New year, same strong goals for library
By MiChAel MAlASZCZYK mmalaszczyk@liherald.comWith 2022 in the rear-view mirror, the Seaford Public Library is both celebrating a successful year gone by and looking forward to a new year ahead.
The library, at 2234 Jackson Ave., has been serving Seaford and the surrounding communities since 1955, with essential services such as academic enrichment, summer activities and reading groups. The library had been forced to make many of its programs remote due to Covid-19, and spent much of 2022 getting back on its feet.
When the omicron surge simmered down early last year and Gov. Kathy Hochul lifted mask mandates, the library didn’t have to spend too much time playing catch-up, thanks to a dedicated community.
“I think the public was waiting for us to come
Chabad Center raises funds for preschool expansion
By JoRDAN VAlloNe jvallone@liherald.com
The Chabad of Merrick-Bellmore-Wantagh ended 2022 with a bang, raising more than $450,000 in just two days in an online campaign to benefit many of the programs it operates.
The Chabad runs a highly regarded preschool, a Hebrew school, and a summer camp out of its Hewlett Avenue location in Merrick. The Chabad, through the Cindy Knoll Circle of Hope, also assists individuals and families impacted by breast cancer and other illnesses, provides food to those in need, and offers several other programs.
It is a nonprofit that is solely responsible for its own budget, Chabad officials said.
Rabbi Shimon Kramer, who oversees the Chabad with his wife, Chanie, said typically, they end the year with a large fundraiser that generally benefits their three educational programs, its kosher food bank and Circle of Hope.
During the past two years, the Chabad added an extra component to the campaign — to raise money for the expansion of its preschool. The first fundraiser last January drew in more than $500,000 to help jumpstart their visions for the space.
The preschool’s administra-
tors want to adopt the Reggio Emilia approach, an Italian philosophy that encourages learning in a non-traditional environment.
“We want it to look beautiful — we want it to be outstanding in every way,” Chanie Kramer said. “We want to make it a special place for kids to be able to learn in an optimal environment.”
Rabbi Kramer said Chabad’s current classrooms were built with a traditional concept in mind and that the newer rooms will have added touches. The expansion would be internal and not require the actual building on Hewlett Avenue to be made
larger, with some offices to be converted into new classrooms.
Chanie Kramer said the classrooms would encourage students to utilize their learning space almost like an additional instructor.
“We don’t focus so much on bright, splashy carpets and colorful walls, and things like that,” she said. “The work of the chil-
dren is more of what’s displayed. We set up provocations for the children to get their minds curious, to be engaged, and to want to learn.
“We of course have a curriculum,” she added. “But it’s childcentered rather than teachercentered. If the children are interested in exploring a certain
With 2022 in the past, library looks ahead
back and have the in-person stuff,” Jillian Pelliccia, the library’s teen services director, said. “I didn’t really feel any hesitation on their part once we brought back in-person programs.”
When the mask mandate was first lifted in February, the library capped its programs at 25 participants to reduce the risk of transmission. With the programs typically filling up regardless, in September, the library moved its programs back up to 40 participants.
In the meantime, the library made significant progress digitalizing many historical Seaford books, such as yearbooks, making them available for the community to read. This is something that will continue into 2023, library officials said.
“We also made a couple of capital improvements,” Frank McKenna, library director, said. “There’s always something in the building that needs upgrading. We had our roof renovated this year.”
These improvements will also continue into 2023, with a focus on renovating the library’s elevators, as well as upgrading the fire alarm system.
The library’s department directors
shared with the Herald their most memorable moments of 2022.
“I enjoy doing the summer reading,” Jacqueline Lopez, the library’s children’s services director, said. “It’s great having the community come all in since the kids are off from school. And we have craft programs, science programs, magic shows, everything you can think of crunched into two months. It’s exciting.”
For Pelliccia, 2022 was the beginning of an opportunity to grow the young adult programs.
“Getting a desk downstairs was the best part,” she said. “Now I don’t have to worry about moving around so much and can focus on making that space teenfriendly. It’ll help us get more of them involved.”
McKenna and Kristen Jording, adult programming director, agreed that simply coming back from Covid-19 was the best part of the year.
“Doing programs that we had to cancel for two years was nice,” Jording said. “Bringing back our old patrons and bringing in new ones, that was nice. I enjoyed doing author events and outdoor movies again.”
The Seaford Library plans to work at
In 2022, the Seaford Public Library made a strong return from Covid-19. The library has both new and continuing goals for 2023.
both a local and regional level to improve programming. At the local level, the library will seek to work more with organizations, including the Chamber of Commerce, the Historical Museum, the Wellness Council, and the Lions Club, of which McKenna is a member. Library officials said they also hope to work closely with newly elected State Sen. Steve
Rhoads and Assemblyman David McDonough to secure state aid for the library.
“We also have a three-year strategic plan with the Nassau Library System,” McKenna said. “This includes everything from capital improvement to programming services, the whole gamut of what a library does.”
A spotlight on success at Levittown’s final 2022 meeting
Levittown celebrated academics, athletics and the arts at last month’s board of education meeting. Opening traditionally with the Pledge of Allegiance, trustees, administrators and audience members were joined by students from the MacArthur High School Sign Language Club, who showcased their knowledge of American Sign Language.
In the auditorium, the MacArthur Wind Ensemble performed a trio of holiday tunes under the direction of band director Joseph Romano. For the final song, “Jingle Bells,” the audience was encouraged to join in by jingling their keys.
The board recognized the Long Island champion girls soccer team from MacArthur High School, which competed in the New York State semifinals. All players were introduced and individual accolades, such as All-County selections, were acknowledged.
Keith Snyder, director of physical education, said the championship was the result of a true team effort, with every player and coach contributing to the success. Coach Steve Costello described this year’s Generals squad as a “forever team” filled with a wonderful group of studentathletes.
“This is the kind of team that people will talk about forever in Levittown,” Coach Costello said.
Also during the meeting, Girl Scouts from Troop 3342 discussed their Bronze Award project, which included enhancements to a hummingbird sanctuary they built in 2019 at Levittown Memorial’s Outdoor Learning Center.
— Michael Malaszczyk
Preschool expansion is underway at center
unit of interest, the teacher dives in with them, and they go a step further.”
The preschool runs a pre-kindergarten, toddler and nursery program and has a large, outdoor playground. One of the classrooms isn’t even in a permanent space, the Kramers explained, but is rather separated from a communal area with room dividers. The expansion would allow for about three or four new classrooms to be built, increasing the total to around eight classrooms, they said. The Chabad said it plans to convert one of these new spaces into an infant room, in addition to an immersive, indoor play space. This additional space should benefit the Hebrew school and Chabad’s summer camp, and the Kramers estimated that once the renovations are completed, they’ll be able to accommodate around 150 more children across all three programs.
Marianna Borets, the preschool’s director, expressed excitement for the expansion because it meets the demands of the community.
“We have lists into 2024, maybe into 2025, of kids that want to come, and we’ve been really jam-packed, so we have no
school, and help families who may not be able to afford it. “Living on Long Island is
“We care about these families,” Rabbi Kramer said. “And if someone can’t pay, we try to do our best to make it feasible for them to come in.”
