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HERALD 2021

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SEA CLIFF/GLEN HEAD

DECEMBER 30, 2021 - JANUARY 5, 2022

VOL. 31 NO. 1

Feeding the food-insecure

BY ANNEMARIE DURKIN adurkin@liherald.com

A Courtesy Elenaxx/Herald Villafane

xx Cliff’s Elena Villafane was elected Sea mayor on April 5. Page 0

Page 4

Courtesy Lester Wolff xx/Herald

Former U.S. Rep. Lester Wolff died xx on May 11.

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Courtesy Dina Corigliano xx/Herald

Colombian dancers performed at xx ROSE Fest.

Page 0 Page 12

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t a time when a pandemic is crippling the nation’s economy, workers across nearly all industries are struggling to find jobs and an ever increasing number of people are facing food insecurity, those in need have a place to turn to on the North Shore. Peggie Como, 73, is the president and driving force behind the Mutual Concerns Committee, a grassroots group that formed 44 years ago to meet the pressing needs of residents of the North Shore School District. The non-profit supports older adults and individuals in need in the community, providing direct assistance to residents through efforts like its senior lunch program, food drives and the Sea Cliff Mini Mart, to name a few. “At the time, there was a need within the Russian community; they needed food,” Como said. “So this group of people went to all the churches and asked for help, and they came up with this idea [for] Mutual Concerns.” For all of her work on behalf of the Sea Cliff and Glen Head communities, the Herald is proud to name Como its 2021 Person of the Year. Como grew up in Valley Stream before moving to Sea Cliff in 1976, where she still lives today. She got her start working with the Mutual Concerns when she was in the dairy section of the grocery store over 25 years ago and was approached by then president, Rose Capuco, who was in need of a recording secretary. “I thought, OK, I could do that. They [only] meet, like, once a month. I could take notes. I can take shorthand,’” Como said. She remained secretary for Mutual Concerns until 2009, when she became the organization’s president, a role that she still holds today. Mutual Concerns provides assistance to the community through a number of civic projects and different programs throughout the year; the organization runs the community’s

HERALD PERSON OF THE YEAR

PEGGIE COMO

P ‘

eggie is an incredibly compassionate person.’ BILL LONG

Owner, Metropolitan Bistro

emergency food center at Village Hall, provides a weekly senior lunch program, and offers Thanksgiving and Christmas Day food baskets for those who cannot visit family, the food insecure or those who would not otherwise be able to enjoy a holiday dinner. Before the coronavirus pandemic, the senior lunch program met twice a week. Seniors were given a delicious lunch and the chance to socialize. They would also frequently do chair yoga, play bingo and trivia, and take short trips. The program took a hiatus during the peak of the pandemic, but restarted last summer and is now held once a week at St. Luke’s Episocal Church in Sea Cliff. “I didn’t realize how much they loved it until we went back,” Como said. “They were stuck in their house, and some of them live alone. They don’t even have partners, so I’m keeping my fingers crossed that we can just keep it running now.” Como’s dedication to the senior lunch program is not a oneoff; those who work closely with her are quick to gush over her selfless personality and her hard work to help people in need on the North Shore. “Peggie is an incredibly compassionate person. All the volunteer work she does is because she really wants to help,” said Bill Long, owner of Metropolitan Bistro, a frequent lunch spot for the senior lunch program. “I watched her at the senior lunches we [hosted], and she always managed to say something kind to everyone there.” Continued on page 5 Courtesy Peggie Como

Peggie Como, a 45-year resident of Sea Cliff, is president of the North Shore Mutual Concerns Committee.

December 30, 2021 — SEA CLIFF/GLEN HEAD HERALD

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The Sea Cliff Village Museum received a $10,000 donation from a trust set up by Dick Manuel, a former resident who died in 2010, and his wife, Marjorie. Courtney Chambers, the museum director, said that Manuel’s donation is the largest in the museum’s 40-year history. Sea Cliff has a wonderful history, Village Trustee Nick Pinto said, and it means a lot for the museum to have such strong financial backing, especially considering the impact the pandemic has had on the facility. Before he died on Feb. 1, 2010, Dick detailed the donation to the Sea Cliff museum. Since his family had been in

Sea Cliff Mayor Ed Lieberman announces he will not run again

the village for several generations, Bill, Manuel’s son said, preserving Sea Cliff’s history was very important to his father. Every era of that history contributes to its present and future, he said, which is vital in helping younger generations understand how they came to be where they are.

YEAR IN REVIEW JANUARY

Christina Daly/Herald Gazette

Sea Cliff Village Museum Director Courtney Chambers said the donation will go toward programming and future exhibits.

After more than four years in office, Sea Cliff Mayor Edward Lieberman announced he will not seek re-election. He left office in March, when the next village election was held. “I do have mixed emotions about it,” Lieberman said. “It’s been a very interesting and worthwhile experience, but I just felt, given my age — I’ll be 70 in June — and given the fact that there are very qualified people who are showing interest in becoming mayor, it followed suit that I would step down at this point and step back.” When prepared to step down, Lieberman said he hoped he had dis-

Fighting ‘two pandemics’ The Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center of Nassau County held a Virtual Gala Concert on Jan. 26, complete with tears, touching remarks and songs performed by Israeli cantor and “Les Misérables” star Dudu Fisher. The event was one big thank-you letter to Boris Chartan, a Holocaust survivor who founded the center in 1992. On the eve of National Holocaust Remembrance Day, challenges faced by the HMTC were reflected on and stories of triumph and perseverance shared. The night’s special guests included co-hosts Dr. David Langer, chair of the

Department of Neurosurgery at Lenox Hill Hospital in Manhattan, and Vice Chair Dr. John Boockvar, both of whom star in the 2021 Netflix docuseries “Lenox Hill.”

YEAR IN REVIEW FEBRUARY

Courtesy the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center/Facebook

Boris Chartan, a holocaust survivor, founded the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center in Glen Cove in 1992. He was honored at the center’s virtual gala.

played the three characteristics that historian Jon Meacham said all good leaders should possess: curiosity, humility and empathy. Serving as Sea Cliff mayor has been among his greatest challenges, and he hopes the village’s success continues long after he leaves office. “It’s been very humbling,” he said. “It’s been the highlight of my career in public service. I look forward to continued service in the future.” Courtesy Mayor Edward Lieberman

Sea Cliff Mayor Edward Lieberman, center, has been in office four years. His duties included welcoming Presidents Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt, portrayed by Don Mullen, left, and James Foote, at the Sea Cliff Mini Mart.

