Rockville Centre Herald 01-12-2023

Model ships put on display

South Side seniors are on a roll

Police investigate bank heists

Benedict is honored by hundreds at St. Agnes

By KARINA KOVAC kkovac@liherald.com

The scholar of the Vatican, Pope Benedict XVI, born Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger, was exalted by a crowd of hundreds at a memorial Mass at St. Agnes Cathedral on Jan. 6.

Known for his love of literature and as a formidable theologian, Benedict died on Dec. 31, at age 95. He was born on April 16, 1927, in Marktl, Bavaria, and lived a complicated life, brought up in Nazi Germany and reigning as Pope during turbulent times in the Catholic Church. He made history as the first pontiff to resign in nearly 600 years.

Karina Kovac/Herald

“He was always open with a humility, of intellectual truthfulness, to listen to other people, given to him their reactions, whether they

Four new Troop 214 Eagle Scouts are ‘prepared for life’

By DANIEL OFFNER doffner@liherald.com

Four members of Boy Scout Troop 214 in Rockville Centre have worked tirelessly this year to join the 4 percent of Boy Scouts in the nation to earn the coveted rank of Eagle Scout.

The achievements of Owen Ferreira, Max Fuentes, Timothy Reinholdt and Kieran Woram were recognized during an Eagle Scout Court of Honor ceremony on Sunday at the Central Synagogue-Beth Emeth.

To become Eagle Scouts, they were required to earn a minimum of 21 merit badges, while planning, budgeting, coordinat-

ing and completing a project that benefited the community, using only donated materials.

“An Eagle Scout, by the program’s definition, means prepared for life,” BSA Troop 214 Scoutmaster Carmine Giangregorio said. “Persistence and determination — that’s what sets an Eagle apart. Having a goal and completing it through all types of distractions. Persistence to work your way through the ranks from Scout to life and the determination to earn the merit badges that sometimes may not always be the most fun, but which you wear proudly across your chests. That’s what makes an Eagle Scout unique.”

Ferreira is a sophomore at the University of Alabama, where he is studying engineering with a focus on cyber security. He’s also a South Side High School alum and a recipient of the 2018 Scout of the Year Award.

For his Eagle Scout project, Ferreira reached out to Covert Elementary School Principal Darren Raymar about creating a “Friendship Bench,” which was designed to help reduce social isolation following the pandemic by providing children with a space where they can speak openly with each other.

In addition to constructing the bench, he provided teachers and the Rockville Centre Public

Library with educational materials about the project, so that they could continue to inform students about the purpose of the bench.

Fuentes, a freshman at SUNY Oneonta majoring in adolescence education in Earth science, was recently inducted into the Robert Noyce Scholars Program.

He first joined the scouts in 2011 as a Tiger cub with Rockville Centre Pack 31, during which he first learned the importance of following directions — a skill that would help him to hold several leadership positions. He later went on to receive the 2018 Scout of the Year Award and the 50th Anniversary Environmen-

HUNDREDS GATHERED AT St. Agnes Cathedral, in Rockville Centre, to pay tribute to Pope Benedict at a memorial Mass.

Crews work to restore power to the community

Rockville Centre homeowners in the areas surrounding Mercy Hospital lost power last Wednesday night.

According to Mayor Francis Murray, the outage was caused after a motorist crashed into an electrical pole along N. Village Avenue near Peninsula Boulevard. He said that the driver sustained injuries and as a result was transported to the hospital nearby.

He also indicated that from the impact, wires near DeMott and. N. Village avenues were pulled down.

RVC Electric Department crews responded to the scene and are working to replace 100 yards of new wire.

“They are working hard to put this thing back together,” Murray told The Herald.

“These guys got here really quick. Rockville Centre doesn’t mess around.”

In total, Murray indicated that seven trucks and 12 linemen reported to the scene. For the security of the workers, he said that some of the additional power in

the neighborhood also needed to be turned off.

Crews were hard at work to return power to the area, which was switched back on within an hour.

–Daniel Offner

Photos courtesy Mayor Francis Murray More than 7 trucks and 12 linemen responded to the scene.

Crews near MerCy Hospital are hard at work to try and restore power to village residences.

Replica battleships capture historic events

Navy Veteran George Wells shares his decades-long passion project with the public

By DANIEL OFFNER doffner@liherald.com

Navy Veteran

George Wells has spent years building and designing more than 215 model replicas of US, British, German, and Japanese warships used in battle during World War II.

Each of the vessels are built seven hundred times smaller than the originals and are grouped together based on different military campaigns, including the Battle of Leyte Gulf, the Battle of Samar, the Battle at Midway, and the Battle at Guadalcanal.

Wells, 75, of Hewlett, served in the military from 1966 to 1972. Two years later he began building replica ships that he bought at a local hobby shop.

Several decades of work went into recreating each battle’s precise time and location. He even went as far as to paint some of the replicas with the same camouflage used by the US Navy to divert submarine torpedo attacks.

“It’s important to tell these stories so they won’t be forgotten,” Wells said. “That is my motivation… that and my plain enjoyment of sharing with folks.”

Wells said that he created the exhibit to provide a basic understanding of the naval battles that took place in the Pacific war theater more than 75 years ago and that based on the American Legion charter, one of the Veterans organization’s purposes is to preserve the memory of events and battles that occurred in both World Wars and other military conflicts.

“Anytime I have a guest in here,” Wells said, “it’s justification for the exhibit.”

Yet despite all of the hard work and dedication he put into designing and building these replica warships, the exhibit is not very well known or popular. Hoping to attract more attention, Wells eagerly invites families and kids to visit and experience it for themselves.

Some of the replicas out on display include such infamous ships as the USS Enterprise, one of the most decorated vessels in the entire US Navy, the USS Intrepid, an aircraft carrier which today serves as the Sea, Air and Space Museum in New York City, and the USS California, which was impacted in the attack on Pearl Harbor and later rebuilt and re-commissioned for service in 1944.

The exhibit also includes models of the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service fleet including the battle-

tHE uss CALIFORNIA was one of the ships impacted in the attack on Pearl Harbor and later rebuilt and re-commissioned for service in 1944.

ship, Yamato, which remains one of the heaviest and most powerfully armed military service ships ever constructed.

A portion of the exhibit also features a short documentary video highlighting the Battle of Leyte Gulf, which was one of the largest naval battles in all of recorded history, involving more than 200,000 sailors and Naval personnel.

Any patrons interested in experiencing the exhibit up close and in person, can contact George Wells at the American Legion Post No. 303 at 516-766-9740.

Daniel Offner/Herald photos

HuNDREDs OF mODEL ships are on display at the American Legion Post No. 303 in Rockville Centre, including this scale model of the USS Enterprise, pictured above.

NAvy vEtERAN GEORGE Wells shows the detail that went into building each model ship.

A day not of sadness, but of thanksgiving

were positive or critical,” retired Bishop William Murphy said during the Mass.

“The world needed Pope Benedict XVI; it need not forget him now,” Murphy said. “The church is a better church because of him. His concern for the abused, and his efforts to rid the church of what he called ‘that filth’ is one of the (examples) of his truthfulness, his honesty, his holiness … God knew that we needed him. And God gave him to us. We now must keep his memory, and continue to be guided by his example.”

A literary legacy

Murphy spoke of Benedict’s book “Jesus of Nazareth,” a three-volume series he wrote following his ascension to the papacy in 2005. In it, he called the church to embrace a biblical maturity, not only to embrace the historical critical method and all of its wisdom, but also to embrace and rediscover the early Christian figureheads and emulate them.

Bishop John Barres also commented on the series, saying, “Most of all, he reminded us that the word of God is inspired.”

For Barres, the day was one not of sadness, but of thanksgiving, giving thanks to God for “this great churchman who was so humble, so wise. So self-effacing, he really didn’t want to be the Holy Father, and yet embrace God’s will,” Barres said. “And just the beautiful wit-

ness he was to truth and charity, that witnessing to truth in our global world and in history is always something that liberates humanity. And so, he was a great beacon of truth. And he did it in such a humble way. He’s one of the great intellects of the 20th century.”

As a young man, Benedict was one of the key theologians of the Second Vatican Council, and was key to the critical teaching of the Bible. He wasn’t concerned with moral relativism and what the culture was saying at the time, Barres said, but was true to the scripture, and because of that he was “interiorly free.”

The legacy he lives behind is one of “holiness,” Barres added, and “a legacy of global Catholic mission and a legacy of intellectual charity. He was a biblical theologian, a dogmatic theologian, and a liturgical theologian. He was incredibly versatile.”

After the Mass, one congregant, Mary Tierney was at a loss for words because of the emotions of the day. Benedict’s death, she said, was “A loss for the church, a great loss for the church.”

A towering intellect, a misunderstood man Nancy Dibeneditto, who is studying for her master’s in theology, had much to say

about Benedict’s literary teachings, having just learned what Murphy talked about during the Mass.

“What he was saying, I just studied in one of my classes,” Dibeneditto said. “I had to read a book by Ratzinger, ‘Spirit of the Liturgy,’ so he was giving so much knowledge and information.”

During his papacy, there was pressure on Benedict to modernize his ideas and the church by buying new stained glass, but, Dibeneditto said, “He wanted to reform that and go back to the apostles and the ancient values, not be pressured by modern culture that much.”

Looking back on his legacy, she added, it was “ridiculous” that Benedict was dubbed “God’s Rottweiler” for his stances on issues ranging from secularism to sexual ethics.

“They took him out of the seminary, and he had to work as a soldier and so a lot of Jewish people misinterpreted that, but he fought that,” Dibeneditto said. “He was misinterpreted by Jewish people and by people that didn’t know him. He was against all the killing of the Jews and all that. He wasn’t for that. He was such an intellectual giant, and to lose that … he wanted to give so much of himself in service that he couldn’t do that.”

The misunderstanding of Benedict’s early life stems from his spending his teenage years in the Hitler Youth during World War II, something he was taken out of seminary school and forced into. He was briefly held by the Allies as a prisoner of war, but he never became a member of the Nazi party.

Benedict visited his homeland of Germany three times as pope, and confronted its dark past when he visited the Nazi death camp at Auschwitz in Poland. There he called himself “a son of Germany,” and asked God why he was silent when 1.5 million victims died there during the war.

