Uniondale Herald 03-14-2024

Brandon Cruz/Herald Peggy Perkins, a Hempstead resident who says she sometimes has to choose between feeding her family and paying bills despite working at several job, spoke at a rally last week in support of the HEAT Act, legislation that experts say would save some residents over $160 per month. Perkins said that would make a huge difference in her monthly expenses.

Supporters say HEAT Act could save $164 per month

By BRANDON CRUZ bcruz@liherald.com

Many New Yorkers are struggling not just economically, but environmentally as well.

The cost of living is the single most important issue facing a majority of state residents this election cycle, a poll by Siena College found. This comes at a time where inflation has raised the price of just about everything more than 3 percent since this time last year, according to the Labor Department’s consumer price index.

Given the ongoing climate crisis as well, residents of areas like Uniondale find themselves at the intersection of a combined economic and climate emergency.

According to a report by New York Renews — a coalition of over 370 environmental, justice, faith, labor, and community groups advocating for the reform of climate law — nearly one in four Long Islanders, or 23 percent, have a high energy burden, meaning they spend more than 6 percent of their annual income on energy bills.

East Garden City or Uniondale? It’s your turn to speak

By BRANDON CRUZ bcruz@liherald.com

In January, Nassau County Legislator Siela Bynoe introduced legislation that would eliminate the use of the term East Garden City, “in every instance where the name Uniondale is both legally appropriate and accurate.”

For years, activists and community leaders have been pushing officials to recognize the 3-square-mile section of northern Uniondale known as East Garden City — which they say does not actually exist — as Uniondale.

Wvidually if we have to — why it makes sense.”

The bill would eliminate the county’s use of East Garden City in “all county documents of any kind.”

“I am here today to request and, actually, demand that the legislation that was proposed by our legislator, Siela Bynoe, back in January get placed onto the Nassau County Legislature calendar,” Jeannine Maynard, a community activist and co-facilitator of the Greater Uniondale Area Action Coalition, said.

e’re proud of our existence in Uniondale, and we’re going to fight, again.

Those activists had the chance to voice their opinions and concerns to the Legislature on Feb. 26 at a public comment session, where they demanded that Bynoe’s bill not only be added to this year’s legislative calendar, but that the legislators support, it and understand why this issue is important to the Uniondale community.

“We have an identity,” said Paul Gibson, a Uniondale resident for 40 years. “We are proud of our existence in Uniondale, and we’re going to fight, again, and explain it to you all — indi-

Referring to a portion of Uniondale as East Garden City, Maynard added, isn’t just “classist” and “economically racist,” but “dangerous” as well. In 2020, after 20 years of fighting what they insisted was a misidentification, local activists succeeded in getting East Garden City removed as a “census designated place,” meaning that it would officially be recognized as part of Uniondale in the 2020 census.

But despite that action four years ago, Bynoe said, some powers that be continue to use East Garden City in county communi-

ConTinuEd on PAgE 20

Olivares-Orellana honored by Gov. Hochul

By BRANDON CRUZ

bcruz@liherald.com

The Uniondale school district’s very own director of multilingual learners, Estrella Olivares-Orellana, was “rightfully” honored this week by Gov. Kathy Hochul for her work within the community and leading the Latina Mentoring Program for the district.

Olivares-Orellana was one of six exceptional women across the entire state that was recognized for their dedication and impactful work within the Latino community. This recognition, the school district believes, is a testament to Olivares-Orellana’s significant contributions to the Latina Mentoring Program in Uniondale school’s — an initiative created through the New York State Mentoring program designed to empower Latina youth through mentorship and support.

The state’s mentoring program aims to “leverage the resources of communities, schools, and businesses to match youth with screened and trained volunteer mentors,” according to their website. Currently, there are eight programs located throughout the state “supporting dedicated adults and high-achieving high school students who are matched with students in the school-based program and youth involved in the court system,” their website continues.

EUniondale superintendent Monique Darrisaw-Akil praised Olivares-Orellana’s commitment to Uniondale and the Latino youth who make up over 60 percent of the district’s student body.

strella’s dedication to the Latina Mentoring Initiative exemplifies the profound impact that focused, heartfelt work can have on our communities.

MONiqUE

“Estrella’s dedication to the Latina Mentoring Initiative exemplifies the profound impact that focused, heartfelt work can have on our communities,” said DarrisawAkil. “Her efforts have uplifted many young lives and have served as a beacon of inspiration and leadership within the Latina community. We are immensely proud of her achievements and grateful for her unwavering commitment to making a difference.”

The nomination for this prestigious honor came from the Deputy Director of the New York State Mentoring Program herself, Samantha McQuibban. McQuibban highlighted the essential building blocks and support provided to the Latina Mentoring Initiative under OlivaresOrellana’s guidance, commending the unique and beautiful programming developed in various cities. After a meticulous selection process, the Gover-

nor’s office recognized six outstanding women, including Olivares-Orellana — who holds a Ph.D. in education — as finalists for their exceptional contributions to the latino communities they represent.

“I am delighted and truly humbled to be recognized by Governor Hochul for my contributions to the Latina Mentoring Program,” said Olivares-Orellana, expressing her gratitude. “This honor reflects not just my efforts, but it also speaks to the collective support and ded-

ication of our community toward empowering our youth. I am grateful for the confidence and support extended to me, and I remain committed to continuing this meaningful work.”

The Uniondale school district said they are very proud of Olivares-Orellana’s exceptional dedication to mentorship and her influential role in fostering the growth and development of Latina youth across all of New York State. According to the district, her work within the Latina Mentoring Program has

played a vital role in providing young women with the support, guidance, and opportunities needed for success, saying that she has been rightly acknowledged and praised by the state for her continued and ongoing efforts.

Hochul’s recognition, they believe, serves as a powerful testament to the significance of mentorship programs and the positive impact they can have on communities, resonating far beyond the boundaries of Uniondale.

Courtesy Uniondale School District

Posing with their plaques awarded by the governor, these New York Latina leaders and ‘mentors’ are proud of their work, and so is the state.

Holden Leeds/Herald

Estrella Olivares-Orellana, on the far right, organized a day of ‘bonding,’ back in January where the Latina Mentoring Program came together in celebration of ‘the art of making Salvadoran pupusas.’ From left, Rosita Orellana, Addie Blanco-Harvey, Juana Hernandez, Monica Linares, Iris Granados, and Estrella Olivares-Orellana all put hands and hearts to work making pupusas at a meeting of the Latina Mentoring Initiative in Uniondale in January.

Courtesy Uniondale School District Estrella Olivares-Orellana, Uniondale’s director of multilingual learners, standing next to Gov. Kathy Hochul after being presented an award for her outstanding work within the Latina Mentoring Program at Uniondale High School.

DARRisAw-Akil Superintendent

David Greaves hosts transformative discussion featuring Black inventors

The John J. Byrne Community Center hosted a captivating lecture on Black Inventors in the Diaspora on Saturday, March 9. The significant and enriching initiative, aimed to shed light on an important and often underrepresented topic, fostering a sense of unity and awareness within the community.

The lecture featured the presence of prolific inventor Derek Peterson, who shared valuable insights into the challenges and triumphs of innovation within the Black community. Peterson also shared his personal experiences as a scientist and provided a unique perspective, inspiring the audience and emphasizing the potential for greatness within every individual.

Adding to the richness of the evening, the lecture was graced by the distinguished presence of the Honorable Judge Randolph Jackson as well as Keith Holmes, author of “Black Inventors, Crafting Over 20 Years of Success,” and Derek Peterson, the chief executive of Sotor Technologies, which invented the world’s first sensor to detect vaping.

Their attendance, along with the support and assistance of community figures such as Cheri Hawkins, Maat Tchaas Holmes, and Kali Mobley, highlighted the collaborative effort and diverse perspectives that made the discussion truly impactful. With David Greaves as the host, the center says it is committed to providing the community a space for crucial cultural and historical dialogues.

Courtesy The John J. Byrne Community Center david greaves, on the right, hosted a community forum and lecture featuring Black inventors, such as Keith Holmes, and derek peterson — who invented the world’s first sensor to detect vaping.

Jerry Rivers, an environmental scientist for the North American Climate, Conservation and Environment, told the Herald, ‘We have suffered enough.’ Rivers believes Long Island is on the front lines of climate change and an economic crisis is just exacerbating the problem.

