Rockville Centre Herald 03-28-2024

HERALD

$1.00 RVC Blue Speaks hosts April gala Page 20

Rain or shine

Despite the rainy weather on Saturday afternoon, people filled the streets along Maple Avenue for the annual Rockville Centre St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Affectionately dubbed ‘the parade that cares and shares,’ the event is traditionally one of the largest on Long Island and the only one of its kind that helps raise money for charities. Cassidy Rakeman, 6, of Rockville Centre, attends the 2024 St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Saturday. Story, more photos, Page 3.

South Side HS recognizes its top scholars

By DANIEl oFFNER doffner@liherald.com

Three South Side High School seniors will represent the Class of 2024 at the graduation ceremony in June.

team, a tenor saxophone player and is heavily involved in several service-based organizations in the school and community.

W“This year’s valedictorian of the Class of 2024 is a true class act,” Patrick Walsh, principal of South Side High School told the school board at its March 21 meeting. “He’s polite, self-motivated, passionate, athletic, and respectful to his classmates, coaches and teachers. We have witnessed first-hand his work ethic and commitment to excellence in all that he does.”

Michael Muscarella was named valedictorian of the Class of 2024 for his hard work and determination, which administrators say, reflects what they hope to see from their scholar-athletes.

He is an International Baccalaureate diploma candidate, president of the DECA Club, captain of the varsity lacrosse

Muscarella is also a member of the world language, math, science and Tri-M honor societies. He played defensive end for the Nassau County champion football team and is one of 21 DECA Club students who recently qualified for the upcoming International Career Development Conference in Anaheim, California at the end of April.

Lucy Reardon was named salutatorian for the Class of 2024 for her academic performance and leadership qualities.

“Teachers rely on her for insightful answers and thought-provoking questions,” Walsh said. “She also isn’t afraid to lend a hand as evidenced by her work as a tutor for middle school students.”

Reardon displays an incredi-

Continued on page 12

Tim Baker/Herald photos

Rain can’t dampen community’s spirit

Greg Schaefer leads memorable 2024 St. Patrick’s Day Celebration

By DANIEL OFFNER doffner@liherald.com

Despite the downpour, hundreds of people braved the wet weather to line the streets of Rockville Centre on a soggy Saturday afternoon, marking the village’s 26th annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

“The Rockville Centre St. Patrick’s Parade was definitely another memorable one this year,” remarked Jackie Kerr, president of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee. “And while the rain certainly lowered attendance numbers this year, our diehard supporters were out in full force.”

Despite the less-than-ideal weather conditions, participants from various sectors of the community, including firefighters, elected officials, local businesses, and organizations celebrating Irish heritage, proudly donned green attire and joined in the festivities.

Parade Grand Marshal Greg Schaefer, president and CEO of the Better Home Health Care Agency, initiated the proceedings at noon. Schaefer, 49, has been at the helm of an agency serving the South Shore of Long Island since 1987, boasting a staff of over 500 employees. His leadership has established Better Home Health Care as a premier provider of home health care in its served counties.

A stalwart member of the community, Schaefer has served on the St. Patrick’s Day Committee for a decade and previously held the presidency of the Chamber of Commerce from 2014 to 2017. As the youngest grand marshal in parade history, he joins the esteemed ranks of past community figures such as Bishop John McGann, NYPD Detective Steven McDonald, and Mayor Francis X. Murray.

The parade, co-founded by Francis “Bud” Cosgrove and Joe Kelly in 1997, has evolved into one of the largest and most supported events of its kind outside of New York City. Affectionately known as “the parade that cares and shares,” the Rockville Centre St. Patrick’s Day Committee has contributed over $1.6 million to more than 75 charitable organizations worldwide.

Leading up to the parade, the committee hosts several fundraising events to benefit three distinct charitable organizations— one local, one national, and one Irish-focused. This year’s beneficiaries include Beyond the Badge, the Limb Kind Foundation, and the Crocus Cancer Support Centre in County Monaghan, Ireland, addressing critical issues such as mental health awareness among first responders, prosthetic care for children, and cancer survivor support.

“We’re very thankful for the collaboration with the Mayor’s office and the RVC Police Department, who helped ensure a safe event for all,” Kerr expressed gratitude. “And we’re especially grateful to the parade committee and the RVC community for always showing up—rain or shine.”

Tim Baker/Herald photos

Traditional Irish bagpipers are among the many sights and sounds that paradegoers look forward to every year.

The Ryan Patrick O’Shea Foundation spreads a positive message during the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Named in memory of a South Side High School graduate who committed suicide in January 2019, the foundation works to break the stigma by promoting mental health awareness in local schools and communities.

Greg Schaefer, president and chief executive officer of Better Home Health Care, leads the procession up Maple Avenue during the parade.

Molloy University was well represented at the 2024 Rockville Centre St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

Assemblyman Brian Curran, left, Village Trustee Gregory Shaughnessy, Deputy Mayor Kathy Baxley, Village Justice Mindy Roman, Rockville Centre Mayor Francis X. Murray, Village Administrator Nancy Howard, Village Trustee Emilio Grillo and Village Trustee Katie Conlon gathered at the bandstand, across the street from St. Agnes Cathedral, to watch the rest of

Elder law estate planning provides for (1) your care in the event you become disabled as you age, and who will be in charge of that care, and (2) the passing of your assets on death to whom you want, when you want, the way you want, with the least amount of taxes and legal fees possible. These are the five steps to creating such a plan.

Step One: Understanding the Family Dynamics. Clients often overlook the inestimable value of getting to know the family dynamic. We are firm believers that the social goes first and the legal should serve the social. Too often it is the other way around. Once we understand who’s who and everyone’s interpersonal relations with each other, we are far better able to craft a plan that will work socially as well as legally. The failure to address the social aspects has led to many a plan tearing the family apart.

Step Two: Reviewing the Client’s Assets. IRA’s and other “qualified” assets (i.e. tax deferred) are treated quite differently, on death or disability, from “non-qualified” assets. The determination of the amount and value of all assets, who owns them, and whether they have named beneficiaries are of the utmost importance in planning correctly, including

Village mulls a $56.8M budget for the 2025 FY

By DANIEL OFFNER doffner@liherald.com

Rockville Centre is considering a $56.8 million budget for the 2025 fiscal year. Offering a brief overview of the proposed spending plan, following a public hearing on March 18, Comptroller Dennis Morgan explained some of the major assumptions driving up costs.

“The budget for the 2025 fiscal year was a challenging one to prepare due to the cost increases that are being felt nationwide,” Morgan said. “Despite these financial pressures, we were able to mitigate much of the tax burden by using $1.8 million from the village fund balance.”

Morgan added that as a result of the rising cost of unfunded state mandates, which include a 20 percent increase in state health insurance over the past two years, as well as workers compensation insurance increases, contractual salary hikes for unionized employees, and inflation, the spending plan would exceed the 2 percent tax cap mandated by the state by 4.9 percentage points.

saving legal fees and taxes.

Step Three: Reviewing Existing Estate Planning Documents: Not having been prepared by an elder law estate planning attorney, clients’ documents rarely have adequate provisions to take advantage of the many benefits the law provides for our aging population. Wills instead of trusts have often been prepared either because the client was considerably younger and a trust was not needed or a trust was needed but the general practice lawyer was unfamiliar with the specifics of preparing a trust.

Step Four: Developing the Elder Law Estate Plan. We are now in a position to determine which persons are best suited to handle your legal, financial and medical affairs on disability or death, what type of plan should be used and how the estate should be distributed -- keeping in mind the preservation of harmony in the family.

Step Five: Executing and Maintaining the Plan. Legal documents are explained and executed, assets are retitled and beneficiaries on assets changed in keeping with planning objectives. The client is called in to the law firm every three years to ensure the plan meets the client’s current wishes and conforms with any law changes.

In total, the tax levy proposed for the next fiscal year is just shy of $39 million, a 6.9 percent increase over the current year. It was calculated using the formula required by the state, and figures in tax base growth and the change in payments in lieu of taxes.

This is not the first time the village has exceeded the state cap in recent years. The 2024 budget increased the tax levy by 2.9 percent, a result of unfunded state mandates and increased employee benefits.

Taxes are expected to increase for the average homeowner by roughly $396 for the year, or about $33 per month, Morgan said.

Estimated revenues are also expected to increase in the next fiscal year, based on real property taxes, departmental income, licenses, permits, fines, forfeitures, state and federal aid, intergovernmental charges and the sale of property.

Due to the anticipated increase in health insurance costs, workers compensation and interest from borrowing, however, expenses are expected to produce a net deficit of roughly $1.8 million. To help mitigate a potentially greater tax increase for residents, the village will offset the deficit by making use of $1.8 million from the village fund balance.

