Rockville Centre Herald 03-07-2024

HERALD

Blue team declares victory

Juliana Menella of the Blue team embraces her teammate after being declared the winners of the 108th annual South Side High School Red and Blue extravaganza. Photos and story, Pages 6 and 7.

Rockville Centre fire truck crashes into furniture store

By DANIEl oFFNER doffner@liherald.com

The Rockville Centre Fire Department’s Engine No. 444 was responding to an emergency call last Friday morning, according to local authorities, when it was involved in an accident with another vehicle, and then crashed into a furniture store at the corner of Rutland Avenue and South Long Beach Road at around 11:30 a.m.

Tony Rugolo, the department’s first assistant chief, said that Woodland Engine Company No. 4 was responding to another call, reporting smoke in a building on Maple Avenue, when it got the call that Engine 444 had been forced off the road

to avoid hitting another vehicle and crashed into Master of Furniture, at 36 S. Long Beach Road.

“There was a small fire in the building that we were able to put out,” Rugolo said. “Once everyone got out of the building safely, we closed off the area, because the building was unstable.”

Rockville Centre police said the accident caused major damage to both the fire engine and the building. Six people were transported to a nearby hospital for treatment of minor injuries, including three firefighters, two people inside the building and one person in another car, all of whom have since been released.

After the accident, police and fire officials

RVC rallies around mother and infant

By DANIEl oFFNER doffner@liherald.com

Rockville Centre mom Marissa Heitshusen was awaiting the arrival of her newborn son, Christopher “Kip” Welles, when she unexpectedly went into labor in December — 14 weeks before he was due.

Kip continues to fight and for the last eight weeks, he has been working to grow stronger every day while in the expert care of North Shore University Hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit. Heitshusen and her family wait anxiously for the opportunity to finally bring him home.

Both mother and her son required lifesaving blood transfusions due to the emergency delivery. Kip’s transfusion was immediately administered, however, after a difficult delivery, Heitshusen was told she would have to wait until more was available due to an emergency blood shortage affecting millions of residents through -

out the New York Metropolitan area.

As a result of the shortage, the New York Blood Center, one of the largest community-based nonprofit blood collection and distribution organizations in the country, is currently experiencing an urgent need for donations.

“Every two seconds, someone in our country needs blood,” Dr. Cara Pessel, a fellow Rockville Centre parent and an OB/ GYN specialist who assisted with Kip’s delivery, said. “Excess maternal bleeding at delivery and neonatal complications of prematurity are two of the leading reasons for blood transfusions in our world of Obstetrics.”

Preterm births, like Kip’s, are not uncommon and affect approximately one in every 10 newborns in the United States, underscoring the significance of blood donations in supporting premature infants and their mothers. According to the March of Dimes, approximate -

Continued on page 24

Tim Baker/Herald

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HERALD NEIGHBORS

Breakfast raises money for parade charities

By ABIGAIL GRIECO Herald Intern

The Backyard Players and Friends, an inclusive, arts-based community nonprofit on North Long Beach Road, joined members of the Rockville Centre St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee on Sunday morning, for its second annual pancake Backyard Breakfast fundraiser.

This year’s festivities served up much more than just hot, fluffy pancakes fresh off the griddle, it also included raffles with themed-gift baskets and activities like pickleball and cornhole. There were also different vendors and fun and games for the younger crowd as well.

Jackie Kerr, president of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee said that a fundraiser breakfast has been a major facet of the committee’s efforts to raise money for charities over the past 27 years.

“We always did a breakfast at CJ’s as a fundraiser, and when the hands changed we decided to have our own pancake breakfast instead,” Kerr explained. “Last year was our record high. Each charity got $60,000. Of course, we never raise the same amount of money every year, but all of our events have been extremely successful.”

One of the parade founders, the late Bud Cosgrove, was instrumental in creating what would become a longstanding community tradition. He set out with a group of friends in 1997 to come up with an idea for a “different” type of parade — with the goal of raising money for one local, one national and one Irish charity.

“My family is from that country, so it’s nice to be able to give our money back to Ireland,” Kerr said. “Every year, we have an Irish charity to donate to.”

All of the donations raised during the fundraiser will go to help benefit this year’s charities — Beyond the Badge, the Limb Kind Foundation and the Crocus Cancer Support Center in Monaghan County, Ireland.

Kerr further explained that apart from the donations, the relationship between the different charities they each year is nothing short of mutual.

“They always ask us, ‘what can we do?’ and it really is such a complementary relationship,” Kerr said.

While the planning and work that goes into each of the charity events prior to the annual parade is a year-round process, the charities typically send in their application in July after which they are put out to a vote.

“Then the charities who have put themselves forward this year and didn’t make it can always put them forward again next year,” Kerr explained.

The Backyard Breakfast is just one of several events orchestrated by the St. Patrick’s Day Parade committee throughout the year.

The next big event will be its annual Grand Marshal Dinner and reception at the Bridgeview Yacht Club in Island Park on March 21 at 7 p.m. honoring Grand Marshal Greg Schaefer president and chief executive officer of Better Home Health Care Agency in Rockville Centre.

The St. Patrick’s Day Parade will take place rain or shine on Saturday, March

23, following a morning Mass at St. Agnes Cathedral. Staging will begin at 10:30 a.m., with the parade to step off at noon from the municipal parking lot on the north side of Sunrise Highway, between North Long Beach Road and North Forest Avenue.

The parade is scheduled to take about two hours. There will be no parking along the parade route, and no parking

on North Long Beach Road between Sunrise Highway and Water Street. Visit RVCStPatrick.com for more details on the charities, the grand marshal and parade route.

Maureen Lennon/Herald photos

State Assemblyman Brian Curran, left, with his son Logan, Bonnie Dreska and Nancy O’Reilly at the Backyard Breakfast.

Eleanor White is ready and festively dressed for the 2024 Rockville Centre St. Patrick’s Parade.

Backyard Players and Friends Co-Director Ellen White, left, Charlie Kosina, RVC St. Patrick’s Day Committee President Jackie Kerr, Jake Lunney, U.S. Rep. Anthony D’Esposito, Nick Saladino, Loreen McLaughlin, and Johnny Kilduff show their support at the second annual Backyard Breakfast on Sunday.

Jake Lunney shares photographs from his many different travels. His photos are on display and available for sale at the Front Porch Market on N. Long Beach Road.

If you want to achieve your dreams, sell your home with

by Joan Chittister

Your writer was grateful to find author Chittister’s book, subtitled “Growing Old Gracefully”, written by her at age seventy, the same age your writer turns this year.

Inevitably, we come to see things differently as we age. In “The Gift of Years” these changes in the “capstone years” as she calls them, present the gift of becoming more fully alive than ever. Cicero notes that old age is richer in reflection, force of character and judgement. The maturity and mellowing of character allows the older generation to provide a behavioral model for younger generations showing them the way to a fullness of life.

Seneca said these years abound with pleasure if we know how to use them. Free of obligations and deadlines, there is freshness in these years. Understanding, enjoyment and love of life all increase, allowing for deeper, richer and more important experiences. The world looks different — more to be treasured, explored and enjoyed.

State Sen. Kevin Thomas withdraws from the race

By DANIEL OFFNER doffner@liherald.com

New York state Senator Kevin Thomas announced on Feb. 29, that he will be withdrawing his bid for U.S. Congress.

Thomas first announced his campaign for Congress in August, which would require he primary against five candidates seeking the Democratic ticket to run against U.S. Rep. Anthony D’Esposito for the 4th Congressional district in November.

“Today I am suspending my campaign for Congress,” Thomas said in a press release. “I am extremely grateful to my campaign team, community leaders, clergy, labor and contributors for their time and for believing in this campaign for change. It’s been incredible meeting Long Islanders of all background and hearing wha tmakes their neighborhoods special. I’ve particularly enjoyed sharing ideas about how we can make our communities stronger, safer, and more prosperous for everyone.”

Thomas, a Levittown resident, first announced his Congressional campaign in August, with hopes of being the candidate Democrats turn to flip U.S. Rep. Anthony D’Esposito from his congressional seat.

A certain serenity sets in.

Chittister writes “But we are here to depart from this world as finished as we can possibly become. Old age is...exactly the time to grow in new ways [making] sense out of all the growing we have already done. It is the softening season when everything in us is meant to achieve its sweetest, richest, most unique self”.

Chittister calls it a damping-down time of life where anger, jealousy, envy, and pride subside to awaken another whole level of life.

“As Agatha Christie put it, we ‘bloom’ as we grow. New abilities emerge, new insights arise. New vision is possible.”

A certain urgency and intensity in living sets in as we become aware of the presence of time. With forty short chapters on subjects such as Regret, Joy, Possibility, Letting Go, Success, Wisdom, Time and Appreciation, “The Gift of Years” provides an indispensable guide to aging well.

This would have also required that Thomas run against five candidates — Laura Gillen, Dave Denenberg, Patricia Maher, Gian Jones and Lawrence Henry — in a primary on June 25.

Having dedicated the last 13 years of his life to public service, he said that he is proud of all that he has accomplished. He started his career in legal services, helping people pay off private student loans and credit card debt, when he decided to branch into politics.

Since then has served three terms as the state Senator in District 6, which currently encompasses Rockville Centre, Baldwin, Freeport, Uniondale, Hempstead, Lakeview, Roosevelt, Westbury, West Hempstead, Garden City, Carle Place and a portion of Oceanside.

“I entered politics because I wanted

to help people and I’ve been able to deliver for my constituents as the State Senator that represents half of the 4th Congressional District,” Thomas said in his statement. “With the Democratic Majority in the state legislature, we have been able to fully fund our schools, stop tuition hikes at SUNY, cap property taxes, raise the minimum wage, pass common sense gun safety legislation and improve the quality of life for all New Yorkers.”

During his tenure in office he has worked to help provide funding for local school districts, the Nassau University Medical Center, infrastructural repairs, small businesses, and the efforts to clean up the contamination related to the Northrop Grumman plume.

“Although I am no longer running for Congress, my service to the people of Long Island is far from over,” Thomas said. “I am eager to put to use my experience, know-how and ability to bring people to strengthen Nassau County for this generation and the next.”

A campaign spokesman said that Sen. Thomas will be leaving office at the end of his term and will not be seeking re-election. Two democratic candidates — Nassau County Legislator Siela Bynoe and Assemblywoman Taylor Darling — have already announced their bids for the state Senate seat and plan on running in a primary on June 25.

Nicole Wagner/Herald State Sen. Kevin Thomas has suspended his Congressional campaign after nearly nine months on the campaign trail.

Kareem

Blue team is back on top once more

South Side High School celebrates the 108th annual Red and Blue meet

By DANIEL OFFNER doffner@liherald.com

Screams of joy echoed through the South Side High School gymnasium on Saturday night as the Blue team emerged victorious over the Red team, to declare “Team Victory” with a resounding score of 63-23.

