Malverne/West Hempstead Herald 07-13-2023

Fun at the farm

Crossroads Farm at Grossman’s is a Malverne community fixture. The farm stand sells produce, flowers, artisanal products and more, and is open every Friday through Sunday. The farm supports over 50 Long Island businesses by selling locally sourced products. By promoting education and volunteerism, Crossroads Farm continues the tradition of local, sustainable agriculture. Plus, there are plenty of activities for the kids. Visit XRoadsFarmLINY.com. The farm is at 480 Hempstead Ave., in Malverne.

Family brings festivities home

The Ramoutars of Malverne go all-out for every holiday

By NIColE FoRMISANo nformisano@liherald.com

Drive near Cornwell Avenue and you’re likely to see a home decked out in red, white and blue splendor. Inflatable eagles and rocketships greet passersby from the lawn, and USA signs hang proudly.

People stop their cars for pictures, selfies and smiles. To the family inside the festive house, that’s what it’s all about.

“The spirit — that’s our objective,” Suresh Ramoutar said. “To bring joy, and a few moments of distraction.”

her.”

The family of five — and of course, their dog, Lady — moved to Malverne almost exactly a year ago. They first decorated for Halloween, so their Fourth of July decorations mark their first full holiday cycle here on the Island.

“We used to bring this joy to the Bronx, especially the south Bronx,” Suresh said. “So when we came from the south Bronx to Malverne, we brought the spirit with us.”

SURESH

The family includes grandmother Malie, wife Yasme and husband Suresh, and their two children, Sylar, 13, and Myalina, 10. The Ramoutars decorate for every holiday. Easter, New Year’s — you name it, they have a banner for it.

“It just brightens up the neighborhood,” Malverne resident Bruce Petry said. “I just had to knock on her door and thank

Suresh said it began for his son, Sylar, who always loved holiday decorations, but they weren’t very common in their neighborhood. For Christmas decorations, they’d have to go to Manhattan. That’s when Sylar’s grandmother, Malie, stepped in. She decided to bring the holiday spirit to their neighborhood.

“She wants to spread joy because everyone is so busy with their day-to-day activities,

Continued on page 18

Nicole Formisano/Herald photos

S he wants to spread joy because everyone is so busy with their day-to-day activities, their jobs . . . It gives them a pause.

R AMoUtAR resident

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Check out more than books at your library

By NICOLE FORMISANO nformisano@liherald.com

Local libraries have boundless opportunities, and not just those that can be found in the pages of a good book. They have programs and services for all ages and interests.

“We have a great library system, the Nassau Public Library System,” said Camina Rafaël-Lubin, director of Lakeview Public Library. “In the last couple of years, we’ve been doing a lot to get people through the door.”

Libraries are here, first and foremost, to support their communities by making information accessible. The West Hempstead, Malverne, and Lakeview public libraries are all equipped to do this through more than their thousands of books or dozens of computers — they give community members the resources needed to access experiences as well. All three libraries offer museum passes — meaning an individual or even a whole family can take a trip to expand their curiosity horizons. The Cradle of Aviation, the New York Hall of Science, and the Vanderbilt planetarium are all popular options. Some libraries even offer discounted aquarium passes for the perfect summer day trip. Community libraries also offer unique and hands-on learning opportunities. The West Hempstead library has seminars to learn about Tai Chi, strength training and yoga. The Lakeview library has classes and clubs to learn about gardening, quilting, and meditation and mindfulness.

The Malverne library features a particularly impressive “library of things,” which has more than one could imagine

— instruments to learn, games to play, and items to explore the world, including a movie projector, walkie talkies and even a telescope. They also offer a genealogical research database for anyone interested in learning more about their family history. These resources, while not exclusive to the library, are certainly at their most accessible at these vital community hubs.

“Now with technology, you’re able to have everything you want and never leave your house,” Rafaël-Lubin said. “So a lot of libraries have to come up with only creative things that people want.”

Especially important is libraries’ abili-

ty to keep residents engaged with their neighbors. The best way to make a new friend or reconnect with other community members is to join a group that seems interesting. Craft events like candle-making and tie dye parties are open to people of all ages at the West Hempstead Public Library — plus they have an adult summer reading program, which is perfect for those looking for a new book recommendation or a place to chat about their favorite current read. The Lakeview Public Library has gardening classes, a knitting and crocheting club, and game nights including the increasingly popular bid

Malverne Public Library malvernelibrary.org

West Hempstead Library whplibrary.org

Lakeview Public Library lakeviewlibrary.org

whist card game.

With school out, the library is one of the best sources around for kid-friendly activities. In the coming weeks, the West Hempstead Public Library offers opportunities to paint canvases, create decorative pins out of clay, and even make your very own bath bomb. At the Malverne Public Library kids and teens can enjoy cupcake making, bracelet crafting, and canvas painting. Messy Mornings let kids have fun with finger painting, kinetic sand, bubbles, and more — making it a perfect way for kids to get some mess-making out of their system. The Lakeview Public Library offers clay sculpting, board game and puzzle events, and coding for kids. They, as well as Malverne Public Library, have family movie events — so kids, siblings, and parents alike can get in on the fun.

Long summer days are here, and there’s no better resource to find a fun way to spend them than your local library.

Ben Fiebert/Herald

Kerry Nugent stands beside new furniture that was put in the renovated children’s room, which re-opened on March 24.

Herald file photo

Children playing at the Malverne Library’s 90th anniversary celebration on in 2019.

Mercy welcomes new chief nursing officer

Christopher Ruppert joins the hospital’s administrative team

By DANIEL OFFNER doffner@liherald.com

Christopher Ruppert has been named the new chief nursing officer and vice president of patient care services at Catholic Health Mercy Hospital in Rockville Centre.

Joseph Manopella, the hospital’s president, said he was thrilled with the appointment.

“It’s an exciting time at Mercy as we are in the midst of a renaissance,” Manopella said in a statement. “I am confident that Chris’ expertise, hands-on experience and commitment to delivering high-quality patient care, while supporting and collaborating with our exceptional nurses, will lend to increasing outcomes and overall clinical excellence.”

Since 1913, when the nursing sisters of the Congregation of the Infant Jesus founded the hospital, it has grown into a 42-acre campus, providing a wide range of different health care services.

Now, nearly 110 years later, hospital administrators said they are working to expand services and invest in infrastructure to provide patients with access to the best and most state-of-the-art health care available.

During the past year, the hospital has celebrated the opening of its new Center for Pain Management, and it plans to soon unveil a new 16,000-square-foot Ambulatory and Family Care Center.

Ruppert, a registered nurse with 17 years of experience in hospital operations, leadership, education, emergency management and medicine, is a welcome addition to Mercy, officials said, thanks to his many years of experience working with both patients and staff.

“I am here to help fulfill Catholic Health Services’ mission,” Ruppert said. “We want to provide a good experience for the staff, an excellent experience for the patients, lower costs where we can, while providing the best quality outcomes.”

Ruppert most recently spent over six years at Lenox Hill Hospital on the Manhattan’s Upper East Side, where he served as director of nursing, operations and finance

and was responsible for strategic planning, staffing and day-to-day nursing operations.

“The president has previously stated that Mercy is going through a renaissance, and it’s exciting to be part of the change,” Ruppert said. “I am glad to be part of a team that shares this vision.”

A Long Island native, Ruppert earned a bachelor’s degree in biology and anthropology from SUNY Albany in 2004, and an associate’s degree in nursing from Albany Memorial Hospital School of Nursing in 2006. He went on to earn a master’s in business administration from Hofstra University in 2011 and a master’s in nursing education from LIU Post in 2017.

Ruppert began work as a registered nurse at Northwell Health’s Emergency Department in Valley Stream, and eventually became the administrator of hospital operations and the assistant director of nursing before joining Lenox Hill. He was also an adjunct professor at nearby Molloy University from 2017 to 2021.

In addition to his new position at Mercy, Ruppert will serve as a lieutenant junior grade assistant nurse officer with the U.S. Public Health Service. He welcomed the opportunity to serve his country during the pandemic, joining the only uniformed service dedicated to the nation’s health to help provide clinical care to communities in need.

While serving as a public health service officer in July 2021, he was also selected to be part of the first commissioned class of the Ready Reserve Corps, an elite group of health responders responsible for promoting, protecting and advancing the health and safety of the nation.

Courtesy Joseph Lanzetta, Sr. Christopher Ruppert joins Catholic Health Mercy Hospital as its vice president for patient care services.

Senior health expo geared for young at heart

The Sunny Atlantic Beach Club opened its doors June 28 to eager guests for Herald Community Newspapers’ Senior Health & Beyond Expo presented by UnitedHealthcare and produced by RichnerLive. It was the third in a series of expos designed especially for senior citizens this year.

More than 35 diverse businesses as well as innovative services shared their products and refined knowledge with attendees to improve wellness and heighten their lifestyle.

Free on-site health screenings were provided by Mount Sinai South Nassau as well as vaccines administered by Parker Jewish. There were also hearing screenings from Dr. Lawrence Cardano of Hearing Center of Long Island — who was also one of the speakers on the expo’s afternoon panel.

Goody bags and tons of raffles were also a plus for those making their way to Atlantic Beach.

The event was made possible thanks to Gold Sponsor Otsuka and gift bag sponsors Grandell Rehabilitation & Nursing Center and Oceanside Care Center. Silver Sponsors were Beach Terrace Care Center, Parker Jewish Institute Health Care and Rehabilitation, Long Beach Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, Aetna, CenterLight and Hearing Center of Long Island.

The next expo is coming up fast — Thursday, Sept. 7, at the East Meadow Jewish Center. It runs from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

For more information, Visit RichnerLive.com.

1. Dr. Lawrence Cardano, middle, takes with Omar and Sandy about what the Hearing Center of Long Island can offer them.

2. Jacqueline Garguilo and Frank Garguilo, owners of Bikram Yoga Long Beach, showed some relaxing poses.

3. Nancy Lebron from presenting sponsor UnitedHealthcare was the keynote speaker.

Tim Baker/Herald photos

–Alexa Anderwkavich

4. Josh Herzing and Taylor Malfin from Beach Terrace Care Center were among those attending.

5. Cori Hoberman, community marketer from Long Beach Rehabilitation & Nursing

6. Pablo Rendon of Parker Jewish shares some expertise as a panelist.

7. Jill Wassner from the state public services department, offers advice.

8. Sabrina Osmani from Sunharbor Manor chats with an attendee

9. Na Zhang, Abigail Fromm and Lisa SperlingLeicht at the Mount Sinai South Nassau table.

10. Mark Legaspi of Aetna, shares some of his expertise

11. Allison Burton from Otsuka was one of the several great business leaders to come out.

12. Shaun Ruskin from Centerlight discusses PACE eligibility.

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Nassau Athletics HOF class announced

By TONY BELLISSIMO tbellissimo@liherald.com

The Nassau County High School Athletics Hall of Fame will hold its 2023 induction ceremony Sept. 28 at the Crest Hollow County Club. For more information and tickets, go to SectionVIII. org. Here’s a list of local athlete honorees.

ROBERT ALABASTER

A man for all seasons, he played five sports at Baldwin starting in 1929. He was a three-time All-Scholastic football lineman and also a starter on the basketball, baseball, swimming and track teams. Won the county backstroke title in swimming.

RON ATANASIO

Regarded as one of the greatest Nassau County soccer players of all-time. Led Oceanside to three consecutive county and Long Island championships and starred on the Sailors’ 18-0 team in 1973 that outscored opponents 99-4.

