Oyster Bay Herald 07-14-2023

Jeff Shaara’s new book Page 3

New president of village group

Page 5

Fun for all ages at the feast

Raynham showcases history on a small scale

By WILL SHEELINE wsheeline@liherald.com

A new exhibition has opened at Raynham Hall Museum, featuring miniatures from a number of historical epochs and continents. Entitled “History in Miniature,” the exhibit offers visitors a different way to view history, capturing moments and ways of life from across the expanse of human history.

The presentation was organized by Richard Schuster, treasurer of the nonprofit Friends of Raynham Hall. Schuster, an avid miniature collector since he was a child in CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

North Shore Land Alliance celebrates 20 years

By WILL SHEELINE wsheeline@liherald.com

The North Shore Land Alliance has been celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, as well as the completion of its new headquarters at the Tavern House and Cook’s Cottage in the Humes Preserve in Mill Neck. After two decades of work, the future of land preservation on the North Shore is looking a little brighter.

Founded in 2003, the nonprofit Land Alliance was originally several distinct organizations, including the Centre Island Land Trust and the Oyster Bay Cove Land Trust, which were both

created in the late 1990s. Working in conjunction with the Nature Conservancy, which was seeking to adopt a more global outlook, the land trusts came together to take over the conservancy’s local land-preservation efforts.

Lisa Ott, the president and CEO of the Land Alliance, has been with the organization since the beginning, having been one of the founders and served as secretary of the Oyster Bay Cove Land Trust. It seems like just the blink of an eye, Ott said, since the Land Alliance was formed, and she added that she was amazed by how much it has accomplished over the years.

“It’s a very good feeling to have grown and matured as an organization and to be in this place right now,” Ott said. “You know, it’s clear there’s a lot more work to be done, but it’s nice to take a minute and look back at what’s been accomplished.”

The mission of the Land Alliance is to “conserve and steward Long Island’s natural and historic lands, waters and environmental resources.” Using a mixture of outreach, volunteerism and education, it promotes awareness and protection of the North Shore’s natural beauty, covering an area that stretches from the western boundary of Nassau County to the western

boundary of Brookhaven Township, and from the Long Island Sound to the north to the Northern State Parkway in the south — roughly 1,300 acres of land.

The celebration this year has included the official opening of the alliance’s new headquarters on the historic Humes property, which it has been renovating for the past eight years. In the past, the organization had rented

office space, most recently from the Planting Fields Arboretum.

Before the alliance purchased the Humes estate, which also includes 42 acres of nature preserve, the property, including the historic Tavern House and Cook’s Cottage, was in a state of disrepair. The two buildings date back to the late 1700s, and over the decades the land has served

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

Elisa Dragotto/Herald

The miniatures all come from Richard Schuster’s private collection, and, like the dioramas in the Raynham Hall Museum Education Center, were donated to the museum for the exhibition.

Land Alliance has preserved 1,300 acres

as a home to the Matinecock tribe, as a farm and as the country estate of John P. Humes, the former U.S. Ambassador to Austria.

Numerous local officials and representatives of organizations the Land Alliance has worked with gathered for the ribbon-cutting on June 17. Oyster Bay Town Councilwoman Vicki Walsh presented the alliance with a citation commemorating its two decades of efforts to protect the area’s history and natural beauty.

“For me, open space is very important for us to preserve and protect, because I just think about how important it is for the residents, and especially the kids,” Walsh said. “Their work has preserved so much over the years, and I think part of the excitement of it all is if we can get the residents out there to explore all these secret gems that we have in our community.”

The alliance protects numerous land preserves across the North Shore, from larger areas, like the 42-acre Hope Goddard Iselin Preserve in Upper Brookville, to the eight-acre Shore Road Sanctuary in Cold Spring Harbor. Anyone who would like to visit one of the trails or preserves, or donate to the organization, can find out more at its website, NorthShoreLandAlliance.org.

Courtesy North Shore Land Alliance

Representatives of local organizations and elected officials gathered at the Humes property in Mill Neck for the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the North Shore Land Alliance’s new headquarters.

It’s a very good feeling to have grown and matured as an organization, and to be in this place right now.

LISA OTT president and CEO, North Shore Land Alliance

Roosevelt comes to life at Theodore’s

By WILL SHEELINE wsheeline@liherald.com

Bibliophiles and historylovers alike made their way to Theodore’s Books in Oyster Bay for a discussion with author Jeff Shaara to discuss his newest novel “The Old Lion: A Novel of Theodore Roosevelt.” Shaara, whose father Michael was famous for his novel series on the Civil War, spoke in a Q&A format along with Theodore’s’ owner Steve Israel and Howard Ehrlich, chief executive officer of the Theodore Roosevelt Association.

The book follows the life of Roosevelt from his early childhood to his many adventures, presidency and beyond, told as a series of flashbacks while on the president’s deathbed. Shaara mentioned that he chose to write about Roosevelt because of his larger-than-life personality and his prodigious talents and interests.

“To describe this man in as simple a way as possible; he is a father, a son, an uncle (Eleanor Roosevelt was his niece), an author, a conservationist, a historian, an explorer, a soldier, a naturalist, a police commissioner, a sportsman, a Nobel Peace Prize Winner, and a recipient of the Medal of Honor,” Shaara explained. “Now if that doesn’t make for an interesting character, I don’t know what does.”

Ehrlich and Israel took turns asking Shaara a wide range of questions about the novel, covering everything from stylistic choices the author made to which aspects of Roosevelt’s life and personal relationships he found the most fascinating. Shaara explained that one of the best surprises he found while researching the book was Roosevelt’s staunch support for women’s right to vote, a

cause that may seem antithetical to a 19th century man who so heartily embraced traditionally masculine pursuits.

One question asked by Israel regarded the difficulties of writing historical fiction, which poses unique issues of “getting it right in terms of historical accuracy, credibility and authenticity.” Shaara admitted jokingly that “I don’t know,” before explaining that in his mind following the facts is the easy part; it’s finding the dialogue and voice of his characters that he finds most complex.

“The history part is easy; the facts are there, and you just have to read it and make notes and get it right,”

Shaara continued. “It’s the other part that’s the ‘magic,’ and I use that word guardedly, because I don’t know how writing happens ... the goal is to write authentic dialogue, but where that comes from and what pipeline is feeding that into my head, I don’t know.”

Ehrlich also asked Shaara about a specific chapter which dealt with the worst day of Roosevelt’s life — February 14, 1884, the day Roosevelt’s mother Mittie and wife Alice both died. Shaara emphasized that Roosevelt, despite all of his accomplishments, was just a man, who struggled and fought with those emotions and that pain in his own way, and how deeply affecting it was to read about the personal turmoil that Roosevelt experienced.

Afterwards, attendees were able to ask questions of Shaara as well, ranging from who his favorite side character in the novel was to his thoughts on Roosevelt’s relationships with his famous niece Eleanor.

Shaara also signed copies of his book, which is still for sale at Theodore’s.

Jeff Shaara, far left, discussed aspects of the book and Roosevelt’s life with Theodore’s Books’ owner Steve Israel and Howard Ehrlich, CEO of the Theodore Roosevelt Association.

Shaara’s novel, left, features all of the most pivotal moments and grandest adventures in Roosevelt’s impressive life.

Will Sheeline/Herald photos

Jeff Shaara signed copies of his new novel following the discussion.

Exhibition on display for six months

Queens, explained that as a lifelong lover of history, he has always been fascinated by the idea of recreating scenes and battles in miniature.

“I took an interest in history at a young age — not that I was a prodigy or anything, but we didn’t have computers and cellphones and video games, so instead I was a pretty avid reader,” Schuster recalled. “My friends would kid around with me, saying things like ‘You mean you play with toy soldiers?’ But I was undaunted.”

RICHARD SCHUSTER

Schuster has kept up his collection of miniatures throughout his life, and after visiting Raynham Hall six or so years ago and taking a tour, he was approached by the museum’s executive director, Harriet Clark, about creating a miniature replica of the Battle of Long Island, for which he donated all of the models as well. Also known as the Battle of Brooklyn, it was the largest battle, based on the number of troops, of the American Revolution, and the Continental Army’s defeat left Long Island and New York City in British hands for the rest of the war.

