Rockville Centre Herald 02-29-2024

Daniel Offner/Herald

Rockville Centre Mayor Francis Murray, at the podium, immediate past president of the New York Conference of Mayors and Municipal Officials, joined more than 20 elected officials from local governments across Long Island outside Village Hall in Rockville Centre to rally for more state funding for the Aid and Incentives for Municipalities program.

Elected leaders rally for more state aid

By DANIEl oFFNER doffner@liherald.com

The New York Conference of Mayors and Municipal Officials joined more than 20 government officials from across Long Island on the steps of Rockville Centre Village Hall last week for the launch of a statewide campaign to urge Gov. Kathy Hochul and state lawmakers to increase unrestricted aid to cities and villages for the first time in 15 years.

At a news conference on Feb. 22, Mayor Francis X. Murray, the immediate past president of NYCOM, said that the fight to deliver more state funding via the Aid and Incentives for Municipalities program is “unfortunately, a constant theme” for local governments.

Funding for AIM in the 2025 fiscal year is currently budgeted at $715 million.

Municipal officials said that the funds directly impact local governments’ ability to respond to growing demands for public safety and other essential ser-

CONtINued ON pAge 11

South Side High School prepares for Red and Blue

By DANIEl oFFNER doffner@liherald.com

South Side High School is amped up for its 108th annual Red and Blue extravaganza, a revered three-day tradition set to unfold Thursday through Saturday with nearly 300 high school girls poised to participate in this fierce, yet friendly competition as teams vie for victory and the chance to etch their names into school history books.

“Best wishes to all of our participants and parents,” Superintendent Matt Gaven said during the school board meeting on Feb. 1. “I’ve already started to see BTV and RTV signs

sprouting up all over Rockville Centre.”

Gaven said that as the competition begins, he wants to remind participants that even during the competition, students are there to collaborate and support their classmates.

“We have days where Blue team members wear Red, and Red team members wear Blue, so that we’re reminded that we are not just identified by the color of our team,” Gaven elaborated. “And we want to remind everyone that Red and Blue was created to reinforce the values of teamwork and collaboration towards a goal.”

To help coordinate the event, the high school invited back two South

Side alumni, Lisa Guerriero and Jenna Carey — both former Red team captains — as the co-directors of this year’s competition.

Prior to accepting the position Guerriero and Carey didn’t know each other, but over the past two years, have become very close friends.

As the directors of the Red and Blue meet, they will coordinate the entire event and are also the only two people who know every aspect of what will take place during the competition.

Guerriero graduated from South Side High School in 2000. She currently works as a physical education teacher at East Meadow High School.

Carey graduated in 2006 and currently works as a freelance TV producer. She previously worked on the ESPN docuseries “The Captain,” about Derek Jeter’s career with the New York Yankees.

The almost 300 participating students are split into two teams at random. The four captains — including Red team captains Maggie Miller and Sarah Tear, and Blue team captains Katherine Ahern and Ava Gallego — were selected based on a vote amongst students.

Guerriero said that there are certain qualities that they look for when deter-

United State Rep. Anthony D’Esposito, right,

Frank Colón Jr., of American Legion Post 303 in Rockville Centre, on Feb. 20, to deliver Valentine’s Day cards for Veterans.

Marianne P. Stone/Herald

joins Post Commander

Courtesy Town of Hempstead Ryder distributes

for

Hempstead Town Councilwoman Laura Ryder, left, joins Post Commander Frank Colón Jr., of American Legion Post 303 in Rockville Centre, on Feb. 5, to deliver Valentine’s Day cards for Veterans.

Hansen trains for the London Marathon

Rockville Centre native sets his sights on achieving the six-star medal

By ABIGAIL GRIECO Herald Intern

Randell Hansen, a former Rockville Centre resident, achieved an extraordinary feat by completing marathons in all 50 states of the United States. Now, he is looking to expand his horizons, by participating in marathons all around the world, including the upcoming 2024 TCS London Marathon.

From his humble beginnings as a student at South Side High School, to his current home in Sacramento, California, Hansen’s journey is nothing short of inspiring.

Ijust had this feeling that I could accomplish something that few people throughout the world have done.

R AndELL HAnsEn Marathon runner and Rockville Centre native

“Growing up, I was no varsity athlete,” Hansen said. “But with running, I just had this feeling that I could accomplish something that few people throughout the world have done, and I wanted to prove it.”

Hansen’s passion for running ignited his early races in Sacramento back in 2009 and 2010. It was not until 2011, however, when he ventured out of state to Eugene, Oregon, that he realized his potential.

“I’ve always loved to travel and see America,” Hansen said, reflecting on his marathon beginnings. “I was really encouraged by 2011 because I was told that I was not far away from Boston qualifying.”

Hansen then embarked on a mission that would take him across the nation, racing against the backdrop of diverse landscapes and communities. His strategy involved meticulous planning, often turning marathon trips into family adventures, with his parents’ unwavering support.

“I had a lot of support from my parents, so we would meet in various parts of the country wherever I was racing at the time,” Hansen explained. He further described the process of organizing the order in which races would be completed, in which he utilized Marathon Guide, an online resource that lists what states held races on specific dates and times.

However, Hansen faced unforeseen challenges, especially during the pandemic. Races were canceled or rescheduled, forcing him to adapt his plans.

“As I was winding down the number of states, it was hard to complete them because there were only a few events per year,” Hansen said. “I was having to find other events to do in order to complete my goal.”

Despite setbacks, Hansen completed

his final race of 50 in Albuquerque, New Mexico in October 2022.

Now, he is looking to earn the Abbott World Marathon Majors Six-Star Medal, which is awarded to runners who complete six of the biggest world marathon races including the Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago and New York City Marathons. He has already completed the three largest in the U.S. and in September participated in the Berlin marathon, leaving only two races left.

With eyes on the Tokyo marathon in 2025, Hansen is prioritizing his training

for the London race, which will take place this April.

Since there are few avenues to get a place in the London Marathon, as there are many individuals who want to run it, Hansen teamed up with Project Purple, a non-profit organization that raises funds for Pancreatic Cancer research and provides financial support for those who are being treated.

“I knew three people who succumbed to that disease, so it’s nice to run with Project Purple for the first time,” Hansen expressed. “I did the New York City

Marathon for the Huntington’s Disease Society for America a few years ago, so these races are close to my heart.”

Reflecting on his ambition, Hansen emphasized the importance of patience and taking it one race at a time for aspiring marathoners. “Training requires dedication and patience,” he advised. “But also, managing finances smartly, utilizing airline and hotel rewards programs, can make traveling more feasible.”

In January, Hansen was featured on Good Day Sacramento, where he shared his story with a wider audience. Not only did he express gratitude for the opportunity to shed light on his involvement with Project Purple, but he also noted that the ultimate purpose of wanting to do such interviews is to try and ignite an ambition in people, proving that they can achieve anything.

For his upcoming London Marathon with Project Purple, Hansen is gearing up both physically and mentally, dedicating himself to a rigorous training regimen while balancing familial responsibilities. His fundraising goal of $7,500 is well underway with support pouring in from friends, family, and well wishers.

As Hansen prepares for his next challenge, he leaves a trail of inspiration for aspiring marathoners and adventurers alike.

From Rockville Centre to the streets of London, Hansen’s journey exemplifies the spirit of perseverance and the limitless possibilities that come with setting ambitious goals.

Photos courtesy Randell Hansen Hansen finished his trans- and extra-continental odyssey across all 50 states at the Duke City Marathon in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in 2022.

Former Rockville Centre resident Randell Hansen participates in the 2023 BMW Berlin Marathon last September.

Crime watCh

arrest

Miricle Nixon, 19, of 585 Merrick Road in Rockville Centre was arrested on Feb. 25, and has been charged with assault following an investigation on Merrick Road.

LarCeny

A customer of Public Storage reported on Feb. 22 property was stolen from his storage unit.

A resident of Shellbank Place reported on Feb. 23 someone stole her unlocked motor vehicle from the driveway of her residence.

reCovered stoLen motor vehiCLe

A stolen motor vehicle was found parked and unoccupied on Feb. 25 on Hendrickson Avenue.

harassment

A resident of Windermere Place reported on Feb. 24 that his neighbor was banging on his apartment door and yelling at him.

menaCing

A pedestrian reported on Feb. 22 that

someone displayed what appeared to be a gun and threatened to kill him and his friends while walking on Lakeview Avenue.

narCotiCs destruCtion

Rockville Centre Police removed 16 pounds of pharmaceuticals from the drug take-back bin at the station, which was transported on Feb. 20 to the Nassau County Police Department for destruction.

unusuaL inCident

An employee of Nissan reported on Feb. 20 that a vehicle was purchased by a customer using fraudulent documents in 2022.

A resident of Old Mill Court reported on Feb. 20 that her debit card was used fraudulently at a business on North Village Avenue.

Leaving the sCene of an aCCident

A motorist reported on Feb. 24 that his vehicle was struck by another vehicle, which fled the scene while driving on Merrick Road.

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.

Estate Planning for Pets

In the event of their death, many people wish to provide for the adequate care and feeding of their beloved dog, cat, bird or other pet. Here is an abridged version of New York’s statute authorizing a trust for your pet:

a. The intended use of the principal or income, of a trust for the care of a designated domestic or pet animal, may be enforced by an individual designated for that purpose in the trust instrument. Such trust shall terminate when no living animal is covered by the trust.

b. No portion of the principal or income may be converted to the use of the trustee or to any use other than for the benefit of a covered animal.

c. Upon termination, the trustee shall transfer the unexpended trust property as directed in the trust instrument or, if there are no such directions in the trust

instrument, the property shall pass to the estate of the grantor.

d. A court may reduce the amount of property transferred if it determines that amount substantially exceeds the amount required for the intended use. The amount of the reduction, if any, passes as unexpended trust property pursuant to paragraph (c), above.

e. If no trustee is designated or no designated trustee is willing or able to serve, a court shall appoint a trustee and may make such other orders and determinations as are advisable to carry out the intent of the grantor and the purpose of this section.

