Lenworth and Mignonette Anderson of Rockville Centre celebrated this Valentine’s Day by renewing their wedding vows, after 44 wonderful years of marriage. Hempstead Town Councilwoman Laura Ryder, right, joined Town Clerk Kate Murray, left, as she presided over the ceremonies of 116 love-struck couples — including the Anderson’s — looking to ‘tight the knot’ at the Coral House in Baldwin on Feb. 14.
Evalina Lentini, of Rockville Centre, is a professionally trained ballerina and a student scientist who is proving that there’s no need to choose one passion over another. The 18-year-old senior at Sacred Heart Academy, in Hempstead, not only continues to dance, but is also busy in the laboratory, with a science project that may break new ground in the field of cancer research.
“It would be a long path out of clinical trial,” she said. “(But) it could be effective as a really big step towards being an actual treatment for prostate cancer.”
Lentini presented her project, “Evaluation of Therapeutics to Target Stem Cell-Like Prostate
Cancer,” at the Long Island Science and Engineering Fair, or LISEF, at the Crest Hollow Country Club on Jan. 31.
Her research project looked at two different types of inhibitor therapies, which are designed to slow or stop the progress of cancer cells. She found that both therapies are very good at stopping those cancer cells from proliferating, but she found something more — that stem cell-like prostate cancer depends on existing cellular pathways, which isn’t established knowledge even among doctors and scientists.
“If my findings show that these therapies are effective, that could possibly lead its next step towards the clinical trial,” Lentini said.
That development is huge not only for stem cell-
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Rockville Centre has made a $200 million offer to settle more than 600 claims of child sexual abuse filed by a Committee of Unsecured Creditors, in the hope of finding its way out of Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
Judge Martin Glenn, of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York, approved the diocese’s financial disclosure statement — which outlines the terms of its settlement for creditors — at a hearing on Feb. 15.
Acreditors to submit their ballots is March 22.
According to a recent article in Law360, Glenn told the diocese and its legal counsel that with only five weeks until the ballots are due, he doesn’t see the committee dropping its opposition to the plan.
ll parishes are making contributions to the trusts in exchange for releases under the plan.SEAN Dol AN Director of communications, Diocese of Rockville Centre
To proceed with the plan, the church is required to receive the approval of 75 percent of the creditors. Otherwise, representatives of the diocese say, the court will dismiss the Chapter 11 case, forcing roughly 40 percent of the cases back to state courts. Based on the court documents, the deadline for
“If you stand on what you’ve got, I’d be really, really surprised if you get a 75 percent vote in the affected classes,” Glenn said.
Sean Dolan, communications director for the diocese, said that accepting its offer would provide the claimants with significant upfront payments and opportunities to seek additional amounts through a settlement trust. He added, however, that dismissing the plan would “put survivors in the position of competing” for settlements, which, should the diocese’s parishes become insolvent or seek relief of their own in bankruptcy court, could further delay or
Continued on page 16
Rockville Centre native Crystal Dunn, a two-time Olympian and 2019 FIFA World Cup winner, will make her debut with the New York/New Jersey Gotham FC in March, after agreeing to a multi-year contract with the club through 2026.
“I am so excited to join Gotham and return back home,” Dunn said in a press release. “This place is one that I hold close to my heart. I am looking forward to playing alongside top players that will bring out the best in me, as we all work together to push this club to achieve even more success this upcoming season and beyond.”
To kick off the 2024 season of the National Women’s Soccer League, the 31-year-old all-star will compete against her former teammates with the Portland Thorns FC on March 24. Following the match, they will travel back to the East Coast for a quarterfinal rematch the North Carolina Courage.
Dunn previously played for the Courage during the 2018 and 2019 seasons, where she helped lead the team to two back-to-back NWSL championship titles. She first made a name for herself as a star forward for the South Side High School Lady Cyclones, leading the team to three state championship titles in 2006, 2007 and 2009. During her four
years with the girls’ varsity team, she scored a total of 46 goals and 39 assists — most memorably of which was her performance at the 2009 state championships, where she scored a hat trick within the first 20 minutes of the match.
Dunn went on to attend the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, where she would lead the Tarheels to their 21st NCAA championship, after which she made the decision to turn pro. Before graduating, she was drafted as the No. 1 overall pick by the Washington Spirit in 2014.
In her debut season, Dunn became the youngest player in the league’s history to receive both the Most Valuable Player and Golden Boot awards at age 23.
Following three seasons with the Spirit, she traveled to England where she joined the Chelsea Ladies Football League for a brief time. She was also a key player during the United States Women’s National Team’s 2019 FIFA World Cup championship against the Netherlands.
Dunn was picked up by the Thorns in 2020 through a three-team trade with Seattle, and in February 2021, signed a three-year contract with the team.
She would miss a majority of the 2022 season due to her pregnancy, but would return to the league to finish out the season, almost four months after giving birth to her first son, Marcel, and help the Thorns win the NWSL champion-
ship.
The 2023 season did not go well for the Thorns. Despite finishing the regular season as the No. 2 seed, they were eliminated by Gotham FC early into the postseason. Dunn, however, was nominated for 2023 U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year for her efforts leading the club to one of its best defensive years in history.
“Crystal is an exceptional player who can play anywhere at any time and have an incredible impact on the game,” Gotham FC Head Coach Juan Carlos Amorós, said. “We are excited to have a player of her quality join us for this upcoming season as we look to continue to build upon the success of last season.”
Dunn announced her departure from the Thorns on social media in November, and was acquired by New York/New Jersey as an unrestricted free agent in late December.
Her return to New York — a homecoming of sorts — will help set the stage for the start of her 10th professional season with the NWSL next month.
“Crystal is a high-caliber player and champion who brings amazing energy to everything she does, both on and off the field,” Gotham FC General Manager and Head of Soccer Operations Yael Averbuch West, said. “Adding an incredible player like Crystal to our championship roster is an exciting step forward for the club and our fans.”
Herald file photo
American Legion veterans and auxiliary members all across Nassau County — including members of Post 303 in Rockville Centre — gathered at Leonard’s Palazzo in Great Neck on Saturday for the annual Military Ball and Post Commander’s Night.
This year’s celebration marked the first time that the American Legions of Nassau County hosted the 69th annual Valor Awards presentation for active duty service members of the American Legion Aviators’ Post No. 743.
The program also acknowledged several distinguished guests, including Department Commander Timothy Collmer, Vice Commander Michael Rodriguez, 10th District Commander James Trainor, Nassau County Commander Sean Hood, Suffolk County Commander Kenneth Dolan, Queens County Commander Casey Bileris and Nassau County Legionnaire of the Year Al Ficalora of Baldwin Post 246.
Members of the American Legion Auxiliary — the world’s largest women’s patriotic service organization — the Sons of the American Legion and the American Legion Riders were also recognized for their contributions and service.
The first Valor Award was presented in 1953 to United States Air Force General Henry “Hap” Arnold for his leadership during World War II.
Since then, it has become an annual tradition to recognize military aviators who performed a feat of valor, as determined by the Chief of Staff of each of the U.S. Armed Forces.
In recognition of their accomplishments in the line of duty, this year’s Military Ball and Post Commander’s night event recognized three esteemed aviators — U.S. Coast Guard Lt. Commander Zachary Bowers, U.S. Marine Corps and Coast Guard Lt. Lars Anderson, and U.S. Air Force Captain David C. Bennett — for their distinguished acts of valor.
Bowers, a fleet standardization flight examiner and instructor pilot from Sacramento, California, was presented with the 2019 Aviator Valor Award for a Medevac rescue in Dutch Harbor, Alaska, where he and his crew helped transport a 60-year-old man with respiratory failure and high-risk morbidly obese pregnant female who was at risk of bleeding out if she went into labor despite poor visibility, high winds, heavy rain and engine anti-ice failure. Both individuals were successfully transported to a hospital in Anchorage. The 60-year-old man was later diagnosed with tuberculosis. Had he not been transported to the hospital, he would have died.
Anderson served with both the U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Coast Guard as a flight instructor pilot. He was presented with the 2020 Aviator Valor Award for a non-maritime Medevac rescue of two men in Dutch Harbor, Alaska. Throughout the course of his military career he has accrued more than 5,500 flight hours and has received five Humanitarian Service Medals and numerous commendations for his service. He currently works as a commercial airline pilot and resides in Tennessee, with his wife, Kelly, and four kids Bengt, Hannah, Annika and Linnea.
