Rockville Centre Herald 02-02-2023

Seniors gather to celebrate a milestone

By dANiEl oFFNER doffner@liherald.com

Chris O’Leary, the director of the Sandel Senior Center, said that with the help of the Friends of Senior Services fundraising organization, Sandel decided to do something special to celebrate 47 of its members, who are turning 90 or older this year.

“Pretty impressive, right?” O’Leary said. “This a very special day here.”

Thirty-one of the 47, along with their friends and relatives, were invited to the center, on South Park Avenue in Rockville Centre, last Friday for the special occasion.

“I can’t believe it,” one of the honorees, Dorothy Murphy, said. “I turned 90, going on 91. I’m just flabbergasted.”

Murphy, like several other celebrants, said she was thankful to the center and its staff for the opportunity to mark a milestone in the

Continued on page 24

Diocese offers $200M proposal to settle sex abuse claims

By dANiEl oFFNER doffner@liherald.com

Less than a week after a $450 million settlement was proposed by lawyers representing more than 600 people who filed claims of sexual abuse against the Diocese of Rockville Centre — a group known as the Committee of Unsecured Creditors — the diocese has put forward a reorganization plan in the hope of resolving the claims and emerging from bankruptcy.

“To demonstrate its commitment to move forward, the Diocese has proposed a plan that it hopes provides a framework for a timely resolution of this bank-

ruptcy case for survivors, the Diocese, and its parishes,” the diocese said in a statement. “The Diocese, which has continued to work towards a global settlement, believes that the extensive and needlessly expensive litigation path chosen by the Unsecured Creditors Committee’s proposed plan would only continue to financially erode assets of the Diocese, parishes, and other coinsureds that would otherwise be used to fund the settlement.”

The diocese filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in October 2020, after hundreds of lawsuits were filed under the Child Victims Act approved by Gov. Andrew Cuomo in 2019. The measure lifted the

statute of limitations on sexual abuse cases, allowing for decades-old cases to be brought. The period to file such claims closed in August 2021, by which time there were more than 500.

Under the diocese’s latest proposal, the diocese, its parishes, co-insured parties and other ministry members estimate that its contribution would be between $185 million and $200 million, not including payouts from thirdparty insurance companies.

The plan the committee’s lawyers proposed offered the diocese two options. The first would be to settle all claims against the diocese for the full amounts, and the second would include both the

diocese and its parishes. Under both options, survivors could continue to pursue claims for the alleged abuse in state court.

“The Committee filed its own plan because the Diocese of Rockville Centre continues to refuse to respond to a Committee settlement offer that was made more than two months ago,”

Richard Tollner, chair of the

Committee of Unsecured Creditors, said in a statement. “The Diocese forced the Committee’s hand when the Diocese abdicated its responsibility as a party to Court-ordered mediation and as a fiduciary to all creditors. Tragically, some survivors who started with us have passed away, but their stories and their courage

Continued on page 4

Daniel Offner/Herald

ThE SANdEl SENioR Center, in Rockville Centre, held a celebration for 47 people who will turn 90 or older this year.

Peter King debuts new opinion column

Former congressman has no intention of slowing down in retirement

By MICHAEL HINMAN mhinman@liherald.com

Not even retirement can slow down Peter King. After 28 years in the U.S. House — including a two-year stint as chair of the House Homeland Security Committee — as well as more than two decades serving on both the Hempstead town council and as Nassau County comptroller, King finds himself busier than ever.

He’s working with a Washington law firm, and does consulting work for Northwell Health. He makes regular appearances on the Newsmax cable channel, as well as John Catsimatidis’s 77WABC radio station.

But now King is adding one more job to that list as a new regular columnist for Herald Community Newspapers. The former congressman’s first official piece appears in this week’s Opinions pages.

“It’s not like I have to catch a plane to get to Washington, or I’m at the whim of what’s the last vote going to be on Thursday night or Friday night,” King said. “I pretty much plan my own schedule. And the best feeling I had — and it took me about a month to get used to — is waking up in the morning and knowing I can go back to sleep if I want to.”

These days, King finds himself solely

Jack Healy/Herald file

FORMER U.S. REP. Peter King has kept himself busy since retiring from Congress in 2021, from his regular appearance on 77WABC radio, to now becoming a regular opinion columnist for Herald Community Newspapers. His first official piece — singing the praises of freshman U.S. Rep. Anthony D’Esposito — can be found in this week’s Opinions section.

focused on life here at home. But for nearly three decades, the congressman was caught between the two worlds of Washington and his district back in New York.

The trick in the beginning was making

sure he never lost sight of why he was on the House floor in the first place.

“When you’re in Washington, you’re still responsible for a lot of local issues, because the local mayors and supervisors

and town boards — they’re going to be calling you and reaching out for help,” King said. “I think with a number of members of Congress, they’re so concerned with the international and national aspects of it, they forget the guy living down the block.

“The guy that lives in Highland Park. The guy that lives in Seaford. That’s where you base comes from. So, really, the challenge is to keep all of those things in your mind, and be able to sort through them all.”

King has made no secret about his support of U.S. Rep. Anthony D’Esposito, whose congressional district covers much of what King’s did back in the day. In fact, his first column focuses on the high hopes King has of his protégé, and how the sky’s the limit for the former town councilman.

“I mean, Anthony, we talk several times a week,” King said. “I don’t want to sound like I am telling him what to do, or giving him some great advice. But maybe one thing I can be most helpful on is telling him early on which members of Congress you can pay attention to, and which others to just ignore.

“Some of them you try to take seriously, but then you realize after a month or two that these guys are cranks, and nobody else is listening to them, except you.”

Over 20 places serve up a Taste of RVC

by DanieL offner doffner@liherald.com

It’s said, “variety is the spice of life.” This is certainly true in Rockville Centre, where the dinning options are plentiful. Widely the restaurant hub of South Nassau, the community boasts having over 40 different restaurants and catering establishments.

Each year, leading up to the big event in March, the St. Patrick’s Day Parade committee invites more than 20 different local establishments from the village and surrounding communities to serve up their finest fares at the annual Taste of Rockville Centre event.

Crowds of hungry patrons filled the St. Agnes Parish Center on Jan. 27, for the opportunity to sample dozens of delicious entrees and treats. It also included a wine tasting, microbrewery samplings, a dessert and coffee bar, and live musical entertainment by Jerry and the Newcomer.

Some of the restaurants that participated in this year’s event include Ainsworth, Barrier Brewing Company in Oceanside, Churchill’s, Dark Horse, Dirty Taco and Tequila, Flour Shoppe Café, Front Street Bakery, Kasey’s Kitchen and Cocktails, MacArthur Park, Mangia Bene, Mesita, Monaghan’s, Polka Dot Pound Cake, Press 195, RJ Daniels, South Shore Brewery in Oceanside, Swingbelly’s Beachside BBQ in Long Beach, the Tap Room, and Village Liquor.

All of the funds raised will go to help three charities — one local, one national, and one Irish — which are selected each year by members of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade committee. This year, the proceeds made will go to benefit the Ryan Patrick O’Shea Foundation, HELP Uganda, and the St. Laserian’s School in Ireland.

For more information on the event and the committee’s upcoming fundraiser events, visit RVCStPatrick.com. The 25th annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade will be held on Saturday, March 25 at noon.

KooKaburra staffers Dan Curran, Chris DelGatto and Kathleen Regan serve up some coffee during the Taste of RVC.

Lisa umansKy, right, owner and head baker of Polka Dot Pound Cake and president of the Rockville Centre Chamber of Commerce hands off some goodies to Village Trustee Katie Conlon.

christine

horrocKs

Sue Grieco/Herald photos swingbeLLy’s beachsiDe bbQ owner Dan Monteforte with staffers Meg Hutnick, Jeremy Rosen, Ashley Sgambati and Gunner, the roast pig.

Victoria Duggan anD Eileen Meyer with Frank’s Steaks RVC serve up some sides to Vinny Lazzara.

anD Stephanie Lombardi sell Rockville Centre Mayor Francis Murray some raffle tickets.

Diocese offers $200M settlement proposal

continued from front page

have reinforced the Committee’s dedication to achieve a fair and reasonable settlement that includes protections for today’s children.”

While the diocese says its settlement plan compares favorably to recoveries under similar bankruptcy plans, attorneys representing the survivors feel the total is too small for one of the largest and wealthiest dioceses in the country.

Lawyers for the committee referred to the diocese’s proposal as “business as usual,” claiming that it provides only a minimal financial contribution of $11.1 million from the parishes and affiliates, and relies largely on the assignment of potential insurance policy settlements that the carriers who sold those policies are actively disputing in four separate lawsuits.

The attorneys stated that the diocese has taken a “scorched earth approach” to resolving the situation by starting the process of objecting to survivors’ claims.

“The Diocese has adopted a litigation path that ultimately will fail and will have wasted millions of dollars,” James Stang, a bankruptcy attorney representing the committee, said in a statement. “The (Diocese) has fought the Committee at almost every turn. The members of the Committee have devoted hundreds of hours over more than two years to getting the right result for all survivors.

This case poses the unique challenge that the (church) refuses to negotiate with the Committee and is attempting to bully survivors into submission.”

Sean Dolan, the diocese’s director of communications, said in a release that the diocese believes that survivors deserve and expect a settlement now, and

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he hopes that all parties can work together to complete an equitable, and unprecedented, settlement offer.

“The alternative litigation path advocated by the Committee will take years, and wastefully drain resources that would otherwise be directed toward compensating survivors,” Dolan said. “The

litigation path also jeopardizes the common good of Long Island, particularly for those families that depend on the Diocese to deliver compassionate health care, housing, education, food security, substance abuse, mental health and grief counseling, immigration services, religious and spiritual care.”

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HOW TO REACH US Our offices are located at 2 Endo Blvd. Garden City, NY 11530 and are open from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. MAIN PHONE: (516) 569-4000 ■ WEB SITE: www.liherald.com/rockvillecentre ■ E-MAIl: Letters and other submissions: rvceditor@liherald.com ■ EDITORIAl DEPARTMENT: Ext. 205 E-mail: rvceditor@liherald.com ■ SUBSCRIPTIONS: Press ”7” E-mail: circ@liherald.com Fax: (516) 569-4942 ■ ClASSIFIED ADVERTISING: Ext. 286 E-mail: ereynolds@liherald.com Fax: (516) 622-7460 ■ DISPlAY ADVERTISING: Ext. 249 E-mail: rglickman@liherald.com Fax: (516) 569-4643 The Rockville Centre Herald USPS 74660, is published every Thursday by Richner Communications, Inc., 2 Endo Blvd. Garden City, NY 11530. Periodicals postage paid at Garden City, NY 11530 and additional mailing offices. Postmaster send address changes to Rockville Centre Herald, 2 Endo Blvd. Garden City, NY 11530. Newsstand Price: $1. Subscription rates: $60 for 1 year. Annual Subscription Rates, $9.75 per quarter auto-pay or $50 one-time payment within Nassau County or $60 outside of Nassau County. Copyright © 2023 Richner Communications, Inc. All rights reserved.

Daniel Offner/Herald

New trauma unit gives nurses better edge against time

By KARINA KOVAC kkovac@liherald.com

In trauma unit 3 lies a 30-year-old man with obvious head trauma. He was hit by a car going way too fast on Merrick Road. “Can we establish an airway” a nurse yells, “I’ve got the glidescope” hollers another. Only the man in this scenario is just pretending, christening the new Mount Sinai South Nassau trauma unit with a fictitious trauma support emergency incident. But, as the hospital nurses know, many real-life similar cases will come in and out of the state-of-the-art ward.

The enemy the hospital is fighting with their $50 million expansion is time. The new trauma unit features a game changing open concept design plan and easier methods of communication that will cut down lost time. From gunshot wounds to emergency surgeries or even labor delivery and pediatric care, the nine new private room can handle anything thrown at them, including mass causality events.

“The beauty about this space is it allows us not only take care of trauma patients, but we can also take care of anybody that severely sick, so patients that come in with cardiac arrest or respiratory arrest. Having the space to be able to take care of these patients really makes a difference and allows us to do our work more easily,” said Margaret Puya, trauma program manager.

Time is critical in traumatic injuries. Once the ED is alerted of an impending arrival, the Trauma Team is mobilized through a paging system to immediately receive the patient. From admission to rehabilitation, the goal is to make the patient’s journey to recovery as seamless as possible.

Each room has operating room lights, rapid infusers, intubating equipment, ultrasound equipment, and standard procedural equipment. As well as things for

the airway, chest, abdominal trauma, and orthopedic needs for fractures and more.

