Rockville Centre police officers train to be sensory inclusive
By DANIEl oFFNER doffner@liherald.com
The Village of Rockville Centre has partnered with KultureCity to train its police department to be sensory inclusive.
Sean Culkin of Rockville Centre, was diagnosed with autism when he was young and with help and support, was able to cope through his formative years. He eventually went on to attend Adelphi University’s Bridges program, which is designed to help support students with autism spectrum disorder as they acclimate to a collegiate environment.
“As a lifelong Rockville Centre resident and an autistic man, myself, it means the world to me to see this community come together for a cause that
has meant so much to me, my family and so many other Rockville Centre residents,” Culkin said.
“When I was young, the doctors that diagnosed me on the autism spectrum told me that it was going to be a very hard life for me. That the community would not be there for me. They even recommended institutionalization for me, because at two years old, he did not see the existence of a community that was going to be passionate and so brought together to help individuals with invisible disabilities thrive in the modern world.”
Culkin, now 30, is an ambassador and board member with KultureCity, the world’s leading nonprofit in sensory accessibility acceptance and inclusion. He said that through its program, KultureCity helps train others to address the one in
Griffin, Bynoe both advance
Familiar opponent for Brian Curran
By DANIEl oFFNER & KEPHERD DANIEl of the Rockville Centre Herald
Judy Griffin is ready to take back her old Assembly seat in November as she’s set to once again face off against Brian Curran in a battle that has volleyed the Albany seat back and forth between the two for the last several years.
JudY gRiFFin
She did it with a decisive win over Patricia Maher in the Democratic primary where Griffin secured nearly 85 percent of the votes, according to early returns.
“We took this race seriously,” Griffin told the Herald following her victory. “It’s important, and it’s important to get the right person in office. We had a decisive win, which is great. And now we’re gearing up for the general election.”
Griffin has lived in Rockville Centre for more than 30 years, first working in the financial industry before taking on roles as a lifestyle coach and corporate wellness educator.
She defeated Curran in 2018 to become the first Democrat to win this particular seat in more
than 40 years. But after two terms, she lost a very narrow race to Curran, letting him get his old job back by a 138-vote margin.
Also moving forward to the November election is Nassau County Legislator Siela Bynoe who defeated Assemblywoman Taylor Darling by 800 votes in the contest to see who will succeed Kevin Thomas in the state senate.
SieLa BYnoe
“Throughout this campaign I have been so blessed and overwhelmed by the support I’ve received,” Bynoe said. “Today alone we’ve had more than a hundred volunteers knocking on doors and calling their neighbors to come and vote.
“This victory is only a first step, and there is work to be done. Thank you to everyone who made this possible.”
Bynoe has spent the past decade as a county legislator, advocating for mental health services, police reform, affordable housing and education on Long Island.
She will now get ready to face off against Republican Thomas Philip Montefinise in November.
Tim Baker/Herald
Amelia Bird, 6, of Rockville Centre proudly displays her artwork during the Matter of the HeART gallery show. Photos, story, Page 9.
Mercy opens new pre-surgical testing suite
Catholic Health’s Mercy Hospital recently unveiled its new state-of-theart pre-surgical testing suite with a ribbon cutting ceremony on June 18. The 3,300-square-foot space aims to boost the overall patient experience and enhance health equity by offering improved access in a modern space.
Prior to its move to the Catholic Health Ambulatory building, located adjaced to Mercy Hospital, the pre-surgical testing area was housed within a 1,400 square-foot space inside the main hospital building.
“I’m proud to say that this new space, which more than doubled in size, is full of opportunity,” Mercy Hospital President Joseph Manopella said. “It will not only allow us to elevate our patience experience but meet the surgical demands deemed necessary by our community — all while providing a new convenient and modern location.”
The new pre-surgical testing suite represents a $2.5 million investment, which was supported in part by a $1 million grant from the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation and funds from the Friends of Mercy Hospital.
The suite features eight spacious exam rooms, a dedicated room designed with bariatric patients in mind, a conveniently located X-ray room, new equipment, upgraded technology, improved workflow and modern upgrades throughout.
Catholic Health’s Mercy Hospital celebrates the grand opening of its new state-of-the-art pre-surgical
“The future is bright for Mercy Hospital,” Chief Operating Officer Ihab Ibrahim said. “This project represents the culmination of two years of meticulous planning and design, while keeping our patients needs at the forefront. I’m very excited to be celebrating this next milestone and expanding access to care to those in our community.”
The new pre-surgical testing suite is
located in Suite 306 in Catholic Health’s Ambulatory building, on the main Rockville Centre campus, just steps away from the hospital building. The new location provides ample parking, increased wayfinding and enhanced access from a location standpoint.
“The new space is a welcome upgrade for our patients and our PST staff,” Dannielle Henry, nurse manager
for Mercy’s ambulatory surgery service, said. “I am confident that the space — which is now larger, brighter and modern — will enhance our ability to continue to deliver high quality, compassionate care. I’m excited for our future.“
For more information about Catholic Health’s Mercy Hospital’s pre-surgicial testing suite, call (516)-626-3729.
Tim Baker/Herald
testing suite on June 18.
St. Agnes Bazaar returns for a third year
The third annual St. Agnes Parish Bazaar took place this past weekend, from Friday, June 21 to Sunday, June 23. The event welcomed hundreds of attendees who flocked to Rockville Centre to enjoy the wide array of summertime activities and fun.
This annual tradition, a hidden gem from decades past, was brought back to life in 2022, and has since become one of the larger community gatherings in the village since the start of the coronavirus pandemic in March 2020.
The bazaar featured a delightful mix of attractions for thrill-seekers and young folk of all ages. The rides and attractions provided hours of entertainment for members of the community and surrounding areas who came to enjoy the festivities. The event also featured a variety of different games and amusements, which gave everyone a chance to test their skills and win prizes.
The food was another highlight of the event, featuring a variety of options, ranging from traditional carnival staples like cotton candy and funnel cakes to more substantial fare including hot dogs and burgers.
One of the event’s standout features is the biergarten, which kept the taps flowing throughout the weekend. It also played host to a number of live musical performances from local artists and bands, which filled the tent with lively tunes that had visitors dancing along with the music.
These talented performers donated their time and talent to perform, accepting no payment for their appearance. This generous gesture was made in order to capitalize on raising the maximum amount possible from the bazaar, so that both the parish and school can continue their vital work in ministry and education.
The success of this year’s event was a testament to the dedication and hard work of the organizers, volunteers and performers who helped make it all possible.
–Daniel Offner
Danielle Giuliani, left, Angelina Ingigneri, Ava Janosko, Ella Kelch, Zoey Turano, Katherine Guilshan, Morgan Cherry, Ryley Coughlin and Leah Maccone.
Holden Leeds/Herald photos Jade Vindell and Alexis Ramdazzo win a reggae banana.
Daniel Tobman, Tyler Hackett, Gene Vassel, Patrick Cahalan, Roman Guarini and Ben Brakstad win big prizes at the bazaar.
Friends Tejas Arrona and Connor Donoghue enjoy the St. Agnes Parish Bazaar.
Cora Keane, 10, sparkles in her face paint at the bazaar.
Ronan Donlon, 8, enjoys the carousel.
Attendees of the annual St. Agnes Parish Bazaar enjoy the ‘Super Shot.’
Police participate in Olympic Torch Run
Rockville Centre cops raise awareness in preparation for 2025 Special Olympics
By ANDREW FRANCIS Herald Intern
Officers with the Rockville Centre Police Department represented their community as well as the region during the Law Enforcement Torch Run. The event was a mile-long run that was aimed at raising awareness for the Special Olympics, the sports organization that runs various global competitions for those with intellectual disabilities.
Police Officer Michael Rollo, P.O. Tom Szenczy, P.O. Brian Vacchio, and P.O. Nordwing Veszter joined several other officers and departments on the run who successfully helped raise money and greater awareness in their communities.
Wthe participants plenty of time and space to complete the run while carrying American flags and flags for each department.
Vacchio shared that he has seen the necessity for events and organizations like the Torch Run and the Special Olympics and how important it is to advocate for those with neurological and intellectual disabilities in his personal life.
e all agreed that [the Torch Run] was a great cause that we all wanted to be a part of
BRIAN VACChIo Officer, RVCPD
The officers from Rockville Centre were first notified about the run by an email from Lieutenant Sal Mazza. The Torch Run they participated in began at the intersection of Ocean Avenue and Sunrise Highway and ran through a good portion of the department’s jurisdiction. This section of Sunrise Highway was closed off for the morning run and gave
Book Review:
His mother is a special education teacher who deals with children dealing with various learning and intellectual disabilities. Due to circumstances beyond the control of the children, they require special attention, care and patience to go through many of the trials in education and life that many take for granted.
He has been able to help his mother and other special education professionals by volunteering his time at summer camps that had autistic children. Being able to learn firsthand how meaningful care and additional resources are to those dealing with these physiological setbacks, Vacchio and his fellow officers did not hesitate at an opportunity to provide more support.
“SuperAging” by David Cravit and Larry Wolf
Subtitled “Getting Older Without Getting Old”, this new book starts with the premise “... imagine bringing a whole lifetime of knowledge, experience, skills, talent, relationships, wisdom (and, let’s face it, money) to two or three more decades ahead of you in which to leverage all those assets into an ongoing wonderful experience.” With the Baby Boomer generation far outliving and “outhealthing” any prior generation, we are in the era of the “superager”, founded upon seven pillars.
Attitude: Believing in exciting new possibilities, optimism is a major life extender. Purposes and goals are a result of an active curiosity about the potential for the gift of these years. Practice a positive thinking booster program everyday. Search for “positivity apps” and get daily positive quotes. They work!
Awareness: Whereas older adults previously accepted the advice of professionals as gospel, today’s superagers are avid consumers of information. The challenge today is the approach to information gathering and the curating of the “informational torrent”. Tips and techniques for searching and filing your information are provided.
Activity: Keeping fit, mentally and physically
delves into the nine components, arising out of the Blue Zones Project, for extending longevity -- move naturally, have a purpose (worth an extra 7 years!), downshift, the 80% rule for eating, plant-based diet, moderate alcohol, faith-based community, family, social networks.
Accomplishments: Viewing post-65 as a continued opportunity to grow and achieve goals, this section outlines myriad ways to continue personal growth. As the authors point out, “Accomplishment, promoted by longevity, produces even further longevity.”
Attachment: The health risks of loneliness are well documented. Superagers reach for more connection, often digitally. New adult communities are arising right on college campuses, creating exciting new intergenerational possibilities.
Avoidance: Avoiding ageism, especially against oneself, means challenging your own and society’s outdated views on aging -- stereotypes as to what older adults look and act like.
Autonomy: The dazzling new array of living options, and various means for affording them are explored, including using the home as an asset. For more, visit superagingnews.com.
ETTINGER LAW FIRM
Vacchio explained, “We all agreed that [the Torch Run] was a great cause that we all wanted to be a part of, and it was important to have someone from our department representing.”
Law enforcement officers across the United States have been raising awareness and funds for the Special Olympics since the 1960s, with a program in New York State being founded in 1969.
The “Flame of Hope” is held within the symbolic torch that has been carried by thousands of officers from local departments all over New York State
and the wider country several times a year. The flame is meant to symbolize “courage and celebration of diversity uniting communities around the globe.”
