Lynbrook/East Rockaway Herald 02-23-2023

Owl Success Academy’s first graduate

By BEN FIEBERT bfiebert@liherald.com

Lynbrook’s alternative high school program, the Owl Success Academy, reached a milestone on Feb. 8 when Matthew LaVerda became the program’s first graduate.

Board members and school faculty celebrated LaVerda’s achievement at the Feb. 8 meeting. The proud graduate shook hands with every board member as he received his diploma.

Addressing the board, LaVerda thanked them and said he hoped the program

would live on to create more graduates like him.

“I want to say thank you because I’m honored and flabbergasted to stand in front of you and accept this,” LaVerda said.

The program, he added, was “amazing,” and he wished it had started sooner.

“I couldn’t be prouder of him,” Lynbrook High School Principal Matthew Sarosy said. “And I am also very proud that this opportunity was provided to Matthew, and he took full advantage of it.” Sarosy added

Continued on page 6

Planned zoning meeting sparks variance in responses

Many residents are surprised that a condo project approved in 2020 is picking up where it left off

By BEN FIEBERT bfiebert@liherald.com

After a letter about a zoning variance meeting was shared on social media, residents of Lynbrook learned that condominiums are still in the works for Union Avenue.

In 2020, the village board voted unanimously to approve an 18-unit condominium complex at 161 Union, where a sushi restaurant now operates. Over two years later, neighbors thought the project was dead. That changed, however, with an

announcement that a meeting about a parking and yard variance for the condos was scheduled for February. It was later postponed after residents argued that it should not be held during the school break, and a new date has not yet been set.

One Lynbrook resident, Pat Alonge, said she thought the condo project was not moving forward, because “such an extended period of time elapsed.”

“Then I found out that there was a variance hearing in front

of the Board of Zoning Appeals coming up,” Alonge added, “so all of a sudden, people were like, ‘What do you mean?’ Everybody thought this project was dead.”

The Long Island Building Corp. proposed the construction of two condo buildings, to be called Parson’s Corners at Lynbrook, containing two onebedroom and 16 two-bedroom units. The 27-foot-tall buildings would have basement storage units and 38 parking spaces for condo owners.

The proposed variances that

will be voted on at the upcoming meeting are related to offstreet parking requirements and a rear yard at the Union Avenue site. A zoning board approval of the variances would give the property owner, William Geier, the legal permission to use his property in any

way he sees fit when it comes to parking and installing a yard.

One East Rockaway resident, Eric Weiss, called the development “Traffic Disaster 101.”

Another from Lynbrook, Jenny Lengyel, said, “That corner is already a mess, especially for

Continued on page 14

Courtesy Lynbrook Public Schools

lYNBRook HIgH SCHool student Matthew LaVerda is congratulated by Lynbrook board members and staff for being the first to graduate from the Owl Success Academy.

Hempstead approves ‘discriminatory’ maps

By ANA BORRUTO aborruto@liherald.com

They were angry, expressing those feelings as shame on the Hempstead Town Board. They are the group that has attended meeting after meeting, hoping to get some voice into how town board district lines would be redrawn, only to end up disappointed.

It was an unsurprising end, but one that resulted in boos.

“That’s nice, ladies and gentlemen,” Town Supervisor Don Clavin said, with unmistakable sarcasm. “That’s very polite of you.”

They had pushed for what they considered to be better representation on the town board — providing more opportunities for Hempstead’s growing minority populations to serve in elected positions through the creation of “minority-majority” districts. If they had passed, districts would be created where ethnic minorities were, in fact, the voting majority.

But none of them came to pass. Most surprisingly, with the help of Deputy Town Supervisor Dorothy Goosby — who notably challenged what she called Hempstead’s discriminatory at-large voting system in 1988 — who remained silent throughout the redistricting process, only to finally vote yes to the new map.

“In this moment in time, we are reinventing the same revisionist, segregationist history that has kept so many people behind,” said Mida Mereday of Baldwin. “Our voices have not been heard all this time — it’s not going to be anything different.”

Since the beginning of the Hempstead redistricting discussions, the concerns raised by opponents to the initial town-drawn maps has not changed: District lines should be redrawn to have a more balanced demographic representation.

But under the guidance of the Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders law firm as well as redistricting expert Sean Trende, the Town Board released a redistricting map proposal last month they said took into account public comments as well as the views of the redistricting commission — who recommended the board keep communities intact.

However, some doubted these intentions. When looking at the final map, attendees said there are communities still in danger of “packing” and “cracking,” such as Elmont, Uniondale, North Bellmore and Baldwin.

These methods fall under partisan gerrymandering — giving one side an advantage in a single district but no others, or simply breaking up voter blocs so a particular type of candidate can’t get enough support to win.

“The New York state constitution (says) the district shall not be drawn to discourage competition, or for the purpose of favoring or disfavoring incumbents or any other particular candidates or parties,” said Terry Bain, a former immigration judge from Rockville Centre. “It looks to me like this proposal may violate this spirit, as well as the letter of our state constitution.”

If Hempstead finalizes this current map, it could expose the town to costly litigation — all at taxpayer expense. Especially since a number of people in the audience who oppose the new map say they are willing to take the matter to court.

Dan Oppenheimer, a Hempstead village resident, says it’s interesting the final redistricting map was adopted while one of the six council district seats — formerly occupied by now U.S. Rep. Anthony D’Esposito — remains vacant.

As the vacancy approaches two months, some are anticipating the Hempstead town board will continue its ages-old tradition of appointing someone to fill the seat. These vacancies are often created when a council member runs successfully for another position. Recent appointments by the board to the town council include Thomas Muscarella, Melissa Miller and Dennis Dunne.

Clavin’s response to this practice when questioned about it was only that the board plans to “comply with Town of Hempstead law.”

“This is not something to do with voting representation when you have a history, year in and year out, of appointing rather than allowing for votes,” Oppenheimer told Clavin. “You are bypassing the electoral system that the districts are supposed to address.”

Ana Borruto/Herald HEMPSTEAD TOWN SUPERVISOR Donald Clavin faced some heat from the crowd gathered to discuss redistricting with claims he failed to listen to their concerns. Many of them had pushed for at least three ‘minority-majority’ districts, with the hopes of creating a town board that reflects the people living there.

Students honor Holocaust Remembrance Day

Students throughout the Lynbrook Public School District recognized the millions who were massacred during the Holocaust in recognition of Holocaust Remembrance Day on Jan. 27.

At North and South middle schools and Lynbrook High School, 8th and 10th graders gathered to view “The Barn,” a sobering documentary that features Rachel Kastner and her grandfather, Karl Shapiro, as they follow his story of survival in the face of unspeakable evil. In Ukraine, a Polish farmer hid Karl and 17 other Jews for a year and a half in a secret basement underneath his barn. The emotional journey takes Kastner and Shapiro to the place Shapiro swore he would never return. Although the memories were difficult to recount, Kastner experienced the tight living conditions her grandfather lived through and understood the insurmountable odds he overcame to survive.

The students watched attentively and empathetically connected to the struggle Shapiro experienced not long ago. Kastner joined the livestream of the documentary and spoke to students to answer questions about the experience. Students submitted engaging questions about the things she learned about her family and the many Jews attacked during the Holocaust. Kastner’s story exemplified the importance of passing down such stories through generations.

At the elementary schools, students honored the victims and their families through artistic expression. Beautiful butterfly murals stand at Marion Street, Waverly Park and West End, which acknowledge the individuals lost and promote messages of hope. West End students met virtually in the morning as Principal Leah Murray read the book, “Martin and Anne,” by Nancy Churnin, which recounts the struggles of Martin Luther King Jr. and Anne Frank, who were born the same year. Fifth graders in social studies classes at each building engaged in lessons about the Holocaust, emphasizing the importance of recognizing this harrowing event.

News brief

E.R. kindergarten registrations underway

Kindergarten registration forms for residents of the East Rockaway School District, who will be 5 years of age on or before Dec. 1, 2023, must be returned on or before Friday, March 10.

Forms must be returned to registration via email at Registrations@EastRockawaySchools.org or in person — by appointment only — to the central regis-

tration office at the high school located at 443 Ocean Ave., East Rockaway.

The kindergarten screening process will take place the week of May 30. For additional information, contact the central registration office, at (516) 887-8300. After calling, press “1”, and then ext. 433.

–Mark Nolan

Eighth gradErs at Lynbrook North Middle School reflected on the importance of remembering the Holocaust before viewing the documentary, “The Barn.”

Each buttErfly crEatEd at West End featured students’ hope for the world.

WavErly Park’s buttErfly display is a warm welcome in the school’s front lobby.

a rainboW of unique designs made up the butterfly display at Marion Street. south MiddlE school eighth graders were engaged in the documentary’s emotional story.

— Ben sse

Photos courtesy Lynbrook Public Schools

tEnth gradErs at Lynbrook High School viewed “The Barn” in the auditorium.

Returning to a legendary ship, one more time

World War II veteran Herbert Alberg salutes the USS Midway after 77 years

By KARINA KOVAC kkovac@liherald.com

“At night I’ve lain awake thinking about it,” Herbert Alberg, 97, said. “If I had a bucket list, it’d be on the bucket list.”

Alberg served on the USS Midway, an aircraft carrier, in 1946, when he was 18. Last weekend, he stepped aboard the ship, which is now a museum in San Diego, for the first time in 77 years. He reminisced, and donated one-of-a-kind photos he took secretly while aboard the ship, as well as other items, to the museum. He also met up with other World War II veterans and answered museum guests’ questions.

