Rockville Centre Herald 03-24-2024

Friends, family help RVC mom’s mission

By DANIEL OFFNER

doffner@liherald.com

Rockville Centre mom Marissa Heitshusen, a real estate agent and digital brand consultant, and her newborn son, Christopher ‘Kip’ Welles, were both in need of lifesaving blood transfusions after she gave birth to him in December.

Kip was born 14 weeks before he was due, and was immediately administered with the necessary transfusion, however, due to an emergency blood shortage affecting millions of residents across the New York Metropolitan area, Heitshusen was informed she would have to wait.

In order to raise awareness of the urgent need for donations, she teamed up with the New York Blood Center to organize a community-wide blood drive at the John A. Anderson Recreation Center in RVC on March 10.

“It was an unbelievable turnout,” Heitshusen said. “So many amazing members of the community came. The New York Blood Center said it was the biggest blood drive turnout in RVC history.”

She said that her friend Michelle Foley, a fellow Rockville Centre parent, helped coordinate the entire event with the New York Blood Center, one of the largest nonprofit blood collection and distribution organizations in the country.

Nearly 100 people showed up at the Recreation Center on March 10th to give blood. Thanks to the generosity of the community, the New York Blood Center was able to collect enough whole blood, red blood cells, platelets and plasma to help save more than 300 lives.

Heitshusen remains very busy with Kip, who has continued to fight for the last nine weeks and is growing stronger every day while in the expert care of North Shore University Hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit.

She and her husband, Chris, and their two children, Charlotte and Weston, are still waiting anxiously for

the opportunity to finally bring Kip home.

“It was an overwhelmingly beautiful display of support from the community for Kip and for all mothers or babies who have ever been or who may ever be in a similar position where they need lifesaving blood,” Heitshusen said. “We are so grateful and we are so proud of this town.”

Several local businesses who helped contribute to making the blood drive such a success include the Children’s Athletic Training School on Maple Avenue, The Learning Academy of St. Marks on Hempstead Avenue, The Children’s Social Club on Sunrise Highway, Glass Beauty Bar on N. Long Beach Road and Reve Room Salon in Lynbrook who donated raffle baskets that were given out during the drive.

Christine Rivera/Herald photos Family and friends come out to support the blood drive and the Heitshusen family.

Nicole Buffolino of Merrick helps donate blood at the John A. Anderson Recreation Center on March 10.

Rockville Centre mom Marissa Heitschusen, left, and her husband, Chistopher, help spread awareness of an emergency blood shortage by hosting a blood drive for their newborn son, Christopher ‘Kip’ Wells at the RVC Recreation Center on March 10.

Jeanine Keane of Rockville Centre, Margaret Sullivan of Centerport and Meredith Bonacci of Rockville Centre participate in the blood drive.

assault

A customer at MOJO Restaurant reported on March 9 that an employee punched her in the head while inside the licenses premise.

A resident of Miller Place reported on March 10 that an acquaintance closed the trunk of his vehicle onto his neck and punched him while parked on Sunrise Highway.

A nurse at Mercy Hospital reported on March 16 she was assaulted by a patient.

Fire

Police and Fire department units responded to a car fire on March 12 in the parking garage at Avalon Bay. One firefighter was treated and released from the hospital after difficulty breathing.

larCeny

A customer at a Merrick Road car wash reported on March 1 that someone stole his motor vehicle while it was waiting to be dried off.

Crime watCh

A resident of South Lewis Place reported on March 2 that his motor vehicle was stolen while it was parked in Municipal Parking Field No. 8.

A resident of Meehan Lane reported on March 5 that someone stole the New York State vehicle registration plates from her motor vehicle while parked on her block.

A Lyft driver reported on March 10, someone stole property from his vehicle while dropping him off on Stratford Road.

A motorist reported on March 16 someone stole his vehicle while it was parked on N. Forest Avenue.

A motorist reported on March 16 someone stole his wallet and cell phone from his vehicle while it was parked on Front Street.

leaving the sCene

oF an aCCident

A resident of Hempstead Avenue reported on March 17 that a vehicle, which later fled the scene, damaged the stone retaining wall outside his house.

Criminal misChieF

A motorist reported on March 13 that an acquaintance threw a bottle at his vehicle causing damage while at a BP gas station.

A resident of Ormond Street reported on March 17 someone damaged the front door of the house.

BomB threat

An employee of Molloy University reported on Feb. 26 that he received a bomb threat via email. After an investigation it was determined to be a hoax threat.

menaCing

A member of the Rockville Centre Fire Department reported on Feb. 26 that someone threatened him with a golf club after a verbal altercation at Reliance Firehouse.

trespassing

A resident of DeMott Avenue reported on Feb. 29 that he observed someone on his security camera in his backyard for three hours. No property was discovered missing or disturbed.

unusual inCident

A resident of Cedar Avenue reported on March 13 that credit card accounts were opened and a federal tax return was fraudulently filed using his personal information.

The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office in Florida reported on March 14, a former Rockville Centre resident was the victim of a fraudulent check scam.

A resident of N. Centre Avenue reported on March 16 that credit card accounts were opened using his personal information.

A resident of Burtis Avenue reported on March 17 someone made a fraudulent purchase using his credit card account.

arrest

Sonia Ocasio, 46, of Old Mill Court in Rockville Centre was arrested on March 15. She has been charged with criminal mischief following an investigation at her residence.

People named in Crime Watch items as having been arrested and charged with violations or crimes are only suspected of committing those acts of which they are accused. They are all presumed to be innocent of those charges until and unless found guilty in a court of law.

Embracing AI — but in a responsible way

By Rachele Terranova, Parker Schug & Brendan Carpenter

Continuing a series exploring the presence of artificial intelligence in our schools — and, over time, in society as a whole. Thoughts? Questions? Ideas? Email us at execeditor@liherald.com.

What place does artificial intelligence have in schools? Should it be feared? Embraced? Somewhere in between?

These are conversations that didn’t even exist a year ago — at least as far as education is concerned. But as AI becomes more and more accessible, students and teachers alike are finding they can use software to ask questions, find answers, and even complete their work faster — and maybe even better — than they ever could.

But no matter how some may feel about AI — or simply not even understand what AI is — the tool is making its way into schools and curriculum. How fast and how much depends on the district. But at this point, it seems teachers and administrators on Long Island are accepting AI rather than running from it.

Revolutionizing teaching and learning

One of those districts is Bellmore-Merrick Central High School, which is not just introducing AI to its students — it’s already turning it into a college-level course.

Offered through the computer science department at Calhoun High School in Merrick, the magnet course partners with Long Island University to offer the college credit to not only Calhoun students, but also those from Kennedy and Mepham high schools in Bellmore, too.

