Merrick Herald 04-25-2024

Students walk for charity

Students in the Sanford H. Calhoun High School senior experience program hosted and took part in a charity fashion show on April 18, raising money for Be a Good Cookie Merrick. It gives back to Cookies for Kids’ Cancer, a nonprofit organization.

The evening was put together in honor of Richard Capizzi, a pastry chef from Merrick, who died recently after a battle with brain cancer. He was a longtime contributor to Cookies for Kids’ Cancer.

Above, JoJo Esposito walked down Calhoun’s runway. Right, Gretchen Witt, co-founder of Cookies for Kids’ Cancer, spoke about the organization ahead of the show.

Story, more photos, Page 3.

Pre-K special ed. providers may get substantial raise

By JoRDAN VAlloNE jvallone@liherald.com

A sector of special education services for young children has been severely underfunded for 25 years, according to some lawmakers — but that could soon change.

Nassau County officials propose giving those early childhood intervention service providers a raise, potentially elevating compensation from $40 per half-hour to $50.

The increase will affect providers who officer critical preschool services — like speech, occupational and physical therapy — to children between 3 and 5 with special needs as they get ready for kindergarten.

Tgorio, Samantha Goetz and Mazi Pilip, as well as dozens of educators and parents of children with special needs, Blakeman described the county’s compensation for such providers as “below the average.”

helping to improve the lives of these

“We have many people who require services here,” County Executive Bruce Blakeman said of contractual preschool special education services. “It provides preschool services to children throughout Nassau County.”

Joined at a recent news conference with Republican county leaders like Michael Giangre -

Giangregorio brought this issue to light, the county executive said. He’s long been an advocate for children and adults with special needs, and says the county has had a hard time retaining therapists because compensation simply was not competitive to what was being offered in surrounding regions.

“We checked with our budget office and we made a determination that we could increase” the compensation, Blakeman said.

Giangregorio, who’s district represents parts of Merrick, Bellmore, Wantagh and Seaford, said he was honored to stand with Blakeman for this “monumental decision that reflects our unwavering commitment to early childhood education.” Especially as a

Continued on page 5

Tim Baker/Herald photos

Caporusso transitions to new role in N. Merrick

By MELISSA BERMAN mberman@liherald.com

The North Merrick School District has a new Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum, Instruction and Personnel, Kate Caporusso.

Caporusso has served the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District since 1998, where she has worked in many different roles. She began her career as a social studies teacher at Calhoun High School in 1998 and later served as the assistant principal of the summer school program before becoming the district’s social studies department chairperson. Previously she served as the assistant principal at Merrick Avenue Middle School since 2019.

“I’ve spent 24 years in Bellmore-Merrick schools, and I’m honored to continue giving back to the community that has given me so much in return,” Caporusso said. “To have the opportunity to serve the children and families of North Merrick is so exciting.”

Caporusso earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in History from Loyola College, and a Master of Science degree in Social Studies and Secondary Education from Queens College.

Tspective on the K-12 experience of the North Merrick student. I’m familiar with the foundational skills the students need to be successful,” Caporusso said.

Caporusso replaces Jaclyn Guidice, who served in the assistant superintendent role for the last 2 years.

North Merrick Superintendent Dr. Cynthia Seniuk said she thrilled to have Caporusso join the North Merrick family, as a new leader in the district.

hey focus on the whole child and I look forward to being part of the team that makes that happen.

KATE CApoRuSSo Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum, Instruction, Personnel

She also has a School District and School Building Administration Certification from Queens College.

Caporusso feels her experience, knowledge and perspective, will be able to serve her well in North Merrick.

“I feel that my experience in the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District gave me a unique per-

“We are thrilled to welcome Kate into the North Merrick family,” Seniuk said. “Her prior experience at Merrick Avenue will prove invaluable in helping our own students transition into middle school.”

Caporusso hopes that the own experiences can further aid the students and make their transition between schools easier.

“I hope to be able to draw on my experiences and relationships I have cultivated over my years at the secondary level, to further support and enhance the articulation and transition for students between the two districts,” Caporusso said.

Caporusso knows that overseeing these specific areas comes with a lot of responsibility to continue to foster academic excellence, promote student growth and supporting the professional development of educators.

“I think North Merrick is a district that supports students academically, socially and emotionally,” she said. “They focus on the whole child and I look forward to being part of the team that makes that happen for kids in North Merrick.”

Courtesy North Merrick School District

Kate Caporusso was named the new assistant superintendent for curriculum, instruction, and personnel for the North Merrick School District. With over two decades of experience, she wants what’s best for all the students.

It was a fashion show like no other. At Sanford H. Calhoun High School last week, the

money for Cookies for Kids’ Cancer.

Fashion show inspires Merrick-Bellmore community

Sanford H. Calhoun High School’s Senior Experience program held its yearly charitable fashion show on April 18. This year, the students chose Be a Good Cookie Merrick as their charity, which supports the funding of research for a safer, more effective treatment for childhood cancer.

Last September, the Merrick community lost a beloved friend and neighbor, Richard Capizzi, to brain cancer. While Capizzi earned many accolades in his career, he always felt that his greatest accomplishment in life was his children, who always inspired him to give back. As a pastry chef, baker, and fundraiser, Capizzi was critical in helping Cookies for Kids’ Cancer raise millions of dollars to help fund pediatric cancer research. After his passing, Capizzi’s family and friends started Be a Good Cookie Merrick to raise money for his passing in support of childhood cancer research.

Throughout the show, various prizes were raffled off, along with ad spaces for the Fashion Show program. Many businesses donated and were displayed

throughout the show. 100 percent of the proceeds went directly to Be a Good Cookie Merrick.

— Mason Lauron

A charitable fashion show takes place annually. Be a Good Cookie was selected in honor of Richard Capizzi, a beloved friend and neighbor, who died from brain cancer. Left, Sophia Hines and Dani Lawerence.

Tim Baker/Herald photos

senior experience program chose to benefit Be a Good Cookie Merrick, which raises

Fiona Cestaro, 11, and Ava Cestaro, 8, showed off their outfits on the runway.

The recently knighted Calhoun High School teacher Sir David Goldberg took part in the show.

The evening allowed students like Sara Mascitelli and Ava Kamtet to show off their best clothes.

Special Needs Children and Grandchildren

Special Needs Children and Grandchildren

Parents or grandparents of a disabled child should leave assets in a Special Needs Trust, to avoid the child being disqualified from government benefits, such as SSI and Medicaid. These trusts, however, offer traps for the unwary. Since payments to the child will generally reduce their SSI payments dollar for dollar, trustees of such trusts should be advised to make payments directly to the providers of goods and services. Preserving SSI benefits is crucial since eligibility for SSI determines eligibility for Medicaid.

In other words, if SSI is lost the recipient also loses their Medicaid benefits. In addition, any benefits previously paid by Medicaid may be recovered. As such, one also has to be mindful of bequests from well-meaning grandparents. Similarly, if a sibling dies without a will, a share of their estate may go to the special needs brother or sister by law. The Special Needs Trust must be carefully drafted so that it only allows payments for any benefits over and above what the government provides.

There are two kinds of Special Needs Trusts – first party and third party. The first party trust is set up by a parent, grandparent, legal guardian or court using the child’s own money, either through earnings, an inheritance that was left directly to them or, perhaps, a personal injury award. Recent changes in the law allow the special needs child to establish their own first party Special Needs Trust if they are legally competent to engage in contractual matters. These first party trusts require a “payback” provision, meaning that on the death of the child beneficiary, the trust must pay back the state for any government benefits received.

A third party trust is usually set up by a parent or grandparent, using their own money. Here, no “payback” provision is required because it was not the child’s own money that funded the trust and the parent or grandparent had no obligation to leave any assets to the child. On the death of the child beneficiary, the balance of the trust is paid out to named beneficiaries.

ETTINGER LAW FIRM

100 Merrick Rd., Rockville Centre • 3000 Marcus Ave., Lake Success Other offices in Huntington • Melville • Islandia

My mother may soon be applying for Medicaid. How does this affect funeral arrangements?

The latest Medicaid regulations now permit individuals to set aside a portion of their assets in an irrevocable trust account in order to have funds for future funeral expenses.

When an individual approaches the time when Medicaid coverage seems likely, social workers generally advise families to look into this funeral pre-funding option.

Here’s how we can help:

• The Family will make an appointment with us to discuss just what we are to do when the death occurs.

• We discuss options and record their wishes not just about preferred funeral home services but cemetery, church, monument inscription, newspaper notices, etc. We inform the family of exactly what the funeral home and third party costs are at the present time.

• Funds to cover those expenses can then deposited in our FDIC insured PRE - PLAN Trust. The Trust pays sufficient interest to allow us to guaranty those future funeral home costs into the future.

• While the funds remain in the name of the individual going on Medicaid, eligibility to receive Medicaid coverage is not affected.

Color run fun in Bellmore-Merrick

It’s another year of the Color Run in Bellmore-Merrick.

Student ambassadors from across the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District have organized a Color Run to be hosted at John F. Kennedy High School on Saturday, May 18.

Proceeds from the event will benefit Sunrise Day Camp of Long Island.

Pre-registration is $6 and day of registration will cost $8.

The first 300 participants will receive a free T-shirt. Sunglasses or goggles are recommended.

To sign up, visit Sites.Google.com/ BMCHSD.org/bmchsd-color-run-2024/ home.

—

Jordan Vallone Courtesy Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District Student ambassadors in the Bellmore-Central High School District have organized a Color Run, which will be hosted at John F. Kennedy High School next month.

Pay could increase $10 per half-hour

father of someone with autism.

“My son is now 23, so the last time he received (preK special education) services was quite a while ago, and there has not been a raise since he’s been in the system,” Giangregorio said. “Back then, it was difficult to find providers. These people that come into your homes, or that work in agencies — they’re really doing God’s work. They’re helping to improve the lives of these individuals.”

The earlier a child receives services, Giangregorio said, the better the outcome.

“My child will be an adult longer than he’s a child,” the county legislator said. “The costs are always more when you’re an adult. For far too long, the wages of these early intervention educators and therapists have not reflected the true value of their work.”

Dr. Irina Gelman, the county’s health commissioner, explained her office has to go before the county’s health board to propose the raise.

“We are very grateful for this opportunity to bring this forward in front of our board,” she said. “We’re very hopeful they will adopt this new rate, which will be instrumental in providing services to our children, our families, and adequately reimburse our providers. These are rates for preschool related services that have not been raised since 1999 — so it’s long overdue.”

But Democrats in the county legislature say the need for raises has not been a secret. Siela Bynoe, for instance, says she has advocated for preschool special education funding for nearly a decade — especially so

“While I am glad that the county executive has heeded the advocacy of practitioners and the Democratic minority by taking this first step, much more

must still be done to repair the damage caused by three decades of stagnation,” she said. “Moving for ward, the county must raise awareness about the avail ability of these resources, and remain vigilant so that we can never again find ourselves paying the lowest rates in New York for these critical services.”

The raise, if approved, will be appreciated by fami lies, according to Jon Feingold, the executive director

Jordan Vallone/Herald

Nassau County announced a raise proposal for special educational preschool service providers last week in Mineola — the first of its kind in 25 years. Legislator Michael Giangregorio, a longtime advocate for the autism community, spoke at a news conference about the funding.