Bennett, the operations flight commander of the 40th Helicopter Squadron at the Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana, is a UH-1N pilot in support of nuclear defense operations. He was presented with the 2022 Aviator Valor Award for a search and rescue mission where he rescued an elderly man, who was suffering from a severe medical emergency in his remote mountain cabin. Bennett calculated an optimal fuel state to allow the crew to have largest amount of power to affect the rescue, which proved critical as whiteout and downdraft conditions in the landing zone
required maximum torque available for takeoff. Coordinating with local emergency services, Bennett set up a transfer at the international airport, due to the inability to offload at Benefis Hospital. He has served as a resource advisor, chief of scheduling, executive officer and currently holds the rank of instructor pilot.
Hundreds of veterans and their families across Nassau County celebrated the accomplishments of these three men, who in the face of danger, showed unparalleled bravery and expertise.
The current exemption from New York estate taxes is 6.94 million, indexed for inflation. For most clients this presents no issue – their estates will never approach the exemption. However, for the fortunate few who have assets, including life insurance, that may exceed roughly seven million dollars, there is a significant tax liability. Changes in New York estate tax law in the last few years introduced a “fiscal cliff”. Whereas formerly New York only taxed the amount over the exemption, if you exceed the limit today (by a mere 5%) they tax the whole estate. You’re over the cliff!
The tax is surprisingly large. On a roughly seven million dollar estate, the taxes payable to New York exceed five hundred thousand dollars. An estate over ten million would owe over a million in estate tax.
These New York estate taxes are avoidable if you have a spouse and you create an estate plan using two trusts, which doubles the exemption. Another way to avoid the fiscal cliff is to use the “Santa Clause” providing that you gift to charities of your choice all amounts over the exemption. Gifts to charities are deductible
from estate taxes.
While the Federal estate tax exemption of 13.61 million is “portable”, i.e. if the first spouse doesn’t use their exemption or any part of it, it passes to the surviving spouse, New York does not allow for portability. It’s use it or lose it.
The Federal exemption is expected to be reduced from the 13.61 million exemption, passed by the Trump administration, to the 6.94 million, adjusted for inflation, that New York uses, at the end of 2025. For larger estates, there remains a planning opportunity by making gifts while the higher exemption is in place. You may use any of your Federal estate tax exemptions to make gifts while you are living. These gifts are reported to the IRS and get subtracted from what you may give at death.
One added attraction to gifting is that New York does not tax gifts -- so that gifts may also be used to avoid onerous New York estate taxes at death. There is a minor exception that gifts made within three years of the death of the donor are brought back into the donor’s estate for New York estate tax purposes.
Trusts & Estates • Wills & Probate • Medicaid FREE CONSULTATION: 516-327-8880 x117 or email info@trustlaw.com
100 Merrick Rd., Rockville Centre • 3000 Marcus Ave., Lake Success
Other offices in Huntington • Melville • Islandia
Abram Yakabov, 29, of 73rd Terrace in Flushing, Queens, was arrested on Feb. 5 and has been charged with aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle, and vehicle and traffic law offenses following an investigation on Park Place.
Heliodoro Huertero, 43, of Boston Avenue in Bay Shore, was arrested on Feb. 8 and has been charged with aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and vehicle and traffic law offenses following an investigation on Sunrise Highway.
An employee of Mediscript Pharmacy reported on Feb. 10 someone broke the rear door and stole merchandise.
A pedestrian reported on Feb. 5 spotting graffiti on the roadway at Fireman’s Field.
A motorist reported on Feb. 8 someone damaged the door handle and lock on her vehicle.
Units with the Rockville Centre Police and Fire departments responded to a fire at K&K Automotive on Feb. 6, which required the assistance of mutual aid from surrounding fire companies and the evacuation of adjacent buildings. No one was harmed as a result. Several vehicles and nearby buildings sustained fire, smoke and water damage. The cause of the fire has been deemed non-suspicious.
An employee of Bagelry on Merrick Road reported on Feb. 6, someone stole a tip jar from the counter inside the business.
A customer of TGI Fridays reported on Feb. 7 someone stole her vehicle
from the parking lot.
A resident of Crocker Street reported on Feb. 10 an employee of a car dealership stole his car while it was being delivered to the dealership for repairs.
A resident of Voorhis Avenue reported on Feb. 9 someone stole a package from the front of her house.
A resident of Vernon Avenue reported on Feb. 17, someone stole his bicycle from the LIRR Rockville Centre Station.
A motorist reported on Feb. 9 his vehicle was struck by another vehicle, which fled the scene while parked in an Ocean Avenue parking lot.
A motorist reported on Feb. 10 his vehicle was struck by another vehicle, which fled the scene while he was parked in Municipal Parking Field No. 1.
A motorist reported on Feb. 10 his vehicle was struck by another vehicle, which fled the scene while driving on Sunrise Highway.
A motorist reported on Feb. 15 her vehicle was struck by another vehicle which fled the scene while driving on Sunrise Highway.
On Feb. 15, a motorist reported damage to the mirror on his vehicle while parked on Roxen Road.
On Feb. 15, a motorist reported damage to his vehicle caused by construction debris while parked in municipal parking field no. 1.
An employee of the Nissan dealership reported on Feb. 13, someone purchased a vehicle after providing inaccurate information on their loan application.
People named in Crime Watch items as having been arrested and charged with violations or crimes are only suspected of committing those acts of which they are accused. They are all presumed to be innocent of those charges until and unless found guilty in a court of law.
OpenAI, an artificial intelligence and research company, publicly released ChatGPT-3 on Nov. 30, 2022. Now, a little more than a year later, the sophisticated chatbot — with more than 180 million monthly users — is seemingly developing faster than users can keep up. To understand how this language model became one of the most technologically advanced virtual assistants in the world, you have to go back nearly 75 years.
First part in a series exploring the presence of artificial intelligence in our schools, and over time, in society as a whole. Thoughts? Questions? Ideas?
Email us at execeditor@liherald.com.
Artificial intelligence — it all starts with an idea. One developed by a computer programmed to mimic the human intelligence process through learning, reasoning and self-correction.
AI is already deeply ingrained in society. Whether it be smartphones with virtual assistants like Siri and Bixby, search engines making suggestions for what we’re looking for online, to even the spam filtering and email categorization in email platforms like Gmail.
The fast-growing advancements of AI may be hard to keep up with, especially as more and more platforms develop that specialize in AI like ChatGPT and Canva.
Television and news outlets focus more on how AI can turn your dog into a Muppet, or how it can instantly write a sonnet about someone’s favorite desserts.
But AI is finding its way into more and more of our everyday lives and it’s something that has institutions like our public schools racing to find the best ways to not only adapt, but to appropriately integrate AI into the classroom.
receives,” ChatGPT responded when asked what it was designed for.
It’s commonly used to answer a variety of questions, or brainstorm ideas. It can help draft emails and compose essays. It can help with extensive research, and even translate text from one language to another.
And for those looking to be a little less serious, ChatGPT can tell jokes, strike up a casual conversation, and even participate in storytelling and roleplaying scenarios.
But it can also write term papers, or essays. Or complete homework. And detecting when AI is being used is virtually impossible. That has created some concerns for school administrators, while at the same time tasking them to redevelop curriculum that prepares future minds for a future where AI is prevalent.
Ting Wang, a Stony Brook University associate professor who also directs its Algorithmic Learning, Privacy and Security Lab, describes the original conception of AI as “a feeble attempt to recreate intelligence and to help humans achieve specific tasks.” He believes developers have come a long way in achieving success doing just that.
ChatGPT is a popular example of this. Launched in late 2022, the software describes itself as an online interface that is “like having a conversation with a very knowledgeable and helpful friend — except this friend is actually a computer program.” It has been trained on swaths of data, making it capable of completing many different tasks ranging from gathering information, getting some helpful advice, or even looking to simply have a friendly chat.
“ChatGPT is designed for generating human-like text based on the input it
“From the academic perspective, I think one of the challenges is that it’s becoming harder and harder to obtain these AI models because they’re super expensive, the training costs, and have a requirement of huge amounts of data,” Wang said. “Those type of resources are not so accessible for the academia world.”
Google, Bing and other search engines have used forms of artificial intelligence for years, but more recently began making its integration more obvious. Google integrated what it calls “generative AI” into its systems some 20 years ago, which typically predicts the next word in a search phrase.
ChatGPT also can edit certain articles, blog posts or other forms of writing. If someone asks ChatGPT to write an email with specific requirements, for example, the AI can handle it because its “training” has covered these sort of scenarios. What makes ChatGPT unique from other AI platforms, Wang said, is the massive amounts of data that “trains” it.
“You can see many artists, especially digital artists, using this program to create content that you cannot easily create manually,” Wang said.
Brett Tanzer — a product management vice president for Microsoft’s cloud platform, Azure — says models created by AI developers are installed in products like Bing and Microsoft Copilot, an
Nicole Wagner/Herald
A reporter asks ChatGPT to describe not only itself, but the artificial intelligence language model that powers it. AI has gone from science-fiction to science-fact, and schools are among a number of institutions around the world working to adapt.