“Each project is aligned with artificial intelligence topics that showcase the practical applications of AI,” said Danielle Caliendo, the district’s mathematics and computer science chair.

Students learn the Python programming language while creating AI chatbots. They also program a robot created by a French technology company to use AI features like facial recognition. And they fly drones.

Students also completed a linear regression project designed to make predictions based on existing data, like how public company stocks might perform.

Each project is aligned with AI topics that showcase the tool’s practical applications.

Joe Innaco, who leads the district’s administrative and instructional technology efforts, sees technologies like ChatGPT— a free chatbot system designed to provide a human-like response to a prompt— as fascinating possibilities.

try class.

“If you look at the history, there was a lot of resistance because it would eliminate all the thinking of doing trigonometry,” he said. “It was used, and it was embraced. And it saves more time for creative thinking and innovation.”

“Our vision is of opportunity and innovation,” he said. “That’s how we see technologies like these. Opportunities and innovations for teachers. We want to provide training. We want to encourage exploration in model classrooms, spotlight success, and really host conversations about it.”

Embracing AI goes right to the stop of the Bellmore Public Schools district, where superintendent Joe Famularo already serves on several AI advisory boards at institutions like Adelphi University, New Tech Institute and LIU. He also participates in think tanks conducted to discover how to incorporate AI into the classroom in a safe and responsible way.

While change might be daunting to many, Famularo points out that it’s not unprecedented. Just think about how much opposition there was to bringing something as simple as a slide ruler into a trigonome-

Eventually came scientific calculators, and then the internet. Both received significant pushback, but now who could imagine a classroom without them?

Learning responsible use of AI Instructors at Lawrence Woodmere Academy in the Five Towns are guiding students there in to use AI responsibly. John Tiliakos — who teaches computer science in the middle and upper schools — tends to let his students lead discussions surrounding AI.

AI is coming into his middle schoollevel engineering and technology classes, as well as his more high school-level courses in aviation, aerospace and computer programming.

But even before that, Tiliakos was spreading the word about AI, teaching a class at LWA on how artificial intelligence works in our world.

While that class no longer exists, Tiliakos said he and the other teachers at LWA are still focusing on the same values of providing knowledge for proper use of the technology.

“AI is a great tool,” Tiliakos said. “There’s nothing wrong with it, if it’s used in a positive way.”

That’s why he focuses so much of his attention on inputs — the written instructions given to AI systems. Tiliakos believes that inquisitive nature of teenagers could lead to devious uses of the technology — like writing term papers and the like.

His responsibility, Tiliakos said, is to direct students toward feeding AI prompts that result in helpful information to be used for beneficial causes.

“When you use AI, you see scenarios based on what you did,” he said. “Every action is a reaction.”

But some teachers — even at LWA — aren’t too keen about the AI presence.

“I don’t think it’s positive or negative,” said Christopher Clark, a senior at the school. “It just depends on how you use it.”

One unlikely way of putting AI to use is through another somewhat newer technological offering: podcasting.

“AI is still new. But for podcasting, it’s still very, very new,” said Henry McDaniel, a theatre arts and oration teacher at LWA. “What it can do is help you write a script for your podcast.”

Podcasting students also can use AI to reproduce their own voice to read their scripts, McDaniel said. They then post the productions online.

“Our motto here is ‘at home with the world,’” he said. “What we’re trying to do is give them skillsets, but (also) teach them the responsible way of using those skillsets.”

Testing the waters

Implementing AI has been a little slower going in Long Beach, where the discussion on how best to use it continues.

Lorraine Radice, the school district’s literacy director, has worked to alleviate many of the fears some Long Beach teachers might have when it comes to AI, while looking for ways they could try to implement the technology into their respective classrooms.

“Over the summer, I taught two professional development courses in the district and taught teachers how to use ChatGPT,” Radice said. “I surveyed teachers in the fall across the district as to who was using ChatGPT and who knew about it. Even in the fall after about nine months of ChatGPT being in social media circulations and in the news — not as many people had used it as I expected.”

While Radice would very much like developing ways on how AI chatbots like ChatGPT can be used in classrooms, a lot of her time is still focused on educating teachers what exactly the AI software is.

“So, part of the goals of those summer professional development courses was to raise awareness of how to use it,” Radice said,” and then to really start to support teens in thinking about how it could be used from the planning side of being a teacher. And then also how it can be used as a tool to provide support and equitable access to writing and generating ideas for

Courtesy Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District

New to schools in Bellmore and Merrick is a college-level artificial intelligence course. Partnering with Long Island University, the class is offered at Calhoun High School, where students can earn college credit by learning about the emerging technology.

Some teachers worry AI goes a little too far

kids.”

Having access to AI has impacted classrooms already by allowing students to use it to aid research, while many teachers worry they could go too far and have AI completely answer questions and even write essays for them.

But that just means adapting.

A I is a great tool. There’s nothing wrong with it, if it’s used in a positive way

John TiliAkos teacher, Lawrence Woodmere Academy

“A teacher raised a great question during a session when talking about using artificial intelligence tools to analyze classical texts,” Radice said. “The same question has been asked so many times, and she asked, ‘If I could just get the answer from a tool like ChatGPT, then what’s the point of even asking this type of question?’

“That’s a great thing for people to think about. What is the point of this question? Can I rephrase this question that really puts the student at the center of the thinking, and not so much (a) media tool?”

But there is still a ways to go before AI becomes more commonly accepted in classrooms, Radice said. At least on Long Beach.

“I wouldn’t say that there is a push,” she said. “I think part of that is because of the privacy. We want to make sure that we’re using tools that are safe to use in school. And once we do that, then it can become a more consistent part of our practice.”

Parker Schug/Herald

Community honors Francis ‘Bud’ Cosgrove

Rockville Centre pays respect to St. Patrick’s Day Parade Co-Founder

By DANIEL OFFNER doffner@liherald.com

Francis “Bud” Cosgrove, 85, died in February but his impact on the community carries on in the heart and spirit of the annual Rockville Centre St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

He was a Vietnam-era United States Army Veteran serving with the 269th Signal Company in Orleans, France, during the Berlin Wall Crisis and the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Cosgrove went on to receive a dual Bachelor’s Degree in Health Education and Physical Education from SUNY Brockport and a Master’s Degree in Physical Education and Recreation Administration from Columbia University.

He had an extensive public service career in the recreation, parks and sports field, serving as the Nassau County Deputy Commissioner of Recreation and Parks for 25 years. During his tenure, he was responsible for the management and operations of the county’s active parks system and its comprehensive array of programs and services.

Cosgrove played a significant role in the establishment of the Long Island Marathon, and the 1984 International Games for the physically challenged athletes of the world. He also played a significant role in the planning, development and operations of the Mitchel Park Sports Complex, which has seen outstanding success as a sports venue since its opening day. For many years he taught as an adjunct professor at LIU’s C.W. Post campus in the Department of Health Care and Public Administration. He has also taught at Adelphi University, St. Joseph’s College and SUNY Farmingdale.

