Rockville Centre Herald 02-23-2023

Cyclones battle in playoffs

Page 6

Lou Matarazzo, NYPD union stalwart, dies

By DANIEl oFFNER doffner@liherald.com

Louis Matarazzo, a retired New York City police officer and a longtime police union representative from Rockville Centre, died on Feb. 12, at age 83.

Over the past half-century, Matarazzo dedicated his life to law enforcement. He was a lifetime member of the NYPD’s Columbia Association, the fraternal organization of Italian-American police, and a stalwart champion of any cause that supported and endorsed his beloved profession.

Matarazzo was the son of an Italian shoemaker, according to a

2006 article in The New York Times, and was fiercely proud of his Italian-American heritage. He grew up in East Harlem, and his family later moved to the South Bronx, where he attended James Monroe High School. He started his career with the NYPD in 1964, as a patrolman assigned to the 108th Precinct in Long Island City. By the mid-1970s, he had settled in Rockville Centre with his wife of more than 60 years, Frances, and their five children.

Matarazzo was elected to his first full-time position with the Police Benevolent Association in 1977, and spent the next 23 years

Continued on page 9

Middle school upgrades top school budget priority list

By DANIEl oFFNER doffner@liherald.com

Roof repairs and a new artificial-turf field at South Side Middle School are top priorities for the Rockville Centre school district in next year’s budget.

At a budget workshop on Feb. 15, Robert Bartels, assistant superintendent of business, detailed how the district plans to transfer $4.3 million from its fund balance to cover the cost of the capital projects.

“We were given additional funding from the federal government for different Covid expenses, and it actually allowed us to increase our fund

balance over the last several years,” Bartels explained. “So we wanted to take part of that fund balance and apply it towards some capital projects.”

He said that by using $2.5 million from its existing fund balance, along with $1.8 million set aside from last year, the district will be able to cover the cost of the renovations without impacting taxpayers.

The proposed $136.4 million spending plan for 2023-24, which the district presented at the workshop, includes $31.2 million in increases in teacher and employee benefits, $13.2 million in administrative costs, and $7.8 million for capital proj-

ects and debt services. If approved by voters in May, it would increase overall school spending by 5.72 percent — or $7.4 million — next year.

The tax levy is projected to increase by 1.99 percent — or $103.8 million. Due to reassessments of residential property in Nassau County, Bartels said, the tax levy could increase up to 2.21 percent without exceeding the state-mandated cap.

State and foundation aid, the latter of which is based on a formula designed to help provide more money to schools with high-need students, are expected to increase by 17.8 percent, or $19.3 million. The hike

in state aid comes as part of Gov. Kathy Hochul’s proposed executive budget, which would increase funding for public school districts across the state by $3.1 billion in 2023-24.

In his presentation, Bartels emphasized that the spending plan would not impact existing programs, would add new cybersecurity protection, and

would fund the district’s plans for an integrated co-teaching model at South Side middle and high schools.

It also includes plans for new coding and robotics curriculums throughout the schools, upgrades to the high school basement locker room, new football equipment and six new

Continued on page 5

Courtesy NYPD Ceremonial Unit

MEMBERs oF tHE NYPD carried Lou Matarazzo’s casket out of St. Agnes Cathedral after his funeral Mass last Friday.

Hempstead approves ‘discriminatory’ maps

By ANA BORRUTO aborruto@liherald.com

They were angry, expressing those feelings as shame on the Hempstead Town Board. They are the group that has attended meeting after meeting, hoping to get some voice into how town board district lines would be redrawn, only to end up disappointed.

It was an unsurprising end, but one that resulted in boos.

“That’s nice, ladies and gentlemen,” Town Supervisor Don Clavin said, with unmistakable sarcasm. “That’s very polite of you.”

They had pushed for what they considered to be better representation on the town board — providing more opportunities for Hempstead’s growing minority populations to serve in elected positions through the creation of “minority-majority” districts. If they had passed, districts would be created where ethnic minorities were, in fact, the voting majority.

But none of them came to pass. Most surprisingly, with the help of Deputy Town Supervisor Dorothy Goosby — who notably challenged what she called Hempstead’s discriminatory at-large voting system in 1988 — who remained silent throughout the redistricting process, only to finally vote yes to the new map.

“In this moment in time, we are reinventing the same revisionist, segregationist history that has kept so many people behind,” said Mida Mereday of Baldwin. “Our voices have not been heard all this time — it’s not going to be anything different.”

Since the beginning of the Hempstead redistricting discussions, the concerns raised by opponents to the initial town-drawn maps has not changed: District lines should be redrawn to have a more balanced demographic representation.

some heat from the crowd gathered to discuss redistricting with claims he failed to listen to their concerns. Many of them had pushed for at least three ‘minority-majority’ districts, with the hopes of creating a town board that reflects the people living there.

But under the guidance of the Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders law firm as well as redistricting expert Sean Trende, the Town Board released a redistricting map proposal last month they said took into account public comments as well as the views of the redistricting commission — who recommended the board keep communities intact.

However, some doubted these intentions. When looking at the final map, attendees said there are communities still in danger of “packing” and “cracking,” such as Elmont, Uniondale, North Bellmore and Baldwin.

These methods fall under partisan gerrymandering — giving one side an advantage in a single district but no others, or simply breaking up voter blocs so a particular type of candidate can’t get enough support to win.

“The New York state constitution (says) the district shall not be drawn to discourage competition, or for the purpose of favoring or disfavoring incumbents or any other particular candidates or parties,” said Terry Bain, a former immigration judge from Rockville Centre. “It looks to me like this proposal may violate this spirit, as well as the letter of our state constitution.”

If Hempstead finalizes this current map, it could expose the town to costly litigation — all at taxpayer expense. Especially since a number of people in the audience who oppose the new map say they are willing to take the matter to court.

Dan Oppenheimer, a Hempstead village resident, says it’s interesting the final redistricting map was adopted while one of the six council district seats — formerly occupied by now U.S. Rep. Anthony D’Esposito — remains vacant.

As the vacancy approaches two months, some are anticipating the Hempstead town board will continue its ages-old tradition of appointing someone to fill the seat. These vacancies are often created when a council member runs successfully for another position. Recent appointments by the board to the town council include Thomas Muscarella, Melissa Miller and Dennis Dunne.

Clavin’s response to this practice when questioned about it was only that the board plans to “comply with Town of Hempstead law.”

“This is not something to do with voting representation when you have a history, year in and year out, of appointing rather than allowing for votes,” Oppenheimer told Clavin. “You are bypassing the electoral system that the districts are supposed to address.”

Ana Borruto/Herald HEMPSTEAD TOWN SUPERVISOR Donald Clavin faced

Charity game raises money for a cause Kellenberg and Sacred Heart Academy compete to raise funding for cancer research

By DANIEL OFFNER doffner@liherald.com

Kellenberg and Sacred Heart Academy

teamed up with the Mary Ruchalski Foundation for a charity basketball game between the two Catholic high school girls’ JV and Varsity teams.

The Play 4 Mary campaign was created in 2020 in memory of Mary Ruchalski, a Rockville Centre native who died in 2018 at the age of 12 after being treated for rhabdomyosarcoma — a rare form of cancer.

For the last five years, the campaign has hosted several charity sporting events, from volleyball to field hockey, with the goal of raising money for the organization and spreading awareness of pediatric cancer.

Lauren Marquardt, a Sacred Heart Academy senior student and captain of the Varsity basketball team, who was close friends with Mary through their mutual love of basketball, coordinated the charity event, which took place back in January.

“This was the year that she wanted to do it and make it as special as possible,” her mother, Renee Marquardt said. “I was overwhelmed by the two school communities coming together to show support.”

Each of the teams were so enthusiastic about the match, that they created their own Play 4 Mary T-shirts with their team logo on the back, and all of the girls who played were given gold bows that were worn during the game.

To help raise money for the foundation both of the schools put together a community bake sale in the front lobby. They also each offered up a week of summer camp, which were raffled off, and helped solicit pledges from donors based on the number of three-pointers scored during the game.

“The day could not have gone any better, as we set a true example of what playing for children who don’t have a chance to play, should be,” Lauren Marquardt said.

During halftime, the 4th and 5th grade St. Agnes CYO basketball teams were invited onto the court for a friendly match in memory of Ruchalski — who attended St. Agnes Cathedral School.

Mary’s mother, Carol Ruchalski, created the foundation in 2019 in an effort to help raise money for cancer research. To date, the foundation has helped raise nearly a half-million dollars for research at the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. It has also given more than $100,000 to other families of childhood cancer patients facing financial hardships.

“There was so much energy in the gym,” Ruchalski said about the Play 4 Mary event. “We really felt Mary was

with us there.”

In total, the charity basketball games helped raise more than $4,000 for the foundation, while the JV and Varsity teams from both schools each walked away with a win.

“If there is anything I learned as I journey through life, it’s to just truly be grateful for everything you have,” Marquardt said. “You never know what could happen. You are here right now. Thank your parents. Thank your coaches. Be a better human. Be like Mary.”

