Lynbrook/East Rockaway Herald 11-24-2022

Also serving Bay Park

Finishing up Sandy repairs

‘HurriCon’ raises money for Bethany Congregational Church

By BEN FiEBERT bfiebert@liherald.com

A HurriCon hit Bethany Congregational Church last Saturday, when local artists and comic book collectors were on hand to sell their memora bilia and raise money for the church.

The event attracted dozens of people interested in the world of comics. The “con” in HurriCon — mimicking the popular Comic-Con — tells only half the story.

impact on Bethany Congrega tional in the years since Hurri cane Sandy left East Rockaway in shambles. In late October 2012, the church opened its doors to community members who were suddenly homeless and without necessities.

“This whole room was filled with clothing,” Richard Eaves, the president of the church’s board of trustees, recalled, referring to the room in which HurriCon was taking place.

According to Eaves, the church became a center for donations. “There was so much

Fiebert/Herald

The event, held each year since 2018, has had a huge

Helping neighbors in need during the holiday season

By MARK NolAN mnolan@liherald.com

It’s no secret that food costs more money than ever before, and with the holidays upon us, many families are in need of assistance. That’s where reli gious and nonprofit organiza tions step up. Although these groups stress that there is need year-round, they see an increase in demand — and vol unteerism — in November and December.

According to the Consumer Price Index, food purchased at grocery stores nationwide costs 13 percent more than a year ago. That’s a big increase for

anyone, especially considering how it adds up over the course of a month.

With many families in need, some organizations say the gen eral awareness of increased food prices has caused more Good Samaritans to get involved.

“It’s been busier than in the past, but I expected the need to be much greater,” said Kathy Brandon, a member of the social ministry of the Parish Family of Saint Raymond of Penyafort, in East Rockaway. “I think there are many organiza tions like Island Harvest that are distributing food.”

Brandon said that Saint Ray

mond helps roughly 50 families during Thanksgiving by pro viding turkeys and traditional fixings. Families are delighted, she said, to receive whole tur keys. “We are very busy for

Thanksgiving,” she said. “Peo ple in the parish are reaching out and doing what they can. They know people have these needs, and they’re opening up their hearts. It’s so wonderful.”

The Community Presbyteri an Church of Malverne dropped off 65 turkeys at the Long Island Council of Church es’ food pantry in Freeport for

distribution last week. The church’s pastor, the Rev. Janice Moore, said the church raised $1,800 to provide much-needed Thanksgiving meals when it heard from the Long Island Council of Churches that the need was greater than in the past.

“It’s something we do every

Ben

DAViD DoNoVAN FoUND a fun way to help pay for repairs to the church floors.

i

t’s so wonderful that we live in a community that takes care of its people.

KATHy BRANDoN parish family of Saint Raymond of Penyafort

Lynbrook raises money for Camp Anchor

The Lynbrook High School varsity foot ball team raised $3,200 for Camp Anchor dur ing a recent benefit game.

The money was collected in the name of Antonio Pugliese, brother of football player Nick Pugliese. Antonio Pugliese has cerebral palsy, and Lynbrook coach David Yaker wanted to host a benefit football game to sup port Pugliese.

Yaker chose Camp Anchor as the Lyn brook community has a long-standing histo ry with the camp. “We have residents who attend the camp in the summer and plenty of students and staff who volunteer there,” Yaker said. “Camp Anchor services so many children with special needs that we felt we could touch a greater portion of the Lyn brook community by donating to Camp Anchor.”

Yaker explained what it means to the foot ball players to have raised this much money. “A football program is only as good as the community that supports it and the Lyn brook community has been incredibly sup portive of our efforts,” Yaker said. “So for the team to give back to a member of its own community means everything for the boys and it shows them that there is so much more to being a high school football player than what they do on the field on Saturdays.”

Yaker believes that these players have a chance to make a positive impact on the world beyond the playing field, and he will continue to host more benefit games in the future.

— Ben Fiebert

Courtesy Lynbrook Public Schools

The Lynbrook high School varsity football team recently raised $3,200 for Camp Anchor and gathered at the Nov. 9 board of education meeting.

Cares Committee seeking snow shovelers

Lynbrook Village to continue volunteer program assisting neighbors this winter

By BEN FIEBERT bfiebert@liherald.com

As the first flakes of snow fell on Lynbrook this past weekend reminding everyone that winter is less than a month away, the Cares Committee is actively looking for volunteers to help shovel snow.

During the monthly Lynbrook Village board meeting Nov. 7, Trustee Laura Ryder, who is in charge of the Cares Committee, said she is looking for volunteers to help shovel snow. These volunteers would help senior citizens, people who are disabled, and veterans. Ryder meticulously assigns every volunteer to a recipient of the snow shovel program.

“I’ll get calls in, speak with that person, and match that volunteer to a senior citi zen, someone who is disabled, or a veteran,” Ryder said. Ryder likes to pair a volunteer with someone who lives close to them so they don’t have to travel far in treacherous conditions. Although Ryder pairs the volun teers well with the recipients, they still have to bear the force of nature.

Ryder said. When this committee was established in 2018, Ryder had a core group that would shovel snow every year. For the recipients to get the most out of this service, Ryder is looking to add at least 10 more volun teers and better equipment.

“Snow blowers are needed because they clear out the snow much faster and we can tackle multi ple houses this way,” Ryder said.

To get more people to volunteer, Ryder has added incentives. Ryder offers commu nity service hours and talks directly with the Lynbrook High School Student Govern ment to work out the details. She also offers community service for Our Lady of Peace Roman Catholic Church, as church mem bers need service hours for communion.

TRuSTEE lauRa RydER

“Our volunteers put themselves at risk free of charge,” Ryder said. These volun teers are “kindhearted, giving, and compassionate” according to Ryder. She mentioned that this program has been “overwhelmingly successful, but this year there are too little volunteers to help out with every sin gle recipient.”

Unfortunately, Ryder had to turn away some poten tial recipients and put them on a waitlist. “It pains me to turn people away as that is the last thing I want to do,” Ryder said. For this upcoming year, the Cares Com mittee has at least six people that will help shovel the recipients’ homes.

“Six people have helped out from the beginning,”

Shoveling snow is not the only service that volunteers can apply for, as the Cares Committee offers a variety of other servic es that help older, disabled, and veteran community members. “We offer light handyman work like taking out the gar bage,” Ryder said. During the pandemic, volunteers of the committee went grocery shopping for the recipients.

“We had a check in program where we paired volunteers to seniors and they would call them,” Ryder said. This helped the recipients feel less lonely as they were cooped up in their homes dur ing the pandemic. There are certain things, however, that volunteers of this committee cannot do like drive recipients to get medical service. Ryder encourages recipients to call 911 for emergency situations.

She hopes to gain enough volunteers this year so that they not only help the older citizens in the commu nity, but also develop deep connections with them. This is the ultimate purpose of the Cares Committee. For more information, email Ryder at lauraryder627@ gmail.com.

News brief

Grant for new dump truck received

The Lynbrook Village Department of Public Works received a $75,000 grant from Nassau Leg islator William Gaylor.

Gaylor presented a check at the Lynbrook Village Board meeting Nov. 7. The grant will help purchase a new highway department dump truck. The appli cation was made 13 months ago and Gaylor was able to secure the grant.

“Each legislative dis trict is allocated monies yearly that can be used for any projects needed in their communities,” said Mary Studdert, director of communica tions for the Nassau County Legislature. “The village reached out to Legislator Gaylor to request these funds to assist in purchasing a new dump truck.”

“I am always looking to support our village and the community as best I can,” Gaylor said. “This was an important piece of equipment needed by the village to better serve the community and provide more effi

cient services.” The grant will allow the village to pur chase the dump truck without having to tax the resi dents.

Mayor Alan Beach said the village will be replac ing a truck that was over 30 years old. According to Beach, the “truck will be delivered in approximately five months.”

— Ben Fiebert

Courtesy Laura Ryder

ShaNNoN RydER voluNTEERINg to shovel snow last year last year.

M ost people want to help, but sometimes they have to be offered the opportunity.

Photos by Ben Fiebert/Herald

FRoM lEFT To right, Trustee Laura Ryder, Mayor Alan Beach, Legislator William Gaylor, and Trustee Michael Hawxhurst receiving the check from Gaylor.

lEgISlaToR WIllIaM gayloR presenting a $75,000 check to the Lynbrook Board of Trustees.

Protecting online school data

Local

districts attempt to mitigate possible damage from attacks

By MARK NOLAN mnolan@liherald.com

Local school officials are waging an unending battle to protect sensitive data stored on network computers, becoming overprotective — and in many cases downright secretive — in discussing their efforts to ward off cybercrime.

“This isn’t something we can discuss over the phone,” Lynbrook School Dis trict Superinten dent Dr. Melissa Burak said.

“We don’t want to print where the data is stored,” Mal verne School Dis trict Superinten dent Dr. Lorna Lewis said.

Vincent Fleck, director of tech nology for the West Hempstead School District, said, “Maybe that should be off-therecord.”

JAMes detOMMAsO

tially hit a department as opposed to the entire location. Backups are a huge piece of what we do.”

protect your cyberself

think before you click — If a link looks a little off, think before you click. It could be an attempt to get sensitive information or install mal ware.