Glen Head resident is first with South African Covid-19 strain

A Glen Head resident was diagnosed with the South African variant of Covid-19, marking the first case of the South African strain detected in New York, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on Feb. 21. “We continue to see a reduction in positivity and hospitalizations throughout the state, which is good news, and this progress is allowing us to reopen the valve on our economy even further,” Cuomo said. “But with the discovery of a case of the South

African variant in the state, it’s more important than ever for New Yorkers to stay vigilant, wear masks, wash hands and stay socially distanced. We are in a race right now — between our ability to vaccinate and these variants which are actively trying to proliferate — and we will only win that race if we stay smart and disciplined.”

Courtesy NYS Pressroom

A Glen Head resident was the first in New York to be diagnosed with the South African strain of Covid-19 on Feb. 21.

SEA CLIFF/GLEN HEAD HERALD — December 30, 2021

Sea Cliff Village Museum receives $10,000 donation

Elena Villafane is new S.C. mayor Sea Cliff Village Trustee and Deputy Mayor Elena Villafane became the next mayor on April 5. Despite running unopposed, she garnered 826 votes on March 16. Villafane’s first venture into public service came in 2003, when Eileen Krieb, a good friend and a Sea Cliff village trustee, became mayor, which gave her the chance to appoint a new member of the board to take her seat. Villafane told Krieb she would love to join, not only to serve the village she loved so much, but to do it alongside a friend from whom she could learn much about serving the community. Running for mayor was the next logical step in her public service career, Villafane said, having served on the board for so long and been appointed deputy mayor twice. “I felt that I really had the underpinning to understand the ins and outs of budgeting and liaison work and what the various departments need,” she said. “I think there’s some really big work that’s coming up in front of us, and I wanted to be in a leadership spots to help move us through the next stage.” Villafane said that serving the vil-

Increased indoor capacity welcome New York state loosened its Covid19 regulations for indoor dining in March, allowing restaurants to increase their capacity from 50 to 75 percent. Restaurateurs in Sea Cliff and Glen Head said they were excited to serve more customers, which could help them rebound from the financial woes caused by the coronavirus pandemic. “It’s great because, as the weather gets better, they’ll be coming out,” Bill Long, owner of Metropolitan Bistro in Sea Cliff said. “It seems to be timing perfectly with the weather.” With spring’s arrival, Long said,

lage she loves is her chief priority. She has had a wonderful life, much of which can be attributed to her time in Sea Cliff, she said, and she hopes she can use her role as mayor to help others find the same happiness.

YEAR IN REVIEW MARCH

Courtesy Elena Villafane

Sea Cliff’s Elena Villafane was elected as the village’s mayor on April 5.

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Incumbent Sea Cliff Village Trustee Dina Epstein and challenger James Versocki came out on top in March 16’s election, garnering 699 and 582 votes, respectively, to win seats on the village board. Another challenger, Jim Mozer, received 468 votes. Trustee and Deputy Mayor Elena Villafane ran uncontested for mayor, and had 826 votes. Epstein and Versocki have been at the forefront of the village’s fight for public water, and both listed the

municipalization of its water supply as one of their main goals for the upcoming term. Epstein had a range of plans halted by the coronavirus pandemic last year, and she said she looked forward to accomplishing as many of them as possible in her new term. Versocki’s goals are increasing government transparency, and ensuring that development in the village is done properly and is environmentally responsible.

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Along with increased indoor dining capacity, Still Partners co-owner Dan Roth said he hoped outdoor dining would return to Sea Cliff Avenue this spring.

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combining outdoor dining with increased indoor dining could boost his business, and he hoped to see many familiar faces return. Having lived through the pandemic for more than a year, Long also said in March the Metropolitan’s ownership and staff were better equipped to handle what was ahead in the coming months. He said he looks forward to expanding his menu and improving on all that the restaurant did last year.

Epstein, Versocki win trustee seats

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December 30, 2021 — SEA CLIFF/GLEN HEAD HERALD

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Person of the Year is a community ‘do-gooder’ Terry Sciubba, who was one of a handful of people who nominated Como for Person of the Year, described her as “the ever-consummate do-gooder” in the village. “She takes care of [everyone, from] the young to the elderly, in need of food, help with bills or just plain old-fashioned support,” Sciubba said. “That type of selfless work continues all throughout the year. She always has a smile on her face.” OF Como said anyone who asks for help receives it; no questions about a g e, income or occupation are asked. “There’s some people that have a family, and they can’t really afford daily necessities,” she said. “And it’s hard to believe that in this area, there’s need, but there is. There is. There’s all sorts of stories here.” Mutual Concer ns is funded entirely by donations from the community and local organizations like Kiwanis, the Sea Cliff Lions Club, the Knights of Columbus and the American Legion. “Luckily, I have the resources, I have the food there, I have money that I can go out and buy fresh food with if I have to,” Como said. “So it

comes in and it goes out again, and that’s fine. That’s the way it should be. That’s kind of what keeps you going, knowing that people realize there’s a need and they know it’s important.” Como said she feels fortunate to have relationships with generous and giving people in her community who give to Mutual Concerns each year, but others credit Como as the reason essential help is provided to those in need on the North THE Shore. “I have known Peggie for over 25 years a n d h av e a lw ay s admired her grace, magnanimity and constant desire to assist others,” said Ed Lieberman, former Sea Cliff Mayor, who hosts a historic bus tour around Sea Cliff and surrounding communities for seniors with Como and Mutual Concerns.

SEA CLIFF/GLEN HEAD HERALD — December 30, 2021

Continued from front page

HERALD PERSON YEAR

Courtesy Peggie Como

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Como has been president of Mutual Concerns for the past 12 years, but her work with the organization was nothing new; She was previously its secretary.