Sue Grieco/Herald photos

ThE KELLENBERg JuNIOR Varsity Girls’ basketball team wore gold T-shirts and bows to honor Mary Ruchalski, a Rockville Centre native who died from a rare form of cancer at the age of 12.

SAcRED hEART AcADEmy and Kellenberg Junior Varsity Girls basketball teams compete during the Play 4 Mary charity event.

VARSITy STuDENTS FROm both teams went toe-to-toe on the court during the Play 4 Mary fundraiser in January.

cAROL RuchALSKI, cENTER, joins the Sacred Heart Academy Girls’ Varsity basketball team at the bake sale fundraiser before the game. In total, the event helped raise more than $4,000 for cancer research.

Roberta,

Eight

Mercy Hospital offers Externship Program

Did you know that Catholic Health’s Mercy Hospital offers an externship program where graduate students provide cognitive behavioral therapy to its psychiatric patients?

The pilot program began in October of 2015 and thus far Mercy Hospital has welcomed over 100 students, from various institutions, who have treated over 2,000 psychiatric patients.

Currently, there are eight graduate students enrolled in the program. They are all on track to become licensed mental health counselors and/or on track to earn

their Masters or PhD.

The externship program at Mercy provides students with an immersive experience. The students provide one-on-one and/or group therapy on Mercy’s acute psychiatric unit as well as assist in conducting follow-up on psychiatric consults offered on the hospital’s medical floors. They also provide cognitive behavioral therapy for its medical patients who may be dealing with depression, anxiety, grief, PTSD, etc.

For more information about the program, call 516-626-3729.

Crime watCh Arrests

■ Patrick Falcone, 31, of Bellmore was arrested on Feb. 13, while driving on Merrick Road. He has been charged with aggravated driving while intoxicated and other vehicle and traffic law offenses.

■ Javet Alli, 29, of Freeport was arrested on Feb. 17 after threatening a Rockville Centre Code Enforcement officer with a knife over a parking ticket he

received along N. Marion Place. He has been charged with menacing and criminal possession of a weapon.

■ Josephine Cloquell, 54, received a Rockville Centre Court appearance ticket on Feb. 20, for violations of the village’s social host law. Police responded to calls about a loud house party taking place at her residence. When the reporting officer arrived, he observed approximately 40 to 50 underage youths consuming alcoholic beverages in the backyard.

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.

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

Courtesy Catholic Health’s Mercy Hospital

graduatE studEnts in Mercy Hospital’s externship program are on track to become licensed mental health counselors and on track to earn their Masters or PhD.

District proposes a $136M spending plan

continued from front page

sports teams.

Bartels also shared some the administration’s suggestions for capital expenditures in the future, which he said could be put to a bond vote. They include the addition of space to enlarge classrooms, hallways, and buildings, devoting more space to the district’s pre-K program, and upgrades to HVAC and fire alarm systems as well as athletics facilities.

“If there was something where we decided to do things much larger, in a bond,” Superintendent Matt Gaven explained, “we would use that same money that we already have built in to offset anything that would be used to increase (the cost to) the taxpayer.”

Bartels said that by moving funds between its capital fund and debt services, the district would be able to set aside money, outside the tax cap, to help fund future upgrades.

After the presentation by Bartels, members of the

Board of Education and district administrators discussed some of the budget’s highlights.

“It’s no easy task to try and take everything that we’re doing here with our proposed budget, and explain it in a way that makes sense,” board President Kelly Barry said. “Not just what we’re doing, but why we’re doing it and how we’re doing it. It allows us to make decisions and plan effectively, given our econom-

ic reality.”

District officials plan to continue the budget discussions — including the rollout of new curriculum — at a public work session on March 9. The budget vote and school board election will take place on May 16. Two trustee seats will be on the ballot, and voters will also decide on the proposed 2023-24 budget for the Rockville Centre Public Library.

Daniel Offner/Herald

AssistAnt superintendent robert Bartels, far right, with education board president Kelly Barry and Superintendent Matt Gaven presents an overview of the proposed spending plan for the 2023-24 academic year.

it’s no easy task to try and take everything that we’re doing here with our proposed budget, and explain it in a way that makes sense.

Kelly bArry president, Board of Education

Herald SPO r TS

South Side advances to Class A semifinals

By TONY BELLISSIMO tbellissimo@liherald.com

Two of Nassau County’s longest winning streaks were on the line Tuesday night in the boys’ basketball Class A quarterfinals, but only one could continue.

Seniors Robert Pericolosi, James Murphy and Josh Garelle made sure it was South Side’s.

The second-seeded Cyclones, coming off their lowest-scoring game of the season, had their offense humming again in a 62-52 home victory over No. 7 Great Neck South before a standing-room only crowd.

Pericolosi had 19 points and 12 rebounds, Murphy 18 points and Garelle 14 as South Side won its 20th consecutive game while snapping the Rebels’ win streak at 11. Jesse Roggendorf scored a game-high 20 Great Neck South (16-6), the Conference A1 champs which knocked off No. 10 Valley Stream North in the Round of 16.

“I liked how we moved the ball on offense and I really liked how tough we defended, especially down low,” South Side head coach Jerry D’Angelo said. “We started strong and had another big

push late in the first half after they got within a point. Then we had a nice start to the second half and held on from there.”

The Cyclones, who went undefeated in capturing the Conference A2 title, advanced to the semifinals where they’ll take on third-seeded Elmont next Tues-

When Does a Trust Make Sense

By now most people know that trusts avoid probate which is required with a will -if there are “probatable” assets, in other words those in your name alone. While many assets can be set up to avoid probate by putting joint owners on or by naming beneficiaries, titles to real estate in New York may not have beneficiaries and there are tax and liability reasons for not naming joint owners on real estate. As a result, real property generally goes through probate.

Other reasons to use trusts, besides avoiding probate for the home, are as follows:

1. Out-of-State Property. New York residents who own property in another state face two probates, one in New York and another in the other state. However, you may transfer both properties into your New York trust and avoid the “multiple probate problem”.

2. Trusts Are Private. Unlike wills, trusts are not filed in court, so there is no public record of how much you had, who you left

it to, where they live, and who you left out.

3. Special Needs Children. If you leave assets to a special needs child in a will, the court will appoint a lawyer to represent the special needs child which will require your estate to pay two lawyers and significantly delay the proceedings.

4. Keeping Your Assets in the Bloodline. Wills generally leave assets to your children and have no provisions for what happens after they get the inheritance. As a result, when your child dies, assets often go to inlaws and their families. Trusts can provide that your assets will stay in your bloodline for generations to come.

5. Protecting Assets from Long-Term Care Costs. Wills take effect on death and offer no long-term care asset protection. Often, the cost of care ends up leaving nothing for the heirs at death. Medicaid Asset Protection Trusts not only avoid probate, but also protect assets from being lost to longterm care costs.

day at 8 p.m. at Farmingdale State College. South Side defeated the Spartans twice during the regular season.

“Elmont is a good team but we want to repeat those results,” said Pericolosi, who after sitting out most of the second quarter in foul trouble hit two key baskets to help the Cyclones lead 32-25 at the

half. “We feel pretty good about ourselves after this one,” he added.

After Great Neck South’s Shaun Wei hit a pair of threes early in the third quarter to close the gap to 34-31, South Side caught fire and scored 21 of the next 29 points to build a 16-point cushion midway through the fourth.

Senior James Bivona chipped in 5 points, junior Patrick Mullin added 4, and junior Ryan Kennedy pulled down 8 rebounds.

The Cyclones (20-1) had scored at least 60 points in 10 straight games prior to last Saturday when they grinded out a 44-39 win over No. 15 Jericho. Murphy (19) and Garelle (10) scored in double figures in a game South Side led by 14 early in the third quarter.

“I don’t know if it was opening playoff jitters or what, but we had a rough shooting day from the outside and also from the foul line,” D’Angelo said. “Tonight we bounced back and played the way we’ve been playing all season.”

The Cyclones defeated Elmont 69-54 on Jan 10, and also 69-46 on Feb. 7.

“Elmont is quick and athletic, and we know how hard it is to beat a team three times,” D’Angelo said.

Media Origin Inc./Herald

ThE CYCLONES havE ripped off 20 straight wins and advanced to the Class A semifinals with a 62-52 victory over Great Neck South Tuesday night.

Vets can get free emergency mental health care

By MALLORY WILSON mwilson@liherald.com

Suicides among military veterans have been in decline over the past couple years, but today, a former soldier still takes his or her life every 85 minutes on average.

But now, veterans deemed to be in “acute suicidal crisis” can receive free emergency mental health services, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. That’s help that includes up to 30 days of in-patient care, and three months outpatient.

Veterans can find that help at any VA or non-VA health care facility at no cost. They don’t even need to be enrolled in the VA system to use this benefit.

Part of the Veterans Comprehensive Prevention, Access to Care and Treatment — or COMPACT — Act of 2020, the new rule allows veterans discharged after more than two years of service under conditions other than dishonorable are eligible for the care, which will either be paid for or reimbursed by the VA. The expanded care is meant to, “help prevent veteran suicide by guaranteeing no cost, world-class care to veterans in times of crisis,” according to a news release.