Update your software — Don’t delay. If you see a software update notifica tion, act promptly. Better yet, turn on automatic updates.

Use strong passwords — Use pass words that are long, unique and ran domly generated. Use password man agers to generate and remember dif ferent, complex passwords for each of your accounts. A passwords manager will encrypt passwords securing them for you.

enable multi-factor authentication — You need more than a password to protect your online accounts, and enabling MFA makes you significant ly less likely to get hacked.

—Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and the National Cybersecurity Alliance

security,” Lewis said.

East Rockaway School District Superintendent

School offi cials aren’t trying to be being decep tive about their stored online data, but they said they did not want to bring attention to their methods or provide any information that could be used to hack their data.

“It’s not stored in a shoebox under your bed,” Craig Vella, director of tech nology for the Malverne School District, said. “We want to be as well protected as possible. We have multiple systems, multi ple layers of protection.”

Officials said it isn’t a question of if they will be hacked, but when. As a result, school districts secure data through frag mentation or compartmentalizing, mean ing data is stored in several different loca tions to minimize breaches.

“Let’s say you did get something that could spread,” Fleck said. “It would poten

Because hackers operate from any location with Internet access, the threat exists everywhere, forcing school districts to maintain constant vigilance. The stakes are high because a data breach could cost millions and knock operations offline for weeks or months.

“We obviously take this incredibly serious,” East Rockaway School District Superintendent James DeTommaso said. “We are constantly adapting because the people trying to hack in are constantly adapting.”

Even though East Rockaway, West Hempstead and Malverne school district officials said they are insured for ransom ware — which holds victims’ devices and data hostage until a ransom is paid — it’s not a simple process of paying the extor tionist’s price and being back online immediately. Computer systems would have to be checked and possibly rebuilt.

The threat is real, and the danger can be significant, authorities said. Suffolk County government officials were hacked

on Sept. 8, and the county is still experi encing delays, they said. Suffolk was forced to prioritize which systems, such as 911 services, to rebuild first.

“You need technicians to rebuild sys tems, get services back online safely and conduct forensics,” Fleck said. “It all takes time and money.”

Malverne school officials said they hold frequent training sessions to teach employees to be diligent.

“The biggest part of our protection now is to educate and train staff,” Vella said. “Staff is trained that if something doesn’t look right — if it doesn’t originate from within the district — not to trust it.”

Many districts frequently test their computers by sending fake attacks to see if staff members are being cautious. In Malverne, those attacks even target the superintendent.

“They really try to get me, but they haven’t,” Lewis said.

Vella added that eight years ago, 40 per cent of staff failed an internal test. Most recently, only two individuals failed the scam test.

“Every person is a point-person for

School district officials further guard their computer systems through a con cept called “zero-day,” meaning a munici pality isn’t aware yet of a security flaw and has no time to fix that flaw in the event of a cyber attack. That fear has led districts to improve their fragmentation to mitigate the damage. Officials said they know they will be hacked at some point, so they plan for it.

“We make sure all our servers and computers are up-to-date,” Fleck said. “We have firewalls, web gateways and domain name system filters. We filter mil lions and millions of sites. If we don’t know where the site is, we block it.”

A final measure of protection comes from simply being vague about cybersecu rity and previous breaches. District offi cials didn’t disclose any previous attacks and were reluctant to provide even curso ry details about protecting their net works.

“To protect our assets, we don’t share information about possible previous breaches,” Lewis said.

Mark Nolan/Herald

West HeMpsteAd scHOOL District Director of Technology Vincent Fleck examines equipment at the middle school. Ensuring that the network is secure is a constant endeavor.

That’s right, girls can play hockey, too

Islanders’ elite travel program celebrates Title IX

By MALLORY WILSON mwilson@liherald.com

It’s just 37 words long, but its impact has lasted 50 years and counting.

The civil rights law known as Title IX opened the doors to legal equality for women in educational insti tutions — including sports — and was celebrated at Garden City’s Cradle of Avi ation last week when more than 100 girl ice hockey players and their parents gath ered to talk about how this federal legisla tion afforded these girls the opportunity to play a sport that has typically been male-dominated.

They are members of the New York Islanders Girls Elite Hockey program run at the Northwell Health Ice Center in East Meadow — the same facility used by the cherished local NHL squad. The teams have girls ranging in ages from 8 to 19,and was started in 2016 by Alexis Moed, the general manager of the Pre mier Hockey Federation’s Connecticut Whale.

“It was just my feeling that things weren’t being done the best way that they could be, or the way that was the most beneficial to the players,” Moed said. “So, I took all of my experiences and what I went through, and taking everything that I didn’t have growing up, and putting it together for them in the program.”

The young players come from all over Long Island. Some started with Girls Elite Hockey, while others might have first dropped pucks in boys’ leagues before eventually finding themselves with the newer league. Either way, the consensus is clear — they like where they are, and they like having their own league.

Debbie Curry started playing with an Oyster Bay town league before joining a travel hockey team with the Long Island Sharks in New Hyde Park. But after three years playing with them, the 12-year-old goalie from Seaford was let go.

“She was so dedicated, and we were very involved,” her dad, Keith Curry said. “And then she got cut along with most of the other girls on the team.”

Moving Debbie to Girls Elite Hockey was the best thing to happen to her, said her mom, Christie.

“She always had a target (on) her for being a girl in a boy sport,” Christie said. “Here she can be recognized and have a chance to go somewhere with hockey in the future because they’re giving the girls a chance to shine. I’ve never seen her so happy, and she can just be herself.”

Debbie wants to eventually go pro, and feels like this Islanders group gives her that chance because “they accepted me much quicker than the boys did.”

Being accepted and feeling more com fortable were common themes.

“I felt welcome on the boys’ teams I played with, but there were definitely some boys who would tell me that they were better than me because I was a girl,” said Emily Stein, a 12-year-old from Bell more. “It’s so much better with girls because you feel more comfortable. And

it’s like a second family.”

Adrianna Morabito says she can com pete at the same level as boys, but cama raderie is what led the 12-year-old Want agh player to the all-girls league.

“At any other organization, I could’ve been at 12U and quit because I didn’t like anyone on my team,” she said. “But because I was here, the friendships have been really good, and they’ve made me a much better player.”

Last week’s panel, moderated by Jamie Hersch of the NHL Network, pre sented perspectives of Title IX’s impact from women in different fields. Among those joining Hersch were Girls Elite Hockey founder Moed along with UBS Arena human resources head Lea Del Rosario, Dr. Amy West from Northwell Health Orthopedic Institute in New Hyde Park, and Kelly Nash, the head coach of Long

JAMIe heRSch, Of the NHL Network, asked each panelist a list of questions for them to give their input on.

AdRIANNA MORABItO, 12, far left, and teammates Megan McCarthy, 14, and Emily Stein, 12, joined those participating in a panel to talk about Title IX’s impact on women in sports at the Cradle of Aviation in Garden City.

hockey team.

“I’m surprised that there hasn’t been more growth in the last 50 years,” Moed said. “But we recognize that the change can be slow. And we’re all committed to pushing that along.”

Island University’s women’s ice

Tim Baker/Herald photos

MeMBeRS Of the New York Islanders Girls Elite Hockey program joined their parents and coaches celebrating the 50th anniversary of Title IX last week with a panel of women who spoke about how the groundbreaking law shaped their professional careers.

GOP, Dems can’t agree on district maps

As comments close, voters beg for more time to decide

By KarINa KOVaC kkovac@liherald.com

Nassau County Republicans and Demo crats remained far apart when it comes to redistricting the county legislature. And as a final map is expected to be released this week — if not already — some who gath ered to see drafts proposals in Mineola seemed displeased, too.

Redistricting happens once every decade, coinciding with the census, and happening at all levels of government. Bat tles raged earlier this year over statewide maps determining congressional districts and state officeholders. And it was no dif ferent last week when the public had a chance to speak out about the maps used to determine who will represent them in the county legislature.

It was, of course, a meeting that also included claims of “gerrymandering,” from people like SUNY Binghamton politi cal science professor Daniel Magleby, who defined the term as districting that typical ly gives one political party “an unfair advantage by diluting opposition’s voting strength.”

“This is a textbook, example of what a packing gerrymander looks like,” Magleby said of the maps, comparing them to the last time the county redistricted, and what he described as an “extreme partisan ger rymander and an outlier relative to this ensemble of maps.

“Both maps — the 2013 map and the Nov. 10 Republican proposal — show pat terns of systematic bias against Democrat ic voters in ways that underweighs their influence on elections in this county.”

Even Francis Moroney, chair of the committee in charge of reviewing the maps, agreed with Magleby.

“We all know that their proposal is bla tantly illegal,” he said. “So it is not surpris ing that they are trying to shield the map from public view, and it made it impossible for the public to understand why they are proposing what they are proposing. We cannot ignore the fact that the severe seg

regation and discrimination in Nassau County is a result of gerrymandered maps.”

But if there was a lack of transparency on the Republican side, it wasn’t much dif ferent than what was happening on the Democratic side, said committee member Peter Bee.

“They ambush you,” he said. “That’s their job. They’re trying to paint a picture that doesn’t exist. From our point of view, a Democratically controlled Assembly, a Democratically controlled Senate, to the Democratic governor enacted a law that said redistricting shall be done in a partic ular manner.”

