parkway.

The Baldwin sinkhole had sewage seeping up from a broken 36-inch sewage line on Grand Avenue. The sinkhole was

caused by a pipe failure, which required repairs to the pieces of pipe along with installation of 721 feet of lining. Sternberg added that the exact costs of the sinkhole repairs are not available yet.

“No part of our County or our region is immune from infrastructure failures like the ones we have experienced during the last month,” Mulé wrote in letters to local, state and federal representatives July 3. “We must take decisive action to protect our environmental assets and secure the health and safety of all Nassau County residents by averting future catastrophes such as the ones that the residents of Baldwin and Lido Beach have endured.”

Additionally, Mulé appealed to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand to continue advocating for an accelerated arrival of funds meant for Nassau County via recent federal infrastructure deals. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill was signed into law by President Joe Biden in November 2021, and allowed more than $110 billion to be

Roadwork caused some traffic and road closures in Baldwin while the sinkhole was being fixed.

used across the country to update and maintain infrastructure, including In Nassau County.

“I write with an urgent plea for your offices to work in partnership with your federal colleagues to take all necessary steps to expedite the delivery of funding that has been earmarked for New York State and Nassau County in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act,” Mulé wrote in a letter to Schumer and Gillibrand.

Officials say that final approval for the additional bonding could come as soon as the scheduled meeting of the full county legislature on Monday, Aug. 7.

Bill Kelly/Herald photos

The sinkhole that opened up on Grand Avenue in Baldwin was caused by a broken sewage line.

Courtesy City of Long Beach Lido Boulevard’s 20-foot sinkhole caused immense traffic buildup while it was being fixed.

JOE SINNONA, REALTOR ®

IDA approves benefits for $56 million apartment

A $56 million project to transform a waterfront-catering complex into an apartment development was granted preliminary approval for economic incentives from the Town of Hempstead Industrial Development Agency.

Fred Parola, chief executive of the Town of Hempstead Industrial Development Agency said the IDA was granted preliminary approval to a package of economic development incentives that will assist John Vitale, a long-time developer in Island Park, to construct a 117unit waterfront apartment complex on the site of his Bridgeview Yacht Club and Loft catering hall.

The project at 50 and 80 Waterfront Blvd. would replace a catering facility that opened more than a quarter of a century ago. Vitale told the IDA board flooding from storms that have hit Island Park had plagued the facility. The apartment complex is to be built 18 feet above sea level to mitigate water damage. The proposed project is a 4-story building with 74 one-bedroom units and 43 twobedroom units built atop a parking

garage.

“This project will add to the town’s growing stock of much-needed rental housing,” said Parola. “Moreover, the project will generate property tax increases that will significantly raise revenues for school districts and local governments.”

The IDA granted the preliminary approval for the incentives in the form of an inducement resolution for Ocean Avenue Marina Inc. on July 18. The developer does not plan to begin the project until its obligations to its catering customers are fulfilled.

Vitale owns 10 acres on the southern tip of Island Park, just over the Long Beach Bridge, where he once operated several restaurants including Paddy McGee’s and Coyote Grill, which were decimated by Hurricane Sandy in 2011.

Vitale also owns the Barnum Landing shopping center, which is anchored by King Kullen, and is co-owner of the seafood restaurant, Jordan Lobster Farms.

Fax: (516) 622-7460

■ DISPlAY ADVERTISING: Ext. 249 E-mail: rglickman@liherald.com Fax: (516) 569-4643

Herald File photo

A 117-unit waterfront apartment complex project would replace the Bridgeview Yacht Club and Loft catering hall.

Posh Pets stays celebrating ‘big dog energy’ Shelter dedicates day to larger breeds in hopes to increase adoption

By BRENDAN CARPENTER bcarpenter@liherald.com

A lot of times, dogs and puppies at adoption centers and pet stores have a greater chance of finding a home if they’re a smaller breed. With this being the case all too often, Posh Pets in Long Beach spent a day earlier this month celebrating “big dog energy.”

The shelter, which is somewhat tucked away at 770 Park Pl., wanted to have a special adoption day dedicated to the larger breeds — golden retrievers, Bernese Mountain dogs, Labradors, golden doodles, Pitbulls and more. So, Saturday, July 15 was a day for the big dogs to shine.

“We started doing this last year because we found that the larger dogs that are, maybe, 40 pounds or more, they don’t get as much attention as smaller dogs,” said Melissa McClellan, shelter director and secretary. “So, this way, our larger dogs that don’t get as much attention would be able to be seen by people.”

The shelter has been doing some off-site adoption events at PetSmart in Farmingdale a couple of times a month, but they’re sometimes tough to do because they don’t have enough handlers to bring all the dogs. Since they don’t have enough handlers to bring all of the larger dogs for those events, they decided to just host them at the shelter.

McClellan said about 10 applications were submitted that day for potential adoptions. She said two of them panned out well and one of the dogs actually did go to foster. She was hoping for some more applications, but said any amount is a good thing.

“I really would like to see some more adoptions of the larger dogs,” McClellan said. “It’s kind of disconcerting

because the small dogs will get, as soon as we put them up on social media, probably 100 applications within 24 hours. A large sum of our large dogs have received maybe one or two applications and they’ve been with us for a year. There’s a huge difference in the amount of interest in the larger dogs versus the smaller dogs.”

McClellan attributes the differing interest levels to a few things. She says it isn’t always just the size but since they’re there for longer, the age could be an issue. She said that sometimes people think the older dogs have something wrong with them or attitude issues, which is “rarely the case.”

McClellan hopes to host more of these big dog adop-

Ziggy, a 10-yearold lab and shepherd mix, with her Posh Pets family she’s been with for the last six years.

tion days in the future and is testing the waters with this one. The shelter held its first one last year, but it was completely rained out and no one came. They’re thinking of doing it once a month, weather permitting. It’s hard to have it indoors because the facility is so small, so they need to have nice weather so that we can set everything up outdoors for the dogs to have enough room.

“We’re hoping to have enough volunteers that are able to help,” McClellan said. “A lot of it comes down to manpower because we don’t really have a lot of staff. We’re a really small shelter compared to the other shelters on Long Island so we mainly have to rely on volunteers to help us out with a lot of these events.”

Courtesy Melissa McClellan

LIRR fare hikes will take effect next month

ing, of commuting, “I do think it’s getting very expensive. For middle-class or working-class people that go in, it’s a lot of money.”

Pete Myers has been commuting from Long Beach for a long time as well — since 1984. He takes the train into the city five days a week, and purchases monthly tickets. He looks at the increases as something he just has to deal with, but, like Ashmead, couples them with the less-thanoptimum train schedules.

“I’m not going to drive in, so I really have no choice,” Myers said. “I just have to accept whatever they throw at us. I just wish the train schedules were better at night, coming home.”

While the MTA customarily raises fares every two years, officials held off on an anticipated round of increases in 2021 for fear that they would discourage commuters from using mass transit at a time when winning them back was key. At the time, the agency still had billions of dollars in federal pandemic-relief funds that it could tap into.

The situation came to a head earlier this year, when the MTA said it faced a projected budget gap of $2.5 billion by 2025. The agency has since managed to stave off a financial meltdown and avoid making drastic service cuts after Gov. Kathy Hochul and lawmakers promised to provide millions of dollars in added funding.

“We have to face the harsh reality of MTA’s fiscal cliff,” Hochul noted in her 2024 executive budget address.

t icket prices for the Long island rail road are increasing next month, and some residents have no choice but to pay up to get to work.

“A problem that was created by almost the complete cessation of ridership during the pandemic — except for emergency workers, first responders, and health care workers.”

Critics, however, argue that the MTA’s budgetary problems reach back decades, and are attributable to questionable budgetary practices that resulted in expenses outpacing revenue.

The current fare bump — and those still on the way —

are part of a roughly $1.3 billion bailout deal struck between the transit giant and the state, MTA chair and chief executive Janno Lieber said.

On balance, with the LIRR having reduced fares on monthly tickets by 10 percent last year, “the fares are still (comparatively) lower than they used to be, even though everything else in life has gone up,” Lieber said.

Additional reporting by Juan Lasso

Tim Baker/Herald

I just have to accept whatever they throw at us.

Pete Myers

Long Beach commuter

No matter the industry, businesses around the world are undergoing dramatic changes to the way they operate From technology and skills development, to cultural barriers, self-care and mental health, every organization must adapt and evolve, or risk being left behind.

As we navigate a time of pivotal change, the Herald’s 2023 WE Summit presented by Bank of America brings together thought leaders, innovators and barrier-breaking women for conversations around this year’s theme: The Future is Now.

HERALD sports

NYS adds classification to seven sports

By TONY BELLISSIMO tbellissimo@liherald.com

the New York State Public High School Athletic Association is going from a five-classification format to six classifications in seven different sports – boys and girls soccer, boys and girls basketball, girls volleyball, baseball and softball – beginning this upcoming school year.

