Malverne/West Hempstead Herald 01-12-2023

Inspiring kids, and adults, one poem at a time

By mARK NolAN mnolan@liherald.com

Lindamichelle Baron wrote her first poem when she was 6. And it was a hit piece. The childhood couplet made fun of her cousin Gerard’s big ears.

“I have a cousin named Gerard, I think his ears are very odd …”

Gerard grew out his Afro to cover his ears.

verne — where she presented previously — and West Hempstead — where she has yet to recite her poems.

“This is just absolutely amazing,” said Baron, the author of three poetry books and an associate professor at York College-CUNY.

Library begins

of children’s room despite delay

By BEN FIEBERT bfiebert@liherald.com

After being delayed due to a building emergency, the West Hempstead Public Library has begun its renovations on the Children’s Room.

The decision came after the library sustained damage when a fire sprinkler burst a week before the new year. Library officials had planned to reopen on Jan. 2, but the opening was delayed until the following Monday, with limited services. In-person programs have also been delayed.

“All in-person programs have been cancelled for the month of January,” an update at WHPLibrary.org stated. It included a list of services that are currently unavailable, among

them the public use of computers and printers, tutoring, individual study rooms, and the quiet study floor. “These services are not expected to return until the end of February,” the update continued, “due to ongoing construction.”

Some areas of the building opened on Monday. “Browsing will be available on the first and second floors for the adult fiction, non-fiction, media, and young adult departments,” the update added. But the Children’s Room will remain closed until further notice.

Starting this week, there was no access to the phone extension in the Children’s Room. This will impact patrons who have children and use the room frequently.

With that first venture into slant rhyme, Baron had discovered the thrill — and impact — of the written word. “That’s when I saw the power of poetry,” she said.

Poetry has been embedded in Baron’s life ever since. She leaned on writing to support her through teasing in elementary school, and made a career through verse.

Now 72, she is the first poet laureate for the Town of Hempstead. Her mission, Baron said, is to bring poetry to every corner of Hempstead, including Mal -

Although Baron was ahead of her time — throwing shade at childhood rivals decades before social media existed — she eventually developed poetry that inspires. Blessed with an infectious laugh and sense of humor and wonderment about the world, Baron infuses verse into just about everything she does.

Poetry has been the constant throughout her life. “People who know me know I’ve been in the community and library and organizations for decades,” she said. “They know my energy, my love of life and language and people — it’s all embedded in my poetry.”

Ben Fiebert/Herald

THE WEST HEmpSTEAd Public Library reopened some services on Monday.

overhaul

m y goal is to promote the power of poetry and enjoyment of the gift of poetry to the entire community.

lINdAmIcHEllE BARoN poet

State Senator Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick sworn in

Newly-elected State Senator Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick was officially sworn into office. Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick was ceremonially sworn in by her father, former Mayor of Malverne Joseph Canzoneri.

Senator Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick was elected to the 9th Senatorial District seat in November with 56.1% of the vote. She is a former Malverne trustee, deputy mayor, budget director, police commissioner and fire commissioner.

Joining CanzoneriFitzpatriCk For her swearing in were Assemblymen Ed Ra, far left, and Michael Durso; State Senator Steve Rhoads; Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor Joseph Saladino; State Senator Jack Martins; and Assemblyman John Mikulin.

Courtesy Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick

A job can change a person’s life trajectory

Youth programs at HempsteadWorks provides at-risk job seekers assistance

By MARK NOLAN mnolan@liherald.com

That age-old conundrum for young job seekers — to get your first job you need experience — remains a hurdle for many. Teens and young adults in the Town of Hempstead, however, have an advantage.

Thanks to numerous programs offered through the HempsteadWorks Career Center, Hempstead young adults up to 24 years old can find assistance in getting that first job that ultimately leads to a career with a sustainable wage.

In fact, the amount of assistance offered through the HempsteadWorks Career Center’s youth programs is indicative of just how far career counselors go to help younger job seekers — and those with less than stellar backgrounds — obtain work.

“For some of them, this is their first time working,” said Youth Services Coordinator Myesha Arvon. “That’s pretty exciting.”

Arvon has been helping Hempstead young adults find sustainable, interesting jobs for 20 years. Adults she helped as teens return with their children seeking advice.

And a big part of that ability to establish deep, longterm relationships with people is Arvon’s own experience. She herself struggled with employment as a young person. Her authenticity when speaking to young adults is just one reason she can’t even come close to approximating how many people she has helped in two decades.

The main goal of the Youth Services programs is to provide young adults a genuine opportunity to establish a career, regardless of their background. Arvon said they help many teens and young adults who struggle with myriad issues.

Those barriers are often significant, like teen pregnancy, homelessness, economic disadvantages, criminal justice issues, and more.

“The biggest piece they’re missing is that support,” Arvon said. “I become that support. Whatever it is that they’re coming in dealing with, they can talk to me because I’ve dealt with it, and I’m never going to sugarcoat anything.”

Arvon said she does an informal assessment when she first meets a young adult looking for employment assistance. She finds out what type of people they are friends with and if they’re living at home or not to determine what services they need.

“Even before I find out why they’re here, I speak to them and get them to open up,” Arvon said. “Just them coming here is huge. Just literally walking in the door. It’s all about that first step.”

Nene Alameda, a business services representative at HempsteadWorks who oversees many of the office’s programs, said the Youth Services program is especially

important to Hempstead because the program improves lives.

“The change is not just that individual, it’s generational change,” Alameda said. “If we change one person, we can change the trajectory of not only their life, but their future children.”

The Summer Youth Employment Program is a six-week paid work experience for those between the ages of 16-20 who are Town of Hempstead or City of Long Beach residents and meet low-income criteria.

HempsteadWorks offers both out-ofschool programs and in-school programs for youth. An especially important part of the youth program is helping 14 and 15-year-olds.

The Youth Services branch of HempsteadWorks provides academic tutoring, career exploration sessions, and more for teens who may not have a concrete concept of their future.

“We start by just giving them tools they need to succeed,” Arvon said. “They may not necessarily need a job immediately, so we break it down to them that these are the different careers available. It gets them thinking about jobs they may not have ever thought about.”

Services for job seekers

The HempsteadWorks Youth Services programs, both in-school and out-ofschool, offer the following: ■ Leadership skills ■ Entrepreneurial skills ■ Adult mentoring ■ Guidance and counseling

Financial literacy

Supportive services ■ Paid/unpaid work experience ■ Paid occupational skills training ■ Labor market information ■ Tutoring/study skills training

The Out of School Youth Services program is for Town of Hempstead/City of Long Beach residents between the ages of 18-24 who are not currently attending high school or college. Other criteria include:

■ A school dropout;

■ A high school graduate who is economically disadvantaged and either deficient in reading and/or math, or an English Language learner;

■ Involved with the juvenile or adult jus-

While the programs and support are designed to give teens and young adults the greatest chance of success, ultimately, each individual must work for their own future. Arvon said at some point, they have sometimes have to step back.

“Some people ask me, how do you not

tice system;

■ Homeless;

■ A foster child/aged out of foster care;

■ Pregnant or parenting;

■ An individual with a disability;

■ Economically disadvantaged.

The Out of School Youth Services program is for Town of Hempstead/City of Long Beach residents between the ages of 14-21 who are currently attending high school or college. Other criteria include:

■ Meet low-income criteria;

■ Involved with the juvenile or adult justice system;

■ Homeless;

■ A foster child/aged out of foster care;

■ Pregnant or parenting;

■ An individual with a disability;

■ Basic skills deficient in reading and/ or math;

■ English language learner

get involved in their personal life,” Arvon said. “That’s where my boundary comes in. I can help you to a certain point; I can give you guidance; I can tell you what I think would be best; but ultimately, you’re going to have to make that decision, and some don’t make the right decision.”

Courtesy HempsteadWorks

The TOwN Of Hempstead Department of Occupational Resources is a team of professionals dedicated to helping job seekers of all ages.

It’s Your MoneY

By Jonathan Wolfsohn MBA,

Herald Sc H ool S

One way people can get the new tax year off to a good start is by checking their federal income tax withholding. They can do this using the Tax Withholding Estimator on IRS.gov.

Before using the Tax Withholding Estimator it can be helpful for taxpayers to gather applicable income documents including their pay stubs; Forms W-2 from employers to estimate their annual income; Forms 1099 from banks, issuing agencies and other payers including unemployment compensation, dividends, distributions from a pension, annuity or retirement plan; Form 1099-K, 1099-MISC, W-2 or other income statement for workers in the gig economy; Form 1099-INT for interest received; and other income documents and records of virtual currency transactions. These documents are not needed to use the estimator but having them handy will help taxpayers estimate 2023 income and answer other questions asked during the process. The Tax Withholding Estimator results will only be as accurate as the information entered by the taxpayer. People with only pension income should not use the Estimator. Those with wage income can account for current or future pension income. People with more complex tax situations should use the instructions in Publication 505, Tax Withholding and Estimated Tax. This includes taxpayers who owe alternative minimum tax or certain other taxes, and people with long-term capital gains or qualified dividends.

W.H. celebrates Law Enforcement Day

Students throughout the West Hempstead School District honored local police officers during Law Enforcement Appreciation Day on Jan. 9.

Assisted by their teachers, students took time to prepare their own heartfelt letters, drawings and posters to thank members of the Nassau County Police Department’s 5th Precinct. On Jan. 6, State Assemblyman Ed Ra visited Cornwell Avenue School and George Washington School to collect the thank-you notes from students, and he commended them for their kind gesture.

Cornwell Avenue SChool students wrote letters to recognize police officers

GeorGe wAShinGton SChool also created letters, drawings and posters to recognize police officers.

Photos courtesy West Hempstead School District MeMberS of the Nassau County Police Department’s 5th Precinct were happy to receive thank you notes from students in the West Hempstead School District.

CFP, EA, ATA

students from the Malverne High School Select Choir after their holiday performance for the staff at the Malverne School District administrative offices.

students from the Malverne High School Select Choir filled the hallways of Davison Avenue Intermediate School with holiday songs and spirit.

Malverne Select Choir spread holiday cheer

Prior to the December holiday break, students in the Malverne High School Select Choir took the show on the road and shared their songs and holiday spirit with students, faculty and administrators around the district.