The new trauma unit is near and dear to Adhi Sharma, president of Mount Sinai, since he worked in trauma. He said seeing years long plans start to come to fruiting in this halfway point has nurses buzzing with anticipation.

“They've been working under confined conditions because of construction,” Sharma said, “So any expansion for them is freedom and this is a freedom to function in a clinical environment that supports the patient needs. We’re restructuring how we are going to provide care in the future, and making the hospital ready for all of the future advancements in science

CONstRuCtION

that will allow us to take even more care for our community and have patients here locally.”

He said the goal of the $50 million dollar expansion project is to be able to be a tertiary care center, so that residents don't have to go to Manhattan for expert care, they can get it in their backyard, and their families can visit them locally as well.

Upon its completion in the summer of 2025, the $ expansion project, which started in 2016, will nearly double the size of Mount Sinai South Nassau’s Emergency Department and increase its capacity from 65,000 annual emergency patient visits to an estimated 80,000. The total cost of this phase of the expansion is $5 million.

teAm memBeR Fernando Lamb pretends to be the first patient in the Mount Sinai South Nassau trauma unit.

Karina Kovac/Herald

spotlight athlete

BeNJaMiN VelasQUeZ

MacArthur Senior Wrestling

a CoUNtY seMiFiNalist last winter and eventual third-place finisher in the 189-pound weight class, Velasquez is looking to cap his high school career with a Nassau wrestling crown. Heading into this Saturday’s county qualifier tournament at Bellmore-JFK, he is ranked No. 1 in the county at 215 pounds. After winning 21 of 30 matches last winter, his record this season stands at 36-3.

gaMes to WatCh

thursday, Feb. 2

Girls Basketball: Carey at Roosevelt 5 p.m.

Girls Basketball: Mineola at Wantagh 5 p.m.

Girls Basketball: Syosset at Freeport 7 p.m.

Girls Basketball: West Hemp at East Rockaway 7 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 3

Boys Basketball: South Side at Kennedy 4:30 p.m.

Boys Basketball: G.N. South at Calhoun 5 p.m.

Boys Basketball: V.S. Central at East Meadow 5 p.m.

Boys Basketball: East Rockaway at West Hemp 5 p.m.

Girls Basketball: Port Washington at Oceanside 5 p.m.

Girls Basketball: MacArthur at Long Beach 5 p.m.

Boys Basketball: Locust Valley at Seaford 7 p.m.

Girls Basketball: North Shore at Clarke 7 p.m.

Girls Basketball: Jericho at Mepham 7 p.m.

Boys Basketball: Westbury at Baldwin 7 p.m.

saturday, Feb. 4

Wrestling: Nassau County Division 1 Qualifying Tournaments hosted by Long Beach, Hewlett, Bellmore-JFK, Plainedge and Uniondale 9:30 a.m.

Girls Basketball: Lynbrook at Mineola 12 p.m.

Girls Basketball: Kennedy at South Side 12 p.m.

Boys Basketball: Clarke at North Shore 12 p.m.

Boys Basketball: Long Beach at MacArthur 12 p.m.

South Side thrives on mat

By BRiaN KaChaRaBa sports@liherald.com

Thanks to two strong senior performers and some up-and-coming young stars, the South Side gymnastics team will be well represented at the upcoming individual state qualifier and county team championships later this month.

Uncertainty surrounded the team this year after star gymnast Payton Waller graduated last spring following an 8-3 season. But despite some recent struggles, South Side has continued to compete at a high level by winning two of its first three Conference I meets and five of seven overall while averaging almost 162 points.

“So far, we’ve been having a pretty good season until we went against Plainview and Massapequa,” Cyclones coach Ashley Harney said. “But it’s still important for us to get good team scores [for the] team championships and for the girls to get good individual scores as well so they can go to state qualifiers.”

The individual state qualifier is at Carle Place High School on Feb. 14, two

days before the county team championships at Syosset High School.

Senior captains Kendall Pinsky and Katie Connors have already solidified their spots for the state qualifier in the all-around, as did freshman Mia DiSalvo (vault, floor exercise, balance beam), eighth-grader Nina Napoli (beam) and Erin McCarthy (uneven bars).

Pinsky was listed as a gymnast to watch in Nassau County after finishing 18th in the all-around of last year’s county championships and, so far, she has lived up to that billing. She has excelled in the floor exercise thanks to her dance background and posted a season-high 8.5 score in the uneven bars against Massapequa on Jan. 19 and an 8.2 in the vault in a close win over Long Beach on Dec. 22.

“Kendall is having an awesome season,” Harney said. “She’s our MVP. She’s the anchor most of the time for our team and she finishes things off for us. She’s just really overall a strong athlete.”

Connors has been a “powerhouse” on the balance beam this season and she helped South Side beat Oceanside on Jan. 5 with an 8.7 score in that event

along with a 9.1 mark in the floor exercise.

“She just hits every skill when she’s on,” Harney said. “I would say beam is more of her forte [but] she’s definitely a very strong tumbler on floor.”

Younger gymnasts like Napoli and freshmen Ava Jewett and DiSalvo have also contributed. Harney lauded Napoli for making an adjustment to the high school equipment, compared to that of her club team, and posted an 8.9 on the beam against Massapequa.

“It was a little bit of a difficult transition, but overall, she’s been really great,” Harney said.

DiSalvo is a versatile gymnast and her floor exercise routines keyed wins over Roslyn (8.9), Oceanside (9.25) and Bethpage (9.0). Jewett helped the Cyclones beat Roslyn in the opener on Dec. 15 with an 8.1 score on the uneven bars but suffered a non-gymnastics injury soon after and has yet to return.

McCarthy and junior Alexandra Griffo have been solid middle-of-the-lineup competitors, the latter being a consistent performer in most events.

Eric Dunetz/Herald seNioR CaptaiNs KeNdall Pinsky, left, and Katie Connors lead the Cyclones into the state qualifier and county team championships set for Feb. 14 and 16, respectively.

Town redistricting falls short of new map

Recommendation not enough, civic groups say

By ANA BORRUTO & JUAN LASSO of the Herald

After several rounds of blistering public hearings and politically pressurized back-and-forths, a temporary redistricting commission’s efforts to explore how new political lines should be drawn for the Town of Hempstead ended last month with its final recommendation. Their choice? Nothing.

After weighing the options between a preliminary map pitched by Hempstead town officials, or alternatives by local civic and law groups, the three-member commission officially urged town lawmakers to produce a final map that keeps communities of interest intact. Still, it stopped short of putting forward an actual map for the town to consider.

MIMI PIERREJOHNSON

founder, Elmont Cultural Center

“We really sat, each one of us, and it truly was a hearing,” commission chair Gary Hudes told the audience. “We listened.

“I think, in both cases, there is a common thread we are seeing, and that is the idea of keeping communities whole and making them more compact.”

The move was met with a sharp uproar from the small crowd, dashing expectations for a final green light for a town council map.

Mimi Pierre-Johnson, the founder of the Elmont Cultural Center, felt the commission had turned a corner by formally acknowledging the faults of the town’s proposal. But they fell short when they did not deliver on a solid recommendation.

“Our hopes (were) snatched by the fact that they refused to stand behind one of the proposed alternative maps and tweak it as needed,” Pierre-Johnson said. “The resolution is not enough to satisfy everything the public raised a concern to.”

Since the first day of the redistricting process, concerns raised by voters and community activist groups circle back to a single theme: District lines should be redrawn to have a more balanced demographic representation of up to three “minority-majority” districts, and compact historically and culturally whole communities. This is something the Elmont Cultural Center and Legal Defense Fund said they ensured with their five alternative maps.

Commission members admitted that not a single proposed map addressed all the issues people have put forth at various meetings, but claimed the recommendation was enough to communicate the gist of everyone’s concerns.

As it stands, the current map produced

by the town-hired Skyline Demographic Consultants ensures the town’s 22 villages — with the exception of the Village of Hempstead — remain whole in accordance with the municipal “home rule” law. And communities such as East Meadow, Franklin Square, North Valley Stream, Baldwin, Uniondale and Woodmere each contain portions of two council districts, while West Hempstead contains portions of three.

Critics, however, raised doubts about the map’s compliance with federal and state voting rights protections — specifically the Voting Rights Act and the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act of New York,

signed last summer by Gov. Kathy Hochul.

Michael Pernick of the Legal Defense Fund, civil rights attorney Frederick Brewington, Randolph McLaughlin and LatinoJustice PRLDEF argued splitting the Black and Latino communities in Elmont and Valley Stream into two separate majority-white districts dilutes minority voting power.

“Over 38 percent of the population in the Town of Hempstead is Black or Latino,” the law professionals wrote in a letter to the commission. “But this demographic can only elect the candidate of their choice in one out of the six districts.”

Pernick and Brewington warned that

Ana Borruto/Herald photos

THE PROPOSED MAP from Hempstead town officials showing where town council districts will be placed was created by Skyline Consulting. It has drawn criticism from civic groups and law experts for what they claim violate federal and state voting rights protections, saying the map fails to keep communities whole, and continues to crack minority neighborhoods into multiple districts.

THE ELMONT CULTURAL Center’s ‘Blue Bird Plan’ keeps Elmont and Valley Stream in one minoritymajority district when it comes to representation on the Hempstead town council, while maps proposed by Hempstead town officials do not.

if Hempstead finalizes the current map as it stands, it could expose the town to costly litigation — all at taxpayers’ expense.

A statement released by the commission acknowledged the Skyline proposal was “problematic in that it splits Hempstead and Uniondale, Baldwin, East Meadow, Franklin Square, West Hempstead and North Valley Stream. It fails to keep the communities of North Valley Stream and Elmont together, and fails to put the communities of Merrick and North Merrick into a single district.

“It is not sufficiently compact, and compactness is an important redistricting criteria under the ‘home rule’ message.”

The resolution is not enough to satisfy everything the public raised a concern to.

Students make first quarter honor roll

12th Grade High Honor Roll

Coyne, Catherine G; Daitch, Hailey A; Davis, Michael Spencer; DiFrancisca, Michael J; DiMarco, Sofia R; DiSarlo, Olivia M; Doherty, James F; Downing, Matthew P; Dwyer, Tobey E; Eckrich, Matthew F; Espiritu, Samantha L; Faherty, Kate E; Fanuzzi, Alexandra L; Ferraro-Reich, Hailey N; Ferrens, Jalen X; Franco, Stella Grace; Franco, Stella Morgan; Francois, Henri Daniel; Gamberg, Darrah E; Garelle, Joshua W; Genovese, Michael G; Gentile, Thomas; Gonzalez, Alexander A; Goodlad, Gavin A; Greene, Jake H; Gutierrez, John; Hamel, Demmerle P; Hart, Joseph W; Herrera, Adriel A; Hill, Mackenzie K; Hosey, Liam John; Hubschman, Thomas ; Iacobellis, Ava E; Kelly, Ava M; Kelly, Sile A; Kenny, Christopher R; Koren, Melanie B; Laurie, Faith M; Levine, Sydney Dunton; Lomuto, Kristen C; Loucas, Alexandra B; Lynch, Katelynn E; Lynn, Dominick J; Maina, Sophia H.; Markou, Tatiana A; Marquez, Douglas D; Martin, Jonathan A; Martin, Maxwell J; Marzolini, Alayna C; Mason Rudolph, Jasmine ; Maurice, Aurelie S; Mayerhofer, Jack D; Mayerhofer, Ryan T; McCabe, Ava I; McCarthy, Thomas J; McEnroe, Caroline G; McGetrick, Corinne

M; McGovern, Miles J; McNally, Jack R; McNally, Mae; McNicholas, Ryan D; Medeiros, Catherine M; Mennella, Joseph

A; Metzler, Leila Isabel; Milano, Michelle

S; Mitchell, Aniyah S; Morgan, Caitlin G; Morin, Olivia R; Motyl, Cyprian; Munro, Molly K; Murphy, James E; Napolitano, Julia M; O’Brien, Lauren M; O’Connell, Abigail G; O’Connell, Philip L; O’Toole, Cailin Hoyt; Patafio, Grace E; Pearson, Kristen G; Pericolosi, Robert J; Petersen, Jason J; Pinsky, Kendall M; Pullaro, Ali R; Quilty, Michael Thomas; Rei sert, Mia K; Rios, Delyse A; Rodriguez, Alexi G; Roesch, Wil liam L; Russo, Sam D; Ryan, Wil liam P; Sandhaas, Sean D; Sayyed Shaukat, Saniya; Scalere, Olivia

G; Scauri, Emily R; Schmidt, Charlotte H; Sclafani, Claire E; Serrao, Mary-Elizabeth ; Sewell, Ashley R; Shao, Anna; Shargel, Tatum F; Sniffin, Melanie P; Sorto, Tiffany

M; Sottovia, Jack F; Spinelli; Stein, Saman tha G; Tchopourian, Mateo; Temple, Jenna Faith; Tumminello, Adrianna; Vanco, Christopher J; Varney, Matthew W; Vas conez, Soleil S; Verutes, James; VillegasChan, Isela; Wallace, Madeline C; Walter, Daniel C; Wilson, Adira A; Wool, Adriana N; and Zacher, Allison K.