The Elevance Health Foundation worked with both the American Heart Association and Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield recently to train neighbors in Nassau County with hands-only CPR.

Hands-only CPR has two steps: When you see a teen or adult suddenly collapse, dial 911. After that, push hard and fast in the center of their chest — to a rhythm of about 100 to 120 beats per minute — until help arrives.

Elevance, Anthem and the heart association delivered more than two-dozen

The lecture not only celebrated Black inventors across the Diaspora but also emphasized the importance of recognizing their contributions year-round, transcending the confines of Black History Month. This gathering served as a platform to acknowledge the profound impact of Black inventors and fostered an environment for important cultural conversations that resonate far beyond a single month.

The climate crisis is an economic crisis, too

—Brandon Cruz

kits to their community service center on Fulton Avenue in Hempstead. Each kit included a mannequin and instructional video to practice compression skills.

Joining in the training included the Nassau County Office of Hispanic Affairs, Hispanic Counseling Services, Betty’s Breast Cancer Foundation, Circulo de la Hispanidad, and Family First Community Center.

To learn more about the Nation of Lifesavers initiative as well as hands-only CPR, visit Heart.org/nation.

And now, with the Long Island Power Authority’s approved 11.6 percent rate hike this year, the average customer’s light bill is now almost $200 a month — the fourth highest in the nation.

“Long Island can’t wait,” Assemblywoman Taylor Darling said outside the county legislative building in Mineola on March 7. There, alongside residents and advocates, Darling unveiled new research showing that these “energy-burdened families” could save a great deal of money on their utility bills if the state’s proposed Home Energy Affordable Transition, or HEAT, Act is included in the state budget proposal for fiscal year 2025.

“Our families are struggling,” Darling said. “People cannot afford to pay their bills, they cannot afford housing, they cannot afford food, and yet our utility bills, somehow, continue to rise every single month.”

The HEAT Act is part of a broader package of bills called the Climate, Jobs, and Justice package — a legislative threepack aimed at creating “climate justice,” which is now awaiting a vote in the Assembly.

A n extra $164 in my pocket can go a long way.

Experts from WIN Climate, an organization of data scientists, economists and energy modelers that collaborated with New York Renews on its report, say that the HEAT Act could cut many Long Island residents’ energy bills nearly in half, helping them save an average of $164 per month. The bill includes a provision that limits the charges for utilities to a maximum of 6 percent of a household’s annual income.

Peggy Perkins Hempstead

“An extra $164 in my pocket can go a long way,” said Peggy Perkins, a resident of Hempstead who said she has several jobs in order to make ends meet. “There are times I have to use the stove in the kitchen to heat up the house because we can’t afford the heat bill. There are times I have to choose between feeding my kids or paying some high bill, and that ain’t right.”

The package also includes the Climate Change Superfund Act, which would hold major oil companies responsible for pollution costs by forcing them to pay into a superfund controlled by the state; and the Just Energy Transition Act, which outlines a plan to replace fossil fuel facilities by 2030.

Darling, who co-sponsored the bill in the Assembly, said that passing the HEAT Act isn’t just about fighting climate change, but also empowering residents to regain control of their energy bills. She is calling on her fellow lawmakers to support the legislation.

“The NY HEAT Act will align gas utilities with emission reduction and climate justice mandates, ensuring a just transition from fossil fuels to electric heating for all,” Darling said. “By prioritizing energy affordability and sustainability, lawmakers can pave the way for a future where New Yorkers can save on their monthly utility expenses while collectively combating climate change.”

CoNtINuEd fRom pAgE 1

Chika Akazi wins state championship

By BRAnDon CRUZ bcruz@liherald.com

Uniondale High School senior, Chika Akazi, has solidified her status as the best 55-meter hurdle runner in all of New York State, etching her name into the history books of high school track and field.

Last week, Akazi showcased her outstanding athletic prowess at the New York State indoor track and field state championships held at the Ocean Breeze Complex in Staten Island. In an incredible display of speed and precision, Akazi crossed the finish line in a remarkable 8.21 seconds, securing the coveted New York State Championship in the girls 55-meter hurdles, a significant improvement from her previous times.

At last year’s competition, Akazi secured a fourth place spot with a time of 8.38 seconds. But in this year’s preliminary rounds, Akazi came in as the last qualifier for the 55-meter hurdles with a time of 8.48. But undeterred and proving this was just a minor setback, she delivered an amazing comeback performance

in the finals, overcoming her previous round and seizing victory while surpassing her remarkable time from the previous year as well.

“Chika is a beacon of strength and determination,” said Monique DarrisawAkil, the superintendent of the Uniondale School District who praised Chika’s resilience. “Her hard work and dedication to the Uniondale team allow for her continued success, which will only continue throughout the future,” she continued, “it is remarkable that she can be both a star athlete and such an honorable student.”

Beyond the indoor season, Akazi also has a reputation for her athletic prowess in outdoor track, specializing in the 400meter hurdles. In the outdoor track state championships last year, she secured second place in the 400-meter hurdles. Akazi also played a pivotal role as the anchor for Uniondale’s 4-x100 relay, contributing to the team’s third-place finish and earning the relay team All-County honors, a prestigious distinction for an outdoor track team. Akazi was also Newsday’s number one ranked girl in last year’s

outdoor track and field rankings for the Spring 2023 season.

Uniondale High School’s physical educaiion and health director, Peter Cardone, commended the track star’s dedication, stating, “Chika exemplifies the spirit of what it means to be a track athlete. She sees a goal and stops at nothing to achieve it, which shines through in her performances.”

In a release sent out this week, the Uniondale School District says they are incredibly proud of Akazi and will continue to support her and every other student in their various pursuits throughout their high school careers.

As Akazi continues to etch her name in the annals of high school track and field history, her remarkable journey serves as an inspiration for young athletes in Uniondale to look up to. Akazi emphasizes the importance of resilience, hard work, and a never-give-up attitude in the pursuit of excellence. With a promising future ahead, Akazi’s legacy as the best 55-meter hurdle runner in New York state is sure to endure for years to come.

Westbury exhibit celebrates local Black artists

By Anthony Johnson Special to the Herald

In celebration of the Long Island Black Artist Association’s 55th anniversary, Westbury Arts is the host of an exhibition that highlights more than five decades of talent from local artists.

Several members of the association from across Long Island were present Feb. 4 to commemorate the occasion and launch the exhibition.

Westbury resident Marcia Odle-McNair has been a member of the Long Island Black Artist Association for two years. She also sits on Westbury Arts’ board of directors, a position which allowed her to write a proposal for the venue to host the exhibition.

“There’s still lifes, representational art, abstraction, ink works, and watercolors,” Odle-McNair said. “There’s everything. We all come together.”

The association was founded in 1968 by artists James Counts, Ernest Snell, Raymond Miles and Charles Winslow. The organization aims to help local African-American artists find venues to exhibit their work.

The association’s art has been exhibited in places such as museums, universities, libraries and churches. Some work has been displayed internationally in continents such as Africa and Europe.

Galvin Bisserup Jr. is the current president of the Long Island Black Artist Association, which covers the counties of Brooklyn, Queens, Nassau, and Suffolk. When holding meetings for the group, he positions all members to sit in a circle.

“Putting everyone in a circle allows people to recognize that they each have an equal space,” he said. “They each have something to offer, and we can share information and learn from one another.”

The art that is displayed in the exhibition has been influenced by the personal interests of different members.

Freeport resident Aaron L. Scott has two pieces in the exhibition. One painting, titled “Winter Sunset,” was inspired by the former Oceanside School District art educators’ passion for nature.

“There’s something about winter that I’ve always liked,” Scott said. I just enjoy nature. I grew up in an

area where we used to have lots of deer. There’s always been a lot of animals around, maybe less than there used to be. But there’s still those things that are part of nature that are around.”

Photos taken by Mary Rano, another Freeport resident, are also showcased. One of those pieces is titled “I-95 at Philly,” and focuses on an oil refinery that she observed while stuck in traffic.

“It was 7 in the summer, and the sun was going down,” Rano said. “The light was reflecting off of the metal and pipes. It struck me as really pretty. There was something beautiful about it.”

Members also shared their reflections on what 55 years of the Long Island Black Artist Association means to them.

“We’ve lasted the test of time,” Odle-McNair said.

“What I really appreciate about this group is the fellowship. There’s no judgment.”