The Special Olympics World Games were held in June 2023 in Berlin, Germany that had thousands of athletes participate in the games. The Special Olympics World Winter Games are scheduled to be held in Turin, Italy in March 2025, with hopefully a similar turnout to the previous summer games after the 2023 winter games were cancelled due in part to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
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rockville centre
Courtesy Rockville Centre Police Department
Rocvkille Centre Police Officer Brian Vacchio holds the “flame of hope” as he runs passed Mavis Discount Tire on Sunrise Highway, towards the village’s downtown business district with P.O. Michael Rollo and P.O. Tom Szenczy.
Be smart with your sprinklers, experts urge
By NICOLE FORMISANO nformisano@liherald.com
More than 100 billion gallons of water will be used for lawn maintenance alone across Long Island this summer — enough to fill 150,000 Olympic-sized swimming polls — and the cost shows up in more than just your water bill.
It’s also hitting the ecology hard, according to officials, which is why the Long Island Commission for Aquifer Protection is urging neighbors to be mindful of their water usage.
“The heat wave has to make us realize that water, particularly in Nassau County, is a finite resource,” Adrienne Esposito, executive director of Citizens Campaign for the Environment, told reporters last week at the West Hempstead Water District.
“It is all of our responsibility to protect that water supply.”
The entirety of Long Island’s drinking water comes from natural aquifers. They’re like giant underground sponges — when it rains, the water seeps underground and is absorbed by sand and gravel, creating natural reserves of freshwater.
“In Nassau County, we’re experiencing what’s called groundwater mining, which means that we’re taking more water out of the groundwater system than the rain is able to replace naturally,” Esposito said. “This is not a good recipe for sustainability.”
Nicole Formisano/Herald Protecting Long Island’s groundwater is about protecting its longevity and local ecosystem, said Adrienne Esposito, executive director of Citizens Campaign for the Environment.
The groundwater serves three vital functions, explained Bret Bennington, chair of Hofstra University’s Department of Geology, Environment and Sustainability. First, it’s pumped to the surface to be used as freshwater. Then it directly feeds just about every lake, stream and tributary on Long Island. Finally, when it travels to the shoreline and is released along the coast, it prevents saltwater from moving in underneath the island. In other words, as long as groundwater
is continually flushing outward, the saltwater doesn’t intrude upon Long Island’s natural freshwater resources, which could ultimately destroy this vital reservoir.
There needs to be enough groundwater to adequately perform all three of those functions, Bennington explained. So, the problem isn’t that Long Island will entirely run out of water — it’s that the more neighbors drain these natural reserves, the more significant consequences they’ll see on the entire groundwater system.
Lakes and rivers become dry. Saltwater contaminates the fresh water under the island, rendering the reserves undrinkable. To compensate, more drinking water must be pumped from other reserves. The process snowballs into a vicious cycle — and it shows up on water bills.
“The more we pump, the more it costs to treat,” said Jason Belle, who chair the aquifer protection commission. “So, by reducing our pumps, not only do they reduce their water bill, it reduces the district’s bill, which will in turn keep the rates low.”
So how can people do their part? As the island approaches the peak season of water usage, officials said, perhaps the best way for residents to be efficient with their landscape-related water usage may be to adopt smart irrigation.
Smart irrigation is a “holistic approach to using water” in landscaping, said Mike Dwyer, director of the Irriga-
tion Association of New York.
If someone notices a brown spot on their lawn, Dwyer said, don’t just turn up the sprinklers run time. Check out the sprinklers in that zone to see if they’re running efficiently.
Are the nozzles clogged? Are the sprinklers blocked by plant growth? Are the heads rising fully out of the grass?
Plus, not all brown spots are from lack of water — insects or disease may be culpable.
And rather than relying on timers, he added, switch to a controller based on evapotranspiration — or ET — which adjusts how long sprinklers will run depending on how wet the ground is.
Why water your lawns on a rainy day?
“We’re not here to tell people to not water their lawns,” Belle said. “All we’re saying is that you can have the best of both worlds — a nice healthy lawn, while also reducing the amount of water to achieve it.”
“There are many good reasons to preserve groundwater, whether it’s for drinking water, for our ecology, or for our sustainability,” Esposito said. “We’re asking people to start now. Don’t wait until August when we’re in another summer heatwave and a drought. Start good water conservation practices today.”
Those who take the conservation pledge on the commission’s website a OurWaterOurLives.com has a chance to win a smart sprinkler controller.
Fresh produce coming your way this fall
By NICOLE FORMISANO nformisano@liherald.com
Thousands of people across Nassau County go to food banks and soup kitchens each month for much-needed sustenance. But soon, the food bank may come to them.
Long Island Cares, a nonprofit focused on helping hungry families, expects to debut its Mobile Food Truck in September.
The new service specifically aims to make fresh fruits and vegetables more accessible to those who otherwise struggle to purchase them. When people have to pay for their medication, clothes and children’s school supplies, for example, spending the extra money on fresh produce is often out of the question.
“When people struggle with food insecurity, they oftentimes have to make difficult decisions with what they do with their money,” said Paule Pachter, chief executive of Long Island Cares. “And sadly, oftentimes what’s considered healthy food options — like lean chicken, lean proteins, fresh vegetables, fresh fruit — sort of become less important than paying for your rent. And so it becomes a focus — and almost, in my opinion, a responsibility — of food banks to make sure that people have access to the most healthy foods possible.”
Long Island Cares works with more than 350 local food pantries, but many
Courtesy Long Island Cares
The Mobile Food Truck for Long Island Cares — expected to deliver fresh produce across Nassau County — was made possible by a $250,000 grant from Bank of America Long Island. Bank of America executives Mark Perez and Jaime Stojanowski, left — as well as Jennifer Porti, fourth from left — presented the grant to Long Island Cares representatives Jessica Rosati, Yenny Buitrago and Paule Pachter.
simply do not have the storage capacity to house the fresh produce people need.
The Mobile Food Truck, by contrast, could deliver enough fruits and vegetables to fill up nearly five refrigerators, Pachter said. Local pantries can simply schedule a time for the truck to visit them, and their produce needs will be supplemented by the truck’s refrigerated storage.
The program is more needed now than ever, Pachter said. Fresh produce — already more expensive than less healthy
options — has skyrocketed in price since the coronavirus pandemic, according to multiple studies in the National Institutes of Health. Only around 1-in-10 people get their recommended daily serving of fruits and vegetables, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The Mobile Food Truck is expected to improve those statistics for hungry people on the island.
A refrigerated food truck is a concept Long Island Cares has worked on for a
while now — but it was a $250,000 grant from Bank of America’s Long Island branch that finally brought the produce truck to fruition.
With that money, Long Island Cares can buy the truck with refrigerated storage and wrap it with the charitable organization’s name.
The partnership isn’t new. Bank of America is one of the largest donors helping hungry people, Pachter said — the bank’s previous $500,000 grant to Long Island Cares was directly responsible for opening new satellite locations, including one that is coming to Valley Stream.
“Access to healthy, nutritious food is more important than ever, and the new mobile farmers market will allow Long Island Cares to distribute fresh produce to more individuals and families in need,” said Mark Perez, president of Bank of America Long Island, in a statement.
And the program helps more than the hungry.
“This can be seen, in many ways, as a real boon to both the state and regional economy, because we always make it our business to first buy from Long Island when produce is able to be harvested in season” Pachter said. “So, this is really supporting New York in many ways, and supporting the Long Island farm community in many ways. ”
To find food near them or to volunteer, visit the Long Island Cares website at LICares.org.
Matters of the HeART hosts art gallery
Elizabeth Carnaval, a Rockville Centre art therapist who runs an enrichment program called Matters of the HeART, displayed works from some of Rockville Centre’s youngest artists.
The Matters of the HeART Gallery Show took place June 18 at Sportset Kids on Maple Avenue. The show featured several pieces of artwork designed by students ages three- to nine-years-old, who spent the past 10 weeks honing their craft.
“These youngsters have worked hard in these enrichment classes,” Carnaval said in an email. “While they have learned techniques, the primary focus of these classes is social-emotional development and building confidence.”
Carnaval said her class consists of about 35 children who have been working hard since April.
“It’s all about them feeling confident and really good about themselves,” Carnaval said. “And the pride they feel.”
Carnaval, a former director of a preschool program, created Matters of the HeART as an enrichment program focusing on social-emotional development, using art as a way to connect.
For the past few years, she has held programs at Sportset, the Children’s Social Club, local libraries, and for Girl Scout troops.
“I travel all over to teach social-emotional skills through art,” she said.
The program at Sportset will continue in the fall. Her next event will take place at the Rockville Centre Public
Library on July 9.
For more information, contact Carnaval at elizabeth@mattersoftheheart.love.
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Tim Baker/Herald photos Ethan Belliveau, 7, shares his artwork.
Madison Lutz, 5, left, Elizabeth Carnaval, Ethan Belliveau, 7, and Juliette Matheu, 7, at the Matters of the HeART gallery show.
Enrichment workshops come to Wilson
A variety of creative courses help pique the interest of students, staff
Francis F. Wilson Elementary School’s enrichment classes have found a creative way to get students excited and passionate about learning for students in kindergarten through fifthgrade.
Students spent three days, from June 11 to June 14, selecting different afternoon workshops outside the normal curriculum. The enrichment classes piqued the interest of students with 25 different subjects including balloon animals, knitting, pickleball, board games, Mathmania and various other arts and crafts.
The teaching staff selected each of the topics based on different activities they felt passionate about and would enjoy teaching to the students.
Pam Soto, who teaches English as a New Language at Wilson, said that by getting all of the teachers, teachers’ assistants and substitutes involved everyone was able to get “excited about the enrichment classes.”
This was the fourth year Wilson has been conducting the enrichment classes, and students were quick to display their enthusiasm. Three of the classes, Modeling Magic, LEGOs, and Wilson Summer Boutique had so many students interested they had to split into two separate classes, divided by grade.
The most popular program was undoubtedly pickleball,
which had 28 students who were eager to learn more about one of the fastest growing sports in the country. Basketball and Lacrosse Madness were also very popular classes this year, while a “Sports Sampler” program provided students with a new active game for them to play each day.
Sewing was arguably the least popular of the 25 subjects, as only three boys signed up to take it. Still the class was met with much excitement and enthusiasm as students picked up a practical life skill. During this course, students learned how to make their own colorful pillows and how to mend their own clothing.
Several of the enrichment classes also required hands-on creativity, including jewelry making, Van Gogh and Picasso, balloon art sculptures, diamond paiting, friendship bracelets, flip book fun, origami and “knitting, no needles.”
Students who were interest in other visual arts were also well supplied with courses on music AI, acting and fantastic photography, while those interested in a more intellectual challenge, picked classes that put a fun and creative spin on academics such as “Mathamania,” “Imagination Station,” “STEAM-u-late Your Brain,” and “Full STEAM Ahead.”
–Andrew Francis
Students make balloon art sculptures in class.
Andrew Francis/Herald photos
Mathamania students pose for a photo during their card game.
Wilson student Mia Glier is hard at work sculpting her Play-Doh creation.
Wilson students make colorful friendship bracelets to the music of Taylor Swift.
Creativity shines in the LEGO building class.
News briefs
Curran honors Flag Day contest winners
Assemblyman Brian Curran hosted his annual Flag Day event to honor the birthday of the American Flag and the students from across the 21st Assembly District who participated in his art/essay contest.
