Also serving Bay Park
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Customers who receive water from Liberty utilities are opposing a rate hike that could result in an increase in nassau County bills by a cumulative 34.2 percent. Hearings began last week with the state’s public Service Commission, which has the power to approve or reject the proposal.
Two virtual hearings took place last week with the state’s Public Service Commission, regarding Liberty Utilities’ proposal to increase water rates in the Long Island communities it serves by a cumulative 34.2 percent. The hearings gave the public an opportunity to voice concerns to the commission about why such an increase is unfeasible for many Liberty customers.
Liberty filed a notice with the commission on May 5, seeking a proposed rate increase of 42 percent and 39 percent in the Merrick and Lynbrook service areas, respectively. The company also requested a 13 percent hike in the Sea Cliff service area on the North Shore.
Some 120,000 residents of Nassau County receive water from the privately owned utility company. Liberty purchased the previous water provider, New York American Water, in January 2022, and agreed to a two-year rate freeze.
The company is now seeking the rate change to offset the cost of “necessary plant investments, high tax burdens, the installation of advanced metering infrastructure, proposed low-income and arrearage management programs, and a fee-free program for electronic payment of Liberty NYW invoices,” according to the filing.
Liberty added that the rate hike would also help cover the cost of 17 new jobs that were created at its Merrick offices, as well as “the implementation of a low-income pro -
Continued on page 17
The unique quality of Lynbrook schools doesn’t come just from their Blue Ribbon status, or the achievements of their graduates — rather, it is a function of the character of the district’s students and educators. In his first year as superintendent, Paul Lynch has made a point of defining the characteristics that make Lynbrook special, so they can be celebrated, and passed down to generations to come.
“That’s how we stay Lynbrook,” Lynch said. “By being very intentional about who we are.”
PAulThere are three overarching facets of Owls’ character, Lynch said — pride, caring and learning. They will be the ongoing themes of the 2023-24 school year.
“Owl Proud” is about making sure the school community understands, and takes pride in, what Lynch describes as a culture of caring and kindness.
“Those of us that get it also start to perpetuate it,” he said. “So there’s a pride in that recognition.”
“If they understand that, they take pride in their community,” Lynch added. “And they continue those values that their parents and their community have given to them. And they’re not afraid to be that Owl — to be that generous, kind person.”
The theme “Owl Learns” focuses on the foundation of the district’s success, its education. When curriculum is made accessible, students succeed, Lynch said — and the responsibility for their success lies with every teacher, nurse, custodian and aide in a school building.
“Especially after the pandemic, kids’ needs are changing,” Lynch said. “All of us have to take ownership for the kids’ learning. And the learning needs are different. So we’re trying to keep up with
Continued on page 18
That’s how we stay Lynbrook — by being very intentional about who we are.
lyNCh Superintendent
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Lynbrook Village hosted Carol Ruchalski Sept. 18 for the annual tree lighting ceremony in recognition of pediatric cancer awareness month.
The annual tradition is held every year at the start of September in memory of Mary Ruchalski, a seventh-grader at St. Agnes Cathedral School who died in March 2018 of rhabdomyosarcoma — a rare form of cancer.
“This is our foundation sixth year lighting this tree and for me, especially this year, Mary’s absence is never more apparent,” her mother, Carol Ruchalski, said. “This year Mary would have been heading off to college and her absence from this milestone is mine and my family’s everyday reality.”
The Mary Ruchalski Foundation was created in 2018 in the hopes of spreading awareness and raising money for research to help families with children who are affected by the disease.
On Aug. 29, the Mary Ruchalski Foundation presented a check for $100,000 to the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. To date, the foundation has raised close to a half-million dollars for research on new pharmaceutical treatments specifically for rhabdomyosarcoma, and has given more than $100,000 to other families of childhood cancer patients facing financial hardships.
To learn more about the foundation and ways to help, visit TheMaryRuchalskiFoundation.org.
A sweeping drug trafficking operation across Long Island’s South Shore was disrupted after a nine-month investigation by the Drug Enforcement Agency and Nassau County District Attorney’s office, resulting in 12 indictments, DA Anne Donnelly said on Thursday, Sept. 14.
More than eight pounds of cocaine and half a kilogram of fentanyl were seized during the nine-month investigation that spanned multiple communities along Nassau’s South Shore. Officials also recovered an assault weapon, a ghost gun and multiple high-capacity magazines.
“As alleged in the indictment, this trafficking ring sold poison in the form of crack, cocaine and fentanyl, all along the South Shore of Long Island,” Donnelly said in a release.
The investigation began in October 2022 and included homes on North Montgomery Street in Valley Stream, Derrick Adkins Lane in West Hempstead, Adams Street in Baldwin, and Azalea Court in Long Beach.
Donnelly in a release said 47-year-old Christopher Corley of Valley Stream was charged with operating as a major trafficker and conspiracy, along with
multiple felony drug charges. He pleaded not guilty before Nassau County Judge Meryl Berkowtiz on Sept. 13.
Officials said they found a narcotics kilogram press used to make bricks of cocaine at Corley’s home, and stamps with the Yingyang symbol and a “Transformers” head. Officials said drugs were sold in Nassau and Suffolk counties.
An online public notice from the
Drug Enforcement Agency dated Sept. 15 identifies assorted jewelry and cash seized from Corley and others at being valued at about $100,000. One piece of jewelry is described as a 14 caret yellow gold pendant dog tag with 252 diamonds. Another is listed as a 14 caret yellow gold diamond band with 440 diamonds.
Malverne High School football coach Kito Lockwood, 49, of West Hempstead,
pleaded not guilty to three counts of criminal possession of a firearm and three counts of criminal possession of a weapon. A rally in support of Lockwood is planned for Friday, Sept. 22. Many community leaders have stood by Lockwood, according to his lawyer and former coach Frederick Brewington.
Brewington said Lockwood was in “the wrong place at the wrong time” when he spent the night at a friend’s house after watching a basketball game and having “a few drinks”. Brewington said Lockwood had no idea there were drugs or weapons in the house.
“The indictment of 12 defendants in this drug trafficking operation along the South Shore of Nassau County is a clear example of numerous law enforcement agencies working together to bring these individuals to justice,” said Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder in a release. “Our communities are safer today with these individuals removed from our neighborhoods, as numerous firearms and large quantities of drugs have been seized.”
Officials said they conducted months of surveillance throughout Nassau and were granted warrants for electronic eavesdropping. Recorded conversations allegedly revealed Corley talking about making crack, “chopping up drugs,” and
ConTinued on page 11
Courtesy Nassau County District Attorney’s office Three firearms seized at the West Hempstead location.Celebrate the Halloween season during the 12th annual Spooky Fest at The Center for Science, Teaching and Learning, every weekend this October.
This special event focuses on providing familyfriendly activities and attractions for the community, including decorated wooded paths and festivities with eerie lighting, special effects and popular Halloween characters.
“Long Islanders with children are searching for family-friendly events they can enjoy together with Halloween activities,” Dr. Ray Ann Havasy, executive director of The Center for Science, said in a release. “Spooky Fest offers a one-of-a-kind experience with seasonal attractions and activities families can enjoy together and build lasting memories. We encourage attendees to join in the fun and dress up in their costumes and share their Halloween spirit with us.”
During the event, parents are invited to experience some of the non-scary attractions, including the “Enchanted Halloween Walk.” Visitors are invited to take a walk through the woods and enjoy all of the colorfully lit Halloween decorations. There will also be spooky stories and a chance to meet some friendly Halloween characters along the way including butterflies, friendly ghosts, happy scarecrows, dinosaurs, aliens and Cinderella’s carriage complete with a prince and princess.
Other activities include Halloween arts and crafts, fortune telling, face painting and a DJ playing Halloween and other great music. New to Spooky Fest 2023 is an interactive glow tent.
Also returning is the “Spooky Woods,” a quarter mile walk through the dark woods of the Tanglewood Preserve. This special attraction includes the sights and sounds of animatronic zombie dinosaurs, eerie
smoke and lights and other spooky Halloween displays. Unlike any attraction on Long Island, visitors will enjoy a moderately “scary” thrill without jump out scares and is recommended for children ages 7-10.
Spooky Fest 2023 takes place at The Center for Science, Teaching and Learning at the Tanglewood Preserve, 1450 Tanglewood Road in Rockville Centre from Oct. 6 - Oct. 8, Oct. 13 - Oct. 15, Oct. 20 – Oct. 22, and Oct. 27 - Oct. 29. The event is open from 6-9 p.m., rain or shine.
For tickets and more information visit CSTL.org. Admission is $22 for non-scary attractions and $27 for the all-inclusive event featuring admission to “The Spooky Woods.” Tickets are available in advance online on a limited first-come, first served basis. Ages 2 and older must have a purchased ticket.
Are aliens among us? Sure looks like it at Tanglewood.
Hewlett
A FIFTH-YEAR performer on the varsity pitch, Iannico enters the 2023 campaign in search of a third consecutive All-County award as she looks to help lead the Bulldogs into the playoffs. She started on the right foot, scoring twice Sept. 5 as Hewlett defeated Valley Stream North. Her second goal of the game was the 30th of her high school career. She had 12 goals as a sophomore and followed up with 13 tallies last season.
Thursday, Sept. 21
Boys Soccer: East Meadow at Uniondale 5 p.m.
Boys Soccer: Oceanside at Freeport 5 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 22
Girls Soccer: MacArthur at Massapequa 5 p.m.
Football: Baldwin at Westbury 5 p.m.
Boys Soccer: V.S. South at Hewlett 5:30 p.m.
Football: Farmingdale at Freeport 6 p.m.
Football: Hicksville at Oceanside 6 p.m.
Football: Uniondale at Syosset 6:30 p.m.
Football: Bethpage at V.S. North 7 p.m.
Football: Garden City at MacArthur 7 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 23
Boys Soccer: Wantagh at Calhoun 9 a.m.
Boys Soccer: Long Beach at Freeport 10 a.m.
Football: Lynbrook at Hewlett 2 p.m.
Football: Plainedge at Wantagh 2 p.m.
Football: Mineola at South Side 2 p.m.
Football: North Shore at V.S. South 2 p.m.
Football: West Hempstead at Malverne 2 p.m.
Football: Sewanhaka at Calhoun 2 p.m.
Football: Carey at Long Beach 2 p.m.
Football: East Meadow at Massapequa 2 p.m.
Nomimate a “Spotlight Athlete”
High School athletes to be featured on the Herald sports page must compete in a fall sport and earned an All-Conference award or higher last year. Please send the following information for consideration: Name, School, Grade, Sport and accomplishments to Sports@liherald.com.
How is Lynbrook’s girls’ soccer team going to replace superstar Tyla Vuotto, the sniper now at Cortland.
It’s a question keeping Lynbrook coach Mike Palumbo up at night. “She has left a huge void on this team,’’ Palumbo said. “That’s what we’re looking for. We’re very young. We only have five seniors.’’
One of those seniors is Katie Sharkey, who plays midfield/striker and returns as captain. Palumbo named two more captains in seniors Kailey Dunne and his daughter, Francesca. Both are strikers and being counted on to score.
“I feel the responsibility.’’ Sharkey said. “Being a returning captain, everyone was looking up to me at first but Coach Palumbo picked two more senior captains. It’s nice to have them helping me. Tyla left big shoes for me to fill. She was an amazing player.’’
Lynbrook already has more losses than last season when it went 11-1. The club is off to a 1-2 start with goals scarce. Adding to the challenge is division realignment. The Owls jumped from A3 to A1. This is a very tough conference,’’ Palumbo said. “Every game is a battle.’’ Lynbrook will be strongest at defense. The Owls have permitted three goals in three games. Lynbrook’s lone win was a 1-0 victory over Mineola. On Sept. 13, it dropped a 1-0 decision to Wantagh.
“The defense is doing a good job,’’ Palumbo said. “The offense is what we have to figure out.’’