Bisserup Jr. talked about his hopes for the future of the association.

“Part of the joy is recognizing that I’m a part of something,” he said. “My main mission is to keep the artists engaged and keep our family unit together so that we can move as a unit when it comes to exhibiting the different artworks that we have mastered.”

The Long Island Black Artist Association’s 55 Years of Black Creativity exhibition runs through March 22 at Westbury Arts.

Anthony Johnson is a reporter with The SBU Media Group, part of Stony Brook University’s School of Communication and Journalism’s Working Newsroom program for students and local media.

‘I-95 at Phily’ by Mary Rano, from Freeport, being showcased at the Long Island Black Artist Association’s exhibition.

Aaron L. Scott’s ‘Winter Sunset’ on display at the Long Island Black Artist Association’s exhibition.

Courtesy Uniondale School District Chika Akazi, a senior track star at Uniondale high school, showcased why she is the best at the New York State indoor track and field state championships held at the Ocean Breeze Complex in Staten Island last week, taking home the gold in her race.

Nassau makes federal case of trans ban

By PARKER SCHUG pschug@liherald.com

Bruce Blakeman wants to ban transgender athletes who identify as female from participating in women sports on Nassau County playing fields. But Letitia James says he can’t do that.

So, the Nassau County executive is joining Mark Mullen — the father of a female athlete he says is protected by such a ban — to file a federal lawsuit contesting the state attorney general’s ceaseand-desist order halting Blakeman’s efforts to restrict who can be on a sports team.

“What the attorney general was asking us to do was a violation of federal Constitutional law and federal statutory law,” Blakeman told reporters in Mineola last week. “Our response was to file a lawsuit, for a declaratory judgment, requiring the attorney general to come before a federal judge and explain why this cease-and-desist order has been issued and the threat of sanctions and litigations against the county, when we in Nassau County are protecting women and girls, who are a protected class under the constitution, and under federal law.”

James sent her cease-and-desist letter to Blakeman on March 1, demanding he rescind his executive order banning transgender athletes identifying as female from participating in women’s

sports in county facilities. She called the executive order was transphobic and illegal under the state’s human rights and civil rights laws.

With the cease-and-desist, James ordered the county to rescind the executive order or face potential legal action.

“Not only will the order impact a wide array of Nassau-based teams and leagues, it will undoubtedly deter inclusive teams and transgender women and girls who participate in women’s and girls’ sports from other parts of the state who want to participate in sporting events and competitions in Nassau County,” James wrote.

A spokesperson from the attorney

general’s office reiterated that after Blakeman’s news conference, saying the laws protecting people from discrimination are not “up for debate.”

“The executive order is illegal,” the spokesperson said, “and it will not stand in New York.”

Blakeman cited the New York City Marathon as an example where males and females compete exclusively in their own classified groups.

“There is a reason for those classifications,” he said. “Males are bigger, stronger and faster. And it wouldn’t be a fair competition with females.”

The county’s action is consistent with the Constitution, Blakeman added, treat-

ing women and girls as a protected class under federal law.

“Transgender women who are biological males are not a protected class under federal law,” he said.

And because of that, Blakeman believes his order is not transphobic.

“Transgender athletes can compete freely here in Nassau County, and we welcome it,” Blakeman said. “If you’re a biological male and you identify yourself as a female, you can play against other biological males. Or, you can play in a co-ed league.”

Blakeman posed an idea with reporters of starting a transgender league, something he said his parks commissioner, Darcy Belyea, is open to.

Blakeman issued his executive order last month with County Legislator Samantha Goetz and sports activist Kimberly Ross standing by his side.

The executive order demands sports, leagues, organizations, teams, programs or sport entities operating in county facilities to first designate themselves based on gender makeup, and then only accept athletes who meet that criteria according to what was originally listed on their birth certificate.

While those born male would not be allowed to participate in female teams, the order does not ban someone born female from joining a male team, or for anyone who is transgender from participating on a co-ed team.

Parker Schug/Herald

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman says he’s filing a federal lawsuit contesting the state attorney general’s cease-and-desist order on his ban of transgender athletes identifying as female playing in women’s sports on county property.

Chef Reilly teaches Uniondale to make Irish soda bread

Chef Julie Reily came to Uniondale this week to share her Irish heritage with the community in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day this month.

Chef Reily taught residents to make her famous, and delicious, Irish soda bread recipe.

Those who participated seemed to enjoy the cooking, but not as much as they enjoyed tasting their finished products.

Her recipe is as follows.

Ingredients:

• 2 1/4 cup all purpose flour

• 1 teaspoon baking soda

• 1/4 cup sugar

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 1/2 cup butter (1 stick)

• 1 egg

• 1/2 cup buttermilk or sour milk

• 3/4 cup raisins or currents

• 1 teaspoons caraway seeds (optional)

Method of Preparation (This style of bread has a hard crust and the inside is dense):

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees

• Bring 2 cups of water to boil in a saucepan, add raisins, turn off heat and let soak for 10 minutes.

• Put raisins in a strainer and let stand until ready to use.

• In a small bowl, beat eggs and stir in buttermilk. Set aside.

• In a large bowl, combine flour, baking soda, sugar and salt, mix well.

• Cut butter into small chunks and add to the flour mixture.

• Using a pastry blender or a fork, work the butter into flour.

• It should resemble crumb topping-

• Pour egg mixture into flour and mix just until flour is absorbed. Do not over mix.

• Add raisins

• Turn dough onto a well-floured surface and knead for one minute.

• Transfer dough into a 8-inch cake pan, or onto a baking sheet with a lip.

• When using a baking sheet, shape a round loaf.

• With a floured knife, cut a deep cross into the top of the loaf from edge to edge.

• Bake 45 minutes to one hour until the bread is golden brown and the tester comes out clean.

— Brandon Cruz

Holden Leeds/Herald

Chef Julie Reilly was at the Uniondale library this week, teaching residents how to make Irish soda bread in celebration of this month’s upcoming St. Patrick’s Day. Behind Chef Reily from left: Joy Piper, Kathleen Dendy, Nicole Burke, Allyson Diaz, Lark Logan, Angela Perry

Chef Julie Reilly proudly shared her heritage with Uniondale residents, teaching them how to make Irish soda bread for St. Patrick’s Day.

Sylvia and Joy piper making their Irish soda bread and proudly displaying their new cuisines-in-progress.

The delicious final product of Chef Julie Reilly’s lesson on how to make Irish soda bread at the Uniondale library this week.

Uniondale resident, Lark Logan, mixing up her bowl and learning how to make Irish soda bread.

time to find a job at Hempstead fair

By MOHAMMAD RAFIQ mrafiq@liherald.com

The Town of Hempstead is gearing up once again to a job fair — this one scheduled for Thursday, March 21 at the Freeport Recreation Center.

Appointments are already filling up for the event, set to run between 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., at the center, located at 130 E. Merrick Road — all aimed to connect job seekers with prospective employers.

HempsteadWorks — a branch of the town’s occupational services department — has hosted the fair since 2021. Established more than 40 years ago, HempsteadWorks serves as a career center for not only the town, but also for Long Beach. Its primary mission is to provide access to training, develop skills, and share job opportunities across various industries, including health care, construction and manufacturing.

“Our primary goal is to help people within our township to better themselves, promote , careers that are up and coming, provide them access to training and skills,” said Nene Alameda, a business representative who works for the town.

“And if they don’t have those skills, we we give them access to occupational skills training.”

More than 85 such companies already

have registered to participate in the Freeport job fair, That includes prominent entities like the U.S. Postal Service, the New York Police Department, Mount Sinai Hospital, Brookhaven National Lab, Amazon, and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

“We have the job fair to make sure that companies who are looking for people are partnered with people who are looking for jobs,” Alameda said.

The fair is experiencing radical growth in every iteration, Alameda adds, growing from fewer than 1,000 attendees in 2021, to more than 2,100 in its most recent outing. For next week’s event, more than 1,100 job seekers have

already signed up.

This rapid growth has produced long lines. To make everything more convenient, HempsteadWorks has instituted a time slot-based registration system, which job seekers can sign up for at HempsteadWorks.com/jobfair.

This registration system already was in effect last year, Alameda said, cutting down the wait from two hours to almost nothing.

The first hour of the fair, beginning at 9:30, is dedicated to veterans and people with disabilities. But no matter what time you sign up, attendees are advised to bring several copies of their resume.

