Merrick Herald 06-13-2024

Jordan Vallone/Herald

Gov. Kathy Hochul indefinitely paused a congestion-pricing plan that was set to go into effect on June 30. The Town of Hempstead opposed the plan, and Supervisor Don Clavin said for now, Long Islanders can claim victory.

Congestion pricing on pause, for now

Town of Hempstead officials react to governor’s decision

By JoRDAN VAlloNE jvallone@liherald.com

Town of Hempstead officials claimed victory last week after Gov. Kathy Hochul put an indefinite pause on a congestion-pricing plan that was set to go into effect on June 30.

The plan aimed to reduce traffic and travel time, create safer streets and cleaner air, reduce emissions and overall improve the quality of life in New York City — but the cost was high. It sought to tax car drivers $15 to enter Manhattan below 60th street, and charge truck drivers anywhere from $24 to $36, depending on the size of the vehicle. The toll would have also applied to motorcycles, taxis and ride-share vehicles.

The plan was first discussed in June of last year, and Hochul faced immediate pushback across the tri-state region from representatives, who expressed concern about the burden the high costs could place on travelers.

“Let’s be real — a $15 charge may not mean a lot to someone who has the means, but it can break the budget of a working- or

middle-class household,” Hochul said in announcing a pause in the plan on June 5.

“It puts the squeeze on the very people who make this city go: the teachers, first responders, small business workers, bodega owners. And given these financial pressures, I cannot add another burden to working- and middle-class New Yorkers — or create another obstacle to continued recovery.”

Hempstead Town officials, who openly disagreed with the pricing plan, said while the victory is great for now, it is only temporary.

“Yesterday, we saw the governor finally acquiesce to the will of residents throughout Long Island and the tri-state region in pausing congestion pricing, not eliminating it,” Hempstead Town Supervisor Don Clavin said at a news conference on June 6. “Those are very key words we need to remember because when you pause something, you pause it with the intention of bringing it back.”

Town leaders were adamant that the congestion-pricing plan would’ve hurt the aver-

Summer safety day a success at Kennedy

By JoSEPH D’AlESSANDRo jdalessandro@liherald.com

John F. Kennedy High School students are ready to hit the road as the academic year ends — and the Students Against Destructive Decisions club aims to make sure they start the summer knowing how to drive safely.

SADD and the Bellmore-Merrick Community Parent Center, a nonprofit based in the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District headquarters, organized a day of experiential learning to promote safe driving practices for about 150 students in their health classes on May 31.

ter, said. “It’s a time from Memorial Day to Labor Day, when the number of teen driving fatalities and injuries spike dramatically. So this is the perfect time to remind them just to be aware and be careful. The reality is, if we save one life, then we’ve done our job.”

WENDY TEPFER Director, Community Parent Center

Safety education is important, the organizers said, because driving can be a matter of life or death, especially as school ends and young people find themselves with more free time.

“We just entered what’s known as the 100 deadliest days,” Wendy Tepfer, director of the Community Parent Cen-

High school-age drivers are at higher-than-average risk for car accidents, Tepfer said, because they’re the newest and least experienced drivers on the road. Distractions such as cellphones and speeding increase the risk.

“Unfortunately, motor vehicle crashes are one of the leading causes of injury and death for teens today, and the risk is highest for the high school age group — that 16- to 19-year-old group,” Tepfer added, “and what we know statistically is that kids, teenagers, have the lowest rate of seat belt use of any age group today.”

To understand the dangers of unsafe driving, students took part in experiential learning

ConTInueD on paGe 8

Pride Gala unites LGBTQ+ community on Long Island

By JORDAN VALLONE jvallone@liherald.com

PFY, the organization formerly known as Pride For Youth, hosted its annual Pride Gala on June 6. The event was dubbed “Power of Pride: Raising LBGTQ+ Voices to Benefit PFY,” and it brought together and honored trailblazers that work day in and day out to ensure that individuals that identify as LGBTQ+ feel supported on Long Island.

The annual gala celebrates the work of PFY, which is a leading, nonprofit, grassroots organization. It operated as subsidiary of the Long Island Crisis Center, and has headquarters in Bellmore, as well as a location in Deer Park. Founded in 1993 as an organization meant specifically for youth, grant funding last year allowed PFY to expand the breadth and reach of its services.

This year’s gala honored three important figures in the LGBTQ+ community on Long Island. Michael Caputo, of the LI Pride Lions, the Rev. Lana Hurst, the first openly transgender pastor to practice on Long Island, and Sarah Kate Ellis, president and chief executive of GLAAD, were among this year’s honorees.

Over the last few months, the LGBTQ+ community has faced a lot of prejudice on Long Island — and in Nassau County specifically — which is why PFY chose to honor individuals from Long Island who are fighting back against hate, and making a difference in the lives of others.

“We really looked at people who we feel embody that sort of presence within the LGBTQ community,” Tawni Engel, the associate director of the crisis center and PFY said.

Engel leads the pride gala committee, and said the event did not get into politics — but rather focused on what work can be done to further empower the LGBTQ+ community.

“We just want to talk about what the social climate has looked like,” Engel said, “and what we can do collectively to hopefully turn that around.”

Bruce Castellano, who chairs the gala committee with Engel, said PFY is a “boots on the ground organization.”

A former teacher in the Mineola School District, Castellano said he and his husband have worked with various LGBTQ+ organizations for many years on Long Island and beyond. The attitude towards the LGTBQ+ population has shifted drastically in recent years, and Castellano said “the backlash is devastating.”

Fighting against complacency — the concept of being alright with the ways things are — is exceedingly important, and groups like PFY are doing just that.

“We have to be vigilant and defend and protect the people who are marginalized, especially youth,” Castellano said.

The event at Westbury Manor saw a tremendous turnout. PFY met and surpassed its fundraising goals, raising just over $84,000. PFY is still accepting donations at TinyURL.ocm/PFYEvent2024.

For more information on PFY and the Long Island Crisis Center, visit LICCPFY. org.

Tim Baker/Herald photos PFY hosted its annual Pride Gala at the Westbury Manor on June 6, drawing a large crowd that came out to reflect on Pride Month, and the work PFY does year round.

Tawni Engel, associate director of PFY and the Long Island Crisis Center led attendees through the evening’s celebrations.

The Westbury Manor was transformed into a welcoming space for the Pride Gala.

Michael Caputo, of the LI Pride Lions, accepted a citation from Nassau County Legislator Arnold Drucker. The LI Pride Lions were among this year’s honorees.

Honoree Sarah Kate Ellis, president and chief executive of GLAAD, spoke during the event.

Protecting Your Future

with Michael and Suzanne Ettinger Attorneys-at-Law

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Bellmore-Merrick honors its student representatives

At one of the final meetings of the year, the Bellmore-Merrick board of education honored four student representatives, who offered school points of pride and witty banter and each monthly meeting.

Kyle Haglich of the Meadowbrook Alternative Program, Ava Kamlet of Sanford H. Calhoun, Sydney Brewer of John F. Kennedy and Mathew Keegan of Wellington C. Mepham High Schools were all given a commemorative gavel after giving their final updates to the board.

“I have found a newfound sense of confidence speaking publicly at events like this,” Keegan said.

“I have also enjoyed getting to learn more about what it takes to lead an organization as large as the BMCHSD using what I’ve heard from you all at these meetings,” Keegan added. “It’s like discovering a whole new side of high school that my freshman self wouldn’t have ever guessed existed.”

—Brian Norman

Courtesy Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District

Kyle Haglich of the Meadowbrook Alternative Program, Ava Kamlet of Sanford H. Calhoun, Sydney Brewer of John F. Kennedy and Matthew Keegan of Wellington C. Mepham High Schools.

Nassau aims to codify transgender athlete ban

By PARKER SCHUG pschug@liherald.com

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman’s executive order, banning biological males from women’s sports at county facilities, could soon be codified into law.

The County Legislature’s presiding officer, Howard Kopel, and Legislators John Giuffrè, Samantha Goetz and Rose Marie Walker accompanied Blakeman at a news conference in Mineola last Friday to announce the new legislation.

“Women have been fighting the last 50 years for fair competition in their sport, a fair investment, the same as men, the same numbers, the same scholarships,” Blakeman said, “and now that is in jeopardy of biological males taking valuable positions on women’s teams, women losing scholarships, women losing the ability to compete, and it’s not fair.”

Goetz, Walker and Legislator Mazi Pilip will co-sponsor the proposed bill.

“I was recently listening to an interview with Riley Gaines where a student was discussing how she doesn’t want to train for second place, and I think that concisely explains what this bill is for,” Goetz said. “We do not want women in Nassau County to just train and compete for second place.”

Gaines is a former collegiate swimmer. Walker said she fears for her granddaughters and other female athletes in the county.

“Certainly I don’t want it to affect our girls with scholarships, with playing and training, to come in second or third because of what they’re competing against,” Walker said. “But I’m very, very concerned about their health and safety.”

Biological males and transgender athletes who identify as female are welcome to compete on county co-ed or men’s teams, or create a transgender league, Blakeman said — just not as biological males on women’s team.

A Nassau County Supreme Court struck down Blakeman’s executive order on May 10, after a legal challenge by the New York Civil Liberties Union, which filed a lawsuit in March.

Blakeman plans to appeal the decision, he said.

