Merrick Herald 03-09-2023

Who doesn’t love balloons?

Bella Dashefsky, left, and Madison Wattel got balloon animals with State Sen. Steve Rhoads at the 28th Annual Mel Polay Purim Carnival last Sunday. Story, more photos, Page 5.

Rockin’ on to rescue animals at upcoming benefit concert

By JoRDAN VAlloNE jvallone@liherald.com

When Curt and Bobbie Arnel started adopting dogs from rescue groups, their eyes were opened to what these organizations go through to ensure the safety and well-being of countless dogs and cats. Wanting to do something to help, the Arnels, of Merrick, founded Rockin 4 Rescue, a nonprofit whose sole purpose is to give back to rescue groups on Long Island.

The Arnels’ found their first rescue, a Maltese names Oscar, at A New Beginning about 10 years ago. He was older dog, and they cared for him for

Giangregorio wins open seat

Autism awareness advocate elected in county’s District 19

By MICHAEl MAlASZCZYK mmalaszczyk@liherald.com

Michael Giangregorio has spent years working with local politicians on improving the lives of families affected by autism. Now he will get the chance to continue this work — and improve the lives of all of his constituents — as Nassau County’s newest legislator.

Giangregorio defeated Robert Miles for the vacant seat in the 19th Legislative District in a special election on Feb. 28. The seat became vacant when former Legislator Steve Rhoads won election to the newly drawn State Senate’s Fifth District by defeating John Brooks in November.

three years until he died.

“We were heartbroken,” Curt told the Herald last week. “And we decided after a few months we were going to get another dog. We decided we would only want to get a rescue dog, because, you know, we’re not in favor of puppy mills and that sort of thing. With a rescue dog, you get to give a dog a second chance.”

In early 2017, the Arnels adopted Shane, a mutt, and the experience was life-changing.

“We found out that there were all these rescue agencies, and it’s like a whole network,” Curt recounted. “As we got more and more involved in

together and fighting to deliver tax relief and safe communities for Nassau South Shore families.”

In addition to an ally in Rhoads at the state level, Giangregorio also could count on an ally at the Town of Hempstead in Councilman Christopher Carini.

StEVE RHoADS

State Senator

“To pass the torch to such a qualified, hardworking and passionate legislator who has common sense and deep roots in our community feels great,” Sen. Rhoads said. “I know my constituents will be well served with Michael as their legislator. I look forward to working

“I am excited and looking forward to working with Mike to improve the quality of life of the communities we serve by standing up to the governor’s plan to end local zoning that will allow up to 50 units per acre, supporting our law enforcement, and making our streets safe by demanding the repeal of cashless bail,” Carini said. “Our constituents want the same thing — a safe, affordable place to work and raise a family. We will work together to accomplish this goal.”

Giangregorio and Carini have already worked together on a number of initiatives,

Continued on page 19

Tim Baker/Herald

Helping rescue animals is a labor of love

this rescue stuff, we became aware of the plight (of) not only dogs, but also rescue organizations themselves, because they’re always short on funds.”

Not long after they adopted Shane, the Arnels founded Rockin 4 Rescue, and now, six years and one pandemic later, the couple has raised $20,000 for rescue organizations.

Rescue groups are responsible for every need of the animals they care for, from food and water to making sure they’re walked several times a day and are up to date on shots and veterinary treatments. “It’s a very expensive process,” Curt said, “and obviously, they can’t charge their patients.”

Curt, a musician on Long Island with the band, Off The Record, set up a collection jar on nights he was performing. “If it was a light night, maybe 20 bucks would go into the jar — a good night, over 100,” he said. “We just figured that instead of looking for tips for the band or anything like that, we would make it a jam with a mission, and people responded well to that.”

In 2019, the couple decided to host Rockin 4 Rescue’s first benefit concert, at the now-closed KJ Farrell’s in Bellmore. “That was packed,” Curt recalled. “We had a whole bunch of the best local bands playing, and people donated raffle gifts. We raised a lot of money. It was very successful.”

A second benefit concert was planned for 2020, and delayed twice because of the pandemic. Last year it finally took place, at a larger venue, the Warehouse, in Amityville.

“It’s a great venue, and it’s bigger than the one we had in Bellmore,” Curt said. “It’s a well-organized, well-run establishment, and very well-regarded in the Long Island community.”

At the end of this month, Rockin 4 Rescue will host its third annual benefit concert, returning to the Warehouse. On March 26, from 2:30 to 7:30 p.m., attendees can enjoy a full afternoon of music, featuring five local bands, for just a $10 donation at the door. Proceeds will be donated to Post Pets, a rescue group based in Island Park, and Bobbi & the Strays, a Freeport-based agency. Both have sterling reputations, the Arnels said.

Many Rockin 4 Rescue volunteers are helping to make the concert come together, but it’s something the Arnels say is a labor of love. “It’s our way of giving back to the community,” Curt said, “and to the dogs that can’t help themselves.”

Bobbie added that their efforts don’t exclude cats. “We really are dog people,” she said. “But the rescues we give the money to, including Bobbi & the Strays and Posh Pets, they have plenty of cats in there, and we don’t tell them what to do with the money. So it does go to help the cats also.”

Rockin 4 Rescue helps agencies in other ways too. “We try to do little things when we can,” Curt said. “If there’s a particularly bad situation for a dog — it needs extra money for medical care — we’ll donate more. We try to help out wherever it’s needed.”

The Arnels said the benefit concert is a great deal, and a nice way for people who enjoy live music to spend a Sunday afternoon.

“Our own personal search for the rescue dog of our dreams was successful,” Curt said. “And it just opened our eyes to what was behind the scenes.”

The Warehouse is at 203 Broadway in Amityville. For more information, email bfit516@aol.com, call or text (516) 459-5704, or visit Facebook.com/Rocking4Rescue.

Upgrades planned for Newbridge Road Park

By ROKSANA AMID ramid@liherald.com

Over the next few months, Bellmore and Merrick residents can expect a lot of upgrades coming to parks in the Town of Hempstead, including some additional renovations to Newbridge Road Park.

The park is located in the southern half of Bellmore, at the very end of Newbridge Road. It boasts several multiuse fields, walking paths with views of the bays, a large pool and hockey arena, a playground, and a beloved dog park.

While much of the park is used and enjoyed on a regular basis, the Town began updating aspects of it last year, including installing a brand new playground, which opened last spring.

“Hempstead Town offers some of the finest parks and recreational facilities in the nation,” Supervisor Don Clavin said, “and we are working hard to make them even better.”

Town Councilman Chris Carini, who represents parts of Bellmore and Merrick, said the renovations at the park were possible, thanks to the town’s good finances. “We got bond upgrades, which means we are able to get bonds at a lower rate,” he told the Herald in Dec. 2021. “We decid-

ed to add $10 million in updates to town parks — this is part of that capital.”

This year, Newbridge Road Park will receive a new turf baseball field, backstop and bleachers. It’s also getting new basketball, tennis and pickleball courts with new fencing. A state-of-the-art splash pad, similar to one at Veteran’s Memorial Park in East Meadow, will be installed right next to Newbridge’s pool. A new irrigation system is in the works to serve the

multipurpose field.

Construction on the baseball field began the week of March 5. The splash pad will be completed by Father’s Day.

Nearby, Forest City Park in Wantagh will receive a new tennis court as well. In Baldwin, an additional turf baseball field is in the works for Baldwin Park, while a splash pad is planned for Coes Neck Park. The town also said a new playground will be built at Camp Anchor.

what’s in the works?

■ Turf baseball field, backstop and bleachers

■ Basketball, tennis and pickleball courts with updated fencing

■ State-of-the-art splash pad at the pool

■ New irrigation system for multiuse field

Since improvements first began in the park in 2021, Carini said that he is looking forward to seeing the smiling faces of children in the community.

“I am confident that residents will be very impressed with the improvements and enhancements at Town of Hempstead parks,” he noted. “This was made possible due to a recent bond upgrade and strong financial outlook for the Town of Hempstead. Our bond rating is now the highest in the state. These upgrades will be done in time to enjoy this summer.”

the teNNIS cOuRtS, near left, are set to be renovated, and pickleball courts will be installed.

tOwN

cOuNcIlMAN

chRIS Carini said a new turf baseball field, backstop and bleachers, far left, are in the works to replace the current set up. Work began the week of March 5.

Tim Baker/Herald photos

AfteR NewBRIDge ROAD Park in South Bellmore got some upgrades last year, including a new playground, the Town of Hempstead, who maintains the recreational facility, announced more renovations are on the way. The new play area, above, opened for public use last spring.

the BASKetBAll cOuRtS, above, will be redone. The fencing around the courts will be upgraded.

Problem-oriented police speak on Merrick issues

By JORDAN VALLONE jvallone@liherald.com

After taking a short hiatus from holding meetings during the holidays, the South Merrick Community Civic Association resumed its monthly schedule last week, working with the problem-oriented police unit in the first and seventh precincts of the Nassau County Police Department.

Joe Baker, president of the civic, said the meeting was attended by a handful of community members, police officers from the POP units, and representatives from the Merrick Chamber of Commerce. Several community-oriented issues were discussed regarding safety in Merrick, including speeding and auto-related thefts, among several other things.

An issue that’s been affecting Merrick’s main business district, Baker said, is drivers speeding along Merrick Avenue, especially near the train station and gazebo by Broadcast Plaza. This portion of Merrick Avenue is where a lot of mom-and-pop shops are located.

Because it was such a large concern, Baker said an officer from the POP unit followed up a couple days later, and said a digital speed sign would be installed near Chatterton School, an elementary school in the Merrick Union Free School District, that sits just north of the business strip.

“He said, for the time being, when people head from north to south, down into the village, hopefully they’ll still slow down because of the school zone, and continue slowing down as they enter the village,” Baker noted.

Another issue that is business-related deals with parking along Merrick Avenue — and the lack of it, due to violators who remain parked in two-hour spots for extend periods of time. “There’s violators that actually park there all day,” Baker told the Herald. “They did

It wAs A great community show at the South Merrick Community Civic Association’s recent meeting. The civic organization met with the problem-oriented police unit in the first and seventh precincts of the Nassau County Police Department, and discussed several community issues relating to safety affecting Merrick.

increase issuing summonses on the parking situation. They’re going to continue doing that, and they’re going to increase it as much as they can.”

In addition to those efforts, the hours of parking agents, who monitor these spaces and can issue tickets, have been increased.

Baker mentioned a few weeks ago, a 31-year-old man was found stabbed near the train station, around 3 a.m., which caused a stir of concern in the community. While the perpetrator of that attack is still to be determined, Baker said the unit shared the investigation is still active, and that hopefully the community will have answers soon.

Catalytic converter thefts were also touched upon, and Baker said the unit shared major crime statistics for Merrick with meeting attendees. There were two commercial robberies, 6 stolen vehicles, 12 catalytic converter thefts, and 14 grand larcenies.

The police unit shared that when cars are stolen, often the license plates are quickly removed and the vehicles

are driven out of state, making it hard to track them down and find them.

Common sense practices were discussed regarding vehicle thefts — including not leaving cars on and running, even for just a few moments. Making sure that high value items like purses and wallets are not visible, and locking car doors overnight, will help protect vehicles and valuables in Merrick and surrounding communities.

Baker said in all, he felt the meeting was very productive, and he said its due to the great work of the police department, under the leadership of Commissioner Patrick Ryder. “He does a great job,” Baker said. “In my opinion, I think he’s the best police commissioner we’ve ever had — and I’ve been around a long time. He’s a real cop.

“It was a positive meeting,” he added. “No yelling and screaming — everyone had suggestions. And I did compliment the police department for what they do, you know they’re always there. I think they have a very good record.”

Courtesy Joe Baker

Costumes and carnivals, all for Purim

By JORDAN VALLONE jvallone@liherald.com

Sunday was a great day for the Jewish community of BellmoreMerrick to celebrate Purim, at the 28th Annual Mel Polay Purim Carnival. Founded by Evelyn Polay, a member of Congregation Beth Ohr in Bellmore, in honor of her late husband, Mel, the Purim celebration has been a fixture in the community for years.

About five years ago, Congregation Beth Ohr merged with Temple Israel of South Merrick. Temple Israel’s former location on Clubhouse Road is now Beth Ohr’s Merrick annex, and has served as the perfect spot for the carnival since the merger. Though Purim did not technically begin until Monday at sundown, children and families gathered early to celebrate what many carnival goers deemed an especially fun holiday.

Purim celebrates the saving of the Jewish people from Haman, an official of the First Persian Empire, who was planning to have all of Persia’s Jewish subjects killed. Queen Esther, the Jewish wife of the Persian King Xerxes is credited as the heroine, alongside her cousin Mordecai, for saving the Jewish people. Today, the holiday is celebrated by reading the Book of Esther — or the Megillah — and by completing 5 mitzvot, or commandments.

According to Beth Ohr’s cantor, Joshua

Diamond, these mitzvot include attending a Megillah reading during the evening on the day Purim begins, and attending a second reading the following morning.

“It’s very important you hear it both times,” he noted.

The additional mitzvot include giving gifts to the poor, doing the same for friends and family members, and enjoy-

ing a traditional Purim feast.

During readings of the Megillah, which is a large scroll, and can take about a half hour to listen to in full, Diamond said, it’s tradition to try and “block out” the name “Haman,” every time it is read, which can make for a fun time for families and children.

Beth Ohr’s Purim readings took place

on Monday evening, the start of the holiday, and again on Tuesday morning.

Around the carnival, staple games such a ring toss and basketball throw were set up, with countless other activities. Children were able to win prizes, enjoy sweet treats and get caricature’s by an attending artist.

Polay, who was a congregant at Temple Israel before the merger with Beth Ohr, told the Herald, that many years ago, after her husband died, the men’s club at the temple wanted to do something in his honor, and raised $20,000. The carnival has take place every year since, in Mel’s name.

Purim is often celebrated by dressing in costume, evident around the carnival. To those unfamiliar with the holiday, it somewhat resembles Halloween. But costumes are worn for a couple of reasons, Diamond explained at last year’s carnival.