Schuster also designed the museum’s miniature replica of the British fort that occupied Oyster Bay during the war, constructed by John Graves Simcoe, a British

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officer most recently a focus of the historical television series “Turn.” Both displays have become a central part of the museum’s Education Center, and frequently draw the attention of children and history fans.

Several months ago, Clark and Schuster worked together again to create a new exhibition, this one focused not on one specific period or aspect of history, but rather a kaleidoscope of epochs and events. Clark explained that part of the reason why they chose to create the “History in Miniature” exhibition was that it would present visitors with a different medium through which to learn history.

“For example you can see the drawings of the fort (in Oyster Bay) that Simcoe made all those years ago, but it’s a twodimensional thing,” Clark said. “Without a diorama, it’s really hard for people to imagine there was a fort where there are

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a lot of buildings now. Not everybody can imagine what it would have been like, so I think it’s a lot of fun to be able to do that.”

The exhibition, which currently has no end date but will likely be on view for the next six months, according to Clark, features a wide variety of historical figures and time periods. Ancient Egyptian pharaohs can be seen standing next to the Nile River, while a fully replicated miniature castle takes up a corner of its own.

The more modern historical figures and artifacts range from Gen. George Washington, accompanied by his enslaved valet, William Lee, to Napoleon Bonaparte and the soldiers of his Grand Armée, and even to models of World War I-era fighter planes. Schuster said

that the dioramas offer a unique, and in some ways more visceral, way to look at history.

“To me, it’s a way to visualize history and to teach history,” he said. “And if I can reach young people by virtue of them thinking, ‘Wow, that’s really cool, I’d like to find out more, to read up on it’ then that’s my main goal.”

The exhibition is on display in Raynham Hall Museum, primarily on the second floor in the exhibition room, although parts of it are on the first floor as well, by the living rooms. The museum is open from 1 to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday, and anyone interested in booking a tour can do so at RaynhamHallMuseum. org, or call (516) 922-6808.

Elisa Dragotto/Herald photos

A medieval castle, complete with siege tower and men-at-arms, takes up a corner of the ‘History in Miniature’ exhibition.

Miniatures and toy soldiers have been popular throughout history, from figurines owned by Louis XIV of France to modern children’s toys.

To me, it’s a way to visualize history and to teach history.

Treasurer, Friends of Raynham Hall

Little League Majors Division champs

The Oakland A’s of Oyster Bay Little League recently won the Majors Division Championship in a 5-3 victory. The team, sponsored by Del’s Bar and Grill in Oyster Bay, was crowned cham-

pions on the town’s new turf at Marino Field.

The Oakland A’s are made up of fifth, sixth and seventh graders from throughout the Town of Oyster Bay.

NEW SERVICE TIME AT CHRIST CHURCH OYSTER BAY

SATURDAYS 5:00 pm

Beginning on Saturday, July 15, we will offer a new weekly Eucharist (Mass) at 5:00 pm on Saturdays.

Our main weekly service continues to be on Sundays at 10:00 am.

The new Saturday service will be a bit shorter, simpler, and less formal. Come join us!

61 East Main Street, Oyster Bay, NY 11771 www.christchurchoysterbay.org

(516) 922-6377

The Rev. Dr. Michael Piret, Rector

Mayor to lead county village association

The Nassau County Village Officials Association elected Elliot S. Conway, mayor of the Village of Upper Brookville, president for 2023-2024 at their annual meeting on June 29. The organization represents 64 incorporated villages in the county with 475,000 residents.

As president, Conway will be responsible for establishing the association’s policies and directing the organization’s

efforts on behalf of Nassau County village residents.

“I am truly honored to be selected by my peers to serve as president,” Conway said. “I look forward to working with all village officials as we continue to advocate for our fair share of state and county funding and address the numerous critical issues villages officials face in addressing the needs of our communities.”

The philosopher Epictetus said “Men are disturbed not by events, but by the views they take of them.” Arising out of “The Good Life”, previously reviewed here, comes the W.I.S.E.R. model for reacting to emotionally challenging situations.

Watch. Initial impressions are powerful but may be incomplete. There is usually more to see. When the impression and the emotional response start to interact, take a moment to pause and thoughtfully observe the situation to prevent a potentially harmful reflexive response. As they say in psychiatry “Don’t just do something, sit there.”

Interpret. We are all seeing the world through our own eyes -- what is happening, why it is happening and how it affects us. Our reality is not necessarily that of others. Thinking that a situation is all about us often leads to misunderstanding. When your emotions start to bubble up, it indicates you have something important at stake -- a goal, an insecurity or a vital relationship. Figuring out what’s at stake will allow you to interpret the situation better.

Select. Having watched, interpreted and re-interpreted, you must select your response. Instead of reacting reflexively out of stress, slowing down allows us to choose from more options. As “The Good Life” says “Given what’s at stake and the resources at my disposal, what can I do in this situation? What would be a good outcome here? And what is the likelihood that things will go well if I respond this way instead of that way?”

Engage. Now you are ready to respond more purposefully -- aligning with who you are and what you want to accomplish. You’ve observed and interpreted the situation, taken some time to consider the possibilities and their likelihood of success, and you then execute your strategy.

Reflect. “How did that work out? Did I make things better or worse? Have I learned something new about the challenge I’m facing and about the best response? Reflecting on our response to a challenge can yield dividends for the future. It’s in learning from experience that we fully grow wiser.”

Courtesy Ed Kull

The Oyster Bay Little League Team the Oakland A’s recently won the Majors Division Championship.

Courtesy Nassau County Village Officials Association Joseph Saladino, left, administered the oath of office as president to Elliot Conway and Bonnie Parente at the Nassau County Village Officials Association.

Senior health expo geared for young at heart

The Sunny Atlantic Beach Club opened its doors June 28 to eager guests for Herald Community Newspapers’ Senior Health & Beyond Expo presented by UnitedHealthcare and produced by RichnerLive. It was the third in a series of expos designed especially for senior citizens this year.

More than 35 diverse businesses as well as innovative services shared their products and refined knowledge with attendees to improve wellness and heighten their lifestyle.

Free on-site health screenings were provided by Mount Sinai South Nassau as well as vaccines administered by Parker Jewish. There were also hearing screenings from Dr. Lawrence Cardano of Hearing Center of Long Island — who was also one of the speakers on the expo’s afternoon panel.

Goody bags and tons of raffles were also a plus for those making their way to Atlantic Beach.

The event was made possible thanks to Gold Sponsor Otsuka and gift bag sponsors Grandell Rehabilitation & Nursing Center and Oceanside Care Center. Silver Sponsors were Beach Terrace Care Center, Parker Jewish Institute Health Care and Rehabilitation, Long Beach Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, Aetna, CenterLight and Hearing Center of Long Island.

The next expo is coming up fast — Thursday, Sept. 7, at the East Meadow Jewish Center. It runs from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

For more information, Visit RichnerLive.com.

1. Dr. Lawrence Cardano, middle, takes with Omar and Sandy about what the Hearing Center of Long Island can offer them.

2. Jacqueline Garguilo and Frank Garguilo, owners of Bikram Yoga Long Beach, showed some relaxing poses.

3. Nancy Lebron from presenting sponsor UnitedHealthcare was the keynote speaker.

Tim Baker/Herald photos

–Alexa Anderwkavich

4. Josh Herzing and Taylor Malfin from Beach Terrace Care Center were among those attending.

5. Cori Hoberman, community marketer from Long Beach Rehabilitation & Nursing

6. Pablo Rendon of Parker Jewish shares some expertise as a panelist.

7. Jill Wassner from the state public services department, offers advice.

8. Sabrina Osmani from Sunharbor Manor chats with an attendee

9. Na Zhang, Abigail Fromm and Lisa SperlingLeicht at the Mount Sinai South Nassau table.

10. Mark Legaspi of Aetna, shares some of his expertise

11. Allison Burton from Otsuka was one of the several great business leaders to come out.

12. Shaun Ruskin from Centerlight discusses PACE eligibility.

No matter the industry, businesses around the world are undergoing dramatic changes to the way they operate From technology and skills development, to cultural barriers, self-care and mental health, every organization must adapt and evolve, or risk being left behind.

