Nassau Herald 12-01-2022

Serving those in need on Thanksgiving in Lawrence

By HERNESTo GAlDAMEZ hgaldamez@liherald.com

For many, Thanksgiving is all about gathering around the dinner table with the people they love and count ing their blessings. For some, the day is a reminder that they have less than others.

The Cedarhurst-based Rock and Wrap It Up! hosted its 32nd annual Thanksgiving feast at Gammy’s Pantry at the Five Towns Com munity Center in Lawrence, to help families in need with food and a warm place to share it on the holiday.

Syd Mandelbaum founded Rock and Wrap It Up! in 1991 to fight poverty and hunger.

Since 2020, the poverty think tank and chari table organization has held its Thanksgiving event at the community center, after hosting it in churches in Far Rockaway over the years. Gammy’s Pantry opened in 2018, with the aim of eliminating food insecurity in the Five Towns. Sasha Young, its founder and director, is the reason Mandelbaum holds the holiday meal distribution at the center. “She really supports the community,” he said, “and that’s why we believe so much in working with her and the Five Towns Community Center.”

Preparations for the feast began on Nov. 22. Rock and Wrap It Up! collected donations of canned goods at the Franklin Early Childhood

MARKENS JEWELERS

OBITUARY

Gary Schall dies at 67

Educator, musician, father saw the beauty in people

By JEFFREy BESSEN jbessen@liherald.com

Gary Schall connected with people, from a movie-like meet ing with the woman who became his wife, to being an educational leader, a talented musician and a father of three.

Channeling his love of life at home and in the class room, Schall left his mark on his family and his school com munity.

He died on Nov. 18, after a two-year battle with prostate cancer. The former Lawrence School District superinten dent and Woodmere resident was 67. He was living in Saratoga Springs.

“He made people feel spe cial,” said Sam Schall, one of his three grown children, along with Jerry and Hayley. “When a stranger spoke to him, his eyes would widen and he would smile. He made everyone feel like they were the most impor

tant person.”

Born in the Midwood section of Brooklyn on March 1, 1955, to Jerry and Marilyn Schall, Gary was the third of their five sons. Music became a part of his life when his oldest brother, Ira, taught him to play the drums.

A conservatorytrained teacher sparked Schall’s pas sion for music in fourth grade, when he visited his ele mentary school. Years later, Schall’s high school social studies teacher, Rowena Vrabel, signed him up to audition for the Manhattan School of Music.

At the private music conser vatory, Schall had two life-chang ing experiences. First, he began performing the music of Steve Reich while studying with James Preiss in the school’s pre paratory division when he was 16. Reich is a composer who, in the 1960s, helped develop the

Courtesy Jay Greenbaum

IVy, lEFT, JAy and Abigail Greenbaum made a family team effort to help serve dinner to those in need on Thanksgiving.

H e made everyone feel like they were the most important person.

SAM SCHAll son

Lawrence early childhood celebrates fall

Apple and pumpkin picking were the highlights of this year’s annual Fall Festival at the Law rence Early Childhood Center, days before Thanksgiving.

There was a farmer’s marketthemed stand where the students picked apples, eat other seasonal fruit and drink juice. The children could wander through a pumpkin patch, learned pumpkin anatomy and through activities honed their counting and shape identifications skills. Councilwoman Melissa “Missy” Miller, an Atlantic Beach resident, donated fall-themed props that adorned the photo booth.

Early Childhood Center Princi pal Kathleen Graham noted that November and Thanksgiving builds excitement for the holiday season.

“It is a time that reminds us to be thankful for all that we have,” she said in a news release. “In that spirit, all of us at the Early Child hood Center would like to thank the Lawrence Board of Education and district administration for pro viding the pumpkins and apples that were enjoyed by our students. Our young learners were able to enjoy fall festivities with a wide variety of activities while learning and having fun.”

—

Jeffrey Bessen

Photos courtesy Lawrence schools

Lawrence earLy chiLdhood Center students Joaquin V. and Keily M. played with shapes at the Fall Festival.

MarceLa T. sTudied the anatomy of a pumpkin at the Early Childhood Center’s Fall Festival.

PuMPkin Picking Made easy at the Fall Festival’s indoor patch.

Hewlett psychologist lives a busy life

Dr. Lindsay Kallen Weisner dives into mental health, crime and podcasting

By KEPHERD DANIEL kdaniel@liherald.com

Dr. Lindsay Kallen Weisner is a Hewlett resident with a love and passion for psychology and learning about the dark history and crime that has happened on Long Island.

Weisner co-hosts the “Crimes of Long Island” podcast with fellow Hewlett resi dent Mark Jeacoma, where they delve into the Island’s most shocking and intriguing criminal cases and unsolved cases.

Jeacoma, who has several podcasts, was searching for a new co-host. He also wanted to discuss crimes and sought a person with an educational background. That’s when he contacted his friend Weis ner.

“We recorded it and then a couple of months later there was another one and he told me the idea he had for the Crimes of Long Island podcast and my first response was, are there really that many interesting crimes?” Weisner said. “The answer was yes, there are.”

The duo began the podcast during the pandemic and episodes include unsolved murders of Island residents to several deep dives into the Long Island serial kill er mystery.

“I really liked what we do because lots of weird things happen in our towns and

people should know about them,” Weis ner said. “I probably shouldn’t spread it around,” she said jokingly, but there is a lot of stuff.”

Weisner, 45, lives and works in Hewlett as a psychologist specializing in adoles cent mental illness. She earned her bache lor’s degrees in psychology and English from Georgetown University in 1999.

She earned her doctorate in 2005 from Long Island University Post before fur thering her education at the American Institute of Psychoanalysis. Weisner has been married for almost 18 years to her husband, Scott, who she met in graduate school where they were both getting their doctorates in psychology. The couple has two children, a son, 14, and a daughter, 11.

What led her to pursue her current role was a growing concern about the mental health of high school students amid a spike in suicides among teenagers. Growing up Weisner’s mom had a serious car accident and was left with a traumatic brain injury, which led her to attempt sui cide several times. What led Weisner’s interest in the Crimes of Long Island pod cast was the desire to talk about deeper issues.

The podcast has 30 episodes, which currently release every other week. While Jeacoma has several other podcast proj ects, Weisner said in the New Year, she hopes that she and Jeacoma can increase

production on podcast episodes two twice a week and establish a weekly release day.

“I think we both really enjoy it,” Weisner said. “It’s just a matter of establishing something normal and picking up speed.”

Weisner describes herself as a writer by heart. She released her first book in March 2020 the week Covid struck, a selfhelp book called “10 Steps to Defining Happiness.” “It was a real-world accom plishment come true,” she said.

In 2013, she won the first-ever Cosmo politan magazine fiction writing contest. Weisner also has a blog that she writes for the website Psychology Today and does freelance writing.

“I’ve always been writing,” she said. “I used to write rather than pay attention in class. My first jobs were writing jobs and I used to write book reviews for academic journals for psychology.”

Seeing patients at least six days a week, researching for the podcast and freelance and blog writing, Weisner has a busy schedule but she says that she would not have it any other way.

“There are days that I don’t always want to research or I don’t always want to write or I don’t want to see patients but at least I have several options in front of me,” Weisner said. “It is tough, but I think it’s worth it because I need a lot of differ ent wheels in motion. To make me feel ful filled.”

The crimes of Long Island podcast can be found at crimesoflongisland.com and anywhere podcasts can be found such as Spotify and Apple podcasts.

Chabad, village await decision from judge

By HERNEsto gALDAMEZ hgaldamez@liherald.com

The future of two vacant properties in Atlantic Beach remains uncertain as the legal wrangling over 2025 Park Street and 2035 Park Street continues between the village and the Long Beach-based Chabad of the Beaches.

Atlantic Beach moved one step closer to acquiring 2035 Park Street through eminent domain as village officials approved a bond of $1 million on Nov. 14 to purchase the parcel from M. A. Salazar Inc., a real estate company.

Richard Libbey, whose family owns the lot, said he believes the land is worth more than the estimated cost. “There’s another piece of property down the block that sold for $1.9 million,” he said.

After a preliminary injunction was issued in September to halt Atlantic Beach’s eminent domain claim on 2025 Park Street, Jeremy Dys, senior counsel at First Liberty Institute that is represent ing the Chabad of the Beaches, said no other legal actions have been brought. The Chabad bought the property, the for mer home to a Chase Bank, in November 2021 for $950,000.

Rabbi Eli Goodman, who leads the Chabad, said the land was purchased to build a community center. After that was made public, the village began the process

to take both properties through eminent domain, which is the legal right of a gov ernment to buy private land within its borders and to compensate the owner of the land. Atlantic Beach also announced its plans to build a community center and add to the existing tennis center. Libbey said the village previously approached him to create a park on 2035 Park Street.

Earlier this year and even now, Dys said his client senses antisemitism is behind Atlantic Beach’s actions. “It seems to be pretty clear that as soon as the prop erty was purchased by Rabbi Goodman and his synagogue, it was only then that the village became interested in that prop erty,” Dys said, noting that the 2025 Park Street parcel was vacant for nearly three

years before the Chabad bought the land.

Within two weeks, Dys said the village announced that they were going through eminent domain to take the property only after Goodman disclosed his intentions. He believes the village has no comprehen sive plans.

Dys deepened his belief that antisemi tism is in play as a Atlantic Beach-based Facebook group based in Atlantic Beach posted antisemtic remarks and state ments attacking Goodman.

“You combine that (no planning) with a Facebook page of the village, moderated by one of two of the village members with all kinds of antisemitism,” Dys said. Moderators in a Facebook group are responsible for accepting or denying a post from members.

