Oceanside/Island Park Herald 03-28-2024

VoL. 59 No. 14

Village trustees are re-elected

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o’Side students learn life lessons

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MARCH 28-APRIL 3, 2024

I.P. students get their shine

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An egg-citing weekend in o’Side

Oceanside kids scrambled for the colored prizes at the annual egg hunt. The event, co-sponsored by the Oceanside Department of Community Activities and the Kiwanis Club, drew over 400 people. Story, more photos, Page 3.

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Cibellis is hardly your average Joe

By KEPHERD DANIEL kdaniel@liherald.com

The Kiwanettes of Oceanside are set to honor local heroes who have impacted the community. The organization will host an awards dinner at Lambrou’s Catering Hall, in Island Park, on April 11, and will present its Public Service Award to Towers Funeral Home, and its Leadership Award to Oceanside Chamber of Commerce Vice President Joe Cibellis.

Cibellis will be the first recipient of the Kiwanettes’ inagural Leadership Award. It will recognize his dedication to community service, exemplified by his longtime involvement in a variety of organizations and his family’s business legacy in the area.

“He’s a man of his word, and he’s a born leader, and he’s an asset to the community,” Kiwanettes member Maria Heller said. “I met Joe at a chamber meeting about six

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Mount Sinai South Nassau says goodbye to Eileen Mahler

By KEPHERD DANIEL kdaniel@liherald.com

Mount Sinai South Nassau recently bid a fond farewell to longtime Oceanside resident Eileen Mahler, who recently retired after a 45-year career dedicated to nursing.

The retirement celebration for Mahler, organized by her hospital colleagues and administrators, was a surprise “clapout” procession held at the hospital’s main entrance on March 22 at 2 p.m. The afternoon included a heartfelt tribute to Mahler’s decades of service, culminating in a chauffeured ride home in a BMW convert -

ible, escorted by an Oceanside Fire Department fire engine.

“Thank you, Eileen, for your dedication and everything you’ve done to support the patient care services department,” Margaret Pfeiffer, the hospital’s vice president of patient care services, said. “You have been an instrumental part of our growth for over four decades. Thank you for your lifetime of dedication to Mount Sinai South Nassau, and your numerous contributions to the nursing profession. You will continue to inspire countless pieces for years to come.” Mahler began her nursing career in 1979 at what was then

known as South Nassau Communities Hospital, starting as a bedside nurse in the maternity unit. She commuted to work from Queens until she moved to Oceanside when she married her husband Bill in 1990. She rose through the ranks, eventually becoming the director of nursing education: professional development, practice and research in 2012.

Throughout her tenure, she was rewarded for her dedication to patient care and nursing excellence. She was the recipient of the Town of Hempstead’s Health Services Pathfinder Award in 2018, and was certified by the American Nurses

Credentialing Center in nursing professional development and as a nurse executive. While working as a nurse, Mahler earned her Ph.D.

“I was a clinical nurse at the beginning of my career and then moved into leadership, and in either of those, your focus is the patient, but as you move into leadership, and then

moved into education, the focus was on our nurses,” she said. ”How can we help them learn and adjust to the stress of the profession and care for themselves as well?”

Reflecting on what inspired her to pursue nursing, Mahler recalled the early influence of her grandmother, who instilled

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Jason Thomas/Herald

Island Park village trustees look ahead after uncontested election

Island Park Village Trustee Barbara Volpe-Ried was re-elected as Island Park Village trustee, and Michael Gagliardi was elected to the seat that will be vacated by trustee Irene Naudus in the village elections on March 19. Both ran unopposed. Volpe-Reid received 178 votes, and Gagliardi, 192.

“I am excited to return as Trustee and immediately get to work for the Village of Island Park,” said trusteeelect Gagliardi. “My commitment remains as it has my entire life. We need to think smart and execute improvements while following our tight budget. I will continue to pursue grant funding and grow relationships with local, state, and federal partners. Infrastructure is a priority as we prepare for our future. I look forward to getting even more shovels in the ground and further improving quality of life.”

Volpe-Ried said she looked forward

focus on improving infrastructure, expanding programs, and cutting costs to prepare for years ahead. I am all in.”

Volpe-Ried and Gagliardi remain on the board along with trustee Robert Tice, Deputy Mayor Matthew Graci, and Mayor Michael McGinty.

I.P. Mayor clarifies ParkMobile revenue, addresses concerns

Residents came with many questions during the Island Park village meeting on March 21 with concerns focused on the ongoing ParkMobile parking system.

Addressing concerns from residents, Island Park Mayor Michael McGinty McGinty emphasized the necessity of recurring revenue for the village’s financial health.

After the meeting, McGinty confirmed that there had been a misunderstanding regarding the revenue generated by the ParkMobile project. While initially reported as $12,000, McGinty clarified that the actual amount was $1,200, as of Feb. 19.

He estimated that the revenue has reached around $3,000 since the system’s enforcement began in mid-February. He explained that such revenue is crucial for maintaining favorable borrowing costs and managing increasing insurance expenses, which were projected to rise by 25-30 percent.

“We need recurring revenue because it impacts the investment community and their view of the village which reduces our borrowing costs,” he said.

McGinty mentioned ongoing efforts to support local businesses and explore avenues for business development.

–Kepherd Daniel

–Kepherd Daniel

Herald File Photo

Trustee Barbara Volpe-Ried

Courtesy Village of Island Park Trustee-elect Michael Gagliardi

An egg-cellent day for Oceanside

The rain couldn’t stop the fun at the Oceanside Department of Community Activities and Kiwanis Club’s Cosposored egg hunt on March 23rd in the Merle Avenue School gym.

While the event was held indoors, the gym was decorated for springtime fun as upbeat music played in the background, children were eager to participate and over 400 people in attendance.

Each child left with many jellybeanfilled colorful eggs and over 100 prizes were awarded to children that found eggs containing a golden ticket. One of the highlights of the day for the children was, of course, the Bunny. Whether it was taking a picture with the longeared character or simply holding his

hand, the children were very excited and it made the day “egg-xtra-special”

Ramalho Tree Service donated cookies for decorating complete with specialty toppings including colorful sprinkles, M&M’s and yummy frosting. The Oceanside children enjoyed creating and eating their one-of-a-kind cookie masterpieces.

The Department of Community Activities recognizes the generosity the Oceanside Kiwanis Club provides for our community. Together with the Oceanside Key Club, Builders Club, K-Kids and various volunteers who all helped to put together the event for all the children that participated.

— Kepherd Daniel

Emilio Derasmo, 9, was excited to be involved on Saturday and was the big winner of a Golden Ticket.

Five-year-old Anthony and six-year-old Olivia Criscuolo decorate their cookies.

Maria Bavaro, Supervisor Oceanside Department of Community Activities shares an egg with one year old Madison Marx.

Jason Thomas/Herald

Staff and volunteers for the Oceanside Kiwanis and Department of Community Activities had a fun time at the annual egg hunt.

Elder

be in charge of that care, and (2) the passing of your assets on death to whom you want, when you want, the way you want, with the least amount of taxes and legal fees possible. These are the five steps to creating such a plan.

Step One: Understanding the Family Dynamics. Clients often overlook the inestimable value of getting to know the family dynamic. We are firm believers that the social goes first and the legal should serve the social. Too often it is the other way around. Once we understand who’s who and everyone’s interpersonal relations with each other, we are far better able to craft a plan that will work socially as well as legally. The failure to address the social aspects has led to many a plan tearing the family apart.

Step Two: Reviewing the Client’s Assets. IRA’s and other “qualified” assets (i.e. tax deferred) are treated quite differently, on death or disability, from “non-qualified” assets. The determination of the amount and value of all assets, who owns them, and whether they have named beneficiaries are of the utmost importance in planning correctly, including

Oceanside High School celebrates 37th Human Relations Day

saving legal fees and taxes.

Step Three: Reviewing Existing Estate Planning Documents: Not having been prepared by an elder law estate planning attorney, clients’ documents rarely have adequate provisions to take advantage of the many benefits the law provides for our aging population. Wills instead of trusts have often been prepared either because the client was considerably younger and a trust was not needed or a trust was needed but the general practice lawyer was unfamiliar with the specifics of preparing a trust.

Step Four: Developing the Elder Law Estate Plan. We are now in a position to determine which persons are best suited to handle your legal, financial and medical affairs on disability or death, what type of plan should be used and how the estate should be distributed -- keeping in mind the preservation of harmony in the family.

Step Five: Executing and Maintaining the Plan. Legal documents are explained and executed, assets are retitled and beneficiaries on assets changed in keeping with planning objectives. The client is called in to the law firm every three years to ensure the plan meets the client’s current wishes and conforms with any law changes.

Dozens of speakers convened at Oceanside High School on March 20 for the 37th Human Relations Day. This year’s organizer was High School teacher, Guiseppina Prestigiacomo. The keynote speaker was Amberley Snyder, an award-winning rodeo star whose Netflix special focuses on her life after a paralyzing car accident.

Students heard from David Marshall, a World War II veteran, Bernie Furshpan of the Holocaust Museum, Brian Held from the Nassau County District Attorney’s office, fellow students and alumni, current and former teachers, athletes, and many community and nonprofit organizations. Alumni Kevin Nicholas talked about his entertainment

career as a magician and mentalist and showed off some of his tricks.

