Lynbrook/East Rockaway Herald 02-22-2024

Courtesy Lynbrook American Legion

Showing Valentine’s Day love to veterans

Lynbrook American Legion Post 335 Auxiliary members Marie Brignati, Debra Hunt, Donna Cornell, Patricia Ryder and Marie Marinaccio greeting veterans at Sunrise Assisted Living on Valentine’s Day. Each of the 80 veterans they met was given a carnation, an American flag and a greeting card made by Lynbrook elementary school students. Any partner of a veteran can become a member of the auxiliary by contacting Debra Hunt at (516) 599-0867.

It’s the Petraros’ way to help others New mental health clinic opens in East Rockaway

By BEN FIEBERT bfiebert@liherald.com

Annie Petraro was tired of seeing mental health needs not being met with the same urgency as physical health so she got together with Michael Krugolets and opened their own nonprofit mental health clinic in East Rockaway.

The business, Eclectic Psychotherapy, opened on Jan. to serve people in Lynbrook, East Rockaway, and surrounding communities. The mission of the clinic is to give local communities quality mental health services, regardless of age.

“We were noticing that during the pandemic, people didn’t have insurance that covered mental

health needs,” Petraro said. “So we wanted to open a clinic where there’s a physiatrist, therapist, group therapy, family therapy, socialization group for kids and take all insurance.”

Petraro said that during the pandemic, she noticed that people need much more mental health support. She said it’s unfair for people to charge $300 an hour for mental health services when it should be included under insurance or given at a reasonable price.

“The clinic is under a bigger umbrella nonprofit called United Hearts of New York,” Petraro said. “And its mission is to serve people from as young as 5, obviously with their parents,

Comfort food goes global on Marion Street

By BEN FIEBERT bfiebert@liherald.com

Neighbors made a stop on Marion Street to have a taste of the diverse cultures and traditions from around the world.

Marion Street Elementary School’s PTA Diversity Committee spearheaded an event on Feb. 11 called Taste of Marion where over 60 families provided food from their heritage for the cultural celebration. The goal of this event was to bring the community together.

W“We wanted to host an event that represented the diversity within the school,” said Judy Andon, Marion Street PTA Diversity Committee chair.

Andon said the event was a way to bring in the parents of the students from different diverse backgrounds together to share their culture. This was the second year for the event with more than 200 people attending.

“It was a really good turn -

out,” Andon said. “We had so much food, so much dessert, the music was great, we had so many parents come to the event, who haven’t attended other PTA events in the past, but they showed up that night.”

Andon said that this event was a great opportunity for parents to meet and share their culture through food.

“Principal Mrs. (Theresa) Macchia and everybody was really surprised by the outcome of the event and the participation we received and all the amounts of food that people brought,” Andon said.

The countries that were represented at the event were U.S., Mexico, Colombia, Guyana, Costa Rica, Italy, Greece, Germany, Austria, Ireland, Haiti, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Trinidad and Tobago, China, India, Bangladesh, Philippines, Kyrgyzstan, Nigeria, and Morocco.

“We had dishes from every

Continued on page 5

‘Matilda the Music’ comes to East Rockaway

Students from across East Rockaway School District delighted audiences as they joined together on stage for a captivating production of “Matilda the Musical.”

The show tells the story of the brilliant and resilient Matilda Wormwood who, despite growing up under challenging circumstances, exemplifies the traits of kindness, generosity, and a love of learning. She also has extraordinary powers and a precocious nature that help her

East Rockaway student actors with local senior citizens who were invited for a sneak preview performance of ‘Matilda the Musical’ at East Rockaway Jr./ Sr. High School on Jan. 31.

accomplish amazing things.

Students from elementary school to high school participated in the acting, singing, and choreography. The worldclass set design established the mood, and, behind the scenes, the stage crew executed set changes flawlessly. In the pit, the live orchestra performed each song with liveliness and precision, filling the theatre with music and enhancing the fun-filled adventure.

— Ben Fiebert

By Jonathan Wolfsohn MBA, CFP, EA, ATA

Just

tax return doesn’t mean they should forget taxes until next year. What a taxpayer does now may affect the tax they owe or the refund they may receive next year. Here are some simple year-round tax planning pointers for all taxpayers.

Organize tax records. Create a system that keeps all important information together. Taxpayers can use a software program for electronic recordkeeping or store paper documents in clearly labeled folders. They should add tax records to their files as they receive them. Organized records will make tax return preparation easier and may help taxpayers discover overlooked deductions or credits.

Identify filing status. A taxpayer’s filing status is used to determine their filing requirements, standard deduction, eligibility for certain credits and the correct amount of tax they should pay. If more than one filing status applies to a taxpayer, they can get help choosing the best one for their tax situation with Interactive Tax Assistant, What Is My Filing Status. Changes in family life— marriage, divorce, birth and death—may affect a person’s tax situation, including filing status and eligibility for certain tax credits and deductions.

Understand adjusted gross income (AGI). AGI and tax rate are important factors in figuring taxes. AGI is the taxpayer’s income from all sources minus any adjustments and deductions. Generally, the higher a taxpayer’s AGI, the higher their tax rate and the more tax they pay. Tax planning can include making changes during the year that lower a taxpayer’s AGI.

Students contribute their ideas for Lynbrook’s Profile of the Owl: picture the ideal graduate

Lynbrook’s exciting Profile of the Owl initiative is officially underway, with dozens of students from throughout the district contributing their thoughts about what a successful Owl graduate looks like on Feb. 1.

Lynbrook’s Profile of an Owl will define the key skills, mindsets, and traits that the Lynbrook community believes are essential in finding success after graduation. An important step was hearing from the students in the high school and each elementary and middle school building, who pondered the question, “Who is the Lynbrook Owl?” Students broke out into groups to discuss while being led by facilitators.

To develop the in-depth project that is the Profile of the Owl, the district is collaborating with Molloy University, which is providing a free service by data analyzers who work at a professional level. They will ensure that the final result will feature the input of all Lynbrook community stakeholders, from the students to families, alumni and business owners.

— Ben Fiebert

Students at each Lynbrook elementary school separated into groups and recorded their thoughts on the traits of an Owl.

Photos courtesy East Rockaway School District Scenes from the East Rockaway School District production of ‘Matilda the Musical,’ on-stage at East Rockaway Jr. /Sr. High School on Feb. 2 and 3.

Courtesy Lynbrook Public Schools

Students at Marion Street Elementary School joined a discussion about the ideal Lynbrook graduate as part of the Profile of the Owl initiative.

Kids dazzle in annual Winter Wonderland event

By BEN FIEBERT

bfiebert@liherald.com

Preschoolers from InterCommunity Nursery School brought back their Winter Wonderland event last month.

This yearly event is a showcase for the kids who attend the Lynbrook preschool to perform songs on stage in front of their parents. The students practiced for this event for two months. The performance was at St. Raymond’s Church on Jan. 20.

It’s a small school with a big heart.

DANIEllE DAvIs Co-president of the nursery’s board

“This event is for the two, three, and four year olds to go on stage and sing festive winter songs,” Danielle Davis, copresident of the nursery’s board, said. “They’re extremely cute on stage and also slightly embarrassed.”

Davis said that during the rehearsal performances, the kids would belt out their songs, but on the day of the actual performance, they clammed up a little bit. According to Davis, the kids dressed up nicely for the event and participated in some arts and crafts when they weren’t on the stage. There were also refreshments and bagels provided for parents.

“We don’t have that many events at the school where the whole school can come together,” Davis

said. “So this was a really nice way for all of the parents to come together as a community.”

Some of the songs that the kids sang were a song about how to build a snowman and some of the pre-K students sang a song about marching like penguins.

“It was great for people whose first year it was seeing this event,” Davis said. “The moms were tearing up because of the kids performing up on the stage.”

Davis noted that this event was like a mini dance recital, but it also it allowed the students to go off and do their own thing. The ission of this event, according to Davis, was to bring all of the parents, families, and

the community together. She aimed for this event to be a celebration of the students.

“This event is a nice way to kind of celebrate each other and see everyone get together,” Davis said. “It’s a small school with a big heart.”

The event was cancelled due to Covid in 2021 and then it was postponed the next year due to an uptick in cases. So Davis is glad that this event is back to being an annual celebration after the December holidays. Davis said that she hopes that this event will continue next year and future years, as long as there isn’t another pandemic.

Mayor Beach delivers his state of village address

By BEN FIEBERT bfiebert@liherald.com

Lynbrook Mayor Alan Beach spoke on the ongoing projects in the village at the yearly luncheon earlier this month.

The event, which took place on Feb. 7, was hosted by the Lynbrook Chamber of Commerce. Beach spoke on the status of the village and new things that will be appearing in the community in the coming months. He started the meeting by stating how everyone who lives in Lynbrook is lucky to live in the village as it is the “best place to live.”

“Everybody I know who left this village, has been sad to do that,” Beach continued. “There’s such a magnet here, bringing us all together.”

Beach talked about how the planned

walkway on Atlantic Avenue will start construction soon. This will be a new path will go through Broadway and a new apartment building that is being built there.

“The village is really coming along,” Beach said. “We have a lot of great things happening in the village.”

EBeach noted that when he became mayor in 2017, he met with the village board and the chamber of commerce to talk about how to make the village a better place to live. He made it his goal to make Atlantic Avenue and surrounding areas a place where people

want to visit. Now, nearly seven years later, Beach said that he is doing just that.

verybody I know who left this village, has been sad to do that

Al AN BEAch Lynbrook mayor

“It takes so much time to make that happen,” Beach said. “But we’re getting there.”

Although there are plenty of changes occurring in the village, Beach noted that Lynbrook is still a very intimate community. He said that it’s nice to walk down the street and know your neighbor and to be able to help others.

Beach mentioned that a new restaurant, Burger and Wings, will be opening up soon.

“Things are happening,” Beach said.

“It’s just very slow.”

Beach said that over 8 years, there has been a 2.3% increase in taxes and during Covid, he was fortunate that he never had to shut the village down. The work was divided up among community members with some people working in person and some people working from home. Due to this, Lynbrook was in “better shape” than a lot of other nearby communities.

“Unfortunately, some businesses went out of business, but for the most part, we did good,” Beach said about the village surviving the pandemic. “And we have new businesses coming back.”

Beach ended his speech by noting how the village’s average age is around 42 years old and the village today is as vibrant as ever.

The pre-K students at InterCommunity Nursery School performing songs and dance at their Winter Wonderland event.

Photos courtesy Danielle Davis

Kids at St. Raymond’s Church singing a song about how to build a snowman.

The current exemption from New York estate taxes is 6.94 million, indexed for inflation. For most clients this presents no issue – their estates will never approach the exemption. However, for the fortunate few who have assets, including life insurance, that may exceed roughly seven million dollars, there is a significant tax liability. Changes in New York estate tax law in the last few years introduced a “fiscal cliff”. Whereas formerly New York only taxed the amount over the exemption, if you exceed the limit today (by a mere 5%) they tax the whole estate. You’re over the cliff!