December 30, 2021 — SEA CLIFF/GLEN HEAD HERALD

North Shore adopts 2021-22 school budget

State study: Public water is feasible According to a report issued on March 29, a study ordered by Gov. Andrew Cuomo and conducted by the state Department of Public Service found that the municipalization of New York American Water’s Long Island infrastructure is not only viable, but also in residents’ best interests. State Sen. Jim Gaughran, authored a bill last year to establish a public North Shore Water Authority, which was passed by the Senate but not the Assembly. However, Gaughran said that the governor’s study offers another path to public water. Agatha Nadel, a director of the public water advocacy group North Shore Concerned Citizens, said she was shocked and elated to see the

results of the study appear three days before its April 1 deadline. Nadel characterized the news as “absolutely earth-shattering.” It covered every point the public had been pointing toward for years, she said. “It appears that dreams really do come true,” Nadel said. “I just can’t think of another issue for this community that could be solved that could be so gratifying and rewarding.

YEAR IN REVIEW

Alyssa Seidman/Herald

Public-water advocates say the study conducted by the state Department of Public Service shows that all of Nassau County could be a step closer to municipal water.

Wildlife Service to declare the 3,204 acres of bay bottom, salt marsh and small freshwater wetland the Oyster Bay National Wildlife Refuge, crushing the bridge plan.

Dr. Paul Mustacchia, an internist and the chair of the Department of Medicine at Nassau University Medical Center, said he was familiar with mask-related acne, which was renamed “maskne” during the pandemic. Maskne occurs when people wear tight-fitting masks for long periods of time. A mask creates a moist environment from breathing, talking or sweating, which can block pores, leading to acne or other skin conditions, including allergic contact dermatitis, rosacea, seborrheic dermatitis and folliculitis. Dr. Raman Madan, director of cosmetic dermatology and an assistant

YEAR IN REVIEW MAY

Christina Daly/Herald

Lester Wolff remained active and involved up until the day he died.

The district will continue to make adjustments and repurpose resources if the pandemic continues into the 2021-22 school year. “We start this process saying a budget tells a story, demonstrates our values, and this one is no different,” North Shore Superintendent Dr. Peter Giarrizzo said. The adopted budget saw about $1 million in cuts from its first draft. Cuts were made mainly by eliminating jobs throughout the district, including reductions in teaching and clerical positions.

Mike Conn/Herald

The North Shore Board of Education adopted its 2021-22 budget on March 25.

New name for a well-known itch:‘maskne’

Former U.S. Representative Lester Wolff dies at 102 Lester L. Wolff, who was elected to the House of Representatives in 1964 and served in Congress for 16 years, died on May 11 at age 102. He had lived for the past 21 years in East Norwich, where he remained active until his death. Locally, residents remember the Democratic congressman for leading the charge in the 1960s to nix the building of a bridge planned by then Gov. Nelson Rockefeller and developer Robert Moses. Wolff contacted the Department of the Interior to survey the area, leading the U.S. Fish and

APRIL

The North Shore Board of Education unanimously adopted a 2021-22 budget of roughly $111.6 million at its March 25 meeting. The spending plan, which residents later voted on on May 18, is about $1.3 million — or 1.16 percent — larger than this year’s budget. The proposed tax levy is roughly $92.3 million — $1.3 million more than 2020-21. The district unveiled three potential budgets during its initial presentation on Feb. 4, based on differences in the way the coronavirus pandemic might affect schools in September. The adopted budget is considered to be a “new normal with modifications,” representing a middle ground between a normal opening and one still affected by the pandemic.

clinical professor at Northwell Health, attributes the increase he saw in maskne cases last May and June to people reusing masks because they weren’t widely available. The key to killing bacteria on a mask is wearing a cloth mask that can be laundered, Mustacchia said. “Maskne is from bacteria that may be one’s own native bacteria, which grows because of the warm covering from the mask,” he explained. “Clorox during laundering is great, as are other products for colored fabrics.” Courtesy Alberto Giuliani at Wikimedia Commons

This doctor, like everyone in the medical profession, has worn a mask constantly during the pandemic. It is not uncommon for these professionals to develop mask-related acne.

SEA CLIFF/GLEN HEAD HERALD — December 30, 2021

Legislature passes public water bill Both the New York State Assembly and Senate, in early June, passed a bill to establish a North Shore Water Authority and a South Nassau Water Authority that would replace New York American Water for ratepayers in the Towns of Oyster Bay and Hempstead. The bill passed the Senate 63-0, and the Assembly, 149-0. The measure now awaits the Governor’s signature. “Customers of New York American Water have been unduly burdened with exorbitant rates for the water they use on a daily basis, driven largely by costs having nothing to do with the provision of water,” Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in a statement. In addition to dramatically decreasing ratepayers’ water bills each month, the municipalization of water systems has been proven to benefit affected

communities by improving water quality and infrastructure, decreasing service interruptions and more. “Nearly every water district on Long Island is well respected in their community and helpful in resolving issues,” said Agatha Nadel, director of North Shore Concerned Citizens. “Public water fosters local control, local ownership and local accountability for the water systems, leading to better service for communities overall.”

YEAR IN REVIEW JUNE

Herald File Photo

The New York State Legislature recently passed a bill establishing a public water authority on the North Shore to relieve residents of expensive water bills.

Pandemic tests students’ mental health and sleep habits A survey conducted by Stanford University’s Challenge Success, a nonprofit that does research in school districts across the country, focused on how students were feeling about their time at North Shore schools, as well as how much sleep they were getting and how much time they were spending on their homework. The survey was administered to students in grades six through 12 in March, and 70 to 75 percent of them responded. Sarah Miles, the research and program director at Challenge Success, said that a sense of belonging is very important for students, as children and adults alike need to see themselves being valued for what they’re doing. If they don’t feel like they belong, the development of their iden-

tity is stalled, which can have negative consequences. “They’re more stressed. They’re sleeping less,” Miles said.“They feel less of a sense of belonging and connection, and that was true at North Shore — as well as for girls. They’re really having a harder time across the North Shore data, as well as other schools.” Sleep was a focus throughout the presentation, because it can impact both mental and physical well-being. And more often than not, children aren’t getting enough sleep.