‘The Lord was sleeping’

Renewed attention on Benedict after his death brought with it renewed discussion of criticism from public health officials and victims’ rights organizations over his handling of sexual abuse cases in the Catholic Church. But many say he wasn’t the mastermind behind the scandals, and did what he could with his power.

Benedict spoke vaguely about his tribulations while head of the Church in his announcement of his resignation, which he read in Latin. “There were moments of joy and light, but also moments that were not easy,” he told his last general audience, a gathering of more than 150,000 people, on Feb. 11, 2013. “There were moments … when the seas were rough and the wind blew against us, and it seemed that the Lord was sleeping.”

There were moments of

and light, but also moments that were not easy. PoPe BenedicT XVi

spotlight athlete

Herald sports

Senior trio sparks South Side

By gaRRett D. URiBe sports@liherald.com

Not much has been able to slow the roll of the first-place South Side boys’ basketball team.

Entering a Nassau Conference A2 matchup with visiting Kennedy Jan. 7, the Cyclones had followed a first-game stumble at Port Washington with nine straight victories by 20 points on average, greatly aided by breakout senior Josh Garelle, whose 14 points per game leads the team and ranks sixth in the conference.

JaMes DesiMoNe

Clarke Senior Basketball

a thiRD-YeaR vaRsitY starter, DeSimone is a major part of Clarke’s impressive 9-1 start. An All-County selection last season after earning a Nassau coaches award in the Covidshortened campaign, he’s averaging close to 16 points per game to go along with 4.4 assists. He’s scored in double digits in every game so far while hitting 21 three-pointers. He hit for a seasonhigh 23 against Long Beach on Dec 5.

gaMes to WatCh

Friday, Jan. 13

Boys Basketball: G.N. North at Sewanhaka 5 p.m.

Boys Basketball: Lynbrook at Plainedge 5 p.m.

Boys Basketball: Friends Academy at V.S. South 5 p.m.

Boys Basketball: Hewlett at Carey 5 p.m.

Boys Basketball: Long Beach at New Hyde Park 5 p.m.

Girls Basketball: Plainedge at Lynbrook 5 p.m.

Boys Swimming: Long Beach at Jericho 5 p.m.

Girls Fencing: Valley Stream at Hewlett 5 p.m.

Girls Basketball: East Rockaway at Malverne 5:30 p.m.

Boys Basketball: Malverne at East Rockaway 6:30 p.m.

Boys Basketball: South Side at Garden City 6:45 p.m.

Boys Basketball: East Meadow at Baldwin 7 p.m.

Girls Basketball: Plainview at Oceanside 7 p.m.

Girls Basketball: Jericho at Calhoun 7 p.m.

saturday, Jan. 14

Wrestling: Baldwin Tournament 9 a.m.

Wrestling: V.S. Central Tournament 9 a.m.

Boys Basketball: Wheatley at West Hempstead 12 p.m.

Boys Basketball: V.S. Central at Port Washington 12 p.m.

Boys Basketball: Oceanside at Plainview 12 p.m.

Girls Basketball: Baldwin at East Meadow 12 p.m.

Girls Basketball: Farmingdale at Freeport 12 p.m.

Girls Basketball: Seaford at Carey 12 p.m.

Girls Basketball: Port Washington at V.S. Central 12 p.m.

The 6-foot-4 forward was pulled against the Cougars after a first-quarter errant elbow to his nose. Next man up, 6-5 junior Ryan Kennedy, stepped in to lead all scorers with a season-high 17 points as the Cyclones ran their win streak to 10 with a 64-33 romp.

While the rise of Garelle – who as a sixth man averaged 6.8 points last season –has been a surprise boon for South Side (10-1 overall, 4-0 A2), it was chiefly the Cyclones’ widely-known depth – as embodied by Kennedy and others – that had made them consensus favorites ever since a run last season to the Nassau Class A semifinals.

“The biggest difference this year is we return experienced guys who’ve been tested,” said Cyclones head coach Jerry D’Angelo. “We’ve got three players that do 80 percent of our scoring, but also there’s a supporting cast that does a lot that might not show up in the box score.”

Forward Robert Pericolosi is not among those whose work is too subtle for box scores. The All-County SUNY Geneseo commit leads South Side in assists (4.5 per game) and rebounds (11). His 10.7 points per game ranks third on South Side behind fellow senior James Murphy (13.4), an All-Conference guard whose seasonhigh 23 points paced all scorers at Port Washington, auguring South Side’s swift return to form.

“Robert’s a great all-purpose dude,” D’Angelo said. “Every team has trouble figuring out how to match up against him. . . . While Rob and Josh (Garelle) are the slashing, driving type of threat, James Murphy’s our deep-ball threat. And while

Rob might be our best defender, James is probably our smartest defender.”

Added D’Angelo: “Those three kids together give teams a lot of problems.”

South Side’s 60.7 points per game ranks second in A2 offensively, while the Cyclones’ league-leading defense has given up 44.2 points per contest. Outside of the opener, South Side has faced few headwinds in its quest to claim a conference crown for the first time in three seasons, with an eye to competing for its first county title since 2011-12.

At league foe Sewanhaka Jan. 7, South Side found itself trailing at the half, 15-10,

for the first time all season. Sufficiently rattled, the Cyclones – behind a combined 41 points from the three senior standouts –closed out a 51-36 victory over the Indians.

“I give [Sewanhaka’s] defense credit, but we’ve had moments where we just haven’t executed,” D’Angelo said. “Maybe it was that we hadn’t played in a week. But mainly, I think, we decided in that second half to start playing South Side basketball.”

In what could be a pivotal test, South Side hosted rival Elmont (9-3, 4-0 A2) Jan. 10, after press time, in a first-place A2 showdown.

Media Origin Inc./Herald

Josh gaRelle leaDs the Cyclones’ offense at 14 points per game and has been an integral part of their 10-game winning streak.

Healthy outlook for a healthy year

NResolve to achieve a better you in 2023

ew Year’s resolutions are full of expectations. Common goals like eating healthier or losing weight are admirable, but there are plenty of other goals you can set in 2023 as well, like upping your sleep regimen, talking with a friend every day, or going on more walks.

Since the emergence of Covid, it has become more essential than ever to take care of yourself and enhance your immunity. In addition to physical health, mental health is equally important. Many people make New Year’s resolutions that they soon forget. It can be due to a lack of commitment, self-doubt, or unrealistic goals. So, start by making short-term and realistic goals you can achieve without putting too much pressure on yourself. Once you list what you want to achieve this year, stick to it and believe in yourself to accomplish them.

Exercise more

Much like changing a diet, exercising is often seen as a means to weight loss. While that’s a positive side effect of daily exercise, daily or frequent exercise is an all-around health benefit.

According to the American College of Sports Medicine, exercise helps lower the risk of heart disease and hypertension by 40 percent while lowering the risk of depression by 30 percent. In addition, men and women with a family history of diabetes should know that regular exercise lowers their risk of type 2 diabetes by nearly 60 percent. So while exercise is a great means to losing weight, it’s even better at helping reduce the risk for serious disease.

When incorporating exercise into a daily routine, start slowly and gradually work your way up to more vigorous exercise regimens. Going full speed from the outset is a great way to increase risk of injury, and no one wants that.

Find 30 minutes a day to walk

Getting the recommended 30 minutes of exercise each day can be as simple as taking a walk. If you’ve got a busy schedule, take three 10-minute walks throughout your day.

“That’s 10 minutes before work, 10 minutes at lunch and then 10 minutes after work. Make it fun! Grab a partner at work to get you through your lunch routine. Then have a friend or family member meet you for an evening stroll,” suggests physical therapist Stacie Page.

Your diet matters: healthy and well-balanced is achievable

This year, promise to eat right. Choose whole foods instead of packaged ones. Crash diets and eliminating foods from your daily intake can deprive you of needed nutrition and may not be effective in the long run.

Keep your mental health in check

Mental health is as vital as physical health, and it needs attention. The daily stress of life and other factors may lead to serious health issues, including depression and anxiety. Mental health issues can make it hard for you to cope with everyday life and interfere with your work and relationships.

If you feel something is wrong, believe your instinct and get help. Practicing self-care techniques can also help combat mental health issues. Try to find the positives and adopt habits that can benefit your well-being, such as meditating.

Manage stress

Stress is a cause of many serious illnesses, such as heart disease. It can negatively impact your physical and mental health. Stress can become regular if you are always busy or have other problems related to finances or relationships. It is crucial to take steps to manage your stress. You can manage stress through meditation, exercise, or other relaxation techniques.

Sleep well

Improve the quantity and quality of your sleep. Getting enough sleep enhances your health by ensuring the smooth functioning of your body. It is also critical that you have a sound sleep. Regular interruptions can disrupt your sleep pattern, causing low energy and fatigue during the day. Getting a good night’s sleep is definitely something you should add to your 2023 checklist.

Limit social media usage and screen time

Just as you’ve decided to finish a task or go to sleep, you receive a social media notification alert. As you check the notification, something else catches your attention, and before you know it, you’ve spent an hour doomscrolling. Invariably, this leaves you feeling worse than before. If this resonates with you, you are not alone.

Social media, particularly when used for long hours, is reported to have contributed to an increased risk of a variety of mental health concerns like anxiety and low mood. This could be because of social comparison, isolation and cyberbullying. It also increases screen time, which can impact sleep and leave you less time to engage in other activities. Reducing your social media usage might help your anxiety, depression, loneliness, sleep problems and the fear of missing out.

Practise meditation and mindfulness

Meditation and mindfulness give you space to pause and reflect, allowing you to slow down and increase your emotional awareness, in a chaotic and bustling world. In fact, practising meditation and being mindful can help you in improving emotional regulation, reduce physical pain and alleviate symptoms of anxiety and depression. Meditation and mindfulness require consistent effort. Starting with mindfulness for even one minute every day can be helpful. You can slowly increase the time as you see fit. Mindfulness and meditation apps like have also proven to be useful in improving mental health.

Create (and keep) those resolutions

Taking a good, hard look at daily behavior is the key to setting realistic self-improvement goals

The early Babylonians believed that what people did on the first day of the year affected what they did for the rest of that year. Many of us see the New Year as a perfect opportunity to start over or to change bad habits.

According to several surveys, the most popular resolutions people make are related to health and fitness (eating better, losing weight, and exercising), reducing consumption of alcohol, caffeine, quitting smoking, and becoming more financially responsible by promising to spend less and save more.