THERESE DEVLIN

Among the best distance runners in Nassau history while at Wantagh and two-time state champion in the 1500 meters. She was the first female named Gatorade’s New York State track and field player of the year in 1986. She went on to star at Dartmouth and competed in the 1992 Olympic Trials.

BILLY DONOVAN

A Rockville Centre native, he played on championship basketball teams at St. Agnes and earned All-Long Island honors as a senior in 1983. Played collegiately at Providence and helped the Friars reach the Final Four. Thirdround pick of Utah Jazz in 1987 NBA Draft. Coached Florida to 467 wins, including a pair of NCAA titles. Current head coach of the Chicago Bulls.

ARTHUR DUNN

A tremendous distance runner at Sewanhaka and the first in the state to place in the top 10 four times in cross country. He won state championships in 1953 and 1954.

D’BRICKASHAW FERGUSON

Generational football player at Freeport who won the Thorp and Martone Awards as Nassau’s best player and linemen. Helped the Red Devils to a Long Island title as a junior. Starred at the University of Virginia and in the NFL for 10 seasons with the New York Jets. A member of the Jets “Ring of Honor.”

PETER HENNING

Long Island’s and New York State’s first wrestling champion. Wantagh’s Henning won the 98-pound title in 1963. After losing his opening match that season, he ripped off 25 straight victories on the way to the historic state crown.

EAMON MCENEANEY

A three-sport star at Sewanhaka (1973 grad)

who was a fearless football player despite his 5-foot-10, 155-pound frame. Also one of the greatest high school and college lacrosse players in state history, he led Cornell to two NCAA titles.

ANNIE PARK

She was forced to play on the boys’ golf team at MacArthur because there was no girls’ team. It didn’t matter. She became the top golfer in Nassau, beating all the boys and winning the county championship in 2012. Won the NCAA women’s title a year later while helping the University of Southern California capture the team championship.

DICK POILLON

A three-sport star at Valley Stream Central in the 1930s. Excelled in football and also played basketball and baseball. After playing college football at Canisius, he earned a spot on the roster of the then-Washington Redskins.

CLIFTON SMITH

Gatorade’s New York state football Player of the Year in 1988, Smith was a Thorp Award winner and also a finalist as a star linebacker for Freeport. He also played basketball and lacrosse. Was a standout at Syracuse and played in the NFL for Washington and Cleveland.

KEVIN SHIPPOS

An outstanding football player and wrestler at Baldwin, the 1997 grad was a two-time AllCounty fullback/linebacker and a three-time county wrestling champ and a one-time state champ. He also won the 215-pound national wrestling championship.

FRANK TASHMAN

A football and lacrosse standout at Sewanhaka, he teamed with future Heisman Trophy winner and Nassau Hall of Famer Vinny Testaverde to bring the school a county title in 1979 and unbeaten season in 1980. Tashman had 118 points as a senior lacrosse attackman.

NICHOLAS TINTLE

Rushed for over 1,000 yards in 2002 to help MacArthur capture its first-ever county football title. He then rushed for over 2,000 yards as a senior. One of the top lacrosse players in the state and earned Nassau Midfielder of the Year honors in 2004.

AL WILLIAMS

One of the greatest athletes of all-time at Hempstead. A four-year starter on the basketball court and three-year starting quarterback on the gridiron. Under his direction, the Tigers went 8-0 in 1967 and outscored the competition 245-46.

JAMES ZAFFUTO

A record-setting lacrosse player at Elmont, the 1977 grad set multiple Nassau scoring records that have stood for 45 years. Holds career records for points (498) and assists (288.) Played on three NCAA championship title teams at Johns Hopkins.

Photos courtesy Nassau Boces Athletics ROckvILLE cENTRE’S BILLY Donovan starred as a basketball player at St. Agnes and Providence College, as well as a coach on the collegiate and NBA levels.

MacaRThuR gRaduaTE aNNIE Park won the Nassau County golf championship, beating all the boys, in 2012, and also an NCAA title while at USC.

Malverne School Assistant Superintendent Vincent Romano, left,, Malverne School Superintendent Lorna Lewis, Malverne School Board Member Nicole Henderson, Candidate for Nassau County Legislator Jake Scheiner, and Malverne High School Principal Kesha Bascombe.

Scheiner honors Juneteenth in Malverne

Jake Scheiner, candidate for Nassau County Legislative District 14, presented a special proclamation to the Malverne school district in recognition of its highly successful Juneteenth Jubilee event.

Scheiner commended the district for their commitment to promoting inclusivity, cultural understanding, and celebrating the significance of Juneteenth. The Juneteenth Jubilee event organized by

Malverne served as a remarkable testament to the power of community engagement and education.

Held on June 16 at the Malverne High School, the event brought together individuals from diverse backgrounds to honor the emancipation of enslaved African Americans and commemorate the importance of Juneteenth in our nation’s history.

ENL students celebrate cultures

English as a New Language students in the West Hempstead School District gathered for an international luncheon on June 2 to celebrate the progress and achievements they made during the school year.

The event brought together both middle and high school ENL students in the secondary school’s gym, who brought in

native dishes to create a buffet. The varied cuisine featured traditional foods from several geographic regions, including El Salvador, Honduras, South America and several Caribbean countries.

Along with enjoying a variety of ethnic foods, some students engaged with teachers and staff to discuss their accomplishments.

Courtesy Jake Scheiner

Courtesy West Hempstead school district English as a New Language students in the West Hempstead school district gathered for an international luncheon on June 2 to celebrate the progress and achievements they made during the school year.

Local students earn degrees, accolades

Thomas Cason of Malverne graduated from the University of Tampa on May 6. Cason graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Management.

Avery Gelbart of West Hempstead, a student at Fairleigh Dickinson University’s Metropolitan Campus in Teaneck, N.J., has been named to the Honors List for the Spring 2023 semester. To qualify for the Honors List, a student must carry a 3.5 or better grade point average out of a possible 4.0 and be enrolled in a minimum of 12 letter-graded hours.

Aleyna Zaim of West Hempstead was one of more than 1,100 SUNY Oneonta students who earned Dean’s List honors for the spring 2023 semester. Zaim is studying Adolescence Ed: Social Studies.

The following area students were named to the dean’s list for the Spring 2023 semester at Quinnipiac University: Erin Daly of Malverne; and Jaden Estrada and Christelle Flores, both of West Hempstead.

The University of Tampa has honored the following local students who were named to the dean’s list for the Spring 2023 semester: Shane Ahlers of West Hempstead, a sophomore majoring in Business Information Technology; Joseph Cicalese of West Hempstead, a freshman majoring in Criminology and Criminal Justice; and Reilly Porzio of Malverne, a sophomore majoring in Communication Media and Culture BA.

Lauren Leitch of West Hempstead made the Dean’s List for the Spring 2023 semester at the Georgia Institute of Technology. This designation is awarded to undergraduate students who have earned a 3.0 or higher academic average for the semester.

Local residents named to the University of Scranton’s Dean’s List for the 2023 spring semester are: Kiera M. Lapham of West Hempstead, a junior occupational therapy major in the University’s Panuska College of Professional Studies; and Francesca M. Melisi of Malverne, a senior kinesiology major in the University’s Panuska College of Professional Studies.

Gillian Byrne of Malverne has been named to the University of Hartford President’s Honors List for Spring 2023.

SUNY Delhi recognized Dante Martin of West Hempstead for being named to the Dean’s List for the Spring 2023 semester. Martin graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Architectural Design and Building. To qualify for the Dean’s List, students must earn a grade-point average of 3.50 or higher for the semester.

The following students were named to the Dean’s List at Rochester Institute of Technology for the spring semester of the 2022-23 academic year: Mandy Webber of West Hempstead, who is in the biomedical engineering program; Gabrielle Bautista of West Hempstead, who is in the film and

animation program; Jean-Paul Duchatellier of Malverne, who is in the game design and development program; Olivia Williamson-Britton of West Hempstead, who is in the new media design program; and Raynard Miot of West Hempstead, who is in the software engineering program.

Sophia Sommers of Malverne was named to the University of Alabama Presidents List for spring semester 2023.

The University of Rhode Island announced the Spring 2023 Dean’s List. Local students named to the Dean’s List include: Jamie Brienza of Malverne; Marie Muessig of Malverne; and Kirsten Shea of West Hempstead.

Local students have earned part-time Honors at SUNY Canton during the spring 2023 semester, including: Robert N. Gomez , a SUNY Canton Cybersecurity major from Malverne; Vajiha S. Iqbal , a SUNY Canton Early Childhood major from West Hempstead; and Svetlana Lagos, a SUNY Canton Cybersecurity major from West Hempstead.

Patrick Higgins of Malverne graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts

Degree in the Political Science

Major from Muhlenberg College.

SUNY Canton President Zvi Szafran recognized Jeniyah Howard of West Hempstead for earning high marks during the spring 2023 semester. Howard is a SUNY Canton Health Care Management major.

Local students at Lehigh University who attained Dean’s List in Spring 2023 are: Ava Artusa of West Hempstead and Molly Landers of Malverne.

Rebecca Millevoi of West Hempstead was named to the Muhlenberg College Dean’s List for the Spring 2023 semester.

Isabella Legovich of West Hempstead, who is studying Environmental Engineering, has made the Dean’s Honor List for the Spring 2023 semester at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York.

Siena College named the following students to the Dean’s List for the Spring 2023 semester: Patrick Arsell of West Hempstead and Nick Rizzi of West Hempstead.

Lauren Hom of Malverne graduated magna cum laude with a BS in Pharmaceutical Science and Doctor of Pharmacy from the Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences.

New York Institute of Technology announced its newest students for the fall 2023 semester, including: Faseeha Asad of West Hempstead, who plans to major in Computer Science; Jayden Rodriguez of Malverne, who plans to major in Architectural Technology; and Samuel Mwenda of West Hempstead, who plans to major in Mechanical Engineering.

The following Fairfield University students received Dean’s List Honors for the Spring 2023 semester: Jane S. Kutch and Patrick T. Portsmore, both of Malverne.

Hofstra University congratulated local students named to the Spring 2023 Dean’s List for their outstanding academic achievement, including: Jasmine CantosMendoza , a Fine Arts major from Malverne; Matthew Friedman , an Exercise Science major from West Hempstead; Jordan Lowenthal , a Mechanical Engineering major from West Hempstead; Anthony Lugo , a Health Science major from West Hempstead; Lamia Rahman, a Computer Science & Cybersecurity major from West Hempstead; Shane Salmon , a Management major from West Hempstead; Jeffrey Schreck , a Mechanical Engineering major from West Hempstead; Neman Tokhi , a Criminology major from Malverne; and Victoria Tudisc o, an English major from West Hempstead.

Hofstra University announced the Spring 2023 Provost’s List, which recognizes students who earned a perfect 4.0 grade point average. Local students earning this distinction include: Joselin Campos, a Psychology major from West Hempstead; James Cicalese , an Exercise Science major from West Hempstead; Ashley Miller, a Community Health major from Malverne; Rachel Navarro , a Psychology major from West Hempstead; and Emily Plevritis, a Music major from Malverne.

Colleen Knoblach of Malverne graduated Cum Laude with a degrees in Secondary Education - BS from James Madison University during commencement exercises in May 2023.

American International College student Angel Grant of West Hempstead has earned Dean’s List honors for the Spring 2023 semester. Grant is majoring in Criminal Justice.

Clark University graduates include: Lauren A. Wolfe of West Hempstead, with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology; and Lamar Ramsey, of Malverne, with a Bachelor of Arts in History.

Myara Dacruz Machado of West Hempstead was awarded a bachelor of science degree in Nursing during Salve Regina University’s commencement.