The tax is surprisingly large. On a roughly seven million dollar estate, the taxes payable to New York exceed five hundred thousand dollars. An estate over ten million would owe over a million in estate tax.

These New York estate taxes are avoidable if you have a spouse and you create an estate plan using two trusts, which doubles the exemption. Another way to avoid the fiscal cliff is to use the “Santa Clause” providing that you gift to charities of your choice all amounts over the exemption. Gifts to charities are deductible

from estate taxes.

While the Federal estate tax exemption of 13.61 million is “portable”, i.e. if the first spouse doesn’t use their exemption or any part of it, it passes to the surviving spouse, New York does not allow for portability. It’s use it or lose it.

The Federal exemption is expected to be reduced from the 13.61 million exemption, passed by the Trump administration, to the 6.94 million, adjusted for inflation, that New York uses, at the end of 2025. For larger estates, there remains a planning opportunity by making gifts while the higher exemption is in place. You may use any of your Federal estate tax exemptions to make gifts while you are living. These gifts are reported to the IRS and get subtracted from what you may give at death.

One added attraction to gifting is that New York does not tax gifts -- so that gifts may also be used to avoid onerous New York estate taxes at death. There is a minor exception that gifts made within three years of the death of the donor are brought back into the donor’s estate for New York estate tax purposes.

Over a dozen honorees to be awarded for their contributions to education

This spring, Nassau BOCES will honor 11 individuals and three organizations that have had profound effects on public education in Nassau County.

The Nassau BOCES Education Partner Awards program pays tribute to outstanding educational leaders, organizations, school administrators and staff, students, teachers, Nassau BOCES employees, and other champions of education. This year’s honorees will be recognized on May 7 at the 17th Nassau BOCES Education Partner Awards Gala, hosted by the Nassau BOCES Educational Foundation.

The Foundation is an independent, community-based organization devoted to enhancing educational opportunities for students who take part in Nassau BOCES schools, services or programs. It supports initiatives that are beyond the scope of the agency’s budget.

During the past 17 years, over 211 individuals and organizations have been honored with the partner award, which recognizes those who have made a substantial impact on public education in Nassau County. A strategic education partner with local school districts since 1967, Nassau BOCES created the award to pay tribute to those who share its commitment to enabling students of all ages and abilities to achieve their maximum potential.

Following are the 2024 Education Partner Awards honorees, by category.

Island High School for the Arts

Michelle Pineda-Rodgers, Director of Bilingual Education and World Languages, Hempstead UFSD

Stephanie Ralton, School Counselor, H. B. Mattlin Middle School, PlainviewOld Bethpage CSD

Danielle N. Williams, Director of Alternative Programs, Valley Stream CHSD

Nassau BOCES Employees:

Laura Bagdziunas, Teacher, Nassau BOCES Long Island High School for the Arts

Dawn Haskell-Carbone, Teacher of the Blind and Visually Impaired/Curriculum Coordinator, Nassau BOCES Vision Services

Organizations:

The Museum of American Armor

Herstory Writers Network

For the Love of Pete’s Pantry

Students:

Alexia Vitsos, Twilight Program, from Bellmore-Merrick CHSD

Tiffany Wong, Elmont Memorial High School, from Sewanhaka CHSD

Teacher:

Education Partners:

Robert Connolly, Lieutenant/Commanding Officer, Homeland Security, Nassau County Police Department

The late Gina Pellettiere, Wind Ensemble and Marching Band Director, Farmingdale High School; Lead Teacher Music, from Farmingdale UFSD

Vera Feuer, Assistant Vice President, School of Mental Health, Northwell Health

Jerry Nobile, Student Support/Admissions/Educator, Nassau BOCES Long

For additional information about the Nassau BOCES Education Partner awards, including profiles of prior year honorees and information about this year’s gala, visit NassauBOCES.org/educationpartner.

— Ben Fiebert

Cultural performances entertain attendees

Continued from page 1

region of the world,” Andon said. “So for Mexico, we had some tacos, for the Italian dishes, we had meatballs and eggplant parmesan, from Asia we had lo mein and spring rolls, from the Caribbean we had empanadas, from Africa, we had Joll of rice. We had some non-alcoholic coquito as well from Puerto Rico.”

In addition to parents bringing food to the event, Andon and Shana Conza, Marion Street PTA 3rd Vice-President of Education, went to local businesses for their participation. They offered them a deal where if they donated a dish, the PTA would advertise their business at the event. The local businesses that participated in this event were River Mill, Vincent’s Pizzeria & Restaurant, Squeeze, Vicki’s Deli, Doughology, and Karahi House.

The cultural performances and displays at the event included a Haitian Art Exhibit by artist Samantha Joseph. Another performance was by Lynbrook High’s Danaia Omuralieva, who played an instrument from Kyrgyzstan.

“Also, we had a martial arts display this year from Ultimate Martial Arts & Fitness,” Conza said.

Andon explained that the goal of this event was to expose parents to the diverse backgrounds that students see every day at school. She wanted families to learn about the different cultures in Lynbrook.

“We asked for very traditional comfort foods,” Conza said. “So this event was about bring people together over food in this family atmosphere. It was both an intimate gathering and a really

u.S. mexico

Colombia guyana

Costa rica italy greece germany austria ireland

Haiti

Jamaica

Carol and gordon purdie renewed their vows on feb. 14 with the help of Hempstead town Clerk Kate murray as she presided over the vow renewal.

The countries represented News briefs

puerto rico dominican republic trinidad and tobago China india

Bangladesh philippines

Kyrgyzstan nigeria morocco

— Ben Fiebert

large event because people brought things that were very special to their families.”

There was an aspect of awe and community pride that was different from any other Lynbrook event, according to Conza. She said that it’s important to have events like these so people in the community feel included.

Andon and Conza plan to bring this event back next year with more food, entertainment and support from more local businesses.

East Rockaway couple renewed their vows on Valentine’s Day

Gordon and Carol Purdie celebrated the holiday of love by renewing their vows.

In celebration of the most romantic day of the year, Hempstead Town Clerk Kate Murray presided over the vow renewals of 116 love-struck couples. No, that’s not a misprint — 232 Town of

Hempstead residents, including Gordon and Carol, were part of this Valentine’s Day event. Their ceremony was held adjacent to a snow-kissed lakeside landscape at the picturesque Coral House in Baldwin.

— Ben Fiebert

Creative Commons

Artificial intelligence through the years:

OpenAI, an artificial intelligence and research company, publicly released ChatGPT-3 on Nov. 30, 2022. Now, a little more than a year later, the sophisticated chatbot — with more than 180 million monthly users — is seemingly developing faster than users can keep up. To understand how this language model became one of the most technologically advanced virtual assistants in the world, you have to go back nearly 75 years.

Imagining classrooms — and a future

By Ben Fiebert, Parker Schug & Nicole Wagner

First part in a series exploring the presence of artificial intelligence in our schools, and over time, in society as a whole. Thoughts? Questions? Ideas?

Email us at execeditor@liherald.com.

Artificial intelligence — it all starts with an idea. One developed by a computer programmed to mimic the human intelligence process through learning, reasoning and self-correction.

AI is already deeply ingrained in society. Whether it be smartphones with virtual assistants like Siri and Bixby, search engines making suggestions for what we’re looking for online, to even the spam filtering and email categorization in email platforms like Gmail.

The fast-growing advancements of AI may be hard to keep up with, especially as more and more platforms develop that specialize in AI like ChatGPT and Canva.

Television and news outlets focus more on how AI can turn your dog into a Muppet, or how it can instantly write a sonnet about someone’s favorite desserts.

But AI is finding its way into more and more of our everyday lives and it’s something that has institutions like our public schools racing to find the best ways to not only adapt, but to appropriately integrate AI into the classroom.

receives,” ChatGPT responded when asked what it was designed for.

It’s commonly used to answer a variety of questions, or brainstorm ideas. It can help draft emails and compose essays. It can help with extensive research, and even translate text from one language to another.

And for those looking to be a little less serious, ChatGPT can tell jokes, strike up a casual conversation, and even participate in storytelling and roleplaying scenarios.

But it can also write term papers, or essays. Or complete homework. And detecting when AI is being used is virtually impossible. That has created some concerns for school administrators, while at the same time tasking them to redevelop curriculum that prepares future minds for a future where AI is prevalent.

Ting Wang, a Stony Brook University associate professor who also directs its Algorithmic Learning, Privacy and Security Lab, describes the original conception of AI as “a feeble attempt to recreate intelligence and to help humans achieve specific tasks.” He believes developers have come a long way in achieving success doing just that.

ChatGPT is a popular example of this. Launched in late 2022, the software describes itself as an online interface that is “like having a conversation with a very knowledgeable and helpful friend — except this friend is actually a computer program.” It has been trained on swaths of data, making it capable of completing many different tasks ranging from gathering information, getting some helpful advice, or even looking to simply have a friendly chat.

“ChatGPT is designed for generating human-like text based on the input it

“From the academic perspective, I think one of the challenges is that it’s becoming harder and harder to obtain these AI models because they’re super expensive, the training costs, and have a requirement of huge amounts of data,” Wang said. “Those type of resources are not so accessible for the academia world.”

Where is AI?

Google, Bing and other search engines have used forms of artificial intelligence for years, but more recently began making its integration more obvious. Google integrated what it calls “generative AI” into its systems some 20 years ago, which typically predicts the next word in a search phrase.

ChatGPT also can edit certain articles, blog posts or other forms of writing. If someone asks ChatGPT to write an email with specific requirements, for example, the AI can handle it because its “training” has covered these sort of scenarios. What makes ChatGPT unique from other AI platforms, Wang said, is the massive amounts of data that “trains” it.

“You can see many artists, especially digital artists, using this program to create content that you cannot easily create manually,” Wang said.

Brett Tanzer — a product management vice president for Microsoft’s cloud platform, Azure — says models created by AI developers are installed in products like Bing and Microsoft Copilot, an

Nicole Wagner/Herald

A reporter asks ChatGPT to describe not only itself, but the artificial intelligence language model that powers it. AI has gone from science-fiction to science-fact, and schools are among a number of institutions around the world working to adapt.

AI companion technology which utilizes ChatGPT among other language models, to aid users in their day-to-day lives.

This helps users brainstorm alternatives for ideas on a given issue if they get stuck.

“It’s already being applied to help people reduce workforce time,” Tanzer said.

Creatives aren’t the only ones utilizing AI for their work. Many in the health care industries are using AI products like those offered by Microsoft to accelerate medical research for advanced treatment and diagnosis of diseases.

“That’s really helping practitioners and doctors in their day-to-day experiences with patients,” Tanzer said.

Educators are utilizing AI in classrooms around Nassau County. In Franklin Square, for example, a robot named Milo interacts with students to help them hone their social and emotional skills.