The merry cast of carolers visited Howard T. Herber Middle School, the dis-

trict office, Davison Avenue Intermediate School and Maurice W. Downing Primary School before returning to the High School to serenade the office staff.

At each stop on the tour, the students performed a medley of holiday favorites and led a singalong that the students and teachers were happy to take part in.

Street safety upgrades in West Hempstead

West Hempstead streets will be a bit safer thanks to Legislator John J. Giuffrè.

Giuffrè assisted in the unveiling of newly-installed advanced rectangular rapid flashing beacons (RRFB). These RRFBs were installed in front of the Temple of Young Israel on Hempstead Avenue in West Hempstead. This is a traditionally busy area and can provide some serious

risks for pedestrians who are traveling after sunset. Giuffrè implemented these RRFBs with the safety of residents who are traveling to and from the temple after sunset in mind. Giuffrè was joined by construction workers Joseph Soviero, left, Sikander Iqval, and Frank DeLucia, who all installed the RRFBs.

Happy New Year to all!

There have been significant changes in the law in a number of areas as of January 1, 2023.

The gift tax exclusion, which many people still think is $15,000, is now $17,000, up from $16,000 in 2022. Each person may give up to $17,000 to as many people as they want to without incurring any Federal gift tax liability and without using any of their Federal estate tax exemption at death.

Speaking of the Federal estate tax exemption, that has been raised from $12,060,000 to $12,920,000. Since the exemption amount is adjusted for inflation, and inflation was high in 2022, there was a large jump. Same for the New York estate tax exemption which jumped from $6,110,000 to $6,580,000.

The higher Federal exemption is due to tax reform initiated by President Trump commencing in 2016. Fiscal restraints required that the higher Federal exemption expire after ten years. At the end of 2025 then the Federal exemption is slated to return to

New York levels. Since you can use any of your now almost $13,000,000 per person as a tax-free gift while you are living, many savvy clients have moved and are continuing to move family wealth to trusts for their children. Often, the parents choose to maintain control of these trusts, and they not only get the assets out of their estate while the getting is good, they also get all of the growth on those assets out of their estate.

Medicaid rates have changed so that an individual who needs care, either at home or in a nursing facility, may keep up to $28,133.00 in assets. If one spouse is at home, and the other spouse is in a nursing home, the spouse at home may keep up to about $150,000 in assets. The value of the home, up to $1,033,000 is exempt from Medicaid if a spouse is living there (while the other is in a facility) or for an individual receiving Medicaid for home care.

Finally, the age at which an individual must take their IRA required minimum distribution has been raised from age 72 to 73.

Courtesy Legislator John J. Giuffrè Joseph soviero, left, Sikander Iqval, Legislator John J. Giuffrè, and Frank DeLucia with the new safety features on Hempstead Avenue.

Photos courtesy Malverne School District

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Herald sports

West Hempstead falls to Rocks

By viNCeNt MatUla sports@liherald.com

A tight contest on Jan. 3 between West Hempstead and East Rockaway swung in favor of the Rocks as they pulled away in the second half, winning the Nassau Conference B girls’ basketball matchup by a final of 37-26.

JaMes DesiMoNe

Clarke Senior Basketball

a thiRD-YeaR vaRsitY starter, DeSimone is a major part of Clarke’s impressive 9-1 start. An All-County selection last season after earning a Nassau coaches award in the Covidshortened campaign, he’s averaging close to 16 points per game to go along with 4.4 assists. He’s scored in double digits in every game so far while hitting 21 three-pointers. He hit for a seasonhigh 23 against Long Beach on Dec 5.

gaMes to WatCh

Friday, Jan. 13

Boys Basketball: G.N. North at Sewanhaka 5 p.m.

Boys Basketball: Lynbrook at Plainedge 5 p.m.

Boys Basketball: Friends Academy at V.S. South 5 p.m.

Boys Basketball: Hewlett at Carey 5 p.m.

Boys Basketball: Long Beach at New Hyde Park 5 p.m.

Girls Basketball: Plainedge at Lynbrook 5 p.m.

Boys Swimming: Long Beach at Jericho 5 p.m.

Girls Fencing: Valley Stream at Hewlett 5 p.m.

Girls Basketball: East Rockaway at Malverne 5:30 p.m.

Boys Basketball: Malverne at East Rockaway 6:30 p.m.

Boys Basketball: South Side at Garden City 6:45 p.m.

Boys Basketball: East Meadow at Baldwin 7 p.m.

Girls Basketball: Plainview at Oceanside 7 p.m.

Girls Basketball: Jericho at Calhoun 7 p.m.

saturday, Jan. 14

Wrestling: Baldwin Tournament 9 a.m.

Wrestling: V.S. Central Tournament 9 a.m.

Boys Basketball: Wheatley at West Hempstead 12 p.m.

Boys Basketball: V.S. Central at Port Washington 12 p.m.

Boys Basketball: Oceanside at Plainview 12 p.m.

Girls Basketball: Baldwin at East Meadow 12 p.m.

Girls Basketball: Farmingdale at Freeport 12 p.m.

Girls Basketball: Seaford at Carey 12 p.m.

Girls Basketball: Port Washington at V.S. Central 12 p.m.

A big reason for East Rockaway’s ability to close the game out late was the play of freshman Maya Motherway. She scored 11 of the team’s 13 points in the fourth quarter and played strong defense against West Hempstead’s All-County player Chance Mingo, holding her to just one point. Motherway continues to exhibit a strong work ethic in her second varsity season.

“Maya is a very hard working player,” Rocks head coach Cheri Poland said. “She puts a lot of extra time in. She’ll come before practice and stay after to get shots up.”

It was a dominant showing by Poland’s daughter, junior Emma Poland, who put together a triple-double of 21 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 blocks. Her and Motherway have been leading the way so far this season with their play on both ends of the court.

“They work well together and push each other to be better,” coach Poland said. “They’re more experienced than some of the other players, so they really have been able to put the team on their back.”

After leading by one at halftime, West Hempstead was outscored 22-10 in the second half after scoring 10 in the second quarter alone. The Rams got away from their strategy, but were not given many opportunities to score either.

“They mixed up their defenses and rebounded really well,” West Hempstead head coach Chris Van Kovics said. “We struggled offensively and didn’t get to the foul line much.”

The Rams were led by senior Gianna Cardillo’s seven points, but have been led by Mingo throughout the season. Mingo will look to be a big piece for West Hempstead down the stretch after being held in check by East Rockaway.

“She has to do a little bit of everything

for us,” Van Kovics said. “We tried to give her as many looks as possible, but we struggled to do that.”

Only two other players scored for East Rockaway (Sophia Pappas and Sofia Tizio) in the contest. Along with Pappas and Tizio being key pieces going forward, the Rocks will also need others to be scoring options down the stretch, the coach said.

“We need more scoring from everybody,” Poland said. “I would like to be able to go deeper into the bench.”

Just one member on East Rockaway’s

roster is a senior (Natalia Wilkerson), making this season a prime opportunity for the team to grow and build to be a true contender in Class B next winter.

“We’re working this year to build everything for next year,” Poland said. “I think next year we’re going to be in a really good situation.”

The Rocks have now won two straight after dropping nine of their first 10, while West Hempstead falls below .500 with a 2-3 overall record. The teams meet again at East Rockaway on Feb. 2.

Paul Grassini/Herald seNioR ChaNCe MiNgo is one of the major pieces to West Hempstead’s success on the court this winter.

Schumer promises push for tech, environment

By JAMES BERNSTEIN jbernstein@liherald.com

Chuck Schumer has three goals for the new year: improve mass transit, ensure water and air quality are safe, and promote high technology on Long Island.

The New York Democrat who maintained his role as majority leader in the U.S. Senate after last year’s mid-terms, told more than 1,000 people attending last week’s Long Island Association breakfast in Woodbury that he has, in the past two years, secured federal money to help the Metropolitan Transportation Authority recover from the worst of the Covid pandemic, while still getting money earmarked to protect the Long Island Sound and even clean up aging lead pipes.

The event at Crest Hollow Country Club was LIA’s annual State of the Region gathering that attracted both movers and shakers, as well as elected leaders like the executives from both Nassau and Suffolk counties. Schumer’s participation comes after he was elected to a fifth six-year term in the upper chamber of Capitol Hill, defeating Joseph Pinion, a conservative columnist who claimed Schumer had been in office too long with too little to show for it.

But history is written by the victors, and Schumer had a lot of history to share.

“We had one of the most productive legislative sessions in years,” the senator

said, ticking off a list of legislative wins that included his role in shepherding through President Joe Biden’s $1 trillion infrastructure bill, as well as securing $15 billion for the MTA, which operates the Long Island Rail Road.

“No one was riding the trains” during the pandemic, Schumer added.

“For the first time, New York state got back more money that it gave out,” the senator said, referring to the give-andtake of funding with the federal government. New York has traditionally been a “giving” state, meaning its federal dollars usually went to help other states. This past year, the state was more of a receiver.

How productive the next two years will be is a big question. Republicans took control of the U.S. House — but only by a slim margin. That might mean pushing through bills that could win over at least some moderate Republicans.

One of those efforts will focus on improving transportation. The MTA funding, for example, would pay for repairs and upgrades of cars, tracks and electronic systems. Money also would be directed to portions of the Sunrise Highway in Nassau and Suffolk counties.

Another $5 million will build a transit hub in Ronkonkoma.

Schumer also budgeted $106 million to clean up Long Island Sound, and that’s just the beginning. He also plans to use $60 million to help remove some of the contami-

nants from the Long Island aquifer.

Yet, the Senator sounded most enthusiastic about a project to install electricitygenerating windmills off Long Island’s South Shore — likely within the next few years.

Equinor, a multibillion-dollar Norwegian conglomerate specializing in petroleum, hopes to build a wind energy farm just a few miles off the coast with a substation delivering power directly to Island Park — a plan that has aroused controversy with neighbors.

The $3 billion project must still pass a plethora of bureaucratic hurdles, however.

“Long Island will be the capital for offshore wind,” Schumer said, “not just in New York, but across the country.”

The senator also wants to promote two of Long Island’s largest high-technology institutions — Brookhaven National Lab and SUNY Stony Brook.

“Long Island can be the center for (microchip) production and manufacturing,” Schumer said. “BNL and Stony Brook are at the cutting-edge of technology.”