The culmination of a three-day competition, this event marked a celebration of camaraderie, talent, and spirited rivalry within the Rockville Centre school district.

Carol Roseto, the district’s athletics director, set the stage for the evening’s festivities with words of appreciation for all participants.

“I just want to first thank everybody who participated,” she declared, acknowledging the dedication and enthusiasm of the nearly 300 girls and several boys who took part in the tradition. “You ladies were great over the last month. I hope you had a wonderful time. Give yourselves a round of applause.”

For more than a century, this tradition has been a highlight of Rockville Centre’s school calendar, bringing together students, from freshmen to seniors for three nights of skits, songs, relays, dance, and athletic events.

This year was no exception as the teams, adorned in their respective colors, dazzled the audience with their performances and athleticism.

The excitement began on March 2 with poster and revue night, where both teams unveiled their themes – “REDTown Girls” and “High School BLUEsical.” Three judges were selected to score the singing portion of the evening, setting the stage for the intense competition ahead.

Under the guidance of meet directors Jenna Carey and Lisa Guerriero, team members devoted hours of their time toward perfecting their routines, showcasing their talent and teamwork throughout the event.

Scores were tallied by a group of seven judges on Friday night, followed by a different group of seven judges on Saturday night, who awarded points for costume, props, skits, tumbling, dance, and posters.

Each team is also awarded points based on attendance, organization, sportsmanship and meet decorum, which are awarded by Roseto and the meet directors.

“Meet decorum points are awarded to the team that demonstrated appropriate behavior and complied with directions given by the directors, the advisors, captains and officials during all three nights of Red and Blue,” Roseto said, emphasizing the importance of the categories and how integral they are to each team’s overall evaluation. “Sportsmanship points are awarded on a variety of factors. It considers the team’s behavior from day one through the events this evening, including sideline cheering participation in sporting events. It is also reflec-

tive of the behavior displayed towards the opposing team, as well as behavior displayed towards their own teammates.”

As the final event concluded, anticipation mounted as both teams awaited the announcement of the winners.

While the Red team secured victories in several categories, including posters, emblems, volleyball, the concentration relay and tug-of-war, it was the Blue team that emerged triumphant, earning top marks for song, costumes, skits, tumbling, sportsmanship and all five dance dance performance categories — Aerobic, Disco, Jazz A, Jazz B, and Tap.

Despite the competitive nature of the event, the spirit of camaraderie prevailed as both teams congratulated each other on their achievements. Emotions ran high, with cheers and tears reflecting the intense dedication and pride of all participants.

In the end, it wasn’t just about the

score – it was about the bonds forged, the memories created, and the enduring spirit of community that defines Rockville Centre’s school tradition.

As the gymnasium emptied and the echoes of celebration faded, one thing remained clear — the true winners were those who embraced the spirit of friendly competition and camaraderie, embodying the values that make this tradition a cherished part of Rockville Centre’s heritage.

Tim Baker/Herald

Blue team nails it. The Blue team tumblers won the gymnastic portion of the competition with their performance on Saturday.

The Blue team scored points for their performance during on Thursday night.

Blue team captains Katherine Ahern and Ava Gallego address the crowd on revue night.

Blue team disco coordinators Madeline Steere and Megan Fay show off their moves during their performance.

Both teams were evenly matched. The floor hockey competition on Friday night ended in a tie.

Both teams were evenly matched. The floor hockey competition on Friday night ended in a tie.

Juliana Roberts and company help the Blue team win with their aerobics dance number.

Tim Baker/Herald Red team captains Maggie Miller and Sarah Tear address the team on revue night.

The Red team hits the slopes for their Jazz A dance routine on Friday night.

Richard Zamor of the Red team embodied the spirit of Aladain during the performances on Friday night.

Red team captain Maggie Miller performs a skit based on their theme, ‘REDTown Girls’ on Friday night.

Red team captain Sarah Tear competes in one of several different relay competitions during the 2024 Red and Blue extravaganza on Friday night.

SPORTS

South Side falls in title game to Elmont

By TONY BELLISSIMO tbellissimo@liherald.com

Doubling up South Side in the first half of last Saturday’s Nassau Class AA boys’ basketball championship game proved crucial for Elmont, which went the entire third quarter without a field goal and clung to a three-point lead heading into the fourth.

The fifth-seeded Spartans remained stone cold from the floor early in the final quarter but had ice in their veins from the foul line and shutdown defense, propelling them to a 51-34 victory at Farmingdale State College for their first county title in four seasons.

Senior Cassius Moore had a gamehigh 16 points and junior Nassir Edwards added 10 as Elmont (20-4) avenged a loss in last year’s semifinals to the Cyclones, who went on to capture the Nassau and Long Island Class A crowns. Sophomore John Pericolosi paced No. 2 South Side with 10 points.

“It feels great to bring the title back to Elmont,” said Moore, who finally broke the Spartans’ field-goal drought in the second half with 3:43 remaining

in the game with a three-pointer for a 43-31 lead. “Two years ago we were 5-14 and last year South Side sent us home in the semifinals,” he added. “We definitely had a fire under us to go all the way.”

Elmont, which scored the game’s first 10 points and built a 32-16 halftime cushion, will take on Half Hollow Hills East in the Long Island Class AA championship game next Saturday at 3 p.m. at Farmingdale State.

“It was so important that we stayed together when South Side made its run,” Elmont head coach Ryan Straub said. “We knew it was coming. You’re not going to run a great and wellcoached team like that out of the gym. We’ve been through a lot of ups and downs this season and I knew we were going to tough this one out and find a way.”

Senior Kymani Dias drained a pair of treys in the first half, while senior Osagie Ekhator and junior Ebubenna Nwabudu chipped in four points apiece while holding their own in the paint against a sizeable opponent.

“They have four guys who are

6-foot-5 and that concerned us,” Straub said of South Side’s Ryan Kennedy, Patrick Mullin, Ryan Schmitt and Francis Sweeney. “I thought we did as good a job as we possibly could down low.”

The Cyclones (20-4) outscored the Spartans 15-2 in the third quarter and a game that had the markings of a blowout was suddenly up for grabs.

Elmont responded, however, scoring the first nine points of the fourth quarter to lead by a dozen. Moore went 4-for-4 from the foul line and Edwards went 2-for-2.

“Elmont is a dynamite team and put us in a hole early,” South Side head coach Jerry D’Angelo said. “I give our guys a lot of credit. They fought so hard to get within three after being down 16. We just couldn’t sustain our run in the fourth quarter.”

Edwards capped the victory with an electric dunk in the closing seconds.

“I thought we kept our heads up and stuck to the game plan,” Edwards said. “We’ve come a long way in two years and this was our goal ever since last season’s semifinal loss.”

Media Origin Inc./Herald

South Side sophomore John Pericolosi, left, worked against Elmont’s Cassius Moore during last Saturday’s Nassau Class AA championship game.

Temple B’nai Sholom hosts Comedy Night

By DANIEL OFFNER doffner@liherald.com

Congregation B’nai Sholom-Beth David in Rockville Centre celebrated the conclusion of Shabbat Across America weekend with an uproarious comedy night event on Saturday, March 2.

The congregation welcomed members and guests alike to enjoy an evening of laughter and joy with the humor and entertainment of comedians Dave Goldstein and Aaron Kominos Smith, as they took center stage.

Hundreds of synagogues across the country took part in the 2024 Shabbat Across America, a historic national event celebrating what unifies all members of the Jewish faith — Shabbat.

The event began on Friday, March 1 with Shabbat evening services at 6:30 p.m., followed by a traditional Shabbat dinner catered by Ben’s Delicatessen, which included soup, challah, chicken and stuffed cabbage. After a delicious meal, everyone left feeling full and went home to rest for Saturday morning services which began at 9 a.m.

The festivities continued into the evening as members of the congregation gathered to enjoy an evening of laughter and joy with the humor and entertainment of comedians Dave Goldstein and Aaron Kominos Smith, as they took center stage for a special performance.

Goldstein kicked off the night with a flurry of jokes and anecdotes that resonated with the crowd. His stand-up comedy act combines a blend of original

writing and inspired live riffs, some of which have also been heard on Sirius/ XM radio.

Kominos-Smith really captivated the audience with his charm and infectious energy. During his performance, he regaled the crowd with hilarious tales of his own life experiences.

Interestingly, he began performing comedy while studying to be a professional architect, eventually making the switch to comedy. Over the years, he

has built up quite an extensive repertoire, having previously made appearances on Comedy Central’s Inside Amy Schumer, Live at Gotham on Oculus NextVR Network, MTV and American Movie Classic.

Laughter could be heard at every corner of the room throughout the night, as the two comedians delighted audience members with their hilarious insights and sharp delivery.

Comedy night had proved to be a

highlight of Shabbat Across America weekend. Not only did the performance provide a welcome respite form the stresses of daily life, but it strengthened the bonds within the local Jewish community and left a lasting impression on all who had the pleasure of attending.

To learn more about Shabbat Across America weekend, visit the National Jewish Outreach Program at NJOP.org/ Shabbat.

Synagogue officially swears in rabbi, cantor

By DANIEL OFFNER doffner@liherald.com

Typically, when new clergy joins a synagogue, an installation ceremony takes place to welcome new spiritual leaders to a community—solidifying their connection with the congregation.

Unfortunately, since both Rabbi Michael G. Cohen and Cantor Eryka Velazquez joined Central SynagogueBeth Emeth in Rockville Centre in July 2020, at the height of the pandemic, the congregation never had the opportunity to celebrate.

To make up for the missed time, the synagogue will host an installation ceremony during a special Shabbat evening service on Friday, March 15, followed by a Gala Dinner Dance on Saturday, March 16.

“The entire weekend will be a celebration of our clergy and our sacred community,” Joy Gluzman, executive director of Central Synagogue - Beth Emeth, said. “A committee of dedicated congregants, clergy and staff have been working hard to plan a meaningful and fun experience for all.”

Rabbi Cohen said a rabbinical and cantorial installation ceremony is an event rich in tradition and symbolism,

embodying the continuation of Jewish leadership and learning.

“The ceremony typically involves a series of meaningful rituals, prayers and speeches,” he said, “highlighting the Rabbi and Cantor’s commitment to guiding the congregation in spiritual growth, education and the pursuit of justice and kindness as dictated by Jewish values and ethics.”

Oftentimes this tradition includes the passing of a Torah scroll, symbolizing the transfer of spiritual leadership and the responsibilities of the clergy to teach and interpret Jewish law and tradition.

Cohen said that beyond the formal rituals, the ceremony also underscores the relationship between the clergy and the congregation—a partnership that is

rooted in mutual respect, love for Jewish tradition and a shared commitment to building a vibrant and ethical community.

