Merrick Herald 05-23-2024

At Long Island Youth Summit, two Bellmore-Merrick students honored

By JoSEPH D’AlESSANDRo jdalessandro@liherald.com

Jayda Levine and Haniyyah Myricks, two students from John F. Kennedy High School, have received the Best Project award at the Long Island Youth Summit, an annual contest that tests students intellectually and develops their leadership skills.

The two students entered the contest, submitting projects through essays that analyze issues young people face today and longterm problems they will encounter in the future, including substance abuse, mental health, housing, and the ethics and social impact of new science and technology. They received certificates at a summit which place at St. Joseph’s University in Patchogue on April 12.

Seventeen other students from Kennedy, in the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District, ended up as finalists in the competition.

“What this program and this competition does, it really enables students to think critically and it prompts them to come up with some solutions,” Gail Lamberta, St. Joseph’s associate dean for community development, said. “We try to hone in on what general social issues are there, and also kind of connected with the target population, which would be high school students.”

The competition teaches students how to think critically, research solutions and present them to their peers, Lamberta said. Levine and Myricks were able to speak with peers, educators and experts about ContInued on Page 7

All budgets pass for Merrick schools

By JoRDAN VAlloNE jvallone@liherald.com

Taxpayers in the BellmoreMerrick Central High School District voted to approve a nearly $197.5 million budget for the 2024-25 academic year.

This budget affects John F. Kennedy, Sanford H. Calhoun and Wellington C. Mepham high schools, and Grand Avenue and Merrick Avenue middle schools.

Next year’s spending plan was approved by 3,748 votes.

IIn the elementary districts, North Merrick voters approved a $41 million budget, and Merrick voters approved a $63 million budget.

Seats on the North Merrick education board were uncontested.

Incumbents Kathy Moran and Mary Keene were re-elected with 468 and 507 votes, respectively.

want to make sure that

parents have a voice in the educational decisions that affect our children.

District administrators said the goal of the budget is to maintain current programs and services, address and increasing need for student support services, maintain and upgrade infrastructure, while continuing to provide safety and security for students and staff.

BUTCH YAMAlI trustee, Merrick education board

“It’s important to do what we always do when we make our budget,” Mikaela Coni, the district’s assistant superintendent for business said, “and that’s make sure the decisions we make now are sustainable for the future.”

In Merrick, incumbents Nancy Kaplan, Linda Wilk and Butch Yamali were re-elected to the education board.

They ran on platforms rooted in their knowledge of the district. They earned 1,283, 1,065 and 895 votes, respectively.

“My knowledge, experience and relationships enable to me to provide informed guidance to our educational leaders,” Kaplan said.

“I am honored and dedicated to making the Merrick School District even better,” Wilk said of her campaign.

“I want to make sure that parents have a voice in the educational decisions that affect our children,” Yamali said.

Courtesy Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District

Jayda Levine, third from left, a student at John F. Kennedy High School, received a Best Project award at the Long Island Youth Summit.

‘Annie’ performance dazzles at B’nai Torah

Temple B’nai Torah’s Mainstage Players brought the classic musical “Annie” to life on May 12.

Directed by Tom Reilly, the production featured a mix of seasoned adult performers and talented children. Alyssa Abrons, in her first major title role as Annie, shone brightly on stage, supported by a dedicated cast and crew.

Alisa Baroukh delivered a memorable performance as the formidable Miss Hannigan, embodying the character’s complex emotions with depth.

Lila Minkowsky, portraying Pepper, added depth with her portrayal of the sassy orphan.

The energy and enthusiasm of the performers, coupled with the commitment of the production team, made for an unforgettable evening of theater. From the spirited singing and dancing to the intricate sets and costumes, the production of “Annie” showcased the vibrant talent within the temple community.

— Charles Shaw

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Shelley Friedman, left, with 7-year-old Tehilla Eisman, 6-year-old Hayley Friedman, 6-yearold Ayala Eisman and Ronnie Eisman came to enjoy the show.

Paul W. Waiting as Daddy Warbucks and Alyssa Abrons as Annie dancing together during a May 12 performance of ‘Annie’ at Temple B’nai Torah in Wantagh.

Israeli independence marked with songs and solidarity

By JORDAN VALLONE jvallone@liherald.com

The Merrick-Bellmore Jewish Community Council hosted a variety of events last week, that brought together members of the Jewish community to honor Israel’s independence. As the war between Israel and Hamas continues in the Middle East, marking the 76th anniversary of Israel’s independence felt more poignant this year than in year’s past.

A family program on May 13 at Congregation Ohav Shalom in Merrick kicked off the week.

It’s important to recognize the significance of the time we are living in.

“As you are all aware, this is not a typical year in any way, shape or form,” Rabbi Ira Ebbin of Congregation Ohav Shalom said. “Normally, we have a tremendous celebration, but at the same time, it’s important to recognize the significance of the time we are living in.”

R ABBI IRA EBBIN

Congregation Ohav Shalom

Yom HaZikaron, Israel’s Memorial Day, fell on May 13, and Yom Ha’atzmaut, Israel’s Independence Day, fell on May 14.

“It is the saddest day on the Jewish calendar in Israel,” Ebbin said of Yom HaZikaron. “And this year is, from everyone I’ve spoke to today in Israel, it is the one of the most difficult Memorial Days that anyone has ever experienced.”

Congregants from Ohav Shalom were joined by members of other synagogues in Merrick-Bellmore. Students from Ohav Shalom’s Hebrew School, as well as students from the Merrick Jewish Centre’s Hebrew School, performed several songs in Ohav Shalom’s sanctuary, including “Eli, Eli,” “Am Yisrael Chai,” “We’re Still Here,” and Israel’s national anthem, “Hatikvah.”

Rabbi Josh Dorsch, of the Merrick Jewish Centre, introduced the evening’s video presentation, featuring his friend Michael Levin. Levin went to Israel the year after graduating high school, and decided that he didn’t want to return to the U.S., deciding to join the Israel Defense Forces.

In Israel, Levin was considered a lone soldier, meaning he did not have any immediate family, or thus immediate support, in the country. He was killed in action in August of 2006 during the Second Lebanon War. His death had a major impact on Israel, and thousands of people attended his funeral.

“He was killed very suddenly, and that was just devastating — absolutely devastating,” Dorsch said. “This is my friend Mike Levin, and when I think of Yom HaZikaron, I always think of him.”

Following the video presentation and performances by the students, congregants were able to take place in mean-

Hebrew School students from Congergation Ohav Shalom and the Merrick Jewish Centre

as the Merrick-Bellmore Jewish Community Council marked Yom HaZikaron and Yom Ha’atzmaut.

ingful mitzvah projects that support Israel Defense Force soldiers, as well as enjoy a falafel dinner in the social hall.

At Congregation Beth Ohr in Bellmore, the holidays were also marked with a meaningful evening, that began at 7 p.m. on May 12.

There was a memorial service, music, interactive activities and as well as a plethora of Israeli food, games and a communal art project. Those who attended were able to share their stories of Israel.

And lastly, on June 14, the Merrick Jewish Centre welcomed David Harris, the former chief executive of the American Jewish Committee. Harris spoke about “The State of the Jewish People in 2024,” as part of the Rabbi Charles and Betty Klein Legacy Fund lecture series.

The Merrick-Bellmore Jewish Community Council unites the broader Jewish community on the South Shore of

Long Island, and through events and programming, promotes a deeper appreciation and connection to Jewish heritage, combats antiSemitism and supports the State of Israel. For more on the organization and upcoming events, visit MBJCCouncil.

Legislator Michael Giangregorio stopped by the event on May 13, and presented the Rabbi Ira Ebbin and Rabbi Josh Dorsch with a citation.

Hebrew school children, joined by rabbis, sang Hatikvah, Israel’s national anthem. The country celebrated its 76th year of independence on May 14.

Jordan Vallone/Herald photos

performed meaningful songs last week,

Richner Communications acquires CJ Publishers

Amityville Record, Babylon Beacon, Massapequa Post join Herald Community Newspapers

STAFF REPORT

Richner Communications, Inc. — Long Island’s largest publisher of local media — has acquired the Amityville Record, Babylon Beacon, Massapequa Post and Beacon Smart Shopper, from CJ Publishers Inc.

These brands join family-owned Richner Communications, which now owns and publishes 27 community-focused hyperlocal newspapers through its Herald Community Media division, which serves large parts of Nassau County, as well as parts of New York City through the Pulitzer Prize-winning Riverdale Press in the Bronx, and The Jewish Star, which serves the Orthodox Jewish communities throughout the region.

The Amityville Record, Babylon Beacon and Massapequa Post date back to 1904, 1966 and 1951, respectively. Today, they serve the communities of the Village of Amityville, North Amityville, Village of Babylon, North Babylon, West Babylon, Copiague, Deer Park, West Islip, Lindenhurst, South Farmingdale, Massapequa, Massapequa Park, Plainedge and Seaford.

Carolyn James, owner of CJ Publishers with her husband, Al, expressed a mix of emotions in announcing the sale. James says she trusts the sale will be seamless with careful stewardship, allow-

Michael Hinman/Herald

For decades, the newspaper group that included the Amityville Record, Babylon Beacon and the Massapequa Post were published by Alfred and Carolyn James. Carolyn joins Herald Community Newspapers as an associate publisher.

ing the newspapers to remain “steadfast pillars within their communities under new guardianship.”