Ryan Daley of West Hempstead completed New York Institute of Technology’s rigorous Internship Certificate Program during the Spring 2023 semester, earning valuable hands-on experience and developing skills in a wide range of work environments. Daley worked at HorseAbility in the role of Sidewalker.

As part of New York Institute of Technology’s 62nd annual commencement, its School of Health Professions recognized

members of the Class of 2023, including the following local students: James Alaimo from Malverne, who received the Nursing Leadership Award and studied in the nursing program; and Carmine Fuschetto from West Hempstead, who received the John J. Theobald Graduate Achievement Award in Physical Therapy and studied in the physical therapy program.

New York Institute of Technology Doctor of Physical Therapy students from the Class of 2023, including Carmine Fuschetto from West Hempstead, received their doctoral hoods at the university’s commencement ceremony on May 21.

Receiving the doctoral hood is a rite of passage celebrating the completion of training as students graduate and pursue careers as physical therapists.

Micah Sterrett , an Exercise Science major at Grove City College from Malverne, has been named to the Dean’s List with Distinction for the Fall 2022 semester. Sterrett is a 2016 graduate of Christian Academy and is the son of Rev. and Mrs. Lloyd Sterrett.

The University of Scranton’s Class of 2023 who were awarded bachelor’s and associate’s degrees at its undergraduate commencement ceremony on May 21. Among those graduating were: Francesca M. Melisi of Malverne, who earned a Bachelor of Science degree in kinesiology; and Deirdre M. Knight of Malverne, who earned a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing.

Kylie McShea of West Hempstead earned a place on Furman University’s dean’s list for the 2023 spring semester.

New York Institute of Technology’s nursing students from the Class of 2023, including James Alaimo from Malverne, were welcomed into the profession with a pinning ceremony. Nursing school pinning ceremonies are a rite of passage celebrating the completion of students’ training as they graduate and go on to pursue careers as RNs.

Matthew Amante of West Hempstead has been named to Southern New Hampshire University’s Winter 2023 President’s List.

Margaret Hassett of Malverne was awarded honors for the Spring 2023 semester at Mercy College of Ohio.

Lakeview College of Nursing honored a student and a faculty member with a DAISY award. The awards were presented during the College’s recent Research Day to Alfonso Crane , an LCN student from West Hempstead. Crane, a student on the College’s Danville Campus, was recognized for his genuine demeanor and willingness to volunteer with special projects.

Alvernia University Finance major Jack Kenney of Malverne was named to the Middle Atlantic Conference Academic Honor Roll.

Northwell gets pickleball player back on court

Like many sports-loving adults, the pandemic pushed James Ackies Jr. to pick up a pickleball paddle. The 47-yearold father of four lives near Hempstead Lake State Park and its outdoor courts. Soon, Ackies was playing with and against his entire family, including 20-year-old son, James Ackies III.

But in December 2021, Ackies underwent surgery to repair a torn meniscus suffered while playing pickleball as well as an older ACL injury, both in the right knee. Enter Northwell Health STARS Rehabilitation and Roger W. Gerland, a physical therapist and certified athletic trainer. He already knew Ackies, recommended a surgeon and personally rehabbed the dad, who was eager to get back on the pickleball court to take on all comers.

Dr. Randy Cohn, a renowned orthopedic sports medicine expert, performed successful surgery at Long Island Jewish Valley Stream. After six months of rehab, Ackies returned to pickleball. He’s been an advocate of the game — and proper warmups — ever since.

“It’s an adrenaline rush like what you get from football, basketball and other

contact sports, but without the contact,” said Ackies, a construction worker in BAC Local 7. “It still gets the competitive juices flowing, but without all the soreness you’d get. I recommend to my friends to no longer play basketball and get into pickleball for the activity.”

Recent reports from insurers and health care sector analysts claim that pickleball is, in part, responsible for a rise in injuries and accounts for up to $500 million in additional medical costs nationwide. Strains, sprains and fractures are common, but so too are knee injuries that require surgery.

“We recognized that we were beginning to see a lot of pickleball injuries in our orthopedic practices and emergency departments at Northwell Health and STARS Rehabilitation,” said Roger Gerland of STARS. “So we joined forces with Pickleball Plus to initiate a pickleball injury prevention and education program. It’s about properly warming up as well as the right footwear to help limit the number of injuries.”

Pickleball Plus in West Hempstead is the largest indoor pickleball facility in the tri-state area. Pickleball Plus and

STARS Rehabilitation periodically offer training sessions on proper warm-up exercises for playing pickleball.

Form matters too. Maria Lobben, the Pickleball Plus club pro who is PPR certi-

fied, stresses using big muscle groups such as quadriceps and shoulders to volley. Overuse of arm muscles, for example, can lead to wrist and elbow injuries.

Courtesy Northwell Health Pickleball Plus pro Maria Lobben, left, James Ackies Jr., and STARS Rehabilitation PT Roger Gerland.

I recommend to my friends to no longer play basketball and get into pickleball for the activity.

James ackIes Jr. construction worker, BAC Local 7

STEPPING OUT

Action along the midway

A bustling scene at the

STEPPING OUT

Creative advocacy

By Karen Bloom

Cotton candy, zeppole, the ubiquitous Ferris wheel. Of course, it must be time for the fair. That summertime staple is back again, taking over the Nassau Coliseum grounds, through July 16.

By Karen Bloom

Circus-type spectacle, an old-school “oddity” sideshow, exotic animals, along with plenty of thrill rides for all ages and midway action, all combine for an extravaganza that entices all ages.

Step right up everyone: The Royal Hanneford Circus carries forth with time-honored circus traditions refreshed for the 21st century. Producers Adrian Poema and Nellie Hanneford Poema — along with their four talented children, Catherine, Mariana, Adrian Jr., and Tommy — are focused on bringing a fresh new take on circus arts under the Big Top.

The Hanneford Family, long considered the “Royal Family of the Circus,” can rightly claim an unbroken span of circus history fast approaching three centuries. Beginning with Edwin Hanneford in the late 1600s to the present, they have consistently amazed, amused, thrilled and delighted audiences everywhere with their exploits and skilled acts. From aerial high-wire feats, to illusionists, freestyle motocross, the human cannonball, the big cats, and more — this surely is an edge-of-your-seat experience.

Film Expo

out the red carpet once again for the Long Island International Film Expo, now in its 26th year. LIIFE is proud to present 133 films — 75 of them from New York filmmakers, and 30 of them by Long Islanders. Even more statistics of note: LIIFE World premieres, five U.S. premieres, short- to feature-length, moviegoers can partake of a diverse group of 156 independent films this year include: ‘1,000 Years A Witness,’ to their youth; ‘Across,’ in which three young American World War II

widows take a day trip to celebrate the younger sister’s bittersweet engagement, when a corrosive and dangerous secret from the past reemerges; ‘The Concertgoer,’ the tale of a couple who, when finding the Shostakovich concert they had planned to see is sold out, are guided to an obscure garden where they find the elusive concertgoer, silent and still, lying on a brick slab.

Wednesday through Sunday, July 19-23. Bellmore Movies, 222 Pettit Ave., Bellmore. Tickets and information available at LongIslandFilm.com.

Pat McGann

Comic showcase

Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale

• Now through July 16, 5-11 p.m. weekdays; noon-11 p.m.

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

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

Saturday and Sunday

• $10 (free for kids under 36 inches tall with paying adult); unlimited ride wristbands (for riders 36 inches and taller) are $35, $40 FridaySunday.

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

Curated by Alexandra Giordano — the museum’s assistant director of exhibition and collection — the exhibit underscores artists’ civic responsibility and influence.

• Ride tickets are also available at the carnival for $1.50 each, $30/20 tickets, or $60/50 tickets plus 1 free ride (rides take 2 or more tickets each)

More animal antics can be found at Eudora Farms Exotic Petting Zoo, where kids can get up-close and personal with a variety of exotic animals from the four corners of the globe. Kids can meet and greet the animals — and feed them.

Be sure to check out the World of Wonders sideshow, new to the fair this year. Visit the colorful tent and be drawn into the scene involving 10 sideshow acts, under the watchful eye of Tommy Breen — aka The Great Gozleone. Sword swallower extraordinaire, his antics are boundless, including fire-eating and stunts with a guillotine that are not for the faint of heart.

“It highlights the vital role that artists have in activating democratic values that promise equality and freedom, encouraging civic engagement, and cultivating unity,” Giordano says. “Artists often lead the charge and expose truths that may otherwise be ignored. The artists in this exhibition take a stand and call out injustices through their art and activism on issues such as immigration, gender, reproductive rights, mass incarceration, voting rights, racial bias, gun violence, and promises unfulfilled. They all combine the making of art with public service that has a grassroots approach in the hope of mobilizing their communities and the nation to ignite movement, create awareness, and inspire others to stand with them.”

“When I was 14, I decided I wanted to run away with the sideshow,” Breen says. “I started teaching myself sword swallowing and some other stunts out of the back of a book I found. I didn’t think there still were

This exhibit, which runs through July 28, is in conjunction with Hofstra’s 13th presidential conference on the Barack Obama presidency coming up in April.

sideshows around, I figured I could perform in bars with bands or something. But then, when I graduated college, I saw Ward Hall was hiring for his World of Wonders show. I was shocked it was still on the road and that I had the chance to work for the King of the Sideshow. So, I quit my job and got rid of my apartment and joined the carnival. It was what I had always daydreamed about, and once I got here, I just never left.”

Breen proudly carries on the sideshow tradition, with his fellow sideshow folk.

Strongwoman Luella Lynne emcees the show and astounds visitors with feats of strength, bending metal, ripping phone books, and breaking metal chains with her bare hands. Other “talents” include Sam Rezz, who performs with hula hoops, needle swallowing and contact juggling. And don’t miss out on Lucy Lovett, the electric lady, with her painproof woman act.

And, of course, don’t miss out on the rides. The midway features plenty of attractions that all ages will enjoy, including the Dream Wheel (one of the largest Ferris wheels on the fair circuit), the Grand Carousel, Super Cyclone roller coaster, Wacky Worm family roller coaster, Storybook Fun House, super slide, and bumper cars.

And, yes, in case you’re wondering, you can still take a spin in those tea cups. Some things never go out of style.

“We were interested in the idea that the artist has a civic responsibility,” says museum director Karen Albert. “The initial idea for this exhibition was inspired by an Obama Administration White House briefing that took place on May 12, 2009, where more than 60 artists and creative organizers met with administration officials to

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

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

Laugh the night away at Mom’s Night Out, presented by Long Island Comedy Festival. You’ll enjoy witty standup delivered by four clever comics. Ellen Karis, known as the ‘Greek Goddess of Comedy,’ performs at venues throughout North America. She’s described as the ‘little dynamo’ given her petite stature, strong improv skills and ability to build a quick rapport with any audience. New York City-born and raised in a traditional strict Greek home, her brand of sarcastic, observational humor is along the same lines as comedy legends Joan Rivers and Richard Lewis. She’s joined by Maria Walsh, ‘America’s Naughtiest Mommy,’ whose quick wit, combined with coordinating facial expressions, give her a memorable and commanding stage presence. Kendra Cunningham, a Boston native who absconded to New York to peruse performing, who whines too much in her dreams. And Maureen Langan, acclaimed for her high-energy, versatile style that highlights her warmth and razor-edge repartee.

Thursday, July 20, 8 p.m. $35$40. Madison Theatre, Molloy University, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre. (516) 323-4444 or MadisonTheatreNY.org.