SPOTLIGHT ATHLETE

CHARLOTTE RATHJEN

South Side Junior Lacrosse

AN ALL-AMERICAN HONORABLE MENTION in 2023 and team MVP after scoring 44 goals and assisting on 16 others, Rathjen reached a milestone earlier this month in the Cyclones’ 14-11 victory at North Shore. She had six goals and one assist in the April 11 win, including the 100th point of her career. She has 26 goals thus far this spring to rank among the leaders in Nassau County and is a University of North Carolina commit.

GAMES TO WATCH

Thursday, April 25

Softball: Freeport at Elmont 10 a.m.

Boys Lacrosse: Baldwin at Freeport 10 a.m.

Girls Lacrosse: Kennedy at Baldwin 10 a.m.

Girls Lacrosse: Calhoun at Lynbrook 10 a.m.

Softball: Uniondale at Hewlett 10 a.m.

Boys Lacrosse: North Shore at Kennedy 11 a.m.

Boys Lacrosse: Carey at Mepham 1 p.m.

Baseball: West Hemp at East Rockaway 4:30 p.m.

Baseball: Oyster Bay at V.S. North 5 p.m.

Baseball: Long Beach at MacArthur 5 p.m.

Boys Lacrosse: Plainview at V.S. District 5 p.m.

Friday, April 26

Softball: V.S. South at Hewlett 10 a.m.

Softball: Clarke at Wantagh 10 a.m.

Softball: East Meadow at Mepham 10 a.m.

Softball: Oceanside at Syosset 10 a.m.

Girls Lacrosse: Clarke at Carey 10 a.m.

Baseball: Baldwin at Oceanside 5 p.m.

Saturday, April 27

Girls Lacrosse: Calhoun at South Side 9 a.m.

Boys Lacrosse: Hewlett at North Shore 12:30 p.m.

Boys Lacrosse: Seaford at Massapequa 1 p.m.

Nominate a “Spotlight Athlete”

High School athletes to be featured on the Herald sports page must compete in a spring sport and have earned an AllConference award or higher last season. Please send the following information:

Name, School, Grade, Sport and accomplishments to Sports@liherald.com.

Kennedy preps for tough stretch

By BRIAN KACHARABA sports@liherald.com

Kennedy’s girls’ lacrosse team will have to navigate through a tough upcoming schedule if it wants to remain in contention for a second straight conference championship.

The Cougars (5-6, 4-2 Conference 3), who also won the division crown in 2021, face undefeated Baldwin (8-0, 5-0) April 25 in a rematch between the two teams that shared the conference title last spring. Kennedy blanked the Bruins 4-0 last April 28.

Kennedy also hosts East Meadow (6-4, 6-2) on May 1, which is sandwiched around two games with Floral Park.

“Last year, we put a nice win on [Baldwin],” coach Mallory Freely said. “We’ll watch some film during the week and we’ll see what we need to do to take care of business.”

The Cougars were hoping to carry some momentum into the contest but were denied a third straight victory with a 10-3 home loss to Glen Cove last Friday. Leading scorer Ella Galjanich had all three goals and Adrianna Califano stopped 12 shots to reach 100 for the season.

Freely believed her team was a little “distracted” after trailing 6-0 at halftime as Bellmore schools recognized autism day at the field.

“I don’t know if they were overwhelmed from the crowd for the fundraiser game. I don’t know if that distracted them,” she explained. “They were excited about that and then they came out real flat. One goal came in, two goals came in and all of a sudden they got deflated and defeated.”

It was the second time in as many tries that Kennedy failed to extend its winning streak to three games to move over .500. Victories against Plainview and Hewlett in early April moved the team to 3-3, but the good feelings ended with road losses to Kellenberg and Oyster Bay.

The Cougars did recover with a 7-6 victory over Division on April 12 and a 13-6 romp at Freeport four days later

Ron Manfredi/Herald

Junior Lauren Robinson plays a vital role in the midfield and in addition to helping control draws has chipped in seven goals.

behind hat tricks by seniors Kaylee Ayers (14 goals) and Sophia Fischetti and two goals and four points from rising eighth grader Nicole Donoghue (10 goals).

Galjanich has 26 goals this season but has been hampered by a shin injury that has limited her to just the offensive side of the field. The injury forced Freely to shuffle her lineup and re-fill the midfield position, which began to tire and struggle in transition. Junior Lauren Robinson has been a workhorse in the midfield and draw controls, and has chipped in seven goals.

Freely said the defense was the “strong point” of the team with sopho-

mores Sam Frank and Dakota Hoehn and senior Anna Bachas leading the way with sisters Jordi and Alexa Wohlleben. Hoehn caused a turnover with 30 seconds left to seal the Division win.

“Sam Frank shined [against Glen Cove],” Freely said. “She wants the ball, hustles for anything and throws her body all over the place. Dakota Hoehn is very composed and smart playing behind the cage and doesn’t over-commit too much and Anna Bachas just went to the lower defense position this year and stepped up.”

Califano, who shut out Baldwin last season, needs 15 more saves to reach 500 in her varsity career.

Lifting spirits: Balloon artist’s work really pops

By JOSEPH D’ALESSANDRO jdalessandro@liherald.com

Sculpting balloons, inspecting airplanes and making props for Hollywood movies —Renee Morgan has done it all.

Morgan, owner of Aviator Balloons in North Bellmore, makes large installations for graduations, proms, weddings, baby showers, fundraising events and more. The sculptures cover ceilings and walls, make tunnels, and take the form of dresses, cars, trucks and people. Her largest wonderland-like installations can use tens of thousands of balloons, all for a single grand exhibit. Her work can even be found decorating Sony Hall for New York Fashion Week twice a year.

“I’m heading to Indiana to do a big balloon ball for a charity sponsor, the Ronald McDonald House,” she said of an event that took place between April 22 and 25. “So we used 100,000 balloons to create this circus-like theme. So everything from tight ropes to giant elephants. I’m a team leader in that build, where I’ll be commanding a team of about 80 people to create this large scale wonderland of balloons.”

Morgan started doing balloon artistry 10 years ago. Her aunt needed a display for her bridal shower, but found the available options to be too expensive, including balloon-themed pieces.

“I was like, yeah, I could do that,” Morgan recounted. “So I tried it. And I epically failed my first time, because it wasn’t easy.”

She began to study balloon art more thoroughly, which brought her where she is today.

For Morgan, sustainability is key for her business and the environment. She uses biodegradable balloons and ecofriendly packaging, and does not use helium, which can cause fiery explosions if they contact outdoor power lines. She also educates each client on proper disposal and cleanup methods.

Aviator Balloons also has programs to educate aspiring artists on business and techniques in the inflatable industry.

“I have a mentorship program with 30-plus ladies internationally,” Morgan said. “We have a mentorship program that operates via Zoom where we’ll meet and we’ll discuss the business behind balloons as well as the artistry that fuels it.”

One former student, Brittany Richardson, is the production assistant for Aviator Balloons.

“I started as a student back at the end of 2020,” Richardson said. “She’s a mentor of mine. I can call her for anything. I do balloons as well, so if I’m stuck on something, she’s always one call away. She’s so sweet.”

Over the years, Morgan’s business has grown to accept international students and clients — she has associates who work from Jamaica, Barbados and Trinidad when there is an assignment.

Morgan has experience working internationally, sourced from her long career in aviation. She was an airport inspector at John F. Kennedy airport in Queens

before retiring and pursuing her interest in balloon artistry.

Morgan has earned three undergraduate degrees as well as a master’s in aviation, with a unique expertise in meteorology. Over the course of her career, she carried out accident analysis, development research, and wrote award-winning industry papers.

Morgan worked in the aviation industry for about 15 years, and has worked at a multitude of different airports as an airport inspector.

“I’ve always been interested in it since I was a baby,” Morgan said. “Since I was a kid, I wanted to be a pilot. Once I achieved that dream, I wanted to do more. But then I felt like I was tapping out, I felt like I was at the apex of my career.

“I retired two years ago. I was doing both for a while; I’ve retired to do balloons full time,” Morgan said.

Morgan also currently works for Paramount Pictures as a contract prop and set designer for upcoming movies filmed in New York, which she could not comment on.

Morgan balances the workload of an entrepreneur and contractor with motherhood.

“I’m a mom, to an autistic son, so it isn’t the easiest thing to balance, having a special needs child and working full time in your own business,” Morgan said. “And you don’t work your typical nine to five, sometimes it’s nine to 10 at night. It’s really understanding what you’re willing to sacrifice to make the amendments in your life, and what you’re willing to put first.”

Morgan’s hopes for the future are high. She has an interest in making an installation inside Roosevelt Field Mall. Her main priority is being able to be a full sustainable business, and potentially grab a Guinness World Record along the way.

Aviator Balloons has many local repeat clients including JD sports’ New York events, Long Island Harvest, and many school districts on Long Island, such as in Freeport and Merrick, as well as schools in Queens, Brooklyn and the Bronx.

If you are interested in a balloon sculpture, please visit AviatorBalloons.com

The Empire State Local News Coalition—more than 200 local newspapers strong—is grateful to the State of New York for including a first-in-the-nation tax credit to support local journalism in the FY'25 state budget.

Senate

State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal (Assembly Sponsor)

Courtesy Renee Morgan

Renee Morgan, a balloon artist, next to a large balloon installation she created.

Governor Kathy Hochul Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal (Senate Sponsor)

Art from senior enrichment program on display

At the Bellmore Memorial Library last week, a senior art show, featuring the work of Town of Hempstead residents who take part in classes at the senior enrichment center, opened to the public. Around the library’s community room, over 50 pieces were on display, created by dozens of hardworking artists.

The Town of Hempstead art classes in the Bellmore Senior Center and the Levittown Senior Center are led by teacher Joan Lazarus, who’s been teaching in recreational spaces for the last 35 years. No matter the level of skill an artist has, she helps everyone who attends her sessions tap into their creative side.

“I work with each person that comes in at the level they’re at,” she said. “If I have experienced, talented painters, I work with them — they mostly do their thing, but I’ll help if they have a question. Brand new people, I take them right out of the gate. I teach them from scratch, which is really kind of nice.”

The classes Lazarus leads are warm and welcoming she said, so for anyone interested in joining, she said the group of artists would certainly love new additions.

“The most important thing is, and I know a lot of people don’t like to just cold go into a group,” she said, “but the group is really warm and nice. It’s very, very welcoming.”

The art display, which opened with a reception on April 16, will remain open throughout the end of the month.

For more on senior enrichment in the Town of Hempstead, call (516) 485-8100.

— Jordan Vallone

Ainsely Keir/Herald

Artists from the Town of Hempstead’s senior enrichment art classes gathered at the Bellmore Memorial Library last week for an opening reception.

Budget includes $90M local media tax credit

Gov. Kathy Hochul and the state legislature unveiled the final state budget over the weekend, which included a payroll tax credit for local news outlets, modeled on the Local Journalism Sustainability Act.

With the passage of this bill, New York is now the first state in the nation to incentivize hiring and retaining local journalists.

