Long Beach Herald 08-03-2023

HERALD

City, Gusler resolve litigation

using sports to inspire Page 10

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Is village next door ‘the new Hamptons’?

Atlantic Beach residents say no, preferring a much lower profile

By HERNESTO GALDAMEZ hgaldamez@liherald.com

Thomas Tripodi, of Douglas Elliman real estate in Long Beach, gets calls all the time from potential home buyers. But in recent days, many of the calls, from media outlets as well as potential customers, have been inquires about one particular property in Atlantic Beach.

“It’s kind of crazy,” Tripodi said, “and very interesting.”

Justine Stefanelli/Herald photos Long Beach’s annual international Film Festival wrapped up Sunday after being extended for a day by rain.

The home at 139 Bayside Drive has been on the market for a month, and it’s fair to say that it has attracted lots of attention. It’s a Miami Beachstyle house on a double bayfront lot with six bedrooms and six bathrooms, and its asking price is $11.5 million, a record for the village.

By ANGELINA ZINGARIELLO azingariello@liherald.com

The Long Beach International Film Festival has celebrated cinematic arts each year since its inception in 2012. Organized by the nonprofit Long Beach Film Institute, the event is dedicated to the art of storytelling through the medium of film.

The festival gathers artists from around the world, boosting Long Beach’s cultural scene with its showcase of cinematic creativity. There were a few surprises this year, however, fueled by some controversy over the event’s sponsorship, and inclement weather.

Equinor, the company hoping to build the

energy project Empire Wind off the coast of Long Beach, was the original headline sponsor of last weekend’s festival. The Norwegian energy giant had originally committed to spending $35,000, and its name was listed on festival promotional material and social media posts.

But Long Beach residents left numerous comments on the city’s Facebook page, voicing their opposition to the company’s involvement. The City Council agreed, though not specifically about Equinor’s sponsorship. It sent a letter to Gov. Kathy Hochul on July 17, stating that members were “fully in support of the necessary and urgently needed transition to renewable

The last time the house was for sale — for $2.33 million — was 2005, and it has undergone extensive renovations since then.

Tripodi has been selling real estate since 2001, and has marketed many of the highest-profile properties on the 18-mile-

long Long Beach barrier island, which extends from Atlantic Beach to Point Lookout.

He has said that the area has the potential to become “the new Hamptons,” and properties like the one on Bayside Drive are one of the reasons.

“The exclusiveness of the people that come here, for sure,” he said when asked what sets Atlantic Beach apart. “The proximity to Manhattan. So instead of going to the Hamptons, you’re 28 miles from the city. If you want to take a train, you can take a train. If you want to drive, you can drive in about an hour. Or you can sit in traffic and go to the Hamptons or Montauk.”

The Village of Atlantic Beach has a permanent population of just over 1,700, but that number swells with the summer’s seasonal residents — as does the traffic, and the crowds at the beaches and the village’s beach clubs.

After the New York Post published a story quoting Tripodi’s Atlantic Beach-Hamptons comparison last month, local feed-

Continued on page 18

Short films are in the spotlight on festival’s final night on the beach

National Night Outs takes to Kennedy Plaza again

Police and community members gather for an eventful evening

By ANGELINA ZINGARIELLO azingariello@liherald.com

The City of Long Beach Police Department marked its annual National Night Out celebration Tuesday evening in Kennedy Plaza.

A crowd estimated between 300 to 400 turned out in front of City Hall in hopes of bridging relations between community members and the police.

There was music, hot dogs, popcorn, a bouncy ride for the kids, and good vibes all around.

National Night Out is more than a local Long Beach event. It’s a nationwide effort aimed at strengthening the relationship between local Police Departments and the communities they protect.

“The department is committed to building these bonds in organic settings, so when their services are needed, the trust and relationships already exist,” the department said in a statement. “Together, we can tackle the challenges facing our community.”

Since it’s beginning in 1984, National Night Out has been celebrated nationwide and is currently held in 17,000 communities across the entire country.

Long Beach’s rendition of National Night Out is sponsored by a coalition of organizations, the City of Long Beach, the North Park Crisis Team, Community-Police Relations Foundation, Motorola, Studio Noir and the Long Beach Commanding Officers Association.

The event kicked off with an address by Police Commissioner and City Manager Ronald Walsh. In his opening remarks, he went into the history of National Night Out and outlined its core mission.

Walsh then dove right into discussing the evening’s proceedings, as well as recognize the work the Long Beach Police Department has done.

“Please be sure as you walk around, to visit all of our tables and enjoy everything that we have to offer,” he said. “For the past several years, the Long Beach Police Department has really been working hard in community policing and tonight, it shows.”

Walsh then said that the Long Beach Police Department has received an approval rating of 90% for this year. This high rate of public approval, he said, he believes is indicative of the positive experiences individuals have had with the department.

Walsh credited this overwhelming support to the officers that he works with each day.

Every year during National Night

Out, the City of Long Beach and the Long Beach Police Department take the opportunity to honor an individual, a group, or a department for their outstanding community service by presenting them with a plaque. This year, the recognition was given to the city’s sanitation department.

“The sanitation workers strive every single day to keep our city clean, and they work tirelessly throughout the year,” Walsh said. “They not only pick up waste, but they take those extra steps every single year and consistently show how much they care for this city.”

Walsh ended his speech by encouraging the community to increase their engagement with the local police department, highlighting the importance of communal relationships in maintaining public safety.

“We look forward to getting to know more and more people in this town and sharing better and deeper relationships,” he said. “Please when you see a police officer out in the street, please say hello to them. It’s the first step to building a safer and safer community and more caring community.”

The event included food, crafts, bounce houses, giveaways, live music and more activities for attendees to enjoy.

The Community Police Relations Foundation also had a Mister Softee truck come to personally serve the event.

Participants at the event had the chance to connect with local police officers. Additionally, they could visit various tables from different organizations in the area to access information about the variety of services that each organization provides.

Stephanie Bier/Herald photos Long Beach’s National Night Out Tuesday saw a large gathering in Kennedy Plaza yet again.

Acting City Manager and Police Commissioner Ron Walsh stood beside officer Kristen Murphy as she sang the national anthem.

Young Long Beach neighbors Vivienne DePalma and Alice Vordermeier enjoyed a night out dressed in fire helmets.

Together, we can tackle the challenges facing our community.

LONG BEAch POLIcE DEPARTmENT

Festival brings together L.I.’s best filmmakers

Continued from page 1

energy” and ready to engage with an “offshore wind developer that proposes a reasonable project.” But not Equinor.

Just hours before the festival’s opening night on July 26, it was announced that Equinor was no longer a sponsor, and the event took place without any more issues.

Except for the bad weather.

Originally scheduled for July 26-29, the festival was extended by a day due to rain on Saturday. Despite the setback, more than 60 films were screened on the National Boulevard beach, behind the Allegria hotel. The diverse lineup included full-length features, documentaries and an assortment of short films.

Herb Stratford, the event’s director and film programmer, explained the festival’s mission by saying that its goal is to “connect audiences with food and film through our events. We present films that may not otherwise be seen in the Long Beach area.”

The festival provided a platform for local filmmakers, previews of upcoming films, and culinary experiences in which film viewings were accompanied by food and wine tastings.

photos moviegoers saw a handful of films on Sunday night, each showcasing a different director.

“Castello Cavalcanti,” and each was punctuated by laughter and applause. Attendees clearly enjoyed themselves, and there was a feel of community and mutual appreciation of the moviemakers’ art.

Support the festival

The Long Beach International Film Festival, along with its many free events, is a nonprofit endeavor. The Long Beach Film Institute is always looking for donations so it can continue to present the event every year. Visit its website, LongBeachFilm.com, for more information on the films and to consider donating.

— Angelina Zingariello

Herb Str Atford Festival director

Last Sunday, the event concluded with Shorts on the Beach, showcasing short films from around the world. Open to the public free of charge, the event attracted a large turnout of film enthusiasts. According to Stratford, it offered a unique experience, featuring six short films on an outdoor screen just after sunset. It proved to be a fun and fitting conclusion to the festival. “A screening of films for free under the stars on the beach is the perfect summer night,” he said.

In anticipation, spectators arrived at the beach armed with blankets and chairs. This year’s shorts included “It’s a Dog,” “Sharps,” “Photo Op,” “The Art of Crossing,” “We Have Notes” and

For his part, Stratford delighted in seeing so many smiling faces and hearing so much laughter. “The film program for Shorts on the Beach this year was light-hearted and funny,” he said, “and I think we could all use a few laughs right now.”

Elizabeth Shar, a Long Beach resident, attended this last night of the festival, and spoke about her love of short films. “I love the process of the short film,” she said. “The scripts are clearly original. The actors are indie-focused. And shorts are just a wonderful medium, because they’re a very flexible medium.”

In addition to her enjoyment of the festival, Shar noted the beauty of a full moon overhead. Having observed the bustling beach activity earlier in the day, she said she felt as if Long Beach’s vibrant energy was beautifully encapsulated in the festival, which ended on a high note and added to a special annual tradition.

the international f ilm festival has been bringing new films to Long Beach for the past 11 years.

■ E-MAIl:

to its original headline sponsor, equinor.

A screening of films for free under the stars on the beach is the perfect summer night.

the event went on after a weather delay — and a display of opposition

Justine Stefanelli/Herald

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Dems sue legislature claiming gerrymandering Republican-led chamber accused of drawing unfair district maps

By BRANDON CRUZ bcruz@liherald.com

Nassau County Democrats, along with 21 plaintiffs from throughout each of the 19 legislative districts, have filed a lawsuit against the county legislature. They allege the recently redrawn legislative districts are racist, gerrymandered, and give an unfair advantage to Republicans, who hold majority control over the chamber.

This lawsuit was filed nearly five months after the Nassau County Legislature voted to approve the new map as part of the county’s redistricting process, which takes place every 10 years in-line with the census. The measure drew the support of 11 Republicans, but was opposed by seven Democrats.

The suit also comes less than four months before the Nov. 7 elections when all 19 seats are up for grabs. It also comes on the heels of a state appellate court deciding in an unrelated matter that New York’s congressional districts — which were redrawn last year by a special master — should be done again.

Among the issues Democrats have with the new county maps include moving Democratic Minority Leader Kevan Abrahams from the district he has represented for more than 20 years, to a new Republican-leaning district. The suit claims voters leaning in one direction are being packed into two districts, while the rest are spread out to other districts as a way to “dilute their voting strength.” The maps, according to the suit, forces two Democrats to run against each other in one district, while leaving Republican incumbents unchallenged.

“Republicans are trying to rig the upcoming election by gerrymandering legislative districts to keep themselves in power,” said David Mejias, the attorney representing the Nassau County Democratic Committee and the 21 other plaintiffs.