“Free or not free, the priority is getting them health care,” Pete Wenninger, immediate past commander of the East Meadow American Legion Post 1082, said. “The being burdened with a cost is not going to be helpful to them, but it is critical that when a veteran needs mental health, that they get it.”

The policy will provide, pay for, or reimburse for treatment of those who qualify for emergency suicide care, transportation costs, and follow-up care at a facility. It will also help veterans by making appropriate referrals while determining eligibility for other VA services and benefits.

“I think it was a great move,” said Ralph Esposito, director of the Nassau County Veterans Service Agency.

“These kids coming home today from Iraq, Iran and everything, they got problems. And they’re hurting.”

The policy will also apply to former members of the armed forces, including reserve members, who served “more than 100 days under a combat exclusion or in support of a contingency operation.” It’s also open to those discharged under conditions other than dishonorable, who were the victim of sexual assault, sexual battery, or sexual harassment while serving.

“The need is more and more, that’s why the government — I believe — started this program,” Esposito said. “They see it. It’s happening all over. And we’re doing all we can to get them out.”

At the Nassau VSA in East Meadow, vets needing mental help are sent to speak with counselors that are right there for them, Esposito said. There’s also a food pantry if they’re hungry, and where they can pick up other supplies as well.

“It’s heartbreaking because they’re young,” he said.

BREAKING DOWN BOUNDARIES WITH CANCER BREAKTHROUGHS

A NEW FEDERAL policy will allow veterans in ‘acute suicidal crisis’ to receive free mental health care, including in-patient care for up to 30 days, and outpatient care for up to three months.

Neil Miller/Herald file

“It’s a big thing, but I’m really happy that they did this and that we have this program going.”

According to the National Veteran Suicide Prevention annual report, there were 6,146 veteran suicides in 2020 — down 5 percent from the year before, and “lower than each prior year since 2006.”

“Veterans have a hard time dealing with the military experience,” said Frank Salamino, quartermaster for the East Meadow Veterans of Foreign War Post 2736. “They have a very hard time. I know myself firsthand.

The new program is a step in the right direction for veteran care, Salamino added, but more needs to be done. Starting with talking to veterans before they leave the service about what they’re thinking and what they need.

And when they do get home and look for medical care from the government, appointments are hard to come by — oftentimes spread out with months in between.

“It took me a long time to get some help,” Salamino said.

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Ex-PBA leader was dedicated to the force

working his way up through the ranks to become president of the PBA — the largest police union in the United States, representing more than 60,000 active and retired NYPD officers.

“Lou was a force, a gentleman who believed in the work we do as police officers,” U.S. Rep. Anthony D’Esposito, a retired NYPD officer, said on Twitter. “He spent his life committed to making law enforcement more respected, better trained, and fairly compensated.”

During his tenure with the union, Matarazzo served on the Rules, Grievance and Negotiating committees. He famously matched wits with then New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, and served on the Police Merger Committee in the 1990s with former Police Commissioner William Bratton, as well as the Police Pension Board.

Matarazzo left the PBA in 1998, and retired from the force a year later. But he didn’t stay retired for long before starting a new career, lobbying state lawmakers on behalf of law enforcement unions in the city and around the state.

In 2000 he was named the legislative director of the NYPD Detectives Endowment Association, representing 18,000 active and retired detectives, and began dividing his time between New York City and Albany.

He also served as legislative director of the NYPD Lieu

laws to protect the salaries and pensions — as well as the health and welfare benefits — of municipal workers. He was instrumental in passing legislation that created a supplemental pay structure for police and firefighters in addition to a pension, and helped lead the effort to allow police arbitration with state negotiators instead of the city.

“Lou was a constant presence in Albany fighting for our men and women in law enforcement,” Assemblyman Ed Ra said in a tweet.

One of Matarazzo’s proudest achievements was helping pass legislation to institute disability pensions and line-of-duty death benefits for those who became ill or died as a result of their work at ground zero after the Sept. 11 terror attacks.

In 2006, he was appointed to the Governor’s 9/11 Worker Protection Task Force, and served as its board’s vice chairman.

He also spent decades working with COP-Shot, a statewide program that offers cash incentives for information leading to the arrest and conviction of anyone who fires at police.

“I was good friends with Lou,” Rockville Centre PBA President James Carty said. “I was on the (State Association of PBAs) executive board, which he was a lobbyist for, and I knew him quite well. His passing is a great loss to the police and labor communities.”

Matarazzo loved baseball, and was a lifelong fan of the Yankees. He was also a devoted fan of Iona University, where his son, Lou Jr., played baseball for the Gaels. Lou Sr. also enjoyed reading, fine dining, and spending time

He is survived by his wife; his five children, Anna

Maria Barbieri (Tommy), Louis Matarazzo Jr. (Pasqua), Carla Haynes (Mark), John Matarazzo and Peter Matarazzo; his grandchildren, Brianna (John), Thomas, Gabriela (Zach), Olivia, Sophia, Angelina, Louis and Elena; his great-granddaughter, Lily Mae; and his dear friend Edward Arrigoni.

Hundreds attended Matarazzo’s funeral Mass at St. Agnes Cathedral last Friday, which was led by an NYPD motorcade. After the service, his casket was carried by his fellow officers and transported to Holy Rood Cemetery in Westbury.

In lieu of flowers, his family asks that donations be sent to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society or the NYC PBA Widows and Children’s Fund.

Courtesy NYPD Ceremonial Unit Hundreds gatHered outside St. Agnes Cathedral in Rockville Centre to honor former Police Benevolent Association President Louis Matarazzo.

Louis Matarazzo

Crystal Dunn returns to U.S. National team

By DANIEL OFFNER doffner@liherald.com

United States Women’s National Soccer team star and Rockville Centre native Crystal Dunn has a reputation for being versatile on the field.

Dunn, 30, is considered one of the best offensive players in the National Women’s Soccer League, but her equally impressive defensive skills made her a force to be reckoned with time and again.

She started her soccer career playing midfield and forward for South Side High School and the University of North Carolina and would continue to play at offensive positions after going pro.

But when former head coach Jill Ellis changed her shift to defense over five years ago, she was placed into a pivotal role that would help the national team to its 2019 World Cup title over the Netherlands.

“I no longer get to be Crystal who scores goals, assists, is this attacking player,” Dunn said in a recent interview with GQ magazine. “I step into an environment where I have to be world-class in a position that I don’t think is my best position. But I’ve owned it. I’ve made it my own, and I’ve tried to create it in my most authentic way. But I don’t love it.”

Last year was a breakout season for the Portland Thorns soccer star. Only five months after giving birth to her first child, she was back on the field, to score one of the most exciting goals in the history of the league.

It was an especially exciting moment for Dunn, whose semi-final goal against the San Diego Wave came as a surprise to some because she did it while playing at midfield.

Throughout the course of her career with the Women’s National Team, she has made 129 international game appearances, scoring a total of 24 goals and 19 assists. But what makes this so impressive, is that she did so while playing as a wing-back defender.

Following her victory at the club level, she is now back training with the U.S. national team for their next match in the SheBelieves Cup against Brazil on Feb. 22, after press time.

“I’m happy to be back, but I also feel like those feelings haven’t really gone away,” she said in the interview with GQ. “This camp is especially hard, too. I came off of a championship, I came off playing this attacking role, and then I come back here and I don’t get to do any of that anymore. It’s hard to switch that off. It’s not easy.”

Vlatko Andonovski, the current head coach of the Women’s National Team, said in a recent press conference that

Dunn is a “world-class player, but she has a choice too.”

“Nobody is forced to play in any position,” Andonovski said, according to Front Row Soccer.

He said that considering her recent pregnancy and break from the sport, her return to left-back was the easiest way to transition her back to the elite squad.

While ideally, she would have liked to play at midfield or wing, her coach said that she would be contending for a spot against top players like Rose Lavelle, Lindsey Horan, Catarina Macario, and Mallory Swanson.

“We’ve talked about it in the past,” Andonovski said. “Obviously now she’s back on the national team and she’s working her way back up.”

Based on her performance during their recent 2-0 victory over Canada, Andonovski said that he still isn’t certain that Dunn is physically prepared to endure a full 90-minute game just yet.

He said that for now Dunn will continue to play at left-back, but that her position could change if he feels at any point that she would be better suited to play at midfield or left-wing.

Following the GQ interview, Dunn explained that she wasn’t trying to suggest that she was unhappy with her place on the team, and was simply expressing how she sometimes feels internally as an offensive defenseman.

“It doesn’t mean that I’m trying to cause havoc or stir anything like that,” she said. “I think at the end of the day, it’s really just being authentic. I think that’s really my message that I would love to make sure is very clear.”

Courtesy National Women’s Soccer League SOccER StAR cRyStAL Dunn, of Rockville Centre, discusses her trials and tribulations as both a worldclass defender and offensive goal-scorer in a recent interview with GQ magazine.

STEPPING OUT

By Karen Bloom

Pigeon is here. Elephant and Piggie, Knuffle Bunny, too. Families will have “Mo” fun at Long Children’s Museum, with “The Pigeon Comes to Long Island! A Mo Willems Exhibit,” which encourages all to step inside Willems’ imagination.