Mayor Francis Murray said that as is the case with most municipalities around the country, the 2025 budget proved to be a challenge due to inflation and unfunded state mandates.

“My administration labored to find a balance between a tax increase, budget cuts and the use of fund balance reserves to mitigate the burden on our residents while still providing the services our residents have come to expect,” Murray said in a statement. “We will continue to look for ways to reduce costs and bring in additional revenue to the village, including being aggressive in pursing grant money, private-public partnerships, and gifts to make improvements at little expense to our residents.”

The public hearing on the budget will continue at the monthly village board meeting on April 1 at 7 p.m. at Village Hall. Those interested in viewing the proposed spending plan can find it online at RVCNY.gov.

Herald file photo

Village officials are looking to adopt a $56.8 million budget for the 2025 fiscal year.

Lawmakers, publishers rally to save local news

An advocacy group determined to save local news in New York rallied in Albany in an effort to bring more lawmakers to their cause.

The Empire State Local News Coalition — a statewide advocacy group of more than 150 local news outlets — joined elected officials at the state capital last week to support the Local Journalism Sustainability Act.

OThe bill — sponsored by state Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal and Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner — is intended to provide tax credits to local news outlets that employ journalists in their communities. HoylmanSigal joined the rally, along with colleagues like Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages, state Sen. Monica Martinez, and Assemblyman David Weprin.

ur local papers are here. They are objective. They provide information. And we need to preserve that.

“This is a full-blown crisis,” HoylmanSigal told those who gathered for the rally in the halls of the capital building. “We live in a deliberative democracy. That means our voters need to be informed to make wise choices. How are they informed? Largely through local news.”

The senate included the Local Journalism Sustainability Act in its One House budget resolution, which organizers describe as a major sign of the bill’s growing support in the legislature.

Both the senate and the Assembly release preliminary One House budgets in response to the governor’s own preliminary budget, which was released earlier this year. The state’s final budget is due April 1, and policies in the final budget almost always must be in one of the three preliminary budgets.

“It is time that New York state steps up and supports one of the most important industries — not just to our economic well-being, but to our democracy,” Hoylman-Sigal said. “The Local Journalism Sustainability Act, which is part of the senate One House budget, will assist in that regard.”

The rally was intended to signal growing pressure on lawmakers to offer much-needed benefits to the local news industry, which has experienced a significant downturn over the past two decades.

The state has lost hundreds of newspapers since 2004, resulting in the loss of not only thousands of jobs, but also thousands of stories that helped keep communities informed. In fact, there are a growing number of communities with little to no access to local newspaper coverage, according to coalition officials. More than a dozen New York counties are down to just one newspaper.

Capped at $20 million statewide, the Local Journalism Sustainability Act is a bill with bipartisan support that provides payroll tax credits for the employment of local news journalists.

News organizations would receive a 50 percent refundable tax credit against the first $50,000 of each newsroom employee’s salary — up to $200,000 per outlet.

The benefit would be limited to print and online newspapers and broadcasters, with 100 employees or less, that cover local community news. This, sup-

porters say, ensures that only truly local news outlets will qualify for this assistance.

“Someone once said that ‘newspapers are the textbooks of democracy, and the lifeblood of freedom,’ and that’s a responsibility newsrooms like ours take very seriously,” said Michael Hinman, executive editor of Herald Community Newspapers, which employs more than 30 journalists across 24 newspapers on Long Island and in New York City.

“Communities depend on their local newspaper, because there is nowhere

else you’re going to get the news about and for your neighborhood, written by someone who knows your neighborhood. Time and time again, it’s been proven that the best communities in America are communities with a strong, local newspaper. And if we don’t do something now, those great communities will be lost to history.”

But in order for this particular bill to move forward, it needs to be supported not just by the senate, but also by the Assembly and by Gov. Kathy Hochul, so that it is included in the final state budget.

“The fight to save local news is a fight to save our democracy,” said Zachary Richner, founder of the Empire State Local News Coalition and director of Richner Communications — the parent company of Herald Community Media.

“Hometown newspapers deliver the hyperlocal updates and investigations necessary to sustain a community’s civic and financial well-being. As local news declines, critical stories are lost, and communities become more polarized.

“We’re proud to have the senate’s support, and we call on Gov. Hochul and the Assembly to support this industry-saving bill and protect critical newsroom jobs.”

Michaelle Solages says she’ll continue to push for the bill’s inclusion in the final state budget with her colleagues in the Assembly.

“We’re continuing our work on Long Island making sure the local story — the story that matters to individual New Yorkers — are heard,” Solages said. “But we really need to make sure we are investing into our community, investing into local journalism, and combatting this growing social media that is spreading misinformation.

“Our local papers are here. They are objective. They provide information. And we need to preserve that.”

Photos courtesy Empire State Local News Coalition

Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages joins lawmakers and supporters like Assemblyman David Weprin, at left, and state Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal, at right, to call on her colleagues to support the Local Journalism Sustainability Act. The measure — currently included in the senate’s One House budget — would provide tax credits to local news outlets, so they can keep local reporters on the ground and covering communities.

State Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal, right, has pushed to put the Local Journalism Sustainability Act into the state senate’s One House budget, to provide tax credits to news outlets employing journalists to cover local communities. The measure is championed by the Empire State Local News Coalition, founded by Zachary Richner, director of Richner Communications, left.

MICHAELLE SOLAGES Assemblywoman

Hofstra baseball swings for the fences

By ANDREW COEN sports@liherald.com

The Hofstra baseball team missed out on a chance to defend its conference title last year and is fueled for a return to the championship stage in late May this spring.

After reaching the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history during a magical 2022 season, the Pride bats were driven back to earth in 2023 with an eighth-place finish that left the team just short of qualifying for its league’s sixteam double-elimination tournament held Memorial Day weekend.

This season the Pride were picked ninth in the 12 team Coastal Athletic Association and is looking to prove the doubters wrong to have an opportunity to once again compete for the conference’s automatic bid into the NCAAs.

“We got off to a slow start and then towards the end of the season we started playing better and we just missed out on making the tournament,” said third-year Hofstra head coach Frank Catalanotto, a former 14-year Major League Baseball player from 1997 to 2010 with the Detroit Tigers, Texas Rangers, Toronto Blue Jays, Milwaukee Brewers and New York Mets. “It’s a motivating factor for not only the coaching staff, but also for the student athletes to be ready to play these games.”

Hofstra began the 2024 season with two narrow losses to then 14th-ranked Virginia before taking two of three from Liberty and New Mexico on the road the following two weekends. The Pride entered the start of CAA with two close losses at Columbia and Fordham.

Senior catcher Matt Pelcher, a Merrick native, has emerged as one of Hofstra’s leading hitters this season with a .328 average entering the CAA schedule. Pelcher, who played high school baseball at the prestigious IMG Academy in Florida, hit a home run in an 10-8 season-opening loss at Virginia and went 3-for-4 in a narrow 3-2 defeat at St. John’s on March 8.

“He’s made big strides with his swing and has really bought into what we’ve been teaching,” said Catalanotto of

Pelcher, who registered an RBI double in Hofstra’s 12-8 loss at Columbia on March 19. “He’s a big part of what we do and his versatility helps us out quite a bit.”

Pelcher is among four starters hitting above .300, including sophomore Dylan Palmer at a team-leading .450 starting the conference schedule. He earned Second Team All-CAA and CAA All-Rookie honors as a freshman. Senior outfielder Alex McCoy and graduate student third baseman Santino Ross are also shining offensively so far with .364 and .386 batting averages, respectively.

Catalanotto is also hoping two of his other top hitters, Will Kennedy and Steve Harrington, can produce during the CAA schedule after hitting slumps in March.

The pitching staff is led by senior Michael O’Hanlon, who recorded seven strikeouts in a 9-1 victory against Manhattan College on March 15. O’Hanlon

has stepped into the ace role after serving as the closer the last two years.

The Pride has a number of pitching options out of the bullpen including Rockville Centre native Danny Kelleher, a former South Side High School standout who tossed three scoreless innings in a 9-6 loss at New Mexico on March 3. Catalanotto is hoping Kelleher can continue to make strides on the mound and live up to his full potential.

“He’s been doing a good job and he’s gotten much better from last year,” Catalanotto said of Kelleher. “He’s throwing a lot of two seam fastballs that sink and also a good change-up so he’s keeping the ball down and getting ground balls.”

Another local arm on the roster is freshman Nick Apollo, who earned All-

County accolades at Seaford High School last year and led the Vikings to a county title. The versatile Apollo, who Catalanotto sees potential in for a strong future, received playing time at first base in a 17-6 loss to Manhattan on March 16.

Hofstra travels to longtime CAA foe Towson this weekend before hosting Delaware in another critical three-game conference series from April 5-7. The CAA regular schedule concludes at home against Monmouth on May 18 before the conference tournament commences from May 22-28 at UNC-Wilmington.