The fundraising campaign took place online beginning on Dec. 20, when potential donors could read what their donation would benefit and choose an amount to give. After asking a few donors to step up, the Chabad offered to match hundreds of donations, propelling the amount to its final number. A total of around 350 people donated to the campaign.
“I just want to say that I am pleasantly surprised, and I think we live in a great, great community,” Rabbi Kramer said. “For 350 people to come out and to give charity at the end of the year — whatever touched their heart, Chanie and I are very touched.
“It’s not even the fact that we have the funds, and now we’re able to build,” he
added. “It’s that fact that we have the support of the community, and that we have such good people in our community.”
The Town of Hempstead has already approved the plans for expansion, and the Kramers are hopeful the renovations would be completed by September.
Congregation Beth Tikvah lights up the menorah
The Hebrew School of Congregation Beth Tikvah in Wantagh recently held a Hanukkah menorah lighting ceremony.
Rabbi Moshe Weisblum led the lighting.
As the story of Hanukkah goes, one day’s worth of oil miraculously lasted for eight days.
Rabbi Weisblum explained to the children the origins of Hanukkah and how it relates to the way the holiday is celebrated today.
In addition to lighting the menorah, the children sang holiday songs, baked latkes and received chocolate coins and gifts.
Congregation Beth tikvah, located on Woodbine Avenue in Wantagh, always values its younger congregants and involves them in these kinds of celebrations.
“Elder Law Estate Planning” is an area of law that combines features of both elder law and estate planning and relates mostly to the needs and concerns of the middle class.
Estate planning was formerly only for the wealthy who wanted to shelter their assets from taxes and pass more on to their heirs. But today estate planning is also needed by the middle class who may have assets exceeding one million dollars, especially when you consider life insurance in the mix.
Estate planning with trusts became popular starting in 1991 when AARP concluded that probate should be avoided and trusts should be used to transfer assets to heirs without a court proceeding. Trusts are also widely used today to avoid guardianship proceedings on disability, protect privacy, and reduce the chance of a will contest in court.
As the population aged and life expectancies increased, the field of elder law emerged in the late 1980’s to help people protect assets from nursing home costs by using Medicaid asset protection strategies.
The two fields of elder law and estate planning still tend to be separate, which can
work against a client needs. For instance, a client may see an elder law attorney for Medicaid asset protection planning in the event of disability, but overlook the benefits of estate planning, such as avoiding estate taxes or keeping assets in the bloodline. Similarly, a client may have prepared an effective estate plan for death with an estate planning attorney, but failed to avail themselves of Medicaid asset protection strategies for their lifetimes.
For this reason, we have been practicing “elder law estate planning” together for over thirty years to address these needs:
• Getting your assets to your heirs, with the least amount of court costs, taxes and legal fees possible.
• Keeping your assets in the bloodline for your grandchildren and protecting those assets from your children’s divorces, lawsuits and creditors.
• Protecting your assets from the costs of longterm care and qualifying you for government benefits to pay for your care either at home or in a nursing facility.
• Avoiding guardianship proceedings if you become disabled and probate court proceedings on death.
Photos courtesy Henry Arkinspotlight athlete
Herald sports
Seaford returns talented lineup
By garrett D. UriBe sports@liherald.comLast season Seaford sent more wrestlers than ever to Albany – doubling a previous program high as six Vikings qualified for the state Division 2 Championships.
aNDie aDaMs
Lawrence Senior Basketballthere’s a NeW an all-time leading scorer for Lawrence’s girls’ hoops program. Senior point guard Andie Adams, who last winter reached the 1,000 mark, entered this season 46 points away from breaking 1999 graduate Danielle Moorer’s record of 1,049 career points and did so in a win over Roosevelt on Dec. 6. Adams earned AllCounty honors last season and averaged 23.5 points per game.
gaMes to WatCh
thursday, Jan. 5
Gymnastics: Oceanside at South Side 7 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 6
Wrestling: East Meadow at Long Beach 6 p.m.
Boys Basketball: Syosset at Freeport 7 p.m.
Boys Basketball: Port Washington at Oceanside 7 p.m.
Boys Basketball: East Meadow at V.S. Central 7 p.m.
Girls Basketball: V.S. Central at East Meadow 7 p.m.
Wrestling: Mepham at MacArthur 7 p.m.
Wrestling: Roosevelt at Hewlett 7 p.m.
saturday, Jan. 7
Girls Basketball: Clarke at North Shore 10 a.m.
Boys Basketball: MacArthur at Long Beach 12 p.m.
Boys Basketball: Jericho at Mepham 12 p.m.
Boys Basketball: Roslyn at Elmont 12 p.m.
Boys Basketball: Kennedy at South Side 12 p.m.
Boys Basketball: North Shore at Clarke 12 p.m.
Boys Basketball: Manhasset at Hewlett 12 p.m.
Girls Basketball: Glen Cove at Carey 12 p.m.
Girls Basketball: South Side at Kennedy 12 p.m.
Girls Basketball: Mineola at Lynbrook 12 p.m.
Girls Basketball: Hewlett at Lawrence 12 p.m.
Girls Basketball: Long Beach at MacArthur 12 p.m.
Boys Basketball: Seaford at Lawrence 4 p.m.
Five of them return this season –including reigning Nassau County Division 2 champions Jack Godoy and Louis Cannata – as Seaford, which came within a single match of winning both its first county title since 2004 and a dual meet championship last season, sets out to close those gaps and further widen its footprint at state.
“Last year we fell just short in the dual meet playoffs and county tournament,” said coach Dave Takseraas. “This year we’ve made a point that we’ve done the runner-up thing. Now let’s go be champions.”
Starting 2-2 in Division 2 dual meets, with solid team showings at three early tournaments – including second- and third-place finishes at the Manhasset Invitational Dec. 3 and the Ralph Jansson Holiday Tournament at Valley Stream North Dec. 17, respectively, Seaford has shown its designs on a title are doable, provided it can navigate what has become an imposing minefield of injuries.
Godoy, whose championship at the Manhasset tournament at 138 pounds came at the cost of an injured toe, is expected to be out till mid- January, while fellow county champ and statequalifier Cannata (knee) has been in and out of the lineup, going 1-1 in duals at 145 but missing all three tournaments.
“Jack’s our best wrestler, someone we count on for leadership,” Takseraas said of the senior who was runner-up at the season-opening Knights Classic at Uniondale. “Louis is another one we’re counting on. We haven’t had our best starters all at once yet. Thankfully it’s early; we’ll have them back soon.”
Senior captains Aidan Lukas (172 pounds) and Max Addiego (172 and 160) have supplied ample firepower in the absence of other Vikings big guns, going a combined 5-1 in duals with a pair of pins apiece. Lukas has been runner-up at
all three tournaments for Seaford, while Addiego finished second and third at Jansson and Knights respectively.
Freshman Connor Murphy has won both of his dual-meet matches by fall at 102 pounds, while finishing second at Jansson and third in both earlier tournaments.
Ashley Diaz – who as a sophomore last season finished fifth at Nassau, becoming the first-ever Long Island girl to place in sectional wrestling tournament – took second at Manhasset and third at Knights at 118, and along with Addiego had one of Seaford’s only two wins against Hewlett in a dual meet Dec. 7. “Ashley’s doing great this year, she keeps improving,” Takseraas said of the junior recently named a Vikings captain.
