Oyster Bay Herald 05-20-2022

HERALD $1.00

New maps for District 3

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VOL. 124 NO. 21

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Monument will honor baymen

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________________ OYSTER BAY _______________

MAY 20 - 26, 2022

ELECTION WINNERS

Nancy Castrogiovanni Oyster Bay-East Norwich trustee

Elisa Dragotto/Herald

Savoring spring in Oyster Bay The Sagamore Hill Historic Site is picture-perfect at this time of year. Flowering trees, bushes and a variety of flowers can be found on the grounds, and visitors can see where President Theodore Roosevelt once lived. More photos, Page 15.

Oyster Bay Cove man accused of murdering business rival

By WILL SHEELINE wsheeline@liherald.com

The residents of Cove Road knew Qing Ming “Allen” Yu for years as an inconsiderate and unpleasant neighbor. But none of them ever suspected he would be accused of murder.

On May 10, Yu was arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New York City and Nassau County police departments at his home in Oyster Bay Cove, where he has lived since 2015.

“As alleged, the defendants callously used gun violence to resolve a business dispute, reducing the value of a man’s life to a dollar figure, and bringing trauma and mourning to the community,” Breon Peace, the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, said in a statement the day of the arrest. “Prosecuting killers will always be a top priority for this office, whether the defendant pulls the trigger, or pays someone else to do his dirty work for him.”

Yu was a property developer and chief execuCONTINUED ON PAGE 4

Maryann Santos Oyster Bay-East Norwich trustee

Margaret Marchand Locust Valley trustee

Michele Schaefer Locust Valley trustee

Oyster Bay-East Norwich school district board Nancy Castrogiovanni and Maryann Santos won the atlarge election with 866 and 799 votes, respectively.

Oyster Bay-East Norwich school district budget Total: $62.1 million. Passed, 781-288.

Locust Valley Central School District board

The winners were Margaret Marchand, with 969 votes, and Michele Schaefer, with 954.

Locust Valley Central School District budget

Total: $91.5 million. Passed, 1,284-982.

— Laura Lane and Will Sheeline

The death of a bayman will bring forth new life

By LAURA LANE llane@liherald.com

Life changed forever for John Kennedy during the early hours of May 17, 2020, when his son Mike was found floating in the Long Island Sound off Centre Island, his clam boat a quarter of a mile away. He had been a bayman for two decades, and clammed regardless of the weather. The day he drowned, it was windy and the water was choppy.

His death devastated the community. With a ready smile, Mike was popular among the baymen as well as residents living in his hometown of Bayville.

John Taylor was sitting on his Sound-facing patio with his wife, Patricia Anglin, that morning. They saw the search-and-rescue effort on the water, but never imagined it was for Kennedy. A mason before becoming a clammer, he had built the couple’s patio. He and Taylor had become friends over the years.

There was much talk after Kennedy died, Taylor said, about doing something to commemorate him. Taylor put an online petition on seven social media sites to gauge interest in honoring Kennedy, quickly collecting 867 signatures.

Taylor spoke to William Painter, the president of the North Oyster Bay Baymen’s Association, a nonprofit supporting the efforts of noncommercial clammers, of which Kennedy had been a member. NOBBA had been receiving donations in Kennedy’s name. There had been much discussion among the members, Painter said, to find a fitting tribute for Kennedy. Taylor and Painter decided a monument should be erected.

Painter went to see John Kennedy to discuss the idea. “Billy said they were thinking of putting up a memorial to honor Mike,” Kennedy said. “I said that’s

Courtesy Baymens Heritage Association

A WATERCOLOR CREATED by Kirk Larsen, of the monument — a bayman clamming — was shared at the Town of Oyster Bay meeting on May 11. nice, but Mike wouldn’t want a memorial. Then we all decided to do a memorial for all baymen.”

Doug Rodgers, a member of NOBBA, said baymen wanted to start a foundation. “We wanted to think of

baymen as a vocation, which we are trying to keep alive,” he said. “Our association is more focused on restoring the bay. A foundation would help if a bayman needed emergency funds for family members or if they got sick.”

Kennedy filed for a 501(c)(3) nonprofit status, receiving approval on May 6, 2021. The Baymens Heritage Association was born. It mission is to “develop and preserve local shellfishing history, conserve and protect our current shellfishing resources, and most importantly to educate and promote this tradition to future generations.”

Then a monument committee was formed. Artist Kirk Larsen, of Hicksville, was hired to create a sketch of the concept for a site the association hoped would be at Theodore Roosevelt Park in Oyster Bay and a watercolor of the proposed monument — a bayman clamming. Sculptor Jeff Buccacio, of Massachusetts’ Buccacio Sculpture Services was also hired to create the bronze monument.

Taylor said the monument will be surrounded by information plaques that tell the history of shellfishing in Oyster Bay, and will also explain the various processes used to harvest shellfish. The objective, he said, is for visitors to “come away with a deeper appreciation of the work performed by Oyster Bay’s baymen.”

The monument will also be surrounded by benches, where residents can sit and enjoy the view, and reflect on the contribution the baymen make to the hamlet and surrounding villages.

“They are up at the crack of dawn all winter long working and then they have to sell it to their whole sellers,” said Taylor, who is on the committee. “I don’t want to walk my dog and they’re out there digging for clams.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

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May 20, 2022 — OYSTER BAY HERALD

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Kaiman, leader for 24-years runs for Congress Jon Kaiman

llane@liherald.com

Jon Kaiman has had a unique 24-year political career and some would say he’s seen it all. Now he has his sights set on filling U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi’s seat, who he challenged unsuccessfully in 2016. Six years later, he’s even more qualified than before, Kaiman said.

“I’ve partnered with local districts, with the state government, with the federal government, to address environmental needs, quality of life needs, social needs, community needs, and I appreciate and understand the larger issues that we face globally,” Kaiman said. “I am comfortable engaging with those who agree and disagree with me. I’ve always been able to do this, which is unique.”

His experiences in the political world began as the New York state campaign manager for Gary Hart’s presidential run while Kaiman was a student at Hofstra University Law School. While a general practitioner, he was appointed as a Nassau County district court judge. Then he ran and won. He was former Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s special advisor during Superstorm Sandy, where he was one of three who led the relief effort with New York Rising. Simultaneously, he served as chairman of Nassau Interim Finance Authority. But people on the North Shore probably remember him most as the Town of North Hempstead Supervisor from 2004 through 2013.

Now he’s known in Suffolk County too.

Kaiman, 59, of Great Neck, has been the deputy county executive for Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone since 2017, the only resident from Nassau in the administration.

Jerry Laricchiuta, the Long Island region one Civil Service Employees Association president, was on the opposite side of the bargaining table during contract negotiations in 2011, when Kaiman was the president of NIFA. He was able to do what most thought was impossible — negotiate a contract with Laricchiuta for the county’s unions that lifted a four-year wage freeze.

“Jon slowly but surely approved certain things and gave his word it would be done correctly and because of him all five unions came together to unfreeze the contracts,” Laricchiuta said. “If he wasn’t chairman of NIFA it wouldn’t have been done. Jon cares about workers and taxpayers.”

Although Laricchiuta is quick to say he is a lifelong Republican, he said if he could, he would vote for Kaiman for Congress.

“I gained so much respect for him at that time. He just wouldn’t quit,” Laricchiuta recalled. “We didn’t trust NIFA, but everything Jon said I believed him.

He’s not afraid to make tough decisions, not afraid to say something that may not be politically beneficial. He’s credible. You know when you speak to him he means what he says and not just what you want to hear.”

When Kaiman was North Hempstead supervisor in 2005, he implemented the 311 program, which still exists today. Resi-

Party: Democratic Age: 59 Lives in: Great Neck Family: Wife, three children Profession: Attorney, Nassau County District Court Judge, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s special advisor during Superstorm Sandy, leader in New York Rising, chairman of Nassau Interim Finance Authority, Town of North Hempstead Supervisor, Deputy Suffolk County Executive.

Courtesy Jon Kaiman for Congress

JON KAIMAN, RIGHT, who was North Hempstead Town Supervisor for a decade, seen here with Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone, is ready to take his ideas and programs to the federal level. dents can call the town with an issue, like additional services, programs and provida streetlight that’s out, and an operator ers. Through the program, which still will direct it to the appropriate depart- exists in the Town of North Hempstead, ment. The town makes a commitment seniors can take a taxi cab to the superthat the problem will be resolved in a cer- market and doctor’s office paying a minitain amount of time and a record is kept mal fee with the town paying the rest of of when the call was made and its pro- the fare.