A 2022 All-County honorable mention, Sharkey is the club’s best individual offensive performer while Palumbo and Dunne need set ups to finish.
“She’s the girl who gets us going and motivated,’’ Palumbo said. “She will run her body through anything and anyone to get to the ball. She never stops running. She’s a true leader and is explosively fast.’’
At striker, Dunne is three-year varsity player but logged just two goals in 2022. “She’s trying to create that offense for us,’’ Palumbo said.
The coach’s daughter Francesca is
tasked with taking free kicks/corner kicks - the creator on set pieces. Last season, Francesca scored two goals and four assists.
Sophomore midfielder junior Gabby Meszaros is its best passer, an All-County honorable mention. The coach considers Meszaros “our point guard.’’ “We’re waiting for her to explode offensively,’’ Palumbo said. “She’s one of my most skilled players.’’
Then there’s Leah Casolaro, a sophomore who’s been on varsity since 8thgrade. Against Wantagh, two shots she took clanged the post. “She is fast but her foot skills are spectacular,’ Palumbo said.
The backline’s anchor is Mikayla D’Ambrosio, named a Top 100 player on Long Island. She is the Owls’ brainiest player.
The backline also features the coach’s other twin daughter, Lucia, who cleans up loose balls. Then there’s sophomore centerbacks, Payton Stalter, Addison DiFiore and Maggie Mattera. The goalie is Cate Jennings, a converted field player who made 7 saves vs. Wantagh.
Next up is Tuesday against conference favorite Plainedge. “It’s going to be easy to get down this year because we’re playing such good teams,’’ Sharkey said. “I’m hoping I can keep them thinking positive.’’
BEST SPORTSBICYCLE STORE: Brands Cycle and Fitness
1966 Wantagh Ave,Wantagh (800) 649-3739
brandscycle.com
Brands Cycle & Fitness was voted one of the top six bike stores in the country by Bicycling Magazine. Their staff of 60 to 110 employees (seasonally) wants to make your cycling and home ftness experiences as convenient and enjoyable as possible. Shop online or in-store seven days a week. For more than 50 years, they’ve been proud to be your resource for all things cycling.
BEST BOXING CENTER:
Fit Theorem
560 Commack Rd, Deer Park (631) 596-5333
fttheorem.com
At Fit Theorem, their mission is to defeat mediocrity, ignite human potential, and transform lives: mind, body, spirit. With The FITT Experience, you take on the FITT Elements: Fighter, HIIT, Strength and Flow. There are also group ftness sessions as well. The Fighter element incorporates kickboxing combinations with a standing heavy bag. Kickboxing helps develop coordination between the lower body and upper body through rotational patterns, balance, strength, and speed.
BEST PERSONAL TRAINING FACILITY: Personal Training Institute of Rockville Centre
BEST PERSONAL TRAINER:
Rosie Santana and Dylan McManus
60 N. Park Avenue, Rockville Centre (516) 823-3005
ptirockvillecentre.com
Personal Training Institute™ is a unique organization offering customized one-on-one ftness and nutrition programs to individuals looking to improve their overall health and general lifestyle. Relying on a combination of custom-tailored strength training workout sessions, cardio training, nutrition counseling, motivation techniques and best in the business exercise equipment, their programs offered great success to participants from frst time exercisers to advanced athletes.
BEST GYM & FITNESS CENTER: Hollywood Health Club
265 E Park Ave, Long Beach (516) 348-6377
hollywoodhealthclub.com
Hollywood Health Club coaches have a wide range of expertise gained from the proprietary Active Life continuing educational programs. They are equipped to work with members who are just starting their ftness journey, post operative and rehabilitation needs and athletes at all levels. Each program begins with a detailed functional assessment. Their team works to ensure each session is challenging, engaging, and delivers results. These programs, combined with the State of the Art Equipment and Functional Training Facilities, ensure members reach their ftness goals.
BEST CROSSFIT GYM: CrossFit Nine7
97 E Shore Rd, Manhasset (516) 466-4146
crossftnine7.com
CrossFit is a strength & conditioning based ftness program. It combines the most effective aspects of weightlifting, gymnastics & high intensity cardio. There is no other exercise program that has as much diversity in its variables. Each workout is individualized. You will be challenged differently daily and work to your fullest potential.
BEST ICE SKATING RINK: Grant Park
1625 Broadway, Hewlett (516) 571-7821
nassaucountyny.gov
Grant Park, part of the Nassau County Park system since 1955, is located in the southwest part of the county, offering a complete recreational and sports complex on 35 acres in Hewlett, Long Island. Outdoor ice rinks available for public skating sessions from November to March.
BEST YOGA: Bikram Yoga
365 E Park Ave, Long Beach (516) 442-3261
bikramyogalbny.com
Bikram Yoga - Long Beach is more than just a yoga studio; they are a true community — one big extended family who greets you with open arms and lots of love. An open mind and a willingness to sweat are the only requirements. Just show up as you are. All of the instructors certifed by the Original Hot Yoga Association/Bikram and have undergone rigorous inperson training (350+ hours). Their yoga classes are suitable for beginners and advanced practitioners alike -- all bodies, all levels, all people welcome.
BEST PILATES: Fit4Life Studios, Inc.
361-B Atlantic Ave, Freeport (516) 208-6726
ft4lifestudios.com
Fit4Life Studios, Inc. (FFLS) is a full-service personal ftness studio in Nassau County. From private and semiprivate Pilates and Personal Training sessions, Yoga, Pilates Mat, Zumba, Step Aerobics, and Kickboxing classes. Their programs are customized to meet each person’s needs and ftness level and are accompanied by comprehensive nutritional guidelines to improve ftness performance or achieve weight loss.
The East Meadow Beth-El Jewish Center hosted the Herald’s Senior Health & Beyond Expo on Sept. 7, part of the company’s 2023 Expo series.
This community-favorite event featured more than 30 businesses and service providers sharing their expertise with Long Island residents. HearingLife conducted free hearing examinations, and HealthFirst provided music under a tent.
Amy Amato, executive director of corporate relations and events at Herald Community Newspapers and RichnerLive, expressed gratitude for what she described as a fantastic turnout and beautiful day. Attendees enjoyed panel discussions led by Lori Berger, the Heralds’ sales director, who cracked a few jokes.
Panelists included Katherine Reilly from CenterLight Health System, Christopher Demers of Aetna, Jill Wasser from the New York State Department of Public Service, and Pablo Rendon from Parker Jewish Institute for Health Care & Rehabilitation.
Guests received goody bags from Otsuka filled with event sections, keepsakes, and valuable take-home materials. Raffle prizes included tickets to “The Play that Goes Wrong,” gift certificates and Mary Kay gift baskets.
The Expo’s success was made possible by sponsors Gold and Gift Bag Sponsor Otsuka, as well as Silver Sponsors HearingLife, Atena, CenterLight Health System, Parker Jewish Health Care and Rehabilitation, Long Beach Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, and New York State Department of Public Service.
Both guests and vendors eagerly anticipate the next expo on Monday, Oct. 16, at The Mansion at Glen Cove, 200 Dosoris Lane, in Glen Cove. Register at RichnerLive.com/ seniorexpo.
–Alexa AnderwkavichAs renting, utilities, and grocery costs rise not just all across the country, but also here at home, Democrats inside the Nassau County Legislature are urging County Executive Bruce Blakeman to deliver tax relief ahead of the budget proposal deadline last week.
Republicans, however, say that tax relief has already come — by eliminating proposed tax increases under Democrats.
They’ve cited a number of proposed cost increases affecting many locally, like Liberty Utilities wanting to hike rates by nearly 35 percent. The county’s Rent Guidelines Board voting to increase rents by up to 2 percent, excluding only the Village of Hempstead. And ongoing rising food prices — which were up nearly 5 percent over last year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The Democrats wanted Blakeman to deliver $128 million of tax relief, stemming from a 2021 campaign pledge from Blakeman promising to deliver property tax cuts “by over $128 million in a single year.”
Blakeman did not respond to the Herald’s requests for comment.
A $70-million tax cut included in the 2022 county budget, passed during the administration of Blakeman’s Demo -
cratic predecessor, Laura Curran administration, received unanimous legislative support, the Democratic legislators said during a news conference last week.
“Now is the time — as good students, as elected leaders — to come together,” County Legislator Siela Bynoe said.
“The entire legislature and this administration: Provide a tax break.”
While tax cuts were delivered between 2018 and 2022, Democrats say last year’s budget passed under Blake -
man included no tax cut.
But that’s not true, Republicans said.
Richard Nicolello, the legislature’s GOP presiding officer, added his body eliminated tax increases planned under Curran between 2023 and 2025. He disputes the claim last year’s budget delivered no tax cuts, and said that relief came from cutting out a planned $35 million tax increase proposed by Democrats while Curran was still in office.
Even if that were the case, Democrats don’t feel that is enough.
“At a time when the costs for various commodities are increasing across the board,” Bynoe said, “this budget provides us with an opportunity to embrace the principles of good government and deliver relief to taxpayers in a meaningful and impactful way.”
Projections show that the county is on track to end fiscal 2023 with a significant surplus. Giving that surplus back to taxpayers — including a “modest portion” of county reserves — would make that relief possible, Democrats said.
Monthly reports from the county’s budget management office indicates that another $100 million could be added to various reserves this year.
Democrats credited Curran’s administration with providing a “fiscally solvent” government that “eased the burden” on Blakeman.
“Unfortunately, because of poor government policies, we have two Nassau counties,” County Legislator Carrié Solages said.
“One Nassau County for the very rich, headed by Bruce Blakeman. And then the Nassau County in which everyone else is there. As a result, his budget reflects that.”
Everyday residents of Nassau need this relief, Bynoe said.
“We need a cut,” said the Uniondale representative. “We need a reduction. And we need it now. Families are suffering, now. They need the help, now.”
Courtesy Legislative MajorityThe Village of Lynbrook held a solemn ceremony Monday, Sept. 11 to commemorate the 22nd anniversary of the terrorist attacks.
Community organizations such as the Lynbrook Fire Department helped throughout the ceremony. The event continued outdoors despite the rain, with dozens of neighbors in attendance.
Toni-Ann Butler performed the national anthem, and closing prayers were offered by Rabbi Caroline Sim of Temple Am Echad.
making deliveries of drugs with Clifford Nealy, 47, of West Hempstead, and James Anthony Alexander, 48, of Baldwin.
The indictments include:
Christopher Corley, 47, Valley Stream, charged with operating as a major trafficker, conspiracy, and eight counts possession and one count of sale of a controlled substance;
James Anthony Alexander, 48, of Baldwin, charged with conspiracy and three counts of possession and one count of sale of a controlled substance;
Janeathea Nealy, 36, of Baldwin, charged with conspiracy and three counts of possession and one count of sale of a controlled substance;
ATTorney Anne Donnelly Nassau County DistrictThomas Keyes, 36, of Long Beach, charged with conspiracy and two counts of possession of a controlled substance;
Clifford Nealy, 47, of West Hempstead, charged with conspiracy and 13 counts of criminal possession of a weapon;
Tatiana Lopez, 35, of West Hempstead, charged with six counts of criminal possession of a weapon and three counts of criminal possession of a firearm;
John Nealy, 22, of West Hempstead, charged with three counts of criminal possession of a firearm and three counts of criminal possession of a weapon;
Kito Lockwood, 49, of West Hempstead, charged with three counts of criminal possession of a firearm and
three counts of criminal possession of a weapon;
Christopher Lasane, Sr., 50, of Long Beach, charged with four counts of criminal possession of a weapon and six counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance;
Christopher Lasane, Jr., 27, of Long Beach, charged with four counts of criminal possession of a weapon and six counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance;
Noelle Dean, 27, of Uniondale, charged with criminal
In grade school we are taught there are fve senses – sight, hearing, taste, touch and smell. Our sixth sense, intuition, gets short shrift resulting in many never learning its value or how to use it. Ralph Waldo Emerson, in his renowned essay entitled “Self-Reliance”, wrote “we denote this primary wisdom as intuition, whilst all later teachings are tuitions”. Each one of us receives these “intuitions” on a regular basis, but only the fortunate few learn how to use them to increase their well-being.
