Lynbrook/East Rockaway Herald 08-17-2023

Community binds and strengthens us

Sometimes we have to pause for a moment to realize how good things are.

East Rockaway and Lynbrook truly are gems of Long Island. And what makes our communities so incredible is the community spirit. Throughout the area, an often-experienced sentiment is how neighbors look out for each other and even strangers. Helping others is the soul of East Rockaway and Lynbrook.

Hitting the links for a good cause

Annual Mayor’s Golf Outing in Inwood supports Lynbrook Community Chest

By NIColE FoRMISANo nformisano@liherald.com

Lynbrook elected officials, business owners, law enforcement officers and many others took part in this year’s Mayor’s Golf Outing in support of Lynbrook Community Chest. The generosity of the participants has put this year’s event on track to be the most successful in its nearly 70-year history, according to Jeff Greenfield, its coordinator and the vice president of the village Chamber of Commerce.

“It’s Lynbrook businesses helping Lynbrook neighbors,” Greenfield said.

Community members enjoyed perfect weather on Monday for a day of golf at the

Inwood Country Club, as well as breakfast, lunch and dinner. Raffle items included gift baskets, golf lessons, and a grand prize of a 65-inch smart TV. The money raised by the 144 golfers, for the raffles and through sponsorships from local businesses will benefit Community Chest, a village charity. The funds will be presented to the organization at a village meeting next month.

“This is the major fundraiser for the Community Chest every year,” Rina Beach, a chair of the organization, said. “Whatever a family in the Village of Lynbrook needs, we’ll support that.”

Beach, Mayor Alan Beach’s wife explained that the Community Chest uses ContinuED on pAGE 3

The Chambers of Commerce are strong. The Lynbrook-East Rockaway Historical Society is an amazing group of volunteers dedicated to preserving the past through education. The Little League teams, Girl Scout Troops, school service organizations, veterans groups, and so much more prove that there truly is an abundance of community spirit to be proud of in Lynbrook and East Rockaway.

And don’t forget the civic associations, numerous community service organizations, religious groups of volunteers … the list goes on.

As the newspaper of record for East Rockaway and Lynbrook, we take our work very seriously, and make sure every week to deliver to you local news you can’t find elsewhere. When you need to know what your school district’s budget contains, you find it in the Herald. When you

need information about a community event, you find it in the Herald. And when you need important information about village and town government? It’s in the Herald.

We take pride in the achievements of our children and students. We celebrate the volunteers who are the backbone of the community. And we mourn when tragedy strikes, and attempt to show the beauty in every life.

Our website provides a forum for breaking news when you need to know the scoop right away. It’s also a hub for all sorts of information about your hometown. If you like what you’re reading and you’re not already subscribed, consider supporting hyperlocal journalism today. We offer annual subscriptions — including at special rate — on Page 14.

If you are already a Herald subscriber, thank you. We are glad that you recognize the need for local journalism, and please know it’s because of you we are dedicated to local news.

You can email me at mnolan@ liherald.com, or call me at (516) 569-4000, Ext. 246.

We hope you enjoy the paper, and we look forward to hearing from you!

Mark Nolan, Editor

Tim Baker/Herald

Greenberg, of Michael’s Electric, left, and Village Administrator John Giordano were honored for going above and beyond for the Lynbrook community.

Classic, restored cars steal the show every week

Lynbrook Chamber of Commerce hosts Cruise Nights though August.

The Lynbrook Chamber of Commerce’s Cruise Nights continues to be a favorite with car enthusiasts and automotive restorers.

The event — held Thursdays every Thursday in July, July and August from 6-9 p.m. — draws hundreds of folks to Atlantic Avenue to showcase their work and those gawking at the souped-up hot rods.

The event is free for spectators and just $5 to enter a car for showing.

Call the Chamber at (516) 242-4649 or visit LynbrookUSA.com for more information.

— Mark Nolan

Christine Rivera/Herald photos Giuseppe Higgins, 1, of Lynbrook showing his style in a Red 1930 Ford Roadster.

Teresa and Gennaro Izzo of Lynbrook. Gennaro organized the cars for this show.

An inside look at one of the many impressive cars.

Scholarship winner Patrick O’Brien of Lynbrook.

Shirish Mohile, left, of Lynbrook, Michela Argento of Lynbrook, Patrick O'Brien of Lynbrook, Chamber President Polly Talbott, Stephen Wangel of Lynbrook, and Allen Rappaport of Merrick.

The Divella Family of Lynbrook in their 1973 Eldorado Cadillac. Sam Divella, left, with Jackie, Michael, and Rose.

Upcoming 9/11 memorial ceremonies

Communities throughout Nassau County hold solemn 9/11 memorial ceremonies every year to commemorate the tragic terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. Below is a partial list of local 9/11 ceremonies.

Village of East Rockaway

Monday, Sept. 11 7 p.m. Memorial Park, Atlantic Avenue

Village of Lynbrook

Monday, Sept. 11 7 p.m. Memorial Garden at Village Hall, Columbus Drive

Village of Malverne

Monday, Sept. 11 8-8:30 p.m. Church Street

West Hempstead Community Support Association

Monday, Sept. 11 7 p.m. Halls Pond Park, Nassau Boulevard

— Compiled by Mark Nolan

A piece of the wreckage from the World Trade Center towers stands in Lynbrook as a reminder of all the lives lost on 9/11 and the many brave men and women who rushed headfirst into danger to help others on that day.

Ryder recognizes East Rockaway business

Hempstead Town Councilwoman Laura Ryder greeted John and Gina Vitale as she recognized Red Label Coffee, located on Atlantic Avenue in East Rockaway, as part of the town’s Small Business Spotlight. Also attending was New York State Senator Patricia CanzoneriFitzpatrick.

John and Gina Vitale, from left, with Councilwoman Laura Ryder and state Senator Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick.

ereynolds@liherald.com Fax: (516) 622-7460

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

Daniel Offner/Herald file

Courtesy Town of Hempstead

A message of empowerment

Lynbrook mom, business leader joins Girl Scouts of Nassau County board

By MARK NOLAN mnolan@liherald.com

For Patricia Mercer of Lynbrook, becoming a mom meant opening doors.

A self-described “late bloomer” to parenting, Mercer was 44 when she had her son. Her career in branding was established, but she found herself parenting through the pandemic. Mercer created learning stations for her son and had a daily morning “commute” to school complete with stuffed animals.

Those times helped her remember her priorities.

“It reminded me what the basics are,” Mercer said. “It helped me do a reset. In raising my child, my job is to show him all the doors and crack them open so he can make his own decisions.”

Now, she wants to use that skill to help more children. Mercer was recently elected to the Girl Scouts of Nassau County Board of Directors. Her term runs through 2025.

“We always think of cookie sales when we think of Girl Scouts,” Mercer said. “But it’s important for girls to learn fiscal responsibility. There is so much more Girl Scouts do.”

As a member of the board of directors, Mercer will provide leadership and help to build courage, confidence, and character in Nassau County girls. The board also raises money to empower as many Nassau County girls as possible.

“Girl Scouts of Nassau County is proud to have such prestigious and accomplished members on its board of directors to inspire and empower our Girl Scouts,” said Randell Bynum, chief executive officer of Girl Scouts of Nassau County, in a statement. “I am confident that this group of leaders will help cultivate the Girl Scout experience and help fulfill our mission to build girls of courage, confidence and character, who make the world a better place.”

Mercer is the founder of PM Consulting. Her most recent role was the EVP of Barrymore Brands where she managed several brand partnerships and oversaw the expansion of Beautiful by Drew Barrymore at Walmart. She has over 20 years of wholesale manufacturing, marketing and brand agency experience. She has considerable proficiency in business development and client relationship management.

“All these responsibilities we have as women don’t get conveyed through social media and society,” Mercer said. “Yes, you

Patricia Mercer of Lynbrook was elected to the Board of Directors of the Girl Scouts of Nassau County.

Proving that education has no age limit

By NICOLE FORMISANO nformisano@liherald.com

Learning has no age limit. The Nassau BOCES adult education programs are here to help people of all ages build careers, especially in the industries Long Island needs most.

BOCES has specialized programs for everything from construction to cosmetology, and are expanding their offerings to include three new programs beginning this school year: clinical medical assistant, veterinary assistant and pet grooming. These three new courses, like BOCES’ other programs, include internships and on-site training. BOCES is continuing the success it experienced under superintendent Robert Dillon, who died July 28.

Brad Slepian, the assistant principal of the adult education program, said that BOCES helps students find where their passions and interests intersect with job market demand. That kind of opportunity can cost tens of thousands elsewhere. As a public program, BOCES strives to make its offerings as affordable and accessible as possible.

“Whether it’s our actual training, or providing different opportunities and connecting students to different grants that might allow payment for their full training program, we want to ultimately make it as low cost or no cost to the student as possible,” Slepian said.

That goal is exactly what allowed Meaghan Makar, from West Hempstead, to achieve her dream of becoming a professional hairstylist. Makar was in college when the pandemic hit, and realized she wanted to pursue her passion. She looked at many different programs, but knew her search was over when she found BOCES.

“It was kind of just a no brainer,” Makar said. “I came from college and I definitely didn’t have more money to spend on a different path now, so I looked into it, and BOCES actually works with the Town of Hempstead Job Center. So I got a grant from the Town of Hempstead so that I could attend BOCES.”

Makar said that with the education and experience she received in BOCES’ 1,000-hour cosmetology program, it would be her top choice regardless of cost. She learned haircuts, updos, perms, rollers, and everything in between to prepare her for the practical exam and beyond. Industry experts would come to impart advice about their specializations — tips and tricks for men’s haircuts, vivid color hair dyeing, seamless highlighting. To someone like Makar who likes to ask questions, the in-person expert advice was indispensable. Makar said that professionals in the industry who went to other cosmetology programs didn’t have that same

The hands-on experience that BOCES provides is not only indispensable for job success, but also safety, as is the case in Giovanni Iglesias’

Photos courtesy Giovanni Iglesias

electric work.

A TIME TO SHARE A TIME TO HEAL A TIME TO GROW

A TIME A A TI

New Horizon Counseling Center (NHCC) is a leading non-profit behavioral health organization licensed by the New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH), and New York State Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD), And New York state Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS).

New health Health Disabilities

New Horizon Counseling Center (NHCC) is a leading non-profit behavioral health organization licensed by the New York State Office Health (OMH), and New York State Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD), And New York state Office of Alcoholism Substance Abuse Services (OASAS).

New Horizon Counseling Center (NHCC) is a leading non-profit behavioral health organization licensed by the New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH), and New York State Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD), And New York state Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS).

New Horizon Counseling Center (NHCC) is a leading non-profit behavioral health organization licensed by the New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH), and New York State Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD), And New York state Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS).

New Horizon Counseling Center (NHCC) is a leading non-profit behavioral health organization licensed by the New York State Office of Mental Health. Our excellent reputation reflects 30 years of experience in meeting the needs of the communities we serve. We are excited to welcome you to our new location in Valley Stream. NHCC's patient centered approach caters to children, adolescents and adults.

New Horizon Counseling Center (NHCC) is a leading non-profit behavioral health organization licensed by the New York State Office of Mental Health. Our excellent reputation reflects 30 years of experience in meeting the needs of the communities we serve. We are excited to welcome you to our new location in Valley Stream. NHCC’s patient centered approach caters to children, adolescents and adults.

New Horizon Counseling Center (NHCC) is a leading non-profit behavioral health organization licensed by the New York State Office Health. Our excellent reputation reflects 30 years of experience meeting the needs of the communities we serve. We are excited welcome you to our new location in Valley Stream. NHCC's centered approach caters to children, adolescents and adults

We provide individual, group counseling and psychotherapy in a warm and serene setting. Our clients benefit from an outstanding team of professionals who are empathetic and caring. We accept most insurances, Medicare, Medicaid, Private Pay and sliding scale as needed.

New Horizon Counseling Center (NHCC) is a leading non-profit behavioral health organization licensed by the New York State Office of Mental Health. Our excellent reputation reflects 30 years of experience in meeting the needs of the communities we serve. We are excited to welcome you to our new location in Valley Stream. NHCC's patient centered approach caters to children, adolescents and adults.

We provide individual, group counseling and psychotherapy in a warm and serene setting. Our clients benefit from an outstanding team of professionals who are empathetic and caring. We accept most insurances, Medicare, Medicaid, Private Pay and sliding scale as needed.

We provide individual, group counseling and psychotherapy in a warm and serene setting. Our clients benefit from an outstanding team of professionals who are empathetic and caring. We accept most insurances, Medicare, Medicaid, Private Pay

sliding scale as needed.