As we navigate a time of pivotal change, the Herald’s 2023 WE Summit presented by Bank of America brings together thought leaders, innovators and barrier-breaking women for conversations around this year’s theme: The Future is Now.

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Registration begins for town’s fall 2023 fall painting/drawing enrichment class

Registration for the town’s Fall 2023 Cultural Enrichment Programs will be held online beginning Wednesday, Aug. 2 while non-resident registration begins on Wednesday, Aug. 23 at 10 a.m. Both residents and non-residents must register for the classes online at www.oysterbaytown.com/portal. The classes include Watercolor Painting, Oil Painting, Figure Drawing, Drawing Fundamentals, Painting with Acrylics, Chunky Hand Knit Blanket, Decorative Hand Knit Pumpkin, and Coffee and Canvas. Fees vary for residents and nonresidents.

“Whether you are an emerging artist looking to develop your skills or a resident looking for a new hobby, these classes offer a wonderful opportunity to broaden your horizons,” said Vicki Walsh, Oyster Bay town councilwoman. “To streamline registration and

increase convenience and accessibility for residents, we’ve opened registration online for this program.”

To register, visit oysterbaytown.com/ portal, create an account, select the Cultural Enrichment link on the homepage, choose the class or classes by checking the box, and then select add to cart. Select the eligible members on the account; check off all family members to be enroll in the class, and then press continue. Once proceeded to checkout and the credit card information has been submitted, a receipt will be linked on the confirmation screen. It will be emailed, along with a copy of the supply list for the class, if applicable.

For assistance in registering, or for more information, call the Department of Community & Youth Services, Cultural and Performing Arts at (516) 7977925.

Classes being offered

Classes will begin the week of Sept. 11 and include:

Watercolor Painting

Mondays from 9:30 am to noon, 12:30 to 3 p.m.

Syosset-Woodbury Community Center

Oil Painting

Tuesdays from 9:30 am to noon

Syosset-Woodbury Community Center

Figure Drawing

Tuesdays from 12:30 to 3 p.m.

Syosset-Woodbury Community Center

Drawing Fundamentals

Wednesdays from 9:30 a.m. to noon

Syosset-Woodbury Community Center

Painting with Acrylics

Fridays from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Syosset-Woodbury Community Center

Chunky Hand Knit Blanket

Thursday, Sept. 28 from 7 to 9 p.m.

North Massapequa Community Center

Decorative Hand Knit Pumpkin

Wednesday, Oct. 4 from 7 to 9 p.m.

North Massapequa Community Center

Coffee & Canvas

Friday, Sept. 29 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Marjorie Post Park Community Center

Bunny visits Oyster Bay-East Norwich Public Library

Oyster Bay and East Norwich residents between the ages of 4 and 9 are invited to visit the Oyster Bay-East Norwich Public Library for a very special bunny visit. In a program presented by the Long Island Rabbit Rescue Group, children will have the chance to meet one of the organization’s “bunny

spokepersons,” Noah.

Attending children will have the chance to pet Noah and learn about rabbit care, fostering and adoption. They will also hear a story about rabbits, do some crafts and get to eat bunny crackers.

Long Island Rabbit Rescue Group is

an all-volunteer organization whose mission is to rescue abused, neglected or abandoned rabbits, have them medically treated and spayed/neutered and placed in loving, indoor homes. They also educate the public on the special care and health needs of domestic rabbits.

The event will be held in the library’s Community Room on Saturday, July 15, running from 10 to 11 a.m. The library’s address is 89 E Main Street in Oyster Bay. For more information contact Stacey Kaloudis at (516) 922-1212 or skaloudis@oysterbaylibrary.org.

Having a blast at the Feast of St. Anthony

St. Gertrude’s Catholic Church held a very successful event this summer that people are still talking about. The Annual Feast on the Beach, also known as the Feast of St. Anthony, was fun for all ages with carnival rides provided on the Midway by Newton Shows. For four days, there were plenty of games to play, rides to enjoy and delicious food to savor. And there was also live entertainment.

Mathew De Sanno and his daughter Scarlet, 3, above challenged themselves riding down the giant slide.

Mia Brienzan and Lauren Longobardi, both 11, took a break to enjoy some of the food offered at the feast with Michael Longobardi right.

It was a big day for Lucianno Scogmaniglio, 1, far right, who “drove” for the first time.

Friends Amalia Godoy, 9, and Emerson Larice, 8, above, right, held on tight.

Elisa Dragotto/Herald photos

There was so much to do at the annual Feast on the Beach it was hard to decide what to do first.

STEPPING OUT

Action along the midway

A bustling scene at the

STEPPING OUT

Creative advocacy

By Karen Bloom

Cotton candy, zeppole, the ubiquitous Ferris wheel. Of course, it must be time for the fair. That summertime staple is back again, taking over the Nassau Coliseum grounds, through July 16.

By Karen Bloom

Circus-type spectacle, an old-school “oddity” sideshow, exotic animals, along with plenty of thrill rides for all ages and midway action, all combine for an extravaganza that entices all ages.

Step right up everyone: The Royal Hanneford Circus carries forth with time-honored circus traditions refreshed for the 21st century. Producers Adrian Poema and Nellie Hanneford Poema — along with their four talented children, Catherine, Mariana, Adrian Jr., and Tommy — are focused on bringing a fresh new take on circus arts under the Big Top.

The Hanneford Family, long considered the “Royal Family of the Circus,” can rightly claim an unbroken span of circus history fast approaching three centuries. Beginning with Edwin Hanneford in the late 1600s to the present, they have consistently amazed, amused, thrilled and delighted audiences everywhere with their exploits and skilled acts. From aerial high-wire feats, to illusionists, freestyle motocross, the human cannonball, the big cats, and more — this surely is an edge-of-your-seat experience.

Film Expo

out the red carpet once again for the Long Island International Film Expo, now in its 26th year. LIIFE is proud to present 133 films — 75 of them from New York filmmakers, and 30 of them by Long Islanders. Even more statistics of note: LIIFE World premieres, five U.S. premieres, short- to feature-length, moviegoers can partake of a diverse group of 156 independent films this year include: ‘1,000 Years A Witness,’ to their youth; ‘Across,’ in which three young American World War II

widows take a day trip to celebrate the younger sister’s bittersweet engagement, when a corrosive and dangerous secret from the past reemerges; ‘The Concertgoer,’ the tale of a couple who, when finding the Shostakovich concert they had planned to see is sold out, are guided to an obscure garden where they find the elusive concertgoer, silent and still, lying on a brick slab.

Wednesday through Sunday, July 19-23. Bellmore Movies, 222 Pettit Ave., Bellmore. Tickets and information available at LongIslandFilm.com.

Pat McGann

Comic showcase

Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale

• Now through July 16, 5-11 p.m. weekdays; noon-11 p.m.

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

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

Saturday and Sunday

• $10 (free for kids under 36 inches tall with paying adult); unlimited ride wristbands (for riders 36 inches and taller) are $35, $40 FridaySunday.

“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.

• Ride tickets are also available at the carnival for $1.50 each, $30/20 tickets, or $60/50 tickets plus 1 free ride (rides take 2 or more tickets each)

More animal antics can be found at Eudora Farms Exotic Petting Zoo, where kids can get up-close and personal with a variety of exotic animals from the four corners of the globe. Kids can meet and greet the animals — and feed them.

Be sure to check out the World of Wonders sideshow, new to the fair this year. Visit the colorful tent and be drawn into the scene involving 10 sideshow acts, under the watchful eye of Tommy Breen — aka The Great Gozleone. Sword swallower extraordinaire, his antics are boundless, including fire-eating and stunts with a guillotine that are not for the faint of heart.

“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 the nation to ignite movement, create awareness, and inspire others to stand with them.”