This being the children’s museum, of course, the traveling exhibit — co-organized by Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh and the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art — is fully hands-on — inspired by the art and characters of the beloved children’s author.

“We know our audience, families, finds these books really appealing,” says Ashley Niver, the museum’s director of education. “Kids really relate to these characters, their feelings and how they work through their conflicts. The characters are playful and curious and the kids identify and respond to them.”

• Now through May 14, Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• $17 museum admission, $16 seniors 65 and older; additional fees for theater programming

• View the LICM events calendar at LICM.org for additional information or call (516) 224-5800

The Hot Sardines

The band brings their distinctive sound to the Landmark stage. Emerging a decade ago from the underground parties of Brooklyn to touring worldwide and recording a string of albums that’s racked up more than 60 million streams across digital platforms, the Hot Sardines’ own “potent and assured” (The New York Times), “simply phenomenal” (The Times of London) brand of reinvigorated classic jazz landed them at the center of a whirlwind. Their unique recipe blends hot jazz and sultry standards from the ’20s, ’30s, and ’40s, rich New Orleans sounds, a dash of ’40s Paris flavor, and vibrant musical surprises. It’s all steeped in salty stride piano and the music Louis Armstrong, Django Reinhardt and Fats Waller used to make. The result is straight-up footstomping jazz. Their name says it all: their iconic ‘hot’ styling will paint a vibrant picture with smoky sounds and audiences revel in the steamy, swanky influence of their art form.

Saturday, March 6, 8 p.m. $60, $50, $46. Jeanne Rimsky Theater at Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington. (516) 767-6444 or LandmarkOnMainStreet.org.

• Long Island Children’s Museum, Museum Row, Garden City.

The familiar characters immediately get an enthusiastic response — including best friend duo Elephant and Piggie, faithful companion Knuffle Bunny, and The Pigeon, that wily city bird best known for his antics in “Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!” Activities showcase Willems’ whimsy and humor, giving families opportunities to make art-inspired by Willems and learn about the rich social and emotional lives of the author’s characters. Illustrations, including sketches and other preliminary materials, are also on display.

At the heart of it all, the exhibit is designed to instill a love of reading.

“Mo Willems’ books are frequently the starting point for a child to understand the power of choice they hold in what to read and reread,” vice president for program and visitor experience Aimee Terzulli explains. “Willems creates characters that get children invested in wanting to spend more time with them as they choose to read more of his popular stories.”

The many components are approachable, even for the youngest kids. Highlights include:

• A bus station where kids can put on a bus driver costume and “drive around” the exhibit space.

• Kids can have hilarious conversations in the voices of Elephant, Gerald and Piggie at the “Elephone” double-sided phone booth.

• Use the hot dog launcher to launch foam hot dogs at The Pigeon and play the plinko game to give Duckling a cookie. “So silly and fun,” Niver adds. “Kids get a kick out of the hot dogs flying through the air.”

• Explore the laundromat and uncover Knuffle Bunny and other surprises among the clothes.

• Dress up Naked Mole Rat and send him down the runway for a one-of-a-kind fashion show.

• Work with the “lightbox” to try out illustration techniques that Willems uses for his books.

As always, related programming enhances the exhibit experience. The museum theater is especially active at the moment, with performances of Willem’s newest show “Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! The Musical!” (through March 25), followed by the return of the always-popular “Elephant & Piggie’s “We are in a Play!” (April 23 to June 3).

‘The Rocketman Show’

Remember when rock was young? You sure will at this tribute show. Rus Anderson, Elton John’s official body double for his Farewell Yellow Brick Road world tour launch, recreates an early Elton concert complete with colorful and flamboyant costumes actually worn by Elton himself. Enjoy a nostalgic night of Elton’s greatest hits, wildest outfits and outrageous stage antics. Anderson recreates the magic and live persona of a young Elton like no other. Storming around the stage with a fun-loving sense of flamboyance; part diva, part soccer player, killer vocalist, fierce piano player, all rock ‘n roller. His painstaking attention to detail includes wearing outlandish and spectacular costumes, including Elton’s iconic boots, glasses and jumpsuits from 1973, as well as a sparkly Swarovski tuxedo from 1984.

Friday, March 17, 8 p.m. $60, $45, Saturday, March 18, 8 p.m. $65, $45, $35, $30. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. (800) 745-3000 or Ticketmaster.com or ParamountNY.com.

WHeRe WHen

Photos courtesy Long Island Children’s Museum

Everyone enjoys Mo fun Each element in the gallery relates to specific books in the Mo Willems collection.

THE SCENE

March 3-4

Red and Blue

Signs and banners are already being displayed around the community and in the halls of South Side High School as student’s gear up for this timehonored tradition. The 107th annual competition will take place on Friday, March 3, and Saturday, March 4, at 7 p.m. in the South Side High School gymnasium.

Absolute Adele

Vocalist Jennifer Cella, who performs with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, returns to her alma mater, Nassau Community College, with an Adele tribute, Saturday, Feb. 25, 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Mainstage Theatre, Garden City. Tickets available at Nassau.BookTix.com/ seating.php. or NCC.edu.

Brandon ‘Taz’ Niederauer

March 6

The young guitar sensation visits the Landmark stage, Saturday, March 6, 8 p.m. Nineteenyear-old Brandon Niederauer, nicknamed “Taz” for his ferocious guitar playing, is living proof that dreams really do come true. Having performed in some of the most legendary venues with many of the most prominent musicians ofof our time, he has already earned himself quite the reputation. It all started at eight years old, when he watched the movie “School of Rock.” From then on, his guitar rarely left his hands. Just four years later, Brandon was cast in the principal role of guitarist “Zack Mooneyham” in the Tony Award-nominated Broadway production of “School of Rock the Musical.” And he never looked back. $30, $25. 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. 28, 7:309:30 p.m., in the synagogue lobby, 100 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre.

Musical revue

Plaza Theatrical continues its season with “Bette, Babs & Beyond!,” a showstopping tribute to the legendary ladies of music, Sunday, Feb. 26, 2:30 p.m. Celebrate the stories and songs of pop music’s most iconic women including Bette Midler, Barbra Streisand, Cher, Tina Turner, Aretha Franklin, Dolly Parton, Janis Joplin, and more. It’s performed at Plaza’s stage at the Elmont Library Theatre, 700 Hempstead Turnpike, Elmont. $40, $35 seniors. For tickets, call (516) 599-6870 or visit PlazaTheatrical.com.

Special Meeting on Housing Compact

Rockville Centre community leaders, school officials, and stakeholders are invited to attend a special meeting, Wednesday, March 1, at Village Hall, 1 College Pl., in Rockville Centre, to discuss Gov. Hochul’s plans for high density housing in transitadjacent communities.

On stage

Mo Willems’ popular The Pigeon comes alive on the Long Island Children’s Museum stage, Friday and Saturday, Feb. 2425, 2 p.m.; Thursday, March 2, 10:15 a.m. and 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.

RVC Homemakers

Learn crafts, cooking, canasta and so much more while doing community service for local hospitals, veterans, women, and children, with RVC Homemakers. These exxceptional women meet every Tuesday, at 10 a.m., at the Recreation Center, 111 North Long Beach Road in Rockville Centre. For more information call Karen Alterson at (516) 318-6771.

Bowling for Kitties

Voyage

The Journey tribute band visits

The Paramount, Saturday, Feb. 25, 8 p.m. The popular band takes everyone back to the ‘80’s when Journey’s timeless music ruled the airwaves. Hailed by fans and critics alike as the world’s top Journey tribute band, this group performs their music with chilling accuracy. Fronted by Hugo — a dead ringer for Steve Perry, both visually and vocally — he continues to delight fans with his miraculous resemblance, exact mannerisms and identical voice to Perry. Fans agree that Voyage delivers an experience to the original Steve Perryfronted lineup. $40, $35, $30, $25. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. (800) 745-3000 or Ticketmaster.com or ParamountNY.com.

Having an event?

The Long Beach Humane Society and Kitty Cove hold their biggest fundraiser of the year, Sunday, Feb. 26, 5:308:30 p.m., at Maple Lanes RVC, 100 Maple Ave. With bowling, 50/50 and raffle baskets, and silent auction. Proceeds enefit Kitty Cove, a volunteerbased nonprofit that rescues abandoned kittens, cats, and dogs each year. Purchase tickets online, by mail or Venmo. For more information, visit LongBeachHumaneSociety.net.

Tax Grievance Night

Village Hall will be open, Tuesday , Feb. 28 , 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., for Tax Grievance Night. If you wish to file a grievance, complaint forms are available on Village website at RVCNY. gov.

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.

