Oyster Bay Herald 12-30-2022

Rob Brusca is ‘Mr. Oyster Bay'

By Laura Lane

Robert Brusca has always given everything to his community. Often called the “unofficial and unpaid mayor” or “Mr. Oyster Bay,” the lifelong East Norwich resident can always be found volunteering at one event or another, where he will tell anyone who will listen how great it is to live in Oyster Bay, and why.

Whether he’s thanking Town Council members for their hard work at a meeting, sweeping up after the holiday market, or encouraging participation in a Chamber of Commerce event to help promote small businesses, Brusca is an overwhelmingly positive, universally appreciated force in the

community.

For all he does, the Herald is proud to name him its 2022 Person of the Year.

“Rob gives so much to the community he grew up in and continues to live in,” said Richard LaMarca, the town clerk and a friend since childhood. “And he was always a leader, even back in school.”

Brusca’s parents, Rose and Louis,

HERALD

PERSON oF THE YEAR

ROB BRusca

moved to East Norwich in 1962. Rob, the oldest of three, has a sister, Laura McConnell, and a brother, Richard.

He made his mark early on. He was class president at Oyster Bay High School and a star athlete. “Rob was the captain of our championship football team when we tied with Valley Stream North —

which is a big school — as co-champions in 1981,” LaMarca recounted. “He always encouraged everyone, and still does.”

Brusca was inducted into the OBHS Hall of Fame in 2010. His football coach, now his friend, Butch Garrison, described him as “a good guy who is fair and honest with everybody.”

“When he moved up to varsity, his father was worried that because he was small, he’d get hurt,” Garrison recalled. “He was our middle linebacker. They all tried to run at the little guy, but he was one hell of a football player.”

Santos should do the honest thing: step aside

More than a quartermillion people turned out across the North Shore and Queens on Election Day to decide who would succeed Tom Suozzi representing them in the U.S. House. Those voters overwhelmingly chose George Santos to take that job. Yet the George Santos they elected is not actually George Santos. He’s a fictional character, and what voters believed about him was no different than believing Martin Sheen might make a good president of the United States because of the likeable character he once played on television.

George Santos billed himself as a wealth manager. He’s not. He billed himself as a college graduate. He’s not. He even billed himself as Jewish. You know where this is going: He’s not.

The George Santos the people elected to represent them is not the George Santos set to be sworn next week in Washington. And since the George Santos voters chose doesn’t exist, the real George Santos must do the right thing and step aside.

It’s not about politics or power. It’s simply showing respect for the people you

were supposed to represent, whose choices should be based on truth, and not outright fabrications.

Santos has dismissed the controversy over his background as simply resume embellishments — something everyone does. “A lot of people overstate their resume,” Santos said.

Sure, some might be guilty of playing up their importance a bit at past jobs to help impress a potential new boss.

But there’s a major difference between expanding your past accomplishments a bit and claiming to have worked for prestigious companies you never actually worked for. Or receiving degrees you didn’t actually receive.

If Santos were applying for a regular job like the rest of us, such “embellishments” — once discovered — would almost certainly result in a rescinded job offer. Why should Congress be any different? Elections are nothing more than an extensive job

interview, in which a boss — the people — choose who will fill the role.

Some have said the people will get a chance to have their say in two years when the seat is up for election again, but why should any of us have to wait that long to weigh in?

And while Santos has not been charged with a crime, there are some major questions surrounding how he suddenly went from an annual income of around $55,000 to one where he claimed more than $1.7 million — taking a significant chunk of that and sinking it into his campaign.

Yet Santos has mostly evaded questions about where that money came from, claiming just Wednesday it was from brokering sales of secondhand airplanes and boats, without offering any details. There is a lot of head-scratching about where this sudden wealth came from, and ultimately any investigation will become pure distraction for

Santos, meaning he won’t be able to represent his constituents as they are expecting to be represented.

He blamed his previous money problems — including more than $10,000 in owed rent — on having to take care of his mother, who died in 2016. Yet Santos also says he was living in Florida in 2016. That he was “near” the Pulse nightclub on June 12, when the popular Orlando gay destination was the scene of a horrific mass shooting that killed 49 people.

Santos even went as far as saying four of those who died worked for him — later revising that statement, claiming they were about to be hired by the same company he worked for, without offering any other details.

Santos also identified as

Jewish, claiming his maternal grandparents fled to Brazil, escaping the Holocaust. He later said all of us simply misunderstood him — that he was “Jew-ish,” meaning “kind of” Jewish.

Throughout the campaign, Santos presented himself as the personification of the “American Dream.” Yet people every day — including many of his would-be constituents — struggle to pay bills, save money, and very much live paycheck to paycheck with jobs that don’t pay as well as they should.

It’s a truth that very well could have resonated with voters, but George Santos didn’t trust them with the truth. He chose to seek office on a mountain of lies that seems to grow every day. And voters deserve better.

George Santos must step aside, and give voters another chance to choose through a special election. It’s the right thing to do. It’s the honest thing to do.

Continued on page 2

Courtesy Rob Brusca

People call Rob Brusca ‘Mr. Oyster Bay,’ and describe his passion for the hamlet as contagious.

GEoRGE SANToS

The unofficial mayor serves his beloved hamlet

Brusca, now 58, said he loved attending all the schools in the Oyster Bay-East Norwich Central School District. And what he finds magical is that the district has maintained the small-town feel that he’s always loved.

Brusca is an attorney with his own practice in the hamlet, where he focuses on real estate and wills and estates. His first job as a lawyer was at LaMarca’s father’s firm, Marino, Bernstein and LaMarca.

“Those three guys were fantastic role models,” he recalled. “They were all my friends’ parents, and then they became my boss.”

Anthony LaMarca, the firm’s only surviving partner, had known Brusca for years because of his friendship with his son. “Rob was the same practicing law as he is as a person,” the senior LaMarca said. “He’s a nice fella, and was a good employee. He had integrity, and a willingness to help with anything. He’s just a super guy.”

Brusca brings his talents as a volunteer to the boards of many local nonprofits. He has sat on the board of the Oyster Bay Railroad Museum since 2009. Bill Burke, of East Norwich, who oversees education at the museum, attributes his involvement to Brusca. Burke had been on the board of the Oyster Bay Main Street Association, where he was unable to use his talent as a former educator. Brusca opened the door for him to get involved at the museum.

“I wanted to have an impact to develop an education program, and he helped me so I could get it started at the museum,” Burke said. “The Railroad Museum’s building is owned by the town. Rob’s connections with the town keep the relationship working.”