New health meeting welcome centered We provide and professionals insurances,

We provide individual, group counseling and psychotherapy and serene setting. Our clients benefit from an outstanding professionals who are empathetic and caring. We accept insurances, Medicare, Medicaid, Private Pay and sliding scale

Substance 1225786

Families are always looking to stretch their back-to-school shopping budgets. But saving money isn’t just about how much you spend on supplies; it’s also about making school supplies and equipment last as long as possible.

Here are some tips for protecting your students’ school tools to help stretch your budget and their gear.

Talk with children about handling tech devices. Kids will be kids, and sometimes that means they’ll be tough on their stuff. Unfortunately, their school-mandated tech devices such as calculators, tablets and laptops can’t always take the beating. To reduce the risk of accidental breakage, talk to kids about proper handling and storage of their devices and the potential risks for breakage when drops, spills and hard impacts occur.

Lighten the backpack load. Between books and laptops, students tend to pack a lot of heavy items in their backpacks during the course of a school year. As the load increases, backpack zippers may break, and seams may tear from the daily stress. Reduce the wear and tear by ensuring your kids don’t over-pack their bags.

Not only will this reduce strain on their backpacks, it will lighten the load on students’ backs as well.

Consider a protection plan. Research shows that some school essentials —such as backpacks and laptop batteries break or stop functioning within the first 1-2 years of use.

To help keep costs down, many retailers offer reputable protection plans, which can help repair or replace the equipment for free or a fraction of what you’d normally pay on your own.

Sharing isn’t always caring. Even if your child handles his calculator or laptop with care, his friends might not. Establish guidelines with your kids at the start of the school year about what items can be shared with others at school and which cannot.

For those things that can be shared, consider encouraging your child to establish ground rules when sharing with friends. Guidelines could include when the item should be returned, tasks for which the item will be used and an understanding that items will be handled with care.

Don’t forget about bikes. Kids who ride their bikes to school can be just as hard on their bikes as they are on their school supplies. A tune-up at the start of the school year can keep the bike running smoothly and help catch wear and tear, such as damaged spokes or worn tires and brake pads.

Are you ready?

A back-to-school checklist

Make sure your kids have what they need to succeed this year. Ensure you’ve covered all the back-to-school bases before the studying starts:

√ Ensure your child is up to date on all immunizations.

√ Schedule eye and physical exams, if needed.

√ Make sure emergency contact information is up to date.

√ Organize school supplies.

√ Review the dress code policy.

Photo: Prepare for the return to the classroom with a back-to-school shopping strategy that makes sense for your family — and your wallet.

Beach keeps closing — what can be done?

By MARK NOLAN mnolan@liherald.com

Bathers looking for a respite from the summer heat have a choice — jostle with crowds at one of the bigger ocean beaches, or find a less crowded bayside beach.

For many, Hewlett Point Beach in East Rockaway is a nice option, especially for families with little kids who want to enjoy the water but avoid bigger waves.

Locals, however, know that after a heavy rain, the beach is likely to be under an advisory against swimming.

For the fifth time this summer, a Hewlett Point Beach in East Rockaway was temporarily closed by the Nassau County Department of Health because of the risk of elevated bacteria levels from stormwater runoff. Throughout the county, 18 beaches have been placed under temporary advisory at least three times. Island Park Beach in Island Park and Hewlett Point Beach have each been under advisory five times this summer alone.

The advisories are just that — alerts to potential bathers that stormwater runoff could raise bacteria levels in the water above New York State standards for bathing water quality. And the advisories are usually lifted within 24 hours.

But it just doesn’t sound like a good time at the beach when you are advised against swimming because of possible elevated bacteria levels.

“It’s not a situation where people want to go to the beach and get in the water,” said Adrienne Esposito, executive director of the Citizens Campaign for the Environment.

A Hempstead Town spokesperson

said the town is looking at ways to mitigate the impact of stormwater runoff in areas continually affected.

“The Town of Hempstead works closely with the Nassau County Board of Health to explore ways to alleviate the high levels of bacteria,” the spokesperson said. “One possibility would be to seed natural filters like mollusks along the coastline, but the

town is still exploring all possible solutions.”

Esposito agreed that natural filters are effective. She also said municipalities have installed devices in catch basins along roads to reduce bacteria.

“They know what needs to be done to mitigate the effect of stormwater runoff,” Esposito said. “People on Long Island pay taxes to enjoy the beach. We should be able to enjoy the beach without worrying about bacteria levels.”

Bill Reitzig, chief operating officer of Fabco Industries, Inc, said his company makes custom water filtration devices that fit into drainage basins or pipes and are scientifically proven to kill bacteria. Most devices cost about $1,200-$1,400 for smaller units.

“The science is proven and these devices work,” Reitzig said. “It’s a simply and relatively inexpensive way to make the water safe again.”

Reitzig hoped that residents realize that anything dumped down a storm drain — leaves, garbage, motor oil, soap from washing the car — ends up directly into the bays. He wants to improve education programs, especially in schools, to teach people and remind them that everything in a storm drain directly impact Long Island’s water quality.

Tim Baker/Herald Bathers at Hewlett Point Beach in East Rockaway after the advisory was lifted.

East Rockaway family looking to sell deli

By WILL SHEELINE wsheeline@liherald.com

The Collura family of East Rockaway is looking to sell Arata’s Deli, a Sea Cliff fixture since 1906. After over two decades of ownership, husband and wife Ron and Rachel Collura are looking to retire and, ideally, find a new owner to keep the deli serving the residents of Sea Cliff, Glen Head and Glenwood Landing.

The Colluras bought the business in 2003, although the family had worked in and owned delis in their hometown of East Rockaway since the 1980s. Arata’s has been in operation in Sea Cliff for over 100 years, and Ron Collura said that local delis have long been an important aspect of life on Long Island.

“When we first got married, I was working in a deli, back in the ’80s,” Collura said. “Back then, people would come in all the time to get cold cuts and meet up and chat, not just grab lunch.”

While the couple raised five children, Ron bounced between jobs as a carpenter and at a friend’s deli, and then he and Rachel bought a deli in East Rockaway in the early 1990s.

Several years later the couple expanded to a second location, whose owner had moved to Sea Cliff to take over Arata’s. They left the deli business for around a decade, but Ron ran a bread route operated by his sons, delivering fresh bread to customers and neighbors in East Rockaway.

Collura said it was his sons who came to him with the idea to buy Arata’s, which they had heard through their customers was for sale. While it was a difficult decision to move their business to the North Shore, Ron said, it finally gave them the chance to run a deli as a family.

“My sons had heard about Arata, and they came to me and said, ‘Why don’t you buy the deli?’” Collura recalled. “They all worked here while they were going to college, and it was a nice family business.”

Originally founded by the Arata family, the deli had been expanded over the years into a two-story operation. Collura made changes of his own in the middle and late 2010s, redoing the interior and using his skills as a carpenter to expand the storage space.

But as he and Rachel have gotten older, he said, Arata’s has been harder to manage. During the coronavirus pandemic, business came to a virtual standstill, as commuters in the village stayed home, although many loyal

Meaningful Jewish Connections are made at the Malverne Jewish Center

The High Holidays are a time of renewal and reconnection with ourselves, our community, with God and with our souls. Wherever you see yourself on the spectrum of Jewish spirituality and observance, you’ll find a home in our pluralistic, inclusive, egalitarian community. In addition to Shabbat and Holiday services, we offer a variety of social, cultural, educational, spiritual and ritual programs.

The High Holy Days begin Friday, September 15. We invite you to join us for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services at no charge.

To register to join us, scan the QR code, visit https://www.malvernejewishcenter. org/high-holidays-5784/ or email malvernejewishcenter@gmail.com. Learn more about us and our programs at www.malvernejewishcenter.org.

Shana tova image from http://4.bp.blogspot.com/

customers continued to call in and order food, which the Colluras delivered to them outside.

Rising produce prices during the pandemic, and inflation since then, have made their costs skyrocket, with essentials such as bread and eggs costing “an arm and a leg,” as Ron put it. Even with the pandemic over, he said, delis like Arata’s still haven’t recovered in some ways, because their business model has changed, with more people now going to supermarkets for their cold cuts and lunch necessities rather than delis.

And as the Colluras’ sons and daughter have grown up and thrived in their own careers, their father said, he and Rachel now do most of the work, and following health scares, they decided to retire to spend more time with their family.

“People have gotten out of the habit of stopping by on their way to the city,” Ron said. “They’re making coffee at home — they don’t leave the house. Maybe they’ll get Grubhub or one of those other apps to bring them food.”

He added that he and his wife are looking for new people to take over the deli, and that they have been approached by prospective owners who have discussed converting the space into a restaurant. He hopes it will remain a deli, and continue to serve the village as an eatery and a meeting place.

The best part of the deli business, he said, was getting to know many of the patrons, some of whom have become dear friends over the past two decades. Rose Baade, a customer for three years, said that the Colluras had helped keep Arata’s a part of the fabric of the community.

“It’s a great location, and we enjoy this place very much,” Baade said. “We built a whole group of friendships over the years. It’s like ‘Cheers’ in here.”

Will Sheeline/Herald

The Collura family, which has owned the historic Arata’s Deli since 2003, is looking to sell it.

Two Lynbrook businesses honored

A pair of Lynbrook businesses were recently recognized by Town of Hempstead Councilwoman Laura Ryder.

5 Corners Fitness on Hempstead Avenue and Il Luogo Ristorante were both recognized for providing outstanding service to the community.

Ryder drew attention to both locations as part of Hempstead’s Small Business Spotlight.

Councilwoman Laura Ryder, far right, with Joe Juarez, General Manager of Il Luogo Ristorante, center.

Clinton Street, Hempstead,

Hiring

Located 1205988

Richner Communications, established in 1964, is a multi-media and commercial printing company located in Garden City.

Richner publishes award winning weekly newspapers in print and on-line, covering much of Nassau County along with an array of other specialty publications.

Photos courtesy Town of Hempstead Councilwoman Laura Ryder, second from left, with owners and staff of 5 Corners Fitness.

Lynbrook and East Rockaway kids thrived at camp

By NICOLE FORMISANO nformisano@liherald.com

Between long, warm days, no school, and more freedom than ever, there’s no season a kid loves more than summer — that is, if they have something to do. Lynbrook and East Rockaway’s summer camps have made sure that the children in their communities are having the fun, safe, enriching summer that they deserve.

The Lynbrook Summer Playground program at West End Elementary School and South Middle School is open to all Lynbrook kids in kindergarten through 8th grade. East Rockaway’s Summer Climb program is open to kids in grades 1-11, and is tailored depending on age

Coordinator of East Rockaway’s Summer Climb program

ConTinued on Page 30

Three summer climb students bake a cake. in summer camps, kids lean through experiences they may not typically have in the traditional classroom.

Courtesy East Rockaway School District Lynbrook Summer Playground partnered with Tanglewood Preserve to give kids an upclose learning experience with animals.

We want them to come here and have fun, and learn in the process. That’s the big thing: we can learn and have fun.

JOSEph pOLItE

Giordano honored for going ‘above and beyond’

the money throughout the year to support local individuals and families in need — whether that means help with groceries, school supplies, home repairs or other necessities.

“The Community Chest helps local people at a time of need,” Greenfield added “They do it quietly, anonymously, and with dignity for the people.”

Each year, the outing also honors an individual and a business that, in Beach’s words, “go above and beyond” for the community. The individual honoree, John Giordano was born and raised in Lynbrook, has served the village for more than 40 years and has been its administrator since 2005. He received congressional recognition for preparing village budgets with no tax increases for a record 12 years in a row.

Giordano said he does his work for the people of Lynbrook, not for accolades. “People in my business, we’re here to serve,” he said. “We’re not looking for recognition. We’re not looking to take credit for any accomplishments. I get my satisfaction from knowing I can look at

Tim Baker/Herald photos

The evening began with the Pledge of Allegiance.

Jeff greenfield, VP of the Chamber of Commerce and coordinator of the annual golf outing, announced the raffle items, which included a 65-inch Smart TV. ConTinued on PAge 19

John giordano was honored for serving Lynbrook for more than 40 years.

mayor Alan Beach thanked the crowd for coming out to support the Community Chest.

144 golfers participated in annual event

something and say I was responsible.”

“We don’t look at what we do as a job,” he added. “We look at it as a service.”

Giordano said that one of his favorite projects was the revitalization of Atlantic Avenue in the late 1990s. Now it is an attractive and thriving commercial center.