Caroline Coyne, a 22-year-old Maris College graduate, says her current job hunt “has been pretty terrible.”

“It seems like there’s an oversaturation of applications because so many people are getting laid off and so many people didn’t get jobs during Covid when they were graduating,” she said. “So now, along with the 2022 graduates, you have the 2023 and the upcoming 2024. And everybody’s just trying to find their way at the same time.”

But, Alameda said, it’s important to remain optimistic and not despair.

“For every job seeker that’s out there, there (are) two positions,” she said. “Employers are in dire need of workers.”

In fact, the HempsteadWorks job fairs have likely helped at least 500 people find jobs directly in recent years. The end of pandemic-era benefits may also play a role in the sudden increase of people looking for work, as those bonuses and extra money are no longer available.

“As the largest and most diverse township in America, the Town of Hempstead is dedicated to leading the way in job creation and economic growth throughout the community,” said Town Supervisor Don Clavin, in a release.

“With dozens of employers participating in this year’s HempsteadWorks Job Fair, we encourage all job-seekers to come on down to the Freeport Recreation Center on March 21.”

Nicole Formisano/Herald

Defending against an invisible enemy

Can laws solve the problems of noise pollution?

By Nicole Formisano & Will Sheeline

Continuing a series exploring the impact pollution from air, noise and light has on our communities and way of life. Thoughts? Questions? Ideas? Email us at execeditor@liherald.com.

How can local representatives protect people from an invisible, ever-present hazard? That’s the question small governments across Nassau County have been trying to answer when it comes to noise pollution — all to varying degrees of success.

“Inevitably, you might be creating a standard that is unfair, that is inequitable,” said Kevin Walsh, an attorney who’s helped draft noise ordinances for municipalities like Malverne and Farmingdale. “Not because it isn’t applied equally, but because it hurts people that don’t have a problem with it.”

Noise pollution — excessive or frequent noise — is said to come with health risks like increased stress, hypertension and sleep disruption, according to the World Health Organization. But for some communities, dealing with excessive noise is nothing new.

Glen Cove’s noise ordinance, for example, has been largely unchanged since 1997, limiting noise that is “clearly audible at 50 feet.” Village ordinances for Sea Cliff — dating back to 1995 with updates more than a decade ago — define unreasonable noise as any constant, continuous or repetitive loud sound which “annoys” or “disturbs” the peace and comfort of neighboring residents.

But — despite what neighbors of barking dogs or chronic partiers may

wish — there is no legal definition of “annoying.” Noise ordinances often use subjective language, because noise pollution is a subjective experience, Walsh said. Sound that irks one neighbor may be hardly noticeable by another.

Finding a way to differentiate

“It’s difficult because it’s trying to regulate human behavior,” he said. “When you try to regulate people’s enjoyment of their existence like this, on relatively subjective degrees, it’s a problem.”

When someone wants to play music while their neighbor wants their child to go to sleep, where does law enforcement draw the line? The incongruous — yet equally defensible — interests are “making it more and more difficult to get a balance between what is acceptable noise and what is not,” Walsh said.

Finding that balance

So, the question becomes, what is a fair standard to regulate noise? Do municipalities put the noise limit at the lower end to shield more sensitive people, and risk discouraging others from enjoying time outside?

Or do municipalities create more lenient ordinances that allow more noise, and risk leaving sensitive people unprotected?

“It’s a no-win situation, because, inevitably, you make one person happy. You’re making one person sad.”

Managing these conflicting expectations can result in local officials walking a tightrope. But Elena Villafane, Sea Cliff’s mayor, says that is an inherent part of serving the community.

“So, as with every local government, where you are managing how people reside in a community together, you’re always balancing a variety of interests.” she said. “Right now, we seem to be at a happy equilibrium.”

It’s a balancing act Glen Cove has had to grapple with.

“It is a very subjective criteria when one person’s noise pollution is another person’s ‘fun time,’ so to speak,” said Christopher Ortiz, deputy chief of the Glen Cove Police Department. “So, in that sense, it is difficult trying to precisely determine what is an excessive amount of noise, and it becomes kind of a gray area.”

And that “fun time” is on the rise, especially since Covid-19. People these days are spending more time in their backyards since the pandemic, Walsh said.

Malverne mayor Tim Sullivan noticed that trend as well.

“What we found is, during Covid, a lot of homeowners invested in their backyards,” Sullivan said. “Whether pools, or outdoor bars and kitchens and sound systems. The backyard has become a renewed entertainment focus of the home.”

Sound-measuring technology,

though, has dramatically improved in the decades since those original laws were passed, Walsh said — another reason why more governments across the county are passing updated noise ordinances.

Malverne’s noise ordinance, passed in December, limits outdoor music to 80 decibels — about the noise level of a vacuum cleaner — measured at the property line. Glen Cove considers 65 decibels — about the noise level of a conversation — “disturbing,” but also allows for subjectivity by employing a standard of whether the noise is “clearly audible” at 50 feet.

Too many variables?

But even something seemingly objective — such as a measurable standard like decibel level — presents new obstacles. A noise level that constitutes a nuisance to one neighbor may not bother another.

Sometimes, Walsh said, police will visit a property that is technically violating the noise ordinance, but the officer will personally find that the sound level or quality shouldn’t break the law.

So even with a measurable standard, enforcement is subjective.

And the actual sound level isn’t the only thing that matters — the source does, too.

Things like fire whistles and barking dogs polarize neighbors, Villafane said. Gas-powered leaf blowers are another malefactor that often earn their own section of noise ordinances.

The city ordinances also differentiate between how much noise various types of properties can make at different

Herald file photo

In growing numbers, local villages are passing noise ordinance to curb excessive or unwanted noise in their neighborhoods. But airplanes — perhaps the biggest noisemakers — are beyond local jurisdiction. The Town of Hempstead is working with the Federal Aviation Administration, but with little success.

times. For example, a private residence can be penalized for making 50 decibels or more of noise after 10 p.m., and before 7 a.m., while a commercial property operating at the same time would need to reach 70 decibels before neighbors can make a complaint.

These different standards for businesses and private residences can sometimes boil over in communities. Because Long Island is very much suburbia, Walsh said, the interests of commercial and residential parts of towns often conflict — commercial districts often create more noise, which is at odds with the interests of residential communities that typically neighbor them.

Fly-by-night (and day) noise

But the arguably biggest culprits of excessive noise may also be the hardest to manage. The constant drone of airplanes flying overhead is seemingly ever-present, but comes with its own challenges.

With John F. Kennedy and LaGuardia airports right next door, neighbors across the county are dealing with the near-constant drone of planes flying overhead.

The Town of Hempstead created the Town-Village Aircraft Safety and Noise Abatement Committee to deal specifically with this nuisance. But try as they might, local government has no sway over the conduct of airplanes — that’s all the Federal Aviation Administration.

“Everyone wants airlines to be safe,” said James Vilardi, the noise abatment committee’s executive director. “But is there a way to maintain the highest levels of airplane safety, and to accom-

modate the residents on the ground that are dealing with the airplane influence? We maintain that there is.”

The committee’s primary goal right now is to get accurate, specific decibel readings from FAA monitors.

The problem, Vilardi said, is the information the FAA provides right now is warped because the decibel readings are averaged out among neighborhoods.

But if the committee gets the raw data and finds that the decibels violate municipal or federal code, they can appeal to the FAA to make changes.

The FAA, however, is largely unwilling to even acknowledge the noise abatement committee.

“It’s difficult to make changes in their policy without them being willing to talk to us,” Vilardi said. “We’re pushing as hard as we can to get this data so we can have a real conversation with them.

“Unfortunately, it’s a problem that our residents face, that our local elected officials do not have the power to directly impact. “There’s no way that the supervisor — or the county executive, or even a congressman — can say ‘OK, stop flying over Franklin Square.’ Or ‘fly 20 feet higher.’

“They just don’t have the jurisdiction to do it.”

The timeline for progress is in the air, so to speak, until the federal agency finally has a dialogue with the town.

In the meantime, local governments are still striving for progress in the fight against noise pollution using new and updated noise ordinances. Although noise is largely inescapable, its excess can be mitigated when we focus on what we can control, experts say — local government’s responsibility to us, and our responsibility to each other.

HERALD SPORTS

Hofstra aims for conference tournament

By ANDREW COEN sports@liherald.com

After just missing out on reaching its postseason conference tournament for a second straight year, the Hofstra men’s lacrosse team is sharply focused on extending its 2024 season into the month of May.

