Deniz Artan, far left, Aviv Paz, Mila Profiloski and Ella Findling took part in an eclipse viewing at Hewlett High School, one of several activities the school district held to celebrate Monday’s rare astronomical event. Story, more photos, Page 1
Amid a complete renovation of Lawrence Middle School, district Superintendent Ann Pedersen said the district wants to “preserve the integrity” of the old gymnasium on the Broadway Campus as it undergoes repairs.
Five local yeshivas joined forces to garner financial support for Bais Yaakov Ateres Miriam in Far Rockaway — and their efforts have been successful.
Wthe rabbis wrote in the letter. “Bais Yaakov Ateres Miriam needs critical ongoing financial support so that they can continue their mission of providing a stellar education to each and every one of their students.”
hen one goes down, we don’t want to go up. They are our children, we’re one community.
The letter dated March 21, addressed to parents and friends of the participating yeshivas, outlined the “severe” financial crisis the school is facing, falling four months behind on payroll and fearing the potential of closure.
The district then turned its focus to the “new” gym, the second gym in the middle school that is shared with the elementary school, where workers added space for children with special needs.
“We redid the locker rooms, so we renovated all that,” Pedersen said. “Then we turned our attention to what was called the ‘old’ gym. We now refer to them as the north and south gym.”
Construction for the renovation of the old gym began in 2019, and is still underway. The district is hoping for a late-June opening, but if not,
The gym is the sixth phase of a thorough renovation of the campus, at 199 Broadway in Lawrence, which also houses the district’s elementary school. In an eight-part construction plan, the first to undergo work was the auditorium at the middle school, with the intent of maintaining the facility’s old look and vintage feel.
Signing a letter calling for support for the yeshiva were Rabbi Yaakov Bender of Yeshiva Darchei Torah in Far Rockaway; Rabbi Ephraim Blumenkrantz of Bnos Bais Yaakov in Far Rockaway; Rabbi Akiva Eisenstadt of Bais Yaakov of the Five Towns in Lawrence; Rabbi Moshe Monczyk of Shulamith School for Girls in Cedarhurst; and Rabbi Meyer Weitman of Torah Academy for Girls in Far Rockaway.
R ABBI MoSHE MoNCzyK Shulamith School For Girls
“A person’s success throughout life is based, in large part, on the strong foundation laid during their formative years as an elementary school student,”
“Many of these students might be the daughters of your family, your friends, and your neighbors,” the rabbis wrote. “As a community and as one cohesive unit, we want to make sure that we are making a real effort to help our very own.”
The rabbis said community members could donate at the Continued
Lego’s − not just for building premade sets or going wild with imagination, they also work for learning about engineering.
Josh Levy, 16, from Hewlett Neck is using Lego’s to teach 5 to 12-year olds the basics of engineering. He created the program, Engineering for Kids, which aims to introduce children to the basic principals of mechanical and aerospace engineering in a fun and engaging way.
“My passion for Lego’s started when I was around seven-years old, my parents bought me a really cool set and we sat at the dining room table building it together,” said Josh Levy. “As I started to put the pieces together, the feeling had created something and it really excited me, sparking a passion.”
This passion has turned into a career path, as Levy already knows he wants to go to college for engineering and pursue his dream of becoming a mechanical and aerospace engineer.
Levy’s first program will be running on April 18, at the Hewlett-Woodmere Public Library at 5:30 p.m. for kids in grades 2 to 5. This program will offer hands-on activities, interactive workshops and exciting projects, which include building Lego sets. The
program is currently at full capacity and registration has closed.
“I wanted to provide a platform for kids to explore and understand the world of engineering while introducing them to the basics of mechanical and aerospace engineering in a fun and engaging way,” adds Levy.
Not only does Levy want to inspire the next generation of engineers, but encourage them to find their own passion and ignite the love for engineering.
Levy uses Lego’s because they allow him to explain the engineering process as they build, since most sets are built in steps it allows for easy pauses to explain what part of the build they are on. Also, they make the engagement of the activity more fun and gives them a sense of accomplishment when they finish.
“By using Lego’s pre-designed sets, we also use their established instructions and building techniques making it easier for our participant to construct their sets and grasp the engineering principals behind them,” Levy said.
Levy had to send a proposal to the Hewlett-Woodmere Public Library when he gave a presentation at an inperson meeting and explained how his program would work. He worked with Caroline Lynch during the approval process and event coordination.
“Josh reached out and asked to have a meeting with me about a potential program at the library, when we met, he explained how he was interested in engineering, specifically with airplanes, and how he wished there was a program on the subject he could have attended when he was younger,” said Lynch. “He wanted to be able to give kids the experience he wished he had.”
Along with support from the library, his mother, Suzanne Levy adds in how she always knew he would pursue a career in engineering.
“Ever since Josh was a little boy, you just knew he had this sense of being hand-eye coordinated and we used to buy him those baby Lego sets and he loved them, and it kept graduating to bigger and bigger,” said Levy. What began as a passion is now being used as a teaching aide for young children. Levy hopes to expand this project into schools and other libraries. He gives thanks to his support system through this whole process.
“I’d like to thank my parents, Ms. Lynch and all those who supported and contributed to making this endeavor a reality,” Levy said. “And to all those people who allowed me to share my passion for Lego’s and engineering with children who may not have had the chance to explore these fields otherwise.”
Courtesy Suzanne Levy Budding engineer Josh Levy with a portion of the sophisticated Lego he has built. The sets are proudly displayed on shelves in his house.
Yael Averbuch: GM and head of soccer operations for the NJ/NY Gotham FC. Played professionally in the NSWL and WPS. Earned 26 caps (international play) on the women’s national team 2007 -2013, and won NCAA titles with North Carolina 2006 and ‘08.
Mike Candel: Founded the Nassau Community College lacrosse program in 1966. Established the NJCAA championship tournament and was a charter member of its Hall Of Fame. Had an award-winning sportswriting career with the Long Island Press and Newsday for 22 years covereing high school and college sports.
By JEFFREY BESSEN jbessen@liherald.comOh, the stories they tell. Whether an accomplished athlete, coach, sportswriter or media executive, the honorees at the sixth annual Jewish Sports Heritage Association’s induction ceremony blended their achievements with their religion.
Hewlett High School Class of 2023 graduate Stephan Gershfeld had a tennis racket in his hand at 4 and played competitively since he was 10. His honors are countless, but he takes pride in his Jewish identity.
“It means a lot to me because I’m recognized by the Jewish community and just representing my fellow Jews is very important to me from the start,” said Gershfeld, one of the four scholastic athletes awarded the Michael Freedman Outstanding High School Athlete of the Year Award.
Temple Israel of Lawrence, where the event took place on April 7, was also the venue for Gershfeld’s bar mitzvah.
“Because I feel like the Jewish community these days has gone through a lot and just to bring some happiness to them and some accolades and accomplishments just shows a lot, and really brings us all together,” Gershfeld said when asked why it means so much to be recognized as a Jewish athlete.
The high school athletes included Roslyn High tennis players, Ethan Falkowitz and Drew Hassenbein, who were honored posthumously. The teens were killed in Jericho last May by a drunk driver. Soccer player Jasmine Leshnick, from San Francisco, was similarly feted.
“They weren’t just great tennis players, which they were, they were truly outstanding young men who were taken from us way too early,” Alan Freedman, the executive director of JSHA, said about Falkowitz and Hassenbein.
There were seven inductees, including Woodsburgh resident Alex Sternberg and former Newsday sportswriter Mike Candel, who lives in East Rockaway, and founded the Nassau Community College lacrosse program.
For Sternberg karate helped him assimilate after his family emigrated from Hungary, where as a boy he began boxing. Attending a very strict yeshiva in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn, Sternberg found he needed physical activity.
“So I went to a local Y against the knowledge of the yeshiva, to sneak away from the dormitories and in the Y there was a boxing program, so I joined it,” he said. Then somebody came in and opened up a karate program. I didn’t know what karate was.”
At 13, karate became ingrained in Sternberg’s life. His training also took a turn a couple years later.
“I was going to the subway and I had my karate uniform, by that time I was training a couple of years,” he said. “I was surrounded by a group of Black kids who wanted to know what I was doing. So there was a karate school there and they challenged me to come and show us what you know. I learned quickly I knew nothing, Already a red belt. These guys were really tough.”
Becoming a part of that karate school, “the only white kid in the Brownsville ghetto,” Sternberg said.
“I opened up dojos, I became coach of the U.S. national karate team and I was very much involved in the sport of karate,” he said.
Karate has kept Sternberg stimulated for six decades.
“I once explained it to someone that it’s like you’re a sculptor but you’re not working with clay you’re working with you, and the more you train the better the technique is,” he said. “The more you’re chiseling your character to persevere.”
Perseverance is a familiar attribute for the Jewish people.
“There were no Jews in karate when I got involved and I think a lot of the Jewish instructors are people that I trained and I developed,” Sternberg said, noting that at one time he trained Jewish Defense League members. “I enjoy teaching Jewish kids to take care of themselves.”
Candel said it is the stories that drive the similarity between the pair of careers he enjoyed.
“I learned from coaching and life we miss the big story,” he said addressing the audience in Temple Israel’s sanctuary already decorated for a wedding, chuppah and all.
Noting how ESPN breaks down sports into trivial statistics, Candel recounted a tale about his friend Don “Red” Goldstein, a schoolboy star for Tilden High in Brooklyn and the University of Louisville, a scoring and rebound machine.
Selected eighth in the 1959 NBA draft by the Detroit Pistons, Goldstein pivoted from pro player to dentistry and practiced for 40 years.
The stories are very, very much deeper,” Candel said before telling his audience that Goldstein’s parents were deaf mutes — could not hear, could not speak — his mother institutionalized, at 4 his father was deemed not able to care for his son. Goldstein went to live with grandparents who only spoke Yiddish.
Moving to Jupiter, Fla., he spent two days a week, heading to Del Ray at 5 a.m., to get to Our Lady Queen of Peace R.C. Church. Goldstein died in 2022.
“He spent 10 years doing dental work for migrant workers who were picking vegetables and fruit from the fields of Florida,” Candel said. “
“I had a cavity one time, he says to me come down at 6 in the morning, it’s pitch black I’m 15th on line,” he said. “That was my friend Don Goldstein. Everybody thinks of him as a great basketball player, I think of him as a great human being.”
Ross Greenburg: Has won more than 100 major television awards, including 56 Emmys, 21 Cable ACE awards, 12 Cine Golden Eagles and eight Peabodys. Served HBO Sports from 1985 to 2011 and oversaw the production of top-tier sports documentaries and programming, including the “Hard Knocks” series.
Dave Kufeld: At Yeshiva University from 1976 to 1980, was named an All-America as a senior and led the NCAA in rebounding twice and is fifth all time at Y.U, with a 15.1 rpg average. Drafted by the Portland Trailblazers, played professionally in Israel and for the U.S. at the Pan American Maccabi Games.