Using the anti-Semitism and the vil lage has no plan arguments, Dys said he wrote a brief seeking a motion to dismiss.

“All of those motions have been fully brief now and just sitting in front of the court to make that decision,” he said.

As of press time, Atlantic Beach mayor, George Pappas, did not return calls seeking comment. Village officials previously noted that the Facebook posts were distasteful.

Have an opinion on the land battle? Send letter to jbessen@liherald.com

Courtesy Lindsay Kallen Weisner HEwLEtt PsycHoLogIst, LINDsAy Kallen Weisner endeavors range from assisting teens with mental illness to delving into the most mysterious and horrific Island crimes.

Jeffrey Bessen/Herald file

tHE BAttLE ovER two vacant Park Street properties in Atlantic Beach continues between the village, a local family and the Chabad of the Beaches.

Three Hewlett seniors sign national letters of intent

Hard work and talent has paid off for a trio of Hewlett High School seniors who signed national letters of intent on Nov. 9 to continue pursuing their dreams of ath letic excellence.

Stephen Gershfeld will play tennis at the University of Chicago. As a junior, he capped off one of most dominant tennis seasons in school history and became the first male Bulldog in 31 years to win a state singles title after defeating top-seed ed Emil Grantcharov of New Rochelle 6-2, 6-2 at the New York State Public High School individual championships in Queens in June.

He has not lost a match in two consecu tive seasons entering the tournament and did lose a set during that time. Last year’s state tournament was canceled because

of Covid-19.

Matt Graziose has served as a caption for the Bulldogs baseball team for the two past seasons, started at shortstop and was the squad’s closer. A unanimous All Coun ty player in his junior year, Graziose hit .523 with 4 home runs, 25 RBI and 20 runs scored. The right-hander will play for Central Connecticut State.

Ava Giugliano has been the girls’ lacrosse team’s starting goalie since eighth grade. She has played every min ute except for two games last season due to illness.

This past season Giugliano had 135 saves in 12 games and averaged 11.25 saves per game. She will play lacrosse at Iona College.

— Jeffrey Bessen

Courtesy Hewlett-Woodmere schools Hewlett HigH ScHool seniors Matt Graziose, Ava Giugliano and Stephen Gershfeld signed national letters of intent to play college sports.

Seniors boosted, clubs busy and giving back is in swing

With winter break just around the cor ner, seniors at Lawrence High School are preparing for their future to follow. At the beginning of the month of November, the seniors had the opportunity to come together as the class of 2023 and celebrate just the beginning of our final year in Lawrence.

This event wouldn’t have been possible without the tireless hard working effort of Lawrence’s PTA. Sasha Young along with some dedi cated senior parents, the one and only Irina Bayeva and senior class officers Ryanna Lopez, David Reyes, Billy Godoy and Dexter Robinson.

Next up, William Moss and Janora Blackman had given Lawrence students the opportunity to explore his torically Black colleges and universities at Denny Far rell Riverbank State Park. Students were able to apply and even receive onsite acceptances as well as schol arships.

Alumni Day was also very exciting for both the alumni and current students at Lawrence High. Seniors had the chance to ask questions and listen to valuable infor mation given by alumni. On Nov. 11, high school students attended the Veterans Day memorial at Cedarhurst Village Hall. The ceremony ended with beautiful musi cal performances honoring the veterans by students Alexis Acosta, Alexandra Acosta, Stephanie Lopez and Billy Godoy.

Lawrence High School’s Latin Ameri can Club had hosted a Latin Night which gave students the opportunity to try deli cious food and dance to music from the different countries of the club members

in the cafeteria.

In just the last week, the Lawrence High Buskins group had two completely sold out performances of the first drama club production of the year: “Arsenic and Old Lace,” a comedic dark comedy about two elderly ladies who traditionally poi son lonely old men. A big thanks was given to director Shelly Goldman and stu dent directors Isabella Marciano and Isa bella Andrade.

As for traditions, Thanks giving for Lawrence has always been a time where students would give back to the community. Lawrence High School’s Key Club members along with the help of board members Ereina Verma, Andie Adams, Mary Angelica Reyes and Alexan dra Acosta were able to pack age up bags for families in our school district for Thanksgiving. We all know that Thanksgiving is a big football day. On Nov. 24 two incredibly talented seniors from our varsity football team were given the opportunity to play in Nassau Coun ty’s Exceptional Senior All Stars Game. Lawrence’s two time All County award winner Jackson Mondesir along with Kody Kirchner had the pleasure of put ting on their gear for the final time show casing their Lawrence pride as they stepped onto the field.

A quick trip back to Lawrence where over 20 Lawrence High students volun teered serving hot meals to families in Gammy’s Pantry at the Five Towns Com munity Center. As always thank you for keeping up with Lawrence Lately. Happy Holidays!

News brief

Middle school students serve their community

Inspired by the season of giving and thankfulness, the Lawrence Middle School Service-Learning Club, advised by Lisa King, packaged 28 Thanksgiving dinners for seventh- and eighth-grade families in need.

The Service-Learning Club consists of middle school students who are dedicated to giving back to their community through active participation in organized activities.

“A warm thank you to the Lawrence Middle School staff and faculty members who donated money, gift cards, supplies, and food for making this possible,” king said in a news release. “Also, a round of applause to our Service-Learning Club

members who spent countless hours put ting together the Thanksgiving dinner meals and delivering them to the fami lies!”

— Jeffrey Bessen

Courtesy Lawrence schools

Lawrence MiddLe SchooL Service-Learning Club members and the donated Thanksgiving dinner bags.

A lexis A costA

Lianne Webb, Natalia Suaza take home crowns

Baldwin, Valley Stream contestants win at Miss Long Island pageant

By daniEL oFFnER doffner@liherald.com

Lianne Webb and Natalia Suaza stood out from among dozens of contestants from across Nassau and Suffolk counties, crowned winners of Miss Long Island and Miss Teen Long Island.

The two young women from Baldwin and Valley Stream were among those who gathered at the Madison Theatre at Molloy College on Nov. 20, selected by a panel of judges based on their talents, drive, beauty and compassion.

Before stepping on stage, Suaza said that she set out to complete the New York City Marathon as a way to take herself out of her comfort zone and face her fears head-on.

Upon her coronation as the new Miss Teen Long Island, Sauza says she plans to work with Long Island communities, spreading her message of cancer aware ness.

“With my title, I hope to partner with the Center for Hope at Northwell Hospi tal and the Calvary Hospital,” she said.

Having lost her father when she was just 9, these organizations helped pro vide Suaza an opportunity to talk about him — just as they helped others with loved ones who have passed, and to try and live the lives that they would’ve wanted them to live. Suaza also praised their free summer camp that was offered for her and her siblings.

“This really impacted my life and made me as strong as I am today,” she said.

Leanne Baum, executive director of the Miss Long Island pageants, said that over the next year, both of the winners will make guest appearances to promote their platform.

Webb’s platform aims to promote advocacy for children. She works as a

behavioral therapist with Achieve Beyond, where she works with students with autism. She’s also a volunteer with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Long Island.

By promoting these different causes across Long Island, the goal is for the pageant winners to become role models for change in the world. This year, for example, all of the pageant contestants came together before the big night to help collect food for Island Harvest, Baum said. In fact, they ended up with more than 400 pounds of food for Long Island’s largest food bank.

Both Webb and Sauza now move on to compete for Miss New York USA and Miss Teen New York USA next August.

Some of the runners-up from this year’s Miss Long Island competition include Jenna Hofmann of West Islip, Alexandra Ali of Commack, Alliyah St. Omer of North Baldwin, and Michelle Lent of Glen Cove.

The Miss Teen Long Island competi tion runners-up include Emily Hall and Valarie Goorahoo of Valley Stream, Rudra Patel of Farmingdale, and Kyra Smith of East Hampton.

Miss Long isLand Teen 2023 Natalia Suaza, from Valley Stream, joined by Miss Long Island Pageants executive director Leanne Baum, and Miss Long Island 2023 Lianne Webb, from Baldwin.

ThE 2022 Miss Teen Long Island winner Jessica Fuentes crowns her successor, Natalia Suaza, of Valley Stream.

ThE 2022 Miss Long Island winner Nadgeena Jerome crowns fellow Baldwin native and 2023 Miss Long Island winner Lianne Webb.

Tim Baker/Herald photos

Miss Long isLand contestants hit the stage at the Madison Theatre in their glorious gowns, showing their best for judges Matthew James Graziano, Yasmeen Gumbs, Amy Amato of RichnerLive, Peter Andolina and Edson Estime

D’Esposito in driver’s seat to House floor

By KARINA KOVAC kkovac@liherald.com

He was an obscure candidate from Island Park who went up against a Republican powerhouse — and won.

His name was Al D’Amato, who would go on to serve 18 years in the U.S. Senate before being upended himself by Chuck Schumer in 1998. D’Amato’s early political career in Island Park involved him running village elec tions, which helped him get his feet wet before heading to Congress.

Now, four decades later, voters have sent another Island Park resident to Washington as Anthony D’Esposito makes his way to the floor of the House of Representatives, in congressional seat he flipped from Democrat to Republican.

“I don’t think that coming from a small community prepares you to be in politics,” D’Esposito said, after defeating Laura Gillen in the November election. “I think it opens your eyes to what community is all about.”

But getting involved on a local level in the fire depart ment, Kiwanis, chamber of commerce or a civic group is “really what opens people’s eyes to further public ser vice” — paralleling how the Hempstead town council man got his start.

Mentioning D’Amato’s influence during his victory speech election night, D’Esposito says he’s pleased to be adding to the village’s story.

