Rockville Centre Herald 06-13-2024

State champions!

South Side wins state title in OT thriller

By ToNY BEllISSIMo tbellissimo@liherald.com

Trailing by 5 goals in the second half for the second time in four days, South Side’s boys’ lacrosse team scripted an ending fit for Hollywood last Saturday afternoon in the New York State Class B boys’ lacrosse championship game.

The Cyclones forced overtime on Michael Aiello’s dramatic goal with 0.8 seconds remaining in regulation, then secured the title 19 seconds into

OT when Cole DiPietro took a pass from Liam Livingston and scored to secure an unforgettable 12-11 win over Victor at Hofstra University.

“There’s never any quit in us,” said Aiello, who had three goals and three assists. “It’s such a special group. We have 27 seniors and amazing chemistry. I love all these guys. We worked hard every single day, and to finish state champs is just surreal.”

South Side, which won its 15th consecutive game and cap-

tured its first state crown since 2004, fed off the energy of a large crowd to complete its second unlikely comeback in as many games. The Cyclones (211) rallied from a 5-goal deficit late in the third quarter to defeat Yorktown, 10-8, in the state semifinal at the Universi-

ty of Albany on June 5.

“It’s indescribable,” said South Side coach Steve DiPietro, who was the team’s offensive coordinator in 2004. “These kids are all grit. They kept battling and battling and trusted each other like they have all season.”

It was also a proud dad moment for DiPietro, whose son netted the state title-clinching goal. “I couldn’t have wished for anything more,” the coach said. “Liam’s setup was

Brian Ballweg/Herald

Cole DiPietro, left, scored in overtime to give South Side a 12-11 win over Victor in the New York State Class B boys’ lacrosse final last Saturday at Hofstra University.

Odd Fellows play cornhole for a cause

Fourth annual cornhole tournament helps raise money for local charities

By DANIEL OFFNER doffner@liherald.com

The Independent Order of Odd Fellows Lodge 279 in Rockville Centre hosted its fourth annual cornhole tournament on Saturday at Fireman’s Field, adjacent to South Side High School.

The event always draws a crowd and this year was no exception as people throughout the community gathered to watch or participate in the fun. This year, 32 teams came to compete in the double elimination tournament for the chance to take home prizes and help raise money for three local organizations — the Rockville Centre Breast Cancer Coalition, the RVC Community Fund and SIBSPlace.

Tom McNally, a dedicated member of the Odd Fellows, said that at almost 100 years strong its mission is to support local charities and organizations.

“We’re a lot like the Masons,” McNally explained. “Everything we do is for charity… Were not ethnic or religious. Anyone can join as long as they are willing to do charity work.”

Every year, the Odd Fellows host two major fundraiser events, including the cornhole tournament and an annual St. Patrick’s Day party. Both are crucial for their fundraising endeavors.

The idea for the tournament started a few years back, as members of the Odd Fellows pondered what more they could do beyond their St. Patrick’s Day celebration that can help benefit the community.

“We talked about different ideas,” McNally recalled.

“We wanted to do some type of tournament, and cornhole was a popular thing at the time.”

Teams paid $125 each to participate, and spectators chipped in $40 for the chance to watch the fun unfold. All of the money raised during the event, minus expenses, is donated to charity.

The event also attracts several sponsors. This year there were around 25 - 30 different establishments including local brewing companies, bars and restaurants willing to donate $200 or $300 for the cause.

McNally said that the Odd Fellows would try and pick different charities for each event, with the exception of St. Jude’s Children Hospital, who they give to regularly. The Odd Fellows also have a charity committee that will provide $300 to anyone in immediate need.

Most recently, the Odd Fellows gave to Daijonee Vanderveer, a Rockville Centre woman who tragically lost both her legs after a car was hit by a drunk driver on the Sagtikos State Parkway in November 2022.

Having raised nearly $7,000 during its St. Patrick’s Day fundraiser, McNally said he anticipates they will raise that much or more during the tournament. The family-friendly competition promised to be an enjoyable afternoon. Hot dogs sizzled on the grill as onlookers cheered on their friends and neigh-

Participants compete each year to help raise money for local charities in need.

bors.

The Independent Order of Odd Fellows is a non-political, non-sectarian international fraternal order dedicated to charity and reciprocity. There are 600,000 members and 10,000 lodges spread out across 26 countries around the globe.

In Rockville Centre, there about 40 to 50 active members, which include people from Oceanside and Valley Stream. The organization is always looking for new members and encourages anyone who is interested in participating to reach out. For more information email IOOFRVC279@gmail.com.

Mike Monahan/Herald photos

Members of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows Lodge 279 in Rockville Centre organize the annual tournament each year.

Dave Ajello, chairman of the annual cornhole tournament.

Dr. Sal Palazzolo, left, and Matt McNally make their move during the annual cornhole tournament.

Crime watCh

arrest

Lawrence DeLorenzo, 49, of East Drive in Lindenhurst, was arrested by Rockville Centre police on June 3. He has been charged with aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and other vehicle and traffic law offenses. Further investigation revealed he had 14 suspensions on his New York State driver’s license.

Lisa Ann McLean, 50, of Old Mill Court in Rockville Centre was arrested on June 4. She has been charged with criminal mischief after breaking a window to the building door using a hammer.

Eduardo Cabrera-Gomez, 24, of Fulton Avenue in Hempstead was arrested by Rockville Centre police on June 5. He has been charged with aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, and other vehicle and traffic law offenses after being stopped for a front tinted windshield. A DMV check revealed he had 60 suspensions on his New York State driver’s license.

Criminal misChief

Police received a call on June 6 to report her cell phone was damaged by a security employee of Mercy Hospital.

harassment

A resident of N. Centre Avenue reported on June 6 that he received unwanted text messages from a known person.

larCeny

An employee of GMC reported on June 4 that a vehicle was stolen from the property.

ProPerty Damage

A resident of S. Marion Place reported on June 4 that her vehicle was damaged by unknown means in the parking lot of South Side High School.

A resident of Front Street reported on June 6, her vehicle was damaged by unknown means.

tresPass

A Maple Avenue employee reported on June 6 someone trespassing and dumping garbage bags on their property.

UnUsUal inCiDent

A resident of Addison Place reported on June 3, an unauthorized bank account was opened in his name.

A resident of Old Mill Court reported on June 3 that an unknown person withdrew funds from her EBT card without permission.

A resident of Meehan Lane reported on June 4 that an unknown person withdrew funds from her EBT card without her permission.

A resident of N. Village Avenue reported on June 4 that an unknown person cashed a fraudulent check using his account.

A resident of S. Lewis Place reported on June 6 that an unknown person cashed a fraudulent check using his account.

A resident of Brompton Court reported on June 7 that an unknown person cashed a fraudulent check using his account.

A resident of Sunrise Highway reported on June 8 that an unknown person withdrew funds from her EBT card without permission.

A resident of Old Mill Court reported on June 9 that an unknown person withdrew funds from her EBT card without permission.

A resident of Maine Avenue reported on June 9 that an unknown person withdrew funds from her EBT card without permission.

A resident of Clinton Avenue reported on June 10 that an unknown person withdrew funds from his EBT card without permission.

Griffin plans to prioritize opioid crisis, gun laws

By BEN FIEBERT bfiebert@liherald.com

After losing her Assembly seat in 2022 to Brian Curran by a slim margin of 138 votes, Judy Griffin is ready to pick up where she left off.

When she was first elected to the Assembly in 2019, Griffin was the first Democrat to hold this particular seat in more than 40 years. After the coronavirus pandemic upended her original plan, Griffin says she is looking for a reset in November to make the district a safer place to live.

“Sometimes, when I would go to the diner, people would be like, ‘I’m a Republican and I’m sorry you lost,’” Griffin told reporters at a recent Herald Roundtable session. “And now, it’s a year and a half since the last election, and I would say every day, community leaders, union leaders, constituents asked me to run again.”

Griffin wants to tackle the opioid crisis if re-elected, not only helping recovering addicts, but also their family members.

“I always believed that a multi-prong approach was necessary because I’ve seen and spoken to so many people who they said drug addiction harmed the whole family,” Griffin said. “We will support recovering addicts by finding them jobs, a place to live, and I would really love to do more of that.”

Griffin noted that one cause of the rise of the fentanyl crisis is drug dealers lac-

Judy Griffin is running to represent the Democrats in the race challenging incumbent Assemblyman Brian Curran in November. She wants to pick up where she left off in 2022 when Curran defeated her in the general election to take the seat back for Republicans.

ing drugs like marijuana and cocaine with fentanyl. She wants to continue advocating a bill she called “Death by Dealer” intended to hold these drug dealers accountable.

During her time in office, Griffin noted she helped pass legislation like the Red Flag Gun Law, which prevents people who show signs of being a threat to themselves or others from purchasing or possessing any kind of firearm. She also passed the “teacher gun law,” which

ensured educators will never be forced to carry weapons.

“In 2022, we passed even more gun legislation, but I still believe we aren’t done,” Griffin said. “I think there’s a lot more we could do.”

And with her “strong relationship” with local law enforcement, Griffin said she would help allocate funding to provide them with more resources. She committed to doing the same with the district attorney’s office and local schools.

“Something that was really important to me that I wanted to advance was doing something about mental health for police officers,” Griffin said. “That is a heavyduty job, and a lot is expected of them.”

Griffin also plans to gauge how her constituents are feeling on certain issues by resurrecting her “constituent survey” that is posted online each January. It would ask people their feelings on bills Griffin would vote on, and show the percentage of people that agree or disagree with an issue.

“You’re never going to have everyone be happy about everything you do,” she said, “but I tried as hard as I could to meet people in the middle, and meet them where most people were at.”

Griffin also plans to meet with neighbors to hear about the most pressing issues occurring in the district. It’s something she continued from her efforts in the past on the PTA, a nutrition committee, and while advocating for issues within local villages.

“Sometimes I’d be up at 4 in the morning, and that’s the kind of person I am,” Griffin said. “So, the dedication I had as a community advocate, I brought with me to office.”

Maher ready to listen closely to her constituents

By JEFFREY BESSEN jbessen@liherald.com

For Patricia Maher, running in the June 25 Democratic primary for Assembly is about helping people.

“The only way you know what people are thinking in your constituency is to walk door-to-door to talk to them,” Maher told reporters during a recent Herald Roundtable session.

Running to represent Democrats in the November election against incumbent Assemblyman Brian Curran, Maher said she witnessed 700 people sign her candidate petitions. And they did so in places like Baldwin Harbor, Hewlett and Lynbrook — homes where many said it was first time someone running for office knocked on their door.

“These individuals, my future constituents, really feel like they are paying the highest taxes in the country and their roads are atrocious right in front of their house,” she said.

The problem, Maher learned — especially in Baldwin Harbor — was that one road would be repaired, but then that work would somehow cause flooding on an adjacent road.

“I talked to them and we decided we would go down to the town as a group and start to speak before the town council,” she said. “We would go to the county legislature speak to them, because this has to be a joint effort between the county, town

Tim Baker/Herald

coverage that impacts emergency medical technicians, firefighters, first responders, police and retired city teachers — all while still maintaining the promised coverage.

She said the state has good gun laws but they are not enough to battle the firearms coming across from other states.