“The first year of this program we gression, which department managers follow. Kaiman brought the program to went from providing 2,000 rides on our [town provided] bus to 25,000 Suffolk County and would rides in taxi cabs to medical like to expand its reach, if appointments and supermarelected to Congress. kets,” Kaiman said. “I also “We were giving everyarranged for a visiting one access to their governneighbor program, social ment with this program,” he On the workers, a handyman prosaid. “And it’s giving people campaign gram and an education proconfidence that their governgram.” ment works and helps govtrail Kaiman plans to take ernment to be able to manProject Independence age its resources through national. He’s already creatdata and connecting to the ed the model, fulfilling a public.” request by Senator Kristen The 311 program also Gillibrand, which includes reduces the burden on police for non-emergency events and issues. instructions for municipalities on how to When residents can reach their govern- apply for the program. Project Indepenment directly, they avoid calling 911, dence would also provide an avenue for government to use the data to solve probwhich is cost effective, Kaiman said.

As a congressman, he said he’d sup- lems, Kaiman said.

He’s reformed Suffolk County’s police port giving federal grants to local municipalities so they can invest in the 311 sys- department by co-chairing a task force, which brought together advocates, police, tem.

During Kaiman’s career he’s advocated legislators, and individuals who have for Long Island. While leading New York been impacted by policing in the commuRising, he ensured that additional monies nity. A program was developed that uses — hundreds of millions of dollars — data analytics, that Kaiman said will were given to L.I. to cover what the com- change the culture of policing, with its anti-bias, systemic-bias and de-escalation munity needed.

He also founded Project Independence, trainings.

Police are no longer promoted in Sufwhich Kaiman said is his signature program, in 2008, which uses grant funding folk based on how many tickets they write to help seniors remain in their homes as or the number of arrests. Instead, they long as possible by connecting them to need to be able to document how many

issues they resolved in the course of the day, which can vary from stopping a crime to helping a senior citizen.

Suffolk County Legislator Tom Donnelly, whose district covers parts of Babylon and Huntington, said he’s enjoyed working with Kaiman.

“I’ve always found him to be pragmatic, professional and an independent thinker,” Donnelly said. “He’s able to listen to different opinions.”

As far as Kaiman’s skills with project management for the county, Donnelly said he gets things done, perhaps because he is adept in working across the aisle.

“If you were to call any county legislator they will all say Jon’s engaging and able to be civil during heated moments and is able to pragmatically find a way to get projects to the finish line,” Donnelly said.

As far as ensuring the environment is sound, Kaiman has several ideas. The carbon footprint needs to be reduced, which can be accomplished by changing the culture of municipal policies. Fleets need to be transitioned to electric vehicles and building codes need to be enforced that prohibit carbons from escaping into the environment, he said.

“We need to figure out how to create more sewers and improve the sewer systems and the wastewater treatment systems,” Kaiman said. “I merged two sewer plants as supervisor and brought in a much more significant environmental process called tertiary treatment that significantly reduced the amount of nitrogen that went into the local waterway.”

The federal government needs to create standards, he continued, so that municipal governments and local industry are obligated to reduce their carbon output. “At the same time, we need to provide resources for local governments to enforce these rules, and also, provide resources for them to invest in environmental fleets,” he said, adding that Suffolk is about to launch an electric vehicle program.

What’s interesting about his career trajectory, Kaiman said, is that he’s been aggressive at solving problems and pursuing creative solutions to systemic problems, whether it’s flooding, managing a government or giving people access to it.

It’s time, he said, to take everything he’s done during his time as a leader to the federal level and go national with his programs.

OYSTER BAY HERALD — May 20, 2022

By LAURA LANE

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May 20, 2022 — OYSTER BAY HERALD

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Monument in Roosevelt Park will honor baymen CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2 I admire them. The monument is a level of respect for them.”

Kennedy never knew how many lives his son touched until the checks came pouring in shortly after the funeral. “It was $5 here $10 there. I ended up with $13,000,” Kennedy said. Unsure of what to do with the money, he deposited it into his checking account never touching it. When the association was formed he transferred the money to its account.

It’s estimated that $500,000 will be needed for site construction and the erection of the statue. Only public funding will be used.

Taylor appeared before the Town of Oyster Bay’s board on May 11 to share a presentation about the monument and a request for a publicly accessible location on which to erect it. The town supported the endeavor unanimously offering an area near the boat ramp in Theodore Roosevelt Park.

The location is ideal, Taylor said, not only because it is in a well-used and scenic waterfront park on the bay,

Plans for the monument ■ Construction complete by October 2023.

■ Unveiling the day before the start of the Oyster Bay Oyster Festival in October 2023.

■ Ceremony will be a community event.

■ Commitment to capitalize on awareness of the Oyster Festival, but not have unveiling ceremony overwhelmed or lost during the actual kickoff of the festival.

The festival will be a perfect venue to introduce the monument to the general public. but because it is next to the launching ramp and docks where many baymen depart and return each day to and from their job on the water.

Rodgers is hoping the monument will also send a message to baymen. “I want them to say to themselves let me be safe today,” he said. “Maybe the guys will see

the statue and remember a bayman passed away and maybe they will look at it and say I’ll be extra careful so I get home.”

There are fewer than 10 baymen working in Oyster Bay, Rodgers said, with others going to more lucrative spots in other areas, including New Jersey. He wants to keep the profession alive. “Heritage might be a thing to make people want to clam again,” he said. “We might even need to train them on how to do it.”

Plans are to create a picturesque setting for the area surrounding the monument. There will be oyster and clam shells, which would be surrounded by a brick walkway. As was done for the Babylon Bayman’s Statue, bricks would be etched with the names of companies and individuals who donated towards the project.

Painter said the monument and the town’s cooperation in finding a location are meaningful. “Oyster Bay is named after the tradition of clamming which has gone on for hundreds of years with no recognition to the baymen. This will fill that void,” he said.

“This will be a tribute to the hand digger, the independent bayman.”

Suspect had disputes with neighbors, village for years CONTINUED FROM FRONT PAGE tive of Amaco Management & Consulting Inc., a Manhattan development company. One of his employees and protégés was Xin Gu. According to a news release from the U.S. attor ney’s office, Gu believed Yu’s business model was unsustainable, questioned its financial viability and formed his own company in 2018.

Shortly after Gu left, several other employees did, too.

According to court filings, Yu lost not only employees, but also numerous clients, as well as a major contract that he referred to as the “Project.”

He had sunk roughly $900,000 into acquiring the Project, a $1 million contract, and Amaco was forced to close at the end of 2018, leaving Yu enraged at Gu’s perceived disloyalty, according to the U.S. Attorney’s news release.

Yu then allegedly enlisted the services of his nephew, You “Eddie” You, of Plainview, to deal with his rival. You and two accomplices allegedly murdered Gu outside a karaoke bar in Queens on Feb. 12, 2019, during a celebration of the Chinese ________________

Lunar New Year.

From the time he moved into Oyster Bay Cove until his arrest, residents and village officials claim, Yu was a problematic neighbor, at best, and a malicious one, at worst. According to neighbors and numerous lawsuits and complaints against him, he frequently ignored permit requirements for construction on his property, which had a negative impact on local wildlife, and he was known for having a number of large dogs that roamed his property and beyond.

“He had lots of complaints against him over the years on a wide number of issues,” said a local official who declined to be identified. “He built gates without permission, he broke lighting code — it was just problem after problem.”

In 2018, the year before Gu was murdered, the village of Oyster Bay Cove fined Yu nearly $250,000 for his numerous infractions. Mayor Charles Goulding explained that the problems could have been avoided if Yu had taken the time to obtain the proper permits.

“We first gave him a notice of viola-

oyster bay _______________

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Will Sheeline/Herald

AMONG QING MING Yu’s numerous violations was the construction of a front gate without the proper permits. tion that basically said, hey, you haven’t done what you’re supposed to do, and he ignored it,” Goulding said. “So when you have someone who ignores these mounting violations over time, they tend to compound.”

One of the most egregious violations of local ordinances was Yu’s construction of several chain-link fences, plywood barricades and cement walkways along the perimeter of his property without obtaining any permits. The barriers blocked neighbors from walking through the woods on the property, which had been common practice for 50 years, according to a presentation made by residents to the Village Board in 2017.

The barriers also impacted local wildlife, because parts of Yu’s property are protected wetlands inhabited by numerous species, including the rare Eastern tiger salamander, which is found only on Long Island. The chain-link fencing

crossed several streams, creating the potential to injure animals as well as block the streams with a buildup of trash and detritus.

Yu’s failure to control his large and aggressive dogs, a German shepherd and a Doberman pinscher, was an issue cited when Yu was fined in 2018. According to neighbors, the dogs still frequently wander off the property, and are highly aggressive.

When a reporter from the Herald went to Yu’s home in an attempt to speak with the family and rang the doorbell, the dogs raced outside, chasing the reporter and forcing him to climb onto a windowsill.