Family theater

The beloved fairy tale springs to life in a delightful musical romp, presented Plaza Theatrical Productions, Friday, Feb. 24 11 a.m.; Sunday, Feb. 26, noon. All the ingredients that have made this story a perennial favorite are here, including Cinderella, a zany Godmother, a trip to the royal ball, and a glass slipper. Tickets are $16. Visit the Plaza stage at The Showplace at Bellmore Movies, 222 Pettit Ave., Bellmore. For information/tickets, go to PlazaTheatrical.com or call (516) 599-6870.

trails from Manhattan to Montauk

By MALLORY WILSON mwilson@liherald.com

Stretching some 175 miles, the Long Island Greenway is intended to serve walkers and cyclists alike on a trail beginning in Manhattan and terminating on the east end of Montauk.

The brainchild of the nonprofit Trust for Public Land, the trail would connect parks, trail and other public land within communities, allowing people to bike, jog or walk for leisure. And, in many cases, could even become a green means to commute to work.

Construction is set to begin next year, focusing on a 25-mile stretch between Eisenhower Park in East Meadow and Brentwood State Park.

“The abundance of beautiful parklands, trails and natural open spaces are one of the aspects that make our island such a desirable place to live,” John Cameron, Long Island Regional Planning Council chair, said in a release. “The Long Island Greenway will connect our communities and enable Long Islanders to better enjoy an active lifestyle.”

Carter Strickland, the Trust for Public Land state director, presented details about the project’s progress to the planning council last week. That includes a trail linking 26 parks, 46 train stations and 60 bus routes through a combination of off-road and on-road connections among more than two-dozen communities. It’s estimated to draw roughly 34 million visitors annually.

“Some of the benefits of ending in these existing parks — or beginning — is that they have bathrooms, they have parking areas, we can minimize that need to build anything new,” Strickland said. “Along the themes of making the most of our existing assets, that’s the whole vision.”

Throughout this 25-mile stretch, there are more than 130,000 residents who would find access. More than a

dozen parks can be accessed by the trail, and another 36 schools and universities are within a mile.

One of the benefits of the trail overall, Strickland says, include a safer area for pedestrians and bikers to traverse.

“Long Island, unfortunately, kind of leads the state in terms of pedestrians killed or injured,” he said. “The statewide average is a third or a quarter of the amounts in Nassau and Suffolk, and it’s a public health crisis. We’ve got to address it.”

Increased physical activity is another reason to sup-

port this trail.

“We know that in our day and age, obesity, chronic diseases are problematic,” Strickland said. “It’s what kind of plagues us. To prevent that, one of the best ways is to create recreational infrastructure, increase walking, or biking physical activities. It doesn’t always have to be superrigorous.

“If we weave it into our lives, it’ll make us healthier, and overall reduce health care costs.”

The route aims to include the Nassau Hub, Belmont Park, and others throughout the island. The greenway would be the Long Island leg of New York state’s 750-mile Empire Trail that connects New York City to areas like Buffalo, Albany and Plattsburgh.

The plan is funded through a combination of private and taxpayer support. Now, the trust is applying for a federal grant to pay for the second phase of the trail between Riverhead and Montauk — approximately 50 miles.

They hope to get a grant under President Biden’s infrastructure law and its Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity program. With the support of the planning council, Strickland sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Transportation showing its support for grant money to help with the design stage of the next leg.

“The benefits of hike and bike trail networks are welldocumented,” the letter, signed by Cameron, stated. “Trails create more livable communities through the revitalization of downtown areas and creation of transportation alternatives, improve public health by increasing access to recreational opportunities, and represent a meaningful equity investment in providing safe infrastructure to diminish reliance on private vehicle ownership.”

The trust hopes to be construction-ready for the second phase by 2025.

Courtesy Metro Commons

THE LONG ISLAND Greenway, a 175-mile bicycle and pedestrian trail, aims to get people more active within nature and their communities. The first phase of construction — connecting Eisenhower Park to Brentwood State Park — is set to start next year.

TRAILBLAZER

DEIRDRE O’CONNELL CEO

DANIEL GALE SOTHEBY’S INTERNATIONAL REALTY

MEET THE 2023 HONOREES*

RichnerLIVE’s second annual R.E.A.L. Awards will spotlight entrepreneurs, professionals, and visionaries in Long Island’s real estate industry who have achieved success in their respective roles while also involved in community contributions and advocacy.

RESIDENTIAL

SPECIAL PROJECT

THE RESIDENCES AT GLEN HARBOR

Michael W. Stanco

Licensed Associate Real Estate Broker

Stanco Misiti Team at Compass BROKERS (Individual)

Gina Marie Bettenhauser

Associate Real Estate Broker

Coldwell Banker Distinctive Homes

President, Long Island Board of REALTORS®

Hilary BeckerPresident

Becker Realty Services, Inc.

Molly Deegan

Owner & Licensed Broker

Branch Real Estate Group

John Gandolfo & Barbara Gandolfo

Licensed Associate Brokers

Coldwell Banker American Homes

Kevin Leatherman

Owner & Licensed Broker

Leatherman Homes

Donna O’Reilly Einemann

Branch Manager | Rockville Centre Office

Douglas Elliman Real Estate

Luciane Serifovic

CEO & Founder

Luxian International Realty

Shawn Steinmuller

Founder & Licensed Broker

Shawn Michael Realty

Mark Stempel & Jennie Katz

Ceo/Owner & President/Owner

Blue Island Homes

Helena Veloso

Senior Executive Manager of Sales

Douglas Elliman Real Estate

LICENSED SALESPERSON

Malka Asch

Licensed Real Estate Salesperson

Coach Realtors

Miriam Hagendorn

Licensed Real Estate Salesperson

SERHANT.

Ricki Noto

Team Leader,

Licensed Real Estate Salesperson

Coldwell Banker American Homes

Scott Wallace

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Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty

OFFICE MANAGER

David Kasner

Branch Manager

Coldwell Banker American Homes

COMMERCIAL

BROKERS

Thomas DeLuca

Senior Director & Real Estate Broker

Cushman & Wakefield of Long Island Inc.

DEVELOPERS

Anthony Bartone

Managing Partner

Terwilliger & Bartone Properties, LLC

Kenneth Breslin, Esq.

President

Breslin Realty Development Corp.

Christopher Capece President

Heatherwood

Rob Gitto

Vice President

The Gitto Group

Mark Meisner

President & Founder

MAJOR SPONSORS:

The Birch Group

GENERAL CONTRACTOR & CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT

EW HOWELL CONSTRUCTION GROUP

SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR EVENT SPONSORS

SPECIAL AWARDS

REAL ESTATE MANAGEMENT/ DEVELOPER OF THE YEAR

Michael Maturo

President

RXR Realty

REAL ESTATE SERVICES/ PROPERTY MANAGEMENT

Martin Lomazow

Senior Vice President

CBRE

ATTORNEYS

Michael S. Ackerman

Managing Attorney

Ackerman Law, PLLC

John D. Chillemi

Partner

Ruskin Moscou Faltischek, P.C.

Bryan P. McCrossen

Partner

Jaspan Schlesinger Narendran, LLP

Christopher H. Palmer

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Cullen and Dykman, LLP

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COMMUNITY CHAMPION

- TRADE GROUP

Commercial Industrial Broker Society of Long Island (CIBS)

David Pennetta SIOR, LEED GA Co-President

ENGINEERING

Stephen A. Hayduk, P.E.

Principal & Chief Engineer

Hayduk Engineering LLC

FATHER/DAUGHTER TEAM

Gilbert Balanoff

Owner

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Tiffany Balanoff

Licensed Real Estate Agent

Douglas Elliman Real Estate

LENDER

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Owner & Broker

Weatherstone Mortgage Corp.

Christine Curiale

Mortgage Branch Manager

Valley Bank

Melissa Curtis

Sales Manager and Senior Loan Originator

Contour Mortgage

RISING STAR

Alex Lipsky

Owner Lipsky Construction

TAX CERTIORARI

Sean M. Cronin, Esq.

Partner

Cronin & Cronin Law Firm, PLLC

TECH AWARD

Ryan J. Coyne

Chief Technology Officer

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TECH PLATFORM OF THE YEAR

VincePropertyShark

Business Development Manager & Corporate Sales Lead

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TITLE COMPANY

HABITAT ABSTRACT

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

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A portion of ticket proceeds will benefit

MESSAGE FROM RYAN SERHANT CEO & FOUNDER SERHANT.

HOST

South NaSSau reSpiratory therapists help answer questions from the kids as they provide their cuddly friends with quality care.

Public Notices

LEGAL NOTICE

Public Notice to Bidders

Sealed Bids will be received by the Purchasing Department of the Village of Rockville Centre, One College Place, Room 204, Rockville Centre, New York 11570 for the matter stated below until 11:00 am prevailing time on MARCH 9, 2023 at which time they will be publicly opened and read aloud. The contract will be awarded as soon thereafter as practicable for:

PURCHASE ONE (1) 2023

FORD EXPLORER XLT

4WD VEHICLE or equivalent, For the Village of Rockville Centre Water Department Bid # 2303W1(1063)

The bid specifications can be 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 March 2, 2023. Award of Contract will be made to the lowest responsible bidder in accordance with applicable provisions of the law. The Village reserves the right to reject all bids or make such determination as in the best interests of the Village, as provided by law.