What’s being described as a game-changer for the local news industry comes just months after the launch of the Empire State Local News Coalition, an unprecedented, grassroots campaign powered by more than 200 community newspapers across the state.

“I’m elated that our first-in-the-nation Local Journalism Sustainability Act is passing in the state budget,” said state Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal — the senate bill sponsor — in a release. “A thriving local news industry is vital to the health of our democracy, and it’s our responsibility to help ensure New Yorkers have access to independent and community-focused journalism. Our efforts will help ensure that our democracy will not die in darkness.”

The program — $30 million per year for three years — allows each eligible newspaper and broadcast business to receive a 50 percent refundable tax credit against the first $50,000 of an employee’s salary, up to a total of $300,000 per business.

The budget will allocate the first $4 million to incentivize print and broadcast businesses to hire new journalists. The remaining $26 million will be split evenly between businesses with fewer than 100 employees and those with more than 100 employees, ensuring that hyperlocal, independent news organizations have a fair shot at access to these funds.

After stalling for years, the Local Journalism Sus-

in the final state budget approved this past weekend by Gov. Kathy Hochul and lawmakers.

tainability Act catapulted into a top legislative priority this session following the early-2024 founding of the Empire State Local News Coalition and the coalition’s mobilization of support from hundreds of New York hometown papers, as well as a broad range of stakeholders from around the country, including the Rebuild Local News Coalition, Microsoft, and El Diario. Organized labor including NYS AFL-CIO, CWA District 1, and national and local news guilds also played a criti-

cal role in mobilizing support for this historic bill.

“The Empire State Local News Coalition is thrilled by the state budget’s inclusion of a payroll tax credit for local news outlets modeled on the Local Journalism Sustainability Act,” said Zachary Richner — founder of the Empire State Local News Coalition, and a director at Richner Communications, the parent organization of Herald Community Newspapers.

“New York is now the first state in the nation to incentivize hiring and retaining local journalists — a critical investment given that hundreds of New York’s newspapers have closed since 2004, leaving too many New York communities without access to vital local information.

“The objectivity of this credit shows that there is a fair way for public policy to support local news without jeopardizing journalistic integrity. This program is a model for other states across the U.S. to follow as communities across the country raise their voices to save local news.”

Richner said he was “incredibly proud” of the 200 newspapers that built an unprecedented grassroots movement in support of saving New York’s local news industry in a few short months. He also extended gratitude to Hoylman-Sigal, “whose tireless advocacy for this tax credit was instrumental in moving it through the legislative process.”

Since launching in February, the coalition has quickly mobilized stakeholders across the state to rally behind the bill.

New York’s leadership on this issue could change the course of local journalism in the United States, organizers say. The budget’s inclusion of this tax credit comes at a watershed moment for the journalism industry: New York state has experienced hundreds of newspaper closures in the past few decades.

Courtesy Empire State Local News Coalition Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages joins lawmakers and supporters like Assemblyman David Weprin, at left, and state Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal, at right, last month to call on her colleagues to support the Local Journalism Sustainability Act. A version of this measure was included

Community clean up inspires environmentalism

A rainy morning turned into a great day for a community clean up with the Merrick Community Civic Association last weekend, just ahead of Earth Day. Crews gathered at the gazebo at the intersection of Broadcast Plaza and Merrick Avenue to take place in the annual event that sweeps the streets clean of debris and garbage.

Each year, the event sees a good number of community volunteers. A clean up takes place along Merrick Road and Merrick Avenue. Local scouting troops, members and leaders of the civic association, as well as students from area high schools typically participate in the clean up.

“If we don’t take care of our neighborhood, nobody else will,” Civic Association President Berta Weinstein said of the event. “We want to keep our neighborhood safe and clean for our children.”

Those participating in the event were provided tools, gloves and garbage bags, and kept safe by the Nassau County Police Department, who monitored the area.

Community clean ups serve as a tangible way for individuals to contribute to environmental protection. By participating in cleanups, people become more aware of the extent of pollution in their communities. Clean ups provided immediate, viable results and inform young participants about why taking care of the environment is so important.

The Merrick Community Civic Association meets monthly at the Merrick Golf Course Clubhouse, and discusses a number of key community issues. For more, visit SouthMerrickCivic.org.

— Jordan Vallone

Tim Baker/Herald photos

The community gathered for an Earth Day-inspired clean up on April 20 at the Merrick gazebo, thanks to efforts led by the Merrick Community Civic Association. Immediate Past President Joe Baker with President Berta Weinstein and Joseph Weinstein at the clean up.

The civic association’s secretary Terri Cohen-Lieberman worked hard to clean up debris along Merrick Avenue.

Students from John F. Kennedy High School participated, including Aidan Saxe, a senior.

Ethan Arbesfeld, another senior at Kennedy, used cleaning supplies to beautify the lawns around the gazebo.

Some folks from outside of Merrick even stopped by to participate, like Mark Defrancesco, who resides in Oceanside.

STEPPING OUT

Enrico Fagone, the Long Island Concert Orchestra’s music director and conductor, was nominated for a 2023 Grammy award. He’s been defined by the classical music press as one of today’s most promising conductors at the international level.

CONNECTION THROUGH

Symphony of Hope Benefit Concert inspires unity across the world

By Danielle Schwab

Art connects us beyond divides.

That’s how Bernie Furshpan, marketing director and board member of the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center, puts it when discussing the Long Island Concert Orchestra’s upcoming Symphony of Hope Concert at Tilles Center.

While the music is, of course, at the heart of this benefit performance, the evening is so much more than a concert. The aim is to support two vital organizations: Long Island’s Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center, and the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance.

“When it comes to art, I think people in general agree that it’s something very healing and it brings people together,” Furshpan says. “It’s a wonderful connector for people.”

Proceeds from the May 2 event benefit both organizations.

The concert includes special guests from the Israeli arts school, which is currently facing a funding crisis due to the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. Two students — one Israeli and one Palestinian — take part, sending a powerful message of unity through music. Michael Klinghoffer — Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance’s president — also participates, further emphasizing the importance of this benefit concert.

“This spectacular event is a golden opportunity for community members to support these organizations,” says David Winkler, the orchestra’s executive director and composer-in-residence. “By attending the concert, our community will not just enjoy an evening of incredible music, but will be helping JAMD and HMTC continue their essential work.”

With some 1,600 students, the Jerusalem Academy nurtures the next generation of musicians and dancers, Furshpan says. The school’s diverse student demographic — ranging from 4 years old to young adulthood — studies a cultural mixture of Middle Eastern music, European classics, baroque and jazz.

“Right now, everybody’s hurting,” Furshpan says. “So, we’re doing this as more than just beautiful music. It’s also something that’s special and philanthropic.”

During the first selection of the evening, the two participating students will perform together, accompanied by a recording of the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance Orchestra.

“We have a hybrid experience,” Furshpan says. “On the big screen,

• Thursday, May 2, 8 p.m.

• Tickets start at $50; available at TillesCenter.org, or (516) 299-3100

• Tilles Center for the Performing Arts, LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Blvd., Brookville

you’re going to see the Israeli orchestra, and the students are going to be sitting alongside that screen and playing together with them.” Klinghoffer also contributes as a keynote speaker.

Then, the 40-person Long Island Concert Orchestra — under the baton of music director and conductor Enrico Fagone — takes the spotlight. The orchestra’s repertoire includes the world debut of “Adriatica.” Winkler composed the piece to celebrate the oceanic connections between people. Its namesake is a node to the Adriatic Sea, which connects Eastern Italy to the Middle East.

“It has a multifaceted melodic personality to it — several different melodies, not just one,” Winkler says.“Over the course of the work, these melodies are joined together and ultimately, they produce the finale, which is extremely uplifting and powerful.”

The orchestra is joined by acclaimed pianist Alessandro Mazzamuto, in his Long Island Concert Orchestra debut. He’ll perform Robert Schumann’s Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 54.

“I believe that love of music and artistic expression is love for humanity,” Mazzamuto says. “As a concert pianist and teacher, my heart goes out to the students of Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance. And I wish to dedicate my performance and interpretation of Schumann’s emotional piano concerto to them.”

This evening is all about bringing the local and global community together — the very definition of the Long Island Concert Orchestra.

“Our mission is to provide the best possible performances of international repertoire,” Winkler says. “To bring world-class artists, worldclass musicians, as well as world premieres of international caliber.”

The orchestra leads the way in delivering visibility to a commitment to tolerance, respect and the arts.

“Music is what brings people together,” Furshpan says. “All forms of art bring people together. We truly believe that this (concert) is going to help the two organizations do some great work.

“At the same time, Symphony of Hope is really about the audience. They are the symphony of hope — the audience and the music in combination.”

Chris Ruggiero’s musical moments

Experience the magic of Chris Ruggiero’s new show,’Teenage Dreams and Magic Moments,’ when the dynamic vocalist visits the Landmark stage. Ruggiero is an old soul. Still in his 20s, the music that speaks to him is the music of the ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s, His approach to performing is more in line with that of a bygone era, bringing to the stage the panache of Frank Sinatra or Paul Anka, coupled with the energy of Jackie Wilson. Ruggiero first came to national attention when he performed in concert on a PBS coast-to-coast special, and was featured on ‘Good Morning America.’ Since then, he has traveled the country, delivering his unique brand of vintage rock ‘n’ roll, and sharing his passion for the classics. Ruggiero tells his story by breathing new life into the timeless music of the eras he loves, with a six-piece band and live brass.

Friday, April 26, 7:30 p.m. $59, $49, $39. Jeanne Rimsky Theater at Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington. (516) 7676444 or LandmarkOnMainStreet.org.

Tracy Morgan

Tracy Morgan is touring with a bracing new show, and he’s funnier than he’s ever been. A name synonymous with laughter, he continues to be reckoned with in the world of stand-up and television. Morgan boasts an impressive career spanning decades. From his hilarious characters on ‘Saturday Night Live’ (think Astronaut Jones and Brian Fellows) to his unforgettable role on the award-winning ‘30 Rock,’ Morgan has consistently brought audiences to tears (of laughter, of course). Coming to fame as a stand-up, Morgan became a household name through his seven-season stint on Tina Fey’s ‘30 Rock,’ playing a thinly veiled version of himself named Tracy Jordan. On his current tour, Morgan continues his comeback following his life-threatening 2014 traffic accident on the New Jersey turnpike. Morgan is always welcome back up on the stage where he belongs.

Saturday, April 27, 8 p.m. $89.50, $79.50, $69.50, $59.50, $49.50. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. (800) 745-3000 or Ticketmaster.com, or ParamountNY. com.

Courtesy Long Island Concert Orchestra

Pianist Alessandro Mazzamuto is among the special guest performers who share the stage with the Long Island Concert Orchestra.

Courtesy Roberto Ricci

THE Your Neighborhood

‘Cold Beer on a Saturday Night’

Get a head start on beach season with Jimmy Kenny and the Pirate Beach Band. We’re all eager for summertime to arrive, meanwhile Jimmy Kenny and his band come to the rescue, back on the Paramount

On stage

Families will enjoy another musical adventure, “Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!” ripped from the pages of Mo Willems’ beloved children’s books, on the Long Island Children’s Museum stage, Friday, April 26, 11:30 a.m.,2:15 p.m., 6:15 p.m.; Tuesday through Friday, April 30-May 3, 10:15 a.m. and noon. Back by popular demand after a sold-out 2023 run, see Pigeon, Bus Driver, and some zany passengers sing and dance their way to helping The Pigeon find his “thing” in this upbeat, energetic comedy based on four of Mo Willems’ popular Pigeon books.