Yu is currently being held in federal custody in Brooklyn. “My client is charged with crimes that he vehemently denies,” his attorney, James Kousouros, said, “and we will be contesting these charges.”

5

Town proposes updates to zoning law and codes wsheeline@liherald.com

The Town of Oyster Bay announced a proposal for a local law to amend and update several provisions and definitions of certain zoning laws at a public board meeting on May 11. The discussion focused on the wording of certain outdated language and definitions within the zoning laws, which town officials asserted had provided legal loopholes to developers and businesses.

The law, if passed, would change the wording of numerous codes and laws within the town, such as the definitions of “Building, Accessory,” “Changeable Copy Sign,” and numerous others. It would also bring several codes up to date with state codes, such as for swimming pools, fences and walls, so that the language matches that of the state.

The town is also raising the threshold for fitness centers from 1,500 square feet to 3,500 square feet. This would mean private fitness centers or personal gyms under 3,500 square feet would be required to meet parking calculations and setbacks without the need for special use permits.

A large section of the changes concerns parking regulations and recommendations. One reason is to curtail car dealerships from using their employee

parking lots to display inventory, which scheduled to be heard in June.

Thomas M. Sabellico, special counsel Leslie Maccarone, commissioner of the Department of Planning and Develop- to the town attorney’s office, explained said the changes in the ment, claimed had been new law are necessary an issue in the past.

“The proposed chang“What we’ve noticed es to the code include with car dealerships, changes bringing the they will come to us town code in alignment with their site plan, and with New York state show the required parkcodes,” Sabellico said, ing,” Maccarone “and other chang es explained. “However, deemed necessary by they end up putting the Department of Plani nve n t o r y i n t h o s e ning and Development.” required parking spacAfter the explanation es, and we’ve had probof the proposed law, sevlems with various locaeral residents and repretions throughout the sentatives of businesses town, where then the spoke, expressing frusemployees park on the tration with some public streets.” aspects of the proposed The proposed law law, which they claimed was initially presented would harm businesses to the board as a draft trying to work in good on April 12, and remains faith with the town. effectively the same, THOMAS M. SABELLICO Joseph Rutigliano, of with one exception. One attorney, Town of Oyster Bay Old Westbury, a developsection, which focused er in Connecticut and on the definition of gross floor area, included an amendment New Jersey, said he was speaking as a to the height of basement ceilings. It has private citizen, since he does not have been dropped from the draft. Officials any a business in New York. He said he is explained that this section will instead skeptical of the decision to change the be the subject of its own law, which is town code because it could cost the town

T

he proposed changes to the code include changes bringing the town code in alignment with New York state codes and other changes deemed necessary by the Department of Planning and Development.

tax revenue from businesses that will be disinclined to build in the municipality.

“I’m just, I’m wary about our town code being manipulated to block certain things that are happening…,” Rutigliano said. “I don’t think the solution is to just take a man’s right and his land that was purchased under the code, and take it like this, and that’s kind of what’s happening with some properties.”

Philip Butler, a lawyer from Farrell Fritz represents the Rockefeller Group, which has an application pending with the town for a 150,000 square foot warehouse facility.

He said that the change in codes represented a betrayal of his client by the town, and that their facility represented a new type of business model which needs to be considered.

“There is a difference between something like an E-commerce or last-mile warehouse and what I’ll refer to as traditional warehouse and storage uses,” Butler said. “This [proposed law] is a rising tide that is going to raise all ships, and that becomes problematic for traditional uses that do not operate at the same volume as an Amazon or last-mile warehouse.”

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OYSTER BAY HERALD — May 20, 2022

By WILL SHEELINE

May 20, 2022 — OYSTER BAY HERALD

6

EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES

COMMUNITY UPDATE Wednesday, May 25

Friday, May 20

Turner and the modern world

John Avlon

Stop by the Gold Coast Public Library for a visual lecture by Professor Thomas Germano at 7 p.m.The exhibition organized by the Tate Britain in 2021, traveled to Ft. Worth, TX (2021-22) and comes to The Boston, Museum of Fine Arts in Spring, 2022. This unique examination of J.M.W. Turner (1775-1851) explores the English Romantic artist’s lifelong interest in the inventions, events, politics, society, culture and science of his time, which resulted in many of his most original works that guided his subjects, and transformed his way of painting.

Visit Theodore’s Books at 6:30 p.m. for an evening with senior political analyst and anchor at CNN John Avlon as he speaks about and signs copies of his new book, “Lincoln and the Fight for Peace.” The evening will begin with a wine reception at Theodore’s, before guests move to Raynham Hall Museum at 7:30 p.m. for the conversation and book signing.

Feast by the Shore After a two-year break, Saint Boniface Feast By The Shore is back. It will take place at Harry Tappan Beach in Glenwood Landing on May 19, from 6 to 10 p.m.; May 20 from 6 to 11 p.m.; May 21 from 1 to 11 p.m.; and May 22 from 1 to 6 p.m.

There will be fun for everyone, featuring rides from Newton Shows, food and drinks. Musical entertainment will take place nightly in the Town of Oyster Bay Showmobile: Alibi will perform on May 19 from 7 to 11 p.m.; Chicken Head on May 20 from 6 to 7:30 p.m.; Livestock on May 21 from 8 to 11 p.m.; and Frank Ferrara and Students on May 22 from 2 to 5 p.m.

Saturday, May 21 Yoga in the garden Head over to the Planting Fields Arboretum for an 8 to 9 a.m. yoga session.

Enjoy a morning of mindfulness in the historic gardens of Planting Fields with a yoga and meditation class led by Oyster Bay Yoga. Guests are reminded to bring their own yoga mat, water, and props.

Those interested can register on the Planting Fields’ website, $10 for members and $18 for non-members.

Thursday, May 26 Courtesy Joanna Sasso

Muttontown Equine Festival Come to the Muttontown Horsemen’s Association Equine Festival on Sunday, May 22, starting at 11 a.m. Watch the skills of various Long Island horses and riders performing, while relaxing at the beautiful Muttontown Preserves. There will be a petting zoo and pony rides set up by Uncle Carmine for children to enjoy, along with equine demonstrations by the Nassau County Mounted Police.

Steve Forbes Join Theodore’s Books at 2 p.m. for an afternoon with chairman and Editor-inchief of Forbes Media, Steve Forbes, and co-author Elizabeth Ames, as they speak about and sign copies of their new book, “Inflation: What It Is, Why It’s Bad, and How to Fix It.” The book explains what’s behind the worst inflationary storm in more than 40 years — one that is dominating the headlines and shaking Americans by their pocketbooks.

Asian cultural festival

Sunday, May 22 Lego gallery Come create a Lego sculpture at the Bayville Free Library between 1 and 3 p.m., no registration necessary. Children of all ages are welcome. Finished pieces will then be put on display for all to enjoy.

l l l l l

Stop by the Planting Fields Arboretum from 2 to 5 p.m. for a celebration of East Asian culture. The grounds surrounding Coe Hall will feature traditional Chinese performances and artists. At 2 guests will watch The Art of Face Changing by Li Ping Zhang, followed by Humor acrobatic performer Xiao Di Yang. At 3:30 p.m. festivalgoers will enjoy Music Across the Map: a performance by young musicians of the

School of Music and Art. All daytime performances and activities are included in the $8 parking fee.

Monday, May 23

national newspapers, blogs, broadcast transcripts and more, into one place. It is one of the most comprehensive news databases in the world. Join them to learn how to search current and archived editions of these publications.

Optimize your immune system

Finding inner peace and calmness

Join the Oyster Bay-East Norwich Public Library for a Zoom lesson at 7 p.m. and learn about science-based ways to protect yourself from unnecessary illness. This lesson will be presented by Marie Ruggles, who holds an M.A. in Nutrition and Public Health.

Tuesday, May 24 NewsBank database training Visit the Glen Cove Library for a virtual lesson on NewsBank from 10 to 11 a.m.

NewsBank is an online resource that consolidates articles from local newspapers,

Join the Bayville Free Library and Arvind Naik, long time meditator for this deep and engaging meditation workshop at 7 p.m. Arvind lectures regularly on the benefits of meditation and has been practicing himself for many years. During this workshop he will talk about the journey of finding lasting peace, happiness and a greater sense of well-being. Arvind will share a simple technique of spiritual meditation (explained and practiced during the session) that can help us achieve a lasting state of peace and happiness found through no outer experience.

The Glen Cove Public Library will be holding a board meeting on May 17 from 6:45 to 9 p.m.

The Village of Bayville will be holding a board meeting on May 23 at 6:30 p.m.

The Town of Oyster Bay will be holding a board meeting on May 24 at 7 p.m.

The Village of Sea Cliff Zoning Board of Appeals will be meeting on May 24 at 7 p.m.