“God is not present in all of the Purim story, whereas in the books of the Bible, God is present,” he said. “Many Jews, they dress up and they hide their faces on Purim because of that. Another explanation is that the Jews would dress up and pretend they weren’t Jews, so they wouldn’t be killed.”

“It’s a fun day — a day to party,” Joseph Weisbord, Congregation Beth Ohr’s president said last year. “We just want everyone to have a fun time, and we are very happy to have the community participate in this celebration.”

Tim Baker/Herald

Around the carnival, Jenna Sack tested her luck at the basketball toss.

DIANE

BANKING & FINANCE

ANDIE PERLMUTTER

COO, Associate General Agent Forest Hills Financial Group

DAVI TSERPELIS

SVP Business Banking Manager City National Bank

ADVERTISING, MARKETING & PUBLIC RELATIONS

SANDRA BRENNAN

CEO & Founder Senior Living Renaissance, LLC

VALENTINA JANEK

Founder Long Island Breakfast Club & Show

JESIKA KALIKA

Marketing Communications & Business Development Consultant

LISA MIRABILE

President & Founder

Vertigo Media Group

EDUCATION

MARIA P. CONZATTI

Interim President

Nassau Community College

BARBARA J. HOLAHAN

CFO, VP for Financial Affairs & Treasurer

New York Institute of Technology

MARYANNE HYLAND

Dean of the Robert B. Willumstad

School of Business Adelphi University

MAURIE McINNIS

President

Stony Brook University

ENERGY & ELECTRIC

JENNIFER HAYEN

Director of Communications

Long Island Power Authority

MICHELLE D. SOMERS

Marketing Manager

PSEG Long Island

ENTREPRENEURS

JOSEPHINE FITZPATRICK

Nutrition & Weight Loss Specialist

Innovation Weight Loss & Healthy Market

ELLEN PELLEGRINO

Entrepreneur/Movie Producer

Windows on the Lake Beach Club Estate

Age of New Beginnings

MAUREEN TARA NELSON

CEO

MTN Matchmaking

GOVERNMENT

LISA M. BLACK

Chief Deputy County Executive

Office of the Suffolk County Executive

HEALTHCARE & WELLNESS

MELANIE BASILE

Chief Growth Officer

The Smilist

DR. MICHELLE A. CHESTER

Senior Director Operations, Occupational Health Services

Northwell Health

DR. GAIL CORREALE

Optometrist

THERESA DILLMAN, DNP (C), MSN, MHA, RN, NE-BC

Associate Executive Director and Chief Nursing Officer Glen Cove Hospital, Northwell Health System

DR. ODETTE R. HALL

Chief Medical Examiner

Suffolk County Office of the Medical Examiner

NITZA KAHALON HASIS

Clinical Director

New Horizon Counseling Center - Valley Stream

STEPHANIE MONTANO M.S., CCC-SLP

CEO & Co-Owner

Theralympic Speech

CHRISTIANA NEOPHYTOU M.S., CCC-SLP

CEO & Co-Owner

Theralympic Speech

REBECCA SANIN

President & CEO

Health & Welfare Council of Long Island

JULIE WEXLER

Director of Business Development

The Bristal Assisted Living

HUMAN RESOURCES

ELIZABETH MARIE SAITTA

Executive Director

SHRM Long Island Chapter

INSURANCE

CATIA ALATI

Vice President

Lockton Companies

LEGAL

PAULA PARRINO, ESQ.

Chief Administrative Officer & Vice President of Operations

Nationwide Court Services, Inc.

STEPHANIE A. CLARK, ESQ.

Lead Attorney

Law Offices of Stephanie A. Clark

ERIKA L. CONTI, ESQ.

Partner Sahn Ward Braff Koblenz PLLC

DEANNA M. EBLE, ESQ.

Partner

Russo Law Group, P.C.

LAUREL R. KRETZING

Partner

Jaspan Schlesinger Narendran LLP

KAREN J. TENENBAUM, ESQ.

Tax Attorney

Tenenbaum Law, P.C.

DINA L. VESPIA, ESQ.

Partner

Cullen and Dykman LLP

NICOLE L. WEINGARTNER

Director of State Government Affairs

Davidoff Hutcher & Citron LLP

MEDIA

DANA ARSCHIN KRASLOW

2x Emmy-Winning Journalist

Holocaust Storyteller

The Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center of Nassau County (HMTC)

MIMI BISHOP & JACKIE GHEDINE

Co-Founders

Modern Gen X Woman

PEI-SZE CHENG

Emmy® Award-winning reporter

NBC 4 New York’s investigative unit, the I-Team

MUSIC

DR. YEOU-CHENG MA

Executive Director

The Children’s Orchestra Society

NOT-FOR-PROFIT

TERRI ALESSI-MICELI

President & CEO

HIA-LI

ELIZABETH EINHART

Executive Director & Vice President

The Theresa Foundation

THERESA SANDERS

President & CEO

Urban League of Long Island Inc.

TAMMY SEVERINO

President & CEO

Girl Scouts of Suffolk County

STACEY SIKES

Vice President of Government Affairs & Communications

Long Island Association

TOURISM

KRISTEN REYNOLDS

President & CEO

Discover Long Island

TRANSPORTATION

SHELLEY LaROSE-ARKEN

Aviation Commissioner

Long Island MacArthur Airport

SPECIAL AWARDS

LEGACY AWARD

MEREDITH WALDNER STERN

President

Waldner’s Business Environments

NEXT GENERATION: UNDER 30

KATHLEEN DONNELLY

Senior Associate

Long Island Architecture Studio, DPC

LIANNE WEBB

Miss Long Island 2023

Miss Long Island Pageants

RISING TEEN AWARD

NATALIA SUAZA

Miss Long Island Teen 2023

Miss Long Island Pageants

TRAILBLAZER AWARD

DANI RYLAN KEARNEY

Founder National Women’s Hockey League (NWHL)

MAJOR SPONSORS:

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Long Island’s top real estate pros honored

Hundreds attend annual Real Estate Achievement and Leadership Awards

By ANA BORRUTO aborruto@liherald.com

The job of someone in real estate goes beyond just helping clients buy, sell or rent properties. For many professionals, it is about the rewarding feeling of finding a person or family’s “forever” home, and seeing their faces light up as they walk through the door.

Individuals in the industry often strive to offer listings or create developments with the goal of enhancing a community and providing potential homebuyers with a lifestyle they have always dreamed of.

The importance of community involvement and advocacy could not ring more true in the room of hundreds of real estate titans and visionaries at RichnerLive’s second annual Real Estate Achievement and Leadership Awards last week at The Heritage Club at Bethpage in Farmingdale.

Turn the page for all the winners, and more photos!

“Real estate in my blood,” said Kevin Law, partner and executive vice president of Tritec Real Estate, and the keynote speaker of the evening. “I care about this island — I am hoping that the things I do can make a difference, and make this region a little bit better to live, work and play.”

This year’s REAL Awards honored dozens of professionals in residential and commercial real estate, with some proceeds from the event supporting Habitat for Humanity Long Island — a global non-profit organization whose mission is to bring people together to build affordable, environmentally stable homes for those in need.

Jennie Katz, president and owner of Blue Island Homes, said in her 27 years in the business, the room for creativity is what she finds the most exciting as a broker. For example, she and her business partner, Mark Stempel, are planning to collaborate with interior designers and decorators to stage a truck with all of Blue Island Homes’s listings.

“I started my own business with Mark 10 months ago, and it was about being creative and doing something different,” Katz said. “It’s about passion. It’s about working really hard and being honest.”

Michael Stanco, a licensed real estate broker for the Stanco Misiti team at Compass, talked about his special project, The Residences at Glen Harbor, which received a residential REAL Award at the event.

In the ever-changing housing market, Stanco said it is crucial to provide people with unique living opportunities such as The Residences at Glen Harbor — an alternative option to typical single-family homes.

Anthony Bartone, managing partner of Terwilliger and Bartone Properties, expressed a similar sentiment and discussed his philosophy of mindfulness when introducing projects to Long Island neighborhoods — specifically the environmental impact.

For example, Bartone’s organization pledged to only use native plantings in their developments because of the harmful risk invasive plants pose to the soil.

“It’s important that we set all this up to the extent we can for our next generation,” Bartone said.

The REAL Awards trailblazer Deidre O’Connell — chief executive of Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty — grabbed the audience’s attention with her inspirational speech about Realtors pushing through pandemic obstacles these last few years.

She also shared some wisdom for the next generation of homebuyers who may feel a bit anxious when it comes to the prospect of living on Long Island. Statistically, people who buy homes accumulate more money at the end — money they would not have if they put it into renting a place, where there is no return.

“You got to get in the game,” O’Connell said. “Young people have to start at the bottom if their income isn’t going to get them in at the top. Once you’re in the game, you appreciate with the market.”

The major sponsors of the night included Easy Tax Credits, Tenantbase and Maidenbaum. Blue Island Homes, Coldwell Banker American Homes and E.W. Howell were gold sponsors of the evening.

Silver sponsors included Ackerman Law, Breslin Realty Development Corp., Coldwell Banker Distinctive Homes, Cronin & Cronin Law Firm, Cushman & Wakefield, Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty, Douglas Elliman, GLS, Habitat Abstract, Hayduk Engineering, Heatherwood, Japan Schlesinger Narendran, Lipsky Construction, Long Island Board of Realtors, M&T Bank, Property Shark, R&M Engineering, Ruskin Moscou Faltischek, Sahn Ward Braff Koblenz,

SMR, Stanco Misiti Team at Compass, Terwilliger & Bartone Properties, The Gitto Group, Valley Bank, Weatherstone Mortgage Corp.

“Our second annual REAL awards was another huge success,” exclaimed Stuart Richner, chief executive of Richner Communications, which created the REAL Awards. “Where else can you find so many individuals and organizations that fuel our local economy? The award recipients are staples in our communities, and their recognition is well-deserved. I am excited to see all that the future holds for

Long Island.”

Tim Baker/Herald photos MARk STeMple, ceO of Blue Island Homes, accepts his REAL Award with company president Jennie Katz and Herald Community Media publisher Stuart Richner.

DeiRDRe O’cONNell, ceO of Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty, shared her experiences as a trailblazer at the REAL Awards at The Heritage Club at Bethpage in Farmingdale.

keviN lAw, pARTNeR and executive vice president of Tritec Real Estate, delivers the keynote address at the REAL Awards.

FAthER/ dAughtER

tEAm giLbERt and Tiffany Balanoff, above, were recognized for Gilbert’s work with The Law Offices of Gilbert Balanoff, and Tiffany’s job as a licensed real estate agent at Douglas Elliman.

miRiAm hAgEndoRn gEts her REAL Award from Stuart Richner, at left, for her work as a licensed real estate salesperson a Serhant.

2023 Real Estate Achievement and Leadership Award winners

Residential

The Residences at Glen Harbor

Michael W. Stanco

Stanco Misiti Team at Compass

Gina Marie Bettenhauser

Coldwell Banker Distinctive Homes Long Island Board of Realtors

Hilary Becker Becker Realty Services Inc.

Molly Deegan Branch Real Estate Group

John & Barbara Gandolfo

Coldwell Banker American Homes

Kevin Leatherman Leatherman Homes

Donna O’Reilly Einemann

Douglas Elliman Real Estate

Luciane Serifovic Luxian International Realty

Shawn Steinmuller

Shawn Michael Realty

Mark Stempel & Jennie Katz Blue Island Homes

Helena Veloso

Douglas Elliman Real Estate

Malka Asch Coach Realtors

Miriam Hagendorn Serhant

Ricki Noto Coldwell Banker American Homes

Scott Wallace

Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty

David Kasner Coldwell Banker American Homes

Commercial

Thomas DeLuca Cushman & Wakefield of Long Island

Anthony Bartone

Terwilliger & Bartone Properties LLC

Kenneth Breslin, Esq. Breslin Realty Development Corp.

Christopher Capece

Heatherwood

Rob Gitto

The Gitto Group

Mark Meisner

The Birch Group

E.W. Howell Construction Group

Special Awards

Michael Maturo

RXR Realty

Martin Lomazow CBRE

Michael S. Ackerman Ackerman Law PLLC

John D. Chillemi

Ruskin Moscou Faltischek PC

Bryan P. McCrossen

Jaspan Schlesinger Narendran LLP

Christopher H. Palmer Cullen and Dykman LLP

Ellen N. Savino

Sahn Ward Braff Koblenz PLLC

Commercial Industrial Broker Society of Long Island

David Pennetta

Stephen A. Hayduk Hayduk Engineering LLC

Gilbert Balanoff

The Law Offices of Gilbert Balanoff PC

Tiffany Balanoff

Douglas Elliman Real Estate

Nicholas Ceccarini

Weatherstone Mortgage Corp.

Christine Curiale Valley Bank

Melissa Curtis Contour Mortgage

Michael Steinberg

Hedgestone Business Advisors

Alex Lipsky

Lipsky Construction

Sean M. Cronin, Esq. Cronin & Cronin Law Firm PLLC

Ryan J. Coyne Serhant

VincePropertyShark PropertyShark.com

Habitat Abstract

dAvid KAsnER, bRAnch manager of Coldwell Banker American Homes, at left, and Daniel Williams, president of E.W. Howell Construction Group, at right, get their awards from Stuart Richner.

Tim Baker/Herald photos

Tim Baker/Herald photos

Hundreds of Honorees, guests and sponsored enjoyed refreshments and conversation ahead of the second annual REAL Awards hosted by RichnerLive.

Bryan McCrossen, Center at top-left, a partner at Jaspan Schlesinger Narendran, joins strategic marketer and financial educator Jesika Kalika in the selfie booth.

JoHn frasCella, MaidenBauM’s residential property tax supervisor, was a major sponsor of the REAL Awards.

tHoMas deluCa, senior director and real estate broker at Cushman & Wakefield of Long Island — at left —enjoys a moment before receiving a REAL Award of his own.

Courtesy Le Selfie

Courtesy Le Selfie Helena Veloso, at center in pink, has fun with the rest of her Douglas Elliman Real Estate team at the selfie booth at the REAL Awards.