“In the pages of the June 19, 1991, editions of the Amityville Record, Babylon Beacon and Massapequa Post, we embarked on a journey, pledging to carry forth the legacy of those who came before us,” wrote James in a note to readers last week. “Now, nearly 32 years later, we stand on the precipice of change as Herald Community Newspapers — a stalwart in Nassau County’s weekly news landscape — assumes ownership of our beloved papers.”

Leaving Assets to Minors

Generally, parents leave their assets to the children thinking that the children will then take care of their children. Occasionally, parents want to bypass the children, either wholly or partially, and leave an inheritance directly to the grandchildren.

Inheritances to minors come in different varieties, such as bequests in wills and as beneficiaries or contingent beneficiaries on IRA’s, investment accounts, life insurance policies and annuities.

Although well-intentioned, inheritances to minors, without a trust, must go through a court proceeding on death. Minors, those under 18, cannot hold property in their names. In the proceeding, the judge appoints a legal guardian to protect the minor’s interest until age eighteen, at which time the beneficiary receives the asset. The expenses of the legal guardian will be paid out of the minor’s bequest. Generally, the legal guardian will use the funds for the child’s health, education, maintenance and support having regard to any other assets or resources of the

minor known to the guardian. Again, ready or not, the legal guardian must turn over the assets to the minor at age eighteen, a tender age in today’s world.

A better plan would be to leave assets to a minor beneficiary by creating a trust. You leave directions for the use of the funds, distribution at a stated age, such as thirty years old and, in the meantime, the trustee, a person you choose instead of a legal guardian chosen by the court, uses the money for the purposes enumerated above, either by giving money directly to the minor or by paying bills on their behalf.

Trusts avoid probate court proceedings entirely for the trust assets. You either put assets into the trust while you are living or, alternatively, you may name the minor’s trust as death beneficiary on bank accounts, investment accounts, IRA’s or the retirement plans, annuities and life insurance policies.

The intention to benefit minor beneficiaries must be attended to with thoughtful planning to avoid having the good deed punished.

The Richner and James families have a longstanding relationship. Richner Printing has printed the CJ newspapers for years and also prints other daily and weekly newspapers, specialty publications and newsletters throughout the tristate region, as well as general, high-volume commercial printing and mailing.

Like CJ Publications, Richner Communications is a proud family-owned business. Founded by Robert and Edith Richner in 1964, the company is today led by their son, Stuart Richner.

“We are excited to continue the great work of Carolyn, Al and their team, to ensure that the Amityville, Babylon and Massapequa communities have the critical news necessary to remain vibrant places to live and work,” Richner said. “Our company believes deeply in the importance of local journalism, and we look forward to introducing ourselves to our new readers.”

Carolyn James will assume the role of associate publisher at Richner Communications and will continue to oversee the four publications. The (516) 798-5100 phone number of CJ Publishers will remain the same, as will the newspapers’ websites of AmityvilleRecord.com, BabylonBeacon.com and MassapequaPost. com. James’ email address is now cjames@liherald.com.

Nassau educators unite for peace, tolerance

Educators from school districts throughout Nassau County worked in partnership with the Nassau County Council of School Superintendents’ Curriculum Writing Committee during the last several months to develop lessons for students in grades K through 12 on tolerance and peace.

On May 13, participating teachers presented their final curriculum writing projects geared at effectively educating students on symbols and speeches of peace and hate, with the goal of ending incidents of hate and discrimination within Long Island schools. During the half-day program that took place at Nassau BOCES Robert E. Lupinskie Center for Curriculum, Instruction and Technology in Westbury, presentations covered the various topics of bias some students face and ways that educators can effectively address this subject with students. The lessons developed will be shared with all districts throughout Nassau County so that every district is consistent in the curriculum being provided in this area.

“We appreciate the dedication and attention to detail given in every curriculum writing project shared today,” said Maria Rianna, president of the Nassau County Council of School Superintendents and the superintendent of the Glen Cove City School District. “Through this shared project, educators have developed innovative ways to create a school environment where respect and inclusiveness are paramount for all students, teachers and staff throughout Nassau County school communities.”

The Nassau County Council of School Superintendents is a professional organization representing 56 Nassau County school districts, including Nassau BOCES. The council extends its appreciation to all educators who served on the Curriculum Writing Committee, as well as committee co-chairs Vincent

Randazzo, superintendent of Island Park Public Schools, and Mary O’Meara, superintendent of the Plainview-Old Bethpage Central School District. The council also extended its thanks to superintendents in

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Courtesy Nassau County Council of School Superintendents

Educators from across Nassau County worked together to develop lessons of tolerance and peace to be shared with districts across the region. 5 MERRICK HERALD — May 23, 2024

EMMA RYAN

Baldwin Senior Lacrosse

Carey works OT to beat Calhoun

By TONY BELLISSIMO tbellissimo@liherald.com

It wasn’t exactly how Carey scripted it after securing the draw to begin overtime, but coach Tom Aiello felt pretty good when he saw No. 9 in an orange jersey pounce on a loose ball on the doorstep of Calhoun’s cage.

That was junior Chris Obertis, who’s scoop-and-score 38 seconds into OT gave the visiting fifth-seeded Seahawks a thrilling 7-6 victory over the fourth-seeded Colts in last Friday’s Nassau Class B boys’ lacrosse quarterfinal matchup.

PLAYOff SCHEduLE

(Farmingdale State College) Thursday, May 23 Nassau

needed 2:30 p.m.

Nassau Class AAAA finals Game 3 if needed 5 p.m.

Nassau Class AA finals Game 3 if needed 7:30 p.m.

BOYS LACROSSE (Hofstra University)

Friday, May 24

Nassau Class B championship 5 p.m.

Nassau Class C championship 7:30 p.m.

“Chris has been a beast on groundballs all year and is our leading scorer,” Aiello said. “There’s nobody else we’d rather have in that situation and he delivered. We battled for the draw to start overtime and got it. We weren’t sure if they were going to defend us with man or zone. We had a play set up that didn’t work out, but in the end it worked out.”

The goal was the second of the day and 49th of the season for Obertis, who had never scored in overtime before. “It’s a wild feeling,” he said. “I pride my game on groundballs because it’s one of the most important things in lacrosse. I was able to get this one on my stick and released the shot as fast as I could. It’s a great team win.”

Obertis went top shelf, just under the crossbar, allowing Carey (12-5) to avenge a regular-season defeat to Calhoun (15-2) and advance to the semifinals at Hofstra University against top-seeded South Side. Freshman Jayden Radow also scored twice and Ethan Pelzer, Christian Todaro and Christian Korszloski added one goal apiece for the Seahawks, who got a dozen saves from junior goaltender Rich Metzger.

“I’m still in shock,” Metzger said. “Calhoun beat us 6-4 on our field about a month ago and that wasn’t a good feeling. As a team we battled through some injuries this year and to be headed back to Hofstra is a nice accomplishment.”

Junior Harley Finkelstein had a hat trick and one assist and senior Mark Restivo turned aside seven shots for the Colts, who scored a pair of goals in the fourth quarter to force overtime but couldn’t com-

Ron Manfredi/Herald

Freshman Michael Nicholson played a vital role on draws this spring for Calhoun, which won 15 of 17 games.

plete the comeback.

IT WAS A NEAR-PERFECT regular season for the Bruins, who won 13 of 14 games and captured the Nassau Conference 3 title. And Ryan, who will play lacrosse at Hartwick College, was one of the biggest reasons for their success. She netted 52 goals, including the 100th of her career, and added 12 assists. She also had 87 draw controls. Ryan had eight points (six goals and two assists) May 6 as Baldwin sealed first place with a 14-13 win over Hicksville. 4:21:36

“I’m really proud of our guys,” Calhoun coach Jim Femminella said. “I don’t think many people expected us to have this type of season. Today we didn’t shoot as well as we usually do and Carey made a few more big plays than us.”

The Seahawks netted four straight goals after Calhoun senior Shaun Walters opened the scoring at the 1:33 mark and led 4-1 late in the second quarter. Sophomore Nicholas Voll and Finkelstein then scored 38 seconds apart to cut the margin to one at halftime.

Obertis and Radow tallied in the third quarter and Carey, led defensively by TJ Wakely, Michael Lucsczynski and OT draw winner Billy Koutsoumbaris, took a 6-4 lead into the fourth.

Finkelstein connected 2:36 into the fourth and junior Ryan Burr scored the equalizer with 5:36 remaining in regulation. The Colts had a late man advantage but couldn’t cash in.

“It was an excellent game between two evenly matched teams,” Aiello said.

Students prove to be voices of their generation

their topics at the event, and created presentations to summarize their findings for those in attendance.

Levine received the award for the Impact of Climate Change category, with an essay focusing on climate change’s generational impact and its future. She proposed methods for local groups to be forward-thinking about their relationship with the environment, with programs for water conservation and energy efficiency. Levine is a member of the school’s Helping Our Planet Earth club — also known as Hope Club — which focuses on local climate activism.

“I’ve kind of tried to focus on what we can do within our school, or even just as teens ourselves, like driving cars,” Levine said. “We’re at the age that we’re probably going to start driving soon and get our license.”