Pamela Taylor, Franklin Square’s pupil personnel services director, said at the time the school had done a lot of

training to bring Milo into the classroom.

While Milo is the first robot of its kind to be used in a Long Island classroom, its ability to work with students on their confidence in emotional skills is something Taylor is eager to spread throughout the district.

“We are looking to expand,” she said, “because he’s appropriate for all learners.”

An artificial intelligence elective course at Bellmore-Merrick school district’s Sanford H. Calhoun High School is teaching students about the basic principles of AI through exposure to machine-learning algorithms in Python computer programming language.

Danielle Caliendo, a math and computer science chair at Calhoun, says this course prepares students for careers in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

“It also equips them with the skills necessary for today’s world where artificial intelligence is shaping the way we live and work,” Caliendo said, in a

The term ‘artificial intelligence’ is coined by John McCarthy. Computer scientist Arthur Samuel develops a program called ‘Samuel’s Checker Players’ to play checkers, which is the first to ever learn the game independently.

Edward Feigenbaum and Joshua Lederberg create the first ‘expert system’ called Denral, which was AI programmed to replicate the thinking and decision-making abilities of human experts. The purpose of this program was to map the structure of molecules, and to help chemists identify unknown organic molecules.

MIT professor Joseph Weizenbaum creates the first chatbot called Eliza to simulate human conversations. The program was designed to mimic human conversation, utilizing words users entered into a computer, and then pairing them to a list of possible scripted responses.

The U.S. government showed little interest in continuing to fund AI research.

1970s:

1980s:

AI is booming. Government funding led to breakthroughs in research. The use of the expert system program becomes more popular, allowing computers to learn from their mistakes and make independent decisions. This leads to the development of the Fifth Generation Computer project, with a goal of creating computers that could converse in human language and express reasoning on a human level.

1997:

2011:

2016:

2014:

2020:

Seeing artificial intelligence in daily life?

recent interview.

What does the future hold for AI?

Overall AI research at Stony Brook is intended to maximize the practical impact of artificial intelligence. Wang works on AI’s resilience against malicious manipulations, preserving privacy among users, and making the data written by AI more transparent and interpretable to users.

“People don’t have a great understanding of what AI can and can’t do,” Wang said. “I think people use AI as a magical box, and it actually may not work as expected for normal users.”

Yties to transform power in engineering, productivity, health care and cybersecurity.

Wang envisions ChatGPT becoming even more customizable and personalized than it is now. Although it’s already quite adaptable, users have their own individual requirements and writing styles that ChatGPT is not necessarily trained to understand.

ou can see many artists . . . to create content that you cannot easily create manually

TIng W Ang associate professor Stony Brook University

As AI models become more sophisticated, Tanzer said, Microsoft has its sights set on developing models with advanced capabili-

“You may want the program to draft an email in your own style and have your own specific writing requirements,” Wang said, “and currently, the chatbot may not be able to do that.

”It’s an ever-evolving landscape,” Wang said. “I think from the perspective of classroom teaching, people are still trying to figure out what is the best way to harness the power of AI, and at the same time kind of limit and curve the harmful impact of this technology.”

third-grade students at franklin Square’s John Street School learn how to hone their social and emotional skills with the help of milo the robot. equipped with adaptive artificial intelligence, milo is designed to read facial cues from those around him to teach students techniques to cope with their emotions.

Deep Blue — a computer run by the AI program alpha–beta search algorithm and developed by IBM — beats world chess champion Gary Kasparov, becoming the first computer program to beat a human chess champion. This kickstarts an era introducing AI into everyday life through innovations such as the first Roomba and speech recognition software on Windows computers.

Apple releases Siri, the first popular virtual assistant, found primarily on the company’s iPhones.

Amazon releases the Echo, powered by a voicecontrolled intelligent personal assistant named Alexa. These devices are smart speakers equipped with microphones for voice commands.

Google releases the Google Assistant and its voice-activated speaker: the Google Nest.

OpenAI starts beta testing GPT-3, a model that uses deep learning — a method of AI that teaches computers to process data in a way that mimics the human brain — to create code, poetry and other writing tasks.

Rei Wolfsohn/Herald file

Hundreds unite to remember Beckwith

By BEN FIEBERT bfiebert@liherald.com

Bob Beckwith rushed out of retirement as a New York City firefighter to help a friend find his missing son at ground zero, three days after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, that shook New York City — and the country — to its core.

This selfless choice turned Beckwith into a beacon of hope for the nation when he stood on the rubble at President George W. Bush’s side — hope he embodied until the day he died on Feb. 4. He was 91.

Beckwith ultimately succumbed to a 9/11-related melanoma, and was remembered by family, friends, leaders and a large number of off-duty firemen during Beckwith’s Feb. 10 funeral in Baldwin, before he was buried at Greenfield Cemetery in Uniondale.

Some will remember Beckwith for the iconic photo and video featuring him with Bush on Sept. 14, 2001, while others recall how Beckwith was a humble man who would sit in the back row of St. Christopher’s Church in Baldwin every Saturday evening while still finding time to visit a Levittown diner with his friends each week.

Beckwith enjoyed playing the piano, fishing, watching “Jeopardy,” spending time with his grandchildren, and attending their lacrosse games. He also took part Irish step dance competitions, and spent time at the Baldwin American Legion post.

Beckwith was an ordinary man, he would proclaim, who by chance was given the opportunity to uplift Americans during one the country’s darkest times.

Beckwith was retired for more than a decade after 30 years of service with the New York City Fire Department when he learned the son of his old friend, Jimmy Boyle, was missing amid the ruins of the twin towers.

inspiring words, with his arm draped around Beckwith.

“America, today, is on bended knee in prayer for the people whose lives were lost here, for the workers who work here, and for the families who mourn,” Bush said at the time.

Bush would remain close to Beckwith, and shared a statement for former U.S. Rep. Peter King to read at his funeral.

“Laura and I are saddened by the passing of Bob Beckwith,” Bush said, explaining how the retired firefighter raced toward danger, showcasing the resilient spirit of all Americans during 9/11.

“I want to say that no one is indispensable,” King said in his own eulogy. “Bob Beckwith is indispensable. He was one of a kind.”

Beckwith was born April 16, 1932 in Astoria. After graduating from Rice High School in Manhattan in 1952, Beckwith joined the U.S. Navy n the tail end of the Korean war, before going on to study at LaGuardia Community College.

After graduating, Beckwith held various jobs like driving for UPS. But it was in 1964 Beckwith became an FDNY firefighter, kickstarting a 30-year career with the department.

Having lost two sons of his own, Beckwith understood the grief Boyle was going through.

So, he sprang into action and headed to ground zero while the rest of the nation remained in shock.

Beckwith later described how he was just in the right spot at the right time. Bush was paying his respects to those lost at ground zero, and wanted to speak directly to those who were digging through the rubble looking for survivors.

The president spotted Beckwith, and had him stand next to him where, using a megaphone, Bush delivered

Beckwith met his wife Barbara at a picnic in 1956. They were married a year later, settling down on Fairview Avenue in Baldwin, where they raised their six children.

Beckwith retired from the FDNY in 1994. He would find himself enjoying time at home, entertained by his two great-grandsons with a smile across his face.

Besides his wife, Beckwith is survived by daughter Christine; sons Bob, Richard and Stephen; 10 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by sons Joseph and Tommy.

Christine Rivera/Herald

Firefighters salute the casket of Bob Beckwith as it is placed on top of a Baldwin Fire Department fire truck.

MSSN’s Brittney Di Bella is an ‘Unsung hero’

Physician recognized for commitment to emergency department

The dedication and selflessness of emergency medicine physicians often can go unnoticed, but the New York American College of Emergency Physicians is shining a spotlight on those unsung heroes at Mount Sinai South Nassau Hospital. Dr. Brittney Di Bella, a night staff physician at Mount Sinai South Nassau Emergency Department, has been named a recipient of the 2023 Emergency Medicine Unsung Hero Award.

The accolade celebrates individuals deeply committed to the mission of the Emergency Department, showing unwavering support for colleagues, coworkers, and, most importantly, patients.

“Dr. Di Bella will assist any patient or staff member and respond with solutions that raise our standards and improve the quality of the care patients receive in the Emergency Department,” said Jay Itzkowitz, Chair of the Department of emergency medicine. “Not only is she a leader in the department, but

she also cares about the well-being of all staff members, initiating social gatherings for department staff and collecting funds to celebrate staff and department achievements as well as to bring relief to staff members experiencing tough times.”

“Dr. Di Bella is defined by her professionalism, compassion, and humility,” said Adhi Sharma President of Mount Sinai South Nassau who praised Di Bella’s professionalism, compassion, and humility, noting her widespread respect among colleagues. “She is highly respected by all staff in the Emergency Department.”

DR. BRITTNEY DI BELLA

A resident of West Islip, Di Bella, 39, has been an integral part of Mount Sinai South Nassau’s Emergency Department since 2016. Her

journey to this prestigious recognition began with her graduation from Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2012, followed by a rigorous emergency medicine residency at St. Barnabas Hospital in the Bronx, where she served as chief resident.

The challenges posed by the pandemic tested the resilience of healthcare professionals worldwide, and Di Bella was no exception. Amidst the chaos Di Bella’s dedication to her patients embodied the spirit of an unsung hero.

Outside the Emergency Department, Di Bella is a mother of three boys, juggling the demands of motherhood with her demanding profession which see’s her working during the night. Despite the countless hurdles, Di Bella remains steadfast in

her pursuit of making a meaningful impact in the lives of those she encounters.

The New York American College of Emergency Physicians, representing over 3,200 emergency medicine professionals across the state, advocates for equitable access to quality healthcare, particularly in emergency situations. The organization’s mission aligns closely with Di Bella’s commitment to promoting efficient and effective utilization practices in the delivery of emergency services.

Di Bella said there is a strong bond with the hospital’s night staff, fostering a positive relationship built on mutual respect and camaraderie and her recognition not only celebrates her individual achievements but also serves as a testament to the dedication of emergency medicine professionals in providing essential care to communities.

Kepherd Daniel

New York Elks Lodge no. 1 goes to area game

Austin Chen wins regional competition earlier this month

Children from the Elks Lodge sponsored Hoop Shoot traveled from the Lodge level to the District level, to now the regional level.

The regional game was held in Islip this year. Austen Chen, from the 8 to 9 age boys group, and Rylee Blyskal, from the 10 to 11 girls age group, who are two Lodge no. 1 winning shooter at the district level, traveled east for this regional event.

Blyskal is the granddaughter of Elks Lodge member Steve Blyskal.

“In my four years, that was the first time a members child had shot for our Lodge,” John Nuzzi, grand exalted ruler of Elks Lodge no. 1, said in a release. “It would be great to see more members’ children or grandchildren shooting for Lodge #1.”

Iplace. Chen tied in a game with the top two shooters.