Frank Cona, who works on Amazon’s Project Kuiper to increase global broadband access with an emphasis on underserved areas, spoke to the students about the aerospace industry, space technology and careers in STEM.

“Human Relations Day gives students perspectives about what other people are experiencing and shows them connections to what they themselves might be experiencing, and that they’re not alone,” Prestigiacomo said. “It also lets them learn about the past and shows them possibilities for the future.”

— Kepherd Daniel

Courtesy Oceanside School District Amberley Snyder, keynote speaker at Oceanside High School human relations day, invited students to the stage to demonstrate how she navigates everyday life from her wheelchair.

Kiwanettes to honor Joe Cibellis on April 11

years, ago and I thought to myself, he’s pretty good. We got him to join the chamber, and then I realized what an asset he is to people. He leads people in such a nice way, and he always includes everybody. There should be a lot more people like him in Oceanside.”

Cibellis, 58, has deep roots in Oceanside. He was raised in East Rockaway before his family moved to Rockville Centre, and he attended Baldwin Elementary School and Baldwin Harbor Junior High. He spent a short time in Massachusetts before returning to Rockville Centre to attend South Side High School. His father, Nino, established Oceanville Mason Supply in 1975. Although he went to school in Baldwin and lived in Rockville Centre, Cibellis always felt connected to Oceanside, where he helped out in the family business.

“I always felt like I was a better fit for Oceanside,” he said. “I was probably 19 or so when I bought my first house in Ocean-side, and I’ve been here ever since. I married a girl from Oceanside, and her family’s been there for three generations, and I chose to raise my family here.”

Cibellis and his wife, Laura, have been married for 27 years, and they have 26-year-old twins, Joe and Alexa. Over the years, Oceanville Mason Supply has grown and changed, merging in 2003 with independent mason, Marty Bevilaqua, and being sold in 2022, when it became King’s Mason Supply. Cibellis’ involvement in the family business provided him not only with invaluable experience, but also insights into community engagement and leadership. He now operates Cibellis Contracting in Oceanside.

In addition to his work with the chamber, he is active with the Oceanside Community Warriors, which cleans up outdoor, public spaces around town and Oceanside Unified, which focuses on forging con-

nections between local organizations and organizing community events.

“Coming from a family business — and when you’re the son or the boss, one way or the other, it’s an 80-hour-a-week job — I didn’t have much time until the kids were older, in their college years, when it was easy for me to get involved in some of the different organizations,” Cibellis said. “I felt like it was time to give back and just be a part of it all.”

His leadership style, he said, emphasizes inclusivity and bridging generational gaps. He recognizes the importance of creating welcoming environments, particularly for young people who are eager to contribute

but may be hesitant due to perceived barriers.

“He’s a mentor, and someone I look up to,” Warriors President Brian Driscoll said. “He’s someone who dedicates his time to bettering the community. There’s no one that cares about this community more than him and it’s an honor working by his side, making this town a better place and setting an example for the children and young adults in town.”

Cibellis acknowledged the guidance and support of community memberss like Heller, whose inclusive and supportive style has inspired many. He said he appreciates those who nurture a positive and welcoming community environment, and encourage engagement and collaboration among residents.

“Joe met the qualifications that were instilled in what leadership is,” Heller said. “Somebody who steps up to the plate. He was very instrumental in helping with the fair, and we’re having a new fair on Sept. 28 of this year.”

Last September Oceanside held its first Fall Festival, which was organized by Oceanside Unified. Cibellis said he wants to expand those kinds of community events — for example, to improve on the town’s holiday decorations.

“If we could add 10 percent to the Fall Festival, it would be huge,” he said. That’s all I’d like to do, just keep building on it. I think we did a great job, and I’d like to make it better every year.”

The Kiwanettes’ Leadership Award is a testament to Cibellis’ dedication to community service.

“Everyone in this community has great intentions,” he said. “I think I’m lucky in the sense that everybody bridges the gap. We work with the Republicans, Democrats, independents, the Catholic community and the Jewish community. It doesn’t matter, if you care about Oceanside.”

Joe Cibellis helping young volunteers during an oceanside Community Warriors park cleanup in 2022.

Hofstra baseball swings for the fences

By ANDREW COEN sports@liherald.com

The Hofstra baseball team missed out on a chance to defend its conference title last year and is fueled for a return to the championship stage in late May this spring.

After reaching the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history during a magical 2022 season, the Pride bats were driven back to earth in 2023 with an eighth-place finish that left the team just short of qualifying for its league’s sixteam double-elimination tournament held Memorial Day weekend.

This season the Pride were picked ninth in the 12 team Coastal Athletic Association and is looking to prove the doubters wrong to have an opportunity to once again compete for the conference’s automatic bid into the NCAAs.

“We got off to a slow start and then towards the end of the season we started playing better and we just missed out on making the tournament,” said third-year Hofstra head coach Frank Catalanotto, a former 14-year Major League Baseball player from 1997 to 2010 with the Detroit Tigers, Texas Rangers, Toronto Blue Jays, Milwaukee Brewers and New York Mets. “It’s a motivating factor for not only the coaching staff, but also for the student athletes to be ready to play these games.”

Hofstra began the 2024 season with two narrow losses to then 14th-ranked Virginia before taking two of three from Liberty and New Mexico on the road the following two weekends. The Pride entered the start of CAA with two close losses at Columbia and Fordham.

Senior catcher Matt Pelcher, a Merrick native, has emerged as one of Hofstra’s leading hitters this season with a .328 average entering the CAA schedule. Pelcher, who played high school baseball at the prestigious IMG Academy in Florida, hit a home run in an 10-8 season-opening loss at Virginia and went 3-for-4 in a narrow 3-2 defeat at St. John’s on March 8.

“He’s made big strides with his swing and has really bought into what we’ve been teaching,” said Catalanotto of

Pelcher, who registered an RBI double in Hofstra’s 12-8 loss at Columbia on March 19. “He’s a big part of what we do and his versatility helps us out quite a bit.”

Pelcher is among four starters hitting above .300, including sophomore Dylan Palmer at a team-leading .450 starting the conference schedule. He earned Second Team All-CAA and CAA All-Rookie honors as a freshman. Senior outfielder Alex McCoy and graduate student third baseman Santino Ross are also shining offensively so far with .364 and .386 batting averages, respectively.

Catalanotto is also hoping two of his other top hitters, Will Kennedy and Steve Harrington, can produce during the CAA schedule after hitting slumps in March.

The pitching staff is led by senior Michael O’Hanlon, who recorded seven strikeouts in a 9-1 victory against Manhattan College on March 15. O’Hanlon

has stepped into the ace role after serving as the closer the last two years.

The Pride has a number of pitching options out of the bullpen including Rockville Centre native Danny Kelleher, a former South Side High School standout who tossed three scoreless innings in a 9-6 loss at New Mexico on March 3. Catalanotto is hoping Kelleher can continue to make strides on the mound and live up to his full potential.

“He’s been doing a good job and he’s gotten much better from last year,” Catalanotto said of Kelleher. “He’s throwing a lot of two seam fastballs that sink and also a good change-up so he’s keeping the ball down and getting ground balls.”

Another local arm on the roster is freshman Nick Apollo, who earned All-

County accolades at Seaford High School last year and led the Vikings to a county title. The versatile Apollo, who Catalanotto sees potential in for a strong future, received playing time at first base in a 17-6 loss to Manhattan on March 16.

Hofstra travels to longtime CAA foe Towson this weekend before hosting Delaware in another critical three-game conference series from April 5-7. The CAA regular schedule concludes at home against Monmouth on May 18 before the conference tournament commences from May 22-28 at UNC-Wilmington.

“It’s a really tough conference,” Catalanotto said of the CAA, which added last year’s 22nd-ranked team Campbell this season. “We are going to have to bring our best every single game.”

Senior outfielder Alex McCoy is off to a strong start at the dish with a .364 batting average.

Photos courtesy Hofstra Athletics Communications Pitcher Danny Kelleher, a South Side High School graduate, is a key member of the Pride bullpen.

Lawmakers, publishers rally to save local news

An advocacy group determined to save local news in New York rallied in Albany in an effort to bring more lawmakers to their cause.

The Empire State Local News Coalition — a statewide advocacy group of more than 150 local news outlets — joined elected officials at the state capital last week to support the Local Journalism Sustainability Act.

OThe bill — sponsored by state Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal and Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner — is intended to provide tax credits to local news outlets that employ journalists in their communities. HoylmanSigal joined the rally, along with colleagues like Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages, state Sen. Monica Martinez, and Assemblyman David Weprin.

ur local papers are here. They are objective. They provide information. And we need to preserve that.

“This is a full-blown crisis,” HoylmanSigal told those who gathered for the rally in the halls of the capital building. “We live in a deliberative democracy. That means our voters need to be informed to make wise choices. How are they informed? Largely through local news.”

The senate included the Local Journalism Sustainability Act in its One House budget resolution, which organizers describe as a major sign of the bill’s growing support in the legislature.

Both the senate and the Assembly release preliminary One House budgets in response to the governor’s own preliminary budget, which was released earlier this year. The state’s final budget is due April 1, and policies in the final budget almost always must be in one of the three preliminary budgets.

“It is time that New York state steps up and supports one of the most important industries — not just to our economic well-being, but to our democracy,” Hoylman-Sigal said. “The Local Journalism Sustainability Act, which is part of the senate One House budget, will assist in that regard.”