“She can do great things, which we’re excited to see.”
Not to be outdone by his big sister in setting impressive precedents, seventhgrader Joel Diaz became Seaford’s youngest-ever tournament champion, winning at 102 at Manhasset. Patrick McClernon, a senior captain who was runner-up at county and qualified for state last season, made his season debut off the injured list placing second at Jansson at 132, and won his dual-meet match Dec. 21 pinning North Shore’s Nicolas Gugliano.
“We’ve got good depth and good wrestlers returning,” Takseraas said. “Hopefully that’s enough to put us over the top.”
Herald Sc H ool S
In the gym, these seniors are extraordinary leaders
Seaford High School seniors Will Cascio and Marina Dupkin were honored for their active role in physical education classes. They were the 2022-2023 recipients of the Outstanding Physical Education Student Award, presented by the Nassau Zone of the New York State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance.
The award recognizes two students from every high school, one female and one male, who exemplify physical performance, scholastic ability and leadership qualities. Will and Marina were selected by the Seaford High School physical education faculty. In physical education classes, Will said he wants to make sure that everyone is having fun and actively participating. He added that it is humbling that the physical education teachers felt he was deserving of this award. Will is a member of the cross country, winter track and spring track teams.
Marina said she shows leadership by striving to make the gym a safe space for all. During a recent volleyball unit, she used her knowledge of the sport as a member of Seaford’s varsity team to help teach her classmates different skills. Being recognized as a leader, Marina added, is an honor.
Will and Marina were invited to an awards dinner on Dec. 5 at the Crest Hollow Country Club, where all Nassau County recipients of the award were honored.
–Michael MalaszczykLIJ Medical Center is in the top 10% of hospitals nationally for oncology, according to U.S.News&WorldReport. Northwell.edu/NoLimits
Our doctors are raising health by pioneering innovative approaches to cancer from novel chemotherapy techniques to first-in- the-nation robotic mastectomies with minimal scarring. Because when it comes to cancer, there’s no status quo. There’s only “how far can we go?”
Echo Park closing doors for $2 million renovation
By MARK NOLAN mnolan@liherald.comThe Echo Park indoor pool complex in West Hempstead has a long history of providing entertaining relief for Hempstead town residents. But that history will have to pause over the next several months while town officials push through the first phase of renovations, closing the pool until at least around Labor Day this year. And those $2 million worth of construction is just the beginning.
“The renovation of Echo Park is a multimillion-dollar project that will be completed over the next few years,” said Hempstead Town Supervisor Don Clavin. “The Town of Hempstead is committed to upgrading this facility while minimizing the inconvenience for our local swimmers who frequent the park year-round.”
potentially save on energy bills.
That should bring Echo Park into the late summer or early fall, a town spokesperson said. What comes next is still being decided by town officials.
“The new and improved Echo Park will surely make a splash when completed,” Clavin said.
In the meantime, typical Echo Park visitors can travel to East Meadow instead to use the indoor pool there. The Nassau County Aquatic Center will accept passes issued by the Town of Hempstead during the renovation project.
DON CLAviN Hempstead town supervisor
Echo Park is generally open to all town residents, providing a rate discount to those who don’t live inside an incorporated village or special park district. Daily rates there are typically $8 to $9 for individuals, and $4.50 for children between 5 and 9, as well as senior citizens, the disabled, and volunteer first responders.
The first phase of construction includes a new air ventilation system, something that has taken on even more importance during the Covid-19 pandemic era. Other scheduled work includes a new state-of-the-art pool filtration system, new energy-efficient lighting, renovation of the north and south interior walls, and recaulking windows to prevent air leaks and
Nassau County offers similar rates in its East Meadow complex for those living in the county who also buy a three-year “leisure pass” for $36. Those without the pass, and those who don’t live in Nassau County, could pay daily rates as high as $22 for adults, and $14 for children.
And renovations in Echo Park aren’t exactly new. The West Hempstead complex
reopened in January 2018 after a $208,000 renovation that included resurfacing several indoor areas and refinishing the diving boards. The year before, Echo Park was part of a town-wide $1.26 million recreational facility improvement plan that focused on restroom and locker room upgrades.
Despite the inconvenience this time around, town councilman Thomas Muscarella says the upgrades are needed.
“Improvements to the pool are long
overdue,” he said. “Echo Park is a beloved facility in our area. Residents frequent the indoor pool all year.”
Other than this brief closure each winter, the Nassau Boulevard Echo Park facility is open seven days a week, year-round. It’s also home to a number of other yearround aquatic, physical fitness and cultural arts programs.
For more information on the center and using the Nassau County facility, call the Echo Park office at (516) 483-7400.
Wisdom Lane students take art to a new dimension
Students at Wisdom Lane Middle School in the Levittown School Public District are flexing their art skills in Claudia Entin’s and Stephanie Mazza’s classes by creating and portraying three-dimensional objects.
Now on display in the school’s art showcase are the latest eye-catching works by students.
One set of projects feature cubes with colorful pop art on each of its six sides, resulting in a wide variety of complex patterns, such as optical illusions that trick the eye.
They learned how a work of art can transform and become something new when brought into the third dimension.
Sixth graders took on the challenging task of rendering a realistic drawing of a physical object. Using pears as their subjects, students captured every curve and shadow in a series of drawings.
— Michael Malaszczyk
Courtesy Levittown Schools
STEPPING OUT
Dancing With The Stars Live
Heroism unfolds in an epic adventure
By Karen Bloom
elcome the New Year with another dose of that wonderful world of Disney. The latest Disney ice extravaganza arrives at UBS Arena in Elmont to the delight of families who can’t get enough of their favorite Disney moments. Audiences can relive some of the iconic characters and stories — classic and new — when Disney on Ice’s “Into the Magic” brings a lineup of Disney “royalty” here for four days, opening Jan. 5.
WHERE WHEN
• Thursday through Sunday. Jan. 5-11; times vary.
• Tickets start at $20 (pricing may fluctuate based on demand); available at Ticketmaster.com or DisneyOnIce.com
• UBS Arena, 2400 Hempstead Turnpike, Elmont
This production showcases inspiring favorites from the Disney canon, including those spunky royal sisters, Anna and Elsa, from the always popular mega-hit “Frozen.” Joining this spirited pair are the forever-enchanting Belle, dauntless Rapunzel and the charming bandit Flynn, the determined Cinderella, the aspiring young musician Miguel, and the daring and fearless Moana. Their courage and plucky grit to live their best lives are set forth in lively — albeit condensed — re-tellings of “Beauty & the Beast,” “Coco,” “Tangled,” “Cinderella,” “Frozen” and “Moana.”
These unforgettable characters and their adventures are brought to life on ice in a captivating production that transports audiences to worlds where imaginations soar and in true Disney spirit “anything can happen if you just believe.” Guided by Mickey and Minnie and their crew, of course — with the assistance of two hosts this time around — these tales are told through graceful, artful skating and dynamic special effects, set to the soundtrack fans know and love.
In keeping with longstanding Disney tradition, it’s a fast-paced spectacle with rapidly changing segments.
“All celebrate why these stories are so special,” says Chase Belmontes, who performs as Gaston, Belle’s strapping suitor. “The uplifting nature of these stories all end strongly with an inspiring message about finding your dreams and finding your inner hero.”