“Declan Meaney from Hudson Valley District (and Chen) required a 5 shoot shot off,” Nuzzi said. “They both shoot 4/5, they required an additional shoot off. Delan Meaney shoot 4/5 once again. Then it was Austin Chen’s turn. He shot four good baskets. Everyone was up watching him shoot his 5th basket and sunk it.”

n my four years, that was the first time a members child had shot for our Lodge.

John nuzzI

Grand exalted ruler of Elks Lodge no. 1

Nuzzi said it was an honor to attend the regional Hoop Shoot, along with Lodge members, District Deputy Brian Steckler, Lodge Sponsor Ron Hansen, and Steve Blyskal.

Rylee Blyskal bounced away with 3rd

Chen won 5/5 and he had over all 30 shots. Chen will represent the Lodge in the state Hoop event in Camillus.

“I would like to thank all of Lodge #1 Hoop Shoot Committee members that were able to help, as well as those that joined me on the district level to work and help PDD Don Rood,” Nuzzi said.

“Thank You to DD Brian, PDD Ron and member Steve for attending the Regionals. Next stop State Finals. Best of Luck to Austin Chen.”

— Ben Fiebert

Austin Chen, Rylee Blyskal, family members, and Elks Lodge no. 1 members at the Elks Lodge regional Hoop Shoot event.

Rylee Blyskal, basketball player in the age group of 10 to 11 girls, got third place at the event.

The hoop contest got very close for Austin Chen as he was tied for first place. However, he shoot and he scored, making him the boys winner.

Courtesy John Nuzzi Austin Chen, representing the age 8 to 9 boys basketball group from Elks Lodge no. 1, won the Hoops Regional event earlier this month.

Annie and Joe Petraro inspire each other

at play therapy all the way to the senior population.”

WAt the clinic, there are special groups for kids who are experiencing bullying and/or grief. There are also groups about couples therapy, student athletes, and complicated family situations. Petraro’s goal is for the members of the clinic to come out of their sessions “strong mentally on the other side.”

e were noticing that during the pandemic, people didn’t have insurance that covered mental health needs.

Annie Petr Aro Co-owner, Eclectic Psychotherapy

“Every month, we will have socialization nights with school-aged children from kindergarten all the way to 12th grade,” Petraro said.

A socialization night took place two weeks ago, at which the business collaborated with the organization Be Strong to help prevent bullying, suicide, gain mental health support.

“One of our rooms at the grand opening was dedicated to Be Strong as a inclusion and socialization room,”

Petraro said.

Another room was dedicated to the Nightbirde Foundation, which was formed in honor of Jane Marczewski, aka Nightbirde, who brought hope to many through her journey with breast cancer

“The Nightbirde mission is one of hope,” Petraro said. “Not only did she give people with cancer hope, but she gave people mental hope.”

The idea to dedicate a room to the

Nightbirde Foundation came from Petraro’s son Joe, who was friends with Marczewski and made it his goal to help the foundation in any way he can. Joe sends the foundation the funds made from one of the books that he publish.

“Joe definitely inspires me,” Annie said. “He was at one of our meetings one day and he was like ‘let’s dedicate the rooms. We should make the rooms special like maybe in memory of someone’.”

Joe is also associated with the Be Strong organization so both rooms that were dedicated were his idea.

“These collaborations have been great for us because those organizations do such good and now when people go to them, they are aware about our clinic in East Rockaway,” Annie said.

Within the next few months, Petraro and Krugolets plan to open another facility in Lynbrook for adult day care where seniors can have therapy sessions, but also socialize with fellow neighbors.

original Rockaway Ave. office at: 20 W. Lincoln Ave. Suite 206, Valley Stream

Our Rockaway Avenue office was destroyed by fire on January 27th. We are extremely gratified by the outpouring of support from so many of our patients, their family members, and members of the local community. My heartfelt thanks to each of you.

Our dedication to providing the best care for hearing loss and tinnitus and the associated cognitive decline is greater than ever. That is why I was determined to move to our new location in a timely manner so that our patients would not experience any downtime in their hearing and tinnitus treatment. Our dedicated staff is here to support you and your families and provide the continued exceptional care that you have been accustomed to.

We are currently seeing patients at our new location. We look forward to providing the highest quality care for hearing loss and tinnitus with our new state-of-the-art expanded office space. You can reach us any time at 516-269-8408 or info@HearingCenterofLI.com.

Photos courtesy Annie Petraro

michael and marina Krugolets, annie and Joe petraro, and mitch marczweski, of the nightbirde foundation, at eclectic psychotherapy’s grand opening last month.

Joe petraro with the Be Strong plaque in the room dedicated to the Be Strong organization. this is where all of the social events occur.

HOST

ANTOINETTE BIORDI

4X AWARD-WINNING REPORTER NEWS 12 ANCHOR/REPORTER

KEYNOTE

SARA GORE TVHOST, NBC UNIVERSAL LUXURYREALESTATESPECIALIST, SERHANT.

SPECIAL AWARDS

BROKER OF THE YEAR

Ron Koenigsberg

President American Investment Properties

CONSTRUCTION GROUP OF THE YEAR

The Kulka Group

FATHER & SON POWER TEAM

Dan Pulatani

Vice President

MP Construction D, Inc.

Mel Pulatani

President

MP Construction D, Inc.

ENGINEERING

Christopher W. Robinson, PE

President

R&M Engineering

INTERIOR DESIGNER OF THE YEAR

Beth Donner

Founder

Beth Donner Design

NOT-FOR-PROFIT

Eric Alexander

Director Vision Long Island

POWER DEVELOPER OF THE YEAR

Steven Krieger, Esq.

CEO

B2K Development

POWER REAL ESTATE DUO

Kathy Kirby-Viard

Owner & Broker

Signature Premier Properties

Peter Morris

Owner & Broker

Signature Premier Properties

PROJECT OF THE YEAR

TRITEC Real Estate

Shoregate Project

PROJECT REDEVELOPMENT OF THE YEAR

Michael F. Puntillo

President

PX4 Development, LLC

REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT / DEVELOPMENT COMPANY OF THE YEAR

ATTORNEYS

Marna E. Bernstein, Esq.

Partner

Cullen and Dykman LLP

Elisabetta T. Coschignano, Esq.

Member

Sahn Ward Braff Koblenz Coschignano PLLC

Jack M. Martins, Esq.

Partner

Harris Beach PLLC

Jacquelyn L. Mascetti, Esq.

Partner Herman Katz LLP

BROKERS

Paul Leone

Senior Vice President

CBRE

David B. Sargoy

Director-Commercial Real Estate Division

Brown Harris Stevens Commercial Real Estate

DEVELOPERS

Pelops Damianos

Principal Damianos Realty Group LLC

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Brad Griggs

Senior Manager, Economic Development

Amazon

ELECTRICAL SERVICES

International Empire Electrical Corp.

ELEVATOR

Donald Gelestino

President & CEO

Champion Elevator Corp.

ENVIRONMENTAL

Chuck Merritt

President/LEED AP

Merritt Environmental Consulting Corp.

INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT

Lisa M.G. Mulligan

CEO

Brookhaven Industrial Development Agency (IDA)

Kelly Murphy

Acting Executive Director

Suffolk County Industrial Development Agency (IDA)

TAX CERTIORARI

Cara P. Cronin, Esq.

RichnerLIVE’s third annual R.E.A.L. Awards will spotlight entrepreneurs, professionals, and visionaries in Long Island’s real estate and related industries who have achieved success in their respective roles while also being actively involved in community contributions and advocacy.

To

PRODUCED BY

A portion of ticket proceeds will benefit a local charity.

Joseph A. Farkas

CEO & Founder

Metropolitan Realty Associates LLC

RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL BROKER

Gina Coletti

Licensed Real Estate Broker

GC Advisory Group Inc

RISING STARS

Daniel Scarda

Director of Corporate Finance

The Crest Group

Marco Scarda

Director of Business Development

The Crest Group

Jonathan Schuman

Licensed Associate Broker

Blue Island Homes

Justin Breslin

Vice President

Breslin Realty Development Corp.

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

Stephen Cadorette

Senior Associate

Cushman & Wakefield

TRAILBLAZER

Sara Gore

TV Host

NBC Universal

Luxury Real Estate Specialist

SERHANT.

ARCHITECT

COMMERCIAL

Mark Stumer

Principal Mojo Stumer Associates

Partner Cronin & Cronin Law Firm, PLLC

TITLE INSURANCE

Angelo Santomauro

Senior Partner & Vice President

All State Abstract

RESIDENTIAL AGENTS

Michelle Keegan

Licensed Real Estate Salesperson

Douglas Elliman Real Estate

Julia Krispeal

Licensed Real Estate Salesperson

SERHANT.

Deborah Pirro

Licensed Real Estate Salesperson

Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty

ATTORNEY

Anthony A. Nozzolillo, Esq.

Attorney at Law

Anthony A. Nozzolillo, Esq.

BROKERS

Michael Foley

Licensed Real Estate Broker

Frontline Realty Group

Dr. Sharon R. Frank

Expert Realtor & Business Strategist

Sharon R. Frank Real Estate LLC

Kevin Leatherman

Licensed Real Estate Broker

Leatherman Homes

Connie Pinilla

Principal Agent

The Connie Pinilla Team at Compass

Natasha Williams

Licensed Real Estate Broker

Cornelius Group Real Estate

SILVER

GOLD

STEPPING OUT

Become a bookish

Discover Eric Carle’s tiny world of insects in new sensory adventure

By Danielle Schwab

In the light of the moon, a little egg lay on a leaf.

That’s how the journey started for Eric Carle’s Very Hungry Caterpillar, the beloved character from his acclaimed picture book of the same name. Now, Long Island Children’s Museum takes the magnifying glass to Carle’s curious bugs in its newest exhibit, “Very Eric Carle: A Very Hungry, Quiet, Lonely, Clumsy, Busy Exhibit.”

Created by the Pittsburgh Children’s Museum and The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, it’s a follow-up of sorts to last year’s popular Mo Willems exhibit, which also encouraged kids to step into the creative imagination of a beloved author-illustrator.

Visitors find themselves inside the pages of Carle’s colorful books. His “Very” series — all illustrated in his hand-painted tissue paper collage technique — introduces five special insects who take journeys of discovery. Each story is a testament to Carle’s love of nature along with his recurring themes of friendship, creativity, and the power of imagination.

The colorful picture books — more than 70 in all — have been captivating young children since Carle’s first publishing effort, the counting book “1,2,3 to the Zoo,” in 1968.

From there, his “Very” books took off the following year, beginning with the one that started it all, “The Very Hungry Caterpillar,” of course. Families were immediately captivated by Carle’s little bugs with big emotions.

There’s a deep-felt connection to the insects, according to Ashley Niver, the museum’s education director.

“Children have a fascination with things that are even smaller than they are because they’re usually the ones looking up at the world,” she said. “I find that they have a lot of care and concern for these small living things. They enjoy the roleplay of being a friend of one or becoming one, like wearing the wings of a butterfly and flying around.”

