Oyster Bay Herald 05-05-2023

Ida May replica takes to harbor

By WILL SHEELINE wsheeline@liherald.com

The Ida May will soon be trawling the waters of Oyster Bay for the first time in decades. After 12 years of painstaking fundraising, design work and construction, a recreation of one of history’s first engine-powered oyster dredges has finally been completed, and was launched on Wednesday morning.

The original Ida May was built in 1925 by the Bayville company Frank M. Flower & Sons, and worked in the

ON PAGE 2

Anna Kaplan, former state senator, will challenge Santos

By LAURA LANE & WILL SHEELINE of the Oyster Bay Herald

It’s official: Republican U.S. Rep. George Santos has another potential challenger. Former Democratic State Sen. Anna Kaplan filed a statement of candidacy on Monday with the Federal Election Commission to challenge Santos in 2024 to represent the 3rd Congressional District, which includes the North Shore and parts of Queens.

Kaplan joins two other Democrats, Nassau County Legislator Josh Lafazan and St. John’s University law professor Will Mur-

phy.

Kellen Curry, a Republican, announced his candidacy on April 4. A veteran who was a military officer in Afghanistan, Curry is a former vice president of JP Morgan.

Kaplan, 57, was born in Tabri, Iran, in 1965 to Jewish parents, and was raised in Tehran for 13 years before fleeing the country’s religious persecution after the Islamic Revolution. She spent several years in Brooklyn, Chicago and Queens until her family settled in Great Neck.

Kaplan studied to be an attorney, attending Stern College at

Yeshiva University in New York, and received a law degree from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law. After working as a lawyer for several years, she married her husband, Darren, in

1995, and the couple moved to North Hempstead, where they raised two daughters.

Kaplan spent four years as a library trustee before being selected for the North Hempstead Board of Zoning Appeals in 2009, a position she held for two years. In her first major political race, in 2011, she ran for a seat on the North Hemp-

stead Town Council, which she won. She was re-elected in 2015 with 67 percent of the vote.

Then, in 2018, Kaplan decided to run to represent the 7th Congressional District, which at the time did not include the North Shore. Endorsed by President Barack Obama, Kaplan became the first Iranian-American CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

Will Sheeline/Herald

ANN SMITH, LEFT, and Jennifer Laughlin, the widow and daughter, respectively, of the late Christeen Corporation founder Clint Smith, smashed a ceremonial bottle of whiskey on the hull of the Ida May. CONTINUED

T he question no one is asking is what happens after Santos? His disgrace presents a rare opportunity.

WILL MURPHY candidate

Ida May is replica of frst engine-powered

area for 75 years before being decommissioned because of its advanced age. The rotting ship was donated to Oyster Bay’s WaterFront Center by Flower & Sons in 2003, with the goal of fixing it so it could be used for educational purposes, but as it turned out, it was beyond repair.

In 2009, the Christeen Oyster Sloop Preservation Corporation, which had previously restored another historic oyster boat called the Christeen, began working with local elected leaders to raise money to reconstruct the Ida May as well. Working with a group of roughly 70 volunteers and several professional shipwrights, the group used schematics of the Ida May to painstakingly recreate the ship, relying mostly on traditional boat-building practices.

Roughly 100 people of all ages — volunteers, shipwrights and their families, local elected leaders and representatives of civic and environmental organizations — crowded the docks in Oyster Bay to see the Ida May re-enter the water. Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino commended the work of the volunteers and shipwrights, and noted the historic significance of the vessel.

“She was the first engine-powered oyster dredge of her time, so she was the first, a trailblazer, breaking ground — and water — and showing the rest of the country how to do it,” Saladino said.

“Isn’t that what Oyster Bay is all about?”

George Lindsay, president of the Christeen Corporation, thanked the community for supporting the project. Lindsay explained that when the state, county and town rallied to save the western waterfront 25 years ago, when it was in a state of disrepair, one of the goals was to highlight and preserve the area’s history. Now, with the completion of the Ida May project, they have taken another step toward fulfilling that goal.

Lindsay also highlighted how the work was done locally, at Building J in the WaterFront Center, showcasing traditional boatbuilding.

“This is a great day for us, this is a great day for the town, and it’s a great day for the Ida May,” Lindsay proclaimed. “Over 70 people have put in nearly 35,000 hours to help build this boat. It’s been a real learning process for many of us, a lot of hard work, but a wonderful fellowship, and we look forward to continuing the

boat

boat-building tradition right over here in Building J.”

Before the Ida May took to the water, Lindsey Echausse, a granddaughter of volunteer Bill Gyves, read a poem. Then the Rev. Mary Beth Mills-Curran, the curate of St. John’s Church in Cold Spring Harbor, performed the traditional blessing of the vessel.

Most important was the breaking of a bottle of champagne — or in this case, whiskey — on the boat’s hull for good luck. Ann Smith and Jennifer Laughlin, the widow and daughter, respectively, of the late Christeen Corporation founder Clint Smith, smashed the bottle with two firm swings.

The vessel was then slowly pushed into the water on the back of a trailer, while “My Mother Told Me,” a popular shanty song from the show “Vikings,” played. Waiting for its sister ship in the harbor, the Christeen fired blanks from a small cannon to celebrate the momentous event. Although the Ida May moved only partway down the dock — in the interest of making sure there are no leaks or other issues — it will soon carry visitors, educating them on the maritime history and ecology of Oyster Bay. Its operations will be managed by the WaterFront Center. Lindsay and the other members of the corporation said they looked forward to the next restoration project, whatever it may be.

Will Sheeline/Herald

HEAD SHIPWRIGHT JOSH Herman and his team piloted the Ida May to the dock for a final inspection and to make sure there were no leaks or other problems.

Chamber offers evening of culinary delights

The North Shore community couldn’t wait to attend the Glen Cove Chamber of Commerce’

Culinary Delights, which this year celebrated its 25th year. The April 24 event was set on the elegant backdrop of the Glen Cove Mansion, and was filled with savory samples from North Shore eateries. Although the majority of attendees were from Glen Cove, people from the surrounding North Shore communities, mid-Nassau and some businesses from Suffolk County attended the extravagant

evening. Attendees also entered in raffles and mingled with old friends, while also connecting with new businesses in the city. The evening saw over 500 attendees sampling food from many of the North Shore’s finest restaurants, bakeries and alcoholic beverages.

“ We just love having it at the mansion,” said Maxine Cappel Mayreis, the chambers vice president. “It’s one of the icons of Glen Cove that makes the evening very special.”

Cappel Mayreis was one of the dozen

volunteers who helped organize the evening, a five month process that involves inviting and listing restaurants, initiating follow-ups, drafting contracts, coordinating with the county’s food inspector and organizing raffles. This year, there were 59 vendors in attendance.

Cliff Krauter, director of business development for the chamber, said the evening was a great way for businesses without traditional storefronts to be seen in the community as well.

“We really want to represent business-

es who want to be part of us,” Krauter said. “Especially since we’ve grown exponentially over the past few years.”

Chamber President Matt Nartowicz said the event gained so much social media attention. Immediately after the event, businesses that hadn’t attended the event before approached him requesting to be one of the evening’s vendors.

Portions of proceeds from this event were donated to NOSH Delivers Inc., who donates food within North Shore communities to those in need.

LIA DI ANGELO, owner and executive floral designer of Westbury Floral Designs, left, and Pat Swift shared some laughs while arranging raffle prizes for the evening. Paige Theroux, right, helped by spinning the wheel of prizes for Hello Beautiful located in downtown Glen Cove.

Tim Baker/Herald photos

GLEN COVE HOSPITAL chefs Eric Sieden, far left, Zach Finelli and Pietro Fischetti prepare mouth-watering steaks for the evening.

Anna Maria Restrepo sentenced for grand larceny

Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly announced that a Glen Head woman was sentenced today to up to six years in prison for stealing more than $600,000 from an Oyster Bay yacht club over the course of seven years.

Anna Maria Restrepo, who also goes by Anna Maria Saboski, 59, pleaded guilty on January 13 to grand larceny. She was sentenced to three to six years in prison.

Restrepo was also ordered to pay $608,886 on behalf of the Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club and a further $14,449 on behalf of American Express. She waived her right to appeal the plea and sentence.

This was not Restrepo’s first offense, as she was previously convicted of falsifying business records in May 2009. In that case, Restrepo stole more than $100,000 while working as a fiscal manager at Glen Cove Child Day Care.

“Entrusted with the club’s credit cards, this defendant exploited that unique access to siphon $600,000 of club funds into her own bank accounts and used the money for personal expenses and made withdrawals at several casinos and resorts,” said Donnelly. “The defendant was previously convicted for a similar fraud scheme just months

after she began working for the yacht club. Instead of starting fresh the defendant’s greed only intensified, and now she will spend years in prison as a result of her actions.”

Donnelly said that in March 2009 the defendant was hired as a boatyard bookkeeper for the yacht club, later being promoted to boatyard office manager. Restrepo’s responsibilities included handling recordkeeping and the payment of the club’s credit card.

Her duties regarding purchasing were limited to office supplies as all boatyard inventory was purchased directly by the yacht club’s ship store clerk. Between 2010 and 2017, Restrepo stole more than $600,000 from the yacht club, with much of the theft committed by using credit card numbers belonging to two SCYC employees.

Restrepo initiated fraudulent credit card charges using PayPal and directed the funds to her own personal PayPal account. From January 2013 through February 2017 the credit cards assigned to the two employees were involved in more than 460 unauthorized fund transfers to her PayPal account. Restrepo also made unauthorized charges at various restaurants and retail stores.

To hide her illegal conduct, she also falsified the yacht club’s business

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Requirements: Must be organized with excellent attention to detail and customer service skills; strong computer skills with profciency in Microsoft Offce; ability to multitask in a deadline-driven environment.

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records and altered transactions to give the appearance that they were payments made to legitimate yacht club vendors. These falsifications allowed the scheme to go on undetected for several years.

Between 2013 and 2017, funds that were fraudulently transferred into Restrepo’s PayPal account were disbursed using a PayPal debit card on more than 880 occasions, including withdrawals and transactions that took place in Costa Rica, the Seneca Casino Hotel in Niagara Falls, New York, and the Turning Stone Resort in Verona, New York.

Withdrawals were also made in Glen Cove, Glen Head and Oyster Bay. There were additional transfers from Restrepo’s PayPal account directly into a bank account that she controlled.

In July 2016, Restrepo also opened an American Express card in the name of a yacht club employee without his permission or consent, and a supplemental account in her own name.

From August 2016 through February 2017, Restrepo used these cards to make numerous unauthorized purchases for tens of thousands of dollars over the internet to fund her PayPal account and to retailers like Peapod, Ticketmaster, and the Tropicana Casino & Resort.

fire

A house fire occurred on Wednesday in Old Brookville. Old Westbury police reported heavy smoke coming from a residence on Michaels Lane.

Old Westbury Fire Department, with the assistance of multiple local fire departments, responded and were able to extinguish the flames. There were a total of 35 firefighters who were on the scene.

A male homeowner who sustained smoke inhalation and an injury to his right leg was saved from the fire and was taken to a local hospital for treatment and evaluation. No other injuries were reported, and the investigation is still ongoing according to the Nassau County Police Department’s Arson Bomb Squad.

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Interested applicants can send their resume to careers@liherald.com or call (516) 569.4000 x239.

George Santos update

Rep. George Santos facing hurdle: lack of funding

By WILL SHEELINE wsheeline@liherald.com

While U.S. Rep. George Santos has continued to defy his many critics by refusing to resign from Congress, he now faces the difficult task of winning re-election after having filed to run again next year. As local and national support for the embattled Republican remains effectively nonexistent, Santos will likely find his third congressional race his most difficult, now that his constituents have gotten to know him for real.

While the beginning of the year before an election traditionally marks the start of incumbents’ donation-raising, Santos seems to be struggling to raise money, according to reports from The New York Times and The Hill. In the first quarter of 2023, he only managed to raise around $5,400, a distressingly low sum, especially when compared with the roughly $350,000 that one of his Democrat opponents and Twitter rivals, Nassau County Legislator Josh Lafazan, has raised.

As well, Santos apparently has

returned over $8,000 to former donors, leaving his total donation fund at a net negative $3,000. This leaves his total cash on hand at only $32,000 according to his campaign finance filings with the Federal Election Committee, which won’t last long if he goes through with his plan to run.

The filings also revealed that Santos did not made any purchases for any campaign-related expenses in the first quarter, nor has he paid back the $715,000 he allegedly loaned his campaign during the last election. The filings also seem to indicate that he is not using the money from his campaign fund to pay his employees although he may still be doing so out of pocket, nor does it appear that he has hired any attorneys despite the numerous legal complaints he faces.