Featuring a live band to bring Deborah Wicks La Puma’s jazzy score to life, audiences will thoroughly enjoy singing and flapping along with The Pigeon and friends. The audience is part of the action, in this innovative mix of songs, silliness and feathers. It’s an ideal way to introduce kids to theater and Willems’ books. $10 with museum admission ($8 members), $14 theater only. Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 224-5800 or LICM.org.

On exhibit

Nassau County Museum of Art’s latest exhibition, “Urban Art Evolution,” is a comprehensive exhibit featuring a diverse range of compositions from the 1980s through the present by creators who were based in the rough and tumble downtown area of New York City known as Loisaida/LES (Lower East Side/East Village) and close surrounding neighborhoods. Artists pushed the boundaries of what was considered “art” with a primary focus on street/graffiti art. The exhibit’s scope, guest curated by art collector/gallerist Christopher Pusey, offers an even broader view from other creative residents, who worked inside their studios but still contributed to the rich fabric of the downtown art scene from different vantage points and aesthetics.

Works include sculpture, paintings, photography, music, and ephemera from many noted and influential artists. On view through July 7. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. (516) 484-9337 or NassauMuseum.org.

Spring Musicale

Enjoy an engaging afternoon of beautiful music, Sunday, April 28, 5 p.m. Tim Carl, Music Director of St. Dominic, Oyster Bay, presents a program of operatic arias and piano selections with soprano Jennifer Russo and pianist Tim Carl. A meet-and-greet reception is included. $75, $70 members of Friends of Seminary. Reservations are required. The concert takes place at Retreat and Conference Center of the Seminary of Immaculate Conception, 440 West Neck Road, Huntington. Reserve at ICSeminary.edu/events or call (63) 423-0483 ext. 102.

Father’s Day Car Show

The annual Father’s Day Car show returns to Merrick, Saturday, June 15, opens at 9 a.m. Money raised benefits the Nassau County Sheriff’s COBA Widow’s and Children’s Fund. Admission for pre-registered cars is $15, on the day of the show $20. The first 350 cars will get a free t-shirt and plaque. Free admission for all spectators. At the Merrick LIRR station.

Baby shower for moms-to-be

Mercy Hospital hosts this free event for expecting moms-to-be, Saturday, May 11, noon to 2 p.m., in the lower level cafeteria. With raffles, giveaways for mom and baby, and meet and greets with physicians, lactation specialists, mother/ baby nurses, games and more. For moms only. 1000 N. Village Ave. Email Elizabeth. Schwind@chsli.org to register. For more information, visit CHSLI.org/mercy-hospital or call (516) 626-3729.

Merrick Chamber Spring Festival

Join the Merrick Chamber of Commerce for its annual spring festival, Friday through Sunday, April 26-28. A weekend of fun opens on Friday at 6 p.m., and there will rides on Saturday and Sunday, open at 11 a.m. A merchant fair on the weekend is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. It all takes place at the Merrick LIRR station. For more information, visit MerrickChamber.org.

Having an event?

On stage

Plaza Theatrical’s season continues with “Lady Supreme: A Diana Ross Experience,” Saturday, May 4, 7:30 p.m. Deanna Carroll, accompanied by top notch singers and musicians, covers the hits of the Supremes to Diana’s solo sensations in this spectacular tribute to the Supreme Diva.

She performs all of Diana’s biggest hits, with spot-on vocals, including “Endless Love,” “Someday We’ll Be Together,” “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” “Touch Me in The Morning,” and so many more. Get in the groove at Plaza’s stage at the Elmont Library Theatre. 700 Hempstead Tpke., Elmont. $40, $35 seniors. Elmont. For tickets, call (516) 599-6870 or visit PlazaTheatrical.com.

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.

Storybook Stroll

Bring the kids to Old Westbury Gardens for a storybook adventure, Saturday, May 4, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Stroll the gardens and listen to Antoine Ó Flatharta’s modern tale, “Hurry and the Monarch.” Later create a unique take home craft. For ages 3-5. Storybook Strolls start at the Beech Tree (next to Westbury House), and end at the Thatched Cottage. Old Westbury Gardens, 71 Old Westbury Rd., Old Westbury. For information, visit OldWestburyGardens.org or contact (516) 333-0048.

Museum Gallery Tour

Join curator, art collector and gallerist Christopher Pusey for a tour of “Urban Art Evolution,” Nassau County Museum of Art’s current exhibition, Sunday, May 5, 3 p.m. Pusey, the exhibit’s guest curator, began art-making as a child and went on to pursue a career working in art galleries, and as an art dealer, in New York City. His particular interest in the art from this time and genre began with his first job at a Soho gallery in SoHo during the 80s, which had a division specializing in some of the East Village artists featured in this show. Free with museum admission. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. Visit NassauMuseum.org or call (516) 484-9337 for information.

Friday Night Car Show

Friday car shows return, sponsored by The Chamber of Commerce of the Bellmores and the Town of Hempstead, Friday, weekly through Oct. 4 (weather permitting), at the Bellmore LIRR parking lot on Broadway.

See a variety of classic and custom cars. Spectators can enjoy the displays free of charge, while car owners are invited to showcase their vehicles for a nominal $5 admission fee. For more information, contact (516) 679-1875.

Art explorations

Converse, collaborate and create at Family Saturdays at Nassau County Museum of Art, Saturday, May 11, noon-3 p.m. Get inspired by the art and objects in the galleries and then join educators at the Manes Center to explore and discover different materials to create your own original artwork.

Kids and adults connect while talking about and making art together. A new project is featured every week. $20 adult, $10 child. For ages 2-14. Registration required. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. Visit NassauMuseum.org for to register or call (516) 4849337.

Newbridge Road set to celebrate centennial

By JORDAN VALLONE jvallone@liherald.com

Newbridge Road School, in North Bellmore, will mark 100 years next month — a monumental milestone that is deserving of a celebration as special as the occasion. A year and a half of planning by an anniversary committee will culminate in a daylong event on May 3 that will encourage students and staff, as well as former staff and alumni, to reflect on what Newbridge Road means, and has always meant, to the North Bellmore community.

Uncovering a slice of North Bellmore history

Over the past two decades, Newbridge Road has celebrated its 80th and 90th anniversaries, and many of the documents that were uncovered during the preparation for those celebrations were vital in planning the event next week.

A schoolhouse that once stood on what is now the front lawn of Newbridge Road was built in 1908, the same year the school district was established.

“We had a lot to work with,” Lynda Brust, a third-grade teacher at the school who attended Newbridge Road as a child, said. “There are Rubbermaid tubs of documents that go back to the formation of this district in 1908. We have the minutes of the first-ever Board of Education meeting — the minutes that declare that 76 members of this community decided to

create a unified school district, which is awesome.”

The front façade and the main section of Newbridge Road were built in 1924, and co-existed with the 1908 schoolhouse for a few years, before it was destroyed in a fire. Over the years, extensions were added to make Newbridge Road into what it is today.

“The material was definitely there,” Brust said. “It was just a matter of going through it, and making sense of it, and putting it in chronological order.”

Festivities on May 3

The school’s 100th celebration will kick off with a parade around the grounds on the morning of May 3, Principal Amanda Licci said. Families will be invited to watch the parade, and students will don 100th-anniversary T-shirts, purchased for them by the Parent Teacher Association.

Owill take part in activities focused on the celebration.

“One of the things that we’re really excited about that they’ll be going to is Centennial Hall,” Licci said. “We’re transforming our gymnasium into a museum, and there are so many projects going on in that.”

ur core values were really the same back then, so woven through the decades.

LyNDA BRUsT Third-grade teacher, Newbridge Road School

Afterward, they’ll watch an opening ceremony, and Licci will speak. Past principals will be in attendance, the school band will perform, and the entire school will sing “Happy Birthday” to the school. Students will also watch a slideshow on the history of the school, and then gather in their classrooms, where they

Centennial Hall will feature artifacts from the past. “We have old typewriters, going back to the ’40s, computers and education equipment that’s kind of considered outdated now,” among many other things, Brenda Adgrana, a third-grade teacher who has taken part in the event planning, said.

The hall, as well as a Centennial Native Garden on the school’s front lawn, which technology teacher Michael Bevilacqua and sixth-grade students created, will all be stops for classes throughout the day.

The school day will conclude with a dance party that will take students through the decades — featuring music from the 1920s, all the way through today.

For families of current Newbridge Road students who are interested in seeing Centennial Hall, it will be open from 3:15 to 5 p.m. after dismissal.

Newbridge Road has always had ‘HEART’ Newbridge Road School operates under the motto “HEART,” Licci explained, which stands for honesty, empathy, acceptance, respect and teamwork. What has been remarkable to see as the school prepares for its centennial is that while the educational system has certainly changed over the past 100 years, the mission of teachers has stayed the same.

“Our core values were really the same back then, so woven through the decades,” Brust said. “We have really stayed true to our core values as educators, as a school community. That is really very powerful.”

“How you educate may change,” Licci added, “but truly, what we’re trying to accomplish here is the same.”

On the wall outside Newbridge Road’s main office, the school’s Beautification Club painted a tree trunk. Throughout May and June, students will be invited to paint their handprints on the wall, representing leaves. This “roots” them in the celebration, Licci said.

“It is really important for them to understand we’re not just coming to school wearing a T-shirt on this day — there’s a reason we’re celebrating this,” she said. “It’s our school. It connects us all. A hundred years is hard for any of us to wrap our heads around. So, particularly for students, we’re trying to bring a little bit of understanding to the significance of that. We are a part of this history.”

Public Notices

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT

COUNTY OF NASSAU, WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A., NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS TRUSTEE FOR RMAC REMIC TRUST, SERIES 2009-9, Plaintiff, vs. CLAUDIO JOVELL, ET AL., Defendant(s).

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale

duly entered on October 25, 2016, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the front steps on the north side of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on May 14, 2024 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 1720 Montague Avenue, Merrick, NY 11566. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 55, Block 24 and Lot 120. Approximate amount of judgment is $633,799.60 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 003996/2014. Cash will not be accepted. This foreclosure sale will be held on the north side steps of the Courthouse, rain or shine. COVID-19 safety protocols will be followed at the foreclosure sale. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, the Court Appointed Referee will cancel the sale.

Jeffrey Halbreich, Esq., Referee Knuckles & Manfro, LLP, 120 White Plains Road, Suite 215, Tarrytown, New York 10591, Attorneys for Plaintiff 146094

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE OF TIKI SERIES IV TRUST,, Plaintiff, vs. SOPHIA AKSOY; ERKUT AKSOY;, ET AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to an Order Confirming Referee Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on June 12, 2023, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the front steps on the north side of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on May 21, 2024 at 2:30 p.m., premises known as 319 Frankel Boulevard, Merrick, NY 11566. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 63, Block 125 and Lot 10-12.