AI companion technology which utilizes ChatGPT among other language models, to aid users in their day-to-day lives.
This helps users brainstorm alternatives for ideas on a given issue if they get stuck.
“It’s already being applied to help people reduce workforce time,” Tanzer said.
Creatives aren’t the only ones utilizing AI for their work. Many in the health care industries are using AI products like those offered by Microsoft to accelerate medical research for advanced treatment and diagnosis of diseases.
“That’s really helping practitioners and doctors in their day-to-day experiences with patients,” Tanzer said.
Educators are utilizing AI in classrooms around Nassau County. In Franklin Square, for example, a robot named Milo interacts with students to help them hone their social and emotional skills.
Pamela Taylor, Franklin Square’s pupil personnel services director, said at the time the school had done a lot of
training to bring Milo into the classroom.
While Milo is the first robot of its kind to be used in a Long Island classroom, its ability to work with students on their confidence in emotional skills is something Taylor is eager to spread throughout the district.
“We are looking to expand,” she said, “because he’s appropriate for all learners.”
An artificial intelligence elective course at Bellmore-Merrick school district’s Sanford H. Calhoun High School is teaching students about the basic principles of AI through exposure to machine-learning algorithms in Python computer programming language.
Danielle Caliendo, a math and computer science chair at Calhoun, says this course prepares students for careers in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
“It also equips them with the skills necessary for today’s world where artificial intelligence is shaping the way we live and work,” Caliendo said, in a
The U.S. government showed little interest in continuing to fund AI research.
1970s:
1980s:
AI is booming. Government funding led to breakthroughs in research. The use of the expert system program becomes more popular, allowing computers to learn from their mistakes and make independent decisions. This leads to the development of the Fifth Generation Computer project, with a goal of creating computers that could converse in human language and express reasoning on a human level.
1997:
2011:
2016:
2014:
2020:
recent interview.
What does the future hold for AI?
Overall AI research at Stony Brook is intended to maximize the practical impact of artificial intelligence. Wang works on AI’s resilience against malicious manipulations, preserving privacy among users, and making the data written by AI more transparent and interpretable to users.
“People don’t have a great understanding of what AI can and can’t do,” Wang said. “I think people use AI as a magical box, and it actually may not work as expected for normal users.”
Yties to transform power in engineering, productivity, health care and cybersecurity.
Wang envisions ChatGPT becoming even more customizable and personalized than it is now. Although it’s already quite adaptable, users have their own individual requirements and writing styles that ChatGPT is not necessarily trained to understand.
ou can see many artists . . . to create content that you cannot easily create manually
TIng W Ang associate professor Stony Brook UniversityAs AI models become more sophisticated, Tanzer said, Microsoft has its sights set on developing models with advanced capabili-
“You may want the program to draft an email in your own style and have your own specific writing requirements,” Wang said, “and currently, the chatbot may not be able to do that.
”It’s an ever-evolving landscape,” Wang said. “I think from the perspective of classroom teaching, people are still trying to figure out what is the best way to harness the power of AI, and at the same time kind of limit and curve the harmful impact of this technology.”
third-grade students at franklin Square’s John Street School learn how to hone their social and emotional skills with the help of milo the robot. equipped with adaptive artificial intelligence, milo is designed to read facial cues from those around him to teach students techniques to cope with their emotions.
Deep Blue — a computer run by the AI program alpha–beta search algorithm and developed by IBM — beats world chess champion Gary Kasparov, becoming the first computer program to beat a human chess champion. This kickstarts an era introducing AI into everyday life through innovations such as the first Roomba and speech recognition software on Windows computers.
Apple releases Siri, the first popular virtual assistant, found primarily on the company’s iPhones.
Amazon releases the Echo, powered by a voicecontrolled intelligent personal assistant named Alexa. These devices are smart speakers equipped with microphones for voice commands.
Google releases the Google Assistant and its voice-activated speaker: the Google Nest.
OpenAI starts beta testing GPT-3, a model that uses deep learning — a method of AI that teaches computers to process data in a way that mimics the human brain — to create code, poetry and other writing tasks.
Bob Beckwith rushed out of retirement as a New York City firefighter to help a friend find his missing son at ground zero, three days after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, that shook New York City — and the country — to its core.
This selfless choice turned Beckwith into a beacon of hope for the nation when he stood on the rubble at President George W. Bush’s side — hope he embodied until the day he died on Feb. 4. He was 91.
Beckwith ultimately succumbed to a 9/11-related melanoma, and was remembered by family, friends, leaders and a large number of off-duty firemen during Beckwith’s Feb. 10 funeral in Baldwin, before he was buried at Greenfield Cemetery in Uniondale.
Some will remember Beckwith for the iconic photo and video featuring him with Bush on Sept. 14, 2001, while others recall how Beckwith was a humble man who would sit in the back row of St. Christopher’s Church in Baldwin every Saturday evening while still finding time to visit a Levittown diner with his friends each week.
Beckwith enjoyed playing the piano, fishing, watching “Jeopardy,” spending time with his grandchildren, and attending their lacrosse games. He also took part Irish step dance competitions, and spent time at the Baldwin American Legion post.
Beckwith was an ordinary man, he would proclaim, who by chance was given the opportunity to uplift Americans during one the country’s darkest times.
Beckwith was retired for more than a decade after 30 years of service with the New York City Fire Department when he learned the son of his old friend, Jimmy Boyle, was missing amid the ruins of the twin towers.
inspiring words, with his arm draped around Beckwith.
“America, today, is on bended knee in prayer for the people whose lives were lost here, for the workers who work here, and for the families who mourn,” Bush said at the time.
Bush would remain close to Beckwith, and shared a statement for former U.S. Rep. Peter King to read at his funeral.
“Laura and I are saddened by the passing of Bob Beckwith,” Bush said, explaining how the retired firefighter raced toward danger, showcasing the resilient spirit of all Americans during 9/11.
“I want to say that no one is indispensable,” King said in his own eulogy. “Bob Beckwith is indispensable. He was one of a kind.”
Beckwith was born April 16, 1932 in Astoria. After graduating from Rice High School in Manhattan in 1952, Beckwith joined the U.S. Navy n the tail end of the Korean war, before going on to study at LaGuardia Community College.
After graduating, Beckwith held various jobs like driving for UPS. But it was in 1964 Beckwith became an FDNY firefighter, kickstarting a 30-year career with the department.
Having lost two sons of his own, Beckwith understood the grief Boyle was going through.
So, he sprang into action and headed to ground zero while the rest of the nation remained in shock.
Beckwith later described how he was just in the right spot at the right time. Bush was paying his respects to those lost at ground zero, and wanted to speak directly to those who were digging through the rubble looking for survivors.
The president spotted Beckwith, and had him stand next to him where, using a megaphone, Bush delivered
Beckwith met his wife Barbara at a picnic in 1956. They were married a year later, settling down on Fairview Avenue in Baldwin, where they raised their six children.
Beckwith retired from the FDNY in 1994. He would find himself enjoying time at home, entertained by his two great-grandsons with a smile across his face.
Besides his wife, Beckwith is survived by daughter Christine; sons Bob, Richard and Stephen; 10 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by sons Joseph and Tommy.
Christine Rivera/Herald
The St. Agnes Knights of Columbus Council 2548, working in conjunction with the New York Blood Center, hosted its triannual Tom Toy Memorial Blood Drive on Feb. 18, at the St. Agnes Parish Center in RVC.
Tom Toy, a Rockville Centre native who died in October 2020, created this critical community service in 1993, following the untimely death of his 23-year-old daughter, Betsy Toy Schowerer, from Leukemia.
According to the Knights of Columbus, approximately 200 to 250 units of blood were donated per year — roughly 6,500 units overall — in the years that Tom headed up the blood drive.
“We are proud to continue the blood drive in Tom’s Memory,” Grand Knight Bill Kurrus, said. “Since 1999, starting with Tom’s effort, St. Agnes has collected 5,000 units (of blood) for the New York Blood Center.”
Kurrus currently oversees this highly attended triannual event, which last year, collected 138 units of blood for the New York Blood Center. During its recent event, last Sunday, St. Agnes parishioners gave 58 units of blood.
The New York Blood Center, one of the largest community-based nonprofit blood collection and distribution organizations in the country, has reported an urgent need for donations due to an emergency shortage affecting millions of residents in the New York Metropolitan area.
Unfortunately, part of the reason for the shortage is that supply seldom meets demand. While 62 percent of the United States population is eligible to donate, only about 3 percent will donate blood each year.
According to the Red Cross, approximately 29,000
units of red blood cells, 5,000 units of platelets and 6,500 units of plasma are needed everyday for transfusions, surgery, treatment, illness or injury.