Tlocal politics, aspiring to bring unity to local communities with empathy, resilience and community to end violence and reduce drug use.

“I felt as if the root of conflict — like in teens, and in general — is really not understanding each other and not knowing where each individual comes from,” Myricks said. “So I emphasized that neighboring schools should be able to partner with each other and discuss certain issues together.

Brad Seidman Teacher

John F. Kennedy High School

Myricks received her award in the Leadership category, with an essay exploring the nature of leadership in the past and present, and how it relates to the other social issues that her peers discussed. Myricks, a member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, is active in

“For my student project, I was advocating for temporary protected status for refugees in the Congo and the center of Africa,” Myricks added. “I was advocating for the end of exploitation and the healing of refugees there. I really hope that my efforts, from my advocacy, could potentially be a way of them being able to get back on their feet and have a sense of security.”

At Kennedy, Levine and Myricks are both in the school’s Community Leadership program, a multiyear course that encourages students to become young leaders in their community. The program provides a supportive environment for them to explore ideas and to prepare for college. Students are

AN AMAZING SUMMER CAMP EXPERIENCE

provided with incentive to stand out among other students in honors classes by showing their participation in the community and strengthening existing skills.

“I know this past year has been really hard with college applications and getting in because it’s so competitive,” Levine said. “So I feel like I have a little bit of a leg up compared to some of my peers. So all that adding up together really makes me feel confident for the schools that I’m going to try to apply to.

“Sometimes you don’t feel like you’ve done enough or like you should be doing

more or that it’s not good enough,” Levine said. “So I guess they made me realize that I’m worth a lot more than I think I am.”

Their teacher, Brad Seidman, expressed pride in his students’ performance at the Long Island Youth Summit.

“Their projects demonstrate their deep understanding of the issues and their commitment to actively seeking solutions,” Seidman said in a school district release. “They truly embody the spirit of leadership and service we encourage at Kennedy.”

Courtesy Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District

Kennedy High School student Haniyyah myricks also received a Best project award at the Long island Youth Summit.

Nassau County cheers 125 years, but work to be done

By JUAN LASSO jlasso@liherald.com

Nassau County turned 125 earlier this year, and an eclectic grouping of politicians, artists and celebrities celebrated with the clinking of glasses at The Lannin catering hall at Eisenhower Park in East Meadow.

Last week’s party — hosted by Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman — saw a packed room filled with dignitaries like Hempstead deputy town supervisor Dorothy Goosby and Valley Stream painter Mike Stanko, alongside celebrity guests like actor Vincent Pastore from “The Sopranos” television series, and singer Taylor Dayne.

“Nassau County was once known for agriculture, fishing, Gold Coast estates, and resort living,” Blakeman told attendees, during his toast. “Today, Nassau County is larger than 10 states in population. Our gross domestic product is larger than 146 nations in the United Nations. We are home to people of every race, every religion, every ethnic group, every

Tim Baker/Herald

Nassau County Police Emerald Society Pipes & Drums took The Lannin hall by storm at Eisenhower Park in paying tribute to Nassau’s 125th anniversary. It was all part of an all-star gala last week hosted by Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman.

drawing an invisible boundary between itself and the newly expanded city.

Thus, on Jan. 1, 1899, Nassau County was born with its suburban future firmly

But for Alexandra Wolfe, chief executive of Preservations Long Island — a

— the county’s historical value predates its official inception.

“You can find historical material as far back as the 18th century in Nassau County,” she said. “Every movement in history left an imprint on Long Island. But you’re not often aware of it. It’s hidden away, pri-

It’s partly the reason why those like former Nassau County Historical Society president Natalie Naylor treated the milestone as less of a cause for celebration and more as an opportunity to underscore serious challenges in preserving the county’s much longer heritage.

“Nassau County once had a wonderful system of museums that, over the years, has deteriorated with less and less funding, staffing and expertise,” she said, pointing to the “county’s declining financial support and interest over the decades” as a main concern.

Naylor also mentioned that long-proposed projects like working with the county to bring back the Nassau County Historical Museum — formerly based in Eisenhower Park that shuttered in 1991 — have failed to get off the ground.

But the county still sought to make history a focal point of the celebration, commissioning Valley Stream artist Mike Stanko to create a rendering of the Theodore Roosevelt County Executive Building in his signature “pop-realist” style.

Stanko chose the subject matter for his painting after touring the building with Blakeman, who personally requested him for the occasion.

“It’s the office of the county executive and of many other elected officials and public servants, and it’s going to be prominently displayed there,” Stanko said. “It’s a classic historic building, and it’s a true honor and privilege to be selected for this

By Danielle Schwab & Tim Baker

Marinela Lizana Plaza, Cedarhurst

American Legion Post 339

I think of soldiers that fought in our wars to keep freedom, our liberties and America as we know it, how much we owe them and their memories. I have a friend, a member of my unit, who died, who I think about every Memorial Day.

What does Memorial Day mean to you?

Ralph Esposito, Elmont Veterans Service Agency

We pay tribute to those who gave all to make it possible for the rest of us to enjoy the freedoms we have today. I run the Elmont Memorial Day parade to remember those who gave it all and who made the supreme sacrifice.

Davian Savage, Lynbrook American Legion Post 339

It’s a day to recognize the fallen military personnel over the course of many wars, and to remember their impact on the freedom we have today, and the ultimate sacrifice they made.

Howard Stillwagon, Glen Cove

Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 347 (with Cruiser, his service dog) Memorial Day is to honor the fallen veterans of all wars but (personally) for the 20 young men I saw get killed in Vietnam from January to July of 1969. For us combat veterans, we know what it was like to see them lose their lives We never forget.

Gary Glick, Bellmore Jewish War Veterans

It’s a day of mourning for guys who have passed away or who were killed in the war — in all wars. My motto is to help veterans. It shouldn’t just be one day of taking care of veterans, it should be every day.

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.

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Pitches to parks, cricket fever sweeps Nassau

As Eisenhower Park prepares for T20 World Cup, cricket

By JORDAN VALLONE jvallone@liherald.com

Cricket is a sport not many Americans are familiar with. Around the globe however, especially in Southeast Asian countries, the United Kingdom, Australia, South Africa, and the West Indies, it is widely enjoyed, watched and played in a variety of adaptive ways.

With the International Cricket Committee Men’s T20 World Cup scheduled to take place in just a few weeks in Eisenhower Park, Nassau County hosted a Criiio Cricket Social Festival last week in Fields 2 and 3 of the park. The event, inspired by the ICC’s Criiio program, aimed to showcase cricket as a vibrant, inclusive sport that can be played anywhere, by anyone, at any time.

Cricket is a bat-and-ball game that is played traditionally between two teams of eleven players. The game originated in the 1500s in England and is played with a wooden bat, a hard leather ball, stumps and bails, as well as protective gear that includes helmets, pads, gloves and abdominal guards.

A common term heard when watching a game of cricket is “the pitch” — which is 22-yard-long strip in the center of the field. This is where most of the action takes place. There are three vertical stumps, topped with two horizontal bails, at each end of the pitch.

The objective is to score a run, and the simplest way to do that is when a “batsmen” or the person holding a bat hits the ball to the opposite side of the pitch. Players can be dismissed, or considered “out,” due to a variety of things. Some include when the ball hits the stump and dislodges a bail, when a ball is caught by someone without it bouncing, or if a ball strikes a batsman’s body before it hits the bat.

Balls are “bowled” to the person hitting it with a bat. A bowler aims to dismiss the batsmen and restrict the number of runs. Each bowler will roll one “over,” which means six legal deliveries from one end of the pitch. Fielders are positioned strategically around the field, to stop runs and dismiss batsmen. A “wicketkeeper” stands behind stumps to catch balls.

Games are broken down into “innings” — just like baseball, and the team with the most runs at the end of a match wins. An inning ends when ten players are out. Twenty20 cricket, or T20 — hence the name of the world cup — is the shortest format of international cricket play, limited to 20 overs per side. Each team will play one inning in this form of cricket, and only 120 balls will be bowled.

Here in the U.S., fans of baseball, basketball and other sports may play adapted versions of those games with their friends in an informal setting. Stickball, or three-on-three basketball games, are all modified versions of the original sport. For cricket, that’s Criiio. Criiio is a global campaign that promotes the joy of cricket in its most infor-

social introduces young fans to the sport

Young batsmen and bowlers surrounded a pitch in Eisenhower Park, to learn more about the beloved sport, as Nassau County prepares to host the Cricket World Cup in June.

mal forms — like backyard matches to beach cricket. By integrating Criiio into schools and community programs, the ICC aims to make cricket more accessible to youth around the world.

The Criiio Cricket Festival at the park on May 17 brought communities together. Dozens of people, from all over Long Island, came out to participate in the festivities. The event offered young enthusiasts — or those new to the sport — a firsthand experience of cricket during an exciting time. The festival, according to county officials, celebrated the spirit of cricket but also emphasized the sport’s ability to unite diverse groups through shared play.

Umer Aslam, who attended the social festival at the park, spoke with the Her-

ald about the excitement surrounding the upcoming tournament. Aslam lives in Dix Hills, and was sporting a local jersey for the LI Warriors in the Kings Cricket Club.