The winner from Rockville Centre was Taylor Cosenza and the runner-up was Anastasia Lanbiris-Ma.
Fire Department awards scholarships
The Rockville Centre Firefighter’s Scholarship Fund presented three scholarships on Tuesday, June 18. The recipients of this year’s scholarships include William O’Toole, Noelle Coyne and Riley Mohr.
William, the son of Ex-Captain Brian O’Toole, will attend Ohio State University in the fall. Noelle, the daughter of Ex-Captain Scott Coyne, will attend the University of South Carolina, and Riley, the daughter of RVCFD Chief Scott Mohr, will attend the University of Alabama.
The Rockville Centre Firefighter’s Scholarship Fund was established in 1995 and has awarded scholarships to active members and their children yearly. The fund is a separate organization dependent on donations for these yearly awards. Donations can be made to the Rockville Centre Firefighters Memorial Fund and mailed to Fire Headquarters 58 N. Centre Avenue, Rockville Centre.
–Daniel Offner
“If you look up the word ‘patriotism’ in the dictionary, you’ll find it defined as ‘love of and devotion to one’s country,’ Curran said. “The American Flag puts that definition into tangible form. As a matter of fact, it epitomizes patriotism at its purest. We see the flag displayed year-round in so many different places, from government buildings to schools, cemeteries and our own homes. Whether it’s on a day like today or any other nationally observed holiday, Americans fly Old Glory to commemorate great achievements and events.
Curran said during the holiday, his office takes the time to honor outstanding students in the district who shared, through words or in art, what the American flag means to them — especially Cosenza and Lanbiris-Ma, who, he said, truly embody what it means to
be an American patriot.
“During times of mourning and reflection, our flag is lowered to honor a person or event that has greatly affected our lives as Americans,” Curran said. “During the funerals of those who gave the ultimate sacrifice to this great country, the flag is presented. The stars and stripes of the flag are more than just a symbol, they are an embodiment of who we are as Americans, and Taylor and Anastasia perfectly embodied that in their submissions.”
Courtesy Rich Law
Rockville Centre Fire Department scholarship chairman John Hennig and Chief Scott Mohr present graduating seniors William O’Toole of South Side High School, Riley Mohr of Oceanside High School and Noelle Coyne of Sacred Heart Academy with $1,000 scholarships.
Courtesy Assemblyman Brian Curran Assemblyman Brian Curran honors Flag Day contest winners Taylor Cosenza and runner-up Anastasia Lanbiris-Ma of Rockville Centre.
Summit stresses cyclist, pedestrian safety
By SCOTT BRINTON Special to the Herald
Martin Buchman talked up the Long Island Greenway Trail outside the amphitheater at Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow last week, a table full of maps, charts and pamphlets before him.
The retired high school teacher who’s also a board member of the New York Bicycling Coalition, said ground will break next year on the nearly 200-milelong cycling trail that will connect Eisenhower Park with Montauk, nearly 200 miles away.
“The real hope is to get bicycle infrastructure that does not compete with cars,” Buchman said.
The cycling advocate and enthusiast was at NUMC for the second annual Walk Bike LI Summit, at which “vulnerable road users” such as bicyclists and pedestrians were the primary point of discussion. He understands all too well the dangers cyclists face on the island’s heavily trafficked roads — and the need for safe spaces of their own.
Buchman has been hit twice by cars while riding his bike over the last seven years. The first time was Bike-to-Work Day in 2017. He was cycling 25 miles from Stony Brook to Plainview-Old Bethpage High School when a left-turning driver ran into him.
He broke his collarbone, and was one of three cyclists who wound up in the same emergency room together, all biking to work.
Buchman was struck a second time in 2022, cracking his fibula and needing 45 stitches to repair a gash in his lower leg.
A number of crash victims who enter NUMC — including pedestrians and cyclists — do so “hoping to walk out,” said Daniel Flanzig, a personal injury attorney at the Mineola-based Flanzig & Flanzig, who’s also a bicycling coalition member with Buchman. But “a lot of people do not. When my phone rings, somebody’s never having a good day.”
Nassau County recorded more than 37,700 crashes last year that killed 62 and injured more than 12,500 others, according to state statistics presented at the summit. Of those accidents, 421 involved bicyclists, with 358 injured and one person killed.
That means the injury rate involving vehicle-on-vehicle crashes was roughly 33 percent. The rate when a vehicle struck a cyclist was 85 percent.
Megan Ryan, NUMC’s interim chief executive and president, explained that most anyone who has suffered a traumatic injury in a crash throughout the county — in particular, a cyclist or pedestrian — will be sent to NUMC because it is a Level I trauma center.
Ryan, who sits on the North Merrick education board, spoke of a high school student who was recently hit while riding his bicycle in her neighborhood and was rushed to NUMC. And then, on the day of the summit, a 12-year-old was hit by a car while riding his bike on the North Bellmore-Wantagh border. He was airlifted to Cohen Children’s Medical
When complete, the Long Island Greenway Trail will stretch from Manhattan to Montauk, measuring nearly 200 miles — 60 percent of which will be off-road. The trail will connect with the Empire State Trail, which begins at the Battery in Lower Manhattan, and runs 750 miles to Buffalo. The Greenway Trail will connect with 60 bus routes and 46 train stations, and will be within a 10-minute walk of 27 Long Island communities, according to the Trust for Public Land, which is spearheading the effort to construct the pathway.
Center in Queens, where he was reported in stable condition.
“Pedestrian safety, bicyclist safety, it’s very important,” Ryan said. “It’s something that I think is overlooked. We try to teach (pedestrian/bicyclist safety) for younger children, but it’s very important for the older students, older children, and adults, as well.”
Wendy Tepfer, executive director of the Community Parent Center in the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District, came to the summit to hear any
suggestions that might help improve the center’s driver education programming.
The center, Tepfer said, stresses the need to stay focused on the road, without distractions, in large part to protect cyclists and pedestrians. She noted that when drivers are distracted by cell phone calls, they are only able to focus 35 percent of their attention on the road, so their mind zeroes in on the cars in front of them while limiting their peripheral vision.
Pedestrians and cyclists, however, are
Tips for staying safe
Given the 2.2 million cars in the region, cycling on Long Island involves a degree of risk. But it’s risk that can be mitigated, according to the T.H. Chan School of Public Health at Harvard University, with these safety tips:
■ Always ride to the right with the flow of traffic
■ Leave three feet of space between you and parked cars to avoid opening doors
■ Wear a helmet
■ Use bike lights
■ Use hand signals when turning
most likely to be found on the sides of roads — that is, in drivers’ peripheries.
“We talk about distractions all the time,” Tepfer said.
Cynthia Brown, executive director of the Westbury-based New York Coalition for Transportation Safety, said redesigning roads to improve safety is tough, if not impossible, because doing so often involves condemning properties to make way for new infrastructure.
“The only thing that you can really try to change,” Brown said, “is driver behavior.”
Courtesy Trust for Public Land
Courtesy Scott Brinton
Daniel Flanzig — a member of the New York Bicycling Coalition board — and Cynthia Brown, executive director of the New York Coalition for Transportation Safety, were among the featured speakers at the second annual Walk Bike LI Summit at Nassau University Medical Center, where bicyclist and pedestrian safety was front and center.
Foundation raises money for Mental Health
By ANDREW FRANCIS Herald Intern
The Ryan Patrick O’Shea Foundation, a mental health awareness and suicide prevention non-profit organization, held its annual Rise Up For Ryan Fundraiser earlier in June. The fundraiser, which took place at St. Agnes Parish Center in Rockville Centre, featured a live band, dinner, an open bar, dancing, and raffles.
John O’Shea, Ryan’s father and the co-founder of the foundation, said that the proceeds from the Rise Up for Ryan fundraiser will go directly to the organization’s various initiatives, which provide mental health-centric training and counseling at Rockville Centre schools and in the RVC Police Department.
Nearly 250 people were in attendance this year, all of whom generously donated $75 to the foundation to gain entry. The event provided an open forum for important issues of mental health and suicide prevention to be discussed openly, and for solutions to assist those dealing with mental health issues to come forward and be shared in a comfortable and welcoming environment.
The event also featured a live musical performance by the Long Island band, A Witch’s Brew, which performed throughout the night.
Despite being a Rockville Centre-centric organization, funds from this program will contribute to the many mental health initiatives that the Ryan Patrick O’Shea Foundation supports across New York State. The organization currently funds mental health awareness programs in eleven school districts and has plans to add three new school districts to their funding plans. The organization also fully funded the training of the entire Lynbrook Police Department on matters of men-
Deliah Roberts/Herald
Michael Smyth and John O’Shea attend Ryan Patrick O’Shea’s annual fundraiser at the St. Agnes Parish Center.
tal health and suicide prevention and partially funded the Rockville Centre Police Department’s training.
The foundation was created in memory of Ryan O’Shea, an 18-year-old South Side High School graduate and former captain of the Cyclones Boys’ varsity basketball team, who died by suicide in January 2019.
Over the past four years, the O’Shea family has been able to take this terrible lose and transform it
into a positive cause, by proactively fighting to increase suicide prevention and mental health awareness in Rockville Centre and beyond.
Ryan O’Shea was an academically and athletically gifted young man with a loving family as support throughout his life. Despite having a seemingly normal life, Ryan dealt with mental health issues that family and friends “misread as typical teenage angst and discontent.”
Although obviously filled with grief and mourning at the sudden loss of Ryan, the O’Shea family has successfully turned their shared traumatic experience and the story of Ryan into a medium to educate and help others.
John O’Shea said the mission of the foundation is to “educate people to realize that they’re not alone in anything that they go through. We want to end the selfdestructive behavior that ends in suicide.”
The foundation also provides funding for Mental Health First Aid training for first responders and has been fervently advocating for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to address various safety concerns and make improvements to Metro North and Long Island Rail Road train lines to avoid future tragedies like Ryan’s.
The Ryan Patrick O’Shea Foundation will continue to fight for the lives and mental stability of all through its upcoming fundraising events next month. The Ryan Patrick O’Shea Foundation will host its annual 3-on-3 basketball tournament and Suicide Awareness Walk at Lister Park on Saturday, July 27.
According to John O’Shea, there are plans for a rally at the train station where Ryan died in September during Suicide Awareness Month. For more information about the foundation, visit RyanPatrickOhseaFoundation.org.
GRADUATE OPEN HOUSE
Tuesday, July 9, 2024
6 p.m.
At Hofstra University, graduate students plant the seeds to advance in their career. Hear from representatives across 200 programs that include business, communications, education, engineering, health sciences, nursing, and psychology, and learn all the ways your success can sprout at Hofstra University. Your future awaits.
For event details and to RSVP, visit hofstra.edu/visit
JOIN THE MOVEMENT
STEPPING OUT
with Thomas the Tank Engine
Go on an
adventure on the rails at Long Island Children’s Museum
By Danielle Schwab
All aboard! The lovable blue tank engine Thomas and his friends have rolled into Long Island. With a cargo full of interactive STEM activities for families to explore, Long Island Children’s Museum staffers — and visitors — are excited to welcome back the returning exhibit, “Thomas & Friends: Explore the Rails.”