For Nassau and Suffolk County, it means more county champions, more Long Island championship games and more teams competing in state tournaments in those sports. The NYSPHSAA, which last summer voted to approve the new classifications, wanted to create approximate equal numbers across the state in each enrollment classification.

“Every section in the state is different, but for us in what used to be Class A we had more than 30 schools competing for one championship,” Section VIII athletics executive director Pat Pizzarelli said. “Now within that same group there’s an extra opportunity to win a championship.”

For example, Nassau boys and girls basketball had 58 schools compete in the 2022-23 campaign; 15 in Class AA, 34 in Class A and nine in Class B. This coming season, there will be 12 in Class AAA, 24 in Class AA, 17 in Class A, and four in Class B.

Among the second-tiered teams for boys and girls basketball (Class AA) will be Calhoun, Carey, East Meadow (down from the largest grouping), Elmont, Hewlett, Kennedy, Long Beach, MacArthur, Sewanhaka, South Side and Valley Stream Central. Class AA is for schools with an incoming enrollment (grades nine through 11) between 692 and 1,104 for boys, and between 699 and 1,112 for girls. The new Class A numbers are 391691 for boys, and 397-698 for girls.

“With the exception of Floral Park, the new AA schools on the boys side have had the Class A champ for the last 25 years,” said South Side’s Jerry D’Angelo, head coach of the reigning Nassau and Long Island Class A boys’ basketball champions. “So the new setup will give us two county champions among the 41 teams in AA and A.”

Suffolk had 59 boys and girls basketball programs this past winter with 25 competing in Class AA, 22 in Class A and four in Class B. For 2023-24, there would be 18 in Class AAA, 18 in Class AA and 13 in Class A.

Across the board, much of the largest group landscape in Nassau County remains unchanged with many of the fixtures like Baldwin, Farmingdale, Freeport, Massapequa, Plainview, Syosset and Uniondale will vie for a title. However, East Meadow and Valley Stream Central are two schools with dif-

ference classifications based on sport. The Jets remained in AAA in soccer, baseball and softball but dropped to the second largest classification for hoops. The Eagles have an identical setup under the new breakdown but competed in Class A for basketball in recent seasons.

The classification numbers between basketball and soccer are slightly different. For soccer, Class AAA starts at 1,082 students and up on the girls side and 1,090 on the boys side. Softball and baseball breakdowns are closer to soccer than they are basketball, but are all within a range of less than 30.

One minor negative is Nassau and Suffolk will take on an extra expense of securing more postseason venues for some semifinals and finals, and the cost of sending more teams to state competitions.

“It’ll cost a little more money come tournament time with extra playoff games,” Pizzarelli said.

Nassau County softball coordinator Rachel Barry, who coaches Clarke, said the plan at this time is to stick with ability-based conferences during the regular season. “The playoffs will look pretty similar with some smaller brackets,” Barry said. “The extra classification balances our section a little bit better by spreading out the single A schools.

“Suffolk hosts next year’s Long Island championships, so it’s up to them to figure out locations,” she added. “As far as the state championships, softball isn’t going to be impacted as much since we no longer play the semis and finals on the same day. Adding another classification only adds three games to the mix.”

Media Origin Inc./Herald

South Side, the defending Nassau and Long Island Class A boys’ basketball champions, is moving to Class AA this upcoming season as part of the new statewide classification setup.

Ron Manfredi/Herald

Baseball is one of seven sports statewide moving from five classifications to six beginning this September.

Dunn embraces second World Cup experience

By MICHAEL LEWIS sports@liherald.com

Participating in her second Women’s World Cup, Crystal Dunn is living by a simple philosophy: Embrace the moment.

“The question that many of us who have played in the World Cup get is: ‘Oh, it must be easy now’. I’m like, ‘No, it’s not easy now,’ because each World Cup is different,” she said.

This World Cup is different for the Rockville Centre native because Dunn is a mother for the first time. She has brought her 15-month-old son Marcel to New Zealand for the tournament.

“I took a massive amount of time off last year,” she said. “So everything, every moment that led to this moment is so different. It’s a different journey that I didn’t expect to be on. My message to players in their first World Cup is really just embrace it. It’s going to be wild. It’s going to be crazy. There’s going to be moments where you’re like, ‘Oh, my gosh, what did I sign up for?’ But that’s the beauty in it.”

The left back was a member of the 2019 U.S. team that won its second consecutive world championship in France in 2019. The Americans are vying to become the first team — men or women — to capture three successive World Cups.

“We remember that as the last team standing up, you realize that it was also worth it,” she said. “My message to everybody is play with a little bit of noise. It’s not something that you take for granted at all. People are on their fourth World Cup. People are in their first. You just have to embrace it and take that moment

and just smile and laugh with everybody along the way.”

Dunn and her U.S. Women’s National Team teammates got off to a solid start in this year’s tournament, recording a 3-0 win over Vietnam in their opener in Auckland, New Zealand last Saturday. The former South Side High School standout played 84 minutes before she was replaced by Kelly O’Hara. The Americans’ next Group E game is against the Netherlands this Wednesday at 9 p.m. (Fox, Telemundo, Universo and Peacock). They close out group play against Portugal on Aug. 1 at 3 a.m. (same channels.)

Only nine members of the current 23-player U.S. roster competed in France, so the 31-year-old Dunn is one of the team’s most experienced players.

“I find myself in a new role, being more of a veteran player, a leader on this team,” she said, lamenting that team captain and center back Becky Sauerbrunn couldn’t play due to a leg injury. “Becky is a massive loss for us. She is somebody whose impact is felt not only on the field but off the field.

“We’re ruthless,” Dunn continued. “As a backline that’s how we’ve always trained. Becky has been someone who set the tone and the standard for that. Without her being here, we have to be even more collective and relentless in our defending.”

Rockville Centre native Crystal Dunn played 84 minutes in a 3-0 victory for U.S. over Vietnam in last Saturday’s World Cup opener.

Programs for Lifelong Learners at Molloy University!

Learning doesn’t have to end at a certain age—it can be a lifelong pursuit. Molloy University empowers learners of all ages by offering high-quality, flexible and adaptable programs to serve and meet the needs of Long Islanders through two outstanding programs: The Molloy Institute for Lifelong Learning (MILL) which was established in 1992 and the new Sister Mary Celeste Lecture Series. In both programs you learn for the fun of learning in a relaxed environment without assignments, exams or grades.

The MILL program is a membership-based program. Most members are retirees, however, not everyone is retired, nor is this a requisite for membership. All ages are welcome, men and women, singles or couples, as long as there is a willingness to participate in learning and to maintain a rigorous mind. The programs meet in-person one day week during the day: Tuesdays or Fridays in Rockville Centre and Wednesdays in Amityville. Membership is valid from September 1 to August 31 each year and lectures usually start mid-September and runs until mid-June.

The Sister Mary Celeste Lecture Series offers individual courses in a variety of areas, offered in-person during the day for one or more sessions in Rockville Centre. Topics may include, current events, music, art, literature, history, finance, heath, philosophy, technology and more. Whether you’re interested in dabbling in a new hobby or just trying to keep up with technology, there’s a class out there for you.

Find out more at our virtual Open House on Tuesday, September 12th at 10 a.m. For more information contact us at: 516.323.3940 | jprasad@molloy.edu | www.molloy.edu/ce to RSVP

Courtesy Marco Rosa

MSSN doctors named to Top Doctors Guide

Castle Connolly has named nine Mount Sinai South Nassau physicians to its 2023 Top Doctors Guide. Nationally, only 7 percent of more than 850,000 practicing doctors in the United States earned Castle Connolly’s “Top Doctors” designation this year.

“I commend each of these tremendous physicians for this outstanding accomplishment,” said Dr. Adhi Sharma, president of Mount Sinai South Nassau. “Their commitment to providing expert, patient-centered care does not go unrecognized by their peers as well as our nurses and advanced practice practitioners.”

According to Castle Connolly, the doctors are best-in-class

health care providers, embodying excellence in clinical care as well as interpersonal skills. The doctors were peer-nominated and selected based on extensive research, careful review, and screening conducted by Castle Connolly’s physician-led research team.

The Top Doctors Guide is a curated list of more than 63,000 board-certified U.S. physicians across all 50 states and all major specialties. Selected physicians specialize in more than 65 medical specialties and subspecialties for the care and treatment of more than 2,100 diseases and medical conditions.

–Kepherd Daniel

Photos сourtesy MSSN

Dr. Ann Buhl gynecologic oncology, director

Dr. Steven M. Harris urology

Dr. Neil Soskel family medicine

Dr. Alan Garely obstetrics and gynecology chair

Dr. Matthew D. Rifkin radiology department chair

Dr. Rajiv Datta surgery department chair

Dr. Sherry Megalla cardiology

Dr. Carlos Montoya-Iraheta pediatric cardiology chief

Dr. Jay Itzkowitz emergency services department chair

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Realtor Friendly: Having an attorney working with your real estate agent ensures a smooth transaction. Gilbert L. Balanoff is a preferred attorney to some of Long Island's top agents.