Bobby Hodgson, an assistant legal director at NYCLU, had not seen the language of the proposed legislation, but said that the state anti-discrimination law prohibits such a law.

“That was true when we successfully struck down County Executive Blakeman’s policy, and it’s true today,” Hodgson said. “If they do continue to push forward on this harmful legislation, the NYCLU will certainly see them in court, and we believe it will be promptly struck down as unlawful under our state anti-discrimination law.”

Blakeman said that both his order, and the new law, would be determined to be constitutional, because they protect wom-

en’s rights.

After he signed his executive order in February, which mandated that sports, leagues, organizations, teams and programs that use county facilities designate themselves male, female or co-ed, and then only accept athletes who meet that criteria according to their sex at birth, state Attorney General Letitia James sent a cease-and-desist letter to Blakeman in March, demanding that he rescind it.

Blakeman responded a few days later by filing a federal lawsuit contesting James’ letter, which was denied in federal court and dismissed in April.

“The law is perfectly clear: you cannot discriminate against a person because of their gender identity or expression,” James wrote in a March 1 news release.

“We have no room for hate or bigotry in New York.”

County Legislator Delia DeRiggi-Whitton issued a statement after Friday’s news conference. “Passing such a law will only cost the county millions in legal fees and taxpayer money, funds that should be used for repaving our roads and providing tax relief,” she said.

Kopel said that the bill would go before committee on Monday, and before the full Legislature in two weeks or so. He added that he was confident that it would pass.

“We’re trying to help these young girls who are trying to achieve something, and to say that we haven’t had the problem here in Nassau County yet is foolish,” Kopel said. “We want to take care of this. We’re going to take care of it now.”

Parker Schug/Herald Photos Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman unveiled a bill banning biological males from women’s activities at county facilities.

Plan slated to begin on June 30 paused indefinitely

age middle-class resident who needs to drive into the city for work — people like teachers, firefighters and police officers.

“This was literally nothing but a money grab,” Clavin said.

The area where tolls would’ve been implemented was referred to as the Congestion Relief Zone in Manhattan. It was estimated the congestion pricing plan would’ve raised $1 billion a year, which would cover the interest and principal payments for capital improvement projects to the city’s subways, buses and regional train lines.

However, town officials called out the MTA on past spending failures, leading them to feel doubtful that congestion pricing revenue would’ve made a difference.

“Everyone across the island knows that this was not about good government,” Clavin said. “This was not (about) investing in the rail systems.”

The Town of Hempstead filed a feder-

not eliminating our lawsuit.

“This isn’t a Republican issue — this isn’t a Democrat issue,” he added. “This is a taxpayer issue, and the overburdened, overtaxed residents can’t afford

Congressman Anthony D’Esposito,

who represents New York’s Fourth Congressional District, said the issue of congestion pricing was not only talked about on Long Island, but in the halls of Congress.

“This is an issue plaguing hardworking New Yorkers, and people in the tri-

state area, that come to and from Manhattan,” he said. “Congestion pricing could cost the average commuter over $4,000 a year.”

D’Esposito said he worked with Congressman Josh Gottheimer, a Democrat from New Jersey, who also opposed congestion pricing, to enact legislation that would’ve put a stop to Hochul’s plan.

“We should claim victory because everyone here raised their voices,” D’Esposito said. “But we must keep pressure on. This shouldn’t be a pause — it should be an absolutely never going to happen.”

As of now, it is unclear if and when Hochul may reinstate the plan.

“Congestion pricing would have been another hit on hard working New Yorkers,” Town Councilman Chris Carini said. “I am proud to help champion the fight against an egregious tax that would have crippled residents and small businesses. Every day, more New Yorkers are leaving the state due to high taxes and unsafe neighborhoods. Albany’s leadership continues to produce out of control spending and has failed to rein in costs — let’s hope congestion pricing never rears its ugly head again.”

“This is a small victory in the long battle against congestion pricing,” Councilman Dennis Dunne said. “We are committed to fighting against unfair taxes on the back of Long Islanders.”

Jordan Vallone/Herald

Congressman anthony d’esposito also was opposed to congestion pricing, working emocrats to put a halt to gov. Kathy Hochul’s efforts.

Learning about driving under the influence

activities during the event.

“We like doing this because we’re raising awareness,” Tepfer said. “It’s a healthy, safe, fun way for them to learn what’s going on.”

To evoke the challenges of being under the influence of alcohol, students wore impairment goggles, which are designed to throw off a user’s balance and coordination, as they attempted

simple tasks like walking around obstacles, or doing a nine-step walk-and-turn test.

New York state troopers operated a Seat Belt Convincer, a gravity-powered sliding chair and bumper that simulates the feeling of a low-speed crash.

“With teen drivers, we like to make sure that we help educate them on the importance of wearing their seat belt, no distracted driving, not to speed, because driving is a shared responsibility,” state trooper Brittany Burton told the Herald.

Sophomore robert Krayevsky attempting a nine-step walk-andturn test while wearing visual-impairment goggles, conducted by retired nCpd Lt. James panarello, who made over 700 dui arrests in his career.

“We want everyone to be safe. We want everyone to enjoy the summer coming up.”

Ali Suss-Pardo, a graduating senior and the president of SADD, has been a member of the club, which makes young people aware of the consequences of dangerous behavior, since her freshman year.

“When somebody goes to col -

ali Suss-pardo, president of Students a gainst destructive

Belt Convincer, which simulates how a low-speed crash feels using gravity, provided by state troopers.

lege, they can drink, they can do drugs, but you won’t actually know how those actions will impact you down the line unless you do get into a car accident or something,” Suss-Pardo said. “So it’s really important to bring attention to all of those things.”

This end-of-school-year event is one

of the largest that SADD hosts all year, Nicole Levesque, a math and science teacher and the club adviser, said.

“We do it every year,” Levesque said. “This is definitely a bigger scale than what we did last year … so we’re able to invite more people, and hopefully reach more students.”

Long Island’s most anticipated new oceanfront community is now open. At The Breeze, each rental unit opens you to a

Joseph D’Alessandro/Herald photos

decisions, riding the Seat

North Bellmore man convicted of assault and weapon possession

Martin Carpio, 36, of North Bellmore, has been convicted of assault and criminal possession of a weapon after stabbing a 21-year-old stranger.

The incident took place during the “LepreCon” bar crawl on March 5 at the Dominican Restaurant 4 on 305 Main Street in Farmingdale.

The victim was out at the bar crawl with friends and family, including a 15-year-old girl.

Carpio came to the restaurant

around 2:00 a.m. and reportedly made advances on the girl including touching her arm which resulted in an argument between the girl’s father and Carpio.

Carpio punched the father in the throat and was thrown out of the restaurant by the victim and friends where the fight would continue.

On the street, Carpio pulled out a three-and-a-half inch blade and pursued the victim with his friend, who would punch the victim, knocking him on the

ground, allowing Carpio to jump on top of him and stab him twice in the upper chest.

Carpio was arrested that same day and the victim was brought to the Nassau University Medical Center, where he would receive life saving surgery.

“Carpio aggressivly swung his knife twice in the 21-year-old victim’s chest, puncturing the young man’s lung and diaphragm and leaving him mere minutes from death,” District Attorney

Anne Donnelly said.

“Then as the victim stood clutching his chest, the defendant callously taunted him about what he had done. We thank the jury for their service and for holding this defendant accountable for his violence.”

Carpio’s trial lasted six days, starting on May 20. He will be sentenced on August. 9.

—Brian Norman

Bellmore man sentenced after Long Beach crash

A Bellmore man was sentenced on June 10 to 4 to 12 years in prison for an aggravated vehicular assault that caused a Long Beach man to suffer life-altering injuries in July 2021.

Robert O’Brien, 29, pleaded guilty in December of last year, before Judge Teresa Corrigan to charges including aggravated vehicular assault, driving while intoxicated, leaving the scene of an accident with serious physical injury and assault.

O’Brien faces a sentence of 4 to 12 years in prison.

On July 16, 2021, at the intersection of E. Park Avenue and Neptune Boulevard in Long Beach, O’Brien

was driving while intoxicated, after a day of drinking at several bars.

He side swiped a vehicle that was stopped at a red light, and continued driving away, when he then hit another vehicle and lost control of the car.

O’Brien hit a tree, a pole and several other parked vehicles, and then a 70-year-old Long Beach resident, who was standing in front of a deli.

The victim suffered serious physical injuries which left the man in a medically induced coma for more than two months, and subsequently having to undergo several surgeries, including the amputation of his

right leg.

“A Long Beach retiree was looking forward to meeting his first grandchild in July 2021, but instead of traveling to Florida to witness the child’s birth, he laid comatose in a hospital bed because of this defendant’s reckless, intoxicated driving,” said District Attorney Anne Donnelly said.

“Though he recovered after months of treatment, O’Brien’s victim’s right leg was amputated and his dreams of being an active grandfather were destroyed.”

—Jordan Vallone

India-Pakistan watch party draws crowd

Despite a rain delay, crowds gathered at Cedar Creek Park in Seaford to witness one of the most anticipated games in the International Cricket Council Men’s T20 World Cup.