Dmitriy Salita: Captured championship boxing belts at multiple levels, had a 35-2-1 record and was inducted into the New York Boxing Hall of Fame. Won the U.S. U-19 nationals and Golden Gloves, earned the Sugar Ray Robinson Award as the outstanding tournament fighter. Runs Salita Promotions, promoting boxers.
Zelda Spoelstra: Known as the “Angel of the NBA” because of her generosity and kindness, she advised every league commissioner through Adam Silver during a nearly 70-year career. She helped former players secure pensions and medical assistance, She died in 2020.
Alex Sternberg: In addition to coaching champions and winning them, the 8th degree black belt earned doctorates in and environmental and occupational health, along with master degrees in exercise physiology and community and immigrant health public health. Founding member of the USANational Karate Foundation.
Brian ‘Shifty’ Schiff: The Marty Riger Outstanding Jewish Coach of the Year.
Joe Bednarsh: The Dr. Bruno Lambert Good Guy Award.
The Jay Fiedler Outstanding Jewish College Athletes of the Year: Cami Kronish and Yaniv Perets
— Jewish Sports Heritage Association
Parents of young children often overlook the need to plan for death or disability. Many believe they don’t have enough assets yet or that anything they have will automatically go to their spouse. However, every young parent needs basic documents – a Will, Power of Attorney and Health Care Proxy – what we term a “Young Family Estate Plan” (YFEP), that formalize their wishes in a variety of unexpected circumstances.
Without a YFEP, if one spouse dies, any assets that were in the husband’s or wife’s name alone will be subject to a court proceeding to name an “administrator” of the estate and New York law decides who gets which assets. The first $50,000 goes to the surviving spouse and the rest is divided 50% to the spouse and 50% to the children. The court will appoint a legal guardian to manage the money for them and then, ready or not, any remaining funds would be turned over to them at age 18.
If your spouse becomes disabled, and you don’t have a Power of Attorney for them, you must petition the court to be appointed as your spouse’s legal guardian to handle their affairs (such as selling or refinancing the house or drawing funds from their accounts). The court may decide against you as legal guardian and appoint someone else.
A YFEP also includes life insurance reviews and recommendations, so in the event your spouse dies you will have the financial resources to raise your children.
A YFEP (1) ensures that all of your spouse’s assets go to you and not half to your children if your spouse dies unexpectedly, (2) allows you to choose the legal guardian for your children, and at what age they will receive the unused assets, (3) avoids guardianship proceedings should your spouse have a disabling accident or illness, and (4) provides the financial wherewithal so that your children may continue to prosper and thrive.
An argument between two men in Island Park escalated to an alleged assault with a knife resulting in the arrest of a Hewlett man at 12:35 a.m. on April 4, Nassau police said.
Police went to the home and found Danny Susi, 23, of East Broadway, embroiled in a quarrel with another man, 53. Susi allegedly threatened the man and damaged a door before leaving.
Susi was found nearby
and arrested. He was taken to a local hospital for evaluation and treatment. No injuries were reported.
Susi is charged with attempted assault, menacing, criminal mischief and criminal possession of a weapon.
His next court date is April 11. Susi is out on bail and the judge issued a temporary order of protection. As of press time, no attorney was listed for him.
— Jeffrey BessenVashiti Singh, 52, of Queens, was arrested on April 3 at 7 p.m. for allegedly shoplifting at the Five Towns Shopping Center in Woodmere, according to police.
Michael Smith, 60, of Rosedale, was arrested for allegedly shoplifting from
a location at 235 Rockaway Turnpike in North Lawrence on April at 11:30 a.m., police said.
An unidentified man stole assorted items from 177 Wanser Ave. in Inwood on April 1 at 5 p.m., authorities said.
People named in Crime Watch items as having been arrested and charged with violations or crimes are only suspected of committing those acts of which they are accused. They are all presumed to be innocent of those charges until and unless found guilty in a court of law.
Through May 31, between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., there will be road closures at the Nassau Expressway and Seagirt Boulevard interchange in Lawrence for maintenance on the Seagirt Boulevard Bridge, the state transportation department said.
The expressway will be closed on the north side between Seagirt Boulevard and Rock Hall Road. Signs will indicate a detour onto Seagirt Boulevard westbound to northbound Beach 9th Street
and onto Empire Avenue to return to the expressway.
The eastbound ramp from Seagirt Boulevard to the northbound expressway will be closed. For access to northbound expressway, motorists should follow the detour onto northbound Beach 9th Street onto Empire Avenue. The ramp to southbound Nassau Expressway for the Atlantic Beach Bridge will remain open. For up-to-date travel information, call 55, go to 511NY.org.
Courtesy NCPD Hewlett resident Danny Susi was charged with attempted assault on an Island Park man on April 4.
The Rockville Centre/East Rockaway/ Hewlett junior varsity ice hockey team claimed the Nassau Country championship in March, just two years after joining forces as a team.
“They just had a lot of success coming together,” Lauren Sobel of Hewlett, said, the team’s general manager and mother to Nathan Sobel, of Hewlett, a freshman forward on the team.
The team’s first season together was 2022 to 2023, where they only secured two wins. The three communities created one team following the collapse of the Lynbrook/Hewlett-Woodmere/East Rockaway team.
Starting off this season in late November the players took to the ice earning 10 wins, five losses and three ties throughout their season in the High School Hockey League of Nassau County. Playoffs began at the end of February.
Throughout the year, many of the team members play on other travel hockey leagues.
“As a team it’s always hard, it starts in October, a lot of the players are on travel,” Lauren said. “Once were in January or February, the travel schedule lightens up a bit, and we have all our players and we’re playing like a team.”
As of January the team was on a winning streak.
“We did not lose a game in 2024,” Lauren said.
Come playoffs, the Rockville Centre/ East Rockaway/Hewlett team defeated Oceanside on March 8, Great Neck on March 10 in the semifinals, and captured the championship on March 12, when
they were up against nearly undefeated Plainview-Old Bethpage.
“It was amazing as a parent, it’s like watching your own kid and all his friends really working together to make it happen and take down a goliath, that no one thought we had a chance of beating,” Lauren said.
Matthew Prezioso of Rockville Centre, a ninth grade goalie on the team was in his 10th year of playing hockey when the team secured the victory.
“We weren’t even expected to make he playoffs,” Prezioso said of the team’s projected success in the beginning of the season.
Nathan, who has been playing in the league for two years and hockey for eight, felt that the win was a comeback.
“It felt prey amazing, especially from last year, we didn’t have the greatest record,” Nathan said, referring to the 2022-2023 season 2-15 record.
Tim McManus of Rockville Centre, the team’s coach has been involved with the county hockey program since 2018. This was his first year in the JV position. At the start of the season, he was skeptical of how far the team could go.
“I knew we had talent but I wasn’t sure if the team would be able to gel over a short time period,” McManus wrote in an email. “Late in the season I knew we had a shot to make the playoffs but we had to win our last five games. And we did!”
McManus pushed his players to bring their “A Game” in every game, carrying them through the championship.
“I felt that our kids played with a lot of heart and determination,” McManus said.
“I knew that if we concentrated on playing good, team defense and moving the puck, that we could beat anyone.”
Courtesy Lauren Sobel
The combined Rockville Centre/East Rockaway/Hewlett Nassau County High School junior varsity championship team, from bottom left, Zain Khan, George Chikvanaia, Ryder Borriello, Efraim Ilyaich, Matthew Prezioso, Nathan Sobel, Nathan Bouskila; from second row left, Christopher Buccino, Andrew Morizio, Michael Goldstein, Dominick Lord, Gevin Cook, Cooper Goldspiel; from top row left, Coach Tim McManus, Coach Andrew Pennecke, Joseph Hunsberger, Ethan Epstein, Chase Oliverio, John Coletti, Edahn Shapir and Coach Andrew Prezioso.
MacArthur Junior Softball
AN ALL-STATE SELECTION last spring, Trapani helped lead the Generals to the Nassau Class A championship. As a sophomore and No. 2 hitter in the lineup, she batted .440 (44-for100) with 5 homers, 24 RBIs and 44 runs scored. She also had 11 doubles and stole 3 bases and served as MacArthur’s starting right fielder. She’s in her third varsity campaign after handling the team’s designated hitter duties in 2022 and finishing with a .292 avg.
Thursday, April 11
Baseball: Hewlett at Kennedy 4:30 p.m.
Baseball: Freeport at Oceanside 4:30 p.m.
Baseball: Mepham at Long Beach 5 p.m.
Baseball: Wantagh at Lynbrook 5 p.m.
Baseball: Uniondale at V.S. South 5 p.m.
Softball: Seaford at Wantagh 5 p.m.
Softball: Oceanside at MacArthur 5 p.m.
Girls Lacrosse: South Side at North Shore 5 p.m.
Girls Lacrosse: Garden City at Long Beach 7 p.m.
Friday, April 12
Girls Lacrosse: Freeport at Hewlett 5 p.m.
Boys Lacrosse: East Meadow at Oceanside 5 p.m.
Boys Lacrosse: Clarke at Lawrence 5 p.m.
Boys Lacrosse: Lynbrook at Wantagh 5 p.m.
Girls Lacrosse: Sewanhaka at Clarke 5 p.m.
Saturday, April 13
Softball: Kennedy at Calhoun 10 a.m.
Softball: V.S. Central at Malverne 10 a.m.
Softball: Long Beach at Carey 10 a.m.
Softball: Lynbrook at Baldwin 10 a.m.
Girls Flag Football: Valley Stream at Freeport 11 a.m.
Girls Lacrosse: South Side at Manhasset 12 p.m.
High School athletes to be featured on the Herald sports page must compete in a spring sport and have earned an AllConference award or higher last season. Please send the following information:
Name, School, Grade, Sport and accomplishments to Sports@liherald.com.
Not much went right for the Hewlett softball team in 2023, but a promising young nucleus and a conference switch could be the remedy for the Bulldogs to get back on track.
Hewlett mustered just one victory in 17 tries last spring while playing in Conference 5 after recording 10 wins the year before. The team was finally moved to Conference 6 during the offseason after being denied the previous year, resulting in more manageable competition on the schedule.
Coach Haley Birnbaum believes the Bulldogs’ new digs will work wonders for her squad, especially the mental aspect.
“I think that it’s going to boost their self-esteem and give them that push,” she said. “Last year, losing almost every game with shutouts definitely deters kids. I think having the drop to Conference 6 will boost the morale a little bit and give them the chance to stay in it with some teams.”
The Bulldogs’ new schedule will also feature multiple games against Valley Stream Central and South, Friends Academy, Westbury, Malverne, Uniondale, Hempstead and Roosevelt.
Birnbaum is high on freshman pitcher Liliana Simon, a newcomer who has the makeup to be a future star on the mound.