“This relationship is not just about leadership in the conventional sense, but about guiding a community through the complexities of modern life while staying true to ancient teachings,” Cohen said. “The ceremony is a moment filled with hope, anticipation and the collective desire of both the Rabbi and Cantor and the congregation to embark on a path of spiritual growth, learning and action. This ceremony, therefore, is not just a formal ritual. It’s a commitment to a shared vision, where Jewish values and ethics guide the way towards a more just, compassionate and understanding world.”

The installation ceremony will take place during Shabbat evening services on Friday, March 15 at 7 p.m. in the synagogue at 430 DeMott Ave. in Rockville Centre, followed by a special reception hosted by the CSBE Sisterhood. The Gala Dinner Dance will take place on Saturday, March 16 at 7 p.m. at the synagogue.

Tickets are $90 per person. For more information visit CSBELI.org/Installation.

John Franco buying raffle tickets from Helene Parsons and Barry Hochhauser.

Photos courtesy Central Synagogue-Beth Emeth Rabbi Michael Cohen and Cantor Eryka Velazquez will officially be sworn into their roles as leaders of Central Synagogue-Beth Emeth in Rockville Centre on March 15.

Keith Rossein/Herald photos Comedians David Goldstein and Aaron Kominos Smith with pre-show warmups.

Projects, pros honored at REAL Awards

Long Island’s most prolific real estate leaders highlighted at annual event

By Parker Schug

The diverse Long Island real estate scene includes industry experts from every niche specialty from construction and design, to insurance and sales. And the best of the best were honored last week as part of Herald Community Newspapers and RichnerLive’s third annual Real Estate Achievement and Leadership Awards, or REAL Awards.

“It’s a relatively small island, but a lot of things are happening,” said Chris Kelly, the marketing vice president at Tritec Real Estate Co.

Held at The Heritage Club at Bethpage, this year’s awards once again honored many leaders in the space who have been in the game for decades, as well as up-and-coming professionals — all with successful projects and happy clients to show for their work.

Antoinette Biordi, four-time Emmy Award-winning anchor and reporter for News 12, handed out a number of awards split into nearly 30 categories that included Broker of the Year, Construction Group of the Year, and the top residential and commercial broker.

Sara Gore, real estate saleswoman and four-time Emmy Award-winning television host for “Open House” and “New York Live” on NBC, was a keynote speaker and recipient of the special “Trailblazer” award.

“I’ve been in this business for a long time,” Gore said. ”But now to be on the other side of things — and be on the real estate side and really feel like I’ve solidified my place, my stake in this industry — it feels really good to be a part of it.

“I’m so proud to be included within this group of professionals that are here tonight.”

Mel Pulatani and son Dan of MP Construction D — a general contracting company specializing in luxury residential and sophisticated commercial projects — were given the Father & Son Power Team special award.

“I mean it’s obviously an honor to be honored at this event,” Dan Pulatani said. “But I have to give all credit to my father. He’s the real reason we’re here. He’s the guy that makes the dream happen. I’m lucky and honored to be his partner every day.”

Eric Alexander, executive director of Vision Long Island, accepted the NotFor-Profit special award.

“The theme of our work is connecting to local communities,” Alexander said. “And that’s how real estate development is successful: When they work with local communities. It means a lot when a number of the other honorees, too, are connected to local communities. I’m in great company.”

Steven Krieger, chief executive of B2K Development, was selected as Power Developer of the Year.

“Hard work leads to luck,” Krieger said. “I’ve been so lucky to meet so many great people in this business.”

Beth Donner, founder of Melvillebased Beth Donner Design, was honored

with the Interior Designer of the Year special award. Christopher Robinson, president of R&M Engineering, accepted the engineering special award, while also celebrating 25 years in the business.

Elisabetta Coschignano, of the Sahn Ward Braff Koblenz Coschignano law

firm, was among those honored in the commercial real estate category.

“I pride myself on being prepared in the Long Island real estate world, and especially as it relates to zoning and land use,” Coschignano said.

Connie Pinilla, principal agent for the

Connie Pinilla Team at Compass, received the brokers’ award in the residential category for her 21 practicing years.

“I love real estate,” Pinilla said. “It makes me feel on top of the world.”

Gold Sponsors of the event included B2K Development and Beth Donner Design.

Silver Sponsors were All State Abstract, Amazon, Anthony A. Nozzolillo Esq., Breslin Realty Development Corp., Brookhaven Industrial Development Agency, Brown Harris Stevens, Champion Elevators, Cronin & Cronin, Damianos Realty Group, Empire Electrical Corp., GC Advisory Group, Harris Beach PLLC, Long Island Board of Realtors, Men on the Move, Merritt Environmental Consulting Corp., Metropolitan Realty Associates, Mojo Stumer Associates, MP Construction D, PX4 Development, R&M Engineering, Sahn Ward Braff Koblenz Coschignano, Signature Premier Properties, Suffolk County Industrial Development Agency, the Connie Pinilla Team at Compass, the Crest Group and Tritec.

The ballroom filled with guests ready for the ceremony to begin.

Mark Stumer of Mojo Stumer Associates.

Tim Baker/Herald photos Sara Gore, host of Open House NYC, was the keynote speaker for the evening.

Kelly Heck accepts on behalf of Tritec. Eric Alexander of Vision Long Island.

Beth Donner with her crystal award. Christopher Robinson of R&M Engineering.

Joseph Farkas accepting his special award for Real Estate Investment/Development Company of the Year.

Kevin Leatherman of Leatherman Homes and president of LIBOR.

Steven Krieger of B2K Development

Honoree Connie Pinilla, right, at the REAL Awards photo booth.

Honorees Justin Breslin and Elisabetta Coschignano.

Honorees Marco Scarda, left, Daniel Scarda, Chuck Merritt and Cara Cronin at RichnerLive REAL Awards last week.

Father and son power duo Dan and Mel Pulatani.

Natasha Williams of LIBOR with her son.

Holden Leeds/Herald photos Julia Krispeal from Serhant.

Michael Puntillo of PX4 Development.

Jack Martins of Harris Beach PLLC.

Surveillance video provides details on crash

conducted a preliminary investigation. Video surveillance showed footage of the truck’s collision with a white Lexus, which sent the fire truck into the building. Police have not released the name of the driver as the Herald went to press on Tuesday.

“It clearly shows the white Lexus did not yield to the fire truck,” Mayor Francis Murray said. “The truck would have seriously hurt her if he didn’t swerve out of the way.”

Murray said that after being towed out from under the building, the fire truck appeared to be totaled. The cab was bent out of shape, the windshield on the driver’s side was gone and debris from the ceiling of the building had crashed in on the passenger side.

“The truck is a mess,” Murray said. “It’s more than likely that it’s totaled. You can replace metal. Thankfully, none of our firefighters were seriously injured.”

As of last weekend, work was under-

It’s Your MoneY

By Jonathan Wolfsohn MBA, CFP, EA, ATA

BEWARE OF A NEW SCAM: pARt i

The Internal Revenue Service has warned taxpayers to be on the lookout for a new scam mailing that tries to mislead people into believing they are owed a refund.

The new scheme involves a mailing coming in a cardboard envelope from a delivery service. The enclosed letter includes the IRS

way to repair Master of Furniture’s corner showroom.

“Thankfully all of our employees were in the shop at the rear of the building and none of us were hurt,” the company stated on its website. “The damaged corner was shored up for security and to ensure no further damage occurs. Our shop is operational and the damage will not affect our restoration work. We remain open for business while our con-

tractors repair the corner of the building. We thank all our customers for their patronage and look forward to our new showroom.”

Master of Furniture specializes in restoring and refinishing fine furniture, home ware and antiques, and has served the tristate area for nearly 40 years.

This is the second time in two years that a major accident in the village involved a furniture store. Rockville

Presented

Div.

3 Broadway, Lynbrook NY 887-7380

www.wolfsohn.biz

1249774

Centre made headlines across the country in February 2022, when a gasoline tanker swerved to try to avoid a car and crashed into the vacant La-Z-Boy furniture gallery on Sunrise Highway. The crash ignited a massive fireball when the tanker’s 9,200 gallons of fuel spilled from the truck as part of the building collapsed. Black smoke billowed as the fire spread to the sewers beneath the street.

Crime watCh arrest

Serge Jeanlouis, 45, of Shoen Street in Baldwin, was arrested on Feb. 27 and has been charged with aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, and vehicle and traffic law offenses after an investigation on Yorktown Street revealed he had 42 suspensions on his New York state driver’s license.

Dorion Jackson, 42, of Sunrise Highway in Rockville Centre was arrested on Feb. 28 and has been charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance after a search warrant was executed at the Best Western, where he resides.

James Fowler, Jr., 41, of Merrick Road in Rockville Centre was arrested on March 3 and has been charged with assault and criminal mischief after an altercation on Maple Avenue.

Burglary

An employee of North Village Avenue pharmacy reported on March 1, someone broke the front door and stole merchandise from the business.

People named in Crime Watch items as

been

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.

Tim Baker/Herald photos members of the rockville Centre f ire department help remove debris in order to tow the fire engine out.

a Woodland engine Company truck crashed into a furniture store in rockville Centre last friday at the corner of South Long Beach road and rutland avenue.

Freedom from financial fretting

Anxiety-reducing strategies for using money wisely (and still having fun)

By Kristen Castillo

Stressing about your budget? You’re not the only one worrying about money.

A survey of 1,000 Americans over 30 shows that while 66 percent of them have a budget, 70 percent have a tough time sticking to it. The survey was commissioned by GuideVine, a service that matches people with financial advisers.

Take charge of your finances so you can get rid of money anxiety and start using your dough wisely.

Track Your Expenses

“Many of us have no idea what our expenses add up to every month,” says Carla Dearing, co-founder of fintech startup Sum180.

She suggests using online money tracking services, such as Mint, to see all your financial accounts in one place. Mint even sends you bill payment alert reminders and tells you when you exceed your budget.

Blogger Alex Tran, who calls herself the “queen of budgeting,” also recommends using apps such as Credit Karma. “Get those (apps) and look at them daily,” she says. “See where your money is going and be aware of your spending habits.”

Dearing cautions consumers to eliminate hidden expenses, too. Review your credit card statements to see items you’re paying for and may have forgotten. Cancel ones you no longer consider important such media subscriptions or even streaming services you infrequently use.

“You may not notice right away, but automatic charges like these all add up, especially over time,” says Dearing.

Write It Down

Consumer finance expert Kevin Gallegos says you’ll stay on track and avoid debt by keeping receipts and a spending log.

“It’s very similar to writing down everything you eat when trying to lose weight,” he says. “By doing this, you’ll find ways where you can cut back and better prioritize.”

Figure out your financial goals, such as vacations and retirement.

“Write them all down, and then build the budget with the goals in mind,” says Gallegos. “This will help make sure that spending is in line with your goals.”