The rally was intended to signal growing pressure on lawmakers to offer much-needed benefits to the local news industry, which has experienced a significant downturn over the past two decades.

The state has lost hundreds of newspapers since 2004, resulting in the loss of not only thousands of jobs, but also thousands of stories that helped keep communities informed. In fact, there are a growing number of communities with little to no access to local newspaper coverage, according to coalition officials. More than a dozen New York counties are down to just one newspaper.

Capped at $20 million statewide, the Local Journalism Sustainability Act is a bill with bipartisan support that provides payroll tax credits for the employment of local news journalists.

News organizations would receive a 50 percent refundable tax credit against the first $50,000 of each newsroom employee’s salary — up to $200,000 per outlet.

The benefit would be limited to print and online newspapers and broadcasters, with 100 employees or less, that cover local community news. This, sup-

porters say, ensures that only truly local news outlets will qualify for this assistance.

“Someone once said that ‘newspapers are the textbooks of democracy, and the lifeblood of freedom,’ and that’s a responsibility newsrooms like ours take very seriously,” said Michael Hinman, executive editor of Herald Community Newspapers, which employs more than 30 journalists across 24 newspapers on Long Island and in New York City.

“Communities depend on their local newspaper, because there is nowhere

else you’re going to get the news about and for your neighborhood, written by someone who knows your neighborhood. Time and time again, it’s been proven that the best communities in America are communities with a strong, local newspaper. And if we don’t do something now, those great communities will be lost to history.”

But in order for this particular bill to move forward, it needs to be supported not just by the senate, but also by the Assembly and by Gov. Kathy Hochul, so that it is included in the final state budget.

“The fight to save local news is a fight to save our democracy,” said Zachary Richner, founder of the Empire State Local News Coalition and director of Richner Communications — the parent company of Herald Community Media.

“Hometown newspapers deliver the hyperlocal updates and investigations necessary to sustain a community’s civic and financial well-being. As local news declines, critical stories are lost, and communities become more polarized.

“We’re proud to have the senate’s support, and we call on Gov. Hochul and the Assembly to support this industry-saving bill and protect critical newsroom jobs.”

Michaelle Solages says she’ll continue to push for the bill’s inclusion in the final state budget with her colleagues in the Assembly.

“We’re continuing our work on Long Island making sure the local story — the story that matters to individual New Yorkers — are heard,” Solages said. “But we really need to make sure we are investing into our community, investing into local journalism, and combatting this growing social media that is spreading misinformation.

“Our local papers are here. They are objective. They provide information. And we need to preserve that.”

Photos courtesy Empire State Local News Coalition

Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages joins lawmakers and supporters like Assemblyman David Weprin, at left, and state Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal, at right, to call on her colleagues to support the Local Journalism Sustainability Act. The measure — currently included in the senate’s One House budget — would provide tax credits to local news outlets, so they can keep local reporters on the ground and covering communities.

State Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal, right, has pushed to put the Local Journalism Sustainability Act into the state senate’s One House budget, to provide tax credits to news outlets employing journalists to cover local communities. The measure is championed by the Empire State Local News Coalition, founded by Zachary Richner, director of Richner Communications, left.

MICHAELLE SOLAGES Assemblywoman

Eileen Mahler has seen it all at Mount Sinai

in her a sense of compassion and service to others. That propelled Mahler into a career characterized by a deep commitment to caring for patients and supporting her fellow nurses.

“First and foremost, can we do the best outcomes for our patients and really give the best quality care?” she said.

Over the years, Mahler has witnessed significant challenges in healthcare, from navigating through the HIV/AIDS epidemic to responding to natural disasters like Superstorm Sandy. However, the Covid-19 pandemic posed one of the greatest tests for Mahler and her colleagues. Despite the unprecedented challenges, Mahler’s leadership and expertise proved invaluable in guiding the hospital through this crisis.

“That was something none of us had seen in our lifetime,” she said of the pandemic. “Before the vaccine came out, how many patients just succumbed to the illness? It was frustrating. We had so many patients in the hospital, and I was in education at that time so it was really about trying to train nurses who came from other areas and settings, to care for many critical care patients.”

Mahler’s contributions to nursing education have been instrumental in earning Mount Sinai South Nassau the prestigious American Nurses Credentialing Center Nurse Magnet designation. The Magnet Recognition Program

designates organizations worldwide where nursing leaders successfully align their nursing strategic goals to improve the organization’s patient outcomes.

Her commitment to excellence has not gone unnoticed, as evidenced by the numerous awards she has received, including the DAISY (Diseases Attacking the Immune System) Lifetime Achievement and Leadership awards.

For Mahler, retirement marks the end of an era, but it also represents the beginning of a new adventure. As she

reflected on her 45-year career, Mahler expressed gratitude for the support of her colleagues, the trust of her patients, and the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others.

In retirement, she plans to pursue her other passions, including traveling, teaching and playing the piano. She also is looking forward to spending more time with her husband, her son Billy, 31, stepdaughter Angela, 49, and her grandkids, Frank, 19, Anthony, 22, and Catherine, 26.

“It’s so new now,” she said. “I think

I’ll miss the people I work with. They really are truly your second family, but I’m looking forward to spending more time with my family because over the years, they kind of didn’t have the benefit of me being around as much.

“I think that will be good to be able to do more things, see many friends, have dinner, have friends over, and it’ll be a little less hectic now that you don’t have to be up early the next day for your shift,” Mahler added.

mount Sinai staff and administrators thanked eileen mahler for her decades of service. after 45 years at the hospital, she received a huge ovation.

Courtesy MSSN mahler waved a final goodbye to mount Sinai South nassau as she was driven off in a BmW convertible.

Rabbi Schwartz takes a trip to Israel

Rockville Centre religious leader delivers 200 letters from Long Island congregants

By DANIEL OFFNER doffner@liherald.com

Rabbi Emeritus Barry Dov Schwartz, of Congregation B’nai Sholom-Beth David, recently spent a week in Israel, near the Gaza border, as part of a goodwill mission sponsored by the Israel Law Center.

“It was exhausting, sad and exhilarating,” Schwartz told the Herald. “It will take me weeks to process and absorb everything I experienced.”

Schwartz, 83, led the Rockville Centre synagogue for 37 years before retiring in 2010. He published a memoir, “A Man of Spirit,” in 2022, based on his experiences working alongside a Nazi hunter, marching for civil rights in Washington and serving as a chaplain during the Vietnam War.

When you see it and witness it, it’s altogether different

BARRy SchWAR tz Rabbi emeritus, Congregation B’nai Sholom-Beth David

On his trip, he visited several places that were attacked by Hamas terrorists on Oct. 7.

“They had planned this for years, to attack and infiltrate the kibbutzim,” Schwartz said. “When you see it and witness it, it’s altogether different.”

He visited four communities — Sderot, Be’eri, Kfar Aza and Nirim — that were targeted by Hamas during the earlymorning attacks.

“We saw what they did,” Schwartz said. “How they ransacked and bombed our homes.”

The attacks claimed the lives of at least 1,200 people, who were massacred in their homes, on the streets and at the Nova Music Festival. The attacks, which included numerous missile strikes, were a coordinated assault that took place during Simchat Torah — an annual Jewish holiday following the festival of Sukkot, which marks the beginning of a new cycle of Torah readings — and resulted in the capture of more than 250 hostages.

During his week-long mission, Schwartz saw the impact of the attacks up close. He visited the kibbutzim where Hamas terrorists killed dozens of people. He walked through one of the tunnels used to infiltrate border cities. He saw a police station near the border that was destroyed by terrorists intent on disabling efforts by law enforcement to respond.

Schwartz said that after seeing the impact of the attacks up close, he could not believe that there are so many people in the United States protesting against the victims.

“Many want to reward the enemy for what they did,” Schwartz said. “I know how Israelis feel. They feel alone. They feel isolated. I wanted to show them there are people who care.”

He explained that since there are so many men and women serving in the Israel Defense Forces, there have been shortages in the workforce. That’s why Schwartz and others volunteered to spend an entire afternoon in the fields, picking avocados and Clementine oranges.

“All the time we heard bombings,” he said. “When the red siren went off, you only had 15 seconds to get into a safe area.”

Months after the attacks, Schwartz said, the Israeli people are simply trying to get back to life as usual. Stores are beginning to open again and people are going back to work once more.

“Some might think that the Israelis are angry,” he said. “They’re not. They just want to live their lives. If anything, they’re angry at themselves for not being more vigilant.”

Throughout his mission, Schwartz carried a bag filled with more than 200 letters, written by Rockville

Centre children and adults, which he gave to Israeli soldiers and citizens.

“They asked me if I would distribute them,” he said. “You never thought a letter from a stranger

would be received so enthusiastically.”

One soldier, he recounted, was so taken with the gesture that he affixed his letter to his tank. Schwartz took the letters everywhere he went, even to a hospital where he visited wounded IDF soldiers.

The mission was organized by the Israel Law Center, an organization that fights terrorism in the courts by bringing lawsuits against those who support violent acts and warfare. The group comprises Jews and non-Jews across the United States, some of whom made the trip to show their support.

At each stop, they heard from a number of people about the attacks, and each night, at their hotel in Tel Aviv or Jerusalem, they took part in panel discussions with lawyers, journalists and other experts.

“It was very emotionally straining,” Schwartz said. “At the same time, it was beautiful to see the Israeli people united and full of love.”