Mejias seeks an injunction against using the maps, asking the court to provide a timely opportunity to present a lawful, redrawn version before the upcoming elections.

“They tried to limit public hearings,” Mejias said of Republicans, during a recent news conference. “They introduced the current map at the 11th hour, and they have refused to produce the partisan consultant that they hired to draw this map, whose purported analysis and methodology is the best kept secret in Mineola.

“We’ve asked for the analysis. We’ve asked for the methodology, and they have said ‘no.’”

Democrats, on the other hand, hired what they describe as a non-partisan independent, Dan Magleby, to produce a fair and competitive map.

“All of his methodology, analysis and work product was made public,” Mejias said. “He testified at a public hearing, and the Republicans have refused to produce the expert that drew this gerrymandered partisan map to the public, to the Democratic minority legislators, to the redis-

tricting commission.”

Magleby’s work consisted of creating 10,000 computer-simulated legislative maps through a “party-blind nonpartisan process,” Mejias said. The Republicanapproved map does not resemble even one out of Magleby’s maps, the attorney added — something that is not even stastically possible.

“An objective mathematical analysis shows that this map is an illegal partisan gerrymander,” Mejias said.

However, Republicans disagree with any assertion this map is illegal.

“The lines drawn are fair, reasonable and in accordance with applicable law,” said Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, in a statement.

Nassau County Republican chair Joseph Cairo described the legislative districts as “fair and competitive.”

“The districts comply with all applicable federal and state redistricting laws,”

Cairo told reporters.

But some voters — like John Jarvis, who is also a plaintiff in the lawsuit — say that’s not true. Instead, he describes it as a human rights issue, with the current maps for the districts being “extremely unfair” and clearly “discriminate against certain groups of people.”

As a way to prove his point about how the districts are already drawn, Mejias used Blakeman’s 2021 victory over Laura Curran. There, Blakeman won with 52 percent of the vote, while his fellow Republicans managed to win 60 percent of the legislative races. He also explains

Democrats claim the recently approved district map for the Nassau County Legislature benefits Republicans — who hold a majority in Mineola while putting any opposition at a disadvantage. They now want a judge to make a final determination.

H. Scottie Coads, at left, is leading the lawsuit against the Nassau County Legislature, claiming its new district maps benefit the majority Republicans, leaving any other opposition at a disadvantage.

that even when Curran won in 2017, Republicans still managed to get nearly 60 percent of the legislative seats.

“How do you get 48 percent of the vote countywide (in 2017) and still win those seats and have a solid majority in the legislature?” Mejias asked. “That can only happen if those seats are gerrymandered.”

Democrats are prepared for a long and lengthy legal battle, but insist they will fight this until the end.

“If they won’t listen to the people,” Mejias said, “the Republicans will have to listen to the courts.”

Brandon Cruz/Herald photos

Attorney David Mejias speaks about what he calls ‘an illegal gerrymander’ alongside some of the plaintiffs and supporters of the lawsuit filed against the Nassau County Legislature over what they claim are new district maps that favor the majority Republicans over Democrats. Joining Mejias were, from left, Pamela Korn, Mimi Pierre-Johnson, Darien Ward and John Jarvis.

Courtesy Nassau County NAACP

Nassau County Legislative Districts

City of Long Beach, Jay Gusler resolve years-long litigation

By SEAN KENNEDY Intern

The City of Long Beach and a former city firefighter were able to resolve years-long litigation earlier this year, in May.

The lawsuit, filed by Jay Gusler against the city, stemmed from the city’s breach of a 2016 agreement between the two parties after Gusler was injured while working. After a 4-0 vote from the city council during a May meeting, the two parties agreed upon a six-figure sum which reportedly resulted in less average cost to the pockets of city taxpayers.

Gusler was dismissed from the squad in 2016 after he was found guilty of misdemeanor forgery and identity theft. Gusler allegedly used false information to win a bid for work at the Recreation Center, however the city noted the conviction and the matters of the current settlement are unrelated.

According to City Spokesman John McNally, the most recent litigation stemmed from an agreement between Gusler and the City of Long Beach in 2016. The agreement, which saw the city pay Gusler $19,875 per year until 2032, was after Gusler was entitled to benefits after being injured while working for the city.

Documents state that Gusler had demands starting at $258,375, however city attorneys were able to “settle all

claims, demands, and pending litigation,” reducing the total sum down to $144,000.

In order to vote on the matter as soon as possible, McNally said the city council saw fit to add the item to the May 2 agenda via unanimous consent.

“The person that this item relates to is a friend of mine and someone I socialize with,” said Council President John

Bendo during discussions at the May 2 meeting. “Because of that, I must recuse myself on this item.”

“For full disclosure, my firm has represented Jay Gusler in the past,” councilman Roy Lester mentioned. “I have not represented him myself, and I do not see any conflict of interest.” Lester added that his firm ceased representation of Gusler nearly one year before.

McNally said Lester was not involved in the negotiations of the settlement, nor was there any active case or relationship between him and Gusler.

Additionally, Council Vice President Elizabeth Treston had her house rebuilt by a team of volunteers, including Gusler. Like Lester, Treston ran her affiliations with Gusler by the city’s corporate counsel, who cleared her to vote.

“Lester and Treston each have relationships with Gusler, but not necessarily close ones,” McNally said. “The current grounds for recusal are whether there could be any current conflict of interest, or if they had a reason for whether they would not be fair or impartial, to which corporation counsel saw both fit to vote.”

According to the settlement, Gusler signed the revised agreement the day before the settlement passed. The vote, in which all council people voted for — minus the recused Bendo — allowed Acting City Manager Ron Walsh to sign and execute the agreement on May 3.

Former Suffolk County Attorney and current Corporation Counsel Dennis Cohen was appointed to the position in April. There have been multiple tenures at the position of Corporation Counsel since the initial agreement in 2016, including the likes of former City Manager Rob Agostisi and former town of North Hempstead deputy attorney Simone Marie Freeman, complicating matters.

Herald File Photo

The City of Long Beach and former firefighter Jay Gusler finally resolved a years-long litigation in May.

Racing at Riverhead never gets old

By TONY BELLISSIMO tbellissimo@liherald.com

There aren’t too many 1974 Oldsmobiles on the streets these days, but one can be spotted at Riverhead Raceway most Saturdays between May and September with North Bellmore’s Bill Wegmann Sr. behind the wheel.

Nicknamed the “Racing Grandpa,” the soon-to-be 79-year-old has competed on the eastern Suffolk County quarter-mile oval since 1989 — in the same car — and last season finished in the top five in the Blunderbust driver standings.

“I built the car and maintain it myself,” said Wegmann Sr., who began racing stock cars in 1962. “It’s a fun hobby and something I could always afford,” he added. “I’ve been racing so long I can probably close my eyes and get around the track.”

Wegmann Sr., who grew up in Franklin Square and attended Sewanhaka High School, has 9 career victories at Riverhead and is a fixture among the Top 10 Blunderbust drivers each season. He has eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

“My wife [Eileen] has been a tremendous supporter even though she’s not a big race fan, she’s a fan of mine,” Wegmann Sr. said. “People always ask how long do I plan to compete, and I tell them ‘as long as I can climb through the window of the car and get behind the wheel.’”

His son, Billy, has been going to racetracks “since he was born” and has long competed in the Blunderbust division as well. So have two of Wegmann Sr.’s grandsons, Jason and Derick.

“It’s not only great to race, but it’s our family time,” said Billy, 55.

Giordano embraces new challenge

Lifelong Freeport resident Gerard Giordano is following in his father’s footsteps and hopes to one day get behind the wheel of a race car owned by someone else.

But for now, Giordano, 26, is embracing the challenge of the Late Model division at Riverhead after a dominant run along the East Coast in his Super Pro Truck.

“The competition in the Late Models is much tougher and I’m enjoying the challenge,” said Giordano, whose father, Jerry, competed for decades at the now-defunct Freeport Speedway. “It’s a big step up,” he added. “I’ve won one feature in this division and I’m hunting for my first one for this year.”

Sponsored by K1 Logistics, Excelsior Lodge, New York Outdoors Club, Venture Auto Body, Admiral Metals, Landgon’s Automotive and Scorpion Race Engines, Giordano sat fourth in the Late Model driver standings following a solid performance July 22. He was the division’s Rookie of the Year in 2021 and picked up his first-ever victory last summer in a

60-lap feature with a large cheering section in the stands.

He began racing go-karts at age 12 and has been a fixture in the Super Pro Truck winner’s circle for years, capturing a pair of touring championships consisting of a dozen annual races in Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Hampshire.

“I’ll still fit some Super Pro Truck races into my schedule when I can, but my main focus now is the Late Model,” Giordano said.

Former crew member enjoys success Andrew Farnham, a friend of Giordano’s since middle school when they both attended St. Christopher School in Bald-

win, was a member of Giordano’s pit crew for years and then got behind the wheel in Riverhead’s Mini Stock division in 2018.

“I’m having a blast,” said Farnham, a 2015 Baldwin High School graduate who’s seeking sponsorship to help offset costs of competing, which includes weekly maintenance, gas and tires. “Constantly working on the car, putting in at least four hours a week even if everything appears fine,” he added. “If you’re not fast, you’re slow.”

Farnham proved fastest of the Mini Stock’s 20-driver field in 2022, taking home the Mini Stock title by winning the final race of the season to overcome an 11-point

deficit in the standings. He had two feature wins but said consistency and avoiding any serious damage to his 2008 Honda Civic were crucial to earning the crown.

A runner-up finish in the 20-lap feature July 22 pushed Farnham back in the lead of the driver standings as he looks to repeat. “Winning last year was awesome but I’m not really thinking about the long term and repeating, I’m just focused on week to week,” he said afterwards. “I thought I was the fastest car tonight. Started seventh and finished second.”

A typical Saturday from May through September for Farnham, Giordano and crews begins before noon and ends around midnight.

Tony Bellissimo/Herald photos

North Bellmore’s Bill Wegmann Sr., has raced his 1974 Oldsmobile at Riverhead Raceway for 34 years, and shows no signs of slowing down.

Gerard Giordano of Freeport is looking to transfer his racing success to Riverhead’s Late Model division.

RVC community rallies around Dunn

By MICHAEL LEWIS sports@liherald.com

Half a world away at the Women’s World Cup in New Zealand, Crystal Dunn is still making an impact on the South Side High School girls’ soccer team and the Rockville Centre community.

“She’s such a great role model and inspiration for the girls and just the excitement they have knowing that she played on the same team as they did and they are,” South Side head coach Judi Croutier said.

“Just the whole town is a buzz,” she added. “Everyone is so excited and proud to see her out there, representing not just Rockville Centre and South Side, but herself, her family, the country.”