Purchasing Department

Lisa Strazzeri

Purchasing Agent

516-678-9213 137549

Teddy Bear Clinic eases kids to hospital settings

Cuddling their favorite stuffed animals, more than 300 kindergarten students from Rockville Centre gathered inside the John A. Anderson Recreation Center at 111 N. Oceanside Rd. on Jan. 20, for Mount Sinai South Nassau’s free Teddy Bear Clinic.

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 laws:

Bill RVC 2023B. A local law authorizing a property tax levy in excess of the limit established in General Municipal Law §3-c Time and Place of Hearing:Eugene J. Murray Village Hall, Second Floor One College Place, Rockville Centre, New York

Date of Hearing:

March 6, 2023

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 7, 2023

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE VILLAGE OF ROCKVILLE CENTRE 137550

LEGAL NOTICE

Malverne Union Free School District Malverne, New York

Legal Notice

UNIVERSAL PREKINDERGARTEN SERVICES

Notice is hereby given that separate bids, submitted in sealed envelopes for the UNIVERSAL PREKINDERGARTEN SERVICES will be received on Tuesday, March 28, 2023, at 11:00 a.m., 301 Wicks Lane, the Malverne Administration Building. Sealed bids are to be addressed to the attention of Christopher Caputo, Assistant Superintendent for Business, Malverne Union

Free School District, 301 Wicks Lane, Malverne, New York 11565.

All bids must be submitted to the Assistant Superintendent, on or before the date and time of opening in sealed envelopes, bearing on the outside the name and address of the bidder and the title of the bid in the lower left-hand corner. Contact Donna Fecht at dfecht@malverneschools. org for the RFP.

The Board of Education reserves the right to award all or a part of this bid or to reject all bids or to make awards which are in the best interest of the school district.

Date: Thursday February 23, 2023

By Order of the Board of Education Malverne Union Free School District 137522

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF ADOPTION OF TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD LOCAL LAW NO. 7-2023

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE

that, pursuant to Article 9 of the New York State Constitution, the provisions of the Town Law and the Municipal Home Rule Law of the State of New York, both as amended, a public hearing was duly called and held January 24, 2023, by the Town Board of the Town of Hempstead on the proposed adoption of Town of Hempstead Local Law No. 7-2023, and following the close of the hearing the Town Board duly adopted Town of Hempstead Local Law No. 7-2023, amending Section 197-5 of the Code of the Town of Hempstead, to include “ARTERIAL STOPS” at various locations.

Dated: January 10, 2023

Hempstead, New York

BY ORDER OF THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD

DONALD X. CLAVIN, JR.

Supervisor

KATE MURRAY Town Clerk 137512

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU DEUTSCHE BANK NATIONAL TRUST COMPANY, AS TRUSTEE FOR LONG BEACH MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST 2006-5, Plaintiff, AGAINST JOYCE A. KRAUSE, et al.

Defendant(s)

Pursuant to a judgment of foreclosure and sale duly entered on June 17, 2014.

I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction at the North Side Steps of the Nassau Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on March 28, 2023 at 2:30 PM premises known as 98 Woods Ave, Rockville Centre, NY 11570.

Please take notice that this foreclosure auction shall be conducted in compliance with the Foreclosure Auction Rules for Nassau County and the COVID 19 Health Emergency Rules, including proper use of masks and social distancing.

All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Incorporated Village of Rockville Center, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York. Section 38, Block 396 and Lot 135. Approximate amount of judgment $443,835.39 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment. Index #004121/2013. Gorge Esernio, Esq., Referee, Aldridge Pite, LLPAttorneys for Plaintiff - 40 Marcus Drive, Suite 200, Melville, NY 11747 137447

Children, including Noelle Turano, watched intently in wonder and amusement as their cuddly friends received tender loving care from nurses, respiratory therapists, physical therapists, Child Life staff, patient care technicians and Chief of Pediatrics Dr. Lincoln Ferguson, for minor emergencies such as a broken bone, cuts, repiratory problems or high fever.

The hospital’s staff explained to the children the steps they were taking to determine the injury or illness, then talked them through the care that the stuffed animal required to heal and recover.

“Our Teddy Bear Clinic is a great way to introduce children, through their stuffed animals, to the hospital in a non-threatening way,” Lynn Bert, nurse manager of pediatrics at Mount Sinai South Nassau said, “so that if and when they, or a loved one or friend, are taken to the emergency room or are admitted to the hospital, they will understand it is to receive the compassionate, expert care that helps people who are injured or sick.”

Mount Sinai South Nassau’s Teddy Bear Clinic is open to children between 4and 7-years-old. For more information about the program or Mount Sinai South Nassau’s Community Education Program, call 516-377-5333.

South NaSSau NurSeS provide sutures to stitch up any cuts and wounds the stuffed animals may have suffered.

Photos courtesy Mt. Sinai South Nassau hewitt kiNdergartNer Noelle Turano brings her stuffed friend to the Teddy Bear Clinic sponsored by Mount Sinai South Nassau.

EMPLOYMENT

Help Wanted

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT FT: RVC. Administrative Work, Answering Phones, Computer Skills – Microsoft, Excel, Outlook, Financial background helpful. No Health Beneifts. 516-763-9700 frances.difede@lpl.com

ADMINISTRATIVE OPENINGS MONTICELLO Central School School Building Principal (2 positions) The Monticello CSD is seeking forward thinking and dynamic School Building Principals who can lead MCSD's highly engaged faculty, staff, parents, students and community. The successful candidate will have a vision of educational excellence, be highly motivated and demonstrate the ability to impact student learning. Starting salary: $125,000, commensurate with experience. NYS

SDA/SDL/SBL Certification Required plus 2 yrs. of previous administrative leadership and 5 yrs. exp. as a classroom teacher preferred. Please apply online by March 5th at https://monticelloschools.tedk12.com/hire EOE

ADMINISTRATOR/ GENERAL MANAGER Immediate F/T position. For Assisted Living Facility to oversee & manage entire facility. Fast paced, excellent in communication & Administrative skills, multitask & organized. Excel salary & Benefits. Must have experience and recent checkable references. Please send resume to: Estiefriedman@icloud.com

Fax your ad to: 516-622-7460

E-mail your ad to: ereynolds@liherald.com

Aesthetician/ Laser Technician Oceanside,NY-PT (may lead to FT) Saturdays are mandatory. Must have a valid NYS Aesthetician & Laser Certification Friendly, punctual, responsible & detail oriented.

Duties include Laser Hair Removal / Microneedling / Facials Call 516- 240-1919 or email resume to dolceaestheticsny@gmail.com

ASSISTANT BOOKKEEPER

Valley Stream, NY

We are a small real estate management firm looking for support to our Accounting Department. Must have previous Accounts Payable and Receivable experience. This full-time position will require knowledge of Microsoft Excel. Will also include light clerical work.

To apply, please email Alyson at alyson@dewseven.com with a brief intro letter and resume

AUTO TECHNICIAN FT Experienced And Reliable. NYSI A Plus. Busy Merrick Shop. Call 516-781-5641

DRIVING INSTRUCTORS WANTED

Will Certify And Train HS Diploma NYS License Clean 3 Years

Call 516-731-3000

FULL TIME LIBRARY AIDE Are you customer-service focused? Do you love libraries? Apply for a FT Library Aide position at the Baldwin Public Library. This is a rare opportunity that does not require a Civil Service exam. Job is 35 hours per week with at least one night per week and rotating on Saturdays. $30,000-40,000 depending on qualifications and experience. Possibility of Sunday hrs. Send resume and cover letter to dkelly@baldwinpl.org.

Kaplan & Associates CPAs PLLC seeks Accountant (Mineola, NY) to prep. tax return/financ. stmt./payroll tax, perf. tax rsrch., asst. audits, etc. Req. Bachelor degr. in Acct., w/ 6mon+ work exp. at same or related role, e.g. accountant/tax project asst., with CPA firm. $66,310-$78K. Mail res. to Kaplan & Associates CPAs PLLC at 23 Roslyn Rd, Mineola, NY 11501, or email paul@cpakaplan.com

NAIL TECHNICIAN FT MASSAGE THERAPIST FT For Beautiful Nail/ Med Spa In Garden City. Must Be Licensed. Call 516-739-1111 Email melobeautybarinc@gmail.com

RECEPTIONIST & CLERICAL Positions P/T. Seasonal. Franklin Square. Call: 516-358-9455. Fax Resume 516-358-9483 E Mail: ed@loturco.com.

RECEPTIONIST/ P/T: SEASONAL, Warm, Friendly, Excellent People Skills, Office Work/ Customer Service, Beach Club. 516-239-2150

SECURITY GUARD TRAINING: Available Rockaway Area. Armed/ Unarmed. Annual, Fireguard, CPR. Free Job Placement Available With Training. 718-600-9919

REAL ESTATE

Real Estate

RETIRED NYC EMS fire lieutenant selling quarter to half acre lots in Palm Coast Florida. We pay closing costs. We have a travel program to buy call 1-386-437-7058

Open Houses

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ResCheck, Part 2

Q. We’re in a quandary about insulation. Our house was built in 1948, and isn’t insulated well. We decided to add a master bedroom and kitchen extension and insulate as much as we can. Our building plans examiner wants something called a ResCheck from our architect, and wants to know how much of the house we’re going to do. We only want to tell them about the additions, even though we want to do our attic and the whole exterior from the outside, if we can. We understand that if we tell the plans examiner about the rest of the house, they can make us do a more expensive energy analysis, which we don’t think is necessary. Also, our contractor wants to only insulate the attic floor, but the architect said that the latest energy code requires us to insulate the roof and not the attic floor. Can you advise?