And, naturally, the insatiable caterpillar holds a special place in everyone’s hearts.

“We’ve had parents mention that they read ‘The Very Hungry Caterpillar’ as a child and now they are reading it to their child,” Niver says. “The messaging is something that resonates.”

The exhibit may be indoors, but the focus is fully on the outside world, exploring the diversity of the insect kingdom through Carle’s imagination.

“A lot of people relate to ‘The Very Hungry Caterpillar,’

• Now through May 12, Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

• $17 museum admission, $16 seniors 65 and older; additional fees for theater programming

• View the events calendar at LICM.org for additional information, or call (516) 224-5800

• Long Island Children’s Museum, Museum Row, Garden City.

but there are a lot of other lovely stories,” Niver says. “I don’t think that everyone is as well-versed in some of his other books, so I’m happy that this features some more of them.”

Tumble in the grass, weave a web, find a friend, and even become a butterfly during your visit.

Upon arrival, visitors can follow the Very Hungry Caterpillar’s path on a journey through largerthan-life pages of the book, eating foods on the way to becoming a butterfly. Once the end is reached, you’re now ready to spread your wings.

The Very Busy Spider component includes a giant, web-like structure to step through. This activity tests dexterity, strength and flexibility as kids move across the challenging surface.

At the Very Busy Spider’s Weaving Wall everyone can try to spin their own web on the large wall, experimenting with a variety of stringy materials.

Master new skills at the Very Clumsy Click Beetle Playscape. Here, visitors rummage across a pile of pebbles, crawl through tall blades of grass, step across stepping stones, and walk across the stem of a poppy flower in this playful landscape. Step up to the challenge and persevere like The Very Clumsy Click Beetle.

Also try to catch some light at the Very Lonely Firefly “Find Your Light” interactive station. Move hands and body to lure a firefly toward you. Even work with others to attract multiple fireflies and try to form a group of the beautifully lit insects.

At another component, kids can touch The Very Quiet Cricket and his friends on a relief mural to trigger a sound and create a one-of-a-kind musical composition. The various insect sounds harmonize together to make a “symphony” comprised of rhythms and sounds found in nature.

The exhibit’s studio portion offers up facts about Carle’s life and artistic process.

“Yellow was his favorite color,” Niver says. “Yellow was always the most challenging for him, which I thought was a cool fact. He only mastered four shades of yellow.”

After all that busyness being a bug, families may want to relax by taking a moment to read some books. The nook area is a cozy spot where everyone can nuzzle up in a reading cocoon and read the “Very” stories together.

Through his stories, Carle reminds us: “Simplify, slow down, be kind. And don’t forget to have art in your life — music, paintings, theatre, dance and sunsets.”

Audra McDonald

Audra McDonald is unparalleled in the breadth and versatility of her artistry as both singer and actor. Experience her inimitable talent in a spellbinding evening of song that showcases her extraordinary vocal range. Winner of six Tony Awards, two Grammys and an Emmy, McDonald possesses a ‘lustrous lyric soprano’ (The New York Times) and an incomparable gift for dramatic truth-telling. This stage and screen icon lends her luminous voice and committed stage presence to an intimate concert of Broadway favorites, standards, seldomheard gems, and so much more, accompanied by pianist Jeremy Jordan. With Tony wins in all four eligible acting categories, countless other theatre honors — and a National Medal of Arts conferred by President Barack Obama in 2015, among her other accolades — McDonald is among the most lavishly awarded performers of our time.

Friday, Feb. 23, 8 p.m. Tickets start at $60. Tilles Center for the Performing Arts, 720 Northern Blvd., Brookville. Tickets available at Ticketmaster.com, TillesCenter.org or (516) 299-3100.

Flogging Molly

Celtic-punk rockers Flogging Molly have hit the road with their ‘Road to Rebellion’ tour, sure to rouse audiences with their anthemic odes to the Emerald Isle. Formed in L.A. in 1997 by Irish expat Dave King, the band got its start (and its name) from local bar Molly Malone’s, where they performed, grew their following, and laid down the blueprint for eventual success. Their infectious Celtic-tinged reels are perfect for dancing along to, for those who love their Irish heritage, and those who just want a good time. Expect an eclectic mix of old favorites, sing-a-longs, rare acoustic numbers and new material — all strung together by King’s cheeky tales and jokes and first-rate musicianship. With numerous latenight television appearances, a soldout Salty Dog Cruise through the Caribbean, and a yearly St. Patrick’s Day Festival in L.A., the band’s juggernaut continues.

Sunday, Feb. 25, 7:30 p.m.

$79.50, $49.50, $39.50. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at Ticketmaster.com or ParamountNY.com.

Photos courtesy Long Island Children’s Museum

From caterpillar to butterfly, spider and cricket beetle, Eric Carle’s insects hold a special place in everyone’s childhood. Each element in the gallery relates to specific books in the ‘Very’ series.

THE Your Neighborhood

Tusk

March 1

Tusk goes their own way, visiting the Landmark stage with their dynamic tribute to Fleetwood Mac,, Friday, March 1, 8 p.m. Since forming in 2008, Tusk has prided themselves on being the ultimate tribute to ‘70s supergroup. No fancy tricks, no gimmicks, just five musicians recreating the music of Fleetwood Mac to perfection with note for note renditions With Tusk it’s all about respect and authenticity. A group of seasoned musicians that go back some 25 years, their attention to detail, talent and reverence of their subjects has been critically acclaimed, resulting in their accolades as the premiere purveyors of ‘Mac. Time, trust, and close friendship have cultivated an intimate familiarity with each other’s musical nuances, shaping each performance with such precision that even the slightest variation, virtually imperceptible to all but the five musicians sharing the stage, is met with a wink and a nod, and usually an inside joke. Tusk is more than a band; they are a family. So if you’re jonesing for your fix of Fleetwood, you’re in the right place! Made up of Kathy Phillips (as Stevie Nicks on vocals), Scott McDonald (as Lindsey Buckingham, guitar and vocals), Kim Williams (as Christine McVie, keys and vocals), Randy Artiglere (as John McVie, bass) and Tom Nelson (as Mick Fleetwood on drums) the five-piece band will transport you back to the group’s glory days with a set list including hits such as the “The Chain,” “Dreams,” ‘Go Your Own Way,” and more, alongside rare gems fans will love hearing again. $63, $53, $45. Jeanne Rimsky Theater at Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington. (516) 767-6444 or LandmarkOnMainStreet.org.

Family theater

It’s a beautiful sunny summer day in the meadow. Leo Lionni’s beloved children’s books come to life once again, in “Frederick,” on the Long Island Children’s Museum stage, Friday, Feb. 23, 11:30 a.m., 2 p.m., 6:15 p.m. (sensory-friendly performance); Saturday, Feb. 23 ,11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Mouse friends Nellie, Sunny, Baby, Ernest, and Frederick are playing their musical instruments and having fun singing, until a leaf falls from the sky — autumn is here! Winter will be coming soon. All the mice get to work gathering supplies for winter, except, where is Frederick? He is gathering supplies, too, in his own unique way.

With toe-tapping Americana music inspired by bluegrass, gospel, and folk, this is an engaging tale about the power of the arts, community, and that no mouse gets left behind. $10 with museum admission ($8 members), $14 theater only. Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 224-5800 or LICM.org.

Cardiac screening

You only have one heart.

Getting your coronary calcium score can save your life. Mercy Hospital offers free cardiac screening, Wednesday, Feb. 28 , 9 a.m.-1 p.m. A coronary calcium score is like a ‘mammogram’ for the heart to screen for blockage(s). This simple, non-invasive test can indicate coronary artery disease before the onset of symptoms or heart attacks.

For eligibility, you will need to meet any of the following criteria: Be between the ages of 40-70 years old; history of smoking, high cholesterol or blood pressure (even if controlled), diabetes, overweight with BMI >25, family history of heart disease. Limited appointments available. 1000 N. Village Ave., Rockville Centre. call (516) 626-3729 to register or visit CHSLI.org/mercy-hospital.

AI: What is it, and how does it work?

Discuss the basics of AI and its use in business, at the Chamber of Commerce workshop, Wednesday, March 6, 5:30-7 p.m., at The Bristal. Session includes market updates and demonstrates how AI data and analytics is being used in business. Register at LynbrookUSA.com. 8 Freer St., Lynbrook.

Bird walk

The South Shore Audubon Society welcomes all to join its members for another in its series of bird walks, at Hempstead Lake State Park, Sunday, Feb. 25, starting at 9 a.m. Walk leaders, other birders and nature enthusiasts are happy to share their knowledge and experience with you. Bring binoculars. The group will meet in parking lot #3, off Exit 18 of the Southern State Parkway. To register, text your name and contact information to (516) 467-9498. No walk if it rains, snows or the temperature is below 25 degrees. Text regarding questionable weather. For more information, visit SSAudubon.org.

Nellie McKay

performs

The effervescent multiinstrumentalist singer-songwriter returns to My Father’s Place with music from her recently released album, “Hey Guys, Watch This,” Friday, March 1, 8 p.m. Recorded in Charleston, West Virginia with The Carpenter Ants and a roving retinue of musical compadres, her album traces the haunted sounds of Appalachia to a renaissance of revelry.

Doors open at 6 p.m., concert is at 8 p.m. 221 Old Northern Blvd., Roslyn. For tickets/ information, visit MFPProductions. com or call (516) 580-0887.

Veteran Benefit Seminar

What benefits are available to veterans and their spouses? This seminar, held by a credited veteran service officer on behalf of Disabled American Veterans, can help you find out. The presentation, Saturday, Feb. 24, beginning at 10 a.m., at Robert F. Garrison Veterans of Foreign Wars Post # 3350, covers benefit claims, spousal pension, tax exemptions and more.

Free for the first 70 people who wish to attend. 164 Main St.., East Rockaway Contact Pat Iuliucci, Post Quartermaster, (516) 887-8170, or email VFWpost3350@yahoo. com for more information.

HERJC Diamond

Jubilee

Celebrate 75 years of the Hewlett-East Rockaway Jewish Centre, at the gala event, Saturday, March 2, 7 p.m. Black tie optional. Register at tinyurl.com/ HERJCDiamondJubilee. Email ExecDire@herjc.org with any questions.

Having an event?

Feb. 25

Art talk

Join Scott Defrin, owner of European Decorative Arts in Greenvale for Nassau County Museum of Art’s exhibit related program “Collecting Decorative Arts During the Gilded Age; Connoisseurship vs. Decoration,” Sunday, Feb. 25, 3 p.m.

New York was the center for collecting during the Gilded Age. More money was spent on fine art, decorative art and interior decoration than at any time in American history. From Carnegie to Frick, and Morgan to Vanderbilt, Defrin discusses the different approaches to collecting among these magnates and how their fortunes helped establish the permanent collections of today’s museums.

Limited seating with registration required.1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. (516) 484-9337 or NassauMuseum.org.