If you are interested in setting up a trust for your beloved pet, please make an appointment to see us for a free consultation. Should you have no one to take care of your pet, try PetEstates.com, who will perform this service for you.

briefs

Police find possible human remains in RVC

Rockville Centre Police are investigating the discovery of possible human remains found in the woods southwest of Peninsula Boulevard and Lakeview Avenue.

Officers responded after receiving a 9-1-1 call on Friday afternoon. Upon arrival, police found an abandoned encampment and discovered human skeletal remains beneath a collapsed tent.

Nassau County Police Department’s Homicide Squad and Medical Examiner were also at the scene.

According to NCPD Detectives, the remains were removed from the scene and brought to the Medical Examiner’s office for further examination.

The investigation is still ongoing at this time.

–Daniel Offner

RVC business receives M/WBE designation

Calabrese Consulting, a full-service financial accounting and advisory firm in Rockville Centre, recently announced that the New York State Department of Economic Development has certified the company as a Minority-Owned and WomenOwned Business Enterprise.

Founded in 2012, the firm offers expertise in areas including audit readiness and advisory, due diligence, financial reporting, initial public offerings, SPAC transactions, Sarbanes-Oxley compliance, outsourced accounting and outsourced CFO/Controller services.

Calabrese Consulting acquired Albeck Financial Services in 2012, a transaction that brought together two leading, women-owned accounting and financial consulting firms to create a company of more than 40 employees, who help serve more than 300 clients around the world.

“We welcome this certification as validation of our business practices and an important opportunity to elevate our profile and expand our access to new business opportunities,” Jennifer Calabrese, founder and chief executive officer of Calabrese Consulting, said in a statement. “Calabrese Consulting brings more than 40 years of combined industry experience to each client engagement, and has cultivated a culture of accuracy, efficiency, and trust. We understand the unique needs of companies, auditors and attorneys, and deliver a tailored approach to address even the most complex financial and accounting projects with a goal of exceeding client expectations.”

Nearly $29 billion in state contracts have been awarded to M/WBE certified firms since 2011, expanding opportunities for minority and women entrepreneurs.

PETITIONS FOR SCHOOL DISTRICT AND LIBRARY BOARD TRUSTEES

The Annual Election and Budget Vote for the Rockville Centre Public Schools and the Rockville Centre Public Library is scheduled for Tuesday, May 21, 2024.

Residents will elect two persons to fill two, three-year terms on the Board of Education, commencing July 1, 2024, to succeed the incumbents Kelly Barry and Erica Messier whose terms expire June 30, 2024.

Residents will elect two persons to fill two, three-year terms on the Library Board, commencing July 1, 2024, to succeed the incumbents Melissa Sorvillo and Nadine Kelly whose terms expire June 30, 2024.

The last day for filing a petition to be a candidate for the School Board and the Library Board is Monday, April 22, 2024 at 5:00 PM.

Petitions are available through the District Clerk’s Office at:

The William H. Johnson Administration Office Rockville Centre UFSD 128 Shepherd Street Rockville Centre, NY (516) 255-8921

1248702

Amy Schumer talks about recent diagnosis

By DANIEL OFFNER doffner@liherald.com

Comedian, actress and director Amy Schumer, a graduate of South Side High School in Rockville Centre, recently revealed that she has been diagnosed with Cushing Syndrome.

Cushing Syndrome is a hormonal disorder caused when a person’s body has too much cortisol, a naturally occurring steroid, commonly triggered by stress, that is released by adrenal and endocrine glands, or provided externally through steroid injections.

In a one-on-one interview with former CNN chief White House correspondent Jessica Yellin, via her News Not Noise newsletter, the “Trainwreck” star shared that her symptoms were brought on by high doses of steroid injections.

“There are a few types of Cushing,” Schumer said. “Some that can be fatal, require brain surgery or removal of adrenal glands.”

The Mayo Clinic says that some of the main symptoms of Cushing Syndrome include a rounded face, a fatty hump between the shoulders and pink or purple stretch marks on the skin. It is a highly treatable, yet very serious condition that can in some cases cause high blood pressure, bone loss, and occasionally Type 2 diabetes.

“I was also in MRI machines four hours at a time, having my veins shut down from the amount of blood drawn and thinking I may not be around to see my son grow up,” Schumer described in her interview. “So finding out I have the kind of Cushing that will just work itself out and I’m healthy was the greatest news imaginable. It has been a crazy couple weeks for me and my family.”

Courtesy Comedy Central Actress/Comedian Amy Schumer, a South Side High School alum, recently shared that she has been diagnosed with Cushing Syndrome, in a one-on-one interview with former CNN White House correspondent Jessica Yellin.

News of her diagnosis comes less than a week after Schumer was criticized online for what she described as her “puffier than normal” appearance.

“There are some medical and hormonal things going on in my world right now, but l’m okay,” Schumer shared via Instagram. “I also believe a woman doesn’t need any excuse for her physical appearance and owes no explanation.”

In her interview, Schumer tells Yellin that she was forthcoming with her diagnosis because she wanted to advocate for women’s health.

“The shaming and criticism of our ever-changing bodies is something I have dealt with and witnessed for a long time,” Schumer said. “I want so much for women to love themselves and be relentless when fighting for their own health in a system that usually doesn’t believe them.”

Before her diagnosis, Schumer attributed her appearance to endometriosis, an autoimmune disease that she has suffered from for years.

According to the Mayo Clinic, endometriosis occurs when tissue, similar to the tissue that lines the uterus, develops outside the uterus in places where it doesn’t belong.

“I want women to know it’s abnormal to have extremely painful periods and to find someone with experience in diagnosing and operating for endometriosis,” Schumer told Yellin during their interview. “I want women vomiting horribly into their second and third trimester (to know they) may have hyperemesis gravidarum like I had. I want women to value feeling strong, healthy and comfortable in their own skin. I am extremely privileged to have the resources I have for my health and I know it’s not that way for most people. I am grateful and want to use my voice to continue to fight for women.”

Season 2 of Amy Schumer’s series, “Life and Beth,” is now streaming on Hulu.

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Blakeman defends banning trans athletes

By PARKER SCHUG pschug@liherald.com

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman says he’s protecting athletes in his executive order last week banning some transgender participants in female-centric sports in county facilities. But the action also has raised concerns — and legal questions. Some of which were brought before the Nassau County Legislature on Monday.

We’re confident that as soon as this executive order comes before court, it will be shut down

BoBBy HodGSon director New York Civil Liberties Union

“An individual’s gender is defined as the individual’s biological sex at birth,” Blakeman wrote in his executive order, which demands any sport entities interested in using county facilities to first designate themselves based on male, female or co-ed categories, and then only accept athletes who meet that criteria according to the gender that was originally listed on their birth certificate.

There are nearly 100 facilities in the county that will be impacted, Blakeman told reporters last week.

But Bobby Hodgson — director of LGBTQ rights litigation at New York Civil Liberties Union — says those impacts may not be felt long.

“Were confident that as soon as this executive order comes before court, it will be shut down,” Hodgson said.

The executive order primarily targets athletes born biologically male, but who now identify as female, from participating in teams intended only for girls or women. Blakeman’s order does not require facilities to ban athletes born female and now identifying as male from joining male-centric teams.

Blakeman, however, was quick to add last week, that trans athletes identifying as females aren’t completely banned — they will still be able to participate in co-ed leagues as well as male competitive leagues.

Nassau County Legislator Samantha Goetz backed Blakeman’s directive, citing safety and integrity.

“This is about protecting our female athletes,” said Goetz, whose district primarily represents Oyster Bay. “This is about making sure they’re not denied opportunities for scholarships, or any type of opportunity that comes with playing sports, recognition and things like that.”

Eva Nordman, an 8-year-old who plays basketball, softball and soccer, said it was also about keeping sports equitable.

“Boys have different chromosomes than girls and that makes them stronger,” Nordman said. “It’s not fair if they

college, whether it’s high school, whether it’s just a community league — and it is an unfair advantage for someone who’s a biological male to compete against a biological female.”

Dawn Foster — a former deputy county attorney and an Oceanside resident — stopped by Mineola on Monday to speak out against Blakeman’s executive order in front of the county legislature on behalf of her family.

“In 2021, when I finally stopped fighting against myself and accepted that I was a woman and needed transition, we felt fortunate to live in Nassau County,” Foster said, calling the executive order unlawful, and condemning what she described as efforts to demonize trans women. “That feeling was shattered last week.

“Blakeman and Goetz press conference was a total of repudiation of the humanity of trans people, implying that we are cheaters, liars and bullies.”

compete against us.”

Protesters gathered outside of Blakeman’s news conference last week led by Juli Grey-Owens, executive director of Gender Equality New York, chanting, “Trans kids are our kids.” They will get some support from the NYCLU — a notfor=profit legal right group — say they will consider taking Nassau County to court over what Hodgson described as a disregard of state human rights and civil rights laws.

An amendment to the state’s human rights law in 2019 outlawed gender identity and expression discrimination in employment, housing, places of public accommodation, and non-religious schools, according to state officials.

Hodgson is not alone. State attorney general Letitia James condemned Blakeman’s order, calling it “transphobic and

deeply dangerous.”

“In New York, we have laws that protect our beautifully diverse communities from hate and discrimination of any and every kind,” James said, in a statement. “My office is charged with enforcing and upholding those laws, and we stand up to those who violate them and trespass on the rights of marginalized communities. We are reviewing our legal options.”