Santos apparently will not be able to look to his party for any assistance, either, because nearly every New York state Republican has loudly condemned his lies and called on him to resign. Even at the national level, Santos has few allies, and despite what looks like a slim chance

CULINARY PERFECTION IS COMING TO Sands New York

Where would you like to dine tonight? At one of New York’s trend-setting establishments like Rao’s, Jean-Georges, or estiatorio Milos? Or possibly the culinary creations of celebrity chefs like Lorena Garcia and Tetsuya Wakuda will be more to your palette’s delight. Whatever exceptional culinary experience you can imagine, you’ll fnd it at the Sands’ planned Long Island destination resort.

Combined with the local restaurant scene, the Sands New York culinary experience will transform Long Island to a must-experience dining destination. Plus, Sands New York’s fvestar concierge service will be directing visitors to local restaurants, bars and attractions, beneftting the entire region.

that he will be re-elected, he is not listed as a recipient for Protect the House New York 2024, a joint fundraising committee dedicated to ensuring that state Republicans hold on to their seats.

The committee, which is supported by House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, whom Santos voted for, will help a number of New York Republican House members raise funds while reducing fundraising costs. Asked by CNN’s chief congressional correspondent, Manu Raju, if he would support Santos’ re-election bid, McCarthy reportedly laughed and said, “I didn’t know he announced. We will wait and see who all files.”

Several of those whom the committee will support, including Santos’ fellow Long Island representatives Nick LaLota and Anthony D’Esposito, have been staunch critics of Santos, and even introduced legislation meant to prevent him from cashing in on his notoriety should he lose in 2024.

Meanwhile, Santos’ own attempts at introducing legislation have stalled: Despite having introduced

four bills on the House floor, he has thus far been unable to persuade anyone from either party to support them, a rare example of bipartisan unity in otherwise divided political times.

Besides his four nonstarter bills, it is unclear what Santos has been doing during his time in office beyond engaging in Twitter fights with everyone from Chrissy Teigen to former Rep. Adam Kinzinger, an Illinois Republican. Meanwhile, Santos has continued to claim on Twitter and elsewhere that he has been going above and beyond to help his constituency.

He found the time to attend a Young Republicans party in Washington, at which he apparently made extravagant claims about himself and his accomplishments in office while unironically claiming “The truth will set you free,” according to a New York Times reporter. He also reiterated to the crowd that he would never resign, and that “You’re going to have to drag my cold, dead body out of this institution.”

New exhibit at Railroad Museum on Oyster Bay Branch

By WILL SHEELINE wsheeline@liherald.com

The Oyster Bay Railroad Museum opened its doors for the season on April 29, presenting its newest exhibit on the history of the Oyster Bay Branch. Featuring interactive exhibits, historic artifacts and an operational O gauge model train, it offers new and interesting information on the history of Long Island’s rail stations and their importance to the community over nearly a century.

Every year the museum creates a new exhibit highlighting different aspects of Long Island and Oyster Bay’s train history. The exhibit runs from the end of April through November, and is organized by volunteers as well as train experts and historians.

This year’s exhibit was organized by local historian David Morrison, a local railroad historian and author who has written 10 books on the subject, as well as by museum board member Joel Friedman. The exhibit, “The Oyster Bay Branch Photo Exhibit,” includes copies of dozens of original photographs from different stops and stations of the Oyster Bay Branch across the 20th century.

Morrison explained that the history of the station dates back to 1902, when the hamlet’s greatest resident Theodore Roosevelt first took office. When Roosevelt spent his summers in Sagamore Hill, it was paramount that he, fellow politicians and visiting dignitaries be able to travel quickly to Oyster Bay, making it an important political center for Roosevelt’s entire presidency.

“It’s the same location where Theodore Roosevelt used to board the train on his travels,” Morrison said. “So, it’s a very, very historic location here at the Oyster Bay train station.”

The station was originally built in 1889 by Bradford Lee Gilbert, the architect renowned for his renovation of the Grand Central Depot. Gilbert gave the old Oyster Bay station its iconic exterior stucco and oyster shells on the exterior, found only at the Oyster Bay and Southampton stations, which was also designed by Gilbert.

The line used to run from Mineola to Oyster Bay, stopping at neighboring communities like Sea Cliff and Glen Cove on the way. Photos of these and other old stations are prominently displayed throughout the museum, offering an interesting and rarely-considered picture of Long Island’s past.

Several of the younger visitors to the museum were particularly enamored with the O gauge model train layout, added for the exhibit, which allows three model trains to run at one time. DeWitt Lee, 3, was there with his mother, Laura Waldon, and aunt Alyssa Waldron, who traveled there from Plainview. DeWitt said he thought the exhibit and seeing the model trains run was “really cool,” although he had to be picked up to see it properly.

“It’s really cool, especially because he really loves trains,” his aunt, Laura, said. “The only problem is he wants to touch everything.”

“I think it has a lot of cool things for adults, and also kids will find it very interesting,” Alyssa added.

The volunteer-led museum is in the midst of a long-term station restoration project, which includes renovations as well as setting up a full track to display an old but operational steam train, Steam Locomotive #35. The work to lay the track took dozens of volunteers roughly a month of work according to John Specce, president of the museum’s board.

Visitors to the museum can also check out the station’s rail yard, which houses

Locomotive #35 until its track is finished and it can be moved onto it. Additionally, the rail yard holds Caboose #12, an original wooden caboose dating from the 1920’s, as well as small locomotives and a fully operational turntable, which visitors will be able to ride on once the museum’s

renovations are complete.

“The Oyster Bay Branch exhibit really takes you on a photo journey from Mineola to Oyster Bay,” Specce said. “The exhibit will be up for the entire season through November before we replace it for the following year, and it’s really informative and fun.”

LAURA WALDON, LEFT, her son DeWitt Lee, 3, and her sister Alyssa Waldon said the exhibit is great for visitors of all ages.

Will Sheeline/Herald photos

ONE OF THE newest attractions at the museum is their operation O Gauge model train layout, which can run three trains at once.

ANNA KAPLAN, A former Democratic state senator, filed a statement of candidacy on Monday to potentially run against U.S. Rep. George Santos.

Kaplan joins three other candidates

CONTINUED FROM FRONT PAGE

elected to the State Senate, serving for two terms. She lost her re-election bid in 2022 to Republican Jack Martins.

Kaplan highlighted reproductive rights and a need for stronger gun control laws as her primary reasons for running, especially following a meeting with students from Great Neck who were protesting gun laws following the Parkland massacre earlier that year.

Santos became a disappointment to his constituents and the nation as a whole when the New York Times uncovered a variety of fabrications and inconsistencies shortly after he was elected.

When running for office Santos said he was of Jewish descent and his mother, Fatima Alzira Caruso Devolder, who died of cancer in December 2016, was working in the south tower at the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001. Records indicate that she left for Brazil in 1999 not returning until after the attack at the World Trade Center in 2003. This, and his claim that his Jewish grandparents survived the Holocaust, also proven untrue, among other assertions, drew ire from his constituents and colleagues in government.

A few weeks after he was inaugurated, amid a flurry of accusations of untruths about his biography, personal and campaign finances, and the subject of investigations, including one by the House Ethics Committee, Santos said he was stepping down “temporarily” from serving on the two committees he had been assigned to, the Small Business Committee and the Science, Space and Technology Committee.

Lafazan began hosting a series of news conferences — which total 12 — shortly after Santos was inaugurated.

He has consistently been one of Santos’ fiercest public critics, leading protests outside the Republican representative’s Queens office.

The legislator has also engaged in several Twitter spats with the freshman congressman and has continued to push for Santos’ resignation or ejection from the House of Representatives.

This isn’t Lafazan’s first time running for a seat in Congress. In the 2022 election primaries, Lafazan lost to Democrat Robert Zimmerman, who would later lose the general election to Santos, by 15.8 percent.

Murphy, Santos’ other Democratic opponent, is a resident of Farmingdale. A first-time candidate, he has asserted on his electoral Instagram page that he will not stay in office for more than three terms, and is presenting himself as a non-partisan candidate.

“The question no one is asking is what happens after Santos? His disgrace presents a rare opportunity,” Murphy, 40, stated in one post. “An opportunity squandered by sending another broken, self-serving politician on a one way trip to the excess of D.C. Or an opportunity taken by sending a real person committed to fighting for real people before coming home to their real life and letting someone else go and do the same.”

Santos garnered roughly 43 percent of the vote in the district in 2020 when he lost to then-Rep. Tom Suozzi, according to the state Board of Elections. Then in 2022, Santos defeated Zimmerman.

In Nassau County, where there was an 80 percent turnout, Santos won with roughly 55 percent of the vote.

Courtesy Anna Kaplan

Very best honored at Long Island Choice Awards

By NICOLE FORMISANO nformisano@liherald.com

They were met with whistles, cheers and applause. And then they received a beautiful plaque — all a part of winning a Herald Long Island Choice award.

More than 12,000 people cast 200,000 votes for hundreds of small businesses across Long Island, all to determine who would be honored at the main gala event April 18 at the Crest Hollow Country Club in Woodbury. The night was hosted by RichnerLive and sponsored by PSEG Long Island, and served as a way to celebrate small businesses for their vital role in supporting the Long Island community.

“We honor the businesses that make Long Island a great place to work, live and play,” said Stuart Richner, chief executive of Richner Communications, which operates RichnerLive. “Looking at the crowd tonight, I’m reminded of the critical role you and your businesses play in making our community so special.”

The 11 categories and 264 subcategories recognized businesses from cardiologists to pet groomers and everything in between. The competition itself was broken down into two voting rounds — a nominating round, and then the actual voting. The top three finalists were then honored at the awards gala, where firstplace winners were announced.

“It’s one thing to see the names on the voting,” said David Lyons, interim president and chief operation officer of PSEG, a Long Island Choice Awards presenting sponsor. “It’s another thing to see the faces of small business owners, your teams, and their families here together. Your faces are a powerful reminder that what we are celebrating here is more than great services and products. Small businesses are the backbone of our communities.”

The gala — also sponsored by TenantBase and Easy Tax Credits — kicked off with a cocktail hour that kept more than 600 guests coming back for more. Floral arrangements and an ice sculpture centerpiece adorned tables of fresh fruit, cheese, dip, and other hors d’oeuvres. Two open bars provided refreshment.

The Elegance String Quartet was a particular hit, with many guests stopping to record the musicians as they jammed to everything from Bruno Mars to Frankie Valli.

Hundreds of winners were announced over dinner by Miss New York 2022 Taryn Smith, with some businesses taking home multiple awards. Frank’s Steaks, for one, took home all five awards they were nominated for.

“It’s beyond exciting,” said Christopher Meyer, co-owner and general manager of the restaurant. “It’s a very humbling experience. It’s a token to how wonderful my staff is and how hard we work, and also our amazing clientele. And the friends and family that voted for us.”

Winning such an esteemed award is particularly impactful to newer small businesses. East Coast Hair Studio of

Oceanside only opened 18 months ago, and its team was full of anticipation — and cautious hopefulness — before the winners were announced.’

“We’re one of three of the best,” said Irene Castello, the receptionist at East Coast. “We’re a young organization to be in that position, and I think we’re going to get it.”

When their young studio was announced as the winner of the best hair

salon award, the table erupted in cheers.

“I feel very blessed,” said Marianna Lombardo, East Coast’s owner and chief executive. “I feel that we can accomplish anything.”

Danielle Barbaro, who took over The Art Studio in Rockville Centre with her husband Mark only a year ago, received the award for best art school. To her, the award was a sign she’s doing what she is meant to do.

“I’ve always wanted to have a studio, so essentially my dream came true,” Barbaro said. “To be the winner, oh man. It’s like this was supposed to happen. Serendipity.”

To some business owners, the most important part of taking home the award isn’t the plaque or the coveted title — it’s showing the young people of Long Island what is possible.

“I hope it’s a good role model to future girls,” said Shobie Lamba, owner and founder of LeSelfie. “It’s so exciting as a female, an entrepreneur, a mom. It’s such a great feeling.”

To view this year’s winners, visit LIChoiceAwards.com.

MAIdENBAuM PROPERty tAx Reduction Group LLC.

thE LIvE BANd, Elegance Quartet, featured electrified string instruments. PRESENtINg SPONSOR OF the Long Island Choice Awards, PSEG of Long Island.

Tim Baker/Herald photos

thE CROwd duRINg the Oscar-style awards ceremony where the winners were announced LIVE!

Keith Rossein/Herald

Tim Baker/Herald

Christine Rivera/Herald

Keith Rossein/Herald

Tim Baker/Herald photos

Christine Rivera/Herald

1. StefanS Law Group.

2. the ChiLdren’S Orchestra Society.