Approximate amount of judgment is $266,677.21 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 616143/2018. This foreclosure sale will be held on the North Side Steps of the Courthouse, rain or shine. COVID-19 safety protocols will be followed at the foreclosure sale. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, the Court Appointed Referee will cancel the sale.

Louis B. Imbroto, Esq., Referee Friedman Vartolo LLP, 85 Broad Street, Suite 501, New York, New York 10004, Attorneys for Plaintiff. Firm File No. 201125-1 146196

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 Old Town Hall, 350 Front Street, Room 230, Second Floor, Hempstead, New York on 05/01/2024 at 9:30 A.M. to consider the following applications and appeals:

THE FOLLOWING CASES WILL BE CALLED STARTING AT 9:30 A.M. 263/24. MERRICKFreeport/Merrick Rotary Club, Amusement Rides (Special Event) duration

May 23, 2024 - May 27, 2024., N/W cor. Sunrise Hwy. & Merrick Ave., a/k/a Town of Hempstead Parking Lot M-5. 271/24. MERRICK - Liza Reyes, Special exception to convert detached garage to pavilion with proposed attached roofover & outdoor kitchen, higher & larger than permitted, exceeding horizontal maximum on both sides & with lot area occupied variance., N/s Linden La., 82.71’ E/o Lindenmere Dr., a/k/a 9 Linden La.

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. 146292

LEGAL NOTICE

Notice to Bidders

The BOARD OF EDUCATION of the Merrick Union School District of the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau, New York, hereby invites the submission of sealed bids for:

SPLIT DUCTLESS AIR CONDITIONING UNITS

AND UNITS WITH HEAT PUMPS - UNIT ONLY

AND/OR UNIT WITH INSTALLATION

Bids will be received at the Merrick Union Free School District, Business Office, 21 Babylon Road, Merrick N.Y., 11566, Attention: Facilities and labeled Split Ductless Air Conditioning Units, until 12:00 noon on Monday, May 13, 2024.

Specifications, conditions, bid forms and related documents may be obtained at the Business Office and are currently available. The Board of Education reserves the right to waive any informalities in the bids, or, to reject all bids, or, to accept any bid, which in the opinion of the Board of Education will be in the best interest of the school district(s). Contact Mr. James O’Beirne at 516 992 7256 o r jobeirne@merrick.k12.ny. us to receive a copy of the bid document.

Participating Districts: Baldwin, Bellmore, Bellmore-Merrick, Bethpage, Carl Place, East Meadow, East Rockaway, East Williston, Floral Park Bellrose, Freeport, Garden City, Glen Cove, Great Neck, Hempstead, Herricks, HewlettWoodmere, Hicksville, Island Trees, Jericho, Levittown, Locust Valley, Long Beach, Lynbrook, Manhasset, Massapequa, Merrick, Mineola, New Hyde Park-Garden City Park, North Bellmore, North Merrick, North Shore, Oceanside, Plainedge, Plainview-Old Bethpage, Port Washington, Rockville Centre, Roosevelt, Seaford, Syosset, Uniondale, Valley Stream 13, Valley Stream 24, Valley Stream 30, Wantagh, West Hempstead, Westbury.

Pamela Amon

District Clerk

Merrick UFSD

Town of Hempstead Nassau County, New York

146269

Advancial Federal Credit Union, Plaintiff AGAINST

Michael A. Volino, a/k/a

Michael Volino; et al., Defendant(s)

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered March 18, 2024 I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction at the North Side Steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on May 28, 2024 at 2:00PM, premises known as 204 Margaret Boulevard, Merrick, NY 11566. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being at Merrick, in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau, State of NY, Section 56 Block 87 Lots 46, 47, 48, 49, 50 [Lot Group]. Approximate amount of judgment $293,934.68 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index# 615213/2022. The auction will be conducted pursuant to the COVID-19 Policies Concerning Public Auctions of Foreclosed Property established by the Tenth Judicial District. Foreclosure Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine.”

Brian J. Davis, Esq., Referee LOGS Legal Group LLP

Attorney(s) for the Plaintiff

175 Mile Crossing Boulevard Rochester, New York 14624 (877) 430-4792

Dated: April 5, 2024 146331

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU MCLP ASSET COMPANY, INC., Plaintiff, AGAINST DOLORES ANNE

CARUCCI-LAMPITELLI, INDIVIDUALLY AND AS EXECUTOR OF THE ESTATE OF DOLORES MARIA CARUCCI AKA DOLORES CARUCCI, et al.

Defendant(s) Pursuant to a judgment of foreclosure and sale duly entered on February 4, 2020.

I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction at the North Side Steps of the Nassau Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on May 28, 2024 at 2:30 PM premises known as 1429 Little Whaleneck Rd, North Merrick, AKA 1429 Little Whaleneck Rd, Merrick, NY 11566.

Please take notice that this foreclosure auction shall be conducted in compliance with the Foreclosure Auction Rules for Nassau County and the COVID 19 Health Emergency Rules, including proper use of

masks and social distancing.

All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being at Merrick (unincorporated area), Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York.

Section 56, Block 22 and Lot 51.

Approximate amount of judgment $452,331.62 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment. Index #001685/2017.

Janine T. Lynam, Esq., Referee, Aldridge Pite, LLPAttorneys for Plaintiff - 40 Marcus Drive, Suite 200, Melville, NY 11747 146277

LEGAL NOTICE

AVISO MODIFICADO

SOBRE LA REUNIÓN Y ELECCIÓN

ANUAL DEL DISTRITO

ESCOLAR

DISTRITO ESCOLAR

NORTH MERRICK UNION FREE, PUEBLO DE HEMPSTEAD, CONDADO DE NASSAU, NUEVA

YORK

POR EL PRESENTE SE NOTIFICA que se llevará a cabo una audiencia sobre el presupuesto del Distrito Escolar North Merrick Union Free en la escuela Harold D. Fayette, 1057 Merrick Avenue, North Merrick, Nueva York, el día 14 de mayo de 2024, a las 7:00 p. m., para la resolución de dichos asuntos de acuerdo con lo estipulado por la Ley de Educación. TAMBIÉN SE NOTIFICA que la votación anual sobre el presupuesto y elección del Distrito Escolar North Merrick Union Free se llevarán a cabo en la biblioteca pública de North Merrick, 1691 Meadowbrook Road, North Merrick, Nueva York, el día martes 21 de mayo de 2024. Durante la elección mencionada anteriormente, los votantes calificados del Distrito Escolar North Merrick Union Free y del Distrito Central de Escuelas Secundarias de Bellmore-Merrick votarán con los siguientes fines: (A) votar sobre el presupuesto escolar anual para el año 2024-2025 y para autorizar la exacción de un impuesto sobre la propiedad sujeta a tributación del distrito para los propósitos mencionados anteriormente; (B) votar sobre la siguiente propuesta que busca la autorización para gastar de un fondo de reserva de capitales que aparecerá en la boleta electoral razonablemente en la siguiente forma: “SE AUTORIZARÁ a la Junta de Educación del Distrito Escolar North Merrick Union Free a gastar $105,000 del fondo de reserva de capitales establecido el 19 de mayo de 2015 con el fin de

llevar a cabo el siguiente proyecto: reemplazo parcial del tejado en Camp Avenue School, todo lo anterior incluirá toda la mano de obra, los materiales, el equipo, los aparatos y los costos secundarios relacionados”; y (C) cualquier otra propuesta que se pueda presentar oportunamente en la reunión.

TAMBIÉN SE NOTIFICA que en la elección antes mencionada, los votantes calificados del Distrito Escolar North Merrick Union Free también elegirán a dos (2) miembros de la Junta de Educación para un período de tres años, que comenzará el 1 de julio de 2024 y finalizará el 30 de junio de 2027.

TAMBIÉN SE NOTIFICA que la votación se realizará con máquinas y las urnas estarán abiertas de 6:30 a. m. a 9:00 p. m. de ese mismo día.

TAMBIÉN SE NOTIFICA que, de acuerdo con la Sección 495 de la Ley del Impuesto sobre Bienes Inmuebles, el Distrito Escolar debe adjuntar un informe de exención al presupuesto sugerido. Este informe de exenciones, que también formará parte del presupuesto final, mostrará qué parte del valor total calculado de la lista final de tasación usada durante el proceso presupuestario queda libre de impuestos, enumerará todos los tipos de exenciones otorgadas por la autoridad legal y mostrará el impacto acumulativo de cada tipo de exención, el monto acumulativo que se espera recibir en pagos en lugar de los impuestos y el impacto acumulativo de todas las exenciones otorgadas. El informe de exenciones se publicará en cualquier tablero de anuncios que el distrito designe para avisos públicos y en el sitio web del distrito. TAMBIÉN SE NOTIFICA que la Junta de Educación ha designado el día viernes 19 de abril de 2024, de 8:00 a. m. a 3:30 p. m. y el día miércoles 15 de mayo de 2024, de 4:00 p. m. a 8:00 p. m., para la realización de una reunión de la Junta de Registros en la escuela Harold D. Fayette, 1057 Merrick Avenue, Merrick, Nueva York, para preparar el registro del Distrito Escolar. Los residentes también pueden registrarse en la oficina de la secretaria del Distrito durante los días de actividad escolar desde las 9:00 a. m. hasta las 3:00 p. m., hasta cinco días antes de la votación del Distrito. Para ser elegibles para votar durante la reunión anual y sobre el presupuesto y las propuestas del Distrito Escolar Central de Escuelas Secundarias de Bellmore-Merrick, los residentes calificados del

Distrito Escolar Libre Unificado de North Merrick deben registrarse en ese momento si no lo han hecho antes. Toda persona tendrá derecho a que su nombre se incluya en el registro, siempre y cuando se sepa o se demuestre ante la secretaria del Distrito o algún miembro de la Junta de Registros que dicha persona tiene, en ese momento o en adelante, derecho a votar en la elección anual del distrito, para la cual se prepara dicho registro. Si un votante está registrado y es elegible para votar en virtud del Artículo 5 de la Ley de Elecciones, también es elegible para votar en esta elección sin necesidad de ningún registro adicional.

NINGUNA PERSONA tendrá derecho a votar en la reunión anual de presupuesto y la elección del Distrito Escolar North Merrick Union Free ni en la votación de presupuesto del Distrito Central de Escuelas Secundarias de BellmoreMerrick si su nombre no aparece en el registro del Distrito Escolar North Merrick Union Free o en las listas de registro del condado provistas por los funcionarios electorales del condado.