“We need universal background checks on the federal level,” Maher said, adding she would work with federal officials to make that happen.

and the state.”

An advertising executive, Maher holds two law degrees — a juris doctorate from Touro Law School, and a master of laws from Hofstra University. Maher, however, is not a practicing attorney.

“The job of a New York state lawmaker is to make laws,” she said, noting that understanding the intent of a law is critical.

“I think I guess it’s after four years of schooling with my JD and LLM, I think I’m pretty well qualified to do that. You really need to know how the laws are writ-

ten.”

A bill sponsored by Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages and state Sen. Kevin Thomas — both Democrats — which would increase the allowable property tax income for senior citizens and people with disabilities, is a measure Maher supports. The legislation is in committee.

“I think that would be a great start right there,” she said. “Most seniors want to stay in their own homes. The current exemption is not enough.”

Maher aims to support a potential law reversing a change in health insurance

Tackling student loan debt is mainly a federal issue, but legislation could help. Such laws could be based on age, Maher said, noting the debt of older people. Some of these lenders are not telling borrowers they are eligible for debt relief, she added.

“I think maybe, on the state level, we could come up with some laws that would give penalties for these student loan companies that aren’t being truthful to students,” Maher said.

In the end, these elections — primary elections, especially — are important, Maher said.

“If you are a Democrat, you can come out to vote on June 25,” she said. “And early voting starts June 15. You come out to vote.”

Tim Baker/Herald

Patricia Maher, who is running to represent Democrats in November’s election challenging Assemblyman Brian Curran, She wants to keep senior citizens from losing their homes, and find ways to help alleviate student loan debt at the state level.

OBITUARIES

Village mourns the death of off-duty officer

Michael E. Lerner, 39, an off-duty police officer with the Rockville Centre Police Department, was killed in a motorcycle accident early Monday morning in Eastport.

Southampton Town Police report that Lerner was driving a 2022 Harley Davidson motorcycle, heading west on Old Country Road in Eastport, when he lost control of his vehicle and drove off the road toward a heavily wooded area. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Investigators said that criminality was not suspected in the crash, and that the motorcycle in question has been impounded for a safety check.

Department in 2021.

“Officer Lerner served the Village of Rockville Centre with pride and distinction as a police officer since 2021,” Rockville Centre Police Commissioner

Randy Dodd said in a statement.

“Despite his brief tenure, Officer Lerner made a tremendous impact on both the RVCPD and the Rockville Centre community. His commitment and passion were evident in everything he did, leaving an everlasting mark on all who had the privilege of knowing him.”

Lerner served as an officer in the United States Marine Corps, spending two tours of combat in Operation Iraqi freedom, where he earned several medals and awards, including his combat action ribbon.

In 2008, following his time in the service, Lerner went to work as an NYPD police officer. He spent a total of 13 years on the force, working in the 75th Precinct in Brooklyn and the 113th Precinct in Jamaica, Queens, and was promoted to the rank of Sergeant before joining the Rockville Centre Police

Lerner is survived by his ex-wife, Theresa, three children and two step children.

To honor his memory, flags in the Village of Rockville Centre will be flown at halfmast.

“I am deeply saddened by the tragic loss of Officer Lerner, who served our village with dedication and was an inspiration to his fellow officers,” Rockville Centre Mayor Francis X. Murray said in a statement. “I offer my condolences to his family and loved ones, and the many friends and colleagues who benefited from his genuine goodness and wisdom.”

–Daniel Offner

Peter Rubin, former trustee, dies at 81

Peter M. Rubin, a well-respected attorney from Rockville Centre, died over the weekend. He was 81.

He had an extensive career, practicing law for more than 55 years. He was a graduate of Brooklyn Law School and was admitted to the New York State Bar in 1968, and later to the Maryland Bar in 1993. He also was a managing partner of Rubin, Cooper & Associates in Rockville Centre between 1980 and 2014, where he focused on various legal services.

He served as a Rockville Centre village trustee under the leadership of the now-late Eugene Murray for eight years.

“He had a personality that was very unique,” Wayne Lipton, a former village trustee, said about his colleague.

Lipton described Rubin as a hard worker, who continued to practice law through his later years, representing a lot of different people for a lot of different reasons. He said that one of his admirable traits was how he was always an active participant in the community. “He certainly did a lot within the village,” Lipton said. “He will sorely be missed.”

Beyond his stint in public service, Rubin worked for many years as a general practice attorney, defending alleged criminals as well as developers and other high-profile clients.

Before the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rockville Centre became the focus of sexual abuse lawsuits, Rubin defended a member of the clergy who had admitted to sexual molestation of a minor and who was also a cooperating witness to the Suffolk County grand jury’s investigation of the Rockville Centre Diocese.

Rubin also represented the owners of the Allegria Hotel in Long Beach in 2018, after the posh oceanfront hotel property was sold at auction following years of financial setbacks and two bankruptcy filings.

Rubin grew up in a family that was devoted to the Rockville Centre community. His father was a beloved village justice.

“Peter was a friend of mine for over 50 years,” Jeff Greenfield, a resident of Rockville Centre and managing partner of the NGL Group in Lynbrook, said. “He was very devoted to his clients, and was a detail-oriented attorney. He was a wonderful lawyer and a wonderful friend.”

He is survived by his wife, Sandy, and two daughters. A funeral service takes place Thursday, June 13 at 1:15 p.m., at Gutterman’s Funeral Homes in Rockville Centre, followed by burial at Mount Ararat Cemetery in Lindenhurst.

Michael e. lerner

–Daniel Offner

ROCKVILLE CENTRE HERALD — June 13, 2024

Elena Mingorance receives national awards

South Side art student gains recognition for her work

By ANDREW FRANCIS

Herald Intern

Elena Mingorance, 17, a junior at South Side High School, has been recognized for her artwork by the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards and has had the opportunity to feature her work in several local art exhibitions across Long Island.

Of the more than 300,000 entries submitted by students across the United States, Mingorance was selected among the seven percent of students who were awarded the highest honor of Gold Key recognition on the regional level.

In 2024, Mingorance received two Gold Key awards, one Silver Key Award and three Honorable Mentions for her distinct pieces of artwork. One of the awards presented was for a mixed media art piece, while the others were for her photography.

Elena has bounced between several various art styles and media throughout her high school art career. Her mixed media pieces are perhaps the most unconventional form of art she does, which features big boards and scavenged materials and household items to create the final display. She mentioned how she’s been able to use atypical circumstances as tools and inspiration for some of her artwork.

“My neighbors had a flood, and I just took everything they had from their basement and was like ‘I can use this for art,’” Mingorance said. “And they were happy to give this to ‘crazy person’ who was stalking their driveway for all these crazy wood boards that I used for these pieces.”

She went on to explain that her mixed media work allows her to showcase some deeper and personal connections that she describes as “very free” instead of abstract.

“It’s easy to kind of add these different elements to mixed media pieces with physical tangible objects,” she said.

Mingorance also does sculpting, drawing, prop-making and painting, in addition to the mixed media and photographic work she has received awards for. She has also embraced history in her creations by showcasing and paying homage to African American history, the loss of natural land, the history of Long Island, and connections to her own personal life and those close to her.

In addition to her recognition from the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards, several Long Island art exhibits, museums and organizations have selected Mingorance art as some of the best among her class of artists. The Heckscher Museum of Art, located in Huntington, selected Mingorance’s mixed media piece entitled “Decline: The Peter Crippen House” to display in the museum. It was recognized as one of the best art pieces done by a high school student on Long Island. Mingorance said her work’s inclusion at the Heckscher Museum of Art as “definitely one of [the] proudest moments” of her young career. Other distinctions include the Atelier

One of her photographic pieces was selected as part of the Advanced Placement/International Baccalaureate art exhibition at LIU-Post’s art gallery.

at Flowerfield Exhibit, which chose to display another of Mingorance’s multi media pieces called “Fragility of Memories,” and her piece “Masha Amini,” which was selected for publication in a book. LIU Post also selected Mingorance’s artwork for their Advanced Placement/International Baccalaureate art exhibition in their college art gallery. Mingorance is a young woman with many talents other than just her art. She has developed a deep love for linguistics, through an after-school French program at Hewitt Elementary School.

After graduating from South Side High School next year, she plans to pur-

Elena Mingorance, a junior at South Side High School, poses with one of her mixed media art pieces, ‘Decline: The Peter Crippen House.’

sue an undergraduate degree on a premed track, with plans to continue doing her artwork for a very long time.

“If not more than a hobby, a minor and hopefully throughout life,” she said.

She attributes Keith Gamache, one of her art teachers and the facilitator of the art program at South Side High School as one of her “greatest and most helpful mentors.”

She explained that he has helped facilitate and grow her love for art while creating ample time for her to explore and focus on different areas of study, such as science. Gamache said that he views Elena as a particularly special stu-

dent, in part, because of her talent despite her busy schedule.

“She hasn’t actually even had an art class since her freshman year, so the fact that she continues to pursue her art at such a serious level … just makes me really want to help support her and help her showcase her art the way it deserves to be seen,” Gamache said.

Mingorance hopes to continue her streak of art recognition with a National Medalist award from the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards. The winner of this even more selective distinction will be announced on June 12, after press time on Tuesday.

Photos courtesy Nancy Nigro Mingorance’s mixed media artwork has been featured in the Heckscher Museum of Art in Huntington.

WWII Navy veteran shares his experience

Plane Captain Walde Lindemann talks about his time aboard the USS Little Rock

By ANDREW FRANCIS Herald Intern

Walde Lindemann, 95, a longtime Rockville Centre resident, served in the United States Navy as a “plane captain,” or crew chief, from 1945 to 1949, just following the end of World War II.

He was first introduced to the marvel of aviation, while he was growing up in Yaphank, where he started by flying small planes over the potato fields in Suffolk County. He was only 17 when he approached his parents about joining the Navy, with a desire to voluntarily enlist so that he could join his cousin in the service.

His willingness to take the initiative to serve the United States military during one of the most tense moments in modern global history serves as a shinning example of the courage and bravery that we as a country honor and recognize.

Lindemann joined the crew of the USS Little Rock, a Cleveland-class light cruiser, shortly after completing basic training in Bainbridge, Maryland. The ship was stationed in the Philadelphia Navy Yard when he first came aboard in May 1946.

Initially, he was assigned to the deck force because he didn’t have a particular trade at the time. His duties included

The philosopher Epictetus said “Men are disturbed not by events, but by the views they take of them.” Arising out of “The Good Life”, previously reviewed here, comes the W.I.S.E.R. model for reacting to emotionally challenging situations.

Watch. Initial impressions are powerful but may be incomplete. There is usually more to see. When the impression and the emotional response start to interact, take a moment to pause and thoughtfully observe the situation to prevent a potentially harmful reflexive response. As they say in psychiatry “Don’t just do something, sit there.”

Interpret. We are all seeing the world through our own eyes — what is happening, why it is happening and how it affects us. Our reality is not necessarily that of others. Thinking that a situation is all about us often leads to misunderstanding. When your emotions start to bubble up, it indicates you have something important at stake -- a goal, an insecurity or a vital relationship. Figuring out what’s at stake will allow you to interpret the situation better.

cleaning the living quarters and making sure the ship was secure.

