Students in Seaford High School’s inaugural electrical training course received certificates of completion at a graduation ceremony on May 23 in the school library.
Learning shocking tricks of the trade Students master circuitry in new electrical training
By CHARlES SHAW cshaw@liherald.com
An electrifying course at Seaford High School is teaching students essential trade skills that will benefit them regardless of what profession they pursue in the future.
The high school’s Electrical Training Center celebrated its first graduating class on May 23, as nine seniors in the new program received certificates verifying that they had completed the course after 450 hours of onsite training throughout the school year. The course is a partnership between the high school and the Electrical Training Center, a Copiague-based facility that specializes in electrical and heating, ventilation and air conditioning education.
Robert McLaughlin, the training center’s assistant director, said the goal of the program is to introduce students to skilled trades.
“Some of these students have never worked with hand tools,” McLaughlin said, “so a big part of our training is to get them acclimated with construction, and then
learning how to use hand tools.”
Graduating from the inaugural course are Even Alfago, Justin Cettina, Kyle D’Aniello, Cole DePaolis, James Dillon, Michael LoBasso Jr., John McCormack, Ella Tietz and Michael Wittenstein. Cettina says the program was everything he expected, and plans to use his experience to get a job after high school. Wittenstein, meanwhile, said the program helped him build problem-solving skills.
Students learn at the high school under the guidance of instructors from the center. The program, according to McLaughlin, teaches the basic theory and skills needed to understand how electricity works. They learn circuitry and wiring, along with how circuit boards and fire alarms function.
Xavier Arthur, the center’s instructor supervisor, said students in the course learn in different levels, from simple to more complex instruction. In level one, students learn the difference between series and parallel circuitry, and how to wire for each one. At this stage, Arthur said, students are begin-
It will be a run
to remember
School district announces inaugural 9/11 Memorial 5K fundraising event
By CHARlES SHAW cshaw@liherald.com
As the 23rd anniversary of 9/11 approaches, the Wantagh school district looks to find ways for students never to forget what happened on that tragic day.
At a May Board of Education meeting at the high school, Principal Paul Guzzone and Assistant Principal Christopher Widmann announced the Wantagh Warrior 9/11 Memorial 5K, a fundraising run that will take place on Sept. 22. According to Guzzone, the race will help fund programs for students and staff to recognize the events of Sept. 11, 2001.
Twith the Wantagh district in the past. In April 2023, students from the high school took part in the foundation’s Soaring Valor program, traveling to the National WWII Museum, in New Orleans, to tour it and speak with veterans who served in World War II.
his is too important of an event that occurred to not have something on campus here for remembrance.
PAUl GUzzoNE Principal, Wantagh High School
“This is too important of an event that occurred to not have something on campus here for remembrance,” Guzzone said.
The run, according to Guzzone, will be a partnership with the Gary Sinise Foundation, a public charity that organizes numerous programs to honor veterans and first responders. The foundation has worked
Last August, the district worked with the foundation again, this time inviting high school juniors to the National September 11 Memorial & Museum in Manhattan, to learn about the attacks and the sacrifices of those who died that day.
According to Guzzone, the trip was a memorable experience for all those who took part. “It was really life-changing, quite honestly,” he said. “Those are my words, but also the words of our students that went as well as the parents.”
After the Manhattan trip, Guzzone said, the high school faculty formed a committee to find ways to locally honor those
Continued on page 18
Courtesy Seaford school district
Seaford leaders motivated at regional conference
A three-day leadership experience was inspirational for four Seaford High School students, who hope to use the knowledge they gained to better their school and community. Sophomores Alyssa Fariello, Matthew Kind, Mia Leggio and Victoria Stebner attended the 2024 Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership conference from June 7-9 at Adelphi University.
They were selected earlier in the year by a panel of administrators, teachers and students for their leadership potential. While they regularly interact with each other at school, the four weren’t together much during the conference, as they were in groups with students from other Long Island and Westchester high schools.
“They really tried to focus you on building new connections,” Victoria said. In their groups, students worked on a variety of hands-on projects. In the free market challenge, each group had to come up with a product or service, as well as marketing and sales plans. There were also passion projects in which students had to come up with ideas to solve problems related to different enduring issues, such as food insecurity, poverty and unemployment. Fun activities like Olympic games and group cheers furthered chances to bond.
Mia explained that teamwork was essential for success in the group activities, and everyone brought their individual strengths.
Each group was led by a senior facilitator and at least one junior facilitator, all
of whom previously attended the conference. Alyssa had the fortune of having a Seaford High School alum as her group’s senior leader. The students stayed in Adelphi’s residence halls for two nights and said some of the best moments were at night, after the planned activities ended, when they got to know their fellow ambassadors from other high schools in a more informal setting.
All students were together for the
guest speakers. One of the most inspiring for Seaford’s HOBY ambassadors was a presentation from youth motivational speaker David Flood. He spoke about the importance of inclusion, emphasized respecting adults, and explained the difference between awareness and acceptance, and sympathy and empathy. There was also a panel of speakers from nonprofit organizations, and a mindfulness guru who led students through breathing
and relaxation exercises.
Alyssa noted that each speaker had a different approach to leadership that was shaped by his or her individual background and experiences.
“Leadership isn’t black and white,” she said. “Your experiences will shape how you lead. I’m going to be more confident in my ability to lead, and now I can use it to help benefit the school and the community.”
Participants also worked on community service projects including making bracelets and cards for children battling illnesses. Over three days, they learned the differences between personal, group and service leadership as they explored their own leadership qualities, their ability to work with others and opportunities to make change.
Victoria said a lesson that stood out was the importance of doing good deeds when other people are around, not for the recognition, but to inspire others. She also said that being a leader doesn’t necessarily mean having a leadership title.
“Just because you aren’t the president of a club doesn’t mean you aren’t important or your values shouldn’t be present,” she said.
For Matthew, one of the biggest takeaways from the weekend was how to be a good leader through his actions.
“It was definitely worth it,” he said. “It really showed how you can be a leader and how you can inspire others as well. You can quietly set a good example in your community.”
Seaford library announces summer concerts
As summer kicks off, the Seaford Public Library will hold its annual “Entertainment for a Summer Evening,” a series of outdoor concerts and movies held outside the building on a selected night. All concerts are made possible through the partnerships of the Seaford Chamber of Commerce, the Seaford Wellness Council, the Seaford Knights of Columbus Memorare Council, and the Lions Club of Seaford. Bethpage Federal Credit Union will be sponsoring the events. The “Entertainment for a Summer Evening” usually includes musical entertainment from performers of all genres for families to see. All concerts and movies are free of charge.
“Librarians Eric Wasserman and Kristen Jording have once again worked very diligently to coordinate the scheduling, logistics and publicizing of this year’s ‘Entertainment for a Summer Evening’ events. Their efforts are always deeply appreciated,” Frank McKenna, the library director, said.
The events of the season are “Pump: An Aerosmith Tribute Band” on June 29, “The Daytrippers” on July 20, “The Dance Mechanics” on August 27, “Just Sixties” on September 7, and a showing of “Mrs. Doubtfire” on September 6. All events begin at 7:30 pm.
Courtesy Seaford School District
Sophomores Mia Leggio, left, Victoria Stebner, Matthew Kind and Alyssa Fariello were this year’s ambassadors from Seaford High School at the 2024 HOBY Youth Leadership conference.
— Lara Murray-Sterzel
Courtesy Seaford Public Library
Seaford Public Library is kicking off the summer with a series of outdoor concerts and movies. On June 29, the library will host ‘Pump’ an Aerosmith tribute band.
Resilient eighth graders ready for next step
“Resilience” is the word that Wantagh Middle School Principal Anthony Ciuffo would use to define this year’s eighth grade class. He spoke proudly of their ability to demonstrate this quality at their graduation ceremony on June 11.
The large lawn, surrounded on three sides by the school they called home for three years, was the setting for the milestone moment. The graduates came out of the school to “Pomp and Circumstance” and took their spots in front of the stage.
Ciuffo said that this class demonstrated resilience time and time again. They dealt with the effects of the pandemic during their most formative years. Students who attended Forest Lake faced the loss of a classmate, James Lodato, to cancer, and a seat was saved in his honor.
“I think your generation will benefit having learned resilience quicker than most,” Ciuffo told the graduates, “but the journey to get there sure has been challenging and I continue to admire all of you for having the ability to persevere through difficult times and demonstrate resilience consistently throughout your childhood.”
Student speakers reflected on their three years of middle school, and looked ahead to the next chapter, which
will begin in a few months on the other side of the colonnade at Wantagh High School.
Ellie Sedler looked back on sixth grade, when students entered a new school with an unfamiliar routine. Quickly, they learned how to get around the building, manage the schoolwork and make new friends.
“I am appreciative of all of the kind teachers and staff who made my transition to middle school a lot more comfortable,” she said.
Alex Jung spoke about the changes that happened in seventh grade, like taking midterms for the first time and being able to play on school sports teams. But some of the biggest changes, he said, were in personal growth.
“We all started to show we might be like in the future as we grow further away from childhood,” he said. “We all started acting more mature and we started to grow as human beings.”
As eighth graders, Ava Panella said, they were the oldest students in the school and had an obligation to serve as role models for others. She valued the chance to be a Wantagh Ambassador and visit fifth grade classes to prepare the next generation of students for middle school life.
“We are ready for the next step,” she said.
Ace Parker was among 217 graduates to receive a promotion certificate.
Anthony Avitabile looked to that next step, as his speech focused on the future. He said middle school has left them well equipped to overcome any challenges they face in their four years of high school. They will have more freedom, but that comes with increased
responsibility, he noted.
“Everything we do is a reflection of our character,” Anthony said, “and we want to have a legacy of hard work, good citizenship and great achievements
Courtesy Wantagh School District
Wantagh Middle School
Principal Anthony Ciuffo and Assistant Principal Rachel Quattrocchi greeted eighth grade graduates before the start of the June 11 ceremony.
Students learn electrical safety in new course
ning to understand the foundations of electricity and how it works.
“Having a good, solid foundation is key,” Arthur said, “and you learn that in bits and pieces throughout level one. Level two is more application, so they learn to troubleshoot and work on fire alarms. But how can you do that if you don’t have a solid, fundamental foundation?”
At the next level, students learn different types of resources, such as conductors and a raceway, an enclosed conduit that creates a pathway for wiring.
Arthur said students become familiar with touching, holding, feeling and installing these resources, giving them an additional building experience.
Ystudents.
“You can’t start from an unrecognizable place,” McLaughlin said. “You have to get them to be familiar with it.”
As for safety, McLaughlin said students learn to identify hazards for each activity. The danger of electricity, according to McLaughlin, is that it can’t be seen, so students are taught how to properly handle equipment, understand insulation, and never work while the wire is live.
ou can’t start from an unrecognizable place. You have to get them to be familiar with it.
Understanding circuitry and how electricity works could be a major challenge, especially for 12th-grade students, but McLaughlin said relating how it’s used in the modern age is key to understanding the process. Using analogies for gaming consoles and charging phones are some of the ways that students could relate to, McLaughlin said. For each activity, McLaughlin added, it’s important to break the concept down for
Using screwdrivers, pliers, power tools and other equipment, McLaughlin said, students are learning other trades, such as carpentry, that will give them a leg up should they enter the trade industry, which he added is growing at “an exponential rate.”