During one presentation, he recalled, a woman described how her son was killed by friendly fire. She said that she had no hatred in her heart, and that there are friendly-fire incidents in every war. Instead, she suggested that people embrace one another and respond with more love.

“The main concern of every Israeli, no matter what the political nuances,” Schwartz said, “is to get those hostages home.”

He said that in Tel Aviv, people have set up a long table with place settings for the roughly 130 hostages still being held in Gaza, in the hope that they will soon come home and eat with their families once more.

Despite the sadness of his trip, Schwartz said, it was important for him to bear witness to what was happening in Israel, and to show support and goodwill.

“I really don’t know what the solution is,” he said. “The world has to remember we didn’t start the war … because right now there is too much going against the victims and not against the perpetrators.”

Photos courtesy Rabbi Barry Schwartz

Schwartz delivered more than 200 letters from his Rockville Centre congregants and children to soldiers in the IDF.

Rabbi Emeritus Barry Schwartz, of Congregation B’nai Sholom-Beth David, visiting a hospital in Israel and giving a letter to a wounded IDF soldier named Shmuel.

Cricket World Cup looks to ‘hit for six’

By JORDAN VALLONE jvallone@liherald.com

The Nassau County International Cricket Stadium is starting to take form in Eisenhower Park.

The temporary 34,000-seat venue will serve as one of the hosting locations for the 2024 International Cricket Council Men’s T20 World Cup, set to take place this June in locations that also include Florida, Texas and the West Indies. And Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman emphasized Eisenhower Park’s involvement by joining ICC officials and renowned professional cricketers at a parade last week to officially bring the World Cup’s trophy “home.”

The trophy was displayed underneath an American flag arch, set up by the East Meadow Fire Department, and escorted by the Nassau County Police Department, dozens of emergency vehicles, bagpipers, and the county’s mounted unit to the stadium site.

“We are in the process of constructing this beautiful stadium that will be here for the duration of the tournament,” Blakeman said. “It’s going to be a great venue for everybody to enjoy cricket. There’ll be so many countries that will be here with their teams — we will have fans from all over the world.”

Eight games are slated for Nassau over the course of 12 days. Eisenhower Park will actually host one of the most highly anticipated games of the tournament — India vs. Pakistan — which both consistently fielding some of the best cricketers in the game.

The Cricket World Cup is the third-most popular sporting event across the globe, only behind the FIFA World Cup and the Tour de France.

“We call it the Super Bowl on steroids,” Blakeman said.

The stadium was designed by Populous, an architec-

At

ture firm also responsible for creating Yankee Stadium, Citi Field and the UBS Arena, among others. The initia tive is privately funded, and the stadium is being built in the open space behind the park’s aquatic center, adja cent to Field 6.

Tickets for games have been hard to obtain, but ICC officials say fans may still be able to secure some.

“The levels of interest in being part of the event are huge, with more than 3 million ticket applications in

the initial ballot,” Geoff Allardice, the ICC’s chief executive said. “I’m delighted to confirm today that we’ve worked closely with our partners to release more tickets to 51 of the 55 games of the event.”

For those unable to purchase tickets, Blakeman says the county will set up watch parties in various locations details of which will be announced at a later date.

Allardice also thanked the county and Blakeman for their support, saying the ICC had “found a true partner” that supports the council’s “vision and ambition.” The stadium had originally been planned for the Bronx, but moved to Nassau County after considerable resistance from neighbors surrounding Van Cortlandt Park there.

“It’s fantastic to stand here today and see our vision come to life,” Allardice said.

Ali Khan, a Pakistani-born American cricketer who plays for the United States, says he’s excited about returning home for the upcoming games.

“It’s really good to be here in Nassau County this morning — good to see all the people coming out,” Khan said. “We cannot wait to take the field here.”

Team USA will compete against India on June 12 in

“That’s going to be a huge game for us as a host coun try,” Khan said. “I wish (that) a lot of people come, espe cially local supporters. Get your tickets now and come support your home team, Team USA.”

As part of county’s negotiations with the ICC, the stadium will be disassembled after the tournament, but the state-of-the-art cricket field will be left in place, along with practice facilities in Cantiague Park in

Local cricket teams and leagues will be able to use the fields when the tournament ends.

“Cricket,” Blakeman said, “is here forever now.”

Thoughts for holiday season

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Happy Easter to you and your families! Thank you for your love for the inspired Word of God. Thank you for your love for the Resurrection appearances of our Lord in this Easter season and the way your lives are set on fire in your meditation and contemplation of these mysteries.

Thank you for your fidelity to the Eucharist and the Sunday Mass and your Catholic spirit of evangelization. Thank you for being instruments of Eucharistic Revival.

In The Joy of the Gospel, Pope Francis states: “Christ’s resurrection is not an event of the past; it contains a vital power which has permeated the world. Where all seems to be dead, signs of the resurrection suddenly spring up. It is an irresistible force...Each day in our world beauty is born anew, it rises transformed through the storms of history ... Such is the power of the resurrection, and all who evangelize are instruments of that power.” (276)

We continue to live through “the

storms of history” and we rely on the Risen Lord and his glorified wounds to touch the wounds in Ukraine, the Middle East, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Armenia and Azerbaijan, the region of the Sahel, the Horn of Africa and Sudan, as well as Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan and so many other troubled areas of the world. We ask the Risen Lord and his glorified wounds to touch the wounds experienced in our own country.

In The Everlasting Man, G.K. Chesterton captured the power of our Lord’s Resurrection experienced in the cycles of history. He wrote: “Christendom has had a series of revolutions and in each one of them Christianity has died. Christianity has died many times and risen again; for it had a God who knew the way out of the grave.”

This Easter and every Easter we celebrate this Everlasting Man who knew his way out of the grave and who invites us and the Catholic Church on Long Island to a great Resurrection.

Sincerely yours in the Risen Lord, Most Reverend John O. Barres

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OUT

The Chocolate Expo returns with an exciting Wonka-twist

Everyone has a golden ticket to the Chocolate Expo

By Danielle Schwab

or the love of chocolate, there’s a sweet treat awaiting everyone at this year’s Chocolate Expo.

The popular event — proclaimed as one of the largest chocolate showcases in the United States — is back, ready to tantalize all on April 14.

Chocoholics will delight in the day-long food paradise. An array of 90-plus vendors — including those representing Long Island, New England and even international purveyors — will share their sweet and savory wares with the public during this unique food-centric festival at the David S. Mack Sports & Exhibition Complex at Hofstra University.

So Good: The Neil Diamond Experience

Robert Neary honors an icon with a tribute show like no other. With more than 35 years as a Broadway, television and film actor, Neary brings a special flair to his tribute show. With his powerful presence, from the moment he struts on stage wearing trademark black, gray, and silver sequined jacket, Neary, uncannily resembles Neil Diamond at the height of his touring career in the ‘90s and 2000s. His wit and mannerisms on stage are spot on, especially when he plays his guitar. When he speaks and tells the stories and trivia behind some of Neil’s most popular songs, his rich baritone gravelly voice can easily be mistaken for Neil’s own speaking voice. The title says it all. It is the quintessential Neil Diamond concert experience that concludes with a mind-blowing finale.

Saturday, March 30, 8 p.m. $49.50, $39.50, $35, $29.50, $25. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at Ticketmaster.com or ParamountNY. com.

“We have a wide variety of interesting products,” says Marvin Baum, the Chocolate Expo’s founder and creator. “It’s like going to a wine tasting. You’re trying something different and exploring. That’s really what it is, for people to come and explore all kinds of culinary delights. In this case, it’s with chocolates, baked goods, specialty foods, wines, cheeses and other products as well.”

Celebrate and indulge in delicious gourmet goodies — even treats for your beloved pooch. Of course, tasting is very much a part of the event, starting from the moment you enter.

• April 14, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

• $20 adult, $10 ages 5-12 ($30 adult, $15 ages 5-12 at door); available from TheChocolateExpo.com

• Hofstra’s David S. Mack Sports & Exhibition Complex, Hempstead

The scrumptious combination of savory and sweet includes chocolate-covered pretzels, artisanal chocolates, bonbons, fudge, rum cakes, hot chocolate, and even chocolate-covered bacon.

And, certainly, no chocolate event would be complete without big chocolate fountains. Guests are greeted by fountains overflowing with dark, white and milk chocolates, which can deliciously drench a selection of fresh fruit, marshmallows pretzels and Rice Krispies Treats.

Visitors will surely enjoy another special treat: An appearance by actors from the original 1971 film “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory.” Julie Dawn Cole (Veruca Salt), Paris Themmen (Mike Teevee), and Rusty Goffe (who in addition to playing an Oompa Loompa, has also been in five of the Harry Potter movies and in Star Wars ), are the festival’s special guests. Baum proudly proclaims this is the first Wonka cast reunion at a chocolate event.

“We found that there was a true emotional connection for a lot of people, between the movie and their own lives — whether it be with good memories with the family or as being part of an escape,” he says. “And so, for that reason, we think that a lot of people on Long Island are going to respond to and be really excited to see this get-together of the Wonka characters.”

If your palate reaches sensory overload, take a break to check out some of the many activities that round out the day. Shows and demonstrations include chocolate smashing, where participants can break a part of high-quality chocolate molds with hammers. There’s also a demonstration with DJ Chef, the first winner of Food Network’s “Cuthroat Kitchen,” known for spinning tunes while cooking.

