TrooP 40 EaglE Scouts, from left, Kieran Cook, Anthony ‘T.J.’ Egan, Ryan Varley, Joseph Napoli, Lucas Sheehan, Michael O’Hare and Matthew Varney were presented with citations by Rockville Centre Mayor Francis Murray last Friday. The following day, Eagle Scouts Megan Coogan and Cara, Mark and Michael Bo, of Troop 163, were presented with similar accolades for their achievements.
Eleven area scouts earn Eagle rank
By DaNIEl oFFNEr doffner@liherald.comEleven scouts from Rockville Centre — seven members of Troop 40 and four with Troop 163G — have earned at least 21 merit badges, completed projects to help benefit the community and joined the rarefied company of Boy Scouts across the nation who have reached the coveted rank of Eagle.

Kieran Cook, Anthony “T.J.” Egan, Joseph Napoli, Michael O’Hare, Lucas Sheehan, Ryan Varley and Matthew Varney, of Troop 40, were recognized at an Eagle Scout Court of Honor ceremony last Friday at the St. Agnes Parish Center.
“Eagle Scout is the highest honor that can be earned by any Boy Scout,” Eric Ressegger, the troop’s assistant scoutmaster, said during the ceremony. “It reflects many years of hard work, leadership and maturity. Certainly

Continued on page 9
RVC police commissioner announces retirement plans


Rockville Centre Police Commissioner James Vafeades will step down at the end of the month, after five years as head of the department.
“I am retiring very proud of my career and also very proud of the state of our Police Department and where it’s headed,” Vafeades said at the village meeting on Monday. “Rockville Center has always been a special place. The community is truly one of a kind . . . I certainly could not have been successful without the hard work of the great people of the Police
Department. What they do day in and day out is quite something, and I have no doubt that the department will continue to thrive in my absence, and I know that the mayor and board will use their wisdom in selecting my replacement to ensure that the Rockville Centre Police Department remains the best police department in the country.”
Vafeades joined the force in 1990, following in the footsteps of his father, who served as a New York City police officer.
He graduated from St. John’s University with a degree in accounting, and went on to earn a master’s in criminal justice from Molloy University.
Police commissionerVafeades said that during the course of his career in the village, he made many lifelong friends. He even met his future wife while in uniform on an assignment in 1994, and together, he and Kristina have raised two daughters.
Vafeades was promoted to sergeant in 2002, and became a lieu-
tenant in 2010. Thanks to his leadership in the field, he earned the 2010 Municipal Police Chief’s Association Distinguished Service Award. The following year, he attended the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia — an honor reserved for an elite few.
In 2018, he was appointed commissioner of the depart -
ment, and he served throughout the coronavirus pandemic and played a pivotal role in the construction of the new state-of-theart police headquarters on Maple Avenue.
“When it came time for a change of leadership, Jim stood out as a quiet, soft-spoken, efficient manager who, in some Continued on page 18
rockville Center has always been a special place.
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Award ceremony honors parade participants
Three $60,000 checks presented to local, national, and Irish charities
By DANIEL OFFNER doffner@liherald.comThe Rockville Centre St. Patrick’s Day Parade committee gathered at Kasey’s Kitchen and Cocktails on May 24 to present each of the three charities — one local, one national, and one based in Ireland — with a check for $60,000.

“On behalf of the Rockville Centre St. Patrick’s Parade we were delighted to present our 2023 charities … with checks for $60,000 each,” Jackie Kerr, president of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee said in a statement. “This has been our most successful parade since our inception and we give a great deal of thanks to this parade committee and our 2023 Parade Grand Marshal Tommy McNicholas and his family, friends and our local community.”
McNicholas, a second generation Irish immigrant was born and raised in Rockville Centre, where he resides with his wife of 25 years, Denice, and their three children, Alexandria, Ryan and T.J. He is also the owner of Kasey’s Kitchen and Cocktails, which played host to the award ceremony as well as several other charitable events.
“Each year we help raise money for charity,” Rockville Centre St. Patrick’s Day Parade Grand Marshal Thomas McNicholas told the Herald. “For me, that’s what it’s all about.”
Since 1997, the St. Patrick’s Day committee has helped distribute more than $1.4 million to charities all around the world. This year, three checks were presented to the Ryan Patrick O’Shea Foundation, HELP Uganda, and the St. Laserian’s School in Carlow, Ireland.

During the celebration, awards were presented to participants for their performance, design, and overall participation in the parade festivities.
This year, the award for best marching band was presented to Greg Schaefer from Better Home Healthcare, best appearing pipe band was presented to the FDNY Emerald Society Pipes and Drums, best fire and police departments was presented to the Nassau County Sheriffs’ Department Honor Guard, and best in parade was presented to James McDonald from Lost Dog Art and Frame Company. The award for best youth group was a tie between SIBSPlace and School of Rock RVC.
“The night of the awards dinner gave us such pleasure,” Kerr said. “Many of us were in tears. My heart was filled with overwhelming joy for these three charities.”
Known throughout the community as “The Parade that Shares and Cares,” the St. Patrick’s Day Parade committee has continued to help raise money for charity since its humble beginnings on March 22, 1997.
Past charities that have benefited from the parade include the RVC Breast Cancer Coalition, Army Ranger Lead the Way Fund, and the Holy Family School for the Deaf in 2022; The Opening Word, The HEARTest Yard, and The New York Irish Center in 2019; Life’s WORC Family Center for Autism, Family Lives on Foundation, and the Irish American Heritage Museum in Albany in 2018; the Back-
Yard Players and Friends, Breathe Believe, and Pieta House in 2017; the Tommy Brull Foundation, Children’s Tumor Foundation, and the Ballinasloe Eagles Special Olympics Club in 2016, along with countless others in the more than two decades since it started.
BOARD MEMBERs pREsENtED 2023 Grand Marshal Tommy McNicholas, Jr. with parade memorabilia. Parade President Jackie Kerr, left, joins Loreen McLaughlin, Christine Horrocks, Stephanie Lombardi, and Tommy McNicholas, Jr. during the awards presentation at Kasey’s Kitchen and Cocktails.

RVC st. pAtRICk’s Day Parade Board member Kieran Conlon honors the late Andrew Healey, former Rockville Centre Parade president emeritus from 2020 to 2022.
thE AwARD FOR Best Fire Department/Police Department was presented to the Nassau County Sheriffs’ Department Honor Guard.

JUNE 17- July 13
Harassment
■ An Ocean Avenue resident reported on May 26, she received several harassing phone calls from a known person.
■ A Maple Avenue resident reported on May 27, a violation of an order of protection from a social media contact. An arrest was requested.
Property Damage
■ A Maple Avenue resident reported on May 2 that a person known to him sprayed an unknown material on the interior walls of 77 Maple Avenue causing damage. Arrest was requested.
■ A Lakeview Avenue resident reported on May 26 someone entered his property and cut one of his trees down without permission.
Assault
■ A customer reported on June 4, he was assault while at Kasey’s Restaurant.
Larceny
■ A Maine Avenue resident reported on May 22, the catalytic converter was removed from her vehicle while it was parked in her assigned space.
■ St. Agnes Cathedral staff reported on May 27, a key to the tabernacle and a pair of Ray Ban sunglasses were stolen from the Sacresty room.
with Michael and Suzanne Ettinger Attorneys-at-LawQualifying for Medicaid to Pay for Long-Term Care


