Rockville Centre Herald 10-05-2023

the floodwaters in Rockville Centre rose up past the sidewalk along Hempstead avenue, at its intersection with Birch Lane, last Friday afternoon.

Several drivers are rescued amid sudden flooding

By DANIEl oFFNER doffner@liherald.com

Faced with one of the heaviest September rainstorms in history, officials in the offices of Gov. Kathy Hochul and Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman issued statements last Friday warning residents to stay indoors.

The extreme weather resulted in flooding in a number of Long Island communities including Rockville Centre, which was pounded by an estimated nine inches of rain in a span of just six hours.

Parts of Long Beach Road, Hempstead Avenue, Lakeview Avenue and Peninsula Boulevard, were reportedly knee-deep in

Molloy gets a $5M grant for new facility

By DANIEl oFFNER doffner@liherald.com

Molloy University, in Rockville Centre, recently received a $5 million state grant to help fund the construction of a new facility for Health Care Workforce Development.

“Molloy University is very grateful to New York state for believing in our mission and our commitment to workforce development on Long Island,” Molloy’s president, James Lentini, said. “We look forward to building this important project and providing health care education for the region for years to come.”

tion of new laboratory, research and educational facilities and the purchase of new instructional technology and equipment.

Since it was created in 2005, the grant program has enabled campuses across the state to invest in their infrastructure and equipment while creating construction jobs.

floodwater by early afternoon, when an advisory was sent out to residents warning them of the dangerous driving conditions. Those conditions worsened at around 3 p.m., when first responders sprang into action to help some of those who were caught in high water.

Tony Rugolo, first assistant chief of the Rockville Centre Fire Department, said that over the course of the day, the department responded to 21 calls for assistance, 14 of them from residents who were trapped in their vehicles.

“We removed numerous people from these autos and moved them to safety,” Rugolo said.

Thanks to the combined efforts of the vil-

Continued on page 18

Gov. Kathy Hochul announced on Sept. 27 that $63.6 million in capital grants will be given out to 30 private colleges and universities across the state. The Higher Education Capital Matching Grant Program will help the colleges fund capital projects such as the construc -

“New York’s colleges and universities are second to none, and thanks to more than $60 million in state capital funding, we are making transformative renovations at top schools across the state so that they can continue to raise the bar,” Hochul stated in a news release.

“From the purchase of cutting-edge scientific equipment to overhauling libraries and student centers, these investments will take our institutions to the next level and ensure that students pursuing higher education in New

Continued on page 17

We look forward to building this important project and providing health care education for the region for years to come

JAmEs lENTINI President, Molloy University

Courtesy Dominick Alesi

United Church hosts Blessing of the Animals

United Church of Rockville Centre enjoyed a beautiful day during its annual Blessing of the Animals on October 1st. Pastor Scott Ressman blessed dogs of all shapes and sizes, a parrot, pictures of beloved cats, and even a Minnie Mouse plushie. A certificate and treats were provided.

Photos courtesy Lori Dunne United Church Pastor Scott Ressman gives a blessing to Kris’ beloved parrot.

Bernie the dog gets a blessing from Pastor Scott Ressman on Oct. 1.

Four-legged furry friends from all across the community received blessings from Pastor Ressman during the United Church’s annual Blessing of the Animals event.

Suicide Prevention Month in Hempstead

By DANIEL OFFNER doffner@liherald.com

In recognition of National Suicide Prevention Month, Hempstead Town Supervisor Don Clavin and Councilwoman Laura Ryder in partnership with the Ryan Patrick O’Shea Foundation of Rockville Centre, invited community advocates, high school students, and law enforcement professionals for a forum on suicide prevention and awareness.

“A recent study found that suicide is the second-leading cause of death among people ages 15 to 24,” Clavin said in a newsletter. “The event was comprised of a series of speakers who helped guests expand their mental health awareness, learn how to support those in crisis, and discover new ways to prevent suicide. Together, we can put an end to self-destructive behaviors and create a brighter, more hopeful future. Let’s stand up, speak out and save lives!”

The Ryan Patrick O’Shea Foundation was created by John and Mary O’Shea following the loss of their beloved son, Ryan, a South Side High School graduate and former captain of the Cyclones basketball team, who took his own life in 2019.

John O’Shea, the former president of the Rockville Centre Board of Education and vice president of the Ryan Patrick O’Shea Foundation, said that the one thing he hopes people took away from the conversation is that suicide is 100 percent preventable.

“We don’t need to wait for a cure,” O’Shea told the Herald. “Talk saves lives. Talk gives people the power to get past their pain and struggles. You’re not the only one that’s going through it.

During the event, high school students from Rockville Centre and Oceanside shared some of the life lessons they have learned as part of the Sources of Strength program, a national suicide prevention program based in social and emotional learning.

Sources of Strength takes a proactive approach to address mental health concerns by highlighting a network of resources. Twenty adult advisers and 50 peer leaders facilitate the program at a local level, with a focus on healing and support.

Currently in its fourth year in Rockville Centre, the Sources of Strength program, has spread to neighboring school districts including Oceanside, East Rockway and Freeport, and plans to expand to Lynbrook, Bethpage and the Sacred Heart Academy in the coming year.

Juvenile Detective Stefanie Balos of the Rockville Centre Police Department was also on hand to discuss the Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training Program, a two-to-five day evidence-based training program that teaches participants how to assist those at risk of suicide.

While many health care and law enforcement professionals participate in the program, it is designed to equip participants with the tools and resources to intervene when a civilian’s life is at risk.

Both the Sources of Strength and ASIST programs are funded locally by the O’Shea Foundation.

For more information about the foundation, visit RyanPatrickOsheaFoundation.org, and to find out more about mental health programs like Sources of Strength, ASIST or other training and consultation services available, visit PreventSuicideNY.org.

Edwin Chavez/Herald photos

Oceanside high school students Tyler Polito, left, Grace Didomenica, Emma Pagano, Madison Johnson and Gabby Cutrone share their Sources of Strength.

Board members with the Ryan Patrick O’Shea Foundation including Director Kathy Lamacchia, left, Rockville Centre Deputy Mayor Kathy Baxley and Director Lisa Pino were among those at the Suicide Awareness Month event hosted in partnership with the Town of Hempstead.

Rockville Centre Police Department Juvenile Detective Stefanie Balos speaks about the Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training Program.

South Side High School seniors Lauren Ferazani and Kate Gupta shared a few words about the Sources of Strength program.

Hempstead Town Supervisor Don Clavin shares a few words about the importance of mental health and suicide prevention.

Message to All Rockville Centre School District Residents

Crime watCh harassment

A resident of Maine Avenue reported on Sept. 29, someone verbally threatened him while in the elevator of his building.

LarCeny

A priest at the Church of the Ascension reported on Sept. 26, someone stole two banners for an upcoming church fair.

A motorist reported on Sept. 30, someone stole property from her vehicle while it was parked at Mercy Medical Center.

Leaving the sCene of an aCCident

A motorist reported on Sept. 30, his vehicle was struck by a car that left the scene while parked in a N. Long Beach Road parking lot.

CriminaL misChief

The owner of Go Nuts for Sweets reported on Sept. 26, someone broke the security camera on his building with a hammer and then stole the camera.

A priest at the Church of the Ascension reported on Sept. 27, someone damaged the air conditioning in the rear of the building.

A motorist reported on Sept. 30, someone damaged her vehicle while parked at Mercy Medical Center.

A motorist reported on Sept. 30, someone damaged her vehicle while parked on N. Centre Avenue.

UnUsUaL inCident

A resident of Arrandale Road reported on Sept. 25, someone opened a cell phone account in her name using her personal information.

A resident of S. Park Avenue reported on Sept. 27, someone opened a bank account in his name and transferred money from his savings account to the new account using his personal information.

arrests

Ronniesha Highsmith, 34, of Old Mill Court in Rockville Centre was arrested on Sept. 27. She has been charged with assault and criminal trespass following a police investigation.

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.

SPOTLIGHT ATHLETE

South Side strong in early going

By ANDREW FANTUCCHIO sports@liherald.com

JOEY GOODMAN Calhoun Senior Football

IT WAS QUITE an afternoon for Goodman and the Colts Sept. 23 despite awful weather conditions. The rain, wind and Sewanhaka’s defense couldn’t stop Goodman from reaching the end zone five times as Calhoun evened its record in Conference II at 2-2. All five of his scores came on the ground, including three in the first quarter from 15, 10 and 78 yards. He added two touchdowns in the second and finished with 186 yards on only seven carries.

GAMES TO WATCH

Thursday, Oct. 5

Field Hockey: Baldwin at Clarke 5 p.m.

Boys Soccer: MacArthur at Calhoun 5 p.m.

Boys Soccer: Roosevelt at South Side 5 p.m.

Boys Soccer: Malverne/ER at Sewanhaka 5 p.m.

Girls Soccer: Elmont at Carey 5 p.m.

Girls Soccer: Hewlett at East Meadow 5 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 6

Field Hockey: New Hyde Park at Long Beach 5 p.m.

Girls Soccer: Massapequa at South Side 5 p.m.

Girls Soccer: Seaford at North Shore 5 p.m.

Girls Soccer: V.S. North at Lawrence 5 p.m.

Football: Wantagh at South Side 6 p.m.

Football: Oyster Bay at East Rockaway 7 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 7

Football: Hempstead at East Meaadow 3 p.m.

Football: Oceanside at Uniondale 3 p.m.

Football: West Hempstead at Lawrence 3 p.m.

Football: Malverne at North Shore 3 p.m.

Football: V.S. North at Kennedy 3 p.m.

Football: New Hyde Park at Mepham 3 p.m.

Football: Herricks at Long Beach 3 p.m.

Football: Manhasset at Calhoun 3 p.m.

Nominate a “Spotlight

Athlete”

High School athletes to be featured on the Herald sports page must compete in a fall sport and earned an All-Conference award or higher last year. Please send the following information for consideration: Name, School, Grade, Sport and accomplishments to Sports@liherald.com.

In only its second year of existence, the South Side boys’ volleyball team has taken Rockville Center by storm and the rest of the county by the throat, as the Cyclones are off to a 7-1 start.

Much of South Side’s early success can be credited to senior captain Alex Vargas, whose 111 kills thus far ranks sixth in the county.

“I think what has been the difference for us [so far] is that Alex has been the best player on the floor for both teams,” D’Angelo said. “Alex, in my opinion, is probably a top 10, top 15 Nassau County volley player. He could play any position for us. He does everything and is capable of doing everything for us.”

When South Side’s program began last fall, Vargas was the only player on the team with any previous experience playing the sport. To make up a roster, D’Angelo recruited players from other sports, taking heavily from the basketball team, which he also coaches.

D’Angelo knew his players’s natural athleticism would translate to volleyball, but not even he anticipated the Cyclones being so dominant by going 14-3 in their first year.

“It really was a surprise,” D’Angelo said. “It was a good, special group to coach. They were willing to learn because none of them knew how to play volleyball, so they took criticism and coaching very well.”

Setters John Presicoli and Jake Gillis, as well as libero Ernesto San Pedro, all took time to adjust to volleyball. Meanwhile, middle blocker Ryan Kennedy had even more of a learning curve. However, it’d be hard to tell that by watching him now, as he’s leading the Cyclones in blocks and is only behind Vargas in kills.

“He’s become a better hitter,” D’Angelo said. “He’s become a better blocker, and he knows to be in spots now. I think he just needed that year to play through it and make a lot of mistakes. Now, coming into this year, he has a ton of confidence.”

South Side has jumped from a rookie

program to Division II and hasn’t lost a step. In five matches, the Cyclones haven’t dropped a single set.