“That’s a piece of history, especially coming from a small tight-knit community,” he said. “It’s a place where I was born, raised, called home. The fact that we’ve sent two members of our little village to represent us in Washington, D.C. I think is pretty cool.”

On Long Island, those within the Town of Hempstead have wondered who will fill his empty seat on the town board. D’Esposito still has a month or so left before he

has to pack up and head to Capitol Hill, but says he’ll “figure that out when the time comes.”

He spent his first week in Washington undergoing ori entation, and hopes when it comes time to join commit tees, he’ll find himself on homeland security, and trans portation and infrastructure.

Worried about the state of people’s pocketbooks as well as their quality of life, D’Esposito says nothing has

changed his campaign promises since winning.

“The duration of this campaign, the message has been the same,” D’Esposito said. “And people are con cerned about things that affect their pockets. They’re concerned about crime, and they want someone to repre sent them that’s willing to cross party lines and work with others in order to deliver for our communities.”

But then again, he’s already posting negative com ments on social media about some Democratic col leagues like U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez outgoing House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. D’Esposito says their track records leave much to be desired.

“When it comes to Nancy Pelosi, the fact that we can all ask ourselves, ‘Are we better off today than we were two years ago when Joe Biden took office?’ And she’s been nothing but a rubber stamp for the Biden adminis tration,” he said. “And I think a lot of the issues that we’re dealing with on Long Island are issues that are reflective of the administration.”

So, which Democrats will D’Esposito work with?

“People that are there to deliver for the communities that they represent,” he said. “Not just be a loud mouth piece and looking for headlines on Twitter and CNN.”

Sitting down as a delegation after Thanksgiving, D’Esposito says he’s looking forward to making America safer, the economy stronger, and energy greener. But his first focus will be eliminating the cap on state and local taxes, otherwise known as a SALT cap.

“For me, what’s most important is delivering change to Long Island,” D’Esposito said. “Working hard to repeal the SALT cap, so that we can bring tax relief to commu nities here in New York — some of the individuals who pay the highest taxes in the nation. So, there’s a lot of work to do.

“But I look forward to getting to D.C. again, rolling up my sleeves, and getting to work.”

Courtesy Anthony D’Esposito

By the steps of the U.S. Capitol Building sits freshly elected Anthony D’Esposito, a Republican from Island Park, getting ready for his first day in Congress.

Inwood’s Yvonne Stokes Kelly dies at 71

Breast cancer survivor and community volunteer worked in her native school district

By HERNESTO GALDAMEZ hgaldamez@liherald.com

Longtime Inwood resident and Five Towns Community Center volunteer, Yvonne Stokes Kelly, died on Nov. 17 after a battle with colon cancer. She was 71.

Kelly graduated in 1968 from Lawrence High School. She worked as a custodian in her home school district working in the Number Two and Four schools and Law rence Middle School for more than 10 years, as well as a teacher’s aid. Building friendships with children and their par ents was something she took pride in.

“I have had the pleasure of knowing her for over 14 years when my kids start ed at #4 school,” Maureen Ann posted on Facebook. “She was always happy to see each and every student she met.”

Outside of work, you would find Kelly volunteering at the Community Center working with Sasha Young at the center’s Gammy’s Pantry. “We enjoyed so many moments together,” Young said. “Whether at the FTCC in Gammy’s Pantry serving or in the park advocating for the children in our community.” Young knew Yvonne for over 15 years and described her as a staple in the community.

Kelly’s daughter, Amanda Kelly, described how important it was to her mother to give back to her community and to help those in need. “She would go out every chance that she could,” Aman da said. “Bad weather, good weather, it was extremely important to her to help out the community.”

Her roles varied as many of them con sisted of handing out food to people in the center, posting on Facebook when food would be available and promoting events at the center. Amanda recounted how her mother typically went above and beyond for people in need such as actually home delivering an assortment of items, includ ing food to them if they could not get to the center.

Kelly’s pastor, Duane Sleet, at First Baptist Church in Far Rockaway, expressed his grief for his friend and pro fessional church photographer. “I have been in a state of deep sorrow and mourning,” Sleet said. “You were a force of nature, as you often told it like it was. You were a realist and truth-teller.”

A breast cancer survivor, Kelly did not let her battle with colon cancer interfere with anything she enjoyed. After chemo sessions, she would ask her daughter to

Service information for Yvonne Kelly

There will be two viewings. One at Meserole Five Towns Funeral Home, 143 Lord Ave., Inwood, on Dec. 3 from 4 to 7 p.m. Then on Dec. 4 from 2 to 3 p.m. at First Baptist Church, 1510 Redfern Ave., Far Rockaway. The ser vice is at 3 p.m. Then a ‘Homegoing” celebration at the Five Towns Community Center, 270 Lawrence Ave., Lawrence. Kelly will be interred at Greenfield Cemetery in Uniondale.

take her to the Community Center instead of resting, which Amanda insist ed she did. “She did not let sickness get in the way,” Amanda said. “She had a beauti ful soul and a beautiful heart. She would do anything and everything she could to help her community.”

Survived by her daughter, Amanda, Kelly was predeceased by her son, Des mond Kelly Jr., and her husband, Des mond Kelly Sr.

Courtesy Amanda Kelly DESpiTE BATTLiNG iLLNESS, Yvonne

Stokes Kelly was cheerleader for her com munity and neighbors.

Former superintendent was a people person

minimalist school of music. Schall played with Reich for the first time in 1975, when, at age 19, he was the young est member of the ensemble. He even tually performed with Reich for more than four decades.

He loved to tell the story of his other impactful experience at the School of Music, his wife, Debbie, née Dube, said, “at any opportunity.” Gary recalled it for the Herald in 2011, when he became superintendent. “I was in the cafeteria eating a tuna fish sandwich,” he recounted, “and she was descending this beautiful staircase, and it was love at first sight — for me, at any rate.”

The couple was married for 42 years. “Over the years, we loved to play duets,” Debbie said. “He on the marim ba, me on the piano. This past summer, we were playing a duet. Thankfully a cousin videotaped it.” Their last duet was the fun, upbeat “Fiddle-Faddle,” by Leroy Anderson.

Schall’s educational career before he came to Lawrence took him to the St. Augustine School of the Arts, in the Morrisania section of the Bronx. As chairman of the arts department, he integrated the arts and academics, and was featured on CBS’s “60 Minutes” as well as in a PBS documentary, “Some thing Within Me,” about the school’s program, which won three awards at

the 1993 Sundance Film Festival.

Being an educator was part of Schall’s DNA, his son Jerry said. “When he was working at St. Augus tine in the South Bronx … he was able to see so much potential in everybody,” Jerry said.

Coming to Lawrence in 1996, Schall became the school district’s director of music, and transformed the program. First he obtained an $18,000 grant for new uniforms as the high school prep band morphed into the marching band. Two years later, he created a dance pro gram that employed unique learning methods. Then Schall and the district’s director art Anne Young, joined forces to create the Academy of Fine and Per forming Arts at Lawrence High, which offers courses in dance, music, musical theater, drama, technical theater and the fine arts.

“Making the connection with the kids,” Debbie said, was her husband’s favorite part of being an educator. “A young girl who had some problems sent a thank-you card, writing, ‘You saw me for who I was.’ He would talk with anybody, and he was accepting.”

Schall led the school district through the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. For nearly four months, the high school students occupied the mid dle school, where his office was, and he encouraged the displaced youngsters to

call him Uncle Gary as he served as a comforting figure during an unsettling period. He also taught students yoga, and forged bonds with the communi ty’s several yeshivas and other local religious institutions and organiza tions.

“One of Gary’s frequent statements to our students and performers was a passionate, strong and sincere ‘You’re beautiful,’” said Ann Pedersen, who succeeded Schall as superintendent and worked with him for more than three decades. “He saw beauty in peo ple, and we saw it in him. His impact in the lives of students and colleagues is not something that will be forgotten.”

Not a person to surrender to his weakening condition, Schall and his son Sam performed together one last time at Dixon Place on Manhattan’s Lower East Side on Aug. 30. “It was a magical evening,” Debbie said, “some thing our family will never forget.”

Two months later, Schall steeled himself and walked his daughter, Hay ley, down the aisle at her Oct. 29 wed ding. Jerry and his wife, Morgan, are expecting on Christmas Eve, and they visited the senior Schall in hospice. That last day, he felt the baby move.

“I’m biased, but easily he was the greatest father, and that was equally communicated,” Jerry said. “Nothing went unsaid.”

Jeffrey Bessen/Herald file

Gary Schall tauGht Lawrence High School students. Here he showed them how to work on balance.

I’m right; You’re an idiot!

There’s no better time to under stand what confirmation bias is than during election season. What I believe is right! Your belief is not only wrong; it’s moronic and you’re an idiot to think the way you do!

Both parties believe their convictions are right, reasonable and rational, based on what they hear, see and their life expe rience. “My side bias,” officially termed “confirmation bias” is when people seek out, remember and interpret information, factually true or false, that confirm their beliefs while ignoring or refuting information that challenges their beliefs.

When it is election season people seek out information that paints their candidates in a good light, the other par ty’s candidates in a negative light. We look for details that uphold our beliefs, ignoring details that oppose our beliefs. No wonder so many of us swear by MSNBC news while others are just as dedi cated to FOX News.

forth, I recognized he was right. I was giv ing all my attention to the section of the report that warned of terrorist activity in Northern Uganda, a section of the coun try you needed a visa to enter. My fears pushed me to attend to the information supportive of my existing premise, ignor ing what didn’t conform to my initial belief. Glenn’s lack of fear allowed him to be more objective.

So, are we doomed to be forever biased toward whatever confirms our existing beliefs?