Spend-down. Look-back. Penalty Period. Uncompensated Transfer. These are just some of the terms Medicaid uses to determine eligibility for long-term care coverage. Medicaid is a combined federal and state program that pays for long-term care at home (community Medicaid) or in a nursing facility (institutional Medicaid). Asset, income and gift rules vary for community Medicaid versus institutional Medicaid.
To qualify for community Medicaid, an individual cannot make more than about $1,700 per month and cannot own more than about $30,000 in assets. A married couple cannot make more than about $2,300 per month and cannot own more than about $40,000 in assets. Applicants can “spend down” excess income to the allowed amount by paying for medical expenses.
To qualify for institutional Medicaid, an individual can keep $50 per month (the excess goes to the nursing home) and cannot own more than about $30,000 in assets. For married couples, the spouse at home can keep about $3,700 per month and can own between about
$75,000 and $130,000 in assets. If the spouse at home makes more than $3,700 per month, she may have to contribute some of the excess to the spouse’s cost of care. For married couples, the residence, up to value of about $1,000,000 and one car are exempt (not counted as assets). Everyone can have a burial trust worth up to $1,500 or any amount in an irrevocable pre-paid funeral trust.
Community Medicaid and institutional Medicaid also differ in “look-back” and gift rules. An institutional Medicaid application asks if you transferred (gifted) any assets in the last five years, hence the “five-year look-back period.” If the answer is yes, the transfer creates a penalty period, which causes a period of ineligibility for Medicaid coverage.
Community Medicaid does not currently have a look-back period, so you may transfer assets out of your name this month and qualify for Medicaid next month. New York is considering imposing a new thirty month lookback for community care in 2024. Now is the time to act to protect your assets.
■ A Maple Avenue resident reported on May 29, a known person stole a clock that was hanging in the lobby of 77 Maple Ave.
■ A Garden City resident reported on May 29, personal items totaling $1,800 were stolen from her vehicle that was parked on Long Beach Road. Items taken include a MacBook, backpack, and two gift cards.
■ A Windsor Avenue resident reported on May 30, someone stole two bicycles from his garage.
■ The manager of U-Haul reported on June 1, someone stole a trailer from the parking lot.
■ A TD Bank customer reported on June 2, someone stole money from her vehicle while another person intentionally distracted her.
Public Lewdness
■ A Woodland Avenue resident reported on May 31, he observed a male expose himself and commit a lewd sexual act on the front porch of his home.
Leaving the Scene
■ A Roosevelt resident reported on May 23, she was struck by a motor vehicle while crossing Merrick Road at the intersection of Long Beach Road.
■ A Valley Stream resident reported on May 27, her vehicle was struck by a white Honda that left the scene on Lincoln Avenue. The victim was treated for injuries at Mount Sinai South Nassau Hospital.
■ A Freeport resident reported on May 29, a vehicle collided with her Toyota Camry while driving on Sunrise Highway and left the scene.
■ A pedestrian reported on June 2, she was struck by a vehicle while crossing Merrick Road, which then left the scene.
■ A motorist reported on June 4, her car was struck by a vehicle that left the scene while she was driving on Lincoln Avenue.
Narcotics Destruction
■ Police transferred 23 lbs. of pharmaceuticals from the drug take-back box on May 30, to Nassau County Police for destruction.
Weapons
■ A Harvard Avenue resident surrendered three handguns owned by her deceased father on May 26. They were delivered to NCPD for destruction.
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.
■ WEB SITE: www.liherald.com/rockvillecentre
■ E-MAIl: Letters and other submissions: rvceditor@liherald.com
■ EDITORIAl DEPARTMENT: Ext. 205 E-mail: rvceditor@liherald.com

SUMMER YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM

Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) is the nation’s largest youth employment program, connecting the Town of Hempstead (TOH) and City of Long Beach youth between the ages of 16 and 20 with career exploration opportunities and paid work experience each summer.


By participating in structured project and work-based opportunities, Long Island youth are better prepared for careers of the future.
WHAT THE PROGRAM OFFERS
Career Exploration: Hone your research skills and uncover exciting new career possibilities.
Structured Work-based Opportunities: If you're a TOH and City of Long Beach youth between the ages of 16 and 20, you can get paid to learn about different careers and make a positive impact in your community through work-based activities.
Work Experiences: TOH and City of Long Beach youth between the ages of 16 and 20 can develop job readiness skills and explore diverse career pathways through paid summer jobs in various industries throughout Nassau County.
Earn Money: Don't miss out on the chance to earn money while gaining valuable experience and exploring your career options!
WORKSITE PARTNERS
Partner with the Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) at HempsteadWorks and provide valuable work experience to youth while expanding your business's staff at no cost. The program pays participant wages in full, so there's no financial burden on the hosting employer. As a SYEP worksite, you can play a vital role in the region's economic development and access a pool of talented, hyperlocal youth who are the future workforce.
Please review the important information below for details on this summer's program.
SYEP 2023:
Participants can work up to 30 hours per week
Rate of pay is $16 per hour, paid by the TOH Participants go through physical clearance and drug screening
Worksite Responsibilities:
Ensuring youth time and attendance procedures are followed, and the timesheets are complete and accurate Supervision of participants, along with guidance and training as appropriate Monitoring youth attendance, punctuality, and job performance
HERALD SpoR t S

Bohan and Daniel spark South Side track
By GARRETT D. URIBE sports@liherald.com




A pair of personal bests extended the seasons of South Side girls’ track and field standouts Claire Bohan and Victoria Daniel at last weekend’s state qualifier at North Shore, following a haul of nine combined All-County and All-Division finishes for the duo, which included Bohan’s two county titles and Daniel’s pair of division championships in May.

Bohan’s 7:23.11 second-place finish in the 2000 steeplechase at the qualifier left her a half-second back of winner Isabella Spagnoli of Great Neck South, ending the South Side junior’s bid at a trip to the state championships this week in Middletown –but the personal-best mark qualified Bohan for the New Balance Nationals Outdoor tournament later this month in Philadelphia.
“Claire has been our most consistent runner, very strong in distance for us,” South Side coach Keith Bosch said of the reigning county indoor and now outdoor champion in the 3000-meter run after winning in a season-best 10:36.33 at last month’s Nassau Class AA championships, where Bohan also took the spring county title in the 1500 meters. “And now she’s going to nationals,” Bosch said.
Daniel, meanwhile, was able to use her secondplace finish in the 100-meter dash at the qualifier as a passport to state – the Cyclones sophomore having met a state standard in the 100 dash at the county meet, placing second in a personal-best 12.48 seconds to ensure a state berth contingent on a top-two finish at the qualifier.
“Victoria Daniel has really blossomed this year;
she keeps getting better and better,” said Bosch, whose team ranked second in Division 3A going 11-1 in regular season meets. “She really came through [at the qualifier] by finishing second place in the hundred.”
Daniel – who won division titles this spring in both the 100 dash and 100 high hurdles – finished All-County in the 100 dash (runner-up) and ran on South Side’s division- and county-title-winning 4x100 relay, alongside juniors Cate Ford and Hannah Porter and senior anchor Jasmine Mason-Rudolph, who finished first at division in the 400-meter intermediate hurdles and second the 100 high hurdles.
“Jasmine really stepped up this year,” Bosch said. “She scored lots of points in league meets as a hurdler, and she’s a vital part of our relay. She doesn’t talk a lot, just performs. A silent assassin.”
Sophomore Lana Jewett took the division title for South Side in the 3000-meter run (11:43.65), while Porter placed second at division in the long jump (15 feet, 11.5 inches). Cyclones junior Morgan McKenna placed third in the 3000 meters to take All-Division honors, as did senior teammate Cameron Coletti, who finished third at division in the 1500 capping her comeback from an injury sustained this winter.
“It’s upsetting such a high-achieving runner didn’t get to run at the level she could have in spring,” Bosch said of the Johns Hopkins University-bound Coletti. “But Cameron had some good races, and she came to practice every day and was like an extra coach.”
“That was really the only real shock this year,” Bosch added. “Overall, we knew we’d be competitive going into the season. This was a very strong team.”
Ron Manfredi/Herald photoHAPPY FATHER'S DAY!


OUR WARM WISHES TO ALL THE AMAZING DADS OUT THERE WHO ARE A CONSTANT SOURCE OF STRENGTH AND SUPPORT FOR THEIR FAMILIES. ENJOY YOUR SPECIAL DAY WITH YOUR LOVED ONES!















Eleven local scouts are honored as Eagles
tonight’s candidates embody these qualities and many others.”
Cook graduated from South Side High School in 2022, and attends Penn State University. His Eagle project consisted of a human sundial, which he constructed in Hempstead Lake State Park. The sundial serves both educational and leisure purposes, allowing users to tell the time in a fun and engaging way while learning about the positions of the sun. On June 4, 2022, Cook’s family members, friends and fellow scouts gathered to help position the sundial’s bricks in the ground.
Egan recently completed his freshman year at North Dakota State University, where he is studying emergency management and hopes to become a member of the New York City Fire Department. He is also a South Side High alumnus, and has been a patrol Leader for Troop 40.
For his project, Egan worked with the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center in Rockville Centre to design and build a reading garden. He primed the soil, planted butterfly bushes and hydrangeas, and added large rocks. A quote from Dr. King is inscribed on a wooden bench that Egan made in woodshop class at the high school: “No person has the right to rain on your dreams.”
Napoli recently completed his freshman year at St. John’s University in Queens. For his project, he combined his passion for the water with his love of nature by
building 16 swallow boxes and two barn owl boxes that were placed in Town of Hempstead marshland.
O’Hare is a sophomore at South Side who plans to graduate with an International Baccalaureate diploma in 2025. For his Eagle project, he led a group of volunteers in improving the United Church Nursery School playground, which included removing and replacing over 25 cubic yards of mulch, expanding the playground and repairing a shed. In 2011 he attended the nursery school at United Church, which is Troop 40’s chartered organization. As an Eagle Scout, he plans to continue to be involved with Troop 40, and would like to become junior assistant scoutmaster in the future.
Sheehan is a sophomore at Kellenberg Memorial High School, where he is active in the Firebird Chorus and Swing band, as well as the drama, communications and yearbook clubs. His project involved leading a group of volunteers in building three raised planter beds at the Sandel Senior Center. Sheehan decided on the project after visiting the center and learning about its gardening club for seniors. He saw that an old shuffleboard court had been converted into outdoor seating, and decided he would help beautify the area with planter beds, which were raised to allow seniors with mobility issues to participate.
Varley graduated with honors from Kellenberg Memorial High School, and is





studying finance at Providence College. Seeing a need for families and caregivers to have safe pathways for children, he designed and created a sensory walkway from the John A. Anderson Recreation Center to the adjacent playground.