“When I was 14, I decided I wanted to run away with the sideshow,” Breen says. “I started teaching myself sword swallowing and some other stunts out of the back of a book I found. I didn’t think there still were

This exhibit, which runs through July 28, is in conjunction with Hofstra’s 13th presidential conference on the Barack Obama presidency coming up in April.

sideshows around, I figured I could perform in bars with bands or something. But then, when I graduated college, I saw Ward Hall was hiring for his World of Wonders show. I was shocked it was still on the road and that I had the chance to work for the King of the Sideshow. So, I quit my job and got rid of my apartment and joined the carnival. It was what I had always daydreamed about, and once I got here, I just never left.”

Breen proudly carries on the sideshow tradition, with his fellow sideshow folk.

Strongwoman Luella Lynne emcees the show and astounds visitors with feats of strength, bending metal, ripping phone books, and breaking metal chains with her bare hands. Other “talents” include Sam Rezz, who performs with hula hoops, needle swallowing and contact juggling. And don’t miss out on Lucy Lovett, the electric lady, with her painproof woman act.

And, of course, don’t miss out on the rides. The midway features plenty of attractions that all ages will enjoy, including the Dream Wheel (one of the largest Ferris wheels on the fair circuit), the Grand Carousel, Super Cyclone roller coaster, Wacky Worm family roller coaster, Storybook Fun House, super slide, and bumper cars.

And, yes, in case you’re wondering, you can still take a spin in those tea cups. Some things never go out of style.

“We were interested in the idea that the artist has a civic responsibility,” says museum director Karen Albert. “The initial idea for this exhibition was inspired by an Obama Administration White House briefing that took place on May 12, 2009, where more than 60 artists and creative organizers met with administration officials to

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.

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.

Laugh the night away at Mom’s Night Out, presented by Long Island Comedy Festival. You’ll enjoy witty standup delivered by four clever comics. Ellen Karis, known as the ‘Greek Goddess of Comedy,’ performs at venues throughout North America. She’s described as the ‘little dynamo’ given her petite stature, strong improv skills and ability to build a quick rapport with any audience. New York City-born and raised in a traditional strict Greek home, her brand of sarcastic, observational humor is along the same lines as comedy legends Joan Rivers and Richard Lewis. She’s joined by Maria Walsh, ‘America’s Naughtiest Mommy,’ whose quick wit, combined with coordinating facial expressions, give her a memorable and commanding stage presence. Kendra Cunningham, a Boston native who absconded to New York to peruse performing, who whines too much in her dreams. And Maureen Langan, acclaimed for her high-energy, versatile style that highlights her warmth and razor-edge repartee.

Thursday, July 20, 8 p.m. $35$40. Madison Theatre, Molloy University, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre. (516) 323-4444 or MadisonTheatreNY.org.

Photos courtesy Empire State Fair

From daring sideshow acts featuring fire-eating to circus spectacle and everyone’s favorite rides, plus new enticements, plenty of summer amusements await at the latest edition of the Empire State Fair.

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.

The folk rocker is back on tour, appearing on the Tilles Center stage, Friday and Saturday, July 21-22, 8 p.m. Singer, songwriter, producer, activist, humanitarian, best-selling author — Brandi Carlile has done it all. Since the release of her breakthrough album The Way, I Forgive You 2018,” Carlile has won Grammy Awards, earned Billboard’s Women in Music Trailblazer Award, and received several Americana Music Association accolades. She won her seventh, eighth and ninth Grammys this year, winning for best Americana album with ”In These Silent Days.” Her song “Broken Horses,” won both best rock song and best rock performance. A versatile performer hailed by “captivating presence,” Carlile has topped the Americana and Rock charts with solo hits, co-founded the country supergroup The Highwomen, and collaborated with legendary artists including Elton John, Alicia Keys, Dolly Parton, and Miley Cyrus. Don’t miss an evening of iconic songs such as “The Story,” “That Wasn’t Me,” and “The Joke.” Seemingly everywhere, Carlisle has transitioned from an Americana powerhouse to a major headliner beloved by the industry and the public. Carlile’s career has been on a steep upward trajectory and her “Bramily” has her fans are known, are with her every step of the way. LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Boulevard, Brookville. Tickets are $51.50 -$481.50; available at TillesCenter.org or (516) 299-3100.

On exhibit

View the landmark exhibition “Modigliani and the Modern Portrait,” opening at Nassau County Museum of Art, Saturday, July 22. Devoted to the way that Modigliani powerfully re-defined the art of

Life Science of Summer

Kids ages 6-9 can tour Old Westbury Gardens and examine how science is all around us in nature, Thursday, July 27, 2 p.m. Learn how plants grow and take home your own plant, as you participate in experiments of the water cycle and how we can use science to change the color of a flower both naturally and artificially.

Oyster Bay Railroad Museum

Write on: College essay workshops

Not sure how to get started on your college essay? The Hofstra University Admission Office is offering virtual workshops to help high school students learn the skills to tell their story in a way that helps them stand out. The workshops, Thursday, July 20 and Aug. 17, 4-5 p.m., are free and open to the public, but advance registration is required. Hear from Hofstra Admission counselors about how to brainstorm topics, and compose a thoughtful essay that shows your personality, talents and interests. For more information about Hofstra Admission’s other virtual summer workshops, go to Admission.Hofstra.edu/ portal/virtual_admission_ webinars. To schedule a summer in-person visit go to: Hofstra.edu/visit.

Dancing in the Street

Dancing in the Street, an annual series of free dance evenings in the streets of Oyster Bay, has returned every to the hamlet every Friday in July and the first two Fridays in August, from 7 to 9 p.m. Organized by the Oyster Bay Main Street Association, music and dance instruction will be provided by DJ and dancer Louis Del Prete. For more information, call (516) 313-1683 or contact diane. writes4@gmail.com.

Summer sounds

Mike Carrozza and the Trip Kings as rock West Harbor Memorial Beach, Friday July 14. Presented by the Bayville Village Arts Council. W Harbor Dr. in Bayville. For more information contact papnyy@aol.com or (917) 880-6618.

Kaintuck

The band performs classic rock at Still Partners, Saturday, July 15, 8 p.m. 225 Sea Cliff Ave., in Sea Cliff. For more information contact (516) 200-9229.

Having an event?

Morgan Park Summer Music Festival

Enjoy “Italian Night,” part of the Morgan Park Summer Music Festival, featuring vocalists and musicians Massimiliano Barbolini, Claudio Mattioli and Vanessa Racci, Sunday, July 23, beginning at 7 p.m., at Morgan Memorial Park. Germaine St., Glen Cove. For information, visit MorganParkMusic.org.

Courtney M. Leonard exhibit

Planting Fields Arboretum offers guided tours of its latest exhibit showcasing contemporary artist Courtney M. Leonard, Saturday, July 15, 12:30 to 1 p.m. or 2:30 to 3 p.m. The site-specific installation, “BREACH: Logbook 23 ROOT,” examines how the colonization of Long Island impacted traditional Shinnecock foodways. 1395 Planting Fields Road in Oyster Bay. Register at PlantingFields. org. For more information, call (516) 922-9210.

Items on The Scene page are listed free of charge. The Herald welcomes listings of upcoming events, community meetings and items of public interest. All submissions should include date, time and location of the event, cost, and a contact name and phone number. Submissions can be emailed to thescene@liherald.com.

On stage

Plaza Theatricals brings the iconic musical “Rent,” back to the stage, Friday, July 21, 7:30 p.m.

The acclaimed reimagining of “La Vie Boheme,” loosely based on Puccini’s opera and set on East Village streets, fire escapes, tenements, and cafes. This groundbreaking roller coaster ride depicting the joys and sorrows of an eclectic, diverse group of young artists and activists is always captivating. It’s performed at the Elmont Library Theatre, 700 Hempstead Tpke., Elmont. $35, $30 seniors. Elmont. For tickets, call (516) 599-6870 or visit PlazaTheatrical.com.

July 27

Mindful mornings

Practice the “art” of looking at art at Nassau County Museum of Art, Thursday, July 27, 10-11 a.m., with NCMA Director of Education Laura Lynch. Mindful looking invites you to observe, question, and calmly reflect in a relaxed and supportive environment free of distraction. It’s an opportunity to experience and enjoy the art in the galleries or sculpture garden, together, making personal connection. $10. Space is limited and registration required. Also Aug. 3. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. (516) 484-9337 or NassauMuseum.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.