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Licensed Real Estate Salesperson

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Douglas Elliman Real Estate 2300 Merrick Road Merrick, NY 11566

Results t hat Move You

A. Last week I described the ResCheck energy analysis to show the designed heat loss that architects and engineers are required to prepare for most renovations, and the more expanded Home Energy Rating System that is prepared by a certified engineer for projects that constitute over 50 percent of the home area or value.

From what you’ve described, your contractor just wants to do whatever they want, and although the approved construction plans are supposed to be binding and the contractor must abide by them, this doesn’t happen as often as you would expect. Many times, the contractor waits to see whether the building official will notice that the plans weren’t followed, and the contractor then seems enabled to do whatever they want to when their work passes, anyway.

Since the owner usually just wants to get the job done the cheapest way possible, the building designer, who was held to a higher standard by a plans examiner than the contractor, is left to wonder why so much effort went into the energy analysis in the first place. When the plans require changing to match what the contractor did and what the inspector passed, the owner often uses the “m” word, for mistake, to describe to the architect why the plan changes should be done for free. Basically, the process becomes muddled in a power struggle, when the real intention was to protect the owner from expensive utility bills for the rest of their life in their home and to cut waste.

The reason for the attic rafters to be insulated instead of the attic floor is because many people have cooled air-conditioning ducts running through hot attics. Somebody figured out that this makes no sense, and that insulating the attic to be part of the air-conditioned space, at about 75 to 80 degrees instead of 120 to 130 degrees, just makes more sense. The latest energy codes require an incredible R-49, which is more than a foot-thick insulation, unless a “parts” method is broken down and identified, piece by piece, in the ResCheck previously described. Good luck!

© 2022 Monte Leeper

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

Ask The Architect

Monte Leeper

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Is creativity a thing of the past?

Human civilization has developed side by side with technology — some may say, in competition with it. Technological innovations have diminished the need for workers in jobs requiring physical labor, efficient repetition or mass production, because such skills are easily replaceable.

Artificial intelligence is a leap forward in such technology that is no longer a dream of science fiction movies. Rather, it is a reality that threatens to change the way we interact with the world. AI recognizes our faces when we unlock our iPhones, gives us movie recommendations on our favorite streaming services, and now, with the creation of ChatGPT, AI is a student’s dream come true: It can write essays.

Historically, the replacement of humans with machines isn’t an uncommon occurrence. And now I can’t help

but ask, is creativity, too, a thing of the past?

Before machines, there were skills valued as attributes that couldn’t be replicated. During the Industrial Revolution, however, the skill of sewing a dress — and later, in the second Industrial Revolution, the ability to put a tire on a car — became devalued, because they were no longer abilities unique to humans. A “skilled” worker wasn’t enough; machines were just as “skilled,” and technology had raised the standard.

In more recent times, the achievements of NASA’s “human computers,” whose intellect put a man on the moon, no longer compare to the mathematical and computational power of the smartphones we hold in our hands. Even intelligence seems to be replaceable. Now a computer claims to generate creativity, jeopardizing the jobs of those with abilities like programming and writing. If your talent is something that a computer can do, it’s not good enough.

As a student with access to techno-

logical resources that simplify everything from conducting research to learning a language, I suppose I should embrace technological advancement. But quite frankly, I’m tired of it. For one thing, my dependence on the newest gadgets and gizmos has limited my practical abilities. I don’t know how to search through a library to conduct a research project. I find it difficult to study without online aids. And I can’t even hand in an assignment without internet access to Google Classroom.

Is it too much to ask to be able to turn in an essay without worrying that a teacher will question whether it was written by a robot?

I fear that technology has not only limited our independence in our daily activities, but has also undermined the values of hard work and self-achievement. My high school offers an introductory class called Writing Lab, giving ninth-graders a year of individualized instruction on how to craft a concise and engaging essay. But ChatGPT knows how to write an introduction, a thesis

and three body paragraphs — with citations in MLA format — in less than a minute, which is more than some freshmen can do by the end of the year.

The potential uses of ChatGPT raise a host of philosophical questions. If, supposedly, technology’s completion of creative tasks is as effortless as its mastery of physical labor, does this suggest that creativity isn’t a distinctly human quality? And that creativity itself is synthetic, predictable and reproducible?

I worry about what effect this will have on my own future. Will there come a day when years devoted to academic achievement will be devalued in an instant? And, even scarier, is every hour that I devote to my love of writing now worth no more than a two-minute chatbot query?

To ease my concerns, I imagine that we can learn to live in cooperation with technology, not in competition with it. The true value of progress lies in our use of the tools at our disposal to enhance, not replace, human achievement. Let’s remember that technology is our puppet. We are still its masters.

Thirteenth letter to my grandchildren

Hey, sweeties, Can it be that you are now 20, 18, 16 and 14?

Do you read the paper?? Are you catching this online? Or is this exercise something I do to feel connected with all of you, geographically scattered, but emotionally the pulsing blips on my grandma radar?

Stay with me. This is a big ask, and a big confession.

Authentic, uncomplicated love is a precious thing, and when I think of each of you, every single day, singing or sad, dancing, skiing, studying, making videos, shooting hoops, finding friends, making trouble, growing into your own skins, what I feel is that … uncomplicated love.

From time to time over the years, I’ve dedicated columns to you. The moments seemed to demand it. I imagine readers understand the impulse to put a pin in history for the next generation as we live our lives.

In 2008 I wrote a celebratory column etching in memory the election of

Barack Obama. Of course, you were only 5, 3 and 1. One of you hadn’t been born yet. You had no way to know how profoundly that election changed history.

Then I wrote in 2012. I was worrying about President Obama’s re-election. He was running again Mitt Romney, but Romney was a decent man, and the stakes didn’t feel like life and death. I wrote to you about the Arab Spring and concerns about the economy, but all in all, things were OK.

In 2017, my letter to you described the shocking political tragedy of Donald Trump’s election and all the ways it threatened our freedom, our democracy and our sense of right and wrong. It turned out worse than I imagined. Trump’s ascension cleaved America in half, and we are still in bitter conflict. By then you were 14, 12, 10 and 8.

In the next election, 2024, two of you will vote.

I start with the political because the personal we share day to day, with calls and texts and intuition and telepathy. My worries aren’t so much for each of you, but for all of us, collectively.

Since that 2017 letter, you’ve survived a global pandemic that killed more than

a million people in our country. One million. We closed your schools, subjected you to constant Covid tests, and canceled your sports, your proms and your college dreams. The pandemic threatened your health, confined you to your rooms and compromised your life for over two years. We were scared, and we didn’t have any defense against a virus that could kill so many people so quickly.

I say this to acknowledge what you suffered, your disappointment and your pain in all that was lost. We can’t change the catastrophe that was Covid-19. The four of you, and millions of other kids, got through it, day after boring day, and I am in awe of your resilience and strength. How do you trust the world again? We read that anxiety and stress are epidemic among teens.

So this is your time, and your challenge.

The story of hope is written in our history. Teenagers have survived and healed and triumphed and lived brilliant lives after world wars, genocide and national disasters. Today in Ukraine, teens are fighting for their

lives. Every day in our high schools, teenagers must summon courage just to attend class in a gun-crazed society.

We have let you down with our disregard for our planet. We have allowed fakery to displace truth in our communications. We have sent clowns to Congress.

For those of us who believe in a free and fair and healthy America, our backs are to the wall. Across the country, women’s rights have been upended. In Florida, which is ground zero for racism and division, a state college won’t host an art display called Embracing Our Differences because it depicts racial and gender diversity. And Pensacola Christian College canceled a performance by an a cappella group because one of the singers is gay.

This is another pandemic, of bigotry and fear.

You kids have survived a historic global catastrophe. Give it its due, get the help to get yourselves healthy again, and then do the work that will make America healthy again. We can only move forward, and many of us are here to help. As I said, it’s a big ask, but I have faith in each of you and the energy of your rising generation.

Love, Grandma

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

RANDI KREISS

The four of you, and millions of other kids, got through the pandemic, and I am in awe.

Ilana Greenberg, of Valley Stream, is a sophomore at North Shore Hebrew Academy High School, in Great Neck.

Technology has left us clueless in a real library, and now there’s ChatGPT.

IlANA GREENbERG

HERALD

Teddy Roosevelt: a president who defied labels

Monday was Presidents Day, a holiday that, unless you work in a bank or the government or a school, you might have missed.

At the federal level, the holiday marks the birthday of George Washington, who was born Feb. 22, 1732. It’s observed on the third Monday of February, and is intended to honor not only Washington, but all the presidents — whether you liked them or not.