It took about a year before he was able to transfer to the aviation unit.

While serving as the plane captain onboard the vessel, his primary responsibility was to assist planes using the runway and catapult during takeoff and landing.

During his time onboard the USS Lit-

Select. Having watched, interpreted and re-interpreted, you must select your response. Instead of reacting reflexively out of stress, slowing down allows us to choose from more options. As “The Good Life” says “Given what’s at stake and the resources at my disposal, what can I do in this situation? What would be a good outcome here? And what is the likelihood that things will go well if I respond this way instead of that way?”

Engage. Now you are ready to respond more purposefully — aligning with who you are and what you want to accomplish. You’ve observed and interpreted the situation, taken some time to consider the possibilities and their likelihood of success, and you then execute your strategy.

Reflect. “How did that work out? Did I make things better or worse? Have I learned something new about the challenge I’m facing and about the best response? Reflecting on our response to a challenge can yield dividends for the future. It’s in learning from experience that we fully grow wiser.”

tle Rock, the ship made several port calls across Northern Europe and the Mediterranean, including stops in Stockholm and Copenhagen.

While he often joke that being in the Navy “was no fun” and involved a lot of uncomfortable living, Lindemann has no regrets about his time in the service, in spite of any hardships that come with being deployed overseas so far from

home with more than 1,000 other men.

“I learned a lot from the service,” Lindemann said. “I enjoyed the service and lot and made friends.”

He was honorably discharged in 1949, and returned home to Long Island after four years of service. Back at home, it didn’t take Lindemann long to find a profession. For several years, he worked as a carpenter for the Board of Education in Queens and Manhattan.

“I enjoyed carpentry and always liked [doing it],” he said. “My uncle was a contractor, so I hooked up with him and built houses.”

Lindemann has been married twice. He has two children, three grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren who he loves dearly. Through the years, he continued to foster a love for carpentry, which he expressed by doing different jobs for his community, his church and his family.

Walde Lindemann has been an active participant in several veterans organizations, and has been described as an enthusiastic member of the USS Little Rock Association, which continues the legacy and memories of the now decommissioned cruiser and its crewmen. The ship, the only surviving Cleveland cruiser of its kind, can still be seen on display at the Buffalo and Erie County Naval and Military Park museum.

Courtesy of Walde Lindemann

Lindemann proudly displays his own model of the USS Little Rock battleship, which he served on during his time in the Navy.

Dunns River Lounge celebrates 20 years

By DANIEL OFFNER doffner@liherald.com

Dunns River Lounge in Rockville Centre, recently celebrated its 20th anniversary. The restaurant, owned by secondgeneration Jamaican immigrant Naala Royale Holder, has been a cherished fixture in the community since it opened on June 2, 2004.

For the past two decades, Dunns River Lounge has provided customers with a vibrant atmosphere and an authentic taste of Jamaican cuisine, through its rich and flavorful dishes.

It is thanks to Holder’s unwavering dedication to her heritage and passion for culinary excellence that has solidified the restaurant’s place among the village’s many eateries and establishments.

In celebration of this milestone, the restaurant held a cocktail reception and ribbon-cutting ceremony that was attended by local officials and community leaders. The event underscored the restaurant’s significant impact and the strong bonds it has forged within the community.

Deputy Mayor Kathy Baxley praised Dunns River Lounge as a shining example in the town, commending its impeccable record and calling it a “true cornerstone” of Rockville Centre.

Lionel Chitty, the executive director of the Nassau County Office of Minority Affairs, highlighted the restaurant’s

Naala Royale Holder, center, the owner of Dunns River Lounge, cuts the ceremonial ribbon in celebration of 20 years in Rockville Centre. She is joined by Deputy Mayor

Kathy Baxley, Nassau County Legislator Scott Davis, Rockville Centre Chamber of Commerce President Ed Asip, Executive Director of the Nassau County Office of Minority Affairs Lionel Chitty, Chef Bobby, Deputy Town Supervisor Dorothy Goosby and Hempstead Town Councilwoman Laura Ryder.

resilience during the coronavirus pandemic.

He noted how Dunns River Lounge was the first to reopen for indoor dining after the lockdown, showcasing its adaptability and commitment to serving its patrons.

Hempstead Town Councilwoman Laura Ryder praised Holder for her tenacity and strength in running the business, emphasizing Dunns River

Lounge’s positive impact on the community.

Ed Asip, president of the Rockville Centre Chamber of Commerce, also commended the restaurant for its contributions to the local business community and job creation.

Nassau County Legislator Scott Davis and Hempstead Town Councilwoman Dorothy Goosby were also among the distinguished guests who joined the celebra-

tion.

The restaurant was honored with citations from the offices of each elected official, as well as a proclamation recognizing the establishment for its 20 years of service.

Holder expressed her gratitude, acknowledging her dedicated team, including Chef Bobby, who has been with her for over 14 years, and her family, who have been instrumental in the restaurant’s success.

She also credits her marketing background for helping navigate the restaurant through various challenges, including the pandemic.

“I am as good as my team, and my marketing background has helped me keep our doors open for over 20 years despite the numerous challenges most restaurants face,” Holder said.

Reflecting on the challenges posed by the pandemic, Holder shared how introducing takeout services and technological upgrades helped the business thrive, even doubling its growth. As part of the anniversary celebrations, the restaurant offered a 20 percent discount on entrees and hosted a well-attended all-white BBQ event.

Dunns River Lounge, located at 93 N. Park Ave. in Rockville Centre, continues to serve as a beacon of cultural pride and culinary excellence.

For more information visit DunnsRiverNY.com or call (516)-764-6540.

Robert Palma/Herald

Green thumbs at United Church

Students at the United Church of Rockville Centre’s nursery school planted a little farm under the direction of Robert Bacchi, a devoted member of the congregation. Kids enjoyed getting to plant their own garden filled with lettuce, peas, tomatoes, strawberries, and marigolds.

Village Greens opens in RVC

Village Greens, a locally sourced healthy eatery providing salads, wraps and grain bowls, celebrated the grand opening of its North Long Beach Road location on June 3. Pictured is owners Brian Waldhof, Sal Lopiccolo, John Durante, Steven Picciano, Hempsted Town Councilwoman Laura Ryder, members of the Rockville Centre Chamber of Commerce along with friends and family.

Courtesy United Church of Rockville Centre

Courtesy Town of Hempstead

Bynoe says there is ‘more to be done’ in Albany

By DANIEL OFFNER doffner@liherald.com

Siela Bynoe has spent the past decade as a Nassau County legislator advocating for mental health services, police reform, affordable housing and education on Long Island.

“We have accomplished quite a few things, but there is so much more to be done,” Bynoe told reporters during a recent Herald Roundtable session.

Bynoe is ready to take that work to Albany, seeking the Democratic nomination in the June 25 primary to potentially succeed state Sen. Kevin Thomas in November.

Bynoe first won her county seat in a 2014 special election after serving two terms as a member of the Westbury school board. She also was the former executive director of the Huntington Housing Authority.

Currently, she is one of seven minority lawmakers who sit on the largely Republican-controlled legislature — a task which has required her to be more pragmatic in order to pass meaningful reform.

“I spend time being very informed by stakeholders and experts in the field,” Bynoe said. “Then I gain some support and consensus from others across the aisle.”

Siela Bynoe hopes that her experience working across the aisle with the Nassau County Legislature and raising the most in matching campaign funds will give her the edge in the upcoming June primary for the state Senate seat currently held

Kevin Thomas.

A firm believer in providing access to robust mental health resources, Bynoe helped pass legislation requiring county employees with frequent interaction with the public to receive mental health first aid training. She said she was also instrumental in creating land bank legislation, allowing the county to acquire, rehabilitate and sell blighted properties and “zom-

bie” homes for use.

Bynoe has also spearheaded efforts to require police officers wear body cameras, and increase access to mental health for schools. She also plans to deepen the trust between law enforcement and the community.

“We need to be able to ensure that these officers are trained at the highest level,” Bynoe said. “Far too often, we’re finding the same people are committing the majority of the crimes. So we need more funding and programming around that to make sure everyone is safe.”

Bynoe also said that health care and the sustainability of local hospitals are another major topic she hopes to tackle in the state arena.

“I know how important it is to be able to have direct communication with your doctor and make decisions for yourself,” she said. “So, I think that that should

apply across all women’s health issues. I want to be able to be on the first line to protect those interests.”

That also means saving Nassau University Medical Center by having the state “step-up and find a way to fund” the hospital.

“I think the state came up with a good corrective action plan,” Bynoe said. “I think it needs to be employed, and beyond that, I think we need to look at the sustainability of the hospitals in the future.”

State officials have said previously that in order for NUMC to receive emergency funds from the state it would have to agree to conduct a nationwide search for a new chief executive, among other conditions.

For now, Bynoe says she is working hard, pounding the pavement to get the word out about the June 25 primary, and is hoping to use the $352,000 she picked up in the New York State Public Campaign Finance program — the largest payout in the program — will help make that happen.

“I think this is going to be a really hard-fought battle,” Bynoe said. “Coming up on the general election there is a lot at stake. But, I never take anything for granted. Ever.”

Darling puts in work to move up to the Senate

By DANIEL OFFNER doffner@liherald.com

Taylor Darling announced her intentions to move up from the Assembly to the state Senate following Kevin Thomas’s announcement he wouldn’t be seeking re-election so he could pursue a campaign for Congress.

First, however, she needs to make it through the June 25 primary, to become the Democratic nominee for the seat.

Darling, who was first elected to the Assembly in 2018, says she plans to continue fighting for Long Island in the upper chamber, and to protect the integrity of its suburbs.

“Affordability and attainability are really huge issues across communities on Long Island,” Darling told reporters during a recent Herald Roundtable. “So, ensuring that, we are creating new policy and funding initiatives that are going to help ease the burden of everyday Long Islanders, who are working hard to pay their taxes and have a good semblance of life.”

She also wants to ensure access to quality health care by providing aid to safety-net hospitals like Nassau University Medical Center — the only public benefit hospital in Nassau County, which has seen a $160 million drop in state funding since 2017.

“I’m really interested in making sure Nassau University Medical Center feels

Taylor Darling is confident in her ability to serve Long Island — ready to move from the Assembly level to the state Senate, with the first step coming in the June 25 Democratic primary, as she seeks to take on a bigger role in the state legislature.

supported,” Darling said, “and that maybe one day, the people who work there and people who frequent there, don’t have to fear that it’s closing.”

NUMC chair Matthew Bruderman has said the facility could close in July as it is in danger of running out of money. The hospital is in need of $83 million in emergency funds, which have been proposed by the state in order to preserve roughly 300 jobs and to continue to serve more than 270,000 patients a year.

“I mean, what kind of environment is that to work in, and what type of care do you expect those individuals to deliver?” Darling asked. “Even though the individuals at Nassau University Medical Center, despite all the nonsense that surrounds that place, has been able to provide wonderful care to everyone who enters there.”

She also is a firm believer in being proactive when it comes to restoring roadways and infrastructure on Long Island. Darling, who has been affectionately

dubbed the “pothole princess,” has a history of fighting for much-needed repairs to hazardous roadways.