“It’s like watching a tree grow,” Giordano said. “You get the tree planted, and then you look at it 20 years later and you see how vibrant it has become.”

It’s Lynbrook businesses helping Lynbrook neighbors.

Jeff GreenfIeld Vice president, Chamber of Commerce

Michael’s Electric, a family business that has been in operation for more than 70 years, was also honored at the event. The Greenberg family has been involved in countless village projects over the years, including the Sept. 11 Memorial.

“We’re always trying to help out people when they come in with a need,” said David Greenberg, who accepted the honor on behalf of his family. “Anytime someone needs help or is doing a project, we’re happy to be involved.”

This was the third year Michael’s Electric has participated in the golf outing, and it has taken on more of the organizational work for the event each year.

“It’s nice to be able to get involved on the committee, and meet other people that own businesses in the community that have great stories to tell,” Greenberg said. “That’s what I love to be a part of.”

Tim Baker/Herald photos the evening began with the pledge of allegiance.

mayor alan Beach, third from left, deputy mayor michael Hawxhurst, far right, and trustees ann marie reardon, second from left, and michael Habert, far left, congratulated honorees John giordano and david greenberg of michael’s electric.

the crowd applauded John giordano and david greenberg on being recognized.

friends, business owners, and supporters of the Community Chest gathered to celebrate those who made outstanding contributions to the village.

Courtesy Town of Hempstead Supervisor Don Clavin with East Rockaway resident Toni Reiffe at the July 11 recycling event.

Local places of worship worry about longevity

By NICOLE FORMISANO nformisano@liherald.com

Sunlight filtered through 3,000 pieces of stained glass. A hint of rainbows danced on the wall, promising a breathtaking show when the sun soon set. The depicted animals and symbols came alive with the golden hour.

And not a soul was there to see it.

“In its heyday, at this time of day, this would all be bustling,” said Ira Litkofsky, the office financial manager of Shaaray Shalom in West Hempstead. “We were once the premier synagogue in the community.”

Litkofsky said that before the ‘80s, the congregation had over 1,000 families. Today, it has 132 people. It’s not even enough for them to run their Hebrew school.

“I love this synagogue, I grew up here, I was Bar Mitzvahed here,” Litkofsky said. “It’s very emotional for me.”

Shaaray Shalom is not the only place of worship facing this problem. Our Lady of Lourdes in Malverne has been seeing a gradual decline over many years, but saw a drop-off of a couple hundred members after Covid-19 hit, according to Reverend James Stachacz. Geralyn Carpenter, the administrator of St. James United Methodist Church in Lynbrook, said that 20 years ago the church would see 75-100 attend service every Sunday. These days, they get

around 50-60 — and that’s double the numbers they were seeing before the introduction of their new pastor.

“It’s a challenge right now in any religion to keep our doors open,” Reverend Stachacz said.

There is no single, simple reason for the significant decrease in congregants

Per Sempre Lodge #2344

Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America Lynbrook, NY

United, Carpenter said that religion is just not the staple in families that it was a few decades ago. But there was one thing each of the three houses of worship agreed on: they desperately need more young people.

“We do not have enough young people, period,” Carpenter said. “It’s one of the saddest things I’ve ever had to tell anybody.”

“We can’t attract young Jewish families,” Litofsky said.

“We offered different programs, like movie nights, trying to encourage people,” Stachacz said. “You can offer people something, but you can’t force them.”

While the character of the younger generation is sometimes called into question — words like apathy and laziness are often used — people involved in places of worship see that it can’t simply be chalked up to young people not wanting to wake up early on the weekends for service. There is a principled, ideological component — many young people are not joining houses of worship for differences in philosophy.

“This generation has more of a sense of individual, or private spirituality,” Stachacz said. And Our Lady of Lourdes is not the only institution to notice this

“Kids don’t think you need to go to this building to pray,” Litkofsky said. “A

Continued on page 29

Per Sempre Lodge #2344 Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America Lynbrook, NY

invites you to join them at a membership meeting the 3rd Tuesday of the month at 7pm. We meet at the St. Mary’s/Maris Stella Knights of Columbus Hall, 78 Hempstead Avenue, Lynbrook, NY.

invites you to join them at a membership meeting the 3rd Tuesday of the month at 7pm. We meet at the St. Mary’s/Maris Stella Knights of Columbus Hall, 78 Hempstead Avenue, Lynbrook, NY.

invites you to join them at a membership meeting the 3rd Tuesday of the month at 7pm. We meet at the St. Mary’s/Maris Stella Knights of Columbus Hall, 78 Hempstead Avenue, Lynbrook, NY.

We are a family oriented co-ed lodge and while we are an Italian-American organization striving to preserve our culture and heritage and to promote a positive image, our doors are open to all! Our members enjoy lively and informative monthly meetings which include events such as Night at the Races, Holiday Craft Night, Mardi Gras celebration, Christmas Party, Ice Cream Social to name a few.

We are a family oriented co -ed lodge and while we are an Italian-American organization striving to preserve our culture and heritage and to promote a positive image, our doors are open to all! Our members enjoy lively and informative monthly meetings which include events such as Night at the Races, Holiday Craft Night, Mardi Gras celebration, Christmas Party, Ice Cream Social to name a few.

We are a family oriented co-ed lodge and while we are an Italian-American organization striving to preserve our culture and heritage and to promote a positive image, our doors are open to all! Our members enjoy lively and informative monthly meetings which include events such as Night at the Races, Holiday Craft Night, Mardi Gras celebration, Christmas Party, Ice Cream Social to name a few.

Per Sempre Lodge sponsors annual events to support our Scholarship Program and charitable endeavors. These include our Frank Alberti Memorial Golf Outing, and our Lodge Fashion Show.

Per Sempre Lodge sponsors annual events to support our Scholarship Program and charitable endeavors. These include our Frank Alberti Memorial Golf Outing, and our Lodge Fashion Show.

Per Sempre Lodge sponsors annual events to support our Scholarship Program and charitable endeavors. These include our Frank Alberti Memorial Golf Outing, and our Lodge Fashion Show.

Per Sempre Lodge proudly supports the Commission for Social Justice (CSJ), which is the anti-defamation arm of the OSDIA. We also support the Garibaldi -Meucci Museum (GMM) historical home of inventor Antonio Meucci and revolutionary and political leader Giuseppe Garibaldi, located on Staten Island. Additionally, Per Sempre Lodge is a member of the Lynbrook Chamber of Commerce, and a generous contributor to Our Lady of Peace Food Pantry and Cohen’s Children’s Hospital.

Per Sempre Lodge proudly supports the Commission for Social Justice (CSJ), which is the anti-defamation arm of the OSDIA. We also support the Garibaldi-Meucci Museum (GMM) historical home of inventor Antonio Meucci and revolutionary and political leader Giuseppe Garibaldi, located on Staten Island. Additionally, Per Sempre Lodge is a member of the Lynbrook Chamber of Commerce, and a generous contributor to Our Lady of Peace Food Pantry and Cohen’s Children’s Hospital.

Membership Dues are $40 per year with a one time $10 application fee.

Membership Dues are $40 per year with a one time $10 application fee.

If you would like more information about Per Sempre Lodge and how to become a member, contact Gloria Stingone, Membership Chairperson at stinglo1@optonline.net

If you would like more information about Per Sempre Lodge and how to become a member, contact Gloria Stingone, Membership Chairperson at stinglo1@optonline.net

Per Sempre Lodge proudly supports the Commission for Social Justice (CSJ), which is the anti-defamation arm of the OSDIA. We also support the Garibaldi -Meucci Museum (GMM) historical home of inventor Antonio Meucci and revolutionary and political leader Giuseppe Garibaldi, located on Staten Island. Additionally, Per Sempre Lodge is a member of the Lynbrook Chamber of Commerce, and a generous contributor to Our Lady of Peace Food Pantry and Cohen’s Children’s Hospital.

Visit our Facebook Page at Per Sempre Lodge #2344 OSIA

Visit our Facebook Page at Per Sempre Lodge #2344 OSIA

Membership Dues are $40 per year with a one time $10 application fee.

a lone woman sits in the pews of our Lady of Lourdes. worship have seen a significant decline in attendance over recent years.

STEPPING OUT

a Highland Fling

Everyone can be a Scot for the day at L.I. Ready for

Disco fever

STEPPING OUT

Creative advocacy

By Karen Bloom

ld Westbury Gardens will fill its lush grounds with the sounds of bagpipers and Scottish revelry as it welcomes the latest edition of the Scottish Festival and Highland Games. The annual spectacle on Saturday, Aug. 26, brings plenty of Scottish flair to the storied estate, presented by the Long Island Clan MacDuff.

With those bagpipes, traditional strength competitions and highland dancing — along with plenty of entertainment and assorted activities for lads and lasses — there’s plenty end-of-summer revelry for all ages. According to Scottish lore, the games were begun by the ancient highland chieftains to help them select the strongest men for their armies. Those ancient traditions continue today in the form of caber tossing, Putting the Stone, Putting the Sheaf, and arm wrestling competitions, piping and drumming.

“When the Clan MacDuff first came here in 1977, they knew they had found a home,” says Paul Hunchak, director of visitor services and public programs at Old Westbury Gardens.

And they’ve been back every year since — except those two years during the pandemic.

By Karen Bloom

Pat McGann

Long Island had once been home to five Scottish clans. Today only Clan MacDuff remains.

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

“We consider this to be like a gathering of the clans,” says Clan MacDuff’s Peter Burnside Sr. “This is what they used to do in Scotland all those years ago. Groups of families would come together for games and food and companionship. We’re replicating that. People come from all over to meet their families here. It’s the end of summer, a good time for everyone to gather.”

WHERE WHEN

• Saturday, Aug. 26, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• $25, $22 senior citizens, $12 children

• Saturday and Sunday, noon-4 p.m.; Tuesday through Friday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

• Emily Lowe Hall Gallery, South Campus, Hempstead. For information and to RSVP, call (516) 463-5672, or visit Hofstra.edu/museum

• 71 Old Westbury Road, Old Westbury

• Free parking is available at Westbury High School, with shuttle bus service to and from the festival

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

• Tickets and information available at OldWestburyGardens.org, or (516) 333-0048

by Alexandra Giordano — the museum’s assistant director of exhibition and the exhibit underscores artists’ civic responsibility and influence. highlights the vital role that artists have in activating democratic values that equality and freedom, encouraging civic engagement, and cultivating unity,” “Artists often lead the charge and expose truths that may otherwise be artists in this exhibition take a stand and call out injustices through their art on issues such as immigration, gender, reproductive rights, mass incarceration, racial bias, gun violence, and promises unfulfilled. They all combine the making public service that has a grassroots approach in the hope of mobilizing their and the nation to ignite movement, create awareness, and inspire others to them.”

Now in its 61st year, it has evolved into a family festival as much as a cultural event. “There really is something for everyone,” Hunchak says. “You can explore the gardens, and then there’s this whole other dimension. Many folks settle in for the day. They camp out on the lawn with their picnic and connect with family and friends. It’s almost like a reunion. This is something people put on their radar year after year. And we enjoy hosting it.”

While it has become a broad-based family affair — with birds of prey, falconry, vintage car show, Scottish dog parade, vendors offering Scottish wares, and so much more — those traditional elements continue to be a main attraction, especially the caber toss and pipe bands.

The caber is a long, tapered pine pole or log. The “tosser” balances it vertically by holding the smaller end, and then runs forward and tosses it so that it turns in the air with the larger end striking the ground first. Ideally, the pole strikes in a strictly vertical position, and the athletes are scored based on how closely the throw lands at a 12 o’clock position.

exhibit, which runs through July 28, is in conjunction with Hofstra’s presidential conference on the Barack Obama presidency coming up in April. interested in the idea that the artist has a civic responsibility,” says director Karen Albert. “The initial idea for this exhibition was inspired by Administration White House briefing that took place on May 12, 2009, than 60 artists and creative organizers met with administration officials to collective power of the arts to build community, create change, and chart national recovery in the areas of social justice, civic participation and end, unlike other recent exhibits that showcased the museum’s collection, Giordano reached out to contemporary artists who loaned their selected works. Some 36 pieces are on view — representing from Emma Amos, Molly Crabapple and the Equal Justice Initiative, Miguel Luciano, Michele Pred, Hank Willis Thomas, and Sophia our climate is now, this exhibit could not be more timely than moment,” Albert adds.

“The caber toss is always popular,” Burnside says. “People love to watch the strong men — and strong women.”