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, told the Herald there was more in the works for this part of Long Island as well. He’s heard chatter about a strong interest in securing a casino, possibly at the Nassau Hub.

But for that to happen, anyone developing it would need to make sure the facility is first acceptable to the community.

“We wouldn’t be interested in anything but a first-class hospitality venue with a casino,” Blakeman said.

Additional reporting by Daniel Offner.

Daniel Offner/Herald U.S. SEN. ChUCk Schumer told the Long Island Association last week he would seek to promote the environment, transportation and technology this term.

Healthy outlook for a healthy year

NResolve to achieve a better you in 2023

ew Year’s resolutions are full of expectations. Common goals like eating healthier or losing weight are admirable, but there are plenty of other goals you can set in 2023 as well, like upping your sleep regimen, talking with a friend every day, or going on more walks.

Since the emergence of Covid, it has become more essential than ever to take care of yourself and enhance your immunity. In addition to physical health, mental health is equally important. Many people make New Year’s resolutions that they soon forget. It can be due to a lack of commitment, self-doubt, or unrealistic goals.

So, start by making short-term and realistic goals you can achieve without putting too much pressure on yourself. Once you list what you want to achieve this year, stick to it and believe in yourself to accomplish them.

Exercise more

Much like changing a diet, exercising is often seen as a means to weight loss. While that’s a positive side effect of daily exercise, daily or frequent exercise is an all-around health benefit.

According to the American College of Sports Medicine, exercise helps lower the risk of heart disease and hypertension by 40 percent while lowering the risk of depression by 30 percent. In addition, men and women with a family history of diabetes should know that regular exercise lowers their risk of type 2 diabetes by nearly 60 percent. So while exercise is a great means to losing weight, it’s even better at helping reduce the risk for serious disease.

When incorporating exercise into a daily routine, start slowly and gradually work your way up to more vigorous exercise regimens. Going full speed from the outset is a great way to increase risk of injury, and no one wants that.

Find 30 minutes a day to walk

Getting the recommended 30 minutes of exercise each day can be as simple as taking a walk. If you’ve got a busy schedule, take three 10-minute walks throughout your day.

“That’s 10 minutes before work, 10 minutes at lunch and then 10 minutes after work. Make it fun! Grab a partner at work to get you through your lunch routine. Then have a friend or family member meet you for an evening stroll,” suggests physical therapist Stacie Page.

Your diet matters: healthy and well-balanced is achievable

This year, promise to eat right. Choose whole foods instead of packaged ones. Crash diets and eliminating foods from your daily intake can deprive you of needed nutrition and may not be effective in the long run.

Keep your mental health in check

Mental health is as vital as physical health, and it needs attention. The daily stress of life and other factors may lead to serious health issues, including depression and anxiety. Mental health issues can make it hard for you to cope with everyday life and interfere with your work and relationships.

If you feel something is wrong, believe your instinct and get help. Practicing self-care techniques can also help combat mental health issues. Try to find the positives and adopt habits that can benefit your well-being, such as meditating.

Manage stress

Stress is a cause of many serious illnesses, such as heart disease. It can negatively impact your physical and mental health. Stress can become regular if you are always busy or have other problems related to finances or relationships. It is crucial to take steps to manage your stress. You can manage stress through meditation, exercise, or other relaxation techniques.

Sleep well

Improve the quantity and quality of your sleep. Getting enough sleep enhances your health by ensuring the smooth functioning of your body. It is also critical that you have a sound sleep. Regular interruptions can disrupt your sleep pattern, causing low energy and fatigue during the day. Getting a good night’s sleep is definitely something you should add to your 2023 checklist.

Limit social media usage and screen time

Just as you’ve decided to finish a task or go to sleep, you receive a social media notification alert. As you check the notification, something else catches your attention, and before you know it, you’ve spent an hour doomscrolling. Invariably, this leaves you feeling worse than before. If this resonates with you, you are not alone.

Social media, particularly when used for long hours, is reported to have contributed to an increased risk of a variety of mental health concerns like anxiety and low mood. This could be because of social comparison, isolation and cyberbullying. It also increases screen time, which can impact sleep and leave you less time to engage in other activities. Reducing your social media usage might help your anxiety, depression, loneliness, sleep problems and the fear of missing out.

Practise meditation and mindfulness

Meditation and mindfulness give you space to pause and reflect, allowing you to slow down and increase your emotional awareness, in a chaotic and bustling world. In fact, practising meditation and being mindful can help you in improving emotional regulation, reduce physical pain and alleviate symptoms of anxiety and depression. Meditation and mindfulness require consistent effort. Starting with mindfulness for even one minute every day can be helpful. You can slowly increase the time as you see fit. Mindfulness and meditation apps like have also proven to be useful in improving mental health.

Create (and keep) those resolutions

Taking a good, hard look at daily behavior is the key to setting realistic self-improvement goals

The early Babylonians believed that what people did on the first day of the year affected what they did for the rest of that year. Many of us see the New Year as a perfect opportunity to start over or to change bad habits.

According to several surveys, the most popular resolutions people make are related to health and fitness (eating better, losing weight, and exercising), reducing consumption of alcohol, caffeine, quitting smoking, and becoming more financially responsible by promising to spend less and save more.

Unfortunately, over 70 percent of resolutions are broken by the end of January, and this can leave a person feeling discouraged.

You might even consider New Year’s resolutions like romantic relationships: They’re easier to start than maintain.

One in four people who makes a New Year’s resolution will drop out within the first seven days, statistics show. About half jump ship within six months.

Resolutions are complicated, and being able to achieve them usually requires taking a hard look at our thoughts and behaviors. Setting goals keeps us on track, but stamping out old habits is difficult, and may even require the help of a professional for some.

But there’s hope.

Striving for self-improvement and setting goals for ourselves gives us a sense of purpose and hope for the future. Be sure to make your goals a priority, be specific, and work at them daily.

Your goal should be specific and measurable. Make your goal concrete, and if necessary, break it down into smaller steps.

Setting vague goals such as “I want to lose weight” can be ineffective. Instead, ensure your resolution is quantifiable. If your goal is to shed some pounds, identify the number you’d like to lose within a specified period of time. If your aim is to exercise more in 2023 set a specific objective for the number of hours you’ll work out each week.

Or, if your resolution is to consume fewer carbohydrates, resolve to eat carbohydrates only at one meal per day rather than resolving to eliminate carbohydrates entirely. Once you are successful, begin to decrease your consumption further.

Don’t set unrealistic resolutions that will be impossible to keep. If you resolve to eat healthier by cutting down on desserts, switch to an alternative you enjoy rather than forcing yourself to eat a vegetable you’ve hated since childhood. For example, swap ice cream for Greek yogurt or fruit rather than raw cauliflower sprouts (unless you enjoy them, of course).

Be nice to yourself. Changing habits isn’t easy, so you’re likely to struggle at some point in your journey. Take it easy. Minor bumps are normal. The important part is jumping back on the bandwagon and continuing momentum forward.

Write your resolution down and put it somewhere where you can see it on a daily basis. This will help you to stay focused.

Keep it manageable. Keep the scope of your New Year’s resolution practical by working toward changing one or two behaviors at a time.

Have coping strategies in place to deal with obstacles that may arise along the way. For example, if your goal is to drink less alcohol you may consider skipping parties or events that involve a lot of drinking or bring a sober friend along to provide you with support and to help keep you on track.

On the bright side. Stay focused on the benefits of the change you’re making rather than what you’re giving up. Rally your mind around how much better you’ve been feeling instead of lamenting the loss of your daily chocolate-chip muffin.

Photo: Sometimes it’s the littlest things that make the biggest impact. Rather than setting a major health or fitness goal that takes you far out of your comfort zone, start the new year by committing to small changes here and there.

Hold yourself accountable and lean on others. Use a support network to help stay motivated. Discuss your resolution (and the accompanying struggles) with friends and family members. Consider joining a group with common goals, whether a collection of friends teaming up to quit smoking or an exercise class at the gym.

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New town redistricting long way from finish

By ANA BORRUTO aborruto@liherald.com

Voters talked, but at least according to them, a committee tasked with drawing new boundaries for Hempstead town elected officials didn’t listen.

At least that was the takeaway during the latest public hearing last week over the state of redistricting in the town.

Yet, it was a meeting just before the winter holidays that took most of the attention — a meeting where a number of speakers during public comment demanded lines be redrawn for the six town districts in what they called a more balanced representation through the inclusion of three “minority-majority” districts. That is, where an overall ethnic minority would be grouped into a majority as a way to help diversify a leadership board like the town council.

That same week, new map proposals were released. Yet, after further review, critics of the earlier drafts claimed most of their recommendations were ignored.

“While I hope that the commission changes course on these maps, I doubt (they) will because (they) have to show us that (they’re) listening to what residents are saying,” said Amil Virani of Valley Stream.

But there were changes. For example, the committee has proposed grouping together Elmont, North Valley Stream, a portion of the Five Towns and Franklin Square into a single district. Baldwin — which went from three to two representatives on the latest maps — was split in half.

The idea, according to Hempstead town attorney John Maccarone, was to ensure villages were kept whole, in accordance with the law. However, hamlets like Baldwin don’t enjoy the same protections.

Elmont, Valley Stream and Franklin Square are per-

fect for this new district, said Elmont resident Mimi Pierre-Johnson, but it should also have included Bellerose, Bellerose village, South Floral Park, Floral Park and New Hyde Park.

“That would’ve been a perfect minority-majority,” she said. “Everyone in that district would have had a fair share of choosing their elected official.”

Baldwin has been split into three council districts since the 2010 census. The Baldwin Civic Association collected more than 400 signatures on a petition urging the committee to place the entire hamlet of Baldwin under the 11510 ZIP code and one Town of Hempstead council district.

“Again, (the redistricting committee) has cracked Baldwin,” Janet Poretsky said. “My vote in Baldwin Harbor won’t count, it will be canceled out by someone in Wantagh-Seaford. I don’t think that’s fair, and I have nobody who is really representing my area.”

The last time officials got together to redraw district lines, it was done to benefit legislators without any concern for the needs of Nassau County communities, said Karen Moskowitz, cochair of the League of Women Votgers of Nassau County’s redistricting committee — specifically communities of color.