“We are super excited,” Aslam said. “I have been playing cricket since I was a kid. This is like a dream come true. I’ve managed to get the tickets for Pakistan versus Canada, and I’m really looking forward to it.”

The Cricket World Cup is watched by billions of people around the world, and many games in Eisenhower Park, including the highly anticipated match between India versus Pakistan, are expected to draw major crowds.

“It’s going to be a packed house,” Aslam said.

“During the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup there will be tens of thousands in attendance and over a billion viewers around

the world watching the World Cup matches being held here in Nassau County,” County Executive Bruce Blakeman said. “This Criiio Cricket Social Festival creates an opportunity for our young people to participate in a workshop where they will learn more about this globally popular sport.”

The ICC provided Nassau County with 100 Criiio kits, which include equipment to play cricket, to be integrated in schools, so students across the county can learn about the game ahead of the tournament.

Cricket games are scheduled to be played from June 3 to June 12 in Eisenhower Park. The venture is entirely funded by the ICC and T20 World Cup USA. For more information on the upcoming festival, call (516) 572-0200.

Additional reporting by Tim Baker

Tim Baker/Herald photos

Dozens flocked to Eisenhower Park last week for the Criiio Cricket Social Festival. Fans of cricket from all over Long Island celebrated the unique and adaptive ways the sport is played all around the globe. Above, the Long Island United Cricket Club.

Kaiser Afridi, with his son Abrahim, 7, of Dix Hills, learned some basic cricket play together.

STEPPING OUT

Look upwardHeading into summer at the BETHPAGE S OW

Parliament Funkadelic

HArken

By Karen Bloom

Here we are — ready to kick back and enjoy Memorial Day weekend’s prelude to summer. Besides the observances, parades and barbecues, that yearly trek to Jones Beach to watch the action overhead during the Bethpage Air Show is a beloved tradition for so many of us.

U.S.

Courtesy U.S. Navy

This year’s show — on Saturday, May 25 and Sunday, May 26 — celebrates its 20th year with much fanfare.

The U.S. Navy Blue Angels, headliners at the first Bethpage Air Show back in 2004, return to helm the spectacular two-day display of flying stunts.

George Gorman, regional director of the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historical Preservation, enthusiastically says that “spectators are in for a real treat” this time around with 2024 being “a very special year for us.”

“Not only are we celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Bethpage Air Show, but we are also celebrating the 95th anniversary of Jones Beach State Park and the 100th anniversary of New York State Parks and the Long Island State Park Commission,” he notes.

The Blue Angels have strong ties to the region, flying Grumman Hellcats, built on Long Island for the team’s 1946 inaugural flight. The team then went on to fly other Grumman aircraft, including the Bearcat, Cougar and Tiger, one of which now hangs at the Cradle of Aviation Museum in Garden City.

George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic revolutionized funk music in the 1970s, blending psychedelic rock with soulful grooves and creating an extravagant stage show that influenced generations of musicians. Their iconic sound and outlandish performances made them pioneers of funk, with hits like ‘Give Up the Funk (Tear the Roof off the Sucker)’ and ‘Atomic Dog’ cementing their legacy in music history.

Parliament Funkadelic (often abbreviated as P-Funk), led by Clinton, is known for their innovative and influential contributions to the genre, combining elements of funk, soul, R&B, and psychedelic rock. The collective originated in the 1960s, with Clinton serving as the central figure and creative force behind both groups. He’s recognized as the godfather of modern urban music.

Saturday, May 25, 8 p.m. $99.50, $79.50, $69.50, $54.50, $49.50. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at Ticketmaster.com or ParamountNY. com, (631) 673-7300

the American Airpower Museum Warbirds; along with Farmingdale State

College Flying Rams, flying several of their 22 college-owned aircraft, complete

The Skytypers, an air show favorite, combine the best of old and new. The team uses five of the remaining World War II-era NA SNJ planes left in the world,

team uses five of the remaining World War II-era NA SNJ planes left in the world, meticulously restored with the latest technology.

“These were Navy scout planes used on missions in World War II and the Korean War,” explains Larry Arken, the Skytypers’ longtime flight leader. “We’ve modernized them and give them plenty of TLC. We have to take care of our warbirds. They’ve got quite a military history; they’ve landed on aircraft carriers and as fighter trainers they trained the Greatest Generation.”

• May 25-26, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

• $10 vehicle use fee

• Jones Beach State Park, Wantagh

• For up-to-date information, visit BethpageAirShow.com or text ‘Airshow’ to (516) 842-4400, to download the Bethpage Air Show mobile app

The distinguished squadron — back for its 10th headlining appearance — is joined by other elite military pilots, including the U.S. Army Golden Knights Parachute Team, the U.S. Air Force’s A-10C Thunderbolt II Demo Team, and the U.S. Navy F-35C Demo Team. These expert aviators demonstrate the armed forces’ capabilities in fulfilling air-to-air and air-to-ground missions.

The renowned Blue Angels Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron always delights air show visitors with unparalleled displays of flight precision, in keeping with the Navy’s time-honored tradition dating back to 1946. A total of 17 officers voluntarily serve with the Blue Angels, showcasing the precision and power of naval aviation. Each year, the team typically selects three tactical (fighter or fighter/attack) jet pilots, two support officers, and one Marine Corps C-130 pilot to relieve departing members.

As always, expert civilian performers join in the action. The popular Skytypers and their flight squadron of vintage World War II aircraft; Mike Goulian, North America’s most decorated aerobatic pilot; the Warbird Thunder team, piloted by former Skytypers members; Long Island’s aerobatic daredevil David Windmiller;

The Farmingdale-based Skytypers are, of course, a familiar sight along northeast beaches with their skytyped messages generated at an altitude of 10,000 feet with puffs of smoke in dot matrix-style letters. While those messages won’t be visible during the show this time around, the pilots are ready to entertain with their signature maneuvers.

“We’re thrilled that this is our 20th year with the show,” Arken says. “It’s so important to us as it’s our hometown show. For many of our friends, it’s the only time they get to see us (perform). We’re always excited to be here and put a smile on people’s faces. It’s great fun to fly down low and see everyone on the beach. This is a terrific event, and the pilots enjoy it as much as everyone on the ground.”

Flying at 500 feet, his team’s 18 minutes of precision skills always excite spectators. Among their favorite tricks is the “bomb burst,” in which the Arken’s planes come in at low altitude toward the spectators from five directions in a crisscross pattern.

“It almost looks like we’re going to hit each other,” he says. “It’s a real crowd pleaser.”

His team is a close-knit group of five pilots, with decades of military and professional experience, who honor the history and heritage of their refurbished aircraft.

“I consider us caretakers of these planes that had such a historical impact during World War II, “Arken says.”Everything we do is because we want to keep them alive for the generations to see them. We love flying these planes and bringing them to this show.”

The event is one of the largest air shows in the country. More than 240,000 people attended in 2022, when the Blue Angels last performed during a stormy weekend. Last year, more than 419,000 attended.

Simon & Garfunkel

Songbook

Aztec Two-Step 2.0 chronicles the extraordinary career of Simon & Garfunkel. The music speaks for itself, anchored by Rex Fowler, Aztec Two-Step co-founder and his wife, Dodie Pettit, an original cast member of Broadway’s ‘The Phantom of The Opera.’ Multiinstrumentalist Steven Roues, horn player Joe Meo, and drummer/ percussionist Peter Hohmeister round out the band. The show’s storyline was originally created by Pete Fornatale, the late great pioneer of progressive FM radio and author of Simon & Garfunkel’s Bookends biography. Now telling the stories, emceeing and directing is Fornatale’s protégé, Tony Traguardo, noted rock music historian, podcaster and founding board member of the Long Island Music Hall of Fame. Nostalgia and laughter abound, and a sing a-long is always in the mix.

Friday, May 31, 8 p.m. $42, $37. $33. Jeanne Rimsky Theater at Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington. (516) 767-6444 or LandmarkOnMainStreet.org.

Courtesy Larry

Left: The Skytypers return each year with their display of flying expertise, a Memorial Day weekend tradition.

Right: The renowned

Navy Blue Angels are back in action over Jones Beach this weekend.

THE Your Neighborhood

Chris Botti

Award-winning jazz trumpeter Chris Botti visits The Paramount, Sunday, June 2, 8 p.m. Botti has found a form of creative expression that begins in jazz and expands beyond the limits of any single genre. He has thoroughly established himself as one of the important, innovative figures of the contemporary music world. Coming to prominence with the 2001 recording of his Night Sessions CD, Botti gained a reputation as a versatile musician in both jazz and pop music for his ability to fuse both styles together. He’s been one of the most popular instrumentalists in the world for nearly three decades; he’s collaborated with some of the biggest superstars on the planet, including Sting, Paul

Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra, Aretha Franklin, Bette Midler, Joni Mitchell, Steven Tyler, Andrea Bocelli, Herbie Hancock, Yo-Yo Ma, and others.

