Malverne/West Hempstead Herald 02-16-2023

Chamber installs new officers

Jurrel Hall sets school record

Decades-old event revived

Lions Club’s Super Bowl pancake breakfast makes big comeback

By BEN FIEBERT bfiebert@liherald.com

The West Hempstead Lions Club’s Super Bowl pancake breakfast made a triumphant return on Sunday after the coronavirus forced the event’s cancellation and rescheduling in 2021 and 2022, respectively.

Celebrating Black History Month

The Malverne school district held its annual Black History Month celebration Feb. 8 in the high school’s Performing Arts Center. The event featured a celebration of African-American resilience with student performances. Kaiden Ulysses, right, sang the national anthem, and Janae Wilson, left, recited ‘No Imperfections.’ April Francis-Taylor, director of diversity, equity and inclusivity for Eastern Suffolk BOCES, was the guest speaker.

The breakfast has been a tradition for the Lions Club for decades, but that changed in 2021 when the club could not host any Super Bowl events. In 2022, the club hosted a pancake breakfast later in the year, but it was not on Super Bowl Sunday. Nella Verderosa, president of the Lions Club, was ecstatic to mark

the breakfast’s return to its usual place on the calendar.

“The energy this year was great, and it felt like everything was back to normal,” Verderosa said. “I am just so happy. Our tradition is back.”

According to Verderosa, about 90 people showed up for the event last Sunday.

“The breakfast in 2020 was probably the last in-person event that people went to, without realizing it,” Verderosa said.

The club celebrated its 75th anniversary last April. According to Verderosa, the breakfast tradition is estimated to be about 60 to 70 years old in the Lions

Continued on page 9

Malverne’s first budget plan reflects student priorities

By BEN FIEBERT bfiebert@liherald.com

Inflation has resulted in a roughly $4 million increase in the proposed Malverne School District budget for the 2023-24 school year, district officials said.

The Board of Education met on Feb. 7, when it released its preliminary $68.6 million spending plan.

With the cost of living rising, so did the projected school tax levy, by 1.85 percent, just under the state’s 2 percent tax cap.

The projected levy — the revenue that districts can raise through property taxes — was

also influenced by other factors, district officials said.

“When we put a budget together, it’s a lot of pieces that we have to put together,” Lorna Lewis, superintendent of Malverne schools, said. “We have to look at inflation and unfunded mandates, what our state aid is, maintaining our facilities, looking at contractual obligations, looking at the community’s effort to pay in difficult economic times, and finally, the Malverne education.”

Unfunded mandates are another challenge that the district faces, school officials said. One of those mandates is a response to intervention pro -

gram to identify struggling students early on. Another unfunded mandate is academic intervention services, helping students to achieve the learning standards in English, language, arts, and mathematics in grades K-12, along with social studies and science in grades 4-12.

Christopher Caputo, assistant superintendent for business, said inflation continues to impact the schools.

“Everyone is experiencing inflation,” he said. “There is no difference with your school district in New York state, as everyone is experiencing a rise in health insurance costs, pension costs, as well as utility and ener-

gy costs.”

The funding generated through the tax levy and state aid covers 97 percent of the proposed budget. “We’re grateful for New York State for increasing the aid for the upcoming school year,” Caputo said.

This year’s state aid is about $15 million, and next year it is expected to increase by roughly

$4 million, district officials said.

Lewis explained some of the ways that this proposed budget will impact the district. “The proposed budget will help us maintain a vibrant program that ensures life-ready graduates,” she said.

The proposed budget plan would “maintain staffing while Continued on page 5

Sue Grieco/Herald photos

Blakeman not yet ready to unfreeze assessments

By MICHAEL MALASZCZYK mmalaszczyk@liherald.com

It’s a vital component of the property tax system, yet for the third straight year, Nassau County won’t be conducting a tax assessment of homes and businesses.

Such a freeze first gained momentum under former Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano, but lifted by his successor, Laura Curran. However, the freeze was reimplemented during Covid-19, and now continues under Bruce Blakeman’s tenure.

The difference — at least according to the county legislatures Democratic minority — is that Blakeman campaigned against Curran, promising to roll back the tax increases caused by the reassessments done under her administration. Yet, they still remain frozen.

“As housing prices soared at an unprecedented rate during the worst of the pandemic, the minority supported a temporary freeze to protect property owners from dramatic swings in a remarkably turbulent market,” minority spokesman Daniel Schrafel said. “However, ‘temporary’ is key. History has demonstrated that freezing the tax rolls for extended periods distorts assessed values to such a degree that the only way for property owners to protect themselves from overpaying is to grieve. We must do everything in our power to break this unjust, exploitative cycle.”

The reassessments are supposed to happen annually to review property value and

tax property owners accordingly. When they don’t happen, properties that have risen in value become under-taxed, while those that may have dropped end up paying a higher tax than they would have otherwise.

The value of property impacts school taxes and other issues.

When in office, Curran called the reassessment process “corrupt” and “broken.”

The Democrat pledged to fix it in a 2018 opinion piece published in the Herald, only to freeze it once again during the pandemic.

Democrats now criticizes Blakeman for the continuing the freeze despite the economic pressures of the pandemic subsiding, particularly in light of Blakeman’s promise to do so.

“Mr. Blakeman vowed to rescind the

county’s increases that he blamed on the recent assessment,” Democratic county legislator Debra Mulé said. “That basically means that if you’re over-assessed, you’ll be stuck paying more than your fair share of taxes this year, unless you successfully grieve your assessment.”

State Sen. Kevin Thomas joined in the chorus against the freeze to highlight that grievance process.

“Every homeowner in Nassau has received solicitations from tax grievance workers, myself included,” Thomas said. “These grievance workers use deceitful tactics that lead many to believe filing a grievance is just too complicated for the average resident.

“That is not the case — homeowners can file grievances themselves. You are not required to use an attorney or a specialist, nor is there a fee to file. You can even file online from today until March 1 by yourself. It should be as simple as that.”

Thomas introduced a bill in Albany intending to bring more trust and transparency to the tax grievance process.

For his part, Blakeman called the phase-in plan of his predecessor a failure, and says it won’t expire until next year. He is extending the grievance deadline, however, from March 1 to April 3.

“My administration has reviewed the comptroller’s comprehensive audit that uncovered many inaccuracies in valuations,” Blakeman said in a statement, “and I felt it was important to give residents additional time to grieve.”

Michael Malaszczyk/Herald

STATE SEN. KEVIN Thomas, second from left, was joined by Nassau County Legislators Carrié Solages, far left, Debra Mule, and Joshua Lafazan at a news conference to discuss the county’s freezing of property tax assessments for a third consecutive year. County Executive Bruce Blakeman is extending the grievance deadline to April 3.

Malverne Chamber welcomes new officials

The Malverne Chamber of Commerce held its annual installation of the board of directors and trustees at a dinner Feb. 7 at chamber member Uva Rossa Taverna.

Malverne Mayor Keith Corbett swore in new officers, and was joined by chamber President Maria Casini and current board members.

“The Malverne Chamber of Commerce has a renewed commitment to our members and the village in 2023 by facilitating the sharing of resources and promoting them in more ways than ever,” chamber President Maria Casini said. “The health of our business community is critically important, and we are focused on working with the Village, landlords and community organizations to support them.”

Casini said the village could look forward to more events that showcase businesses and bring people into the village to enjoy free family fun. Businesses could look forward to a supportive environment that shares important information and fosters camaraderie.

The board of directors for 2023 are: Chairman Jack Sorrentino of John/Kristin Insurance; President Maria Casini of Visual Fuel Design; Vice President and Corresponding Secretary Elizabeth Krull of Charles Krull & Sons Plumbing & Heating; and Treasurer Jack Craven, CPA. Trustees for 2023 are: Benny Montalbano of Elite Painting; Dr. Maria Casvikes of Dental Works; Dr. Evelyn Heredia of Phoenix Chiropractic; Henry Stampfel of Malverne Cinema; Kathy Ribaudo of San-Dee Lanes; and Leon Sanchez of Newman Realty.

craven is swOrn in as treasurer by Corbett.

sanchez is cOngratulated by Corbett after being sworn in as a chamber trustee.

cOrbett swears in Krull as vicepresident of the chamber.

cOrbett cOngratulates casini on another successful installation dinner.