NCC union rallies after health care costs rise

By ANDRE SILVA asilva@liherald.com

Demanding fair contracts with affordable health care costs, dozens of Nassau Community College faculty members rallied outside of the county legislature last week.

They were part of a broader protest from the Nassau Community College Federation of Teachers, an educators union representing NCC’s full-time faculty, speaking out against higher health care insurance premium costs. They gathered on the steps of the county legislature carrying signs like “We’d rather be teaching right now,” demanding better wages and fair contracts, targeting both the Nassau Community College Board of Trustees and the county itself.

They weren’t out on the steps long before some of the union members were ushered inside the Mineola building with a chance to state their case with county legislators.

The educators union and trustees board have been negotiating full-time faculty contracts since last July, hoping to work out a deal before their contracts expired in August. The union has rallied multiple times since then, expressing frustration with the negotiation process.

As recently as Dec. 13, Siminioff and the union asked the trustees to include salary increases to keep up with rising inflation, as well as include paid sabbaticals. But then, last week, health insurance premium costs jumped for full-time faculty at NCC.

The increase came about thanks to the trustees enacting an old clause in their contracts — written decades ago — allow-

ing the board to charge faculty members working under an expired contract with increased health insurance premiums. The insurance increases, Siminioff said, could cost faculty members between $2,500 and $5,000 — effectively acting like a pay cut.

“So, we’re not getting we’re not getting a wage increase. Our promotions have all been frozen. We’re not getting our sabbaticals. We’re not getting anything. But they’re imposing this on us,” Siminioff said. “I think this provision has been there for 30 years and they have never invoked it. They want to punish the faculty and force us through economic strongarming.”

John Gross, an Ingerman Smith attorney representing Nassau Community College, said the New York State Health Insurance Plan — which provides insurance to all college employees — raised premiums on Jan. 1 by 15 percent for family coverage. That’s about $5,000 each year. Individual coverage rose more than 12 percent, which could cost upward of $4,000 over the next 12 months.

A provision in NCC’s full-time faculty labor contract states if the cost of health insurance premiums increases after a contract expires, Gross said, it’s up to the individual employees to shoulder those costs through payroll deductions.

“The union knew it was in the labor contract because one of the proposals in our current negotiations is to remove the clause,” Gross said. “The board didn’t wake up one day and said, ‘You know what? We’re going to impose these increases on the union.’”

Siminioff said many faculty members

feel the college has strained them to their limits, and has not properly supported them financially. Aside from the imposed health insurance premiums, NCC’s faculty has experienced an average wage increase just over 1 percent in the past decade.

“The starting salary for an instructional faculty member is approximately $60,800, and the starting salary for a noninstructional faculty member is $55,900,” Siminioff said. “According to the MIT wage calculator, a middle-class family of three needs about $96,000 to be middle class in Nassau County.”

Faculty members are teaching more students in larger classes over the past few years, Siminioff said. When she first

started teaching at NCC some 25 years ago, she taught an average of 110 students each semester. Now, professors are being asked to educate an average of 160 students each semester — which Siminioff feels is unfair.

Aside from low starting wages, it typically takes 15 to 18 years for someone on the faculty to start earning $100,000, Siminioff said. Anyone hired now would earn $55,000, taking 15 years to climb to $100,000.

“By the time you get 15 years of employment, it’s still not enough to live middle class in Nassau County,” Siminioff said. “So, they’re condemning college faculty to never being middle class. That’s the bottom line.”

Tim Baker/Herald photos

MEMBERS OF THE Nassau Community College Federation of Teachers, an educators union supporting the school’s full-time faculty, gathered at the Nassau County Legislature to demand fair contracts after learning their health care insurance premiums were going up.

FAREN SIMINIOFF, PRESIDENT of the Nassau Community College Federation of Teachers union, gathered protesters outside the Nassau County Legislature, demanding better wages and fair contracts from the Nassau Community College board and the county.

T hey want to punish the faculty and force us through economic strong-arming.

FAREN SIMINIOFF president, Nassau Community College Federation of Teachers

This Valentine's Day Give The Luxurious Gift of Time

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Mark Francis Sorensen, 1958 - 2023

Dr. Mark Francis Sorensen died on Jan. 16, 2023, peacefully at home after battling prostate cancer with courage and grace for four years.

Sorensen was a devoted husband and son and a beloved uncle to eight nieces and nephews. He is survived by his wife of 23 years, Dr. Meriamne Singer; his mother, Vera Sorensen; siblings, Paula Lucore (Chuck), David (Beth), and John (Lisa); his brothers-in-law, Dan (Cath) and Rick Singer; and eight nieces and nephews, Eric (Elise), Emily, and Anna Sorensen, Jordan and Christopher Lucore, and Jake, Maddie, and Nick Singer. He was preceeded in death by his father, Dr. Frank C. Sorensen, and his nephew, Alex Lucore. He was born in Elmhurst and grew up in Rockville Centre. He attended Hewitt Elementary School, and St. Paul’s School in Garden City, where he managed countless high school sports teams and built props for theatrical productions. Sorensen graduated from St. Paul’s in 1976, and went on to attend Duke University, graduating with high honors in 1980. He would attend medical school at the Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, which he would graduate from in 1984. He would continue his studies as a resident at the Psychiatric

Institute and was certified as a psychoanalyst. Mark joined the Columbia Psychoanalytic Center faculty in 1994, and would direct the Creedmoor Psychiatric Center residency-training program for more than 20 years. Throughout his career, he received several accolades, and supervised a number of clinicians. While fighting cancer, he developed a love of poetry — both reading and writing his own. Through his writing, he tried making sense of the challenges he faced and to show his appreciation for life. He graced all the people he loved with his generous spirit, his good humor, and his love of science and history. Family members often joked that the best way to learn about their own city and its history was to invite him over for a visit. He was a storyteller at heart and a curious and patient listener. His whole life, from beginning to end, was a celebration of love. He will be deeply missed by his family, friends, and colleagues.

Funeral services for Mark Sorensen were held on Jan. 23, at the Frank E. Campbell Funeral Home Chapel in NYC. In lieu of flowers, his family asks that anyone interested in contributing to the Mark F. Sorensen Fund for Education in Public Psychiatry contact MarkFSorensenFund@ Gmail.com.

Military tribute banners are coming to RVC

In recognition of local veterans, activeduty military, reserve and National Guard members throughout the community, the Village of Rockville Centre is providing residents with an opportunity to purchase tribute banners in honor of those who have served to protect our nation.

All of the banners will be put on display along the parade route on Maple Avenue, from Memorial Day through Veterans Day, to say “thank you” to all the brave service men and women of the US military.

Village Trustee Katie Conlon said that she got the idea for the program from her friend, Donna Brower, a fellow Rockville Centre mother, whose son is currently serving with the United States Marine Corps.

“I thought it was something that would be perfect to be displayed on Maple Avenue,” Conlon said. “It’s open to anybody who lives in town.”

Conlon, who is the daughter of a veteran, said that she wanted to do something to honor the veterans in the community. Having seen similar programs at work in other communities upstate, she felt it would be a good fit for RVC.

Each of the banner honorees are selected by the residents, not the village, and will be on display every year from May to November.

Each banner costs $200 to sponsor and includes the honoree’s photo and basic military information.

Only a limited number of banners are available. To secure a banner, visit MilitaryTributeBanners.org and search for Rockville Centre or contact Trustee Katie Conlon for more information at KConlon@ RVCNY.us.

–Daniel Offner

Fourth Battalion presents college scholarships

The Fourth Battalion Fire District recently presented its first Fourth Battalion College Scholarship to firefighter members or children of firefighters in the battalion who are graduating seniors or already attending college or graduate school.

The first winners are Brendan O’Reilly of Lynbrook, Kaitlyn Mohr of Rockville Centre, Christian Morgan of

BREAKING DOWN BOUNDARIES WITH CANCER BREAKTHROUGHS

Malverne, and Chloe Moskowitz of Lynbrook. Each of the winners received $250. The battalion plans to make this award annually.

“In a small way, the battalion wants to give back and support the firefighters and their families with college expenses,” Battalion Chairman Murray said.

–Steve Grogan

LIJ Medical Center is in the top 10% of hospitals nationally for oncology, according to U.S.News&WorldReport.

Our doctors are raising health by pioneering innovative approaches to cancer from novel chemotherapy techniques to first-in- the-nation robotic mastectomies with minimal scarring. Because when it comes to cancer, there’s no status quo. There’s only “how far can we go?”

Northwell.edu/NoLimits

Mark F. Sorensen

RVC adopts capital plan

By DANIEL OFFNER doffner@liherald.com

The Village of Rockville Centre recently approved its five-year capital plan, a non-binding projection of future expenses and projects requested by municipal, water, and electrical departments.

To pay for these projects, the village bonds – or borrows – the money for capital projects like roadwork or infrastructural improvements. In order to do this the village board gathers requests from all of its internal departments, which provide a list of essential purchases to help them keep up with the demands of residents.

Village Trustee Michael Sepe said that over the last few years, with interest rates for bonds at historic lows and the economy starting to improve, the village made a decision to take advantage of the opportunity, which enabled it to increase the number of upgrades to its infrastructure.

Based on the five-year spending plan, the village anticipates that it will spend roughly $15.1 million on capital projects in the 2023 fiscal year ending in May. This includes the cost of new water mains, lighting, paving, four iron filtration plants, the entrance at the MLK Center, and a new HVAC system at Village Hall, among others.

“Now there has been a bit of a sea change,” Sepe said. “Historically low interest rates have increased dramatically over the past year or so. Everyone’s savings are worth about 20 percent less than they were

roughly this time last year and costs, both in terms of labor and materials, have skyrocketed.”

Sepe said that since projects planned five or six years ago, are now a lot more expensive, it’s up to the board to decide what the village needs versus what it wants.

“That’s our responsibility, to sit down and make those tough decisions,” he said.

“I’m happy to say that at the end of that process, five people with varying backgrounds and different opinions, were actually able to trim $13 million off that original capital plan. That’s the most important thing that we do and what you’re paying us for.”

With the addition of $6.1 million provided by grants, federal, and highway aid money, and $9.3 million less cash on hand, the village anticipates it will finish the fiscal year with a $306,198 surplus.

Looking forward, the plan anticipates that the village will spend nearly $12.9 million in the 2024 fiscal year, beginnning in June. Based on the projections the village will seek funding for several critical projects across the community that are in the pipeline for the coming year.

This includes funding for basketball courts at Centennial Park, water fountains, an asphalt roller for street maintenance, a backup generator for the DPW, new sprinklers, an electric relay upgrade, SCADA system upgrades, and the rehabilitation of a sewage pump station, to name a few.

Special Needs Children and Grandchildren

Parents or grandparents of a disabled child should leave assets in a Special Needs Trust, to avoid the child being disqualified from government benefits, such as SSI and Medicaid. The reasoning behind these Special Needs Trusts is simple — prior to the protection now afforded by these trusts, parents would simply disinherit their disabled children rather than see them lose their benefits. Since the state wasn’t getting the inheritance monies anyway, why not allow it to go to the disabled child for his or her extra needs, above and beyond what the state supplies.

These trusts, however, offer traps for the unwary. Since payments to the child will generally reduce their SSI payments dollar for dollar, trustees of such trusts should be advised to make payments directly to the providers of goods and services. Preserving SSI benefits is crucial since eligibility for SSI determines eligibility for Medicaid.

In other words, if SSI is lost the recipient also loses their Medicaid benefits. In addition, any benefits previously paid by Medicaid may be recovered. As such, one also has to be mindful of bequests from well-meaning grandparents. Similarly, if a sibling dies without a will, a

share of their estate may go to the special needs brother or sister by law. The Special Needs Trust must be carefully drafted so that it only allows payments for any benefits over and above what the government provides.