Brusca said he knew little about trains before he got involved at the museum. “The only thing I knew as a kid was my brother had a great model train setup, and my dad took the (Long Island Rail Road) at Syosset,” he said with a chuckle. “But I was asked to get involved. I saw the museum as a community benefit.”

Ann Balderson-Glynn, who is also on the museum board, said that Brusca’s legal expertise is a gift. “Rob is a gogetter, and he keeps things going,” Balderson-Glynn said. “He makes connections with people out of the goodness of his heart, and is someone who brings people together for the greater good. And he’s not only smart and helpful but is also a very thoughtful person. Rob is just kind.”

Brusca is also a member of the board of the Oyster Bay-East Norwich Chamber of Commerce. Ravin Chetram, its vice president, described Brusca as a fixture in town whom board members ask for advice.

Rich LaMarca noted Brusca’s generosity, and said that at this year’s holiday market, he paid for the hot chocolate and went around offering it to people. “He gives up so much of his time for the community,”

LaMarca said. “Rob’s got a big heart.”

Brusca serves as counsel for the Oyster Bay Civic Association, and is also on the advisory board of the Main Street Association. Meredith Maus, the association’s executive director, has known him for 10 years.

“You don’t get things done in this downtown by yourself,” Maus said.

“Rob arranges for the meetings and helps coordinate projects. He’s always a part of everything that gets done, and plays a big role in everything we do.”

Brusca said he first got involved in the community 15 years ago, when he joined

a committee to stop a project to build apartments that AvalonBay Communities was planning. The developer was proposing 300 apartments four or five stories high on Pine Hollow Road. No one supported it, Brusca said, because it would have altered the community negatively.

Richard LaMarca town clerk

“After six months, AvalonBay withdrew their application, and that was big,” he said. “From then on, I started to become involved in the community.”

One of his biggest accomplishments was unifying all of the local nonprofits and civic organizations. “During the last 15 to 16 years, representatives of nearly

every organization have become friendly, and they cooperate with each other,” Brusca said. “If there’s something of a common concern, like garbage in the downtown, the groups seek to inform each other, talk about it and try to come up with a unified position, and then address it.”

He doesn’t consider himself to be any different than others who volunteer. He usually underplays his involvement in the community, and is always quick to give others credit for their work.

Although he admits that he likes to have the last word, Brusca believes that if it’s beneficial, that’s OK. “I can be a little louder or more of a nudge then others, but if that has to be, I’m happy to do that,” he said.

“I grew up here, live here and I’ll probably have my last meal here.”

He gives up so much of his time for the community. Rob’s got a big heart.

Courtesy Rob Brusca

Rob Brusca shares his passion for Oyster Bay with his girlfriend, Giovanna Bizzoso, who also grew up here. They can often be found volunteering in the community together.

'He makes connections with people out of the goodness of his heart'

Jewish residents and leaders react to Santos’ lies

By WILL SHEELINE wsheeline@liherald.com

Residents of New York’s Third Congressional District continue to be astounded by the influx of information regarding Congressman-elect George Santos’ lies and exaggerations about his life.

Denae Penney, a resident of Sea Cliff, is one of many residents of the district who said she is shocked and disgusted by the lies Santos has told. Penney said New Yorkers should be united in rejecting him from representing them in Congress.

“I think the scope of his lies is so egregious that he should be blocked from being sworn in by all parties and all religions,” Penney said. “This is not just something that should be offensive towards people that didn’t vote for him. It should be most offensive for the people that did.”

One claim that has especially stood out has been Santos’ assertion that he is the grandson of Jewish refugees of the Holocaust, leaving many Jewish residents, leaders and lawmakers in the district particularly outraged.

Nassau County Legislator Josh Lafazan, whose grandfather actually was a refugee of the Holocaust, has continually called on Santos to resign since the news broke. He is also working on introducing a Campaign Honesty Bill to the Legislature, which would make it a misdemeanor to lie about a candidate’s personal and professional history while campaigning in Nassau County.

“It’s a morally depraved lie that George Santos told to manipulate the emotions of Jewish voters like myself, in order to win votes in one of the most Jewish districts in the country,” Lafazan said. “For someone to lie about their grandparents’ involvement in the Holocaust in order to gain votes is one of the most egregious things I’ve ever seen in politics.”

The allegations against Santos were first raised by the New York Times in a bombshell article released last week, which detailed how he had lied about his education, job history, financial history and numerous other issues with his background. A subsequent article by the Jewish newspaper Forward claimed that the Congressman-elect had also lied about his Jewish heritage, according to their research with a genealogy site.

This claim had been prominently featured on the About section of his campaign page, reading that “George’s grandparents fled Jewish persecution in Ukraine, settled in Belgium, and again fled persecution in WWII.” This information was recently removed from his website.

Now, after several days of silence, Santos has come forward and admitted to not being Jewish, according to an article by the New York Post on Monday. However, that same day in a subsequent interview with the news outlet City & State New York, Santos re-asserted that to the best of his knowledge he was Jewish.

“As I’ve said many times, and I think you’ve heard me say this, I’m Catholic, but I’m Jew-ish, as in ‘ish,’” Santos said, to show host Skye Ostreicher. “Growing up, I was fully aware that my grandpar-

ents were Jewish, that I came from a Jewish family, and that they were refugees to Brazil.”

The outrage has increased among Jews as more and more evidence indicate that Santos’ grandparents were born in Brazil. Several people have expressed their revulsion that Santos would use the tragedy of the Holocaust to help win the election.

“What he’s done is disgusting, it’s anti-Semitic and it’s racist,” New York State Assemblyman Charles Lavine said. “Anyone who would identify or manipulate the Jewish people to the extent of claiming falsely to be Jewish, to curry some sort of supposed favor, is absolutely guilty of racism and anti-Semitism.”

Steve Markowitz, former chairman of the Holocaust Memorial & Tolerance Center of Nassau County, said that Santos’ claims that all he had done was embellish his resume was a lie, and was deeply infuriating to hear. Markowitz also expressed concerns about Santos’ finances.

“I just find that outrageous,” Markowitz said. “But to me the major issue of the whole thing is the questions raised about where his money came from.”

Many New Yorkers and New York poli-

ticians, predominately Democrats, are calling on Santos to step down. Both of his immediate predecessors as the Third District’s Congressman — Tom Suozzi of Glen Cove and Steve Israel of Oyster Bay — have spoken out against Santos’ blatant and self-serving lies.

“When I represented this district, my constituents knew where I stood and who I was,” Israel said in a statement. “Mr. Santos has misled Republicans and Democrats alike on fundamental elements of his identity.”

“People should tell the GOP leadership not to seat him,” Suozzi said. “George Santos is a liar and to see him in Congress is a black mark against GOP leadership and the entire Congress.”