Varney will be attending the Citadel military college, where he plans to major in mathematics and hopes to be a Navy pilot. His project consisted of the beautification and repair of benches at the Rosa Lee Day Care.
On Saturday, Megan Coogan and Cara Bo, two of the founding members of Troop 163G — one of the first female troops in the Theodore Roosevelt Council — became Eagle Scouts. Mark and Michael Bo were also recognized for reaching the rank of Eagle Scout at a Court of Honor ceremony at the Parish Center.
Coogan joined the Boy Scouts after her Malverne Girl Scout Troop 2505 disbanded. She graduated from Lynbrook High School in 2022, and is a sophomore at Johnson and Wales University, where she is working toward a degree in media and communications with a minor in advertising. For her project, Coogan organized a textile drive to keep fabric waste out of landfills. Working with the Green Tree Textile Recycling Company, she held two recycling drives, and collected a total of 3,218 pounds of textiles to be recycled.
Cara Bo began her scouting career in 2019, as a founding member of Troop 163G, along with four other girls. During her
time as a scout she has help leadership positions as senior patrol leader, quartermaster, troop guide and instructor.
Cara is a senior at South Side High, and will attend the University of Richmond in the fall. She played tennis at South Side for four years, and was president of the tennis club as a senior. She was also part of the golf team and co-president of the French club. Her love of animals inspired her to focus her project on building insulated shelters at Tanglewood Preserve for feral cats so they can survive the winter.
Her brother Mark is a senior at South Side who will attend St. John’s University School of Pharmacy in the fall. For his project, Mark helped build and install bat boxes at Tanglewood to help increase the bat population, and in turn curb the mosquito population.
Cara’s and Mark’s brother Michael is a senior at South Side High who will be graduating this year with honors. He is president of the Mock Trial and chess clubs. He will attend the University of Richmond in the fall, where he will major either physics or computer science with a track in pre-law. For his Eagle project, he designed and installed new garden areas at the Tanglewood Preserve. As part of the project, he removed invasive plants in order to allow native plants to thrive.
All 11 Eagle Scouts were also presented with citations recognizing their hard work from local politicians, veterans organizations and community groups.
What’s up next door and around the corner
Show on Saturday.
Vintage Fire Trucks and Cars put on display
Dozens of people across the south shore of Long Island gathered at the parking field along N. Centre Avenue in Rockville Centre, on Saturday, June 3 for the third annual Classic Car and Vintage Fire Truck show.

Rockville Centre Mayor Francis Murray said the annual car show has continued to grow each year since it began, thanks to the hard work and dedication of Deputy Mayor Kathy Baxley, who hosts the event every summer.
At the show, people took the opportunity to peruse a variety of different vehicles, from American muscle cars to some more modern custom sports cars.
“It was really well attended,” Baxley said. “I was really happy. I have to say it’s just a simple community thing to bring people together and it seemed to work out really well.”
Baxley said that this year’s car show was bigger than ever before thanks to Dominick Alesi, a Rockville Centre volunteer firefighter, who approached her with the idea of adding vintage fire trucks to this year’s event.

During the show attendees also got a peak at a number of retired police cruisers and antique fire trucks, including some of the vintage apparatuses belonging to the Rockville Centre Fire Department and other neighboring communities including Oceanside and Baldwin.
“Despite the clouds, the antique fire trucks and antique car brought out lots of laughs and great conversations,” Alesi said. “Looking forward to next year’s show.”
–Daniel Offnerone oF many vintage vehicles on display on Saturday, June 3, was this old ‘black and white’ Plymouth Belvedere police vehicle.

this 1986 gran Fury served as police vehicle for the NYPD 106th Precinct in South Queens.












Mount Sinai South Nassau Health Fair on the Long Beach Boardwalk


• Anxiety and depression
• Balance testing
• Blood pressure
• Body Mass Index (BMI)
• Diabetes risk assessment
• Head and neck cancer screening
• Limited podiatry exams
• Memory screening
• Prostate-specific antigen (PSA)
STEPPING OUT
by the basketful
Adventures await in local strawberry fields
By Karen BloomGet outside and get pickin’. Strawberry season has arrived, and those luscious berries beckon. So gather up your gang and venture out to one of the many “u-pick” growers for a day in the berry patch.
Strawberry season reaches its peak here with the transition from spring to summer, as the fruit grows and ripen throughout May and June. Of course, local is always best, so skip the California and Florida fruit from the supermarket and pick your own.








When you return with your bounty, settle in to whip up some yummy strawberry treats. These fresh gems are always terrific on their own, of course. But when used in a recipe? They’ll jazz up any meal.
in strawberry puree until blended. Pour batter into cooled pan. Bake cheesecake about 1 hour 20 minutes, or until edges are just set and center jiggles slightly. Remove from oven and let cool on wire rack 5 minutes.
Stir together sour cream and remaining 2 tablespoons sugar in a medium bowl. Spread sour cream mixture on top of cheesecake in an even layer. Return to oven and bake 5 minutes longer. Turn oven off and prop the door ajar with the handle of a wooden spoon. Let cool in oven 1 hour. Remove from oven and cool completely. Place in refrigerator and chill until cold throughout, 4 to 6 hours, or overnight.
Using the remaining strawberries, halve them and arrange in concentric circles on top of cheesecake to serve.

Iris DeMent

The Americana singer-songwriter Iris DeMent visits the Landmark stage with her timeless songs blending traditional folk, country and gospel influences. With an inimitable voice as John Prine described, ‘like you’ve heard, but not really,’ and unforgettable melodies rooted in hymns and old country music, Iris DeMent is considered one of the finest singer-songwriters in America today. Praised for her storytelling and songwriting abilities, her career has spanned more than three decades, seven studio albums, and collaborations with Prine, Emmylou Harris and Steve Earle, among others. On her new record, ‘Workin’ On A World,’ DeMent faces the modern world — as it is right now — with its climate catastrophe, pandemic and epidemic of violence and social injustice — and implores us to love each other, despite our very different ways of seeing.
Friday, June 9, 8 p.m. $43, $38, $33. Jeanne Rimsky










































Theater at Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington. (516) 767-6444, or LandmarkOnMainStreet.org.
Strawberry Rhubarb Crumble

• 1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1-1/2 cups sugar
• 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
• 16 tablespoons (2 sticks) cold unsalted butter, cut into 1-inch cubes



• 1 cup rolled oats
• 2 pounds rhubarb, strings removed, stalks cut diagonally into 1/2-inch-thick slices


Double Strawberry Cheesecake
A classic cheesecake takes on added flavor with the addition of some luscious berries.
Graham cracker crust
• 1-1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs (about 9-1/2 crackers)
• 1 tablespoon granulated sugar





















• 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
Filling and topping
• 16 ounces strawberries
• 4 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, room temperature











• 1-1/4 cups plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

• 4 large eggs
• 1 cup sour cream
Prepare graham cracker crust:
Preheat oven to 350° F. Stir graham cracker crumbs, melted butter and sugar together in a medium bowl. Press into bottom and at least 1-inch up sides of a 9-inch non-stick springform pan (if pan is not nonstick, brush first with melted butter). Bake until crust is golden brown, about 12 minutes. Let cool completely on a wire rack. Reduce oven to 300° F.
Then prepare filling and topping:
Hull 1/2 of the strawberries and puree in a blender or food processor. You should have about 3/4 cup puree. Beat cream cheese and 1-1/4 cups sugar in an electric mixer fitted with paddle attachment on low speed until smooth. Beat in vanilla until well combined. Add eggs, 1 at a time, on low speed, beating well after each addition, and scraping sides of bowl as needed. Beat
• 4 pints strawberries, sliced




Preheat an oven to 375°F.
In a food processor, pulse together 1-1/2 cups of the flour, 3/4 cup of the sugar and the salt until combined. Add the butter and pulse until the mixture resembles coarse bread crumbs. Add the oats and pulse to combine. Transfer to a bowl.
In another bowl, stir together the rhubarb, strawberries, the remaining 1/4 cup flour, and the remaining 3/4 cup sugar. Spread the fruit filling in a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Using your fingers, press the topping into large clumps and scatter it over the fruit. Bake until the fruit is bubbling and the topping is golden and crisp, about 1 hour. Alternatively, divide the fruit and topping among eight 1/2-cup ramekins and bake for 30 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature. Serves 6 to 8.
Strawberry






Smoothie
• 1 cup coconut milk (or almond milk or your preferred milk)
• 1 cup strawberries (tops removed)
• 1 banana
• 1 cup frozen pineapple chunks
Combine all of your ingredients in your blender in the order that they are listed (liquid on the bottom and frozen on top). Blend until smooth.