Preparing for his flight from New York, Alberg packed a suitcase in his Oceanside home with, among other things, pictures of icebergs, enlisted men plowing snow off the Midway’s flight deck, sailors sunbathing in Guantanamo Bay, and Cuba. Each photo brought back memories of his time aboard the Midway as a radar man in the Combat Information Center. The photos were taken with a German bellows camera, a gift from his brother, who served in the war.

“It was so long ago, and I was so young,” Alberg said. He was encouraged to join the Navy by his older brother who took part in the Allied invasions of North Africa, Sicily and France. Herbert went to

the enlistment office with his father, who signed off on the 17½-year-old’s paperwork. He got his orders for Christmas 1944, left Middle Village, Queens, and turned 18 in boot camp at Great Lakes Naval Training Center in 1945.

“They asked what kind of ship I’d like to be on, and I said a destroyer,” he said. “I

picked a destroyer because my cousin, who was six months older than me, joined the Navy, and he was a radar man, so I thought I’d keep it in the family. Instead they assigned me to the … Midway, which had not been commissioned yet.”

Alberg said he was fortunate to be assigned to the battlecarrier, which was America’s largest naval vessel for 10 years and couldn’t fit through the Panama Canal. The ship was also a prototype of sorts, with a new state-of-the-art steel deck, which offered more protection against bombs dropped by kamikaze pilots. Before the switch, they easily broke through the wooden decks into the bowels of a ship.

Part of the first crew to shove out, Alberg who was a radar man, is considered a “plank owner.” On board he monitored three types of radar, he said, as part of Operation Frostbite. As the Cold War was beginning America’s military noticed, “that the Russians had ports in cold-weather areas,” Alberg said, “We never had it, so the admirals said we have to learn how to operate in cold weather.” The Midway, packed with 4,500 crewmem-

bers, was flanked by three destroyers as it cruised toward the Arctic Circle.

“This one day, it was really bad weather,” Alberg recounted, “and we were rolling. They said at that time it was like a 90-degree pitch, which was unheard of with a carrier. I opened up the hatch and all you see is water, which is not a good sign.” Sailors call it “green water,” as waves broke on the flight deck, some 50 feet above sea level. It was “one of the times I was frightened,” Alberg said.

One of the photos Alberg gave to the museum depicts one of those monster waves breaking on a nearby destroyer. Alberg titled the picture “rough waters.” “I don’t think the enlisted people were allowed to take pictures, so I had to sneak,” he said, “they sold film on the ship, but I never bought any.”

Alberg looks back at his year on the ship as simply doing his duty. “You’ve got a job to do,” he said. He was discharged July 2, 1946, and stayed at the Lido Beach Hotel. After getting married Alberg moved out to “greener pastures,” in Oceanside, he said.

While back in the states, he went to technical school for structural technology and worked as a surveyor until he got a job on Governors Island. There he worked as a post engineer for the U.S. Army doing maintenance for 37 years.

“I can’t remember all of the things that happened there, but it was surely an experience working there,” he said, adding he remembers president Ronald Reagan visiting to get a view of the Statue of Liberty while it was undergoing construction. He reluctantly retired working at the age of 80.

As he prepared for his visit to the Midway last weekend, Alberg speculated that he would “probably be one of the oldest of the original crew to come aboard.”

“It was wonderful to have Herb back on his ship after all these years,” said Jim Reily, the USS Midway Museum’s director of docents and the ship’s supply officer from 1989 to 1991, who spent the day with Alberg. “It was a joy to be able to show him around. Once you’ve served on Midway, no matter how long ago, you’re a Midway sailor for life.”

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Courtesy USS Midway Museum

HeRBeRt AlBeRg ReAlIzed his dream of returning to the USS Midway last Saturday, after 77 years. His year on the carrier in 1946, as an 18-year-old radar man during Operation Frostbite, was an unforgettable experience, he said.

Fourth graders learn about New York’s oysters

Through a special collaboration, elementary school students throughout Lynbrook Public Schools learned about the importance of hidden shellfish that line New York’s shores.

Students at Marion Street, Waverly Park, and West End elementary schools took a dive into the Billion Oyster Project, which is an environmental sustainability initiative that seeks to restore one billion oysters to New York Harbor by 2035. Because oysters are filter feeders, they serve as a natural water filter with many beneficial effects for their surrounding ecosystem.

Elementary school science specialists have incorporated the Billion Oyster Project into their curriculum through lessons that relate to the project’s mission. During the fourth grade’s structure and func-

tion unit, for example, science specialists substituted the study of a fiddler crab with an oyster to think about the design of a hard outer body that protects a soft inner body.

Representatives from Nassau BOCES, in association with Cornell University’s Nassau Extension, have visited all fourth grade classes to present special assemblies. The assemblies provided an examining of live oysters that students were able to see and interact with up close. They learned about the function of the oyster and their importance to New York State as well as the Hudson River. This helped students build an appreciation for the Billion Oyster Project and how it will benefit so many people in the future.

— Ben Fiebert

FOurth graders were able to examine the shells of oysters up close.

Photos Courtesy Lynbrook Public Schools

Feb. 2, Marion Street Elementary School students enjoyed a presentation about the Billion Oyster Project, which seeks to restore oysters to New York Harbor.

Educational program collaborates with BOCES

that graduating from the program gives LaVerda more options and different paths to take in the future.

“Now that he has a high school diploma, he’ll have more opportunities, as he was able to successfully complete this program,” Sarosy said.

These new opportunities showed up immediately as Sarosy informed LaVerda that SUNY Empire State College extended an acceptance to him for its online collegiate program.

Sarosy said there have been talks about implementing an alternative educational program, but the pandemic helped

make it a reality. “After coming out of the pandemic, we realized that students who struggle in a traditional environment, needed the additional option to learn in a non-traditional way,” Sarosy said.

He noted another educational program was needed as students came out of the pandemic. He ensured the program became a reality last spring when the planning became implementation.

“This is its first year,” Sarosy said. “We opened the academy this September.” The program is operating within the Lynbrook High School and Sarosy calls it a “school within a school.”

Lynbrook High School works with the

Board of Cooperative Educational Services program in cooperation with the Owl Success Academy.

“There is a dedicated space in the

MEET THE 2023 HONOREES*

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

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building that was just totally refurbished,” Sarosy said. “And the students spend their day in that room and rather than switching classes like a traditional schedule. They use BOCES online learning to complete their coursework, and we provide the necessary support to help those students do well in the courses.

“The students learn in the building, at a physical location, but their specific coursework takes place on their tablets,” Sarosy said.

Lynbrook High School teachers check in with the BOCES students daily to follow their progress, assignments and the pace of their work.

The program is available for students who qualify from grades 11 and 12. The Lynbrook High School guidance and support staff decides who joins the program.

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Those chosen for the program are “students who are motivated and struggle in a traditional environment,” according to Sarosy.

There are nine students in the program.

“That’s the number that we’re comfortable with,” Sarosy said.

With the success of the program this year, Sarosy plans on continuing it next year and he hopes that it will become a staple at Lynbrook High School.

By Jonathan Wolfsohn MBA, CFP, EA, ATA

It’s important for everyone to know how the IRS contacts taxpayers. This will help people avoid falling victim to scammers who pretend to be from the IRS with a goal of stealing money or personal information. Here are some facts about how the IRS communicates with taxpayers:

When the IRS needs to contact a taxpayer, the first contact is normally by letter delivered by the U.S. Postal Service. Fraudsters often send fake documents through the mail, and in some cases will claim they already notified a taxpayer by U.S. mail. Depending on the situation, IRS employees may first call or visit with a taxpayer. In some instances, the IRS sends a letter or written notice to a taxpayer in advance, but not always.

IRS revenue agents or tax compliance officers may call a taxpayer or tax professional after mailing a notice to confirm an appointment or to discuss items for a scheduled audit.

Private debt collectors can call taxpayers for the collection of certain outstanding inactive tax liabilities, but only after mailing the taxpayer and their representative written notice.

i want to say thank you because I’m honored and flabbergasted to stand in front of you and accept this.

matthew LaVerda

School counselors address

NYSACAC Winter Conference

East Rockaway Director of School Counseling Janna Bonacorsi was invited to present at the New York State Association for College Admission Counseling, NYSACAC, Winter Institute Conference on Jan. 20.

At the conference, Ms. Bonacoursi was joined by East Rockaway Jr./Sr. High School Counselor Rebecca Mantle and administrative staffer Christine Del Valle as co-presenters for the presentation enti-

Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick blasts Hochul’s housing plan

New York State Sen. Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick joined several Long Island state senators last week in attacking Governor Kathy Hochul’s housing plan. Hochul’s plan would dramatically increase housing on Long Island, and throughout the state.

Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, who represents the 9th Senate District — which encompasses Lynbrook, Malverne, East Rockaway and other communities — said Hochul’s plan would negatively impact smaller Nassau County communities.

“Many Nassau residents fled from overdevelopment and unchecked urbanism in New York City and elsewhere,” Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick said in a release.

tled: “Utilizing Unique Opportunities to Build Relationships and Maximize Student Success.”

The NYSACAC Winter Institute is a one-day professional development program for new school counseling and admission counseling professionals to connect with leaders in the field through facilitated discussions.

According to Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, the governor’s plan would result in new construction of more than 1 million residential units in the areas around Long Island Railroad stations in Nassau County.

Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick and other state senators bemoaned the governor’s proposal for usurping local zoning ordinances.

