Merrick Herald 11-17-2022

The thrill of victory

Reflecting on NYC’s toughest race

Breast cancer survivor finishes her second marathon

By JoRDAN VAlloNE jvallone@liherald.com

Sue Moller wasn’t always a runner.

The 43-year-old North Merrick native, a guidance counselor at Lynbrook High School, admittedly hated running. She dreaded having to run a mile in high school, and for most of her adult life, that attitude prevailed.

It wasn’t until about five

years ago, when she started tak ing classes at a local Orangetheo ry Fitness — a gym that com bines endurance training and weightlifting into hour-long ses sions — that her outlook began to change. Moller said she would run and walk in intervals, and soon enough, she was able to run a couple of miles on a treadmill.

“To me, that’s really what made me see that oh my gosh — I can run,” Moller told the Herald last week. “Anyone can do it, and

you can do it at your own pace, and that’s the great thing about running.”

She began to run consistently in 2018, and finished a 5K race between Grand Avenue Middle School, in Bellmore, and Mer rick Avenue Middle School, in Merrick. In 2019 she joined a new running club, the North Merrick Runners.

It wasn’t until 2020 that Moller began to challenge her

Calhoun Colts rally for first county title

By BRIAN KACHARABA sports@liherald.com

For a while, it looked like South Side High School would make quick work of Calhoun High in the Nassau Class A girls’ volleyball title match Nov. 9, and justify the Cyclones’ top seeding. But the resilient Colts refused to go down quietly, and escaped with the program’s first county championship.

Julia Lawrence had 14 kills, five aces and a combined 52 digs with Ella Maldonado, and Grace Miller added 10 kills as No. 3 Cal houn twice rallied to win sets en

route to a 15-25, 25-20, 25-19, 25-18 victory over South Side in front of a raucous crowd at Farming dale State College.

The Colts, a county finalist last season after beating South Side in the semis, swept Sayville for the Long Island Class A title last Friday to clinch a berth in the New York State tournament. Calhoun is 15-4.

“It’s actually crazy, it’s so great,” Lawrence said, clutching the county championship plaque. “This year we really, really wanted it. As a team, we really came together, and we

Anthony Hughes/Herald

CAlHouN’s GRACE MIllER, left, celebrated with Olivia Ruisi after the Colts won the Nassau Class A girls’ volleyball title Nov. 9.

Donovan Berthoud/Herald

Calhoun captured its second Nassau Division II boys’ volleyball title Nov. 8 with a sweep of Roslyn in the county finals at Farmingdale State College. Story, page 6.

Calhoun heads upstate with county, L.I wins

Ava Kelly had 12 kills and 16 digs, and Sofia Vargas added six kills, 20 digs and four aces for South Side, which finished 15-3. But the pair were neutralized in the later sets by a tenacious Colts defense, with Kelly attempting 54 kills on the night, compared with Vargas’s 47.

“That hurt,” South Side coach Cheryl Scalice said. “They just keep every ball alive. We did some good things, they did some good things and they prevailed.”

The Cyclones, who had yet to drop a set in the postsea son, looked like a well-oiled machine at the start, scoring the first 5 points en route to a 16-5 lead in the first set. South Side pushed its lead to 21-8 before a late Colts rally fell short.

The Cyclones kept up the pressure, and led 7-1 in the second set, but Lawrence and Victoria Zovich helped the Colts win the next 3 points. South Side later led 18-12 before Calhoun began an epic run, with 4 straight points highlighted by two Lawrence kills.

The teams split 4 points that put the Cyclones up 20-18, but the Colts finished the set with 7 unanswered points to tie the match.

Lawrence had an ace, Olivia Ruisi a kill and Miller three kills during the run, including the clincher, which bounced off two Cyclones.

“They love playing in deficits,” Calhoun coach Chris tina Strezenec said. “I guess it’s an adrenaline rush. Because of that, we developed pretty good stamina throughout the season, and that’s why I think they’re able to turn it around and have short-term memory loss.”

South Side regrouped, took a 7-0 lead to start the third set and led by as much as 11-3 before Calhoun responded by scoring 8 of the next 10 points. The Colts finally knot

ted the score at 16 after two straight South Side kill attempts went over the end line.

The Cyclones regained the lead at 19-18, but Calhoun closed the session with another 7-0 run highlighted by two more Lawrence aces and two kills by Miller, who also co-stuffed a South Side spike for another point.

“I couldn’t tell you,” Scalice said when asked about the two lost leads. “We played great in the first two sets in the beginning of the games. We’ve seen Calhoun five times this year, and we know they’re relentless, athletic

and an excellent team.”

The rejuvenated Colts took a commanding 13-5 lead to start the fourth set and began to sense the championship. South Side got as close as 15-13, but Calhoun collected 10 of the last 15 points, including Gianna Lucchi’s touch volley off a fake pass that sealed the match.

“I’m so happy for us,” Miller said. “We worked tire lessly every day, and we’ve really come together nicely, and everybody on the team has put in the work. We deserve it.”

knew that we weren’t giving up. We knew we wanted it so much.”

Anthony Hughes/Herald

the Colts made Calhoun High history Nov. 9 by capturing their first Nassau County girls’ volleyball champion ship, topping South Side in four sets.

Bellmore-Merrick students salute their vets Merrick Avenue, Mepham High School install displays of honor and appreciation

Ahead of Veterans Day, students, administra tors and additional volunteers adorned the lawns of Mepham High School and Merrick Avenue Middle School in the BellmoreMerrick Central High School District with dozens of flags.

At Mepham, its front school yard now displays nearly 150 American and military branch flags, installed at an event on Nov. 6.

In a fundraising effort led by Mepham social studies teachers Kerry Dennis and Chris Patten, students participating in the senior service-learning project sold flags to benefit the organiza tion, Tunnel to Towers Founda tion. Social Studies teacher Matt Moody, library media specialist Shari Stack and social studies chairperson Robyn Einbinder also assisted with the install.

So far, the students have raised $3,200 for the organization. An upcoming Penny Wars event will add to that total. The flags will remain on the school’s front lawn through early December.

Just a day prior, MAMS installed its Flag Field of Honor on Nov. 5 in recogni tion of veterans — a new tradition for the school.

The flags will be flown through Dec. 10 as a tribute to veterans. $2,450 in proceeds from sponsorships will be donated to Honor Flight Long Island for veterans, and the Bellmore-Merrick Community Cupboard.

“This is a wonderful way for our stu dents to be able to reflect on the contribu tions of our veterans and to take action to honor them,” said Christina Cone, a dis

trict social studies chairperson. “It is also a meaningful way for the entire communi ty to be able to take part and show pride in our service men and women.”

A veteran, Chris Levi, attended the installation, and took some time to speak to attendees.

“I thought his stories were very inter esting, especially how he called himself the terminator,” eighth grader Nicolo Mal tese said. “I was happy to put up the flags for the community.”

“I wanted to involve my students so that they could appreciate the sacrifices that our veterans have made,” MAMS teacher and event organizer Denise Schleith added, “to give us the opportuni ties and freedoms we have today.”

MephaM high sChooL senior Riley Fried, studies teachers Kerry Dennis and Chris Patten, head custodian, Charlie Pennington, social studies chairperson Robyn Einbinder, Principal Anthony DeMartinis, with students Victoria Caminiti and Kristina Trupa.

Chris Levi, a veteran, above, stopped by to meet with students.

Photos courtesy Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District a Large group of students volunteered at Merrick Avenue Middle School’s flag installation. Through sponsorships, the school raised $2,450 in proceeds that will be donated to Honor Flight Long Island for veterans, and the Bellmore-Merrick Community Cupboard.

–Jordan Vallone

gabby NisaNov aNd Youye Chen volunteered at Merrick Avenue’s flag installation on Nov. 5.

Madison Beer hosts concert and food drive

By MALLORY WILSON mwilson@liherald.com

The holidays are filled with plenty of food — but not for everyone. That’s why Nassau County officials have teamed up with Long Island Cares and Island Harvest food banks to make sure everyone eats on Thanksgiving.

And they’re getting a little celebrity help along the way from singer-songwriter Madison Beer.

Born and raised in Jericho before mov ing out west to pursue her music career, the 23-year-old Beer returns to Long Island on Wednesday, Nov. 23, to host the “End Hunger Thanksgiving Celebration” at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale.

It doesn’t cost money to attend, but everyone who shows up beginning at 3:30 p.m., are asked to bring at least one nonperishable food item. The celebration will focus on Beer’s accomplishments — begin ning with her early days as a teenager on YouTube singing covers of her favorite songs. She shot into stardom after another young performer, Justin Bieber, linked to one of her videos.

Beer also will bring attention to hunger and the culture of giving, according to Nassau County Executive Bruce Blake man.

Beer “has become a very, very influen tial person, especially with the young peo ple throughout the world,” Blakeman said

outside of Nassau Coliseum earlier this week. “We are trying to create a culture here in Nassau County and throughout the country — and throughout the world — of giving: Giving to people who need a little bit more help.”

The county also will proclaim Nov. 23 “Madison Beer Day.”

“I always look forward to coming home for the holidays,” Beer said in a state ment. “But it’s that much sweeter coming home for an event like this one that will help so many.”

Beer has more than 30 million followers on Instagram and Twitter, Blakeman said.

“She’s somebody that — certainly peo

ple throughout the world, and especially young people — have recognized as some one that is very, very talented,” he said. “We’re so happy that she is coming back to Nassau County so we can honor her, but at the same time give back to the community and make sure that everybody gets the food that they require so that they can have a happy holiday.”

Randi Shubin Dresner, the president and chief executive of Island Harvest, told reporters it was “very kind,” of Blakeman to involve the two food banks in this pro gram.

Beer, she said, is someone who “knows about our community, and clearly she understands that there are so many people who are struggling here on Long Island. With the rising costs at the gas pump and the rising costs at the supermarket, people who were just making ends meet are now having to struggle and find additional dol lars to just feed their family and put food on the table.”

Donations are down right now, accord ing to Jessica Rosati, chief programs offi cer for Long Island Cares.

Yet between the two organizations, well over 20 million pounds of food is distribut ed across Long Island, Dresner said. And that number has increased “quite a bit” from pre-pandemic times.

Seating for the celebration is limited to 15,000, and requires advanced registration at NassauCountyNY.gov. Doors open at 3:30 p.m., with the show starting at 5.

Mallory Wilson/Herald

RANdI ShuBIN dReSNeR, the president and chief executive of Island Harvest, thanked Nassau County Executive Blakeman for including her organization and Long Island Cares in the ‘End Hunger Thanksgiving Celebration.’ The free event — set for Wednesday, Nov. 23 — will be hosted by Long Island-born singer-songwriter Madison Beer, and will double as a food collection drive.

sports

Calhoun regains county championship

By TONY BELLISSIMO tbellissimo@liherald.com

A year after Roslyn spoiled Calhoun’s hopes of back-to-back Nassau Division II boys’ volleyball championships, the Colts returned the favor.

Top-seeded Calhoun used a balanced attack and took advantage of a second-set lineup gaffe by the Bulldogs to reclaim the county title Nov. 8 at Farm ingdale State College, 25-22, 25-19, 25-20.

Senior middle hitter Tommy Bello had 20 kills and five blocks, senior libero Brian Sanchez had 23 digs, and senior setter Ryan Pucella had 26 assists to pro pel the Colts, who two nights later on the same court fell just short to Hauppauge in four intense sets in the Long Island DII championship match.

“We played our hearts out,” Bello said. “This group of seniors, we’ve been the best of friends for five years. Our chemistry is off the charts. We were focused all year on the county championship and really wanted to face Roslyn to avenge last season’s result.”

In the county final, Calhoun (13-5) held off a late charge from Roslyn to take the opening set. It was 23-21 when seniors Sean DiPaola and Matt Kalfas sandwiched kills around an opposing point to win it.

“It was an honor to play with all of these guys,” said DiPaola, who switched from soccer to volleyball prior to last season and became an impact outside hitter. “We wanted the county title bad.”

In the second set, a bizarre twist took some steam, along with six points, away from third-seeded Roslyn.

An illegal substitution by the Bulldogs, not caught at the time it took place, led to a lengthy delay as offi cials sorted through the lineup card. After a 15-min ute discussion it was determined the substitution penalty occurred with Roslyn trailing 12-8, wiping out its 14-12 lead. The Colts went on to earn 13 of the next 24 points to capture the set and inch closer to the title.

“They were definitely down after that and we fed off it,” Bello said.

Calhoun coach Ryan Pastuch said in between the second and third set, he reminded the Colts of their recent history with Roslyn.

“We went five sets in last year’s county final and earlier this season we came back to beat Roslyn after being down 2-0,” Pastuch said. “We knew we had to keep fighting for every point like it was the last. I wanted to make sure we kept our foot down on the pedal.”

In the Long Island championship match, Calhoun gave Hauppauge all it could handle before falling by the slimmest of margins: 26-28, 25-23, 23-25, 23-25. It was the Eagles’ first L.I. title since 2015.

