Seaford Herald 12-01-2022

Ribbon cutting for new business

partners

at Abbey lane

Walking in a winter land of wonder

By MICHAEl MAlASZCZYK mmalaszczyk@liherald.com

The Wantagh Chamber of Commerce recently converted the county park at the Wantagh Pres ervation Society into a bustling hub of holiday cheer, hosting its fourth annual Winter Wonderland celebration.

Last Saturday, the chamber, along with Realty Advisors, host ed the festivities at the preserva tion society, on Wantagh Avenue, just east of the Wantagh Parkway. The site is in the heart of Want agh, and for Seaford residents, is

Library works with LI Cares, Theissen for holiday drives

By MICHAEl MAlASZCZYK mmalaszczyk@liherald.com

Members of the newly formed Teen Thinkers Club at Wantagh Public Library — a group dedi cated to carrying out charitable activities — rolled up their sleeves and immediately got to work with two holiday-driven projects.

The club, comprising mem bers ranging from the sixth to 12th grades, meets monthly at the library to brainstorm ideas for charitable activities that can go towards community service hours. This year, the club’s mem bers took on two holiday season goodwill projects. In November,

they helped to run a food drive, and in December, they will orchestrate a toy drive.

For the food drive, the library teamed up with Long Island Cares, a food bank in Freeport. For the toy drive, the library teamed up with the Theissen Foundation, an organization that distributes toys to children. The Theissen Foundation is based in Wantagh, but sees tons of dona tions from both Levittown and Seaford as well.

“The Teen Thinkers Club helps the youth work towards their community service goals that they need for school,” Steph anie Johrden, who works at the Wantagh Library, said. “They

JoHN THEISSEN Theissen Foundation

meet once a month to develop their areas of interest and then figure out what they can do to help the community.”

According to Carly Cucci, youth director at the library, the

Teen Thinkers Club is off to a tremendous start in its first year of operation.

“We were expecting a good turnout, but we weren’t expect ing what we got,” Cucci said. “We had advertised it in our monthly newsletter.”

Two boxes were set up for the food donations, and they quickly overflowed, library officials said.

The library dedicated a wing of its lobby to accommodate the amount of food donations and other essential items such as baby formula. All of this will be going to Long Island Cares, which will distribute it to the needy throughout the island.

“The teens were very appre ciative of the effort from the com

Courtesy of Mark Simonson

ElECTED offICIAlS AND members of the Chamber of Commerce and Realty Advisors at the fourth annual Winter Wonderland celebration. Some even dressed up to heighten the holiday cheer.

Something as small as donating a basketball makes a huge difference in another child’s life.

Seaford Chamber welcomes Emotional Wellness

Mental fitness is as important as physical fitness, at least according to one new business in Seaford. On Nov. 18, the Seaford Chamber of Commerce officially welcomed Emotional Wellness to town. Emotional Wellness is located at 3960 Merrick Road, and therefore is easily accessible to all South Shore residents. It is owned by mental health specialist Lisa Finn. The ribbon cutting was heavily attended as Lisa Finn was surrounded by friends, colleagues, and local officials. Noteworthy among the attendees were Town of Hempstead clerk Kate Murray, Seaford Chamber president Margaret Grub, as well as Finn’s immediate family. Jackie Valenti of the Herald was also there.

Wantagh Chamber welcomes Parlour on Park

On November 16, the Wantagh Chamber officially welcomed a new business to town - Parlour on Park. It is located on Park Avenue, with the official address being 3337 Park Avenue in Wantagh. In attendance for the ribbon cutting were Howard Ritzer, Town of Hempstead Town Clerk Kate Murray, Courtney Nolan, owners Alexandra Tumminello-Ciullo and Jennifer Romeo-Laucella, Cathy Powell of the Wantagh Chamber, and State Sen.-elect Steve Rhoads. Jackie Valenti of the Herald was also in attendance. Parlour on Park also had a grand opening on Nov. 26.

Courtesy Mark Simonson

Courtesy Mark Simonson

Herald ScHoolS

Abbey Lane students celebrate Thanksgiving

Students at Abbey Lane Ele mentary School in the Levit town Public School District designed parade-style balloons in celebration of Thanksgiving and the annual parade in New York City.

Fourth graders read the book, “Bal loons Over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy’s Parade” by Melissa Sweet, which follows the master puppeteer who invented the first bal loons for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Students designed and created their own balloons based on their favor ite characters. Using their STEM skills, students brainstormed the best materi als needed to make their balloon float. They also wrote descriptive writing pieces to describe their balloons, so guests could guess which writing piece belongs to which balloon when they visit the exhibit. Images of the balloons and the creative writing pieces were hung in the halls in a decorative fashion that mimics the balloons travelling down Broadway in New York City.

–Michael Malaszczyk

Sharing small moments in one big moment

Two months of hard work paid off for young writers at Seaford Manor Ele mentary School, who proudly shared their small moment stories at a pub lishing celebration on Nov. 22. Fifth graders welcomed in family members to showcase their personal narratives.

The writing process began just a few weeks into the school year and continued for several weeks as students brainstormed ideas, wrote first drafts, edited and revised their work, and typed their final pieces. Stu

dents used several of the techniques the have already learned in elementary school, like incorporating dialogue and descriptive details. But they also expanded their writing capabilities with some new skills.

Their personal narratives used flashback and flash-forward literacy techniques to move readers between the past and the pres ent. They also learned about story purpose by sharing a life lesson that came from the experience. Additionally, students created witty titles and colorful, illustrated cover

pages.

As guests entered the cafeteria, they were greeted by the eagerly awaiting authors. Bal loons and floral arrangements set a festive fall atmosphere, and the children and adults noshed on miniature donuts. Fifth grade teachers noted that parents and grandpar ents were invited to the celebration because many of the small moments students wrote about connected to their families.

–Michael Malaszczyk

Courtesy Levittown Schools

Abbey LAne eLementAry School students Avery Panick and Omer Temel created balloons in the style of those seen during the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Courtesy Seaford Public Schools

FiFth grAders, From left, Michael Sacco, Sal Mannino, Kyle Wallace, Mia Sagnelli and Brielle Garcia were among the authors who proudly shared their small moment stories.

What’s neWs in and out of the classroom

4th annual Winter Wonderland a huge hit

only slightly west of the hamlet’s borders. It is a designated county park, featuring tons of open space and a small forest behind it. With the exception of the Want agh State Parkway separating it from Twin Lakes Preserve, the whole area is a window into old, rural Wantagh-Seaford.

This year’s event was held on a bright and sunny day, making it perfect weather for the festivities.

Sitting on the park’s land is an authen tic Long Island Rail Road parlor car, a post office and a train station.

The chamber held its first Winter Won derland in 2018 and hosted it in 2019 as well. The event was cancelled in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but returned in 2021.

“We wanted to bring a little bit of a Bryant Park feel,” Cathy Powell, presi dent of the Wantagh Chamber of Com merce, said. “We wanted to showcase our businesses and all of our phenomenal vendors. And of course, it’s better than Bryant Park.”

The open space in the park gave way to rows of vendors, a petting zoo and charac ters in costumes greeting families. The museum was open, with plenty on display for historically minded visitors, but the train station was converted into a stage for dance groups to showcase their skills to a large audience. In the parlor car was a surprise for children, as Santa Claus sat in the train ready to greet them.

