‘And
Dozens watch as the Grucci Fireworks display lights up the sky over Rockville Centre. Kevin Flynn and his daughter, Caitlyn, 2, show their American spirit in red, white and blue outfits at the fireworks celebration on Sunday night. Story, photos, Page 3.
By DANIEl oFFNER doffner@liherald.com
Rockville Centre Fire Department Chief Scott Mohr received a dispatch call on May 30 regarding a car that had crashed into a house along Rockville Avenue.
Chief Mohr arrived at the scene less than two minutes later and, with the assistance of Ex-Chief Michael Lapkowski, pulled the pulseless victim from the driver’s seat.
“I was a little bit caught off guard,” Chief Mohr said. “I wasn’t expecting a medical emergency at first.”
needed.
“The victim was in ventricular fibrillation,” Mohr said. “(His heart) was not functioning properly.”
A shock was delivered, followed by continued CPR until a Northwell ambulance arrived on the scene with a paramedic and EMT on board. The victim was placed onto a stretcher and transported to Mount Sinai South Nassau Hospital in Oceanside.
I t’s a good feeling to know that you made an impact on someone’s life.
JohN Cook Lieutenant, Rockville Centre Fire Department
Lieutenant John Cook arrived shortly thereafter and was instructed by Chief Mohr to perform CPR on the man while he ran to retrieve the automated external defibrillator from his vehicle. Lt. John Grandazza also assisted in performing CPR. After attaching the AED pads onto the victim, the device analyzed the man’s condition and advised that a shock was
Following the incident, Mohr contacted one of the supervisors at the hospital, who provided an update on the patient, identified as Robert Smith, 59, of 44 Rockville Avenue.
The supervisor informed him that Smith initially recovered from cardiac arrest in the ICU. He was successfully extubated, awake, breathing on his own, following commands, and neurologically intact, according to the supervisor’s report.
However, Smith later went
Continued on page 18
Rockville Centre Public Library Director Catherine Overton, left, and Assistant Director Susan Finck, right, received a check from Assemblyman Brian Curran for $7,500 in bullet aid funding.
Assemblyman Brian Curran recently presented the Rockville Centre Public Library with $7,500 in bullet aid — a form of state aid designated for schools and libraries.
“I will always support our local libraries. They are places of learning and imagination for people of all ages, which is why I am ecstatic to present the Rockville Centre Public Library with this bullet aid,” Curran said. “I know it will be put to good use for the residents of Rockville Centre and I can’t wait to come back and see how they have used this money to improve the experience for everyone.”
In recognition of their outstanding commitment to serving others, President Bill Manteria of the Lions Club of Rockville Centre and Lions Governor Maria Leitao presented the Uplinger Distinguished Service Award to Naginder Singh of Rockville Centre, and the Nelvin Jones Fellow Award to Ron Webb of Rockville Centre, during its year-end party at the home of Carol and Christian Hansen.
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People from all over the south shore of Long Island gathered together in the parking lots, ballfields, and parks surrounding the Mill River Complex in Rockville Centre on Sunday night to watch the annual fireworks celebration and concert light up the night sky.
The Village of Rockville Centre and the Rockville Centre Guild for the Arts have hosted this free event for the last three decades in celebration of our nation’s independence. This year’s festivities were no different, continuing the beloved tradition that draws thousands of residents from all over the area to see this wondrous display of lights and color.
Dozens gathered at the Pette and Barasch ball fields to enjoy listening to the sound of the South Shore Symphony Orchestra, as they delighted the audience with a medley of pop hits, show tunes, cinematic classics and patriotic renditions.
Families, friends, and neighbors were filed with anticipation and excitement for the evening’s main event. Many came prepared bringing blankets and chairs, while others enjoyed the view from the comfort of their cars.
As the sun began to set and the sky darkened, the excitement of the crowd grew palpable. Children ran around with glow sticks, as the adults chitchatted and enjoyed ice cream and other traditional summertime fair.
The concert seamlessly transitioned into the fireworks show, with the first booming
explosion marking the start of this breathtaking spectacle. Bright colors and patterns of light filled the sky, with each burst drawing gasps and cheers from the crowd. The synchronized display, set to the symphony’s live music, created a mesmerizing and memorable experience for everyone present.
Since 1993, the renowned Fireworks by Grucci, one of the nation’s premier pyrotechnic companies, has illuminated Rockville Centre’s skies with its spectacular displays. Based in Bellport, this company is a staple in the world of fireworks, holding the world record for the largest fireworks display ever recorded, achieved in 2013 in Dubai. Founded in 1850, Fireworks by Grucci boasts an illustrious history, contributing to several Olympic games opening ceremonies, U.S. Presidential inaugurations, World’s Fair expos, the Statue of Liberty Centennial, and many more historic events.
The annual festivities provided a delightful evening for the entire family. It was not just about the fireworks and music — it was about community, tradition, and the shared joy of celebrating Independence Day together. This event is just one of many held throughout the year that showcase the strong sense of community in the village, bringing people of all ages together to create lasting memories.
–Daniel Offner
AGENT OF THE MONTH
A resident of Pennsylvania reported on July 13 that she was assaulted in the parking lot of a Sunrise Highway restaurant by two acquaintances.
A Rockville Centre business owner reported on July 9 that the glass doors to his Merrick Road storefront were damaged at approximately 2:30 a.m. that morning.
contacted the complainant telling him that he had located his wallet but refused to return the missing item.
A Rockville Centre business owner reported on July 12 that an employee was caught stealing money from the cash register.
A resident of Rockville Centre reported on July 13 that his credit card was stolen from his apparently unlocked vehicle parked in the driveway.
Most Closings • June 2024 • Rockville Centre Office
AGENT OF THE MONTH
A fire chief with the Rockville Centre Fire Department reported on July 11, new graffiti appeared on the pavilion at Fireman’s Field.
A Baldwin resident reported on July 11 that her vehicle was struck by a second vehicle while traveling on Lakeview Avenue, and that second vehicle fled the scene.
Most Closings • June 2024 • Rockville Centre Office
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Licensed Real Estate Salesperson O 516.669.3700 | M 516.835.8468 christine.ferramosca@elliman.com elliman.com/cferramosca
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O 516.669.3700 | M 516.835.8468
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In second marriage planning, a co-trustee is sometimes recommended on the death of the first spouse. While both spouses are living and competent they run their trust or trusts together. But when one spouse dies, what prevents the other spouse from diverting all of the assets to their own children? Nothing at all, if they alone are in charge. While most people are honorable, and many are certain their spouse would never do such a thing, strange things often happen later in life. A spouse may become forgetful, delusional or senile or may be influenced by other parties. Not only that, but the children of the deceased spouse tend to feel very insecure when they find out their stepparent is in charge of all of the couple’s assets.
If you choose one of the deceased spouse’s children to act as co-trustee with the surviving spouse there is a conflict that exists whereby the stepchild may be reluctant to spend assets for the surviving spouse, because whatever is spent on that spouse comes out of the child’s inheritance. Then what if stepparent gets remarried? How will the stepchild trustee react
to that event? What if it turns out the stepchild liked the stepparent when his parent was living, but not so much afterwards?
Here is where the lawyer as co-trustee may provide an ideal solution. When one parent dies, the lawyer steps in as co-trustee with the surviving spouse. The lawyer helps the stepparent to invest for their own benefit as well as making sure the principal grows to offset inflation, for the benefit of the deceased spouse’s heirs. The stepparent in this case takes care of all their business privately with their lawyer. The trusts cannot be raided. These protections may also be extended for IRA and 401(k) money passing to the spouse through the use of the “IRA Contract”. Surviving spouse agrees ahead of time that they will make an irrevocable designation of the deceased spouse’s children as beneficiaries when the IRA is left to the surviving spouse, and further agrees that any withdrawals in excess of the required minimum distribution (RMD) may only be made on consent of the lawyer.
Second marriage planning offers numerous traps for the unwary.
A Hempstead Avenue business owner reported on July 10, that she was being harassed by a former employee who believes he is still owed wages.
A resident of Rockville Centre reported on July 9 that he lost his wallet. Subsequently, an unknown person
A resident of Rockville Centre reported on July 12 that his storm door was broken by unknown means.
A resident of Rockville Centre reported on July 8 that an unknown person filed a fraudulent tax return using her identity.
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.
Traffic along Peninsula Boulevard was backed up on July 10, after a passing school bus struck a tree limb in Rockville Centre around 4 p.m.
According to News12, police said that no children were on board at the time of the incident, however, two people were injured after the branch fell.
Officers with the Nassau County Police Department’s 5th precinct were
the first to respond to the scene on Wednesday afternoon.
Rockville Centre Police Department officers would remain on the scene to assist with traffic control.
Police would not provide additional details regarding the incident as of press time on Tuesday.
–Daniel Offner
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By ANDREW FRANCIS Herald Intern
Rockville Centre native and United States soccer superstar Crystal Dunn will proudly represent Team USA in the upcoming 2024 Summer Olympics in France, set to begin on July 25 against Zambia.