3. Stuart riChner and Donna Stefans laughing on stage.

4. Men on the Move Moving & Self Storage’s winner’s plaque.

5. GraSSi & Co

6. dr. GaiL E. Correale Long Island Vision Care.

7. north Shore Animal League.

8. anthony’S worLd of Floors.

9. PineLawn MeMoriaL Park & Arboretum.

Protecting Your Future with

Michael and Suzanne Ettinger Attorneys-at-Law

Contesting a Will

In order to contest a will, the objectant must have “standing”, meaning they would legally be entitled to a share or a greater share of the estate if the will was declared invalid. “Standing” alone, however, is insufficient. There must also be grounds for contesting as provided below.

1. Undue Influence: Independent caregivers and caregiver children who end up being named primary beneficiaries under the will are often scrutinized for having prevailed upon the decedent to leave them the lion’s share of the estate. The various means alleged may be physical or mental abuse, threats and isolation of the disabled person. Even noncaregivers who had influence over mom or dad may be challenged where they end up with more than their fair share. As with any court proceedings, proof of the claim will need to be made.

2. Improper Execution: The formalities for executing a will must be strictly observed. The formalities include that the witnesses believed the decedent was of sound mind,

memory and understanding. There must be two witnesses who signed in the presence of the testator and of each other. The testator must declare in front of the witnesses that they read the will, understood it, declare that it is their last will and testament and approve of the two witnesses to act as witnesses to the will.

3. Incapacity: Even if the witnesses testify they believed that the testator was capable to sign the will, a challenge may still be made that the person was not able to read the will due to a defect of sight or was unable to understand either the will, what property they owned or who their heirs were, due to mental incapacity. These latter claims will require medical proof.

Challengers should be wary of the “no contest clause”. This provides that any benefit the challenging party would have received under the will is forfeited if the challenge is unsuccessful. If the gift was substantial, even though not an equal share, the no-contest clause is a powerful disincentive to contest the will.

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Drive to support birthday parties for homeless children

The Town of Oyster Bay is hosting a collection drive to support birthday parties for homeless children on Long Island. Donations collected from May 1 through May 31 will support the charitable efforts of Birthday Wishes of Long Island, a notfor-profit organization located in Hicksville.

Through the efforts of volunteers and donations, the organization provides birthday parties to over 1,500 homeless children each year, including gifts, homemade cupcakes, goody bags, activities and crafts.

To support these birthday parties for Long Island’s homeless children, donate:

■ New, unwrapped toys for children of all ages

■ Batteries of all sizes

■ Wrapping paper

Collection boxes can be found at Town Hall North, 54 Audrey Ave., in Oyster Bay. For further information call (516) 624-6380.

An introduction to Asian American genealogy

Join the Bayville Free Library for a virtual presentation on studying and researching Asian American genealogy on May 9 at 7 p.m.

Asian Americans have an over 170year history of major settlement in the United States, and have had to overcome restrictive legislation in the 19th and 20th centuries. More recently, the 1965 Immigration Act has opened new opportunities to come to the United States and build new lives for Asian American immigrants and their descendants.

As with all groups, family members, government documents, publications and other sources can help Asian Americans who want to learn about their roots, and there are often other documents that can be found that are unique to Asian immigrants. Register at bayvillefreelibrary.org for the Zoom link.

5K fun run on Sunday

The Oyster Bay Brewing Company will host a 5K fun/kids run and bone marrow drive to benefit Children With Cancer on May 7 at 36 Audrey Ave., Oyster Bay. Kids fun run begins at 10 a.m. and 5K run at 10:30 a.m. There will be raffles, awards, a 50-50 and beer.

Register at events.elitefeats. com/23oysterbrew.For further information, contact the Matthew Fetzer Foundation on Facebook and Instagram or call (516) 695-5137.

STEPPING OUT

Caissie Levy

Catch Broadway powerhouse Caissie Levy when she visits the Landmark stage for a night of song, stories and laughter before she embarks across the pond to star as Diana Goodman in ‘Next to Normal’ in the West End. Fresh off her powerful role in this season’s must-see production of ‘Leopoldstadt,’ this is a rare opportunity to spend an evening with Levy singing some of her favorite tunes. She created the role of Elsa in Disney’s Broadway production of ‘Frozen,’ and recreated the iconic role of Fantine in the Broadway revival of ‘Les Misérables.’ She also is known to Broadway audiences for originating the roles of Sheila in the Tony award-winning revival of ‘Hair,’ and Molly in ‘Ghost,’ among her many Broadway and off-Broadway credits. A thrilling and versatile performer, Levy finds time to delight audiences with her solo appearances across the United States, United Kingdom and Canada.

Long Island team’s season is under way

By Jeffrey Bessen

t is unknown if anyone will recite the movie line, ”you’re killing me, Smalls,” but former Major League Baseball player Daniel Murphy — a Mets playoff hero — said he is just looking for a sandlot to play in. The 2015 postseason record breaker is part of the 2023 Long Island Ducks, the team’s 23rd season.

STEPPING OUT

Creative advocacy

”The Ducks have been gracious enough to let me use it,” said Murphy, an infielder, referring to Fairfield Properties Ballpark in Central Islip, where the team plays. “You get the most of joy out of it when you find ways to unweight yourself.”

Long Island is one of 10 teams in the Minor League Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, an MLB partner. Murphy, who played second base for the Mets, hit seven home runs as New York marched to the 2015 World Series, and hit homers in six consecutive games in the National League playoffs.

Before the 122-game season got underway on May 2, the Ducks hosted its annual media day where owner Frank Boulton, president and general manager Michael Pfaff, manager Wally Backman, Murphy, pitcher Ian Clarkin and outfielder and hitting coach Lew Ford shared their expectations of the upcoming season with reporters.

Disappointed with how last season ended with a 64-68 record and in third place of the North Division, Backman said the ball club rededicated itself to winning.

By Karen Bloom

”We’ve gone back to kind of the way we had the team, maybe even better,” he said. “When you see our Opening Day roster, you’ll be shocked to see how many Major League players are on this roster.”

Murphy, Al Alburquerque, Adeiny Hechavarria, Ty Kelly and Ruben Tejada are the former Major Leaguers that aim to win Long Island’s fifth league championship. The 26-man roster is expected to be split evenly between pitchers and position players.

WHERE WHEN

Friday, May 5, 8 p.m. $61, $51, $41. Jeanne Rimsky Theater at Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington. Visit LandmarkOnMainStreet.org or call (516) 767-6444 for tickets.

Pat

in attendance last season, and has sold out an Atlantic League record of 699 games. However, Pfaff said the team is always looking to do things better.

Temptations and The Four Tops

• Fairfield Properties Ballpark 3 Courthouse Dr., Central Islip

• Saturday and Sunday, noon-4 p.m.; Tuesday through Friday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

“We set a lot of records in terms of attendance, did a lot of great things off the field,” he said. “We’re very proud of it. A lot of teams would have been pleased with the 2022 season. There were a few things in our operation that we knew we could improve upon.”

• Emily Lowe Hall Gallery, South Campus, Hempstead. For information and to RSVP, call (516) 463-5672, or visit Hofstra.edu/museum

• For more information and schedule, go to LiDucks.com.

Being a partner with Major League Baseball translates into the Atlantic League being the laboratory where new rules are experimented with that are now in use at the higher level.

The team was not the only thing overhauled during the off-season as the ballpark received several upgrades. A new high-resolution scoreboard 30-foot high-by-36’-foot wide was installed nearly in the precise space of the previous scoreboard, but the new one has four times the resolution. To enhance the ballpark experience, more than 75 new speakers were also installed.

“When We All Stand,” Hofstra University Museum of Art’s new exhibition, examines the collective power of the arts in society.

Curated by Alexandra Giordano — the museum’s assistant director of exhibition and collection — the exhibit underscores artists’ civic responsibility and influence.

‘You’ll see the improvements around the ballpark,” Pfaff said, highlighting the video scoreboard. “We’re cheaper than the movies at this point. You’re talking $15 tickets. So it is sort of the last bastion of affordable entertainment.”

A new wrinkle for Long Island will be live-streaming audio and video of the games through Flo Sport’s at FloSports.tv. Selected Monday, Wednesday and Friday heard games will be broadcast on Hofstra University’s WRHU radio station at 88.7 FM.

Jeffrey Bessen/Herald photos

Pat McGann is quickly rising as one of the sharpest stand-ups on the comedy scene. A relative latecomer to comedy, he began doing standup at 31 after realizing he was not very good at selling packaging. He hustled his way to become the house emcee at Zanies Chicago, where he distinguished himself as especially adept at working the crowd. A husband and father of three young children, McGann’s appeal stems from his quick wit and relatable take on family life and marriage. In 2017, McGann began touring as the opening act for Sebastian Maniscalco, moving with him from clubs to theater, to arenas, including four soldout shows at Madison Square Garden. McGann’s relatively short, but impressive resume, includes Montreal’s famed Just For Laughs Festival, Gilda’s LaughFest, The Great American Comedy Festival, and more. McGann still calls Chicago home.

Two Motown legends join forces for one unforgettable performance. The Temptations and The Four Tops have cemented their places in music history as pioneers of the R&B genre and trailblazers for African-Americans in the entertainment industry. Hailed by Billboard as the Greatest R&B/ Hip-Hop Artists of All Time, The Temptations are renowned for their prolific career and contributions to the global music landscape. The five-time Grammy award winners topped Billboard’s Hot 100 chart 53 times, and scored four No. 1 hits, including, of course,’My Girl.’ The Four Tops rocketed to overnight fame in 1964 with their breakout hit ‘Baby I Need Your Loving.’ Relive all their classic tunes in a soulful evening with these musical superstars.

The Ducks continue their big draw status and led all MLB Partner Leagues

“It highlights the vital role that artists have in activating democratic values that promise equality and freedom, encouraging civic engagement, and cultivating unity,” Giordano says. “Artists often lead the charge and expose truths that may otherwise be ignored. The artists in this exhibition take a stand and call out injustices through their art and activism on issues such as immigration, gender, reproductive rights, mass incarceration, voting rights, racial bias, gun violence, and promises unfulfilled. They all combine the making of art with public service that has a grassroots approach in the hope of mobilizing their communities and

Top: Former Major Leaguer Daniel Murphy warms up before batting practice.

Bottom: Infielder Daniel Murphy fielding a ground ball at warm ups on April 22.

Saturday, Feb. 11, 8 p.m. $40, $35, $30, $25. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. (800) 745-3000 or Ticketmaster.com or ParamountNY.com.

Sunday, May 14, 7 p.m. NYCB Theatre at Westbury, 960 Brush Hollow Road, Westbury. TheTheatreAtWestbury.com or LiveNation.com or call (516) 247-5200.

BALDWIN HERALD — February 9, 2023

McGann

Can art change the world? It’s a question that’s been at the focus of our collective culture for centuries. Now as society navigates the complexities of modern life, art as a path for social change is at the forefront of artistic expression.

are quacking, again

THE SCENE

On exhibit

Every Thurs.

The Guess Who and Orleans

The Tilles Center stage will be rocking, Friday, May 19, 8 p.m. Enjoy The Guess Who, is a group that’s long connected with the masses throughout a exultant hit parade including “These Eyes,” “Clap For the Wolfman,” “Hand Me Down World,” “No Time,” “Star Baby” and “Share the Land.” Add in fellow classics like their #1 rock anthem “American Woman” and “No Sugar Tonight,” and the Canadian-bred hitmakers are eternally etched within the very fabric of pop culture history. Together with pop-rockers Orleans, who are forever in our consciousness with “Still the One,” “Dance with Me” and “Love Takes Time,” their tunes still hold up today. LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Boulevard, Brookville. Tickets are $70, $60, $50, $40; available at TillesCenter.org or (516) 299-3100.

May 19

Nassau County Museum of Art’s exhibition, “Eye And Mind: The Shin Collection,” highlights the extraordinary collection masterworks assembled by 31-year-old connoisseur Hong Gyu Shin, an internationally recognized figure in the global art world. He shares his treasures, including works by Whistler, Lautrec, Boucher, Daumier, Delacroix, Klimt, Schiele, Balthus, Warhol, de Kooning, Gorky and many other important names from art history provocatively juxtaposed with the painting and sculpture of our own time from both Asia and the West. On view through July 9. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. (516) 484-9337 or NassauMuseum.org.

Breastfeeding Support Group

Mercy Hospital offers a peer to peer meeting for breastfeeding support and resources, facilitated by a certified breastfeeding counselor, every Thursday, 10:30 a.m.–11:30 a.m. Bring your baby (from newborn to 1 year) to the informal group setting. All new moms are welcome, regardless of delivering hospital. Registration required. Call breastfeeding counselor, Gabriella Gennaro, at (516) 705-2434 to secure you and your baby’s spot. Mercy Hospital, St. Anne’s Building, 1000 North Village Ave., Rockville Centre. For information visit CHSLI.org.