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

On stage

Princesses and other enchanting heroes and heroines take to the stage, when Plaza Theatricals presents its Winter Princess concert, Friday and Saturday, Feb. 23-24, 11 a.m. Take part in an interactive singa-long featuring an array of everyone’s favorite winter characters. $15. See it at The Showplace at Bellmore Movies, 222 Pettit Ave., Bellmore (Friday) or at Elmont Memorial Library Theatre, 700 Hempstead Turnpike, Elmont (Saturday). For tickets, visit PlazaTheatrical.com or call (516) 599-6870.

On exhibit

Nassau County Museum of Art’s latest exhibition, “Our Gilded Age,” examines the appearances and the realities of an era that mirrors our own in many ways. Like the nation’s economy, American art and literature flourished during the Gilded Age. The art of John Singer Sargent, Childe Hassam, Louis Comfort Tiffany and others adorned palatial residences designed by Stanford White and Ogden Codman Jr., architect of the museum’s own quintessential Gilded Age mansion.

Drawing heavily upon the local literary history of Long Island, including William Cullen Bryant, Mark Twain (who named the Gilded Age), Walt Whitman, Edith Wharton and others, the exhibition will include paintings, fashion, decorative arts including period silver and china, photographs, manuscripts, first editions and other historic memorabilia. The “Upstairs, Downstairs” approach to the life of a country house brings to life not only the storied conspicuous consumption for which the Gilded Age was infamous, but also the real lives of these many individuals who maintained the palatial estates where that lifestyle was enjoyed. On view through March 10 Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. (516) 484-9337 or NassauMuseum.org.

Catch up with Kiwanis

Lynbrook Kiwanis Club meets twice monthly. Meetings are held the first Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m., at Lynbrook Library, 56 Eldert St., and on the third Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. at Savino’s Restaurant and Wine Bar, 88 Atlantic Ave. For more information, visit Facebook.com/KiwanisLynbrook.

Public Notices

the Village Code of the Incorporated Village of Lynbrook, and pursuant to a Resolution of the Board of Trustees of the Village of Lynbrook, Nassau County, New York, adopted at a meeting held on the 22nd day of January, 2024, the Treasurer of said Village will sell pursuant to Village Code §222-27(B) to the Village of Lynbrook, in the manner prescribed by law, on the 14th day of March 2024 at 10:00 A.M., each of the following parcels of real estate upon which Village taxes remain unpaid as will be sufficient to discharge the taxes, interest and charges thereon which may be due at the time of the sale.

Such interest in real estate will be sold subject to any unpaid assessment thereon levied by said Village and any unpaid lien purchased and held by said Village, and all liens on property included in this sale are sold subject to the provisions of any federal or state law.

The following is a list of lots, pieces and parcels of real estate to be sold, and the total amount of the taxes, interest and charges thereon:

7-3-19

9-5-11

10-3-4A

32-7-6 185 BIXLEY

32-8-2 232 PICCADILLY

32-10-6 225 BIXLEY HEATH 3,514.01

34-1-18 90

34-1-45 12 OAKLAND

34-2-6 15 NEW ST 7,601.62

34-2-1C 20 OLIVE PL 3,961.43

34-3-1 288 -290 BROADWAY 17,783.11

36-2-12A 133 UNION PL 6,995.31

37-1-11

37-2-2 219

37-3-9 130

38-2-3 56 NORTHUMBERLAND GATE 3,607.51

38-3-6A 366 PICCADILLY DOWNS 2,073.23

38-4-406 79 COVENTRY GARDENS 3,062.20

39-1-7A

39-2-3

39-2-6

39-3-11

39-8-3

40-1-49

41-2-1

LEGAL NOTICE CITATION

SURROGATE’S COURT, NASSAU COUNTY

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK,

By the Grace of God Free and Independent

TO:Joy Taylor

Scott Taylor

Susan Lowenstam

Jasper Surety

Grassi & Co.

Attorney General of the State of New York and any and all unknown persons whose names or parts of whose names and whose place or places of residence are unknown and cannot after diligent inquiry be ascertained, distributees, heirs-at-law and next-ofkin of the said Arthur Irving Goldfeder, deceased, and if any of the said distributees named specifically or as a class be dead, their legal representatives, their husbands or wives, if any, distributees and successors in interest whose names and/or places of residence and post office addresses are unknown and cannot after diligent inquiry be ascertained

A petition having been duly filed by Nassau County Public Administrator, who is domiciled at 240 Old Country Road, Mineola, New York 11501, United States.

YOU ARE HEREBY CITED TO SHOW CAUSE before the Surrogate’s Court,

East Rockaway student selected for NASA science research project

A research proposal developed by East Rockaway Jr./Sr. High School tenth grader Andrew Chen has been accepted to the “Growing Beyond Earth Project,” a classroom-based citizen science project, led by NASA, designed to advance research on growing plants in space.

Andrew’s research project focused on how CO2 levels effect a specific part of plant development. Science Research

students first worked collectively to gather data on a team project and had an opportunity to submit individual proposals for new ideas. This is East Rockaway’s first year in the program.

Andrew will be working to complete this project over the next months to present in competition and to the GBE collective.

— Ben Fiebert

Nassau County, at 262 Old Country Road, Mineola, New York, on MARCH 27, 2024, at 9:30 o’clock in the fore noon of that day, why the account of Nassau County Public Administrator, a summary of which has been served herewith, as Administrator of the estate of Arthur Irving Goldfeder, should not be judicially settled. [X] Further relief sought (if any):

1. Releasing and discharging the Petitioner from all liability, responsibility, and accountability as to all matters set forth in the account of proceedings;

2. Allowing the commissions of the Petitioner in the amount of $ 36,596.06 pursuant to SCPA 2307(1) and the reasonable and necessary expenses of the office in the amount of $ 11,038.42 pursuant to SCPA 1207(4);

3. Fixing and determining the attorney’s fees and disbursements of Mahon, Mahon, Kerins & O’Brien, LLC attorney for petitioner in the amount of $ 65,271.42, of which $ 14,271.42 has been paid and $ 51,000.00 is unpaid;

4. Fixing and determining the accounting fees of Grassi & Co, CPA’s, PC in the amount of $11,250.00, of which $ 5,250.00 has been paid and $ 6,000.00

is unpaid;

5. Releasing and discharging the surety;

6. And why each of you claiming to be a distributee of the decedent should not establish proof of your kinship; and why the balance of said funds should not be paid to said alleged distributees upon proof of kinship, or deposited with the New York State Comptroller on account for the unknown next of kin of Arthur Irving Goldfeder, decedent should said alleged distributees default herein, or fail to establish proof of kinship;

7. Granting such other and further relief as to the Court is just and proper.

Dated, Attested, and Sealed, FEBRUARY 7, 2024

Seal HON.

HON. MARGARET C.

REILLY

Margaret C. Reilly, Surrogate s/ Debra Keller Leimbach

Debra Keller Leimbach, Chief Clerk

Richard T. Kerins, Esq.

Attorney Name

Mahon, Mahon, Kerins & O’Brien, LLC

Firm

(516) 538-1111

Telephone

254 Nassau Blvd. ,

Garden City South, New York 11530

Address

NOTE: This citation is served upon you as required by law. You are not required to appear. If you fail to appear it will be assumed that you do not object to the relief requested. You have a right to have an attorney appear for you, and you or your attorney may request a copy of the full account from the petitioner or petitioner’s attorney.

144905

LEGAL NOTICE

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE IS HEREBY

GIVEN, that the New York State Financial Annual Update Document of the Village Treasurer, for the Fiscal Year June 1, 2022 through May 31, 2023 has been completed and is on file in the Office of the Village Clerk, at the Village Hall, One Columbus Drive, Lynbrook, New York, and is available for inspection between the hours of 8:00 A.M. and 4:00 P.M. Monday through Friday.

JOHN GIORDANO, VILLAGE ADMINISTRATOR

LYNBROOK, NEW YORK 144963

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT

COUNTY OF NASSAU, COUNTY ACQUISITIONS

LLC, Plaintiff, vs. AMJAD

QURESHI, IF LIVING, AND IF HE/SHE BE DEAD, ANY AND ALL PERSONS UNKNOWN TO PLAINTIFF, ET AL., Defendant(s).

Pursuant to an Order

Confirming Referee Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on September 5, 2023, 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 March 26, 2024 at 2:30 p.m., premises known as 1 Olive Place, Lynbrook, NY 11563. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Village of Lynbrook, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 42, Block 13001 and Lots 91-92.

Approximate amount of judgment is $61,821.79 plus interest and costs.

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 608033/2022. 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.

Ronald J. Ferraro, Esq., Referee

Robert Bichoupan, P.C., 175 East Shore Road, Suite 270, Great Neck, New York 11023, Attorneys for Plaintiff 144987

LEGAL NOTICE

Garda

formed the

filing the Articles of

with the

of StateSecretary of State (“SS”) on September 9, 2023. The corporate office is located in Nassau County. SS shall be served with service of process and mail same upon Garda Holdings,

at

11563, for

Courtesy East Rockaway School District East Rockaway Jr./Sr. High School tenth grader Andrew Chen has had his science research proposal accepted to NASA’s “Growing Beyond Earth Project.”

letter describing your career goals and what strengths you can bring to our newsroom, along with a resume and three writing samples to mhinman@liherald.com

MAILROOM/ WAREHOUSE HELP

Long Island Herald has IMMEDIATE openings for a FULL-TIME & PART-TIME mailroom/warehouse helper in Garden City. We are a busy print shop looking for motivated and reliable individuals to assist in various duties in the shop. Forklift experience is a plus and heavy lifting is required. Hours vary, so flexibility is key. Salary

Ranges fromo $16 per hour to $20 per hour.

Email resumes or contact info to careers@liherald.com

MULTI MEDIA

ACCOUNT DEVELOPMENT

Inside Sales

Looking for an aggressive self starter who is great at making and maintaining relationships and loves to help businesses grow by marketing them on many different advertising platforms. You will source new sales opportunities through inbound lead follow-up and outbound cold calls. Must have the ability to understand customer needs and requirements and turn them in to positive advertising solutions. We are looking for a

System Engineer: Analyze, Design, Develop & Test general computer applications software using Power BI/Apps/Automate, Microsoft Project/Excel/Access/Visio/Sharepoint, Data Analytics, Business Intelligence & Process Automation, Technical Project/Program Management, Incident Management, Root Cause Analysis, ECommerce, Supply Chain, Financial, Cloud Infra.

Requires: Travel within the USA + Masters in Computer Science, Applied Computer Science, Technology Management or Information Technology. Send resume by mail to: American Software Resources, Inc., 4 Brower Avenue, Suite 4, Woodmere, NY 11598

ADMINISTRATOR AVAILABLE

To Work For You FT/ PT Immediately. I Am Experienced. RVC Vicinity. Call 516-536-6994

Richner

Products and our Digital, Events, Sponsorships. Earning potential ranges from $33,280 plus commission and bonuses to over $100,000 including commissions and bonuses.