There are two kinds of Special Needs Trusts – first party and third party. The first party trust is set up by a parent, grandparent, legal guardian or court using the child’s own money, either through earnings, an inheritance that was left directly to them or, perhaps, a personal injury award. Recent changes in the law allow the special needs child to establish their own first party Special Needs Trust if they are legally competent to engage in contractual matters. These first party trusts require a “payback” provision, meaning that on the death of the child beneficiary, the trust must pay back the state for any government benefits received.

A third party trust is usually set up by a parent or grandparent, using their own money. Here, no “payback” provision is required because it was not the child’s own money that funded the trust and the parent or grandparent had no obligation to leave any assets to the child. On the death of the child beneficiary, the balance of the trust is paid out to named beneficiaries.

Locals attend Tax Forum

Marie Marinello of Rockville Centre speaks with Hempstead Town Receiver of Taxes Jeanine Driscoll during a Taxpayer Forum on Jan. 11, 2023 at Baldwin Park. Driscoll explained how residents can lower their property tax bills by applying for tax exemption programs, and also provided an overview of new payment features, paperless billing, payment reminders, tax discounts and more.

Courtesy Town of Hempstead

RichnerLIVE is “Fealing” Good

(From left to right) Jodi Turk, event, marketing and brand strategist, and Amy Amato, executive director of corporate relations and events, visited the Barasch & McGarry office to deliver a check to John Feal, founder and president of the FealGood Foundation, and Sara Director, partner at Barasch & McGarry who handles 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund (VCF) claims and a Top Lawyer Honoree. RichnerLIVE donated a portion of ticket proceeds from the Herald Top Lawyers of Long Island Awards Gala to the foundation. The FealGood Foundation protects and assists all emergency personnel injured on the job or in their personal lives through offering financial aid, basic home utilities, medicine and more. On Sept. 12, 2001, Feal was called to assist in the cleanup of ground zero when his foot was crushed and forced to be amputated. After dealing with the hurdles that came with the accident, he decided that no one should struggle after helping with ground zero. Visit www.FealGoodFoundation.com for more information on the organization and how you can help.

installation and service, all included at one low, affordable price Now you can have the best of both worlds–there isn’t a better, more aff ordable walk-in tub!

Photo Courtesy of Barasch & McGarry

All aboard for Grand Central Madison Limited — and temporary —Long Island Rail Road shuttle service from Jamaica opens

By JUAN LASSO jlasso@liherald.com

To the casual observer, it was just any other day at Jamaica’s Long Island Rail Road station.

But just after 10 a.m., commuters rushed aboard a shuttle train destined for Manhattan, the familiar busy choreography of squeezing through, wedging past, running in to nab a seat.

Families holding their kids in tow. Couples and solo riders clutching their baggage. All of them packed into train cars, filling the aisle seats within minutes. Other late arrivals stood standing. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary.

But the air — even for a late-morning train ride — was unusually abuzz with chatter. Some kept conversation below a whisper. Others, not so much. But everyone was alive with a quiet knowing that this was no ordinary train ride. Instead, taking place, was a moment in history.

A history that was finally connecting Long island with Manhattan’s East Side.

For the better part of a century, for as long as anyone can remember, LIRR commuters relied on Penn Station to get them into the heart of New York City. So long in fact, it seemed the day for an alternative would never come.

But within the span of 22 minutes, that would all become history.

As the train came to its final stop 150 feet below ground in the bedrock of Midtown Manhattan, the low rattling of the train cars stopped, followed by silence. No one dared to move. Breaking the stillness was the sound of the cheery conductor’s voice coming over the loudspeaker whose five words said it all:

“Welcome to Grand Central Madison”

Applause erupted from the train cars. It was a watershed moment for the MTA as passengers set foot for the very first time on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s Manhattan East Side station. A moment that encapsulated six decades of planning, nearly 20 years of construction, and roughly $11.6 billion.

The opening came after a month of delays caused by a faulty ventilation fan. Yet, despite the acknowledged roadblocks, delays and missteps along the way, Grand Central Madison is finally here.

“Grand Central will dramatically change the transportation of the region,” said Janno Lieber, the MTA’s chair and chief executive. “It’s going to benefit Long Islanders with shorter commutes, 40 percent more service, and help Long Island business recruit people from the city with reverse commuting.”

And for Niurka Maldonado of Queens —riding with daughters Nora and Paulina — the prospect of having faster access to Manhattan’s East Side is nothing short of exciting.

“We have several friends that work in that area, and I love some of the restaurants in there,” she said. “So, we’re going to definitely be doing more trips to Grand Central and everything around there.”

Grand Central Madison direct LIRR schedule

For roughly three weeks, shuttle service trains between Jamaica and Grand Central Madison are running every 30 minutes during off-peak hours and on weekends, and once per hour during peak times.

Service runs between 6:15 a.m. and 8 p.m. on weekdays, and between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m. on weekends.

Long Island Rail Road riders looking to Grand Central Madison can use their Penn Station tickets, which are the same price.

It will likely be a month before full service comes online, replacing the simple commuter trains. For now, riders looking for a fast way between Jamaica and Manhattan’s East Side can find trains every 30 minutes during off-peak hours, and every 60 during peak times.

“I just want to see if it saves me time going to my office on the East Side,” said Francesco Giovannetti of Glen Head. “I’m hoping to save about 20 to 30 minutes being two blocks away from Grand Central. I want to get acclimated to the station.”

Then there was Ruthanne Terrero of Malverne, sitting placidly with her tote bag in hand, taking in the significance of the moment of new train service to Manhattan.

“It’s just really glorious to see that we have something really beautiful,” Terrero said. “I think a lot of people work on the East Side, and I think it’s also really important that people see that New York is progressing.”

And more progress is still to come. Whether this project was worth its price tag, worth the commuting disruption, and worth the extended wait will be up to the riders themselves. Some have already taken to social media to point out certain mishaps like escalators shutting down midway, and some finding trouble making their way into the LIRR concourse at Grand Central.

It is no doubt looking to be a work in progress.

But Mitchell Schwartz and brother Steven — two young MTA train enthusiasts from Roslyn — wouldn’t have wanted this once-in-a-lifetime moment any other way.

Phyllis Levine, pounced on the chance to hop on the shuttle train to Grand Central if it meant saving time getting to her pharmacology appointment.

“I’m not a subway person, and I gen-

erally like to drive everywhere,” the Queens resident said. “But the easiest way to get to Manhattan from Queens is the express bus or the Long Island Rail Road. So, I figured I should try the ride to Grand Central. See how it goes.”

“Just try wrapping your head around the fact that we are the first of millions to ride a train toward something that has been proposed for over half a century,” Mitchell said. “It’s just an amazing occasion.”

Additional reporting by Andre Silva.

Juan Lasso/Herald photos

COMMUTERS, ENVELOPED UNDER a glass ceiling, take the roughly 3,000-foot escalator between the Long Island Rail Road concourse and the mezzanine at Grand Central Madison station on opening day of service that will eventually create a direct link between Manhattan’s East Side and Long Island.

COMMUTERS FROM JAMAICA station boarded the first passenger Long Island Rail Road train to Grand Central Madison inaugurating the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s long-awaited East Side access that will soon provide LIRR service out of Grand Central Terminal.

Sweet Dreams are Made of Cream at Dolce Bella

By ALEXA ANDERWKAVICH aanderwkavich@liherald.com

Dolce Bella Luxury Italian Ices & Cannoleria has become the (cannoli) cream of the crop, with unique treats that not only look Instagramready but taste divine too, has found its home in Roosevelt Field Mall.

Brandyn Williams, owner of Dolce Bella, has become the Willy Wonka of the classic cannoli, turning creams only dreamed of into a reality.

After nine years of school earning his Masters of Public Administration (MPA) degree and three years in the corporate world, Williams had a calling beckoning him to venture into the unknown. He left his career to pursue something new and in only a handful of years turned an idea into a cannoli craze, but it didn’t start out that way.

His first mission was a deli called Cherry Valley in Long Beach which opened during the pandemic and closed its doors after a year, “it was an epic fail,” Williams said.

Having left his career behind, there was room for worry and potential regret for uprooting his life for a creative endeavor, but not for Williams — who takes each failure as motivational fuel.

“Every door that closed on me, I came back and bought the building,” he said,

“One taste is all it takes,” Big Red said as he handed a sample after sample of some of the freshest and tastiest unique creams I’ve had the pleasure of consuming which included flavors like rainbow cookie, reese pieces, pistachio, M&M, dulce de leche and so much more! Williams deconstructs and reconstructs the cream to make each level new, exciting and exactly what he was looking for.

“One night after going out, I had a craving for a reese’s cannoli cream,” Williams said. “But I didn’t want just pieces of candy in regular cannoli cream, that’s not a true reese's cream. So I reinvented it.”

and he absolutely followed through.

After the deli train reached its last station, Williams started delivering pastries in a van when the never-beforedone idea of an Italian ice cart came to fruition. Williams worked diligently, creating a stunning cart and giving people an experience they’ve never had before by bringing a good attitude, tasty treats and sometimes making it a boozy adventure for the adults.

“There isn’t an Italian ice cart, let alone one that feels lux and offers an overall experience,” he explained. “It started with one cart, now I have 13 carts and this prime location outside the JCPenny first floor entrance of the mall is a dream.”

He also grew from a one-man show to a staff of 30 people the “old fashioned” way, by word of mouth (or keyboard), including Big Red, who mans the kiosk in the mall and is their very own cannoli cream connoisseur and taste expert.

Williams finds joy in seeing his brand bring smiles to faces, from customers to his very own staff. Big Red even gets recognized by customers from his TikTok videos, where he dives into new creations and Dolce Bella classics.

“I love looking at the expression on someone’s face as they take their first bite,” Williams said. “Their eyes say it all, watching them light up solidifies that all the work I put into this company is worth it. It’s not just about looking unique, it’s about tasting just as good and having fun in the process.”

He doesn’t limit himself to what he can or cannot do when it comes to serving, flavors or anything else that comes to mind. Their latest invention, the Dolce Boom, is an ice served with an edible smoke-filled bubble that makes for a quirky surprise. And like everything that Williams does, he goes above and beyond, striving not only to be the best but the greatest in the industry. “Every ingredient, down to the milk, comes from Italy and is made

onsite at our warehouse by our very own gelato-professional,” Williams said.

He takes pride in every aspect of his business, making it an entire experience from taste to presentation to grabbing a snap in front of their aesthetic wall, complete with a neon sign. That’s why you’ll also find cute little pink trash bins to throw away your sample spoons, but these small cans are backed by a huge message.

Cans 4 Cancer is a non profit organization where each can, bottle and donation supports and unites young women with breast cancer, and is one of the ways he gives back. Additionally Williams gives free ices and gelato to children in the hospital and strives to choose one charity a month to donate to.

“Part of being successful is giving back,” said Williams. “And after being blessed with the growth of my company, there is no better way to say thanks.”

Dolce Bella is available to cater parties, corporate events, making their mark at the Hamptons Classic and Herald Premier Business Women of Long Island Awards Gala last year. You can also place an order ahead, book the experience and bring it right to your event or simply visit the kiosk to satisfy those sweet cravings.

“The goal is to be in malls all over and spread the word,” the owner said. “I really love what I do, I have fun with it and I would love to share it with the world.”

Visit www.dolcebellany.com or @dolcebella_ny to see what they'll think up next. Or better yet, take a trip to Roosevelt Field and taste the craze.

OWNERS BIG RED and Brandyn Williams striking a pose with one of their colorful creations at their Roosevelt Field Mall location.

Photos by Alexa Anderwkavich

DOLCE BELLA LUXURY Italian ices are open year-round so you can get a chill treat whenever the cravings strike. Order a Dolce Boom for a blast.

HOLY CANNOLI! DOLCE Bella has the classics (below), like chocolate chip, but crank it up a notch to flavors like nutella, pistachio, M&M and more! Snazz it up with some toppings or mix and match flavors, there is no cap to creativity.

“Every door that closed on me, I came back and bought the building”

- Brandyn Williams

STEPPING OUT

Score big on Super Sunday on Get your

By Karen Bloom

It’s the biggest sports day of the year. Classic commercials, historic plays and friends are all quintessential elements of the perfect game-day get-together. Whether your gang includes football fanatics or just a few fans, the big game — on Feb. 12 — is a great excuse for casual winter entertaining.

And while there may be a game on the big screen, a lot of the action takes place around the table — keeping everyone well-fed is a sport in itself!