Christina Daly/Herald

North Shore High School students were included in a survey of sleep habits, sense of belonging, academic engagement and time spent on homework.

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December 30, 2021 — SEA CLIFF/GLEN HEAD HERALD

SEA CLIFF/GLEN HEAD HERALD — December 30, 2021

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S.C. buys NYAW property for $540K Cyclists raise $17,000 for kids in need through Kiwanis Club June 27 marked the 25th anniversary of the Nassau Bicycle Challenge, sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of the North Shore. Since 1996, the challenge has raised more than $300,000 for children’s charities. This year alone, North Shore Kiwanis raised nearly $17,000 from its riders and sponsors. Some 200 cyclists took part in this year’s challenge. “It was wonderful seeing riders having a great experience.These funds will help our club support children in these troubled times,” said North Shore Co-Chair Leslie Kle, a distin-

guished past Kiwanis Club president. The challenge directly benefits the Kiwanis Pediatric Trauma Center, Pediatric Lyme Disease Foundation, Kamp Kiwanis and other charities.

YEAR IN REVIEW JULY

Courtesy Julia Salat

The ride’s founder, Tom De Stio, with North Shore Kiwanis Bicycle Challenge Co-Chairs Leslie Kle and Roger Hill, thanked the sponsors for their financial support of the event.

The Village of Sea Cliff bought the property at 325 Prospect Ave. from New York American Water in July. The purchase of the 2.5 acres of waterfront property continues the efforts of the Village of Sea Cliff to preserve open space and protect historically significant structures, officials said. After concluding that the extraordinary rate increases customers were experiencing were based on accounting inaccuracies, NYAW agreed to various measures, including accelerating filings to the state Public Service Commission, reducing rates by about $6.4 million for all customers of the Sea Cliff Water District, providing Sea Cliff District ratepayers with a $1.6 million total credit on future water bills and selling 325 Prospect Ave. to the village at a $1 million discount and reimbursement

of certain litigation legal fees, for a net purchase price of $540,000. “After a four-year struggle, the village is victorious. Our ratepayers received significant refunds, and we now own this historic coastal resource. This acquisition will keep the land open and available to public use,” Trustee Dina Epstein said. “Sea Cliff doesn’t need more development and more cars; we need to work to preserve our open spaces and the character of our community.” Herald File Photo

New York American Water agreed to sell 325 Prospect Ave. to the village at a $1 million discount after the two parties settled a 2017 lawsuit last week. Above, NYAW’s Merrick office.

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December 30, 2021 — SEA CLIFF/GLEN HEAD HERALD

SEA CLIFF/GLEN HEAD HERALD — December 30, 2021

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First ROSE Fest raises $2,500 for local food pantry It was a day of sunshine, live music and community fundraising at Glenwood Landing American Legion Post 336 in Glen Head during the first ROSE Fest, sponsored by the Sea Cliff home décor store Restoration Oak. The event raised money for the Porch Pantry, a small nonprofit in Glen Cove that delivers meals to food-insecure families in the city and surrounding communities. More than 300 families in the Glen Cove area received food at the height of the pandemic. ROSE Fest, which stands for Restoration Oak Summer Event, was

created by Dina Corigliano and her partner and Restoration Oak cofounder, Omar Rivera, as a way to give back to their community by donating to a local charity that supports families in need. ROSE Fest raised an estimated $2,500, all of which will be donated to the Porch Pantry, according to Corigliano.

Schools announced they would require masks in the fall YEAR IN REVIEW JULY

Courtesy Dina Corigliano

Traditional Colombian dancers performed alongside the band Los Costenos at ROSE Fest.

The North Shore School District released its reopening plan on Aug 24, hours after Gov. Kathy Hochul announced that she would institute a mask mandate for students at all schools in the state, and require staff to be vaccinated against the coronavirus or tested weekly. In a statement, North Shore Interim Superintendent Thomas Dolan laid out the district’s reopening plan, which included the mask requirement for students, faculty and staff as well as social distancing of three feet between

students while they are indoors. The district weighed community input, extensive email communication from district residents and guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the State Education Department and the Nassau County Department of Health when deciding on coronavirus protocols for the school year. Courtesy Wikimedia Commons

North Shore Schools will follow the mandate from Gov. Kathy Hochul requiring all students, faculty and staff to wear masks inside school buildings.

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December 30, 2021 — SEA CLIFF/GLEN HEAD HERALD

SEA CLIFF/GLEN HEAD HERALD — December 30, 2021

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Teen helps raise $100,000 for kids’ hospital NSHS receives award for excellence North Shore High School was recognized in September as a 2021 National Blue Ribbon School in the Exemplary High-Performing category. U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona announced the 325 recognized schools across the country on Sept. 21. The award is based on a school’s overall academic performance, measured by state or national assessments. “North Shore High School is honored to be a recipient of the prestigious National Blue Ribbon Award,” Principal Eric Contreras said in a statement. “This designation validates and affirms our ongoing exemplary work inside and outside our classrooms.” The Education Department honors

schools based on student scores and graduation rates. Exemplary HighPerforming schools have their states’ highest graduation rates and the highest-achieving students — measured by state assessments. and math over the past five years.

YEAR IN REVIEW

Herald file photo

SEPTEMBER

The U.S. Education Department awards the National Blue Ribbon award to schools based on student scores and graduation rates. Exemplary High-Performing Schools, like North Shore High, have their states’ highest graduation rates and the highest-achieving students — the top 15 percent in English and math, measured by state assessments.