The main goal, Bee explained, is “one person, one vote,” that is that “each legisla tor should represent roughly the same number of people.”

“I think our map has a smaller devia tion in population than does the Democrat ic map,” Bee said. “The state law also says that you are not to deny racial or language minority groups their participation in pol itics. We do not think that our mapping has done so.”

But each map has its flaws, according to

civil rights lawyer Frederick Brewington, describing those problems with terms like “stacking,” “packing” and “cracking,” which he says creates an unequal balance of power.

“It’s very important for you to under stand that the reason why so many people are here, there is no hope that you’re going to do the right thing,” Brewington said. “But there is hope that we can take this to a place where they will say that you did them wrong. And as a result, we made the record for you, so you can’t say you weren’t warned.”

Brewington implored the committee to think of voters when designing the maps, while also looking inward.

“When you take a look at your own map, please, everybody, look at it in the mirror,” he said. “Look at yourself and evaluate whether or not am I, as a human being with authority and power, will hand this map over to the legislature so that they can do their dirty work?

“And if that’s your vote, shame on you. But God bless.”

The committee was expected to finalize its maps on Monday.

what the people are saying

Proposed redistricting maps for the Nassau County Legislature has drawn mixed reactions from some of the people it

represent.

“Possible 10,000 simulated maps using the gold standards method known as ensemble it was found to be more extremely gerrymandered in favor of Republicans that all of the maps run methodology recognized by the courts. The mapmaker then attempted to debunk the methodolo gy by saying that it doesn’t take pub lic comment into consideration, but neither do his maps. When asked if he believes a map would comply with the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, he said, ‘I don’t have to apply the law to this map.’”

“Last time I spoke to this body, I asked you to redistrict by the interest of the people, not party. It seems that that has gone by the wayside. You’re dividing communities. You’re diluting our community representa tion and our ability to get anything done for our community. I look to our neighbor over in South Hempstead — they’re even smaller than us, and they are three parts. That’s crazy. How you divided up Freeport? Oh my gosh, crazy. I know firsthand the diffi culty of trying to get something done when you are divided up.”

–Karen Montalbano, Baldwin Civic Association government liaiso

Karina Kovac/Herald photos

There were a number of unhappy people attending last week’s meeting in Mineola of the committee in charge of creating districting maps for the Nassau County Legislature. A final decision was expected as early as this week.

POlITICal sCIeNCe PrOfessOr Daniel Magleby tells a Nassau County Legislature redistricting committee last week its maps from both Democrats and Republicans show clear gerrymandering. Final maps determining who will represent who at the county level are expected as early as this week.

would

–Arlo Fleischer, Nassau County Civil Liberties Union organizer

NYSATA STudeNT ArT Exhibit honorees from East Rockaway High School: (Top left) Eva Lam, Sophia Croce and Charlotte Webster. (Bottom left) Andi Ilham, Eva Mena and Sarah O’Moore.

Nine students selected to showcase art at NYS exhibit

Nine East Rockaway students had their artwork featured in the Student Art Exhibit hosted by the New York State Art Teachers Association.

This took place at the annual New York State Boards Association convention. The student artists that had works on display included third grader Alana Izmirly, fifth grader Mark Babiarz, and sixth grader Eamon Joyce from Centre Avenue School. Other students included eighth graders

Eva Lam, Eva Mena, and Charlotte Web ster along with sophomore Sophia Grace, and juniors Andi Ilham and Sarah O’Moore from East Rockaway High School.

Participants from elementary and sec ondary schools across the state are fea tured in this prestigious show, which is also available for public viewing at NYSTA.org.

— Ben Fiebert

Courtesy East Rockaway School District

Hofstra law dedicates Abrams Fensterman Lobby

For 16 years, the law firm provided money to support students at Hofstra University’s Maurice A. Deane School of Law. And now the lobby there will be named after the firm.

The dedication of the new Abrams Fensterman Lobby is part of Hofstra Law’s Vision 2020 campaign. Samuel Fer rara, executive partner at the Lake Suc cess-based firm, was a member of the campaign’s leadership board.

“We as a firm are truly honored by this recognition from Hofstra Law,” said Howard Fensterman, the firm’s manag ing partner, in a release. “We are proudly committed to continuing our support of the law school and their talented and ded icated students.”

The first law school campaign was suc cessfully completed more than 22 years ago — around the same time Abrams Fensterman was founded, and has since raised nearly $22 million, surpassing its initial goals of $12.5 million, and even its “stretch” goal of $17.5 million. The cam paign was created as part of the law school’s 50th anniversary.

Funds were raised through alumni, friends, organizations, faculty and staff members. Hofstra also hosted a hall of fame and 50th anniversary celebration that supported the campaign.

Money is used to fund recruitment efforts as well as provide scholarships while expanding cutting-edge programs in areas such as legal technology. Funds

The main enTryway into the Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University is now known as Abrams Fensterman Lobby after the Lake Success-based firm that has provided money and instruction at the school. Joining in the dedication were, from left, Abrams Fensterman managing partner Howard Fensterman, Hofstra Law dean Gail Prudenti, and Abrams Fensterman executive partner Robert Abrams.

were also used to create new interdisci plinary programs within Hofstra’s gradu ate schools.

The current campaign has been underway the last four years and has

been credited with increasing support to more than 200 named scholarships and fellowships. That includes the Dean’s Legal Tech Fellowship Program for law and engineering students to work on arti

ficial intelligence projects within the school’s research lab while adding five new legal tech courses to the curriculum.

The campaign also supported faculty scholarship and hiring, and adapted to virtual and hybrid teaching during the coronavirus pandemic with upgraded “lecture capture” technology in newly modernized classrooms with a new stu dent lounge and public event spaces.

Attorneys from Abrams Fensterman — including more than two-dozen Hofs tra Law alum — routinely serve as adjunct professors and guest speakers. They also participate in the law school’s mentorship programs and mock inter view events.

The firm was founded in 2000 and has offices in Brooklyn, White Plains, Albany and Rochester.

The Abrams Fensterman Lobby is a multifunction space where students study, collaborate, and gather for law school receptions and communityfocused events.

“We are grateful for visionaries like Howard Fensterman, and everyone at Abrams Fensterman for their investment in Hofstra Law and their commitment to mentoring, training and hiring our stu dents,” said Gail Prudenti, dean of Hofs tra Law, in a release. “Their support ensures these efforts will continue to grow far into the future.”

–Kepherd Daniel

Courtesy Brooke Walker

STEPPING OUT

Usher in the Thankful for feasting and festivities

By Karen Bloom

Feasting Native American-style

Early on in our nation’s history Native Americans handed down time-honored practices to rejoice over nature’s bounty at harvest time, even though it certainly wasn’t Thanksgiving as we know it. Yet, there was plenty of feasting and festivities as these early Americans gathered to commemorate their harvest before preparing to settle in for the approaching winter.

An annual holiday event — one that has been popular here for more than 25 years now — takes place at Garvies Point Museum and Preserve yearly around Thanksgiving.

• Garvies Preserve Native American Festival, Nov. 26, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

50 Barry Drive, Glen Cove

• For information, contact (516) 571-8010 or GarviesPointMuseum.com

• Old Westbury Gardens Shimmering Solstice, select dates through Jan. 1, beginning 5:30 p.m.

71 Old Westbury Road, Old Westbury

Saturday’s hands-on program — held both indoors and out — gives visitors a first-hand look at Native American life through a glimpse of how the state’s earliest inhabitants lived. Everyone can participate in tool and pottery-making, stone drilling and the use of the atlatl (a spear-throwing tool). Primitive fire building (without matches!) and some on-site cooking are among other activities always enjoyed by all who take part.

• For tickets/ information, contact ShimmeringSolstice.com or OldWestburyGardens.org or (516) 333-0048

Families can also explore the process of creating “dugout” canoes, along with corn grinding and storytelling (at 11 a.m., 1 and 3 p.m.) with Chief Redfeather of eastern Long Island’s Montaukett tribe. Also check out displays of artifacts from the museum collection and the authentic reproduction of a wigwam, always a favorite with kids and parents.

While there, be sure to take a look at the museum’s permanent exhibits, which showcase Long Island’s Native American culture and archaeology, as well as the geology of Long Island and New York state.

Shimmering Solstice

The famed lush grounds that define Old Westbury Gardens are festively lit up for the holiday season. The walk-through seasonal light show, “Shimmering Solstice,” returns for a second year, opening Friday, through Jan. 1.

This year more visuals have been added, including a re-designed interactive area with three new exhibits to engage adults and children alike; seasonal music throughout the expanded illuminated path, along with an illuminated water element on the West Pond. Also the Garden of Appreciation will be turned into a comfortable warming area with a concession stand for seasonal snacks and drinks.

The custom-built experience — created by Lightswitch, a collective of internationally recognized lighting, media, and visual designers — has been specially fashioned to highlight Old Westbury Gardens’ uniquen characteristics.

“Shimmering Solstice was designed to be a celebration of our space,” says Maura Brush, director of horticulture at Old Westbury Gardens. “The features that define Old Westbury Gardens such as the formal allées, ponds, and statuary are all illuminated so visitors can view them in a completely different light. Instead of flowers, the gardens will be blooming with light. This is truly an enchanting combination of the beauty of the gardens and the magic of the season.”