“Let’s not wait until things fall apart or they are in disrepair before we finally say we have to treat them,” she said. “We need clean water. We need more roads. These are things that we are always going to need and require. So, let’s make sure we’re being a lot more proactive, because proactivity saves tax dollars.”

Darling says her experience in public service has taught her to be transparent, approachable, and to embrace things with a collaborative spirit.

“I identify as a public servant, so I understand that I’m working for you, and I’m working with you,” Darling said. “That approach is very much appreciated by individuals who’ve been inconsistently served, at best.”

She also stressed the importance of being “human first” when it comes to connecting with constituents.

“We are charged to keep New Yorkers safe, first and foremost, and then find ways to make living in New York a really great experience,” Darling said. “We definitely have work to do, but I know how to get things done.”

Tim Baker/Herald

by

Herald file photo

Nassau to ban males from women’s sports

By PARKER SCHUG pschug@liherald.com

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman’s executive order, banning biological males from women’s sports at county facilities, could soon be codified into law.

County Legislators Howard Kopel, John Giuffrè, Samantha Goetz and Rose Marie Walker accompanied Blakeman at a news conference in Mineola last Friday to announce the new legislation.

“Women have been fighting the last 50 years for fair competition in their sport,” Blakeman said. “Now that is in jeopardy of biological males taking valuable positions on women’s teams, women losing scholarships, women losing the ability to compete, and it’s not fair.”

Goetz, who will co-sponsor the proposed bill, said he recently listened to an interview with Riley Gaines, a former collegiate swimmer who discussed how she doesn’t want to train for second place.

“I think that concisely explains what this bill is for. We do not want women in Nassau County to just train and compete for second place,” Goetz said.

Parker Schug/Herald

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman unveiled a bill banning biological males from women’s activities at county facilities. Behind him, from left, were Legislator John Giuffrè, the Legislature’s presiding officer, Howard Kopel, County Comptroller Elaine Phillips, and Legislators Rose Marie Walker and Samantha Goetz.

leagues, organizations, teams and programs that use county facilities designate themselves male, female or co-ed, and then only accept athletes who meet that criteria according to their sex at birth, state Attorney General Letitia James sent a cease-and-desist letter to Blakeman in March, demanding that he rescind it.

Blakeman responded a few days later by filing a federal lawsuit contesting James’ letter, which was denied in federal court and dismissed in April.

“The law is perfectly clear: you cannot discriminate against a person because of their gender identity or expression,” James wrote in a March 1 news release.

County Legislator Delia DeRiggiWhitton issued a statement following Friday’s news conference.

Biological males and transgender athletes who identify as female are welcome to compete on county co-ed or men’s teams, or create a transgender league, Blakeman said — just not as biological males on women’s team.

A Nassau County Supreme Court struck down Blakeman’s executive order on May 10, after a legal challenge by the New York Civil Liberties Union, which filed a lawsuit in March. Blakeman said

Walker explains that she fears for her granddaughters and other female athletes in the county. “Certainly I don’t want it to affect our girls with scholarships, with playing and training, to come in second or third because of what they’re competing against. But I’m very concerned about their health and safety,” Walker said.

he plans to appeal the decision.

Bobby Hodgson, an assistant legal director at NYCLU, had not seen the language of the proposed legislation, but said that the state anti-discrimination law prohibits such a law.

“If they do continue to push forward on this harmful legislation, the NYCLU will certainly see them in court, and we believe it will be promptly struck down as unlawful under our state anti-discrimination law,” Hodgson said.

After he signed his executive order in February, which mandated that sports,

“Passing such a law will only cost the county millions in legal fees and taxpayer money, funds that should be used for repaving our roads and providing tax relief,” she said.

Kopel said that the bill would go before committee on Monday, and before the full Legislature in two weeks or so. He added that he was confident that it would pass.

“We’re trying to help these young girls who are trying to achieve something, and to say that we haven’t had the problem here in Nassau County yet is foolish,” Kopel said. “We want to take care of this. We’re going to take care of it now.”

Cyclones rally for state championship

perfect, and Cole finished it.”

Livingston scored twice in the fourth quarter, and junior Cullen Lynch ignited the rally with 3 goals after the Blue Devils took an 8-3 lead 4:20 into the third quarter. Owen West and Griffin Mills also scored.

“The only way I can describe this is it’s the greatest moment ever,” said Michael Melkonian, whose dominance on faceoffs (131 wins, 20 losses) throughout the playoffs keyed the championship run. “I’m so proud of my teammates and coaches. We’re all just ecstatic right now. It’s something we’ll remember forever.”

A wild celebration, with sticks, gloves and helmets soaring through the air, followed DiPietro’s second tiebreaking goal in less than five minutes. He scored with 4:29 remaining in the fourth quarter to give the Cyclones their first lead of the game at 10-9.

“It was just a fever dream,” Cole said. “It’s a great way to go out for a large senior group, and for the younger guys to take this into next season.”

Victor, making its seventh appearance in the state championship game in 10 seasons, took a 9-5 lead into a final quarter that saw South Side score six times, including five in a row. Goals by Aiello, Lynch and Livingston (two) created the first of three deadlocks in the fourth.

The Blue Devils regained the lead at 11-10 with 1:30 remaining, and had a chance to extend it, but the ensuing possession resulted in a turnover. South Side used its final timeout with 14 seconds remaining, and with the ball just inside midfield.

“We set up a play for me up top, but the opening wasn’t there, so I just put my head down and went for the cage,” Aiello said. “I knew I barely had any time, but that inside roll was working all day, so I went for it.”

The victory stamped Patrick Mullin as one of the most decorated student-athletes in school history. He was a member

grossman, far

Jack Lozito,

South Side’s historic win in last Saturday’s state Class

of South Side’s Long Island champion basketball team in March 2023, and also part of the football team’s county titlewinning squad last fall.

“They’re all special, but this one is my favorite,” said Mullin, who, along with Will O’Toole, Michael Grossman, Chris Diez, Nicholas Papadopolous and James Sullivan, led the defense in front of goaltender Michael Muscarella. “To win the state championship in this fashion is just incredible,” Mullin added.

South Side Cyclones (21-1)

Michael Aiello

Andrew Bella

Michael Benfante

Patrick Costello

Chris Diez

Russell DiFrancisca

Cole DiPietro

Jack DiSarlo

Timmy Erickson

Joandi Falcon

Jack Gilgan

Sean Glynn

Owen Greene

Michael Grossman

Liam Horan

Dermott Kelly

Jordan Koziarz

John Kufta

Liam Livingston

Jack Lozito

Cullen Lynch

Michael Melkonian

Griffin Mills

Nate Modico

Luke Mullen

Jack Mullin

Patrick Mullin

Michael Muscarella

Alec Notaro

Will O’Toole

Nick Papadopolous

Sean Quirk

Cole Schiefelbein

John Schmidt

Nate Schwartzberg

Harrison Sciallis

Conor Sheehan

Joseph Souto

James Sullivan

Brendan Vetter

Owen West

Richard Zamor

Head Coach:

Steve DiPietro

Assistants:

Mike Bryant

John DeTommaso

Tom Martello

Dan Ferrick

Sean Rooney

Justin Cusano

michael melkonian, right, was instrumental in the Cyclones’ state title run, winning 131 of 151 faceoffs in the playoffs.

Brian Ballweg/Herald photos michael

left,

goalie michael muscarella and nick papadopolous couldn’t contain their emotions after

B title game.

HERALD SPORTS

Cyclones stormed back in state semifinal

By TONY BELLISSIMO tbellissimo@liherald.com

Trailing Yorktown by five goals and with the third quarter winding down in a New York State boys’ lacrosse Class B semifinal June 5, the odds were stacked high against South Side to continue its magical season.

“The clock wasn’t in our favor and their goalie [Hunter Mezzatesta] was playing lights-out with about 10 saves in the first half,” Cyclones coach Steve DiPietro said. “We haven’t been behind like that all season but I didn’t think they could keep up that pace the whole game. I told the guys we weren’t getting back in it with one shot. It was going to be a process.”

DiPietro’s timeout with 4:09 remaining in the third proved a game-changer as the Cyclones exploded for seven straight goals thereafter to defeat Yorktown, 10-8, at the University of Albany.

“We started the second half sloppy,” DiPietro said. “Then after the timeout we started making little plays that led to big plays and goals. For us to get to 10 [goals] was just incredible.”

Senior Owen West broke at 7-7 dead-

lock with 5:32 left in regulation time and senior Liam Livingston netted the eventual game-winner with 3:15 to play. York-

town’s Andrew Weissman fourth goal of the evening cut the margin back to one with 2:14 remaining, but senior Cole DiPi-

etro sealed the deal with 36 seconds on the clock. Mezzatesta finished with 20 saves.

Win No. 20 in 21 games moved the Cyclones into the state championship game right in their own backyard. They advanced to face Victor for the crown at Hofstra University.

South Side, which boasts 27 seniors on the roster, won its first county title since 2004 as well as the Long Island crown at Hofstra on May 24 and May 29, respectively. The Cyclones last won a state championship in 2004.

“There are so many parallels to 2004 it’s crazy,” coach DiPietro said.

Once again South Side’s faceoff dominance was a major factor in the outcome with senior Michael Melkonian winning 19 of 22 draws against Yorktown. Since the playoffs began, Melkonian has won a staggering 114 faceoffs and lost merely 10.

“He’s one of the best in the country for a reason,” DiPietro said of Melkonian.

Senior Michael Aiello registered five points (two goals, three assists), with both of his goals coming after the 7-2 deficit. West had a hat trick and Livingston added two goals and two assists.

Media Origin Inc./Herald

South Side rallied from five goals down late in the third quarter against Yorktown to win its state semifinal matchup at the University of Albany June 5, 10-8.

Brian

South Side celebrated its first state championship since 2004.

Ballweg/Herald

Brian Ballweg/Herald Michael Aiello, right, had three goals and three assists in the state final.

Brian Ballweg/Herald Liam Livingston scored twice and set up Cole DiPietro’s OT winner.

Brian Ballweg/Herald Owen West, left, had one of the Cyclones’ 12 goals in the state title game.

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STEPPING OUT

Ripe for the

Venture forth to local strawberry fields

By Karen Bloom

June means … strawberries. Those luscious berries await during this precious — short-lived — season. So gather up your gang and venture out to one of the many u-pick growers for a day in the berry patch. The season reaches its peak here as spring transitions into summer, as the fruit grow and ripen throughout May and June.

Everyone can agree that local is always best, so skip those California and Florida supermarket berries and head out to one of the many farms nearby where you can pick your own. Then when you return with your bounty, be sure to whip up some yummy strawberry creations. These fresh gems are always terrific on their own, of course, but when used in a recipe, they’ll jazz up any meal.

Strawberry Shortcake

The quintessential summer treat never goes out of style.

• 3 baskets of fresh strawberries

• 1/2 cup sugar

• Whipping cream

• Vanilla

1. Remove the stems from the strawberries. Slice into thin (1/4- to 1/8-inch slices. Put into a large bowl. Add 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup of sugar (depending on how sweet the strawberries are to begin with) and mix into the strawberries. Set aside at room temperature to macerate (which means that the sugar will soften the strawberries and help release their juices).

2. After the strawberries have been sitting for 20 minutes or so, take a potato masher and mash them a little. Not too much, just enough to get more juice out of them.