His ‘Bronx Tale’
Chazz Palminteri is back on the Paramount stage with his solo version of ‘A Bronx Tale.’ The powerful one-man stage play depicts his bruising childhood, which included witnessing a gangland killing in the Bronx when he was 9. Palminteri plays 18 characters — friends, enemies and family all come alive on stage. ‘A Bronx Tale’ became a hit after he wrote it in 1989, and the most sought after property since ‘Rocky.’ This is the original show he wrote and performed that made him an in-demand character actor and served as the basis of the acclaimed movie and Broadway musical. In the tradition set forth in the 1970s by such icons as director Martin Scorsese and actors Robert DeNiro, Al Pacino and Joe Pesci, Palminteri has brought grit, muscle and an evocative realism to the sidewalks of his New York neighborhood, violent as they are and were.
Sunday, June 11, 7:30 p.m., $99.50, $89.50, $79.50, $59.50, $49.50. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Visit Ticketmaster.com or ParamountNY. com for tickets/information.

THE SCENE
The Bacon Brothers

That ‘Footloose’ feeling comes alive when Kevin Bacon takes to the stage, Friday, June 23, 8 p.m., as one-half of the Bacon Brothers, at The Space at Westbury. Bound by blood and a mutual love of American roots music, Michael and Kevin Bacon have spent the past quarter-century in a creative whirl, funneling their shared DNA into a genre-bending sound. They call that sound “Forosoco” — a blend of folk, rock, soul, and country influences, delivered by two songwriters who were born to collaborate — and it’s taken the siblings across the world, from shows in Japan to performances at American landmarks like Carnegie Hall and the Grand Ole Opry. The Bacon Brothers turn a new page with their 11th release, “Erato,” whose five songs showcase the duo’s dynamic contrasts: quiet moments and big payoffs, organic instrumentation and electronic textures, self-penned songs and high-profile collaborations. Ticket are $45-$80; available at TheSpaceAtWestbury.com. The Space, 250 Post Ave. Westbury.
June 8
Breastfeeding Support Group

On exhibit
Nassau County Museum of Art’s exhibition, “Eye And Mind: The Shin Collection,” highlights the extraordinary collection masterworks assembled by 31-year-old connoisseur Hong Gyu

Shin, an internationally recognized figure in the global art world. He shares his treasures, including works by Whistler, Lautrec, Boucher, Daumier, Delacroix, Klimt, Schiele, Balthus, Warhol, de Kooning, Gorky and many other important names from art history provocatively juxtaposed with the painting and sculpture of our own time from both Asia and the West. On view through July 9. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. (516) 484-9337 or NassauMuseum.org.
Mercy Hospital offers a peer to peer meeting for breastfeeding support and resources, facilitated by a certified breastfeeding counselor, every Thursday, 10:30 a.m.–11:30 a.m. Bring your baby (newborn to 1 year) to the informal group setting. All new moms welcome, regardless of delivering hospital. Registration required. Call breastfeeding counselor, Gabriella Gennaro, at (516) 7052434 to secure a spot. Mercy Hospital, St. Anne’s Building, 1000 North Village Ave., Rockville Centre. For information visit CHSLI.org.







Relay for Life
The American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life is one of the largest peer-to-peer fundraising events in the world. Join the effort, Saturday, June 10, 2-11 p.m., South Side High School’s main field. 150 Shepherd St., in Rockville Centre.



Stoosh Summer Fashion Show
Stoosh Boutique invites all to an outdoor summer fashion event, Saturday, June 10, 6-9 p.m. With collections from global designers, along with music and good vibes. 89 N. Park Ave. Tickets are $66.23, available on Eventbrite.com.
South Side High School Graduation
South Side High School’s 132nd Commencement ceremony is held, Friday, June 23, at 5 p.m. at Hofstra University’s David Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex. For more information visit RVCSchools. org.







Whale of a Drink fundraiser

Support The Whaling Museum by participating in Sandbar restaurant’s Whale of a Drink, Whale of a Cause fundraising effort, now t hrough June 21 . Enjoy the Sandbar’s iconic cocktail, the Whalebone, and a portion of the purchase will be donated to the museum. A “mocktail” version is also available. To help promote the fundraiser, mixologist Dan Leopold will offer a mixology demonstration and Whalebone tasting at the Museum’s Whales & Ales event on June 3, 2:30-3 p.m. Funds will support the Whaling Museum’s community education programs during its 2023 summer season. 55 Main St, Cold Spring Harbor. For information, visit SandbarColdSpringHarbor. com.
Passion for Pride

Celebrate Israel

Salute Israel and celebrate the nation’s 75 years of independence, while welcoming Eisenhower Park’s summer concert season, when Sid Jacobson JCC joins the Jewish Community Relations Council of Long Island for IsraelFest, Sunday, June 11 Enjoy family activities, 4-6 p.m., followed by concert with Israeli pop singer-songwriter Harel Skatt, 6-8 p.m. The Long Island Cantors Ensemble also performs. Bring seating. Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, Eisenhower Park, East Meadow. For more information, visit SJJCC.org/israelfest.
June
Support PFY, a division of Long Island Crisis Center, at a 30th Anniversary Benefit celebration, Tuesday, June 13, 6-10 p.m. With drag bingo and performances by Ivy Stalls and Syn; also special guest honoree actor-author-activist Maulik Pancholy. The event, honoring PFY’s 30 years serving Long Island/Queens’ LGBTQ+ communities, is at Westbury Manor, 1100 Jericho Turnpike, Westbury. For more information and tickets, go to tinyurl.com/ pfyevent2023.
Storytelling competition

Enjoy an evening of epic storytelling with finalists of Debra Ehrhardt’s 2nd annual storytelling competition, Saturday, June 10, 4 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., at The New Vibe Lounge. Following the storytelling event, stick around for a Pocketbook Bingo fundraiser. All proceeds benefit the Bathroom Project. 60 N. Park Ave., Rockville Centre. Tickets and more information available online at AllEvents.in.



Having an event?











Items on The Scene page are listed free of charge. The Herald welcomes listings of upcoming events, community meetings and items of public interest. All submissions should include date, time and location of the event, cost, and a contact name and phone number. Submissions can be emailed to thescene@liherald.com.










On stage Families will enjoy another musical adventure, ripped from the pages of Mo Willems’ beloved children’s books, on the Long Island Children’s Museum stage, Friday, June 9, 10:15 a.m. and noon; Wednesday through Friday, June 14-16, 10:15 a.m. and noon. This musical comedy adventure stars Willems’ beloved character The Pigeon, who is eager to try anything and everything. When a bus driver takes a break from the route, a very unlikely volunteer springs up to take the driver’s place — a pigeon. The audience is part of the action, in this innovative mix of songs, silliness and feathers. $9 with museum admission ($7 members), $12 theater only. Long Island Children’s Museum, Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 224-5800 or LICM.org.


‘The Beautiful and Damned’
Enjoy a musical interpretation of the classic novel at Westbury House, Friday, June 9, 7-10 p.m. Before there was Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote “The Beautiful and Damned”: a story that delves into the psychological tribulations of, at first, having everything you’ve ever wanted. What first presents itself as a beautiful love story quickly turns harrowing as the characters struggle to keep themselves afloat. As New York City tumbles into the Jazz Age, Fitzgerald’s characters tumble down a financial and psychological spiral they may never recover from. This adaptation by Long Island native Brooke Di Spirito combines Fitzgerald’s meticulously detailed novel with the elements of a stage musical: a brand new script, score, choreography. Reservations required. $40. 71 Old Westbury Rd., Old Westbury. For information contact (516) 333-0048 or visit OldWestburyGardens.org.