Unfortunately, over 70 percent of resolutions are broken by the end of January, and this can leave a person feeling discouraged.

You might even consider New Year’s resolutions like romantic relationships: They’re easier to start than maintain.

One in four people who makes a New Year’s resolution will drop out within the first seven days, statistics show. About half jump ship within six months.

Resolutions are complicated, and being able to achieve them usually requires taking a hard look at our thoughts and behaviors. Setting goals keeps us on track, but stamping out old habits is difficult, and may even require the help of a professional for some.

But there’s hope.

Striving for self-improvement and setting goals for ourselves gives us a sense of purpose and hope for the future. Be sure to make your goals a priority, be specific, and work at them daily.

Your goal should be specific and measurable. Make your goal concrete, and if necessary, break it down into smaller steps.

Setting vague goals such as “I want to lose weight” can be ineffective. Instead, ensure your resolution is quantifiable. If your goal is to shed some pounds, identify the number you’d like to lose within a specified period of time. If your aim is to exercise more in 2023 set a specific objective for the number of hours you’ll work out each week.

Or, if your resolution is to consume fewer carbohydrates, resolve to eat carbohydrates only at one meal per day rather than resolving to eliminate carbohydrates entirely. Once you are successful, begin to decrease your consumption further.

Don’t set unrealistic resolutions that will be impossible to keep. If you resolve to eat healthier by cutting down on desserts, switch to an alternative you enjoy rather than forcing yourself to eat a vegetable you’ve hated since childhood. For example, swap ice cream for Greek yogurt or fruit rather than raw cauliflower sprouts (unless you enjoy them, of course).

Be nice to yourself. Changing habits isn’t easy, so you’re likely to struggle at some point in your journey. Take it easy. Minor bumps are normal. The important part is jumping back on the bandwagon and continuing momentum forward.

Write your resolution down and put it somewhere where you can see it on a daily basis. This will help you to stay focused.

Keep it manageable. Keep the scope of your New Year’s resolution practical by working toward changing one or two behaviors at a time.

Have coping strategies in place to deal with obstacles that may arise along the way. For example, if your goal is to drink less alcohol you may consider skipping parties or events that involve a lot of drinking or bring a sober friend along to provide you with support and to help keep you on track.

On the bright side. Stay focused on the benefits of the change you’re making rather than what you’re giving up. Rally your mind around how much better you’ve been feeling instead of lamenting the loss of your daily chocolate-chip muffin.

Photo: Sometimes it’s the littlest things that make the biggest impact. Rather than setting a major health or fitness goal that takes you far out of your comfort zone, start the new year by committing to small changes here and there.

Hold yourself accountable and lean on others. Use a support network to help stay motivated. Discuss your resolution (and the accompanying struggles) with friends and family members. Consider joining a group with common goals, whether a collection of friends teaming up to quit smoking or an exercise class at the gym.

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With the heart of winter upon us, it can be tough to stick with our fitness goals. And so much for our new resolve to exercise more.

But wait! It doesn’t have to be so. Fitness experts offer some helpful tips to reinvigorate those resolutions.

Treat exercise as your personal “time out.” Your time to exercise is your opportunity to “recharge your battery.” It refreshes your mind, spirit, and energy. It not only benefits you, it has a positive impact on your relationships, your work and how you cope with stress.

Set realistic, incremental goals. Start with small, attainable goals that you can achieve with relative consistency. 15 minutes a day is a meaningful starting point. Build from there.

Do what you enjoy. Physical activity comes in many forms. Will a brisk walk in the open air help you unwind and relax? Is it a workout at the gym with state-of-the-art equipment and the energy of others that helps motivate you? Is it the convenience of jumping rope in your basement that will keep you feeling good about yourself? The possibilities are endless.

Schedule it as you would any important appointment. Designating a time to exercise is a key factor in making it happen. Put it on your calendar. But remember, regular exercise doesn’t have to mean regimented exercise.

Track it. Whether you track it on paper, your computer or an app, you reinforce your commitment to taking care of yourself, and you see the progress you are making.

Make it social. One of the greatest benefits of exercise can be the quality time you spend with friends and family. An exercise buddy or group can help motivate you to stick with it, while offering social interaction and the additional support you may need. Surround yourself with people who also want to enjoy the benefits of physical activity. Motivation and lifestyle choices are contagious! Note: Health clubs are filled with people who have the same goals as you.

Be flexible and allow yourself breaks. Exercise is a lifestyle

choice that will improve your quality of life throughout your entire lifetime. If you need to miss a workout or several it’s okay. Just get back to it as soon as you can. It’s the long-term commitment to taking care of yourself and enjoying the physical and emotional benefits of exercise that will keep you going.

Mix it up. Add variety to sustain your interest. Feel free to be creative in what you do. Modern-day gym equipment is great. Or try out a new class. Or ask a trainer to show you some bodyweight exercises.

Incorporate other activities you love. If your idea of relaxing is listening to music, reading a good book, or watching a funny television show, find ways to exercise while engaging in these pastimes you really enjoy.

Reward yourself. You have reason to feel proud when you take care of yourself through exercise. In today’s sedentary, overscheduled world, it’s not an easy thing to do. So go ahead and reward yourself in healthy ways when you’ve met your goals. Treat yourself to a massage, buy music you enjoy, or get that new outfit you’ve been wanting.

But remember: the greatest reward you can give yourself is that feeling of well being that comes when you make exercise a regular part of your life.

Photo: Make exercise a part of your lifestyle, not just a New Year’s resolution.

Schumer promises push for tech, environment

By JAMES BERNSTEIN jbernstein@liherald.com

Chuck Schumer has three goals for the new year: improve mass transit, ensure water and air quality are safe, and promote high technology on Long Island.

The New York Democrat who maintained his role as majority leader in the U.S. Senate after last year’s mid-terms, told more than 1,000 people attending last week’s Long Island Association breakfast in Woodbury that he has, in the past two years, secured federal money to help the Metropolitan Transportation Authority recover from the worst of the Covid pandemic, while still getting money earmarked to protect the Long Island Sound and even clean up aging lead pipes.

The event at Crest Hollow Country Club was LIA’s annual State of the Region gathering that attracted both movers and shakers, as well as elected leaders like the executives from both Nassau and Suffolk counties. Schumer’s participation comes after he was elected to a fifth six-year term in the upper chamber of Capitol Hill, defeating Joseph Pinion, a conservative columnist who claimed Schumer had been in office too long with too little to show for it.

But history is written by the victors, and Schumer had a lot of history to share.

“We had one of the most productive legislative sessions in years,” the senator

said, ticking off a list of legislative wins that included his role in shepherding through President Joe Biden’s $1 trillion infrastructure bill, as well as securing $15 billion for the MTA, which operates the Long Island Rail Road.

“No one was riding the trains” during the pandemic, Schumer added.

“For the first time, New York state got back more money that it gave out,” the senator said, referring to the give-andtake of funding with the federal government. New York has traditionally been a “giving” state, meaning its federal dollars usually went to help other states. This past year, the state was more of a receiver.

How productive the next two years will be is a big question. Republicans took control of the U.S. House — but only by a slim margin. That might mean pushing through bills that could win over at least some moderate Republicans.

One of those efforts will focus on improving transportation. The MTA funding, for example, would pay for repairs and upgrades of cars, tracks and electronic systems. Money also would be directed to portions of the Sunrise Highway in Nassau and Suffolk counties.

Another $5 million will build a transit hub in Ronkonkoma.

Schumer also budgeted $106 million to clean up Long Island Sound, and that’s just the beginning. He also plans to use $60 million to help remove some of the contami-

nants from the Long Island aquifer.

Yet, the Senator sounded most enthusiastic about a project to install electricitygenerating windmills off Long Island’s South Shore — likely within the next few years.

Equinor, a multibillion-dollar Norwegian conglomerate specializing in petroleum, hopes to build a wind energy farm just a few miles off the coast with a substation delivering power directly to Island Park — a plan that has aroused controversy with neighbors.

The $3 billion project must still pass a plethora of bureaucratic hurdles, however.

“Long Island will be the capital for offshore wind,” Schumer said, “not just in New York, but across the country.”

The senator also wants to promote two of Long Island’s largest high-technology institutions — Brookhaven National Lab and SUNY Stony Brook.

“Long Island can be the center for (microchip) production and manufacturing,” Schumer said. “BNL and Stony Brook are at the cutting-edge of technology.”

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, told the Herald there was more in the works for this part of Long Island as well. He’s heard chatter about a strong interest in securing a casino, possibly at the Nassau Hub.

But for that to happen, anyone developing it would need to make sure the facility is first acceptable to the community.

“We wouldn’t be interested in anything but a first-class hospitality venue with a casino,” Blakeman said.

Happy New Year to all!

There have been significant changes in the law in a number of areas as of January 1, 2023.

The gift tax exclusion, which many people still think is $15,000, is now $17,000, up from $16,000 in 2022. Each person may give up to $17,000 to as many people as they want to without incurring any Federal gift tax liability and without using any of their Federal estate tax exemption at death.

Speaking of the Federal estate tax exemption, that has been raised from $12,060,000 to $12,920,000. Since the exemption amount is adjusted for inflation, and inflation was high in 2022, there was a large jump. Same for the New York estate tax exemption which jumped from $6,110,000 to $6,580,000.

The higher Federal exemption is due to tax reform initiated by President Trump commencing in 2016. Fiscal restraints required that the higher Federal exemption expire after ten years. At the end of 2025 then the Federal exemption is slated to return to

New York levels. Since you can use any of your now almost $13,000,000 per person as a tax-free gift while you are living, many savvy clients have moved and are continuing to move family wealth to trusts for their children. Often, the parents choose to maintain control of these trusts, and they not only get the assets out of their estate while the getting is good, they also get all of the growth on those assets out of their estate.

Medicaid rates have changed so that an individual who needs care, either at home or in a nursing facility, may keep up to $28,133.00 in assets. If one spouse is at home, and the other spouse is in a nursing home, the spouse at home may keep up to about $150,000 in assets. The value of the home, up to $1,033,000 is exempt from Medicaid if a spouse is living there (while the other is in a facility) or for an individual receiving Medicaid for home care.

Finally, the age at which an individual must take their IRA required minimum distribution has been raised from age 72 to 73.