“Long Island Children’s Museum had opened the exhibit in early 2020 to great audience reaction,” explains museum president Erika Floreska. “Then Covid happened and the museum shut down. The exhibit sat in our empty building for months, anticipating the return of visitors. By the time the museum was able to reopen, the exhibit had to move on to its next scheduled destination.”
At long last, everyone can board once again as the train fulfills its intended route.
In real life, the islands just off the English mainland near Barrow in Furness, in Cumbria, has been home to the engines of industry — submarine manufacturing plant, undersea coal mining, petrochemicals and a hotly contested nuclear energy plant.
But for generations — baby boomers who read the Rev. Wilbert Awdry’s Railway Series books and the children of the ‘80s who experienced those stories, too, on a popular television series — the only island that counts in the gleaming distances of the Irish Sea is Sodor.
Sodor — home to Thomas the Tank Engine, that is, where the trains are as busy as ever.
“You’re stepping into another world, visiting Knapford Station on the Island of Sodor,” says Long Island Children’s Museum education director Ashley Niver.
Awdry originally created the beloved trains in the early 1940s as stories for his son, Christopher. The fictional tank locomotive has since captivated families worldwide.
While the look of trains has changed since Thomas first came to be, the message is clear: trains don’t lose their appeal.
“There is something super magical and enticing about playing with toy trains. It seems to triumph over any other vehicle,” Niver says. “When you see a train, it’s like, ‘Wow, that’s a special trip.’”
The traveling exhibit, created by the award-winning Minnesota Children’s Museum in partnership with Mattel’s Fisher-Price, rolled into the museum in late May and will continue to charm families through Sept. 8.
Targeted especially for kids between 2 and 7, the exhibit incorporates foundational STEM learning that can perhaps inspire the next generation of scientists, engineers and physicists.
Through engaging play, families arrive at creative solutions to problemsolving using mathematical thinking and experimentation as they respond to challenges.
“Kids are learning how to engineer together,” Niver says. “It’s a really nice area where you can let your kids roam free. They can explore, and there’s a lot of socialization happening too.”
First, look inside a Sodor train.
“You’re welcomed with a bright, shiny Thomas, a giant life-size one which the kids can board,” Niver says. “Some levers and parts create train noises, whistles and steam.”
Then, help out the green train, Percy, repair a wobbly wheel. Continue on to move coal into Percy’s coal box and fill his tank with water. Also load luggage,
• Now through Sept. 8, Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
• $17 museum admission, $16 seniors 65 and older; additional fees for theater programming
• View the events calendar at LICM.org for additional information or call (516) 224-5800
• Long Island Children’s Museum, Museum Row, Garden City.
livestock and addtional cargo into two train cars.
Even become part of Thomas’ world by suiting up as a conductor, exchanging money, and selling tickets to passengers.
And naturally, it wouldn’t be a “Thomas & Friends” experience without some toy trains.
Families can play at an oversized Thomas wooden railway table, bringing people through all Sodor’s iconic destinations such as Tidmouth Sheds, Brendam Docks, and the Sodor Search and Rescue Station.
While in actuality trains connect us to various places both familiar and new, the “connection” here is an emotional one.
“What’s really important about Thomas is that he is super hard-working,” Niver says. “He’s the smallest train, but he never gives up, and he always tries to help people learn to work together, to cooperate, to be kind to one another.
“Children find him really endearing and connect on a deep level with him.”
As North Western Railway Controller Sir Topham Hatt always says: “Thomas is a very useful engine.”
‘And stars fill my dream…’
Get the Led Out rocks out with their tribute to what many consider rock ‘n roll’s greatest band, in ‘A Celebration of the Mighty Zep.’ From the bombastic and epic, to the folky and mystical, GTLO has captured the essence of the recorded music of Led Zeppelin and brought it to the concert stage. The six veteran musicians who make up the Philadelphia-based group deliver all passion these bluessoaked rock anthems deserve. GTLO re-creates songs, in all their depth and glory, with the studio overdubs that Zeppelin themselves never performed. No wigs or fake English accents, the band brings what the audience wants — a high-energy Zeppelin concert with honest, heartthumping intensity with a strong focus on Led Zeppelin’s pivotal early years.
Friday and Saturday, June 28-29, 8 p.m. $75. $45, $30. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at Ticketmaster.com or ParamountNY.com.
There’s also something nostalgic for the parents who grew up watching the televised version of Thomas. On view are model engines from the original live-action series, and copies of the original drawings along with 75 manuscripts, among the memorabilia documenting the history and evolution of Thomas.
to another, “Thomas &
From one generation to another, “Thomas & Friends” continues to captivate audiences in a powerful way.
“Anything that you remember raising your own children with that you can then pass down is the coolest thing, to have that connectivity years,” Niver adds.
Gilbert and Sullivan’s ‘Iolanthe’
children with that you can through the
Mortals and immortals come face to face in the Gilbert & Sullivan Light Opera Company’s of Long Island’s production of Gilbert and Sullivan’s classic ‘Iolanthe.’ The comic opera, which debuted in 1883, is one of the most beloved of all the Gilbert and Sullivan operas. Its perfect balance of words and music, humor and drama, and political satire resonates to this day. The whimsical story involves a half fairy/ half mortal shepherd lad who falls in love with wealthy heiress that sets up a conflict between the wily Lord Chancellor and the cosmically powerful Fairy Queen. Featuring some of Sullivan’s most stunning music, including ‘Oh Foolish Fay,’ and what is popularly known as ‘The Nightmare Song,’ expect an evening of first class entertainment and riotous fun suitable for all ages.
Sunday, June 30, 3 p.m. $30, $25 seniors/children. Madison Theatre, Molloy University, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre. Tickets available at MadisonTheatreNY.org or call (516) 323-4444.
Photos courtesy Long Island Children’s Museum Thomas has chugged into the museum and invites families to stop on by.
Explore the Island of Sodor for an adventure on the rails.
A future train conductor checks in.
Visitors collaborate to repair Percy’s wobbly wheels.
It’s Your Flag… Display It
Flag on the other side of this page was by the patriotic sponsors listed below dedicated to this nation’s great tradition of We strongly urge all readers to display their window at home or at work. Let’s everyone that we’re proud to be Americans.
THE Your Neighborhood
July 7
The English supergroup, fronted by original member Geoff Downes, along with a brand new lineup, is reinvigorated and back on tour, appearing on the Paramount stage, Sunday, July 7, 7 p.m . Today, the legendary band comprises Geoff Downes, John Mitchell, Harry Whitley, and Virgil Donati. Their new tour, “Heat of the Moment,” additionally features Focus, Martin Turner (Wishbone Ash), Curved Air, and Roger Dean as special guests. Asia was the biggest selling album of 1982, Number 1 on Billboard for nine weeks and pioneers of the MTV era!
Downes’ new iteration of Asia first began to evolve last summer, at the concert held in memory of late lead singer, songwriter and bassist, John Wetton (King Crimson, Roxy Music, Uriah Heep, Wishbone Ash, UK, Asia, John Wetton Band, Icon). Downes invited old friend John Mitchell (It Bites, Frost*, Lonely Robot, Kino, John Wetton Band, Icon) and newcomer Harry Whitley to join him on stage to celebrate Wetton’s life by performing some of the classic Asia hits. Such was the uproarious reception to their set that Downes wondered if something magical was beginning to take shape. Downes’ new-look Asia once again features Mitchell on guitars and Whitley on lead vocal and bass. The quartet is made complete by the addition of Virgil Donati (UK, Southern Sons, Steve Vai, Allan Holdsworth) on drums. The band will perform the hits you know and love, including “Heat of the Moment,” “Only Time Will Tell,” “Sole Survivor,” and more. $99.50, $79.50, $69.50, $69.50, $59.50, $49.50. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at Ticketmaster.com or ParamountNY.com.
Dramatic Play
Theatre Playground returns to Long Island Children’s Museum with “Dramatic Play!,” Monday, July 1, 1 p.m., taught by Lisa Rudin, Director of Theatre Playground. In this interactive, theater-inspired workshop, children will act out an original story and help choose how it unfolds. Music, props, and sound effects create a theatrical world where participants are immersed in the story.
Children are encouraged to express themselves as they create characters, explore different worlds, stretch their imaginations and build self-confidence. This week’s theme: Calling All Superheroes! Costumes encouraged. $5 with museum admission. Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 224-5800 or LICM.org.
Barnaby Bye
The band returns to My Father’s Place, Saturday, June 29, 8 p.m. Come celebrate the music, the memories and the good times with Billy, Bobby, Peppy and Mike! Doors open at 6 p.m., concert is at 8 p.m. 221 Old Northern Blvd., Roslyn,. For tickets/information, visit MFPProductions.com or call (516) 580-0887.
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.
Celebrate America
View the pyrotechnic spectacle, as part of Eisenhower Park’s annual holiday double bill, TD Bank’s Celebrate America, which also includes a concert, at the Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, Wednesday, July 3, 5:30-10 p.m. With performances by the popular local Allman Brothers tribute act Allmost Brothers and Chicken Head. Bring seating. Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, Eisenhower Park, East Meadow. For information, visit NassauCountyNY.gov.
Happy Fourth of July!
Village offices will be close in observance of Independence Day.
Keeping up with the village
The next meeting of the Rockville Centre Board of Trustees takes place on Monday, July 1, at 7 p.m., at Village Hall. 1 College Place.
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.
Summer sounds
Visit Eisenhower Park’s Field #1 for its Noontime Concert series, Wednesday, July 3, noon-2 p.m. Enjoy “The Many Voices of Dennis Dell.” Dell’s vocally stylings transport his audience to another world. Hear your favorite songs brought to life with originality and authenticity. Bring seating. For information, visit NassauCountyNY.gov.
Having an event?
Shine a Light Music Series
The Tommy Brull Foundation celebrate its 25th concert in the Shine A Light Music Series at RJ Daniel’s in Rockville Centre, Saturday, July 7, 8 p.m. The unforgettable evening features Deer Tick and Al Olender. Tickets are $49 and are available on Eventbrite. com. All proceeds from the show will go to help fund the construction of Mr. B’s Adaptive/Inclusive Playground for children of all abilities. For more information visit TommyBrullFoundation.com. 279A Sunrise Highway.
Rockville Centre Farmer’s Market
Shop for all sorts of goodies at the Farmer’s Market, every Sunday, 7 a.m. to noon, at the LIRR parking lot between Long Beach Road and Sunrise Highway. The market is open to Dec. 24. For more information visit LongIslandGrowersMarket. com.
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.
School's Out, Summer's In?
Film Screening
Visit Nassau County Museum of Art for a viewing of “Wild Style,” a 1983 film regarded as the first hip-hop movie, Saturday, June 29, 3 p.m. A hybrid project that exists as both a musical and a documentary, the film features hip-hop pioneers of the period, including Fred “Fab Five Freddy” Brathwaite, Lee Quiñones, Lady Pink, The Rock Steady Crew, The Cold Crush Brothers, Queen Lisa Lee of Zulu Nation, Grandmaster Flash, and Zephyr, who play themselves in a loosely scripted story shot entirely in the South Bronx, the Lower East Side, and MTA subway yards.
A Q&A follows with director Charlie Ahearn and critic-curator, Carlo McCormick. Seating is limited and reservations required. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. (516) 484-9337 or NassauMuseum.org.