Photos courtesy Empire State Fair

From daring sideshow acts featuring fire-eating to circus spectacle and everyone’s favorite rides, plus new enticements, plenty of summer amusements await at the latest edition of the Empire State Fair.

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

The folk rocker is back on tour, appearing on the Tilles Center stage, Friday and Saturday, July 21-22, 8 p.m. Singer, songwriter, producer, activist, humanitarian, best-selling author — Brandi Carlile has done it all. Since the release of her breakthrough album “By The Way, I Forgive You in 2018,” Carlile has won Grammy Awards, earned Billboard’s Women in Music Trailblazer Award, and received several Americana Music Association accolades. She won her seventh, eighth and ninth Grammys this year, winning for best Americana album with ”In These Silent Days.” Her song “Broken Horses,” won both best rock song and best rock performance. A versatile performer hailed by Billboard for her “impressive vocal range” and “captivating presence,” Carlile has topped the Americana and Rock charts with solo hits, co-founded the country supergroup The Highwomen, and collaborated with legendary artists including Elton John, Alicia Keys, Dolly Parton, and Miley Cyrus. Don’t miss an evening of iconic songs such as “The Story,” “That Wasn’t Me,” and “The Joke.” Seemingly everywhere, Carlisle has transitioned from an Americana powerhouse to a major headliner beloved by the industry and the public. Carlile’s career has been on a steep upward trajectory and her “Bramily” has her fans are known, are with her every step of the way. LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Boulevard, Brookville. Tickets are $51.50 -$481.50; available at TillesCenter.org or (516) 299-3100.

On exhibit

View the landmark exhibition “Modigliani and the Modern Portrait,” opening at Nassau County Museum of Art, Saturday, July 22. Devoted to the way that Modigliani powerfully re-defined the art of portraiture, the show includes his masterworks along with paintings and drawings by his Parisian contemporaries (Picasso, van Dongen, Laurencin). Modigliani’s enduring influence on artists even in our own time is shown in a selection of Contemporary paintings by such important figures as David Hockney, Eric Fischl, Elizabeth Peyton and others. The exhibition is being curated by Dr. Kenneth Wayne, founder of The Modigliani Project, which authenticates paintings and drawings (two of the works in the show have been recently approved by the committee). Through Nov. 5. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. (516) 484-9337 or NassauMuseum.org.

Life Science of Summer

Kids ages 6-9 can tour Old Westbury Gardens and examine how science is all around us, Thursday, July 27, 2 p.m. Learn how plants grow as you participate in experiments of the water cycle and how we can use science to change the color of a flower both naturally and artificially. 71 Old Westbury Road, Old Westbury. For information visit OldWestburyGardens.org or contact (516) 333-0048.

70th Year Reunion

West Hempstead Class of 1953 will celebrate its 70th reunion, Saturday, Sept. 30, 5-9 p.m. at Plattduesche Park Restaurant in Franklin Square. Tickets are $95 per person. With dinner, dessert, coffee and a DJ. For more information, contact Karl Riesterer at Karl282@ aol.com or (516) 315-1312. Payment must be made by June 1. Checks should be made payable to Charles Riesterer, 210 Bedell Terrace, West Hempstead.

Write on: College essay workshops

Not sure how to get started on your college essay? The Hofstra University Admission Office is offering virtual workshops to help high school students learn the skills to tell their story in a way that helps them stand out. The workshops, Thursday, July 20 and Aug. 17, 4-5 p.m., are free and open to the public, but advance registration is required. Hear from Hofstra Admission counselors about how to brainstorm topics, and compose a thoughtful essay that shows your personality, talents and interests. For more information about Hofstra Admission’s other virtual summer workshops, go to Admission.Hofstra.edu/ portal/virtual_admission_ webinars. To schedule a summer in-person visit go to: Hofstra.edu/visit.

Sunday Stroll

Enjoy a pleasant stroll through Hempstead Lake State Park, every Sunday ,10-11:30 a.m.

Participants will set out for a new destination in the park each week to xplore the natural and recreational wonders that make up Hempstead Lake State Park and enjoy the seasonal changes. Each walk will be accessible on paved trails. Families are welcome. 1000 Lake Drive, West Hempstead. Visit Eventbrite.com. to register or call (516) 766-1029 for more information.

Family Fun Night

Young kids ages 1-5 can enjoy storytime, music and movement at West Hempstead Public Library, Monday, July 17 , 6:307:15 p.m. Activities are outdoors to enhance the fun! 500 Hempstead Ave. Visit WHPLibrary.org or call (516) 481-6591.

Having an event?

Go fish!

Families, with kids 10 and over, can discover the basics of fishing and build new skills while fishing around Hempstead Lake State Park, Saturday, July 15, 10-11:30 a.m. This free program is provided through a partnership with the Department of Environmental Conservation. All materials will be provided. Meet at Field 3 at McDonald Pond. 1000 Lake Drive, West Hempstead. Register at EventBrite.com or call (516) 766-1029 for more information.

Teen Tuesdays

Need something fun to while school is out? Come to the Lakeview Public Library on Tuesdays, from 4:30-6 p.m., for snacks, music, art, games, crafts. Register prior to each session so library staff have enough supplies for everyone. 1120 Woodfield Road. Rockville Centre. Visit LakeviewLibrary.org or call Jennifer Dunlop at (516) 536-3071.

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 stage

Plaza Theatricals brings the iconic musical “Rent,” back to the stage, Friday, July 21, 7:30 p.m. The acclaimed reimagining of “La Vie Boheme,” loosely based on Puccini’s opera and set on East Village streets, fire escapes, tenements, and cafes. This groundbreaking roller coaster ride depicting the joys and sorrows of an eclectic, diverse group of young artists and activists is always captivating. It’s performed at the Elmont Library Theatre, 700 Hempstead Tpke., Elmont. $35, $30 seniors. Elmont. For tickets, call (516) 599-6870 or visit PlazaTheatrical.com.

July 27

Mindful mornings

Practice the “art” of looking at art at Nassau County Museum of Art, Thursday, July 27, 10-11 a.m., with NCMA Director of Education Laura Lynch. Mindful looking invites you to observe, question, and calmly reflect in a relaxed and supportive environment free of distraction. It’s an opportunity to experience and enjoy the art in the galleries or sculpture garden, together, making personal connection. $10. Space is limited and registration required. Also Aug. 3. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. (516) 484-9337 or NassauMuseum.org.

Breastfeeding Support Group

Mercy Hospital offers a peer to peer meeting for breastfeeding support and resources, facilitated by a certified breastfeeding counselor, every Thursday, 10:30 a.m.–11:30 a.m. Bring your baby (from newborn to 1 year) to the informal group setting. All new moms are welcome, regardless of delivering hospital. Registration required. Call breastfeeding counselor, Gabriella Gennaro, at (516) 705-2434 to secure you and your baby’s spot. Mercy Hospital, St. Anne’s Building, 1000 North Village Ave., Rockville Centre. For information visit CHSLI.org.

LIIFE returns to the big screen, 26 years later

By JORDAN VALLONE jvallone@liherald.com

For 26 years, the Long Island International Film Expo has united filmmakers, producers, actors and actresses — and of course, moviegoers — right in the heart of Nassau County.

A great opportunity for people to network with professionals, learn about filmmaking, and watch some of this year’s best independent films, the expo — better known as LIIFE — returns to the Bellmore Movies and Showplace at 222 Pettit Ave., on July 19.

The expo has a lot in store for film fanatics this year, said Debra Markowitz. She’s president of the Long Island Film & TV Foundation, and is a co-creator of LIIFE, along with Henry and Anne Stampfel, owners of the Bellmore Movies.

Aside from 131 films — both shorts and features — which will be screened during this year’s expo, there are also a variety of panels and discussions ticket-buyers can attend. In particular, panels on writing, legalities and liabilities, and a director’s point of view on auditions, which are almost always fully booked.

The audition panel includes more than a half-dozen working directors, listening to actors who book themselves for 10-minute slots to read monologues.

“There are people who directors have seen during these auditions, and they might call them a year later or sometimes even two years later and say, ‘Hey, I’m casting this project. You’re great for such and such,’” Markowitz, a Merrick native, explained. “It’s a great way for them to get their face out there and practice auditioning.”

LIIFE receives support from celebrities who frequently make appearances and speak at panels during the expo.

Lukas Hassel — an actor, screenwriter and filmmaker known for roles in television shows such as NBC’s “The

Blacklist” — is again attending the expo.

“Filmmaking is hard,” he said last year. “It’s one thing if you have a studio backing you with $200 million and celebrity actors. But independent filmmaking is really hard. It’s all about reaching out to your colleagues, to your friends, to your community.”

Various venues have hosted LIIFE since its inception, including Hofstra University, Nassau Community College, and even Malverne Cinema on Hempstead Avenue. For the past 15 years — with the exception of 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic — Bellmore Movies

UNBUBBLIEVABLE THAN EVER! MORE UNBUBBLIEVABLE THAN EVER!

Want to attend LIIFE?

Visit LongIslandFilm.com to see the lineup of events at the Long Island International Film Expo, and to purchase a Gold Pass, which allows one entrance to every film block and event between July 19 and July 23.

It all takes place at the Bellmore Movies and Showplace, 222 Pettit Ave., in Bellmore.

has been the festival’s home.

LIIFE also receives support each year from Nassau County, to the point its financial sponsorship makes the expo possible.

The film festival attracts everyone, from students, to successful filmmakers, to those just getting started.

“You have people who have really made it in the industry, who maybe do their own projects and lots of shows,” Markowitz said, “but you also have people who are just starting out, who maybe haven’t made a film yet. They can sit in the panels and ask all kinds of questions.

“So we kind of make the place you know, for filmmakers big and small — to really come and be a film community. That’s what I really think we do better than pretty much anybody else.”

And even though the 2023 expo is just around the corner, Markowitz said the Film & TV Foundation is already hard at work, planning the next one.

“I can’t believe we’ve been around for 26 years, and everything we’ve gone through and the changes that we’ve made,” Markowitz said. “It’s an all-volunteer staff, which is a big-time commitment and work commitment. It feels great to be able to get it done.”

Tim Baker/Herald file

Debra Markowitz, president of the Long Island Film & TV Foundation — and co-director of LIIFE — returns to bring yet another Long Island International Film Expo to the Bellmore Movies and Showplace on July 19.

Hebrew Academy of Nassau wins title

Hempstead Town Clerk Kate Murray recently congratulated the Hebrew Academy of Nassau County Hurricanes hockey team on winning the YJHSHL Championship. Also attending were coach Mordechai Harris, ECC Director Trudy Rubenstein, Principals Rabbi Elliot Hecht and Ouriel Hazan, and Assistant Principals Jennifer Morey and Michal Wasser.

Protecting Your Future with Michael and Suzanne Ettinger Attorneys-at-Law

Increasing Your Emotional Intelligence

The philosopher Epictetus said “Men are disturbed not by events, but by the views they take of them.” Arising out of “The Good Life”, previously reviewed here, comes the W.I.S.E.R. model for reacting to emotionally challenging situations.

Watch. Initial impressions are powerful but may be incomplete. There is usually more to see. When the impression and the emotional response start to interact, take a moment to pause and thoughtfully observe the situation to prevent a potentially harmful reflexive response. As they say in psychiatry “Don’t just do something, sit there.”

Interpret. We are all seeing the world through our own eyes -- what is happening, why it is happening and how it affects us. Our reality is not necessarily that of others. Thinking that a situation is all about us often leads to misunderstanding. When your emotions start to bubble up, it indicates you have something important at stake -- a goal, an insecurity or a vital relationship. Figuring out what’s at stake will allow you to interpret the situation better.