The family-friendly experience is intended to be explored at your own pace. For the exciting finale, everyone will be dazzled to see Westbury House’s south facade come alive with magical lights and seasonal sounds. And this year an exciting twist is promised, according to the design team.

Photo: Old Westbury Gardens’ meandering paths along the famed Walled Garden, the Rose Garden, and the South Lawn are aglow with holiday splendor.

The Doo Wop Project

The Doo Wop Project begins at the beginning: tracing the evolution of Doo Wop from the classic sound of five guys singing harmonies on a street corner to the biggest hits on the radio today. Featuring stars from Broadway hits ‘Jersey Boys,’ ‘Motown: The Musical’ and ‘A Bronx Tale,’ The Doo Wop Project brings unparalleled authenticity of sound and vocal excellence to recreate — and in some cases entirely reimagine — the greatest music in American pop and rock history.

It’s a musical journey featuring foundational tunes from the Crests, Belmonts and Flamingos through the vocal artistry of Smokey Robinson, The Temptations, and The Four Seasons all the way to ‘DooWopified’ versions of modern hits from Michael Jackson, Jason Mraz, Maroon 5, and Sam Smith.

Sunday, Nov. 27, 3 p.m. $40-$65. Madison Theatre, Molloy University campus, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre. (516) 323-4444 or MadisonTheatreNY.org.

Straight No Chaser

It’s been 25 years since Straight No Chaser introduced their signature style of a cappella to the world. If the phrase ‘male a cappella group’ conjures up an image of students in blue blazers, ties, and khakis singing traditional college songs on ivied campuses ... think again. These gents are neither strait-laced nor straight-faced, but neither are they vaudeville-style kitsch.

They have emerged as a phenomenon with a massive fan base and a long list of accomplishments including two RIAA Gold Certified albums, over 1.5 million concert tickets sold, over 1 billion streams on Pandora, and over 2 million albums sold worldwide. SNC is the real deal, the captivating sound of nine unadulterated human voices coming together to make extraordinary music — and with a sense of humor Now, these delightful fellas are on tour celebrating their milestone anniversary.

Tuesday, Nov. 29, 7:30 p.m. $99.50, $79.50, $69.50, 59.50, $25. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. (800) 745-3000 or Ticketmaster.com or ParamountNY.com.

WHERE WHEN

Courtesy Garvies Point Museum

Photos: Garvies Point Museum’s annual Native American Fall Festival is a seasonal tradition.

Now that we’ve enjoyed the big feast, all the spectacle and delights of the festive season have arrived. Yes you can head out and start that holiday shopping — or venture out to explore some of the many holiday-themed events nearby.

Courtesy Old Westbury Garden

THE SCENE

On stage

Plaza Theatrical continues its season with “Grumpy Old Men: The Musical,” Saturday, Nov. 26, 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, Nov. 27, 2:30 p.m.; Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2 p.m. Also Dec. 1-4. Based on the beloved 1993 film, which starred Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau and Ann-Margret, this stage adaptation captures the lovably crotchety characters through twinkling humor, great songs, and the affectionate depiction of a small town that feels like home to everyone. It’s performed at Plaza’s stage at the Elmont Library Theatre, 700 Hempstead Tpke., Elmont. $49, $45 seniors. Elmont. For tickets, call (516) 599-6870 or visit PlazaTheatrical.com.

Veterans thrift shop

Holiday fun

The actor-entertainer bring his “Standards & Stories” concert to Tilles Center, Friday, Dec. 2, 7:30 p.m., performing a selection of his favorites from the Great American Songbook while interweaving stories about his life and personal connection to the music. In this joyous evening of glorious songs and personal storytelling, on the LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Boulevard, Brookville, Danza combines timeless music with wit, charm, storytelling, and a dash of soft shoe and ukulele, backed by a four-piece band.Tickets are $62, available at TillesCenter.org or (516) 299-3100.

VFW Post 3350 in East Rockaway continues its veterans thrift shop at 164 Main St. The store’s schedule remains variable in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, but attempts to be open daily, including Sundays. For thrift shop information or hall rentals, call (516) 887-8170, or visit VFWPost3350.org.

Visit the streets of 19th century London during the darkest days of the year, in this adaption of the classic “A Christmas Carol,” with the Experiential Theater Company, Friday and Saturday, Nov. 25-26, 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.; also Wednesday, Nov. 30, 10:15 a.m. and noon, on the Long Island Children’s Museum stage. Meet the Cratchit family, Mr. Scrooge, and the ghosts of past, present and future in this interactive show that weaves together music, humor, puppetry and collaboration. Celebrate the change of seasons through this beloved literary tale. Performances continue through December. Long Island Children’s Museum, Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 2245800 or LICM.org.

All school and municipal offices will be closed on Thursday, Nov. 24, for the holiday.

Tony Danza

On stage

Everyone’s favorite candy man lights up the stage, in Plaza Theatrical’s family-friendly production of “Willy Wonka,” Saturday, Nov. 26, 11 a.m. This scrumdidilyumptious musical features the enchanting songs from the film starring Gene Wilder. Tickets are $16. Grab your golden ticket and visit the Plaza stage at the Elmont Library Theatre, 700 Hempstead Tpke., Elmont. For tickets, call (516) 599-6870 or visit PlazaTheatrical.com.

Keeping up with the Village

The next meeting of the Village of Lynbrook Board of Trustees will be held at Village Hall, 1 Columbus Drive, on Monday, Nov. 28, at 7 p.m.

Monthly Car Seat Check

The Lynbrook Police Department will be training parents and caregivers on the proper installation, position, and fitting of child safety seats, Thursday, Dec. 1, 4-8 p.m., at Lynbrook Fire Department Headquarters, at 81 Wright Ave. Reservations are available online at Eventbrite.com.

Having an event?

Hot Cocoa time

As the weather turns colder, turn to a soothing hot cocoa.

Visit Long Island Children’s Museum and make some hot cocoa in a jar, at the drop-in program, Saturday, Nov. 26, noon-2 p.m. Pick your own toppings and decorate your jar.

Long Island Children’s Museum, Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 2245800 or LICM.org.

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

Art talk

Join Nassau County Museum Director Charles A. Riley II, PhD, for a Director’s Seminar, Tuesday, Dec. 6, 4 p.m. He’ll discuss “Photography: Beauty and Truth,” in a session that examines the intensely emotional approach to photography taken by many of the greats, including Dorothea Lange and Walker Evans, and the analytic, formal path of the Bechers, Struth, Hofer and many Contemporary artists. Participation is limited; registration required. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Drive, Roslyn Harbor. (516) 484-9337 or NassauMuseum.org.

Dec. 3

Christmas Tree Lighting and Blessing of the Crèche

Dec. 5 Dec. 6

The Village of Lynbrook invites you to take part in its holiday traditions on Saturday, Dec. 3, when it will host its annual Christmas Tree Lighting and Blessing of the Crèche at 5 p.m. on Stauderman Avenue, at the corner of Forest Avenue.

Keeping up with the Village

The next meeting of the Village of East Rockaway Board of Trustees will take place at Village Hall, at 376 Atlantic Ave., on Monday, Dec. 5, at 5:30 p.m.

West End Elementary Winter Concert

Students at the West End Elementary School, 30 Clark Ave., will host their holiday concert in the school auditorium on Tuesday, Dec. 6, at 7 p.m. For more information contact the school at 516887-0288.

On exhibit

Photography’s ascent in the art world is an international phenomenon. Nassau County Museum of Art’s star-studded exhibition spans the historical roots of the medium. View works by Ansel Adams and

CITY CELLAR

Local artists showcased

generated generosity, and we were even getting stuff from Louisiana,” he said. Tractor-trailers from Louisiana arrived at the church to help donate clothing.

Along with clothing, other necessities were being distributed.

“We had all these tables that were lined up in four rows,” Eaves said. “One table was strictly dedicated to batteries, anoth er for food, and one for mops which was the busiest table.”

The church distributed donated mate rials, and was open to the public for near ly six months. As time went on, some issues started to reveal themselves. “The sewer plant back flowed,” Eaves said.

Nassau County workers who fixed the plant were regularly visiting the church. Because workers’ and community mem bers’ shoes weren’t always clean, the church’s floors were damaged.

Although they were cleaned, it was a temporary fix. So church member David Donovan came up with a fun way to raise money to pay to repair them: a ComicCon-type event called HurriCon.

“David got these folks to come in here and to get a table at this event. It’s not expensive, so a lot of people bought tables,” Eaves said. The first HurriCon, in 2018, raised about $3,000, which was used to renovate the floors.

The event has been a tradition ever since, with the mission to give back to the community.

“David is helping the artists sell their art and he’s helping us at the church,” Eaves said. The funds raised at past Hur riCon events have gone toward fixing a furnace in the church. “It’s keeping us alive,” Eaves said about Donovan’s Hurri Con.

Over the past four years, Donovan has brought in plenty of artists, comic-book illustrators, authors, and designers. Some of these people include Donovan’s friends Sean Jackson and Ken Gale. Other artists were East Rockaway community mem bers, with one being a student at East Rockaway High School.

Donovan wanted to make sure that

HurriCon was a very welcoming event to everyone. “This whole culture that we refer to as ‘nerd culture’ was always looked down upon,” Donovan said. “But the actual culture is very inclusive.”