“Our municipalities should retain the right to decide how their neighborhoods look, and this proposal would strip them of their autonomy to oppose high density

housing and predatory development,” Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick said. “Edicts and commands from above have no place in a society that is meant to be governed by the democratic process.”

State senators from Long Island also decried the impact these proposed housing units would have on local school districts. The state senators said the Hochul’s proposal does not indicate how the 54 public school districts in Nassau County would be able to accommodate the influx of children. In addition, state senators said there was nothing to address the increase in traffic.

“Our school districts are already overcrowded, our infrastructure needs improvement, and the bottom line is that Nassau residents simply do not want this,” Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick said. “I will vehemently oppose this budget so long as this policy of forcible rezoning remains part of it.”

The governor’s $227 billion budget included several proposals to increase the number of housing units available in New York. These proposals, if adopted, would strip local governments of the ability to control growth and zoning.

–Mark Nolan

When Does a Trust Make Sense

By now most people know that trusts avoid probate which is required with a will -if there are “probatable” assets, in other words those in your name alone. While many assets can be set up to avoid probate by putting joint owners on or by naming beneficiaries, titles to real estate in New York may not have beneficiaries and there are tax and liability reasons for not naming joint owners on real estate. As a result, real property generally goes through probate.

Other reasons to use trusts, besides avoiding probate for the home, are as follows:

1. Out-of-State Property. New York residents who own property in another state face two probates, one in New York and another in the other state. However, you may transfer both properties into your New York trust and avoid the “multiple probate problem”.

2. Trusts Are Private. Unlike wills, trusts are not filed in court, so there is no public record of how much you had, who you left

it to, where they live, and who you left out.

3. Special Needs Children. If you leave assets to a special needs child in a will, the court will appoint a lawyer to represent the special needs child which will require your estate to pay two lawyers and significantly delay the proceedings.

4. Keeping Your Assets in the Bloodline. Wills generally leave assets to your children and have no provisions for what happens after they get the inheritance. As a result, when your child dies, assets often go to inlaws and their families. Trusts can provide that your assets will stay in your bloodline for generations to come.

5. Protecting Assets from Long-Term Care Costs. Wills take effect on death and offer no long-term care asset protection. Often, the cost of care ends up leaving nothing for the heirs at death. Medicaid Asset Protection Trusts not only avoid probate, but also protect assets from being lost to longterm care costs.

— Ben Fiebert

Courtesy AnnaMaria Leal (@imprintedshadows) East Rockaway school counseling and administrative staff at the NYSACAC Winter Institute Conference on Jan. 20. From left to right, director of School Counseling Christine Del Valle, administrative staffer Janna Bonacorsi, and School Counselor Rebecca Mantle.

sen. steve Rhoads

Vets can get free emergency mental health care

By MALLORY WILSON mwilson@liherald.com

Suicides among military veterans have been in decline over the past couple years, but today, a former soldier still takes his or her life every 85 minutes on average.

But now, veterans deemed to be in “acute suicidal crisis” can receive free emergency mental health services, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. That’s help that includes up to 30 days of in-patient care, and three months outpatient.

Veterans can find that help at any VA or non-VA health care facility at no cost. They don’t even need to be enrolled in the VA system to use this benefit.

Part of the Veterans Comprehensive Prevention, Access to Care and Treatment — or COMPACT — Act of 2020, the new rule allows veterans discharged after more than two years of service under conditions other than dishonorable are eligible for the care, which will either be paid for or reimbursed by the VA. The expanded care is meant to, “help prevent veteran suicide by guaranteeing no cost, world-class care to veterans in times of crisis,” according to a news release.

“Free or not free, the priority is getting them health care,” Pete Wenninger, immediate past commander of the East Meadow American Legion Post 1082, said. “The being burdened with a cost is not going to be helpful to them, but it is critical that when a veteran needs mental health, that they get it.”

The policy will provide, pay for, or reimburse for treatment of those who qualify for emergency suicide care, transportation costs, and follow-up care at a facility. It will also help veterans by making appropriate referrals while determining eligibility for other VA services and benefits.

“I think it was a great move,” said Ralph Esposito, director of the Nassau County Veterans Service Agency.

“These kids coming home today from Iraq, Iran and everything, they got problems. And they’re hurting.”

The policy will also apply to former members of the armed forces, including reserve members, who served “more than 100 days under a combat exclusion or in support of a contingency operation.” It’s also open to those discharged under conditions other than dishonorable, who were the victim of sexual assault, sexual battery, or sexual harassment while serving.

“The need is more and more, that’s why the government — I believe — started this program,” Esposito said. “They see it. It’s happening all over. And we’re doing all we can to get them out.”

At the Nassau VSA in East Meadow, vets needing mental help are sent to speak with counselors that are right there for them, Esposito said. There’s also a food pantry if they’re hungry, and where they can pick up other supplies as well.

“It’s heartbreaking because they’re young,” he said.

A NEW FEDERAL policy will allow veterans in ‘acute suicidal crisis’ to receive free mental health care, including in-patient care for up to 30 days, and outpatient care for up to three months.

“It’s a big thing, but I’m really happy that they did this and that we have this program going.”

According to the National Veteran Suicide Prevention annual report, there were 6,146 veteran suicides in 2020 — down 5 percent from the year before, and “lower than each prior year since 2006.”

“Veterans have a hard time dealing with the military experience,” said Frank Salamino, quartermaster for the East Meadow Veterans of Foreign War Post 2736. “They have a very hard time. I know myself firsthand.

The new program is a step in the right direction for veteran care, Salamino added, but more needs to be done. Starting with talking to veterans before they leave the service about what they’re thinking and what they need.

And when they do get home and look for medical care from the government, appointments are hard to come by — oftentimes spread out with months in between.

“It took me a long time to get some help,” Salamino said.

Neil Miller/Herald file

Connecting trails from Manhattan to Montauk

By MALLORY WILSON mwilson@liherald.com

Stretching some 175 miles, the Long Island Greenway is intended to serve walkers and cyclists alike on a trail beginning in Manhattan and terminating on the east end of Montauk.

The brainchild of the nonprofit Trust for Public Land, the trail would connect parks, trail and other public land within communities, allowing people to bike, jog or walk for leisure. And, in many cases, could even become a green means to commute to work.

Construction is set to begin next year, focusing on a 25-mile stretch between Eisenhower Park in East Meadow and Brentwood State Park.

“The abundance of beautiful parklands, trails and natural open spaces are one of the aspects that make our island such a desirable place to live,” John Cameron, Long Island Regional Planning Council chair, said in a release. “The Long Island Greenway will connect our communities and enable Long Islanders to better enjoy an active lifestyle.”

Carter Strickland, the Trust for Public Land state director, presented details about the project’s progress to the planning council last week. That includes a trail linking 26 parks, 46 train stations and 60 bus routes through a combination of off-road and on-road connections among more than two-dozen communities. It’s estimated to draw roughly 34 million visitors annually.

“Some of the benefits of ending in these existing parks — or beginning — is that they have bathrooms, they have parking areas, we can minimize that need to build anything new,” Strickland said. “Along the themes of making the most of our existing assets, that’s the whole vision.”

Throughout this 25-mile stretch, there are more than 130,000 residents who would find access. More than a

dozen parks can be accessed by the trail, and another 36 schools and universities are within a mile.

One of the benefits of the trail overall, Strickland says, include a safer area for pedestrians and bikers to traverse.

“Long Island, unfortunately, kind of leads the state in terms of pedestrians killed or injured,” he said. “The statewide average is a third or a quarter of the amounts in Nassau and Suffolk, and it’s a public health crisis. We’ve got to address it.”

Increased physical activity is another reason to sup-

BREAKING DOWN BOUNDARIES WITH CANCER BREAKTHROUGHS

port this trail.

“We know that in our day and age, obesity, chronic diseases are problematic,” Strickland said. “It’s what kind of plagues us. To prevent that, one of the best ways is to create recreational infrastructure, increase walking, or biking physical activities. It doesn’t always have to be superrigorous.

“If we weave it into our lives, it’ll make us healthier, and overall reduce health care costs.”

The route aims to include the Nassau Hub, Belmont Park, and others throughout the island. The greenway would be the Long Island leg of New York state’s 750-mile Empire Trail that connects New York City to areas like Buffalo, Albany and Plattsburgh.

The plan is funded through a combination of private and taxpayer support. Now, the trust is applying for a federal grant to pay for the second phase of the trail between Riverhead and Montauk — approximately 50 miles.

They hope to get a grant under President Biden’s infrastructure law and its Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity program. With the support of the planning council, Strickland sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Transportation showing its support for grant money to help with the design stage of the next leg.

“The benefits of hike and bike trail networks are welldocumented,” the letter, signed by Cameron, stated. “Trails create more livable communities through the revitalization of downtown areas and creation of transportation alternatives, improve public health by increasing access to recreational opportunities, and represent a meaningful equity investment in providing safe infrastructure to diminish reliance on private vehicle ownership.”

The trust hopes to be construction-ready for the second phase by 2025.

to U.S.News&WorldReport.

Our doctors are raising health by pioneering innovative approaches to cancer from novel chemotherapy techniques to first-in- the-nation robotic mastectomies with minimal scarring. Because when it comes to cancer, there’s no status quo. There’s only “how far can we go?”

Northwell.edu/NoLimits

LIJ Medical Center is in the top 10% of hospitals nationally for oncology, according

Courtesy Metro Commons

THE LONG ISLAND Greenway, a 175-mile bicycle and pedestrian trail, aims to get people more active within nature and their communities. The first phase of construction — connecting Eisenhower Park to Brentwood State Park — is set to start next year.