The Village of Sea Cliff Architectural Review Board will be meeting on May 24 at 7:30 p.m.

Tai Chi Practice Tai Chi either at the Gold Coast Public Library or at home under the guidance of Linda Cafiero from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Imagine being rooted to the earth with your head holding up the sky. Imagine billowing clouds floating all around you. Imagine the whole universe alive within you ... tai-chi, a moving meditation.

HAVING AN EVENT? Items on the Community Update pages are listed for free. The Herald welcomes listings of upcoming events, community meetings and items of public interest.

All submissions should include date, time and location of the event, cost, and a contact name and phone number. Submissions can be emailed to wsheeline.com

The Oyster Bay-East Norwich Central School District’s budget of roughly $62 million passed Tuesday with 781 residents for it and 288 against it.

With most of the expenses in the budget covering salaries and benefits, the district will be using Capital Reserve Funds to complete needed projects, which is possible because voters approved two propositions on the ballot. These projects will come at no cost to taxpayers.

Upgrades will be made to the high school’s auditorium; the library’s air conditioning will be replaced and a faculty bathroom will be added. At James H. Vernon, classrooms will be upgraded and also at Roosevelt Elementary, where some floors will also be replaced.

There will also be technology upgrades. iPad and Chromebooks will be ordered and desktop devices, as well as interactive boards.

School board incumbents Maryann Santos, 57, and Nancy

Castrogiovanni, 56, won by a wide margin. Castrogiovanni received 866 votes and Santos, 799. Both were pleased and ready to begin their work for the district.

“A big thank you to the OBEN community for the opportunity to continue our work to provide a high performing school district and 21st century services for our community,” Santos, an attorney, wrote in an email.

“Thank you to all the residents of Oyster Bay and East Norwich who voted for the school budget and to return me to the Board of Education as a trustee,” said Castrogiovanni, who is a director of human resources. “I look forward to continuing the work of the board to provide a quality education in a safe environment for our students while managing the budget and state mandates.

The Oyster Bay-East Norwich Library budget passed as well, with 830 residents voting yes, and 203 voting no. Sherry Beverly ran unopposed for a library board seat.

By WILL SHEELINE wsheeline@liherald.com

The Locust Valley Central School District budget passed on Tuesday evening, with 1,284 votes for and 982 votes against.

Additionally, voters have re-elected Board of Education incumbent Margaret Marchand and elected newcomer Michele Schaefer, a Spanish teacher in the Plainview-Old Bethpage School District.

Marchand received the most votes among the candidates with 969, while runner-up Schaefer took 954. Both will take their seats as trustees in the coming days.

The budget of roughly $91.5 million will allow the district to maintain low class sizes, all current AP, IB and college level offerings. It will also allow for the expansion of the summer enrichment camp, offer high school Mandarin language courses, and touchscreen Chromebook replacement.

Marchand and Schaefer both expressed statements of appreciation to the community for entrusting them with the responsibility of overseeing the education of their children and the tax revenues which support the school.

“I am absolutely thrilled to be re-elected,

and I’m honored that the community showed such a vote of confidence in me by making me the top vote getter,” Marchand said in an interview the day after the election. “I’m looking forward to the next three years to continue the work of the district and to focus on different issues that we’ve started to address, like focusing on stability for our children’s mental health and the budget.”

“I am pleased with the voter turnout and I am excited to be part of the Board of Education,” Schaefer said in a written statement the day after the election. “Locust Valley is such an amazing district and I know the Board of Education will continue to bring Locust Valley to that level of excellence.”

The budgets for the Locust Valley and the Bayville libraries also passed. The Locust Valley Library budget, roughly $1.5 million, passed with 596 votes for and 207 against.

The Bayville Free Library’s budget is not up for a vote, but is presented to the Bayville Village Board, which accepted it.

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By LAURA LANE

Locust Valley School District $91.5 million budget passes

OYSTER BAY HERALD — May 20, 2022

Community say yes to OBEN school budget

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May 20, 2022 — OYSTER BAY HERALD

8

Task force set to explore antisemitism surge Will host public discussions, suggest legislation

By LISA MARGARIA lmargaria@liherald.com

Nassau County officials have created a special legislative task force to combat antisemitism and, immediately after being sworn in, went right to work.

Made up of eight legislators — four from each political caucus — as well as 18 members of the public, the task force is tasked to gather facts about the origins and extent of antisemitism in the county while working toward prevention methods like education and community collaboration.

The commission has a number of tasks before it, said County Executive Bruce Blakeman, who is part of the task force.

“What is the cause of antisemitism? How do we educate people? How do we liaison with the police department when a hate crime occurs?” Blakeman told the task force after they were sworn in. “These are just some of the things that you’ll be tackling here in this commission, and it’s important work.”

The task force is expected to host public hearings before developing a report filled with recommendations to the county legislature to combat antisemitism.

“We are living in a polarized time,” said Rabbi Eli Weinstock of the Jewish Center of Atlantic Beach, who chairs the task force. That time “has seen the rise of hate speech, which has seen a dramatic rise in antisemitic acts. A large proportion of hate crimes, overall, are antisemitic in nature. We’re here and we’re tasked to try and find mechanisms and ways to combat that.”

Lisa Margaria/Herald

A 27-PERSON SPECIAL legislative task force is expected to research and ultimately recommend prevention methods in the hopes of combatting antisemitism in Nassau County.

The task force plans to host a virtual youth roundtable targeting antisemitism with a focus on how the law and public policy can help diminish bias and insensitivity.

The initiative to create the task force was spearheaded last summer by Plainview legislator Arnold Drucker. A bill establishing the task force was adopted unanimously by the County Legislature last August, and amended this year.

“It was clear that the need for action was urgent,”

Drucker said in a statement. In an audit of antisemitic incidents, last year, reported antisemitic incidents jumped 34 percent compared to 2020, according to the Anti-Defamation League.

“Now is the time to roll up our sleeves and work collaboratively with residents and community leaders,” Drucker said, “to devise and enact meaningful, enduring legislation that will strike directly at the fetid sources of antisemitism in our county.”

Blakeman champions partnership with West Bank

By ED WEINTROB eweintrob@thejewishstar.com

Nassau County cemented its relationship with Israel last week, signing an economic and cultural agreement with the Shomron.

It’s an area in the northern part of an Israeli territory commonly referred to as the West Bank, or Judea and Samaria.

“This is an agreement of friendship, understanding and solidarity,” Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman proclaimed during a ceremony in Mineola.

Blakeman’s Israeli counterpart, Shomron Regional Council chair Yossi Dagan, says his region has been the Jewish heartland since the days of the religion’s forefathers and prophets.

Mazi Melesa Pilip, a Great Neck-based legislator and a former Israeli Defense Forces paratrooper who emigrated to the Jewish state from Ethiopia during Operation Solomon in 1991, said the agreement would “continue an important and meaningful partnership and friendship based on social, economic, security and cultural” links.

“This event perfectly exemplifies the beautiful relationship between Israel and America,” Assemblyman Ari Brown said.

At a time “when people are trying to put a wedge between us, the county executive brings us together.”

In fact, that’s an aspect that sometimes gets lost, said Davidi Ben Zion, deputy head of the Samaria Regional Council.

“These are not easy days in Israel because of the attacks and the terrorist

Courtesy Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman

IT WAS ALL smiles and friendship for Shomron Regional Council chair Yossi Dagan and Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman after signing an economic and cultural agreement between the two ‘sister’ regions. Joining them were, at far left, Assemblyman Ari Brown, and former Boro Park Assemblyman Dov Hikind, Rabbi Anchelle Perl of Chabad of Mineola, and County Legislator Mazi Melesa Pilip. campaigns,” he said. “And sometimes for you, it is not easy days. But if we move together, we can win.”

Dov Hikind, the firebrand former Assemblyman from Boro Park, applauded what he called Blakeman’s leadership in joining with Israel.

“We are united with the people of Israel, and we are united with the communities — not ‘settlements’ — in Judea and Samaria,” Hikind said. “These are mag-

nificent cities with the most special people.”

Yet, it takes more than simply saying, “I support Israel,” the onetime lawmaker said, although it’s “a good start.”

“But this is called action,” Hikind said.

“This is called doing something real. You are saying to over half a million people in Judea and Samaria, ‘You are not alone.

We the people of Long Island — of America — we are with you.’”

Judea and Samaria is a subject of international controversy, with some referring to it as “occupied territory,” where development by Israel violates international law. Others maintain Israel is acting legally.

Blakeman, who’s visited the Shomron, described the area as critically situated relative to the rest of the country.

“It’s the high ground overlooking the Tel Aviv airport,” he said. “To give away that strategic area would put all of Israel in danger.”

Meanwhile, Israeli development there boosts everyone.