Library Walking Club

Participate in Glen Cove Public Library’s at-your-own-pace hour walk, every Thursday, at 10 a.m. All fitness levels are welcome and attendees are encouraged to walk at their own pace, 4 Glen Cove Ave., Glen Cove. Register at GlencCoveLbrary.org or call (516) 676-2130 for more information.

May 7

Cultural exploration

Bring the kids to Long Island Children’s Museum to celebrate Jewish American Heritage Month, Sunday, May 7, 11 a.m.-p.m. Kids will learn about Jewish contributions to American culture and make a chai necklace, at the drop-in

Senior Lunch Program

Enjoy visiting friends, with a delicious lunch and chair yoga, at the popular senior program hosted by Mutual Concerns, every Tuesday, at Saint Luke’s Episcopal Church, at 253 Glen Ave., in Sea Clifff. Those iinterested in joining the lunch program can call Peggie Como at (516) 675-7239.

In concert

Rhett Miller, Old 97 frontman performs, Friday, May 5, at My Father’s Place supper club. The alt country-pop power pop singer-songwriter is acclaimed for his compelling melodic tunes Doors open 6 p.m., concert 8 p.m. The Metropolitan, 3 Pratt Blvd., Glen Cove. Tickets at MyFathersPlace.com or call (516) 580-0887.

Shecky and the Twangtones

Passion for Pride

Support PFY, a division of Long Island Crisis Center, at a 30th Anniversary Benefit celebration, Tuesday, June 13, 6-10 p.m. With drag bingo and performances by Ivy Stalls and Syn; also special guest honoree actor-author-activist Maulik Pancholy. The event, honoring PFY’s 30 years serving Long Island/Queens’ LGBTQ+ communities, is at Westbury Manor, 1100 Jericho Turnpike, Westbury. For more information and tickets, go to tinyurl.com/ pfyevent2023.

Storybook Stroll

On stage

Back by popular demand, families will enjoy a musical adventure, ripped from the pages of Mo Willems’ beloved children’s books, on the Long Island Children’s Museum stage, Thursday and Friday, May 4-5, noon; Sunday, May 7, 2 p.m.; Wednesday through Friday, May 10-12, 10:15 a.m. and noon.Elephant and Piggie storm the stage in a rollicking musical romp filled with plenty of pachydermal peril and swiney suspense perfect for young audiences. Together with nutty backup singers, The Squirrelles, the comedic duo even gets the audience involved in the action. $9 with museum admission ($7 members), $12 theater only. Long Island Children’s Museum, Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 224-5800 or LICM.org.

Rock for Love

Porchfest

for Love Porchfest, Saturday,

Jerry Herman tribute

A cast of Broadway and concert stars salute the life of the Broadway icon-lyricist-composer on Adelphi University Performing Arts Center stage, Saturday, May 13, 8 p.m. Hear tunes from “Hello, Dolly!,” “Mame,” “La Cage Aux Folles,” “Mack and Mabel,” and more. Tickets are $45, with discounts available to seniors, students, Adelphi alumni and employees. Adelphi University Performing Arts Center, 1 South Ave., Garden City. (516) 877-4000 or Adelphi.edu/pac.

Relay For Life returns, seeking $$ for walkers

By KEPHERD DANIEL kdaniel@liherald.com

For the first time since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, the popular cancer awareness walk Relay For Life comes back to Hofstra University, looking to raise money — and ultimately defeat cancer — during an event on Saturday, May 6.

Beginning at 6 p.m., 20 teams have already registered to walk the intramural fields track at the 1000 Hempstead Turnpike campus. Teams and individuals celebrate cancer survivors through the walk, while also remembering and honoring those who lost their battle with cancer.

While this year’s Relay For Life is in-person, it’s not that events haven’t been happening in recent years. If they weren’t canceled, some events were conducted virtually.

“Luckily, we were able to maintain ourselves through some very generous donors,” Chelsea Whitney, senior development manager at the American Cancer Society, said. “We were able to bring all of our programs back — including Relay For Life — to cancer patients and their families. And to communities as a whole.”

Relay For Life has raised $6.8 billion across the country, invest more than $3 billion toward cancer research. It’s fundraising like that which has reduced cancer deaths by 3.5 million, according to the society.

Aside from attendees walking around the track, the relay will feature music, food, and a variety of activities including team fundraisers, carnival games like Pie a Professor in the Face and tug-of-war, as well as performances by Danceworks and Hofstra’s a cappella group.

“Hofstra University specifically is such a pillar of the Long Island community,” Whitney said. “Everyone’s connected in some way to this terrible disease. So, having this event at Hofstra gives the students an opportunity to come together as a community that’s already so strong.”

Makenna Robbins — a Hofstra sophomore and chapter

president for the American Cancer Society at her school — was not yet a student in 2019 when the last relay was held in-person. But she’s no stranger to the event.

“I think it’s really important that this is returning to Hofstra because it gives people a space,” Robbins said. “Especially people who had cancer affect their lives personally, just like me.”

The Syracuse native and mass media major lost a family friend, Emily Ponto, to ovarian cancer in 2018. Robbins’ family has had a long personal history with Relay For Life, with her mother Kelly sponsoring an event through her job at Lockheed Martin when Robbins was younger.

“It was pretty severe by the time they caught it,” Robbins said of her friend, Emily. “She ended up passing away that May. I have a lot of family members who have survived or passed away from cancer, and now I relay for her.

And in the past, I relayed for my family members, my grandma, and some of my cousins who have all survived cancer.”

After dark, relay participants will share an emotional moment during the luminaria ceremony. There, bags filled with lights will be decorated with the name of an individual who lost their battle with cancer. Or a survivor. Or someone who is currently battling cancer.

Each luminaria will be lit, and participants will take a silent lap around the track together.

“Usually, that is one of those times where a lot of people get very emotional,” Robbins said. “We are always there to support each other, and you can feel that connection with people.”

To learn more about this particular event, visit RelayForLife.org/HofstraNY.

Courtesy American Cancer Society

LumINARIEs wILL sHINE bright as Hofstra’s Relay For Life returns to campus on Saturday, May 6.

Photography exhibition highlights Offbeat Artifacts

By WILL SHEELINE wsheeline@liherald.com

Offbeat Artifacts has become a community event in Sea Cliff for the past decade, a chance for neighbors to meet up, purchase strange and wonderful items, and raise money for the Sea Cliff Village Library. Now an exhibition by local photographer Geri Reichgut at the library captures the memories of the first year of Offbeat Artifacts, offering a window to the past and a chance to reflect on the impact on the history of the event.

Reichgut’s photos are displayed on three walls in the back of the library, in addition to several photobooks she compiled from 2013-14. This is her second time showcasing these images at the library, having done so back in 2014 as part of the Sea Cliff Arts Council’s programs supporting local artists.

Many of the photos on display feature iconic figures in Sea Cliff life, some of whom have subsequently died, like the renowned Theodore Roosevelt impersonator James Foote. Others show children who for years helped out with the event or visited with their parents who are now in college, providing long-time residents the chance to relive their memories of Offbeat Artifacts’ earliest days, as well as enjoy some photos from more recent sales.

The photobooks that are on display were also made by Reichgut in years past, and each one focuses on different themes and subjects who attend Offbeat Artifacts. One

of them is focused on the children who attend the event,

“I mean, it was the perfect opportunity on a Saturday morning to get outside and be a part of the community,” Reichgut said. “When Jerry Seinfeld said, ‘There’s no such thing as fun for the whole family,’ obviously he never went to the Offbeat Artifacts sale in Sea Cliff.”

Offbeat Artifacts began in 2013 by Sea Cliff resident and retired firefighter Mike

Lennon, who said he got the idea while helping to clean out old homes and estates, where he came across numerous forgotten but interesting items which were left over from estate sales. Lennon said he held an impromptu garage sale with the items on the village green, and would give all of the money he made to the library.

Over time, the event grew larger and larger until there were dozens of Sea Cliff residents bringing various household items

of varying levels of esotericism to give back to the community and keep the items a part of their village. Although Offbeat Artifacts was originally held every Saturday morning, due to its increasing size it became logistically difficult to do so. Now it’s held only once every few months.

Lennon said it’s been amazing to get the chance to relive some of the memories through Reichgut’s photography.

The official opening will be on Saturday, coinciding with Offbeat Artifacts’ first event of the year.

“It was kind of mind blowing to see all of those photos up there in a gallery setting,” Lennon said. "It was like a rush of memories from the past 10 years came flooding back.”

The exhibition is part of an ongoing program run by the Arts Council. While previously the exhibitions would remain up for only two months, this will be the first one that will be up for three.

Kathleen DiResta, co-chair of the Arts Council, has been to many Offbeat Artifact sales. It’s been amazing to watch the event grow over the years, she said adding she believes this exhibition captured one of the most unique aspects of life in Sea Cliff.

“It’s extra special because we’re collaborating with the library and honoring one of the library’s biggest fundraisers,” DiResta added. “And seeing kids in the pictures that are growing up, and seeing community members that aren’t with us anymore makes it extra special too.”

Courtesy Geri Reichgut

MIKE LENNON, FAR left, Dominic Johnson, Camille Purcell, Madeline Redenti, Stephen Redenti, photographer Geri Reichgut and Kathleen DiResta came together to memorialize the new exhibition.

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PÚBLICA, VOTO DE PRESUPUESTO Y ELECCIÓN DEL DISTRITO ESCOLAR CENTRAL DE LOCUST VALLEY

LOCUST VALLEY, CONDADO DE NASSAU, NUEVA YORK

POR LA PRESENTE SE NOTIFICA que se llevará a cabo una Audiencia Pública de los votantes califcados del Distrito Escolar Central de Locust Valley, Condado de Nassau, Locust Valley, Nueva York en el MiniTheater de la Escuela Secundaria/Preparatoria Locust Valley, 99 Horse Hollow Road, Locust Valley, Nueva York el 2 de mayo de 2023 a las 19:30 para la transacción de negocios según lo autorizado por la Ley de Educación, incluidos los siguientes elementos:

1. Presentar a los votantes una declaración detallada (presupuesto propuesto) de la cantidad de dinero que se requerirá para el año fscal 2023-2024.

2. Discutir todos los artículos que se establecen a continuación para ser votados por las máquinas de votación en la Votación y Elección del Presupuesto que se llevará a cabo el martes 16 de mayo de 2023.

3. Tramitar cualquier otro asunto que pueda presentarse adecuadamente ante la reunión de conformidad con la Ley de Educación del Estado de Nueva York y las leyes que la modifcan.

Y POR LA PRESENTE SE DA AVISO ADICIONAL que dicha Votación y Elección del Presupuesto se llevarán a cabo el martes 16 de mayo de 2023, entre las 6:00 a. m. y las 9:00 p. m. en los tres

(3) Distritos Electorales, descritos a continuación, momento en el cual las urnas estarán abiertas para votar por máquina de votación sobre los siguientes puntos:

1. Adoptar el presupuesto anual del Distrito Escolar para el año fscal 2023-2024 y autorizar que la parte requerida del mismo se recaude mediante impuestos sobre la propiedad imponible del Distrito.

2. Aprobar la siguiente resolución para el establecimiento de un Fondo de Reserva de Capital para fnanciar mejoras de capital y trabajos y equipos relacionados en el sitio en todas las escuelas del distrito:

RESUELTO: que la siguiente acción no dará lugar a un aumento adicional del impuesto anual. Se autorizará a la Junta de Educación, de conformidad con la Ley de Educación §3651, a establecer un Fondo de Reserva de Capital que se conocerá como el Fondo de Reserva de Capital de

2023 (Fondo de Reserva). El propósito de este Fondo de reserva es acumular dinero para fnanciar el costo de las mejoras de capital, el trabajo necesario en el sitio y los elementos relacionados del equipo en todo el distrito, incluidos, entre otros, la construcción y/o el reemplazo de instalaciones y propiedades en todo el Distrito, mejoras de capital relacionadas con las futuras necesidades de crecimiento de la inscripción, otras mejoras de infraestructura, reemplazos de paredes de ventanas, actualizaciones de sistemas de calefacción y ventilación, reemplazo de techos, mejoras de seguridad, mejoras de estacionamientos y entradas de vehículos, mejoras del sistema séptico, reconstrucción de espacios educativos, mejoras eléctricas, actualizaciones de baños y puertas interiores y exteriores. El monto fnal del Fondo de Reserva será la cantidad máxima estimada de $5,000,000.00. El plazo probable del Fondo de Reserva es de cinco años. La fuente de los fondos para fnanciar el Fondo de Reserva es una transferencia anual de dinero excedente, si lo hubiere, del saldo no asignado del Fondo General del Distrito que pueda estar disponible al fnal de cada año fscal desde el 30 de junio de 2023 hasta el 30 de junio inclusive. 2028, y cualquier otra fuente permitida por la ley. Salvo que se disponga lo contrario en el §3635 de la Ley de Educación, los gastos de este Fondo de Reserva se realizarán únicamente para el propósito para el cual se establece el Fondo de Reserva. No se efectuará ningún gasto con cargo a este Fondo de Reserva para otro fn distinto de los anteriores sin las actuaciones o procedimientos adicionales que la ley exija.