STEPPING OUT

The Hot Sardines

Pigeon is here. Elephant and Piggie, Knuffle Bunny, too. Families will have “Mo” fun at Long Children’s Museum, with “The Pigeon Comes to Long Island! A Mo Willems Exhibit,” which encourages all to step inside Willems’ imagination.

This being the children’s museum, of course, the traveling exhibit — co-organized by Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh and the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art — is fully hands-on — inspired by the art and characters of the beloved children’s author.

“We know our audience, families, finds these books really appealing,” says Ashley Niver, the museum’s director of education. “Kids really relate to these characters, their feelings and how they work through their conflicts. The characters are playful and curious and the kids identify and respond to them.”

• Now through May 14, Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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

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

The band brings their distinctive sound to the Landmark stage. Emerging a decade ago from the underground parties of Brooklyn to touring worldwide and recording a string of albums that’s racked up more than 60 million streams across digital platforms, the Hot Sardines’ own “potent and assured” (The New York Times), “simply phenomenal” (The Times of London) brand of reinvigorated classic jazz landed them at the center of a whirlwind. Their unique recipe blends hot jazz and sultry standards from the ’20s, ’30s, and ’40s, rich New Orleans sounds, a dash of ’40s Paris flavor, and vibrant musical surprises. It’s all steeped in salty stride piano and the music Louis Armstrong, Django Reinhardt and Fats Waller used to make. The result is straight-up footstomping jazz. Their name says it all: their iconic ‘hot’ styling will paint a vibrant picture with smoky sounds and audiences revel in the steamy, swanky influence of their art form.

Saturday, March 6, 8 p.m. $60, $50, $46. Jeanne Rimsky Theater at Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington. (516) 767-6444 or LandmarkOnMainStreet.org.

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

The familiar characters immediately get an enthusiastic response — including best friend duo Elephant and Piggie, faithful companion Knuffle Bunny, and The Pigeon, that wily city bird best known for his antics in “Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!” Activities showcase Willems’ whimsy and humor, giving families opportunities to make art-inspired by Willems and learn about the rich social and emotional lives of the author’s characters. Illustrations, including sketches and other preliminary materials, are also on display.

At the heart of it all, the exhibit is designed to instill a love of reading.

“Mo Willems’ books are frequently the starting point for a child to understand the power of choice they hold in what to read and reread,” vice president for program and visitor experience Aimee Terzulli explains. “Willems creates characters that get children invested in wanting to spend more time with them as they choose to read more of his popular stories.”

The many components are approachable, even for the youngest kids. Highlights include:

• A bus station where kids can put on a bus driver costume and “drive around” the exhibit space.

• Kids can have hilarious conversations in the voices of Elephant, Gerald and Piggie at the “Elephone” double-sided phone booth.

• Use the hot dog launcher to launch foam hot dogs at The Pigeon and play the plinko game to give Duckling a cookie. “So silly and fun,” Niver adds. “Kids get a kick out of the hot dogs flying through the air.”

• Explore the laundromat and uncover Knuffle Bunny and other surprises among the clothes.

• Dress up Naked Mole Rat and send him down the runway for a one-of-a-kind fashion show.

• Work with the “lightbox” to try out illustration techniques that Willems uses for his books.

As always, related programming enhances the exhibit experience. The museum theater is especially active at the moment, with performances of Willem’s newest show “Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! The Musical!” (through March 25), followed by the return of the always-popular “Elephant & Piggie’s “We are in a Play!” (April 23 to June 3).

‘The Rocketman Show’

Remember when rock was young? You sure will at this tribute show. Rus Anderson, Elton John’s official body double for his Farewell Yellow Brick Road world tour launch, recreates an early Elton concert complete with colorful and flamboyant costumes actually worn by Elton himself. Enjoy a nostalgic night of Elton’s greatest hits, wildest outfits and outrageous stage antics. Anderson recreates the magic and live persona of a young Elton like no other. Storming around the stage with a fun-loving sense of flamboyance; part diva, part soccer player, killer vocalist, fierce piano player, all rock ‘n roller. His painstaking attention to detail includes wearing outlandish and spectacular costumes, including Elton’s iconic boots, glasses and jumpsuits from 1973, as well as a sparkly Swarovski tuxedo from 1984.

Friday, March 17, 8 p.m. $60, $45, Saturday, March 18, 8 p.m. $65, $45, $35, $30. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. (800) 745-3000 or Ticketmaster.com or ParamountNY.com.

WHeRe WHen

By Karen Bloom

Photos courtesy Long Island Children’s Museum Everyone enjoys Mo fun Each element in the gallery relates to specific books in the Mo Willems collection.

THE SCENE

Feb. 26

Art talk

Meet Yong Yangliang when he visits Nassau County Museum of Art, Sunday, Feb. 26, 3 p.m. What a journey it has been for this famous artist, from Shanghai to the Metropolitan Museum to his new studio in Roslyn. His lyrical, dreamy work is also a journey in time, back to the fabled era of Tang dynasty literature and ink painting, the inspiration for the masterwork on view. Join him for a conversation on art, poetry and Asian aesthetics today and in ancient times. Participation is limited; registration required. $20 non-members. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. (516) 484-9337 or NassauMuseum.org.

Lynbrook Kiwanis Fundraiser

March 6

Brandon ‘Taz’ Niederauer

The young guitar sensation visits the Landmark stage, Saturday, March 6, 8 p.m. Nineteenyear-old Brandon Niederauer, nicknamed “Taz” for his ferocious guitar playing, is living proof that dreams really do come true. Having performed in some of the most legendary venues with many of the most prominent musicians ofof our time, he has already earned himself quite the reputation. It all started at eight years old, when he watched the movie “School of Rock.” From then on, his guitar rarely left his hands. Just four years later, Brandon was cast in the principal role of guitarist “Zack Mooneyham” in the Tony Award-nominated Broadway production of “School of Rock the Musical.” And he never looked back. $30, $25. Jeanne Rimsky Theater at Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington. (516) 767-6444 or LandmarkOnMainStreet.org.

Lynbrook Kiwanis holds fundraiser, Friday, March 10, 7 p.m., at the Tally-Ho Engine Co., 81 Horton Ave., to benefit the Mended Little Hearts Foundation. With DJ and bingo. One full table of 10 people is $360. Tickets are $40. For more information, contact (516) 599-0137.

Musical revue

Plaza Theatrical continues its season with “Bette, Babs & Beyond!,” a showstopping tribute to the legendary ladies of music,Sunday, Feb. 26, 2:30 p.m. Celebrate the stories and songs of pop music’s most iconic women including Bette Midler, Barbra Streisand, Cher, Tina Turner, Aretha Franklin, Dolly Parton, Janis Joplin, and more. It’s performed at Plaza’s stage at the Elmont Library Theatre, 700 Hempstead Turnpike, Elmont. $40, $35 seniors. For tickets, call (516) 599-6870 or visit PlazaTheatrical.com.

Lynbrook Monthly Car Seat Check

Lynbrook Police Department trains parents/caregivers about proper installation of child safety seats, Wednesday, March 13, 5 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., 81 Wright Ave. Schedule only one car seat per time slot to allow for proper car seat installation. For more information, call (516) 5992900.

RVC Homemakers

Learn crafts, cooking, canasta and more while doing community service for local hospitals, veterans, women and children. RVC Homemakers meets every Tuesday at 10 a.m., at the Recreation Center, 111 North Long Beach Road, Rockville Centre. For more information call Karen Alterson at (516) 318-6771.

Superhero Camp

Calling all Superheroes! Enjoy a meet and greet, Wednesday, March 4, 2 p.m., at Rolling River Day Camp, Ocean Ave., with Miles aka Spin and Gwen aka Ghost Spider. Story time, superhero training, photo opportunities, dancing, pizza, and more. Children’s tickets are $30; under 1 year old are free. 2023 enrolled campers should check their email for a special discount promo code. Come dressed in your best superhero costumes. Tickets must be purchased in advance on EventBrite.com. For more info, email events@rollingriver.com or call (516) 593-CAMP.

Feb. 25

Voyage

On stage Mo Willems’ popular The Pigeon comes alive on the Long Island Children’s Museum stage, Friday and Saturday, Feb. 2425, 2 p.m.; Thursday, March 2, 10:15 a.m. and noon. Pigeon is eager to try anything, with the audience part of the action. Long Island Children’s Museum, Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 224-5800 or LICM.org.

Dine Around

Join the Lynbrook Chamber of Commerce at their monthly gathering, Wednesday, March 1, at The Chef’s Table, 12 Watkins Street. Everyone is welcome. Reserve at (631) 6047515. Follow the Chamber on Facebook for more details.

include date, time and location of the event, cost, and a contact name and phone number. Submissions can be emailed to thescene@liherald.com.

The Journey tribute band visits The Paramount, Saturday, Feb. 25, 8 p.m. The popular band takes everyone back to the ‘80’s when Journey’s timeless music ruled the airwaves. Hailed by fans and critics alike as the world’s top Journey tribute band, this group performs their music with chilling accuracy. Fronted by Hugo — a dead ringer for Steve Perry, both visually and vocally — he continues to delight fans with his miraculous resemblance, exact mannerisms and identical voice to Steve. Fans agree that Voyage delivers an experience to the original Steve Perry-fronted lineup. $40, $35, $30, $25. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. (800) 745-3000 or Ticketmaster.com or ParamountNY.com.