While athletes are generally the ones up to the challenge, the public is invited to participate. Keep in mind that pole is 150 pounds and 25 feet long, Competitors also can try their skills with Tossing the Sheaf, and Putting the Stone. Tossing the Sheaf involves flinging a bale of hay over a horizontal pole with a large pitchfork. Putting the Stone is similar to the traditional Olympic-style shot put, but uses a large stone in which the weight varies.

While the games are going on, a lively lineup of bands and dance ensembles — including those assorted bagpipers — provide a musical backdrop throughout the day. The opening ceremony at 12:30 is quite special, with a grand march down the North Lawn, and not to be missed.

This year’s entertainment roster also includes the high-energy Scottish Band, Albannach, with its heavily percussive sound. There’s also the Celtic rock band Bangers and Mash, with their blend of Celtic rock, southern Rock and folk. And, of course, dancers doing varied interpretations of traditional highland dance and step dancing, among others.

the highlights, she points to the series of prints from the Freedoms. Their four large scale photos are based on Rockwell’s 1943 oil paintings inspired by President Franklin D. 1941 State of the Union address that outlined what he essential four democratic values freedom of speech, worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear. For interpreted these iconic works for our era. same composition,” Albert says. “From 1940s America,

Kids can find many activities just for them. They can try their skill at their own version of a caber toss, with light cabers (actually tubes), participate in sack races, and an old-fashioned tug of war.

When it’s time for a break, check out the Scottish products available for purchase and sample such Scottish delights as meat pies and haggis.

Pat McGann is quickly rising as one of the sharpest stand-ups on the comedy scene. A relative latecomer to comedy, he began doing standup at 31 after realizing he was not very good at selling packaging. He hustled his way to become the house emcee at Zanies Chicago, where he distinguished himself as especially adept at working the crowd. A husband and father of three young children, McGann’s appeal stems from his quick wit and relatable take on family life and marriage. In 2017, McGann began touring as the opening act for Sebastian Maniscalco, moving with him from clubs to theater, to arenas, including four soldout shows at Madison Square Garden. McGann’s relatively short, but impressive resume, includes Montreal’s famed Just For Laughs Festival, Gilda’s LaughFest, The Great American Comedy Festival, and more. McGann still calls Chicago home.

Boogie along with Disco Unlimited as summer winds down. When Disco Unlimited hits the stage, you are instantly transported to a time when Saturday nights meant white suits, platform shoes, and your very best dance moves. And dance you will — when you experience the magic created when the boogie begins. Capturing a time in music that to this day has not been matched, this lively band will exhilarate you with their powerful vocals, tight harmonies and dance grooves — all coupled with a synchronized stage and light show. Close your eyes and you will truly believe you are listening to the original artists. Hear the best of Tavares, France Jolie, The Trammps, Harold Melvin’s Blue Notes, Yvonne Elliman, Anita Ward, Deney Terrio, George McCrae, Bonnie Pointer, Melba Moore, Maxine Nightingale, Carol Douglas, and so much more. Joe Cool, Sista Soul, Funky Sista, Strat Cat, Wild Jerry and The MacDaddy comprise this group of unique and experienced musicians who love and live this era.

BALDWIN HERALD — February 9, 2023

Friday, Aug. 18, 8 p.m. As always, bring seating. Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, Eisenhower Park, East Meadow. For information, visit NassauCountyNY.gov/parks.

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

Brit Floyd

Yarn/Wire

Now in its 18th year, Adelphi University’s ‘new music’ series welcomes Yarn/Wire.

old favorite, a tug of war.

The intrepid New York-based piano-percussion quartet has forged a singular path with endlessly inventive collaborations, commissions and performances that have made a significant contribution to the canon of experimental works. The quartet features founding member Laura Barger and Julia Den Boer on piano and Russell Greenberg, also a founding member, and Sae Hashimoto playing percussion.

From those moments when the needle drops on side one with ‘Speak to Me,’ the alarm clock of ‘Tim,’ that sensuous vocal on ‘Great Gig in the Sky,’ the lunatics on the grass in ‘Brain Damage,’ and finally, the final heartbeats of ‘Eclipse,’ The Dark Side of the Moon pulls you in. Brit Floyd is back on the concert circuit with a new show celebrating 50 years of that ground-breaking and iconic musical masterpiece. Brit Floyd has become a phenomenon, widely regarded as the world’s greatest rock tribute show — faithfully recreating the scale and pomp of the final 1994 Pink Floyd tour, complete with a stunning light show, iconic circular screen, lasers, inflatables and theatrics. The nearly three-hour set list also includes other highlights from Pink Floyd’s magnificent catalogue of albums. Saturday, Aug. 19, 8 p.m.; Sunday, Aug. 20, 7:30 p.m. $149.50, $89.50. $79.50, $59.50, $49.50, $39.50, $25. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at Ticketmaster.com, or ParamountNY.com

Barger is a frequent guest with many top American contemporary ensembles. French-American Den

Photos courtesy Old Westbury Gardens

Colorful pipers and drummers prepare to step proudly around the grounds of Old Westbury Gardens honoring a cherished heritage.

A competitor prepares to toss that caber.

Competitions for the kids include an

THE Your Neighborhood

Voyage

On stage Plaza

Aug. 25

The Journey tribute band visits The Paramount, Friday, Aug. 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. The band also features world class New York musicians; Robby Hoffman, Greg Smith, Lance Millard and Dana Spellman who along with Hugo have brought the show to critical acclaim through the many sold out shows as well as private and corporate events throughout America. The talent of these five guys together has brought the meaning of tribute to a whole new level. See it to believe it! Playing all the hits including: “Don’t Stop Believin’,” ”Faithfully,” “Separate Ways,” “Anyway You Want It,”, “Open Arms,” “Wheel in the Sky,” “Lights,” “Oh Sherrie,” “Stone in Love,” “Send Her My Love,” “Lovin’ Touchin’ Squeezin’,” “Who’s Crying Now,” “Only The Young,” and more. $40, $35, $30, $25. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. (800) 745-3000 or Ticketmaster.com or ParamountNY.com.

On exhibit

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

Theatricals presents a tribute to the one and only Barbra Streisand, Saturday, Aug. 19, 7:30 p.m. Sharon Owens performs her acclaimed interpretations of Streisand’s songbook. It’s performed at the Elmont Library Theatre, 700 Hempstead Tpke., Elmont. $33, $35. Elmont. For tickets, call (516) 599-6870 or visit PlazaTheatrical.com.

Dramatic Play

Theatre Playground returns to Long Island Children’s Museum with “Dramatic Play!,” Monday, Aug. 21, 1 p.m., taught by Lisa Rudin, Director of Theatre Playground (who visitors may already know from her role as “Piggie”!). In this interactive, theater-inspired workshop kids will act out an original story and help choose how it unfolds. Music, props, and sound effects create a theatrical world where participants are immersed in the story. Children are encouraged to express themselves as they create characters, explore different worlds, stretch their imaginations and build self-confidence. This week’s theme: Pirates and Princesses. Costumes encouraged. Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 2245800 or LICM.org.

Tribute concert

Plaza Theatricals continues its tribute series, Sunday, Aug. 20, 2:30 p.m. The hits never stop with Tommy Lynn and his 10-piece band performing such classics as “Sweet

Caroline,” “Song Sung Blue,” “Hello Again,” “America”, “Mr. Bojangles,” and “So Good!” It’s performed at the Elmont Library Theatre, 700 Hempstead Tpke., Elmont. $33, $35. Elmont. For tickets, call (516) 599-6870 or visit PlazaTheatrical.com.

Community yard sale

Robert F. Garrison VFW Post 3350 of East Rockaway hosts a community yard sale/flea market/vendor sale, Saturday, Aug. 19, 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Browse among varied items at the post, 164 Main St., East Rockaway. The rain date is Aug. 26. Vendors are welcome for $25 per table; money supports a local veterans food pantry. For more information, call (516) 887-8170 or email vfwpost3350@yahoo. com.

Busy Bees

Bring the kids to Long Island Children’s Museum to learn about hardworking bees, Saturday, Aug. 19. We all know that bees are amazing. While we often think of only the honeybee, Long Island’s native mason bee is an impressive little insect. Make a bee habitat to welcome them to your garden, at the drop-in program, suitable for ages 3 and up. Long Island Children’s Museum, Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 224-5800 or LICM.org.

Cook and sample vegetarian meals

Stop into East Rockaway Public Library to pick out the recipe you’d like to make from “Love and Lemons

Everyday” by Jeanine Donofrio. The library will make a copy of your choice and then you’ll make the recipe and bring it on Aug. 21, from 6:30-7:30 p.m. 477 Atlantic Ave. Visit EastRockawayLibrary.org for more.

Having an event?

Aug.

Westbury House Tour

Bug Safari

Bring the kids to Old Westbury Gardens for a buggy adventure, Saturday, Aug. 19, 11 a.m. Hunt elusive grasshoppers, butterflies, predatory insects and other crawly creatures in the gardens. Bring a butterfly net and collecting jars. All ages. Old Westbury Gardens, 71 Old Westbury Rd., Old Westbury. For information visit OldWestburyGardens.org or contact (516) 333-0048.

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

For many years visitors to Westbury House at Old Westbury Gardens asked what was beyond the first floor corridor. Now go beyond the door and discover “secrets of the service wing,” during a 60-minute guided tour, Friday, Aug. 18, noon; also Sunday, Aug. 20, 1:30 p.m.; Monday, Aug. 21, noon; Wednesday, Aug. 23, noon. Be introduced to the intensive labor required to create the lifestyle experienced by the Phipps family and their guests; tour the many rooms that were “behind the scenes” to create the formal dining experiences of early 20th century. Go along the corridors to the butler’s pantry and silver cleaning room then descend to the kitchen, scullery, and wine storage rooms located on the ground floor. Reservations required. 71 Old Westbury Rd., Old Westbury. For information contact (516) 333-0048 or visit OldWestburyGardens.org.

Art talk

Sept. 7

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

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

Pollination Power

Visitors to Hempstead Lake State Park on Friday, Aug. 25, from 10-11 a.m., will learn about pollination. The program will connect children and their parents with nature through short walks, animal visitors, and crafts. 1000 Lake Drive, West Hempstead. To register, visit EventBrite.com or call (516) 7661029.

Monthly village meeting

The Village of Lynbrook is holding its monthly meeting on Monday, Aug. 21, at 7 p.m. Call or visit Village Hall at (516) 599-8300. 1 Columbus Drive.

Swingtime Big Band takes to Eisenhower stage

There’s not many ensembles left that play “big band” music — jazz music, made popular in the early 1900s. But in New York, there’s the Swingtime Big Band, a Long Island-based, 20-piece music group that brings the Swing Era of music back to life.

The Swingtime Big Band hit the stage at Harry Chapin’s Lakeside Theatre in Eisenhower Park in East Meadow on Aug. 10. Despite the afternoon rain, the performance still attracted dozens of Nassau residents, who came out to watch the show, all part of the county’s free summer concert series.

Swingtime’s band is known for its high energy performances that resonate nostalgia with audiences that know the classical recordings. Big band music includes popular tunes like “In the Mood,” by the Glenn Miller Orchestra, “All or Nothing at All” by Frank Sinatra, and “At Last,” by Ella Fitzgerald — among countless other examples.

The band also hopes to inspire a new generation of listeners with the discovery of classic swing music.

Its lead female vocalist, Bobbie Ruth, recreates the vocal styles of legendary artists like Peggy Lee, Rosemary Clooney, Bette Midler and Judy Garland, among many others. Swingtime’s male vocalist, Zack Alexander, emulates the sounds of Nat King Cole, Dean Martin, and of course, Frank Sinatra.

Performances are conducted by its

artistic director Steve Shaiman, an accomplished musician himself, known for his animated leadership style on stage, and vast knowledge of big band music.

There’s was plenty of entertainment to go around — and of course, many hits from the “Great American Songbook.”

For more on the Swingtime Big

Bobbie Ruth, Swingtime’s female lead, recreates the vocal styles of vocalists like Peggy Lee and Rosemary Clooney, among many others.

Band, visit SwingtimeNY.com. For more on Nassau County’s upcoming summer events, visit NassauCountyNY.gov.

— Jordan Vallone

Tim Baker/Herald photos

The Swingtime Big Band hit the stage at Eisenhower Park’s Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre on Aug. 10.

Fewer congregants, almost no young people

lot of people don’t care for organized religion.”