“What you won’t hear in the media is how many Palestinian Arabs are employed in Judea and Samaria in the factories, earning three times what they would if they were in the Palestinian Authority areas,” Blakeman said, explaining that Israelis “are providing a lot of economic opportunity for their Palestinian neighbors as well as for Israelis.”

While Judea was not represented at Thursday’s event, Blakeman — whose wife is Israeli — emphasized his support for them as well. Blakeman highlighted his latest personal link to the Jewish state, introducing his daughter, Ariel, a former student at Bar-Ilan University near Tel Aviv. Just last week, she announced her engagement to a former defense forces paratrooper.

In 2016, the Town of Hempstead proclaimed the Region of Shomron a “sister municipality.” Blakeman, a Hempstead councilman at the time, said then that “they are truly on the front lines.”

O.B. Memorial Day parade returning

Did you know?

Did you know the upper façade of the historic Oyster Bay Railroad Station is plastered with an oyster shell stucco called tabby?

Tabby, sometimes called coastal concrete, is made by burning oyster shells to create lime. The lime is then mixed with water, sand and broken oyster shells. Tabby was originally used by Spanish settlers in North Carolina and Florida in the mid to late 1500s and then

by British colonists in South Carolina and Georgia circa 1700. Most tabby structures exist along the southern coast of the United States but some can be found as far north as New York.

The original railroad station was built by the Long Island Railroad in 1889. After Theodore Roosevelt became president in 1901, the building was redesigned and expanded by railroad architect Bradford Lee Gilbert in 1902 to accommodate an expected increase in visitors to Oyster Bay. The tabby was not added to the facade until the redesign in 1902.

It is believed that Gilbert added the oyster shell stucco in recognition of the town’s namesake.

The Oyster Bay Station building is home to the Oyster Bay Railroad Museum. The building will be open to the public in June. If you are visiting the Railroad Museum, be sure to take a close look at the western facing side of the of the building and you will be able to see the oyster shells. Unlike most oyster shell tabby, which is rough-looking and made using fragments of oyster shells, Gilbert used a large number of oyster shell halves on the station’s façade giving it a more attractive finish.

During the building’s most recent restoration which began in 2016, the Railroad Museum’s preservation consultant, John Collins, collected additional oyster shells by hand from a Bayville beach to replace shells in areas where the stucco had been removed or worn away over time.

For more information visit www.friendsofthebay.org -Submitted by Christine Suter

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parade will include: Oyster Bay AMVETS and American Legion veterans posts, the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, the Oyster BayEast Norwich Chamber of Commerce, Girl Scout and Boy Scout troops, Oyster Bay Little League teams, Friends of the Bay, Raynham Hall Museum, Oyster Bay Historical Society, Sagamore Hill National Historic site, Catholic Daughters, the Italian–American Citizens Club, Knights of Columbus, Matinecock Mason Lodge, the Oyster Bay Lions Club. And accompanying the marchers will be the Oyster Bay High School and the Oyster Bay Middle School bands.

Three local Fire Departments will also participate: Oyster Bay Fire Company #1 – led by Chief Anthony DeCarlos; Oyster Bay’s Atlantic Steamer Fire Company, led by Chief Rob Knickman; and East Norwich Fire Company #1, led by Chief Wayne Placella. All three fire companies will be providing a band to lead their fire companies.

The Memorial Day Remembrance Ceremony should conclude at about 11:30 a.m.

OYSTER BAY HERALD — May 20, 2022

AMVETS – North Shore Veterans Memorial Post #21 in Oyster Bay will be hosting the Memorial Day parade and Remembrance Ceremony on May 30 at 10 a.m.

The parade coordinator is Bob Selby, parade chair man and AMVETS vice commander.

Staging of the parade begins at 9:30 a.m. The procession will travel from South and Adams streets at the corner of the Gulf gas station, then to the center of the hamlet turning onto East Main Street to Ships Point Lane.

At this point the veteran parade participants will break-away from the parade and proceed to the waterfront where they will hold a brief memorial ceremony, “for all of those who were lost at sea.”

The parade will resume and march back to Town Hall where the annual Memorial Day Remembrance Ceremony will take place from the gazebo, which should start at roughly 10:45 a.m.

The Oyster Bay High School Band, led by Matthew Sisia, will provide patriotic tunes for the holiday.

Those participating in the

9

10

New maps change District 3, some say for the better

May 20, 2022 — OYSTER BAY HERALD

By LAURA LANE

Areas in District 3 new court-appointed maps

Jonathan Cervas , the court-appointed special master, released new redistricting maps on Monday, which are being touted as a victory for Republicans, who had complained that the initial maps drawn by the Democratic State Legislature were unfair and unconstitutional.

Republican candidate for New York's Third Congressional District George Santos said he is grateful for the new maps. "Based on these maps, I am even more confident in a fair fight that will end in victory this November," he said. "Taxpayers want change."

With the new maps, which should be adopted on Friday, some elected Democratic leaders are now in the same district, but not so in Congressional District 3. But the lines have been dramatically redrawn [See box], with the elimination of Suffolk County, the Bronx and Westchester from the original maps. Additionally, there is only a sliver of Queens included in the new maps and South Shore areas, including Massapequa and Mineola, Republican strongholds.

“The state Senate maps are a mess with incumbents going against each other,” James Scheuerman, Nassau County’s Democratic election commissioner, said.

“There is an opportunity for people to weigh in before the Friday deadline. I believe they would have to submit it in writing to [Steuben County Supreme Court] Judge [Patrick] McAllister.”

The current new maps could cause at least one candidate to reconsider her run.

None of Sen. Alessandra Biaggi’s Bronx district is included in the new maps. Prior to its release, the Democrat, unknown to most in the North Shore, opened a campaign office in Sea Cliff. Biaggi could not be reached for comment.

There are 10 candidates running for U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi’s seat. Some were quick to confirm that they would continue their bid for a seat on the House of Representatives.

"Regardless of the map, the issues that brought me into this race remain of vital importance to our communities,” Robert Zimmerman, of Great Neck, wrote in an email. “If the map proposed today is adopted, I plan to run in New York's 3rd District.

We will win a Democratic primary and

Courtesy Josh Lafazan

WITH THE NEW maps, Leg. Josh Lafazan no longer lives in District 3. deliver a victory in November for the people of Nassau and Queens."

Nassau Legislator Josh Lafazan, of Woodbury, said he would continue his campaign as well, although with the new maps he now lives in District 2, where much of his support has been. But unlike Biaggi, he is known, now a legislator in his second term.

“Josh Lafazan is a common sense Democrat who spends every day talking to Long Islanders about affordable and accessible health care, lower taxes and common sense gun laws and that is what he will continue to do in his campaign for New York’s Third Congressional District,” Chase Serota, Lafazan’s campaign manager wrote in an email.

Jon Kaiman, of Great Neck, said he sees the new map as an advantage. All of the Town of North Hempstead is included in it, where he was elected five times as supervisor serving more than 10 years.

“And most of the district is contained in Nassau County now,” he added. “There are additional areas included from the South Shore where I did my work on New York Rising.”

Melanie D'Arrigo, who lost to Suozzi in the 2020 primary, is continuing her campaign too. Having grown up on the South Shore and raising her family in Queens,

Back attacked?

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OC1085_RM_Herald_10.25x2.5_StripAd_Lacrosse_v1.indd 1

Albertson Baxter Estates Bayville Bethpage Brookville Carle Place Centre Island Cove Neck East Hills East Massapequa East Meadow – 1 percent East Williston Farmingdale Floral Park – 14 percent Flower Hill Garden City – .02 percent Garden City Park Glen Cove Glen Head Glenwood Landing Great Neck Great Neck Estates Great Neck Gardens Great Neck Plaza Greenvale Harbor Hills Herricks Hicksville Jericho Kensington Kings Park Lake Success Lattingtown Laurel Hollow Levittown – 92 percent Locust Valley Manhasset Manhasset Hills Manorhaven Massapequa Massapequa Park Matinecock

Mill Neck Mineola Munsey Park Muttontown New Cassel New Hyde Park – 58 percent North Hills North Massapequa North New Hyde Park Old Bethpage Old Brookville Old Westbury Oyster Bay Oyster Bay Cove – 82 percent Plainedge Plainview – 60 percent Plandome Plandome Heights Plandome Manor Port Washington Port Washington North Roslyn Estates Roslyn Harbor Roslyn Heights Russell Gardens Saddle Rock Saddle Rock Estates Salisbury – 24 percent Sands Point Sea Cliff Searingtown South Farmingdale Syosset – 57 percent Thomaston University Gardens Upper Brookville Westbury Williston Park Woodbury - .1 percent

she now lives in Nassau County. “The new NY-03 Congressional boundaries reflect the community I've spent years organizing in before I ever considered a run for Congress,” D'Arrigo wrote in an email, “and I am proud to keep that fight up as we head

towards the August 23, 2022 primary.”