Absolute Adele

Vocalist Jennifer Cella, who performs with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, returns to her alma mater, Nassau Community College, with a tribute to Adele, Saturday, Feb. 25, 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Mainstage Theatre, Garden City. Tickets are available through the NCC online box office at Nassau.BookTix.com/ seating.php. For information, visit NCC.edu or call (516) 572-7676.

Family theater

The beloved fairy tale springs to life in a delightful musical romp, presented Plaza Theatrical Productions, Friday, Feb. 24 11 a.m.; Sunday, Feb. 26, noon. All the ingredients that have made this story a perennial favorite are here, including Cinderella, a zany Godmother, a trip to the royal ball, and a glass slipper. Tickets are $16. Visit the Plaza stage at The Showplace at Bellmore Movies, 222 Pettit Ave., Bellmore. For information/tickets, go to PlazaTheatrical.com or call (516) 599-6870.

On exhibit

Photography’s ascent in the art world is an international phenomenon. Nassau County Museum of Art’s star-studded exhibition spans the historical roots of the medium. View works by Ansel Adams and his generation and the thrilling, large-format color works of such contemporary masters as Cindy Sherman, Thomas Struth, James Casebere and Gregory Crewdson, among others. From the documentary to the painterly, images bear witness to the times. On view through March 5. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Drive, Roslyn Harbor. (516) 484-9337 or NassauMuseum.org.

A condo project is still in the works

all the students walking home or to South (Middle School) for after-school sports.” Both sentiments were echoed by dozens of other Lynbrook community members. At a village meeting in 2020, however, an attorney for the Long Island Building Corp., William Bonesso, contended that neither traffic nor taxes would increase.

Bonesso said that the developers

STATE OF NEW YORK PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION

CASE 22-T-0346 - Application of Empire Offshore Wind LLC for a Certificate of Environmental Compatibility and Public Need for the Construction of Approximately 12 Miles of Transmission Lines from the Boundary of New York State Territorial Waters to a Point of Interconnection in the Town of Hempstead, Nassau County.

NOTICE INVITING PUBLIC COMMENT AND ANNOUNCING PUBLIC STATEMENT HEARINGS

(Issued February 10, 2023)

Public comment is sought regarding a request by Empire Offshore Wind LLC (EOW) to construct, operate and maintain the New York portion of the transmission facilities required to interconnect EOW’s proposed Empire Wind 2 Offshore Wind Generating Facility, to be located within the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management designated Renewable Energy Lease Area OCS-A 0512, to a Point of Interconnection with the New York State Transmission System, located at an expansion of the Barrett 138-kilovolt (kV) Substation located in Oceanside in the Town of Hempstead, New York (the NY Project). The NY Project includes several components: three three-core 230-kV high-voltage alternating current (HVAC) submarine export cables located within an approximately 7.7-nautical mile (nm) submarine export cable corridor from the boundary of New York State waters three nms offshore to the cable landfall; a cable landfall in the City of Long Beach; three 230-kV onshore export cable circuits, each with three single-core HVAC onshore export cables within an approximately 1.5-mile-long onshore export cable corridor from the cable landfall to the onshore substation; an onshore substation in the Village of Island Park, within the Town of Hempstead, which will step up the voltage to 345-kV for the onshore interconnection cables; and, up to three 345-kV interconnection cable circuits, each with three single-core HVAC interconnection cables within an approximately 1.7-mile-long interconnection cable corridor from the onshore substation to the point of interconnection.

Under New York State Law, the Commission may adopt or reject EOW’s proposal, in whole or part, or modify it. In doing so, the Commission will consider input from the participating parties and the general public. Administrative Law Judges (ALJs) are presiding over the gathering of public comments and all evidence related to the NY Project. As indicated in this Notice, public statement hearings will be held to obtain comments from the public concerning EOW’s proposal.

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that virtual public statement hearings will be held before ALJs Ashley Moreno and Lindsey Overton as follows:

Date: Thursday, March 9, 2023

Time: 1:00 p.m.

Event Number: 2339 722 2371

Password: Mar9-1pm

Phone-Only Access: (518)549-0500

Access Code: 2339 722 2371

Time: 5:00 p.m.

Event Number: 2330 951 2704

Password: Mar9-5pm

Phone-Only Access: (518)549-0500

Access Code: 2330 951 2704

Those wishing to comment on any aspect of this proceeding will have the opportunity to make a statement on the record at the virtual public statement hearings. Any person wishing to provide a public statement on the record at the hearings must pre-register to do so by 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 7, 2023.

To pre-register and provide a statement electronically:

Participants who would like to provide a statement and will log in to a hearing electronically must pre-register by the date and time indicated above by visiting www.webex.com , where they should click “Join” at the top right-hand corner of the screen, enter the event number listed above, and provide all requested information.

When logging in on the date and time of the hearing, participants will be asked to “select audio system.” It is recommended that participants opt to have the system “call me” or “call using computer.” The “call me” option will require participants to enter their phone numbers.

To pre-register and provide a statement by phone:

Any participant who is not able to log in to a hearing electronically may participate by phone. Call-in participants wishing to make a statement must pre-register by the date and time indicated above by calling 1-800-342-3330, where they should follow prompts to the appropriate hearing and provide the following information: first and last names, address, and phone number.

On the day and time of the hearing, all call-in participants should dial 518-549-0500 and enter the access code listed above to join the hearing.

The public statement hearings will be held open until everyone who has registered to speak has been heard or other reasonable arrangements to submit comments into the record have been made. Reasonable time limits may be set for each speaker as necessary to afford all registered speakers an opportunity to be heard. It is recommended that lengthy comments be submitted in writing and summarized for oral presentation. A verbatim transcript of the public statement hearings will be made for inclusion in the record of this case.

Persons with disabilities requiring special accommodations should call the Department of Public Service’s Human Resources Management Office at 518-474-2520 as soon as possible. TDD users may request a sign language interpreter by placing a call through the New York Relay Service at 711. Individuals with difficulty understanding or reading English are encouraged to call the Department at 1-800-342-3377 for free language assistance services regarding this notice.

Other Ways to Comment:

For those who cannot attend or prefer not to speak at the public statement hearings, there are several other ways to provide your comments to the Commission. Comments should refer to “Case 22-T-0346.” Although comments will be accepted throughout the pendency of this proceeding, they are requested by March 24, 2023.

Internet or Mail: Go to www.dps.ny.gov, click on “File Search” (located under the heading “Commission Files”), enter “22-T-0346” in the “Search by Case Number” field, and then click on the “Post Comments” box located at the top of the page.

Alternatively, comments may be mailed to the Hon. Michelle L. Phillips, Secretary, Public Service Commission, Three Empire State Plaza, Albany, New York 12223-1350. All written comments will become part of the record considered by the Commission and may be accessed on the Department of Public Service website by searching the case number, as described above, and clicking on the “Public Comments” tab.

Toll-Free Opinion Line: You may call the Commission’s Opinion Line at 1-800-335-2120. This number is set up to take comments about pending cases from in-State callers 24-hours a day. These comments are not transcribed verbatim, but a summary is provided to the Commission.

(SIGNED) MICHELLE L. PHILLIPS, Secretary

would not seek a payment in lieu of taxes, or PILOT, agreement from the Nassau County or Town of Hempstead Industrial Development Agency. Property taxes on the new project, he said, would increase to roughly $234,000 a year, or triple the $78,000 that is collected now. Bonesso brought an appraiser who said that area home values would increase if the project were approved.

At a village board meeting in November 2020, Bonesso presented the results of a traffic study that showed little to no impact on the area from the condo construction. The developers, he said, did not expect the project to affect nearby traffic or the schools. After voting to approve the project, Mayor Alan Beach said he felt that it was the right thing for the village.

“The board reviewed the proposal, and was unanimous in their decision that this would be a good project for the village,” Beach said in a statement at the time.

Lynbrook resident Gina Lee disagrees, and she and other community members worry that the village is starting to look more like a city than a suburb.

“We’re turning into a borough of NYC real fast,” Lee wrote in an email. “Once this is allowed, it will snow ball and buildings will be knocked down left and right to accommodate these massive housing units. Our elementary schools are already over crowded. We cannot handle this influx of people.”

Although the project was approved in 2020, residents who weighed in on social media said they felt that picking up where the process left off was unexpected.

Alonge, who lives near the Union Avenue property, and other community members are encouraging people to attend the Board of Zoning Appeals meeting to make their opinions heard, in the hope that the board will reverse its more than two-year-old decision.

The meeting, which was initially rescheduled for March 23, is now “TBD” according to Beach’s office.

Courtesy Facebook

The Lynbrook viLLage board approved a condo complex at 161 Union Ave. in 2020, but many Lynbrook residents were just learning of it as new variances for the complex were recently proposed.

ConTinued from fronT page

ifound out that there was a variance hearing in front of the Board of Zoning Appeals coming up, so all of a sudden, people were like, ‘What do you mean?’ Everybody thought this project was dead.

paT aLonge

Lynbrook

Public Notices

LEGAL NOTICE

INCORPORATED VILLAGE OF EAST ROCKAWAY PUBLIC NOTICE

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to the provisions of Article 14, Real Property Tax Law of the State of New York, and a resolution of the Board of Trustees of the Incorporated Village of East Rockaway, Nassau County, duly adopted at the Regular Meeting of such Board held on February 6, 2023, I, the undersigned Treasurer of the said Village, will sell at Public Auction in the manner provided by law on the 15th day of March, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. in the Public Meeting Room of the Board of Trustees in the Village Hall, 376 Atlantic Avenue, East Rockaway, New York, so much of each of the following parcels of real estate upon which Village Taxes for the year 2022/23 remain unpaid as will be sufficient to discharge the tax, fees, interest and charges which may be due thereon at the time of such sale and shall conduct the same from day to day until the sale is completed.