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 Cliff. Those iinterested in joining the lunch program can call Peggie Como at (516) 675-7239.

CLASSIC FILM

Takeout that works with summer quirks

Since I hate to cook, this summer has been confusing. If I go to a restaurant and dine indoors, memories of the pandemic pop into my head and I consider sitting outside. But if I dine outside, I worry about the air quality. If I have food delivered to my home for the rest of my life, I worry I’ll become an eternal hermit.

Thankfully, talented chefs in town have created new ways to prepare summer meals and desserts. That way, no matter where I eat them, I’m reminded it’s a beautiful day in July. These eateries will get us all through our summer quirks.

■ Bluebird Chocolates (8 Audrey Ave., Oyster Bay) If you’re craving a gooey, fire-y s’more but you’re not up for making a campfire, chocolatier Katya Witthuhn has your back. Pop one of her new s’more truffles in your mouth and you’ll have the full chocolate-marshmallow-graham cracker experience. Other fantastic

summer flavors she’s just created are strawberry matcha, jalapeno, and passion fruit. Incredible macarons from The Cookie Shop, a bakery based in Centereach, are also offered in Katya’s store. I took one bite of a watermelon macaron and needed 10 seconds of silence to savor the deliciousness.

■ Sea Cliff Shave Ice (247 Sea Cliff Ave., Sea Cliff) If it’s too humid outside to watch a summer sunset, why not eat one instead? Sea Cliff’s Hawaiian shave ice shop is open for the season, and owner Taylor Alleto told me, “Tropical Sunset is definitely the best seller every summer. It’s made with mango, lemon/lime, coconut, and vanilla ice cream, plus a snow cap topping and edible flower.” Individual shave ice flavors range from black cherry to butterscotch. A few of my favorite

combos are Almond Joy and Pomegranate Punch. Feel free to create your own concoction, or buy your dog a shave ice pup cup.

■ Sunset Club at Tappen Beach (494 Prospect Ave., Sea Cliff) If you’re craving salmon, chicken, burgers, or portabella mushrooms hot off the grill, but cooking over an outdoor stove isn’t your style, the chefs in this café will come to the rescue. In this beachfront eatery, sandwiches and entrees on the menu say it all: blackened or grilled chicken sandwiches with Cajun remoulade, fish tacos with cucumber wasabi crema, jumbo soft shell crab sandwiches, and so much more. I chose a shady table on the beach and enjoyed my portabella mushroom steak with roasted rainbow tomatoes, wild rice, and broccoli rabe. Spiked slushies and creative

cocktails will make any meal complete.

■ The Wine Line (30 Audrey Ave., Oyster Bay) If you’re craving something different and delectable in a classy yet casual environment, head over to this new cafe. Extraordinary dishes can be paired with an extensive collection of wines. Many of the meals are served on pinsa dough (a high quality, healthful Roman flatbread which is pressed by hand). Enjoy pinsa topped with truffles and mushrooms or try a lobster roll with parsley lemon aioli on a French brioche bun. I’m obsessed with the Mezze Platter. Pinsa wedges are served with exceptionally flavorful hummus, olive spread and whipped ricotta. I brought the three spreads home and have been eating them out of the containers.

See you next month!

Cathi Turow can be reached at: cturowtakeout@gmail.com

CATHI TUROW

Public Notices

ANNUAL NEWS RELEASE - PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT

Oyster Bay East Norwich Central School District today announced a free and reduced price meal (Free Milk) policy for Oyster Bay-East Norwich area school children. Local school officials have adopted the following family eligibility criteria to assist them in determining eligibility:

2023-2024 INCOME ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES FOR FREE AND REDUCED PRICE MEALS OR FREE MILK

*Students in New York State that are approved for reduced price meals will receive breakfast and lunch meals and snacks served through the Afterschool Snack Program at no charge.

SNAP/TANF/FDPIR Households: Households that currently include children who receive the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) but who are not found during the Direct Certification Matching Process (DCMP), or households that currently receive Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), or the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) must complete an Application for Free and Reduced Price School Meals/Milk,listing the child’s name, a valid SNAP, TANF, or FDPIR case number and the signature of an adult household member. Eligibility for free meal benefits based on participation in SNAP, TANF or FDPIR is extended to all children in the household. When known to the School Food Authority, households will be notified of their children’s eligibility for free meals based on their participation in the SNAP, TANF or the FDPIR programs. No application is necessary if the household was notified by the SFA their children have been directly certified. If the household is not sure if their children have been directly certified, the household should contact the school.

Other Source Categorical Eligibility: When known to the School Food Authority, households will be notified of any child’s eligibility for free meals based on the individual child’s designation as Other Source Categorically Eligible, as defined by law. Children are determined Other Source Categorically Eligible if they are Homeless, Migrant, Runaway, a foster child, or Enrolled in Head Start or an eligible pre-kindergarten program.

Foster children that are under the legal responsibility of a foster care agency or court, are eligible for free meals. Any foster child in the household is eligible for free meals regardless of income. A separate application for a foster child is no longer necessary. Foster children may also be included as a member of the foster family if the foster family chooses to also apply for benefits for other children. Including children in foster care as household members may help other children in the household qualify for benefits. If non-foster children in a foster family are not eligible for free or reduced price meal benefits, an eligible foster child will still receive free benefits

If children or households receive benefits under Assistance Programs or Other Source Categorically Eligible Programs and are not listed on the notice of eligibility and are not notified by the School Food Authority of their free meal benefits, the parent or guardian should contact the school or should submit an income application.

Other Households: Households with income the same or below the amounts listed above for family size may be eligible for and are urged to apply for free and/or reduced price meals (or free milk). They may do so by completing the Application for Free and Reduced Price School Meals/Milk sent home with the letter to parents. One application for all children in the household should be submitted. Additional copies are available at the principal’s office in each school. Applications may be submitted any time during the school year to: Angela Ries, Senior Account Clerk. Please contact her at (516) 6246510 with any questions regarding the application process.

Households notified of their children’s eligibility must contact the School Food Authority if they choose to decline the free meal benefits. Households may apply for benefits at any time throughout the school year. Children of parents or guardians who become unemployed or experience a financial hardship mid-year may become eligible for free and reduced price meals or free milk at any point during the school year.

Children in households receiving Women, Infants and Children (WIC) benefits may be eligible for free or reduced price meals through the application process.

For up to 30 operating days into the new school year (or until a new eligibility determination is made, whichever comes first) an individual child’s free or reduced price eligibility status from the previous year will continue within the same School Food Authority. When the carryover period ends, unless the household is notified that their children are directly certified or the household submits an application that is approved, the children’s meals must be claimed at the paid rate. Though encouraged to do so, the School Food Authority is not required to send a reminder or a notice of expired eligibility.

The information provided on the application will be confidential and will be used for determining eligibility. The names and eligibility status of participants may also be used for the allocation of funds to federal education programs such as Title I and National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), State health or State education programs, provided the State agency or local education agency administers the programs, and for federal, State or local means-tested nutrition programs with eligibility standards comparable to the NSLP. Eligibility information may also be released to programs authorized under the National School Lunch Act (NSLA) or the Child Nutrition Act (CNA). The release of information to any program or entity not specifically authorized by the NSLA will require a written consent statement from the parent or guardian.

The School Food Authority does, however, have the right to verify at any time during the school year the information on the application. If a parent does not give the school this information, the child/children will no longer be able to receive free or reduced price meals (free milk).

Under the provisions of the policy, the designated official will review applications and determine eligibility. If a parent is dissatisfied with the ruling of the designated official, he/she may make a request either orally or in writing for a hearing to appeal the decision. Maureen Raynor, Deputy Superintendent, whose address is:1 McCouns Lane, Oyster Bay, NY 11771 has been designated as the Hearing Official. Hearing procedures are outlined in the policy. However, prior to initiating the hearing procedure, the parent or School Food Authority may request a conference to provide an opportunity for the parent and official to discuss the situation, present information, and obtain an explanation of the data submitted in the application or the decisions rendered. The request for a conference shall not in any way prejudice or diminish the right to a fair hearing.