“It’s a really tough conference,” Catalanotto said of the CAA, which added last year’s 22nd-ranked team Campbell this season. “We are going to have to bring our best every single game.”

Senior outfielder Alex McCoy is off to a strong start at the dish with a .364 batting average.

Photos courtesy Hofstra Athletics Communications Pitcher Danny Kelleher, a South Side High School graduate, is a key member of the Pride bullpen.

B’nai Sholom-Beth David celebrates Purim

By ABIGAIL GRIECO Herald Intern

Purim is a festive and exciting holiday celebrating the story of Queen Esther, and her cousin Mordecai, who save the Jewish people of Persia from being killed at the hand of the royal vizier Haman.

To celebrate the occasion, members of Congregation B’nai Sholom-Beth David in Rockville Centre gathered at the synagogue on Sunday morning for a reading from the Book of Esther — or the Megillah — which was accompanied by a delightful costume parade and party.

“It’s a feel-good, joyous holiday that brings everyone together,” Nancy Hochhauser, president of Congregation B’nai Sholom-Beth David, said.

Sunday’s festivities also included a Purim spiel, which was performed by students with the Jewish Learning Center. After everyone enjoyed hamantaschen cookies, waffles and ice cream.

“At our temple, in particular, Purim is childrenfocused, as the joy of children brightens up any room,” Rabbi David Lerner said.

Purim is widely celebrated by completing three mitzvot, or commandments, beginning with the reading of the Megillah, featuring a series of comedic interludes and participation from congregants. Rabbi Lerner said that during the reading, whenever the villain’s name is read, everyone erupts with boos, shouts and noisemakers.

“The second goal is to give ‘mishloach manot,’ or Purim gift baskets, to all of our congregants, and to those who support our community from around the village,” Lerner said.

Connie Salwen and Sandy Friedman started the Purim Basket fundraiser more than 23 years ago. The responsibility was taken over by Elisa Matas Skolnick and Nancy Hochhauser in 2015, when they started to create a central theme for the baskets.

“We love figuring out the theme and putting the food items together that coincide with it,” Hochhauser said. “This year, ‘stronger together’ was the theme

Kids with the Jewish Learning Center at Congregation B’nai Sholom-Beth

with a logo created by Samantha Melendez showing our solidarity and support for Israel.”

Each basket contained foods from both Israel and America, as well as a copy of a letter that that was included in each of the more than 200 Purim baskets that the Congregation sent to Israeli soldiers fighting in Gaza.

In addition to the congregation’s own Purim fundraiser, members of the synagogue also raised money to send Purim gift bags to soldiers with the Israeli Defense Forces by partnering with Gili’s Goodies in Efrat, Israel.

“Third, we are instructed to give matanot la’evyonim, or gifts to the poor,” Lerner said.

To fulfill this mitzvot, the synagogue hosted a clothing drive for three weeks prior to the holiday, encour-

celebrate Purim.

aging Purim attendees to bring boxes of food items to use as noisemakers during the festivities. These items were then collected afterward for donation to a local food pantry.

“This festival is particularly significant this year because the Jewish community is currently under threat, with an uptick of antisemitism here, and war abroad,” Lerner explained. “We come together to recall and celebrate the eternal resilience and hope of our people, reinforcing our long-held belief that light will eventually overcome darkness and that ‘this too shall pass.’ However, this deep message is conveyed through a carnivalesque atmosphere, where joy and even silliness reign supreme. We see how topsy-turvy life can be, and we wish to take this journey with as much joy as we can muster.”

Molloy hosts annual Easter Eggstravaganza

Molloy University welcomed parents and children from all across Long Island to join them for an ‘egg’citing Easter celebration filled with fun games, activities and lots of Easter candy.

This year’s event featured an Easter egg hunt around the Public Square, and other family-friendly activities including face-painting stations, arts and crafts, balloon animals, and, of course, a special visit from the Easter Bunny, who stopped by to take photos with all the kids.

The annual Easter Eggstravaganza event is organized by Molloy Student Government to help raise money for the John Theissen Children’s Foundation, a nonprofit organization that has been helping sick and underprivileged children across Long Island since 1992. To learn more about the organization or ways to get involved, visit JTCF.org.

–Daniel Offner

Keith Rossein/Herald

David

Joseph Schroeder, 6, finds an egg during the hunt.

Skye Margies/Herald photos Jayden Romero, 6, completes his Easter egg painting.

Hochul awards Rockville Manor $7.5M for project

By DANIEL OFFNER doffner@liherald.com

Rockville Manor will receive $7.5 million in federal and state tax credits and subsidies for the preservation and expansion of the existing Rockville Centre Housing Authority complex for seniors.

The facility is one of 29 locations statewide to receive a portion of more than $260 million awarded by New York Gov. Kathy Hochul to create and preserve 1,852 affordable, supportive and sustainable homes.

Herald file photo Rockville Manor, at 579 Merrick Road, will receive $7.5 million in federal and state tax credits and subsidies for the addition of six new housing units, as part of Gov. Kathy Hochul’s plans to create and preserve nearly 2,000 affordable, supportive and sustainable homes.

“The only way to address New York’s housing crisis and bring down costs for families is to keep building and preserving homes in every region of our state,” Hochul said in a release. “With this funding, we are pushing forward with our agenda to unlock New York’s housing potential, and we will keep working closely with the Legislature to ensure that all New Yorkers have access to safe, stable, and affordable homes.”

D&F Development Group and Rockville Redevelopment Corporation will oversee development of six new housing units — expanding upon the existing 50-unit building.

Gov. Hochul’s plan also seeks to upgrade and modernize public housing, further local economic development initiatives and include sustainable features that advance the state’s climate goals.

In addition to the state tax credits and subsidies, the Rockville Manor project will also receive $625,000 in Clean Energy Initiative funds to provide electricity to the entire building.

Funding comes as part of Hochul’s $25 billion comprehensive Housing Plan to create or preserve 100,000 affordable homes statewide, including 10,000 with supportive services for vulnerable populations, plus the electrification of an additional 50,000 homes.

Financing for the project was allocated by the Department of Homes and

Community Renewal, which provided $56 million in federal and state low income housing tax credits and $204 million in subsidies.

When coupled with additional pri vate funding and resources, the projects receiving funding are expected to create over $840 million in overall investment.

All of the projects meet Homes and Community Renewal’s sustainability standards, which promote healthier living environments and support the goals, set by the New York State Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act.

The majority of awarded projects will also use a total of $11 million from the Clean Energy Initiative, a partnership with Homes and Community Renewal and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, to achieve even higher levels of sustainability and carbon reduction.

In addition, the developments offer free broadband services to residents, building on the Governor’s ConnectALL initiative, which has made historic investments to deliver high speed internet in underserved communities and close the digital divide for lower-income New Yorkers.

Three students to deliver speeches in June

ble understanding of leadership and time management. She successfully handles her school work, plays three varsity sports, works part-time jobs, and volunteers with Camp Anchor and the Backyard Players and Friends. She is also class president and a member of the DECA Club, Best Buddies, Spanish Club, Debate Club, and Model UN.

In addition to her many roles, she played an integral part in planning homecoming, the junior gala and Prom fundraisers.

“I still remember last year’s Junior carnival, which was one of the most unbelievable events we hosted in a while,” Walsh said. “While we are sad to see this student graduate, we are all confident that she is exiting our school having made a lasting impact on so many of our programs and our staff.”

This year’s graduation will also feature a presentation to National Merit Scholarship finalist Sophia Bracco.

“Academically this student is unparalleled, having opted to take the most challenging courses that we offer here at our school,” Walsh said. “One of her teachers commented, ‘It’s like having a teaching assistant in the room. She posts notes, reminds everyone of deadlines, asks the questions others are afraid to ask, and creates answer sheets for class activities.”

The National Merit Scholarship pro-

reaction to hydrogen peroxide, to see if it would enhance the speed of blood clotting.

As a result of their efforts, all three students were selected by the Material Research Society to present their findings in front of faculty from some of the nation’s top colleges at the society’s fall meeting and exhibition in Boston, last November.

In addition to her outstanding academic performance, Bracco serves as senior class treasurer and is an active participant in theater, quiz bowl and the intergenerational sharing conference.

“We’re super proud of you and we can’t wait to see what comes next,” Rockville Centre schools Superintendent Matthew Gaven said. “We’re truly honored to have you as a part of our family.”

gram is an academic competition that was created in 1955. Each year, only 15,000 students nationwide are recognized, based on their scores on the PSATs as well as other academics and school-related activities. Out of the 15,000 finalists, about half will be awarded with National Merit Scholarships based on their abilities, skills and

accomplishments.