Much can happen between now and Aug. 23. But one thing is certain. If the new maps are confirmed on Friday, it may make for more competitive races.

516.536.2800 | orlincohen.com

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12

Alternative energy blows in with future at stake

By JAKE PELLEGRINO jpellegrino@liherald.com

There are certainly some advantages to living on an island — advantages Matt Cohen says Long Island doesn’t exploit enough. Especially when it comes to alternative energy sources like offshore wind.

“We’re an island,” Cohen, president of the Long Island Association, told a roundtable discussion in Melville last week.

“We’re surrounded by water. Iowa and Nebraska may not be able to do this, but we can. We’re in position to take advantage of it.”

Cohen brought together small business owners as well as representatives from four leading wind developers — Ørsted/ Eversource, Equinor, Community Offshore Wind and Attentive Energy — hoping they might find some synergies as part of several intimate 15-minute “speed-dating” style meetings.

Harrison Feuer, the New York-based spokesman for Norwegian petroleum company Equinor, called the association’s roundtable “inspiring.”

“There were so many people interested in this growing industry on Long Island and eager to see where they could learn more,” he said. “They want to get involved to help this industry grow, and the conversation in general was a great opportunity to connect with the folks on the ground and see how much support there is for offshore wind.”

It’s also a great opportunity to help develop new career paths, said Marjaneh Issapour, an associate dean focused on sustainable energy at Farmingdale State College.

“I’m here as an educator interested in the business and looking for possible employment pathways for our graduates,” she said. “The most exciting thing about this is mainly just that the fact that it’s actually happening now, and that it’s a realization. We’ve been talking about it for so long, and now we actually have a few projects in the pipeline. And that is great news for the local economy.” Ørsted’s roots are in fossil fuels, but the Danish company — named for scientist Hans Christian Ørsted — has since moved completely to renewable energy. It has joined with Connecticut-based offshore wind company Eversource on a pair of major projects in the region, including the South Fork Wind Farm — a dozen turbines spinning offshore 30 miles east of Montauk.

Construction on those turbines start and finish next year, according to Grant van Wyngaarden, who heads offshore procurement in North America for Ørsted.

It’s expected to deliver enough electricity to power more than 100,000 homes.

Sunrise Wind, expected to be constructed nearby in 2024, will be a much larger project with more than 80 turbines.

Community Offshore Wind is developing a seabed lease in the New York Bight

Jake Pellegrino/Herald

that it won during a recent auction hosted by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, according to company spokeswoman Alanna Russo.

“This is something we’ve thought about for many years, and we’re very excited, but we’re still in our infancy stage of developing our project,” she said.

“We’re doing site surveys, environmental assessment, and engaging with stakeholders, and hopefully it will be completed by the end of decade.”

For Jamie Shellenberger-Bessman, who represents the Attentive Energy subsidiary of France’s TotalEnergies Renewables, says her role is more about education — not just of Attentive Energy’s work, but renewable energy in general.

ALANNA RUSSO, THE strategic engagement director for Community Offshore Wind — which is developing a seabed lease in the New York Bight — says they hope to get some of its wind energy projects off the ground and running by the end of the decade.

“I have conversations every day with people who don’t even know what an offshore wind farm is and the massive opportunity that’s out there,” she said. “So, it’s just about making sure we’re making those connections. We believe the younger generation is the future because it’s the people in junior high and high school right now who are going to be building these things, so we’re looking to make connections there.”

The Ocean Energy Management bureau auctioned off six leases last February in the Bight for $4.4 billion, including $795 million from Attentive Energy. The leases include more than 460,000 leasable acres with the hopes of producing enough energy for nearly 2 million homes.

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13

OBITUARIES Lorraine Ann Ieraci, 68, of Locust Valley, N.Y., died on May 13, 2022.

Beloved wife of Michael, loving mother of Stela, and dear sister of Nancy (Michael McCabe). Also survived by cousins, nieces and nephews. Lorraine was an avid reader and loved spending time in Montauk. She loved to garden and loved her flowers. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Dodge-Thomas Funeral Home, Glen Cove, N.Y.

George F. Wildermuth George F. Wildermuth, 94, of Bayville, N.Y., died from pulmonary complications at home on May 12, with his beloved wife of 66 years, Janet, by his side. George’s final days were spent surrounded by his family, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He is survived by Janet, his children Nancy, Eric (Kathy), Sally Baldauf (Brian), Betty Finken (John), Robert (Allison), 11 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren.

George grew up in Brooklyn, and went to school at Poly Prep Country Day, and earned his BS from Syracuse Uni-

NEWSBRIEF Stepping out for seniors The Life Enrichment Center of Oyster Bay invites residents to join them to Walk for a Cause to help them raise vital funds for senior programs at the center.

The virtual event will be ongoing from June 1 to 15.

Participants can walk when they want, where they want, and as much as they want during the two week period.

People simply register to walk and set a personal goal. The center encourages participants to share their goal with friends and family and inspire them to walk with them or help raise money through pledges. They call on residents to help raise funds to continue the center’s mission to enhance the lives of elder adults.

An optional walk and “kick off ” event will be held at the center on June 1 at 10:30 a.m. followed by lunch at noon for registrants.

The Life Enrichment Center of Oyster Bay has been serving seniors in the Oyster Bay and surrounding communities for over 40 years, enriching the lives of seniors by offering vital services.

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versity. He led E.A. Wildermuth, Inc. for most of his career, which was a family run automotive distributor in Brooklyn.

He raised his family in Garden City and spent his final years in Bayville. He loved to fish and be on the water with his family. He was a member of Sigma Nu Society, St. John’s of Lattingtown Vestry and treasurer for the neighborhood Pine Island Park Association.

Services include a wake on May 22 from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Oyster Bay Funeral Home, and a Memorial mass on May 23 at 10 a.m. at St. John of Lattingtown.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made in his name to the Long Island Hospice

Care Network.

Robert William Shaddock

Robert William Shaddock, 85, of San Diego, California, formerly of Locust Valley, N.Y., died on Feb. 11, 2022. He was predeceased by his parents, George and Jennie Shaddock, and brothers Christopher (Patricia) and George (Elinor), and wife Dolores. Beloved husband of Glee for 45 years and brother of Janice Deegan (George). Father of Jeffrey (Jessica) and Corryn (Owen) Nevin. Devoted grandfather of Emmett Shaddock and

Brooke and Patrick Nevin.

Robert graduated from Glen Cove High School in 1954 and from Lafayette College in 1958. He earned his master’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Southern California and spent a long career working for the Department of Defense at various naval laboratories in Southern California, most notably the Naval Ocean Systems in Point Loma, California. A memorial will be held on July 2 in San Diego, California. Donations may be made to the San Diego Humane Society.

OYSTER BAY HERALD — May 20, 2022

Lorraine Ann Ieraci

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WHAT’S UP NEXT DOOR AND AROUND THE CORNER

OYSTER BAY HERALD — May 20, 2022

HERALD NEIGHBORS

Photos by Elisa Dragotto/Herald

CHERRY TREES IN full bloom can be found all over the hamlet.

THE GROUNDS AT Sagamore Hill boast a variety of spring flowers and has for over 100 years.

In O.B., spring is beautiful

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pring has blossomed in all its glory in the hamlet and its surrounding villages. Whether taking a walk or a drive there is so much to enjoy.

Public Notices

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LEGAL NOTICE PUBLIC NOTICE INCORPORATED VILLAGE OF UPPER BROOKVILLE TREASURER’S NOTICE Notice is hereby given that I, Tracy L. Lynch, Treasurer of the Incorporated Village of Upper Brookville, Nassau County, New York, have received the 2022/2023 tax roll of the Incorporated Village of Upper Brookville for the

collection of the Village real estate taxes therein levied. I designate the Village office, 24 Wolver Hollow Road, in said Village, where I will receive taxes from June 1, 2022 through and including July 1, 2022 in the following manner: U.S. MAIL Inc. Village of Upper Brookville 24 Wolver Hollow Road Glen Head, NY 11545

Taxes may be paid to me during said period without penalty. All taxes for which payment has not been received by me and remain unpaid after July 1, 2022 shall have added an additional five percent (5%) interest for the month of July, and for each month and fraction thereafter, an additional interest payment, which shall be computed at the maximum percentage

rate permitted, pursuant to the Real Property Tax Law, until said taxes and accrued interest are paid in full.

Tracy L. Lynch Village Clerk/Treasurer Inc. Village of Upper Brookville Dated: May 20, 2022 May 27, 2022 131498

Search for notices online at: www.newyorkpublicnotices.com

BUSHES OF FORSYTHIAS greeted visitors at the entrance of a gated walkway at Planting Fields, top.