This marks her third straight Olympic appearance, having previously competed at the 2016 games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and the 2020 games in Tokyo, Japan, which were subsequently postponed to the following year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Dunn is no stranger to competing at the international level. She has been a significant contributor to the success of the United States Women’s National Team, including the FIFA Women’s World Cup title in 2019.
Since being called up to the senior team in 2013, Dunn has scored 25 goals over the course of 147 international appearances. Much of her success can be attributed to her positional and mental versatility, having played midfield and defensive positions for various clubs and international teams.
In a recent interview with GQ Sports, Dunn explained that her versatility is not only an athletic quality.
“My ability to break down plays and my cognitive ability to solve problems on
the field is a major piece of why I’m able to see the game from different angles and play at many different positions,” Dunn said in her interview.
While the USWNT is anticipated to be a major force to be reckoned in the 2024 Summer Olympics, the team still has some proving to do regarding its rank as one of the top teams in the world, following its bronze medal finish in 2021 and its elimination in the Round of 16 at the 2023 Women’s World Cup.
The USWNT is currently ranked fifth in the world by FIFA — historically, the team’s lowest rank ever since 2003. This year’s roster will also be devoid one of its former captains and veteran striker, Alex Morgan, who was surprisingly cut from the Olympic roster this year.
Dunn, however, shared with NBC News in a recent interview that she still expects success from herself and her teammates.
“I think having these tournaments under our belt has shown that we are a collective group, we know how to find ways to win. We truly believe that we are still at a very dominant level,” Dunn said.
Keep reading the Herald for updates and more from the 2024 Olympic games.
Rockville Centre native Crystal Dunn is set to make her third Olympic appearance at the upcoming summer games in Paris, France.
By TONY BELLISSIMO tbellissimo@liherald.com
Gutted by roster departures and injuries, the Long Island Ducks completed the first half of the Atlantic League baseball season July 5 with a 30-33 record, 13 games behind the North Division-winning York Revolution.
First-year Ducks manager Lew Ford, the franchise’s all-time hits leader with 1,036 and a key member of three championship teams, witnessed plenty of second-half turnarounds in his 13 seasons and is hopeful for another.
“I try to look at the positives and so far we’ve helped eight guys sign to play either in a Major League organization or professionally overseas,” Ford said. “We’ve had a ton of turnover and some injuries, but I like our roster entering the second half.”
The offense, led by outfielder Tyler Dearden and first baseman Frank Schwindel, did its part through the first 63 games averaging 5.25 runs. Dearden and Schwindel finished first and third in the league in batting, hitting .361 and .353, respectively,
Dearden, who spent his first six professional seasons in the Boston Red Sox organization and played at the Triple-A level in 2023, appeared in 55 first-half games and cracked 12 homers with 46 RBIs and 37 runs. His contract was purchased July 2 by the Minnesota Twins organization.
Schwindel, who has 145 games of Major League experience, appeared in 39 games and belted 11 homers and drove in 38 runs in the first half.
“Those guys were our MVPs in the first half,” Ford said of Dearden and Schwindel.
The most accomplished player Ford has penciled into the lineup is outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr., who appeared in 1,182 MLB games and won a World Series with the Boston Red Sox in 2018. He totaled 109 homers, 449 RBIs and 69 stolen bases over an 11-yer career.
A lower body injury forced Bradley Jr. to miss 35 games thus far. When healthy, he’s raked to the tune of a .360 average, 7 homers and 22 RBIs.
Catcher Chance Sisco, with nearly 200 MLB games under his belt, hit a team-leading 14 homers in the first half. Ivan Castillo has been steady with the glove and batted .298 with 6 homers, 23 RBIs and 7 steals in 42 first-half games.
Improving a team ERA of 5.34 and a league-worst .280 opponents’ batting average will go a long way in the Ducks’ chances of getting back to the playoffs. By far their most impressive arm to date is reliever Ramon Santos, who carries a 0.71 ERA with 3 wins (one shy of team leader Stephen Woods Jr.) and 45 strikeouts in 25 innings.
“We have to pitch better and the staff knows that,” Ford said. “They’re all capable.”
Ducks reach 9 million fans all-time
The Ducks welcomed their record 9 millionth fan through the gates of Fairfield Properties Ballpark June 18 prior to their
Tyler Dearden, signed by the Minnesota Twins July 2, hit .361 with 12 homers and 46 RBIs in 55 games with the Ducks.
game against the Staten Island FerryHawks.
“This is another special day in the history of this great franchise,” Ducks General Manager Sean Smith said. “Reaching 9 million fans is a testament to the incredible support from our fan base since we first opened the gates in 2000 and to the fun and excitement Ducks baseball continues to provide Long Islanders every year.”
Five-year-old Ethan Oldham from Islip entered through the West Gate at 5:56 p.m. with his mother, Katie; father, Craig; and baby brother, Nolan. In doing so, Ethan became the 9 millionth fan in franchise history to attend a Ducks game in their home ballpark.
Long Island became the first club in Atlantic League history to reach the milestone attendance figure despite having begun play in the league’s third year of existence (2000). The Ducks are also currently the league’s all-time leader in sold out crowds with 707, have led the league in attendance 17 times and currently lead the league in 2024 attendance as well with an average of more than 4,500.
Ethan was recognized during a VIP onfield ceremony for being the 9 millionth fan. Sheldon Ellison, General Manager of the Levittown P.C. Richard & Son location, presented the lucky fan with a $1,000 gift card to use at any of the Ducks charter sponsor’s locations. In addition, the Ducks presented Ethan with a jersey featuring “9 Million” as the name on the back and the number “24”, representing this season. Ethan threw out a ceremonial first pitch, received a 2024 Ducks team-signed baseball, and he and his family were upgraded to VIP tickets for the night.
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By NICOLE FORMISANO nformisano@liherald.com
Voter registration programs aim to make voting more accessible for people, and to encourage them to participate in the democratic process. But a recent directive from the state Board of Elections has done just the opposite for Jewish constituents, county executive Bruce Blakeman says.
A statewide voter registration date — this year, Thursday, Oct. 3 — is required by state law. A second, local voter registration program also takes place in Nassau County, but the dates that program may take place is up to the state Board of Elections, rather than the county’s. The state gave the county board two options to choose from: Sept. 28 or Oct. 5. Both are Saturdays.
That makes the voter registration program inaccessible for observant Jewish people, as well as Seventh-Day Adventists, and is antithetical to the program’s purpose of diversity and inclusion, Blakeman said at a news conference last week.
Blakeman appeared with county legislators Bill Gaylor and Mazi Pilip; the Legislature’s presiding officer, Howard Kopel; Comptroller Elaine Phillips and Rabbi Yossi Lieberman, of the Chabad of West Hempstead, on July 11 at Halls
Pond Park, in West Hempstead, to urge Attorney General Letitia James to step in and take action to correct the state election board’s decision.
“We are here in West Hempstead, which has a very large Jewish population,” said Blakeman, who is the county’s first Jewish executive. “And quite frankly, Nassau County is home to probably the third-largest Jewish county in population in the United States, and we
have a very large population of SeventhDay Adventists, especially in the Elmont and Franklin Square areas. So we believe that the state is making a big mistake, and we would ask them to correct that mistake.”
“As we welcome a voter registration program and we encourage everyone to participate in an election, I would expect from our state leadership to be sensitive for Shabbat,” Pilip said. “Shab-
bat is a day for many Jewish people, they are resting, they are going to synagogue, they don’t work, they don’t use phones, they don’t do anything that typically they’d do on a regular day.”
Even the statewide voter registration date of Oct. 3 is problematic for Jewish constituents, Kopel said.
“Nobody’s saying it’s necessarily deliberate,” Kopel said, “but let’s also remember that not only is that Thursday date a workday, it is also, as it happens, the day after Rosh Hashana. It is a fast day. Some people don’t feel well — they’re fasting, they can’t get out, they’re not up to it.”
Because the Saturday dates for the county program were finalized by state legislation, they cannot be changed without legislative action. The state Board of Elections, however, has the power to change the statewide registration program from a Thursday to a Sunday, so it is not on a working day. Blakeman called on James to direct the state board to make that change.
“It should be a very simple thing to do,” Kopel said. “Just go ahead, make the change. And I would also urge our officials to be a little bit more sensitive and a little bit more careful, and think about what you’re doing before you go ahead and do it. Because this was just really careless.”
By DANIEL OFFNER doffner@liherald.com
The Village of Rockville Centre kicked off its annual Music on the Green concert series on July 10 with performances by two local musical acts — Sarah & Sofia and 2 Italian Dads.
Deputy Mayor Kathy Baxley introduced the summer concert series about six years ago, with the goal of bringing the community together to hang out with neighbors and enjoy an evening full of music.
“It worked out very well,” Baxley said. “Music always brings people together.”
Dozens of families, friends and neighbors gathered at the Village Green on Maple Avenue to enjoy the first performance of the summer concert series.
