Oceanside/Island Park Herald 12-08-2022

Teens support animal shelter Page 5

Family goes all out for Christmas Page 3

Drag Queen Story Hour continues on

By KARINA KoVAC kkovac@liherald.com

The lessons for the day? Selflove, kindness and acceptance. The teacher? A drag queen.

Karina Kovac/Herald

It was a special visit to the Barry and Florence Friedberg Jewish Community Center last weekend by the “mermaid of New York,” Bella Noche. There, decked out in her Sunday best, the popular performer read to children as part of Drag Queen Story Hour.

Started in 2015 in San Fran cisco by author and activist Michelle Tea, the idea of Drag

Queen Story Hour promotes reading with a little bit of diversity and inclusivity mixed in. But while the kids gathered around Bella Noche were eager to hear what she was going to read, some protesting outside were not as thrilled.

Those gathered outside were evenly split between those who supported the storytime, and those who were against — with police in the middle.

“We’re all parents,” said Christine Chapman, who joined about a dozen others to protest Bella Noche’s visit. “We

Construction on horizon for the South Shore wind farm

By KARINA KoVAC kkovac@liherald.com

The winds of change are slowly coming from the east — but they are coming as a Nor way-based energy company readies to set up shop in Island Park.

Equinor — a multibillion-dol lar company that has made its fortune in petroleum over the last 50 years — plans to con struct a wind energy farm just miles off of Long Island with a substation delivering power directly to Island Park. While wind might be the kind of clean energy residents there are look ing for, having a substation out

side of the village’s industrial area may not be.

Equinor brought engineers, construction managers and experts to a public meeting at Lincoln Orens Middle School on Nov. 29, hoping to get the buy-in that might be needed to get the $3 billion project past bureau cratic red tape.

Dubbed Empire Wind, the project has two parts — one delivering power to Brooklyn, the other to the Long Beach area, connecting to the E.F. Barrett Power Station in Island Park.

The wind turbines them selves will be as close as 15 miles offshore, with a tip height of nearly 900 feet, and a rotor diam

eter of nearly 775 feet. All of it will span about 80,000 acres of ocean.

While the turbines will cap ture energy from the wind, a substation on the shore to help collect it is proposed along Rail road Place where Pop’s Seafood Shack & Grill once sat. Pop’s served its last meal over the summer after the land under neath it was bought by Equinor.

If the substation is built, Equinor officials say neighbors should expect no significant traf fic or noise increase in the area.

Yet, the location is still trou blesome for some.

“Why not put it next to the Barrett plant to keep industry in

one area?” one audience mem ber asked.

The answer has to do with the submarine export cables, accord ing to the company, and how they must be placed.

It’s also not a decision left in the hands of Equinor, according to company spokesman Brian Young. Instead, that’s something that will be decided by regulato

ry authorities.

“In our permitting documents … we are required to evaluate alternative substation locations that could theoretically be used, including some that were closer to the Barrett generating sta tion,” Young told the Herald. “Currently, the permitting agen cies are evaluating both our pro

BEllA NoChE — whose real name is Isaiah Cruz — reads to children from the Drag Queen Story Hour library inside the Barry and Florence Friedberg Jewish Community Center in Oceanside, teach ing kids to respect one another, be kind and love themselves for who they are.

Christmas tree lit at Schoolhouse Green

It was a brisk Friday night, but the Kiwanis Club was keeping Oceansiders warm with complimentary hot chocolate before the annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony. With kids singing classic holiday tunes filling the air and a special Santa visit with the Oceanside Fire Department, fami lies enjoyed the holiday outing.

Resident and father of two Eric Forte was at the event with his two-year-old. Pond ing what Christmas means to him, he said, “It’s time to be with your family and friends and it’s the best time of the year.” Going to many Oceanside events, he says the commu nity always comes together in the best way possible. “It’s wonderful, all the events that go on in Oceanside are nice to bring the kids too, especially this one.”

Paul Engle, Chamber of Commerce pres ident also remarked on how this time of year has excellent lessons for everyone. “It has a good lesson because really, we should be giving thanks more often. Show more gratitude and forgiveness,” he said.

Senator Kevin Thomas was out in his new district at the lighting meeting the peo ple he represents.

Thomas said, “Christmas is not just a day but a state of mind. It’s about giving back and looking at everything we have had in the past year and looking to the future.”

— Karina Kovac

Photos courtesy Daniel Tommasino Oceanside’s mini-ROckefelleR centRe tree lit up with kids playing around it.

Juan, dOnna and daughter Lily Peña smile after seeing Santa pull in on the Oceanside fire truck.

At 39 Brighton Road, those who wish to take a pic ture with Santa can stop by Dec. 10 from 6 to 9 p.m.

Christmas house continues into forth decade

By KARINA KOVAC kkovac@liherald.com

For 31 years the Barrella family has gone to extremes to decorate their Island Park house for Christmas, each year bigger and better. Before that, while living in Long Beach, they had almost a decade to start their collection of blow molds, now total ing about 730. Thomas Barrella Sr. started the tradition nearly forty years ago, which his son Thomas Barrella Jr. has picked up and expanded in the last five years.

It all started for Barrella Sr. when he was in the car with his mother driving into New York City as a child and he saw a single shimmering house with ornate Christmas decorations.

“I was like ‘wow all their figurines are beautiful.’ It’s like something beyond belief, I would love to do this to my house,” he thought at the time. Working on a newspaper route he began to save up when he was around 16 years old and then he would, “Spend all my money on lights.”

He started humbly with the classics like a nativity scene, Santa Claus and snowman decorations, increasing each year after. In the last five years with his son taking over there’s been a lot of improvements Sr. said.

“It’s been getting bigger and bigger, he took it over to the extreme,” he said. And Jr. doesn’t mind the torch being passed to him either, “I enjoy it a lot, so to me it was a no brainer, I’ll keep doing it, I’m not going to stop. I enjoy it for the kids, the kids love looking at the lights,” he said.

The same reason his father does it, “Just to watch the kids’ faces. It’s always been a thing for me, because it happened to me when I was a kid,” the older Barrel la said. To them, it doesn’t matter their electric bill is around $500 to 600, with the help of solar panels.

The younger Barrella said he tries to have all the Christmas lights up by Thanksgiving so those who pass by can enjoy it for exactly a month. And that they have regulars each year who stop by and take pictures to send as their Christ mas card. “Everyone knows it’s the Christmas house,” he said.

Improving each year, Barrella Sr. is doing more than just decorating, it’s become interactive through a partnership with Toys of Hope.

Toys of Hope operates year-round to collect toys, books, clothing and more to distribute to needy and homeless children and their families.

“We try to aim toward teenagers because teenagers that are poor really get overlooked,” Barrella Sr. explained, “We try to get gift cards mainly.” So far, they’ve donated roughly 2,500 this holiday season.

Anyone who comes to visit the Barrel la house at 39 Brighton Road can drop off

items to donate, write a letter to Santa, or pretend to be and elf in a photo station. And on Dec. 10, the man himself Santa will ride in on a fire truck to the house at 6 p.m. for photos from then to 9 p.m. Bar rella Sr. said, “Every year now (Toys of Hope) calls me up ‘are we coming down the block?’ I’m like absolutely. Santa Claus on back of the fire truck? It’s awesome.”

‘Tis the season Barrella Sr. says, “It’s all about giving, me and my wife were always like that, we always gave gave gave, we never looked for anything. We just try to do whatever we could for peo ple. That’s the way we are.”

Photos by Karina Kovac/Herald

LOCAted

SAdIe, thOmAS JR., Schandell, Thomas Sr. and Julie Barrella outside their extravagant Christmas home.

Island Park Public Library celebrates International Games Day

On Nov. 16, families piled into the Island Park Public Library to play a game or two for International Games Day.

The annual event allows libraries all around the world to showcase some of the unusual parts of their collections, focusing on the educational, recreational, and social value of all types of games.

Photos courtesy Island Park Public Library Kathy CLarK anD her daughter, Faith, enjoy a game of Ring Toss by the library’s fireplace.

Jaxton MartInez enJoys Lego Duplo building blocks with his father, James.

anthony Doherty reaDs a book about the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade to his daughter, Sierra.

Teens help furry friends this holiday season

By KARINA KOVAC kkovac@liherald.com

Sydney Dolger and Riley Rugolo have an affinity for furry friends that has start ed spilling out of the classroom. Tenth graders at Oceanside High School, they participate in the same clubs together such as DECA, Care Club, Key Club and more, but now they’ve started a founda tion of their own. Paw for a Cause began after Dolger adopted her dog Rari at Posh Pets in Long Beach, now they’re giving back to the animal shelter that’s given Dolger a companion of a lifetime.

In September, the 15-year-olds joined DECA, where they write papers about dif ferent categories, totaling some 500 options to choose from. But they took the task a step further, choosing the commu nity giving prompt which is the only hands-on category. “Me and Sydney are both very hands on people and we both really wanted to do something and we’re both very interested in: giving back to our community,” said Rugolo.

“We saw community giving and that’s the one of the few you actually had to do something whereas the others are more fictional,” Dolger said, “And we really wanted to give back and do something where we could show our appreciation and help the dogs and the other animals in the shelter that are really in need of everything we could possibly give them.”

Dolger has a connection with Posh

Pets since she chose her beloved Rari there in June and where her mother vol unteers as a dog walker. “I just loved everything about the shelter,” she said, and when she saw Rari it was love at first sight.