Joseph Cairo, chairman of the Nassau County Republican Committee, is one of the few conservative leaders who have spoken about Santos and his fraudulent claims. Cairo released a statement on Tuesday claiming that although he was unimpressed with Santos’ apology so far, that shouldn’t prevent him from serving in Congress.

“The damage that his lies have caused to many people, especially those who have been impacted by the Holocaust, are pro-

found,” Cairo stated. “He must do the public’s will in Washington. Residents want him to deliver tax relief and pass laws that will make our neighborhoods and our nation safer.”

Santos’ opponent in the election, Robert Zimmerman, who is Jewish, has called on the Congressman-elect to resign his seat and face him in a special election, now that the voters of the district know the true content of his character. Zimmerman also discussed how he and his campaign had raised issues over Santos’ background from the beginning, particularly on his conflicting claims about his participation in the Jan. 6 insurrection.

“George Santos has acknowledged lying about his education, his business career, lying about his faith and admitting to crimes,” Zimmerman said. “So today I call for his resignation from holding public office, if in fact his name is George Santos.”

Rabbi Deborah Bravo of the reform synagogue Makom NY in Bethpage, said that what she is most concerned by is the impact lying at this scale will have on the children of the community.

“It’s just so absurd to me and it makes me wonder, what does it teach our children about lying,” Bravo continued. “If any of us in any of our jobs lied the way he did, we’d all lose our jobs.”

Will Sheeline/Herald

ALmoSt EvEry cLAIm Santos has made about his life and experiences has been shown to be false, none more atrociously than that his grandparents fled the Holocaust.

What he’s done is disgusting, it’s anti-Semitic and it’s racist.

cHArLES LAvINE New York State Assemblyman

herald schools

Vernon students share the gift of song this holiday

Oyster Bay-East Norwich fifth and sixth grade chorus students from James H. Vernon School spread holiday cheer during their visit to the Life Enrichment Center at Oyster Bay on Dec. 22. Under the direction of Louis Costidis, the chorus students performed some songs for their winter concert, along with a special holiday medley for the seniors at the center.

They performed Broadway hits such as “Seasons of Love” from Rent and “Waving Through the Window” from “Dear Evan Hansen.” While dressed in their festive holiday attire, the students also performed “Jingle Bells,” “Walking in a Winter Wonderland” and “Sleigh Ride” and encouraged everyone to sing along.

Superintendant of the Oyster Bay-East Norwich Schools Dr. Francesco Ianni, K-12 Supervisor of Fine and Performing Arts Erica Giglio Pac, and James H. Vernon School Principal Dr. Valerie Vacchio and Assistant Principal Rebecca Menuzzo also joined in the holiday celebration with

seniors at the Life Enrichment Center joined the students as they performed holiday songs.

the students and seniors. As the chorus students left the building they each received as a thank you from the center’s “Mrs. Claus.”

oyster bay

HERALD

Courtesy Oyster Bay-East Norwich Central School District FiFth and sixth grade chorus students from James H. Vernon School performed songs from their winter concert at the Life Enrichment Center at Oyster Bay.

Blakeman takes the oath of office. Nassau's new county executive, Bruce Blakeman, gave his first speech after his inauguration at the Cradle of Aviation Museum in Garden City.

A little slice of Italy comes to Oyster Bay. Michael DiGiuseppi and his sons, Michael, Lorenzo and Luca, made a purchase at Cardinali Bakery in Oyster Bay, which opened in January.

First snow is beautiful and manageable. After shoveling driveways and sidewalks for his Bayville neighbors, Jack Baker, 16, goofed around with his dog, Archie.

Plan to remove ‘ghost traps’ from the Long Island Sound. A $115,841 grant will fund the removal of neglected lobster gear from an 18square-mile section of the Sound.

Town leaders are sworn in. Supervisor Joseph Saladino’s brother, Judge James Saladino, second from left, installed his brother as Halina Howlett held the Bible at the induction ceremony.

Courtesy Town of Oyster Bay

Elisa Dragotto/Herald

Christina Daly/Herald

Laura Lane/Herald

Bayville artists share their talent in their hometown. Loren Faragrasso said she most enjoys painting portraits.

Courtesy Jessica Baker

Courtesy Friends of the Bay

Blackout puts a damper on a big Sunday. Umberto’s manager Marco Coppola, who was working when the store lost power on Super Bowl Sunday, said he lost much of his business on a day that he counts on every year.

Snouder’s

Elected leaders say no to accessory dwelling units. Elected officials, including Supervisor Joseph Saladino, center, and Glen Cove Mayor Pam Panzenbeck, front left, gathered in East Meadow to voice their opposition to Gov. Kathy Hochul’s proposal that could end single-family zoning.

Raine Bethany/Herald

Will Sheeline/Herald

Animal General of East Norwich named Vet of the Year. Bacon the pig was one of Animal General’s satisfied customers.

Courtesy Animal General of East Norwich Herald file photo

A star helps county recognize American Heart Month. Emmy Award winner Susan Lucci and government and health officials spoke at the county legislative building.

Will Sheeline/Herald

Coming soon: a new and improved Snouder’s Corner Drug Store.

is repairing and reusing many of the original beams, keeping the structure authentic.

Will Sheeline/Herald

More county funding for Bayville Bridge. Nassau County Legislator Josh Lafazan, right, held a news conference to offer $15 million in county funding to help complete the multiyear Bayville Bridge Rehabilitation Project. Bayville Mayor Bob De Natale joined him.

Locust Valley wins first L.I. title. Olivia Del Tatto, left, and Gia Vilella celebrated after the Falcons defeated Greenport/Southold for the L.I. Class B championship.

Ukraine. Katya Witthuhn, Bluebird Chocolates' owner, donated some of her sales to World Central Kitchen for Ukraine.

Rising food prices keep hitting Oyster Bay hard. Food prices have skyrocketed, with stores adding signs saying “everyday low price” to encourage customers to purchase items that have sometimes tripled in price.

Bayville

Members of the Bayville Library Renovation Committee — Tom Tini, near right, Katie Schlicht and Judy Wohrle — predicted that construction would be completed by September.

St. Dom’s student honored for winter clothing drive. Oyster Bay Town Clerk Richard LaMarca, far right, recognized St. Dominic’s student Tim Nigro, second from right, for his commitment to the community in hosting a ‘Warm Winter Wear’ Drive to benefit those in need.

Courtesy Office of Richard LaMarca

Media Origin Inc./Herald

Courtesy Beck Matsubara

Can having coyotes on the North Shore be a good thing? Coyote numbers on Long Island have been increasing over the last few years.