“Four points decided which team went upstate,” Pastuch said. “We definitely gave everything we had and played a great match.”

Bello (23), DiPaola (18) and Kalfas combined for 55 kills. Pucella handed out 38 assists and also had 8 digs. Sanchez had 26 digs and senior Luke Gallo chipped in 10.

“It was a heated match and a lot of fun to be a part of,” DiPaola said.

Mepham tops Long Beach in rainstorm

By TONY BELLISSIMO tbellissimo@liherald.com

Second-seeded Mepham and No. 3 Long Beach not only batted each other throughout last Friday afternoon’s Nassau Conference II football semifi nal at Hofstra, but also Mother Nature.

“I don’t think I’ve ever been this drenched in my life,” Mepham head coach Matt Moody said. “At times, I couldn’t see plays develop. It was crazy.”

Torrential rain, wind, punts and turnovers dominated three scoreless quarters before the Pirates finally broke through in the fourth with a pair of touchdowns for a 14-0 victory. Mepham, which last won a county title in 1952, advanced to face six-time defending champion Garden City next Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Hofstra for the crown.

“We found a way to win and we’re looking forward to next week,” said Mepham senior quarterback/line backer Dominick Novello, who opened the scoring with 7:58 remaining on a 2-yard touchdown run and was part of a smothering defensive effort with 8 tackles and a pair of sacks. “We’re excited to get a rematch with Garden City,” he added.

Long Beach (7-3) had two chances to take the lead early in the fourth quar ter but had one field-goal attempt sail wide and another blocked by Mepham’s senior Nick Walker. Follow ing the block by Walker, the Pirates drove 60 yards behind senior Dylan Dunn (45) for the eventual winning score.

“I don’t think any of us thought the game was going to go south, but we were minus-3 in turnovers in the first half and it was still a 0-0 tie,” Moody said. “We knew we had to do a better job protecting the ball and things final ly shifted in our favor in the fourth quarter.”

With the weather conditions basi cally eliminating the passing attack for both offenses, Moody wanted to give Dunn, one of Mepham’s receivers, some touches out of the backfield. “Dylan provided a spark we hadn’t had all game,” Moody said. “We wanted to get the ball into his hands somehow.”

Trailing 7-0, the Marines fumbled away their ensuing possession. Senior Christopher Norris recovered for Mepham (9-1) on the Long Beach 18. Five plays later, Novello lost a slip pery ball at the goal line but junior Steven Mulqueen pounced on the fumble in the end zone for a touch

down with 4:28 left.

“I was super happy Mulqueen was there to recover it,” Novello said.

Long Beach, which lost 28-13 at Mepham in Week 6 of the regular sea son, was held to just 51 yards of total offense.

“The weather conditions didn’t play to our strength,” Long Beach head coach Scott Martin said. “We’re a pass ing team. We averaged 230 yards pass ing a game. We couldn’t get the ball into the hands of our playmakers.”

The Marines defeated New Hyde Park in the opening round of the play offs, 27-14. Senior quarterback Jeff Conway threw three touchdown pass es, giving him 21 on the year.

“The rain and wind eliminated the passing, but I still thought our defense did an incredible job,” said Moody, who praised the performances of Novello, Norris, Walker, Ryan Thier and Bren dan Toomey.

Mepham’s only loss came Week 5 at Garden City, 35-18.

“They’re the gold standard,” Moody said of the top-seeded and unbeaten Trojans. “We spotted them too many points in the first half when we played. We know it’s going to be tough, but we’re proud to be in the position we’re in.”

Donovan Berthoud/Herald SENIOr LIBErO BrIaN Sanchez helped the Colts capture their second county championship in three seasons with a sweep of Roslyn.

Keith O’Reilly/Herald

DOMINIck NOvELLO aND the Pirates will take on six-time defending county champion Garden City in the Conference II title game.

Thanking those who volunteer their time

Temple Beth Am, reform Jewish congregation of Merrick-Bellmore, honors past presidents

Temple Beth Am, the reform Jewish congregation of Merrick and Bell more, celebrated its past presi dents at a special dinner.

The congregation — which seeks to balance tradition with human needs of the past, present and future — felt the time was right to honor past presidents.

Lori Boccadoro, current co-president of the congregation with Nicole Miller, told the Herald that being congregation president is a voluntary position, and a

labor of love, that largely gets no recogni tion.

An awards ceremony and dinner was held in the social at Temple Beth Am, located at 277 Merrick Ave., Merrick.

Those honored were:

■ Hal Horowitz, 1988-1991

■ Allen Bender, 1991-1993, 2005-2009

■ Bill Levine, 2005-2010

■ Charles Rosenblum, 2010-2012

■ Pamela Brandenberger, 2012-2014

■ David Plass, 2014-2016

■ Paul Ross, 2016-2019

■ Shari Waissbach, 2016-2019

■ Michael Krassner, 2019-2021

■ Elizabeth Roth, 2019-2021

■ Jeff Newman, 2021-2022

■ Lori Boccadoro, 2021-2022

The temple also honored past presi dents from Temple Shaari Shalom, which merged with Temple Beth Am.

Those honored were:

■ Jerald Herman, 1983-1985, 1999-2001

■ Steven Girgenti, 1990-1991

—Jordan Vallone

Jim Green/Herald

Temple BeTh Am honored its past presidents at a special ceremony over the weekend.

Herald Sc H ool S

say

In honor of School Board Recogni tion Month, members of the Bell more-Merrick Central High School District’s fine and performing arts classes presented artwork and offered a musical performance that reflects this year’s theme of Pathways-Path-Purpose.

“This board is made up of dedicated and caring people and we wanted to thank you for your unwavering support fine and performing arts,” Cheryl Fon tana, the director of fine & performing arts and adult education said.

Both art clubs from Grand and Mer rick Avenue middle schools collaborat ed to create a path which referenced the book, “What the Road Said” by Cleo Wade. Each rock was handmade and decorated by the students under the advisement of art teachers Heather Cordeira and Nick Giordano organized the effort.

“Each rock also contains quotes that remind us of our journey and pur pose,” Giordano explained.

“We are truly grateful that your path led you to be a leader in our community and to serve on our school board,” Cor deira added.

ious mediums to make this collage come together as one image.

Rachel Shapiro, a music teacher at John F. Kennedy High School, directed

JFK Voices in an a cappella version of ‘Can’t Help Falling In Love.”

Heather Lohr’s students from the district’s Prep Academy Art 3 students included a mosaic of the program’s mascot, the Huskies. Students used var

–Jordan Vallone

Courtesy Bellmore-Merrick Central High School

Both art cluBs from Grand and Merrick Avenue middle schools collaborated to create a path of rocks into artwork.

Alumni association looks ahead to annual events

By JORDAN VALLONE jvallone@liherald.com

The Sanford H. Calhoun High School Alumni Asso ciation has a couple of things it strives to do — connect Calhoun’s graduates and highlight their accomplishments, and inspire future, graduating classes to be the best they can be. With the end of the year quickly approaching, the association is working towards wrapping up its annual festivities with its Fri day After Thanksgiving party — better known among members as the “F.A.T Party” — and by taking applica tions for its Alumni Hall of Fame.

The alumni association has been together for about 30 years, although within the last 15 years, it has picked up more momentum, Donovan Berthoud, a board member explained. Berthoud, who graduated from Calhoun in 1975, works in the IT department of Hewlett High School, and is also a freelance photographer for the Herald.

“The people that support us are people that are very passionate about Calhoun,” Berthoud said. “When I went there, that was my day, going to Calhoun, going to class, and being in the building. I was very excited to be there, and I am very excited to be a part of the alumni associa tion.”

In the past, the association would have an annual gathering at Belmont Park, where a Calhoun alumnus worked. When he moved, Berthoud said, that gathering tapered off. Recently, however, the association started to get back together at a party — on the Friday after Thanksgiving.

That annual party is fast approaching, and will take place on Nov. 25 at Tropix on the Bayou in Freeport.

The event will be free to enter, and half prized appetiz ers will be served. There will be a “Pick-A-Prize Auc tion,” and donations from that will help the association

create awards and sponsor scholarships for graduating high school students. These students will be awarded likely sometime in May, when a Senior Awards Night usually takes place.

Tropix on the Bayou is at 301 Woodcleft Ave., Freeport and the party will start at 7 p.m. For more information on the party, call (516) 330-2720.

Being able to give back to future generations and honor past graduates is what the association is all about, fellow board member Denise Murphy McGraw explained. McGraw graduated in 1985, and joined the association within the last couple of years. Though she currently resides upstate where she runs a government

relations firm in Albany, she still has a strong connection to Merrick, and Calhoun.

In addition to the party, the association is taking appli cations for its Hall of Fame through Dec. 1 — and its open to virtually anyone who’s graduated from Calhoun.

“It’s for all graduates, not just athletes,” Berthoud said. “A lot of times when we see awards at high schools, people are thinking athletes — they’re not thinking that there’s doctors, lawyers, entertainers out there that have done something over the last 20 years and that they deserve to be in the hall of fame.”

“I think that really what’s so special about it is that there’s a lot of untold stories in our community,” McGraw added. “People have become very, very success ful, based on their experiences in our community, grow ing up and going to Calhoun.

“I think it serves as an inspiration for current stu dents, and it gets more people engaged and it celebrates our community,” she went on. “I think at the end of the day, what we really always hope to do is be able to cele brate Calhoun.”

The association has a committee in place that will be vetting all applications, McGraw said. People can nomi nate themselves to be inducted, or nominate someone else. Once the applications are processed, the association will inform those being inducted by the end of January, and an awards ceremony will take place in April. Retired teachers and staff will also be honored.

Requests for information about the application can be sent to CalhounAlumni2@gmail.com.

“We’re just a volunteer organization — we have virtu ally no overhead,” McGraw said. “We really just try to focus on the alumni in the community — and throughout the country — and focus on the next generation, and those kids that are really doing outstanding things as current students.”

Courtesy Calhoun Alumni Association ThE SANfORD h. Calhoun Alumni Association is closing out the year with its annual Friday After Thanksgiving party. Free to enter, the party raises money through raffles to go towards scholarships for current students.

A week later, Moller looks back on her experience

self a bit more, she explained.

“During the pandemic, we were so bored, and we would do challenges,” she said. “That really got me into running, and wanting to run more.”

In the spring of 2020, she started a “run streak,” chal lenging herself to run a mile every day. The streak began on Memorial Day, and she intend ed to end it on July 4, but she realized it was easy, and conve nient that the dead-end street she lives on was a quarter-mile loop.

“I would run my block four times,” she said. “I’m a single mom, so when my kids were home, they played in my deadend street, and I could watch them the entire time. I was able to do this mile every day because it was conducive to where I lived.”

Moller extended the chal lenge to succeeding holidays — Labor Day, then Veterans Day, and eventually she was com mitted to making it an entire year.

That was when everything suddenly changed.

Sue Moller picked up running later in life, and just days before her first half-marathon, she was diag nosed with breast cancer. Now a two-time New York City marathon finisher, Moller said she believes any one has what it takes to be a runner.

She signed up to run her first virtual half-marathon in March 2021. Just two days before the race, which she planned to run at Cedar Creek Park in Seaford, she was diagnosed with breast cancer.

The race, which she had trained so long for, should have been a breeze, but with the diagnosis, Moller felt a whirl wind of emotions and a lot of uncertainty about her future as a runner.

“We pulled up to the start line, and my friend was like, ‘Are you ready?”’ Moller recounted. “Running-wise I was ready, but I felt like I’d gotten the (crap) kicked out of me emotionally.

“I had a sub-two-hour time,” she added, “which was my only goal. I said, listen, if I’m never running again, this is how I’m going out.”

Moller underwent a double mastecto my that April, and continued to run a mile every day up until the surgery. She even woke up early on the morning of the operation, just after midnight, and went for a run. Her run streak fell just short of a year, at 323 days.

“My motto now, going forward, is make it to 324,” she said. “Just make it to the next day. It doesn’t matter about the year — just make it one day more.”

After her surgery, she didn’t need che motherapy or radiation treatments, and after eight weeks of recovery, she began training for the 2021 New York City Mara thon.

It’s not easy to enter the race, the larg est marathon in the world in terms of participation. It attracts some 50,000 run ners annually, most of whom get into the race on a lottery system, or by joining a charity organization that sponsors a par ticipating team.

In her first year as a marathoner, Moller got into the field by joining Memo rial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center’s char ity team, known as Fred’s Team. She raised $6,800, with 100 percent of the pro ceeds going to cancer research, and fin ished with a time of 4 hours, 55 minutes, 33 seconds.

This year, she secured a spot by way of the lottery. The weather two Sundays ago made the race absolutely brutal — and it was something that no runner was fully prepared for. Typically, temperatures are in the 40s or 50s, with little humidity. The high on race day, Nov. 6, was 74 degrees, with 86 percent humidity.