The lATesT RedisTRicTiNg map for Hempstead town elected officials reveals little change to what a number of people asked for ahead of the revision last month. Their desire is to see a better chance of creating a more diverse town council by creating ‘minority-majority’ districts.

As a town where 40 percent of its residents are people of color represented by a council that is mostly white, Moskowitz added that the latest map proposals show this intention has not changed in Hempstead.

The 2020 census revealed a 12 percent drop in the town’s white, non-Hispanic population, according to supporters of the minority-majority district concept. At the same time, the Hispanic and Latino population grew 32 percent, while the Black population increased by 4

percent.

“The league takes positions on a variety of policy issues, but never supports or opposes any political party or candidate,” Moskowitz said. “Our review of the commission’s proposed maps reveals deliberate manipulation of district lines.”

Another redistricting meeting was scheduled for Jan. 9, and the town attorney confirmed more such meetings will be scheduled before the board votes on a new map.

Ana Borruto/Herald

STEPPING OUT

Culinary inspiration for a wintry weekend

By Karen Bloom

January is the ideal time to decompress and get into the kitchen and work on those “Top Chef” skills. It’s not that difficult with some great comforting — healthy — foods to nourish and warm our soul.

Experiment with new culinary creations that incorporate bold flavors for delicious results. Nothing pleases the senses quite like a hearty dish on a chilly evening. Try adding these recipes to your repertoire.

Rustic Roasted Winter Vegetable Chowder

• 1/2 small butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cut into 1-inch dice (about 2 cups)

• 3 medium parsnips, peeled, cut into 1-inch dice (about 1 cup )

• 1 medium sweet potato, peeled, cut into 1-inch dice (about 1 cup)

• 2 medium carrots, peeled, cut into 1-inch dice (about 1 cup)

• 1/2 fennel bulb, quartered & sliced thin (about 1 cup)

• 1/2 teaspoon plus 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt or coarse sea salt

• 2 tablespoons plus 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided

• 1 medium onion, diced (about 2 cups)

• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

• 4 cups vegetable broth

• 2 medium russet potatoes, peeled, cut into 3/4-inch dice (about 2 cups) 4-5 fresh thyme sprigs

Hearty Beef Stew

• 2 tablespoons olive oil

• 1 1/2 lb beef chuck roast, cut into 1-inch pieces

• 1 large onion, chopped

• 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped

• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour

• 1 cup Burgundy, Zinfandel or other red wine

• 3 cups beef broth

• 1 1/2 cups ready-to-eat baby-cut carrots

• 4 medium parsnips, peeled, cut into 1/2-inch pieces

• 1/2 pound small red potatoes, cut in half

• 2 dried bay leaves

• 6 sprigs fresh thyme

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 1/2 teaspoon pepper

In 4-quart Dutch oven, heat 1 tablespoon of the oil over medium heat. Cook beef in oil 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until browned.

Remove beef to bowl; cover to keep warm.

In Dutch oven, heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil over medium-high heat. Cook onion and garlic in oil 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until tender. Return beef to Dutch oven. Sprinkle with flour; cook and stir 1 minute. Add wine; cook 1 minute, scraping to loosen any browned bits from bottom of pan. Stir in broth, carrots, parsnips, potatoes, bay leaves, thyme, salt and pepper.

Heat to boiling; reduce heat. Cover; simmer about 40 minutes, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are tender. Remove bay leaves before serving.

• 1 cup milk or unsweetened plain almond milk

Additional salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

More pepper and thyme leaves for garnish

Heat oven to 400 F.

In a large bowl, toss the butternut squash, parsnips, sweet potatoes, carrots, and fennel with 2 tablespoons olive oil and 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt. Spread in a single layer on a large baking sheet and roast until tender and browned in places, about 40 minutes, turning a couple of times while roasting.

While the veggies are roasting, prepare the base of the soup. To a large saucepan over low heat, add 3 tablespoons olive oil. Add the onion along with a pinch of salt and a bit of pepper, then cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, about 10 minutes.

Stir in the flour and cook for 3 minutes, stirring constantly.

Stir in the vegetable broth. Add the potatoes and thyme. Bring to a boil over medium heat then reduce heat to low. Simmer uncovered for 15 minutes or until potatoes are soft. Remove from heat. Pick out the thyme stems and discard.

Stir in the roasted vegetables. Carefully transfer about 3 cups of the chowder to the pitcher of a blender. Puree until smooth. Return the pureed mixture to the pot and stir to combine. The soup should be thick, rich, and creamy.

Stir in the milk. Place the pot back on the burner, and, with the heat on medium-low, return to a simmer, stirring often to prevent burning.

Taste and add additional salt and pepper if desired. Serve garnished with an additional turn of cracked pepper and thyme leaves.

Lucky Chops

This big, brassy and unapologetically bold six-piece band comes at you with every hue in the rainbow. Their sound pays homage to New Orleans brass band tradition while incorporating eclectic rock, Caribbean, Arabic, Eastern European, funk, jazz, ska, gospel and EDM influences. Their irresistible groove is led by co-founder Josh Holcomb’s soulful trombone, Daro Behroozi’s soaring sax and Joshua Gawel’s powerful trumpet. Their high-energy brassy funk has attracted listeners since forming in New York City in 2006. Starting in the underground halls of subway stations, Lucky Chops went viral when a video of their mash-up of Lipps Inc.’s ‘Funkytown’ and James Brown’s ‘I Feel Good’ amassed hundreds of millions of views across social media, and led to an online subscriber base almost two million strong. They’re now back on tour for the first time since the end of 2019.

Thursday, Jan. 26, 7:30 p.m. $33. Jeanne Rimsky Theater at Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington. (516) 767-6444 or LandmarkOnMainStreet.org.

America

The perennial classic rock favorite enters 2023 on the road again as founding members Gerry Beckley and Dewey Bunnell celebrate the band’s 53rd anniversary. The pair (along with former band mate Dan Peek), who met in high school in London in the late 1960s, quickly harmonized their way to the top of the charts on the strength of their signature song ‘A Horse With No Name.’ More than 40 years later, these friends are still making music together, touring the world and thrilling audiences with their timeless sound. Yet beyond their impressive catalog of hits, listeners discovered there was always much more to America than surface perceptions. The combination of Beckley’s melodic pop rock and Bunnell’s use of folk-jazz elements, slinky Latin-leaning rhythms and impressionistic lyric imagery contrasted well with Peek’s more traditional country-rock leanings and highly personal lyrics.

Friday, Jan. 27, 8 p.m. $99, $79, $69, $59. Tilles Center for the Performing Arts, LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Blvd., Brookville. (516) 299-3100 or TillesCenter.org.

ith the holidays behind us, cozy up to some comfy winter nesting. And, of course, it’s time to refocus on healthier eating now that we’re finished with weeks of festive over-indulgence.

THE SCENE

Art talk

Grab your lunch and join Nassau County Museum of Art Docent Riva Ettus for her popular “Brown Bag Lecture” live, via Zoom, Thursday, Jan. 19 , 1 p.m. She’ll discuss the current exhibition, “The Big Picture: Photography Now.” Participants are invited to ask questions at the end of the program. Also Feb. 23. Register at least 24 hours in advance to receive the program Zoom link. Also Feb. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. (516) 484-9337 or NassauMuseum.org.

Become a Jedi!

In concert

David Alterman returns to the stage with Altzim, Friday, Jan. 13, at My Father’s Place supper club. Enjoy an evening of music that Alterman describes as “Dylan with a twist,” with special guest Cathy Rose Virgilio. Rich Demand and his band also appear. Doors open at 6 p.m., concert is at 8 p.m. The Metropolitan, 3 Pratt Blvd., Glen Cove. For tickets/information, visit MyFathersPlace.com or call (516) 580-0887.

Snacks for students

Branford Marsalis

The renowned saxophonist visits the Madison Theatre, on the Molloy University campus, with his quartet, Friday, Jan. 20, 8 p.m. The NEA Jazz Master, triple Grammy Award winner and musical polymath with his stellar ensemble — pianist Joey Calderazzo, bassist Eric Revis and drummer Justin Faulkner — bring the brilliance that has made this quartet one of the most revered and influential in jazz. After more than three decades of existence with minimal personnel changes, this celebrated ensemble is revered for its uncompromising interpretation of a kaleidoscopic range of both original compositions and jazz and popular classics. $40-$95. 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre. For tickets and information visit MadisonTheatreny.org or call (516) 323-4444.

Those wishing to learn the Force, the mystical power in the Star Wars universe, should plan to be at Malverne Public Library on Saturday, Jan. 28, 1-2 p.m. The library, located at 61 St. Thomas Pl., is holding a Jedi Training for children ages 5-10. Star Wars costumes are encouraged! Register by calling the library at (516) 599-0750 ext. 303 or email malvernekids@malvernelibrary. org.

Lakeview Public Library holds its After School Dish every Friday , 3:30-4:30 p.m, for students grades 6 and under. The event features discussions of learning, games, crafts, and snacks. An adult must stay with any children under twelve (12) years of age. Register before each session by calling (516) 536-3071 or emailing ireckson@lakeviewlibrary. org. The event takes place in the Children’s Room of the library, 1120 Woodfield Road, Rockville Centre.

Jan. 20

MLK Day discussion

Lakeview Library hosts an MLK Day Kids Book Club event, Thursday, Jan. 12, 5-6 p.m., for students grades K-6. An adult must stay with any children under 12. The event, which will take place in the Children’s Room, features reading, discussion, and activities about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Register in advance by calling Ivy Reckson at (516) 536-3071 or email ireckson@lakeviewlibrary. org. The event takes place at the library at 1120 Woodfield Rd., Rockville Centre.

West Hempstead schools meeting

The West Hempstead School District Board of Education will meet, Tuesday, Jan. 18, at 7:30 p.m. in the high school video conference room. The meeting will feature an educational presentation. The high school is located at 400 Nassau Blvd., West Hempstead. For more information, call (516) 3903100.

Forest Bathing

Take a meditative Forest Bathing walk, led by certified guide Linda Lombardo, Saturday, Jan. 21, 2-4 p.m. Based on the Japanese tradition of ShinrinYoku, a wellness practice developed in the 1980s, the walk, on the grounds of the former summer residence of Howard Gould and later Daniel and Florence Guggenheim, inspires mindful connections with the natural elements of the woods for a range of healthful benefits. $40, $35. Pre-registration required. Sands Point Preserve, 127 Middle Neck Road. For information, visit SandsPointPreserveConservancy. org or call (516) 571-7901.