McLaughlin said students then graduate from the course with a certificate identifying that they took the training, but they also leave with an Occupational Safety and Health Administration 10 certificate, which is a federal certification of safety.
In addition to completion certificates, graduates also received citations from State Sen. Steve Rhoads.
McLaughlin said the course provided
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a comfortable environment for students, who learn through talking with instructors and working directly with circuitry.
As for next year, the district expects enrollment to double to around 20 students. For McLaughlin, taking a tradebased course, such as the electrical program, will help students pursuing a trade or engineering after graduation.
“If you’re in high school, take the opportunity to explore and see what it’s about and see if you like it,” McLaughlin said. “They’re learning skills, like analytical thinking, problem-solving, and following directions. All the things that the industry is saying, ‘Hey, we need help with their learning in a shop format.’”
OBITUARY
Sandra “Sandy” Colgan
Sandra “Sandy” Colgan, 84, passed away peacefully on October 30, 2023, surrounded by family and friends. Survived by daughter, Eileen (Peter), and granddaughter Katharine. Pre-deceased by beloved daughter, Diane. Loving sister, aunt, and friend to many. Memorial service to be held at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Sea Cliff, NY on June 29, 2024 at 1pm.
Courtesy Seaford School District
Students in Seaford High School’s electrical training course graduated from the program last month.
Former teacher files lawsuit against Diocese
Months after his termination from Maria Regina Catholic School in Seaford, Michael Califano is fighting back with a lawsuit.
According to reports, Califano, a former third-grade teacher at Maria Regina, filed a federal civil rights lawsuit on June 19 against the Diocese of Rockville Centre and Maria Regina Catholic School.
According to the lawsuit, Califano claims that he was fired from his job in December after the Diocese was made aware of pictures on social media of him kissing his boyfriend. That same month, Califano said he met with the school’s pastor and a diocese representative, who allegedly told him that he had violated a handbook policy about adhering to Catholic values.
Following the meeting, Califano’s employment was terminated from the school where he was a teacher for over a year.
The Diocese was reached for comment about the lawsuit but did not respond as of press time.
However, a previous comment from a Diocese representative said the school did not end Califano’s employment over his sexuality.
Following his termination, members of the community came out to support Califano. Parents created a social media page demanding his reinstatement at Maria Regina. His aunt started an online petition to reinstate him, which gained thousands of signatures a few weeks after its launch. On Dec. 29, A protest occurred outside St. Agnes Cathedral in Rockville Centre in support of reinstating Califano.
Califano said that while he is gay, he leads a Catholic lifestyle, and is an active participant in the church. Parents of students and school officials at Maria Regina fought for him to stay, according to Califano’s mother, Jackie, but it is believed that Bishop John Barres upheld the termination, she added.
— Charles Shaw, Daniel Offner
Congressman D’Esposito honors Long Island Nurses
Nurses from Long Island received special recognition from Congressman Anthony D’Esposito for their dedication to the community on June 17.
The special congressional recognition came as a part of National Nurses Week, where residents were invited to nominate nurses who they believe go above and beyond to serve their community.
Sixteen nurses from all across Long Island were selected to receive a special received the Distinguished Congressional Nurses Award. The nurses were honored with a ceremony at the Merrick Golf Course where D’Esposito presented them with awards.
Sarah Hawxhurst, Jessica Kenney-Biggin, Anna Marie DiStanislao, Daniella Fusaro, Madison Valentino, Caitlin Russell, Kristina Lo Sardo-Sitzman, Molly VanDusen, Kimberly Babich, Stephanie Diller, Tari Brodsky, Heather Armendinger, Carla DeLaurenzoHayes, Ben Cohen, Cindy Carey and Kimberly Pitts were this years recipients.
Among the winners, Diller is the widow of NYPD officer Johnathan Diller, who was killed in late March.
D’Esposito spoke at the ceremony about how important health care workers are and how he is proud to consider them neighbors on Long Island.
“I was honored to recognize some of these incredible local healthcare heroes for the work they do keeping our communities healthy,” D’Esposito said. “I am honored to count these brave nurses as neighbors here on Long Island, and I am so pleased that the public will get to learn more about their many contributions to the excellent health systems that serve the public here in New York’s 4th Congressional District.”
—Brian Norman
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Courtesy Office of Congressman Anthony D’Esposito U.S. Rep. Anthony D’Esposito honored nurses on Long Island at a ceremony on June 17.
Fresh produce coming your way this fall
By NICOLE FORMISANO nformisano@liherald.com
Thousands of people across Nassau County go to food banks and soup kitchens each month for much-needed sustenance. But soon, the food bank may come to them.
Long Island Cares, a nonprofit focused on helping hungry families, expects to debut its Mobile Food Truck in September.
The new service specifically aims to make fresh fruits and vegetables more accessible to those who otherwise struggle to purchase them. When people have to pay for their medication, clothes and children’s school supplies, for example, spending the extra money on fresh produce is often out of the question.
“When people struggle with food insecurity, they oftentimes have to make difficult decisions with what they do with their money,” said Paule Pachter, chief executive of Long Island Cares. “And sadly, oftentimes what’s considered healthy food options — like lean chicken, lean proteins, fresh vegetables, fresh fruit — sort of become less important than paying for your rent. And so it becomes a focus — and almost, in my opinion, a responsibility — of food banks to make sure that people have access to the most healthy foods possible.”
Long Island Cares works with more than 350 local food pantries, but many
Courtesy Long Island Cares
The Mobile Food Truck for Long Island Cares — expected to deliver fresh produce across Nassau County — was made possible by a $250,000 grant from Bank of America Long Island. Bank of America executives Mark Perez and Jaime Stojanowski, left — as well as Jennifer Porti, fourth from left — presented the grant to Long Island Cares representatives Jessica Rosati, Yenny Buitrago and Paule Pachter.
simply do not have the storage capacity to house the fresh produce people need.
The Mobile Food Truck, by contrast, could deliver enough fruits and vegetables to fill up nearly five refrigerators, Pachter said. Local pantries can simply schedule a time for the truck to visit them, and their produce needs will be supplemented by the truck’s refrigerated storage.
The program is more needed now than ever, Pachter said. Fresh produce — already more expensive than less healthy
options — has skyrocketed in price since the coronavirus pandemic, according to multiple studies in the National Institutes of Health. Only around 1-in-10 people get their recommended daily serving of fruits and vegetables, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The Mobile Food Truck is expected to improve those statistics for hungry people on the island.
A refrigerated food truck is a concept Long Island Cares has worked on for a
while now — but it was a $250,000 grant from Bank of America’s Long Island branch that finally brought the produce truck to fruition.
With that money, Long Island Cares can buy the truck with refrigerated storage and wrap it with the charitable organization’s name.
The partnership isn’t new. Bank of America is one of the largest donors helping hungry people, Pachter said — the bank’s previous $500,000 grant to Long Island Cares was directly responsible for opening new satellite locations, including one that is coming to Valley Stream.
“Access to healthy, nutritious food is more important than ever, and the new mobile farmers market will allow Long Island Cares to distribute fresh produce to more individuals and families in need,” said Mark Perez, president of Bank of America Long Island, in a statement.
And the program helps more than the hungry.
“This can be seen, in many ways, as a real boon to both the state and regional economy, because we always make it our business to first buy from Long Island when produce is able to be harvested in season” Pachter said. “So, this is really supporting New York in many ways, and supporting the Long Island farm community in many ways. ”
To find food near them or to volunteer, visit the Long Island Cares website at LICares.org.
JOIN THE MOVEMENT
Summit stresses cyclist, pedestrian safety
By SCOTT BRINTON Special to the Herald
Martin Buchman talked up the Long Island Greenway Trail outside the amphitheater at Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow last week, a table full of maps, charts and pamphlets before him.
The retired high school teacher who’s also a board member of the New York Bicycling Coalition, said ground will break next year on the nearly 200-milelong cycling trail that will connect Eisenhower Park with Montauk, nearly 200 miles away.
“The real hope is to get bicycle infrastructure that does not compete with cars,” Buchman said.
The cycling advocate and enthusiast was at NUMC for the second annual Walk Bike LI Summit, at which “vulnerable road users” such as bicyclists and pedestrians were the primary point of discussion. He understands all too well the dangers cyclists face on the island’s heavily trafficked roads — and the need for safe spaces of their own.
Buchman has been hit twice by cars while riding his bike over the last seven years. The first time was Bike-to-Work Day in 2017. He was cycling 25 miles from Stony Brook to Plainview-Old Bethpage High School when a left-turning driver ran into him.
He broke his collarbone, and was one of three cyclists who wound up in the same emergency room together, all biking to work.
Buchman was struck a second time in 2022, cracking his fibula and needing 45 stitches to repair a gash in his lower leg.
A number of crash victims who enter NUMC — including pedestrians and cyclists — do so “hoping to walk out,” said Daniel Flanzig, a personal injury attorney at the Mineola-based Flanzig & Flanzig, who’s also a bicycling coalition member with Buchman. But “a lot of people do not. When my phone rings, somebody’s never having a good day.”
Nassau County recorded more than 37,700 crashes last year that killed 62 and injured more than 12,500 others, according to state statistics presented at the summit. Of those accidents, 421 involved bicyclists, with 358 injured and one person killed.
That means the injury rate involving vehicle-on-vehicle crashes was roughly 33 percent. The rate when a vehicle struck a cyclist was 85 percent.
Megan Ryan, NUMC’s interim chief executive and president, explained that most anyone who has suffered a traumatic injury in a crash throughout the county — in particular, a cyclist or pedestrian — will be sent to NUMC because it is a Level I trauma center. Ryan, who sits on the North Merrick education board, spoke of a high school student who was recently hit while riding his bicycle in her neighborhood and was rushed to NUMC. And then, on the day of the summit, a 12-year-old was hit by a car while riding his bike on the North Bellmore-Wantagh border. He was airlifted to Cohen Children’s Medical
When complete, the Long Island Greenway Trail will stretch from Manhattan to Montauk, measuring nearly 200 miles — 60 percent of which will be off-road. The trail will connect with the Empire State Trail, which begins at the Battery in Lower Manhattan, and runs 750 miles to Buffalo. The Greenway Trail will connect with 60 bus routes and 46 train stations, and will be within a 10-minute walk of 27 Long Island communities, according to the Trust for Public Land, which is spearheading the effort to construct the pathway.
Center in Queens, where he was reported in stable condition.
“Pedestrian safety, bicyclist safety, it’s very important,” Ryan said. “It’s something that I think is overlooked. We try to teach (pedestrian/bicyclist safety) for younger children, but it’s very important for the older students, older children, and adults, as well.”
Wendy Tepfer, executive director of the Community Parent Center in the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District, came to the summit to hear any
suggestions that might help improve the center’s driver education programming.
The center, Tepfer said, stresses the need to stay focused on the road, without distractions, in large part to protect cyclists and pedestrians. She noted that when drivers are distracted by cell phone calls, they are only able to focus 35 percent of their attention on the road, so their mind zeroes in on the cars in front of them while limiting their peripheral vision.