County maps ‘not perfect,’ but still ‘fair’

New legislative districts approved along partisan lines

By ANA BORRUTO aborruto@liherald.com

After dozens of hearings, months of public input and several heated exchanges among Nassau County lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, a final district map drawing out borders for the 19 legislative districts for the next 10 years has finally passed.

All 11 Republicans of the majority voted for the map, while seven Democratic minority members voted in opposition. For those on the wrong side of the vote, it was a disappointing — but inevitable — end to community members and Democratic officials who have been vocal over their claims of partisan gerrymandering.

“Tomorrow morning, students in Nassau County are going to wake up to a snow day,” Democratic legislator Josh Lafazan said ahead of the region’s first real snowfall of the season. “This legislative body is going to wake up to a lawsuit.

“Our constituents lose tonight, and nobody wins.”

Before the evening vote, some members of the community gathered to express final pleas for the Nassau County Legislature to not approve the map. They claim the map fails to include five majority-minority districts, it violates state and federal voting laws, neglects to consider racial demographics, and dilutes minority votes in communities such as Lakeview and Freeport.

In fact, dozens of Lakeview residents turned up at a previous public hearing sharing stories of their fight for equality and fair representation.

The current map places Lakeview — a predominantly Black community of more than 6,200 people — in a district with predominantly white communities likeMalverne, Lynbrook, West Hempstead and East Rockaway.

Scottie Coads said the hearts of her Lakeview neighbor are “hurting” because of this decision.

“I almost went to tears when I saw our hard work being put into a district with Lynbrook and Malverne,” Coads said. “Those people don’t even want us there. They don’t even talk to us.”

Doris Hicks Newkirk, president of the Lakeview NAACP and former educator in the Malverne school district, said she knows of young Black students who have been told to “go back where they came from,” and called racial slurs.

Lisa Ortiz, one of the founding members of the Lakeview Civic Association, talked about how the Malverne district became the first in the state to be forced into desegregation — more than a decade after the national Brown v. Board of Education decision.

For more than 60 years, many representatives of Lakeview and the school district fought to have a street name of a Ku Klux Klan leader removed — only recently accomplishing this feat.

Fast forward to today, the redistricting process is another hurdle the Lakeview community is not backing down on.

“When we think about disenfranchis-

ing — when you think about gerrymandering — you think about making sure that you are silencing a community that has a very, very loud voice,” Ortiz said.

“That’s exactly what you’re doing.”

County legislature minority leader Kevan Abrahams called out his Republican colleagues for choosing secrecy over transparency during the redistricting process, especially when it came to the legal fees for the analysis provided by Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders LLP.

“We have the power and the authority tonight to do the right thing,” Abrahams said. “Unfortunately, this map is going to go forward, and this body is choosing to vote for a map that is illegal. None of us want this. I’d rather things get worked out, because ultimately, the lawsuit is

going to cost taxpayers money.”

But presiding officer Richard Nicolello said numerous changes were made to the map to acknowledge this input. He also admitted not every request was addressed in the final proposal, but in the end, the district lines were considered fair and applicable to state and federal laws.

“Did we make every requested change? No. Is this map perfect? No. But perfection is impossible in redistricting,” Nicolello said. “This map is a fair map. It provides for equal representation for all our residents, and protects community interests as much as possible.”

sCOTTie COAds Of Lakeview expresses her anger over countywide district maps at several public hearings before Nassau County lawmakers ahead of them passing a final proposal late last month. For decades, Coads has fought for fair representation in Lakeview, a predominantly Black community placed in a district with Malverne, Lynbrook and East Rockaway.

NAssAU COUNTy LegisLATOR and Democratic minority leader Kevan Abrahams joined his political colleagues voting against a proposed countywide redistricting map last month. The votes weren’t enough, but Abrahams wanted to be on the record for his claims the map represented partisan gerrymandering while violating voting rights protections for minority communities.

Ana Borruto/Herald photos

NAssAU COUNTy LegisLATURe presiding officer Richard Nicolello shared heated exchanges with minority caucus leader Kevan Abrahams over the past few weeks over the new countywide district map. At the final meeting, Nicolello and 10 other Republican majority members voted in favor of their map, admitting that while it is not perfect, it is fair and protects community interests.

You can make it happen!

The New Year is here. You’ve made resolutions to lose weight, get fit, save money, and be better organized. How successful will you be with these endeavors? You know the answer — all that falling off the wagon is creating mega business for chiropractors.

So instead of remaking the same old resolutions, how about shifting your gaze to savvy psychological strategies to help you become the person you want to be! Here are a few to try:

■ Don’t curb your enthusiasm. What are you passionate about? What are you eager to do, to learn, to enjoy? Go for it!

■ Appreciate that you’re a work in progress. Though you still have much to learn, take pride in who you are right now. Yes, some seem to be born with a talent for … (Fill in the blank). But the rest of us must work hard to accomplish what we want.

■ Put a lid on your id, so you finish what you start. It’s easy to get distracted, to lose focus. If your mind responds to every whim it encounters, you’ll end up mightily frustrated. Hence, a disciplined “no” to diversions reaps a sensational “yes” to achievements!

■ Appreciate the art of being fully present. We talk to our closest friends and family, yet we’re not fully present. Why? We’re checking our phones or thinking about something else. We rush into our cars, never noticing the sensational sunrise, awe-inspiring nature, and cumulous clouds. When you’re in a rush to be somewhere else, you miss what’s right in front of you.

■ Spend time with rich people - not those with fat wallets but those with warm hearts. Notice how others speak to you. Is their conversation loaded with critiques (you should have), or with curiosity (what are you into?), or praise (yippee!)? Do they offer encouragement with what’s important to you? Or, do they come up with reasons that hinder and hamper your progress?

■ Give negative thoughts the boot. There may be times when you experience a wave of worries. Or a pessimistic voice that says, “You can’t!” Or guilt that says, “You shouldn’t have!” Yes, negative voices may come with an important message you need to heed. But once you hear the message and determine its validity, let it go. Do not allow it to take up residency in your brain!

■ Seek out opportunities to learn, travel,

and experience something new. Initially, you may feel fearful and uneasy. Keep learning, however, and you’ll end up celebrating your achievements. People who find life tedious and tiresome don’t do this. Then they complain about how bored they are. You make the better choice!

■ Ask questions of others who think differently from you. Listen respectfully to their answers to gain a deeper understanding of how they think, what they

want, what they fear. When you do, you’ll become a more informed, insightful person.

■ Celebrate your imperfections. What, are you kidding? Nope! If those imperfections are not weighing you down, let them be. Nobody’s perfect. Bur if you notice that they’re preventing you from living the life you want, see what you can improve to make a better life for yourself.

■ This is your space: What’s your savvy strategy for the New Year that will bring a

smile to your face? Once you decide what it’ll be, share it with me, please. Thanks. Hoping 2023 will be is a wonderful year for you where you will feel empowered, accomplish your goals and enjoy your life.

©2023

Linda Sapadin, Ph.D., psychologist, coach and author specializes in helping people improve their relationships, enhance their lives.

LARGEST FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED FUNERAL HOME ON THE SOUTH SHORE

Linda Sapadin

Person to Person

It all started the moment she raised her hand

By MALLORY WILSON mwilson@liherald.com

When Randi Shubin Dresner was 8, she raised her hand during a school assembly — and that one action shaped the course of her life.

The assembly, at McVey Elementary School in East Meadow, was focused on the March of Dimes, an organization that works to improve the health of mothers and babies. Representatives were there to talk about an upcoming walk-a-thon, and they asked students if they wanted to serve as school representatives for the event. Shubin Dresner didn’t hesitate to raise her hand.

“I raised my hand at 8 years old, and I never put it down again,” she said. “I volunteered through my entire childhood at the March of Dimes, as well as a couple of other organizations.”

Shubin Dresner, now 62, is the president and chief executive officer of Island Harvest, the nation’s largest hunger-relief organization, based in Melville. The food bank has a wide variety of programs to help feed those in need, from children to seniors and veterans.

She started there in 2001, after meeting longtime Island Harvest board member Stuart Richner, chief executive of Richner Communications and publisher of the Heralds, in an elevator at a networking event. At the time, Shubin Dresner was working at the Heckscher Museum of Art. She talked to Richner about the possibility of sponsoring an event the museum was having.

“In the time it took to go from one floor to the next, I introduced myself, told him about the organization that I worked with, and almost got him to become a sponsor of the event,” she recalled. “He is and was a board member at Island Harvest, and went back to the organization and said, ‘I just met this person — you better call her and recruit her to come to Island Harvest.’”

Shubin Dresner said that she turned the job down more

than once before deciding to make the switch to the food bank. “It was an interesting mission that I could relate to, and it was a very small organization at the time,” she said.

“I was encouraged by the fact that the board recognized that there was a lot of growth potential, and the board put a lot of trust in me and my vision for the organization.”

Island Harvest wasn’t the first time she explored her potential as a leader. Shubin Dresner has been in the nonprofit sector her whole life. In middle school, she started her own March of Dimes chapter in her basement, and recruited her friends.

“I just liked what they were talking about,” she recalled.

“I liked their enthusiasm, and their excitement about the work they were doing, and I wanted to be part of it.”

The Five Steps to an Elder Law Estate Plan

Elder law estate planning provides for (1) your care in the event you become disabled as you age, and who will be in charge of that care, and (2) the passing of your assets on death to whom you want, when you want, the way you want, with the least amount of taxes and legal fees possible. These are the five steps to creating such a plan.

Step One: Understanding the Family Dynamics. Clients often overlook the inestimable value of getting to know the family dynamic. We are firm believers that the social goes first and the legal should serve the social. Too often it is the other way around. Once we understand who’s who and everyone’s interpersonal relations with each other, we are far better able to craft a plan that will work socially as well as legally. The failure to address the social aspects has led to many a plan tearing the family apart.

Step Two: Reviewing the Client’s Assets. IRA’s and other “qualified” assets (i.e. tax deferred) are treated quite differently, on death or disability, from “non-qualified” assets. The determination of the amount and value of all assets, who owns them, and whether they have named beneficiaries are of the utmost importance in planning correctly,

including saving legal fees and taxes.

Step Three: Reviewing Existing Estate Planning Documents. Not having been prepared by an elder law attorney, clients’ documents rarely have adequate provisions to take advantage of the many benefits the law provides for our elderly population. Wills instead of trusts have often been prepared either because the client was considerably younger and a trust was not needed or a trust was needed but the general practice lawyer was unfamiliar with the specifics of preparing a trust.

Step Four: Developing the Elder Law Estate Plan. We are now in a position to determine which persons are best suited to handle your legal, financial and medical affairs on disability or death, what type of plan should be used and how the estate should be distributed — keeping in mind the preservation of harmony in the family.

Step Five: Executing and Maintaining the Plan. Legal documents are explained and executed, assets are retitled and beneficiaries on assets changed in keeping with planning objectives. The client is called in to the law firm every three years to ensure the plan meets the client’s current wishes and conforms with any law changes.

At 17, she became a full-time employee at March of Dimes. And from there, she never looked back. Before landing at Island Harvest, she spent time at the Viscardi Center, in Albertson, and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, among other organizations. At the National MS Society, she served as executive director of the Nassau County chapter, and at just 23, she transformed it from a failing organization to an award-winning chapter.

“I knew from an early age that this was going to be my career,” Shubin Dresner said. “I loved doing fundraising, I loved presenting and talking at groups, and giving back to the community, and creating programs that support that community.”

Many of her early career years were shaped by her time at the March of Dimes and the role models she met there — especially the organization’s executive director at the time, Lottie Seligman.

“In the mid- to late ’60s, there weren’t a lot of women in business,” Shubin Dresner said. “I watched (Seligman) and tried to model her in my early years of building my career. The women who were the directors and managers at the organization really taught me a lot. I had really incredible women models in my career.”

Now, at Island Harvest, she prides herself on the relationship she has with the board of directors, and how much she’s been able to involve her family in her lifelong mission of helping others.

“I’m honored to be in this work,” she said. “I’m honored to have this opportunity to work at organizations for an entire career that has an impact on changing lives.”

Practices begin in April and are held Thursday evenings at Calhoun High School. The meets are in May and June.

Coaches are needed for the boys K – 3 team For more information contact: Coordinator – Susan Carroll (516)236-1573 or email to shcyogirlstrack@gmail.com

Herald file photo

RANdI ShuBIN dReSNeR, chief executive and president of Island Harvest, has worked in nonprofits since she was a child.

STEPPING OUT

STEPPING OUT

Creative advocacy

A sweet time awaits at the Surrounded by confections

By Karen Bloom

Smitten by chocolate, and so much more. Temptations await at the Chocolate Expo’s latest edition, ready to entice everyone on March 12.

By Karen Bloom

The popular event is back on Long Island to delight chocoholics at its new location — Hofstra University’s David S. Mack Sports & Exhibition Complex in Hempstead, for a day-long foodie paradise. More than 80 vendors — representing Long Island, New England and elsewhere, even international purveyors — will share their sweet and savory wares during this unique foodcentric festival.

WHERE WHEN

Pat McGann

Expo

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

• Sunday, March 12, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

• Tickets are $20 adult, $15 ages 5-12 or $30 adult, $15 ages 5-12 at door; available from TheChocolateExpo.com

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

• Hofstra University, David S. Mack Sports & Exhibition Complex, Hempstead

Stand,” Hofstra University Museum of Art’s new exhibition, examines power of the arts in society.