“She seems to have that combination of accuracy, speed, and also mental toughness, which is rare for a freshman to be bringing to the varsity level,” she said. “Her consistency and mental toughness [are her best attributes], especially in these conferences where you can be throwing a bunch of pitches. I think that definitely helps her stand out from the crowd.”
The pitching depth will be provided by sophomore Kayla Owens, junior Rachel Cafaro, who hurled a completegame victory against Roslyn last April 21, and junior Hayley Heneggler.
Cafaro is also the team’s first baseman, and will combine with Simon to be
Eric Dunetz/Herald Senior shortstop Isabella Betancur belted a grand slam for the Bulldogs in last Friday’s wild 24-20 home loss to Valley Stream Central.
the main run producers as the 3-4 hitters in the lineup. Junior center fielder Ava Morgan has a good eye at the plate and brings speed on the bases as the leadoff hitter with senior shortstop-left fielder Isabella Betancur batting second. Betancur hit a grand slam in last Friday’s wild 24-20 loss to Valley Stream Central.
Senior right fielder Haiden Norman worked hard in the offseason and has already shown great improvement, according to Birnbaum, and should get plenty of RBI opportunities hitting fifth. Owens, catcher Sarah Oliveros and fellow freshman third baseman Olivia Rubin round out the order.
“I think, this year, we definitely have a stronger lineup,” Birnbaum said. “As
well as we do have a freshman pitcher who’s allowing us to put people in different positions to actually strengthen our defense. Our defense is looking pretty good. There are a couple of kinks to work out, but definitely we have a strong foundation to be working with.”
Senior Zoe Sylvester and juniors Paige Lederman and Olivia Krasovitsky should also see plenty of playing time.
Hewlett has had trouble getting their season started as rain wreaked havoc early in the schedule. The Bulldogs could only get in three innings during the ‘opener’ against Friends on March 27 before encountering two rainouts. They beat Westbury last Saturday, scoring 30 runs, with Cafaro starring with three hits.
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Nearly 100 people stood on the steps of the Nassau County legislature building in Mineola on Monday afternoon, clutching signs reading, “Blakeman is a liar! Armed militants are not the answer” and “Eclipse Blakeman’s militia”’ while chanting “no militia, no way.”
The protest came on the heels of Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman jumpstarting a program allowing civilians with gun permits — especially retired law enforcement or military veterans — to step forward as provisional special deputy sheriffs during times of crisis.
The program, Blakeman said, aims to bolster emergency response capabilities within the county. Applicants are required to be U.S. citizens between 21 and 72 who live in the county, and possess a pistol license. Additionally, they must consent to thorough background checks, random drug testing, and provide medical certification of fitness for duty.
The position offers a daily stipend of $150 when activated during declared emergencies, but these special deputies would have no other policing authority outside of such circumstances.
Laura Burns, a Rockville Centre resident and volunteer with Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, opposes Blakeman’s program, citing concerns about escalating gun violence and the lack of necessity for additional firearms in Nassau County, which boasts one of the lowest gun death rates in the country.
She expresses trust in the well-trained Nassau County Police Department, and questions the rationale behind distrusting existing law enforcement agencies.
“We are trying to keep guns out of the hands of people who shouldn’t have guns,” Burns said. “We understand that gun violence increases with the more people who are carrying guns. We think it’s a reckless idea to put more guns in the hands of more untrained people on the streets.”
Allison Dzikowski of Bellmore suggests that existing county police training is more reliable than expecting civilians to effectively respond to heightened stressful situations.
“We should trust our police department to do their jobs that they’re trained for,” she said. “They go through training. They go through (the) academy. They are trained to deal with highly stressful situations. That’s not something that we can guarantee that they’ll be able to act under a heightened, stressful situation.”
Citing New York State County Law 655 — which grants sheriffs the authority to deputize additional personnel for emergency situations — Blakeman justifies the initiative to safeguard life and property during crises. Special deputy sheriffs, while not typically responding to 911 calls, assume full police authority when activated, and are tasked with executing warrants, serving court orders, and conducting other law enforcement duties.
Talking to reporters last week at the county’s Holocaust Memorial & Tolerance Center, Blakeman said he would require these special deputies to have a firearms license and undergo background and mental health checks. The county will provide basic police training.
Blakeman added he will call up these deputies in only the most extreme situation, like a natural disaster — with the mission being not to police, but to guard hospitals and other infrastructure to free up sworn county police officers.
“I didn’t want to find myself in a circumstance where we’d have an emergency in a very significant event like Superstorm Sandy, and scramble to get volunteers,” Blakeman said. “All we’re doing here is pretraining, and vetting those individuals, and creating a database and a list.”
However, the rollout of this program has sparked controversy, with county legislators like Delia DeRiggi-Whitton expressing reservations, claiming she and other officials were not adequately informed of the initiative. The Democrat also says she feels confident the Nassau County Police Department can handle any job — and if they can’t, then Blakeman should hire more police officers.
“He hasn’t been transparent,” DeRiggi-Whitton said. “He never told us if there was going to be any training. In fact, that was never part of the ad, which was the first we heard of this.”
This is something the county executive should have brought to local lawmakers, she said.
“The county would be on the hook for anything that goes wrong,” DeRiggi-Whitton said. “We will be responsible financially. So, you know, that could be a lot of money, and then it’s taxpayer money that would pay for anything that went wrong with the deputy.”
Citing an email she said she received from a Jewish resident in Massapequa, DeRiggi-Whitton comparing
Blakeman’s call for special deputies to the paramilitary wing of the early Nazi Party, the lawmaker told another news outlet that the proposal is creating “a lot of anxiety.”
“It reminds them not only of the Wild West, but of times in Europe with uncertainty,” DeRiggi-Whitton said. “There was something called the Brownshirts, which was basically having civilians suddenly become part of law enforcement without the training.”
More formally called the Sturmabteilung, this group was founded in 1921 and led attacks against Jewish people and other minority groups and businesses in Germany.
Making such a comparison outraged Blakeman, who called on DeRiggi-Whitton to resign, citing the 100 people who have applied for the deputy program so far are veterans and first responders who already have training in weapon use.
“Equating these men and women who would be willing to devote their time to protecting our county — who have prior experience in law enforcement and the military — we’re calling them ‘Brownshirts,’” Blakeman said. “This is not only a personal insult to me, as a Jew, but it is a personal insult on humanity, and to those men and women, civic minded individuals who stepped up and said they would serve in an emergency.”
Supporters of the program — like Jeff Weissman, a former FBI agent — said he found DeRiggi-Whitton’s comparison “deeply disturbing.”
“The county executive, from the point of view of those of us who live here, is trying every day to provide the maximum extent of protection for our citizens.” Weissman said. “He’s allowing the police to be freed up in, God forbid, a county emergency where these deputies would be able to perform other tasks for them.”
DeRiggi-Whitton said she would not resign. In a phone call to the Herald, she expressed concern with transparency over training deputies, and said Democrats in the legislature proposed hiring 100 new police officers instead — but that Republicans voted that down.
“I still have a fundamental problem with this county executive being able to declare an emergency and then summon these people to go wherever he wants,” DeRiggi-Whitton said. “It’s not a good fit and not a good direction for where we should be with Nassau County.”
The Hewlett-Woodmere school district didn’t let the eclipse pass them by.
The April 8, 3 p.m. event was celebrated by all-day activities in Ogden Elementary School during special subjects such as art, gym and music. Hewlett High School students were dismissed to the football field where they watched the historic eclipse happen.
Ogden art teacher Tom Finn led his third and fourth grade students in an eclipse- inspired project. Students who came to the art classroom during their recess period used pastels on black paper to create an eclipse-like piece.
“You basically create a template or a cover and create the atmosphere, or the ombre, which they love to do and then remove the stencil to reveal the image,” Finn said.
Finn allows students to come in daily to work on art projects during recess and will guide themed projects on special occasions. Typically, a dozen to 20 kids stop by during their recess, Finn said. For the eclipse project, they had 20 minutes to make it look as vibrant as they’d like.
“The material, the chalk pastel lends itself to that atmospheric space like lava, it’s dusty, it’s vibrant, bring in some warm tones, and kind of show that intense light,” Finn said.
The focus of the project, Finn said, was to exaggerate the bright edge around the template, to look like the sun.
“With this lesson, it’s not my idea but the reason I chose it, is it’s a perfect example of what happens,” Finn said.
In an Ogden gym class, Rosemarie Ryan the physical education teacher, led students through an eclipse themed warm up, to the Bonnie Tyler song “Total Eclipse of the Heart.”
The Ogden music class, taught by Mara Santanastaso, played tambourines to the Schoolhouse
Rock song “Interplanet Janet” in honor of the solar event.
While the elementary students went home to watch the eclipse, Hewlett High students, faculty and staff used their glasses distributed by the school to watch from the field.
James Van Casteren, a special education math teacher at the school, said he and his students had talked about the eclipse in class.
Talia
“With the age of media and how kids are like, when I was a kid, I wouldn’t have known about this, until I watched the news,” Van Casteren said. “Now, it’s like these kids have it all there, then, I have to go and do my research and read a little bit about it and talk to my classes about the glasses, it happens every so many years, it’s a cool experience.”
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campaign link, where they have since raised more than $1 million of their goal, which increased to $1.25 million with the influx of support, from families the letter was mailed to, and sharing it on social media.
Weitman said Torah Academy for Girls joined forces with the other yeshivas in the campaign for funding because they see Bais Yaakov Ateres Miriam as a valuable resource to the community with a need for broader backing.
“It’s a small school — they don’t have a broad support base,” Weitman said. “Every school has challenges, every school needs support. We’re definitely no different.”
At Torah Academy, Weitman said their longstanding community support provides them with people they can constantly turn to in times of need, whereas Bais Yaakov Ateres Miriam needed additional outreach.
Asked if overall support for yeshivas or Jewish education is wavering, Weitman said the families at Torah Academy are happy with their experience.
“Our parent body definitely supports the education they’re getting,”
Weitman said. “The parents that send (their children) to our schools definitely desire this education.”
Shulamith joined the campaign to help out because its priority is providing the students from the local communities with a proper education, Monczyk said, adding that the yeshivas that signed the letter calling for support are in constant communication and share like values.
“When one goes down, we don’t want to go up,” Monczyk said. “They are our children, we’re one community.”
Monczyk also said it is important to keep up with the demand for yeshivas and Jewish education in the area.
“The Five Towns, right now, is busting at its seams,” Monczyk said. “We need the schools. If the school closes down, everyone’s affected. Where are those kids going?”
Bais Yaakov of the Five Towns declined to comment. Bnos Bais Yaakov and Darchei Torah did not respond to a request for comment as of press time.
Bais Yaakov Ateres Miriam also declined to comment.
Anyone wishing to donate can go to BYAM.hiraiser.com/FriendsOfByam.
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rabbis from five yeshivas sent out a letter, asking community members to financially support Bais Yaakov ateres miriam in far rockaway.
it will be unveiled in September.