Pedestrians and cyclists, however, are
Tips for staying safe
Given the 2.2 million cars in the region, cycling on Long Island involves a degree of risk. But it’s risk that can be mitigated, according to the T.H. Chan School of Public Health at Harvard University, with these safety tips:
■ Always ride to the right with the flow of traffic
■ Leave three feet of space between you and parked cars to avoid opening doors
■ Wear a helmet
■ Use bike lights
■ Use hand signals when turning
most likely to be found on the sides of roads — that is, in drivers’ peripheries.
“We talk about distractions all the time,” Tepfer said.
Cynthia Brown, executive director of the Westbury-based New York Coalition for Transportation Safety, said redesigning roads to improve safety is tough, if not impossible, because doing so often involves condemning properties to make way for new infrastructure.
“The only thing that you can really try to change,” Brown said, “is driver behavior.”
Courtesy Trust for Public Land
Courtesy Scott Brinton
Daniel Flanzig — a member of the New York Bicycling Coalition board — and Cynthia Brown, executive director of the New York Coalition for Transportation Safety, were among the featured speakers at the second annual Walk Bike LI Summit at Nassau University Medical Center, where bicyclist and pedestrian safety was front and center.
Be smart with your sprinklers, experts urge
By NICOLE FORMISANO nformisano@liherald.com
More than 100 billion gallons of water will be used for lawn maintenance alone across Long Island this summer — enough to fill 150,000 Olympic-sized swimming polls — and the cost shows up in more than just your water bill.
It’s also hitting the ecology hard, according to officials, which is why the Long Island Commission for Aquifer Protection is urging neighbors to be mindful of their water usage.
“The heat wave has to make us realize that water, particularly in Nassau County, is a finite resource,” Adrienne Esposito, executive director of Citizens Campaign for the Environment, told reporters last week at the West Hempstead Water District.
“It is all of our responsibility to protect that water supply.”
The entirety of Long Island’s drinking water comes from natural aquifers. They’re like giant underground sponges — when it rains, the water seeps underground and is absorbed by sand and gravel, creating natural reserves of freshwater.
“In Nassau County, we’re experiencing what’s called groundwater mining, which means that we’re taking more water out of the groundwater system than the rain is able to replace naturally,” Esposito said. “This is not a good recipe for sustainability.”
Nicole Formisano/Herald
Protecting Long Island’s groundwater is about protecting its longevity and local ecosystem, said Adrienne Esposito, executive director of Citizens Campaign for the Environment.
The groundwater serves three vital functions, explained Bret Bennington, chair of Hofstra University’s Department of Geology, Environment and Sustainability. First, it’s pumped to the surface to be used as freshwater. Then it directly feeds just about every lake, stream and tributary on Long Island. Finally, when it travels to the shoreline and is released along the coast, it prevents saltwater from moving in underneath the island.
In other words, as long as groundwater
is continually flushing outward, the saltwater doesn’t intrude upon Long Island’s natural freshwater resources, which could ultimately destroy this vital reservoir.
There needs to be enough groundwater to adequately perform all three of those functions, Bennington explained. So, the problem isn’t that Long Island will entirely run out of water — it’s that the more neighbors drain these natural reserves, the more significant consequences they’ll see on the entire groundwater system.
Lakes and rivers become dry. Saltwater contaminates the fresh water under the island, rendering the reserves undrinkable. To compensate, more drinking water must be pumped from other reserves. The process snowballs into a vicious cycle — and it shows up on water bills.
“The more we pump, the more it costs to treat,” said Jason Belle, who chair the aquifer protection commission. “So, by reducing our pumps, not only do they reduce their water bill, it reduces the district’s bill, which will in turn keep the rates low.”
So how can people do their part? As the island approaches the peak season of water usage, officials said, perhaps the best way for residents to be efficient with their landscape-related water usage may be to adopt smart irrigation.
Smart irrigation is a “holistic approach to using water” in landscaping, said Mike Dwyer, director of the Irriga-
tion Association of New York.
If someone notices a brown spot on their lawn, Dwyer said, don’t just turn up the sprinklers run time. Check out the sprinklers in that zone to see if they’re running efficiently.
Are the nozzles clogged? Are the sprinklers blocked by plant growth? Are the heads rising fully out of the grass?
Plus, not all brown spots are from lack of water — insects or disease may be culpable.
And rather than relying on timers, he added, switch to a controller based on evapotranspiration — or ET — which adjusts how long sprinklers will run depending on how wet the ground is.
Why water your lawns on a rainy day?
“We’re not here to tell people to not water their lawns,” Belle said. “All we’re saying is that you can have the best of both worlds — a nice healthy lawn, while also reducing the amount of water to achieve it.”
“There are many good reasons to preserve groundwater, whether it’s for drinking water, for our ecology, or for our sustainability,” Esposito said. “We’re asking people to start now. Don’t wait until August when we’re in another summer heatwave and a drought. Start good water conservation practices today.”
Those who take the conservation pledge on the commission’s website a OurWaterOurLives.com has a chance to win a smart sprinkler controller.
Chabad Center celebrates pre-K graduates
The Chabad Center for Jewish Life of Merrick-Bellmore-Wantagh celebrated graduates of Alan & Tatyana Forman Early Jewish Learning Center with a ceremony on June 17 at the Brookside School in North Merrick. The ceremony consisted of music, prayer, guest speakers and individual recognition for each young student celebrating this major accomplishment.
The ceremony kicked off with a welcome address from program director Chanie Kramer, who runs the Chabad Center with Rabbi Shimon Kramer. Rabbi Kramer led the ceremony’s invocation, and Rabbi Daniel Haramati then led attendees in prayer.
Marianna Borets, the administrative director of the learning center, later shared her thoughts on state. The graduating students said the Pledge of Allegiance and sand God Bless America, among several additional songs.
The ceremony also thanked all of the Chabad’s teachers for their work throughout the school year. To wrap up the ceremony, each students’ names were individually called and they received a diploma to celebrate the accomplishment.
State Sen. Steve Rhoads, who represents the district the Chabad is located in, shared his thoughts on Facebook following the graduation ceremony. “A jubilant and joyous moving up ceremony this morning marked the momentous milestone for our Pre-K graduates of the Chabad of Merrick-Bellmore-Wantagh Jewish Early Learning Center,” Rhoads wrote. “Congratulations to all of the graduates. May your futures be bright and filled with joy and success.”
— Brian Norman
Tim Baker/Herald photos
The Chabad Center for Jewish Life held its graduation ceremony for pre-K students of the Alan & Tatyna Forman Early Jewish Learning Center.
Michael Rovensky was among this year’s graduates.
Chanie Kramer, who directs the Chabad with Rabbi Shimon Kramer, welcomed families to the ceremony.
Marianna Borets, the administrative director of the learning center, offered remarks during the ceremony.
Tatyan and Alan Forman were presented with a gift from the Chabad’s classrooms.
STEPPING OUT
with Thomas the Tank Engine
Go on an adventure on the rails at Long Island Children’s Museum
By Danielle Schwab
All aboard! The lovable blue tank engine Thomas and his friends have rolled into Long Island. With a cargo full of interactive STEM activities for families to explore, Long Island Children’s Museum staffers — and visitors — are excited to welcome back the returning exhibit, “Thomas & Friends: Explore the Rails.”
“Long Island Children’s Museum had opened the exhibit in early 2020 to great audience reaction,” explains museum president Erika Floreska. “Then Covid happened and the museum shut down. The exhibit sat in our empty building for months, anticipating the return of visitors. By the time the museum was able to reopen, the exhibit had to move on to its next scheduled destination.”
At long last, everyone can board once again as the train fulfills its intended route.
In real life, the islands just off the English mainland near Barrow in Furness, in Cumbria, has been home to the engines of industry — submarine manufacturing plant, undersea coal mining, petrochemicals and a hotly contested nuclear energy plant.
But for generations — baby boomers who read the Rev. Wilbert Awdry’s Railway Series books and the children of the ‘80s who experienced those stories, too, on a popular television series — the only island that counts in the gleaming distances of the Irish Sea is Sodor.
Sodor — home to Thomas the Tank Engine, that is, where the trains are as busy as ever.
“You’re stepping into another world, visiting Knapford Station on the Island of Sodor,” says Long Island Children’s Museum education director Ashley Niver.
Awdry originally created the beloved trains in the early 1940s as stories for his son, Christopher. The fictional tank locomotive has since captivated families worldwide.
While the look of trains has changed since Thomas first came to be, the message is clear: trains don’t lose their appeal.
“There is something super magical and enticing about playing with toy trains. It seems to triumph over any other vehicle,” Niver says. “When you see a train, it’s like, ‘Wow, that’s a special trip.’”
The traveling exhibit, created by the award-winning Minnesota Children’s Museum in partnership with Mattel’s Fisher-Price, rolled into the museum in late May and will continue to charm families through Sept. 8.
Targeted especially for kids between 2 and 7, the exhibit incorporates foundational STEM learning that can perhaps inspire the next generation of scientists, engineers and physicists.
Through engaging play, families arrive at creative solutions to problemsolving using mathematical thinking and experimentation as they respond to challenges.
“Kids are learning how to engineer together,” Niver says. “It’s a really nice area where you can let your kids roam free. They can explore, and there’s a lot of socialization happening too.”
First, look inside a Sodor train.
“You’re welcomed with a bright, shiny Thomas, a giant life-size one which the kids can board,” Niver says. “Some levers and parts create train noises, whistles and steam.”
Then, help out the green train, Percy, repair a wobbly wheel. Continue on to move coal into Percy’s coal box and fill his tank with water. Also load luggage,
• Now through Sept. 8, Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
• $17 museum admission, $16 seniors 65 and older; additional fees for theater programming
• View the events calendar at LICM.org for additional information or call (516) 224-5800
• Long Island Children’s Museum, Museum Row, Garden City.
livestock and addtional cargo into two train cars.
Even become part of Thomas’ world by suiting up as a conductor, exchanging money, and selling tickets to passengers.
And naturally, it wouldn’t be a “Thomas & Friends” experience without some toy trains.
Families can play at an oversized Thomas wooden railway table, bringing people through all Sodor’s iconic destinations such as Tidmouth Sheds, Brendam Docks, and the Sodor Search and Rescue Station.
While in actuality trains connect us to various places both familiar and new, the “connection” here is an emotional one.
“What’s really important about Thomas is that he is super hard-working,” Niver says. “He’s the smallest train, but he never gives up, and he always tries to help people learn to work together, to cooperate, to be kind to one another.
“Children find him really endearing and connect on a deep level with him.”
As North Western Railway Controller Sir Topham Hatt always says: “Thomas is a very useful engine.”
‘And stars fill my dream…’
Get the Led Out rocks out with their tribute to what many consider rock ‘n roll’s greatest band, in ‘A Celebration of the Mighty Zep.’ From the bombastic and epic, to the folky and mystical, GTLO has captured the essence of the recorded music of Led Zeppelin and brought it to the concert stage. The six veteran musicians who make up the Philadelphia-based group deliver all passion these bluessoaked rock anthems deserve. GTLO re-creates songs, in all their depth and glory, with the studio overdubs that Zeppelin themselves never performed. No wigs or fake English accents, the band brings what the audience wants — a high-energy Zeppelin concert with honest, heartthumping intensity with a strong focus on Led Zeppelin’s pivotal early years.
Friday and Saturday, June 28-29, 8 p.m. $75. $45, $30. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at Ticketmaster.com or ParamountNY.com.