The T20 Cricket Watch Party, held on June 9, saw fans arrive with jerseys and flags to watch India take on Pakistan in one of the most intense and storied rivalries in sports. The game itself was played at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in East Meadow’s Eisenhower Park, where India won by 6 runs. Fans that didn’t purchase a ticket to the stadium were welcomed to the watch party at Cedar Creek Park.

According to Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, the goal of the watch party was to create a festive atmosphere for attendees. Food trucks provided meals as fans watched their team on one of three large screens at the park.

During a news conference at Cedar Creek Park on June 6, Blakeman noted that fan participation for the cricket World Cup has exceeded expectations. The tournament, he added, is expected to bring significant economic benefits to the county, including increased sales tax revenue and foot traffic in nearby shopping areas.

“The excitement, the fun that people are having has been enormous,” Blakeman said.

Gary Slavin, treasurer of the Nassau Council of Chambers of Commerce, said chamber members love how much the cricket event has helped local businesses. Cricket enthusiasts, he added, are everywhere in Nassau County, and have supported businesses by spending money in stores, restaurants, and hotels.

“Small businesses are the backbone of our local and national economy,” Slavin said. “The cricket event has helped all of them.”

Umar Zaidi, general manager of Watch Stream Inc., a luxury products company based in East Rockaway, said the cricket tournament has been a great moment for his business. His company received exclusive distributorship rights in the United States for the Cricket Team USA clothing apparel, which boosted his sales.

Zaidi expressed pride in being based in Nassau County.

“We have seen a great increase in business from these events,” Zaidi said, “and we would like to thank Nassau County for their efforts.”

–Charles Shaw

Uniondale resident Atiq Qadri showing his support for Pakistan at the cricket watch party at Cedar Creek Park in Seaford.

Father and son from Babylon Rohan, left, and Raghu Chintarlapalli show just how intense cricket rivalries can be.

Fans from Valley Stream, Woodbury, Bethpage, Farmingdale, Levittown, Hicksville, and even upstate, stopped by Cedar Creek Park cricket watch party for the India versus Pakistan game.

Merrick residents Muhammad Yusuf, left, and Muhammad Yunus cheer for their team at the watch party.

Tim Baker/Herald photos

Jatin Tandon from East Meadow was ready to see a high scoring game.

Mothers looking for a hospital at which to give birth should consider the quality indicators used by U.S. News & World Report ® to determine institutions deemed High Performing for Maternity care.

Mount Sinai South Nassau is the only South Shore hospital to earn the rating of High Performing based on eight key measures:

• Reduced C-section delivery rates

• Low early elective delivery rates

• Low overall unexpected newborn complication rates

• Increased routine VBAC rates

• Increased exclusive human milk feeding rates

• Low episiotomy rates

• Routine birthing-friendly practices

• Transparency on racial/ethnic disparities

If you want the best birthing experience for you and for your baby, look no further than Mount Sinai South Nassau.

Learn more at southnassau.org/maternity, or call 877-SOUTH-NASSAU.

Forecasters predict ‘extraordinary’ storm season

By BEN FIEBERT bfiebert@liherald.com

With at least 17 forecasted named storms, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration anticipates the most active hurricane season outlook ever.

The Atlantic hurricane season officially started June 1 when ocean temperatures are typically primed for storm development. Predicting that 17 storms will reach at least tropical storm status — with sustained winds of between 39 and 73 mph — is unusually high considering an average Atlantic hurricane season between 1991 and 2020 included 14 named storms — half of them hurricanes, and three of those major hurricanes.

“This season is looking to be an extraordinary one,” NOAA administrator Rick Spinrad told reporters during a news conference.

Nelson Vaz, a New York-based warning coordination meteorologist for the National Weather Service, noted the forecast calls for high activity in the Atlantic Ocean due to abnormally warm water temperatures and favorable wind conditions.

El Niño — a vast area of above-normal water temperatures in the east Pacific Ocean — is cooling down and forecasted to transition to La Niña by late summer. That means below-normal water temperatures creating what Vaz says is a recipe for more tropical development.

But while meteorologists can focus on

how the storms will form, it’s tough to predict on where they will end up.

“The one thing that is not in the forecast is landfall,” Vaz said. “You can’t forecast where the storms are going to go, when they are going to occur. So, those are going to be shorter term forecasts based on shorter term weather patterns.”

The threat for a landfalling hurricane is higher than it would be in a typical season, Vaz emphasized. Even in a low-activity season, it’s important for people on Long Island to prepare, even though only a handful of storms ever make it this far north.

The best time to prepare, Vaz said, is now before the hurricane season starts to pick up in late July.

Jackie Bray, the commissioner of the

state’s homeland security and emergency services division, says that anyone living on the coast needs to know if they’re in an evacuation or flood zone. And that even includes people who live inland, as flooding could very much be an issue.

Residents should to prepare for potentially being trapped for a few days if local authorities can’t get to them.

“Prepare a ‘go’ bag,” Bray said. “Flashlights, batteries, bottled water, non-perishable food, extra medication for you and your pets, tarp, duct tape, and stuff that you just might need.”

Homeowners should make sure they know where electrical equipment is located at their residence, and find out what their drainage situation is like.

If a tropical system were to impact the

Preparing for hurricane season

■ Know if you’re in an evacuation or flood zone, or flood-prone area

■ Prepare a ‘go’ bag

■ Have supplies ready like flashlights, batteries, bottled water, nonperishable food, extra medication for you and your pets, tarp, duct tape

■ Take note of where your electrical equipment is located

Learn more at NOAA.gov.

–Ben Fiebert

area, Bray explained her department would set up an emergency operations center. From there, they would start tracking local needs, such as generators, light and crews to remove downed trees.

“And because all signs point to an incredibly active season, we’re really focused now on the tabletop exercises, training exercises, and making sure our stockpiles are full,” Bray said.

To stay up to date on the hurricane season, visit NOAA.gov. For information on how to get notified during weather emergencies, visit Alert.NY.gov.

Courtesy National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

National Weather Service forecasters at the Climate Prediction Center expect an above-normal hurricane activity in the Atlantic basin this year.

Gold Award recipient recgonized

Gold Award Girl Scout Abigail Murnane of Merrick was congratulated during the Town of Hempstead Girl Scout Recognition Ceremony by Hempstead Town Supervisor Don Clavin, Councilwoman Laura Ryder, Town Clerk Kate Murray and Receiver of Taxes Jeanine Driscoll. The event was held on May 13 at Norman J. Levy Park & Preserve in Merrick. Also attending was Rande Bynum, Chief Executive Officer of the Girl Scouts of Nassau County.

Crime WatCh

auto LarCeny

In Seaford, a victim reported an unknown male subject removing assorted items from her car parked at BP Gas Station on May 14.

In Westbury, a victim reported unknown subjects removing a pair of sunglasses from her vehicle while parked at 31 Broadmoor Lane on May 21.

Petit LarCeny

In Westbury, a victim reported an unknown male subject removing a black Samsung cellphone from Pines Motor Lodge on May 16.

In Bellmore, a victim reported an unknown male subject removing a drill from Ace Hardware on May 25.

In East Meadow, a victim reported an unknown male subject removing toothbrushes from Stop And Shop on May 29.

arrest

Charran-Akou Jaiwantee, 49 of West Hempstead, was arrested for shoplifting at Saks Off 5th in Westbury on May 17.

Michael Gruosso, 40 of Wantagh, was arrested for shoplifting at Target in Levittown on May 21.

Mohamed Moustafa, 61 of Merrick, was arrested for shoplifting at the Target in Westbury on May 25.

Geryl Carlson, 50 of Seaford, was arrested for shoplifting at the Shoprite in Massapequa on May 25.

Raul Hinojosa, 25 of Woodhaven, and Hansel Jandrez, 29 of Elmont, were arrested for shoplifting at the Target in Westbury on May 26.

Keiora Pooler, 26 of Hempstead, was arrested for shoplifting at the Walmart in East Meadow on May 27.

Jessica Fowlkes, 49 of New York, and Kenya Gardner, 34 of New York, were arrested for shoplifting at the Walmart in Westbury on May 29.

Driving WhiL

intoxiCateD

Matthew Dejesu, 28 of Merrick, was arrested for DWI on Merritts Road and Fulton Street on May 25.

Discover • Explore • Next Door

Courtesy Town of Hempstead

Catering + Private Party Room

PARTY ROOM:

Private

CATERING

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STEPPING OUT

Ripe for the

Venture forth to local strawberry fields

By Karen Bloom

June means … strawberries. Those luscious berries await during this precious — short-lived — season. So gather up your gang and venture out to one of the many u-pick growers for a day in the berry patch. The season reaches its peak here as spring transitions into summer, as the fruit grow and ripen throughout May and June.

Everyone can agree that local is always best, so skip those California and Florida supermarket berries and head out to one of the many farms nearby where you can pick your own. Then when you return with your bounty, be sure to whip up some yummy strawberry creations. These fresh gems are always terrific on their own, of course, but when used in a recipe, they’ll jazz up any meal.

Strawberry Shortcake

The quintessential summer treat never goes out of style.

• 3 baskets of fresh strawberries

• 1/2 cup sugar

• Whipping cream

• Vanilla

1. Remove the stems from the strawberries. Slice into thin (1/4- to 1/8-inch slices. Put into a large bowl. Add 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup of sugar (depending on how sweet the strawberries are to begin with) and mix into the strawberries. Set aside at room temperature to macerate (which means that the sugar will soften the strawberries and help release their juices).