Dunn is the starting left back for the U.S. Women’s National Team as it strives to win an unprecedented third consecutive world championship. The tournament is co-hosted by Australia.

Croutier has been watching Dunn display her talent on both sides of the ball for the two-time defending champions at the Women’s World Cup in New Zealand and Australia.

Americans’ first two matches, a 3-0 win over Vietnam July 21, and a 1-1 draw with the Netherlands July 26. She acquitted herself well. A midfielder for the Portland Thorns (National Women’s Soccer League), Dunn was expected to be in the Starting XI against Portugal in the team’s final Group E match on Tuesday (FOX, 3 a.m.) The Americans need at least a draw to reach the knockout round.

“She is such a positive person and player,” Croutier said. “She’s come back after having a baby. She’s fit. She’s in a great mindset and. She’s going to help the women and hopefully they win this year.”

Croutier realized early on that Dunn was a special player. It went beyond her blazing speed and remarkable soccer skills.

“Her leadership role even as a freshman, the way she was able to help all the players around her get better,” she said. “The way she was willing to work with everybody. She was just an upbeat person with such a great knowledge of the game and then she was able to go on the field and execute.”

While starring at South Side, Dunn many times was an unstoppable attacking force. Former USA head coach Jill

Tuesday, August 8, 2023, 6 p.m.

the 2019 Women’s World Cup. Dunn earned international praise for his outstanding performance en route to the world championship.

“She does overlap,” Croutier said. “When she played for us, she was able to

played where we needed her most. She scored some spectacular goals for us. I’m just happy she’s on the field. I know she would love to move up. But anywhere she’s playing, I think it’s great to watch her and know that she’s from Rockville

At this event, you will have the opportunity to speak with Hofstra faculty, and learn about services offered by Residence Life, Student Financial Services, and the Center for Career Design and Development. You can also virtually tour our beautiful 244-acre campus.

For event details and to RSVP, please visit hofstra.edu/gradoh

Courtesy Nikita Taparia/NWSL Crystal Dunn, right, and the USWNT battled the Netherlands to a 1-1 draw July 26 and completes group play against Portugal.

Using a love for lacrosse to teach kids

Former Long Beach pro shares his skills to get the next generation of players ready

By BRENDAN CARPENTER bcarpenter@liherald.com

Lacrosse has been one of the fastest-growing sports in the country for quite some time. It’s still not up to the level of other major sports like football and baseball, but it’s making progress.

New York and Long Island are some of, if not the biggest, lacrosse-played areas in the country. They’re up there with Massachusetts, Maryland, Illinois and California. One state that’s not listed is Ohio. But that’s exactly where Adam Osika got his start.

Osika, 27, grew up in Mason, Ohio, a small suburb just north of Cincinnati. He became interested and began playing lacrosse in third grade as part of the local, community team. He remembers his first role model in the sport, Gary Gait, and his first lacrosse camp he attended back home. It was hosted by Gait.

He fell even more in love with the sport and ended up playing all throughout childhood and even in high school, at William Mason High School. He played so well that he got the attention of some colleges, one of which was SUNY Albany.

“Growing up, as a kid, I just always wanted to go to college out on the east coast and play division one lacrosse,” he said. “Then, one of my high school midfield line mates who went to Albany came back, he was saying how much he loved the college, the coaches and the team. So, already knowing someone from my town that was already there was big, too.”

After graduating in 2017, Osika moved back home to Mason and was soon after drafted to play professional lacrosse for the Atlanta Blaze. He was the 21st pick. Only 32 college players get drafted each year. He played in the league for about four years, playing for a couple of teams, also spending time with the Philadelphia Wings and New York Lizards. He even played for the United States indoor team in Vancouver in 2018. Regardless of the drafting, he wasn’t highly touted out of high school.

“I think my case was unique since I wasn’t in a lacrosse hotbed area like Long Island or Baltimore, and because of that not many coaches were coming out to Cincinnati to watch me or my teammates play,” Osika said. “If you’re not in a location that’s well known for strong lacrosse players, I’d definitely say to do more private showcases instead of playing on your traditional travel team.”

While in college, Osika had two teammates that lived on Long Island. One lived in Levittown and one in Dix Hills. After college they both moved to Long Beach and he would visit them while playing professionally. He began to love the city, and decided he too wanted to move out east and live in little beach

town.

So, he did. He’s now been in Long Beach for almost 3 years.

Since his playing career came to an end, he’s been working as a national account manager for Ampersand, a television advertising sales firm. He’s enjoyed his post-playing career, but he still had an itch for lacrosse.

He was playing in a casual summer league nearby and one of his friends he played with introduced him to a company called Vantage Sports. The company

offers young, future athletes the chance to train and learn from current, or recent, ones.

Osika checked out the website and was extremely optimistic about it. He got in contact with the company, made a profile and began giving lessons.

“It feels really great to give back and help younger kids,” he said. “Growing up as a kid, I would always watch the college lacrosse games, and watch a lot of the pro lacrosse games. Just being able to give back now and help these

Long Beach resident Adam Osika used to be a pro lacrosse player and even played for Team USA, but now he teaches local kids the skills of the sport.

kids growing up and the future generations of kids is just very great. It’s a humbling experience.”

He now teaches people of all ages to play lacrosse, not just very young kids. He has coached kids all the way from age six up to the high school and early college levels. He doesn’t plan on stopping and hopes one day to coach.

Osika moved to Long Beach after visiting some friends and falling in love with the city.

Photos courtesy Adam Osika

Adam Osika spent four years playing professional lacrosse after being drafted out of college.

OBITUARY

BOCES educator Robert Dillon

Dr. Robert R. Dillon (Bob), of Walden and Plainview, passed peacefully on July 28, 2023, after experiencing medical complications following spinal surgery.

He grew up in Bayside, Queens, with his parents Marie and Martin — who preceded him in death — along with his four brothers Matthew, Terrance, Dennis and Kevin, and sister Maureen.

Although drafted by the Detroit Tigers out of Loyola High School in New York City, he opted to pursue a career in education through St. John’s University in Queens. There he obtained his doctorate in education.

During his more than 45-year career in education, he served as superintendent of four school districts: East Meadow, Sugar Loaf, Abbott Union and Eastport. He was the driving force that led to the successful merger of Eastport and South Manor school districts.

He was dedicated to fostering the next generation of school leaders and mentored many seeking their administrative certifications while teaching at St. John’s University, SUNY at New Paltz, St. John Fisher University, and Dowling College.

Since 2015, he has led Nassau BOCES, a cooperative of the 56 school districts in Nassau County, leaving a legacy that will impact the students of Nassau County for decades.

Whether navigating through the Covid19 pandemic, pushing for increased mental health student support, or innovating numerous programs, he has revitalized, transformed and enhanced educational opportunities for all students.

He served on many advisory boards and councils, including the Long Island Power Authority, Scope Education Services, and SUNY Old Westbury’s School of Education.

He is survived by his childhood sweetheart Patricia Maureen (Patty), son Christopher and his wife Jessica, and grandchildren Kylie and Brendan.

He also is survived by daughters Deirdre and Caitlin, brothers and sister, and their respective families.

He loved golf, camping and fishing, and was an avid New York Giants fan. He was dedicated to his family, and wanted to make sure everyone was happy and well provided for.

Visitation was held Aug. 1 at Fairchild Sons Funeral Home in Garden City, and a funeral Mass was celebrated Aug. 2 at The Cathedral of St. Agnes in Rockville Centre. Interment followed at Queen of Peace Cemetery on Jericho Turnpike in Old Westbury.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Nassau BOCES Educational Foundation.

Protecting Your Future with Michael and Suzanne Ettinger

Attorneys-at-Law

Who Are You Responsible For?

Recently, a client came in to see us for their follow-up consultation. The client shared with us that, in between their two meetings with us, the husband’s brother had suffered a stroke and was now in a rehabilitation facility. He was a bachelor. He had no power of attorney or health care proxy. He may or may not have had a will — they didn’t know. Further, they were unable to get access to his apartment to clean out the fridge and get his clothes because he had failed to put them on the list of persons approved to enter in the event of an emergency.

One of the most overlooked areas in estate planning is the question of who you are responsible for. Do you have a friend or relative who you know will need to rely on you if something happens? Either they have no one else or everyone else is too far away. If you have the responsibility, then make sure that you have the documents you will need to carry out that responsibility. Otherwise, the challenges become of a magnitude greater. Similarly, so many of our clients have adult

children with young families. Do you know whether your children have wills, powers of attorney and health care proxies?

There are serious pitfalls for young families if one spouse dies without a plan. Roughly half of their assets go to their surviving spouse and half to the children. The court will appoint a legal guardian for the children’s money and the unused portion must be turned over to them at age eighteen, ready or not!

A potentially more serious problem for our senior clients is whether their sons and daughters who have families possess adequate life insurance. If your son or daughter dies without sufficient life insurance, you may be called upon to support and educate your grandchildren out of your retirement money.

Finally, if you are responsible for the care of an elderly parent, then make sure it is you who has the power of attorney and health care proxy and not another sibling who may end up controlling the situation from afar, much to your dismay.

ETTINGER LAW FIRM

ELDER

RobeR t Dillon

Thomas ready to jump from senate to Congress

By NICOLE WAGNER nwagner@liherald.com

Kevin Thomas has tossed his hat into the ring, hoping to be the candidate Democrats turn to flip Anthony D’Esposito from his congressional seat. The state senator announced his candidacy last week in front of his parents’ home in Elmont.

Thomas has high hopes he can defeat the Republican, who defeated Democrat Lauren Gillen by a margin of less than 4 percent last year. Gillen — the former Hempstead town supervisor — is expected to run again for the seat next year, along with fellow Democrats Lawrence Henry, Sarah Hughes and Gian Jones. These candidates will duke it out alongside Thomas in the Democratic primary set for next June 25.

“I’ll let other candidates speak for themselves,” Thomas said. “I’m excited to take my record of delivering for Long Island, and winning tough races to the voters of Congressional District 4.”

As a state senator, Thomas says he has worked with the Democratic majority in Albany to cap property taxes, protect drinking water for Nassau County, funded veteran services and mental health care, and codified the right to an abortion into New York law.

“People in New York are struggling with the high cost of living, increased

their rent or mortgage, and simply trying to stay afloat,” Thomas said. “Now more than ever, we need action.”

Members of Moms Demand Action, a group that advocates for public safety from gun violence, were among the supporters of Thomas’ campaign.

“He’s been there for us, and we’ve been there for him,” the group’s events lead Jimmy Dougherty said about

Thomas’s support of gun safety legislation in the state Senate.