3. Whip the cream, adding a drop or two of vanilla and a teaspoon of sugar.

4. To serve, break up one biscuit per person into big pieces into a bowl. Ladle strawberries over the biscuit (either scratch-made or Bisquick recipe). Add a dollop of whipped cream.

Biscuits from scratch:

• 3 cups all purpose flour

• 3 tablespoons granulated sugar

• 1 1/2 tablespoons baking powder

• 3/4 teaspoon salt

• 12 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces

• 1 1/2 cups heavy cream

• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1. Sift the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt into a large bowl. Toss with a fork to combine. Cut the butter into the flour mixture with a pastry cutter or a fork until the largest pieces of butter are the size of peas. (Or pulse several

times in a food processor.) 2. Combine the cream and vanilla in a liquid measure. Make a well in the center of the flour and pour the cream mixture into the well. Mix with a fork until the dough is evenly moistened and just combined; it should look shaggy and still feel a little dry.

3. Gently knead by hand five or six times to create a loose ball.

4. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface and pat it into an 8-inch square, 3/4 to 1-inch thick. Transfer the dough to a baking sheet lined with parchment or silpat, cover with plastic and chill for 20 minutes in the refrigerator.

5. Heat the oven to 425º F. Remove the dough from refrigerator. Cut the dough into 9 even squares and spread them about 2 inches apart from each other on the baking sheet. Bake until the biscuits are medium golden brown, 18 to 20 minutes.

Makes 9 biscuits.

Classic Bisquick biscuits:

• 2 1/3 cups Bisquick baking mix

• 3 tablespoons butter, melted

• 1/2 cup milk

• 3 tablespoons sugar

1. Heat oven to 425° F. Stir baking mix, melted butter, milk, and sugar in a mixing bowl until soft dough forms.

2. Drop by 6 spoonfuls on to a greased cookie sheet. Bake 10-12 minutes or until golden brown.

Makes 6 biscuits.

Strawberry Tarts

All the sweet goodness of strawberry shortcake in a small bite.

• 6 2-1/2-inch tart shells

• 1 1/2 quart fresh strawberries

• 1 cup sugar

• 3 tablespoons cornstarch

• 2 tablespoons lemon juice

• Whipped cream

1. Wash and remove caps from the strawberries. Set aside the best half of the berries; combine the remaining berries, whole or cut, sugar and cornstarch in saucepan.

2. Cook, stirring frequently, 5-6 minutes or until the berry mixture is very thick. Stir in the lemon juice. Cook. Select a few of the reserved strawberries for garnish; add the rest, whole or cut, to the cooked mixture.

3. Pour into the baked pastry shells. Garnish with the whipped cream and remaining whole or cut berries.

Jessie’s Girl

Drag out that neon once again and give your hair its best ‘80s ‘do. Those crazy days are back — as only Jessie’s Girl can pull off, on the Paramount stage. So slip on some Jordache jeans, legwarmers, grab an extra-large bottle of Aqua Net, and get ready to dance the night away. There is no decade like the ‘80s, and no band that has mastered the music of the era like Jessie’s Girl. Hear all of your favorites by Prince, Madonna, Eddie Money, Duran Duran, Whitney Houston, Cyndi Lauper, Pat Benatar, Van Halen, J. Geils Band, The Police and many more. The show is led by New York City’s top rock and pop vocalists and backed by a phenomenal band, who get everyone into that ‘Back to the ‘80’ vibe. Throw in a load of super-fun choreography, audience participation, props, costumes bubbles and confetti — and you have a party that audiences don’t want to leave.

Friday, June 14, 8 p.m. $45, $37.50, $25. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at Ticketmaster.com or ParamountNY.com.

‘So Happy Together’

The Happy Together Tour is back with an evening of groovy tunes. The touring sensation that has crisscrossed the nation delighting audiences for more than a decade returns with a show full of ‘60s and ‘70s chart-toppers — an undeniable 61 Billboard Top 40 smashes. Surely an evening of hit after hit after hit that will have you heading home whistling the soundtrack of that beloved era. Returning favorites and new additions in this edition include The Turtles once again, the evening’s musical hosts. They are joined by Jay and the Americans, The Association, Badfinger, The Vogues and the Cowsills. The Turtles, of course, are best known for their harmony-heavy California pop sound. With such hits as ‘Elenore,’ ‘She’d Rather Be With Me,’ ‘It Ain’t Me Babe,’ ‘You Showed Me’ — and the title of the tour, ‘Happy Together’ — the band ruled the airwaves in the late ‘60s. Rewind time and groove to the classics as you see these legends live on the same stage.

Saturday, June 15, 8 p.m. Flagstar at Westbury Music Fair, 960 Brush Hollow Road, Westbury. Tickets available at LiveNation.com.

Strawberry Shortcake

Strawberry Tarts

THE Your Neighborhood

Fab Faux

The Beatles live on — in the form of the Fab Faux. The acclaimed band brings out the best Beatles moments, appearing on the Paramount stage, Saturday, June 22, 8 p.m. With a commitment to the accurate reproduction of Beatles’ repertoire, The Fab Faux treat the seminal music with unwavering respect, known for their painstaking recreations of the songs (with emphasis on the later works never performed live by the Beatles). The musical virtuosity of The Fab Faux — in actuality five New York City-based musicians —upends the concept of a Beatles tribute band. Far beyond being extended cover sets, their shows are an inspired rediscovery of The Beatles’ musical magic.

The Fab Faux tackles the group’s most demanding material onstage in a way that has to be experienced to be believed. In addition to their note-for-note accuracy, the band is famous for blurring the lines slightly and injecting their own musical personalities into the performances. Imagine hearing complex material like “Strawberry Fields Forever” or “I Am the Walrus” performed in complete partperfect renditions; or such harmony-driven songs as “Because”, “Nowhere Man”, and “Paperback Writer,” reproduced with extra vocalists to achieve a double-tracked effect. That’s The Fab Faux experience. $55, $35, $30, $25. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at Ticketmaster.com or ParamountNY.com.

Family theater

Families will enjoy another musical adventure, “Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!” ripped from the pages of Mo Willems’ beloved children’s books, on the Long Island Children’s Museum stage, Friday, June 14, 10:15 a.m. and noon; also Saturday, June 15, 2 p.m.; Sunday, June 9, 2 p.m.; Wednesday, June 19, 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Back by popular demand after a sold-out 2023 run, see Pigeon, Bus Driver, and some zany passengers sing and dance their way to help Pigeon find his “thing” in this upbeat comedy based on Willems’ popular Pigeon books.

Featuring a live band to bring the jazzy score to life, audiences will thoroughly enjoy singing and flapping along with The Pigeon and friends. The audience is part of the action, in this innovative mix of songs, silliness and feathers. It’s an ideal way to introduce kids to theater and the humorous stories from Willems’ books.

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

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

Artists pushed the boundaries of what was considered “art” with a primary focus on street/graffiti art. The exhibit’s scope, guest curated by art collector/gallerist Christopher Pusey, offers an even broader view from other creative residents, who worked inside their studios but still contributed to the rich fabric of the downtown art scene from different vantage points and aesthetics.

Works include sculpture, paintings, photography, music, and ephemera from many noted and influential artists. On view through July 7. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. (516) 484-9337 or NassauMuseum.org.

Seasonal Sprouts

Bring the kids to Old Westbury Gardens for a Seasonal Sprouts session, Wednesday, June 19, 11 a.m.-noon. Children (ages 4 to 6) can explore the grounds on a guided walk within the formal gardens and informal woodlands. Families will enjoy activities and plant a flower to take home. $10 per child. Registration required. Old Westbury Gardens, 71 Old Westbury Rd., Old Westbury. For information, visit OldWestburyGardens.org or contact (516) 333-0048.

Cathedral of St. Agnes Bazaar

The second annual bazaar takes place at the St. Agnes Cathedral School parking lot, Friday through Sunday, June 21-23 Hours are Friday, 6-10:30 p.m.; Saturday, 5-10:30 p.m.; Sunday, after 1 p.m. Mass, 2-6 p.m. 70 Clinton Ave., Rockville Centre.

Juneteenth closing

Rockville Centre village offices and schools will be closed on Wednesday, June 19, in observance of the Juneteenth holiday.

Celebrate Israel

Salute Israel, while welcoming Eisenhower Park’s summer concert season, at the annual Celebrate Israel concert, presented by Jewish Community Relations Council of Long Island, Sunday, June 30, 6 p.m. Israeli superstar Raviv Kaner performs. Bring seating. Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, Eisenhower Park, East Meadow. For more information, visit Facebook. com/jcrcli.

Tunnel To Towers check presentation

American Legion Post 303 presents a check to the Tunnel To Towers foundation during its June meeting, Wednesday, June 19, at American Legion Hall, at 7:30 p.m. 197 Maple Ave.

Having an event?

Marching through history

Step back in time and observe different eras of military history, at Old Bethpage Village Restoration, Saturday and Sunday, June 15-16, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. As you “march through history” be side by side with knowledgeable and welcoming reenactors from Long Island and numerous other states portraying soldiers, their uniforms and weaponry from Colonial America through more recent conflicts. With firing demonstrations throughout the day, as well as tent and camp life displays. $15, $12 children, $12 seniors 60+. Old Bethpage Village Restoration, 1303 Round Swamp Road Old Bethpage. Visit OldBethpageVillageRestoration.org for more information or call (516) 5728409.

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.

Midsummer Jazz

Enjoy some summertime tunes at Old Westbury Gardens, Thursday, June 20, 7-9 p.m. Hear jazz standards and original compositions by musician and composer Glafkos Kontemeniotis and his trio Monk for President, with Vince “Kazi” McCoy on drums and Fred Berman on double bass. Before, during, or after, stroll the gardens decorated with floral arrangements and illuminated with lanterns. Drinks and appetizers provided; you’re welcome to bring a picnic dinner. $30. Reservations required. Old Westbury Gardens, 71 Old Westbury Rd., Old Westbury. For information, visit OldWestburyGardens.org or contact (516) 333-0048.

Summer sounds

Visit Eisenhower Park for its Noontime Concert series, Wednesday, June 26, noon-2 p.m. The Long Island Harmonizers perform four-part barbershop a cappella. Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, Eisenhower Park, East Meadow. Their repertoire ranges from traditional barbershop to the Great American Songbook and Elton John. Bring seating. For information, visit NassaucCountyNY.gov.

2024 RVC Pride Caravan

Vehicles gather on the streets around the United Church, on Saturday, June 15, before 1 p.m., when participants will decorate their cars, vans, trucks and SUVs, followed by the local caravan through Rockville Centre, at 2 p.m. 430 Morris Ave. For more information or to register visit RVCPride.org.

Village Elections

Village elections take place at the John A. Anderson Recreation Center, Tuesday, June 18. Polls close at 9 p.m. 111 N. Oceanside Road. Village Justice Mindy Roman will be running unopposed for a four-year term.

Village Art Club Spring Exhibition

Village Art Club of Rockville Centre presents original standard works, plus minis, not previously shared by club members, during its annual spring exhibition at the Rockville Centre Public Library. Artwork will be on display, per library schedule, through Saturday, June 22, when the Village Art Club will host an artist’s reception to present awards to the winning submissions. 221 N. Village Ave. For more information, contact Frank McIntyre at (516) 764-1950.