Fascinated by science, Bracco traveled more than two hours every day last summer to conduct research at Stony Brook University’s Garcia Center for Polymers at Engineered Interfaces. Working with two of her classmates, they studied a substance known as partially reduced graphene oxide and its

Gaven congratulated Muscarella, Reardon and Bracco for their accomplishments over the last four years, and acknowledged their parents for their unwavering support to provide their students with the tools needed to succeed now and in the future.

“We are so proud of these three exceptional South Side High School students,” Walsh stated following the presentation. “Their hard work and perseverance over their time at this high school has paid off for them and they deserve every bit of this recognition. I am so happy for them and their families.”

Daniel Offner/Herald rockville Centre Schools Superintendent matt gaven, left, Board of education president Kelly Barry, and South Side High School principal patrick Walsh, right, recognize national merit f inalist Sophia Bracco, South Side Class of 2024 Valedictorian michael muscarella, South Side Class of 2024 Salutatorian Lucy reardon during the march 21 school board meeting.

Thoughts for holiday season

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Happy Easter to you and your families! Thank you for your love for the inspired Word of God. Thank you for your love for the Resurrection appearances of our Lord in this Easter season and the way your lives are set on fire in your meditation and contemplation of these mysteries.

Thank you for your fidelity to the Eucharist and the Sunday Mass and your Catholic spirit of evangelization. Thank you for being instruments of Eucharistic Revival.

In The Joy of the Gospel, Pope Francis states:

storms of history” and we rely on the Risen Lord and his glorified wounds to touch the wounds in Ukraine, the Middle East, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Armenia and Azerbaijan, the region of the Sahel, the Horn of Africa and Sudan, as well as Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan and so many other troubled areas of the world. We ask the Risen Lord and his glorified wounds to touch the wounds experienced in our own country.

ReveRend

John o. BaRRes

“Christ’s resurrection is not an event of the past; it contains a vital power which has permeated the world. Where all seems to be dead, signs of the resurrection suddenly spring up. It is an irresistible force...Each day in our world beauty is born anew, it rises transformed through the storms of history ... Such is the power of the resurrection, and all who evangelize are instruments of that power.” (276)

We continue to live through “the

In The Everlasting Man, G.K. Chesterton captured the power of our Lord’s Resurrection experienced in the cycles of history. He wrote: “Christendom has had a series of revolutions and in each one of them Christianity has died. Christianity has died many times and risen again; for it had a God who knew the way out of the grave.”

This Easter and every Easter we celebrate this Everlasting Man who knew his way out of the grave and who invites us and the Catholic Church on Long Island to a great Resurrection.

Sincerely yours in the Risen Lord, Most Reverend John O. Barres

Little League to induct 3 teams into Hall of Fame

By DANIEL OFFNER doffner@liherald.com

Rockville Centre Little League President Peter Klugewicz and the organization’s board of directors will celebrate its 73rd season on April 6, by inducting 11 former players, coaches, administrators, founders and three past teams into the RVCLL Hall of Fame.

“The class of 2024 may be the second induction, but comprises many firsts,” Frank Keating, chairman of the RVC Little League, said. “The first league president, the first Long Island Little League Championship in 1956, first New York State Little League Championship in 1972, the first and only New York State 13-year-old Babe Ruth League Championship in 1974, the first two players to play on two New York State Championship teams, the first and only manager to win two New York State Championships in 1972 and 1974, and the first father and son Hall of Famers.”

The ceremony will also recognize two RVCLL co-founders Ed Bligh, who served as the league’s first president from 1951 to 1954, and Tony Maeder, who served as the league’s fourth president from 1958 to 1963. Also being recognized this year are players Pete Gibson, Don Pintabona, Ed Rooney and Phil Schifini Jr. with the 1972 Metro New York State Little League Championship team, coach Joe Pette, manager of the 1956 Long Island Championship team and nine-time regular season/playoff contenders, coach Phil Sch-

ifini Sr., manager of the 1972 Metro New York State Little League Champions and the 1974 New York State Babe Ruth League champions, coach Joe Cantwell, former league president and coach of the 1972 Metro New York State Little League Champions, and administrators Tom Callucci, former league president who helped launch the league’s softball program in 1995, and Jim Tarpey, former league chairman and vice president.

Nominees are selected in December by the RVC Little League Hall of Fame selection committee, which is chaired by Keating, and consists of Dan Lennon, Tom Michels, John Aicher and Mike Lawless. Each of the four committee members were All-Star players during their Rockville Centre Little League careers and most served as coaches for their children’s teams and some became board members or administrators.

The RVCLL Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place following the Opening Day festivities on Saturday, April 6, which will kick-off with the annual RVC Little League parade at 10 a.m.

The parade will begin at South Side Middle School and proceed down Maple Avenue towards Hickey Field for the ceremonial first pitch. The opening game and Hall of Fame induction ceremony will follow at 11:30 a.m. In the event of inclement weather, the parade may be postponed, but the induction ceremony and family cocktail party will take place rain or shine at either MacArthur Park or the American Legion Hall.

Courtesy Rockville Centre Little League Coach Joe Pette, nine-time consecutive regular season/playoff champion, leads the 1959 Rockville Centre All-Star team, pictured, at Hickey Memorial Field. His name will be among the 11 inductees added to the RVCLL Hall of Fame this year.

Cricket World Cup looks to ‘hit for six’

By JORDAN VALLONE jvallone@liherald.com

The Nassau County International Cricket Stadium is starting to take form in Eisenhower Park.

The temporary 34,000-seat venue will serve as one of the hosting locations for the 2024 International Cricket Council Men’s T20 World Cup, set to take place this June in locations that also include Florida, Texas and the West Indies. And Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman emphasized Eisenhower Park’s involvement by joining ICC officials and renowned professional cricketers at a parade last week to officially bring the World Cup’s trophy “home.”

The trophy was displayed underneath an American flag arch, set up by the East Meadow Fire Department, and escorted by the Nassau County Police Department, dozens of emergency vehicles, bagpipers, and the county’s mounted unit to the stadium site.

“We are in the process of constructing this beautiful stadium that will be here for the duration of the tournament,” Blakeman said. “It’s going to be a great venue for everybody to enjoy cricket. There’ll be so many countries that will be here with their teams — we will have fans from all over the world.”

Eight games are slated for Nassau over the course of 12 days. Eisenhower Park will actually host one of the most highly anticipated games of the tournament — India vs. Pakistan — which both consistently fielding some of the best cricketers in the game.

The Cricket World Cup is the third-most popular sporting event across the globe, only behind the FIFA World Cup and the Tour de France.

“We call it the Super Bowl on steroids,” Blakeman said.

The stadium was designed by Populous, an architec-

At the construction site of the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in Eisenhower Park, Ali Khan, a professional cricketer on Team USA, spoke about the excitement surrounding the Cricket World Cup in June. The tournament’s trophy traveled to stadium last week in a ceremonious parade.

ture firm also responsible for creating Yankee Stadium, Citi Field and the UBS Arena, among others. The initiative is privately funded, and the stadium is being built in the open space behind the park’s aquatic center, adjacent to Field 6.

Tickets for games have been hard to obtain, but ICC officials say fans may still be able to secure some.

“The levels of interest in being part of the event are huge, with more than 3 million ticket applications in

the initial ballot,” Geoff Allardice, the ICC’s chief executive said. “I’m delighted to confirm today that we’ve worked closely with our partners to release more tickets to 51 of the 55 games of the event.”

For those unable to purchase tickets, Blakeman says the county will set up watch parties in various locations details of which will be announced at a later date.

Allardice also thanked the county and Blakeman for their support, saying the ICC had “found a true partner” that supports the council’s “vision and ambition.” The stadium had originally been planned for the Bronx, but moved to Nassau County after considerable resistance from neighbors surrounding Van Cortlandt Park there.

“It’s fantastic to stand here today and see our vision come to life,” Allardice said.

Ali Khan, a Pakistani-born American cricketer who plays for the United States, says he’s excited about returning home for the upcoming games.

“It’s really good to be here in Nassau County this morning — good to see all the people coming out,” Khan said. “We cannot wait to take the field here.”

Team USA will compete against India on June 12 in Eisenhower.

“That’s going to be a huge game for us as a host country,” Khan said. “I wish (that) a lot of people come, especially local supporters. Get your tickets now and come support your home team, Team USA.”

As part of county’s negotiations with the ICC, the stadium will be disassembled after the tournament, but the state-of-the-art cricket field will be left in place, along with practice facilities in Cantiague Park in Hicksville.

Local cricket teams and leagues will be able to use the fields when the tournament ends.

“Cricket,” Blakeman said, “is here forever now.”

Jordan Vallone/Herald

STEPPING OUT

The Chocolate Expo returns with an exciting Wonka-twist

Everyone has a golden ticket to the Chocolate Expo

By Danielle Schwab

or the love of chocolate, there’s a sweet treat awaiting everyone at this year’s Chocolate Expo.