Rich Lind and Andrew Ciancimino have only been performing together for only a year, but you wouldn’t know it from listening to them play. Their combined talent and musical preferences really make them a well-balanced group that puts on a show that the whole family can enjoy.
“We met last year at the beach and started playing together as a way to blow off steam,” Lind said.
While their name leaves much to be desired, the 2 Italian Dads perform a wide range of mainstream hits from The Killers and Cee-Lo Green to more classic rock songs from Van Morrison and Hall & Oates.
“We didn’t know what to call ourselves,” Lind explained. “Both of us have grandparents from Siciliy … and we’re really a dad band.”
Lind is a software sales executive with an extensive background in technology, business operations and professional sales. Originally from Fairfield County, Connecticut, he began playing music when he was 20 and has used it as a healthy outlet to destress. He currently lives in Rockville Centre with his wife and two children.
Ciancimino is a classically trained jazz pianist and a board certified internal medicine specialist with Catholic Health, who has been performing for more than 35 years. At the age of 16, he was given the high honor of performing a solo show at Carnegie Hall and taught piano to make his way through medical school.
“Rich is so outgoing,” Ciancimino said. “I think we really come together and balance each other out.”
Sarah Borruso and Sofia DiMarco are an acoustic singer-songwriter duo from Rockville Centre who have been making major strides in the recording industry after entering a national contest for a chance to appear on NPR’s popular Tiny Desk concert series.
“NPR was kind of unexpected,” Borruso said. “So we were not really expecting anything.”
Much to their surprise, out of the more than 6,000 entries submitted, Sarah and Sofia were selected by NPR
Dozens of friends, family and neighbors gathered on the village green for an evening of music and relaxation.
affiliate WSHU in Fairfield, Connecticut, as the top pick from Long Island.
Borruso and DiMarco first met at soccer practice in the third grade, and after elementary school, rekindled their friendship as members of the middle school drama club.
“So, it was really RVC arts that brought us together,” Borruso explained. “I think the amount the town supports the arts has really created this bond.”
DiMarco said that initially they started performing as part of a larger act, but decided to break off from the group in 2021 to pursue their own ambitions as a duo. Together, they have been performing since their sophomore year at South Side High School.
“When we were in high school, we played every single high school event,” DiMarco said, “even the budget vote.”
Their first big performance was at the second annual Playing on the Porch music festival, a village-wide day of
music where more than two dozen local bands sign up to perform on the porches, lawns, and in the driveways of homes all over Rockville Centre.
It didn’t take long before they found themselves booking performances at different restaurants, bakeries and community functions in the area, winning over the crowd with their eclectic range of covers, from the Indigo Girls to Jack Johnson and beyond.
Borruso and DiMarco were ambitious about recording their own original music. For their senior project they dedicated three-to-four weeks in June 2023 towards writing, producing, mixing and releasing five brand new songs.
“It was a major crunch because the songs literally didn’t exist before that,” Borruso said. “So it was like three weeks of craziness.”
After graduation, the duo has continued to work on new music in their downtime, while focusing on their college education. DiMarco, who also
teaches both piano and guitar to Rockville Centre youth, is studying jazz piano at the Frost School of Music at Miami University, and Borruto is studying voice and opera at the University of Maryland.
Despite the distance between them, they will continue to write and set release dates from school, so they can promote their new music online remotely.
“We really want to start opening for some larger artists,” DiMarco said. “That’s the next step.”
Sarah and Sofia will be releasing their latest single, “all the same” on Friday, July 19, on Spotify. They are also set to take the stage at The Delancey in New York City on August 1. For more information visit Linktr.ee/SarahandSofia.
Artists interested in performing during the Music on the Green concert series this summer can also reach out to the Mayor’s office at (516)-678-9264.
By ANGELINA ZINGARIELLO & DANIEL OFFNER Of the Rockville Centre Herald
State education officials could potentially do away with the Regents exam, as part of its vision to provide multiple pathways to a high school diploma.
The changes, if implemented, could alter the existing graduation requirements for public schools across the state — including in Rockville Centre, where alternative pathways such as Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate diplomas are already offered.
Students in the state currently can earn one of three types of diplomas — local, Regents or Regents with advanced designation. The system requires that students meet both the credit and standardized assessment requirements. Credits are earned primarily by completing specific units of study and required assessments or exams.
The New York State Education Department presented its proposal to the Board of Regents on June 10, with the goal of ensuring that all public school students receive the educational opportunities and supports needed to succeed in school and beyond.
ciency in a variety of ways, including personalized methods tailored to individual strengths and learning styles.
achievements. Districts would also have the flexibility to add additional seals or endorsements.
The proposed changes would introduce a single diploma for all students. It can be earned by demonstrating profi-
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“True equity and excellence in education are achievable, but only if we provide all students with meaningful educational opportunities and multiple avenues for them to demonstrate their mastery of the state’s rigorous learning standards,” Lester W. Young Jr., chancellor of the Board of Regents, said in a statement. “Our job is to prepare students for a lifetime of continuous learning, fulfilling careers, and informed civic engagement.”
Rockville Centre schools Superintendent Matthew Gaven said that right now, the district’s plans are in the “wait and see phase,” as the state has not yet fully fleshed out how they want public schools to implement these changes.
“Those decisions are coming in the future,” Gaven said. “One thing we can say is that our high school students are very well prepared for life after college. Over the past few years, we have increased the choices students can make when selecting courses and offered our parents more opportunities to communicate with their child’s teachers and guidance counselors to ensure those choices are informed. We are extremely proud of the wide variety of course offerings we provide for our high school and middle school students. Our IB and AP courses offer a rigorous Capstone for our students during their second half of high school.”
Based on the state education department’s vision, the plan would assess students on various essential skills including critical thinking, problem solving, literacy across disciplines, cultural and social-emotional competence, effective communication, and global citizenship.
It would also look to reform the credit system, allowing students to earn credits outside of the classroom
through work- or service-based experiences, programs that allow students to earn college credit or an associates degree while still in high school, state credentials, participation in the arts, or career and technical education programs, according to the Education Department.
The third component would eliminate the Regents exam as a mandatory graduation requirement, while still keeping it available as an option to evaluate students. State assessments would still be administered to comply with the requirements of the federal “Every Student Succeeds Act,” a law that aims to ensure educational equity, which was approved in New York in 2018.
Many educators and advocates for the change seem hopeful, since studies have indicated there is no evidence such exit exams increase academic achievement or impact the value of a high school diploma. Instead, it will allow for multiple measures to be used to assess student’s academic knowledge while maintaining rigor.
For the time being, Rockville Centre school officials will continue to monitor the progress of the state education department’s decision and its efforts to switch to a one-diploma system.
“The Board of Education is going to support Mr. Gaven’s pragmatic approach to wait and see how NYSED decides to implement the proposed changes,” Kelly Barry, president of the Rockville Centre Board of Education, said in a statement. “We are confident that the hard work of our teachers and administrators prepare our students well for life after high school.”
Starting in July, the Education Department and members of a Blue-Ribbon Commission will begin gathering feedback on the plan. The process will continue until October, and focus on potential budget considerations as well.
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By ROKSANA AMID ramid@liherald.com
Despite pouring rain outside the Theodore Roosevelt Executive and Legislative Building in Mineola on July 12, there was a joyful rededication ceremony for the building, a highlight of Nassau County’s yearlong 125thanniversary celebration. Attendees reflected on the county’s journey from its separation from New York City, in 1899, to its present-day status as one of the bestknown, busiest, most vibrant and culturally diverse counties in the United States.
Moderated by County Executive Bruce Blakeman, the event brought together elected officials, local historians, and Tweed Roosevelt, the great-grandson of President Theodore Roosevelt, to honor the rich history and legacy of both the county and the former president.
“Today we reaffirm our commitment to the memory of Theodore Roosevelt, a great president, a great governor, a police commissioner, a state legislator,” Blakeman said. “Someone who was a war hero, and someone who overcame tremendous adversity to achieve so many great things.”
The county’s origin story was, in effect, an act of secession, according to historians. In 1898, when New York City annexed Queens County, its three eastern towns — Hempstead, North Hempstead and Oyster Bay — pushed to split away, drawing an invisible boundary between themselves and the newly expanded city. On Jan. 1, 1899, Nassau County was born, and its suburban future firmly secured.
The county building, designed by the architectural firm Shreve, Lamb & Harmon, best known for designing the Empire State Building, is historically significant, because then Gov. Teddy Roosevelt himself helped lay the cornerstone in 1900. When U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi was
Tim Baker/Herald
Tweed Roosevelt, President Theodore Roosevelt’s greatgrandson, honored the rich history and legacy of both the county and the former president.
serving as county executive in 2002, he announced that the building, a former county courthouse, would be renamed in honor of Roosevelt.
In 2005, a replica of a 17-foot statue of Roosevelt that stands on Theodore Roosevelt Island, in the Potomac River in Washington, D.C., was installed outside the building in Mineola. Now the statue’s plaque recognizes the county’s historic milestone.