Winner 2 Years in a Row

Lifeguards are preparing to deploy a drone

across Long Island, New York City and Westchester County to help spot sharks. Long Beach lifeguards received one of the drones, which they will make part of their shark-sighting routine when training has been completed. The police department currently has the device at its headquarters.

“We have added this eye in the sky,” Hochul said of the overall deployment. “These new drones will allow us to scan the water and help local governments across Long Island and New York City keep local beaches safe for all.”

Richard Borawski, Long Beach’s chief of lifeguards, said that a protocol is triggered to ensure safety when a beachgoer reports seeing a fin in the water. The lifeguards on duty scan the water visually for any unusual activity, and then other guards, equipped with high-powered binoculars, are dispatched to the location to validate the sighting.

If a fin is confirmed to be nearby, there is a radio call to launch personal watercraft, which guards maneuver into a grid formation in the area where the fin was spotted for a closer investigation. This serves as the second confirmation. If it backs up the initial binocular sighting,

the beach is promptly red-flagged, which means the entire stretch of sand is shut down. The process is designed to prioritize beachgoers’ well-being while ensuring a prompt and efficient response to potential threats.

The new drone won’t replace the current safety protocol, but rather will serve as an addition to it. “So now it’s just a quicker way for us to identify, and we’ll still continue the protocols that we do,” Borawski said.

The battery-powered drone, he explained, can maintain a flight pattern for 30 to 40 minutes on a single charge, and can be launched anytime, as needed. It includes advanced features such as thermal imagery.

Lifeguards are undergoing training to operate the drone, and Borawski’s goal is to have at least three or four guards trained within a week or two, so they can start using it as part of their regular safety routine.

“I think us having it, it’s going to put everybody’s comfort level a lot easier knowing that we have that capability on top of the jet skis and the high-powered binoculars,” he said. “It’s just another precaution. You can never be too safe. I love the fact that the city is taking advan-

the new drone will be used at the beach to

people would.

tage of (drones). They backed us 100 percent and tried to get whatever we needed.”

Borawski said that the future of shark safety in New York lies in educating people and raising awareness about the diverse marine life that inhabits the waters off our shores.

“I think that’s really the next step for the agencies — putting the word out that it’s their home and we just have to respect

what goes on out there,” he said. “If you see a pod, you don’t swim near the pod. If you see anything that’s jumping out of the water, most likely it’s jumping out of the water for a reason. So stay clear of it. It’s about being aware. I think that’s really the message here. Maybe public awareness announcements would be good. The drone is just another added resource for us to use, and we’re excited to have it.”

Bob Arkow/Herald

spot a fin in the water well before

You can never be too safe.

RichaRd BoR awski Chief of lifeguards

STEPPING OUT

Always in-tune with

Penn & Teller

By Iris Wiener

n its first incarnation since the pandemic, the 24th Annual Long Island Jolson Festival is ready to delight loyal fans once again. The festival’s latest edition, on Saturday, Aug. 12, will bring together devotees for a full day of nostalgia and music, celebrating the talent of Al Jolson — the performer bestowed with the moniker “world’s greatest entertainer.”

STEPPING OUT

Creative advocacy

Jan Hernstat — the International Al Jolson Society’s president, who has helmed the festival since its beginning — is excited to remember the icon, who was a pioneer in many genres in the ‘20s, including music, film (“The Jazz Singer”), and theatre “Hold on to Your Hats”). When Hernstat began the festival many years ago, it was simply because he wanted a platform to show his appreciation for Jolson. It quickly turned into something else.

“It has been fun over the years to bring Jolson to people who don’t normally get to see him,” Hernstat says. “When I started doing this, people came to me and said something which I didn’t really understand: ‘Thank you for doing this service to bring this kind of entertainment that we don’t get to see anymore.’ It was just something that I wanted to do, and as a byproduct, I was making people happy. That’s a good feeling.”

It will be next to impossible not to smile at this year’s festival, which will include a performance from mainstay Tony Babino, who has been treating festivalgoers to the vocal stylings of Jolson for years. He is joined by “Mr. Tin Pan Alley,” Richard Halpern, who is participating in the event — at Lambrou’s in Island Park — all the way from California.

Hernstat explains that Halpern brings a unique set of skills to his Jolson interpretation.

By Karen Bloom

“A lot of people know Jolson from ‘The Jolson Story’ forward,” he says. “He did 20 songs in that film. The majority of people alive today only know those songs and the style in which he did it, which is what Tony emulates. But Richard does Jolson from the ‘20s and ‘30s, the ‘78 (RPM) Jolson,’ as I like to call it. People will get a little contrast, because with Richard, you’re going to get more of the early Jolson and with Tony more of the later Jolson. It’s going to be great.”

• Tickets are $43.95, which includes entertainment and meals; tickets for show only are $29.95

• Information and tickets available at Jolson.org or call Jan Hernstat at (516) 678-3524.

All Stand,” Hofstra University Museum of Art’s new exhibition, examines power of the arts in society.

Pat McGann is quickly rising as one of the sharpest stand-ups on the comedy scene. A relative latecomer to comedy, he began doing standup at 31 after realizing he was not

He hustled his way to become the house emcee at Zanies Chicago, where he distinguished himself as crowd. A husband and father of three young children, McGann’s appeal stems from his quick wit

and marriage. In 2017, McGann began touring as the opening act for Sebastian Maniscalco, moving

The famed duo steps away from their Las Vegas residency to bring their act on tour, appearing on the Tilles Center stage. Penn & Teller’s brand of awe-inspiring illusions mixed with buddy-comedy shtick has kept the duo at the very top of the magic profession for the past 45 years. Their trademark is the updating of worn out or archaic routines, such as bullet catching, or their recent adaptation of the classic bag escape trick (their version involved a trash bag and lots of helium). From humble beginnings busking on the streets of Philadelphia to acclaimed sold–out runs on Broadway to the longest running and one of the most-beloved resident headline acts in Vegas history, magic’s legendary duo continues to defy labels — and at times physics and good taste — by redefining the genre of magic and inventing their own very distinct niche in comedy. Constantly evolving and refining their unique take on illusion, the pair’s slight of hand always amazes, whether it’s a fresh take on an old ‘trick’ or something altogether new.

Friday and Saturday, July 28, 8 p.m. LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Blvd., Brookville. Tickets are $94, $84, $58, $48; available at TillesCenter.org or (516) 299-3100.

Kevin James

• Lambrou’s Catering Hall, 4073 Austin Blvd., Island Park

Alexandra Giordano — the museum’s assistant director of exhibition and exhibit underscores artists’ civic responsibility and influence. the vital role that artists have in activating democratic values that and freedom, encouraging civic engagement, and cultivating unity,” “Artists often lead the charge and expose truths that may otherwise be artists in this exhibition take a stand and call out injustices through their art issues such as immigration, gender, reproductive rights, mass incarceration, racial bias, gun violence, and promises unfulfilled. They all combine the making service that has a grassroots approach in the hope of mobilizing their the nation to ignite movement, create awareness, and inspire others to them.” which runs through July 28, is in conjunction with Hofstra’s conference on the Barack Obama presidency coming up in April. interested in the idea that the artist has a civic responsibility,” says Karen Albert. “The initial idea for this exhibition was inspired by Administration White House briefing that took place on May 12, 2009, 60 artists and creative organizers met with administration officials to collective power of the arts to build community, create change, and chart national recovery in the areas of social justice, civic participation and unlike other recent exhibits that showcased the museum’s collection, Giordano reached out to contemporary artists who loaned selected works. Some 36 pieces are on view — representing Emma Amos, Molly Crabapple and the Equal Justice Initiative, Miguel

Also new this year is an appearance by comedian Jeff Greenberg, a longtime society member known for his humorous act, frequently performing near his New Jersey home. The comedy doesn’t end there. Bob Greenberg (no relation) will be tickling the funny bone as characters from oldies acts, such as Oliver Hardy, Ralph Kramden and Lou Costello. Additionally, fans will have the opportunity to meet Brian Gari, grandson of the late performer Eddie Cantor, Jolson’s showbiz contemporary, and can check out a slew of memorabilia from Jolson’s era.

Hernstat is intent on keeping Jolson’s legacy front and center in the public eye.

“He was the first true superstar. In fact, the word ‘superstar’ was not even coined yet,” he says. “He was an international star at a time when there was no real media to promote what he did. Now all you have to do is go on social media and everyone knows you all over the world. When Jolson first started out, there weren’t talking movies, there’s wasn’t radio and TV. For somebody to be as big as he was worldwide, it really talks about your talent. It is a wonderful experience to celebrate his talent, his singing, and his voice.”

When Hernstat reflects on years past, he fondly remembers welcoming entertainers to his gathering, such as Sheldon Harnick (“Fiddler on the Roof” lyricist and songwriter), radio and television superstar Margaret Whiting, and comedian Soupy Sales.