Additional reporting by Daniel Offner.

Daniel Offner/Herald U.S. SEN. ChUCk Schumer told the Long Island Association last week he would seek to promote the environment, transportation and technology this term.

STEPPING OUT

Culinary inspiration for a wintry weekend

By Karen Bloom

January is the ideal time to decompress and get into the kitchen and work on those “Top Chef” skills. It’s not that difficult with some great comforting — healthy — foods to nourish and warm our soul.

Experiment with new culinary creations that incorporate bold flavors for delicious results. Nothing pleases the senses quite like a hearty dish on a chilly evening. Try adding these recipes to your repertoire.

Rustic Roasted Winter Vegetable Chowder

• 1/2 small butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cut into 1-inch dice (about 2 cups)

• 3 medium parsnips, peeled, cut into 1-inch dice (about 1 cup )

• 1 medium sweet potato, peeled, cut into 1-inch dice (about 1 cup)

• 2 medium carrots, peeled, cut into 1-inch dice (about 1 cup)

• 1/2 fennel bulb, quartered & sliced thin (about 1 cup)

• 1/2 teaspoon plus 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt or coarse sea salt

• 2 tablespoons plus 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided

• 1 medium onion, diced (about 2 cups)

• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

• 4 cups vegetable broth

• 2 medium russet potatoes, peeled, cut into 3/4-inch dice (about 2 cups) 4-5 fresh thyme sprigs

Hearty Beef Stew

• 2 tablespoons olive oil

• 1 1/2 lb beef chuck roast, cut into 1-inch pieces

• 1 large onion, chopped

• 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped

• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour

• 1 cup Burgundy, Zinfandel or other red wine

• 3 cups beef broth

• 1 1/2 cups ready-to-eat baby-cut carrots

• 4 medium parsnips, peeled, cut into 1/2-inch pieces

• 1/2 pound small red potatoes, cut in half

• 2 dried bay leaves

• 6 sprigs fresh thyme

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 1/2 teaspoon pepper

In 4-quart Dutch oven, heat 1 tablespoon of the oil over medium heat. Cook beef in oil 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until browned.

Remove beef to bowl; cover to keep warm.

In Dutch oven, heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil over medium-high heat. Cook onion and garlic in oil 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until tender. Return beef to Dutch oven. Sprinkle with flour; cook and stir 1 minute. Add wine; cook 1 minute, scraping to loosen any browned bits from bottom of pan. Stir in broth, carrots, parsnips, potatoes, bay leaves, thyme, salt and pepper.

Heat to boiling; reduce heat. Cover; simmer about 40 minutes, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are tender. Remove bay leaves before serving.

• 1 cup milk or unsweetened plain almond milk

Additional salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

More pepper and thyme leaves for garnish

Heat oven to 400 F.

In a large bowl, toss the butternut squash, parsnips, sweet potatoes, carrots, and fennel with 2 tablespoons olive oil and 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt. Spread in a single layer on a large baking sheet and roast until tender and browned in places, about 40 minutes, turning a couple of times while roasting.

While the veggies are roasting, prepare the base of the soup. To a large saucepan over low heat, add 3 tablespoons olive oil. Add the onion along with a pinch of salt and a bit of pepper, then cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, about 10 minutes.

Stir in the flour and cook for 3 minutes, stirring constantly.

Stir in the vegetable broth. Add the potatoes and thyme. Bring to a boil over medium heat then reduce heat to low. Simmer uncovered for 15 minutes or until potatoes are soft. Remove from heat. Pick out the thyme stems and discard.

Stir in the roasted vegetables. Carefully transfer about 3 cups of the chowder to the pitcher of a blender. Puree until smooth. Return the pureed mixture to the pot and stir to combine. The soup should be thick, rich, and creamy.

Stir in the milk. Place the pot back on the burner, and, with the heat on medium-low, return to a simmer, stirring often to prevent burning.

Taste and add additional salt and pepper if desired. Serve garnished with an additional turn of cracked pepper and thyme leaves.

Lucky Chops

This big, brassy and unapologetically bold six-piece band comes at you with every hue in the rainbow. Their sound pays homage to New Orleans brass band tradition while incorporating eclectic rock, Caribbean, Arabic, Eastern European, funk, jazz, ska, gospel and EDM influences. Their irresistible groove is led by co-founder Josh Holcomb’s soulful trombone, Daro Behroozi’s soaring sax and Joshua Gawel’s powerful trumpet. Their high-energy brassy funk has attracted listeners since forming in New York City in 2006. Starting in the underground halls of subway stations, Lucky Chops went viral when a video of their mash-up of Lipps Inc.’s ‘Funkytown’ and James Brown’s ‘I Feel Good’ amassed hundreds of millions of views across social media, and led to an online subscriber base almost two million strong. They’re now back on tour for the first time since the end of 2019.

Thursday, Jan. 26, 7:30 p.m. $33. Jeanne Rimsky Theater at Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington. (516) 767-6444 or LandmarkOnMainStreet.org.

America

The perennial classic rock favorite enters 2023 on the road again as founding members Gerry Beckley and Dewey Bunnell celebrate the band’s 53rd anniversary. The pair (along with former band mate Dan Peek), who met in high school in London in the late 1960s, quickly harmonized their way to the top of the charts on the strength of their signature song ‘A Horse With No Name.’ More than 40 years later, these friends are still making music together, touring the world and thrilling audiences with their timeless sound. Yet beyond their impressive catalog of hits, listeners discovered there was always much more to America than surface perceptions. The combination of Beckley’s melodic pop rock and Bunnell’s use of folk-jazz elements, slinky Latin-leaning rhythms and impressionistic lyric imagery contrasted well with Peek’s more traditional country-rock leanings and highly personal lyrics.

Friday, Jan. 27, 8 p.m. $99, $79, $69, $59. Tilles Center for the Performing Arts, LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Blvd., Brookville. (516) 299-3100 or TillesCenter.org.

ith the holidays behind us, cozy up to some comfy winter nesting. And, of course, it’s time to refocus on healthier eating now that we’re finished with weeks of festive over-indulgence.

THE SCENE

In concert

David Alterman returns to the stage with Altzim, Friday, Jan. 13, at My Father’s Place supper club. Enjoy an evening of music that Alterman describes as “Dylan with a twist,” with special guest Cathy Rose Virgilio. Rich Demand and his band also appear. Doors open at 6 p.m., concert is at 8 p.m. The Metropolitan, 3 Pratt Blvd., Glen Cove. For tickets/ information, visit MyFathersPlace. com or call (516) 580-0887.

Singles speed-dating brunch

Put away your phone and meet local singles ages 34 through 48 during a speed-dating brunch at Cabo, 3A N. Park Ave. in Rockville Centre, on Saturday, Jan. 14, 2-4:30 p.m. $45 includes the cost of the event, a free drink and brunch. For more information call or text the organizer at (631) 592-9804. Registration is availabe online via Eventbrite.com.

Branford Marsalis

The renowned saxophonist visits the Madison Theatre, on the Molloy University campus, with his quartet, Friday, Jan. 20, 8 p.m. The NEA Jazz Master, triple Grammy Award winner and musical polymath with his stellar ensemble — pianist Joey Calderazzo, bassist Eric Revis and drummer Justin Faulkner — bring the brilliance that has made this quartet one of the most revered and influential in jazz. After more than three decades of existence with minimal personnel changes, this celebrated ensemble is revered for its uncompromising interpretation of a kaleidoscopic range of both original compositions and jazz and popular classics. $40-$95. 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre. For tickets and information visit MadisonTheatreny.org or call (516) 323-4444.

Sisterhood Game Night

Play mah jongg and canasta with the Sisterhood of Congregation B’nai SholomBeth David at their weekly game night,Tuesday, Jan. 17, 7:309:30 p.m., in the synagogue lobby, 100 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre.

Art talk

Grab your lunch and join Nassau County Museum of Art Docent Riva Ettus for her popular “Brown Bag Lecture” live, via Zoom, Thursday, Jan. 19 , 1 p.m. She’ll discuss the current exhibition, “The Big Picture: Photography Now.” Participants are invited to ask questions at the end of the program. Also Feb. 23. Register at least 24 hours in advance to receive the program Zoom link. Also Feb. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. (516) 484-9337 or NassauMuseum.org.

Family yoga

Revolution Yoga invites parents and kids to a special family yoga session, Sunday, Jan. 22, 12:15-1:15 p.m. Practice breathing exercises, partner poses, play games, and have lots of fun. Cost is $25 parent and child, $5 for each additional family member. Pre-registration is required due to limited space. For more information visit RevolutionYogaSpace.com.

Forest Bathing

Take a meditative Forest Bathing walk, led by certified guide Linda Lombardo, Saturday, Jan. 21, 2-4 p.m. Based on the Japanese tradition of ShinrinYoku, 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. Pre-registration required. Sands Point Preserve, 127 Middle Neck Road. For information, visit SandsPointPreserveConservancy. org or call (516) 571-7901.

Virtual Martin Luther King Exhibition

Molloy University, 1000 Hempstead Ave. in Rockville Centre, will host the first of its series of virtual exhibitions honoring Martin Luther King, Jr., Friday, Jan. 13, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The “Day of Learning” event is designed for local community organizations, public and parochial schools to experience the recreation of his “lost” speech. Through this exhibition, participants will have the opportunity to learn about the historical developments of the civil rights movement, share a key transformative experience in the legacy of race and civic engagement in the United States, and the grassroots activism of everyday citizens. This event is free and open to the public.

Author luncheon with Deborah Goodrich-Royce

Molloy University and On the Road Book events host an author luncheon, Wednesday, Jan. 18, noon to 2:30 p.m. Special guest Deborah Goodrich-Royce discusses her latest psychological thriller, “Reef Road.” Tickets cost $50, which includes the cost of food, dessert, beverage and an autographed copy of the book. The event will be held at the Public Square Building at Molloy University, 1000 Hempstead Ave., in Rockville Centre. For more information contact Carol@OnTheRoadBookEvents. com.

Mass for children with special needs

St. Agnes Cathedral, at 29 Quealy Place, hostsa monthly mass for special needs children, adults and their families, Saturday, Jan. 21, 5 p.m., in the lower hall of the Msgr. Melton auditorium. This location has an elevator for handicap access.

Having an event?

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.