But Blakeman told reporters last week he knew of no state policy that could threaten his executive order

“This is not precluding anybody from participating in sports,” Blakeman wrote in his executive order. “What it is, is identifying that there are women and girls who spent a tremendous amount of time and effort to excel and compete in their sports that are women’s sports whether it’s the WNBA, whether it’s

Foster already had support from some county legislators like Carrié Solages and Delia DeRiggi-Whitton.

“I have never, in my many years of government service, had a constituent or parent complain to me about this issue,” Solages said, “making it clear that this embarrassing and illegal order is just another attempt by County Executive Blakeman to distract from the many issues that plague Nassau County.”

But Blakeman is not going to let those efforts dissuade him.

“We are finding out, in the last few months, there was a movement for biological males to bully their way into competing in sports or leagues or teams that identify themselves — or advertise themselves — as girls, or female or women’s teams or leagues,” the county executive said last week. “We find that unacceptable. It’s a form of bullying.”

Parker Schug/Herald photos

Victoria Argueta, from left, Sophia Argueta, Eva Nordman, Julia Nordman and Jenna Nordman join Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman at a news conference, telling reporters he’s banning some transgender athletes from participating in female-centric sports in county facilities.

Juli Grey-Owens, executive director of Gender Equality New York, front, protests outside a Mineola news conference last week where Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman announced he was banning some transgender athletes from participating in female-centric sports in county facilities.

School tradition celebrates its 108th year

Continued from page 1

mining who would make the ideal candidate.

“They are so hard working. They are so enthusiastic. They pour their heart and soul into red and blue,” she said. “They make sure that all the girls are included and feel welcomed. They encourage the underclassmen to get involved and it’s really just a group effort. Not only (between) the captain, but all the seniors and coordinators.”

Each team has two alumni advisers to coordinate practice times. Neither team is allowed to view the opponent’s strategies before the competition.

Once again, this year, Lauren Serling (SSHS class of 2007) and Joanna Zweben (SSHS class of 1990) have been working with the Red team to make sure their routines are ready for the start of the big event, while Christina Ferrara-Muter (SSHS class of 2003) and Margaret Kelly (SSHS class of 2003), have been helping the Blue team prepare for the meet.

The Red and Blue meet was created in 1917, at a time when girls’ sports were virtually unheard of, and through the years the tradition has evolved to keep up with the times.

In its earliest incarnations, the school hosted a mother/daughter banquet before the start of the meet, which featured a keynote speaker and a guest of honor. Eventually, that tradition was done away with in the 1980s, with the

exception of a Captain’s Dinner, which continues to this day. The two captains of each the Red and Blue teams hosts a special dinner with Rockville Centre officials prior to the event.

For many years, the winning team was presented with the Paul T. Wohlsen

Red and Blue trophy, named after the former South Side Senior High School principal. It was introduced in 1938 as a tangible award presented to the captains of the winning team following the competition. Over the years, this tradition faded away.

The 108th annual Red and Blue meet begins Thursday with revue night, a formal evening where students get dressed up to sing songs and cheer each other on.

Each team selects a theme for their teams, which they emboss onto several painted posters that are presented during the revue night ceremony. The themes will also set the stage for the two teams’ upcoming dance competitions and skits.

Following the pageantry of revue night, the two teams will perform a series of skits featuring five dance routines, ranging from aerobic, disco, tap and jazz. Students will be judged by a panel who will give them a score based on their performances, costumes, props and tumbling.

The competition portion features three relay races and a floor hockey match on Friday, followed by three more relay races and a volleyball match on Saturday. Points are also awarded for organization, sportsmanship and attendance.

In the past 107 years of the competition, the Blue team has accumulated the most team victories, with 50, while the Red team has captured 44. There have been 11 ties.

Meaghan Healey, a physical education teacher, who ran the Red and Blue meet for 20 years, said that the school district has no data if there was an event in 1921.

Additional reporting by Danielle Schwab.

Tim Baker/Herald

Blue team captains ava gallego, left, and Katherine ahern, and red team captains maggie miller and Sarah tear prepare for the competition.

HERALD SPORTS

Manhasset holds off South Side in semifinal

By TONY BELLISSIMO

tbellissimo@liherald.com

By the time South Side found its shooting touch in Monday night’s Nassau Class AA girls’ basketball semifinal playoff game, it proved to be a little too late thanks to Manhasset’s Danielle Perfetto.

After South Side cut a 16-point deficit after three quarters down to one, Perfetto, a freshman, swished a three-pointer from the corner off a feed from senior Mia LoPointo with 1:40 remaining to give the top-seeded Indians all the breathing room they would need to emerge with a 44-38 victory at Farmingdale State College.

“It wasn’t how we drew it up, but the defense converged on Mia and she found Danielle open in the corner,” said Manhasset head coach Chuck Collyer, who called a timeout after the fourth-seeded Cyclones scored 17 of the first 19 points of the fourth quarter. “We beat South Side twice during the season and we kept telling the girls they weren’t going to go down without a fight,” he added.

Perfetto’s clutch shot gave Manhasset a 40-36 lead. She had 11 points and LoPinto led all scorers with 15. The Indians, who won the Class A championship last season, will face seventh-seeded East Meadow in the title game next Monday at 5 p.m. at Farmingdale State.

Senior Kyla Murphy had 10 points and 22 rebounds to lead South Side, which beat No. 13 Bethpage in the quarterfinals and finished 16-6.

Side head coach Dan Ferrick said. “We had good looks all game and I thought defensively we played well enough to win.”

The Cyclones were held to 19 points through three quarters and had another 19 in the fourth alone. Foul trouble early didn’t help. They led 9-3 but saw senior Dakota Evans and sophomore Ellie Lennon both pick up two personals within the first 4:30.

Manhasset, which won regular-season meetings by scores of 53-42 and 56-36, scored the last five points of Monday’s opening quarter and outscored South Side 10-4 in the second to build an 18-13 halftime lead.

The margin swelled in the third as Manhasset’s crisp passing and ball movement led to four baskets in the paint — two by sophomore Lauren Connolly and two by senior Lauren Perfetto. The Cyclones trailed 35-19 entering the fourth but made a frantic push.

Sparked by freshmen Reese Long (8 points), Kately Mullen (6) and three-pointers from junior Ella Burbige and Lennon, South Side chipped away while Murphy’s dominance on the boards limited Manhasset to oneshot possessions.

Long cut the deficit to 37-36 before Danielle Perfetto’s momentum-shifting shot.

“I give our girls a lot of credit,” Ferrick said. “They kept their heads up and made a run and that’s all I could ask.

“What it ultimately came down to is we couldn’t put the ball in the basket until the fourth quarter,” South

“The last two senior groups we’ve had changed the culture of the program and set the stage for the future,” he added.

Cyclones advance to championship game

By TONY BELLISSIMO

tbellissimo@liherald.com

Balanced scoring and a defensive adjustment after allowing 14 opening-quarter points propelled South Side to a 50-39 victory over Roslyn in a Nassau Class AA boys’ basketball semifinal Tuesday night at Farmingdale State College.

It was the 20th win of the season for the defending Long Island champion Cyclones, who’ll try to repeat as county champs this Saturday against fifth-seeded Elmont at 3:30 p.m. at Farmingdale State.

Sophomores John Pericolosi (11 points) and Ryan Schmitt (10) led second-seeded South Side’s widespread offense that saw seniors Matt DeSena (8), Francis Sweeney (7) and Patrick Mullin (5), and junior Connor Fernandez (5) all contribute. Senior Ryan Kennedy pulled down 11 rebounds.

“That was a battle,” Cyclones head coach Jerry D’Angelo said. “Roslyn came into the playoffs on a hot streak and we knew we had our work cut out. We fell behind early but had a nice second quarter to get the lead at halftime. In the third quarter we had success with our defense and it led to points in transition. Then we held them off in the fourth.”

Third-seeded Roslyn led 14-10 after the first quarter but managed just one field goal and four points in the second as South Side (20-3) found the lead for the first time on a Fernandez trey and never looked back. The Bulldogs trailed 20-18 at halftime and were never within a single possession again.

“We keep proving doubters wrong,” Mullin said. “Our coaches always have us prepared and we play our best when the pressure is on. We wanted to pound the ball inside and use our size to our advantage.”

The Cyclones led by as many as 12 in the third quarter, but Roslyn cut the margin to 32-28 in the closing seconds before Sweeney beat the buzzer with a threepointer to help South Side regain momentum.

“We got production from everyone who stepped on the floor,” D’Angelo said.

South Side’s playoff road began Feb. 15 with a home victory over No. 15 Bethpage, 46-32. The Cyclones trailed by four after the opening quarter and were locked in a halftime tie before outscoring the Golden Eagles 11-0 in the third quarter to seize command. Mullin (13), Schmitt (12) and Sweeney (10) all scored in double figures.

Five days later saw a rematch of last year’s Class A championship game against No. 7 Manhasset live up to all the hype. South Side trailed the quarterfinal late before rallying for a 58-53 home win. A steal around midcourt by DeSena inside of 10 seconds was the key play in crunch time. It led to a pair of DeSena free throws to make it a two-possession game.

“It was a wild back-and-forth game,” D’Angelo said. “Both teams had a seven-point lead at one point.”

Mullin led the Cyclones with 21 points. Schmitt added 13 and DeSena and Pericolosi chipped in 10 apiece as South Side avenged a Feb. 3 regular-season home defeat to the Indians.

Terry Uellendahl/Herald Ryan Schmitt, left, scored 10 points Tuesday night as South Side advanced to the Nassau Class AA final with a 50-39 victory over Roslyn.