The Pride entered the final season game against Stony Brook in a win or go home scenario and fell 11-10 to its Long Island rivals and missed out on a tiebreaker for the final spot in the fourteam league tournament to compete for an automatic qualifier into the NCAA Tournament. The Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) preseason coaches poll projects Hofstra to finish fifth in the eight-team conference, which would leave Hofstra just shy once again of the postseason.

“After losing the tiebreaker two years in a row it doesn’t sit well with us,” said longtime Hofstra head coach Seth Tierney.

Hofstra enters the start of CAA play this weekend at 3-4 following a 21-9 loss to 18th-ranked North Carolina at home last Saturday in the program’s first meeting with the ACC power since 2018.

Junior attackman John Madsen (21 goals) and redshirt junior midfielder Rory Jones (16 goals) have paced the offense so far this season. Madsen, a Locust Valley High School graduate, tallied 27 points as a junior, while Jones neatly set a program record for goals in a game with eight in a season-opening 21-9 win against Wagner.

Madsen and Jones lead a deep Hofstra offense featuring multiple scoring options including Colton Rudd, Griffin Turner and Justin Sykes.

A key part of assuring Hofstra is in the offensive end of the field for much

of the game is the play of graduate student faceoff specialist Chase Patterson, who earned preseason All-CAA honors. Patterson led the CAA in faceoff win -

ning percentage at 59.5 percent last year and is at 60 percent through seven games this season.

“He’s been very self motivated and won some big face offs for us,” said Tierney of Patterson. “He very much thinks like a coach as even after a successful game he finds the negatives, he finds the ones that he missed and he continues to work each week to miss less and less.”

The defense is led by redshirt sophomore goalie Sean Henderson, who recorded 19 saves in a 17-13 victory against St. John’s on Feb. 13. Graduate student goalie Max May, a Hewlett High School product who previously played goalie at Muhlenberg College, serves as a solid backup behind Henderson and tallied three saves at the end of the Wagner game.

“They push each other every day in practice and no one can take a day off,”: said Tierney of his two top goalies. “Right now we are staying with what we’re staying with, but Max is right there ready to go to help the team when necessary.”

The starting defense in front of Hen-

derson features Henry Troy, Will Delaney and Blake Cooling. Graduate student long stick defensive midfielder is also a key component of the defense and earned All-CAA preseason accolades after playing 14 games at North Carolina last season.

The Hofstra defensive unit also features two local players in redshirt sophomore Ryan Kiernan, a Rockville Centre native and Chaminade graduate, along with junior short-stick defensive midfielder Chris Barry, an East Meadow High School alum.

The CAA season kicks off Saturday at Fairfield followed by a March 23 road trip to two-time defending champion Delaware. The conference home opener is set for March 30 against Monmouth at 1 p.m.

Hofstra’s late season schedule also includes an April 16 non-league game against Yale at 7 p.m., which will mark the program’s first meeting with the Ivy League school since 1995.

“They are a tremendous team with a lot of talent,” said Tierney of Yale. “It is another opportunity to sharpen our swords against a quality opponent.”

Photos courtesy Hofstra Athletics Communications

Midfielder Rory Jones is off to a strong start for the Pride with 16 goals through seven games, including eight in the seasonopening victory over Wagner.

Attack John Madsen, a Locust Valley product, leads the Pride with 21 goals.

Sands New York Donates $200,000 to Family and Children’s Association to Expand Services

Family and Children’s Association (FCA), Long Island’s leading health and human services nonprofit organization, announced the opening of two FCA Gambling Support and Wellness Centers, one in Hempstead, the other in Hicksville. The services available in these centers will be made possible partially through a $200,000 donation made by Sands New York.

“We know that most people who gamble, do it as a form of entertainment. As a responsible community partner and industry-leading entertainment company we must identify and help solve for issues in our community,” said Ron Reese, Senior Vice President at Las Vegas Sands. “We are proud to partner with FCA to provide this valuable resource to Long Islanders.”

According to the National Council on Problem Gambling, about 85% of U.S. adults have gambled at least once in their lives, with 60% having gambled within the past year. However, between 1% and 2% of the U.S. adult population, or 2 to 4 million adults, will

experience a gambling disorder in their lifetime. “From the state lottery expansion to casinos to online sports betting, which became legal in New York in 2021, gambling is here to stay. It’s imperative that we introduce new programs to identify and treat problem gambling especially as the need emerges,” said FCA President and CEO Dr. Jeffrey Reynolds. “This is particularly important for college kids and people who already have a casino that blinks, beeps and beckons in their back pocket 24/7. We want to make the resources readily available to every Long Islander who needs or wants help.”

With the increase in online sports betting, gambling has reached newer, younger audiences, many unaware of the larger consequences of problem gambling. New York recently announced that it generated $862 million from mobile sports wagering in its second year of operation. When added to the $693 million and $200 million in licensing fees collected in 2022, that brings the total generated revenue to $1.75 billion.

We want to make the resources readily available to every Long Islander who needs or wants help.

Dr. Jeffrey Reynolds, Family and Children’s Association President and CEO

We are proud to partner with FCA to provide this valuable resource to Long Islanders.

Ron Reese, Senior Vice President at Las Vegas Sands

The developer of a proposed multi-billion-dollar flagship hospitality and entertainment project on Long Island

Fca will open two Gambling support and wellness centers on Long Island

Photo provided by Sands

Photo: Senior Vice President at Las Vegas Sands Ron Reese speaks at a press conference at the Family and Children’s Association headquarters in Garden City.

Las Vegas Sands Named to Fortune’s World’s Most Admired Companies List for its 10th Appearance

one of only two hotel and gaming companies included, sands’ 2024 recognition demonstrates the value it delivers to host regions and the hospitality industry

Las Vegas Sands has again been named one of Fortune’s World’s Most Admired Companies in the news outlet’s 2024 list of the most respected and reputable global businesses, marking the company’s 10th appearance on the list.

“Sands’ being included on Fortune’s list is an endorsement of our performance in delivering economic, social and environmental value to our communities, Team Members, investors and customers,” said Patrick Dumont, President and Chief Operating Officer of Las Vegas Sands. “Entering 2024 with this recognition demonstrates our ability to successfully navigate change and evolution, while remaining focused on the positive impact we strive to deliver.”

Sands is the largest global developer and operator of world-class integrated resorts. Combining luxury hotel rooms and suites, gaming, state-of-the-art meeting and convention facilities, expansive retail offerings and an array of entertainment attractions, the company’s iconic integrated resorts are premier attractions that draw hundreds of thousands of business and leisure tourists to its regions annually.

In each of its regions, Sands is focused on being the employer and partner of choice; keeping its communities strong by making them ideal places to live, work and visit; and minimizing environmental impact by being a leader in preserving natural resources and incorporating sustainable practices.

With the goal of achieving measured, ongoing environmental, social and governance progress in these areas, the company established 2021-2025 ambitions to invest $200 million in workforce development, contribute 150,000 volunteer hours to its communities and reduce carbon emissions by 17.5% by the end of the period, mapping to its People, Communities and Planet corporate responsibility pillars.

Under the Communities pillar, the company surpassed its 150,000 community service hours at the end of 2022 because of extensive support for pandemic-related initiatives, along with core Sands Cares volunteer efforts. The new 2025 target will be announced in Sands’ next ESG report in spring 2024, along with progress toward all three ambitions.

As of 2022 reporting, the company had invested $56 million in workforce development initiatives, bringing its cumulative investment to $113 million since 2021, well past the halfway point. Carbon emissions reduction was at 50%; however, that figure reflected continued pandemic-related impact on property visitation and will be updated in the 2023 ESG report.

Sands’ designation on the Fortune World’s Most Admired Companies list follows recent recognition on Newsweek’s 2024 America’s Most Responsible Companies list as well as the 2023 Dow Jones Sustainability World and North America Indices.

As in the past, Fortune collaborated with its partner Korn Ferry on this survey of corporate reputations, which began with a universe of about 1,500 candidates: the 1,000 largest U.S. companies ranked by revenue, along with nonU.S. companies in Fortune’s Global 500 database that have revenues of $10 billion or more. The assortment was winnowed to the highestrevenue companies in each industry, a total of 660 in 29 countries. The top-rated companies were picked from that pool of 660; the executives who voted work at the companies in that group.