Bud and his wife, Susanne, spent 54 years building a life in Rockville Centre. He took great pride in his community, which led him to serve as a village trustee for 12 years. But perhaps, the accomplishment that came him the most pride was his work with the Rockville Centre St. Patrick’s Day Parade, which he cofounded in 1997.

“He was a staple of this community and he dedicated so much of his time for this parade,” Rockville Centre Mayor Francis Murray said.

Jackie Kerr, president of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee said Bud Cosgrove was a true gentleman with a fabulous smile and a great sense of humor.

“He probably didn’t think when he started this parade that the charities who received the funds would turn around and give back by joining the committee, but that’s exactly what happened with me and so many other charity recipients,” Kerr said. “I first joined the Rockville Centre St. Patrick’s Parade committee in 2011 — the year after our organization, the Long Island Gaels Irish Football Club was a parade charity that greatly benefitted from the fundraising. I knew I had to find a way to

give back. And, sure enough, Bud was at my very first meeting with a warm welcome and a smile.”

She recalled how in 2016, Bud came up with an idea to try and reach $1 million dollars in fundraising for the 20th anniversary of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

“I was skeptical, but Bud was very confident,” Kerr said. “He gave a pep talk at every meeting to keep us motivated and focused and, sure enough, we succeeded. He truly left a legacy with this parade.”

Bud served on the parade committee’s executive board for 10 years, and in 2011, had the honor of being named the parade’s Co-Grand Marshal, along with his longtime friend, Joe Kelly.

“Everyone who has the honor of wearing that parade sash, or working with these amazing charities each year, does so on the shoulders of Bud and his fellow founders,” Ann Travers, vice president of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade committee, said. “This year we march in Bud’s memory, with gratitude for the gift of knowing him. We’re so thankful for all he taught us, and for his wife, Suzanne, who so generously shared so much of his time with us.”

The parade’s motto, the “parade that cares and shares,” was something he both embraced and encouraged others to live by. He would make time for everyone in his life and would always go out of his way to make sure that the needs of others came first.

He was also an enthusiastic athlete, who in 2001, joined Sportset Fitness in Rockville Centre as a certified personal trainer and group fitness instructor. He would take on the role as director of the Senior Wellness program, which he

helped launch at a time when senior fitness was not a major proponent of the company.

Dennison Silvio, president and chief executive officer of Sportset, said that he had a great working relationship with Bud, who referred a great many people to join the program and eventually prompted them to merge with Mercy Hospital’s cardiac rehabilitation center, nearly tripling the size of the entire program.

“I learned a lot from him,” Silvio said. “He had such a great ability to understand the macro goal. I really enjoyed working with him so much.”

With his advanced credentials in balance and fall prevention training, Cosgrove went on to create the Fall-Safe Program, a comprehensive training program designed for senior citizens to help prevent and mitigate the impact of falling.

Among his many great talents, he enjoyed performing the one-string washtub bass with the renowned Park Avenue Ragtime Jazz and Blues Society band, which was well known in the Rockville Centre community.

Cosgrove loved his family and value his faith. He inspired his grandchildren and was so proud of each of them. He was quick to smile and even quicker to lend a hand.

He is preceded in death by his sister, Ann Marie “Mimi” Faulkner and survived by his loving wife of 57 years, Suzie Cosgrove; his six children, Michael Cosgrove (June), Amy Sanderson (Bryan), Danny Cosgrove, Cindy McGarity (John), Brian Cosgrove (Donna), Katie Holst (Jon); his 11 grandchildren, Carter Cosgrove, Caroline Cosgrove, Molly Cosgrove, Kaylee Sanderson, Brady Sanderson, Emily McGarity,

Bud Cosgrove is remembered those who knew him best, for his eternal optimism and warmth. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Bud’s name to the RVC St. Patrick’s Day Parade. For more information visit RVCStPatrick.com/donation.

Jack McGarity, Shane Cosgrove, Adelaide Cosgrove, Reed Holst, Reagan Holst; his sister, Cheryl Franzone (Pete); his brother-in-laws Peter Faulkner (Debbie), Herbert Bucholtz (Dee); and his nieces and nephews, Suzann, Peter, Douglas, Melissa, Shawn, Peter, Kristine and Jeanette.

Sue Grieco/Herald

Bud Cosgrove, right, director of Senior Wellness at Sportset Fitness, shakes hands with 96-year-old gymgoer Thomas Nola in 2018.

Courtesy St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee Bud Cosgrove, one of the co-founders of the Rockville Centre St. Patrick’s Day Parade, was recognized as a Parade Gran Marshal in 2011, along with his longtime friend, Joe Kelly.

Bowling for Kitties fundraiser nets $30,000

The Long Beach Humane Society, also known as Kitty Cove, hosted its annual bowling for Kitties Fundraiser at Maple Lanes RVC in Rockville Centre on Sunday afternoon.

The annual bowling event helped raise $10,000 for the nonprofit animal rescue and shelter in Island Park, which was then matched by two separate donations raising the total to more than $30,000. These generous donations will go a long way as the shelter prepares for a busy kitten season in the spring.

Volunteers with the Long Beach Humane Society/Kitty Cove have helped save roughly

300 dogs and cats each year through rescue, foster and adoption.

The shelter is open, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sundays.

For more information on the shelter and how you can help volunteer, visit LongBeachHumaneSociety.net.

Community members who are interested in updates from the organization can also subscribe to its newsletter, which provides information on upcoming fundraising events and updates on animals available for adoption.

–Kepherd Daniel

As

meet with people who are suffering from traumatic relationships with their children or grandchildren. Children themselves may become estranged or at odds with parents or their siblings. Sometimes, an in-law is involved that seems to turn the client’s son or daughter into someone completely different from the child they raised. The pain that these clients are going through is palpable.

Some wise sage once said that all pain comes from resistance. Many of these relationship issues may be difficult or impossible to overcome, but one thing we can all do is work on ourselves — by accepting what is. Accepting what is does not mean agreeing with or condoning certain behavior. What it does mean is that you stop saying to yourself that it is not fair, it “should” be otherwise, etc. That will not do you one bit of good and may do you considerable harm. Stress has been called “the silent killer”.

We recall reading a pithy quote a while back that went something like this “when someone disappoints you, you have two choices, you

can either lower your expectations or walk away”. What is disappointment but dashed expectations? Those who learn to expect less are disappointed less.

“Accepting what is” cannot be accomplished overnight. It is a concept or thought process that improves your outlook the more you think about it, work on it and form new neural pathways to forge the new outlook.