However, D’Angelo is wary of his team’s early success.

South Side has outplayed much of its competition thus far, but what happens when there’s no one left to beat?

“I’m worried about having my team be satisfied,” D’Angelo said. “It’s common nature for them to be happy. We have to see what happens when we go down a set. Do we have the intestinal for-

titude? Can we bounce back? I’m concerned about that.”

To keep South Side on its toes, D’Angelo puts them in challenging situations during practice, trying to put as much pressure on them as possible.

“We try to make practices hard and competitive,” D’Angelo said. “I really want the pressure to be high on them.”

South Side will look to rebound from its lone loss — last Saturday to undefeated Elmont — when it faces Lawrence and Kennedy this week.

Eric Dunetz/Herald Senior captain Alex Vargas is the Cyclones’ most-experienced player on the court and ranks among Nassau County’s leaders in kills.

Protecting Your Future with

Michael and Suzanne Ettinger Attorneys-at-Law

Assisted Living

We recently had the opportunity to visit Sunrise of Dix Hills, an assisted living community — part of a group of Sunrise communities across Long Island, Brooklyn, Westchester and Rockland, New York. A number of things impressed us on our visit. Everywhere we went on our tour of the community, staff warmly greeted us as well as each other and the residents. Residents were actively engaged in group activities including playing games, listening to live music and doing art and crafts. It felt like summer camp for older adults. Lunch was surprisingly tasty with many choices and we were pleased to find the menu changes daily. We were also glad to see diners in groups of three or more. There was a resident cat who kept turning up and we also learned that residents’ own pets are allowed.

Before moving in, staff meets with the resident, their families and their physician to

determine appropriate care levels, likes and dislikes, and hobbies and interests to develop an Individualized Service Plan (ISP). The ISP is updated regularly according to a schedule.

Sunrise designs activities to support physical, mental and spiritual wellness through eight focus areas: exercise, excursions, art, music, education, intergenerational mentoring, community service and spirituality.

Sunrise also provides transportation services to residents for shopping, therapies, diagnostic testing, and doctor and dentist visits -- taking the burden off family members who often have to take time off work or are too far away to manage.

While many clients over the years have told us they would rather stay in their own homes, this often leads to loneliness, isolation and rapid cognitive decline. Being engaged with others has been proven to be one of the greatest tonics for increasing one’s “healthspan”.

ETTINGER LAW FIRM

ELDER LAW ESTATE PLANNING SINCE 1991 trustlaw.com

Trusts & Estates • Wills & Probate • Medicaid FREE CONSULTATION: 516-327-8880 x117 or email info@trustlaw.com

Rockville Centre launches new mobile app

The Village of Rockville Centre is excited to announce the launch of “MY RVC,” a brand new mobile application powered by GOGov that alerts residents with real-time notifications.

The new, free mobile application provides important village updates and communications at the push of a button. The user-friendly app provides residents and visitors with an easy to access one-stop location to find the village website, events calendar, and important contact information.

It also serves as a portal for residents to pay utility bills, taxes, and parking fees. And it directly provides time sensitive news alerts and updates from the village, without the need to log onto social media.

“With the ability to use your phone to connect with vital village information, MY RVC is another way for the village to be open, transparent, and responsive to our residents,” Deputy Mayor Kathy Baxley commented. “I am confident that it will be an invaluable tool for users, serving as a source of quick references and alerts.”

The new

app provides real-time notifications and alerts on happenings in the community.

Village residents are encouraged to download the free mobile app by going to the Apple App Store or Google Play Store and search “My RVC” to find and download the app. You can also visit OneLink.to/MyRVC to learn more about the app.

Fall Hydrant Flushing in Rockville Centre

The Rockville Centre water department will be conducting routine hydrant flushing from Oct. 18 to Oct. 24.

Hydrant flushing is vital for the general maintenance of the village’s water services and is performed twice a year — once in the spring and once in the fall.

It ensures performance of fire hydrants for firefighting purposes and quality water for residents and businesses.

While the flushing program is underway, customers may experience a slight drop in water pressure or temporary water discoloration. Although this water is perfectly safe to drink, it may stain laundry. Customers should refrain from doing laundry during the time of day the flushing program is taking place in or near their neighborhood. If tap water is discolored, it is recommended to run cold-water faucets for a short

time until the water runs clear. Using more than one faucet allows the water to clear faster.

Flushing will begin on Wednesday, Oct. 18, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., in the area of the village north of DeMott Avenue. It will continue on Thursday, Oct. 19, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., in the area between Lakeview and DeMott avenues, west of Long Beach Road, and Friday, Oct. 20, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., in the area between Sunrise Highway and DeMott Avenue, east of Long Beach Road.

The program will resume on Sunday, Oct. 22 and Monday, Oct. 23 between midnight and 8 a.m. in the area between Lakeview Avenue and Merrick Road, and will conclude on Tuesday, Oct. 24, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., in the rest of the village south of Merrick Road.

If you have any questions, please contact the Water Department at (516)678-9301.

Courtesy Village of Rockville Centre

‘MY RVC’ mobile

HERALD SchoolS

Students recognized for national achievement

By DANIEL OFFNER doffner@liherald.com

South Side High School senior Sophia Bracco was named a semifinalist in the National Merit Scholarship Program. Less than one percent of high school students nationwide are named national merit award semifinalists and named part of the 16,000 highest scoring students in the country on the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test.

Bracco along with fellow seniors, Michael DeSena, Katherine Graci and Elaina Heghes, were also named National Merit commended scholars for their exceptional performance on the PSAT exam last year, joining the less than five percent of students in the nation who placed among the top 34,000 students in the country on the test.

“We’re thrilled to recognize these exceptional seniors at South Side High School,” SSHS Principal Patrick Walsh, said. “Their performance on the PSATs demonstrates their intelligence, commitment to excellence and their hard work. We are extremely proud of them.”

Katherine Graci said that being named

a commended student was really nice, and that her education at South Side High School helped most with the math questions on the standardized tests.

“In general, I appreciate the IB program at South Side the most because of the problem-solving and analytical skills it teaches, which have helped me in other

activities,” Graci replied via email.

Six more students — Sean Clairine, Matthew Mata, Elena Mignorance, Noelle Prince, Alyson Paulino and Kal Vasconez — from South Side High School also earned academic honors from the College Board National Recognition Programs.

“South Side has created an environ-

ment where I feel supported in my academic studies,” Clairine said. “The collaborative atmosphere among the teachers and students allowed me to prosper and pursue achievement within my work as a student these past few years. I’d like to thank my teachers and counselor for being so accommodating without creating immense pressure, allowing me to work at my best abilities.”

These programs celebrate students’ hard work in high school and showcase their strong academic performance. The academic honors are presented to students of Black, Indigenous and Hispanic decent who place within the top 10 percent of assessment takers in each state and provide them with an opportunity to share their strong academic achievements with colleges and scholarship programs.

“It feels great to be rewarded for all the work you have put in, especially when experiencing a rigorous course load like pursuing the IB Diploma,” Clairine said. “Receiving acknowledgment through the National Recognition Award makes me realize that this work is not for nothing, allowing me to continue with working with my full potential!”

Courtesy Rockville Centre schools

Principal Patrick Walsh, left, joins National Recognition Award recipients Kal Vasconez, Elena Mingorance, Noelle Prince, Alyson Paulino, Sean Clairine and Matthew Mata, with Kelly Ramsey, director of school counseling.

Mayor’s Golf Classic raises $66,000

Sold out fundraiser nets a record high for the RVC Community Fund

By DANIEL OFFNER doffner@liherald.com

In a display of generosity, the 36th annual Rockville Centre Mayor’s Golf and Dinner Classic, raised a record high of roughly $66,000 to benefit the village’s Community Fund, which has been helping residents in financial distress for more than three decades.

“The event was one of the most successful outings of all time thanks to the generosity of all of our neighbors who helped put up to the money to help those in the community,” Mayor Francis Murray said.

The annual event is held each September at the Rockville Links and is the primary source of support for the program, which has generated more than $1.9 million over the years to those in need of assistance. This year’s outing was sold out and thanks to the generous support of sponsors, netted about $66,000 including donations, sponsored raffles, goody bags and holes on the course.

In recognition of his decades of service to the community, this year’s Eugene J. Murray Outstanding Service Award was presented to Wayne Lipton. Having spent more than four decades in the village, Lipton has virtually run the gamut as an active participant in all facets of the community.

Lipton served as deputy mayor of the village for eight years under the late former Mayor Eugene Murray, whom the award is named after. He has served as the acting president and principal cellist of the South Shore Symphony Orchestra since 1991.

He was also a founding member of the Rockville Centre Education Foundation, past president of the Rockville Centre Guild for the Arts, a board member of the RVC Community Fund, former executive vice president of Central Synagogue — Beth Emeth, a past member of the Board of B’nai Sholom — Beth David, former chairman of the RVC Human Rights Commission, and a former member of the Rockville Centre Planning Board.

In July 2023, Lipton was appointed to the Molloy University Board of Trustees and currently serves as a member of the Mount Sinai South Nassau Board of Directors. He serves as the managing partner of Concierge Choice Physicians, a service and marketing company that helps primary care doctors provide more personalized care.

This year’s honoree, Mindy Roman, delivered a riveting speech that left the entire reception hall in stitches. Roman has served as the village’s chief prosecutor for about 16 years. She is an active member of the Nassau County Bar Association and works as a member of the law firm, Horing, Welikson, Rosen and Digrugilliers, where she specializes in landlord-tenant disputes. She

is also a mentor to graduating South Side High School seniors and has performed stand-up comedy at numerous PTA fundraisers over the years.

In her speech, Roman highlighted the importance of the Community Fund and what it means to families in the community to help support it. She said that by raising money they help families in the village afford to pay their electric bill, keeping the lights on so that their children can do their homework at night and go to school the next day feeling good.

“I am so proud to live in a village that takes care of its own,” Roman said. “And I am so proud that we have all chose to support such a great charity.”

Tim Baker/Herald photos Rockville Centre Mayor Francis Murray, center, presents the Eugene J. Murray Outstanding Service Award to Wayne Lipton during the 36th annual Golf and Dinner Classic on Thursday evening. Joining them are Village Trustee Katie Conlon, left, Deputy Mayor Kathy Baxley, Village Trustee Greg Shaughnessy, second from right, and Village Trustee Emilio Grillo.

Wayne Lipton, the 2023 recipient of the Eugene J. Murray Outstanding Service Award, with his wife, Karen.

Co-Chair of the 2023 Golf Classic Committee Jeff Greenfield, left, and Keely Collins, present the golf awards.

Honoree Mindy Roman is presented with an award during the 36th annual Rockville Centre Mayor’s Golf and Dinner Classic.

Rabbi Michael Cohen of Central Synagogue-Beth Emeth delivers an invocation during the dinner presentation.

Ted Fass, beloved DJ, agent and visionary, 71

Ted Fass, a longtime Rockville Centre resident died on September 11, 2023, at the age of 71. He was a pioneering entrepreneur and blind athlete who was determined to give back to his community.

Fass moved when he was seven, from Forest Hills, Queens, to Rockville Centre, where he would fall in love with baseball thanks to the RVC Little League. When he was 11, adversity struck when a tumor severed his optic nerve, leaving him blind. Refusing to be defined by his disability, he instead used it as a springboard to greatness, overcoming every obstacle with grace and fortitude.

He pursued higher education at the University of Miami, where he met his beloved wife, Gail Fass. Their marriage in 1975 marked the genesis of a groundbreaking venture, as they invested their wedding funds into what would become the renowned, “Ted’s Disco on Wheels.”