There’s also something nostalgic for the parents who grew up watching the televised version of Thomas. On view are model engines from the original live-action series, and copies of the original drawings along with 75 manuscripts, among the memorabilia documenting the history and evolution of Thomas.
to another, “Thomas &
From one generation to another, “Thomas & Friends” continues to captivate audiences in a powerful way.
children with that you can
“Anything that you remember raising your own children with that you can then pass down is the coolest thing, to have that connectivity years,” Niver adds.
Gilbert and Sullivan’s ‘Iolanthe’
through the
Mortals and immortals come face to face in the Gilbert & Sullivan Light Opera Company’s of Long Island’s production of Gilbert and Sullivan’s classic ‘Iolanthe.’ The comic opera, which debuted in 1883, is one of the most beloved of all the Gilbert and Sullivan operas. Its perfect balance of words and music, humor and drama, and political satire resonates to this day. The whimsical story involves a half fairy/ half mortal shepherd lad who falls in love with wealthy heiress that sets up a conflict between the wily Lord Chancellor and the cosmically powerful Fairy Queen. Featuring some of Sullivan’s most stunning music, including ‘Oh Foolish Fay,’ and what is popularly known as ‘The Nightmare Song,’ expect an evening of first class entertainment and riotous fun suitable for all ages.
Sunday, June 30, 3 p.m. $30, $25 seniors/children. Madison Theatre, Molloy University, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre. Tickets available at MadisonTheatreNY.org or call (516) 323-4444.
Photos courtesy Long Island Children’s Museum Thomas has chugged into the museum and invites families to stop on by.
Explore the Island of Sodor for an adventure on the rails.
A future train conductor checks in.
Visitors collaborate to repair Percy’s wobbly wheels.
It’s Your Flag… Display
THE Your Neighborhood
The English supergroup, fronted by original member Geoff Downes, along with a brand new lineup, is reinvigorated and back on tour, appearing on the Paramount stage, Sunday, July 7, 7 p.m . Today, the legendary band comprises Geoff Downes, John Mitchell, Harry Whitley, and Virgil Donati. Their new tour, “Heat of the Moment,” additionally features Focus, Martin Turner (Wishbone Ash), Curved Air, and Roger Dean as special guests. Asia was the biggest selling album of 1982, Number 1 on Billboard for nine weeks and pioneers of the MTV era!
Downes’ new iteration of Asia first began to evolve last summer, at the concert held in memory of late lead singer, songwriter and bassist, John Wetton (King Crimson, Roxy Music, Uriah Heep, Wishbone Ash, UK, Asia, John Wetton Band, Icon). Downes invited old friend John Mitchell (It Bites, Frost*, Lonely Robot, Kino, John Wetton Band, Icon) and newcomer Harry Whitley to join him on stage to celebrate Wetton’s life by performing some of the classic Asia hits. Such was the uproarious reception to their set that Downes wondered if something magical was beginning to take shape. Downes’ newlook Asia once again features Mitchell on guitars and Whitley on lead vocal and bass. The quartet is made complete by the addition of Virgil Donati (UK, Southern Sons, Steve Vai, Allan Holdsworth) on drums. The band will perform the hits you know and love, including “Heat of the Moment,” “Only Time Will Tell,” “Sole Survivor,” and more. $99.50, $79.50, $69.50, $69.50, $59.50, $49.50. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at Ticketmaster.com or ParamountNY.com. July 7
Dramatic Play
Theatre Playground returns to Long Island Children’s Museum with “Dramatic Play!,” Monday, July 1, 1 p.m., taught by Lisa Rudin, Director of Theatre Playground. In this interactive, theater-inspired workshop, children will act out an original story and help choose how it unfolds. Music, props, and sound effects create a theatrical world where participants are immersed in the story.
Kids are encouraged to express themselves as they create characters, stretch their imaginations and build self-confidence. This week’s theme: Calling All Superheroes! Costumes encouraged. $5 with museum admission. Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 224-5800 or LICM.org.
Wantagh 4th of July parade
Wantagh celebrates Independence Day with a parade on July 4 Step off begins at 10 a.m. on Park Avenue and heads north on Wantagh Avenue to Island Park Road, where it heads east to Beech Street. Parade comes to its final destination at the Wantagh Elementary School, where a panel of judges will announce the winners of awards ranging from the most patriotic to the most creative floats.
On exhibit
Nassau County Museum of Art’s latest exhibition, “Urban Art Evolution,” is a comprehensive exhibit featuring a diverse range of compositions from the 1980s through the present by creators who were based in the rough and tumble downtown area of New York City known as Loisaida/LES (Lower East Side/East Village) and close surrounding neighborhoods.
Artists pushed the boundaries of what was considered “art” with a primary focus on street/graffiti art. The exhibit’s scope, guest curated by art collector/gallerist Christopher Pusey, offers an even broader view from other creative residents, who worked inside their studios but still contributed to the rich fabric of the downtown art scene from different vantage points and aesthetics.
Works include sculpture, paintings, photography, music, and ephemera from many noted and influential artists. On view through July 7. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. (516) 484-9337 or NassauMuseum.org.
Barnaby Bye
The band returns to My Father’s Place, Saturday, June 29, 8 p.m. Come celebrate the music, the memories and the good times with Billy, Bobby, Peppy and Mike! Doors open at 6 p.m., concert is at 8 p.m. 221 Old Northern Blvd., Roslyn,. For tickets/information, visit MFPProductions.com or call (516) 580-0887.
Antique Car Show
Wantagh Museum hosts its third annual antique car show, Saturday, July 13. The event, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., features cars from the 1970s and older. Refreshments will be on sale and museum sites will be open.
With a 50/50 raffle, music and kids crafts from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. Entrance fee is $1 for adults 18 and older. 17 and younger are free. The Wantagh museum is located at 1700 Wantagh Ave. in Wantagh. For any questions, email wantaghmuseum@gmail. com.
Summer sounds
Visit Eisenhower Park’s Field #1 for its Noontime Concert series, Wednesday, July 3, noon-2 p.m. Enjoy “The Many Voices of Dennis Dell.” Dell’s vocally stylings transport his audience to another world. Hear your favorite songs brought to life with originality and authenticity. Bring seating. For information, visit NassauCountyNY.gov.
Celebrate Israel
Salute Israel, while welcoming Eisenhower Park’s summer concert season, at the annual Celebrate Israel concert, presented by Jewish Community Relations Council of Long Island, Sunday, June 30, 6 p.m. Israeli superstar Raviv Kaner performs. Bring seating. Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, Eisenhower Park, East Meadow. For more information, visit Facebook. com/jcrcli.
Game time
Enjoy Mah Jongg and Canasta, every Thursday, noon to 4 p.m., at Congregation Beth Tikvah, $5 contribution, no outside food, as snacks and drinks will be supplied. Bring your games and cards, lessons available. 3710 Woodbine Ave., Wantagh. For more information, email mahjonggCBT@yahoo.com or call (516) 785-2445.
Having an event?
Shabbat on the Beach
To welcome in Shabbat, members of the Congregation Beth Tikvah Band will perform at three Friday night singalongs. All are welcome to join Congregation Beth Tikvah for a musical Shabbat experience on June 28, July 26 and Aug. 23, 6-6:45 p.m., at Jones Beach Field 6. These free services follow traditional Jewish Shabbat rituals and are open to anyone who calls Long Island their home.
Park on the west side of the comfort station and meet members of Congregation Beth Tikvah on the boardwalk. Bring seating. There is no parking fee after 4 p.m. 1 Ocean Pkwy., in Wantagh. For more information, call the office at (516) 785-2445.
Music in the park
Dance the night away with Vinyl Revival, Wednesday, July 10, 8 p.m. at Seamans Neck Park. The band plays the best disco tunes from the ‘70s with just enough classic rock and pop hits to keep everyone on their feet. 2700 S. Seamans Neck Road. No seating; bring a chair or blanket.
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.
Film Screening
Visit Nassau County Museum of Art for a viewing of “Wild Style,” a 1983 film regarded as the first hiphop movie, Saturday, June 29, 3 p.m. A hybrid project that exists as both a musical and a documentary, the film features hip-hop pioneers of the period, including Fred “Fab Five Freddy” Brathwaite, Lee Quiñones, Lady Pink, The Rock Steady Crew, The Cold Crush Brothers, Queen Lisa Lee of Zulu Nation, Grandmaster Flash, and Zephyr, who play themselves in a loosely scripted story shot entirely in the South Bronx, the Lower East Side, and MTA subway yards.
A Q&A follows with director Charlie Ahearn and critic-curator, Carlo McCormick. Seating is limited and reservations required. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. (516) 484-9337 or NassauMuseum.org.
Celebrate America
View the pyrotechnic spectacle, as part of Eisenhower Park’s annual holiday double bill, TD Bank’s Celebrate America, which also includes a concert, at the Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, Wednesday, July 3, 5:3010 p.m. With performances by the popular local Allman Brothers tribute act Allmost Brothers and Chicken Head. Bring seating. Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, Eisenhower Park, East Meadow. For information, visit NassauCountyNY.gov.
Pet Adoption Program
Adopt your “fur-ever” friend this summer. There’s no better time to adopt a new pet than during the ”summer of love” at the Town of Hempstead Animal Shelter. Now through Sept. 1, all pet adoption fees are waived and include free spaying/neutering, vaccinations and microchipping. There is a $10 license fee for dogs. Check out the friendly faces of the dogs and cats before stepping foot in the shelter online at HempsteadNY.gov/179/Animal-Shelter or on the shelter’s Facebook page at Hempstead Town Animal Shelter. For more information, contact (516) 785-5220.
BROADWAY PREVIEWS BEGIN OCTOBER 16
SEAFORD HERALD — June 27, 2024
STARRING TONY AWARD® WINNER JAMES MONROE IGLEHART AS “ A KNOCKOUT LOUIS ARMSTRONG! ”
BRUCE A. BLAKEMAN
NASSAU COUNTY EXECUTIVE
presents FREE LAKESIDE
THEATRE CONCERTS
EISENHOWER PARK, East Meadow | Parking Field #6
All Events weather permitting. Call 516-572-0200 for up-to-date information.
JUNE
Saturday, June 15
8:00-9:30pm Ja Rule at Mitchel Field Athletic Complex
Sunday, June 16 ..................
6:00-8:30pm Indian American Night
Wednesday, June 26
7:00-9:30pm Greek American Night
Saturday, June 29 ...............
6:00-8:30pm Chinese American Night
Sunday, June 30
6:00-8:30pm Israeli American Night
JULY
Monday, July 1
7:00-9:30pm German American Night
Wednesday, July 3
5:30-10:00pm TD Bank’s Celebrate America Fireworks & Show featuring The Allmost Brothers Band & Chicken Head Rocks
Friday, July 5 Fireworks Rain Date
Saturday, July 6
7:00-9:00pm So Good – The Neil Diamond Experience
Sunday, July 7
6:00-8:00pm Opera Night with Christopher Macchio
Monday, July 8
5:00-6:30pm Senior Afternoon Concert: The Excellents and The Demensions
Thursday, July 11
7:00-10:00pm Rock of Ages Tribute: Shoot 2 Thrill - AC/DC
Completely Unchained - Van Halen Return to Paradise - Styx
Friday, July 12
7:00-9:00pm
Streetfighter – Rolling Stones Tribute
Saturday, July 13
7:00-9:00pm Misty Mountain – Led Zeppelin Tribute
Sunday, July 14
6:00-9:00pm Harry Chapin Tribute Show & Food Drive with The Harry Chapin Band and Will Sing For Food
Monday, July 15
7:00-9:00pm The Nassau Pops Symphony Orchestra
Thursday, July 18................