The Purchaser or Purchasers at such Tax Sale will be required to pay the amount of their respective bids to the undersigned Treasurer within ten (10) days after the sale pursuant to the provisions the Real Property Tax Law of the State of New York.

The following is a statement of the real estate hereinbefore mentioned as shown and described on the Official Tax Map of the Incorporated Village of East Rockaway, New York, duly adopted, approved and filed as provided by law, a copy of which is on file and available for inspection in the Office of the Village Clerk of said Village upon which taxes are unpaid together with the amount of tax, fees, interest and charges to March 15th, 2023.

LEGAL NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE OF VILLAGE TREASURER’S SALE FOR TAX LIENS ON REAL ESTATE IN THE VILLAGE OF LYNBROOK, NEW YORK

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE, that pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Real Property Tax Law, the Village Law of the State of New York, 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 23rd day of January, 2023, 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 9th day of March 2023 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:

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES of the Incorporated Village of East Rockaway, NY Patricia Renner

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT

COUNTY OF NASSAU MORTGAGE ASSETS MANAGEMENT, LLC, Plaintiff AGAINST GAIL D. SKEWES AS EXECUTOR

TO THE ESTATE OF RICHARD W. SKEWES, ET AL., Defendant(s)

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered October 25, 2022, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on March 14, 2023 at 2:00PM, premises known as 87 UNION AVENUE, LYNBROOK, NY 11563.

All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the Incorporated Village of Lynbrook, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau, and State of New York, Section 42, Block 124, Lot 139. Approximate amount of judgment $780,802.72 plus interest and costs.

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #006027/2016. The aforementioned auction will be conducted in accordance with the NASSAU County COVID-19 mitigation protocols and as such all persons must comply with social distancing, wearing masks and screening practices in effect at the time of this foreclosure sale. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, then the court appointed referee will cancel the foreclosure auction. Foreclosure Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine”.

Drive Williamsville, NY 14221 15-004164 74926 137171

PUBLIC & LEGAL NOTICES

To place a notice here call us us at 516-569-4000 x232 or send an email to: legalnotices@liherald.com

LEGAL NOTICE

Malverne Union Free School District

Malverne, New York

Legal Notice

UNIVERSAL PREKINDERGARTEN SERVICES

Notice is hereby given that separate bids, submitted in sealed envelopes for the UNIVERSAL PREKINDERGARTEN SERVICES will be received on Tuesday, March 28, 2023, at 11:00 a.m., 301 Wicks Lane, the Malverne Administration Building. Sealed bids are to be addressed to the attention of Christopher Caputo, Assistant Superintendent for Business, Malverne Union Free School District, 301 Wicks Lane, Malverne, New York 11565. All bids must be submitted to the Assistant Superintendent, on or before the date and time of opening in sealed envelopes, bearing on the outside the name and address of the bidder and the title of the bid in the lower left-hand corner. Contact Donna Fecht at dfecht@malverneschools. org for the RFP.

The Board of Education reserves the right to award all or a part of this bid or to reject all bids or to make awards which are in the best interest of the school district.

Date: Thursday February 23, 2023

By Order of the Board of Education Malverne Union Free School District 137522

Lawrence

M

Schaffer, Esq.,

Referee

Gross Polowy, LLC 1775 Wehrle

Place a notice by phone at 516-569-4000 x232 or email: legalnotices@liherald.com

Academic success celebrated by Lynbrook

The academic success of both students and longtime employees of Lynbrook Public Schools was celebrated at the regular board of education meeting on Feb. 8.

The Bern Seiderman Art Gallery presented its current exhibit, which features the latest works from the newest members of the National Art Honor Society, who were inducted the night before. The exhibit, “The Gold Touch,” incorporates a touch of gold in each piece.

The meeting continued with a spotlight on the first graduate of the Owls Success Academy, which is the alternative program available to students at Lynbrook High School. Matthew LaVerda shook each board member’s hand as he received his diploma, which marked him as an official graduate of the high school. The momentous occasion did not end there, however, as the high school principal notified LaVerda that SUNY Empire State College extended an acceptance to their online collegiate program. LaVerda is the first student in New York State to be accepted through this special pilot program. Representatives from Nassau BOCES, Lynbrook’s partner in the Owl Success Academy, were also on hand to offer congratulations. Addressing the board, LaVerda thanked them and hoped the program will live on to create more graduates like him.

Next, Lynbrook High School’s Regeneron Science Talent Search Semifinalist

Sean Krivitsky was given a shoutout for his hard work. He is one of 300 students in the nation to be selected for this achievement.

Michael Fagan was also recognized for making it onto the All-State Football Team. This prestigious opportunity considers students’ athletic and academic success.

A video was created by student Max Cordes, which highlighted a successful year for football and coach David Yaker. The video is available to view online. Several retirements were acknowledged and celebrated. Combined, the total retirees were more than 150 years of service to Lynbrook schools. They include Doreen Combs, a physical education teacher and coach who served for 39 years, Maria Stella Kruh, West End Elementary School’s music teacher who served for 29 years, Stephen LoCicero, a

Public Notices

LEGAL NOTICE

INCORPORATED VILLAGE OF EAST ROCKAWAY

ELECTION NOTICE

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to the provisions of the Election Law of the State of New York that the Office of two (2) Village Trustees and one (1) Mayor are to be filled at the Village Election to be held on Tuesday, March 21, 2023. The polls will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the following polling location;

Charles Formont Senior Citizen Center

6 James Street, East Rockaway

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that the following is a true and correct list of the names and addresses of all those who have been duly nominated for the office of Village Trustee and Village Justice by certificate or petition of nomination duly filed with the Village Clerk in accordance with the provisions of the Election Law, and the office and term of such offices for which they have been so nominated.

PRIDE PARTY Office and Term Place of residence

Gordon J. Fox Mayor 43 Wilson Street

Four (4) year term East Rockaway, NY 11518

Bruno F. Romano Trustee 10 Ocean Avenue

Four (4) year term East Rockaway, NY 11518

Frank Passanisi, III Trustee 33 Grant Avenue

Four (4) year term East Rockaway, NY 11518

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES of the Incorporated Village of East Rockaway, New York.

Patty Renner Village Clerk-Treasurer

Published: March 2, 2023

137551

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF PUBLIC

HEARING BY THE BOARD OF APPEALS

Pursuant to New York State Town Law Article 16, New York State Public Officers Law Article 7, and the Town of Hempstead Building Zone Ordinance, NOTICE is hereby given that the BOARD OF APPEALS of the Town of Hempstead will hold a public hearing

in the Old Town Hall, 350 Front Street, Room 230, Second Floor, Hempstead, New York on 3/1/23 at 2:00 P.M. to consider the following applications and appeals:

THE FOLLOWING CASES WILL BE CALLED STARTING AT 2:00 PM 160/23. NR EAST ROCKAWAY - East Rock Development, LLC, Variances, front width from & on street line to

front setback line, lot

TOWN HALL, 1 WASHINGTON STREET, HEMPSTEAD, NY 11550.

This notice is only for new cases in East Rockaway within Town of Hempstead jurisdiction. There are additional cases in different hamlets, towns and villages on the Board of Appeals calendar. The full calendar is available at https://hempsteadny.gov/ 509/Board-of-Appeals

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

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

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social studies teacher and coach who served for 32 years, Margaret O’Brien, a reading interventionist who served for 25 years, and Bonnie Shapiro, a Kindergarten Center teacher who served for 33 years.

Trustee Tara Aragona reminded residents of PTA Founder’s Day, which will take place on Monday, Feb. 13 at 7 p.m. in the high school auditorium.

Assistant Superintendent for Finance, Operations and Information Systems, Dr. Paul Lynch, presented the Bond Financial Update, which summarized the final costs for all projects associated with the Oct. 3, 2017 referendum. The projects came in at approximately $2.5 million under budget. These unspent funds will remain in the Renovation and Improvement of Facilities Capital Reserve Fund waiting voter approval for future projects. The full presentation is available on the district website.

Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Melissa Burak, shared that the Art Patch contest in Lynbrook’s Project L.I.F.T.O.F.F. is underway with 288 student contributions between the elementary and secondary levels. The two winning patches will join the winning project on its flight to the International Space Station.

The board adopted the 2023-24 school year calendar, which is now available on the district website.

Due to a potential increase to allowable allotments by the state, there may be more spots available for Universal Pre-

Kindergarten. The district will open a lottery for the guaranteed spots available and may open another program that could house the additional students. A request for proposal is being sought out for a potential additional vendor. Stay tuned for more information.

A survey on the Lynbrook Summer Playground program will be sent out to families who participated last summer. This survey will gauge interest in an extended program.

Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment, Gerard Beleckas, shared that all schools participated in lessons related to Holocaust Remembrance Day, which was on Jan. 27. The Assessment, Weighting, and Grading Commission met and broke up into groups based on individual courses and took a scrutinous look at grading policies. High school students in participation shared their well-received feedback.

Dr. Lynch updated the community on current capital projects, including the Waverly Park tennis and pickleball courts as well as the high school library, which should begin in the spring. Projects for new turf fields at North Middle School and Marion Street and a West End roof renovation are being reviewed by the state.

The board accepted a donation of $3,250 from the Lynbrook SEPTA for an Augmentative Communication Board at Marion Street.

— Ben Fiebert

Photos courtesy Lynbrook Public Schools

Matthew LaVerda accepted his high school diploma from board members.