“It gives that kind of old-time Christ mas feel, like ‘Miracle on 34th Street,’” Powell said.

“We want to show off the museum as well because it is great. And what’s a bet ter place to see Santa than on an old-fash ioned train?”

Business was booming for all the local vendors as well. On hand were the beloved Pies on Wheels, Simply Greekali cious, Guac Shop and more.

The Barking Biscuit, a pet cookies business founded by Ira and Hillary Reit er, pitched a large tent right next to the museum, with rows of freshly baked, hol iday-themed cookies for animals. Oscar, the Reiters’ dachshund, was also on hand and quickly gained celebrity status. The Reiters founded the Barking Biscuit a few years ago as a passion project, and it quickly grew.

“We’ve been doing Winter Wonderland since the first one,” Ira Reiter said. “This is our third anniversary doing this for the Barking Biscuit. The first event we ever held was here, three years ago. We love the town, we love the atmosphere of the Winter Wonderland.”

Local dance groups performed at the event as well, including the Jewel Tones, Show Stompin’ Irish Dance, Spotlight Stu dios, and Platinum Performance Dance Academy. They showed their dance steps right outside the museum, on the plat form of the recreated train station.

Public officials also turned out for the event, including Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder, Town Coun cilman Christopher Carini and State Sen.elect Steve Rhoads.

“It’s a great way to celebrate the holi day and showcase all of our local ven dors,” said Rhoads, who was elected to his first term in the State Senate last month. “It’s a chance for our community to come together and enjoy the celebration. And of course, the parlor car is a perfect set ting for Santa to come. It’s great that they get the real Santa Claus to come as well.”

Ryder, Rhoads and Carini all partook in Guac Shop’s cornhole challenge.

The Winter Wonderland went well into the evening, ending with the lighting of the Christmas tree.

Laura Dupkin Memisha, who is on the board of the Wantagh Public Library and co-sponsored the event with Realty Advi sors, said it couldn’t have gone any better.

“We look forward to this all year, and it takes us 11 months to plan,” she said.

“We love our community so much, and all we want to do is see our people happy. Judging by the thousands of people walking through the gate, I’d say we suc ceeded in that.”

Michael Malaszczyk/Herald photos Santa ClauS greeted children aboard the Preservation Society’s parlor car, with help from Miss Wantagh, Lilly Sloves, right, and Faith Stallone, a member of her court.

BuSineSS waS Booming for Hillary and Ira Reiter, of the Barking Biscuit, at right, with Emily, far left, and Ronni McLaughlin. Ira held the Reiters’ dog, Oscar.

Lianne Webb, Natalia Suaza take home crowns

Baldwin, Valley Stream contestants win at Miss Long Island pageant

By daniEL oFFnER doffner@liherald.com

Lianne Webb and Natalia Suaza stood out from among dozens of contestants from across Nassau and Suffolk counties, crowned winners of Miss Long Island and Miss Teen Long Island.

The two young women from Baldwin and Valley Stream were among those who gathered at the Madison Theatre at Molloy College on Nov. 20, selected by a panel of judges based on their talents, drive, beauty and compassion.

Before stepping on stage, Suaza said that she set out to complete the New York City Marathon as a way to take herself out of her comfort zone and face her fears head-on.

Upon her coronation as the new Miss Teen Long Island, Sauza says she plans to work with Long Island communities, spreading her message of cancer aware ness.

“With my title, I hope to partner with the Center for Hope at Northwell Hospi tal and the Calvary Hospital,” she said.

Having lost her father when she was just 9, these organizations helped pro vide Suaza an opportunity to talk about him — just as they helped others with loved ones who have passed, and to try and live the lives that they would’ve wanted them to live. Suaza also praised their free summer camp that was offered for her and her siblings.

“This really impacted my life and made me as strong as I am today,” she said.

Leanne Baum, executive director of the Miss Long Island pageants, said that over the next year, both of the winners will make guest appearances to promote their platform.

Webb’s platform aims to promote advocacy for children. She works as a

behavioral therapist with Achieve Beyond, where she works with students with autism. She’s also a volunteer with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Long Island.

By promoting these different causes across Long Island, the goal is for the pageant winners to become role models for change in the world. This year, for example, all of the pageant contestants came together before the big night to help collect food for Island Harvest, Baum said. In fact, they ended up with more than 400 pounds of food for Long Island’s largest food bank.

Both Webb and Sauza now move on to compete for Miss New York USA and Miss Teen New York USA next August.

Some of the runners-up from this year’s Miss Long Island competition include Jenna Hofmann of West Islip, Alexandra Ali of Commack, Alliyah St. Omer of North Baldwin, and Michelle Lent of Glen Cove.

The Miss Teen Long Island competi tion runners-up include Emily Hall and Valarie Goorahoo of Valley Stream, Rudra Patel of Farmingdale, and Kyra Smith of East Hampton.

Miss Long isLand Teen 2023 Natalia Suaza, from Valley Stream, joined by Miss Long Island Pageants executive director Leanne Baum, and Miss Long Island 2023 Lianne Webb, from Baldwin.

ThE 2022 Miss Teen Long Island winner Jessica Fuentes crowns her successor, Natalia Suaza, of Valley Stream.

ThE 2022 Miss Long Island winner Nadgeena Jerome crowns fellow Baldwin native and 2023 Miss Long Island winner Lianne Webb.

Tim Baker/Herald photos

Miss Long isLand contestants hit the stage at the Madison Theatre in their glorious gowns, showing their best for judges Matthew James Graziano, Yasmeen Gumbs, Amy Amato of RichnerLive, Peter Andolina and Edson Estime

D’Esposito in driver’s seat to House floor

By KARINA KOVAC kkovac@liherald.com

He was an obscure candidate from Island Park who went up against a Republican powerhouse — and won.

His name was Al D’Amato, who would go on to serve 18 years in the U.S. Senate before being upended himself by Chuck Schumer in 1998. D’Amato’s early political career in Island Park involved him running village elec tions, which helped him get his feet wet before heading to Congress.

Now, four decades later, voters have sent another Island Park resident to Washington as Anthony D’Esposito makes his way to the floor of the House of Representatives, in congressional seat he flipped from Democrat to Republican.

“I don’t think that coming from a small community prepares you to be in politics,” D’Esposito said, after defeating Laura Gillen in the November election. “I think it opens your eyes to what community is all about.”

But getting involved on a local level in the fire depart ment, Kiwanis, chamber of commerce or a civic group is “really what opens people’s eyes to further public ser vice” — paralleling how the Hempstead town council man got his start.

Mentioning D’Amato’s influence during his victory speech election night, D’Esposito says he’s pleased to be adding to the village’s story.

“That’s a piece of history, especially coming from a small tight-knit community,” he said. “It’s a place where I was born, raised, called home. The fact that we’ve sent two members of our little village to represent us in Washington, D.C. I think is pretty cool.”

On Long Island, those within the Town of Hempstead have wondered who will fill his empty seat on the town board. D’Esposito still has a month or so left before he

has to pack up and head to Capitol Hill, but says he’ll “figure that out when the time comes.”

He spent his first week in Washington undergoing ori entation, and hopes when it comes time to join commit tees, he’ll find himself on homeland security, and trans portation and infrastructure.