Cash Only!

Cash is an old-fashioned notion these days. But it works! Stacy Caprio of the financial website fiscalnerd.com advises using the “cash budgeting method” as an easy way to stay on track. Set a budget for yourself and then stash that weekly allowance in an envelope of cash each week. You can only spend what’s in the envelope, which means no extra trips to the ATM or using a credit card.

“It’s easy to carry it around and only takes a few minutes to prep each week, so it’s an easy way to make yourself stick to your weekly budget,” she says.

Question Your Habits

Tran urges consumers to resist impulse buying on everything from insurance and groceries to department shopping, dining out and other expenses.

“When you see something you want, ask yourself the following questions: A. Do I need this? B. How often would I wear/use it? C. Is the value of the product worth the cost? D. Do I already have something similar?”

Step By Step

Small actions add up, too!

“Jump-start your savings campaign with a no-spend month,” says Dearing, explaining that a month of only buying necessities can have a significant impact on your balance sheet.

For example, take lunch to work and use free entertainment like visiting local parks. You’ll save money during those 30 days, and you may also re-evaluate your spending habits altogether.

Next, identify a few regular monthly expenses that you can cut, such as premium cable, online shopping or a too-generous data plan. Get creative so you won’t feel deprived.

BUILDER

WINDOWS COMPANY

Marcor Construction

Panther Siding & Windows, Inc. Unified Home Remodeling

KIDS & EDUCATION

ADULT EDUCATIONCONTINUING EDUCATION

Hofstra University

Molloy University

Nassau Community College

ART SCHOOL

ARTrageous Studio, LLC

Hue Studio

The Art Studio

BEAUTY SCHOOL

Brittany Beauty Academy, Levittown

Long Island Nail Skin & Hair Institute

Nassau BOCES

CHARTER/PAROCHIAL/ PRIVATE SCHOOL

East Woods School

Lawrence Woodmere Academy

St. Anthony’s High School

COLLEGE PREP

SERVICES/ADVISORS

Chaminade High School College Connection

Lawrence Woodmere Academy

COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY

Adelphi University

Hofstra University

Molloy University

COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY

PRESIDENT

Christine M. Riordan, PhD, Adelphi University

James Lentini, DMA, Molloy University

Susan Poser, PhD, Hofstra University

DANCE SCHOOL

Dance Mechanix

Hart & Soul Dance and Performing Arts

Sarah Beth Academy

DAY CAMP

Bellmore United Methodist Nursery School

Bright Star Academy

Hofstra Summer Camps

DAY CARE

Bright Star Academy

Five Towns Early Learning Center

Our Kids Place Hewlett

DRIVING SCHOOL

Bell Auto Driving School

East Meadow Driving School

Suffolk Auto Driving School

GYMNASTICS CENTER

CATS (Children’s Athletic Training School)

KidStrong, Carle Place

LI Elite Gymnastics

HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL

Alexandra Greenberg, George

W. Hewlett High School

Hank Williams, Lawrence

Woodmere Academy

Richard Schaffer, East

Rockaway High School

KIDS BIRTHDAY PARTIES

Epic Escape Rooms Long Island

Krafty Hands

Long Island Children’s Museum

LEARNING CENTER/TUTOR

Cornerstone Behavioral Services

Long Beach Public Library

Tutoring Club of Bellmore

MARTIAL ARTS

Aquacade Pools

Big Becks Pools & Pavers

Brothers 3

TITLE COMPANY

Fidelity

TREE SERVICE COMPANY

UPHOLSTERY

A & B Upholstery

East Meadow Upholsterers Corp.

Tony’s Decorating-Upholstering

PEOPLE & PLACES

B&B/INN

Ram’s Head Inn

Southhampton Inn

The Ocean Bay House

EVENT VENUE

Epic Escape Rooms Long Island

Kombert Caterers

Long Island Children’s Museum

HOTEL

Hampton Inn & Suites Rockville Centre

The Garden City Hotel

Uniondale Marriott

LOCAL TOURIST

ATTRACTION

Long Island Aquarium

Nunley’s Carousel

Raynham Hall Museum

MUSEUM

Cradle of Aviation Museum

Long Island Children’s Museum

Raynham Hall Museum

PLACE TO HAVE A PARTY

Epic Escape Rooms Long Island

Kombert Caterers

Long Island Children’s Museum

PLACE TO WORSHIP

First Presbyterian Church of Glen Cove

Temple Avodah

Temple Israel - Lawrence

WEDDING VENUE

Bridgeview Yacht Club

Crest Hollow Country Club

Swan Club On The Harbor

SERVICES

ADVERTISING AGENCY

Austin Williams

Creative Focus Designs, Inc.

Jillian’s Circus

ANIMAL ADOPTION/ RESCUE SERVICES

North Shore Animal League America

Ruff House Rescue

Terry Animal Hospital

APPLIANCE REPAIR STORE

Home Appliance

Reliable Appliance

The Appliance Doctor

ARBITRATION & MEDIATION FIRM

Certilman Balin Adler & Hyman, LLP

Resolute Systems, Inc.

Vaz Law, PLLC

ARCHITECT

Katherine Serrano Sosa, Rooted Architecture Studio

Long Island Architecture Studio

Stephen G. Hayduk, P.E., Hayduk Engineering LLC

CAR WASH

Majestic Auto Spa

Seaford Car Wash & Detail Center

Ultimate Express Car Wash

CAR/LIMO SERVICE

Broward Limousines

Executive Limousine of Long Island

Long Island Elite Limousines

M&V Limousines, Ltd.

CEMETERIES

Huntington Rural Cemetery

Pinelawn Memorial Park and Arboretum

St. Charles / Resurrection Cemeteries

CORPORATE LAW FIRM

Certilman Balin Adler & Hyman, LLP

Love Law Firm, PLLC

Ruskin Moscou Faltischek, P.C.

Goshinkan Jujitsu Dojo

Pakua Martial Arts

Warren Levi Martial Arts & Fitness

MUSIC SCHOOLS/CLASSES

Center Stage Music Center

Long Beach Guitar School

The Children’s Orchestra Society

NURSERY SCHOOL

Bellmore United Methodist Nursery School

Bright Star Academy

Lawrence Woodmere Academy

SPORTS CAMP

Beach Baseball Camp and Clinics

CATS (Children’s Athletic Training School)

Hofstra Summer Sports Academy Camps

DIVORCE ATTORNEY

David Mejias, Mejias, Milgrim & Lindo, P.C.

Marina Moreno, Law Office of Marina Moreno, PLLC

Robert Keilson, Esq., Garden City Law Firms

DRY CLEANER

American Drive-In Cleaners

Delta Cleaners

Old Country Cleaners

ELDER LAW ATTORNEY

Jennifer B. Cona, Cona Elder Law

Marina Moreno, Law Office of Marina Moreno, PLLC

Wendy K. Goidel, Goidel Law Group

EMPLOYMENT AGENCY

Express Employment Professionals

NRGUSA

PrideStaff

ESTATE PLANNING

ATTORNEY

Jennifer B. Cona, Cona Elder Law

Marina Moreno, Law Office of Marina Moreno, PLLC

Stephanie D’Angelo, D’Angelo Law Associates

FAMILY LAW FIRM

Joseph Law Group, P.C.

Law Office of Marina Moreno

Mejias Milgrim Alvarado & Lindo, P.C.

FEMALE MENTORING GROUP

Girl Scouts of Nassau County

Miss Long Island Pageants Moxxie Network

FUNERAL HOME

Gutterman’s Funeral Homes

N. F. Walker Funeral Home

Towers Funeral Home, Inc.

GREEN BUSINESS

Green Home Logic

Green Team LI Winters Bros. Waste Systems

HEALTH CARE LAW FIRM

Cona Elder Law PLLC Harris Beach

The Rizzuto Law Firm

LABOR LAW FIRM

Jackson Lewis P.C.

Law Office of Cohen & Jaffe, LLP

The NHG Law Group P.C

LAUNDROMAT

Bayport Laundromat

Laundry Palace

Lynbrook Laundry

Standard laundromat

LAW FIRM (OVERALL)

OVER 35 EMPLOYEES

Miller and Caggiano, LLP

Ruskin Moscou Faltischek, P.C.

The NHG Law Group P.C

LAW FIRM (OVERALL)

UNDER 35 EMPLOYEES

Cona Elder Law PLLC

Law Office of Cohen & Jaffe, LLP

The Rizzuto Law Firm

LITIGATION/BUSINESS

LITIGATION LAW FIRM

Levitt LLP

Sahn Ward Braff Koblenz PLLC

The Rizzuto Law Firm

MATRIMONIAL LAW FIRM

Law Office of Marina Moreno

Mejias Milgrim Alvarado & Lindo, P.C.

Picarello & Saciolo, P.C.

NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION

Hewlett House

Long Island Children’s Museum

Temple Avodah

PERSONAL INJURY

ATTORNEY - FIRM

Law Office of Cohen & Jaffe, LLP

The Rizzuto Law Firm

The Selvin Law Firm

PET GROOMER

Kelly, Spaw Pet Salon of Westbury

Maria - The Barrie Inn

Posh Paws Pet Spa & Boutique

PHOTOGRAPHER

Brian Ozegovich, Park Ave Studio

Gaitley Stevenson-Mathews, GSM Communications

Jonathan Ortiz, Creative Focus Designs

PROPERTY TAX

REDUCTION SERVICES

Herman Katz

Maidenbaum Property Tax

Reduction Group, LLC

Tax Correction Agency

PUBLIC RELATIONS

COMPANY

Ingrid Dodd Public Relations

Marketing Works

ZE Creative Communications

REAL ESTATE LAW ATTORNEY

Anthony Nozzolillo, On Point Land Services Corporation

Gilbert Balanoff, Law Offices of Gilbert L. Balanoff, P.C.

Marina Moreno, Law Office of Marina Moreno, PLLC

REAL ESTATE LAW FIRM

Ackerman Law PLLC

Law Office of Marina Moreno

The Law Offices of Gilbert L. Balanoff, P.C.

SELF-STORAGE COMPANY

CubeSmart Self Storage

Freeport Self Storage

Men On The Move Moving & Self Storage

TAX LAW FIRM

Barnes & Barnes, P.C.

Maidenbaum & Sternberg, LLP Tenenbaum Law, P.C.

TRAVEL AGENCY

Magical Dad Vacations - Keith Voets

Superior Travel Consultants

Vitas Travel Service

VETERINARIAN

Gabrielle Pimento, DVM, Bond Vet: Merrick

John Foy, DVM, Terry Animal Hospital

Timothy Sheppard, DVM, Sayville Animal Hospital

WASTE MANAGEMENT COMPANY

Jamaica Ash & Rubbish Removal

Long Island Waste Services, LLC

National Waste Services, LLC Winters Bros. Waste Systems

SHOPPING

ANTIQUE STORE

Collectors Coins & Jewelry

Garden City Antiques & Fine Arts, Ltd.