Guest Column

Yes and No. Some of us hold tight to our beliefs, even when the evidence over whelming shows that our beliefs are false. “Damn the evidence; those brainy experts think they know everything but they don’t know a damn thing.” Oth ers, however, change their beliefs with new knowledge and understanding.

Though we may believe that our thinking is sane, sensible and sound, when we’re dealing with an emotionally charged issue (especially fear) or a deep ly entrenched belief, our thinking pro cesses themselves may not be rational or reasonable.

A personal story I’ll share with you: When my son Glenn who worked for the U.S. agency - Aid to International Development - called me from Ukraine where he was working to tell me his next assignment would be in Uganda, I pan icked. This was about 20+ years ago when the only association I had with Uganda was Idi Amin, the bloody tyrant. To bol ster my belief, I visited the US State Department website and read about how dangerous the country was. I faxed the report to Glenn showing him proof of the dangers he’d face if he went there. He faxed me back, See Mom; I told you Ugan da was safe.

After conveying our positions back and

Still, confirmation bias is here to stay. So next time you’re in the midst of a heat ed argument, and you’re absolutely sure you’re right, take a moment to consider whether confirma tion bias may be contributing to your overconfidence.

Then, take a deep breath, step back from your sermonizing, and with an open, curious mind, listen. Truly listen to what the other person is saying. Even if you view things differently, see if you can at least partially agree with something he has said. Or, imagine based on her life experience, how she might legitimately think that way. If we could all do that, per haps then we wouldn’t be quite as divided as we are now.

©2022

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

Two Rosedale men arrested with loaded gun in Hewlett

Nassau County police recovered a semiautomatic firearm, a loaded magazine and loose ammunition after a traffic stop on Nov. 28 at 7:56 p.m. in Hewlett.

Officers saw a white Nissan Altima at the intersection of Mill Road and West Broad way whose driver allegedly committed mul tiple vehicle and traffic law violations.

Alfred Thomas and Nakeem Delisle of Rosedale were both charged with criminal possession of a firearm, second-degree pos session of a weapon and two counts of thirddegree criminal possession of a weapon. The pair will be arraigned at First District Court in Hempstead on Nov. 29.

— Hernesto Galdamez

Thomas and Nakeem Delisle were alleg edly found with loaded gun after a traf fic stop in Hewlett on Nov. 28.

Linda Sapadin

Team effort serves up over 800 meals

Center, in Hewlett and Gammy’s orga nized a collection at Ogden Elementary School, in Valley Stream. Both schools are in the Hewlett-Woodmere School Dis trict.

The feast offered a hot buf fet as well as takeout food. Roughly 800 meals were pre pared throughout the day. Food to go was distributed from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and the buffet was served from 1 to 3 p.m.

In addition to the food col lected at the schools, the Nas sau County Bar Association donated 25 cooked turkeys, along with gravy, mashed potatoes, stuffing and dessert; Woodmere residents Ed and Michelle Schornstein pur chased 65 hams and turkeys for the event; and Dickey’s Barbecue Pit, in Lawrence, cooked two whole turkeys for the buffet.

In the days before Thanks giving, Mandelbaum and sev eral volunteers picked up the donated food and delivered it to Tony D’s Pizzeria, in Hewlett; Frank’s Steaks, in Rockville Centre; Friendlier Pizzeria Res taurant, in Woodmere; the Lawrence Yacht & Country Club and EGP in Oceanside for storage.

The buffet was open to anyone who was alone on the holiday. More that 100 people volunteered from Mandelbaum’s team, and Young recruited several dozen more to help out.

“Any seniors can come in, or anyone that is lonely and doesn’t have family,” Young explained. “Maybe this is their first year in this coun try, and they don’t really know about Thanksgiving, so we want to provide a nice nutritious, yummy meal.”

She highlighted Dickey’s Barbecue Pit’s efforts.

“They’re friends of the pan try, and help us with all of our events,” Young said.

“They’re a really good local business that understands giving back.”

Lifelong Hewlett resident Jay Greenbaum, who has raised thousands of dollars for a variety of organizations by running the New York City Marathon, has volun teered at the Thanksgiving event for over 20 years. A longtime friend of Mandelbaum’s, Green baum said he respects his commitment to helping the community.

“I loved what he’s all about,” Green baum said. Asked why he volunteers, he said, “It feels good to make a difference in

people’s lives. It’s very special to be able to pull it together. It’s a team effort.”

Woodmere resident Rhonnie Fis chman was volunteering at the holiday event for the fifth time. She feels grateful, she said, that she can help those who need it, and who rely on organizations

such as Rock and Wrap It Up! during the holiday season.

“It’s wonderful,” Fischman said. “Peo ple know they’re lucky because they’re able to help people. The people who come feel lucky. They know they’re getting help.”

Courtesy Syd Mandelbaum

Volunteers gathered as early as 7 a.m. to prepare for the Thanksgiving feast at the Five Towns Community Center.

i t feels good to make a difference in people’s lives. It’s very special to be able to pull it together. It’s a team effort.

Jay greenbaum Hewlett

STEPPING OUT

‘First Couple’ of ‘Up, Up and Away’ with Marilyn McCoo Billy Davis Jr.

By Mary Malloy

It’s easy to see why seven-time Grammy winners Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr., have been married for 53 years. A dynamic duo on and off the stage, the former members of the 196070s group The 5th Dimension have an easy way of sharing the conversation, finishing each other’s sentences, and endearingly calling each other “baby.” They are in true harmony — and headed to Tilles Center for the Performing Arts for “Up, Up and Away! A Musical Fable,” with special guest The Next Dimension, on Saturday.

As two of the lead vocalists with one of the top pop-R&B-soul-jazz groups of the era, their popular classics — among them “Up, Up and Away,” “Aquarius/Let the Sun Shine In,” “Wedding Bell Blues,” “One Less Bell to Answer” and “Stoned Soul Picnic” — live on. Graced with McCoo’s three-octave vocal range, the group was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2002, and have stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and the St. Louis Walk of Fame.

After a decade with The 5th Dimension, McCoo and Davis decided to step away in 1975 to establish themselves as a duo. They had immediate success with the single “You Don’t Have to Be a Star (To Be In My Show)” which hit No. 1 on the charts and earned them a Grammy for Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group. They have since enjoyed enduring success through the years as recording artists, performers and authors. Throughout their career, this showbiz couple has been honored with seven Grammy Awards and earned 15 gold and three platinum records, as well as enjoyed starring roles on television and the Broadway stage.

• Sat., Dec. 3, 8 p.m.

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

• Tickets are available at TillesCenter.org, or by calling the box office at (516) 299-3100

Their many endeavors go beyond their musical achievements. They also have a movie coming out during the holidays, “The Waltons Thanksgiving,” on the CW network. “It’s family-oriented, and it’s so perfect for this time of year,” McCoo says. “It’s nice for people to remember the warmth and love and excitement that comes from family.”

From East to West

“We are so looking forward to being in New York,” says McCoo, who, with Davis, calls California home. “We’ve visited, but we haven’t done a show there in quite a while. We truly always enjoy coming back … Long Island is such a pretty area, and we’re very excited.”

“We love New York, we have a history with New York,” Davis adds.

“Up, Up and Away” is a journey and musical celebration of their iconic music. The concert also includes tributes to fellow music legends including The Beatles (McCoo and Davis’ contemporaries) and The 5th Dimension’s original lineup.

They will perform some songs from their newest CD, “Blackbird: Lennon-McCartney Icons,” a celebration of The Beatles’ timeless music. The album covers 10 Beatles classics and solos. “It’s so relevant,” Davis says about the title track. “It fits in with things that are happening today. The young people are very concerned with what was going on in the world.”

And what about their own iconic songs as the “First Couple” of Pop & Soul?

“Of course, we’ll enjoy doing many of our hits,” says Davis. “They wouldn’t let us off the stage if we didn’t!”

Tony Danza

The actor-entertainer croons the classics in his cabaret turn. In ‘Standards & Stories,’ he performs a selection of his favorite standards from the Great American Songbook, plus selections from Jason Robert Brown’s score for ‘Honeymoon in Vegas,’ while interweaving stories about his life and personal connection to the music. Danza combines timeless music with wit, charm, storytelling, and a dash of soft shoe and ukulele, in this evening of glorious songs and personal storytelling, backed by a four-piece band. Perhaps best known for his starring roles on two of TV’s most cherished and long-running series, “Taxi” and “Who’s The Boss,” Danza has also established himself as a song and dance man, and received rave reviews for his performance in the Broadway musical comedy ‘Honeymoon In Vegas.’

Friday, Dec. 2, 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. $62. Tilles Center for the Performing Arts, LIU Post campus, Route 25A, Brookville. (516) 2993100 or TillesCenter.org.

Judy Collins: Holidays & His

The iconic legend lends her voice to holiday standards along with her classic hit songs as only she can. Collins performs holiday classics, along with songs from her latest album ‘Spellbound’ — her 55th album and first complete album of originals — and beloved songs culled from her six-decade career. Collins is as creatively vigorous as ever, writing, touring worldwide, and nurturing fresh talent. She is a modern-day Renaissance woman who is also an accomplished painter, filmmaker, record label head, musical mentor, and an in-demand keynote speaker for mental health and suicide prevention. She continues to create music of hope and healing that lights up the world and speaks to the heart.

Saturday, Dec. 3, 8 p.m. $70, $65, $60. Jeanne Rimsky Theater at Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington. (516) 767-6444 or LandmarkOnMainStreet.org.

WHERE WHEN

Courtesy Darren Stone/Jon Carrasco

Photos: Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr., honored with multiple Grammy awards numerous gold and platinum records, return to the concert stage with their iconic hits — and some surprise selections.