He knew his life’s dream was playing music after listening to Miles Davis play perform “My Funny Valentine” live from “Miles Davis – Four & More.” Before venturing out as a solo artist, Botti played in Carnegie Hall as part of the McDonald’s All American High School jazz band and went on tour with Frank Sinatra, Natalie Cole, Aretha Franklin, Bette Midler and others. His time performing with musicians such as Paul Simon, Sting, Tony Bennett and Michael Bublé in and out of the studio inspired the distinct style Botti has to this very day. He’s topped the jazz charts with numerous award-winning albums, and performed with symphony orchestras and on prestigious stages from Carnegie Hall to the Hollywood Bowl to the Sydney Opera House. After signing to Blue Note Records, Botti released his latest album, “Vol. 1.” In many ways, the album is a fresh start for the trumpeter. Having successfully crossed over from the underground jazz scene to pop stardom, Botti’s first album in over a decade finds him coming back to his roots, focusing on acoustic jazz and classic standards. $99.50, $89.50, $74.50, $64.50, $59.50, $39.50. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at Ticketmaster.com or ParamountNY.com.

Family

theater

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, Wednesday through Friday, May 29-31, 10:15 a.m. and noon; also Saturday, June 1, 11:30 a..m. and 2 p.m. Back by popular demand after a sold-out 2023 run, see Pigeon, Bus Driver, and some zany passengers sing and dance their way to help Pigeon find his “thing” in this upbeat comedy based on 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 the humorous stories from Willems’ books. $10 with museum admission ($8 members), $14 theater only. Long Island Children’s Museum, 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.

Simon, Barbra Streisand, Lady Gaga,

June 1

Floral design for kids

Old Westbury Gardens Director Maura Brush leads a 45-minute floral arranging class just for kids, Saturday, June 1, 1010:45 a.m., to explore their creative side. Fresh flowers will be used, and she will teach proper care and handling, water, and how to make sure your floral arrangement lasts and looks beautiful. Discuss flower names and fun facts about each flower. For ages 5-12. $30. Registration required. Old Westbury Gardens, 71 Old Westbury Rd., Old Westbury. For information visit OldWestburyGardens.org or contact (516) 333-0048.

Narcan Training

The Town of Hempstead holds a Narcan training, presented by the office of Rep. Anthony D’Esposito, at the North Bellmore Fire Department, Wednesday, May 29, beginning at 5 p.m. Training includes how to identify an overdose, administer the Narcan Kit and contact

Art explorations

Converse, collaborate and create at Family Saturdays at Nassau County Museum of Art, Saturday, May 25, 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) 484-9337.

In concert

Dance the night away as Decadia plays tribute music from the ‘80s and beyond, Tuesday, July 2, 7:30 p.m., at Newbridge Road Park in Bellmore. The concert is sponsored by the Town of Hempstead. Those attending are asked to bring a chair or blanket. Visit HempsteadNY. gov for more information.

‘Thomas & Friends’

Long Island Children’s Museum welcomes families to experience its newest exhibit, Thomas & Friends: Explore the Rails!, opening Saturday, May 25. Participate in fun activities celebrate the arrival of this traveling exhibit, 1-3 p.m., during the drop-in programs. Step onto the Island of Sodor, where visitors can climb aboard a large model of Thomas the Tank Engine, race trains along a giant track, work together to sort and load cargo and maintain engines.

Kids engage in a variety of STEM challenges from simple sorting and shape identification to more complex engineering obstacles. As they test their abilities, the smiling faces of Thomas, Percy, Victor and others are there to offer encouragement and remind children how “really useful” they all are. Long Island Children’s Museum, Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 2245800 or LICM.org.

On stage

Plaza Theatrical brings back its acclaimed Broadway series. With the recent passing of Stephen Sondheim, regarded as one of the most important figures in 20th-century musical theatre for reinventing the American musical, Plaza honors him with a staging of “Into the Woods,” Friday, May 31, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, June 1, 2:30 p.m.; also Thursday, June 6, 2 p.m. See it at Plaza’s stage at the Elmont Library Theatre. 700 Hempstead Tpke., Elmont. $49, $45 seniors. Elmont. For tickets, call (516) 599-6870 or visit PlazaTheatrical.com.

Father’s Day Car Show

The annual Father’s Day Car show returns to Merrick, Saturday, June 15, starting 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.

Breastfeeding Support Group

Mercy Hospital offers a peer-to-peer breastfeeding support and resources, Thursdays, 10:30–11:30 a.m. Bring your baby (from newborn to 1 year) to the informal group setting. Registration required. Call breastfeeding counselor, Gabriella Gennaro, at (516) 705-2434 to secure your baby’s spot. St. Anne’s Building, 1000 North Village Ave., Rockville Centre. For information visit CHSLI.org.

Flea Market

Browse among many items at the Bellmore Lions flea market, Sunday, May 26, starting at 8 a.m., at the Bellmore LIRR station. There is no fee to attend, and the market will be open with local vendors, weather permitting. Call (617) 783-1471 for more information.

Friday Night Car Show

The Chamber of Commerce of the Bellmores holds its Friday Night

Bellmore Spring Fest

Stop by Bellmore Spring Fest at the LIRR station on Pettit Avenue,

Annual Five Towns 5K set to take off on June 9

By MELISSA BERMAN mberman@liherald.com

Grab your running shoes, the 15th annual Beit Halochem International Five Towns 5K takes place Sunday, June 9 at North Woodmere Park, with the starter’s pistol firing at 10 a.m., sharp.

Proceeds benefit disabled Israeli military veterans through Friends of Israel Disabled Veterans out of Manhattan. Beit Halochem International is the only organization in the United States authorized to raise money for the rehabilitation of wounded Israeli veterans, according to officials.

Isaac Seinuk — co-chair of Beit Halochem USA-Friends of Israel Disabled Veterans — founded this race in 2009 with the immense support and sponsorship of Maidenbaum Property Tax Reduction Group.

“Running a community-based organization for over 35 years, we believe in ‘for the community, from the community,’ and our community is well-known for supporting Israel and Israeli causes,” said Shalom Maidenbaum, founding and managing member of the property tax group. “In these challenging and faithful times both for the state of Israel and American Jewry, it is imperative that we all do our part for the community here and in Israel.”

Maidenbaum helped get the race off the ground and supported Seinuk, serving as the “father” of the event.

Jordan Miller, Susan Lang, Mitchell Lang, David Staschover, and Shopsy ‘The Horse Thief’ Marcus gather after last year’s Beit Halochem International Five Towns 5K. This year’s race is — the 15th iteration of it — is set for June 9.

The 5K starts at North Woodmere Park, making its way through the local streets of North Woodmere with major stretches on Cliffside Avenue and Flanders Drive — along with a path through Nutley Place, Glenridge Avenue, Mulberry Place, Cranford Avenue and Kilmer Lane — before ending back at the park for an awards ceremony.

Other sponsors include Young Israel of North Woodmere, Young Israel of Woodmere, Congregation Beth Sholom, and the Hebrew Academy of Long Beach. Volunteers are provided by the Hebrew Academy of the Five Towns and Rockaway.

“I felt very strongly that I wanted to do something for Friends of Israel Disabled

Veterans in order to raise funds, and much more importantly, to raise awareness,” Seinuk said.

Beit Halochem was not well known in the United States back then, but the Five Towns 5K changed that significantly. Seinuk’s goal was to have runners return each year to help support the cause and donate.

The organization was established to help assist the Zahal Disabled Veterans Organization, formed in 1949 following Israel’s War of Independence, according to the group’s website. There are currently four active locations in Israel with a fifth in the works.

Every year, Beit Halochem USA raises

around $30,000 from the North Woodmere event, Seinuk said, with this year’s donations expected to go even higher.

“Over the past 15 years, we’ve raised over a half a million dollars — if not more — for Friends of Israel Disabled Veterans,” he added.

The race provides needed money to help disabled soldiers receive physical rehabilitation and mental health services, especially for those who may live without limbs, or are managing other permanent disabilities.

“This year, the need is multiple times more than in any year the race is transpiring, since the Oct. 7 war,” said Jeffrey Eisenberg, founder of the Israel Chesed Center. “We now have over 50,000 wounded soldiers from this current war.”

It was Oct. 7 when Hamas terrorists crossed over from Gaza into Israel, killing more than 1,200 people, and kidnapping hundreds more.

New programs and therapy are continually added to aid the Israeli disabled veterans in ways that keep them active, healthy, and socially connected.

“Right before this current war, we’ve helped 52,000 wounded soldiers,” said Tzvia Wexler, national developing director for Beit Halochem USA. “Unfortunately, now we had an additional 13,000 physically wounded and 15,000 to 20,000 with PTSD.”

Registration remains open until the day of the race. For more information, visit 5Towns5K.org.

Courtesy Isaac Seinuk

Rain barrel program kicks off in Hempstead town

By JORDAN VALLONE jvallone@liherald.com

The Town of Hempstead is taking a progressive approach to combatting water conservation issues on Long Island. Supervisor Don Clavin, joined by colleagues in government, as well as Frank Piccininni and Marshall Brown of the Long Island Conservancy, announced its plan to launch a new rain barrel program last week at the Norman J. Levy Park and Preserve in Merrick.

The initiative includes the installation of rain barrels in several town parks, including Levy Park, Baldwin Park, Echo Park, the Merrick Golf Course, Rath Park, Speno Park and Veterans Memorial Park. Hempstead residents can also purchase rain barrels at a discounted rate, making it easier for homeowners to contribute to the town’s water conservation efforts.