With the event bringing in people from throughout Long Island, Donovan was pleased with the outcome of HurriCon this year. “This event has definitely grown,” Donovan said. “This isn’t a real comic-con, but the way I look at it is this is a small community event.

“Everyone here is a volunteer and a friend of mine,” Donovan said. He wants to refer to this event as a community event as it brings so many members of the community together.

What makes this event special accord ing to Donovan is that “you can get a gift from here that you wouldn’t find any where else.” There were a lot of niche comic souvenirs that were being sold at the event and given out during raffles. Some of which included a replica of Negan’s bat from “The Walking Dead” as well as a Captain America bust that retails for over $400.

Joseph Munisteri sold his poems and artwork, based on the theme of Butterflies in Space.

Continued froM front page

Ben Fiebert/Herald photos sean JaCkson displayed his new book, which features illustrations of mazes in the Marvel Universe.

The Bristal Assisted Living has been serving seniors and their families in the tri-state area since 2000, offering independent and assisted living, as well as state-of-the-art memory care programs. We are committed to helping residents remain independent, while providing peace of mind that expert care is available, if needed. On-site services and amenities include daily housekeeping, gourmet meals, a cinema, salon, plus so much more. Discover a vibrant community, countless social events with new friends, and a luxurious lifestyle that you will only find at The Bristal.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING BY THE BOARD OF APPEALS

Pursuant to New York State Town Law Article 16, New York State Public Officers Law Article 7, and the Town of Hempstead Building Zone Ordinance, NOTICE is hereby given that the BOARD OF APPEALS of the Town of Hempstead will hold a public hearing in the Old Town Hall, 350 Front Street, Room 230, Second Floor, Hempstead, New York on 11/30/22 at 9:30 A.M. & 2:00 P.M. to consider the following applications and appeals:

THE FOLLOWING CASES WILL BE CALLED STARTING AT 9:30 A.M. 757/22. NR LYNBROOKJason & Knatasha Hunter, James & Eleanor Coney, Renewal of grant to maintain 6’ high fence., S/E cor. Central Pl. & Linden Ave., a/k/a 4 Central Pl.

THE FOLLOWING CASES WILL BE CALLED STARTING AT 2:00 P.M. 775/22. - 776/22. NR

EAST ROCKAWAY - Sarra Enright, Variances, lot area occupied, side yards aggregate, construct 2-story addition, 2nd story additions & 2nd story balcony all attached to dwelling; Variances, lot area occupied, side yard, side yards aggregate, rear yard, maintain wood deck attached to dwelling., W/o Seawane Rd., 60’ S/o Waverly Rd., a/k/a 3 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 Lynbrook and 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 a t https://hempsteadny.gov/ 509/Board-of-Appeals

The internet address of the website streaming for this meeting is https://hempsteadny.gov/ 576/Live-Streaming-Video Interested parties may appear at the above time and place. At the call of the Chairman, the Board will consider decisions on the foregoing and those on the Reserve Decision calendar and such other matters as may properly come before it. 135589

LEGAL NOTICE

INCORPORATED VILLAGE OF EAST ROCKAWAY ELECTION NOTICE

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to the provisions of the Election Law of the State of New York that the Office of Mayor and (2) Village Trustees are to be filled at the Village Election to be held on Tuesday, March 21, 2023. The polls will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the following polling location: Charles H. Formont Senior Center - 6 James Street BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES of the Incorporated Village of East Rockaway, New York.

Patty Renner Village Clerk-Treasurer Published: November 24, 2022 135596

135148

Need for food never ends

ConTinued FRoM FRonT Page

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE FOR STRUCTURED ASSET INVESTMENT LOAN TRUST, MORTGAGE PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2006-3, Plaintiff, vs. LUIS A. DIAZ, ET AL., Defendant(s).

Pursuant to an Order Consolidating Actions, Amending Caption and Confirming Referee Report and for a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on October 3, 2019 and an Order Appointing Substitute Referee duly entered on May 16, 2022, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the front steps on the north side of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY on December 5, 2022 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 439 Ocean Avenue, Lynbrook, NY 11563. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 38, Block 444 and Lots 114 & 115. Approximate amount of judgment is $713,693.19 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 000355/2013. This foreclosure sale will be held on the north side steps of the Courthouse, rain or shine. COVID-19 safety protocols will be followed at the 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.

Glenn R. Jersey, III, Esq., Referee

LEGAL

NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC, Plaintiff AGAINST JAMES MANTHOS, LINDA MANTHOS, ET AL., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered December 11, 2014, 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 December 13, 2022 at 2:00PM, premises known as 27 SECOND STREET, 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, in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, SECTION 38, BLOCK 241, LOT 25, A/K/A SECTION 38, BLOCK 241, LOTS 25-27.

Approximate amount of judgment $756,633.90 plus interest and costs.

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #013847/2013. 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”. Ellen Durst, Esq., Referee Gross Polowy, LLC 1775 Wehrle Drive Williamsville, NY 14221 00-295303 73819 135247

LEGAL NOTICE

SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS-SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, COUNTY OF NASSAU- DEUTSCHE BANK NATIONAL TRUST COMPANY, AS TRUSTEE FOR AMERIQUEST MORTGAGE SECURITIES INC., ASSET-BACKED PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2003-9, Plaintiff,against- THE UNKNOWN HEIRS-AT-LAW, NEXT-OFKIN, DISTRIBUTEES, EXECUTORS, ADMINISTRATORS, TRUSTEES, DEVISEES, LEGATEES, ASSIGNEES, LIENORS, CREDITORS AND SUCCESSORS IN INTEREST AND GENERALLY ALL

PERSONS HAVING OR CLAIMING, UNDER, BY OR THROUGH THE DECEDENTS RICHARD G. RANK AND EILEEN E. RANK, BY PURCHASE, INHERITANCE, LIEN OR OTHERWISE, ANY RIGHT, TITLE OR INTEREST IN AND TO THE PREMISES DESCRIBED IN THE COMPLAINT HEREIN; GERALD R. RANK; DANIEL RANK; THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (EASTERN DISTRICT); NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE; “JOHN DOE #1” through “JOHN DOE #12” the last twelve names being fictitious and unknown to the plaintiff, the persons or parties intended being the tenants, occupants, persons or corporations, if any, having or claiming an interest in or lien upon the premises, described in the complaint; Defendants - Index No. 601882/2018 Plaintiff Designates Nassau County as the Place of Trial. The Basis of Venue is that the subject premises is situated in Nassau County. To the above named Defendants-YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the Complaint in this action and to serve a copy of your answer, or, if the complaint is not served with this Summons, to serve a notice of appearance, on the Plaintiff’s Attorney(s) within 20 days after the service of this Summons, exclusive of the day of service (or within 30 days after the service is complete if this Summons is not personally delivered to you within the State of New York); and in case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint. That this Supplemental Summons is being filed pursuant to an order of the court dated October 27, 2022.

NOTICE-YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME - If you do not respond to this summons and complaint by serving a copy of the answer on the attorney for the mortgage company who filed this foreclosure proceeding against you and filing the answer with the court, a default judgment may be entered and you can lose your home. Speak to an attorney or go to the court where your case is pending for further information on how to answer the summons and protect your property. Sending a payment to the mortgage company will not stop the foreclosure action. YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (DEUTSCHE BANK NATIONAL TRUST COMPANY, AS TRUSTEE FOR AMERIQUEST

year, but we knew the need was going to be a bit more this year,” Moore said. “We’re a tiny little church, but we’re scrappy. We know each of us has a com munity of our own, so we reached out to our own networks and quickly raised money. We bought as many turkeys from the stores as they would let us.”

With an eye on the future, Moore said, Community Presbyterian is already preparing for its annual food drive in February. The People’s Food Drive, she said, had humble beginnings, but with the help of members Robert and Mary Hallom, of Lynbrook, the church now collects thousands of food items each year.

“A lot of folks want to do something for Christmas and Thanksgiving, but the need is ongoing,” Moore said. “The need is every day. There is never a bad time to donate.”

In the meantime, volunteers at chari table organizations might take a moment to reflect on the assistance they are providing this Thanksgiving, before gearing up for the rest of the holiday

Reach out to help out

Community Presbyterian Church of Malverne 12 Nottingham Road, Malverne (516) 599-3220

The Bruce Wenger Food Bank of West Hempstead info@whfoodbank.org

The Parish Family of Saint Raymond of Penyafort 263 Atlantic Ave., East Rockaway (516) 593-5000

— Mark Nolan

season and beyond.

“It’s so wonderful that we live in a community that takes care of its peo ple,” Brandon said.

Public Notices Public Notices

MORTGAGE SECURITIES INC., ASSET-BACKED PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2003-9) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT. The foregoing summons is served upon you by publication pursuant to an order of the Honorable David P. Sullivan .J.S.C. Dated: October 27, 2022 The object of this action is to foreclose a mortgage and covering the premises known as 31 Carol Street, Lynbrook, New York 11563 Dated: November 4, 2022 Filed: November 4, 2022 Knuckles, Komosinski & Manfro, LLP., Attorney for Plaintiff, By: Richard F. Komosinski Esq., 565 Taxter Road Suite 590, Elmsford, NY 10523 Phone: (914) 345-3020 135490

LEGAL NOTICE

Notice of formation of Lynspire LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York SSNY on 06/07/2022. Office located in Nassau CO. SSNY has been designated for service of process. SSNY shall mail a copy of any process served against the LLC to 6 Hillside Ave Lynbrook, NY 11563. Purpose: any lawful purpose. 134800

LEGAL NOTICE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK INDEX NO. 614974/2018 COUNTY OF NASSAU

REVERSE MORTGAGE SOLUTIONS, INC. Plaintiff, vs.