THE SCENE

Legally Blonde: The Musical

The ultimate Broadway tribute to girl power arrives at Tilles Center, Saturday, 10, 4 and 8 p.m. Elle Woods, is ready to prove who’s in charge (again) in this ultimate Broadway tribute to girl power, on the LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Boulevard, Brookville. Based on the beloved movie, the musical follows Elle’s transformation as she tackles stereotypes, sexism, snobbery and scandal in pursuit of her dreams, and proves that you can be both ‘legally blonde’ and the smartest person in the room. Tickets are $89, $69, $59, $49; available at TillesCenter.org or (516) 299-3100.

Dec. 3

Matinee time

Join crafty Jack Frost on a magical, musical winter adventure, in Plaza Theatrical’s production of “Jack Frost,” Saturday, Dec. 3, 11 a.m. Also Dec. 17. The story, narrated by a groundhog name Pardon-MePete, tells us about the immortal winter sprite, who falls in love with a human girl named Elisa after rescuing her. Tickets are $15. Bring the kids to the Plaza stage at the Elmont Library Theatre, 700 Hempstead Tpke., Elmont. For tickets, call (516) 5996870 or visit PlazaTheatrical.com.

Pancake Breakfast

The Five Towns Kiwanis Club hosts its annual Pancake Breakfast, Saturday, Dec. 3, 8:30 -11:30 a.m., at the Woodmere firehouse, 20 Irving Place, Woodmere, Adults $6, kids 12 and under $3. Proceeds benefit the Giacomo “Tony” Campanile Scholarship Fund.

On stage

Plaza Theatrical continues its season with “Grumpy Old Men: The Musical,” Thursday, Dec. 1, 2 p.m; Friday, Dec. 2, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 3, 2:30 and 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, Dec. 4, 2:30 p.m. Based on the beloved 1993 film, starring Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau and Ann-Margret, this stage adaptation captures the lovably crotchety characters through twinkling humor, great songs, and the affectionate depiction of a small town that feels like home to everyone. It’s performed at Plaza’s stage at the Elmont Library Theatre, 700 Hempstead Tpke., Elmont. $49, $45 seniors. Elmont. For tickets, call (516) 599-6870 or visit PlazaTheatrical.com.

Shop With A cop

The third annual Mike Geraldi and Ray Abear Memorial Shop With A Cop, at Matty’s Toy Shop, Saturday, Dec. 3, noon to 9 p.m. Sponsors needed. $150 or more nets name on banner and social media. Call (516) 836-0621. To nominate or sponsor a child or group of kids, email ptacop911@ gamail.com.

Art talk

Join Nassau County Museum Director Charles A. Riley II, PhD, for a Director’s Seminar, Tuesday, Dec. 6, 4 p.m.

He’ll discuss “Photography: Beauty and Truth,” in a session that examines the intensely emotional approach to photography taken by many of the greats, including Dorothea Lange and Walker Evans, and the analytic, formal path of the Bechers, Struth, Hofer and many Contemporary artists. Participation is limited; registration required. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Drive, Roslyn Harbor. (516) 484-9337 or NassauMuseum.org.

Having an event?

Tree Lighting

The annual HewlettWoodmere community Christmas tree lighting takes place Sunday, Dec. 4, 6 p.m., at the Veterans Memorial Plaza, at the intersection of Broadway and West Broadway in Hewlett. Look for a jolly guy with a white beard.

‘The Automat’

Take a trip into the past to a place where food could be “automatically” picked up in Lisa Hurwitz’s nostalgic tribute to Horn & Hardats in “The Automat,” Sunday, Dec. 4, 1 p.m., at Hewlett-Woodmere Public Library, 1125 Broadway, Hewlett. Free tickets can be picked up at HWPL at 10 a.m. and 7 p.m.

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.

Happy Hanukkah

Get ready for Hanukkah by learning all about dreidels, at Long Island Children’s Museum, Saturday, Dec. 3, 1-3 p.m. Discover the game’s history and rules, and decorate your own dreidel to take home, at the dropin program. Visit the museum on Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 224-5800 or LICM.org.

In-person Game Time

Play canasta, mah jongg and Scrabble in the Bentley Room of Peninsula Public Library, 280 Central Ave., Lawrence, Monday, Dec. 5, from 2 to 4:30 p.m. Seating is limited and is first come, first seated. Masks recommended.

Art Exhibit

The “Best Practices” art exhibit will be on display through Jan. 9, in the Boehm Room of the Hewlett-Woodmere Public Library, 1125 Broadway, Hewlett.

On exhibit

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

Holiday fun

Visit the streets of 19th century London during the darkest days of the year, in this adaption of the classic “A Christmas Carol,” with the Experiential Theater Company, Thursday and Friday, Dec. 1,-2 10:15 a.m and noon; Saturday, Dec. 3, 2 p.m.; Sunday, Dec. 4, 2 p.m.; Wednesday, Dec. 7, 10:15 a.m. and noon, on the Long Island Children’s Museum stage. Meet the Cratchit family, Scrooge and the ghosts of past, present and future in this interactive show that weaves together music, humor, puppetry and collaboration. Long Island Children’s Museum, Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 224-5800 or LICM.org.

Except for those imposed by religious belief, my cousin Mo has no restrictions on what he can eat.

Blessed with a solid (unwritten) con stitution, Mo is permitted by his nutri tionist, cardiologist and personal train er to eat anything his heart (and taste buds) desire. Yup, in this hypo-allergic world, Mo cannot only want eat nuts, he frequently dines with them (but that’s another story).

Anyway, the point is that Mo has his choice of any culinary delight. Yet, of all things animal and vegeta ble (and artificial) Mo’s favorite food, the one he most often chows down on for chow is: b roiled chicken necks. Yes, chicken necks.

Someone else remembered that his mother designed necklaces, while his father sold goose-necked lamps. One kid noted Mo always refers to a traffic jam or the Throgs Neck Bridge as a “bottle neck,” and greets every visitor with, “Whatyadoin’ in this neck of the woods.”

Unreserved Judgment

It was suggested that our back (and neck( breaker Aunt Zoey may have influenced Mo’s diet by having always called a “pain in the neck.” (of course, by that logic, after a lifetime with Zoey, many of us would be eating nothing but … rump steak, but that’s definitely another story.)

Known in Yiddish, according to my pal Josh, as either helzils or gorguls, (not to be confused with gargoyle or gargle), chicken necks are available in packages of more than a dozen (which means that there’s a lot of chickens running around not only without a head, but without any thing to connect it to their body … but that too is another story.

on G oldman

Anyway, reference was made to Mo’s love of neck ties and nectarines. One critic noted that cousin Mo could, on occasion, be stiffnecked and always seemed to be running at breakneck speed to keep neck and neck with cousin Victor.

When one dinner guest with a lung ing neckline suggested that perhaps, for Mo, “neck” was not a noun but rather a verb, we decided to ask him directly about his thing for chicken necks.

Anyway, why a man whose menu can run the gamy from meat and potatoes to sushi to seven-layer chocolate cake (yum) chooses to gorge on chicken necks has always been a family mystery. Last month a gaggle of nieces and nephews grappled with the issue at chicken (neck) dinner.

“Maybe that’s why Mo moved from Great Neck to Little Neck to Teaneck,” offered one. “Perhaps it’s why he only wears turtlenecks, v necks and crew necks,” posited another.

“It’s very simple,” replied Mo, “and it goes to neither food, fashion, language nor geography. I eat chicken necks because in a world of timidity, hesita tion, calculation and often downright cowardice, chicken necks remind me to try and be forthright, decisive and to take a opposition and stick my neck!”

“And what if it gets bitten off?” asked a young cousin. “Then at least,” laughed Mo, ”I’ll know I wasn’t chicken.”

©2022 Ron Goldman

crimE

Larceny

■ Brandon Ragoonaan, 47, of Ozone Park, was arrested in North Lawrence at the Costco on Rockaway Turnpike for shoplifting at 1:00 p.m. on Nov. 19, according to police.

■ According to police, an unidentified man removed $10 from a car parked on Pepperidge Road in Hewlett Harbor on Nov. 21 at 11:43 p.m.

R

The Empire Wind offshore wind project, located off the southern coast of Long Island, will generate 2.1 gigawatts (GW) of wind energy, enough to power more than 1M homes, an important contributor to New York’s climate action goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions 85% by 2050. The project is under development by Equinor, one of the world’s largest offshore wind developers, in partnership with bp.

The federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) published a Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the project November 18, opening a 60-day public comment period, which ends at 11:59 p.m. ET, January 17, 2023.

How to Attend and Comment

Attend a Public Meeting (all meetings are virtual): Register at https://www.boem.gov/renewable-energy/stateactivities/empire-wind

• Wednesday, December 7, 2022; 5:00 PM ET

• Tuesday, December 13, 2022; 5:00 PM ET

• Thursday, December 15, 2022; 1:00 PM ET

Comment Online: Search for Docket No. BOEM-2022-0053 at http://www.regulations.gov, select “Comment” below the document link, enter your comment and then select “Submit.”

Comment via Postal Mail: Send written comments to Empire Wind COP DEIS, Program Chief, Office of Renewable Energy Programs, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, 45600 Woodland Road, Sterling, VA 20166

HAFTR fifth-graders celebrate Torah study

The Hebrew Academy of the Five Towns and Rockaway Elementary School lunchroom was rocking at the fifth grade Melave Malka, a post-Shabbos celebration of Torah learning buoyed by catered food, danc ing and entertainment.

Rabbi Elisha Weiss, the school fifth grade rabbi, direct ed the students in their Talmu dic study as they delved into the laws and ordinances that regulate religious observances and the daily lives and conduct of Jewish people.