Keith Rossein/Herald photos Officials gathered fOr the annual Malverne Chamber of Commerce installation dinner. Standing, at left, are Trustee Kathy Ribaudo of San Dee Lanes; Trustee Leon Sanchez of Newman Realty; Treasurer Jack Craven, CPA; Trustee Dr. Evelyn Heredia of Phoenix Chiropractic; Dr. Maria Casvikes of Dental Works; President Maria Casini of Visual Fuel Design; Malverne Mayor Keith Corbett; Vice President Elizabeth Krull of Charles Krull and Sons Plumbing and Heating. Sitting are Trustee Henry Stempfel of Malverne Cinema; and Trustee Benny Montalbano of Elite Painting. Not pictured is Chairman Jack Sorrentino.

–Mark Nolan

Elected or selected? Hempstead to decide

By MARK NOLAN mnolan@liherald.com

Should government representatives be elected by the voters they serve, or selected by government officials?

If past is prologue, the Hempstead Town Board will soon vote to appoint someone to fill the empty 4th Council District seat.

Malverne firefighters free driver after crash

Malverne Fire Department firefighters freed a driver from a car after a three-vehicle crash on Jan. 28 at 11:28 a.m. on Hempstead Avenue.

According to Chief Ernie Bohringer, a vehicle heading west on Hempstead Ave-

nue was struck twice. Two vehicles ended up on residential lawns. One driver was trapped in his vehicle. Firefighters used spreaders and cutting tools to free the driver. Five people were transported to area hospitals. No one was seriously injured.

Village of Malverne candidates for election

Petitions for elected office in the Village of Malverne were due Tuesday, Feb. 14, after the Herald went to press. A story identifying the candidates will appear in the Feb. 23 edition of the Herald. Check the Herald’s website, LIHerald.com, for

more information.

Elections for offices in the Village of Malverne will be held Tuesday, March 21.

–Mark Nolan

Medicaid Asset Protection Trust Myths

Why don’t more people do the Medicaid Asset Protection Trust (MAPT)? The answer is that clients often get the wrong advice from well meaning but ill informed professionals, family and friends. Here are some of the most common MAPT myths.

1. You Can’t Sell the House. The MAPT may sell the house at any time. The money is paid to the MAPT. You may invest the money and use the income for a rental or you may purchase another residence in the name of the MAPT. The five year clock does not start over.

2. You Lose Your Property Tax Exemptions. Properly drafted MAPT’s preserve your Senior, STAR and Veteran’s exemptions as well as the exemption from capital gains on the sale of the primary residence —$500,000 for a couple or $250,000 for a single person.

3. It Takes Five Years. While it takes five years to protect ALL of your assets from long-term care in a facility, the time “pro

rates”. For example, if you have to go into a nursing home four years after you set up the MAPT, you only have to pay for the one year that is left.

4. You Can’t Get Your Money. The trust pays you all of the income. Principal may be gifted from the trust in any amount to any of your heirs.

5. The MAPT Cannot Be Revoked. Strange as it may seem, in New York you may revoke an irrevocable trust. Here’s why. It’s irrevocable because you, the grantor, cannot revoke it alone. However, New York has another rule on the books that says that if every person named in the irrevocable trust agrees in writing that they no longer want the trust, then you may revoke it on consent of all the named parties. Since that is just you and your adult children, it is usually a simple matter to accomplish. If a child won’t sign, we simply amend the trust to remove them and then their signature is no longer needed.

People who live in the Town of Hempstead’s 4th Council District have been without representation on the town board since former Councilman Anthony D’Esposito was sworn into Congress Jan. 7. D’Esposito was first appointed to the town council in February 2016.

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

to make the decision as to who their representatives are. The town board is taking that out of the hands of the people.”

Redistricting because of the 2020 U.S. Census has made the vacancy a bit more tricky. A town spokesman said the vacancy would be addressed by the town board after the redistricting is settled.

“The town board is diligently considering candidates who can represent the town’s 4th Councilmanic District vacated by Congressman Anthony D’Esposito,” Hempstead spokesman Greg Blower said in a statement.

Former Hempstead Supervisor Laura Gillen, who in 2018 attempted — but failed — to change town law to require special elections for vacancies, said appointments take power away from voters.

“That’s not democracy,” Gillen said. “This is used by the GOP in Hempstead to give their candidates the power of incumbency.”

BARBARA EPstEiN

While proponents of appointments argue that special elections are costly and not a legal requirement, those in favor of holding special elections say appointments usurp the public’s democratic rights.

League of Women

Voters of East Nassau

Barbara Epstein, part of the management team of the League of Women Voters of East Nassau, said the league doesn’t support or oppose individual candidates — but does favor special elections over appointments.

“There should be a special election from a good-government perspective,” Epstein said of the 4th Council District seat. “People should have the opportunity

Gillen said the cost of a special election is about $100,000, a small sum, she said, to maintain the public’s trust in government and voting. By having the town board — comprised of people who live outside the 4th Council District — appoint a councilperson, voters in the 4th District lose their vote, Gillen said.

“It’s undemocratic for people outside the district to pick the people who would represent the district,” Gillen said.

Councilwoman Dorothy Goosby, who was first elected in 1999 and is the first African American women to serve on the board, has often publicly spoke out against appointments. Goosby, the lone Democrat on the town board, filed a class-action suit against the town in 1988 that led to Hempstead shedding at-large voting for councilmanic districts.

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People should have the opportunity to make the decision as to who their representatives are. The town board is taking that out of the hands of the people.

Courtesy Steve Grogan EMERgENcy REsPONdERs REscuiNg a driver after a three-vehicle crash.

Programs upgraded in proposed school budget

continued from front page

at the same time expanding some academic offerings,” Lewis said. According to Lewis, the proposed spending plan also addresses students’ social and emotional well-being.

Lewis said she wants to make good use of this money for technology in the district. “We continue the momentum of technology,” she said. “We would like to bring the keyboards and laptops to the high school and we want to expand our coding.”

The proposed budget would also help bring about the seamless transition of

foreign language from Davison Intermediate School into Herber Middle School.

“In Spanish, we will be moving into the sixth grade for the first time,” Lewis said. With this proposal, foreign language would be part of the curriculum from grades 3-12, she said.

According to Lewis, the proposed budget also includes “fiscal prudence and maintaining the tax steady at the tax cap.”

During a slide presentation at the board meeting, district officials explained how the proposed budget would help expand other school pro -

grams, including co-curricular and athletic activities. District officials also stated that the schools would continue to maintain the priority of safety on school grounds.

In addition to the proposed budget up for a May vote, the district would put up a $1.1 million capital reserve fund expenditure for several different maintenance projects.

One project would include replacing the lockers at Malverne High School and Herber Middle School. These lockers were installed in the 1970s and are in need of replacement, district officials

said. The proposition would encompass replacing all of the hallway lockers in both buildings with a top row of lockers and a bottom row of lockers.

The other projects include replacing parts of the roof of the Maurice W. Downing School, installing a new drop ceiling on the second floor of Malverne High School, and fixing cracks in the high school’s tennis court.

Both the proposed budget and the proposed capital reserve fund expenditure would be voted on May 16, from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the Herber Middle School gym.

Ben Fiebert/Herald

The Malverne School District announced its proposed budget for the 2023-24 academic year on Feb. 7.

THE FEIL FAMILY Pavilion

— named for Feil Organization chief executive Jeffrey Feil — will feature an expanded emergency department at Mount Sinai South Nassau, along with 40 critical and intensive care beds, and nine new operating rooms. Feil’s foundation donated $5 million to the hospital.

Feil family donates $5M for new pavilion

Gift

is single largest donation in Mount Sinai South Nassau’s history

By KARINA KOVAC kkovac@liherald.com

The Louis Feil Charitable Lead Annuity Trust has pledged the largest single gift in the history of Mount Sinai South Nassau — $5 million. And, in return, it will help usher in a new state-of-the-art facility, with the Feil name on top.

The new four-story, 100,000-square-foot building, is scheduled to open in another year. And when it does, it will be named the Feil Family Pavilion.

This new $130 million pavilion will double the size of the hospital’s current emergency department, increase the critical and intensive care inpatient capacity to 40 beds, and add nine new operating rooms.

“Mount Sinai South Nassau is our local hospital, and we are grateful for the expert care it provides to our communities on the South Shore,” said Jeffrey Feil, chief executive of the Feil Organization— and a longtime Rockville Centre resident — in a release. “We are so fortunate to have an outstanding medical center right in our backyard. The Feil family is honored to support the growth of Mount Sinai South Nassau.”

The Feil Organization is a real estate investment, management and development firm based in New York City with more than 70 years of expertise. Feil’s portfolio commands millions of square feet in industrial, commercial and retail, as well as more than 5,000 residential properties and thousands of acres of undeveloped land across the United States.