Worried about the state of people’s pocketbooks as well as their quality of life, D’Esposito says nothing has

changed his campaign promises since winning.

“The duration of this campaign, the message has been the same,” D’Esposito said. “And people are con cerned about things that affect their pockets. They’re concerned about crime, and they want someone to repre sent them that’s willing to cross party lines and work with others in order to deliver for our communities.”

But then again, he’s already posting negative com ments on social media about some Democratic col leagues like U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez outgoing House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. D’Esposito says their track records leave much to be desired.

“When it comes to Nancy Pelosi, the fact that we can all ask ourselves, ‘Are we better off today than we were two years ago when Joe Biden took office?’ And she’s been nothing but a rubber stamp for the Biden adminis tration,” he said. “And I think a lot of the issues that we’re dealing with on Long Island are issues that are reflective of the administration.”

So, which Democrats will D’Esposito work with?

“People that are there to deliver for the communities that they represent,” he said. “Not just be a loud mouth piece and looking for headlines on Twitter and CNN.”

Sitting down as a delegation after Thanksgiving, D’Esposito says he’s looking forward to making America safer, the economy stronger, and energy greener. But his first focus will be eliminating the state and local taxes cap, known as SALT.

“For me, what’s most important is delivering change to Long Island,” D’Esposito said. “Working hard to repeal the SALT cap, so that we can bring tax relief to commu nities here in New York — some of the individuals who pay the highest taxes in the nation. So, there’s a lot of work to do.

“But I look forward to getting to D.C. again, rolling up my sleeves, and getting to work.”

Courtesy Anthony D’Esposito

By the steps of the U.S. Capitol Building sits freshly elected Anthony D’Esposito, a Republican from Island Park, getting ready for his first day in Congress.

Three-pronged effort for holiday goodwill

munity,” Cucci said of the 10 teenagers involved in the club. “And they thank the community for coming out. We hope to be as successful with the toy drive, and hope to be even more successful next year.”

The toy drive will begin on Thursday, Dec. 1, and the club will be working with the Theissen Foundation. The foundation already began its holiday toy drive in November, but now will have a new ally in the Wantagh Library.

“This is our 31st annual holiday toy drive,” John Theissen, the group’s founder and owner, said. “I started this 31 years ago on my mother’s front lawn in Wantagh.”

Theissen, a Wantagh native, attended MacArthur High School. The Theissen Foundation is based directly in Wantagh but has distribution boxes all over Long Island, in locations such as libraries, res taurants and banks. It primarily distrib utes toys to children on Long Island but sometimes goes to the city as well. In June, the foundation worked with Nassau Coun ty police to send toys to children in Buffalo and Uvalde in the wake of tragic mass shootings there. The foundation prefers toys that are still in the box and in perfect condition but also accepts gift cards. The toys are handed out to children in hospi tals, shelters and other service centers.

While the foundation itself occasionally distributes the toys, usually a designated social worker from one of the donation spots picks up the toys from its office.

how you can help

The Wantagh Public Library will have collection bins for the Theissen Foundation from Dec. 1 to Dec. 20. For more information, contact the foundation, at (516) 679-5098, or the library, at (516) 221-1200.

“The purpose is not to make sure we are there when the toys are given out, but rather to ensure that the children get the toys in time,” Theissen said. “It’s nice because the children get our toys as if it’s coming right from Santa or from their par ents.”

Being a former Wantagh teenager him self, Theissen is especially appreciative of the effort from the library’s Teen Thinkers Club.

“It’s great that kids these days have so many opportunities to help others out,” Theissen said. “It’s important for these kids to know that not everything out there is perfect, and there’s always something good to be done. Everyone tends to take for granted what they have. But something as small as donating a basketball makes a huge difference in another child’s life.”

The Wantagh Library’s toy drive will take place from Dec. 1 through Dec. 20.

Michael Malaszczyk/Herald

The food drive was a huge success, with the collection bins overflowing and forcing the library to dedicate a wing of its lobby to the drive.

STEPPING OUT

‘First Couple’ of ‘Up, Up and Away’ with Marilyn McCoo Billy Davis Jr.

By Mary Malloy

It’s easy to see why seven-time Grammy winners Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr., have been married for 53 years. A dynamic duo on and off the stage, the former members of the 196070s group The 5th Dimension have an easy way of sharing the conversation, finishing each other’s sentences, and endearingly calling each other “baby.” They are in true harmony — and headed to Tilles Center for the Performing Arts for “Up, Up and Away! A Musical Fable,” with special guest The Next Dimension, on Saturday.

As two of the lead vocalists with one of the top pop-R&B-soul-jazz groups of the era, their popular classics — among them “Up, Up and Away,” “Aquarius/Let the Sun Shine In,” “Wedding Bell Blues,” “One Less Bell to Answer” and “Stoned Soul Picnic” — live on. Graced with McCoo’s three-octave vocal range, the group was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2002, and have stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and the St. Louis Walk of Fame.

After a decade with The 5th Dimension, McCoo and Davis decided to step away in 1975 to establish themselves as a duo. They had immediate success with the single “You Don’t Have to Be a Star (To Be In My Show)” which hit No. 1 on the charts and earned them a Grammy for Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group. They have since enjoyed enduring success through the years as recording artists, performers and authors. Throughout their career, this showbiz couple has been honored with seven Grammy Awards and earned 15 gold and three platinum records, as well as enjoyed starring roles on television and the Broadway stage.

• Sat., Dec. 3, 8 p.m.

• Tilles Center for the Performing Arts Concert Hall, LIU Post, 720 Northern Blvd. Brookville

• Tickets are available at TillesCenter.org, or by calling the box office at (516) 299-3100

Their many endeavors go beyond their musical achievements. They also have a movie coming out during the holidays, “The Waltons Thanksgiving,” on the CW network. “It’s family-oriented, and it’s so perfect for this time of year,” McCoo says. “It’s nice for people to remember the warmth and love and excitement that comes from family.”

From East to West

“We are so looking forward to being in New York,” says McCoo, who, with Davis, calls California home. “We’ve visited, but we haven’t done a show there in quite a while. We truly always enjoy coming back … Long Island is such a pretty area, and we’re very excited.”

“We love New York, we have a history with New York,” Davis adds.

“Up, Up and Away” is a journey and musical celebration of their iconic music. The concert also includes tributes to fellow music legends including The Beatles (McCoo and Davis’ contemporaries) and The 5th Dimension’s original lineup.

They will perform some songs from their newest CD, “Blackbird: Lennon-McCartney Icons,” a celebration of The Beatles’ timeless music. The album covers 10 Beatles classics and solos. “It’s so relevant,” Davis says about the title track. “It fits in with things that are happening today. The young people are very concerned with what was going on in the world.”

And what about their own iconic songs as the “First Couple” of Pop & Soul?

“Of course, we’ll enjoy doing many of our hits,” says Davis. “They wouldn’t let us off the stage if we didn’t!”

Tony Danza

The actor-entertainer croons the classics in his cabaret turn. In ‘Standards & Stories,’ he performs a selection of his favorite standards from the Great American Songbook, plus selections from Jason Robert Brown’s score for ‘Honeymoon in Vegas,’ while interweaving stories about his life and personal connection to the music. Danza combines timeless music with wit, charm, storytelling, and a dash of soft shoe and ukulele, in this evening of glorious songs and personal storytelling, backed by a four-piece band. Perhaps best known for his starring roles on two of TV’s most cherished and long-running series, “Taxi” and “Who’s The Boss,” Danza has also established himself as a song and dance man, and received rave reviews for his performance in the Broadway musical comedy ‘Honeymoon In Vegas.’