The youngest “fun-sized” visitors will enjoy Kidz Zone, enticing them with face painting, balloon twisting and crafts.

The festival, according to Baum, has now taken on a life of its own.

“I said, ‘We need to do something where New York businesses can actually make some money. Instead of just doing tastings, let’s do something where we’re tasting and have sales.’ And basically, that became the first New York Chocolate Expo.”

Participating chocolatiers, bakers and related purveyors offer a mindboggling collection of goodies.

Among the enthusiastic local returnees, Wantagh-based Uncle Jeff’s Pecan Pies is not to be missed. Owner Jeff Church participated for the first time last year, and enthusiastically reports the response to his offerings was “beyond belief.” He’ll offer both his all-natural chocolate and regular pecan pies again this year.

“As soon as they opened the doors, people swarmed the tables saying ‘one of these,’ ‘one of those,’” he says. “It was insane.”

Another bakery, Valley Stream’s Chez Hedwidge, caters to folks with dietary restrictions. All products are gluten-free and soy-free, with vegan options available. Edwidge Oriol — who owns the business with her husband — has been involved with the Chocolate Expo for five years.

“Those who have these (dietary) challenges, they deserve a good treat,” she says.

Among the items Oriol will ll bring is her gluten-free chocolate tart, which won third place in a Culinary Federation of Long Island competition.

Whether you’re looking to grab your local faves or find a new delicious obsession, the expo is the place to indulge in some chocolatey fun.

“Everybody is welcome,” Baum says. “All the noise of day-to-day life, all that’s pushed to the side. We want to get together, have a good time, share memories, share some good food, and support local businesses.”

Academy of St. Martin in the Fields

The Academy of St. Martin in the Fields is recognized for fresh, brilliant interpretations of the world’s greatest orchestral music.

Formed by Sir Neville Mariner in 1958 from a group of London’s leading musicians, it’s become one of the world’s most respected orchestral ensembles. Joshua Bell, music director and Grammywinning violinist, has performed with virtually every major orchestra in the world, and is one of the most celebrated artists of his era. Led by violin virtuoso Bell, this performance showcases Mendelssohn’s deeply emotive Violin Concerto, with Bell himself taking the stage as both soloist and leader. The program also includes Rossini’s Il barbiere di Siviglia Overture, and Brahms’ Symphony No. 2 in C major, Op. 61. Set out with Bell and the orchestra on a passionate musical journey of passion and triumph as the extraordinary ensemble demonstrates their artistry.

Friday, March 29, 8 p.m. Tickets start at $80. Tilles Center for the Performing Arts, LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Blvd., Brookville. Tickets available at Ticketmaster.com or TillesCenter.org or (516) 299-3100.

The Chocolate Expo always is a showcase of scrumptious bites.

Photos courtesy Chuck Fishman

THE Your Neighborhood

April 6

Jaime Lozano y La Familia Mexican

‘Listen to the Music’

On exhibit

Join L.I. Cabaret Theatre for their latest performance, Saturday, April 6, 2 p.m., at the Elmont Library Theatre. In this spirited show music is on the menu as the cast travels back to different years in the past to find clues and knowledge to save the Melody Diner from demolition. A cast of 35 keeps the action moving along, with a live band. The singers and dancers performs current hits, oldies and also tunes from the Broadway stage. Free admission. Elmont Memorial Library Theater, 700 Hempstead Turnpike, Elmont. (516) 354-5280 or LICabaret@aol.com.

Friedberg JCC SPEAC Talent Show

Nassau County Museum of Art’s latest exhibition, “Urban Art Evolution,” is a comprehensive exhibit featuring a diverse range of compositions from the 1980s through the present by creators who were based in the rough and tumble downtown area of New York City known as Loisaida/LES (Lower East Side/East Village) and close surrounding neighborhoods.

the challenges of the first- and second-generation middle class U.S. immigrant experience: finding a new home, learning a new language, dealing with discrimination, pursuing the American Dream, and searching for ways to build bridges instead of walls. His Familia includes Mauricio Martínez, celebration of Latin talent includes special guests who are students from Long Island University’s the next generation of rising stars in the industry. The collaboration between these seasoned professionals and up-and-coming talents is sure to create a truly unforgettable experience for all who attend. “Songs by an Immigrant” is an inspiring celebration of the immigrant odyssey. Tickets start at $50; available at TillesCenter.org or (516) 299-3100. LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Blvd.,

Friedberg JCC hosts a red carpet event honoring SPEAC, the Special Advocacy Coalition, Thursday, April 4, at 6 p.m. This event supports SPEAC’s future initiatives and contributes to the scholarship fund, which assists Long Island self-advocates in attending regional self-advocacy conferences. 15 Neil Court, Oceanside. Call (516) 766-4341 for information.

Artists pushed the boundaries of what was considered “art” with a primary focus on street/graffiti art. The exhibit’s scope, guest curated by art collector/gallerist Christopher Pusey, offers an even broader view from other creative residents, who worked inside their studios but still contributed to the rich fabric of the downtown art scene from different vantage points and aesthetics.

Works include sculpture, paintings, photography, music, and ephemera from many noted and influential artists. On view through July 7. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. (516) 484-9337 or NassauMuseum.org.

April 6

Country Jukebox

The North Shore Symphony Orchestra is joined by Broadway and New York cabaret stars for “Country Jukebox: Kenny, Dolly & Friends,” Saturday, April 6, 8 p.m., on Adelphi’s Performing Arts Center stage. Your toes will be tapping and your hands clapping during this evening of country classics from the 1950s to today’s hottest contemporary hits.

The dynamic performers, with North Shore Symphony, salute such greats as Kenny Rogers, Dolly Parton, Tammy Wynette, George Jones, The Judds, Carrie Underwood and more. Tickets start at $45, with discounts available to seniors, students, Adelphi alumni and employees. Adelphi University Performing Arts Center, 1 South Ave., Garden City. (516) 8774000 or Adelphi.edu/pac.

Island Park Easter Egg Hunt

The Island Park Village board welcomes residents to the annual Easter egg hunt, Saturday, March 30, at Masone Beach on Waterford Road. The fun begins at noon. First come first serve.

South Shore Symphony in concert

Enjoy the popular orchestra, as it continues its season,with special guests Deborah Lifton and the Adea Quartet, Saturday, April 6, 7:30 p.m., at the Madison Theatre. Program includes Rachmaninoff’s “Symphonic Dances,” Op. 45; Samuel Barber’s “Knoxville: Summer of 1915,” Op. 24; and Robert Schumann’s “Concertpiece for 4 Horns”, Op. 45. Molloy University, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre. Tickets available at MadisonTheatreNY.org or (516) 323-4444.

Mozzarella demonstration and tasting

Oceanside Lutheran Church presents its popular mozzarella making and tasting workshop, Saturday, April 13, at 7 p.m. Enjoy a tasty evening. 55 Fairview Ave., in Oceanside. Register through the link bit.ly/OLCCheese or cal the church office at (516) 766-0136.

Having an event?

Kiwanettes of Oceanside Gala

Kiwanettes of Oceanside hold their annual dinner, Thursday April 11, 7 p.m.-1 a.m., at Lambrou’s Catering. Residents who are or who have been outstanding in their service are honored, including Towers Funeral Home with a Public Service Award and Joe Cibellis with a Leadership Award. $80 per person. Attendees can make checks payable to: Kiwannettes of Oceanside and mail with number of guests to Aneette DeBaun, 2999 Waverly Ave., Oceanside, 11572. Businesses that would like to be included in the raffle prize table can call Pat Roth at (516) 680-7937. 4073 Austin Blvd., in Island Park.

Volunteers needed

The R.E.E.F. program is looking for volunteers 18 years or older to assist adults with diverse abilities. Oceanside Library hosts the bi-weekly program focusing on life skill. A Google form on the Oceanside Library website is available if interested.

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.

Forest Bathing

Sands Point Preserve offers another in its series of Forest Bathing walks, led by certified guide Linda Lombardo, Saturday, April 13, 10 a.m.-noon. Based on the Japanese tradition of Shinrin-Yoku, a wellness practice developed in the 1980s, the walk, on the grounds of the former summer residence of Howard Gould and later Daniel and Florence Guggenheim, inspires mindful connections with the natural elements of the woods for a range of healthful benefits. $40, $35 members. Registration required. Sands Point Preserve, 127 Middle Neck Road. For information, visit SandsPointPreserveConservancy.org or call (516) 571-7901.

Have questions about tech?

Need help with your device? Get one-on-one help from a librarian, at Oceanside Library, every Tuesday, 10-11 a.m. and 11 a.m.-noon. For your session, have a clear goal(s) in mind (i.e.: navigating smart phone, creating a spreadsheet etc.);Come prepared with all login usernames and passwords. By appointment only. Sessions are limited to a maximum of once a month per patron. 56 Atlantic Ave. Register at OceansideLibrary.com or call (516) 766-2360.

Kiwanettes of Oceanside dinner

The Kiwanettes of Oceanside will honor community members who are or who have been outstanding in their service to our community. This year the Kiwanettes will honor Towers Funeral Home with a “Public Service Award” and bestow the “Leadership Award” to Joe Cibellis. Come celebrate at the Kiwanettes dinner at Lambrou’s Catering Hall on 4073 Austin Blvd in Island Park on Thursday April 11, from 7 p.m. to 1: p.m. Cost is $80. a person.