Feil and his family — including his parents, the late Gertrude and Louis Feil — have been longtime supporters of the hospital. With their latest gift, the family has donated a total of $17 million to benefit the hospital and the patients it serves.

The family previous gifted $2 million in 2019, and $1.5 million in 2018 to help centralize the hospital’s cancer care services.

The family also donated $3 million in 2011 that supported the continued growth and expansion of the Gertrude & Louis Feil Cancer Center.

“This generous gift by the Feil family will have a direct impact on improving patient care on the South Shore,” said Adhi Sharma, president of Mount Sinai South Nassau, in a release. “We are deeply thankful for their generosity and support. It will be the hospital’s distinct honor to name the new patient care tower in honor and recognition of the Feil family, and their longstanding commitment to Mount Sinai South Nassau.

“Their support and commitment has been vital to the growth of our emergen-

cy services and cancer care program as well as the hospital’s tradition of excellence in the delivery of advanced care services.”

The Feil gift is the second major contribution made to the new four-story patient building currently under construction. Last year, the hospital’s immediate past board chair, Joseph Fennessy, made an undisclosed gift to the hospital that earned his family’s name on top of the pedestrian entrance to the new emergency department. Additional naming opportunities remain within the new pavilion, officials said, including nursing stations, lobby areas and surgical suites.

It’s part of an overall $400 million capital building fundraising campaign Mount Sinai has undertaken in recent years.

Currently, South Nassau’s emergency department treats 65,000 people each year, but is designed to handle half that. When construction is complete, the emergency department will nearly double the size of a football field, increasing its annual capacity to 80,000.

In addition, the department will feature centralized nursing stations that will allow for direct oversight of patient rooms. There also will be bedside triage, expanded pediatric trauma treatment areas with an adjoining radiology area, a decontamination room, dedicated areas for geriatrics and behavioral health, and a spacious waiting and reception area with free Wi-Fi, and charging stations for phones, computer tablets and laptops. The operating room and its surgical suites will be configured and designed to accommodate the nonstop advancements in surgical technologies and equipment. The combined impact of the redesigned and larger operating rooms will allow Mount Sinai South Nassau and its staff of surgeons to increase its surgical scheduling capacity to accommodate projected volumes in same-day, elective, and emergency surgeries.

The new surgical suites also could pave the way for an open-heart program at the Oceanside campus, pending state health department approval.

“The ultimate beneficiary of the Feil family’s generosity is our South Shore community that turns to Mount Sinai South Nassau for compassionate, quality health care,” said Tony Cancellieri, cochair of Mount Sinai South Nassau’s board of directors, in a release.

“On behalf of the hospital’s board of directors, we are grateful to our dear friends Jeffrey and Lee Feil and their entire family, and are honored to name the pavilion as a permanent expression of gratitude for this gift and the ongoing support of the Feil family.”

TONY CANCELLIERI, CO-CHAIR of Mount Sinai South Nassau’s board of directors, joined Feil Organization chief executive Jeffrey Feil, and Andrew Triolo, vice president of facilities, design and construction at Mount Sinai South Nassau in front of what will become the Feil Family Pavilion at the Oceanside hospital. Feil’s foundation donated $5 million to the hospital.

Photos courtesy Mount Sinai South Nassau

ANTIQUE STORE:

SHOPPING

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.

Garden City Antiques & Fine Arts, Ltd

Long Island Antiques Center

Remember Yesteryears

APPLIANCE/HOME

ELECTRONIC STORE:

ACS Camera & Pro Video

AHC Appliances

P.C. Richard & Son

BOUTIQUE:

Artisan Jules Gifts and Goodness

Jolie Fleur

Love and Honey Boutique

BRIDAL STORE:

Blossom Brides

The Bridal World

David’s Bridal Westbury NY

CARPET STORE:

Anthony’s World of Floors

Carpet Depot

Harry Katz Carpet One Floor & Home

COIN STORE:

Coin Galleries of Oyster Bay

Collectors Coins & Jewelry

Eastern Numismatics Inc

COLLECTIBLES STORE:

Bullseye Collectibles

Collectors Coins & Jewelry

LuxeSwap

CONSIGNMENT/THRIFT STORE:

Lucky Finds Boutique

LuxeSwap

National Council of Jewish Women Thrift Shop

EYEWEAR STORE:

Cohen’s Fashion Optical

Eyes On Broadway

FrameBar.co

FARMERS MARKET:

Crossroads Farm at Grossmann’s

Deep Roots Farmers Market

Youngs Farm

FLORIST:

Central Florist

Feldis Florist & Flower Delivery

Olive It Boutique

FUR STORE:

Barbatsuly Furs

Tres Chic Furs

Tsontos Furs

FURNITURE STORE:

Furniture Gallery of Long Island

Raymour & Flanigan

The Rustic Loft

GIFT SHOP:

Dolce Confections by Trubee Hill

What A Girl Wants

GOURMET MARKET:

Gemelli Gourmet Market North Iavarone Bros

Sorrento’s Italian Specialties

GROCERY/SUPERMARKET:

Cross Island Fruits

Holiday Farms

Uncle Giuseppe’s Marketplace

LOCAL CHILDREN’S CLOTHING:

Cathy’s Touch

Denny’s Fashion, Style, For All Morton’s Official Camp Outfitters

LOCAL HARDWARE STORE:

Ace Hardware Hewlett

Atlantic Hardware

Costello’s Ace Hardware

LOCAL MATTRESS STORE:

Furniture Gallery of Long Island

Mattress Firm

Sleepworks Mattress & Futon Superstore

LOCAL MEN’S CLOTHING:

Karako Suits of Lynbrook

LuxeSwap

Mur-Lees Men’s & Boy’s Shop

LOCAL WOMEN’S CLOTHING:

A.J. & MOS

STOOSH BOUTIQUE

Trois Jours Boutique Etc

NURSERY & GARDEN CENTER:

Abby’s Parkside Nursery & Florist, Inc.

Dees Nursery And Florist Inc.

Hicks Nurseries

PAWN SHOP:

Collectors Coins & Jewelry

Empire Pawn of Nassau

Matthew James Jewelers

WINDOW TREATMENT STORE:

Blinds To Go

The Blind Spot

The Shade Store

SPOTLIGHT ATHLETE

Hall’s leaps lead West Hempstead

By TONY BELLISSIMO tbellissimo@liherald.com

Jurrel Hall enjoyed winning three individual events last spring when he helped West Hempstead to its first-ever track and field county championship, a crown it shared with Clarke.

JURREL HALL

West Hempstead Senior Track

HALL STOLE THE show at the Nassau Class C Track and Field championships Feb. 8 to help the Rams to a secondplace finish. He captured the triple jump (school record 44-feet, 11-inches), high jump and long jump titles, matching a feat he accomplished last spring.

BASKETBALL PLAYOFFS

Friday, Feb. 17

Girls Basketball: Nassau Class AA quarterfinals

Boys Basketball: Nassau Class A ffirst round

Saturday, Feb. 18

Girls Basketball: Nassau Class A first round

Boys Basketball: Nassau Class AA quarterfinals

Tuesday, Feb. 21

Girls & Boys Basketball: Nassau Class A quarterfinals

Wednesday, Feb. 22

Girls & Boys Basketball: Nassau Class B semifinals

Friday, Feb. 24

Girls Basketball: Nassau Class AA semifinals

Saturday, Feb. 25

Boys Basketball: Nassau Class AA semifinals

Monday, Feb. 27

Girls Basketball: Nassau Class A semifinals

Tuesday, Feb. 28

Boys Basketball: Nassau Class A semifinals

Wednesday, March 1

Girls & Boys Basketball: Nassau Class B finals

Saturday, March 4

Girls & Boys Basketball: Nassau Class AA and A finals

And although the Rams couldn’t overcome Clarke in the Nassau Class C indoor championships Feb. 8 at St. Anthony’s High School, Hall put on another show winning the triple jump, long jump and high jump titles. He set a new school record in the triple jump, traveling 44-feet, 11-inches.

“It’s the first time in at least 10 years we finished this high in the winter,” West Hempstead coach Nick DiBenedetto said.

“We don’t have an enormous roster, but we had a lot of big performances. Jurrel got 30 points just like he did in the spring. He’s in a league of his own.”

Hall, who played basketball last winter and didn’t compete in track, is looking to compete at the collegiate level and starting to draw some interest, DiBenedetto said. He’s ranked fifth in the state in the triple jump and in the top 10 in the high jump.

“He’s looking to feed off of last spring’s experience at the state meet and be AllState,” DiBenedetto said of Hall, who helped the Rams’ football team reached the Conference IV championship game.