Alexandra Giordano — the museum’s assistant director of exhibition and exhibit underscores artists’ civic responsibility and influence. the vital role that artists have in activating democratic values that and freedom, encouraging civic engagement, and cultivating unity,” “Artists often lead the charge and expose truths that may otherwise be in this exhibition take a stand and call out injustices through their art issues such as immigration, gender, reproductive rights, mass incarceration, bias, gun violence, and promises unfulfilled. They all combine the making service that has a grassroots approach in the hope of mobilizing their the nation to ignite movement, create awareness, and inspire others to which runs through July 28, is in conjunction with Hofstra’s conference on the Barack Obama presidency coming up in April. interested in the idea that the artist has a civic responsibility,” says Karen Albert. “The initial idea for this exhibition was inspired by Administration White House briefing that took place on May 12, 2009, 60 artists and creative organizers met with administration officials to collective power of the arts to build community, create change, and chart national recovery in the areas of social justice, civic participation and unlike other recent exhibits that showcased the museum’s collection, Giordano reached out to contemporary artists who loaned selected works. Some 36 pieces are on view — representing Emma Amos, Molly Crabapple and the Equal Justice Initiative, Miguel Luciano, Michele Pred, Hank Willis Thomas, and Sophia climate is now, this exhibit could not be more timely than Albert adds. highlights, she points to the series of prints from the Freedoms. Their four large scale photos are based on 1943 oil paintings inspired by President Franklin D. State of the Union address that outlined what he essential four democratic values freedom of speech, worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear. For interpreted these iconic works for our era. composition,” Albert says. “From 1940s America, what America is today, our diversity and what we look museum offers additional enhance the exhibit experience. include an artist panel on Feb. 23, the role of the artist as activist, and a Alexandra Giordano, March 16.

Founder Marvin Baum says this year’s event includes many first-time vendors as well as a diversity of offerings — even some for your beloved pooch. As Baum puts it: “People take care of themselves with special treats, so why not let your pet enjoy some, too?

Visitors can celebrate and indulge in gourmet chocolates, baked goods, specialty items, cheeses, wines, spirits, hard ciders, craft sodas, and much more. Of course tasting is very much a part of it all — starting from the moment you enter. Guests are greeted by fountains overflowing with dark, white and milk chocolates, in which a selection of fresh fruit, marshmallows pretzels and Rice Krispies treats can be deliciously drenched.

“When you go to these festivals, you remember something you tried that you can’t get elsewhere,” Baum says. “That’s what we try to do with this.”

Participating chocolatiers offer chocolate bonbons, chocolate bars,

raw chocolate, hot chocolate, chocolate fudge, chocolate novelties, chocolate barks and chocolate-covered goodies, chocolatecovered soft pretzels, even chocolatecovered bacon. Cupcakes, brownies, doughnuts, and assorted cakes are showcased along with other gluten-free offerings and other baked goods, while hot cocoa, wine, and hard ciders, and even chocolate moonshine, will be among the craft beverages available for tasting and purchase.

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.

The Ugly Duckling

Lightwire Theater brings a classic tale to the modern stage. Since bursting to national acclaim after appearing as semi-finalists on ‘America’s Got Talent’ and winning the top honors on truTV’s ‘Fake Off,’ Lightwire has gone on to enthrall audiences worldwide with their unique combination of skill and grace as told through the technological innovations of moving light characters. In this unforgettable theatrical experience — created with electroluminescent wire — the beloved story of ‘The Ugly Duckling’ plays out through a cutting-edge blend of puppetry, technology and dance. Ideally suited to kids through Grade 6, all ages will enjoy this innovative re-imagining of the beloved tale, with its dazzling visuals, poignant choreography and creative use of music ranging from classical to pop.

Saturday, March 11, 11 a.m. $28.

Jeanne Rimsky Theater at Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington. (516) 767-6444 or LandmarkOnMainStreet.org.

Yarn/Wire

“We’re really excited to be here,” Baum says, noting that his chocolate-fest has emerged from the pandemic renewed and reinvigorated. “We love to work with local vendors and support new businesses by introducing people to them.”

These include: The Best Goody Bag, a Valley Stream baker of custom birthday cakes and other birthday-related treats; Peace Love & Hot Chocolate, a purveyor of gourmet hot chocolate kits, based in Island Park; Uncle Jeff’s Pecan Pies, a Wantagh baker, who’s all about pie — pecan pie that defies imagination; and West Hempstead’s Sunflower Bake Shop, which specializes in kosher and vegan baked goods.

If your palate reaches sensory overload, take a break for a while and check out some of the many activities that round out the day. Magician Eric Wilzig, of “America’s Got Talent” fame, performs two high-energy “extreme” magic shows on the Expo stage. Actor Paris Themmen — who starred as Mike TeeVee in the original “Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory” film — is on the scene to greet guests from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m., plus he does an interview noon, followed by audience Q&A.

Also appearing is chef Francis Legge, a winner of Food Network’s “Beat Bobby Flay” and a contestant on Netflix’s “Snack vs. Chef,” who will do an on-stage demonstration, while Long Island’s DJ Chef, who won Food Network’s “Cuthroat Kitchen,” does his “Beats & Sweets Interactive Cooking Show,” combining his passions for food and music. Kids will enjoy face painting and balloon twisting activities in the Kidz Zone, along with chocolate-themed crafts.

Now in its 18th year, Adelphi University’s ‘new music’ series welcomes Yarn/Wire. The intrepid New York-based piano-percussion quartet has forged a singular path with endlessly inventive collaborations, commissions and performances that have made a significant contribution to the canon of experimental works. The quartet features founding member Laura Barger and Julia Den Boer on piano and Russell Greenberg, also a founding member, and Sae Hashimoto playing percussion. Barger is a frequent guest with many top American contemporary ensembles. French-American Den Boer performs internationally as a soloist and chamber musician. Greenberg is in demand with varied ensembles. Hashimoto, the newest member, contributes a unique approach to performance cultivated by her intensive classical training .

Friday, Feb. 17, 7:30 p.m. $30 with discounts available to seniors, students, alumni and employees. Adelphi University Performing Arts Center, 1 South Ave., Garden City. (516) 877-4000 or Adelphi.edu/pac.

The Sicilian Tenors

The Sicilian Tenors bring their dynamic sound to Tilles Center, ready to put their spin on the classics, and so much more. The three classically trained tenors sing their own interpretations of some of the world’s best music in this lively evening. It’s a journey from Hollywood to Broadway to Italy as these operatic voices perform a wide selection of beloved songs. Combined with light-hearted fun, Aaron Caruso, Elio Scaccio and Sam Vitale put on an appealing show for everyone — all ages and musical tastes. They are a fresh and accessible take on the great Italian musical tradition. Always in demand, their special blend of classic opera and Broadway hits, along with Rat Pack-type shenanigans is a consistent crowdpleaser.

Saturday, March 18, 8 p.m. $52, $42, $32. Tilles Center for the Performing Arts, LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Boulevard, Brookville. (516) 299-3100 or TillesCenter.org.

Photos courtesy Chuck Fishman Take your pick. This year’s Chocolate Expo is a showcase of scrumptious bites.

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

Courtesy Hofstra Universally Museum of Art Rockwell’s celebrated ‘Four Freedoms’ are reinHank Willis Thomas and Emily Shur in Gottesman and the Wyatt Gallery.

Courtesy of the artist and Jack Shainman Gallery, New York. Thomas, ‘Lives of Others,’ 2014, made resin and standing 57 inches tall

THE SCENE

S.T.O.P. Collection

Bellmore and Merrick residents can dispose hazardous materials such as antifreeze, drain cleaners, pesticides, fluorescent bulbs and oilbased paints at the Town of Hempstead’s collection, Saturday, May 13. The collection will take place at 2600 Newbridge Road, South Bellmore, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visit HempsteadNY.gov for more information.

March 11

StepCrew

StepCrew brings their Celtic flair to the Adelphi University Performing Arts Center stage, Saturday, March 11, 7:30 p.m. The talented cast of dancers and musicians is led by Long Island’s Cara Butler and the Pilatzke Brothers, Jon and Nathan. All three are longtime touring members of the acclaimed The Chieftains. The StepCrew boasts Celtic and World music from three world-class fiddle players backed by a five-piece ensemble, featuring three dance styles — Irish, Tap, and Ottawa Valley step dance. Tickets start at $55, with discounts available to seniors, students, Adelphi alumni and employees. Adelphi University Performing Arts Center, 1 South Ave., Garden City. (516) 877-4000 or Adelphi.edu/pac.

CPR Training

Willie Nile

The singer-songwriter visits the Landmark stage, Saturday, April 1, 8 p.m. Nestled somewhere between power-pop and American folk you will find Willie Nile strumming his guitar. A true believer in rock n’ roll, over the years Nile has made admirers out of Bruce Springsteen and Pete Townshend who personally requested him to tour with The Who, among others who sing his praises. The New York Times called him “one of the most gifted singer-songwriters to emerge from the New York scene in years.” Nile shares the stage with James Maddock; their pairing results in an exciting evening of roots rock. $42, $36, $31. Jeanne Rimsky Theater at Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington. (516) 767-6444 or LandmarkOnMainStreet.org.

On stage

Mo Willems’ popular The Pigeon comes alive on the Long Island Children’s Museum stage, Saturday, March 11, 11:30 a.m.; Thursday and Friday, March 1617, 10:15 a.m. and noon. Pigeon is eager to try anything, with the audience part of the action. Long Island Children’s Museum, Museum Row, Garden City. (516)

The Robbie Levine Foundation and the North Merrick Fire Department are hosting a free CPR training on Saturday, March 25, 9 a.m.-noon. Open to anyone interested in learning CPR. It will take place at the fire department’s headquarters, 2095 Camp Ave., North Merrick. No experience or equipment is necessary. To register, email rblforever9@optonline.net.

PRESENTS

Easter Bunny Class

The Nesting Place is hosting an Easter-themed parent and me class with circle time, movement and crafts, Saturday, April 8, 1:30 and 3 p.m. The class, for ages 1.5 to 5, will include crafts and a juice box, and end with a visit from the Easter Bunny. $4,. 2150 Merrick Ave., Merrick. Visit TheNestingPlaceLI.com for more information.

In concert

Singer-songwriters Kala

Farnham and Lara Herscovitch share the bill and swap songs during the monthly Hard Luck Café series, co-presented by the Folk Music Society of Huntington and the Cinema Arts Centre, Wednesday, March 15, 7-10 p.m. An open mic precedes the concert, in Cinema’s Sky Room, 423 Park Ave., Huntington. $20. For tickets and information, visit CinemaArtsCentre.org.

N. Bellmore transportation information

North Bellmore Union Free School District provides transportation for students in kindergarten through third grade living a distance greater than a half mile up to 15 miles and in grades fourth through sixth living a distance greater than one mile up to 15 miles from the school they attend. Transportation to a day care is also provided under certain circumstances, also to private and parochial schools. Transportation requests to schools outside of the district must be made by April 1 — the child must be registered in the district. Applications are online at NorthBellmoreSchools.org or call 516) 992-3000 for info. Requests should be sent to 2616 Martin Ave., Bellmore.

Volunteer Opportunity

The Garden at St. Francis seeks volunteers, Saturdays, 10 a.m.noon, at the church’s Charity Crafting Circle. Email stfrancisec@ gmail.com for info or call (516) 679-1184. Church is located at 1692 Bellmore Ave., North Bellmore.

Having an event?

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.

FSA Tax Assistance

Receive assistance with tax returns at Bellmore Memorial Library, Tuesday, March 28, with epresentatives from Bethpage Federal Credit Union and NYS Dept. of Taxation and Finance, 9;30 to 5 p.m. Visit BellmoreLibrary.org/calandar. 2288 Bedford Ave., Bellmore.

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.

‘Forever Plaid’

Plaza Theatrical is ready to spring forward with “Forever Plaid,” an affectionate musical homage to the close harmony guy groups that reached the height of their popularity during the ‘50s, Saturday, March 18, 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, March 19, 2:30 p.m.; Thursday, March 23, 2 p.m. The show features such hits as “Three Coins in a Fountain,” “Heart and Soul,” “Catch a Falling Star,” and “Love is A Many Splendored Thing.” It’s performed at Plaza’s stage at the Elmont Library Theatre, 700 Hempstead Tpke., Elmont. $49, $45 seniors. Elmont. For tickets, call (516) 599-6870 or visit PlazaTheatrical.com.

Family theater

Everyone’s favorite cat comes to mischievous life in this theatrical adaptation of the Dr. Seuss classic, presented Plaza Theatrical Productions, Saturday, March 11, 11 a.m.; Sunday, March 12, noon. See what goes on during that rainy day when two siblings are home alone with their pet fish while their parents are out of town, and the tall cat wearing a hat appears. Tickets are $15. Visit the Plaza stage at The Showplace at Bellmore Movies, 222 Pettit Avenue, Bellmore. For information/tickets, go to PlazaTheatrical.com or call (516) 599-6870.

Blakeman claims a successful first year

By MICHAEL MALASZCZYK mmalaszczyk@liherald.com

It’s been a little more than a year since Bruce Blakeman officially took office as Nassau County executive. Since then, how much has life improved for the nearly 1.4 million people living under his administration?

Significantly. At least according to Blakeman, thanks to his work with the majority party in the Nassau County Legislature. Triumphs Blakeman shared as part of his Feb. 28 State of the County address.

And there was a lot on Blakeman’s plate, after taking over for Laura Curran — not all that could be handled at the county level. Inflation. Catalytic converter theft. Support for local businesses. Bringing Nassau out of the Covid-19 era. And challenging some proposals that had made their way down from Albany.

“Our administration increased the boost (of the) Nassau Main Street grants program by an additional $10 million to support small businesses and keep family-owned businesses in Nassau County,” Blakeman said. He also met with professionals and entrepreneurs from a number of communities to begin work on expanding opportunities “for all people so that every community in every person — Black, white, Asian, Hispanic and Latino — share in our county’s prosperity.”

It is important to invest in local business because Nassau is bigger than 10 states by population, and has a higher gross domestic product than 145 countries, Blakeman said. And there is something in the works that could shake this up even more — the proposed plan to bring a Las Vegas Sands casino to the Nassau Coliseum.

“We are considering this proposal, and I have consistently stated that we would keep an open mind,” Blakeman said. But there are conditions.

“It must be world-class, with a luxury hotel and entertainment component,” he said. “It must bring significant

In HIS StAtE of the County speech on Feb. 28, Nassau executive Bruce Blakeman praised what he described as a successful first year in office, giving credit to law enforcement and the county legislature for working with him on a number of initiatives to help bring some of his campaign promises to fruition.

revenue to the county and surrounding areas, including construction and permanent jobs. And third, it must have the support of the community.”

A cornerstone of the Blakeman administration has been tackling the mass thefts of catalytic converters in Nassau. Some of that concluded in December with “Operation Cat-Track,” partnering with Nassau County Police Department commissioner Patrick Ryder to recover $7 million worth of stolen converters. The operation, Blakeman added, put a significant dent on an organized crime ring responsible for the thefts.