Let Freedom Ring with MLK

Visit Long Island Children’s Museum for a workshop honoring Martin Luther King, Jr., Monday, Jan. 16. Families will learn about MLK beyond his “I Have a Dream” speech and gain a better understanding of his impact on the civil rights movement. Also participate in a gallery walk of images from the Civil Rights Movement and then create a bell to “let freedom ring.” $4 with admission, $3 members. Long Island Children’s Museum, Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 224-5800 or LICM.org.

Daytime robberies at two banks in Rockville Centre

By DANIEL OFFNER doffner@liherald.com

A bank robbery and an attempted bank robbery took place at two different banks in Rockville Centre on Jan. 3 and Jan. 6. Both occurred in broad daylight, only three days apart.

Police officials said they are currently investigating, but believe that the incidents could be connected to a recent spree of robberies across Nassau County.

“It is part of the local pattern in Nassau County,” Rockville Centre Police Commissioner James Vafeades said. “There have been several (reports) with the same MO and the same description of the subject, so it’s most likely the same person.” MO stands for method of operation.

The first incident occurred at Chase Bank at 10 N. Village Ave. in Rockville Centre on Jan. 3, around 12:30 p.m.

Nassau County Robbery Squad detectives said an unidentified man entered the bank and approached the teller window. He then presented the teller with a note demanding money and threatened the use of a weapon, according to police.

Authorities said that no weapon was displayed and when the teller walked away, the man exited the bank on foot without any money. Five employees and one customer were inside at the time of the robbery, and no injuries were reported.

“We’re cooperating with law enforcement,” a Chase corporate spokesperson said in an email. This Chase branch was also robbed in 2008 and 2015.

The second robbery occurred at Webster Bank at 339 Merrick Rd. on Jan. 6, around 1:20 p.m.

County detectives said that an unidentified man entered the bank, approached the teller, and similarly presented a note demanding money and threatening use of a weapon.

The teller complied and the man fled through a parking lot on the north side of the building with an undisclosed amount of money, according to police. Five employees were in the bank at the time and no injuries were reported.

The suspect is described as Hispanic, 5-foot-9-inches tall with brown eyes and an average build. He was last seen wearing a dark green jacket, black baseball cap, a light blue medical mask and a blue surgical glove on his left hand.

Police said that they are looking into a possible connection with two additional bank robberies that took place this week at the TD Bank on Franklin Avenue in Garden City and at the Bank of America on Post Road in Westbury.

Police ask that anyone with information regarding the incidents to call Nassau County Crime Stoppers at 1(800) 244-8477 or call 911. All calls are confidential.

Daniel Offner/Herald

ChAsE BANk IN Rockville Centre was robbed in broad daylight on Jan. 3.

Village awards Holiday Lights contest winners

Rockville Centre homeowners once again embraced the holiday spirit with a little friendly competition. For the third year in a row, the village invited residents to spread joy to their community by decorating their homes with lavish displays and shimmering lights.

Deputy Mayor Kathy Baxley said that the village created the contest in 2020, when so many of the fun traditional holiday events were cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“We came up with the idea to try and keep the holiday spirit going in Rockville Centre,” Baxley said.

She said that this year 47 homes signed up to participate in the contest and more than 2,800 votes were cast for the winners.

In the Clark Griswold category, first prize went to 174 Pine Street, with second prize going to 21 Meadow Lane. In the Martha Stewart category, first prize went to 172 Voorhis Avenue, with a tie

between 25 Caterbury Rd. and 56 Dogwood Ln. for second.

First prize in the “party of lights” category went to 195 Voorhis Ave., with second and third place presented to 15 Dogwood Ln. and 306 DeMott Ave. respectively. And first prize in the “family friendly” category went to 177 Voorhis Ave., with second and third place presented to 29 Strathmore Ln. and 6 Olive Ct. respectively.

This year, the village also added a cat-

egory for best block, which was awarded to Voorhis Ave. and Meadow Ln. for their collaborative efforts. In recognition of their victory, the two adjoining streets will receive a street sign as their prize.

“Four different blocks joined together to create a fun, happy holiday atmosphere and we are just so happy that so many people participated,” Baxley said.

–Daniel Offner

Daniel Offner/Herald

The Village of Rockville Centre recognized the winners of the third annual Holiday Lights contest for going above and beyond with their holiday decorations this year.

town redistricting long way from finish

By ANA BORRUTO aborruto@liherald.com

Voters talked, but at least according to them, a committee tasked with drawing new boundaries for Hempstead town elected officials didn’t listen.

At least that was the takeaway during the latest public hearing last week over the state of redistricting in the town.

Yet, it was a meeting just before the winter holidays that took most of the attention — a meeting where a number of speakers during public comment demanded lines be redrawn for the six town districts in what they called a more balanced representation through the inclusion of three “minority-majority” districts. That is, where an overall ethnic minority would be grouped into a majority as a way to help diversify a leadership board like the town council.

That same week, new map proposals were released. Yet, after further review, critics of the earlier drafts claimed most of their recommendations were ignored.

“While I hope that the commission changes course on these maps, I doubt (they) will because (they) have to show us that (they’re) listening to what residents are saying,” said Amil Virani of Valley Stream.

But there were changes. For example, the committee has proposed grouping together Elmont, North Valley Stream, a portion of the Five Towns and Franklin Square into a single district. Baldwin — which went from three to two representatives on the latest maps — was split in half.

The idea, according to Hempstead town attorney John Maccarone, was to ensure villages were kept whole, in accordance with the law. However, hamlets like Baldwin don’t enjoy the same protections.

Elmont, Valley Stream and Franklin Square are per-

fect for this new district, said Elmont resident Mimi Pierre-Johnson, but it should also have included Bellerose, Bellerose village, South Floral Park, Floral Park and New Hyde Park.

“That would’ve been a perfect minority-majority,” she said. “Everyone in that district would have had a fair share of choosing their elected official.”

Baldwin has been split into three council districts since the 2010 census. The Baldwin Civic Association collected more than 400 signatures on a petition urging the committee to place the entire hamlet of Baldwin under the 11510 ZIP code and one Town of Hempstead council district.

“Again, (the redistricting committee) has cracked Baldwin,” Janet Poretsky said. “My vote in Baldwin Harbor won’t count, it will be canceled out by someone in Wantagh-Seaford. I don’t think that’s fair, and I have nobody who is really representing my area.”

The last time officials got together to redraw district lines, it was done to benefit legislators without any concern for the needs of Nassau County communities, said Karen Moskowitz, cochair of the League of Women Votgers of Nassau County’s redistricting committee — specifically communities of color.

The lATesT RedisTRicTiNg map for Hempstead town elected officials reveals little change to what a number of people asked for ahead of the revision last month. Their desire is to see a better chance of creating a more diverse town council by creating ‘minority-majority’ districts.

As a town where 40 percent of its residents are people of color represented by a council that is mostly white, Moskowitz added that the latest map proposals show this intention has not changed in Hempstead.

The 2020 census revealed a 12 percent drop in the town’s white, non-Hispanic population, according to supporters of the minority-majority district concept. At the same time, the Hispanic and Latino population grew 32 percent, while the Black population increased by 4

percent.

“The league takes positions on a variety of policy issues, but never supports or opposes any political party or candidate,” Moskowitz said. “Our review of the commission’s proposed maps reveals deliberate manipulation of district lines.”

Another redistricting meeting was scheduled for Jan. 9, and the town attorney confirmed more such meetings will be scheduled before the board votes on a new map.

Ana Borruto/Herald

Churchill’s

IHOP-Oceanside

Toast Coffeehouse

BUBBLE/BOBA TEA: Bubble Hut

Kung Fu Tea

YAAAS TEA

BUFFET: China Buffet King

Diwan Indian Restaurant and Bar

Flaming Grill & Supreme Buffet

BURGER: American Burgers Ay! Caramba! Burgerology

BUSINESS LUNCH: City Cellar Wine Bar & Grill

Frank’s Steaks

Remy’s Italian Restaurant

BUTCHER SHOP: Charlie’s Butchers

Chubs Meats

Sons of a Butcher

CATERER: Bagel Boss Barnum Ballroom

Bialystok & Bloom

CHINESE FOOD: Danny’s Chinese Kitchen

Little Fu’s

Omandarin

COCKTAILS: Da Nicola

Dirty Taco + Tequila

Lia’s Pizzeria - Oceanside

DELI/SANDWICH SHOP:

Ben’s Kosher Delicatessen Restaurant & Caterers

Farmer Joel’s

Pantano’s Gourmet

DESSERT: Dolce Confections

Frank’s Steaks

Sugarberry Bakery Cafe

DINER: Apollo Restaurant Diner

Imperial Diner The Pantry

DINING

MEXICAN FOOD: Frida’s Mexican Grill Margaritas Cafe

The Cabana Mexican American Restaurant

NEW RESTAURANT: Casarecce Italian Tap Room

The Chef’s Table - Lynbrook

ORGANIC/NATURAL FOOD: Bob’s Natural Foods Fit by Globish Organic Krush Lifestyle Eatery

OUTDOOR DINING: Lazy Lobster Point Lookout Clam Bar

SALT - Merrick PIZZA: Friendlier 76 Lia’s Pizzeria - Oceanside Vincent’s

Artie’s South Shore Fish Market & Grill

Hewlett Fish Market Inc. Jordan Lobster Farms

FRENCH FRIES: All American Hamburger Drive In Brooklyn Dip & Burger Press 195

FRIED CHICKEN: Chicken Carnival Swingbellys Beachside BBQ Zorn’s of Bethpage

GERMAN FOOD: Das Biergarten Oak Chalet Plattduetsche Park

GREEK FOOD: B Greek Kitchen

GREEKTOWN Mykonos Greek Restaurant HAPPY HOUR: Dirty Taco + Tequila J Paul’s Terrace Cafe Michael’s Billiards