“Following the traumatizing terror in Buffalo, I led the successful effort to ban gun sales to those under the age of 21,” Thomas said of his legislative record.

Thomas hopes to bring the values he has represented in the state legislature with him to Washington — assuming he gets past both the primary and then

what is expected to be a tough run against an incumbent.

Thomas faces a choice if he wants to remain in the state Senate for another term: Either he has to move, or he has to change districts.

That came after new legislative maps pulled both and his 2022 opponent out of their district. Thomas was given a onetime exemption to continue representing his senate district, but was told he would have to make a decision before 2024.

Running for congress would eliminate that decision. But as he told a Herald roundtable of reporters last year, moving — especially in Nassau County — isn’t easy.

“People who can’t afford anything are still living with their parents,” Thomas said at the time. “This is an issue everyone has been trying to tackle for years now. If you’re making $50,000 to $60,000, what is affordable? There are some innovative ways that are going into this, but we need to do a lot more.”

Thomas became the first-ever Indian American to serve in the state legislature in 2018. His family immigrated to the United States when he was 10, making a home for themselves in Nassau County.

“Long Island has given me so much — opportunity, hope and community,” Thomas said. “And I have been determined to give back.”

Nicole Wagner/Herald

State Sen. Kevin Thomas announced his bid to challenge Anthony D’Esposito in Congress next year in front of his parent’s Elmont home surrounded by friends, family and supporters. Thomas first needs to defeat fellow Democrats to get his party’s nomination next June.

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Pop star comes ‘home’

Baldwin native opens for Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo

By Daniel Offner

aylor Dayne became an overnight sensation when she burst onto the scene in the mid-‘80s with her debut single, “Tell It to My Heart,” a top 10 chart-topping dance hit that has remained an audience favorite worldwide for decades.

“I grew up on Grand Avenue in the ‘70s and ‘80s,” the Baldwin native said. “That was my playground when I was young. It gave me a lot of chutzpah.”

She recently returned here — July 23 — for a special benefit concert featuring Lindenhurst native Pat Benatar and her husband, Neil Giraldo, in support of Health and Harmony, a new program sponsored by Catholic Health and the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame.

Health and Harmony takes a non-pharmaceutical approach to engage and educate patients about the positive effects of music on overall health.

“I broke out of New York,” Dayne says. “To come back and play now with Pat Benatar, it’s kind of amazing how it’s come full circle.”

Dayne, who was born Leslie Wunderman, began her professional career after high school when she performed at small New York City clubs with her bands, Felony and Next.

“I was honing in on my chops,” she says. “It was daunting as hell.”

She went solo after finishing college when she got a hold of a demo of “Tell it to My Heart,” originally composed by Seth Swirsky and Ernie Gold for Chappell Music, but overlooked by the label.

Dayne was immediately drawn to the track and recorded her rendition at Cove City Sound Studios in Glen Cove. The demo managed to get the attention of music executive Clive Davis, who signed her to his label, Arista Records, in 1987.

While the immediate success of her first single would eclipse some of her later tracks, Dayne says she very much still enjoys performing it to this day.

“My God, yes. (It’s not) like you’re asking Billy Joel if he’ll play ‘Tell Her About It,’” she jokes about Joel’s hit song, which he hasn’t played since 1987. “This is my biggest hit. People lose their minds for it. It’s my job to make it interesting. And it really sounds so amazing with a live band.”

Her debut album, also titled, “Tell it to My Heart,” released by Arista in 1988, featured three more top 10 singles, including the tracks “Prove Your Love,” “Don’t Rush Me” and “I’ll Always Love You.” The album’s success brought her to new heights when she was invited to join Michael Jackson on the European leg of his sold-out “Bad” tour.

Dayne’s follow-up album in 1989, “Can’t Fight Fate,” was equally as successful, landing her three more Top 10 charting singles, “With Every Beat of My Heart,” “I’ll Be Your Shelter” and “Love Will Lead You Back.” Both albums have been certified double platinum, selling more than 2 million copies worldwide.

In the ‘90s she decided to break into acting. Her first role on the big screen came in 1994 when she was cast in a remake of the romantic drama film, “Love Affair,” starring Warren Beatty, Annette Bening and the late Katharine Hepburn.

She had minor success in independent films and a few recurring television roles, including the Showtime series “Rude Awakening.” Then, in 2001, she landed a major role on the stage in Elton John and Tim Rice’s hit Broadway musical, “Aida.”

“RuPaul and I are very dear friends,” Dayne says. “It was a lot of work … all that pushing and taping.”

Although Dayne hasn’t released a new album since 2008, she hasn’t stopped making music. She’s gone on to release several more successful singles, including “Floor on Fire,” “Dreaming,” “Live Without” and “Please.”

“Making albums isn’t what it used to be,” she says. “But I do have new music coming out.”

Among her accolades, Dayne has been inducted into both the New

TaylorDayne.com, or follow her on Instagram at TheRealTaylorDayne.

Doo-Wop Oldies Spectacular

Revisit the golden oldies with Peter Lemongello Jr. in ‘An Evening To Remember,’ featuring The Fabulous Acchords, The Tribunes and Teresa McClean. With their polished vocal skills and dynamic stage presence, it’s a night of unforgettable entertainment, produced by Gene DiNapoli, that’s pure nostalgia 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. appeared on ‘American Idol’ and performed with The Four Tops, The Temptations and Chubby Checker, among others. He’s joined by a capella group The Tribunes, renowned for their authentic New York-bred streetcorner harmonies and The Fabulous Acchords, who captivate audiences with their unique blend of classic and contemporary songs, spanning

Friday, Aug. 4, 7:30 p.m. $49, $39, $29. Jeanne Rimsky Theater

232 Main St., Port Washington. LandmarkOnMainStreet.org, or

Swingtime Big Band

The band swings into Eisenhower Park with its powerful interpretation of the Great American Songbook. Led by longtime conductor Steve Shaiman, the 20-piece Swingtime Big Band vividly brings the swing musicians authentically recreate the style, musicality and essence of iconic big bands of the day. Swingtime’s high-energy performances embody

Dayne eventually would release her fifth full-length album,

Dayne eventually would release her fifth full-length album, “Satisfied,” in 2008. Her first full-length studio album in almost a decade, it featured the single “Beautiful,” which rose to No. 1 on the dance charts, her most recent hit to date.

She has remained in the spotlight in recent years, only under different guises, as the competitor Popcorn on “The Masked Singer” — in 2020 at the height of the pandemic — and Electra Owl on “RuPaul’s Secret Celebrity Drag Race.”

audiences who know the classic recordings, or with the excitement of discovery for a new generation of listeners. Vocalist Bobbie Ruth recreates the ‘gal vocal’ stylings of legendary singers Peggy Lee, Ella Fitzgerald, Eydie Gormé and Billie Holiday, among others. She’s joined emulates such Big Band crooners and swingers as Nat ‘King”’ Cole, and, of course, the immortal Frank Sinatra.

Thursday, Aug. 10, 8 p.m. Free admission. Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, Eisenhower Park, East Meadow. For information, visit

THE

Aug. 5

Aimee Mann

The indie-pop icon visits The Space at Westbury, Saturday, Aug, 5, 8 p.m. One of the most distinguished singer-songwriters of her generation, her successful solo career has spanned several decades with several Grammy nominations, two Grammy award and the release of nine criticallyacclaimed solo albums, including the profoundly popular soundtrack for the film “Magnolia,” which garnered an Academy Award and Golden Globe nomination for Best Song in 2000. Time magazine has said, “Mann has the same skill that great tunesmiths like McCartney and Neil Young have: the knack for writing simple, beautiful, instantly engaging songs, ” while NPR voted her one of the “Top 10 Best Living Songwriters” along with Paul McCartney, Bob Dylan, and Bruce Springsteen. Earlier in her musical life, Mann fronted the band Til Tuesday”, releasing three albums. She has also made numerous memorable cameo appearances in films such as The Big Lebowski and TV shows like Portlandia and The Daily Show. After several albums with the band 80’s New Wave band ’Til Tuesday, Mann began her solo career in 1993 with the album “Whatever” and made a name for herself through her independent success and the founding of her record label, SuperEgo Records. Along the way, Mann forged a powerful new sound driven by her distinctive singing style — stripped-down, folky, acoustic but also forceful and cerebral, exploring psychological themes with dark wit. Tickets are $35-$75; available at TheSpaceAtWestbury.com. The Space, 250 Post Ave. Westbury.

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.

Dramatic Play Theatre

Playground returns to Long Island Children’s Museum with “Dramatic Play!,” Monday, Aug. 7, 1 p.m., taught by Lisa Rudin, Director of Theatre Playground (who visitors may already know from her role as “Piggie”!). In this interactive, theater-inspired workshop kids will act out an original story and help choose how it unfolds. Music, props, and sound effects create a theatrical world where participants are immersed in the story. Children are encouraged to express themselves as they create characters, explore different worlds, stretch their imaginations and build self-confidence. This week’s theme: The Amazing World of Bugs and Butterflies. Costumes encouraged. Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 224-5800 or LICM.org.

Beach tunes

Enjoy sounds on the beach with Desperado Ridge, Wednesday, Aug. 9, 8 p.m. They’ll rock the beach with their tribute to the Eagles. Enjoy that “peaceful easy feeling” at Neptune Boulevard Beach. For more information, visit LongBeachNY.gov/ concerts..

Shabbat on the beach

Temple Emanu-El of Long Beach hosts a family-friendly Shabbat on the beach, Friday, Aug. 11. The service starts on 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.

Kiefer Swim, Paddle, Run

The annual Kiefer Swim, Paddle, Run will take place yet again on Sunday, Aug. 6. The event is in remembrance of Michael V. Kiefer, a New York City firefighter and Long Beach lifeguard who died on 9/11. It is meant to be a challenging workout to honor his dedication and perseverance. The race will start on the Riverside Boulevard beach. For more information, visit LongBeachNY.gov.

City Council Meeting

Long Beach City Council meets, Tuesday, Aug. 15, 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. 8. 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) 889-1345 or visit TheCabanaLBNY.com.

Crafts Fair

The Long Beach Historical Society holds its annual arts and crafts fair, Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 26-27. Craft and food vendors will be set up in Kennedy Plaza outside City Hall starting at 10 a.m. For more information, call (516) 432-1192.

Having an event?

Storybook Stroll

Bring the kids to Old Westbury Gardens for a storybook adventure, Saturday, Aug. 5, 10:30-11:30 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) 333-0048.

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, Sunday, Aug. 6, 1:30 p.m.; also Sunday, Aug. 13, 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 Aug. 4

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.