“When people speak on the fact that it’s closed,” Pedersen said, “what they forget to add to that is, what is open is a better facility than we ever had there before.”
The Lawrence Teachers Association took to Facebook to complain that the work has been going on for over three and a half years, comparing it to the time it took to build UBS Arena, in Elmont, and MetLife Stadium, in New Jersey. The LTA also pointed out that students in the middle school and elementary school have to share a locker room and gym space.
“There are times when there’s classes of middle school and classes of elementary school in one gymnasium,” LTA President Rachel Kreiss said. “It’s deafeningly loud, and very hard to teach any sort of lesson when you have half a gymnasium to do it with.”
One reason for the slow pace of the renovations is the district’s goal of preserving the original gym floor, which is called “in-grain cut” and was built in the 1940s. Pedersen, Assistant Superintendent for Business and Operations Jeremy Feder and Scott Unger, the district’s director of facilities, wanted to preserve the old look. The floor, which “floats,” not needing to be nailed or glued to the subfloor, was also in need of straightening, because it has shifted over the years.
“It was too small, so we expanded the floor of the gym,” Pedersen said. “While maintaining the integrity, the footprint of the gym is larger now.”
The school had to find a specialist to do the floor work. “I found a man who lives in Boston, Massachusetts, who works with this type of wood,” Unger said. “It took two and a half months to trim the old wood all by hand, and we’re still waiting for the new wood to come in.”
New scoreboards and basketball backboards took 18 months to finish. All of the custom work added to the renovation timeline. Nonetheless, it did not affect district residents’ taxes, and there was limited budget impact.
The district has allocated between $7.5 million and $10 million for construction and renovation projects in the past six years as part of its capital budget, according to Feder.
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The new “old” gym will also feature new bleachers and locker rooms, and the basketball court is being expanded to regulation size for a middle school.
“Nothing works just in a little sliver,” Feder said. “It’s a big picture. There’s air conditioning in the gym now — it wasn’t a simple task.”
Have an opinion on the Lawrence school district construction at the Broadway campus? Send a letter to jbessen@liherald.com.
Sunday, April 14 at 1 PM
Melissa Berman/Herald
By Karen Bloom
Spring beckons with the first burst of blooms. While signs of the season are all around us now, there’s no place better than to welcome the season than at the always-glorious Old Westbury Gardens.
The landmark 200-acre estate, which officially re-opened April 1, is ready to delight visitors with its glorious gardens, a refurbished Westbury House, and a busy schedule of programs and activities.
This year promises to be especially exciting for President Maura Brush (in her first full season heading the beloved landmark), staff and visitors, as the estate — the former residence of lawyer John Shaffer Phipps, an heir to the Phipps family fortune — marks its 65th anniversary as a public home and garden.
“When the gardens opened to the public, Peggy Phipps and her friends probably carried it through many of those first years, that transition from private to public,” Brush says. “Sixty-five years is a big deal for an organization. I feel a great deal of energy going into this year. We’re really hitting our stride now.”
Brush describes her organization as an independent nonprofit that’s managed to hold its own in a place like Long Island that has so many things to offer people.
“So, the fact that we’re still here 65 years later with higher attendance — a higher rate of membership than ever before — speaks to people’s support of us,” she says. “We have our own special place in Long Island history, and our own special place in the horticultural world.”
That “specialness” is evident from the moment visitors enter through the gates. The first signs of the season have made their presence known.
“April is so exciting, with so many flowers ready to appear,” Brush says, enthusiastically. “Every type, size and signs of blooms are so cherished.”
The lake area is a favored place to check out in early spring.
“In the beginning of the year, it’s those outlying areas around the lakes where the waterline sort of meets the grass that’s so pleasant to visit,” Brush says. “It’s contemplative. With the trees not leafed out yet, the sun kind of shines off the water. I’ve noticed people are looking to get the sunlight. In the later months, they want to escape the sunlight. But in April, they want to turn their faces up and bask in that sun after winter.”
Old Westbury Gardens is reinvigorated for a milestone year ahead
• Old Westbury Gardens
• 71 Old Westbury Road, Old Westbury
• For more information and program/events schedule, visit OldWestburyGardens. org or call (516) 333-0048
Path, Brush’s favorite spot at the start of the season.
“It’s at its best from April through midMay,” she says. “It’s particularly interesting from a horticulturalist standpoint. There are so many things that naturalize on their own in there, and its nice to see nature having a part of the painting. You know the Walled Garden is beautiful, but it’s done by man, whereas the Primrose Path is a nice merge between man painting with our brush and mother nature painting with hers.”
Of course, its namesake — the showy, early blooming primrose — is certainly the star of that spot. Also forget-me-not and other spring ephemerals add to the springtime display.
“It’s a wild counterpart to the more formal gardens,” Brush adds.
She notes that the landscape is ever-changing and continuously bursting with color.
“Every week there’s a rollout,” she says.
From the cascades of cherry blossoms, the delicate frittillaria, daffodils, cheerful viola to, of course, tulips, shrubbery and trees, it’s all carefully conceived and executed by Brush’s team.
“We have a really well-curated display of bulbs that you’ll not see elsewhere,” she says. “So much time and care has been put into curating these bulbs. We utilize them in such a way that the combinations are so interesting. The Walled Garden is particularly exciting.”
Along with the colorful blooms, the extensive schedule of programming springs forth. This month’s highlights include the season’s first concert by Old Westbury Gardens’ resident chamber ensemble, Poetica Musica, April 13, at Westbury House. Dog lovers can look forward to the popular Dog Friendly Weekend, including the Spring Dog Festival, April 20-21. Pooches and their pet parents enjoy exploring the grounds (leashed of course), and meeting up with fellow four-legged visitors.
“The calendar is so full this year there’s barely a blank square,” Brush says. “We consider this a year-long celebration of everything old Westbury
Laugh the night away when the Long Island Comedy Festival returns to the Madison Theatre with new edition of its popular show. This entertaining evening of stand-up, hosted by Paul Anthony, features a top tier lineup of creative talent on the comedy circuit. Eric Tartaglione, John Ziegler and Baker & Mark (pictured) keep the laughs coming all evening long. Tartaglione’s high energy is complemented by physically expressive act. Whether he’s poking fun at his Italian background, his shortcomings or his married life, his performance is totally relatable to all audiences. Ziegler realized his childhood dream when he entered stand-up comedy at 40. Growing up in a large Jewish family in an Italian/Irish Catholic Long Island neighborhood has given him a unique perspective for his comedy. Finally, Scott Baker and Vinnie Mark, known as ‘The Quickest Thinkers in Comedy,’ are acclaimed for their fast-paced, off-the-cuff improv act. No two performances are ever alike.
Saturday, April 13, 8 p.m. Molloy University, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre. For tickets and information, visit MadisonTheatreNY. org, or call (516) 323-4444.
Over by the lake, you’ll find early blooming shrubs like Cornelian Cherry and Viburnum, along with Flowering Quince, the multi-stemmed deciduous thorny shrub that produces short-lived red, orange, white or pink flowers and shiny, dark-green foliage.
“They are beautiful this time of year,” Brush notes.
Plus, an early spring visit to the lake area is an ideal opportunity to observe the estate’s wildlife.
“The lake is fun this time of year,” she says.“The ducks are there and you see turtles in the early part of the season sunning themselves on the logs and on banks. They congregate around the lake areas on the property. They really seem to enjoy being there.”
Also don’t miss the Primrose
“We always like to consider that you are guests in our home. We invite everyone to join us in celebrating this milestone as we showcase the beauty and splendor that have defined Old
Westbury
Grab your leather jackets and get ready to rock! The Wallflowers have hit the road with their epic sound. Expect to hear fan favorites, including the Billboard 100 charter ‘Sleepwalker.’ Formed in 1989 by Jakob Dylan and guitarist Tobi Miller, the band has seen many changes over the years. The current line-up consists of Steve Mackey on bass, Stanton Adcock on lead guitar, Lynn Williams on drums, and Dylan on lead vocals and guitar. For the past 30 years, it’s stood as one of rock’s most dynamic and purposeful bands — a unit dedicated to and continually honing a sound that meshes timeless storytelling with a hard-hitting and decidedly modern musical attack. That signature style has been present through the decades, baked into the grooves of smash hits like 1996’s ‘Bringing Down the House,’ as well as more recent and exploratory fare like ‘Glad All Over.’ While it’s been nine long years since we’ve heard from the group with whom he first made his mark, The Wallflowers are silent no more.
Thursday, April 17, 8 p.m. $75, $45, $35, $25. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at Ticketmaster.com or ParamountNY.com.
Melissa Errico
Melissa Errico takes the stage with pianist-arranger Billy Stritch for her new show “The Life and Loves of a Broadway Baby.” She arrives at the Landmark on Friday, April 19, at 8 p.m., for this theatrical tour de force. Errico sets her own life to the Broadway songs that she has sung and owned — and offers both a sensational set of beloved standards and a series of witty and sometimes wicked stories about an ingenue’s life passed on the Great White Way. A sexy, sublime study of American songs, ranging from Cole Porter to Harold Arlen, Lerner & Loewe to Taylor Swift, with a substantial peek at Melissa’s new Sondheim album, “Sondheim In The City,”, with songs like “Everybody Says Don’t,” “Take Me To The World,” and “Being Alive.”
A woman of stage, screen and song, she’s a great interpreter of classic musicals and modern music alike, as well as a sparkling writer, recording artist, and film/television actress. Opera News has called her “the Maria Callas of American musical theater,” referencing both her silken voice and dramatic, expressive intensity, first came to attention for her starring roles on Broadway. She has since become a concert, cabaret and recording artist as well. Errico has starred on Broadway in such musicals as My Fair Lady where The New York Times called her Eliza Doolittle “beguiling,” White Christmas in the Rosemary Clooney role of Betty, and as Cosette in Les Misérables. Come hear for yourself why Broadway World says, “The way Melissa Errico immerses herself in every moment, the technical brilliance of her vocal abilities, and the sheer star power that the lady exudes, makes her a take-no-prisoners performer, offering a leave-it-allon-the-floor show. $63, $53, $43. Jeanne Rimsky Theater at Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington. (516) 767-6444 or LandmarkOnMainStreet.org.
The family extravaganza returns to Samanea New York Mall (formerly The Source Mall), Sunday, April 14, 10 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. Enjoy varied activities along with over 80 kidcentered exhibitors. New activities this year include Be a Biker for a Day, and Ninja Warrior obstacle course, along with soft play (ages infant to 5), mixed martial arts and pickleball, featuring two fullsize pickleball courts with expert instruction.
Also three large bounce houses, DJ with Mr. and Mrs. Mouse, Face painting, balloon animals, photo booth, sensory play, putting green, arts and crafts, and more. $10 for children ages 2 and up, $5 for adults; all tickets $5 advance purchase. 1504 Old Country Road, Westbury. For tickets and more information, visit AllKidsFair.com.