Fass gained notoriety as the first mobile DJ, and would grace numerous TV screens, radios, and magazines as his business flourished, netting him an elite clientele and a multi-million-dollar enterprise.

In addition to his musical endeavor,

he also established “Party Particulars,” a helium balloon company and the beloved “Be My Guest” and “Ted Fass Productions,” whose storefronts in Rockville Centre and Cedarhurst would become a cornerstone of the community for decades. His balloon creations adorned grocery stores, parties and events, leaving a lasting mark on celebrations across the region.

In 1989, his innovative spirit led to the creation of a talking invitation, featuring a revolutionary computer chip with a 1-800 number RSVP that earned him a Gala award. He also produced radio commercials and a documentary film that went on to win a Tully.

Fass acquired Entertainment Unlimited, a company that supplies entertainment to a diverse array of venues including performing arts theaters, corporate and private events, country clubs and gated communities.

Thanks to his dynamic personality his business grew to become a well-

respected name in the industry.

He was also a beacon of inspiration to the blind community on Long Island.

Fass co-founded and served as the executive director of the Long Island Bombers, a blind beep baseball team. Over the years, he dedicated himself to mentoring, fundraising and organizing exhibition games with players from the New York Yankees and the Long Island Ducks, leaving an enduring legacy of empowerment.

His boundless achievements transcended the realm of business. In 2004, he was honored as the Differently Abled Athlete of the Year in Nassau County, a testament to his athletic ability and continued dedication to the sport. Even as his knees began to falter, Ted’s competitive spirit found new expression in golf, earning him accolades as a blind golfer. He would also participate in ski competitions and enjoyed water skiing and bowling with his family.

Fass was a cherished member of the Rockville Centre Lions Club and gener-

ously shared his unique perspective through initiatives like, “Dinner in the Dark,” where he provided others a glimpse into his world by giving sighted people the opportunity to have dinner blindfolded. And his many visits to local schools and Cub Scout packs inspired countless children through the years, by teaching them about the power of overcoming adversity.

He is survived by his devoted wife, Gail; his daughters Allison Kapelner (Jordan) and Rachel Betlyon (Andrew); his sister, Roberta Kaufman; his cherished grandchildren, Jayson Kapelner, Nolan Betlyon and Trevor Betlyon; and an abundance of loving family and friends.

The song “My Way” by Paul Anka was his anthem. It epitomized his spirit as a reflection of a life lived authentically with love as the foundation and a legacy that will forever echo in the hearts of the many lives he touched and people he inspired. Fass was a beacon of strength, who never let his disability impact him from achieving his great many accomplishments, and serves as a shining example of not letting setbacks get in the way of a beautiful life well lived—and he did it his way.

Ted Fass

Rallying for public power, but PSEG pushes back

By CHARLES SHAW cshaw@liherald.com

There’s a bit of a power struggle happening in Nassau County — and it quite literally has everything to do with power.

Dozens gathered in front of a closed office building in Seaford belonging to PSEG Long Island demanding the utility end its quasi-private management of the Long Island Power Authority and replace it with a fully public entity.

The coalition — which included community organizations, environmental groups, businesses, and various members of chambers of commerce — had already signed on to a letter addressed to Gov. Kathy Hochul and state legislators to help make that happen.

“It demonstrates the widespread support, both regionally and statewide, for a fully public LIPA,” said Ryan Madden, sustainability organizer for the Long Island Progressive Coalition.

Madden’s coalition hosted the recent event as part of its larger “Reimagine LIPA” campaign, calling for the public entity to become wholly locally controlled.

Madden describes the public-private PSEG model as expensive, unreliable and structurally flawed. Those flaws were made especially clear in 2020 when Tropical Storm Isaias swept through Long Island and left some 645,000 homes and businesses without power — some for as long as eight days.

Albany has been paying attention to the demands, however. Legislation was passed last year creating a commission tasked with developing a roadmap for a restructured LIPA. The Legislative Commission on the Future of Long Island released a draft report this past April detailing a key financial finding: That LIPA can save between $50 million and $80 million a year by operating

Charles Shaw/Herald

David Osorio joined Oceanside’s Jill Weber at a rally in front of a closed PSEG Long Island office in Seaford demanding the utility end its private-public partnership with Long Island Power Authority, and let distributing electricity be solely a public job. PSEG officials, however, warn making the utility fully public will lead to rampant mismanagement.

the local electric grid itself.

“It has shown that a fully public LIPA will lower rates and provide more transparency and accountability.” Madden said.

LIPA has been managed by PSEG Long Island since 2013 under a contract that runs through 2025.

Christopher Hahn, PSEG Long Island’s vice president of external affairs, told the commission during a hearing in Hauppauge a day after the rally that the public-private model is the best option for Long Island and the Rocka-

ways, and that LIPA — as a public entity — has already produced a muddy track record.

He cited a 175 percent jump in payroll since 2015, and increasing the organization’s debt from $7.6 billion to just under $13 billion. That has caused LIPA’s operating budget to grow an average of 25 percent each year for the past decade.

“Historically, empire building by government agencies — unchecked and unchallenged — does not produce efficiencies,” Hahn said, according to his written testimony. “And to believe this one would be different is just wishful thinking.”

Hahn also said the partnership provides the benefits of public power with accountability. Yet those who gathered in front of PSEG’s Seaford offices disagree.

“From Montauk to the Rockaways, Long Islanders are facing economic hardships and an affordability crisis that makes living and thriving here harder and harder each year,” Joseph Sackman, a member of the Long Island Activists, said at the rally. “With frequent and dangerous storms and an already outdated electric grid, we can add uncertainty and risks to life and property as well.”

John Hyland, a retiree member of the Professional Staff Congress — a union representing faculty and staffers at CUNY — says public power would prioritize serving the needs of the people.

“More transparency, accountability, lower rates, and a commitment to environmental sustainability and justice, are so important to Long Island communities.” he said.

“You cannot guarantee that a fully municipalized system will not drastically raise ratepayer costs, or that mismanagement and politics won’t run rampant,” PSEG’s Hahn said. “Are you willing to gamble our region’s electric grid with your constituents’ hard-earned dollars for a hypothetical savings of $3 per customer?”

STEPPING OUT

In tune with the Nassau Pops

Suzanne Vega

stars in a the return of the orchestra’s gala benefit concert

By Karen Bloom

Their absence has been sorely missed by Nassau Pops fans, CP Nassau, the concert’s beneficiary, and orchestra members. Now, after a three-year pandemic-imposed absence, Maestro Louis Panacciulli and his orchestra are back on the Tilles Center stage with their popular gala concert in support of the Cerebral Palsy Association of Nassau County, next Sunday, Oct. 15. This year the orchestra welcomes Tony Danza and his band as their special guests.

STEPPING

Creative advocacy

The concert continues to feature the Nassau Pops signature blend of popular and classical music as well as an inspiring moment with Creation, the CP Nassau vocal team that has made their annual appearance a heartwarming tradition since 2004.

Acclaimed as a masterful storyteller, the singer-songwriter visits the Landmark stage for ‘An Intimate Evening of Songs and Stories.’ She’s joined by her longtime guitarist, Gerry Leonard, performing a careerspanning show including favorites like Tom’s Diner, Luka and more. Vega emerged as a leading figure of the folk-music revival of the early 1980s when, accompanying herself on acoustic guitar, she sang what has been called contemporary folk or neo-folk songs of her own creation in Greenwich Village clubs. Bearing the stamp of a storyteller who ‘observes the world with a clinically poetic eye’ (The New York Times), Vega’s songs have tended to focus on city life, ordinary people, and real-world subjects. Notably succinct and understated, her work is immediately recognizable — as utterly distinct and thoughtful.

“I’ve truly missed this concert,” says Panacciulli, the orchestra’s longtime musical director. “The orchestra is family, and this is one big lovefest. I’m so glad to be back at Tilles Center during our 40th season. It’s always exciting to be here. So many wonderful people have

The collaboration between the Nassau Pops and CP Nassau goes back to his mother, who was a member of the CP auxiliary in Valley Stream.

inspiring the orchestra’s crossed this stage.” for her idea

By Karen Bloom

“In the past, we had done benefits for Special Olympics, pop concerts for hospitals,” he recalls. “But the idea for doing this came one day when I was discussing with her the idea of doing a benefit concert for CP Nassau. I’m thrilled to carry on her legacy.”

And he’s delighted to return to Tilles Center.

Friday, Oct. 6, 8 p.m. $195 and $99 premium VIP packages, $61, $51, $41. Jeanne Rimsky Theater at Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington. (516) 767-6444 or LandmarkOnMainStreet.org.

Pat McGann

“Music crosses over all lines, whether you’re young or old, no matter if you’re on the right side of the aisle or the left. The Nassau Pops is back at full strength, doing what we set out to do — not only to make music, but to make a difference.”

WHERE

• Saturday and Sunday, noon-4 p.m.; Tuesday through Friday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

“We knew it had to be special and are so fortunate to get Tony Danza to participate,” Panacciulli says. “He was very interested in working with a symphonic band.”

“We knew it had to be special and are so to

• Sunday, Oct. 15, 3 p.m. $59.50, $49.50, $37.50; available at NPSO.org/tickets • Tilles Center for the Performing Arts, LIU Post Campus, Brookville. Information available at TillesCenter.org or NSPO.org

• Emily Lowe Hall Gallery, South Campus, Hempstead. For information and to RSVP, call (516) 463-5672, or visit Hofstra.edu/museum

Gipsy Kings

That’s where Creation comes in, the singers who participate in CP Nassau’s Adult Day Treatment Program. As part of the opening segment, they’ll perform “Sweet Caroline,” “Georgia on My Mind” and “God Bless the USA.”

“When We All Stand,” Hofstra University Museum of Art’s new exhibition, examines the collective power of the arts in society.

Singers David Tindal and Chris Wawrzonek have “grown up” with the orchestra.

Curated by Alexandra Giordano — the museum’s assistant director of exhibition and collection — the exhibit underscores artists’ civic responsibility and influence.

This collaboration brings a unique twist to Danza’s acclaimed cabaret show, “Songs and Stories.” Combining Danza’s wit, charm, storytelling — with a dash of soft shoe and even Danza on the ukulele — the “Taxi” and “Who’s the Boss” actor sings his favorite standards from the Great American Songbook while he interweaves stories about his life and personal connection to the music.

“It highlights the vital role that artists have in activating democratic values that promise equality and freedom, encouraging civic engagement, and cultivating unity,” Giordano says. “Artists often lead the charge and expose truths that may otherwise be ignored. The artists in this exhibition take a stand and call out injustices through their art and activism on issues such as immigration, gender, reproductive rights, mass incarceration, voting rights, racial bias, gun violence, and promises unfulfilled. They all combine the making of art with public service that has a grassroots approach in the hope of mobilizing their communities and the nation to ignite movement, create awareness, and inspire others to

Some might not realize that Danza, who grew up on Long Island and attended Malverne High School, is a well-established song and dance man, in addition to his acting chops in television, film and on stage.

“I’m filled with such a sense of gratitude that I can affect two lives by giving them a chance to perform in front of a full orchestra and a large audience,” Panacciulli says. “We share something special when we share music together. The audience gives them standing ovations every time. It’s so amazing to see what they can do.”

Pat McGann is quickly rising as of the sharpest stand-ups on the comedy scene. A relative latecomer to comedy, he began doing standup at 31 after realizing he was very good at selling packaging. He hustled his way to become house emcee at Zanies Chicago, where he distinguished himself especially adept at working the crowd. A husband and father three young children, McGann’s appeal stems from his quick wit and relatable take on family life and marriage. In 2017, McGann began touring as the opening for Sebastian Maniscalco, moving with him from clubs to theater, to arenas, including four soldout shows at Madison Square Garden. McGann’s relatively short, but impressive resume, includes Montreal’s famed Just For Laughs Festival, Gilda’s LaughFest, The Great American Comedy Festival, and more. McGann still calls Chicago home.