Friday, Dec. 2, 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. $62. Tilles Center for the Performing Arts, LIU Post campus, Route 25A, Brookville. (516) 2993100 or TillesCenter.org.

Judy Collins: Holidays & His

The iconic legend lends her voice to holiday standards along with her classic hit songs as only she can. Collins performs holiday classics, along with songs from her latest album ‘Spellbound’ — her 55th album and first complete album of originals — and beloved songs culled from her six-decade career. Collins is as creatively vigorous as ever, writing, touring worldwide, and nurturing fresh talent. She is a modern-day Renaissance woman who is also an accomplished painter, filmmaker, record label head, musical mentor, and an in-demand keynote speaker for mental health and suicide prevention. She continues to create music of hope and healing that lights up the world and speaks to the heart.

Saturday, Dec. 3, 8 p.m. $70, $65, $60. Jeanne Rimsky Theater at Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington. (516) 767-6444 or LandmarkOnMainStreet.org.

WHERE WHEN

Courtesy Darren Stone/Jon Carrasco

Photos: Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr., honored with multiple Grammy awards numerous gold and platinum records, return to the concert stage with their iconic hits — and some surprise selections.

Tackapausha Museum

Dec. 1 Dec. 3

Happy Hanukkah

Holiday fun

Visit the streets of 19th century London during the darkest days of the year, in this adaption of the classic “A Christmas Carol,” with the Experiential Theater Company, Thursday and Friday, Dec. 1,-2 10:15 a.m and noon; Saturday, Dec. 3, 2 p.m.; Sunday, Dec. 4, 2 p.m.; Wednesday, Dec. 7, 10:15 a.m. and noon,, on the Long Island Children’s Museum stage. Meet the Cratchit family, Mr. Scrooge, and the ghosts of past, present and future in this interactive show that weaves together music, humor, puppetry and collaboration. Celebrate the change of seasons through this beloved literary tale. Long Island Children’s Museum, Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 2245800 or LICM.org.

Get ready for Hanukkah by learning all about dreidels, at Long Island Children’s Museum, Saturday, Dec. 3, 1-3 p.m. Discover the game’s history and rules, and decorate your own dreidel to take home, at the drop-in program. Visit the museum on Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 224-5800 or LICM.org.

$5 Skate Night

United Skates of America in Seaford wants to make skating year round activity. Every Thursday, from 4 to 6 p.m., enjoy a skate night with only $5 admission; skate rental is available for an extra $6. For more information visit tinyurl. com/thursdayskate.

Having an event?

Bring the family to Tackapausha Museum and Preserve, 2225 Washington Avenue in Seaford. The county museum is home to 100 different live animals. The museum’s many acitivities include birthday parties, community service projects, Boy and Girl Scout programs to earn badges, educational programs, and more. For more information contact (516) 571-7443.

Dec. 18

Outdoor Market

The Merrick Chamber of Commerce is hosting an outdoor market, starting Dec. 18, at 1 Broadcast Plaza in Merrick. It’s the perfect place for vendors to set up for the Christmas Holiday Season. If interested to be a vendor, please contact (516) 442-6000. Set up starts at 8 a.m. and will stay open through 5 p.m., weather permitting.

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.

17th Annual Hot Chocolate Run/Walk

The Seaford Wellness Council continues its annual tradition of with its 17th annual hot chocolate run, Saturday, Dec. 3. Participants are advised to dress warmly and prepare to run or walk the route. Hot chocolate and bagels will be provided afterwards. For info contact chopper3785@optonline.net.

Winter Nutrition Workshop

The Wantagh Library iand the Cornell Cooperative Extension offer a lecture on how to eat healthy through the winter, with a particular focus on immune systemfriendly dieting. It’s on Saturday, Dec. 3, 2 p.m., at Wantagh Public Library, 3285 Park Ave. For information contact ‘WantaghLIbrary.org.

On stage

THE SCENE

Weekly Mah Jongg

The JULIETS are back playing Mah Jongg and cards at Congregation Beth Tikvah, at 3710 Woodbine Ave., in Wantagh, every Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Masks are optional, but proof of Covid-19 vaccination is required for newcomers, as well as a contribution of $5 per person. For more information email mahjonggCBT@yahoo.com or call (516) 785-2445.

Christmas Tree Lighting

On stage

Plaza Theatrical continues its season with “Grumpy Old Men: The Musical,” Thursday, Dec. 1, 2 p.m; Friday, Dec. 2, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 3, 2:30 and 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, Dec. 4, 2:30 p.m. Based on the beloved 1993 film, which starred Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau and AnnMargret, this stage adaptation captures the lovably crotchety characters through humor, great songs, and the affectionate depiction of a small town that feels like home to everyone. It’s performed at Plaza’s stage at the Elmont Library Theatre, 700 Hempstead Tpke., Elmont. $49, $45 seniors. Elmont. For tickets, call (516) 599-6870 or visit PlazaTheatrical.com.

Wantagh Chamber Snowball Run

Legally Blonde: The Musical

The ultimate Broadway tribute to girl power arrives at Tilles Center, Saturday, 10, 4 and 8 p.m. Elle Woods, is ready to prove who’s in charge (again) in this ultimate Broadway tribute to girl power, on the LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Boulevard, Brookville. Based on the beloved movie, the musical follows Elle’s transformation as she tackles stereotypes, sexism, snobbery and scandal in pursuit of her dreams, and proves that you can be both ‘legally blonde’ and the smartest person in the room. Tickets are $89, $69, $59, $49; available at TillesCenter.org or (516) 299-3100.

Dec. 10

The Levittown Chamber of Commerce lights their Christmas tree at Veterans Memorial Park in Levittown, Monday, Dec. 5,, 6 p.m. With performances from Levittown and Island Trees School Districts and visit from Santa.

The Wantagh Chamber of Commerce will be hosting a “snowball run” on Dec. 9, an annual December tradition. The race will start on Wantagh Avenue near the LIRR stairs, with multiple routes available for runners who’d like to run different lengths. For more information email info@ wantaghchamber.com.

Themed floats paraded at Wantagh’s Mandalay

A day before the big balloons and floats traveled through the streets of Manhat tan, students at Mandalay Elementary School in the Wantagh School District put on their own Thanksgiving display.

The morning kicked off with a float parade outside of the school. Each class built a float for the special event. They worked on the projects throughout November in art classes with teacher Laura Capozzi.

Each grade had a different theme,

such as the story of Thanksgiving, Char lie Brown, football and the animals of autumn. It was a teamwork based proj ect, with all students in a class sharing their ideas and helping built the float. Ms. Capozzi said that the project com bined art with engineering, as each class created a sketch and determined the materials they would need before begin ning construction.

–Michael Malaszczyk

Seaford Library partners with NICE Busses

The Nassau Inter-County Express, also known as NICE, bus service is partnering with local libraries to bring attention to public libraries near bus stops. These spe cial bus stop signs feature a QR code that, when scanned, takes people to that library’s website and letting the local community learn more about the FREE resources accessible to them and high lights the variety of events the library has to offer.