• 1/4 tsp. onion powder

• 1 tsp. smoked paprika

• 1 cup hummus

Whisk first seven ingredients together (vinegar through paprika). Add hummus and combine thoroughly. Be creative with your dipping options. Potato and tortilla chips go hand-in-hand with tailgating festivities, but beyond these standards is a whole world of other dipping options. For a Mediterranean touch, go with flatbread, pita bread or pita chips. Or opt for more texture with multi-grain crackers that include raw flax, chia or sesame seeds. Or go for double the Buffalo wing flavor by dipping your wing, instead of the traditional blue cheese.

Cajun Buffalo Chicken Wings

Here’s a zesty take on the football-watching favorite.

• 2-1/2 pounds chicken wing pieces

• 1/2 cup any flavor Frank’s Red Hot Buffalo Wings Sauce

• 1/3 cup ketchup

• 2 tsp. Cajun seasoned spice blend

Bake wings in foil-lined pan at 500° F on lowest oven rack for 20 to 25 minutes until crispy, turning once.

Mix buffalo wings sauce, ketchup and spice blend. Toss wings in sauce to coat.

Tip: You may substitute 1/2 cup red hot sauce mixed with 1/3 cup melted butter for the Wings Sauce.

Alternate cooking directions: Deep-fry at 375° F for 10 minutes, or broil 6 inches from heat 15 to 20 minutes turning once.

Darlene Love

Darlene Love is always a welcome stage presence. For more than 50 years, she’s been making rock and roll’s world go ‘round. Since the early ‘60s, as part of Phil Spector’s Wall of Sound hit factory, this songstress has done it all — from movies like the ‘Lethal Weapon’ series to Broadway hits like ‘Hairspray’ and ‘Grease.’ She even starred as herself in ‘Leader of the Pack,’ credited as Broadway’s first ‘jukebox musical.’ Love’s career and legacy reached new heights, as a result of being featured in 2013’s acclaimed documentary ‘20 Feet from Stardom,’ when she became the best known ‘unknown”’ in rock history. She continues to captivate audiences with her warm, gracious persona and dynamic performances. Her timeless, soaring voice remains as powerful as ever. Rolling Stone magazine has proclaimed Love to be ‘one of the greatest singers of all time,’ and that certainly rings true, but perhaps Paul Shaffer says it even more concisely: ‘Darlene Love is rock and roll!”

Friday, Feb. 10, 8 p.m. $88, $78, $68. Jeanne Rimsky Theater at Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington. (516) 767-6444 or LandmarkOnMainStreet.org.

Hummus Buffalo Wing Dip

A warm batch of Buffalo wings pairs well with this smoky and spicy dip.

• 1 tsp. red wine vinegar

• 1 tsp. olive oil

• 1 tbsp. tomato paste

• 1 tsp. Dijon mustard

• 1/4 tsp. garlic powder

Touchdown Italian Sausage Chili

• 1 package (19.76 ounces) Italian sausage links

• 1 cup onion, chopped

• 3 celery ribs, cut into 1/2-inch pieces

• 1 large sweet red pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces

• 1 tbsp. garlic, minced

• 3 tbsp. olive oil

• 1 large yellow pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces

• 1 large green pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces

• 3 cans (14-1/2 ounces each) Italian recipe stewed tomatoes

• 1 can (16 ounces) dark red kidney beans, rinsed and drained

• 1 can (15 ounces) butter beans, rinsed and drained

• 1 can (6 ounces) tomato paste

• 3/4 cup black olives, sliced

• 1/4 cup cream sherry (optional)

• 1 tbsp. fresh basil, chopped

• 1 1/2 tsp. baking cocoa

• 1/2 to 1 tsp. pepper

Cook sausage according to package directions; cut into half moon slices and set aside.

In soup kettle, saute onion, celery, sweet pepper and garlic in oil until tender. Add sausage and remaining ingredients; bring to boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 20 minutes or until flavors are blended.

Sprinkle chili with grated asiago, romano, parmesan cheese — or any cheese of your choice — before serving. Makes 12 servings.

Lviv National Philharmonic

The National Philharmonic Orchestra of Ukraine was established in Lviv in1902, a city known as one of the great cultural centers of eastern Europe, The orchestra has evolved over the years to become one of that nation’s largest and most internationally known ensembles, now under the baton of principal guest conductor Theodore Kuchar. It reminds us of how music can bridge cultures and bring people together. Their 2023 American tour is a testament to the power of music to overcome adversity. Their program for this powerful concert includes: Ukrainian composer Yevhen Stankovych’s Chamber Symphony No. 3 for Flute and String Orchestra; Grieg’s Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 16; and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7 in A major, Op. 92. Pianist Oksana Rapita is the featured soloist.

Saturday, Feb. 16, 8 p.m.; with 6:45 p.m. Arts Insider preperformance preview. $79, $59, $44. Tilles Center for the Performing Arts, LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Blvd., Brookville. (516) 299-3100 or TillesCenter. org..

THE SCENE

Riverside Sweetheart Dance Students at Riverside Elementary School, 110 Riverside Drive in Rockville Centre, are invited to take part in the “Sweetheart Dance” at the school gym on Friday, Feb. 3, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Bowling Day

Maple Lanes RVCcelebrates

Bowling Day in the USA, Saturday, Feb. 11 , 9 a.m.noon., at 100 Maple Ave. This event encourages new families, specifically kids, to come and try out bowling. For every $5 donation made to the Bowlers to Veterans, families will receive a free game of bowling. There will also be games, activities, and more.

Feb. 23

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, Feb. 23, 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. 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.

Old Dogs, New Tricks & Meadowgrass

Feb. 17

Zoë Keating

Cellist and composer Zoë Keating visits the Landmark stage, Friday, Feb. 17, 8 p.m. Considered a “one woman orchestra,” she uses a cello and a foot-controlled laptop to loop layer upon layer of cello, creating intricate, haunting, and compelling music; Keating has spent the last 20 years exploring the landscape of sounds a string instrument can make. She coaxes sounds out of the very edges of her cello, adeptly layering them into “swoon inducing” (San Francisco Weekly) music that is unclassifiable yet “a distinctive mix of old and new” (National Public Radio). She is known for her use of technology — which she uses to record and sample her cello onstage and in the studio – and for her DIY approach — composing, recording and producing her works on her own terms, without the help of a record label. $41, $35, $27. Jeanne Rimsky Theater at Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington. (516) 767-6444 or LandmarkOnMainStreet.org.

Sisterhood Game Night

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

The St. Patrick’s Day Parade committee will host an evening of live music featuring performances by Old Dogs, New Tricks and Meadowgrass at Kasey’s Kitchen and Cocktails, located at 23 N. Park Ave. in Rockville Centre, Thursday, Feb. 2, 7 p.m. Cost of admission is a $15 donation at the door. All of the proceeds from the event will be divided among the parade’s three charities.

On stage

Mo Willems’ popular character

The Pigeon comes alive on the Long Island Children’s Museum stage, Saturday, Feb. 11, 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.; Sunday, Feb.12, 2 p.m.; Wednesday through Friday, Feb. 15-17, noon. Pigeon is eager to try anything, with the audience part of the action. $9 with museum admission ($7 members), $12 theater only. Long Island Children’s Museum, Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 224-5800 or LICM.org.

Four Chaplains Day Ceremony

When the Dorchester sank in February 1943, four US Army chaplains gave up their life jackets so that others on board would live. In recognition of this selfless act, the American Legion Post No. 303 will hold a ceremony in their honor at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 5 , at the Central Synagogue Beth Emeth, located at 430 DeMott Ave. in Rockville Centre.

Feb. 3

In perfect harmony

The SingStrong A Cappella Festival returns to the New York area, hosted by Adelphi University, Friday through Sunday, Feb. 3-5. Professional a cappella groups perform along with collegiate and high school ensembles. A variety of musical genres are represented, including re-imaginings of barbershop, pop, R&B, jazz, and more. Adelphi University Performing Arts Center, 1 South Ave., Garden City. (516) 8774000 or Adelphi.edu/pac.

St. Agnes School’s Dinner Dance

St. Agnes Cathedral School hosts its annual Dinner Dance for the first time following the two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, Saturday, Feb. 4. The event honors Carmine and Lynda Rubino, Bernard and Margaret Mary O’Connell, and Frances Barricelli for their continued support of Catholic Education.

Having an event?

Lucky Strike Bowling Fundraiser

The Rockville Centre St. Patrick’s Day committee will host this family bowling fundraiser at Maple Lanes RVC, at 100 Maple Ave. in Rockville Centre, on Sunday, Feb. 5, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Cost is $100 to register and includes the price of two hours of unlimited bowling with up to six people per lane and free shoe rental. Space is limited. To register or for more information, contact Pam at 516-946-7843.

Catching up with RVC schools

The next meeting of the Board of Education will be held Thursday, Feb. 2, at 7 p.m., in the auditorium at South Side High School, 150 Shepherd Street in Rockville Centre.

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.

Pat McGann

Pat McGann, quickly rising as one of the sharpest stand-ups on the comedy scene, appears at The Paramount, Saturday, Feb. 11, 8 p.m. A relative latecomer to comedy, he began doing stand-up at age 31 after realizing he was not very good at selling packaging. He hustled his way to become the house emcee at Zanies Chicago, where he distinguished himself as especially adept at working the crowd. A husband and father of three young children, his appeal stems from his quick wit and relatable take on family life and marriage. In 2017, McGann began touring as the opening act for Sebastian Maniscalco, moving with him from clubs to theater, to arenas, including four sold-out shows at Madison Square Garden. $40, $35, $30, $25. The

THE TOP 3 FINALISTS IN

KIDS & EDUCATION

ADULT EDUCATION - CONTINUING ED:

Hempstead Adult & Community Education Program

Hofstra University

Molloy University

ART SCHOOL:

Hue Studio

Long Island High School for the Arts

The Art Studio

BEAUTY SCHOOL:

Long Island Nail Skin & Hair Institute

Long Island Beauty School

Nassau BOCES Joseph M. Barry Career & Technical Education Center

CHARTER/PAROCHIAL/PRIVATE:

Bellmore United Methodist Nursery School

Kellenberg Memorial High School

Lawrence Woodmere Academy

COLLEGE PREP SERVICES/ADVISORS:

College Connection

Lockwood College Prep

Pinnacle College Consultants

COLLEGE PRESIDENT:

Dr. Susan Poser - Hofstra University

James Lentini - Molloy University

Maria P. Conzatti - Nassau Community College

COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY:

Hofstra University

Molloy University

Nassau Community College

DANCE SCHOOL:

Dance Workshop

Hart & Soul Performing Arts and Dance School

Long Island Academy of Dance

DAY CAMP:

Big Chief Day School & Camp

Coleman Country Day Camp

Lawrence Woodmere Academy

Rolling River Day Camp

DAY CARE:

Big Chief Day School & Camp

Five Towns Early Learning Center

Our Kids Place

DRIVING SCHOOL:

Bell Auto Driving School

East Meadow Driving School

Prosperity Auto Driving School, Inc

GYMNASTICS CENTER:

All Stars Gymnastics Inc

Gold Medal Gymnastics Center

Platinum Athletic

B&B/INN:

Hampton Inn Jericho-Westbury

Holiday Inn Westbury

Ram’s Head Inn

Southampton Inn

EVENT VENUE:

Barnum Ballroom

Bayview Catering on the Water Venue

Epic Escape Rooms LI

HOTEL:

Allegria Hotel

HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL:

Alexandra Greenberg - George W. Hewlett H.S.

Jennifer Lagnado-Papp - Lawrence H.S.

Richard Schaffer - East Rockaway H.S.

KIDS BIRTHDAY PARTIES:

Epic Escape Rooms LI

Long Island Children’s Museum

Royal Princess Prep Party Company

LEARNING CENTER/TUTOR:

Cornerstone Behavioral Services

Mathnasium

The Coder School

MARTIAL ARTS:

Champions Martial Arts

Uly Karate & Fitness

Warren Levi Martial Arts & Fitness

MUSIC SCHOOLS/CLASSES:

Our Kids Place Hewlett

School of Rock

The Children’s Orchestra Society

NURSERY SCHOOL:

Bellmore United Methodist Nursery School

Our Kids Place Hewlett

United Church Nursery School

SPORTS CAMP:

Hofstra University

Sportime Lynbrook

The Sports Arena

PEOPLE & PLACES

LOCAL TOURIST ATTRACTION:

Jones Beach State Park

Montauk Point Lighthouse

Nunley’s Carousel

MUSEUM:

Cradle of Aviation Museum

Long Island Children’s Museum

Raynham Hall Museum

PLACE TO HAVE A PARTY:

The Bayview

PLACE TO WORSHIP:

Temple Avodah

Temple B’nai Torah

Temple Beth El

WEDDING VENUE:

The Bayview

Swan Club On The Harbor

Westbury Manor

Gurney’s Montauk Resort & Seawater Spa

The Garden City Hotel

Epic Escape Rooms LI

Kombert Caterers

CHECK BACK NEXT WEEK FOR THE TOP IN SERVICES AND SHOPPING!