“He got that taste of big success and became a student of the sport,” he added. “He’s equally talented in the triple jump and high jump. You don’t see kids like him too often. Some of his jumps would score points in Division 1 college meets.”

West Hempstead had four other AllCounty performances. Senior Corey Pierre, the football quarterback, was runner-up in the 55-meter dash in 6.71 seconds. Junior Alex Santos-Acosta ran second in the 1000m, senior Samuel Mwenda took second in the shot put, and senior Caleb Blue placed third in the triple jump.

“Corey was part of the crew that didn’t compete last winter and rode the wave of a great football season,” DiBenedetto said of Pierre.

Santos-Acosta had a strong cross country season and is a workhorse, training 60

miles or more each week. “He’s our first All-County distance kid since I’m coaching here,” DiBenedetto said.

Guerrier twins continue surge West Hempstead seniors Gloria and Victoria Guerrier both captured county titles as well as All-County honors in a second event. They ran neck-and-neck in a thrilling 600m race, coach Colin Grey said, and were separated by a stride at the finish line with Gloria setting a new school record with a time of 1-minute, 34.19-seconds.

“Every race with them is full of surprises,” Grey said. “They both have a tremendous work ethic to go with their talents. They’re at the top of the class academically and both are headed to Yale.”

Victoria turned the tide in the 300m, winning the Class C title in 40.9 seconds. Gloria was third in 41.07.

Last spring, Gloria won the state title in the 400 hurdles, while Victoria was AllState in the 800.

“They’re extremely competitive against kids on other teams and also against each other,” Grey said.

Eric Dunetz/Herald WEST HEMPSTEAD SENIOR Jurrel Hall was a triple county champ for the second time in nine months and is headed to the state meet.

W.H. Lions Club raises money for charities

continued from front page

Club International, and 35 years old in the West Hempstead Lions Club division.

Pancakes, eggs, coffee, and more were provided to those who paid to attend the event. All the proceeds went to the club and other organizations.

“Any time there has been a disaster, we donated either supplies or money to wherever the disaster was,” Verderosa said. “We also had an event at the Air and Space Museum for children with autism and their families and we use some of the money for that.

“We collect toiletry items to donate to the INN in Hempstead and cook at the Ronald McDonald House in New Hyde Park for the families of children in hospitals,” Verderosa added.

Some of the money from the pancake breakfast goes to the club’s annual scholarship fund for high school seniors living in West Hempstead.

The club also collects eyeglasses to recycle at every Super Bowl breakfast. “The Lions Club is considered the Knights of the Blind,” Verderosa said. “And so vision is a very big part of the Lions Club.”

Verderosa added that the club collects the eyeglasses, brings them to a county or state distributor, who then distributes them to people that “need or cannot afford them. We’ve collected thousands of eyeglasses over the years,” she said.

Due to all of the organizations that the West Hempstead Lions Club is able to help from the pancake breakfast, Verderosa said the event is the club’s “biggest fundraiser of the year.”

Raffles were given out at the breakfast with the chance to win multiple prizes. “We had two baskets with candy in them and we call those ‘Easter Baskets,’” Verderosa said. “And then we also had a wine basket, a basket for a dog grooming company, a couple of children’s

baskets, and a Lotto basket, which was a big hit.”

The West Hempstead Lions Club also has organized smaller fundraisers in the past. “We’ve done a Bingo night and a wine painting night,” Verderosa said.

However, the pancake breakfast still takes the reign as the “biggest fundraiser” and Verderosa said she was

BREAKING DOWN BOUNDARIES WITH CANCER BREAKTHROUGHS

very happy to bring it back this year.

The next West Hempstead Lions Club event, the Easter egg hunt, will take place in April, she said.

Verderosa said she is excited that the club is going back to in-person activities again and looks forward to future fundraising events.

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Courtesy Nella Verderosa Hempstead tOWN supervisOr Don Clavin, kneeling at right, with the Lions Club at the Super Bowl pancake breakfast last Sunday.

Full LIRR service to East Side finally coming

By JUAN LASSO jlasso@liherald.com

Commuters are riding the high of never-before-seen rail service aimed at connecting the Long Island Rail Road to the bedrock of Midtown Manhattan at Grand Central Madison.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority celebrated a turning point with the long-anticipated opening of its 750,000-square-foot East Side Manhattan transit hub with the first shuttle train from Jamaica station on Jan. 25. Now the terminal is set for a full rollout of regular train service beginning Feb. 27.

The East Side Access Project, as it was known, has already drawn a daily rush of commuters — albeit under a limited format with shuttle service from the Queens station to Grand Central Madison.

Rather than plunging straightaway with full service, MTA officials said the station is in a soft-launch phase, enabling riders to slowly acclimate themselves to the additional shuttle service from Jamaica, find their way around the facility and test out commuting options.

Once Midtown’s terminal comes fully online, it will no doubt reorder the MTA’s transit system and send ripples through its 11 Long Island train branches, each offering direct or transfer service to Penn Station on the West Side, and Grand Central Madison.

For LIRR commuters, this change will

be felt most acutely in adapting to an overhauled train schedule that divvies up Manhattan-bound train service between the two sister terminals.

Some commuters may feel more taken to the change than others with the promise of greater accessibility and efficiency to their commutes. Still, others can’t help but groan over the foreseeable loss, and longing for their preferred service lines and connections.

But at least for MTA chair and chief

executive Janno Lieber, the change is a net-gain for most commuters — and a sign of economic renewal for the metro Long Island area, with a 41 percent increase in service.

Grand Central Madison provides “faster, more convenient travel that brings Long Island closer to the heart of the City,” Leiber said, in a release. “The new schedules are going to be a major shot in the arm for the local economy and the effort to get people back to offic-

es, theaters and shopping.”

But critics are quick to point out that the often-touted 41 percent service increase — raising the number of daily trains from 665 to 936 — is relative to current service which has experienced a major cutback of its own compared to pre-pandemic levels.

Weekday ridership continues to hover at about 65 percent of what it was before any of us had ever heard of Covid-19.

And while MTA officials expect nearly 45 percent of riders to shift over to Grand Central Madison, there are nagging concerns about the potential travel headaches brought by the decline in available morning rush-hour train service to Penn.

Take, for example, the fact that the Long Beach branch which will get 10 additional rush hour trains from its current 13 at Penn Station. Yet, it will have two fewer rush hour trains at Penn Station with shared service lines to Grand Central Madison.

“The new schedules are designed to have more evenly spaced trains and fewer large gaps in service,” MTA spokesman Dave Steckel said. “There will also be more frequent service to Queens and on the Ronkonkoma and West Hempstead branches. New service promises decrease travel times from Long Island to Manhattan, and reduce crowding at Penn Station.

“We will continue to monitor and adjust service based on ridership trends and other factors.”

Courtesy Metropolitan Transportation Authority

FULL PASSENGER TRAIN service from the Long Island Rail Road to Grand Central Madison is set to begin Feb. 27 according to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Limited shuttle service opened up late last month, bringing in some of the first LIRR passengers to Manhattan’s East Side.

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STEPPING OUT

Dinodaze to life Dinosaurs of all kinds

By Karen Bloom

he herd is back. Kids of all ages

Quest — the traveling dinosaur “experience” — returns to Nassau Coliseum for four days of prehistoric adventuring. Jurassic Quest takes families back to the days when these prehistoric creatures ruled the lands, Friday through Monday, Feb. 17-20.

• Feb. 17-20; times vary

• Tickets start at $22; available at MonsterQuest.com or NassauColiseum.com

• Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale

This immersive spectacle features a bevy of lifelike dinosaurs — of all shapes and sizes — that are an impressive lot. They transform the arena environment to a time 165 million years ago during the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous periods where visitors can get up-close and personal with the creatures.

“They are all life-size and authentic,” Park Ranger Marty (aka Marty Hoffman) says. “You get to see what dinosaurs are really like, hearing the different sounds they made.”

Described by Park Ranger Marty and the Jurassic Quest folks as North America’s largest and most realistic event, the creative team collaborates with leading paleontologists to ensure each dinosaur is painstakingly replicated, from coloration to teeth size, to textured skin, fur or feathers — drawing on the latest research about how we understand dinosaurs and these ancient creatures looked and moved. Plant settings, sound effects, lighting and electronics add to the authenticity of the setting.

But perhaps what makes the experience more than just a spectacle is the way it pulls on the heartstrings. As Park Ranger Marty — who proclaims himself a “dinosaur nerd” — put it: “It’s a great time for everyone. Especially the kids, but also the adults. We’ve all had that time in our lives when we loved dinosaurs. Then we get away from it. When we take the time to see them through the kids’ eyes, we reconnect with that love of dinosaurs we all had.”