Estate planners inevitably become “therapists” for their clients, because estate planning involves social relationships. Over the years, we have observed that many social problems occur between the client’s two ears. As Shakespeare said in Hamlet “There is nothing good or bad, but thinking makes it so.” Forget about what’s fair or right and what’s not. You are only hurting yourself. The other person is often blissfully unaware of how you’re feeling. Michael J. Fox, the actor known for his optimism despite suffering from Parkinson’s, put it best when he said “My happiness grows in direct proportion to my acceptance, and in inverse proportion to my expectations”.

Long Beach Humane Society/Kitty Cove Director Helen Henry Aloi, left, and Volunteers Kim Boley, Maureen Galvin, Annie Melia, Tim Rau, Tessa Rau and Katie Rau help raise money for the nonprofit animal rescue.

Alyssa Celebi celebrates with her raffle prize.

Dina Ewashko/Herald photos

Artist Dan Arcoleo creates a freehand cat sketch during the fundraiser at Maple Lanes.

THE Your Neighborhood

So Good: The Neil Diamond Experience

Get ready for an unforgettable night on the Paramount stage, Saturday, March 30, 8 p.m. Robert Neary honors an icon with The Neil Diamond Experience, a tribute show like no other. With over 35 years as a Broadway, TV, and film actor, Neary brings a unique touch to this production, weaving Neil Diamond’s greatest hits with stories from interviews, quotes, and autobiographical books. Neary creates an incredible cut above the rest tribute show. You will swear you are watching the master himself as he and the band perform Neil Diamond’s greatest hits. With his powerful presence, from the moment he struts on stage wearing trademark black, gray, and silver sequined jacket, Neary, uncannily, resembles Neil Diamond at the height of his touring career in the 90s and 2000s. His wit and mannerisms on stage is spot on, especially when he plays his guitar. When he speaks and tells the stories and trivia behind some of Neil’s most popular songs, his rich baritone gravelly voice can easily be mistaken for Neil’s own speaking voice. But make no mistake about it at all, if you close your eyes and listen to him sing any of the 22 classic Neil Diamond songs with the magnificent band behind him, you will swear you are listening to the Master himself. This truly is, the most authentic tribute to one of the greatest artists in musical history. The title says it all. It is the quintessential Neil Diamond Concert Experience. With a finale that will blow your mind, the show is guaranteed to have you on your feet dancing and cheering. $49.50, $39.50, $35, $29.50, $25. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at Ticketmaster.com or ParamountNY.com.

A Taste of Thailand

Bird walk

See some birds with the South Shore Audubon Society. All are welcome to join members for the next in its series of bird walks, at Norman J. Levy Park and Preserve, Sunday, March 24, starting at 9 a.m. The entrance road to the Norman Levy Preserve is located on the south side of Merrick Road, just east of the Meadowbrook Parkway.

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.

St. Patrick’s Day Parade

The annual Rockville Centre St. Patrick’s Day Parade is set to hit the streets of Rockville Centre, on Saturday, March 23, at noon. Grand Marshal Greg Schaefer, owner and chief executive officer of the Better Home Health Care Agency, will kickoff the event at the intersection of Maple Avenue and Long Beach Road and continue towards the review stand in front of St. Agnes Cathedral. For more information on the event, sponsorships and charities, visit RVCStPatrick.com.

On exhibit

Nassau County Museum of Art’s latest exhibition, “Urban Art Evolution,” is a comprehensive exhibit featuring a diverse range of compositions from the 1980s through the present by creators who were based in the rough and tumble downtown area of New York City known as Loisaida/LES (Lower East Side/East Village) and close surrounding neighborhoods.

Artists pushed the boundaries of what was considered “art” with a primary focus on street/graffiti art.

The exhibit’s scope, guest curated by art collector/gallerist Christopher Pusey, offers an even broader view from other creative residents, who worked inside their studios but still contributed to the rich fabric of the downtown art scene from different vantage points and aesthetics.

Works include sculpture, paintings, photography, music, and ephemera from many noted and influential artists.

Opens March 23, on view through July 7. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. (516) 484-9337 or NassauMuseum.org.

Honorees recognized for dedication to district

tant principal of Arrowhead Elementary School in the Three Village Central School District in East Setauket. Two years later he was named principal of Covert Elementary School in Rockville Centre.

“I just love the organization,” Raymar said. “The only reason we fundraise is to be able to bring it back to the kids and schools.”

In 2015 he was named the Herald’s Person of the Year for his commitment to his children’s fund, which he said is his pride and joy.

“I’ve done the same job for 25 years, and I still love it,” Raymar said. “But it’s time for me to do something different.”

Over the past two and a half decades, Raymar has become an integral member of the Rockville Centre and South Hempstead communities. He was a co-director of community education in Rockville Centre with his colleague Therese Cohen for many years, and has been an active participant in many districtwide committees and initiatives.

Raymar was president of the South Shore Administrators Association in 2002-2003, and in 2005 he created the Raymar Children’s Fund to help provide Covert Elementary students with extra activities during the school year. The fund also gives money, gifts and grants to organizations and families in need.

The education foundation honored him with the Ruth Fins Memorial Award in 2008, after which he joined its board. He has been an active member of the foundation for the past 15 years.

While he will leave with a heavy heart, he said, he is extremely pleased that U.S. News & World Report ranked Covert No. 10 among elementary schools on Long Island and No. 33 in the state.

Starting this summer, Raymar plans to spend more time with his parents, Janice and Ken, and his brother’s family, Brandon, Melinda, Sami and Ethan, as well as his Yorkie, Marvin, at their home in Long Beach.

He said he would continue to serve as a board member of the education foundation and the children’s fund. He will also work as a field supervisor for Molloy University, and has been writing a memoir, which he hopes to publish in 2025.

Zuar, 67, who is originally from Brooklyn, has been an educator for 44 years — 21 years in Catholic schools and the past 23 years in public schools.

From 1981 to 1999, he taught music at St. Francis Prep in Fresh Meadows, Queens, while working in church music programs in the Diocese of Brooklyn and the Archdiocese of New York. He also chaired the Commission on Church Music, and served as the seminary’s music professor and choir director. Choirs Zuar directed performed twice for Pope John Paul II, once in Rome and once during the pope’s visit in 1995.

As

keeps the legitimate user from accessing their system and files.

Zuar later became the music coordinator for the Pleasantville School District in Westchester County, and for the past 20 years he has been the Rockville Centre district’s director of the arts.

“I really feel like a part of the community,” he said. “The district has such a great music and arts program. I had a great time. I hope I leave it better than when I found it.”