Forecasters predict ‘extraordinary’ storm season

By BEN FIEBERT bfiebert@liherald.com

With at least 17 forecasted named storms, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration anticipates the most active hurricane season outlook ever.

The Atlantic hurricane season officially started June 1 when ocean temperatures are typically primed for storm development. Predicting that 17 storms will reach at least tropical storm status — with sustained winds of between 39 and 73 mph — is unusually high considering an average Atlantic hurricane season between 1991 and 2020 included 14 named storms — half of them hurricanes, and three of those major hurricanes.

“This season is looking to be an extraordinary one,” NOAA administrator Rick Spinrad told reporters during a news conference.

Nelson Vaz, a New York-based warning coordination meteorologist for the National Weather Service, noted the forecast calls for high activity in the Atlantic Ocean due to abnormally warm water temperatures and favorable wind conditions.

El Niño — a vast area of above-normal water temperatures in the east Pacific Ocean — is cooling down and forecasted to transition to La Niña by late summer. That means below-normal water temperatures creating what Vaz says is a recipe for more tropical development.

But while meteorologists can focus on

how the storms will form, it’s tough to predict on where they will end up.

“The one thing that is not in the forecast is landfall,” Vaz said. “You can’t forecast where the storms are going to go, when they are going to occur. So, those are going to be shorter term forecasts based on shorter term weather patterns.”

The threat for a landfalling hurricane is higher than it would be in a typical season, Vaz emphasized. Even in a low-activity season, it’s important for people on Long Island to prepare, even though only a handful of storms ever make it this far north.

The best time to prepare, Vaz said, is now before the hurricane season starts to pick up in late July.

Jackie Bray, the commissioner of the

state’s homeland security and emergency services division, says that anyone living on the coast needs to know if they’re in an evacuation or flood zone. And that even includes people who live inland, as flooding could very much be an issue.

Residents should to prepare for potentially being trapped for a few days if local authorities can’t get to them.

“Prepare a ‘go’ bag,” Bray said. “Flashlights, batteries, bottled water, non-perishable food, extra medication for you and your pets, tarp, duct tape, and stuff that you just might need.”

Homeowners should make sure they know where electrical equipment is located at their residence, and find out what their drainage situation is like.

If a tropical system were to impact the

Preparing for hurricane season

■ Know if you’re in an evacuation or flood zone, or flood-prone area

■ Prepare a ‘go’ bag

■ Have supplies ready like flashlights, batteries, bottled water, nonperishable food, extra medication for you and your pets, tarp, duct tape

■ Take note of where your electrical equipment is located

Learn more at NOAA.gov.

–Ben Fiebert

area, Bray explained her department would set up an emergency operations center. From there, they would start tracking local needs, such as generators, light and crews to remove downed trees.

“And because all signs point to an incredibly active season, we’re really focused now on the tabletop exercises, training exercises, and making sure our stockpiles are full,” Bray said.

To stay up to date on the hurricane season, visit NOAA.gov. For information on how to get notified during weather emergencies, visit Alert.NY.gov.

Chamber of Commerce

JUNE 15- JULY 11

Join in any time during the day.

Walk through Malverne and stop by participating merchants to view over 100 pieces of art from more than 50 Long Island artists. There will be live music, chalk drawing for childern and more. Opening day is June 15.

Courtesy National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

National Weather Service forecasters at the Climate Prediction Center expect an above-normal hurricane activity in the Atlantic basin this year.

South Side recognizes its ‘unsung heroes’

The fifth annual Breakfast of Champions recognized more than 30 students

By DANIEL OFFNER doffner@liherald.com

The Breakfast of Champions program was introduced at South Side High School five years ago to recognize “unsung heroes” in the classroom. This annual tradition has continued to grow, as more faculty members honor the students who have quietly and unassumingly exemplified what it means to be a “champion” among their peers.

“I think it’s gaining more traction,” Patrick Walsh, principal of South Side High School, said. “The staff know it better. The buildings start to recognize it when you say it. There’s more of an awareness of what it is, and we hope that this encourages kids to take positive actions.”

Walsh spearheaded the program five years ago, while he was still the assistant principal at South Side, to give teachers a chance to recognize some of the students who otherwise would have fallen under the radar.

This year, more than 30 students were selected as honorees for demonstrating qualities such as responsibility, caring, fairness, respect, citizenship, and trustworthiness.

Instead of their normal second and third-period classes, students were invited to attend a special breakfast on June 5, where they were recognized and presented with gifts for their contributions to the school.

Educators took turns at the podium, praising the respective students for their efforts in the classroom.

Melissa Lamoureux, who said that this was her first year teaching wood design teacher at South Side High School, nominated Jake Bivona, a freshman who transferred into the district partway through the first semester.

“Talk about change being hard, try coming in a couple of months into the school year as a ninth-grader,” Lamoureux said. “Jake came into the school and fit right in.”

She said that since joining the class, Bivona has shown tremendous growth in character and that she chose to nominate him for the Breakfast of Champions for his work ethic, leadership qualities and the level of respect he shows towards his peers and teachers.

“I can’t say enough about his character and how much I’ve seen him grow over the past year,” Lamoureux said. “I want to congratulate Jake on an amazing year. Job well done.”

Nicole Knorr, a social worker at the high school who helps facilitate the Sources of Strength program, said that when the program was first presented five years ago, faculty members were excited about the opportunity to honor students who might not otherwise have been recognized.

This year, she nominated two students — Jenny Lopez and Tommy Puccio — for demonstrating respect, responsibility and determination.

“When I think of the words ‘grit,’

The fifth annual Breakfast of Champions acknowledged more than 30 students at South Side High School who have demonstrated qualities such as fairness, respect, responsibility, caring, citizenship and trustworthiness.

‘character’ and ‘commitment,’ Geny Lopez comes to mind,” Knorr said. “She has made a commitment to herself and to her future, to never give up and always try her best. Geny has proven to be a great self-advocate, always seeking opportunities and new challenges. She’s a responsible and respectful young woman who is liked by peers and adults.”

Knorr said she first met Puccio, he presented himself as eager and kind but had the nervousness that is expected of a ninth grader.

“Over the course of four years, I’ve had the pleasure of watching Tommy grow as a student, a friend, an advocate, a caretaker and a leader,” she said “Tommy found his confidence through the risks that he took and the connections that he made at South Side High School. I’m so proud of the young man that he has become and look forward to hearing about his future as a nurse.”

Herbert Weiss, the science research coordinator at South Side High, nominated Madison McNeill, one of his students who said was, “for lack of a better term a social butterfly.”

“In essence, she was making the classroom better,” Weiss said. “She would go around and if people were down if people weren’t feeling great about themselves, Madison’s the type of person that would go around and try to pick them up … whether it’s with sports or extra help, she’s here and she makes a difference because she cares.”

In a parting message, Walsh said, “I think you can clearly see the message the faculty is sending. Academics are important here. Extracurriculars, sports, clubs, music, theater … all of those things are important, but nothing is as important as being a good person. Our job as the faculty of your high school is to help you guys become better people, and you make our job more enriching and fulfilling so keep up the great work.

The students who were acknowledged

for their contributions to the school at this year included Nick Agoglia, Gabrielle Belarmino, Jake Bivona, Alessandro Bracco, Miles Erdos, Harper Falivene, Malkiel Ferrens, Christian Gonzalez, Gabby Guizzo, Harrison Johnson, Adrianna Lewis, Geny Lopez, Jimmy Loud, AJ Magaraci, Michael Maher, Nathaniel Mammo, Katori Martin, Slade May, Madison McNeill, Kayleigh Miller, Elena Mingorance, D’Andre Mullings-Newberry, Elingel Pantaleon, Alisa Petrone, Maeve Powers, Tommy Puccio, Sebastian Reyes, Leander Rogan, Franklin Russo, Conor Sheehan, Noscaela St. Louis, Connor Sullivan, Harper Taran and Kyle Weisenberger, Faculty and staff members who submitted nominations included Walsh, social worker Nicole Knorr, Phys. ed. instructors Liz Marshall, Meaghan Healey and Kelly Figueiredo, nurse Diane DeMeo, school counselor Marcy Pedone, greenhouse instructor Frank VanZant, and teachers Nick Pernot, Katie Friel, Lamoureaux, Katie Burke, Christine Brown, Emily Flores, Bruce Hecker, Jes-

LEGAL NOTICE

Principal Patrick Walsh created the Breakfast of Champions in 2019 to honor those students who do so much for others, but don’t get the recognition.

sica Goro, Marisa McLeod, Todd Russo, Tom Hessel, Herb Weiss, Annie Ryan, Margaret Kelly, Robert Devlin and Therese Cohen.

Public Notices

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 JUNE 27, 2024 at which time they will be publicly opened and read aloud. The contract will be awarded as soon thereafter as practicable for: MISCELLANEOUS CONCRETE IMPROVEMENTS

Bid No. 2407DPW1(1118)

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 JUNE 20, 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 147373

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF FORMATION OF PARTNERSHIP LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY. NAME: Propaws Veterinary Services PLLC, Articles of

Dan Offner/Herald photos

DRIVERS WANTED

Full Time and Part Time

Positions Available!

Busy Print Shop in Garden City is Hiring Immediately for Full Time and Part Time Drivers. Must Have a Clean License and BoxTruck Driving Experience. Hours Vary, Salary Ranges from $17 per hour to $21 per hour Night Availability is a Must. Please Email Resume to careers@liherald.com or Call (516)569-4000 x239

DRIVING INSTRUCTOR

Company Car/ Bonuses. Clean Driving Record Required, Will Train. Retirees Welcome!

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DRIVING INSTRUCTORS WANTED

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HR Specialist. Actively listen, address concerns, & take action to promote a culture of inclusivity, multi-cultural awareness & respect among empls. & co. staff; Implement diversity training progs. & educational workshops; identify effective practices & progs to remove barriers; & eval. & assess co. efforts on diversity & cultural inclusion progs. Sal. $53,394/year. BA in Culture, Lit. or rel. Send res/ltt to Attn: HR, Ivy Enterprises, Inc. 25 Harbor Park Dr. Port Washington, NY 11050.

EDITOR/ REPORTER

Part Time & Full Time. 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. Salary range is from $20K to $45K 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

HANDYPERSON WANTED

Immediate Opening at our Garden City Location DESIRED SKILLS: Electrical * Welding * Carpentry Mechanical * Plumbing Part Time/Fulltime (benefits available with full time) $18-$30 per hour based on experience Richner Communications, Inc 2 Endo Blvd Garden City, NY 11530 Send resume to careers@lixtherald.com or Call 516-569-4000 ext 211

MAILROOM/ WAREHOUSE HELP

Long Island Herald has IMMEDIATE openings for a FULL-TIME & PART-TIME mailroom/warehouse helper in Garden City.