It’s all self-guided, so visitors proceed at their own pace. That means you can approach the mighty T. rex, check out the 50-foot-long Spinosaurus, largest known carnivorous dinosaur, even longer and heavier than the T. rex, also the enormous Apatosaurus with its whip-tail, along with sea creatures, and many others.

“One hundred sixty million years worth of dinosaurs are here,” Park Ranger Marty enthuses.

And there are those baby dinos, “hatched” specifically for Jurassic Quest: Cammie the Camarasaurus, Tyson the T. rex, and Trixie the Triceratops.

“People really love them,” Park Ranger Marty says. “Kids want to hang out and pet them. It’s an amazing thing to see. The interaction between the babies and the kids is really fun.”

While the dinosaurs are the main draw, of course, the event includes a fossil dig, where budding paleontologists can dig up bones, along with an excavation site, with actual fossils and themed rides, among other activities.

“There really is something for everyone,” Park Ranger Marty says. Plus an education component is worked in — and the kids won’t even realize it.

“We like to think of dinosaurs as the ‘gateway science,” he explains. “Kids are learning about biology and geology, and more, when they explore dinosaurs. Also other sciences like astronomy and engineering. It all relates back to dinosaurs andancient plants. And this all comes out of the kids thinking dinosaurs are cool.”

Park Ranger Marty and Dino Trainer Dustin hanging out, at left, with a Tylosaurus skull. Open wide! An enthusiastic young visitor, at right, finds his way into an Allosaur head

Alan Doyle

The prolific Canadian singersongwriter has boundless appeal. The moment he burst onto the scene in the early 1990s with his band Great Big Sea, Canadians fell in love with the pride of Petty Harbour, Newfoundland, whose effusive charisma and sense of humour was eclipsed only by his magnetic stage presence. His influence is now being heard in a new generation of artists as his solo work continues to endear him to roots music fans everywhere. That’s clearly evident on Doyle’s latest EP ‘Rough Side Out,’ which finds him collaborating with Canadian country music superstars Dean Brody and Jess Moskaluke, while at the same time offering his own distinctive interpretation of contemporary country. His songs all have a strong personal meaning, according to Doyle, who believes ‘the best songwriters in any genre are the ones who can look in their own backyard and find something they want to sing about.’

Saturday, Feb. 25, 8 p.m. $41, $37, $29. Jeanne Rimsky Theater at Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington. (516) 767-6444 or LandmarkOnMainStreet.org.

Dublin Irish Dance

The acclaimed Dublin Irish Dance ensemble visits Long Island with their new production, ‘Wings: A Celtic Dance Celebration.’ Wings features exquisite Irish and World champion dancers alongside Ireland’s musical and vocal virtuosos. Complete with original music and choreography, this groundbreaking production, infused with world dance and musical influences, will thrill audiences with its transformative emotional energy and imaginative design. The vivid and illuminating production portraying rich Irish heritage themes, in spectacular dance and musical performances by this superb cast that will thrill audiences of all ages. Everyone will be entranced by these world champion Irish dancers as they defy gravity in this captivating spectacle.

Friday, March 17, 8 p.m. $60, $45, $35. Tilles Center for the Performing Arts, LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Blvd., Brookville. (516) 299-3100 or TillesCenter.org.

THE SCENE

Feb. 23

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, Feb. 23, 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. 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.

Tax grievance workshop

The Hot Sardines

The band brings their distinctive sound to the Landmark stage, Friday, March 3, 8 p.m. Their unique recipe blends hot jazz and sultry standards from the ’20s, ’30s and ’40s, rich New Orleans sounds, a dash of ’40s Paris flavor, and vibrant musical surprises. It’s all steeped in salty stride piano and the music Louis Armstrong, Django Reinhardt and Fats Waller used to make. The result is straight-up foot-stomping jazz. Their name says it all: their iconic ‘hot’ styling will paint a vibrant picture with smoky sounds and audiences revel in the steamy, swanky influence of their art form. With their contagious brand of joy, grit, glamour and passion, they invoke the sounds of nearly a century ago, yet stay right in step with the current age. $60, $50, $46. Jeanne Rimsky Theater at

On stage

Mo Willems’ popular character

The Pigeon comes alive on the Long Island Children’s Museum stage, Saturday, Feb. 18, 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.; Monday through Thursday, Feb. 20-23, 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Pigeon is eager to try anything, with the audience part of the action. $9 with museum admission ($7 members), $12 theater only. Long Island Children’s Museum, Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 224-5800 or LICM.org.

After School Dish

County Leg. Siela A. Bynoe ipartners with the Nassau County Assessment Review Commission to host a virtual assessment grievance workshop to inform residents about how to challenge their property taxes, Wednesday, Feb. 22. Questions can be submitted. Visit NassauCountyNY.gov/LD2. For additional information, contact Bynoe’s office at (516) 5716202 or via email at sbynoe@ nassaucountyny.gov.

Lakeview Public Library holds its After School Dish every Friday , 3:30-4:30 p.m, for students grades 6 and under. The program 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) 5363071 or emailing ireckson@ lakeviewlibrary.org. Itakes place in the Children’s Room of the library, 1120 Woodfield

Platanos Y Collard Greens

See the romantic comedy about what happens when an African American and a Latina college student fall in love, presented by Nassau Community College Theater and Dance Department and the Africana Studies Department, Thursday through Saturday, Feb. 16-18, 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, Feb. 19, 2 p.m., with talkback session with playwright David Lamb, immediately following final performance. Threaded by the culture of hip-hop, the lovers defend their relationship, as friends and family learn that this “food fight” calls for fusion instead of feud.

Nassau Community College’s

Voyage

The Journey tribute band visits

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

Health screening

Visit Malverne Public Library, Wednesday, Feb. 22, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., for free health screenings with the St. Francis Hospital Outreach Bus. No appointment necessary; flu shots available. Call the library at (516) 5990750 for more information.

Absolute Adele

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

Tax prep

The Malverne Public Library hosts AARP tax-prep sessions every Thursday, through April 13, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The sessions are in-person at the library, at 61 St. Thomas Place, Malverne. Call Cathy at (516) 599-0750 ext. 4.

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.

Family theater

The beloved fairy tale springs to life in a delightful musical romp, presented Plaza Theatrical Productions, Monday, Feb. 20, 11 a.m.; Friday, Feb. 24, 11 a.m.; Sunday, Feb. 26, noon. All the ingredients that have made this story a perennial favorite are here, including Cinderella, a zany Godmother, a trip to the royal ball, and a glass slipper. Tickets are $16. Visit the Plaza stage at The Showplace at Bellmore Movies, 222 Pettit Ave., Bellmore. For information/tickets, go to PlazaTheatrical.com or call (516) 599-6870.

Town urged to reject ‘discriminatory’

By ANA BORRUTO aborruto@liherald.com

“Change the boundary, redraw the lines” was the message dozens of community members tried to articulate to the Hempstead Town Board last week. But in the end, many felt their pleas were completely ignored

Don Clavin faced some heat from the crowd after the town supervisor decided to cut the microphone feed for each speaker off exactly at the required three minutes they were allotted to speak. When Deputy Town Supervisor Dorothy Goosby — who notably challenged Hempstead’s discriminatory at-large voting system in 1988 — was asked if she had anything to say about the redistricting process, she declined to comment.

The Hempstead redistricting saga is nearing its end, and opponents of the proposed maps are not giving up without a fight. A group of angry voters rallied outside of Hempstead Town Hall minutes before the Feb. 7 meeting to air out their frustrations.

Former county legislator Dave Denenberg, who organized the rally, said there is an ulterior motive behind the elected officials drawing the district lines they way they’re doing it.

“Whenever there’s redistricting, you see a political machine do exactly what they always do: They are going to draw districts in a way that tries to maintain their majority,” Denenberg said. “But that’s voter suppression.”

Mimi Pierre-Johnson, founder of the Elmont Cultural Center, said she saw a “glimmer of hope” at the redistricting commission’s last work session. The three commission members seemed they would finally recommend one of the six map proposals to the Hempstead Town Board. These options included the town’s preliminary “Skyline” map, as well as five alternative proposals from civic groups and local attorneys they say would help provide a

more equal voice for minority groups.

But that optimism was quickly extinguished when the commission failed to put forward a map, and instead agreed to officially recommend the town board produce a final map that keeps communities of interest intact.