That message surely resonates with the 27-year-old Las Vegas native, who is in his third year with Disney On Ice. “I grew up with Disney as a
kid,” he says. “I loved Disney and watched all the movies. Being here now is a personal accomplishment.”
As with his fellow cast members, Belmontes’ competitive skating skills enhance the high level of athleticism that is the hallmark of these productions. Solos, pair and fast-paced ensemble skating with high-flying jumps add to the appeal of the stories the audience knows so well.
“There are so many iconic moments,” he says, noting the pairs sequence in his “Beauty and the Beast “ portion, which also includes a dramatic ensemble routine. “It’s all very exciting.”
And, of course, “Frozen” elicits an enthusiastic response. As Belmontes says: “Always a fan favorite.” Especially when it comes time for “Let It Go.”
“It’s absolutely magical,” he continues. “Everyone sings along to every single word. It’s such a wonderful experience.”
There’s plenty of singing, with the audiences up on their feet throughout the show. And, naturally, Belles, Cinderellas and many others are scattered throughout the arena.
“Everyone dresses up in costume, even adults.” Belmontes says. “It’s amazing. So sit back and soak it all in. There’s a lot to look at and enjoy.”
indeed.
The popular dance showcase is back on tour this winter to celebrate its 31st season. The tour delivers electrifying dance performances from world-renowned dancers including Brandon Armstrong, Alan Bersten, Sasha Farber, Gleb Savchenko, Emma Slater, Britt Stewart, and ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ winner Alexis Warr, who now appears on ‘Dancing with the Stars.’ See the ballroom brought to life in this new production featuring your favorite ‘Dancing’ pros, plus special guest stars, performing original numbers as well as some of the showstoppers featured in Season 31. With dazzling routines in every style, fans will enjoy an unforgettable night full of all the magic of the television competition series and more. Experience the excitement, glitz and glamour they see in the ballroom live, up-close and personal.
Tuesday, Jan. 10, 8 p.m. $99, $79, $59, $49. Tilles Center for the Performing Arts, LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Blvd., Brookville. (516) 299-3100, or TillesCenter.org.
Literary Luncheon
Madison Theatre hosts Deborah Goodrich-Royce, who discusses ‘Reef Road,’ her latest psychological thriller that explores the psychology of criminals and their victims, while drawing from real-life events that happened before she was born. Goodrich Royce is the author of the widely praised psychological thrillers ‘Ruby Falls’ and ‘Finding Mrs. Ford.’ A former film and television actress, she is remembered by soap opera fans as Silver Kane, sister of the legendary Erica Kane, on ABC’s ‘All My Children.’ She later worked as a story editor for Miramax Films and was instrumental in developing such films as ‘Emma’ and ‘A Wrinkle in Time.’ With her husband, Chuck, she restored the Avon Theatre in Stamford, Connecticut, which now operates as a not-for-profit dedicated to independent, classic, foreign, and documentary films.
Wednesday, Jan. 18, noon. $50. Molloy University’s Larini Room, Public Square Building, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre. (516) 323-4444, or MadisonTheatreNY.org.
America
SCENE
The perennial classic rock favorite is still going strong, appearing on the Tilles Center stage, Friday, Jan. 27, 8 p.m. Founding members Gerry Beckley and Dewey Bunnell celebrate the band’s 53rd anniversary on their current tour, on the LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Boulevard, Brookville. The pair (along with former band mate Dan Peek), who met in high school in London in the late 1960s, quickly harmonized their way to the top of the charts on the strength of their signature song “A Horse With No Name.” America became a global household name and paved the way with an impressive string of hits following the success of their first #1 single. Forty plus years later, these friends are still making music together, touring the world and thrilling audiences with their timeless sound. Tickets are $99, $79, $69, $59; available at TillesCenter.org or (516) 299-3100.
Art talk
Join Nassau County Museum Director Charles A. Riley II, PhD, for a Director’s Seminar, Tuesday, Jan. 10, 4 p.m. He’ll discuss “Photography: Beauty and Truth,” in a session that is keyed to the photojournalism of Robert Capa and the Magnum group as well as the pioneering work of Walker Evans and Lewis Hine. He’ll compare their approach with the digital manipulation of images (including video) in the media of our time and consider the relationship between the photographer as documentarian and as artist who holds the mirror up to nature. Participation is limited; registration required. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. (516) 484-9337 or NassauMuseum.org.
Weekly Mah Jongg
The JULIETS are back playing Mah Jongg and cards at Congregation Beth Tikvah, at 3710 Woodbine Ave., in Wantagh, every Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Masks are optional, but proof of Covid-19 vaccination is required for newcomers, as well as a contribution of $5 per person. For more information email mahjonggCBT@yahoo.com or call (516) 785-2445.
Wantagh Board of Education Meeting
The Wantagh Board of Education holds their monthly meeting, Jan 18, in Wantagh High School auditorium, 3297 Beltagh Ave. For more information email BOE@wantaghschools.org or call (516) 765-4100.
Forest Bathing
Take a meditative Forest Bathing walk, led by certified guide Linda Lombardo, Saturday, Jan. 21, 2-4 p.m. Based on the Japanese tradition of ShinrinYoku, a wellness practice developed in the 1980s, the walk, on the grounds of the former summer residence of Howard Gould and later Daniel and Florence Guggenheim, inspires mindful connections with the natural elements of the woods for a range of healthful benefits. $40, $35. Pre-registration required. Sands Point Preserve, 127 Middle Neck Road. For information, visit SandsPointPreserveConservancy. org or call (516) 571-7901.
New year, new attitude
Struggling to find a New Year’s resolution? Visit Seaford Public Library, 2234 Jackson Ave., on Tuesday, Jan. 10. Motivational speaker Constance Hallinan Lagan discuses optimistic thinking as we head into 2023. For more information visit tinyurl.com/newyear0110.
Levittown Board of Education Meeting
Levittown Schools pull students from northern WantaghSeaford, making their meetings essential for all parents whose children are zoned for Levittown. The Levittown Board of Education holds their monthly meeting on Jan. 11, 7:30 p.m., at 150 Abbey Lane. For more information call (516) 434-7002.
Explore Wantagh history
Learn fascinating facts about Wantagh at The Wantagh Museum. Located at 1700 Wantagh Ave., it’s open every Sunday from 2-4. There’s much to explore. For info, visit Wantagh.LI/museum.
Having an event?
Tackapausha Museum
Bring the family to Tackapausha Museum and Preserve, 2225 Washington Avenue in Seaford. The county museum is home to 100 different live animals. The museum’s many acitivities include birthday parties, community service projects, Boy and Girl Scout programs to earn badges, educational programs, and more. For more information contact (516) 571-7443.
In concert
Winter seal walk
Jones Beach is still there in the winter, and the Energy & Nature Center is hosting a bird walk, Saturday, Jan. 7. Dress warmly and go for a walk to learn about the seal population, which are abundant on Jones Beach in the winter. For more information visit tinyurl.com/ sealwalk107.