Overall, the program aims to promote water conservation and educate residents on the benefits of rainwater harvesting.

“It’s an initiative where you’re going to be able to collect rain in your house, utilize it to water your lawn, your flowerbeds, and save money — and at the end of the day, you’re doing the right thing for the environment.” Clavin told reporters at a news conference on May 17.

While the last several weeks — even months — have been exceedingly rainy, Clavin said, that doesn’t mean a drought won’t happen during the summertime. Just last year, there was a nationwide drought, where in some areas, people weren’t even allowed to water their lawns.

Town of Hempstead residents can place an order for a rain barrel no later that May 30 online at Hempstead.ComposterSale.com. They’ll receive a 55-gallon rain barrel, which must be picked up at the Four Towns Fireman Training Center between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. on June 1 and 2. The training facility is just

minutes away from Levy Park, at 1640 Merrick Road, Merrick.

Barrels cost $65, Clavin said, and through other retailers, barrels can cost upwards of $100.

“Residents want to reinvest in the environment,” Clavin said. “They want to do their part, and by teaming up with them and giving these out at a discounted price, you’re seeing that end result.”

If anyone has concerns as to how rain barrels work, Clavin said they can visit any park in the Town of Hempstead where they’re already in use.

“Ask a staff member, and we’ll show you how simple it is,” he said.

The rain barrels, which resemble an average-sized garbage can, collect water through a filtered opening on the top. To use the water supply, a hose is hooked up at the bottom where there’s a small opening. All one has to do is turn the spicket of the hose, hold it in a downright position, and then utilize the supply that comes out to water their plants, flowers, grass and more.

Piccininni of the Long Island Conservancy, which raises awareness for the environmental issues that impact communities, said the rain barrels also help combat nitrogen pollution, which causes major issues in the island’s bays.

“Our atmosphere is something like 78 percent nitrogen,” he said, “and when it’s dry, and especially when it’s raining, the nitrogen is just falling out of the sky, ending up in our storm drains and our waterways. The (Town of Hempstead) is taking an incredible step providing these rain barrels, because the nitrogen is going to kind of just stick on site in the rain barrels, and not get washed away downstream.”

“It’s an investment in our environment and our community,” Clavin said, “and really, that’s what it’s all about. These are just good, great initiatives that team up with people with a passion for the environment, with good government that wants to help the environment. There’s always solution.”

Public Notices

LEGAL NOTICE

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU; Index No. 613481/2023

Filed 08/21/2023 Plaintiff MORTGAGE ASSETS MANAGEMENT, LLC V PAUL SULLIVAN, LIFE TENANT AND HEIR-ATLAW; DONATA LOHAN A/K/A DINA LOHAN, HEIR-AT-LAW; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA O/B/O INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE; DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE; NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE; SHARI NEMIROFF; STEVEN NEMIROFF; CAPITAL ONE BANK USA NA; NEWBRIDGE ROAD LLC; UNKNOWN HEIRS OF THE ESTATE OF ANN SULLIVAN; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; “JOHN DOE #1” through “JOHN DOE #12,” the last twelve names being fictitious and unknown to plaintiff, the persons or parties intended being the tenants, occupants, persons or corporations, if any, having or claiming an interest in or lien upon the Subject Property described in the Complaint, PUBLICATION TO THE ABOVE NAMED DEFENDANTS: UNKNOWN HEIRS OF THE ESTATE OF ANN SULLIVAN YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the Amended Complaint in the above captioned action and to serve a copy of your Answer on the Plaintiff’s attorney within twenty (20) days after the service of this Summons, exclusive of the day of service, or withinthirty (30) days after completion of service where service is made in any other manner than by personal delivery within the State. The United States of America, if designated as a Defendant in this action may answer to appear within sixty (60) days of

service hereof. In case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the Amended Complaint.

NOTICE YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME

If you do not respond to this Summons and Amended Complaint by serving a copy of the answer on the attorney for the mortgage company who filed this foreclosure proceeding against you and filing the answer with the court, a default judgment may be entered and you can lose your home. Speak to an attorney or go to the court where your case is pending for further information on how to answer the publication and protect your property.

Sending payment to your mortgage company will not stop this foreclosure action. YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (MORTGAGE ASSETS MANAGEMENT, LLC ) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT.

To the above named defendants: The foregoing Publication is served upon you by publication pursuant to an order of the Hon. Jeffrey A. Goodstein A. J.S.C, a Justice of the Supreme Court of the State of N.Y., dated April 1, 2024 and filed along with the supporting papers in the Nassau County Clerk’s Office. This is an action to foreclose a mortgage on the property located 1931 Miller Place, Merrick, NY 11561

Section: 55 Block: 502 Lot: 675 (L.G. 675-676) Nassau County is designated as the place of trial based upon the location of the property being foreclosed.

Attorneys for Plaintiff:

Stern & Eisenberg, PC, 20 Commerce Drive, Suite 230, Cranford, NJ 07016T:(516) 630-0288. 146388

LEGAL NOTICE

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU PHH MORTGAGE CORPORATION, -againstNORA SALVAGNI AS ADMINISTRATOR FOR THE ESTATE OF DANIEL SALVAGNI, ET AL. NOTICE OF SALE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Nassau on October 11, 2023, wherein PHH MORTGAGE CORPORATION is the Plaintiff and NORA SALVAGNI AS ADMINISTRATOR FOR THE ESTATE OF DANIEL SALVAGNI, ET AL. are the Defendant(s). I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction RAIN OR SHINE at the NASSAU COUNTY SUPREME COURT, NORTH SIDE STEPS, 100 SUPREME COURT DRIVE, MINEOLA, NY 11501, on June 10, 2024 at 2:00PM, premises known as 1841 GARDENIA AVE, MERRICK A/K/A NORTH MERRICK, NY 11566; and the following tax map identification: 55-515-37. ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND, SITUATE, LYING AND BEING AT NORTH MERRICK, TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, COUNTY OF NASSAU AND STATE OF NEW YORK Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No.: 009706/2012. Jane P. Shrenkel, Esq. - Referee. Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310, Westbury, New York 11590, Attorneys for Plaintiff. All foreclosure sales will be conducted in accordance with Covid-19 guidelines including, but

not limited to, social distancing and mask wearing. *LOCATION OF SALE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DAY OF IN ACCORDANCE WITH COURT/CLERK DIRECTIVES. 146643

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT. NASSAU COUNTY. L&L ASSOCIATES HOLDING CORP., Pltf. vs. JOSEPH SIMON MUSSO, Defts. Index #603500/2023. Pursuant to judgment of foreclosure and sale entered April 19, 2024, I will sell at public auction on the North Side Steps of the Nassau Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY on June 12, 2024 at 2:30 p.m. prem. k/a Section 55, Block 526, Lot 24. Sold subject to terms and conditions of filed judgment and terms of sale. JANE SHRENKEL, Referee. LEVY & LEVY, Attys. for Pltf., 12 Tulip Drive, Great Neck, NY. #101389 146613 LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT. NASSAU COUNTY. L&L ASSOCIATES HOLDING CORP., Pltf. vs. WILLIAM GROSS, et al, Defts. Index #614605/2019. Pursuant to judgment of foreclosure and sale entered May 2, 2022, I will sell at public auction on the North Side steps of the Nassau Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY on June 18, 2024 at 2:30 p.m. premises k/a Section 62, Block 211, Lot 17. Sold subject to terms and conditions of filed judgment and terms of sale. WILLIAM R. BOCCIO, Referee. LEVY & LEVY, Attys.

Jordan Vallone/Herald photos Town Clerk Kate Murray demonstrated how rain barrels are used at the Norman J. Levy Park and Preserve. She was joined by Receiver of Taxes Jeanine Driscoll, Marshall Brown, Supervisor Don Clavin, Councilman Tom Muscarella and Frank Piccininni.

Frank Piccininni of the Long Island Conservancy said the barrels help with water conservation, but they also combat nitrogen pollution in Long Island waterways.

DRIVERS WANTED

Full Time and Part Time

Positions Available!

Busy Print Shop in Garden City is Hiring Immediately for Full Time and Part Time Drivers. Must Have a Clean License and BoxTruck Driving Experience.

Hours Vary, Salary Ranges from $17 per hour to $21 per hour Night Availability is a Must. Please Email Resume to careers@liherald.com or Call (516)569-4000 x239

DRIVING INSTRUCTOR

Company Car/ Bonuses. Clean Driving Record Required, Will Train. Retirees Welcome!

$20 - $25/ Hour Bell Auto School 516-365-5778 Email: info@bellautoschool.com

DRIVING INSTRUCTORS WANTED

Will Certify And Train HS Diploma

NYS License Clean 3 Years

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EDITOR/REPORTER

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basement. Eat-in kitchen with granite countertops. Open layout. Den/family room and home office. First floor master bedroom. Updates include skylight. Security system. Taxes: $14,588.78

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Making an old home newer

Q. We are wondering what to do about our projects. Our building department told us that we probably didn’t need a permit after all for our kitchen, because we are only moving one wall and changing the cabinets to a new layout, but with the sink in the same location. At the same time, we are making changes to our business, which we know needs a permit because we are changing a warehouse space to offices, also with a kitchen and new bathrooms. In that case, we are being asked to provide a complete estimate, but not from the contractor (whom we haven’t chosen yet) but from our architect. Does that sound right to you, that the architect, and not the contractor, should provide the estimate with a breakdown of line items anyway?