And for Panacciulli — a Franklin Square resident, who has been at the helm of the Nassau Pops since 1984 (and also serves as band director at Nassau Community College) — that moment defines this concert.

This exhibit, which runs through July 28, is in conjunction with Hofstra’s 13th presidential conference on the Barack Obama presidency coming up in April.

“He brings a lot of different things to the show,” Panacciulli says. “He draws in the crowd with ‘Angel Eyes,’ the big Frank Sinatra tune.”

“We always want to leave something behind after the notes have faded away,” he adds. “Creation is a by-product the wonderful work that CP Nassau does. It does my heart good to help them and give back to the community through the gift of music.”

“We were interested in the idea that the artist has a civic responsibility,” says museum director Karen Albert. “The initial idea for this exhibition was inspired by an Obama Administration White House briefing that took place on May 12, 2009, where more than 60 artists and creative organizers met with administration officials to discuss the collective power of the arts to build community, create change, and chart a pathway for national recovery in the areas of social justice, civic participation and

And throughout his 70-minute set, Danza is thoroughly enjoying himself.

“He always has a big smile on his face,” Panacciulli says. “He’s certainly having a good time. And I guarantee the audience will as well.”

Panacciulli gratefully acknowledges Long Island-based credit union Jovia, which has been the gala’s title sponsor since 2012. Proceeds from every ticket sold are donated directly to CP Nassau.

Mixing rumba, flamenco, salsa and pop, the Gipsy Kings featuring Nicolas Reyes will have you moving to their irresistible rhythms and melodies from the very first song. Their fast flamenco guitar leads and rhythmic strumming are truly captivating. What really sets them apart is Nicolas Reyes’ gritty, intense and instantly recognizable vocals. You feel the passion in every note he sings. Since they debuted more than three decades ago, France’s most successful group has performed all over the world, earning gold and platinum albums along the way. Thirty years is an eternity in pop music, but the story of the Gipsy Kings has the depth to endure. Theirs is a music that extends through generations, to the sounds of their ancestors — Spanish Romani people who fled the Catalonia region during the Spanish Civil War — and reflects the vibrantly eclectic and peripatetic history of the gitanos.

Saturday, Feb. 11, 8 p.m. $40, $30, $25. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. (800) 745-3000 or Ticketmaster.com ParamountNY.com.

while about personal Some might not realize that in addition television, clearly Panacciulli.

To that end, unlike other recent exhibits that showcased the museum’s permanent collection, Giordano reached out to contemporary artists who loaned the museum their selected works. Some 36 pieces are on view — representing all media — from Emma Amos, Molly Crabapple and the Equal Justice Initiative, For Freedoms, Miguel Luciano, Michele Pred, Hank Willis Thomas, and Sophia Victor.

The language of music is clearly special to

Yarn/Wire

Sunday, Oct. 8, 8 p.m. $99.50, $89.50, $69.50, $49.50. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. (800) 745-3000 or Ticketmaster.com or ParamountNY. com.

Now in its 18th year, Adelphi University’s ‘new music’ series welcomes Yarn/Wire. The intrepid New York-based piano-percussion quartet has forged a singular path with endlessly inventive collaborations,

Photos courtesy Nassau Pops

Tony Danza performs a selection of his favorite standards from the Great American Songbook. Critics laud his voice and showmanship.

Can art change the world? It’s a question that’s been at the focus of our collective culture for centuries. Now as society navigates the complexities of modern life, art as a path for social change is at the forefront of artistic expression.

Maestro Louis Panacciulli conducts the Nassau Pops Symphony Orchestra, which he refers to as his ‘family.’

THE

Emmet Cohen Trio

Multifaceted American

jazz pianist and composer Emmet Cohen is one of his generation’s pivotal figures in music and the related arts. He visits the Landmark stage, Friday, Oct. 13 , at 8 p.m. A recognized prodigy, Cohen began Suzukimethod piano instruction at age three, and his playing quickly became a mature melding of musicality, technique, and concept. Downbeat observed that his nimble touch, measured stride, and warm harmonic vocabulary indicate he’s above any convoluted technical showmanship. In the same spirit, Cohen himself has noted that playing jazz is about communicating the deepest levels of humanity and individuality; it’s essentially about connections with both musicians and audiences. In constant demand as a sideman, he leads his namesake ensemble, the Emmet Cohen Trio, and is a vibrant solo performer. Possessing a fluid technique, an innovative tonal palette, and an extensive repertoire, Cohen plays with the command of a seasoned veteran and the passion of an artist fully devoted to his medium. Cohen headlines regularly at Jazz at Lincoln Center, the Village Vanguard and Birdland, among other prestigious venues. $48, $43, $38. Jeanne Rimsky Theater at Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington. (516) 767-6444 or LandmarkOnMainStreet.org.

On exhibit

View the landmark exhibition “Modigliani and the Modern Portrait,” at Nassau County Museum of Art. Devoted to the way that Modigliani powerfully re-defined the art of portraiture, the show includes his masterworks along with paintings and drawings by his Parisian contemporaries (Picasso, van Dongen, Laurencin). Modigliani’s enduring influence on artists even in our own time is shown in a selection of Contemporary paintings by such important figures as David Hockney, Eric Fischl, Elizabeth Peyton and others. The exhibition is being curated by Dr. Kenneth Wayne, founder of The Modigliani Project, which authenticates paintings and drawings (two of the works in the show have been recently approved by the committee). Through Nov. 5. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. (516) 484-9337 or NassauMuseum.org.

Talking birds

The South Shore Audubon Society invites all to a lecture program, “Horseshoe Crabs: Blue-Blooded Laboratory Stars,” with Dr. John Tanacredi, at its monthly meeting, Tuesday, Oct. 10, 7:30 p.m., at Freeport Memorial Library. Dr. Tanacredi has tracked up to 115 locations for horseshoe crab breeding conditions and habitats on Long Island; he’ll discuss why they and their habitats are so important. A Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences and Director of the Center for Environmental Research and Coastal Oceans Monitoring at Molloy University, he is a founding member of the IUCN SSC Horseshoe Crab Specialist Group. 144 W. Merrick Road (at S. Ocean Avenue) in Freeport. For more information about the program or South Shore Audubon, go to SSAudubon.org.

Art talk

Grab your lunch and join Nassau County Museum of Art Docent Riva Ettus for her popular “Brown Bag Lecture,” now back on-site at Nassau County Museum of Art, Thursday, Oct. 19, 1 p.m. Enjoy an in-depth presentation on the current exhibition “Modigliani and the Modern Portrait.” Participants are invited to ask questions at the end of the program and to join the 2 p.m. public tour of the exhibit. 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. (516) 484-9337 or NassauMuseum.org.

Art classes

Nassau County Museum of Art welcomes those interested in improving their art skills or those who simply want to explore their creativity to participate in one of their many stimulating classes. The fall schedule includes Watercolor Florals: Beginner to intermediate levels (adults and teens 16+), Thursdays, 9:30 a.m.-noon, Nov. 2-Dec. 14.

$300, $270 members. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. For information and to register visit NassauMuseum.org or call (516) 484-9338.

SIBSPlace Fall Festival

SIBSPlace, a Rockville Centrebased nonprofit organization affiliated with Mount Sinai South Nassau Hospital, hosts its annual fundraiser, dinner and auction event, Saturday, Oct. 14, at the Seawane Country Club. 1300 Club Drive in Hewlett. For more information call (516) 3743000 or emal Courtney.Riiska@ SNCH.org.

Healthy Living for your Brain and Body

In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, the Long Island chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association hosts a presentation for Spanishspeaking residents about “Healthy Living for your Brain and Body,” Thursday, Oct. 12, 11 a.m. to noon, at the Hispanic Brotherhood of Rockville Centre. Learn about research in the areas of diet and nutrition, exercise, cognitive activity and social engagement, with the goal of incorporating these recommendations into a plan for healthy aging. 59 Clinton Ave. For more information visit ALZ.org/LongIsland or call the 24/7 helpline at (800)272-3900.

Farmer’s market

Find all sorts of goodies at the Rockville Centre Farmer’s Market, every Sunday , from 7 a.m. to noon. LIRR parking lot between Long Beach Road and Sunrise Highway. Through Dec. 24. Info at LongIslandGrowersMarket. com.

Having an event?

Masquerade Ball Benefit Gala

Enjoy the spirit of the season at a Howloween Masquerade Gala benefiting Freeport-based Bobbi and the Strays animal rescue, Thursday Oct. 26, 7 p.m.-12 a.m., at Russo’s on the Bay. $125 ticket price includes four-course dinner, dancing, entertainment and raffles. All funds raised support sheltering and medical needs of the rescued dogs and cats. 162-45 Cross Bay Blvd., Howard Beach. For information, call (917) 2139840 or (718) 845-0779.

Law and Order Night

The American Legion Post No. 303 celebrates local law enforcement and first responders in the village, with a special ceremony, Friday, Oct. 6, at 7 p.m. 197 Maple Ave.

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

Celebrate Football Season With Us!

Westbury House Tour

For many years visitors to Westbury House at Old Westbury Gardens asked what was beyond the first floor corridor. Now beyond the door and discover “secrets of the service wing,” during a 60-minute guided tour, Friday, Oct. 6, noon-1 p.m.; Sunday, Oct. 8, 1:30-2:30 p.m. and 3-4 p.m.; Monday, Oct. 9, noon-1 p.m.; Wednesday and Thursday, Oct. 11-12, noon-1 p.m. Be introduced to the intensive labor required to create the lifestyle experienced by the Phipps family and their guests; tour the many rooms that were “behind the scenes” to create the formal dining experiences of early 20th century. Go along the corridors to the butler’s pantry and silver cleaning room then descend the 17 steps to the kitchen, scullery, and wine storage rooms located on the ground floor. Reservations required. 71 Old Westbury Rd., Old Westbury. For information contact (516) 333-0048 or visit OldWestburyGardens.org.

Spooky Fest is back

A Halloween experience not to be missed, Spooky Fest is an outdoor adventure perfect for families who don’t want to be scared — or maybe just a little. Join in the fun at the Center for Science, Teaching and Learning, every Friday, Saturday and Sunday throughout October. Along the way in the updated and beautifully lit up, Enchanted Walk you will see dinosaurs, aliens and friendly witches, costumed characters and more. Get your fortune told, make a craft and danceg with the Halloween DJ, along with face painting and the new Amazing Glow tent. For those who want to get a little scared, venture into the Dino Woods. Be on the lookout for the Zombie Robotic Dinosaurs. 1450 Tanglewood Road, Rockville Centre. Visit CSTL.org for more information.

The Church of the Ascension’s

Friendship Fair

Shop, dine and celebrate with the Church of the Ascension at the Friendship Fair, Friday and Saturday, Oct. 13-14 , 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. With raffles, silent auctions, a beer tent, seasonal foods including BBQ sandwiches and cider donuts, and tag sales featuring a variety of books, jewelry, DVDs and vinyl records, artwork and collectibles. There will also be activities for kids on Saturday. 71 N. Village Ave. For more details visit AscensionRVC.org.

Replica village will transform police training

By NICOLE FORMISANO nformisano@liherald.com

Nassau county is breaking ground on a new facility that officials say will transform police training like never before in the nation.

The $12 million project next to Nassau Community College — called Phase II Training Village — will replicate a village to mirror real-life communities. That includes everything from schools, banks and houses of worship — complete with role players — so police officers can get hands-on experience in a simulation before going out into the field of the real world.