THE SHOPPE by Trubee Hill

APPLIANCE/HOME ELECTRONICS STORE

Appliance World P.C. Richard & Son

Reliable Appliance BOUTIQUE

Jolie Fleur

Trois Jours Boutique Etc.

Uniquely Yours

BRIDAL STORE

Blossom Brides

Bridal Reflections

Estelle’s Dressy Dresses

CARPET STORE

Carpet Depot

Dee-Jay Carpet Co., Inc.

Glen Floors

COIN STORE

Coin Galleries of Oyster Bay Collectors Coins & Jewelry

Long Island Rare Coin & Currency

COLLECTIBLES STORE

Collectors Coins & Jewelry

Living Legends Memorabilia & Collectibles

Remember Yesteryears Vintage Center

CONSIGNMENT/ THRIFT STORE

LuxeSwap

National Council of Jewish

Women Thrift Shop

Worth Repeating, Worth Repeating

EYEWEAR STORE

Eyeglass House

Eyes On Broadway

Mt. Sinai Optical

FARMERS MARKET

Crossroads Farm at Grossmann’s

Deep Roots Farmers Market

Meyer’s Farm & Greenhouses

FLORIST

Central Florist

Feldis Florist & Flower Delivery

Pedestals Floral Decorators

FURNITURE STORE

Bob’s Discount Furniture and Mattress Store

Furniture Gallery of Long Island

Raymour & Flanigan

GIFT SHOP

Dolce Confections

Pampered Professional

The SHOPPE by Trubee Hill

GOURMET MARKET

Grace’s Marketplace Sons of a Butcher

The Original Salpino’s of Wantagh

GROCERY/SUPERMARKET

Holiday Farms Stew Leonard’s

Uncle Giuseppe’s Marketplace

LOCAL CHILDREN’S

CLOTHING

Denny’s Fashion, Style, For All Koukla Children’s Boutique

Mur-Lees, Men’s & Boy’s Shop

LOCAL HARDWARE STORE

Costello’s Ace Hardware

Millers True Value

Schaefer’s Ace Hardware

LOCAL JEWELRY STORE

Hislon Jewelers

North Shore Gold & Diamond

Unicorn Jewels

LOCAL MEN’S CLOTHING

B2bespoke Custom Clothier

Mur-Lees, Men’s & Boy’s Shop Standard Thread

LOCAL WOMEN’S CLOTHING

A.J. & MOS

Trois Jours Boutique Etc.

Uniquely Yours

NURSERY & GARDEN

CENTER

Atlantic Nursery & Garden Shop

Dees’ Nursery And Florist

Hicks Nurseries

PAWN SHOP

Collectors Coins & Jewelry

Matthew James Jewelers

Pawn Express

WINDOW TREATMENT STORE

Blinds To Go

Homestead Window Treatments

The Blind Spot Inc.

SPORTS

BICYCLE STORE

Brands Cycle & Fitness

Oceanside Cycle

Trek Bicycle Massapequa

BOXING CENTER

Fit Theorem

iLoveKickboxing

Kayo Boxing

CROSSFIT GYM

CrossFit Merrick

CrossFit Seize The Day

Fit Theorem

GYM & FITNESS CENTER

Fit Theorem

Fit4Life Studios, Inc.

The Bodysmith Fitness & Massage

ICE SKATING RINK

Grant Park Skating Center

Newbridge Arena

Town of Oyster Bay Ice Skating Center

KIDS’ SPORTS LEAGUE

East Coast Football Club

East Rockaway Raiders Football

Hewlett Lawrence Soccer Club

PERSONAL TRAINER

Ava Donaldson, Fit4Life Studios

Leah Stukov, FitX50

Taylor Costello, CSCS, MMP, LMT, The Bodysmith Fitness and Massage

PERSONAL TRAINING

FACILITY

Fit Theorem

Fit4Life Studios, Inc.

Personal Training Institute of Rockville Centre PILATES

Club Pilates Merrick

Fit4Life Studios, Inc.

The Pilates Studio, Inc.

PLACE

Bay Shore

Michael’s

RVC Homemakers including Patty Gaffney, left, Laura Schuler and Carmen Gaud donated 48 shawls, 42 surgi dolls and 20 care bears to Mercy Hospital.

Courtesy RVC St. Patrick’s Day Parade

Electeds want to ‘pump brakes’ on electric buses

By CHARLES SHAW cshaw@liherald.com

A number of state electeds are calling on the governor to slow down her plans to make school buses electric by 2035 — something they say could have a devastating impact on district finances.

Some like state Sen. Steve Rhoads and state Sen. Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick joined Assemblyman John Mikulin and other officials handling fire and safety at schools at the Levittown Public School bus yard in Wantagh last week hoping they can convince Gov. Kathy Hochul to extend the deadline for that mandate deeper into the future to ensure it’s affordability for communities like those in Nassau County.

“There’s nothing magical about this New York state school bus mandate,” Rhoads said.

Citing the main character from the popular children’s television animated series “The Magic School Bus,” Rhoads said “even Ms. Frizzle herself would agree that this burdensome mandate takes chances, makes mistakes, and gets messy.”

The state’s current budget mandates all school buses must have no environmental impact through emissions by 2035, with districts only allowed to purchase electric school buses by mid-2027.

The idea, according to Hochul, is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 85 percent by 2050. The state’s environmental conservation department blames the transportation sector overall as one of New York’s largest sources of emissions, which contributes to climate change impacts such as increased heat waves, sea level rise and flooding.

“Old school buses are putting children’s health at risk, spewing toxic fumes and pollutants into the air that are proven to have negative health impacts,” Hochul’s office said, in a statement. “After New York vot-

ers approved an Environmental Bond Act that allocated $500 million for zero-emission school buses, Gov. Hochul is working with communities across New York to allocate these funds and ensure they are fully utilized.”

But Rhoads says the mandate does not account for the logistical and financial challenges that school districts, bus companies and power companies will face in implementing the plan. A new, full-sized electric bus costs as much as $450,000 — triple the price of a conventional.

With some 45,000 school buses on the road in the state, Rhoads says the full conversion by 2035 would cost in the neighborhood of $20 billion.

The Levittown school district — with a fleet of 80 buses — is in the beginning stages of the mandate. Superintendent Todd Winch said it would cost the district as much as $32 million to replace their fleet, and will purchase its first electric bus this year.

“We don’t replace a whole fleet for maybe 20 years, but now they’re asking us to replace the whole fleet from 2027 to 2035,” Winch said. “Now you’re talking about a very short time period to replace the whole fleet, which would be very, very difficult.”

In addition, the Levittown bus yard would require 40 charging stations, each one costing between $30,000 and $50,000, Winch added.

The state has offered to help, but Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick said the $500 million offered would only cover a little more than 1,200 buses. The rest would have to paid for by local taxpayers — and that’s not even including infrastructure and charging stations.

“Where’s the rest of that money coming from?” the state senator asked. “You, from the taxpayers, because that’s what the school districts will be forced to do to meet this mandate.”

But the current high costs associated with electric buses are expected to come down over time, Hochul said. The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority announced last September it believes the price of an electric school bus should be on-par with a gasoline-powered bus as early as 2027 thanks to advances in battery technology, more manufacturing, as well as lower fuel and maintenance expenses.

Rhoads calls Hochul’s mandate a rushed plan.

“We all want to see a greener future,” he said. “There is no question about that. But we have to make sure that if our goal is providing affordable, safe, and reliable transportation to our students, we have to make sure we have a plan which gets us to that future, but still accomplishes that primary goal.”

Charles Shaw/Herald

A number of local elected — like state Sen. Steve Rhoads, state Sen. Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick and Assemblyman John Mikulin — joined fire and safety as well as school officials in the Wantagh bus yard that serves Levittown Public Schools to ‘pump the brakes’ on a statewide transition to electric school buses.

STEPPING OUT

FOREVER A) ‘

By Karen Bloom

Laughing along with Joe Gatto

All roads lead back to Lynbrook it seems. Certainly for Joe Gatto.

He’s stepped away from his comfort zone — “The Impractical Jokers” — to the dismay of many folks. His loyal cadre of fans came to know him from the popular improvisational hidden camera show, which he hosted with his buddies Brian “Q” Quinn, James “Murr” Murray, and Sal Vulcano, for nine seasons.

Fans were certainly disappointed when he moved on from Q, Murr and Sal in 2021 to focus on co-parenting his two kids, Milana and Remington (now 9 and 7).

But you needn’t fret. Gatto is doing just fine — as is “Jokers,” now in its 10th season.

Since leaving his pals to carry on “Jokers” without him, the jokes certainly continue as Gatto’s taken his energy — and his comedic talents — to the stand-up circuit.

His tour, “Joe Gatto’s Night of Comedy,” arrives Friday at The Paramount in Huntington. Minus his friends, fans get an hour of Gatto, as he riffs on life, his family, and probably even his dogs.

“I’m extremely proud of this hour of comedy I’ve put together, and am so excited to film it at the first theater I performed on this tour back in February 2023,” Gatto says. “It also happens to be one of my favorite theaters, too, which is nice since it’s in my ‘hometown’ of Long Island.”

Of course, there were some nerves involved in going solo.

“After my time with ‘Jokers,’ I needed to figure out the next step in my career,” Gatto reflects.

• Friday, March 8, 7 and 9:30 p.m.

• $59.75, $39.75, $29.75

• Tickets available at Ticketmaster.com or ParamountNY.com

• The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington

“I needed to figure out different ways to make people laugh because that’s what I love to do. Stand-up presented itself as a way to do that. My agents and managers were like, ‘Why don’t you give stand-up a shot?’”

And so he did, on a winter’s evening in a small club in Appleton, Wisconsin, in January 2022, for a brief 35 minutes.

“I enjoyed it right from the get-go,” he says. “It quickly graduated into an hour show, and I moved up to theaters. Fans were coming out, and we’re having a great time. Telling stories of my life and thinking about different ways that I could express myself to get people to know me a bit better has been a really fun journey.”

Gatto readily admits it’s been a learning experience.

“It was a different format that I wasn’t necessarily versed in, so I was a little nervous,” he says. “The biggest thing for me was I had never performed live before. For 20 years, I was part of an ensemble, stand-up being its own art was a thing I needed to adapt to. I quickly took to it.

“The challenge of writing the hour, curating it, and thinking of what stories I want to tell and how to tell them and punch up the jokes, was fun to do.”

Everyone’s in on the fun right along with him.