Select. Having watched, interpreted and re-interpreted, you must select your response. Instead of reacting reflexively out of stress, slowing down allows us to choose from more options. As “The Good Life” says “Given what’s at stake and the resources at my disposal, what can I do in this situation? What would be a good outcome here? And what is the likelihood that things will go well if I respond this way instead of that way?”

Engage. Now you are ready to respond more purposefully -- aligning with who you are and what you want to accomplish. You’ve observed and interpreted the situation, taken some time to consider the possibilities and their likelihood of success, and you then execute your strategy.

Reflect. “How did that work out? Did I make things better or worse? Have I learned something new about the challenge I’m facing and about the best response? Reflecting on our response to a challenge can yield dividends for the future. It’s in learning from experience that we fully grow wiser.”

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July marks family’s first year in Malverne

their jobs,” Suresh said. “So it brings a smile to everyone’s face who passes by, even though they’re having a hard time or a setback. It gives them a pause — it takes a few seconds to change that thought.”

The Ramoutars have a running joke that Malie must have secret helpers, or elves that help her decorate — how else could they leave in the morning and come back a few hours later to a house filled, from lawn to living room, with carefully curated festive decorations?

“It’s really fun to see the house decorated,” Myalina said.

“Because when we first moved in, the house was really plain. I’m just not used to being surrounded by boringness.

“I’m lucky to have my grandma decorate the house for us. And it’s fun to help her out.”

Each holiday setup brings its own special kind of joy. Kids and fathers would take selfies with the Father’s Day decorations, trick-or-treaters would snap photos of the spooky Halloween-themed lawn, and families would smile in front of beautiful Christmas decor, often for holiday cards. The decorations provide a regular delight to neighbors, or a pleasant surprise to those just passing through.

“It gives me a sense of joy,” Myalina said. She added that some families don’t have the time or resources to decorate for every holiday, and she’s happy to help provide that source of fun.

When choosing a new home last year, the Ramoutars looked at hundreds — but Malverne was special. The beauty, safety, and good schools brought their house hunting to an end. Suresh said he and his wife loved it from the very first time they drove through.

“It’s a beautiful, beautiful village,” Suresh said.

“Most of all, the people. They’re very welcoming.”

Malie’s only requirement for their new home? A nice lawn for her to decorate. The Ramoutars say her decorations are a source of love and joy for not only the community at large and the grandkids, but Malie herself.

Malie came to the U.S. in 1995 from Guyana, where people typically only decorated for Christmas. She fig-

ured — why not bring that happiness to every holiday?

That’s also why the Fourth of July carries a special significance for the Ramoutars — it helps celebrate Malie’s story.

“We’re very proud of the opportunity given in this country,” Suresh said. “And that’s the reason why we’re thankful. It’s truly the land of the free. We hope we’ve captured a small part of the American spirit.”

Nicole Formisano/Herald the ramoutars’ home, inside and out, is resplendent in patriotic colors.

No matter the industry, businesses around the world are undergoing dramatic changes to the way they operate From technology and skills development, to cultural barriers, self-care and mental health, every organization must adapt and evolve, or risk being left behind.

As we navigate a time of pivotal change, the Herald’s 2023 WE Summit presented by Bank of America brings together thought leaders, innovators and barrier-breaking women for conversations around this year’s theme: The Future is Now.

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Public Notices

LEGAL NOTICE

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORKCOUNTY OF NASSAU

WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A., AS TRUSTEE FOR SECURITIZED ASSETBACKED RECEIVABLES

LLC 2005-FR5 MORTGAGE

PASS THROUGH CERTIFICATES SERIES

2005-FR5, V. BERNICE

WALTER, ET. AL. NOTICE OF SALE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure dated June 18, 2008, and entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Nassau, wherein WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A., AS TRUSTEE FOR SECURITIZED ASSETBACKED RECEIVABLES

LLC 2005-FR5 MORTGAGE

PASS THROUGH CERTIFICATES SERIES

2005-FR5 is the Plaintiff and BERNICE WALTER, ET AL. are the Defendant(s).

I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the NASSAU COUNTY

SUPREME COURT, NORTH SIDE STEPS, 100 SUPREME COURT DRIVE, MINEOLA, NY 11501, on July 25, 2023 at 2:30PM, premises known as 1090

PINEBROOK COURT, WEST HEMPSTEAD, NY 11552: Section 38, Block K, Lot 750: 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 Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 012241/2007. Jaime D. Ezratty, Esq, Esq. - Referee. Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310, Westbury, New York 11590, Attorneys for Plaintiff. All foreclosure sales will be conducted in accordance with Covid-19 guidelines including, but not limited to, social distancing and mask wearing.

*LOCATION OF SALE

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

140295

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME

COURT NASSAU COUNTY

WILMINGTON SAVINGS

FUND SOCIETY, FSB D/B/A

CHRISTIANA TRUST, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS THE TRUSTEE FOR THE BROUGHAM FUND I TRUST, Plaintiff against MAX NOEL, et al Defendant(s) Attorney for Plaintiff(s) Stern & Eisenberg, P.C., 20 Commerce Drive, Suite 230, Cranford, NJ 07016.

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale

entered February 6, 2014, I will sell at public auction to the highest bidder at North Side Steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on August 8, 2023 at 2:00 PM. Premises known as 88 Wolf Avenue, Malverne,

NY 11565. Sec 35 Block

233 Lot 91. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, situate, lying and being in the Incorporated Village of Malverne, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York. Approximate

Amount of Judgment is $757,222.29 plus interest, fees, and costs.

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No 006044/2008. During the COVID-19 health emergency, Bidders are required to comply with all governmental health requirements in effect at the time of the 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. Should a bidder fail to comply, the Referee may refuse to accept any bid, cancel the closing and hold the bidder in default. 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. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, then the Court Appointed Referee shall cancel the foreclosure auction. Foreclosure Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine.”

Gerald Wright, Esq., Referee NY-52600060-16 140529

LEGAL NOTICE

CASE NO. 12649

RESOLUTION NO.6592022 Adopted: May 24, 2022 Councilmember Carini offered the following resolution and moved its adoption: RESOLUTION GRANTING THE PETITON OF THE GIAMBRONE ASSET MANAGEMENT TRUST, AS OWNER, AND BOLLA EM REALTY, LLC, AS LESSEE, FOR A VARIANCE FROM THE PROVISIONS OF THE GSS DISTRICT, SITE PLAN MODIFICATION APROVAL, AND A MODIFICATION OF RESTRICITVE COVENANTS FOR REAL PROPERTY LOCATED AT 1589 MERRICK ROAD, MERRICK, TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, NEW YORK. WHEREAS, the petition of Bolla EM Realty, LLC, as lessee, with offices at 809 Stewart Avenue, Garden City, New York 11530, and the Giambrone Asset Management Trust, as property owner, with an address at 14 Kotfield Court, Melville, New York 11747, dated and acknowledged June 25, 2021, for site plan modification approval, a Variance from the GSS provisions and a modification of Restrictive Coveneants for property located on the northeast corner of Merrick Road and Central Boulevard, Merrick, New York, more particularly described

hereinafter, was filed with this Town Board; and WHEREAS, Bolla EM Realty, LLC, as lessee, and the Giambrone Asset Management Trust, as a property owner, have submitted to the Town of Hempstead a Declaration of Restrictive Covenants dated August 25, 2022, and executed by Harvinder Singh, Member (Bolla) and John Giambrone, Trustee (Giambrone) (executed in counterparts) with reference to said overall parcel that modifies a Declaration of Restrictive Covenants recorded in the Office of the Nassau County Clerk on January 27, 1986; and NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the petition of Bolla EM Realty, as property owner, dated June 25, 2021, for site plan modification approval, aVariance from the GSS provisions and a modification of Restricitve Covenants at the hereinafter described property in Merrick, New York, is hereby granted and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the property which is the subject of said Petition is known and designated as Section 55, Block 180, Lot 32 on the Nassau County Land And Tax Map, the meets and bounds of which are described in the Declaration of Restrictive Covenants and, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that said petition is granted subject to the provisions of Chapter 132 of the Code of the Town of Hempstead and the Building Zone Ordinance of the Town of Hempstead, and further approvals if required from the Board of Appeals or any other governmental entity and the submission of a Declaration of Restrictive Covenants acceptable to this Board and the subject premises shall be maintained in accordance with the site plan prepared by High Point Engineering, last revised on May 10, 2022 and filed with the Town Clerk; and be it further RESOLVED, that this inclusion shall become effective upon the issuance of a permit by the Department of Buildings of the Town of Hempstead. The forgoing resolution was seconded by Councilmember Dunne and adopted upon roll call as follows: AYES:

SEVEN (7) NOES: NONE (0) 140659

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF ADOPTION OF TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD LOCAL LAW NO. 49

-2023 PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that pursuant to Article 9 of the New York State Constitution, the provisions of the Town Law and the Municipal Home Rule Law of the State of New York, as amended, a public hearing was duly called and held on the day of June 20, 2023, by the Town Board of the Town of Hempstead, on the proposed adoption of Town of Hempstead

Local Law No. 49-2023,

and following the close of the hearing the Town Board duly adopted Local Law No. 49-2023, for the enactment of an amendment to Chapter 99 of the Code of the Town of Hempstead entitled “Registration and Permitting of Property” in relation to accessory structures and penalties.

Dated:Hempstead, New York June 20, 2023 BY ORDER OF THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD

KATE MURRAY Town Clerk DONALD X. CLAVIN, JR. Supervisor 140661

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE UPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, CITIBANK, N.A., NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY, BUT SOLELY AS TRUSTEE OF NRZ PASS-THROUGH TRUST VI, Plaintiff, vs. HARRY SELLERS, AS EXECUTOR AND HEIR TO THE ESTATE OF RONALD E. SELLERS, DECEASED, ET AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to an Order Confirming Referee Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on June 1, 2023, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the front steps on the north side of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on August 15, 2023 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 407 Scaneateles Avenue, 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 Norwood, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 35, Block 415 and Lot 768, 769, 770, 771 and 894. Approximate amount of judgment is $523,678.37 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 604000/2019. This foreclosure sale will be held on the north side steps of the Courthouse, rain or shine. COVID-19 safety protocols will be followed at the foreclosure sale. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, the Court Appointed Referee will cancel the sale. Scott H. Siller, Esq., Referee Friedman Vartolo LLP, 85 Broad Street, Suite 501, New York, New York 10004, Attorneys for Plaintiff. Firm File No. 182226-1 140667

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 PASSTHROUGH CERTIFICATES SERIES 2006-5 Plaintiff, Against CEDRIC E. WRIGHT A/K/A CEDRIC

W.H. grad receives Daikin scholarship

Glenda Garcia, a 2023 graduate of West Hempstead Secondary School, recently received a $2,000 scholarship from Daikin, the global leader in state-ofthe-art heating and cooling products.

The award was part of $10,000 in scholarships given to five Long Island high school students as part of the Daikin Science Scholarship program. Now in its fourth year, the Daikin Science Scholarship is offered to graduating seniors in five Nassau County high schools who demonstrate academic excellence in the sciences, technology, or mathematics and pursue one of these majors in their college studies.

Named one of the 25 top students at West Hempstead Secondary School Class of 2023, Garcia will be furthering her studies at Chestnut Hill College, majoring in biology and playing lacrosse.

Active in school life and her community, she is the editor-in-chief of her school newspaper, co-vice president of the Tri-M Honor Society, treasurer of the Class of 2023, and played on the varsity lacrosse team. Garcia volunteers as a teacher at her local church and sings in the choir.