“I don’t want this festival to die,” Hernstat says. “There’s still people out there that love Jolson. I always tell people, ‘We’re not looking to convert you to become a Jolson fan, we just want to find the ones out there who are and let them know that they have this outlet for their enjoyment.’”

Garden. McGann’s relatively short, but impressive resume, includes Montreal’s famed Just For Laughs

Great American Comedy Festival,

Saturday, Feb. 11, 8 p.m. $40, $35, $30, $25. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. (800) 745-3000 or Ticketmaster.com or ParamountNY.com.

Yarn/Wire

Now in its 18th year, Adelphi University’s ‘new music’ series welcomes Yarn/Wire. The intrepid New York-based piano-percussion quartet has forged a singular path with

The ‘King of Queens,’ ‘Mall Cop,’ ‘Kevin Can Wait,’ and Larry (of ‘I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry’) — Kevin James wears many hats. Catch his comedic brilliance when he returns to his Long Island roots with his Irregardless Tour. Young Kevin was a promising college football fullback until the acting bug bit him. After spending his junior summer with the local community theatre, he realized getting laughs was a bigger rush than stopping running backs from scoring a first down. James took to the comedy circuit where he soon made a name for himself, receiving the deal that every struggling comedian dreams of: The chance to develop and star in his own sitcom. The result was ‘King of Queens,’ and the rest is history. Now, he’s back on the stage with his everyman comedy and warm deadpan delivery. He’ll regale everyone with his quietly hilarious observations on life, fatherhood, and the simple absurdities of the world.

Saturday, July 29, 7:30 p.m. $99.50, $79.50, $69.50, $49.50. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Ticketmaster.com or ParamountNY.com.

Courtesy L.I. Jolson Festival

Top photo: Al Jolson as he appeared in his film ‘The Singing Kid’ in 1936. Middle photo: Jolson enthusiast Joe Wiener with festival mainstay Tony Babino.

Bottom photo: Vocalist Richard Halpern performs the standards of the era in his first festival appearance.

Luciano, Michele Pred, Hank Willis Thomas, and Sophia

change the world? It’s a question been at the focus of our collective for centuries. Now as society the complexities of modern life, path for social change is at the of artistic expression.

The longtime festival is a lively tribute to the ‘World’s Greatest Entertainer’

THE

Aug. 4

Doo-Wop Oldies Spectacular

Revisit the golden oldies with Peter Lemongello Jr. in “An Evening To Remember,” with The Fabulous Acchords, The Tribunes and Teresa McClean, Friday, Aug. 4, 7:30 p.m. With their polished vocal skills and dynamic stage presence, these artists deliver a night of unforgettable entertainment in an energetic show that is pure nostalgia, filled with unforgettable tunes. Headliner Peter Lemongello Jr., is acclaimed as the most explosive and exciting doo-wop performer to appear on the scene in 40 years. The son of singer Peter Lemongello, Peter Jr. has appeared on “American Idol” and performed with The Four Tops, The Temptations, Chubby Checker and Lloyd Price, among others. He’s joined by acapella group The Tribunes, renowned for their authentic New York-bred street-corner harmonies, and The Fabulous Acchords, known for their impeccable harmonies, who captivate audiences with their blend of classic and contemporary songs, spanning genres and eras. The concert, produced by Gene DiNapoli, also features a special appearance by Teresa McClean, who takes everyone on an enthusiastic musical journey with her signature vocals and lush orchestration. $49, $39, $29; available at LandmarkOnMainStreet.org. or (917) 567-5842. Jeanne Rimsky Theater at Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington.

On exhibit

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

July 28

Summer sounds

Get in the Motown groove with Dr. K’s Motown Revue, at Eisenhower Park, Friday, July 28, 8 p.m. The band’s dynamic renditions of those great tunes are performed with passion and conviction in true Motown style. With special guest Chicken Head. Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, Eisenhower Park, East Meadow. For information, visit NassauCountyNY.gov.

National Night Out

The Long Beach Police Department and the North Park Crisis Team present another installment of their National Night Out, Tuesday, Aug. 1, in Kennedy Plaza, at 4 p.m. With a barbecue, popcorn, arts, gifts and much more. For more information, visit LongBeachNY.gov.

Arts in the Plaza

Arts in the Plaza takes over Kennedy Plaza, every 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.

Aug. 17

Aug. 1

Write on: College essay workshop

Not sure how to get started on your college essay? The Hofstra University Admission Office is offering a virtual workshop to help high school students learn the skills to tell their story in a way that helps them stand out. The final workshop, Thursday, Aug. 17, 4-5 p.m., is free and open to the public, but advance registration is required. Hear from Hofstra Admission counselors about how to brainstorm topics, and compose a thoughtful essay that shows your personality, talents and interests. For more information about Hofstra Admission’s other virtual summer workshops, go to Admission.Hofstra.edu/portal/ virtual_admission_webinars. To schedule a summer in-person visit go to: Hofstra.edu/visit.

City Council Meeting

Long Beach City Council meets, Tuesday, Aug. 1, at 7 p.m., on the sixth floor of City Hall. 1 W. Chester St. It will also be streamed on YouTube. For more information, visit LongBeachNY.gov.

Taco Tuesday

The Cabana offers having its weekly taco Tuesday specials all day long, Tuesday, Aug. 1. Tacos will be available for $1, with a two-drink minimum, for all restaurant-goers, at 1034 W. Beech St. For more information, call (516) 8891345 or visit TheCabanaLBNY. com.

Beach tunes

Enjoy sounds on the beach with Southbound, Wednesday, Aug. 2, 8 p.m. They’ll rock the beach, “keeping it country,” with their dynamic vibe that’s not to be misse. Riverside Beach. For more information, visit LongBeachNY.gov/ concerts.

Having an event?

Storybook Stroll

Bring the kids to Old Westbury Gardens for a storybook adventure, Saturday, Aug. 5, 10:3011:30 a.m. Stroll the gardens and open your ears to Kirsten Hall’s modern tale “The Honeybe.” Later create a unique take home craft. For ages 3-5. Old Westbury Gardens, 71 Old Westbury Rd., Old Westbury. For information visit OldWestburyGardens. org or contact (516) 3330048.

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

Westbury House Tour

For many years visitors to Westbury House at Old Westbury Gardens asked what was beyond the first floor corridor. Now go beyond the door and discover “secrets of the service wing,” during a 60-minute guided tour, Friday, July 28, noon; Sunday, July 30, 3 p.m.; Monday, July 31, noon; Sunday, Aug. 6, 1:30 p.m. Be introduced to the intensive labor required to create the lifestyle experienced by the Phipps family and their guests; tour the many rooms that were “behind the scenes” to create the formal dining experiences of early 20th century. Go along the corridors to the butler’s pantry and silver cleaning room then descend the 17 steps to the kitchen, scullery, and wine storage rooms located on the ground floor. Reservations required. 71 Old Westbury Rd., Old Westbury. For information contact (516) 333-0048 or visit OldWestburyGardens.org.

Art talk

Sept. 7

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

“Modigliani and the Modern Portrait.” Participants are invited to ask questions at the end of the program and to join the 2 p.m. public tour of the exhibit. Also Oct. 19. 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. (516) 484-9337 or NassauMuseum.org.

Shabbat on the beach

Temple Emanu-El of Long Beach hosts a family-friendly Shabbat on the beach, Friday, July 28. The service starts on the Neptune Boulevard beach at 7:30 p.m. All are welcome. Bring beach chairs. For more information, call (516) 4314060.

Ask the tech guy

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

Exploring Britain’s Long Island occupation

By LARA MURRAY-STERZEL Intern

American history is a long and complicated tale to tell. But there are still those venturing into the past to uncover stories never told during the making of our country.

“Chronicles of the British Occupation of Long Island” is a new book by David M. Griffin, taking readers back in time to the Revolutionary War when people lived in fear of the British’s brutal power, while slowly gaining a patriotic desire for freedom.

Griffin is an independent researcher and author who’s always been driven to the history of the Revolutionary War, especially in New York region. When he completed his first book, “Lost British Forts of Long Island” in 2017, Griffin reached out to The History Press, a publishing company known for its collection of history books in communities on Long Island and elsewhere.

He was put in touch with acquisitions editor, Banks Smithers, and the two have worked together ever since. When Griffin came to Smithers about the idea of focusing on the British occupation of this part of the world, the two began shaping his current idea into the story it is today.

The novel follows a narrative story between 1776 and 1783, giving a human aspect to what it was like to experience life on Long Island during British rule. Griffin wanted to explore the British movement and American spy activity through various sources from the time.

To do this, he read historical books and even stud-

ied a period diary, which is referenced in the book about what was discussed, heard and spoken when the British loomed over Long Island.

“It’s very hard to write about the time because everything was very secretive,” Griffin said. “So, stories and the order of things that were happening on the island were hidden. You have to rely on a lot of different accounts from different writers.”