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

Village of Rockville Centre Nassau County, New York

Notice of Board of Zoning Appeals

Hearing Date: February 8, 2023

Pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 340 Rockville Centre Village Code NOTICE

IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Board of Appeals of the Village of Rockville Centre will hold a Zoning Appeals Hearing at the Eugene J. Murray Village Hall 1 College Place, Rockville Centre at 7:00 p.m.

LEGAL NOTICE

February 8, 2023, at 7:00

PM

Case #1-2023 - David Monaco - Continuation of Adjournment From 1/11/23 Meeting

To construct an in-ground swimming pool 18’ x 38’ with a proposed rear yard setback of 5.5 feet and a side yard setback of 8.9 feet where 10.0 feet is the minimum required, pool equipment 5.7 ft from the property line where 10.0 feet is the minimum required, and fencing 6 feet high surrounding pool equipment not within the rear setback line of the principal dwelling, within a Residence A district.

Premises known as 95 Yale Place.

Case #5-2023 - Kevin & Jeanne Mulry

To construct a one-story rear and side additions, second story rear addition and relocate one car attached garage with interior alterations with a side yard setback of 5.0 feet where 8.0 feet is the minimum required within a Residence A district.

Premises known as 80 Roxen Road

Case # 6-2023 - Martin J. & Carla J. Dellicarpini

To construct a rear 2 Ω story addition, partially over an existing first story, with interior alterations and an extension to the existing garage with an impervious surface area of 49.8% exceeding the 45 % maximum; garage setbacks of 1.2 feet to the rear property line and 1.3 feet to the side property line, where a four foot minimum is required and a garage ridge height of 18.0 feet where the maximum allowable is 15.0 feet within a Residence A district, is denied.

Premises known as 24

Lee Avenue

Case # 7-2023 - Ronald

Herron

To construct an in-ground swimming pool 14’ x 29’ with a proposed lot coverage of 34.9% where 30% is the maximum allowable, impervious surface coverage of 47.1% where 45.0% is the maximum allowable, a rear yard setback of 7.0 feet and a side yard setback of 8.0 feet where 10.0 feet is the minimum

required, and a setback to the main dwelling of 7.5 feet where 8.0 feet is the minimum required within a Residence A district.

Premises known as 46 Knollwood Road

Dated: January 30, 2023

BOARD OF APPEALS OF THE VILLAGE OF ROCKVILLE CENTRE, Rockville Centre, New York

J. Robert Schenone, Chairman Patrick D. O’Brien, Secretary

Information and records for appeals cases are available at the Office of the Secretary of the Board of Appeals, 110 Maple Avenue, RVC, NY 137063

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF COMPLETION OF TENTATIVE ASSESSMENT ROLL; NOTICE OF MEETING OF BOARD OF REVIEW; HEARING OF COMPLAINTS

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Assessor of the Village of Rockville Centre has completed the tentative assessment roll of the Village for the current year and that a copy thereof has been filed with the Village Clerk at One College Place, Rockville Centre, New York, where it may be seen and examined by any interested person during regular office hours until February 21, 2023 at 3:30 pm.

The undersigned Board of Assessment Review will meet at Village Hall, One College Place, Rockville Centre, New York on February 21, 2023 at 4 pm, and the hearing will be adjourned to February 28, 2023 from 4pm to 8pm. to hear complaints in relation to assessments.

All changes in the tentative assessment roll made as a result of said Board of Review hearing of such complaints will be entered on such roll on or before the date when the final assessment roll is to be completed.

A publication containing procedures for contesting an assessment is available at the Assessor’s Office, 110 Maple Avenue, Rockville Centre, New York. Individual property assessments are also available at http://www.rvcny.us/Build ings/lookupsblfinal.html and information regarding the grievance process is available at http://www.rvcny.us/taxgr ievance.htm

Francis X. Murray, Mayor

Kathleen Baxley, Deputy Mayor

Katie Conlon, Trustee

Emilio Grillo, Trustee

Michael Sepe, Trustee

Thomas Domanico, Assessor

Dated: January 20, 2023

137046

LEGAL NOTICE SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU FIRST WESTERN FEDERAL SAVINGS BANK, Plaintiffagainst- JOSEPH MATTHEWS,

et al

Defendant(s) Index No.

14-004310. Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated January 22, 2016 and entered on February 17, 2016, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY on February 28th, 2023 at 3:00 p.m. premises situate, lying and being at Lakeview, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, bounded and described as follows: BEGINNING at the corner formed by the intersection of the southerly side of Pinebrook Avenue with the westerly side of Woodfield Road; being a plot 104.25 feet by 90.53 feet by 73.10 feet by 90 feet. All bidders must wear a face mask/shield at all times and social distancing must be observed by all bidders at all times. Bidders who do not comply with the face mask and/or the social distancing mandate will be removed from the auction. Said premises known as 1078 WOODFIELD ROAD, ROCKVILLE CENTRE, NY; Section 38, Block K-00 and Lot 702

Approximate amount of lien $197,968.69 plus interest & costs.

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

Index Number 14004310

PAMELA SHARPE, ESQ., Referee Forchelli Deegan Terrana LLP

Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 333 Earle Ovington Blvd., Suite 1010, Uniondale, New York 11553 {* ROCK CEN H*} 136698

Such tax liens will be sold at the lowest rate of interest, not exceeding 10 percent per six-month period, for which any person or persons shall offer to take the total amount of such unpaid taxes as defined in Section 5-37.0 of the Nassau County Administrative Code. Effective with the February 2019 lien sale Ordinance No. 175-2015 requires a $175.00 per day registration fee for each person who intends to bid at the tax lien sale.

Ordinance No. 175-2015 also requires that upon the issuance of the Lien Certificate there is due from the lien buyer a Tax Certificate Issue Fee of $20.00 per lien purchased. Pursuant to the provisions of the Nassau County Administrative Code at the discretion of the Nassau County Treasurer the auction will be conducted online. Further information concerning the procedures for the auction is available at the website of the Nassau County Treasurer at: https://www.nassaucount yny.gov/526/County-

Treasurer

Should the Treasurer determine that an inperson auction shall be held, same will commence on the 21st day of February 2023 at the Office of The County Treasurer 1 West Street, Mineola or at some other location to be determined by the Treasurer. A list of all real estate in Nassau County on which tax liens are to be sold is available at the website of the Nassau County Treasurer at: https://www.nassaucount yny.gov/527/Annual-TaxLien-Sale

superior tax liens of sovereignties and other municipalities and to all claims of record which the County may have thereon and subject to the provisions of the Federal and State Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Civil Relief Acts.

However, such tax liens shall have priority over the County’s Differential Interest Lien, representing the excess, if any, of the interest and penalty borne at the maximum rate over the interest and penalty borne at the rate at which the lien is purchased.

The Purchaser acknowledges that the tax lien(s) sold pursuant to these Terms of Sale may be subject to pending bankruptcy proceedings and/or may become subject to such proceedings which may be commenced during the period in which a tax lien is held by a successful bidder or the assignee of same, which may modify a Purchaser’s rights with respect to the lien(s) and the property securing same. Such bankruptcy proceedings shall not affect the validity of the tax lien. In addition to being subject to pending bankruptcy proceedings and/or the Federal and State Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Civil Relief Acts, said purchaser’s right of foreclosure may be affected by the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act(FIRREA),12 U.S.C. ss 1811 et.seq., with regard to real property under Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation(FDIC) receivership.

after the sale thereof, shall pay to the County Treasurer ten per cent of the amount for which the tax liens have been sold and the remaining ninety per cent within thirty days after such sale. If the purchaser at the tax sale shall fail to pay the remaining ninety per cent within ten days after he has been notified by the County Treasurer that the certificates of sale are ready for delivery, then all amounts deposited with the County Treasurer including but not limited to the ten per cent theretofore paid by him shall, without further notice or demand, be irrevocably forfeited by the purchaser and shall be retained by the County Treasurer as liquidated damages and the agreement to purchase shall be of no further effect. Time is of the essence in this sale. This sale is held pursuant to the Nassau County Administrative Code and interested parties are referred to such Code for additional information as to terms of the sale, rights of purchasers, maximum rates of interest and other legal incidents of the sale.

Furthermore, as to the bidding,

discussion with, or inducement from, any other bidder to submit a complementary or other noncompetitive bid.

4. If it is determined that the bidder(s) have violated any of these bid requirements then their bid shall be voided and if they were the successful bidder the lien and any deposits made in connection with said bid shall be forfeited.

Dated: January 25, 2023

THE NASSAU COUNTY TREASURER Mineola, New York 136839

LEGAL NOTICE

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK INDEX NO. 601445/2022

COUNTY OF NASSAU

BANK OF NEW YORK

MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A. AS TRUSTEE FOR MORTGAGE ASSETS MANAGEMENT SERIES I TRUST

committees, lienors and assigns, all of whom and whose names, except as stated, are unknown to plaintiff SECRETARY OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT; SYNCHRONY BANK; CAPITAL ONE BANK (USA), N.A.; CROWN ASSET MANAGEMENT LLC; NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, JANE DOE AS “JOHN DOE #1”; JANE DOE AS “JOHN DOE #1”; JANE DOE AS “JOHN DOE #2”; “JOHN DOE #3” through “JOHN DOE #12,” the last ten names being fictitious and unknown to plaintiff, the persons or parties intended being the tenants, occupants, persons or corporations, if any, having or claiming an interest in or lien upon the premises, described in the complaint, Plaintiff designates NASSAU as the place of trial situs of the real property

SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS

LEGAL NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE OF NASSAU COUNTY

TREASURER’S

SALE OF TAX LIENS ON

REAL ESTATE

Notice is hereby given that commencing on February 21st, 2023, will sell at public on-line auction the tax liens on certain real estate, unless the owner, mortgagee, occupant of or any other party in interest in such real estate shall have paid to the County Treasurer by February 16th, 2023 the total amount of such unpaid taxes or assessments with the interest, penalties and other expenses and charges against the property.

A list of local properties upon which tax liens are to be sold will be advertised in this publication on or before February 08th, 2023. Nassau County does not discriminate on the basis of disability in admission to or access to, or treatment or employment in, its services, programs, or activities. Upon request, accommodations such as those required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) will be provided to enable individuals with disabilities to participate in all services, programs, activities and public hearings and events conducted by the Treasurer’s Office. Upon request, information can be made available in Braille, large print, audiotape or other alternative formats. For additional information, please call (516) 571-2090 ext. 1-3715.

Dated: January 25, 2023

THE NASSAU COUNTY TREASURER

Mineola, NewYork

TERMS OF SALE

Such tax liens shall be sold subject to any and all

The County Treasurer reserves the right, without further notice and at any time, to withdraw from sale any of the parcels of land or premises herein listed.

The Nassau County Treasurer reserves the right to intervene in any bankruptcy case/litigation where the property affected by the tax liens sold by the Treasurer is part of the bankruptcy estate. However, it is the sole responsibility of all tax lien purchasers to protect their legal interests in any bankruptcy case affecting their purchased tax lien, including but not limited to the filing of a proof of claim on their behalf, covering their investment in said tax lien. The Nassau County Treasurer and Nassau County and its agencies, assumes no responsibility for any legal representation of any tax lien purchaser in any legal proceeding including but not limited to a bankruptcy case where the purchased tax lien is at risk.

The rate of interest and penalty at which any person purchases the tax lien shall be established by his bid. Each purchaser, immediately

1. The bidder(s) agree that they will not work with any other bidder(s) to increase, maintain or stabilize interest rates or collaborate with any other bidder(s) to gain an unfair competitive advantage in the random number generator in the event of a tie bid(s) on a tax certificate. Bidder(s) further agree not to employ any bidding strategy designed to create an unfair competitive advantage in the tiebreaking process in the upcoming tax sale nor work with any other bidder(s) to engage in any bidding strategy that will result in a rotational award of tax certificates.