Carpenter said that when young people do come, it’s often to please their older family members rather than from an internal drive to be part of the church. She said that even the most involved members of the community — those who attend every week, who come to coffee hour, who teach Sunday school — even their kids aren’t coming.

“I see elderly congregants, people 87 years old struggling, but making it to church every morning,” Carpenter said. “But I don’t see their children. I don’t see their grandchildren.”

“It doesn’t matter if you took your kids every day or not at all,” she said.

The lack of young people presents a problem for these places of worship.

Shaaray Shalom is unable to hold their Hebrew school; St. James United doesn’t have enough people to sustain the children’s choir, or the kid-centric interactive moments during service; Our Lady of Lourdes is worried that with the lack of young people to replace older congregants, in the future they may have to shut down extra programs entirely.

“The people coming to mass now are probably averaging 65 and older,” Stachacz said. “And they’re the ones who are giving to the parishes. Once that group dies, we won’t have an income we can work with to provide programs and

the comforts of the church, a weekly and daily basis of worship and programs.”

“That is a problem. And it will be more of a problem, I think, especially in the next 5 to 10 years,” he added.

While the churches and synagogues are suffering from the lack of young people, Carpenter, Litkofsky, and Stachacz

said that young people are also suffering from not attending worship services.

“They’re missing spiritual nourishment,” Stachacz said. “They’re missing being a part of a parish community.”

“When you’re here, you realize what you’re missing,” Litkofsky said. He added that it’s helpful to have a support

Our Lady of Lourdes in Malverne does not have enough young people to replace the older generation of congregants.

system of organized religion, especially during difficult times. “It’s a great way to make friends, and they don’t see that. All the people that are members here know each other.”

“You have to have something to believe in.”

SENSATIONAL SIDE- SPLITTING SCREWBALL COMEDY !”

Nicole Formisano/Herald photos Sunlight shines through 3,000 stained glass pieces at Shaaray Shalom in West Hempstead.

HILARIOUS! You’ll laugh for two hours straight.”

Summer camp means summer fun, and learning

range. These programs give kids a place to go, stay social and active, and learn — and have fun doing it all.

“It’s really a summer camp with an emphasis on education,” said Joseph Polite, the Summer Climb program coordinator, in a July Herald story. “We want them to come here and have fun, and learn in the process. That’s the big thing: we can learn and have fun.”

The Lynbrook and East Rockaway programs both learn hard and play hard. They built stronger bonds with their friends, teachers, and the school district as a whole, but they also avoided that “summer slide” that is so dreaded by parents and educators alike. The kids in each summer camp remained stimulated through art, literature and — as summer calls for — just plain fun.

The kids at the Lynbrook Summer Playground have gone bowling at Woodmere Lanes, took home custom-made tie-dye shirts, learned martial arts, and more.

Their hands-on learning experiences are unique adventures that they otherwise might not have had within the traditional classroom setting. Summer camp attendees in Lynbrook had up-close learning experiences with animals thanks to a partnership with Tanglewood Preserve. Kids at East Rockaway simulated oil spills as part of the STEM program to see a representation of its effects and its clean up process. They also used toothpicks and marshmallows to engineer structures (and likely have a snack in the

process.)

All the while, kids are becoming more comfortable in their school buildings and with their peers. The ultimate goal of each summer camp is that kids may enter school this September with comfort, confidence, and the skills to succeed.

“You definitely can see it socially and emotionally,” Polite said. “It’s vital for students to have a safe place to go to hang out with friends, and build the connection with the school, the community, and with their teachers.”

Photo courtesy East Rockaway School District

East Rockaway Superintendent James DeTommaso joined campers for a bubble party.

Lynbrook Summer playground gave their kids hands-on learning experiences throughout the summer.

Mitigating stormwater runoff is possible

“A renewed emphasis on education could be a good and relatively inexpensive start,” Reitzig said.

For now, though, residents will have to keep up-to-date of possible bathing advisories throughout the county.

“Hewlett Point Park remains a safe and excellent destination for a day at the beach,” the Hempstead spokesperson said.

The Nassau County Department of Health can be reached at (516) 227-9717. For up-to-date recorded information on beach openings and closings, call (516) 227-9700.

Repeat offenders

Beaches under multiple advisories

Biltmore Beach Club, Massapequa

Hewlett Point Beach, East Rockaway

Island Park Beach, Island Park

Philip Healey Beach, Massapequa

Centre Island Sound,

Bayville

Creek Club, Lattingtown

Laurel Hollow Beach, Laurel

Hollow

Morgan Sound, Glen Cove North Hempstead Beach

Park, Port Washington

Piping Rock Beach Club, Locust Valley

Pryibil Beach, Glen Cove

Ransom Beach, Bayville

Theordore Roosevelt Beach, Oyster Bay

Sea Cliff Village Beach, Sea

Cliff

Soundside Beach, Bayville

Tappen Beach, Glenwood Landing

The Nassau County department of Health has advised against bathing at Hewlett Point Beach at least five times this summer.

Hewlett Point Beach in East Rockaway is a popular spot for people with little kids who want to enjoy the beach but avoid big waves.

Tim Baker/Herald photos

— Mark Nolan

Fall Style at

Hotline for hate crimes includes Lynbrook, E.R.

By JORDAN VALLONE jvallone@liherald.com

When antisemitic graffiti was found at Merrick’s Chatterton Elementary School, a hotline was available to report the incident to the proper authorities.

But unlike 911 or 988 — well-known numbers to report emergencies or seek immediate mental health assistance — how to reach the bias hotline is not so well-known. And Nassau County Democrats are pushing their colleagues to change that for all areas of the county, including West Hempstead, Malverne and Lakeview.

Anyone can text messages and photos, or even call (516) 500-0657 if they see hate anywhere in their communities, All calls are returned during business hours, police said. And for those who prefer email, it’s combatbias@pdcn.org.

Siela Bynoe commended the Nassau County Police department for rolling out technology that allows people to quickly and confidentially report incidents of hate.

“But access is not awareness,” the legislator told reporters outside of Chatterton School last week. “Access without awareness does not get what’s intended.”

Nassau County police officials say two swastikas as well as anti-police sentiments were spray painted at the Chatterton playground July 30.

Bolsa Nova Handbags

That prompted an emergency meeting a week later by the South Merrick Community Civic Association, intended to be an open discussion with police, detectives, school superintendents and rabbis about how the community can combat hate.

The following day, police arrested a 14-year-old Freeport boy, charging him with two felonies.

But the number of people across Nassau County who even know this hotline exists is small, Bynoe said. A public awareness campaign is needed to get that word out, because if more instances are reported, the county can map out where there is an influx of bias incidents and direct resources to those communities.

“We must pull out all the stops and find and implement as many tools as possible to stem the tide of this wave of hatred we are witnessing,” said County Legislator Arnold Drucker, who added he’d also like to work with state officials to ensure justice is served when people are arrested for hateful acts.

“I intend to collaborate with our partners in state government to take a renewed look at our hate crime laws and evaluate the classification of these hate crimes,” Drucker said. That way, “they

can be prosecuted as a standalone offense, and have them automatically charged as a felony — rather than a misdemeanor — to ensure that these individuals get more than a slap on the wrist.”

Putting a complete end to antisemitic acts is not an easy task at all, according to Rabbi Ira Ebbin.

“If you look at any Jewish history book — or any history book — you’ll know that it’s impossible,” the spiritual leader of Congregation Ohav Sholom in Merrick, told reporters last week. “Since Jews have existed, there has been antisemitism. Since humans have existed, there has been hatred. Those who want to hate will always find ways to hate, and they do it in the most invasive way.”

Technology such as the hotline, Ebbin said, is incredibly important.

“It opens the opportunity and the portals of entry for people who see something, then they need to say something,” the rabbi said. “Our legislators, our leaders respond to data, and unless its reported, the reality is silence is compared to complicity. If you don’t say anything, nothing gets done.”

Education is key, according to Legislator Michael Giangregorio, a Republican who represents Merrick and surrounding communities. Children, for instance, may not understand the seriousness of their actions when they commit acts of hate.

“I would like to use this latest example as a teaching moment, especially for our children, to better educate them on the dangers of these type of behaviors, and to re-emphasize that hate speech or any actions in that regard are not tolerated or accepted,” he said, in a statement. “Together, as a community, we must do what we can to stand together against this growing scourge.”

Jordan Vallone/Herald Rabbi Ira Ebbin of Merrick’s Congregation Ohav Sholom, spoke out about antisemitism during a recent news conference in Merrick, but also shared some of the technology available to combat it.

Herald Women’s executive summit

Networking, negotiating, keeping life on track

By Parker Schug

They were women from all kinds of backgrounds, but had one thing in common: They are the leaders of today — and tomorrow — and were all part of the Herald Woman’s Executive Summit, presented by Bank of America, Aug. 7 at The Crescent Beach Club in Bayville.

There — among coffee, breakfast and meditation — speakers with various areas of expertise shared how they reached their career milestones, and how those attended could reach them, too.

Among those sharing that wisdom were Liz Bentley, chief executive and founder of Liz Bentley Associates, as well as Aimee Kestenberg Elan, chief creative officer and co-founder of Affordable Luxury Group.

There was also Melissa Negrin-Wiener, a senior partner at Cona Elder Law, teaching attendees the importance of knowledge surrounding your assets.

“You’re never too young, you’re never too old, you’re never too rich and you’re never too poor to plan,” Negrin-Wiener said. “People think it’s just for millionaires and it’s not.”

Erin Ley, an award-winning speaker, best-selling author, and growth and success coach for Onward Productions, led the “Life on Track” workshop.

“Celebrate life and you’ll have a life worth celebrating,” she said.

Megan Ryan, executive vice president and chief legal officer of NuHealth/NUMC led a session on minority and women-owned business enterprise.

Another round of workshops featured Mimi Bishop and Jackie Ghedine discussing negotiations and knowing your worth. The two leadership coaches and consultants co-founded Modern Gen X Woman & MGXW, where they lead women who primarily grew up in the 1980s and 1990s to fulfilling careers.

“Stop waiting to be noticed and waiting patiently to get paid,” Ghedine said. “Go after and ask for what you want.”

Kenia Nunez-Leon shared how losing her husband to cancer helped her recognize the 4M system she used to sustain his life — which stands for mindset, mentorship, motivation and money.

Nunez-Leon also showed how these connect to other facets of life, like sitting on the board for the development of a new city.

The last round of workshops featured Valerie Nifora, a global marketing leader, branding expert and award-winning author, who spoke about embracing individual qualities.

“I just want you to know who you are and what makes you incredible and why you’re here on the planet,” Nifora said.

“I want you to be that, unapologetically, all the time.”

Donna Stefans of Wealth Advisory Associates, lead attorney and founder of Stefans Law Group, emphasized the idea that women need financial knowledge.

“I don’t hear people sitting around talking about their portfolios — it’s just not a fun, sexy topic,” Stefans said. “If they’re having the conversations, they’re learning from each other.”

Lisa Mirabile, chief executive and founder of Vertigo Media Group, advised on how to present digital information in a more effective manner, while closing keynote speaker Paisley Demby shared his experience going from homelessness to the state’s deputy secretary of economic development. It was through positivity he was able to bring himself — and now others — back up from hard

times.

“Tell your employees, anytime you come to my office with a problem, challenge, struggle or issue, you have to either present a solution, an opportunity or some idea — regardless of how zany,” Paisley said.

The event closed with giveaway prizes, cocktails and networking. A portion of proceeds will benefit Moxxie Mentoring Foundation.

“Everyone left really inspired and ready to tackle some tough conversations in the workforce, but really energized and powered to have success in their careers,” said Jennifer Porti, vice president and community relations manager for Bank of America.

Edwin Chavez/Herald photos

The Power Brunch Panel and keynote speakers at the Herald Women’s Executive Summit included, from left, Reena Jana, Talisa Flatts, Kristin Thorne, Jodi Seitler, Liz Bentley, Aimee Kestenberg Elan and Retha Fernandez.

Workshop host Melissa Negrin-Wiener from Cona Elder Law.

The Value of Volunteering & Mentorship Panel moderated by Christine Buscarino included, from left, Rande Bynum, Beth Meixner, Davi Tserpelis and Tammy Severino.

Workshop host Donna Stefans from Wealth Advisory Associates.

Protecting Your Future with

Michael and Suzanne Ettinger Attorneys-at-Law

Book Review: “ Die with Zero” by Bill Perkins

In “Die with Zero”, subtitled “Getting All That You Can from Your Money and Your Life”, retired engineer Bill Perkins takes an analytical view about making your life grow as opposed to making your money grow. Letting opportunities pass you by for fear of squandering money leads many to squander their lives instead.