Roosevelt’s legacy as a public servant and leader is extensive. He was born in New York City on Oct. 27, 1858, into a wealthy family. Though he was frail and asthmatic as a child, he was determined to pursue a vigorous lifestyle that would define most of his life.
Roosevelt’s education was a mix of private tutoring and formal schooling, culminating in his graduation
from Harvard in 1880. His political career began with his election to the State Assembly in 1882, where he earned a reputation as a reformer. As president of the New York City Board of Police Commissioners in 1895, he fought corruption and modernized the police force through hands-on inspections and reforms.
Appointed assistant secretary of the Navy in 1897, Roosevelt prepared the Navy for the Spanish-American War, and subsequent leading the Rough Riders, the first U.S. volunteer cavalry. His heroism propelled him to the governorship of New York in 1898, where he implemented significant labor, health care and conservation reforms.
Roosevelt’s New York-honed leadership led to the vice presidency in 1900, and the presidency just a year later, when William McKinley was assassinated. His progressive policies, including trust-busting and conservation efforts, were influenced by his New York experiences.
Roosevelt’s connection to New York remained strong throughout his life. His home at Sagamore Hill, in Oyster Bay, was his retreat as well as a hub of intellectual and political activity, and played a large role in his personal and political life. The name of the main house on the 150-acre estate, which he bought in 1880, is Native American for “chief,” and it was the scene of many milestones in Roosevelt’s life, from family moments to political decisions.
“He spent the better part of his life here,” his greatgrandson, Tweed Roosevelt, said during the event. “He’s reputed to have said on the day he died to his wife, ‘Dear, you have no idea how much I love Sagamore Hill.’”
“Teddy Roosevelt is a man that we all should try to emulate,” Scott Fairgrieve, president of the Nassau County Historical Society, said. “He was a family man. He was a great president of the United States, and he loved this country.”
By Karen Bloom
Harry Chapin’s tragic death is now many decades behind us, but his music and philanthropy remain forever enshrined in Long Island’s collective consciousness. Stuart Markus, a longtime fixture on the local folk-acoustic scene, cherishes his role as guardian of Chapin’s legacy, organizing the yearly memorial concert each summer. Markus, who is based in Malverne, remains just as passionate about Chapin’s music and his humanitarian zeal as when he began this tribute event — taking on the role of concert organizer — 21 years ago. It has now moved on from its longtime home at Chapin’s namesake theater in Eisenhower Park — following last year’s well-publicized kerfuffle with Nassau County officials — to the Chapin Rainbow Stage in Huntington’s Heckscher Park. Some 30 musicians will gather with fans on Sunday, July 21, regrouping for this year’s edition of “Just Wild About Harry.”
“I’ve long thought it would be wonderful and extremely appropriate to do the show in Huntington, where Harry and Sandy lived and raised their family,” Markus says. “Harry is still held in such beloved regard by residents of the town and public officials at all levels.”
Despite the years that have passed since Chapin’s shocking death on the Long Island Expressway en route to his ill-fated performance in Eisenhower Park in July 1981, the man and his music still resonates. In fact, several show regulars were among the crowd when what was supposed to be a joyous event turned into a vigil, according to Markus.
“Harry is so beloved in memory on Long Island,” Markus says. “You don’t have to look too hard to find someone who met him, whose school he did a benefit for, or someone who’s been helped by one of his charities. It’s so meaningful for the music community to come together and, in effect, do the concert he might have given.”
And come together they do — year after year. “I never expected it would go on this long,” Markus says. “When I first started doing the show I thought it would run its cycle. Instead, each year it keeps growing and keeps getting better. It’s such a wonderful concert and everyone has a great time, which is a tribute to what a great man he (Chapin) was.”
• Sunday, July 21, 7 p.m.
Admission is free.
• Heckscher Park, located off Main Street (Route 25A) and Prime Avenue, Huntington
• Long Island Cares’ staff and volunteers will be collecting donations of nonperishable food at a tent at the entrance to the Chapin Rainbow Stage
The troubadour’s song catalogue is creatively interpreted by each act, who make it their own, while honoring Chapin. “We’ve had some amazing arrangements, from folky to country, torch-song style to hard rock,” adds Markus. “Throughout the two decades that we’ve been presenting the show, I’ve always encouraged everyone to make the songs fresh, however they imagine them. They’re not just reproducing them the way Harry did.”
Markus is pleased to welcome Chapin’s daughter, singer-songwriter Jennifer Chapin, in her first performing appearance at this year’s concert. She’ll do “I Wanna Learn a Love Song,” which tells
story of
“It means a lot to her and the family that we’re doing this in Huntington, where they grew up,” Markus adds.
In another first, the lineup also includes Cantor Lisa Wharton, of Temple Beth Emeth in Mount Sinai, who appears with her husband, percussionist Akiva Wharton, and Cantor Judy Merrick, of Plainview Jewish Center. They’ll perform “I Wonder What Would Happen,” which Markus describes as very appropriate as “it’s a spiritual, gospel feeling song.”
Also Cantor Talya Smilowitz, with Oyster Bay’s Congregation L’Dor V’Dor, also graces the stage; Markus accompanying her for “Saturday Morning.”
“She has an amazing voice and in the chorus melody it just soars,” he enthuses.
Also participating, as always, are stalwarts of the local music community — including returnees Roger Street Friedman, Frank Walker, Patricia Shih and Stephen Fricker, Robinson Treacher, MediaCrime, Judith Zweiman, Martha Trachtenberg, Robin Greenstein, Christine Solimeno, and Grand Folk Railroad. They are joined, of course, by Markus, who performs with his longtime trio Gathering Time.
As is their signature, Markus, with Gathering Time, arrive on stage at the end to conclude the concert. They’ll perform “Cat’s in the Cradle,” which marks its 50th anniversary this year; also on the “Verities & Balderdash” album. Then, as always, in the true spirit of Harry Chapin, Gathering Time is joined by the entire group for their annual rendition of “Circle,” Chapin’s traditional closing.
More than just a concert, the free event, of course, involves a food drive. Concertgoers are asked to bring donations of nonperishable items to support Long Island Cares, the regional food bank and humanitarian organization Chapin founded n 1980.
Bring seating to the concert, held rain or shine. It will also be livestreamed on Facebook and the Harry Chapin Foundation YouTube channel.
Courtesy Keith Rossin
Top photo: Gathering Time’s Stuart Markus leads his fellow musicians in the spirited tribute.
Courtesy Doug Otto
Bottom photo: Everyone gathers to salute Harry
Laugh the night away at Mom’s Night Out, presented Long Island Comedy Festival. You’ll enjoy standup delivered by four clever comics. Talia Reese, (pictured) an Orthodox woman, is one of the edgiest comedians on the circuit. Also a lawyer and a mom, she’s more than capable of not only wearing many hats, but mixing offbeat comedy, motherhood and Orthodox Judaism together. She’s joined by Carla Ulbrich, a singersongwiting comedian known as a “professional smart-aleck, with a love of the absurdities of ordinary life; Rockville Centre’s own Laura Patton, who encourages everyone to laugh along with her as she lives her dream; and national headliner Maria Walsh, “America’s Naughtiest Mommy,”known for her quick wit.
Thursday, July 18, 8 p.m. $45. Madison Theatre, Molloy University, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre. Tickets available at MadisonTheatreNY.org or call (516) 323-4444.
and their
during the rousing finale that closes the concert.
Mike DelGuidice is, of course, forever known for his connection to Billy Joel. One of Long Island’s most celebrated singer/songwriters continues his “residency” on the Paramount stage, DelGuidice and his band always give it their all, especially when playing the iconic Billy Joel songs. Like his idol, DelGuidice has become one of the area’s most popular performers, balancing his schedule between doing his own thing and touring with Joel. DelGuidice, as with Joel, grew up mastering several instruments including bass guitar, guitar, piano, and drums. He’s renowned for his encyclopedic knowledge of the Joel catalog, which caught the attention of Joel himself, who ultimately brought him on stage with him. DelGuidice and his band pack hit after charttopping hit, along with his own tunes in a high energy show that’s always a crowd pleaser.
Friday and Saturday, July 19-20, 8 p.m. $60, $40, $25, $20. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at Ticketmaster.com or ParamountNY.com.
‘Cold Beer on a Friday Night’
Jimmy Kenny and the Pirate Beach Band are back on the Paramount stage, Friday, July 26, 8 p.m., with their beachy vibe. With summer in full swing, keep the mood going with their “Ultimate Beach Party Tribute” to Kenny Chesney, Jimmy Buffett and Zac Brown Band. Parrotheads, No Shoes Nation and the Zamily: it’s 5 o’clock somewhere so let’s ‘raise ‘em up and sing along.