The popular event — proclaimed as one of the largest chocolate showcases in the United States — is back, ready to tantalize all on April 14.

Chocoholics will delight in the day-long food paradise. An array of 90-plus vendors — including those representing Long Island, New England and even international purveyors — will share their sweet and savory wares with the public during this unique food-centric festival at the David S. Mack Sports & Exhibition Complex at Hofstra University.

So Good: The Neil Diamond Experience

Robert Neary honors an icon with a tribute show like no other. With more than 35 years as a Broadway, television and film actor, Neary brings a special flair to his tribute show. 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 are 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. The title says it all. It is the quintessential Neil Diamond concert experience that concludes with a mind-blowing finale.

Saturday, March 30, 8 p.m. $49.50, $39.50, $35, $29.50, $25. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at Ticketmaster.com or ParamountNY. com.

“We have a wide variety of interesting products,” says Marvin Baum, the Chocolate Expo’s founder and creator. “It’s like going to a wine tasting. You’re trying something different and exploring. That’s really what it is, for people to come and explore all kinds of culinary delights. In this case, it’s with chocolates, baked goods, specialty foods, wines, cheeses and other products as well.”

Celebrate and indulge in delicious gourmet goodies — even treats for your beloved pooch. Of course, tasting is very much a part of the event, starting from the moment you enter.

• April 14, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

• $20 adult, $10 ages 5-12 ($30 adult, $15 ages 5-12 at door); available from TheChocolateExpo.com

• Hofstra’s David S. Mack Sports & Exhibition Complex, Hempstead

The scrumptious combination of savory and sweet includes chocolate-covered pretzels, artisanal chocolates, bonbons, fudge, rum cakes, hot chocolate, and even chocolate-covered bacon.

And, certainly, no chocolate event would be complete without big chocolate fountains. Guests are greeted by fountains overflowing with dark, white and milk chocolates, which can deliciously drench a selection of fresh fruit, marshmallows pretzels and Rice Krispies Treats.

Visitors will surely enjoy another special treat: An appearance by actors from the original 1971 film “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory.” Julie Dawn Cole (Veruca Salt), Paris Themmen (Mike Teevee), and Rusty Goffe (who in addition to playing an Oompa Loompa, has also been in five of the Harry Potter movies and in Star Wars ), are the festival’s special guests. Baum proudly proclaims this is the first Wonka cast reunion at a chocolate event.

“We found that there was a true emotional connection for a lot of people, between the movie and their own lives — whether it be with good memories with the family or as being part of an escape,” he says. “And so, for that reason, we think that a lot of people on Long Island are going to respond to and be really excited to see this get-together of the Wonka characters.”

If your palate reaches sensory overload, take a break to check out some of the many activities that round out the day. Shows and demonstrations include chocolate smashing, where participants can break a part of high-quality chocolate molds with hammers. There’s also a demonstration with DJ Chef, the first winner of Food Network’s “Cuthroat Kitchen,” known for spinning tunes while cooking.

The youngest “fun-sized” visitors will enjoy Kidz Zone, enticing them with face painting, balloon twisting and crafts.

The festival, according to Baum, has now taken on a life of its own.

“I said, ‘We need to do something where New York businesses can actually make some money. Instead of just doing tastings, let’s do something where we’re tasting and have sales.’ And basically, that became the first New York Chocolate Expo.”

Participating chocolatiers, bakers and related purveyors offer a mindboggling collection of goodies.

Among the enthusiastic local returnees, Wantagh-based Uncle Jeff’s Pecan Pies is not to be missed. Owner Jeff Church participated for the first time last year, and enthusiastically reports the response to his offerings was “beyond belief.” He’ll offer both his all-natural chocolate and regular pecan pies again this year.

“As soon as they opened the doors, people swarmed the tables saying ‘one of these,’ ‘one of those,’” he says. “It was insane.”

Another bakery, Valley Stream’s Chez Hedwidge, caters to folks with dietary restrictions. All products are gluten-free and soy-free, with vegan options available. Edwidge Oriol — who owns the business with her husband — has been involved with the Chocolate Expo for five years.

“Those who have these (dietary) challenges, they deserve a good treat,” she says.

Among the items Oriol will ll bring is her gluten-free chocolate tart, which won third place in a Culinary Federation of Long Island competition.

Whether you’re looking to grab your local faves or find a new delicious obsession, the expo is the place to indulge in some chocolatey fun.

“Everybody is welcome,” Baum says. “All the noise of day-to-day life, all that’s pushed to the side. We want to get together, have a good time, share memories, share some good food, and support local businesses.”

Academy of St. Martin in the Fields

The Academy of St. Martin in the Fields is recognized for fresh, brilliant interpretations of the world’s greatest orchestral music.

Formed by Sir Neville Mariner in 1958 from a group of London’s leading musicians, it’s become one of the world’s most respected orchestral ensembles. Joshua Bell, music director and Grammywinning violinist, has performed with virtually every major orchestra in the world, and is one of the most celebrated artists of his era. Led by violin virtuoso Bell, this performance showcases Mendelssohn’s deeply emotive Violin Concerto, with Bell himself taking the stage as both soloist and leader. The program also includes Rossini’s Il barbiere di Siviglia Overture, and Brahms’ Symphony No. 2 in C major, Op. 61. Set out with Bell and the orchestra on a passionate musical journey of passion and triumph as the extraordinary ensemble demonstrates their artistry.

Friday, March 29, 8 p.m. Tickets start at $80. Tilles Center for the Performing Arts, LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Blvd., Brookville. Tickets available at Ticketmaster.com or TillesCenter.org or (516) 299-3100.

The Chocolate Expo always is a showcase of scrumptious bites.

Photos courtesy Chuck Fishman

THE Your Neighborhood

Jaime Lozano y La Familia

Mexican musical multi-hyphenate and Lincoln Center regular Jaime Lozano appears on the Tilles Center stage with his Familia, an all-star Latin lineup of Broadway and OffBroadway performers, Saturday, April 6, 8 p.m.

Heralded by none other than Lin-Manuel Miranda as “the next big thing,” Lozano’s newest work, “Songs by an Immigrant,” is a musical journey about diversity and integration.

Lozano honestly portrays the challenges of the first- and second-generation middle class U.S. immigrant experience: finding a new home, learning a new language, dealing with discrimination, pursuing the American Dream, and searching for ways to build bridges instead of walls. His Familia includes Mauricio Martínez, Shereen Pimentel and Mayelah Barrera, as well as a nine-piece orchestra. The spectacular celebration of Latin talent includes special guests who are students from Long Island University’s Theatre Arts Department, which adds an exciting dynamic to the performance, showcasing the next generation of rising stars in the industry. The collaboration between these seasoned professionals and up-and-coming talents is sure to create a truly unforgettable experience for all who attend. “Songs by an Immigrant” is an inspiring celebration of the immigrant odyssey. Tickets start at $50; available at TillesCenter.org or (516) 299-3100. LIU Post campus, 720 Nortyhern Blvd., Brookville.

A Twist on a 3rd Generation Restaurant

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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

April 6

Country Jukebox

The North Shore Symphony Orchestra is joined by Broadway and New York cabaret stars for “Country Jukebox: Kenny, Dolly & Friends,” Saturday, April 6, 8 p.m., on Adelphi’s Performing Arts Center stage. Your toes will be tapping and your hands clapping during this evening of country classics from the 1950s to today’s hottest contemporary hits.

The dynamic performers, with North Shore Symphony, salute such greats as Kenny Rogers, Dolly Parton, Tammy Wynette, George Jones, The Judds, Carrie Underwood and more. Tickets start at $45, with discounts available to seniors, students, Adelphi alumni and employees. Adelphi University Performing Arts Center, 1 South Ave., Garden City. (516) 8774000 or Adelphi.edu/pac.

RVC Blue Speaks Tree Lighting

In anticipation of the annual Light it Up Blue Gala, the Village of Rockville Centre holds a special tree lighting ceremony at Village Hall, Tuesday, April 2, at 7 p.m., for RVC Blue Speaks. The Rockville Centre-based nonprofit dedicated to helping individuals and families affected by Autism Spectrum Disorder. 1 College Place.

South Shore Symphony in concert

Enjoy the popular orchestra,as it continues its season,with special guests Deborah Lifton and the Adea Quartet, Saturday, April 6, 7:30 p.m., at the Madison Theatre. Program includes Rachmaninoff’s “Symphonic Dances,” Op. 45; Samuel Barber’s “Knoxville: Summer of 1915,” Op. 24; and Robert Schumann’s “Concertpiece for 4 Horns”, Op. 45. Molloy University, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre. Tickets available at MadisonTheatreNY.org or (516) 323-4444.