Relax with friends playing a game or work on your ongoing craft project as part of Peninsula Public Library’s in-person Cozy Games & Crafts program, Monday, April 15, 2-4:30 p.m. Bring your own knitting, crocheting or other projects and material. Some games will be provided. No instructors. 280 Central Ave., Lawrence.
Nassau County Museum of Art’s latest exhibition, “Urban Art Evolution,” is a comprehensive exhibit featuring a diverse range of compositions from the 1980s through the present by creators who were based in the rough and tumble downtown area of New York City known as Loisaida/LES (Lower East Side/East Village) and close surrounding neighborhoods. Artists pushed the boundaries of what was considered “art” with a primary focus on street/graffiti art. The exhibit’s scope, guest curated by art collector/gallerist Christopher Pusey, offers an even broader view from other creative residents, who worked inside their studios but still contributed to the rich fabric of the downtown art scene from different vantage points and aesthetics.
Works include sculpture, paintings, photography, music, and ephemera from many noted and influential artists. On view through July 7. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. (516) 484-9337 or NassauMuseum.org.
Enjoy a delightful musical tour exploring the history of France from Medieval times to the present, with Old Westbury Gardens’ chamber music artistsin-residence, Saturday, April 13, 7:30-10 p.m. in Westbury House’s Red Ballroom. Explore the works and styles of Mozart, Chopin, Ravel, Debussy, and Rameau, among others, with pianist Hayk Arsenyan, mezzo soprano Eleanor Valkenburg and guest artist Christopher Preston Thompson (tenor and harpist).
With pre-concert discussion, 7:30 p.m., and Meet the Artists reception immediately following concert on the West Porch. $30 general admission, $24 members, $25 Seniors (62+) and students.
71 Old Westbury Road, Old Westbury. For information, visit OldWestburyGardens.org or call (516) 333-0048.
Chabad of the Five Towns welcomes all to its weekly Parsha class for men and women, Thursdays, at 7:30 p.m. Join R’Yanky Feder for discussion at the Levi Yitzchak Library. 564 Central Ave., in Cedarhurst.
Converse, collaborate and create at Family Saturdays at Nassau County Museum of Art, Saturday, April 13, noon-3 p.m. Get inspired by the art and objects in the galleries and then join educators at the Manes Center to explore and discover different materials to create your own original artwork.
Kids and adults connect while talking about and making art together. A new project is featured every week. $20 adult, $10 child. For ages 2-14. Registration required. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. Visit NassauMuseum.org for to register or call (516) 4849337.
e Village of Woodsburgh Board of Trustees meet, on Monday, April 15 7 p.m., at Village of Woodsburgh. 30 Piermont Ave., Hewlett, for more information call (516)-295-1400.
Plaza
Theatrical continues its season with “Til Death Do Us Part…You First,” directed by Chazz Palminteri, Sunday, April 14, 2:30 p.m. Peter Fogel wrote and perfroms his hilarious autobiographical tale. An eternal bachelor, Fogel has major commitment issues as the love of his life has just broken up with him on Valentine’s Day. He senses his own mortality and after much soul searching, he decides to revisit the scene of all his romantic disasters.
Fogel’s signature wit, along with riotous relatable characters, takes us on a whirlwind comedic journey of searching for his soul mate and the meaning of a real commitment. Fogel laments: “The longest relationship I’ve had in my entire life…is with T-Mobile!”$40, $35 seniors. See it at Plaza’s stage at the Elmont Library Theatre. 700 Hempstead Tpke., Elmont. For tickets, call (516) 599-6870 or visit PlazaTheatrical.com.
Items on The Scene page are listed free of charge. The Herald welcomes listings of upcoming events, community meetings and items of public interest. All submissions should include date, time and location of the event, cost, and a contact name and phone number. Submissions can be emailed to thescene@liherald.com.
Long Island Children’s Museum invites families to celebrate Holi, the Festival of Colors, Sunday, April 14 , 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Originating in India, this Hindu festival marks the end of winter and the arrival of the colorful spring season. During this joyous celebration, families eat sweets, dance to traditional folk music and throw colorful powder made from flowers called gulal. Crafts, color throwing and dancing will be part of this vibrant event. Welcome spring’s arrival with Holi. Participants are encouraged to wear clothes that they won’t mind getting messy. Long Island Children’s Museum, Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 224-5800 or LICM.org.
Mercy Hospital hosts this free event for expecting momsto-be, Saturday, May 11, noon to 2 p.m., in the lower level cafeteria. With raffles, giveaways for mom and baby, and meet and greets with physicians, lactation specialists, mother/baby nurses, games and more. For moms only. 1000 N. Village Ave. Email Elizabeth.Schwind@chsli.org to register. For more information, visit CHSLI.org/mercyhospital or call (516)-626-3729.
Hewlett Bay Park Village Board of Trustees meet, Monday, April 15, at 7:45 p.m., at Village of Hewlett Bay Park. 30 Piermont Ave., Hewlett, for more information call (516)-295-1400 or email hbpvillagehall@optimum. net.
Lawrence District Board of Education meets, Monday, April 15, at 8 p.m, at Lawrence High School. 2 Reilly Road, Cedarhurst. For more information visit Lawrence.org/ Page/Meeting-Notice-Schedule.
The Hewlett Neck Village holds their tentative village budget public hearing, Friday, April 12, 9 a.m., at Village of Hewlett Neck. 30 Piermont Ave., Hewlett. For more information call (516)-295-1400 or email villages3@optimum.net.
Temple Israel of Lawrence has found their new rabbi from within their own four walls. Galina Makaveyev, the cantor at the synagogue for over 20 years will now preside as rabbi, temple’s first woman rabbi, after completing the necessary courses to become ordained.
“There were two main ideas that empowered me — one is my Jewish tradition and the values of the United States of America, because I am an immigrant, and two is the sacred community I’m working in for 22 years, Temple Israel,” Makaveyev said.
The congregation overwhelmingly chose Makaveyev as their rabbi, on April 8. She is succeeding interim Rabbi Marc Disick, who has been with the congregation for two years.
“Rabbi Makaveyev consistently shares her profound gratitude for Temple Israel’s heartfelt expression of faith in her leadership and vision,” Disick said.
Makaveyev is the daughter of a Holocaust survivor and an immigrant from The Soviet Union. She officially became a citizen of the United States in 2011. She expresses her gratitude for “America’s spirit of freedom and the values of Judaism” which led her to fulfill her calling as Temple Israel’s new spiritual leader.
“The stars aligned for the pulpit being available and her being interested in it, the board members decided for her to be the
only candidate in the search,” Disick adds.
In 2002, the congregation’s President, Penny Schuster, served with her late husband Norman on the committee, which named Makaveyev as cantor. Schuster enthusiastically says that Galina Makaveyev “was meant to be our cantor, and she is meant to be our rabbi.”
“Galina approached us and asked if we would be interested in her taking classes to be ordained, we agreed and explained to her the process to hire clergy,” Schuster Said. “It was presented to the board and they decided to move on with solo clergy, meaning she will be the cantor and rabbi and it was voted on unanimously by the congregation.
Not only has Makaveyev served as cantor, she also serves as social director, and has created numerous programs for Temple Israel. Her impact on the temple made the decision to hire her as rabbi easier for the board members and congregation.
“She was the obvious choice for us as a shrinking congregation, to go forward and Sheppard our flock,” said Alan Hartstein, co-chair of the Rabbi Succession Committee.
Temple Israel remains in the building and worshiping as they have been doing, after a 20-year battle with a membership decline and selling a portion the Lawrence campus to the Marion & Aaron Gural JCC in 2016. Despite the dwindling numbers, the temple community stays strong and the appreciation for Makaveyev grows stronger.
“I think she is very aware of the community and is extremely aware of the needs of our temple, our members, and she somebody that has been around our congregation for a long time and is going to move forward in a very positive way,” adds Hartstein.
Makaveyev’s term begins on July 1. A Service of Installation will take
place at the congregation’s annual meeting on the evening of Monday, June 17.
“Having a rabbinical career and the call of becoming a rabbi adds to my Jewish values and purpose in life, a spiritual life are very important as a part of my thriving and the thriving of my family,” Makaveyev said.
Courtesy Rabbi Galina Makaveyev
LEGAL NOTICE SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS IN TAX LIEN FORECLOSURE-SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, COUNTY OF NASSAU - SETH SCHREIBER and YAFFA SCHREIBER, Plaintiffs, UNKNOWN HEIRS AND DISTRIBUTEES OF THE ESTATE OF BERNICE FROHMAN, Defendants.
Index No. 602539/23. To the above named Defendants -YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the complaint in this action within twenty days after the service of this summons, exclusive of the day of service or within thirty days after service is completed if the summons is not personally delivered to you within the State of New York. In case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the complaint. Plaintiffs designate Nassau County as the place of trial. Venue is based upon the county where the property against which a declaratory judgment sought is situated. The foregoing summons is served upon you by publication pursuant to the Order of the Hon. Eileen C. Daly-Sapraicone, J.S.C., entered on March 18, 2024. The object of this action is to obtain a declaratory judgment declaring that Plaintiffs are the record owners of all rights, title and interest in Section: 39 Block: 577, Lots: 37 and 54 on the Tax Map of Nassau County, also known as 52 Steven Dr., Hewlett, New York, vesting said property in Plaintiffs, free and clear of all liens.
Dated: March 18, 2024 BRONSTER, LLP, Attorney for Plaintiffs
Seth Schreiber and Yaffa Schreiber, By: Leonid Krechmer, Esq. 156 West 56th Street, Suite 703 New York, NY 10019 (212) 558-9300 #101276 145730 LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURTCOUNTY
MORTGAGE PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2006-WMC4 Plaintiff, Against LUCRECIO AQUINO, ET AL, Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale, duly entered 12/24/2018, I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction, on the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY
11501 on 4/30/2024 at 2:30PM, premises known as 46 Saint George Place, Inwood, New York 11096, And Described As Follows:
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, State Of New York. Section 40 Block 57 Lot 48
The approximate amount of the current Judgment lien is $466,857.24 plus interest and costs. The Premises will be sold subject to provisions of the aforesaid Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale; Index # 16-008698
If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, the then Court Appointed Referee will cancel the Foreclosure Auction. This Auction will be held rain or shine.