June 9

















Zappia named principal of Riverside Elementary
By DANIEL OFFNER doffner@liherald.com


Chris Zappia, a 5th-grade teacher at Covert Elementary School in Rockville Centre, will be joining the school district’s administrative team, as the new principal of Riverside Elementary School next year.
The announcement was made on May 31, during the last regular meeting of the Rockville Centre Board of Education for the 2022 - 2023 school year.

“Throughout his tenure, Chris has consistently demonstrated his leadership abilities and unwavering dedication to education and students here in Rockville Centre,” Superintendent Matt Gaven said.
Zappia joined the district in 2004. In addition to his responsibilities as a teacher he has taken over various roles in the district.
Gaven said that prior to making the announcement, he has heard from some very sad parents at Covert as well as some very excited parents at Riverside about the promotion.
“I am absolutely beyond thrilled to welcome Chris to the leadership team,” Gaven said. “He is well deserving and both administrators will make a welcome addition to our RVC family.”
Over the course of his career in the district, he has helped lead the Teacher Center — a collaborative effort with the district and the teachers to provide professional development for our faculty.
Zappia has also played an integral role in coordinating the summer regents prep and academic enrichment program and has supervised the summer Pre-K program, which focuses on preparing students for kindergarten.
“I’m very excited to work with parents, teachers and students at Riverside and helping them to grow academically, socially, and emotionally,” Zappia said. “I’m looking forward to the start of a great thing.”
School board Trustee Erica Messier said, “I am looking forward to all the amazing things you’ll bring to the district.”
Trustee Tara Hackett echoed her remarks, adding that Zappia will make a wonderful addition to the team and that she looks forward to working with him in the coming year.
“I am so excited for you and your next chapter,” Hackett said. “The Riverside students are in for a treat.”
In addition, Gaven also appointed a new member of the administrative team. Samantha Dias helped spearhead technology integration initiatives, led the bilingual education program, and chaired the Instructional Support Team at the California Avenue School in Uniondale.
“Her invaluable experience in these areas makes her the perfect fit for the coordinator position,” Gaven said. “In her new role, Dr. Dias will work closely with Dr. Moriarty, our assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, to develop curriculum to coordinate professional development opportunity and foster collaboration among our faculty and administration to ensure instructional alignment.”
News brief
Clare Gehlich joins Rockville Centre Herald
Clare Gehlich, student from Stony Brook University, joins the Long Island Herald as an intern.
Gehlich, who is 20 and from Merrick, will be writing stories in the Rockville Centre Herald paper.
She is looking forward to writing profiles and local features. At Stony Brook, Gehlich’s major is journal -
ism and her minor is political science.
Gehlich is also the assistant arts and culture editor at The Statesman, a newspaper at Stony Brook University. She will bring her talent to the Herald as she works here for the next couple of months.


Police Commissioner James Vafeades to retire
continued from front page


ways, no one saw coming, and then, slowly, without a lot of fanfare, with almost no drama, a good department became a great one,” Village Trustee Michael Sepe said. “Our residents uniformly tell us how surprised they are about how helpful and professional and polite … our police officers are. That’s not an accident. That’s a reflection of who runs it.”
As commissioner, Vafeades has been responsible for planning, organizing, supervising and directing the activities of all 58 officers and 36 civilian employees in the department. He was also instrumental in researching and providing the equipment the department needed through budgeting and grant programs, working closely with Mayor Francis Murray and the village board.
Throughout his tenure, Vafeades has been involved in all aspects of the department’s activities, from supervising patrols to working with anti-gang, anti-crime, juvenile and traffic units. He has overseen special events, and led local and federal crime investigations. He has also been involved in several community programs, including the RVC Coalition for Youth.
“Commissioner Vafeades has proved that he is a phenomenal ambassador to what it means to be a police officer in Rockville Centre: smart, compassionate and determined to keep our village a community where all people feel safe and
are safe,” Murray said. “It is because of his hard work and commitment that Rockville Centre has been cited as one of the safest cities in the United States of America.”
The village board presented Vafeades
with a plaque in recognition of his knowledge, leadership, dedication and selfless service. He leaves behind big shoes for the board to fill as it searches for his replacement.
In addition to the announcement of
Vafeades’s retirement at Monday’s meeting, the board also acknowledged the retirements of Chris O’Leary, director of the Sandel Senior Center, and Sepe, who announced that he would not run for another term as village trustee.

Herbert Rosenberg, a World War II veteran, and longtime Rockville Centre resident, died at his home on Cleveland Avenue on May 25, 2023, at the age of 102. He is remembered fondly by his family, friends, and the community including fellow mem bers of American Legion Post 303.
Born Nov. 6, 1921 to the late Gazella and Joseph Rosenberg, he grew up in the Bronx with his older sister, Thelma, and younger sister, Nadine.

Rosenberg was drafted by the US Army in 1942 where he served in the Air Corps for three years, work ing his way up to the rank of staff sergeant and becoming the right waist gunner on a B-17 bomber.
He served with the 452nd Bom bardment Group in 1944, when their aircraft was shot down by German fighters during a mission over Poznan, Poland, and made a crash landing in Nazi-occupied Denmark. Rosenberg along with members of the crew were captured as prisoners of war and sent to the Stalag Luft 17 prison camp.
of war.
He spent 15 months in the camp before the German guards abandoned all prisoners in a forest nearby, where they were eventually rescued by American soldiers and returned home.
He met his future wife, Barbara Ulman, while he was on a road trip to Toronto, when his friend’s car broke down in the Catskills. One of his uncles owned a resort in the area, so he decided to go there and that is where he met Ulman, who was staying as a guest.
The two married in 1949 and settled down in the area around the mid-1950s. Together they had three children, Carol, Joan and Robert.
After the war, Rosenberg attended a
WWII veteran Herbert Rosenberg, dead at 102 Margaret Mary Kemp, 90
trade school for pharmacology and went on to open Herbro Pharmacy in nearby East Rockaway, where he continued to work for 25 years before retiring.

Over the years he received many accolades for his wartime contributions. In 2016, he was presented with a prisoner of war medal from the Department of Defense, recognizing his survival in the camp as a Jewish-American soldier. He later received a proclamation from the Village of Rockville Centre in 2021 in recognition of his service and was named Grand Marshal of the Rockville Centre Memorial Day Parade in 2022.
His wife Barbara, who died in 2017, preceded him in death. He is survived by their three kids, 15 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
Margaret Mary (Peggy) Kemp (nee McCutcheon) died peacefully on May 22, 2023 at the age of 90. Peggy was a Rockville Centre resident for over 35 years, an East Quogue resident for 23 years, and lived in Viera, Florida since 2018.

Beloved wife of Jack for 68 years, devoted father to Brian (Jane), Kim (Peter), Kathy, Jackie (Will), Michael (Heather). Cherished grandmother to 15 and great-grandmother to 19. She was preceeded in death by her two sisters, Catherine Fox and Joan Meaney.
Peggy loved to golf with her husband and grandkids. She was an avid Mets fan and enjoyed her emails and FaceTiming with all of her family. Margaret Mary (Peggy) kemp
Fire companies pass annual inspection



Prior to the Memorial Day festivities on May 29, each of the Rockville Centre Volunteer Fire companies gathered in the parking field along N. Centre Avenue for their annual inspection.
Rockville Centre Mayor Francis Murray, Deputy Mayor Kathy Baxley, Village Trustee Emilio Grillo and Village Trustee Katie Conlon joined Fire Chief Scott Mohr, 1st Assistant Chief Tony Rugolo and 2nd Assistant Chief Pat Healey in inspecting each of the fire truck apparatuses.
–Daniel Offner
Public Notices
LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT

COUNTY OF NASSAU, U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS TRUSTEE FOR NRZ PASS-THROUGH TRUST VII, Plaintiff, vs. ALEXIS LIBEROVSKY, ET AL., Defendant(s).
Pursuant to an Order
Confirming Referee Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on January 30, 2019, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the front steps on the north side of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court
#6202/12. This foreclosure sale will be held on the north side steps of the Courthouse, rain or shine. COVID-19 safety protocols will be followed at the foreclosure sale. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or LEGAL NOTICE Notice is hereby given that an on-premise restaurant full liquor license, Serial #1360978 has been removed from by Rock Solid Partners Inc that sold sell beer, wine, cider and liquor at retail in a Restaurant. Was For on premises consumption under the ABC Law at 9 South Village Avenue Rockville Centre, Nassau, NY 11570. 139951
LROC1 0608 PUBLIC AND LEGAL NOTICES… Printed in this publication can be found online. To search by publication name, go to: www.newyorkpublicnotices.com June 8, 2023 — ROCKVILLE CENTRE HERALD 20
RoCkville CentRe village Trustee Emilio Grillo, left, Village Trustee Katie Conlon, Deputy Mayor Kathy Baxley, Chief of the Fire Department Scott Mohr, 1st Assistant Chief Tony Rugolo, and 2nd Assistant Chief Pat Healey do a walk-through to inspect each of the fire engines.