“I’ve always been pretty open on ‘The Impractical Jokers,’”

talk about parenting, I’ve got lots of stories of my kids, also

he says. “I was always myself. I didn’t play a character, so when people watched it, they really to got to know the sense of me, my personality. Even a lot of my personal life was in that show as well. People who come to my show know me already from that. But here I get to tell different stories. I talk about parenting, I’ve got lots of stories of my kids, also the craziness of animal rescue with my dogs, growing up with my crazy Italian mother on Staten Island, and of course, my friends, the Jokers. There’s no shortage of stories.”

Janeane Garofalo

Oh yes, about those dogs. There are nine of them in the Gatto household, all older rescues.

“It’s like a pack mentality,” he says, laughing, insisting his four-legged companions “pretty much follow the house rules.”

Eventually the Gattos realized they couldn’t rescue every dog in need. Hence their nonprofit Gatto Pups & Friends, which facilitates adoptions for mainly senior and disabled dogs, opened in Glen Head in November 2022.

“We wanted to do it in our neighborhood,” he says. “We love being around here. We found a cool space for the storefront, right across the street from one of our favorite places for lunch. It just all aligned.”

Although firmly ensconced in Glen Head, the South Shore still calls out to him. Gatto frequently visits Lynbrook, where he lived between 2014 and 2017, and where his sister still resides.

His family ties bring him frequently back to visit.

“I love Lynbrook,” he says.“I had such a great experience there. There’s always something special about your first home.”

Plus, “Vincent’s is still one of my favorite pizzerias,” he adds.

You’ll even find him hanging out at Lynbrook’s Regal, taking in a movie with his niece and nephew.

“I go there all the time with them,” he shares. “They’re movie buffs like me, and that’s our go-to movie theater.”

In fact, a film may be in his future.

“I’m doing pretty good, enjoying my ride right now,” Gatto says. “But I’ve always wanted to write and direct film. That’s actually why I got into entertainment. So that’s what I’m focusing on now. That’s what’s left on the bucket list, along with always creating and thinking of new ways to make people smile.”

And as for his outing at The Paramount, it’s being filmed for a comedy special.

“I’ve been working to two years on the thing,” he says, “so I don’t it want it to just go away.”

And there’s always the possibility of another collaboration with his “Jokers” buddies.

“I never un-united with them,” he says. “They’re still my friends. We’re just not ‘friends from work’ anymore. I love creating with those guys, so who knows what the future holds.”

The comedian-actress, who reigns as the queen of the alt-comedy scene, is eager to speak her mind when she visits here with her latest stand-up tour. 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 film and television, including ‘The Truth About Cats and Dogs,’ ‘Wet Hot American Summer’ and ‘Ratatouille,’ among her memorable roles. Garofalo’s informed opinions and unflinching honesty on topics ranging from everyday life to pop culture inspire laughs and strike a chord with audiences everywhere. Often a lightning 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.’

Friday, March 8, 8 p.m. $33, $28. Jeanne Rimsky Theater at Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington. Tickets available at LandmarkOnMainStreet.org or (516) 767-6444.

‘Greatest Show On Earth’

The circus is back. The iconic Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey spectacle returns after a hiatus, re-imagined as a 360-degree experience that brings fans into the action. Packed with explosive excitement, ‘The Greatest Show On Earth’ begins and ends with a bang. Lauren Irving, Alex Stickels and Jan Damm join forces as Aria, Stix and Nick Nack, who serve as its soul, rhythm and funny bone. The trio, appearing as show guides, encounter never-before-seen stunts, acrobatic displays, and comedic acts along the way. An international cast of 75 performers take on a variety of enthralling circus acts, including new stunts like the Triangular Highwire, led by the Lopez Family, sixth-generation circus artists hailing from Mexico and Chile. There are also comic clowning, extreme sports, and acrobatic aerial feats — all enhanced with original music.

Friday through Sunday, March 8-10, times vary. Tickets available at Ticketmaster.com, or Ringling. com. UBS Arena, 2400 Hempstead Turnpike, Elmont.

Courtesy Joe Gatto

Joe lives his life by a code of pastry and family, loving his wife, two children, cannolis — and his dogs.

Photo by Jonathan Thorpe

THE Your Neighborhood

March 16

JigJam

When virtuoso Irish playing jumps the pond running through the wide open fields of Bluegrass and Americana, JigJam is born. This Offaly and Tipperary-born band has started the Irish invasion of Americana with a brand new band member from Glasgow injecting the magic of Scottish folk music. The lads bring their foot-stomping sound to the Landmark stage, for a St. Patrick’s Day celebration, Saturday, March 16, at 8 p.m. Described as ‘The best Irish band in bluegrass’ and ‘sparkling, infectious’ these gents have been hailed as ‘Ireland’s answer to New Grass Revival’. Founding members from Offaly Jamie McKeogh (lead singer and guitar) and Daithi Melia (5 string banjo and Dobro) were joined by Tipperary-born Gavin Strappe (mandolin and tenor banjo) in 2016. They’ve since added Glasgow native Danny Hunter (fiddle) to make up this iGrass (Irish Bluegrass) quartet. They’ve been hailed as “Ireland’s answer to New Grass Revival,” with a sound that has its roots in Irish music and Irish immigration. iGrass and JigJam is what happens when the Irish find their prodigal son. $38.14-$49.48. 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 8, 10:15 a.m. and noon, Sunday, March 10, 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.; Wednesday and Thursday, March 13-14,10:15 a.m. and noon. Kids become cast members, singing dancing, and acting on stage 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.

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.

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.

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.

Bird walk

See some birds with the South Shore Audubon Society. All are welcome to join members for another in its series of bird walks, at Massapequa Lake, Sunday, March 10, starting at 9 a.m. Massapequa Lake is at the south end of Massapequa Preserve, between Lakeshore Boulevard and Ocean Avenue. Use street parking on the westbound side of Merrick Road. Walk leaders, other birders and nature enthusiasts are happy to share their knowledge and experience with you. Bring binoculars. The group will meet at the gazebo. To register, text your name and contact information to (516) 4679498. No walk if rain or snow. Text regarding questionable weather. For more information, visit SSAudubon.org.

Break the Hate Campaign

Members of the Rockville Centre community join Congregation B’nai SholomBeth David at the front steps of the synagogue, on Sunday, March 10, at noon, as part of the worldwide ‘Break the Hate’ campaign. 100 Hempstead Ave.

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.

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.

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.

In concert

Icon and superstar Whitney Houston, has left a lasting legacy that is celebrated an exhilarating spectacle.

“Queen of the Night, A Musical Tribute to Whitney Houston,” Saturday, March 9, 8 p.m., at NYCB Theatre at Westbury. An exhilarating tribute to Houston’s remarkable musical repertoire, the electrifying production, which premiered on London’s West End, honors her timeless songs with sensational vocalists and a full live band.

Named after the swaggering hard rock single from “The Bodyguard” soundtrack, the show celebrates 30 years of hits sung by the superstar, from “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” and “Saving All My Love for You” to “How Will I Know,” “Greatest Love of All” and, of course, “I Will Always Love You.” With the accompaniment of a dynamic band, backing vocalists and dancers, “Queen of the Night” fully conveys the essence and persona of Houston in a captivating production has been described as “a powerhouse performance that delivers on every level.” NYCB Theatre at Westbury, 960 Brush Hollow Road, Westbury. Tickets available at LiveNation.com or call (516) 247-5200.

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.

Best of Broadway

Adelphi University Performing Arts students celebrate the music of Broadway during their semi-annual Best of Broadway concert, Sunday, March 10, 4 p.m.

The theme of this season’s concert is a royal one, paying tribute to the kings, queens, “Aladdin,” “Camelot, “ “Six,” “Frozen,” “Anastasia,” “The Little Mermaid,” “Cinderella,” and more. $30, with discounts available to seniors, students, Adelphi alumni and employees. Adelphi University Performing Arts Center, 1 South Ave., Garden City. (516) 877-4000 or Adelphi.edu/pac.

Public Notices

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

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN in accordance with New York Village Law 5-508(3) that on March 18, 2024, at the Eugene J. Murray Village Hall, One College Place, Rockville Centre, New York, at 6:00 pm, the Board of Trustees of the Village of Rockville Centre will hold a public hearing to consider the adoption of the budget of the Village of Rockville Centre for the fiscal year commencing June 1, 2024 and ending May 31, 2025.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN

that a copy of the tentative budget and a copy of the Property Tax Exemption Impact Report are available at the office of the Village Clerk at the Municipal Building of the Village of Rockville Centre, One College Place, Rockville Centre, New York, where they may be inspected by any interested persons during office hours. The said budget proposes payment of compensation to members of the Board of Trustees as follows:

Mayor $110,000.00, Deputy Mayor $33,000, each other Trustee of the Village $21,500.00.

DATED: Rockville Centre, New York

March 7, 2024

By Order of the Board of Trustees

Nancy Howard, Village Clerk-Treasurer 145315

Blood drive for ‘Kip’ garners local support

Continued from page 1

ly 380,548 babies were born preterm in 2022, representing 10.4 percent of all live births in the country that year.

Heitshusen is a real estate agent and digital brand consultant who lives in the village with her husband, Chris, and her two other children. Her daughter, Charlotte, is a student at Jennie E. Hewitt Elementary School and her son, Weston, is currently enrolled at The Learning Academy of St. Marks on Hempstead Avenue.

To spread awareness of the need for blood during childbirth, she enlisted the help of members of the community and the New York Blood Center, to organize a blood drive March 10 at the John A. Anderson Recreation Center in Rockville Centre.

LEGAL NOTICE

Malverne Union Free School District Malverne, New York

Legal Notice

PUBLICATION PRINTING

SERVICES SFB

Notice is hereby given that separate bids, submitted in sealed envelopes for the PUBLICATION PRINTING

SERVICES SFB will be received on Thursday, April 4, 2024, at 12:30 p.m., 301 Wicks Lane, the Malverne Administration Building.

Sealed bids are to be addressed to the attention of Christopher Caputo, Assistant Superintendent for Business, Malverne Union Free School District, 301 Wicks Lane, Malverne, New York 11565. All bids must be submitted to the Assistant Superintendent, on or before the date and time of opening in sealed envelopes, bearing on the outside the name and address of the bidder and the title of the bid in the lower left-hand corner.

To obtain the bid please e-mail, dfecht@malverneschools.

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

Date: Thursday, March 7, 2024

By Order of the Board of Education

Malverne Union Free School District 145258

LEGAL NOTICE

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORKCOUNTY OF NASSAU

HSBC BANK USA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE FOR THE BENEFIT OF PEOPLE’S FINANCIAL REALTY

MORTGAGE SECURITIES

TRUST, SERIES 2006-1,

V. FRANCISCO M. RODRIGUEZ, ET AL. NOTICE OF SALE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure dated October 12, 2023, and entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Nassau, wherein HSBC BANK USA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE FOR THE BENEFIT OF PEOPLE’S FINANCIAL REALTY MORTGAGE SECURITIES TRUST, SERIES 2006-1 is the Plaintiff and FRANCISCO M. RODRIGUEZ, ET AL. are the Defendant(s). I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction RAIN OR SHINE at the NASSAU COUNTY SUPREME COURT, NORTH SIDE STEPS, 100 SUPREME COURT DRIVE, MINEOLA, NY 11501, on April 9, 2024 at 2:30PM, premises known as

“We wanted to create awareness of the need for blood during childbirth,” Heitshusen said, “and what a mom and baby might need in the event of early emergent deliveries.”