MUCHA, any and all persons unknown to plaintiff, claiming, or who may claim to have an interest in, or general or specific lien upon the real property described in this action; such unknown persons being herein generally described and intended to be included in the following designation, namely: the wife, widow, husband, widower, heirs at law, next of kin, descendants, executors, administrators, devisees, legatees, creditors, trustees, committees, lienors, and assignees of such deceased, any and all persons deriving interest in or lien upon, or title to said real property by, through or under them, or either of them, and their respective wives, widows, husbands, widowers, heirs at law, next of kin, descendants, executors, administrators, devisees, legatees, creditors, trustees, committees, lienors and assigns, all of whom and whose names, except as stated, are unknown to plaintiff; SECRETARY OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT; SUSTAINABLE NEIGHBORHOODS LLC; NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; “JOHN DOE” (REFUSED NAME), Defendants.

Plaintiff designates NASSAU as the place of trial situs of the real property

SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS

Mortgaged Premises: 7 CATALPA AVENUE, LYNBROOK, NY 11563 Section: 42, Block: 21205, Lot: 47

To the above named Defendants YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the Complaint in the above entitled action and to serve a copy of your Answer on the plaintiff’s attorney within twenty (20) days of the service of this Summons, exclusive of the day of service, or within thirty (30) days after service of the same is complete where service is made in any manner other than by personal delivery within the State. The United States of America, if designated as a defendant in this action, may answer or appear within sixty (60) days of service. Your failure to appear or to answer will result in a judgment against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint. In the event that a deficiency balance remains from the sale proceeds, a judgment may be entered against you.

NOTICE OF NATURE OF ACTION AND RELIEF SOUGHT THE OBJECT of the above caption action is to foreclose a Mortgage to secure the sum of $544,185.00 and interest, recorded on November 13, 2008, in Liber M 33335 at Page 367, of the Public Records of NASSAU County, New York., covering premises known as 7 CATALPA AVENUE, LYNBROOK, NY 11563.

The relief sought in the within action is a final judgment directing the sale of the premises described above to satisfy the debt secured by the Mortgage described above.

NASSAU County is designated as the place of trial because the real property affected by this action is located in said county.

NOTICE

YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME

If you do not respond to this summons and complaint by serving a copy of the answer on the attorney for the mortgage company who filed this foreclosure proceeding against you and filing the answer with the court, a default judgment may be entered and you can lose your home.

Speak to an attorney or go to the court where your case is pending for further information on how to answer the summons and protect your property.

Sending a payment to the mortgage company will not stop the foreclosure action.

YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (MORTGAGE COMPANY) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT.

Dated:October 27, 2022 ROBERTSON, ANSCHUTZ, SCHNEID, CRANE & PARTNERS, PLLC Attorney for Plaintiff Matthew Rothstein, Esq. 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310 Westbury, NY 11590 516-280-7675 135129

Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott, LLC, 10 Bank Street, Suite 700, White Plains, New York 10606, Attorneys for Plaintiff.

STEVEN MUCHA AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE TO THE ESTATE OF SONYA MUCHA; UNKNOWN HEIRS AND DISTRIBUTES OF THE ESTATE OF SONYA

EMPLOYMENT

Help Wanted

ADMINISTRATIVE

Richner Communications - a rapidly growing multimedia company and publishers of the Herald newspaper grouphas several administrative job openings: Receptionist (P/T), Accounts Receivable/Billing Collections Clerk

Multi-Media Coordinator (Hours Flexible)

Qualified candidates are fast learners with good organizational and people skills - entry level ok.

Role requires working knowledge of Microsoft Office and ability to learn custom software programs.

If you would like to join a communitydriven, fast-paced environment, please send your resume to: careers@liherald.com.

ASSISTANT TEACHER

Needed

DRIVERS WANTED

516-536-5674

CIRCULATION ASSOCIATE

Full Time/Part Time

Richner Communications, publisher of Herald community newspapers has an excellent opportunity for a FT/PT Customer Service Clerk in our busy Circulation Department. Basic customer service and administrative responsibilities include: heavy computer work, answering phones, making phone calls, entering orders, faxing, filing, etc.

STRONG knowledge of EXCEL a must! Knowledge of DATABASE maintenance or postal regulations a big plus. Qualified Candidates must be computer literate, able to multitask, dependable, reliable, organized, energetic, detail oriented and able to work well under deadlines. For consideration, please send resume & salary requirements to: careers@liherald.com

EDITOR/REPORTER

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

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

HIRING MAIL SORTERS $16.00-$17.00, Pickers/ Packers Springfield Gardens, $17.00. Mystery Shoppers Ages 21-25 $20.00. 860

OUTSIDE SALES

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

RECEPTIONIST EXPERIENCED P/T Seasonal. Jan- Mid April. Franklin Square. CALL: 516-358-9455. FAX RESUME: 516-358-9483. E MAIL: ed@loturco.com.

P/T

BR, 2 Bath Apt with Open Layout.Large Designer Eat in Kitchen with Sep Pantry & Laundry Rm.Master BR Boasts Gorgeous Bth & Walk in Closet. Terrace Faces into Courtyard. Garage Parking Incl REDUCED $699,000 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!! $699,000

E a ST ROCK aWay

8 Acorn Rd, 12-1:30, 5 BR, 3 Bth Front to Back Split on Beautiful Quiet St in Lynbrook SD#20. Fin Bsmt, Att Gar. CAC, Gas Ht, HW Flr. REDUCED! $749,000

8 Howland Rd, BA, FIRST TIME ON MARKET! 4 BR, 2.5 Bth Exp Ranch on Beautiful Tree Lined St in SD#20. LR, DR,

REAL ESTATE

Open Houses

EAST ROCKAWAY 11/27, 12-1:30, 8 Acorn Rd,, REDUCED & MOTIVATED! 5BR, 3 Bth Front to Back Split on Beautiful Quiet St in Lynbrook SD#20. Fin Bsmt, Att Gar. CAC, Gas Ht, HW Flr., ..$749,000 Ronnie Gerber, Douglas Elliman 516-238-4299

EAST ROICKAWAY 8 Howland Rd, OPEN HOUSE, BY Appt, FIRST TIME ON MARKET! 4 BR, 2.5 Bth Exp Ranch on Beautiful Tree Lined St in SD#20.LR,DR,EIK, Den & Enclosed Porch. Full Fin Bsmt.1 Car Gar. CAC, Gas Ht, HW Flrs. Update to Your Taste!..$699,000 Ronnie Gerber, Douglas Elliman RE 516-238-4

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What’s the best way to clear the air?

Q. I saw an article in a magazine about how I may be able to add air and water purifiers in my office to minimize sickness and infections. Is this for real? Can air purifiers limit things like Covid, and does it pay to put in a full water purifier instead of just having a bottled-water cooler station, even in my home or in my office (for my employees)?

A. There is a lot of misinformation and mis understanding about levels of purification and, depending on the source of the information, like an advertisement instead of research reports, the facts are unclear. I couldn’t tell anyone, definitively, what works best, or even the spe cifics as to why, only that there are systems that are required and units that do have benefits for employers and homeowners, accord ing to industry reports.

Ask The Architect

Monte Leeper

For example, it almost always comes up during the design phase of offices and retail spaces that the owner wants to put in a bottled-water cooler instead of a drinking fountain, but the plumbing code, which is a law, states that two drinking fountains or a dual unit, the high and low kind, are required to be installed. (The reason for the low drinking fountain is to avoid discrimination, along with many other regu lations, in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, signed into federal law by President George H.W. Bush in 1990.) A bottle station is nice to have but not required.

Water purification will be a healthy solution for your employees and family, since it removes chlorine, sediments and multiple trace minerals. There are many different types of purifiers on the market. For commercial purposes, consider a cartridge-type puri fier specific to your commercial space, and for a resi dence, a whole-house system such as the ones from PurifiedSolutions.net, which use a seven-stage reverse-osmosis process. Just remember, these sys tems all require the replacement of filters, so factor in replacement costs so you aren’t surprised later.

As for the bigger question, air purification, it is a much broader and more questionable issue, since dif ferent systems filter air in different ways, and even though advertisements tout all the wonderful particu lates that can be removed, virus particles aren’t nec essarily one of them. Smoke from cigarettes and dust have a much larger mass, and are more easily removed with high-efficiency particulate air, or HEPA, filters than bacterial or viral-laden particles. Even though microscopic-sized allergens can be removed, unless they are treated with either damag ing light or chemical containment, just catching the allergens doesn’t necessarily get rid of them. Make sure you find out what the filtration unit will do from an independent testing source report before spending the money on one.

Recent studies do show the workplace benefits for having enhanced ventilation and filtration. Some 90 percent of maintenance costs are for keeping people productive at work, increasing profits by reducing infection, sickness and missed days by employees. Choose systems wisely and it will benefit you. Good luck!