To determine the best-regarded companies in 52 industries, Korn Ferry asked executives, directors, and analysts to rate enterprises in their own industry on nine criteria, from investment value and quality of management and products to social responsibility and ability to attract talent. A company’s score must rank in the top half of its industry survey to be listed. For complete rankings, visit fortune.com.

Continued from page 1

The addition of 3 downstate gaming licenses to be awarded by New York State is expected to further increase state revenue from gambling. Sands New York is currently preparing a bid for one of the three available gaming licenses for its planned integrated resort and entertainment center at the Nassau Coliseum property in Uniondale, New York.

FCA, with its 140-year history of helping Long Islanders, has won state certification from the Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS) to provide problem gambling counseling and support to those who need or want help. FCA’s new Gambling Support and Wellness Centers will offer individual, group, and family counseling including financial counseling and planning to individuals and families experiencing problem gambling issues.

The announcement was made during a press conference at FCA headquarters in

Sands New York and Minority Millennials partner to host NextGen Supplier Diversity Gathering

In a bid to bolster local supplier diversity and entrepreneurship, Long Island-based Minority Millennials and Sands New York recently joined forces on The NextGen Supplier Diversity Gathering at the Barclays Center for a spirited Brooklyn Nets game.

This partnership event served to offer essential resources and connections for Minority, Women, and Veteran-owned business proprietors potentially interested in bidding for contracts with the Sands’ planned development in Uniondale. This collaboration between Sands New York and Minority Millennials not only equips business owners with vital information and contacts but also beckons the next wave of community entrepreneurs, eager to carve their niche in the Long Island economy.

"These types of intimate networking opportunities with likeminded business owners are rare and extremely valuable. Getting to speak face to face with other suppliers and Sands executive leadership can really be a game changer for my company," said Daphne Baptiste, from Valley Stream.

Participants seized the opportunity, recognizing the potential to expand their networks and stimulate economic growth, facilitating invaluable connections, shared insights, and fostering potential partnerships.

Sands New York looks forward to continuing programming that highlights its commitment to nurturing local business prospects

and cultivating the professional advancement of diverse, young talent, underlining their unwavering dedication to fostering a vibrant and inclusive local economy.

Garden City. Joining FCA President and CEO Jeffrey L. Reynolds, PhD at the podium were FCA Assistance VP Clinical Services Nicolle Vasselman; Pam Brenner-Davis, Regional Team

Lead NY Council on Problem Gambling Resource Center; Ron Reese, Sr. Vice President Las Vegas Sands; Representatives from Jake’s 58".

Photo provided by Sands

Photo: Dr. Jeffrey Reynolds, Family and Children’s Association President and CEO, announces the opening of two Gambling Support and Wellness Centers at a press conference at FCA’s headquarters in Garden City.

Photo provided by Sands

Photo: Members from Sands New York and Minority Millennials met at the NextGen Supplier Diversity gathering held at the Barclays Center in February.

Sands New York engages local businesses for procurement opportunities

Sands procurement executives Chad Forster and Uzoma Ehimere joined the Business Development and Tourism Work Group on Thursday, Feb. 22 to build a plan to engage local businesses into the Sands procurement pipeline for opportunities stemming from the project.

The work group was convened to connect Sands with Long Island local and regional stakeholders and has met consistently for over a year to help inform the public about the project and direct local business owners on how to get involved in the tremendous opportunities the development presents. With the work group's guidance, Sands and the regional chambers have produced the procurement academy and resource fair event series at Nassau Community College, Suffolk Community College, and virtually, as well as the widely attended Chambers Clink + Collaborate event at the Coliseum.

The most recent meeting centered on building out the next steps for local businesses in the Sands procurement pipeline. The robust discussion included representatives from the local and regional chambers, small business development centers, and local business non-profits to ensure that Long Island’s business community is fully informed on how to stay involved as the project grows closer.

who we are:

Photo provided by Sands

Photo: Chad Forster and Uzoma Ehimere of Sands New York meet with the Business Development and Tourism Work Group to identify opportunities for local business owners.

STEPPING OUT

JigJam

Spring forth by donning some green

Savor the flavor of St. Patrick’s Day

By Karen Bloom

Spring is in our sights and we’re sure ready for its embrace. The arrival of St. Patrick’s Day on Sunday always is a welcome harbinger of the season. Enjoy some of the lively parades nearby, even a concert, and certainly bring St. Patrick’s Day into your home with some tasty Irish cuisine. Favorites include corned beef and cabbage, and, of course, soda bread.

Among these quintessential Irish foods, Irish Soda Bread is a tempting quick bread that everyone enjoys and is quite easy to make. It gets its name from the baking soda used as a leavener, instead of yeast. While the traditional version is made with only flour, buttermilk, salt and baking soda, consider adding a modern version to your repertoire.

Classic Irish Soda Bread

• 3 cups pastry flour blend or unbleached all-purpose flour

• 1 tablespoon baking powder

• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda

• 3/4 teaspoon salt

• Heaping 1/2 cup granulated sugar

• 1 cup currants or raisins

• 1 tablespoon caraway seeds, optional

• 1 large egg

• 1 3/4 cups buttermilk

• 4 tablespoons butter, melted

Topping:

• 1 tablespoon milk

• 1 tablespoon coarse white sparkling sugar

Preheat the oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 9x5 loaf pan. In a large bowl, whisk together the pastry blend or flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, sugar, currants, and caraway seeds.

In a separate bowl, or in a measuring cup, whisk together the egg and buttermilk (or milk and yogurt).

Quickly and gently stir the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Stir in the melted butter.

Spoon the batter into the prepared pan. Draw your finger around the edge of the pan to create a “moat.” Drizzle the bread with the 1 tablespoon of milk; the moat will help prevent the milk from running down the sides of the loaf. Sprinkle with the coarse sugar.

Bake the bread for 50 minutes to 1 hour, or until a cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean; the interior of the bread will measure 200°F to 210°F on a thermometer.

Remove the bread from the oven, loosen its edges, and after five minutes turn it out onto a rack to cool. Cool completely before slicing. Wrap airtight and store at room temperature.

Serve with hot tea and organic jam, Irish stew, traditional Irish cabbage dishes, or enjoy on its own!

Savory Irish Cheese Soda Bread

• 2 1/2 cups flour

• 1/2 cup sugar

• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 2 teaspoons caraway seed

• 1 teaspoon garlic powder

• 1/4 teaspoon red pepper, ground

• 1/2 cup shredded Irish Cheddar cheese

• 2 eggs

• 1 1/4 cups buttermilk

Preheat oven to 350°F. Mix flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt and seasonings in large bowl. Stir in cheese. Set aside. Mix eggs and buttermilk in medium bowl. Add to dry ingredients; stir until well blended. Spread in lightly grease 9-inch round cake pan.

Bake 30-40 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan on wire rack 10 minutes. Remove from pan. Cool completely on wire rack.

Tip: Make muffins instead of bread. Prepare dough as directed and divide among 12 greased muffin cups. Bake 20-25 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

Irish Soda Bread Muffins

• 1 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour

• 3/4 cup white whole wheat flour

• 2 teaspoons baking powder

• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 1/3 cup granulated sugar

• 1 1/2 cups currants (first choice) or raisins

• 1/2 to 2 teaspoons caraway seeds, to taste

• 1 large egg

• 1 cup buttermilk, yogurt, or sour cream

• 6 tablespoons butter, melted; or 1/3 cup vegetable oil

• sparkling white sugar, for topping

Preheat the oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a standard muffin pan; or line with papers, and grease the papers.

In a medium-sized mixing bowl, whisk together the flours, baking powder, baking soda, salt, sugar, currants or raisins, and caraway seeds.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the egg, buttermilk (or equivalent) and melted butter (or equivalent).

Quickly and gently combine the dry and wet ingredients; honestly, this won’t take more than a few stirs with a bowl scraper or large spoon. As soon as everything is evenly moistened, quit; further stirring will cause the muffins to be tough.

Spoon the batter into the prepared pan, filling the cups about 3/4 full; the stiff batter will look mounded in the cups. Top with sparkling white sugar, if desired.

Bake the muffins for 20 minutes, until a cake tester inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean. Remove them from the oven. Tip the muffins in the pan, so their bottoms don’t get soggy. Wait five minutes, then transfer the muffins to a rack to cool. Serve them plain, or with butter and/or jam.