We are a busy print shop looking for 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. Salary Ranges fromo $16 per hour to $20 per hour. Email resumes or contact info to careers@liherald.com

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MULTI MEDIA

ACCOUNT DEVELOPMENT

Inside Sales

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. Compensation ranges from $33,280 + commissions and bonuses to over $100,000 including commission and bonuses. We also offer health benefits, 401K and paid time off. Please send cover letter and resume with salary requirements to ereynolds@liherald.com Call 516-569-4000 X286

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PRINTING PRESS OPERATORS FT & PT. Long Island Herald has IMMEDIATE openings for Printing Press Operators in Garden City. We are a busy print shop looking for motivated and reliable individuals to assist in various duties in the shop. Hours vary, so flexibility is key. Salary

Ranges from $20 per hour to $30 per hour. Email resumes or contact info to careers@liherald.com

RECEPTIONIST P/T

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Mon. Wed. Fri. 9am-5pm And Sat. 9am-1pm Office Experience Preferred $16-$18 per Hour 516-379-4900

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Formal dining room. Den/family room, home office and exercise room. First floor master bedroom. 2 fireplaces. Large yard. Potential mother/daughter with proper permits. Convenient location near shopping and LIRR.

Taxes: $12,254

Briggs Street.

Taxes: $17,085.51

Bellmore $903,000

LIRR.

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Rowehl Drive. Expanded Cape. 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms. Partial finished basement. Eat-in kitchen with pantry. Formal dining room. Den/family room. Updates include skylight.

Taxes: $10,535.61

East Rockaway $865,000

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Taxes: $14,966.99

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BETH DAVID CEMETERY: Elmont, NY.

3 Plots. Separate Or All Together. Graves 18, 25, and 32. Purchase Separate $4000; Purchase Together $11000. Negotiable. Call 845-641-7316

Elmont $1,100,000

Waldorf Avenue. Colonial. 6 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms. Finished basement. Eat-in kitchen with granite countertops. Open layout. Formal dining room. Guest quarters. Updates include cathedral ceiling and skylight.

Taxes: $16,509.01

Lido Beach $1,750,000

Luchon Street. Split Level. 3 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms. Unique architecturally designed custom beach house. Gourmet chef’s eat-in kitchen with high end appliances and cabinetry. Open layout. Living room with cathedral ceiling and fireplace. Dining room with floor to ceiling windows overlooking garden. Ensuite master bedroom with ocean view and oversized terrace. Den/family room with patio. Extras include private library, skylights. 2 car garage and parking for 4 cars. Steps to private beach.

Taxes: $12,679

Lynbrook $570,000

Farnum Street. Colonial. 3 bedrooms, 1.5 bathrooms. Eatin kitchen. Formal dining room.

Taxes: $13,590.44

Merrick $875,000

Horatio Avenue. Hi Ranch. 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms. Finished basement. Eat-in kitchen with pantry. Formal dining room. Updates include cathedral ceiling and skylight. Taxes: $16,135.87

Rockville Centre $1,295,000

Banbury Road. Colonial. 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms. Finished basement. Eat-in kitchen with granite countertops. Formal dining room. Den/family room. Security system. Taxes: $24,305

Valley Stream $665,000

Roberta Street. Expanded Cape. 4 bedrooms, 1.5 bathrooms. Eat-in kitchen. Open layout. Den/family room. Taxes: $9,574.69

The neighbors won’t leave us alone

Q. My neighbors from hell have been harassing me at every step of my construction, and I don’t know what to do. They tried to stop our permit, and have continued to try to have it revoked for several reasons, such as false claims that my contractor is unlicensed, that they start work before the allowed work times, that they work too late, that my permit wasn’t posted properly, that the simple deck we’re having built is in the wrong place, that our dog isn’t licensed … How can we stop this harassment? They are both attorneys who aren’t working, and have plenty of time to bother us.

A. George Herbert, a 17th-century poet, said, “Living well is the best revenge.” Apparently he had neighbors like yours, and he didn’t want to use all the other much more vindictive and possibly illegal means to stop them. After a while, like the story of the boy who cried wolf, the authorities will stop believing them and may even turn their attention to them, looking for issues to keep your neighbors busy with their own issues.

MarketPlace HERALD

I have heard many stories about vindictive neighbors over the years, and although it is puzzling what motivates people to behave this way, to not just live and let live, they have to be either dealt with or ignored. It’s hard to ignore some of the more dastardly things people can do to harass, but it has to be done. Being attorneys indicates that they understand how to manipulate the system, which was put in place for justice, to create an injustice.

In some cases I have knocked on a door on behalf of a client to ask what the problems are, with the best of intentions, to assure the neighbor that their concerns are being dealt with and everything will work out. The lesson I learned from this is that there are people put on this planet for the sole purpose of ruination, destruction, intimidation and harassment. It appears to give them a level of satisfaction that cannot be attained by some more meaningful method. It reminds me of what many people have told me when we hear about a criminal who went to great lengths to figure out how to commit the crime, that had that same individual put their energy into solving a positive, constructive problem, like curing cancer or helping those less fortunate, they may have had a productive life instead of creating the misery they thrive on.

I suggest writing down, in detail, your neighbors’ actions, compiling a book on how pathetic some people can be, selling the book, and living well off the royalties from the neighbors’ contribution to your making lemonade out of the lemons they keep hurling at you. I’m hesitant to write about the worst thing that a neighbor once did just to be difficult, because it really did cause lasting pain for a family whose small children were scared for life by what that neighbor did.

© 2024 Monte Leeper

Readers are encouraged to send questions to yourhousedr@aol.com, with “Herald question” in the subject line, or to Herald Homes, 2 Endo Blvd., Garden City, NY 11530, Attn: Monte Leeper, architect.

Ask The Architect

Monte Leeper

FREON WANTED

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This is the best part: All of summer lies ahead

Hardly any summer lives up to its hype.

How could it, when we’ve waited nine months for school to be out, slogging through dark, snowy days and freezing weeks? We’ve waited for the warming breeze, the gentle waves, the fresh cherries and soft-shell crabs. We waited, and here it is … now! All this freedom is too wonderful to grasp. Our vacation time from work lies ahead, too, and we want our adventures, and our kids’ camps, and the rentals in the mountains or by the shore to be restorative and fun. In June it’s still possible that the big family reunion in the Poconos will be a life-altering love fest. In June, the outdoor concerts are still anticipatory joy. These are the best days of summer, when everything is possible. Here, pinned to this spot in time, there are no rampaging wildfires, no floods, no hurricanes, no Covid surge, no family feuds. Yup, the dangerous possibilities all lie ahead. Pre-summer is the golden window of

good weather and unlimited expectations. That’s why people keep booking weekends in Maine, forgetting that last year they waited on line in the 95-degree heat for a $30 Kennebunkport lobster roller. These are the days of anticipatory dreaming.

BOn summer weekends, families head to our beaches, the Berkshires, the Jersey Shore or out East. Everyone is trying to recapture summer memories while forgetting the kids’ rainy-day tantrums or the traffic in the Hamptons or the prices at the farm stands that used to be a bargain. This is the time of dreaming and planning; there will be enough time in September to absorb the realities that subvert these fantasies.

in their hair. It was a significant cultural shift, which led to the end of the war and the beginning of a real push for civil rights, women’s rights and racial equality.

eaches? Trails? Farm stands?

This is the time of dreaming and planning.

My big regret is that I didn’t go; I wasn’t part of history. I was planning my wedding and looking for a job. I didn’t go to Woodstock, either, in the summer of 1969. My heart and mind were with the progressive causes, but the path I saw for myself was fixed and somewhat narrow.

read “War and Peace,” all 1,200 pages. Truth? The last 50 summers have been my summer to read “War and Peace.” Never cracked the cover, but it doesn’t matter; I hold on dearly to the possibility.

AIn the big picture, we don’t know yet what kind of summer this will be historically, meteorologically or politically. Will it leave an indelible mark? Will our collective destinies stay the course or take a detour?

I remember the summer of 1967, when some 100,000 young people, widely known as hippies, descended on San Francisco, specifically the Haight, and protested the war in Vietnam, lived in casual encampments, did some drugs and wore flowers

So, young folks, this summer, get out there and live your days. Summer 2024 will not come around again. The calendar from midJune to Sept. 21 is blank. The summer could sweep in dramatic change. Anything can happen. The days are hot already and very long; worry is in the air about drought and wildfire and political unrest.

On an individual level, this is the time to plan our downtime activities. Is this the summer you get out on the kayak? Learn to surf? Start hiking the Appalachian Trail? Rescue a puppy and use the summertime to train it? Maybe send the kids off to camp and get reacquainted with your partner?

For me, this is the summer to finally

The freedom of some unstructured time allows us to prepare for the upcoming election. A minefield covers the ground between June and November. It seems unlikely to me that any of the legal cases against Donald Trump will be resolved in time to make a difference. We have, as individuals who are citizens of a great democracy, the time to think about what kind of man we want to be president. I will be casting my vote for Joe Biden, the sitting president who has displayed decency and solid, pro-American, forward-thinking policies. I hope that others who have the time and inclination will seriously weigh the kind of America we want to live in.

We don’t want to get terribly serious because, after all, it’s about to be summer. Put your feet up. Grab a bowl of Washington State cherries, and if “War and Peace” seems daunting, pick up a National Geographic and learn the important stuff, like “Do Spiders Dream?”

Relax with one eye open. The summer of 2024 is about to unfold.

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

Some advice Joe Biden badly needs

ccording to the political calendar, it is five months until voters go to the polls in the 2024 elections. Between now and that fateful day, the two political parties will have spent over a billion dollars campaigning. Being a Democrat, it isn’t my business to tell the Republican Party how to run its presidential campaign, but I have some thoughts about the Democratic effort to re-elect President Biden.

Up to now, the president’s campaign has centered on such things as the infrastructure bill he signed into law in 2021 and its funding for new roads, bridges and other needed public-works programs. There is no doubt that such expenditures are important, and should be stressed, but the election is more about other critical issues.

When Bill Clinton ran for the White House, James Carville, his campaign strategist, uttered those now famous words, “It’s the economy, stupid.” Carville was right, and Biden would ignore that dictum at his peril. These days,

everything is about the economy. People vote with their pocketbooks, and the issue has to be dealt with by the Democrats.

Over the past few years, prices have skyrocketed, and it isn’t the fault of the president.

The executives of the companies that produce gasoline, food and other necessities don’t care about the average person. They have jets to service them, and take luxury trips around the world to ease their tensions. They raise their prices just before the quarterly earnings call to satisfy Wall Street, not Main Street. There’s nothing wrong with telling America who the culprits are and bashing the business tycoons.

the country believes that the unemployment rate is at a 50-year high. In fact, unemployment has been below 4 percent for over two years. It isn’t the media’s fault that the voters think that way; it’s because politicians don’t tell the story well.

U

ndecideds are up for grabs, but he has to find a message that appeals to them.

If you talk to average voters, they believe they were better off four years ago than they are today. That is in fact a total fallacy. In 2020, we were dealing with the coronavirus disaster, and then President Trump had failed to warn the nation about the perils we faced, in order to avoid the political fallout. The public was encouraged to try crazy medicines, none of which saved any lives.

Even though the Trump campaign is much more under control, the candidate isn’t. Trump goes off script all the time, and says lots of crazy things. His base voters won’t abandon him, but the undecideds are up for grabs, and they could be Biden voters. But Biden has to find a message that appeals to them.