Pay less taxes!

The Town of Hempstead is hosting a series of tax forums throughout January at various locations. Those in attendance can learn how to address property tax exemptions, challenge a tax assessment, tax discounts, and more. There is no fee for the workshops. To register, email taxforums@ hempsteadny.gov or call (516) 414-6598. There is a scheduled tax forum for Thursday, Jan. 12,1 p.m., at Echo Park, 399 Nassau Blvd., West Hempstead. Another scheduled tax forum will be held Friday, Jan. 13, 10:30 a.m., at Hempstead Town Hall, Nathan L.H. Bennett Pavilion, 1 Washington St., Hempstead.The Malverne Public Library, 61 St. Thomas Pl., will host a tax forum, Friday, Jan. 20, 1 p.m. Another scheduled tax forum will be held Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2 p.m., at Hempstead Town Hall, located at Nathan L.H. Bennett Pavilion, 1 Washington St., Hempstead. The last tax forum will be held Tuesday, Jan. 3, 7 p.m. at Echo Park, 399 Nassau Blvd., West Hempstead.

Having an event?

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

On exhibit

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

Let Freedom Ring with MLK

Visit Long Island Children’s Museum for a workshop honoring Martin Luther King, Jr., Monday, Jan. 16. Families will learn about MLK beyond his “I Have a Dream” speech and gain a better understanding of his impact on the civil rights movement. Also participate in a gallery walk of images from the Civil Rights Movement and then create a bell to “let freedom ring.” $4 with admission, $3 members. Long Island Children’s Museum, Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 224-5800 or LICM.org.

Malverne announces first poets laureate

The Malverne School District announced that two Malverne High School students have received the title of poet laureate. This is the first time that the school has bestowed this recognition.

High school seniors Niles Wilson and Brian McAleese earned this honor through the creation of digital poetry portfolios that highlighted not only their

poetic range and creative ability, but their familiarity with multiple genres of poetry such as free verse, sonnet, villanelle and ode.

Niles and Brian will be performing their original poetry at school and district functions throughout the year, including the annual Malverne MLK Celebration on Jan. 12, which is open to the public.

Poetry is embedded in Baron’s life and art

from front page

A former New York City teacher, Baron became a professor who teaches aspiring teachers. And she insists her students understand that poetry shouldn’t be relegated to English class.

“So much of what I taught used poetry,” Baron said. “Even if it was math. Teachers would say they don’t have the time. You embed poetry into everything you do. I am so thankful for having the opportunity to inspire educators to use poetry in everything they do as a tool to engage.”

Baron lost her city teaching job because of budget cutbacks. She worked as an educational salesperson in the city until 1988 and made a name for herself throughout the tristate area — not as a saleswoman, but for using poetry to sell educational materials such as curriculums.

“I would use poetry in my presentations to teachers,” she said. “They saw that poetry can be used to extract contextual knowledge and get students to think critically. They kept asking me back,” she said, referring to the teachers and administrators she met.

Because of her success, Baron was able to start her own company while continuing to write poetry. Her book, “The Sun is On,” which is recommended for middle school use by the State Education Department, has sold more than 100,000 copies.

“So many people of so many different backgrounds have embraced my poetry, and that makes me so happy,” Baron said. “So much of my poetry has connections to my background as a woman of African descent, but it does capture everybody.”

As a resident of Hempstead village, Baron has read poetry to many local groups over the years. Her desire is to bring poetry not just to students, but entire communities.

“Poetry should not be conceptualized as stagnant on the page,” she said. “My goal is to promote the power of poetry and enjoyment of the gift of poetry to the

entire community.”

As the town’s first poet laureate, Baron really won’t be changing much, if anything. She will continue to speak to children and adults at schools, libraries — pretty much anywhere and everywhere someone will listen to the beauty of poetry.

Deputy Town Supervisor Dorothy Goosby, who recommended Baron for the non-paying position, said that Baron’s appointment would lead to a greater understanding of the positive power of poetry.

“Poetry is meaningful and beautiful,” Goosby said. “It’s a creative outlet that provides a way for people to express themselves. “By naming a poet laureate in the Town of Hempstead, we are taking an active step towards fostering an appreciation for all forms of poetry in our communities.”

Town Supervisor Don Clavin said that Baron’s mission is even more important, since she will be creating the program for future poets laureate. “A poet laureate is tasked with comprising poetry for special occasions,” Clavin said, “but the Town of Hempstead’s first-ever poet laureate is also tasked with developing a comprehensive program that celebrates poetry as it promotes diversity, inclusivity and selfexpression.”

Baron said she would continue to write poetry as she always has, while paying homage to the many people who have helped her since she was young. Her father introduced her to Langston Hughes and Gwendolyn Brooks, and the family of a child she babysat for as a teenager gave her an album of Maya Angelou reciting poetry.

She hopes to be able to inspire others to enjoy poetry, Baron said, by honoring those literary role models and her heritage. When she sees a child’s face light up as she recites a poem, she realizes she is achieving her ultimate goal of making poetry accessible.

“That makes me so happy,” she said. “My poetry is for the entire community.”

continued

Courtesy Lindamichelle Baron

linDAMiCHEllE BAron rEADing her poetry at one of her many community events.

Courtesy Malverne School District MAlvErnE HigH SCHool named two students as poets laureate. With Niles Wilson, second from left, and Brian McAleese are Malverne High School Principal Dr. Vincent Romano, far left, and Supervisor of Humanities Jason Mach.

DINING

Congrats to all the Top 3 Finalists in the 2022 Herald Long Island Choice Awards presented by PSEG Long Island!

Check back each week for the Top 3 Reveal in each category leading up to the Oscar-style awards ceremony in April 2023. Did your favorites make it to the top? Visit www.LiChoiceAwards.com! *Finalists are listed alphabetically, not in order of placement.

MEXICAN FOOD: Frida’s Mexican Grill Margaritas Cafe

The Cabana Mexican American Restaurant

NEW RESTAURANT: Casarecce Italian Tap Room

The Chef’s Table - Lynbrook

ORGANIC/NATURAL FOOD: Bob’s Natural Foods Fit by Globish Organic Krush Lifestyle Eatery

OUTDOOR DINING: Lazy Lobster Point Lookout Clam Bar

SALT - Merrick PIZZA: Friendlier 76

Lia’s Pizzeria - Oceanside Vincent’s

Churchill’s

IHOP-Oceanside

Toast Coffeehouse

BUBBLE/BOBA TEA: Bubble Hut

Kung Fu Tea

YAAAS TEA

BUFFET: China Buffet King

Diwan Indian Restaurant and Bar

Flaming Grill & Supreme Buffet

BURGER: American Burgers Ay! Caramba! Burgerology

BUSINESS LUNCH: City Cellar Wine Bar & Grill

Frank’s Steaks

Remy’s Italian Restaurant

BUTCHER SHOP: Charlie’s Butchers

Chubs Meats

Sons of a Butcher

CATERER: Bagel Boss

Barnum Ballroom

Bialystok & Bloom

CHINESE FOOD:

Danny’s Chinese Kitchen

Little Fu’s

Omandarin

COCKTAILS: Da Nicola

Dirty Taco + Tequila

Lia’s Pizzeria - Oceanside

DELI/SANDWICH SHOP:

Ben’s Kosher Delicatessen Restaurant & Caterers

Farmer Joel’s

Pantano’s Gourmet

DESSERT: Dolce Confections

Frank’s Steaks

Sugarberry Bakery Cafe

DINER: Apollo Restaurant Diner

Imperial Diner

The Pantry

Artie’s South Shore Fish Market & Grill

Hewlett Fish Market Inc. Jordan Lobster Farms

FRENCH FRIES: All American Hamburger Drive In Brooklyn Dip & Burger Press 195

FRIED CHICKEN: Chicken Carnival Swingbellys Beachside BBQ Zorn’s of Bethpage

GERMAN FOOD: Das Biergarten Oak Chalet Plattduetsche Park

GREEK FOOD: B Greek Kitchen

GREEKTOWN

Mykonos Greek Restaurant HAPPY HOUR: Dirty Taco + Tequila J Paul’s Terrace Cafe Michael’s Billiards

ICE CREAM: Carvel - Merrick Dolce Gelateria

Marvel Frozen Dairy

INDIAN FOOD: Color of Spices

Diwan Indian Restaurant & Bar

Raagini

ITALIAN FOOD: Friendlier 76

Lia’s Pizzeria - Oceanside

San Marzano Brick Oven Pizza & Fresh Pasta

JAPANESE FOOD: Himawari

Izumi Sushi & Hibachi Steakhouse Kashi

LATIN FOOD: Cabo RVC

Island Empanada of Merrick

The Cuban

LOCAL COFFEE SHOP: Coffee Booths Heavenly Coffee Kookaburra Coffee Co

PRETZEL: Knot of this World Pretzels

Philly Pretzel Factory Pretzel Stop/Pretzel Town USA

RAMEN: 8RAMEN MB Ramen - Huntington Ni Ramen

ROMANTIC RESTAURANT: Da Nicola Livorno Remy’s Italian Restaurant

SEAFOOD: Artie’s South Shore Fish Market & Grill Hungry Crab Juicy Seafood and Bar Jordan Lobster Farms

SMOOTHIE: Fit by Globish SoBol Hewlett

Tropical Smoothie Cafe

SPECIALTY PIZZA: Friendlier 76

Lia’s Pizzeria - Oceanside Vincent’s

STEAKHOUSE: Frank’s Steaks

Jimmy Hays Steak House Rothmann’s Steakhouse

SUSHI: Himawari

Izumi Sushi & Hibachi Steakhouse

Sushi Palace

THAI FOOD: Ra-Kang Thai Cuisine Seeda Thai Thai Station Restaurant

Thai Table Restaurant

VEGETARIAN/VEGAN: Bob’s Natural Foods

Energy Fuel Garden City

Organic Krush Lifestyle Eatery

WINGS:

Croxley’s Ale House

Pearsall’s Station

Swingbellys Beachside BBQ

YOGURT: Hewlett Station Yogurt Swirls & Twirls

TCBY

Library renovations delayed by fire sprinkler that burst

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Traffic Commission of the Incorporated Village of Malverne will meet on the following dates at 7:30pm at Malverne Village Hall, 99 Church St., Malverne, NY 11565; January 18, 2023, April 19, 2023, July 19, 2023, October 18, 2023.