Only complete applications can be approved. This includes complete and accurate information regarding: the SNAP, TANF, or FDPIR case number; the names of all household members; on an income application, the last four digits of the social security number of the person who signs the form or an indication that the adult does not have one, and the amount and source of income received by each household member. In addition, the parent or guardian must sign the application form, certifying the information is true and correct.

In the operation of child feeding programs, no child will be discriminated against because of race, sex, color, national origin, age, disability or limited English proficiency.

Nondiscrimination Statement: This explains what to do if you believe you have been treated unfairly.

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.

Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.

To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ad-3027.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:

• mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture

Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or

• fax: (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or

• email: program.intake@usda.gov

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

1221102

LEGAL NOTICE

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK - COUNTY OF NASSAU HSBC BANK USA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE FOR ACE SECURITIES CORP. HOME EQUITY LOAN TRUST, SERIES 2004-OP1, ASSET BACKED PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, V. JOHN GALLO, ET. AL. NOTICE OF SALE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure dated December 09, 2019, and entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Nassau, wherein HSBC BANK USA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE FOR ACE SECURITIES CORP. HOME EQUITY LOAN TRUST, SERIES 2004OP1, ASSET BACKED PASSTHROUGH CERTIFICATES is the Plaintiff and JOHN GALLO, ET AL. are the Defendant(s). I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the NASSAU COUNTY SUPREME COURT, NORTH SIDE STEPS, 100 SUPREME COURT DRIVE, MINEOLA, NY 11501, on July 25, 2023 at 2:30PM, premises known as 5759 1ST AVENUE, LOCUST VALLEY, NY 11560: Section 30, Block 014, Lot 60-62,124: ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND, WITH THE BUILDINGS AND IMPROVEMENTS THEREON ERECTED, SITUATE, LYING AND BEING AT LOCUST VALLEY, IN THE TOWN OF OYSTER BAY, NASSAU COUNTY, NEW YORK Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 006553/2014. Mark Ricciardi, Esq. - Referee. Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310, Westbury, New York 11590, Attorneys for Plaintiff. All foreclosure sales will be conducted in accordance with Covid-19 guidelines including, but not limited to, social distancing and mask wearing. *LOCATION OF SALE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DAY OF IN ACCORDANCE WITH COURT/CLERK DIRECTIVES.

140348

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee for Residential Funding Mortgage Securities I, Inc., Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2006-S3, Plaintiff AGAINST Suk Jae Park; et al., Defendant(s)

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered May 16, 2023 I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side Steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on August 1, 2023 at 3:00PM, premises known as 41 East View Court a/k/a 41 East View Court, Unit 41, Oyster Bay, NY 11753. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the Town of Oyster Bay, County of Nassau, State of New York, Section 17 Block 017 Lot 4U. Approximate amount of judgment $614,159.76 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index# 616002/2019. The auction will be conducted pursuant to the COVID-19 Policies Concerning Public Auctions of Foreclosed Property established by the Tenth Judicial District.

Foreclosure Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine.”

Peter Kramer, Esq., Referee (516) 510-4020 LOGS Legal Group LLP f/k/a Shapiro, DiCaro & Barak, LLC Attorney(s) for the Plaintiff 175 Mile Crossing Boulevard Rochester, New York 14624 (877) 4304792 Dated: May 23, 2023 140392

LEGAL NOTICE

Board Meetings are open to the public and are typically held on the 3rd Monday of each month at 7:30 pm unless otherwise noted, but are subject to change. Additional meetings may be scheduled when necessary

Michele Vaccarelli Library Director Oyster Bay - East Norwich Public Library 140361

LEGAL NOTICE

VILLAGE OF UPPER

BROOKVILLE BOARD OF APPEALS PUBLIC

NOTICE A public hearing and meeting will be held before and by the Board of Appeals of the Incorporated Village of Upper Brookville, Nassau County, New York at the Brookville Reformed Church, 2 Brookville Road, Glen Head, NY on July 24, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. The hearing will be on the appeal of Armen Avetisian, owner of a 2.22-acre parcel of land located at 43 Centre View Drive in the Village, designated as Section 24, Block 26, Lot 18 on the Nassau County Land and Tax Map, and located within the Village=s R-1 (2-acre) zoning district. The Appellant seeks the following:

1.A variance of Section 20510F(1) and 205-10F(2) of the Village Code to permit the construction of retaining walls and associated grading which would be located within a steep slope, where no development is permitted.

2.A variance of Section 205-10E to maintain existing patios which increase the total lot coverage to 17.18% of lot area, rather than the maximum permitted 15% of lot area. The above application is on file at the office of Humes & Wagner, LLP, attorneys for the Village, 147 Forest Avenue, Locust Valley, New York where it may be seen by appointment during the regular hours of the usual business days until the time of the hearing.

All interested persons will be given an opportunity to be heard at said time and place. If any individual requires special assistance to attend, please notify the Village Attorney at 516-676-4600 at least 48 hours in advance of the hearing. Philip H. Wachtler Chairman Z-449 July 14, 2023 140713

and meeting will be held before and by the Board of Appeals of the Incorporated Village of Upper Brookville, Nassau County, New York at the Brookville Reformed Church, 2 Brookville Road, Glen Head, NY on July 24, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. The hearing will be on the appeal of Janet and Robert B. Deans, III, owners of a 2.13-acre parcel of land located at 1155 Pine Valley Road in the Village, designated as Section 24, Block E, Lot 1066 on the Nassau County Land and Tax Map, and located within the Village=s R-1 (2-acre) zoning district. The Appellants seek a variance of Section 205-10F(1) and 205-10F(2) of the Village Code to permit the construction of retaining walls, a driveway forecourt and associated grading which would be located within a steep slope, where no development is permitted. The above application is on file at the office of Humes & Wagner, LLP, attorneys for the Village, 147 Forest Avenue, Locust Valley, New York where it may be seen by appointment during the regular hours of the usual business days until the time of the hearing. All interested persons will be given an opportunity to be heard at said time and place. If any individual requires special assistance to attend, please notify the Village Attorney at 516-676-4600 at least 48 hours in advance of the hearing. Philip H. Wachtler Chairman Z-448 July

Congestion pricing, a hole-in-the-head proposal

Everything in this world is a function of timing. Whether it’s sports or some other activity, timing is everything. And it will be a key issue when it comes to the state’s longplanned congestion-pricing plan, which is scheduled to start sometime in 2024. There is no doubt that drivers in New York City face challenges every day. As the coronavirus pandemic has faded, negotiating the traffic in and out of the city has become a disastrous experience. There are many more suburban private-vehicle commuters than anyone anticipated. Planning groups have been advocating for many years for a congestion-pricing plan. It has worked in London and Singapore, and it was hoped that it would eventually come to New York. But the key question is whether or not it’s the right time to impose this burden on scores of thousands of drivers.

I have always been an advocate of finding a way to cut down on congestion in the city. A number of mayors have grappled with ideas on how to improve traffic flow, but all of their ideas have fallen flat. With more bike lanes and parking restrictions as well as the traffic, it’s almost impossible to maneuver around the city at virtually any hour of the day.

Is it the right time to start the congestion pricing program? No. I think it’s the wrong time, for a variety of reasons. The Covid nightmare may be long gone, but the city hasn’t recovered. Many businesses suffered greatly, and are just beginning to recover from their losses. Charging trucks that make multiple trips to the city will just become a consumer tax.

The hearings on the congestion plan were a sham. Members of the public were given a chance to weigh in on whether they supported such a plan, but listeners sounded bored with the whole process. You can’t have a real hearing without knowing what it will cost to use the toll zone.

The Metropolitan Transportation

Authority says it will soon reveal the toll structure, but by then the plan will be a done deal. There is no way that car and truck owners will have an opportunity to express their concerns, ideas or opposition to the final announcement. Knowing the MTA from past experience, I expect the tolls to be arbitrary and unreasonable.