TAMBIÉN SE NOTIFICA que los votantes que cumplan con los requisitos para votar mediante boleta electoral por ausencia o boleta electoral anticipada /por correo pueden solicitar y recibir una boleta electoral por ausencia o una boleta electoral anticipada por correo a través de la secretaria del Distrito. La secretaria del Distrito deberá recibir la solicitud no antes de los treinta (30) días previos a la elección para la cual se solicita una boleta electoral por ausencia o una boleta electoral anticipada por correo. La secretaria del Distrito debe recibir las solicitudes de boleta electoral por ausencia y boleta electoral anticipada por correo completas por lo menos siete (7) días antes de la elección si la boleta electoral debe enviarse al votante por correo, o hasta el día antes de la elección si la boleta electoral debe entregarse al votante o a la persona designada por este en persona. Al recibir una solicitud oportuna para enviar por correo una boleta electoral por ausencia o una boleta electoral anticipada por correo, la secretaria del Distrito enviará por correo dicha boleta a la dirección indicada en la solicitud a más tardar seis (6) días antes de la votación. La secretaria del Distrito debe recibir las boletas electorales por ausencia y las boletas electorales anticipadas por correo antes de las 5:00 p. m. del día martes 21 de mayo de 2024. Durante los cinco (5) días anteriores al día de la elección, excepto los domingos, en la oficina de la secretaria del Distrito se encontrará a disposición una lista de todas las personas a quienes se les hayan emitido boletas electorales por ausencia y boletas electorales anticipadas por correo. TAMBIÉN SE NOTIFICA que los votantes militares que no estén registrados actualmente pueden solicitar su inscripción como votantes calificados del distrito escolar. Los votantes militares que sean votantes calificados del Distrito Escolar podrán enviar una solicitud de boleta electoral militar. Estos votantes pueden indicar su preferencia de recibir un registro de votante militar, una solicitud de boleta electoral militar o una boleta electoral militar por correo postal, fax o correo electrónico en su pedido del registro, de la solicitud de boleta electoral o la boleta electoral. Los formularios de registro de votantes militares y los formularios de solicitud de boleta electoral militar se deben recibir en la oficina de la secretaria del Distrito antes de las 5:00 p. m. del 25 de abril de 2024. Las boletas electorales militares no serán escrutadas, a menos que (1) la oficina de la secretaria del Distrito las reciba antes del cierre de la votación el día de la elección y tengan 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 otro organismo del Gobierno de los Estados Unidos, o bien (2) la oficina de la secretaria del Distrito las reciba antes de las 5:00 p. m. del día de la elección, y estén firmadas y fechadas por el votante militar y un testigo de ello, con una fecha asociada que no sea posterior al día previo a la elección.

TAMBIÉN SE NOTIFICA que cualquier votante calificado del Distrito podrá obtener una copia de las declaraciones de la cantidad de dinero que será requerido para fines escolares para el año siguiente, a excepción de los fondos públicos, durante los catorce (14) días inmediatamente anteriores a la reunión anual, excepto los sábados, domingos o feriados, en la oficina central del Distrito ubicada en 1057 Merrick Avenue, de 9:00 a. m. a 3:30 p. m., y en cualquiera de las sedes escolares del Distrito, es decir: las escuelas Camp Avenue, Harold D. Fayette y Old Mill Road, la biblioteca pública de North Merrick, el sitio

April 25,

web del Distrito y en la reunión anual.

TAMBIÉN SE NOTIFICA que el registro del Distrito Escolar se presentará en la oficina de la secretaria del Distrito, donde quedará abierto para la inspección de los votantes calificados del Distrito Escolar, de 9:00 a. m. a 3:00 p. m. durante los cinco días anteriores a la elección y el mismo día de la elección anual del distrito, excepto el domingo, y el sábado 18 de mayo de 2024 con cita previa.

TAMBIÉN SE NOTIFICA que la Junta de Registros del Distrito Escolar North Merrick Union Free School se reunirá durante el horario de votación el día 21 de mayo de 2024 en el lugar de votación con el fin de preparar un registro para elecciones o reuniones del Distrito que se realizarán después del 21 de mayo de 2024. Dicho registro incluirá: (1) a todos los votantes calificados del Distrito Escolar Libre Unificado de North Merrick, que deberán presentarse personalmente para el registro; (2) a todos los votantes calificados registrados permanentemente en la Junta de Elecciones del condado de Nassau, y (3) a todos los votantes previamente calificados del Distrito que se hayan registrado previamente para cualquier elección o reunión anual o especial del Distrito y que hayan votado en alguno de estos eventos realizados o llevados a cabo en cualquier momento durante los cuatro años calendario (2018-2022) previos a la preparación del registro de votantes.

Public Notices Public Notices

ante la secretaria del Distrito con el tiempo suficiente para permitir el aviso de la inclusión de la propuesta con el aviso de audiencia pública, votación de presupuesto y elección, si fuera necesaria su inclusión en dicho aviso, a más tardar el día 22 de marzo de 2024 a las 5:00 p. m., hora vigente, debe estar escrita o impresa en idioma inglés, debe estar dirigida a la secretaria del Distrito, debe estar firmada por al menos 75 votantes calificados del Distrito y debe indicar el nombre legible de cada firmante. Sin embargo, la Junta Escolar no considerará ninguna solicitud de presentar ante los votantes una propuesta cuyo propósito no esté dentro de sus facultades de decisión, que esté fuera de la ley o que no incluya una asignación específica cuando dicha propuesta requiera un gasto de dinero, o cuando exista alguna otra razón válida para excluir la propuesta de la boleta electoral.

TAMBIÉN SE NOTIFICA que las peticiones para nominar candidatos para el cargo de miembro de la Junta de Educación deberán presentarse ante la secretaria del Distrito en su oficina, a más tardar el 22 de abril de 2024, de 9:00 a. m. a 5:00 p. m. Los puestos vacantes de la Junta de Educación no se consideran cargos específicos ni independientes; los candidatos se presentan en general. Las peticiones de nominación no deben describir ninguna vacante específica de la Junta para la cual se nomina al candidato, deben estar dirigidas a la secretaria del Distrito, deben estar firmadas por 25 votantes calificados del Distrito, deben indicar el nombre y la residencia de cada firmante y el nombre y la residencia del candidato.

TAMBIÉN SE NOTIFICA que, de acuerdo con una regla adoptada por la Junta de Educación en virtud de la Sección 2035 de la Ley de Educación, cualquier referéndum o propuesta para modificar el presupuesto, o que se presente por otra forma para su votación en dicha elección, debe realizarse

TAMBIÉN SE NOTIFICA que esta Junta establecerá una reunión especial a partir de ese momento, dentro de las veinticuatro horas luego de la presentación ante la secretaria del Distrito de un informe escrito de los resultados del voto, con el fin de examinar y tabular dichos informes del resultado del voto y declarar su resultado; que, por el presente y de acuerdo con la Sección 2019-a, subdivisión 2b, de la Ley de Educación, la Junta se designa a sí misma como un grupo de presidentes de mesa para emitir y escrutar los votos durante dicha reunión especial de la Junta.

POR ORDEN DE LA JUNTA DE EDUCACIÓN, DISTRITO ESCOLAR NORTH MERRICK UNION

FREE

Pueblo de Hempstead, Merrick, Nueva York

JOANNE LONG, SECRETARIA DEL DISTRITO

1057 Merrick Avenue, Merrick, Nueva York Merrick Herald Life: 4 de abril, 18 de abril, 2 de mayo y 16 de mayo

Long Island Business News: 5 de abril, 19 de abril, 3 de mayo y 17 de mayo 146369

LEGAL NOTICE AMENDED NOTICE OF ANNUAL SCHOOL DISTRICT MEETING AND ELECTION

NORTH MERRICK UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT

TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, NASSAU COUNTY, NEW YORK

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that the annual budget vote and election of the North Merrick Union Free School District will be held at the North Merrick Library, 1691 Meadowbrook, Road, North Merrick, New York on Tuesday, May 21, 2024. At the afore-said election, qualified voters of the North Merrick Union Free School District and Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District shall vote for the following purposes: (A) vote upon the annual school budget for the year 2024-2025 and to authorize the levying of a tax upon the taxable property of the district for the foregoing purposes; (B) vote upon the following proposition seeking authorization to expend from a capital reserve fund which shall appear on the ballot in substantially the following form: “SHALL the Board of Education of the North Merrick Union Free School District be authorized to expend $105,000 from the Capital Reserve Fund established on May 19, 2015 for the purpose of performing the following project: partial roof replacement at Camp Avenue School, all of the foregoing to include all labor, materials, equipment, apparatus and incidental costs related thereto”; and (C) such other propositions as may properly come before the meeting.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that at the aforesaid election, qualified voters of the North Merrick Union Free School District shall also elect two (2) members of the Board of Education for a three-year term, commencing July 1, 2024 and expiring on June 30, 2027.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that voting will be on machines, and polls will be open between 6:30 AM and 9:00 PM on that day.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that pursuant to Section 495 of the Real Property Tax Law the School District is required to attach to its proposed budget an exemption report. Said exemption report, which will also become part of the final budget, will show how much of the total assessed value of the final assessment roll used in the budgetary process is exempt from taxation, list every type of exemption granted by statutory authority, and show the cumulative impact of each type of exemption, the cumulative amount expected to be received as payments in lieu of taxes, and the cumulative impact of all exemptions granted. The exemption report shall be posted on any bulletin board

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a Budget Hearing of the North Merrick Union Free School District will be held at Harold D. Fayette School, 1057 Merrick Avenue, North Merrick, New York, on the 14th of May 2024, at 7:00 PM for the transaction of such business as is authorized by Education Law.

maintained by the District for public notices and on any website maintained by the District.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN the Board of Education has designated Friday, April 19, 2024 between the hours of 8:00 AM and 3:30 PM and Wednesday, May 15, 2024, between the hours of 4:00 PM and 8:00 PM for the Board of Registration to meet to prepare the register of the School District at the Harold D. Fayette School, 1057 Merrick Avenue, Merrick, New York. Residents may also register on school days between 9:00 AM and 3:00 PM in the District Clerk’s office until five days before the District vote. Qualified residents of the North Merrick Union Free School District must register at this time if not previously registered, in order to be eligible to vote at the annual meeting and on the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District Budget and Propositions. Any person shall be entitled to have his/her name placed upon such register provided that he/she is known or proven to the satisfaction of the District Clerk or a member of the board of registration, to be then or thereafter entitled to vote at the annual district election for which such register is prepared. If a voter is registered and eligible to vote under Article 5 of the Election Law, he or she is also eligible to vote at this election without further registration.

NO PERSON will be entitled to vote at the annual budget meeting and election of the North Merrick Union Free School District and the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School Budget Vote whose name does not appear on either the Register of the North Merrick Union Free School District or the County registration lists provided by the County election officials.

NOTICE IS FURTHER

GIVEN that voters qualifying to vote by absentee o r early mail /ballot may apply and receive an absentee or early mail ballot from the District Clerk of the District. An application must be received by the District Clerk no earlier than thirty (30) days before the election for which an absentee or early mail ballot is sought. Completed absentee and early mail ballot applications must be received by the District Clerk at least seven (7) days before the election if the ballot is to be mailed to the voter, or the day before the election, if the ballot is to be delivered personally to the voter or his/her designated agent. Upon receiving a timely request for a mailed absentee or early mail

Adamovich named Hempstead Pathfinder

Tatyana

ballot, the District Clerk will mail the ballot to the address set forth in the application by no later than six (6) days before the vote. Absentee and early mail ballots must be received by the District Clerk not later than 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 21, 2024. A list of all persons to whom absentee and early mail ballots shall have been issued, will be available in the Office of the District Clerk on each of the five (5) days prior to the day of the election except Sundays.