County offers Girls Rising $10,000 in grant funding Girls Rising, a Sea Cliff-based non- school districts and youth centers to create innovative programs that profit, recently secured a $10,000 inspire children through live grant, approved by the performances, presentaNassau County Legislature tions and workshops. on Sept. 27. The grant is This grant from the funded by the county’s county will be used to Hotel-Motel IN support outreach Occupancy Tax fund. intended to connect Girls Rising was with young women created by Sea Cliff and LGBTQ+ students natives Nini Camps and in particular. Kristen Ellis-Henderson, and Cathy Henderson, of Glen Cove, to empower and Courtesy Antigone Rising Members of the band Antigone Rising, from left, inspire girls and LGBTQ kids to pursue careers in science, technology, Cathy Henderson, Kristen Ellis-Henderson and Nini engineering, the arts and math. The Camps, formed the Sea Cliff-based nonprofit Girls Rising to empower and inspire female organization frequently partners with

YEAR REVIEW OCTOBER

Adam Laird, founder of the Adam Laird Junior Golf Academy at the North Shore Country Club in Glen Head, teamed up with 13-year-old Skylar Friedman for their third annual charity golf marathon on Aug. 18. The two golfers raised over $100,000 through donations and sponsorships of the event, which will support the work of doctors, nurses and researchers at the newly named Richard D. Wood Jr. Center for Fetal Diagnosis and Treatment at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, which is also known as CHOP. Laird, who lives in Glen Head, is a professional golf instructor who helps golfers of all ages and abilities, but has a particular passion for working with kids, which takes him all over the world, where he introduces the game to hundreds of young people.

After meeting and working with Skylar, a longtime CHOP patient, on his golf swing, Laird learned about the hospital and the work it does on behalf of young people. Laird and “Sky” teamed up to create an annual golf marathon fundraiser for the hospital. Laird played a total of 252 holes in 24 hours, beating his previous record of 210, set last year. Skylar, an eighthgrader at Portledge School in Locust Valley, had set a goal of sinking as many 6-foot putts as he could in 100 tries, and made 97, beating his total from last year of 82. Courtesy Adam Laird

Adam Laird and Skylar Friedman raised over $100,000 in their third annual golf marathon, benefiting the Richard D. Wood Jr. Center for Fetal Diagnosis and Treatment at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

A red wave — Republicans win big on election night The morning after election night, March 2017, and Johnson in July 2013. Republicans in Nassau County-wide When they ran for office those same years, they won by large margins. races were inching toward a Republican Town Clerk GOP sweep. Richard LaMarca was also Oyster Bay Supervisor re-elected, garnering 68 Joseph Saladino, a percent of the vote. Republican, was reAs for blue victoelected, receiving 71 IN ries, Delia DeRiggipercent of the vote Whitton was re-electand defeating ed in the 11th as was Democrat Amanda Josh Lafazan from the Field, a Plainview Water 18th Legislative District. District commissioner. Republican Oyster Bay Town Council members Tom Christina Daly/Herald Hand, 61, Lou Imbroto, 37, and Michele Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino was Johnson, 47, were also re-elected. Hand reelected Tuesday, receiving more than 70 percent was originally appointed to the post in of the vote.

YEAR REVIEW NOVEMBER

SEA CLIFF/GLEN HEAD HERALD — December 30, 2021

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Grant funds to help keep Sound healthy More projects are in the works to protect the health of the Long Island Sound and Hempstead Harbor, thanks to grant funding that was awarded by the federal government. On Dec. 7, key local advocates for clean water joined U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi at a news conference to announce a new round of funding for the Long Island Sound Futures Fund projects. Nearly $3 million will go to municipalities and organizations in the 3rd Congressional District, including the Village of Sea Cliff and Friends of the Bay. Thirty nine grants totaling $5.4 million were awarded by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, in partnership with the Long Island Sound Study, the U.S. Environmental

Protection Agency, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Long Island Sound Funders Collaborative. Recipients include the Village of Sea Cliff, for continued monitoring of Hempstead Harbor and Friends of the Bay, for expanding oyster spawning sanctuaries in Oyster Bay and Cold Spring Harbor. Sea Cliff will receive a total of $193,496 to continue monitoring Hempstead Harbor water quality, work that is done by the Coalition to Save Hempstead Harbor.

YEAR IN REVIEW DECEMBER

Public Notices

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LEGAL NOTICE PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that a public hearing will be held as to the following matter: Agency:Board of Trustees, Village of Sea Cliff Date: January 10, 2022 Time:7:00 pm Place:Village Hall, 300 Sea Cliff Avenue, Sea Cliff, New York Subject:Application of William Long d/b/a N. S. Metropolitan Bistro, 39 Roslyn Avenue, Sea Cliff, New York for renewal of a cabaret license pursuant to Village Code 50 for a period of three (3) years. Premises are designated as Section 21, Block 134, Lot 1 on the Nassau County Land and Tax Map. Subject:Application of Daniel Roth and Raymond Capone d/b/a Still Partners, 225 Sea Cliff Avenue, Sea Cliff, New York for renewal of a cabaret license pursuant to Village Code 50 for a period of three (3) years. Premises are designated as Section 21, Block 137, Lot 1283, 1284 and 1329 on the Nassau County Land and Tax Map. At the said time and place, all interested persons may be heard with respect to the foregoing matters. All relevant documents may be inspected at the office of the Village Clerk, Village Hall, 300 Sea Cliff Avenue, Sea Cliff, New York, during regular business hours or on our website: seacliff-ny.gov Any person having a disability which would inhibit attendance at, or participation in, the hearing should notify the Village Clerk at least three business days prior to the hearing, so that reasonable efforts may be made to facilitate such attendance and

participation. Dated: December 13, 2021 BY ORDER OF THE MAYOR AND TRUSTEES 129030

LEGAL NOTICE PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that a public hearing will be held as to the following matter: Agency:Planning Board, Village of Sea Cliff Date: January 12, 2022 Time:7:00 pm Place:Via Zoom videoconferencing Subject:Application of Danielle and Kevin Feldman, 6 Circle Way, Sea Cliff, New York, for site plan approval pursuant to Village Code Chapter 107, to maintain a regraded yards. Premises are designated as Section 21, Block 212, Lot 16 on the Nassau County Land and Tax Map. Application of Nehal and Kinjel Gatha, 43 Clinton Street, Sea Cliff, New York, for site plan approval pursuant to Village Code Chapter 107, to construct a swimming pool and associated improvements. Premises are designated as Section 2, Block 118, Lots 9 and 10 on the Nassau County Land and Tax Map. Application of Victoria and Hank Bjorklund, 24 Cliff Way, Sea Cliff, New York, for site plan approval pursuant to Village Code 107 to stabilize and remediate the cliff and repair a collapsed wall, and a wall permit pursuant to Village Code Chapter 64, to construct a 7 foot high precast concrete wall above an 8 foot high concrete wall. Premises are designated as Section 21, Block 197, Lot 248 on the Nassau County Land