3. Solo para residentes del área de servicio de la biblioteca de Locust Valley: adoptar la resolución para la asignación de la biblioteca de Locust Valley presentada para el año fscal 2023-2024, por un monto de $1,607,191 para que aparezca en las máquinas de votación el 16 de mayo de 2023, y que la Junta de Educación del Distrito Escolar

Central de Locust Valley sea autorizado a recaudar el impuesto necesario por lo tanto sobre la propiedad imponible únicamente del antiguo Distrito Escolar Libre de la Unión No. 4, Ciudad de Oyster Bay, Nueva York.

4. Elegir cuatro (4) miembros de la Junta de Educación para los siguientes términos:

a) tres (3) miembros de la Junta de Educación por períodos de tres años que comienzan el 1 de julio de 2023 y terminan el 30 de junio de 2026.

b) un (1) miembro para ocupar el resto de un mandato no vencido que comienza el 16 de mayo de 2023 y fnaliza el 30 de junio de 2024. Las vacantes en la Junta de Educación no se consideran cargos específcos separados; los candidatos corren en general. Los candidatos con el primer, segundo y tercer conteo de votos más alto serán elegidos para los mandatos completos que comienzan el 1 de julio de 2023 y terminan el 30 de junio de 2026. El candidato con el cuarto conteo de votos más alto cumplirá el mandato no vencido que comienza el 16 de mayo de 2023 y fnaliza el 30 de junio de 2024.

Y POR LA PRESENTE SE

DA AVISO ADICIONAL que una copia de la declaración del cualquier residente del Distrito puede obtener la cantidad de dinero que se requerirá para fnanciar el presupuesto del Distrito Escolar (el presupuesto propuesto para 2023-2024) y el presupuesto de la Biblioteca de Locust Valley para 2023-2024, sin incluir dinero público, entre las horas de 9:00 am y 4:00 pm a partir del 2 de mayo de 2023, excepto los sábados, domingos o días festivos en la Ofcina del Distrito, 22 Horse Hollow Road, Locust Valley, Nueva York y en cada escuela del Distrito.

Y POR LA PRESENTE SE DA AVISO ADICIONAL que, de conformidad con el Capítulo 258 de las Leyes de 2008, se agregó la Sección 495 a la Ley del Impuesto sobre Bienes Inmuebles, y requiere que el Distrito Escolar adjunte a su presupuesto propuesto un informe de exención. Dicho informe de exención, que también formará parte del presupuesto fnal, mostrará cuánto está exento de impuestos el valor total de la tasación en la lista de tasación fnal utilizada en el proceso presupuestario, enumerará cada tipo de exención otorgada, identifcada por la autoridad legal, y mostrar: (a) el impacto acumulativo de cada tipo de exención expresado ya sea como un monto en dólares del valor tasado o como un porcentaje del valor tasado total en la lista; (b) la cantidad acumulada que se espera recibir de los benefciarios de cada tipo de exención como pagos en lugar de impuestos u otros pagos por servicios municipales; y (c) el impacto acumulativo de todas las exenciones otorgadas. El

informe de exención se publicará en cualquier tablón de anuncios mantenido por el Distrito para avisos públicos y en cualquier sitio web mantenido por el Distrito.

Y POR LA PRESENTE SE DA AVISO ADICIONAL, que las peticiones de nominación de candidatos para el cargo de miembro de la junta escolar deben presentarse ante el Secretario del Distrito en el Edifcio Administrativo, 22 Horse Hollow Road, Locust Valley, Nueva York, a más tardar el 17 de abril de 2023, entre 9:00 am y 5:00 pm Las peticiones de nominación deben estar frmadas por al menos 46 votantes califcados del Distrito (que representan el mayor de 25 votantes califcados o el 2% del número de votantes que votaron en la elección anual anterior); debe indicar el nombre y la residencia de cada frmante, y debe indicar el nombre y la residencia del candidato.

Y POR LA PRESENTE SE DA AVISO ADICIONAL que se requiere el registro personal de votantes de conformidad con la Ley de Educación. Si un votante se ha registrado hasta ahora y ha votado en una reunión distrital anual o especial dentro de los últimos cuatro (4) años calendario, es elegible para votar en esta elección. Además, cualquier persona inscrita en la Junta Electoral del Condado de Nassau conforme a las disposiciones de la Ley Electoral tendrá derecho a votar sin necesidad de registrarse. Todas las demás personas que deseen votar deben registrarse.

La Junta de Registro se reunirá con el propósito de registrar a todos los votantes califcados del Distrito conforme a la §2014 de la Ley de Educación en cada uno de los tres distritos electorales, el 6 de mayo de 2023, entre las 9:00 a. m. y la 1:00 a. m. 00 p. m. en la Ofcina del Secretario del Distrito, para agregar cualquier nombre adicional al Registro que se usará en la elección antes mencionada, en cuyo momento cualquier persona tendrá derecho a que se coloque su nombre en dicho Registro, siempre que en dicha reunión del Junta de Registro se sabe o se prueba a satisfacción de dicha Junta de Registro que tiene derecho a votar en dicha elección para la cual se prepara el registro. Además, el registro se llevará a cabo con el fn de registrar a todos los votantes califcados del Distrito de conformidad con la §2014 de la Ley de Educación hasta el 9 de mayo de 2023, entre las 9:00 a. m. y las 4:00 p. m. en todos los días regulares durante los

cuales la ofcina del Secretario del Distrito está en funcionamiento. El registro así preparado se archivarán en la Ofcina del Secretario del Distrito y estará abierto para su inspección por parte de cualquier votante califcado del Distrito a partir del jueves 11 de mayo de 2023, entre las 9:00 a. m. y las 4:00 p. m. los días de semana, y cada día anterior al día fjado para la elección, excepto el domingo, y el sábado entre las 9:00 a. m. y las 1:00 p. m., y en el (los) centro(s) de votación el día de la votación.

Y POR LA PRESENTE SE DA AVISO ADICIONAL, que los votantes militares que no están registrados actualmente pueden solicitar registrarse como votantes califcados del Distrito Escolar Central de Locust Valley solicitando y devolviendo una solicitud de registro al Secretario del Distrito en persona, por correo a la Ofcina del Secretario del distrito, 22 Horse Hollow Road, Locust Valley, NY 11560, por correo electrónico a shammerschmidt@locustv alleyschools.org o por fax al 516 277-5098. La solicitud de registro puede incluir la preferencia del votante militar de recibir la solicitud de registro por correo postal, fax o correo electrónico. Los formularios de solicitud de registro de votantes militares deben recibirse en la ofcina del secretario del distrito a más tardar a las 5:00 p. m. el 20 de abril de 2023 para que se emita una boleta para la Votación y Elección del Presupuesto de 2023.

Y POR LA PRESENTE SE DA AVISO ADICIONAL, aquellos votantes militares que son votantes califcados del Distrito Escolar Central de Locust Valley, pueden solicitar una solicitud para una boleta militar del Secretario del Distrito en persona, por correo a Ofcina del Secretario del Distrito, 22 Horse Hollow Road, Locust Valley, NY 11560, por correo electrónico a shammerschmidt@locustv alleyschools.org, o por fax al 516 277-5098. En dicha solicitud, el votante militar podrá indicar su preferencia de recibir la solicitud por correo postal, fax o correo electrónico. Un votante militar debe devolver la solicitud de boleta militar original por correo o en persona a la Ofcina del Secretario del Distrito. Para que un votante militar pueda recibir una boleta militar, se debe recibir una solicitud de boleta militar válida en la ofcina del secretario del distrito a más tardar a las 5:00 p. m. el 20 de abril de 2023. Las solicitudes de boleta militar recibidas de acuerdo con lo anterior se procesarán de

la misma manera que una solicitud de boleta no militar según la Sección 2018-a de la Ley de Educación. La solicitud de boleta militar puede incluir la preferencia del votante militar de recibir la boleta militar por correo, fax o correo electrónico.

Y POR LA PRESENTE SE DA AVISO ADICIONAL, la boleta militar original de un votante militar debe devolverse por correo o en persona a la ofcina del Secretario del Distrito en 22 Horse Hollow Road, Locust Valley, NY 11560. Las boletas militares se examinarán si el secretario del distrito las recibe antes del cierre de las urnas el 16 de mayo de 2023 y muestran una marca de cancelación del Servicio Postal de los Estados Unidos o del servicio postal de un país extranjero. o que muestre un endoso de recibo fechado por otra agencia del Gobierno de los Estados Unidos; o recibido a más tardar a las 5:00 p.m. el 16 de mayo de 2023 y frmado y fechado por el votante militar y un testigo, con una fecha que se asegure que no sea posterior al día anterior a la elección.

Y POR LA PRESENTE SE DA AVISO ADICIONAL que, de conformidad con la §2014 de la Ley de Educación del Estado de Nueva York, la Junta de Inscripción se reunirá el martes 16 de mayo de 2023, entre las 6:00 a. m. y las 9:00 p. m. en cada uno de los tres (3) distritos electorales separados para preparar el Registro del Distrito Escolar que se usará en la Votación y Elección del Presupuesto que se llevará a cabo en 2023, y cualquier reunión especial del distrito que se celebre después de la preparación de dicho Registro, momento en el cual cualquier persona puede colocar su nombre en dicho Registro siempre que se sepa o demuestre a satisfacción de dicha Junta de Registro que tiene derecho a votar en la elección escolar para la cual se prepara dicho Registro, o en cualquier reunión especial del distrito que se celebre después 16 de mayo de 2023.

Y POR LA PRESENTE SE DA AVISO ADICIONAL, que las solicitudes de papeletas de voto en ausencia estarán disponibles durante el horario escolar en el Secretario del Distrito a partir del 1 de abril de 2023. El Secretario del Distrito no puede recibir una solicitud completa antes del 17 de abril de 2023 y dichas solicitudes deben ser recibido por el Secretario del Distrito al menos siete (7) días antes de la elección si la boleta se va a enviar por correo al votante, o el día anterior a la elección, si la boleta se va a entregar personalmente al votante

o a su designado agente.

Al recibir una solicitud oportuna de una boleta de voto en ausencia enviada por correo, el Secretario del Distrito enviará la boleta por correo a la dirección establecida en la solicitud a más tardar seis (6) días antes de la votación. El secretario del distrito debe recibir las boletas de voto en ausencia a más tardar a las 5:00 p. m. martes, 16 de mayo de 2023. Una lista de las personas a las que se emiten boletas de voto en ausencia estará disponible para su inspección en la ofcina del secretario del distrito a partir del jueves 11 de mayo de 2023, entre las 9:00 a. m. y las 4:00 p. m. los días de semana anteriores al día fjado para la elección anual y el 16 de mayo de 2023, día fjado para la elección.

Cualquier votante califcado podrá, al examinar dicha lista, presentar una impugnación por escrito de las califcaciones como votante de cualquier persona cuyo nombre aparezca en dicha lista, exponiendo las razones de dicha impugnación. Cualquier impugnación por escrito deberá ser transmitida por el Secretario del Distrito o una persona designada por la Junta de Educación a los inspectores electorales el Día de la Elección.