Baseball School
The Rockville Centre Recreation Department offers one of its highly successful sports programs this summer. The daily instructional program stresses the fundamentals of hitting, throwing, fielding and baserunning. Participation is open to students in grades 1-8. All sessions take place at Barasch Field on Park Avenue, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. For registration or more information, visit RecDesk.RVC.com or call (516) 678-9238.
Fireworks Celebration
The annual fireworks celebration and concert is set for Saturday, July 13, 7- 9:30 p.m., at Pette and Barasch Fields by the Mill River Park Complex. Viewing will not be permitted on Lister or Tighe Field. The South Shore Symphony performs before, after and during the show in coordination with the Gucci pyrotechnic display. In case of rain, the show will take place on Sunday, July 14.
Summer playground program
Students in grades 1-7 are welcome to take part in the 70th annual summer playground program, daily from July 1 to Aug. 9, 9 a.m. to noon. The daily program consists of athletics, arts and other activities. The program will be held at the John A. Anderson Recreation Center and Wilson Elementary School. Full and partial sessions are offered. Registration is ongoing. For registration or more information, visit RecDesk.RVC.com or call (516) 678-9238.
BRUCE A. BLAKEMAN
NASSAU COUNTY EXECUTIVE
presents FREE LAKESIDE THEATRE CONCERTS
EISENHOWER PARK, East Meadow | Parking Field #6
All Events weather permitting. Call 516-572-0200 for up-to-date information.
JUNE
Saturday, June 15
8:00-9:30pm Ja Rule at Mitchel Field Athletic Complex
Sunday, June 16 ..................
6:00-8:30pm Indian American Night
Wednesday, June 26
7:00-9:30pm Greek American Night
Saturday, June 29 ...............
6:00-8:30pm Chinese American Night
Sunday, June 30
6:00-8:30pm Israeli American Night
JULY
Monday, July 1
7:00-9:30pm German American Night
Wednesday, July 3
5:30-10:00pm TD Bank’s Celebrate America Fireworks & Show featuring The Allmost Brothers Band & Chicken Head Rocks
Friday, July 5 Fireworks Rain Date
Saturday, July 6
7:00-9:00pm So Good – The Neil Diamond Experience
Sunday, July 7
6:00-8:00pm Opera Night with Christopher Macchio
Monday, July 8
5:00-6:30pm Senior Afternoon Concert: The Excellents and The Demensions
Thursday, July 11
Rock of Ages Tribute: Shoot 2 Thrill - AC/DC
7:00-10:00pm
Completely Unchained - Van Halen Return to Paradise - Styx
Friday, July 12
7:00-9:00pm
Streetfighter – Rolling Stones Tribute
Saturday, July 13
7:00-9:00pm Misty Mountain – Led Zeppelin Tribute
Sunday, July 14
6:00-9:00pm Harry Chapin Tribute Show & Food Drive with The Harry Chapin Band and Will Sing For Food
Monday, July 15
7:00-9:00pm The Nassau Pops Symphony Orchestra
Thursday, July 18................
7:00-9:30pm Rodgers & Hammerstein’s “A Grand Night for Singing” by Plaza Productions
Friday, July 19
7:00-9:30pm Creole American Night
Saturday, July 20 ................
7:00-9:00pm
Neil Berg’s 100 Years of Broadway
Sunday, July 21
6:00-8:30pm Bangladeshi American Night
Monday, July 22 ..................
7:00-9:00pm Italian American Night
Thursday, July 25
7:00-9:00pm
Barometer Soup - A Tribute to Jimmy Buffet
Friday, July 26 .................
7:00-9:00pm Doo Wop Show: Johnny Farina of Santo & Johnny, Phil Cracolici and The Mystics, Vito Picone and The Elegants, Jimmy Gallagher of The Passions
Saturday, July 27
7:00-9:00pm
The Hilarious Hitmen, a Comedy Musical Spectacular
Sunday, July 28
Korean American Night
6:00-8:30pm
Monday, July 29 5:00-6:30pm
Senior Afternoon Concert: The Fireflies and The Devotions AUGUST
Friday, August 2
7:00-9:00pm
Dancing Dream – ABBA Tribute
Saturday, August 3
6:30-9:30pm
Salute to Vets Show with Face to Face & American Bombshells
Sunday, August 4
6:30-8:30pm
The Midtown Men featuring Stars from the Original Cast of Jersey Boys
Monday, August 5................
7:00-9:30pm
Irish American Night
Thursday, August 8 7:00-9:00pm
Sandy Hackett’s Rat Pack
Friday, August 9 .................. 7:00-9:00pm
45 RPM
Saturday, August 10
7:00-9:00pm
This is Garth featuring JD Leonard
Sunday, August 11 .............. 6:30-8:30pm
Living Colour
Monday, August 12 5:00-6:30pm
Senior Afternoon Concert: Vinnie Medugno & The Chiclettes
Thursday, August 15
UB40 : Red Red Wine Tour
7:00-9:00pm
Friday, August 16 7:00-9:00pm
Zac Brown Tribute Band (ZBTB)
Saturday, August 17 7:00-9:00pm
Doo Wop Show: Manhattan Skyline, Stan Zizka & The Del Satins, Larry Chance’s Earls
Sunday, August 18 .............. 4:00-8:00pm
Pakistani American Night
Monday, August 19 7:00-9:30pm Ukrainian American Night
Thursday, August 22 ........... 7:00-9:00pm
Let’s Sing Taylor - Taylor Swift Experience
Saturday, August 24 7:00-9:00pm Disco Unlimited
Sunday, August 25 .............. 7:00-9:00pm Don Felder former lead guitarist of The Eagles
Friday, August 30
7:00-9:00pm That Motown Band SEPTEMBER
Sunday, September 1 ......... 7:00-9:00pm The Purple Experience - Prince Tribute
Sunday, September 8 5:00-7:30pm
Turkish American Night
Saturday, September 14 .... 7:30-10:00pm
World Renowned Puerto Rican Salsa Orchestra
Friday, September 20 7:00-10:00pm
Legendary House DJ TBA with LI’s Own DJ Theo opening
Sunday, September 29 2:00-9:00pm Latino American Night
Sean Culkin, center, an ambassador with KultureCity, joins rockville Centre Village trustee emilio grillo, rVC Blue Speaks co-founder tony Cancellieri, deputy mayor Kathy Baxley, rVC Blue Speaks co-founder mary Lou Cancellieri, Village trustee Katie Conlon, Village trustee gregory Shaughnessy, rockville Centre police Commissioner randy dodd and police Sgt. peter pellegrino during the June meeting to announce the nonprofit organizations partnership with the village.
KultureCity trains RVC police on inclusivity
Continued from page 1
four individuals diagnosed with an invisible disability, such as autism, PTSD, dementia, ADHD, traumatic brain injury, patients who have suffered from a stroke and patients with Parkinson’s disease, to name just a few.
“There is such a wide range that we’re constantly learning more and more about it,” Culkin continued. “And as we learn about these things, it is so important for our first responders, those individuals that are working with us in our most intimate moments, those that are going to be there when we’re at our worst, to make sure that they are trained and ready, accepting, understanding and including of everybody that they could be working with.”
KultureCity has worked with more than 1,800 venues, organizations, small businesses, and individuals throughout the United States to provide certification and training on addressing individuals with sensory needs.
RVC Blue Speaks, a nonprofit organization, will provide funding for the program. Created by Tony and Mary Lou Cancellieri of Rockville Centre in 2016, RVC Blue Speaks helps raise money for families affected by autism.
“It’s not often that you go to a municipality with an idea, and they embrace it. And they did,” Tony Cancellieri said during the village meeting in June. “From the bottom of our hearts, thank you. We help one person, it’s a home run, but we’re going to help many more.”
To bring the sensory inclusion program to the Rockville Centre Police Department, Culkin and the Cancellieri’s met with Deputy Mayor Kathy Baxley about implementing the program — making Rockville Centre police the first in the state to receive such training.
“Currently, the entire state of Alabama’s emergency responders are trained. Cities in Utah and Colorado are trained,” Deputy Mayor Kathy Baxley said. “There are many venues and arenas all over our country, opening up sensory rooms through KultureCity. You may have heard this past April, the Aaron and Samantha Judge sensory room opened at
Madison Square Garden, but we will be the first police department in the state to be trained and that is all thanks to Sean.”
Before working to train officers in sensory inclusion, Culkin met with Rockville Centre Police Commissioner Randy Dodd, Inspector Christopher Romance, Training Sgt. Peter Pellegrino, Deputy Mayor Kathy Baxley, and Village Administrator Nancy Howard to discuss the work the program entails.
Once the rest of the police force is trained, KultureCity will provide the department with the sensory kits for each police vehicle.
Inside the kits are several tools, the first known as a “feelings thermometer,” designed for people that are nonverbal or may have difficulty speaking in a stressful situation. It includes a range of different emotions and cues intended to help bridge the communication gap in an emergency.
The kits also include fidget tools to help individuals de-stress and calm down during high stress situations, to help people focus and better ground themselves.
Lastly, they include noise-dampening headphones, which tune out ambient noise, while still allowing the wearer to communicate to help in an emergency.
“All officers will be trained under this program,” Culkin said. “This is a massive undertaking, and one that is going to impact so many people that we do not realize exist in this community.”
He said that by training officers in what invisible disabilities are and the best ways to approach those individuals, will help them achieve the best possible resolution.
Since meeting with the village, both Sgt. Peter Pellegrino and Lt. Matt Vickery have already completed the training.
“Any tool that helps our officers become better at their jobs is a benefit to our department,” Pellegrino said in a message to village board members. “We are already a very proactive police department, and this will make us even better.”
To learn more about KultureCity and the programs its sensory bag program, visit KultureCity.org.
Dan Offner/Herald
news briefs
Reports prompt police to beef up patrol
Rockville Centre police are investigating several recent incidents of pedestrians believing someone in a vehicle or on foot was following them. According to authorities, each time the description of the vehicle and subjects were reported to police officers was different.
In response to these reports, the Rockville Centre Police Department’s Patrol, Anti-Crime, and Traffic Enforcement Unit officers, in marked and unmarked police vehicles, will provide intensified patrols in the residential and commercial areas of the village throughout the day and night tours, especially in the areas surrounding these particular incidents.
Police said that when an incident
such as this occurs, the department takes several investigatory steps, which include, but are not limited to: identifying the owner of the vehicle, identifying the subject, checking the status of the vehicle to see if it is stolen, speaking with the registered owner of the vehicle to ascertain the identity of the driver, and checking law enforcement databases regarding the owner and driver of the vehicle.
The department is also working closely with the Nassau County Police Department Intelligence/Lead Development Center to determine if any similar incidents have occurred in other areas of Nassau County with these same vehicles or individuals.
Police Officer Tetonic receives top honors
Rockville Centre Police Officer
Michelle Tetonic was awarded the Police Chiefs Award for Distinguished Service from the Nassau County Police Chiefs Association. Officer Tetonic was recognized for her exceptional dedication and unwavering commitment to upholding the highest standards of service and integrity.
“This award is a testament to Officer Tetonic’s remarkable leadership, bravery and selflessness in the line of duty,” Police Commissioner Randy Dodd said. “Her exemplary actions embody the very essence of the Rockville Centre Police Department’s mission to protect and serve with honor. She sets an inspiring example for her colleagues and the community, and her achievements serve
as a beacon of excellence within our ranks. We are privileged to have her among our finest officers, and I extend my heartfelt congratulations on this well-deserved recognition.”