and Tax Map. Application of Tina Patetsios, 9 Cromwell Place, Sea Cliff, New York, for a permit pursuant to Village Code Chapter 64, for 6 foot high fencing, made of PVC (93 linear feet). Premises are designated as Section 21, Block 113, Lot 111 on the Nassau County Land Tax Map. The meeting and public hearings shall take place at Village Hall, unless permitted to take place by teleconference or videoconference, in accordance with Governor Cuomo’s orders issued on account of public health and safety concerns related to COVID-19. If the meeting and the public hearings take place via teleconferencing and videoconferencing through Zoom, the meeting will be recorded and a transcription will be provided at a later date. The Zoom login information is: Meeting ID: 811 8307 6732 Password: 145239 Or dial by your location: +1 929 436 2866 or +1 301 715 8592 or +1 312 626 6799 or +1 669 900 6833 or +1 253 215 8782 or +1 346 248 7799 Whether the meeting will take place in-person or through Zoom will be posted on the Village website, under the calendar link for the Planning Board meeting. Please continue to visit the Village website until January 12, 2022, for information on whether the hearing will be held in person or through Zoom. Plans and other materials associated with the application may be reviewed and downloaded at

www.seacliff-ny.gov. Through Zoom, the public will have the opportunity to see and hear the meeting and hearings live. Any interested member of the public may provide public comments by following the procedure herein. If the meeting is in person, comments must be submitted by email prior to the meeting, at planningboard@seacliffny.gov, by mail for receipt not later than 3:00pm on January 12, 2022, or made in person at the hearing. If the meeting is held in person, the Board may render a decision on any hearing, after closing the hearing. If the meeting is held by Zoom, the Board will accept and consider public comments submitted by email no later than 4:00pm on January 18, 2022. Such public comments are to be submitted to planningboard@seacliffny.gov. Public comments must identify the application to which the comments apply. If the meeting is held by Zoom, the Board will consider applications and may make final decisions at a meeting that will be scheduled to be held not less than six (6) days after the conclusion of a public hearing on an application held by videoconference. Prior to rendering a determination, the Board will consider all timely submitted documents. Dated: December 27, 2021 BY ORDER OF THE PLANNING BOARD 129029

PUBLIC AND LEGAL NOTICES… Printed in this publication can be found online. To search by publication name, go to: www.newyorkpublicnotices.com

Adapting to mask mandate

Masks are required in all indoor public places in New York state, unless an establishment requires proof of full vaccination against the coronavirus, Gov. Kathy Hochul said on Dec. 10. The mandate will remain in place until Jan. 15, when Hochul said she would take another look at where New York stands. “As governor, my top priority is to protect the health of New Yorkers and the health of our economy,” Hochul said at a news conference, “and these temporary measures will help us get through the holiday season safely.” Local businesses were expected to do their best to comply with the mandate.

“Grassroots is all about community and respect,” said Rob Mansfield, owner of Grassroots, in Glen Head. “We live here, and want to make it as wonderful as it can be. So, yes, wear a mask when inside, period. We need to stay safe.” Anyone over age 2 is now required to wear a mask in an indoor public space. Those who violate the mandate are subject to a $1,000 fine. Local health departments will be tasked with enforcing it. Courtesy Wikimedia Commons

Until at least Jan. 15, masks are required in all indoor public places, in accordance with Gov. Kathy Hochul’s mask mandate.

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The masthead The box at the far left side of the page is called the masthead. It contains the newspaper’s flag, or nameplate. The masthead offers important information about the paper, including the names of the staff members who are responsible for producing it each week. Publisher Stuart Richner guides the business and news operations of the 18 newspapers in the Herald Community Newspapers group, including the Nassau Herald, which serves the Five Towns, and Heralds for Baldwin, Bellmore, East Meadow, Franklin Square-Elmont, Freeport, Glen Cove, Long Beach, Lynbrook-East Rockaway, Malverne-West Hempstead, Merrick, Oceanside-Island Park, Oyster Bay, Rockville Centre, Sea Cliff-Glen Head, Valley Stream, Wantagh and Seaford. Each paper’s editor is responsible for the assignment, selection and placement of stories, most of which the editors and reporters write. The executive editor oversees news operations for all 18 papers in the group. The production department is responsible for the papers’ design. The advertising and art departments produce the large, often illustrated display advertisements that appear throughout the papers. The classified department produces the smaller advertisements at the back of the papers. The masthead also lists each paper’s age, the names of its founders, its address, email, and telephone and fax numbers, and provides notice that all contents of the paper are copyrighted.

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he Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon and in Shanksville, Pa., set off a cascade of worldwide catastrophes over the subsequent two decades — the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and many other terrorist attacks, in multiple countries. September 2001 seems like a lifetime ago, but for those old enough to remember that terrible year, it remains a haunting memory, a fever dream that we try to lock in the backs of our brains but is ever-present. For those of us in Nassau County that day, we could only watch in horror as grayblack smoke plumes spiraled out of the twisted, crumbled remains of the twin towers upward into an otherwise perfect azure sky. The plumes were visible from points across the county. Shortly after the attacks, people started to gather on the beach in Lido and at the Norman J. Levy Park and Preserve in Merrick — the highest point on the South Shore — to watch the billowing smoke, staring silently in stunned disbelief. The United States homeland was under attack for the first time since World War II, and at that moment, we had no idea who the invader was, or the future suffering in distant lands that the attacks would bring. It was all incomprehensibly terrifying. In a front-page story in the Heralds’ Sept. 13-19 issue, “Terror at the Towers,” reported by Scott Brinton, Carrie James, Laura Lane, Jeff Lipton, Larry Maier and Cindy Roth, this is how we described the scene: “A wave of fear and despair raced across [Nassau County] Tuesday morning