ICE CREAM: Carvel - Merrick Dolce Gelateria

Marvel Frozen Dairy INDIAN FOOD: Color of Spices Diwan Indian Restaurant & Bar

Raagini

ITALIAN FOOD: Friendlier 76

Lia’s Pizzeria - Oceanside

San Marzano Brick Oven Pizza & Fresh Pasta

JAPANESE FOOD: Himawari

Izumi Sushi & Hibachi Steakhouse Kashi

LATIN FOOD: Cabo RVC

Island Empanada of Merrick The Cuban

LOCAL COFFEE SHOP: Coffee Booths Heavenly Coffee Kookaburra Coffee Co

PRETZEL: Knot of this World Pretzels

Philly Pretzel Factory Pretzel Stop/Pretzel Town USA

RAMEN: 8RAMEN MB Ramen - Huntington Ni Ramen

ROMANTIC RESTAURANT: Da Nicola Livorno Remy’s Italian Restaurant

SEAFOOD: Artie’s South Shore Fish Market & Grill Hungry Crab Juicy Seafood and Bar Jordan Lobster Farms

SMOOTHIE: Fit by Globish SoBol Hewlett Tropical Smoothie Cafe

SPECIALTY PIZZA: Friendlier 76 Lia’s Pizzeria - Oceanside Vincent’s

STEAKHOUSE: Frank’s Steaks

Jimmy Hays Steak House

Rothmann’s Steakhouse

SUSHI: Himawari

Izumi Sushi & Hibachi Steakhouse

Sushi Palace

THAI FOOD: Ra-Kang Thai Cuisine Seeda Thai Thai Station Restaurant Thai Table Restaurant

VEGETARIAN/VEGAN: Bob’s Natural Foods

Energy Fuel Garden City

Organic Krush Lifestyle Eatery

WINGS:

Croxley’s Ale House

Pearsall’s Station

Swingbellys Beachside BBQ

YOGURT: Hewlett Station Yogurt Swirls & Twirls

TCBY

Congrats to all the Top 3 Finalists in the 2022 Herald Long Island Choice Awards presented by PSEG Long Island!

Check back each week for the Top 3 Reveal in each category leading up to the Oscar-style awards ceremony in April 2023. Did your favorites make it to the top? Visit www.LiChoiceAwards.com! *Finalists are listed alphabetically, not in order of placement.

Public Notices

LEGAL NOTICE

Public Notice to Bidders

Sealed Bids will be received by the Purchasing Department of the Village of Rockville Centre, One College Place, Room 204, Rockville Centre, New York 11570 for the matter stated below until 11:00 am prevailing time on JANUARY 26, 2023 at which time they will be publicly opened and read aloud. The contract will be awarded as soon thereafter as practicable for:

WATT-HOUR AND DEMAND METER Bid No. 2301E1 (1060)

The bid specifications can be obtained/examined on the Village’s website at www.rvcny.gov. Follow the link to the Purchasing Department. All questions should be directed to the Purchasing Department. Please contact Lisa Strazzeri via email only at lstrazzeri@rvcny.us. Questions must be submitted no later than January 19, 2023.

Award of Contract will be made to the lowest responsible bidder in accordance with applicable provisions of the law. The Village reserves the right to reject all bids or make such determination as in the best interests of the Village, as provided by law.

Purchasing Department Lisa Strazzeri Purchasing Agent 516-678-9213 136626

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, ONE WEST BANK, FSB, Plaintiff, vs. ROBERT SILVERMAN, ET AL., Defendant(s).

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on November 9, 2021 and a Short Form Order duly entered on October 14, 2022, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the front steps on the north side of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501

on January 24, 2023 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 15 Shell Bank Place a/k/a 15 Shellbank Court, Rockville Centre, NY 11570. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Incorporated Village of Rockville Centre, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 38, Block 432 and Lot 135.

Approximate amount of Judgment is $997,915.92 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 002601/2013. This foreclosure sale will be held on the north side steps of the Courthouse, rain or shine. COVID-19 safety protocols will be followed at the foreclosure sale. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, the Court Appointed Referee will cancel the sale.

Peter Famighetti, Esq., Referee Greenspoon Marder, 590 Madison Avenue, Suite 1800, New York, NY 10022, Attorneys for Plaintiff 136163

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT: NASSAU COUNTY. BERGEN STREET COMMONS LLC, Pltf. vs NORTH VILLAGE CENTRE INC., et al, Defts. Index #615259/2020. Pursuant to judgment of foreclosure and sale entered Oct. 11, 2022, I will sell at public auction on the north side front steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, NY on January 24, 2023 at 2:30 p.m., prem. k/a 43 North Village Avenue, Rockville Centre, NY a/k/a Section 38, Block 295, Lot 3. Said property located at a point on the Easterly side of Village Avenue, distant 76.57 ft. Northerly from the corner formed by the intersection of the Easterly side of Village Avenue and the Northerly

side of Sunrise Highway (formerly known as Observer Street); Running thence NE, 29.70 feet; Thence SE, 110.45 feet; Thence SW, 29.80 feet; Thence NW, 104.75 ft. to the Easterly side of Village Avenue, the point or place of beginning. Approx. amt. of judgment is $1,305,506.85 plus costs and interest. Sold subject to terms and conditions of filed judgment and terms of sale. Foreclosure auction will be held “rain or shine.” If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, then the court appointed referee will cancel the auction. JANE P. SHRENKEL, Referee. JAY L. YACKOW, Attys. for Pltf., 355 Post Avenue, Ste. 201, Westbury, NY. #99918 136161

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF FORMATION OF LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY. NAME: Zephyr Tax and Advisory LLC. Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York, (SSNY) on 11/28/22. NY Office location: Nassau County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of the process to: 95 Lakeview Ave, Rockville Centre, NY 11570.

Purpose: To engage in any lawful act or activity 135987

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that pursuant to Article 9 of the New York State Constitution, the provisions of the Town Law and Municipal Home Rule of the State of New York, both as amended, a public hearing will be held in the Town Meeting Pavilion, Hempstead Town Hall, 1 Washington Street, Hempstead, New York, on the 24th day of January, 2023, at 7:00 o’clock in the afternoon of that day to consider the enactment of a local law to amend Section

197-5 of the code of the Town of Hempstead to INCLUDE “ARTERIAL STOPS” at the following locations: (NR) ROCKVILLE CENTRE TANGLEWOOD ROAD (TH 550/22)- STOPAll traffic traveling westbound on Cornell Avenue shall come to a full stop.

TANGLEWOOD ROAD (TH 550/22)- STOPAll traffic traveling westbound on Yale Avenue shall come to a full stop.

TANGLEWOOD ROAD (TH 550/22)- STOPAll traffic traveling westbound on Columbia Avenue shall come to a full stop.

LANGDON BOULEVARD (TH 550/22)-STOPAll traffic traveling eastbound on Yale Avenue shall come to a full stop.

LANGDON BOULEVARD (TH 550/22)-STOPAll traffic traveling westbound on Yale Avenue shall come to a full stop.

LANGDON BOULEVARD (TH 550/22)-STOPAll traffic traveling eastbound on Maine Avenue shall come to a full stop.

LANGDON BOULEVARD (TH 550/22)-STOPAll traffic traveling westbound on Maine Avenue shall come to a full stop.

EDGEWOOD ROAD (TH 550/22) - STOPAll traffic traveling Lawrence Avenue shall come to a full stop.

MAINE AVENUE (TH 550/22) - STOPAll traffic traveling southbound on Lawrence Avenue shall come to a full stop.

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

Dated: January 10, 2023 Hempstead, New York BY ORDER OF THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD DONALD X. CLAVIN, JR. Supervisor

KATE MURRAY Town Clerk 136624

Search for notices online at: www.newyorkpublicnotices.com

continued from

front

tal Protection Award.

His project focused on revitalizing the garden near the entrance to the Center for Science, Teaching, and Learning at the Tanglewood Preserve. Due to donations from the Atlantic Nursery and Home Depot, he was able to transform the area into a native species garden, with the goal of serving the surrounding community.

Reinholdt, a freshman at Lafayette College majoring in biology, began scouting in 2013 as a Webelo with Rockville Centre Pack 31, and two years later, he joined Troop 214. He has earned 40 merit badges and explored a variety of different interests, finding his favorites to be chemistry, kayaking, and rifle shooting.

For his Eagle Scout project, Reinholdt wanted to give back to Central Synagogue-Beth Emeth and focused on creating a Belgian Block lining for the temple’s driveway entrance. He also helped to revitalize the Levy Garden.

Woram, a South Side High School senior, will attend Nassau Community College in the fall and then plans to transfer to Hofstra University for accounting.

He joined RVC Pack 31 in 2010 and quickly worked his way through the ranks to earn his Arrow of Light. Following in his older brother’s footsteps, he joined Troop 214, where he earned several merit badges, attended STEM camps and participated in community service. He was also given an opportunity to meet with scouts from all across the globe during the World Scout Jamboree at the Summit Bechtel Reserve in Virginia in 2019.

For his Eagle Scout project, Woram wanted to provide elementary school students with tools to help them excel.

“My project focused on helping kids with ADHD,” Woram said.

After securing the RVC School District as a beneficiary, Woram said he worked with Jeannine Love, assistant superintendent for special education and pupil personnel services, to compile a list of items they would need before obtaining donations from Home Depot, Grainger, and Ace Hardware.

“We are so grateful for all the hard

work Kieran has put into his Eagle Scout project,” Love said in a statement. “Thanks to his hard work and dedication the students in the elementary schools have access to more therapy tools that will help calm nerves, relieve stress and serve as a distraction in an over-stimulating environment.”

He began working on his project in the spring and thanks to the help of his family and troop members, they were able to complete construction of the boxes within a day. The boxes were then filled with sand so the kids were able to dig up their own fossils.

With the help of school administrators, he distributed these boxes to the district’s elementary schools. And, with an additional monetary donation from his grandparents in North Carolina, he purchased fidget toys for each of the elementary schools’ resource rooms.

During the Court of Honor ceremony, the four new Eagle Scouts were presented with a citation and special challenge coins from BSA leaders, elected officials, the American Legion, and other representatives from the local fire and police departments.

“There is such happiness in my heart to watch all these young men, specifically today, become Eagles,” Rockville Centre Mayor Francis Murray said. “It’s unbelievable. These are young men with a great commitment to excellence and I want to congratulate you today for exactly that.”

Murray presented all four scouts with proclamations recognizing their accomplishments. He was joined by Hempstead Town Clerk Kate Murray and newly-elected Congressman Anthony D’Esposito, who arrived only hours after having taken his oath of office in Washington D.C.

News brief

St. Agnes school to host annual dinner dance

The St. Agnes Cathedral School will host its annual Dinner Dance event on Saturday, Feb. 4, at the Long Island Marriott in Uniondale.