2. After the strawberries have been sitting for 20 minutes or so, take a potato masher and mash them a little. Not too much, just enough to get more juice out of them.

3. Whip the cream, adding a drop or two of vanilla and a teaspoon of sugar.

4. To serve, break up one biscuit per person into big pieces into a bowl. Ladle strawberries over the biscuit (either scratch-made or Bisquick recipe). Add a dollop of whipped cream.

Biscuits from scratch:

• 3 cups all purpose flour

• 3 tablespoons granulated sugar

• 1 1/2 tablespoons baking powder

• 3/4 teaspoon salt

• 12 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces

• 1 1/2 cups heavy cream

• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1. Sift the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt into a large bowl. Toss with a fork to combine. Cut the butter into the flour mixture with a pastry cutter or a fork until the largest pieces of butter are the size of peas. (Or pulse several

times in a food processor.) 2. Combine the cream and vanilla in a liquid measure. Make a well in the center of the flour and pour the cream mixture into the well. Mix with a fork until the dough is evenly moistened and just combined; it should look shaggy and still feel a little dry.

3. Gently knead by hand five or six times to create a loose ball.

4. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface and pat it into an 8-inch square, 3/4 to 1-inch thick. Transfer the dough to a baking sheet lined with parchment or silpat, cover with plastic and chill for 20 minutes in the refrigerator.

5. Heat the oven to 425º F. Remove the dough from refrigerator. Cut the dough into 9 even squares and spread them about 2 inches apart from each other on the baking sheet. Bake until the biscuits are medium golden brown, 18 to 20 minutes.

Makes 9 biscuits.

Classic Bisquick biscuits:

• 2 1/3 cups Bisquick baking mix

• 3 tablespoons butter, melted

• 1/2 cup milk

• 3 tablespoons sugar

1. Heat oven to 425° F. Stir baking mix, melted butter, milk, and sugar in a mixing bowl until soft dough forms.

2. Drop by 6 spoonfuls on to a greased cookie sheet. Bake 10-12 minutes or until golden brown.

Makes 6 biscuits.

Strawberry Tarts

All the sweet goodness of strawberry shortcake in a small bite.

• 6 2-1/2-inch tart shells

• 1 1/2 quart fresh strawberries

• 1 cup sugar

• 3 tablespoons cornstarch

• 2 tablespoons lemon juice

• Whipped cream

1. Wash and remove caps from the strawberries. Set aside the best half of the berries; combine the remaining berries, whole or cut, sugar and cornstarch in saucepan.

2. Cook, stirring frequently, 5-6 minutes or until the berry mixture is very thick. Stir in the lemon juice. Cook. Select a few of the reserved strawberries for garnish; add the rest, whole or cut, to the cooked mixture.

3. Pour into the baked pastry shells. Garnish with the whipped cream and remaining whole or cut berries.

Jessie’s Girl

Drag out that neon once again and give your hair its best ‘80s ‘do. Those crazy days are back — as only Jessie’s Girl can pull off, on the Paramount stage. So slip on some Jordache jeans, legwarmers, grab an extra-large bottle of Aqua Net, and get ready to dance the night away. There is no decade like the ‘80s, and no band that has mastered the music of the era like Jessie’s Girl. Hear all of your favorites by Prince, Madonna, Eddie Money, Duran Duran, Whitney Houston, Cyndi Lauper, Pat Benatar, Van Halen, J. Geils Band, The Police and many more. The show is led by New York City’s top rock and pop vocalists and backed by a phenomenal band, who get everyone into that ‘Back to the ‘80’ vibe. Throw in a load of super-fun choreography, audience participation, props, costumes bubbles and confetti — and you have a party that audiences don’t want to leave.

Friday, June 14, 8 p.m. $45, $37.50, $25. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at Ticketmaster.com or ParamountNY.com.

‘So Happy Together’

The Happy Together Tour is back with an evening of groovy tunes. The touring sensation that has crisscrossed the nation delighting audiences for more than a decade returns with a show full of ‘60s and ‘70s chart-toppers — an undeniable 61 Billboard Top 40 smashes. Surely an evening of hit after hit after hit that will have you heading home whistling the soundtrack of that beloved era. Returning favorites and new additions in this edition include The Turtles once again, the evening’s musical hosts. They are joined by Jay and the Americans, The Association, Badfinger, The Vogues and the Cowsills. The Turtles, of course, are best known for their harmony-heavy California pop sound. With such hits as ‘Elenore,’ ‘She’d Rather Be With Me,’ ‘It Ain’t Me Babe,’ ‘You Showed Me’ — and the title of the tour, ‘Happy Together’ — the band ruled the airwaves in the late ‘60s. Rewind time and groove to the classics as you see these legends live on the same stage.

Saturday, June 15, 8 p.m. Flagstar at Westbury Music Fair, 960 Brush Hollow Road, Westbury. Tickets available at LiveNation.com.

Strawberry Shortcake

Strawberry Tarts

THE Your Neighborhood

Fab Faux

The Beatles live on — in the form of the Fab Faux. The acclaimed band brings out the best Beatles moments, appearing on the Paramount stage, Saturday, June 22, 8 p.m. With a commitment to the accurate reproduction of Beatles’ repertoire, The Fab Faux treat the seminal music with unwavering respect, known for their painstaking recreations of the songs (with emphasis on the later works never performed live by the Beatles). The musical virtuosity of The Fab Faux — in actuality five New York City-based musicians —upends the concept of a Beatles tribute band. Far beyond being extended cover sets, their shows are an inspired rediscovery of The Beatles’ musical magic.

The Fab Faux tackles the group’s most demanding material onstage in a way that has to be experienced to be believed. In addition to their note-for-note accuracy, the band is famous for blurring the lines slightly and injecting their own musical personalities into the performances. Imagine hearing complex material like “Strawberry Fields Forever” or “I Am the Walrus” performed in complete partperfect renditions; or such harmony-driven songs as “Because”, “Nowhere Man”, and “Paperback Writer,” reproduced with extra vocalists to achieve a double-tracked effect. That’s The Fab Faux experience. $55, $35, $30, $25. 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, Friday, June 14, 10:15 a.m. and noon; also Saturday, June 15, 2 p.m.; Sunday, June 9, 2 p.m.; Wednesday, June 19, 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 the 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.

Seasonal Sprouts

Bring the kids to Old Westbury Gardens for a Seasonal Sprouts session, Wednesday, June 19, 11 a.m.-noon. Children (ages 4 to 6) can explore the grounds on a guided walk within the formal gardens and informal woodlands. Families will enjoy activities and plant a flower to take home. $10 per child. Registration required. Old Westbury Gardens, 71 Old Westbury Rd., Old Westbury. For information, visit OldWestburyGardens.org or contact (516) 333-0048.

Juneteenth BBQ

Academic Explorers of Merrick welcomes all families to their Juneteenth barbecue, Wednesday, June 19, noon-4 p.m. With activities, entertainment, raffles, and free delicious barbecue foods. 1430 Jerusalem Ave., Merrick. For further information and to RSVP, visit AcademicExplorersLLC.com.

Celebrate Israel

Salute Israel, while welcoming Eisenhower Park’s summer concert season, at the annual Celebrate Israel concert, presented by Jewish Community Relations Council of Long Island, Sunday, June 30, 6 p.m. Israeli superstar Raviv Kaner performs. Bring seating. Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, Eisenhower Park, East Meadow. For more information, visit Facebook. com/jcrcli.

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.

Having an event?

Marching through history

Step back in time and observe different eras of military history, at Old Bethpage Village Restoration, Saturday and Sunday, June 15-16, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. As you “march through history” be side by side with knowledgeable and welcoming reenactors from Long Island and numerous other states portraying soldiers, their uniforms and weaponry from Colonial America through more recent conflicts.

With firing demonstrations throughout the day, as well as tent and camp life displays. $15, $12 children, $12 seniors 60+. Old Bethpage Village Restoration, 1303 Round Swamp Road Old Bethpage. Visit OldBethpageVillageRestoration.org for more information or call (516) 5728409.

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.

Midsummer Jazz

Enjoy some summertime tunes at Old Westbury Gardens, Thursday, June 20, 7-9 p.m. Hear jazz standards and original compositions by musician and composer Glafkos Kontemeniotis and his trio Monk for President, with Vince “Kazi” McCoy on drums and Fred Berman on double bass. Before, during, or after, stroll the gardens decorated with floral arrangements and illuminated with lanterns. Drinks and appetizers provided; you’re welcome to bring a picnic dinner. $30. Reservations required. Old Westbury Gardens, 71 Old Westbury Rd., Old Westbury. For information, visit OldWestburyGardens.org or contact (516) 333-0048.

Summer sounds

Visit Eisenhower Park for its Noontime Concert series, Wednesday, June 26, noon-2 p.m. The Long Island Harmonizers perform four-part barbershop a cappella. Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, Eisenhower Park, East Meadow. Their repertoire ranges from traditional barbershop to the Great American Songbook and Elton John. Bring seating. For information, visit NassaucCountyNY.gov.

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.

Friday Night Car Show

The Chamber of Commerce of the Bellmores holds its Friday Night Car Show, through Oct. 4, at the Bellmore LIRR parking lot. Show opens at 6 p.m., closes at 10 p.m. Free for all spectators; admission for cars is $5. For more, visit BellmoreChamber. com.