2. The tax certificate(s) the Bidder will bid upon, and the interest rate(s) bid, will be arrived at independently and without direct or indirect consultation, communication or agreement with any other bidder and that the tax certificate(s) the Bidder will bid upon, and the interest rate(s) to be bid, have not been disclosed, directly or indirectly, to any other bidder, and will not be disclosed, directly or indirectly, to any other bidder prior to the close of bidding. No attempt has been made or will be made to, directly or indirectly, induce any other bidder to refrain from bidding on any tax certificate, to submit complementary bids, or to submit bids at specific interest rates.

3. The bids to be placed by the Bidder will be made in good faith and not pursuant to any direct or indirect, agreement or

Plaintiff, vs. LIONEL O. LIVINGSTON, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF ESTELLA L. MITCHELL; LEON O. LIVINGSTON, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF ESTELLA

L. MITCHELL; LEON LIVINGSTON, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF ESTELLA

L. MITCHELL; KOREY OTIS MITCHELL, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF ESTELLA L. MITCHELL; KARYN MITCHELL A/K/A KAREN BRUNSON, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF ESTELLA L. MITCHELL; BHUPINDER SRICHAWLA, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF ESTELLA L. MITCHELL, UNKNOWN HEIRS AND DISTRIBUTEES OF THE ESTATE OF ESTELLA L. MITCHEL, any and all persons unknown to plaintiff, claiming, or who may claim to have an interest in, or general or specific lien upon the real property described in this action; such unknown persons being herein generally described and intended to be included in the following designation, namely: the wife, widow, husband, widower, heirs at law, next of kin, descendants, executors, administrators, devisees, legatees, creditors, trustees, committees, lienors, and assignees of such deceased, any and all persons deriving interest in or lien upon, or title to said real property by, through or under them, or either of them, and their respective wives, widows, husbands, widowers, heirs at law, next of kin, descendants, executors, administrators, devisees, legatees, creditors, trustees,

Mortgaged Premises: 65 LAKESIDE DRIVE, ROCKVILLE CENTRE, NY 11570

Section: 35, Block: 88, Lot: 22 & 23

Servicer: PHH Mortgage Corporation

Servicer Telephone: (866) 799-7724 Defendants.

To the above named Defendants

YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the Complaint in the above entitled action and to serve a copy of your Answer on the plaintiff’s attorney within twenty (20) days of the service of this Summons, exclusive of the day of service, or within thirty (30) days after service of the same is complete where service is made in any manner other than by personal delivery within the State. The United States of America, if designated as a defendant in this action, may answer or appear within sixty (60) days of service. Your failure to appear or to answer will result in a judgment against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint. In the event that a deficiency balance remains from the sale proceeds, a judgment may be entered against you.

NOTICE OF NATURE OF ACTION AND RELIEF SOUGHT

THE OBJECT of the above caption action is to foreclose a Mortgage to secure the sum of $937,500.00 and interest, recorded on June 01, 2011, in Liber M 36081 at Page 368, of the Public Records of NASSAU County, New York., covering premises known as 65 LAKESIDE DRIVE, ROCKVILLE CENTRE, NY 11570.

The relief sought in the within action is a final

Special birthday event recognizes 47 seniors

company of close friends and relatives.

“This is my family,” she said. “This is my community. I was born and raised in Rockville Centre, and I’m happy to have the privilege of being here.”

Murphy said that she forgets about all the aches and pains that come with old age and just keeps on trucking.

The seniors at the center are revered not only for their long lives, O’Leary said, but also for experiences they have accumulated. “We always say that age is just a number, and we all know that’s true,” she said. “It’s so wonderful to be here and to see happy, active, fulfilled senior seniors enjoying their lives, having a ball.”

In recognition of the contributions and life achievements of the community’s eldest population, village officials presented a proclamation thanking them for their enthusiasm, energy and wisdom.

“Longevity of life is a blessing for an individual and for a community which benefits from the knowledge, creativity and experience these individuals bring to all,” Mayor Francis Murray said. “Our older adults are active community members involved in volunteering, mentoring, arts and culture, and civic engagement, and the Village of Rockville Centre is inspired by the life of our seniors who are celebrating special birthdays, and offer them sincere best wishes for continued good health, happiness and an overflowing abundance of love and joy.”

Sari Rifeberg, a former teacher in the Bellmore-Merrick school district who now lives in Rockville Centre, said she always enjoys the chance to spend time at the Sandel Center. “The people here are very friendly,” she said.

Deputy Mayor Kathy Baxley called the center “the happiest place” in the state. “Every time I come in here, I can’t stop smiling,” Baxley said. “Thank you for including us, as you always do. Happy birthday to all of you.”

Baxley said that in addition to the village’s proclamation, each of the senior honorees celebrating the 90-plus milestone received a citation from County Legislator Howard Kopel.

Connie Rocco, who will turn 98 this year, received a special round of applause from the crowd in recognition of being the eldest of all those in attendance. Rocco said that she still vividly remembered some of the major events of her lifetime,

particularly her wedding day and the family and friends who attended. “My husband was so handsome,” she said.

Sitting across from her, her friend Jean Tarantola, who was also celebrating 90 years or more, said she remembered the “duck-and-cover” drills she and her classmates practiced in school during the Cold War, in the event of a nuclear attack.

“They made us go under our desks,” Tarantola recalled. “I was so scared.”

Cass Pena, 94, said he remembered when Franklin D. Roosevelt was in the Oval Office. Born in Spain, he and his family traveled by boat from Lisbon, Portugal, to New York when he was only 10.

U.S. Army veteran Howard Pivnick said he fondly remembered his time in the service, and having a good time at college when he returned home. “Looking back at my life, it was a lot of pleasure,” Pivnick said. “I got to go to some interesting places, and I intend to keep on going.”

Another of the senior celebrants, Teresa Conforti, said her most vivid memory was of giving birth to her first child and seeing her for the first time.

Marie Hodgins, who was also celebrating turning 90, could relate. Born in Ireland, Hodgins traveled all over the globe, from London to Lima, Peru, and gave birth to four children in three different countries.

Public Notices

Daniel Offner/Herald photos

Cindy Forte, Far left, Adelaide Greifeld, Colleen Jinks, Marge DePhillips and Hilda Mangal enjoy the celebration.

Marie Hodgins, above left, celebrates a milestone with her daughter, Grainne Macaneney, and son, Vincent Hodgins. Mayor FranCis Murray with Marge DePhillips at the Sandel Senior Center.

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LYNBROOK is Seeking Part Time Experienced Servers, Bartender, Seasoned Line Cook for Upscale Italian Restaurant. Walk in interviews: Sunday , Tuesday - Friday Between 5 and 9pm or Call 63- 694-7515 Ask for Sammy.

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Realtors are encouraged to send briefs and photographs to: Herald Homes, 2 Endo Blvd.., Garden City, NY 11530.

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My pickup truck has damaged the garage floor

Q. Can you solve a debate I have been having with my contractor about replacing the cracked floor in my garage? The problem is that I want to have steel bars in the slab and make it extra thick, since the existing slab is cracked and damaged from my heavy pickup truck, sometimes filled with heavy construction items. The concrete guy keeps telling me it’s overkill and that just the concrete, 5 inches thick, with a rollout wire mesh, is enough. Can you explain which one I need, and why he keeps telling me that the driveway is concrete, not cement? I want to do this job as soon as it warms up.

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The Architect

A. The first problem to solve is who should be designing the correct slab. Yes, we all know it’s just a slab, but you’ve already seen what happens when someone unfamiliar with the engineering design of even the simplest concrete slab doesn’t apply the correct preventive details.

Concrete is very strong in compression, meaning you can press on it to extremes before it even shows small signs of failure.

Unfortunately, concrete has no tensile strength. Zero. Zip. This means you can easily pull it apart, or bend it to the point of cracking without much force.

Structural engineers and architects, to a lesser extent, are trained to apply specific formulas that predict the success (and failure) of even a slab of formed concrete. Knowing how a slab fails allows professionals to apply the right reinforcement in the right places. Otherwise you’re just guessing.

There’s a difference in the description of the slab, which is made up of several materials, such as sand, lime, and something called “Portland cement.” Portland Cement is a mixture of mined calcium silicates and a lesser amount of calcium aluminates that form a chemical reaction in the presence of water. The chemical reaction causes the mixture to harden and give off heat, called the heat of hydration. It was patented in England in 1824 by bricklayer Joseph Aspdin, and got the name Portland because when it hardened, it appeared to look very similar to the white Portland stone quarried along the Portland Isle coast of Dorset in southern England. Sorry, Oregon, you get no credit here.

When other silicates, such as sand or different sizes of stone, are added, the characteristics change, and the setting times and strength change as well. Ash has been added in some mixes, and glass fibers, another form of silica, have made our latest bridge and roadway construction projects extremely long-lasting and stronger.

Portland cement can be a part of concrete. To determine the reinforcing, the loads need to be applied to formulas, along with the amount of time and other forces, such as expansion and contraction (due to temperature changes), support material strength, shrinkage and internal stress — in other words, it would be irresponsible to throw some guess at you without knowing more. Keep in mind, more concrete is not better. Good luck!

© 2022 Monte Leeper

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

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The era of ‘Marcus Welby, M.D.’ is over

I’ll bet very few readers remember television shows like “Dr. Kildare” and “Marcus Welby.” Those popular shows featured physicians who made house calls and performed miracles of all kinds. There may be a few of these doctors left, but it’s only a matter of time until such dedicated physicians are no longer in existence. Like it or not, the business of medicine is changing rapidly, and not for the benefit of the average patient.

I recently experienced this sea change in medicine, when two of my doctors announced their retirement. One was my internal medicine doctor, who served me faithfully for 32 years, and the other was a neurologist who had monitored me for about five years. It was obvious from our parting conversations that they were exhausted and tired of the day-to-day stresses of serving patients.

If you visit almost any doctor’s office, you’ll notice that there are walls and

walls of files on display. They may signify how many patients your doctor serves, but they are also evidence of the amount of paperwork the average doctor must do to get paid by an insurance company. Once upon a time, insurance companies gave doctors an appropriate amount of money for the services they performed, but not anymore.

If you’re a doctor in New York City, you may get $1,000 for a medical procedure. But if you practice in, say, Smithtown, you may get paid $180, if you’re lucky. Geography makes a difference in reimbursement, and no rational observer of medicine will defend such an abominable system. These days, doctors need experienced staff members who have to deal with endless piles of documents, many of which are for small reimbursements. The daily practice of medicine isn’t a 9-to-5 operation. Many doctors take their charts home, to review medical histories and also to protect themselves from malpractice litigation. The business of suing doctors is a major enterprise, and the volume of litigation forces doctors to pay

outrageous fees for malpractice coverage. I’ve heard quite a few stories about doctors who quit the practice because they simply couldn’t afford the high premiums.

One way that a doctor can avoid some of these headaches is to become an employee of a hospital. That spares you the high insurance premiums, but life isn’t a bowl of cherries for the employed doctor, either. Large hospitals have rules upon rules, and they can mean plenty of paperwork, and having to handle a much larger caseload of patients then you ever had when you were on your own. One of my longtime, highly respected doctors has taken a leave of absence, because he’s now in his 80s and just can’t handle the caseload he’s been given. But hospitals are businesses, and they have every right to demand a high level of activity of their doctors.

There are many dedicated, newly minted doctors graduating from medical schools, but quite a few of them approach medicine much differently today than their forebears. Many young

doctors would prefer to work five days a week, with no weekend duty. They are willing to take less compensation and have more time for family, golf and vacations. They may be brilliant practitioners, but they don’t want to be so many Marcus Welbys.

And when we talk about medicine, we can’t forget about nurses. The recent strike at some major city hospitals was no surprise. I was in an ER recently, and found out that my nurse had 15 patients assigned to her. She was on the verge of a physical breakdown, but soldiered on, handling all of them with grace and patience. No doubt, she will get a large pay increase and a smaller patient workload, but it’s only fair to give her those benefits.

Like it or not, medicine is changing dramatically. In the next 10 years, we will see changes that we never dreamt of. Some will be good, and others bad. Let’s hope there are more good than bad.

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

Folks scramble as the price of eggs soars nationwide

You can believe the hype. Last week, a boutique grocery on Manhattan’s Upper East Side was selling eggs for $17.99 a dozen. They weren’t Faberge eggs, dripping in diamonds and gilt. They were ordinary chicken-hatched, single-yolk, large “organic” eggs.

This news flash is courtesy of The Guardian newspaper in England, which loves to point out the crass and the crazy in American culture. It is given to gloating through stiff upper lips. Still, it has a point.