Here are what some thought leaders have said about this powerful human asset:
“You must train your intuition — you must trust the small voice inside you which tells you exactly what to say, what to decide.”
– Ingrid Berman
“Intuition is a very powerful thing, more powerful that intellect.”
– Steve Jobs
“I’ve trusted the still, small voice of intuition my entire life. And the only time I’ve made mistakes is when I didn’t listen.”
– Oprah Winfrey
“The more you trust your intuition, the more empowered you become, the stronger you become, and the happier you become.”
– Gisele Bundchen
“The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift. I believe in intuition and inspiration. At times I feel certain I am right while not knowing the reason.”
– Albert Einstein
“Women observe subconsciously a thousand little details without knowing they are doing so. Their subconscious mind adds these little things together — and they call the result intuition.”
– Agatha Christie
To learn more about intuitive thinking, try “Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking” by Malcolm Gladwell, or “Gut Feelings: The Intelligence of The Unconscious” by Gerd Gigerenzer.
possession of a firearm and six counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance;
Keya Evans, 48, of Long Beach, charged with criminal possession of a firearm and six counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance.
All 12 defendants pleaded not guilty and are due back in court on Oct. 26.
Lopez is a former star basketball player who graduated from Malverne in 2005. In an email, a district spokesperson said Lopez had been a volunteer coach at the high school.
T his trafficking
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27
6:00-9:00PM
The Heritage Club at Bethpage 99 Quaker Meeting House Road Farmingdale, New York
MARC S. ADLER, MD
TO PURCHASE TICKETS VISIT richnerlive.com/2023healthcare
A portion of ticket sales proceeds will be donated to a local charity. For more information or to sponsor this event, contact Amy Amato
Executive Director, Corporate Relations and Events at aamato@richnerlive.com or 516.569.4000 x224
Senior Vice President and Chief of Hospital Operations
Long Island Community Hospital
KIMON BEKELIS, MD
Chairman
Neurointerventional Services at Catholic Health
Director
Stroke and Brain Aneurysm Center of Long Island
JOSEPH BENDEN, LMSW, LNHA
Administrator
The Five Towns Premier Rehabilitation and Nursing Center
FLORA BIENSTOCK
Chief Clinical Offcer
New Horizon Counseling Center
JORDAN BRODSKY, MD
Medical Doctor & Rheumatologist
Rheumatology Consultants
MATTHEW J. BRUDERMAN
Chairman, Board of Directors
Nassau University Medical Center
TARA BUONOCORE-RUT
President & CEO
CenterLight Health System
ANN CELLA, MA, MED, RN, NEA-BC
Chief Nursing Offcer
St. Francis Hospital & Heart Center
CRISTINA CELLUCCI, MSN, RN, SAFE
Director of Nursing, Emergency Department
Mount Sinai South Nassau
STACEY CONKLIN, MSN, RN-BC, MHCDS, NE-BC
Senior Vice President & Chief Nursing Offcer
Mount Sinai South Nassau
NOVLET DAVIS, DNP, ANP-C
Nurse Practitioner
St. Francis Hospital & Heart Center
KRISTEN DESIDERI
Licensed Practical Nurse
Glengariff Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center
DANIEL J. DIAZ, CPO
ABC Certifed Prosthetist, Orthotist
Complete Orthopedic Services, Inc.
MARK C. DRAKOS, MD
Medical Director Hospital For Special Surgery
ADINA GELFAND-EREZ R-PAC
CEO
Bleu Glove Concierge
CAROL GOMES, MS, FACHE, CPHQ
CEO & COO, Stony Brook University Hospital
Stony Brook Medicine
JAY ITZKOWITZ, MD, MBA, FACEP
Chair of Department of Emergency Medicine
Mount Sinai South Nassau
LINDA JACOBS, MD
Pediatrician
Concierge Pediatric Practice
JONATHAN JASSEY, DO FAAP
Founding Pediatrician
Concierge Pediatric Practice
FELICIA KASOW
Director of Marketing & Operations
Pure Mammography
CHRISTINE L. KIPPLEY, RN
VP Patient Care Services & Chief Nursing Offcer
Peconic Bay Medical Center Northwell
ALEXANDER M. KOTLYAR, MD, FACOG
Reproductive Endocrinologist
Genesis Fertility and Reproductive Medicine
KEN LONG
Senior Vice President, Administration & Chief Clinical Integration Offcer
Mount Sinai South Nassau
JEFFREY MCQUEEN, MBA, LCDC
Executive Director
Mental Health Association of Nassau County
COLLEEN MERLO
CEO
Association for Mental Health and Wellness
EUNICE E. PARK, MD, MPH
Dual-board certifed Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon
Founder
AIREM Modern Beauty Rituals
DAVID PODWALL, MD
President
Nassau County Medical Society
JOHN POHLMAN, CPA
Senior Vice President & Chief Operating Offcer/Chief Financial Offcer
Mount Sinai South Nassau
CHRISTINE PONZIO
Executive Director
Winters Center for Autism
KAITLIN POWERS
Regional Director of Admissions
Long Beach Nursing and Rehabilitation Center
AMY RECCO
COO, Owner & Vice President
Friends for Life Homecare & Medicaid Consultants
JEFFREY L. REYNOLDS, PhD
President & CEO
Family & Children’s Association
YOLANDA ROBANO-GROSS, LMSW, MHA
CEO Options for Community Living, Inc.
STAVROULA SAVELIDIS, MS
Executive Director
Nassau County Medical Society
KERRI ANNE SCANLON, RN, FAAN
Executive Director
Glen Cove Hospital, Northwell Health
MELISSA SCHACHTER, MS, CCC-SLP, TSSLD Director
Speech Language Place
GARY SCHLESINGER
President & CEO
ParCare Community Health Network
SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR EVENT PARTNERS
CMSGT (RET.) EDWARD SCHLOEMAN
Chairman
Operation Warrior Shield
AMY SILVA-MAGALHAES
COO
The Bristal Assisted Living
SHARON SOMEKH, MD, IBCLC Pediatrician
Concierge Pediatric Practice
SPECIAL AWARDS
DISTINGUISHED VISIONARY
MICHAEL J. DOWLING
CEO
Northwell Health
PATRICK M. O’SHAUGHNESSY, DO, MBA
President & CEO Catholic Health
DAVID BATTINELLI, MD
Executive Vice President & Physician-in-Chief, Northwell Health
Dean, Betsey Cushing Whitney Professor of Medicine, Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell
MARIA FLETCHER, PhD
Associate Dean for Nursing & Associate Professor St. Joseph’s University
DEBORAH A. HUNT, PhD, RN
Dr. Betty L. Forest Dean and Professor of the College of Nursing and Public Health Adelphi University
PETER IGARASHI, MD Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook Stony Brook Medicine
NICOLE WADSWORTH
Dean & Professor New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine (NYITCOM)
CHRISTOPHER R. VAKOC, MD/PhD
Alan and Edith Seligson Professor of Cancer Research Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
INNOVATOR OF THE YEAR
PROF. CHAD BOUTON
VP, Advanced Engineering, Director of Neural Bypass and Brain-Computer Interface Laboratory, Institute for Bioelectronic Medicine Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health
ORGANIZATIONS OF EXCELLENCE
FAMILY & CHILDREN’S ASSOCIATION
NEW YORK STATE NURSES ASSOCIATION
R.J. ZUCKERBERG CANCER CENTER
R.J. ZUCKERBERG CANCER HOSPITAL
THERALYMPIC SPEECH THERAPY
Hofstra University Museum of Art’s many treasures are grand in scope and scale. It’s been a proud transformation for the museum, which began with a single gallery space, constructed in 1963. Decades later, it’s among the region’s leading arts institutions.
“Hofstra Museum is the only nationally accredited public facing (university) museum on Long Island,” says Alexandra Giordano, the museum’s new director.
Take a musical cross country trip with Martin Sexton, whose latest album Mix Tape of the Open Road blazing through all territories of style. Critics liken it to a charm bracelet of 12 gems all strung together with the golden thread of what Rolling Stone calls his ‘soul-marinated voice.’ Growing up in Syracuse, uninterested in the music of the day, Sexton fueled his dreams with the timeless sounds of classic rock ’n’ roll. As he discovered the dusty old vinyl left in the basement by one of his big brothers, his musical fire was lit. He has infiltrated many musical worlds, performing at concerts ranging from pop (collaborating with John Mayer) to the Jam scene to classic rock (collaborating with Peter Frampton); from the Newport Folk Fest to Bonnaroo to New Orleans Jazz Fest to Carnegie Hall. Still fiercely independent, he’s influenced a generation of contemporary artists.
The museum reaches into its vast collection once again to open its fall exhibit season with “New Perspectives: The Museum of Art at 60.” It’s a sampling of the more than 5,200 works of art in the permanent collection, which date from 1500 B.C.E. to the 21st century. Painting, prints, drawings, photographs and sculpture — with an emphasis on American and European art — are all here. African, Asian, Melanesian, and Central and South American artifacts add to the strength of the collection.
“We like to think of ourselves as a learning lab for the campus, as well as hub for community enrichment and education,” Giordano says. That educational component also serves as foundation for arts education for students from pre-K through high school.
It’s all in keeping with the museum’s mission to facilitate rich and varied cultural and artistic explorations in an atmosphere promoting an open exchange of ideas. That’s certainly what this exhibit is all about.
By Karen BloomTop: Benny Andrews’ Chasty, 1961, is a mixed media, oil and collage on canvas, represents a playful portrait. A gift to the museum by Dr. and Mrs. Joseph Tucker.
Bottom: Dong Kingman’s Harlem Girl, Harlem Girl, undated oil and collage on masonite, captures the spirit and resilience of an African American woman in an urban environment. A gift to the museum by Dr. Alfred Brotman.
anniversary,” she shares.
Saturday, Sept. 23, 8 p.m. $49, $44, $39. Jeanne Rimsky Theater at Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington. (516) 767-6444 or LandmarkOnMainStreet.org.
New Perspectives is just that: a view of the museum’s collections through “new” eyes. Actually a showcase of 10 “mini exhibitions,” curated by what may seem unlikely individuals.
“We invited campus and community members to bring us a new perspective and point of view. It’s an interdisciplinary approach that involved alumni, students, staff, administrative leadership and others,” Giordano says. “We have created a place where art intersects with the community.”
• Now through Dec. 15
• Emily Lowe Gallery, behind Emily Lowe Hall, Hofstra University’s South Campus
• Saturday and Sunday, noon-4 p.m.; Tuesday through Friday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
• Information available at Hofstra.edu/museum, or call (516) 463-5672
• Emily Lowe Hall Gallery, South Campus, Hempstead. For information and to RSVP, call (516) 463-5672, or visit Hofstra.edu/museum
“The experience was truly remarkable as the artworks I chose resonated with my soul on a profound level. Each piece exuded a powerful feminine energy that both motivated and inspired me, leaving an indelible mark on my heart and reaffirming the importance of celebrating art and culture in our academic community.”
Among her selections: The Dowayo peoples’ Namji Fertility Doll and George Gach’s sculpture, Maternity.
“When We All Stand,” Hofstra University Museum of Art’s new exhibition, examines the collective power of the arts in society.
Curated by Alexandra Giordano — the museum’s assistant director of exhibition and collection — the exhibit underscores artists’ civic responsibility and influence.
These “guest curators” reviewed the collection database, examined works in collection storage, and then made their selections. Their entries, of course, vary in style and content, depending upon their interests and focus.