Y POR LA PRESENTE SE DA AVISO ADICIONAL que, de conformidad con una regla adoptada por la Junta de Educación, cualquier referéndum o proposición para enmendar el presupuesto, o que de otro modo se someta a votación en dicha elección, debe presentarse ante el Secretario del Distrito con tiempo sufciente para permitir que el aviso de la propuesta se incluya con el Aviso de Audiencia Pública, Votación Presupuestaria y Elección requerida por la Sección 2004 de la Ley de Educación, pero a más tardar el 2 de marzo de 2023 a las 4:30 p. m.; debe estar escrito a máquina o impreso en el idioma inglés; debe dirigirse al Secretario del Distrito Escolar; debe estar frmado por al menos 115 votantes califcados del Distrito (que representan el 5% del número de votantes que votaron en la elección anual anterior); y debe indicar legiblemente el nombre de cada frmante. Sin embargo, la Junta Escolar no considerará ninguna petición para presentar a los votantes ninguna propuesta cuyo propósito no esté dentro de los poderes de los votantes para determinar, que sea ilegal o cualquier propuesta que no incluya una asignación específca donde el gasto de dinero

es requerido por la proposición, o donde existe otra razón válida para excluir la proposición de la boleta. DISTRITOS ELECTORALES ESCOLARES Y POR LA PRESENTE SE DA AVISO ADICIONAL de que se han establecido Distritos Electorales en el Distrito Escolar. Los límites de los distritos electorales, adoptados por resolución de la Junta de Educación, y el lugar de votación en cada distrito electoral serán los siguientes: Distrito Electoral de Bayville Escuela Intermedia de Bayville, 50 Mountain Avenue, Bayville (descripción del distrito electoral: antiguo Distrito Escolar Libre de la Unión No. 6, Ciudad de Oyster Bay, Nueva York) Distrito Electoral de Brookville: Salón Comunitario de la Iglesia Reformada de Brookville, 2 Brookville Road, Brookville (descripción del distrito electoral: antiguo Distrito Escolar Sin Unión No. 3, Ciudad de Oyster Bay, Nueva York) Distrito Electoral de Locust Valley Escuela primaria Ann MacArthur, 100 Ryefeld Road, Locust Valley (descripción del distrito electoral: antiguo distrito escolar libre de la Unión No. 4, ciudad de Oyster Bay, Nueva York) Fecha: 8 de marzo de 2023 Por Orden de la JUNTA EDUCATIVA DE LA DISTRITO ESCOLAR CENTRAL DE LOCUST VALLEY Susan Hammerschmidt, Secretaria del Distrito 138483

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LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING, BUDGET VOTE AND ELECTION OF THE LOCUST VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT LOCUST VALLEY, NASSAU COUNTY, NEW YORK

NOTICE IS HEREBY

GIVEN, that a Public Hearing of the qualifed voters of the Locust Valley Central School District, Nassau County, Locust Valley, New York will be held in the MiniTheater of the Locust Valley Middle School/High School, 99 Horse Hollow Road, Locust Valley, New York on May 2, 2023 at 7:30 p.m. for the transaction of business as authorized by Education Law, including the following items:

1. To present to the voters a detailed statement (proposed budget) of the amount of money which will be required for the 2023-2024 fscal year.

2. To discuss all the items hereinafter set forth to be voted upon by voting machines at the Budget Vote and Election to be held on Tuesday, May 16, 2023.

Public Notices

3. To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting pursuant to Education Law of the State of New York and acts amendatory thereto.

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that said Budget Vote and Election will be held on Tuesday, May 16, 2023, between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. in the three (3) Election Districts, described below, at which time the polls will be open to vote by voting machine upon the following items:

1. To adopt the annual budget of the School District for the fscal year 2023-2024 and to authorize the requisite portion thereof to be raised by taxation on the taxable property of the District.

2. To approve the following resolution for the establishment of a Capital Reserve Fund to fnance capital improvements, and related site work and equipment at all district schools:

RESOLVED: That the following action shall result in no additional increase to the annual tax levy. Shall the Board of Education be authorized, pursuant to Education Law §3651, to establish a Capital Reserve Fund to be known as the 2023 Capital Reserve Fund (Reserve Fund). The purpose of this Reserve Fund is to accumulate monies to fnance the cost of capital improvements, necessary site work and related items of equipment throughout the district including, but not limited to, the construction and/or replacement of District-wide facilities and property, capital improvements related to future enrollment growth needs, other infrastructure improvements, window wall replacements, heating and ventilation system upgrades, roof replacement, security enhancements, parking lot and driveway improvements, septic system improvements, instructional space reconstruction, electrical improvements, bathroom upgrades, and interior and exterior doors. The ultimate amount of the Reserve Fund shall be the maximum estimated amount of $5,000,000.00. The probable term of the Reserve Fund is fve years. The source of the funds to fund the Reserve Fund is an annual transfer of surplus money, if any, from the District’s General Fund’s unassigned balance as may be available at the end of each fscal year from June 30, 2023 through and including June 30, 2028, and any other sources permitted by law. Except as otherwise provided by §3635 of the Education

Law, expenditures from this Reserve Fund shall be made only for the purpose for which the Reserve Fund is established. No expenditure shall be made from this Reserve Fund for any other purpose other than the above without such additional actions or proceedings as may be required by law.

3. Locust Valley Library Service Area Residents

Only: To adopt the resolution for the Locust Valley Library appropriation submitted for the fscal year 2023-2024, in the amount of $1,607,191 to appear on the voting machines on May 16, 2023, and that the Board of Education of the Locust Valley Central School District be authorized to levy the necessary tax therefore on the taxable property only of former Union Free School District No. 4, Town of Oyster Bay, New York.

4. To elect four (4) members of the Board of Education for the following terms:

a) three (3) members of the Board of Education to three-year terms commencing July 1, 2023 and expiring on June 30, 2026.

b) one (1) member to fll the remainder of an unexpired term commencing May 16, 2023 and ending June 30, 2024.

Vacancies on the Board of Education are not considered separate, specifc offces; candidates run at large. The candidates with the frst, second and third highest vote tallies will be elected to the full terms commencing July 1, 2023 and expiring on June 30, 2026. The candidate with the fourth highest vote tally will serve the unexpired term commencing May 16, 2023 and ending June 30, 2024.

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that a copy of the statement of the amount of money which will be required to fund the School District’s budget (the 2023-2024 proposed budget) and the Locust Valley Library’s budget for 2023-2024, exclusive of public monies, may be obtained by any resident of the District between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. beginning May 2, 2023, except Saturday, Sunday or holidays at the District Offce, 22 Horse Hollow Road, Locust Valley, New York and at each school house in the District.

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that pursuant to Chapter 258 of the Laws of 2008, Section 495 was added to the Real Property Tax Law, and requires the School District to attach to its proposed budget an exemption report. Said

exemption report, which will also become part of the fnal budget, will show how much the total assessed value on the fnal assessment roll used in the budgetary process is exempt from taxation, list every type of exemption granted, identifed by statutory authority, and show: (a) the cumulative impact of each type of exemption expressed either as a dollar amount of assessed value or as a percentage of the total assessed value on the roll; (b) the cumulative amount expected to be received from recipients of each type of exemption as payments in lieu of taxes or other payments for municipal services; and (c) the cumulative impact of all exemptions granted. The exemption report shall be posted on any bulletin board maintained by the District for public notices and on any website maintained by the District.

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that petitions nominating candidates for the offce of school board member must be fled with the District Clerk in the Administration Building, 22 Horse Hollow Road, Locust Valley, New York, not later than April 17, 2023, between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

Nominating petitions must be signed by at least 46 qualifed voters of the District (representing the greater of 25 qualifed voters or 2% of the number of voters who voted in the previous annual election); must state the name and residence of each signer, and must state the name and residence of the candidate.

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that personal registration of voters is required pursuant to Education Law. If a voter has heretofore registered and has voted at an annual or special district meeting within the last four (4) calendar years, he or she is eligible to vote at this election. In addition, anyone registered with the Nassau County Board of Elections under the provisions of the Election Law shall be entitled to vote without further registration. All other persons who wish to vote must register.

The Board of Registration will meet for the purpose of registering all qualifed voters of the District pursuant to §2014 of the Education Law in each of the three election districts, on May 6, 2023, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. at the Offce of the District Clerk, to add any additional names to the Register to be used at the aforesaid election, at which time any person will be entitled to have his/her name placed on such Register, provided

that at such meeting of the Board of Registration he/she is known or proven to the satisfaction of said Board of Registration to be entitled to vote at such election for which the register is prepared. Additionally, registration shall be conducted for the purpose of registering all qualifed voters of the District pursuant to §2014 of the Education Law through May 9, 2023, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on all regular days during which the offce of the District Clerk is in operation. The register so prepared will be fled in the Offce of the District Clerk and will be open for inspection by any qualifed voter of the District beginning on Thursday, May 11, 2023, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on weekdays, and each day prior to the day set for the election, except Sunday, and on Saturday between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m., and at the polling place(s) on the day of the vote.

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS

HEREBY GIVEN, that military voters who are not currently registered may apply to register as a qualifed voter of the Locust Valley Central School District by requesting and returning a registration application to the District Clerk in person, by mail to Offce of the District Clerk, 22 Horse Hollow Road, Locust Valley, NY 11560, by email to shammerschmidt@locustv alleyschools.org or fax sent to 516 277-5098. The request for the registration application may include the military voter’s preference for receipt of the registration application by either mail, fax or email. Military voter registration application forms must be received in the offce of the District Clerk no later than 5:00 p.m. on April 20, 2023 in order to be issued a ballot for the 2023 Budget Vote and Election.

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS

HEREBY GIVEN, those military voters who are qualifed voters of the Locust Valley Central School District, may request an application for a military ballot from the District Clerk in person, by mail to Offce of the District Clerk, 22 Horse Hollow Road, Locust Valley, NY 11560, by email to shammerschmidt@locustv alleyschools.org, or fax sent to 516 277-5098. In such request, the military voter may indicate their preference for receiving the application by mail, fax or email. A military voter must return the original military ballot application by mail or in person to the Offce of the District Clerk. In order for a military voter to be issued a military ballot, a

valid military ballot application must be received in the offce of the District Clerk no later than 5:00 p.m. on April 20, 2023. Military ballot applications received in accordance with the foregoing will be processed in the same manner as a non-military ballot application under Section 2018-a of the Education Law. The application for military ballot may include the military voter’s preference for receipt of the military ballot by mail, fax or email.

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, a military voter’s original military ballot must be returned by mail or in person to the offce of the District Clerk at 22 Horse Hollow Road, Locust Valley, NY 11560. Military ballots shall be canvassed if they are received by the District Clerk before the close of polls on May 16, 2023 showing a cancellation mark of the United States Postal Service or a foreign country’s postal service, or showing a dated endorsement of receipt by another agency of the United States Government; or received not later than 5:00 p.m. on May 16, 2023 and signed and dated by the military voter and one witness thereto, with a date which is ascertained to be not later than the day before the election.

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that pursuant to §2014 of the Education Law of the State of New York, the Board of Registration will meet on Tuesday, May 16, 2023, between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. at each of the three (3) separate election districts to prepare the Register of the School District to be used at the Budget Vote and Election to be held in 2023, and any special district meetings that may be held after the preparation of said Register, at which time any person may have their name placed on such Register provided they are known or prove to the satisfaction of such Board of Registration to be entitled to vote at the school election for which said Register is prepared, or any special district meeting held after May 16, 2023.

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that applications for absentee ballots will be obtainable during school business hours from the District Clerk beginning April 1, 2023. A completed application may not be received by the District Clerk earlier than April 17, 2023 and such applications must be received by the District Clerk at least seven (7) days before the election if the ballot is to be mailed to the voter, or the day before the election, if the

ballot is to be delivered personally to the voter or his/her designated agent. Upon receiving a timely request for a mailed absentee ballot, the District Clerk will mail the ballot to the address set forth in the application by no later than six (6) days before the vote. Absentee ballots must be received by the District Clerk not later than 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 16, 2023. A list of persons to whom absentee ballots are issued will be available for inspection in the offce of the District Clerk on and after Thursday, May 11, 2023, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on weekdays prior to the day set for the annual election and on May 16, 2023, the day set for the election. Any qualifed voter may, upon examination of such list, fle a written challenge of the qualifcations as a voter of any person whose name appears on such list, stating the reasons for such challenge. Any such written challenge shall be transmitted by the District Clerk or a designee of the Board of Education to the inspectors of election on Election Day.

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that pursuant to a rule adopted by the Board of Education, any referenda or propositions to amend the budget, or otherwise to be submitted for voting at said election, must be fled with the District Clerk in suffcient time to permit notice of the proposition to be included with the Notice of the Public Hearing, Budget Vote and Election required by Section 2004 of the Education Law but no later than March 2, 2023 at 4:30 p.m.; must be typed or printed in the English language; must be directed to the Clerk of the School District; must be signed by at least 115 qualifed voters of the District (representing 5% of the number of voters who voted in the previous annual election); and must legibly state the name of each signer. However, the School Board will not entertain any petition to place before the voters any proposition the purpose of which is not within the powers of the voters to determine, which is unlawful or any proposition which fails to include a specifc appropriation where the expenditure of monies is required by the proposition, or where other valid reason exists for excluding the proposition from the ballot.