Since joining the Rockville Centre Police Department in 2018, Officer Tectonic has led the department in traffic tickets and impounds. In 2020, she received recognition as “Cop of the Month” for her role in the arrest of a burglary suspect and in 2023 she was recognized at the American Legion’s annual Law and Order Night for her unwavering commitment to upholding the highest standards of law enforcement and her tireless efforts to ensure the safety and well-being of the Rockville Centre community.
Crime watCh arrest
Mahlon Chadrick Walker, 32, of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, was arrested on June 21. He was charged with criminal mischief, assault, and leaving the scene of an accident following an investigation.
Jonathan Morales, 39, of Whitehall Road in Rockville Centre was arrested on June 23. He has been charged with assault, criminal obstruction of breathing and strangulation following an investigation at his residence.
Graffiti
A village employee reported on June 18, graffiti was found on the exterior wall of the former Nassau County Bus Depot. The graffiti consisted of a heart with wings and the word “forever.”
harassment
A resident of State Street reported on June 18 that an acquaintance
LEGAL NOTICE
Public Notices
NOTICE OF FORMATION OF PARTNERSHIP LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY. NAME: Propaws Veterinary Services PLLC, Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York, (SSNY) on 04/15/24_. NY Office location: Nassau County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of the process to: 379 N Village Ave. Rockville Centre, NY11570
Purpose: To engage in any lawful act or activity. 147374
LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU Mortgage Assets Management, LLC,, Plaintiff AGAINST Nassau County Public Administrator, as Limited Administrator of the Estate of Yolande E. Bayard-Gaston a/k/a Yolande Gaston; et al., Defendant(s)
LOGS Legal Group LLP f/k/a Shapiro, DiCaro & Barak, LLC Attorney(s) for the Plaintiff 175 Mile Crossing Boulevard Rochester, New York 14624 (877) 430-4792
Dated: May 10, 2024 147541
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU. NEWREZ LLC D/B/A SHELLPOINT MORTGAGE
SERVICING, Plaintiffagainst- ARAGANOEM PANCHU, et al
DOUGLAS MELGAR, et al
Defendant(s)
Attorney for Plaintiff(s) Stern & Eisenberg, P.C., 20 Commerce Drive, Suite 230, Cranford, NJ 07016 and 1131 Route 55, Suite 1, Lagrangeville, NY 12540.
informed her that she received a text message that contained a threat to the State Street resident which caused her to become alarmed and annoyed.
UnUsUal inCident
A resident of Combes Avenue reported on June 16 that she believed a vehicle was following her while jogging on Voorhis Avenue.
A pedestrian reported on June 17, she may have been followed by a male and female subject in a vehicle while walking on Atkinson Road.
A parent reported on June 20 that her daughter and several of her friends may have been followed by two male subjects, ages 60-70 years old, while walking from Starbucks to Camilla’s Pizza earlier in the day.
A parent reported on June 22, her daughter and a friend, believed they were followed by a male subject age 40-45 years old, while walking from Panera Bread to Starbucks earlier in the day.
People named in Crime Watch items as having been arrested and charged with violations or crimes are only suspected of committing those acts of which they are accused. They are all presumed to be innocent of those charges until and unless found guilty in a court of law.
Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered October 17, 2023 I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side Steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on July 22, 2024 at 2:00PM, premises known as 1180 Woodfield Road, Rockville Centre, NY 11570. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau, State of NY, Section 38 Block 105 Lot 153.
Approximate amount of judgment $506,388.47 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index# 607221/2017. The auction will be conducted pursuant to the COVID-19 Policies Concerning Public Auctions of Foreclosed Property established by the 10th Judicial District. Foreclosure Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine.”
Peter Kramer, Esq., Referee
Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated May 7, 2024, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at (CCP) Calendar Control Part Court Room of the Nassau Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Dr., Mineola, NY on July 25, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. premises situate, lying and being in the Village of Rockville Centre, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, known and designated as Section 38 Block 189 Lot 106. Said premises known as 11 GRAND AVENUE, ROCKVILLE CENTRE, NY 11570
Approximate amount of lien $233,022.98 plus interest & costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale. Index Number 610290/2022. RONALD J. FERRARO, ESQ., Referee DRUCKMAN LAW GROUP PLLC
Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 242 Drexel Avenue, Westbury, NY 11590 For sale information, please visit www.Auction.com or call (800) 280-2832. DLG# 38836 {* ROCK CEN H*} 147461
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT NASSAU COUNTY US BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE FOR VRMTG ASSET TRUST, Plaintiff against
Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered May 29, 2024, I will sell at public auction to the highest bidder at North Side Steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on July 29, 2024 at 2:00 PM. Premises known as 563 Maude Street, South Hempstead, NY 11550. Sec 0036 Block 00186 Lot 00291. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, situate, lying and being in Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York. Approximate Amount of Judgment is $653,368.99 plus interest, fees, and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No 616634/2022. For sale information, please visit www.Auction.com or call (800) 280-2832. During the COVID-19 health emergency, Bidders are required to comply with all governmental health requirements in effect at the time of the sale including but not limited to wearing face coverings and maintaining social distancing (at least 6-feet apart) during the auction, while tendering deposit and at any subsequent closing. Should a bidder fail to comply, the Referee may refuse to accept any bid, cancel the closing and hold the bidder in default. Bidders are also required to comply with the Foreclosure Auction Rules and COVID-19 Health Emergency Rules issued by the Supreme Court of this County in addition to the conditions set forth in the Terms of Sale. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, then the Court Appointed Referee shall cancel the foreclosure auction. Foreclosure Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine.”
Jane Shrenkel, Esq., Referee File # NY202200000481-1 147687
LEGAL NOTICE
SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU HSBC BANK USA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE FOR THE BENEFIT OF PEOPLE’S FINANCIAL REALTY MORTGAGE SECURITIES TRUST, SERIES 2006-1, -againstFRANCISCO M. RODRIGUEZ, ET AL. NOTICE OF SALE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Nassau on October 13, 2023, wherein HSBC BANK USA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE FOR THE BENEFIT OF PEOPLE’S FINANCIAL REALTY MORTGAGE SECURITIES TRUST, SERIES 2006-1 is the Plaintiff and FRANCISCO M. RODRIGUEZ, ET AL. are the Defendant(s). I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction RAIN OR SHINE at the NASSAU COUNTY SUPREME COURT, NORTH SIDE STEPS, 100 SUPREME COURT DRIVE, MINEOLA, NY 11501, on July 30, 2024 at 2:30PM, premises known as 394 PINEBROOK AVE, ROCKVILLE CENTRE, NY 11570; and the following tax map identification: 35-415-895. ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND, SITUATE, LYING AND BEING IN THE COUNTY OF NASSAU, STATE OF NEW YORK Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No.: 011891/2008. Mark Ricciardi, Esq. - Referee. Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310, Westbury, New York 11590, Attorneys for Plaintiff. All foreclosure sales will be conducted in accordance with Covid-19 guidelines including, but not limited to, social distancing and mask wearing. *LOCATION OF SALE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DAY OF IN ACCORDANCE WITH COURT/CLERK DIRECTIVES. 147661
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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!
$20 - $25/ Hour Bell Auto School 516-365-5778
Email: info@bellautoschool.com
DRIVING INSTRUCTORS WANTED Will Certify And Train HS Diploma
NYS License Clean 3 Years
$20 - $25/ Hour Call 516-731-3000
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
FULL TIME - PART TIME
POSITIONS AVAILABLE
Garden City Childcare Center
Immediate Start
$16-$22 per hour Call 516-572-7614
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
LAW CLERK. FT. $61k/yr. Yao Legal Group LLC. Great Neck, NY. Reqs.: LL.M. / J.D., 12+ mo exp as law clerk / lgl asst / paralegal in a law off, exp in Surrogate’s Ct cases. Spprt atty in civil / crim litig, RE trxn, corp/biz law, estate dispt, etc.: 1) cndct lgl res; 2) dft lgl docs, file w/ Cts; 3) hdl stndrd discov; 4) trial prep; 5) corp dd, res. & comm. clsgs prep. Asst atty in off mgmt. Email CV to Dan Yao at dyao@yaolawoffice.com / mail CV to 15 Canterbury Rd Ste A3, Great Neck, NY 11021. Plz mention Job ID# 0611 in Cov Let.
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
Manager On Duty
At Blaze, Old Bethpage Village Outdoors From September Through November 5-8 Hour Shifts. Serve As The Primary Point Of Contact For All Issues That May Occur During The Event, Seeing Each Through To Resolution. Serve As The Primary Point Of Contact For Emergency Personnel Hourly Rate $25-$30 To Apply: https://hudsonvalley.org/ employment/
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
OUTSIDE SALES
Richner Communications,
One of the Fastest Growing Media, Event and Communications Companies on Long Island is Seeking a Sales/Marketing Candidate to Sell our Print Media Products and our Digital, Events, Sponsorships. Earning potential ranges from $33,280 plus commission and bonuses to over $100,000 including commissions and bonuses. Compensation is based on Full Time hours Eligible for Health Benefits, 401k and Paid Time Off. Please Send Cover Letter and Resume with Salary Requirements to rglickman@liherald.com or Call 516-569-4000 X250
Path Monitor
At Blaze, Old Bethpage Village Outdoors From September Through November 5-8 Hour Evening Shifts Providing A Welcoming Atmosphere And Ensuring Guest Safety. Hourly Rate $20. To Apply: https://hudsonvalley.org/ employment/
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
Project Manager (Baldwin, NY): Aiding in construction of foundation + superstructures of buildings. Delegating tasks to members & detailing drawings on CAD. Salary: $130,000/yr. Reqs: Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering/foreign equiv.+ 12 mths exp in position/Asst. Project Manager. Mail CV to Moore Group Corp, 1 Jefferson Pl, Baldwin, NY 11510. Attn: S. Moore, Financial Controller.
WE HAVE THE HELP YOU NEED!!! HHA's, LPN's, Nurse's Aides Childcare, Housekeeping Day Workers No Fee To Employers Serving The Community Over 20 Years Evon's Services 516-505-5510
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT AVAILABLE To Work For You FT/PT Immediately. I'm Experienced. RVC Vicinity. Call 516-536-6994
SANTA CRUZ SERAG Caregivers Provide The Best Male/ Female Caregivers In America. Certified HHA's, Professional. Experts In Dementia, Alzheimers, Parkinsons Cases. Live-in/Out. Gertrude 347-444-0960 EXPERIENCED HOME HEALTH AIDE Needed For Bed Ridden Patient. 2-3 Days When Needed. Seaford
HomesHERALD
ISLAND PARK / AUSTIN BOULEVARD 1000- 5000 Sq. Ft, Parking,1 Story, Driveins, Gas, Offices, Sprinklered, Near Railroad. Immediate. Price On Request.Tony 718-937-8100 Ext.101 CROSSTOWN REALTY
PALM BEACH GARDENS, FLORIDA East Pointe Country Club. Gorgeous 3BRs, 3Bths, Golf, Double Kitchen, High Ceilings. MLS#RX-10977928 $938,000 Jill 561-373-2724
WVALLEY STREAM: 2 BRs, LR, Kitchen/ SS Appliances, Bathroom/ Jacuzzi, Yard, One Parking Space, Lots Of Storage, Walk LIRR. $2,850/ Month. 646-399-5785, 917-702-6544
CEDARHURST NO FEE Private Entrance, Modern 1BR, 2BR, 3BR, CAC, W/D, Storage, Wall To Wall Carpeting, Indoor Parking Space. Starting At $1450 For One Bedroom When Available. (516)860-6889/ (516)852-5135/ (516)582-9978
ISLAND PARK: 1 BR, ground floor, all renovated, water/heat included. No Pets. $2200/ month. 516-316-6962
LYNBROOK: 2 BR, 1 Bath, Second Floor, Off Street Parking, No Pets, $3,100. 516-599-3174
MERRICK: PROFESSIONAL OFFICE Space For Rent, A Secured Building With Parking. Great Deal! 516-557-4971
BETH DAVID CEMETERY: Elmont, NY. 3 Plots. Separate Or All Together. Graves 18, 25, and 32. Purchase Separate $3999; Purchase Together $9999. Negotiable. Call 845-641-7316
Catherine Avenue. Split Level. 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms. Eat-in kitchen. Spacious room. Meticulously maintained charming property. Convenient location near shopping schools, park, and more.