He provided images in his novel — some of which included maps the British used as a part of their network — as well as photographs of historical houses where British soldiers were sheltered as part of quartering laws. Griffin thought by showing these, it would create a certain historical depth for the reader.

After a year of writing, the book was published in July and is expected to arrive soon at Long Island bookstores. The History Press hopes to schedule book events once the stores have received the novel.

Griffin sees his book as rather dark because of the topics it covers, focused on how the power over land divided people. Even when Colonists endured the unpredictable effects that led up to — and included — the Revolutionary War, Griffin was shocked at how long the British stayed on Long Island and what they did.

Which made his research all that more compelling.

“I learned a lot more about the conditions of dayto-day life under martial law in the book,” Smithers said. “David paints a harrowing picture of occupied Long Island — something entirely unfamiliar to today’s Long Islanders — and thus exceedingly interesting.”

Our client, a nonprofit religious organization in Long Beach, New York is seeking proposals from licensed and insured contractors for the following projects:

Multivitamins and Older Adults

About one-third of Americans 60 and older take multivitamins. Perhaps the remaining twothirds should as well. According to a major new study, the second of its kind to reach the same conclusion, taking multivitamins over age sixty delays the onset of memory loss by about 3 years.

The study used a commonly available multivitamin, Centrum Silver, which contains vitamins D, A, B12, thiamine, riboflavin, manganese and other substances, although it was noted that any high-quality multivitamin would do just as well.

A Washington Post article (5/24/23) about these findings quotes JoAnn Manson of Harvard Medical School “Older adults are very concerned about preserving cognition and memory, so this is a very important finding. They are looking for safe and effective prevention strategies. The fact that two separate studies came to similar conclusions is remarkable.”

Other experts cited were Andrew Budson, Professor of Neurology at Boston University “This study is groundbreaking. Low levels of

vitamins B1 -- also known as thiamine -- B12 and D are associated with cognitive decline. That a simple multivitamin can slow cognitive decline while they are aging normally is quite exciting, as it is something almost everyone can do.”

The reasons that multivitamin “therapy” is so effective is explained by Paul E. Schultz, Professor Neurology at McGovern Medical School, Houston -- the brain requires a lot of vitamins and minerals to function properly. While the goal is to maintain nutrition through a healthy and balanced diet, as we age our bodies may be unable to absorb sufficient levels of the essential elements. In addition, some medications interfere with the absorption of nutrients. Schulz states “Think of a complicated engine that requires lots of specialty parts and needs them all. We regularly see people who are deficient in nutrients come in with cognitive impairment.”

If you are on medications, it is recommended that you consult your doctor before you try a supplement, as some vitamins may interfere with those medications.

CCTV: Replace and install a new Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) system. The project will include video cameras, digital recording equipment, software, and all installation and wiring. Selection criteria will be based on knowledge of surveillance and security, adherence to project schedule, prior experience, references, proposed equipment, and overall project cost.

DOORS: Remove and install approximately 10 doors to include hardware, locking mechanisms, doors that can meet a minimum of Forced Entry-10 Standard.

COMPUTERS: Complete turn-key computer system to include server, rack, UPS, switches, Wi-Fi, Wireless access points, firewall, firewall software, network logging, network security, cabling, wiring, installation, migration of existing software and data files, file backup recommendations.

Bid specifications and bid/proposal submission requirements can be obtained by contacting David@AllBusinessManagement.com

Minority and Women owned business enterprises are encouraged to participate.

Courtesy David M. Griffin

David M. Griffin’s book — ‘Chronicles of the British Occupation of Long Island’ — is expected to hit bookstores soon, especially on Long Island.

DAviD M. GRiffin

How to train your brain guest column

Tur n on the news and expect to be scared. Another senseless school shooting. Global warming hits home. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Threats from China. A new Covid variant. What’s going on here? We want to feel safe. We want our friends and families to be safe. Yet, whenever we hear or read the news, panic-inducing stories bombard our brains. Fear can be addictive, destroying our ability to focus on other matters. It promotes panic. It cultivates hopelessness. It’s immobilizing. So how shall we cope when we hear about terrifying events in the world?

First and foremost, you must find the adult voice in your head that’s calming, reassuring, and hopeful. It’s there somewhere! Then tell the scared child within you to listen to that voice. Really listen. Breathe in those reassuring thoughts and calming feelings.

to live. So, whatever’s happening in the world, do not allow fear to take up permanent residence in your brain. An occasional visit is okay and may be appropriate. But that’s it! Hence.

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT

COUNTY OF NASSAU, U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, Plaintiff, vs. GLORIA MICHELL, ET AL., Defendant(s).

person to person

Do not exhaust your brain with media overload, worrying about every trouble, problem, and calamity happening in the world. Consciously and calmly determine how much media exposure is good for you. When you’ve had enough, turn your TV and digital devices off.

Turn on upbeat music that’s appealing to you. Then let your body and brain move to the music.

Since fear is contagious, spend minimal time with fearful, pessimistic doomsayers, more time with positive, optimistic go-getters.

Isn’t that denial though? Bad things are happening. Frightening events occur. Yes, but that doesn’t mean we must immerse ourselves in information overload that escalates our fear. We can choose what to pay attention to at any moment of the day. Indeed, we must remind our brain that despite all the terrifying headlines and breaking news, we still live in an age where we’re healthier, safer, more affluent and living far longer than previous generations ever dreamed of.

If fear reigns, all the excitement, enjoyment, and juiciness are squeezed out of life. Then what remains? The everyday, mundane stuff and the terrible tragedies and catastrophes that become headline news. That is no way

Let go of obsessing about dangers you can do nothing about. Instead, focus on what you can do -individually or with group effort- to help alleviate a fearful situation.

Tell your brain you won’t allow yourself to live in a helpless, vulnerable position. You deserve better!

Do all that and your brain and body will forever be grateful to you for helping it focus on the good things in life.

©2023

Linda Sapadin, Ph.D. is a psychologist and success coach in private practice who specializes in helping people overcome self-defeating patterns of behavior. You can reach her at LSapadin@DrSapadin.com. Visit her website at www.PsychWisdom.com.

news brief

Calls to veto offshore wind project bill

In a letter to New York Governor Kathy Hochul, Senator Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick’s requested a related to Equinor’s proposed offshore wind project.

“Regrettably, despite our efforts, satisfactory answers have not been forthcoming from Equinor and their complete lack of regard for our constituents is quite disturbing,” said Fitzpatrick in the letter. “The manner in which they have chosen to conduct business is unacceptable. We have

patricia canzoneri-Fitzpatrick

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on September 29, 2008 and an Order duly entered on May 2, 2022, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the front steps on the north side of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on August 22, 2023 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 26 Market Street, Long Beach, NY 11561 a/k/a 26 East Market Street, Long Beach, NY 11561. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the City of Long Beach, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 59, Block 96 and Lot 218. Approximate amount of judgment is $647,819.24 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 023192/2007. This foreclosure sale will be held on the north side steps of the Courthouse, rain or shine. COVID-19 safety protocols will be followed at the foreclosure sale. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, the Court Appointed Referee will cancel the sale.

Melissa Levin, Esq., Referee Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott, LLC, 10 Bank Street, Suite 700, White Plains, New York 10606, Attorneys for Plaintiff 140841

LEGAL NOTICE

YORK STATE DEPARTMENT AND TAXATION AND FINANCE; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (EASTERN DISTRICT); “JOHN DOE #1” through “JOHN DOE #10” inclusive, the names of the ten last named Defendants being fictitious, real names unknown to the Plaintiff, the parties intended being persons or corporations having an interest in, or tenants or persons in possession of, portions of the mortgaged premises described in the Complaint, DefendantsIndex No. 605160/2021

Plaintiff Designates Nassau County as the Place of Trial. The Basis of Venue is that the subject premises is situated in Nassau County. To the above named Defendants-YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the Complaint in this action and to serve a copy of your answer, or, if the complaint is not served with this Summons, to serve a notice of appearance, on the Plaintiff’s Attorney(s) within 20 days after the service of this Summons, exclusive of the day of service (or within 30 days after the service is complete if this Summons is not personally delivered to you within the State of New York); and in case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint. That this Supplemental Summons is being filed pursuant to an order of the court dated June 30, 2023.

action is to foreclose a mortgage covering the premises known as 119 Belmont Avenue, Long Beach, NY 11561. Dated: May 4, 2021 Filed: May 4, 2021. Knuckles, Komosinski & Manfro, LLP, Attorney for Plaintiff,

By: Richard F. Komosinski, Esq., 565 Taxter Road, Suite 590, Elmsford, NY 1052 P:(914) 345-3020

140701

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE FOR FORMATION of a limited liability company (LLC). The name of the limited liability company is TARTER LLC. The date of filing of the articles of organization with the Department of State was July 5, 2023. The County in New York in which the office of the company is located is Nassau. The Secretary of State has been designated as agent of the company upon whom process may be served, and the Secretary of State shall mail a copy of any process against the company served upon him or her to The LLC, 107 Maple Boulevard, Long Beach, New York 11561. The business purpose of the company is to engage in any and all business activities permitted under the laws of the State of New York.