The Long Island based band — guided by Paul C. Cuthbert (aka Jimmy Kenny) on lead vocals/ acoustic guitar, with Linn DeMilta (aka Lovely Linn), lead and backing vocals, Luis Rio, lead guitar/ backing vocals, Frank Stainkamp, keyboard/backing vocals, Dan Prine, bass, and drummer Mike Vecchione, have been celebrating the beach country sounds of Buffett, Chesney and Zac Brown Band for over a decade, spreading their vibe up and down the Northeast. Everyone has a great time grooving to their lively mix of their popular sing-along hits and feel good, easy living flair. It’s a show that connects everyone to good times and good friends. And, of course, you’ll know all the tunes. If you like your toes in the sand, wasting away with a margarita or a cold beer, then you’ll surely have a great time with the Jimmy Kenny Band. $35. $25, $20, $15. 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 22, 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.
Children are encouraged to express themselves as they create characters, explore different worlds, stretch their imaginations and build self-confidence. This week’s theme: Pirates and Princesses to the Rescue. Costumes encouraged. $5 witCostumes encouraged. $5 with museum admission. Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 224-5800 or LICM.org.
The next meeting of the Rockville Centre Village Board of Trustees will take place at Village Hall on Thursday, July 18, at 7 p.m. 1 College Place.
Movie Night
Enjoy a family film outdoors on Eisenhower Park’s big screen, Wednesday, July 31, dusk, at the Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre. See the recent 3D animated musical fantasy “Trolls 3: Trolls Band Together.” The film serves as the threequel to Trolls, the sequel to Trolls World Tour, and the continuation of DreamWorks Trolls franchise. Eisenhower Park, Lakeside Theatre, East Meadow. For information, visit NassauCountyNY.gov.
Explore subtractive and additive monoprinting using a gelatin plate matrix with this summer workshop for adults at The Art Studio, Thursday, July 25, 6:30-8:30 p.m. This workshop will teach how to cut stencils, ink the plate, add and subtract visual layers and produce finished prints. All materials are included. No previous printmaking experience necessary. $40. For registration and more information visit TheArtStudioRVC.com. 221 N. Long Beach Road.
Enjoy the glorious grounds of Old Westbury Gardens and listen to some stirring sounds, as Old Westbury Gardens’ summer music series continues, Sunday, July 21, 3-4 p.m. The Cambiata Cello Duo performs compositions spanning styles and centures at the Barn. Bring a lawn chair or blanket. Old Westbury Gardens, 71 Old Westbury Rd., Old Westbury. For information visit OldWestburyGardens.org or contact (516) 333-0048.
Kawaii Keychains with the Pom-Pom Queen
Kids entering grades 6-10 can learn how to make their own kawaii felt donut or emoji keychains to help liven up their backpacks and accessories at Rockville Centre Public Library, on Tuesday, July 23, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Registration is required. For more information visit RVCLibrary.org. 221 N. Village Avenue.
Sounds of the Great White Way return to Eisenhower Park with Neil Berg’s “100 Years of Broadway,” Saturday, July 20, 7-9 p.m., at the Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre. The lively musical revue, hosted by Neil Berg, on piano, shares those dynamic showstopping tunes performed by a cast of Broadway actors and actresses. These energetic talents light up the stage with songs from the hit shows in which they starred.
Berg presents creatively revived arrangements of Broadway classics as well as thrilling numbers from some of the newest hits, along with his fascinating commentary and historical notes in between songs. Bring seating. Eisenhower Park, East Meadow. For information, visit NassauCountyNY.gov.
Taylor Swift is a massively successful songwriter and a versatile musician whose catalog of work has been an inspiration to many young artists. Her worldwide Eras Tour has made her a global sensation that nobody can ignore. Take a deep dive into her catalog and learn some of Taylor’s most popular songs with The School of Rock in Rockville Centre. Students ages 7-18 can spend the week, Monday through Friday, July 22-26, rehearsing, practicing and participating in fun music-based game and activities. For more information and registration, visit SchoolOfRock.com. 197 N. Long Beach Road.
Enjoy a good book this summer at Francis F. Wilson Elementary School as it hosts the Rockville Centre School District’s summer reading night on the lawn, Wednesday, July 24, at 6:30 p.m. 379 Willow Street, South Hempstead.
On exhibit
Nassau County Museum of Art ‘s latest exhibition “Seeing Red: Renoir to Warhol,” reveals the many meanings, connotations, and associations of this powerful color in art. Evoking strong emotion, red can represent the human condition. Its myriad variations have come to signify authority as well as love, energy and beauty. Red warns us of peril and commands us to stop, but it can also indicate purity and good fortune. Red boldly represents political movements and religious identities. From the advent of our appreciation for this color in antiquity to its continued prominence in artistic and popular culture, this exhibition will span various world cultures through a range of media. It features more than 70 artists, both established and emerging, ranging from the classical to the contemporary. American portraitists such as Gilbert Stuart imbued red in their stately paintings of prominent individuals to conjure authority.
Robert Motherwell, Ad Reinhardt, and other major abstract painters displayed a deep fascination with red in their commanding compositions that evoke a sense of chromatic power. And, of course, Andy Warhol is known for his bold and imposing silkscreened portrait of Vladimir Lenin saturated in bright red to his signature Campbell’s Soup Cans. It opens July 20 and is on view through Jan. 5. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. (516) 484-9337 or NassauMuseum.org.
Meet singles ages 30 to 44 at 7 in Heaven Singles speed dating event, at Cabo, Thursday, July 25, 7:30-9 p.m. $45 registration includes the cost of speed dating, one free drink and appetizers. 3A N. Park Ave. in Rockville Centre. To register visit 7InHeaven.com or contact Gail Adams at (631) 592-9804.
The Ryan Patrick O’Shea Foundation hosts the 5th annual Rise Up for Ryan 3-on-3 basketball tournament at the Mill River basketball courts in Lister Park, Saturday, July 27, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Registration for the event is open to male and female competitors based on age group. 250 S. Park Avenue. To sign-up visit RyanPatrickOsheaFoundation.org.
into cardiac arrest again. He was successfully resuscitated for the second time in the ICU and taken to the cardiac cath lab, where he was placed on an Impella pump — a machine that pumps blood for the heart. He was transferred to Mount Sinai Hospital in Manhattan for open-heart surgery to undergo a complete bypass. Thanks to the efforts of the Rockville Centre Fire Department, Smith is expected to make a complete recovery.
“He has a long road ahead of him,” Chief Mohr said, “but he’s going to make a full recovery.”
Cook expressed his relief upon hearing that Smith and his family were doing well following the incident.
“In the moment you’re not really thinking about that. You’re just doing what you’re trained to do,” Cook said. “It’s a good feeling to know that you made an impact on someone’s life.”
Rockville Centre Mayor Francis Murray commended Chief Mohr and Lt. Cook for responding to the scene with remarkable speed, professionalism, and expertise.
rVC f ire Chief Scott mohr aided a resident, who crashed a car into a house on rockville avenue after suffering from cardiac arrest. thanks to the efforts of the volunteer fire department, the victim, will make a complete recovery.
“Their prompt assessment and immediate initiation of life-saving measures, including CPR and defibrillation, were crucial in reviving the individual and stabilizing his condition until further medical assistance arrived,” Murray said in a statement. “The dedication, skill, and composure demonstrated by both Chief Mohr and Lieutenant Cook under such critical circumstances is truly commendable. Their actions not only reflect the highest standards of the fire service but also underscore their
unwavering commitment to the safety and well-being of the community.”
Comprised of more than 320 volunteer members, the Rockville Centre Fire Department is one of the largest in the state. Everyone who responded to the scene came from their homes to help a neighbor in need.
The incident on May 30 was not just a stark reminder of the unpredictability
of emergency calls and the necessity for quick thinking and decisive action but also an example of the impact volunteer firefighters have in their community.
At the Rockville Centre Fire Department council meeting on Tuesday night, after press time, Smith will join the members involved in the rescue, who will be receiving an award from the department.
Joseph Muir, fourth from left, and his team celebrate his home run off the scoreboard at Hickey Field, for which he won a free bowling party at Maple Lanes RVC for himself, his team and their families.
For the past two seasons, Maple Family Centers has sponsored the scoreboard at Hickey Field, home of the Rockville Centre Little League. Located square in homerun territory, the scoreboard features a Maple Lanes logo with the message, “Hit this sign and win a bowling party.” Earlier this season, a blast off the bat of seventh grade slugger Joseph Muir struck the sign — the first and only time this has been accomplished since Maple began sponsoring the scoreboard.
Muir plays on the Ahmuty, Demers & McManus team, which is sponsored by a local law firm. The scoreboard, which rises beyond the left-field fence, is about 210 feet from home plate.
With his well-placed home run, Muir won a free bowling party at Maple Lanes RVC, which is located across the street from the field. The party, which will be held later in June, will include Muir, his teammates and their families.
Maple Family Centers, which owns Maple Lanes RVC and four other bowling centers, has sponsored several local causes and organizations as part of its commitment to the communities it serves.
LEGAL NOTICE 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 NASSAU COUNTY US BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE FOR VRMTG ASSET TRUST, Plaintiff against 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.