Bradley Marks, Esq., Referee. MCCABE, WEISBERG & CONWAY, LLC, 10 Midland Avenue, Suite 205, Port Chester, NY 10573
Dated: 1/31/2024 File Number: 560-3388 CA 145726
LEGAL NOTICE
SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU. 7841 PINES BOULEVARD LLC, Plaintiff -againstGENNADY BOROKHOVICH, ELENA BOROKHOVICH, et al Defendant(s). Pursuant to an Amended Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated February 8, 2024 and entered on February 15, 2024, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court “Rain or Shine” located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY on May 7, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. premises situate, lying and being in the Incorporated Village of Hewlett Harbor, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, bounded and described as follows: BEGINNING at a point on the Westerly side of Seawane Drive, where the Northerly line of land now or formerly of auguste Richard intersects the said Westerly side of Seawane Drive; RUNNING
THENCE North 82 degrees 49 minutes 20 seconds West along the aforesaid land of Richard, 344.32 feet to the mean high water line of Macy Channel as the same existed on January 18, 1967; THENCE along the bulkhead line of Macy Channel as the existed the following 2 courses and distances: 1. North 26 degrees 10 minutes 40 seconds East, 166.03 feet; 2. North 32 degrees 42 minutes 40 seconds East, 151.58 feet to land now
or formerly of Pier; THENCE along said lastmentioned line South 60 degrees 00 minutes 40 seconds East, 104.59 feet to the Southwesterly side of Albon Road; THENCE along the Southwesterly side of Albon Road, the following 2 courses and distances: 1. Southwesterly along the arc of a curve bearing to the left having a radius of 190.47 feet, a distance of 95.73 feet; 2. Still Southeasterly along the arc of a curve bearing to the right having a radius of 340 feet, a distance of 28.28 feet to the extreme Westerly end of the arc of curve connecting the Westerly side of Seawane Drive with the Southwesterly side of Albon Road; THENCE Southeasterly and Southerly along said lastmentioned arc of curve bearing to the right having a radius of 57.71 feet a distance of 59.24 feet to the westerly side o Seawane Drive; THENCE Southerly along the Westerly side of Seawane Drive along the arc of a curve bearing to the left having a radius of 1760 feet, a distance of 125.02 feet to the point or place of BEGINNING. Section: 42 Block: K and Lots: 103 and 622
Said premises known as 1310 SEAWANE DRIVE, HEWLETT, NY
Approximate amount of lien $2,854,066.42 plus interest & costs.
Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale.
Index Number 003612/2014. PETER RUBIN, ESQ., Referee Forchelli Deegan Terrana LLP
Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 333 Earle Ovington Blvd., Suite 1010, Uniondale, New York 11553 {* NASSAU HER*} 145824
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING BY THE BOARD OF APPEALS Pursuant to New York State Town Law Article 16, New York State Public Officers Law Article 7, and the Town of Hempstead Building Zone Ordinance, NOTICE is hereby given that the BOARD OF APPEALS of the Town of Hempstead will hold a public hearing in the Old Town Hall, 350 Front Street, Room 230, Second Floor, Hempstead, New York on 4/17/2024 at 9:30 A.M. & 2:00 P.M. to consider the following applications and appeals:
THE FOLLOWING CASES WILL BE CALLED STARTING AT 9:30 A.M. 223/24. HEWLETTAmerican Drive-in Cleaners of Hewlett, Inc., Renewal of grant to maintain double-faced, illuminated detached ground sign; overall size 192 sq. ft. (96 sq. ft. per
face); overall height 17’, setback 4’ from Peninsula Blvd.; clearance 5’ from grade to bottom of sign., S/s Peninsula Blvd., 432’ E/o Mill Rd., a/k/a 1345 Peninsula Blvd. 232/24. ATLANTIC BEACH
- Ellen Zwalsky & Martin
Schepsman, Variance, lot area occupied, construct screened wood deck attached to dwelling., S/s Park St., 367.88’ E/o Scott Dr., a/k/a 1309 Park St. 233/24. - 235/24.
INWOOD - Chester Grace LLC, Special exception to construct accessory structure (covered patio with outdoor kitchen) larger than permitted & exceeding horizontal maximum on both sides; Install pool & equipment not permitted in the side yard; Maintain 2’ high masonry wall with 3’ high fence above (totaling 5’ high) forward of the dwelling., E/s Cedar Rd., 180’ N/o Bayswater Blvd., a/k/a 120 Cedar Rd. THE FOLLOWING CASES WILL BE CALLED STARTING AT 2:00 P.M. 243/24. INWOODNachum & Sarah Greenberg, Variances, lot area occupied, rear yard, construct addition, 2nd story addition open below & 2nd story deck open below all attached to dwelling., S/s Fairway Dr., 90’ E/o Donahue Ave., a/k/a 5 Fairway Dr. 244/24. - 247/24.
INWOOD - David & Chana Winzelberg, Variances, front yard setback on Healy Ave., construct 2-story addition & interior alterations in excess of 50% (new c/o required); Variances, front yard setback on Dickson St. & Healy Ave., maintain enclosed porch attached to dwelling; Special exception to maintain shed not permitted in the side yard, exceeding horizontal maximum & with less than required side yard setback; Maintain 2’6” high fence on top of 8” high stone wall (totaling 3’2” high) located within the clearsight triangle & without clear-sight triangle at both neighbors driveways; maintain 6’ high arbor forward of the dwelling., S/E cor. Dickson St. & Healy Ave., a/k/a 68 Dickson St. 248/24. NR LAWRENCEMoshe Kaufman & Rebecca Sara Wassner Kaufman, Variance lot area occupied, construct dwelling., N/s Pacific Ave., 140’ W/o Union St., a/k/a 256 Pacific Ave. 249/24. WOODMERELeon & Hila Mayer, Variances, lot area occupied, front yard average setback, construct dwelling with roofed over open porch on existing foundation (demolish existing dwelling & detached garage)., E/s Neptune Ave., 90’ N/o Benton St., a/k/a 28 Neptune Ave. 253/24. INWOOD - Jamila Alkaifi, Variances, side yard, side yards aggregate, maintain
“What an amazing turnout at the Hewlett Fire for the Memorial Blood Drive for Hewlett Firefighter Danny Berrios,” Town of Hempstead Councilman Melissa Miller posted on Facebook on the April 7 event.
“They raised over $11,000 and 170 pints of blood were donated to the Nassau County Burn Center in Danny’s memory,” Miller wrote.
Berrios was a volunteer firefighter with Hewlett and previously with the
porch converted to living space, 2-story addition, 2nd story balcony & deck all attached to dwelling., N/s Bayview Ave., 85.13’ E/o Mervin St., a/k/a 284 Bayview Ave. 255/24. - 256/24. INWOOD - Jose Rodriguez, Variances, lot area occupied, rear yard, construct 2-story addition and elevate existing dwelling; Variance, lot area occupied, maintain addition to detached garage., W/s Wahl Ave., 113.10’ N/o Mott Ave., a/k/a 87 Wahl Ave. ALL PAPERS PERTAINING TO THE ABOVE HEARING ARE AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION AT THE BOARD OF APPEALS, TOWN HALL, 1 WASHINGTON STREET, HEMPSTEAD, NY 11550. This notice is only for new cases in Hewlett, Atlantic Beach, Inwood, Lawrence & Woodmere within Town of Hempstead jurisdiction. There are additional cases in different hamlets, towns and villages on the Board of Appeals calendar. The full calendar is available at
https://hempsteadny.gov/ 509/Board-of-Appeals
The internet address of the website streaming for this meeting is https://hempsteadny.gov/ 576/Live-Streaming-Video
Interested parties may appear at the above time and place. At the call of the Chairman, the Board will consider decisions on the foregoing and those on the Reserve Decision calendar and such other matters as may properly come before it. 146063
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT
NASSAU COUNTY WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A., Plaintiff against CHAYA GROSZ, et al Defendant(s) Attorney for Plaintiff(s) Stern & Eisenberg, P.C., 20 Commerce Drive, Suite 230, Cranford, NJ 07016 and 1131 Route 55, Suite 1, Lagrangeville, NY 12540. Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered April 18,
Inwood Fire Department, who died in a motorcycle accident n his 48th birthday last year.
The Cedarhurst resident worked for Sanitary District 1 for 30 years and also drove buses for Independent Coach, taking kids to their athletic games.
Miller noted that Kerri L’inne, the Hewlett Bay Fire District’s EMS coordinator, organized the blood drive.
— Jeffrey Bessen2018, I will sell at public auction to the highest bidder at North Side Steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on May 14, 2024 at 2:00 PM.
Premises known as 16 Washington Avenue, Lawrence, NY 11559-2405. Sec 41 Block 086 Lot 152. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in Incorporated Village of Lawrence, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York.
Approximate Amount of
Judgment is
CSC Holdings, LLC seeks a Lead Network Engineer to support network connectivity for internal business function and for Altice USA customers. Design and implement processes, procedures, policies, and standards related to the enterprise network. Deploy network gear to support new projects and be responsible for the technical success of such projects. Migrate network gear from legacy to new. Resolve complex issues within network environment and develop automation routines. #LI-DNI Position requires a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Technology or a related field, and 5 years of experience in the design and implementation of Cisco route, switch, VPN, and firewall in large 1000+ node Enterprise environments. Experience must include a minimum of: 5 years of experience monitoring, troubleshooting, and configuring network routers, switches, wireless access points, and firewalls; 5 years of experience troubleshooting, diagnosing, and resolving network outages; 5 years of experience maintaining network environment by applying best practices and performing code upgrades; 5 years of experience with working directly with customers to resolve network connectivity issues; 5 years of experience documenting network changes; 5 years of experience with TCP/IP; 5 years of experience with OSPF; 5 years of experience with BGP; 3 years of experience with Firewalls; 3 years of experience with Load Balancers; 3 years of experience with Linux Servers; and 2 years of experience with Python Scripting. Part-time telecommuting may be permitted. Job location: Bethpage, NY. Rate of Pay: $172,515.00 – $182,515.00 per year. To apply, please visit https://www.alticecareers.com, and enter Job Requisition ID 5223. Alternatively, please send your résumé, cover letter, and a copy of the ad to: Altice USA, Attn: Erin M. Berry, One Court Square West, Long Island City, NY, USA 11101. Altice USA is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to recruiting, hiring and promoting qualified people of all backgrounds regardless of gender, race, color, creed, national origin, religion, age, marital status, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, military or veteran status, or any other basis protected by federal, state, or local law. Altice USA, Inc. collects personal information about its applicants for employment that may include personal identifiers, professional or employment related information, photos, education information and/or protected classifications under federal and state law. This information is collected for employment purposes, including identification, work authorization, FCRA-compliant background screening, human resource administration and compliance with federal, state and local law.
along with a resume and three writing samples to mhinman@liherald.com
viscardicenter 2x4 b.crtr - Page 1 - Composite
Abilities, Inc. is looking for Direct Support Professionals to provide support services to successfully integrate individuals with developmental disabilities into their communities.
developmental disabilities into their communities.
Abilities, Inc. is looking for Direct Support Professionals to provide support services to successfully integrate individuals with developmental disabilities into their communities.
Transport and accompany Program Participants to recreational activities — bowling, movies, volunteering — and other socialization activities. Additional duties, such as assisting with personal care needs, may be required. $20.00/hr.
Transport and accompany Program Participants to recreational activities — bowling, movies, volunteering — and other socialization activities. Additional duties, such as assisting with personal care needs, may be required. $20.00/hr.
HS Diploma/equivalent, prior work experience with adults having disabilities required.