Other highlights include Benny Andrews’ collage “Chasty,” selected by Margarita Lopez, a recent alumna, and Dong Kingman’s “Harlem Girl,” another pick by Darling.
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.
Assemblywoman Taylor Darling is among those invited to participate.
“I’m deeply honored to be a part of Hofstra Museum 60th
“It highlights the vital role that artists have in activating democratic values that promise equality and freedom, encouraging civic engagement, and cultivating unity,” Giordano says. “Artists often lead the charge and expose truths that may otherwise be ignored. The artists in this exhibition take a stand and call out injustices through their art and activism on issues such as immigration, gender, reproductive rights, mass incarceration, voting rights, racial bias, gun violence, and promises unfulfilled. They all combine the making of art with public service that has a grassroots approach in the hope of mobilizing their communities and the nation to ignite movement, create awareness, and inspire others to stand with them.”
This exhibit, which runs through July 28, is in conjunction with Hofstra’s 13th presidential conference on the Barack Obama presidency coming up in April.
“We were interested in the idea that the artist has a civic responsibility,” says
“Their use of materials, oil on canvas, really captures their subjects,” Giordano adds. “Both artists complement each other well.”
As always, public programming enhances the exhibit experience. Upcoming events include a conversation with the curators, Oct. 4, at 6 p.m. The guest curators will discuss their selections and experiences, offering insight into this collaborative exhibition. Attendees will hear how they viewed the collection from their individual outlooks. Light refreshments will be available.
‘Easy come, easy go’ Queen-mania rocks on with Killer Queen’s homage to Freddie Mercury and his bandmates. Formed in the United Kingdom in 1993, Killer Queen played their first public shows at London University where Queen itself had its first shows 21 years earlier. Fronted by Patrick Myers, critics have described Myers’ resemblance to Mercury as ‘spooky;’ his uncanny likeness was further proven when he recorded a No. 1 hit single singing as Freddie Mercury on Fat Boy Slim’s record ‘The Real Life.’ Their expert musicianship, extraordinary energy, and accurate portrayal of beloved band has rightfully earned them the title of Queen Royalty. Combined with Myers’ powerful three-anda-half octave tenor range, expert musicianship and dynamic stage presence, Killer Queen continues to captivate audiences the world over.
Saturday, Sept. 23, 8 p.m. $49.50, $39.50, $35, $24.50. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. (800) 745-3000 or Ticketmaster.com or ParamountNY. com.
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.
that’s been at the focus of our collective culture for centuries. Now as society navigates the complexities of modern life, art as a path for social change is at the forefront of artistic expression.
Indie icon and National Symphony Orchestra Artistic Advisor Ben Folds visits The Paramount, on the heels of his recently released What Matters Most, Monday, Oct. 2, 8 p.m. Folds says his first full-length studio album in eight year is his most “true” to date. “There’s a lifetime of craft and experience all focused into this one record,” explains Folds.
“Sonically, lyrically, emotionally, I don’t think it’s an album I could have made at any other point in my career.” One of the major music influencers of our generation, Folds’ body of genre-bending music includes a string of classic albums with Ben Folds Five and a glorious mix of collaborations and special projects. Folds is known for hits like “You Don’t Know Me”, “Way to Normal” and “Landed” but as lead singer of the famous Ben Folds Five he spent much of the ‘90s generating his success with the band. After releasing no less than six solo albums, Folds really is his own entity, with a huge number of hit songs under his belt, fans are loyal to his unique sound and continue to follow him into his 4th decade of music. Ben has worked with handfuls of notable artists through the years, both collaborating with and writing for, including Nick Hornby, Ymusic and William Shatner, including performing with some of the world’s great symphony orchestras. He has also managed to fit in writing music for hit films, proving time and again that he’s a man of many talents. he takes success in his stride and continues to be the humble musician he was been for so many decades. A self-confessed enigma, he prefers to stay out of the limelight except when touring, but can easily claim credit for some of music’s most unlikely trends. $99.50 $79.50, $69.50, $59.50, $39.50. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. (800) 745-3000 or Ticketmaster.com or ParamountNY.com.
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.
In celebration of the 50th anniversary of Hip-Hop, Mayor Waylyn Hobbs Jr. and The Village of Hempstead host a free concert featuring Hip-Hop legends The Sugar Hill Gang, Rob Base, Hempstead native A+ and Keith Murray, Friday, Sept. 29, 6 p.m., at Denton Green. The concert in Hempstead, one of the bedrocks of early and current Hip-Hop, ncludes vendors, food and activities. Dressing in early Hip Hop-era attire encouraged. 99 James A. Garner Way, across from Village Hall, Hempstead.
Celebrate fall and all the colors of the season with the family at Long Island Children’s Museum, Saturday, Sept. 23, 12-2 p.m. Use your imagination to make animal art out of colorful leaf shapes, focusing on the seasonal shades of vibrant yellow, deep purple, and fiery orange, at the dropin program. Suitable for ages 3 and up. Long Island Children’s Museum, Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 224-5800 or LICM.org
Kids can celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month at a STEM program, offered at Hempstead Lake State Park, Sunday, Sept. 21, 1-2:30 p.m. Take a closer look at Hispanic scientists and their amazing contributions to the world. Conduct experiments that explore concepts and designs discovered by a Hispanic scientist. For ages 6 and older. 1000 Lake Drive, West Hempstead. Register at EventBrite.com. Call (516) 7661029 for information.
Get that fall feeling by making a harvest wreath, Saturday, Oct. 7, 1-2:30 p.m., at Hempstead Lake State Park. Create fallthemed wreaths using natural materials found in the park. One wreath per family. 1000 Lake Drive, West Hempstead. Register at EventBrite.com. Call (516) 766-1029 for information.
Support first responders with fun, food and fundraising for the Nassau County Firefighters Wounded Warriors, at Greis Park, Saturday, Sept. 23, 3-9 p.m. 55 Wilbur St., Lynbrook.
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, Oct. 19 , 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. 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. (516) 484-9337 or NassauMuseum.org.
Check out the Fall Psychic Fair, Sunday, Oct. 1, Lynbrook Elks Lodge, presented by Inspired Events. Private readings are $35. 57 Hempstead Ave. For more information, call (516) 446-3116.
Conductor-composer Steven Sametz directs The Princeton Singers in “Inspirations,” a program of diverse musical selections, Adelphi’s Performing Arts Center stage, Saturday, Sept. 30 , 4 p.m. They have captivated audiences and listeners for 40 years through their versatile musicianship. The ensemble is noted for their mastery of works from Bach to Schoenberg, with forays into unexplored and exciting realms such as Aboriginal and Native American ritual music, Igbe chanting, and ArabAndalusian muwashahat. Inspirations is a look at how contemporary composers take their inspiration from chant, carnival songs, and spirituals, including works by Josquin des Prez, Johann Sebastian Bach, Johannes Brahms, Steven Sametz, and Adelphi faculty member Sidney Boquire. $35. Adelphi University Performing Arts Center, 1 South Ave., Garden City. (516) 877-4000 or Adelphi.edu/pac.
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 beyond the door and discover “secrets of the service wing,” during a 60-minute guided tour, Friday, Sept. 22, noon-1 p.m.; Sunday, Sept. 24, 1:302:30 p.m. and 3:30-4:30 p.m.; Monday, Sept. 25, noon-1 p.m.; Wednesday and Thursday, Sept. 27-28, noon-1 p.m. Be introduced to the intensive labor required to create the lifestyle experienced by the Phipps family and their guests; tour the many rooms that were “behind the scenes” to create the formal dining experiences of early 20th century. Go along the corridors to the butler’s pantry and silver cleaning room then descend the 17 steps to the kitchen, scullery, and wine storage rooms located on the ground floor. Reservations required. 71 Old Westbury Rd., Old Westbury. For information contact (516) 333-0048 or visit OldWestburyGardens.org.
A family-oriented annual fishing festival at Hempstead Lake State Park integrates fishing with fall activities, such as a casting for pumpkins contest and pumpkin decorating. The event, Saturday, Oct. 21, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., includes fly fishing instruction, demonstrations, and outdoor exhibits by local fishing clubs. Children can enjoy time on an inflatable and pumpkin decorating. Food will be available for purchase. 1000 Lake Drive, West Hempstead. To register, visit EventBrite.com. Call (516) 766-1029 for information.
Enjoy the season at St. John-Incarnation
Lutheran Church’s 43rd Annual Harvest Festival, Saturday, Sept. 30, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. With a yard sale and bake sale, as well as bratwursts, hot dogs, knishes, chili, music, children’s crafts, flowers, pumpkins, photo booth, raffle baskets and 50/50. 13 Blake Ave. Call (516) 599-0778 for more information.
They don’t want new legislation — they’re simply want enforcement.
Last week, Mom’s Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, victims of gun violence and local gun control advocates gathered on the north lawn of the Nassau County Supreme court to rally for just that enforcement when it comes to the state’s “red flag” law.
The “red flag” law — or the “extreme risk protection order” law — was established in 2019 in an attempt to prevent guns from falling into the hands of someone posing a threat to themselves or others. It followed nationwide mass shootings, acts of domestic violence, and suicides by gun.
“These laws provide space and time between the guns and gun owners if they are thinking of harming themselves or somebody else,” said Jana Nesbitt Gale, deputy chapter lead and co-local group lead of Long Island Mom’s Demand Action organization. “It’s not about taking the gun away forever. It’s just about providing a temporary cooling off period for the safety of the person in question.”
Since the law’s fruition, Gov. Kathy Hochul has enhanced the legislation, requiring state police to file an red flag protection order when they deem it necessary, and by adding health care practitioners who have seen someone as a patient within six months to the list of those who can file for such orders. Hochul has pushed police training councils to create and teach policy and procedure on when a red flag protective order petition should be used.
Others eligible to file a protective order petition include district attorneys, school officials, and even those who might live with someone who might be intending harm.
According to Seth Koslow — a Democrat running against Joseph Baker for the Nassau County Legislature — 35 protective order petitions were issued in the county over the course of a recent year. During that same time, however, neighboring Suffolk County filed more than 1,500.
Many red flag protective order petitions in Suffolk came from 911 calls, Koslow added, where someone threatened to hurt themselves.
“We need more rigorous police use of the existing ‘red flag’ law,” Koslow said. “Taking this step will help (keep) our children safe from self-harm, and help us sleep better at night.”
Baker — who seeks to represent Freeport, Merrick and Bellmore, among other communities — is not believed to have publicly spoken out on his position of “red flag” laws.
Linda Beigel Schulman — mother of Scott Beigel, a teacher murdered in the 2014 Parkland, Florida high
Linda Beigel Schulman shares the story of her son, Scott, who lost his life to gun violence, at a Nassau rally advocating for improved enforcement of ‘red flag’ laws — intended to prevent weapons from falling into the hands of someone who poses a threat to themselves, or others.
school shooting — shared that if a “red flag” law had been in place in that state sooner, her son might be alive right now.
If Republican candidates believe mental health issues cause gun violence, she added, they should use the “red flag” law to its fullest extent.
“The proper enforcement of ‘red flag’ laws means people like me — like you, your family, your friends, your coworkers — will not have to endure what I do each day,” Beigel Schulman said. “You’ll never have to live with a scar that never heals. Pain that never goes away.”
Deanna Drury shared her family’s experience with suicide, losing her uncle to suicide by a gun, and nearly losing her mother.
“I’m grateful on her bad day,” Drury said, “she didn’t have access to a gun.”
Quarter page 5.04 x 6.291
iest intervention. We don’t have to live like this, and we don’t have to die like this.”
Thursday, October 26, 2023 | 6:30 p.m. Cradle of Aviation Museum, Garden City, NY
gram” to provide aid to certain customers.
Any type of rate increase approved by the state would go into effect next year and impact customers who live between Massapequa and the Five Towns on the South Shore.
During the Sept. 15 hearings, those wishing to comment by pre-registering could either call in on the phone, or take part in the meeting over Zoom. Those choosing to only watch the meeting could do so on YouTube, where it was live streamed.