Elisa Dragotto/Herald

Small businesses making big difference in

Will Sheeline/Herald

Laura Lane/Herald

Library continues with renovation work.

Laying the tracks at Oyster Bay Railroad Museum. The installation of two tracks at the Oyster Bay Railroad Museum’s display yard was completed, for two small switching engines and a caboose to travel on.

Sagamore Hill set to reopen in May. Sagamore Hill occupies 83 acres, and during Roosevelt’s lifetime it was known as the Summer White House.

Will Sheeline/Herald

Laura Lane/Herald

Roosevelt first-graders learn about school’s namesake. Author and illustrator Kathleen Bart gave Roosevelt Elementary first-grader Kylie Joannon a suggestion on how to draw a teddy bear, which Savanna Silvio listened to as well.

Trio bring izakaya dining to the hamlet. Executive chef Charley Moi has worked to perfect Asian and French cuisine, Southern and Asian-style BBQ and numerous other culinary genres.

Will Sheeline/Herald

Courtesy David Packard

Art honors Colvin, a local legend. When Tina Tnag created a portrait of Marie Colvin, she focused on what was perhaps her most distinguishing physical identifier, the eye-patch she wore.

Courtesy Oyster Bay Railroad Museum

Elisa Dragotto/Herald

Easter egg hunt returns at Bailey Arboretum. Sisters Finley, 8, and Amelie, 5, were dressed appropriately for the Bailey Arboretum Easter egg hunt.

Nursing goes well beyond the bedside at Glen Cove Hospital. Matthew Mendoza, right, a registered nurse, practiced cardiopulmonary resuscitation on a dummy while Jennifer Dixon oversaw the training.

Roosevelt laid to rest again with re-enactor Foote’s death. Above, James Foote gave one of T.R.’s speeches at the reopening of Sagamore Hill in July 2015.

Arbor Day. Julie Stienhauser, 6, left, and her sister, Hannah, 4, showed off the day lily they chose.

Bethpage Air Show flies back into the sky. Jessy Panzer has done many air shows before, but flew in the Bethpage Air Show for just the second time — and her first time back in her ‘single-seat pink airplane.’

at LVSD. Certified therapy dog Maggie visited Locust Valley High School on May 3.

Courtesy Jessy Panzer

Herald file photo

Elisa Dragotto/Herald

Planting Fields festival celebrates

Herald file photo

Courtesy LI Bombers

Long Island Bombers set to play beep ball. In beep ball, all batters wear blindfolds, because players have varying levels of visual impairment.

Elisa Dragotto/Herald

Therapy dogs a benefit

Intern paves the way for disabled youth. Kevin Santana wasn’t very interested in trains until his first visit to the Oyster Bay Railroad Museum.

Chamber’s Oyster Bay Day a success. Among the many family-friendly activities were a magician, face painting and games.

William Sheeline/Herald

Seraina Caviezel/Herald

Bonanza's a community staple for over 120 years. Linda Riddell, left, and her aunt Mary Ziegner have been customers of Bonanza's for years because they love the hot dogs there.

Women share stories of how they beat cancer. Dr. Richard Barakat, physician in chief of Northwell's Cancer Institute, left, and Michael Epstein, Northwell's chairman, gave keynote speaker Carol Silva a ceremonial white coat at Cancer Survivor’s Day.

Courtesy Northwell Health

Courtesy Oyster Bay Railroad Museum

Elisa Dragotto/Herald

2 Spring holds its first street party in the hamlet. Partygoers had their first chance of the summer to get a taste of cotton candy.

Elisa Dragotto/Herald

Memorial Day in Oyster Bay. It was all about patriotism for members of the Oyster Bay Fire Company, who brought Uncle Sam along to the Memorial Day parade.

MAIN DISHES

STEW CHICKEN WITH WHITE OR YELLOW RICE (POLLO GUISADO CON ARROZ BLANCO O AMARILLO) BAKE CHICKEN WITH YOUR CHOICE (HORNEAR POLLO CON SU E LECCION) STEW BEFF WITH YOUR CHOICE (ESTOFADO DE TERNERA CON SU ELECCION) SANDWICHES HAM WITH CHEESE (JAMON Y QUESO) TURKEY WITH CHEESE (PAVO CO N QUESO) STEAK SANDWICH (SANDWICH DE BISTEC) PORK SHOULDER SANDWICH (SANDWICH DELOMO DE CERDO) DIFFERENT COLD CUT SANDWICH (DIFERENTES SANDWICHES DE FIAMBRE)

SOUPS

CHICKE N SOUP (SOPA DE POLLO) BEEF SOUP (SOUPA DE RES) SALADS

TUNA SALAD (ENSALADA DE ATUN) MACARONI SALAD (ENSALADA MARCA RONI) POTATO SALAD (ENSALADA DE PATATA)

DRINKS

SODAS ORANGE JUICE CRANBERRY JUICE LEMONA DE NATURAL JUCIES WATER COFFEE HOT TEA HOT CHOCOLATE SNACK CHIPS • CANDY • CAKES

Daughter of D-Day admiral is a centenarian. Deborah Kirk Solbert, seated at right, prepared to blow out her candles with the help of great-grandson Riordan Solbert-McDonald at her 100th birthday party.

L.V. welcomes new assistant superintendent.

Janine Sampino has worked in academia for roughly 30 years, and was scheduled to begin her work at the Locust Valley Central School District on Friday.

Patricia H. Ladew

St. Rocco’s Festival is back after two long years. It featured a food stand run by the Italian American Citizens Club, shown here in a photo from 2004.

Will Sheeline/Herald

Bill Kelly/Herald

Oyster Bay’s Teddy’s Boys win battalion drill. Kevin Placilla, left, and Brandon Louie of the Bayville Oak Neckers competed in the two-in-one event.

Courtesy Janine Sampino

Will Sheeline/Herald

Will Sheeline/Herald

T.R. gives Fourth of July speech with gusto. Teddy arrived at the gazebo in a motorcar with Town Clerk Richard LaMarca riding beside him.

Laura Lane/Herald

Older cats find new homes with older cat lovers.

The

Foundation helped seniors find new furry friends.

December 30, 2022 — OYSTER BAY

New mural highlights O.B. railroad’s history. The Oyster Bay Railroad Museum’s new mural took six sessions by artist Bill McClure to complete. It was created with a cartoonish style for children and adults to appreciate.

Town kicks

off new shellfish recycling

effort. Town Clerk Rich LaMarca, far left, Supervisor Joseph Saladino, Councilwoman Laura Maier and Cooper Bluff owner Russ Lundstrom ate the first oysters. The shells were later put in a bucket for the new program.