Kindergarten center teacher and soon-to-be retiree Bonnie Shapiro was joined by some of her students to celebrate the acceptance of her retirement resignation.

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ResCheck, Part 2

Q. We’re in a quandary about insulation. Our house was built in 1948, and isn’t insulated well. We decided to add a master bedroom and kitchen extension and insulate as much as we can. Our building plans examiner wants something called a ResCheck from our architect, and wants to know how much of the house we’re going to do. We only want to tell them about the additions, even though we want to do our attic and the whole exterior from the outside, if we can. We understand that if we tell the plans examiner about the rest of the house, they can make us do a more expensive energy analysis, which we don’t think is necessary. Also, our contractor wants to only insulate the attic floor, but the architect said that the latest energy code requires us to insulate the roof and not the attic floor. Can you advise?

Open House - Sunday Feb 26, 12-1:30

1608 Ridgeway Drive, Hewlett

Move right into this beautifully renovated 4 bedroom colonial with open layout. The spacious new granite/wood kosher kitchen with top of the line appliances is a delight. The living room with gas fireplace, formal dining room, family room and sun room will get plenty of use. The master suite boasts a new bath and walk in closet. This home sits on a 1/4 acre of property with patio and room for Pool! It also has radiant heat throughout the first floor, a fabulous finished basement, 2 car attached garage, new plumbing, electric, gas heating system and stucco exterior. It is in Lynbrook’s School District #20. Join me at an Open House Sunday, February 26 from 12-1:30 or Call to Arrange a Private Viewing 516-238-4299.

OPEN HOUSES SUNday, 2/26/23

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Results t hat Move You

A. Last week I described the ResCheck energy analysis to show the designed heat loss that architects and engineers are required to prepare for most renovations, and the more expanded Home Energy Rating System that is prepared by a certified engineer for projects that constitute over 50 percent of the home area or value.

From what you’ve described, your contractor just wants to do whatever they want, and although the approved construction plans are supposed to be binding and the contractor must abide by them, this doesn’t happen as often as you would expect. Many times, the contractor waits to see whether the building official will notice that the plans weren’t followed, and the contractor then seems enabled to do whatever they want to when their work passes, anyway.

Since the owner usually just wants to get the job done the cheapest way possible, the building designer, who was held to a higher standard by a plans examiner than the contractor, is left to wonder why so much effort went into the energy analysis in the first place. When the plans require changing to match what the contractor did and what the inspector passed, the owner often uses the “m” word, for mistake, to describe to the architect why the plan changes should be done for free. Basically, the process becomes muddled in a power struggle, when the real intention was to protect the owner from expensive utility bills for the rest of their life in their home and to cut waste.

The reason for the attic rafters to be insulated instead of the attic floor is because many people have cooled air-conditioning ducts running through hot attics. Somebody figured out that this makes no sense, and that insulating the attic to be part of the air-conditioned space, at about 75 to 80 degrees instead of 120 to 130 degrees, just makes more sense. The latest energy codes require an incredible R-49, which is more than a foot-thick insulation, unless a “parts” method is broken down and identified, piece by piece, in the ResCheck previously described. Good luck!

© 2022 Monte Leeper

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

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Is creativity a thing of the past?

Human civilization has developed side by side with technology — some may say, in competition with it. Technological innovations have diminished the need for workers in jobs requiring physical labor, efficient repetition or mass production, because such skills are easily replaceable.

Artificial intelligence is a leap forward in such technology that is no longer a dream of science fiction movies. Rather, it is a reality that threatens to change the way we interact with the world. AI recognizes our faces when we unlock our iPhones, gives us movie recommendations on our favorite streaming services, and now, with the creation of ChatGPT, AI is a student’s dream come true: It can write essays.

Historically, the replacement of humans with machines isn’t an uncommon occurrence. And now I can’t help

but ask, is creativity, too, a thing of the past?

Before machines, there were skills valued as attributes that couldn’t be replicated. During the Industrial Revolution, however, the skill of sewing a dress — and later, in the second Industrial Revolution, the ability to put a tire on a car — became devalued, because they were no longer abilities unique to humans. A “skilled” worker wasn’t enough; machines were just as “skilled,” and technology had raised the standard.

In more recent times, the achievements of NASA’s “human computers,” whose intellect put a man on the moon, no longer compare to the mathematical and computational power of the smartphones we hold in our hands. Even intelligence seems to be replaceable. Now a computer claims to generate creativity, jeopardizing the jobs of those with abilities like programming and writing. If your talent is something that a computer can do, it’s not good enough.

As a student with access to techno-

logical resources that simplify everything from conducting research to learning a language, I suppose I should embrace technological advancement. But quite frankly, I’m tired of it. For one thing, my dependence on the newest gadgets and gizmos has limited my practical abilities. I don’t know how to search through a library to conduct a research project.

I find it difficult to study without online aids. And I can’t even hand in an assignment without internet access to Google Classroom.

Is it too much to ask to be able to turn in an essay without worrying that a teacher will question whether it was written by a robot?

I fear that technology has not only limited our independence in our daily activities, but has also undermined the values of hard work and self-achievement. My high school offers an introductory class called Writing Lab, giving ninth-graders a year of individualized instruction on how to craft a concise and engaging essay. But ChatGPT knows how to write an introduction, a thesis

and three body paragraphs — with citations in MLA format — in less than a minute, which is more than some freshmen can do by the end of the year.

The potential uses of ChatGPT raise a host of philosophical questions. If, supposedly, technology’s completion of creative tasks is as effortless as its mastery of physical labor, does this suggest that creativity isn’t a distinctly human quality? And that creativity itself is synthetic, predictable and reproducible?

I worry about what effect this will have on my own future. Will there come a day when years devoted to academic achievement will be devalued in an instant? And, even scarier, is every hour that I devote to my love of writing now worth no more than a two-minute chatbot query?

To ease my concerns, I imagine that we can learn to live in cooperation with technology, not in competition with it. The true value of progress lies in our use of the tools at our disposal to enhance, not replace, human achievement. Let’s remember that technology is our puppet. We are still its masters.

Thirteenth letter to my grandchildren

Hey, sweeties, Can it be that you are now 20, 18, 16 and 14?

Do you read the paper?? Are you catching this online? Or is this exercise something I do to feel connected with all of you, geographically scattered, but emotionally the pulsing blips on my grandma radar?

Stay with me. This is a big ask, and a big confession.

Authentic, uncomplicated love is a precious thing, and when I think of each of you, every single day, singing or sad, dancing, skiing, studying, making videos, shooting hoops, finding friends, making trouble, growing into your own skins, what I feel is that … uncomplicated love.

From time to time over the years, I’ve dedicated columns to you. The moments seemed to demand it. I imagine readers understand the impulse to put a pin in history for the next generation as we live our lives.

In 2008 I wrote a celebratory column etching in memory the election of

Barack Obama. Of course, you were only 5, 3 and 1. One of you hadn’t been born yet. You had no way to know how profoundly that election changed history.

Then I wrote in 2012. I was worrying about President Obama’s re-election. He was running again Mitt Romney, but Romney was a decent man, and the stakes didn’t feel like life and death. I wrote to you about the Arab Spring and concerns about the economy, but all in all, things were OK.

In 2017, my letter to you described the shocking political tragedy of Donald Trump’s election and all the ways it threatened our freedom, our democracy and our sense of right and wrong. It turned out worse than I imagined. Trump’s ascension cleaved America in half, and we are still in bitter conflict. By then you were 14, 12, 10 and 8.

In the next election, 2024, two of you will vote.

I start with the political because the personal we share day to day, with calls and texts and intuition and telepathy. My worries aren’t so much for each of you, but for all of us, collectively.

Since that 2017 letter, you’ve survived a global pandemic that killed more than

a million people in our country. One million. We closed your schools, subjected you to constant Covid tests, and canceled your sports, your proms and your college dreams. The pandemic threatened your health, confined you to your rooms and compromised your life for over two years.

We were scared, and we didn’t have any defense against a virus that could kill so many people so quickly.

I say this to acknowledge what you suffered, your disappointment and your pain in all that was lost. We can’t change the catastrophe that was Covid-19. The four of you, and millions of other kids, got through it, day after boring day, and I am in awe of your resilience and strength. How do you trust the world again? We read that anxiety and stress are epidemic among teens.

So this is your time, and your challenge.

The story of hope is written in our history. Teenagers have survived and healed and triumphed and lived brilliant lives after world wars, genocide and national disasters. Today in Ukraine, teens are fighting for their

lives. Every day in our high schools, teenagers must summon courage just to attend class in a gun-crazed society.

We have let you down with our disregard for our planet. We have allowed fakery to displace truth in our communications. We have sent clowns to Congress.

For those of us who believe in a free and fair and healthy America, our backs are to the wall. Across the country, women’s rights have been upended. In Florida, which is ground zero for racism and division, a state college won’t host an art display called Embracing Our Differences because it depicts racial and gender diversity. And Pensacola Christian College canceled a performance by an a cappella group because one of the singers is gay.

This is another pandemic, of bigotry and fear.

You kids have survived a historic global catastrophe. Give it its due, get the help to get yourselves healthy again, and then do the work that will make America healthy again. We can only move forward, and many of us are here to help. As I said, it’s a big ask, but I have faith in each of you and the energy of your rising generation.

Love, Grandma

Copyright

RANDI KREISS

The four of you, and millions of other kids, got through the pandemic, and I am in awe.

Ilana Greenberg, of Valley Stream, is a sophomore at North Shore Hebrew Academy High School, in Great Neck.