Taxes: $11,838.69
Long Beach $892,500
Wilson Avenue. Contemporary. 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms. Eat-in kitchen. Formal dining room. Den/family room. Updates include cathedral ceiling and skylight.
Taxes: $14,770
Merrick $775,000
Stuyvesant Avenue. Colonial. 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms. Partial finished basement. Eat-in kitchen. Den/family room. First floor master bedrooms. Updates include skylight. Taxes: $13,794.63
Oceanside $700,000
Montgomery Avenue. Split Level. 3 bedrooms, 1.5 bathrooms. Finished basement. Eat-in kitchen with granite countertops. Formal dining room. Den/family room and home office. Security system.
Taxes: $11,739.85
Valley Stream $765,000
N. Grove Street. Colonial. 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms. Finished basement. Eat-in kitchen with custom cabinetry. Formal dining room. Den/family room and home office. Spacious rooms. Updates include new boiler and ductless air conditioning units. Convenient location near parks, dining, shopping and LIRR.
Taxes: $10,234.69
West Hempstead $730,000
Park Avenue. Expanded Cape. 5 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms. Eat-in kitchen with granite countertops. Open layout. Formal dining room. Den/family room and home office, with wet bar and exercise room. Spacious rooms with ample closet space. Paver patio and 1.5 car garage. Mother/daughter with proper permits. Convenient location near parkway, shopping, park.
Taxes: $11,373.37
Different answers from everyone we ask, Part 2
Q. We’ve been interviewing contractors and architects to get an idea about adding a double dormer to our home. The conversations about what to do, how long it should take and the cost are just all over the place. How long should it take, and how much should a double dormer cost to build? Some contractors said they needed to see plans, and that they could personally get the permit in a day or two, and some architects gave us wild time frames that seem ridiculous, like a year or more from start to finish.
A. There are many contributing factors that determine construction cost, and even though you are focused on getting the partial second floor reconstructed to a full second floor, many unanticipated issues may need to be resolved. When a design professional comes to your home, they may be looking at how to join other roofs to the new construction, and how the exterior will look, shed rain and snow, fit in with or stand out from the architecture of neighboring buildings.
Then there are the legal issues. For example, many municipalities, since the time when the house was originally built, have changed their zoning regulations. This may mean that you can’t build directly on top of what you have, because setback distance requirements may have changed. Even though it might make sense to build right on top of the existing outside wall, some jurisdictions will require a lengthy delay, waiting for a zoning hearing to request to vary from their regulation so you can break the setback plane again.
If you decide to set the second floor back farther, it means that the upper walls will have to land on structure that has to be added, and there needs to be special care for waterproofing. This may seem simple, but often leads to problems with leaks and sagging structure if not handled properly.
Regulation changes may not have taken the expense or logistics into account, and are often taken for granted, but either way the owner decides to go, the cost is greater than the original estimate.
The experienced design professional may ask about other things, like the deck, shed, pool, fences, hot tub or central air conditioning unit in the yard. These items delay the project and add cost. Requirements to legalize the location and construction of every one of these items have been around for at least two or three decades, so when the owner says their air conditioning or pool company wasn’t required to get a permit, this is a common fallacy. Knowing it is the owner’s problem or thinking it will never come up is generally the motivation to avoid the approvals, but it now also adds to the extra cost and time you may not have been anticipating.
Labor, overhead for licensing and insurance all add to why contractors’ costs will vary. Taking all of these cost and time issues into account is important. Choose based on more than price. Work with facts, not just sales language. Good luck!
© 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
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June 27,
VALLEY STREAM: FRIDAY 6/28/24, Saturday 6/29/24 & Sunday 6/30/24 10am-6pm. 25 East Lincoln Avenue. Something For Everyone!
YARD SALE 129 East Walnut St, Long Beach. Every Thursday-Sunday from June 27-July 28, 12-5pm. Something for everyone, kids and adults.
ANTIQUE LOVERS TAKE NOTE! BRIMFIELD IS HERE - ALL SHOWS! July 9-14. New shows open daily! www.brimfieldantiqueweek.com. 2024 dates: May 14-19, July 9-14, September 3-8
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FREON WANTED
Certified buyer looking for R11, R12, R22 & more! Call Clarissa at 312-535-8384
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*MICHAEL LO BAIDO CONSTRUCTION*
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GOLF BAG GOOD condition $20, Cart like new $25. 516-781-8313
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HANDYMAN
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II’m running to fight for women’s freedoms
n June of 2022, a drastically conservative Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, ripping away our constitutional right to make our own health care decisions — a right Americans had held for nearly 50 years. This disastrous decision, in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, was the direct result of Republicans’ decades-long, methodical attack on women’s reproductive freedom, and it ignited a fervor among extreme antichoice groups to challenge access to abortion care, in vitro fertilization and birth control at both the state and federal levels — including here in New York. Two years later, the fight for our bodily autonomy persists in courtrooms, statehouses and Congress. This November presents a pivotal opportunity to reinstate Roe v. Wade as the law of the land, remove the government from our doctors’ offices, and protect women’s fundamental freedoms once again. Since Roe was overturned, legislators
Tand governors in more than a dozen states have imposed harsh restrictions and outright bans on abortion. The repercussions have been devastating. Cases like that of a child rape victim who was forced to travel out of state for an abortion; or a woman who developed sepsis after doctors denied her an abortion for a non-viable pregnancy; or a woman who was denied an exception for abortion care for a nonviable pregnancy by a judge even when her ability to have more children was at risk, illustrate the dire consequences of these laws.
Won abortion — which would impact New York.
On top of these efforts, state-level bans can have spillover effects on abortion access in New York. In 2023, thousands of women traveled from abortionhostile states to protected states, including 6,000 women who traveled to our state. This strains the capacity of our providers, impacting care and access for New Yorkers.
e can create policies to broaden reproductive health care.
Republican extremists like my opponent in the race for the seat in the 4th Congressional District, the incumbent, Anthony D’Esposito, would have you believe that women in blue states like New York will be spared this suffering because, they say, abortion is now solely a state-level issue. That claim completely ignores the federal-level efforts that far-right antiabortion groups have launched to restrict reproductive rights nationwide, like the outrageous legal campaign to ban medication abortion and House Republicans’ support for a national ban
Despite the very real threat to abortion access here in New York, my opponent is continuing to push an anti-choice agenda that’s completely out of touch with the values and needs of Long Island.
D’Esposito’s record is clear: He endorsed a federal ban on abortion that would apply to New York. He endorsed Donald Trump — who proudly claims credit for dismantling Roe — for president. D’Esposito voted to fund misleading so-called “crisis pregnancy centers,” which peddle dangerous misinformation about reproductive health care to women here on Long Island, and backed restrictions on abortion access for military servicewomen. If re-elected, he will continue to empower, and ally himself
with, anti-choice extremists who aim to restrict our ability to decide when and how we start a family.
This election will be a turning point. We can rectify past injustices, restore our freedoms and implement policies to broaden reproductive health care.
Achieving a pro-choice majority in Congress could reaffirm Roe as the law of the land, shield against attacks on birth control and IVF, and promote inclusive policies like enhanced contraception coverage and equitable maternal care.
As a woman, as a mother of daughters and as someone who doesn’t believe the government should make our medical decisions, ensuring that this fundamental freedom is reinstated for women is personal to me — and I’ll do everything in my power to fight back against extreme attacks on our rights.
We stand at a crossroads in this election. By choosing leaders committed to protecting and expanding reproductive health care, we can counteract the damage inflicted by the Dobbs decision and by anti-abortion extremists like Anthony D’Esposito. Failure to do so risks irrevocable setbacks to our freedom. The choice is clear, and it is ours to make.
Laura Gillen, a former Hempstead town supervisor, is a Democratic candidate in the 4th Congressional District.
Why all history is good history
he other week, I attended an extraordinarily interesting lecture at Raynham Hall Museum, in Oyster Bay, by Megan Rhodes Victor, about bars and meeting places for gender-nonconforming people in the 1700s. During Dr. Victor’s lecture, I was struck not only by the fascinating cultural history of so-called molly houses — the 18th- and 19th-century term for places where gay men and others with nontraditional gender preferences could slip away from a society that refused to accept them — but also by how recent the research on this topic was.
For most of the 200 years following the end of the molly house era, the historical records, and even the existence, of such establishments were suppressed and denied, out of fear of “poisoning” the morals of society.
This got me thinking: How much history has been lost, ignored or forgotten simply because it didn’t conform with societal norms, or made people uncomfortable, or didn’t fit a political narrative. Only in the past 20 years or so have historians and archaeologists been able to explore so many fascinating examples of
different cultures, minorities and characteristics of historical figures without the weight of societal pressure, and expectations of what is “good history,” holding them back.
Because all history is good history. The more we learn about our past, the better understanding we’ll have of how we got where we are today, and where we’re headed tomorrow. And the more we learn about historically marginalized communities and the fascinating roles their members played in our world story, the more we will learn to accept others who are different from us.
H ow much history has been lost because it didn’t conform to societal norms?
To quote a random poster on the internet: “Studying history will sometimes make you uncomfortable. Studying history will sometimes make you feel deeply upset. Studying history will sometimes make you feel extremely angry. If studying history always makes you feel proud and happy, you probably aren’t studying history.”
Such scholarship is also essential in challenging jingoistic, nationalistic and downright bigoted conceptions of history. For example, most people are likely unaware that several of our American Founding Fathers were gender-nonconformers. Baron Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben, the Prussian-American military
officer who molded the Continental Army into a professional fighting force at Valley Forge, never married, and had close, intimate relationships with male aides-decamp and secretaries throughout his life. Alexander Hamilton, who was probably what we would call bisexual today, and his “particular friend,” John Laurens, were also likely lovers, because the language they used when writing to each other was practically drowning in romantic and sexual innuendo, even when a reader today takes into consideration the overtly flowery and dramatic language of the times. Indeed, the letters they exchanged were so spicy that when Hamilton’s son was writing his father’s biography and publishing his correspondence, he blanked out entire sections of the letters, and on one letterhead even wrote, “I must not publish the whole of this.”