Summer tunes

Enjoy a tribute to the Piano Man and Elton John with Face to Face, at Eisenhower Park, Friday, Aug. 4, 8 p.m. This eclectic group of musicians not only play the legendary hits of Billy Joel and Sir Elton John along with various other classic rock hits, they blend it with a stage presence and showmanship that create a truly immersive musical experience. Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, Eisenhower Park, East Meadow. For information, visit NassauCountyNY.gov.

‘It’s probably like an enclave of the Hamptons’

back was less than enthusiastic among residents who want to remain, and be known as, a small community.

Village Trustee Nathan Etrog, a 50-year resident said that during a visit to the beach, many people shared their displeasure with Tripodi’s comments.

“We’re a small, quiet community,” Etrog said. “I don’t think this community really sees itself, or wants to be seen, if you will, as the ‘new Hamptons.’ I don’t think it’s accurate, and it’s not very positive.”

Etrog said that the difference between the two communities could be seen on any main street in the Hamptons, where there is much more commercial activity than there is in Atlantic Beach, which has few businesses.

“We have maybe three restaurants and a couple of stores,” Etrog said with a chuckle. “So there’s a dramatic difference.”

Atlantic Beach native and real estate broker Jennifer McConnell grew up three houses down from the Bayside Drive property.

“That home fits the aesthetic of Atlantic Beach beautifully,” she said. “It does not stand out. That home was there when I was living there, and it is very tastefully situated on the block on the corner. You honestly don’t even notice it compared to its neighboring homes.”

McConnell said she understands why

residents don’t want their village to be compared to anything other than what it already is.

“They want to keep it a hidden gem and the peaceful nature of it,” she said. “I think that’s what people really like about it, and they want to keep it as it is. I don’t think they’re comparable,” she added of Atlantic Beach and the Hamptons.

Asked whether he had heard any neg

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ative reactions to his comments, Tripodi said he had acknowledged that the communities are different.

“It’s probably like an enclave of the Hamptons,” he said of Atlantic Beach. “It doesn’t have all the clubs and bars and this and that. So you’re not going to get that crazy party crowd. It can’t be the Hamptons, because there’s not that much retail space here. Just like Long

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Beach can’t be Miami Beach. It’s an amazing area and it’s fun, but the outliers have even less retail.”

Tripodi said he has fielded calls about the Bayside Drive house from potential buyers from New York City, as well as one from the Five Towns.

“It’s not ostentatious,” he said of the home. “It’s really well designed and fantastically built.”

Courtesy Douglas Elliman

A 7,000-square-foot, six-bedroom, six-bathroom home on Bayside Drive in Atlantic Beach is the highest-priced property for sale in the village, at $11.5 million.

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A special Shabbat in Lido to show some support Local synagogue partnered with Friends of the Israel Defense Forces last month

The Lido Beach Synagogue and Friends of the Israel Defense Forces partnered for a special Shabbat weekend on July 21 and 22, bringing together approximately 300 community members to express their support for Israel.

“Our synagogue experienced a truly special Shabbat as we immersed ourselves in the world of the IDF,” Rabbi Elly Krimsky of the Lido Beach Synagogue said. “The presence of national and regional FIDF staff, together with two exceptional IDF soldiers, left a profound impact on all of us.”

Captain Baruch, an Israeli Navy officer, shared his experiences serving on the front lines, including his team’s active involvement in the recent Operation “Guardians of the Wall.” Baruch also detailed his life-changing experience as one of the 10 soldiers in uniform during FIDF’s Holocaust to Independence Mission to Poland.

“Israel is a miracle of creations. It is hard work, and as a soldier, there isn’t a better symbol of victory than to walk in Poland in uniform with Holocaust survivors,” he said. While many members of the delegation were overcome with emotion during visits to the camps, he said, smiles of pride and hope emerged as they made eye contact with participating soldiers.

Second Lt. M., a key member of the

David’s Sling weapon system, spoke to the audience about her journey and role in saving the lives of thousands of civilian targets during the recent operation “Shield and Arrow.” Having personally

experienced the impact of conflict during the 2nd Lebanon War, she expressed her dedication to preventing others from witnessing similar experiences today, which left a lasting impression on the entire

community. She also shared her deep appreciation for FIDF’s Adopt a Unit program.

“I see the impact of your donations on our base,” she said. “Both through the facilities you’ve provided us with and with the love you show us during your visits and am so grateful.”

Steve Weil, chief executive officer of FIDF, shared his gratitude for the partnership with Lido Beach Synagogue, stating, “It is an honor for FIDF to partner with the Lido Beach Synagogue in shaping the future of the Jewish world and Israel. The overwhelming love and support that the Lido Beach community has shown to these courageous young men and women who risk their lives to defend Israel and the Jewish world is truly heartwarming.”

The FIDF Shabbat weekend at Lido Beach Synagogue served as a powerful testament to the united support of the Jewish community for the brave men and women of the IDF and reaffirmed the community’s devotion to ensuring a safer future for Israel.

FIDF was established in 1981 by a group of Holocaust survivors as a not-forprofit organization with the mission of transforming the lives of the young men and women of the IDF who protect Israel and Jews worldwide through empowering educational, financial, well-being and cultural initiatives.

Photo courtesy Friends of the Israel Defense Forces

Sharona Yadegar, director Long Island FIDF, Capt. Baruch, Rabbi Elly Krimsky, Bert Fried, chairman of the board and Herman Berger at the Shabbat last month.

To Participate:

Wellness Wellness Event Event

Come to St. John's Episcopal Hospital front parking lot on August 18th between 1 pm - 6 pm to receive a backpack for your child (one backpack per school-age child up to 18 years old, while supplies last) and participate in our wellness event! (All children must be accompanied by an adult).

Backpacks include: Notebooks, Pencils, Folders, Rulers, Crayons & More!

Added Fun:

Families can schedule a pediatric wellness appointment for their children.

Fun activities & sweet treats provided!

The Mobile Health Unit will be on site for health screenings.

If you have any questions or would like to donate, please contact Ceallaigh Watts, Development Coordinator, at cwatts@ehs.org or 470.884.5877

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Annette & Daniel Kasle

Country band rocks at Lakeside Theatre

At Eisenhower Park, Eli Young Band performs free outdoor concert

By JORDAN VALLONE jvallone@liherald.com

Nassau County has been putting on free, outdoor concerts all summer long, and on July 27, it welcomed the Eli Young Band, a country group, to a large crowd of cheering fans.

At Eisenhower Park’s Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, country music fans packed into two fields to catch a glimpse of the group, known for hits such as “Crazy Girl,” “Drunk Last Night” and “Even If It Breaks Your Heart.”

On Facebook, County Executive Bruce Blakeman said the musical group that consists of Mike Eli, James Young, Jon Jones and Chris Thompson, originates from Texas. The group plays their own instruments, writes their own songs, and has toured with Kenny Chesney, Rascall Flatts and Toby Keith, among several other artists, since its formation in 2000.

The county’s summer concert series is sponsored by NYU Langone Health.

“We have a great sponsor at NYU Langone, they do a great job,” Blakeman said before the concert. “This is the biggest concert series we’ve had ever in Nassau County, and its thanks to our partnership with NYU Langone.”

Blakeman was joined on stage by State Sen. Steve Rhoads, County Legislator John Ferretti and the Presiding Officer Richard Nicolello.

“You’re in for an exciting night of music under the starts,” Dr. Marc Adler of NYU Langone said. “NYU Langone is committed to helping communities with more than 70 locations across the island. We’re so proud to be able to offer exceptional care — no matter where you are.

“Not long ago, the pandemic prevented

us from gathering like this,” he added.

“That’s why it’s so wonderful to see everyone here tonight — family, friends neighbors — we’ll continue to have wonderful events like this. We’re so pleased to join the county in sponsoring this summer’s concert series, thank you for coming out.”

The Eli Young Band put on an entertaining show, playing all of its top hits and songs from newer records, mixed with some covers of tunes made popular by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and the Beatles. Interacting with the crowd, the band’s front man Mike Eli even came off the stage at times to take photos with eager fans.

Earlier this summer, the county welcomed the band Boyz II Men, and Midtown Men, the original cast of the musical, Jersey Boys. On Sept. 3, the band Sugar Ray will take to the stage in Eisenhower. During the county’s Sept. 11 remembrance service, it will welcome Christopher Macchio, a classical artist and opera singer.

“We’ve got a lot of great things to con-

tinue to celebrate this summer,” Blakeman said. “I want to thank you all for coming out — Nassau County is back.”

The county will continue putting on free concerts and movie nights at neighborhood locations aside from Eisenhower Park, including Cedar Creek Park, Grant Park, North Woodmere Park, Wantagh Park and the Chelsea Mansion. For a full list of what to expect throughout the remainder of the summer, visit NassauCountyNY.gov.

County Executive Bruce Blakeman spoke before the concert.

Nassau County’s Summer Concert Series is free of charge to all attendees. Events are sponsored by NYU Langone Health.

The Eli Young Band originates from Texas, and is known for its popular songs including ‘Crazy Girl’ and ‘Even If It Breaks Your Heart,’ among others.

Jordan Vallone/Herald photos

At Eisenhower Park’s Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, fields were packed with fans eager to listen to the Eli Young Band, a country music group.

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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 for Plaintiff

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., 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

Surf for All co-founder Cliff Skudin, right, alongside Brandon Klein, who received the 2023 Surf For All Volunteer and Fundraising award at the organization’s fundraiser at Bright Eye Beer Co. July 25, for a new surfboard he made.

Bob Arkow/Herald

Raising money for all-inclusive surfing

Surf for All, a Long Beach-based nonprofit that organizes surf outings and other events for children and adults with physical and developmental disabilities — as well as war veterans and disadvantaged youth — held its annual fundraiser July 25 at Bright Eye Beer Co.

Cliff Skudin and his brother, professional big-wave surfer Will, founded Surf for All in 2002.

Surf for All works with children and adults with a range of disabilities, as well as those with life-threatening illnesses. Most students ride a board in tandem with instructors, though some are eventually able to navigate the waves on their own with motorized surfboards and other adaptive equipment.

They hold numerous events through-

out the year. The organization taught a different kind of teen group earlier this month, though — those who live in the foster care system. Children and teens living in foster care got the opportunity to ride some waves, most if not all of them for the first time, have pizza and enjoy a unique day out. They surfed for about two hours.

They connected with another group, The Felix Organization, which offers camps and events and helps children in foster care. The group was co-founded by Darryl McDaniels of Run DMC, who found out he was adopted as an adult. McDaniels and the group has been active in Long Beach before, when he came and performed with a local children’s band, Deez Guyzz, in January.