By donating whole blood, red blood cells, platelets or plasma, people can help save up to three lives in one hour.
In order to donate you must be at least 17 or older, or 16 with a parent or guardian’s written consent, and weigh at least 110 lbs. It is also recommended that
donors schedule an appointment when they are in good health, and have been symptom free for at least 72 hours following a cold or flu. Some types of medication, medical conditions, pregnancy, sexual health, international travel, or recent tattoos and piercings may impact eligibility.
To learn more about donating the lifesaving gift of blood, platelets or plasma, or for more information on upcoming blood drives in your area, visit NYBC.org.
The Limb Kind Foundation hosted its fourth annual Show Your Shine adaptive runway show on Feb. 3 at The Sands in Atlantic Beach.
Jill Smith, an occupational therapist from Rockville Centre, founded the Show Your Shine fundraiser to help benefit and celebrate those with limb loss. Every year, she teams up with her brother, Robert Shulman, the founder and executive director of the Limb Kind Foundation whose mission aims to help improve the lives of children with limb loss by strengthening the amputee community and providing pediatric prosthetic care to all.
The adaptive runway event has repeatedly been a sold out success, creating a supportive environment while drawing attention to the courage and resilience of people with limb differences and limb loss.
“This is a special evening that continues to further advance our mission of improving the lives of children with limb loss,” Schulman said.
Organizers said the show isn’t merely a celebration — it’s a platform for empowerment and raising awareness.
The event provides a unique opportunity for the amputee community,” Schulman said, “inspiring others and foster-
ing a sense of unity and acceptance.”
Smith, who said she is passionate about challenging societal norms and perceptions, shared her motivation for creating the event.
“I want people to stare for the right reasons,” she said. “These individuals are stared at daily due to their differences, but at this event, all eyes will be on them, celebrating.”
More than 20 participants, from ages 6 to 46, many of them children, worked the runway, celebrating their differenc-
es and strength despite having experienced limb loss in various forms, be it arms, legs or hands.
“It takes courage and confidence to walk down a runway, with or without a physical difference,” Smith said. “Through this experience, each model finds their own confidence, and their community learns that differences do not need to separate them from their dreams.”
Matias Ferreira, 30, was among the models participating this year. He cur-
rently holds the distinction of being the first double amputee patrolman in the country. He is also a United States military veteran and a Suffolk County Police officer.
“I’ve done some public speaking, but this is a different experience,” Ferreira said. “It’s nerve-racking with the flashing lights and a lot of people looking at you. But we did a walk-through yesterday, which helped me get a little more comfortable being on the stage.”
Ferreira’s presence wasn’t just about his own journey. It also symbolized collaboration between the foundation and Beyond the Badge, a volunteer-based organization with the mission of supporting members of law enforcement and raising awareness of the mental health and suicide crisis among first responders.
Both the Limb Kind Foundation and Beyond the Badge were selected as two of the three charities that will be supported by the Rockville Centre St. Patrick’s Day Parade this year.
In a world often obsessed with perfection, the Show Your Shine Adaptive Runway Show stands as a beacon of acceptance, resilience and unity. As the models took to the stage, they not only displayed the latest fashions but also their indomitable spirit, proving that differences can be celebrated and embraced.
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like prostate cancer, but for any cancer that behaves similarly. “Further therapies can be developed to target that pathway and improve therapy options for patients,” Lentini said.
Her project — which has officially moved onto the next round of LISEF, on March 5 — is the culmination of her four years in Sacred Heart Academy’s science research program. As part of the program, Lentini has worked with the Human Oncology and Pathogenesis program of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center for the past two summers, where she met her mentor, Dr. Chen Khuan Wong, and learned about stem cell-like prostate cancer. It’s the second-most common form of prostate cancer, but has been far less researched than its more common counterpart.
Thus, her exploration of the relationship between inhibitor therapies and cellular pathways was born. Even fellow scientists said they have difficulty understanding the ins and outs of her project.
“I’m a behavioral scientist, so most of what she’s talking about, I don’t understand,” Stephen Sullivan, director of the science research program, said.
“Or, at the very least when she explains it, I understand it for 20 minutes, I can explain it to the next person I see, and then I have to ask her again the following day,” Sullivan said.
As impressive as her scientific accomplishments may be, her dancing skills are just as superb. Lentini is a ballerina at the Eglevsky ballet, where she trains five days a week.
“Originally my career plan was to be a ballerina,” Lentini said. “That was my whole thing up until freshman year, when I took freshman year research here.”
Now her future plans include a pre-med education and, eventually, medical school.
Lentini said that science and dancing are more closely connected than most people realize.
“That’s my whole philosophy,” she said. “They’re more intertwined than people think they are.
“Science in and of itself is an art — I think a lot of people forget that,” Lentini added. “It’s important to have the creativity as an artist, to be able to implement that into the scientific method, in general, and to be able to research and come up with creative ideas and take risks,
and have that innovative mind to be able to actually get somewhere in science research.”
But those who suggest that science is reserved mostly for boys should take a look at the LISEF competition, where the ratio of competitors was around four women to three men, Sullivan said.
“I was also shocked to find that a majority of the competitors at LISEF were women or girls that were there,” Lentini said. “So that was also very encouraging, especially going to an all girls’ school, learning that a lot of other women are in STEM — science, technology, engineering and math — and aspiring pros in research.
“I think we have this stigma that it’s male-dominated,” she added, “And I’ve had the honor to have not really experienced that yet.”
So many women presenting their scientific findings at LISEF are also interested in the arts, Lentini said — and she found kinship with her fellow students who rejected the idea they had to choose between their passions.
Sullivan said the favorite part of his job is learning from his students’ original research. Watching them mature throughout their time in the program, he said, is “enlightening.” And the possibilities are unlimited for Lentini, he said.
Wherever she decides to attend college, her preferred major is molecular development and cellular biology. She wants to delve further into cancer genetics and further her research while a pre-med student, and then focus on oncology in medical school.
“And a minor in dance,” she added.
Round 2 of LISEF is scheduled for Tuesday, March 5 at Crest Hollow Country Club. The top 15 projects on Long Island will be entered at the International Science and Engineering Fair in Los Angeles in May, where winners can receive a $5,000 cash prize and up to $75,000 in scholarship money.
ANTOINETTE BIORDI
4X AWARD-WINNING REPORTER NEWS 12 ANCHOR/REPORTER
SARA GORE TVHOST, NBC UNIVERSAL LUXURYREALESTATESPECIALIST, SERHANT.
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CEO
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Suffolk County Industrial Development Agency (IDA)
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In the light of the moon, a little egg lay on a leaf.
That’s how the journey started for Eric Carle’s Very Hungry Caterpillar, the beloved character from his acclaimed picture book of the same name. Now, Long Island Children’s Museum takes the magnifying glass to Carle’s curious bugs in its newest exhibit, “Very Eric Carle: A Very Hungry, Quiet, Lonely, Clumsy, Busy Exhibit.”
Created by the Pittsburgh Children’s Museum and The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, it’s a follow-up of sorts to last year’s popular Mo Willems exhibit, which also encouraged kids to step into the creative imagination of a beloved author-illustrator.
Visitors find themselves inside the pages of Carle’s colorful books. His “Very” series — all illustrated in his hand-painted tissue paper collage technique — introduces five special insects who take journeys of discovery. Each story is a testament to Carle’s love of nature along with his recurring themes of friendship, creativity, and the power of imagination.
The colorful picture books — more than 70 in all — have been captivating young children since Carle’s first publishing effort, the counting book “1,2,3 to the Zoo,” in 1968.
From there, his “Very” books took off the following year, beginning with the one that started it all, “The Very Hungry Caterpillar,” of course. Families were immediately captivated by Carle’s little bugs with big emotions.
There’s a deep-felt connection to the insects, according to Ashley Niver, the museum’s education director.
“Children have a fascination with things that are even smaller than they are because they’re usually the ones looking up at the world,” she said. “I find that they have a lot of care and concern for these small living things. They enjoy the roleplay of being a friend of one or becoming one, like wearing the wings of a butterfly and flying around.”
And, naturally, the insatiable caterpillar holds a special place in everyone’s hearts.
“We’ve had parents mention that they read ‘The Very Hungry Caterpillar’ as a child and now they are reading it to their child,” Niver says. “The messaging is something that resonates.”
The exhibit may be indoors, but the focus is fully on the outside world, exploring the diversity of the insect kingdom through Carle’s imagination.
“A lot of people relate to ‘The Very Hungry Caterpillar,’
• Now through May 12, Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
• $17 museum admission, $16 seniors 65 and older; additional fees for theater programming
• View the events calendar at LICM.org for additional information, or call (516) 224-5800
• Long Island Children’s Museum, Museum Row, Garden City.
but there are a lot of other lovely stories,” Niver says. “I don’t think that everyone is as well-versed in some of his other books, so I’m happy that this features some more of them.”