Valid NYS Driver’s License required.
For more information, call (516) 465-1432 or email humanresources@viscardicenter.org
viscardicenter 2x4.crtr - Page 1 - Composite
GOODYEAR AUTO CENTER
AUTO MECHANIC (F/T or P/T)
$2000.00 HIRING BONUS
Starting Salary $75,000
Inside Sales
Transport and accompany Program Participants to recreational activities — bowling, movies, volunteering — and other socialization activities. Additional duties, such as assisting with personal care needs, may be required. $20.00/hr.
HS Diploma/equivalent, prior work experience with adults having
HS Diploma/equivalent, prior work experience with adults having disabilities required.
Valid NYS Driver’s License required.
For more information, call (516) 465-1432 or email humanresources@viscardicenter.org
viscardicenter 2x4.crtr - Page 1 - Composite
viscardicenter 2x4.crtr - Page 1 - Composite
The Viscardi Center publishes a monthly print/digital newspaper and website that serves the New York City and Long Island disability community and is looking for an energetic, highly motivated sales representative. Sell print and digital advertising, assist with growth and management of the subscription base. Be able to learn quickly, multi-task, and work effectively to meet deadlines. This is a part-time position with a flexible schedule; $25-$30/hr. + commission.
Experience in General Repairs
Long Beach And Queens Call (516) 661-8471
Send Resume: yonab@autofix.com
Join the Village of South Floral Park team as our new Deputy Clerk!
Are you self motivated and good with being the go-to person for an organization? Do you thrive in managing a variety of tasks from social media updates to crucial village operations? If so, we want you! Bring your experience, Microsoft and QuickBooks skills, and top-notch communication abilities to a role where no two days are alike. Dive into a part-time position where you'll make a real impact, from handling important documents to leading in the Administrator's absence.
Ready to make a difference?
Email your resume and salary expectations to villageclerk383@optimum.net or fax to 516-352-0651.
Only selected candidates will be contacted for interviews.
Thank you for considering a career with us!
MAILROOM/ WAREHOUSE HELP
Long Island Herald has IMMEDIATE openings for a FULL-TIME & PART-TIME mailroom/warehouse helper in Garden City. We are a busy print shop looking for motivated and reliable individuals to assist in various duties in the shop. Forklift experience is a plus and heavy lifting is required. Hours vary, so flexibility is key. Salary Ranges fromo $16 per hour to $20 per hour.
Email resumes or contact info to careers@liherald.com
Looking for an aggressive self starter who is great at making and maintaining relationships and loves to help businesses grow by marketing them on many different advertising platforms. You will source new sales opportunities through inbound lead follow-up and outbound cold calls. Must have the ability to understand customer needs and requirements and turn them in to positive advertising solutions. We are looking for a talented and competitive Inside Sales Representative that thrives in a quick sales cycle environment. Compensation ranges from $33,280 + commissions and bonuses to over $100,000 including commission and bonuses. We also offer health benefits, 401K and paid time off. Please send cover letter and resume with salary requirements to ereynolds@liherald.com Call 516-569-4000 X286
OUTSIDE
The Viscardi Center publishes a monthly print/digital newspaper and website that serves the New York City and Long Island disability community and is looking for an energetic, highly motivated sales representative. Sell print and digital advertising, assist with growth and management of the subscription base. Be able to learn quickly, multi-task, and work effectively to meet deadlines. This is a part-time position with a flexible schedule; $25-$30/hr. + commission.
For more information, call (516) 465-1432 or email humanresources@viscardicenter.org
The Viscardi Center publishes a monthly print/digital newspaper and website that serves the New York City and Long Island disability community and is looking for an energetic, highly motivated sales representative. Sell print and digital advertising, assist with growth and management of the subscription base. Be able to learn quickly, multi-task, and work effectively to meet deadlines. This is a part-time position with a flexible schedule; $25-$30/hr. + commission.
For more information, call (516) 465-1432 or email humanresources@viscardicenter.org
For more information, call (516) 465-1432 or email humanresources@viscardicenter.org
TQ. My neighbor loves animals, so much that they have constructed little houses for feral cats and stray dogs. Although I haven’t said anything because we have a tall fence, and I don’t have to look at the menagerie of wildlife — including many ducks, squirrels and raccoons that also eat the food scraps my neighbor puts out — I wonder if this is allowed, and now that they’re starting to build very large bird “hotels” that I can see, I’m thinking this is really getting to be too much. Do they need approval to attract all of these animals, a permit or something?
A. There are restrictions, such as section 152-8 of Town of Hempstead code, prohibiting dogs at large. You can check your municipality code regulations, online, by typing in the name of your municipality followed by “ecode360.” Many communities restrict the number of pets and the containment of pets, and have a restriction that pets can’t be constrained for more than two hours to a stationary object, like a post.
Stray dogs and cats are prohibited, even though many people take care of them. I wrote about this 25 years ago, and received hate mail for my insensitivity to these cats and dogs, even though I was quoting the ordinances, in addition to writing about how to keep strays from wandering into your yard. If the strays become a problem for you, there are regulations that your neighbor may be subject to.
Birdhouses seem fairly innocent, and unless they’re built to an abundant size, like the “hotel” you describe, there are no limits. When there are a number of birdhouses, or they become large enough to fall under the regulation of treehouses and sheds, the regulations become relevant, and the construction of these “accessory structures” falls under the zoning codes. I’ve seen birdhouses with 25 units in them, which is large enough to make it necessary to regulate. It brings new meaning to Airbnb. I’m not sure if the local governments that placed prohibitions on renting out homes to transients also included the bird population, since most birds have no place to carry cash or a credit card, but it may be worth looking into in your spare time.
A call to either your local building inspector or to animal and wildlife control centers can confirm the handling of the animals, and whether your neighbor is creating a nuisance. The biggest concern may be health considerations, since some species may carry diseases that can be harmful to other species or to you. For example, raccoons, cats and squirrels are known to carry rabies, and an even more dangerous disease called toxoplasmosis. They endanger dogs in particularly, since these diseases cause ailments that can cripple or destroy their immune systems. Cats are also in danger, and the droppings from each of these animals may also cause sickness in humans, but to a lesser degree. You are not wrong to be concerned. Good luck!
© 2024 Monte Leeper
Readers are encouraged to send questions to yourhousedr@aol.com, with “Herald question” in the subject line, or to Herald Homes, 2 Endo Blvd., Garden City, NY 11530, Attn: Monte Leeper,
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The tragic murder of 31-year-old New York City Police Officer
Jonathan Diller has had a devastating impact not just on his Massapequa Park community, but across Long Island, New York and indeed the country.
I represented Massapequa Park, and my district office was located there for all 28 years I was in Congress. Almost immediately after the news of Diller’s murder broke, blue ribbons appeared on local businesses and residences throughout Massapequa and Massapequa Park. Two nights later, there was a candlelight vigil at Brady Park that was attended by over 1,000 residents, who gathered in a steady rain to honor Diller’s memory.
The rain continued the following day, but that didn’t deter a long line of mourners from attending Diller’s wake at the Massapequa Funeral Home.
Among those attending and showing
his respects was former President Donald Trump, who met with and consoled Diller’s 29-year-old widow, Stephanie, and other members of his family. Trump demonstrated great dignity and respect, and clearly had a reassuring and calming effect on these good people.
I had the privilege of being there, and thanked Trump for giving strength to the Diller family and to the community. I also spoke briefly with Stephanie Diller, and was struck by her youth and her strength of character, which she will surely need after losing her husband so tragically and having to raise their 1-year-old son, Ryan, without his father.
My lasting memory will be of Stephanie Diller’s moving eulogy.
was bright and clear for Diller’s funeral at St. Rose of Lima Church in Massapequa. Rosemary and I drove to the service with Sid Rosenberg, from WABC radio’s “Sid and Friends”; his wife, Danielle; and Bill O’Reilly. Merrick Road was a seemingly endless sea of blue, as thousands of police officers lined the street in both directions for as far as the eye could see.
The steady stream of mourners continued the following day, Good Friday, when there was the controversial incident involving Gov. Kathy Hochul, who, by some accounts, was asked to leave the funeral home by Diller family members. I’ve heard various versions of what happened, but all of them made it clear that it wasn’t the amicable discussion Hochul claimed.
The weather on Saturday morning
We assembled across the street from St. Rose, in a group that included many strong supporters of the police, such as Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, former NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell and Congressmen Anthony D’Esposito and Andrew Garbarino. There were also those who didn’t belong, such as state Attorney General Letitia James and city Comptroller Brad Lander, who are shamefully anti-police.
The arrival of the hearse, the sound of muffled drums, a lone piper playing the haunting tones of “Amazing Grace,” the flag-draped coffin being carried into the church, followed by Stephanie Diller, holding Ryan in her arms, were truly heartbreaking.
Inside, the church was filled to overflowing with men and women in blue. My lasting memory will be of Stephanie’s courageous eulogy, in which she described her husband’s goodness and love, and then demanded that elected officials at long last correct the laws and policies that keep violent criminals on the streets and result in the senseless deaths of brave police officers. The church erupted in sustained applause, and there were tears everywhere.
Then mourners filed silently from the church and reassembled across Merrick Road. The coffin was carried from the church, and a bugler played taps. The flag was taken from the coffin and presented to Stephanie. The NYPD Pipe Band played “America the Beautiful.” The coffin was placed in the hearse, and the cortège began the journey bringing Jonathan Diller to his final resting place in St. Charles Cemetery. His life was over. His memory lives on.
NYPD hero Jonathan Diller, R.I.P.
Peter King is a former congressman, and a former chair of the House Committee on Homeland Security. Comments? pking@ liherald.com.
It has never been a secret among my political friends that I have always been a strong supporter of bipartisan government. I practiced that philosophy during my 23 years in Albany, and I continue to believe that when the two parties work together, remarkable things can get done.
When I was a part of the Democratic leadership in Albany, I was frequently asked to sit down with Republican members with the goal of getting important legislation passed and signed into law. I recall, during one late-night session, a small group of us walked the corridors behind the chambers to meet with the State Senate Republican leader, Warren Anderson. We went for the purpose of discussing a number of major bills that had not been acted on in the closing hours of the session.
Bill by bill, issue by issue, we had an open and frank discussion of the pros and cons of the legislation, and after a few hours of talking, we all shook
hands. Hours later, the agreed-on package of proposals was on the floor of both houses, and by the time the morning sun was peeking through the chamber windows, all of the bills had been passed and were on their way to the governor to be signed.
A
I remember numerous sessions in which one of my fellow Long Island Republican senators would sit down with me during an Assembly session with a list of their local priorities. The late Norman Levy, who was a hard-working legislator, often came by with a fistful of pending bills, asking for my help to get them out of the Ways and Means Committee, which I chaired. From time to time I would make the same walk to the Senate side to ask for help with my legislation.
member to invoke another rule that requires a vote to keep or oust the speaker. It has already happened once, when a small cluster of hardheaded conservatives invoked the rule, and Kevin McCarthy was kicked out of the speaker’s job.
ny attempt to pass major bipartisan legislation is considered a form of treason.