Joseph Muir, a 7th grader in the Rockville Centre Little League, hit a home run off the scoreboard at Hickey Field to win a bowling party at Maple Lanes RVC.
In addition to sponsoring the scoreboard, Maple Lanes sponsors a team in the league. Maple Lanes Vice President Joe LaSpina coaches the Maple Lanes team, which includes his son, Henry.
“We are proud to support the Rockville Centre Little League, and we thought it would be fun to offer a free bowling party to anyone who hit the
scoreboard,” Joe LaSpina said. “But then a whole season went by, and part of the second season, without anyone hitting it, and we were beginning to wonder if it would ever be done. And then, bam, Joe came along with a great shot. We congratulate Joe on a great home run, and we look forward to hosting him, his team and their families at Maple Lanes RVC.”
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
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
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
LEGAL NOTICE SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU. CATHAY BANK, Plaintiffagainst- 222 SUNRISE LLC, et al., Defendants. Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale
dated June 3, 2024 and entered on June 10, 2024, the below-referenced Referee will sell at public auction on the north side steps of the Nassau County Courthouse located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY, on August 6, 2024 at 2:00 p.m., the premises situate, lying and being in the Town of Rockville Centre, County of Nassau, State of New York, bounded and described as follows: Section: 38, Block: 318, Lot: 338; Said premises known as 222 SUNRISE HIGHWAY, ROCKVILLE CENTRE, NY. While there is no current mask or distance mandate in effect, auction attendees are requested to practice social distancing whenever feasible. Approximate amount of lien $1,855,808.59, plus interest & costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale and Terms of Sale. Index Number 607648/2023. BRUCE R. HAFNER, ESQ., Referee; Pryor Cashman LLP, Attorneys for Plaintiff, 7 Times Square, New York, NY, 10036. {*ROCKVILLE CENTER HERALD*} 147753
PUBLIC & LEGAL NOTICES
To place a notice here call us us at 516-569-4000 x232 or send an email to: legalnotices@liherald.com
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, CITIMORTGAGE, INC., Plaintiff, vs. PATRICK MARINELLI, ET AL., Defendant (s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on June 6, 2024, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side Steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on August 12, 2024, at 2:00 PM, premises known as 342 WILLOW STREET, SOUTH HEMPSTEAD, NY 11550. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section: 36, Block: 283, Lot: 85. Approximate amount of judgment is $157,988.04 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 606958/2022. If the sale is set aside for any reason, the Purchaser at the sale shall be entitled only to a return of the deposit paid. The Purchaser shall have no further recourse against the Mortgagor, the Mortgagee, the Mortgagee’s attorney, or the Referee.
MATIN EMOUNA, Esq., Referee
Roach & Lin, P.C., 6851
Jericho Turnpike, Suite 185, Syosset, New York 11791, Attorneys for Plaintiff 147921
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF FORMATION OF LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY. NAME: Mila Assets LLC. Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York, (SSNY) on 05/23/2024. NY Office location: Nassau County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of the process to: 7014 13th Avenue, Suite 202 Brooklyn, NY 11228
Purpose: To engage in any lawful act or activity. 147882
LEGAL NOTICE Public Notice to Bidders
Sealed Bids will be received by the Purchasing Department of the Village of Rockville Centre, One College Place, Rockville Centre, New York for the matter stated below until 11:00 am prevailing time on AUGUST 1, 2024 at which time they will be publicly opened and read aloud. The contract will be awarded as soon thereafter as practicable for:
RECREATION CENTER PARKING LOT DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS Bid No. 2407CP1(1120) The contract documents, specifications and plans can be examined on the Village’s website at www.rvcny.gov. Follow the link to the Purchasing Department. Each bid must be accompanied by a certified check, bank check or bid bond payable to the Incorporated Village of Rockville Centre in the amount of five (5%) percent of the gross amount of the bid. All questions should be directed to the Purchasing Department. Please contact Lisa Strazzeri via email only at Lstrazzeri@rvcny.us. Questions must be submitted no later than July 25, 2024. Award of Contract will be made to the lowest responsible bidder in accordance with applicable provisions of the law. The Village reserves the right to reject all bids or make such determination as in the best interests of the Village, as provided by law.
Purchasing Department Lisa Strazzeri Purchasing Agent 516-678-9213 148025
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
EDITOR/REPORTER Part Time & Full Time. The award-winning Herald Community Newspapers group, covering Nassau County's North and South Shores with hard-hitting news stories and gracefully written features, seeks a motivated, energetic and creative editor/reporter to join our dynamic (and awesome) team! This education and general assignment reporting position offers a unique experience to learn from some of the best in the business. Historically, reporters who have launched their careers with us have gone on to The New York Times, Newsweek, Newsday, the New York Daily News, New York Post, CNN, BBC, NBC News and The Daily Mail, among many others. We look for excellent writers who are eager to learn, enhance their skills, and become well-established and respected journalists in our industry. Salary range is from $20K to $45K To apply: Send a brief summary in the form of a cover letter describing your career goals and what strengths you can bring to our newsroom, along with a resume and three writing samples to mhinman@liherald.com
HANDYPERSON WANTED
Immediate Opening at our Garden City Location DESIRED SKILLS: Electrical * Welding * Carpentry Mechanical * Plumbing Part Time/Fulltime (benefits available with full time) $18-$30 per hour based on experience Richner Communications, Inc 2 Endo Blvd Garden City, NY 11530 Send resume to careers@lixtherald.com or Call 516-569-4000 ext 211
LIBRARY AIDE FULL TIME Are you customer-service focused? Do you love libraries? Apply for a FT Library Aide position at the Baldwin Public Library. This is a rare opportunity in our Circulation department that does not require a Civil Service exam. Job is 35 hrs per week with at least one night per week and rotating Saturdays. $35,000-40,000 depending on experience. Possibility of Sunday hrs. Send resume and cover letter to dkelly@baldwinpl.org by Fri, July 26.
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
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
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
PERSONNEL CLERK/ ACCOUN T CLERK ASSISTANT. $20-$23 per hour. 17 hours per week. Monday and Tuesdays 9:30-3:30. (remaining shift TBD w/ candidate) Occasional Saturday may be required depending upon payroll schedule Duties include Payroll, Benefits Administration, assisting Account Clerk. Necessary skills: Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office, strong math skills. Email resume to jkoenig@islandparklibrary.org
$710,000
4th Avenue. 2 Story. 5 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms. Finished basement. Spacious 2 family house on quiet dead end street. First floor has 3 bedrooms, with eat-in kitchen and living room. Second floor has a large living room and gourmet kitchen with many cabinets, plus 2 bedrooms. Basement recently updated with a bar, family room, laundry, utility room and plenth of extra space. Fenced-in yard with shed. Double driveway with parking for 4 plus cars.
Taxes: $13,862
Franklin Square $860,000
Delmar Avenue. Tudor. 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms. Finished basement. Kitchen with granite countertops. Formal dining room. Den/family room. Security system.
Taxes: $10,668.97
Hewlett Harbor $3,900,000
Thixton Drive. Estate. 9 bedrooms, 8.55 bathrooms. Gourmet chef-style eat-in kitchen with granite countertops. Formal dining room. Den/family room. Exercise room with sauna/steam room. Other features include wet bar, guest quarters, elevator, security system.
Taxes: $84,610
Long Beach $1,985,000
W. Penn Street. Colonial. 4 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms. Gourmet eat-in kitchen. Ensuite master bedroom with walkin closet. Three levels of luxury with rooftop deck and lounge. Panoramic city views. Steps away to beach.
Taxes: $11,073
Malverne $675,000
Linmouth Road. Cape. 3 bedroom, 2 bathrooms. Finished basement. Eat-in kitchen. Formal dining room. First floor master bedroom.
Taxes: $14,503.12
Merrick $750,000
Hanover Place. Expanded Cape. 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms. Partial finished basement. New eat-in kitchen with stylish farmhouse chic cabinetry and quartz countertops. Formal dining room. Updated great room with fireplace. Updates also include bathrooms and cathedral ceiling. Trex deck overlooking sweeping yard.
Taxes: $14,774.54
Q. We have a siding problem that nobody, so far, seems able to solve. We added a second floor three years ago, and redid all our siding. The siding representative came after the siding people couldn’t figure out why our siding began to distort and hang, almost as if it had melted. We don’t keep our barbecue near the house because we learned the hard way, after the siding melted, when the barbecue was too close. This is different, and nobody has any idea why our siding is sagging. The representative took pictures but hasn’t gotten back to us. Have you ever heard of this, and is there anything we can do to stop it? We did replace two sections, but after a year it began happening again. We even checked to see if maybe an appliance was overheating indoors, but there’s nothing nearby that could have caused this. Any ideas?
A. I can shed some light on this, literally, by confirming that your siding, is indeed, melting, but for a reason you didn’t mention: the sun. In the past, when there were mysteries like this, they created fear of the unknown, and your may have thought your home was possessed, but as long as the mortgage is paid, the house isn’t possessed, and it won’t be repossessed. I’ve only seen this problem three times over the 50 years I’ve been in the field, and each one was solvable, but with some rethinking and extra expenditure.