Instead of just keeping on earning and earning to maximize wealth, too many of us don’t give nearly as much thought as to maximizing what they can get out of that wealth — including what they can give to others while they are living, instead of waiting until they die.

As opposed to spending money on things, which excitement depreciates over time, the author advocates spending on experiences, which grow in value over time, due to the “memory dividend”. Perkins advocates a systematic approach for eliminating the fear of running out of money (the main reason people oversave and underenjoy) while maximizing your and your loved ones

enjoyment of that money.

Being that the main idea is that your life is the sum of your experiences, you should put some thought into planning the kind of experiences you want. If you die with significant wealth but a scarcity of experiences, you worked a lot of hours just to accumulate money that you either never used or were too old to use.

You can waste your life by underspending. Life is not only about “accumulating”, it is also about “decumulating” or using the money to maximize your life which, in the end, is nothing more than the memories you make.

In a similar vein, giving inheritances early maximizes the impact of those inheritance on the recipients’ quality of life. The average age of heirs being about sixty, the money usually arrives too late to do the most good.

Your time is limited. The chief regrets of the dying are that they didn’t live their dreams more and spent too much time working, missing out on relationships and life experiences.

Lynbrook Legion post forms auxiliary

Lynbrook American Legion Post 335 has previously had a membership drive to get military veterans to join the post. Their Uncle Sam Legionnaire poster, “I Want You,” campaign, is now being used to attract family members of veterans to join the newly formed American Legion Post 335 Auxiliary.

Commander Bill Marinaccio recently announced the forming of an Auxiliary Unit to Lynbrook Post 335. The Auxiliary is open to the spouses, mothers, daughters, granddaughters, and sisters of veterans.

The American Legion Auxiliary Unit is a women’s patriotic organization that supports the American Legion and honors the sacrifice of those who serve by enhancing the lives of veterans, military and their families.

To get a charter for an Auxiliary, at least 10 members are needed who meet the eligibility criteria. The new Auxiliary unit will then elect a president, secretary, and treasurer.

The American Legion Auxiliary administers hundreds of programs and gives tens of thousands of hours to its communities and veterans.

The Auxiliary is a separate entity

from the American Legion but shares the same values.

“Lynbrook American Legion Post 335 new Auxiliary unit will advocate for our veterans, educate citizens and mentor our youth while promoting patriotism and good citizenship,” said Marinaccio.

Family of veterans interested in joining Lynbrook American Legion Auxiliary should call the post commander at (516) 599-4877.

— Contributed by Steve Grogan

Courtesy Steve Grogan Lynbrook American Legion Post 335 Commander Bill Marinaccio, right, and Post Public Relations Director Steve Grogan hold the recruitment poster.

BOCES adult programs boost careers

experience and found themselves having to learn on the job.

Makar currently works at East Coast Hair Studio, a young studio in Oceanside that has already made a big name for itself — the team won the best hair salon Long Island Choice Award this year, just 18 months after opening. She joined the team this past April while still attending BOCES.

“It was great because every time I

learned something I’d be so excited to go into work,” Makar said. “Being able to have a job during the day and go to school at night, it really helps with applying things as you go,” she added. That structure is what allowed Giovanni Iglesias, from East Meadow, find success and stability at the same time. Iglesias had spent 25 years as an internationally renowned DJ, playing at clubs across Europe, South America, and the states — until Covid hit. The gigs came to a sudden halt.

Though he had been making good money as an artist, going through the pandemic — and meeting his wife soon after — taught him an important lesson: job security is priceless. Iglesias was not alone in that realization, according to Slepian.

“Since the pandemic, people know that there’s job security in the trades,” Slepian said. “These trades, they’re not going anywhere. And the jobs are only increasing.”

Iglesias found BOCES and applied for a grant to attend the trade electric program. Soon after beginning his studies, though, he received a call from the MTA offering him the bus operator position he had previously applied for. He spent the next years balancing his employment and his education. Iglesias said the instructors at BOCES were instrumental in making the balance

possible.

“The teachers understood, they worked with me,” Iglesias said. “So I don’t lose my time, I don’t lose my pension, but I can do something I actually enjoy doing: electrical work.”

These days, Iglesias continues to work with the MTA and volunteers with Grasso Electric — a mentor he found during his time at BOCES — during his time off. He recently passed the electrical helper exam he’d been preparing for, and currently has his sights set on working as an electric helper for the MTA and eventually becoming licensed as a master electrician.

BOCES prepared Iglesias for success,

but that came as no surprise to him — It was the same organization he graduated from in 1999, where he learned multimedia video production. His knowledge of video editing, branding, music production, and more put him leagues above the industry standard, and helped him excel as a DJ and an artist for 25 years. Now Iglesias is entering the next chapter of his career with the same level of preparedness.

“That’s what BOCES does,” Iglesias said. “BOCES was always the reason for my success.”

To find out more about BOCES’ offerings, visit NassauBoces.org/AdultEducation.

Public Notices

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB, D/B/A CHRISTIANA TRUST, NOT INDIVIDUALLY BUT AS TRUSTEE FOR PRETIUM MORTGAGE ACQUISITION TRUST, Plaintiff, vs. GERALD P. MCKEON A/K/A GERALD P. MC KEON A/K/A GERALD MCKEON A/K/A JERRY MCKEON, ET AL., Defendant(s).

Pursuant to an Order Confirming Referee’s Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on June 8, 2023, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the front steps on the north side of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on August 28, 2023 at 3:00 p.m., premises known as 64 Fifth Avenue, East Rockaway, NY 11518. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Incorporated Village of East Rockaway, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 42, Block A and Lot 531. Approximate amount of judgment is $415,677.94 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 604455/2018. Cash will not be accepted. This foreclosure sale will be held on the north side steps of the Courthouse, rain or shine. COVID-19 safety protocols will be followed at the foreclosure sale. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, the Court Appointed Referee will cancel the sale.

Peter L. Kramer, Esq., Referee, (516) 510-4020 Knuckles, Komosinski & Manfro, LLP, 565 Taxter Road, Suite 590,

Elmsford, NY 10523, Attorneys for Plaintiff 140941

foreclosure sale. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, the Court Appointed Referee will cancel the sale.

Date: August 17, 2023

141366

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE FOR STRUCTURED ASSET INVESTMENT LOAN TRUST, MORTGAGE PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2006-3, Plaintiff, vs. LUIS A. DIAZ, ET AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to an Order Consolidating Actions, Amending Caption and Confirming Referee Report and for a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on October 3, 2019 and an Order Appointing Substitute Referee duly entered on May 19, 2022, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the front steps on the north side of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on August 30, 2023 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 439 Ocean Avenue, Lynbrook, NY 11563. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 38, Block 444 and Lots 114 & 115. Approximate amount of judgment is $713,693.19 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 000355/2013. This foreclosure sale will be held on the north side steps of the Courthouse, rain or shine. COVID-19 safety protocols will be followed at the

Glenn R. Jersey, Esq., Referee Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott, LLC, 10 Bank Street, Suite 700, White Plains, New York 10606, Attorneys for Plaintiff 140939

LEGAL NOTICE

Notice is hereby given that a Tavern On Premises liquor license, Serial #1367202 has been applied for by LMTK Inc d/b/a Lilah’s Bar & Grill to sell beer, wine, cider and liquor at retail in an on premises Tavern. For on premises consumption under the ABC law at 33-35 Main Street East Rockaway NY 11518.

141162

LEGAL NOTICE

The Board of Education of the Lynbrook Union Free School District, Lynbrook, New York, hereby invites the submission of:

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

Literacy Consultant Request for Proposals will be received until 11:00 a.m. on August 31, 2023, in the office of the Assistant Superintendent for Finance, Operations & Information Systems, 111 Atlantic Avenue, Lynbrook, New York, at which time and place all bids will be publicly opened and read.

Specifications and instructions for proposers may be obtained from Patricia Jung at 516-887-6563 or on the Lynbrook UFSD website a t www.lynbrookschools.org

/District/Bids

The Board of Education reserves the right to reject any and all proposals when it is in the best interest of the School District to do so.

Theresa Moran District Clerk Lynbrook Union Free School District 516-887-6558

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A., Plaintiff, vs. LORI SCLAFANI AKA LORI SCALAFANI, ET AL., Defendant(s).

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale

After Inquest and Appointment of Referee duly entered on January 27, 2020 and an Order Appointing Successor Referee duly entered on July 5, 2023, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the front steps on the north side of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on September 19, 2023 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 7 East Boulevard, East Rockaway, NY 11518. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 42, Block 25 and Lots 26 - 28. Approximate amount of judgment is $512,589.45 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #602724/2019. Cash will not be accepted. This foreclosure sale will be held on the north side steps of the Courthouse, rain or shine. COVID-19 safety protocols will be followed at the foreclosure sale. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, the Court Appointed Referee will cancel the sale.

Scott H. Siller, Esq., Referee Knuckles, Komosinski & Manfro, LLP, 565 Taxter Road, Suite

Elmsford, NY 10523, Attorneys for Plaintiff

Courtesy Nassau BOCES

The cosmetology program allows students, such as Annemarie Lespinasse pictured here, get advice straight from industry experts like Katrina Guzman.

ConTinued from pAGe 6

Courtesy Meaghan Makar meaghan makar works at east Coast Hair Studio doing her dream job.

џ Our company van is your office

џ Repair & Service equipment in the area you live

**Apply today on crown.jobs**

For more info, call Alan @ 516-254-0110

Baldwin School District

Is hiring for the 2023-2024 School Year

School Nurses

Teacher Aides (Full Time)

Lunch Time Monitors 10:45 AM – 1:15 PM

Food Service Workers 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Apply online today

baldwinschools.recruitfront.com/JobOpportunities

EMPLOYMENT

Help Wanted

Civil Project Engineer: Involve in document control, safety reports, billings, contracts, subcontract, award letters, bid tabulations, executive summaries. Understand construction process and MEP equipment. Assemble project turnover requirements submittals, O&M manuals, warranties/guarantees. Coordinate and involve in regular schedule and budget updates; monthly report preparation; and coordination of daily activities. Prepare safety reports. Track daily reporting; assist in monitoring LEED submissions. Prepare and coordinate presentations. Change order tracking; review monthly payment requisitions. Work loc: Port Washington, NY. Travel & relocation possible to unanticipated locs throughout U.S. Sal: $154,149/yr. Mail res & pos applied for to: Group PMX, LLC, 10 Hillside Ave, Port Washington, NY 11050.

DELI COUNTER AND PREP PERSON

PROFESSIONAL REGISTERED NURSE

Part-Time (Ten-Month) Position Monday – Friday (3.5 hours/day)

Must have registered nurse’s license, cPr and aed certification. copies of all college transcripts (including transfer credits) and certification(s) must be provided with application.

Official transcripts are required for appointment.

SALARY: $26,631

ANTICIPATED STARTING DATE: On or about August 31, 2023

Candidates are to submit a letter of interest with resume and above credentials to:

Diane Drakopoulos, Personnel Clerk

443 Ocean Avenue, East Rockaway, NY 11518

(516) 887-8300, Ext. 1-441 • ddrakopoulos@eastrockawayschools.org

1225286

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

Busy Rockville Centre Landlord/Tenant Law Firm seeking FULL TIME in office (not hybrid) administrative assistant to work with one of the Partners. Responsibilities include heavy client contact via emails and telephone. Landlord/Tenant experience a plus. Salary commensurate with experience. 401K, Medical/Dental benefits. Send resumes to: Kathleen@rosenblumbianco.com

CIRCULATION ASSOCIATE Full Time/Part Time Richner Communications, publisher of Herald community newspapers has an excellent opportunity for a FT/PT Customer Service Clerk in our busy Circulation Department. Basic customer service and administrative responsibilities include: heavy computer work, answering phones, making phone calls, entering orders, faxing, filing, etc. STRONG knowledge of EXCEL a must! Knowledge of DATABASE maintenance or postal regulations a big plus. Qualified Candidates must be computer literate, able to multitask, dependable, reliable, organized, energetic, detail oriented and able to work well under deadlines. For consideration, please send resume & salary requirements to: careers@liherald.com

DRIVING INSTRUCTORS WANTED

Will Certify And Train HS Diploma NYS License Clean 3 Years Call 516-731-3000

EDITOR/REPORTER

Full Time And Part Time. Weekends A Must. Experienced. Long Beach. Call 516-431-5515

DRIVERS WANTED

Full Time and Part Time Positions Available!