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17

OPINIONS

n just under six weeks, New York state voters will get a chance to select the candidates for governor and State Assembly. With no disrespect to that branch of the Legislature, and having been an Assembly member myself, it is obviously the race for governor that is the most significant one from the standpoint of the millions of New Yorkers who will cast their ballots.

New York is a state that tilts heavily toward the Democratic Party, so the party’s primary contest on JERRY Tuesday, June 28, will more than KREMER likely choose the person who will run our state for the next four years. I’m not ignoring the fact that there’s a Republican challenger, U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin, but with the highest vote concentration in the downstate region, a big Republican vote from upstate won’t be significant enough to drown out the heavy Democratic enrollment elsewhere.

Candidate Tom Suozzi, another member of Congress, has spent a substantial amount of money on television ads intro-

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ducing himself to the general public. He has a list of promises on taxes, crime and a variety of other issues. But considering the fact that he’s running against Gov. Kathy Hochul, who already has the job, Suozzi has yet to tell voters why they should choose him over Hochul, who would be the first woman elected governor in state history.

Suozzi is running as a right-of-center candidate in a state where most of the voters who show up for primary elections lean to the left. Whether the progressives will turn out for Hochul is still an open question.

The recently passed state budget was a big victory for Hochul. While some armchair critics have blamed the lateness of the spending plan on the governor, the delay was partially caused by her insistence that there be bail reform changes in the package. Because the new budget had so many of Hochul’s proposals, the Senate and Assembly leadership refused to attend the traditional news conference following its passage.

Having served as chairman of the Assembly Ways and Means Committee for 10 years, I can attest to the fact that the new spending plan spreads equal

H

amounts of money throughout the state, as opposed to previous budgets, which were heavily weighted toward New York City and Long Island. The city got substantial amounts of money for health and day care workers and big dollars for mass transit. Long Island was a big winner, with record amounts of school aid, money for road improvements and for clean water projects.

Suozzi has been critical of the approval of public funds for a new stadium for the NFL’s Buffalo Bills. Historically, western New York, like most upstate areas, has been an orphan when it comes to state dollars. If there were a grant of state money for a football stadium on the West Side of Manhattan, you’d hear the same gripes from upstate voters. Previously, Gov. Andrew Cuomo awarded funds for numerous upstate programs, but many, like a Buffalo solar factory, produced no economic gain.

There is no doubt that crime will be a big issue for voters, but the responsibility for New York City’s current crime wave is an issue for Mayor Eric Adams, and can’t be shifted to the state. The controversial bail reform law that was signed by Cuomo has now been amended

e’s to the right of center, unlike most voters who show up for primaries.

with revisions aimed at giving judges more discretion over criminals with gun charges and others with histories of violent crime.

Thanks to recent revelations about an upcoming U.S. Supreme Court decision that may overturn Roe v. Wade, Hochul has set aside $35 million in funds for women in need of abortions where appropriate. There are no differences between the two Democrats on this issue, but the governor has the money, so she has the upper hand.

Suozzi has one self-made disaster to deal with when it comes to the LGBT community. His recent description of Florida’s controversial so-called “Don’t Say Gay” law as “reasonable” resulted in some serious pushback against him that will be hard to controvert. How bad a hit he will take is still up in the air. The electoral clock is ticking, and six weeks go by quickly. Suozzi is facing a big challenge to capture the attention of the voters, and at this point he has failed to get any big wins on the campaign trail, which leaves him where he started — on first base.

Jerry Kremer was a state assemblyman for 23 years, and chaired the Assembly’s Ways and Means Committee for 12 years.

He now heads Empire Government Strategies, a business development and legislative strategy firm. Comments about this column? JKremer@liherald.com.

A Memorial Day like no other in our lives

he things we carry to this Memorial Day, 2022, are freighted with more recent events than past battles. On the last Monday in May, we look back to honor our war dead; this year we also hold in our hearts love for the friends and family members who died this year and last in the pandemic.

We stagger under the weight of one million Americans dead of Covid-19. This has been a war, too.

This year, especially, it feels appropriate to broaden the meaning of Memorial RANDI Day to honor the KREISS sacrifice of all those who have lived through the plague of our time, including the medical teams and the teachers and the workers who kept showing up and, especially, the parents who have fought a front-line battle every day since winter 2020. The efforts of scientists to develop vaccines with unprecedented speed have been astonishing and heroic.

My special heroes are our teenagers, who gave up nearly every single aspect of joy in their lives to stay healthy and

keep their parents and grandparents safe. Teens live for connection and freedom and breaking through boundaries and trying new things. During Covid, the constraints have been particularly onerous for them. In an ironic twist, just as the world was awakening to the dangers of screen time, so many millions of kids were pushed ever further into the digital world of texting and Zooming. As we all know, our teens are experiencing a secondary epidemic of depression and stress and mental health crises.

I want to honor their sacrifice. I say this out loud to my teenage grandkids, and I want them to know that we know how tough it has been.

The parents of young kids have been raising their children without the relief of school and play dates and family gatherings. Many struggled to keep the home front safe and productive. They were also trying to work, to pay the bills, to get meals on the table. I wish there were medals of honor for them, too.

Growing up, I watched Memorial Day parades along Broadway in Woodmere.

Later, my kids marched down the avenue with their school bands, tooting on their

I

clarinets. In my mind’s eye I can see them looking so proud to be part of the parade, glancing sideways to catch my eye as they walked by. They stopped at the war memorial on the corner of Broadway and Conklin and, in a solemn ceremony, offered gratitude to those who died in our great wars.

I imagine that as children march in this year’s Memorial Day parades and parents gather on the sidewalks, with or without masks, thoughts of other losses will bleed into the moment — as it should be when so many are scarred by painful memories of the past two years.

Many Americans visit cemeteries and place flags on the graves of soldiers who defended American democracy in conflicts going back to the Civil War. We have seen images of hundreds of thousands of flags on the Mall in the nation’s capital, each a reminder of someone who died too soon or too young during this raging pandemic. For me, it is all threaded together.

These past two years have been a battle, complicated by divisions and conflicts among our citizens. Add to this the suffering in Ukraine beaming into our

want to honor teens’ sacrifice, and I wish there were medals of honor for parents.

homes and onto our devices every single day in recent months. This aggression, an amalgam of old-fashioned warfare and new-age weapons, is displacing millions of people and killing children and civilians in staggering numbers. Doesn’t this war have an unofficial place in our Memorial Day as well?

It’s a big job being a thoughtful American citizen today. We want to keep up our traditions and we need to move along with life, somehow weaving our most recent pandemic losses into the fabric of our days.

According to NPR, Marked By Covid, a grass-roots group, is advocating for a National Day of Remembrance to honor those who died.

In the meantime, on this Memorial Day, I will think about all those brave kids who carried the American flag onto beaches in Normandy, and friends who died in Vietnam and those who were killed in Afghanistan and on so many other foreign fields far from home.

I will remember the more recent losses of friends who died of Covid, and I will also go to a barbecue and eat a hot dog and celebrate our lives, which are ever so precious. We just have to do it all.

This Memorial Day is like no other.

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

OYSTER BAY HERALD — May 20, 2022

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In the governor’s race, Suozzi is stuck on first base

18

HERALD EDITORIAL

OYSTER BAY

May 20, 2022 — OYSTER BAY HERALD

HERALD Established 1899 Incorporating Oyster Bay Guardian Laura Lane

Senior Editor WiLL SheeLine

Reporter rhonda GLickman

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office 2 Endo Boulevard Garden City, NY 11530 Phone: (516) 569-4000 Fax: (516) 569-4942 Web: oysterbay.liherald.com E-mail: llane@liherald.com Copyright © 2022 Richner Communications, Inc.

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Another tragedy, and no hope on the horizon

C

elestine Chaney, 65.

Roberta Drury, 32.

Andre Mackneil, 53.

Katherine Massey, 72.

Margus Morrison, 52.

Heyward Patterson, 67.

Geraldine Talley, 62.

Ruth Whitfield, 86.

Pearl Young, 77.

And then there was Aaron Salter, a 55-year-old retired police officer. He spent his days after his time on the force greeting customers as they walked into the Tops supermarket in the Masten Park neighborhood of Buffalo. His job was security, and everyone knew him. And he knew everyone.

Well, not everybody, unfortunately. Not the monster who was tearing through the store’s parking lot on Saturday, using what police believe were illegally modified semiautomatic assault weapons, emblazoned with racist sentiments like, “Here’s your reparations.” While at first glance it seemed he was firing his weapon indiscriminately, authorities believe his targets were quite deliberate: anyone who was Black.

Salter had been trained to deal with this very scenario, an unfolding mass shooting.