140768

LAW OFFICE OF STEPHEN

E. ROBERTSON, PLLC

437 West Friendly Avenue, Suite 134

Greensboro, NC 27401

Posted Dates:

July 27, 2023

August 3, 2023

August 10, 2023

140900

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB, D/B/A CHRISTIANA TRUST, NOT INDIVIDUALLY BUT AS TRUSTEE FOR HILLDALE TRUST, Plaintiff AGAINST MARY MARKS, RON MARKS AKA RON EVAN MARKS, ET AL.,

attended numerous public meetings and have spoken to local elected officials; we can confidently say that our constituents are not in support of this project.

She continued, “Vetoing this bill would provide the opportunity for further deliberation of the issues, collaboration between Equinor and the residents, and communication of alternatives to the current proposal that will lead to a more equitable and sustainable future for our state.”

SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS-SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, COUNTY OF NASSAU - U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE FOR THE RMAC TRUST, SERIES 2016-CTT, Plaintiff,against- HELEN PINTO; IF SHE BE LIVING, AND IF SHE BE DEAD, THE RESPECTIVE HEIRS AT LAW, NEXT OF KIN, DISTRIBUTEES, LEGATEES, ASSIGNORS, LIENORS, CREDITORS AND SUCCESSORS IN INTEREST, AND GENERALLY ALL PERSONS HAVING A CLAIM UNDER, BY AND THROUGH, SAID DEFENDANT HELEN PINTO WHO MAY BE DECEASED, BY PURCHASE, INHERITANCE, LIEN OR OTHERWISE OF ANY RIGHT, TITLE OR INTEREST IN THE PROPERTY DESCRIBED IN THE COMPLAINT; NEW

NOTICE-YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME - If you do not respond to this summons and complaint by serving a copy of the answer on the attorney for the mortgage company who filed this foreclosure proceeding against you and filing the answer with the court, a default judgment may be entered and you can lose your home. Speak to an attorney or go to the court where your case is pending for further information on how to answer the summons and protect your property. Sending a payment to the mortgage company will not stop the foreclosure action. YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE FOR THE RMAC TRUST, SERIES 2016-CTT) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT. The foregoing summons is served upon you by publication pursuant to an order of the Honorable David P. Sullivan, J.S.C. Dated: June 30, 2023 Filed: July 5, 2023. The object of this

LEGAL NOTICE Notice of Formation of ABBA 55, LLC, Arts. Of Org. filed Sec’y of State (SSNY) 07/11/2023. Office location of the LLC: Nassau County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process: c/o the LLC, 55 Broome Ave., Atlantic Beach, NY 11509 Purpose: any lawful purpose.

140756

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF SERVICE OF PROCESS BY PUBLICATION

NORTH CAROLINA

GUILFORD COUNTY IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE DISTRICT COURT

DIVISION 23 CvD 6386

JULIANA ORO

v. JAHMIK MARVIN

ROBINSON

TO: JAHMIK MARVIN

ROBINSON

Take notice that a pleading seeking relief against you has been filed in the above-entitled action. The nature of the relief being sought is as follows: Absolute Divorce. You are required to make defense to such pleading no later than September 5, 2023, and upon your failure to do so the party seeking service against you will apply to the Court for the relief sought. This the 17th day of July 2023.

Lisa Stewart Attorney

Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered September 16, 2022, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on August 28, 2023 at 2:30PM, premises known as 47 EAST BEECH STREET, LONG BEACH, NY 11561. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 59, Block 99, Lot 61-64. Approximate amount of judgment $1,405,702.49 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #600924/2018. The aforementioned auction will be conducted in accordance with the NASSAU County COVID-19 mitigation protocols and as such all persons must comply with social distancing, wearing masks and screening practices in effect at the time of this foreclosure sale. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, then the court appointed referee will cancel the foreclosure auction. Foreclosure Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine”. Fay Mattana, Esq., Referee Gross Polowy, LLC 1775 Wehrle Drive Williamsville, NY 14221 19-005692 76943 140732

for Plaintiff

Linda Sapadin

Help Wanted RECEPTIONIST P/T

Busy Cedarhurst Office

Sundays & Some Week Days

Answering Phones, Filing, And Scheduling Appointments Must Be Computer Literate Call 516-374-1010

THE FRIEDBERG JCC Before/After School Program is seeking passionate and hardworking high school/ college counselors. Before Care hours: 7am-9am. After School hours: 2:45PM-6PM. If interested, send your resume to Program Director Toni Corchado: TCorchado@friedbergjcc.org or call 516-634-4179

Child/Eldercare/Help Wanted

NANNY NEEDED EXPERIENCED

Live-In Or Live-Out

Monday - Friday

English/Spanish Speaking Call 516-672-4040

Eldercare Offered

SANTA CRUZ SERAG Caregivers Provide The Best Male/ Female Caregivers In America. Certified HHA's, Professional. Experts In Dementia, Alzheimers, Parkinsons Cases. Call Gertrude 347-444-0960

Maintenance Mechanic Wanted for Residential Building

REAL ESTATE

Open Houses

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

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HEWLETT HARBOR BA, 1051 Channel Dr, FIRST TIME ON MARKET! 3/4 BR, 2.5 Bth Split on Beautiful Ω Acre Parklike Property. Updtd Gran/Wood EIK, Spac LR/DR with Vaulted Ceiling & Fpl, & Fam Rm. 2 Car Att Gar.Endless Possibilities!

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HEWLETT HARBOR BA 246 Adams Rd, NEW TO MARKET! Elegant & Stately 4200 Sq Ft CH Col on Beautiful Quiet St. 5 BR, 4.55 Bth. Sweeping Staircase. All Spacious Rooms with Top Quality Finishes. Amazing Fam Rm with Cathedral Ceiling Overlooking 1 Acre Resortlike Prop Featuring IG Gunite Pool, Patio & Tennis Ct. XL Fin Bsmt. Upper Level has Primary Ste w/ Dressing Rm & Bth Plus 3 BRs & 2 Bths. 2 Car Att Gar. Low Taxes!

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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

HomesHERALD

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

Totally Renovated Cape

This truly beautiful renovated Cape Cod features a living room with a wood burning fireplace, a dining room and a brand new eat-in-kitchen with island. This home also boasts four bedrooms, two full baths, white oak floors, full basement and detached garage with a long and private driveway, off street parking for five to six cars, newer gas heat and hot water heater. You will also enjoy gas cooking, central air conditioning, all newer thermal pane windows, newer roof, private fenced yard and much more! Located on a quiet tree lined street; you can walk to everything including the LIRR station. $715,000

Patricia Murphy Licensed RE Sales Person 516-680-6346 VILLAGE PLAZA REALTY 141 Broadway Malverne, NY 11565 516-593-5455 info@villageplaza.com villageplaza.com

How tall can houses be?

Q. A few homes in my neighborhood are much taller. What are the rules for how tall a house can be — like how many floors, and what is legal? I mostly see only two stories, but the new ones are at least three. Is this a new thing that you can build taller? Was it just traditional to only build two stories until now?

A. The thinking on allowed height has changed recently.

Hurricane Sandy’s flooding moved New York to promote house lifting in flood zones. Influence also came from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which, in essence, is really a publicly funded insurance company, covering people in areas where regular home insurance companies avoid the risk of insuring.

Ask The Architect Monte Leeper

The incentive to lift or build higher is to avoid huge flood insurance cost increases — building above flood levels, with the lowest level only allowed to be for a garage and storage, not living space. By making the first livable floor higher, above the flood level, insurance rates are kept lower. People have shown me their rates went from $500 to $2,500 dollars a year, increasing annually since Sandy in 2012.

Property. Updtd Gran/Wood EIK, Spac LR/DR with Vaulted Ceiling & Fpl, & Fam Rm. 2 Car Att Gar.Endless Possibilities!

SD#14 $1,349,000

246 Adams Rd, BA, Elegant & Stately 4200 Sq Ft CH Col on Beautiful Quiet St. 5 BR, 4.55 Bth. Sweeping Staircase. All Spacious Rooms with Top Quality Finishes. Amazing Fam Rm with Cathedral Ceiling Overlooking

1 Acre Resortlike Prop Featuring IG Gunite Pool, Patio & Tennis Ct. XL Fin

Bsmt. Upper Level has Primary Ste w/ Dressing Rm & Bth Plus 3 BRs & 2

Bths. 2 Car Att Gar.Low Taxes! SD#20 REDUCED! $2,299,000

HEWLETT

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

Renovated 2 BR, 2 Bth Coop in Prestigious Hewlett Townhouse.Open

Layout. NEW State of the Art Kitchen & Bths, HW Flrs, Windows, HVAC, Recessed LED Lights, Doors, W/D. Community Pool. Full Service 24 Hr

Doorman, Valet Pkg, Elevator, Priv Storage. Gar Pkg. Near Shops, Trans &

Houses of Worship $579,000

1534 Broadway #205, BA, Extra Large 2000 Sq Ft, 2 Bedroom (Originally 3 BR), 2 Bath Condo in Prestigious Jonathan Hall with Doorman & Elevator. Updtd Wood/Quartz Kit, LR & DR. Washer/Dryer in Unit.