Administrative law judges Tara Kersey and Dakin Leakes presided over the hearings. A court reporter was also present, to provide a thorough transcript of the hearing to each commissioner. The Public Service Commission, led by chairperson and chief executive officer Rory Christian, comprises six commissioners.
“My role here today (is) really to be an active listener,” Commissioner Diane Berman said. “I appreciate everyone participating, and I look forward to hearing your comments.”
The consensus from meeting participants was the Public Service Commission should not agree to any sort of rate increase for Liberty Utilities — especially one that could nearly double some customers’ bills.
Speaking out against the rate
increase was Laurie Wheelock, the executive director of the Public Utility Law Project, or PULP, a nonprofit that advocates for low-income utility customers.
“PULP sometimes hears general conversations that water bills are usually the lowest of all the utility bills, so it should be easier for people to pay,” she said. “But the truth is that when someone is struggling to even pay that water bill, it doesn’t mean that they aren’t struggling to pay all the other entities and bills and things like mortgage, rent, food and medicine, and in particular utility bills, because every cost is significant. The increase that Liberty is proposing is real money to real people.”
Those participating in the hearings also brought up the issue surrounding the South Nassau Water Authority, which Gov. Kathy Hochul established in November 2021, as a public entity to take over Liberty’s operations. The water authority held its first meeting in July.
Several participants of the hearings asked that the decision on the rate increase be delayed until it is known if the public entity can properly execute a takeover.
“Stay this (proposal) or reject it and tell Liberty to come back after good faith negotiations,” said Dave Denenberg, co-leader of Long Island Clean Air Water & Soil, an advocacy group.
Similar public entities were created
public comments can be sent to the state’s public Service Commission by:
Mail: The Hon. Michelle L. Phillips, secretary, Public Service Commission, Three Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12223
Phone: (800) 335-2120
Website: Visit DPS.NY.gov, and search case No. 23-W-0235
on the North Shore and in Massapequa, so customers in these areas can facilitate takeovers of the portions of Liberty that serves them.
John Reinhardt, board member of the water authority, also asked that the decision be delayed.
“The South Nassau Water Authority has submitted an offer letter to Liberty and is awaiting response,” he said. “Liberty has cooperated to date with providing us materials. And I believe at this point, as it has been stated numerous times, a stay on this rate case and this rate increase while these negotiations continue in good faith should be put in place to protect the ratepayers in the
South Nassau Water District, as well as the North Shore and the Massapequa water districts.”
Along with comments made during the meeting, the commission is also accepting written statements. Town of Hempstead officials, who played a role in establishing the water authority, said “they implore the decision to reject this proposal.”
“We are calling for the New York State Public Service Commission to reject this proposal,” read a letter to the commission, signed by Supervisor Don Clavin, Councilman Chris Carini and Councilwoman Laura Ryder. “Furthermore, we are asking Governor Kathy Hochul and New York State to initiate a fully state-funded public takeover of Liberty Water assets. Additionally, we are calling on New York State to reintroduce the previously stalled franchise tax exemption that would further provide relief to ratepayers. By following through on these solutions, we can ensure that local residents are provided with the highest quality of water service at the lowest possible cost.”
The commission will be accepting public comments through Oct. 18 regarding the Liberty rate hike before a decision is reached. Comments can be submitted through mail, on the phone or electronically (see box). For the most up to date information, visit DPS.NY. gov and search case No. 23-W-0235.
what kids actually need to learn better.”
That means making sure the district’s English as a New Language program remains robust and effective; making sure children with special needs have the individualized curriculum they need; and making sure the schools’ roster of classes continues to prepare students for the next step after graduation, whether that’s college or a career.
The district has added a variety of new courses to keep students ahead of the curve — woodworking, drones, AP precalculus and business law are just a few of the specialized opportunities now being offered.
“It’s about the act of learning,” Lynch said. “In order to stay the same, we must also change. We have to adapt.”
The final theme is perhaps the one closest to the core of the district — “Owl Cares.” It’s about school staff caring about students, students caring about one another, and the district caring
about the community at large, and “reaching out their hands when anyone is in trouble,” Lynch said.
The school staff recognized that many students were facing added challenges after the pandemic. The impact on young people’s mental health lasted beyond the months of isolation — with learning loss, mental health struggles and socialization issues, they continue
to need extra support.
“We’ve been growing our Care team — our psychologists, our social workers, our guidance counselors,” Lynch said, adding that teachers and staff are just as integral to the effort. “It’s about trying to get the kids the help they need, and doing it in a caring way.”
By emphasizing the way the district staff cares about students, the students
are given an example of how they can care about one another.
What makes Lynbrook Lynbrook is this idea that it’s just a special place,” Lynch said. “Kids really do hold doors. They really do say please and thank you. It’s an old-school type community feeling.”
“That’s what this community has always been about — that ethic of care.”
LEGAL NOTICE
SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORKCOUNTY OF NASSAU NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC, V. CYNTHIA SPRINGSTEEN
A/K/A CYNTHIA RICHARDSON, ET. AL.
NOTICE OF SALE
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure dated March 28, 2018, and entered in the Offce of the Clerk of the County of Nassau, wherein NATIONSTAR
TGAGE LLC is the Plaintiff and CYNTHIA SPRINGSTEEN A/K/A CYNTHIA RICHARDSON, ET AL. are the Defendant(s). I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the NASSAU COUNTY SUPREME COURT, NORTH SIDE STEPS, 100 SUPREME COURT DRIVE, MINEOLA, NY 11501, on October 10, 2023 at 2:30PM, premises known as 1 LEWIS PLACE, LYNBROOK, NY 11563: Section 42, Block 118, Lot 206: ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND, WITH THE BUILDINGS AND IMPROVEMENTS THERE ON ERECTED, SITUATE, LYING AND BEING IN THE INCORPORATED VILLAGE OF LYNBROOK, COUNTY OF NASSAU, AND STATE OF N.Y.
Premises will be sold subject to provisions of fled Judgment Index # 003493/2013. Leo F. McGinity, Esq. - Referee. Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310, Westbury, New York 11590, Attorneys for Plaintiff.
All foreclosure sales will be conducted in accordance with Covid-19 guidelines including, but not limited to, social distancing and mask wearing. *LOCATION OF SALE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DAY OF IN ACCORDANCE WITH COURT/CLERK DIRECTIVES.
141688
LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE OF SALE
SUPREME COURT
COUNTY OF NASSAU, DITECH FINANCIAL LLC, Plaintiff, vs. ERICA MCCALL, ET AL., Defendant(s).
Pursuant to an Order
Confrming Referee Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on July 17, 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 October 10, 2023 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 58 Lakeview 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 Incorporated Village of Lynbrook, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 38, Block 374 and Lot 26-27.
Approximate amount of judgment is $852,237.63 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of fled Judgment Index #010730/2010. 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.
Harold F. Damm, Esq., Referee
Knuckles, Komosinski & Manfro, LLP, 565 Taxter Road, Suite 590, Elmsford, NY 10523, Attorneys for Plaintiff 141649
LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU WILMINGTON TRUST, NA, SUCCESSOR TRUSTEE TO CITIBANK, N.A., AS TRUSTEE F/B/O HOLDERS OF STRUCTURED ASSET MORTGAGE INVESTMENTS II INC., BEAR STEARNS ALT-A TRUST 2007-3, MORTGAGE PASSTHROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2007-3, Plaintiff AGAINST SONIA F. GARNES AKA SONIA GARNES, ORLANDO FINDLAYTER INDIVIDUALLY AND AS SURVIVING SPOUSE OF YVETTE FINDLAYTER, ET AL., Defendant(s)
Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered September 23, 2019, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on October 17, 2023 at 2:30PM, premises known as 67 LAWRENCE AVENUE, LYNBROOK, NY 11563. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the Incorporated Village of Lynbrook, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 38, Block 54, Lot 219. Approximate amount of judgment $516,776.20 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of fled Judgment Index #003213/2017. The aforementioned auction will be conducted in accordance with the NASSAU County COVID-19 mitigation protocols and as such all persons must comply with social distancing, wearing masks and screening
practices in effect at the time of this foreclosure sale. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, then the court appointed referee will cancel the foreclosure auction. Foreclosure Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine”. George Esernio, Esq., Referee Gross Polowy, LLC 1775 Wehrle Drive Williamsville, NY 14221 17-000730 77459 141773
LEGAL NOTICE INDEX NO.: 608037/2022
Date Filed: 06/21/2022
SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS WITH NOTICE
MORTGAGED PREMISES:
25 Randall Avenue, Lynbrook, New York 11563
SBL #: 38-460-3 & 4
Plaintiff designates NASSAU County as the place of trial; venue is based upon the county in which the mortgaged premises is situate.
STATE OF NEW YORK SUPREME COURT: COUNTY OF NASSAU M&T Bank, Plaintiff, vs. Nezir Alija; New York State Department of Taxation and Finance; John Doe #1 through #6, and Jane Doe #1 through #6, the last twelve names being fctitious, it being the intention of Plaintiff to designate any and all occupants, tenants, persons or corporations, if any, having or claiming an interest in or lien upon the premises being foreclosed herein, Defendants.
TO THE ABOVE NAMED
DEFENDANTS: YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the Complaint in this action and to serve a copy of your answer, or, if the Complaint is not served with this Summons, to serve a notice of appearance on the attorneys for the Plaintiff within 20 days after the service of this Summons, exclusive of the day of service (or within 30 days after service is complete if this Summons is not personally delivered to you within the State of New York). In case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint.
NOTICE YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME IF YOU DO NOT RESPOND TO THIS SUMMONS AND COMPLAINT BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE MORTGAGE COMPANY WHO FILED THIS FORECLOSURE PROCEEDING AGAINST YOU AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT, A DEFAULT JUDGMENT MAY BE ENTERED AND YOU CAN LOSE YOUR HOME.
SPEAK TO AN ATTORNEY
OR GO TO THE COURT WHERE YOUR CASE IS PENDING FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON HOW TO ANSWER THE SUMMONS AND PROTECT YOUR PROPERTY. SENDING PAYMENT TO YOUR MORTGAGE COMPANY WILL NOT STOP THIS FORECLOSURE ACTION.
YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (MORTGAGE COMPANY) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT.
THE OBJECT of the above captioned action is to foreclose a Mortgage to secure $515,490.00 and interest, recorded in the Offce of the Clerk of Nassau on March 10, 2016, in Volume 41075, Page 457 and as Instrument No. 2016-00024163, covering premises known as 25 Randall Avenue, Lynbrook, New York 11563, SBL #: 38-460-3 & 4 The relief sought in the within action is a fnal judgment directing the sale of the premises described above to satisfy the debt secured by the Mortgage described above. The Plaintiff also seeks a defciency judgment against the Defendants and for any debt secured by said Mortgage which is not satisfed by the proceeds of the sale of said premises.
TO the Defendant Nezir Alija, the foregoing Supplemental Summons with Notice is served upon you by publication pursuant to an Order of the Hon. David P. Sullivan of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of Nassau, dated and fled June 14, 2023.
Dated: July 6, 2023 /s/ Christhie Montero Christhie Montero, Esq. McCalla Raymer Leibert Pierce, LLC 420 Lexington Avenue, Suite 840 New York, New York 10170
Phone: 347.286.7409
Fax: 347-286-7414
Attorneys for Plaintiff, M&T Bank HELP FOR HOMEOWNERS IN FORECLOSURE NEW YORK STATE LAW REQUIRES THAT WE SEND YOU THIS NOTICE ABOUT THE FORECLOSURE PROCESS. PLEASE READ IT CAREFULLY. SUMMONS AND COMPLAINT YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME. IF YOU FAIL TO RESPOND TO THE SUMMONS AND COMPLAINT IN THIS FORECLOSURE ACTION, YOU MAY LOSE YOUR HOME. PLEASE READ THE SUMMONS AND COMPLAINT CAREFULLY. YOU SHOULD IMMEDIATELY CONTACT AN ATTORNEY OR YOUR LOCAL LEGAL AID OFFICE TO OBTAIN ADVICE ON
Before the school year officially kicked off, the Lynbrook High School Key Club already received recognition for their hard work volunteering for a good cause.