Art explorations

Converse, collaborate and create at Family Saturdays at Nassau County Museum of Art, Saturday, March 30, noon-3 p.m. Get inspired by the art and objects in the galleries and then join educators at the Manes Center to explore and discover different materials to create your own original artwork. Kids and adults connect while talking about and making art together. A new project is featured every week. $20 adult, $10 child. For ages 2-14. Registration required. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. Visit NassauMuseum.org for to register or call (516) 484-9337.

Public Notices

LEGAL NOTICE

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORKCOUNTY OF NASSAU

WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A., AS TRUSTEE FOR THE POOLING AND SERVICING AGREEMENT

DATED AS OF OCTOBER

1, 2004 MERRILL LYNCH

MORTGAGE INVESTORS

TRUST MORTGAGE LOAN ASSET-BACKED

CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2004-WMC5, V.

CINDY B SOMMER, ET AL.

NOTICE OF SALE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure dated March 8, 2023, and entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Nassau, wherein WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A., AS TRUSTEE FOR THE POOLING AND SERVICING AGREEMENT

DATED AS OF OCTOBER

1, 2004 MERRILL LYNCH

MORTGAGE INVESTORS

TRUST MORTGAGE LOAN ASSET-BACKED

CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2004-WMC5 is the Plaintiff and CINDY B SOMMER, 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 April 4, 2024 at 2:00PM, premises known as 411 WANAMAKER ST, OCEANSIDE, NY 11572:

Section 43, Block 219, Lot 88: ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND, WITH THE BUILDINGS AND IMPROVEMENTS

THEREON ERECTED, SITUATE, LYING AND BEING IN OCEANSIDE, TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, COUNTY OF NASSAU AND STATE OF NEW YORK

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 006889/2014. Scott H. Siller, 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. 145294

LEGAL NOTICE STATE OF NEW YORK

SUPREME COURT: COUNTY OF NASSAU

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE, SUCCESSOR IN INTEREST TO STATE

STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY, AS TRUSTEE FOR GSMPS MORTGAGE

LOAN TRUST 2001-1, Plaintiff,

v. MAXIMO A. MACARIO, MIRIAM J. MACARIO, ET AL, Defendants.

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 May 17, 2018, I, Ronald J. Ferraro, Esq., the Referee named the Order to Substitute Referee entered August 24, 2023, will sell in one parcel at public auction on April 11, 2024 On the north front steps, facing Old Country Road, of the Nassau County Supreme Court, located at 262 Old Country Road, Mineola, NY, at 2:00PM the premises described as follows:

44 Warwick Road Island Park, NY 11558

SBL#: 43-31-377

ALL THAT TRACT OR PARCEL OF LAND situate in the Village of Island Park, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau, State of New York.

The premises are sold subject to the provisions of the filed judgment, Index No. 015498/2013 in the amount of $319,315.95 plus interest and costs. The aforementioned auction will be conducted in accordance with the Court System’s COVID-19 mitigation protocols and as such all persons must comply with social distancing, wearing masks and screening practices in effect at the time of this foreclosure sale.

Woods Oviatt Gilman LLP

Attorneys for Plaintiff 500 Bausch & Lomb Place Rochester, NY 14604 Tel.: 855-227-5072 145278

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT

COUNTY OF NASSAU

Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee for Option One

Mortgage Loan Trust 2005-1, Asset-Backed Certificates, Series 2005-1, Plaintiff

AGAINST Satwinder Singh; et al., Defendant(s)

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered July 12, 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 April 24, 2024 at 2:00PM, premises known as 627 Pearl Street, Oceanside, NY 11572. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being at Rockville Centre, in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau, State of New York, Section 38

Block 531 Lots 22 and 26.

Approximate amount of judgment $947,712.56 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index# 010269/2015. 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.”

John G. Kennedy, Esq., Referee 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) 430-4792

Dated: March 11, 2024 145559

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT

COUNTY OF NASSAU

U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee for Citigroup Mortgage Loan Trust, Inc. 2007-AHL1, Asset-Backed Pass-Through Certificates Series 2007-AHL1, Plaintiff

AGAINST

Michael Palmeri; et al., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered April 17, 2019 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 April 23, 2024 at 3:00PM, premises known as 3068 Xavier Place, Oceanside, NY 11572. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the Town of Hempstead, at Oceanside, County of Nassau, State of New York, Section 54 Block 507 Lot 13. Approximate amount of judgment $920,711.22 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index# 000590/2017. 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) 430-4792

Dated: March 1, 2024 145557 LEGAL

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE

that pursuant to Section 202-48 of the code of the Town of Hempstead entitled, “Handicapped Parking on Public Streets,” a public hearing will be held in the Town Meeting Pavilion, Hempstead Town Hall, 1 Washington Street, Hempstead, New York, on the 9th day of April, 2024, at 7:00 o’clock in the evening of that day, to consider the adoption of a resolution setting aside certain parking spaces for motor vehicles for the sole use of holders of special parking permits issued by the County of Nassau to physically handicapped persons at the following locations:

ELMONT

237TH STREET - east side, starting at a point 350 feet south of the south curbline of 116th Avenue, south for a distance of 20 feet.

(TH-71/24) OCEANSIDE OCEANSIDE PARKWAYsouth side, starting at a point 70 feet east of the east curbline of St. Johns Road, east for a distance of 20 feet.

(TH-74/24)

WANTAGH MAPLE STREET - west side, starting at a point 116 feet north of the north curbline of Merrick Road, north for a distance of 20 feet.

(TH-68/24)

And on the repeal of the following locations previously set aside as parking spaces for physically handicapped persons:

SEAFORD MARTIN COURT - south side, starting at a point 25 feet west of the driveway apron of house 2839 Martin Court, west for a distance of 20 feet.

(TH-236/23 - 08/1/23)

(TH-236C/23)

ALL PERSONS INTERESTED shall have an opportunity to be heard on said proposal at the time and place aforesaid.

Dated: March 12, 2024

Hempstead, New York

BY ORDER OF THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD DONALD X. CLAVIN, JR.

Supervisor KATE MURRAY Town Clerk 145680

LEGAL NOTICE

SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS Supreme Court of New York, Nassau County. GITSIT SOLUTIONS, LLC F/K/A KONDAUR CAPITAL, LLC,, Plaintiff, -againstWILLIAM GALLAGHER

A/K/A WILLIAM JOHN GALLAGHER; TARA GALLAGHER A/K/A TARA MARY GALLAGHER; THE BOARD OF MANAGERS OF THE LAWSON TOWNE HOUSE CORP.; “JOHN DOE” AND “JANE DOE” said names being fictitious, it being the intention of Plaintiff to

Students of the month celebrated in I.P. for open-mindedness

Several students were recognized as February Students of the Month at the March 18 Island Park Board of Education meeting.

The learner profile attribute for February was “Open-Minded,” which describes students who critically appreciate their own cultures and personal histories, as well as the values and traditions of others. They seek and evaluate a range of

points of view and are willing to grow from the experience.

Superintendent of Schools Vincent Randazzo also presented the School report Card, instructional updates and the proposed revenues and expenditures for the 2024-2025 year. The presentation slides can be found on the Superintendent’s Corner page of the Island Park Union Free School District web site.

Students honored for the learner profile attribute

• Atarah Singson (kindergarten)

• Estella Rowan (grade 1),

• Kayla Andrews-Borbon (grade 2),

• Jack Moreau (grade 3),

• Abbey Monzietti (grade 4),

designate any and all occupants of the premises being foreclosed herein, Defendants, Index No. 612470/2020. Mortgaged

Premises: 3530 Long Beach Road, Unit 12 Oceanside, NY 11572

Section: 43 Block: D Lot(s): 750 TO THE ABOVE NAMED

DEFENDANTS: YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the Complaint in the above captioned action and to serve a copy of your Answer on the Plaintiff’s attorney within twenty (20) days after the service of this Summons, exclusive of the day of service, or within thirty (30) days after completion of service where service is made in any other manner than by personal delivery within the State. The United States of America, if designated as a Defendant in this action, may answer or appear within sixty (60) days of service hereof. In case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint. NOTICE OF NATURE OF ACTION AND RELIEF SOUGHT THE OBJECTIVE of the above captioned action is to foreclose on a Mortgage to secure $396,316.00 and interest, recorded in

the Nassau County Clerk’s Office on January 6, 2010 in Book M 34485, Page 247, Control Number 102, covering the premises known as 3530 Long Beach Road, Unit 12, Oceanside, NY 11572. The relief sought herein is a final judgment directing sale of the premises described above to satisfy the debt secured by the mortgage described above. Plaintiff designates Nassau County as the place of trial. Venue is based upon the County in which the mortgaged premises is located.. NOTICE YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME If you do not respond to this summons and complaint by serving a copy of the answer on the attorney for the mortgage company who filed this foreclosure proceeding against you and filing the answer with the court, a default judgment may be entered and you can lose your home. Speak to an attorney or go to the court where your case is pending for further information on how to answer the summons and protect your property. Sending a payment to your mortgage company will not stop this foreclosure action. YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE

• Alexandra Rodgers (grade 5),

• Anaya Lee (grade 6),

• Nicholas Colon (grade 7)

• Aryan Mohamed (grade 8)

ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (MORTGAGE COMPANY) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT. FRIEDMAN VARTOLO, LLP 1325 Franklin Avenue, Suite 160 Garden City, NY 11530, Attorneys for Plaintiff.