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EAst MEADo

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lauRa lane

’m really scared. It’s so scary if we have something of a World War III. I’m really, really scared. Rollen Cajoles after terrorists slammed two hijacked jetliners into the World Trade Center, sending the Twin Towers crumbling into Lower Manhattan. “In the afternoon, surviving victims of the attack filtered into Nassau by Long Island Rail Road, like refugees from a war zone. Many, who were still shaking dusty, white debris from their clothes, were not from the area but had taken the first train they could out of the city and gotten off at the first possible stop.” We sent our reporters to the train stations to meet the survivors of the attacks. Sylvia Melendez, who worked in Lower Manhattan, described the chaos after the towers crashed to the ground. “The rush of clouds of debris forced everyone out into the streets,” she said. “Everyone was running away.” Here in Nassau, people were glued to their TVs and radios, watching and listening, hoping for the best but fearing the worst. “I’ve been listening all morning,” Luisa DeGirolamo, who worked at La Margherita Pastry Shop in Bellmore Village, said. “I’m devasted. I can’t get over it.” Rollen Cagoles, of East Meadow, said, “I’m really scared. It’s so scary if we have something of a World War III. I’m really,

really scared.” Many parents rushed to their children’s schools to pick them up and take them home, fearful of further attacks. “A lot of people came and pulled their kids out because they didn’t want them to be in a place with a large group of people,” said Pat Brace, PTA president of Bowling Green Elementary School in East Meadow. “They thought they would be a target.” Nassau police doubled patrols around municipal buildings, schools, houses of worship and transportation lines. Police also diverted westbound traffic away from New York City. Motorists who had to travel major throughfares were advised to stay home. The military closed down the airspace over Long Island, with unlighted F-16 fighter jets streaking overhead above John F. Kennedy International Airport into the night of Sept. 11 to 12. Nearly 500 Long Islanders died in the attacks at the World Trade Center or later succumbed to 9/11-related illnesses. Each one was a life extinguished too soon. We must remember all of them — their essential goodness, their essential humanity. In the coming days, there will be solemn ceremonies in remembrance of the dead. Consider attending one to show your support for the victims, or stop and pause for a moment at 8:46 and 9:04 a.m. on Saturday and reflect on or say a prayer for the victims. In this way, you will help to keep their memories alive for generations to come. “Never forget” should never become a trite slogan. It should be a motto by which we live.

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HERALD HERALD HERALD CRIstIna aRRoyo RodRIguez

Reflecting on the Sept. 11 attacks 20 years later

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A letter to Governor Hochul To the Editor: Congratulations and good luck to Gov. Kathy Hochul. She has been thrust into a role that is critical to the 19.45 million people who live, work and play in the Empire State. Here on Long Island, we are especially hopeful for her good work. The challenges on Long Island are many. Our aging infrastructure needs serious attention. As the nation’s first suburb, we are living with an antiquated system that requires an upgrade. Our increasingly overburdened roadways, bridges and tunnels are dismal. The environmental infrastructure is failing. Drinking water has challenges, including the quality and quantity. Surface water contamination is rampant from nitrogen and other pollutants entering our creeks, bays, harbors and the Long Island Sound. Our air is polluted with toxins too small to see with the naked eye. We are vulnerable to sea level rise, climate change and the inevitable next big storm. The fact is, we aren’t ready. Our environment is too important for the noaction tendencies of the past to continue. Our

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HERALD Senior Reporter:

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HERALD HERALD HERALD Editor:

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Senior Editor:

Senior Reporter:

Opinion columns We publish three columns every week. Columns represent the views of the writers themselves, not of the Herald. Each writer works independently and chooses his or her own subjects. Among our regular contributors are the Heralds’ executive editor, Scott Brinton, and the Nassau Herald’s former executive editor, Randi Kreiss, both of whom have won numerous awards for their opinion writing. We also feature columns by prominent political figures, including former State Assemblyman Jerry Kremer, who is now a consultant. And we regularly invite guest columnists to offer their views.

Opinion pages opinions

In celebration of teachers

hen talking with my grandkids about returning to school this fall — to the building, with other kids, not the dining room table — I was reminded of a school day of my own years ago. “Bobby.” I heard my name called on the second-floor landing of A. B. Davis High School in Mount Vernon, N.Y. The caller was Mr. Leone, Joseph Leone, my biology teacher and college adviser. “Why haven’t you signed up for ALAn the SATs?” he asked. sinGer Neither of my parents had attended college, my mother had died eight years earlier, and my father, a vacuum cleaner salesman, had his hands full with two active kids. When I think about the controversies surrounding school openings this fall, I think, too, of the critical role of teachers in the lives of their students. That certainly was the case for me. Mr. Leone wasn’t alone in affecting my life for the better. I was going to drop out of college after my first year not only because of the cost, but also because I

questioned why I was there. I entered to be a minister, but had become disillusioned with organized religion. My college adviser, Mildred Martin, helped me sort through the financial and philosophical questions and urged me to appeal my financial aid award, and I continued as her student. Other teachers stand out as well. Miss Calabrese and Miss King, in elementary school, “Pop” Phillips in high school, Mark Ebersole in college, and Kay Moore and Robin Williams in graduate school. The past year of living and learning with Covid in our path and in our shadows revealed the inequalities of access to teachers like the ones I’ve known. When teachers are diverted from their main responsibilities, teaching and advising, they can’t fulfill their roles to the fullest. It is especially difficult for them to be effective when students lack access to broadband and Wi-Fi, a quiet place to study, and supportive adults to help them with difficult assignments. A distinguished psychologist once said that we human beings are the “teaching species.” All species must learn enough to leave the nest, but humans turned teaching into a “calling,” a vocation dedicated to preparing the next generation

was going to drop out of college after my first year. I questioned why I was there.

Letters looming issues need real solutions, not lip service. We need to address the Island’s solid-waste crisis, illegal dumping and the associated increases in disposal costs. Hochul hasn’t been handed the reins of the state at our finest hour. New Yorkers suffer with an unsustainable tax burden that’s accelerating the exodus of high-net-worth people, employers and job creators. The growing disparity in income and wealth, an increasing immigrant population and the associated educational and health care challenges are monumental. And our young workforce and empty-nesters are leaving because of a lack of affordable housing. Leaders in the past have forsaken us in favor of book deals, their own selfish agendas and their next election. Indeed, some are in prison for their bad behavior, but the reality is, the good people of New York have been sold out, and that’s why we require Hochul’s earnest leadership. We have hope in her vision, fortitude and ability to make the really tough decisions. We’re counting on her. Most important, please know that we are here for you, governor. Long Island and the state of New York have immense resources, none greater than their residents. There will be vocal naysayers who attempt to stop Hochul from addressing these vexing challenges. There are people who talk a lot, and there are people who get stuff done. To Hochul, I say this:

merrick

Senior Reporter:

Robert A. Scott, Ph.D., is president emeritus of Adelphi University; the author of, or contributor to, 18 books and monographs; and the author of hundreds of articles on higher education and social issues. His latest book is “How University Boards Work” (Johns Hopkins University Press, 2018; Eric Hoffer Prize awardee, 2019).