This year, the school will honor five individuals for their continued support, commitment and service to Catholic education.

This year’s honorees include Carmine and Lynda Rubino, who will be presented with the St. Thomas Aquinas Award for their ongoing support of Catholic education; Bernard and Margaret Mary O’Connell, who will be presented with the

St. Catherine of Siena Award for their commitment to Catholic education; and Frances Barricelli, who will be presented with the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Award for dedication to Catholic education.

Distinguished guest Dr. William Kaelin, an alum of the St. Agnes Cathedral School and recipient of the 2019 Nobel Prize for medicine, will also be in attendance for this special occasion.

Contact Cecilia St. John, principal of the St. Agnes Cathedral School, at CStJohn5546@StAgnes-School.org for ticket information.

Mayor Francis Murray, far left, presented proclamations to Timothy Reinholdt, Max Fuentes, Owen Ferreira and Kieran Woram, accompanied by Hempstead Town Clerk Kate Murray and U.S. Rep.-elect Anthony D’Esposito.

Eagle Scouts recognized for service to community

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Spacious Side Hall Colonial Near All

Nestled in the prestigious school district 14, you will find this bright and airy Side Hall Colonial that also offers plenty of space. This home features 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths and a finished basement that provides additional living space for entertainment. The formal dining room and living room are perfect for hosting guests while the kitchen with an island allows for plenty of prep space when cooking up your favorite meals. The backyard deck and lush lawn provide a great spot to relax or entertain friends. You're also just minutes' walk from Grant Park - perfect for enjoying a beautiful day outdoors. This home is conveniently located close to transportation, shops, and restaurants. Don't wait - come see this wonderful home today! For a private tour contact us at 516.791.1313.

Adding to the attic

Q. A few contractors have looked at my attic so I can finish it for more bedrooms and a family room. The 1920s house has a very large attic with stairs to the second-floor landing. The attic stairs are much steeper and narrower, and the contractor says the walls will need to be taken down and wider and longer stairs put in. Is this necessary? The stairs are already there, and even though they’re steep, they work. Also, one of the contractors said that the horizontal 2x4s going across the attic, which are too low to walk around, could be removed or raised. Is that true? He said we could put them higher and add more so we can add finished wallboards to them. Do you agree, and is there anything I should know about doing this before we start?

A. Good thing you asked before you started. Instead of starting, you need to stop and take a few steps back. What you’re describing has multiple issues that you have to address.

Ask The Architect

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Monte Leeper

First, your state building code doesn’t allow the occupancy of a third floor in a single-family, woodframed dwelling. This is because of the many dangers involved in surviving a fire at that level. In the process of getting the permit to occupy a third story, which you left out of the description of your investigation, you would need to have a licensed architect or engineer prepare plans that include specific methods of escape, including the correct size and number of windows, distances to exterior and interior levels below to escape to, sprinkler locations along the entire path of travel to get out of the dwelling, heights of ceilings and fire-rated materials to be installed. This is because, as I have often written, the chances of surviving a fire in the third floor of a wood-framed dwelling are statistically remote, only 5 percent. That means you or your loved ones could be among the 95 out of 100 who will die from smoke inhalation or burns.

The plans for a finished third story are submitted to both your local building department, which will rightfully reject them, and to the State Codes Division for a public hearing, where your case will need to be represented by a code-knowledgeable professional. I have seen people represent themselves, which generally doesn’t go very well, since safety is the reason for the codes, and there are many laws and standards that the average owner is unaware of.

The stair access must be 3 feet wide, and the tread must be at least 10¼ inches, while the risers cannot exceed 8¼ inches. The horizontal 2x4s you described are collar ties, and they serve the important function of holding the roof together, especially in high winds and under snow loads. Moving or removing them can be dangerous. The higher up, the less effective, and without first calculating several factors, it should not be done.

© 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.

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Once again, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority has left coal in the stockings of Long Island Rail Road commuters.

Every Christmas since 2011, the MTA has failed to initiate the promised East Side Access to Grand Central Madison service. The original Federal Transit Administration capital investment — or New Starts — grant agreement with the MTA was approved in 2006.

time in the coming weeks.

The ESA project cost has grown to $11.6 billion. This doesn’t include debt service payments of $1 billion for borrowing costs buried in the MTA’s operating budget. There are also $4 billion worth of LIRR readiness projects to support the start of service — including such things as third-track construction and capacity improvements at Jamaica Station — which are separate from the official budget. Without these projects, the LIRR lacks the expanded operational capabilities to support the new service.

LARRY pENNER

It included a project cost of $6.3 billion, with the start of passenger service — including a promise to run 24 hourly trains on the LIRR’s 10 branches to Grand Central Madison during rush hour — in 2011. We still don’t know when that service will begin.

The temporary shuttle service that did not start last month, as promised, will come nowhere close to meeting this commitment. I can just imagine the overcrowding on shuttle trains between Jamaica and Grand Central Madison when this service begins — likely some-

Even when East Side Access service begins, thousands of potential new LIRR customers will continue to be out of luck in Hunters Point, Long Island City, Sunnyside, Elmhurst and Woodhaven, Queens because of limited or no service. The LIRR currently runs a handful of morning rush-hour trains westbound from Jamaica to Hunters Point and Long Island City, returning east in the evening rush hour. There is no rush-hour, hourly off-peak or evening bi-directional service to those other communities.

Another problem: Penn Station is a

24/7 facility. Grand Central Terminal is closed overnight from 2 to 5:15 a.m. Unlike the LIRR, Metro North provides no service in or out during that time period. The LIRR has the advantage, but Long Islanders who commute at odd times — or come home late from events in Manhattan that end well after midnight — and want to use Grand Central will lose that advantage to incomplete service. A simple analysis of the proposed schedules reveals that depending on your branch or station, there will be no LIRR service to or from Grand Central Madison for three to five hours overnight on weekdays or weekends.

Catherine Rinaldi is the first MTA official to serve as president of both the LIRR and Metro North. Those extrahours riders might want to ask her why the LIRR must be subject to the Metro North’s schedule shortfalls. Isn’t it time to make Grand Central, too, a 24/7 facility?

As well, whenever East Side Access service to Grand Central Madison begins, the LIRR will suspend virtually all direct, one-seat, ride-through service between Jamaica and Atlantic Terminal

Brooklyn. Thousands of LIRR riders bound for downtown Brooklyn, Wall Street, the World Financial Center, the World Trade Center or other destinations in downtown Manhattan via Atlantic Terminal Brooklyn will now have longer commutes. One rider’s gain in time savings — being able to get to Manhattan’s East Side via Grand Central Madison instead of Penn Station — will be a loss for another rider trying to access destinations via Atlantic Terminal Brooklyn. Was investing $12.6 billion in East Side Access worth it? The verdict is still out. It is doubtful, in a post-Covid-19 world, that there will be anywhere near the anticipated 160,000 daily riders using Grand Central Madison, as the MTA predicts. Time will tell if commuters and taxpayers will see all of the benefits from this project, which has been promised for decades by elected official and MTA and LIRR presidents. When it comes to East Side Access, the LIRR’s 1960s motto, “Line of the Dashing Dan,” should be changed to “Line of the Slow Moving Sloth.”

Larry Penner is a transportation advocate, historian and writer who worked in the Federal Transit Administration Region 2 New York Office of Operations and Program Management for three decades.

Writing predictions in disappearing ink

As I look back on my New Years’ columns over these last many years, I might as well have been writing in disappearing ink. Pretty much nothing I expected came to pass, and a whole lot of stuff I never saw coming changed my life and yours, too. So why even try to predict? It’s in our DNA, I suppose, conferring the illusion of control when we have none.

ies is and will be zero.

With that as a caveat, let me hope rather than predict that we will not have a recession; that the markets will rally in 2023 and, somehow, all the thousands of people who are literally dying to get into our country will be matched with all the jobs that are begging to be filled.

Will Covid surge again? Will some new bug emerge from the virulent epidemic in China? I wonder if Kim Jung-un will hold on to his rockets or let them fly. When will Ukraine find peace, and will it be before Putin snaps? How will our children and teenagers recover from the grief and academic setbacks of the pandemic lockdown? When can we feel safe in our lives again?

No one, except for Bill Gates and some epidemiologists who were ignored, predicted the greatest catastrophe of our lifetime, the coronavirus pandemic, the more than 1 million deaths here at home and more than 6 million deaths worldwide.

Everyone predicted a huge Republican sweep in the midterms, and that didn’t happen. And with the MAGA loonies running the GOP, to predict what will happen in 2023 would be folly indeed.

Bullish? Bearish? Last week the big dailies posted predictions for the markets. Inflation, recession, deflation, higher mortgage rates? Columnist Jeff Sommer wrote in The New York Times: “It’s simply impossible to forecast the path of the markets six months or a year ahead with accuracy and consistency, as many academic studies have shown. That the financial services industry continues to label these unreliable numbers as forecasts is a triumph of breathtaking chutzpah — a technical term for shameless audacity.”

RANDI KREISS

In politics, too, the prediction business is bust. We — all of us — lived through the 2016 presidential election, in which pretty much everyone with an opinion, from columnists to people on the street to professional pollsters to Las Vegas bookies and even many supporters of Donald Trump, absolutely did not believe that he would or could win. How many times did we hear pundits say that his path to victory was slim to none? How much airtime and ink were wasted on the assumption of a Hillary Clinton victory and how that would play out? Folks thought DJT would ride that escalator into oblivion.

On New Year’s Eve we toasted 2023 with wishes for good health and peace on earth and peace of mind. Wishes. As hostages to fate and dysfunctional politics, that’s the best we can do. We humans have never tolerated the existential uncertainty of being a person alive on earth. So we turn to exit polls and Svengalis and any grifter who hangs out a palm-reading sign. The truth? I’m even down on Punxsutawney Phil.

I can’t and won’t believe anyone who ever again purports to know the future of an election or an economy or the course of a disease or the likelihood of an earthquake striking any particular location at any particular time.

We are in the game, and it changes day to day.

Yearning for a seed of certainty, yesterday I booked a hotel in Dallas for April 8, 2024, when a full solar eclipse will be seen for two minutes and 20 seconds. I predict, with 100 percent certainty, that it will occur.

Which leads me to predict that the value of their elaborate algorithmic stud-

The very least we could take away from that election was healthy skepticism. Pollsters, even the academic knowit-alls, have little success predicting the results of an election or anything else.