“It was terrible,” Moller said. “I car ried water, which I never usually do. It was a tough race — it makes your lungs hurt, breathing in thick air. There were a lot more people walking, so it was hard to get around people. Everyone was cramp ing — I carried salts with me too.

“But I finished it,” she added, “and considering I’ve only been running for a couple years, I guess it’s pretty cool.”

She crossed the finish line in 5:12:24, and despite being disappointed that she didn’t beat her time from last year, Moller said she knew she was going to finish, even though she had to take some walking breaks toward the end of the race.

Even after everything she has been through in the past couple of years, she said she still believes anyone has what it takes to become a runner, just like she did.

“There’s a lot of roadblocks,” Moller said, “but as long as you stick with it every day, and just go out and do (that) mile, whether you’re walking or running, like I first did when I started, gradually it just becomes easier and easier.”

Courtesy Sue Moller

STEPPING OUT

Let’s talk about Bruno — and Anna and Elsa, too

Step inside an enchanting adventure in Disney on Ice’s

YES: Close to the Edge Tour

By Karen Bloom

As the calendar moves through November, another ice extravaganza from the Disney folks is sure to find its way here. This season’s production brings together two of Disney’s blockbuster films as the beloved stories come to life on ice — “as never before,” according to the Disney folks.

The spectacle, which runs through Nov. 20 at UBS Arena in Elmont, transports audiences to the heart of the icy world in

WHERE WHEN

• Now through Sunday, Nov. 20. Times vary.

Tickets start at $20 (pricing may fluctuate based on demand); available at Ticketmaster.com

Arendelle and the Madrigal family’s casita in Columbia. And, of course, the action is guided by everyone’s favorite “hosts” — Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Goofy — who keep the energetic show moving along

each segment.

control the weather with her emotions. Her husband, Felix. Their daughter Dolores, with her gift to hear. And, yes, the mysterious Bruno, the misunderstood Madrigal family member whose visions foretold the future.

Think of this production as a singalong on ice, accompanied by dramatic skating. From beginning to end, audiences are immediately drawn to their favorite tunes, highlighted, of course, by the power ballad “Let It Go” and the boppy “We Don’t Talk About Bruno.”

The pioneering rockers are back on stage in celebration of the 50th anniversary of their famed album, ‘Close to the Edge.’ With an ever growing fan base, YES continues to electrify audiences with daunting virtuosity, complex musical textures and powerful lead vocals. ‘Close to the Edge’ is widely considered one of their most defining albums, not only for YES but for the whole progressive movement. It became an inspiration for their contemporaries and for successive generations of musicians. Experience an unforgettable evening of YES at its best, featuring its existential prog masterworks and instrumental pyrotechnics. The band — featuring core members Steve Howe on guitars along with keyboardist Geoff Downes, singer Jon Davison and bassist Billy Sherwood — will play the iconic album in its entirety plus a set of classic YES hits.

world of “Frozen,’ narrated by Olaf, the lovable snowman who likes warm hugs and all winter. and bring back summer.

“I’m extremely proud of this show,” says Artistic Director Adam Loosely. “Disney on Ice continues to combine athletics and skating to tell a really good story. This particular production is all about contrasts (from design and costume to storyline) from the cold blues of ‘Frozen’ to the warm South American culture and colors of ‘Encanto.’ It comes together in such a meaningful way.”

who charm everyone in We

family home alongside her sisters: Isabela — whose perfection radiates with her ability to make plants grow and flowers bloom with every step — and Luisa, with the gift of super strength that she

After the dramatic opening sequence, you’ll enter the all things summer. He’ll take everyone to Arendelle to help Anna find Elsa, whose icy powers unleashed an eternal winter. Kristoff and Sven will be there, too, as they race to bring back summer. Then it’s time to visit with the Madrigals, that extraordinary family who charm everyone in “Encanto.” We follow Mirabel’s quest to save the casita, her enchanted uses to help her village move buildings and reroute rivers. Meet Tia Pepa, who can

Stepping in to helm the production as firsttime artistic director, Loosely admits to feeling what he described as “a little anxiety initially during the process. “My nerves started to fade away when I realized the whole (creative) team had the same vision. ‘Frozen’ has resonated with people for years and years. It seems we can’t have an ice show without ‘Let It Go.’”

As for “Encanto,” audiences are seeing these characters on ice for the first time. “The response has been really rewarding for our cast,” Loosely says.

And for that cast, Loosely points out that the production is much more than a retelling of the two movies. The skaters’ athleticism shines in their displays of aerial acrobatics and skating technique, setting the tone with the opening number. “It truly highlights the talent of the cast, with solos, pairs and plenty of skating style changes.”

“It’s a beautiful, optimistic show, which we need after two plus years of the pandemic,” he adds. “Spend two hours and leave with a smile on your face. We all deserve that.”

Two

Saturday, Nov. 19, 8 p.m. NYCB Theatre at Westbury, 960 Brush Hollow Road, Westbury. Tickets are available at TheTheatreAtWestbury. com, LiveNation.com or (516) 247-5200.

Kirk Whalum

A familiar presence on the Madison Theatre stage with his gospel concerts, Kirk Whalum returns with a performance that demonstrates his versatile command of his sax and devotion to jazz in all its forms. Soulful, passionate, stirring — these are the words most often used to describe Whalum’s music. Forged from his Memphis, Tennessee, gospel roots and his 1980s initiation into the thriving Houston nightclub scene, Whalum’s big, rich tenor sound is unmistakably his. An ordained minister, he is the recipient of numerous awards and acknowledgments for his musical excellence, including a Grammy (2011) for Best Gospel Song (‘It’s What I Do,’ featuring Lalah Hathaway). In a career spanning decades, Whalum has a sound that is uniquely his — a sound that leaves an indelible imprint.

Saturday, Nov. 19, 8 p.m. $40-$95. Madison Theatre, Molloy University campus, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre. (516) 323-4444 or MadisonTheatreNY.org.

Photos courtesy Feld Entertainment

Photo:

popular movies from the Disney canon become one in an ice skating spectacle that shares the message: You are the magic.

Hempstead Turnpike, Elmont through

THE SCENE

Nov. 21

District Vocal Music Showcase

The Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District hosts the District Vocal Music Showcase featuring its five premiere choral groups, at Calhoun High School, 1786 State St., Merrick, on Monday, Nov. 21, at 7 p.m. Admission is free and open to the public. The Music Department will be collecting donations for the BMCHSD food pantry, the Community Cupboard.

Nov. 29

SMCCA General Meeting

On stage

Plaza Theatrical continues its season with “Grumpy Old Men: The Musical,” Saturday, Nov. 19, 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, Nov. 20, 2:30 p.m.. Also continuing Nov. 26-Dec. 3. Based on the beloved 1993 film, which starred Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau and Ann-Margret, this stage adaptation captures the lovably crotchety characters through twinkling humor, great songs, and the affectionate depiction of a small town that feels like home to everyone. It’s performed at Plaza’s stage at the Elmont Library Theatre, 700 Hempstead Tpke., Elmont. $49, $45 seniors. Elmont. For tickets, call (516) 599-6870 or visit PlazaTheatrical.com.

Volunteer Opportunity

Brian Stokes Mitchell

Two-time Tony Award winner Brian Stokes Mitchell brings his “Songs and Stories” concert, to Tilles Center, Saturday, Nov. 19, 7:30 p.m., performing classic standards and soaring showstoppers from his celebrated career. In this joyous and elegant evening of glorious songs and personal storytelling, on the LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Boulevard, Brookville, the star of “Ragtime,” “Man of La Mancha” and “Kiss, Me Kate,” among others, will serenade audiences with his powerful baritone, accompanied his long-time pianist and collaborator, Tedd Firth. Tickets are $62, available at TillesCenter.org or (516) 299-3100.

Nov. 19

The South Merrick Community Civic Association will hold its next general meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 29, 7 p.m., at Merrick Golf Course Clubhouse, 2550 Clubhouse Road, Merrick. All residents welcome to attend. Call (516) 978-8310.

Want to brush up on your farming techniques, and contribute to a community garden? Every Wednesday, 3 to 5 p.m., and every Saturday, 9 a.m. to noon, visit the Garden at St. Francis, 1692 Bellmore Avenue, North Bellmore, to help with garden tasks. Open to everyone, regardless of physical abilities. For more information, call (516) 6791184.

On exhibit

Photography’s ascent in the art world is an international phenomenon. Nassau County Museum of Art’s star-studded exhibition spans the historical roots of the medium, opening Saturday, Nov. 19. View works by Ansel Adams and his generation and the thrilling, large-format color works of such contemporary masters as Cindy Sherman, Thomas Struth, James Casebere and Gregory Crewdson, among others. From the documentary to the painterly, images bear witness to the times. On view through March 5. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. (516) 484-9337 or NassauMuseum.org.

Holiday Concert with Tom Polito & Friends

Tom Polito & Friends will be at the North Bellmore Public Library on Dec. 4 to play a mix of holiday favorites and classic songs in pop, swing and R&B. The show is guaranteed to put you in the festive spirit. 2 p.m., 1551 Newbridge Road, Bellmore. Call (516) 785-6260 for more.

Name that Opera: Opera in Film and TV

Stop by the North Bellmore Public Library, Monday, Nov. 28, 6 p.m., for a fun filled evening of opera clips from various films and TV shows. From the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air to the WWE, explore opera in unexpected ways,with Tanisha Mitchell. 1551 Newbridge Road, Bellmore. Call (516) 7856260 for more information.

Jewish Community in Italy during WWII

Dr. Stanislao Pugliese, a Fulbright Scholar and professor of modern European history, and specialist on modern Italy, the anti-facist resistance, Italian Jews, will be at the North Bellmore Public Library on Tuesday, Nov. 29 for a special event. 2 p.m., 1551 Newbridge Road, Bellmore. Call (516) 785-6260 for more information.

Holiday fun

Visit the streets of 19th century London during the darkest days of the year, in this adaption of the classic “A Christmas Carol,” with the Experiential Theater Company, Friday and Saturday, Nov. 25-26, 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.; also Wednesday, Nov. 30, 10:15 a.m. and noon, on the Long Island Children’s Museum stage. Meet the Cratchit family, Mr. Scrooge, and the ghosts of past, present and future in this interactive show that weaves together music, humor, puppetry and collaboration. Celebrate the change of seasons through this beloved literary tale. Performances continue through December. Long Island Children’s Museum, Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 224-5800 or LICM.org.

Having an event?

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.

Let’s sing with Barry

Join Barry for a musical journey featuring the immigrant experience, songs from around the world, and popular American folk ballads and classics, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2 p.m., at North Merrick Library, 1691 Meadowbrook Rd. Whether you know the words, or only the melodies, this nostalgic program will delight both young and old, and those in between. Registration is ongoing now. Contact (516) 378-7474 for more information.

Oh Baby!

Mercy Hospital invites moms-to-be to a community baby shower, Saturday, Nov. 19, noon-2 p.m. Meet with physicians, lactation specialist, mother/baby nurses, and other hospital personnel with raffles, giveaways for mom and baby(s), games and more. The free event takes place in Mercy’s employee cafeteria, lower level, 1000 North Village Avenue, Rockville Centre. For information visit CHSLI.org or call (516) 626-3729.

Public Notices

NOTICE TO BIDDERS

VENDOR____________

Sealed proposals will be received by the Board of Education, BellmoreMerrick Central High School District, Town of Hempstead, Nassau County, Merrick, New York, at the Business Office, 1260 Meadowbrook Road, North Merrick, New York ll566-1500, for the following categories up to the times on the dates indicated: December 12, 2022 10:00 A.M.

Diploma Printing and then at said office publicly opened and read aloud. All information for bidders, specifications and bid forms may be obtained at the abovementioned address. The Board of Education, Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District, reserves the right to waive any informalities in, or to reject any or all bids, or to accept that bid, or any part of that bid, which in its judgment is for the best interests of the School District. All bid awards are pending budget approval.

The School District may receive bids for the above listed items periodically during the 2022-2023 school year, if necessary. These bids will not be readvertised for this purpose. The frequency of bid solicitations will be determined by operating requirements.