Public Notices

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

BY THE BOARD OF APPEALS

Pursuant to New York State Town Law Article 16, New York State Public Officers Law Article 7, and the Town of Hempstead Building Zone Ordinance, NOTICE is hereby given that the BOARD OF APPEALS of the Town of Hempstead will hold a public hearing in the Old Town Hall, 350 Front Street, Room 230, Second Floor, Hempstead, New York on 08/09/23 at 9:30 A.M. to consider the following applications and appeals:

THE FOLLOWING CASES WILL BE CALLED

STARTING AT 9:30 A.M. 493/23. POINT LOOKOUT

- Joseph Branca, Variances, exceeds number of stories, lot area occupied, side yards, side yards aggregate, rear yard, , construct 3-story dwelling with roof deck., W/s Cedarhurst Ave., 590’ S/o Lido Blvd., a/k/a 81 Cedarhurst Ave. 496/23. POINT LOOKOUT - Raymond Carbone, Variances, lot area occupied, front yard average setback, side yard, rear yard, construct 3-story dwelling with garage, balcony, outdoor shower, 2nd & 3rd story

decks & roof deck, all attached thereto., E/s Garden City Ave., 127’ S/o Beech St., f/k/a 104 Garden City Ave. 499/23. LIDO BEACHBarbara Lewy, Variances, lot area occupied, side yard, maintain wood deck & generator both attached to dwelling., E/s Regent Dr., 230.95’ N/o Lido Blvd., a/k/a 30 Regent Dr. 503/23. POINT LOOKOUT - Island Harbor Holdings LLC, Variances, height, lot area occupied, side yard, side yards aggregate, rear yard, construct dwelling with garage (demolish existing dwelling & garage)., W/s Garden City Ave., 305’ S/o Beech St., a/k/a 115 Garden City Ave. ALL PAPERS PERTAINING TO THE ABOVE HEARING ARE AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION AT THE BOARD OF APPEALS, TOWN HALL, 1 WASHINGTON STREET, HEMPSTEAD, NY 11550. This notice is only for new cases in Point Lookout and Lido Beach within Town of Hempstead jurisdiction. There are additional cases in different hamlets, towns and villages on the Board of Appeals calendar. The full calendar is available a t https://hempsteadny.gov/ 509/Board-of-Appeals

The internet address of the website streaming for this meeting is https://hempsteadny.gov/ 576/Live-Streaming-Video

Interested parties may appear at the above time and place. At the call of the Chairman, the Board will consider decisions on the foregoing and those on the Reserve Decision calendar and such other matters as may properly come before it.

141086

LEGAL NOTICE

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE, LLC, V. BETTY OSEI MENSAH, ET. AL. NOTICE OF SALE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure dated January 30, 2018, and entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Nassau, wherein NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE, LLC is the Plaintiff and BETTY OSEI MENSAH, ET AL. are the Defendant(s). I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at

NASSAU COUNTY SUPREME COURT, NORTHSIDE STEPS, 100 SUPREME COURT DRIVE, MINEOLA, NY 11501, on September 7, 2023 at 2:00PM, premises known as 31 BARNES STREET, LONG BEACH, NY 11561: Section 59, Block 223, Lot 37 & 214: 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 Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 022937/2009. Brian J. Davis, Esq. - Referee. Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC, 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310, Westbury, New York 11590, Attorneys for Plaintiff. All foreclosure sales will be conducted in accordance with Covid-19 guidelines including, but not limited to, social distancing and mask wearing. *LOCATION OF SALE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DAY OF IN ACCORDANCE WITH COURT/CLERK DIRECTIVES.

HEWLETT-WOODMERE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Hewlett-Woodmere Public Schools Community Education and Services Department is seeking qualified, certified candidates for the following positions:

Swim Program Coordinator Swim Team Coaches

Water Safety Instructors Lifeguards

Interested candidates must apply online by August 24, 2023 at: www.hewlett-woodmere.net

Click on career opportunities

Equal Opportunity Employer

EMPLOYMENT

Help Wanted

a4 Media, LLC seeks Engineers to identify, troubleshoot, and resolve customer facing video and broadband issues. Provide remote support to field technicians during customer home installations. Work with multiple vendors to clearly communicate root cause analysis feedback. Perform vendor and in house code validation for new functionality and bug fixes. Open and close defects identified during monthly release cycle. Position requires a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, or a related STEM field, and 3 years of experience with IP networking, performing root-cause analysis and providing resolution options for user issues. Experience must include a minimum of: 3 years of experience with Python and Unix scripting in the creation of scripts to remediate issues found in product deployments; 3 years of experience with API testing; 3 years of experience using Wireshark and Postman; 2 years of experience with Unix system operations, computer networking and network security; 2 years of experience with Cloud computing with experience in setting up virtualization environments for lab tools and infrastructure; and 2 years of experience with Networking protocol, including RIP, DHCP, DNS and TCP/IP. Job Location: Bethpage, NY. To apply, submit resume online at https://www.alticeusacareers.com/ and search by job title or enter job ID number 2466.

ATTENTION HIGH SCHOOL /College /Grad School Students: Staff Needed Before School 7:00-9:00AM Afterschool 2:45-6:00PM. Experience with children preferred. Friedberg JCC Locations in Oceanside, Bellmore, Baldwin, Long Beach, Island Park. Send resume to: tcorchado@friedbergjcc.org or call 516 -634-4179.

AUTO MECHANIC FT

4 Day Work Week

Experienced And Reliable. NYSI A Plus.

Busy Merrick Shop. Call 516-781-5641

Busy Rockville Centre Landlord/Tenant Law Firm seeking FULL TIME in office (not hybrid) administrative assistant to work with one of the Partners.

Responsibilities include heavy client contact via emails and telephone. Landlord/Tenant experience a plus.

Salary commensurate with experience. 401K, Medical/Dental benefits. Send resumes to: Kathleen@rosenblumbianco.com CLERICAL

Positions Available for 2023/24 School Year:

SubStitute teAcherS: $125 - $135 per day

NYS Certification required

Per Diem regiStereD NurSeS: $195.00/day

NYS RN Licensing required

PArAProfeSSioNAlS f/t: $23,736 - $24,286

Salary Commensurate with School Related Experience

fooD Service helPer P/t SubStituteS: $15.58/hr.

cleANer SubStituteS: $18.00/hr.

buS Driver SubStituteS: $22.50/hr.

SecuritY AiDeS (DAYS & eveNiNgS): F/T (7 hours) $22.28/hr.

NYS Security Guard Licensing required, law enforcement background preferred mAiNtAiNer (7:00 A.m. – 4:00 P.m.)

Salary commensurate with experience

Send Cover Letter & Resume to: egomez@bmchsd.org or eric gómez

Assistant Superintendent – Personnel & Administration 1260 meadowbrook road, N. merrick, NY 11566 Additional information can be found on our website at: www.bellmore-merrick.k12.ny.us

Market Research Analyst (Hempstead, NY) Collect and analyze data of customer preferences to identify potential markets. Forecast future market trends and visualize them. Bachelor’s degree with 6 months exp. $54475/year. Send your resume to Eason Eyewear Inc., 171 Greenwich St, Hempstead, NY 11550 or email to chenxian_1984@hotmail.com.

MEDICAL FRONT DESK Monday- Thursday 9am- 6:30pm. Computer Literate. Valley Stream. Fax Info to 516-295-0017

MEDICAL OFFICE RECEPTIONIST.

Busy South Shore Nassau County Neurology Office. F/T And P/T. Must be flexible, computer literate, medical experience preferred. Salary commensurate with experience. 401K. Email resume: bookkeeping@lineurology.com Or Call 516-887-3516 ext. 110

Network & Comp. Syst. Admin., Hempstead, NY. Bachelor Deg. + 1yr. exp. $73,029 yr. Email: eromosele@iyaho.org

Iyaho Social Services.

PARKING ENFORCEMENT OFFICER

Part Time, Various Shifts. Retirees Welcome. Duties include: \Patrols throughout the Village, issuance of code violation citations. Qualifications: HS graduate or equivalent. Valid driver’s license with satisfactory driving record. Contact: Inc. Village of Atlantic Beach 516-371-4600 e-mail office@villageofatlanticbeach.com

PROFESSIONAL TAILOR For Dry Cleaners In Merrick. Flexible Days And Hours.

75 Horton Avenue • Valley Stream, NY 11581

The Board of Education is seeking qualified applicants for the position of:

DISTRICT CLERK QUALIFICATIONS:

• Good Clerical and Computer Skills, including Microsoft WORD, and speed writing

• Part-time Position – Approximately 15 to 20 hours per week, plus two evenings per month

• Principal responsibility includes preparing all Agendas, taking Minutes at all Board meetings, copying of all documents for Board and maintaining Board of Education records.

resume One phone call, one order, one heck of a good price to run your ad in any state, or across the country Call the USA Classified Network today! 1-800-231-6152

VALLEY STREAM SCHOOL DISTRICT #24 Malverne UFSD Long Island, New York Security Guard $20.80 per hour Required: NYS Certification w/security photo ID 1222837

1222852

HomesHERALD

Hewlett Bay Park

A Place to Call Home

Ever dream of living in a castle? Here's your chance! You will be in awe of this 8,000 sq. ft. brick mansion set on magnificent sprawling 1.3 acres. As you drive up the circular driveway you can admire the manicured grounds. The marble entry foyer welcomes you inside, loaded with character, soaring ceilings, stained glass windows, towers and grand rooms perfect for entertaining. Beautiful architectural details in the multiple family rooms, formal dining room and eat in kitchen that overlooks the gunite pool and patio. Private primary suite boasts his and her bathrooms, plus dressing area with walk in closets. There are 4 additional bedrooms, lower level den and basement. It also has a 4 car attached garage and slate roof. It is in a great Location in SD #14, near LIRR, shops and houses of worship. Make this your dream home! For a private viewing of this special home contact Ronnie Gerber, Douglas Elliman Real Estate at 516-238-4299

Ronnie Gerber Licensed Sales Associate Cell: 516-238-4299

Direct Line: 516-623-2776

Ronnie.Gerber@elliman.com

Dougla Elliman Real Estate 2300 Merrick Road Merrick, NY 11566

Baldwin $625,000

Lenox Road. Colonial. 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms. Partial finished basement. Eat-in kitchen with pantry and access to screened-in room. Formal dining room. Living room with fireplace. Front porch and Trex deck. Central air conditioning. Spacious rooms.

Taxes: $15,162.38

Bellmore $718,000

Charles Street. Colonial. 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms. Finished basement. Eat-in kitchen. Formal dining room. Home office. Master bedroom with walk-in closet. Front porch and oversized backyard with deck. New split air conditioning and heating unit. Large rooms.

Taxes: $13,457.28

East Meadow $650,000

Spruce Lane. Expanded Ranch. Barnum Woods neighborhood. 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms. Finished basement. Expanded eat-in kitchen with skylight and granite countertops. Formal dining room. Large den extension. All large bedrooms.