“I especially want to thank Sen. Chuck Schumer for

asking the Department of Justice to help us and send a special response team to mobilize and to help crack down on these thefts,” Blakeman said.

While the Republican executive crossed party lines to praise Schumer, he still had some harsh words for Joe Biden, blaming the president’s border policies for the current fentanyl crisis.

Democrats closer to home — in his county legislature took issue with some of what Blakeman said, specifically where the credit should go for the positive direction in the last year.

“While we got off to a very rocky start when the county executive first took office, there has been some progress,” County Legislator Delia DeRiggi-Whitton said as part of the Democratic response. “I am glad to report that minority-led proposals have been adopted, including a gas tax holiday, (and) tax relief for eligible seniors and disabled homeowners. And just this Monday, property tax exemptions for volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers.”

However, DeRiggi-Whitton hit Blakeman over the ongoing county tax assessment issue, which remains frozen. Blakeman maintained in the speech that much of the issue with tax assessment is still the fault of the Curran administration, which froze it during the pandemic.

As for fentanyl? DeRiggi-Whitton agreed the crisis must be addressed, but isn’t spending time pointing fingers.

“With fentanyl overdoses posing such a major threat, the Minority Caucus has introduced a law which would require low-cost fentanyl detecting strips to be included in every Narcan kit distributed by a county agency,” she said of the packages used to help save lives of those suffering opioid overdoses.

“Even though we have seen the potential of this approach in towns, cities and states across the United States, there has been no action by the majority on our proposal to date.”

Michael Malaszczyk/Herald

Public Notices

LEGAL NOTICE

Notice of formation of Lily J. Sweets, LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York SSNY on 11/5/2022. Office: Nassau County. SSNY has been designated for service of process. SSNY shall mail copy of any process served against the LLC, Legal Zoom.com, Inc., 7014 13th Avenue, Suite 202, Brooklyn, NY, 11228. Purpose: any lawful purpose.

137059

LEGAL NOTICE

MERRICK UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT New York State Law requires written transportation requests annually from parents or guardians of children (Grades K - 6) who are residents of the Merrick School District and attend non-public schools. The application must be filed by April 1, 2023 for the 2023-2024 school year or within 30 days after residency is established. A separate application is required for each child. Transportation is provided only to those schools within a 15-mile radius of the child’s home.

Transportation applications for the 2023-2024 school year are available at the Administrative Offices of the Merrick School District, 21 Babylon Road, Merrick, NY 11566 or on the District website www.merrick.k12.ny.us under District/Transportation.

Please contact Merrick Schools Transportation at (516) 992-7285 with any questions. Applications for students entering grades 7 through 12 can be found on the BellmoreMerrick CHSD website or call (516) 992-1024.

137249

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU

WILMINGTON SAVINGS

FUND SOCIETY, FSB, D/B/A CHRISTIANA

TRUST, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS TRUSTEE ON BEHALF OF CSMC

TRUST 2015-2, Plaintiffagainst- WAFA ABBOUD, et al Defendant(s).

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated October 25, 2018 and entered on October 26, 2018, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY on March 23rd, 2023 at 2:00 p.m.

ALL that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, situate, lying and being in the Town of Hempstead, Nassau County, New York, known and designated as Section 63 Block 146 Lot 34.

The Foreclosure Sale will be conducted in accordance with 10th Judicial District’s COVID-19 Policies and Foreclosure Auction Rules.

All bidders must wear a face mask/shield at all times and social distancing must be observed by all bidders at all times. Bidders who do not comply with the face mask and/or the social distancing mandate will be removed from the auction.

The aforementioned auction will be conducted in accordance with the Court System’s COVID-19 mitigation protocols and as such all persons must comply with social distancing, wearing masks and screening practices in effect at the time of this foreclosure sale. Foreclosure Auctions will be held Rain or Shine. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, then the Court Appointed Referee will cancel the foreclosure auction.

Said premises known as 2739 MERRICK AVENUE, MERRICK, NY

Approximate amount of lien $1,216,154.12 plus interest & costs.

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale.

Index Number 003460/2017.

LAWRENCE FARBMAN, ESQ., Referee DRUCKMAN LAW GROUP PLLC Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 242 Drexel Avenue, Westbury, NY 11590

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

{* Merrick Life*}

137351

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU GREEN TREE SERVICING LLC, Plaintiff AGAINST ELIZABETH VITALE, JACK GANDOLFO, Defendant(s)

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered September 27, 2018, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on March 21, 2023 at 2:30PM, premises known as 46 SHAW DRIVE, MERRICK, NY 11566. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being at North Merrick, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 56, Block A02, Lot 12A-12B.

Approximate amount of judgment $614,616.06 plus interest and costs.

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index

#007977/2014. The

aforementioned auction will be conducted in accordance with the NASSAU County COVID-19 mitigation protocols and as such all persons must comply with social distancing, wearing masks and screening practices in effect at the time of this foreclosure sale. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, then the court appointed referee will cancel the foreclosure auction. Foreclosure Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine”. Jennifer Ettenger, Esq., Referee Gross Polowy, LLC 1775 Wehrle Drive Williamsville, NY 14221 17-001468 74870

137173

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT

NASSAU COUNTY TAXCTCO LLC, Plaintiff against ANTHONY BOPP, et al Defendant(s) Attorney for Plaintiff(s) Law Office of Michael Ehrenreich PLLC, 555 Willow Avenue, Cedarhurst, NY 11516.

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered November 18, 2020, 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 April 4, 2023 at 2:30 PM, all that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being, and identified on the land and tax map of the County of Nassau in the State of New York, the Premises known as 59 Winifred Dr., Merrick, NY 11566. Sec 56 Block A05 Lot 36. Approximate

Amount of Judgment is $57,732.95 plus interest, fees, and costs and attorneys fees. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No 615070/2019. The foreclosure sale will be conducted in accordance with 10th Judicial District’s Covid-19 Policies and foreclosure auction rules. The Referee shall enforce any rules in place regarding facial coverings and social distancing. 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.”

Roger Hausch, Esq., Referee 16-3252

137677

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE TO BIDDERS

The North Merrick Public Library will receive separate, sealed bids for the construction contract for their Pavilion Project to the North Merrick

Public Library building located at 1691 Meadowbrook Road, North Merrick, New York, 11566.

Bids must be sealed with “Pavilion Project” written on the outside of the envelope. Bids should be received no later than 2:00 pm on April 6, 2023 at the North Merrick Public Library (Director’s Office), located at 1691 Meadowbrook Road, North Merrick, New York, 11566. All bids will be opened and read publicly on April 6, 2023 starting at 2:00 pm.

Plans and specifications may be obtained beginning on March 9, 2023 at 12:00 pm, as follows:

Upon request, an electronic copy of the bid documents will be emailed to the requesting bidder. Contact the following person (via email) to obtain a Bid Package:

John Tanzi, Project Architect

John Tanzi Architects email: jtanzi@jtarchitects.net

Bid security in the form of a certified check or money order payable to the North Merrick Public Library or a satisfactory bid bond executed by the bidder in an amount equal to 5% (five percent) of the total amount of the bid shall be submitted with each bid. The surety issuing the bid bond shall have a minimum policyholder rating of “A“ as listed in AM Best’s Insurance Guide and be licensed to conduct business in the State of New York.

A pre-bid conference/walk through to review the scope of work and visit the project site will be held at the North Merrick Public Library building located at 1691 Meadowbrook Road, North Merrick, New York, 11566 at 10:00 am on March 21, 2023. Participants will meet outside the building’s main entrance. The project site visit is recommended for all bidders.

All questions and requests for clarifications must be submitted in writing via e-mail and received no later than 5:00 pm on March 24, 2023 to:

John Tanzi, Project Architect

John Tanzi Architects email: jtanzi@jtarchitects.net

The contract will contain a provision that every laborer and workman employed on or about the work contemplated by the contract shall be paid not less than the rate of wages which are set forth in the prevailing wage rate schedule from the New York State Department of Labor. The contract will be awarded to the lowest responsible bidder or the proposals will be rejected within 45 (forty-five) days

of the date of opening proposals, subject, however, to the right reserved by the Board of Trustees of the North Merrick Public Library to waive any informalities in, reject any or all proposals, accept any bid in whole or in part, or to advertise for new proposals, if, in the opinion of this Board of Trustees, the best interest of the North Merrick Public Library will thereby be promoted. This notice is an offer to receive proposals for a contract and not an offer of a contract.

All bids shall include noncollusive bidding certification or statement required by Section 103-d of the General Municipal Law of the State of New York and shall also contain a non-segregated facilities certificate which shall provide that the bidder does not maintain or provide for his employees facilities which are segregated on a basis of race, creed, color or national origin, whether such facilities are segregated by directive or on a de facto basis. The North Merrick Public Library reserves the right to reject any and all bids and to waive irregularities and informalities in bidding.

Board of Trustees

North Merrick Public Library

March 9, 2023

137771

Pkwy., a/k/a 1709 Merrick Rd.

ALL PAPERS PERTAINING TO THE ABOVE HEARING ARE AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION AT THE BOARD OF APPEALS, TOWN HALL, 1 WASHINGTON STREET, HEMPSTEAD, NY 11550. This notice is only for new cases in Merrick within Town of Hempstead jurisdiction. There are additional cases in different hamlets, towns and villages on the Board of Appeals calendar. The full calendar is available a t https://hempsteadny.gov/ 509/Board-of-Appeals

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

137804

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING, BUDGET VOTE AND TRUSTEE ELECTION OF THE NORTH MERRICK

PUBLIC LIBRARY

NOTICE IS HEREBY

Director’s office, 1691 Meadowbrook Road, North Merrick, New York and the Principal’s office in each of the following school buildings beginning April 4, 2023 during school hours: Camp Avenue School, Harold D. Fayette School, and Old Mill School.

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that petitions nominating candidates for the office of member of the Library Board of Trustees shall be filed with the Clerk of the North Merrick School District (the “District”), Harold D. Fayette School, 1957 Merrick Avenue, North Merrick, NY, not later than March 27, 2023, between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Each petition shall be directed to the Clerk of the District; must be signed by at least twenty-five (25) qualified voters of the District; must state the name and residence of each signer, and, must state the name and residence of the candidate and shall describe the specific vacancy for which the candidate is nominated.

5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 26, 2023.

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that a list of persons to whom absentee ballots are issued will be available for inspection to qualified voters of the District commencing with the issuance of such absentee ballot, as well as the list of registered voters, in the office of the Clerk of the District on each of the five days prior to the election, excluding Sunday, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on weekdays, and on April 26, 2023 by appointment, and at the polling place on the day set for the election.

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

BY THE BOARD OF APPEALS

Pursuant to New York State Town Law Article 16, New York State Public Officers Law Article 7, and the Town of Hempstead Building Zone Ordinance, NOTICE is hereby given that the BOARD OF APPEALS of the Town of Hempstead will hold a public hearing in the Town Meeting Pavilion, Town Hall Plaza, One Washington Street, Hempstead, New York on 3/15/23 at 9:30 A.M. & 2:00 P.M. to consider the following applications and appeals:

THE FOLLOWING CASES WILL BE CALLED

STARTING AT 9:30 A.M. 170/23. - 171/23.

MERRICK - Michael Hoy, Renewal of grants: maintain 2-family dwelling; maintain 6’ high fence., S/W cor. Parkwood Dr. & Jerusalem Ave., a/k/a 1160 Parkwood Dr.

THE FOLLOWING CASES WILL BE CALLED STARTING AT 2:00 P.M. 198/23. MERRICK - Taco Bell of America, LLC, Install/Replace LED menu board (not permitted) in conjunction with existing restaurant., N/s Merrick Rd., 355.57’ W/o Central

GIVEN, that a Public Hearing will be held by the Board of Trustees of the North Merrick Public Library (the “Library”), Town of Hempstead, Nassau County, New York on, April 18, 2023, at 7:15 PM at the Library, 1691 Meadowbrook Road, North Merrick, New York, for the purpose of discussing expenditures contained in the Library’s proposed budget for the 2023-2024 fiscal year.

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that said Budget Vote and Election will be held on Wednesday, April 26, 2023, in the Library, 1691 Meadowbrook Road, North Merrick, New York, between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m., to vote by voting machine upon the following items:

1. To adopt the annual budget of the Library for the fiscal year 2023-24 and to authorize the requisite portion thereof to be raised by taxation on the taxable property of the District.

2. To elect one (1) member of the Library Board of Trustees for a five (5) year term commencing July 1, 2023, and expiring on June 30, 2028. The incumbent is Kristin Frost whose term expires on June 30, 2023.

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that a copy of such budget or statement may be accessed on the Library’s website or obtained by any resident of the District upon request between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. beginning April 4, 2023, except Sunday or holidays, at the Library

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that personal registration of voters is required, and no person shall be entitled to vote at the meeting whose name does not appear on the register of the School District prepared thereof. The Board of Registration will meet for the purpose of conducting a registration of all qualified voters of the District pursuant to Education Law § 2014 at the Library, 1691 Meadowbrook Road, North Merrick, New York on Wednesday, April 19, 2023 between the hours of 4:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. to add any additional names to the Register, provided that at such meeting of the Board of Registration he or she is known or proven to the satisfaction of said Board of Registration to be then or thereafter entitled to vote at such election for which the register is prepared. In person registration must be received by the Clerk of the District not later than 4:00 p.m. on Friday, April 21, 2023.

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that applications for absentee ballots will be obtainable during school business hours from the Clerk of the District; completed applications must be received no earlier than the 30th day before the election for which it is sought. Completed application must be received no later than 4:00 p.m. on April 19, 2023 if the ballot is to be mailed to the voter, or by 4:00 p.m. on April 25, 2023 if the ballot is to be delivered personally to the voter.