By order:Board of Education Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District

By: Melisa Stiles School Business Administrator & Purchasing Agent 135509

LEGAL NOTICE

AVISO DE REUNIÓN EXTRAORDINARIA DEL DISTRITO DISTRITO ESCOLAR NORTH BELLMORE UNION FREE, EN EL CONDADO DE NASSAU, NUEVA YORK

POR LA PRESENTE, SE NOTIFICA que la Junta de Educación del Distrito Escolar de North Bellmore Union Free, en el condado de Nassau, Nueva York, ha adoptado una resolución el 13 de octubre de 2022, que autoriza una reunión extraordinaria de Distrito para los votantes calificados de dicho distrito escolar, que se celebrará el: Jueves 8 de diciembre de 2022 de 6:00 a. m. a 9:00 p. m. (hora vigente) en:

EL GIMNASIO DE NEWBRIDGE ROAD SCHOOL

1601 Newbridge Road, Bellmore, Nueva York con el propósito de votar sobre las siguientes propuestas:

PROPUESTA SE RESUELVE:

(a) Que, por la presente, se autoriza a la Junta de Educación del Distrito Escolar de North Bellmore Union Free, en el condado de Nassau, Nueva York (el “Distrito”) a emprender un proyecto de mejora de las instalaciones escolares (el “Proyecto”), sustancialmente como se refiere y describe en un plan preparado por el arquitecto John A. Grillo, PC, Port Jefferson, Nueva York (el “Plan”), archivado y disponible para su inspección pública en la oficina de la Secretaria del Distrito. Dicho Proyecto consiste en la instalación de unidades nuevas de ventilación con capacidad de aire acondicionado, incluidas todas las mejoras eléctricas y de plomería necesarias y relacionadas, en todos los edificios del Distrito; mejoras en el patio de recreo; mampostería exterior, mejoras en virtud de la Ley sobre Estadounidenses con Discapacidades (ADA) y en el cerramiento del edificio; y reemplazos de claraboyas y puertas; y lo anterior para incluir el equipo original, la maquinaria, los aparatos y todo el trabajo de obra necesario, las alteraciones y el trabajo auxiliar requerido en relación con ello; y para gastar en ello, incluidos los costos preliminares y los costos incidentales a ello y la financiación correspondiente, un monto que no exceda el costo total estimado de $39,018,234; siempre y cuando los costos de los componentes del Proyecto como se establece en detalle en el Plan puedan reasignarse entre los componentes de dicho Proyecto si la Junta de Educación determina que tal reasignación obrará en favor de los intereses del Distrito; (b) Que, por la presente, se vota un gravamen por un monto que no excederá los $39,018,234 para financiar ese costo, y ese gravamen se exigirá y cobrará en cuotas en la cantidad de años y en los montos que determine dicha Junta de Educación; y (c) Que, en previsión de dicho gravamen y por la presente, se autoriza la emisión de bonos del Distrito por un monto total de capital que no debe exceder los $39,018,234 y, por la presente, se vota un gravamen para pagar los intereses de dichos bonos en el momento de su vencimiento y exigibilidad.

Dicha propuesta aparecerá en la boleta electoral usada para votar en la reunión extraordinaria de Distrito antes mencionada en forma sustancialmente abreviada:

PROPUESTA

(a) Que, por la presente, se autoriza a la Junta de Educación del Distrito Escolar de North Bellmore Union Free, en el condado de Nassau, Nueva York (el “Distrito”) a instalar unidades nuevas de ventilación con capacidad de aire acondicionado, incluidas todas las mejoras necesarias y relacionadas de plomería y electricidad, en todos los edificios del Distrito; mejorar los patios de recreo; construcción de mampostería exterior, mejoras en virtud de la ADA y en el cerramiento del edificio; y reemplazar las claraboyas y puertas, todo de acuerdo con un plan preparado para el Distrito por el arquitecto John A. Grillo PC, Port Jefferson, Nueva York, y gastar para ello un máximo de $39,018,234; (b) que, por la presente, se vota un gravamen por un monto que no exceda los $39,018,234 para financiar tal costo; dicho gravamen se impondrá y recaudará en cuotas en los años y los montos que determine dicha Junta de Educación; y (c) que, en anticipación a dicho gravamen, se autoriza por la presente la emisión de bonos del Distrito por el monto principal agregado que no excede los $39,018,234 y, por la presente, se vota un gravamen para pagar el interés de dichos bonos en el momento de su vencimiento y exigibilidad.

La votación se realizará mediante boleta electoral en máquinas de votación o boletas físicas, según lo estipulado en la Ley de Educación, y las urnas permanecerán abiertas de 6:00 a. m. a 9:00 p. m. (hora vigente), durante el tiempo que sea necesario para que los votantes presentes en ese momento puedan emitir su voto.

SE NOTIFICA ADEMÁS que, conforme a la sección 2014 de la Ley de Educación, se requiere que los votantes se inscriban personalmente; aquellas personas cuyos nombres no aparezcan en el registro del Distrito no podrán votar en la reunión extraordinaria del Distrito. El registro de votantes para el Distrito estará abierto hasta el sábado 3 de diciembre de 2022 inclusive, de 9:00 a. m. a 3:00 p. m. (hora vigente), todos los días del año escolar, en la Oficina del Distrito, JG Dinkelmeyer Elementary School, Newbridge Road Elementary School, Park Avenue Elementary School y Saw Mill Road Elementary School, con el fin de preparar un registro de los votantes calificados del Distrito para dicha reunión extraordinaria del Distrito, en cuyo momento cualquier

persona tendrá derecho a que su nombre se incluya en dicho registro, siempre que se sepa o se demuestre que tiene derecho a votar en ese momento o posteriormente en dicha reunión extraordinaria del Distrito para la cual se prepara dicho registro. Inmediatamente después de su finalización, el registro se archivará en la oficina de la Secretaria del Distrito, sita en 2616 Marlin Avenue, Bellmore, Nueva York, y estará abierto para su inspección por cualquier votante calificado del Distrito entre las 9:00 a. m. y las 3:00 p. m. (hora vigente) en cada uno de los cinco (5) días anteriores a la reunión especial del Distrito para la que se preparó, excepto el domingo, y el sábado 3 de diciembre de 2022 de 9:00 a. m. a 11:00 a. m.

TAMBIÉN SE NOTIFICA que, de acuerdo con la sección 2018-a de la Ley de Educación, las solicitudes de boletas electorales por ausencia pueden solicitarse en la oficina de la Secretaria del Distrito. La Secretaria del Distrito deberá recibir las solicitudes de voto por ausencia no antes de los treinta (30) días previos a la elección. Además, dichas solicitudes deben presentarse ante la Secretaria del Distrito al menos siete (7) días antes de la reunión extraordinaria del Distrito si la boleta electoral debe enviarse por correo al votante, o el día anterior a la reunión extraordinaria del Distrito si la boleta electoral debe entregarse personalmente al votante o a su agente designado. Al recibir una solicitud oportuna de un voto por ausencia por correo, la Secretaria del Distrito enviará el voto a la dirección indicada en la solicitud a más tardar seis (6) días antes de la fecha de la reunión extraordinaria del Distrito. No se escrutará ninguna boleta de voto por ausencia, a menos que se haya recibido en la oficina de la Secretaria del Distrito a más tardar a las 5:00 p. m. (hora vigente) del día de la reunión extraordinaria del Distrito.

Una lista de todas las personas a las que se han emitido boletas electorales por ausencia estará disponible en la oficina de la Secretaria del Distrito, sita en 2616 Martin Avenue, North Bellmore, Nueva York, a partir de la emisión de la primera boleta electoral por ausencia y durante el horario normal de trabajo en cada uno de los cinco (5) días anteriores al día de la reunión extraordinaria del Distrito, de 9:00 a. m. a 3:00 p. m. (hora vigente) excepto el domingo y el sábado 3 de diciembre de 2022, de 9:00 a. m. a 11:00 p. m. (hora vigente). Dicha lista

también estará disponible en el lugar de votación en la fecha de la reunión extraordinaria del Distrito. No se escrutará ninguna boleta electoral de un votante ausente a menos que se haya recibido en la oficina de la Secretaria del Distrito a más tardar a las 5:00 p. m. (hora vigente) del día de la reunión extraordinaria del Distrito.

TAMBIÉN SE NOTIFICA que tendrá derecho a votar en la reunión extraordinaria del Distrito toda persona que sea ciudadana de los Estados Unidos, tenga dieciocho años de edad, sea residente del Distrito durante un período de treinta días inmediatamente anterior a la elección o a la reunión extraordinaria del Distrito en que se ofrezca votar y esté registrada para votar en dicha elección o reunión extraordinaria del Distrito. Una persona estará inscrita para votar si se ha registrado permanentemente en la Junta Electoral del condado de Nassau o en la Junta de Registros del distrito escolar. Solo las personas inscritas tendrán derecho a votar.

TAMBIÉN SE NOTIFICA que los votantes militares que no estén registrados actualmente pueden solicitar su inscripción como votantes calificados del distrito escolar. Los votantes militares que sean votantes calificados del distrito escolar podrán enviar una solicitud de boleta electoral militar. Estos votantes pueden indicar su preferencia de recibir un registro de votante militar, una solicitud de boleta electoral militar o una boleta electoral militar por correo postal, fax o correo electrónico en su pedido de dicho registro, solicitud de boleta electoral o boleta electoral. Los formularios de inscripción de votantes militares y los formularios de solicitud de boleta electoral militar deben recibirse en la oficina de la Secretaria de Distrito del distrito escolar a más tardar a las 5:00 p. m. (hora vigente) del 14 de noviembre de 2022. No se escrutará ninguna boleta electoral militar a menos que (1) se reciba en la oficina de la Secretaria del Distrito antes del cierre de las urnas el día de la reunión extraordinaria del Distrito y muestre una marca de cancelación del servicio postal de los Estados Unidos o del servicio postal de un país extranjero, o muestre un endoso fechado de recepción por otra agencia del gobierno de los Estados Unidos; o (2) se reciba en la oficina de la Secretaria del Distrito a más tardar a las 5:00 p. m. (hora vigente) del día de la reunión extraordinaria del Distrito

y esté firmada y fechada por el votante militar y un testigo correspondiente, con una fecha que se asocia a más tardar el día anterior a la reunión extraordinaria del Distrito.

POR ORDEN DE LA JUNTA DE EDUCACIÓN Fecha: 13 de octubre de 2022

LAURICE GUNNELS Secretaria del Distrito 135124

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SPECIAL DISTRICT MEETING NORTH BELLMORE UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT, IN THE COUNTY OF NASSAU, NEW YORK NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Board of Education of the North Bellmore Union Free School District, in the County of Nassau, New York, has adopted a resolution on October 13, 2022, authorizing a Special District Meeting of the qualified voters of said School District to be held on: Thursday, December 8, 2022 from 6:00 o’clock A.M. to 9:00 o’clock P.M. (Prevailing Time) at: NEWBRIDGE ROAD SCHOOL GYMNASIUM 1601 Newbridge Road, Bellmore, New York for the purpose of voting upon the following Proposition: PROPOSITION RESOLVED: (a) That the Board of Education of the North Bellmore Union Free School District, in the County of Nassau, New York (the “District”), is hereby authorized to undertake a school facilities improvement project (the “Project”), substantially as referred to and described in a plan prepared by John A. Grillo, Architect, P.C., Port Jefferson, New York (the “Plan”), on file and available for public inspection at the office of the District Clerk, said Project consisting of the installation of new air ventilation units with air conditioning capabilities, including all necessary and related plumbing and electrical upgrades, in all District buildings; playground upgrades; exterior masonry, ADA and building envelope improvements; and skylight and door replacements; and the foregoing to include the original equipment, machinery, apparatus and all necessary sitework, alterations and ancillary work required in connection therewith; and to expend therefor, including preliminary costs and costs incidental thereto and to the financing thereof, an amount not to exceed the estimated total cost of $39,018,234; provided that the costs of the components of the Project as set forth in detail in the Plan may be reallocated among the

components of such Project if the Board of Education shall determine that such reallocation is in the best interests of the District;

(b) that a tax is hereby voted in the amount of not to exceed $39,018,234 to finance such cost, such tax to be levied and collected in installments in such years and in such amounts as shall be determined by said Board of Education; and (c) that in anticipation of said tax, bonds of the District are hereby authorized to be issued in the aggregate principal amount of not to exceed $39,018,234 and a tax is hereby voted to pay the interest on said bonds as the same shall become due and payable.

Such Proposition shall appear on the ballot used for voting at said Special District Meeting in substantially the following abbreviated form:

PROPOSITION YES NO RESOLVED: (a) That the Board of Education of the North Bellmore Union Free School District, in the County of Nassau, New York (the “District”), is hereby authorized to install new air ventilation units with air conditioning capabilities, including all necessary and related plumbing and electrical upgrades, in all District buildings; upgrade playgrounds; construct exterior masonry, ADA and building envelope improvements; and replace skylights and doors, all in accordance with a plan prepared for the District by John A. Grillo Architect, P.C., Port Jefferson, New York, and to expend therefor not to exceed $39,018,234; (b) that a tax is hereby voted in the amount of not to exceed $39,018,234 to finance such cost, such tax to be levied and collected in installments in such years and in such amounts as shall be determined by said Board of Education; and (c) that in anticipation of said tax, bonds of the District are hereby authorized to be issued in the aggregate principal amount of not to exceed $39,018,234 and a tax is hereby voted to pay the interest on said bonds as the same shall become due and payable. The voting will be conducted by ballot on voting machines or paper ballots as provided in the Education Law and the polls will remain open from 6:00 o’clock A.M. to 9:00 o’clock P.M. (Prevailing Time) and as much longer as may be necessary to enable the voters then present to cast their ballots.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that pursuant to Education Law §2014 personal registration of

voters is required, and no person shall be entitled to vote at the Special District Meeting whose name does not appear on the register of the District. Voter registration for the District will be ongoing through and including Saturday, December 3, 2022, from 9:00 o’clock A.M. until 3:00 o’clock P.M. (Prevailing Time), on all school days of the school year, at the District Office, J. G. Dinkelmeyer Elementary School, Newbridge Road Elementary School, Park Avenue Elementary School and Saw Mill Road Elementary School, for the purpose of preparing a register of the qualified voters of the District for said Special District Meeting, at which time any person shall be entitled to have his/her name placed upon such register, provided that he/she is known or proven to be then or thereafter entitled to vote at said Special District Meeting for which such register is prepared. Immediately upon its completion, the register will be filed in the office of the District Clerk, 2616 Martin Avenue, Bellmore, New York, and will be open for inspection by any qualified voter of the District between the hours of 9:00 o’clock A.M. and 3:00 o’clock P.M. (Prevailing Time) on each of the five (5) days prior to the Special District Meeting for which it was prepared, except Sunday, and on Saturday, December 3, 2022 between the hours of 9:00 o’clock A.M. and 11:00 o’clock A.M.