Beyond the gender-nonconforming community, there is also the fascinating history of the Muslim-Americans who fought for our country in the American Revolution. Muster rolls listing men with Muslim names, such as Bampett Muhamed, Yusuf Ben Ali and Joseph Saba, who were probably of West African descent, show that as far back as the United States has existed, Islam has been a
proud and essential ingredient in our cultural melting pot.
When people argue against gay people being allowed to serve in the military, or that a woman’s place is only in the home, or that transgender people don’t actually exist and are an excuse for predatory behavior, they’re not just being closeminded, they’re also rejecting historical precedents. If gay people aren’t right for the military, how do you explain the conquests of Alexander the Great, whose best friend, Hephaestion, was also his lover? If women only belong in the home, then explain the breathtaking intelligence of Marie Curie. And if being trans is a recent phenomenon, then why do records of transgender or gender-nonconforming people exist in various cultures since before the Vikings?
History shows that our biases against these and other minorities is not only shortsighted, ugly and, frankly, idiotic, but also plain wrong. Which is why it is so important that aspects of historical study that have been suppressed for centuries be allowed to see the light of day. To quote Capt. Raymond Holt from the Fox/NBC series “Brooklyn 99” — played by the late, incomparable Andre Braugher — “Every time someone steps up and says who they are, the world becomes a better, more interesting place.”
Will Sheeline is a senior reporter covering Glen Cove, Glen Head, Oyster Bay and Sea Cliff.
LAURA GILLEn
569-4942
E-mail: rvceditor@liherald.com
HERALD
HeraLd editoriaL
Lessons learned, grads take the next step
as the hot days of June envelop Nassau County, a palpable sense of achievement fills the air.
It’s the season of graduations — when students from every corner of our communities take center stage to mark significant milestones in their academic journeys. Whether they’re stepping up from kindergarten, advancing through middle school, or donning their caps and gowns to receive high school diplomas, each graduation represents more than just an academic feat — it’s a celebration of resilience, growth, and the promise of a brighter future.
Here, this tradition of honoring our graduates is more than ceremonial. It’s a testament to our values as a community. It underscores our commitment to nurturing young minds and preparing them for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. Each graduation ceremony isn’t just a rite of passage, but a collective acknowledgement of the dedication and hard work that students, educators and families have invested throughout the academic year.
For those moving up from kindergarten, it’s a moment filled with innocence and wonder, marking the beginning of their formal educational journey. These young learners are applauded not just for completing a grade level, but for embracing the joy of discovery and laying the foundation for future academic success.
Their excitement is infectious,
Letters
Vallone kicked Butker’s butt (metaphorically)
To the Editor:
reminding us all of the boundless potential in every child.
Middle school graduations — often overlooked amid larger celebrations hold a special significance. They signify a pivotal transformation from childhood to adolescence. It’s a time of exploration, self-discovery and personal growth. Recognizing these students’ achievements empowers them to embrace the challenges of high school with confidence and determination.
And then there are the high school graduations — perhaps the most anticipated and emotionally charged of all. These ceremonies are not just about crossing a stage; they are about crossing a threshold into adulthood. They mark the culmination of years of academic rigor, extracurricular dedication, and personal development.
Each diploma handed out represents a unique story of perseverance, triumph over adversity, and the unwavering support of families and educators.
Beyond the individual achievements, celebrating graduations strengthens the fabric of our community. It fosters a sense of pride and belonging, reinforcing our shared commitment to education and the future of our youth. These ceremonies serve as poignant reminders of the impact that a supportive community can have on shaping young lives and inspiring future generations.
In a world often marked by rapid change and uncertainty, these rituals
Herald Senior Editor Jordan Vallone was absolutely on point in her criticism of Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker in her column “Hello, Harrison Butker? Women can be heroes, too” (June 13-19). In his commencement speech to the graduating class of Benedictine College, Butker singled out the women in the class when he said, “I would venture to guess that the majority of you are most excited about your marriage and the children you will bring into this world.”
I would echo Ms. Vallone’s one-word response: Really? Is this the summation of values that Butker espouses for these young women who have spent four-plus years dedicated to their education? I would venture to say they are most excited about applying their hearts and minds to careers in their chosen fields. Butker went on to say, “I’m on the stage today and able to be the man I am because I have a wife who leans into her vocation … and embraces one of the most important titles of all: homemaker.” Really? Butker was only on that stage because he can kick a pigskin farther then most humans. And I’m fairly certain that when he was selected 233rd in the 2017 NFL draft, he wasn’t focused on his potential role as a stay-at-
provide a sense of continuity and tradition. They remind us of the enduring values that bind us together — values of knowledge, compassion, and the belief that every child deserves the opportunity to succeed.
By celebrating our graduates, we not only honor their accomplishments, but also reaffirm our collective responsibility to nurture and uplift future leaders, innovators and change-makers.
As we gather to applaud the Class of 2024 and beyond, let us remember that their achievements aren’t just milestones in their lives, but milestones for our communities as a whole. Each graduation ceremony is a testament to the strength of our educational system, the dedication of our teachers, and the unwavering support of families and mentors. It is a moment to reflect on the past with gratitude, embrace the present with joy, and look to the future with optimism.
So, to all of our graduates — from kindergarten to high school — congratulations! Your hard work, determination and resilience have brought you to this momentous occasion. As you embark on the next chapter of your journey, may you carry with you the lessons learned, the friendships forged, and the dreams that fuel your aspirations.
We stand proud of every one of you, celebrating not just what you have accomplished, but the boundless potential of what you will achieve.
opinions
Our future should include transit-oriented development
the Iroquois, the first inhabitants of what became New York state, adopted a code of living about 500 years ago that still stands as a model of forward-thinking decisionmaking. Their Great Law of Peace stipulated that “in every deliberation, we must consider the impact on the seventh generation.”
How regressive, then, that many of today’s Nassau County elected leaders are failing to consider how their decisions will affect even the next couple of generations.
For example, the rejection of a proposed windpower project far out to sea from Long Beach reflects indifference to the impact of fossil fuel-generated climate change on that community’s children and grandchildren. And now Town of Hempstead officials are poised to kill a zoning change that would allow residential and retail development near the Lawrence and Inwood Long Island Rail Road stations. The effect of that action would be to perpetuate environmentally destructive sprawl into the second half of the 21st century — and beyond.
The Hempstead Town Board had unanimously adopted the currently threatened transit-oriented development initiative five years ago. The ordinance declared that the plan would “achieve multiple municipal goals: encourage walking and bicycling; increase transit ridership; emphasize mixed-use, pedestrian-oriented development; reduce potential automobile dependency associated with new land uses … and support a larger commercial tax base for North Lawrence and Inwood.”
Y
this “smart growth” planning organization adds, “It’s no longer just ‘Not in My Backyard’; it’s now ‘Not in My Region.’”
This desire to preserve a 1950s version of suburbia may be understandable, but it’s also shortsighted and narrow-minded. As Kyle Strober, director of the Association for a Better Long Island, observes, “The boomer notion of white picket fence suburbs is a thing of the past. Young people want to move into areas with cool downtowns.”
oung people have expressed a preference for non-automotive transport.
But those favoring repeal of the zoning designation now warn that transit-oriented development would diminish “community character” and represent “a threat to public health, safety and welfare.”
What happened in the past five years to bring about such a 180-degree shift in attitude toward this kind of development? One important factor was the fierce opposition to Gov. Kathy Hochul’s move in 2023 to mandate denser housing development in Nassau County and other suburbs around the state. Eric Alexander, director of Vision Long Island, points to a still-cresting “wave of anti-development sentiment in communities across Long Island.” The leader of
Letters
home dad.
Ms. Vallone’s article brought to mind Elizabeth Keller, a clinical medical physicist at Emory University. According to Wikipedia, a medical physicist is a health professional with specialized education and training in the concepts and techniques of applying physics to medicine, particularly in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Keller is married, and is now Elizabeth Butker, the proud mother of, you guessed it, Harrison Butker. Did he not pause to see the irony in his condescending speech before he delivered it?
Ten years ago, as a school board trustee in the East Meadow School District, I wrote an article about my musings on Graduation Day as to where our children would be in the future. I ended by saying that I envisioned myself sitting anxiously in a hospital waiting room years later. Across the room, I saw a young woman to whom I had handed a diploma quietly approaching me and saying, “Don’t worry, Mr. D., she’s going to be just fine.” I sincerely hope that she is now delivering these words to other worried loved ones. Maybe Mr. Butker should think of his mom’s profession while writing his next commencement speech. Or better yet, just confine his thoughts to putting the ball through the uprights.
JOSEPH DANENzA East Meadow
There’s plenty more advice that Biden needs
To the Editor:
Re Jerry Kremer’s recent column, “Some advice Joe Biden badly needs”: Please add the following to “It’s the economy, stupid”: It’s the grocery shock, stupid. It’s the gas prices, stupid. It’s the high interest rates, stupid. It’s the southern border, stupid. It’s the illegal migration, stupid. It’s the revolving crime, stupid. It’s the raging wars, stupid.
And above all, it’s the weaponization of the Department of Justice, stupid!
I was a lifetime Democrat until 2016, when I gave my vote to Donald Trump. The Iraq war and the Libyan war that Hillary Clinton had voted for were turning points.
No Russian told me to vote for Trump. I have not regretted my vote ever since.
In 2020, I was hesitant to vote for Trump, but the vaccine his administration had produced in Operation Warp Speed in just 10 months gave me hope. Despite hearing all the media about the Trump administration, I still voted for Trump.
With the weaponization of the DOJ, I have lost all hope in the Democratic Party.
KUSH MAKHIJANI
Transit-oriented development can give them what they want. It could enable some of the 55 percent of 20- to 34-year-old Long Islanders now living with their parents or other older relatives to buy or rent apartments near amenities such as restaurants, cafes and clothing stores. It would also cater to the preference for non-automotive transport that many young adults have expressed in numerous surveys. Rather than increasing traffic congestion, as opponents warn, building homes and stores near train stations would reduce car trips to supermarkets, dry cleaners and other everyday destinations.
As of now, however, millennials on Long Island can find few convenient and affordably priced homes outside the
transit-oriented developments planned or being built in communities such as Baldwin, Farmingdale, Lynbrook, Mineola and Ronkonkoma. And that’s because their elders often make it difficult, or impossible, to build apartment houses or row houses. Over the past decade, the Regional Planning Association noted in a 2022 report, Nassau and Suffolk counties permitted the lowest rate of new housing construction in New York state.
Transit-oriented projects are “vital to our economic health on Long Island,” Strober says. “They’re vital to the creation of a young and vibrant workforce that can call Long Island their home.”
Residents of Nassau County — not just those in Inwood and Lawrence — who want to leave a legacy of affordability, diversity and economic dynamism should make their views known at the July 2 Town of Hempstead public hearing on the repeal of the transit-oriented development zoning designation. Seven generations may be too far into the future to contemplate, but we can surely be sensitive to the needs of those who will closely follow us.
Kevin J. Kelley was a congressional staff member in the 1980s, and is a retired journalist and journalism professor who worked for newspapers in New York, Vermont and Kenya and taught at St. Michael’s College in Vermont. He lives in Atlantic Beach.
Framework by Nancy Rosenblatt
Beneath Jeff Koons’ ‘Puppy’ at the Guggenheim Museum — Bilbao, Spain
keVin keLLeY
High Performing in Ten Areas of Care
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