“We are happy and appreciative to announce that we have installed two NICE bus signs located on Merrick Road near the Library,” Frank McKenna, the Seaford Public Library’s director, said. “These NICE Bus signs are another great way of letting the public know about the services and programs the Seaford Public Library offers.”

–Michael Malaszczyk

Courtesy Wantagh Public Schools Mandalay ElEMEntary School students, from left, Gianna Indiviglia, Dominic Sensale, Philip Murray, Lazar Stojilkovic, Hunter Burke and Elianna DiSpenza showcased some of the floats that were created for the Thanksgiving parade on Nov. 23.

Courtesy Seaford Public Library SEaford library hEad of reference Ida Zaharopoulous and director Frank McKenna are happy about the library’s new partnership with NICE.

‘Polar

The Bellmore Lions annual “Polar Express” is back for another year at the Brookside School in Merrick.

This weekend, plan to be over whelmed by the sight of nearly 1,000 gifts waiting to be distributed to local children in need this holiday season.

Embracing the Lion’s motto of “We Serve,” club members and their fami lies from clubs throughout Long Island, including Bellmore, Long Beach, West Hempstead, and Rockville Centre, have been preparing for the event for months, under the direction and guid ance of Nina Lanci, a Lion Past District Governor for the club.

Lanci, an active member within the Bellmore community revamped the event eight years ago and is the chair of this event which has become an impor tant holiday celebration for many strug gling families on Long Island. In addi tion to gifts for kids of all ages, Lanci and the Lions also offer gifts of person al hygiene items for parents and lunch and treats for all.

As in the past, there will be several “stations” at the event such as the dis tribution of books, wrapped candy, and of course, Santa himself, who will be on hand to give out gifts to the children throughout the event.

The Lions Club Holiday Polar Express event for children is a free invi tation-only event, and invitations are passed out through organizations that work with families in need throughout

the month of November. Over the past nine years, the Lions have brought joy to a total of over 7,000 children at this event.

“There are families who were strug gling in our area before the pandemic just to put food on their table every day, and now, many parents are either out of work or working two and three jobs just to support their family — what we do is just give the components necessary to make their child’s holiday a happy one,” Lanci said. “This day also gives their parents necessary items for their families such as hats, gloves, jackets, pajamas, and socks. You can’t put a dol lar amount on that.

“We want show these families that the community cares about them and their children and you should see the smiles we get as families leave the event.”

Lanci added the holiday event is the perfect venue for Lions to aid others in their community, especially children. Although the toys and many items for the event are donated by generous busi nesses and members of the community, the Lions fund the majority of the event so there is no cost to families who attend.

The Brookside School is at 1260 Meadowbrook Road, Merrick. The event is slated to run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Public Notices

LEGAL NOTICE

COMUNICADO DE PRENSA

Elección Anual para el Distrito de Bomberos de Wantagh

Día de la elección: 13 de diciembre de 2022

Horario de votación: 14:00 h. hasta las 21:00 o tanto tiempo como sea necesario para permitir que los votantes presentes emitan sus votos

Votar para estar en los siguientes lugares de votación: Estación No. 1 - 3470 Park Avenue, Wantagh, Nueva York Estación No. 2 - 844 Wantagh Avenue, Wantagh, Nueva York Estación No. 3 - 2529 Neptune Avenue, Seaford, Nueva York Estación No. 4 - 1191 Alken Avenue, Seaford, Nueva York Estación No. 5 - 2895 Merrick Road, Wantagh, Nueva York

Requisitos de elegibilidad del votante:

Cualquier persona que haya residido en el Distrito de Bomberos de Wantagh durante al menos 30 días antes de la fecha de la elección y se haya registrado para votar desde la residencia del Distrito de Bomberos de Wantagh con la Junta Electoral del Condado de Nassau al menos 23 días antes de la fecha de la elección.

(El último día para registrarse para votar fue el 18 de noviembre de 2022)

Propósito de la Elección: Elegir un Comisionado del Distrito de Bomberos por un período de cinco años, a partir del 1 de enero de 2023, para suceder al Comisionado Richard D. Sculco, cuyo mandato vence el 31 de diciembre de 2022.

Candidatos: Para el cargo de Comisionado de Bomberos por un período de 5 años a partir del 1 de enero de 2023: Richard D. Sculco Brendan J. Narell

Superintendente Distrito de Bomberos de Wantagh

Este aviso se proporciona de conformidad con la Ley Municipal por orden de la Junta de Comisionados de Bomberos del Distrito de Bomberos de Wantagh 135683

LEGAL NOTICE PRESS RELEASE NOTICE

Annual Election for the Wantagh Fire District Day of Election: December 13, 2022

Voting Hours: 2:00 p.m. till 9:00 p.m. or as much longer as necessary to enable the voters then present to cast their votes Voting to be at the following polling places: Station No. 1 - 3470 Park Avenue, Wantagh, New York Station No. 2 - 844 Wantagh Avenue, Wantagh, New York Station No. 3 - 2529 Neptune Avenue, Seaford, New York Station No. 4 - 1191 Alken Avenue, Seaford, New York Station No. 5 - 2895 Merrick Road, Wantagh, New York

Voter Eligibility Requirements: Any person who has resided in the Wantagh Fire District for at least 30 days before the date of the election, and has registered to vote from the Wantagh Fire District residence with the Nassau County Board of Elections at least 23 days before the date of election.

(The last day to register to vote was November 18, 2022)

Purpose of the Election: To elect a Fire District Commissioner for a term of five years, commencing January 1, 2023, to succeed Commissioner Richard D. Sculco, whose term of office expires on December 31, 2022.

Candidates: For the position of Fire Commissioner for 5-year term to begin January 1, 2023: Richard D. Sculco Brendan J. Narell Superintendent Wantagh Fire District This notice is provided in compliance with Town Law by order of the Wantagh Fire District Board of Fire Commissioners 135682

LEGAL NOTICE PUBLIC NOTICE REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL FOR UNIVERSAL PREKINDERGARTEN PROGRAM FOR

2023-2024 SCHOOL YEAR

Seaford Union Free School District 1600 Washington Avenue Seaford, New York 11783

The Board of Education of the Seaford Union Free School District hereby invites sealed proposals for providing universal pre-kindergarten program for the 2023-2024 school year.

Proposers may request copies of the Specifications by emailing a request to Carmen Ouellette, District Clerk at couellette@seaford.k12.n y.us.

In all cases, it must be understood that the conditions set forth in the request for proposals issued by the Seaford Union Free School District shall apply. Sealed proposals shall be sent to the School District’s District Office at 1600 Washington Avenue, Seaford, New York 11783 and shall be clearly marked “RFP#2023/2024

Universal Pre-K - Do Not Open Until December 14, 2022 at 4:00 pm. Such proposals will be received until 4:00 p.m. on December 14, 2022 in the District Office at which time and place all proposals will be acknowledged.

Proposals cannot be dropped off directly by proposers nor accepted by District personnel.

Proposers are strongly advised to ship proposal responses via US Mail, Fed-Ex, UPS and/or any authorized carrier that is able to officially track proposer’s response. It is further advised that arrangements be made for proposals to be delivered prior to the opening date to avoid any issues with delivery delays on the date of opening.