Eric Dunetz/Herald Freshman Katelyn Mullen was part of South Side’s fourth-quarter surge in its Nassau Class AA semifinal playoff loss to Manhasset.

Mayor attends Captains’ dinners

In anticipation of the 108th annual Red and Blue extravaganza, Rockville Centre Mayor Francis Murray and Village Trustee Katie Conlon celebrated the longstanding South Side High School tradition this past weekend by attending dinner with the Red team captains, Sarah Tear and Maggie Miller, and the Blue team captains, Katherine Ahern and Ava Gallego.

Rockville Centre village officials would also like to wish good luck to all of the students participating in this year’s Red and Blue festivities.

Rockville Centre Mayor Francis Murray, right, attended dinner with the Blue team captains Katherine Ahern and Ava Gallego, center, and their relatives over the weekend.

Curran provides aid to RVC schools

Assemblyman Brian Curran met with Rockville Centre School District Superintendent Matt Gaven on Tuesday to discuss a $20,000 bullet aid package from the state.

The bullet aid, which is a type of targeted funding provided in the state budget, was secured by Curran to be given to schools and libraries within his district.

“I will always support the Rockville Centre School District and their amazing students and staff,” Curran said in a press release. “They truly are one of the best school districts in the country and do an amazing job educating the young people of Rockville Centre, which is why I was so ecstatic to be able to present Superintendent Gaven with the funds I was able to secure.”

Curran said that during the conversation, Gaven shared details of some of the projects that he plans to complete using the additional funds.

“We are grateful to Assemblyman Curran for his work to secure additional aid for our district to improve our community communication systems,” Gaven said in a statement. “As a result of Assemblyman Curran’s work, we are upgrading our website and parent communication systems by purchasing the Parent Square. This integrated system allows the Rockville Centre School District to communicate with parents via text, email and social media. This is particularly useful during school closure situations, ensuring information reaches parents in the medium of their choice.”

–Daniel Offner

Photos courtesy Village of Rockville Centre Mayor Murray and Village Trustee Katie Conlon, left, join Red team captains Sarah Tear and Maggie Miller for the annual Captains’ dinner.

the United States Youth Soccer National League P.R.O. tournament on Monday morning in Tampa.

RVC Red Storm dominate the competition

The Girls’ 16U soccer club advance to the USYS National Championships

By DANIEL OFFNER doffner@liherald.com

The Rockville Centre Red Storm Girls’ Under 16 soccer club team has etched their name in the record books of youth soccer glory, showcasing remarkable talent and tenacity on the national stage.

This dynamic team, comprising several gifted young players, has emerged as a powerhouse in the realm of youth soccer, solidifying their reputation as one of the nation’s top contenders.

In a remarkable display of skill and determination, the RVC Red Storm secured a coveted spot in the United States Youth Soccer National League Conference National League P.R.O. tournament, following their stellar performance in the USYS National League Conference playoffs last December, where they competed against teams from Florida, Michigan and Pennsylvania.

Held at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida, the team clinched a remarkable second-place finish, setting the stage for their remarkable journey ahead.

“This is a huge accomplishment for a local soccer team competing at this high level and a testament to the players’, parents’, and coaches’ commitment,” Coach Ciaran Barry told the Herald, emphasizing the significance of this achievement.

Indeed, the dedication and unwavering support from the community have been instrumental in propelling the team to such remarkable heights.

The pinnacle of their journey awaited the RVC Red Storm in Tampa, Florida, where they joined 121 clubs from 31 different states for the fiercely contested USYS National League P.R.O. tournament.

Undeterred by the caliber of competition, the Red Storm showcased their mettle with two consecutive victories in the 16U Silver pool. The team triumphed over Steel City FC from Pennsylvania 2-1 to advance to the semifinal round.

The Red Storm continued to play a tight game

ful performance, securing a hard-fought 1-0 victory to emerge triumphant in their division. Gabriella Caminiti scored the winning goal with an assist from Viviana Haley, while goaltender Abby Gruner made some tremendous saves to ensure the shutout.

This crowning achievement not only underscores the team’s exceptional talent but also highlights their unwavering resolve and cohesive teamwork on the field.

“We are incredibly proud of the players for qualifying for the US National Championships in the summer,” Coach Barry said. “This amazing accomplishment is a testament to years of hard work and dedication as many of them have been playing together since elementary school. The support from the parents and the soccer club has been unbelievable and we look forward to representing RVC at the National Championships this summer. “

The roster of the Rockville Centre Red Storm 16U team is a veritable who’s who of rising soccer stars, with players such as players Molly Barry, Makaela Brennan, Gabriella Caminiti, Ella Faranda, Julie Faranda, Carsyn Goetz, Abby Gruner, Viv Haley, Kate Koluch, Maeve Ledwith, Katori Martin, Emily Quezada, Julia Quinn, Molly Reardon, Annie Schiller, Maddie Woo and Ryann Zydor leading the charge.

Supported by a dedicated coaching staff, including Trainer Nic Vacarro, Coach Janet Gruner, Coach Ciaran Barry and Coach Sean Curtis, the team has honed their skills under the expert guidance of mentors who are committed to their development both on and off the field.

against one of the top teams in the country, Sporting PA, and in the end managed to thwart their formidable opponents in penalty kicks to advance to the final round of the tournament.

In a thrilling showdown against the Ohio Galaxies FC in the final round, the Red Storm delivered a master-

Looking ahead, the journey for the Rockville Centre Red Storm is far from over. With their victory propelling them to the USYS National Championships slated for July, the team is poised to continue their pursuit of excellence on the national stage.

As they prepare to face off against the best youth soccer teams in the country, the Red Storm’s road to victory stands as a shining testament to the power of perseverance, teamwork, and unwavering determination in the pursuit of sporting glory.

Courtesy RVC Soccer Club Molly Barry, center back with the RVC Red Storm, participates in the USYS National League Conference Playoffs in December.

AIM funding has not increased in 15 years

vices.

“Each year, the purchasing power of the aid we receive, just like anyone here can attest, gets smaller and smaller,” Murray said. “That’s why it’s important for all of us, as leaders in municipal government from New York state, to stand together and demand the state meet the moment and deliver more AIM funding.”

Albany Mayor Kathy M. Sheehan, the president of NYCOM, said that the hardearned income tax dollars the state collects are supposed to help ensure that local governments have the necessary funding to address the challenges they face, including aging sewage and water infrastructure and needed improvements in police and fire services.

“And those challenges have only grown, not shrunk,” Sheehan said. “Many years ago, AIM was frozen, and for cities like Albany, it was actually reduced. In fact, the less quote-unquote dependent a municipality was on AIM, the more they were cut.”

Sheehan added that funding for AIM is down roughly 9 percent since the 2009 fiscal year. Meanwhile, the state has continued to increase funding for education and counties.

“We’re doing more with less because that state aid has not grown,” she said. “So when you get that property tax bill, and you worry about being taxed out of your home, one of those causes is the

and sales taxes.

“That was an important step that the state took and it worked,” Van Epps said. “It worked for a long time. But unfortunately, AIM was created in 2006. That is the latest iteration of revenue sharing, when in fact it is not revenue sharing at all. There is no formula. There is no percentage. There is no maximum amount of funding that we are guaranteed year in and year out.”

She said that after speaking with state legislators, NYCOM was told it needed to make some noise to let legislators and the public know about the importance of funding the AIM program.

fact that this funding, this sharing of revenue, has stalled and decreased, and it impacts our ability to do all the things that you expect us to do.”

NYCOM Executive Director Barbara Van Epps said that local governments find themselves at a crossroads, because the demand for essential services is rising, while the ability to fund them has not increased as rapidly.

“If we can’t provide those services, either those services are going to be cut or we’re going to have to turn back to our taxpayers in order to fund them, and

that’s something we do not want to do,” Van Epps said. “We do not want to raise property taxes. We are subject to a property tax cap. We have a constitutional tax limit. We are restricted in that sense.”

Decades ago, she explained, the state realized that it needed to help local governments provide these services, so it created a revenue-sharing program. The program was intended to share the revenue of the progressive personal income tax as it grew so that local governments wouldn’t need to rely solely on property

“You want New York state to be more affordable?” Van Epps said. “You want New York state to be safer? Well, guess what, that’s what local governments want too. So let’s work together to achieve those goals. That’s what we need to do. But we cannot be successful unless the state of New York is willing to invest in us and support the local governments that do what we do to help our communities every day.”

Sheehan added that while the amount taxpayers have given to the state has increased every year, the aid given back to its communities has shrunk.

“This is your money that is sitting in New York state’s capital, and we want it back,” Sheehan said. “We want it for our communities. We want it to be able to do good.”

Daniel Offner/Herald

Local government officials across Long island gathered in rockville Centre last week to kick off

statewide advocacy campaign, urging state officials to increase unrestricted aid to cities and villages for the first time in 15 years.

STEPPING OUT

Her theatre life

Tony Award nominee Sheryl Kaller directs Off-Broadway’s ‘The White Chip,’ a play about alcoholism and recovery

By Iris Wiener

When Valley Stream native Sheryl Kaller was 12, she knew she wanted to be a director. It was 1973. She went to a Sunday matinee of “Pippin,” and Ben Vereen sang “Magic to Do,” immediately clinching her dream.

“I always knew theatre was the only place where we can authentically use our imaginations,” she says. “I had the Spidey sense of knowing that it was a collaborative art.”

It was the start to a journey that would lead her to a Tony nomination as she directed Broadway (“Next Fall,” “Mothers and Sons”) and Off-Broadway plays, including “The White Chip,” which follows a theatre director who finds himself spinning out of control with an addiction to alcohol. The play, exploring his journey to recovery, runs through March 9, at MCC Theater.