“This is to take you out of the classroom and put you into that real-life scenario,” Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder told reporters last week. “No longer do you learn from a PowerPoint and a room that we say, ‘OK, pretend this is the mosque or this is a synagogue.’

“No, there will be a synagogue. There will be a mosque. There will be a church.”

The added realism of a village environment will allow police officers to learn a vital skill that was neglected in the past — a community-centric focus.

“Unfortunately, for the last 50, 60 years, we’ve trained only tactical,” Ryder said. “It’s always about tactics — keeping the officers safe, keeping the people safe, firing your weapons, using your baton, using your horses in crowd control situations.

“But now we’re going to police about community.”

The facility will be open to all agencies and departments in the region, not just the county police department. The village will be largely populated by NCC students participating in roleplays for a criminal justice credit.

Through the roleplay scenarios, officers learn how to

handle a variety of situations they may face on the job. Examples include confronting an armed homeless person, managing a group of protesting students, or helping a woman give birth while stuck in traffic.

“We are going to train our cops like no one else has ever trained them before in this country,” Ryder said.

“It’s about training for the community, so that we reflect what is needed and asked for by our community. And we do it right.”

Part of that community-centric focus is helping officers practice connecting people they encounter with government resources like social services. The new method of training is also in response to criticism the NCPD has received in recent years.

“We went through reform, we went through challenges and stuff in the community,” Ryder said. “It was asked of us to do better. Well, we’re going to do better.

“When it’s done, I get to sit down with the white kid, the Black kid, the Hispanic kid, the LBG person, the transgender person, the Jewish person, the Catholic person, the Muslim person, and they’re going to tell me what I did wrong.“I’m going to learn from them, but they’re going to learn from me.

“And that’s what the beauty of this is — whatever today’s society is, you’re going to have it in that village.”

The village is expected to be open and ready for use in 2025. Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, a project leader, promised it would open right on schedule.

“I want to make sure that if I’m not re-elected or I don’t run for office, it gets done before I leave office,” Blakeman said. “This will be a source of pride for not only our police department, but all the residents of Nassau County.”

This kind of comprehensive, multidimensional training will help create officers that can better serve their communities, Ryder added.

“If you take community and you consider that in your decision-making, you make better decisions,” the police commissioner said. “We are part of the community, the community is part of us. And that’s what this is all about.”

Nicole Formisano/Herald Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman promises to have the replica village police training facility planned for next to Nassau Community College completed by 2025.

Health care programs go beyond nursing

York State have access to the very best resources and facilities.”

Edward Thompson, Molloy’s vice president for advancement, said that the new Health Care Workforce facility will help further the university’s commitment to educating health care professionals.

“We know the health care needs of the region are continuing and growing,” Thompson said. “Especially after the pandemic and the burnout it caused, we need to make sure we have a continued pipeline of professional people going into the field.”

The project, which he said is still in the preliminary phase, will look to expand Molloy’s health care curriculum beyond nursing, and to provide improved facilities and labs to help better prepare the workforce for the next 50 years.

“Over the next year or two, we will have to finalize plans for the funding and location of the new facility,” Thompson said. “Not all of the details are nailed down. We still have to raise some more money.”

Campuses that receive grants are required to invest at least $3 of their own funds for every $1 of state money they are given. In all, more than $250 million will be invested in New York’s higher educational communities.

According to the program’s website, the money is intended for the design, acquisition, construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation or equipping of facilities on or near college campuses, including academic facilities as well as economic development, high technology, urban renewal and historical preservation projects that will enhance programmatic offerings or provide economic development benefits to the areas around the campuses.

The grants were awarded last week by the three-member HECap board, after a competitive application process, and were administered by the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York. Other projects that will be funded by the program include $5 million for the renovation of the McShane Center at Fordham University, in the Bronx; $377,000 for the purchase of equipment for the Adelphi Center, in Manhattan; and just over $1 million for classroom upgrades and renovations at Hofstra University.

Since 2005, the grant program has awarded a total of $336.3 million in funding to 274 colleges and universities across the state.

molloy university is one of 30 private colleges and universities to receive grants as part of the state’s Higher education Capital matching grant program. the $5 million in matching funds will go toward the construction of a new facility for Health Care Workforce development.

Continued from page 1

Tom Carrozza/Herald file

Jewish Services Supervised by Local Rabbis

Miguel

Proudly Serving St. Agnes Cathedral

Amid the deluge, RVC community helps out

lage Department of Public Works and the fire and police departments, the rescues were successful. “The response from our emergency personnel was second to none,” Mayor Francis Murray said. “The departments collaborated unbelievably together, saving lives and also saving more vehicles from going into the stormwater.”

Police Commissioner Randy Dodd said that officers responded to 18 calls reporting vehicles taking on water.

“I want to thank the DPW for their help blocking serious roadways with hazardous conditions and also the Fire Department for their swift service,” Dodd said at the village board meeting on Monday night. “Together I think we handled it pretty well.”

Village Trustee Emilio Grillo echoed Murray’s and Dodd’s sentiments, offering his sincere thanks to the DPW, the Fire Department and the police force for their efforts.

“The deluge of rain that we underwent as a village could have been a lot worse,” Grillo said. “Our hat’s off to all of our first responders for their dedication and hard work to the public, and for really improving what could have been a disaster in the village in a very short period of time.”

The flooding caused damage in several locations, including the basement of the John A. Anderson Recreation Center, where a cleanup was under way this week.

The Backyard Players and Friends, a nonprofit focused on inclusivity and the special-needs community, were originally scheduled to host their second annual Oktoberfest fundraiser on Friday, when they received notification to shelter in place.

“We canceled our event and got to work with notifications and break down,” Ellen White, a co-director of the organization, wrote in an email. “It wasn’t until we went to post the cancellation on social media that we realized

our storefronts were flooded out.”

White said that after the storm, when she arrived at the Backyard Players storefront on Long Beach Road — one of the roadways severely impacted by flooding — she was surprised to find several neighbors and friends pitching in to help with the cleanup.

“It was overwhelming, to say the least,” she said. “It was a rough day, but it made it so much better seeing the community helping the stores on Long Beach Road.”

When she discovered that the high water had damaged the organization’s new refrigerator, White said she got a call from the Rockville Centre Lacrosse Club offering to buy them a new one. “This community is unbe-

lievable,” she said.

Looking ahead to preparations for future storms, Murray said that the village has made a great many infrastructural improvements over the past several years, but, he added, storm drains can funnel only so much water before they overflow.

“We have great infrastructure in place here in the village,” Murray said. “But nowhere on Long Island, or in New York state, for that matter, can take nine inches of rainwater. We hope it doesn’t happen again.”

As soon as the rain stopped on Friday night, the mayor said, the high water drained away, and shops and roadways were back to normal.

Courtesy Backyard Players and Friends tommy montemarano, far left, michael Lucchesi, Lisa umansky, terence White, Christopher White, Ciaran regan, aiden regan, ellen White, Cristine daly, Laurie Coghlan, Colin regan, don regan, maggie regan, teddy Coghlan and Josephine Coghlan worked together to help clean up the storefronts along Long Beach road.

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF ADOPTION OF TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD

LOCAL LAW NO.72-2023

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE

that pursuant to Article 9 of the New York State Constitution, the provisions of the Town Law and the Municipal Home Rule Law of the State of New York, as amended, a public hearing was duly called and held on the 19th day of September, 2023, by the Town Board of the Town of Hempstead, on the proposed adoption of Town of Hempstead Local Law No.72-2023, and following the close of the hearing the Town Board duly adopted Local Law No.72-2023, to amend Section 192-1 of the Code of the Town of Hempstead by the insertion of a location into subdivisions “G” and “Y” thereof, in relation to gross weight restrictions upon commercial vehicles using certain town highways in Elmont and South Hempstead.

Dated: September 19, 2023

Hempstead, New York

BY ORDER OF THE TOWN

BOARD OF THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD

DONALD X. CLAVIN, JR.

Supervisor KATE MURRAY

Town Clerk 142252

LEGAL NOTICE

Public Notice to Bidders

Sealed Bids will be received by the Purchasing Department of the Village of Rockville Centre One College Place, Room 204, Rockville Centre, NY 11570 for the matter stated below until 11:00am prevailing time on OCTOBER 19, 2023 at which time they will be publicly opened and read aloud. The contract will be awarded as soon thereafter as practicable for:

TRAILER MOUNTED

SEWER JET

Bid No. 2310DPW1(1091)

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. 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 October 12, 2023.

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

516-678-9213

142259

Agent

LEGAL

NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT

NASSAU COUNTY

FLAGSTAR BANK, FSB, Plaintiff against ALONZA HOPKINS JR., et al Defendant(s) Attorney for Plaintiff(s)

Fein Such & Crane, LLP, 28 East Main Street, Suite 1800, Rochester, NY 14614.

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered January 11, 2023, 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 November 8, 2023 at 2:00 PM.

Premises known as 512 Clinton Avenue, Rockville Centre, NY 11570. Sec 38 Block 106 Lot 261-263. 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. Approximate

Amount of Judgment is $745,874.37 plus interest, fees, and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No 602832/2018.

The foreclosure sale will be conducted in accordance with 10th Judicial District’s Covid-19 Policies and foreclosure auction rules. The Referee shall enforce any rules in place regarding facial coverings and social distancing. 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.”

Brian Carmody, Esq., Referee XFLFN017 142324

LEGAL NOTICE

REFEREE’S NOTICE OF SALE IN FORECLOSURE SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU DEUTSCHE BANK

NATIONAL TRUST COMPANY, AS TRUSTEE ON BEHALF OF HSI ASSET SECURITIZATION CORPORATION TRUST 2006-HE2, Plaintiffagainst - MATTHEW P. ROBERTI A/K/A

MATTHEW PAUL ROBERTI, et al Defendant(s).

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered on June 19, 2019.

I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, N.Y. 11501 “Rain or Shine” on the 2nd day of November, 2023 at 2:00 PM. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon

erected, situate, lying and being in the Incorporated Village of Rockville Centre, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York.

Premises known as 30 Fonda Road, Rockville Centre, New York 11570.

(Section: 36, Block: 363, Lot: 202)

Approximate amount of lien $1,060,130.14 plus interest and costs.

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed judgment and terms of sale.

Index No. 608735/2018.

Julianne Bonomo, Esq., Referee.

McCalla Raymer Leibert Pierce, LLC

Attorney(s) for Plaintiff

420 Lexington Avenue, Suite 840 New York, NY 10170

Tel. 347/286-7409

Dated: September 7, 2023

During the COVID-19 health emergency, bidders are required to comply with all governmental health requirements in effect at the time of 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. Bidders are also required to comply with the Foreclosure Auction Rules and COVID-19 Health Emergency Rules issued by the Supreme Court of this County in addition to the conditions set forth in the Terms of Sale.

142242

LEGAL NOTICE

Notice of Formation of a Limited Liability Company (LLC). The name of the LLC is: 225 E. 86TH STREET #302, LLC Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) office on: May 15, 2023

The County in which the Office is to be located: NASSAU The SSNY is designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. The address to which the SSNY shall mail a copy of any process against the LLC is: George Conforti, 97 Brower Avenue, Rockville Center, NY 11570-3037 Purpose: any lawful activity.

141869

LEGAL NOTICE

Notice of Formation of a Limited Liability Company (LLC). The name of the LLC is: 3852 APPLEGATE LANE, LLC Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) office on: May 15, 2023

The County in which the Office is to be located:

NASSAU The SSNY is designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. The address to which the SSNY shall mail a copy of any process against the LLC is: George Conforti, 97 Brower Avenue, Rockville Center,

NY 11570-3037 Purpose: any lawful activity.