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WOO dMERE

504 Saddle Ridge Rd, BA, Move Right Into This Renovated 4 BR, 2 Bth

Split with Open Layout in Prime Location! Granite/Wood EIK Opens to Dining Room & Living Room. Lower Level Den. HW Flrs, Gas Heat, CAC.

Oversized Property! SD#14. Near All! REDUCED! $999,000

CE da RHURST

332B Peninsula Blvd, BA, Move Right Into This Updated 3 Br, 2.5 Bth Coop Townhouse. LR, DR, Gran/Wood

Some homes are much higher than codes and incentives intended, due to misinterpretation of reasons to build higher and misrepresentation in the review process. For example, a home’s first floor is no longer a first floor if it’s higher than 6 feet above the ground. Over 6 feet high, the floor level automatically becomes a second floor, meaning the next floor above is a third floor, which requires zoning board approval, interior sprinklers, escape terraces and wind strengthening. I have seen home plans misrepresented as being two stories by not correctly showing the floor level heights or describing a second floor as a first floor, the next floor as a second floor that is really a third floor — even where a fourth floor is shown as a mezzanine or roof level balcony.

There is a small country town in Tuscany, in central Italy, San Gimignano, that is famous for its skyline of towers that people built onto their homes during medieval times. As the story goes, one prominent homeowner built a tall tower to watch for potential attackers. His neighbor jealously built a tower a little higher, and, not to be outdone, several adjacent homeowners began building towers higher and higher.

History repeats itself. Thirty feet from the new design flood elevation, which may be 2 to 4 feet higher off the ground, could make the maximum roof height 34 to 35 feet in your town. The safety code intends to protect people from perishing in fires, so indoor sprinklers are part of the requirement Decisions to build higher have to take community safety and appearance into account, so height restrictions have been intended to make escape and rescue easier. Statistically, only 5 percent of occupants on a third floor survive a fire. That’s the reason for height restrictions, so taller homes require more safety features.

© 2023 Monte Leeper

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

MERCHANDISE MART

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Is it time for Yankees and Mets fans to ask for a refund?

Regardless of the heat wave, I love summer, compared with the brutal wind blasts of December. I know that the summer climate doesn’t satisfy everyone, but the chance to breathe the warm air and be greeted with the bright sunshine is very comforting to me. Summer makes me happy, but I must confess to being very irritated by one subject. I refer to the Yankees and the Mets.

Once upon a time, during my very naïve years, I was told that money buys anything. I didn’t really believe that, because with the passage of time, I saw many instances in which money bought nothing. I know wealthy couples who are the most miserable people. I’ve watched companies flush with money fall apart due to mismanagement.

But I wonder how two great sports franchises, flush with cash, can perform so badly.

Being a lifelong Yankees fan, I will start with my gripes about them.

Media reports indicate that the current payroll of the team is around $280 million, which places them close to the top of the list of the big spenders.

With that kind of money and a fan base that pours millions of dollars into the club treasury, how can management justify the fact that their team is in last place in the American League East?

There’s no doubt that Aaron Judge’s toe injury has been a major setback. But there are many other players who take the field each day and do nothing to win or make the loyal fan base happy. If you follow them as I do, they look like a bunch of people who just show up to collect a paycheck and go home.

They are listless, bored and totally disconnected with the job of keeping baseball America’s so-called pastime.

If these players were street sweepers, I could understand their listlessness. Pushing a broom can be a very dull job. But when players are paid millions of dollars, the fans are entitled to watch a team that is energized and trying to succeed. Have you ever watched the Little League World

Series? It pays to tune in and watch kids yell and scream when a teammate gets a base hit. They hug a fellow player when he strikes out to encourage him to do better the next time he’s at the plate.

There are many big league examples of hunger for victory. The Toronto Blue Jays and the Tampa Bay Rays are good examples.

Their players come out to play with smiles on their faces and are determined to win. The lack of passion that the Yankees display is similar to what I observe about this year’s Mets team.

The Mets’ owner, Steve Cohen is a very wealthy man. He can buy just about anything he wants just by dialing his cellphone. He has invested billions in a team that has been called one of the best that money could buy. When he broke the bank to hire Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer, Mets fans were jumping for joy.

The rest of the lineup is All-Star quality, but the team could end up in fourth or worse in the NL East at season’s end.

When some team owners speak to

the sportswriters, they sound like the kid who claims the dog ate his homework. They moan about injuries and claim that it will be just a matter of time before their players catch fire. They’re afraid to complain about their players for fear of upsetting them. They seem to forget about the dollars they’re shelling out to those employees.

Many of us longtime Yankees fans wish George Steinbrenner was still alive. When he was, and Yankees players failed to perform, he publicly excoriated them.

And Steinbrenner was never reluctant to trade away a player who didn’t meet his standards.

It’s possible that the Yankees, and the Mets, too, will shake up their teams by the Aug. 1 trade deadline. And maybe they’ll send out a few blunt messages that we long-suffering New York fans are entitled to get our money’s worth when we buy those very expensive tickets.

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

Food for thought: Whose tuna is it anyway?

We all have our breaking points, and I discovered my husband’s last Thursday evening after we arrived at a nearby restaurant for dinner. We had been there once before. The place had good word of mouth, and the reviews said the service was friendly and the food was imaginatively prepared. Perhaps we should have lingered longer over the word “imaginatively.”

know what I’m having,” he said, with great relish. “The tuna steak with bok choy and wasabi potatoes.” Our daughter said she would have the same.

I saw trouble looming on the horizon, and it had fins.

The waiter arrived to take our orders.

“I’ll have the tuna, cooked medium,” my daughter said.

who remembered us from the week before. “Sir, you sent your tuna back three times last week,” he said.

“That’s right,” Don said. ”Because it was raw each time, even though I ordered it well done.”

“I’m sorry,” the manager said. “But the chef won’t cook it past medium.”

Randi is on a brief leave. This column was originally published Jan. 13-19, 2000.

“What’s with all the blue swirls? Paint me polka dots.”

RANDI KREISS

We were dining with one of our favorite people, our daughter, and my husband wanted it to be a special treat for her.

We were seated by one of the friendly staff, and he made a point of removing the white napkins and offering us black ones, saying, “These won’t leave lint on your black slacks.”

“I’m impressed, “ I said. “What a thoughtful accommodation.”

Don was perusing the menu. “I

The waiter looked pained. “We cook the tuna rare,” he said. “Medium, with pink on the inside, is as far as we’ll go.” She said that was fine.

it had fins.

But it wasn’t fine with the big guy. “I would like the same,” my husband purred, “but I want mine well done. I don’t do pink.”

The waiter looked stricken. “I’m sorry, sir, but the chef won’t cook it past medium.”

“I know how I like my tuna,” Don said, quite reasonably. “I won’t send it back because it’s too well done. I like it that way. It’s my dinner, and I want it cooked the way I want to eat it.”

The waiter fetched the manager,

“You mean to tell me that I’m paying for this dinner and I have to eat it the way the chef likes it?”

“Sorry sir.”

“I assume the chef is the owner,” my husband said.

“Yes, sir.”

“And he doesn’t care if he loses a customer?”

“No, sir. He serves his tuna purple in the middle.”

By now my husband was turning purple himself. He canceled the tuna and ordered a vegetable plate.

Our daughter suggested we try to reframe the situation.

“You’re so angry, Dad. Try to think of this from the chef’s point of view. He’s a food artist. He’s the Van Gogh of food, and you’re saying to him,

The big guy wasn’t in the mood to reframe. “He can paint all the blue swirls he wants, but I don’t have to eat them. This guy is telling me that if I want to eat the meal I want to eat, I have to eat it the way he enjoys it.”

I see it as a control issue: Yes, you will. No, I won’t. The chef was a prima donna, an incarnation of “Seinfeld’s” soup Nazi. My husband couldn’t get the meal he wanted, which is, after all, the general idea of dining out, and he was right.

Scrambled eggs with ketchup, peanut butter and banana sandwiches, burnt steaks, matzo balls hard as hockey pucks: culinary idiosyncrasies are an American tradition. In the future, when we hear about a restaurant where there’s an artist at the burners, we will dine elsewhere.

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

At a nearby restaurant, I saw trouble looming on the horizon, and

Many of us Bronx Bombers fans wish George Steinbrenner was still alive.

JERRY KREMER

E-bikes have become a danger downtown

the great thing about Long Beach is that you don’t necessarily need a car to get where you want to go. The city’s name is a bit of an overstatement, since it’s not actually that long — just about 3.5 miles from end to end, in fact.