Individuals should never respond to tax-related phishing or smishing or click on the URL link. Instead, the scams should be reported by sending the email or a copy of the text/SMS as an attachment to phishing@irs.gov. The report should include the caller ID (email or phone number), date, time and time zone, and the number that received the message. Taxpayers can also report scams to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration or the Internet Crime Complaint Center. The Report Phishing and Online Scams page at IRS.gov provides complete details. The Federal Communications Commission’s Smartphone Security Checker is a useful tool against mobile security threats.

Zuar served as president of the Nassau County chapter of the New York State Council of Administrators of Music Education from 2010 to 2012, and was the executive director of professional development for the organization from 2009 to 2022.

The IRS also warns taxpayers to be wary of messages that appear to be from friends or family but that are possibly stolen or compromised email or text accounts from someone they know. This remains a popular way to target individuals and tax preparers for a variety of scams. Individuals should verify the identity of the sender by using another communication method; for instance, calling a number they independently know to be accurate, not the number provided in the email or text.

He also spent 17 years on the education foundation’s board of directors.

“I am delighted to be honored by the education foundation,” Zuar said. “I was part of it for so long, and they’ve done so much for my music and arts program over the years. I’m just tickled to be honored.”

New to this year’s gala, the foundation will use Betterworld, an online fundraising platform, for bidding on silent auction items and raffle prizes. The website will go live on March 25.

For information on purchasing tickets and sponsorships for the event, visit RVCEdFoundation.org.

Annual Fashion Show raises over $20,000

Highlighting beauty internal and external, the 21st annual Bethany House Fashion Show gave women the opportunity to walk the runway at the organization’s annual fashion show on March 6th.

The event, held at the Rockville Links Club in Rockville Centre featured eight local women showcasing outfits donated by Bloomingdales.

“I have been with Bethany House for six months now and I still can’t believe the amazing support Bethany House receives from the community,” Executive Director Katie Swanson said in an email.

The event raised more than $20,000 for

the nonprofit organization that works to provide a safe environment for women and women with children facing homelessness that allows healing and personal growth.

“The 21st Annual Fashion Show fundraiser was wonderful, and all the hard work our volunteers put into it did not go unnoticed! Our committee and board members are such kind, creative, giving, dedicated people, and Bethany House is so fortunate to have them advocating for us,” Swanson added.

–Hernesto Galdamez

Maureen Lennon/Herald photos

Models for Bethany House’s fashion such as Breece Wilson, Melissa Kelly, Nicole Chancy, Hailey Seelig-Nesbitt, Josephine Feinstein, Kia Moore and Melissa Stender shined and sparkled the runway.

Nicole Chancy was all smiles walking the runway.

Bethany House hosted its 21st annual fashion show on March 6. Pictured are board members Christie Veterano, Maryann Pederson, Katie Swanson, Bonnie Aerrante, Lisa King, Kia Moore and Ellen Furuya.

RVCFD hosts annual Margaritaville fundraiser

Instead of traveling more than 1,000 miles to experience the bright sunshine, warm breeze and smooth, sandy beaches of the Bahamas, members of the Rockville Centre Fire Department turned up the heat to bring a little taste of the Caribbean home to the village for its annual Margaritaville Evening fundraiser on March 9.

Hundreds of people hoping to escape the frigid breeze and windy New York weather for just a few hours, filled the St. Agnes Parish Center looking for their own tropical paradise, while helping raise money for the continued training of volunteer firefighters in Rockville Centre.

This year’s Caribbean themed celebration was held in honor of Joseph Rugolo, owner of C&J Rugolo Masonry and a 47-year member of the RVCFD who has dedicated his life to protecting the residents of the Rockville Centre community.

The celebration featured a variety of deliciously themed cocktails and tasty eats provided by Kasey’s Kitchen and Cocktails along with live musical entertainment featuring Jimmy and the Parrots, performing the best of Jimmy Buffet and other tropical songs.

Public Notices

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 394

PINEBROOK AVE, ROCKVILLE CENTRE, NY 11570: Section 35, Block 415, Lot 895: ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND, SITUATE, LYING AND BEING IN THE COUNTY OF NASSAU, STATE OF NEW YORK

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 011891/2008. Mark Ricciardi, Esq. - Referee. Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane &

Partners, PLLC 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310, Westbury, New York 11590, Attorneys for Plaintiff. All foreclosure sales will be conducted in accordance with Covid-19 guidelines including, but not limited to, social distancing and mask wearing. *LOCATION OF SALE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DAY OF IN ACCORDANCE WITH COURT/CLERK DIRECTIVES.

145321

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB, D/B/A CHRISTIANA TRUST, NOT INDIVIDUALLY BUT AS TRUSTEE FOR PRETIUM MORTGAGE ACQUISITION TRUST, Plaintiff AGAINST ARTHUR EDWARDS, ELIZABETH EDWARDS AKA ELIZABETH MC ARDLE, ET AL., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered December 16, 2022, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on April 16, 2024 at 2:00PM, premises known as 259 LINCOLN AVENUE, ROCKVILLE CENTRE, NY 11570. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the Incorporated Village of Rockville Centre, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 38, Block 347, Lot

380 & 381. Approximate amount of judgment $723,702.12 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #609188/2019. The aforementioned auction will be conducted in accordance with the NASSAU County COVID-19 mitigation protocols and as such all persons must comply with social distancing, wearing masks and screening practices in effect at the time of this foreclosure sale. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, then the court appointed referee will cancel the foreclosure auction. Foreclosure Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine”. Karen C. Grant, Esq., Referee Gross Polowy, LLC 1775 Wehrle Drive Williamsville, NY 14221 18-009233 79665 145406

LEGAL NOTICE

Malverne Union Free School District Malverne, New York

Legal Notice

SCHOOL MEDICAL PHYSICIAN RFP Notice is hereby given that separate bids, submitted in sealed envelopes for the SCHOOL MEDICAL PHYSICIAN SERVICES RFP will be received on Tuesday, April 16, 2024 at 11:30 a.m., 301 Wicks Lane, the Malverne Administration Building. Sealed bids are to be addressed to the attention of Mr. 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 21, 2024

By Order of the Board of Education Malverne Union Free School District 145556

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF

COMPANY. NAME:

88WIN , LLC. Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York, (SSNY) on 03/12/2024.

NY Office location:

Nassau County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy

–Daniel Offner

Sandy Sass, left, of West Islip and Jamie Varrichio of Island Park embrace the tropical spirit of Margaritaville.

Christine Rivera/Herald photos

Nassau County Legislator Scott Davis, left, RVCFD Second Assistant Chief Pat Healey, RVCFD First Assistant Chief Tony Rugolo, Margaritaville Evening honoree Joe Rugolo, RVCFD Chief of the Department Scott Mohr, Village Trustee Gregory Shaughnessy, and event organizer Peter Klugewicz.

Jimmy and the Parrots rock out on stage.