Absentee ballots must be received by the Clerk of the District not later than

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HERBY GIVEN that Military voters who are qualified voters of the district who and are not registered must apply to register as a qualified voter by contacting the District Clerk at 1057 Merrick Avenue, North Merrick, NY 11566 or by email jlong@nmerrick.org or fax sent to (516)282-1822. The military voter may indicate their preference for receiving the registration application by mail, facsimile or electronic mail. The application to register must be received no later than 5:00 P.M. on the twenty-sixth (26th) day before the election, AN FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that military voters who are qualified voters of the school district may apply for a military ballot. A military ballot application may be requested from the District Clerk and must be returned, in person or by mail to the Office of the District Clerk at 1057 Merrick Avenue, North Merrick, NY 11566 not later than 5:00P.M. on the twenty-sixth (26th) day before the election. A military voter may indicate their preference for receiving the military ballot application by mail, facsimile transmission, or email.

Military ballots must be received by the District Clerk(1) before the close of the polls on April 26, 2023 and showing a cancellation mark of the U.S. postal service, or a foreign country’s postal service, or showing a dated endorsement of receipt of another agency of the U.S government or (2) by 5:00 P.M. on the date set for the election and signed and dated by the military voter and one witness thereof, with a date which is ascertained not be later than the day before the election. Irrespective of the preferred mode of transmission, the military ballot application and military ballot must be returned by mail or in person, A list of all persons to whom military ballots shall have been issued will be available for inspection to qualified

Place a notice by phone at 516-569-4000 x232 or email: legalnotices@liherald.com

PUBLIC & LEGAL NOTICES

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

voters of the District in the office of the District Clerk during regular office hours until the day of the election.

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER

NOTICE that the vote on all propositions and the election of candidates on the election held on Wednesday, April 26, 2023 will be conducted by voting machine. It being expressly understood that the intent of the Library is to comply with any legislation stemming from the current coronavirus pandemic Thus, all references to the timing, location, and manner of hearings, registration, and voting in the budget vote and election are subject to modification based on applicable legislation or direction by an entity with jurisdiction over the Library.

Dated: North Merrick, New York

February 7, 2023

By Order of the BOARD OF TRUSTEES

NORTH MERRICK PUBLIC LIBRARY

North Merrick, New York

Susan Santa, Director 137766

2. Elegir un (1) miembro de la Junta de Fideicomisarios de la Biblioteca para un período de cinco (5) años que comenzaría el 1 de julio de 2023 y finalizaría el 30 de junio de 2028. La titular es Kristin Frost cuyo período finaliza el 30 de junio de 2023.

POR EL PRESENTE TAMBIÉN SE NOTIFICA que se puede acceder a una copia de dicho presupuesto o dicha declaración a través del sitio web de la Biblioteca o los residentes del Distrito la pueden obtener bajo solicitud entre las 10:00 a. m. y las 5:00 p. m. a partir del 4 de abril de 2023, salvo los domingos o feriados, en la oficina del director de la Biblioteca, 1691 Meadowbrook Road, North Merrick, Nueva York, y en la oficina del director en cada uno de los siguientes edificios escolares a partir del 4 de abril de 2023 durante el horario escolar: Camp Avenue School, Harold D. Fayette School y Old Mill School.

POR EL PRESENTE

en tal elección para la que se preparó el registro. La Secretaría del Distrito debe recibir los registros presenciales antes de las 4:00 p. m. del viernes 21 de abril de 2023.

POR MEDIO DEL PRESENTE TAMBIÉN SE NOTIFICA que las solicitudes de boletas electorales por ausencia se podrán obtener durante el horario escolar de la Secretaría del Distrito; las solicitudes completas deben recibirse después del 30.º día antes de la elección objeto de la solicitud. Las solicitudes completadas deben recibirse antes de las 4:00 p. m del 19 de abril de 2023 si se debe enviar por correo la boleta electoral al votante o antes de las 4:00 p. m. de 25 de abril de 2023 si se debe entregar la boleta electoral personalmente al votante.

La Secretaría del Distrito debe recibir las boletas electorales por ausencia antes de las 5:00 p. m. del miércoles 26 de abril de 2023.

Merrick Avenue, North Merrick, NY 11566 antes de las 5:00 p. m. del vigésimo sexto (26.º) día previo a la elección. El votante militar puede indicar su preferencia de recibir la solicitud de boleta electoral militar por correo, fax o correo electrónico.

LEGAL NOTICE

AVISO LEGAL

AVISO DE AUDIENCIA

PÚBLICA, VOTO SOBRE

EL PRESUPUESTO Y ELECCIÓN DE FIDEICOMISARIOS DE LA BIBLIOTECA

PÚBLICA DE NORTH

MERRICK

POR EL PRESENTE SE NOTIFICA que el 18 de abril de 2023 a las 7:15 p. m. la Junta de Fideicomisarios llevará a cabo una Audiencia

Pública de la Biblioteca pública de North Merrick (la “Biblioteca”), pueblo de Hempstead, condado de Nassau, Nueva York, en la Biblioteca, 1691 Meadowbrook Road, North Merrick, Nueva York, con el objetivo de analizar los gastos que se incluyen en el presupuesto propuesto de la Biblioteca para el año fiscal 2023-2024.

POR EL PRESENTE

TAMBIÉN SE NOTIFICA que dicho Voto sobre el presupuesto y dicha elección se realizarán el miércoles 26 de abril de 2023 en la Biblioteca, en 1691 Meadowbrook Road, North Merrick, Nueva York, entre las 10:00 a. m. y las 9:00 p. m., para votar mediante una máquina de votación sobre los siguientes asuntos:

1. Adoptar el presupuesto anual de la Biblioteca para el año fiscal 2023-2024 y autorizar la parte requerida de este para ser recaudada con impuestos sobre la propiedad sujeta a tributación del Distrito.

TAMBIÉN SE NOTIFICA que las solicitudes para nominar candidatos para la oficina de miembros de la Junta de Fideicomisarios de la Biblioteca se deberán presentar ante la Secretaría del distrito escolar North Merrick (el “Distrito”), Harold D. Fayette School, 1957 Merrick Avenue, North Merrick, Nueva York, antes del 27 de marzo de 2023, entre las 8:00 a. m. y las 5:00 p. m. Cada solicitud deberá dirigirse a la Secretaría del Distrito, deberá firmarse por al menos veinticinco (25) votantes calificados del Distrito, se deberá indicar el nombre y la residencia de cada firmante, así como también el nombre y la residencia del candidato, y se deberá describir la vacante específica para la que se nomina al candidato.

POR EL PRESENTE TAMBIÉN SE NOTIFICA que se requiere el registro personal de votantes y ninguna persona tendrá el derecho de votar en la reunión si su nombre no aparece en el registro del Distrito escolar en el que se preparó. La Junta de Registros se reunirá el miércoles 19 de abril de 2023, entre las 4:00 p. m. y las 8:00 p. m., en la Biblioteca, 1691 Meadowbrook Road, North Merrick, Nueva York, con el fin de realizar un registro de todos los votantes calificados del Distrito de conformidad con la Ley de Educación § 2014, para añadir al Registro todo nombre adicional, siempre y cuando en dicha reunión de la Junta de Registros se haya conocido o probado a satisfacción de dicha Junta de Registros que tienen derecho a votar a partir de entonces

POR EL PRESENTE TAMBIÉN SE NOTIFICA que, a partir de la emisión de tales boletas electorales por ausencia, estará disponible una lista de personas para las que se emitieron boletas electorales por ausencia a fin de que los votantes calificados del Distrito la inspeccionen, así como también la lista de votantes inscritos, en la oficina de la Secretaría del Distrito en cada uno de los cinco días previos a la elección, sin incluir el domingo, los días de semana entre las 8:00 a. m. y las 4:00 p. m., el 26 de abril de 2023 con cita y en el lugar de votación en el día establecido para la elección.

POR MEDIO DEL PRESENTE TAMBIÉN SE NOTIFICA que los votantes militares que sean votantes calificados del distrito y que no estén inscritos deben solicitar inscribirse como votantes calificados poniéndose en contacto con la Secretaría del Distrito sita en 1057 Merrick Avenue, North Merrick, NY 11566, por correo electrónico a jlong@nmerrick.org o por fax al (516)282-1822. El votante militar puede indicar su preferencia de recibir la solicitud de registro por correo, fax o correo electrónico. La solicitud de inscripción se debe recibir antes de las 5:00 p. m. del vigésimo sexto (26.º) día previo a la elección.

POR EL PRESENTE TAMBIÉN SE NOTIFICA que los votantes militares que sean votantes calificados del distrito escolar podrán solicitar una boleta electoral militar. La solicitud de boleta electoral militar puede pedirse en la Secretaría del Distrito y debe devolverse, en persona o por correo, a la oficina de la Secretaría del Distrito en 1057

La Secretaría del Distrito (1) debe recibir las boletas electorales militares antes del día de cierre de la votación, el 26 de abril de 2023. Las boletas, además, deben tener una marca de cancelación del servicio postal de los Estados Unidos o del servicio postal de un país extranjero, o un endoso fechado de recepción por parte de otra agencia del gobierno de los Estados Unidos; o (2) antes de las 5:00 p. m. del día fijado para la elección. Las boletas, además, deben estar firmadas y fechadas por el votante militar y un testigo de ello, con una fecha que establezca que no son posteriores al día previo a la elección. Independientemente del medio de transmisión preferido, la solicitud de boleta electoral militar y la boleta electoral militar deben entregarse por correo o en persona. En la oficina de la Secretaría del Distrito estará disponible para la inspección de los votantes calificados del Distrito, durante el horario de atención habitual y hasta el día de la elección, una lista de todas las personas para las que deberán haberse emitido boletas electorales militares.

ADEMÁS, SE NOTIFICA que el voto de todas las proposiciones y la elección de los candidatos en la elección que se realizará el miércoles 26 de abril de 2023 se realizará en máquinas de votación. Queda entendido expresamente que la intención de la biblioteca es cumplir con toda legislación que se origina de la actual pandemia por coronavirus. Por lo tanto, todas las referencias sobre el horario, la ubicación y la modalidad de las audiencias, el registro y el voto en la votación del presupuesto y la elección están sujetos a modificaciones de acuerdo con la legislación o indicaciones vigentes de una entidad con jurisdicción sobre la biblioteca.

Carini, Rhoads ready to work with newly elected legislator

including removing graffiti from public areas.

Miles, an attorney for the legislature’s minority caucus, conceded shortly after the results were in on the evening of Feb. 28 and congratulated Giangregorio on a well-run, issue-focused race.

Giangregorio has been a community advocate for many years. When his son, Nicholas, was diagnosed with autism, Giangregorio and his wife, Allison, realized that the autism support system was severely insufficient, particularly when diagnosed individuals reach adulthood.

Giangregorio hosted walks at Jones Beach to raise money for autism awareness and was even able to get a state bill passed in 2011 requiring New York-based health insurance companies to fund treatments.

For his autism advocacy, Giangregorio was chosen as the Merrick Herald’s Person of the Year in 2014. And while Giangregorio intends to take some of that activism with him to the legislature, he said he wants to help create a better support system for all of his constituents.

“I am certainly not a one-issue candidate because I have very strong feelings on everything that affects Nassau County,” Giangregorio told the Herald in his roundtable interview prior to the election. “We want to make sure that Nassau County is accessible to all.”

Giangregorio has described himself as a “quality-of-life” politician, focusing his efforts on fighting crime, making sure housing projects are zoned properly,

and looking for the answer to the tax assessment system.

A native of Queens, Giangregorio said that while he loved Queens, he moved to Long Island seeking a quiet, suburban lifestyle. As Nassau County grows increasingly urban, Giangregorio said he wants residents to continue to look at Nassau County as a place to live and raise a family.

“I am honored to have been selected by the voters in the 19th Legislative District to represent them in Mineola,” Giangregorio said. “I am committed to delivering on the promises of tax relief, safe communities, and protecting our suburban quality-of-life.”

Mohamed Farghaly/Herald

Michael GianGreGorio, seventh from left, was elected to succeed State Sen. Steve Rhoads in Nassau County Legislature’s 19th District in a special election on Feb. 28. He defeated Democrat Rob Miles, and will assume office as soon as the vote is certified.

continued froM front paGe

Michael Malaszczyk/Herald file in a roundtable interview with the Herald, Giangregorio emphasized his desire to maintain Nassau County’s high quality of life, which he sought when he moved from Queens.

EMPLOYMENT

Help Wanted

ACCOUNTING/BOOKKEEPING, AR/AP

Do you have accounting, bookkeeping, or AR/AP experience? Are you tired of being retired, or need a few days a week to keep your mind occupied? If so, please send us a quick email and we will call you to discuss more details. We are a Customs Broker looking for someone who can support our everyday accounting needs and who doesn’t necessarily need or want to work every day. We look forward to talking with you!!! Email: Jobs@agraservices.com

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT FT: RVC. Administrative Work, Answering Phones, Computer Skills – Microsoft, Excel, Outlook, Financial background helpful. No Health Beneifts. 516-763-9700 frances.difede@lpl.com

AUTO TECHNICIAN FT

Experienced And Reliable. NYSI A Plus. Busy Merrick Shop. Call 516-781-5641

AUTO TECHNICIAN WANTED

Gregoris Subaru, Valley Stream

Experience Needed, Own Tools NYSI License Necessary

All Skill Levels Welcome Salary Commensurate With Exp. Health Benefits, Union Call Steve H 516-872-9755 Ext.1 Email Steveh@gregorismotors.com

BOOKKEEPER P/T EXPERIENCED

5-10 Hours Per Week. Handle Real Estate Property Management, Personal Finances. Computer Skills Necessary. Can Work From Home Or Office. Lawrence. Call 516-375-9642

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

Clinical Research Specialist sought by Mindful Care Ltd dba Mindful Urgent Care for West Hempstead, NY to manage & oversee the dvlpmt, implmtn & evaluation of a sleep study. Must have a Bach Deg in Biology, Health Sciences or Medical Technology + 1 yr exp in Clinical Research + special skills: RedCap, SPSS, CITI certification. Resumes to: Tamir Aldad, 510 Hempstead Turnpike, #203, West Hempstead, NY 11552. No calls.