“Broadway and Off-Broadway always felt like my community,” Kaller says. “My parents were very vigilant about getting me in to see theatre all the time. It informed my exposure to the art and my love of New York City.”

As Kaller grew up in the Green Acres community of Valley Stream, she performed in community theatre with her mother, while her father — who repaired car seat covers for a living — would use his knowledge of sewing to design costumes for the shows. (“They were horrible actually,” Kaller says, laughing at the fond memories.)

In her senior year at Valley Stream South High School, Kaller got her first taste of directing. After landing the role of Rosie in “Bye Bye Birdie,” she realized a big number — “The Telephone Hour” — could use some major help.

“I said to the director, who was great, ‘With all due respect, may I redo (the number)?’ So I redid the whole ‘Telephone Hour.’ That’s when I knew I was much better at directing than acting, and it led me to go to Emerson College — as a director, not as an actor.”

In 2019, Kaller directed “The White Chip” at OffBroadway’s 59E59 with the support of acclaimed playwright Terrence McNally, who, much like the play’s narrator, was

• Now through March 9

• Robert W. Wilson MCC Theater Space, 511 W. 52nd St., Manhattan

• Tickets available at WhiteChipPlay.com

a recovered alcoholic. When McNally died during the pandemic, Kaller knew she had to bring the play back to the New York theatre community.

“In the world of Covid and in the world of losing community, we felt it was really important to bring it back because ‘The White Chip’ is a hopeful sobriety story, and a serio-comedy. There’s a lot of fun things in it,” she says of the play, which found its new home at the MCC Theater. “We are building community and doing service with this show, while entertaining at the same time.”

According to Kaller, after the pandemic, alcoholism in women doubled, while in men it was up a third.

“AA and addiction meetings were all on Zoom, and everybody kind of fractured,” she says. “This is a story that makes you laugh and cry. It also talks about how there’s no shame in being an addict. Shame touches everybody’s lives in one way or another.”

In deciding to take the piece on again, it didn’t hurt that Tony Award winner Annaleigh Ashford was at the show’s helm as producer.

“She’s very magical,” says Kaller of Ashford, who recently starred in Broadway’s “Sweeney Todd” opposite Josh Groban.

“The White Chip” has such an important message that it also boasts celebrity supporters and producers Jason Biggs, John Larroquette, Edie Falco and Hank Azaria. The pandemic even inspired playwright Sean Daniels to create The Recovery Project, an initiative working to heal the stigma of addiction and recovery through the development of new plays, theatre education programs, and outreach.

“All of our fancy producers are sober people,” says Kaller, of the importance of the play and the initiative. “Every producer who came on board financially was incredibly gracious. They don’t have the best deal in the world because a lot of the money is going into The Recovery Project. If you’re an actor, a designer, in the PR department, if you’re cleaning the toilets, you need resources. At all of our performances so far, at least one person has asked us for help. We have a QR code that gives them resources whether or not they have health insurance.”

The play continues to remind Kaller of the importance of community, a lesson that harkens back to her roots on Long Island.

“One thousand Long Islanders showed up to my dad’s funeral,” she recalls. “I grew up in such a beautiful community there. My heart will always be on the ‘Guyland.’ I got the wonderful suburban, great education at Valley Stream South, and yet I got to go into the city all the time. But I will always remember all of these people who showed up for my family.

“I wish Long Islanders would start coming back to New York theatre because we really do build a lot of beautiful community in the city and it’s worth it. It is apparent with ‘The White Chip’ and with so much more.”

Tusk

Tusk goes their own way, with their dynamic tribute to Fleetwood Mac. Since forming in 2008, Tusk has prided themselves on being the ultimate tribute to the ‘70s supergroup. No fancy tricks, no gimmicks, just five musicians recreating the music of Fleetwood Mac to perfection with note-fornote renditions. Seasoned musicians who go back some 25 years, their attention to detail, talent and reverence of their subjects has been critically acclaimed, resulting in their accolades as the premiere purveyors of ‘Mac. Time, trust, and close friendship have cultivated an intimate familiarity with each other’s musical nuances, shaping every performance with precision. More than a band, they are a family. Made up of Kathy Phillips (as Stevie Nicks on vocals), Scott McDonald (as Lindsey Buckingham, guitar and vocals), Kim Williams (as Christine McVie, keys and vocals), Randy Artiglere (as John McVie, bass) and Tom Nelson (as Mick Fleetwood on drums) the five-piece band transports you back to the group’s glory days.

Friday, March 1, 8 p.m. $63, $53, $45. Jeanne Rimsky Theater at Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington. (516) 7676444 or LandmarkOnMainStreet.org.

The Irish Tenors

These gents will warm your soul with the beauty of Irish music. The Irish Tenors have been the acknowledged Celtic music kings since bursting upon the scene during a 1998 television special. With 10 bestselling albums to their credit, they share company with the likes of The Three Tenors and Andrea Bocelli as the biggest money makers PBS has presented. They’ve since become a part of the Irish movement in America, with plenty of talented Irish acts coming after them. They have stood the test of time — audiences of all ages love the Irish Tenors. Now comprised of classically trained tenor Anthony Kearns, doctor-turned-vocalist Ronan Tynan, and tenor Declan Kelly, their repertoire is wide-ranging and they also introduce — or reintroduce — their audiences to Ireland’s exquisite jigs, reels and ballads.

Friday, March 1, 8 p.m. Tickets start at $70. Tilles Center for the Performing Arts, LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Blvd., Brookville. Tickets available at Ticketmaster.com,TillesCenter.org or (516) 299-3100.

Crystal Dickinson, Joe Tapper, and Jason Tam star in playwright Sean Daniels’ autobiographical comedy, a wry theatrical journey of recovery.

Photos by Jenny Anderson

Sheryl Kaller in rehearsal.

THE Your Neighborhood

March 8

Janeane Garofalo

The comedianactress, who reigns as the queen of the alt-comedy scene, is eager to speak her mind on her current stand-up tour, when she visits the Landmark stage, Friday, March 8, 8 p.m.

Considered by many as an American institution since she first burst on the scene in 1992, the outspoken activist has plenty to say, in her own inimitable comedic style. Known for her incisive, cynical sense of humor, the SNL alum has branched out into many memorable film and TV roles, including “The Truth About Cats and Dogs,” “Wet Hot American Summer,” “Ratatouille,” “Steal This Movie,” “Reality Bites,” “Romy and Michelle’s High School Reunion,” “Mystery Men,” “The Ten” and “The Cable Guy,” along with including the final season of NBC’s “The West Wing.”

Garofalo’s informed opinions and unflinching honesty on topics ranging from everyday life to pop culture inspire laughs and strikes a chord with audiences everywhere. Often a lightening rod for controversy, Garofalo finds a way to get her point across with her trademark sense of humor. Known and respected worldwide, Garofalo was also instrumental in the successful launching of the first liberal radio network, Air America Radio, where she hosted her own talk show, “The Majority Report.” A lightning rod for controversy, her opinions and candor have inspired laughs, as well as striking a chord with the left, right and everyone in between. $33, $28. Jeanne Rimsky Theater at Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington. Tickets available at LandmarkOnMainStreet.org or (516) 767-6444.

Family theater

Inspired by L. Frank Baum’s stories, this clever adaptation puts the audience front and center, literally, on the Long Island Children’s Museum stage, Friday, March 1, 10:15 a.m. and noon, Saturday, March 2, 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.; Tuesday through Thursday, March 5-7, 10:15 a.m. and noon. Kids become cast members, singing dancing, and acting onstage alongside the professional cast.

One of our most interactive shows at LICM Theater, this production received rave reviews in its prior run. Going beyond the traditional telling of the Oz stories, “Journey to Oz” uses personal journal entries and historic newspaper headlines to bring the history of author L. Frank Baum and illustrator W.W. Denslow to life. Dorothy, the Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion take the audience with them on this lively, playful trip down the yellow brick road.

$10 with museum admission ($8 members), $14 theater only. Long Island Children’s Museum, Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 224-5800 or LICM.org.

‘Backyard’ Breakfast

Rockville Centre St. Patrick’s Parade Committee teams up with Backyard Players and Friends for a pancake breakfast, Sunday, March 3, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Breakfast benefits this year’s parade charities Beyond the Badge, the Limb Kind Foundation and the Crocus Cancer Support Center in Ireland. $15 per adult; $5 per child. 215 N. Long Beach Road.

Keeping up with the Village

The next monthly meeting of the Village of Rockville Centre Board of Trustees will take place at Village Hall, Monday, March 4, at 7 p.m. 1 College Place.

Nellie McKay performs

The effervescent multiinstrumentalist singer-songwriter returns to My Father’s Place with music from her recently released album, “Hey Guys, Watch This,” Friday, March 1, 8 p.m. Recorded in Charleston, West Virginia with The Carpenter Ants and a roving retinue of musical compadres, her album traces the haunted sounds of Appalachia to a renaissance of revelry.

Doors open at 6 p.m., concert is at 8 p.m. 221 Old Northern Blvd., Roslyn. For tickets/ information, visit MFPProductions. com or call (516) 580-0887.

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.

Comedy Night

Enjoy an evening of laughs, featuring Dave Goldstein and Aaron Kominos Smith, at Congregation B’nai SholomBeth 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.

Blood Drive in support of Christopher ‘Kip’ Wells

Donate the lifesaving gift of blood, Sunday, March 10, 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at John A. Anderson Recreation Center. 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. 111 N. Oceanside Road. To signup contact DRobinson2@NYBC. org.

Having an event?

Game night at Congregation B’nai

Sholom-Beth David

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.

March 9

Tommy Brull Foundation concert

Enjoy an evening of music at RJ Daniel’s, Saturday, March 9, 7 p.m., featuring local artists The Blank Stairs, Pat the Horse, Animal Haüs, Wolfie and Kirkland. Hear covers of The Cure, Wilco, The Pogues and The Replacements. $20 addmission; all funds raised will be donated. 279A Sunrise Highway.