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LEGAL NOTICE

Notice of Formation of a Limited Liability Company (LLC). The name of the LLC is: 13 YARMOUTH RD LLC Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) office on: February 24, 2020 The County in which the Office is to be located: NASSAU The SSNY is designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. The address to which the SSNY shall mail a copy of any process against the LLC is: George Conforti, 97 Brower Avenue, Rockville Center, NY 11570-3037 Purpose: any lawful activity

141877

LEGAL NOTICE

Notice of Formation of a Limited Liability Company (LLC). The name of the LLC is: 111 BRINY AVE #2503, LLC Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) office on: May 15, 2023

The County in which the Office is to be located: NASSAU The SSNY is designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. The address to which the SSNY shall mail a copy of any process against the LLC is: George Conforti, 97 Brower Avenue, Rockville Center, NY 11570-3037 Purpose: any lawful activity.

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LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A., Plaintiff AGAINST MICHAEL A. FEINSTEIN, ALANNA FIGUEIRA, ET AL., Defendant(s)

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered August 18, 2023, 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 November 1, 2023 at 2:00PM, premises known as 310 PINE STREET, SOUTH HEMPSTEAD, NY 11550. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 36, Block 282, Lot 84. Approximate amount of judgment $368,233.40 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #603380/2019. The aforementioned auction will be conducted in accordance with the NASSAU County COVID-19 mitigation protocols and as such all persons must comply with

Courtesy Town of Hempstead

Dunns River Lounge gets business award

Naala Royale-Holder of Dunns River Lounge in Rockville Centre was recently presented with the Town of Hempstead Small Business Award. Hempstead Town Clerk Kate Murray, left, Hempstead Town Supervisor Don Clavin, Town Councilwoman Laura Ryder, second from right, and Receiver of Taxes Jeanine Driscol presented the award at Hempstead Town Hall on Sept. 14.

News brief

Pappa Gallo opens doors in downtown RVC

Pappa Gallo, a new Peruvian restaurant located in downtown Rockville Centre, recently celebrated its grand opening event on Oct. 3.

“We are absolutely thrilled and overjoyed to announce the grand opening of our new restaurant,” Peter Kambitsis, co-owner of Pappa Gallo, said in a statement. “This has been a labor of love and we can’t wait to share our passion for food, hospitality, and unforgettable dining experiences with all of you.”

Pappa Gallo is the first restaurant of its kind, offering authentic Peruvian cuisine with a menu curated by award-winning Executive Chef Emmanuel Piqueras. With more than 20 years of experience, Chef Piqueras has left his culinary mark across the globe. His illustrious career even included a stint as the pri-

vate chef for the former President of Peru.

“Chef Piqueras brings this wealth of experience and accolades to the forefront, ensuring that each dish on the menu is a masterpiece of taste and presentation,” Mohammed Shakib, co-owner of Pappa Gallo, said.

The menu also features a curated selection of Pisco-based cocktails, centered around the grape-based brandy known as Peru’s national spirit.

Pappa Gallo is one of Rockville Centre’s newest dining locations that looks to provide an immersive journey into the heart of modern Peru, where guests can enjoy live bands and musical performances that add an energetic element to their dinning experience. For more info visit MyPappaGallo.com.

social distancing, wearing masks and screening practices in effect at the time of this foreclosure sale. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety

then

EMPLOYMENT

Help Wanted

AUTO MECHANIC: Village of Malverne. Full Time. Experienced. Must have CDL. www.malvernevillage.org/job-postings

CIRCULATION ASSOCIATE

Full Time/Part Time Richner Communications, publisher of Herald community newspapers has an excellent opportunity for a FT/PT Customer Service Clerk in our busy Circulation Department.

Basic customer service and administrative responsibilities include: heavy computer work, answering phones, making phone calls, entering orders, faxing, filing, etc.

STRONG knowledge of EXCEL a must! Knowledge of DATABASE maintenance or postal regulations a big plus. Qualified Candidates must be computer literate, able to multitask, dependable, reliable, organized, energetic, detail oriented and able to work well under deadlines.

Salary Range is $15 per hour to $23 per hour. For consideration, please send resume & salary requirements to: careers@liherald.com

DRIVERS WANTED

Please Email Resume to

or Call (516)569-4000 x239

DRIVING

Gregoris Subaru Of Valley Stream Seeking Business Development Coordinator F/T Answer Phones, Email Leads, And Customer Follow Up. Good Phone Skills And Computer Literate A Must. Salary, Monthly Bonus, $40K-$50K/ Yr. Opportunity For Advancement.

Rosario 516-825-8700

MAILROOM/ WAREHOUSE HELP

OUTSIDE SALES

Richner Communications, One of the Fastest Growing Media, Event and Communications Companies on Long Island is Seeking a Sales/Marketing Candidate to Sell our Print Media Products and our Digital, Events, Sponsorships. Earning potential ranges from $31,200 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.

REAL ESTATE

RECEPTIONIST

Ed. Located In Centereach.

$18/ Hour. Call/ Text 631-831-7277 Or Email: johnperetta@yahoo.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

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 $15 per hour to $20 per hour.

Email resumes or contact info to careers@liherald.com

MULTI MEDIA ACCOUNT DEVELOPMENT

Inside Sales

Looking for an aggressive self starter who is great at making and maintaining relationships and loves to help businesses grow by marketing them on many different advertising platforms. You will source new sales opportunities through inbound lead follow-up and outbound cold calls. Must have the ability to understand customer needs and requirements and turn them in to positive advertising solutions. We are looking for a talented and competitive Inside Sales Representative that thrives in a quick sales cycle environment. Compensation ranges from $31,200 + 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

Please Send Cover Letter and Resume with Salary Requirements to rglickman@liherald.com or Call 516-569-4000 X250

PRINTING PRESS OPERATORS

FT & PT. Long Island Herald has IMMEDIATE openings for Printing Press Operators in Garden City. We are a busy print shop looking for motivated and reliable individuals to assist in various duties in the shop. Hours vary, so flexibility is key. Salary Ranges from $20 per hour to $30 per hour. Email resumes or contact info to careers@liherald.com

Receptionist needed for Publisher and Self-Storage Facility located in Garden City. The ideal candidate should have excellent communications and customer service skills, be professional, dependable and have reliable transportation. Candidate should have computer knowledge and working knowledge of MS Office. Candidate MUST be reliable, punctual and be able to work a CONSISTENT schedule: Job Responsibilities include, but are not limited to: Answering phones and greeting customers, assisting new customers by showing storage facility options and pricing, collecting payments from customers, contacting customers for late payments, applying payments and updating the customer files /data base and other general administrative responsibilities on an as needed basis. Hourly pay $15 to $17 plus eligible for Holiday Pay, PTO, Medical, Dental, 401k with company matching, plus other benefits. Qualified candidates should email their resume, cover letter and salary requirements. No phone calls please. Email your resume to: careers@liherald.com

Open Houses

CEDARHURST BA, 332B Peninsula Blvd, Move Right Into This Updated 3 Br, 2.5 Bth Coop Townhouse. LR, DR, Gran/Wood Kit w/ Stainless Steel Appl. Trex Deck Off LR.Primary Ste Features Updtd Bth & WIC. Att Gar Plus 1 Pkg Spot incl in Maintenance. W/D in Unit.Pull Down Attic.SD#15. Convenient to Shops, Trans & Houses of Worship...$449,000 Ronnie Gerber, Douglas Elliman 516-238-4299

EAST ROCKAWAY 10/8,

Project Manager – E. Meadow, NY - Select proposals from listings for NYS agencies’ depts for dsgn, construction, procurement; analyze/prep bid docs against proposals. Manage/direct projects; monitor/control progress; ensure conformance to scope of work, qlty plan, SHE plan & contract docs. Review engg calcs from vendors & subcontractors for structural stability, cast stone anchors & roof top railing. REQ: BS Cvl Engg or related + min. 1 yr related exp. Resumes: ibrahim@atlanticspecialtyinc.com

WE HAVE THE HELP YOU NEED!!!

HHA's, LPN's, Nurse's Aides

Evon's Svces: 516-505-5510

HEWLETT BA,1534 BROADWAY #205, BIG REDUCTION!! MOTIVATED SELLER!!Extra Large 2000 Sq Ft, 2 Bedroom(Originally 3 BR), 2 Bath Condo

Valley Stream

Charming Brick Tudor

Prime Location! Close to LIRR Gibson train station, Barrett Park, and shops, this charming brick Tudor spans three levels. The main floor unfolds with an airy open-concept living room featuring a gas fireplace, a formal dining room, and a kitchen with deck access. Upstairs, discover three bedrooms, including the primary with an en-suite. Enjoy the convenience of gas cooking, heating, and a separate hot water heater. The full lower level, with a walk-out feature, offers easy access from the secure gated driveway, complemented by an attached garage. This home offers low-maintenance, with a welcoming brick patio. Perfect for commuters, combining comfort and convenience. Asking $625,000. Call Nicholas to arrange a private showing.

Nicholas Amato

The Corcoran Group LIC. RE SALESPERSON TEAM LEADER m: 516.514.0088 namato@corcoran.com

Say I want to build a skyscraper . . .

Q. I’m doing a report for school on how buildings get designed. If you design a skyscraper, what are the things you have to do, and is it different for different kinds of buildings? Like, what do you have to do for a school or a house or a store to figure out what it will look like and how it gets built? My mom helped me with this question, but then we thought you might have more to say about it.

A. There are so many considerations when designing a building. You really have to think about many things all at once. First, you need to know as much as you can about where the building will be built. Is the site big enough, and are there going to be government limitations on how big the building can be? Those limitations include how tall it’s allowed to be, how far from the street, how close to the side and rear property lines and how much area, in general, can be covered by the building itself, and how much area must be open land for parking and lawn space.

OPEN HOUSES SUNday, 10/3/23

E a ST ROCK aWay

45 Judith Ct, 12-1:30, FIRST TIME ON MARKET! Immaculate & Well Maintained 3300 Sq Ft, 6 BR, 3 Bth Exp Ranch on Beautiful Quiet St in SD#20. Won’t Last!...$1,089,000

HEWLETT Bay Pa RK

190 Meadowview Ave,BA, Ever Dream of Living in A Castle? This 8000 Sq Ft Mansion is Full of Character. Amazing Architectural Details, Soaring Ceilings, Stained Glass Windows. 5 BR, 6.55 Bths. Sprawling 1.3 Acre Prop with IG Gunite Pool. SD#14.Near All. Must See This Unique Home! REDUCED...$2,700,000

HEWLETT

1534 Broadway #205, BA, Extra Large 2000 Sq Ft, 2 Bedroom (Originally 3 BR), 2 Bath Condo in Prestigious Jonathan Hall with Doorman & Elevator. Updtd Wood/Quartz Kit, LR & DR. Washer/ Dryer in Unit. Underground Pkg. Loads of Closets. Terrace Faces Back. Easy Ranch Style Living BIG REDUCTION!! MOTIVATED SELLER! $579,000

Ronnie Gerber 516-238-4299 Robin Reiss Licensed Real Estate Salesperson Cell: 516.510.6484 Office: 516.623.4500 Robin.Reiss@elliman.com

WOOdMERE

504 Saddle Ridge Rd, BA, Move Right Into This Renovated 4 BR, 2 Bth Split with Open Layout in Prime Location! Granite/Wood EIK Opens to Dining Room & Living Room. Lower Level Den. HW Flrs, Gas Heat, CAC. Oversized Property! SD#14. Near All! REDUCED! $950,000

CE da RHURST

MOVING IN? MOVING UP? MOVING OUT? Let me help you make that move! 25+ years helping others making their moves! FRANCINE BASSETT Licensed Real Estate Salesperson Certified Buyer Representative Senior Real Estate Specialist 5066 Sunrise Highway Massapequa Park, NY 516-972-0880 - mobile francine.bassett@elliman.com 1229835

Results t hat Move You This Robin won’t rest until you are in your new NEST! How’s the market?? Please contact me for your free market report and personalized service! “Leading Edge Award Winner” 1230572

There are special areas, called zones, and each has different requirements, which is why you don’t see a shoe store or a skyscraper next to a house. You also have to know how hard the ground is to support the building, where rain will be collected, in what direction the sun rises and sets, how to resist wind, rain and snow, and whether there are trees that need to be removed. Nature plays a big role in the design of all aspects of buildings.