Benny Amar provided the musical fun. Each student received a mini-shtender (book stand) to encourage their con tinued Torah learning.

Earlier in the week, the entire fifth grade celebrated classmates Derke Green and Solly Lobell for their comple tion of the global Torah study program, Mishna Yomi.

— Jeffrey Bessen

Courtesy HAFTR

HAFTR FATHeRs And sons at the elementary school’s at the post-Shabbos Melave Malka earlier this month.

LEGAL NOTICE

INCORPORATED VILLAGE OF CEDARHURST LEGAL NOTICE

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE THAT the Board of Trustees of the Village of Cedarhurst will hold a public hearing on Monday, December 5, 2022, at 8:00 PM in Village Hall, 200 Cedarhurst Avenue, Cedarhurst, New York for the purpose of amending Village Code Section 250-64. Parking Prohibited at all times.

NAME OF STREET SIDE LOCATION

Oakwood Avenue West

From West Broadway to a point 50 feet South Oakwood Avenue East From West Broadway to a point 50 feet South Oakwood Avenue East From opposite corner of Park Avenue to a point 100 feet North

Oakwood Avenue West From the corner of Park Avenue 100 feet North

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE THAT all interested persons will have an opportunity to be heard at said hearing.

Dated: Cedarhurst, New York Salvatore Evola November 28, 2022

Village Administrator By Order of Mayor Benjamin Weinstock and Board of Trustees 135702

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 12/7/22 at 9:30 A.M. to consider the following applications and appeals:

THE FOLLOWING CASES WILL BE CALLED STARTING AT 9:30 A.M. 785/22. INWOODMaxime & Nadia D. Gedeon-Javier, Renewal of grant to maintain 2family dwelling., E/s Sheridan Blvd., approx. 450’ N/o Mott Ave., a/k/a 376 Sheridan Blvd. 793/22. - 794/22. EAST

ATLANTIC BEACH - Judith Moraglia, Variances, lot area occupied, front yard average setback, side yards, side yards aggregate, rear yard, maintain 1-story, 2-story & 2nd story additions & roof over entry, all attached to dwelling; Variance, rear yard, maintain a/c unit attached to dwelling., E/s Oswego Ave., 123.46’ N/o Beech Blvd., a/k/a 64 Oswego 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 East Atlantic Beach and Inwood 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. 135685

November 28, 2022

Village Administrator By Order of Mayor Benjamin Weinstock and Board of Trustees 135700

LEGAL NOTICE INC. VILLAGE OF ATLANTIC BEACH

The loaded Springfield XD .40 caliber gun that was allegedly found

North Lawrence business on Nov. 20.

LEGAL NOTICE

INCORPORATED VILLAGE OF HEWLETT HARBOR NOTICE OF MONTHLY MEETING OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Board of Trustees of the Village of Hewlett Harbor will meet in both public and via Zoom on Thursday, December 8, 2022, at 7:00PM, Eastern Standard Time, for the purpose of holding the Village’s regular monthly meeting.

An agenda for the meeting will be made available to the public on the Village Website. All residents wishing to attend via Zoom can visit www.hewlettharbor.org for instructions. Residents wishing to speak via Zoom or in person must notify the Village Clerk in advance.

Dated: Hewlett Harbor, New York November 18, 2022

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE VILLAGE OF HEWLETT HARBOR MICHAEL RYDER VILLAGE CLERK 135599

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE THAT the Board of Trustees of the Village of Atlantic Beach will hold a public hearing on Monday, December 12, 2022 at 7:45 PM in the Village Hall, 65 The Plaza, Atlantic Beach, NY to amend the Code of the Village of Atlantic Beach, Chapter 200 - Streets and Sidewalks.

A copy of the text will be on file in the office of the Village Clerk. At such public hearing all interested persons will have an opportunity to be heard.

Dated: November 14, 2022

By Order of Mayor Pappas and Board of Trustees Emily Siniscalchi, Village Clerk 135698

LEGAL NOTICE INCORPORATED VILLAGE OF CEDARHURST LEGAL NOTICE

will sell at public auction on the North Side steps of the Nassau Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY on December 15, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. prem. k/a Section 39, Block 344, Lot 222. Sold subject to terms and conditions of filed judgment and terms of sale and the right of the United States of America to redeem within 120 days from the date of sale as provided by law. Foreclosure auction will be held “rain or shine.” If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, then the court appointed referee will cancel the sale.

JEFFREY W. HALBREICH, Referee. LEVY & LEVY, Attys. for Pltf., 12 Tulip Dr., Great Neck, NY. #99861 135318

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE

Inwood man found with loaded gun in North Lawrence

An Inwood resident was found to have a loaded handgun at a North Lawrence business on Nov. 20, according to police.

Nassau County police responded to a call that a person had a gun at Five Towns Car Wash on Rockaway Turnpike at 2:49 p.m. During the subsequent investigation police said they recovered a loaded Springfield XD .40 caliber gun between the driver’s seat and the center console of the vehicle being driven by Brandon P.

Millington, 24, of Yale Street.

Millington is charged with seconddegree criminal possession of a weapon, third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, fourth-degree criminal posses sion of a weapon and criminal possession of a firearm. His next court date is Dec. 15. He is free on bond. Scott Mitchell Davis is his attorney.

Public Notices Public Notices

LEGAL NOTICE

INCORPORATED VILLAGE OF CEDARHURST

LEGAL NOTICE

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE THAT the Board of Trustees of the Village of Cedarhurst will hold a public hearing on Monday, December 5, 2022, at 8:00 pm in Village Hall, 200 Cedarhurst Avenue, Cedarhurst, New York for the purpose of amending village code Section 76-15.Location and condition of yards and pens restricted.

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE THAT all interested persons will have an opportunity to be heard at said hearing.

Dated: Cedarhurst, New York Salvatore Evola

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE THAT the Board of Trustees of the Village of Cedarhurst will hold a public hearing on Monday, December 5, 2022, at 8:00 pm in Village Hall, 200 Cedarhurst Avenue, Cedarhurst, New York for the purpose of amending village code Section 265-14. Identifying numbers to be displayed.

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE THAT all interested persons will have an opportunity to be heard at said hearing.

Dated: Cedarhurst, New York

Salvatore Evola November 28, 2022

Village Administrator

By Order of Mayor Benjamin Weinstock and Board of Trustees 135701

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT. NASSAU COUNTY. ELM LIMITED, LLC., Pltf. vs. ITZHAK HERSHKO, et al, Defts. Index #608671/2019. Pursuant to judgment of foreclosure and sale entered March 23, 2022, I

SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC, Plaintiff AGAINST MARIE DURANE-BOLIVARD; ET AL., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered February 28, 2018, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on December 8, 2022 at 2:00PM, premises known as 1106 Rosedale Rd, North Woodmere (Town of Hempstead), NY 11581. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being near Valley Stream, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 39, Block 511, Lot 33. Approximate amount of judgment $804,010.74 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #006017/2014. The aforementioned auction will be conducted in accordance with the NASSAU County COVID-19 mitigation protocols and as such all persons must comply with social distancing, wearing masks and screening practices in effect at the

time of this foreclosure sale. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, then the court appointed referee will cancel the foreclosure auction. Foreclosure Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine”. John O’Grady, Esq., Referee Gross Polowy, LLC 1775 Wehrle Drive Williamsville, NY 14221 18-005649 73570 135235

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF FORMATION OF LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY. NAME: Artaxe Construction, LLC. Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York, (SSNY) on 03/15/2022. NY Office location: Nassau County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of the process to: 156 Carolina Avenue Hempstead, NY 11550.

Purpose: To engage in any lawful act or activity. 135117

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF GENERAL MEETING OF BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE INWOOD FIRE DISTRICT, INWOOD, NEW YORK, 11096.

There will be a General Meeting of the Board of Commissioners of the Inwood Fire District as follows: Time:6:00 P.M.

LEGAL NOTICE INCORPORATED VILLAGE OF HEWLETT HARBOR NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Planning Board of the Incorporated Village of Hewlett Harbor will convene and hold a public hearing via ZOOM December 13, at 7:00pm. All residents and professionals wishing to attend are directed to contact Village Hall at 516-374-3806 for further ZOOM information/instruction or visit our website at www.hewlettharbor.org.

All interested parties will be given the opportunity to be heard on the following applications for relief:.

1)226 Richards Lane Hewlett Harbor, New York 11557 has applied to the Planning Board for site plan, elevation plan and landscape design review for a new one family home, driveway and inground pool.

2)20 Thixton Drive Hewlett Harbor, New York 11557 has applied to the Planning Board for site plan, elevation plan and landscape design review for a new one family home, driveway and inground pool.

3)1312 Club Drive (Lot 7) Hewlett Harbor, New York 11557 has applied to the Planning Board for

site plan, elevation plan and landscape design review for a new one family home, driveway and inground pool.

4)1312 Club Drive (Lot 6) Hewlett Harbor, New York 11557 has applied to the Planning Board for site plan, elevation plan and landscape design review for a new one family home, driveway and inground pool.

5)207 Everit Avenue Hewlett Harbor, New York 11557 has applied to the Planning Board for site plan, elevation plan and landscape design review for a new one family home, 3 car carport, driveway and inground pool.

At said hearing, all interested parties will be given an opportunity to be heard. Copies of the proposed application will be available at the Village Hall at least five (5) days before the public hearing and may be seen during the regular business hours.

Those persons planning to attend the meeting and who require special accommodations because of a disability are requested to notify the Village Clerk no less than 48 hours prior to the meeting.