7:00-9:30pm Rodgers & Hammerstein’s “A Grand Night for Singing” by Plaza Productions
Friday, July 19
7:00-9:30pm Creole American Night
Saturday, July 20 ................
7:00-9:00pm Neil Berg’s 100 Years of Broadway
Sunday, July 21
6:00-8:30pm Bangladeshi American Night
Monday, July 22 ..................
7:00-9:00pm Italian American Night
Thursday, July 25
7:00-9:00pm
Barometer Soup - A Tribute to Jimmy Buffet
Friday, July 26 .................
7:00-9:00pm Doo Wop Show:
Johnny Farina of Santo & Johnny, Phil Cracolici and The Mystics, Vito Picone and The Elegants, Jimmy Gallagher of The Passions
Saturday, July 27
7:00-9:00pm The Hilarious Hitmen, a Comedy Musical Spectacular
Sunday, July 28
Korean American Night
6:00-8:30pm
Monday, July 29 5:00-6:30pm
Senior Afternoon Concert: The Fireflies and The Devotions AUGUST
Friday, August 2
7:00-9:00pm
Dancing Dream – ABBA Tribute
Saturday, August 3
6:30-9:30pm
Salute to Vets Show with Face to Face & American Bombshells
Sunday, August 4
6:30-8:30pm
The Midtown Men featuring Stars from the Original Cast of Jersey Boys
Monday, August 5................ 7:00-9:30pm
Irish American Night
Thursday, August 8 7:00-9:00pm
Sandy Hackett’s Rat Pack
Friday, August 9 .................. 7:00-9:00pm
45 RPM
Saturday, August 10
7:00-9:00pm
This is Garth featuring JD Leonard
Sunday, August 11 .............. 6:30-8:30pm
Living Colour
Monday, August 12 5:00-6:30pm
Senior Afternoon Concert: Vinnie Medugno & The Chiclettes
Thursday, August 15 7:00-9:00pm
UB40 : Red Red Wine Tour
Friday, August 16 7:00-9:00pm
Zac Brown Tribute Band (ZBTB)
Saturday, August 17 7:00-9:00pm
Doo Wop Show: Manhattan Skyline, Stan Zizka & The Del Satins, Larry Chance’s Earls
Sunday, August 18 .............. 4:00-8:00pm
Pakistani American Night
Monday, August 19 7:00-9:30pm Ukrainian American Night
Thursday, August 22 ...........
7:00-9:00pm
Let’s Sing Taylor - Taylor Swift Experience
Saturday, August 24 7:00-9:00pm Disco Unlimited
Sunday, August 25 .............. 7:00-9:00pm Don Felder former lead guitarist of The Eagles
Friday, August 30 7:00-9:00pm That Motown Band
SEPTEMBER
Sunday, September 1 ......... 7:00-9:00pm The Purple Experience - Prince Tribute
Sunday, September 8 5:00-7:30pm
Turkish American Night
Saturday, September 14 .... 7:30-10:00pm
World Renowned Puerto Rican Salsa Orchestra
Friday, September 20 7:00-10:00pm
Legendary House DJ TBA with LI’s Own DJ Theo opening
Sunday, September 29 2:00-9:00pm Latino American Night
Bring Blankets or Chairs
& museum in anhattan last august. to help fund future museum trips, the school district announced a 9/11 memorial 5K fundraiser.
5K will raise money for 9/11-related projects
who died on 9/11 or from 9/11-related illnesses. The committee decided on a 5K run to help raise money for future trips to the museum as well as other initiatives, such as a senior scholarship and a memorial of the district’s own at one of its buildings.
The Sinise Foundation, according to Guzzone, agreed to be a Gold Star Sponsor, the highest level of sponsorship for the event. Jim Ravella, senior vice president for programs at the foundation, said it was an honor to support the Wantagh community.
“We provide a lot of services to veterans, first responders, their families, and our active-duty Guard (and) Reserve,” Ravella said, referring to the National Guard and Army Reserve. “That is a big part of our mission, but this is also at the core of who Gary is, and why this foundation exists is to connect to the next generation.”
Since the event’s announcement last month, Guzzone said, the reaction from the community has been “tremendous.”
Organizations including Jovia Financial Credit Union, Coldwell Banker and the Helix Contracting Corp have signed up as sponsors, along with community groups.
Guzzone says it’s not just students who benefit from learning about 9/11, but the next generation of educators as
well. The district, he said, already has teachers who were not alive when terrorists attacked the United States on Sept. 11, 2001.
“We want to make sure that we’re educating students,” Guzzone said. “We also have a responsibility now, as the elder statesman of education, to make sure that we’re educating our educators, so they’re in a great position to pass along that knowledge to students, because they’re not going to have those stories.”
In his last 10 years as an administrator at Oceanside and Wantagh high schools, Guzzone said, he didn’t need to ask teachers what their lesson plans were for Sept. 11, because they all recalled what happened that day, and remembered watching news footage of smoke pouring out of the towers, or calling loved ones to see if they were OK. For Guzzone, it is crucial to keep these stories from being lost over time.
“It’s important to keep this alive and tangible and real, not only for our students, but for educators,” he said, “because it’s going to be their responsibility to continue passing along this knowledge.”
The inaugural Wantagh Warrior 9/11 Memorial 5K will take place on the high school track on Sunday, Sept. 22, at 9:30 a.m. For more information, go to tinyurl.com/Wantagh-911-5k.
Continued from page 1
Courtesy Wantagh school district
Wantagh students visited the national September 11 memorial
Public Notices
LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE OF SALE
SUPREME COURT
COUNTY OF NASSAU, U.S. BANK TRUST
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE FOR VRMTG ASSET TRUST, Plaintiff, vs. ROBERT E. JERANEK, ET AL., Defendant(s).
Pursuant to an Order
Confirming Referee’s Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on March 7, 2024, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the front steps on the north side of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on July 11, 2024 at 3:00 p.m., premises known as 1806 Monroe Avenue, Seaford, NY 11783. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 52, Block 296 and Lot 965.
Approximate amount of judgment is $320,486.74 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #611483/2021. Cash will not be accepted. This foreclosure sale will be held on the north side steps of the Courthouse, rain or shine. COVID-19 safety protocols will be followed at the foreclosure sale. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, the Court Appointed Referee will cancel the sale.
Ralph J. Madalena, Esq., Referee Knuckles & Manfro, LLP, 120 White Plains Road, Suite 215, Tarrytown, New York 10591, Attorneys for Plaintiff 147198
LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE OF SALE
SUPREME COURT
NASSAU COUNTY
LAKEVIEW LOAN
SERVICING, LLC, Plaintiff against JOSEPH MORALES, et al Defendant(s)
Attorney for Plaintiff(s) McCalla Raymer Leibert Pierce, LLC, 420 Lexington Avenue, Suite 840, New York, NY 10170.
Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered March 16, 2020, I will sell at public auction to the highest bidder at North Side Steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on July 16, 2024 at 2:00 PM. Premises known as 2331 Neptune Avenue, Seaford, New York 11783. Sec 65 Block 273
Lot 13. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being at Seaford, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York. Approximate Amount of Judgment is $598,181.30 plus interest, fees, and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No 602732/2018.
The foreclosure sale will be conducted in accordance with 10th Judicial District’s Covid-19 Policies and foreclosure auction rules.
The Referee shall enforce any rules in place regarding facial coverings and social distancing. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, then the Court Appointed Referee shall cancel the foreclosure auction. Foreclosure Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine.”
Lisa Segal Poczik, Esq., Referee File # 23-14875NY 147368
LEGAL NOTICE
NASSAU - INDEX NO.: 612308/2023SUMMONS. Plaintiff designates NASSAU COUNTY as the place of trial based upon the location of the premises herein described having tax map Section 52, Block 311, Lot 10, SEAFORD, NY, County of NASSAUTHE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON FKA THE BANK OF NEW YORK, AS TRUSTEE FOR THE CERITIFCATEHOLDERS OF THE CWALT, INC., ALTERNATIVE LOAN TRUST 2007-16CB MORTGAGE PASSTHROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2007-16CB, PLAINTIFF, -against- any and all persons unknown to plaintiff, claiming, or who may claim to have an interest in, or generally or specific lien upon the real property described in this action; such unknown persons being herein generally described and intended to be included in the following designation, namely: the wife, widow, husband, widower, heirsat law, next of kin, descendants, executors, administrators, devisees, legatees, creditors, trustees, committees, lienors, and assignees of CLAUDIA KWASNIK, deceased, any and all persons deriving interest in or lien upon, or title to said real property by, through or under them and their respective wives, widows, husbands, widowers, heirs-at law, next of kin, descendants, executors, administrators, devisees, legatees, creditors, trustees, committees, lienors, and assignees, all of whom and whose names, except as stated, are unknown to plaintiff, JOESPH
PICARIELLO, AS HEIR TO THE ESTATE OF CLAUDIA KWASNIK, CHRISTINE KWASNIK, AS HEIR TO THE ESTATE OF CLAUDIA KWASNIK, SLOMINS, INC.,UNITED STATES OF AMERICA - INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE, “JOHN DOE #1” through “JOHN DOE #12,” the last twelve names being fictitious and unknown to plaintiff, the persons or parties intended being the tenants, occupants, persons or corporations, if any, having or claiming an interest in or lien upon the premises, described in the complaint, DEFENDANTS. YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the complaint in this action and to serve a copy of your answer, or, if the complaint is not served with this summons, to serve a notice of appearance on the Plaintiff’s Attorney within 20 days after the service of this summons, exclusive of the day of service (or within 30 days after the service is complete if this summons is not personally delivered to you within the State of New York); and in case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the complaint. NOTICE YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME If you do not respond to this Summons and Complaint by serving a copy of the answer on the attorney for the mortgage company who filed this foreclosure proceeding against you and filing the answer with the court, a default judgment may be entered against you and you can lose your home. Speak to an attorney or go to the court where your case is pending for further information on how to answer the summons and protect your property. Sending a payment to your mortgage company will not stop this foreclosure action. YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (MORTGAGE COMPANY) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT. Dated: Syosset, New York, June 3, 2024. Roach & Lin, P.C., attorney for Plaintiff, 6851 Jericho Turnpike, Suite 185, Syosset, NY 11791. Tel: 516-938-3100. To the above-named defendants: The foregoing summons is served upon you by publication pursuant to an Order of the Hon. JEFFREY A. GOODSTEIN a Justice of the Supreme Court, State of New York, dated May 7, 2024 and filed with the NASSAU County Clerk together with the supporting papers thereon. This is an action to foreclose a
mortgage held by Plaintiff on the premises known as Section 52, Block 311, Lot 10, SEAFORD, NY, County of NASSAU as described in the complaint on file and commonly known as 265 GILLING ROAD, SEAFORD, NEW YORK 11783. 81151 147338
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU FREEDOM MORTGAGE CORPORATION, Plaintiff AGAINST JAMES DILLON, ET AL., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered November 30, 2017, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on July 15, 2024 at 2:00PM, premises known as 3549 WADENA STREET, SEAFORD, NY 11783. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being at Seaford, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 63., Block 20, Lot 694. Approximate amount of judgment $399,728.60 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #007076/2015. The aforementioned auction will be conducted in accordance with the NASSAU County COVID-19 mitigation protocols and as such all persons must comply with social distancing, wearing masks and screening practices in effect at the time of this foreclosure sale. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, then the court appointed referee will cancel the foreclosure auction. Foreclosure Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine”. Malachy Lyons Jr., Esq., Referee Gross Polowy, LLC 1775 Wehrle Drive Williamsville, NY 14221 18-001721 80852 147330
LEGAL NOTICE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU NEWREZ LLC D/B/A SHELLPOINT MORTGAGE SERVICING, -againstDANIEL GLASNER, ET AL. NOTICE OF SALE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Nassau on August 8, 2023, wherein NEWREZ LLC D/B/A SHELLPOINT MORTGAGE SERVICING is the Plaintiff and DANIEL GLASNER, ET AL. are the Defendant(s). I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction
Crime brief
Man wanted for touching incident
Police are looking for a man after committing an inappropriate act in Seaford on June 21, according to reports.