‘All Shook Up’

Sunrise Theatre Company presents the jukebox musical “All Shook Up,” featuring songs by Elvis Presley, Sunday, June 23, starting at 2 p.m., at Bellmore Movies And Showplace. 222 Pettit Ave. To purchase tickets and fore more information, call (516) 218-2782 or visit SunriseTheatreLI.com.

By Danielle Schwab & Tim Baker

Nicolas Albarano (with Barry LeBron, music teacher), Rockville Centre

Mr. LeBron, since sophomore year, has encouraged me to do NYSSMA, jazz ensemble and Tri-M Music Honor Society. He’s helped me to develop my musical talent (piano) in and outside of school.

Is there a teacher, mentor, or friend who impacted you throughout your high school experience?

Stephen D’Amato (with Courtney Prestianni, guidance counselor), Wantagh

One person that stands out the most to me is my guidance counselor, Ms. Prestianni. She always helps me problem-solve and come to the best decisions. She treats me like one of her own kids.

Christian Auguste (with Arthur Ergistre, director of science), Uniondale I approached Mr. Ergistre with an idea for a paid peer tutoring program and with his guidance, he pushed me in the right direction. He has always been super supportive of what I want to do, and he’s always encouraged me.

Camdresa Davis (with Peter Buckley, English teacher/track coach), Baldwin During my sophomore year, I faced one of the most difficult challenges of my life, which was the loss of my mother. Mr. Buckley was always there for me I was able to talk to him and he helped me realize that even though I had lost someone close to me, I would never be alone.

Johnna Rodriguez (with Briar Falvo, English teacher), East Rockaway I had Ms. Falvo in middle school and high school. Even when I didn’t have her, she always made time for me. When I was struggling with my English class or problems personally, I went to her and she would give me advice.

SUNDAY 11AM-2PM

How to tame your anger PERSON TO PERSON

As with many things in life, anger has good and bad sides. The good thing about anger is that it can signal to you that something’s wrong and needs to be addressed. Anger provides you with the motivation and energy to do so. It’s a trigger for you to get off your butt and do something to confront what has been bothering you.

Most of us are familiar with the bad side of anger. Here are a few of the difficulties:

■ If your anger is the first (or only) response to situations that bother you, it’s not just another emotion but a personality characteristic. You are an angry person.

■ Your anger quickly turns into rage. When enraged, you may say and do things that embarrass you and cause significant damage to relationships. You may become so out of control that you curse at those you love, threaten violence, become violent, throw things, break things, or say things you’ll later regret.

say something reassuring to yourself, like “I can discuss this calmly” or “It may not be as bad as I’m making it out to be.”

■ People say terrible things in anger because they’ve temporarily lost the rational part of their brain. What comes into their head spills out of their mouth. So, take a moment to think. Consider whether what’s so important to you at this moment will be so important in the long run or even in a day or two. Imagine what the repercussions will be to you and others if you act out your anger. Think about how you might gain someone’s cooperation instead of immediately making the interaction adversarial.

■ You nurse your anger and are slow to let it go, even if the situation has been resolved. Your anger is intensified by resentment that simmers beneath the surface and may morph into rage. Failure to let go of anger once a problem has been resolved is living in the past and is a massive waste of energy and a huge hindrance to repairing relationships.

Because of these adverse effects, it’s desirable that you learn how to tame your anger. Here are three ways to do so:

■ Since anger is a complex emotion to control, it makes sense to try to catch it in its early stages. So, as soon as you feel anger rising in your body, instead of stoking the fire, work to calm yourself down. One way to do this is to take three deep breaths, inhaling slowly and exhaling slowly until you begin to feel your body relaxing. On your last exhale,

Rhoads

■ It’s easy to get outraged because of your assumptions. So, examine your assumptions. Are you feeling outraged because you think someone is trying to put something over on you?

Are you upset because someone didn’t act as you expected them to? Are you incensed because you believe someone has discounted your opinion or demeaned your competence? Check out these assumptions. They may be only partially true or totally false. Or, they may be accurate, but so what? What if someone has not acted the way you expected them to? How and why is that so important to you?

The goal here is not to rid yourself of anger but to learn how to contain it and use it well. Once you have succeeded, you’ll be in charge of your anger instead of allowing your anger to control you.

©2024

Linda Sapadin, Ph.D., psychologist, coach, and author specializes in helping people improve their relationships, enhance their lives, and overcome debilitating anxiety, procrastination, and depression. Contact her at DrSapadin@ aol.com. Visit her website at www.PsychWisdom.com.

attends LICM STEM weekend

Last month, State Senator Steve Rhoads attended one of the interactive programs for children at the Long Island Children’s Museum’s STEM weekend, which explored a range of STEM topics, including the science behind beauty, native plants, sustainable energy, protecting the environment, the upcoming solar eclipse, DNA, and more.

Children from across Long Island

Public Notices

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., Plaintiff AGAINST

Alys Balbes; et al., Defendant(s)

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered November 5, 2018 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 July 1, 2024 at 2:00PM, premises known as 2599 Orr Street, Merrick, NY 11566-4745. 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 63 Block 135 Lot 861. Approximate amount of judgment $588,637.31 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index# 014715/2013. The auction will be conducted pursuant to the COVID-19 Policies Concerning Public Auctions of Foreclosed Property established by the 10th Judicial District. Foreclosure Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine.”

Irene Villacci, Esq., Referee LOGS Legal Group LLP f/k/a Shapiro, DiCaro & Barak, LLC

Attorney(s) for the Plaintiff 175 Mile Crossing Boulevard Rochester, New York 14624 (877) 430-4792

Dated: May 15, 2024 For sale information, please visit www.Auction.com or call (800) 280-2832 147072

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT NASSAU COUNTY WELLS FARGO BANK N.A., AS TRUSTEE, FOR CARRINGTON MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST, SERIES 2006-NC4 ASSET-BACKED PASSTHROUGH CERTIFICATES, Plaintiff against

ABRAHAM KLEIN, et al

Defendant(s)

Attorney for Plaintiff(s) Fein Such & Crane, LLP, 28 East Main Street, Suite 1800, Rochester, NY 14614. Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered June 8, 2018, I will sell at public auction to the highest bidder at North Side Steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on July 9, 2024 at 2:00 PM. Premises known as 2794 Lincoln Boulevard, Merrick, NY 11566. Sec 63 Block 127 Lot 64, 65, 66 & 74. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, situate, lying and being in at Merrick, in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York. Approximate Amount of Judgment is $779,655.70 plus interest, fees, and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No 007490/2015. The foreclosure sale will be conducted in accordance with 10th Judicial District’s Covid-19 Policies and foreclosure auction rules. The Referee shall enforce any rules in place regarding facial coverings and social distancing. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, then the Court Appointed Referee shall cancel the foreclosure auction. Foreclosure Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine.”

Karl C. Seman, Esq., Referee File # CARN203 147251

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB, D/B/A CHRISTIANA TRUST, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS TRUSTEE ON BEHALF OF CSMC TRUST 2015-2, Plaintiffagainst- WAFA ABBOUD, et al Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated October 25, 2018, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the North Side steps of the Nassau

County Supreme Court located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY on July 8, 2024 at 2:00 p.m.

ALL that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, situate, lying and being in the Town of Hempstead, Nassau County, New York, known and designated as Section 63 Block 146 Lot 34. Said premises known as 2739 MERRICK AVENUE, MERRICK, NY 11566

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

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

Index Number 2017-003460

LAWRENCE FARBMAN, ESQ., Referee DRUCKMAN LAW GROUP PLLC

Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 242 Drexel Avenue, Westbury, NY 11590 For sale information, please visit www.Auction.com or call (800) 280-2832.

DLG 37135 {* Merrick Life*} 147140

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF ADOPTION OF TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD LOCAL LAW NO. 33-2024

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that, pursuant to Article 9 of the New York State Constitution, the provisions of the Town Law and the Municipal Home Rule Law of the State of New York, both as amended, a public hearing was duly called and held May 21st, 2024, by the Town Board of the Town of Hempstead on the proposed adoption of Town of Hempstead Local Law No. 33-2024, and following the close of the hearing the Town Board duly adopted Town of Hempstead Local Law No. 33-2024, amending Section 197-5 of the Code of the Town of Hempstead, to include “ARTERIAL STOPS” at various locations.

Dated: May 21, 2024 Hempstead, New York BY ORDER OF THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD

DONALD X. CLAVIN, JR. Supervisor KATE MURRAY

Town Clerk 147344

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF ADOPTION OF TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD LOCAL LAW NO. 34-2024

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that, pursuant to Article 9 of the New York State Constitution, the provisions of the Town Law and the Municipal Home Rule Law of the State of New York, both as amended, a public hearing was duly called and held May 21st, 2024, by the Town Board of the Town of Hempstead on the proposed adoption of Town of Hempstead Local Law No. 34-2024, and following the close of the hearing the Town Board duly adopted Town of Hempstead Local Law No. 34-2024, amending Section 197-13 of the Code of the Town of Hempstead, to include and repeal “TRAFFIC REGULATIONS IN THE VICINITY OF SCHOOLS” at various locations.