Tumble in the grass, weave a web, find a friend, and even become a butterfly during your visit.
Upon arrival, visitors can follow the Very Hungry Caterpillar’s path on a journey through largerthan-life pages of the book, eating foods on the way to becoming a butterfly. Once the end is reached, you’re now ready to spread your wings.
The Very Busy Spider component includes a giant, web-like structure to step through. This activity tests dexterity, strength and flexibility as kids move across the challenging surface.
At the Very Busy Spider’s Weaving Wall everyone can try to spin their own web on the large wall, experimenting with a variety of stringy materials.
Master new skills at the Very Clumsy Click Beetle Playscape. Here, visitors rummage across a pile of pebbles, crawl through tall blades of grass, step across stepping stones, and walk across the stem of a poppy flower in this playful landscape. Step up to the challenge and persevere like The Very Clumsy Click Beetle.
Also try to catch some light at the Very Lonely Firefly “Find Your Light” interactive station. Move hands and body to lure a firefly toward you. Even work with others to attract multiple fireflies and try to form a group of the beautifully lit insects.
At another component, kids can touch The Very Quiet Cricket and his friends on a relief mural to trigger a sound and create a one-of-a-kind musical composition. The various insect sounds harmonize together to make a “symphony” comprised of rhythms and sounds found in nature.
The exhibit’s studio portion offers up facts about Carle’s life and artistic process.
“Yellow was his favorite color,” Niver says. “Yellow was always the most challenging for him, which I thought was a cool fact. He only mastered four shades of yellow.”
After all that busyness being a bug, families may want to relax by taking a moment to read some books. The nook area is a cozy spot where everyone can nuzzle up in a reading cocoon and read the “Very” stories together.
Through his stories, Carle reminds us: “Simplify, slow down, be kind. And don’t forget to have art in your life — music, paintings, theatre, dance and sunsets.”
Audra McDonald is unparalleled in the breadth and versatility of her artistry as both singer and actor. Experience her inimitable talent in a spellbinding evening of song that showcases her extraordinary vocal range. Winner of six Tony Awards, two Grammys and an Emmy, McDonald possesses a ‘lustrous lyric soprano’ (The New York Times) and an incomparable gift for dramatic truth-telling. This stage and screen icon lends her luminous voice and committed stage presence to an intimate concert of Broadway favorites, standards, seldomheard gems, and so much more, accompanied by pianist Jeremy Jordan. With Tony wins in all four eligible acting categories, countless other theatre honors — and a National Medal of Arts conferred by President Barack Obama in 2015, among her other accolades — McDonald is among the most lavishly awarded performers of our time.
Friday, Feb. 23, 8 p.m. Tickets start at $60. Tilles Center for the Performing Arts, 720 Northern Blvd., Brookville. Tickets available at Ticketmaster.com, TillesCenter.org or (516) 299-3100.
Celtic-punk rockers Flogging Molly have hit the road with their ‘Road to Rebellion’ tour, sure to rouse audiences with their anthemic odes to the Emerald Isle. Formed in L.A. in 1997 by Irish expat Dave King, the band got its start (and its name) from local bar Molly Malone’s, where they performed, grew their following, and laid down the blueprint for eventual success. Their infectious Celtic-tinged reels are perfect for dancing along to, for those who love their Irish heritage, and those who just want a good time. Expect an eclectic mix of old favorites, sing-a-longs, rare acoustic numbers and new material — all strung together by King’s cheeky tales and jokes and first-rate musicianship. With numerous latenight television appearances, a soldout Salty Dog Cruise through the Caribbean, and a yearly St. Patrick’s Day Festival in L.A., the band’s juggernaut continues.
Sunday, Feb. 25, 7:30 p.m. $79.50, $49.50, $39.50. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at Ticketmaster.com or ParamountNY.com.
On exhibit
Nassau County Museum of Art’s latest exhibition, “Our Gilded Age,” examines the appearances and the realities of an era that mirrors our own in many ways. Like the nation’s economy, American art and literature flourished during the Gilded Age. The art of John Singer Sargent, Childe Hassam, Louis Comfort Tiffany and others adorned palatial residences designed by Stanford White and Ogden Codman Jr., architect of the museum’s own quintessential Gilded Age mansion.
Drawing heavily upon the local literary history of Long Island, including William Cullen Bryant, Mark Twain (who named the Gilded Age), Walt Whitman, Edith Wharton and others, the exhibition will include paintings, fashion, decorative arts including period silver and china, photographs, manuscripts, first editions and other historic memorabilia.
The “Upstairs, Downstairs” approach to the life of a country house brings to life not only the storied conspicuous consumption for which the Gilded Age was infamous, but also the real lives of these many individuals who maintained the palatial estates where that lifestyle was enjoyed.
On view through March 10 Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. (516) 484-9337 or NassauMuseum.org.
Join Scott Defrin, owner of European Decorative Arts in Greenvale for Nassau County Museum of Art’s exhibit related program “Collecting Decorative Arts During the Gilded Age; Connoisseurship vs. Decoration,” Sunday, Feb. 25, 3 p.m.
New York was the center for collecting during the Gilded Age. More money was spent on fine art, decorative art and interior decoration than at any time in American history. From Carnegie to Frick, and Morgan to Vanderbilt, Defrin discusses the different approaches to collecting among these magnates and how their fortunes helped establish the permanent collections of today’s museums.
Limited seating with registration required.1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. (516) 484-9337 or NassauMuseum.org.
Play mah jongg and canasta with the Sisterhood of Congregation B’nai Sholom-Beth David at their weekly game night, every Tuesday, 7:30-9:30 p.m., in the synagogue lobby. All are welcome at all skill levels. 100 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre. Visit CBSBDRVC.org for more.
Donate the lifesaving gift of blood, Saturday, Feb. 24, 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. at Hewitt Elementary School. Blood drive is in support of Rockville Centre mom Marissa Heitshusen and her newborn Christopher “Kip” Wells, who, after a difficult delivery, both needed transfusions. 446 Hempstead Ave. To sign up contact DRobinson2@NYBC. org.
Items on The Scene page are listed free of charge. The Herald welcomes listings of upcoming events, community meetings and items of public interest. All submissions should include date, time and location of the event, cost, and a contact name and phone number. Submissions can be emailed to thescene@liherald.com.
Princesses and other enchanting heroes and heroines take to the stage, when Plaza Theatricals presents its Winter Princess concert, Friday and Saturday, Feb. 23-24, 11 a.m. Take part in an interactive sing-a-long featuring an array of everyone’s favorite winter characters. $15. See it at The Showplace at Bellmore Movies, 222 Pettit Ave., Bellmore (Friday) or at Elmont Memorial Library Theatre, 700 Hempstead Turnpike, Elmont (Saturday). For tickets, visit PlazaTheatrical.com or call (516) 599-6870.
Help some felines. The Long Beach Humane Society at Kitty Cove hosts host its annual fundraiser at Maple Lanes RVC, Sunday, Feb. 25, 5-8 p.m. Tickets are $35 per person in advance or $40 at the door. The event will also feature raffle baskets, a 50/50 raffle and a silent auction. All proceeds will go to benefit Kitty Cove. 100 Maple Ave.
Covert Elementary School students will showcase a variety of tricks and skills during its annual Circus Night event at the South Side Middle School auditorium, Wednesday, Feb. 28, at 6 p.m. 67 Hillside Ave.
Enjoy an evening of laughs, featuring Dave Goldstein and Aaron Kominos Smith, at Congregation B’nai Sholom-Beth David, Saturday, March 2. Doors open at 7:45 p.m.; show starts at approximately 8:15 p.m. $50; includes light refreshments. 100 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre. Call (516) 764-4100 for more information and to RSVP.
You only have one heart. Getting your coronary calcium score can save your life. Mercy Hospital offers free cardiac screening, Wednesday, Feb. 28, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. A coronary calcium score is like a ‘mammogram’ for the heart to screen for blockage(s). This simple, non-invasive test can indicate coronary artery disease before the onset of symptoms or heart attacks. For eligibility, you will need to meet any of the following criteria: Be between the ages of 40-70 years old; history of smoking, high cholesterol or blood pressure (even if controlled), diabetes, overweight with BMI >25, family history of heart disease. Limited appointments available. 1000 N. Village Ave., Rockville Centre. call (516) 626-3729 to register or visit CHSLI.org/mercy-hospital.
Herald file photo
the diocese of rockville Centre is putting its $200 million settlement offer to a vote by a Committee of unsecured Creditors. the committee, representing more than 600 claims of child sexual abuse, has until march 22 to decide whether to accept or reject the offer or a bankruptcy court will dismiss the Chapter 11 case.