Dated: November 1, 2022

Hewett Harbor, New York BY ORDER OF THE PLANNING BOARD OF THE VILLAGE OF HEWLETT HARBOR TED MAY

Planning Board Chairman MICHAEL RYDER

Village Clerk 135704

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGS

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that pursuant to N.Y. Election Law Article 17, Title 2, the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act of New York, and N.Y. Public Officers Law Article 7, the Open Meetings Law, public hearings will be held by the Town of Hempstead Temporary Redistricting Commission in the Nathan L. H. Bennett Pavilion, Hempstead Town Hall, 1 Washington Street, Village and Town of Hempstead, New York, on December 13, 2022 at 10:30am, to receive input regarding the reapportionment and composition of the Town of Hempstead’s councilmanic districts to be used beginning with the Town election of 2023.

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

Dated:Hempstead, New York November 15, 2022

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

KATE MURRAY Town Clerk

DONALD X.

CLAVIN,

JR. Supervisor 135671

Date:Thursday, December 8, 2022

Place: DISTRICT OFFICE Melissa Rivelli, District Secretary 135703

— Jeffrey Bessen

Courtesy NCPD

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A deck becomes a nightmare

Q. We bought a house with a deck and didn’t know it never had a permit until we went to make a home office out of the garage. We then learned that the deck posts are resting on the patio, with no footings in the ground, so the deck won’t pass an inspec tion. The problem is that we got estimates for the con crete posts, 3 feet deep in the ground, and it’s going to be a lot more than we expected, like $12,000. We decided to take the deck down instead, but then we saw that the crumbled concrete steps underneath have to be replaced. Between demolition costs and new back steps, we feel stuck. Any alternative ideas would be greatly appreciated.

A. Once again, an avoidable problem created by someone not investi gating the right way, before building, then pass ing the problem on to an innocent buyer. An engi neer’s building report before buying might have caught this problem, but like many other instances, the problem is pushed off because it seemed like a minor reason to not buy the house.

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The building code requires the support posts extend into the ground in your region at least 3 feet deep, so the post bottoms are below the front line. This is to avoid uplift that causes damage when the ground is frozen in the colder months. Ice crystals form that crowd out the posts and force them upward. Resting on a patio, not only is the deck moving up and down with the slab, but it has no safe anchorage to resist high winds from ripping it to pieces. So now you need an anchorage manage ment class before you get too upset.

A publication on barn-building for the farming industry, mostly in the American Midwest, often publishes techniques with many cost-saving engi neering diagrams and discussions about using treated wood posts, coated or uncoated, extending into the ground and resting on thick rubber disks down below the 3- to 4-foot-deep frost line. The discs come in sizes from 12 inches to 36 inches in diame ter, to spread the loads, which must be calculated to select the correct-sized column base footing pad.

The same requirement of flared-out spread is required in the building code for concrete posts and must be calculated, no guessing or shortcuts allowed, and there actually are code tables outlin ing the minimum required spread size of column bases. This technique, without concrete, was devel oped to save money and time. If you can imagine the constant stresses and strains the wind and earth can impose on a freestanding barn in a Midwest blizzard, you can imagine that the person who came up with this idea must have been out standing in their field.

Since you will need plans for the deck to show this money-saving solution, hire a licensed profes sional who will review the code, the right method and save you much more than the cost of their ser vice. You can already see what guessing led to. Good luck!

© 2022 Monte Leeper Readers are encouraged to send questions to yourhousedr@aol.com, with “Herald question” in the subject line, or to Herald Homes, 2 Endo Blvd., Garden City, NY 11530, Attn: Monte Leeper, architect.

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OpINIONS

The challenges for the Long Island Four

Once upon a time, there was a group known as the Long Island Nine. They were the nine Republican state sena tors who wielded enormous power in Albany. We now have a new group of seven Republican senators, but the spotlight is shifting to a new Long Island Four: the newly elected Republi can members of Congress, who will have enor mous influence due to the fact that the Republi cans in the House of Representa tives will be gov erning with such a small margin.

JERRY KREMER

The Long Island Four are Representatives Andrew Garbari no, Anthony D’Esposito, George Santos and Nick LaLota. On almost any issue where a critical vote is needed, those four must support the needs of the lead ership, and that’s where the headaches begin. Sometimes what your leadership wants could be a vote that would do enormous damage back at home. I know from personal experience as a state leg islator that bucking the leaders isn’t

easy, but you aren’t elected just to do what the bosses want.

Santos was the first of the four to make a public statement about the House’s mission in 2023. He made it clear that he was “not interested in a Congress that spent all of its time investigating the enemy,” and wanted to be a part of productive actions. Santos and his colleagues will be tested very early in the new session, when the far-right wing proposes the impeachment of President Biden and investigations into the business activities of his son Hunter.

The next test will be whether to shut down the federal government to appease a group that would like to cut back on entitlements such as Medicare and Social Security. That will be fol lowed by resolutions to strip certain Democrats of their committee assign ments to get even for last year’s actions against Congresswoman Marjorie Tay lor Greene of Georgia. I could go on, but that’s just a taste of what is likely to happen early on in their tenure.

Most Long Island voters are just like any other rational voters. They want government to work, and are generally

tired of partisan bickering. Inflation is an issue that hurts voters of all parties, and Congress must be prepared to take action that will heal our economy. Last month’s election taught Washington pol iticians that there is overwhelming sup port for a woman’s right, in consultation with her doctor, to decide whether she should have an abor tion. Women in the four local congressional dis tricts expect their voices to be heard, and that promis es to be another dilemma for the Long Island Four.

To add to these new members’ potential politi cal challenges is the fact that most of them received substantial funding from the Republican Congressional Cam paign Committee. Without that money, a couple of them might never have made it to Washington. How do you vote on an issue that hurts your district but is a priority of the party leadership? That headache reminds me of the old Tip O’Neill reminder that “all politics is local.”

Of course, there’s a positive side to being a member of the majority. With the backing of your party leaders, you can get grants for programs and proj

ects that will make the voters happy. You also get sufficient staff to be able to han dle the thousands of requests for help from your constituents. One of the cru cial things that help candidates get reelected is good constituent service. There are numerous cases of members of Congress losing their seats because they ignored the day-to-day demands of their voters.

Representing our suburban congres sional districts shapes up as an enor mous challenge. Long Island is a very informed and progressive region. There are no secrets about how our represen tatives vote on contentious issues, and bad votes will be part of the debate when they seek re-election. Local voters have many issues they care about at the federal level, and they won’t be bashful about demanding action. As one who served almost a lifetime in public office, I wish the Long Island Four the best of luck as they embark on their new chal lenge. They will need a lot more than luck to stay in office.

Jerry Kremer was a state assemblyman for 23 years, and chaired the Assembly’s Ways and Means Committee for 12 years. He now heads Empire Government Strat egies, a business development and legis lative strategy firm. Comments about this column? JKremer@liherald.com.

Being vulnerable, a new holiday ritual

Can we settle in and be real?

No, not everyone is having a better time than you. No, you aren’t the only one who wishes you’d passed on the second slice of coconut custard pie. Yes, we’ve said it before, but that doesn’t make it any less true: Families coming together for holi days are a movable feast of food and family history, old gripes and edgy new connections.

And, yes, the coronavirus pan demic and politi cal fractiousness will take seats at our tables this year.

Ph.D. researcher-scientist who’s a pro fessor at the Universities of Texas and Houston. She says she has studied cour age, vulnerability, shame and empathy for the past few decades. She says she is a storyteller. She has a Netflix docu mentary out, several books that hit bestseller lists and podcasts galore. She has a unique style propelled by wit and infused with intel ligence. She tells us we need to be vulnerable. She tells us that when we’re willing to be vulnerable, we connect with people in more genuine ways.

nabes. So smart, so funny and so authentic. I identified with her immedi ately when she told a story of her daughter going to a prom. Her date picks her up in his pickup truck. The girl is dazzled; the guy is strutting. All Brown can think is, “They’re going to crash.” I get that. She was willing to share that tendency to cat astrophize, which as a mother, I own.

I know it all sounds like stuff we know, but try her podcast or her Netflix doc umentary and see for your self.

ly can learn from my experience.

So, to be more vulnerable, I shared some truths with my daughter I haven’t thought to mention in 45 years. I initiat ed a few risky talks with my son. I told stories on myself to the teenage grand kids, not the usual morality tales I prof fer but the real stuff, the dumb stuff, the mistakes that I was lucky to survive. I told them I pretty much stayed within my own no-risk zone all my life, and I know I should have stepped out, and I hope I still may.

RANDI KREISS

So give your self a break. With Thanksgiving just behind us and this month’s Hanukkah/Christmas/New Year’s Eve trifecta ahead, we need to treat our selves with care. We’ve all been through a meat grinder. It’s OK if the fruitcake isn’t homemade. It’s fine if the gift-giv ing isn’t a whirlwind of gimme-gimmegimme.

To strike a vulnerable note myself, these ideas didn’t come to me just like that. Lately I have been watching and reading Brené Brown, the MSW and

“I believe that you must walk through vulnerabili ty to get to courage, there fore … embrace the suck,” Brown says. “I try to be grateful every day, and my motto right now is ‘courage over comfort.’”

Vulnerability might look like shar ing something about yourself you might tend to hold back, or telling somebody they have hurt you in some way, or stepping out of your comfort zone to try some new adventure or job or social group. Brown talks a lot about vulnerability, and how it makes us so much more approachable.

She’s an influencer who has the creds to influence, unlike so many wan

I brought all my new found wisdom (not that much) to the Thanksgiving table, and now call on myself to be vulnerable and tell you most of the truth of my own holiday experience with the whole family.