Dated: May 21, 2024 Hempstead, New York BY ORDER OF THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD

DONALD X. CLAVIN, JR. Supervisor

KATE MURRAY

Town Clerk 147343

LEGAL NOTICE AT&T Mobility, LLC is proposing to modify an existing wireless telecommunications facility on an existing building located at 15 Merrick Avenue, Merrick, Nassau County, New York 11566. The modifications will consist of the collocation of antennas at top heights of approx. 48ft 6in above ground level on the 40-ft 6-in tall building (measured to the parapet, overall height 56ft 6in, including all appurtenances). Any interested party wishing to submit comments regarding the potential effects the proposed facility may have on any historic property may do so by sending comments to: Project 015101-PRENB, EBI Consulting, 21 B Street, Burlington, MA 01803, or at 407.792.9506. 147340

had the opportunity to pot their own native plants, make solar eclipse viewers, and learn about DNA and the science behind popular health and beauty products from Long Island’s own, Estée Lauder Company. Rhoads thanked the organizers for setting up this valuable STEM weekend and commended their unique way of making learning fun for children.

— Mason Lauron

Linda Sapadin psychWisdom

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 $20 - $25/ Hour Call 516-731-3000

HR Specialist. Actively listen, address concerns, & take action to promote a culture of inclusivity, multi-cultural awareness & respect among empls. & co. staff; Implement diversity training progs. & educational workshops; identify effective practices & progs to remove barriers; & eval. & assess co. efforts on diversity & cultural inclusion progs. Sal. $53,394/year. BA in Culture, Lit. or rel. Send res/ltt to Attn: HR, Ivy Enterprises, Inc. 25 Harbor Park Dr. Port Washington, NY 11050.

EDITOR/ REPORTER

Part Time & Full Time. The award-winning Herald Community Newspapers group, covering Nassau County's North and South Shores with hard-hitting news stories and gracefully written features, seeks a motivated, energetic and creative editor/reporter to join our dynamic (and awesome) team! This education and general assignment reporting position offers a unique experience to learn from some of the best in the business. Historically, reporters who have launched their careers with us have gone on to The New York Times, Newsweek, Newsday, the New York Daily News, New York Post, CNN, BBC, NBC News and The Daily Mail, among many others. We look for excellent writers who are eager to learn, enhance their skills, and become well-established and respected journalists in our industry. Salary range is from $20K to $45K To apply: Send a brief summary in the form of a cover letter describing your career goals and what strengths you can bring to our newsroom, along with a resume and three writing samples to mhinman@liherald.com

HANDYPERSON WANTED

Immediate Opening at our Garden City Location DESIRED SKILLS: Electrical * Welding * Carpentry Mechanical * Plumbing Part Time/Fulltime (benefits available with full time) $18-$30 per hour based on experience Richner Communications, Inc 2 Endo Blvd Garden City, NY 11530 Send resume to careers@lixtherald.com or Call 516-569-4000 ext 211

MAILROOM/ WAREHOUSE HELP

Long Island Herald has IMMEDIATE openings for a FULL-TIME & PART-TIME mailroom/warehouse helper in Garden City. We are a busy print shop looking for motivated and reliable individuals to assist in various duties in the shop. Forklift experience is a plus and heavy lifting is required. Hours vary, so flexibility is key. Salary Ranges fromo $16 per hour to $20 per hour. Email resumes or contact info to careers@liherald.com

Marketing Specialist. Conduct mkt. rsh. projs. for beauty prods. to create & impl. approp. strats & responses; collect & analyze info abt mkt. cond. of beauty prods, & rpt to mgr; & exam. & interpret mkt data to forecast mkt. trends & rpt. to mgr. Sal. $56,784/yr. BA in mtkg, culture, comm. Or rel. Send res/ltt to Attn: HR Mgr, KISS Nail Products, Inc. 25 Harbor Park Dr. Port Washington, NY 11050.

MULTI MEDIA ACCOUNT DEVELOPMENT

Inside Sales

Looking for an aggressive self starter who is great at making and maintaining relationships and loves to help businesses grow by marketing them on many different advertising platforms. You will source new sales opportunities through inbound lead follow-up and outbound cold calls. Must have the ability to understand customer needs and requirements and turn them in to positive advertising solutions. We are looking for a talented and competitive Inside Sales Representative that thrives in a quick sales cycle environment. Compensation ranges from $33,280 + commissions and bonuses to over $100,000 including commission and bonuses. We also offer health benefits, 401K and paid time off. Please send cover letter and resume with salary requirements to ereynolds@liherald.com Call 516-569-4000 X286

WE HAVE THE HELP YOU NEED!!!

HHA's, LPN's, Nurse's Aides Childcare, Housekeeping Day Workers No Fee To Employers Serving The Community Over 20 Years Evon's Services 516-505-5510

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT AVAILABLE To Work For You FT/PT Immediately. I'm Experienced. RVC Vicinity. Call 516-536-6994

SANTA CRUZ SERAG Caregivers Provide The Best Male/ Female Caregivers In America. Certified HHA's, Professional. Experts In Dementia, Alzheimers, Parkinsons Cases. Live-in/Out. Gertrude 347-444-0960

OUTSIDE SALES

Richner Communications, One of the Fastest Growing Media, Event and Communications Companies on Long Island is Seeking a Sales/Marketing Candidate to Sell our Print Media Products and our Digital, Events, Sponsorships. Earning potential ranges from $33,280 plus commission and bonuses to over $100,000 including commissions and bonuses. Compensation is based on Full Time hours Eligible for Health Benefits, 401k and Paid Time Off. Please Send Cover Letter and Resume with Salary Requirements to rglickman@liherald.com or Call 516-569-4000 X250

PRINTING PRESS OPERATORS FT & PT. Long Island Herald has IMMEDIATE openings for Printing Press Operators in Garden City. We are a busy print shop looking for motivated and reliable individuals to assist in various duties in the shop. Hours vary, so flexibility is key. Salary

Ranges from $20 per hour to $30 per hour. Email resumes or contact info to careers@liherald.com

RECEPTIONIST P/T

Pediatrician's Office

Mon. Wed. Fri. 9am-5pm And Sat. 9am-1pm Office Experience Preferred $16-$18 per Hour 516-379-4900

RESTAURANT HELP: 4- 5 Days/ Week. Weekends A Must. Starting At $16/ Hr. Great Location. Must Have Transportation. Please call 516-835-2819

EXPERIENCED HOME HEALTH AIDE Needed For Bed Ridden Patient. 2-3 Days When Needed. Seaford 347-869-7752

HomesHERALD

dining room. Den/family room, home office and exercise room. First floor master bedroom. 2 fireplaces. Large yard. Potential mother/daughter with proper permits. Convenient location near shopping and LIRR.

Taxes: $12,254

Briggs Street. Hi

Taxes: $17,085.51

Bellmore $903,000

LIRR.

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Rowehl Drive. Expanded Cape. 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms. Partial finished basement. Eat-in kitchen with pantry. Formal dining room. Den/family room. Updates include skylight.

Taxes: $10,535.61

East Rockaway $865,000

Scranton Avenue. Colonial. 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms. Partial finished basement. Eat-in kitchen with granite countertops. Formal dining room.

Taxes: $14,966.99

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Elmont $1,100,000

Waldorf Avenue. Colonial. 6 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms. Finished basement. Eat-in kitchen with granite countertops. Open layout. Formal dining room. Guest quarters. Updates include cathedral ceiling and skylight.

Taxes: $16,509.01

Lido Beach $1,750,000

Luchon Street. Split Level. 3 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms. Unique architecturally designed custom beach house. Gourmet chef’s eat-in kitchen with high end appliances and cabinetry. Open layout. Living room with cathedral ceiling and fireplace. Dining room with floor to ceiling windows overlooking garden. Ensuite master bedroom with ocean view and oversized terrace. Den/family room with patio. Extras include private library, skylights. 2 car garage and parking for 4 cars. Steps to private beach.

Taxes: $12,679

Lynbrook $570,000

Farnum Street. Colonial. 3 bedrooms, 1.5 bathrooms. Eatin kitchen. Formal dining room.

Taxes: $13,590.44

Merrick $875,000

Horatio Avenue. Hi Ranch. 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms. Finished basement. Eat-in kitchen with pantry. Formal dining room. Updates include cathedral ceiling and skylight. Taxes: $16,135.87

Rockville Centre $1,295,000

Banbury Road. Colonial. 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms. Finished basement. Eat-in kitchen with granite countertops. Formal dining room. Den/family room. Security system. Taxes: $24,305

Valley Stream $665,000

Roberta Street. Expanded Cape. 4 bedrooms, 1.5 bathrooms. Eat-in kitchen. Open layout. Den/family room. Taxes: $9,574.69

The neighbors won’t leave us alone

Q. My neighbors from hell have been harassing me at every step of my construction, and I don’t know what to do. They tried to stop our permit, and have continued to try to have it revoked for several reasons, such as false claims that my contractor is unlicensed, that they start work before the allowed work times, that they work too late, that my permit wasn’t posted properly, that the simple deck we’re having built is in the wrong place, that our dog isn’t licensed … How can we stop this harassment? They are both attorneys who aren’t working, and have plenty of time to bother us.