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE
SUPREME COURT
COUNTY OF NASSAU
Mortgage Assets Management, LLC, Plaintiff AGAINST
Nassau County Public Administrator, as Limited Administrator of the Estate of Yolande E. Bayard-Gaston a/k/a Yolande Gaston; et al., Defendant(s)
Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered October 17, 2023 I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side Steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on March 13, 2024 at 2:30PM, premises known as 1180 Woodfield Road, Rockville Centre, NY 11570. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau, State of New York, Section 38 Block 105 Lot 153.
Approximate amount of judgment $506,388.47 plus interest and costs.
Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index# 607221/2017. The auction will be conducted pursuant to the COVID-19 Policies Concerning Public Auctions of Foreclosed Property established by the Tenth Judicial District. Foreclosure Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine.”
Peter Kramer, Esq., Referee
(516)510-4020
LOGS Legal Group LLP
f/k/a Shapiro, DiCaro & Barak, LLC
Attorney(s) for the Plaintiff 175 Mile Crossing Boulevard Rochester, New York 14624
(877) 430-4792 Dated: January 9, 2024 144730
LEGAL NOTICE
Public Notice to Bidders
Sealed Bids will be received by the Purchasing Department of the Village of Rockville Centre, One College Place, Room 204, Rockville Centre, New York 11570 for the matter stated below until 11:00 am prevailing time on MARCH 7, 2024 at which time they will be publicly opened and read aloud.
The contract will be awarded as soon thereafter as practicable for:
WIRE AND CABLE 2024/25
Bid No. 2403E1 (1106)
The bid specifications can be obtained/examined on the Village’s website at www.rvcny.gov. Follow the link to the Purchasing Department. All questions should be directed to the Purchasing Department. Please contact Lisa Strazzeri via email only at lstrazzeri@rvcny.us.
Questions must be submitted no later than February 29, 2024. Award of Contract will be made to the lowest responsible bidder in accordance with applicable provisions of the law. The Village reserves the right to reject all bids or make such determination as in the best interests of the Village, as provided by law.
Purchasing Department
Lisa Strazzeri
Purchasing Agent 516-678-9213
144965
LEGAL NOTICE
LEGAL NOTICE
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Board of Trustees of the Incorporated Village of Rockville Centre (Village) will hold a public hearing with
respect to the following proposed local law:
RVC 2024A. A local law to amend the Code of the Village of Rockville Centre, in relation to conditions of off-street parking variances or waivers.
Time and Place of
Hearing: Eugene J. Murray Village Hall One College Place, Rockville Centre, New York
Date of Hearing: March 4, 2024
Time of Hearing: 7:00 pm
The proposed local law is available for public inspection at the Village Clerk’s office at One College Place, Rockville Centre, New York, between 8:00 am and 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday, except legal holidays. All interested persons will have an opportunity to be heard at the public hearing.
The Village complies with the Americans With Disabilities Act. Disabled persons with special needs should contact the Village Clerk’s office at 516-678-9212 at least three business days prior to the hearing, so that reasonable efforts may be made to accommodate such needs.
Dated: February 16, 2024 BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE VILLAGE OF ROCKVILLE CENTRE 144964
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE
SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE UNDER SECURITIZATION
SERVICING AGREEMENT DATED AS OF AUGUST 1, 2005 STRUCTURED ASSET
SECURITIES CORPORATION, STRUCTURED ASSET INVESTMENT LOAN TRUST MORTGAGE
Continued from page 1
prevent judgments against them.
In the proposed Chapter 11 plan, the diocese would pay out $150 million in a claims trust, if creditors approve it. An additional $25 million would be added to the
on the first anniversary of the date of the agreement, followed by an additional $12.5 million on the second and third anniversaries.
The funding would comprise $81.6 million on behalf of the diocese’s 136 parishes and 39 schools, $32.9 million from the diocese, $45 million from cemetery maintenance funds, $7 million from Catholic Charities of Long Island, $16 million from the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception, $15 million from the Ecclesia Assurance Company, and a $2.5 million rebate in legal fees, the sum total of which would release diocese parishes, schools and contributors from liability.
against it following Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s approval of the Child Victims Act in 2019, which extended the statute of limitations on sexual abuse claims.
Representatives of the creditors’ committee presented its potential reorganization plan in January 2023, proposing to settle all claims for $450 million in restitution.
In response, the diocese put forward the $200 million counter-offer, with contributions to be made by the diocese, its parishes, co-insured parties and other members of the ministry, not including insurance payouts.
James Stang, an attorney representing the creditors’ committee, said that after three years of litigation, the proposal from the diocese remains substantially less than what they were asking for.
THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2005-HE3, Plaintiff, Against FOLAREMI ABIOLA, ET AL, Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale, duly entered 02/01/2018, I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction, on the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, N.Y. 11501 on 3/26/2024 at 2:30PM, premises known as 1288 Dekoven Street, Rockville Centre, New York 11570, And
Described As Follows:
ALL that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the At Rockville Centre, Town Of Hempstead, County Of Nassau And State Of New York. Section 38 Block 114 Lot 905, 906, And 907. The approximate amount of the current Judgment lien is $557,690.22 plus interest and costs. The Premises will be sold subject to provisions of the aforesaid Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale; Index # 15-010953
If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, the then Court Appointed Referee will cancel the Foreclosure Auction. This Auction will be held rain or shine.
Janine Lynam, Esq., Referee.
MCCABE, WEISBERG & CONWAY, LLC, 10 Midland Avenue, Suite 205, Port Chester, NY 10573
Dated: 1/9/2024
File
Number: 15-315268 CA
145016
Place a notice by phone at 516-569-4000 x232 or email: legalnotices@liherald.com
“The Diocese, along with the parishes and related parties, has sold and encumbered assets and cut budgets to the bone to provide the best possible offer it can in good faith,” Dolan said in a statement. “The goal has always been to provide a fair and equitable resolution for all claimants while allowing the Church, her schools, and her charitable work to continue. Throughout this process, the Diocese, parishes, schools and related ministries have continued to operate without interruption. While seeking a resolution for the survivors, we must also continue our ongoing Catholic mission of providing spiritual, educational, and charitable support to all those in need on Long Island.”
The diocese would also set aside an additional $9.9 million to pay any abuse claims in the next five years, after which the money would revert back to the institution.
The diocese, the eighth-largest in the nation, filed for bankruptcy in late 2020, after hundreds of lawsuits were filed
“We expect the plan of reorganization to go out for voting early next week,” Stang told the Herald. “It will include a letter in which we recommend that people vote ‘no.’”
The letter also includes a list of nonmonetary concessions to improve abuse protections and promote healing for survivors who are not part of the Chapter 11 plan.
Corrine Ball, a lawyer representing the diocese, argued that several suggestions on the list be trimmed, according to Law360, saying that Bishop John Barres had already met with the claimants, and that the diocese had already instituted abuse-prevention procedures. Ball also said that demands to include a memorial at the diocesan headquarters and remove the names of alleged abusers from church-owned properties are moot, since the diocese sold its headquarters to pay for the trust and that, to its knowledge, there are no existing buildings named after any of the accused.
Stang argued, however, that the provisions sought by the committee are still relevant to future decisions by the church.
Catholic Health Mercy Hospital in Rockville Centre celebrated a milestone in December — having performed 1,000 surgeries using robots. The hospital’s Operating Room team, along with Dr. Peter Sticco use cutting-edge technology to perform minimally invasive procedures on patients. The team along with Mercy Hospital staff and administrators came together to celebrate this achievement with balloons, pizza and of course, cake.
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Long Island Herald has IMMEDIATE openings for a FULL-TIME & PART-TIME mailroom/warehouse helper in Garden City. We are a busy print shop looking for motivated and reliable individuals to assist in various duties in the shop. Forklift experience is a plus and heavy lifting is required. Hours vary, so flexibility is key. Salary
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Looking for an aggressive self starter who is great at making and maintaining relationships and loves to help businesses grow by marketing them on many different advertising platforms. You will source new sales opportunities through inbound lead follow-up and outbound cold calls. Must have the ability to understand customer needs and requirements and turn them in to positive advertising solutions. We are looking for a talented and competitive Inside Sales Represen-
to learn from some of the best in the business. Historically, reporters who have launched their careers with us have gone on to The New York Times, Newsweek, Newsday, the New York Daily News, New York Post, CNN, BBC, NBC News and The Daily Mail, among many others. We look for excellent writers who are eager to learn, enhance their skills, and become well-established and respected journalists in our industry. Salary range is from $20K to $45K To apply: Send a brief summary in the form of a cover letter describing your career goals and what strengths you can bring to our newsroom, along with a resume and three writing samples to mhinman@liherald.com
Sponsorships. Earning potential ranges from $33,280 plus commission and bonuses to over $100,000 including commissions and bonuses.