RVC Lions Club 3rd annual Restaurant Crawl

Help t Rockville Centre Lions Club raise money for charity, Wednesday, April 10, 5:30-9 p.m., atr= the third annual RVC Restaurant Crawl. Tour 10 select restaurants around the village to sample 2-3 special dishes. Cost is $50 to participate. For more information visit RVCLions.com.

Having an event?

Art explorations

Converse, collaborate and create at Family Saturdays at Nassau County Museum of Art, Saturday, March 30, noon-3 p.m. Get inspired by the art and objects in the galleries and then join educators at the Manes Center to explore and discover different materials to create your own original artwork.

Kids and adults connect while talking about and making art together. A new project is featured every week. $20 adult, $10 child. For ages 2-14. Registration required. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. Visit NassauMuseum.org for to register or call (516) 484-9337.

Dino Egg Hunt

Visit the Center for Science, Teaching and Learning at the Tanglewood Preserve in Rockville Centre, Thursday through Saturday, March 28-30, for holiday fun. Join the hunt to find dinosaur egg surprises, including hidden treasures and a craft that you can take home. Free with paid museum admission. For more information, visit CSTL.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.

Forest Bathing

Sands Point Preserve offers another in its series of Forest Bathing walks, led by certified guide Linda Lombardo, Saturday, April 13, 10 a.m.-noon. 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 members. Registration required. Sands Point Preserve, 127 Middle Neck Road. For information, visit SandsPointPreserveConservancy.org or call (516) 571-7901.

April 6

Little League Opening Day and Hall of Fame Ceremony

The Rockville Centre Little League celebrates its 73rd year of operations with its opening day festivities, Saturday, April 6, at 10 a.m. The Little League parade will begin from South Side Middle School and proceed down Maple Avenue toward Hickey Field. The opening game and Hall of Fame induction ceremony will follow at 11:30 a.m. This year’s ceremony will recognize the 1972 State Champions, the 1974 State Champions, and the 1959 District Champions. Inductees will include players Pete Gibson, Don Pintabona, Ed Rooney and Phil Schifini Jr., coaches Joe Pette, Phil Schifini Sr. and Joe Cantwell, administrators Tom Gallucci and Jim Tarpey, and founders Ed Bligh and Tony Maeder.

RVC Ed Foundation Gala 32nd Annual Gala

Rockville Centre Education Foundation holds its annual fundraising gala, Saturday, April 6, 6:30 p.m., at Gatsby on the Ocean in Wantagh. This year’s gala honors Dr. Brian Zuar, the Rockville Centre School District’s arts director, and Darren Raymar, principal of Covert Elementary School. The event includes raffles, a silent auction and more. Cocktail attire is required. 2000 Ocean Parkway, Wantagh. $150 per person. For more information, visit RVCEdFoundation.org/2024gala.

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

‘Light it Up Blue’ Gala honors community leaders

By DANIEL OFFNER doffner@liherald.com

The sixth annual “Light It Up Blue” Gala, hosted by RVC Blue Speaks, will be held on Saturday, April 13 at the Coral House in Baldwin. This year’s event will recognize honorees Wayne and Karen Lipton of Rockville Centre, two dedicated community leaders, philanthropists and autism advocates, for their decades of dedicated volunteer service to the community.

RVC Blue Speaks is the largest grassroots, nonprofit charity on Long Island dedicated to raising awareness and support for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Since its inception in 2017, this annual event has raised nearly $500,000.

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 NOTICE OF FORMATION OF LIMITED LIABILITY

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 of the process to:

88WIN LLC ATTN:

DONALD 265 SUNRISE

HWY #341, ROCKVILLE CENTRE NY 11570

Purpose: To engage in any lawful act or activity. 145576

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF COMPLETIONAND FILING OF ASSESSMENT

ROLLTAX NOTICEThe Assessor of the Village of Rockville Centre, New York has prepared the completed and verified assessment roll for the fiscal year beginning June 1, 2024. A copy thereof will be filed on March 29, 2024 in the office of the Village Administrator. The final assessment roll may be seen and examined by any person during business hours from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm Monday through Friday at the Building Department, 110 Maple Avenue, or on the Village website https://www.rvcny.gov/ta x-office and it will remain on file subject to inspection for a minimum

of 15 days from the date of this notice. Francis X. Murray, MayorKathy Baxley, Deputy MayorEmilio Grillo, TrusteeKatie Conlon, Trustee Gregory P. Shaughnessy, TrusteeThomas Domanico, AssessorDated: March 22, 2024 145701

LEGAL NOTICE

Public Notice to Bidders

Sealed Bids will be received by the Purchasing Department of the Village of Rockville Centre, One College Place, Room 204, Rockville Centre, New York 11570 for the matter stated below until 11:00 am prevailing time on APRIL 11, 2024 at which time they will be publicly opened and read aloud. The contract will be awarded as soon thereafter as practicable for:

DECORATIVE STREET LIGHTING AND LUMINAIRE 2024/25 Bid No. 2404E1(1108)

The bid specifications can be obtained/examined on the Village’s website at www.rvcny.gov. Follow the link to the Purchasing Department. All questions should be directed to the Purchasing Department. Please contact Lisa Strazzeri via email only at lstrazzeri@rvcny.us. Questions must be submitted no later than April 4, 2024. Award of Contract will be made to the lowest responsible bidder in accordance with applicable provisions of the law. The Village reserves the right to reject all bids or make such determination as in the best interests of the Village, as provided by law.

Purchasing Department

Lisa Strazzeri Purchasing Agent 516-678-9213 145700

Anthony Cancellieri, cofounder of RVC Blue Speaks and co-chair of the Board of Directors, said the organization is pleased to recognize Wayne and Karen Lipton for their years of volunteer service to the community and advocacy on behalf of this cause.

Anthony and Marylou Cancellieri, co-founders of RVC Blue Speaks, have helped raise nearly $500,000 for autism support and awareness since 2016.

“Each year, the support we receive from our donors and sponsors, and especially our community of Rockville Centre and the surrounding communities, is more than we ever could have imagined,” Cancellieri said. “Thank you to everyone for supporting our mission and for your steadfast commitment to young people and families impacted by autism.”

Wayne Lipton has continued to serve the Rockville Centre community for more than 40 years. He previously served as an elected representative, both in his capacity as a village trustee and as deputy mayor, for eight years under the administration of the late former Mayor Eugene Murray.

He is an entrepreneur, a businessman, and a musician. Lipton is the chief executive and managing partner of Concierge Choice Physicians, a company that he founded in 2005 that services physicians from 24 states in marketing and administering concierge programs.

Lipton is also a member of the Mount Sinai South Nassau Advisory Board and Molloy University Board of Trustees. He was a founding member of the Rockville Centre Education Foundation, former executive vice president of Central Synagogue-Beth Emeth, a former board member with Congregation B’nai Sholom-Beth David, former chairman of the RVC Human Rights Commission and a former member of the Planning Board. He is also president of the Rockville Centre Guild for the Arts and acting president and principal cellist of the South Shore Symphony Orchestra since 1991.

His wife, Karen Lipton, graduated from Hofstra Law School and spent decades as a prosecutor in the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office, work-

ing under former DAs Denis Dillon, Kathleen Rice and Madeline Singas. She was active in the Rockville Centre School District’s Parent-Teacher Association Council and Special Education Parent-Teacher Association. She was also honored with the Jenkins Memorial Award along with a lifetime membership in the PTA.

“RVC Blue Speaks is a local organization created by two people we respect significantly,” Wayne Lipton said. “We’re very honored to help this local organization raise money so that they can continue to do good work.”

This year’s event is an important opportunity for the Lipton’s to honor the memory of their late son, Adam, who died in April 2020. Adam was diagnosed with autistic tendencies as a child, and would benefit greatly from early intervention programs available through the school district and Camp Anchor. He was seriously injured in an accident at the age of 10 and would survive until he was 37.

Anthony and Mary Lou Cancellieri of Rockville Centre created RVC Blue Speaks in 2016, when their two-year-old grandson, Louis, was diagnosed on the autism spectrum.

To date, the organization has donated thousands of dollars to support those with autism through grants and scholarship programs. It has generously given to the Adelphi University’s Bridges Program, Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and the Hagedorn Little Village School in Seaford.

RVC Blue Speaks will also be hosting a special tree lighting event on Tuesday, April 2 at 7 p.m. in front of Village Hall, 1 College Place in Rockville Centre. For more information about the tree lighting, the organization or to reserve a ticket for the upcoming gala, visit RVCBlueSpeaks.org.

Photos courtesy RVC Blue Speaks

RVC Blue Speaks will recognize Wayne and Karen Lipton as this year’s ‘Light It Up Blue’ Gala honorees.

EMPLOYMENT

Help Wanted

DRIVING INSTRUCTORS WANTED

Will Certify And Train HS Diploma

NYS License Clean 3 Years

$20 - $25/ Hour

Call 516-731-3000

Join the Village of South Floral Park team as our new Deputy Clerk!