Special features The op-ed, or opposite the editorial, page features a weekly Framework photo, which is chosen by our photo editor. The Framework offers a creative, at times humorous outlet for our photography staff. In this spot, we also publish photos sent to us by readers featuring them on vacation, reading the Herald at various international landmarks. We call it Herald Around the World. At times, a correction might appear on the op-ed page. We strive each week for the highest standards of accuracy and accountability. When we make mistakes in our reporting, we believe we must own up to them and correct the record.

FrAmeWork by Christina Daly

Letters to the editor

WILL FLOWER Bayville

Cuomo should be impeached To the Editor: Re Robert Rosenberg’s column “History repeats itself in Albany — again and again” (Aug. 26-Sept. 1): I agree with Rosenberg’s opinions, and would add that former Gov. Andrew Cuomo would indeed get the last hurrah and make “the State Legislature and state government look like a ship of fools” if it gave him a free pass on the nursing home deaths scandal and his subsequent cooking of the books to make it appear less egregious than he would have had us believe. Interestingly, Gov. Kathy Hochul revealed immediately that these deaths were undercounted by some 12,000. By ordering nursing homes to accept Covid-19 patients, Cuomo, threatening owners with penalty if they did not comply, exposed many more confined elderly to the virus, potentially causing their deaths. With all due respect, I consider manslaughter to be an even more serious

Nassau

OceaNside/islaNd Park

Senior Editor:

Associate Editor:

Jeff Bessen

to the nation. They believed that education should be public; is critical to democracy because it prepares an informed citizenry, able to ask questions; is important because it prevents aristocracy and promotes meritocracy; should be free from religion and ideology; should be equal and equally available to all citizens; and is a public investment that is worth the cost. While the ideals of the Founders foundered on the compromises made to create a republic, they nevertheless created within the Constitution the mechanisms for correcting early mistakes and providing the means for continuing the pursuit of a “more perfect union,” which we have shown the ability to do. As we help our kids and grandkids, or relatives or neighbors’ kids, prepare for a new school year, let us acknowledge the noble profession of teaching, perhaps by remembering our own teachers, and do what we can to fulfill the Founders’ aspirations for true equality of education in America.

Please be the latter. Be bold. We heard you say you’d “fight like hell for New York,” and that’s exactly what Long Island needs.

HERALD HERALD Jordan Vallone

with knowledge, skills and values. As a result, teachers have a moral, social, civic and historical responsibility for not only educating each new generation but also, in this way, creating the future. We must remember the vocation, the calling, of teaching. As the historian Jacques Barzun said, “Teaching is not a lost art, but the regard for it is a lost tradition.” At the beginning of our nation, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson stated that public education was at the heart of democracy. “The whole people must take upon themselves the education of the whole people and be willing to bear the expenses of it,” Adams wrote. “There should not be a district of one mile square without a school in it, not founded by a charitable individual, but maintained at the public expense of the people themselves.” Jefferson expressed similar sentiments. It is unfortunate, therefore, that some local school boards see teachers simply as employees, instead of as those who inspire discovery and awaken students’ imaginations, as Mark Van Doren and Robert Frost said. But while the Founders argued that schooling was a local responsibility, they were adamant about the public benefits

HERALD Tom Carrozza

The Never Forget Concert — Jones Beach

crime than the sexual harassment charges that forced Cuomo’s resignation. Given the present state of affairs, it is now the State Legislature (and, ultimately, the State Senate) that is on trial, and it remains to be seen whether playing politics will take precedence over what must be done in the name of justice. How can

Oyster Bay

rOckville ceNtre

anyone trust Cuomo now? He contends that he will not seek future political office, but only impeachment would close the book on that possibility, definitively and conclusively.

We welcome readers’ letters to the editor and publish most that we receive. We believe these letters are critically important, because they reflect the shared voices of the communities that we cover. Letters should be 250 to 300 words in length. Each letter must include an address and phone number. Our editors call all letter writers to confirm the authenticity of letters before publication. We edit letters for length, grammar, spelling and foul language. We do not censor viewpoints. If we believe a letter requires major revisions, we will send it back to the writer and ask that he or she change it so that meaning and intent are not lost. Readers should send letters to the editors of their hometown newspapers. They can be sent by email (preferred), fax or mail. All contact information is listed on the masthead and on our website, liherald.com.

ROBERT RuBALSKY East Rockaway

sea cliff/gleN head

seafOrd

valley stream

WaNtagh

HERALD HERALD HERALD HERALD HERALD HERALD Senior Editor:

laura lane

Senior Editor:

mIKe smollIns

Editor:

JIll nossa

Editor:

KaTe nalepInsKI

Editor:

Juan lasso

Editor:

KaTe nalepInsKI

SEA CLIFF/GLEN HEAD HERALD — December 30, 2021

What are the editorial pages all about? Who writes editorials? How do letters and guest columns get published? This week’s pages offer some answers to our readers. We thank The Riverdale Press for the idea.

The tried & true realtor. Over 40 years of successes for my clients.

Sandi Lefkowitz May this holiday season bless you and your family with happiness, peace, and prosperity. Sandi Lefkowitz | Associate Real Estate Broker Glen Head/Old Brookville Office | 240 Glen Head Road, Glen Head, NY | 516.674.2000 | c.516.816.3461 | sandilefkowitz@danielgale.com Each office is independently owned and operated. We are pledged to provide equal opportunity for housing to any prospective customer or client, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin.

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December 30, 2021 — SEA CLIFF/GLEN HEAD HERALD