I’m taking this walk down memory lane as a way of contrasting how government once functioned at the state level, and how, today, the legislative process in Washington is a total disaster. One good example is the rule adopted by the Republican members of the House of Representatives that allows any one
A few weeks ago, maverick Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, of Georgia, asked that the House consider that option again, this time to kick Speaker Mike Johnson out. Johnson’s sin is that he collaborated with House Democrats to avoid a shutdown of the federal government.
Greene is one of a small cluster of members who came to Washington for the sole purpose of blowing up the House, and apparently the country along with it. This right-wing bomb squad has succeeded in taking away almost all of the powers of the moderate members, who have yet to put up a real fight on any issue.
There are many important issues that have been kicked aside as a result of the machinations of the ultra-conservative block. The Senate passed a bipartisan bill that would impose the stron-
gest border security laws in recent history, and at the same time provide financial assistance to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. Johnson has refused to advance the bill, caving under pressure from former President Donald Trump, who insists that the members avoid making President Biden look good.
The idea that the House majority would refuse to approve legislation that would solve the border dilemma at the behest of a person who holds no elected office is a national tragedy. There are ample Democratic and Republican votes to pass the Senate bill and other bills that would make the current session of Congress a meaningful one, but Johnson is paralyzed and ineffective. Any attempt to pass major bipartisan legislation is considered heresy and a form of treason.
America desperately needs a good old dose of bipartisanship in Washington, but for now that is just a dream for old political souls like me.
Jerry Kremer was an Assemblyman for 23 years, and chaired the Assembly’s Ways and Means Committee for 12 years. He now heads Empire Government Strategies, a business development and legislative strategy firm. Comments about this column? jkremer@liherald.com.
few short weeks ago, we told you about the newly-formed Empire State Local News Coalition. The Nassau Herald is proud to be a member of this fastgrowing group of more than 150 New York local news outlets that have joined forces to protect local journalism across the state.
The work of our coalition has raised awareness of the importance of local journalism as well as the challenges facing the local news industry. (New York has lost half of its newsrooms since 2004.) We are grateful to communities across the state who have united behind us.
In just the past month, we rallied in Westchester County, where locals were stunned by the abrupt closure of three community newspapers. We went directly to Albany to appeal to lawmakers, and where we also rallied with elected officials from both the state senate and Assembly.
Numerous localities have adopted resolutions expressing their support for legislation that would support local journalism, and more municipal resolutions are in the pipeline. Even unconventional allies like Microsoft have joined our calls to save local news.
Thanks to these collective efforts, the Local Journalism Sustainability Act — which would provide tax credits to local news organizations for retaining and creating newsroom jobs — was included
To the Editor:
I rarely agree with Jerry Kremer, but I feel a need to respond to his column in the March 28-April 3 issue, “Netanyahu is a supporter of one party: himself.” First, Kremer’s praise of Sen. Chuck Schumer: Schumer does indeed measure his words carefully — in order to use them to advance himself politically! He is a politician, first and foremost, as he has always been. He was our congressman years ago in Queens.
How can Kremer say that Schumer is Israel’s most loyal friend in Congress, when he allows the anti-Israel members to say the things they do without a rebuke? Israel is an apartheid state? Israel targets Arab children? The Holocaust is a myth? These are outrageous lies, but we never hear a word from Schumer, except when he’s speaking to a Jewish audience, and then he becomes the “guardian of Israel” with a play on his name.
How dare he, and Kremer, tell Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu how to lead his coun-
■ Contact Gov. Kathy Hochul: (518) 474-8390
■ Contact State Sen. Patricia CanzoneriFitzpatrick: (516) 766-8383
■ Contact Assemblyman Ari Brown: (516) 431-0500
Our newspaper is a proud member of the Empire State Local News Coalition. Support the coalition at SaveNYLocalNews. com.
in the state Senate’s recent budget proposal for fiscal year 2025. This is a key step for inclusion in the state’s final budget, which is currently being negotiated by the senate, Assembly and Gov. Kathy Hochul.
However, there is a lot of work to be done over the next few days — when the final budget will likely be announced — to ensure the bill is actually included in the state’s final budget. It is crucial that the Local Journalism Sustainability Act is included, otherwise, communities throughout the state risk thousands of newsroom jobs being lost —
and even more important, stories going untold.
The Local Journalism Sustainability Act is sponsored by state Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal with the bipartisan support of Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner and more than 70 co-sponsors. As newspapers shutter and layoffs roil the industry, the bill is a necessary measure for incentivizing job creation, returning reporters to many of the state’s emptying newsrooms.
The bill is content-neutral and designed to ensure that truly local news outlets will receive this assistance.
The leadership of the legislature’s Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic, and Asian Caucus has also endorsed our bill, which is a major testament to the fact that this bill will improve access to news for all communities.
New York residents are standing with local news, and now lawmakers must answer the people’s call to save community journalism. To get the Local Journalism Sustainability Act across the finish line, lawmakers must hear from you about why our newspaper matters, and why this bill is meaningful to you and your family.
So, if keeping local news alive in our state is important to you, please reach out to Gov. Hochul and your local representatives to let them know you stand with local news.
Budget negotiations are wrapping up imminently — the time to act is now!
elected officials, including many in Nassau County, regularly say they’re committed to bipartisanship — to “reaching across the aisle.” That is, of course, a worthy sentiment, especially in these hyperpolarized times.
Compromise does indeed lie at the core of politics in a democracy. Conservatives and liberals, when acting in good faith and with a shared set of values, can reach agreements that benefit both sets of constituents.
keVin J. keLLeY
But in order for politics to function in this way, politicians of differing views need to show respect for one another, and for the standards of civil discourse. Comity isn’t possible when extremism prevails. Threats of violence and attacks on people’s religious beliefs must be repudiated, regardless of where they originate on the ideological spectrum.
Calls for cooperation thus sound hypocritical when incendiary rhetoric is allowed to take the place of reasoned debate. Worse, politicians who lack the courage to condemn dangerous rantings by their own side’s leaders can be
judged complicit when unhinged speech results in criminal acts.
That’s why Long Island Republicans have a moral, as well as political, obligation to publicly condemn inflammatory remarks made by their party’s leader, Donald Trump.
We have already seen what happens when the bounds of civic decorum are breached. Trump’s unfounded insistence that the 2020 election was stolen led thousands of his followers to trash the U.S. Capitol, the citadel of American democracy.
wacknowledged, or tolerated.
This is not how democracy works. Trump’s repeatedly demonstrated disdain for the rule of law should be denounced as an unpatriotic affront to the memory of the hundreds of thousands of Americans who have lost their lives in defense of the nation’s founding principles.
ill they follow former V.P. Mike Pence’s lead, or stand by silently?
Something similar — or even more calamitous — may well occur this year. Trump recently warned, “If I don’t get elected, it’s gonna be a bloodbath.” MAGA militants are likely to take that message literally. They’ll wink and nod at the former president’s subsequent claim that he was referring only to the consequences of not curbing imports of Chinese automobiles.
Trump is also stoking racist hatred. Some of his most rabid followers may feel emboldened to physically attack migrants, whom their idol has referred to as “animals.”
Trump has said, too, that if he loses the 2024 election, that will be proof that it was rigged. In other words, the only acceptable result will be victory for Trump. His defeat would not be
try and fight to rid the world of Hamas? To infer that Netanyahu needs to keep the war going in order to survive politically is insulting. Schumer and Kremer need to concentrate on their Democratic Party, which has been over-run by haters of Israel with lies and demonstrators against the one Jewish state that, without Schumer’s help, will remain a democracy. Instead of supporting the fight for freedom, they align themselves shamefully with baby-killers, violent rapists — savages who know no bounds!
FAy SLADOWSKy LawrenceTo the Editor:
Nearly 7 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease. In New york, 543,000 family caregivers are providing unpaid care worth almost $19 trillion to their loved ones with dementia.
Though these caregivers provide significant savings to the state, they are not getting enough support in return. The funding for New york’s Alzheimer’s Disease Community Assistance Program, or AlzCAP, which offers care consultations, support groups, educational programs and other services,
Nassau County Republican officeholders have a responsibility to treat their impressive recent electoral victories not as an opportunity to gloat or ridicule their opponents, as Trump did throughout his term in the White House, but rather to urge their supporters to respect democratic processes, and their opponents. Similarly, local Jewish leaders — Conservative, Reform and Orthodox -should assure their congregants that it’s possible to vote for Joe Biden and still be good Jews and defenders of Israel.
Trump, of course, does not agree.
He declared on March 18 that “any Jewish person that votes for Democrats hates their religion.” Asked the following day about that comment, Trump doubled down: “Democrats have been very, very opposed to Jewish people,” he said, absurdly.
Never one to engage in temperate criticism, Trump has lately entered
has been stagnant for years, while the number of caregivers who need these services has continued to grow.
I have seen the caregiving struggle firsthand. My grandmother has Alzheimer’s, and my mother must balance caring for her from another state with helping my autistic brother and dealing with the demands of her own life. She’s not alone — there are many caregivers with similar stories. It is imperative that New york support them, not only because it will mitigate their financial, emotional and physical struggles, but also because it will mean less of a financial burden for the state than nursing home care.
Taking care of someone with Alzheimer’s is extremely stressful. The Alzheimer’s Association’s recent Facts and Figures report found that 70 percent of dementia caregivers feel stressed when they are coordinating their loved ones’ care. It also found that more than half of them find it hard to navigate health care in the United States, which adds to their stress.
New york can do better in supporting people who take on this vital role. Please join me in calling on the members of the State Legislature who represent you to increase funding for AlzCAP from $5 million to $7 million.
HELENA MILLER Volunteer advocate, Alzheimer’s Associationrhetorical realms far beyond the limits of responsible speech. He is certainly not a conservative of the Reagan variety, nor is he in sync with prominent local Republicans such as former Congressman Peter King, who has displayed the courage, in the pages of the Herald, to criticize Trump’s dangerous divisiveness.
The United States needs a credible conservative party that focuses on fundamental issues such as the role and the size of government. Liberal positions should be challenged in informed, reasoned exchanges based on facts, not fabrications. But this is not the case for the party led by Trump.
What will Congressman Anthony D’Esposito, County Executive Bruce Blakeman and Hempstead Town Supervisor Donald Clavin do? Will they follow the lead of former Vice President Mike Pence, who has termed Trump unsuited to hold the nation’s highest office? Or will they stand by silently and allow political exigency to take precedence over government of, by and for the people?
History will judge their actions — or inactions.
Kevin J. Kelly was a congressional staff member in the 1980s, and is a retired journalist and journalism professor who worked for newspapers in New York, Vermont and Kenya and taught at St. Michael’s College in Vermont. He lives in Atlantic Beach.