NOTICE IS FURTHER

GIVEN that military voters who are not currently registered may apply to register as a qualified voter of the school district. Military voters who are qualified voters of the school district may submit an application for a military ballot. Military voters may designate a preference to receive a military voter registration, military ballot application or military ballot by mail, facsimile transmission or electronic mail in their request for such registration, ballot application or ballot. Military voter registration forms and military ballot application forms must be received in the Office of the District Clerk no later than 5:00 p.m. on April 25, 2024. No military ballot will be canvassed unless it is (1) received in the Office of the District Clerk before the close of the polls on election day and showing a cancellation mark of the United States postal service or a foreign country’s postal service, or showing a dated endorsement of receipt by another agency of the United States government; or (2) received by the Office of the District Clerk by no later than 5:00 p.m. on election day and signed and dated by the military voter and one witness

thereto, with a date which is associated to be not later than the day before the election.

NOTICE IS FURTHER

GIVEN that a copy of the statements of the amount of money which will be required for the ensuing year for school purpose, exclusive of public monies, may be obtained by any qualified voter of the District during the fourteen (14) days immediately preceding the Annual Meeting except Saturday, Sunday, or holidays, between the hours of 9:00 AM and 3:30 PM at the District’s central office located at 1057 Merrick Avenue, and at each of the school houses in said District, to wit: Camp Avenue, Harold D. Fayette, and Old Mill Road Schools, at the North Merrick Public Library, on the District’s website, and at the Annual Meeting.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that the register of the school district shall be filed in the Office of the District Clerk where it shall be open for inspection by any qualified voter of the School District, between the hours of 9:00 AM and 3:00 PM on each of the five days prior to and the day of the Annual District Election, except Sunday, and on Saturday, May 18, 2024 by appointment.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that the Board of Registration of the North Merrick Union Free School District will meet during the hours of voting on May 21, 2024, at the polling place for the purpose of preparing a register for District meetings or elections to be held subsequent to May 21, 2024. Said register shall include: (1) all qualified voters of the Union Free School District, who shall present themselves personally for registration; and (2) all qualified voters

permanently registered with the Nassau County Board of Elections; and (3) all previously qualified voters of the District who shall have been previously registered for any annual or special District meeting or election and who shall have voted at any annual or special District meeting or election held or conducted at any time within the four calendar years (2018-2022) prior to preparation of the registration of voters.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that petitions nominating candidates for the office of member of the Board of Education shall be filed with the District Clerk at the Office of the Clerk between the hours of 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM on or before April 22, 2024. Vacancies on the Board of Education are not considered separate, specific offices; candidates run at large. Nominating petitions shall not describe any specific vacancy upon the Board for which the candidate is nominated; must be directed to the Clerk of the District; must be signed by 25 qualified voters of the District; must state the name and residence of each signer, and the name and residence of the candidate.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN, that pursuant to a rule adopted by the Board of Education in accordance with §2035 of the Education Law, any referenda or propositions to amend the budget, or otherwise to be submitted for voting at said election, must be filed with the District Clerk in sufficient time to permit notice of the proposition to be included with the Notice of the Public Hearing, Budget Vote and Election, if required to be included in said notice, or on or before March 22, 2024, at

5:00 p.m.; prevailing time; must be typed or printed in the English language; must be directed to the District Clerk; must be signed by at least 75 qualified voters of the District; and must legibly state the name of each signer.

However, the School Board will not entertain any petition to place before the voters any proposition the purpose of which is not within the powers of the voters to determine, which is unlawful or any proposition which fails to include a specific appropriation where the expenditure of monies is required by the proposition, or where other valid reason exists for excluding the proposition from the ballot.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that this Board shall convene a special meeting thereof within twenty-four hours after the filing with the District Clerk of a written report of the results of the ballot for the purpose of examining and tabulating said reports of the result of the ballot and declaring the result of the ballot; that the Board hereby designates itself to be a set of poll clerks to cast and canvass ballots pursuant to Education Law §2019-a, subdivision 2b at said special meeting of the Board.

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION

NORTH MERRICK UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT

Town of Hempstead, Merrick, New York JOANNE LONG, DISTRICT CLERK

1057 Merrick Avenue, Merrick, New York

Merrick Herald Life: April 4, April 18, May 2, May 16

Long Island Business News: April 5, April 19, May 3, May 17

146367

Courtesy Town of Hempstead

Adamovich of Bellmore was presented the Town of Hempstead Pathfinder Award by Town Supervisor Don Clavin, Town Councilman Chris Carini, Town Clerk Kate Murray and Receiver of Taxes Jeanine Driscoll.

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Protecting a condo from flooding

CQ. I want to buy an attached home, and the houses around the condos have been raised. Our community got a lot of water during a big flood, so I’m told, since I didn’t live there at the time. I’m wondering, if I move into this condo, which I have to decide about right away, what can I do to protect it from flooding? It doesn’t look like the owners association wants to do anything. What can I do to this unit to be flood-proof?

A. The flooding you’re referring to could have been from any number of high tide and storm episodes, but I’m pretty sure you’re talking about Superstorm Sandy or Tropical Storm Irene. In both events, many of us witnessed the water levels and understood the impact of a high tide, and what high winds can produce.

There are things you can do, such as checking to see what level the building is, by going on the Federal Emergency Management Website, MSC. FEMA.gov. Look for the icon for flood maps and type in the building address. You’ll see a very detailed satellite image of the water lines that were recorded specifically at the crest of the highest water episode in recent years.

Look for your building. The streets should be labeled, but if not, look for identifiable shapes of buildings, street curves, main roads or even railroads to figure out the building location. Next, look for the letters and numbers for the different colored areas. If your potential building is in the area marked with an X, this is a good sign. It means the particular outlined area was not subject to the flooding. If it has an ae and a number, such as 8, 9, etc., with the letters, that indicates that zone got flooded, and your floor is required to be at least 2 feet higher than that designation.

You find the level of the first floor and lowest floor by examining records at your local building department, if they have the updated record since around 2012, or you’ll need to get an elevation certificate made by hiring a land surveyor. Since time is not on your side and a surveyor has to go to the site and take heights to determine what to put in an official elevation certificate, you are left to ask neighbors questions, or take the risk, or move on.

Nothing seems to move as fast as a real estate decision, and quite often I’m asked questions for which the answers are what neither buyer nor seller really wants to hear. Details are critical for one of the most important investments you’ll ever make, one that controls your financial life, so if you don’t have the time, decide on what risk to take. You could flood-proof all of the first floor walls, but how can anyone be certain the neighbor’s walls are also flood-proofed? Good luck!

A memory-filled trip back in time

Many Nassau County residents have their roots in Queens or Brooklyn, having made the decision to migrate from crowded city neighborhoods to leafy, bucolic suburbia. My own experience is probably typical of many. Born in Manhattan, raised in Queens, I attended high school and college in Brooklyn, and moved to Seaford over 50 years ago, where Rosemary raised our family and where we still live.

While all has gone well over the years and I have no regrets about making the move, I do have lasting memories of the friendships I made and the values I learned from those city streets and neighborhoods. There’s a group of eight or nine guys from my high school days in Brooklyn that I still get together with regularly at the ValBrook Diner in Valley Stream.

My high school was Brooklyn Prep, near where Ebbets Field used to be and

within walking distance of St. John’s Place, where my father grew up, and where my grandparents were still living during those years. I spent a lot of time hanging out with Tom Dewey, who was in my high school class and lived across the street from my grandparents. Dewey and his neighborhood group all shared his trait of never having a good word to say to or about anyone. Tom, who would eventually move to Valley Stream, had a successful career as a teacher and track coach, and was actually elected to Fordham’s Hall of Fame, without ever breaking his vow of surliness.

Vrity detail when I was in Congress, and for some reason found it interesting to listen to the endless banter and mindless conversations she would hear whenever our group got together.

isiting, among other childhood haunts, the school where we played stickball.

Last week, Tom and I, along with his cousin Allen Ryan and Charlie Norton, decided to spend a day in the old neighborhood. (Ryan, now in Hicksville, had lived in the same apartment house as Dewey; Norton a few blocks away.) Ryan and Norton had distinguished careers with the NYPD, and Ryan was on the crime scene unit the night mob boss Paul Castellano was rubbed out.

Joining us on this visit to the past was Melissa Zimmerman, a retired Nassau detective, who was on my secu-

WAmong our stops was Tom’s a famed luncheonette on Washington Avenue that has been around for almost 90 years and, as Zimmerman pointed out, still typifies neighborhood cuisine and personality. Then there was a walk up and down both sides of St. John’s Place, as we looked at the classically structured apartment houses still standing strong more than 100 years after their construction. This neighborhood and block went through several decades of rough times, but beginning in the 1990s had come back stronger than ever. (Listening to Dewey and Ryan reminisce, so too were their memories of St. John’s Place coming back.)

Then we went over to the local public school where we had played stickball, and then drove to Carroll Street to see what was once Brooklyn Prep and is now Medgar Evers College. Dewey and I pointed to the third floor window from which we could see Ebbets Field

before that historic structure was torn down after our beloved Dodgers abandoned Brooklyn for the vacuous environs of Los Angeles.

We finished our memory tour at Farrell’s Bar in nearby Park Slope/Windsor Terrace, where we had a few beers (but not Zimmerman, who was driving) and enjoyed the company of the midafternoon customers. Farrell’s is a famed neighborhood gathering place being featured in a soon-to-be-released film documentary. It hasn’t changed even the slightest over the years.

This trip back to Brooklyn, and being with Tom, Allen and Charlie, was more than just nostalgic. It was a reminder of the days of neighborhood beliefs, of learning that life isn’t fair, that the world doesn’t owe anyone a living and that not everyone will get a trophy. What matters is not hugging one another or looking for praise or compliments, but being loyal and standing by friends no matter what — and being a proud patriot, loving America, respecting the police and military.

It was a great day. Thanks for the memories.

Peter King is a former congressman, and a former chair of the House Committee on Homeland Security. Comments? pking@ liherald.com.

It’s easy to tell this Kennedy from the others

e are six months away from Election Day. Despite the media efforts to stir up public interest in a former president and the current president, the public isn’t ready to get serious. November is a long time from now, and there will be many distractions ahead before the polls become accurate and the voters give the candidates real consideration.

There are three announced third-party candidates, but only Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is a serious contender, who at best is running as a spoiler.

I have been a student of Kennedy family history for many years. I had the good fortune to campaign for re-election to the State Assembly in 1968 with Sen. Robert F. Kennedy. He was a brilliant public servant with an illustrious record. He sat side by side with his older brother, President John F. Kennedy, during the Cuban missile crisis, and he helped the late president navigate historic legislation through Congress.

Robert Kennedy Jr. has never served

a day of his life in a serious government position and brings no relevant experience to his campaign. He claims that he has been exposed to the family’s various challenges, but that doesn’t constitute real on-the-job training. I am close to my son-in-law, who is a urological surgeon, but I don’t think that qualifies me to operate on any of our readers.

Kennedy is well known for his attacks on the use of vaccines on children. He is entitled to his First Amendment rights, but long before his rhetoric about the dangers of the Covid jab, he was asserting that drugs such as ivermectin, which is used to treat parasites, and the anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine were good treatment for children with the coronavirus. These two drugs were also being pushed by the Trump administration, with no proof of their effectiveness.

reference to this tragic character in history, but it hasn’t stopped him from making wild claims on a variety of subjects.