Since the first day of the redistricting process, the concerns raised by opponents to the initial town-drawn maps circle back to a single theme: District lines should be redrawn to have a more balanced demographic represen-

tation. That means creating three “minority-majority” districts, that would allow minority communities a chance to elect someone who would be more likely to represent them on the town board.

For example, 90 percent of Elmont’s population are people of color. However, the current map proposal places Elmont in a district with Garden City, which has an 88 percent white population.

Placing Elmont in a district with neighborhoods they have nothing in common with dilutes the votes of its residents and impairs the outcome of elections, claimed Claudia Borecky, president of the Bellmore Merrick Democratic Club, in a letter to the Hempstead Town Board.

“People told heart-wrenching stories of how hard they and their ancestors fought for the right to have a vote that counted,” Borecky said. “Yet, the motion made by the redistricting commission for the Town Board to only consider keeping communities whole is totally deaf to what your constituents plead.”

Under the guidance of the Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders law firm and redistricting expert Sean Trende, the Town Board released a redistricting map proposal last month, which they say takes into account public comments as well as the views of the redistricting commission.

However, some doubted these intentions.

“If (the town) passes this map, I’m going to Garden City because that’s my district,” Pierre-Johnson said. “I’m going to show up with my friends to (Garden City) town meetings, to the zoning board, because I want what they have for Elmont.”

Critics also questioned the map’s compliance with federal and state voting rights protections — specifically the Voting Rights Act and New York’s John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act. If Hempstead finalizes the current map as it stands, it could expose the town to costly litigation at the taxpayers’ expense.

Ana Borruto/Herald

FORMER NASSAU COUNTY legislator Dave Denenberg leads a rally outside of Hempstead Town Hall just before a town board meeting discussing redistricting. As the mapping process nears its end, voters are getting louder about their demands for three minority-majority districts.

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Public Notices

NOTICE

LEGAL

PUBLIC NOTICE OF VILLAGE TREASURER’S SALE FOR TAX LIENS ON REAL PROPERTY IN THE INC. VILLAGE OF MALVERNE PLEASE TAKE NOTICE

That pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Real Property Tax Law and the Village Law of the State of New York and pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Trustees of the Village of Malverne, Nassau County, New York adopted at a meeting held on the 1st day of February, 2023 the undersigned as Treasurer of said Village will sell at public auction in the manner prescribed by law, on the 9th day of March, 2023 at 11:00 o’clock in the forenoon of that day and on succeeding days, in the Courtroom of the Village Hall, 99 Church Street, Malverne, New York, as much of each of the following parcels of real estate upon which Village taxes remain unpaid as will be sufficient to discharge the taxes, interest and charges thereon which may be due at the time of such sale.

Such real estate will be sold subject to any unpaid assessment thereon levied by said Village and any unpaid lien purchased and held by said Village, and all liens on property included in this sale and sold subject to the provisions of the Federal and State Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Civil Relief Act.

Each purchaser at such tax sale shall pay the amount of his/her bid to the Village Treasurer within ten (10) days after the sale, and upon such payment the Treasurer shall give to the purchaser a certificate in writing describing the real property purchase and the sum paid therefore.

THE NAME(S) OF THE OWNER(S) SHOWN ON THIS LIST MAY NOT NECESSARILY BE THE NAME(S) OF THE PERSON(S) OWNING THE PROPERTY AT THE TIME OF THIS ADVERTISEMENT. SUCH NAME(S) HAVE BEEN TAKEN FROM THE 2022/2023 ASSESSMENT ROLLS AND MAY DIFFER FROM THE NAMES OF THE OWNERS AT THE TIME OF PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. The following is a list of lots, pieces, and parcels of real estate to be sold and the total amount of taxes, interest, and charges thereon.

PUBLIC NOTICE OF VILLAGE TREASURER’S SALE FOR TAX LIENS ON REAL PROPERTY IN THE INC. VILLAGE OF MALVERNE, NY

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, AJAX MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST 2018-C, MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES, SERIES 2018C, BY U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS INDENTURE TRUSTEE, Plaintiff, vs. NATACHA W. JULES, ET AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to an Order Confirming Referee Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on November 18, 2022, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the front steps on the north side of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on March 14, 2023 at 3:00 p.m., premises known as 540 Kent Place, West Hempstead, NY 11552. 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, Section 35, Block 405 and Lot 255. Approximate amount of judgment is $454,494.63 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 607452/2018. This foreclosure sale will be held on the north side steps of the Courthouse, rain or shine. COVID-19 safety protocols will be followed at the foreclosure sale. If proper social distancing cannot

be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, the Court Appointed Referee will cancel the sale.

Kevin J. O’Brien, Esq, Referee Friedman Vartolo LLP, 85 Broad Street, Suite 501, New York, New York 10004, Attorneys for Plaintiff. Firm File No.: 180659-1 137218

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LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC

HEARING

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that pursuant to Section 202-48 of the code of the Town of Hempstead entitled, “Handicapped Parking On Public Streets,” a public hearing will be held in the Town Meeting Pavilion, Hempstead Town Hall, 1 Washington Street, Hempstead, New York, on the 28th day of February, 2023, at 7:00 o’clock in the evening of that day, to consider the adoption of a resolution setting aside certain parking spaces for motor vehicles for the sole use of holders of special parking permits issued by the County of Nassau to physically handicapped persons at the following locations:

BALDWIN KINGS PARKWAY - south side, starting at a point 37 feet west of the west curbline of Elmwood Street, west for a distance of 20 feet.

(TH-9/23)

ELMONT ADAMS STREET - north side, starting at a point 222 feet west of the west

curbline of Raff Avenue, west for a distance of 20 feet.

(TH-11/23)

FRANKLIN SQUARE PARK LANE NORTHnorth side, starting at a point 89 feet west of a point opposite the west curbline of Ascan Road, west for a distance of 20 feet.

(TH-13/23)

INWOOD WANSERS AVENUEsouth side, starting at a point 294 feet east of the east of the east curbline of Jeanette Avenue, east for a distance of 20 feet.

(TH-598/22)

ROOSEVELT

GRENADA AVENUEnorth side, starting at a point 208 feet east the east curbline of Enness Street, east for a distance of 20 feet.

(TH-6/23)

WEST HEMPSTEAD MADISON AVENUE - east side, starting at a point 235 feet north of the north curbline of McKinley Street, north for a distance of 20 feet.

(TH-8/23) ALL PERSONS

INTERESTED shall have an opportunity to be heard on said proposal at the time and place aforesaid.

Dated: February 7, 2023

Hempstead, New York BY ORDER OF THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD

DONALD X. CLAVIN, JR.

Supervisor

KATE MURRAY Town Clerk 137334

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

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that pursuant to Article 16 of the Town Law of the State of New York, as amended, a public hearing will be held in the Town Meeting Pavilion, Hempstead Town Hall, 1 Washington Street, Village and Town of Hempstead, Hempstead, New York, on the 28th day of February, 2023 at 7:00 o’clock in the evening of that day, to consider the proposed amendment of Article XXXIV of the Building Zone Ordinance, in relation to flood hazard zones. The proposed amendment is on file in the office of the Town Clerk of the Town of Hempstead, Hempstead Town Hall, 1 Washington Street, Village and Town of Hempstead, Hempstead, New York, and available at hempsteadny.gov, where it may be inspected during office hours.

ALL PERSONS INTERESTED in the subject matter will be given an opportunity to be heard with reference thereto at the time and place abovedesignated.

Dated: Hempstead, New York February 7, 2023 BY ORDER OF THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD KATE MURRAY Town Clerk DONALD X. CLAVIN, JR. Supervisor 137313

To Place A Notice Call 516-569-4000 x232

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Now we need a ResCheck?

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

CA. It’s frustrating that if you were not in the permit process, you would just insulate, but the moment government learns that you are doing everything the right way, with permits, they make things more involved.

A ResCheck is the name given to a 10-page energy-analysis document, complete with areas of windows and doors, walls, floors and ceilings along with calculated heat loss and energy coefficients. It’s like taking an exam and the way it is done, to be registered with the state online, we don’t get to know if the numbers provided will pass until we get to the end of the document. If it’s failing the requirements, we aren’t shown why, so we have to start over, trying to guess what needs to be beefed up.

I like to do these in the presence of clients so they understand that it’s serious business, not just some form to fill out. Unfortunately, I don’t get to do these analyses in front of the contractors who often contradict the ResCheck by substituting lesser fiberglass batting for the higher-rated foam material, to save money and labor, since they usually need to get a subcontractor to install foam instead of using their own cheaper laborers.