Rugolo also has experience in adopt ing, choosing her dog Gina at a Petco and Ruff House Rescue event. “I really was passionate about doing Paws for a Cause because of my experience with adopting

animals from shelters and how helpful they are,” she said. Working off of a com mon interest and goal, they began to send email after email asking teachers and local organizations for help getting sup plies and exposure for their cause.

There messaging paid off, and commu nity support came pouring in. They part nered with Girl Scout Troop 2884 and if any scout donates, they get a paw print patch. Teachers offered extra credit and

Key Club said they’ll give community ser vice hours.

“It was shocking, but so amazing to see how willing people were to support us and especially so many of our teachers are like ‘that is so amazing,’” said Rugolo. And the experience working together for a common good has made them closer friends.

“I think it definitely strengthened our friendship, like we got to spend so much more time together and just working on it and fostering new ideas. I had no idea how passionate she was about dogs also. I didn’t even know how passionate I was about dogs. I started writing this paper and it really just opened my eyes to so many things. And I’m really glad it did,” Dolger said smiling.

Rugolo agreed even though it was more work than the other papers they could have chosen, it was the most rewarding. “I think I’ve been so much happier exploring more and kind of find ing myself, especially in this. I’ve had so much fun doing this and it’s been a really amazing,” she said. “There’s so many things you can do to get involved in, it makes it so easy to really just go out there and be your best self.”

If interested in donating dog and cat toys, food, beds, sheets or towels or other pet related items a donation table is set up in the main lobby of the high school. Donations will be open from 7:50 a.m. till 2:35 p.m. through Dec. 9.

Karina Kovac/Herald

PAws fOR A Cause founders Sydnery Dolger and Riley Rugolo sit with Dolger’s dog Rari, in middle, who helped inspire giving back to Posh Pets animal shelter in Long Beach.

Balloon Mission is up and away to save

In its early stages, nonprofit sets tone for future

By JORDAN VALLONE jvallone@liherald.com

Where do helium-filled bal loons go when they’re released into the sky?

Cynthia Seibold had that same question. And she discovered that the old axiom was true: What goes up must come down. But not in ways people might like.

The North Merrick resident with a background in insurance underwriting, spent a lot of time outdoors at the start of the coronavirus pandemic. She noticed, however, that among all the litter found in the various parks, preserves and beaches she visit ed, one category stood out: bal loons.

Or rather, shreds of bal loons. Seibold found their strings and what was left of their plastic or rubber bodies impacting trees and plants and, of course, wildlife — animals that could easily mistake bal loon pieces for food.

It’s not that bal loon releases — or how they poten tially threaten the environment — is something new. But the pandemic created a new surge of such helium-intensive events as a different way to share birth days, graduations and retirements.

“Balloons are (a) leading cause of pol lution in our waters and our air,” Seibold said. “They break down into microplas tics and nanoplastics. I kept saying to myself, ‘There has to be a better way.’”

She found it with her nonprofit, Bal loon Mission.

“Our program is to collect balloons before they end up on the land and in oceans, reducing our carbon footprint and the harmful microplastics that are gener ated from balloons,” Seibold said. “And for every balloon that is sold and respon sibly collected, we feel it’s going to be one less piece of litter that’s harming our wildlife.”

Still, Seibold wants to make one thing very clear: She is not “anti-balloon.”

“This is a growing issue,” she said. “I think people need to know that there are options of ballooning responsibly. We’re not telling you to not have your balloons, but discard them in an appropriate man ner.”

Although the nonprofit is in its early stages, Seibold has already received a great deal of support while building rela tionships with local and statewide organi zations. That includes the Hempstead town sanitation department, and the state environmental conservation department.

One of Seibold‘s primary goals is to

the get the message out that Balloon Mis sion is collecting balloons with plans to set up collection bins as early as January so people can properly dispose their holi day balloons.

Those bins will be cardboard boxes with Balloon Mission signage, Seibold explained. Locations are still being deter mined, but she hopes to have them in community-oriented locations like fire houses, Veterans of Foreign Wars halls and libraries.

On a national level, Seibold said, peo ple are noticing the effects balloons have on the environment.

“There was actually a New York Times article that came out in March of 2022 that talks about this surge in balloon fren zy,” she said. “We couldn’t celebrate and we couldn’t do things when we were in lockdown.

“We did these big balloon displays, and they’ve gotten even bigger, and it’s not going away. People want this — they want a balloon collection. They want options. They want to feel like they’re part of the solution, not part of the problem.”

Through her research and communica tion with Hempstead town officials, Sei bold learned the municipality actually passed a local law prohibiting the inten tional release of balloons in 2019. Yet, bal loon releases still happen, she said, mak ing it important that signage goes up — perhaps sometime next spring — advising

against such activities.

Seibold is working closely with ACDS, an organization that offers lifetime services to people of all ages with intellectual disabilities. Formerly the Association for Chil dren with Down Syndrome, the organization has locations in North Merrick and Plainview.

Jane Cohen, the day habilita tion services supervisor at ACDS, says it’s important for her group to offer volunteers to various envi ronmental organizations, and that its members are excited about helping Seibold’s nonprofit.

“In January, we’re going to start collecting (balloons) from various pickup sites, and then we’re going to bring them back to our hub sites and sift through them,” Cohen said. Volunteers “can work on their office skills and note-taking, so they can feel like they’ve accomplished some thing. It’s very rewarding for our individ uals.”

ACDS plans to provide some 200 volun teers to Balloon Mission.

“We feel this is a symbiotic relation ship,” Seibold said, adding it “works in keeping with ACDS’s goal of increasing life and social skills, and work readiness for their participants.”

She also hopes to educate people on alternatives to balloons.

MANy ARE uNAwARE the helium-filled balloons they release can harm the environment. Sea turtles and other animals can mistake the balloons for food.

a practice of the past.

“I’m not looking to get rid of balloons — they make people light up,” she said. “I would like to start thinking of alterna tives. Can we blow bubbles? Can we send up a nice waft of smoke or sage into the air? It’s about finding these other ways of commemorating those moments in our life.”

Seibold hopes her nonprofit will get people thinking about ways to help find solutions.

“There are people that are smarter than me out there,” she said, “and I need those people in on the Balloon Mission.”

Photos courtesy Cynthia Seibold

CyNthiA SEiBOLD, fOuNDER and executive director of the nonprofit Balloon Mission, found an abandoned balloon at Lido Beach, a Hempstead town park. Seibold is on a quest to raise awareness about how damaging to the environment helium-filled balloon releases are, with hopes of making that

we’re not telling you to not have your balloons, but discard them in an appropriate manner.

CyNthiA SEiBOLD Founder, Balloon Mission

Neighbors weigh pros, cons of wind farm

posed project — which has Pop’s as the substation — as well as the alternative locations that were presented in the per mitting documents.”

That “alternative location” would be the Barrett power station, located just a short distance away.

But what about Island Park’s view from the beach on a clear day? Equinor officials say they’re currently working on a “benefits plan” for communities like Long Beach and Island Park affected by the development. They expect more news in the coming months.

Richard Schurin, however, isn’t hold ing his breath.

“My main concern as a resident is that Island Park doesn’t continue to be an industrial dumping zone without proper compensation,” he said. “We’re already suffering from the Barrett’s plant use. So, I’m concerned that another major utility company is using us as a host community.

“What are we going to be getting out of it?”

Equinor officials boasted a number of benefits the farm will provide both locally and regionally. Empire Wind is expected to bring thousands of jobs while upgrad ing the outdated electrical grid. Officials also claim nearly $2 billion in health bene fits, and another $9 billion in economic activity — all while removing the equiva lent carbon footprint of 1.3 million cars annually.

Turbines capture the energy from offshore wind to generate electricity. The turbine foundations are secured to the ocean floor, as are cables that transmit the current to an offshore substation.

Electricity flows through a buried cable to on onshore substation before it’s transferred to the existing transmis sion network to be distributed state wide to the grid.

And then there’s a battle won against climate change by producing 2.1 gigawatts of renewable energy, capable of powering 1 million homes.

While there was some pushback from neighbors about the project, one — who wouldn’t give her name — said she was disappointed she didn’t see people there who would actually be affected.

“I’m going to be honest, there’s nobody here that will probably still be living here when they complete it,” she said. “Where are the young people? We need to get the younger people here.”

Karina Kovac/Herald Island Park resIdents came out in droves to learn about the $3 billion Empire Wind project coming to Long Island’s South Shore. On the screen is the proposed cable routes through Island Park parallel to the Long Island Rail Road.

‘Everyone can be who they want to be and love yourself’

have no problem with gay, lesbian, tranny, LGBT — that’s not the issue. It’s the issue they’re trying to push this on 6-, 7-, 8-yearold kids. You want to go to a drag show, fine. “but don’t feed it to kids.”

On the flip side, Luke Wollweber, Sean Harkins, and more than a dozen others held pride flags and signs in support.

“I just came to show our support,” said Wollweber, an Oceanside native. “I want people in my community to feel like they can live their lives however they want.”

“I mean, it’s just kind of absurd,” Harkins added. “It’s literally a storytime for kids. How is that so outrageous?”

Inside the JCC, Noche explained to the kids, who ranged in age from preschool to elementary, the many ways people can be kind to each other.

“Kindness is taking it upon yourself to do some thing nice for somebody,” she said. “It can be holding a door, giving a compliment, some times just giving a hug.”

After reading a book and playing a game of Simon Says, Noche opened the floor to questions about anything and everything. The burning questions focused on her shimmering star dress and mermaid accessories. Others asked where she gets her books from.