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 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

INVESTIGATOR

Skip Tracer, Asset Locator. 3Yrs. Experience. Bi-lingual A Plus. Work From Home. mgal2@verizon.net 516-868-9888

MOTOR VEHICLE CLERK FT

Valley Stream Subaru Seeking Conscientious, Organized, Computer Literate. Reliable Individual. Will Train If Needed. Family Run Business With Small, Friendly Office Staff. Salary, 401K, Benefits. Ask For Richard Or Therese 516-825-8700

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

Richner Communications, One of the Fastest Growing Media, Event and Communications Companies on Long Island is Seeking a Sales/Marketing Candidate to Sell our Print Media Products and

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

HomesHERALD

To place an ad call 516-569-4000 press 5 • To place an ad call 516-569-4000 press 5

Lido Beach

The architect planned one thing, and the plumber did another

HOME Of tHE WEEK

S

tunning brand-new Colonial. This grand home features a large living room, granite kitchen and baths, den with fireplace, sliding doors to a huge deck, 4 bedrooms, 3 full baths, master suite with a double shower and tub along with large closets. There are hardwood floors throughout, central air, central vacuum and water heater on demand. You will love the 2-car garage, in-ground sprinklers, fenced yard and plenty of storage. This beauty is close to beach, school, shopping. It is a must see! Asking $1,350,000.Mazal Amram, Licensed Associate Broker Cell: (516) 782-6331

Office: (516) 889-6677

Email: jamram123@aol.com

Topper Realty 84 East Park Avenue Long Beach, NY 11561

Q. My basement is being finished, and we’re adding a bathroom with a shower. Our plumber just left, and I’m bewildered by the way things are going. The plumber says we passed the inspection, but we’re concerned that he persuaded us to move the door, and all of the fixtures are different than the plans show. Our architect lined up the toilet, the sink and the shower in a row so we could use just one “plumbing wall” for all the pipes, but the plumber moved the shower to a different wall, which left nothing but empty space in the corner beside the toilet. Then the plumber ran flexible hot and cold tubing along the ceiling, so now we have to add a drop-down ceiling around the pipes. Is this acceptable and normal to do, and why did the work pass inspection if it didn’t follow our plans? We spent a lot of time discussing and planning where everything would go with our architect, and now we wonder who’s in charge if it passes inspection.

A. You ultimately have the last word on what you accept. I always tell clients that we play by the Golden Rule in construction. The Golden Rule used to mean, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” It now means that he (or she) who has the gold rules.

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1608 Ridgeway Dr, BA, Move Right Into This Completely Gut Renovated 4 BR, 3.5 Bth Col on 1/4 Acre Prop. New Kosher EIK, FDR, LR w/ Fpl, Den & Enclosed Porch. Radiant

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CE da RHURST 332B Peninsula Blvd, BA, Move Right Into This Updated 3 Br, 2.5 Bth Coop Townhouse. LR, DR, Gran/Wood Kit w/ Stainless Steel Appl. Trex Deck Off LR. Primary Ste Features Updtd Bth & WIC. Att Gar Plus 1 Pkg Spot incl in Maintenance. W/D, Pull Down Attic, SD#15. Convenient to Shops, Trans & Houses of Worship $449,000 Fa R ROCK aWay 33-47 Bay Ct, BA, Enjoy The Waterviews in This Bayswater 4 BR, 1.5 Bth Split Tucked Away in Cul de Sac. Fin Bsmt. Att Gar. O/S Resortlike Yard on the Bay. Opportunity to Make This Your Dream Home! REDUCED! $675,000 Ronnie Gerber 516-238-4299 1207517 1207309 Rent Your Apartment through the Herald and PrimeTime Classified section. Call us for our great *specials. 516-5694000, press 5 for Classified Dept. *(private party only)

The Architect

Ask

As long as you haven’t paid yet, you still have some authority. Once you pay, the issue becomes unclear, since paying is a demonstration of satisfaction, and it’s hard to show you were dissatisfied when someone else, like a judge, has to determine if you really just changed your mind but were once satisfied. Situations like yours prompted me to put a clause in my agreements that often seems questionable to prospective customers. I write that I am not responsible for deviations from the plans by the contractor, subcontractor, plumber, electrician or any other party hired by the owner, of it they cut through building components and cause damage.

Many people are naïve to the fact that the workers you hire often deviate from the plans. The building owner really believes that people follow the plans. Sadly, the plans prepared by a design professional, architect or engineer are carefully scrutinized by building officials before a permit is granted, only to be ignored when the plans are then not followed and the inspection in the field passes.

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.

Results t hat Move You

1202330

HELPING YOU ON YOUR REAL ESTATE JOURNEY

Rob Kolb Licensed Real Estate Salesperson

Tripodi Shemtov

This Robin won’t rest until you are in your new NEST!

REAL ESTATE

Real Estate

RETIRED NYC EMS fire lieutenant selling quarter to half acre lots in Palm Coast Florida. We pay closing costs. We have a travel program to buy call 1-386-437-7058

Open Houses

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516-238-4299

HEWLETT BA, 1534 Broadway #103, REDUCED AND MOTIVATED! Magnificent New Renovation! One of a Kind Ranch

Style Living in Luxurious Jonathan Hall Condominium with Doorman & Elevator.

Just Move into This Gut Renovated, Spacious 2 BR, 2 Bath Apt with Open Layout.Large Designer Eat in Kitchen with Sep Pantry & Laundry Rm.Master BR Boasts Gorgeous Bth & Walk in Closet. Terrace

Faces into Courtyard and the Garage

Parking is Incl..$699,000 Ronnie Gerber, Douglas Elliman 516-238-4299

HEWLETT BA, 1608 Ridgeway Dr, Drastic Reduction! Move Right Into This Completely Gut Renovated 4 BR, 3.5 Bth Col on 1/4 Acre Prop. New Kosher EIK, FDR, LR w/ Fpl, Den & Enclosed Porch. Radiant Htd Flrs. Full Fin Bsmt. 2 Car Att Gar. MUST SEE!! SD#20...$1,469,000 RENTAL

$6500 PER MONTH Ronnie Gerber, Douglas Elliman 516-238-429

House For Sale

POINT LOOKOUT: WATERFRONT-

LARGEST Selection of Beach Homes, Sale/ Rent. Our Home Listings Sell FA$T! VIDEOS. HUG R.E. 516-431-8000 www.hugrealestate.com

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

Vacation Rentals/Prop

Apartments For Rent

EAST ELMONT: 1 BR Cottage, New Carpets/ Flooring. No Smoking/ Pets. $1400 Plus Utilities. 516-437-7608

WEST HEMPSTEAD: SPACIOUS Lower Level, All Included, Separate Entrance, Backyard, EIK, Fbth, Near All/ LIRR. $2100. 917-640-3028

Out Of Town/Real Estate

NINEVEH NY: 25 Acres With Cabin And Bluestone Quarry. Hunting, Farming, Mining. Below Market. Must Sell. $75,000. Ben 347-866-5619, 718-266-9700

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

Robin Reiss Licensed Real Estate Salesperson Cell: 516.510.6484 Office: 516.623.4500 Robin.Reiss@elliman.com

How’s the market?? Please contact me for your free market report and personalized service! 1207130

and home office.

Taxes: $11,716

Bellmore $700,000

Farmers Avenue. Colonial. 5 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms. Updated eat-in kitchen with quartz countertops and deck off kitchen. Open layout. Fireplace and cathedral ceiling. Updates include 2-zone heat and central air conditioning. Master bedroom with vaulted ceiling and skylight.

Taxes: $13,448.12

Cedarhurst $1,200,000

West Broadway. Colonial. 5 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms. Kosher eat-in kitchen with granite countertops and highend stainless steel appliances, including 2 ranges and 2 dishwashers, and island. Living room with custom built-ins. Formal dining room. Den/family room. Large rooms. Parklike backyard. Central air conditioning.

Taxes: $8,372

East Meadow $700,000

Francis Drive. Cape. 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms. Finished basement. New eat-in kitchen with granite countertops, stainless steel appliances and porcelain flooring. Formal dining room. First floor master bedroom. Updates include windows and ductless air conditioning system.

Taxes: $11,754.12

East Rockaway $710,000

Alden Road. Cape. 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms. Finished basement. Eat-in kitchen with granite countertops. Formal dining room. Den/family room and home office. First floor bedroom. Security system.

Taxes: $17,764.30

Freeport $760,000

Maryland Avenue. Expanded Cape. 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms. Finished basement. Updated eat-in kitchen. Formal dining room. Den/family room. First floor master bedroom suite. Convenient location in heart of Sterns Park.

Taxes: $16,524.30

Long Beach $600,000

Lincoln Boulevard. Ranch. 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom. Updated open-concept eat-in kitchen with granite countertops and stainless steel appliances. Den/family room. Many extras, including high hats, crown molding and closet systems. Large rooms. Central air conditioning.

Taxes: $10,661.35

Oceanside $590,000 Bayfield Boulevard. Split Level. 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms. Formal dining room. Den/family room. First floor master bedroom.

Taxes: $17,839.21

Valley Stream $651,000

Todd Road. Expanded Cape. 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms. Partial finished basement. Updated eat-in kitchen with stainless steel appliances and walk-out to Trex deck. Formal dining room. Den/family room. Large rooms. Professional landscaping.

$11,872.36

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Announcements

THE LONG BEACH HISTORICAL SOCIETY 226 West Penn St, Long Beach Invites You To Shop Our Antique, Vintage & Treasures Sale Sat., March 18th, Sun., March 19th. 11am-5pm. Exciting Finds Throughout The Museum. For More Information: 516-432-1192.

MERCHANDISE MART

Antiques/Collectibles

We Buy Antiques, Fine Art & 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

BATHROBE: UNISEX 100% Turkish Cotton, Garden City Hotel Embroidery, One Size. Tags On, $90. 516-320-1906

CRYSTAL STEMWARE (MACY'S). Gorgeous Wine , Water, Champagne. Brand new original boxes $95. 516-225-9191

DINING ROOM FURNITURE wood espresso color $99. (516) 462-2656

DOG CRATE, 24" x 20" x 22" tall, metal tray. $29. call 516-798-2098

Finds Under $100

FIREWOOD SEASONED MAPLE Cut Logs $40 S. Freeport 516 279 7696

FREE PIANO! IN good condition. You just have to transport. Call 516-596-1078

KID'S BEDROOM FURNITURE wood honey color $99. (516) 462-2656

LACROSSE BALLS,100, NEW and used, $70, 516-816-7383

PICTURE FRAMES, ALL shapes & sizes, wood, metal, etc. everything under $6. 516-225-9191

SEARS CRAFTSMAN PUSH Reel Lawnmower (old style), $30, Excellent Condition, 516-816-7383

VINTAGE SUNBEAM MIXMASTER Electric Mixer w/bowls, working, excellent, clean, $55. 516-798-2098.

SERVICES

Cleaning Services

MARINA'S CLEANING SERVICES: Cleaning Homes, Apartments, Condos, Offices. Experienced. FREE Estimates. Serving Long Island. 516-670-7764

Decks

DECKS DECKS Our Only Business

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

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Plumbing

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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.

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The shell game we like to call graduation rates

The good news for the New York State Education Department, and the sobering news for the rest of us, is that state taxpayers remain mostly blinded by educational obfuscations like the high school graduation rate.

The SED released 2022 graduation rates last month, and the percentage of students who collected diplomas on Long Island crept up slightly last year, to 92.6 percent.

Long Island has a higher graduation rate than almost any other region in America.

If we were a state, we would have the highest graduation rate in the nation.

“Wow!” you say.

“Long Island schools are second to none!”

Hold on to your mortarboard.

If the graduation rate helps rank schools and compare graduating classes, why complain? It’s an easy way to see if your high school did better or worse than last year. It also tells you how your school compares with others.

It’s also a remarkably misleading statistic that is sometimes abused for lessthan-ethical purposes.

On the surface, graduation rate is simple, determined by dividing the number of students who graduate by the total number of eligible students. But there are all sorts of inside-baseball statistics — such as cohort graduation vs. on-time graduation — that the Education Department, and superintendents around the state, jumble, mix and match in an effort to figure out how to get more diplomas in the hands of teens.

The statistics themselves aren’t insidious. Numbers are simply tools. It’s the use of the graduation rate to determine school rankings and state funding that makes it so odious. Even worse is what some educators will do to boost the rate.

Ask a high school teacher how many times he or she has been queried by an administrator:

“What does this kid need to graduate?”

“Can we give her extra credit?”

“How many points does he need?”

“He’s worked so hard all year — surely there must be something that can be done.”

It’s a confidence game. Nudge the numbers, appeal to a teacher’s good intentions, and the graduation rate ticks upward.

Floor grades are a neat trick. The

intent of a floor grade — a number that can’t dip below 55 or 45, depending on attendance — is to give students a fighting chance to pass a class.

Consider this scenario without a floor grade: A student fails the first two quarters of a class with abysmal grades of 12 and 15 — more common than you might think — so it becomes statistically impossible to pass for the year. The student realizes this, completely gives up, and becomes a discipline problem.

Giving the student a floor grade means that he or she only has to get a grade of 75 for each of the last two quarters to pass the class. The student sees light at the end of the tunnel, and becomes a model learner.

Alas, crafty students immediately figure out the floor-grade scam. Some students take it as a fall-quarter extension of summer break — while other students bemoan the benefit given to slackers. Floor grades reward laziness and diminish the quality of education needed to graduate.

Floor grades aren’t universally used or required, and there are no state or nationwide regulations. Some schools implement them at the end of the marking peri-

od. A grade of 32 miraculously jumps to 55. Other schools prohibit teachers from uploading any grade below 55 for any assignment. A student who does not a jot of work all of September still gets a 55.

See you on the podium in June, Jimmy!

Then there are credit-recovery programs — kids on Chromebooks after school for a few weeks, punching keys to earn class credits — and summer school. Ask a high school administrator what their summer school pass-fail rate is. Derelict students somehow evolve into scholars in the span of six weeks.

Obviously, not every student slacks, not every teacher fudges and not every administrator nudges. But let’s be honest about loopholes.

Graduation rate can’t measure rigor. Parents largely want their children’s diplomas to mean something more than a number. Graduation rate doesn’t emphasize philosophy, critical thinking or scientific theory.