Rockville Centre receives AAA bond rating
Mayor Francis Murray announced that the Village of Rockville Centre has once again received the highest possible bond rating from Standard & Poor’s Global Ratings — one of the top credit rating services.
Rockville Centre’s AAA rating for public improvement bonds means that the village can secure a lower interest rate on bonds, reducing the cost to taxpayers.
“I am extremely proud of the village’s S&P rating,” Murray said in a statement. “My administration has remained diligent in bringing about fiscal discipline to the operation of our village while not impacting services. As S&P noted, conservative budget practices have enabled us to build a track record of positive financial results. Much of this can be attributed to the professional team we have in place in Rockville Centre, including our department
heads, Comptroller Dennis Morgan, and Village Administrator Nancy Howard.”
The S&P report went on to say that the rating reflects its assessment on good financial management policies and practices, conservative budgeting, recurring surpluses and very strong reserves.
“We are pleased that S&P recognized the importance of our strong financial practices,” Comptroller Dennis Morgan commented. “Rockville Centre’s strong financial position is a direct correlation to the leadership and support in place that starts at the top with the Mayor and Board of Trustees.” S&P Global Ratings is a credit rating agency that publishes financial research and analysis on stocks, bonds, and commodities and provides high-quality market intelligence in the form of credit ratings, research, and thought leadership.
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Administrative Opening Monticello Central School
Assistant Secondary Principal
The successful candidate should possess: Knowledge of research-based instructional programs & practices; exp. w/ teacher supervision & evaluation; a record of successfully improving learning experiences and enhancing school to home communication; and can provide a supportive environment with knowledge of social-emotional competencies, restorative practices, and promote a culturally responsive educational climate.
Salary Range: $95,000 to $105,000 NYS SDA/SDL/SBL Certification Required plus 3 yrs. exp. as a classroom teacher preferred. Please apply online by June 15th at https://monticelloschools.tedk12.com/hire or OLAS EOE

DRIVING
OUTSIDE SALES
Administrative Opening Monticello Central School High School Principal

The Monticello CSD is seeking forward thinking and dynamic School Building Principal who can lead MCSD’s highly engaged faculty, staff, parents, students, and community. The successful candidate will have a vision of educational excellence, be highly motivated, and demonstrates an ability to impact student learning.
Starting Salary: $150,000 NYS SDA/SAS/SBL Certification Required plus 2 yrs. of previous administrative leadership and 3 yrs. exp as a classroom teacher preferred. Please apply online by June 15th at https://monticelloschools.tedk12.com/hire or OLAS EOE 113456
Assistant Elementary Principal
The successful candidate should possess: Knowledge of research-based instructional programs & practices; exp. w/ teacher supervision & evaluation; a record of successfully improving learning experiences and enhancing school to home communication; and can provide a supportive environment with knowledge of social-emotional competencies, restorative practices, and promote a culturally responsive educational climate.
Salary Range: $95,000 to $105,000 NYS SDA/SDL/SBL Certification Required plus 3 yrs. exp as a classroom teacher preferred. Please apply online by June 15th at https://monticelloschools.tedk12.com/hire or OLAS EOE
EDITOR/REPORTER
The award-winning Herald Community Newspapers group, covering Nassau County's North and South Shores with hard-hitting news stories and gracefully written features, seeks a motivated, energetic and creative editor/reporter to join our dynamic (and awesome) team! This education and general assignment reporting position offers a unique experience to learn from some of the best in the business. Historically, reporters who have launched their careers with us have gone on to The New York Times, Newsweek, Newsday, the New York Daily News, New York Post, CNN, BBC, NBC News and The Daily Mail, among many others. We look for excellent writers who are eager to learn, enhance their skills, and become well-established and respected journalists in our industry.
To apply: Send a brief summary in the form of a cover letter describing your career goals and what strengths you can bring to our newsroom, along with a resume and three writing samples to mhinman@liherald.com
LINE COOK: Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday 10am-6pm. Sandwiches/ Salads. Beach Restaurant. Great Summer Job. 516-835-2819
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Looking for an aggressive self starter who is great at making and maintaining relationships and loves to help businesses grow by marketing them on many different advertising platforms. You will source new sales opportunities through inbound lead follow-up and outbound cold calls. Must have the ability to understand customer needs and requirements and turn them in to positive advertising solutions. We are looking for a talented and competitive Inside Sales Representative that thrives in a quick sales cycle environment. We offer salary, commission, bonuses, health benefits, 401K and paid time off. Will consider part time. Please send cover letter and resume with salary requirements to ereynolds@liherald.com Call 516-569-4000 X286
Richner Communications, One of the Fastest Growing Media, Event and Communications Companies on Long Island is Seeking a Sales/Marketing Candidate to Sell our Print Media Products and our Digital, Events, Sponsorships. Salary, Commission, Eligible for Health Benefits, 401k and Paid Time Off. Will Consider Part Time. Please Send Cover Letter and Resume with Salary Requirements to rglickman@liherald.com or Call 516-569-4000 X250

PRESS-ROOM/WAREHOUSE HELP
Long Island Herald has IMMEDIATE openings for a FULL-TIME Pressroom/warehouse helper in Garden City. We are a busy print shop looking for a motivated and reliable individuals to assist in various duties in the shop. Forklift experience is a plus and heavy lifting is required. Hours vary, so flexibility is key. Email resumes or contact info to careers@liherald.com


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2 BR, 2 Bth Coop in Garden Town. Gourmet Kit W/Thermdore St Steel Appl Opens Into DR & LR. Primary BR w/Bth Plus Spac 2nd BR. W/D in Unit. New Self Controlled CAC. Oak Flrs, LED Lights. Near LIRR. Parking Avail. SD#14. You Don't Want to Miss This...$359,000 Ronnie Gerber, Douglas Elliman 516-238-4299
HEWLETT BA 1534 Broadway #205, Open House By Appt, BIG REDUCTION!! MOTIVATED SELLER!!Extra Large 2000 Sq Ft, 2 Bedroom(Originally 3 BR), 2 Bath Condo in Prestigious Jonathan Hall with Doorman & Elevator. Updtd Wood/Quartz Kit, LR & DR. Washer/Dryer in Unit. Underground Pkg. Loads of Closets. Terrace Faces Back. Easy Ranch Style Living...$579,000 Ronnie Gerber, Douglas Elliman 516-238-4299
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Condo in Prestigious Jonathan Hall with Doorman & Elevator. Updtd Wood/Quartz Kit, LR & DR. Washer/Dryer

Removing a deck to add a room
Q. We started planning a project to add a room, 303 square feet, in 2015, and due to many delays, we received approval for a permit only in January of this year. The costs from when we originally started planning until now increased from an estimated $80,000 to almost $200,000. Part of the work was to remove the previous owner’s handicapped-accessible deck with a permitted roof, which, thankfully, we don’t need. We got an alternative estimate for a paving-block patio, which we understand doesn’t need a permit in our town if it’s on the ground. The contractor even said we could cover the entire yard. We still want to keep the roof, so do we need a permit for the patio, and do we need a permit for the footings to continue supporting the roof we want to keep?


IA. You can see, firsthand, what has happened with the economy and costs. Fortunately, you have an alternative to save money. People who are planning enclosed rooms aren’t as fortunate in the economy we’re now facing.
Park Avenue Rockville Centre NY, 11570 516.678.1510

I have always recommended patios, properly drained, supported and finished, over the other choice of decking, where possible, not just because many jurisdictions don’t require a permit for the paving, but also because the maintenance is less for a patio, and it will last much longer than a deck system. Some communities have regulations for a permit to be filed for paving to show the authorities that the paving is “permeable” — that it still allows rain to seep into the ground to recharge the water supply deep in the earth below. Your location is in a town that doesn’t require a permit for anything that’s built less than 8¼ inches above the ground. Incidentally, the magic of 8¼ inches isn’t arbitrary; it’s the maximum height of a step in the building code.

I just returned from a trade fair where I had the opportunity to discuss material pricing with many suppliers, and the consensus is that prices for commodity materials such a raw lumber and cement will begin to fluctuate downward, but many said that they don’t anticipate manufactured items to come down again. Just as real estate has seen a dramatic increase, so now have materials and construction in general.