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES Inc. Village of Malverne Averil Smith, Village Clerk-Treasurer Dated: January 5, 2023 136603

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that due to a vacancy in the office of Trustee of the Incorporated Village of Malverne and pursuant to New York State Election Law, the following additional office is to be filled for the term set opposite thereto at the Village Election that will be held on Tuesday, March 21, 2023 at Malverne Village Hall, 99 Church Street, Malverne, New York between the hours of 7:00 am and 9:00 pm.

OFFICE - Trustee (1) - Two (2) year term to fill an unexpired term.

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES Inc. Village of Malverne Averil Smith, Village Clerk Dated: 1/5/2023 136604

LEGAL NOTICE

REFEREE’S NOTICE OF SALE IN FORECLOSURE SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, Plaintiffagainst - LAWRENCE A. WESTBY, et al Defendant(s).

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered on March 25, 2019. I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, N.Y. 11501 “Rain or Shine” on the 15th day of February, 2023 at 2:30 PM. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being at Lakeview, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau, and State of New York.

Premises known as 250 Sylvan Drive, West Hempstead, NY 11552.

(Section: 35 Block: 48005 Lot: 83) Approximate amount of lien $105,630.49 plus interest and costs.

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed judgment and terms of sale.

Index No. 003551/2017.

George Esernio, Esq., Referee.

McCalla Raymer Leibert Pierce, LLC

Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 420 Lexington Avenue, Suite 840

New York, NY 10170

Tel. 347/286-7409

Dated: December 10, 2022

During the COVID-19 health emergency, bidders are required to comply with all governmental health requirements in effect at the time of sale including but not limited to, wearing face coverings and maintaining social distancing (at least 6-feet apart) during the auction, while tendering deposit and at any subsequent closing. Bidders are also required to comply with the Foreclosure Auction Rules and COVID-19 Health Emergency Rules issued by the Supreme Court of this County in addition to the conditions set forth in the Terms of Sale. 136591

SALE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DAY OF IN ACCORDANCE WITH COURT/CLERK DIRECTIVES. 136597

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU NS182, LLC, Plaintiff, Against ADRIAN G. ZERLA, ET AL.

Defendant(s)

LEGAL NOTICE

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORKCOUNTY OF NASSAU NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC D/B/A MR. COOPER, V.

ALBERT J. MARCIANO, ET AL.

NOTICE OF SALE

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure dated April 30, 2019, and entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Nassau, wherein NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC D/B/A MR. COOPER is the Plaintiff and ALBERT J. MARCIANO, ET AL. are the Defendant(s). I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction RAIN OR SHINE at the NASSAU COUNTY SUPREME COURT, NORTH SIDE STEPS, 100 SUPREME COURT DRIVE, MINEOLA, NY 11501, on February 14, 2023 at 2:30PM, premises known as 435 HEMPSTEAD GARDENS DRIVE, WEST HEMPSTEAD, NY 11552: Section 35, Block 402, Lot 220:

ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND, WITH THE BUILDINGS AND IMPROVEMENTS THEREON ERECTED, SITUATE, LYING AND BEING AT WEST HEMPSTEAD, TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, COUNTY OF NASSAU AND STATE OF NEW YORK Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 611744/2017. George Esernio, 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

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale, duly entered 10/19/2022, I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction, on the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, N.Y. 11501. This Auction will be held rain or shine on 1/25/2023 at 3:00pm, premises known as 121 Munson Avenue, West Hempstead, NY 11552, And Described As Follows: ALL that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being at Munson, Town Of Hempstead, County Of Nassau And State Of New York.

Section 35 Block 304 Lot 31

The approximate amount of the current Judgment lien is $197,495.92 plus interest and costs. The Premises will be sold subject to provisions of the aforesaid Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale; Index # 606200/2019

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

Salvatore Puccio, Esq., Referee.

Richland & Falkowski, PLLC, 28-07 Jackson Avenue, 5th Floor, LONG ISLAND CITY, NY 11101

Dated: 11/29/2022 File Number: ZERLA LD 136115

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU CMG MORTGAGE, INC.

Plaintiff, Against JANICE COGHLAN, AS EXECUTRIX OF THE ESTATE OF WILLIAM S. GROOMS A/K/A WILLIAM GROOMS, et al., Defendant(s)

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale, duly entered 04/11/2019, I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction, on the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, N.Y. 11501. This Auction will be held rain or shine on 1/24/2023 at 2:00 PM, premises known as 17 Hopatcong Avenue, West Hempstead, New York 11552 and described as follows;

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 35 Block 462 Lot 508. The approximate amount of the current Judgment lien is $274,404.81 plus interest and costs. The Premises will be sold subject to provisions of the aforesaid Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale; Index # 17-001008. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, the then Court Appointed Referee will cancel the Foreclosure Auction.

Ralph Madalena, Esq., Referee.

McCabe, Weisberg & Conway, LLC, Suite 205, 10 Midland Ave, Port Chester, NY 10573

Dated: 10/24/2022 File Number: 16-303695 PCO 136117

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT. NASSAU COUNTY. L & L ASSOCIATES HOLDING CORP., Pltf. vs. JOHN W. PANIN, et al, Defts. Index #602877/2020. Pursuant to judgment of foreclosure and sale entered March 10, 2022, I will sell at public auction on the north front steps of Nassau Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY on January 24, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. prem. k/a Section 35, Block 403, Lot 225. Sold subject to terms and conditions of filed judgment and terms of sale. Foreclosure auction will be held “rain or shine.” If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, then the court appointed referee will cancel the auction. LISA SEGAL POCZIK, Referee. LEVY & LEVY, Attys. for Pltf., 12 Tulip Dr., Great Neck, NY. #99965 136152

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT

COUNTY OF NASSAU

Deutsche Bank National Trust Company, as trustee, on behalf of the holders of the Impac Secured Assets Corp., Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates Series 2006-5, Plaintiff AGAINST Jose D. Cruz, et al., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered August 29, 2018, 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 January 31, 2023 at 2:30PM, premises known as 350 Coventry Road a/k/a 350 Coventry Road North, West Hempstead, NY 11552. All that certain plot piece or

continued from front page

One regular visitor, Miriam Donath, comes to the library with her 7-year-old daughter every couple of weeks. “I have probably taken out thousands of books since living in West Hempstead for the past 10 years,” Donath said. Also, she makes sure that her daughter takes advantage of the children’s program at the library.

“The children’s room suits our needs as is, but from what I understand, the renovations are being done to make the space more conducive to programming,” Donath said. “We use the library more for books than programming, but if this encourages more families to use the library, that’s great.”

The library received the funding to undertake the renovations nearly three years ago in the form of a grant as part of the CARES Act, which former President Donald Trump signed into law in March of 2020.

The library received $20,000 from the

Town of Hempstead, part of a state grant to help municipal facilities pay for unbudgeted expenses incurred during the pandemic. Town Supervisor Don Clavin said in 2021 that the funding would allow facilities to continue to provide essential programs and services to their communities.

“No one in our town was spared from the impacts of this pandemic and the financial toll it has taken,” Clavin told the Herald in 2021. “We are proud to be able to provide this funding to our neighborhood libraries so they can continue serving the residents of Hempstead Town.”

Owen Rumlet, a library board trustee, emphasized the importance of getting the renovations done as soon as possible. “We’re going to be moving things around to focus on renovating the Children’s Room with the state grant and other monies in order to improve our services for the children in the community,” Rumlet said.

Public Notices

parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the Town of Hempstead, Lakeview, County of Nassau, New York, SECTION: 35, BLOCK: 514, LOT: 54. Approximate amount of judgment $378,606.83 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment In dex #001855/2016. The aforementioned auction will be conducted in accordance with the NASSAU County COVID-19 Protocols located on the Office of Court Administration (OCA) website (https://ww2.nycourts.gov /Admin/oca.shtml) 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”. Karen C. Grant, Esq., Referee Frenkel Lambert Weiss Weisman & Gordon, LLP 53 Gibson Street Bay Shore, NY 11706 01-056564-F01 74358 136293

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE

COUNTY OF NASSAU JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, Plaintiff AGAINST Lisa Pearce a/k/a Lisa Williamson; Robin Williamson; et al., Defendant(s)

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered June 4, 2019 I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side Steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on February 9, 2023 at 2:30PM, premises known as 480 Hopatcong Avenue, West Hempstead, NY 11552.

All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being at Lakeview, near Rockville Center, in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau, State of New York, Section 35 Block 460 Lot 853. Approximate amount of judgment $287,760.20 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index# 602518/2018. The auction will be conducted pursuant to the COVID-19 Policies Concerning Public Auctions of Foreclosed Property established by

the Tenth Judicial District. Foreclosure Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine.”

Russell Burman, Esq., Referee

LOGS Legal Group LLP

f/k/a Shapiro, DiCaro & Barak, LLC Attorney(s) for the Plaintiff 175 Mile Crossing Boulevard Rochester, New York 14624 (877) 430-4792

Dated: December 13, 2022

For sale information, please visit www.Auction.com or call (800) 280-2832 136480

LEGAL NOTICE

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU

EDDY FREMONT, Index No. 609627/2020 Plaintiff -againstGERMELLA JOSEPH, Defendant

TO ALL CREDITORS

HAVING LIENS ON THE UNDIVIDED SHARE OR INTEREST OF ANY PARTY TO THE ABOVE ACTION:

Please take notice, that any person not a party to the above-entitled action, who has a lien upon any undivided share or interest in the property hereinafter described, is required to appear before the undersigned, the referee appointed under

section 913 of the Real Property Actions and Proceedings Law by an order filed in the office of the clerk of the County of Nassau, on the 4th day of November, 2022, at the office of said referee, at No. 400 Post Avenue, Suite 201, Westbury, NY 11590 on or before January 31, 2023, to prove said lien and the true amount due or to become due by reason thereof, and to specify the nature of such lien or encumbrance and the dates thereof respectively.