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In general, when your project constitutes more than 50 percent of home building area or dollar value compared with the home value, then the examiner wants a more expensive and involved Home Energy Rating System engineer to provide a much more detailed report. This includes a test at the end of the construction in which the home is pressurized using air fans, then gauges are applied, usually at a front door opening, to determine how quickly the house loses pressure, thereby gauging the amount of gaps where air can leak to the atmosphere. This gives an accurate idea of how much cold or heated air can get into the house, which you’re trying to avoid by insulating.

Since this is a big question, tune in to my next column for the rest of the answer. Stay warm and good luck!

© 2022 Monte Leeper

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

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Two isn’t always a winning number

There are all types of numbers associated with politicians. Pollsters are constantly bombarding us with numbers. Defeated candidates keep complaining that they won, and say they have the numbers to prove it. But the bottom line in this discussion is that the number 2 is by far the worst number to be attached to any political figure. As living proof of the value of being second, I cite Vice President Kamala Harris and New York Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado. There is no question that either of them would become No. 1 if anything happened to her/his boss. But looking at their scope of responsibilities shows that they have very little to do. Harris is rarely in the news, primarily because she hasn’t been given that much to do on a daily basis. She’s called upon to attend important funerals, but the press rarely says much about her.

With the 2024 presidential election coming up, there is speculation about whether President Biden will make Harris his running mate if he decides to run again. Most political observers think she would be a drag on the 2024 ticket, because she hasn’t been associated with any winning issues. Shortly after she took on her official duties, the president assigned her the responsibility of helping solve the border crisis, which is proving more difficult than curing cancer.

There was an opportunity for Harris to make some serious recommendations on how to solve the crisis, but she felt the issue was too toxic and declined to actively take on the role. She has been lobbying for the passage of the George Floyd Act, which would better clarify what the role of the police should be, but she wouldn’t be able to make any waves without Biden doing the heavy lifting. There’s also a possibility that the president has chosen not to boost her credentials because of the 2020

debates, when she went out of her way to attack Biden on school segregation. No matter how you try to define the role of the vice president, it’s very hard to write out a list of specifications. The president decides what the V.P.’s job will be, and there are many examples of presidents giving their vice presidents serious duties. President George W. Bush delegated most of his high-level duties to Dick Cheney, and many claimed that Cheney became the real president. But the late Vice President James Nance Garner, who served under Franklin Roosevelt, is said to have had the best definition of the job, describing the vice president’s job as not being worth “a bucket of warm spit.”

Delgado’s situation is an interesting one. He’s a graduate of Colgate University and Harvard Law School. He was a very effective member of Congress who was willing to resign to take on the No. 2 position in Albany. Gov. Kathy Hochul spent every waking hour of her time as lieutenant governor traveling to every

corner of the state. She got to know every local chamber of commerce, and elected officials marveled at her nonstop visits. There is no doubt that her tenacity helped her get elected governor.

Currently, however, the only job Delgado has is to preside over the State Senate, which isn’t the most exciting work. No doubt after April 1, when the state budget is out of the way, Hochul will decide what role he will play. Delgado is personable and articulate, and was well received during his campaign swings. He could be a great advocate for the governor’s programs. She is badly in need of someone who can reach out to the Assembly and Senate members and make some friends. Delgado could help her a great deal in that role.

But either way, being No. 2 in government is hardly the best job in the business.

Jerry Kremer was an Assemblyman for 23 years, and chaired the Assembly’s Ways and Means Committee for 12 years. He now heads Empire Government Strategies, a business development and legislative strategy firm. Comments about this column? jkremer@liherald.com.

Minx or madman: the George Santos story

Don’t mess with puppies, George. From what I’ve read and what I’ve heard in statements coming out of your very own mouth, you seem estranged from most commonly held beliefs of what is true and what is false, what is a factual statement and what is a lie. What happened and what didn’t happen.

RANDI KREISS

Assiduously, I have ignored the media high jinks and political circus surrounding your behavior, but last week’s revelation of the alleged puppy caper in Pennsylvania’s Amish country in 2017 unleashes my inner Cujo.

Oh yes, the temptation to joke is overwhelming due to the ridiculousness of many of your quasi-legal escapades and the seemingly endless stream of revelations concerning your grandiose claims, self-promotion and transgressions.

Last week we read in The Washington Post that a farmer in Pennsylvania had come forward with a story about you “buying” golden retriever puppies from him with rubber checks. Other

farmers have come forward with similar claims. Related to these charges is the story about the “charity” you claim to have established, Friends of Pets United, but the Post reported that no IRS records of the group could be found. It also reported that you stole money that had been raised to help a disabled veteran care for a dying dog. A disabled veteran?? A dying dog?? What’s wrong with you, George?

I am very disappointed in you. If I were your mother — but oh, wait, your mother died tragically in the 9/11 attacks, unless she didn’t. Can’t be sure. Well, if I were your mother, I would get you some help. The impulse among us in the media is to point at you, since you have become something of a one-man sideshow. But dude, you need serious therapeutic intervention.

New York City, or worked for a bank, or owned various houses, or knew people in the Pulse nightclub shooting, or graduated from NYU or played high-stakes volleyball.

Some say your name isn’t even George Santos. Pinning down the truth as torrents of lies pour from your mouth is like pinning down Jell-O. You are inventive and indefatigable in your stream of wishful thinking out loud, Walter Mitty on a bad trip.

How long will the Republicans allow the public evisceration to continue?

What we can be sure of is that you aren’t Jewish, or Jew-ish, despite your repeated claims to the contrary. According to The Forward, even though you said that your grandparents escaped the Holocaust, they actually were safe and sound in Brazil at the time. There’s no proof you were really mugged on your way to pay a delinquent rent check in

Mostly this is terribly sad. You need help, but you won’t find it in Congress or any public office, for now. Why not step down and save yourself further humiliation?

You can’t expect assistance from your mates in Congress, George. As long as you have a pulse and can vote the party line, they will let the public evisceration continue. You won’t find solace in Congress or real collegiality or decency. You are a GOP vote. Full stop.

Readers, from my perch in the press, the buffoonery of George Santos and his enablers fits perfectly into this time and space. Congress and the Senate have always had their share of nudniks, but Santos is part of a wave of new-age

liars. The toxic lies spewing from people like Marjorie Taylor Green, Rick Scott, Mike Lee, Lauren Boebert and Ron Johnson are poisoning the processes of government. They are all using Santos in what has become a spectacle and a shame.

Last, a shout-out to our neighbors in the 3rd Congressional District, the people of Mineola, Great Neck, North Hills, Port Washington and Oyster Bay. Assuming all of you are literate and somewhat paying attention, how did George Santos sweep by you and right into office? Was holding a Republican seat really a wise trade-off for allowing a candidate with not even a passing appreciation for the truth represent your interests in the People’s House?

As we approach the birthday of another George, the George of American history, who could not tell a lie, I wonder what the people of that era would do with someone like Mr. Santos? Hopefully summon some empathy and not put him on public display. During the reign of another George, King George the First of England, someone like our George might have officially played the part of the fool.

Now we don’t quite know what to do with him.

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

Who’s got less to do, the vice president or the lieutenant governor?

JERRY KREMER

Gambling addiction is no game

the Kansas City Chiefs edged the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFL’s biggest game Sunday night, watched by more than 100 million people around the world.

But more than 50 million sports fans here at home in the United States had more invested in the game than pride in their favorite team. They wagered as much as $16 billion on Super Bowl LVII, according to the American Gaming Association. And just like football, someone’s going to win, which means someone has to lose. The thing is, being on the wrong side of a good bet is more common than not.

The money bet on the Chiefs and the Eagles was said to be more than double the total spent last year, when the Los Angeles Rams defeated the Cincinnati Bengals. And these days that betting involves more than just choosing which team will win.

Take prop bets, more formally known as proposition bets. They aren’t tied to the outcome of the game — like traditional spreads, moneylines and totals. Instead, they focus on more non-traditional occurrences like the length of the national anthem, or what color Gatorade will be poured on the winning coach.

Prop bets are currently the biggest driver of revenue for many sports gambling sites, according to news reports. That is, except in New York, where the law requires that all bets be tied to the game itself.

letters

Lafazan should rethink his GEORGE Package

To the Editor:

Nassau Legislator Josh Lafazan’s recommendations last week to prevent future egregious candidate misrepresentations a la George Santos (“A useful way to enshrine a name we’d sooner forget”) are unnecessary and provide for a cure worse that the disease. Lafazan’s recommendations are to enshrine in law at all levels the following:

1. Mandatory background checks for all candidates “just like any employee.” There are significant legal restrictions on the nature and scope of employee background checks, and this is unnecessary, as the most rudimentary opposition research would have exposed Santos.