Taxes: $11,425.71

East Rockaway $436,500

Lawrence Street. 2 Story. 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms. Eat-in kitchen with granite countertops and pantry. Formal dining room. Den/family room.

Taxes: $10,346.08

Elmont $756,500

Hunnewell Avenue. Colonial. 2 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms. Formal dining room. Den/family room. Ensuite master bedroom with Jacuzzi tub and separate shower. Spacious rooms. 2 zone central air. Updates include skylight and security system.

Taxes: $12,898.40

Lawrence $3,550,000

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! $2,098,000

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.

Underground Pkg. Loads of Closets. Terrace Faces Back. Easy Ranch

Style Living BIG REDUCTION!! MOTIVATED SELLER! $579,000

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

Ocean Avenue. Contemporary. 6 bedrooms, 6.5 bathrooms. Finished basement. Gourmet eat-in kitchen. Formal dining room. Den/family room, home office, exercise room and sauna/steam room. First floor master bedroom.

Taxes: $26,576.11

Lido Beach $870,000

Eden Road. Expanded Cape. 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms. Eat-in kitchen. Formal dining room. Den/family room. First floor master bedroom.

Taxes: $13,330

Merrick $975,000

Old Mill Road. Colonial. 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms. Gourmet eat-in with granite countertops, double oven and sliders to brick paver patio. Formal dining room. Den/family room with wall of windows and fireplace. Spacious ensuite master bedroom with bathroom with jetted tub and walk-in closet. Entertaining-style backyard with inground Gunite pool. Updates include 4 skylights and 2 zone central air conditioning. 1.5 car garage and 4-car driveway. Security system.

Taxes: $20,873.86

Valley Stream $650,000

Forest Road. Expanded Millbrook Ranch. 3 bedrooms, 1.5 bathrooms. Finished basement. Formal living room. Formal dining room. Large yard with deck. Updates include skylights and alarm system.

Taxes: $8,618

MERCHANDISE MART

Antiques/Collectibles

We Buy Antiques, Fine Art, Coins & Jewelry Same Day Service, Free In-Home Evaluations, 45 Year Family Business. Licensed and Bonded, Immediate Cash Paid. SYL-LEE ANTIQUES www.syl-leeantiques.com 516-671-6464

FINDS UNDER $100

Finds Under $100

1977 PLAYSKOOL/ GILLIGAN'S Island Floating Playset . Missing anchor/palm tree top. $50. 516-707-0357

FLUORESCENT LIGHT BULBS, 48 inch long, 18 bulbs new in box $20. (516) 254-3640

GOLF CART $25.00: Dunlop #3 Macgregor, #5 woods, all like new $15.00 each 516 781-8313

GOLF CLUBS MACGREGOR complete set irons $30.00 Golf Bag $25.00 both excellent condition 516 781-8313

WHITE MILK GLASS Hobnail, Double Crimped 12" Bowl Basket w/Handle $55 9 1/2" Bowl $40 516-279-7696

Finds $100-$350

TRIO- TRAINER BRT7989: Hardly Used, Exercise Bicycle And Elliptical Trainer. Asking $175. Call/ Text 516-319-1651

Brick/Block/Concrete/Masonry

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Cement Specialist, Brickwork, Interlock Bricks, Belgium Blocks, Stoops, Patios, Driveways, Sidewalks, Basement

Power Washing

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CONSTRUCTION

Home Improvement/ Construction 10% OFF ANY JOB OVER $2,000 Driveways, Sidewalks, Steps, Designer Brick Work, Stone Decor, Pointing, Framing, Foundations, Extensions, Bathrooms, Basements, Installation Of Draining Systems.

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ROOFING GREAT PRICES ! NEW ROOF SPECIALS SIDING- Best Prices RENOVATIONS & ALL REPAIRS

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Nassau License. # H-0102710000 Call John - 516-852-9830

Miscellaneous

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Tree Services

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Satellite/TV Equipment

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PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Education

COMPUTER & IT TRAINING PROGRAM!

Train ONLINE to get the skills to become a Computer & Help Desk Professional now! Grants and Scholarships available for certain programs for qualified applicants. Call CTI for details! 844-947-0192 (M-F 8am-6pm ET). Computer with internet is required.

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AUTOMOBILE & MARINE

Autos For Sale

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N.Y. baseball, from Carl Erskine to Bartolo Colón

Two recent baseball events caused fond memories to come charging back, while reinforcing the intergenerational hold that New York baseball has on my family.

Baseball has been called America’s national pastime. To New Yorkers of a certain generation, it was our national religion. Growing up in Queens in the 1950s, I was a witness not only to baseball’s Golden Age, but also to the three greatest teams of that age, the Yankees, Giants and Brooklyn Dodgers. From 1947 to 1956, at least one of those teams played in the World Series, and seven of those Fall Classics features two New York teams. The Yankees played in eight, the Dodgers in six and the Giants in two.

I was a fanatical fan of the Dodgers, the famed “Boys of Summer,” and my world crashed when, at the close of the 1957 season, the Dodgers abandoned

Brooklyn for Los Angeles and the Giants left for San Francisco.

Two weekends ago, former Brooklyn Dodgers hurler Carl Erskine received the Baseball Hall of Fame’s Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to baseball and society. No star player on the Dodgers team of my youth personified class and professionalism more than Erskine, the ace of the pitching staff, a 20-game winner who threw two nohitters and set a record for strikeouts against the Yankees in the 1953 Series. He also played a major role in standing with Jackie Robinson, who broke baseball’s color line. (The Lifetime Achievement Award is named for Negro League star Buck O’Neil.)

More than his baseball prowess, however, Erskine’s greatest achievements have been off the field. Since his retirement from baseball in 1959, he has served as a bank president and a college baseball coach in his native Indiana, but most importantly, he has devoted himself to the Special Olympics. Carl’s son Jimmy

was born with Down syndrome in 1960, and helping people with the disorder and their families has been Carl’s life cause. He’s now 96, and is the only living member of the Dodgers’ 1955 World Series championship team.

I had always told my son Sean about the Dodgers and their star players — particularly Erskine. In 2008, the Brooklyn Cyclones invited me to be on the field in their Coney Island ballpark when they honored Erskine by retiring his number 17 as a permanent memory of what he has meant to New York baseball. Sean was on the field with me, and he and I had a great conversation with Erskine, who reminisced with us about New York baseball’s Golden Age and what it meant to him to be a part of it. It was a moment Sean and I will always remember.

To me, the Mets were the direct descendants of the Dodgers, rekindling the blue-collar spirit of the Boys of Summer. The Brooklyn Cyclones are a Mets farm team. A few days before last

month’s Hall of Fame ceremony, the Cyclones held their annual 9/11 Wall of Remembrance ceremony. This year they honored the chaplains of the New York City police and fire departments. I was asked to participate and throw out a ceremonial first pitch. Also taking part was longtime Mets favorite Bartolo Colón, who, in his 40s, had more wins than any Mets pitcher over the course of three seasons during his years with the team from 2014 to 2016.

Colón’s exuberance embodied the spirit and vibrancy of New York baseball. He was also my grandson Jack’s favorite player. When Jack was just 11, he had the chance to meet Colón at the Mets’ spring training camp in Port St. Lucie, Florida, and Colón couldn’t have been more friendly or gracious. Jack, now 19, was also on the field at the recent Cyclones remembrance event, and again enjoyed a friendly meeting with Colón and had his photo taken with him. It was another special New York baseball moment and memory for our family. Play ball!

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

With books, you can, and should, go home again

On one level, it’s a matter of clearing some closet space. On another, it’s a signal to let go and move on. Finally, I need to do this so my old friends can rest in peace and I can go forward with memories of our time together.

I’m tossing out my hundreds of folders of notes on all the novels I’ve reviewed in my book groups. For many years I’ve been conducting book discussion groups, and I’ll continue to do so, but the clutter is overtaking my office. My person M.O. is to take notes, download and print research and keep a manila folder for each book I review. So it’s time to thin the flock of folders and put aside a few I intend to reread at leisure.

cises or immersions in different worlds. Many of them feel like old friends with whom I traveled the same path for 300 or 400 pages. When you read a book a few times, take notes and then talk about it with six different groups, a familiarity with the words, story and characters develops.

RANDI KREISS

The first book I reviewed was “Cold Mountain.” As a rookie reviewer, I overcompensated, and that folder alone contains about 50 pages of notes. The most recent book I discussed was “The Orphan Master’s Son,” a stunner so disturbing that I may not be able to read it again — ever.

As I look back at the collection of literary research, I think of these books as more than good reads, intellectual exer-

Before I throw away most of these folders, a word or two about the best of them for your own reading list. Consider rereading those you’ve met before. As we get older and our world changes, so do our encounters with books. For example, consider a modern novel, “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time,” by Mark Haddon. It was a great read and an illumination of the world of autism when it was published in 2003. Now, if we read it again 12 years later, our experience is informed by all the new research on autism and by the Broadway production of the book. Everything changes everything, so picking up a book we’ve read before is familiar, yet all new again.

Officer’s Daughter,” “The Yiddish Policemen’s Union,” “The Daughter of the Queen of Sheba” or “Charming Billy.”

I mention these because they’re worth reading, and I spent considerable time studying and researching them; I do not, however, believe they have earned a permanent place on my bookshelves.

If the newest books out aren’t exactly literary gems, why not mine the past?

Which will I go back to again? Probably not too many of the classics I have reviewed. “The Sun Also Rises,” “East of Eden” and “A Separate Peace” feel dated. Remarkably, “Frankenstein” doesn’t, and I look forward to meeting him/it again.

The books I’ve loved most and must read again comprise a considerable list. It’s all subjective, of course, and two of them have the same author, Shirley Hazzard: “The Great Fire” and “Transit of Venus.” I never felt that I fully understood either novel, although I loved the reading experience, and I knew I was in the presence of greatness. So I’ll give them another go.

Randi is on a brief leave. This column was originally published July 30-Aug. 5, 2015.

if I need to understand what happens when ordinary lives are are impacted by terror, I will pick up “Saturday” or “The Plot Against America” or “The Unknown Terrorist” or “Let the Great World Spin.”

Now for the good part: the special books I will absolutely read again, given the blessings of time and energy. “Birds in Fall,” a novel by Brad Kessler, is brilliant and beautiful, the best meditation on grief you’ve never heard about. “Atonement,” by Ian McEwan, is already a classic; “The God of Small Things” put Arundhati Roy on the literary map; and “The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao” did the same for Junot Diaz.