R FK Jr. has frequently used the word ‘holocaust’ in remarks about vaccines.

In a recent CNN interview, Kennedy claimed he had the support of “some of my siblings,” but he didn’t name any of them. Last October, Kennedy’s sisters Rory and Kerry Kennedy Townsend and his brother Joseph P. Kennedy II criticized his candidacy, stating that his decision to run as a third party candidate was “dangerous to our country.” They added, “Bobby might share the same name as our father, but he does not have the same values, vision or judgment. We denounce his candidacy as perilous to our country.”

the gentleness that spared his life, but in taming his act of violence, he should not have the opportunity to terrorize again.”

The real question behind Kennedy’s candidacy is how independent he really is. He told CNN that President Biden is “the greatest threat to democracy,” words often used by Democrats to describe former President Donald Trump’s candidacy. A key Kennedy staffer stated two weeks ago that “Bobby is running to stop President Biden.” Kennedy’s biggest contributor is Timothy Mellon, who happens to be Trump’s biggest donor.

Kennedy has frequently used the word “holocaust” in remarks about vaccines, which has attracted severe criticism. He has even invoked Anne Frank as an example of a vaccine victim, which has drawn sharp criticism even from his wife, actress Cheryl Hines. Kennedy was forced to apologize for his

The friction between the Kennedy family and Robert is nothing new. In 2021, Sirhan Sirhan, who was convicted of killing Kennedy’s father in 1968, was up for parole in California. Kennedy published an op-ed in the San Francisco Chronicle claiming that Sirhan was innocent of his father’s murder and should be set free from jail. Kennedy’s mother, Ethel, attacked his statement, saying, “Our family and our country suffered an unspeakable loss due to the inhumanity of one man. We believe in

It’s hard not to be cynical about Kennedy’s candidacy, especially because all he brings to the table is his father’s name. Before he chose attorney Nicole Shanahan as his running mate, he was considering New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Time will tell whether Kennedy was put up by Trump donors as a way to help him defeat Biden. We won’t know the true answers to the Kennedy campaign mystery until all the votes are counted.

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

Your voice counts in school budget decisions

tuesday, May 21 is an important day — not just for our local school districts, which are busy putting together their budgets for the upcoming academic year, but for the future of our communities as well.

That’s the day when we head to voting booths and cast ballots not only to express our opinions on how our districts are spending money, but also on the school board trustees who will manage it.

It’s a valuable opportunity to have your voice heard, because our local schools are just that — local and ours. Unlike any other government spending plans, school budgets aren’t final until the people tasked to fund them decide they’re final with their votes.

Some may think voting isn’t necessary anymore because the property tax cap limits increases, and no local district wants to exceed its cap. But our voices are always necessary, because the budget isn’t just about how much money is raised for our schools, but how that money is spent. What programs will remain, what will go, and what new ones might begin — all of those decisions are in the hands of every one of us.

The May 21 vote isn’t just about spending, either. There are contested

There D’Esposito goes again

To the Editor:

school board races in many districts. The people who win will make decisions that affect the entire community. The people who are elected will be the ones who keep the “local” in local decisionmaking.

But there’s one vital caveat: understanding what you’re voting on when you cast your ballot.

If you’re concerned about how much money your district plans to spend, find out what’s in the budget before you vote. you can typically find that information on the district’s website, or through the reporting here in the Herald.

However you vote, understand that your decision has an impact. We, as a collective society, should have a say in which direction our society takes, and that largely begins in schools.

In Rockville Centre, for example, annual school taxes are expected to jump $260 — a little over $20 per month. But those funds will be used to improve the district’s facilities, enhance cybersecurity, and create new classes in coding and robotics. The spending plan also avoids layoffs, introduces new sports teams, and appoints a new security director.

In Glen Cove, the district’s budget is focused on safety, intended to help parents send their children to school with-

Re U.S. Rep. Anthony D’Esposito’s op-ed, “Migrants get more government support than veterans,” last week: His party is in the majority, and he is a valuable and loyal member of his caucus. Unable to deliver a meaningful benefit to the voters of his district — our promised deduction for state and local taxes — D’Esposito decides to attack the Democrats for their migrant policies.

The Senate passed a bipartisan immigration bill, but the Republicans wouldn’t even bring it to the floor in the House. They spent their time impeaching Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, and what happened when that got to the Senate? We have serious problems with our current immigration system. We expect our elected representatives to work together to find an equitable solution, not to write misleading and incendiary articles to divert attention from their inability to pass any meaningful legislation that will actually benefit the voters in their districts.

In D’Esposito’s analysis, he described the assistance available to immigrants as greater than the assistance given to our disabled veterans. The problem isn’t that we’re giving immigrants too much; the problem is that we’re giving veterans too little. D’Esposito should stop trying to divert attention from his inability to pass legislation that will benefit the voters in his district and actually do something — anything.

DEnnIS BRADy Rockville Centre

out worry. At the middle school, the public address system will be repaired for $1 million, as will the fire systems and clocks. And the spending plan will allow the district to hire more teachers, so students at the middle school can take more arts and language programs.

If a majority of voters reject a budget, the district must either hold a second vote — offering the same spending plan or a revised one — or adopt what is called a “contingency budget.” It’s also described as an “austerity budget,” and the tax levy issued with this spending plan can’t be larger than the previous year’s levy. The portion of the budget that is devoted to administrative costs cannot increase from the lower of either the previous year’s budget or the justdefeated budget. On top of that, any non-contingent expenditures must be removed from a contingency budget.

Whether you vote “yes” or “no” on school spending plans, it’s important to understand the implications. As the voting day nears, make sure you know where to go to cast your ballot. Contact your school district or visit its website. School district elections and the budget referenda are extraordinarily important. It’s your money. Take your responsibility seriously, and be an informed voter.

opinions

D’Esposito must support fully funding Medicaid

as we mark another Medicaid Awareness Month this April, we must reflect on the profound impact this program has had on the lives of millions of Americans. Signed into law in 1965 by President Lyndon B. Johnson, Medicaid has transformed access to health care for lowincome, disabled and elderly Americans.

Building on this progress, New York has long been a national leader in offering comprehensive health coverage to its residents, including roughly 7.5 million — more than a third of the state’s total population — in the Medicaid program. On Long Island alone, more than 765,000 people are enrolled. While Medicaid provides financial security and access to health care to

more New Yorkers than ever before, Republicans in Congress, including Rep. Anthony D’Esposito, are threatening Medicaid by pushing for devastating cuts to key federal programs.

Earlier in his tenure, D’Esposito claimed to support fully funding critical lifeline programs like Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. He has gone back on this promise time and time again, however, including supporting a provision that would slash nearly all government funding by 30 percent.

tcially for children. The program covers more than 38 million children, and pays for 41 percent of all births nationwide. Additionally, 60 percent of children with disabilities receive their coverage from Medicaid.

he program decreases the uninsured rate and reduces the cost of uncovered care.

Long Island families are already grappling with financial hardships, including difficulties affording mortgages, utilities and groceries. Cutting funding to critical safety-net programs like Medicaid would directly harm hardworking families who are just trying to find health care for their loved ones and make ends meet.

The consequences of cutting Medicaid funding would be disastrous, espe-

Letters

service and infrastructure.

At the end of World War II, the LIRR began to decline, and there was a corresponding loss of revenue. The Pennsylvania Railroad began to reduce its financial support as well. The LIRR went into receivership in 1949, but in recognition of the role it played in the economy of Long Island and New York City, the state began providing financial assistance in the 1950s.

The “Line of the Dashing Dan” was officially chartered as the Metropolitan Commuter Transportation Authority on April 24, 1965, by the state. Up to that point, the LIRR had derived almost 100 percent of its funding for both capital and operating expenses from fares. The MCTA was created to purchase and operate the bankrupt LIRR.

In 1966, the state bought the railroad’s controlling stock from the Pennsylvania Rail Road and put it under the MCTA. The MCTA changed its name to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority in 1968, when it took over operations of the New York City Transit Authority.

With MTA subsidies, the LIRR modernized further and grew into the busiest commuter railroad in the United States. Over the past 50 years, several billion dollars in combined county, city, state and federal taxpayer-generated dollars have subsidized its capital and operating costs.

Riders must remember that fare hikes are required periodically if the MTA is to provide the services millions of New Yorkers use daily. They are inevitable due to inflation, along with increasing costs of labor, power, fuel, supplies, materials, routine safety, state

of good repair, replacement of worn-out rolling stock, upgrades to stations, yards and shops, along with system expansion projects necessary to run any transit system.

In the end, quality and frequency of service depend on secure revenue streams. We all have to contribute — be it at the fare box or tax revenue redistributed back to the MTA. There ain’t no such thing as a free lunch — or in this case, a free ride.

LARRY PENNER Great Neck

Larry Penner is a transportation advocate, historian and writer and a former director of the Federal Transit Administration Region

Pay attention at the wheel, and keep highway workers safe

To the Editor:

Last week was National Work Zone Awareness Week. Each year at the start of the highway construction season, the state Department of Transportation participates in this national campaign to remind motorists about the importance of driving safely and responsibly in and around work zones.

At NYSDOT, safety is our top priority. We take every step possible to protect our highway workers by deploying the latest technology in crash attenuators, flashing yellow lights, signs, cones, bar-

The program also plays an important role in addressing the opioid epidemic, one of the most urgent public health crises facing Long Island. Thousands of Island residents have died of overdoses since the crisis began, and drug deaths hit a record 109,689 nationwide in 2022, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Long Islanders battling substance abuse disorders rely on Medicaid coverage for treatment and behavioral health services.

While President Biden and Democrats in Congress have championed reducing health care costs and improving access to care for the American people, Republicans like D’Esposito are actively working to roll back that prog-

ress.

Fully funding Medicaid is simply common sense: It has drastically decreased the uninsured rate, improved health outcomes and reduced the costs of uncompensated care. Having health insurance through Medicaid helps Americans stay healthy, go to work, care for their families and pay their bills. The program helps our communities, hospitals, schools and economy thrive.

But D’Esposito’s voting record shows that time and again, he is in line with MAGA extremists who are pushing for Medicaid cuts, going against the best interests and well-being of our Long Island communities.

Rep. D’Esposito, I urge you to listen to your constituents, who are calling on you to fully fund these vital programs. In the wealthiest nation on earth, no one should have to go into debt to cover the cost of their basic medical needs. If your MAGA Republican colleagues get their way, the most vulnerable New Yorkers will be left behind.

Framework by Tim Baker

rels, reflective gear, etc.

The biggest risk to our highway workers is the motorist. By paying attention to your driving, you are saving a life! Please do your part to help our highway workers return home safely to their families each night. Put down your cellphone, move over for flashing lights, and slow down. There is someone’s life behind those work zone traffic control

devices.

And for those who choose to ignore the rules of the road, be forewarned: NYSDOT is working with the police on targeted enforcement and deploying automated speed-enforcement cameras in our work zones.

Along the quiet side of Guy Lombardo Avenue — Freeport

Joseph Sackman is the chief of staff of the Long Island Progressive Coalition.

2 New York Office of Operations and Program Management.

joseph sackman

RICH CAUSIN Long Island regional director, NYSDOT Hauppauge

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