Next, you have to think about what materials the building should be made of. If there’s a limit on how much money can be spent, the materials, which all fit together like a big puzzle, have to be carefully selected to last the longest, prevent the building from moving too much and keep the weather out. Sometimes we plan buildings to limit how much wasted material there will be by using what are called modular materials, which are cut in factories and then assembled more quickly on the site, instead of picking materials that will need much more work (that is, labor) on the building site.

Labor costs, the money workers are paid, is the most expensive part of the building, so it’s very important to find ways to save money on how much time it will take to put all the parts together, whether it’s a house or a skyscraper.

1230489

A BETTER WAY TO BUY AND SELL REAL ESTATE! “Call A Realtor With Proven Experience!” Rob Kolb Licensed Real Estate Salesperson Tripodi Shemtov Team Douglas Elliman Real Estate 30 West Park Ave | Long Beach, NY 11561 Cell: 516-314-1728 • Office: 516-432-3400 Rob.Kolb@elliman.com • Elliman.com/RobKolb IT IS STILL A SELLERS MARKET! While The Market Is Still HOT!! Call Me For A FREE Market Evaluation #therightagentmeanseverything 1219930 Erica Nevins Licensed RE Salesperson 516-477-2378 erica.nevins@remax.net 3305 Jerusalem Avenue, Wantagh, NY RELIANCE

Skyscrapers have many more parts, and because they’re very tall, they have to be stronger, since the wind is greater the higher you go in the sky. Every building has to be designed to resist fire from spreading quickly, to allow people to get out and to allow firefighters to put the flames out faster while being safe from the building coming apart. So, as you can see, there are many things to consider. More about the design next week.

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

Ask The Architect

Monte Leeper

© 2023 Monte Leeper

Florida Real Estate

DELRAY BEACH, FL: For Sale, opportunity before it hits the market! Single Story Ranch Condo. Beautifully appointed in desirable Emerald Pointe gated community, Approx 1800 Sq Ft. Furnished, All Appliances, 2 Bed / 2 Bath, Eat-In Kitchen, Walk-In Closets, Great Interior Storage and Exterior Storage Room, Screened-In Porch with Dual Interior Access, New Rheem HVAC Jan 2019, Ceiling fans throughout, 4 Private Parking Spots, Clubhouse with Auditorium, Pool, Gym, Tennis, Pickleball (TBD), Game and Card Rms, Interior Walking-Paths, Pet Friendly, 55+ Community, Easy access to Palm Beach International and Ft Lauderdale Airports. Exciting Downtown Delray offers beautiful Beaches, Shopping, Restaurants, and Nightlife. Asking $309,999. Call David at 248-240-8154 SWCGRPMI@gmail.com

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Garage Sales

BELLMORE: SATURDAY 10/7 and Sunday 10/8 9am-3pm. 2714 West Alder Road. Garden, Furniture, Crafts, Etc.

MERCHANDISE MART

Antiques/Collectibles

We Buy Antiques, Fine Art, Coins & Jewelry Same Day Service, Free In-Home Evaluations, 45 Year Family Business. Licensed and Bonded, Immediate Cash Paid.

SYL-LEE ANTIQUES www.syl-leeantiques.com 516-671-6464

Wanted To Buy FREON WANTED: Certified buyer looking to buy R11, R12, R22 & more! Call Clarissa at 312-535-8384.

FINDS UNDER $100

Finds Under $100

12- 8" SNACK Plates w inserts to fit 10 matching Teacups $40. 516 445-7390

BOYS' CLOTHES: SIZE 4/4T, New with tags; $8 each piece. 917-420-5814.

MINI VINYL BLINDS: (2) of 23"x72", (2) 34"x64" original sealed cartons. $50, 4 boxes. 516-785-6031

TEENAGE BOYS CLOTHES: sweatshirts, pants, long sleeve-Tshirts. $1-2 each piece. 917-420-5814.

TRANFER CHAIR: MEDLINE Good Condition includes Foot Rests. S. Freeport $35 516 279 7696

VAN GOGH SUNFLOWER painting hard case iPhone 11 $20, Separate clear case $15, 516 445-3212

WHITE MILK GLASS Hobnail: Double Crimped Edge 12" Bowl Basket w/Handle $35, 9 1/2" Bowl $25 516-279-7696

Finds $100-$350

SUKKAH 6FTX8FT, frame steel pipes, curtain heavyweight plastic; roof bamboo; decorations wax fruit. $350.00.

516.295.1647

Brick/Block/Concrete/Masonry

*MICHAEL LO BAIDO CONSTRUCTION*

Cement Specialist, Brickwork, Interlock Bricks, Belgium Blocks, Stoops, Patios, Driveways, Sidewalks, Basement Entrances, Pavers, Waterproofing. Quality Work, Lic./ Ins. Owner Always Onsite Free Estimates

516-354-5578

Electricians

E-Z ELECTRIC SERVICES, INC. All Types Residential/Commercial Wiring, Generators, Telephone/Data, Home Entertainment, Service Upgrades, Pools, Spas. Services/Repairs. Violations Removed. Free Estimates Low Rates.

516-785-0646 Lic/Ins.

Handyman

HANDYMAN

Repairs and Installations for the Household. Careful and Reliable and Vaccinated. Licensed and Insured. 30-Year Nassau County Resident. Friendly Frank Phone/Text 516-238-2112

E-mail-Frankcav@optonline.net

Home Improvement

SERVICES

BATH & SHOWER UPDATES in as little as ONE DAY! Affordable prices - No payments for 18 months! Lifetime warranty & professional installs. Senior & Military Discounts available. Call: 866-393-3636

Home Improvement

HANDY DANDY HOME IMPROVEMENTS

* Full Or Partial Kitchens/ Baths *Painting *Sheetrock *Taping/ Spackling *Installations Ceramic/ Vinyl Tile *Carpentry *Alterations *Repairs/ More. FREE ESTIMATES. Dan 516-342-0761

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Miscellaneous

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Power Washing

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Real estate

IN BRIEF

V.I.Properties Welcomes

Adele Esther Lahey

V.I.Properties

welcomes new agent to our growing team of professionals.

Tree Services

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Satellite/TV Equipment

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PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Health & Fitness

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VIAGRA

Adele Esther Lahey is a Licensed Real Estate Salesperson since 2001. Growing up in Brooklyn and Queens, she eventually moved her family to the Five Towns, where she has resided since. She is proudly involved in the community, an active participant in many organizations in the area and a mother of four. Two of her children have graduated from Hewlett High School, and two are currently attending. Her husband is also a Hewlett High School graduate and a volunteer firefighter in our community who works full-time for the FDNY. Besides her real estate license, she has a master’s degree in special education. She is proficient in five languages: Hebrew, English, Russian, Spanish, and Bukharian. You can reach Adele at 516-474-8188 or via email at lahey.adele@gmail.com

Realtors are encouraged to send briefs and photographs to: Herald Homes, 2 Endo Blvd.., Garden City, NY 11530.

Two major worries for candidates, in three words

Most people view politics as a simple business. There are winners and losers. But there are other factors that can determine who emerges as a victor or suffers defeat, and the public hears little if anything about them. I refer specifically to the terms “coattails” and “down ballot.”

The best example of the first phenomenon I can think of was last year’s race for governor of New York. The contest featured Democrat Kathy Hochul, who was well known for her activities as lieutenant governor under former Gov. Andrew Cuomo. She had ascended to the governor’s office when Cuomo resigned. Her opponent was then U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin, a military veteran who had also been a state senator. Thanks to a number of hot issues, such as bail reform, Zeldin came much closer to beating Hochul than anyone expected, with the highest percentage of the vote for a Republican gubernatorial nominee in 20 years.

After a brutal campaign, Hochul won by a margin of 5 percentage margins. Generally, Republicans running statewide usually have little or no chance to win, but Zeldin mounted a spirited campaign, using crime as his major issue, and he spent an enormous amount of time in four of New York City’s traditionally Democratic boroughs. His aggressive campaign turned out to be a big bonus for other New York Republicans.

Thanks to what we call the coattail effect, Zeldin helped no fewer than five Republican candidates for Congress win in what were traditional Democratic districts. Thanks to Zeldin’s efforts, those five winners helped the Republicans take control of the House of Representatives. In addition to the impact on congressional races, Republicans also won a number of Democratic Assembly seats in Brooklyn and Queens.

If you research state and federal campaigns, you’ll find very few examples of candidates at the top of the ticket sweeping other candidates into office. The first race that I can recall where there was a massive shift in power thanks to

the top candidate was President Lyndon Johnson’s campaign in 1964.

Johnson was opposed by conservative Republican Sen. Barry Goldwater of Arizona. Goldwater spoke for the extreme elements of the party, and as a result, Johnson was able to craft a campaign that helped elect hundreds of Democrats around the nation. Johnson’s effort was so strong that the Democrats were even able to unseat New York’s Assembly speaker, Joseph F. Carlino, with an unknown car dealer named Jerome McDougal.

Presidents Ronald Reagan and Barack Obama were able to help a few members of their party limp to victory. But their triumphs had none of the magnitude of the Johnson landslide. Candidates for almost every office often hope that the nominee at the top of the ticket will somehow magically propel them into office.

Of course, in some cases, candidates at the bottom of the ballot have to worry that the party frontrunner doesn’t cost them their own elections. Being swept out of office by a weak designee at the top of the ticket isn’t a rare occurrence.

In 1972, Democrats chose the ultra-liberal Sen. George McGovern as their presidential headliner. McGovern won only one state, and caused the party to lose numerous down-ballot races.

In 1988, the Democrats chose Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis as their presidential candidate, and many candidates on the slate, including me, had to run strong individual campaigns to survive.

Both parties are already confronting the issue of whether their candidate for president will help or hurt them. Republicans are especially concerned about whether former President Donald Trump will head their ticket and cost them seats. And Democrats are worried about whether President Biden will have any impact on the party turnout.

As the 2024 races unfold, the highprofile candidates will be the subject of much of the discussion of winning and losing, but their parties will be just as concerned with coattails, and what the results will mean down ballot.

Jerry Kremer was a state 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.

When the press is under assault, so is the Constitution

An alarming trend is taking place that is undermining one of the pre-eminent tenets of our U.S. Constitution — freedom of the press. Faced with the prospect of bad publicity, people in positions of authority, in some cases with a particularly conservative political ideology, are using the legal system as a weapon in a war with an institution once seen as a bedrock of democracy and now perceived as an enemy.

more legal fees for the Pilot & Review. The Times reports that the paper’s publisher has no idea how she can afford to both fight both the legal case and pay her staff of four.