Lynbrook High School Key Club members were given the opportunity to volunteer at the 10th annual Rose Brucia Golf Outing at the Stonebridge Country Club in Smithtown on Aug. 21. Upon students’ arrival, they were greeted by members of the Rose Brucia Educational Foundation, which works to reduce child abductions. Students and fellow golfers were treated to a barbeque lunch before heading to the
course on golf carts. Students worked in pairs on different areas of the course, where they handed out refreshments and supervised to ensure the event rolled on smoothly.
After the game, Key Club members enjoyed dinner during an awards ceremony, during which they received a standing ovation for their dedication and service. The Key Club was also presented with a plaque. Helping hands were still used to hand out raffle tickets and prizes, before students concluded the night by enjoying scoops from the ice cream bar.
YOURSELF. SOURCES OF INFORMATION AND ASSISTANCE.
The State encourages you to become informed about your options in foreclosure. In addition to seeking assistance from an attorney or legal aid offce, there are government agencies and non-proft organizations that you may contact for information about possible options, including trying to work with your lender during this process.
To locate an entity near you, you may call the tollfree helpline maintained by the New York State Banking Department of Financial Services at 1-800-342-3736 or visit the Department’s website at www.dfs.ny.gov.
Be careful of people who approach you with offers to “save” your home. There are individuals who watch for notices of foreclosure actions in order to unfairly proft from a homeowner’s
distress. You should be extremely careful about any such promises and any suggestions that you pay them a fee or sign over your deed. State law requires anyone offering such services for proft to enter into a contract which fully describes the services they will perform and fees they will charge, and which prohibits them from taking any money from you until they have completed all such promised services.
141760
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING BY THE BOARD OF APPEALS Pursuant to New York State Town Law Article 16, New York State Public Offcers Law Article 7, and the Town of Hempstead Building Zone Ordinance, NOTICE is hereby given that the BOARD OF APPEALS of the Town of Hempstead
will hold a public hearing in the Old Town Hall, 350 Front Street, Room 230, Second Floor, Hempstead, New York on 9/27/23 at 9:30 A.M. to consider the following applications and appeals:
THE FOLLOWING CASES WILL BE CALLED
STARTING AT 9:30 A.M.
578/23. NR EAST ROCKAWAY - Bobby O’Mahony, Special exception to maintain accessory structure (gazebo) higher & larger than permitted & exceeds horizontal maximum on both sides; Variance, side yard, maintain two (2) A/C units attached to dwelling., W/s Seawane Rd., 226’ S/o Everdell Rd., a/k/a 39 Seawane Rd.
ALL PAPERS PERTAINING TO THE ABOVE HEARING ARE AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION AT THE BOARD OF APPEALS, TOWN HALL, 1 WASHINGTON STREET, HEMPSTEAD, NY 11550. This notice is only for new cases in East Rockaway within Town of Hempstead jurisdiction.
There are additional cases in different hamlets, towns and villages on the Board of Appeals calendar. The full calendar is available at https://hempsteadny.gov/ 509/Board-of-Appeals
The internet address of the website streaming for this meeting is https://hempsteadny.gov/ 576/Live-Streaming-Video
Interested parties may appear at the above time and place. At the call of the Chairman, the Board will consider decisions on the foregoing and those on the Reserve Decision calendar and such other matters as may properly come before it.
EMPLOYMENT
Help Wanted 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.
Salary Range is $15 per hour to $23 per hour. For consideration, please send resume & salary requirements to: careers@liherald.com
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, Salary Ranges from $17 per hour to $21 per hour
Night Availability is a Must.
Please Email Resume to careers@liherald.com or Call (516)569-4000 x239
DRIVING INSTRUCTORS WANTED
Will Certify And Train
HS Diploma
NYS License Clean 3 Years
$20- $25/ Hour
Call 516-731-3000
E-mail your ad to: ereynolds@liherald.com E-mail Finds Under $100 to: sales@liherald.com
Monday, 11:00 am for all classified ads.
Part Time & Full Time. 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. Salary range is from $20K to $45K 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
MAILROOM/ WAREHOUSE HELP
Long Island Herald has IMMEDIATE openings for a FULL-TIME & PART-TIME mailroom/warehouse helper in Garden City. We are a busy print shop looking for motivated and reliable individuals to assist in various duties in the shop. Forklift experience is a plus and heavy lifting is required. Hours vary, so flexibility is key. Salary Ranges fromo $15 per hour to $20 per hour. Email resumes or contact info to careers@liherald.com
MULTI MEDIA ACCOUNT DEVELOPMENT
Inside Sales
Looking for an aggressive self starter who is great at making and maintaining relationships and loves to help businesses grow by marketing them on many different advertising platforms. You will source new sales opportunities through inbound lead follow-up and outbound cold calls. Must have the ability to understand customer needs and requirements and turn them in to positive advertising solutions. We are looking for a talented and competitive Inside Sales Representative that thrives in a quick sales cycle environment. Compensation ranges from $31,200 + commissions and bonuses to over $100,000 including commission and bonuses. We also offer health benefits, 401K and paid time off. Please send cover letter and resume with salary requirements to ereynolds@liherald.com Call 516-569-4000 X286
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. Earning potential ranges from $31,200 plus commission and bonuses to over $100,000 including commissions and bonuses. Compensation is based on Full Time hours
Eligible for Health Benefits, 401k and Paid Time Off.
Please Send Cover Letter and Resume with Salary Requirements to rglickman@liherald.com or Call 516-569-4000 X250
PRINTING PRESS OPERATORS
FT & PT. Long Island Herald has IMMEDIATE openings for Printing Press Operators in Garden City. We are a busy print shop looking for motivated and reliable individuals to assist in various duties in the shop. Hours vary, so flexibility is key. Salary Ranges from $20 per hour to $30 per hour. Email resumes or contact info to careers@liherald.com
Prsonnl Anlyst (Garden City, NY): Plan cmpany’s rcruitmnt effrts, rview emplymnt applctions to mtch applcnts’ crdntials to job reqs for a globl 3rd-prty lgistcs srvics providr. Reqs: Bach or equiv & 1 yr exp in emplyee trainng & keepng emplyee prfrmnce recrds or rel exp. Salary: $53,394. Mail resume to: HR, Ata Freight Line, Ltd., 400 Garden City Plaza, Ste 404, Garden City, NY 11530.
P/T CUSTODIAL WORKER FOR ISLAND PARK LIBRARY
Afternoon and evening shifts. MonSat. Drivers license req.. High school graduate. Able to lift 40 lbs., Cleaning inside and outside of library. Program set up. Snow removal, run errands, able to climb ladder. $16-$17 per hour. email: jkoenig@islandparklibrary.org..
Receptionist needed for Publisher and Self-Storage Facility located in Garden City. The ideal candidate should have excellent communications and customer service skills, be professional, dependable and have reliable transportation. Candidate should have computer knowledge and working knowledge of MS Office. Candidate MUST be reliable, punctual and be able to work a CONSISTENT schedule: Job Responsibilities include, but are not limited to: Answering phones and greeting customers, assisting new customers by showing storage facility options and pricing, collecting payments from customers, contacting customers for late payments, applying payments and updating the customer files /data base and other general administrative responsibilities on an as needed basis. Hourly pay $15 to $17 plus eligible for Holiday Pay, PTO, Medical, Dental, 401k with company matching, plus other benefits. Qualified candidates should email their resume, cover letter and salary requirements. No phone calls please. Email your resume to: careers@liherald.com
RESTAURANT Hostess & Server
Positions Available
(646) 830 4987 email: mc_brando@yahoo.com
Health Care/Opportunities
To place an ad call 516-569-4000 press 5 • To place an ad call 516-569-4000 press 5
gunite pool, koi pond, two car garage and an extra-large driveway. Call Alissa Lurie today to schedule your private viewing! 516-967-8828
Q. I read your column about the color of roofs after I put a white roof on my building because the roofing company said it was required. I still believe it was the right choice, but the building isn’t done, and I saw moisture forming on the metal roof deck, just below the new roof. What is causing this problem, and how do I prevent it from continuing? The building still isn’t done, and already this is concerning me that something was done wrong. What can you tell me about this?
Bay Pa RK
190 Meadowview Ave, BA, 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 HEWLETT
1390 Broadway #102, BA, NEW! Move Right Into This Magnificent
Newly Renovated 2 BR, 2 Bth Coop in Prestigious Hewlett Townhouse. Open Layout. NEW State of the Art Kitchen & Bths, HW Flrs, Windows, HVAC, Recessed LED Lights, Doors, W/D. Community
Pool. Full Service 24 Hr Doorman, Valet Pkg, Elevator, Priv Storage.
Gar Pkg. Near Shops, Trans & Houses of Worship $579,000
1534 Broadway #205, BA, Extra Large 2000 Sq Ft, 2 Bedroom
(Originally 3 BR), 2 Bath Condo in Prestigious Jonathan Hall with Doorman & Elevator. Updtd Wood/Quartz Kit, LR & DR. Washer/
Dryer in Unit. Underground Pkg. Loads of Closets. Terrace Faces
Back. Easy Ranch Style Living BIG REDUCTION!! MOTIVATED SELLER! $579,000
WOO dMERE
504 Saddle Ridge Rd, BA, Move Right Into This Renovated 4 BR, 2 Bth Split with Open Layout in Prime Location!
Granite/Wood EIK Opens to Dining Room & Living Room.
Lower Level Den. HW Flrs, Gas Heat, CAC. Oversized Property!
SD#14. Near All! REDUCED!
Alissa Lurie Licensed Real Estate Salesperson 516-967-8828
Alurie@coachrealtors.com
Coach Realtors 1315 Broadway Hewlett, NY 11557 516.374.0100 www.CoachRealtors.com
A. It’s true that your white roof was a great choice because of its reflectivity, and throughout the industry there’s a lot of good information about the results from choosing a white roof over a black one. Studies show that the reflectivity has a significant effect on keeping cooling costs lower, but that’s not the whole story. As I have written many times, buildings are systems, and nature never fails to be consistent, taking all factors into account. In areas of the world that have low humidity and high temperatures, the white color responds better as a system, because the condensation from humidity is kept in check by indoor to outdoor conditions being balanced by lack of moisture getting in from the outside, and indoor humidity being controlled by consistent removal of moisture by air conditioning. This is not to say that air conditioning is actually doing the job of removing moisture from the interior, but the key to your problem is humidity control, and your description gave clues as to your current problem.
If your building is brand new, and the concrete poured floors over the steel decking are recent, then your building is still trying to dry out. The concrete and other fresh materials are still holding some of the water that helped mix the materials. The same happens with houses that have new lumber that is still losing moisture from its fibers, for example. Your building needs to be aired out with dehumidification, and you should consult the mechanical engineer and mechanical contractor to coordinate getting the moisture out of the building in a methodical way. Just opening the windows won’t help, since humid outdoor conditions can replenish lost moisture in every absorbent material, from finishes to wallboard, concrete and fabric.
This is one of the most misunderstood parts of building systems. You’re very observant to have seen the moisture and caught it in time. Over the lifespan of the building, you would have observed deterioration, mold and distortion of many of the products installed to make the building come together. This is why many materials don’t last as long as they’re supposed to, and it’s the No. 1 reason for movement and separations, cracking and discoloration.
Condensation is a silent beast that ruins buildings very slowly and steadily. Fortunately, we have better equipment to control humidity than ever before. Your white roof was a smart decision.