Busy Print Shop in Garden City is Hiring Immediately for

Full Time and Part Time Drivers.

Must Have a Clean License and BoxTruck Driving Experience.

Hours Vary, Night Availability is a Must.

Please Email Resume to careers@liherald.com or Call (516)569-4000 x239

DRIVING INSTRUCTOR

Company Car/ Bonuses. Clean Driving Record Required, Will Train. Retirees Welcome! Bell Auto School 516-365-5778 Email: info@bellautoschool.com

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

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

Help Wanted

MULTI MEDIA

ACCOUNT DEVELOPMENT Inside Sales

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

OUTSIDE SALES

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

PRESS-ROOM/WAREHOUSE HELP

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

RECEPTIONIST FULL TIME: Busy

OBGYN Office Rockville Centre. Answering Phones, Filing, Checking Insurance. Maureen 516-764-1095

RESOURCE ROOM TEACHER, MIDDLE SCHOOL SCIENCE TEACHER, ASSISTANT TEACHERS For Yeshiva Of South Shore. Afternoon Hours. Competitive Pay. Please Send Resume To: monika@yoss.org

SALES Join Paraco's Rapidly Growing Long Island Team as an Ambitious Outside Sales Representative. Earn $150,000 with Commissions and Enjoy Competitive Benefits. Apply Now! Please Visit Us at www.ParacoGas/careers

Open Houses

HEWLETT BA, 1390 Broadway #102, NEW! Move Right Into This Magnificent Newly Renovated 2 BR, 2 Bth Coop in Prestigious Hewlett Townhouse.Open Layout. NEW State of the Art Kitchen & Bths,HW Flrs, Windows, HVAC,Recessed LED Lights, Doors, W/D. Community Pool. Full Service 24 Hr Doorman, Valet Pkg,Elevator, Priv Storage. Gar Pkg. Near Shops, Trans & Houses of Worship...$579,000 Ronnie Gerber, Douglas Elliman 516-238-4299

HEWLETT BA, 1390 Broadway #102, NEW! Move Right Into This Magnificent Newly Renovated 2 BR, 2 Bth Coop in Prestigious Hewlett Townhouse.Open Layout. NEW State of the Art Kitchen & Bths,HW Flrs, Windows, HVAC,Recessed LED Lights, Doors, W/D. Community Pool. Full Service 24 Hr Doorman, Valet Pkg,Elevator, Priv Storage. Gar Pkg. Near Shops, Trans & Houses of Worship...$579,000 Ronnie Gerber, Douglas Elliman

516-238-4299

HEWLETT BA,1534 BROADWAY #205, BIG REDUCTION!! MOTIVATED SELLER!!Extra Large 2000 Sq Ft, 2 Bedroom(Originally 3 BR), 2 Bath Condo in Prestigious Jonathan Hall with Doorman & Elevator. Updtd Wood/Quartz Kit, LR & DR. Washer/Dryer in Unit. Underground Pkg. Loads of Closets. Terrace Faces Back. Easy Ranch Style Living...$579,000 Ronnie Gerber, Douglas Elliman

516-238-4299

Land For Sale

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

$2,700,000 Ronnie Gerber, Douglas elliman 516-238-4299

LYNBROOK B,A 239 ROCKLYN Ave, FIRST TIME ON MARKET! Move Right Into This Beautiful, Totally Renovated 3 BR, 2.5 Bth Colonial on Magnificently Manicured .35 Acre Property. Open Layout. Fin Bsmt, 2 Car Det Gar. Pavered Patio, Front porch. CAC. SD#209Lynbrook) Won't Last!...$949,000 Ronnie Gerber, Douglas Elliman 516-238-4299

WOODMERE BA, 504 Saddle Ridge Rd., FIRST TIME ON MARKET! Move Right Into This Renovated 4 BR, 2 Bth Split with Open Layout in Prime Location! Granite/Wood EIK Opens to Dining Room & Living Room. Lower Level Den. HW Flrs, Gas Heat, CAC. Oversized Property! SD#14.Near All!..$999,000 Ronnie Gerber, Douglas Elliman 516-238-4299

Apartments For Rent

CEDARHURST NO FEE Private Entrance, Modern 1BR, 2BR, 3BR, CAC, W/D, Storage, Wall To Wall Carpeting, Indoor Parking Space. Starting At $1450 For One Bedroom When Available. (516)860-6889/ (516)852-5135/ (516)582-9978

Land For Sale

Apartments For Rent

OCEANSIDE 1st Floor, 2Bds, 1Bath, Large EIK, Large LR, Fin. Basement/ Bath Yard, Oceanside SD. Call 516-476-8787

Garages For Rent

OCEANSIDE 2 CAR Garage.Great Location.Good for Classic Cars or Storage. Call For Further Informations. Must See! 516-476-8787

MoneyTo Lend

ARE YOU BEHIND $10k OR MORE ON YOUR TAXES? Stop wage & bank levies, liens & audits, unfiled tax returns, payroll issues, & resolve tax debt FAST. Call 888-869-5361 (Hours: Mon-Fri 7am-5pm PST)

MERCHANDISE MART

Antiques/Collectibles

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

FINDS UNDER $100

Finds Under $100

HEAVY DUTY FLOOR or Wall Safe Combination Safe. $100. 516-486-7941

ORIGINAL VIDEOS: LADIES of our Century- Bette Davis, Marilyn Monroe, Greta Garbo, $25 set 516-320-1906

RECLINER: CUSTOM MADE Designer Quality, New condition, Originally $685. Now Only $100 FIRM! 516-486-7941

TRANSFER CHAIR: MEDLINE, Good Condition includes Foot Rests. S. Freeport $40. 516 279 7696

WHITE MILK GLASS Hobnail, Double Crimped 12" Bowl Basket w/Handle $40 9 1/2" Bowl $25 516-279-7696

HomesHERALD

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

Dream Property....

Nestled in the heart of the Westholmes area of Long Beach, a mere 1600 feet away from the enchanting ocean, this classic two-family dwelling exudes timeless charm and elegance. With seven spacious bedrooms and five full baths, this home offers ample room for all your desires and needs. As you step inside, you'll be greeted by the first floor's fantastic open concept layout of living room, kitchen and dining room, all adorned with beautiful hardwood floors, abundant natural light, and soaring 9-foot ceilings, creating an ambiance of openness and grandeur. The amenities are many, including central air throughout the house, a generously sized back yard, all new windows, doors, gutters and stucco, a beautiful outside porch, and an oversized driveway with garage. This property is a gem!

The Fox Team Glen Fox

Kristin Altfather

Douglas Elliman Real Estate

30A West Park Avenue Long Beach 516-850-6437 818-679-8014

Are columns made in pieces?

Q. Our front porch is falling apart and we want to replace it, just as it is. The original columns are rotted at the bottoms and there are cracks where the columns were put together, vertical joints that appear as if the columns were made from many pieces. Is that common, that columns are made from many pieces? Do you have a recommendation for who can make new columns and what kind of wood is best? I’m not choosey, because they will be painted. What do you suggest? Also, I know you recommend getting permits, but I want to do the work myself, and it’s a direct replacement, so I want to just dismantle it and put it back. The roof concerns me most, so I plan to take a lot of pictures. Do you think this is as much of a problem as it would be if the porch were new?

A. So this is a column about columns. I remember working in a firm 40 years ago, when a renowned surgeon from Texas purchased 100-plus acres with a mansion on Long Island Sound, and I was assigned to design the additions and redesign the exteriors to be a modernized traditional shingle-style home. I was called into the firm’s principal, who chastised me for recommending synthetic trim and engineered shingles. The shingles I chose were pre-finished, and would still be performing well today, but instead, the house was finished in traditional wood, necessitating the expenditure of over $100,000 every three to four years for staining and painting. It was such a large expense that when I coincidently showed up 30 years later on that estate, to redesign for the new owner, they told me the surgeon grew tired of all the maintenance.

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Wood columns are made in sections and bonded together at vertical seams. The sections are made from either steam-curved or shaped planks, cut to develop the rounded segments. You will notice that there has to be a space at the bottom to allow humidity and rain to drain and evaporate. Without that air space, the rotting is accelerated.

Because the columns will be painted, you’re better off with fiberglass columns, which come in a variety of shapes, lengths and styles. They are structural, and you’ll never need to replace them. Due to their stability, they hold a painted finish much longer, requiring painting only once a decade or two, but they still require an air space at the base.

The main reason for a permit isn’t just to have a piece of paper or cover the local government for liability should anyone get hurt. The permit process also confirms the replacement construction is safe and will last. The roof attachment, porch floor, foundation and how columns are spaced to transfer loads is critical. Incorrectly placed fastening, and a lack of structural checking and code compliance can create water problems and cause the replacement porch to require premature replacement. Just do things safely. Good luck!

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Prosecuting Trump is not what America is about

Let me state up front that I was critical from the start of former President Donald Trump’s refusal to accept the result of the 2020 election, and strongly condemned his failure, until it was too late, to speak out against the disgraceful attack on the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Trump’s shameful silence, inaction and seeming acquiescence during that horrific siege against the cathedral of democracy, and the brutal attacks that caused so many police officers to be injured and hospitalized, can never be explained away or defended. It will be a lasting shame and a blot on his record and legacy.

While I remain as outraged now as I was then by Trump’s dereliction of duty, which could well have warranted impeachment, I strongly believe that his recent federal indictment arising out of Jan. 6 and the events preceding that day is misguided, an abuse of prosecution and a threat to democracy.

Before the usual suspects accuse me of blind partisanship, I remind everyone that I voted against every article of impeachment against President Bill Clinton, incurring the wrath of many Republicans, some even to this day. I do not believe the Constitution or the criminal justice sys-

tem should ever be weaponized against political opponents. For democracy to survive and thrive, political struggles and battles should be fought in the political arena, not in the criminal courtroom.

What is being lost in much of the heated discussion about the Jan. 6 indictment is that Trump is not being charged with inciting violence against the Capitol or for failing to act to halt that violence. Instead, the indictment reads more like a political screed than a legal document.

It charges Trump with attempting to undo the results of the election through a series of lies, exaggerations and distortions. Assuming the validity of any or all of those allegations, they should be debated politically, not as a matter to be presented to a grand jury or a criminal trial jury.

Pursuing indictments on this basis will have a chilling effect on the political process. The First Amendment guarantees freedom of speech unless there is incitement to violence or riot. Yet Trump is not charged with incitement to violence or riot. As indefensible as lying or gross exaggerating may be, they are not crimes. And if they were, how would Trump’s statements be anywhere near as egregious as the lies perpetrated by Obama administration officials and so many leading Democrats who falsely charged that Trump’s 2016 campaign colluded with the Russians

— basically accusing the winner of the 2016 election to be a Russian operative?

I distinctly recall, as a member of the Intelligence Committee, sitting through endless closed hearings, and listening to testimony from numerous witnesses offering no evidence of collusion.

Yet I would see on the news, especially CNN and MSNBC, Democrats such as Rep. Adam Schiff racing to the microphones to breathlessly state that clear evidence of collusion had been revealed to the committee.

In fact, the only evidence of collusion was the Clinton campaign’s role in initiating the now discredited Steele dossier, which was based on misinformation provided to a retired British spy by a former Russian intelligence operative.

Even worse was the FBI and CIA’s use of the dossier to justify their finding of Russia-Trump collusion.

Similarly, Democrats made a folk hero and martyr of Stacey Abrams, who claimed for several years, with no credible evidence, that victory was stolen from her in the 2018 gubernatorial race in Georgia.

For Special Counsel Jack Smith to win a conviction of Trump, he must prove that Trump did not believe the election was stolen. This puts the prosecutor in the dangerous position of reading a candidate’s mind — not proving that Trump was wrong or mistaken, but that he knew he had lost. I believed then, and do now,

that while there were irregularities arising from the use of so many absentee and mail-in ballots because of Covid, Joe Biden was the lawful winner. But lawyers and advisers on whom Trump relied assured him he had won and that the election was stolen. Though misguided, reliance on that advice does not constitute a crime.

A presidential election is the ultimate expression of American democracy. It was wrong for Trump to cast doubt on the results in 2020. It is also wrong and dangerous for a special counsel appointed by the Biden administration to base a criminal indictment of Biden’s leading opponent in 2024 on a tortured, attenuated interpretation of statutes that require a reading of Trump’s mind. This can only lead more Americans to doubt our democratic process, especially at a time when there is mounting evidence that the Biden Justice Department is failing to fully investigate allegations of Biden family corruption.