The mélange included kids, grand kids (all teens), ex-wives, new partners, airplane travel, car trips, weather, secrets, trying to squeeze 75 years of life lessons into words of wisdom for the grandkids, not because I should or because they want to hear it but because that is who I am. I need to teach, to hope that my words land in fertile ground and set roots, so my fami

This isn’t a recipe, but I noticed that when I opened up a bit with an honest personal story, so did others. Not every one, but the teenagers did let a crack of light into the mysterious interior of their adolescent lives.

It feels like a challenge with a big payoff. I’m going to keep reading Brené Brown. I’m pushing myself, and it feels right.

Try it for Hanukkah and Christmas and New Year’s. Talk to strangers at the party. Invite someone for dinner. Actu ally go to the shelter to deliver food. Find a way to find warmth after this long winter apart.

The best of times and the most chal lenging times lie in the holiday weeks ahead.

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

A popular author suggests it, so I gave it my best shot at the family gathering.

O ur newest members of Congress must support the needs of the party leaders.

Remembering for those who no longer can

Where were you when Kennedy was shot?”

Many of us remem ber asking that, or being asked. That question has since been supplanted by ones like “Where were you when the Challenger explod ed?” or “Where were you on Sept. 11?”

But those singular tragedies were hardly the first to dominate our everyday lives on such a massive scale. That is a tragedy remembered for decades with its own question: “Where were you when Pearl Harbor was bombed?”

Yet there are very few people left who can answer that. Not surprising, since the stunning attack that officially brought the United States into World War II happened over 80 years ago. Without those living witnesses, however, we risk the possibility that the attack, the war itself, and atrocities like the Holocaust will become mere footnotes in history.

And that’s simply not acceptable.

This was the time of what NBC anchor Tom Brokaw coined the Greatest Generation. People who lived through the suffering of the Great Depression, only to find themselves fighting for something greater: freedom. Not for Americans, but for people on a global scale. We fought to destroy fascism as well as its key components, totalitarian ism and authoritarianism, as well as hate.

Not that we were perfect in doing so —

letters Groundhog Day needs to stop

To the Editor:

The Cedarhurst Board of Zoning Appeals is at it again. This time it’s 68 Washington Ave.

Get a request from a developer for variance. Hold an open meeting. Listen to men in fancy suits who show large glossy photos and who expound on why it’s great that Cedarhurst needs more overdevelopment.

Listen to traffic studies that claim that more traffic is really less. Listen to developers who will be so sad if the variance isn’t granted and they don’t make a ton of money, and who also claim that they care so much for the citizens of Cedarhurst and the Five Towns.

Then hear from the residents, their constituents, who almost uniformly oppose any more overdevelopment. Act like they’re concerned. The meeting ends, the variance is subsequently

far from it. But if anything good came from that period, it was the fact that our global society at least took some signifi cant steps forward.

Conflict has been a part of human his tory, but never on the scale we saw in World War II. Never in the numbers of people lost. The outright attempted geno cide of an entire religious ethnicity. We have to take time to remember because, as Winston Churchill said, “Those that fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.”

Part of that education comes from exploring what happened at Pearl Har bor — a place thousands of miles away, practically across an ocean, on a group of islands that, at the time, were merely an American territory. The attack killed 2,403 U.S. personnel and destroyed or damaged 19 ships — nearly half of them battleships.

By the time World War II ended in 1945, American deaths would reach near ly 420,000, while globally, 15 million sol diers and 45 million civilians would lose their lives.

The pain from that war — and World War I, “the Great War,” before it — was felt for generations, to the point where governments worked as hard as they could not to let any other conflict balloon to such a global scale. But memories fade, hastened by the loss of those who experienced that suffering firsthand.

Now we live in a time when fears of a

worldwide conflict are stronger than they have been in decades. It’s not just political polarization, but also what has become a broader tolerance of intoler ance and outright hate — something that can never be allowed to normalize, whether it’s antisemitism, racism, sex ism or homophobia. Attacking where someone is from, how they worship — or if they worship — or even how they iden tify gender-wise.

History is fading, and with it its les sons. And we can’t let that happen. That’s why Dec. 7 is so important. Or Jan. 27 — International Holocaust Remembrance Day — as well as spring’s Yom Hashoah. Because you can’t even begin to talk about loss during this peri od without talking about the 6 million Jews who were killed — a third of Jews worldwide. Or the 2 million ethnic Poles. Or 500,000 Roma. Or thousands more who were gay, or who were political or religious prisoners.

The late Elie Wiesel, a Holocaust survi vor himself, once said, “To forget a Holo caust is to kill twice.” And that can be applied to any tragedy we try to forget.

Next week, we have a chance to remember on the 81st anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor. There might be few left to ask where they were when this tragedy took place, but remember ing means we’re learning. And learning gives us a fighting chance to never repeat those horrors again.

‘Energy efficient’ may become a contradiction in terms

Hearings are getting under way on a proposal to socialize energy on Long Island. It would make the Long Island Power Authori ty the region’s sole entity responsible for keeping our lights on. Its structure would replicate virtually every government agency, bureau or department that you have cursed as inept, incompetent or indifferent.

The hearings, by a special com mission, are the result of legisla tion signed into law by Gov. Kathy Hochul. It directs the review of a plan to convert the existing public-pri vate partnership that manages our electrical grid to one that would, in essence, make the governor ultimately responsible for its operation and mainte nance.

To set the stage for these hearings, you need to understand that LIPA currently owns most of the Long Island electrical grid, including the bulk of our power plants. It has an incentive contract with PSEG Long Island, which actually runs the system. If PSEG does well and hits certain performance criteria, it is finan cially compensated. If it fails, it will take a financial bath. This is the essence of

why capitalism is always better, and why it provides for more-efficient creation and distribution of goods and services than any government-controlled or socialized economy.

What is instructive about this forced march to complete govern ment control is that these hearings were mandated by law to be held by the end of September, but are just beginning now. The govern ment commission couldn’t even get its act together to hold them on time. Good thing it isn’t responsible for directing our electrical future.

Oh, wait. It is.

James Hanley, a fellow with the Empire Center for Public Policy, is a seasoned observer of Albany’s political stinkpot. “It’s hard to predict what will come of this proposal,” Hanley has written. “Public power (left wing) advocates clearly want to eliminate any role for a private utility in operating LIPA’s grid. They don’t have any evidence that LIPA could improve upon PSEG’s management; they seem to think the word `public’ is a magical incantation that will make everything better.”

In truth, it makes everything worse. An example? Which delivery service is more reliable, the government controlled U.S. mail, or the privately owned Federal Express? The answer is obvious.

Letters

approved. Repeat.

When will Groundhog Day stop?

Well, in the movie it stopped when normalcy returned. Will this ever happen here?

DR. ALLAn SImOn Lawrence

Trump’s ‘great’ accomplishments?

To the Editor:

John O’Connell asserted in his nov. 24-30 column that he doesn’t like Donald Trump, but that the former president accomplished “great things.”

What in the world would those “great things” be?

His disrespect for the country’s

courts and its diplomatic and intelligence services? His refusal to accept the results of an elec tion? Deepening political divi sions and encouraging racial big otry?

O’Connell’s column derides potential Democratic candidates for president and vice president, but omits any mention of the many GOP members of Congress who have gone along with Trump’s lies about a rigged elec tion. nor is there any mention of Trump’s attempt to defy the will of American voters by backing a coup.

O’Connell even claims there is a “GOP agenda.” And what would that be? more stunts such as votes to end Obamacare?

LARRy mcCOy Rockville Centre

Hanley has identified the ideological underpinnings of this power grab. It has little to do with the efficiency, innovation and accountability demanded of PSEG Long Island under a strict don’t-screw-up contract with LIPA. Rather, it is about a progressive agenda of grow ing government whenever it can, assuming authority over infrastructure that it has no competence running and operating costs it has no interest in cutting.

What makes this power play particularly toxic is that LIPA had been tasked with running the grid before. It failed, miserably, when Superstorm Sandy came ashore a decade ago. As a result, then Gov. Andrew Cuomo required LIPA to engage private industry in running the grid, and to use financial incentives and penalties that are employed in the real world. Hav ing had such a raving success with cash less bail, today’s progressive powerbro kers seem quite content to ignore those lessons, and now seek the keys to the power grid.

How would that work? For starters, the people currently working for PSEG would probably be asked to transfer their skills and expertise to LIPA, a government enti ty. As LIPA employees, they would be given salaries, benefits and pensions that you and I would pay for. The LIPA man

agement structure would balloon with executives making six-figure salaries. There would be no financial incentives for any of them to work smarter, better, more efficiently.

Compare that with a recent J.D. Power survey that found dissatisfaction with PSEG Long Island among businesses on the Island. That could mean a financial hit for the utility management company, because its compensation is directly tied to customer opinions of its performance. Were LIPA in charge, and faced with such a report, its response would undoubtedly be “Feh,” for there would be no account ability under a socialized structure. That would be good news for those who feast on political patronage, because one suspects someone’s brother-in-law would be in charge of consumer complaints.

We can assume that it will be Hochul’s decision as to whether Long Island’s power goes progressive. She needs to, but probably doesn’t, appreciate, or care, that if that’s the future of LIPA, her office number will be on speed dial for 2.7 mil lion Long Islanders the next time a hurri cane takes down the grid. And if last month’s elections proved anything, it’s that those LIPA customers vote.

Ronald J. Rosenberg has been an attorney for 42 years, concentrating in commercial litigation and transactions, and real estate, municipal, zoning and land use law. He founded the Garden City law firm Rosen berg Calica & Birney in 1999.

Framework by Fatima Lasso

In a season of crowded stadiums, a moment to appreciate where it all began — Rome

i n Albany, a potential plan to gut the public-private management of our electricity.

ronaLd J. rosenBerG

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