None of this is new to Noche, whose real name is Isaiah Cruz, and who’s been doing story hour for four years as the Long Island chapter director. But the people outside were.

“I can count on one hand how many actual protest times that there’s been, and so everything surrounding this one it was quite out of the ordinary to be honest,” she said. Noche needed extra protection on this particular trip, watched over by two security guards.

Yet, it’s not the first time protests have followed Drag Queen Story Hour. In fact, Nassau County’s first-ever storytime with a drag queen — held at the East Meadow

Public Library in early 2019 with Bella Noche — testers.

At the time, Noche — is a Manhattan native who studied jour nalism and creative writing at Hunter College, before working at the Generation Q LGBT youth center in Queens — was the first time she encountered such a reaction.

“We understand that certain people have ideologies that don’t mix” with ours,

gram “dolls.” Laor asked her daughter if she wanted to meet a doll in real life, and she jumped at the opportunity.

“We had a great time,” Laor said. “It was so much fun. We’ve never done one before. Very exciting.”

Sponsoring the event was Camp Ga’avah, an LGBTQ day camp for chil dren and teens between 6 and 17. The camp creates a safe space open to all, including gender fluid, gender creative and gender questioning. Ella Diamond, the camp’s director, called Drag Queen Story Hour “important for kids to see dif ferent

representation.”

Protestors are sPilt up by police in an attempt to de-escalate potential confronta tions outside Barry and Florence Friedberg Jewish Community Center in Oceanside. Inside, Isaiah Cruz — performing as the popular New York drag queen Bella Noche — was reading a book to children.

ilove doing this because I wish I had something like this when I was a kid. I want to be that example for kids.

Bella noChe chapter director, Long Island Drag Queen Story Hour

Herald ScHoolS

Winning streak for HS at model congress event

Oceanside High Schools Model Con gress and their 28 delegates won numer ous awards at the annual competition on October 29 at East Meadow High School.

Over the course of the day students fought their way through several sessions of small-scale debate in committees, and later in the larger House and Senate.

Following rapid fire debates were sports, cheers, and other delegation wide events showcasing school pride and stu dent talent, with Oceanside ranking high ly in all activities.

Near the end of the twelve-hour con gress, Oceanside’s morale remained high as dozens of delegates won awards in committees, and both best speaker titles in the House and Senate.

After going down to the wire with seven other school districts, Oceanside concluded the night being awarded best delegation, continuing their win streak from the previous year.

delegation winners:

Ollie Lang for best speaker

Ryan Kahl for best speaker

Cass Gulliksen for best speaker

Matt Malkiewicz for best speaker

Alexandra Camacho for best speaker

Arielle Benjamin for best speaker

Dahiran Bowe got an honorable mention

Josie Zaccoli got an honorable mention

Avery Morgan got an honorable mention

Morgan Remy got an honorable mention

Lucas Galvez got an honorable mention

OHS excels at Model United Nations Conference

Oceanside High School’s World Inter est Club spent the weekend of Novem ber 12 and 13 at the Brown University Model United Nations conference and came home with multiple awards.

At these confer ences, students par ticipate in simula tions of United Nations delegations and committees. It requires in-depth knowledge of world events and diploma cy skills.

Karina Kovac

Photos by Oceanside school district

The award-winning Oceanside High School Model Congress delegation is pictured dressed for the theme, which was Rock-n-Roll.

Oceanside school district

Oceanside h igh s ch OO l’s World Interest Club at the Brown University Model United Nations conference.

Emma Buffone for outstanding delegate Magalie Musto for outstanding delegate

Steven Plesser got an honorable mention

Liora Raimondi for outstanding delegate Addison Vice for outstanding delegate Amelia Wolcoff for outstanding delegate

for

The Empire Wind offshore wind project, located off the southern coast of Long Island, will generate 2.1 gigawatts (GW) of wind energy, enough to power more than 1M homes, an important contributor to New York’s climate action goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions 85% by 2050. The project is under development by Equinor, one of the world’s largest offshore wind developers, in partnership with bp.

The federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) published a Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the project November 18, opening a 60-day public comment period, which ends at 11:59 p.m. ET, January 17, 2023.

How to Attend and Comment

Attend a Public Meeting (all meetings are virtual): Register at https://www.boem.gov/renewable-energy/stateactivities/empire-wind

• Wednesday, December 7, 2022; 5:00 PM ET

• Tuesday, December 13, 2022; 5:00 PM ET

• Thursday, December 15, 2022; 1:00 PM ET

Comment Online: Search for Docket No. BOEM-2022-0053 at http://www.regulations.gov, select “Comment” below the document link, enter your comment and then select “Submit.”

Comment via Postal Mail: Send written comments to Empire Wind COP DEIS, Program Chief, Office of Renewable Energy Programs, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, 45600 Woodland Road, Sterling, VA 20166

Clavin, Khzouz, Richner honored at gala

Money raised will help Nassau Community College feed the hungry

By ANDRE SILVA asilva@liherald.com

It was a night to remember, and a night to recognize the people and businesses that help make Nassau Community College what it is.

It was the annual gala of the Nassau Community College Foundation, taking place not far from the campus at the Cra dle of Aviation Museum in Garden City.

Among those honored were Hemp stead town supervisor Don Clavin, NICE Bus chief executive Jack Khzouz, NCC administrator Charmian Smith, and Richner Communications, the parent company of Herald Commu nity Newspa pers.

It’s a great time to celebrate each other, our accomplishments, the community, and our families.

ChARmIAN SmITh interim VP, academic student services, NCC

Adorned in their best suits, ties and dresses, guests were immediately offered cham pagne and given a chance to pose for photos in front of a red carpet display. From there, it was a tour of the model planes and his toric aviation displays before being invited to sit at their respective tables in the main dining room.

Leading the night off was Donna Drake of her self-titled inspirational tele vision show introducing guests like Joy Dedonato, an NCC alum, and executive director of the NCC Foundation.

“I’ll never forget the people I met and the values I learned at Nassau Communi ty College,” Dedonato said. “This place taught me to hit the wall, where you can not go further, and then go further any way.”

NCC president Maria Conzatti then introduced the honorees, selected for their support. Like Clavin and Richner Communications, both of which publi cize important notices to students, while also providing advertising and market ing.

Clavin, in fact, is a staunch supporter of the college, Conzatti said, thanking him for what he has done as an elected official. Like helping to organize The Nest at NCC — a non-profit organization that aims to alleviate hunger for stu dents, employees and their families.

“Some people say it takes a village to raise a child,” Conzatti said. “And were proud that this village raised so many students who come back to support our college.”

Baldwin’s Charmian Smith is NCC’s interim vice president of academic stu dent services, telling the crowd she was honored to know her colleagues recog nized her in such a way.

“This gala helps to bring us all togeth

er after the years of the Covid-19 pan demic,” she said. “It’s a great time to cel ebrate each other, our accomplishments, the community, and our families.”

Clavin is an NCC alum, and has count ed some of the professors there as actual members of his family.

“So many of my friends started their lives at this institution,” the town super visor said. “To be recognized is just hum bling.”

Stuart Richner talked about the importance of providing well-rounded learning experiences.

“Educating young adults takes a team of professionals and advisers, which we understand,” the Herald Community

Newspapers publisher said. “Here at Richner, we work as a team to pro vide hyperlocal news to our commu nities.”

Khzouz described his being hon ored by the foundation “amazing.” NICE Bus employs more than 1,000 people, transporting more than 70,000 each day in 450 vehicles. That’s more than a million miles a month.

“We have a mission, which we live every day,” Khzouz said. “That mission is to make sure our bus services are an asset to Nassau County institutions and its citizens.”

And now NICE is celebrating 10 years

in Nassau County.

“We use large complex vehicles to drive through Nassau County and Queens at peak rush hour with impatient New Yorkers. What could go wrong?”

Khzouz joked. “Yet, we prevail anyway.”

Proceeds from the gala will help The Nest at NCC food pantry. To make a dona tion, too, visit tinyurl.com/GiveNCC.

Tim Baker/Herald photos

ThE NASSAu CommuNITy College Foundation honored Hempstead town supervisor Don Clavin, NICE Bus chief executive Jack Khzouz, NCC administrator Charmian Smith, and Richner Communications, parent company of Herald Community Newspapers, during a fundraising gala last week.

mARIA CoNzATTI, pRESIDENT of Nassau Community College, honored Baldwin’s Charmian Smith during the Nassau Community College Foundation Gala last week.

SuppoRTERS AND INVITED guests gathered to celebrate four honorees at the Nassau Community College Foundation’s annual gala last week at the Cradle of Aviation Museum.

STEPPING OUT

The festive tradition continues to delight arrives on local stages

By Karen Bloom

New

40th

of the holiday classic, presented in the style of the legendary George Balanchine, on the John Cranford Adams Playhouse stage at Hofstra University.

The dance theatre closely follows the Balanchine tradition — from storyline through choreography, as well as sets and costumes. It is the largest production on Long Island, according to new artistic director, — and dance theatre alum Nicole Loizides Albruzzese.

The dance theatre’s version keeps to the tone set by company founder Frank Ohman, which remains true to the spirit of New York City Ballet’s Lincoln Center production. As a former student and New York City Ballet soloist under George Balanchine, Ohman was one of a select few authorized to use the original pas de deux choreography of his mentor, which continues to distinguish this production.