Mike Khimov, the man behind the haircut in Oyster Bay. Mike Khimov will always chat with customers like Ryan Brunetti while giving them a haircut at his shop in the hamlet.

Will Sheeline/Herald

Will Sheeline/Herald

Snouder’s nears completion. Roughly 70 windows have been replaced with historically accurate replicas, which will provide superior heat retention compared with the originals.

Will Sheeline/Herald

Seraina Caviezel/Herald

Tiny Art Show in Bayville. Agatha Pileggi, 12, created a Bayville sunset, which was on display at the Bayville Library in the Tiny Art Show.

Will Sheeline/Herald

Tim Baker/Herald

A drone’s-eye view of history. Antoine McLean teaches kids — including his son, Antoine Jr. — how to handle and operate drones safely.

Roosevelt’s resting place. The white crosses scattered around the cemetery mark likely locations of graves of indentured servants and slaves who served the Youngs family.

Raising their voices against the invasion.

Natalia Homcharenko took part in a protest in Manhattan against Russia’s invasion of her homeland, Ukraine, on Feb. 25. The sunflower, Ukraine’s national flower, has become a symbol of resistance.

Jack Loud said he’s noticed how happy people have been to be able to come back to Taco Bay without fear of Covid.

A history of community service. The Main Street Association was awarded a grant of $45,600 in 2006 for its plan to create a plaza entrance at the foot of Audrey Avenue, although the town ultimately chose not to implement it..

Glen Cove

100

service to the city. In the mid1920s, Glen Cove Hospital utilized ambulances like this one for transport.

Six-year-old oyster gardening program seeks to save the Sound. Officials and volunteers gathered on the Friends of the Bay’s boat to clean and measure the oysters.

Will Sheeline/Herald

Will Sheeline/Herald

Will Sheeline/Herald

Summer brings improvement in business.

Courtesy Natalia Homcharenko

Courtesy Joan Mahon

Courtesy North Shore Historical Museum

Hospital marks

years of

Property tax unchanged in town budget. Rob Darienzo, the Town of Oyster Bay's finance director, answered questions from members of the town board at a public hearing.

Schiffman’s Cleaners and Dyers, a family business from the 1940s, was located at 64 Glen Cove Ave. in Glen Cove. Today is it the site of Sorenson’s Lumber.

East Norwich family offers gift of karate to honor a black belt. Tom, Mimi, Stephen and Caroline Treacy celebrated with Richard Treacy on his 35th birthday in September 2020. He died five months later.

Courtesy Treacy family

Will Sheeline/Herald

Legion tackling decline in its membership. James Randall, far left, Ralph Casey, Joseph Scarola and Anthony Paternostro led the discussion and answered legionnaires’ questions at Glenwood Landing Post 336 on Sept. 29.

A ‘bully’ band celebrates T.R. with a third CD. The Sagamore Hill Band is made up of professional local musicians who play a wide range of instruments, from strings to woodwinds to brass.

Courtesy Steven Walker

Will Sheeline/Herald

Courtesy Jewish History Museum

A look into the history of Jewish owned businesses.

Courtesy Yolo Strong

Yolo Strong marks 10 years of helping medically fragile children. Cheryl Lordi, left, Ruthie Reid and Dannie Taylor at last October’s 4 x 4 x 24 event. Ruthie was busy cheering the participants on.

On the North Shore, the election ‘red wave’ was real. Political newcomer George Santos, a Republican, was elected to Congress, but controversy ensued.

businesses that stay family. Hundreds came to The Heritage Club in Bethpage to take part in the Herald Family Business Awards, presented by RichnerLive and PSEG Long Island. Honorees Mark and John Cronin shared the story of John’s Crazy Socks.

Ashlee Joly, a 2021 graduate of Locust Valley High School, is one of the finalists for the New York City Youth Poet Laureate Program.

WWII

Vietnam. The Veterans Day assemblage saluted the Stars and Stripes as they sang the national anthem.

A ghostly Halloween parade. The ghosts were back for the annual Raynham Hall Halloween Parade, one of the more unique celebrations of the holiday.

Elisa Dragotto/Herald

Courtesy Glen Cove Senior Center

Pat Parmelee, former educator, dies at 90. The Glen Cove Senior Center held a 90th birthday party for SAGE board member Pat Parmelee this year.

Courtesy Ashlee Joly

LVHS grad a finalist in New York poetry program.

Tim Baker/Herald

Honoring

Will Sheeline/Herald

Will Sheeline/Herald

Celebrating veterans from

to

The holiday spirit comes early to the hamlet. The young performers from the Gone Dancing school in Oyster Bay wowed attendees with their moves at the

Toys for kids of all ages on exhibit at Raynham Hall Museum. A collection of Christian-themed games were on display in the music parlor, along with a mannequin dressed in a chic late-19th-century dress.

Not a silent night — instead an Art Night.

Robert Zeller’s traditional art focuses on capturing realistic forms by using distinctive colors.

Caring for the caregivers at G.C. Hospital. Danielle Kerr, a social work intern from Adelphi, far left, volunteer caregiver coaches Christine Mills and Nancy White, and Lorna Lee-Riley, Glen Cove Hospital’s senior social worker, in one of the rooms at the new Caregiver Center.

Vocal ensemble adds old-fashioned seasonal cheer to chamber’s Stroll. Despite the chill, the carolers, from left, Elisa Dragotto, Sian Piret, Michelle Parsinski, Brandon Allen and Christopher Judge, came prepared to sing — and, with a conspicuously placed hat, to collect donations for St. Hilda’s Guild.

Will Sheeline/Herald

Will Sheeline/Herald

Holiday Stroll and Christmas Tree Lighting.

Fundraiser for local youth team is a grand slam. The Bulldogs, including catcher and second baseman Mateo Colacioppo, of Sea Cliff, had the chance to have their picture taken with Met Daniel Vogelbach.

Courtesy Jim Werner

Courtesy Ted Bahr

Laura Lane/Herald

Elisa Dragotto/Herald

NOTICE OF ADOPTION

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that at a regular meeting held on the 21st day of December 2022, the Board of Commissioners of the Jericho Water District duly adopted a resolution, an abstract of which follows, which resolution is subject to a permissive referendum pursuant to Town Law Article 7:

RESOLUTION authorizing the Treasurer to appropriate funds from the Capital Improvement Reserve Fund for the purpose of funding the Replacement of Garage Doors at District Headquarters, in the amount of $179,000.00.