The agency has stated that tolls could be as high as $23. My guess is that they will be much higher. The real toll structure will depend on how much it will cost to set up the tolling system. Hundreds of millions of dollars will be spent to get the E-ZPass system up and running. If the construction contract runs over budget, and you can expect that it will, drivers who commute will end up paying to cover those costs.

Most people aren’t familiar with the term “bond covenants,” which relates to the guarantees in the congestion-pricing legislation. It means that the tolling costs will be covered by the tolls drivers pay. If the cost of erecting tolling devices is exceptionally high, the tolls will have to

rise to pay off the bonds.

The MTA has said that the tolls may be lower on weekends. But with drivers covering the no doubt excessive construction costs, don’t expect any bargain fares. Sadly, the more questions people ask about the details of the program, the more likely it will be to turn into a disaster, because those answers won’t come in time.

This program wasn’t launched by Gov. Kathy Hochul’s administration. It was created by former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, and Hochul has now inherited the plan. She is at the mercy of a bureaucracy that is rarely people-sensitive. If the MTA botches the toll structure and offers a confusing implementation plan, Hochul will have inherited a major political headache.

Congestion pricing is a good government idea. There is a need to control the city’s traffic nightmare. But those who drive into the city need this plan right now like they need a hole in the head.

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.

Journalists become targets for jihadists

The number of foreign correspondents has plummeted in the past 10 years, and most overseas news bureaus have either shrunk or shuttered their offices. At the same time, more reporters are being killed or kidnapped by extremist groups. No one knows the exact numbers, because families and news agencies are protective of information about individuals in captivity.

We may have come to a turning point in journalism, where the danger of reporting from jihadist strongholds has become too extreme to justify the presence of correspondents.

Steven Sotloff, 31, was the 70th journalist killed in Syria since civil war began tearing the country apart in 2011. That is a devastating number of fatalities for a noncombatant group comprising professional reporters who just want to get the story and send it home.

Despite a heartbreaking videotaped appeal by Sotloff’s mother, the terrorist group Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, or ISIS, beheaded him and posted the video on YouTube. He was the second American reporter to die on his knees in a faraway desert in recent weeks. ISIS also recorded the murder of another reporter, James

Foley, sending those brutal images, too, out into the world.

Sotloff and Foley belonged to a courageous band of brothers and sisters who travel the world to tell the who, what, where, why and how of natural disasters and armed conflicts. They do the counterintuitive thing — running toward danger in order to see what is happening on the ground.

A driven group of professionals, they are willing to endure just about anything that life in the field can throw at them: deplorable living conditions, foul weather, loneliness, fatigue and violence. Their goal is to get the most accurate facts and interviews they can and transmit or broadcast the stories, often from the battlefield.

There is the glory, too, along with the guts. And there is glamour as well, and a storied history of dashing correspondents who covered wars by day, hunkered down with troops, and caroused by night in bars from Singapore to Saigon.

Dexter Filkins, author of “The Forever War,” wrote about reporting from Afghanistan and Iraq during those wars. He spoke honestly about the addictive quality of living on the edge every day. I’ve followed his career, watching him return again and again to whatever city happens to be in flames.

That’s what foreign correspondents have always done, from Ernie Pyle and

Ernest Hemingway in World War II to Dan

Rather and Morley Safer in Vietnam. They fly into danger, push toward the front lines and try to nail the story. They employ fixers and translators and locals who work both sides of the street. And, too often, they die.

In 2002, journalist Daniel Pearl was killed in Pakistan on his way to meet an informant. In 2011, CBS reporter Lara Logan was sexually assaulted by dozens of men in Cairo’s Tahrir Square on the day that rebels toppled the regime of Hosni Mubarak. In 2012, a 21-yearold British journalist, Natasha Smith, was also attacked in Tahrir Square, and barely escaped with her life. A year later, a female Dutch journalist, 22, was attacked and raped in Tahrir Square by five men, while a chanting mob stood by and watched.

The atmosphere has turned toxic for foreign reporters, especially in the Middle East. In the past, all sides in a conflict respected journalists’ neutrality and sought out reporters in order to tell their side of events.

Now, however, a reporter in the field, especially a Western journalist, is seen as a commodity, a bargaining chip in a kidnap scheme, a source of ransom money, and a target. ISIS doesn’t need a foreign correspondent to vent and rant. It has YouTube. Reporters are not only expendable; kidnapping them is profitable, both in dollars and propaganda.

Randi is on a brief leave. This column was originally published Sept. 11-17, 2014.

I watch Richard Engel, of NBC, reporting from the rooftops of Baghdad, and I see Anna Coren, an Australian correspondent, reporting from Mosel. I don’t know how they summon the courage to carry on in such a hostile environment, and I don’t know that they should.

Perhaps we need to rethink the model of sending journalists into war zones. CNN and the other major news organizations try to protect their people, moving them from safe house to safe house and changing their daily routines to discourage kidnapping. But the nature of war has changed. Freelancers, like Foley and Sotloff, are especially vulnerable; they don’t have an organization behind them. The risks they took outweighed any possible benefit.

It may have been worth the sacrifice in the 1940s to get news of faraway battles back to friends and relatives at home, and it surely was journalists who helped turn the tide of public sentiment against the war in Vietnam. But these days there are cellphones and social media to get the word out. Today’s wars in Iraq and Syria, in Gaza and Libya are turning reporters into coveted trophies, vulnerable to kidnappings that often end in death.

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

RANDI KREISS

Reporters are seen as commodities, bargaining chips in kidnap schemes.

The MTA has said the tolls could be as high as $23. My guess? They’ll be much higher.

JERRY KREMER

Visit — and help support — a museum near you

History is often regarded as one of the “boring” subjects in school, with many children consistently protesting, “Why should I have to learn about something that happened 100 years ago?”

Yet learning about history is essential to understanding one’s place in the world. To explain why things happened, are happening, or will happen. And to contextualize the problems we face in a larger narrative.

As the old saying goes, “Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.”

This doesn’t just apply to the study of national or world history either, but of local history as well. And nowhere better promotes local history than the many museums and historical societies scattered around the North Shore, which chart the development of the many early fishing villages and communities into the thriving townships and cities of Nassau County today.

At a time when the country is struggling to accept the changing narrative of American history — that our forefathers were not just statesmen and liberators, but slave owners and potentially even bigots — museums often have helped lead the charge in addressing these seemingly conflicting portraits of the nation’s founders. Rather than downplaying the importance of slavery in the north — which has historically pushed responsibility for the atrocity exclusively on the southern states — many museums have been at the forefront of educating their communities on the tragedies and reality of enslavement on Long Island.

Throughout the 1700s and into the early 1800s, New York law stated that every community must have a public whipping post and whipper, paid for by local taxes, to punish enslaved people and reinforce the racial hierarchy that has continued to plague all aspects of American life. Information like this is normally confined to dusty tomes and unread essays in historical journals, but local museums present this history — along with the artifacts and historical documents, on full display —

The good and bad of pandemic-driven technological progress

To the Editor:

The coronavirus pandemic, without a doubt, changed the world — and one of its most notable effects has been the accelera-

forcing us to confront the truth of our nation’s complicated history.

Furthermore, these museums also show that it was not just white Anglo-Saxon men that forged Long Island into a thriving economic center. Many sailors and fishermen that sailed and steamed out of Long Island ports were people of color. At least a quarter of all participants in the whaling industry were Black.

Despite the sometimes dark and serious nature of this history, what also makes local museums stand out is the sense of proximity and downright wonder they can bring to people unfamiliar with their region’s past, particularly children. History is only boring if it’s taught in a boring manner, and few museums on Long Island can be accused of that.

Educators at local museums also memorize hundreds, sometimes thousands, of historical facts and tidbits to keep visitors’ attention. Rather than recounting a linear story of dates and names, they bring history to life by explaining not just who the people of the past were, but how they lived, and the similarities, and stark differences, that connect us with them.

Local museums are also repositories of hundreds of artifacts from across the centuries, as varied as musket balls fired during the Revolutionary War, and gold and silver dining utensils used by wealthy merchants during the Gilded Age. They also house thousands of documents, diaries, journals and books that offer a glimpse of the day-to-day lives and thoughts of local people — from freedmen to ship’s captains to British officers.