Through the years, Ohman created original dances and scenes to enhance Balanchine’s iconic vision. Now Albruzzese — who was a student at the dance theatre’s Ohman School of Ballet under Ohman and performed most of the children’s roles in “The Nutcracker” during her time there — returns as a professional dancer in the role of the Sugar Plum Fairy before her international dance career, follows in her mentor’s footsteps in keeping to the Balanchine standard.

Special guest artists New York City Ballet principal dancers Indiana Woodward and Daniel Ulbricht take on the roles of Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier, joining a cast of Ohman School students to bring the holiday classic to the stage.

With the elegant Christmas party scene, the battle of the toy soldiers and giant mice, the intense snow storm, and elaborate dancing in the Land of the Sweets, this “Nutcracker” is sparkling treat that maintains its enduring appeal.

Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 17-18, noon and 5 p.m. $42, $32 seniors and children 12 and younger. Hofstra University, John Cranford Adams Playouse, Hempstead. For tickets, call (631) 462-0964, or visit OhmanBallet.org.

Curry’s interpretation at Tilles Center stars New York City Ballet soloist Miriam Miller as the Sugar Plum Fairy and New York City Ballet principal Tyler Angle as her Cavalier. Also of note, Fox Weather meteorologist (and Instagram and TikTok sensation) Nick Kosir joins the cast of more than 60 students and professional dancers as Dr. Stahlbaum, Clara’s father.

The Park Avenue Chamber Symphony, under the baton of maestro David Bernard, performs Tchaikovsky’s glorious score.

“This year, I’ve taken some elements and changed them to keep the production fresh,” Curry says. “Our professional dancers, along with our incredibly talented academy students, have accepted the challenge of these new variations and character developments. I’ve enriched the production with more theatricality and many new dramatic elements.

“Having our guest artists from New York City Ballet and the wonderful Nick Kosir is like having a very sweet cherry on top of an already decadent sundae.”

Company member Briana Laman dances the role of Clara, with fellow company member Ryan Cavaline as Nutcracker Prince. For this production, Curry has reinterpreted the central first act pas de deux in the prelude to Waltz of the Snowflakes (usually danced by a Snow Queen and a Snow King) for Clara and the Nutcracker Prince.

“Having this pas de deux danced by these two characters intensifies the connection between the two,” he says. “We see the arc of their relationship and gives the opportunity for Clara’s dream to have a more poignant and personal effect on our audiences.”

Saturday, Dec. 17, 1 and 6 p.m.; Sunday, Dec. 18, 2 p.m. Tickets are $89, $69, $59, $49. Tilles Center for the Performing Arts, LIU Post, Route 25A, Brookville. For tickets, call (516) 299-3100 or visit TillesCenter.org or EglevskyBallet.org.

Neil deGrasse Tyson

How real is what you’re seeing up on the big screen? Astrophysicistlecturer Neil deGrasse Tyson knows and he’ll clue us in, separating fact from fiction — in a new installment of ‘An Astrophysicist Goes to the Movies: The Sequel.’ Derived from yet another set of 30 films/television shows that range from ‘The Wizard of Oz’ to ‘Mary Poppins’ to ‘Game of Thrones’ to ‘Harry Potter’ to ‘The Lion King,’ this lecture is an entertaining and enlightening review of all the science that our favorite entertainment got wrong, combined with some of the stuff they got right. This lecture also incorporates the latest films as well as some classics that you may not have known had any science in them at all.

Friday, Dec. 9, 8 p.m. $250 (VIP), $100, $75, $50. $250 VIP ticket includes a post-show Q&A. Tilles Center for the Performing Arts, LIU Post, Route 25A, Brookville. (516) 299-3100, or TillesCenter.org.

Kenny G’s

The Miracles Holiday & Hits

Ring in the holiday season with smooth jazz saxophonist Kenny G. The crossover jazz icon has enjoyed phenomenal success across the pop, jazz and R&B charts for more than three decades. Known for his lyrical and emotive style, his music has garnered a devoted fan base and made him one of the biggest-selling instrumentalists of all-time. The sound of his sax is as iconic as his curly coif. Indeed, both are instantly recognizable. Expect an evening filled with a festive spirit and contemporary classics. A reprise of last year’s successful outing,’The Miracles Holiday & Hits Tour’ features a mix of holiday hits and fan favorites infused with his captivating and distinctive blending of genres. The tour follows the release of his 19th studio album, ‘New Standards,’ and the acclaimed HBO documentary ‘Listening to Kenny G.’

Thursday, Dec. 15, 8 p.m.

NYCB Theatre at Westbury, 960 Brush Hollow Road., Westbury. TheTheatreAtWestbury.com or LiveNation.com, or (516) 247-5200.

New York Dance Theatre’s ‘The Nutcracker’

York Dance Theatre offers its

season

Those sugar plum fairies and various figments of a young girl’s imagination come alive this month. The beloved holiday confection never goes out of style.

Courtesy New York Dance Theatre

Photo: Clara is enchanted with her nutcracker in the party that opens the ballet.

Eglevsky Ballet’s innovative ‘The Nutcracker’ Long Island’s professional dance company is known for its inventive staging of Clara’s delightful journey, featuring additional choreography by Executive Artistic Director Maurice Brandon Curry.

Courtesy Eglevsky Ballet

Photo: The enchanting snow scene is a shimmering showstopper.

THE SCENE

Christmas Tree of Lights celebration

Become a warrior for the community

Join the Oceanside Community Warriors for weekly community cleanups around the hamlet every Sunday. Contact Oceansidewarriorsny@gmail. com for information on the location of their next cleanup.

Letters to Santa

Shrek The Musical

See the uplifting tale of an unlikely hero who finds himself on a life-changing journey, presented by Nassau Community College Theater Department, now through Sunday, Dec. 11, 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, 2 p.m. are brought to life on stage for an incredible adventure that includes a wisecracking donkey and a feisty princess who resists her rescue. Throw in a short-tempered bad guy, a cookie with an attitude and over a dozen other fairy tale misfits, and you’ve got the kind of mess that calls for a real hero. Luckily, there’s one on hand — and that’s Shrek, of course. Nassau Community College’s Mainstage Theatre, Garden City. Tickets $18; NCC students free with valid ID; $15, veterans, alumni, seniors 60+, students and NCC employees. For tickets/information, visit NCC.edu or call (516) 572-7676.

Dec. 8

Mercy Medical Center Council of Leagues invites the community to its annual Christmas Tree of Lights celebration, Tuesday, Dec. 13, 5:30 p.m. Enjoy some of your favorite holiday songs sung by Mercy’s carolers and refreshments. The festivities take place in front of the hospital, 1000 N. Village Ave., Rockville Centre. Proceeds from the event will support the Endowment for Nursing Leadership and Education at Mercy Hospital. For information visit CHSLI.org/mercy-hospital.

Drop off your letter for Santa in the Island Park Library’s special mailbox with express delivery to “The North Pole.” Each letter with a legible name and address will be answered by Santa before the holiday. Pick up a helpful form at the library, 176 Long Beach Road, or write your letter on your own, through Dec. 16.

Stop the Bleed

Mount Sinai South Nassau offers an in-person, hands-on class, Friday, Dec. 9, 7 p.m., at Oceanside Public LIbrary, 56 Atlantic Ave. Learn the basics of identifying and treating life-threatening bleeding before emergency responders can arrive. Register at OceansideLibrary.com.

Dec. 11 Dec. 8

Santa run with OFD

Sugar Plum Ball/ Galactic Gala

Bring the kids to celebrate the season at festivities hosted by the Cerebral Palsy Association of Nassau County, Sunday, Dec.11, noon-4 p.m., at the Chateau Briand in Carle Place.

Santa will visit Oceanside early this year, on Dec. 11, with the help of the Oceanside Fire Department. Follow the route using a digital tracker on the fire department’s Facebook page and come visit Santa in real life as he makes stops in Oceanside along the way. Santa’s first flight will begin at 4 p.m. from OFD headquarters.

Holiday fun

Visit the streets of 19th century London during the darkest days of the year, in this adaption of the classic “A Christmas Carol,” with the Experiential Theater Company, Thursday and Friday, Dec. 8-9, 10:15 a.m. and noon; Sunday, Dec. 11, 2 p.m.; Wednesday and Thursday, Dec. 14-15, 10:15 a.m. and noon, on the Long Island Children’s Museum stage. Meet the Cratchit family, Mr. Scrooge, and the ghosts of past, present and future in this interactive show that weaves together music, humor, puppetry and collaboration. Celebrate the change of seasons through this beloved literary tale. Long Island Children’s Museum, Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 2245800 or LICM.org.

Kids ages 4-12, accompanied by their adult guest (Mom, Dad, grandparent, etc.), will enjoy a unique party featuring food, fun and some special guests including princesses, fairies and visitors from a Galaxy Far Far Away. With lunch, DJ, magic show, dancing, raffles, games, photo ops, and more. Cost is $75 per child, $100 per adult.

Advance reservation only. All proceeds benefit CP Nassau. Register online at CPNassau.org or call CP Nassau at (516) 3782000 ext 651.

Having an event?

LI Warriors Sock Hockey Clinic

Add some skills to your sock skating game with members of the LI Warriors recreational hockey league at Long Island Children’s Museum, Saturday, Dec. 10, 10 a.m. to noon. Learn about stick handling and passing as you master wrist and slap shots on the LICM “ice” in a hockey clinic for ages 3 and up. Long Island Children’s Museum, Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 224-5800 or LICM.org.