In no event shall the School District consider any proposal that is mailed but not actually received by the School District’s District Office on or before 4:00 p.m. on December 14, 2022. The Board of Education reserves the right to reject all proposals, waive any informalities or technicalities in proposals where the best interests of the respective school district may be served.

Questions regarding this Request for Bids will be accepted by the School District until 4:00 p.m. on December 8, 2022 at sjacob@seaford.k12.ny.us and answers to all questions will be distributed in the form of an addendum to all potential Proposers by email. Please submit

your questions in writing via email to sjacob@seaford.k12.ny.us

The Board of Education reserves the right to consider experience, service and reputation in the field, as well as the financial responsibility and specific qualifications set out herein of the prospective bidder, in considering proposals and awarding the contracts.

The Board of Education reserves the right to reject any or all proposals in whole or in part, when in its sole discretion it deems that it will serve the best interests of the School District to waive technical defects, irregularities and omissions; and to select in its sole discretion which of two or more identical bidders shall be awarded the contract.

Date: December 1, 2022 Board of Education Seaford Union Free School District 1600 Washington Avenue Seaford, New York 11783 135684

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGS

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that pursuant to N.Y. Election Law Article 17, Title 2, the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act of New York, and N.Y. Public Officers Law Article 7, the Open Meetings Law, public hearings will be held by the Town of Hempstead Temporary Redistricting Commission in the Nathan L. H. Bennett Pavilion, Hempstead Town Hall, 1 Washington Street, Village and Town of Hempstead, New York, on December 13, 2022 at 10:30am, to receive input regarding the reapportionment and composition of the Town of Hempstead’s councilmanic districts to be used beginning with the Town election of 2023.

ALL PERSONS INTERESTED shall have an opportunity to be heard and give input at the times and place aforesaid.

Dated:Hempstead, New York November 15, 2022

BY ORDER OF THE TOWN BOARD TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, NEW YORK.

KATE MURRAY Town Clerk

DONALD X. CLAVIN, JR. Supervisor 135671

–Jordan Vallone

Courtesy Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District The annual ‘Polar Express’ event is slated to take place on Dec. 3 at the Brookside School in Merrick. Run annually by the Bellmore Lions club, it has brought holiday cheer to thousands of children and families who are in need during the holiday season.

TEACHERS: SPANISH SPEAKING A+. BA/ Associate Degree In Early Childhood Education. Teacher's Salary $32K. EMAIL RESUME: kgreene@fivetownsmail.org 516-239-6244 Ext. 237

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This Mediterranean-style estate is perched atop a peninsula, surrounded by water on three sides. The home was carefully designed for entertaining as well as comfortable day-to-day living. With its 7 bedrooms and 10 bathrooms, this home is filled with luxurious details, from the indoor pool with stunning harbor and the sunset views, to the private home theatre, party room, and home gym. Outside, a newly constructed 84-foot dock and an amazing glass entertaining deck that wraps around the house. For a private tour please contact V.I.Properties at 516.791.1313

A deck becomes a nightmare

Q. We bought a house with a deck and didn’t know it never had a permit until we went to make a home office out of the garage. We then learned that the deck posts are resting on the patio, with no footings in the ground, so the deck won’t pass an inspec tion. The problem is that we got estimates for the con crete posts, 3 feet deep in the ground, and it’s going to be a lot more than we expected, like $12,000. We decided to take the deck down instead, but then we saw that the crumbled concrete steps underneath have to be replaced. Between demolition costs and new back steps, we feel stuck. Any alternative ideas would be greatly appreciated.

A. Once again, an avoidable problem created by someone not investi gating the right way, before building, then pass ing the problem on to an innocent buyer. An engi neer’s building report before buying might have caught this problem, but like many other instances, the problem is pushed off because it seemed like a minor reason to not buy the house.

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Ask The Architect Monte Leeper

The building code requires the support posts extend into the ground in your region at least 3 feet deep, so the post bottoms are below the front line. This is to avoid uplift that causes damage when the ground is frozen in the colder months. Ice crystals form that crowd out the posts and force them upward. Resting on a patio, not only is the deck moving up and down with the slab, but it has no safe anchorage to resist high winds from ripping it to pieces. So now you need an anchorage manage ment class before you get too upset.

A publication on barn-building for the farming industry, mostly in the American Midwest, often publishes techniques with many cost-saving engi neering diagrams and discussions about using treated wood posts, coated or uncoated, extending into the ground and resting on thick rubber disks down below the 3- to 4-foot-deep frost line. The discs come in sizes from 12 inches to 36 inches in diame ter, to spread the loads, which must be calculated to select the correct-sized column base footing pad.

The same requirement of flared-out spread is required in the building code for concrete posts and must be calculated, no guessing or shortcuts allowed, and there actually are code tables outlin ing the minimum required spread size of column bases. This technique, without concrete, was devel oped to save money and time. If you can imagine the constant stresses and strains the wind and earth can impose on a freestanding barn in a Midwest blizzard, you can imagine that the person who came up with this idea must have been out standing in their field.

Since you will need plans for the deck to show this money-saving solution, hire a licensed profes sional who will review the code, the right method and save you much more than the cost of their ser vice. You can already see what guessing led to. Good luck!

© 2022 Monte Leeper Readers are encouraged to send questions to yourhousedr@aol.com, with “Herald question” in the subject line, or to Herald Homes, 2 Endo Blvd., Garden City, NY 11530, Attn: Monte Leeper, architect.

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OpINIONS

The challenges for the Long Island Four

Once upon a time, there was a group known as the Long Island Nine. They were the nine Republican state sena tors who wielded enormous power in Albany. We now have a new group of seven Republican senators, but the spotlight is shifting to a new Long Island Four: the newly elected Republi can members of Congress, who will have enor mous influence due to the fact that the Republi cans in the House of Representa tives will be gov erning with such a small margin.

JERRY KREMER

The Long Island Four are Representatives Andrew Garbari no, Anthony D’Esposito, George Santos and Nick LaLota. On almost any issue where a critical vote is needed, those four must support the needs of the lead ership, and that’s where the headaches begin. Sometimes what your leadership wants could be a vote that would do enormous damage back at home. I know from personal experience as a state leg islator that bucking the leaders isn’t

easy, but you aren’t elected just to do what the bosses want.

Santos was the first of the four to make a public statement about the House’s mission in 2023. He made it clear that he was “not interested in a Congress that spent all of its time investigating the enemy,” and wanted to be a part of productive actions. Santos and his colleagues will be tested very early in the new session, when the far-right wing proposes the impeachment of President Biden and investigations into the business activities of his son Hunter.

The next test will be whether to shut down the federal government to appease a group that would like to cut back on entitlements such as Medicare and Social Security. That will be fol lowed by resolutions to strip certain Democrats of their committee assign ments to get even for last year’s actions against Congresswoman Marjorie Tay lor Greene of Georgia. I could go on, but that’s just a taste of what is likely to happen early on in their tenure.

Most Long Island voters are just like any other rational voters. They want government to work, and are generally

tired of partisan bickering. Inflation is an issue that hurts voters of all parties, and Congress must be prepared to take action that will heal our economy. Last month’s election taught Washington pol iticians that there is overwhelming sup port for a woman’s right, in consultation with her doctor, to decide whether she should have an abor tion. Women in the four local congressional dis tricts expect their voices to be heard, and that promis es to be another dilemma for the Long Island Four.