NOTICE IS FURTHER

GIVEN that pursuant to Education Law 2018-a applications for absentee ballots may be applied for at the office of the District Clerk. Applications for absentee ballots must be received by the District Clerk no earlier than thirty (30) days before the election. Furthermore, such applications must be received by the District Clerk at least seven (7) days before the Special District Meeting if the ballot is to be mailed to the voter, or the day before the Special District Meeting if the ballot is to be delivered personally to the voter or his/her designated agent. Upon receiving a timely request for a mailed absentee ballot, the District Clerk will mail the ballot to the address set forth in the application by no later than six (6) days before the date of the Special District Meeting. No absentee voter’s ballot will be canvassed unless it has been received in the office of the District Clerk not later than 5:00 o’clock P.M. (Prevailing Time) on the day of the Special District Meeting. A list of all persons to whom absentee ballots shall have been issued will be available in the

SÍ NO SE RESUELVE:

Public Notices

office of the District Clerk, 2616 Martin Avenue, North Bellmore, New York, commencing with the issuance of the first absentee ballot and during regular business hours on each of the five (5) days prior to the day of the Special District Meeting between the hours of 9:00 A.M. and 3:00 P.M. (Prevailing Time), except Sunday and on Saturday, December 3, 2022 between the hours of 9:00 o’clock A.M. and 11:00 o’clock A.M. (Prevailing Time). Such list will also be available at the polling place on the date of the Special District Meeting. No absentee voter’s ballot shall be canvassed unless it shall have been received in the office of the District Clerk of the District not later than 5:00 o’clock P.M. (Prevailing Time) on the day of Special District Meeting.

NOTICE IS ALSO GIVEN that a person shall be entitled to vote at the Special District Meeting who is a citizen of the United States, eighteen years of age, a resident of the District for a period of thirty days next preceding the election or Special District Meeting he/she offers to vote and registered to vote for said election or Special District Meeting. A person shall be registered to vote if he or she shall have permanently registered with the Nassau County Board of Elections or with the Board of Registration of the school district. Only persons who shall be registered shall be entitled to vote.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that military voters who are not currently registered may apply to register as a qualified voter of the school district. Military voters who are qualified voters of the school district may submit an application for a military ballot. Military voters may designate a preference to receive a military voter registration, military ballot application or military ballot by mail, facsimile transmission or electronic mail in their request for such registration, ballot application or ballot.

Military voter registration forms and military ballot application forms must be received in the office of the District Clerk of the school district no later than 5:00 o’clock P.M. (Prevailing Time) on November 14, 2022. No military ballot will be canvassed unless it is (1) received in the office of the District Clerk before the close of the polls on the day of the Special District Meeting and showing a cancellation mark of the United States postal service or a foreign country’s postal service, or showing a dated endorsement of receipt by another agency of the United States

government; or (2) received by the office of the District Clerk by no later 5:00 o’clock P.M. (Prevailing Time) on day of the Special District Meeting and signed and dated by the military voter and one witness thereto, with a date which is associated to be not later than the day before the Special District Meeting.

BY THE ORDER OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION Dated: October 13, 2022

LAURICE GUNNELS District Clerk 135122

Edward Maniscalco; et al., Defendant(s)

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT: NASSAU COUNTY. RIDGEWOOD SAVINGS BANK, Pltf. vs. MARK GLICKMAN, et al, Defts. Index #5812/14. Pursuant to judgment of foreclosure and sale dated June 11, 2018, I will sell at public auction on the north side front steps of the Nassau Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Dr., Mineola, NY on December 8, 2022 at 2:00 p.m., prem. k/a 2932 Joyce Lane, Merrick, NY a/k/a Section 62, Block 208, Lot 11 a/k/a Lot No. 11 in Block 208 on a certain map entitled, “Map of Merrick Harbor Estates, Section No. 5, situated at Merrick, Nassau County, New York, surveyed December 1955, Baldwin and Cornelius CO., Civil Engineer and Surveyors, Freeport, N.Y.” and filed in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Nassau on June 13, 1960 as Map No. 7307. Approx. amt. of judgment is $1,040,485.72 plus costs and interest. Sold subject to terms and conditions of filed judgment and terms of sale and the right of the United States of America to redeem within 120 days from the date of sale as provided by law. Foreclosure auction will be held “rain or shine.” If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, then the court appointed referee will cancel the auction. LISA GOODWIN, Referee. CULLEN & DYKMAN LLP, Attys. for Pltf., 100 Quentin Roosevelt Blvd., Garden City, NY. #99863 135144

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU U.S. BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE FOR THE HOLDERS OF THE SPECIALTY UNDERWRITING AND RESIDENTIAL FINANCE TRUST, MORTGAGE LOAN ASSET-BACKED CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2006-BC5, Plaintiff AGAINST

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered January 4, 2017 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 December 6, 2022 at 2:30PM, premises known as 7 Abby Road, Merrick, NY 11566. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being at Merrick, in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau, State of New York, Section 55 Block 177 Lots 21, 22, & 23. Approximate amount of judgment $873,941.79 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index# 014940/2009. The auction will be conducted pursuant to the COVID-19 Policies Concerning Public Auctions of Foreclosed Property established by the Tenth Judicial District. Foreclosure Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine.”

Charles Casolaro, 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: October 6, 2022 135159

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE

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

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on October 25, 2016, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the front steps on the north side of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY on December 15, 2022 at 2:30 p.m., premises known as 1720 Montague Avenue, Merrick, NY 11566. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 55, Block 24 and Lot 120. Approximate amount of judgment is $633,799.60 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #003996/2014. Cash will not be accepted. This foreclosure sale will be held on the north side steps of the Courthouse, rain or shine. COVID-19

safety protocols will be followed at the foreclosure sale. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, the Court Appointed Referee will cancel the sale.

Jeffrey Halbreich, Esq., Referee

Knuckles, Komosinski & Manfro, LLP, 565 Taxter Road, Suite 590, Elmsford, NY 10523, Attorneys for Plaintiff 135310

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 December 13, 2022 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 New York, 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# 14715/2013. The auction will be conducted pursuant to the COVID-19 Policies Concerning Public Auctions of Foreclosed Property established by the Tenth Judicial District. Foreclosure Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine.”

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: November 2, 2022 135326

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT

COUNTY OF NASSAU

Wells Fargo Bank, National Association as Trustee for Option One Mortgage Loan Trust 2007-6, Asset-Backed Certificates, Series 2007-6, Plaintiff AGAINST Danielle Borgia; Kenneth M. Borgia; et al., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered January 10, 2019 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 December 14, 2022 at 3:30PM, premises known as 1710 Rugby Road, Merrick, NY 11566. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being at Merrick, in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau, State of New York, Section 55 Block 178 Lot 116. Approximate amount of judgment $371,193.83 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index# 008635/2016. The auction will be conducted pursuant to the COVID-19 Policies Concerning Public Auctions of Foreclosed Property established by the Tenth Judicial District. Foreclosure Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine.”

Gerard De Gregoris, 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: October 20, 2022 135328

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, EVERBANK, Plaintiff, vs. ALIX DUROSEAU, JR., ET AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on October 17, 2016, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the front steps on the north side of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on December 15, 2022 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 1692 James Street, Merrick, NY 11566. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 62, Block 22 and Lot 129. Approximate amount of judgment is $341,275.64 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 13-3120. Cash will not be accepted. This foreclosure sale will be held on the north side steps of the Courthouse, rain or shine. COVID-19 safety protocols will be followed at the foreclosure sale. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, the Court Appointed Referee will cancel the sale.

Richard Kerins, Esq., Referee

Knuckles, Komosinski & Manfro, LLP, 565 Taxter Road, Suite 590, Elmsford, NY 10523, Attorneys for Plaintiff 135308

LEGAL NOTICE

REFEREE’S NOTICE OF SALE IN FORECLOSURE SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU CITIGROUP MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST INC. ASSETBACKED PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2006-FX1, U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE, Plaintiffagainst - ZEEV RIBENBACH, et al Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered on October 30, 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, N.Y. 11501 “Rain or Shine” on the 14th day of December, 2022 at 2:00 PM. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being at Merrick, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York.

Premises known as 82 Shoreham Way, South Merrick, (Town of Hempstead) NY 11566. (Section: 63, Block: 148, Lot: 28,29,57,59) Approximate amount of lien $1,236,858.75 plus interest and costs.

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed judgment and terms of sale. Index No. 606837/2017. Eun Thorsen, Esq., Referee.

Davidson Fink LLP Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 400 Meridian Centre Blvd, Ste 200 Rochester, NY 14618 Tel. 585/760-8218 Dated: October 14, 2022

During the COVID-19 health emergency, bidders are required to comply with all governmental health requirements in effect at the time of sale including but not limited to, wearing face coverings and maintaining social distancing (at least 6-feet apart) during the auction, while tendering deposit and at any subsequent closing. Bidders are also required to comply with the Foreclosure Auction Rules and COVID-19 Health Emergency Rules issued by the Supreme Court of this County in addition to the conditions set forth in the Terms of Sale.

135221

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered on September 28, 2022. 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, N.Y. 11501 “Rain or Shine” on the 14th day of December, 2022 at 2:00 PM. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being, and identified on the land and tax map of the County of Nassau in the State of New York.

Premises known as 10 Beach Dr., Merrick, NY. (Section: 62, Block: 004, Lot(s) No: 70 (Group Lot 70-71, 269))

Approximate amount of lien $5,740.11 plus interest and costs.

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed judgment and terms of sale. Index No. 606460/2021.The successful third-party bidder will be required to pay the Referee a deposit equal to 10% of the sum bid. The deposit must be paid by certified check or bank check made payable to the Referee. Cash will not be accepted.

Peter J. Famighetti, Esq., Referee.

Joseph Ehrenreich, Esq. Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 366 North Broadway, Suite 410 Jericho, NY 11753 Tel. 516-942-4215

Dated: October 18, 2022 During the COVID-19 health emergency, bidders are required to comply with all governmental health requirements in effect at the time of sale including but not limited to, wearing face coverings and maintaining social distancing (at least 6-feet apart) during the auction, while tendering deposit and at any subsequent closing. Bidders are also required to comply with the Foreclosure Auction Rules and COVID-19 Health Emergency Rules issued by the Supreme Court of this County in addition to the conditions set forth in the Terms of Sale.

135223

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE

the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on December 14, 2022 at 2:30PM, premises known as 2282 SYCAMORE PLACE, NORTH MERRICK, NY 11566. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau, State of New York, Section 56, Block 102 Lots: 120 and 121. Approximate amount of judgment $994,893.91 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #002541/2007. The aforementioned auction will be conducted in accordance with the NASSAU County COVID-19 mitigation protocols and as such all persons must comply with social distancing, wearing masks and screening practices in effect at the time of this foreclosure sale. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, then the court appointed referee will cancel the foreclosure auction. Foreclosure Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine”. Charles John Casolaro, Esq., Referee Gross Polowy, LLC 1775 Wehrle Drive Williamsville, NY 14221 00-075196 73803 135243

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF FORMATION OF LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY. NAME: Fitzsimons Home Repairs, LLC. Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York, (SSNY) on 07/17/2022. NY Office location: Nassau County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of the process to: 57 Glenwood Ave, P.O. Box 166, Point Lookout, NY 11569

Purpose: To engage in any lawful act or activity. 134658

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGS

LEGAL

NOTICE REFEREE’S NOTICE OF SALE IN FORECLOSURE SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU ELM CAPITAL LLC, Plaintiff - againstMARGARET RICE, et al Defendant(s).

SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE FOR STRUCTURED ASSET SECURITIES CORPORATION MORTGAGE PASSTHROUGH CERTIFICATES, 2006-GEL2, Plaintiff AGAINST LINDON BROWN, CHANEL GREENE, GERMAINE J. BARROW, ET AL., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered May 22, 2018, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side steps of

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that pursuant to N.Y. Election Law Article 17, Title 2, the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act of New York, and N.Y. Public Officers Law Article 7, the Open Meetings Law, public hearings will be held by the Town of Hempstead Temporary Redistricting Commission in the Nathan L. H. Bennett Pavilion, Hempstead Town Hall, 1 Washington Street, Village and Town of Hempstead, New York, on both November 29, 2022 at 7:00pm, and December 13, 2022 at 10:30am, to receive input regarding the reapportionment and

17, 2022

St. Joseph’s funding helps student veterans

St. Joseph’s University-New York was awarded nearly $560,000 to help it better recruit military veterans as students, and lead them toward degrees.

The funds come from the U.S. Depart ment of Education’s Centers of Excel lence for Veteran Student Success Grant Program.

“We pride ourselves on the exception al services we offer to all of our stu dents, especially student veterans who have given so much of themselves before they arrive at St. Joseph’s,” said Donald Boomgaarden, the school’s pres ident, in a release. “We are grateful to receive this funding that will allow us to continue the work we do with our stu dent veterans, and expand our services to even more students in the years to come.”

Funds will be used primarily for the school’s Peer Health Educator Program, designating six veteran-specific peer health educators trained in meeting the

needs of student veterans. The grans also will expand career preparation and support for veterans, increasing partici pation with Student Veterans of Ameri ca, provide graduate student completion grants, provide internship stipends, and launch a program specifically for female veterans.

“Our military and veteran students bring a wealth of experience, knowl edge and diversity to our campuses,” said Erin D’Eletto, the school’s military and veterans services director. “This funding will not only allow us to contin ue providing substantial services to our student veterans, but also add programs and services to further support their personal, academic and professional success.”

St. Joseph’s University offers cam puses on West Roe Boulevard tin Patchogue, as well as on Clinton Avenue in Brooklyn. To learn more, visit SJNY. edu.

Public Notices

composition of the Town of Hempstead’s councilmanic districts to be used beginning with the Town election of 2023.

ALL PERSONS INTERESTED shall have an opportunity to be heard and give input at the times and place aforesaid.

Dated:Hempstead, New York November 15, 2022

BY ORDER OF THE TOWN BOARD TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, NEW YORK.

KATE MURRAY Town Clerk DONALD X. CLAVIN, JR. Supervisor 135484

LEGAL NOTICE

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK INDEX NO. 603218/2022 COUNTY OF NASSAU

PHH MORTGAGE CORPORATION

Plaintiff, vs. CATHERINE L. EMMOTT A/K/A CATHERINE EMMOTT, INDIVIDUALLY AND AS TRUSTEE OF THE CATHERINE L. EMMOTT LIVING TRUST DATED 08/05/2014; KNOWN AND UNKNOWN BENEFICIARIES OF THE CATHERINE L. EMMOTT LIVING TRUST DATED 08/05/2014, any and all persons unknown to plaintiff, claiming, or who may claim to have an interest in, or general or specific lien upon the real property described in this action; such unknown persons being herein generally described and intended to be included in the following designation, namely: the wife, widow, husband, widower, heirs

at law, next of kin, descendants, executors, administrators, devisees, legatees, creditors, trustees, committees, lienors, and assignees of such deceased, any and all persons deriving interest in or lien upon, or title to said real property by, through or under them, or either of them, and their respective wives, widows, husbands, widowers, heirs at law, next of kin, descendants, executors, administrators, devisees, legatees, creditors, trustees, committees, lienors and assigns, all of whom and whose names, except as stated, are unknown to plaintiff, SECRETARY OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, s/h/s UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE;

“JOHN DOE #1” through “JOHN DOE #12,” the last twelve names being fictitious and unknown to plaintiff, the persons or parties intended being the tenants, occupants, persons or corporations, if any, having or claiming an interest in or lien upon the premises, described in the complaint, Plaintiff designates NASSAU as the place of trial situs of the real property

SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS

Mortgaged Premises: 2668 ROSEBUD AVENUE, MERRICK, NY 11566

SBL: Section: 62, Block: 8, Lot: 20 & 21 Servicer: PHH Mortgage Corporation Servicer Telephone: (866) 799-7724 Defendants.

To the above named Defendants YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the Complaint in the above entitled action and to serve a copy of your Answer on the plaintiff’s attorney within twenty (20) days of the service of this Summons, exclusive of the day of service, or within thirty (30) days after service of the same is complete where service is made in any manner other than by personal delivery within the State.

The United States of America, if designated as a defendant in this action, may answer or appear within sixty (60) days of service. Your failure to appear or to answer will result in a judgment against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint. In the event that a deficiency balance remains from the sale proceeds, a judgment may be entered against you.

NOTICE OF NATURE OF ACTION AND RELIEF SOUGHT

THE OBJECT of the above caption action is to foreclose a Mortgage to secure the sum of $327,000.00 and interest, recorded on June 20, 2014, in Liber M 39754 at Page 677, of the Public Records of NASSAU County, New York., covering premises known as 2668 ROSEBUD AVENUE, MERRICK, NY 11566.

The relief sought in the within action is a final judgment directing the sale of the premises described above to satisfy the debt secured by the Mortgage described

above.

NASSAU County is designated as the place of trial because the real property affected by this action is located in said county.

NOTICE

YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME

If you do not respond to this summons and complaint by serving a copy of the answer on the attorney for the mortgage company who filed this foreclosure proceeding against you and filing the answer with the court, a default judgment may be entered and you can lose your home.

Speak to an attorney or go to the court where your case is pending for further information on how to answer the summons and protect your property.

Sending a payment to the mortgage company will not stop the foreclosure action.

YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (MORTGAGE COMPANY) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT.

Dated:October 28, 2022

ROBERTSON, ANSCHUTZ, SCHNEID, CRANE & PARTNERS, PLLC

Attorney for Plaintiff Nadine D. Smith, Esq. 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310 Westbury, NY 11590 516-280-7675

135492

Crime watCh

Paruolo indicted on murder charges for stabbing death

A North Bellmore man was indicted earlier this week on murder charges for the stabbing death of his wife at their home in October.

According to the Nassau County District Attorney’s office, Anthony Paruolo, 37, was arraigned Monday before a judge on charges including second degree murder and endangering the welfare of a child.

On Oct. 6, the Nassau County Police Department responded to a call about an alleged domestic disturbance at the defen dant’s North Bellmore home. Upon arriv al, officials found a victim, Danielle Paruolo, 42, dead in a pool of blood with stab wounds in her neck, head and torso.

The couple’s eight-year-old child was

found unharmed in another bedroom.

The defendant was arrested the follow ing day at a relative’s home in Kings Park by the Suffolk County Police Department.

Paroulo pleaded not guilty to the charges against him. He is due back in court on Dec. 15.

—Jordan Vallone

Merrick car shop owner convicted of tax fraud

A Rockville Centre-based auto busi ness owner who has struggled with legal issues over the past decade was convicted by a federal jury last week of defrauding the IRS.

Lorraine Pilitz of Merrick — who prosecutors say was also known as “Lor raine Christie” and “Lorraine Storms” — was found guilty of obstructing the IRS, filing false tax returns, and structuring cash deposits to avoid revealing that money to the federal agency.

Prosecutors claim Pilitz, 64, routinely structured cash deposits at her various businesses between 2011 and 2013 to avoid filing what’s known as a “currency trans action report” — required for any type of financial transaction in excess of $10,000. Instead, Pilitz would deposit cash amounts just under $10,000, ultimately concealing what prosecutors said were hundreds of thousands of dollars from the IRS.

Pilitz diverted business checks into bank accounts that belonged to her and her family, maintaining what investiga tors claimed as “off-the-books” payrolls. She failed to file personal and corporate tax returns, prosecutors said, and filed false tax returns that significantly under reported her income.

lorrAine pilitz of Merrick was found guilty of obstructing the IRS, filing false tax returns, and structuring cash deposits to avoid revealing that money to the federal agency.

PUBLIC AND LEGAL NOTICES…

Printed in this publication can be found online. To search by publication name, go to: www.newyorkpublicnotices.com

Pilitz was originally charged with insurance fraud through her Autotech Collision business in Rockville Centre back in 2010, but was found not guilty on those charges in 2012. She also had been charged with criminal possession of a forged instrument at the time after law

enforcement claimed she parked a car at Garden City’s Department of Motor Vehi cles location with forged plates.

Prosecutors with the U.S. Attorney’s Office Eastern District of New York have not disclosed what kind of penalties or imprisonment Pilitz could face.

—Jordan Vallone

Courtesy John Scalesi Anthony pAruolo wAs indicted on murder charges on Monday for the stabbing death of his wife.

DRIVERS WANTED

HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR

Richner Communications is looking for a hands-on Human Resources professional to oversee all HR functions on a strategic and tactical level. Exciting opportunity to join a dynamic and expanding Garden City, Long Island media company. This position has a flexible schedule, part-time job share would be considered.

EDITOR/REPORTER

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

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

Responsibilities: Talent acquisition: Source, screen, and interview potential candidates and manage new employee onboarding Benefits administration: Liaise with brokers, providers and facilitate enrollment and updating of coverage. Manage annual open enrollment and employee benefits review. Administration of 401(k) plan. Employee relations: Provide day- today support and problem resolution in regards to employee concerns, questions and policy issues. Performance management: Coach, counsel and recommend disciplinary actions Compliance: Maintain indepth knowledge of legal requirements related to day-to-day management of employees, reducing legal risk and ensuring regulatory compliance Payroll: Process biweekly payroll through payroll vendor for population of 150 employees Requirements: Bachelor's degree, preferably in business or HR, or equivalent experience Minimum 5 years HR generalist experience Knowledge of Federal, State & Local regulations governing employment Experience with payroll processing Self-motivated, ability to prioritize and work well under pressure Customer-focused attitude, with high level of professionalism and discretion Excellent oral and written communication and quantitative skills Proficiency with Microsoft Office Qualified candidates should submit a resume and cover letter to: careers@liherald.com.

Marketing Analyst (Lynbrook, NY) Promote company services and perform market analysis. Plan and implement marketing targets, identify appropriate markets to introduce new products and services Analyze marketing statistics to formulate policies. Resumes to Group ESI, Inc., 97 Horton Avenue, Lynbrook, NY 11563

RECEPTIONIST - FULL TIME Receptionist (full-time) needed for Publisher and Self-Storage Facility located in Garden City. The ideal candidate should have excellent communications and customer service skills, be professional, dependable and have reliable transportation. Candidate should have computer knowledge and working knowledge of MS Office. Candidate MUST be reliable, punctual and be able to work a CONSISTENT schedule: Monday and Wednesday 8am to 4pm Tuesday and Thursday 8am to 6pm Friday 8am to 5pm

Job Responsibilities include, but are not limited to: Answering phones and greeting customers, assisting new customers by showing storage facility options and pricing, collecting payments from customers, contacting customers for late payments, applying payments and updating the customer files /data base and other general administrative responsibilities on an as needed basis. Hourly pay, plus eligible for Holiday Pay, PTO, Medical, Dental, 401k with company matching, plus other benefits. Qualified candidates should email their resume, cover letter and salary requirements. No phone calls please. Job Type: Full-time. Salary: $15.00 /hour Email your resume to: careers@liherald.com

SENIOR SECURITY ENGINEER (Vandis, Inc.) (Albertson, NY): Research, Design, Development and Implementation of Cloud, Networking and Security Technologies for Medium and Large Enterprises using vendor solutions, such as FortiGate, Barracuda, Palo Alto, Cisco etc. Reqs. Bach. degree or for. equiv. in Information Technology, Network and Comp. Security, Comp. Science, Electrical Eng., or a rel. field plus 5 years’ experience in a Network and Security Engineer or related role. Exp. must include: Network and Internet Security Configuration, Design and Architecture. Cloud Security Architecture and Connectivity. Network and Internet Secure Connectivity and Security hacking prevention, including attack methodologies, firewalls (Next Generation Firewalls ex. Fortinet, Palo Alto, Juniper, Cisco; and Web Application Firewall including F5, and Barracuda), IDS, VPNs (IPSEC and SSLVPN), cryptography and wireless networking. Network and Infrastructure support, including use of TCP/IP OSI Model, Switching, IP routing, SSL/TLS, Authentication, Authorization and Accounting. $162,926$180,000. Send resumes to Vandis, Inc., Attn: S. Ratafia, CFO, 1 Albertson Avenue, Suite 1, Albertson, NY 11507 or by email to sratafia@vandis.com.