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

On exhibit

Photography’s ascent in the art world is an international phenomenon. Nassau County Museum of Art’s star-studded exhibition spans the historical roots of the medium. View works by Ansel Adams and his generation and the thrilling, large-format color works of such contemporary masters as Cindy Sherman, Thomas Struth, James Casebere and Gregory Crewdson, among others. From the documentary to the painterly, images bear witness to the times. On view through March 5. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Drive, Roslyn Harbor. (516) 484-9337 or NassauMuseum.org.

Matinee time

Join crafty Jack Frost on a magical, musical winter adventure, in Plaza Theatrical’s production, Saturday, Dec. 10, 11 a.m.; Sunday, Dec. 12, noon. The story, narrated by the groundhog Pardon-Me-Pete, tells about the immortal winter sprite, who falls in love with a human girl named Elisa after rescuing her. Tickets are $15. Bring the kids to the Plaza stage at The Showplace at Bellmore Movies, 222 Pettit Ave., Bellmore For tickets, call (516) 599-6870 or visit PlazaTheatrical.com.

Homemakers give back to keep vets warm

By DANIEL OFFNER doffner@liherald.com

Each year, as the winter weather starts to cool down, the Rockville Centre Homemakers pitch in to help donate muchneeded socks, and personalized cards to veterans.

This year, the group pitched in to donate 250 pairs of socks — 200 for the men and 50 for the women in the armed services — and a quilt, which was decorat ed in Stars and Stripes.

“The Rockville Centre home makers want to make sure that the men and women (in the mili tary) know that their service has not been forgotten,” the club’s co-president Mary Ann Grandazza said. “The white socks are wrapped in red white and blue ribbon with an attached note that states thank you for your service, the holiday cards all read, ‘Thank you for your service.’”

The organization is com posed of about 60 women from ages 50 to 97 regularly meet to share and enjoy various skills and activities.

The club, which is currently celebrating 105 years in Nassau County, has been giving back to

local veterans for more than the last decade.

“We just want to give back the best way we can, and know that we can make a difference,” Grandazza said. “A kind gesture goes a long way.”

All of the socks are pur chased at the Sock Factory in Garden City and are decorated in red, white and blue ribbon with a homemade tag thanking them for their service. The socks are then packaged and donated to the American Legion Post No. 303 in Rockville Centre, which helps deliver them to the Nassau County Veterans Ser vice Agency.

“They do a great job,” Ameri can Legion Post Commander Frank Colón said. “They’re a nice bunch of ladies and they appreciate helping out.”

In past years these socks were distributed to veterans at the Northport VA Medical Cen ter, the A. Holly Patterson Extended Care Facility in Uniondale, and to troops over seas.

The RVC Homemakers have done a great deal for the com munity over the years, includ ing their support to Catholic Health’s Mercy Medical Center,

South Nassau Communities Hospital and other local organi zations, which they have helped by making pillows for breast cancer patients, hats for prema ture babies, blankets for cancer patients, and red scarves for heart patients.

Colón said that they also help

out with the “Stand Down for Homeless Veterans” event every year at the Armory in Freeport.

“They always want to help out the veterans,” Colón said. “We truly appreciate them and think it’s great what they’re doing.”

The RVC Homemakers meet

on Tuesdays at the John A. Anderson Recreation Center, 111 N. Oceanside Rd., and anyone 18 or older is welcome to join. Their next meeting will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023 at 10 a.m. For more information, con tact co-president Karen Alter son at kaltersonk4@gmail.com.

Courtesy RVC Homemakers

AmERIcAN LEgION POst No. 303 Commander Frank Colón, left, joins the RVC Homemakers’ Betty Iaconetti of North Merrick, Karen Alterson of Oceanside, Anna Biamonte of Merrick, seated with the quilt, Laura Schuler of Rockville Centre, Patty Gaffney of Oceanside, Mary Ann Grandazza of Rockville Centre, and American Legion member Pete Kaiser, as they donate much-needed socks and personalized cards to veterans.

Island Park students of the month get their due

At the Nov. 14 Island Park Board of Education meeting, sev eral students were recognized as October Students of the Month.

The learner profile attributed for this month was “knowledge able.”

Meaning the students develop and use conceptual understand ing and explore knowledge across a range of disciplines. Addition ally, the students engage with issues and ideas that have local and global significance.

Students honored for this learner profile attribute are Leia Almodovar in grade 7, James Ber gen in grade 2, Dylen Collins in grade, James Duncan in grade 1, Mia Krumholz in grade 4.

In addition to, Allyana Lucas in grade 8, Mason Ruscica-Duffy in grade 6, Regan Sodano in kin dergarten and Bryson Sweeney in grade 3.

Island Park k-8 October Students of the Month with Principal Dr. Bruce Hoffman, Lincoln Orens Middle School and Director of Pupil Personnel Services Jacob Russum.

— Karina Kovac

Courtesy Island Park Public Schools

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

BY THE BOARD OF

APPEALS

Pursuant to New York State Town Law Article 16, New York State Public Officers Law Article 7, and the Town of Hempstead Building Zone Ordinance, NOTICE is hereby given that the BOARD OF APPEALS of the Town of Hempstead will hold a public hearing in the Old Town Hall, 350 Front Street, Room 230, Second Floor, Hempstead, New York on 12/14/22 at 9:30 A.M. to consider the following applications and appeals:

THE FOLLOWING CASES WILL BE CALLED STARTING AT 9:30 A.M. 832/22. - 834/22. NR

ISLAND PARK - AVB Harbor Isle, LLC, Install sign attached to existing retaining wall (not permitted); Install second sign attached to existing retaining wall (not permitted); Install, detached, double-faced, monument sign, setback 4’ from property line., S/E cor. Island Pkwy. S. & Sheridan Pl., a/k/a 100 Harbor Terrace

ALL PAPERS PERTAINING TO THE ABOVE HEARING ARE AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION AT THE BOARD OF APPEALS, TOWN HALL, 1 WASHINGTON STREET, HEMPSTEAD, NY 11550.

This notice is only for new cases in Island Park within Town of Hempstead jurisdiction. There are additional cases in different hamlets, towns and villages on the Board of Appeals calendar. The full calendar is available at https://hempsteadny.gov/ 509/Board-of-Appeals The internet address of the website streaming for this meeting is https://hempsteadny.gov/ 576/Live-Streaming-Video Interested parties may appear at the above time and place. At the call of the Chairman, the Board will consider decisions on the foregoing and those on the Reserve Decision calendar and such other matters as may properly come before it.

135797

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF ADOPTION OF TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD

LOCAL LAW NO. 77-2022

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that, pursuant to Article 9 of the New York State Constitution, the provisions of the Town Law and the Municipal Home Rule Law of the State of New York, both as amended, a public hearing was duly called and held November 22nd, 2022 , by the Town Board of the Town of Hempstead on the proposed adoption of Town of Hempstead Local Law No. 77-2022, and following the close of the hearing the Town Board duly adopted Town of

Hempstead Local Law No. 77-2022, amending Chapter 202 of the Code of the Town of Hempstead, to include and repeal “REGULATIONS & RESTRICTIONS” to limit parking at various locations.

Dated: November 22, 2022

Hempstead, New York

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

KATE MURRAY Town Clerk 135772

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF ADOPTION OF TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD LOCAL LAW NO. 80-2022

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that, pursuant to Article 9 of the New York State Constitution, the provisions of the Town Law and the Municipal Home Rule Law of the State of New York, both as amended, a public hearing was duly called and held November 22nd, 2022, by the Town Board of the Town of Hempstead on the proposed adoption of Town of Hempstead Local Law No. 80-2022, and following the close of the hearing the Town Board duly adopted Town of Hempstead Local Law No. 80-2022, amending Section 197-13 of the Code of the Town of Hempstead, to include and repeal “TRAFFIC REGULATIONS IN THE VICINITY OF SCHOOLS” at various locations.

Dated: November 22, 2022

Hempstead, New York

BY ORDER OF THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD DONALD X. CLAVIN, JR. Supervisor KATE MURRAY Town Clerk 135790

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF ADOPTION OF TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD LOCAL LAW NO. 78-2022

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that, pursuant to Article 9 of the New York State Constitution, the provisions of the Town Law and the Municipal Home Rule Law of the State of New York, both as amended, a public hearing was duly called and held November 22nd, 2022, by the Town Board of the Town of Hempstead on the proposed adoption of Town of Hempstead Local Law No. 78-2022, and following the close of the hearing the Town Board duly adopted Town of Hempstead Local Law No. 78-2022, amending Section 202-1 of the Code of the Town of Hempstead, to include and repeal “PARKING OR STANDING PROHIBITIONS” at various locations.