So, residents have a variety of ways to get from place to place.

Many ride bikes. On the 2¼-mile-long boardwalk, they make a safe and healthy choice for travel. But people have also been riding electric bikes, which are prohibited on the boardwalk, in the bike lane.

The faster rides have been giving the Long Beach police some headaches, as they try to persuade people on regular bikes to maintain a slower “cruising speed,” as it’s usually called. Scofflaw e-bikers influence those on standard bikes to speed up.

Since the men and women in blue can’t be everywhere at once, escorting every e-bike off the boardwalk, they began placing large yellow barriers by some boardwalk entrances to get speedsters to slow down. The problem is, once the bikers get around the barriers, they speed up again.

Clearly, there’s only so much that can be done on the boardwalk. But here’s the

We need to hear much more from Peter

King

To the Editor:

Re Peter King’s column last week, “At this dinner, true patriotism was on vivid display”: Mr. King’s columns have been mildly interesting, often nostalgic, but the deprive us of his greatest asset. As a former congressman with long experience as a respectable Republican, his informed opinion is valuable to Long Island. Recounting the Patriot Awards Dinner is interesting and nostalgic, but the present need for heroes is expressed only as wishful thinking. Noting the heroes and the 9/11 terrorists should not blind us to the present terrorist threat.

Candidate Donald Trump proclaims the constitutional right to do anything he wants as president. He further details the goals of his mission of “retribution,” involving destruction, uprooting, elimination and the like. His militant acolytes sign on, his team details the means by which they’ll establish an autocracy during 2025, his media broadcast the message, his donors unsheathe their checkbooks.

Surely the honorable Mr. King has some

thing: What’s the big deal? If people were getting injured on the e-bikes or were creating dangerous traffic, that would be a major problem. But for the most part, faster riders on e-bikes just maneuver around riders moving at slower speeds on normal bikes.

So instead of focusing on boardwalk e-bike riding, the city should shift its focus to e-bike-riding in the central business district. That’s the real problem. Cyclists darting around and between people who are taking a stroll or eating at outdoor tables on Park Avenue are much more potentially dangerous. The police have been attentive to the situation and have been actively trying to combat it, but there are still people riding fast and close to pedestrians on sidewalks.

The central business district is one of the busiest areas in Long Beach in the summer, along with the boardwalk. But bikes are expected — and made room for — on the boardwalk. Police specials, as they’re called, have been watching the sidewalk areas recently, after a number of residents complained about the e-bikes. New signs have been put up, but they aren’t going to force anyone to dismount. So what needs to happen?

Barriers and tickets — not just the verbal warnings the police issue now.

More of those yellow boardwalk barriers — or similar ones — should be deployed on the corners of the central business district, on Park Avenue and Magnolia and National boulevards. They shouldn’t cover the entire walkway, but they would force people to get off their bikes. And once they’re off, it would be nearly impossible to get going again, amid all the people walking and eating and the police specials on patrol.

Granted, the boardwalk barriers aren’t very attractive, and even the people going about their business downtown might complain about them if they appeared on busy corners, but something needs to be done to slow the bikers down and reduce their numbers. The barriers don’t have to be permanent, but they seem to be the only thing that can make a serious, positive impact relatively quickly.

At some point in the future — a schedule has not been finalized — there are going to be new bike lanes laid out around the city for safer riding — on the streets, not the sidewalks. But until then, bike riding will be more dangerous on pedestrian-filled sidewalks than in bikefilled boardwalk bike lanes. If we nip the bigger problem in the bud now, the heart of the city will see a much safer summer.

Hochul should sign the Birds and Bees Protection Act

If we are going to save the planet, we need to start by saving the bees. Bees and other pollinators are responsible for one in every three bites of food we eat, but the global decline in honeybee populations has long been documented. Last year, New York beekeepers lost 45 percent of their bee colonies, one of the highest loss rates on record. New York’s native bees and pollinators are at risk of local extinction. The fewer pollinators we have, the fewer fruits and vegetables we will be able to grow. We know bee populations are declining dramatically, yet there is resistance in New York to addressing the main culprit in these losses: neonicotinoid pesticides. They are toxic, and they are killing bees and harming Long Island.

Neonicotinoids, or “neonics,” are the most commonly used pesticide in New York and on the Island. They are best known for their harm to wildlife, but they are also being found in Long

Island’s groundwater. The Birds and Bees Protection Act, which both the Assembly and the State Senate have passed, addresses the core of New York’s neonic contamination problem by prohibiting the needless and replaceable uses of this toxic pesticide, thus eliminating 80 to 90 percent of the neonics entering the state’s environment. Now we need Gov. Kathy Hochul to sign the bill into law.

In recent years, an avalanche of peer-reviewed science has emerged indicating that neonics are not only a major threat to the health of bees and other pollinators, but also pollute water resources, threaten birds and other wildlife, and raise concerns about human health impacts. Neonics may be the most environmentally damaging pesticide since DDT, and action must be taken now to address this growing threat to our environment, health, food and pollinators. Neonics are highly water-soluble and can quickly move through soil into our waterways. Used on lawns and gardens, they can be sprayed at higher rates and enter our waterways as stormwater runoff. So it’s no wonder we are seeing

Letters

thoughts on these proposed alterations to the government he helped to preserve? Or on the character of some of those he served with? Or on the unusual tactics of Tommy Tuberville, Marjorie Taylor Greene or Jim Jordan? Mr. King must feel something about marionettes like George Santos replacing serious public servants like himself. Mr. King’s service is recent and thus still relevant, but it will become less so with time. The time to speak, to advise, is now.

BrIAN KELLY Rockville Centre

Protect chimps — and unborn babies

To the Editor:

re randi Kreiss’s column last week, “Chimps face N.Y. court test of personhood” (reprised from Jun 11-17, 2015): I usually don’t agree with r andi, because we have different political outlooks and worldviews, but this time I do, because cruelty is morally wrong. There are exceptions such as war, but those are rare.

Her quote from Jane Goodall and reference to chimpanzees’ similar DNA were poignant. Why, then, don’t we all extend the same concern to creatures

that share 100 percent of our DNA — an exact match, actually? And these creatures look “just like a human baby,” because they are human, and in fact “persons,” regardless of what current laws say. But unfortunately, most people are like r andi’s dinner crowd, who “just couldn’t care about what happens to chimpanzees” — or unborn human children.

I challenge r andi to use her own logic to help defend the unborn.

And I will contribute to janegoodall.org.

JACK HOLLAND Baldwin

Some of us know what teachers go through

To the Editor:

r e Mark Nolan’s column in last week’s Herald, “You have no idea with teachers deal with”: Yep — all sad but true. My wife is a retired first-grade teacher. It’s hard to believe that so much starts there, but it does.

Yes, teachers are well paid, but most of them really earn it! Thanks to them, and God bless them.

DICK CArDOzO Westbury

widespread contamination of the state’s rivers, streams, ponds, and marine environments. The alarming ability of neonics to contaminate water resources is particularly concerning for Long Island’s sole-source aquifer.

Imidacloprid, one of the most used neonics, is found in hundreds of products on the market. It’s used on lawns, turf, golf courses, gardens, farms, pets, ornamental plantings, and in households.

United States Geological Survey monitoring of Long Island groundwater in 2016 found imidacloprid to be one of the most frequently detected pesticides, present in approximately 31 percent of samples taken.

State Department of Environmental Conservation groundwater testing data revealed that imidacloprid was the most common pesticide found in Long Island groundwater, with 890 detections in 179 locations. Long Island is designated as a sole-source drinking water area, meaning that 100 percent of our drinking water comes from groundwater aquifers.

The ubiquitous and unnecessary use of these pesticides is damaging our

drinking water quality and threatening our health. Clean and safe drinking water is a basic human need, and neonics put that at risk.

There is growing scientific evidence of how neonicotinoids threaten human health. Several studies link neonic exposure to developmental harm, including malformations of the developing heart and brain. The longer we wait to ban the most dangerous uses of neonics, the longer we expose New Yorkers to this neurotoxin and amplify the adverse health impacts of chronic prolonged exposure. The Birds and Bees Protection Act targets the heart of New York’s neonic pollution problem. It would prohibit neonic-treated corn, soybean and wheat seeds as well as ornamental uses on lawns, gardens and golf courses.

The State Senate and Assembly passed the bill this legislative session. Now we need Hochul to stand up to the pesticide industry and the chemical companies who are hard at work, aggressively lobbying her to veto the bill. Protecting public health and saving the bees are in the public interest, which needs to be prioritized over corporate interests. We need the governor to sign the Birds and Bees Protection Act.

Framework by Tim Baker

Guess what’s all the rage at Litt0le Doll Studio — Rockville Centre

Adrienne Esposito is executive director of Citizens Campaign for the Environment.

toxic pesticides are killing bees and are being found in L.I.’s groundwater.

aDrIenne esposIto