“Daikin greatly values the importance of education and is pleased to provide financial support to the next generation of scientists, engineers, and other professionals who will provide solutions to some of the most pressing global issues we face today and in the future,” said Kim Do, Daikin strategic marketing manager.

Since its inception in 2020, the program has provided $40,000 in scholarship awards to 20 graduating high school students in Garden City, Lawrence, Lynbrook, Oceanside, and West Hempstead.

Public Notices

WRIGHT Defendant(s)

Pursuant to An Order Confirming Referee Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale, duly entered 04/12/2023, I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction, at the North Front Steps of the Nassau County Courthouse, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, N.Y. 11501 on 8/15/2023 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 97 Marlborough Road, 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 in the Town Of West Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York. Section 34 Block 311 Lot 53, 54, and 55.

The approximate amount

of the current Judgment lien is $466,755.16 plus interest and costs. The Premises will be sold subject to provisions of the aforesaid Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale;

Index # 614300/2019

Anthony J. Rattoballi Esq., Referee. SHELDON MAY & ASSOCIATES Attorneys at Law, 255 Merrick Road, Rockville Centre, NY 11570 Dated: 6/1/2023

File Number: 35973 RS 140623

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 at the NASSAU COUNTY SUPREME COURT, NORTH SIDE STEPS, 100 SUPREME COURT DRIVE, MINEOLA, NY 11501, on August 8, 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 SALE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DAY OF IN ACCORDANCE WITH COURT/CLERK DIRECTIVES. 140652

Search for notices online at: www.newyorkpublicnotices.com

Courtesy Jack McCoy

Daikin Strategic Marketing Manager Kim Do, right, presents the Daikin Science Scholarship award to West Hempstead Secondary School senior Glenda Garcia.

12 Month Position

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS PER NASSAU COUNTY CIVIL SERVICE

Training and Experience

Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited or New York State registered college or university, AND

Four years of satisfactory administrative staff experience, which must include participating in budget preparation, and/or personnel and/or procurement activities.

NOTE: 1. Experience, as outlined above, in excess of the four-year requirement, may be substituted for college education on a year-for-year basis up to a maximum of four years.

2. A Master's degree from a regionally accredited or New York State registered college or university may be substituted for one year of the experience as outlined above.

Anticipated Start Date: Upon Civil Service Approval

Please submit letter of interest and resume to:

Ms. Diane Drakopoulos

Personnel Clerk 443 Ocean Avenue East Rockaway, NY 11518 516-887-8300, x1-441

Email: ddrakopoulos@eastrockawayschools.org

The Merrick Before/After School Program is preparing for the 2023-24 school year. We require mature individuals to provide quality care to elementary school aged children from 2:45 pm to 5:00 or 6:00 pm weekdays. Minimum 3 afternoons per week. Experience helpful.

If interested, email merrickbasp@aol.com or call 516-379-4245

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

DRIVERS WANTED

Full Time and Part Time Positions Available! Busy Print Shop in Garden City is Hiring Immediately for Full Time and Part Time Drivers. Must Have a Clean License and BoxTruck Driving Experience. Hours Vary, Night Availability is a Must. Please Email Resume to careers@liherald.com or Call (516)569-4000 x239

DRIVING INSTRUCTOR

Company Car/ Bonuses. Clean Driving Record Required, Will Train. Retirees Welcome! Bell Auto School 516-365-5778

Email: info@bellautoschool.com

DRIVING INSTRUCTORS WANTED

Will Certify And Train HS Diploma

NYS License Clean 3 Years Call 516-731-3000

EDITOR/REPORTER

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

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

Manager On Duty

At Blaze, Old Bethpage Village

Outdoors From September

Through November

5-8 Hour Shifts. Serve As The Primary Point Of Contact For All Issues That May Occur During The Event, Seeing Each Through To Resolution. Serve As The Primary Point Of Contact For Emergency Personnel Hourly Rate $25-$30

To Apply: https://hudsonvalley.org/ employment/

MULTI MEDIA ACCOUNT DEVELOPMENT

Inside Sales

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

OUTSIDE SALES

Path Monitor At Blaze, Old Bethpage Village Outdoors From September Through November 5-8 Hour Evening Shifts Providing A Welcoming Atmosphere And Ensuring Guest Safety. Hourly Rate $20. To Apply: https://hudsonvalley.org/ employment/

PRESS-ROOM/WAREHOUSE HELP

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

RECEPTIONIST P/T Busy Cedarhurst Office Sundays & Some Week Days Answering Phones, Filing, And Scheduling Appointments Must Be Computer Literate Call 516-374-1010

Child/Eldercare/Help Wanted

NANNY NEEDED EXPERIENCED Live-In Or Live-Out Monday - Friday English/Spanish Speaking Call 516-672-4040

LINE COOK: Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday 10am-6pm. Sandwiches/ Salads. Beach Restaurant. Great Summer Job. 516-835-2819

Wantagh

Captivating and Luxurious Home

Come view this spectacular custom built 5 bedroom, 3 bath colonial on a huge 150ft deep property! The interior includes custom crown molding, wainscoting, coffered ceiling, built ins and is pre wired for phone, alarm and cable. This home boasts Anderson windows and 9ft ceilings on first floor. Enjoy a large eatin-kitchen with quartz counters and island along with a primary bedroom suite with 2 walk in closets and bath. The family room has a gas fireplace. There is an entertainer's size basement with 8ft ceilings and separate outside entrance with huge yard. You won’t want to miss this one!

A home office in the basement

Q. Since Covid I’ve been working mostly from home. I’m planning to build a home office in my basement, and will use metal wall studs with rockwool to insulate around the outside wall and also the inside walls for sound privacy. My child’s playroom will be just outside the office. I’m wondering whether I need to put in some kind of heater or air conditioner or just put a vent in the wall for airflow. My basement normally stays pretty cool in the summer, and isn’t too cold in the winter, usually around 60 to 65 degrees. Only about 18 inches of the basement is above ground. Should I add a split air conditioner and heater, use a space heater or just put vents in my office wall to the outside room?

Laura Memisha

Real Estate Broker

Cell: 516-984-0343

Office: 516-826-1111

Realty Advisors 3341 Park Avenue Wantagh NY 11793

A. You gave useful information that helps give me a clear understanding of the issues. There are many things to know about finishing a basement, because of building code safety requirements, thermal comfort, lighting levels and even the ceiling height. Hopefully you already know that you need a building permit, even though most people roll their eyes at this, because getting a permit isn’t as simple as it used to be, and because of the difficulties, many people avoid the process.

Consider that you need an escape well from the main room, and you can’t exit through the office room to the exterior, because you can’t exit through a smaller space with a potentially closed door.

& Fpl, & Fam Rm. 2 Car Att Gar. Endless Possibilities!

SD#14 $1,349,000

246 Adams Rd, BA, Elegant & Stately 4200 Sq Ft CH Col on Beautiful Quiet St. 5 BR, 4.55 Bth. Sweeping Staircase. All Spacious Rooms with Top Quality Finishes. Amazing Fam Rm with Cathedral Ceiling Overlooking

1 Acre Resortlike Prop Featuring IG Gunite Pool, Patio & Tennis Ct. XL Fin

Bsmt. Upper Level has Primary Ste w/ Dressing Rm & Bth Plus 3 BRs & 2

Bths. 2 Car Att Gar.Low Taxes! SD#20 REDUCED! $2,299,000

HEWLETT

1390 Broadway #102, BA, NEW! Move Right Into This Magnificent Newly

Renovated 2 BR, 2 Bth Coop in Prestigious Hewlett Townhouse. Open

Layout. NEW State of the Art Kitchen & Bths, HW Flrs, Windows, HVAC,

Recessed LED Lights, Doors, W/D. Community Pool. Full Service 24 Hr

Doorman, Valet Pkg, Elevator, Priv Storage. Gar Pkg. Near Shops, Trans & Houses of Worship $579,000

1534 Broadway #205, BA, Extra Large 2000 Sq Ft, 2 Bedroom (Originally

3 BR), 2 Bath Condo in Prestigious Jonathan Hall with Doorman & Elevator. Updtd Wood/Quartz Kit, LR & DR. Washer/Dryer in Unit.

Underground Pkg. Loads of Closets. Terrace Faces Back. Easy Ranch Style

Living BIG REDUCTION!! MOTIVATED SELLER! $579,000

504 Saddle Ridge Rd, BA,

REAL ESTATE

Open Houses

WOO dMERE

HEWLETT BA 1193 E. Broadway # M23

REDUCED Move Right Into This Stunning Gut Renovated 2 BR, 2 Bth Coop in Garden Town. Gourmet Kit W/Thermdore St Steel Appl Opens Into DR & LR. Primary BR w/Bth Plus Spac 2nd BR. W/D in Unit. New Self Controlled CAC. Oak Flrs, LED Lights. Near LIRR. Parking Avail. SD#14. You Don't Want to Miss This...$359,000 Ronnie Gerber, Douglas Elliman

516-238-4299

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

Open Houses

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

$2,999,000 Ronnie Gerber, Douglas elliman 516-238-429 ba

HEWLETT HARBOR BA, 1051 Channel Dr, FIRST TIME ON MARKET! 3/4 BR, 2.5 Bth Split on Beautiful Ω Acre Parklike Property. Updtd Gran/Wood EIK, Spac LR/DR with Vaulted Ceiling & Fpl, & Fam Rm. 2 Car Att Gar.Endless Possibilities!

SD#14...$1,349,000 Ronnie Gerber, Douglas Elliman 516-238-429

HEWLETT HARBOR BA 246 Adams Rd, NEW TO MARKET! Elegant & Stately 4200 Sq Ft CH Col on Beautiful Quiet St. 5 BR, 4.55 Bth. Sweeping Staircase. All Spacious Rooms with Top Quality Finishes. Amazing Fam Rm with Cathedral Ceiling Overlooking 1 Acre Resortlike Prop Featur-

Your thermal comfort, working at any hour of the day, is important, and your choice of wall metal studs can avoid potential moisture effects that can rot wood wall studs. In a recent conversation with a contractor, he said that he often sees wall studs rusted when he opens the walls to renovate, so be sure that the wall cavity has a water-resistant coating on the masonry or concrete wall surfaces. Although I recommend rigid polystyrene for the wall cavity, because it won’t sag if there’s moisture, rockwool is also a good choice if it can be secured from drooping when there is moisture buildup in the walls.

Rockwool is a better sound insulator than fiberglass thermal insulation, but the better choice would be a specifically manufactured sound batting, also fiberglass, that comes in packages marked with the sound rating and labeled as acoustic insulation.

The choice to add heat or cooling is based on a few factors. One factor is related to the humidity level of the basement, which can be monitored with a humidistat. You may only need a humidifier to control humidity, since the ground is an excellent insulator that slows heat and cool air from radiating to the room because of the ground’s large mass. If you remember to insulate between the floor joists at the outside wall, the cool and heat should be under control. Vents in the interior walls will defeat the sound privacy purpose of the room and are not recommended. Good luck!

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.

Ask The Architect

Monte Leeper

© 2023 Monte Leeper

Open Houses

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

Apartments For Rent

CEDARHURST NO FEE Private Entrance, Modern 1BR, 2BR, 3BR, CAC, W/D, Storage, Wall To Wall Carpeting, Indoor Parking Space. Starting At $1450 For One Bedroom When Available.