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.

Forest Bathing

Take a meditative Forest Bathing walk, led by certified guide Linda Lombardo, Sunday, March 10, 2-4 p.m. Based on the Japanese tradition of Shinrin-Yoku, a wellness practice developed in the 1980s, the walk, on the grounds of the former summer residence of Howard Gould and later Daniel and Florence Guggenheim, inspires mindful connections with the natural elements of the woods for a range of healthful benefits. $40, $35. Registration required. Sands Point Preserve, 127 Middle Neck Road. For information, visit SandsPointPreserveConservancy.org or call (516) 571-7901.

Art explorations

Converse, collaborate and create at Family Saturdays at Nassau County Museum of Art, Saturday, March 2 and 9, noon-3 p.m. Get inspired by the art and objects in the galleries and then join educators at the Manes Center to explore and discover different materials to create your own original artwork. Kids and their adult partners connect while talking about and making art together. A new project is featured every week. $20 adult, $10 child. Registration required. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. (516) 484-9337 or NassauMuseum.org.

Margaritaville Evening presented by the RVCFD

Escape the cold winter weather with members of the Rockville Centre Fire Department on Saturday, March 9, 7-11:30 p.m., at St. Agnes Parish Center. This tropical celebration honors Joseph Rugolo, a 47-year member of the department and the owner of C&J Rugolo Masonry, featuring musical entertainment by Jimmy and the Parrots. Kasey’s Kitchen and Cocktails provides food and drink. $80 per person. Must be 21 and older to attend. Tropical attire encouraged. 29 Quealy Place, For more information contact Peter Klugewicz at (516) 603-9142 or visit RVCFDMargaritaville.com.

Catching up with the Schools

The next monthly meeting of the Rockville Centre Board of Education will be held on Thursday, March 7, at 8 p.m. in the Commons Room at South Side High School. 140 Shepherd St.

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 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 PASSTHROUGH 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

LEGAL NOTICE

LEGAL NOTICE

March 6th, 2024 at 7:00

PM

Case # 10-2024 - Michael Cove & Christine Alagia

To construct a rear onestory addition, a rear twostory addition, and front portico with a proposed front yard setback of 25.2 feet where the average front yard setback is 25.6 feet and is the minimum required, side yard setbacks of 6.0 feet and 6.67 feet where 8.0 feet is the minimum required within a Residence A district.

Premises known as 33 Rodney Place

Case # 11-2024 - Brent & Amanda Tarazi

To convert part of an attached garage, and a rear second story addition over existing first story with a proposed side yard setback of 5.7 feet where 8.0 feet is the minimum required, and a rear yard setback to the second story addition of 20.58

feet where 25.0 feet is the minimum required within a Residence A district.

Premises known as 22

Blenheim Court

Case # 12-2024Reiffman Holdings LLC

To construct a professional medical building, within a “Business A District” which requires three hundred sixty-eight (368) parking spaces where 81 conforming parking spaces and seventy-six (76) non-conforming spaces are provided is subject to a Substantial Occupancy Permit from the Board of Appeals.

Premises known as 486, 490, & 500 Sunrise Highway Case # 13-2024 - Adam

Lacku

To construct a 12’ x 24’ in-ground pool not wholly located within the rear third or quadrant of the lot, and with a setback of 7.5 feet on the shortest street frontage where 25.0 feet is the required setback within a Residence A district.

Premises known as 56

Devon Road

Case # 15-2024 - CJV

Properties

To alter and convert a 2519 SF Retail use to Restaurant, in a “Business A-1” district which requires twenty-six (26) parking spaces where zero (0) are provided, is denied and is subject to a Substantial Occupancy from the Board of Appeals.

Premises known as 106 South Long Beach Road

Dated: February 23, 2024

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

J. Robert Schenone, Chairman

Patrick D. O’Brien, Secretary

Information and records for appeals cases are available at the Office of the Secretary of the Board of Appeals, 110 Maple Avenue, RVC, NY 145136

LEGAL NOTICE

New York State

Department of Environmental

Conservation Notice of Complete

Application Date:02/08/2024

Applicant:MERCY MEDICAL CENTER

1000 NORTH VILLAGE

AVENUE

ROCKVILLE CENTRE, NY 11570

Facility:MERCY MEDICAL CENTER

1000 NORTH VILLAGE

AVENUE

ROCKVILLE CENTRE, NY 11570

Application ID: 1-2820-00600/00004

Permits(s) Applied for:

1-Article 19 Air State Facility

Project is located: in HEMPSTEAD in NASSAU COUNTY

Project Description: The Department has prepared a draft permit and has made a tentative determination, subject to public comment or other information, to approve the application to renew Mercy Medical Center’s State Facility permit. The facility operates three 20.992 mmBTU/hr Cleaver Brooks boilers, three 2.5 mmBTU/hr Bryan boilers, 4 emergency generators, twelve exempt sources and a few trivial sources.

Total emission from the facility will remain capped under 22.5 tons per year of NOx.

Availability of Application

Documents:

Filed application documents, and Department draft permits where applicable, are available for inspection during normal business hours at the address of the contact person. To ensure timely service at the time of inspection, it is recommended that an appointment be made with the contact person.

State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR)

Determination

Project is not subject to SEQR because it is a Type II action.

SEQR Lead Agency None

Designated State Historic Preservation Act (SHPA)

Determination

The proposed activity is not subject to review in accordance with SHPA. The application type is exempt and/or the project involves the continuation of an existing operational activity.

DEC Commissioner Policy 29, Environmental Justice and Permitting (CP-29) It has been determined that the proposed action is not subject to CP-29.

Availability for Public Comment

Comments on this project must be Submitted in writing to the Contact Person no later

OBITUARIES

Sheila Cahill, 79, a caring nurse and parent

Shelia Cahill, 79, died on February 15, 2024. She was a longtime resident of Rockville Centre, who was born and raised in the Bronx by her loving parents, Denis and Elizabeth.

She went on to become a registered nurse, working in operating rooms for 10 years, before moving to Long Island to help her sister raise Sheila and Arthur. She then became a registered nurse for the United States Postal Service.

and was an adored grandmother to William, Thomas and Joseph. She cherished her siblings including the late Betty (Arthur), Catherine (the late James) and Denis (Jean) along with her numerous nieces, nephews, and great friend including Bill and John.

Cahill was a loving mother to Sheila (William) Carberry and Arthur Kelly,

A funeral Mass will take place on March 2nd at Our Lady of Miraculous Medal at 11 a.m., 75 Parkside Drive in Point Lookout. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Camp Anchor in Lido Beach.

Elaine Horowitz, 86, beloved by her family

Elaine Horowitz, 86, died on February, 24, 2024.

Her life was a testament to her resilience, love, and the importance of family. From her childhood, growing up on the Lower East Side with her sisters, to her loving marriage to Joseph Horowitz, her family and her Jewish heritage were central to her identity.

Together, she and Joseph

shared over three decades of joy, hosting celebrations and cherishing moments with their loved ones.

Elaine’s legacy lives on through her grandchildren, her sister Gail and the vast Kuhr-Rubinstein families.

Funeral services to honor her life will take place at Gutterman’s of Rockville Centre on Tuesday, March 5th.

elaine horowitz

Richard E. Roberti, 71, devoted sports fan

Richard E. Roberti, 71, a long time resident of Rockville Centre died peacefully on Friday, February 23, 2024, at his home, surrounded by his wife and three adult children.

Roberti survived a long hard battle against cancer, and true to his character, did not give up his fight until the very end.

He was born on December 12, 1952 to Robert E. Roberti and Margaret M. Dugan of Manhattan. He grew up with his brother, Paul E. Roberti, and sister, Jeanne M. Roberti, spending a majority of their time together at their residence in Oceanside.

Robert was an Oceanside sailor, who graced both the baseball diamond and soccer field, and took on a short-lived “hippie” persona. It was in his young life that he developed a strong love for music, a passion that he passed on to his children.

It was in Oceanside, at Lawson’s Pub, where he met Sheilagh Molloy, the love of his life, and now wife of almost 50 years. Of all his accomplishments, and there were many, his biggest was his family.

Careerwise, Roberti followed in his own father’s footsteps to RMJ Securities, where he eventually sat at the head of the desk, trading U.S. Government Bonds. He had a legendary 35-year career on Wall Street. In his later years,

he served as the business director of the Chiari Institute at LIJ Hospital.

Known fondly to his friends and family as, “Richie,” he was an avid golfer, reader and diehard New York sports fan. Richie always took the opportunity to take advantage of a good joke. Laughter always followed him.

His daily attire represented his sports affinities, as he was often spotted in New York Yankees, New York Giants, New York Rangers, New York Knicks and Westhampton Country Club shirts — and, at time, he was also spotted in a Georgetown Women’s soccer hoodie. He rode the highs and lows with his sports teams with true passion, never missing the opportunity to discuss these sports tribulations with his adoring family.

He is survived by his wife, Sheilagh; his three children, Christopher (Kristen), Elizabeth and Timothy (Lauren); his seven grandchildren, Will, Tierney, Lillian, George, Rory, Timothy and James; and his sister, Jeanne M. Roberti. Roberti will be remembered by his family and friends as a gentleman, a storyteller and a loving man.

Services were held at Macken Mortuary in Rockville Centre on Monday, Feb. 26th, followed by a memorial service at St. Agnes Cathedral on Tuesday, Feb. 27th.

Dad… “May The Four Winds Blow You Safely Home.” Until We Meet Again.