Dated: November 22, 2022

Hempstead, New York

Notices

BY ORDER OF THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD DONALD X. CLAVIN, JR. Supervisor KATE MURRAY Town Clerk 135786

LEGAL NOTICE

Supplemental Summons and Notice of Object of Action Supreme Court Of The State Of New York County Of Nassau Action to Foreclose a Mortgage Index #: 603698/2022

Mortgage Assets Management, LLC F/K/A Reverse Mortgage Solutions, Inc., Plaintiff, vs unknown Heirs Of Samuel Carattini If Living, And If He/She Be Dead, Any And All Persons Unknown To Plaintiff, Claiming, Or Who May Claim To Have An Interest In, Or General Or Specific Lien Upon The Real Property Described In This Action; Such Unknown Persons Being Herein Generally Described And Intended To Be Included In Wife, Widow, Husband, Widower, Heirs At Law, Next Of Kin, Descendants, Executors, Administrators, Devisees, Legatees, Creditors, Trustees, Committees, Lienors, And Assignees Of Such Deceased, Any And All Persons Deriving Interest In Or Lien Upon, Or Title To Said Real Property By, Through Or Under Them, Or Either Of Them, And Their Respective Wives, Widows, Husbands, Widowers, Heirs At Law, Next Of Kin, Descendants, Executors , Administrators, Devisees, Legatees, Creditors, Trustees, Committees, Lienors, And Assigns, All Of Whom And Whose Names, Except As Stated, Are Unknown To Plaintiff, United States Of America Acting Though The Secretary Of Housing And Urban Development, United States Of America Acting Though The IRS, People Of The State Of New York; John Doe (Those unknown tenants, occupants, persons or corporations or their heirs, distributees, executors, administrators, trustees, guardians, assignees, creditors or successors claiming an interest in the mortgaged premises.), Defendant(s).

Mortgaged Premises: 2922 Oceanside Road Oceanside, NY 11572 To the Above named Defendant: You are hereby summoned to answer the Complaint in this action, and to serve a copy of your answer, or, if the Complaint is not served with this Supplemental Summons, to serve a notice of appearance, on the Plaintiff(s) attorney(s) within twenty days after the service of this Supplemental Summons, exclusive of the day of servi ce (or within 30 days after the service is complete if this Supplemental Summons

is not personally delivered to you within the State of New York). In case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint. The Attorney for Plaintiff has an office for business in the County of Erie. Trial to be held in the County of Nassau. The basis of the venue designated above is the location of the Mortgaged Premises. TO Unknown Heirs of Samuel Carattini, Defendant In this Action. The foregoing Supplemental Summons is served upon you by publication, pursuant to an order of HON. David P. Sullivan of the Supreme Court Of The State Of New York, dated the Twenty-Seventh day of October, 2022 and filed with the Complaint in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Nassau, in the City of Mineola. The object of this action is to foreclose a mortgage upon the premises described below, dated May 31, 2012, executed by Samuel Carattini (who died on December 14, 2020, a resident of the county of Nassau, State of New York) to secure the sum of $525,000.00.

The Mortgage was recorded at Book 37646, Page 879 in the Office of the Nassau County Clerk on August 31, 2012. The mortgage was subsequently assigned by an assignment executed May 3, 2021 and recorded on May 24, 2021, in the Office of the Nassau County Clerk at Book 45450, Page 315; The property in question is described as follows: 2922 Oceanside Road, Oceanside, NY 11572 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 ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (MORTGAGE COMPANY) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT. DATED: November 4, 2022 Gross Polowy, LLC Attorney(s) For Plaintiff(s) 1775 Wehrle Drive, Suite 100 Williamsville, NY 14221

The law firm of Gross Polowy, LLC and the attorneys whom it employs are debt

Oceansiders

Ricardo and Michelle wed

Oceanside residents Ricardo Figaro and Michelle Snagg wed on Nov. 14 at Hempstead Town Hall.

Residents interested in obtaining their marriage license and/or scheduling a wedding ceremony should call the Office of the Town Clerk.

Public Notices

collectors who are attempting to collect a debt. Any information obtained by them will be used for that purpose. 74209 135450

LEGAL NOTICE

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU INDEX NO: 606362/2021 D/O/F: 05/19/2021

SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS

Premises Address: 251 Perkins Avenue, Oceanside, NY 11572

WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB, AS TRUSTEE OF UPLAND MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST A, Plaintiff, againstUnknown heirs at law of RODNEY BUNNEY A/KA RODNEY PAUL BUNNEY, his next of kin, distributees, executors, administrators, trustees, devisees, legatees, assignees, lienors, creditors, and successors in interest, and generally all persons having or claiming, under, by or through said defendant who may be deceased, by purchase, inheritance, lien or otherwise, any right title or interest in and to the premises described in the complaint herein, all of whom and whose names and places of residence are unknown to the plaintiff and cannot after diligent inquiry be ascertained;

DANELLE BUNNEY AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF RODNEY BUNNEY A/KA RODNEY PAUL BUNNEY; JANINE TREIBET AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF RODNEY BUNNEY A/KA RODNEY PAUL BUNNEY; DANA HERWICK AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF RODNEY BUNNEY A/KA RODNEY PAUL BUNNEY; RODNEY BUNNEY, JR., AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF RODNEY BUNNEY A/KA RODNEY PAUL BUNNEY; SCOTT BUNNEY AS HEIR AND

DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF RODNEY BUNNEY A/KA RODNEY PAUL BUNNEY; SECRETARY OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT; PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; “JOHN DOES” and “JANE DOES”, said names being fictitious, parties intended being possible tenants or occupants of premises, and corporations, other entities or persons who claim, or may claim, a lien against the premises, Defendants.

TO THE ABOVE NAMED DEFENDANTS: YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the Complaint in this action, and to serve a copy of your Answer, or, if the Complaint is not served with this Summons, to serve a Notice of Appearance on the Plaintiff’s Attorneys within twenty (20) days after service of this Summons, exclusive of the day of service, where service is made by delivery upon you personally within the State, or within thirty (30) days after completion of service where service is made in any other manner, and in case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the complaint.

TO THE ABOVE NAMED DEFENDANTS: The foregoing Summons is served upon you by publication pursuant to an Order of the Hon. David P. Sullivan, a Justice of the Supreme Court, Nassau County, entered Nov. 23, 2022 and filed with the complaint and other papers in the Nassau County Clerk’s Office.

THE OBJECT OF THE ACTION is to foreclose a mortgage recorded in the Office of the clerk of the County of Nassau on July 29, 2010 in Book 35018, Page 576, covering premises k/a 251 Perkins Avenue, Oceanside, NY

11572 a/k/a Section 43, Block 307, Lot 243.

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 ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (MORTGAGE COMPANY) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT.

The following notice is intended only for the defendants who are owners of the premises sought to be foreclosed or who are liable upon the debt for which the mortgage stands as security.

YOU ARE HEREBY PUT ON NOTICE THAT WE ARE ATTEMPTING TO COLLECT A DEBT, AND ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE.

PLEASE BE AWARE: (1)that debt collectors, in accordance with the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1692 et seq., are prohibited from engaging in abusive, deceptive, an unfair debt collection efforts, including, but not limited to:

i.the use or threat of violence;

ii.the use of obscene or profane language; and iii.repeated phone calls made with the intent to annoy, abuse, or harass.

(2)If a creditor or debt collector receives a money judgment against

you in court, state and federal laws may prevent the following types of income from being taken to pay the debt:

1.Supplemental security income, (SSI);

2.Social security;

3.Public assistance (welfare);

4.Spousal support, maintenance (alimony) or child support;

5.Unemployment benefits;

6.Disability benefits; 7.Workers’ compensation benefits;

8.Public or private pensions; 9.Veterans’ benefits; 10.Federal student loans, federal student grants, and federal work study funds; and

11.Ninety percent of your wages or salary earned in the last sixty days.

TO THE DEFENDANTS: The Plaintiff makes no personal claim against you in this action.

TO THE DEFENDANTS: If you have obtained an order of discharge from the Bankruptcy court, which includes this debt, and you have not reaffirmed your liability for this debt, this law firm is not alleging that you have any personal liability for this debt and does not seek a money judgment against you. Even if a discharge has been obtained, this lawsuit to foreclose the mortgage will continue and we will seek a judgment authorizing the sale of the mortgaged premises.

Dated: Sandy J. Stolar, Esq.

THE MARGOLIN & WEINREB LAW GROUP, LLP

Attorneys for Plaintiff 165 Eileen Way, Suite 101 Syosset, New York 11791 516-921-3838 #99953 135748

PUBLIC AND LEGAL NOTICES… Printed in this publication can be found online. To search by publication name, go to: www.newyorkpublicnotices.com TO PLACE

Town of Hempstead

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More complications from Superstorm Sandy

This unique home boasts 2,494 livable interior square feet with 4 bedrooms and 4 full bathrooms. The main floor offers a primary bedroom with ensuite, additional bedroom and full hall bathroom, bright living room with woodburning fireplace, eat-in kitchen with brick oven cooking, laundry room, den/family room with access to backyard patio and 2 car attached garage. 2 Additional bedrooms, den/office/exercise room and shared bathroom are found on the second level. There is also a full basement with utilities, storage, full bathroom, wet bar and endless possibilities. This home also boasts wood floors throughout, ample closets/storage on a 116 x 63 lot. Call for a private showing.

Q. We purchased our home with minor damage from Hurricane Sandy, and were told that because there was little or no damage, just mold in the unfin ished basement and new boiler, the house was fine, no title problems. But when we tried getting a permit for a shed, we were told we needed a permit for stormrelated repairs, including proof of our home’s value. We decided not to get the shed because of this, but we got a letter saying we still need the storm repair per mit, regardless. None of the neighbors we spoke to ever got this permit. It seems we’re being punished for being honest and trying to do the right thing. Is there a way around this problem? What if we do nothing?

A. My answer may be as confusing as your situ ation. I have seen no con sistency in this dilemma as I go from one munici pality to another, and I’ve asked why some impacted jurisdictions don’t require as much paperwork and scrutinizing as others. The answer from officials was generally that each jurisdiction made assess ments of the specific properties, and then recorded which ones were uninhabitable compared to which ones had various levels of needed repairs.