Dr. Pessel said that while it is unfortunate that Heitshusen experienced this critical blood shortage firsthand, the fact that she can turn this physical and emotional struggle into an opportunity to raise awareness and help save lives is “truly selfless and inspirational.”

“Marissa and Kip are two of the strongest people I know,” Dr. Pessel said. “I am so proud to live in this community where we can come together and make a difference, and I hope to see a huge turnout at the Rec. Center for the blood drive.”

Heitshusen has been very busy with Kip, but has received so much love from the community. “The entire community is rallying around him and us and we’re so thankful,” she said.

Heitshusen’s friend, Michelle Foley, has also been instrumental in helping coordinate the blood drive with the New York Blood Center. “Her story hit me hard,” Foley said. “So many people are pulling together to help.”

In addition to the help and support of Foley and Dr. Pessel, several members of the community are rallying support for Heitshusen and the family, including the Children’s Athletic Training School on Maple Avenue and The Learning Academy.

“I reached out to [Marissa] once I read her story,” CATS Owner Jami Madison said. “I figured that we could help out in some way.”

Madison said Charlotte takes tennis lessons on the weekends and Weston has been in an afterschool program at CATS for the last two years. As a family friend, she reached out on social media wanting to help the family by encouraging others, including Molloy University

athletes to donate and spread the word about this local cause. She also said that she is planning to hold a raffle to help encourage people to sign up and give blood.

“The Heitshusen family has been a part of The Learning Academy of St. Mark’s family for a few years now,” TLA Director Mordan Moccia said. “They are always filled with smiles and excitement, so when we heard about Kip, we wanted to help in any way possible. It’s our blessing to be able to spread awareness for the Heitshusens and any other family in a similar circumstance. TLA is eager to help in anyway we can, including donating blood and continued love and prayers for Kip and his family.”

The New York Blood Center said donations of whole blood, red blood cells, platelets or plasma, can help save up to three lives in one hour. Unfortunately, the supply of blood seldom meets the demand. While 62 percent of the country’s population is eligible to donate, only about 3 percent will give blood every year.

In order to donate you must be at least 17 or older, or 16 with a parent or guardian’s written consent and weigh at least 110 lbs. It also recommended donors be in good health when giving blood. Anyone who wishes to participate should be sure to eat and drink prior to the event and bring either a donor ID card or a valid New York State Driver’s License.

The blood drive is Sunday, March 10 from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the auditorium at the John A. Anderson Recreation Center, 111 N. Oceanside Road in Rockville Centre. Contact the New York Blood Center to make an appointment. For more information visit NYBC.org.

Photos courtesy Marissa Heitshusen rockville Centre parent marissa Heitshusen holds her newborn baby, Christopher ‘Kip’ Welles after a difficult delivery last december.

Christopher ‘Kip’ Welles is working to grow stronger every day while in the expert care of north Shore university Hospital’s niCu unit.

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Q. We are suing our contractor and need some advice. A year ago, we finished our second-floor addon and first-floor kitchen and rear family room remodel by opening up walls to join them. Everything seemed fine until it rained the first time. The windows began to leak at the bottom, and then around the tops and sides. Our new sliding glass door did the same. The basement flooded, and we are not in a flood area. Then the air-conditioning company said somebody disconnected the ducts, and when we opened the ceilings, more water poured down. The house is now filled with mold, which we clean with bleach where we can get to it, but we couldn’t move out and have two small children under age 4.

Although we have many questions and hired an attorney, we’re wondering whether we should hire an architect to go over all the problems and identify them, with remedies, or hire one of the contractors who said they could fix the problems, or wait until the lawsuit is finished to make it possible for a jury to see the damage. The job architect, whom we never met, has now had their license revoked for the next two years, but we wouldn’t go to them, anyway.

A. Ugh! This is more common than you would think. It starts with not having the architect working for you and instead working for the contractor. I can guess that the contractor was contacted first, and you hired them to get their architect and provide plans. That was your first mistake.

Next, people are lazy, expecting that anyone they hire knows all the best techniques to build and knows all the rules, codes and laws. That was mistake number two. Even though you hire people, you should have gone over critical details, especially about waterproofing and structural techniques on the plans, to make sure that the building owner looks for those steps to be carried out. You, the building owner, I always say, are the “eyes and ears” on the job, since the architect often isn’t there at critical times, when waterproofing membranes and materials are joined.

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You’re going to need a licensed expert — an architect or an engineer — to work with your attorney. Document everything with videos during simulated or storm events to show the water coming in and whatever other failures, such as leaking and disconnected air ducts, and hire people who can do the job correctly as soon as you can. You need to have a healthy home for your family, and a lawsuit could take years while you possibly get sick from the mold and the chlorine you’re breathing. Good luck!

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Why I joined the Congressional Offshore Wind Caucus

Growing up in Island Park, I was always acutely aware of how lucky I was to be surrounded by beautiful beaches, bountiful waterways and stunning coastlines. Preserving Nassau County’s coastal environs has been a main priority of my tenure in public office, and I am proud to represent so many community partners who share in that goal. Indeed, the pristine nature of our South Shore was recently threatened by a largescale offshore wind turbine project proposed by Equinor, but thanks to unified community opposition, this dubious plan appears to have stalled — for now.

The growing national push to advance offshore wind energy has clearly reached Long Island, and while Equinor’s plan was defeated due to the corporation’s failure to properly liaise with local stakeholders, there will certainly be other developers attempting their own offshore wind projects mov-

ing forward.

Now more than ever, it is vital that our communities make their voices heard on any projects that would impact our coastline, which is why I am proud to announce that I have been made a co-chair of the Congressional Offshore Wind Caucus. This bipartisan panel provides members of Congress from across the country a forum to discuss the growing utilization of offshore wind energy, compare notes on offshore wind projects being advanced, and strategize on how best to approach future development questions. What’s more, my leadership role in the caucus also provides neighbors in the 4th District with an enhanced voice when the panel communicates with turbine developers — ensuring that the thoughts, concerns and opinions of South Shore residents are made known.

We’ve seen interest from other developers seeking to take Equinor’s place.

residents of the Long Beach barrier island, Island Park, Oceanside and beyond during the development of its Empire Wind 2 offshore wind turbine plan. This lack of engagement justifiably led to distrust among community members, and fueled the successful grass-roots campaign to quash the project.

Like my neighbors along the South Shore, over the course of several meetings, Equinor representatives failed to provide me with adequate information on the long-term environmental impacts of the project or outline a proper plan to support the communities that would have hosted facets of Empire Wind 2 — which is why I fought to stop the project from moving forward.

ment, residents’ wishes are respected, and local communities’ bests interests are advanced. If a company can articulate a vision for an offshore wind energy project that safeguards our environment, incorporates robust stakeholder feedback into the development process, benefits the community, and creates good union jobs, I believe it is beneficial for the public to hear them out and approach the plan with an open mind. I intend to utilize my position on the Congressional Offshore Wind Caucus to hold corporate developers accountable by demanding full transparency on any proposed projects that come before the community.

Those residents have recently seen firsthand the difficulties that stem from a corporate entity outright ignoring the concerns of community stakeholders when developing a large-scale project. Indeed, Equinor failed to engage with

Now that Equinor appears to have realized the error of its ways and pulled back from its offshore wind plan, we have seen growing interest from several other developers seeking to take Equinor’s place. As the selection process plays out and companies vie for a chance to develop offshore wind energy in Nassau County, it is vital that stakeholders have a say in project advance-

I will continue to utilize all the tools at my disposal to advocate for the best interests of South Shore neighbors and ensure that our communities are not negatively impacted by overdevelopment. My position as co-chair of the bipartisan caucus will give our community a stronger voice in that arena, and ensure that any proposed plans include real benefits for the South Shore. Long gone are the days when developers like Equinor thought they could simply muscle their way past community opposition. We won’t allow it.

Anthony D’Esposito represents the 4th Congressional District.

For Democrats, Suozzi’s victory is nothing to brag about

Democrats were understandably elated when former Democratic Congressman Tom Suozzi won the special election in New York’s 3rd Congressional District on Feb. 13, but they shouldn’t be popping any champagne. In truth, Suozzi’s victory over the Republicans’ candidate, Mazi Melesa Pilip, was a lot closer than it should have been.

Suozzi won just under 54 percent of the vote. Doesn’t that seem a little low? After all, he’s a former mayor of Glen Cove, a former Nassau County executive, and a former three-term representative of the district in Congress. Pilip, meanwhile, is a sophomore county legislator.

An alarming sign for me is the money spent by each campaign for each vote. Suozzi spent $2.36 million and won roughly 91,300 votes, meaning he spent almost $26 per vote. In comparison, Pilip spent just $714,000 and won roughly 78,200 votes, or just over $9 per vote.

That means that Pilip needed on average one-third the cash to bring her vot-

ers out to the polls. That indicates to me that Pilip’s voters were more excited and zealous. Suozzi, on the other hand, had to fight to bring Democrats out.

If Pilip and Suozzi had had the same fundraising numbers, and the cash-pervote numbers held, Pilip would have garnered over three times her vote total. Even if we halved Suozzi’s advantage (to make the comparison a bit more realistic), Pilip still might have won, with over 58.5 percent of the vote, if she’d spent as much money as Suozzi.

HSo, Democrats, is this your grand victory?

Aside from that lingering question, Suozzi ran a good campaign. He attacked Pilip where he needed to and worked hard in just the couple of months that he had, barnstorming through the district. He held a large event in my native Westbury, which I appreciate. The difficult fight he had, and the difficult fight many Nassau Democrats have, was beyond his control.

e spent nearly three times as much campaign money as Pilip for each vote.

To top it off, state Democrats are going to get another chance to draw district lines this year, meaning that Suozzi is almost certainly going to be redistricted into a safer, more heavily Democratic district. Why sink millions into an election that you most likely would have won more easily in nine months?

I read the election results this way: A Democratic political veteran with high name recognition and a 3-to-1 fundraising advantage won an election with the second-worst margin he’s won his House seat with, against a neophyte opponent no one had ever heard of, whom he probably would have more easily defeated in nine months.