Another challenge for the president is the third-party candidacy of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Right now Kennedy would get about 14 percent of the estimated vote. He may be appealing to protest voters, but it’s up to the Biden campaign to let the world know how nutty this guy is. There is enough of a record on Kennedy’s past statements to bring his poll numbers down and reduce his possible threat in November.

A recent Washington Post column by Catherine Rampell tells an interesting story about the economy. The headline is “Nearly everything Americans believe about the economy is wrong.” Rampell wrote that a recent Harris poll revealed that Americans’ thinking about the economy is often at odds with reality.

Most Americans believe the economy is shrinking. In fact, the economy has been growing for the past two years. The poll also found that 49 percent of

There were so many other bad things happening under Trump that Biden should be talking about. When Trump took office, the unemployment rate was 4.8 percent. When he left it was 6.3 percent. (It is currently under 4 percent.) There were supply chain disruptions and widespread lockdowns, and we were suffering from a recession. Thanks to a tax program that gave the rich big cuts, the national debt swelled by $7.8 trillion, an increase of 40 percent.

As for the current state of politics, Biden will have plenty to talk about.

Incumbents are often underdogs in an election year, and Biden needs to run a campaign that focuses on pocketbook issues and explains them in simple terms. He will get countless other gifts from the uncontrolled candidate that is Donald Trump. But it’s time for Biden to retool his efforts and appeal to the voters he so badly needs.

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.

RAnDi KREiss

JERRY

KREMER

NHERALD

HeraLd editoriaL

We are all champions

assau county truly is the home of champions.

It’s where you can find the four-time Stanley cup champion New York Islanders. For more than a century, it’s where the Belmont Stakes thoroughbred horse race was held — and where it will return, bigger and better than ever, in 2026, when renovations are completed at Belmont park.

There’s also the four-time atlantic League of professional Baseball champion Long Island Ducks. and, for the past couple weeks, anyone trying to make their away around Eisenhower park, in East Meadow, couldn’t help but get caught up in the excitement of the International cricket council Men’s T20 World cup, in which India upended pakistan in a highly anticipated international rivalry.

But our true champions are much closer to home. In fact, they are in our own backyards, if not in our own homes. They are our school athletes — young men and women who spend hours conditioning, training and drilling to step out on a baseball diamond, a track, a tennis court, a football field, a basketball court, a lacrosse field, or a soccer or rugby pitch to try to win it all in front of their families, friends, neighbors and peers. and then, after all that, they go back to their studies, so they can have the best shot at a successful future.

We are proud of every one of them for what they accomplish. and we support them as they look for ways to win, and

Letters

Thank you, Gov. Hochul

To the Editor:

Thank you to Gov. Kathy Hochul and the State Legislature for increasing funding for libraries in the fiscal year 2025 state budget! We deeply appreciate the strong support of our work. Hochul’s action brings much-needed relief to the operating budget of the Nassau Library System, a cooperative that provides shared services to the county’s 54 public libraries, and an additional $500,000 to local libraries for building improvements. Nassau’s public libraries serve hundreds of thousands of patrons each year.

Voters deserve thanks, too. Every library budget vote in Nassau passed this spring, with an average approval rate of 77 percent! Over 5,000 Nassau residents signed up for new library cards last month. Libraries truly have something for everyone, and we invite all to check us out this summer.

JOHN ScaparrO President, Nassau Library System board of trustees

cheer them when they do so.

They always give us reason to cheer for them, and even more when they win titles — like the South Side High School boys’ lacrosse team taking home the state class B boys championship in a thrilling overtime win over Victor.

and they are hardly alone. The boys’ track and field team from Baldwin High captured its first county championship in more than a decade, while the girls’ track and field team from Oceanside did the same, over rival Syosset.

The boys from Malverne won a county championship of their own in track and field, while the Valley Stream North girls celebrated a number of individual county champions, like Moanna Thelusca in discus, Nattaly Lindo in shot put, and the Fessler sisters, paige and Brooke, finishing first and second, respectively, in the high jump. We also have to mention the amazing work of the North Shore girls’ track and field squad, which came away with the class a championship.

and don’t even get us started on the excellence in softball from the previous week, with Kennedy and Seaford winning Long Island championships, while Oceanside took home the class aaa crown.

Then there was the Wantagh girls’ lacrosse team beating Manhasset for the Nassau class c championship, while the Lynbrook boys’ tennis team won a conference title.

and then there are county champion-

ships for the calhoun girls track team, the clarke baseball team, and the Wantagh boys lacrosse team.

We could go on. There is a lot to celebrate — no matter what the scoreboard shows.

These young men and women are learning teamwork, leadership and resilience. as they work together to achieve common goals, they learn the value of collaboration and mutual support. The highs of victory and the lows of defeat provide lessons in handling success with grace, and the rest with dignity.

These experiences are invaluable as these athletes prepare to face the myriad challenges of adult life with a balanced and determined mindset. They also provide opportunities for college scholarships and career advancement, opening doors to higher education that might not have otherwise been available for many. Their journeys also serve as a powerful unifying force within communities. On Long Island, where villages and hamlets have distinct identities, high school sports can bridge divides and create a sense of shared purpose.

High school sports are much more than a venue for cheering on the home team. They are a cornerstone of physical health, personal development, academic excellence and community cohesion. By supporting and investing in them, we are nurturing the next generation of leaders, scholars and community members, ensuring a vibrant and dynamic future for Nassau county.

opinions

Hello, Harrison Butker? Women can be heroes, too

if history has proven anything, it’s that the world wasn’t set up for women to succeed.

Countless trailblazers have incited change, but there is still an overarching prejudice against us. The struggle that we internalize may vary, but I think we can agree that some days, it’s just hard to be a woman.

Every time our gender makes strides, it’s easy to be humbled — by something someone says, by something someone does. And it’s easy for us to deflect, and say, “Well, that’s just the way things are.” But why are we oK with the way things are?

A few weeks ago, as universities around the United States began holding commencement ceremonies, a well-known athlete spoke to the graduates of Benedictine College, a Catholic institution in Atchison, Kansas.

Harrison Butker, the kicker for the Kansas City Chiefs, addressed the crowd of young men and women. And it wasn’t

his presence, but rather what he said, that created an aura of polarity.

“For the ladies present today,” Butker said, “congratulations on an amazing accomplishment. you should be proud of all that you have achieved to this point in your young lives. I want to speak directly to you briefly because I think it is you, the women, who have had the most diabolical lies told to you.”

Butker went on to say that while “some” of the graduating women might lead successful careers, he’d “venture to guess” that the majority of them were excited about marriage, and the children they will bring into the world.

that it’s more likely that she’s looking forward to a life of marriage and motherhood.

The concepts of modern feminism are broadly misunderstood, by men and women alike. A true feminist would support a woman on any path she chooses, whether it be a career, a home life or something in between, and it was insulting and ignorant of Butker to project that most women in the audience would want to devote themselves to their partner and their future children.

a ll that comes to mind when I reread the Chiefs’ kicker’s words is, really?

I have nothing against opinions, and I respect everyone’s right to voice their own. But all that comes to mind as I reread Butker’s words is, really?

The internet jumped to his defense, but let me riddle you this: He chose to single out “the women.”

Imagine being a young woman in Benedictine’s graduating class, who at the very least just completed four years of college. She deserves to be celebrated for her degree, and instead she’s told

Letters

Abortion, women’s equity loom large in November

To the Editor:

As the presidential election approaches, understanding the opinions of both President Biden and Donald Trump is pivotal when thinking about which candidate to vote for. Specifically, when it comes to abortion rights and women’s equity on both a national and global scale, the two candidates have differing opinions and differing degrees of action, and it is hyper-important for women to be informed about their standpoints, so they understand who to vote for in November.

In terms of abortion rights, Trump and Biden have starkly different opinions. Although Biden has stated that he is a practicing Catholic who doesn’t necessarily personally support abortion, he has avidly stated that women deserve the right to choose, no matter where they live, and that abortion care should be a human right. Trump, on the other hand, wants to leave abortion rights up to the states, meaning that each state can choose whether or not abortions should be legalized, potentially taking away that right to choose.

In terms of the international policy surrounding women’s equity, Biden and

Trump have similar policies, but their commitment to those policies is of varying degrees, and they have different motives for supporting women’s equality. They have both tried to combat women’s inequity through financial support of efforts in other countries, but Biden has directed hundreds of millions more dollars to those efforts than Trump.

Biden also states that women’s equality is a moral issue, something that should be intrinsically guaranteed to populations around the world. Trump, however, mainly sees women’s equality as an opportunity for economic growth. Biden also claims to aid specific countries that may need help promoting gender equity, making Trump’s policy appear weaker and less specific. These differences must be recognized by the people they would affect the most: the voters.

We reach out with the hope that you are aware of the stakes of this election, and that you share our concern for its possible outcomes. We strongly feel that in a world where information is hidden, falsified, misconstrued and polarized, it is important that our reputable local media outlets continue being dedicated to the truth — now more than ever.

HENry SPINA, SoPHIA MArCHIolI and CHArloTTE MArCHIolI

North Shore High School Class of 2024 Glen Head

on the days when women feel the most unsupported, by people in their lives or public figures like Butker, they should remember that there are always things to turn to. I find it exceedingly important to read and watch content that is created with the best intentions for people just like us.

For women.

What do I mean?

A few months ago, as I enjoyed some time off from work in Florida, sitting poolside at my cousin’s house on International Women’s Day, I picked up “The Women,” a novel by Kristin Hannah, released earlier this year. Hannah is an

extraordinary writer who has been telling the tales of important women for decades, and this book is no different. I’ve read several of her novels over the past year, and I’ve come to love the way Hannah crafts stories of inspiring women, and the positive effect she has on my self-worth, every time I finish one of them. “The Women” offers readers an in-depth look at what it was like to be a nurse during the Vietnam War, and what it was like to return home afterward. If you love history, this read is for you.

In the first few pages, you’ll stumble across a striking notion. Women can be heroes.

So, to the women reading this — and the men — internalize that. All of us can be heroes.

And while people like Harrison Butker may continue to make speeches that threaten to strip us of everything we’ve worked for, remember that what we choose to do, in every walk of life, matters. our accomplishments and choices, at home or in the workplace, matter. And our feelings, and the way we view ourselves, matter, too.

Jordan Vallone is a senior editor who writes for the Bellmore, East Meadow and Merrick Heralds. Comments? jvallone@liherald.com.

Framework by Ellen Jaret

At the National Monument atop Calton Hill — Edinburgh, Scotland

JorDan VaLLone

Giving Birth? Look No Further than the South Shore’s

Only High Performing Hospital for Maternity Care

Mothers looking for a hospital at which to give birth should consider the quality indicators used by U.S. News & World Report ® to determine institutions deemed High Performing for Maternity care.

Mount Sinai South Nassau is the only South Shore hospital to earn the rating of High Performing based on eight key measures:

• Reduced C-section delivery rates

• Low early elective delivery rates

• Low overall unexpected newborn complication rates

• Increased routine VBAC rates

• Increased exclusive human milk feeding rates

• Low episiotomy rates

• Routine birthing-friendly practices

• Transparency on racial/ethnic disparities

If you want the best birthing experience for you and for your baby, look no further than Mount Sinai South Nassau.

Learn more at southnassau.org/maternity, or call 877-SOUTH-NASSAU.