145686

LEGAL NOTICE SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU CITIMORTGAGE, INC., Plaintiff -against- DAVID WALSH, KATHLEEN WALSH, et al

Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered herein and dated January 28, 2019, 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 April 29, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. premises situate, lying and being at Oceanside, in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, bounded and described as follows:

BEGINNING at the corner formed by the intersection of the northerly side of Reina Road with the westerly side of Bartz Street; being a plot 100 feet by 50 feet by 100 feet by

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WOODMERE

WMaking an old home newer

Q. I live in the flood area, which happened during Sandy. I am required to lift my air conditioning unit. I was told it had to be at least 4 feet above the ground, and could be set on a platform or put on a bracket against the house. The platform seems to kill the space in my side yard, so I’m opting for the brackets. Now that I have discussed them with my neighbors, they told me the brackets, which will be on the outside of my bedroom, are going to make the air conditioner vibrations annoying, because I’ll hear them right through the wall. I don’t want that, but the platform would take up space and would be much more expensive to build. Is there another alternative, or can I prevent the noise from the vibrations from coming through the wall? It will drive me crazy if I’m awakened every time the unit goes on. What can I do?

Ask The Architect

Monte Leeper

A. This has been a problem addressed in different ways, either by dampening the unit or brackets, relocating the unit to a different place on brackets outside a room, such as a utility, laundry or storage room, building the platform or mounting the unit on a roof. The roof mounting is really a last resort, since the unit needs to be accessible and level. The only place I have designed roof-mounted units is on new homes where flat (low-slope) roof sections are planned. If you have a steeper-sloped roof with asphalt shingles, this method is not worth considering.

As for the less costly method, mounting brackets that are made for air conditioning outdoor condenser units have accessory dampeners and isolation cushions that can be installed, so obviously the industry recognizes the problem.

Comments I have gotten are that, over time, the brackets may wear down and screws and bolts may loosen. One person told me that he lessened the problem by tightening all the fasteners, but I believe this is temporary, and I don’t see the average homeowner climbing a ladder to tighten the connections unless they become completely frustrated. Only locating the condenser unit on a wall area of a seldom-used area of the home, like your utility, storage closet, garage or laundry room, will reduce this problem.

Otherwise, the separate tower is your best option, even though it will cost at least $1,000 more to do. I rarely hear of this problem, but it still does happen. The same thing occurs with washing machines and dryers located on a wood structure adjacent to bedrooms. In such cases, I design a separate, floating structure, isolated by gaskets and dampening shoes or pads. The other alternative is using concrete, but it still needs designed separation dampers. I hope you understand that moving or installing the unit is still costly with new wiring and refrigerant lines being installed to reach the relocated unit, whichever way you go. Good luck!

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In spring, all eyes turn to the diamond

It has arrived. Baseball’s opening day.

When I was a kid growing up in Queens, this greatly anticipated moment was my reassurance that all was well with the world. Coinciding with the coming of warm spring weather and the sale of the new season’s edition of baseball cards, it focused the attention of my friends — whether Dodgers, Yankees or Giants fans — first on the upcoming pennant races, and then on the World Series. This was the golden age of baseball in New York. During the 11 seasons from 1947 to 1957, the Yankees won nine pennants; my team, the Dodgers, six; and the Giants, two. In every year but one, there was at least one New York team in the World Series, and both teams in the fall classic were from New York eight times.

As far as we were concerned, baseball was New York, and New York was baseball. There was nothing like going to Ebbets Field, Yankee Stadium or the

Polo Grounds and being struck by the colors of bright green grass, white baselines and players’ uniforms that were so intense compared with what we saw on our 12-inch black-and-white television screens. No other sport during that era generated such attention. The football Giants often played before a lot of empty seats in the Polo Grounds, and the Knicks actually played NBA championship games in a National Guard Armory because the circus was using Madison Square Garden.

My friends and I had to take the train to Flushing Meadow to play on grass.

Because there was no grass anywhere in our Sunnyside neighborhood, we adapted with our baseball simulations of stickball, curb ball, stoop ball and punchball or softball on the concrete field in the nearby city park. When we reached age 11, we formed our own team, enrolled it in the PAL and took the Queens 7 line train to Flushing Meadow, which had grass fields. The team’s equipment consisted of two bats and a catcher’s mask. Batting helmets were nonexistent, as were parents, or any adults at all. We were on our own. And if we lost or played badly, there was no one to console us.

Much had changed, of course, by the

time my son, Sean, started playing Little League ball at Seaman’s Neck Park in Seaford in the late 1970s: There were Opening Day parades, grass fields, uniforms, umpires, adult coaches, team batting helmets and stands filled with parents, grandparents and neighbors. That was all new to me, but made for great memories.

I really noticed the differences when, starting in 2013, my grandson Jack began playing, first in the Wantagh Little League and then on Long Island travel teams, including the Chiefs and Titans. The changes that struck me most were the equipment — individual batting helmets and customized bats — and the level of play — 11- and 12-year-olds routinely turning double plays and catching high fly balls. What was unchanged was the level of family support and community enthusiasm, with no Bad News Bears adult tantrums or boorishness.

Travel team baseball was a whole new experience. Not just the higher level of skill, but playing across Long Island and traveling to tournaments in upstate Cooperstown as well as Connecticut, Maryland and even South

Carolina. At every destination, the Long Island kids played well and distinguished themselves.

Now a new baseball season is upon us, from Little League to the major leagues. Much has changed over the years. The Dodgers and Giants abandoned us for California over six decades ago. Major League Baseball, which at one time never played west of St. Louis, has expanded from two eightteam leagues to 30 teams and six divisions, and plays regular-season games in Asia and Europe. There has been a diffusion of intense fan interest beyond baseball to the NFL, NBA and NHL. And there is now an overlap of sports seasons, with the NBA and NHL cutting into months of the baseball schedule.

At the local level, the travel team phenomenon draws away from Little League and high school play. Still, baseball remains strong in New York, with the Mets and Yankees, and especially on Long Island, with our outstanding facilities and, most important, supportive families and communities. I know I’m still enthused and ready.

Play ball!

Peter King is a former congressman, and a former chair of the House Committee on Homeland Security. Comments? pking@ liherald.com.

Netanyahu is a supporter of one party: himself

Ihave known Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer since 1972. I have watched him grow from being a state assemblyman to one of the most powerful political leaders in the United States. Schumer is a serious and smart lawmaker, and he measures his every word with the greatest of caution. When he speaks, it is well planned, because he is conscious of the fact that the press will hold him accountable for his actions.

JERRY KREMER

Schumer’s recent call for new elections in Israel, and for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to step down, was a do-ordie plea for peace in the Middle East. I have heard some of my friends call Schumer out for that plea, and describe it as dangerous, or even as a form of terrorism, and I have tried to tell them to consider all the facts before they speak.

Netanyahu has been playing political games for as long as I can remember. He

is not some well-meaning leader of a country who is being picked on. To begin with, Bibi, as he is often called, has been in and out of courtrooms in Israel for two years. He has been charged with various forms of corruption. In Israel, cases like his can drag on for years with no resolution.

CFor the past two years, Bibi has been hopeful that if he can change the way the courts work, his case will be dismissed. He has pushed for a change in the law that would give the country’s legislature, the Knesset, the power to run the courts and end any kind of judicial interference. His efforts to undermine the judicial system have split the country in half and have given rise to massive demonstrations calling for his ouster. To stay in power, he has forged alliances with right-wing leaders who have their own plans to change Israel from a democracy to a banana republic.

er, and has lost the confidence of the people, are 100 percent correct. As a congressional leader, Schumer has every right to speak out on Israel’s political challenges, because America sends billions of dollars to Israel each year and is Israel’s strongest supporter.

huck Schumer was right: Bibi has lost the confidence of his people.

Schumer’s speech calling for new elections in another country may have stepped over the line, but his claims that Bibi is no longer the nation’s true lead-

If your best friend thinks you have lost your way, he or she has every right to tell you so, out of love, and not any other motive. Schumer has been Israel’s most loyal member of Congress, and has fought off other members who have questioned the need to provide so much aid to other countries.

Israel had every right to invade Gaza after Hamas’s attack on Oct. 7, one of the most brutal assaults on any nation. The conduct of Hamas will go down in history as another Holocaust, and there had to be a response to such vicious conduct. Israel responded with an all-out war against a cruel and undisciplined mob that kills and steals from its own people.

The United States has asked Bibi what his plans are for Gaza when the

war is over and Hamas has been defeated, and he has no answer. As long as he stays in power, he can avoid having to face the possibility of going to prison. He has a plan, but it focuses on holding on to his job, even if his country no longer trusts him to be its leader. In the interim, he will try to hold on to power by playing partisan politics.

It’s no secret that Netanyahu has always embraced the American Republican Party. He worked against President Barack Obama, and came to Washington to promote Donald Trump on a number of occasions. He has every intention of holding on to his power in the hope that Trump will be elected again this year.

Bibi will do whatever it takes to keep his job. Schumer spoke out forcefully for one reason, which was to keep Israel a democracy. The world needs Israel to survive, and there is no question that under Netanyahu’s control, its very existence is threatened.

Jerry Kremer was an Assemblyman for 23 years, and chaired the Assembly’s Ways and Means Committee for 12 years. He now heads Empire Government Strategies, a business development and legislative strategy firm. Comments about this column? jkremer@liherald.com.

pETER KInG

HeraLd editoriaL Have you got the fire(fighter) in you?

they’re good people. They’re strong. And they’re heroes.