Compensation is based on Full Time hours
Eligible for Health Benefits, 401k and Paid Time Off.
Please Send Cover Letter and Resume with Salary Requirements to rglickman@liherald.com or Call 516-569-4000 X250
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Q. Our house is large and very old, with a third story that was partially finished before purchase. We finished the rest of the attic and put in a few bedrooms and a bath. Recently we hired an architect to enlarge our kitchen into our backyard and make a nice entrance to a porch and patio with a fireplace. The architect made the plans, after several meetings, changes, etc., and then put them into our building department to pull a permit. We next got a notice that our attic is in violation, and we had to either take out all the finishes and bathroom or file plans to get a state permit.
None of this has anything to do with the kitchen or patio, which we hoped to have by summer. We suspect our architect made this much more complicated for us, but now we can’t undo what he did. Naturally, he gets more money to do more plans and permits, which we also think is rather sneaky and uncalled for. Can we report the architect for doing this to us, and can we pull back the permit so we can make all this go away and just do our kitchen?
A. So you believe everyone is out to get you, including your architect, and you have the right to “pull back” your permit, ignoring the conditions of your house. It doesn’t work that way.
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Unfortunately, even though most local governments know that most homes have violations, the governments choose not to prosecute every homeowner, since it would be bad for the business of getting re-elected, so code violations go on without a word until you make the first move, which you did, by coming to the attention of the building officials whose job is public safety.
Every day of the week, people ask if we can’t just look the other way. We absolutely can look the other way, but eventually who will believe us for lying or not doing our job? The issues of your home easily come up by simply bringing up satellite images, on-line accessible documents, including tax department records, showing what is in the home and whether the third floor was finished. Your building official doesn’t need the architect or you to figure out the truth about the illegalities in your home. When your architect shows the actual conditions, which he is required to do, including walls removed, walls finished in rooms that the building department has no previous record of, or other changes, he’s only doing his job. Imagine the scrutiny an architect would receive if a building official walked in to check the conditions and discovered that you and the architect had lied.
I have stated in this column, many times, the statistic that only five people out of 100 will survive a fire on the third floor. Ninety-five people will die of smoke inhalation or burns. So do the right thing and follow through, whichever way you choose. I’m pulling for you.
© 2024 Monte Leeper
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February is American Heart Month, and this is a story about my heart — literally and figuratively. It’s the reason I am where I am today.
I was born with a significant heart defect called dextrocardia, as well as a ventricular septal defect. Basically, my heart was on the wrong side of my chest cavity and inverted — and it had a hole in it.
SETH I. KoSLoW
When I was 3 months old, my doctors told my parents that I needed openheart surgery to close the hole. At the time, however, my mother was pregnant with my sister. My parents decided to wait until my sister was born before I underwent surgery. But somehow, for some reason, my heart decided that it had to be whole, and the hole I was born with began to close. My heart could stay as it was — imperfect and misplaced, but untouched.
Growing up, I found that I was doing a lot of things half-heartedly, so to speak. Schoolwork wasn’t heartening, and there were few things that excited me. I dreamed of becoming a lawyer, but I couldn’t muster up the resolve to pursue that dream — LSATs, law school, internships, thousands of dollars in loans, six more semesters of school, and years of building a professional profile.
Deterred by these seemingly insurmountable obstacles, I remained listless through my early 20s. For a few years after college, I worked in sales. I was good at it, but my heart was definitely in a different place.
That is, until it wasn’t.
went more than a dozen cardioversions to restore the heart’s regular rhythm, and tried various cocktails of medications, all to no avail.
A fter openheart surgery, I decided there was nothing I couldn’t make it through.
In my early 20s, I was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, or AFib, also known as an irregular heartbeat. It’s fairly common among senior citizens, but as a 20-something in college, I was now a member of a not-so-enviable exclusive club. Over the next several years, I battled my irregular heartbeats, under-
Eventually I met a cardiologist who specialized in adults with congenital heart defects — adults like me. He informed my family and me that the hole in my heart had reopened, and that it was substantially larger than it was when I was a child. This was causing my irregular heartbeat, and it would at last need to be closed. At age 25, because of the placement of my heart, I was about to undergo a potentially first-of-its-kind open-heart surgery.
On March 15, 2007, after five hours of surgery, I awoke with a heart that was beating normally for the first time in almost five years. Making it through that operation sparked something in my soul. Instead of whining about what I had to do to get to where I wanted to be, I decided to ball my fists up, dig in and do it. After all, I had just made it through open-heart surgery. Was there
anything I couldn’t make it through? I finally sat for the LSAT and got myself into law school.
That’s the attitude that’s gotten me to where I am today. When I was burning the candle at both ends, cramming for law school exams and eventually the bar exams, I would remind myself that I was getting stronger. When I was struggling to build my own law practice while juggling my responsibilities as a husband and father, I would remind myself of all that my heart could handle.
Naturally, when I saw an opportunity to run for office, a chance to represent and fight for all the communities our local government has left behind, I knew that I could take the heartburn of an arduous campaign, and that I could win over hearts and minds. That’s the mentality that I bring to my law practice, and to my work with my fellow legislators.
The arc of my life’s journey is proof that we are all stronger than we know — that we are all more capable than we can comprehend.
Seth I. Koslow represents Nassau County’s 5th Legislative District.
Iread “Lady Chatterley’s Lover,” my first banned book, when I was 12. My friend lent me the book, and I found the good parts by the dogeared pages. The experience did not compromise my moral compass or corrupt me in any way I can discern. I am not recommending the book for today’s 12-year-olds, because it’s a pretty boring read, but I am advocating that a broad spectrum of books be available to students who choose to read them.
This month, Library Lovers Month, I want to push back hard against the selfappointed literature vigilantes across our country, who are removing books from school library shelves and banning them from classrooms under the guise of protecting children from inappropriate subject matter.
It’s called censorship, and the problem, of course, is who gets to decide what is appropriate or not. In the past, librarians have had full discretion in selecting books. They are trained for the job and trusted in their choices. In
the best libraries, the books reflect all the ways that children and teenagers can be in the world, including gay or trans or identified with any race or religion or socio-economic group.
work for vulnerable kids.
I don’t know if a book has ever saved someone’s life, but I know for sure that battles over books are endangering lives by keeping young people from information and stories that might validate their choices in important ways.
book-ban list, by definition, express feelings, experiences and political views that the prevailing culture prefers to pretend do not exist.”
SFor some young people, the school library is the only place they can read about kids just like themselves. They can learn that others share their confusion or anxiety or fear of being different.
tudents need open access to all kinds of books by all kinds of writers.
I don’t believe that a teenager can “catch” being gay or trans from reading about it, the underlying prejudice being that there is something wrong with that identity. We can’t scrub young adult literature for references to slavery or minority struggles or even violence, because the best writing reflects real life.
A couple of weeks ago, The New York Times told the story of a librarian in Idaho who organized a “Rainbow Squad,” welcoming children of different backgrounds to read and talk about books. A local church group protested, and the community is battling over whether the Rainbow Squad should be banned, along with the books they’re reading.
I wonder how this group threatens anyone, even as it creates a support net-
In The Washington Post last week, columnist Kate Cohen wrote about the school board in her hometown, Rockingham, Virginia, deciding to ban 57 books in the school library. One-third of the books feature gay or trans characters. Cohen wrote, “Freedom to read is the closest thing we have to freedom to think.”
This month, there can be no more pressing public business than to guarantee age-appropriate, open access to all kinds of books by all kinds of writers, for students across the land.
What can we do? Each of us can become familiar with our school and community libraries, stay informed about the books available to teens and oppose efforts by any groups of book police to decide what teenagers should read. In some communities in Florida, a single parent’s complaint about a book in a school library can get it banned.
As Cohen wrote, “The books on any
I think how lonely and desperate teenagers trying to figure out their lives without access to books must feel. Wellwritten books on racism or sexuality or addiction are a far better source for our kids than TikTok.
We read books for many reasons beyond wanting to be entertained — to solve the mysteries in our lives, to be dazzled or outraged by the way others live. Sometimes we can find our beliefs and lives affirmed in the pages of a new book.
The reason authoritarian entities, be they runaway school boards or governments, ban books is to limit access to ideas that might challenge their power.
We resist by reading and sharing.
The New York Public Library is offering free access to banned books for teenagers anywhere in the country through SimplyE, its e-reader app. The latest banned book pick is “All American Boys,” by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely. It is available to all readers ages 13 and older.
There are worlds out there to be explored. I have had this joy in my life, and I want the same for every reader.
Copyright 2024 Randi Kreiss. Randi can be reached at randik3@aol.com.
in the past couple of weeks, we’ve been getting a lot of something we haven’t seen much of over the past couple of years: snow.