A. Being put in this position, you wonder if your architect gave you any good advice. At the same time, the architect is wondering why they are being thrown under the bus in front of their client, who now does not trust them. The conflicts created here are by a party to the equation that separates itself less and less from health, safety and welfare and enters into the realm of “divide and conquer.”

The change made for your kitchen includes removing a wall. Unless your building department wants to lessen their control over such matters, you absolutely need a building permit. I am wondering if you told them the full scope of what you were doing. If you wrongly communicated or interpreted that you could do wall configuration or structural changes to your home, and told your building department that you were only changing the kitchen cabinets, you have misinformed, and then been misinformed in return. They only understand what you tell them.

Most people are not too eager to tell the whole story because of the concern over the amount of work they will have to file for, with expensive plans, so they diminish the amount of work, which then creates the friction you described. Regulations make everyone uneasy and often unhappy. It does not sound right to me, for example, that your architect would need to do the full breakdown cost estimate for your project, because it sets everyone up to be at odds with one another before the construction even starts. When the architect provides one set of numbers, which the unknowing owner sees as the cost and then the contractor provides their estimate, if the two are far off from one another, the conflict begins.

Either the architect’s number is too low or too high. Too low makes the owner challenge the contractor, who from then on will have nothing to do with the architect. Too high and the architect is made to look foolish. Unless the architect gets their numbers from the contractor and all agree, the project has been set up for failure by a third party. In both cases, communication and acceptance of facts is necessary. Good luck!

© 2024 Monte Leeper

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

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Monte Leeper

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opinions

Wishing for some of that World War II-era wisdom

Recently I had the opportunity to take part in a forum on President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Four Freedoms, hosted by Cornell University’s Institute of Politics and Global Affairs, which is directed by former U.S. Rep. Steve Israel. (Full disclosure: My daughter, Erin King Sweeney, works as an assistant to Israel at the institute.)

The event was held at upstate Hyde Park, the site of FDR’s birth, home, burial, library and museum, and it provided a perfect backdrop for the daylong series of discussions on the president who led the United States through the Great Depression and World War II.

As a history major and a political junkie who has read numerous books on FDR and his times, I found the forum interesting and rewarding. The most detailed and illuminating segment was the presentation by Andrew

Meier, author of the epic work “Morgenthau: Power, Privilege, and the Rise of an American Dynasty,” who focused on Henry Morgenthau, Roosevelt’s longtime friend and the U.S. Treasury secretary for almost 12 years.

What struck me the most while listening to Meier was a renewed realization of just how perilous those years were. The country’s fabric was being threatened internally by the corrosive economic and social dislocation of the Depression, and, of course, externally, our independence and freedom as a nation was imperiled by Hitler’s Nazi Germany and Tojo’s Imperial Japan. And in the years leading to the attack on Pearl Harbor, the American people were committed to America First and strongly opposed to any involvement in foreign wars.

Would we and our leaders have the same stamina and unity of purpose today?

reality of the Holocaust, which he had to confront as the only Jewish member of FDR’s cabinet. Yet somehow, Morgenthau, Roosevelt and, most important, the American people came through all this, emerging with the world’s strongest economy and most powerful military, and the forces of Nazism and Japanese imperialism defeated and crushed.

because that was still not known to Japan and would damage our war effort in the Pacific, Dewey complied in the national interest. That contrasted sharply with what I saw in the war against terrorism, when secret agreements we had with countries were disclosed on newspapers’ front pages for political benefit, without regard to national harm.

As treasury secretary, Morgenthau had to deal simultaneously with severe budget, economic and banking crises as well as the Herculean two-front war effort against Germany and Japan. Hovering over all this was the horrific

This made me wonder whether America and our leaders would have that same stamina and unity of purpose today. And whether there would be the same level of patriotism, putting country before party. I remember reading that during the 1944 presidential campaign, Thomas Dewey, the Republican nominee, learned that the United States had broken the Japanese code prior to Pearl Harbor. This raised the question of whether FDR had been negligent or actually allowed the attack to happen (which Dewey believed).

Yet when Army Chief of Staff George Marshall asked Dewey not to disclose that we had broken the code,

My last impression from the FDR forum was how important it is for Americans to remember the past and the lessons to be learned from it. To realize that the world did not begin the day before yesterday or the day you were born. That crises do not lend themselves to the easy black-and-white solutions of social media. As the philosopher George Santayana famously said, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” America has had a difficult but proud history. A prouder history than any nation in the history of the world. A history we must do all we can to learn and never forget going forward.

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

Recapturing times gone by in politics

Everyone agrees that there is a massive lack of bipartisanship in today’s political arena. Washington, D.C., is the poster child for warfare between Democrats and Republicans. Which is why my recent trip to Albany was a throwback to times gone by. I refer specifically to an event known as the Pilots Dinner. Every year, present and former members of the Assembly gather for the Pilots Dinner. Any member who has served in the Assembly for at least ten years is eligible to be a Pilot. This year’s event attracted over 100 people, with a mix of present and former members in one room.

While some members clustered in corners with their party allies, the vast majority of the crowd mingled with old friends and the new Pilots. Within minutes of my arrival, I was greeted with an enormous bear hug by former Nassau County Assemblyman George Madison. Madison is now an upstate retir-

ee, but he has a newfound appetite for politics, because his son-in-law is an Assembly member.

There’s no doubt that a gathering of any former colleagues is a sobering experience, because all of us change with the passage of time. Some members whom we recall were strong, vibrant personalities now show that time is not always kind to our bodies. But the past years of collegiality shone very brightly as I moved around the room.

Within a few minutes after I arrived, I spotted former Nassau Republican Assemblywoman Donna Ferrara. I got the anticipated warm hug as she spoke proudly about her two grown children. She asked me about my two younger daughters and my wife, Suzan, and there wasn’t a hint of partisanship. It was just a few moments of talking about times gone by.

nisced about great floor debates and past Assembly leaders such as Perry Duryea and Stanley Fink.

Then we were joined by former Republican Assemblyman Willis Stephens Jr. Will comes from a family with a long history of public service. His grandfather Mallory Stephens was chair of the Ways and Means Committee, as was his father, Willis Stephens, who’s now 99. I was also chair of the committee, and have a long history with the Stephens family.

A t the Pilots Dinner, recalling when there were no barriers to getting things done.

Before I could move on for some more hellos, I was tapped on the shoulder by former Republican Assembly Minority Leader Tom Reynolds, who’s now a Washington lobbyist. Tom served for 10 years in Congress, where he held a major leadership position. We remi-

Once the meet-and-greet portion of the dinner was over, the assembled members sat down for the formal program. Newly minted members of the Pilots were introduced, and both Republicans and Democrats were given warm receptions. Past and present party leaders made speeches, and there was a warm glow in the room. The younger members were given some history lessons about leaders of yesterday, and they learned that many things were accomplished by people they had never heard of.

One of the final highlights of the evening was the tribute to Speaker Pro Tem Jeffrion Aubry, who is retiring

after 31 years of service to his Queens community. Jeff, as we know him, offered a few barbs to both Democrats and Republicans, chiding them for some of their conduct during floor debates. One of his proudest accomplishments was his success in getting the home of the late Louis Armstrong turned into a public museum.

Perhaps most of this is of little or no interest to readers, given the absence of familiar names and the lack of a controversial subject. But the Pilots dinner sparked lots of conversation among the younger and newer attendees about a time gone by, when there were no barriers to getting things accomplished in government. It isn’t a fantasy to wish or hope for more bipartisanship in any government forum. Perhaps with the passage of time and the disappearance of the public figures who promote anger and hatred in government, we’ll get a new crop of people who will want to work together. At least, that is my wish.

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.

pETER KinG

JERRY KREMER

HeraLd editoriaL

After 125 years, Nassau County still thrives

When we think about 125 years of Nassau County, we have to look back to when the newly expanded New York City enveloped Queens County into its new domain — well, not quite all of it.

The towns of Hempstead, Oyster Bay and North Hempstead were excluded from the plans to join the city — despite being part of Queens. The 55,000 people who lived in this part of Queens County were not happy, and they gathered at a Mineola hotel in late January 1898 to do something about it.

They decided it was time to create their own county — which they would call Nassau, for King William III, who reigned from the House of Nassau when this land was first settled, and whose house name was already used for some settlements on the island.

But convincing lawmakers in Albany wasn’t so easy.

The measure ultimately passed, however, and was signed into law by Gov. Frank Black on April 27, 1898, officially bringing Nassau County into existence as of Jan. 1, 1899.

Now, 125 years later, Nassau is New York’s fifth-largest county by population with nearly 1.4 million people — making it larger than both the Bronx and Staten Island — and the 29th largest in the nation.

Letters

Let’s make the most of this chance to learn from history

To the Editor:

Why do so many choose Nassau County to not only work in and visit, but also to call home? Especially with the bustling, never-sleeping New York City quite literally over the next hill?

That answer is simple: Big homes and big yards. Less noise and pollution. Quieter streets. Much lower crime rates. And superior schools — especially when it comes to public schools.