SCHOOL ELECTION DISTRICTS

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that Election Districts have been established in the School District. The boundaries of the Election Districts, as adopted by

resolution of the Board of Education, and the place in each election district for voting shall be as follows:

Bayville Election District

Bayville Intermediate School, 50 Mountain Avenue, Bayville

(description of election district: former Union Free School District No. 6, Town of Oyster Bay, New York)

Brookville Election

District: Community Hall of the Brookville Reformed Church, 2 Brookville Road, Brookville

(description of election district: former Union Free School District No. 3, Town of Oyster Bay, New York)

Locust Valley Election District

Ann MacArthur Primary School, 100 Ryefeld Road, Locust Valley

(description of election district: former Union Free School District No. 4, Town of Oyster Bay, New York)

Dated: March 8, 2023

By Order of the BOARD OF EDUCATION OF THE LOCUST VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

Susan Hammerschmidt, District Clerk 138481

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS TRUSTEE FOR THE RMAC TRUST, SERIES 2016-CTT, Plaintiff AGAINST LAURA BENVENISTI AKA LAURA A. BENVENISTI, AKA LAURA A. DELEOBENVENISTI, AKA LAURA DELEO, ET AL., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered February 2, 2023, 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 May 16, 2023 at 2:00PM, premises known as 11 JUNEAU BOULEVARD, WOODBURY, NY 11797. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being at Woodbury, Town of Oyster Bay, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 13, Block 100, Lot 2. Approximate amount of judgment $1,867,966.80 plus interest and costs.

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of fled Judgment Index #011991/2013. 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”. Michael W. Alpert, Esq., Referee Gross Polowy, LLC 1775 Wehrle Drive Williamsville, NY 14221 17-001260 75538 138691

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT

NASSAU COUNTY INVESTORS BANK, Plaintiff against STEPHANIE ANTELL, et al Defendant(s) Attorney for Plaintiff(s) Fein Such & Crane, LLP, 28 East Main Street, Suite 1800, Rochester, NY 14614. Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered November 20, 2019, 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 June 7, 2023 at 3:30 PM. Premises known as 15 Amber Lane, Oyster Bay, NY 11771. Sec 27 Block 081 Lot 56. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected thereon, situate, lying and being in the Incorporated Village of Oyster Bay Cove, Town of Oyster Bay, County of Nassau, and State of New York. Approximate Amount of Judgment is $1,492,497.04 plus interest, fees, and costs.

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of fled Judgment Index No 009668/2015 F/K/A 9668/2015. The foreclosure sale will be conducted in accordance with 10th Judicial District’s Covid-19 Policies and foreclosure auction rules. The Referee shall enforce any rules in place regarding facial coverings and social distancing. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, then the Court Appointed Referee shall cancel the foreclosure auction. Foreclosure Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine.”

Jordan Hoffman, Esq., Referee CHJNY408 139241

PUBLIC & LEGAL NOTICES

To place a notice here call us us at 516-569-4000 x232 or send an email to: legalnotices@liherald.com

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT

NASSAU COUNTY

RESIDENTIAL FUNDING COMPANY, LLC, Plaintiff against MICHAEL L. CANNIZARO, et al Defendant(s) Attorney for Plaintiff(s) Stern & Eisenberg, P.C.,

O.B.’s budget needed to move forward with mission

Four candidates running for three school board seats

By LAURA LANE llane@liherald.com

The Board of Education for the Oyster Bay-East Norwich Central School District approved a preliminary budget for 2023-2024 of $64,414,491 on Tuesday. It will be up to voters on May 16 to decide whether to approve it.

Superintendent Francesco Ianni said the district needs the budget approval to forge forward with its mission — to continue to make Oyster Bay one of the best and most innovative school districts in the nation.

“I am confident we are fulfilling that mission every day with the caliber of students we have today,” he said. “Our graduating class will be attending impressive colleges like Brown, U Penn, and NYU. That says a lot of who we are as a district and the community we have.”

The difference between last year’s adopted budget and this year’s is roughly $2 million. Crafting the 2023-2024 budget was difficult this year, Ianni said, due to the low level of state aid the district traditionally receives but more importantly, inflation. Last year the consumer price index was 4.7 percent but this year it rose to 8 percent, meaning a large increase in costs for the district. State aid rose by roughly $129,000.

In order to maintain all programs and services, the district needed to set its tax levy — the amount a school district can propose as part of its annual revenue budget — at roughly $57 million, or 2.34 percent, Ianni said.

“Seventy-five percent of the budget is for salary and benefits, which is already set,” he explained. “There is $14 million in bene-

fits. When creating our budget, we stay focused on what students need and look at the details.”

There were three priorities when creating the budget, Ianni said: to provide students with what they will need to be successful; to be fiscally responsible; and to focus on the future.

“Some people can have a myopic view,” he said. “If we don’t do maintenance each year five years from now it will be a very expensive capital project. All together we try to look at the future keeping an eye on it in order to make our present very strong. You have to look at the future to define the present, to know what’s negotiable and what isn’t.”

Public Notices

20 Commerce Drive, Suite 230, Cranford, NJ 07016.

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered March 2, 2016, 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 June 8, 2023 at 2:30 PM. Premises known as 58 Summit Street, Oyster Bay, NY 11771. Sec 27 Block 13 Lot 211.

All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being on the southerly side of Summit Street in the Unincorporated Village of Oyster Bay, Town of Oyster Bay, County of Nassau and State of New York.

Approximate Amount of Judgment is $451,375.02 plus interest, fees, and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of fled Judgment Index No 002549/2013.

During the COVID-19

health emergency, Bidders are required to comply with all governmental health requirements in effect at the time of the sale including but not limited to wearing face coverings and maintaining social distancing (at least 6-feet apart) during the auction, while tendering deposit and at any subsequent closing. Should a bidder fail to comply, the Referee may refuse to accept any bid, cancel the closing and hold the bidder in default. Bidders are also required to comply with the Foreclosure Auction Rules and COVID-19 Health Emergency Rules issued by the Supreme Court of this County in addition to the conditions set forth in the Terms of Sale. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, then the Court Appointed Referee shall cancel the foreclosure auction.

Foreclosure Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine.”

Anthony Piacentini, Esq., Referee 587.078300-2 139239

Search for notices online at: www.newyorkpublicnotices.com

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT

COUNTY OF NASSAU, DITECH FINANCIAL LLC, Plaintiff, vs. DEBORAH PARKS, ET AL., Defendant(s).

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale and Amendment of Caption duly entered on March 12, 2018, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the front steps on the north side of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY on June 5, 2023 at 2:30 p.m., premises known as 33 The Mews, Unit 33, Syosset, NY 11791. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Town of Oyster Bay, County of Nassau and State of New

Two propositions on the ballot

Proposition two asks voters to allow for the district to utilize no more than $200,000 from its technology reserve fund for board approved projects. The district is seeking to continue the implementation of its technology plans with upgrades, including i-Pads for kindergarteners, Chromebooks for third grade students, and the purchase of interactive boards. If the proposition passes, there will be no cost taxpayers.

Proposition three, which also would not cost taxpayers, asks voters to approve of capital improvements throughout the district estimated at $750,000, which include:

■ At the high school: a main entrance seating wall; sound and lighting upgrades in the auditorium; tennis court lighting and a new marquee sign.

elementary school.”

She’s running again, to continue her work on the board. She has a deep understanding of the district’s needs and challenges, she added. Kowalsky wants to see more research opportunities available and more internships.

Amatrudo, 35, a registered intensive care nurse, said as a lifelong resident and an Oyster Bay High School graduate she has a deep connection to the community.

Amatrudo is a member of the district’s Site Based Team where she brainstorms ideas for improvements.

Learning is different than it was when she was in school, she said. Amatrudo’s committed to keeping up with the everchanging society, including with technology. She also wants to be sure there are advanced placement and honor classes available at the high school. She also wants all children to receive a good education.

York, Section 15, Block F and Lot 1445 Unit 33 a/k/a Lot 1445U together with an undivided 1.65 percent interest in the Common Elements. Approximate amount of judgment is $488,898.38 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of fled Judgment Index # 4047/2012. Cash will not be accepted. This foreclosure sale will be held on the north side steps of the Courthouse, rain or shine. COVID-19 safety protocols will be followed at the foreclosure sale. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, the Court Appointed Referee will cancel the sale.

Charles J. Casolaro, Esq., Referee Knuckles, Komosinski & Manfro, LLP, 565 Taxter Road, Suite 590, Elmsford, NY 10523, Attorneys for Plaintiff 139216

Search for notices online at: www.newyorkpublicnotices.com

■ At James Vernon: library’s heating ventilation, air conditioning and ceiling and lighting replacements, which would be partially funded with preliminary grant approval.

■ At the stadium: concrete and miscellaneous building repairs.

■ And at the administration building: HVAC replacement.

School board trustee race

There are two open seats and four people running. Laurie Kowalsky, the board’s president, is running for a third term. Caitlin Amatrudo, William Henry and Nicole Verdone are running for the first time. Henry did not attend the Meet the Candidates Night on Wednesday and could not be reached for comment.

Kowalsky, 57, an intellectual property attorney, said she is proud to be on a board that passed universal busing, increased the graduation rate, instituted a golf program, the creation of an orchestra, and increased security district-wide by hiring more security guards.

But she believes there is more work to be done. “We need to improve our test scores,” she said. “I’d like to see more coding at the

“We live in a diverse community,” Amatrudo said. “I want to make sure all children’s educational needs are met.”

Verdone, 40, a special education teacher, is committed to making the district’s curriculum accessible to all students — special education, English language learners and high achievers. She wants to be sure no one falls between the cracks.

The reason why voters should choose her, Verdone said, is because as a teacher she has insight into education, which non of the current trustees have.

“There is a need for improvement,” Verdone said. “I want to work alongside teachers with their professional development, have curriculum training for parents so they can help their children at home, especially now with the Common Core. The way things are taught now is different than when we learned it.”

She’d also like to have enrichment programs available for high achievers by increasing the availability of advanced placement and honor courses. And in her commitment to providing opportunities for all students, Verdone said she wants to create partnerships with local universities for dual enrollment programs so students will receive college credits while in high school.

Caitlin Amatrudo

Laurie Kowalsky

Nicole Verdone

OPINIONS

Biden’s decision was an easy one

To no one’s surprise, President Biden has announced that he will seek a second term. That announcement has stirred up oceans of talk about his ability to serve another four years, because he is 80 years old. Considering the fact that I’ve served in public life for over 30 years and have reached age 80, I feel comfortable expressing my views about his candidacy.

Biden’s decision to run for reelection was the result of many factors, which I understand and can easily explain. First of all, as difficult as the most important job in the world is, with its myriad headaches, it is impossible to just walk away from it. Is being president a boost to your ego? You bet it is. Having musicians play “Hail to the Chief” virtually every time you walk into a room has to be a pretty cool experience. Traveling on Air Force One is also hard to dismiss.

But putting ego aside, Biden has plenty of reasons to defy his biological clock and seek office again. Whether

you like him or not, he has had a highly successful four years, and working with both Democrats and Republicans, he has gotten a number of major pieces of legislation passed that will have a dramatic impact on the lives of all Americans.

His infrastructure bill is responsible for the planned reconstruction or replacement of approximately 3,800 bridges. Billions of dollars have been distributed to local governments to rebuild their aging highways. Thousands of public buildings that are in dangerous condition are being rebuilt with infrastructure funding.

America’s major shortage of microchips will be attacked thanks to a multibillion-dollar program to create American-manufactured chips. Think about the vehicle you drive, or your smartphone. Cars and phones need microchips, most of which come from Taiwan and China. Our country needs to make more of them, and the process to do that is happening thanks to the Biden administration.

Senior citizens have much to be thankful for due to Biden’s efforts. Ask any senior who needs insulin injections

what it cost them annually in 2021. Many will acknowledge that the cost of insulin has resulted in less food on the table. Biden pledged to reduce its price to $35 per month, a pledge he has kept.

Four years ago, the alliance of European nations was in total disarray. Many that were once our friends were disenchanted by our lack of communication, and our disrespect. Biden has brought the members of NATO together, and for the first time in many years, the organization is prepared to fight any attempt by Russia to expand its territory.

There is no doubt that Ukraine would be under total Russian control if not for Biden’s determination to protect it from becoming a Russian colony. Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine wasn’t just an effort to take over another country. Russia would like to swallow up all of the previous parts of the former Soviet Union. A winning takeover of Ukraine was intended to be the first in a series of takeovers of country after country.

The 2023 version of the Republican Party is enough to encourage any Democratic incumbent to run again. Red

state after red state is passing laws to deprive women of their personal rights, and finding ways to deprive minorities and college students of their voting rights. The GOP has abandoned all of its founding principles, and has been captured by the Marjorie Taylor Greenes and other zealots.

Has Biden made America into Pleasantville? No, that hasn’t happened. To date, there has been no bipartisan solution to the border crises. The Democrats want a rational way to let migrants enter the country. Many Republicans want the border forever sealed so that no one, not even those fleeing anarchy and crime, can walk on American soil.