Sheila Cahill

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Our floor is expanding

Q. Last fall we had the walls removed between our living room, dining room and kitchen. We had a new kitchen installed with an island plus a wall of cabinets. Now the new flooring is rising at the seams, everywhere. We have a heated floor, and the flooring was specially chosen because it clicks together and “floats.” We were told that with the floor being able to move, it would be better with the heated floor. What caused this, and what can we do?

A. Your floor is expanding, and the ridges at the seams are rising, because the floor has nowhere else to expand to. This problem is common, and was caused by the floor being limited from expanding because the cabinets and island, along with heavy furniture placed over the finished floor, keep the floor from expanding when the heat is on. Wetting the floor to clean it also causes expansion, and should be limited or not done with water at all.

Solving this problem is easier said than done. Basically, anywhere the floor is unable to move defeats the purpose, and only by freeing up the floor will the problem work itself out. There’s a simple wall molding that our ancestors used that seems to be generally forgotten. Even though I include this detail in most of the drawings I prepare, I rarely see this last little strip of molding being installed. What the molding does is act like a gap cover, since properly installed flooring has a quarter- to halfinch gap at the edges of the floor, including around a fixed island and around the room’s perimeter. The whole perimeter will need to be cut so the trim molding will need to be added, unless the vertical trim board has been installed with a space, in which case the flooring has to be able to float (slide back and forth) under the vertical wallboard trim.

Our ancestors were very observant of nature, and skilled finish carpenters passed along their knowledge of the way materials behave. I worked for a finish carpenter while in high school, and learned that molding and trim weren’t just a finishing touch, but also a necessity to hide the places where materials needed room to expand and contract, at ceilings, floors, stairs and doors. Miracle materials have come along since then that were supposed to change the industry, like plastic moldings that are more temperature stable, but nature never disappoints. Natural or not, materials all have to work together, whether it’s the way they react to moisture, sunlight, heat or cold.

You’re going to need to get the contractor to organize the flooring installer and the finish carpenter to coordinate cutting the floor, and either install the shoe molding or space the vertical trim baseboard so the floor moves and adjusts underneath, even at the island and kitchen cabinet bases. Hopefully, the flooring was installed over a moisture-proof expansion membrane. Then enjoy your floor.

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Reflections on the special election

It isn’t often that a congressional race becomes the center of national attention. But that was the case in the campaign between Tom Suozzi and Mazi Pilip to succeed the disgraced George Santos in the 3rd Congressional District.

In less than 12 months in office, Santos became a joke — a very sick joke. After the House of Representatives voted to expel him in December, Gov. Kathy Hochul set a special election for Feb. 13.

pETER KInG

Under state election law, candidates in a special election are selected by party leaders. Not surprisingly, Democrats selected Tom Suozzi, a seasoned veteran of the political wars who had represented the district in Congress for three terms before giving up his seat to make an unsuccessful gubernatorial primary run against Hochul in 2022.

Nassau GOP Chairman Joe Cairo set up a selection committee (that I was part of) that interviewed 22 potential candidates, and overwhelmingly recommended Pilip. Not wanting to repeat the Santos calamity, Cairo had Pilip vetted by several firms, and she passed with flying colors.

IIOrdinarily it would be a gamble for a relative newcomer who had served barely one term in the County Legislature to run against a veteran like Suozzi, but Pilip personified the American dream. She’d escaped from Ethiopia to Israel with her family when she was 12, and served in an elite parachute unit in the Israel Defense Forces. She was highly educated, married a Ukrainian cardiologist, moved to the United States and raised seven children in Great Neck. She was the first Republican ever re-elected in the 10th Legislative District.

Pilip was the new running against the old. She was coming off a solid victory against the odds in a Democratic district, while Suozzi had lost badly to Hochul in the primary. Pilip was the legal immigrant who supported strong border security, challenging the candidate of the party that had allowed more than 8 million illegal migrants into the country, many of whom were overwhelming New York City and the parts of Queens that fall in the 3rd District. She was the candidate who was endorsed by the Border Patrol Agents’ union, while Suozzi had recently boasted of throwing Immigration and Customs Enforcement out of Nassau County when he was county executive. Pilip, a

trained soldier, supported strong defense at a time when Israel was at war with Hamas, Russia had invaded Ukraine and China was threatening Taiwan.

Though the Democrats had a significant registration edge over Republicans, 39 percent to 28 percent, President Biden’s popularity was at record lows, and Suozzi was on record saying he supported Biden “100 percent.”

heard there was real concern in the Suozzi camp right up to Election Day.

Pilip campaigned tirelessly, and was making strong inroads. Suozzi countered by separating himself from prevailing Democratic positions on immigration, border security and support for police and didn’t seek Biden’s endorsement.

In the campaign’s closing days, every published poll had the race within the margin of error. A Republican poll had Pilip up by 5 points. Suozzi never got above 50 percent in any poll, a bad sign for a virtual incumbent. Democratic sources and some friendly reporters told me there was real concern in the Suozzi camp right up to Election Day. When the numbers were in, though, Suozzi won, 54 percent to 46 percent.

It’s still early, but my preliminary thoughts are that:

■ The snowstorm on Election Day hurt Republicans, but not enough to make the

difference.

■ Suozzi effectively managed to separate himself in the eyes of the voters from the sins of his party on immigration and support for the police.

■ Democratic congressional campaign committees provided extensive financial support to Suozzi early on.

■ Though Pilip actually garnered a higher percentage of votes against Suozzi than former President Donald Trump did against Biden in 2020, she couldn’t overcome the built-in Democratic registration edge.

■ Cairo and the Nassau Republican organization worked hard and effectively, but Pilip didn’t receive financial support from national Republicans comparable to what Suozzi received from Democrats.

■ Pilip was handicapped by having to campaign against the backdrop of the antics of congressional Republicans like Matt Gaetz and Marjorie Taylor Green, who come across as a gang that can’t shoot straight.

Suozzi won. No complaints. No excuses. But Pilip ran an excellent and courageous campaign, and has an excellent political future.

Peter King is a former congressman, and a former chair of the House Committee on Homeland Security. Comments? pking@ liherald.com.

Check your Medicare statement carefully

f a poll were to be taken, I would have to be the last person on this planet who thinks that government is a perfect institution. I respect the FBI and the CIA, and I even trust the IRS. As a senior citizen, I have always considered Medicare one of the finest agencies we have, but some new facts have emerged that have convinced me that it is a sloppy and careless government behemoth.

JERRY KREMER

My loss of faith in the folks who run Medicare started about three months ago, when I opened up my wife, Suzan’s, periodic statements of money spent on her medical needs. I quickly noticed that Medicare had approved $14,300 for a Texas company named Pretty in Pink Boutique. There was a claim for the sale of 600 urinary catheters over a 60-day period to my wife.

I’m happy that Suzan is physically well and by no means has any need for a warehouse full of catheters. Within minutes of discovering that Medicare had approved and paid for all of them, I

placed a call to the agency’s general number. I was connected to a woman named Gladys, who listened patiently to my complaint and, at my request, I was transferred to a Fraud Unit.

The person there noted my complaint, and assured me that it would be passed up the bureaucratic chain, to make sure there was a record of the payment, which was obviously fraudulent. A few days, later I received my periodic Medicare statement, and immediately noticed that Medicare had paid a company in Chicago for a coronavirus vaccine that I had allegedly received. That seemed strange, because I had gotten my shot at a local pharmacy, not connected to any company in Illinois.

In a farreaching scam, people everywhere are getting billed for catheters.

It seems that a woman named Linda Hennis, a resident of suburban Chicago, was checking her January Medicare statement when she noticed that a company she had never heard of had been paid about $12,000 for 2,000 catheters. She had never needed, or received, any catheters. They had been sold by a company called, guess what, Pretty in Pink Boutique.

the catheter billings. She would not confirm whether the claims had been paid. She described Medicare billing scams as “one of these problems that is ever-present and ever frustrating.”

Not to be deterred, I placed another call to the Medicare Fraud Unit, and they dutifully noted my concern about another improper payment for medical services. Satisfied that I had performed my civic duty, I turned my attention back to my law practice and other pursuits. My satisfaction lasted about 48 hours, until I spotted a New York Times article titled “Staggering Rise in Catheter Bills Suggests Medicare Scam.”

It seems that Ms. Hennis and my wife are among the 450,000 Medicare beneficiaries whose accounts were billed for catheters in 2023, up from 50,000 in previous years. It turns out that the massive increase in billing for catheters included $2 billion charged by seven high-volume suppliers, which was the equivalent of nearly one-fifth of all Medicare spending on supplies in 2023. Doctors, state insurance departments and health care groups around the country said this spike in claims for catheters that were never delivered suggests that it is not only a scam, but a far-reaching one.

What is the government doing? Dara Corrigan, who runs Medicare’s Center for Program Integrity, declined to say whether the agency was investigating

It turns out that Pretty in Pink Boutique billed Medicare at least $267 million for catheters between October 2022 and December 2023. The vast majority of the suspicious claims came from seven companies, many of which had shared executives. One of the businesses had a working phone number, but no calls were returned. The Pretty in Pink Boutique has a telephone number connected to a body shop.

Other scams are getting public attention, such as phony Covid vaccine claims, which are slowly surfacing. Regardless of its denials or bureaucratic double-speak, Medicare is failing the millions of Americans who rely on the system to be accurate and honest. Every dollar lost to some con artist is a dollar meant to pay for a legitimate health care claim.

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

HeraLd editoriaL

Let’s be sure we don’t relive some of our history

Black History Month is a chance for us to celebrate the many contributions African-Americans have made to the country. They’ve done this despite discrimination and oppression — something even Long Island, in the past, was not immune to.

For example, when we think of slavery, we think of the Deep South before the Civil War. In fact, slavery existed in New York until 1827, and the state had more enslaved people than all the New England states combined, many of them on Long Island.