To add to these new members’ potential politi cal challenges is the fact that most of them received substantial funding from the Republican Congressional Cam paign Committee. Without that money, a couple of them might never have made it to Washington. How do you vote on an issue that hurts your district but is a priority of the party leadership? That headache reminds me of the old Tip O’Neill reminder that “all politics is local.”

Of course, there’s a positive side to being a member of the majority. With the backing of your party leaders, you can get grants for programs and proj

ects that will make the voters happy. You also get sufficient staff to be able to han dle the thousands of requests for help from your constituents. One of the cru cial things that help candidates get reelected is good constituent service. There are numerous cases of members of Congress losing their seats because they ignored the day-to-day demands of their voters.

Representing our suburban congres sional districts shapes up as an enor mous challenge. Long Island is a very informed and progressive region. There are no secrets about how our represen tatives vote on contentious issues, and bad votes will be part of the debate when they seek re-election. Local voters have many issues they care about at the federal level, and they won’t be bashful about demanding action. As one who served almost a lifetime in public office, I wish the Long Island Four the best of luck as they embark on their new chal lenge. They will need a lot more than luck to stay in office.

Jerry Kremer was a state assemblyman for 23 years, and chaired the Assembly’s Ways and Means Committee for 12 years. He now heads Empire Government Strat egies, a business development and legis lative strategy firm. Comments about this column? JKremer@liherald.com.

Being vulnerable, a new holiday ritual

Can we settle in and be real?

No, not everyone is having a better time than you. No, you aren’t the only one who wishes you’d passed on the second slice of coconut custard pie. Yes, we’ve said it before, but that doesn’t make it any less true: Families coming together for holi days are a movable feast of food and family history, old gripes and edgy new connections.

And, yes, the coronavirus pan demic and politi cal fractiousness will take seats at our tables this year.

Ph.D. researcher-scientist who’s a pro fessor at the Universities of Texas and Houston. She says she has studied cour age, vulnerability, shame and empathy for the past few decades. She says she is a storyteller. She has a Netflix docu mentary out, several books that hit bestseller lists and podcasts galore. She has a unique style propelled by wit and infused with intel ligence. She tells us we need to be vulnerable. She tells us that when we’re willing to be vulnerable, we connect with people in more genuine ways.

nabes. So smart, so funny and so authentic. I identified with her immedi ately when she told a story of her daughter going to a prom. Her date picks her up in his pickup truck. The girl is dazzled; the guy is strutting. All Brown can think is, “They’re going to crash.” I get that. She was willing to share that tendency to cat astrophize, which as a mother, I own.

I know it all sounds like stuff we know, but try her podcast or her Netflix doc umentary and see for your self.

ly can learn from my experience.

So, to be more vulnerable, I shared some truths with my daughter I haven’t thought to mention in 45 years. I initiat ed a few risky talks with my son. I told stories on myself to the teenage grand kids, not the usual morality tales I prof fer but the real stuff, the dumb stuff, the mistakes that I was lucky to survive. I told them I pretty much stayed within my own no-risk zone all my life, and I know I should have stepped out, and I hope I still may.

RANDI KREISS

So give your self a break. With Thanksgiving just behind us and this month’s Hanukkah/Christmas/New Year’s Eve trifecta ahead, we need to treat our selves with care. We’ve all been through a meat grinder. It’s OK if the fruitcake isn’t homemade. It’s fine if the gift-giv ing isn’t a whirlwind of gimme-gimmegimme.

To strike a vulnerable note myself, these ideas didn’t come to me just like that. Lately I have been watching and reading Brené Brown, the MSW and

“I believe that you must walk through vulnerabili ty to get to courage, there fore … embrace the suck,” Brown says. “I try to be grateful every day, and my motto right now is ‘courage over comfort.’”

Vulnerability might look like shar ing something about yourself you might tend to hold back, or telling somebody they have hurt you in some way, or stepping out of your comfort zone to try some new adventure or job or social group. Brown talks a lot about vulnerability, and how it makes us so much more approachable.

She’s an influencer who has the creds to influence, unlike so many wan

I brought all my new found wisdom (not that much) to the Thanksgiving table, and now call on myself to be vulnerable and tell you most of the truth of my own holiday experience with the whole family.

The mélange included kids, grand kids (all teens), ex-wives, new partners, airplane travel, car trips, weather, secrets, trying to squeeze 75 years of life lessons into words of wisdom for the grandkids, not because I should or because they want to hear it but because that is who I am. I need to teach, to hope that my words land in fertile ground and set roots, so my fami

This isn’t a recipe, but I noticed that when I opened up a bit with an honest personal story, so did others. Not every one, but the teenagers did let a crack of light into the mysterious interior of their adolescent lives.

It feels like a challenge with a big payoff. I’m going to keep reading Brené Brown. I’m pushing myself, and it feels right.

Try it for Hanukkah and Christmas and New Year’s. Talk to strangers at the party. Invite someone for dinner. Actu ally go to the shelter to deliver food. Find a way to find warmth after this long winter apart.

The best of times and the most chal lenging times lie in the holiday weeks ahead.

Copyright 2022 Randi Kreiss. Randi can be reached at randik3@aol.com.

A popular author suggests it, so I gave it my best shot at the family gathering.

O ur newest members of Congress must support the needs of the party leaders.

569-4000

569-4942

Remembering for those who no longer can

Where were you when Kennedy was shot?”

Many of us remem ber asking that, or being asked. That question has since been supplanted by ones like “Where were you when the Challenger explod ed?” or “Where were you on Sept. 11?”

But those singular tragedies were hardly the first to dominate our everyday lives on such a massive scale. That is a tragedy remembered for decades with its own question: “Where were you when Pearl Harbor was bombed?”

Yet there are very few people left who can answer that. Not surprising, since the stunning attack that officially brought the United States into World War II happened over 80 years ago. Without those living witnesses, however, we risk the possibility that the attack, the war itself, and atrocities like the Holocaust will become mere footnotes in history.

And that’s simply not acceptable.

This was the time of what NBC anchor Tom Brokaw coined the Greatest Generation. People who lived through the suffering of the Great Depression, only to find themselves fighting for something greater: freedom. Not for Americans, but for people on a global scale. We fought to destroy fascism as well as its key components, totalitarian ism and authoritarianism, as well as hate.

Not that we were perfect in doing so —

far from it. But if anything good came from that period, it was the fact that our global society at least took some signifi cant steps forward.

Conflict has been a part of human his tory, but never on the scale we saw in World War II. Never in the numbers of people lost. The outright attempted geno cide of an entire religious ethnicity. We have to take time to remember because, as Winston Churchill said, “Those that fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.”

Part of that education comes from exploring what happened at Pearl Har bor — a place thousands of miles away, practically across an ocean, on a group of islands that, at the time, were merely an American territory. The attack killed 2,403 U.S. personnel and destroyed or damaged 19 ships — nearly half of them battleships.

By the time World War II ended in 1945, American deaths would reach near ly 420,000, while globally, 15 million sol diers and 45 million civilians would lose their lives.

The pain from that war — and World War I, “the Great War,” before it — was felt for generations, to the point where governments worked as hard as they could not to let any other conflict balloon to such a global scale. But memories fade, hastened by the loss of those who experienced that suffering firsthand.