$5 Skate Night
Senior Self Defense
Jan. 13
David Alterman returns to the stage with Altzim, Friday, Jan. 13, at My Father’s Place supper club. Enjoy an evening of music that Alterman describes as “Dylan with a twist,” with special guest Cathy Rose Virgilio. Rich Demand and his band also appear. Doors open at 6 p.m., concert is at 8 p.m. The Metropolitan, 3 Pratt Blvd., Glen Cove. For tickets/information, visit MyFathersPlace.com or call (516) 580-0887.
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.
United Skates of America in Seaford wants to make skating year round activity. Every Thursday, from 4 to 6 p.m., enjoy a skate night with only $5 admission; skate rental is available for an extra $6. For more information visit tinyurl. com/thursdayskate.
The Wantagh Public Library hosts Senior Self Defense classes on Fridays from 12 p.m.-1 p.m., from Jan. 6-27. These classes, at 3285 Park Ave., are taught using self defense techniques that are simple and effective, and require no special strength or flexibility. For more information call the library at (516) 221-1200.
Skate on
Long Island Children’s Museum’s “skating rink” is open for a final weekend, Friday through Sunday, Jan. 6-8, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Related crafts activities throughout the weekend. Long Island Children’s Museum, Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 224-5800 or LICM.org.
Mulchfest to benefit goat population at Levy Park
By JORDAN VALLONE jvallone@liherald.com
Ever wonder what the Norwegian Dwarf goat population at Norman J. Levy Park and Preserve eats?
Aside from all the weeds and plant life the goats freely feast on when they’re released into the park at night, one thing — common around the holidays — may be surprising to some Town of Hempstead residents.
Christmas trees, despite all their piney needles, are quite the delicacy for the goats, and this weekend, residents will have the opportunity to discard of their trees in a safe way, that will not only benefit the environment, but in some cases, give only Levy Park’s permanent residents a great meal, at the town’s annual Mulchfest.
“Residents in the town are great — we care about environment,” Supervisor Don Clavin said last week at a news conference in Levy Park. “Everyone cares. One of the great things that we’ve introduced in the last couple years is called the Mulchfest.”
During Mulchfest, town residents are able to bring their old Christmas trees and cardboard boxes to be made into mulch that they are welcome to take home and use in their own gardens. The town said the mulch can be used for several purposes, including soil moisture and as a way to prevent week growth.
Surplus mulch will be used in various town parks for future planting and landscaping plans.
“We enjoy looking for new and creative initiatives that result in progression,” Clavin stated in a release to the Herald. “The commencement of this program took place two years ago, and its success has inspired us to bring Mulchfest back to the Town of Hempstead for a fun and organic way to repurpose Christmas trees.”
But this year, Clavin announced that the annual festivities would have an extra, special twist, that would
directly benefit Levy Park in Merrick. The park boasts the highest summit on the South Shore of Long Island, and has picked up the local nickname of “Merrick Mountain.”
“Many people don’t know, but Levy preserve has some really fun stuff,” Clavin said. “It’s not only a great place to come walk and enjoy nature, but we have our Nigerian goats here.
“These goats are great,” he added. “They graze right here on the mountains. This year, we’re giving residents
When and where is Mulchfest?
Mulchfest will take place at Baldwin Park located at 3232 Grand Ave., Baldwin on Jan. 7 and 8.
a choice. You can take the tree that you brought down, have it mulched and take it home, or you can donate right to our goats — they love these trees.”
Clavin also announced that Pasqaule Tuosto, owner of the grocery store Pat’s Farms, would be donating 20 trees, specifically for the goats to eat. The town said pine needles are safe for the goats to digest, and are a good source of vitamins.
Clavin said what he loves most about Mulchfest is seeing the positive reaction residents have. “It puts a smile on people’s faces,” he said. “You’re either going home with a smile knowing that your tree is now mulch and you’re taking it home, or you’re feeding the goats here, and that’s great.”
Mulchfest won’t be taking place in Merrick, but rather at Baldwin Park on Jan. 7 and 8, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. both days. Any residents who can’t attend next weekend are welcome to drop off their trees ahead of time, Clavin said. The park is located at 3232 Grand Ave., Baldwin.
“The Town of Hempstead proudly stands for greener and environmentally friendly programs,” Clavin stated. “We firmly believe in providing residents with the proper resources and programs to bring an abundance of benefits to the (town) — so bring your Christmas trees down to Baldwin Park and participate in the Mulchfestivities.”
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Chamber names St. Patrick’s Day grand marshal
By MICHAEL MALASZCZYK mmalaszczyk@liherald.comAs the 2023 begins, it’s not too early to prepare for Wantagh’s St. Patrick’s Day parade, and Michael Dunphy, owner of the Wantagh Inn, has been named its grand marshal.
Proudly brandishing a picture of his daughter’s college graduation and calling it “Simply the American dream,” Dunphy said he is ready to celebrate being an Irish-American.
St. Patrick’s Day is an annual celebration of Irish culture and heritage, and the Wantagh Chamber of Commerce said that Dunphy is well suited to help lead the festivities, having officially bestowed the honor on him in September.
Dunphy is the third person to be honored with the title of grand marshal since the chamber began holding the parade in 2019. The first was John Murray Jr., owner of Mulcahy’s Pub and Concert Hall, and in 2020, Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder was given the honor, although the parade was put on hold for two years due to Covid-19.
Murray and Ryder are both Americans of Irish descent, but Dunphy will be the first who was born in Ireland.
“We have a lot of residents with Irish heritage here in Wantagh,” Marilynne Rich, a chamber vice president, said. “This parade is a great way to honor that heritage, but also to honor the entire Wantagh community with such a fun event.”
Dunphy is a proud first-generation American. Born in the market town of Macroom in County Cork in 1941, he moved to London in 1963. Facing prejudice as an Irish person living in England, Dunphy arrived in the United States in 1969.
“This is the greatest country in the world,” Dunphy said. “Every day, I say, ‘God bless America.’”
Dunphy said his father’s siblings came to America in the early 20th century, while his father remained in Ireland to work as a policeman.
Dunphy first lived in Sunnyside, Queens, where he worked at the Red Blazer sports bar. In 1970, shortly after his arrival in the U.S., he met his wife, Geraldine, from Cavan, Ireland. Married in 1973, they will celebrate their 50-year anniversary in 2023. They have four children: Matthew, Conor, Ronan and Una.
The couple moved to Wantagh in 1973, and Dunphy continued working in a variety of positions at the Red Blazer, learn ing everything there is to know about owning and operating a bar. Chasing his American dream, Dunphy became a bar owner himself when he opened the Wantagh Inn in 1984. Located on Railroad Avenue, the Wantagh Inn has become a staple in Wantagh-Seaford.
“Wantagh is a great town for bars,” Dunphy said. “I think the reason could be the connection to Jones Beach. You have to go through Wantagh leaving Jones Beach, and that attracts bar-goers.”
Dunphy’s commitment to cultivating a sense of community in Wantagh is part of why he was named Grand Marshal by the chamber.
“We don’t have a village, so the way we’re set up, we rely on some businesses to help form a Wantagh community,” Rich said. “And Mr. Dunphy has been so supportive through the years in that regard. He knows everyone who comes through these bars. He even used to work late and drive patrons home to make sure everyone was safe.”