TBth. 1.5 Car Det Gar Plus 4/5 Car Drivewy. Priv Yd w/ Deck. HW Flrs, Gas Ht. Near Shops, LIRR, Trans & Houses of Worship $599,000 1534 Broadway #213, BA, FIRST TIME ON MARKET! Move Right Into This 2 Bedroom, 2 Bath Condo in Prestigious Jonathan Hall with Doorman & Elevator. Spacious Corner Unit. Updtd Gran/Wood Kit, LR & DR. Washer/Dryer in Unit. Gar Pkg. Loads of Closets.

We asked for a variance and were turned down

Q. After a lot of delays, due partly to Covid, we were turned down for a zoning variance and are wondering what to do. We have a café that has been operating for over 20 years, which we bought from a couple who were retiring, and everything seemed to be legal. Our building department told us that we needed a variance because we didn’t have enough parking, and that we had 20 seats instead of 12. Twelve seats was a takeout, but these days, if you don’t have enough seats, you won’t stay in business very long. So we asked for a variance, and we were turned down. Also, our plans didn’t show that we do have parking on the street, and use a public lot and some other businesses nearby. What can you tell us about our situation? We don’t want to lose our location, and anything we do will need plans, and we realize our architect had never dealt with this before.

A. As common as this problem is, you would need to appeal your case by filing for the appeal with the court, with an attorney, within 30 days, in what is referred to as an Article 78. In order to make your case, you would need accurate plans, plus what you already have, the minutes of your hearing for an attorney to review, plus any documentation you already had through the process of the building application over all the time you described.

In addition, you would need all the old records of the property that were filed for any and all permits for the previous uses going back to the very beginning of the take-out or retail space. It sounds like a lot, and it might be, but you have a difficult case to prove, because parking on your property is usually the biggest issue in any use variance. A use permit always requires that there be adequate parking, and if there isn’t enough on-site parking, the request for a variance (to vary from the requirements) would then be your appeal.

By changing the use from takeout, where people are coming and going, to an assembly space of people who are lingering, triggers all kinds of building and safety codes. Once you get to a restaurant from a take-out by serving more than 12 people, you need male- and female-use restrooms or, depending on the jurisdiction, enough fixtures and privacy to serve the occupants, based on specific chapters from the plumbing code, the handicapped-access code and the building code, requiring more floor space.

You also have issues with fire marshal and fire safety equipment, depending on the area in square feet area and the number of occupants. Your attorney and architect can craft your case, but you have to be flexible enough to meet certain basic codes to be able to convince a court that the first level of the process can be overturned. You can do this! Good luck!

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With AI, we’re through the looking glass

In “Through the Looking-Glass,” Lewis Carroll’s sequel to “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland,” the author warns us to beware the Jabberwock. If he were writing today, he would probably warn us to be leery of artificial intelligence, with “jaws that bite” and “claws that catch.” The big difference is that AI has escaped the realm of fantasy.

The National Education Policy Center warns against the use of AI in schools. Its new report, “Time for a Pause: Without Effective Public Oversight, AI in Schools Will Do More Harm Than Good,” examines the dangers of the increased use of AI in public schools.

The report reveals the hypocrisy of major tech companies like Google, Microsoft and Meta, which call for slowing the development of AI while regulations are developed, while at the same time trying to curtail government regulation and integrating AI into their programs. The NEPC believes that with public education being “essential to democratic civic life,”

the “wholesale adoption of unregulated AI applications in schools poses a grave danger to democratic civil society and to individual freedom and liberty.”

While advocates for AI “claim that it will transform teaching and learning for the better,”

NEPC believes it is more likely that integrating AI into curriculum and pedagogy will have a negative effect on learning, as it “degrades the relationship between teachers and students,” and both are “forced to become involuntary test subjects in a giant experiment in automated instruction and administration that is sure to be rife with unintended consequences.”

Sand applications will become enmeshed in routine school processes.”

tudents admit to using it for homework and at-home tests and quizzes.

The authors of the report warn that “integrating AI into schools’ administrative processes locks schools and districts into an expensive ‘stack’ of corporate tech systems” with the result that funds will not be available to support student learning. They suspect that AI “exacerbates violations of student privacy, increases surveillance, and further reduces the transparency and accountability of educational decision-making.” They believe that “in the absence of responsible development, proper evaluation, or regulatory oversight — untested, opaque AI models

WThe report included a series of recommendations. School leaders, it said, should pause in the adoption of AI applications pending legislation to ensure effective public oversight and control of its application in schools. In addition, federal and state policymakers should prohibit schools from adopting AI-based educational applications until appropriate regulatory structures are established. To achieve this, government authorities need to stop pressuring schools and school districts to produce reams of data, much of it unnecessary.

The NEPC wants state and district educational officials to establish independent review committees to ensure the quality of digital educational products used in schools, and allocate sufficient funds to “allow teachers to spend more time with their students.” Smaller class sizes will be much more effective than AI in improving student learning outcomes.

There is widespread debate on the impact artificial intelligence programs will have on education. As the use of online programs like ChatGPT expands, schools and teachers will have to figure

out strategies to address student use. According to one report in January 2023, almost 90 percent of students surveyed admitted that they were already using ChatGPT for homework assignments, and 48 percent confessed that they had used it to complete an at-home test or quiz.

Instructions on how to use ChatGPT and other AI programs to write assignments and not get caught are all over the Internet. I admit that if I were a high school student today, I would be using ChatGPT or other AI apps, especially for busy-work assignments.

For me as a teacher, the biggest problem with apps like ChatGPT is that they eliminate thinking. Teachers want students to gather evidence and evaluate it. ChatGPT does the thinking for you. All students have to do is slightly modify the text it provides and hand it in as their own work, a form of plagiarism that is hard to detect.

The NEPC report was written by Ben Williamson, of the University of Edinburgh, and Alex Molnar and Faith Boninger, of the University of Colorado Boulder. The National Education Policy Center is housed in CU Boulder’s School of Education.

Dr. Alan Singer is a professor of teaching, learning and technology and the director of social studies education programs at Hofstra University.

It’s me, not ChatGPT . . . at least I think so

hy should I work this week?

No one works anymore, or if they show up, they bring attitude or the three stages of incompetence: Don’t care, don’t want to be here, don’t notice you standing there at my counter. (I don’t mean you, of course. Herald readers are all diligent, responsible people.)

Anyway, as an experiment with AI, and a way not to work, I thought I’d ask ChatGPT to write my column. What I specifically asked for in the query was: Write a 750-word column in the style of Randi Kreiss. It took about two seconds, and I got a piece about the idea of detoxing ourselves from our exposure to screens and devices. Not an original idea, not a bad idea, but between you and me, I hope it wasn’t an example of how I usually write, because it was sooooo booooring.