Are you self motivated and good with being the go-to person for an organization? Do you thrive in managing a variety of tasks from social media updates to crucial village operations? If so, we want you! Bring your experience, Microsoft and QuickBooks skills, and top-notch communication abilities to a role where no two days are alike. Dive into a part-time position where you'll make a real impact, from handling important documents to leading in the Administrator's absence.

Ready to make a difference?

Email your resume and salary expectations to villageclerk383@optimum.net or fax to 516-352-0651.

Only selected candidates will be contacted for interviews. Thank you for considering a career with us!

Health Care/Opportunities

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WOODMERE

WMaking an old home newer

Q. I live in the flood area, which happened during Sandy. I am required to lift my air conditioning unit. I was told it had to be at least 4 feet above the ground, and could be set on a platform or put on a bracket against the house. The platform seems to kill the space in my side yard, so I’m opting for the brackets. Now that I have discussed them with my neighbors, they told me the brackets, which will be on the outside of my bedroom, are going to make the air conditioner vibrations annoying, because I’ll hear them right through the wall. I don’t want that, but the platform would take up space and would be much more expensive to build. Is there another alternative, or can I prevent the noise from the vibrations from coming through the wall? It will drive me crazy if I’m awakened every time the unit goes on. What can I do?

Ask The Architect

Monte Leeper

A. This has been a problem addressed in different ways, either by dampening the unit or brackets, relocating the unit to a different place on brackets outside a room, such as a utility, laundry or storage room, building the platform or mounting the unit on a roof. The roof mounting is really a last resort, since the unit needs to be accessible and level. The only place I have designed roof-mounted units is on new homes where flat (low-slope) roof sections are planned. If you have a steeper-sloped roof with asphalt shingles, this method is not worth considering.

As for the less costly method, mounting brackets that are made for air conditioning outdoor condenser units have accessory dampeners and isolation cushions that can be installed, so obviously the industry recognizes the problem.

Comments I have gotten are that, over time, the brackets may wear down and screws and bolts may loosen. One person told me that he lessened the problem by tightening all the fasteners, but I believe this is temporary, and I don’t see the average homeowner climbing a ladder to tighten the connections unless they become completely frustrated. Only locating the condenser unit on a wall area of a seldom-used area of the home, like your utility, storage closet, garage or laundry room, will reduce this problem.

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In spring, all eyes turn to the

diamond

It has arrived. Baseball’s opening day.

When I was a kid growing up in Queens, this greatly anticipated moment was my reassurance that all was well with the world. Coinciding with the coming of warm spring weather and the sale of the new season’s edition of baseball cards, it focused the attention of my friends — whether Dodgers, Yankees or Giants fans — first on the upcoming pennant races, and then on the World Series.

pETER KInG

This was the golden age of baseball in New York. During the 11 seasons from 1947 to 1957, the Yankees won nine pennants; my team, the Dodgers, six; and the Giants, two. In every year but one, there was at least one New York team in the World Series, and both teams in the fall classic were from New York eight times.

As far as we were concerned, baseball was New York, and New York was baseball. There was nothing like going to Ebbets Field, Yankee Stadium or the

Polo Grounds and being struck by the colors of bright green grass, white baselines and players’ uniforms that were so intense compared with what we saw on our 12-inch black-and-white television screens. No other sport during that era generated such attention. The football Giants often played before a lot of empty seats in the Polo Grounds, and the Knicks actually played NBA championship games in a National Guard Armory because the circus was using Madison Square Garden.

My friends and I had to take the train to Flushing Meadow to play on grass.

Because there was no grass anywhere in our Sunnyside neighborhood, we adapted with our baseball simulations of stickball, curb ball, stoop ball and punchball or softball on the concrete field in the nearby city park. When we reached age 11, we formed our own team, enrolled it in the PAL and took the Queens 7 line train to Flushing Meadow, which had grass fields. The team’s equipment consisted of two bats and a catcher’s mask. Batting helmets were nonexistent, as were parents, or any adults at all. We were on our own. And if we lost or played badly, there was no one to console us.

Much had changed, of course, by the

time my son, Sean, started playing Little League ball at Seaman’s Neck Park in Seaford in the late 1970s: There were Opening Day parades, grass fields, uniforms, umpires, adult coaches, team batting helmets and stands filled with parents, grandparents and neighbors. That was all new to me, but made for great memories.

I really noticed the differences when, starting in 2013, my grandson Jack began playing, first in the Wantagh Little League and then on Long Island travel teams, including the Chiefs and Titans. The changes that struck me most were the equipment — individual batting helmets and customized bats — and the level of play — 11- and 12-year-olds routinely turning double plays and catching high fly balls. What was unchanged was the level of family support and community enthusiasm, with no Bad News Bears adult tantrums or boorishness.

Travel team baseball was a whole new experience. Not just the higher level of skill, but playing across Long Island and traveling to tournaments in upstate Cooperstown as well as Connecticut, Maryland and even South

Carolina. At every destination, the Long Island kids played well and distinguished themselves.

Now a new baseball season is upon us, from Little League to the major leagues. Much has changed over the years. The Dodgers and Giants abandoned us for California over six decades ago. Major League Baseball, which at one time never played west of St. Louis, has expanded from two eightteam leagues to 30 teams and six divisions, and plays regular-season games in Asia and Europe. There has been a diffusion of intense fan interest beyond baseball to the NFL, NBA and NHL. And there is now an overlap of sports seasons, with the NBA and NHL cutting into months of the baseball schedule.

At the local level, the travel team phenomenon draws away from Little League and high school play. Still, baseball remains strong in New York, with the Mets and Yankees, and especially on Long Island, with our outstanding facilities and, most important, supportive families and communities. I know I’m still enthused and ready.

Play ball!

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

Netanyahu is a supporter of one party: himself

Ihave known Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer since 1972. I have watched him grow from being a state assemblyman to one of the most powerful political leaders in the United States. Schumer is a serious and smart lawmaker, and he measures his every word with the greatest of caution. When he speaks, it is well planned, because he is conscious of the fact that the press will hold him accountable for his actions.

Schumer’s recent call for new elections in Israel, and for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to step down, was a do-ordie plea for peace in the Middle East. I have heard some of my friends call Schumer out for that plea, and describe it as dangerous, or even as a form of terrorism, and I have tried to tell them to consider all the facts before they speak.

Netanyahu has been playing political games for as long as I can remember. He

is not some well-meaning leader of a country who is being picked on. To begin with, Bibi, as he is often called, has been in and out of courtrooms in Israel for two years. He has been charged with various forms of corruption. In Israel, cases like his can drag on for years with no resolution.

CFor the past two years, Bibi has been hopeful that if he can change the way the courts work, his case will be dismissed. He has pushed for a change in the law that would give the country’s legislature, the Knesset, the power to run the courts and end any kind of judicial interference. His efforts to undermine the judicial system have split the country in half and have given rise to massive demonstrations calling for his ouster. To stay in power, he has forged alliances with right-wing leaders who have their own plans to change Israel from a democracy to a banana republic.

er, and has lost the confidence of the people, are 100 percent correct. As a congressional leader, Schumer has every right to speak out on Israel’s political challenges, because America sends billions of dollars to Israel each year and is Israel’s strongest supporter.

huck Schumer was right: Bibi has lost the confidence of his people.

Schumer’s speech calling for new elections in another country may have stepped over the line, but his claims that Bibi is no longer the nation’s true lead-

If your best friend thinks you have lost your way, he or she has every right to tell you so, out of love, and not any other motive. Schumer has been Israel’s most loyal member of Congress, and has fought off other members who have questioned the need to provide so much aid to other countries.

Israel had every right to invade Gaza after Hamas’s attack on Oct. 7, one of the most brutal assaults on any nation. The conduct of Hamas will go down in history as another Holocaust, and there had to be a response to such vicious conduct. Israel responded with an all-out war against a cruel and undisciplined mob that kills and steals from its own people.

The United States has asked Bibi what his plans are for Gaza when the

war is over and Hamas has been defeated, and he has no answer. As long as he stays in power, he can avoid having to face the possibility of going to prison. He has a plan, but it focuses on holding on to his job, even if his country no longer trusts him to be its leader. In the interim, he will try to hold on to power by playing partisan politics.

It’s no secret that Netanyahu has always embraced the American Republican Party. He worked against President Barack Obama, and came to Washington to promote Donald Trump on a number of occasions. He has every intention of holding on to his power in the hope that Trump will be elected again this year.

Bibi will do whatever it takes to keep his job. Schumer spoke out forcefully for one reason, which was to keep Israel a democracy. The world needs Israel to survive, and there is no question that under Netanyahu’s control, its very existence is threatened.

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

JERRY KREMER

HeraLd editoriaL

Have you got the fire(fighter) in you?

they’re good people. They’re strong. And they’re heroes.