(516)860-6889/ (516)852-5135/ (516)582-9978

MoneyTo Lend

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

Cemetery Plots

CEMETERY PLOT FOR TWO For Sale: Pinelawn Cemetery. Garden Of Normandy North. Price Negotiable. 516-375-1905

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Garage Sales

FRANKLIN SQUARE SATURDAY 7/15, 9AM-4PM. 1016 Vanburen Avenue. Toys, Children's Clothing, Tools, Lots More! Everything Must Go!

MERCHANDISE MART

Antiques/Collectibles

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

FINDS UNDER $100

Finds Under $100

32 X 32 Mirror beveled edge etchings in corners, hardware included for hanging.$70.00 (516)579-9089 excellent

CAST IRON GRILL PAN: with Top Press, $15. 516-292-0430

FRAMES: ALL SIZES, colors, wood, metal, etc. all under $8 or bundle for less. 516-225-9191

GEORGE FORMAN GRILL: Medium size, $20. 516-292-0430

GOLDTONE LIGHTER BY Colibri, Brand new with butane refill, vintage $20,00 take all (516)579-9089

Finds Under $100

MEN'S COLE HAAN Black Leather Ankle Boots; Chelsea model, 7W. Excellent condition. $85, 516-320-1906

UTILITY CART, GREEN wicker by Lexington, 2 shelves, strong, Mint $65. 516-225-9191

SERVICES

Brick/Block/Concrete/Masonry

*MICHAEL LO BAIDO CONSTRUCTION*

Cement Specialist, Brickwork, Interlock Bricks, Belgium Blocks, Stoops, Patios, Driveways, Sidewalks, Basement Entrances, Pavers, Waterproofing. Quality Work, Lic./ Ins. Owner Always Onsite Free Estimates 516-354-5578

Decks

DECKS DECKS Our Only Business COMPOSITES/WOOD Excellent References & Many Photos Lic./Ins. Free Estimates C & S DECKS 516-729-5859

Electricians

E-Z ELECTRIC SERVICES, INC. All Types Residential/Commercial Wiring, Generators, Telephone/Data, Home Entertainment, Service Upgrades, Pools, Spas. Services/Repairs. Violations Removed. Free Estimates Low Rates. 516-785-0646 Lic/Ins.

Handyman

HANDYMAN Repairs and Installations for the Household. Careful and Reliable and Vaccinated. Licensed and Insured. 30-Year Nassau County Resident. Friendly Frank Phone/Text 516-238-2112 E-mail-Frankcav@optonline.net

Home Improvement

BATH & SHOWER UPDATES in as little as ONE DAY! Affordable prices - No payments for 18 months! Lifetime warranty & professional installs. Senior & Military Discounts available. Call: 866-393-3636

HANDY DANDY HOME IMPROVEMENTS

* Full Or Partial Kitchens/ Baths *Painting *Sheetrock *Taping/ Spackling *Installations Ceramic/ Vinyl Tile *Carpentry *Alterations *Repairs/ More. FREE ESTIMATES.

Dan 516-342-0761

LITO CONSTRUCTION

Home Improvement/ Construction

10% OFF ANY JOB OVER $2,000 Masonry, Brick Work, Stone Decor, Pointing, Tile, Driveways, Sidewalks, Steps, Framing, Foundations, Remodel Interiors, Extensions, Bathrooms, Basements. Licensed/ Insured. Free Estimates. 516-564-8315, 516-376-9365

WIREMAN/CABLEMAN/HANDYMAN FLAT TVS mounted, Phone, TVs&Computer wiring installed & serviced, camera &stereos ,HDTV – Antennas- FREE TV www.davewireman.com Call Dave 516-433-WIRE (9473) 631-667-WIRE (9473) or Text 516-353-1118

Miscellaneous

BEST SATELLITE TV with 2 Year Price Guarantee! $59.99/mo with 190 channels and 3 months free premium movie channels! Free next day installation! Call 888-508-5313

Pet Services

USE ITCHNOMORE® SHAMPO o on dogs & cats to relieve secondary dermatits, treat yeast infections, & eliminate doggy odor. At Tractor Supply® (www.happyjackinc.com)

Power Washing

POWERWASHING ALL SURFACES: Houses, Fences, Concrete/ Brick, Decks/Sealing. . ANTHONY & J HOME IMPROVEMENT, INC. 516-678-6641

Sprinkler Syst./Irrig.Wells

Health & Fitness

VIAGRA AND CIALIS USERS! 50 Pills SPECIAL $99.00 FREE Shipping! 100% guaranteed. CALL NOW! 855-413-9574

AUTOMOBILE & MARINE

Autos For Sale

LEXUS, LS430, 2002: 107,533 Miles, Excellent Condition, Automatic, Green Grey, Leather Seats, Well Maintained, Dealer Serviced, Garage Kept, New Michelin Tires, $8,500. Motivated 516-760-0468

Tree Services

T&M GREENCARE TREE SERVICE

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Satellite/TV Equipment

DIRECTV. NEW 2-YEAR Price Guarantee. The most live MLB games this season, 200+ channels and over 45,000 on-demand titles. $84.99/mo for 24 months with CHOICE Package. Some restrictions apply. Call DIRECTV 1-888-534-6918

DISH TV $64.99 For 190 Channels + $14.95 High Speed Internet. Free Installation, Smart HD DVR Included, Free Voice Remote. Some restrictions apply. Promo Expires 1/31/24. 1-866-595-6967

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Education

COMPUTER & IT TRAINING PROGRAM!

Train ONLINE to get the skills to become a Computer & Help Desk Professional now! Grants and Scholarships available for certain programs for qualified applicants. Call CTI for details! 844-947-0192 (M-F 8am-6pm ET). Computer with internet is required.

TRAIN ONLINE TO DO MEDICAL BILLING! Become a Medical Office Professional online at CTI! Get Trained, Certified & ready to work in months! Call 855-543-6440. (M-F 8am-6pm ET). Computer with internet is required

MAZDA MIATA 2015 Club Edition, Silver Black Interior, 17,000 Miles, Perfect Condition. If Looking for a Miata, This is a good One To Buy. $23,800 917-273-3737

Autos Wanted ***AAA*** AUTO BUYERS $Highest$ Ca$h Paid$. All Years/ Conditions! WE VISIT YOU! Or Donate, Tax Deduct + Ca$h. DMV ID#1303199. Call LUKE 516VAN-CARS. 516-297-2277

DRIVE OUT

Congestion pricing, a hole-in-the-head proposal

Everything in this world is a function of timing. Whether it’s sports or some other activity, timing is everything. And it will be a key issue when it comes to the state’s longplanned congestion-pricing plan, which is scheduled to start sometime in 2024. There is no doubt that drivers in New York City face challenges every day. As the coronavirus pandemic has faded, negotiating the traffic in and out of the city has become a disastrous experience. There are many more suburban private-vehicle commuters than anyone anticipated. Planning groups have been advocating for many years for a congestion-pricing plan. It has worked in London and Singapore, and it was hoped that it would eventually come to New York. But the key question is whether or not it’s the right time to impose this burden on scores of thousands of drivers.

I have always been an advocate of finding a way to cut down on congestion in the city. A number of mayors have grappled with ideas on how to improve traffic flow, but all of their ideas have fallen flat. With more bike lanes and parking restrictions as well as the traffic, it’s almost impossible to maneuver around the city at virtually any hour of the day.

Is it the right time to start the congestion pricing program? No. I think it’s the wrong time, for a variety of reasons. The Covid nightmare may be long gone, but the city hasn’t recovered. Many businesses suffered greatly, and are just beginning to recover from their losses. Charging trucks that make multiple trips to the city will just become a consumer tax.

The hearings on the congestion plan were a sham. Members of the public were given a chance to weigh in on whether they supported such a plan, but listeners sounded bored with the whole process. You can’t have a real hearing without knowing what it will cost to use the toll zone.

The Metropolitan Transportation

Authority says it will soon reveal the toll structure, but by then the plan will be a done deal. There is no way that car and truck owners will have an opportunity to express their concerns, ideas or opposition to the final announcement. Knowing the MTA from past experience, I expect the tolls to be arbitrary and unreasonable.

The agency has stated that tolls could be as high as $23. My guess is that they will be much higher. The real toll structure will depend on how much it will cost to set up the tolling system. Hundreds of millions of dollars will be spent to get the E-ZPass system up and running. If the construction contract runs over budget, and you can expect that it will, drivers who commute will end up paying to cover those costs.

Most people aren’t familiar with the term “bond covenants,” which relates to the guarantees in the congestion-pricing legislation. It means that the tolling costs will be covered by the tolls drivers pay. If the cost of erecting tolling devices is exceptionally high, the tolls will have to

rise to pay off the bonds.

The MTA has said that the tolls may be lower on weekends. But with drivers covering the no doubt excessive construction costs, don’t expect any bargain fares. Sadly, the more questions people ask about the details of the program, the more likely it will be to turn into a disaster, because those answers won’t come in time.

This program wasn’t launched by Gov. Kathy Hochul’s administration. It was created by former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, and Hochul has now inherited the plan. She is at the mercy of a bureaucracy that is rarely people-sensitive. If the MTA botches the toll structure and offers a confusing implementation plan, Hochul will have inherited a major political headache.

Congestion pricing is a good government idea. There is a need to control the city’s traffic nightmare. But those who drive into the city need this plan right now like they need a hole in the head.

Jerry Kremer was a state 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.

Journalists become targets for jihadists

The number of foreign correspondents has plummeted in the past 10 years, and most overseas news bureaus have either shrunk or shuttered their offices. At the same time, more reporters are being killed or kidnapped by extremist groups. No one knows the exact numbers, because families and news agencies are protective of information about individuals in captivity.

We may have come to a turning point in journalism, where the danger of reporting from jihadist strongholds has become too extreme to justify the presence of correspondents.

Steven Sotloff, 31, was the 70th journalist killed in Syria since civil war began tearing the country apart in 2011. That is a devastating number of fatalities for a noncombatant group comprising professional reporters who just want to get the story and send it home.

Despite a heartbreaking videotaped appeal by Sotloff’s mother, the terrorist group Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, or ISIS, beheaded him and posted the video on YouTube. He was the second American reporter to die on his knees in a faraway desert in recent weeks. ISIS also recorded the murder of another reporter, James

Foley, sending those brutal images, too, out into the world.

Sotloff and Foley belonged to a courageous band of brothers and sisters who travel the world to tell the who, what, where, why and how of natural disasters and armed conflicts. They do the counterintuitive thing — running toward danger in order to see what is happening on the ground.

A driven group of professionals, they are willing to endure just about anything that life in the field can throw at them: deplorable living conditions, foul weather, loneliness, fatigue and violence. Their goal is to get the most accurate facts and interviews they can and transmit or broadcast the stories, often from the battlefield.

There is the glory, too, along with the guts. And there is glamour as well, and a storied history of dashing correspondents who covered wars by day, hunkered down with troops, and caroused by night in bars from Singapore to Saigon.

Dexter Filkins, author of “The Forever War,” wrote about reporting from Afghanistan and Iraq during those wars. He spoke honestly about the addictive quality of living on the edge every day. I’ve followed his career, watching him return again and again to whatever city happens to be in flames.

That’s what foreign correspondents have always done, from Ernie Pyle and

Ernest Hemingway in World War II to Dan Rather and Morley Safer in Vietnam. They fly into danger, push toward the front lines and try to nail the story. They employ fixers and translators and locals who work both sides of the street. And, too often, they die.

In 2002, journalist Daniel Pearl was killed in Pakistan on his way to meet an informant. In 2011, CBS reporter Lara Logan was sexually assaulted by dozens of men in Cairo’s Tahrir Square on the day that rebels toppled the regime of Hosni Mubarak. In 2012, a 21-yearold British journalist, Natasha Smith, was also attacked in Tahrir Square, and barely escaped with her life. A year later, a female Dutch journalist, 22, was attacked and raped in Tahrir Square by five men, while a chanting mob stood by and watched.