Where else can you jump in the ocean at Jones Beach, then head to Tanglewood Preserve, in Rockville Centre, to enjoy everything else nature has to offer, and finish your day exploring the Cradle of Aviation Museum in Uniondale?

Why just read about history when you can actually visit it? Like Sagamore Hill, in Oyster Bay — the home of Theodore Roosevelt, existing today pretty much the way it did when the 26th president lived there. There’s also Raynham Hall, also in Oyster Bay, which was a spy headquarters during the American Revolution.

The Rock Hall Museum, in Lawrence, brings Colonial times to life not just with the artifacts inside, but the 1767 mansion they are all housed in.

Even Eisenhower Park, in East Meadow, has made history. As the site of the former Meadow Brook Club, it hosted the first-ever national women’s golf tournament in 1895, won by Lucy Barnes — the wife of Charles S. Brown, who

As a history Ph.D. and a high school history and civics teacher, I was gratified to read Peter King’s column urging Americans to heed the lessons of history (“We should have learned more than we have from history,” May 9-15). Unfortunately, there is little that most Americans can do directly to help defend Israel and Ukraine from the evils that assault them, to reduce trade with China for the material goods we have no choice but to buy, or even to calm tempers on college campuses. But there’s one thing every American can easily do to help our politics, and that is vote this November, to preserve the norms essential to American democracy.

Before coming to power, Adolf Hitler made clear his intention to expel or exterminate Jews and create an Aryan Empire in Central Europe. Mussolini promised to use violence to cleanse Italian politics of leftists. Rodrigo Duterte campaigned in the Philippines on promises of summary mass executions of drug dealers. These men, and others like them, were brought to power by a combination of voters who were sadistic enough to want exactly what each one promised, and others who didn’t take their promises seriously, found the audacity titillating, or assumed that power itself would tame these leaders. But once in office, each leader set about doing precisely what he had promised. History’s lesson is that megalomaniacal politicians must be taken at their word.

Donald Trump repudiated the tradition of conceding power

would go on to found what is now the Brown Harris Stevens real estate company. The park also hosted the ninth PGA championship tourney in 1926, won by Walter Hagen — the “father of professional golf.”

There are also great places to shop, pretty much in every neighborhood. So many Nassau County businesses are family-owned. So many of them have been in families for generations. And you know it the moment you walk through their doors. The way you are greeted. The way you are served. It proves you don’t need to be a Roosevelt to be treated like royalty here.

But when it’s all said and done, Nassau County is all about all of us, the people. Our neighbors. Our doctors and nurses. Our school superintendents, principals and teachers. Our police officers. Our sanitation workers. Those who do good in public service. The men and women who volunteer — and put their own safety on the line — as firefighters and first responders.

“This country will not be a good place for any of us to live in unless we make it a good place for all of us to live in,” Teddy Roosevelt once said. And that’s true not just for the United States, but also in our neighborhoods. And all of us here in Nassau County have shone for the past 125 years, and we look forward to shining for the next 125, too.

peacefully, a cornerstone of democracy. After losing the 2020 election, he and his henchmen assembled cadres of fake electors, spread demented conspiracy theories to confuse the public, and had Michael Flynn put out feelers for a declaration of martial law. Since the failure of his Jan. 6, 2021, coup attempt, Trump has campaigned on promises to turn the U.S. military against civilians, throw migrants into detention camps,

hijack Congress by withholding legitimately voted funds, and strip the independence of the judiciary in order to remove obstacles to these actions.

He has said he will countenance the tracking of women’s pregnancies by state governments and the invasion of NATO allies by Russia. It is beyond any well-informed person’s doubt that, in office, he will weaken the NATO alliance, give Vladimir

opinions

Our public schools deserve better

after months of contentious budget negotiations, the State Legislature and Gov. Kathy Hochul recently agreed to a historic $237 billion state spending plan. The final budget compromise included the Legislature’s reversal of Hochul’s proposed funding cuts to education, as it instead allocated nearly $36 billion in public-school aid.

The state’s public-school funding model can best be described as a three-legged stool consisting of state aid, commercial taxes, and residential property tax revenue.

But even as New York makes historic investments in our schools with taxpayer dollars, many corporations and commercial properties are skipping out on their fair share of tax payments, leaving residents to pick up the hefty tab for education costs.

According to a 2023 report, public schools in the state lost at least $1.8 billion in revenue to corporate tax breaks, also known as tax “abatements,” in fiscal year 2021. Nassau County ranked among New York’s top 10 counties in total forgone school revenue, and recorded the second-highest number of approved corporate net tax exemptions.

DThe independent report, published by Good Jobs First, a pro-economic development research organization, found that a massive portion of corporate tax abatements occur when local industrial development agencies acquire properties and lease them to private companies in exchange for payments in lieu of taxes. Of course, these PILOTs are only a fraction of the corporate tax revenue that would help fully fund our education system.

to private companies, resulting in billions of dollars in lost commercial tax revenue for school districts across the state.

istricts are losing many millions of dollars to corporate tax breaks.

According to this analysis, the lost revenue for Nassau County public school districts included $3 million — or $1,031 per pupil — for the Mineola Union Free School District, $8.4 million — $1,668 per pupil — for the Westbury Union Free School District, and $12.6 million — $1,827 per pupil — in the Uniondale Union Free School District, the highest in Nassau County and the third-highest among public schools statewide.

PILOTs where tax revenue was intended for public school districts. The bill has gained significant support from labor organizations, teachers unions and good-government groups seeking to reform IDAs to better serve our schools.

Fundamentally, the Good Jobs First report argues, IDAs should not have the power to waive commercial taxes that would otherwise benefit our schools. The report makes key policy recommendations toward this end, including expanding school and community representation on IDA boards, increasing transparency and accountability in reporting forgone tax revenues, and eliminating IDAs entirely.

Let’s recap: Industrial development agencies, which are essentially public entities, buy up properties and offer them tax-free, for pennies on the dollar,

Letters

Putin a green light to expand his conquests in Ukraine, and encourage leaders — from U.S. state and local officials to dictators around the globe — to copy his methods, including delegitimizing any election that does not favor him or his party.

History’s lesson is that if Trump wins, he will do all he says he will do, and likely worse. The next four years will consist of a struggle between Executive’s efforts to dismantle democracy’s guardrails, and other government branches’, federal and state, to preserve them. That’s why Americans should vote for Joe Biden this November, as well as for Democrats up and down the ballot, and only those Republicans who promise they will stand up, rather than acquiesce, to the installation of a Trumpist dictatorship in the United States.

ALEx DILLON Cedarhurst

What to do about college demonstrations?

To the Editor:

I share Jerry Kremer’s unease with recent campus unrest (“The blemish of college demonstrations,” May 9-15), but I’m also uneasy with his conclusion that college administrators need “outside help” to prevent future “drama.” My dissent is reflected in Kremer’s comment about “publicity-minded government officials” like House Speaker Mike Johnson and Gov. Greg Abbott. Jeremy Suri’s two cents indicates the category of “offi-

cials” extends beyond government.

The solution is for all involved to return to their respective corners, to reset the bargain, including the media. It must be remembered that the hardfought-for principle of freedom of speech and its extension to the principle of academic freedom began as protections against government power to suppress. This is what is at issue. Academic freedom developed during the Enlightenment as societies, and governments, realized that valuable and beneficial knowledge emerge from organized study, the pursuit of knowledge.

Many did not accept this intellectual freedom as a good idea, not then and not now. This is what we see in the general MAGA disdain for science, disparagement of expertise, distrust of libraries. Lately these “officials” have been supported by university donors who want greater control over staffing, curriculum and knowledge, undermining the premise of academic freedom.

Some academics have taken their protected status for an enhanced right of free speech to engage publicly in promoting their work, which has drawn criticism as activism beyond the original remit. Some students, too, have exceeded their commission to become learned in the service of social improvement by attacking that very privilege.

The media is part of all this, and can constructively be more balanced. But the outside agitators, those various “officials” seeking greater influence, must withdraw. Then university administrators need to review, clarify, revise if necessary, the ground rules under which they function, their unique status and

The estimated $1.8 billion in lost school budget revenue could have been used for such essential investments as air conditioning in classrooms, athletic field renovations, wages for bus drivers, and teacher training for new technology.

Last year, the State Legislature introduced a bill that would prohibit IDAs from granting corporate tax breaks and

In Nassau County, residents pay among the nation’s highest property taxes, 60 percent of which are earmarked for our public schools. But if we are to achieve a fairer, more equitable education and tax system, we cannot continue to allow corporations to shortchange our school districts at the expense of hardworking families.

Karl A. Valere is chief of staff and senior policy adviser to Assemblyman Khaleel M. Anderson. He lives in Baldwin.

Framework by Tim Baker

what they owe the greater society. They must assert their independence from outside interests.

Students, similarly, need reminding of concepts like noblesse oblige, of behavior that infringes on free speech, and how, especially for them, “civil discourse” should be considered a virtue.

The responsible media can seek less

drama and superficial speculation, and greater substance, and point out those who seek accommodation over those who prefer discord.

A very conservative suggestion to promote a very liberal goal.

Taylor Dayne helps celebrate Nassau County’s 125th anniversary — Eisenhower Park

karL a . VaLere

BRIAN KELLY Rockville Centre