When virtuoso Irish playing jumps the pond running through the wide open fields of bluegrass and Americana, JigJam is born. This Offaly- and Tipperary-born band has started the Irish invasion of Americana with an injection of the magic of Scottish folk music. The lads — described as ‘The best Irish band in bluegrass’ and ‘sparkling, infectious’ — bring their footstomping vibe to Long Island for a lively St. Patrick’s Day celebration. Founding members from Offaly Jamie McKeogh (lead singer and guitar) and Daithi Melia (five-string banjo and Dobro) were joined by Tipperary-born Gavin Strappe (mandolin and tenor banjo) in 2016. They’ve since added Glasgow native Danny Hunter (fiddle) to make up this iGrass (Irish Bluegrass) quartet. With a sounded rooted in Irish music and Irish immigration, the Irish have found their prodigal son in JigJam.

Saturday, March 16, 8 p.m.

$38.14-$49.48. Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington. Tickets available at LandmarkOnMainStreet.org or (516) 767-6444.

Blippi

The colorful YouTube sensation known as Blippi is ready to delight preschoolers when The Wonderful World tour visits Tilles Center. Families will dance, sing and learn with Blippi and special guest, Meekah, as everyone discovers how different cities are unique and special. Will there be monster trucks, excavators, and garbage trucks galore? You bet! So get ready to shake those wiggles out and O.J. Twist your way through this musical party. The lively show expands upon creator Stevin John’s engaging world that inspires curiosity in young families. Clad in his iconic blue and orange outfit, Blippi — along with best friend Meekah — clearly excites preschoolers with experiences that are relatable and accessible and make learning fun. Kids 4 and younger quickly respond to Blippi’s endearing personality as they explore the world around them through adventures that relate to everyday life, involving fire trucks, zoos, animals, and so much more.

Tuesday, March 19, 6 p.m. Tickets start at $32. Tilles Center for the Performing Arts, LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Blvd., Brookville. Tickets available at Ticketmaster.com or TillesCenter.org or (516) 299-3100.

Classic Irish Soda Bread

Savory Irish Cheese Soda Bread Soda Bread Muffins

THE Your Neighborhood

March 23

Comedy’s ‘Ivy League’

The Ivy League of Comedy is the premier group of stand-up comedians touring America. Known for their elite brand of clever comedy, you’ve heard their brilliant comedic voices on latenight TV and Comedy Central. Now come see them live when Carmen Lynch, Ryan Reiss and Shaun Eli bring their act to the Madison Theatre, Saturday, March 23 , 8 p.m. Lynch, who made it to the semi-finals of NBC’s “Last Comic Standing,” is known for her deadpan delivery and riffs on life. A rising star from a bi-lingual family, who lived in Spain as a child, she’s appeared on a string of late night TV shows. Shes’s also appeared “Inside Amy Schumer,” “That Damn Michael Che,” “Life & Beth,” and the documentary “Hysterical.” Funnyman Reis, also a writer-actor, began his career while attending NYU, and quickly became a favorite act on the scene. He made his network TV debut on “Late Night With Seth Meyers.” His quit wit, instant likeability and unique way of engaging any audience have made him one of the most sought-after comics on the club circuit and a favorite audience warm up performer. Eli has rightfully been called one of America’s smartest comics. Whether it’s a story about dining with a vegetarian or successfully fighting a parking ticket in criminal court, master storyteller Eli shows you that there’s hilarity in the ordinary if you approach life with a comedic warp. Even job interviews. For just about anything he’s experienced he has hilarious stories at the ready. $45-$50. Molloy University, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre. Tickets available at MadisonTheatreNY.org or (516) 323-4444.

Family theater

Inspired by L. Frank Baum’s stories, this clever adaptation puts the audience front and center, literally, on the Long Island Children’s Museum stage, Friday, March 15, 10:15 a.m., noon, 6:15 p.m. (sensoryfriendly performance); Saturday, March 16, 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.; Wednesday and Thursday, March 20-21,10:15 a.m. and noon. Kids become cast members, singing dancing, and acting on stage alongside the professional cast. One of the museum’s most interactive shows, it received rave reviews in its prior run. Going beyond the traditional telling of the Oz stories, the performance uses personal journal entries and historic newspaper headlines to bring the history of L. Frank Baum and illustrator W.W. Denslow to life. Dorothy, the Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion take the audience with them on this lively, playful trip down the yellow brick road. $10 with museum admission ($8 members), $14 theater only. Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 224-5800 or LICM.org.

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.

Opens March 23, on view through July 7. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. (516) 484-9337 or NassauMuseum.org.

March 27

Literary conversation

Poet-essayist Elizabeth Schmermund, who is an assistant professor of English at SUNY Old Westbury, reads from her works, as part of Hofstra University’s Great Writers Great Readings series, Wednesday, March 27, 4:30 p.m.

Her work has appeared in The Independent, Mantis, and Gyroscope Review, among other venues. Her first poetry chapbook, “Alexander the Great,” is published by Finishing Line Press. Free and open to the public. Guthart Cultural Center Theater, Axinn Library, South Campus, Hempstead. Register in advance at events.hofstra. edu or call the Hofstra Cultural Center at (516) 463-5669 for more information.

Introduction to A.I.

Learn about A.I .at Uniondale Library, Monday, March 18, 7-8:30 p.m. Karen QuinoesSmith leads a hands-on introduction to artificial intelligence explaining how it works, and best uses. Spots are limited; registration required. 400 Uniondale Ave. For more information or to register, visit UniondaleLibrary.org or call (516) 489-2220.

March 21

Uniondale Community Land Trust Meeting

The Uniondale Community Land Trust meets at Uniondale Library, Thursday, March 21, 6-8 p.m. The nonprofit organization is focused on creating affordable housing opportunities in Uniondale and throughout Nassau County. 400 Uniondale Ave. For more information visit UniondaleLibrary.org or call (516) 489-2220.

1:1 Tech Help

Are you interested in eBooks or other digital library services, but don’t know where to start? If so, schedule a 30-minute session at Uniondale Public Library, on Mondays, Wednesdays, or Fridays, 9:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Registration required. 400 Uniondale Ave. Visit UniondaleLibrary.org call (516) 489-2220 for more information.

Having an event?

Breastfeeding Support Group

Mercy Hospital offers a peer to peer meeting for breastfeeding support and resources, facilitated by a certified breastfeeding counselor, every Thursday , 10:30 a.m.–11:30 a.m. Bring your baby (from newborn to 1 year) to the informal group setting. All new moms are welcome, regardless of delivering hospital. Registration required. Call breastfeeding counselor, Gabriella Gennaro, at (516) 705-2434 to secure you and your baby’s spot. Mercy Hospital, St. Anne’s Building, 1000 North Village Ave., Rockville Centre. For information visit CHSLI.org.

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.

In concert

Plaza Theatrical welcomes spring with a lively tribute to The Temptations, Saturday, March 23, 7:30 p.m. Groove along with The Fellas, in their concert “Just My Imagination,” a powerful salute to the Motown icons. Enjoy all those great tunes, including “Just My Imagination,” “My Girl,” “Papa Was A Rollin’ Stone,” “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg,” and more. See the concert at Plaza’s stage at the Elmont Library Theatre. 700 Hempstead Tpke., Elmont. $40, $35 seniors. Elmont. For tickets, call (516) 599-6870 or visit PlazaTheatrical.com.

March 17

Bird walk

See some birds with the South Shore Audubon Society. All are welcome to join members for the next in its series of bird walks, at Mill Pond Park in Wantagh, Sunday, March 17, starting at 9 a.m. The Park is on the north side of Merrick Road, four blocks west of the Wantagh State Parkway. Meet at the gazebo. Walk leaders, other birders and nature enthusiasts are happy to share their knowledge and experience with you. Bring binoculars. The group will meet at the gazebo. To register, text your name and contact information to (516) 467-9498. No walk if rain or snow. Text regarding questionable weather. For more information, visit SSAudubon.org.

Dancing Dogs

See canines in action at Uniondale Library, Saturday, March 16 2-4 p.m. Four adorable, talented, and lovable golden retrievers that unforgettable freestyle dances for kids and families. 400 Uniondale Ave. For more information, visit UniondaleLibrary.org or call (516) 489-2220.