If the Republican Party had a roster of moderate and impressive candidates for the White House, Biden might have hesitated to seek a second term. But sadly, Republicans have no Ronald Reagan type waiting in the wings. Their alternatives will not make America great again.

So if I were Joe Biden, I’d go for it.

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.

Dispatch from a four-legged 5-year-old

Dear Kathi: I turned 5 years old this winter, and I promised that I’d drop you a note and tell you how my life is with the Kreiss family. Mother’s Day is appropriate: As the breeder who helped bring me into the world, you’re one of my cherished moms.

My birth mom is Mountain Ivy of Chilowee Cotons. My birth grandmother is Destiny’s Rogue Breeze. My human mom is Randi of Brooklyn, and my pedigree is better than hers.

Now, don’t expect one of those heartwarming Lassie stories or a brave-dog-fightsbear story of my life. Think of this more like a Jerry Springer-spaniel (may he rest in peace) sort of tale. I know you thought I was an easy-going puppy, but it was all an act. I’m an alpha all the way, babe.

The Kreisses are OK, as owners go.

Clearly Randi and Don (they don’t know I call them by their first names) wanted a replacement for their beloved Zoe, the long-lived pup who trotted over the Rainbow Bridge six months before I was born. I hate when that happens. I want to be wanted just for myself.

By the way, I resent that you sold me. I mean, it was a great price, and in dog dollars it was a killing, but I don’t like to think of myself as a commodity. And you could have been a little more thorough in interviewing the Kreisses. They do not — I repeat, do not — have the fenced-in yard they promised.

I don’t mind that you sent me away from Tucson, where I was born, but I just cannot get used to doing my business in the snow. The ice really freezes up the works, if you know what I mean. The Ms. is out there in wool pants, a down coat, hat and gloves. I’m out there in my birthday suit, and she wants me to hurry up. When I hear “hurry up!” know what I do? I take my sweet time, pretending that I found something great to sniff. Or

I raise my ears and stare just behind her, to give her the creeps. Oh, yeah. One thing I’m happy about is that there are no kids around to share the attention. When we walk past kids at the bus stop, I wag my tail like crazy and pretend to love the little dribblers. The Ms. eats it up. She always says the same thing to the moms and dads: “Oh, Lillybee loves children. Of course they can pet her.” Let me tell you, it takes a lot of self-control not to take a bite out of those fat little fingers.

It’s a pretty easy gig I have. In the beginning, the Mr. didn’t like me at all. He didn’t want me, he didn’t want to walk me, and he didn’t like the fact that I barked in his ear for no good reason for 15 minutes straight every night when he turned on the TV. But he just needed to be trained. I’ve trained him to throw my Frisbee every time I bring it to him. I could bring it to him a hundred times and he just keeps throwing it. And he thinks I eat out of his hand?

The Ms. started out strict, making me

sleep in a crate in the kitchen every night, and I pretended to love it. I kept quiet, kept my nose clean and, sure enough, within six months they were discussing the fact that I was bonding more with the crate than with them. Within eight months I was in bed with them.

I know this is a process of give and take, but I did hold my ground in several areas. I refused to be housebroken overnight. I saw no reason to relieve myself outside in the freezing cold when there were perfectly good area rugs in the nice warm dining room.

I will not sit on the floor when everyone else is on the couch, and I won’t eat unless the Ms. keeps me company. From time to time, I bring a small dead bird into the house and deposit it on someone’s bed. I’m a dog, after all, and I won’t let them disrespect my native culture.

I will definitely keep in touch, Kathi, but let’s keep this just between us. The Ms. thinks she’s the only one in the family who writes. And neither of them has any idea that I know how to use the computer.

Love, Lillybee

Copyright 2023 Randi Kreiss. Randi can be reached at randik3@aol.com.

RANDI KREISS

When we walk past kids, I wag and pretend to love the little dribblers.

Whether you like him or not, he has had a highly successful four years.

JERRY KREMER

HERALD

Make trash cans subterranean again

Every day, the effects of global warming feel more and more real, and the rush to reduce human pollution often feels like a problem too big for any individual or community to tackle.

But by reducing the amount of trash spoiling and endangering many of the North Shore’s beautiful beaches through the use of more effective trash cans, we can do our part to protect the Long Island Sound.

Each year, North Shore beaches accumulate somewhere around 174 pounds of trash per mile of coastline, according to Long Island Sound Study — and in some places, even more. Volunteers with the Coalition to Save Hempstead Harbor’s coastal cleanup event last September collected 375 pounds of trash on just four beaches in the area, including the Sea Cliff and Tappen beaches.

It might not sound like a lot, but even a single pound of trash can be devastating to a waterway ecosystem, and could even make beachgoers sick.

Part of the problem stems from littering — food wrappings, bottle caps and especially cigarette butts are endemic. It’s not that there aren’t enough trash cans on the beaches. There just aren’t enough good trash cans. The kind that protect their contents from the elements and local scavengers like raccoons and seagulls, which will often scatter debris from cans in their search for

LETTERS

An open letter to Rep. Anthony D’Esposito

Dear Congressman D’Esposito:

food.

That’s where subterranean receivers come in, which is nothing more than a fancy term for underground trash cans. And they aren’t new.

First patented in 1911, these trash cans were common up until the 1960s, when they fell out of favor thanks to the rise of plastic trash bags. But just like bellbottom pants, goatees and sideburns, it might be time to bring this relic of decades past back into vogue.

Subterranean receivers typically look like manhole covers, with a metal lid that is opened with a foot-operated lever. The heavy lid makes it significantly more challenging for scavengers to easily access what might be found inside.

It can also eliminate a lot of the odor produced when trash is openly exposed to heat — like the furnace in the sky that’s our sun. The coolness of the soil and sand around the container makes it harder for flies and maggots to infest the refuse. Thanks to their underground concrete lining, the receivers are also safe from burrowing animals like moles and worms.

By keeping their contents underground, subterranean receivers also offer additional protection from the elements. As Long Island is increasingly battered by tropical storms and hurricanes, modern trash cans often have some — if not all — of their contents whipped across the beach by the

wind. And in some cases, whole cans can be blown over, potentially ending up on the streets, beaches, or even inside the homes of nearby residents.

And while plastic bags may have been the initial undoing of subterranean receivers long ago, they might actually be what makes them effective once again. One of the major complaints about underground trash cans was the difficulty of emptying them due to their weight. Plastic bags inside the containers, however, can eliminate this issue.

Yes, installing underground trash cans might be costly — an average of $700 each. Yet the benefits in the long run — and their durability — make it an investment worth considering.

If fully submerging trash sounds like too extreme, there are also several modern models that experiment with partially underground trash cans. Companies such as Molok and Camber sell partially submerged or mostly submerged trash bins made of plastic or metal.

While this will not solve every litter-related problem on our beaches, by taking steps like this, we can help reduce our impact on the environment at relatively low cost.

In the meantime, we must continue to stay active by reducing our individual littering, participate in local cleanups, and holding polluting corporations and organizations accountable.

As you claim to be committed to serving and protecting your constituents and your brothers and sisters in law enforcement, I write to request that you act on that promise and write legislation that will ban military-style rifles and large-capacity magazines, institute universal background checks and red-flag laws and close the gun show loopholes.

From the writing of the Constitution until 2008, the Second Amendment was widely interpreted as providing for a state militia. The National Rifle Association successfully convinced Americans that the amendment gave individuals a right to bear arms. In 2008, in D.C. v. Heller, the ultra-conservative Supreme Court, for the first time in the country’s history, ruled that the Second Amendment “protects a personal right to keep and bear arms for lawful purposes, most notably for self-defense within the home.”

There have been 377 school shootings in the United States since Columbine, according to The Wash-

Seeking leadership, and equity, for a better tomorrow

Igrew up as a Reagan Republican, and I have some opinions on our current political paradigm. Reagan, whose flaws are perseverated over in our time, had some great traits that are applicable to our current environment. He had leadership and vision. He understood that we could be more than we were, and that America was created to be the greatest nation ever known by meeting the needs and desires of all of its people. True Republicans should follow his path, and people of other views should reconsider the intent of his policies.

My views on how to address society’s ills have evolved since my youth. I hope that would be true of any lifelong learner, but my core principles and goals are unchanged. Opportunity is the key to success, and the respect for liberty — for yourself and for your fellow members of society — is a sacred responsibility. That was Reagan’s vision through my 16-yearold eyes in the 1980s, and it’s a vision that is still applicable to those seeking equita-

ble opportunities for all.

Success is found in increasing economic growth, not in fighting over the distribution of a diminishing pool of resources. Collaboration in our country can spur a new generation of leadership for us, and for our ideas. Tearing one another down weakens us both nationally and internationally.

Remember, America is predominantly a collection of immigrants, including my ancestors, who fled static societies for new opportunities. We are still a collection of immigrants. Our combined skills and perspectives are a unique and powerful force.

I believe in equity, because it means giving people what they need to succeed, and most often, all they need is a fair chance. Each person’s path is different, and those differences should be respected. The most important ingredient for success will always be the will of the individual. The goal of equity is to remove, or mitigate, systemic barriers to enable people to reach their potential.

In education there is an accepted belief that we need to differentiate instruction. Differentiation of instruction is an acknowledgment that individu-

LETTERS

ington Post. Other countries have people with mental health issues, yet this is a uniquely American problem. The next highest number of school shootings during this time period is Mexico, with eight. More than twice as many Americans own guns, per capita, than the nextranked country, which is Yemen.

Today it isn’t uncommon for someone to have lived through more than one school shooting within a few years. During the 10-year ban on assault weapons, school shootings decreased markedly. Since the ban was lifted, mass shootings have increased dramatically.

As someone who was disciplined by the NYPD for carelessly leaving your gun in a car that wound up in the hands of criminals, you must be aware that there are over 400,000 guns stolen every year. Thus the argument for responsible gun ownership applies specifically to you, and to the hundreds of thousands of Americans who allow their guns to fall into the wrong hands.

Over 48,000 people are killed by guns each year. Guns are the leading cause of death of children and teens in this country, more than car accidents, drug over-

doses or cancer.

President Biden passed the Bipartisan Safe Communities Act, which is the most significant gun legislation in decades. However, it is just a first step. We need congresspeople who believe that the lives of our children are more important than the absurd notion that a civilian should be able to own a weapon of war. And we cannot forget what happened in Uvalde, where 19 law enforcement officers waited outside a classroom for 50 minutes for fear of being outgunned by one AR-15. If you really wanted to ensure that police officers are safe, you’d end the sale of weapons of war to civilians.

You have the ability to end mass shootings in this country.

On behalf of Democrats and the vast majority of your constituents, we demand that you pass sensible gun legislation. Put an end to the uniquely American phenomenon that has parents and children in your district fearing for their lives.

CLAUDIA BORECKY President, Bellmore-Merrick Democratic Club

als have their own educational needs. Equity is similar to that concept, because each person has his or her own needs to meet their full potential. Equity is meeting each individual where they are and creating a path forward consistent with their abilities and ambition. Creating an environment where individual have the opportunity to succeed is a very Reaganlike initiative.

Equity 4 LI Youth is a forum for identifying opportunities, with volunteers helping young people see possible paths to success. We are not a governmental agency, and we have not raised any money — we are just people from all political perspectives trying to help. We do so by partnering with altruistic groups representing a wide array of causes, and providing resources to help promote equitable opportunities for anyone who is interested. Their race, religion, gender or politics don’t matter to us; all deserve a fair chance to reach their goals.

We are open to all points of view. Books written from any perspective must be respected, not feared. Canceling another person’s ability to experience lit-

erature based solely on one’s own political perspective indicates a fear that there is weakness in that perspective. Fear drives hate, and hate brings more fear.

We believe in reading and analyzing works from multiple perspectives, listening to all positions and engaging in factbased debate. Hearing and respecting a different point of view doesn’t mean you are capitulating to it. Reagan stressed self-reliance, not the destruction of other members of the American experiment in democracy. There is room in the shining city on the hill for people of all beliefs.

I like to study and evaluate all points of view. No single perspective has all the best ideas, or only bad ideas; there is always information to glean from listening to, and learning about, others. Even if all you learn is how to refine your argument, you’ve still gained knowledge and understanding of another’s position. And the experience forces you to critically evaluate your own views. All gain from a sharing of ideas.

Reagan wasn’t always right, but he wasn’t always wrong, either.

Patrick M. Pizzo II, Ed.D., is the assistant superintendent for business and finance in the East Meadow School District, the president of Equity 4 LI Youth and the Education Committee chair for the Hempstead branch of the NAACP.

FRAMEWORK by Tim Baker

Ronald Reagan had some ideas that are well worth reconsidering.

PATRICK M. PIZZO II