In our personal lives, it’s painful to accept that we cannot know what the future will bring. Life reads like a mystery, not an itinerary. We can’t know what comes next or if we’ll make an appearance in the next chapter.

The track record of clairvoyants is abysmal.

What isn’t sure is if I will get to see it. There may be clouds overhead, or clouds in my life. I am choosing to have faith that the eclipse will occur as scheduled, on April 8 in Dallas. I plan to be there. It’s a small thing, but I’m counting on it.

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

Life reads like a mystery, not an itinerary. We can’t know what comes next.

569-4942

We all deserve a chance to pursue our dreams

the federal minimum wage has been stuck at $7.25 an hour for 14 years — a time period during which mere adjustments for inflation would now have it over $10.

Congress isn’t expected to act on raising that wage anytime soon, so many municipalities and states — like New York — have taken matters into their own hands. New York City and Long Island both have a $15 minimum wage, as does Westchester County. Last week, upstate New York rose to $14.20.

In fact, 27 states raised their minimum wage at the beginning of 2023, according to the National Employment Law Project, with new baselines ranging from $9.95 in states like Montana to $15.74 in Washington state.

We hear a lot about the minimum wage. What we don’t ever talk about is something that many may not even know exists: the subminimum wage.

It’s real, and it has been since the Fair Labor Standards Act, which first established a federal minimum wage, was signed into law by President Franklin Roosevelt in 1938. Many have credited the law with helping to guide the United States out of the Great Depression. And the framework of the Fair Labor Standards Act — 40-hour work weeks, child labor restrictions, extra pay for overtime — fuels our labor economy to this day.

But if you look closely at the law — particularly at Section 14(c) — you might be surprised to learn that not everyone is eligible for the minimum wage. Even at $7.25. It allows employers to apply for a certificate from the federal government to pay less than minimum wage to workers with disabilities.

It’s an archaic law based on an archaic

way of thinking when it comes to people with disabilities.

When the legislation was first passed, “it was assumed that a worker with a disability was less productive than a non-disabled worker,” former Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge wrote in a 2021 opinion piece in USA Today. “In retrospect, it was a flawed assumption. We want to be fair to the intent of the original legislation, which was to provide individuals with disabilities an opportunity to enter the workforce.”

When the former Pennsylvania governor wrote those words, he was nearing the end of a long chairmanship of the National Organization on Disability, an advocacy group for a class of people who are, more often than not, overlooked. Ridge described paying people with disabilities less than minimum wage as “no less than another critical civil rights issue.”

And he was right. Treating an entire group of people differently from everyone else simply because they have disabilities is a relic of the distant past that should stay in the distant past.

Yet efforts to eliminate this disparity over the years, by both Republicans and Democrats, have come up short on the federal level. Most recently, President Biden tried to remove the subminimum wage as part of the American Rescue Plan at the beginning of his administration, but never got it through Congress.

Since then, however, more than a dozen states have abolished the subminimum wage, according to the Association of People Supporting Employment First. But New York isn’t one of them. Not that our legislators haven’t tried — it’s just that none of their efforts have ever made it out of committee.

Closer to home, there are many who are trying to make a difference — like the Backyard Players & Friends of Rockville Centre, which describes its mission as seeking “unity without uniformity, and diversity without fragmentation.” The organization opened the Front Porch Market next to its headquarters on North Long Beach Road, conceived to provide creative work in a retail environment, treating everyone equally no matter what they bring to the table.

The market officially opens Jan. 17, and will feature crafters from around the community, classes on creating things like candles and soap, along with small retailers like Popcorn for the People and Smile Farms Hot Sauce.

The percentage of people with disabilities finding jobs is growing, but only 1 in 5 in that community is working. And of those, more are finding employment because they’re working for themselves rather than getting hired by someone else — a rate far higher than those without disabilities.

Even if the subminimum wage were finally abolished, there are many other hurdles that must be swept away for those with disabilities, and they can’t be ignored, either. But right now, hundreds if not thousands of our neighbors and community members aren’t getting the same consideration for pay as those without disabilities.

That must change. And if it can’t happen on the federal level, we need to focus our efforts much closer to home, blocking the availability of subminimum wages in our state.

Because as Tom Ridge made very clear, “all Americans should have the opportunity to pursue their dreams.”

letters

Elected officials should resolve to be transparent this year

To the Editor:

Many will start the new year with goals to exercise more, eat better and lose weight. January will also be when newly elected public servants or incumbents starting another term take office across New York state.

Old habits are hard to change in people — and especially hard to change in government. The biggest issue in government today is the lack of trust the public has in their elected leaders. The best way to build trust as an elected official is through transparency.

Elected officials should begin 2023 by conducting the public’s business in an open and transparent way. To show their commitment to open government, elected officials serving on a village board,

Long Island’s energy future: vision vs. mirage

Follow the money. This adage never gets old.

For decades, gas pipelines and other delivery infrastructure have been a reliable cash cow for utility companies, which recover the costs of building their distribution systems from our utility bills, which give them a fat return on their investments. This traditional utility profit model is now at odds with a climate-driven energy transition, creating all kinds of perverse incentives. And while hikes in heating costs are grabbing the headlines, the jostling over the future of heating isn’t getting much attention.

In order to succeed in the challenging but essential task of decarbonizing its economy in the coming decades — as mandated by the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, which it passed in 2019 — New York state will need to embrace an all-electric future and eschew fossil fuels, including natural gas. Utilities like Con Edison and the Long Island Power Authority, which together serve about 60 percent of the state’s electric customers, have endorsed this scenario. Many builders and households are already going all-electric, because gas fouls our homes and communities, and modern electric homes are cheaper and superior.

This is the approach espoused by almost all experts because, as the electric grid becomes cleaner, the rest of the economy will naturally follow. This is also the most cost-effective and energy-efficient decarbonization strategy for buildings, because electric heat pumps use only a fraction of the energy of their fuel-based counterparts.

Heat pumps and Long Island are a match made in heaven. With relatively mild winters, Long Island homes don’t need the top-gun units for efficient, reliable heating and cooling. LIPA’s electric load peaks at around 5 gigawatts in the summer, but barely makes it to 3 gigawatts in the winter. Adding winter load will spread the fixed grid costs over more usage and reduce per-kilowatt-hour prices.

In an effort to conserve their profitable gas distribution system, some utilities have floated their own “clean energy vision” involving green hydrogen and biomethane, marketed as renewable natural gas, or RNG — a so-called fossil-free duo that could supposedly flow through their pipeline network forever.

But consider the science and the economics of this vision. It took NASA months to fix hydrogen leaks on its recent Artemis 1 moon mission. Any proposal to pump highly explosive hydrogen, which

Letters

town board, City Council, community board or county legislature should introduce and pass a New Year’s resolution stating they will:

■ Post timely notice of all meetings at least one week prior to those meetings.

■ Post online meeting agendas and all meeting documents at least 24 hours before a meeting.

■ Post draft meeting minutes online, no more than two weeks after a meeting.

■ Allow members of the public to speak at the beginning of a meeting regarding agenda items and non-agenda items — whether they attend in person or remotely.

■ Livestream meetings by video and post the video recording online afterward.

■ Only conduct private executive sessions on rare occasions, in accordance with the New York State Open Meetings Law.

Just because you can hold an executive session doesn’t mean that you have to. A motion to hold an executive session to discuss “litigation,” “personnel” or “collective bargaining”

isn’t sufficient, as the Open Meetings Law requires motions to state more information when holding an executive session.

■ Agree not to hold private political party caucus meetings. There is no reason, at the local level, to hold private political party caucus meetings to discuss political business or public business. Secret meetings build a lack of trust among the public.

■ Have information regarding the Freedom of Information Law posted in a visible place on their websites. Proactively post documents online as much as possible so the public can access information without having to file a FOIL request. Post an easy fill-inthe-blank form that assists the public in filing a FOIL request by email on the website.

■ Commit to ensuring that all FOIL requests are acknowledged within five days, as required by law, and that information is provided to the public promptly.

PAUL WOLF Amherst

Wolf is president of the New York Coalition for Open Government.

has the tiniest molecules in the universe, through 50,000 miles of pipe in New York should raise serious doubts. Multiple studies have also warned of the risk of damage to the steel in pipes and appliances posed by gas blends with significantly more than 5 percent hydrogen.

Moreover, it shouldn’t take a NASA scientist to question the wisdom of heating homes by burning the stupendously expensive green hydrogen produced from renewable electricity, when that electricity can directly power energysipping heat pumps. Not surprisingly, expensive experiments and demonstration projects involving the use of hydrogen for heat, the kind of boondoggles being developed in the Town of Hempstead, are already being scrapped or failing in other parts of the country and the world.

Hydrogen’s partner in crime, RNG, is produced by capturing and refining the naturally produced biogas in landfills and wastewater treatment plants. But naturally derived biomethane can meet only a minuscule fraction of the home-heating demand, so much of it will need to be artificially generated from organic waste streams. Its global warming potential isn’t much lower than that of fossil gas because of inevitable releases and leaks of methane, which is much more destructive to the climate than carbon dioxide.

Fossil-free doesn’t mean emissionsfree, and the scheme doesn’t satisfy the science-based methane accounting methodology of New York’s climate law.

Produced naturally or intentionally, RNG is significantly more expensive than fossil gas, and its supplies will be limited by feedstock availability. Even the rosiest projections in the gas utilities’ own studies show that there won’t be enough of it for every possible use that those companies are touting it for, home heating being the least practical one.

The gas utilities’ so-called fossil-free clean-energy vision based on hydrogen and RNG is a mirage that doesn’t pass scientific, technical, economic or legal muster. To make matters worse, burning hydrogen would produce high levels of nitrous oxide, a health hazard, and RNG would cause indoor pollution from leakage and combustion akin to fossil gas, which is linked to myriad health risks, with the latest research attributing almost 19 percent of all childhood asthma in New York to gas stoves.

Pollution for profit shouldn’t have a place inside homes and businesses.

Anshul Gupta is a Steering Committee member of the Climate Reality Project’s NYS Coalition. Gordian Raacke is executive director of Renewable Energy Long Island.

Framework by Tim Baker

At the Twin Lakes Preserve — Wantagh

ansHUL GUpta

GorDian raaCke

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