A. George Herbert, a 17th-century poet, said, “Living well is the best revenge.” Apparently he had neighbors like yours, and he didn’t want to use all the other much more vindictive and possibly illegal means to stop them. After a while, like the story of the boy who cried wolf, the authorities will stop believing them and may even turn their attention to them, looking for issues to keep your neighbors busy with their own issues.

I have heard many stories about vindictive neighbors over the years, and although it is puzzling what motivates people to behave this way, to not just live and let live, they have to be either dealt with or ignored. It’s hard to ignore some of the more dastardly things people can do to harass, but it has to be done. Being attorneys indicates that they understand how to manipulate the system, which was put in place for justice, to create an injustice.

In some cases I have knocked on a door on behalf of a client to ask what the problems are, with the best of intentions, to assure the neighbor that their concerns are being dealt with and everything will work out. The lesson I learned from this is that there are people put on this planet for the sole purpose of ruination, destruction, intimidation and harassment. It appears to give them a level of satisfaction that cannot be attained by some more meaningful method. It reminds me of what many people have told me when we hear about a criminal who went to great lengths to figure out how to commit the crime, that had that same individual put their energy into solving a positive, constructive problem, like curing cancer or helping those less fortunate, they may have had a productive life instead of creating the misery they thrive on.

I suggest writing down, in detail, your neighbors’ actions, compiling a book on how pathetic some people can be, selling the book, and living well off the royalties from the neighbors’ contribution to your making lemonade out of the lemons they keep hurling at you. I’m hesitant to write about the worst thing that a neighbor once did just to be difficult, because it really did cause lasting pain for a family whose small children were scared for life by what that neighbor did.

© 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.

Ask The Architect

Monte Leeper

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This is the best part: All of summer lies ahead

Hardly any summer lives up to its hype.

RAnDi KREiss

How could it, when we’ve waited nine months for school to be out, slogging through dark, snowy days and freezing weeks? We’ve waited for the warming breeze, the gentle waves, the fresh cherries and soft-shell crabs. We waited, and here it is … now! All this freedom is too wonderful to grasp. Our vacation time from work lies ahead, too, and we want our adventures, and our kids’ camps, and the rentals in the mountains or by the shore to be restorative and fun. In June it’s still possible that the big family reunion in the Poconos will be a life-altering love fest. In June, the outdoor concerts are still anticipatory joy. These are the best days of summer, when everything is possible. Here, pinned to this spot in time, there are no rampaging wildfires, no floods, no hurricanes, no Covid surge, no family feuds. Yup, the dangerous possibilities all lie ahead. Pre-summer is the golden window of

igood weather and unlimited expectations. That’s why people keep booking weekends in Maine, forgetting that last year they waited on line in the 95-degree heat for a $30 Kennebunkport lobster roller. These are the days of anticipatory dreaming.

BOn summer weekends, families head to our beaches, the Berkshires, the Jersey Shore or out East. Everyone is trying to recapture summer memories while forgetting the kids’ rainy-day tantrums or the traffic in the Hamptons or the prices at the farm stands that used to be a bargain. This is the time of dreaming and planning; there will be enough time in September to absorb the realities that subvert these fantasies.

in their hair. It was a significant cultural shift, which led to the end of the war and the beginning of a real push for civil rights, women’s rights and racial equality.

eaches? Trails?

Farm stands?

This is the time of dreaming and planning.

My big regret is that I didn’t go; I wasn’t part of history. I was planning my wedding and looking for a job. I didn’t go to Woodstock, either, in the summer of 1969. My heart and mind were with the progressive causes, but the path I saw for myself was fixed and somewhat narrow.

read “War and Peace,” all 1,200 pages. Truth? The last 50 summers have been my summer to read “War and Peace.” Never cracked the cover, but it doesn’t matter; I hold on dearly to the possibility.

In the big picture, we don’t know yet what kind of summer this will be historically, meteorologically or politically. Will it leave an indelible mark? Will our collective destinies stay the course or take a detour?

I remember the summer of 1967, when some 100,000 young people, widely known as hippies, descended on San Francisco, specifically the Haight, and protested the war in Vietnam, lived in casual encampments, did some drugs and wore flowers

So, young folks, this summer, get out there and live your days. Summer 2024 will not come around again. The calendar from midJune to Sept. 21 is blank. The summer could sweep in dramatic change. Anything can happen. The days are hot already and very long; worry is in the air about drought and wildfire and political unrest.

On an individual level, this is the time to plan our downtime activities. Is this the summer you get out on the kayak? Learn to surf? Start hiking the Appalachian Trail? Rescue a puppy and use the summertime to train it? Maybe send the kids off to camp and get reacquainted with your partner?

For me, this is the summer to finally

The freedom of some unstructured time allows us to prepare for the upcoming election. A minefield covers the ground between June and November. It seems unlikely to me that any of the legal cases against Donald Trump will be resolved in time to make a difference. We have, as individuals who are citizens of a great democracy, the time to think about what kind of man we want to be president. I will be casting my vote for Joe Biden, the sitting president who has displayed decency and solid, pro-American, forward-thinking policies. I hope that others who have the time and inclination will seriously weigh the kind of America we want to live in.

We don’t want to get terribly serious because, after all, it’s about to be summer. Put your feet up. Grab a bowl of Washington State cherries, and if “War and Peace” seems daunting, pick up a National Geographic and learn the important stuff, like “Do Spiders Dream?”

Relax with one eye open. The summer of 2024 is about to unfold.

Copyright 2024 Randi Kreiss. Randi can be reached at randik3@aol.com.

What, exactly, does it mean to be antisemitic?

n May, the United States House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed an Antisemitism Awareness Act by a vote of 320-91. The bill would require the federal Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights to use the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s working definition of antisemitism when “investigating complaints of discrimination” against educational programs that receive federal financial assistance. The IHRA’s working definition states that antisemitism is not only hatred of and discrimination against Jews, but also includes describing Israel as a “racist endeavor”; “drawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis”; and “applying double standards” to Israel that would not be applied to “any other democratic nation.” If the Senate passes the bill and President Biden signs it, it could become illegal to teach about criticism of Israel and Zionism, including criticisms leveled by prominent Jews. Among those who voted against the legislation were Representatives Jerry Nadler of New York, Jan Schakowsky of

Illinois and Sara Jacobs of California) who all identify as Jews. Speaking in the House chamber, Nadler argued that the “bill threatens to chill constitutionally protected speech. Speech that is critical of Israel — alone — does not constitute unlawful discrimination.”

Nadler fears that the bill, if it becomes law, “could result in students and faculty selfcensoring their political speech.”

In a news release explaining her vote, Schakowsky declared, “As a proud Jewish Member of Congress representing a large and diverse Jewish community, I take very seriously the widespread and growing threat of antisemitism, particularly following the October 7th terrorist attacks on Israel. I strongly condemn Hamas’s brutal attacks and recognize the urgent need to address the rising antisemitic incidents against Jewish communities both in the U.S. and abroad. Unfortunately, H.R. 6090, the Antisemitism Awareness Act, does absolutely nothing to counter antisemitism and is another Republican attempt to pit the Jewish community and Democrats against each other.”

A proposed law could stretch the term’s definition to include Freud and Einstein.

many people who question whether Israel should exist as a Jewish state who are deeply connected to their Judaism … Conflating free speech and hate crimes will not make Jewish students any safer. This bill would stifle First Amendment rights to free speech and free assembly. And it would distract from real antisemitism and our efforts to address it.”

Critics of Israel and Zionism who could be labeled antisemites under the proposed law include prominent Jews like philosopher Hannah Arendt; Rabbi Elmer Berger, former head of the American Council for Judaism; Sigmund Freud and Albert Einstein.

In a 1930 letter to Dr. Chaim Koffler, head of a Zionist organization in Austria, Freud described the actions of Zionist settlers in Palestine as “baseless fanaticism” that is “in part to be blamed for the awakening of Arab distrust.”

In a letter to Arnold Zweig, a JewishGerman writer, Freud wrote, “I have never been a Zionist nor do I think I shall become one.”

fering and deserve all that will come to us.” In 1946, in testimony before the Anglo-American Committee of Inquiry, Einstein said, “The state idea is not according to my heart. I cannot understand why it is needed. It is connected with narrowmindedness and economic obstacles. I believe that it is bad. I have always been against it.”

Arendt argued for a binational Palestine with two national identities as both a Jewish and Palestinian homeland.

Berger was a reform rabbi, executive director of the American Council for Judaism and a founder of American Jewish Alternatives to Zionism. In “The Jewish Dilemma” (1945), he argued that Zionism represented a surrender to the racial myths about the Jews as unassimilable. “I oppose Zionism because I deny that Jews are a nation …,” Berger wrote. “Jewish nationalism is a fabrication woven from the thinnest kind of threads and strengthened only in those areas of human history in which reaction has been dominant and antisemites in full cry.”

Jacobs explained that she opposed the bill because “I do not believe that antiZionism is inherently antisemitism. I support Israel’s right to exist, but I also know

In 1923, Einstein visited Palestine, and in 1929, he wrote Chaim Weizmann, “Should we be unable to find a way to honest cooperation and honest pacts with the Arabs, then we have learned absolutely nothing during our 2,000 years of suf-

I don’t agree with everything that Freud, Einstein, Arendt and Berger wrote, but I would hate to see them mislabeled as antisemites. Any definition of antisemitism that includes them would probably also include me.