Detectives say a 34-year-old woman was walking in the rear of 751 Seamans Neck Road at around 5:30 p.m. when she was approached by a man who inappropriately touched her and ran away. The man, according to police, is described as
Hispanic, between 20 to 25 years old, with long hair and braces on his teeth.
The investigation is ongoing, and detectives request anyone with information regarding this incident to call the Nassau County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS or call 911. Police say all callers will remain anonymous.
— Charles Shaw
Public Notices
RAIN OR SHINE at the NASSAU COUNTY SUPREME COURT, NORTH SIDE STEPS, 100 SUPREME COURT DRIVE, MINEOLA, NY 11501, on July 23, 2024 at 3:00PM, premises known as 2479 JACKSON AVE, SEAFORD, NY 11783; and the following tax map identification: 65-182-20 & 21.
ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND, WITH THE BUILDINGS AND IMPROVEMENTS THEREON ERECTED, SITUATE, LYING, AND BEING AT SEAFORD, TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, COUNTY OF NASSAU AND STATE OF NEW YORK
Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No.: 002753/2015. Peter Kramer, Esq. - Referee. Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310, Westbury, New York 11590, Attorneys for Plaintiff. All foreclosure sales will be conducted in accordance with Covid-19 guidelines including, but not limited to, social distancing and mask wearing. *LOCATION OF SALE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DAY OF IN ACCORDANCE WITH COURT/CLERK DIRECTIVES. 147515
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT. NASSAU COUNTY. L&L ASSOCIATES HOLDING CORP., Pltf. vs. ROGER DENNIS CHAFFEE, et al, Defts. Index #612456/2022. Pursuant to judgment of foreclosure and sale entered June 12, 2023, I will sell at public auction on the North Side Steps of the Nassau Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY on July 24, 2024 at 3:00 p.m. prem. k/a Section 52, Block 302 Lot 743. Sold subject to terms and conditions of filed judgment and terms of
sale. RICHARD L. FARLEY, Referee. LEVY & LEVY, Attys. for Pltf., 12 Tulip Drive, Great Neck, NY. #101492 147513
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF ADOPTION OF TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD LOCAL LAW NO. 41-2024
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that, pursuant to Article 9 of the New York State Constitution, the provisions of the Town Law and the Municipal Home Rule Law of the State of New York, both as amended, a public hearing was duly called and held June 4th, 2024 , by the Town Board of the Town of Hempstead on the proposed adoption of Town of Hempstead Local Law No. 41-2024, and following the close of the hearing the Town Board duly adopted Town of Hempstead Local Law No. 41-2024, amending Section 202-56 of the Code of the Town of Hempstead, to include and repeal “PARKING FOR FIREMEN ONLY” at various locations.
Dated: June 4, 2024 Hempstead, New York BY ORDER OF THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD
DONALD X. CLAVIN, JR. Supervisor KATE MURRAY Town Clerk 147627
LEGAL NOTICE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU PHH MORTGAGE CORPORATION, -againstJOSEPH FIORELLO, ET AL. NOTICE OF SALE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Nassau on July 5, 2022, wherein PHH MORTGAGE CORPORATION is the Plaintiff and JOSEPH FIORELLO, ET AL. are the Defendant(s). I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction RAIN OR SHINE at the NASSAU COUNTY SUPREME COURT, NORTH
SIDE STEPS, 100 SUPREME COURT DRIVE, MINEOLA, NY 11501, on July 25, 2024 at 2:00PM, premises known as 3835 MARION COURT, SEAFORD, NY 11783; and the following tax map identification: 52-370-18. ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND, WITH THE BUILDINGS AND IMPROVEMENTS THEREON ERECTED, SITUATE, LYING AND BEING IN SEAFORD, IN THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, COUNTY OF NASSAU AND STATE OF NEW YORK Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No.: 008439/2016. Dominic A. Villoni, Esq. - Referee. Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310, Westbury, New York 11590, Attorneys for Plaintiff. All foreclosure sales will be conducted in accordance with Covid-19 guidelines including, but not limited to, social distancing and mask wearing. *LOCATION OF SALE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DAY OF IN ACCORDANCE WITH COURT/CLERK DIRECTIVES. 147643
LEGAL NOTICE REFEREE’S NOTICE OF SALE IN FORECLOSURE SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU DEUTSCHE BANK NATIONAL TRUST COMPANY, AS TRUSTEE FOR HOME EQUITY MORTGAGE LOAN ASSET-BACKED TRUST, SERIES INABS 2005-A, HOME EQUITY MORTGAGE LOAN ASSET-BACKED CERTIFICATES, SERIES INABS 2005-A, Plaintiffagainst - DEBORAH ASDAHL, et al Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered on May 2, 2024. I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the North Side steps of the Nassau
County Supreme Court located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, N.Y. 11501 “Rain or Shine” on the 25th day of July, 2024 at 2:00 PM. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being at Seaford, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York. Premises known as 2464 Riverside Avenue, Seaford, (Town of Hempstead) NY 11783. (SBL#: 65-61-911) Approximate amount of lien $480,408.98 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed judgment and terms of sale. Index No. 612198/2022. Ronald J. Ferraro, Esq., Referee.
Davidson Fink LLP Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 400 Meridian Centre Blvd, Ste 200 Rochester, NY 14618 Tel. 585/760-8218 For sale information, please visit Auction.com at www.Auction.com or call (800) 280-2832
Dated: May 14, 2024
During the COVID-19 health emergency, bidders are required to comply with all governmental health requirements in effect at the time of sale including but not limited to, wearing face coverings and maintaining social distancing (at least 6-feet apart) during the auction, while tendering deposit and at any subsequent closing. Bidders are also required to comply with the Foreclosure Auction Rules and COVID-19 Health Emergency Rules issued by the Supreme Court of this County in addition to the conditions set forth in the Terms of Sale.
147608
DRIVERS WANTED
Full Time and Part Time Positions Available!
Busy Print Shop in Garden City is Hiring Immediately for Full Time and Part Time Drivers. Must Have a Clean License and BoxTruck Driving Experience. Hours Vary, Salary Ranges from $17 per hour to $21 per hour Night Availability is a Must. Please Email Resume to careers@liherald.com or Call (516)569-4000 x239
DRIVING INSTRUCTOR
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DRIVING INSTRUCTORS WANTED Will Certify And Train HS Diploma
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$20 - $25/ Hour Call 516-731-3000
EDITOR/REPORTER
Part Time & Full Time. The award-winning Herald Community Newspapers group, covering Nassau County's North and South Shores with hard-hitting news stories and gracefully written features, seeks a motivated, energetic and creative editor/reporter to join our dynamic (and awesome) team! This education and general assignment reporting position offers a unique experience to learn from some of the best in the business. Historically, reporters who have launched their careers with us have gone on to The New York Times, Newsweek, Newsday, the New York Daily News, New York Post, CNN, BBC, NBC News and The Daily Mail, among many others. We look for excellent writers who are eager to learn, enhance their skills, and become well-established and respected journalists in our industry. Salary range is from $20K to $45K To apply: Send a brief summary in the form of a cover letter describing your career goals and what strengths you can bring to our newsroom, along with a resume and three writing samples to mhinman@liherald.com
FULL TIME - PART TIME POSITIONS AVAILABLE
Garden City Childcare Center
Immediate Start
$16-$22 per hour Call 516-572-7614
HANDYPERSON WANTED
Immediate Opening at our Garden City Location DESIRED SKILLS: Electrical * Welding * Carpentry Mechanical * Plumbing Part Time/Fulltime (benefits available with full time) $18-$30 per hour based on experience Richner Communications, Inc 2 Endo Blvd Garden City, NY 11530 Send resume to careers@lixtherald.com or Call 516-569-4000 ext 211
LAW CLERK. FT. $61k/yr. Yao Legal Group LLC. Great Neck, NY. Reqs.: LL.M. / J.D., 12+ mo exp as law clerk / lgl asst / paralegal in a law off, exp in Surrogate’s Ct cases. Spprt atty in civil / crim litig, RE trxn, corp/biz law, estate dispt, etc.: 1) cndct lgl res; 2) dft lgl docs, file w/ Cts; 3) hdl stndrd discov; 4) trial prep; 5) corp dd, res. & comm. clsgs prep. Asst atty in off mgmt. Email CV to Dan Yao at dyao@yaolawoffice.com / mail CV to 15 Canterbury Rd Ste A3, Great Neck, NY 11021. Plz mention Job ID# 0611 in Cov Let.
MAILROOM/ WAREHOUSE HELP
Long Island Herald has IMMEDIATE openings for a FULL-TIME & PART-TIME mailroom/warehouse helper in Garden City. We are a busy print shop looking for motivated and reliable individuals to assist in various duties in the shop. Forklift experience is a plus and heavy lifting is required. Hours vary, so flexibility is key. Salary Ranges fromo $16 per hour to $20 per hour.
Email resumes or contact info to careers@liherald.com
Manager On Duty
At Blaze, Old Bethpage Village Outdoors From September Through November 5-8 Hour Shifts. Serve As The Primary Point Of Contact For All Issues That May Occur During The Event, Seeing Each Through To Resolution. Serve As The Primary Point Of Contact For Emergency Personnel Hourly Rate $25-$30 To Apply: https://hudsonvalley.org/ employment/
MULTI MEDIA
ACCOUNT DEVELOPMENT
Inside Sales
Looking for an aggressive self starter who is great at making and maintaining relationships and loves to help businesses grow by marketing them on many different advertising platforms. You will source new sales opportunities through inbound lead follow-up and outbound cold calls. Must have the ability to understand customer needs and requirements and turn them in to positive advertising solutions. We are looking for a talented and competitive Inside Sales Representative that thrives in a quick sales cycle environment. Compensation ranges from $33,280 + commissions and bonuses to over $100,000 including commission and bonuses. We also offer health benefits, 401K and paid time off. Please send cover letter and resume with salary requirements to ereynolds@liherald.com Call 516-569-4000 X286
OUTSIDE SALES
Richner Communications,
One of the Fastest Growing Media, Event and Communications Companies on Long Island is Seeking a Sales/Marketing Candidate to Sell our Print Media Products and our Digital, Events, Sponsorships. Earning potential ranges from $33,280 plus commission and bonuses to over $100,000 including commissions and bonuses. Compensation is based on Full Time hours Eligible for Health Benefits, 401k and Paid Time Off. Please Send Cover Letter and Resume with Salary Requirements to rglickman@liherald.com or Call 516-569-4000 X250
Path Monitor
At Blaze, Old Bethpage Village Outdoors From September Through November 5-8 Hour Evening Shifts Providing A Welcoming Atmosphere And Ensuring Guest Safety. Hourly Rate $20. To Apply: https://hudsonvalley.org/ employment/
PRINTING PRESS OPERATORS
FT & PT. Long Island Herald has IMMEDIATE openings for Printing Press Operators in Garden City. We are a busy print shop looking for motivated and reliable individuals to assist in various duties in the shop. Hours vary, so flexibility is key. Salary Ranges from $20 per hour to $30 per hour. Email resumes or contact info to careers@liherald.com
Project Manager (Baldwin, NY): Aiding in construction of foundation + superstructures of buildings. Delegating tasks to members & detailing drawings on CAD. Salary: $130,000/yr. Reqs: Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering/foreign equiv.+ 12 mths exp in position/Asst. Project Manager. Mail CV to Moore Group Corp, 1 Jefferson Pl, Baldwin, NY 11510. Attn: S. Moore, Financial Controller.