For one thing, the political landscape on Long Island is shifting against Democrats. For years in Nassau County, the number of new voters registering as Democrats outpaced those registering as Republicans, but that is changing. In the towns of North Hempstead and Oyster Bay and the City of Glen Cove, which account for most of the population of the 3rd District, voter registration data for the past year confirms that the ratio of Democrats to Republicans is shrinking.

Area Democrats have also been suffering from guilt by association. The Nassau GOP has successfully associated local Democrats with their more leftleaning colleagues in New York City. The Long Islanders are branded with

negative labels like “radical” and “socialist,” or worse, “radical socialist.”

Finally, local Democrats continue to be hammered on bail reform, affordable housing and crime. These attacks are nonsense, but they stick because there is no apparatus in place to respond. None of this is Suozzi’s fault. Rather, the problem lies squarely with the Nassau and state Democratic committees, which have poor fundraising operations, abysmal organizing capacity, and virtually nonexistent communication with voters.

The party is failing to recruit new members, and cannot adequately defend its candidates, let alone go on the offensive. The state Democratic Party continues to fail candidates like Suozzi and the voters that make their existence possible.

That’s why I don’t consider Suozzi’s victory any kind of Democratic renaissance. His hard-fought win doesn’t portend more party wins in Nassau, because a successful two-month campaign can’t fix a state Democratic Party that has lost almost every position of power on Long Island in the past eight years.

Matthew Adarichev is a public policy major at Hofstra University, a political activist and an aspiring journalist whose work has appeared in the Hofstra Chronicle and the Anton Media Group.

HeraLd editoriaL Support the Local Journalism Sustainability Act a

s objective and independent news writers and editors, we have an imperative to cover the issues most important to you, the people of our community.

Every day, our team of reporters is on the ground questioning elected officials, uplifting the stories of community changemakers, and uncovering truths that some would rather keep hidden.

But, amid industry challenges, it is no longer unfathomable to picture a future when New York state is completely without local newspapers and other local news outlets.

According to the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University, 2.5 newspapers now close each week in the United States. More than 3,000 newspapers have shuttered across the country since 2004, and New York has been particularly hard hit.

In 2004, New York boasted 501 newspapers. Today, it’s only 260. In 2022 alone, 30 newspapers closed across the state.

A quarter of New York’s counties are news deserts — down to their last newspaper. Orleans County recently became the first in the state to have none. These closures have also resulted in thousands of lost journalism and newsroom-supporting jobs.

Local news matters. Studies show that when a community loses its source of local news, it experiences decreased voter turnout and civic engagement. Increased municipal borrowing costs that lead to higher taxes. And decreased transparency among government and business officials, leading to increased waste, fraud and abuse.

As newspapers shutter, communities become more polarized, leaving us stuck in a never-ending doom loop where we lose sight of our shared values. During this era of intense national partisan-

Letters

Let these elected officials know that we need to save local news

■ Contact Gov. Kathy Hochul: (518) 474-8390

■ Contact State Sen. Kevin Thomas: (516) 739-1700

■ Contact Assemblyman Brian Curran: (516) 561-8216

Our newspaper is a proud member of the Empire State Local News Coalition. Support the coalition at SaveNYLocalNews.com.

ship, local news offers a path forward.

The time to act is now. That is why the Rockville Centre Herald has joined with more than 150 other New York local newspapers to launch the Empire State Local News Coalition.

Comprising both print and online local newspapers, this coalition is advocating for sound public policy that ensures the important work of local news organizations can continue in our state. Through our independent journalism, we aim to serve, inform, uplift and protect New York residents.

Our coalition cares deeply about our local communities as well as the future of New York’s free press. However, market forces are making it nearly impossible for us to survive. So, together, we are sounding the alarm bell for our leaders in Albany to hear.

At the heart of our advocacy is the Local Journalism Sustainability Act. Sponsored by state Sen. Brad Hoylman-

Bruce Blakeman bans trans athletes

To the Editor:

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman’s recent signing of an executive order banning transgender girls from playing sports in county facilities was a disingenuous performance to ingratiate himself with the cruel anti-LGBTQ movement. These kinds of orders and bans do more harm than good, setting a dangerous tone that can send the message that hateful acts against the LGBTQ community are justified. Nex Benedict, the non-binary 16-year-old from Oklahoma who died last month after an altercation in a high school girls’ bathroom, comes to mind.

Sadly, by targeting transgender young people, Blakeman chose to use his executive power to sacrifice a very vulnerable group, already struggling for acceptance and facing far greater rates of depression and suicide than their peers, for his own political gain. Instead of doing something to help the transgender community in Nassau County, he decided to put them at further risk.

Sigal and Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner — with the bipartisan support of 55 co-sponsors — this bill provides tax credits to local news outlets for the employment of local news journalists. News organizations are incentivized to actually add jobs, returning reporters to many of the state’s newsrooms, which are becoming increasingly desolate.

Importantly, the bill is also contentneutral, meaning that any legitimate local news outlet — left, right or inbetween — can benefit from this bill. The objectivity of the bill’s eligibility requirements means the legislation cannot be weaponized to penalize news organizations critical of government officials.

As New York loses talented journalists, lawmakers must act to ensure the industry is allowed not only to survive, but also to thrive. Only local news outlets — with boots-on-the-ground journalists — can deliver the hyperlocal updates and investigations necessary to sustain a community’s civic and financial wellbeing.

Imagine no stories about the village or town board meeting, or the school budget debate. No pictures of your granddaughter’s first soccer goal. No obituary of your friendly (and eccentric) neighbor. No investigative reporting to hold public officials to account. And no trusted institution to convene the community around a family in need.

We need your help to save local news in New York. To get the Local Journalism Sustainability Act across the finish line, lawmakers need to hear from you about why our newspaper matters and why this bill is important to you.

If you would like to help, reach out to Gov. Kathy Hochul and your local state representatives to let them know you stand with local news.

How Near Rockaway became Rockville Centre

the Rockville Centre Historical Society is working with the Herald to provide some of the history of the Village of Rockville Centre. Over the coming months, we will share stories and photos of turn-of-the-century buildings, homes and important village milestones and people. We thought that a good place to start would be to recall how Rockville Centre got its name.

JIm BeLLING

In 1848 or 1849, Robert Pettit set up a country store on Merrick Road, not far from Smith’s Pond, to serve a sparsely settled community called Near Rockaway, which included the area of what is now Rockville Centre, Lynbrook and East Rockaway. It had been called Near Rockaway since about 1660 by the settlers of Hempstead, because it was nearer to their town than Far Rockaway.

Pettit decided to apply for the establishment of a post office, since there was none in the region other than Hemp-

stead. He was required to submit a name of the village to officials in Washington, D.C., and he decided to honor an outstanding citizen of the region — a fine old patriarch, 80 years old, who was a preacher, a justice of the peace and the owner of the local gristmill. His name was Mordecai Smith, and his nickname was “Rock” Smith, because he came from the Rock branch of the Smith family.

sPettit considered the name Smithtown, but was told there was already a Smithtown. He subsequently submitted the names Smithfield, Smithburg and Smithville, but they, too, were already taken. The name Mordecai didn’t seem usable, so Pettit decided to try Smith’s nickname, and submitted “Rockville.” Once again, he was turned down. The name was already claimed.

not incorporated until 1892.

The new village had some important citizens who helped shape the core of our town. One was Francis F. Wilson Jr. (18681943), the son of Francis French Wilson, a prominent citizen around the time the village was incorporated. F.F. Wilson Sr. was a founding member of Rockville Centre Library, the RVC Improvement Association and the Ascension Episcopal Church, and the first president of the Board of Education. (The Wilson school is named for him.)

mithfield? Nope. Smithburg. Sorry, taken. Rockville? Uhuh, try again.

In desperation, Pettit added “Centre” to the name and it was approved. In 1849 he hung out a sign for the “Rockville Centre Post Office.”

The Village of Rockville Centre first advertised lots for sale in 1854, but it was

Letters

Blakeman claims that “boys” are bullying their way onto girls’ teams, but he’s the real bully here.

KARIN JOHNSON RVC Pride Rockville Centre

It

was obvious why Republicans chose Pilip

To the Editor:

I read the Herald’s coverage of the special election between Tom Suozzi and Mazi Pilip. You didn’t mention that Pilip was a registered Democrat when she ran against Suozzi. She didn’t change her party affiliation until a few days ago.

Right from the beginning, Pilip didn’t want to take many questions from the press, and showed she didn’t know very much about the issues. The Republicans had her run because she was pretty, black, and Jewish, with an interesting background.

MYRON MARINBACH Lynbrook

Immigrants make our economy stronger

To the Editor:

It’s time to cut through the noise and tell the truth about immigration:

Our economy and community is stronger because of it. Some leaders would have us think it’s a zero-sum game when our country takes in immigrants, but that’s not true at all.

The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates that the U.S. economy will grow by an extra $7 trillion over the next 10 years thanks to immigrants!

But we don’t have to wait for the future to see how they are strengthening the economy. In 2021, immigrants paid $524.7 billion in taxes. That’s money that helps fuel our nation’s schools, Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security programs. Immigrants help support our communities as consumers and taxpayers.

Don’t believe it? Even former President Donald Trump’s appointed Federal Reserve chair, Jerome H. Powell, recognized the massive contributions immigrants make in an interview on “60 Minutes,” saying, “A big part of the story of the labor market coming back into better balance is immigration returning to levels that were more typical of the pre-pandemic era.”

So let’s give credit where credit is due, stop the anti-immigrant rhetoric and end the zero-sum mindset. Immigration truly is essential for our economic growth and our communities’ prosperity.

JOSEPH M. VARON

Long Island chapter, Bend the Arc West Hempstead

The family moved to Rockville Centre from New York City in 1882, when F.F. Wilson Jr. was 14. He became a wellknown architect and builder in town, designing summer “cottages” in the 1890s, public buildings such as the power station, on Morris Avenue, and the Episcopal Church rectory on Village Avenue. He was instrumental in the surge of development in the village in the 1920s, and was the architect for the Hollywood Court development in 1929, as well as the concrete house at 100 Lakeview Ave.

Wilson Junior designed his own home, at 64 Hempstead Ave, around 1905, when he married his wife, Carrie. The property originally extended to Irving Place, but was subdivided in 1923. Although the house has changed a bit over the years, many of the features are still recognizable.

We invite everyone to learn more about the history of the village. We have many resources available. The village museum, called the Phillip’s House, is at 28 Hempstead Ave. You can visit by appointment and learn more about how the village got its start. There are clothes, household items, and maps and photos from when the village was incorporated.

Also, visit our website, rvchs.org, where you can find many stories and pictures depicting how Rockville Centre came to be the village we call home. Our phone number is (516) 670-5737 (call for an appointment), and our email address is rvchistoricalsociety@gmail.com. Give us a visit. We look forward to hearing from you.

Jim Belling is a member of the board of trustees of the Phillips House Museum and the Rockville Centre Historical Society.

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