Now we live in a time when fears of a

worldwide conflict are stronger than they have been in decades. It’s not just political polarization, but also what has become a broader tolerance of intoler ance and outright hate — something that can never be allowed to normalize, whether it’s antisemitism, racism, sex ism or homophobia. Attacking where someone is from, how they worship — or if they worship — or even how they iden tify gender-wise.

History is fading, and with it its les sons. And we can’t let that happen. That’s why Dec. 7 is so important. Or Jan. 27 — International Holocaust Remembrance Day — as well as spring’s Yom Hashoah. Because you can’t even begin to talk about loss during this peri od without talking about the 6 million Jews who were killed — a third of Jews worldwide. Or the 2 million ethnic Poles. Or 500,000 Roma. Or thousands more who were gay, or who were political or religious prisoners.

The late Elie Wiesel, a Holocaust survi vor himself, once said, “To forget a Holo caust is to kill twice.” And that can be applied to any tragedy we try to forget.

Next week, we have a chance to remember on the 81st anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor. There might be few left to ask where they were when this tragedy took place, but remember ing means we’re learning. And learning gives us a fighting chance to never repeat those horrors again.

letters

O’Connell sure didn’t pull any punches

To the Editor:

Don’t you love freedom of the press? That basic right enables people like John O’Connell, former executive edi tor of the Heralds, to blatantly cast aspersions on public figures without including specific evidence to support his claims.

In his op-ed last week, “I’ll take the GOP agenda — without Trump — any day,” O’Connell refers to Hillary Clin ton as a “backstabbing, secretive, supercilious, lying, characterless cypher.” While I don’t love Hillary, I question what purpose such unsup ported name-calling achieves, except perhaps to justify why O’Connell opted to vote for Trump, despite his “unap pealing, obnoxious,” “insufferable” and “bullying” behavior.

O’Connell goes on to blast our sit ting president, vice president, trans portation secretary and governor,

‘Energy efficient’ may become a contradiction in terms

Hearings are getting under way on a proposal to socialize energy on Long Island. It would make the Long Island Power Authori ty the region’s sole entity responsible for keeping our lights on. Its structure would replicate virtually every government agency, bureau or department that you have cursed as inept, incompetent or indifferent.

The hearings, by a special com mission, are the result of legisla tion signed into law by Gov. Kathy Hochul. It directs the review of a plan to convert the existing public-pri vate partnership that manages our electrical grid to one that would, in essence, make the governor ultimately responsible for its operation and mainte nance.

To set the stage for these hearings, you need to understand that LIPA currently owns most of the Long Island electrical grid, including the bulk of our power plants. It has an incentive contract with PSEG Long Island, which actually runs the system. If PSEG does well and hits certain performance criteria, it is finan cially compensated. If it fails, it will take a financial bath. This is the essence of

why capitalism is always better, and why it provides for more-efficient creation and distribution of goods and services than any government-controlled or socialized economy.

What is instructive about this forced march to complete govern ment control is that these hearings were mandated by law to be held by the end of September, but are just beginning now. The govern ment commission couldn’t even get its act together to hold them on time. Good thing it isn’t responsible for directing our electrical future.

Oh, wait. It is.

James Hanley, a fellow with the Empire Center for Public Policy, is a seasoned observer of Albany’s political stinkpot. “It’s hard to predict what will come of this proposal,” Hanley has written. “Public power (left wing) advocates clearly want to eliminate any role for a private utility in operating LIPA’s grid. They don’t have any evidence that LIPA could improve upon PSEG’s management; they seem to think the word `public’ is a magical incantation that will make everything better.”

In truth, it makes everything worse. An example? Which delivery service is more reliable, the government controlled U.S. mail, or the privately owned Federal Express? The answer is obvious.

Letters

among others, again without a logical explanation. He cites the GOP agenda, familiar to most of us. However, he does not mention the many Americans who suffer from a housing shortage, food insecurity, climate change, or a lack of adequate gun control. He also exhibits no concern for the recent increase in racist, antisemitic and homophobic violence against fellow human beings. Will these people merely be casualties of war as the GOP tries to stifle the voic es of its opposition? Surely a nation as great as ours must be able to find a way to achieve compromise so that the needs and safety of so many of its citizens are not ignored.

PAm SInGER Malverne

Trump’s ‘great’ accomplishments?

To the Editor:

John O’Connell asserted in his nov.

24-30 column that he doesn’t like Donald Trump, but that the former president accomplished “great things.”

What in the world would those “great things” be?

His disrespect for the country’s courts and its diplomatic and intelli gence services? His refusal to accept the results of an election? Deepening politi cal divisions and encouraging racial bigotry?

O’Connell’s column derides potential Democratic candidates for president and vice president, but omits any men tion of the many GOP members of Con gress who have gone along with Trump’s lies about a rigged election. n or is there any mention of Trump’s attempt to defy the will of American voters by backing a coup.

O’Connell even claims there is a “GOP agenda.” And what would that be? more stunts such as votes to end Obam acare?

Hanley has identified the ideological underpinnings of this power grab. It has little to do with the efficiency, innovation and accountability demanded of PSEG Long Island under a strict don’t-screw-up contract with LIPA. Rather, it is about a progressive agenda of grow ing government whenever it can, assuming authority over infrastructure that it has no competence running and operating costs it has no interest in cutting.

What makes this power play particularly toxic is that LIPA had been tasked with running the grid before. It failed, miserably, when Superstorm Sandy came ashore a decade ago. As a result, then Gov. Andrew Cuomo required LIPA to engage private industry in running the grid, and to use financial incentives and penalties that are employed in the real world. Hav ing had such a raving success with cash less bail, today’s progressive powerbro kers seem quite content to ignore those lessons, and now seek the keys to the power grid.

How would that work? For starters, the people currently working for PSEG would probably be asked to transfer their skills and expertise to LIPA, a government enti ty. As LIPA employees, they would be given salaries, benefits and pensions that you and I would pay for. The LIPA man

agement structure would balloon with executives making six-figure salaries. There would be no financial incentives for any of them to work smarter, better, more efficiently.

Compare that with a recent J.D. Power survey that found dissatisfaction with PSEG Long Island among businesses on the Island. That could mean a financial hit for the utility management company, because its compensation is directly tied to customer opinions of its performance. Were LIPA in charge, and faced with such a report, its response would undoubtedly be “Feh,” for there would be no account ability under a socialized structure. That would be good news for those who feast on political patronage, because one suspects someone’s brother-in-law would be in charge of consumer complaints.

We can assume that it will be Hochul’s decision as to whether Long Island’s power goes progressive. She needs to, but probably doesn’t, appreciate, or care, that if that’s the future of LIPA, her office number will be on speed dial for 2.7 mil lion Long Islanders the next time a hurri cane takes down the grid. And if last month’s elections proved anything, it’s that those LIPA customers vote.

Ronald J. Rosenberg has been an attorney for 42 years, concentrating in commercial litigation and transactions, and real estate, municipal, zoning and land use law. He founded the Garden City law firm Rosen berg Calica & Birney in 1999.

Framework by Fatima Lasso

Centre

LARRy mcCOy Rockville

In a season of crowded stadiums, a moment to appreciate where it all began — Rome

i n Albany, a potential plan to gut the public-private management of our electricity.

ronaLd J. rosenBerG

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