So, by all means, toast the graduates this spring with a glass of sparkling cider — and a shot of reality. Not all diplomas are equal, and that graduation rate may be hiding some of your high school’s flaws.

Mark Nolan, the editor of the Lynbrook/ East Rockaway and Malverne/West Hempstead Heralds, taught high school English for 11 years.

Writers will tell the story of our times

In honor of National Reading Day on March 2, I reread Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible.” Setting: America, in its earliest days. The settlers of Salem, in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, were religious and community-minded, good people who cared for their children and worked desperately to survive in a forbidding environment.

In 1692, these righteous citizens accused, tried and hanged 14 women, five men and two dogs for practicing witchcraft.

offered accounts of teenage girls dancing naked in the woods and reports of broomsticks found high in the trees. Daughters accused mothers and husbands accused wives. Once accused, you either confessed and implicated others, or you were hanged anyway for not telling the truth.

What finally shined a light on that dark summer of 1692, what pried the truth out of the cold foundations of old Salem, was “The Crucible,” Miller’s play, which he wrote more than 250 years after the fact.

RANDI KREISS

Some time ago, I also read Stacy Schiff’s “The Witches: Salem, 1692,” a nonfiction history of the time. It has been noted that no historian has ever fully explained what fever possessed the people of Salem. Even Schiff’s remarkable history does not answer the question of how the community’s paranoia achieved the critical mass that led to hangings.

You know where I’m going with this. We live now in a time of similar groupthink and communal delusion. (They nearly hanged Mike Pence!)

In Massachusetts Bay, “eyewitnesses”

In writing a work of fiction, Miller revealed the true hearts and minds of the accusers, victims and bystanders. He knew them because he knew human nature, and because he was living through a time of another witch hunt: the great Red Scare of the early 1950s.

Miller was one of the artists accused of ties with communism, and in an essay, “Why I wrote ‘The Crucible,’” he wrote, “The play was an act of desperation.” The accusations of Sen. Joseph McCarthy’s House Un-American Activities Committee, Miller wrote, had “paralyzed a whole generation and in a short time dried up the habits of trust and toleration in public discourse.”

He wrote, “In 1948-51, I had the sensation of being trapped inside a perverse work of art … in which it is impossible to make out whether a stairway is going up or down. Practically everyone I knew stood within the conventions of the political left of centre; one or two were Communist party members … I have never been able to believe in the reality of these people being actual or putative traitors any more than I could be, yet others like them were being fired from teaching or jobs in government or large corporations … The surreality of it all never left me … In today’s terms, the country had been delivered into the hands of the radical right … It is always with us, this anxiety, sometimes directed towards foreigners, Jews, Catholics, fluoridated water, aliens in space, masturbation, homosexuality, or the Internal Revenue Department … And if this seems crazy now, it seemed just as crazy then, but openly doubting it could cost you.”

Miller’s play became a metaphor, even a cliché of that era, when friends betrayed friends and people lost jobs and secret accusations could lead to public humiliation and worse. Miller said that he wrote “The Crucible” because it was what a

writer would do to get to the underlying truth of a moment in history. In writing about 1692, he was also writing about 1952.

And now, when we read his play, we are also reading about our time. Once again, America has lost its moorings, and no one can adequately explain or understand 2023, because we are treading water in the midst of it.

We won’t have a bead on our own time until the novelists and playwrights create the fictional works that reveal us to ourselves.

Read “The Crucible” again. It speaks to the currents of evil that can sweep away an entire community: irrational fear of “the other,” jealousy, fundamentalist religion, isolation, political manipulation. Miller was writing about Salem and the Red Scare, but he might as well have been writing about Stalin’s Russia or Pinochet’s Chile, Mao’s China or the Khmer Rouge. Or he might have been writing about America today, about QAnon or DeSantis or Trump or Marjorie Taylor Greene, about book bans and racist attacks and antisemitic resurgences.

It is America in 2023. We have run off the rails, again. We need to wait for the novelists and playwrights to find the truth of this moment and bring it to us.

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

Arthur Miller’s 1953 play, ‘The Crucible,’ could have been written in 2023.

They’re misleading statistics that are sometimes unethically abused.

HERALD

We must keep government transparent

the middle of March is something many of us look forward to, because it means spring is just around the corner. But this coming week, March 12-18, is known as Sunshine Week. Associations, institutions and organizations connected to journalism will celebrate the initiative to promote open government, which was launched in 2005 by the American Society of News Editors, now the News Leaders Association.

The week coincides with March 16, National Freedom of Information Day, which honors a bill signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1966, allowing members of the public and journalists access to government information in the interest of keeping our leadership transparent.

States across the country have since enacted similar laws, but why is this important? Why should you care?

Because government information is taxpayer-supported, public information, and it belongs to you. Whether it’s a public school district, a village, a town, a county, the state, or the nation’s highest governing entities, everything said, spent or done there impacts you.

In the midst of the Cold War, with the United States and the Soviet Union locking political horns after World War II, the American government appeared to be suppressing information. That wasn’t going to work for John Moss, a newly elected Republican congressman from California. Moss campaigned for increased transparency, but was continuously rebuffed by a government he viewed as acting secretly. People were fired from their jobs and blacklisted for being com-

letters

Peter King’s return to Washington

To the Editor:

Re Peter King’s column last week, “At the Capitol, it was almost as if I’d never left”: Mr. King’s “bittersweet” tour of his part-time “home” for 28 years is qualified by an expansive “almost.”

Since his departure in December 2020, we outsiders have seen members of Congress fleeing the Capitol, election-deniers elected, Marjorie Taylor Greene advocating secession and a national divorce, the meretricious McCarthy spectacle, the frantic shunning of George Santos and the Republican Party’s growing angst with its likely nominee. Mr. King apparently did not notice any of this. His visit was a lot like old times, we’re told.

Who knew this would be cause for nostalgia?

munists, many without a shred of real evidence.

Moss championed his caused by hosting hearings as chair of a House subcommittee on government information. Support was nonexistent from the majority GOP, but outside Congress, educators, journalists and scientists strongly supported Moss.

Not surrendering, Moss pushed his Freedom of Information Act for over 10 years until, finally, a fellow Republican, Donald Rumsfeld — then a young representative from Chicago — added his name. The act eventually passed in the House and the Senate, and then landed on the desk of Johnson, a Democrat who opposed some aspects of the bill, especially when it came to classified material. Still, LBJ signed the legislation into law on July 4, 1966, making the supposed greatest democracy on Earth the third country to create such a law.

“I sign this measure with a deep sense of pride that the United States is an open society in which the people’s right to know is cherished and guarded,” Johnson said.

You might live in an incorporated village with a government that includes a board of trustees. You might attend a board meeting at which those trustees vote to spend money to improve a playground. You want to know exactly how that money — your village taxes — will be spent.

You might ask a trustee. Maybe he or she answers your question. Maybe they do not. You want to know more. That is when you can file a Freedom of Information request — the process created by the Free-

dom of Information Act — to obtain that information.

Is it that easy? Usually, yes. Occasionally, however, it becomes a tug-of-war between the government and the party who “FOILs” for the information.

This is what Sunshine Week is about, and why it matters. The information that a government entity possesses does not belong to elected or appointed officials. It belongs to the people they represent.

You.

To promote the message of Sunshine Week, you can write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper — like this one — or help spread the message through social media.

Elected officials, doing their part, could review current public-access laws, introduce legislation to strengthen accessibility to public information, and encourage the training of government employees to help ensure compliance with existing open-record laws.

Grass-roots community organization might organize local forums, sponsor essay contests, or push elected representatives to spotlight the importance of open access to government information.

Teachers can use Sunshine Week to educate students on how government transparency improves their lives and creates stronger communities.

Government transparency was on the mind of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis when he told Harper’s Weekly in 1913 that “sunlight is said to be the best of disinfectants.” Increased openness should be the standard that all government entities strive for. It makes for good governance, and a strong and civil society.

The governor’s misguided affordable-housing plan

It appears that Gov. Kathy Hochul has made a conscious decision to declare political war on Long Island.

In her proposed statewide mandate to increase the number of affordable homes by 800,000 units over the next 10 years, Hochul seeks to override local zoning control that is directed, in large measure, by the people who live there. For Long Island, home rule defines our region just as much as Jones Beach and rush hour traffic on the LIE. Make no mistake: Hochul’s housing plan is taking aim at the Island by imposing a 3 percent increase in affordable housing one way or another.

In an effort to couch it in humanitarian terms, she told the State Legislature, “Housing is a human right.” That’s bold rhetoric, but in truth, there is nothing in the federal or state Constitutions stating that housing is a basic right guaranteed by government. On the other hand, our state Constitution says, “Effective local self-government” is one of the “purposes of the people of the state.” Thus, the governor’s intent to allow the state to override local zoning ordinances is contrary

to a basic tenet of our governing document.

If citizens in a democracy wish to support initiatives that provide subsidized housing, then government can invest in efforts such as the New York City Housing Authority. With broken elevators, poorly maintained boilers, lurking crime and other assorted issues, however, you have to admit that NYCHA has proven that government-subsidized housing isn’t exactly a panacea. That may help explain why over 30 percent of those renting from NYCHA didn’t pay their rent last year.

Hochul had a near-death political experience last fall, when Long Island did not give her a majority at the polls. There are a number of reasons for the Island’s antipathy toward her, but one was her earlier call to allow illegal two-family homes to become legal. Yet after retreating from blistering bipartisan opposition to that proposal, she has come back with yet another draconian housing “solution,” one driven more by ideology than market forces. Perhaps her call to dismantle local zoning is her punishment for a region where voters found her the lesser candidate.

Nevertheless, in the interest of building a coalition, Hochul has sent Ruth-

Letters

OK, Santos lied. So does everybody in D.C.

To the Editor:

I took offense to Rick Herman’s letter, “Randi takes on George Santos” (Feb. 23-March 1), asserting that 99.9 percent of the “cuckoos” are Republicans — and I guess he forgot to mention that we’re all deplorable and racist.

I feel sorry for Mr. Herman’s grandson, who will be influenced by a grandfather who believes that his views are the only ones that matter, and that someone who has a different opinion needs to be silenced and disparaged.

I’m not defending Santos, but politicians, the media, government agencies and the pharmaceutical companies lie to us on a daily basis, so why would Santos think it was a problem to “enhance” his resume? Thankfully, in his case no one died as a result of his lies. We can’t say that for some other people in Washington.

For weeks there have been articles in the Herald about Santos. Move on, already. There are a lot more important issues going on in this country (and throughout the world) than Santos lying on his resume. Next election, vote him out.

If you want to start kicking politicians out of office for lying, you might as well start closing the buildings in D.C. There

probably will only be a handful of honest ones left.

BARBARA HALL

Formerly of Glen Cove

Lessons learned from a three-week campaign

To the Editor:

My three-week campaign as the Democratic candidate in the special election in the Nassau County Legislature’s 19th District was an incredible, eye-opening experience.

As a municipal attorney tasked with appearing in front of the Legislature, interfacing with taxpayers and drafting policies and laws that impact the daily lives of county residents, I believed my experience would translate seamlessly to my campaign, but knowing the issues and succinctly describing your policy ideas to voters are two very different skill sets. I learned quickly that being able to explain the issues and your policies in a relatable way was just as important as knowing the subject matter.

What was even more valuable was listening to the voters and having a substantive dialogue with them. And not

Anne Visnauskas, commissioner of New York State Homes and Community Renewal, to meet with Long Islanders in the public and private sectors. In 2017, Visnauskas was appointed president and CEO of the New York State Housing Finance Agency, the State of New York Mortgage Agency and the State Affordable Housing Corporation. She previously served as Homes and Community Renewal’s executive deputy commissioner for Housing Development, the Mortgage Insurance Fund, the Office of Community Renewal and the Office of Faith-Based Community Development Services.

All that is fine, Commissioner, but welcome to Long Island.

Just in case you don’t believe our region is specifically targeted in the governor’s public agenda, consider the following. Hochul acknowledges that the majority of communities around the state are already hitting or close to achieving her arbitrary affordable-housing targets — except Long Island. For Nassau and Suffolk, she has set a goal of 38,218 new affordable housing units between 2023 and 2025.

This is not to say Long Island doesn’t have a housing problem. It does. Far too many municipalities here are shutting

down applications for next-generation housing, creating an unforced exodus of young people who will be needed to power the economy, pay the taxes and build the future. But Hochul’s proposed remedy is akin to being held hostage by an Albany now under progressive domination.

If it is passed, it is a certainty that there will be lawsuits, protests and, most important, a response at the voting booths that will jeopardize every elected official who supports the plan. And the political aftershocks will not stop with state and local officials. Much as the issue of crime drove Democrats to cross party lines and vote for Republicans last November, Hochul’s assault on the integrity of local zoning may move Long Island voters to overwhelmingly support the Republican who runs against Democratic U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand.

While Gillibrand seems to need a GPS to even find Long Island, she will be within reach of voters who intend to express their seething anger over a DemocraticProgressive agenda that destroys the integrity of suburban home rule. She will be another politician who ruefully discovers that you “don’t mess with the Island.”

Ronald J. Rosenberg has been an attorney for 42 years, concentrating in commercial litigation and transactions, and real estate, municipal, zoning and land use law. He founded the Garden City law firm Rosenberg Calica & Birney in 1999.

just one time, but consistently — knocking on door after door, making call after call, and Zoom meeting after Zoom meeting — because voters aren’t willing to give their trust away. And how can you blame them (or us), after seeing scandals, corruption and extremism take hold of the daily political discourse?

We can gain back the trust of our constituents to attack the issues of the day, such as tax reform, affordability, the opi-

oid epidemic, gun violence and climate change in a few ways. Listen. Have a dialogue. And don’t just say what you’re going to do — do it.

ROB MILES Merrick

Framework by Tim Baker

Everton Bailey leads the Instrumental Sounds of Praise Youth Ensemble — Hempstead

Hochul’s draconian housing ‘solution’ is driven more by ideology than market forces.

Miles, the Legislature’s minority caucus counsel, lost the special election in the 19th District on Feb. 28 to Republican Michael Giangregorio.

ronaLd J. rosenBerG

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