RANDI KREISS

Egg prices are heating up due to inflation, a surging avian flu epidemic and, some say, price gouging.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, one year ago you could buy a dozen eggs for $1.72. Now, nationwide, the price averages $3.59. In some states like California, the average price is more than $7. Apparently in Manhattan, consumers have jumped from the frying pan into the fire. No more cheap, go-to weekday omelet dinners.

The current epidemic of avian flu is

the worst in history, according to NBC News. More than 53 million birds have died of the virus or been put to death. As so-far survivors of the coronavirus pandemic, we must wonder how vulnerable we humans are to this flu.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, we’re probably safe. That’s not totally reassuring, but the avian flu has jumped to humans in only rare instances, and has passed from an infected person to other people in only extremely rare cases. Those who’ve contracted the flu after working around infected birds generally experienced mild symptoms, but the disease has been serious in a few people.

of Mexico to the U.S. I don’t know if it’s a Sinaloa cartel operation, but really? Smugglers in competition with the Easter Bunny?

Inflation?

I take my eggs very seriously. Omelets are a regular dinner in my home. I eat an egg every single day, over well, yolk broken. Lillybee the dog gets half a yolk.

Avian flu?

Price gouging?

No more cheap, go-to weekday omelet dinners.

Somehow, I want to believe human beings should be OK, but after the waves of half-information and misinformation informing our health decisions in the midst of Covid, I want to keep an eye on this H5N1 virus. Even though it might seem cost-effective now to start raising chickens in our backyards, nah, it’s probably not a good idea.

Last week it was widely reported that dealers have been running eggs out

I had to give up eggs recently and temporarily (for a month) after my friend cracked an egg and discovered a tiny, blackened mini-chicken inside. So gross! I didn’t actually see the monstrosity, but I can’t get the image out of my head. She was so traumatized by the visitation that she gave up eggs forever.

We move on. The most expensive egg product I ever purchased was a painted $25 ostrich eggshell I brought back from South Africa to present to my granddaughter on her 13th birthday. I was feeling quite high-minded about the symbolism of feminism and new beginnings and eternal life. But she sat on it, and that was that.

Two weeks ago, I cracked an egg and discovered it was a double yolker. According to Cackle Hatchery, double yolks are quite rare. They hardly ever

result in two chickens being born, because the eggshell can’t accommodate twins. Still, they are prized for eating. Some boutique chicken farmers specialize in double yolkers, the source of which is a genetic mutation. You can hold a candle to an egg and see what’s inside if you really need to know. If you really want to know.

Hardboiled eggs are worth a book of their own. I always have a few hardcooked eggs in my fridge, you know, in case of nuclear attack or tornado strike. I read about an 83-year-old hiker years ago who hiked the entire Appalachian Trail, from Georgia to Maine, eating hardboiled eggs he cooked on a tiny camping stove.

In the 1967 movie “Cool Hand Luke,” an outrageously defiant prisoner played by Paul Newman choked down 50 hardboiled eggs on a dare. A few people in real life tried to imitate the feat, and one died. But Joey Chestnut, the renowned competitive eater, consumed 141 eggs in eight minutes in a contest. Miki Sudo broke the women’s world record, eating 104 eggs.

Chestnut, who, remarkably, is still alive — I checked — took home a $1,500 grand prize, which seems not nearly enough.

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

It was obvious from chats with my retiring doctors that they were exhausted.

JERRY KREMER

The tricky balance of fear and openness

it was like having security cameras in every room of a house but one. That’s how Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone described to reporters the decentralized, hodgepodge security infrastructure of the county’s computer network, which more than 10,000 government employees, in dozens of departments, depended on.

It was a single unguarded entryway that let hackers in last September, essentially shutting down all operations and reportedly costing Suffolk millions of dollars.

Such an intrusion is enough to scare any business or government entity into fortifying defenses. But is there such a thing as being too scared?

In the days following Suffolk’s revelation that it had been hacked, Bellone’s counterpart, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, bent over backward to ensure that the same thing won’t happen here. Or at least we think he has, given that the details of those efforts are a closely held secret.

What we do know is that the Legislature has hired a cybersecurity consultant. And that’s about it. Who that consultant is, what they have to offer — and, most important, how much it’s going to cost taxpayers — is information only a very select few know.

Revealing too many details about the new cybersecurity efforts could be troublesome, of course. The more information hackers have, the more likely they can

letters

Offner was on the mark

To the Editor:

Re Daniel Offner’s column last week, “We must remember — and teach — the Holocaust”: Offner’s description of his grandmother, “When she was liberated by American troops from Dachau in May 1945, she weighed 45 pounds,” brought back an old memory to me. I remember my dad speaking of two cousins, who somehow made it to America after surviving one of those Nazi killing centers in Poland. He described them as two young guys, each over six feet tall and weighing 200 pounds — combined.

They didn’t last much longer than a year here. The Nazis killed them; they just didn’t die immediately.

And now we have Holocaust deniers, in spite of the films, photos and documents that exist, in addition to the survivors, and the living veterans who aided in their liberation and survival. We also have politicians in both parties telling us lies daily. Now we even have to be aware of a “journalist’s” political affiliations, agenda and beliefs. Sadly, as Offner pointed out, the same goes

find ways to slip past Nassau’s defenses. Yet county officials refuse to say how revealing simple bits of information — like who the vendor is, and how much they’re charging — would help these cyber menaces. And they aren’t budging.

As well, the Herald learned last week that a closed-doors executive session called by the Legislature produced an emergency cybersecurity declaration — its mere existence classified.

It’s perfectly understandable why county officials are on edge, and they should be commended for acting quickly to build Nassau’s technological defenses. And while many of those details should be kept secret, not all of them should be.

There is a reason why who our government does business with — and at what cost — should be out in the open, for all to see. We bear the financial cost of that business, and have every right to ensure that every dollar is being spent appropriately.

Everything about the county’s contract with this mystery cybersecurity firm could be perfectly fine. And it most likely is. But the taxpayers’ right is absolute assurance, not a preponderance of confidence. We have the right — by law — to make sure the Legislature is doing an arm’s-length deal with the right company for the right price.

How was the firm chosen? How was its compensation negotiated? What is the county getting in return? Even if we can’t have specifics, there’s no reason we can’t be clued in on at least some general

aspects.

Shoshanah Bewlay, executive director of the state-funded Committee on Open Government, shared in an advisory opinion last month that details of the contract — like information technology schematics, blueprints, pricing or systems methodologies, and the types of IT monitoring or remediation — can indeed be kept quiet. “However, in our view,” Bewlay added, “it is not clear how the disclosure of other information contained within the contract — such as the name of the selected vendor, or value of the executed contract — would enable a person to adversely impact an agency’s electronic information or IT systems.”

Don’t get us wrong — we honestly believe there is no ill intention on the county’s part to withhold this information. Officials are scared that revealing any of it — even if it’s deemed safe — could upend all their efforts to protect the network. But they have to lift the cloak just enough to let the taxpayers — their true bosses — get a peek to assure themselves that all of this is on the up-and-up.

Nassau County is letting all of its hard work to build these defenses get obscured by this simple request to know who it is working with, and how much they are being paid for that work. That’s basic information that taxpayers shouldn’t even have to ask for.

But they are asking for it, and the county must do the right thing and provide the answer.

D’Esposito will get the job done in Washington e

arlier this month I had the privilege of speaking at the ceremonial swearing-in of newly elected U.S. Rep. Anthony D’Esposito. Sitting on the stage that evening, I thought back to when I was first sworn in 30 years ago, and how different this night was from that one, and how different the world had become. This ceremonial event was held at the Nassau County police training center, in East Garden City, instead of in Washington, D.C., and the oath was administered by former Senator Al D’Amato instead of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

D’Esposito had been officially sworn in by McCarthy the week before, but that was at 2 a.m. on Jan. 7, following over four days and 15 ballots of voting in the most acrimonious contest for speaker since the 1850s, the decade preceding the Civil War. During my 28 years in Congress, I cast 14 ballots for speaker — one every two years. D’Esposito exceeded that total in his very first week in Congress!

This rancor and chaos is a sign of what Congress has become, and what D’Esposito must work through. Don’t get me wrong — Congress wasn’t all peace, love and harmony when I was elected. Soon-to-be House Speaker Newt Gingrich and President Bill Clinton were firing political rockets at each other, and fiery cable news shows were emerging. But there wasn’t this level of intra-party disunity.

Nonetheless, D’Esposito’s situation isn’t entirely different from what I faced. We have several things in common. We both won close, hard-fought races. I won by 8,000 votes, a margin of 3 percent; D’Esposito by 10,000, or 3.9 percent. The bulk of my district was in the Town of Hempstead and Long Beach. D’Esposito’s district is entirely within those boundaries. And the challenges he will confront are similar to what I faced during my latter 20 years in Congress: preventing another Sept. 11, and fighting to get New York and Long Island their fair share of revenue. Fortunately, D’Esposito’s committee assignments — Homeland Security and Transportation & Infrastructure — position him well for the struggles

Letters

for our educational institutions.

I was lucky. The U.S. Navy took me to dozens of foreign nations. If you were born here, count your blessings. There are many tougher places to grow up in. Our most precious resource is America’s children. If we give them our honest best, freedom will reign.

JOHN SCHULTz Oceanside

It’s Santos, for better or worse

To the Editor:

At a news event on Jan. 11, a parade of Nassau County Republicans took the extraordinarily courageous step of calling on their colleague, U.S. Rep. George Santos, to resign. They suggested that he was not welcome at either their headquarters or their events. They indicated that their other congressional representatives would take it upon themselves to provide representation to the people of the 3rd District — the people Santos was elected to represent.

On Jan. 18, I received an email from my old friend Rep. Andrew Garbarino, who represents the 2nd District, in Suffolk County, advising me that I was one of his “new constituents” and assuring me that I could rely on his office’s

resources. Along with everyone else in northern Nassau and Queens, I live in Santos’s district. I am not officially a constituent of Garbarino’s.

In response, I emailed Andy Garbarino, “While I appreciate you reaching out, you are not my Congressional representative and I am not your ‘new constituent.’ George Santos, with whom and for whom you campaigned, is my Congressional representative. That fact is truly shameful. Thanks again and wishing you well.”

So, to Congressman Garbarino, with whom I worked in the Assembly before he was elected to the House of Representatives, I simply say, “Thanks but no thanks.” For better or worse, Santos is our congressman, and I expect him, perhaps unrealistically, to make some effort to try to live up to his responsibilities.

I am not inclined to reach out to the same Republican politicians who offer assistance but are simply attempting to shield themselves from criticism. As the old saying goes, once bitten, twice shy.

Should Santos be unresponsive to any requests I may have for assistance to the people I represent, I will reach out to Senators Chuck Schumer or Kirsten Gillibrand, or to any number of Democratic congressional representatives.

CHARLES LAvINE Assemblyman, 13th District

ahead.

The Homeland Security Committee was created in the immediate aftermath of 9/11 to coordinate federal, state and local counterterrorism efforts, and to provide necessary funding to areas at highest risk. Every threat analysis showed the New York City-Long Island region as the highestranked terrorist target in the country. Yet we had to fight off other states, which had zero threat levels, for every penny. As a former New York City police detective and Island Park fire chief, D’Esposito has the credentials and the gravitas to win those funding fights, and also to ensure that the committee’s legitimate concern about border control and illegal immigration doesn’t distract attention from the still very serious terrorist threat.

He will have similar struggles on the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, to get fair and necessary funding for Long Island’s roads, highways, beaches and waterways.

Over the years, New York has been consistently shortchanged in federal funding, sending far more money to Washington than we get back. My short-

Framework

hand political analysis for this inequity was that Democrats took New York for granted and Republicans felt they couldn’t win it, so our hard-earned tax dollars were disbursed elsewhere — most notably, and disproportionately, to southern states. This shortfall in turn increased our state and local tax burden, which was exacerbated when a Republican Congress voted to dramatically reduce our SALT income tax deduction. D’Esposito has pledged to fight hard to restore that deduction.

Besides Homeland Security, infrastructure funding and restoring the SALT deduction, he will have to deal with countless other issues, including senior citizen and veterans benefits, 9/11 health care, tax relief for hardworking middle-income families and supporting law enforcement.

Being a member of Congress, and representing the people of Long Island and addressing their needs and challenges, was the experience of a lifetime for me. No one is more connected to his constituents than Anthony D’Esposito, and I know he will take their thoughts and concerns to the halls of Congress and get the job done. Good luck, Congressman.

Peter King is a former congressman, and a former chair of the House Committee on Homeland Security.

by Tim Baker

a newcomer to Congress has two solid committee assignments.