That’s how people in New York describe volunteer firefighters, according to a survey conducted by the Firefighters Association of the State of New York. And nearly half of all people who were asked said they would love to become one of these strong, good heroes.

And now they have their chance.

Volunteer fire departments — like the one in your hometown — are opening their doors the weekend of April 13 to not only remind our neighborhoods of how important those fire departments are, but also to help bring more firefighters to the fold.

It’s called RecruitNY weekend, and leading up to it, the firefighters association is asking businesses, government buildings and anyplace else where exteriors are lit to make those lights red to show solidarity with our firefighters.

“The lights symbolize our commitment to a tradition of community help, and a need for more volunteers,” Edward Tase Jr., president of the association, said.

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman is doing his part, lighting the dome red on the Theodore Roosevelt Executive and Legislative Building in Mineola in the first two weeks of April. The hope is that other major landmarks across the region and state will light up

Letters

Why isn’t the LIRR’s work at Jamaica finished?

To the Editor:

red as well.

Being a volunteer fire department has been getting tougher. Membership has dropped, while calls have increased. And not because people don’t want to be firefighters — it’s just hard to make that commitment in our busy lives, amid a turbulent economy that requires many of us to work more than we may have in the past to pay the bills.

But there are benefits beyond simply making a difference — and potentially saving lives — to being a volunteer firefighter. And those are benefits worth considering. For example, volunteer firefighters get free training and free equipment, as well as tax breaks and essential insurance coverage — all provided by the Volunteer Firefighter Benefits Law, first passed in 1957.

Some of those tax breaks include income tax credits of $500 to $1,000 per year, as well as property tax reductions of up to 10 percent, assuming your local government has opted in.

And, depending on what individual departments have set up, there could be pension opportunities as well, established through the state’s Length of Service Award Program.

For younger people, there are scholarships and tuition reimbursement available, too.

Of course, becoming a volunteer firefighter isn’t about the financial incentives, although they help. What really

Long Island Rail Road riders have to ask why Phase 2 of the LIRR’s $168 million Jamaica Capacity Improvements wasn’t completed prior to the initiation of full-time service for the $11.6 billion East Side Access to Grand Central Madison in February 2023.

Phase 2 is scheduled to be completed by December 2026. The work will raise maximum allowable train speeds, increase train throughput — the number of trains that can pass through a section of line in a given time — as well as parallel routing capabilities, implement universal 12-car platform capacity and ensure a full state-of-goodrepair throughout the Jamaica Station complex. It will include critical work on bridges carrying trains, and expansion of the Hall Interlocking.

Prior to this, there was the $450 million Phase 1 of the Jamaica Capacity Improvements, for which funding was approved in 2010, using grants from the Federal Transit Administration. It included capital improvements in and around the station, encompassing tracks, signals, third-rail power and interlockings, designed to support increased operational capacity necessary for future service

draws most people to serve is a chance to give back to the communities they love in ways they simply can’t do otherwise.

Volunteer firefighters play a crucial role in protecting their homes and neighbors from emergencies and disasters beyond simply putting out fires, although there is nothing simple about that. They are also there for medical emergencies and natural disasters like major storms, always contributing to public safety and well-being.

These days we see firefighters needed to respond to flooded basements, lithium-ion battery fires, downed power lines and car accidents.

Volunteers also get to fulfill a dream many of us have had since the moment we saw a firefighter for the first time. We knew that’s what we wanted to be, too. So why not do it?

Visit your local volunteer fire department next month. See what it’s like to be a firefighter, and how you can make a difference. And then ask where you can sign up.

President George W. Bush once said that “the willingness of America’s volunteer firefighters to risk their lives for others is a testament to the spirit of service that pervades our nation.”

Let’s continue prove him right. Find out how — and where — you can volunteer today. Visit FireInYou.org/volunteer.

to Grand Central Madison. When the FTA grants were approved, this proposed new service was many years away. Thirteen years was ample time to complete both Phase 1 and 2.

Why wasn’t Phase 2 completed before the service to GCM began? And will its completion increase overall rush hour capacity, including additional Atlantic branch Brooklyn service, and reduce travel

We must understand what antisemitism is, and isn’t

the American Jewish Committee recently released its annual State of Antisemitism in America 2023 Report, which revealed that 63 percent of American Jews say the status of Jews in the U.S. is “less secure than a year ago” — a 22-percentagepoint increase in just one year, and a 32-point increase over two years.

Forty-six percent of American Jews say they have changed their behavior out of fear of antisemitism, a jump from 38 percent last year.

While these numbers are daunting and cause for concern, several of the key takeaways from the report, on Holocaust and antisemitism education, are positive.

state offer varying degrees of Holocaust education, in accordance with State Education Department regulations, and we also know that quality Holocaust education has been shown to reduce antisemitism and all forms of hate.

eriC post

AJC’s report found that 92 percent of American Jews, and 89 percent of all U.S. adults in the Northeast, believe it is important for public schools to invest more resources in teaching age-appropriate lessons about the Holocaust to all students. There is also overwhelming support among both the Jewish community and the general public for teaching modern manifestations of antisemitism in public schools.

We know that schools in New York

Jewish students, however, should not be seen solely through the lens of the Holocaust. We should incorporate the Jewish community in any diversity efforts, and encourage the celebration of Jewish American Heritage Month in May, to promote awareness and appreciation of Jewish contributions to American society.

In addition, over the past several years, school districts across Long Island have implemented character education initiatives to address all forms of hate and racism, and help students understand the consequences of actions and words on others.

It is critical that we also teach about the modern manifestations of antisemitism, not just the historical ones. Since the Oct. 7 Hamas terror attack on Israel, we have seen a steep increase in antisemitic graffiti and incidents in Long Island public schools. This is on top of an already growing problem with anti-

Letters

time between Jamaica and Penn Station, GCM, Flatbush Avenue, Hunters Point or Long Island City? LIRR commuters, taxpayers, transit advocacy groups and elected officials deserve a detailed explanation from MTA Chairman Janno Lieber and Acting LIRR President Robert Free for why this work was delayed so long.

LARRY PENNER Great Neck

Larry Penner is a transportation advocate, historian and writer who previously served as a director of the Federal Transit Administration Region 2 New York Office of Operations and Program Management.

Mistake-free Medicare?

You’re dreaming, Jerry.

To the Editor:

Re Jerry Kremer’s recent column “Check your Medicare statement carefully”: I think Jerry is naïve to think Medicare will have the time and manpower to investigate billing scams, like the one he detailed involving catheters, when they are devoting resourc-

es to denying reimbursement for preventive services that are listed in their handbook. I will explain.

I recently had a PSA test whose reimbursement was denied because of a billing code error. I am 77 years old, and per Page 49 of the Medicare handbook, this is a preventive service to which I am entitled every 12 months.

I did not have this test for several years. I called Medicare to get the service reimbursed, and was told I had to get a letter from my doctor explaining the need for the service, and with that document to file an appeal. This meant the doctor had to send me a letter, and I had to fill out a claim form and mail it to Medicare. Medicare now has to evaluate the appeal and rule on it.

The request for an appeal for coverage of this preventive service couldn’t be approved with a phone call, even after I was transferred to two different people with hold times of roughly 20 minutes. Everyone I spoke to on the phone agreed that it didn’t make sense, but they had no authority to approve the service, even though it’s listed in their manual as one that’s covered.

LEWIS

ALTMAN

Merrick

semitism here and nationwide.

Given that antisemitism is often not well understood, education is crucial in fostering an environment with zero tolerance for anti-Jewish bigotry and all forms of hate. It is also critical to reassure Jewish families that districts see them in this moment, and are prioritizing their children’s safety and well-being. Several Jewish organizations, including AJC, offer training for students, teachers and administrators.

In these moments of uncertainty and anxiety for American Jewry, it is also important to consider what is being reported when Israel is in the news more than usual, as has been the case since Oct. 7. Criticism of Israel is not inherently antisemitic. In fact, it is a feature of its democracy, and Israelis do it all the time. But there are occasions when antiIsrael rhetoric can become antisemitic, including statements that deny the Jewish people’s right to self-determination.

sau and Suffolk counties, New York state and the federal government, criticism of Israel similar to that leveled against any other country cannot be regarded as antisemitic, but, for example, “applying double standards by requiring of it a behavior not expected or demanded of any other democratic nation” does cross that line.

The IHRA definition can be helpful in evaluating whether antisemitism exists in school settings. Establishing a system to report antisemitism and all forms of hate, reviewing and publicizing key school policies, including social media, and communicating with families when antisemitism and hate occur are also vital.

The more we all know about antisemitism, the more we can identify it, fight it and keep it on the fringe of society. When that happens, not only Jews will feel more secure, we all will.

As noted by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s Working Definition of Antisemitism, which has been adopted by the AJC and major American Jewish organizations, Nas-

Eric Post is the Long Island director of the American Jewish Committee. Bob Vecchio is the executive director of the Nassau-Suffolk School Boards Association.

Framework by Tim Baker

A scene from Baldwin Middle School’s production of ‘The Little Mermaid’

BoB VeCCHio

Gold Award

THE

THE FOX TEAM

THE ALEX RUBIN TEAM

KARLA GRASSO

BARBARA GUNN