CHARLEs LAVinE

In Wisconsin, a small-town newspaper is on the verge of bankruptcy due to the expense of defending itself in a defamation suit filed by a now Republican state senator. As detailed in a New York Times story in 2021, the Wausau Pilot & Review published an article reporting that a prominent businessman, Cory Tomczyk, referred to a 13-year-old boy as a “fag” at a public hearing. Tomczyk subsequently sued the paper for defamation, but the case was dismissed in April of this year because he failed to meet the legal standard to establish a case. Tomczyk has appealed, resulting in

Meanwhile, in Kansas, one can’t help but see the link between the raid of a small newspaper’s offices and its investigation of the local police chief. As reported on NPR, on Aug. 11, the Marion Police Department confiscated computers, cellphones and a range of other material at the offices of the Marion County Record. While it had not published any stories, the Record had been looking into allegations of misconduct against the local police chief. The paper’s publisher told the Kansas Reflector that the message from police and the local political establishment was clear: “Mind your own business or we’re going to step on you.”

As in Wisconsin, the Kansas case is getting national attention. According to The Intercept, the raid was strongly condemned in a letter from the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press to the Marion County Chief of Police, which was signed by 36 news media and press freedom organizations. The letter

states, “Newsroom searches and seizures are among the most intrusive actions law enforcement can take with respect to the free press, and the most potentially suppressive of free speech by the press and the public.”

This accounting of recent instances of press intimidation, by the Philadelphia Inquirer, makes clear that those above are by no means alone:

■ An Oklahoma sheriff caught on tape earlier this year discussing ways to murder reporters.

■ A government official in Las Vegas charged last year with murdering an investigative reporter who wrote stories about his bullying tactics of subordinates and his relationship with an employee.

■ The homes of two journalists in New Hampshire vandalized last year after stories detailed sexual assault allegations against the operator of an addiction treatment center.

■ Reporters threatened and harassed for covering the mass shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas.

■ Some local governments have stopped

paying to print public notices in newspapers because of unfavorable coverage.

■ Elon Musk banned several reporters from the X social media platform, formerly known as Twitter, who aggressively covered his company.

And then, of course, there is arguably the ringleader in this war against responsible journalism, former President Donald Trump, who has accused the press of being an “enemy of the people,” according to The New York Times. The Times also reports that Trump has filed numerous unsuccessful defamation lawsuits against news organizations, the latest of which, a $475 million whopper against CNN, was thrown out by a federal judge for lack of merit.

This crisis has special significance for us Long Islanders. Marie Colvin was an award-winning hero journalist who lost her life covering war atrocities in Syria. She grew up in East Norwich. Marie used to say, “Be passionate, and be involved in what you believe in, and do it as thoughtfully and honestly as you can. … Our mission is to speak truth to power.”

We need to stand up and fight for independent journalism. Let us all speak ‘truth to power”!

Charles Lavine represents the 13th Assembly District.

A n institution once seen as a bedrock of democracy is now often a target.

Counting on strength at the top of the ballot, or concerned about weakness.

JERRY KREMER

Change is needed after band bus accident

the horrific charter bus accident on Orange County’s Interstate 84 on Sept. 21 that claimed the lives of a band director and a retired teacher while injuring 16 members of Farmingdale high School’s marching band should be a wake-up call for change. The procedure for ensuring that a charter bus is safe for travel — an inspection, now conducted by the owner of the bus company — should be augmented by the school districts themselves whenever any trip involves our most precious cargo.

many school districts hire charter bus companies they deem safe by considering past driving records, hiring practices and inspection procedures. A state transportation department spokesman told reporters after the accident that the charter bus, operated by Regency Transportation of nesconset, had undergone its semiannual inspection in August, and passed.

While it isn’t clear whether there was another inspection before the bus left for the marching band camp in Greeley, Pennsylvania, investigators believe the crash was caused by a faulty front tire. One last inspection — especially by a qualified school district official — possibly could have found the problem, and the outcome of that day might have been quite different.

That’s already happening at schools in Glen head, Glenwood Landing and Sea Cliff on the north Shore, where

Letters

Enough with the campaign signs!

To the Editor:

their own transportation depot, built in 2006, conducts inspections by mechanics employed and contracted by the district. A bus must pass a second inspection before it can leave the depot.

north Shore Schools superintendent Chris Zublionis says that having the depot saves the district money, and brings in revenue when its employees work on buses from other districts. It also gives them all the control necessary to ensure that buses are safe.

The school district’s charter and regular yellow buses all have seat belts, as do yellow buses rented by other districts. most charter buses have seat belts, too. Initial reports from the Farmingdale accident, however, indicated that none of the 40 students and four adults on the bus were wearing seat belts when it careened 50 feet down a steep slope near Wawayanda after crashing through a guardrail. Several of the injured passengers were ejected.

AAA spokesman Robert Sinclair says that bus passengers should wear seat belts, although many yellow buses from various school districts don’t have them.

“The expense of having them in a school bus is paid for by school districts,” Sinclair said, “and since school buses are the safest vehicle on the road, statistically — with very few crashes — schools may not want to incur the expense.

“It would have been beneficial,” he added, “if they had been wearing them

in this accident.”

But the benefits of wearing a seat belt on a bus aren’t as clear as, say, for a regular passenger car, Zublionis said. One theory is that a seat belt could stop a child from escaping from a bus in an emergency. But Zublionis — along with other superintendents the herald spoke with — supports wearing one, although no school district requires students to do so.

That needs to change. Sinclair said that it’s far more common for seat belts to protect passengers in a charter bus accident than to be a detriment.

And it wouldn’t be hard to make the change. Before a bus departs, a chaperone or teacher could instruct students to buckle their seat belts, demonstrate how it’s done, and then ensure that they are properly secured — as airline flight attendants do before takeoff.

Taking simple steps like these is the least we could do in light of the Farmindale high tragedy. This is an opportunity for school districts to be proactive, and make a few changes — like taking control of bus inspections, and ensuring that seat belts are worn. And the state education department could help, too, by sending bus safety guidelines to schools.

Everyone — from parents to school districts to bus operators — wants to protect our children, whether they are in the classroom or on the road. Taking these common-sense steps will help ensure that this happens.

It seems like every year, I’m seeing more and more political advertisements on lawns and fences throughout Rockville Centre. Personally, I feel it takes away from the quaintness of our village, and I think now is the time that it should be addressed.

I’m curious if there is a village code regarding this. If not, I have a few suggestions. The first would be to ban the signs completely. If not, limit the time frame (30 days prior to election day) and limit the number of signs per candidate in the village. This should be addressed immediately, before it gets out of hand.

RICh

SundERmIER Rockville Centre

To the Editor: note to former Congressman Peter King (“We’ve

To serve its riders, the MTA needs proper governance

the Metropolitan Transportation Authority is, unfortunately, usually in the news for billion-dollar boondoggles. But local issues and corporate governance problems plague the agency that affects the daily lives of so many riders in Nassau County. The MTA needs some corporate governance and a renewed focus on the commuters it serves, and only then will it be able to lead us out of the pandemic era and into a robust recovery.

The MTA is the largest public transit system in America, shuttling over 11 million passengers on an average weekday, covering 14 counties, employing 70,000 people and serving over 850,000 vehicles across seven bridges and two tunnels. Because of its importance to New Yorkers’ livelihoods and the economy, it is critical that it functions efficiently and serves its constituency well.

The agency has certainly hit some big milestones recently, including increased ridership, back to pre-pandemic levels, and registering over 2 million OMNY fare-payment taps in one day. But at the same time, the MTA

is failing my constituents in the 15th Assembly District, as well as the hundreds of thousands of daily LIRR riders across the MTA’s Long Island footprint.

My district stretches along the eastern border of Nassau, from Farmingdale to Locust Valley, a large portion of which is served by the notoriously problemplagued Oyster Bay line. For years, commuters in this area have had to choose between leaving work ridiculously early in order to make it home to their families, or staying at work longer and missing activities at home.

At first, the excitement over the recent East Side Access project was palpable among Oyster Bay line commuters. After years of unreliable service and difficult train schedules, it seemed like more options were finally becoming available. To our dismay, it turned out that, once again, the line will suffer the brunt of bad schedule changes. The few popular peak trains available are now even fewer and farther between, and require changing in Jamaica.

The situation has become so dire that many people are opting to drive to other stations on other lines. This not only defeats the purpose of commuter

rail, it also negatively affects small business owners around the Oyster Bay line train stations who are there to serve commuters.

The problems LIRR riders are facing are a direct result of corporate governance failures at the top. When Phillip Eng retired as LIRR president over a year ago, the MTA announced that MetroNorth Railroad President Catherine Rinaldi would serve as president of both the LIRR and MetroNorth. While Rinaldi may be a capable transit executive, the very nature of this dual role divides her focus and allegiance, which is not fair to MetroNorth or LIRR customers, especially those who use the Oyster Bay line.

This arrangement would be untenable in any other arena of government, nonprofit or private business, and we need to get a fast and thorough executive search under way now. The fact that ridership is climbing to pre-pandemic levels means we needed a dedicated and focused LIRR president months ago.

But it’s no surprise that this structure isn’t sounding any alarm bells within the MTA. The same problem exists at the very top of the organizational chart. Janno Lieber, the chair-

man of the MTA, also serves as its chief executive officer. Much like the dual-president role, giving the same person the chairman and CEO powers is an inherent conflict of interest, and runs counter to the transparency and accountability that is supposed to be the bedrock of a public authority.

The private sector has for years now recognized this conflict, and more corporations are splitting the functions of the chairman and CEO. This allows the chair and the board to perform their vital oversight duties, including establishing budgets, ensuring transparency and accountability, engaging in shortand long-term planning, and evaluating executive performance, among other functions, independent of conflict.

These are problems with clear solutions. If the MTA had a better corporate structure, it would be a more transparent, accountable and efficient public authority that serves its customers better. Projects would be delivered closer to on time and on budget, and closer attention would be paid to customers throughout the system.

A clear organizational chart, with dedicated roles and talented executives, including a separate LIRR president, is the first step toward an efficient and responsive MTA. New Yorkers deserve nothing less.

Framework by Chelsea Gundrum

had great people working for us at the U.N.,” last week): Driving into Midtown Manhattan in mid-afternoon is never a good idea, and a particularly bad one when world leaders gather at the United Nations in late September.

Rather than spending a half-hour traveling five and a half blocks, Mr. King could have taken the subway to his destination. If he had ridden the Long Island Rail Road to Grand Central, the No. 6 train from there would have gotten him to WABC-AM’s studio on East 49th Street in about five minutes.

Imagine: no frustration, and plenty of time to read or nap. The train and subway would have been cheaper too, given Mr. King’s decision to spend at least $30 to park in a garage. Hopefully, congestion pricing will further encourage him, and thousands of other drivers, to opt for the vastly superior alternative of public transit.

KEVIN J. KELLEY Atlantic Beach

No, we’re not sure Trump’s guilt would be enough

To the Editor:

I’d like to commend reader Brian Kelly

for his thoughtful letter in last week’s issue, “Are we sure Trump’s guilt would be enough?” explaining how former President Donald Trump may escape conviction despite overwhelming evidence. I’d just like to add two things Mr. Kelly didn’t mention.

The first is that a “not guilty” verdict is not synonymous with “innocent.” When a jury foreperson announces “not guilty,” that means only that the jury did not feel the prosecution had a strong enough case to prove the defendant was guilty, even though he or she may clearly not be innocent.

The second is that Trump is only one part of a much bigger problem in our country. That problem is that so many people continue to support him regardless of what he says, how he behaves, or even how many times he is indicted. The most frightening thing is that Trump continues to soar in the polls. He may actually succeed in once again getting his hands on the reins of this country due to his base of supporters, who don’t seem to care which laws he has broken, and to the many citizens who just don’t care enough to vote.

Jake Blumencranz represents the 15th Assembly District.

Jake BLUmenCranZ

the agency is failing hundreds of thousands of LIRR riders across the Island.