The roof is the right color, but moisture’s getting throughAsk
100 North Village Avenue
• Full service boutique professional hub specifically appealing to behavioral/mental health professionals.
Baldwin $660,000
Lakeside Drive. Colonial. 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms. Finished basement. Eat-in kitchen with granite countertops. Formal dining room. Den/family room. Large oversized yard. Situated in Silver Lake area on the Oceanside border.
Taxes: $13,321
Bellmore $830,050
Judith Drive. Splanch. 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms. Partial finished basement. Eat-in kitchen. Formal dining room. Den/family room and home office.
Taxes: $16,954.25
East Meadow $642,000
Aaron Avenue. Colonial. 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms. Eat-in kitchen with granite countertops. Formal dining room. Den/ family room and home office. 2 decks and indoor/outdoor porch above the garage. Oversized rooms.
Taxes: $10,882.81
Elmont $640,000
Wellington Road. Cape. 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms. Finished basement. Eat-in kitchen with granite countertops and new LG Signature refrigerator. Formal dining room. First floor master bedroom. All large rooms with ample storage. Updates include electric and plumbing with smart thermostat.
Taxes: $10,575
Hewlett $725,000
Felter Avenue. Colonial. 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms. Living room with fireplace. Spacious rooms. First floor bedroom. Oversized property with deck. Convenient location near shopping, dining, LIRR.
Taxes: $14,286.97
Malverne $845,000
Gold Circle. Expanded Ranch. 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms. Eat-in kitchen with pantry. Formal dining room. Den/family room and exercise room.
Taxes: $15,758.38
Merrick $770,000
Frankel Boulevard. Colonial. 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms.
Gourmet eat-in kitchen with quartz countertops, extended breakfast room and sliders to deck. Formal dining room. Den/family room. Country club-style backyard with professional landscaping, inground saltwater pool. Central air conditioning.
Taxes: $14,730
Oceanside $604,000
Westlake Avenue. Ranch. 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms. Finished basement. Eat-in kitchen with granite countertops. Updates include cathedral ceiling and skylight.
Taxes: $12,438
Rockville Centre $910,000
Brower Avenue. Colonial. 5 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms. Partial finished basement. Formal dining room. Den/family room and home office. Updates include cathedral ceiling and skylight.
Taxes: $14,226.25
Source: The Multiple Listing Service of Long Island Inc,, a computerized network of real estate offices serving Nassau, Suffolk, Queens, and Brooklyn.
• Conveniently located one block north of the LIRR with plentiful on‑site and municipal parking.
• Meticulously maintained and updated with newly furnished and unfurnished suites.
• Part time and full time offices available. Attentive owner on premises and includes use of office equipment and services.
• WIFI included.
• 24/7 access.
• Security cameras located throughout.
Please call 516 766 1188 or email us at mitch@rocamanagement.com
While The Market Is Still HOT!! Call Me For A FREE Market Evaluation #therightagentmeanseverything
Erica Nevins
Licensed RE Salesperson 516-477-2378 erica.nevins@remax.net 3305
Open Houses
CEDARHURST BA, 332B Peninsula Blvd, Move Right Into This Updated 3 Br, 2.5 Bth Coop Townhouse. LR, DR, Gran/Wood Kit w/ Stainless Steel Appl. Trex Deck Off LR.Primary Ste Features Updtd Bth & WIC. Att Gar Plus 1 Pkg Spot incl in Maintenance. W/D in Unit.Pull Down Attic.SD#15. Convenient to Shops, Trans & Houses of Worship...$449,000 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
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
Open Houses
WOODMERE BA, 504 Saddle Ridge Rd.,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!..$950,000 Ronnie Gerber, Douglas Elliman 516-238-4299
Apartments Wanted
VALLEY STREAM/ LYNBROOK/ 5TOWNS Vicinity: Responsible Person Seeking Studio/ 1 BR. Lower Level Okay. 516-569-5054
Apartments For Rent
TRAILERS, STORAGE CONTAINERS, OVERNIGHT, DAYTIME 516 996 5818
To place an ad call 516-569-4000 press 5 • To place an ad call 516-569-4000 press 5 • To place an ad call 516-569-4000 press 5
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
GOLF BAG W 3 Woods and 8 Iron, $50. (516) 445-3212
SUKKAH 6FTX8FT SPACE, frame steel pipes, curtain heavyweight plastic; roof bamboo; decorations wax fruit. A steal! $99.00. 516.295.1647
TWA MENUS, 3 1970's, 2 Geneva, 1 Paris, plus Antoine's 1940 Centennial Menu, $30. 516-379-2511.
TWIN XL BED, with mattress and sheets. Like new. Baldwin. $50 (516) 254-3640
SERVICES
Brick/Block/Concrete/Masonry
Cement Specialist, Brickwork, Interlock Bricks, Belgium Blocks, Stoops, Patios, Driveways, Sidewalks, Basement Entrances, Pavers, Waterproofing. Quality
Electricians
E-Z ELECTRIC SERVICES, INC. All Types Residential/Commercial Wiring, Generators, Telephone/Data, Home Entertainment,
Handyman HANDYMAN Repairs and Installations for the Household. Careful and Reliable and Vaccinated. Licensed and Insured. 30-Year Nassau County Resident. Friendly Frank Phone/Text 516-238-2112
E-mail-Frankcav@optonline.net
Home Improvement
BATH & SHOWER UPDATES in as little as ONE DAY! Affordable prices - No payments for 18 months! Lifetime warranty & professional installs. Senior & Military Discounts available. Call: 866-393-3636
HANDY DANDY HOME IMPROVEMENTS
* Full Or Partial Kitchens/ Baths *Painting *Sheetrock *Taping/ Spackling *Installations Ceramic/ Vinyl Tile *Carpentry *Alterations *Repairs/ More. FREE ESTIMATES. Dan 516-342-0761
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Miscellaneous
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Power Washing
POWERWASHING ALL SURFACES: Houses, Fences, Concrete/ Brick, Decks/Sealing. . ANTHONY & J HOME IMPROVEMENT, INC. 516-678-6641 Sprinkler Syst./Irrig.Wells
Tree Services
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Satellite/TV Equipment
DIRECTV Sports Pack – 3 Months on Us! Watch pro and college sports LIVE. Plus over 40 regional and specialty networks included. NFL, College Football, MLB, NBA, NHL, Golf and more. Some restrictions apply. Call DIRECTV 1-888-534-6918
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Health & Fitness
ATTENTION OXYGEN THERAPY USERS! Discover Oxygen Therapy That Moves with You with Inogen Portable Oxygen Concentrators. FREE information kit. Call 888-514-3044
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Autos For Sale
LEXUS, LS430, 2002: 107,533 Miles, Excellent Condition, Automatic, Green Grey, Leather Seats, Well Maintained, Dealer Serviced, Garage Kept, New Michelin Tires, $8,500. Motivated 516-760-0468
MAZDA MIATA 2015 Club Edition, Silver Black Interior, 17,000 Miles, Perfect Condition. If Looking for a Miata, This is a good One To Buy. $22,000 917-273-3737
Autos Wanted
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Junk Cars Wanted
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in recent months, former President Donald Trump has been hit with 91 charges in four criminal indictments. As an attorney, I’ve paid close attention to all of the cases, which may be hard for most non-lawyers to follow. His actions on Jan. 6, 2021, are well known, but it’s up to the special counsel, Jack Smith, to prove criminal conduct.
Most people I know have said nothing about Trump’s alleged retention of classified documents. An eventual trial will reveal what kinds of papers were involved, and then it will be up to a jury to decide right or wrong.
When it comes to the Georgia indictment, I’m not willing to give Trump the free pass he demands by yelling that the case is a “political witch hunt.” The 96-page indictment spells out conduct that’s best described as colossal chutzpah. While some of the other indictments used overly broad language, the Georgia case spells out conduct that is typical of what would happen in Russia, Hungary or Venezuela.
The day after his 2020 election loss, Trump embarked on a comprehensive campaign to change the results of the election in Georgia. Despite a number of statements by Republican Gov. Brian Kemp that the election in his state was run “according to law,” and his denials that there was any fraud, Trump continued his efforts to have the results thrown out. The whole world has heard Trump’s conversation with Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensberger demanding that he find 11,780 votes, which would have given Trump one more vote than he needed to win the state.
As a further display of pure arrogance, Trump also called the speaker of Georgia’s House, David Ralston, demanding that he convene a special session of the Legislature for the purpose of overturning the results of the election. Once he knew what Trump was asking, Ralston refused to take his calls. That was followed by more calls from the president to other election officials, asking them to find fraud. Those calls were coupled with calls allegedly made by a Trump lawyer accusing a Black worker of fraudulent conduct. Those accusations
led to right-wing hate threats to her life.
If you think the other indictments are difficult to understand, this one is, as they say, a piece of cake. The case of the fake electors sounds like something you’d see in a movie. Over a dozen people, many of whom were Republican Party officials, gathered at the Georgia Capitol and signed a document certifying that Trump had won the state — in spite of Kemp’s statement that the returns had been counted three times and no fraud had been found.
And then there are the allegations concerning Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani. Once hailed as America’s Mayor, Giuliani had sunk to the depths of being something of a traveling conspiracy salesman, going from state to state, peddling tales of alleged election fraud. He went to Georgia to testify in front of a number of legislative committees, under oath, claiming that 11,000 dead people had voted and that thousands of ballots had been delivered in suitcases to polling places. Giuliani is now charged with multiple counts of election fraud and lying under oath. Sadly, his license to practice law is currently being challenged in three
states.
Of the six lawyers who have been indicted along with Trump, four worked directly under Giuliani. One of them, Sidney Powell, claimed multiple times that Dominion’s voting machines were easy to manipulate, and were controlled by Venezuelan dictator Hugo Chavez. Those allegations cost Rupert Murdoch’s Fox News $787.5 million in damages, with one other major lawsuit yet to be resolved.
I’ve heard frequently that Trump is, like any other criminal defendant, considered innocent until proven guilty. I know that as a lawyer, I, too, should adhere to that noble sentiment. But the Georgia case has too many specifics — too many emails and too many voicemails — to merit that kind of thinking. There is no way Trump can deny that he never said what he said and never took the actions that he took. To my way of thinking, all the facts go against him, and I don’t believe that, like Harry Houdini, he can escape.
Jerry Kremer was an Assemblyman for 23 years, and chaired the Assembly’s Ways and Means Committee for 12 years. He now heads Empire Government Strategies, a business development and legislative strategy firm. Comments about this column? jkremer@liherald.com.
i’ll be seeing you, just not every week.
In June, when I wrote, “Column writing through hell and high water,” I told readers I was taking a leave from writing for a few months to help my husband through a serious health issue. Many of you reached out, with kind words and encouragement. I wasn’t surprised. You’re good people.
My husband is doing well, but everything changes everything, and the time away from a weekly deadline made me realize that this is a good moment to take a step back and switch from writing weekly to writing once a month.
Now, I understand that for some of you this is excellent news. You can reduce your aggravation level and possibly lower your blood pressure. This summer, one of my favorite letters was from a reader who said that everything I wrote made her angry, but she would miss me. Well, Mary, I’m back.
As I go through my days, I think constantly of columns that need to be writ-
ten. What I’m happy to let go is the deadline that has been a boundary in my life, week in and week out, for 40 years. When we traveled, I either had to write two or three columns in advance or find Wi-Fi in the wilderness. I’m not complaining; I felt accountable to my readers.
As I wrote three months ago, this hasn’t just been a column; it has been a running memoir of our times. I wrote my heart out after 9/11, grieving with so many readers who lost loved ones in the towers. I scribbled my way through blackouts, epic blizzards, hurricanes and, for three years, the pandemic.