WE HAVE THE HELP YOU NEED!!! HHA's, LPN's, Nurse's Aides Childcare, Housekeeping Day Workers No Fee To Employers Serving The Community Over 20 Years Evon's Services 516-505-5510
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PALM BEACH GARDENS, FLORIDA East Pointe Country Club. Gorgeous 3BRs, 3Bths, Golf, Double Kitchen, High Ceilings. MLS#RX-10977928 $938,000 Jill 561-373-2724
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CEDARHURST NO FEE Private Entrance, Modern 1BR, 2BR, 3BR, CAC, W/D, Storage, Wall To Wall Carpeting, Indoor Parking Space. Starting At $1450 For One Bedroom When Available. (516)860-6889/ (516)852-5135/ (516)582-9978
ISLAND PARK: 1 BR, ground floor, all renovated, water/heat included. No Pets. $2200/ month. 516-316-6962
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MERRICK: PROFESSIONAL OFFICE Space For Rent, A Secured Building With Parking. Great Deal! 516-557-4971
BETH DAVID CEMETERY: Elmont, NY. 3 Plots. Separate Or All Together. Graves 18, 25, and 32. Purchase Separate $3999; Purchase Together $9999. Negotiable. Call 845-641-7316
Level. 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms. Eat-in kitchen. Spacious room. Meticulously maintained charming property. Convenient location near shopping schools, park, and more.
Taxes: $11,838.69
Long Beach $892,500
Wilson Avenue. Contemporary. 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms. Eat-in kitchen. Formal dining room. Den/family room. Updates include cathedral ceiling and skylight.
Taxes: $14,770
Merrick $775,000
Stuyvesant Avenue. Colonial. 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms. Partial finished basement. Eat-in kitchen. Den/family room. First floor master bedrooms. Updates include skylight. Taxes: $13,794.63
Oceanside $700,000
Montgomery Avenue. Split Level. 3 bedrooms, 1.5 bathrooms. Finished basement. Eat-in kitchen with granite countertops. Formal dining room. Den/family room and home office. Security system.
Taxes: $11,739.85
Valley Stream $765,000
N. Grove Street. Colonial. 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms. Finished basement. Eat-in kitchen with custom cabinetry. Formal dining room. Den/family room and home office. Spacious rooms. Updates include new boiler and ductless air conditioning units. Convenient location near parks, dining, shopping and LIRR.
Taxes: $10,234.69
West Hempstead $730,000
Park Avenue. Expanded Cape. 5 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms. Eat-in kitchen with granite countertops. Open layout. Formal dining room. Den/family room and home office, with wet bar and exercise room. Spacious rooms with ample closet space. Paver patio and 1.5 car garage. Mother/daughter with proper permits. Convenient location near parkway, shopping, park.
Taxes: $11,373.37
Different answers from everyone we ask, Part 2
Q. We’ve been interviewing contractors and architects to get an idea about adding a double dormer to our home. The conversations about what to do, how long it should take and the cost are just all over the place. How long should it take, and how much should a double dormer cost to build? Some contractors said they needed to see plans, and that they could personally get the permit in a day or two, and some architects gave us wild time frames that seem ridiculous, like a year or more from start to finish.
A. There are many contributing factors that determine construction cost, and even though you are focused on getting the partial second floor reconstructed to a full second floor, many unanticipated issues may need to be resolved. When a design professional comes to your home, they may be looking at how to join other roofs to the new construction, and how the exterior will look, shed rain and snow, fit in with or stand out from the architecture of neighboring buildings.
Then there are the legal issues. For example, many municipalities, since the time when the house was originally built, have changed their zoning regulations. This may mean that you can’t build directly on top of what you have, because setback distance requirements may have changed. Even though it might make sense to build right on top of the existing outside wall, some jurisdictions will require a lengthy delay, waiting for a zoning hearing to request to vary from their regulation so you can break the setback plane again.
If you decide to set the second floor back farther, it means that the upper walls will have to land on structure that has to be added, and there needs to be special care for waterproofing. This may seem simple, but often leads to problems with leaks and sagging structure if not handled properly.
Regulation changes may not have taken the expense or logistics into account, and are often taken for granted, but either way the owner decides to go, the cost is greater than the original estimate.
The experienced design professional may ask about other things, like the deck, shed, pool, fences, hot tub or central air conditioning unit in the yard. These items delay the project and add cost. Requirements to legalize the location and construction of every one of these items have been around for at least two or three decades, so when the owner says their air conditioning or pool company wasn’t required to get a permit, this is a common fallacy. Knowing it is the owner’s problem or thinking it will never come up is generally the motivation to avoid the approvals, but it now also adds to the extra cost and time you may not have been anticipating.
Labor, overhead for licensing and insurance all add to why contractors’ costs will vary. Taking all of these cost and time issues into account is important. Choose based on more than price. Work with facts, not just sales language. Good luck!
© 2024 Monte Leeper
Readers are encouraged to send questions to yourhousedr@aol.com, with “Herald question” in the subject line, or to Herald Homes, 2 Endo Blvd., Garden City, NY 11530, Attn: Monte Leeper, architect.
Ask The Architect
Monte Leeper
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II’m running to fight for women’s freedoms
n June of 2022, a drastically conservative Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, ripping away our constitutional right to make our own health care decisions — a right Americans had held for nearly 50 years. This disastrous decision, in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, was the direct result of Republicans’ decadeslong, methodical attack on women’s reproductive freedom, and it ignited a fervor among extreme anti-choice groups to challenge access to abortion care, in vitro fertilization and birth control at both the state and federal levels — including here in New York.
Two years later, the fight for our bodily autonomy persists in courtrooms, statehouses and Congress. This November presents a pivotal opportunity to reinstate Roe v. Wade as the law of the land, remove the government from our doctors’ offices, and protect women’s fundamental freedoms once again. Since Roe was overturned, legisla-
“progress” and “Albany,” unfortunately, have not been synonymous over the past few years, with good reason. Albany has gotten a lot of things wrong: bail reform, reckless spending increases, and energy policy, just to name a few. But sometimes, Albany does something right. Those instances — when Democrats and Republicans come together in good faith to address a problem — are when real progress occurs. Most recently, that happened when the State Legislature acted to protect our children from the dangerous influence of big tech through social media. Virtually everyone knows of social media’s enormous influence, both positive and negative, on people of all ages. It has changed dramatically over the years. Once upon a time, your Facebook feed mostly consisted of posts
tors and governors in more than a dozen states have imposed harsh restrictions and outright bans on abortion. The repercussions have been devastating. Cases like that of a child rape victim who was forced to travel out of state for an abortion; or a woman who developed sepsis after doctors denied her an abortion for a nonviable pregnancy; or a woman who was denied an exception for abortion care for a nonviable pregnancy by a judge even when her ability to have more children was at risk, illustrate the dire consequences of these laws.
would impact New York.
We can create policies to broaden reproductive health care.
Republican extremists like my opponent in the race for the seat in the 4th Congressional District, the incumbent, Anthony D’Esposito, would have you believe that women in blue states like New York will be spared this suffering because, they say, abortion is now solely a statelevel issue. That claim completely ignores the federal-level efforts that farright anti-abortion groups have launched to restrict reproductive rights nationwide, like the outrageous legal campaign to ban medication abortion and House Republicans’ support for a national ban on abortion — which
On top of these efforts, state-level bans can have spillover effects on abortion access in New York. In 2023, thousands of women traveled from abortion-hostile states to protected states, including 6,000 women who traveled to our state. This strains the capacity of our providers, impacting care and access for New Yorkers.
Despite the very real threat to abortion access here in New York, my opponent is continuing to push an anti-choice agenda that’s completely out of touch with the values and needs of Long Island.
D’Esposito’s record is clear: He endorsed a federal ban on abortion that would apply to New York. He endorsed Donald Trump — who proudly claims credit for dismantling Roe — for president. D’Esposito voted to fund misleading so-called “crisis pregnancy centers,” which peddle dangerous misinformation about reproductive health care to women here on Long Island, and backed restrictions on abortion access for military servicewomen. If re-elected, he will continue to empower, and ally himself with, antichoice extremists who aim to restrict
our ability to decide when and how we start a family.
This election will be a turning point. We can rectify past injustices, restore our freedoms and implement policies to broaden reproductive health care. Achieving a pro-choice majority in Congress could reaffirm Roe as the law of the land, shield against attacks on birth control and IVF, and promote inclusive policies like enhanced contraception coverage and equitable maternal care. As a woman, as a mother of daughters and as someone who doesn’t believe the government should make our medical decisions, ensuring that this fundamental freedom is reinstated for women is personal to me — and I’ll do everything in my power to fight back against extreme attacks on our rights.
We stand at a crossroads in this election. By choosing leaders committed to protecting and expanding reproductive health care, we can counteract the damage inflicted by the Dobbs decision and by anti-abortion extremists like Anthony D’Esposito. Failure to do so risks irrevocable setbacks to our freedom. The choice is clear, and it is ours to make.
Laura Gillen, a former Hempstead town supervisor, is a Democratic candidate in the 4th Congressional District.
Albany gets one right for our kids
from your friends or pages you chose to follow. Today it’s predominantly ads, sponsored content, and other posts that secretly developed, ever-changing algorithms determine are best suited for you. Basically, they decide what you get to see, with almost no ability for you to change it.
Control at that level is not only frustrating, it’s dangerous. Especially when it comes to children who, given their age and maturity level, are more easily swayed and influenced.
Social media has been tied to significantly higher rates of youth depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation and self-harm. Some research found that time spent on social media is 10 times more dangerous than non-social media internet use. Among girls, the association between poor mental health and social media use is stronger than the connections between poor mental health and binge drinking, obesity or hard drug use. Concern about this is nearly universal among parents I speak to.
M aking social media companies restrict addictive feeds for those under 18.
success, but in many ways, that’s what social media companies have been allowed to do. Not surprisingly, it hasn’t worked, because there’s an inherent conflict of interest. Feeds have been specifically designed to create addiction. Addictive feeds keep users on the platform longer, where they see more ads and the company collects more of their data, all directed toward the goal of earning higher profits.