The biggest concern we should all have, if we care about the next generation and the health of our economy, is whether they will ever be able to afford what their parents had. Currently, only 9 percent of the next generation of American families own or have a mortgage on a home, while the majority of the generation has had to find alternatives, such as multi-generational living arrangements or apartments, trailers or recreational vehicles as permanent living, according to Building magazine, among other building information resources. I hope the existing deck roof already has a correct supporting footing in the ground. If not, good luck!
© 2022 Monte Leeper

















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Now pitching, after five weeks on the injury list ...
Last week I had the opportunity to throw out the first pitch before a Long Island Ducks game against the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs. The game was played at the Ducks’ home field, the Fairfield Properties Ballpark in Central Islip. The Ducks played well, and won 9-2. A normal person reading this might say, that’s nice, but no big deal.
Real baseball fans, however, don’t fit the definition of normal. For one thing, they never really grow up, and being on a professional baseball field, even just to throw one pitch before the game has even begun, is for many a childhood dream.
But living this dream includes living through and overcoming incredible tension and fear of failure. This is especially true if you happen to be a politician who knows that no matter how beloved you think you might be, there are thousands of fans just waiting to see you suffer the ignominious fate of bouncing the
pitch before it crosses home plate and settles into the catcher’s mitt. I know of several otherwise courageous politicians who will never accept the offer (or challenge) to throw out the first pitch. Or if they do develop some nerve, they throw the ball from well in front of the rubber, which, of course, is atop the pitcher’s mound, 60 feet, 6 inches from home plate.
To me, that shortened version doesn’t count as a real first pitch, so I always summoned the courage — more than I ever needed to deliver a major speech on the floor of Congress — to pitch from the rubber, and always succeeded, except for the one time, which I will never forget and always regret, when the ball faded away at the last instant and drifted off at the front of the batter’s box, forcing the catcher to make what looked like a hockey goalie’s acrobatic save.
Last week’s first pitch was particularly stressful. I had been successfully operated on for stomach cancer less than five weeks before, during which part of my stomach was removed and I was left with a 9-inch-long incision that
had to heal. The surgeon, who probably considered referring me to a psychiatrist, consented to my first-pitch antics if I threw it “softly” from in front of the mound. Reluctantly I agreed to those terms and conditions. Walking to the mound, I felt more tension than when I was being wheeled into the operating room.
But both times, my prayers were answered. The surgery had been successful, the pitch was over the plate, and the incision didn’t reopen.
Separate from my baseball delusions, I can’t tell you how much I appreciate being able to associate with the Ducks organization. The team and its owner, Frank Boulton, have been a Long Island institution for a quarter century. Playing in the Atlantic League, the Ducks bring a solid, high level of baseball to Long Island.
Their roster invariably includes future and past major leaguers, the most current and prominent being their designated hitter, former Mets great Daniel Murphy. Also notable is their manager, Wally Backman, the star second base-
man on the Mets’ 1986 World Series champion team. No one, though, has been more beloved in Ducks history than Bud Harrelson, the Mets’ All-Star shortstop when they won the 1969 Series, who was a Ducks coach and team vice president for so many years until he had to step aside because of Alzheimer’s.
The Ducks are an integral part of the Long Island community, being active in charitable and veterans events and making their home games family-friendly and affordable. Being at a Ducks game is like viewing a Norman Rockwell painting depicting real America: kids, parents and grandparents enjoying an afternoon or evening of baseball; members of local organizations singing the pre-game national anthem; veterans, police officers and firefighters being honored on the field. All this and so much more makes me appreciate the Ducks and what they mean to Long Island.
Boulton initially invited me to throw out a first pitch at a game back in 2002, and it has been an honor to be invited back over the years. I’m proud to call Frank my friend and proud to be a loyal Ducks fan. Play ball!
Peter King is a former congressman, and a former chair of the House Committee on Homeland Security.

No, I don’t have time to answer your survey
You don’t have a moment, and neither do I, but what does that matter? Ubiquitous, intrusive and endless surveys are a good idea gone rogue.
Suddenly, all of life’s experiences are followed up with an emailed questionnaire asking you to rate your doctor, car rental, pet groomer, colorist, breakfast cereal, political candidate, wine, motel, coffee or underpants. Have a moment? Have a moment? Have a moment?
vey popped up on my phone before I even left the premises. It was pages long and asked my input on everything from the hygiene of the location to the friendliness of staff at all levels and my thoughts about ever returning to that center or recommending it to others.
RANDI KREISS

The basic idea of soliciting people’s opinions about service and products and experiences is sound. But, as with many decent ideas today, folks are beating it to death with overuse. You can’t make simple purchases without the inevitable survey landing in your inbox.
Let’s agree that there are surveys you will consider answering and some you delete immediately for very good reason.
Example: I hurt my wrist last week and went to a local urgent care. The sur-
I was impressed with the place, the efficiency and the kindness of the staff and the thoroughness of the doctor. I was not so happy with one of the medical support people who poked around my wrist with some indifference to my pain level, and there was a place on the form to say so. I gladly filled out the online survey and happily signed my name. I will probably not go back there again, because I have my own doctor. That’s why I felt safe to relinquish anonymity.
meal when I complained about an eatery we frequent.
brain, I believe my doctor somehow can access the surveys and find out who threw him under the bus. I can imagine him in the evenings, poring over the surveys, tracking the patients who mentioned how freezing the examining rooms are or how frustrating the office phone system can be. He’s the guy with the needles and potions and sharp instruments at his disposal; I would never put anything online that wasn’t in the order of high praise. No. No surveys for me at my doctor’s office.
but fill out surveys, I would be giving feedback to Chukar Cherries, my food gift outlet of choice; Optum RX, my mail order drug company; Amazon; The Washington Post; BridgeBase, my online game site; UPS; Marriott Hotels; Chewy, my go-to store for pet supplies; American Airlines; and every magazine to which I ever subscribed.
But I have a busy life, and in order to discover how well I’m doing in my own arena, I developed a small survey for my son and daughter to complete. Just five easy-to-answer questions, which I emailed to them last week:
1. Did you have a happy childhood?
A few days later, I had a follow-up appointment with my physician to check my wrist. I see him twice a year. I chose him as my doctor because I like him and the way he works with patients. By the time I got into my car, swish, the survey popped up.
In the most suspicious part of my
Open Table, the restaurant reservation website, sends surveys all the time, soliciting consumers’ opinions about everything from food to service to ambience. In one happy exchange, I wrote a seriously negative review of a restaurant we frequent, explaining that our experience seemed to be an anomaly but it was awful, and I wanted the owner to know. I signed my name.
The owner called me and invited us back for a free dinner. We went. It was great. I said so in a follow-up survey. Good. Good.
Now, if I had nothing to do in my life
2. Do you have any memories of the time I flipped out, took the car and ran away from home when you were 5 and 2?
3. Why don’t you call more often?
4. Have you ever told a therapist any family secrets?
5. What are your feelings about adult children taking in their parents?
No surprise: There has been a complete communication blackout. I guess answering anonymously wasn’t an option.
Copyright 2023 Randi Kreiss. Randi can be reached at randik3@aol.com.
But we got a free
This time I had no choice but to throw from in front of the mound.
Our armed forces need your help
there were more than a dozen of them — some wearing caps denoting their military service, others in full uniform. They were veterans of various conflicts over the past several decades, many of them members of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2736 in East Meadow. They paid a visit to East Meadow High School ahead of Memorial Day to ensure that the true meaning of the annual observance of those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for freedom was not forgotten.
“We wanted to come here and tell the high school students what it was like to serve,” one veteran, Frank Belardo, said. “We wanted to do this before Memorial Day to teach the students, and honor those who did not come home.”
But that wasn’t the only thing on the minds of the veterans as they met with social studies classes that day.
“It seems like less kids are going down that route of joining the military,” Navy veteran Tom Kelly said. “So you just have to keep reminding them about the commitment to America, and how proud we are. It’s something that should be carried on. It seems like it’s a dying art these days, but I hope not.”
Kelly wasn’t exaggerating. America’s military forces are struggling to recruit new members. The Army, for example, missed its recruiting goal by 25 percent last year, according to the military industry news outlet War on the Rocks. In fact, the Army believes its overall forces will be reduced by 20,000 soldiers by September — part of an overall downward trend across the branches.
Young people just don’t see the military in the same light that previous generations did. They are bombarded by images of war, death and gruesome injuries, as well as many soldiers returning home and dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder.
Yet that’s not the only factor causing a drain of personnel in the armed forces. The nation’s low unemployment rate means there’s less incentive for many to seek out the military. And the sheer number of people eligible to serve is lower than ever.
A Pentagon study last year determined that 77 percent of America’s 17- to 24-yearold population wouldn’t qualify without some kind of waiver. Many are overweight. Others abuse drugs and alcohol. And then there’s the growing number of young people who wouldn’t qualify because of mental and physical health issues, especially in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
More than 44 percent, the study concluded, would be disqualified for more than one reason.