If you were to check to see the orientation of the house and monitor where the sun reflects in either the early morning or late afternoon — and I have seen both phenomena — you’d notice that the sun is especially intense at certain angles. In each case I’ve traced, the sun hit an upper window and reflected with great intensity — like holding a magnifying glass over an innocent bug — off a neighbor’s window and back onto the siding of the first house. This “house of mirrors” phenomenon was intense enough to melt the vinyl siding, which simply wasn’t able to resist the heat.
In one case, the solution was to add a trellis to the side of the house to shield it from the sunlight. This can be done with a freestanding trellis instead of puncturing the siding and causing potential leaks with invasive hardware. Ironically, in that case you could be solving one problem while creating another.
You could also add tall shrubs or short trees between the houses if you have the room. The most expensive way is to side the area with a different, more durable, siding material such as cement board, which looks like vinyl siding, brick or stone. As we experience more intense sunlight due to climate change, I anticipate seeing more of this problem, but it’s still rare, because the windows have to align just right, and it usually happens when the sun is oriented to the Earth just right, possibly only twice a year. 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.
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Iam writing this with the strong encouragement of my wife, Rosemary, who just underwent emergency surgery to remove her gallbladder. She believes it is important to express gratitude to the medical profession, and stress the benefits of early medical attention and detection.
Three Sundays ago, early in the morning, Rosemary began feeling mild but persistent stomach pain and discomfort, which continued into midafternoon. She wasn’t concerned, but she contacted our family physician, Dr. Eric Barth, in Wantagh, to see if he could prescribe something to address her discomfort. Even on a Sunday afternoon, Barth got back to her within minutes.
As she answered his questions, he told her this could well be a serious gallbladder issue, and that she should quickly go to an emergency room for an MRI and blood tests. (Interestingly, it was Barth’s brother, Dr. Michael Barth, a
gastroenterologist, who discovered a cancerous tumor in my stomach wall during a routine endoscopy last year.)
Still not overly concerned and having only mild pain, Rosemary calmly got dressed and sat down in the front seat of our car, which I was driving, joined by our 20-yearold grandson, Jack, who took the back seat. Barely five minutes into the drive to the North Shore University Hospital emergency room, we suddenly realized how accurate Barth’s diagnosis had been. Rosemary was struck with severe abdominal pains, causing her to scream and kick like she never had before, including during labor. At almost the same time, it started raining, and there was an accident on the LIE, which made Waze divert us off the expressway as I tried to maneuver through the rain and reassure Rosemary while Jack navigated from the back seat. When we arrived at North Shore, the doctors and nurses worked calmly but feverishly to relieve the pain and determine the course of treatment. Melissa Zimmerman, a retired police detective who was on my security detail when I was in Congress and has become a close
Ifamily friend, joined us in the emergency room and stayed with us at the ICU, where Rosemary was taken next and excellently cared for.
M y wife initially wasn’t concerned about her mild but persistent stomach pain.
She was operated on late Tuesday afternoon by an outstanding surgeon, Dr. Geraldo Tamayo Enriquez, who had initially hoped to remove her gallbladder in a laparoscopic procedure rather than by opening her up. Several hours later, though, Enriquez was in the waiting room, explaining to my sister Barbara and me how complicated, difficult and extensive the surgery was and how it could not have been done laparoscopically. (Barbara is a retired nurse who is always there and invaluable to our family in stressful health care situations.)
The next few days were rough for Rosemary, but she received excellent care and is on her way to full recovery. I cannot begin to thank Barth for his initial diagnosis and the doctors, assistants, nurses and support staff at North Shore for all they did for Rosemary from the moment we arrived at the emergency room to the day of her discharge. She was truly fortunate.
Now that the crisis has passed, she
and I have the chance to appreciate what a teaching experience the surgery has been. There is no substitute for staying in contact with a trusted family physician and other doctors you deal with regularly and know you well. This was proven true this month with Rosemary and Dr. Barth, and last year with me, when his brother detected a stomach tumor when I had no symptoms whatsoever.
Just as important were the skilled medical professionals at North Shore, who began immediate emergency treatment and then conducted so many tests and procedures over the next several days, including the complicated surgery itself, to restore Rosemary to good health. I admit my bias as a consultant to Northwell Health, but I maintain that the American health care system and its hospitals do extraordinary work that could not have been imagined even several years ago. (I say this as someone who grew up in the old Irish tradition of avoiding doctors.)
We should be grateful to the medical profession, and diligent and attentive to our individual health.
Peter King is a former congressman, and a former chair of the House Committee on Homeland Security. Comments? pking@ liherald.com.
don’t watch horror movies, and even if my friends recommend them to me, I take a pass. I try to avoid anything else that is gory, including news photos and some Facebook posts. But one horror story that has captured my attention is a political document known as Project 2025.
Project 2025 is a 922-page manifesto created by the Heritage Foundation. It has been described as a road map for any new Trump administration. It outlines, agency by agency, the federal programs and projects that should be eliminated, and what the policies of a second Trump administration would be.
Over the past few weeks, officials in former President Donald Trump’s campaign have attempted to disavow any connection between themselves and this recipe for a government revolution, but those denials do not have any substance. Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, who was willing to say anything or do anything to be Trump’s running mate, called Project 2025 “a bunch of recommendations by
scholars and has no substance.”
The facts belie all of the protestations by the Trump team. The Heritage Foundation is a conservative think tank that had enormous influence on the first Trump administration. It recommended all three of the justices whom Trump appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court. Foundation Chair Kevin Roberts has bragged that 64 percent of the organization’s 2016 recommendations were adopted by the administration. Roberts has attracted national attention with his recent statement that “we are in the process of a second American Revolution, which will remain bloodless if the left allows it to be.”
n o federal agency is spared from the Heritage Foundation’s governing plan.
There is much more to the Project 2025 blueprint. It recommends that upward of 50,000 federal civil service workers be reclassified so that they can become political appointees. It recommends that Medicare and Medicaid funding be reduced, and that the president take total control of the FBI, the Department of Justice, the Federal Trade Commission, the Department of Commerce and the Federal Communications Commission.
ernment is overlooked, Project 2025 advises that all climate-change regulations favor fossil fuel production, and that Medicare be banned from negotiating with pharmaceutical companies to lower drug costs. To make Medicare less costly, it calls for a new health insurance tax, and concludes by recommending that “Christian Nationalist policies be incorporated into the administration’s mission.”
Project 2025 is the work of a team composed almost exclusively of former Trump appointees, including the former chief of staff of the Office of Personnel Management, Paul Dans. Many of its planks are identical to speeches made by Trump on the campaign trail. They include instituting tariffs on all imported goods; setting up deportation camps for non-citizens and so-called Dreamers, even those married to American citizens; and deploying the military for local law enforcement.
No agency would be spared the wrath of Project 2025. It suggests that the Department of Education be abolished and reconstituted as a way of “enhancing parental rights in education and reclaiming the funds from students whose college loans were forgiven.” While it does not suggest that abortions be banned, it recommends that the abortion pill mifepristone be removed from the market. It urges that 100 current government workers have their names publicly posted so that citizens can comment on whether they will be loyal to the new administration. Parts of the document sound like they were written during World War II.
To make sure that no function of gov-
When questioned about Project 2025, Trump, who followed many of the Heritage Foundation’s previous government and court reform strategies, stated, “I have no idea who is behind it. I disagree with some of the things they are saying.” That’s not much of a denial. Trump campaign operatives can deny any connection to Project 2025, but the facts say otherwise. One of its loudest supporters has been Steve Bannon, a Trump confidant, who is currently in federal prison. “This is not empty rhetoric,” Bannon recently stated. “This will be the manifesto of the new administration. Take it seriously.”
Jerry Kremer was an Assemblyman for 23 years, and chaired the Assembly’s Ways and Means Committee for 12 years. He now heads Empire Government Strategies, a business development and legislative strategy firm. Comments about this column? jkremer@liherald.com.
Last week we offered tips on fire safety, and this week we’re focusing on another summer activity that is usually fun, but nevertheless requires responsible behavior in order to keep it safe as well. There were three backyard swimming pool deaths on Long Island in just 24 hours earlier this month, and another incident a few days later in which a 2-year-old fell into a pool and, fortunately, was rescued.
Swimming pools are supposed to be places of joy, not tragedy. They offer respite from the summer heat, host family gatherings and are a place for those of all ages to play and exercise — but they also present significant potential dangers, especially for younger children and inexperienced swimmers.
The recent drownings — like those we hear about every summer across the country — underscore the absolute necessity of an annual focus on swimming pool safety. A study released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last month reported that over 4,500 people drowned in pools or other waterways each year from 2020 to 2022.