Big Tech’s failure to appropriately self-regulate is endangering children, which is why we needed to act. Democrats and Republicans in the Senate and Assembly worked together with Gov. Kathy Hochul on legislation to protect children from some of the harms they’re currently facing.
on users’ behavior, such as how long they look at certain media or the materials they click on, and are designed to be predictive of what content will keep them on the platform for as long as possible. Companies will also be prohibited from sending notifications about feeds to minors from midnight to 6 a.m. without parental approval. The Child Data Protection Act, which I cosponsored as well, prohibits online sites from collecting, using, sharing or otherwise processing any personal data of those under 18 without informed consent. Minors’ data cannot be disclosed to third parties without a written binding agreement. Both bills passed the Legislature with broad bipartisan support and I’m happy to report that Hochul signed the bills into law on June 20.
Self-policing is rarely a recipe for
Under the Stop Addictive Feeds Exploitation (SAFE) for Kids Act, which I cosponsored, social media companies must restrict addictive feeds on their platforms for users under 18 unless parental consent is granted. These feeds are created based
Protecting children should always be a priority, never a political issue. Thankfully, that’s exactly how this was treated. For all the dysfunction and failures Albany created in recent years, it’s heartening to see that progress is still possible. Let’s hope this is a sign of better things to come.
Steve Rhoads represents the 5th Senate District.
LAURA GILLEn
HERALD
HeraLd editoriaL
Lessons learned, grads take the next step
as the hot days of June envelop Nassau County, a palpable sense of achievement fills the air.
It’s the season of graduations — when students from every corner of our communities take center stage to mark significant milestones in their academic journeys. Whether they’re stepping up from kindergarten, advancing through middle school, or donning their caps and gowns to receive high school diplomas, each graduation represents more than just an academic feat — it’s a celebration of resilience, growth, and the promise of a brighter future.
Here, this tradition of honoring our graduates is more than ceremonial. It’s a testament to our values as a community. It underscores our commitment to nurturing young minds and preparing them for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. Each graduation ceremony isn’t just a rite of passage, but a collective acknowledgement of the dedication and hard work that students, educators and families have invested throughout the academic year.
For those moving up from kindergarten, it’s a moment filled with innocence and wonder, marking the beginning of their formal educational journey. These young learners are applauded not just for completing a grade level, but for embracing the joy of discovery and laying the foundation for future academic success.
Their excitement is infectious,
Letters
Vallone kicked Butker’s butt (metaphorically)
To the Editor:
reminding us all of the boundless potential in every child.
Middle school graduations — often overlooked amid larger celebrations hold a special significance. They signify a pivotal transformation from childhood to adolescence. It’s a time of exploration, self-discovery and personal growth. Recognizing these students’ achievements empowers them to embrace the challenges of high school with confidence and determination.
And then there are the high school graduations — perhaps the most anticipated and emotionally charged of all. These ceremonies are not just about crossing a stage; they are about crossing a threshold into adulthood. They mark the culmination of years of academic rigor, extracurricular dedication, and personal development.
Each diploma handed out represents a unique story of perseverance, triumph over adversity, and the unwavering support of families and educators.
Beyond the individual achievements, celebrating graduations strengthens the fabric of our community. It fosters a sense of pride and belonging, reinforcing our shared commitment to education and the future of our youth. These ceremonies serve as poignant reminders of the impact that a supportive community can have on shaping young lives and inspiring future generations.
In a world often marked by rapid change and uncertainty, these rituals
Herald Senior Editor Jordan Vallone was absolutely on point in her criticism of Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker in her column “Hello, Harrison Butker? Women can be heroes, too” (June 13-19). In his commencement speech to the graduating class of Benedictine College, Butker singled out the women in the class when he said, “I would venture to guess that the majority of you are most excited about your marriage and the children you will bring into this world.”
I would echo Ms. Vallone’s one-word response: Really? Is this the summation of values that Butker espouses for these young women who have spent four-plus years dedicated to their education? I would venture to say they are most excited about applying their hearts and minds to careers in their chosen fields. Butker went on to say, “I’m on the stage today and able to be the man I am because I have a wife who leans into her vocation … and embraces one of the most important titles of all: homemaker.” Really? Butker was only on that stage because he can kick a pigskin farther then most humans. And I’m fairly certain that when he was selected 233rd in the 2017 NFL draft, he wasn’t focused on his potential role as a stay-at-
provide a sense of continuity and tradition. They remind us of the enduring values that bind us together — values of knowledge, compassion, and the belief that every child deserves the opportunity to succeed.
By celebrating our graduates, we not only honor their accomplishments, but also reaffirm our collective responsibility to nurture and uplift future leaders, innovators and change-makers.
As we gather to applaud the Class of 2024 and beyond, let us remember that their achievements aren’t just milestones in their lives, but milestones for our communities as a whole. Each graduation ceremony is a testament to the strength of our educational system, the dedication of our teachers, and the unwavering support of families and mentors. It is a moment to reflect on the past with gratitude, embrace the present with joy, and look to the future with optimism.
So, to all of our graduates — from kindergarten to high school — congratulations! Your hard work, determination and resilience have brought you to this momentous occasion. As you embark on the next chapter of your journey, may you carry with you the lessons learned, the friendships forged, and the dreams that fuel your aspirations.
We stand proud of every one of you, celebrating not just what you have accomplished, but the boundless potential of what you will achieve.
opinions
Our future should include transit-oriented development
the Iroquois, the first inhabitants of what became New York state, adopted a code of living about 500 years ago that still stands as a model of forward-thinking decisionmaking. Their Great Law of Peace stipulated that “in every deliberation, we must consider the impact on the seventh generation.”
How regressive, then, that many of today’s Nassau County elected leaders are failing to consider how their decisions will affect even the next couple of generations.
For example, the rejection of a proposed windpower project far out to sea from Long Beach reflects indifference to the impact of fossil fuel-generated climate change on that community’s children and grandchildren. And now Town of Hempstead officials are poised to kill a zoning change that would allow residential and retail development near the Lawrence and Inwood Long Island Rail Road stations. The effect of that action would be to perpetuate environmentally destructive sprawl into the second half of the 21st century — and beyond.
The Hempstead Town Board had unanimously adopted the currently threatened transit-oriented development initiative five years ago. The ordinance declared that the plan would “achieve multiple municipal goals: encourage walking and bicycling; increase transit ridership; emphasize mixed-use, pedestrian-oriented development; reduce potential automobile dependency associated with new land uses … and support a larger commercial tax base for North Lawrence and Inwood.”
Y
this “smart growth” planning organization adds, “It’s no longer just ‘Not in My Backyard’; it’s now ‘Not in My Region.’”
This desire to preserve a 1950s version of suburbia may be understandable, but it’s also shortsighted and narrow-minded. As Kyle Strober, director of the Association for a Better Long Island, observes, “The boomer notion of white picket fence suburbs is a thing of the past. Young people want to move into areas with cool downtowns.”
oung people have expressed a preference for non-automotive transport.
But those favoring repeal of the zoning designation now warn that transit-oriented development would diminish “community character” and represent “a threat to public health, safety and welfare.”
What happened in the past five years to bring about such a 180-degree shift in attitude toward this kind of development? One important factor was the fierce opposition to Gov. Kathy Hochul’s move in 2023 to mandate denser housing development in Nassau County and other suburbs around the state. Eric Alexander, director of Vision Long Island, points to a still-cresting “wave of anti-development sentiment in communities across Long Island.” The leader of
Letters
home dad.
Ms. Vallone’s article brought to mind Elizabeth Keller, a clinical medical physicist at Emory University. According to Wikipedia, a medical physicist is a health professional with specialized education and training in the concepts and techniques of applying physics to medicine, particularly in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Keller is married, and is now Elizabeth Butker, the proud mother of, you guessed it, Harrison Butker. Did he not pause to see the irony in his condescending speech before he delivered it?
Ten years ago, as a school board trustee in the East Meadow School District, I wrote an article about my musings on Graduation Day as to where our children would be in the future. I ended by saying that I envisioned myself sitting anxiously in a hospital waiting room years later. Across the room, I saw a young woman to whom I had handed a diploma quietly approaching me and saying, “Don’t worry, Mr. D., she’s going to be just fine.” I sincerely hope that she is now delivering these words to other worried loved ones. Maybe Mr. Butker should think of his mom’s profession while writing his next commencement speech. Or better yet, just confine his thoughts to putting the ball through the uprights.
JOSEPH DANENzA East Meadow
There’s plenty more advice that Biden needs
To the Editor:
Re Jerry Kremer’s recent column, “Some advice Joe Biden badly needs”: Please add the following to “It’s the economy, stupid”: It’s the grocery shock, stupid. It’s the gas prices, stupid. It’s the high interest rates, stupid. It’s the southern border, stupid. It’s the illegal migration, stupid. It’s the revolving crime, stupid. It’s the raging wars, stupid.
And above all, it’s the weaponization of the Department of Justice, stupid!
I was a lifetime Democrat until 2016, when I gave my vote to Donald Trump. The Iraq war and the Libyan war that Hillary Clinton had voted for were turning points.
No Russian told me to vote for Trump. I have not regretted my vote ever since.
In 2020, I was hesitant to vote for Trump, but the vaccine his administration had produced in Operation Warp Speed in just 10 months gave me hope. Despite hearing all the media about the Trump administration, I still voted for Trump.
With the weaponization of the DOJ, I have lost all hope in the Democratic Party. KUSH MAKHIJANI
Transit-oriented development can give them what they want. It could enable some of the 55 percent of 20- to 34-year-old Long Islanders now living with their parents or other older relatives to buy or rent apartments near amenities such as restaurants, cafes and clothing stores. It would also cater to the preference for non-automotive transport that many young adults have expressed in numerous surveys. Rather than increasing traffic congestion, as opponents warn, building homes and stores near train stations would reduce car trips to supermarkets, dry cleaners and other everyday destinations.
As of now, however, millennials on Long Island can find few convenient and affordably priced homes outside the
transit-oriented developments planned or being built in communities such as Baldwin, Farmingdale, Lynbrook, Mineola and Ronkonkoma. And that’s because their elders often make it difficult, or impossible, to build apartment houses or row houses. Over the past decade, the Regional Planning Association noted in a 2022 report, Nassau and Suffolk counties permitted the lowest rate of new housing construction in New York state.
Transit-oriented projects are “vital to our economic health on Long Island,” Strober says. “They’re vital to the creation of a young and vibrant workforce that can call Long Island their home.”
Residents of Nassau County — not just those in Inwood and Lawrence — who want to leave a legacy of affordability, diversity and economic dynamism should make their views known at the July 2 Town of Hempstead public hearing on the repeal of the transit-oriented development zoning designation. Seven generations may be too far into the future to contemplate, but we can surely be sensitive to the needs of those who will closely follow us.
Kevin J. Kelley was a congressional staff member in the 1980s, and is a retired journalist and journalism professor who worked for newspapers in New York, Vermont and Kenya and taught at St. Michael’s College in Vermont. He lives in Atlantic Beach.
Framework by Nancy Rosenblatt
Beneath Jeff Koons’ ‘Puppy’ at the Guggenheim Museum — Bilbao, Spain
keVin keLLeY
High Performing in Ten Areas of Care
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