U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis, of North Carolina, a ranking Republican member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, shared during a hearing last year that “every single metric tracking the military recruiting environment is going in the wrong direction.”
“To put it bluntly, I am worried we are now in the early days of a long-term threat to the all-volunteer force,” Tillis said, according to Military.com. There is “a small and declining number of Americans who are eligible — and interested — in military service.”
So, what can be done? Many military leaders and lawmakers are trying to figure that out. The branches already offer a number of incentives to new recruits — from signing bonuses to education funding, solid (and free) medical care, room and board allowances, and a month of vacation every year, among other things.
But we must do more — and maybe we can, right here, closer to home. The Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps has been a fixture in thousands of high schools — and even some middle schools — across the country since 1916. It gives young people a taste of what it’s like to serve, without leaving home. And it has been instrumental in not only providing stability for many young people over the decades, but recruiting for military service as well, since nearly half of them eventually do that.
The problem? There aren’t enough JROTC programs, especially in New York. Especially on Long Island. The vast majority are concentrated in the Southeast, according to the Rand Corp. South Caroli-
na and Georgia, for example, boast JROTC programs in far more than half their schools. New York? It’s less than 10 percent.
JROTC has been great at addressing demographic representation by being in many schools with larger ethnic diversity, Rand says. But geographic representation is severely lacking. Just 16 percent of young people live in states with high numbers of JROTC programs, while more than half of the total population of teenagers are in 28 states like New York where such programs are lacking.
More schools need to offer JROTC, but they can’t do it alone. Congress needs to expand JROTC overall — and pay for that expansion, retired U.S. Army Lt. Gen. David Barno and Johns Hopkins professor Nora Bensahel say. At the same time, members of Congress — on both sides of the aisle — need to stop using the military as a political football.
“Painting the entire U.S. military as either woke or extremist undermines public support for the institution and the people in uniform, and often deflects examination of concrete problems that are affecting military capabilities and readiness,” Barno and Bensahel told War on the Rocks. “Elected officials should stop making broad assertions about the entire force, and instead focus their legitimate oversight role on the senior officials who testify in front of Congress.”
The brave men and women — like those who visited East Meadow High School — should forever be honored by all of us. But let’s not let their service and sacrifice become part of a dying breed.
Why I voted for a casino at the Coliseum
since 2014 I have had the privilege of representing the residents of the 2nd District at the Nassau County Legislature. Throughout that time, I have contemplated and made decisions on a full spectrum of controversial and consequential issues. Deciding whether or not to execute a lease transfer agreement between the county and Las Vegas Sands was one of the most difficult decisions I have been confronted with to date.
What made it so challenging is the fact that I don’t have the luxury of analyzing this or any other issue that comes before me as a lawmaker through a one-dimensional lens.

Because I am entrusted with overseeing and safeguarding Nassau County’s fiscal future, I had to carefully considering the tax revenue, economic development and job creation opportunities presented by the resort and casino Las Vegas Sands has proposed building at the
Nassau Hub. The last two factors are especially vital for the economically disadvantaged communities that I serve as a legislator.
As a policy maker, I must always be aware of the legislative atmosphere in which I am operating — and in New York state, legal gambling is a growing reality. Online sports betting became legal in January 2022, and in a 2013 statewide referendum, 67 percent of Nassau voters cast ballots in favor of the siting of seven new casinos throughout the Empire State.
As a community advocate, I researched, vetted and deliberated on the heartfelt concerns my constituents expressed about potential impacts of the Hub development on public safety, traffic and behavioral health. One especially important element of advocacy is robust community engagement.
To get the pulse of the communities I represent, I took part in numerous events in Hempstead, Uniondale and Westbury. In Uniondale — the host community for any development at the Hub — I met with leaders of the public
Letters
Give neighbors a chance to manage L.I.’s electricity
To the Editor:
Re Jerry Kremer’s column last week, “The PSEG love affair is over”: Mr. Kremer opposes “giving a group of local neighbors the power to dictate to professionals” operating a Long Island power company.
“Dictate” may be hyperbole, but it identifies the general problem: unaccountable power. The history provided — LILCO, LIPA, PSEG — demonstrates consistently inadequate infrastructure, a focus on shareholders over ratepayers, the interference of friends in high places, and the general disdain for customer concerns characteristic of near-monopolies. We can agree that “John Q. Citizen” ought not “dictate” to professional operators, but Mr. Citizen is also a ratepayer, dissatisfied by the “professionals’” history of mismanagement, and now seeks greater transparency, accountability and responsiveness.
Dictatorship by professionals is well known, and is what must be curbed. So long as the primary interests remain short-term corporate goals, the future delivery of Long Island’s electrons will replicate its past. Municipalization may not be the answer, but our history of failures suggests we try a new arrangement.
BRIAN KELLY Rockville CentreClearing the air about marijuana
To the Editor:
Since the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act was enacted in New York in March 2021, confusion remains about marijuana’s legal and medical realities. As part of the North Shore Coalition Against Substance Abuse efforts to reduce the use and abuse of substances by our youth, we offer below some information on marijuana so you can inform yourself and your family.
The law allows those 21 and older to use cannabis wherever smoking tobacco is permitted, except in a motor vehicle or where the Clean Air Act is in effect. Specifically, it allows for adult possession of up to 3 ounces of cannabis and up to 24 grams of cannabis concentrate. An adult may grow up to three marijuana plants at home, and homes with more than one adult may grow up to six plants (three mature, three immature).
So, does that mean that adults can purchase adult-use marijuana locally now?
The answer may surprise you: no. Most Nassau County municipalities have opted out of permitting retail sales of marijuana in their jurisdictions. For a complete review of what is legal and illegal, go to government sites including NewYorkStateCannabis.org.
As important as legality is to the conversation about marijuana, equally critical is the discussion of its impact on teen health. Marijuana potency has steadily
library, the Fire Department, the Nassau County Land Bank and other key stakeholders to ascertain the community’s concerns and needs. I listened intently to public commentary presented through various media, and read dozens of emails we received from across the county to gain a fuller understanding of public sentiment.
During the Legislature’s May 8 Rules Committee hearing, it became abundantly clear to me that the lease transfer agreement would pass on May 22 with or without my vote. Given that fact, my charge was to ensure that the communities that would be most directly impacted by development at the Hub would not have to wait until its completion to receive the public benefits they were promised.
Following extensive and fruitful negotiations, I was pleased that Las Vegas Sands agreed to enhance its community benefits package by $25 million — $10 million for Uniondale, $10 million for East Meadow and $5 million for Hempstead Village. At least half of these funds would have to be disseminated during the construction of the proposed inte-
grated casino resort. Throughout that process, the collaboration with my legislative colleague Tom McKevitt, who represents East Meadow, which directly abuts the Hub, was invaluable in navigating the issues related to securing this funding for our respective constituents.
After balancing the array of public comments, completing a painstaking review of the more laudable elements of the Las Vegas Sands proposal, and factoring in the company’s agreement to invest tens of millions of dollars in bolstering crucial services and activities in the most directly impacted communities, I decided to vote in favor of the lease transfer agreement.
While the Legislature’s action on May 22 represents an important benchmark, there are many steps that must be completed before any construction begins. As this process continues to unfold, make no mistake: I will remain vigilant and focused on the series of actions to follow, and I will hold the entities associated with this project accountable for meeting their contractual obligations and fulfilling the commitments they made to the residents of Nassau County.
Siela A. Bynoe, of Westbury, has represented the 2nd District in the County Legislature since 2014.

increased in the past decades, up from about 4 percent THC levels in the 1980s to an average of 15 percent today. More disconcerting is that marijuana extracts, used in dabbing and edibles, contain, on average, 50 percent THC, and can go as high as 90 percent.
Research suggests that kids who use cannabis may face greater mental health risks, such as worsened depression and anxiety, poor attention and memory problems. Specifically, using a cannabis product with a THC potency of over 15 percent
is linked to a three-fold increase in the likelihood of experiencing mental health and other problems. Studies also suggest that 17 percent of those who start using marijuana in their teens will become dependent on it.
Given these risks, it’s important that parents know the facts and talk to their kids. For more info, go to NSCASA.org.
Iwanted to ensure that the communities most impacted would receive promised benefits.
Margart Mary O’Connell
YOUR LOCAL REAL ESTATE EXPERT
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Margaret Mary O’Connell, CBR Real Estate Salesperson
Daniel Gale Sotheby’s
InternationalRealty 36 S. Park Avenue, Rockville Centre, NY 11570 c.516.526.4149, 516.678.1510
margaretmaryoconnell@danielgale.com