Donald Trump may not be a sympathetic defendant or victim. But the Constitution and its protections apply to all Americans, popular and unpopular, sympathetic and unsympathetic. That is the essence of our democracy, which we should not further threaten or jeopardize by replacing the political arena with the threat of criminal prosecution. That is not what America is about.

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

President Obama sits out a dance with ISIS

instead, he dances the tango in Buenos Aires.

On a trip to Argentina last week, the president and Michelle Obama attended a state dinner in their honor, where they enjoyed a tango performance and were then invited onto the dance floor. Unfortunately, the long-planned trip last week to Cuba and Argentina coincided with a deadly ISIS attack in Brussels that killed 35 people and wounded some 300 others. No sooner had word of the attacks hit the media than critics began huffing and puffing about the president’s trip, his attendance at a baseball game in Cuba and particularly his tango debut as proof that he is too removed from world events that impact America and its allies.

Talking heads on multiple news outlets questioned the “optics” of the situation — how it looked for an American president to be seen having a good time when friends near and far were hurting.

I didn’t hear anyone complaining when Obama put on his game face, and his tux, went to the 2011 White House Correspondents Dinner and delivered a really funny stand-up routine, even as our Navy SEALs were preparing for their raid on Osama bin Laden’s compound in Pakistan. The president had given the “kill” order before the dinner. There was no hint of tension or stress in his demeanor that night. The man was completely cool and composed. He is a master of optics when he needs to be, but he is not a poseur.

The trip to Havana marked the first visit by a U.S. president in nearly 90 years, a remarkable gesture of friendship and a real beginning of political and economic rapprochement. The idea that the president should not appear to have a good time when he is on a political mission is absurd. He delivered exactly the right message. ISIS will not stop our lives or our travel or our laughter or our fun. We will deal with the terrorists here and abroad, but we will not allow them to alter our lives more than we have to. We will not give them that vali-

dation or power.

In fact, as he was gliding across the dance floor, orders were already in place to launch a U.S. commando raid in Syria that took out ISIS’s second-in-command last week.

In Cuba, the president commented on the Brussels attack. He commiserated and, more important, offered Americans support in the fight. And then he flew to Argentina, sticking to his itinerary, and he ended his visit not with the tango, but with a stop at a memorial for the tens of thousands of Argentines killed and “disappeared” during the brutal military dictatorship of the 1980s.

This was a diplomatic coup. This is what good presidents do. They don’t worry about optics, as defined by their critics. Had Obama abandoned his trip and headed home when the terrorists hit Brussels, it would have conferred a great deal of power on ISIS. They would know they can change world events, even the travel plans of an American president. It would have sent a terrible message.

But I get it. Every hour of every day, the

Randi is on a brief leave. This column was originally published March 31, 2016.

president is forced to make impossible choices. He is required to make decisions that everyone else working for him cannot. He hears all the awful news from every available source around the world. With it all, he is still just one man, living one life.

I don’t for a minute believe that his baseball outing in Cuba or his dance in Buenos Aires deliver any message except that he is emotionally tough and able to compartmentalize sorrow and move on with the responsibilities of his office. I wonder what all those optics watchers would prefer. That he fly away home to D.C. and keen over the dead? Give ISIS the satisfaction of stopping the American president in mid-stride?

Obama can multitask. He can do standup while worrying about a high-risk mission to kill bin Laden. And it is my belief that he can dance the tango while carrying the worries of the world in his head and his heart.

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

Good presidents don’t worry about optics, as defined by their critics.

i remain outraged at his dereliction of duty, but his indictment is misguided.

How can we make our roads safer? Education.

the tragedies are unbearable. A 19-year-old lynbrook man was killed last november when he crashed into two vehicles.

And just last week, a 34-year-old man allegedly driving an unlicensed e-bike on Carman Avenue in East Rockaway was critically injured after running a red light, and crashing into a Jeep.

Then there was the devastating crash in Massapequa allegedly caused by an intoxicated driver that claimed the lives of a 60-year-old U.S. Marine veteran, his 6-year-old granddaughter from Uniondale, and his 13-year-old daughter and 10-year-old son.

long Island is one of the most populous regions in the nation. Driving in nassau County will always be dangerous. Tons of steel and plastic traveling at high rates of speed, combined with an everincreasing number of drivers, all of which requires society’s constant and consistent attention. Crashes and driving fatalities and serious injuries will never be eliminated.

But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try.

Traditional road safety measures include signs, traffic lights and marked crosswalks. Red light cameras have been effective at reducing serious accidents.

novel ideas include installing roundabouts to reduce the severity of T-bone — or 90-degree — collisions. These are typically the most dangerous types of crashes. Roundabouts are significantly less expensive to install and maintain than traffic lights.

Letters

Kremer is off-base on presidential relatives

To the Editor:

lighted crosswalks and signs alerting motorists to upcoming intersections make roads safer for drivers and pedestrians. While getting a ticket in the mail for running a red light may be annoying, red light cameras make the roads safer. The intent isn’t to generate revenue, but to warn motorists they will be ticketed if they race to beat a red light. The goal is safety, not money.

not everyone is enamored with these safety measures, however. The complaints officials hear from angry constituents is that another stop sign or traffic light will mean it takes longer to get to work or drop the kids off at soccer practice. Some complain about “sign pollution,” as if too many street signs block out the sun.

While traffic engineers, safety advocates, and drivers in a hurry debate the best and most efficient methods to make roads safer, an additional route must be considered — vastly improving new York State’s Driver Education Program.

The current program requires new drivers to have at least 24 hours of inclass instruction and another 24 hours behind the wheel — with six of those hours driving with an instructor present.

Think of that — six hours practicing driving to become a licensed driver.

And once a person receives their license, the only real requirement for renewal is an eye exam.

Six hours of behind-the-wheel training — combined with however much practice a person gets with a learner’s permit — is not enough to properly learn how to drive

safely. The program needs to be improved. State officials must immediately work with safety advocates and experts in rewriting the driver education curriculum and standards.

There are several technological advances that can be used in driver education programs — including virtual reality — that are already available commercially. new York should require VR driving experiences.

The state should also improve the rigor of coursework and exams required to receive a full license.

And perhaps most controversial — new York should require a road test to successfully renew a driver’s license. We are wholeheartedly opposed to municipalities balancing budgets with back-door taxes like raised fees. However, in this instance, public safety outweighs the financial hardship. Drivers must be held to a higher standard than a once-ina-lifetime six-hour driving requirement.

Driving under the influence, driving and texting, distracted driving — there are countless ways drivers unnecessarily make roads more dangerous. It is foolish to think that fines and jail sentences alone with eliminate dangerous driver behavior. new York must do a better job of teaching people how to drive safely as another way to improve safety for everyone.

People need to drive. They also need to be safe. It’s time driver education in new York is made more rigorous and meaningful to make our roads safer.

In his column last week, “Two very hot political subjects,” Jerry Kremer failed to acknowledge that unlike Billy Carter and Jared Kushner, Hunter Biden broke the law and was about to be given a free pass by U.S. Attorney David Weiss. Weiss, who ignored whistle blowers and who cut Hunter’s “sweetheart” deal, which has fallen apart, is now special counsel in the case, which will probably change nothing, but prolong it.

Mr. Kremer shouldn’t accuse those of us who seek truth and justice, and hate corruption in government, of being “way too focused” and talking “night and day” about the Hunter Biden case. That’s insulting. Furthermore, juxtaposing climate change in the Biden conversation, as if to imply that we think climate change is irrelevant, is absurd. As concerned citizens, we worry about both issues, and seek truth and pray for solutions to each.

MEl YoUng Lawrence

A clarion call to elevate Nassau’s Alzheimer’s response

afirst-of-its-kind nationwide study by the Alzheimer’s Association revealed that approximately one-eighth of the senior citizens living in nassau County are afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease. This distressing revelation illustrates that our county is among the localities most heavily impacted by a horrific and heartbreaking disorder that robs its victims of their memory and cognition. I have witnessed firsthand the heartbreak and devastation that cognitive illnesses like Alzheimer’s bring to our community.

In november 2021, Chesnel Veillard, a resident of new Cassel who suffered from dementia, wandered from his home. I first learned of Mr. Veillard’s disappearance and condition when his daughter, Sendy, who had worked as an intern in my office, called to ask for help in finding him. Tragically, Chesnel died after he wandered onto railroad tracks and was struck by a train. His death was devastating to his family and his neighbors in new Cassel. As we approach two

For Hunter Biden, it’s about time

To the Editor:

years since it happened, I remain as convinced as ever that his death was preventable.

A key stated purpose of the Alzheimer’s Association study was to provide resources and data to local municipalities that can guide them in apportioning and allocating resources to optimally serve and protect their constituents. The fact that approximately 31,300 nassau seniors have been identified as suffering with Alzheimer’s must be a clarion call for local leaders to marshal the necessary resources to aid this sizable — and likely growing — population of atrisk adults.

nassau County currently utilizes Project Lifesaver, in conjunction with its Silver Alert System, to help safely return cognitively impaired people who have wandered away from caregivers. This internationally regarded search-andrescue program is a powerful tool for protecting the safety and welfare of impaired individuals. Under the current county program, however, participants must pay $325 to enroll, and that can make access to this potentially life-saving resource costprohibitive for working-class families.

To address this gap, I authored and

Letters

I respectfully disagree with Mr. Kremer’s opinion in “Two very hot political subjects.” In my opinion, this is not a Republican fixation on the president’s son. This is a threat to our democracy when the blindfold of lady justice is removed to create a two-tier justice system. We end up prosecuting whom we dislike and favor whom we choose.

As a citizen of this country, am I to feel comfortable when someone with the right last name can use his influence to evade taxes, lie on an application to own a firearm, and get an unprecedented sweetheart deal to not only walk away from this, but to have future immunity from other investigations? Thank God for the judge who saw through this sham.

By the way, where is the curiosity of the mainstream media? They once had a reputation of feasting on this type of story.

This is not favoring one party over another. This is about upholding what we

are as a country. Attorney General Merrick Garland has now appointed U.S. Attorney David Weiss as special counsel. Garland did what he should have done a long time ago. The problem is, he chose the wrong person. Weiss has been part of this mess, and has shown he is anything but independent. He was part of the aforementioned sweetheart deal that a citizen like you or me would never be offered.

Tony GIAMETTA Oceanside

Where are we, and AI, headed?

To the Editor:

Re Mark nolan’s essay “We don’t have much time — AI is coming!” in the Aug. 3-9 issue: The column was perfect. We need to talk about the future. If AI wrote nolan’s piece, maybe it wrote this email!

PATTI BoURnE Glen Cove

sponsored legislation, introduced in January 2022 and refined and refiled last September, to create the Chesnel Veillard Program, an initiative in which the county would fund cost-free access to Project Lifesaver for clinically eligible people and families whose household income is less than $76,050 per year.

mTo maximize the benefits of the Project Lifesaver technology, anyone who enrolled in the Chesnel Veillard Program would also be entered in the county’s Return Every Adult and Child Home, or REACH, registry, a database of children and adults with Alzheimer’s, dementia and other conditions that potentially limit their ability to communicate. The Veillard program is designed to serve income-eligible people who do not currently live in a nursing home, long-term care facility, Alzheimer’s special-care unit, or similar facility that would have programs in place as part of its operation to protect cognitively vulnerable residents.

Increasing the use of Project Lifesaver would help law enforcement and first responders more quickly locate cognitively vulnerable individuals who wander,

which would simultaneously save taxpayer resources and give families the peace of mind they need. not only would the Veillard program proactively aid in safeguarding vulnerable nassau residents, but its implementation would also be the embodiment of the wise stewardship of municipal resources.

As of this writing, the measure has not been brought to the floor by the legislative majority for a public hearing or vote. This delay in acting on a cost-effective, common-sense proposal to protect our most vulnerable citizens is truly regrettable. yet I remain hopeful that the findings of the Alzheimer’s Association’s rigorous nationwide study will spur my colleagues into action so that we can adopt this measure next month, which, as it happens, is World Alzheimer’s Month.

The crisis of Alzheimer’s is already here in nassau County, and I anticipate that the number of our residents suffering from this and other debilitating cognitive ailments will only grow in the coming years. now is the time to take decisive, proactive action so that we can bring comfort to those who are already suffering, and prepare ourselves to respond to future needs.

Siela A. Bynoe, of Westbury, has represented Nassau County’s Second Legislative District since 2014.

Framework by Tim Baker

any county residents need cost-free access to Project Lifesaver. sieLa a