2. Barring anyone with an open foreign arrest warrant from holding office. Lafazan couldn’t possibly have thought this through. So, any foreign country simply has to issue an arrest warrant to remove our public officials? Talk about foreign interference in elections.

Even with those restrictions, New York-based gamblers placed more than $472 million in legal sports bets during the Super Bowl between the Rams and Bengals — part of a larger $16 billion wagered in the first year of legalized online betting in New York. So far, based on the weekly figures from the state gaming commission, this year’s figure is predicted to be even larger. All from a practice that didn’t even exist here a couple years ago.

There are currently nine different mobile applications legally recognized by the state, with FanDuel, DraftKings and Caesar’s Sportsbook among the bigger ones. FanDuel and DraftKings began a decade or so ago, focused on fantasy sports, in which fans build their own teams and compete against each other using real-life game statistics.

But as sports gambling has gained more widespread legal acceptance, the influence of those two companies has grown, and they have shifted gears and focused most of their attention on this new, much-more-lucrative market.

There are strong opinions on both sides on whether gambling should be legal, or if it’s even moral. But something many agree on is that if you’re going to gamble, do it responsibly. Wager only what you can afford to lose. Don’t stretch — or even break — those limits.

And no different than a casino, mobile and online sports betting can also lead to problem gambling.

Like many addictions, gambling can be attributed to the release of dopamine brought on by the thrill of risk-taking and the potential rewards. Gambling, for the most part, is perfectly legal. But then again, so are cigarettes and alcohol.

But gambling is sometimes considered a “hidden addiction,” because it’s not something that might be as obvious as drugs or alcohol, manifesting physical symptoms, although some gamblers have problems with sleep, anxiety, depression and guilt.

For the working-class poor, gambling can also create a perpetual loop in which addicts throw away much-needed and typically hard-earned cash that would otherwise be spent on necessities like housing and food.

The good thing, however, is that there are services in place to help. The Long Island Problem Gambling Resource Center, for example, offers several services for individuals and families impacted by gambling.

These issues shouldn’t necessarily disqualify any talk of bringing a new casino to Uniondale, but they certainly should be part of the conversation — a big part of it. Every resource should be available to keep wagering responsible, and to avoid the destruction of families — both functionally and economically.

As always, if you or a loved one are dealing with problem gambling, you can get help by calling (516) 266-8342, or visiting NYProblemGambling.org.

How political extremism became the norm

Viewing the American political scene today, I can’t help thinking about what Yeats wrote more than a century ago:

“Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold; Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world.”

I’m not suggesting anarchy is imminent, or that our governmental structures are collapsing, but there are warning signs that should be heeded for our nation to cope with the enormous challenges facing America at home — and throughout the world — effectively. Not only is there bitter partisanship between the parties, there are also bitter divisions within them.

There can be honest debate as to when this severe fracturing began. Politics is always a combat sport. The days of peace, love and harmony — the “good old days” — never existed. Certainly not during the 28 years I was in Congress. But no matter how bitter the debate and severe the divisions were, certain lines weren’t crossed.

Richard Nixon had reason to contest the 1960 election results, but gracefully conceded the race to John F. Kennedy. Al

Gore challenged George W. Bush’s razorthin electoral vote margin in 2000, but conceded with class after losing a similarly razor-thin 5-4 decision in the U.S. Supreme Court.

I believe the major turning point in the rules of political combat was the 2016 TrumpClinton race and its aftermath. It wasn’t just the heated charges and countercharges of the campaign, but the refusal of some Democrats to accept Trump’s victory, and much of the mainstream media’s defense of their erroneous predictions.

Nor was it just the refusal of prominent Democrats such as Rep. John Lewis to attend President Trump’s inauguration, but the allegations made by Democratic leaders, the intelligence community and major segments of the mainstream media that Trump’s election resulted from his campaign colluding with Russia.

This led to the Mueller investigation, which went on for almost two years, tying up the Trump administration and — with media support — giving credibility to the unprecedented belief that an American president was elected by colluding with a foreign enemy.

Being on the House Intelligence Committee and sitting through endless hearings, listening to countless witnesses and

studying reports and analyses, I was convinced there was no collusion whatever. Stripped of defensive rhetoric, the Mueller report reached the same conclusion. But the damage had been done, and the political well was further poisoned.

Then there were the riots in the summer of 2020, which raged throughout the country following the police killing of George Floyd. At least six people were killed. Cities like Spokane, Washington, and Portland, Oregon, were under siege. New York streets became nightly war zones. Police stations were attacked and set on fire. Churches were vandalized. The White House itself was threatened.

Yet Democratic leaders offered only perfunctory disapproval of the violence, emphasizing that most demonstrations were “peaceful.” Following a night of violence in Brooklyn — in which bottles and other objects were thrown at cops — then Gov. Andrew Cuomo said, “I stand with the protesters.”

In Manhattan, the Democratic district attorney refused to prosecute hundreds arrested for looting and rioting, including a getaway driver aiding those caught on video vandalizing St. Patrick’s Cathedral. All further poisoning the well.

Then, beginning on election night in 2020, Trump — citing no credible evi-

dence — charged that the election was “rigged” and “stolen.” Never explaining why, in a rigged election, Republicans would pick up 12 House seats while he lost the popular vote to Joe Biden by more than 7 million, Trump continued to attack the results.

The culmination of this constant onslaught — whether intended or not — was the disgraceful and violent assault on the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. No rational American — certainly no Republican claiming to be a patriot — can defend that outrage in any way.

Shockingly, however, too many Republicans are willing to minimize the violence as just a protest out of control, and still deny the election results.

What the nation saw last month, when it took 15 ballots over five days for Republicans to elect Rep. Kevin McCarthy speaker of the House, was a further rejection of tradition and civility. It is an ominous sign that this was the most protracted election for speaker since the decade preceding the Civil War.

It’s time for the sane forces on both sides to step forward. The United States has come too far as a nation, and faces too many challenges, to allow the voices of anarchy to prevail over our traditions and values.

Peter King is a former congressman, and a former chair of the House Committee on Homeland Security. A version of this essay originally appeared in The Hill.

Framework by Tim Baker

3. Make it a misdemeanor (i.e. a crime) for a candidate to lie about his or her background. Just what we need: candidates routinely trading criminal charges. (“You only graduated cum laude, not magna cum laude!”) Again, basic opposition research is all that’s needed, not competing police reports.

This is an example of a politician giving the appearance of “doing something” about a problem that may very well make it worse.

TeRRANCe J. NOLAN Lynbrook

Who will stand up to the extremists?

To the editor:

As a student of history, I am distressed each day as I read and listen to the news, and I wonder:

When did it become appropriate to ignore a congressional subpoena and then be rewarded with the speakership of the U.S. House of Representatives, the thirdmost important position in the nation?

Why is it OK for Supreme Court nominees to lie at their confirmation hearings and then, after being appointed, overturn decades of court precedent?

When was it determined that politicians

should be permitted to ignore experts in curriculum, history scholars, trained teachers and trained librarians to ban books, whitewash American history and ban topics that are contrary to their ideas? Isn’t the purpose of education to expose students to diverse ideas?

When did it become fashionable to elect people to Congress who lie, yell, curse and bully — people who have no ability to legislate, and no understanding of the word “compromise”?

When did we turn our backs on the hardfought-for rights of all people and return to the days when voting rights were restricted?

In the end, the real question is, when will the moderates in government, and the many moderates in the country, stand up to the extremists on both ends of the political spectrum? Left alone, they will destroy our democracy. We would be wise to remember the words of the German Lutheran pastor Martin Niemoller, about the Nazis.

“First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out — Because I was not a socialist. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out — Because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out — Because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me — and there was no one left to speak for me.”

ReNA BOLOGNA Bayville

the turning point in the rules of political combat was the 2016 TrumpClinton race.

Award-winning heart care, right here in Oceanside.

For care and treatment of the heart, including your valves and blood vessels, Mount Sinai Heart at Mount Sinai South Nassau o ers leading-edge diagnostics and treatment close to home. Mount Sinai South Nassau is proud to be rated high performing by U.S. News & World Report for care in heart attack and heart failure.

We have also been recognized by Healthgrades with their Coronary Intervention Excellence Award and they have named Mount Sinai South Nassau among the Top 10% in the nation for Coronary Interventional Procedures in 2023.

Learn more at southnassau.org/cardiology

One Healthy Way Oceanside, NY 11572

516-632-3670