The allure of a swimming pool is undeniable, but it is essential to recognize its inherent risks. Drowning is one of the leading causes of accidental death in children, and it usually happens not amid a flurry of attentionattracting splashing and shouting, but unnoticed and all but silently. Unlike the dramatic portrayals seen on TV or in
movies, many real-life drownings are quick and quiet, making it all the more critical for adults to remain vigilant when their children are swimming. Lapses in supervision for even mere seconds at a time simply aren’t unacceptable.
A responsible adult should always be within arm’s reach of young children who are in or near the water. Designating a “water watcher” can ensure that there is always someone focused on the pool, free from distractions like phones or animated conversation. This simple yet effective practice can be a lifesaver. Equally important are physical barriers and safety devices. A pool should be surrounded by a fence that is at least four feet high, with self-closing and selflatching gates. This is the first line of defense against accidental drownings, particularly for toddlers, who are naturally curious and drawn to water. Pool covers and alarms can add extra layers of security, alerting homeowners to potential dangers before they escalate. Swimming lessons are another crucial component of pool safety. Teaching children to swim when they’re young — most can become comfortable in deep water at age 6 or 7 — not only equips them with the skills they need to stay safe, but also instills a sense of respect for a pool’s potential dangers. Community centers, clubs and other organizations offer swimming lessons, and investing in them brings lifelong benefits.
Do the math: There’s a better way to conserve water
To the Editor:
I applaud any effort endorsed by local government to conserve water, but I find the recent Town of Hempstead rain barrel campaign a bit of a stretch and, after careful analysis, downright foolish, shortsighted and inherently a waste of time and money.
A plastic container with a 50-gallon capacity and an overflow outlet requires installation by skillfully cutting your roof downspout pipe to position it on a firm and level base. If you have the tools, time and expertise, go for it.
In the spring and fall, when we get plenty of rain, it will fill quickly, just in time to water your plants that somehow don’t need watering because of all the rain. The surplus will simply overflow, with no benefit. In the hot, dry summer months, those 50 gallons will be used up in a few days with no replenishment in sight. Turn on the garden hose!
The math: The barrel costs you $65. For that price you can buy about 6,500 gallons of water from Liberty Water, or about 130 barrels full. And this water is available on demand when needed. My guess is that you’ll be lucky to end up collecting, storing and actually using about 10 full barrels per season.
In addition, educating pool users about risks and safety protocols is essential. Training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or CPR, for adults and older children can mean the difference between life and death in the critical moments before emergency responders arrive in an actual emergency. Anyone whose regular summer routine includes time at the pool should know how to respond when someone is pulled unconscious from the water. CPR courses hosted by schools, public pools, and the offices of the American Red Cross and many other organizations, should be a regular part of teens’ and adults’ summer preparation in every community.
The recent deaths on Long Island serve as a stark reminder of the consequences of neglecting pool safety. Each represents not just a statistic, but a family shattered by an avoidable tragedy — emphasis on avoidable. Public-awareness campaigns can play a vital role in the effort to eliminate those tragedies altogether, and those efforts should involve local governments, schools, community centers, service clubs, health clubs and police and fire departments. Ultimately, the goal is to create an environment in which memories of joyfilled days in the pool will be the highlights of your children’s summer. Make sure they learn to swim — adding some incentive, perhaps, by taking a lesson or two yourself — and keep a close eye on them whenever they’re in the water.
And don’t forget to drain, move and reattach that section of drainpipe before winter, or you’ll end up with a 50-gallon ice block that may well crack your investment.
Are there better alternatives? There
most certainly are. It’s called a welland-pump system, connected to your lawn sprinkler — and most of us have one of those, right?
The math: A well/pump system will pay for itself in about three years, from
on June 25, my classmates and i became the latest class of graduates from the Nassau County police Department Foundation’s Civilian police academy — a program i encourage all Nassau residents to enroll in.
setH
although i have been involved with many aspects of the criminal justice system during my legal career as a Queens County assistant district attorney and as a private practitioner, the academy was an eye-opening and enlightening experience that i believe would give any Nassau resident vital insights into the daily activities of our law enforcement professionals. starting on March 7 and continuing every thursday evening from 7 to 10 p.m., we delved into key aspects of criminal procedure and penal law as well as the department’s policies governing the use of force. Guest speakers from various units presented to our class of civilian students, giving us first-hand insights into the operations of the Detectives squad, the Bomb squad, the K-9, horseback mounted and aviation units and more; demonstrations included the
landing and takeoff of a police helicopter and a simulated high-speed chase in a Nassau police car.
the Civilian police academy was a pared-down version of the extensive training that our Nassau County police Department professionals receive. it gives participants insights into the decisions officers make and what they go through on a daily basis. this experience further elevated my tremendous respect for our law enforcement professionals and appreciation for the department’s commitment to training and professionalism.
tBlakeman administration’s proposal was reckless, misguided and unlawful. as i completed the Civilian academy, i grew even more steadfast that the provisional special deputy sheriff program — also known as the “militia” — is a recipe for disaster.
he county’s proposal to mobilize ‘provisional sheriffs’ was reckless.
Moreover, my experience in the Civilian police academy, as a county legislator, provided me with a unique perspective that i can apply to critical law enforcement and public safety policy decisions. it was a tremendous experience, personally and professionally.
Earlier this spring, the administration of County Executive Bruce Blakeman solicited applications for “provisional sheriffs.” as a predicate to applying, each of these citizens required a valid pistol permit. provisional sheriffs could be mobilized to guard public spaces, utilities and infrastructure during vaguely defined “states of emergency.”
From its inception, i believed that the
savings of metered water use. ironically, a shallow well also actually recycles rainwater, storing it in a trillion-gallon natural aquifer rather than a 50-gallon molded plastic barrel. You decide.
GarY CaparELLi Lawrence
to the Editor:
t he New York s tate Department of Environmental Conservation is promoting public safety at ocean beaches by educating the public to help minimize the risk of negative interactions between people and sharks.
t he annual summer migration of sharks into New York’s coastal waters is underway, and sightings of shark activity in the nearshore ocean waters are expected to increase during the summer months through september.
DEC encourages New Yorkers to be aware of their surroundings in the water with the potential for shark-human interactions, and to follow DEC guidelines to minimize the risk of negative interactions.
■ avoid areas with seals.
■ avoid areas with schools of fish, splashing fish, or diving seabirds.
■ avoid swimming at dawn, at dusk or at night.
■ avoid murky water.
■ swim, paddle, and surf in groups.
■ stay close to shore, where your feet can touch the bottom.
■ a lways follow the instructions of lifeguards and park staff.
s harks have existed in New York’s marine waters for millions of years. today there are more than a dozen shark species that migrate through New York’s marine waters.
Each shark species has unique habitat and food preferences, and plays an important role in maintaining a healthy and balanced marine ecosystem. sharks can prevent other species from monopolizing limited resources and degrading the marine environment. the presence of sharks in New York’s marine waters is a positive sign of a healthy marine ecosystem.
humans assume risk whenever they enter any wild environment, whether on land or in the water. a lthough it is impossible to eliminate risk altogether, ocean users can modify their behavior
i respect the fact that several of the participants in Blakeman’s program may be retired law enforcement professionals and members of our armed forces, and i thank them for their prior service. Nevertheless, the 30-day training crash course that these civilians received is woefully insufficient to get anyone prepared to act in any law enforcement capacity. it becomes more troublesome when you consider that NCpD officers receive seven months of intense basic training before being permitted to function as police officers.
By comparison, my classmates in the Civilian police academy and i completed 14 weeks of instruction by the NCpD. Logically, wouldn’t we be better trained than other civilians who received only 30 days of training? For some reason the Blakeman administration believes that provisional sheriffs need a mere 30 days of vaguely defined training before being activated in potentially chaotic, emergency situations.
i have always believed that only police officers should be doing police work. if what i learned in a 14-week police course does not qualify me to act in a law enforcement professional’s capacity, why should these provisional sheriffs be given authority to insert themselves, and their firearms, into emergency situations? these are situations in which residents are already stressed, confused and seeking clarity. Nassau County doesn’t need this. Nassau County doesn’t want this. We have more than 2,600 well-trained officers already at the ready, not to mention state, village and city police departments that can provide mutual aid. We also have the National Guard, FEMa and other agencies that are far better equipped to assist than a handful of provisional special deputy sheriffs. there is plenty to do in Nassau — we should be devoting our attention to addressing real issues like fixing our broken assessment system, investing in our aging infrastructure, getting lifesaving opioid settlement funds onto the front lines of the addiction crisis, and saving Nassau University Medical Center and Nassau Community College. this “militia” is yet another example of wasted time, resources and energy by the Blakeman administration, which focuses on finding solutions to problems that don’t exist.
Seth I. Koslow represents Nassau County’s 5th Legislative District.
Framework by Tim Baker
Now this is what summer’s all about — Eisenhower Park, East Meadow
to minimize potential interactions with sharks and reduce overall risk. When in the ocean, follow DEC’s shark safety guidelines to minimize the potential for negative interactions with sharks.
Learn more about New York’s shark species at DEC.ny.gov. ChristophEr