The premises described in the complaint are as follows:

99 Kennedy Avenue Hempstead, New York

Dated:December 13, 2022 Darice Guzman Piotrowski, Referee 400 Post Avenue, Suite 201 Westbury, New York 11590

Jeffrey Herzberg, PC Attorneys for Plaintiff 300 Rabro Drive, Suite 114 Hauppauge, New York 11788 (631) 761-6558 136147

PUBLIC AND LEGAL NOTICES… Printed in this publication can be found online. To search by publication name, go to: www.newyorkpublicnotices.com

SUPREME COURT

W e use the library more for books than programming, but if this encourages more families to use the library, that’s great.

MiriaM Donath visitor

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Hewlett

Spacious Side Hall Colonial Near All

Nestled in the prestigious school district 14, you will find this bright and airy Side Hall Colonial that also offers plenty of space. This home features 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths and a finished basement that provides additional living space for entertainment. The formal dining room and living room are perfect for hosting guests while the kitchen with an island allows for plenty of prep space when cooking up your favorite meals. The backyard deck and lush lawn provide a great spot to relax or entertain friends. You're also just minutes' walk from Grant Park - perfect for enjoying a beautiful day outdoors. This home is conveniently located close to transportation, shops, and restaurants. Don't wait - come see this wonderful home today! For a private tour contact us at 516.791.1313.

Adding to the attic

Q. A few contractors have looked at my attic so I can finish it for more bedrooms and a family room. The 1920s house has a very large attic with stairs to the second-floor landing. The attic stairs are much steeper and narrower, and the contractor says the walls will need to be taken down and wider and longer stairs put in. Is this necessary? The stairs are already there, and even though they’re steep, they work. Also, one of the contractors said that the horizontal 2x4s going across the attic, which are too low to walk around, could be removed or raised. Is that true? He said we could put them higher and add more so we can add finished wallboards to them. Do you agree, and is there anything I should know about doing this before we start?

A. Good thing you asked before you started. Instead of starting, you need to stop and take a few steps back. What you’re describing has multiple issues that you have to address.

Ask The Architect Monte Leeper

1208 Broadway Hewlett, NY 11557 516.791.1313 vipropertiesny.com

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First, your state building code doesn’t allow the occupancy of a third floor in a single-family, woodframed dwelling. This is because of the many dangers involved in surviving a fire at that level. In the process of getting the permit to occupy a third story, which you left out of the description of your investigation, you would need to have a licensed architect or engineer prepare plans that include specific methods of escape, including the correct size and number of windows, distances to exterior and interior levels below to escape to, sprinkler locations along the entire path of travel to get out of the dwelling, heights of ceilings and fire-rated materials to be installed. This is because, as I have often written, the chances of surviving a fire in the third floor of a wood-framed dwelling are statistically remote, only 5 percent. That means you or your loved ones could be among the 95 out of 100 who will die from smoke inhalation or burns.

The plans for a finished third story are submitted to both your local building department, which will rightfully reject them, and to the State Codes Division for a public hearing, where your case will need to be represented by a code-knowledgeable professional. I have seen people represent themselves, which generally doesn’t go very well, since safety is the reason for the codes, and there are many laws and standards that the average owner is unaware of.

The stair access must be 3 feet wide, and the tread must be at least 10¼ inches, while the risers cannot exceed 8¼ inches. The horizontal 2x4s you described are collar ties, and they serve the important function of holding the roof together, especially in high winds and under snow loads. Moving or removing them can be dangerous. The higher up, the less effective, and without first calculating several factors, it should not be done.

Apartments For Rent

© 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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to Grand Central Madison? We’re

Once again, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority has left coal in the stockings of Long Island Rail Road commuters.

Every Christmas since 2011, the MTA has failed to initiate the promised East Side Access to Grand Central Madison service. The original Federal Transit Administration capital investment — or New Starts — grant agreement with the MTA was approved in 2006.

time in the coming weeks.

The ESA project cost has grown to $11.6 billion. This doesn’t include debt service payments of $1 billion for borrowing costs buried in the MTA’s operating budget. There are also $4 billion worth of LIRR readiness projects to support the start of service — including such things as third-track construction and capacity improvements at Jamaica Station — which are separate from the official budget. Without these projects, the LIRR lacks the expanded operational capabilities to support the new service.

LARRY pENNER

It included a project cost of $6.3 billion, with the start of passenger service — including a promise to run 24 hourly trains on the LIRR’s 10 branches to Grand Central Madison during rush hour — in 2011. We still don’t know when that service will begin.

The temporary shuttle service that did not start last month, as promised, will come nowhere close to meeting this commitment. I can just imagine the overcrowding on shuttle trains between Jamaica and Grand Central Madison when this service begins — likely some-

Even when East Side Access service begins, thousands of potential new LIRR customers will continue to be out of luck in Hunters Point, Long Island City, Sunnyside, Elmhurst and Woodhaven, Queens because of limited or no service. The LIRR currently runs a handful of morning rush-hour trains westbound from Jamaica to Hunters Point and Long Island City, returning east in the evening rush hour. There is no rush-hour, hourly off-peak or evening bi-directional service to those other communities.

Another problem: Penn Station is a

24/7 facility. Grand Central Terminal is closed overnight from 2 to 5:15 a.m. Unlike the LIRR, Metro North provides no service in or out during that time period. The LIRR has the advantage, but Long Islanders who commute at odd times — or come home late from events in Manhattan that end well after midnight — and want to use Grand Central will lose that advantage to incomplete service. A simple analysis of the proposed schedules reveals that depending on your branch or station, there will be no LIRR service to or from Grand Central Madison for three to five hours overnight on weekdays or weekends.

Catherine Rinaldi is the first MTA official to serve as president of both the LIRR and Metro North. Those extrahours riders might want to ask her why the LIRR must be subject to the Metro North’s schedule shortfalls. Isn’t it time to make Grand Central, too, a 24/7 facility?

As well, whenever East Side Access service to Grand Central Madison begins, the LIRR will suspend virtually all direct, one-seat, ride-through service between Jamaica and Atlantic Terminal

Brooklyn. Thousands of LIRR riders bound for downtown Brooklyn, Wall Street, the World Financial Center, the World Trade Center or other destinations in downtown Manhattan via Atlantic Terminal Brooklyn will now have longer commutes. One rider’s gain in time savings — being able to get to Manhattan’s East Side via Grand Central Madison instead of Penn Station — will be a loss for another rider trying to access destinations via Atlantic Terminal Brooklyn. Was investing $12.6 billion in East Side Access worth it? The verdict is still out. It is doubtful, in a post-Covid-19 world, that there will be anywhere near the anticipated 160,000 daily riders using Grand Central Madison, as the MTA predicts. Time will tell if commuters and taxpayers will see all of the benefits from this project, which has been promised for decades by elected official and MTA and LIRR presidents. When it comes to East Side Access, the LIRR’s 1960s motto, “Line of the Dashing Dan,” should be changed to “Line of the Slow Moving Sloth.”

Larry Penner is a transportation advocate, historian and writer who worked in the Federal Transit Administration Region 2 New York Office of Operations and Program Management for three decades.

Writing predictions in disappearing ink

As I look back on my New Years’ columns over these last many years, I might as well have been writing in disappearing ink. Pretty much nothing I expected came to pass, and a whole lot of stuff I never saw coming changed my life and yours, too. So why even try to predict? It’s in our DNA, I suppose, conferring the illusion of control when we have none.

ies is and will be zero.

With that as a caveat, let me hope rather than predict that we will not have a recession; that the markets will rally in 2023 and, somehow, all the thousands of people who are literally dying to get into our country will be matched with all the jobs that are begging to be filled.

Will Covid surge again? Will some new bug emerge from the virulent epidemic in China? I wonder if Kim Jung-un will hold on to his rockets or let them fly. When will Ukraine find peace, and will it be before Putin snaps? How will our children and teenagers recover from the grief and academic setbacks of the pandemic lockdown? When can we feel safe in our lives again?

No one, except for Bill Gates and some epidemiologists who were ignored, predicted the greatest catastrophe of our lifetime, the coronavirus pandemic, the more than 1 million deaths here at home and more than 6 million deaths worldwide.

Everyone predicted a huge Republican sweep in the midterms, and that didn’t happen. And with the MAGA loonies running the GOP, to predict what will happen in 2023 would be folly indeed.

Bullish? Bearish? Last week the big dailies posted predictions for the markets. Inflation, recession, deflation, higher mortgage rates? Columnist Jeff Sommer wrote in The New York Times: “It’s simply impossible to forecast the path of the markets six months or a year ahead with accuracy and consistency, as many academic studies have shown. That the financial services industry continues to label these unreliable numbers as forecasts is a triumph of breathtaking chutzpah — a technical term for shameless audacity.”

RANDI KREISS

In politics, too, the prediction business is bust. We — all of us — lived through the 2016 presidential election, in which pretty much everyone with an opinion, from columnists to people on the street to professional pollsters to Las Vegas bookies and even many supporters of Donald Trump, absolutely did not believe that he would or could win. How many times did we hear pundits say that his path to victory was slim to none? How much airtime and ink were wasted on the assumption of a Hillary Clinton victory and how that would play out? Folks thought DJT would ride that escalator into oblivion.

On New Year’s Eve we toasted 2023 with wishes for good health and peace on earth and peace of mind. Wishes. As hostages to fate and dysfunctional politics, that’s the best we can do. We humans have never tolerated the existential uncertainty of being a person alive on earth. So we turn to exit polls and Svengalis and any grifter who hangs out a palm-reading sign. The truth? I’m even down on Punxsutawney Phil.

I can’t and won’t believe anyone who ever again purports to know the future of an election or an economy or the course of a disease or the likelihood of an earthquake striking any particular location at any particular time.

We are in the game, and it changes day to day.

Yearning for a seed of certainty, yesterday I booked a hotel in Dallas for April 8, 2024, when a full solar eclipse will be seen for two minutes and 20 seconds. I predict, with 100 percent certainty, that it will occur.

Which leads me to predict that the value of their elaborate algorithmic stud-

The very least we could take away from that election was healthy skepticism. Pollsters, even the academic knowit-alls, have little success predicting the results of an election or anything else.

In our personal lives, it’s painful to accept that we cannot know what the future will bring. Life reads like a mystery, not an itinerary. We can’t know what comes next or if we’ll make an appearance in the next chapter.

The track record of clairvoyants is abysmal.