That’s how people in New York describe volunteer firefighters, according to a survey conducted by the Firefighters Association of the State of New York. And nearly half of all people who were asked said they would love to become one of these strong, good heroes.

And now they have their chance.

Volunteer fire departments — like the one in your hometown — are opening their doors the weekend of April 13 to not only remind our neighborhoods of how important those fire departments are, but also to help bring more firefighters to the fold.

It’s called RecruitNY weekend, and leading up to it, the firefighters association is asking businesses, government buildings and anyplace else where exteriors are lit to make those lights red to show solidarity with our firefighters.

“The lights symbolize our commitment to a tradition of community help, and a need for more volunteers,” Edward Tase Jr., president of the association, said.

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman is doing his part, lighting the dome red on the Theodore Roosevelt Executive and Legislative Building in Mineola in the first two weeks of April. The hope is that other major landmarks across the region and state will light up

Letters

Tentative budget tax increase raises alarm

To the Editor:

red as well.

Being a volunteer fire department has been getting tougher. Membership has dropped, while calls have increased. And not because people don’t want to be firefighters — it’s just hard to make that commitment in our busy lives, amid a turbulent economy that requires many of us to work more than we may have in the past to pay the bills.

But there are benefits beyond simply making a difference — and potentially saving lives — to being a volunteer firefighter. And those are benefits worth considering. For example, volunteer firefighters get free training and free equipment, as well as tax breaks and essential insurance coverage — all provided by the Volunteer Firefighter Benefits Law, first passed in 1957.

Some of those tax breaks include income tax credits of $500 to $1,000 per year, as well as property tax reductions of up to 10 percent, assuming your local government has opted in.

And, depending on what individual departments have set up, there could be pension opportunities as well, established through the state’s Length of Service Award Program.

For younger people, there are scholarships and tuition reimbursement available, too.

Of course, becoming a volunteer firefighter isn’t about the financial incentives, although they help. What really

I have been contacted by a few prominent village residents who expressed their profound concerns about Rockville Centre’s current budget and finance practices. In particular, they are alarmed at the nearly 8 percent real estate tax rate increase proposed in the village’s recently released fiscal year 2025 Tentative Budget, believing it is both excessive and detrimental to residents’ financial stability. They have asked me to review the budget and offer them my thoughts on its construction.

After some consideration, I declined their request. I indicated that a cursory review of the budget would not suffice in determining whether their concerns were valid. Comprehensive analyses of both the budget proposal and current village financial conditions are necessary in order to determine whether the spending plan has been constructed prudently, and whether viable alternatives to 8 percent real estate tax rate growth truly exist.

I did indicate, however, that I would share their concerns with the public via this forum, and strongly urge all residents to carefully review the

draws most people to serve is a chance to give back to the communities they love in ways they simply can’t do otherwise.

Volunteer firefighters play a crucial role in protecting their homes and neighbors from emergencies and disasters beyond simply putting out fires, although there is nothing simple about that. They are also there for medical emergencies and natural disasters like major storms, always contributing to public safety and well-being.

These days we see firefighters needed to respond to flooded basements, lithium-ion battery fires, downed power lines and car accidents.

Volunteers also get to fulfill a dream many of us have had since the moment we saw a firefighter for the first time. We knew that’s what we wanted to be, too. So why not do it?

Visit your local volunteer fire department next month. See what it’s like to be a firefighter, and how you can make a difference. And then ask where you can sign up.

President George W. Bush once said that “the willingness of America’s volunteer firefighters to risk their lives for others is a testament to the spirit of service that pervades our nation.”

Let’s continue prove him right. Find out how — and where — you can volunteer today. Visit FireInYou.org/volunteer.

We must understand what antisemitism is, and isn’t

the American Jewish Committee recently released its annual State of Antisemitism in America 2023 Report, which revealed that 63 percent of American Jews say the status of Jews in the U.S. is “less secure than a year ago” — a 22-percentagepoint increase in just one year, and a 32-point increase over two years.

Forty-six percent of American Jews say they have changed their behavior out of fear of antisemitism, a jump from 38 percent last year.

While these numbers are daunting and cause for concern, several of the key takeaways from the report, on Holocaust and antisemitism education, are positive.

state offer varying degrees of Holocaust education, in accordance with State Education Department regulations, and we also know that quality Holocaust education has been shown to reduce antisemitism and all forms of hate.

eriC post

AJC’s report found that 92 percent of American Jews, and 89 percent of all U.S. adults in the Northeast, believe it is important for public schools to invest more resources in teaching age-appropriate lessons about the Holocaust to all students. There is also overwhelming support among both the Jewish community and the general public for teaching modern manifestations of antisemitism in public schools.

We know that schools in New York

Jewish students, however, should not be seen solely through the lens of the Holocaust. We should incorporate the Jewish community in any diversity efforts, and encourage the celebration of Jewish American Heritage Month in May, to promote awareness and appreciation of Jewish contributions to American society.

In addition, over the past several years, school districts across Long Island have implemented character education initiatives to address all forms of hate and racism, and help students understand the consequences of actions and words on others.

It is critical that we also teach about the modern manifestations of antisemitism, not just the historical ones. Since the Oct. 7 Hamas terror attack on Israel, we have seen a steep increase in antisemitic graffiti and incidents in Long Island public schools. This is on top of an already growing problem with anti-

Letters

Why isn’t the LIRR’s work at Jamaica finished?

To the Editor:

Long Island Rail Road riders have to ask why Phase 2 of the LIRR’s $168 million Jamaica Capacity Improvements wasn’t completed prior to the initiation of full-time service for the $11.6 billion East Side Access to Grand Central Madison in February 2023.

Phase 2 is scheduled to be completed by December 2026. The work will raise maximum allowable train speeds, increase train throughput — the number of trains that can pass through a section of line in a given time — as well as parallel routing capabilities, implement universal 12-car platform capacity and ensure a full state-of-good-repair throughout the Jamaica Station complex. It will include critical work on bridges carrying trains, and expansion of the Hall Interlocking.

Prior to this, there was the $450 million Phase 1 of the Jamaica Capacity Improvements, for which funding was approved in 2010, using grants from the Federal Transit Administration. It included capital improvements in and around the

semitism here and nationwide.

Given that antisemitism is often not well understood, education is crucial in fostering an environment with zero tolerance for anti-Jewish bigotry and all forms of hate. It is also critical to reassure Jewish families that districts see them in this moment, and are prioritizing their children’s safety and well-being. Several Jewish organizations, including AJC, offer training for students, teachers and administrators.

In these moments of uncertainty and anxiety for American Jewry, it is also important to consider what is being reported when Israel is in the news more than usual, as has been the case since Oct. 7. Criticism of Israel is not inherently antisemitic. In fact, it is a feature of its democracy, and Israelis do it all the time. But there are occasions when antiIsrael rhetoric can become antisemitic, including statements that deny the Jewish people’s right to self-determination.

sau and Suffolk counties, New York state and the federal government, criticism of Israel similar to that leveled against any other country cannot be regarded as antisemitic, but, for example, “applying double standards by requiring of it a behavior not expected or demanded of any other democratic nation” does cross that line.

The IHRA definition can be helpful in evaluating whether antisemitism exists in school settings. Establishing a system to report antisemitism and all forms of hate, reviewing and publicizing key school policies, including social media, and communicating with families when antisemitism and hate occur are also vital.

The more we all know about antisemitism, the more we can identify it, fight it and keep it on the fringe of society. When that happens, not only Jews will feel more secure, we all will.

station, encompassing tracks, signals, third-rail power and interlockings, designed to support increased operational capacity necessary for future service to Grand Central Madison. When the FTA grants were approved, this proposed new service was many years away. Thirteen years was ample time to complete both Phase 1 and 2.

Why wasn’t Phase 2 completed before the service to GCM began? And will its completion increase overall rush hour capacity, including additional Atlantic branch Brooklyn service, and reduce travel time between Jamaica and Penn Station, GCM, Flatbush Avenue, Hunters Point or Long Island City?

LIRR commuters, taxpayers, transit advocacy groups and elected officials deserve a detailed explanation from MTA Chairman Janno Lieber and Acting LIRR President Robert Free for why this work was delayed so long.

Great Neck

Larry Penner is a transportation advocate, historian and writer who previously served as a director of the Federal Transit Administration

Region 2 New York Office of Operations and Program Management.

As noted by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s Working Definition of Antisemitism, which has been adopted by the AJC and major American Jewish organizations, Nas-

Framework by Tim Baker

Eric Post is the Long Island director of the American Jewish Committee. Bob Vecchio is the executive director of the Nassau-Suffolk School Boards Association.

A scene from Baldwin Middle School’s production of ‘The Little Mermaid’

LARRY PENNER

BoB VeCCHio