This was the last paragraph of the pseudo-Randi column, written by ChatGPT: “So let us embrace the digital detox not as a fleeting trend, but as a timeless

reminder of our innate capacity for connection, creativity, and contemplation. Let us reclaim our time, our attention, and our humanity from the clutches of the digital realm and rediscover the beauty of life beyond the screen.”

I mean, there’s nothing wrong with the writing; it’s just so blah-blah-blah. All of which leaves me with no other choice than to abandon AI and deploy my own skills, which are both modest and flawed.

WIf I were going to write about the toxicity of screens and devices — and I am, now that ChatGPT gave me the idea — I would connect it specifically to our current political madness. We are bombarded 24/7 by repetitious news about the threat to our democracy by former President Donald Trump and his acolytes. Is there really anything else to talk about that carries the gravitas of a looming democracy-destroying, unhinged presidency? The Orange Man lurks behind us just as he stalked Hillary in the 2016 debates.

Other news outlets beat the drum about President Biden’s age and oratorical misadventures.

hen I asked it to write a column like I might write, it let me down.

For a long time, I tried to see the issues from all sides. I figured that I have more in common with Trump supporters than the issues that divide us. I figured that when he fully revealed himself as an authoritarian wannabe, folks would recoil, seeing the threat to our freedoms. I wanted to stand in their shoes and see what they saw, but Trump’s singular determination to take down our democracy blots out the sun. Legitimate disagreements over immigration, the economy and taxes pale compared to his promise to dismantle the pillars of government and build camps for people he determines are unwelcome or undesirable.

There isn’t a legitimate other side when the other side is a dictatorship.

and that means re-electing Biden. Both men are too old for the job, but Biden and his team will keep faith with the American public. The country is sound and well-connected to our friends around the world. Biden’s experience has brought us through these difficult years. The alternative is more than a flirtation with authoritarianism and institutionalized racism. Young people do not realize how quickly bellicose talk can turn into tanks rumbling down our streets.

In many homes, the TV is on. It’s always there, in the background, too loud, too repetitive, too insignificant. We all know that news shows ran out of news long ago. Most of the time they reprocess the meat of a story until it comes out like sausage, link after link, hour after hour. Is it news when a knownothing anchor interviews a reporter who once interviewed a spokesperson who represents an insignificant staff member of a mid-level politician?

He is meaner than the last time around. His alleged crimes have earned him dozens of felony indictments. We can’t stand watching the coverage, and we can’t stop.

Trump must be removed from political life, and we must find ourselves again. That means removing ourselves from obsessional newscasts. Watch the candidates’ speeches for yourself, without the filters, and believe what you see. Look and listen to who Trump is. Listen to Biden.

We must retire the would-be dictator,

We can improve our lives by disconnecting from our devices. Voting is easy and analog. The conflation of politics and screens is wearing us down. Let the candidates speak for themselves.

Thanks, ChatGPT, for priming the pump. I just needed to say it in my own words.

Copyright 2024 Randi Kreiss. Randi can be reached at randik3@aol.com.

ALAn SInGER

RAnDI KREISS

HeraLd editoriaL

Celebrating L.I.’s rich Irish-American heritage s

t. Patrick’s Day has come and gone, but there is much more to this annual holiday than just the vibrant green decorations, festive parades, pints of beer and corned beef. It is an opportunity to celebrate the rich tapestry of Irish-American heritage, deeply woven into the fabric of Long Island and its communities.

The journey of Irish immigrants and their descendants is a narrative of resilience, contribution and cultural vibrancy. The Long Island portion of that history stretches back centuries, marked by waves of newcomers who left their homes in search of the American dream.

The potato famine in the 19th century led nearly 800,000 Irish immigrants to travel across the Atlantic in search of new opportunities in the United States. Many entered through Ellis Island before finding their way to Long Island, drawn by construction and agricultural work.

Many of those new pioneers faced adversity and discrimination because of their heritage, their religion, and their immigrant status. Still, they persevered, carving out a place for themselves in their adopted homeland.

Legal immigrants make our economy stronger

To the Editor:

The letter from Joseph Varon, “Immigrants make our economy stronger,” in the March 7-13 issue, asks us to “stop the anti-immigrant rhetoric.” What anti-immigrant rhetoric?

Americans, personally, and the United States, officially, are very immigrant-friendly. For many years, the U.S. has admitted hundreds of thousands of immigrants each year, issuing them green cards, which grant permanent residency, and if you want, you can become a citizen in five years, as long as you don’t commit a felony — sooner if you marry an American citizen or serve in the military. That’s an admission policy unmatched by any other country.

Members of my family and my wife’s family have married immigrants. A legitimate case can be made for raising the limit on immigrants due to America’s decreasing birth rate.

I hear no complaints about legal immigrants — only about the illegals and the unvetted, let in, regardless of the costs of housing them and the brutality of the crimes committed, by an administration bent on countering the population loss of blue states caused by their irresponsible fiscal policies. It’s an exodus that would otherwise cause these states a loss of congressional seats and Electoral Col-

Their legacy and contributions to Long Island’s growth and development span many generations, shaping the landscape and leaving an indelible mark on the region’s cultural identity. From building the infrastructure that connects communities, to establishing businesses and institutions, Irish-Americans played a pivotal role in shaping the destiny of Long Island.

St. Patrick’s Day serves as a poignant reminder of this heritage. It is a day when people come together to honor their Irish roots and celebrate the legacy of those who came before them. The festivities are a testament to the enduring spirit, camaraderie and pride that characterizes the community. Parades wind through the streets. Music fills the air. And traditional Irish fare delights the senses, adding to an atmosphere of joy and unity.

Beyond the revelry of the holiday, Long Island is home to a vibrant tapestry of Irish-American cultural organizations, events and businesses that enrich the community year-round.

The Ancient Order of Hibernians — the oldest Irish-Catholic fraternal organization in the country — boasts numerous divisions across Nassau and Suffolk

counties. Long Island is also home to several Irish dance troupes and Gaelic sports clubs. They preserve tradition, and foster a sense of belonging among generations of Irish-Americans, providing avenues for cultural expression, education and camaraderie, and ensuring that the legacy of Irish heritage continues to thrive.

Local businesses also play a crucial role in promoting Irish-American culture, offering cuisine, crafts and products that pay homage to the traditions of the Emerald Isle.

Whether it’s a cozy pub serving up a hearty Irish stew or a shop brimming with Celtic jewelry and knick-knacks, these establishments serve as ambassadors of Irish culture, inviting many to experience all that Ireland has to offer without ever leaving home.

Although this year’s St. Patrick’s Day is now behind us, let us not forget all of the contributions and traditions of Irish-Americans that resonate throughout our communities every day.

So, a toast to all of the pioneers who paved the way. The traditions that bind us together. And the legacy of IrishAmerican heritage on Long Island. Sláinte!

lege votes.