He had never come face to face with it, but he knew what he had to do — protect the lives of everyone around him, even if that meant taking the life of the man who threatened all of them.

Salter pulled his handgun from its holster and took aim. Police said he fired a number of shots, and hit the perpetrator at least once. Except the bullets didn’t stop him. They didn’t even slow him down. The young man was reportedly wearing body

armor, protecting him from heroes like Salter.

The gunman reportedly turned his own gaze toward Salter — who did not have the benefit of protective armor — and pulled the trigger.

Another senseless mass shooting. No. 198, in fact, according to NPR and the Gun Violence Archive — in 2022. That’s right.

Last Saturday was the 134th day of the year, yet this country has already had 198 mass shootings. They claimed the lives of 210 people, and forever changed the lives of 836 more who survived.

On Jan. 1 alone — New Year’s Day — the nation was victim to seven mass shootings, including one in Philadelphia that claimed the life of one person, and injured four others.

What happened in Buffalo is believed to be racially motivated. And as evidence continues to accumulate about the shooter, it’s hard to believe otherwise. And while tackling racism is a different discussion that needs far more space than we have here, the fact is that this is a nation where there are too many guns are on the street, and more often than not, they are used to instantly destroy families, and communities.

The Philadelphia shooting wasn’t believed to be racially motivated. It was just a dispute, enhanced by alcohol, that turned deadly simply because a gun was available. It’s the kind of violence you almost never hear about anywhere else outside the U.S. But here it’s something we expect on any day that ends with a "Y." The alleged gunman in the Tops shooting is said to have illegally modified his

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LETTERS Hooray for SAGE's new president To the Editor: The Herald published such a moving article about Carolynn Eipel, “New leader at SAGE” [April 21-27].

She is an outstanding young lady who has been joyfully immersed in the space of our beloved seniors for many decades, guiding them through numerous facets of senior life and challenges. Every fiber in me knows that Carolynn is an able, experienced, dedicated and compassionate leader with many gifts to support our seniors and lead SAGE onward and upward.

You go, Carolyn!

MAXINE CAPPEL MAYREIS Glen Cove

primary weapon, a gun that’s perfectly legal in New York, holding no more than 10 rounds. But the modifications, illegal in New York, are legal in Pennsylvania, and this monster only needed to walk from his home in Binghamton across the state line to get what he needed. Legally.

Following the tragedy, many lawmakers took to social media and called up reporters to express their condolences and outrage. Gov. Kathy Hochul made the rounds on national television, preaching about the need for better gun control. But as quickly as those sentiments flare up, they just as quickly flame out. Over and over again, we get the same action aimed at ending this true pandemic: absolutely nothing.

That must end. The excuses must end.

The silly arguments that any regular person needs a weapon that can instantly kill or maim a large number of people must be put to rest. The time for talk is over. The time to act is now.

Aaron Salter should have never spent the final moments of his life face to face with a monster. He had a distinguished career with the Buffalo Police Department, regularly putting his life on the line.

Yet even a neighborhood supermarket proved to be more dangerous for him than some of the most violent hotspots in the world.

No more. Read their names again — Celestine Chaney. Roberta Drury. Andre Mackneil. Katherine Massey. Margus Morrison. Heyward Patterson. Aaron Salter.

Geraldine Talley. Ruth Whitfield. Pearl Young. And remember them the next time you think there’s something more important than ending this nation’s gun crisis once and for all.

19

OPINIONS

very weekday at 10:06 a.m., I walk into my high school engineering class and take a seat among my peers. I spend the period learning the same material as my classmates, completing the same assignments as them and receiving the same education. I wouldn’t think twice about attending if it weren’t for the fact that 15 pairs of eyes are on me the moment I walk into the room, for one reason and one reason only: I’m a girl in a classroom full of boys.

Amazingly, this one simple attriILANA bute of mine has power to GREENBERG the instantly draw so much attention.

For roughly 40 minutes, I am no longer a student who loves engineering. Rather, I’m a girl who loves engineering.

I’d like to imagine a perfect world, with equal participation of men and women in all professions. However, while there is more opportunity these days for both men

and women to break into rigidly defined, gender-specific jobs, an imbalance still holds in certain career paths, including science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM. I’m a high school freshman who has always been passionate about STEM. Yet despite efforts by well-meaning stakeholders and educators to promote more enthusiasm among women in these subjects, I can’t help but feel that today’s inspiring message for girls in the field is too wrapped up in their gender.

Instead of pushing for girls to be treated like everyone else, there is an unhealthy obsession with making gender the centerpiece of today’s advocacy for girls in STEM. I often receive praise for being “confident enough” to pursue what has been labeled an unlikely passion for my gender.

I garner attention and adulation for defying gender barriers by deciding to enroll in STEM-based classes.

But I find this focus on my gender distracting from my work and frustrating, to

I

find the focus on my gender distracting from my work and frustrating, to say the least.

LETTERS Enough of the ‘my body my choice’ To the Editor: Don’t know about you, but I’ve had just about enough of the “my body, my choice” crowd. They are useful robots for those who would destroy our country and its future ability to function without the resources of great minds to come, all because they have been brainwashed to believe it’s all about them. It is not! Rights are God-given. The founders of this country knew that, and the Declaration of Independence lays it out beautifully. How many have taken the time to read it and/or know what is says? Is it even in the curriculum of our high schools and/or colleges anymore?

Since rights are God-given by birth, how does one choose to destroy what we now really know to be another generation of humanity? Both Christians and Jews adhere to the Commandments, one of which is, “Thou shall not kill.”

Thanks to sonograms and medical studies, science has shown human existence in utero earlier than ever. Heartbeats have been detected as early as 21 days, and as it grows, doctors know it feels pain, hears sounds and is moving usually by the end of the fourth month.

It is criminal to me that former Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed into law the ability to abort a baby up until birth, that our senator supports this and is now badgering the Supreme Court. Last I

say the least. I just want to escape the label of feminism attached to my interest in STEM, and simply be able to enter my engineering class without getting noticed, just like boys do.

Today’s educational programs, like Girls Who Code, while inspiring and well-intentioned, inadvertently call attention to the fact that STEM isn’t a “normal” activity for girls. By singling out girls in creating specialized female-oriented programs, educators seem to acknowledge that girls aren’t expected to be like their gender opposites in science. To me, it’s akin to creating a group called Teenagers Who Respect Their Parents or Kids Who Aren’t Always On Their Phones.

Granted, there is no mistaking that my interests in STEM as a girl are considered rare by today’s standards. Women account for roughly half of the population, but they comprise only 28 percent of workers in STEM fields, according to the American Association of University Women.

Perhaps that’s because math and science

continue to be promoted as “male-oriented” subjects.

I’ve seen this firsthand. In middle school, I was one of two girls in a class of 20 students in a computer animation program. On the website of a prestigious math summer program, girls were especially encouraged to apply, because most of its participants are male. Disturbingly, even my early-childhood day camp discouraged girls from choosing sciencerelated activities, and our choice of workshops didn’t include the boys’ activities of engineering and rocket science. Our choices included ceramics, dance and “beauty school.”

Yes, there is still a lack of equality in perception, but the way to fix this isn’t by forming a club exclusively for girls that puts the emphasis on “girls coding” instead of simply “coding.” Educators should create courses that include both boys and girls. While I’m grateful for the progress women have made in STEM, I look forward to the day when walking into my engineering class won’t be cause for surprise.

Ilana Greenberg is a freshman at North Shore Hebrew Academy High School in Great Neck.

FRAMEWORK by Tim Baker

heard, that is a criminal act. In what is supposed to be a checks-and-balances system of the government, the courts are doing their job!

I find it interesting that those who would so easily dispose of a child become apoplectic at the disposal of a newborn litter of puppies, a calf or colt, or tiny kittens. And heaven forbid, one removes fertilized eggs from a bird’s nest and destroys them. Their concern for the environment and the natural resources of this country is admirable, but allowing children to grow up to enhance it, to live better and to enjoy it, is somehow criminal.

Something else to ponder: In the case of the murder of a pregnant woman, the criminal would be charged with two murders. Wake up, America!

MARIE COYLE Glen Cove

A decision that was theirs to make To the Editor: I cannot agree with Randi more about what she wrote. Her decision to have an abortion was only for her and her husband to make. I am certain they did not make this decision lightly or quickly. Whatever their reasons, they did what they thought was the right decision at the time.

A performance for the Sea Cliff Parent Community Association - Bayville I have known women who have had the procedure, and whatever their reasons were, I supported them.

It is an extremely personal matter, and I applaud Randi for coming for-

ward, and thank her for sharing her story.

LARRY EZRATTY North Bellmore

OYSTER BAY HERALD — May 20, 2022

E

Must a girl in STEM be a ‘girl in STEM’?

May 20, 2022 — OYSTER BAY HERALD

20

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