© 2022 Monte Leeper Readers are encouraged to send questions to yourhousedr@aol.com, with “Herald question” in the subject line, or to Herald Homes, 2 Endo Blvd., Garden City, NY 11530, Attn: Monte Leeper, architect.

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OpINIONS

I’ll take the GOP agenda — without Trump — any day

Like most people, I don’t like Trump. I’ve disdained him ever since then-developer Donald demanded drastic concessions at my beloved Jones Beach State Park so he could build a catering hall at the main mall to make more big bucks. He revealed an unappealing, obnoxious acquisitiveness.

It was all about his deal, with a disregard for the good and welfare of generations of us lesser mortals. Worse, he wanted residents and state officials to believe he was doing us all a favor, but his mendacity was obvious. It took Superstorm Sandy to sweep away his avaricious plan and his oily conceit.

Trump’s personality, I had absolutely zero doubt about how duplicitous and deceitful Hillary Clinton was. Trump was openly, shamelessly vain. Clinton was a backstabbing, secretive, supercilious, lying, characterless cypher. I could trust him to act to benefit my country as long as it also served him self. I couldn’t trust her (and her malign cabal) with any thing, least of all my coun try. And more important, I opposed all of the national policies she embraced.

gieg-Ilhan Omar ticket vs. Trump-Kristi Noem or Trump-Nikki Haley or TrumpJoni Ernst or Trump-Winsome EarleSears? Any of those GOP teams would destroy Buttigieg-Omar.

JOHN O’CONNELL

And yet I voted for him in 2016. His promises, the possibility of gaining origi nalist Supreme Court nominees and his declared support of conservative causes were consistent with my social, cultural and political preferences. We Trump vot ers realized it would take an arrogant bully to barge through the rock-solid bureaucracy that Washington had become. He’d be our bully, as it were.

And besides, as insufferable as I found

Now he’s running for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024. I wish it were not so. Trump is a minor-league version of lit erature’s classic tragic fig ure: a man who — while accomplishing great things — destroys himself with his own hubris.

If Trump gets the GOP nomination (and I think that’s a big if), whom the Democrats choose will be critical for the country. Obviously it shouldn’t be Presi dent Biden. If they pick a far-left version of Trump, someone like California Gov. Gavin Newsom or Biden’s useless trans portation secretary, Pete Buttigieg, most voters, sick of liberal Democrats’ failed leadership, will gag violently and go for Trump. (Even if, again, he can’t win the popular vote, he could prevail in the Elec toral College.) Can you imagine a Butti

I mean, really, look at how unappealing the Democrats’ presidential and vice-presidential bench is: Kamala Harris, Adam Schiff, AOC, Stacey Abrams, John Fetterman, Cory Book er, Hillary, Rashida Tlaib, Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, Kirsten Gillibrand (New York’s invisible sena tor), Amy Klobuchar, Beto O’Rourke, Bill de Blasio and others who are so light they defy gravity. Puhleeze! How about the quintessentially Democratic bicoastal, affir mative-equity pairing, Harris-Hochul?

Non-radical Americans, i.e., almost all of us, want someone smart, articulate and tough who’ll try to keep us out of wars, reduce inflation, faithfully and fairly exe cute the laws, defend the Constitution, support the police, keep taxes as low as possible, respect and care for our veter ans, spend prudently, regulate only when required, maintain a strong national defense, trade well but with a sharp eye on national security, curb the domestic abuses of the so-called intelligence com munity, and put a hard stop on our dan gerously wide-open southern border.

Someone who salutes America’s great ness. That definitely won’t be the Demo crats’ platform in 2024. It certainly will be the GOP’s agenda, and Trump would sell it. He’s usually good at selling things (his Jones Beach fiasco notwithstanding). I mean, he sold the Abraham Accords, a peace treaty among Israel, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, for heaven’s sake.

We will be voting again in 24 months (unless I missed something and early vot ing starts next week). Actually, the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire prima ry are in January 2024. No one knows what will happen in the world between now and then. Will Biden finish his term? Will Kamala visit the wizard in Oz and get what she needs? How disastrous will Trump’s self-inflicted stumbles on the campaign trail be? Will better, brighter lights shine in either party?

For newsies like me, it will be a fasci nating and important two years. I hope everyone, young folks particularly, find serious, un-opinionated journalism and read and think critically about all the pol itics. We must use these two years to brush up on our civics studies and see how America is supposed to work. Then learn how it really works, and vote to try to make it better than that.

John O’Connell is a former executive editor of the Herald Community Newspapers. Comments? oconnell11001@yahoo.com.

Flying the not-so-friendly skies

Iwrote to Pete Buttigieg this week. I thought that the head of the U.S. Department of Transportation should know what’s up.

Last week, Secretary Buttigieg announced some $600 million in fines against the airlines for bad behavior dur ing the continuing pandemic. It’s a start.

on our wedding trip in 1968, we flew East ern Airlines to Bermuda. I wore a match ing coat and dress, white gloves, high heels and a hat. The “stewardesses” wore perky outfits and heels and little cha peaus, and they were all super-attractive and into providing excellent service to the customers.

Seen through today’s lens, it was sexist and white and stiffly formal. We enjoyed tasty little meals served on individual trays, even in coach, and the crew happily did all the heavy lifting. We have fallen out of the sky, in terms of standards for pas sengers and crew.

But that’s a low bar, right? The crews are nice enough, which isn’t nice enough. No crew member offers a hand to help place a suitcase in the overhead bin. Then they try to sell you stuff. You get your drink when the wagon rolls by, and a dis mal choice of snacks. Heav en help us, the Terra Blue potato chips, basically the most compelling reason to fly JetBlue, are gone.

That’s when I decided to write to Butti gieg.

First, no customer should have to wait 90 minutes to speak to an agent. If they can’t run the airline better than that, with all the money they got from us, they should shut down and turn the planes into affordable housing.

Apparently, the airlines took bil lions of bailout dollars, and failed to pass on the goodwill or the big bucks to their cus tomers. In fact, they canceled or delayed oodles of flights and didn’t refund the fees to passengers. Some times — and this took chutzpah — they rebooked folks on other flights with out finding out whether those new book ings were good for the travelers.

Supply chain issues? The airlines got a gazillion dol lars from the government. Open a damn potato chip factory!

RANDI KREISS

I hate to pick on JetBlue, but I must, because that’s the only airline I’ve flown recently.

But let’s back up the plane. My bias is that my airline experience began when flying was a special treat. When we went

Two weeks ago, I flew Jet Blue back and forth from New York to Florida. While I was waiting for my flight, an announcer at the gate said that the flight before mine, on the same route, would be turbulent, passengers should expect to stay seated, and there would be no bathroom breaks. This is bad, I thought. I’m about to get on this flying tube to ride 1,500 miles at 600 mph at 36,000 feet into a hurricane. I nearly bolted, but I talked myself down.

Turns out, we were on time, and there were no violent outbursts by passengers or inappropriate behavior by crew members.

My real and serious issue is with the JetBlue website and its reservation process. In recent months, the web site has been buggy. The fees for “extras,” like being able to bring a carry-on in “basic blue,” are excessive.

When I needed to change my flight on the return, it took two hours online to book the change and pay for a seat. Then I got a message that I had the flight but no seat. I tried to call. It was a 90-minute wait to speak to a person, and I was informed that booking or changing or canceling a flight on the phone with a human being would cost me $25.

Second, how dare they charge $25 to speak to someone to book a flight? I know many people, especially older folks, who don’t use computers. They don’t know how to book a flight online. They need to talk to a real person, and they can’t wait 90 minutes on the phone. This is unfair to fli ers who don’t have the necessary technolo gy skills. Why should they be penalized with a $25 fee for what should be a basic service to a paying customer?

Years ago, I wrote to JetBlue in the name of my dog, requesting frequent flier points for her even though she traveled under the seat. They had a sense of humor. They said they couldn’t offer points, but they did give Zoe and me a free flight. Just like that. Goodwill.

JetBlue needs to drop the $25 phone fee, hire enough agents to reduce the phone wait time, and please, please, bring back the Terra Blues.

Copyright 2022 Randi Kreiss. Randi can be reached at randik3@aol.com.

O ne slight after another led me to drop a line to Secretary Buttigieg.

50 years of a better world thanks to Title IX

He’s a man you’ve likely never heard of. The son of an Indiana State University basketball coach who excelled in sports himself — primarily as a boxer and a col legiate baseball player — Birch Bayh was sworn in as a U.S. senator from his home state on Jan. 3, 1963.

Bayh spent 18 years in that office, becoming the only non-Founding Father to author two amendments to the U.S. Constitution: the 25th Amendment, han dling presidential succession, and the 26th, which lowered the federal voting age to 18.

But it was his days playing sports that occupied the senator’s mind. Although the Civil Rights Act of 1964 tackled all kinds of discrimination when it came to employment and public accommodation, it bothered Bayh that the bill failed to address sex discrimination at schools.

He set out to change that, crafting the 37 words that would make up what we now know as Title IX: “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimi nation under any education program or activity receiving federal financial assis tance.”

While we might see Title IX today as a law focused on sports, what Bayh and his House counterpart, U.S. Rep. Edith Green, pushed through Congress did more than that. No more could schools legally favor one gender over another in any respect, including pay and employment opportuni ties. If it was good enough for a man, it was good enough for a woman.