Compensation is based on Full Time hours

Eligible for Health Benefits, 401k and Paid Time Off.

Please Send Cover Letter and Resume with Salary Requirements to rglickman@liherald.com or Call 516-569-4000 X250

PRINTING PRESS OPERATORS

FT & PT. Long Island Herald has IMMEDIATE openings for Printing Press Operators in Garden City. We are a busy print shop looking for

HOME HEALTH AID with 20 Years Experience, Looking to Care for Elderly Male or Female. Experience in Hospitals, Nursing Homes and Private Homes. Day or Night. No Live-in. Driver's License. 914-720-4426 or Email joyceprince990@gmail.com

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

EAST ROCKAWAY 62 BULAIRE Rd, OPEN HOUSE BY APPT, NEW TO MARKET! Move Right Into This 4 BR, 2.5 Bth Exp Ranch in Waverly Park Area of SD#20(Lynbrook). Open Floor Plan. LR w/Fpl, DR, Gran/Wood EIK Plus Family Rm w/ Vaulted Ceiling. Upper Level Has Huge Skylit Recreation Rm, BR, Bth & W/D. Beautifully Lanscaped Oversized Prop W/ Trex Deck for Entertaining. Multi Car Drvewy...$899,000 Ronnie Gerber, Douglas Elliman 516-238-4299

HEWLETT: 2/25, 2-3:30, 1267 Peninsula Blvd, 5 BR, 2 Bath Exp Cape in SD#14(Hewlett Woodmere)Living Room, FDR & Updtd Gran/Wood EIK w/ Vaulted Ceiling. 2 Main Flr BRs & Updtd Bth. Upper Level 3 BRs & Updtd Bth. 1.5 Car Det Gar Plus 4/5 Car Drivewy. Priv Yd w/ Deck.HW Flrs, Gas Ht. Near Shops, LIRR, Trans & Houses of Worship...$599,000 Ronnie Gerber, Douglas Elliman 516-238-4299

HEWLETT BA, 1534 Broadway #213,.! Move Right Into This 2 Bedroom, 2 Bath Condo in Prestigious Jonathan Hall with Doorman & Elevator. Spacious Corner Unit. Updtd Gran/Wood Kit, LR & DR. Washer/Dryer in Unit. Garage Pkg. Loads of Closets. Terrace Faces Back. Easy Ranch Style Living. Convenient to Shops, LIRR &

TA kitchen leads to an attic

Q. Our house is large and very old, with a third story that was partially finished before purchase. We finished the rest of the attic and put in a few bedrooms and a bath. Recently we hired an architect to enlarge our kitchen into our backyard and make a nice entrance to a porch and patio with a fireplace. The architect made the plans, after several meetings, changes, etc., and then put them into our building department to pull a permit. We next got a notice that our attic is in violation, and we had to either take out all the finishes and bathroom or file plans to get a state permit.

None of this has anything to do with the kitchen or patio, which we hoped to have by summer. We suspect our architect made this much more complicated for us, but now we can’t undo what he did. Naturally, he gets more money to do more plans and permits, which we also think is rather sneaky and uncalled for. Can we report the architect for doing this to us, and can we pull back the permit so we can make all this go away and just do our kitchen?

A. So you believe everyone is out to get you, including your architect, and you have the right to “pull back” your permit, ignoring the conditions of your house. It doesn’t work that way.

5 BR, 2 Bath Exp Cape in SD#14 (Hewlett Woodmere) Living Room, FDR & Updtd Gran/Wood EIK w/ Vaulted Ceiling. 2 Main Flr BRs & Updtd Bth. Upper Level 3 BRs & Updtd Bth. 1.5 Car Det Gar Plus 4/5 Car Drivewy. Priv Yd w/ Deck. HW Flrs, Gas Ht. Near Shops, LIRR, Trans & Houses of Worship $599,000 1534 Broadway #213, BA, FIRST TIME ON MARKET! Move

Ask The Architect

Monte Leeper

Unfortunately, even though most local governments know that most homes have violations, the governments choose not to prosecute every homeowner, since it would be bad for the business of getting re-elected, so code violations go on without a word until you make the first move, which you did, by coming to the attention of the building officials whose job is public safety.

Every day of the week, people ask if we can’t just look the other way. We absolutely can look the other way, but eventually who will believe us for lying or not doing our job? The issues of your home easily come up by simply bringing up satellite images, on-line accessible documents, including tax department records, showing what is in the home and whether the third floor was finished. Your building official doesn’t need the architect or you to figure out the truth about the illegalities in your home. When your architect shows the actual conditions, which he is required to do, including walls removed, walls finished in rooms that the building department has no previous record of, or other changes, he’s only doing his job. Imagine the scrutiny an architect would receive if a building official walked in to check the conditions and discovered that you and the architect had lied.

I have stated in this column, many times, the statistic that only five people out of 100 will survive a fire on the third floor. Ninety-five people will die of smoke inhalation or burns. So do the right thing and follow through, whichever way you choose. I’m pulling for you.

© 2024 Monte Leeper

Readers are encouraged to send questions to yourhousedr@aol.com, with “Herald question”

SHOWER UPDATES in as little as ONE DAY! Affordable prices - No payments for 18 months! Lifetime warranty & professional installs. Senior & Military Discounts available. Call: 866-393-3636

CARPENTRY & PAINTING: Residential/ Commercial. All Phases. Licensed/ Insured. FREE ESTIMATES! Anthony & J Home Improvements 516-678-6641

PLUMBER! PLUMBER! PLUMBER! FREE ESTIMATES! Heating, Repairs, Installations. $25 OFF New Customers. 24 Hour Emergency Response. 516-599-1011.

DIRECTV SPORTS PACK – 3 Months on Us! Watch pro and college sports LIVE. Plus over 40 regional and specialty networks included. NFL, College Football, MLB, NBA, NHL, Golf and more. Some restrictions apply. Call DIRECTV 1-888-534-6918

ATTENTION OXYGEN THERAPY USERS! Discover Oxygen Therapy That Moves with You with Inogen Portable Oxygen Concentrators. FREE information kit. Call 888-514-3044

HEARING AIDS!! HIGH-QUALITY rechargeable, powerful Audien hearing aids priced 90% less than competitors. Tiny and NEARLY INVISIBLE! 45-day money back guarantee! 855-598-5898

VIAGRA AND CIALIS USERS! 50 Pills

SPECIAL $99.00 FREE Shipping! 100% guaranteed. CALL NOW! 855-413-9574

INJURED IN AN ACCIDENT? Don't Accept the insurance company's first offer. Many injured parties are entitled to major cash settlements. Get a free evaluation to see what your case is really worth. 100% Free Evaluation. Call Now:

February is American Heart Month, and this is a story about my heart — literally and figuratively. It’s the reason I am where I am today.

I was born with a significant heart defect called dextrocardia, as well as a ventricular septal defect. Basically, my heart was on the wrong side of my chest cavity and inverted — and it had a hole in it.

SETH I. KOSLOW

When I was 3 months old, my doctors told my parents that I needed openheart surgery to close the hole. At the time, however, my mother was pregnant with my sister. My parents decided to wait until my sister was born before I underwent surgery. But somehow, for some reason, my heart decided that it had to be whole, and the hole I was born with began to close. My heart could stay as it was — imperfect and misplaced, but untouched.

OPINIONS A journey of the heart

Growing up, I found that I was doing a lot of things half-heartedly, so to speak. Schoolwork wasn’t heartening, and there were few things that excited me. I dreamed of becoming a lawyer, but I couldn’t muster up the resolve to pursue that dream — LSATs, law school, internships, thousands of dollars in loans, six more semesters of school, and years of building a professional profile.

Deterred by these seemingly insurmountable obstacles, I remained listless through my early 20s. For a few years after college, I worked in sales. I was good at it, but my heart was definitely in a different place.

That is, until it wasn’t.

went more than a dozen cardioversions to restore the heart’s regular rhythm, and tried various cocktails of medications, all to no avail.

A fter openheart surgery, I decided there was nothing I couldn’t make it through.

In my early 20s, I was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, or AFib, also known as an irregular heartbeat. It’s fairly common among senior citizens, but as a 20-something in college, I was now a member of a not-so-enviable exclusive club. Over the next several years, I battled my irregular heartbeats, under-

Eventually I met a cardiologist who specialized in adults with congenital heart defects — adults like me. He informed my family and me that the hole in my heart had reopened, and that it was substantially larger than it was when I was a child. This was causing my irregular heartbeat, and it would at last need to be closed. At age 25, because of the placement of my heart, I was about to undergo a potentially first-of-its-kind open-heart surgery.

On March 15, 2007, after five hours of surgery, I awoke with a heart that was beating normally for the first time in almost five years. Making it through that operation sparked something in my soul. Instead of whining about what I had to do to get to where I wanted to be, I decided to ball my fists up, dig in and do it. After all, I had just made it through open-heart surgery. Was there

anything I couldn’t make it through? I finally sat for the LSAT and got myself into law school.

That’s the attitude that’s gotten me to where I am today. When I was burning the candle at both ends, cramming for law school exams and eventually the bar exams, I would remind myself that I was getting stronger. When I was struggling to build my own law practice while juggling my responsibilities as a husband and father, I would remind myself of all that my heart could handle.

Naturally, when I saw an opportunity to run for office, a chance to represent and fight for all the communities our local government has left behind, I knew that I could take the heartburn of an arduous campaign, and that I could win over hearts and minds. That’s the mentality that I bring to my law practice, and to my work with my fellow legislators.

The arc of my life’s journey is proof that we are all stronger than we know — that we are all more capable than we can comprehend.

Seth I. Koslow represents Nassau County’s 5th Legislative District.

It’s Library Lovers Month — borrow a book

Iread “Lady Chatterley’s Lover,” my first banned book, when I was 12. My friend lent me the book, and I found the good parts by the dogeared pages. The experience did not compromise my moral compass or corrupt me in any way I can discern. I am not recommending the book for today’s 12-year-olds, because it’s a pretty boring read, but I am advocating that a broad spectrum of books be available to students who choose to read them.

RANDI KREISS

This month, Library Lovers Month, I want to push back hard against the selfappointed literature vigilantes across our country, who are removing books from school library shelves and banning them from classrooms under the guise of protecting children from inappropriate subject matter.

It’s called censorship, and the problem, of course, is who gets to decide what is appropriate or not. In the past, librarians have had full discretion in selecting books. They are trained for the job and trusted in their choices. In

the best libraries, the books reflect all the ways that children and teenagers can be in the world, including gay or trans or identified with any race or religion or socio-economic group.

work for vulnerable kids.

I don’t know if a book has ever saved someone’s life, but I know for sure that battles over books are endangering lives by keeping young people from information and stories that might validate their choices in important ways.

book-ban list, by definition, express feelings, experiences and political views that the prevailing culture prefers to pretend do not exist.”

SFor some young people, the school library is the only place they can read about kids just like themselves. They can learn that others share their confusion or anxiety or fear of being different.

tudents need open access to all kinds of books by all kinds of writers.