So much, in fact, that schools in our communities had no choice but to close. And because of that, we have just one thing to say to our school districts in Nassau County: Thank you for the snow day.
Yes, education works best when it’s rigorous and on a schedule. If the young minds loading buses each day were robots, then we’d probably be hesitant to interrupt the routine. Thankfully, our children are living, breathing people. And all of us can use a break from time to time — especially one we didn’t expect.
Anyone who grew up in a climate susceptible to winter almost assuredly experienced at least one snow day in their life, if not several. They go all the way back to the 19th century, when schools became gathering points children would flock to — and where safety would become paramount.
In places like Long Island, where crews are adept at clearing roads, even the best can be overwhelmed by significant storms and heavy snowfalls. And while it might feel like a free day off for many of our young learners, nearly all school districts have built snow days into the schedule — meaning any unexpected days off will be made up later in the spring.
We here on Long Island understand
the value of snow days, but not everyone shares those values. In fact, there is a growing contingent of education leaders right in our backyard who have been working hard to wipe snow days from existence.
It’s not that New York City has it out for an occasional unscheduled school closing. It’s just that the city’s education department has capitalized on the expansion of technology necessitated by the coronavirus pandemic, which made remote learning for all not just possible, but practical.
For the 1.1 million students who attend more than 1,800 schools in the city, instead of sitting inside a classroom to learn on days when it snows, they are sitting in their living rooms and bedrooms instead. All while other people their age, living just a few miles away, grab their snowsuits and sleds and enjoy the winter beauty Mother Nature has delivered.
Learning is important, but snow days are valuable. Quite valuable, in fact. Beyond safety, they provide a muchneeded mental health break — not just for students, but also for the adults responsible for their learning.
The pressure of academic demands and extracurricular activities can be intense. That can lead not just to stress, but even to burnout.
Snow days give all of us a chance to recharge and relax with some unscheduled playtime outdoors. And that’s important, too. We hear too much about
To the Editor:
We are professional firefighters!
I take exception to the comment made by writer Brandon Cruz in his article “Long Island needs more volunteer firefighters” (Feb. 8-14) that our volunteer firefighters are not “professionals.” Cruz reports that if new volunteers don’t join local fire departments, communities will need to hire “professional” firefighters.
Our volunteers are professional firefighters, just not paid for what we do for our communities. We, as volunteers, don’t just put on turnout gear and rush into a burning building without the needed, required and constant training provided by the Nassau County Fire Service at its training facility in Bethpage, and here in Lynbrook, our own department’s training and drills at our training facility in Wilcox Alley.
Back some 44 years ago, the Lynbrook Fire Department was facing a firefighter shortage, and formed the Lynbrook Junior Fire Department for youngsters 12 to 17, to interest them in firefighting, with the goal of becoming firefighters when they turned 18.
During their time as juniors, the youngsters learn basic firefighting methods without actually fighting fires.
how video games, computers and television keep so many of our kids indoors. But freshly fallen snow is irresistible, and will almost assuredly get them outside to have some fun. It’s good for their physical health in a way that sitting in front of a computer, watching a teacher on Zoom, just can’t provide.
And a snow day is a chance to build community. Families come together to shovel sidewalks, or maybe help neighbors in need. Children get together, working to build snow forts, or even a snowman, complete with a carrot nose and a top hat.
And who doesn’t love an impromptu snowball fight?
All of that comes with many parents still working remotely, which helps mitigate child-care issues and costs that might otherwise accompany snow days.
Just remember that these days are not breaks for everyone. Let’s not forget the municipal workers who wake up early to plow the snow, as well as the brave souls at utility companies, hospitals, and fire and police departments who, as first responders, are always prepared for the worst.
Each one of our children will spend more than 1,200 days in class through high school. Let them have a break. And let’s show New York City yet another reason why more and more people choose to live and work here on Long Island.
Because on Long Island, snow days are cool.
Long Island has become the center of new York’s — and the nation’s — political conversation. In recent elections, state and local policies have had an enormous influence on nassau and Suffolk County campaigns that ultimately played a decisive role in determining control of Congress.
But while politicians and party operatives struggle to find a political advantage in laws passed by Albany or our County Legislature, real people affected by these policies are waiting for those of us in office to find common ground on issues that should bring us together, not divide us.
Look at the raise the Age law, for example. In 2017, I was proud to join both my Democratic and republican colleagues in support of ending new York’s shameful status as one of the last two states to prosecute all 16- and 17-year-olds as adults. Today, thanks to the law, a large majority of young people’s cases move through family court, where the goal is rehabilitation through effective intervention rather than criminalization.
raise the Age is a crucial component in building a healthy, sustainable future. It allows young people to get the services they need to get their lives on track. It also allows them to access quality jobs and fully contribute to our society without convictions from when they were teenagers holding them back.
sContrary to false claims labeling family court a “slap on the wrist,” young people may face mandatory programs, supervision by law enforcement, pretrial detention, and placement in residential facilities. But when the system is working well, they are connected with a range of community-based services and resources, which aim to address the underlying factors that led them to commit crimes. And they can use of those services — and the opportunities they provide — without the burden of an adult criminal record.
reduction in shootings with injuries from 2021 to 2023.
As a former public defender, I know firsthand how crucial services like SnUG are to the health and safety of our young people and their communities. By targeting the crux of the issue, they reduce recidivism and help struggling youth become wellfunctioning, productive members of their communities.
etting young offenders straight without burdening them with adult criminal records.
Since raise the Age took effect, thousands of young people who would otherwise have spent months or even years of their childhood in adult jails and prisons have had access to services designed to help them improve their lives and avoid future interactions with the criminal legal system. For some, this is the first time they have had trusted adults whom they can rely on and turn to for guidance.
vices, serious crimes perpetrated by those under 18 decreased by 12 percent in nassau County and a stunning 57 percent in Suffolk. These statistics demonstrate the efficacy of, and critical need for, community-based programming to make our neighborhoods safer.
Despite raise the Age’s success, its implementation has received a mere fraction of the funding state leaders promised. It’s been reported that as of 2022, only $270 million of the $800 million that was appropriated for it had been invested in community-based programs and services for young people around the state. Think of how much more successful raise the Age could be if the state adequately funded it, and community-based organizations and service providers could apply for and receive that funding directly.
one such service is the SnUG Street outreach program, which uses a public health model to reduce gun violence throughout the state by mediating conflict, mentoring youth, and working with local partners to make our streets safer. The 13 communities that are home to the program — including Hempstead — reported a 36 percent
When they turn 18, they join one of our fire companies, begin formal basic training at the county Fire Service Academy and are considered probationary firefighters for one year while they complete additional training.
Yes, we always need more volunteers, but our junior program is helping to fill our ranks.
Many area fire departments have also formed junior programs, based on ours, to help fill their own ranks.
Admittedly, the juniors aren’t always enough, and some years are better than others. Lynbrook’s chief of department and three assistant chiefs came through our junior program. This isn’t the first time that all four chiefs have been former juniors. Many of our current volunteers came through our junior program.
There are now 30 youngsters in the Lynbrook Junior Fire Department. Two former juniors joined fire companies last month alone when they turned 18. It is estimated that over 40 percent of our juniors go on to become Lynbrook firefighters.
STeve GroGAn LynbrookGrogan is a 56-year member of the Lynbrook Fire Department and an
ex-captain and honorary chief. He co-founded the Lynbrook Junior Fire Department, and is the department’s public information officer.
We need more governance, less politics
To the editor:
re County Legislator Delia DeriggiWhitton’s column “Stop playing petty political games with county resources” last week: The difference of opinion between the legislative minority leader and the majority leader illustrates the difference between governance and politics. nassau would benefit from more of the former and less of the latter.
The millions of dollars in American rescue Plan Act funds at issue, having not been spent as intended, present a “windfall.” Shall we have Bruce Blakeman billboards or firehouse funds? Are we improvident grasshoppers or prudent and ant-like? Shall we squander millions on a 125th-birthday party or prudently invest in libraries, cybersecurity and clean water?
BrIAn KeLLY
Rockville Centre
In recent years, I’ve been disappointed by how many of my misinformed colleagues have attempted to blame raise the Age for an increase in crime on Long Island, especially when the data say otherwise. This should be a law that unites us.
From the law’s implementation in 2018 through 2022, according to the state Division of Criminal Justice Ser-
It’s high time that we rise to the occasion and demand more for the most vulnerable members of our communities, and that starts by calling on Albany to invest in our youth by fully funding raise the Age and supporting evidence-based strategies that create pathways for our young people’s rehabilitation, growth and opportunity. Let’s not let fear-mongering and political mudslinging talk us out of public policy that is proven to work — and that lifts all of us up.
Framework by Tim Baker
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