At the start of the American revolution, there were roughly 10,000 enslaved Black Americans living on Long Island — nearly half of the state’s total enslaved population. While they were allowed more mobility and financial opportunities than their counterparts in the South, the claim that slavery wasn’t as bad in the North is largely inaccurate.

Throughout the 1700s, New York lawmakers created the Black Codes, which historian and author richard Moss — in his book, “Slavery on Long Island” — claimed were “the harshest criminal laws and penalties enacted by northern colonists.” Punishments for striking a white person included two weeks’ imprisonment and corporal punish-

Letters

Leave trans kids alone

To the Editor:

ment.

Enslaved people were forbidden from gathering in groups of more than three, and prevented from owning property. Children born to enslaved mothers were automatically enslaved at birth. And testimony by enslaved people was inadmissible in court.

One common practice at the time on Long Island and New York was shipping unruly African-Americans to the Caribbean slave colonies. Conditions on islands such as Barbados and Jamaica were particularly brutal, with less than a third of slaves surviving on some plantations.

Even after slavery ended in New York, discrimination did not. In the 19th and 20th centuries, the number of AfricanAmericans in the Town of Oyster Bay dwindled from roughly 17 percent to less than a half-percent as racist real estate practices and federal policies prioritized homeownership for whites while driving Black Americans — and other minorities — from the area through a mix of intimidation, legislation, and rising property rates.

When Levittown — long touted as the model of the modern American suburb — was created in 1947, non-whites were expressly forbidden from owning any of the 17,400 new homes, with the deeds

Bruce Blakeman couldn’t care less about girls’ sports.

By signing an executive order to ban teams that allow transgender girls and women from playing in Nassau County athletic facilities last week, Blakeman continued to distract from his shirking of responsibilities as Nassau County Executive.

Since his marginal win over Laura Curran in 2021, after campaigning on the promise of $128 million in tax cuts, Blakeman has rejected every cut in annual budget proposals.

In 2022, amid the highest rates of new Covid-19 cases and hospitalizations in the county, he issued a series of orders against mask mandates in schools.

What has he been doing instead in his capacity as executive? Attacking the participation of the county’s small percentage of transgender girls and women in athletics, a right that is supported by experts in the field, including the National Women’s Law Center. Blakeman’s order does not mention transgender boys and men — instead he hides his under-researched and dangerous order behind a thin veil of Victorian-era patriarchal values and personal opinion.

“Part of good government is listening to your constituents,” Blakeman said in a recent interview. Listen to this constituent, Bruce: Do your job, and leave trans kids alone.

CArTEr ALLEN Garden City

themselves preventing ownership by “any person other than members of the Caucasian race,” according to a 2011 research paper by Baruch College Sociology professor robert Courtney Smith. robert Moses, the urban planner and public official who is best known today for creating Jones Beach State Park and the state parkway system, designed Long Island parkways to make them impassable for buses, frequently the only mode of transportation for non-white and lowincome families. While some latter-day historians question the validity of this claim, Moses was also known to have fought against integrating public swimming pools in the 1920s.

African-Americans have continuously defied the odds and obstacles set against them — whether it be Jackie robinson playing Major League Baseball, or mathematicians Creola Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson helping NASA put men on the moon. recognizing those contributions — and learning from our mistakes of the past can open the door for even greater accomplishments in the future, as we look to remove more barriers.

The late Maya Angelou once said that “history, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived. But if faced with courage, need not be lived again.”

last week, “It’s Library Lovers Month — borrow a book.” Libraries are the greatest thing. They open the world to anyone willing to look. Not everyone bothers to look, but those who want to have the opportunity.

The problems with bumper-sticker governance

Bumper-sticker slogans and politics have always been inseparable, like peanut butter and jelly. Throughout the history of campaigning, politicians have employed succinct, often widely known but ambiguous sayings to seek the approval of prospective voters. But these slogans’ recent transition from catchy phrases to foundational theories of governmental policy has had negative consequences, particularly in New York.

BrIaN CUrraN

Take, for instance, “Tax the Rich — Pay Your Fair Share.” As the son of a bus driver and a bank teller, I have never been, and likely will never be, a member of the “rich” club. The notion of millionaires and billionaires paying more taxes has an inherent appeal. In a progressive tax system, like New York’s, those with larger incomes pay a larger share of taxes. But the challenge lies in the undefined concept of one’s “fair share.” It’s effective as a bumper-sticker slogan, but it lacks the precision needed for sound governmental policy.

Politicians, driven by an insatiable desire to appease their constituents, inevitably expand municipal budgets

— which necessitates additional taxes.

On the surface, what solution could be more universally acceptable than increasing taxes on the rich to fill budget gaps? The problem arises when the gap remains unfilled, and the “rich” begin contemplating leaving New York. The exodus of a relatively few wealthy residents can create a massive budget hole.

wNew York, one of the highest taxed states, has witnessed a historic outward migration over the past two decades. In 2023 alone, the state lost over 100,000 residents, the most in the country. Since 2020, New York has bid farewell to 10 billionaires. Currently, the top 1 percent of taxpayers in the state contribute 42 percent of its tax receipts, with billionaires facing the highest income tax rate of 14.8 percent.

and increased fares for mass transit. The strategy attempts to make middleclass earners believe in the tax-the-rich slogan while in fact increasing their taxes and cost of living.

hen it comes to taxes, for instance, how do we determine our ‘fair share’?

Another problematic slogan is “New York is a sanctuary for all immigrants.” Along with several other blue states, New York declared itself a sanctuary state, directly conflicting with federal law. Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo embraced this idea, branding Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents “a bunch of thugs” and refusing to cooperate with the agency.

in other areas, such as state aid for public schools. Schools are being repurposed as migrant shelters, and health care funds are being diverted from veterans to migrants. New York City Mayor Eric Adams aptly declared that “the migrant issue will destroy New York City,” but it extends beyond the city, and may jeopardize the state and country.

Given Albany’s reluctance to seriously consider cutting spending, politicians are left with a delicate task: increasing taxes on the remaining wealthy without prompting further departures. So they may raise their taxes slightly while devising alternative means to generate revenue from the “little guy” — the euphemistically described “middle class.”

Examples of these alternative revenue sources include congestion pricing, commuter taxes, the home heating tax,

Letters

We need to keep that going, and not be controlled by closed-minded people.

You may not know that about one-third of Nassau County libraries allow adult patrons to borrow a telescope just like a book. I have been promoting the Library Telescope Program for almost eight years now, and I work with 17 Nassau County libraries so far.

Everything I do is free to the library. It just needs to buy the telescope and various accessories directly from vendors, totaling about $450. I help by modifying the telescope to make it easy to use and transport, and provide maintenance as needed. I also provide staff and patron training on how to handle and use the telescope, as well as periodic astronomy-related presentations. In March I will be doing eclipse presentations at eight libraries, and occasionally I do Moon Parties as well. All at no cost.

There are now over 1,000 libraries running the Library Telescope Program, mostly in the U.S. and Canada, but also in other countries.

TOM LYNCH Lynbrook

A neighborly winter surprise

To the Editor:

Looking out my bedroom window, noticing the snowfall had just about stopped, I decided to gear up and start the removal process. As I was clearing off the car, readying to start the shoveling, I noticed that part of my front walk has been cleared. Looking even closer, I saw a body working on the front entranceway. My neighbor has often started snow removal for me as I have done for him, so I thought for sure it was either him or one of his sons helping out.

As I got closer to the sidewalk, I realized for sure that this helper, a young man, was unknown to me. I asked why he was helping, and he said, “I got up early, noticed the snowfall and decided to do some shoveling.” He was finishing up the last section of sidewalk, so I went inside to grab some cash to give him, but when I came back outside, he was gone. Off to job No. 2, I suppose.

Whoever you are, thank you!

PHIL GRELLA Rockville Centre

While the policy was initially seen as “virtue signaling” by Democratic politicians, the consequences have been obvious. With a federal open-border policy and the governors of Texas and Florida transporting migrants to sanctuary states, New York now faces an unprecedented migrant crisis. New York City alone has received over 180,000 migrants, and, under a consent decree, is obligated to provide them with shelter and basic needs.

The fiscal implications of the migrant problem are staggering: It is projected to cost the city over $12 billion through 2025. Gov. Kathy Hochul recently proposed $2.3 billion in spending to deal with the crisis, making budget cuts

One more bumper-sticker slogan to consider is “Universal health care is a human right.” It’s a noble sentiment, but the reality is that universal health care is financially unsustainable, and could bankrupt any state attempting to implement it. Even Vermont abandoned its plan for universal health care in 2014, because it would have doubled the state’s budget and necessitated crippling tax increases.

A more pragmatic approach involves lowering health care costs for all by realistically addressing the overall cost of providing health care.

Obviously, slogans can’t serve as the foundation for workable governmental policies. While those like “No taxation without representation” and “One person, one vote” have led to meaningful policies, they’re the exception rather than the rule. Voters must be discerning, and ensure that candidates with bumper-sticker slogans comprehend the issues before they give them their support.

Brian Curran represents the 21st Assembly District.

Framework by Tim Baker

At Ogden Elementary School’s Father-Daughter and Special Person Dance — Valley Stream

BEST OF LUCK TO OUR RED & BLUE TEAMS!

ROCKVILLE CENTRE

AUTO REPAIR

EXTENDS A WARM WELCOME TO NEW CUSTOMERS FROM ANTON'S AUTO AND ALL OTHERS SEEKING RELIABLE AUTOMOTIVE SERVICES!

WE WERE VOTED BY LONG ISLANDERS AS THE BEST AUTO REPAIR FACILITY GOING ON 3 YEARS!