RECEPTIONIST MEDICAL OFFICE: 2pm-

TEACHERS: SPANISH SPEAKING A+. BA/ Associate Degree In Early Childhood Education. Teacher's Salary $32K. EMAIL RESUME: kgreene@fivetownsmail.org 516-239-6244 Ext. 237

Health Care/Opportunities

HHA's, LPN's, Nurse's Aides Childcare. Housekeeping Day Workers No Fee To Employers Evon's Svces: 516-505-5510

Eldercare Offered

HOME HEALTH AIDES Available: Highly Trained/ Certified. Live-in/Liveout. 12Hr. Shifts. Great References. Call Naomi 516-469-6135; Julie 516-503-1104

Luxury Oasis

Surrounded by nature, this 6 bedroom, 8 baths residence is filled with chic details and luxurious finishes! The chef's kitchen, with modern appliances has ample cabinetry, a stainless steel range hood on top of stylish island. Terracotta-style floors flow into the lovely breakfast nook, flooded with light coming in from the French doors that lead outside. The open-plan dining/ living room has 12-foot ceilings and mahogany wood built-in library, with gas/wood burning fireplace. On the main floor there is an office and a guest bedroom, with ensuite and walk-in closet. In the separate wing there is a master suite, with large walk-in closet, mahogany custom-made cabinets, master bathroom divided into "his" and "hers", with a separate entrance and connected by a stand-up shower. Upstairs you will find 3 Bedrooms and 2 baths. There is a Gym in the hi-ceiling basement along with a laundry room and plenty of storage space. Outside, there is a heatedgunite pool, Jacuzzi and gazebo that can be transformed into a Florida room. For a private tour contact V.I.Properties at 516.791.1313

The scary house down the block

Q. There is a house in my neighborhood, just a few doors away, that has never been taken care of. I know someone lives there, but they don’t seem to care about how their home looks, and I wonder: Is there a way to get the community together, tear the house down and turn it into a park? It would look a lot bet ter.

A. The house you’re referring to seems to be like one in almost every neighborhood, but I haven’t seen any single-lot parks popping up any where. Maybe the reason it doesn’t happen is because you can’t just seize someone’s property. If that were the case, what would stop your neigh bors from taking your property?

Ask The Architect Monte Leeper

Every once in a while, when I’m sitting in a pub lic zoning hearing, someone appears and makes a statement at the microphone just like what you are suggesting. I think they, too, are expecting a light bulb to appear above everyone else’s head when they suddenly realize what a genuinely great idea that was. But instead of trying to condemn some one else’s property, it may be better to gain some idea about what is really going on. I have often had to do this in the course of exploring options for potential buyers.

1208 Broadway Hewlett, NY 11557 516.791.1313 vipropertiesny.com

In some cases, such as a shopping center that continued to lose and not replace businesses, the owner lived a thousand miles away, and was just using the property as a tax write-off while they waited for the market to change and just sell. The condition had already existed for over a decade before someone asked me to look into the condi tions and search the records. The property did improve after violations were issued that forced the owner to respond in court. The same may be the course of action for the property you are describ ing.

Kit, LR & DR. Washer/Dryer in Unit. Underground Pkg. Loads of Closets. Terrace Faces Back. Easy Ranch Style Living BIG REDUCTION!! $699,000

E

a ST ROCK aWay

8 Howland Rd, 12-1:30, FIRST TIME ON MARKET! 4 BR, 2.5 Bth Exp Ranch on Beautiful Tree Lined St in SD#20. LR, DR, EIK, Den & Enclosed Porch. Full Fin Bsmt. 1 Car Gar. CAC, Gas Ht, HW Flrs. Update to Your

REAL ESTATE

MoneyTo Lend

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

Open Houses

EAST ROCKAWAY 11/20 12-1:30, 8 Howland Rd, , FIRST TIME ON MARKET! 4 BR, 2.5 Bth Exp Ranch on Beautiful Tree Lined St in SD#20.LR,DR,EIK, Den & Enclosed Porch. Full Fin Bsmt.1 Car Gar. CAC, Gas Ht, HW Flrs. Update to Your Taste!..$699,000 Ronnie Gerber, Douglas Elliman RE 516-238-4299

EAST ROCKAWAY BA 8 Acorn Rd, OPEN HOUSE By Appt, REDUCED! BR, 3 Bth Front to Back Split on Beautiful Quiet St in Lynbrook SD#20. Fin Bsmt, Att Gar. CAC, Gas Ht, HW Flr., ..$749,000 Ronnie Gerber, Douglas Elliman 516-238-4299

Open Houses

HEWLETT 1608 RIDGEWAY Dr, Open House Sunday, 11/20, 2-3:30, NEW

! Move Right Into This Completely Gut Renovated

Some people are only compelled by legal action, while others will respond to a warning. I have seen many instances in which the owner is just finan cially, physically or mentally incapable of respond ing in the way you want them to. I have even driven people in these circumstances to meetings with authorities, especially when New York Rising had funding available to help them. None of the individ uals, even with financial assistance, followed through, either from distrust of authorities or a realization that they might have to pay money they just did not have or they could not deal with the change in their lives.

If you are inclined to look further into the cir cumstances of the owner, you may learn the reason(s) for the conditions being what they are. In a free country (so far), you may not like how your neighbors live, but we still don’t have the control to just take their property. Your recourse is to try to understand why the property is this way, and help, if you can, report them to authorities and become the “squeaky wheel,” or take your own personal legal action. Good luck!

Apartments For Rent

© 2022 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.

Apartments For Rent

FRANKLIN SQUARE IMMEDIATE. 3 Room, Lower Level, Includes All Utilities. No Smoking/ Pets. $1,350. 516-205-3225.

MERCHANDISE MART

Antiques/Collectibles

CHRISTMAS ITEMS, TO many to mention, must see great condition, everything under $10.00 (516)579-9089

ELECTROLUX 30' HOSE for Power Nozzle. $80. 516-798-2098.

ELECTROLUX CENTRAL VACUUM Canister w/New Motor. Some attachments, Sidekick. $99. 516-798-2098.

GLITTER SILVERTONE JEWELRY Box 7"x3", brand new tags still on, originally $40.00, $15.00 (516)579-9089

Electricians

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

Handyman

HANDYMAN

SYL-LEE ANTIQUES www.syl-leeantiques.com 516-671-6464

KING

IRONING BOARD: 48X15"; Adjustable Non-skid feet; Adjustable; Steel mesh top w/cover. $65 516-320-1906

JACKET WINDBREAKER REVERSIBLE: Hood, Zipper, Purple Grey Sweatshirt, Large. Ladies Raincoat Medium Both $50. 516-320-1906

LADDER, DAVIDSON, 8 ft., Type II, Commercial & Electrical, Model 592-08, $99, 516-816-7383

SHOPPING CARTS: SMALL blue $15, large red $20, both in perfect condition516-297-2420

Finds $100-$350

KITCHEN SET: Table/

TABLES:

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

Heating

AROUND THE CLOCK REFRIGERATION INC. Specializing In Gas Furnaces/ Ductless Heat Pump Installations/ Repairs. $99 Annual Gas Furnace Maintenance/ Inspection. FREE Estimates. Gregory 516-214-0178 gregory@clockhvac.com

Home Improvement

Residential Warranty covers ALL MAJOR SYSTEMS AND APPLIANCES. 30 DAY RISK FREE/ $100 OFF POPULAR PLANS. 833-398-0526

HANDY DANDY

HOME IMPROVEMENTS

* Full Or Partial Kitchens/ Baths *Painting *Sheetrock *Taping/ Spackling *Installations Ceramic/ Vinyl Tile *Carpentry *Alterations *Repairs/ More. FREE ESTIMATES. Dan 516-342-0761

ROOFING

AUTOMOBILE & MARINE

Autos For Sale

ACURA 2003, 3.2 CLS, 2 door, Silver, Black Interior, 160K Plus. Needs Battery. $2200 516-668-8877

Autos Wanted

***AAA*** AUTO BUYERS $Highest$

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

DONATE YOUR CAR TO BREAST CANCER RESEARCH RECOVERY! Tax Deduction Receipt Given Upon Pick-up, Free Towing. 501c3 Charity. 631-988-9043 breastcancerresearchrecovery.org

Autos Wanted

WHEELS FOR WISHES benefiting MakeA-Wish® Northeast New York. Your Car Donations Matter NOW More Than Ever! Free Vehicle Pick Up ANYWHERE. We Accept Most Vehicles Running or Not. 100%

Cars Wanted

- 516-852-9830

Miscellaneous

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

DIRECTV FOR $79.99/MO for 12 months with CHOICE Package. Watch your favorite

DRIVE OUT BREAST Cancer: Donate a car today! The benefits of donating your car or boat: Fast Free Pickup - 24hr Response Tax Deduction - Easy To Do! Call 24/7: 855-905-4755

SERVICES

TILE

Pet Services

Tile

Satellite/TV Equipment

DISH

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Education

Health & Fitness

ATTENTION

Russia’s space program fades as China’s rises

By all accounts, Russia is losing its unprovoked war against Ukraine. It has lost thousands of troops, spent the equivalent of billions of dollars, and become an international pariah. As a result of the ruinous war, Russia is also losing some thing that has always been precious to its national pride — its position as a leader in the world’s space programs.

until 2024. The sharpest cuts will be in manufacturing technology and develop ment. Money for scientific research will be cut entirely.

into space, leading politicians and mili tary leaders to proclaim that we were failing in space.

flight and a space station, and it plans to explore the Moon, Mars and the wider solar system.

The decline of the Russian space pro gram is not new. It began after the col lapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. That kicked off a brain drain from Russian. The need to fund the Ukraine war only accelerat ed the degradation of Rus sian space efforts.

JAMES BERNSTEIN

The country that stunned the world — and shook up the Unit ed States — with the launch on Oct. 4, 1957, of the sat ellite Sputnik, is falling further and further behind in civil space explo ration, according to experts. Its mili tary space program, however, remains robust, those experts say.

“The Russian space industry is in an obvious state of crisis,” Asif Siddiqi, an authority on Russia’s space program who teaches history at Fordham Uni versity, told an industry publication.

Partly to help fund Russia’s brutal attack on Ukraine, President Vladimir Putin recently said he planned to slash funding for space flight activities at least

Additionally, jailed Rus sian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has made allegations of widespread corruption across the coun try’s space industry, with money disappearing into the hands of oligarchs.

Russia does not have a rover on the far side of the moon. China does. It does not have orbiters circling Mars. China, Indi an and the United Arab Emirates do.

Russia does not have a fleet of space telescopes, as does the United States.

“We’ve fallen behind on the science program,” said Igor Marinin, head of the Russian industry publication Novosti Kosmonavtiki. “We’ve forgotten how to make and fly unmanned probes.”

Of course, it was not always this way. The United States and much of the world trembled when the Soviets put Sputnik

Concern deepened in 1961, when the Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first human to fly to outer space, aboard the Vostok 1 capsule. He completed one orbit of Earth. Meanwhile, as the American novelist Tom Wolfe wrote in his highly acclaimed book, “The Right Stuff,” “our rockets kept exploding” on the launch pad.

But what does the cur rent demise of Russia’s space program mean for the United States? John Logsdon, who teaches at George Washington Univer sity and who is often called the “dean of space policy,” said in a phone interview last week that we can no longer count on the Russians as partners on the Interna tional Space Station, or on other space projects in the future. Russian cosmo nauts still fly aboard the space station, but Russia has said that it even plans to withdraw from that program.

For the United States, Logsdon said, the new competitor is China. The Chi nese program has overseen the develop ment and launch of ballistic missiles, thousands of satellites, manned space

In a display of its growing prowess, China launched a cargo mission to its newly completed space station last week end. The 35-foot-long cargo spacecraft docked Nov. 12 with the Tiangong station on Saturday, according to a Chinese news release. As is typical of the country’s news media, few details were released publicly. But according to space experts, the freighter was carrying propellant for the space station, as well as some scien tific experiments.

In recent months, China launched two modules to join its already orbiting space station, which is about 20 percent large than the U.S.- and European-built International Space Station. It is expect ed to be occupied and operational for at least 10 years.

Our approach to China in space has been entirely negative. In 2011, Congress banned NASA from hosting Chinese visi tors at U.S. space facilities. Two years later, Congress banned Chinese nationals from entering NASA facilities without a waiver from NASA.

Nevertheless, Logsdon said, “The Chi nese space program is advancing.”

James Bernstein is editor of the Long Beach Herald. Comments about this col umn? jbernstein@liherald.com.

Thankful, mindful and watchful this holiday

Thankful, mindful and watchful this holiday

The midterm elections proved that you can’t put lipstick on a pig. Well, maybe you can try, but eventu ally folks will see through the cover-up. That expression, “lipstick on a pig,” pops up from time to time during elec tions. In 2008, President Barack Obama said that a sup posedly new eco nomic plan pro posed by his oppo nents, John McCain and Sarah Palin, was nothing new, “just putting lipstick on a pig.” Repub licans went ballis tic, accusing Obama of slyly associating the pig patter with Palin. Obama said his comment was about policy, not people. Anyway, he wasn’t the first or the last to use the expression, which, you must admit, con jures a compelling visual.

fringe groups like QAnon, tried their best to put lipstick on these pigs, but they didn’t fly. Fortunately, most of the Republicans who were elected or reelected to office aren’t conspiracy theo rists or election deniers.