Dated: December 30, 2022 James Asmus, Commissioner Secretary of the Jericho Water District 136421

LEGAL NOTICE PUBLIC NOTICE

INC. VILLAGE OF LAUREL HOLLOW BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS

NOTICE IS HEREBY

GIVEN, that a public hearing and meeting will be held by and before the Board of Zoning Appeals of the Inc. Village of Laurel Hollow, Nassau County, New York, on Tuesday, January 10, 2023 at 6:00 P.M. at the Village Hall, 1492 Laurel Hollow Road, Laurel Hollow, New York.

ZV8-2022: The public hearing on the application of the Laurel Group on behalf of Jordan Kenna and Lee Smith to construct a swimming pool and terrace at 1594 Laurel Hollow Road, Laurel Hollow, NY where: “ The total surface lot coverage shall not exceed 20% (17,595.6 sf) of the lot area according to Section 145-5(A)(1)(d) of The Laurel Hollow Village Code. Surface lot coverage is proposed at 22.84 % (20,097 sf)

“ Section 145-5(A)(2) of the Laurel Hollow Village Code states that no building or structure shall hereafter be erected, altered or enlarged in the Residence District except on a lot which, for each principal building, together with its accessory buildings and structures, has a lot frontage on a street of at least 150’, except that where said frontage coincides with the circumference of a cul-desac at the extremity of a dead-end street, such front lot line frontage shall be at least 50 feet.

The structure is proposed on a lot with no street frontage or cul-de-sac frontage.

“ Section 145-5(A)(1)(b) of the Laurel Hollow Village Code states that the combined area of all other accessory buildings and structures, excluding

the principal building, shall not exceed 10% (8,797.8 sf) of the lot area. The combined area of all accessory structures proposed represents 12.19% (10,727 sf) of the lot area.

“

A copy of the Minutes of Meeting of the Board of Appeals dated April 2, 1962 states as follows (in part): “After due deliberation, those members of the Board present unanimously decided to approve the application as presented under date of March 5, 1962, under the following conditions:”

a) “That… except for the requirement of foot frontage on a public road, each of the proposed dwellings shall comply in all respects with the Building Zone Ordinances of Village…”

The applicants must seek and obtain from the Board of Zoning Appeals relief from the condition set forth above in that they seek relief for variances other than lack of “foot frontage on a public road”.

This property is designated as Section 26 Block 2 Lot 26 on the Land and Tax Map of Nassau County.

By Order of the Board of Zoning Appeals Russell Mohr, Chairman December 19, 2022 136420

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT NASSAU COUNTY INVESTORS BANK, Plaintiff against STEPHANIE ANTELL, et al Defendant(s)

Attorney for Plaintiff(s) Fein Such & Crane, LLP, 1400 Old Country Road, Suite 103N, Westbury, NY 11590.

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered November 20, 2019, I will sell at public auction to the highest bidder at North Side Steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on January 17, 2023 at 2:30

PM. Premises known as 15 Amber Lane, Oyster Bay, NY 11771. Sec 27 Block 081 Lot 56. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Incorporated Village of Oyster Bay Cove, Town of Oyster Bay, County of Nassau, and State of New York.

Approximate Amount of Judgment is $1,492,497.04 plus interest, fees, and costs.

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No 009668/2015 F/K/ A 9668/2015.

The foreclosure sale will be conducted in accordance with 10th Judicial District’s Covid-19 Policies and foreclosure auction rules.

The Referee shall enforce any rules in place regarding facial coverings and social distancing. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, then the Court Appointed Referee shall cancel the foreclosure auction. Foreclosure Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine.”

Jordan Hoffman, Esq., Referee CHJNY408 135935

LEGAL NOTICE

SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF HOUSE BEAUTIFUL AT WOODBURY HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION, INC., Plaintiff -against- GLORIA PASSEROFF, et al Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated October 7, 2022 and entered on October 11, 2022, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY on January 17, 2023 at 3:00 p.m. premises situate, lying and being a part of a condominium at Woodbury, Town of Oyster Bay, County of Nassau and State of New York, known and designated as Unit No. 3 and Tax No. 3, together with a 2.272 percent undivided interest in the common elements.

Section: 15 Block: 198 Lot: 28, Tax Unit 3

All bidders must wear a face mask/shield at all times and social distancing must be observed by all bidders at all times. Bidders who do not comply with the face mask and/or the social distancing mandate will be removed from the auction.

Said premises known as 6 CHESTNUT LANE, WOODBURY, NY Approximate amount of lien $6,581.08 plus interest & costs.

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale.

Index Number 602994/2021.

JANE SHRENKEL, ESQ., Referee Schneider Buchel LLP Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 666 Old Country Road, Suite 412, Garden City, NY 11530

{* OYSTER BAY*} 135848

LEGAL NOTICE

REFEREE’S NOTICE OF SALE IN FORECLOSURE SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU ELM CAPITAL LLC, Plaintiff - against - EDITH MARIE CAPERS BROWN, INDIVIDUALLY AND ADMINISTRATRIX OF THE ESTATE OF JOSEPH WALKER BROWN, et al Defendant(s).

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered on July 1, 2022, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, N.Y. 11501 “Rain or Shine” on the 17th day of January, 2023 at 2:00 PM. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being, and identified on the land and tax map of the County of Nassau in the State of New York.

Premises known as 45 13th St., Locust Valley, NY.

(Section: 30, Block: 22, Lot(s): 48 (Group Lot 48-49))

Approximate amount of lien $6,120.74 plus interest and costs.

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed judgment and terms of sale.

Index No. 606967/2020.

Dominic A. Villoni, Esq., Referee.

Joseph Ehrenreich, Esq. Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 366 North Broadway, Suite 410 Jericho, NY 11753

Tel. 516-942-4215

Dated: September 29, 2022

During the COVID-19 health emergency, bidders are required to comply with all governmental health requirements in effect at the time of sale including but not limited to, wearing face coverings and maintaining social distancing (at least 6-feet apart) during the auction, while tendering deposit and at any subsequent closing. Bidders are also required to comply with the Foreclosure Auction Rules and COVID-19 Health Emergency Rules issued by the Supreme Court of this County in addition to the conditions set forth in the Terms of Sale.

135908

LEGAL NOTICE

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS TRUSTEE FOR THE RMAC TRUST, SERIES 2016-CTT, Plaintiff, v.

ASSUNTINA BOTTICELLI, ET AL, Defendant. NOTICE OF SALE IN FORECLOSURE

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE THAT

In pursuance of a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the Office of the County Clerk of Nassau County on October 17, 2022, I, Evette Coretta Ennis, Esq. , Esq. the Referee named in said Judgment, will sell in one parcel at public auction on January 26, 2023 at The North Side

brief

Foundation’s grant gives over $3 million to 34 nonprofits in 2022

In its last round of grants this year, the Long Island Community Foundation has approved $937,500 to 34 nonprofits, bringing this years total to over $3 million through its competitive and collaborative funds grant-making programs.