All this historic preservation, research and education costs money however, and these organizations depend on the support and stream of visitors to keep their doors open and to continue preserving the extraordinary history of our communities.

So next time when you’re wandering around the streets of one of the North Shore’s many historic villages or towns, stop by a local museum or historical society. It’s inexpensive, entertaining, and who knows? You might learn something new.

LETTERS

tion of technology initiatives as the public and private sectors seek to digitize more operations and communications. Many artificial intelligence products have come out of these advances, and many are being put to use by state and local governments with input from private tech companies.

Governments are adopting AI at an accelerating pace. New York City and state agencies have experienced a broad expansion of

Museums on the North Shore

Sagamore Hill National Historic Site

20 Sagamore Hill Road, Oyster Bay (516) 922-4788

tinyurl.com/VisitSagamoreHill

Garvies Point Museum and Preserve

50 Barry Drive, Glen Cove (516) 571-8010

GarviesPointMuseum.com

Sea Cliff Village Museum

95 10th Ave., Sea Cliff (516) 801-3401

SeaCliffMuseum.org

Raynham Hall Museum 30 W. Main St., Oyster Bay (516) 922-6808 RaynhamHallMuseum.org

Bayville Historical Museum 34 School St., Bayville (516) 628-1720

Holocaust Memorial & Tolerance Center of Nassau County 100 Crescent Beach Road, Glen Cove (516) 571-8040

HMTCLI.org

Oyster Bay Historical Society 20 Summit St., Oyster Bay (516) 922-5032

OysterBayHistorical.org

North Shore Historical Museum 140 Glen St., Glen Cove (516) 801-1191

NorthShoreHistoricalMuseum.org

The Underhill Society of America

14 W. Main St., Oyster Bay (516) 833-6724

UnderhillSociety.org

AI applications, such as chatbots. And now, with last year’s widespread introduction of AI tools that can create new content such as text and images, it appears that further changes are on the way.

It is imperative that the private sector and government institutions meet the moment by adopting comprehensive risk-mitigation strategies and effective AI governance frameworks that prioritize transparency, accuracy

Honor Harry Chapin’s legacy with action to end hunger

If you compiled the names of the most impactful Long Islanders in our history, you’d surely start off with the likes of Theodore Roosevelt, Walt Whitman and Marie Colvin — and in my estimation, Harry Chapin is a fitting fourth candidate to complete a cross-cultural Mount Rushmore of great Long Islanders. In just nine years as a recording artist, Chapin released 12 albums that embodied his distinctive style as a musical storyteller. Thanks to timeless melodies and stirring lyrics that vividly told stories of everyday life, songs like “Taxi,” “W.O.L.D.,” “Circle,” “Sequel” and, of course, “Cat’s in the Cradle” became embedded in the soundtracks of our lives in the 1970s, and have endured in the decades since.

benefit concerts, and used his platform as a springboard for advocacy. He was involved in launching World Hunger Year (now known as WhyHunger) in 1975, and establishing the Presidential Commission on World Hunger during the Carter administration. But the food bank that now bears his name is perhaps his greatest innovation. When Chapin launched Long Island Cares in 1980, he created Long Island’s first food bank, and in doing so revolutionized our regional approach to addressing food insecurity and hunger.

ARNOLD W. DRUCKER

Using his remarkable gifts, Chapin also pursued a philanthropic calling: a mission to eradicate hunger, in the United States in particular.

As one of the world’s highest-paid entertainers at the time, he gave generously to charitable causes, hosted numerous

In 2021, Long Island Cares distributed 14 million pounds of food — the equivalent of 11.5 million meals — and it now has a half-dozen brick-andmortar storefront locations across the Island. The agency was instrumental in addressing crises like Superstorm Sandy and the economic disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic. And because no member of a family — included the four-legged and feathered ones — is spared from hunger, the seventh location, Baxter’s Pet Pantry, is dedicated to collecting and distributing pet food and supplies to families in need.

In this oft-derided age of the celebrity

LETTERS

and fairness.

Unfortunately, the ability to understand the risks involved with some AI products — and the strategies to reduce or eliminate those risks — has not kept up with the pace at which AI is being put to use. Numerous studies have shown a significant rise in AI adoption and investment, with most experts foreseeing a further boost in AI investment in the coming years. Alarmingly, organizations have made little progress in addressing wellknown AI-related risks such as bias, lack of transparency and safety concerns.

This concerning trend is also evident in government institutions. My recent report on AI governance in New York City found that the city lacks an effective AI governance framework. City agencies have been left to develop their own divergent approaches, resulting in ad hoc and incomplete measures that fail to ensure transparency, accuracy and fairness in AI systems.

This is concerning because while AI promises vast opportunities, it also carries inherent risks. Several incidents — even before the pandemic — illustrated the unintentional harm that can be caused by government AI systems designed or implemented irresponsibly. A faulty automated fraud-detection system in Michigan erroneously accused thousands of unemployment insurance recipients of fraud, causing financial ruin for many. Similar issues have plagued other systems related to Medicaid eligibility

determinations, facial recognition, criminal justice, health care, teacher evaluations and job recruitment applications.

New York City has been a forerunner in examining the use of AI. It was among the first to establish a task force dedicated to examining the responsible use of automated decision-making systems, including AI systems. But the city’s efforts are no longer keeping pace with this rapidly advancing technology. Despite the task force’s recommendations and the expansion of AI applications during the pandemic, the city still doesn’t have an effective AI governance framework.

As we continue to embrace the technological leaps brought forth by the pandemic, we must ensure that we do so responsibly. Audits, such as the one my office conducted in New York City, can help drive change by raising awareness of where risks lie. Understanding these risks and identifying blind spots is a first step in the right direction, but the city must also take further action, such as implementing a robust governance framework to ensure that the use of AI is transparent, accurate, unbiased, and minimizes the potential for disparate impacts. I encourage my colleagues in government to join me in ensuring that AI systems work to further the greater good for all New Yorkers.

candidate, Chapin would have been a natural to run for the House of Representatives or another elected office, but not because he was a star. He would have been ideal because he did the work and cared deeply about the future we shared. Sadly, he never got that chance. On July 16, 1981, Chapin was driving his Volkswagen to a benefit concert at Eisenhower Park when the car was struck by an 18-wheeler on the Long Island Expressway and he was fatally injured.

The shock of his sudden, untimely death reverberated through the park on that summer evening, and through our society for years afterward. He would be cited as an inspiration for endeavors like USA for Africa and Live Aid, and countless memorial awards, theaters and humanitarian events would be named in his honor.

Neighboring municipalities like Suffolk County have declared July 16 Harry Chapin Day in honor of all he achieved in just 38 years. In Nassau County, I continue to pursue legislation I filed last year to establish a Harry Chapin Day of our own. While there has been no action by the legislative majority to date, I will never lose hope, or lose sight of the important mis-

sion in front of us.

Rather than wait for the gears of government to turn, I decided to immediately implement one of the tenets of my proposed legislation — after all, Chapin was the man who said, “When in doubt, do something!” Starting on July 16, my office will hold its second annual summer food drive, to benefit Long Island Cares and draw renewed attention to Chapin’s legacy.

Among the many lessons of the past several years, we have all been confronted with the hard truth that far more of our neighbors struggle silently with food insecurity than we ever knew.

If you would like to support this endeavor, you can make a contribution of nonperishable goods at the Plainview-Old Bethpage and Syosset libraries and Plainview’s Trio Hardware, or donate directly to Long Island Cares, through Aug. 16. Call my office, at (516) 571-6216, or email adrucker@nassaucountyny.gov, if you have any questions.

In Harry’s words again, “We all have the potential to move the world, and the world is ready to be moved.” This summer, as Nassau County residents and Long Islanders, let’s unite to move the world to a better and more humane place.

Arnold W. Drucker has represented Nassau County’s 16th Legislative District since 2016.

U sing his remarkable gifts, Chapin pursued a philanthropic calling.

THOMAS P. DINAPOLI New York state comptroller

FRAMEWORK courtesy Michael Ostrow