What isn’t sure is if I will get to see it. There may be clouds overhead, or clouds in my life. I am choosing to have faith that the eclipse will occur as scheduled, on April 8 in Dallas. I plan to be there. It’s a small thing, but I’m counting on it.

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

Life reads like a mystery, not an itinerary. We can’t know what comes next.

LIRR

still waiting. W as investing $12.6 billion in East Side Access worth it? Too soon to tell.

rhoNda GlickMaN Vice President -

oFFice 2 Endo Boulevard Garden City, NY 11530

Phone: (516) 569-4000 Fax: (516) 569-4942 Web: www.liherald.com

We all deserve a chance to pursue our dreams

the federal minimum wage has been stuck at $7.25 an hour for 14 years — a time period during which mere adjustments for inflation would now have it over $10.

Congress isn’t expected to act on raising that wage anytime soon, so many municipalities and states — like New York — have taken matters into their own hands. New York City and Long Island both have a $15 minimum wage, as does Westchester County. Last week, upstate New York rose to $14.20.

In fact, 27 states raised their minimum wage at the beginning of 2023, according to the National Employment Law Project, with new baselines ranging from $9.95 in states like Montana to $15.74 in Washington state.

We hear a lot about the minimum wage. What we don’t ever talk about is something that many may not even know exists: the subminimum wage.

It’s real, and it has been since the Fair Labor Standards Act, which first established a federal minimum wage, was signed into law by President Franklin Roosevelt in 1938. Many have credited the law with helping to guide the United States out of the Great Depression. And the framework of the Fair Labor Standards Act — 40-hour work weeks, child labor restrictions, extra pay for overtime — fuels our labor economy to this day.

But if you look closely at the law — particularly at Section 14(c) — you might be surprised to learn that not everyone is eligible for the minimum wage. Even at $7.25. It allows employers to apply for a certificate from the federal government to pay less than minimum wage to workers with disabilities.

It’s an archaic law based on an archaic

way of thinking when it comes to people with disabilities.

When the legislation was first passed, “it was assumed that a worker with a disability was less productive than a non-disabled worker,” former Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge wrote in a 2021 opinion piece in USA Today. “In retrospect, it was a flawed assumption. We want to be fair to the intent of the original legislation, which was to provide individuals with disabilities an opportunity to enter the workforce.”

When the former Pennsylvania governor wrote those words, he was nearing the end of a long chairmanship of the National Organization on Disability, an advocacy group for a class of people who are, more often than not, overlooked. Ridge described paying people with disabilities less than minimum wage as “no less than another critical civil rights issue.”

And he was right. Treating an entire group of people differently from everyone else simply because they have disabilities is a relic of the distant past that should stay in the distant past.

Yet efforts to eliminate this disparity over the years, by both Republicans and Democrats, have come up short on the federal level. Most recently, President Biden tried to remove the subminimum wage as part of the American Rescue Plan at the beginning of his administration, but never got it through Congress.

Since then, however, more than a dozen states have abolished the subminimum wage, according to the Association of People Supporting Employment First. But New York isn’t one of them. Not that our legislators haven’t tried — it’s just that none of their efforts have ever made it out of committee.

Closer to home, there are many who are trying to make a difference — like the Backyard Players & Friends of Rockville Centre, which describes its mission as seeking “unity without uniformity, and diversity without fragmentation.” The organization opened the Front Porch Market next to its headquarters on North Long Beach Road, conceived to provide creative work in a retail environment, treating everyone equally no matter what they bring to the table.

The market officially opens Jan. 17, and will feature crafters from around the community, classes on creating things like candles and soap, along with small retailers like Popcorn for the People and Smile Farms Hot Sauce.

The percentage of people with disabilities finding jobs is growing, but only 1 in 5 in that community is working. And of those, more are finding employment because they’re working for themselves rather than getting hired by someone else — a rate far higher than those without disabilities.

Even if the subminimum wage were finally abolished, there are many other hurdles that must be swept away for those with disabilities, and they can’t be ignored, either. But right now, hundreds if not thousands of our neighbors and community members aren’t getting the same consideration for pay as those without disabilities.

That must change. And if it can’t happen on the federal level, we need to focus our efforts much closer to home, blocking the availability of subminimum wages in our state.

Because as Tom Ridge made very clear, “all Americans should have the opportunity to pursue their dreams.”

letters

Elected officials should resolve to be transparent this year

To the Editor:

Many will start the new year with goals to exercise more, eat better and lose weight. January will also be when newly elected public servants or incumbents starting another term take office across New York state.

Old habits are hard to change in people — and especially hard to change in government. The biggest issue in government today is the lack of trust the public has in their elected leaders. The best way to build trust as an elected official is through transparency.

Elected officials should begin 2023 by conducting the public’s business in an open and transparent way. To show their commitment to open government, elected officials serving on a village board,

Long Island’s energy future: vision vs. mirage

Follow the money. This adage never gets old.

For decades, gas pipelines and other delivery infrastructure have been a reliable cash cow for utility companies, which recover the costs of building their distribution systems from our utility bills, which give them a fat return on their investments.

This traditional utility profit model is now at odds with a climate-driven energy transition, creating all kinds of perverse incentives. And while hikes in heating costs are grabbing the headlines, the jostling over the future of heating isn’t getting much attention.

In order to succeed in the challenging but essential task of decarbonizing its economy in the coming decades — as mandated by the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, which it passed in 2019 — New York state will need to embrace an all-electric future and eschew fossil fuels, including natural gas. Utilities like Con Edison and the Long Island Power Authority, which together serve about 60 percent of the state’s electric customers, have endorsed this scenario. Many builders and households are already going all-electric, because gas fouls our homes and communities, and modern electric homes are cheaper and superior.

This is the approach espoused by almost all experts because, as the electric grid becomes cleaner, the rest of the economy will naturally follow. This is also the most cost-effective and energy-efficient decarbonization strategy for buildings, because electric heat pumps use only a fraction of the energy of their fuel-based counterparts.

Heat pumps and Long Island are a match made in heaven. With relatively mild winters, Long Island homes don’t need the top-gun units for efficient, reliable heating and cooling. LIPA’s electric load peaks at around 5 gigawatts in the summer, but barely makes it to 3 gigawatts in the winter. Adding winter load will spread the fixed grid costs over more usage and reduce per-kilowatt-hour prices.

In an effort to conserve their profitable gas distribution system, some utilities have floated their own “clean energy vision” involving green hydrogen and biomethane, marketed as renewable natural gas, or RNG — a so-called fossil-free duo that could supposedly flow through their pipeline network forever.

But consider the science and the economics of this vision. It took NASA months to fix hydrogen leaks on its recent Artemis 1 moon mission. Any proposal to pump highly explosive hydrogen, which

has the tiniest molecules in the universe, through 50,000 miles of pipe in New York should raise serious doubts. Multiple studies have also warned of the risk of damage to the steel in pipes and appliances posed by gas blends with significantly more than 5 percent hydrogen.

Moreover, it shouldn’t take a NASA scientist to question the wisdom of heating homes by burning the stupendously expensive green hydrogen produced from renewable electricity, when that electricity can directly power energysipping heat pumps. Not surprisingly, expensive experiments and demonstration projects involving the use of hydrogen for heat, the kind of boondoggles being developed in the Town of Hempstead, are already being scrapped or failing in other parts of the country and the world.

Hydrogen’s partner in crime, RNG, is produced by capturing and refining the naturally produced biogas in landfills and wastewater treatment plants. But naturally derived biomethane can meet only a minuscule fraction of the home-heating demand, so much of it will need to be artificially generated from organic waste streams. Its global warming potential isn’t much lower than that of fossil gas because of inevitable releases and leaks of methane, which is much more destructive to the climate than carbon dioxide.

Fossil-free doesn’t mean emissionsfree, and the scheme doesn’t satisfy the science-based methane accounting methodology of New York’s climate law.

Produced naturally or intentionally, RNG is significantly more expensive than fossil gas, and its supplies will be limited by feedstock availability. Even the rosiest projections in the gas utilities’ own studies show that there won’t be enough of it for every possible use that those companies are touting it for, home heating being the least practical one.

The gas utilities’ so-called fossil-free clean-energy vision based on hydrogen and RNG is a mirage that doesn’t pass scientific, technical, economic or legal muster. To make matters worse, burning hydrogen would produce high levels of nitrous oxide, a health hazard, and RNG would cause indoor pollution from leakage and combustion akin to fossil gas, which is linked to myriad health risks, with the latest research attributing almost 19 percent of all childhood asthma in New York to gas stoves.

Pollution for profit shouldn’t have a place inside homes and businesses.

Anshul Gupta is a Steering Committee member of the Climate Reality Project’s NYS Coalition. Gordian Raacke is executive director of Renewable Energy Long Island.

Framework by Tim Baker

town board, City Council, community board or county legislature should introduce and pass a New Year’s resolution stating they will:

■ Post timely notice of all meetings at least one week prior to those meetings.

■ Post online meeting agendas and all meeting documents at least 24 hours before a meeting.

■ Post draft meeting minutes online, no more than two weeks after a meeting.

■ Allow members of the public to speak at the beginning of a meeting regarding agenda items and non-agenda items — whether they attend in person or remotely.

■ Livestream meetings by video and post the video recording online afterward.

■ Only conduct private executive sessions on rare occasions, in accordance with the New York State Open Meetings Law.

Just because you can hold an executive session doesn’t mean that you have to. A motion to hold an executive session to discuss “litigation,” “personnel” or “collective bargaining”

isn’t sufficient, as the Open Meetings Law requires motions to state more information when holding an executive session.

■ Agree not to hold private political party caucus meetings. There is no reason, at the local level, to hold private political party caucus meetings to discuss political business or public business. Secret meetings build a lack of trust among the public.

■ Have information regarding the Freedom of Information Law posted in a visible place on their websites. Proactively post documents online as much as possible so the public can access information without having to file a FOIL request. Post an easy fill-inthe-blank form that assists the public in filing a FOIL request by email on the website.

■ Commit to ensuring that all FOIL requests are acknowledged within five days, as required by law, and that information is provided to the public promptly.

PAUL WOLF Amherst

Wolf is president of the New York Coalition for Open Government.

At the Twin Lakes Preserve — Wantagh

ansHUL GUpta

GorDian raaCke