These final grants of 2022 fund projects for career development for Black, Latino and disabled students, rescuing dogs from puppy mills, free legal services for veterans, career training programs for young adults, protection of land in the Pine Bar-

rens and much more.

“These grants are made possible by generations of Long Islanders who have included the Long Island Community Foundation in their wills, as well as recent contributors to our work,” David M. Okorn, executive director of the foundation, said. “The foundation is committed to responding to emerging needs throughout Nassau and Suffolk Counties to improve the quality of life for all Long Islanders.”

Public Notices Public Notices

Steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501, County of Nassau, State of New York, at 2:30 PM the premises described as follows:

1 Wakefield Drive Glen Head a/k/a Muttontown, NY 11545 SBL No. 16.-A-953

ALL THAT TRACT OR PARCEL OF LAND situate in the Town of Oyster Bay, County of Suffolk, State of New York.

The premises are sold subject to the provisions of the filed judgment, Index No. 607881/2017 in the amount of $1,271,481.58 plus interest and costs.

Foreclosure Auctions will be held Rain or Shine. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, then the Court Appointed Referee will cancel the foreclosure auction.

Richard S. Mullen Woods Oviatt Gilman LLP Plaintiff’s Attorney 500 Bausch & Lomb Place Rochester, NY 14604 Tel.: 855-227-5072 136268

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT. NASSAU COUNTY. L&L ASSOCIATES HOLDING CORP., Pltf. vs. EDITH MARIE CAPERS BROWN, et al, Defts. Index #611985/2021. Pursuant to judgment of foreclosure and sale entered October 25, 2022, I will sell at public auction on the North Side steps of the Nassau Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY on January 26, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. prem. k/a Section 30, Block 22, Lot(s) 48-49. Sold subject to terms and conditions of field judgment and terms of sale and the right of the United States of America to redeem within 120 days from the date of sale as provided by law. Foreclosure auction will be held “rain or shine.” If property social distancing

cannot be maintained of there are other health of safety concerns, then the court appointed referee will cancel the sale. FAY MATTANA, Referee. LEVY & LEVY, Attys. for Pltf., 12 Tulip Dr., Great Neck, NY. #99932 136266

LEGAL NOTICE

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORKCOUNTY OF NASSAU U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE FOR RCF 2 ACQUISITION TRUST, V. GENE SCHAEFER, ET AL. NOTICE OF SALE

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure dated October 19, 2022, and entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Nassau, wherein U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE FOR RCF 2 ACQUISITION TRUST is the Plaintiff and GENE SCHAEFER, ET AL. are the Defendant(s). I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction RAIN OR SHINE at the NASSAU COUNTY SUPREME COURT, NORTH SIDE STEPS, 100 SUPREME COURT DRIVE, MINEOLA, NY 11501, on January 24, 2023 at 2:30PM, premises known as 959 RIPLEY LANE, OYSTER BAY, NY 11771: Section 24, Block E, Lot 328:

ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND WITH THE BUILDING AND IMPROVEMENTS THEREON ERECTED, SITUATE, LYING AND BEING IN THE INCORPORATED VILLAGE OF UPPER BROOKVILLE, TOWN OF OYSTER BAY, COUNTY OF NASSAU AND STATE OF NEW YORK

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 001852/2017. Oscar A.

Prieto, 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 ACORDANCE WITH COURT/CLERK DIRECTIVES. 136261

LEGAL NOTICE

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORKCOUNTY OF NASSAU THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FKA THE BANK OF NEW YORK TRUST COMPANY, N.A. AS SUCCESSOR TO JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, AS TRUSTEE FOR RESIDENTIAL ASSET SECURITIES CORPORATION, HOME EQUITY MORTGAGE ASSET-BACKED PASS THROUGH CERTIFICATES SERIES 2004-KS7, V. BART SESSA, ET AL. NOTICE OF SALE

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure dated November 20, 2019, and entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Nassau, wherein THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FKA THE BANK OF NEW YORK TRUST COMPANY, N.A. AS SUCCESSOR TO JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, AS TRUSTEE FOR RESIDENTIAL ASSET SECURITIES CORPORATION, HOME EQUITY MORTGAGE ASSET-BACKED PASS THROUGH CERTIFICATES SERIES 2004-KS7 is the Plaintiff and BART SESSA, ET AL. are the Defendant(s). I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction RAIN OR SHINE at the

NASSAU COUNTY SUPREME COURT, NORTH SIDE STEPS, 100 SUPREME COURT DRIVE, MINEOLA, NY 11501, on January 26, 2023 at 2:30PM, premises known as 26 ADAMS STREET, OYSTER BAY, NY 11771: Section 27, Block 14, Lot 227:

ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND, WITH BUILDINGS AND IMPROVEMENTS THEREON ERECTED, SITUATE, LYING AND BEING AT OYSTER BAY, TOWN OF OYSTER BAY, COUNTY OF NASSAU AND STATE OF NEW YORK

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 003221/2015. Jane P. Shrenkel, 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 ACORDANCE WITH COURT/CLERK DIRECTIVES. 136263

Place a notice by phone at 516-569-4000 x232 or email: legalnotices@liherald.com

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF FORMATION OF LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY. NAME:King & Marie Properties, LLC. Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York, (SSNY) on 08/29/ 2022. NY Office location: Nassau County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of the process to:260 Madison Ave 8th Floor, New York, NY 10016

Purpose: To engage in any lawful act or activity. 135614

The masthead

The box at the far left side of the page is called the masthead. It contains the newspaper’s flag, or nameplate. The masthead offers important information about the paper, including the names of the staff members who are responsible for producing it each week.

Publisher Stuart Richner guides the business and news operations of the 23 newspapers in the Herald Community Newspapers group, including the Nassau Herald, which serves the Five Towns, and Heralds for Baldwin, Bellmore, East Meadow, Franklin SquareElmont, Freeport, Glen Cove, Long Beach, Lynbrook-East Rockaway, Malverne-West Hempstead, Merrick, Oceanside-Island Park, Oyster Bay, Rockville Centre, Sea Cliff-Glen Head, Valley Stream, Wantagh and Seaford.

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Editorial cartoon

Editorial cartoons are almost as old as newspapers themselves. They date back to 18th century England, and are a staple of the modern American opinion section. Yet, opinions here do not necessarily represent the opinions of the Herald or its staff.

call Rhonda Glickman, vice president of sales, at (516) 569-4000, ext. 250.