It may have been that at the time, when people were so devastated by their personal property loss es, it seemed like a bad policy to hurt homeowners further with permit requirements and lots of administrative paperwork. The concerns for peo ple’s emotions at that time have, seemingly, dimin ished. Your jurisdiction chose to notify people to submit estimates and property value statements, over a decade later, mostly when they apply for per mits for unrelated projects.

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I sat down to a Sunday-morning breakfast chat in a diner with the top elected official in your juris diction in February of 2013, four months after the storm, as a concerned citizen as well as a licensed professional and columnist. It was nice that they paid for breakfast, but I’m not sure they acknowl edged the level of problems I was seeing, from the lack of communication and enforcement with the public. I suggested that it was better to notify every one with specifics, not randomly ambush people when they applied for other things in the future, like you’re now experiencing.

I advised that everyone damaged by the storm could file basic repair letters, be contacted by block and lot numbers instead of all at once, and put the effects of the storm behind us all as quickly and painlessly as possible, but in a way that officially recorded people’s repairs in letter form and in a simple way. Building departments were extremely helpful in assisting people to get backup docu ments, and I saw an earnest effort to help the pub lic. But many homeowners ignored letters, did nothing and seem not to be affected by require ments.

Your story is an example of the result I predict ed. I wish I knew the answer. It may take another decade to figure this out. Good luck!

© 2022 Monte Leeper Readers are encouraged to send questions to yourhousedr@aol.com, with “Herald question” in the subject line, or to Herald Homes, 2 Endo Blvd., Garden City, NY 11530, Attn: Monte Leeper, architect.

Ask The Architect

Monte Leeper

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Facing life — and death — with peace and love

John Casciani died last weekend. You don’t know him, but trust me, he wouldn’t want anyone to fuss over him. He came into this world quietly 88 years ago, and I’m sure would prefer the same exit now.

But you can’t have such a profound effect on someone’s life — to the point that you almost single-handedly changed it for the better — and expect them to experience your passing as an afterthought.

Casciani doesn’t deserve to be remem bered, but because I simply don’t know how to express my sadness that someone who touched and transformed so many lives as a teacher over the years no longer shares the same plane of existence we do.

with “peace and love” — something you always felt around him. Peace and love.

I can usually write a column like this practically in my sleep, but nothing seemed right to honor this man who did so much for everyone, yet didn’t want anyone to notice.

So, that’s what I did. I cried. Tears of sadness. Tears of happy memories. Tears of who I am. Tears of what I might have been if it weren’t for Mr. Casciani.

MICHAEL HINMAN

Writing isn’t just a profession for me. It’s how I cope. And the moment I learned of Mr. Casciani’s passing, I put pen to paper, sharing an anecdote from the very first time I met this fascinating chemistry teacher and photography club adviser from my high school days, and how he introduced me to the magical world of the darkroom.

I talked about the value of teachers, who are key to our self-discovery of who we are. I even shared Mr. Casciani’s way of making even the most mundane interest ing, like when he would wager his chemis try classes he could drink a glass of boiling water — and then actually do it.

But the moment I typed the final words of that piece, I closed the document and then dumped it in the trash. Not that Mr.

I was going through a bad time when I first met Mr. Casciani. We all remember being teenagers, and few of us can say it was easy. But Mr. Casciani truly changed my life. Not just teaching me the skills that helped me land my first newspaper job — the fact that I could devel op my own film and print my own pictures helped get me through the door of a daily newspaper when I was still in high school — but being someone who taught me it was OK to be fascinated by the world around us. That we shouldn’t be ashamed of that sense of wonder.

Yet I simply couldn’t find the words to express any of that. Outside of a few Face book interactions, I hadn’t had a direct conversation with Mr. Casciani since I graduated from high school in the early 1990s. But he would occasionally send me a note, usually asking me to help him remember some details about projects we worked on — like our school’s television program in the days when creating televi sion at the high school level wasn’t so easy to pull off — so he could reminisce.

He would sign each of those messages

But then I remembered something else Mr. Casciani taught me. Strength doesn’t come from not needing to ask for help — it comes from seeking help when you need it. Something pride inter feres with all too often.

So, I sought that strength inside of me and asked for help. Marcie Schellhammer is the assistant managing editor of the Bradford Era in north-central Pennsylvania, about 30 miles from where I grew up. She’s written so many beautiful columns about people that I cite her work to my own reporters when we need examples of the best way to honor people with our words.

I did everything I was supposed to do. I shared a favorite memory, and how what I learned from it changed my life. I shared the moment my eyes opened, and even talked about how Mr. Casciani helped mold me into the man I am now. But it still wasn’t working.

“That’s because you wrote it to write a column,” Marcie told me. “You didn’t write it with your heart. At least that’s my pro cess. I can’t write a memorial column with out crying.”

As always, Marcie was right. And the more I thought about it, the more I realized I couldn’t take the traditional approach in honoring Mr. Casciani. I can scream from the hilltops how important our educators are — and they indeed are. But the truest way to honor a man like Mr. Casciani is to put what he taught me into practice.

To admit when I’m struggling. To face it. To seek out help. And to never, ever be ashamed of it. I joke from time to time that Mr. Casciani would tell me the skills I was learning in the darkroom would be skills that would help me the rest of my life. And then, in my mid-20s, darkrooms went extinct in the shadow of digital pho tography.

But that has changed my life. I haven’t stepped inside a darkroom in about two decades, but the skills I learned there opened the doors at the beginning of my career that allowed me to sit here and write these words today. And for that, I will be forever grateful to Mr. Casciani.

We all have a Mr. Casciani in our lives. And we can never thank them enough for making the impact they did. So, if you can still thank them, please take a moment and do it now.

Peace and love.

Michael Hinman is executive editor of the Herald Community Newspapers. Com ments? Execeditor@liherald.com.

No, Gwyneth, I will not buy your face cream

In this season of marathon shopping, I started wondering why I buy what I buy. There are millions of choices when it comes to our cosmetics and cars and food and OTC meds and clothing and shoes and TV series and movies and furnishings and technology, and travel and education.

So why do I scan the shelves and pick out one sneaker among the many sports shoes for sale?

celebrity flogs a product, my avoidance mode kicks in. I love Matthew McCo naughey, but I’m not buying a Lincoln because he looks dreamy sitting behind the wheel in the TV commercials. I am not buy ing Gwyneth Paltrow’s skin cream thinking it will make me look like her.

does she know about shoes or me or the value of her product? As for the Kardashi ans, well, how much time do you have? Who are they, exactly, and how many of them are in the public eye, and what is their skill set?

ing crosses, and stigmata. After an outcry from religious groups, Pepsi canceled its ad.

My friends are my greatest influencers. I buy what they tell me to buy; I watch the TV that they suggest; I read the books they send my way.

I mean, why would I buy a Dior product because Charl ize Theron is their public face? She’s a gorgeous 8-foottall South African beauty. My life, inside this body of mine, bears no resemblance to her existence. Dior face cream will not help. I resist.

They endorse various hair products, and I imagine their pitch is to young people, but why? They are the most famous people who are famous just for being famous.

I also take seriously consumer reviews from reliable websites. I have found new doctors by reading online reviews.

We think we have the power of choice, but we are bedazzled by influ encers. Psycholo gists say that we are especially moti vated by celebrity endorsements that suggest we can acquire good looks, wealth, friends and celebrity itself by buying the car that George Clooney drives or wearing the ath letic shoes that Selena Gomez wears or drinking the Coke that LeBron James, Penelope Cruz or Michelle Kwan drinks. Various media put enormous money into advertising campaigns that feature celebrities touting their products. For me, it’s a waste of their time and money. When a

RANDI KREISS

I’m crazy about Reese Witherspoon and I love Crate & Barrel products, but I’m not buying a new couch because she’s their “brand ambassador.”

I can’t argue that celebrity endorsements don’t work, because apparently they pay off big time, or companies wouldn’t seek out famous people to push their products. I just don’t think it works for me, and I would urge others to look at their prospective pur chases in a clear-eyed way, setting aside the celebrity glam factor.

Drew Barrymore has associated herself with Crocs. What the heck? Should I buy a clutzy shoe because she tells me to? What

Epic flops and scandals have haunted the celebrity endorsement industry. Kanye West recently unraveled with his nonstop antisemitic rants. He lost Adidas, Balen ciaga, Foot Locker, Gap, and others. Michael Phelps was dropped by Kellogg’s years ago, after a photo circulated of him smoking marijuana. Today, with a net worth of some $80 million, he can boast associations with Intel, Sub way, Under Armor, Beats and Visa. The weed factor is passe.

Years back, according to E-News, Madon na landed a one-year contract as the celebri ty spokesperson for Pepsi. A two-minute family-friendly ad premiered wherein the singer revisited her eighth birthday. But the next day, Madonna’s video for “Like a Prayer” debuted. The video featured burn

I have one friend whom I love who has mysterious powers over my purchasing decisions. When we’re together, we some times shop. I find myself buying what she tells me to buy — even the outsized blouse with a geometric print that makes my eyes burn. Sometimes there’s a pricey item I don’t need, but if she tells me I need it, boom, it’s in the shopping bag. I don’t know what it is. My only defense is not to go shop ping with her too often. Because if she tells me I need the striped balloon pants in neon green, it’s circus time for me.

As we go about our Christmas and Hanukkah shopping, it might be wise to consider who is influencing our purchases. One of the oldest and longest-running celeb rity endorsements was launched by Jell-O in the early 1970s, when they hired a 37-yearold actor named Bill Cosby. Presumably JellO has wiggled onward without him.