This seems like a low bar, but there it is. Don’t we all want a fair fight in the campaigns for office? And when someone clearly wins, don’t we all want to see the opponent concede defeat and move on? Thank goodness that’s what hap pened most often in the days after Nov. 8.

RANDI KREISS

This election season, the GOP sent forth dozens of MAGA election deniers to run for important and influential offices across the country. Republican influencers in and out of government, complemented by seriously delusional

I am relieved and thank ful, as we prepare to gather for Thanksgiving, that the worst-case predictions for a toxic MAGA wave did not happen. Some Trumpian candidates pre vailed, but more were defeated. Voters looked at extremist candidates, anointed by the former president, and they said no. Not all the votes are counted in all the contests, and in Georgia there will be a runoff for a Senate seat, but overall the process has been peaceful and civil — and consequential.

Are we finally reaching a point where Americans on all sides of the political landscape share a vision for a safe democracy? Are we there yet? Can we

count on folks to trust election results? Will candidates fight the good fight and retreat with grace if they lose? We don’t know yet if this midterm portends big changes for the better and a return to relative normal, but the indications are promising. It was not a rout. Rioters did not take to the streets.

The cooling of the politi cal fever gripping the nation allows us to gather at our respective Thanks giving tables and truly give thanks. I am so thankful for the greatest gift we can enjoy in this life: peace of mind. We all experience occasional setbacks and losses, but with peace of mind we can negotiate our difficult life passages.

This isn’t November 2020 or Novem ber 2021, when the pandemic was burn ing through our population. We still have about 40,000 new Covid cases a day, but we have vaccines and anti-virals, greater understanding of the disease and less panic. At the height of the pandemic surge, it was difficult to find peace.

On Thanksgiving 2020, my husband and I sat down to a chicken rather than a turkey. We were grateful for one another but terribly lonely for our kids, who live plane flights away and couldn’t risk trav

el during the fury of the pandemic.

The years of Covid restrictions and isolation offered random gifts as well: learning to find strength we didn’t know was there, finding ways to connect with loved ones through words and Zooms and eye to eye, six feet apart. I would never wish it for character-building, but living through a pandemic has height ened our zest for life and attuned us to the nourishing rhythms of nature.

I noticed recently that many people, rather than saying goodbye, now say “stay safe” when they come and go. That speaks to our relatively new belief that the ground can shift under our feet in an instant. Some threats can be mitigated and some blindside us, but we survivors of the pandemic and the political mael strom have been changed by these years. We say “stay safe” as a kind of hope and benediction for our friends and loved ones.

I hope you are blessed with friends and mothers and fathers and sisters and brothers and children and grandchil dren and neighbors at your Thanksgiv ing table. Along with peace of mind, let there be delicious turkey and sweet pota toes and cranberries and pies, all the tra ditional foods that anchor us to this time and place, and to one another.

Copyright 2022 Randi Kreiss. Randi can be reached at randik3@aol.com.

Much has changed since we sat down to a Thanksgiving chicken in 2020.

Yuri Gagarin is all but forgotten, and China has an orbiting space station.

Phone: (516) 569-4000 Fax: (516) 569-4942 Web: www.liherald.com E-mail: merrickeditor@liherald.com Copyright © 2022

The power of concession

You’ve likely never heard the name William Jennings Bryan, as he’s not among those regularly talked about in history books. But his contribution to democracy should be indelible, after a simple telegram sent he sent to William McKinley on Nov. 5, 1896, forever changed how we approached elec tions.

“Sen. Jones has just informed me that the returns indicate your election, and I hasten to extend my congratulations,” Bryan said in the telegram. “We have sub mitted the issue to the American people, and their will is law.”

Conceding an election isn’t required by law, which is why what Bryan — in his first of three runs for president — did was all the more unique at the time. He didn’t have to do it by statute, but he had to do it in the spirit of democracy.

Such concessions have become a staple of our election process at all levels. Candi dates battle it out over issues and who can best represent the people, and once the people have made their decision, they accept it. Even if that decision doesn’t favor you, all for a peaceful transfer of power.

Not that making a concession is easy. Far from it. Candidates invest so much of themselves into their campaigns that to suddenly make an about-face and watch someone else get awarded what they had fought for can be heartbreaking. Still, no matter how hot the debate was among the candidates, once the decision has been made, it’s time to return to the real job at hand: governing.

When we think of concessions, we’re likely to think of those in races for our country’s highest office first.

“Just moments ago, I spoke with George W. Bush and congratulated him on becom ing the 43rd president of the United States. And I promised him that I wouldn’t call him back this time,” then-Vice President

letters

‘I could write Randi weekly’

To the Editor:

Al Gore said in a Dec. 13, 2000, address, even joking about rescinding his first con cession on election night, when the race between them was still too close to call.

“Almost a century and a half ago, Sen. Stephen Douglas told Abraham Lincoln, who had just defeated him for the presi dency, ‘Partisan feeling must yield to patri otism. I’m with you, Mr. President, and God bless you,’” Gore added. “Well, in that same spirit, I say to President-elect Bush that what remains of partisan rancor must now be put aside, and may God bless his stewardship of this country.”

Sen. John McCain shared similar senti ments eight years later, when he took the stage in Phoenix to congratulate the man who would become the 44th president, Barack Obama.

“Sen. Obama and I have had and argued our differences, and he has prevailed,” McCain said. “No doubt many of those dif ferences remain. These are difficult times for our country, and I pledge to him tonight to do all in my power to help him lead us through the many challenges we face.”

Concessions are just as powerful on the local level. State Sen. Anna Kaplan described her service in Albany as an “honor of a lifetime” after losing her reelection bid to former senator Jack Mar tins.

“While our campaign has ended, my service to — and love for — our communi ty has not,” Kaplan said. “I will always fight for you, and am committed to con tinuing that spirit of service in my next chapter.”

Laura Gillen, who lost her bid for Con gress to Anthony D’Esposito last week, also put politics aside to honor the choice of voters.

“We ran a campaign to be proud of in a challenging political environment,” Gillen said. “Together we motivated thousands of Long Islanders to make their voices heard.

To stand up for common-sense leadership. And to vigorously defend fundamental rights from assault.”

After the 2020 presidential election, in which defeated President Donald Trump never conceded to his successor, Joe Biden, there were real fears that this act of patriotism — this cornerstone action of democracy — could become a relic of the past. That conceding somehow represent ed weakness rather than strength. And that it meant essentially giving up on fighting for the chance to represent your community, region, state or even country.

But nothing about concession means you have to give up the fight, or that you can’t explore every option available to you. Once those options are exhausted, howev er, it’s time to close that chapter and start the next one.

On election night last week, U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin wasn’t ready to concede the gubernatorial race to Gov. Kathy Hochul. And that was his right — not all the votes had been counted, and while his chances of winning were remote, they still existed.

But when it became clear that he had no path to victory, Zeldin did his part to pro tect and defend democracy by exercising the power of concession.

“I would like to congratulate New York governor Kathy Hochul on her election to a full four-year term,” Zeldin said in a statement the day after the election.

But while this particular battle for the governor’s mansion might be over, Zeldin made it clear that his fight for those he had hoped to represent wouldn’t end — a senti ment every candidate on the short side of any election should share in their own quests.

“As they take office in January, Gov. Kathy Hochul and those controlling Alba ny must address the grave concerns voiced by the voters,” Zeldin said. “While this campaign has come to a close, the rescue mission to ‘save our state’ continues.”

Once again, Randi Kreiss’s amazing ability to convey her thoughts and blend them with history — and in this case, a bit of astronomy as well — moved me to tears! (“An election that will move heaven and earth,” Nov. 3-9.) These are such stressful times, and I know that while it isn’t reasonable to expect everyone to always agree, there needs to be some more honest, respectful dialogue to help move our country to a better place.

I could write to Randi weekly, because her columns are so important and meaningful. I am constantly sending copies to dear friends who don’t live in the area — even a longtime friend who has lived in Italy for decades, but who is still American at heart (whatever that means these days) and is so worried for us and the world. If the America we know and love goes, what then? But then Randi gives us the perspective of eons of time to encour

opinions

Time to throw out the political trash

Happily, the midterm elections are behind us. They were, at best, stressful, and overall they were ugly. Once again, the poll sters were more wrong than they were right, predicting all kinds of results that never happened. There were many les sons to be learned from the results, and any politician who ignores them does so at his or her peril.

Any candidate who calls for a ban on abortions in a red, blue or purple state is asking for trouble. There were five states in which abortion was on the ballot, and those that pro posed a ban in one form or another were shot down.

Women want to make their own choices, in consultation with their physicians, and attempts to take away that right will meet stiff resis tance. Defeated Pennsylvania senatorial candidate Dr. Mehmet Oz suggested that elected officials should have a voice on abortion, and that didn’t help his cam paign.

Most political observers thought the issue of gun control wouldn’t have an

impact on people’s thinking, but many voters who were questioned stated that their decisions factored in their con cerns about the need for much stronger gun laws. There is a constant fear that there will be more school shootings, and pro-gun legislators who are supported by the NRA may have to rethink their posi tion, even if that costs them a few gun-rights support ers. Guns are an issue that won’t go away, and will reresurface in the 2024 elec tions.

Any pollster who tells you that young people are uninterested in elections should be banned from polltaking. This election brought out a record num ber of so-called Gen-Z voters, millions of them college students. On Election Day there were reports all over the country of enormous lines of students waiting to vote, well after the polls were scheduled to close. The youth vote is now alive and well.

Crime was an issue that helped a num ber of candidates get elected, but the vast majority of voters had other concerns on their mind, including voting rights, pre serving the Constitution, saving Social Security and Medicare and stopping can

Letters

age and help us de-stress by literally look ing to the heavens. That was so needed!

Thank you, Randi, from a most grate ful reader, for continuing to share so much of your wonderful self with us.

GEORGENE WINICk Woodmere

Another delay for LIRR East Side access

To the Editor:

Did the MTA and the LIRR forget to consider obtaining necessary clearance from the Federal Railroad Administration before they adopted the schedule calling for East Side access to Grand Central Madison to begin by December 2022? The Federal Transit Administration Full Funding Grant Agreement, approved in 2006, called for service to begin in 2011, at a total project cost of $6.3 billion, with a federal share of $2.6 billion.

The current cost is $11.6 billion, which doesn’t include debt service payments for the cost of borrowing, which brings the cost to $12.7 billion. Debt service costs are

buried under a separate agency operating budget. There is also over $4 billion more in indirect costs for what are known as LIRR “readiness” projects to support ESA service to Grand Central Madison. Honest accounting would bring the real total project cost to $16.7 billion.

A mandatory FRA safety feature that would prevent trains from entering the wrong tunnel clearly fell behind schedule. It is now forecast to be installed and up and running by March 6, 2023. Why was the original implementation schedule for installation of this safety equipment not completed earlier this year? This new FRA safety requirement was implement ed as a result of the Metro North accident on the Hudson Line at Spuyten Duyvil in 2013.

The MTA now has to request a waiver from FRA to begin service in December without this safety feature being in place. This will offer little comfort for riders who are looking for safe and reli able service to the Grand Central Madi son Terminal.

LARRY PENNER

Retired former director, Federal Transit Administration Region 2 Office of Operations and Program Management

didates endorsed by former President Donald Trump from winning key elec tions. Plenty of MAGA candidates won their races, but their tenures may be very short when their new constituents catch on to their lack of substance.

wWe learned in the mid terms that election denial ism is not a winning strate gy. The Republican candi date for New York governor, Lee Zeldin, ran a spirited race, but his resistance to acknowledging that Presi dent Biden was fairly elect ed hurt him with swing vot ers. New Yorkers are pretty sophisticated people, and the majority of them weren’t ready to buy into a candidate who opposed the certification of election results in Penn sylvania and Arizona. There are still plenty of election deniers who won their contests, but once they’re in office, their positions won’t help them do the required work.

From the ads that flooded the air waves, we could all agree that the tone of this year’s races was more dishonest and mean-spirited than ever before. In a lust for power, many candidates — incum bents and challengers alike — made false claims about their opponents, accusing

them of criminal conduct and making other outrageous allegations. But the slanderers didn’t fool most of the voters, who rejected the partisan poison.

Year after year, we have been subjected to stories about suspect polling results, in contests ranging from dogcatcher to pres ident. Political columnists and reporters, in print and on the air, have spend count less hours delving into the polling results, dissecting the numbers and often trying to divine trends that don’t exist. Over the past 10 years, I have challenged numerous pollsters who have wrongly claimed that they have reached people whose only phones are cellphones (which pollsters must dial manually). It’s time to ignore them and the commentators.

Now that the big red wave never hap pened and the experts will be scratching their heads for months trying to figure out why, it’s time to do a reset and focus on 2024. Future candidates will have to prepare for major changes in the electoral terrain, and be aware that they will suffer if they ignore the 2022 warning signs.

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

Framework by Tim Baker

St. Agnes Cathetral on a crisp fall day — Rockville Centre

e learned in the midterms that election denialism isn’t a winning strategy.

JerrY

kremer