The atmosphere has turned toxic for foreign reporters, especially in the Middle East. In the past, all sides in a conflict respected journalists’ neutrality and sought out reporters in order to tell their side of events.

Now, however, a reporter in the field, especially a Western journalist, is seen as a commodity, a bargaining chip in a kidnap scheme, a source of ransom money, and a target. ISIS doesn’t need a foreign correspondent to vent and rant. It has YouTube. Reporters are not only expendable; kidnapping them is profitable, both in dollars and propaganda.

Randi is on a brief leave. This column was originally published Sept. 11-17, 2014.

I watch Richard Engel, of NBC, reporting from the rooftops of Baghdad, and I see Anna Coren, an Australian correspondent, reporting from Mosel. I don’t know how they summon the courage to carry on in such a hostile environment, and I don’t know that they should.

Perhaps we need to rethink the model of sending journalists into war zones. CNN and the other major news organizations try to protect their people, moving them from safe house to safe house and changing their daily routines to discourage kidnapping. But the nature of war has changed. Freelancers, like Foley and Sotloff, are especially vulnerable; they don’t have an organization behind them. The risks they took outweighed any possible benefit.

It may have been worth the sacrifice in the 1940s to get news of faraway battles back to friends and relatives at home, and it surely was journalists who helped turn the tide of public sentiment against the war in Vietnam. But these days there are cellphones and social media to get the word out. Today’s wars in Iraq and Syria, in Gaza and Libya are turning reporters into coveted trophies, vulnerable to kidnappings that often end in death.

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

Reporters are seen as commodities, bargaining chips in kidnap schemes.

The MTA has said the tolls could be as high as $23. My guess? They’ll be much higher.

JERRY KREMER

HERALD

Easy summer living? Not for some children

For many, summer is the time for camp, vacation and weekend barbecues.

However, for some children across the country — and even right here in Nassau County — summer leaves school-aged kids scrambling to find a healthy meal, since they can’t depend on the federally subsidized breakfast and lunch programs at their school.

It’s far more prevalent than many might realize. One report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture found that 12 percent of American households had children who weren’t getting enough to eat.

They call it “food insecurity,” but let’s call it what it really is: hunger.

And hunger is quite close to home, too. In fact, 1 in 4 people on Long Island who are hungry are kids. That’s 65,000 kids who are not getting three full nutritious meals every day, among more than 221,000 people overall.

While we can’t forget what it’s like to be hungry, there are even more lasting impacts beyond the sound of a grumbling stomach. Young people who are not eating properly and regularly are at a higher risk than their peers to experience behavioral issues such as anxiety, aggression and hyperactivity, according to experts. They often suffer from a reduced ability to learn social skills, impairing cognitive learning and possibly even incurring permanent brain damage.

A lack of food also raises the risk of becoming sick and possibly having to endure chronic illnesses such as anemia and asthma.

Kids who are eating healthy during

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Island Harvest Long Island Cares

the summer break are more than likely to retain what they learned during the previous academic year, and be better prepared to build on that foundation when they return to school.

The Summer Food Service Program administered through the state’s education department aims to fill the gap across New York. Locally, Island Harvest — a Melville-based hunger-relief organization — partners with roughly 35 community locations across Long Island — churches, health centers, libraries, recreation centers, parks and schools — to get food to those who need it.

Last year, Island Harvest served 75,000 meals to more than 2,500 children. To educate the kids on the value of eating healthy food, there were also hands-on nutrition lessons. Learning how much sugar was in their favorite breakfast cereal and drink was a “wow” moment for many of them.

Long Island Cares is another group battling hunger in Nassau and Suffolk counties. The Hauppauge-based organi-

The good and bad of pandemicdriven technological progress

To the Editor:

The coronavirus pandemic, without a doubt, changed the world — and one of its most notable effects has been the acceleration of technology initiatives as the public and private sectors seek to digitize more operations and communications. Many artificial intelligence products have come out of these advances, and many are being put to use by state and local governments with input from private tech companies.

Governments are adopting AI at an accelerating pace. New York City and state agencies have experienced a broad expansion of AI applications, such as chatbots. And now, with last year’s widespread introduction of AI tools that can create new content such as text and images, it appears that further changes are on the way.

It is imperative that the private sector and government institutions meet the moment by adopting comprehensive risk-mitigation strategies and effective AI governance

zation runs an array of programs from emergency response and recovery, to Baxter’s Pet Pantry for starving dogs and cats. There are also youth-oriented offerings such as the Kids Café, Pack It Up for Kids, and the summer food program.

As you sit back in your easy chair in the sunshine, you’re thinking, “OK, there are programs to feed the children. What can I do?”

Get involved. Getting food to the hungry takes effort — money or manpower.

Island Harvest has a food donor program. Neighbors and other groups can run a food and fund drive, and you can volunteer. For a teen looking to collect community service hours, this is a great way to earn that volunteer time while truly making a difference, maybe even for a peer.

Long Island Cares also has multiple avenues to help. There is corporate giving, individual donations, hosting a food drive, the Student Hunger Advocacy Coalition and, of course, volunteering.

These are but two of the organizations on Long Island that battle hunger. There are many local organizations that could use your time and support.

Ensuring children are properly fed through the summer is an investment we can’t afford not to make. Typically, every dollar donated equals two meals, according to Island Harvest.

Like that old commercial, “you can pay me now or pay me later,” we can help feed children now, or deal with the consequences of unhealthy young people in the near future. And that comes with a higher price tag for society, and for someone to grow up knowing all too well the pains of hunger.

Honor Harry Chapin’s legacy with action to end hunger

If you compiled the names of the most impactful Long Islanders in our history, you’d surely start off with the likes of Theodore Roosevelt, Walt Whitman and Marie Colvin — and in my estimation, Harry Chapin is a fitting fourth candidate to complete a cross-cultural Mount Rushmore of great Long Islanders.

In just nine years as a recording artist, Chapin released 12 albums that embodied his distinctive style as a musical storyteller. Thanks to timeless melodies and stirring lyrics that vividly told stories of everyday life, songs like “Taxi,” “W.O.L.D.,” “Circle,” “Sequel” and, of course, “Cat’s in the Cradle” became embedded in the soundtracks of our lives in the 1970s, and have endured in the decades since.

benefit concerts, and used his platform as a springboard for advocacy. He was involved in launching World Hunger Year (now known as WhyHunger) in 1975, and establishing the Presidential Commission on World Hunger during the Carter administration. But the food bank that now bears his name is perhaps his greatest innovation. When Chapin launched Long Island Cares in 1980, he created Long Island’s first food bank, and in doing so revolutionized our regional approach to addressing food insecurity and hunger.

arnoLD w. DrUCker

Using his remarkable gifts, Chapin also pursued a philanthropic calling: a mission to eradicate hunger, in the United States in particular.

As one of the world’s highest-paid entertainers at the time, he gave generously to charitable causes, hosted numerous

In 2021, Long Island Cares distributed 14 million pounds of food — the equivalent of 11.5 million meals — and it now has a half-dozen brick-andmortar storefront locations across the Island. The agency was instrumental in addressing crises like Superstorm Sandy and the economic disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic. And because no member of a family — included the four-legged and feathered ones — is spared from hunger, the seventh location, Baxter’s Pet Pantry, is dedicated to collecting and distributing pet food and supplies to families in need.

In this oft-derided age of the celebrity

Letters

frameworks that prioritize transparency, accuracy and fairness.

Unfortunately, the ability to understand the risks involved with some AI products — and the strategies to reduce or eliminate those risks — has not kept up with the pace at which AI is being put to use. Numerous studies have shown a significant rise in AI adoption and investment, with most experts foreseeing a further boost in AI investment in the coming years. Alarmingly, organizations have made little progress in addressing wellknown AI-related risks such as bias, lack of transparency and safety concerns.

This concerning trend is also evident in government institutions. My recent report on AI governance in New York City found that the city lacks an effective AI governance framework. City agencies have been left to develop their own divergent approaches, resulting in ad hoc and incomplete measures that fail to ensure transparency, accuracy and fairness in AI systems.

This is concerning because while AI promises vast opportunities, it also carries inherent risks. Several incidents — even before the pandemic — illustrated the unintentional harm that can be caused by government AI systems designed or implemented irresponsibly. A faulty automated fraud-detection system in Michigan erroneously accused thousands of unemployment insurance recipients of fraud, causing financial ruin for many. Similar issues have plagued other systems related to Med-

icaid eligibility determinations, facial recognition, criminal justice, health care, teacher evaluations and job recruitment applications.

New York City has been a forerunner in examining the use of AI. It was among the first to establish a task force dedicated to examining the responsible use of automated decision-making systems, including AI systems. But the city’s efforts are no longer keeping pace with this rapidly advancing technology. Despite the task force’s recommendations and the expansion of AI applications during the pandemic, the city still doesn’t have an effective AI governance framework.

As we continue to embrace the technological leaps brought forth by the pandemic, we must ensure that we do so responsibly. Audits, such as the one my office conducted in New York City, can help drive change by raising awareness of where risks lie. Understanding these risks and identifying blind spots is a first step in the right direction, but the city must also take further action, such as implementing a robust governance framework to ensure that the use of AI is transparent, accurate, unbiased, and minimizes the potential for disparate impacts. I encourage my colleagues in government to join me in ensuring that AI systems work to further the greater good for all New Yorkers.

candidate, Chapin would have been a natural to run for the House of Representatives or another elected office, but not because he was a star. He would have been ideal because he did the work and cared deeply about the future we shared. Sadly, he never got that chance. On July 16, 1981, Chapin was driving his Volkswagen to a benefit concert at Eisenhower Park when the car was struck by an 18-wheeler on the Long Island Expressway and he was fatally injured.

The shock of his sudden, untimely death reverberated through the park on that summer evening, and through our society for years afterward. He would be cited as an inspiration for endeavors like USA for Africa and Live Aid, and countless memorial awards, theaters and humanitarian events would be named in his honor.

Neighboring municipalities like Suffolk County have declared July 16 Harry Chapin Day in honor of all he achieved in just 38 years. In Nassau County, I continue to pursue legislation I filed last year to establish a Harry Chapin Day of our own. While there has been no action by the legislative majority to date, I will never lose hope, or lose sight of the important mis-

sion in front of us.

Rather than wait for the gears of government to turn, I decided to immediately implement one of the tenets of my proposed legislation — after all, Chapin was the man who said, “When in doubt, do something!” Starting on July 16, my office will hold its second annual summer food drive, to benefit Long Island Cares and draw renewed attention to Chapin’s legacy.

Among the many lessons of the past several years, we have all been confronted with the hard truth that far more of our neighbors struggle silently with food insecurity than we ever knew.

If you would like to support this endeavor, you can make a contribution of nonperishable goods at the Plainview-Old Bethpage and Syosset libraries and Plainview’s Trio Hardware, or donate directly to Long Island Cares, through Aug. 16. Call my office, at (516) 571-6216, or email adrucker@nassaucountyny.gov, if you have any questions.

In Harry’s words again, “We all have the potential to move the world, and the world is ready to be moved.” This summer, as Nassau County residents and Long Islanders, let’s unite to move the world to a better and more humane place.

Arnold W. Drucker has represented Nassau County’s 16th Legislative District since 2016.

Framework courtesy Michael Ostrow

Using his remarkable gifts, Chapin pursued a philanthropic calling.

THOMAS P. DINAPOLI New York state comptroller