It’s easy to label many of our presidents. Washington, of course, was the “father of the country.” Abraham Lincoln was a liberator and a unifier — even if it took a war to make that happen. James Madison was a father, too — considered the “father of the Constitution.”

While many commanders in chief would find their way to Long Island for various reasons, none have a connection to our home like Teddy Roosevelt, the 26th president, who spent the last 30 years of his life at his beloved Sagamore Hill in Oyster Bay.

Although he was born in New York City, the Roosevelt family had a long association with Long Island, like many wealthy families in the city at the time. Teddy, however, came to love 150 acres or so of land on Cove Neck — just north of Oyster Bay Cove — that he bought just before he entered politics in 1880, when he was just 22.

He would spend upward of $500,000 in today’s money to build a 22-room mansion he had intended to call Leeholm, after his wife, Alice. But she died before the house was finished, and Teddy would

letters

Randi takes on George Santos

To the Editor:

Thanks to Randi Kreiss for her column last week, “Minx or madman: the George Santos story,” on the enigmatic nut job, George Santos, or whatever his name may be.

I worry for our kids and grandkids and the future of America. Just what is warping our brains? It started with the vast wasteland of TV for us baby boomers, and continues with portable devices/social media.

And why do 99.9 percent of the cuckoos surface in the Republican Party?

As I write, I’m babysitting for our newest grandson, who’s 2½. How to teach him the difference between good and evil, right and wrong? Is there hope? And is “Paw Patrol” a safe venue to begin his adventures?

Thank you, Randi, for your contributions each week. They’re a ray of hope, sanity and humor in a chaotic landscape.

remarry. Instead of naming it in honor of future First Lady Edie Carow, Teddy instead named it Sagamore Hill, an Algonquin word for “chief.”

Labeling Roosevelt is no easy task. When he first stepped into the White House as president in 1901, following the assassination of William McKinley, he was a Republican. Yet he was also described as “progressive” — something many Republicans today would consider an insult.

T.R. was certainly a conservative — for the environment, that is. In just a few years, he doubled the amount of forests protected by the federal government. He did so much that Congress limited the power the president had to designate national forests.

Teddy, however, was also an imperialist. “Speak softly, and carry a big stick — you will go far” summed up his approach to international diplomacy of coming in peace, but if things don’t go your way, be ready to back it up with might.

While we see the United States as a military superpower today, at the beginning of the 20th century it was not. European powers counted their soldiers in the millions. America? In the tens of thousands. It wouldn’t be until the U.S. entry into World War I — in the final two years of Roosevelt’s life — that President Woodrow Wilson would commit billions of dollars to build what he called a million-man army.

Even with a small military, Teddy was committed to supporting the Monroe Doctrine, which treated any European influence on the politics of the Americas

as a hostile act against the United States. Roosevelt used the doctrine not only to kick Spain out of Cuba, but also to construct the Panama Canal. The Monroe Doctrine had never been popular in other countries of the Americas, but it never bothered Teddy.

He was a fan of diversity, but only to a point. During the Spanish-American War, his Rough Riders took men from all walks of life. And T.R. appointed more African Americans to federal government positions than all the presidents before him — combined.

But Roosevelt made it clear that once you were an American, you were an American. That hyphens should be left at the door, fearing it would permit the United States to become a “tangle of squabbling nationalities.”

These are just some examples of where Teddy’s policies and philosophy conflicted with both major political parties of today. Then again, a lot has changed in the 120-plus years since he was in the White House, and where we draw the lines in 2023 is much different from where they were drawn in the sand in 1901.

No matter his philosophy, his triumphs — even his flaws — we can’t deny that Teddy Roosevelt was very much his own man, and because of that, was also a great president. The United States is a better place today because of his leadership.

Here’s hoping you didn’t overlook Presidents Day, and miss how special Roosevelt’s role was, especially right here in our own backyard.

It’s time for our energy to go public m

ost Long Islanders are rightly confused about who is responsible for our ever-rising electricity bills. On TV we see PSEG commercials. On the streets we see PSEG trucks. We get our electric bills from PSEG. Yet there is also the Long Island Power Authority, as well as National Grid. Who does what? And how does this add up to unnecessarily high electric bills?

Long Island has a unique way of providing electricity to customers.

The Long Island Power Authority, which most people know little about, owns the wires and substations. But this public authority hires private companies like PSEG to actually run the system. Nor does LIPA own any power plants. It purchases the electricity we use mostly from National Grid, the same company that sells natural gas on Long Island.

LIPA was created by New York state after the Long Island Lighting Company almost bankrupted ratepayers with its

failed Shoreham nuclear power plant. LIPA brought in another for-profit utility, KeySpan, to manage and operate the system. KeySpan was later bought out by National Grid. Still with me?

After National Grid badly mismanaged the preparation for and aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, it was replaced by PSEG, a New Jersey-based utility. PSEG’s own management performance proved so terrible during Hurricane Isaias, in 2020, that LIPA sued it for “corporate mismanagement, misfeasance, incompetence and indifference.” The suit was withdrawn only after a new LIPA-PSEG contract was renegotiated last spring, imposing more controls over PSEG for the remaining three years of the agreement, through 2025.

Three for-profit utilities — LILCO, KeySpan/National Grid and PSEG — have made lots of money off Long Island ratepayers. Even though LIPA pays PSEG an $80-million-per-year management fee, LIPA has faced continual frustration. Most recently, PSEG has been taken to task for its dismal customer satisfaction

Letters

The polarization began many years before Clinton and Trump

To the Editor:

Re Peter King’s column last week, “How political extremism became the norm”: Mr. King’s answer goes astray from the start, using Yeats too broadly. “Things fall apart; the center cannot hold…” applies to only one party. With Mr. King’s 28 years of experience in Congress, he must remember that the major turning point toward extremism was House Speaker Newt Gingrich’s intentional and explicit radicalism.

“This war,” Gingrich said, “has to be fought with a scale and a duration and a savagery that is only true of civil wars,” and he referred to Democrats as “ thugs,” “crooks” and “traitors.” Thus, Clinton-Trump in 2016 was the fruit, not the root, of our current polarization.

Mr. King is also surely aware of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s trajectory from Tea Party aggression through Freedom Caucus ideology to the “further rejection of tradition and civility” the current House displays. Mr. King’s call for the “sane forces on both sides to step forward” is disingenuous, because the sane Republicans have been culled. Mr. King, being among the sane, should volunteer his

counsel to any others he can find.

BRIAN KELLY Rockville Centre

Go easy on the coffee, East Side LIRR riders

To the Editor:

Re Juan Lasso’s story “Full LIRR service to East Side finally coming” in last week’s issue: Not when it comes to critical ridership amenities.

Remember the long lines commuters faced in the Seventh Avenue Penn Station LIRR restrooms? At the new $12.6 billion LIRR East Side Access Grand Central Madison terminal, nothing has changed. There are only two men’s restrooms, with a total of 18 urinals and 13 toilets; two women’s restrooms, with a total of 25 toilets; one lactation room; and two single-capacity gender-neutral bathrooms. If you have to go, you’d better have a strong bladder to make it from the upper- or lower-level platforms and mezzanine to a restroom on the Madison Concourse level.

LARRY PENNER Great

ratings. LIPA board members past and present have voiced serious questions about continuing to “outsource” our electrical system.

State legislators from Long Island, working with ratepayers, community groups and the Reimagine LIPA campaign, created after Isaias, lobbied for the establishment of a state legislative commission to chart a future for LIPA without PSEG. The Legislative Commission on the Future of LIPA, created last spring, has been tasked with coming up with a plan for 2025 that would allow LIPA to run the electrical system directly, saving ratepayers lots of money.

This is neither a radical nor a fanciful idea. Nonprofit, publicly owned electric systems are common. In some of the most conservative states in the nation, like Nebraska and Mississippi, virtually every community is served by a nonprofit utility. These public power systems are a matter of civic pride and customer satisfaction. Like water service, electric power works best when not run by private interests.

Hundreds of businesses on Long Island

have long sought the low-cost electricity made available by the New York Power Authority, the state’s nonprofit power supplier. The communities of Freeport and Rockville Centre have nonprofit municipal electric systems, and enjoy rates that are as much as 40 percent lower than what the rest of us PSEG customers pay.

How do they do it? They eliminate as much profit-making as possible from the cost of electricity. Getting rid of high salaries at PSEG and profits for its shareholders would mean major saving for ratepayers. Public ownership, through LIPA, of renewable electricity sources would dramatically reduce the cost of that electricity.

Eliminating the profit from the production of electricity is a sure-fire way of lowering rates. And it’s a tried-and-true idea. The New York Power Authority has been providing cheap electricity for over 60 years. LIPA and Long Island ratepayers need the same opportunity. Now is the time to move forward on the full municipalization of LIPA.

Fred Harrison, a retired history teacher at Calhoun High School in Merrick, is a ratepayer advocate working with Food and Water Watch, which is part of the Reimagine LIPA campaign.

Framework by Tim Baker

An iconic image memorialized at Eisenhower Park — East Meadow

Neck

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

For-profit utilities have made too much money off Long Island customers.

Fred Harrison