The “billions” in taxes quoted, unfortunately, are buying more people in to failing systems that will pay out even more billions than are paid in. I fail to see a hero in one who puts in a dollar and takes out two.

And the illegal ones are costing us dearly

To the Editor:

Joseph Varon’s letter sang the praises of immigration and why we shouldn’t look down on it. yes, the greatest country in the

Our communities need more doctors who look like me

I’m 26, and have lived virtually my whole life in Hempstead. I’ve seen a lot of health-related issues — lowincome people of color, like me, suffering from chronic conditions like asthma, diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, and untreated mental illness. Often they haven’t been able to receive proper treatment for their conditions. I wanted to do something about it, and soon I will be able to, because I’m on my way to becoming a doctor.

SHAKIA MILLER

There was a one-in-a-million chance that I would ever reach this goal. I’m an African-American woman from a low-income neighborhood, raised in a single-parent household. My father was incarcerated by the time I knew what it meant to have one, and remains imprisoned to this day — though he’s using this time to reflect and to continue his education. My mother, a crossing guard, worked extremely hard to provide for my brother and me, but

there were days when the money she made didn’t seem like enough to put food on the table, or ensure that we would keep a roof over our heads, or keep us from falling victim to the violence that plagued our community.

TI had to fight every step of the way to become the person I wanted to be. I graduated from Hempstead High School in 2015 in the top 1 percent of my class, and then, thanks to Stony Brook University’s Economic Opportunity Program, I graduated in 2019 with a double major in biology and psychology, and went on to earn a master’s in physiology and biophysics. I was the first person in my family to go to college, so there was no blueprint to follow but the one I created along the way.

icine and Biomedical Sciences is lifechanging. There are classes to prepare me for the rigors of medical school, and a stipend I can use for living expenses so I can focus on my studies. I have mentors to turn to for help.

here was a one-in-amillion chance that I would ever be able to go to medical school.

I got jobs in the health care field, but becoming a doctor seemed out of reach until I was selected for the Diversity in Medicine pipeline program sponsored by Associated Medical Schools of New York. This post-baccalaureate program at SUNY Buffalo’s Jacobs School of Med-

LETTERS

world, the USA, became that because so many of its citizens are immigrants, or children of immigrants. They came mostly from civilized countries, and came legally.

With the Industrial Revolution booming, America needed skilled and unskilled workers, and they came in droves. Most were checked over at Ellis Island, and all were required to become citizens. Yes, we quarantined the sick for a couple of weeks, in not the most luxurious accommodations, but it worked.

We do not need the number and the caliber of those coming across our borders in illegal fashion. We don’t need the crime, and we don’t need what they turn our cities into. We can’t afford to clean up the world, and we aren’t all in desperate need of gardeners, but rather skilled welders, carpenters, etc.

Having these illegal immigrants among us costs us money, and destroys our school systems. They don’t even try to blend in — they dress, act and expect us to learn their culture. Sometimes the raw truth hurts, but they are the only ones benefiting from their crime of crossing our borders illegally. Politicians? Guilty.

ROBERT CASAlE Glen Head

We thought Randi was gone

To the Editor:

My wife and I, loyal readers of the Merrick Herald, are among Randi Kreiss’s big-

Most important, if I successfully complete the oneyear program, I will go to medical school in the fall, and could be selected to receive AMSNY’s Diversity in Medicine Scholarship to help defray the cost. This amazing program is 100 percent state-funded.

Pipeline programs like this are needed to help diversify the physician workforce. Research has shown that patients are more likely to visit and follow the instructions of doctors who understand their language and culture, resulting in better health outcomes. Yet in New York state, where more than 30 percent of the population identifies as Black or Hispanic, just 13 percent of the state’s doctors come from those groups.

Physicians from racial and ethnic groups that are underrepresented are

gest fans, and we were thoroughly dismayed when we thought she disappeared last year. But a letter to the editor in the Feb. 29-March 6 issue, “At your library, borrow a book — or a telescope,” which mentioned her column on libraries, made us realize that Randi is still here!

We have now read all her monthlies since she started them in September. What an ordeal she and her husband have been through. We wish both of them all the best, and are beyond delighted that Randi’s observations on our society, her humor, her book recommendations, and her overall words of wisdom can continue to be part of our lives.

KARIN SPENCER & MARISA HOHEB Merrick

Guess who opposes even-year elections?

To the Editor:

Yet another example of Nassau County Republicans’ blatant misuse of taxpayers’ money for partisan purposes is the legislative majority spending $500,000 for a politically connected law firm to prevent holding all elections in even years, even though even-year elections increase voter turnout and save taxpayers millions.

Nassau GOP machine officials justify this waste by claiming that even-year elections “will lead voters to ignore local issues when federal and state issues dominate.” Yet Republicans’ local campaigns are dominated by state and federal issues.

more likely to go into primary care and practice in under-served communities, where they are desperately needed. I have seen 30 to 40 people waiting, endlessly, to see a doctor; minor symptoms that were left untreated develop into chronic disease; and people with mental illness who are homeless, unable to pay for the care they need and jaded by past interactions with the health care system. People in these communities do not trust that system. I want to be a doctor who can change that, and earn their trust.

Growing up, I never saw a doctor who looked like me. Now I am one of 24 future physicians in this year’s AMSNY program who want to give back to our communities. I am immensely grateful to our state representatives and Gov. Kathy Hochul for making that possible.

In the past two years, the state’s investment in Diversity in Medicine programs has tripled. This funding must continue, and even increase, so more people like us can become doctors and leaders of change for our communities.

Shakia Miller is scheduled to complete the AMSNY Diversity in Medicine program in May.

FRAMEwoRK

by Tim Baker

Indeed, County Executive Bruce Blakeman just sent a glossy mailer smearing Democrats in Albany and Washington, misusing county taxpayers’ dollars on issues that have nothing to do with county government. l ast year, Blakeman took county government employees to New York City, and used a county podium to grandstand on an issue over which he had no jurisdiction. The GOP continuously misuses taxpayer dollars for political purposes. Neither county nor town GOP officials sent a single mailer on the plan for the casino

at the Coliseum or the Nassau University Medical Center debacle — critical county issues. Instead, every mailer attacks federal and state Democrats.

The Republicans win elections by gerrymandering, voter suppression, taxpayer-funded mailers and scare tactics. GOP officials use our tax money to fight voter participation. Clearly, they know that higher voter turnout will turn them out of office.

DAvE DENENBERG Merrick

An artisan’s work at Matinecock Lodge — Oyster Bay

President’s Circle Award

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Leading Edge Award

Top 25% of Agents Nationwide

Leading Edge Award

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Top 25% of Agents Nationwide

JESSICA HOLLENSTEIN

JOSEPH DEVITO