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Remembering for those who no longer can

Where were you when Kennedy was shot?”

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

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

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

And that’s simply not acceptable.

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

Not that we were perfect in doing so —

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

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

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

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

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

Now we live in a time when fears of a

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

History is fading, and with it its lessons. And we can’t let that happen. That’s why Dec. 7 is so important. Or Jan. 27 — International Holocaust Remembrance Day — as well as spring’s Yom Hashoah. Because you can’t even begin to talk about loss during this period without talking about the 6 million Jews who were killed — a third of Jews worldwide. Or the 2 million ethnic Poles.

Or 500,000 Roma. Or thousands more who were gay, or who were political or religious prisoners.

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

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

LETTERS

O’Connell sure didn’t pull any punches

To the Editor:

Don’t you love freedom of the press? That basic right enables people like John O’Connell, former executive editor of the Heralds, to blatantly cast aspersions on public figures without including specific evidence to support his claims.

In his op-ed last week, “I’ll take the GOP agenda — without Trump — any day,” O’Connell refers to Hillary Clinton as a “backstabbing, secretive, supercilious, lying, characterless cypher.” While I don’t love Hillary, I question what purpose such unsupported name-calling achieves, except perhaps to justify why O’Connell opted to vote for Trump, despite his “unappealing, obnoxious,” “insufferable” and “bullying” behavior.

O’Connell goes on to blast our sitting president, vice president, transportation secretary and governor,

What

Who writes editorials?

How do letters and guest columns get published?

This week’s pages offer some answers to our readers.

We thank The Riverdale Press and The Seattle Times for the idea.

Opinion pages

OPINIONS

‘Energy efficient’ may become a contradiction in terms

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

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

Opinion columns

We publish three columns every week. Columns represent the views of the writers themselves, not of the Herald. Each writer works independently and chooses his or her own subjects. Among our regular contributors are the Heralds’ executive editor, Michael Hinman, and the Nassau Herald’s former executive editor, Randi Kreiss, both of whom have won numerous awards for their opinion writing. We also feature columns by prominent political figures, including former Assemblyman Jerry Kremer, who is now a consultant. And we regularly invite guest columnists to offer their views.

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

Oh, wait. It is.

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

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

The hearings, by a special commission, are the result of legislation signed into law by Gov. Kathy Hochul. It directs the review of a plan to convert the existing public-private partnership that manages our electrical grid to one that would, in essence, make the governor ultimately responsible for its operation and maintenance.

RONALD J. ROSENBERG

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

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

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

among others, again without a logical explanation. He cites the GOP agenda, familiar to most of us. However, he does not mention the many Americans who suffer from a housing shortage, food insecurity, climate change, or a lack of adequate gun control. He also exhibits no concern for the recent increase in racist, antisemitic and homophobic violence against fellow human beings.

Will these people merely be casualties of war as the GOP tries to stifle the voices of its opposition? Surely a nation as great as ours must be able to find a way to achieve compromise so that the needs and safety of so many of its citizens are not ignored.

PAM SINGER Malverne

Trump’s ‘great’ accomplishments?

To the Editor:

John O’Connell asserted in his Nov.

24-30 column that he doesn’t like Donald Trump, but that the former president accomplished “great things.”

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

His disrespect for the country’s courts and its diplomatic and intelligence services? His refusal to accept the results of an election? Deepening political divisions and encouraging racial bigotry?

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

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

LARRY McCOY Rockville Centre

What makes this power play particularly toxic is that LIPA had been tasked with running the grid before. It failed, miserably, when Superstorm Sandy came ashore a decade ago.

As a result, then Gov. Andrew Cuomo required LIPA to engage private industry in running the grid, and to use financial incentives and penalties that are employed in the real world. Having had such a raving success with cashless bail, today’s progressive powerbrokers seem quite content to ignore those lessons, and now seek the keys to the power grid.

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

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

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

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

by Fatima Lasso

Special features

The op-ed, or opposite the editorial, page features a weekly Framework photo, which is chosen by our photo editor, Tim Baker. The Framework offers a creative, at times humorous outlet for our photography staff. In this spot, we also publish photos sent to us by readers featuring them on vacation, reading the Herald at various international landmarks. We call it Herald Around the World.

At times, a correction might appear on the op-ed page. We strive each week for the highest standards of accuracy and accountability. When we make mistakes in our reporting, we believe we must own up to them and correct the record.

Letters to the editor

We welcome readers’ letters to the editor and publish most that we receive. We believe these letters are critically important, because they reflect the shared voices of the communities that we cover.

Letters should be 250 to 300 words in length. Each letter must include an address and phone number. Our editors call all letter writers to confirm the authenticity of letters before publication.

We edit letters for length, grammar, spelling and foul language. We do not censor viewpoints.

If we believe a letter requires major revisions, we will send it back to the writer and ask that he or she change it so that meaning and intent are not lost.

Readers can send letters to the editors of their hometown newspapers, or to execeditor@liherald.com. They can be sent by email (preferred), fax or mail. All contact information is listed on the masthead and on our website, LIHerald.com.

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

Aimee Adamo

Jennifer Bliven

Charles (Chad) Brisbane

Barbara Catalano

Carol Cotton

Pierce Dellafera

Megan deRoulet

Diane (Didi) Dirkes

Janine Fakiris

Madeleine R. Ganis

Dana Hansen

Linda Kennedy

Marianna A. Kirikian

Patrick H. Mackay

Elizabeth Mead

Rita E. Pecora

Christian Roth

Geraldine (Gerry) Spink

Christina (Tina) Teagle

Kathryn (Kathy) Zoller

Kimberly Bancroft

Kathy P. Borg

Marta Bruderman

Nancy Catalano

Patricia (Patti) Craft

Huailing (Helen) Deng

Dee Jae Diliberto

Kathleen (Kathe) Dodd

Lisbeth M. Finnerty

Laura Gay

Aleta Heisig

Anne Kerr

Alexis McAndrew

Margaret Mateyaschuk

Susana Muir

Christina F. Porter

Caroline W. Rupp

Amy W. Tansill

Nicole Zbikowski

Thomas Zoller

Dawn Barnard

Carolina Boucos

Barbara Candee

Suzi Chase

Katie Cuddeback

Bonnie Devendorf

Giselle DiMasi

Antje Buelte Dolido

Michael Friend

Ellen M. Hanes

Jennifer Kelter

Cynthia Ketchum

Qing (Jeff) Lu

Kathryn (Cottie) Maxwell-Pournaras

Adelaide (Addie) Mulry

Anna Rivadeneira

Lawrence Schmidlapp

Larraine Tassis

Sharon Zerilli