In his role as grand marshal, Dunphy will lead the parade, which Rich described as the biggest St. Patrick’s Day parade on Long Island. He will be honored with the grand marshal’s walking stick, in a special “Grand Marshal dinner” at the Crest Hollow Country Club. The parade will take place on March 19.
“America’s love is for all of us,” Dunphy said. “Doesn’t matter if you’re German, Irish, to me all of these kinds of celebrations are about
loving your neighbor. It is also about appreciating what we have in America, something a lot of us tend to take for granted.”
Public Notices
LEGAL NOTICE
SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU
ELIZON MASTER PARTICIPATION TRUST I, U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS OWNER TRUSTEE, Plaintiff -against- RUSSEL CALAUTTI; JENNIFER CALAUTTI, et al Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated April 18, 2018 and entered on April 25, 2018, 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, NY on January 17, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. premises situate, lying and being at Wantagh, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New
York, bounded and described as follows: BEGINNING at a point on the northerly side of Bayside Court, distant 41.00 feet easterly from the corner formed by the intersection of the easterly side of Riverside Drive with the northerly side of Bayside Court; being a plot 100.00 feet by 60.00 feet by 100.00 feet by 60.00 feet.
S/B/L: 63-239-1578
All bidders must wear a face mask/shield at all times and social distancing must be observed by all bidders at all times. Bidders who do not comply with the face mask and/or the social distancing mandate will be removed from the auction.
Said premises known as 2935 BAYSIDE COURT, WANTAGH, NY
Approximate amount of lien $459,696.72 plus interest & costs.
Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale.
Index Number 001273/2016.
JENNIFER ETTENGER, ESQ., Referee Kosterich & Skeete, LLC Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 707 Westchester Ave, Suite 302, White Plains, NY 10604
{* SEAFORD*} 135840
LEGAL NOTICE
January 2023 Meeting Date Change Notice is hereby given that the Seaford Fire District Board of Fire Commissioners of the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau, New York, will hold its regular
Monthly Meeting for the month of January 2023, on the Fifth Monday, January 30, 2023, at 8:00 p.m., at the Seaford Fire Headquarters, 2170 Southard Avenue, Seaford, New York 11783-2544.
All meetings of the Seaford Fire District are open to the public.
================
By order of: Board of Fire Commissioners Seaford Fire District Dated: December 28, 2022
Michael R. Foran, Secretary 136485
PUBLIC AND LEGAL NOTICES…
Printed in this publication can be found online. To search by publication name, go to: www.newyorkpublicnotices.com
Every day I say, ‘God bless America.’
MICHAEL DunpHY owner, Wantagh Inn
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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
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My building’s in need of a tenant
Q. I have a building that has been unoccupied for three years. I bought it because it was going to have a long-term tenant. They backed out, so I need to get the building rented. I have a prospect who wants me to get the permits for their animal grooming service operation, with possible overnight boarding. They’re only interested if the permits are ready to go. What is the minimum I can do to get the permit and get the tenant into the building to rent? The building is 8,000 square feet, and the tenant only needs about 5,000. Do I need more permits for another tenant, and can I get them both together to save money? I need to do this quickly, or the tenant will go elsewhere. What can be done?
A. Time and cost are a problem. You probably won’t get results in under seven months to a year. Building plans take time, and must involve the tenant’s specific input as to where walls, plumbing and equipment will be located.
Most people treat plans like they’re just a suggestion, to be changed later, but the reality is that the plans need to show very specifically what will be done. Those plans have to be filed with all the required application papers and a property survey with the building department, which will then put the plans in a lineup with all the other plan folders that come in that will eventually be reviewed. Depending on the size of the community, this process can take three to four months before you first hear back that your plans are objected to or rejected.
Once you learn that you can’t be approved with a straight-away permit, you may request that the file go into a request for varying from the zoning code, since most municipalities do not allow overnight animal boarding. This is the zoning variance request. A zoning case is separate from a building permit, and requires the preparation of a map of the property, along with neighboring properties — sometimes, depending on the community, as far away as 600 feet. For commercial use, some municipalities require that the map show the accurate outline of all buildings and names of tenants and owners on each property, prepared by a licensed land surveyor.
If the plans you submit on behalf of your potential tenant do not reflect the true layout of the shapes and sizes of rooms, the location of equipment, etc., you may find yourself applying again to repeat the process when a building inspector sees that the plans were not followed, so you and the tenant have to treat this process seriously.
Also, if the building is not yet outfitted with sprinklers, plan on another seven- to 10-month process with the fire marshal. It can take less, but this is a common time frame. This process cannot be rushed, and isn’t like getting a driver’s license. Each tenant’s plans will need to be filed for separately. Good luck!
© 2022 Monte Leeper Readers are encouraged to send questions to yourhousedr@aol.com, with “Herald question” in the subject line, or to Herald Homes, 2 Endo Blvd., Garden City, NY 11530, Attn: Monte Leeper, architect.
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The ups and downs of 2022
Yes, 2022 was quite a year. Politics were at their ugliest. The world was in turmoil. War raged in the Ukraine. Overall, it was a tumultuous year. Here are some thoughts on it. The election had many surprises for New Yorkers. Kathy Hochul became the first elected woman governor in state history, but won her first full term by only 5 percentage points.
JERRY KREMERHochul ran a remote campaign, and failed to do local events. Her Republican opponent, Lee Zeldin, made it a closer contest than expected, using the issue of crime effectively.
Long Island made history by electing four Republican members of Congress, who helped their party cement its majority in the House. One of the winners, George Santos, turned out to have lied about his entire resume. Candidates sometimes exaggerate a chapter of their history, but not the entire story. At this writing, Santos was about to be investigated by the Nassau County district attorney. Even if he’s able to hang on to his job, he’ll definitely be a one-term member of Congress.
There were some other big local winners. Nassau Republican chair Joe Cairo’s candidates unseated two state senators, and his party now has seven out of nine Long Island senate seats. We can hope that the winning seven will find a way to work with the two Democrats whose party controls the senate. Cairo also produced a winning margin locally for Zeldin, which helped make the final results much closer.
Love him or not, President Biden had some big victories last year. Congress passed a bipartisan gun control bill, the first of its kind since the early 1990s. Of course, it took a number of major tragedies to spark a major defeat for the National Rifle Association, which had successfully blocked previous bills.
As well, new microchip legislation will pave the way for microchip factories in the United States. New York will get its own major chip facility upstate, which could bring thousands of jobs.
Another bipartisan win was the passage of a major bill that will fund the battle against climate change, a first in the country’s history. New York did its share by passing a $4 billion bond to combat global warming in the state. It will pay for
badly needed repairs to water and sewer systems and provide dollars for new forms of clean energy. Considering the measure’s high cost, its approval by voters was a miracle.
Those voters also sent a clear message to the Albany establishment on the issue of bail reform. Whether or not crime rates are as high in your community as some claim, the State Legislature will have to clean up the current law, or Democrats will take a bigger beating in 2024 and possibly lose control of the Senate.
And 2022 was supposed to be the year when cannabis would be sold at retail dispensaries. Some permits were given to people who’d had marijuana-related convictions, but otherwise the program stalled. New York is far behind Massachusetts and Rhode Island when it comes to legalized pot sales.