But yes, some of the most visible impacts came in the world of sports,

letters

Thanks to all who uplift and help others

To the Editor:

changing what was once a male-dominat ed enterprise into something that could be enjoyed by anyone. Like Elizabeth Serra, who just finished her first season with the Woodland Middle School football team in East Meadow.

Elizabeth scored 16 points as a kicker, and even broke a tie to give Woodland a final win over the Seaford Vikings. Yet being the only girl on the team didn’t faze her a bit.

“I was a little bit nervous, but then I realized what I really wanted to do,” the 13-year-old said. “I just really wanted to play football. So it didn’t really bother me that much.”

Even a few years ago, a girl kicking field goals for a football team was consid ered a novelty. Today it’s just another day on the gridiron. Elizabeth is far from alone.

Before Title IX, just 300,000 girls took part in high school sports, according to a report last summer by NPR. Today that number is 3.5 million. And while Title IX focuses on schools, it has a much wider reach.

Like with the New York Islanders Girls Elite Hockey program, started in 2016 by Alexis Moed, the general manager of the Connecticut Whale, a team in the womenfocused professional Premier Hockey Fed eration. Working with the NHL’s Island ers, the league is filled with girls ages 8 to 19, all playing on the same ice at the Northwell Health Ice Center in East Mead ow as the four-time Stanley Cup champi ons.

The league has become a second home for Debbie Curry, a 12-year-old from Sea ford, who started her hockey career on boys’ teams.

“She always had a target (on) her for being a girl in a boy sport,” Debbie’s moth er, Christie, said. “Here she can be recog nized and have a chance to go somewhere with hockey in the future, because they’re giving the girls a chance to shine.

“I’ve never seen her so happy, and she can just be herself.”

Title IX has helped girls come a long way, but the fight is far from over. Many schools still don’t know how to properly enforce Title IX compliance, while others have chosen to cut programs rather than expand them to include everyone. Retalia tion runs rampant, and the U.S. Depart ment of Education believes there are more areas of improvement needed, including the end of discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity or sex characteristics.

Birch Bayh died in 2019, at age 91. But he lived long enough to see the impact his 37 simple words had on the lives of mil lions. An impact that literally brought him to tears.

Kelly Krauskopf is an assistant general manager of the Indiana Pacers. But in 2000, she made her mark helping to bring the Indiana Fever into existence in the WNBA. They sold out their first game with 16,000 people filling the arena, and Krauskopf invited Bayh to join her on the hardwood before the tipoff.

“I said to him, ‘Look at this place. Can you believe this?’” she told the Indianapo lis Star. “‘This would never have happened had it not been for you.’

“He looks at me and he has these big tears in his eyes. And he said he had no idea (Title IX) would have this kind of impact. It was just one of the coolest moments.”

In this season of hope and gratitude, I want to express my heartfelt appreciation to all Long Islanders who give of themselves to help others here in Nassau and Suffolk counties, and beyond.

Nearly every day, Red Cross volunteers are at the scene of fires, floods and other disasters that occur all too regularly on Long Island, providing urgent assistance to those coping with loss and uncertain ty. In addition to responding to local emergencies, this past year, many of my colleagues traveled far from home to offer a helping hand following wild fires in California, tornadoes and flash floods in Kentucky and, most recently, Hurricanes Ian and Nicole in Florida.

Our volunteers also work to prevent future disas ters by installing free smoke alarms, providing fire

Millions in opioid-fighting funds are still available

nassau County continues to hold Big Pharma accountable in the courts for the wave of destruc tion that the pharmaceutical companies’ highly addictive opioid drugs unleashed on families and children across the country, and right here in our own backyards.

On Nov. 7, the county took the first leg islative step toward approving a $68.25 million settlement with Actavis LLC and Actavis Pharma Inc., Watson Labo ratories Inc., Anda Inc., Teva Pharma ceutical Industries Ltd., and Teva Pharmaceuticals USA. Once this settlement is approved by the full Legislature and County Executive Bruce Blakeman — which I anticipate will occur this month — it will supple ment the $70.4 million the county has already received through various Big Pharma settlements.

Drawing from the funds now at the county’s disposal, Blakeman in mid-Sep tember announced plans to distribute $15 million per year for the next four years to agencies that offer addiction prevention, treatment or recovery services. Approxi

mately $2.4 million per year was immedi ately earmarked, with the lion’s share going to Nassau University Medical Cen ter. The remaining $12.6 million per year will be awarded to agencies that respond to a Request for Expressions of Interest that closed on Monday.

Above and beyond Blake man’s announced plans, there is still approximately $10.4 million that has not been designated. The Teva Pharmaceutical settlement will add significantly to that sum, as will the pro ceeds of future settlements as additional pharmaceuti cal companies are held responsible for their gross negligence and complicity in this ongoing public health crisis.

While I have consistently expressed my frustration with the slow pace of allo cating these funds, this influx of new resources gives us a golden opportunity to proactively plan for how we can get life-saving resources where they need to be as expeditiously as possible. My frus tration is amplified by my concern for all our friends, loved ones and neighbors who are suffering at this very moment.

I’m a mother of three daughters who are now young adults, and the opioid drug crisis remains one of my greatest fears. We have had countless conversa

tions as a family to instill vigilance as they navigate the world. As parents, we do so motivated by awareness of the stark reality that addiction is an indiscrimi nate killer — that there is no race, creed, religion, sex or economic background that substance abuse does not impact.

wIn Glen Cove, I have grown close to a group of women who have estab lished a local chapter of Families Anonymous, an organization that gives peo ple navigating the trauma of living with a loved one suffering from addiction a safe space to meet and share their experiences, strength and hope with one another. I have introduced friends to Families Anonymous, and the warmth, support and generosity of spirit they received was truly remarkable, and life-affirming.

Several members of the organization came to the Legislature on Oct. 24 and courageously shared their stories. They have seen their children arrested and sent to prison, and fought with insurance companies to secure long-term treatment upon their release. Several have seen their loved ones come through the tem pest one day at a time and achieve longterm, sustainable sobriety. Sadly, far too many have endured the unthinkable trag

edy of losing a child to the disease of addiction.

What they shared offers some impor tant insights into our next steps. With the funds from our opioid lawsuit settle ments, Nassau County would be wise to look closely at supporting organizations that provide drug rehabilitation pro grams with longer terms of stay beyond the customary 28-day term; dual-diagno sis approaches that get to the complicated and often intertwined root causes of the disease; and aggressive early-interven tion strategies.

It is also crucial to keep talking openly about addiction, so we can continue chip ping away at the stigmas that can hinder people from seeking the help they need.

Addiction is a public health crisis, not a moral failing.

Thanks to its advocacy and willing ness to confront Big Pharma in the courts, Nassau County has created tre mendous opportunities for progress.

Armed with these resources and more on the way, it is more important than ever for us to work together as parents and leaders to act on decisions that will make a significant, lifesaving impact on the tra jectory of the opioid addiction crisis.

Delia DeRiggi-Whitton, of Glen Cove, a Nassau County legislator representing the 11th District, is the ranking member of the legislature’s Committee on Health & Social Services.

safety and emergency preparedness edu cation and teaching first aid and CPR.

Through our Service to the Armed Forces program, a dedicated Red Cross team provides 24/7 support for military members, veterans and their families at home and around the world.

The life-changing work our volunteers carry out day in and day out would not be possible without our financial donors and our civic-minded partners. I want to recognize them as well for their generosi ty and community spirit.

Finally, I want to give special thanks to our military heroes, who sacrifice so much, and to our first responders, who work to ensure our safety and well-being.

As we enter this holiday season, let’s give special thanks to all those who make our communities stronger and safer all year long.

Wishing you all a happy Thanksgiving!

JOSE DOMINGUEz CEO, American Red Cross on Long Island

Shop local this weekend

To the Editor:

In these difficult economic times, as a result of inflation, it is especially impor tant to patronize your neighborhood

Lettersbusinesses. Do it not only on annual Small Business Saturday, Nov. 26, but every day of the year.

I don’t mind occasionally paying a lit tle more to help our local stores survive. The employees go out of their way to help find what I need. Customer service is their motto.

Independent mom-and-pop stores don’t have bulk-buying purchasing power that Amazon or large national chain stores have. The owners can’t negotiate lower prices from suppliers. They’re at the mercy of those suppliers, especially third-party brokers, who con trol the prices they have to pay for mer chandise. That’s why they sometimes charge a little more. But it’s worth the price to avoid the crowds and long lines at larger stores in exchange for the con venience and friendly service your neighborhood store offers.

Remember, these people are our neigh bors. They work long hours, pay taxes and keep as many employed as possible. Many maintain the tradition of offering job opportunities to students during the holidays and over the summer.

Customers also patronize other com mercial establishments on the block. Foot traffic is essential for the survival of any neighborhood commercial dis trict. If we don’t patronize our local stores and restaurants to shop and eat,

they don’t eat, either. We help keep our neighbors employed and the local econo my growing.

The owners of independent, momand-pop stores are the backbone of our

neighborhood commercial districts. Show your support by making a pur chase.

LARRy PENNER Great Neck

Framework by Tim Baker

A flapping, chattering gathering — Long Beach

e have a golden opportunity to get life-saving resources where they need to be.

DeLia DeriGGi-wHitton