I don’t believe that a teenager can “catch” being gay or trans from reading about it, the underlying prejudice being that there is something wrong with that identity. We can’t scrub young adult literature for references to slavery or minority struggles or even violence, because the best writing reflects real life.

A couple of weeks ago, The New York Times told the story of a librarian in Idaho who organized a “Rainbow Squad,” welcoming children of different backgrounds to read and talk about books. A local church group protested, and the community is battling over whether the Rainbow Squad should be banned, along with the books they’re reading.

I wonder how this group threatens anyone, even as it creates a support net-

In The Washington Post last week, columnist Kate Cohen wrote about the school board in her hometown, Rockingham, Virginia, deciding to ban 57 books in the school library. One-third of the books feature gay or trans characters. Cohen wrote, “Freedom to read is the closest thing we have to freedom to think.”

This month, there can be no more pressing public business than to guarantee age-appropriate, open access to all kinds of books by all kinds of writers, for students across the land.

What can we do? Each of us can become familiar with our school and community libraries, stay informed about the books available to teens and oppose efforts by any groups of book police to decide what teenagers should read. In some communities in Florida, a single parent’s complaint about a book in a school library can get it banned.

As Cohen wrote, “The books on any

I think how lonely and desperate teenagers trying to figure out their lives without access to books must feel. Wellwritten books on racism or sexuality or addiction are a far better source for our kids than TikTok.

We read books for many reasons beyond wanting to be entertained — to solve the mysteries in our lives, to be dazzled or outraged by the way others live. Sometimes we can find our beliefs and lives affirmed in the pages of a new book.

The reason authoritarian entities, be they runaway school boards or governments, ban books is to limit access to ideas that might challenge their power.

We resist by reading and sharing.

The New York Public Library is offering free access to banned books for teenagers anywhere in the country through SimplyE, its e-reader app. The latest banned book pick is “All American Boys,” by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely. It is available to all readers ages 13 and older.

There are worlds out there to be explored. I have had this joy in my life, and I want the same for every reader.

Copyright 2024 Randi Kreiss. Randi can be reached at randik3@aol.com.

Thank you for the snow day

In the past couple of weeks, we’ve been getting a lot of something we haven’t seen much of over the past couple of years: snow.

So much, in fact, that schools in our communities had no choice but to close. And because of that, we have just one thing to say to our school districts in Nassau County: Thank you for the snow day.

Yes, education works best when it’s rigorous and on a schedule. If the young minds loading buses each day were robots, then we’d probably be hesitant to interrupt the routine. Thankfully, our children are living, breathing people. And all of us can use a break from time to time — especially one we didn’t expect.

Anyone who grew up in a climate susceptible to winter almost assuredly experienced at least one snow day in their life, if not several. They go all the way back to the 19th century, when schools became gathering points children would flock to — and where safety would become paramount.

In places like Long Island, where crews are adept at clearing roads, even the best can be overwhelmed by significant storms and heavy snowfalls. And while it might feel like a free day off for many of our young learners, nearly all school districts have built snow days into the schedule — meaning any unexpected days off will be made up later in the spring.

We here on Long Island understand

LETTERS

the value of snow days, but not everyone shares those values. In fact, there is a growing contingent of education leaders right in our backyard who have been working hard to wipe snow days from existence.

It’s not that New York City has it out for an occasional unscheduled school closing. It’s just that the city’s education department has capitalized on the expansion of technology necessitated by the coronavirus pandemic, which made remote learning for all not just possible, but practical.

For the 1.1 million students who attend more than 1,800 schools in the city, instead of sitting inside a classroom to learn on days when it snows, they are sitting in their living rooms and bedrooms instead. All while other people their age, living just a few miles away, grab their snowsuits and sleds and enjoy the winter beauty Mother Nature has delivered.

Learning is important, but snow days are valuable. Quite valuable, in fact. Beyond safety, they provide a muchneeded mental health break — not just for students, but also for the adults responsible for their learning.

The pressure of academic demands and extracurricular activities can be intense. That can lead not just to stress, but even to burnout.

Snow days give all of us a chance to recharge and relax with some unscheduled playtime outdoors. And that’s important, too. We hear too much about

In fighting fires, amateurs are pros

To the Editor:

We are professional firefighters!

I take exception to the comment made by writer Brandon Cruz in his article “Long Island needs more volunteer firefighters” (Feb. 8-14) that our volunteer firefighters are not “professionals.” Cruz reports that if new volunteers don’t join local fire departments, communities will need to hire “professional” firefighters.

Our volunteers are professional firefighters, just not paid for what we do for our communities. We, as volunteers, don’t just put on turnout gear and rush into a burning building without the needed, required and constant training provided by the Nassau County Fire Service at its training facility in Bethpage, and here in Lynbrook, our own department’s training and drills at our training facility in Wilcox Alley.

Back some 44 years ago, the Lynbrook Fire Department was facing a firefighter shortage, and formed the Lynbrook Junior Fire Department for youngsters 12 to 17, to interest them in firefighting, with the goal of becoming firefighters when they turned 18.

During their time as juniors, the youngsters learn basic firefighting methods without actually fighting

how video games, computers and television keep so many of our kids indoors. But freshly fallen snow is irresistible, and will almost assuredly get them outside to have some fun. It’s good for their physical health in a way that sitting in front of a computer, watching a teacher on Zoom, just can’t provide.

And a snow day is a chance to build community. Families come together to shovel sidewalks, or maybe help neighbors in need. Children get together, working to build snow forts, or even a snowman, complete with a carrot nose and a top hat.

And who doesn’t love an impromptu snowball fight?

All of that comes with many parents still working remotely, which helps mitigate child-care issues and costs that might otherwise accompany snow days.

Just remember that these days are not breaks for everyone. Let’s not forget the municipal workers who wake up early to plow the snow, as well as the brave souls at utility companies, hospitals, and fire and police departments who, as first responders, are always prepared for the worst.

Each one of our children will spend more than 1,200 days in class through high school. Let them have a break. And let’s show New York City yet another reason why more and more people choose to live and work here on Long Island.

Because on Long Island, snow days are cool.

OPINIONS

Crime and its connection to bail reform

FBILL GAYLOR

irst, the good news. Long Island has consistently been named one of the safest major metropolitan areas in the United States. And in recent years, Nassau County has repeatedly been named the safest county in the nation. Violent crime is down to levels that are among the lowest ever recorded. The Nassau County Police Department is second to none, and we are fortunate to have our law-and-order procedures under the leadership of Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder and District Attorney Anne Donnelly, who are tough on crime and willing to enforce our laws to protect the public at the highest levels legally allowed.

Now the bad news. Long Island is the midst of a crime wave. While violent crime is in check, property crime has been on the rise. Crimes such as car theft, burglary and grand larceny have spiked to unprecedented levels. Retail

theft has gotten so out of control that many stores are placing products under lock and key.

That hasn’t served as much of a deterrent, as overall larceny on Long Island, which includes all theft except auto, jumped by 34 percent from 2021 to 2022. According to the Retail Council of New York State, retailers statewide lose about $4.4 billion per year from retail theft. And who pays for that? Naturally, it’s the consumer, in the form of higher retail prices to make up for the losses, further contributing to the rise in inflation. Such activity also puts store workers at risk of being assaulted should they attempt to intervene against shoplifters.

In too many cases, criminals are back out on the streets within hours.

While the mainstream media and progressive elected officials find all kinds of excuses to either sugar-coat these facts or offer other reasons for this crime epidemic, I believe it’s becoming increasingly clear that bail reform is the major contributor. There’s hardly a day that goes by without the issuance of an NCPD notice describing one or more people being arrested for committing a crime that too often also involved a previous arrest, but resulted in the perpetrators being released due to cashless bail. In too many cases, these criminals are back out on the street within hours, with no fear of repeating or even escalating their criminal activity.

glary, and retail theft variety.

Recently, Gov. Kathy Hochul finally woke up and publicly recognized that the dramatic increase in retail theft was a statewide problem. Her proposed solution includes creating a task force to combat organized retail theft, and provide funding, in the form of tax credits, for businesses that invest in prevention and security measures. The proposal also calls for new sanctions against those caught selling stolen merchandise.

Why is this happening? In my opinion, it’s no coincidence that what we’re seeing is directly tied to the progressive bail reform laws passed by Albany lawmakers in early 2020. Those laws, led by cashless bail, have emboldened criminals, who have learned they can commit these types of crimes without fear of being kept in jail if they get caught.

LETTERS

fires. When they turn 18, they join one of our fire companies, begin formal basic training at the county Fire Service Academy and are considered probationary firefighters for one year while they complete additional training.

Yes, we always need more volunteers, but our junior program is helping to fill our ranks.

Many area fire departments have also formed junior programs, based on ours, to help fill their own ranks. Admittedly, the juniors aren’t always enough, and some years are better than others. Lynbrook’s chief of department and three assistant chiefs came through our junior program. This isn’t the first time that all four chiefs have been former juniors. Many of our current volunteers came through our junior program.

There are now 30 youngsters in the Lynbrook Junior Fire Department. Two former juniors joined fire companies last month alone when they turned 18. It is estimated that over 40 percent of our juniors go on to become Lynbrook firefighters.

STEVE GROGAN Lynbrook

Grogan is a 56-year member of the Lynbrook Fire Department and an ex-captain and honorary chief. He

co-founded the Lynbrook Junior Fire Department, and is the department’s public information officer.

We need more governance, less politics

To the Editor:

Re County Legislator Delia DeRiggiWhitton’s column “Stop playing petty political games with county resources” last week: The difference of opinion between the legislative minority leader and the majority leader illustrates the difference between governance and politics. Nassau would benefit from more of the former and less of the latter.

The millions of dollars in American Rescue Plan Act funds at issue, having not been spent as intended, present a “windfall.” Shall we have Bruce Blakeman billboards or firehouse funds? Are we improvident grasshoppers or prudent and ant-like? Shall we squander millions on a 125th-birthday party or prudently invest in libraries, cybersecurity and clean water?

BRIAN KELLY Rockville Centre

Early last year, the NCPD issued warnings about organized crime rings that were sneaking small teams of men across the border to rob and steal, knowing that if they were caught, they would likely receive nothing more than appearance tickets. Since then, these gangs have been committing all kinds of crimes, mostly of the auto theft, bur-

FRAMEWORK by

This Band-Aid approach to addressing this serious situation won’t solve the problem. Instead, how about our Albany leaders finally accept the reality that bail reform in its current state is not working and needs to be fixed? Start by eliminating cashless bail and aggressively prosecute all thefts, including those involving less than $1,000 in stolen goods, while enforcing and prosecuting other crimes that are adversely affecting our quality of life. Then, perhaps law and order will prevail, and the criminals will get the message that their bad actions will not go unpunished.

Bill Gaylor represents Nassau County’s 14th Legislative District.

Tim Baker