I wrote about how to sleep better and eat better and find friends and keep friends. Sometimes an idea landed on the page full blown, and sometimes it has been a struggle to compose a cogent piece. I spent my 750 words a week in wildly different ways, from warning folks off the road when my son got his license, to welcoming President Ronald Reagan to Congregation Ohr Torah, in North Woodmere, with a bust of his head in chopped liver, to sharing my grief for my darling girl, Zoe the dog, when she passed at 16. My work has been personal. I have written about my children’s lives, their
mitzvahs and their missteps. My breast cancer. My husband’s heart surgeries. I struggled for days trying to find just the right words to honor my parents when they died. In some ways the column has been a running story of all of our lives. After all, don’t we share the same hopes and dreams, worry about the threats to our Mother Earth and yearn for a safer world for our kids?
Many of my columns have suggested or reviewed books, the other love in my life. In return, many of you have pitched books my way that turned out to be thrilling and illuminating.
As politics got nasty and toxic in recent years, I jumped in, wanting to use my 750 words to rally support for our democracy, women’s rights, LGBTQ rights and laws that ensure equality for every community and every human being. I think these were words well spent, although at times the backlash has been fierce. That’s what opinion columns are for: to stir the pot, open the debate and disagree without getting too creepy. I love newspapering. Ink in my veins is how the expression goes. I will write my monthly column going forward with a renewed focus on our democracy. We
Randi is back, but beginning with this issue, she will appear in the Herald once per month.
have the votes to bring sane and serious people into office. Time to close the chapter on book banning in America. Translated, that means supporting equal justice for all as the former president and his cronies face the consequences of their transgressive, mean-spirited time in office.
Last week, David Ignatius, the respected columnist and longtime Biden friend, called for President Biden to withdraw his bid to run in 2024 because he’s too old. I agree; he is old. But there isn’t a qualified, experienced alternative who has the chops to run and win a national election.
Trump is old, too. He is also unfit in mind, body, temperament and demeanor. He has been criminally charged in four indictments. Biden has boosted our democracy and enhanced our reputation around the world. He has robust skills and a natural charm that can’t be learned or bought. His team is working well for America during a treacherous time in our history.
Run, Joe, run.
Copyright 2023 Randi Kreiss. Randi can be reached at randik3@aol.com.
RAnDi KREiss
i ’m happy to let go the deadline that has been a boundary in my life.
To my way of thinking, the facts go against the fourtimes-indicted Donald Trump.JERRY KREMER
although it’s late in the season, boating safety should remain at the forefront for everyone on the water.
Whether boating off the South Shore of Nassau County or the North Shore’s Long Island Sound, having a safe and fun day on the water is the goal. And that includes personal watercraft operators and their passengers.
But boating can quickly turn treacherous without proper precautions, and a commitment to safety.
Every year, more than a dozen people die in boating accidents in New York — with 28 dying last year alone, according to the state parks department. These incidents are not mere statistics — they represent lives disrupted and ecosystems harmed.
To safeguard against such tragedies and to preserve the waterways, boat
To the Editor:
operators and their passengers should be educated on fundamental seamanship and waterway rules, how to use their equipment properly, and basic first aid.
Knowing what navigational markings mean goes a long way in reducing hazardous situations such as running aground and passengers falling overboard. Equally crucial is the necessity for personal flotation devices. The majority of boating-related fatalities are caused by not wearing lifejackets. Twenty-one of the 28 people who died last year weren’t wearing them.
Boating under the influence is a grave danger. Just as drinking and driving are a hazardous combination, alcohol and boating do not mix. Impaired judgment and slower reaction times increase the risk of accidents, accounting for 21 percent of the boating fatalities in New
York between 2005 and 2022, according to the parks department. If needed, designate a sober operator and bring along a non-drinking crew member.
Weather conditions can change rapidly on the water. Check the forecast before heading out, and be prepared for unexpected changes. Even experienced boaters can forget to do something as basic as checking the weather before casting off.
Navigational aids such as charts, radios and GPS devices are invaluable tools. Knowing your location and having the means to call for assistance are critical components of safe boating. Making safety a priority can help ensure that every voyage is a memorable and safe experience. There are a couple of good months of boating weather remaining. That’s plenty of time to make good habits routine.
Re U.S. Rep. Anthony D’Esposito’s column “Congestion pricing will fuel further flight from New York” (Sept. 7-13): Congressman Esposito has it all wrong by opposing New York City’s proposed congestion pricing plan, which would charge drivers $23 during peak hours to drive south of 60th Street in Manhattan.
He claims it would create a heavy cost burden on Long Island drivers heading to the city. If you drive into New York, however, you have to look at all the costs.
First, Long Island parkways and surface streets in the city are in a constant state of gridlock. It feels like rush hour from early morning until evening. Once you get to Manhattan, you slow to a crawl, with delivery trucks blocking you on nearly every block. Every day, 700,000 cars, taxis and trucks stream into Lower Manhattan. The average speed is 7.1 mph, and each of those vehicles spews carbon into our heavily polluted environment. MTA bus speeds have declined 28 percent since 2010.
If you have a 75-mile round trip commute and you expense that, according to the IRS, you could write off roughly $48. That’s what the feds see as the wear and tear of putting miles on your car, insurance, maintenance and depreciation. And what about the price of gas, which is spiking at over $4.25 a gallon? If you make a 75-mile round trip five days a week, and your car gets 20 miles per gallon, it will cost you $160 a week.
Once you get to Manhattan, there’s parking. If you can even find an open lot, it’s very costly, $50 to $75 a day in Lower Manhattan. Street parking is almost impossible, since Covid created hundreds of restaurant extensions onto the streets. Couple that with Citi Bike racks, and thousands of parking spots have vanished.
The time we spend in our cars getting into Manhattan is intolerable. I used to broadcast the financial news on the ABC radio networks from BusinessWeek in Midtown. My commute at 4 a.m. took about 35 minutes. That same commute during rush hour can take 90 to 120 minutes. Plus, if you’re going to Lower Manhattan via the L.I. “Distressway,” you’re paying $17 a day, or $85 a week, for the Midtown Tunnel.
Bottom line, if you add up the costs of commuting by car, you’re paying more than $100 a day with parking. And don’t forget about precious time consumed. New Yorkers lose 117 hours on average each year sitting in traffic, costing them nearly $2,000 in lost productivity and other costs. We have the longest commute times of any
city in the country. Wouldn’t you rather see your kids than taillights?
The stress and cost of driving pushed me onto the LIRR and the subways. It’s a relief not to worry about being late for an appointment or sitting in stop-and-go traffic. The LIRR now gets you to the East Side at Grand Central Terminal as well as Penn Station and Atlantic Terminal in Brooklyn.
I do agree with Congressman D’Esposito that the MTA is mismanaged. It should be deconstructed and rebuilt to make it cost-effective, and to rid us of unconscionable overtime and featherbedding. It’s another unfair surcharge on Long Islanders and New Yorkers.
According to traffic engineers, congestion pricing will reduce traffic and pollu-
on clear summer evenings, I sit on the lawn of William L. Buck Elementary School in Valley Stream — a five-minute walk from my house — with a telescope I was given four years ago at my bat mitzvah. From my small corner of the universe in Valley Stream, peering upward, I see constellations and planets. My eyes travel farther than any landbound human has ever gone, exploring the cosmos through my glass lens. In these moments, I know I love space visible in the night sky, and the science that can describe it.
This summer, I spent six weeks pursuing this passion for astrophysics with the Summer Science Program in New Mexico.
Thirty-four other student scientists and I started by shooting photos of the night sky, using the telescope at Tortugas
Mountain Observatory, near Las Cruces. Then, in flipbook-like fashion, the captured images showed a small speck of an asteroid hurtling through space. From three simple images, we derived coordinates and calculations that could predict the position of the space rock and track its journey around the solar system for the next 50 million years.
Nightly discussions in the observing center with my peers began with thoughts of confusion and questions about how to decipher the symbols and numbers that haunted our whiteboards, but by the close of the program, we found understanding. We spent our days poring over problems and collectively devising solutions to what at first seemed unsolvable. The program allowed us to gain firsthand experience in the work of astrophysicists. Like them, we collaborated and questioned and watched calculations that once existed only in textbooks come alive in the surrounding sky.
tion and persuade people to get back onto the trains. The new funding will hopefully close the MTA budget deficit and improve rail service.
Congestion pricing is now being used in advanced cities like Singapore, London, Milan and Stockholm. It makes those urban areas more livable, less congested and less polluted. Shouldn’t New yorkers make the choice to do the same? Or do we want to fall behind, pay more for commuting, inhale carcinogenic vehicle exhaust and be fatigued and stressed by the time we arrive at our Manhattan destination?
JIM PAyMAR Rockville CentreTo the Editor:
Congressman Anthony D’Esposito’s shortsighted attack on congestion pricing for drivers entering part of Manhattan misstates or omits key aspects of this much-needed plan.
Specific charges and exemptions from the tolls have yet to be determined. There is no factual basis for the congressman’s claim that “commuters would pay upward of $23 during peak hours.”
D’Esposito acknowledges that “increasing ridership on public transportation is a noble cause.” But this stance cannot be squared with his oppo-
sition to a plan designed to generate $1 billion a year to improve service on the region’s rail and bus lines. The congressman further implies that the MTA doesn’t deserve increased funding due to a “long history of mismanagement.” But he offers no evidence for this contention, and he ignores the impact of the pandemic, which cost the MTA nearly half its operating budget.
D’Esposito cites a “recent rash of violent crime” as a disincentive for drivers to use public transit. Incidents of major crime in the transit system actually decreased by nearly 9 percent in the first five months of 2023, according to the New york City Police Department. Plus, daily ridership is returning to prepandemic levels.
The congressman’s overall contention is that congestion pricing would serve as a tax that would spur an exodus from New york. But commuters could avoid this “tax” simply by choosing not to drive into one of the most congested areas in the country. And congestion pricing would in fact help make an iconic part of New york a more alluring place to work and play.
It’s important to note that driving a car, especially in a densely populated area, is not a benign activity. Pollutants emitted from tailpipes contribute to about 320 premature deaths each year, according to the New york City Health Department. An additional 225 people died as a result of vehicle crashes in the city in 2022. Driving likewise threatens our children by contributing greatly to climate change.
Congressman D’Esposito wishes to
Unlike a typical school day, our work was not accompanied by an unwelcome sense of stress. Instead I felt an exhilarating sense of opportunity, relishing the reality that a high school student like me could tap into the infinite world of space exploration.
As we made our discoveries in Las Cruces, the scientific community was making its own exploratory voyages. In just one summer, the James Webb Space Telescope continued peering further into the past with the infrared space images it produced; gravitational waves were collected using astronomical objects light-years away; and India landed a rover on the south side of the moon.
Working away in the New Mexico heat, I was inspired by the fact that these breakthroughs were applying the same fundamental scientific method we high school kids practiced daily. I felt connected to the greater scientific community, if only in a small way. The world was inno-
vating on a large scale, while our small class learned to develop the potential for our generation to follow in our greatest scientists’ footsteps.
Las Cruces was far from home. It didn’t have a pool or bike paths like the ones in Valley Stream’s Hendrickson Park — but across the mountain, 30 degrees above the horizon, we could see an asteroid moving across the sky through our 24-inch-diameter telescope. Though far from home, I felt comforted by the same sense of awe and passion I had experienced so many times while looking up at the night sky from my backyard.
I came home a few weeks ago, and have since gone back with my miniature telescope to Buck Elementary, to stare at the sky and think of how far civilization has come in understanding it, and how far we have traveled. And now I can appreciate the fact that whether I’m in Las Cruces or here in Valley Stream, I can explore it, too.
Ilana Greenberg is a Valley Stream resident and a junior at North Shore Hebrew Academy High School in Great Neck.
be seen as fighting for the interests of his constituents, even though only a minority of them would likely be affected by congestion pricing. Responsible representation, however, does not rein-
force unfounded fears, nor does it justify threats to public health.
i spent six weeks pursuing a passion for astrophysics in New Mexico.iLana GreenBerG