Technology has left us clueless in a real library, and now there’s ChatGPT.

IlANA GREENbERG

Teddy Roosevelt: a president who defied labels

Monday was Presidents Day, a holiday that, unless you work in a bank or the government or a school, you might have missed.

At the federal level, the holiday marks the birthday of George Washington, who was born Feb. 22, 1732. It’s observed on the third Monday of February, and is intended to honor not only Washington, but all the presidents — whether you liked them or not.

It’s easy to label many of our presidents. Washington, of course, was the “father of the country.” Abraham Lincoln was a liberator and a unifier — even if it took a war to make that happen. James Madison was a father, too — considered the “father of the Constitution.”

While many commanders in chief would find their way to Long Island for various reasons, none have a connection to our home like Teddy Roosevelt, the 26th president, who spent the last 30 years of his life at his beloved Sagamore Hill in Oyster Bay.

Although he was born in New York City, the Roosevelt family had a long association with Long Island, like many wealthy families in the city at the time. Teddy, however, came to love 150 acres or so of land on Cove Neck — just north of Oyster Bay Cove — that he bought just before he entered politics in 1880, when he was just 22.

He would spend upward of $500,000 in today’s money to build a 22-room mansion he had intended to call Leeholm, after his wife, Alice. But she died before the house was finished, and Teddy would

letters

Randi takes on George Santos

To the Editor:

Thanks to Randi Kreiss for her column last week, “Minx or madman: the George Santos story,” on the enigmatic nut job, George Santos, or whatever his name may be.

I worry for our kids and grandkids and the future of America. Just what is warping our brains? It started with the vast wasteland of TV for us baby boomers, and continues with portable devices/social media.

And why do 99.9 percent of the cuckoos surface in the Republican Party?

As I write, I’m babysitting for our newest grandson, who’s 2½. How to teach him the difference between good and evil, right and wrong? Is there hope? And is “Paw Patrol” a safe venue to begin his adventures?

Thank you, Randi, for your contributions each week. They’re a ray of hope, sanity and humor in a chaotic landscape.

remarry. Instead of naming it in honor of future First Lady Edie Carow, Teddy instead named it Sagamore Hill, an Algonquin word for “chief.”

Labeling Roosevelt is no easy task. When he first stepped into the White House as president in 1901, following the assassination of William McKinley, he was a Republican. Yet he was also described as “progressive” — something many Republicans today would consider an insult.

T.R. was certainly a conservative — for the environment, that is. In just a few years, he doubled the amount of forests protected by the federal government. He did so much that Congress limited the power the president had to designate national forests.

Teddy, however, was also an imperialist. “Speak softly, and carry a big stick — you will go far” summed up his approach to international diplomacy of coming in peace, but if things don’t go your way, be ready to back it up with might.

While we see the United States as a military superpower today, at the beginning of the 20th century it was not. European powers counted their soldiers in the millions. America? In the tens of thousands. It wouldn’t be until the U.S. entry into World War I — in the final two years of Roosevelt’s life — that President Woodrow Wilson would commit billions of dollars to build what he called a million-man army.

Even with a small military, Teddy was committed to supporting the Monroe Doctrine, which treated any European influence on the politics of the Americas

as a hostile act against the United States. Roosevelt used the doctrine not only to kick Spain out of Cuba, but also to construct the Panama Canal. The Monroe Doctrine had never been popular in other countries of the Americas, but it never bothered Teddy.

He was a fan of diversity, but only to a point. During the Spanish-American War, his Rough Riders took men from all walks of life. And T.R. appointed more African Americans to federal government positions than all the presidents before him — combined.

But Roosevelt made it clear that once you were an American, you were an American. That hyphens should be left at the door, fearing it would permit the United States to become a “tangle of squabbling nationalities.”

These are just some examples of where Teddy’s policies and philosophy conflicted with both major political parties of today. Then again, a lot has changed in the 120-plus years since he was in the White House, and where we draw the lines in 2023 is much different from where they were drawn in the sand in 1901.

No matter his philosophy, his triumphs — even his flaws — we can’t deny that Teddy Roosevelt was very much his own man, and because of that, was also a great president. The United States is a better place today because of his leadership.

Here’s hoping you didn’t overlook Presidents Day, and miss how special Roosevelt’s role was, especially right here in our own backyard.

It’s time for our energy to go public m

ost Long Islanders are rightly confused about who is responsible for our ever-rising electricity bills. On TV we see PSEG commercials. On the streets we see PSEG trucks. We get our electric bills from PSEG. Yet there is also the Long Island Power Authority, as well as National Grid. Who does what? And how does this add up to unnecessarily high electric bills?

Long Island has a unique way of providing electricity to customers.

The Long Island Power Authority, which most people know little about, owns the wires and substations. But this public authority hires private companies like PSEG to actually run the system. Nor does LIPA own any power plants. It purchases the electricity we use mostly from National Grid, the same company that sells natural gas on Long Island.

LIPA was created by New York state after the Long Island Lighting Company almost bankrupted ratepayers with its

failed Shoreham nuclear power plant. LIPA brought in another for-profit utility, KeySpan, to manage and operate the system. KeySpan was later bought out by National Grid. Still with me?

After National Grid badly mismanaged the preparation for and aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, it was replaced by PSEG, a New Jersey-based utility. PSEG’s own management performance proved so terrible during Hurricane Isaias, in 2020, that LIPA sued it for “corporate mismanagement, misfeasance, incompetence and indifference.” The suit was withdrawn only after a new LIPA-PSEG contract was renegotiated last spring, imposing more controls over PSEG for the remaining three years of the agreement, through 2025.

Three for-profit utilities — LILCO, KeySpan/National Grid and PSEG — have made lots of money off Long Island ratepayers. Even though LIPA pays PSEG an $80-million-per-year management fee, LIPA has faced continual frustration. Most recently, PSEG has been taken to task for its dismal customer satisfaction

Letters

The polarization began many years before Clinton and Trump

To the Editor:

Re Peter King’s column last week, “How political extremism became the norm”: Mr. King’s answer goes astray from the start, using Yeats too broadly. “Things fall apart; the center cannot hold…” applies to only one party. With Mr. King’s 28 years of experience in Congress, he must remember that the major turning point toward extremism was House Speaker Newt Gingrich’s intentional and explicit radicalism.

“This war,” Gingrich said, “has to be fought with a scale and a duration and a savagery that is only true of civil wars,” and he referred to Democrats as “ thugs,” “crooks” and “traitors.” Thus, Clinton-Trump in 2016 was the fruit, not the root, of our current polarization.

Mr. King is also surely aware of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s trajectory from Tea Party aggression through Freedom Caucus ideology to the “further rejection of tradition and civility” the current House displays. Mr. King’s call for the “sane forces on both sides to step forward” is disingenuous, because the sane Republicans have been culled. Mr. King, being among the sane, should volunteer his

counsel to any others he can find.

BRIAN KELLY Rockville Centre

Go easy on the coffee, East Side LIRR riders

To the Editor: Re Juan Lasso’s story “Full LIRR service to East Side finally coming” in last week’s issue: Not when it comes to critical ridership amenities. Remember the long lines commuters faced in the Seventh Avenue Penn Station LIRR restrooms? At the new $12.6 billion LIRR East Side Access Grand Central Madison terminal, nothing has changed. There are only two men’s restrooms, with a total of 18 urinals and 13 toilets; two women’s restrooms, with a total of 25 toilets; one lactation room; and two single-capacity gender-neutral bathrooms. If you have to go, you’d better have a strong bladder to make it from the upper- or lower-level platforms and mezzanine to a restroom on the Madison Concourse level.

ratings. LIPA board members past and present have voiced serious questions about continuing to “outsource” our electrical system.

State legislators from Long Island, working with ratepayers, community groups and the Reimagine LIPA campaign, created after Isaias, lobbied for the establishment of a state legislative commission to chart a future for LIPA without PSEG. The Legislative Commission on the Future of LIPA, created last spring, has been tasked with coming up with a plan for 2025 that would allow LIPA to run the electrical system directly, saving ratepayers lots of money.

This is neither a radical nor a fanciful idea. Nonprofit, publicly owned electric systems are common. In some of the most conservative states in the nation, like Nebraska and Mississippi, virtually every community is served by a nonprofit utility. These public power systems are a matter of civic pride and customer satisfaction. Like water service, electric power works best when not run by private interests.

Hundreds of businesses on Long Island

have long sought the low-cost electricity made available by the New York Power Authority, the state’s nonprofit power supplier. The communities of Freeport and Rockville Centre have nonprofit municipal electric systems, and enjoy rates that are as much as 40 percent lower than what the rest of us PSEG customers pay.

How do they do it? They eliminate as much profit-making as possible from the cost of electricity. Getting rid of high salaries at PSEG and profits for its shareholders would mean major saving for ratepayers. Public ownership, through LIPA, of renewable electricity sources would dramatically reduce the cost of that electricity.

Eliminating the profit from the production of electricity is a sure-fire way of lowering rates. And it’s a tried-and-true idea. The New York Power Authority has been providing cheap electricity for over 60 years. LIPA and Long Island ratepayers need the same opportunity. Now is the time to move forward on the full municipalization of LIPA.

Fred Harrison, a retired history teacher at Calhoun High School in Merrick, is a ratepayer advocate working with Food and Water Watch, which is part of the Reimagine LIPA campaign.

Framework by Tim Baker

An iconic image memorialized at Eisenhower Park — East Meadow

LARRY PENNER Great Neck

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

For-profit utilities have made too much money off Long Island customers.

Fred Harrison