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

I can’t argue that celebrity endorsements don’t work. Apparently they pay off big time.

W e all have a Mr. Casciani in our lives, and we can never thank them enough.

Roosevelt’s address to the nation, Dec. 8, 1941

Mr. Vice President, Mr. Speak er, members of the Senate, and of the House of Repre sentatives:

Yesterday, Dec. 7, 1941 — a date which will live in infamy — the United States of America was suddenly and deliber ately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.

The United States was at peace with that nation, and at the solicitation of Japan, was still in conversation with its government and its emperor, looking toward the maintenance of peace in the Pacific.

Indeed, one hour after Japanese air squadrons had commenced bombing in the American island of Oahu, the Japa nese ambassador to the United States and his colleague delivered to our secre tary of state a formal reply to a recent American message. And while this reply stated that it seemed useless to continue the existing diplomatic negotiations, it contained no threat or hint of war or of armed attack.

It will be recorded that the distance of Hawaii from Japan makes it obvious that the attack was deliberately planned many days or even weeks ago. During the intervening time, the Japanese gov

ernment has deliberately sought to deceive the United States by false state ments and expressions of hope for con tinued peace.

The attack yesterday on the Hawaiian islands has caused severe damage to American naval and military forces. I regret to tell you that very many Ameri can lives have been lost. In addition, American ships have been reported tor pedoed on the high seas between San Francisco and Honolulu.

Yesterday, the Japanese government also launched an attack against Malaya.

Last night, Japanese forces attacked Hong Kong.

Last night, Japanese forces attacked Guam.

Last night, Japanese forces attacked the Philippine islands.

Last night, the Japanese attacked Wake Island.

And this morning, the Japanese attacked Midway Island.

Japan has, therefore, undertaken a surprise offensive extending throughout the Pacific area.

The facts of yesterday and today speak for themselves. The people of the United States have already formed their opinions and well understand the impli

cations to the very life and safety of our nation.

As commander-in-chief of the Army and Navy, I have directed that all mea sures be taken for our defense. But always, will our whole nation remember the character of the onslaught against us?

No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute vic tory.

I believe that I interpret the will of the Congress and of the people when I assert that we will not only defend our selves to the uttermost, but will make it very certain that this form of treachery shall never again endanger us.

Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that our people, our territory and our interests are in grave danger.

With confidence in our armed forces, with the unbounding determination of our people, we will gain the inevitable triumph, so help us God.

I ask that the Congress declare that since the unprovoked and dastardly attack by Japan on Sunday, Dec. 7, 1941, a state of war has existed between the United States and the Japanese empire.

letters

Taking the air out of balloon releases

To the Editor: Thank you to Senior Reporter Jordan Vallone for her well-written piece, “Balloon Mission is up and away: Planning initial projects, nonprofit sets tone for future” (Bell more and Merrick Heralds, Dec. 1-7, liherald.com/merrick/stories/bal loon-mission-is-up-and-away, 152602). And bravo to Cynthia Sei bold, of North Merrick, for using the pandemic to start a nonprofit group, Balloon Mission, committed to stopping the inane practice of releasing balloons into the environ ment as a form of celebration.

Balloons are made of rubber, latex or nylon fabric, which does not break down easily — a polyure thane balloon can take up to 450 years to decompose, according to the University of Melbourne. In the wild, balloons get caught in trees and underbrush, where they are shredded by branches. Over time, they appear to disintegrate, but what is really happening is the bal loons are further breaking down

into microplastics, which then become ingrained in soil and water systems. From there, they are ingest ed by animals and marine creatures — and then by we humans at the top of the food chain.

In 2019, the Town of Southampton passed a law

banning the intentional release of balloons — with a fine of $350 or imprisonment for up to 15 days for a first offense. Subsequent offenses would receive harsher penalties. The Town of Hempstead has a similar ordinance on the books, also passed in 2019,

opinions

The red wave that wasn’t, and the crime wave that isn’t

Despite expectations, Republi cans ended up underperform ing on Nov. 8. Although Republi cans narrowly captured the House, Democrats kept the Senate and even managed to flip multiple state cham bers blue, including capturing the gover nor’s office in Arizona, of all places.

ing on the good people of Nassau County. For their part, the Democrats, as usual, were yet again unable to show a spine and attack the Republican narrative. But at any rate, it seems the Republican assault on our collective psyche was successful.

your chances of being a victim of grand larceny are? About 0.002 percent.

So what can we do?

aDaricHev

Peculiarly, however, Republicans had one of their best nights in none other than the deep-blue Demo cratic stronghold of New York. They flipped a stagger ing one-fifth of all Democratic con gressional seats here, and nearly unseated Demo cratic Gov. Kathy Hochul.

How did they pull it off? Fear of crime. While in most of the nation, inflation and preserving democracy were the top two issues, poll ing from New York City in May showed that the No. 1 issue on people’s minds was crime — and it wasn’t even close.

Leading up to the election, the Republi cans unleashed a barrage of fear-monger

Letters

There’s just one problem. There’s no actual crime wave.

It’s completely normal to be worried about crime; we all deserve to be safe in our neighborhoods. But the facts just don’t bear it out. Did you know that the num bers of murders, rapes and sexual crimes have all gone down this year compared with last, according to offi cial Nassau County Police Department data? Surpris ing, I know. And all things considered, we’re actually in one of the safest periods ever in our county.

There have been increases in crime, but they’ve been related to property, not violent crimes. And even with the increase in property crimes, it is still exceedingly rare for a Nassau resident to be a victim of such a crime. The most common crime defined as “major” this year was grand larceny. You know what

But I can definitely understand the claim that we all feel an air of crime here in Nassau. Blame the media: 2022 saw a spike in the media coverage of shootings in New York City that went far beyond the actual num ber of shootings.

It sickens me. You turn the page, a shooting. Anoth er page, a corpse. The third page, a guy arrested for beating his girlfriend. The media fills us with dread, all to make money. And I see how my neighbors increas ingly construct their own fortresses, replete with video cameras, dogs and floodlights, all out of fear of passersby.

This fear has serious consequences, increasing anxiety, social withdrawal, and unraveling the social fabric of neighbor hoods. This is no way to live.

At the same time, I don’t want to live in a county where we see an increasing number of desperate people turning to theft to survive. After all, if you can’t work, you go hungry, and stealing catalyt ic converters beats going hungry.

Let’s start with a price cap on gas in Nassau County, to fight inflation and bring relief to millions at the pump. Next, the county should put people to work at a good wage to finally fix these damn pot holes. And thirdly, let’s keep kids off the streets by fully funding schools, and lower violent crime by having Nassau replace our lead pipes, which contribute to lead poisoning, which researchers have tied to aggressive and impulsive behavior.

Too bad the Republican-led County Legislature won’t do any of that. In fact, when adjusted for inflation, Nassau’s 2023 budget actually has less funding for spe cial education and early-intervention pro grams. Nothing about lead pipes, or gas price caps. Don’t the Republicans care about preventing crime?

It’s OK to have a healthy fear of crime, and it’s OK to take measures to keep your self safe. But I implore my friends: Don’t let politicians and the media manipulate you. It is imperative that we do not fear our neighbor.

Matthew Adarichev is a public policy major at Hofstra University, a political activist and an aspiring journalist whose work has appeared in the Hofstra Chroni cle and the Anton Media Group.

Framework by Tim Baker

but the fine for intentional release cannot exceed $100, and there is no provision for jail time. I would like to see Hempstead pass an ordinance with stronger teeth.

As a town resident, though, I am heartened to see Hempstead working with Balloon Mission to educate the public about the myriad dangers that balloon releases present — particularly to the 17,000 acres and 180 miles of coastal waterways under the town’s jurisdiction.

Finally, each of us can play our part in helping to reduce plastics in the environment. When you see a plas tic bottle or rubber balloon on the street in your neigh borhood, pick it up and throw it away. I’m a runner. When you run and collect garbage, it’s called plogging, a Swedish fitness term. Hempstead would do well, though, to add more trash cans for recyclables at its parks, like those at the Levy Preserve in Merrick. This way, when folks are out collecting garbage, they could easily recycle plastic bottles and aluminum cans.

SCOTT A. BRINTON Merrick

Randi nailed it on air travel

To the Editor:

I really love Randi Kreiss’s columns in the Herald, and the one that I specifically liked was “Flying the notso-friendly skies” (Nov. 24-30), about JetBlue and the way they’ve changed their system so that they don’t really accommodate people very well.

I went on a trip about three weeks ago, and it was really hard to book a flight because I had a couple of problems, and, like you said, to reach somebody, it’s like reaching God. And yes, the snacks are pretty sad.

Thank you so much for your articles, Randi.

JuDITH WEITz Long Beach

Here’s hoping they’re bundled up out there — Sea Cliff Yacht Club

the numbers of major crimes in Nassau County have actually gone down this year.

mattHew

Buy a Brick

Celebrate or honor your loved ones this holiday season and give the gift of a lasting legacy in the Mount Sinai South Nassau garden, located at the corner of Oswald Court and One Healthy Way. Purchase an engraved brick, tree, or garden bench, or name the entire plaza and garden space that thousands of patients, visitors, and employees will see every year as they enter and exit the hospital’s front entrance

Honor a loved one or someone who made a di erence in your life. Remember a special person or celebrate a special occasion. Support Mount Sinai South Nassau’s mission and vision for a healthier tomorrow.