Our battle against the coronavirus last winter was successful. The number of New Yorkers suffering from the disease dropped dramatically. Covid vaccines proved to be effective. While mandates to wear masks were finally lifted, wearing masks in 2023 in crowded places will still be effective in keeping the numbers down.
Last November’s election results were historic. Over the past 50-plus years, the
president’s party has almost always lost seats in Congress, and has sometimes lost control of the House or Senate as well. But this time around, the Democrats, who some forecast would lose both houses, surprisingly kept control of the Senate, and almost retained control of the House.
So, 2022 was the year that prosecutors and the Jan. 6 committee painted a vivid picture of numerous wrongdoings by former President Donald Trump. He is facing grand jury deliberations, and even many of his staunchest supporters acknowledge that his reputation has taken a major hit. The failure of the candidates he endorsed in November didn’t help, either. This may be the year that he is called to account for his missteps.
The nation needs a cleansing from Trump’s grip on the Republican Party, which will help both political parties refocus on making government work — or at least they will try. This was quite a year. Hopefully, our leaders will learn from their mistakes, and produce some positive results for we the people.
Jerry Kremer was an Assemblyman for 23 years, and chaired the Assembly’s Ways and Means Committee for 12 years. He now heads Empire Government Strategies, a business development and legislative strategy firm. Comments about this column? jkremer@liherald.com.
Happiness is a reach, but we have long arms
Happiness is a reach, but we have long arms
As the new year begins, let us look up to the stars that light our winter nights.
The transition from 2022 to 2023 has been showered with starlight. Fresh off the front lines in Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky, the most unlikely of heroes, came to America to thank us for our support, and ask for more. As it turns out, the man in green fatigues roused something in us that had been beaten lifeless over the past few years: pride in our will to do good, faith in our democracy and a clear demarcation between right and wrong. Heroism is a rare commodity, but it walked into Congress on Dec. 21 and reminded us of who we are.
invaded, he stepped out of his old life and into battle dress. His visit to the U.S. shook something loose in our pervasive national cynicism and growing mistrust of one another. Here is a good guy, brave, not afraid to die for his country, a real David against a monstrous Goliath.
The Ukrainians face a winter without heat or running water, under constant bombardment by Russia. Their courage reminds us what death-defying bravery looks like after years of Trumpist self-serving corruption.
RANDI KREISS
“It is often in the darkest skies that we see the brightest stars,” the philosopher Hannah Arendt said. Just in these last weeks, as 2022 ended and as 2023 begins, the sky seems afire with hope.
human-rights and voter-rights legislation through Congress.
Heroes come in unlikely personas at odd times. Cassidy Hutchinson is in the news, too. The 26-year-old former assistant to Mark Meadows, the Trump White House chief of staff, a woman who knows right from wrong, decided to tell the truth about President Trump’s alleged crimes despite enormous pressure to dissemble. It is hard to overstate the significance of her testimony. She is key to the Department of Justice investigation of Trump and the insurrection. A woman who had to look up the history of Watergate to guide her may be key to preserving our democracy.
cal behavior at NYU Langone. The article alleged longstanding policies on the part of hospital administrators to offer favorable treatment to powerful donors and celebrities and political figures. The reporting stood boldly against those who think that might makes right, and in support of those who surrender to privilege or who are resigned to “the way things work.”
In the wake of the Times story, maybe those bending the rules will be held accountable. It’s going around.
The fact that we have newspapers and reporters who sweat the details and follow up and write truth to power is another bright star in our firmament.
Nothing about the Ukrainian presidential visit was business as usual. Zelensky’s superheroic persona was forged in the fires sparked by Russian missiles and tanks. Seems like a minute ago he was an entertainer raising a family in a safe and bustling society. But when the Russians
There was something uplifting in how it all looked: the man from Ukraine hugging the outgoing Speaker of the House and embracing the American president. Political pundits have been busy hounding aging boomers out of the public spotlight and urging older statespeople to retire. Yet it was 82-year-old Nancy Pelosi and 80-year-old Joe Biden who were getting things right, and getting the people’s work done. It was 72-year-old Sen. Chuck Schumer who pushed some critical
Then there’s the January 6th congressional committee and its 800-somethingpage report, released during these weeks of wonder. Another unlikely force for good, the committee, over 18 months, compiled a detailed and disturbing account of a rogue presidency, an attempted coup, and a coterie of accomplices to crimes against our nation.
Accountability is in the air, and it isn’t only playing out in our government. More locally, The New York Times recently ran a front-page story detailing alleged unethi-
For these many years of political travail and pandemic grief, newspapers have kept us informed. Stories like the expose on NYU prove that we have people in our profession who care about public corruption and work hard to bring it to light.
Correspondents on the ground in Ukraine risk their lives every day to bring us the human story unfolding there.
We survived the shortest day of the year. As the daylight lingers, is it harmony in our homeland we see in the new year? Moments of happiness? Certainly the stars are brilliant in our cold, dark skies, and we can read that as hope.
Copyright 2022 Randi Kreiss. Randi can be reached at randik3@aol.com.
I s it harmony in our homeland we see in the new year? Moments of happiness?
This was quite a year. We can hope that our leaders will learn from their mistakes.
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When ‘it’s just government’ isn’t an excuse
it’s a new year. A time of renewal. A time when we look ahead to brighter days.
Many people, however, woke up a couple of days before Christmas to heavy rain and wind that once again brought a frightening amount of flooding to residential streets and primary roadways.
The early-winter storm evoked memories of 2012’s Hurricane Sandy, which was considered a once-in-a-century weather event. One South Shore resident even said that the storm was “giving me Sandy vibes.”
As early-morning motorists maneuvered through small rivers of water, it wasn’t surprising that some thought, “No, not again.” But they may have scratched their heads at the next thought: “Where are all those Sandy flood-mitigation projects we were promised?”
Less than a year after Sandy, New York state — under the direction of then Gov. Andrew Cuomo — established the Governor’s Office of Storm Recovery to centralize the rebuilding and recovery efforts through what was called the New York Rising Community Reconstruction Program. Sandy was one of three storms — along with Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee in 2011 — that were under the storm recovery office’s umbrella.
Roughly $4.4 billion was made available through federal funding for an assortment of resiliency projects across the state. Communities assembled committees of civic leaders. There were public meetings. State engineers were consulted. Ideas were exchanged. Public comment was collected.
From the list of projects provided by the storm recovery office, 45 have been
letters
Does the columnist understand the waves?
To the Editor:
Re Matthew Adarichev’s column “The red wave that wasn’t, and the crime wave that isn’t” (Dec. 8-14):
I guess Adarichev didn’t see or understand the election results here, where people rejected the Democrats’ message of being soft on crime and bail reform.
He writes that fear of crime enabled Republicans to pull the red wave here.
So let me get this straight: We were supposed to elect people who couldn’t care less about us being free and safe in our neighborhood and homes while democracy and inflation were the two top issues?
The left loves throwing the word “democracy” around, but when you ask them for a definition, their minds go blank.
Adarichev goes on to say that there’s no crime wave, and that it’s OK to steal your
completed in Nassau County, while 30 others are in progress. The projects total nearly $334 million. GOSR has done a heck of a job.
However, getting to this point is one thing, but finishing is something else, and it looks as if it’s going to be a tough haul.