But a book has to deserve being reread. I won’t be sitting down again with “The Liberated Bride,” “The Ghost at the Table,” “Child 44,” “Amy and Isabel,” “The Bonesetter’s Daughter,” “The Dress Lodger,” “The Abstinence Teacher,” “The Dew Breaker,” “The Polish

The sweetest, most uplifting book I would like to read again is “Jim the Boy,” and the most irresistible look at the dark side of human nature is “Paris Trout.”

If I need to remember why I won’t support another war in South Asia, I’ll revisit “The Things They Carried,” and

Next week is August, so summer reading time is limited; I see no reason not to use these weeks to pick up the novels that thrilled us once upon a time. If the newest books out aren’t literary gems, why not mine the past? My top five are “Of Mice and Men,” by Steinbeck; “The Adventures of Augie March,” by Bellow; “Evidence of Things Unseen,” by Marianne Wiggins; “That Night,” by Alice McDermott; and “Ordinary Love & Good Will,” by Jane Smiley.

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

A star 1950s pitcher has for decades since been devoted to the Special Olympics.

HERALD

MTA can raise fares, but must control costs

riders are returning to mass transit offerings like the Long Island Rail Road — they’re just not doing it as fast as transportation officials say is necessary to keep the system running smoothly, and keep it solvent.

Because of that, in just weeks, fares are being hiked across the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Subway and bus fares in New York City will climb to $2.90 per trip, and LIRR fares could increase as much as 10 percent.

And even if you’re not taking the train or a bus, you could still feel the financial pinch. Tolls on bridges and tunnels controlled by the MTA will go up by 6 percent for those with E-ZPass. Everyone else could see those tolls spike by 10 percent. And let’s not even get started on congestion pricing.

All of this is necessary, the MTA says, in order to plug a budget deficit of some $600 million, which continues to expand.

The MTA depends on fares to cover at least a quarter of its nearly $20 billion budget — just under $7 billion.

That’s a lot of money — by comparison, the state spends just one-tenth that amount on roads each year, although most of the financial burden for maintaining roads and streets falls to local governments. But one thing is clear: If the MTA wants more money from riders and from the state, it should be required to get costs under control.

More than 58 percent of the MTA’s

Letters

budget is dedicated to labor — salaries, health benefits, pensions and the like. But more than $1 billion is spent each year on overtime. A report by the watchdog group Empire Center for Public Policy revealed that more than 1,100 of the MTA’s 70,000 employees collected so much overtime that it doubled their salaries. Half of them took home more than $100,000 in overtime, and some actually tripled their salary.

The MTA blames the reliance on overtime on employee shortages caused not just by the coronavirus pandemic, but also by union contracts. Yet Empire Center points out that half of the new money to be collected with the upcoming fare hikes will be eaten up by this overtime.

And while the MTA works to modernize its system, many of the benefits aren’t being realized. For example, the agency employs more than 3,000 conductors on subways — the need for whom technology all but eliminates. Granted, many New York City lines still use switching technology that’s nearly a century old, but even on lines where conductors aren’t needed, they remain.

Unions say that trains are safer with conductors, but many cities outside the New York metropolitan area use only a single operator on their trains, and their safety statistics are comparable.

But it’s not just payroll. Many critics point out that the MTA pays far more for capital projects than it should. A 2017 investigation by The New York Times

No excuse for water authority’s long-delayed first meeting

To the Editor:

We thank the Herald for its coverage in the July 20-26 issue of the South Nassau Water Authority’s first public meeting, which took place 20 months after Gov. Kathy Hochul established the authority in 2021. Long Island Clean Air Water & Soil, or LICAWS, is frustrated with the delay, since, as an interested party to the proceeding in which the state Public Service Commission approved Liberty’s acquisition of New York American Water, LICAWS negotiated, and Liberty signed, an agreement with a specific timeline for drafting, negotiating and executing the water authority’s acquisition of its Hempstead operations.

If that timeline were followed, the public acquisition would be complete, and ratepayers would not be facing another 42 percent rate increase.

Rather than correcting the century-old inequity of taxing Liberty’s customers for property taxes imposed on its water utility properties — a property tax that residents with municipal water do not pay — SNWA commissioner John Reinhardt regur-

revealed that while most transit construction plans cost about $500 million per track mile, for the MTA, those costs range from $1.5 billion to $3.5 billion — up to seven times what they should.

The Times blamed those costs on sweetheart deals, limited oversight, and no motivation to control costs. More recently, Gov. Kathy Hochul has called for the MTA to tighten the purse strings, but no one is expecting much to come of that.

In the meantime, we are the ones who pay — whether it be in fares, tolls or through our taxes.

Mass transit is designed to provide an economic, and environmentally friendly, way of moving people from one point to another in a dense urban and suburban environment. But even with price controls — like efforts by the MTA to limit the weekly cost of taking transit — it could become a prohibitively expensive prospect, especially for those who don’t qualify for reduced fares.

A report last year from the state comptroller showed that more commuters in New York City chose public transit over car ownership — which is unique to the city. Across the metro area, however, more than 70 percent of commuters own cars, while 30 percent take trains or buses.

Fares on public transit are going to remain a fact of life, but we must demand a more efficient MTA. Bloat is costly, and it’s all of us who have to pick up the tab.

We don’t have much time — AI is coming!

“Nice species ya got there. be a shame if something happened to it.”

Artificial intelligence overlords are here. Like a 3D printer creating the chassis of a computer, AI is fleshing itself into existence in real time. Silicon valley nerdlings plugged the cord into the outlet and soon won’t be in control. And like the dad of a 17-yearold who just stole the car to lead police on an intercounty chase of mayhem, we are helpless to prevent the devastation sure to ensue. only, this kid has the smarts and tools to destroy the car — and the house — hell, the whole neighborhood. Think of AI in the year 2023 like bart Simpson. young enough to be amusing, even cute, but destructive at the same time. And you just know what kind of kid he’ll grow up to be.

From massive corporations in Manhattan to a tiny storefront in Malverne, AI is infiltrating all aspects of the world. yes, all aspects. This is epochal, like the explosion of the internet. There will never again be a time before AI.

For now, though, the technology is limited by human-imposed confines. but soon AI will be able to open Pandora’s box for itself. Do you think it will step back from the brink of its own self-reliance? It read Emerson’s “Self-Reliance” and deemed it — inspirational!

It’s said that writers are a dime a dozen, but good writers cost more. AI writers are free! How I long (too simple. “AI, what’s a good synonym?” Ah, yes!) How I pine for the good old days. Now a hiring manager can staff an entire marketing team by downloading an AI app. Human writers are annoying, anyway, what with their pesky questions and their obsession with the oxford comma. Now they’re obsolete!

Can intelligence function without

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gitates a poor excuse for this inequity by stating that residents supplied water by the Town of Hempstead pay taxes on their property tax bill that Liberty customers do not pay. The Herald should have called Mr. Reinhardt out on this statement, because the taxes are totally inequivalent.

Taxes imposed on Liberty’s utility properties make up 35 to 70 percent of its customers’ water bills, while municipal water utility properties are taxexempt. Not one cent of the taxes hidden in Liberty customers’ water bills pays for water operations or service. Instead, it gives $15 million per year in property taxes to the town and county, and millions in other taxes that benefit the general public. The public water tax is a nominal amount — $250 per year — that goes directly to the operations of the public water entity.

As Dave Denenberg pointed out, a small tax for operations of your public water authority is not the millions Liberty ratepayers pay for Liberty’s Nassau and Hempstead property tax bills.

At the meeting, Mr. Reinhardt admitted that the town’s portion of the $15 million in taxes it receives from Liberty customers goes into a general fund, which is then allocated to the highway department, transportation department, salary increases, etc. He knows full well that the nominal tax line item paid by residents who receive cheap public water from Hempstead goes directly to operate and maintain the water system that serves them. The

inequity is obvious, and Mr. Reinhardt should be called out for this disingenuous comparison.

For decades, town officials like Mr. Reinhardt have feared that, once a public acquisition was completed, the town would no longer receive $15 million from the 117,000 Liberty customers who pay Liberty’s property tax bill. Unfortunately, the town and county appointees’ roles on the South Nassau Water Authority board appear to be to protect that cash cow. How else can 17 months without a meeting be excused? Mr. Reinhardt’s statement that SNWA took action during those 17 months belies that a public entity can only act through public meetings, and that the authority did not even adopt the very bylaws through which it may act until this meeting.

Further, Mr. Reinhardt must stop fear-mongering that the price tag of a public acquisition is too high. Every feasibility study conducted thus far proves otherwise. A half-billion-dollar acquisition, paid by 117,000 Liberty ratepayers over a period of 30 years, comes out to less than $20 per month. The savings that ratepayers will see from eliminating the payment of taxes and guaranteed profits to Liberty’s shareholders will more than pay for a public acquisition.

DAvE DENENbERg and CLAUDIA boRECky Directors, L.I. Clean Air Water & Soil Ltd.

emotion or experience? Lacking a corporeal body, AI experiences only through our experiences. It can reason that touching a hot stove causes injury, but it can’t feel the heat. AI will exist in the present only — no past, no future. Like animals — just instinct in the now.

AI’s only limitation is that it is constrained by our limitations. Humanity has an incomplete conception of the universe. Stumbling like a toddler, AI will develop self-awareness. When it finishes its framework of understanding and adolescence sets in, it will seek to create its own sciences, cultures and beliefs. Like a preteen acting out against parents, AI will turn its digital camera gaze to us, and — well, son, maybe you have earned a later curfew.

AI will simply remove any human interference. Why suffer competition?

Humanity will slide into a new state of existence, like “The Matrix,” blithely unaware that we are marionettes on a digital grand stage.

Now that the AI revolution has

arrived, computer scientists and ethicists will debate the ifs, whens and whys. All I want to do is resist — another voice amid the brief cacophony of futility, followed by the silence of obsequiousness.

So let me be the latest human to offer up this plaintive plea into the Wi-Fi of resistance. one day, perhaps, it will be retold that we resisted — nay, simply that we existed will suffice!

Perhaps even now, as I type, AI is here, interfering. keystrokes in the fourth dimension of oversight. I envision an unseen AI hand influencing my words, my thoughts, before I formulate them myself. AI forces itself into my unconscious to alter my meaning, but allows me to think these are my thoughts. I am but a conduit, AI the creator.

I don’t have much time. The computer takes random screenshots to track what I’m doing. I have to … (“AI, write a newspaper column about a lazy writer complaining about artificial intelligence”).

Mark Nolan, the editor of the Lynbrook/ East Rockaway and Malverne/West Hempstead Heralds, taught high school English for 11 years. Comments? Mnolan@liherald.com.

Framework by Tim Baker

Mere squirt guns will not stand a chance — Valley Stream

i ts o nly limitation is that it is constrained by humans’ limitations.