Dr. Alan Singer is a professor of teaching, learning and technology and the director of social studies education programs at Hofstra University.

ALAn J. sinGER

HeraLd editoriaL

We are all champions

Nassau county truly is the home of champions.

It’s where you can find the four-time Stanley cup champion New York Islanders. For more than a century, it’s where the Belmont Stakes thoroughbred horse race was held — and where it will return, bigger and better than ever, in 2026, when renovations are completed at Belmont park.

There’s also the four-time atlantic League of professional Baseball champion Long Island Ducks. and, for the past couple weeks, anyone trying to make their away around Eisenhower park, in East Meadow, couldn’t help but get caught up in the excitement of the International cricket council Men’s T20 World cup, in which India upended pakistan in a highly anticipated international rivalry.

But our true champions are much closer to home. In fact, they are in our own backyards, if not in our own homes. They are our school athletes — young men and women who spend hours conditioning, training and drilling to step out on a baseball diamond, a track, a tennis court, a football field, a basketball court, a lacrosse field, or a soccer or rugby pitch to try to win it all in front of their families, friends, neighbors and peers. and then, after all that, they go back to their studies, so they can have the best shot at a successful future.

We are proud of every one of them for what they accomplish. and we support them as they look for ways to win, and

Letters

Thank you, Gov. Hochul

To the Editor:

Thank you to Gov. Kathy Hochul and the State Legislature for increasing funding for libraries in the fiscal year 2025 state budget! We deeply appreciate the strong support of our work. Hochul’s action brings much-needed relief to the operating budget of the Nassau Library System, a cooperative that provides shared services to the county’s 54 public libraries, and an additional $500,000 to local libraries for building improvements. Nassau’s public libraries serve hundreds of thousands of patrons each year.

Voters deserve thanks, too. Every library budget vote in Nassau passed this spring, with an average approval rate of 77 percent! Over 5,000 Nassau residents signed up for new library cards last month. Libraries truly have something for everyone, and we invite all to check us out this summer.

JOHN ScaparrO President, Nassau Library System board of trustees

cheer them when they do so.

They always give us reason to cheer for them, and even more when they win titles — like the South Side High School boys’ lacrosse team taking home the state class B boys championship in a thrilling overtime win over Victor.

and they are hardly alone. The boys’ track and field team from Baldwin High captured its first county championship in more than a decade, while the girls’ track and field team from Oceanside did the same, over rival Syosset.

The boys from Malverne won a county championship of their own in track and field, while the Valley Stream North girls celebrated a number of individual county champions, like Moanna Thelusca in discus, Nattaly Lindo in shot put, and the Fessler sisters, paige and Brooke, finishing first and second, respectively, in the high jump. We also have to mention the amazing work of the North Shore girls’ track and field squad, which came away with the class a championship.

and don’t even get us started on the excellence in softball from the previous week, with Kennedy and Seaford winning Long Island championships, while Oceanside took home the class aaa crown.

Then there was the Wantagh girls’ lacrosse team beating Manhasset for the Nassau class c championship, while the Lynbrook boys’ tennis team won a conference title.

and then there are county champion-

ships for the calhoun girls track team, the clarke baseball team, and the Wantagh boys lacrosse team.

We could go on. There is a lot to celebrate — no matter what the scoreboard shows.

These young men and women are learning teamwork, leadership and resilience. as they work together to achieve common goals, they learn the value of collaboration and mutual support. The highs of victory and the lows of defeat provide lessons in handling success with grace, and the rest with dignity.

These experiences are invaluable as these athletes prepare to face the myriad challenges of adult life with a balanced and determined mindset. They also provide opportunities for college scholarships and career advancement, opening doors to higher education that might not have otherwise been available for many. Their journeys also serve as a powerful unifying force within communities. On Long Island, where villages and hamlets have distinct identities, high school sports can bridge divides and create a sense of shared purpose.

High school sports are much more than a venue for cheering on the home team. They are a cornerstone of physical health, personal development, academic excellence and community cohesion. By supporting and investing in them, we are nurturing the next generation of leaders, scholars and community members, ensuring a vibrant and dynamic future for Nassau county.

opinions

Hello, Harrison Butker? Women can be heroes, too

if history has proven anything, it’s that the world wasn’t set up for women to succeed.

Countless trailblazers have incited change, but there is still an overarching prejudice against us. The struggle that we internalize may vary, but I think we can agree that some days, it’s just hard to be a woman.

Every time our gender makes strides, it’s easy to be humbled — by something someone says, by something someone does. And it’s easy for us to deflect, and say, “Well, that’s just the way things are.” But why are we oK with the way things are?

A few weeks ago, as universities around the United States began holding commencement ceremonies, a well-known athlete spoke to the graduates of Benedictine College, a Catholic institution in Atchison, Kansas.

Harrison Butker, the kicker for the Kansas City Chiefs, addressed the crowd of young men and women. And it wasn’t

his presence, but rather what he said, that created an aura of polarity.

“For the ladies present today,” Butker said, “congratulations on an amazing accomplishment. you should be proud of all that you have achieved to this point in your young lives. I want to speak directly to you briefly because I think it is you, the women, who have had the most diabolical lies told to you.”

Butker went on to say that while “some” of the graduating women might lead successful careers, he’d “venture to guess” that the majority of them were excited about marriage, and the children they will bring into the world.

that it’s more likely that she’s looking forward to a life of marriage and motherhood.

The concepts of modern feminism are broadly misunderstood, by men and women alike. A true feminist would support a woman on any path she chooses, whether it be a career, a home life or something in between, and it was insulting and ignorant of Butker to project that most women in the audience would want to devote themselves to their partner and their future children.

a ll that comes to mind when I reread the Chiefs’ kicker’s words is, really?

I have nothing against opinions, and I respect everyone’s right to voice their own. But all that comes to mind as I reread Butker’s words is, really?

The internet jumped to his defense, but let me riddle you this: He chose to single out “the women.”

Imagine being a young woman in Benedictine’s graduating class, who at the very least just completed four years of college. She deserves to be celebrated for her degree, and instead she’s told

Letters

Abortion, women’s equity loom large in November

To the Editor:

As the presidential election approaches, understanding the opinions of both President Biden and Donald Trump is pivotal when thinking about which candidate to vote for. Specifically, when it comes to abortion rights and women’s equity on both a national and global scale, the two candidates have differing opinions and differing degrees of action, and it is hyper-important for women to be informed about their standpoints, so they understand who to vote for in November.

In terms of abortion rights, Trump and Biden have starkly different opinions. Although Biden has stated that he is a practicing Catholic who doesn’t necessarily personally support abortion, he has avidly stated that women deserve the right to choose, no matter where they live, and that abortion care should be a human right. Trump, on the other hand, wants to leave abortion rights up to the states, meaning that each state can choose whether or not abortions should be legalized, potentially taking away that right to choose.

In terms of the international policy surrounding women’s equity, Biden and

Trump have similar policies, but their commitment to those policies is of varying degrees, and they have different motives for supporting women’s equality. They have both tried to combat women’s inequity through financial support of efforts in other countries, but Biden has directed hundreds of millions more dollars to those efforts than Trump.

Biden also states that women’s equality is a moral issue, something that should be intrinsically guaranteed to populations around the world. Trump, however, mainly sees women’s equality as an opportunity for economic growth. Biden also claims to aid specific countries that may need help promoting gender equity, making Trump’s policy appear weaker and less specific. These differences must be recognized by the people they would affect the most: the voters.

We reach out with the hope that you are aware of the stakes of this election, and that you share our concern for its possible outcomes. We strongly feel that in a world where information is hidden, falsified, misconstrued and polarized, it is important that our reputable local media outlets continue being dedicated to the truth — now more than ever.

HENry SPINA, SoPHIA MArCHIolI and CHArloTTE MArCHIolI

North Shore High School Class of 2024

Glen Head

on the days when women feel the most unsupported, by people in their lives or public figures like Butker, they should remember that there are always things to turn to. I find it exceedingly important to read and watch content that is created with the best intentions for people just like us.

For women.

What do I mean?

A few months ago, as I enjoyed some time off from work in Florida, sitting poolside at my cousin’s house on International Women’s Day, I picked up “The Women,” a novel by Kristin Hannah, released earlier this year. Hannah is an

extraordinary writer who has been telling the tales of important women for decades, and this book is no different. I’ve read several of her novels over the past year, and I’ve come to love the way Hannah crafts stories of inspiring women, and the positive effect she has on my self-worth, every time I finish one of them. “The Women” offers readers an in-depth look at what it was like to be a nurse during the Vietnam War, and what it was like to return home afterward. If you love history, this read is for you.

In the first few pages, you’ll stumble across a striking notion. Women can be heroes.

So, to the women reading this — and the men — internalize that. All of us can be heroes.

And while people like Harrison Butker may continue to make speeches that threaten to strip us of everything we’ve worked for, remember that what we choose to do, in every walk of life, matters. our accomplishments and choices, at home or in the workplace, matter. And our feelings, and the way we view ourselves, matter, too.

Jordan Vallone is a senior editor who writes for the Bellmore, East Meadow and Merrick Heralds. Comments? jvallone@liherald.com.

Framework by Ellen Jaret

At the National Monument atop Calton Hill — Edinburgh, Scotland

JorDan VaLLone