Local officials tasked with cooperating with their state counterparts have found the process, which continues today, annoyingly slow and frustrating. There have been too many meetings, too much talk, and a lack of coordination — to the point where it felt like projects were constantly stopping and starting.
The enterprise appeared to apply the software industry philosophy of “building the plane while it’s flying” as a way to fix problems as an imperfect process bumped along.
One of the problems appears to be selfinflicted. As local officials pushed to move these projects forward, not only were there too many personnel changes in the state storm-recovery office, but the handoffs from outgoing to incoming officials were apparently not the smoothest. Some projects went through nearly 10 iterations. It seemed that the process had to start from scratch any time there was a change in leadership in Albany.
Storm recovery representatives were also constantly interpreting federal language differently, creating more bumps in the road. The large amount of paperwork that moved back and forth between municipalities slowed projects down.
Then, in 2020, the world shut down because of the coronavirus pandemic. Projects that were in the works were given extensions because of unforeseen condi-
tions that created supply chain issues. That is understandable.
But don’t misunderstand: Much has been accomplished. There is a pump station in Cedarhurst, for example, that surely could help reduce flooding on Peninsula Boulevard.
Cuomo’s idea of having one central entity to oversee the projects was a good one. The state’s execution has to be better. Now that there is a record of what was done — good and bad — there should be an audit, and what is learned from it should be applied as soon as possible.
The state’s newly created — and much more permanent — Office of Resilient Homes and Communities will now take over the storm recovery office portfolio. We hope that a permanent department will mean less staff shuffling and a streamlining of the bureaucracy, with state officials more familiar with the communities they are supposed to be helping.
Communications among all parties necessitates documentation that must be retained. There should be checklists of what needs to be done. Personnel changes must include physical handoffs of duties and project details from one representative to the next.
At one of many public meetings held several years ago, one resident was heard to say, “It’s just government,” in response to proposed plans that neighbors did not completely agree with.
That’s not an excuse our government should hide behind. To start the new year off right, the state should move the remaining projects to completion as soon as possible — before the next storm strikes.
Does Kirsten Gillibrand care about Long Islanders?
new York state’s missing U.S. senator, Kirsten Gillibrand, recently surfaced on Long Island. That must mean that Gillibrand finally got around to analyzing November’s election results and the near-death experience that will be seared into Gov. Kathy Hochul’s memory. Say what you will about our senior senator, Chuck Schumer — and there’s much to say — at least he knows where Long Island is. Before he became majority leader, Schumer seemed to be on the Island every weekend, holding news conferences on topics ranging from baby products to the width of airline seats. He understood the power of Long Island’s potent voter base and its propensity to swing right or left, depending on issues and personalities.
Schumer has been in our faces, like him or not, because he understands politics and the importance of engaging voters. He has long recognized that if you take Long Island for granted, you do so at your own political peril.
Gillibrand? She has long been absent on issues. Absent on voter engagement.
Absent on personal appearances. Just plain absent. Even Newsday was compelled at one point to ask, “Where is she?”
Well, you can tell that she has checked the calendar, and discovered that re-election is just two years away. Last month she met with journalists in Melville. In what was described as a wide-ranging discussion, Gillibrand announced that Long Island’s “red wave” would end in 2024. While suggesting that her party was trounced in November because “a lot of Long Island is libertarian,” she added, “I intend to run for re-election and win the state back, along with Long Island.”
These are bold words from someone who has failed to make a serious connection with Long Island voters. Over the years, Gillibrand has made a handful of announcements about federal programs, with little evidence that she pursued them specifically for our region, or even the state. In some instances, she has simply piggybacked off press statements from Schumer’s office.
To be fair, a search reveals that she held a town hall meeting at Hofstra in October. At that event, in which she engaged with students, the focus was the
Supreme Court’s ruling on abortion. She told the Herald that she was in favor of term-limiting the justices. Ironically, that’s a suggestion she has not proffered for members of the Senate.
Gillibrand described herself as “very progressive” in her Melville interview, which raises the question: Just how far out of step is she with the majority of New Yorkers and those Long Island “libertarians” who voted in the last election cycle? Does she appreciate that being “very progressive” may serve to short-circuit a primary challenge from the left, but leaves her totally at odds with moderates in both parties?
Being frightened of a left-wing primary challenge led Hochul to ignore such profound issues as crime, high taxes, and municipal zoning authority. Her election night turned rather tense as returns demonstrated that a state with nearly twice as many Democrats as Republicans wasn’t going to give her the margin of victory her consultants were touting.
Former Rep. Lee Zeldin has given no indication of what he plans to do for the next two years. He has been mentioned as a potential choice as the next state GOP chairman, who could infuse new blood and strategic vision into that posi-
tion. There is also speculation that he could run for Senate, confronting Gillibrand’s progressive candidacy with the grounded policies of moderates and conservatives who want an engaged senator who knows the difference between AOC and the LIE.
Another Long Islander who would make a formidable opponent to Gillibrand is Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman. He has quickly established his credentials as a tireless campaigner who embraces policies that are welcomed by those who describe themselves as Republicans, as well as independents who are in search of common sense. Comfortable before the media, popular “at home” and dedicated to public service, Blakeman would be an attractive candidate on many levels.
While two years is a lifetime in politics, Gillibrand’s recent return to Long Island is like Halley’s Comet, an event that happens very rarely. And her description of our red wave as the product of a bunch of libertarians is a reflection of the fact that she may visit every once in a while, but she doesn’t know us. And never has.
Ronald J. Rosenberg has been an attorney for 42 years, concentrating in commercial litigation and transactions, and real estate, municipal, zoning and land use law. He founded the Garden City law firm Rosenberg Calica & Birney in 1999.
catalytic converter. These thieves aren’t looking for their next meal or hanging out at soup kitchens. They are highly organized criminals, along with a few complicit junkyard owners, netting hundreds of thousand of dollars a year.
It sickens Adarichev that there’s another shooting, another corpse and some boyfriend beating up his girlfriend.
No mention of how the victims feel being pushed in front of a train or mugged on the street, or of bullets shot through children’s bedroom windows. Welcome to the world of bail reform, criminals’ getout-of-jail-free card. But according to Matt, we have nothing to worry about.
Then he brings up a price cap to reduce the cost of gas. Here’s an idea: open drilling and exploration, like the last administration did. We were energy-independent and gas was $2 a gallon.
Now President Biden begs for gas from Venezuela, which is run by a dictator, and Saudi Arabia, which still hasn’t come clean about 9/11.
MICHAEL APPICE WestburyGovernment shouldn’t control energy on L.I.
To the Editor:
The recent column by Ronald Rosenberg (“‘Energy efficient’ may become a contradiction in terms,” Dec. 1-7) hits the nail on the head. Proposed moves away from the current public/private energy setup, which works well, are supported by left-wing activists who want further government control.
Current conventional energy producers and purveyors tend to be Republican and conservative. The cries for clean and green energy have less to do with saving the planet and more to do with consolidating power among Democrats and socalled progressives. More and more analysis has shown that electric cars, wind power and solar power are fraught with failures. Wake up, folks — the real goal here is to consolidate power among the radical left, not to save the planet.
MIKE TARTAGLIA Franklin Squarethe senator may visit every once in a while, but she doesn’t know us, and never has.ronaLd J. rosenBerG
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