Antipasto

•

(choose one)

Caprese

• Stuffed Mushrooms

• Mini Riceballs

• Penne Alla Vodka

• Baked Manicotti

• Baked Stuffed Shells

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Public Notices

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU

WILMINGTON SAVINGS

FUND SOCIETY, FSB, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE OF

CSMC 2018-SP3 TRUST Plaintiff, Against ANGELA D. JIMENEZ AS EXECUTRIX OF THE

ESTATE OF ANGEL J.

JIMENEZ; ANGELA D. JIMENEZ; JAMES E. JIMENEZ; LOUIS O. MATOS A/K/A LUIS O. MATOS; ET AL

Defendant(s)

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale, duly entered 12/06/2023, 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 on 3/25/2024 at 2:00PM, premises known as 596 Park Avenue, Uniondale, New York 11553, And Described As

Follows:

ALL that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being At Uniondale, In The Town Of Hempstead, County Of Nassau And State Of New York.

Section 36 Block 141 Lot 2

The approximate amount of the current Judgment lien is $77,306.39 plus interest and costs. The Premises will be sold subject to provisions of the aforesaid Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale; Index # 613486/2020

If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, the then Court Appointed Referee will cancel the Foreclosure Auction. This Auction will be held rain or shine.

Scott H Siller, Esq., Referee.

SHELDON MAY & ASSOCIATES Attorneys at Law, 255 Merrick Road, Rockville Centre, NY 11570

Dated: 1/29/2024 File

Number: 37784 CA 145020

LEGAL NOTICE

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK

COUNTY OF NASSAU

INDEX NO.: 614732/2023

DATE FILED: 9/12/2023

SUMMONS L&L ASSOCIATES HOLDING CORP., Plaintiff, againstRAYMOND R. PRILLER, if he be living, if he be dead, his respective heirsat-law, next of kin, distributees, executors, administrators, trustees, devisees, legatees, assignees, lienors, creditors, and successors in interest, and generally all persons having or claiming under, by, or through RAYMOND R. PRILLER, if he be dead,

whether by purchase, inheritance, lien or otherwise, including any right, title or interest in and to the real property described in the complaint herein, all of who and whose names and places of residence are unknown to the plaintiff, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 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.

TO THE ABOVE NAMED

DEFENDANTS:

YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the complaint in this action. to serve a copy of your answer, or, if the complaint is not served with the summons, to serve notice of appearance, on the plaintiff’s attorney within twenty (20) days after the service of this summons, exclusive of the date of service (or within thirty (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 failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the complaint.

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, Nassau County, entered Feb. 14, 2024 and filed with the complaint and other papers in the Nassau County Clerk’s Office.

THE OBJECT OF THE ACTION is to foreclose a tax lien and to recover the amount of the tax lien and all of the interest, penalties, additions and expenses thereon to premises k/a Section 34, Block 523, Lots 410-412. Plaintiff designates Nassau County as the place of trial. The basis of venue is the location of the subject property.

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 tax lien holder who filed this foreclosure proceeding against you and filing the answer with the court, a default judgment may be entered 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 the tax lien holder will not stop this foreclosure action.

YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (TAX LIEN HOLDER) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT.

Dated: September 11, 2023 LEVY & LEVY Attorneys for Plaintiff 12 Tulip Drive Great Neck, NY 11021 (516) 487-6655

BY: JOSHUA LEVY, ESQ. #101182 144999

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT. NASSAU COUNTY. MTAG, AS CUSTODIAN FOR ALTERNA FUNDING I, LLC, Pltf. vs. DANIEL C. BROWN, et al, Defts. Index #002241/2017. Pursuant to judgment of foreclosure and sale entered Nov. 23, 2022, I will sell at public auction on North Side steps of the Nassau Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY on April 2, 2024 at 2:30 p.m. premises k/a 371 First Place, Uniondale, NY 11553 a/k/a School District 2, Section 50, Block 109, Lot 6. Approximate amount of judgment is $21,571.20 plus costs and interest. Sold subject to terms and conditions of filed judgment and terms of sale. ADRIENNE FLIPSE

HAUSCH, Referee. BRONSTER, LLP, Attys. for Pltf., 156 West 56th Street, Ste. 703, New York, NY 10019. File No. 700999.132 - #101140 145084

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT

COUNTY OF NASSAU CitiMortgage, Inc., Plaintiff AGAINST Fritz Mathieu, Chantale Mathieu, et al., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered April 10, 2019, 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 April 3, 2024 at 2:30PM, premises known as 517 Linwood Street, Uniondale, NY 11553. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being at Uniondale, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, SECTION: 36, BLOCK: 128, LOT: 195, 196 and 511. Approximate amount of

judgment $344,070.86 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #614603/2018. The aforementioned auction will be conducted in accordance with the NASSAU County COVID-19 Protocols located on the Office of Court Administration (OCA) website (https://ww2.nycourts.gov /Admin/oca.shtml) and as such all persons must comply with social distancing, wearing masks and screening practices in effect at the time of this foreclosure sale. Foreclosure Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine”. For sale information, please visit Auction.com at www.Auction.com or call (800) 280-2832. Wayne Wink, Esq., Referee Frenkel Lambert Weiss Weisman & Gordon, LLP 53 Gibson Street Bay Shore, NY 11706 01-089829-F00 79559 145041

LEGAL NOTICE

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK

COUNTY OF NASSAU

21st Mortgage Corporation, Plaintiff, -againstNassau County Public Administrator of the Estate of Estate of Hertha Mintah a/k/a Hertha

Felicia Mintah a/k/a

Hertha F. Mintah, Adrienne Malone as heir of the Estate of Hertha Mintah a/k/a Hertha

Felicia Mintah a/k/a

Hertha F. Mintah, A.M. as minor heir of the Estate of Hertha Mintah a/k/a

Hertha Felicia Mintah a/k/a Hertha F. Mintah and Hertha Mintah a/k/a

Hertha Felicia Mintah a/k/a Hertha F. Mintah’s unknown heirs-at-law, next-of-kin, distributees, executors, administrators, trustees, devisees, legatees, assignees, lienors, creditors, and successors in interest and generally all persons having or claiming under, by or through said defendant who may be deceased, by purchase, inheritance, lien or otherwise, any right, title or interest in the real property described in the second amended complaint herein, State of New York, United States of America-Internal Revenue Service, New York State Department of Taxation and Finance, Candice Simmons, John Doe (Refused Name), John Doe (Refused Name), Defendants.

Index No.: 9876/2015

Filed: February 21, 2024

SECOND SUPPLEMENTAL

SUMMONS

Plaintiff designates Nassau County as the place of trial. Venue is based upon the County in which the premises is sitatued.

TO THE ABOVE NAMED DEFENDANT(S):

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 attorneys for the plaintiff within twenty (20) days after service of this Summons, exclusive of the day of service; or within thirty (30) days after service is complete if this Summons is not personally delivered to you within the State of New York; or within sixty (60) days if it is the United States of America. 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 OF NATURE OF ACTION AND RELIEF

SOUGHT

THE OBJECT of the above captioned action is to foreclose a Mortgage to secure $309,000.00 and interest, recorded in the office of the clerk of the County of Nassau on May 25, 2007 in Liber M31930, Page 401 covering premises known as 159 Gilroy Ave, Uniondale, NY 11553. The relief sought in the within action is a final judgment directing the sale of the premises described above to satisfy the debt secured by the Mortgage described above.

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 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: Bay Shore, New York

February 8, 2024

Yours, etc., By: Linda P. Manfredi, Esq.

Frenkel, Lambert, Weiss, Weisman & Gordon, LLP 53 Gibson Street Bay Shore, NY 11706 (631) 969-3100

Our File No.: 01-096978F00

SECTION 50. BLOCK 40

LOT 279 145341

LEGAL NOTICE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORKCOUNTY OF NASSAU

NEWREZ LLC, F/K/A NEW PENN FINANCIAL, LLC DBA SHELLPOINT MORTGAGE SERVICING, V. OSCAR CLARA, ET AL. NOTICE OF SALE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure dated February 22, 2023, and entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Nassau, wherein NEWREZ LLC, F/K/A NEW PENN FINANCIAL, LLC DBA SHELLPOINT

MORTGAGE SERVICING is the Plaintiff and OSCAR CLARA, 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 April 8, 2024 at 2:30PM, premises known as 305 CHESTER STREET, UNIONDALE, NY 11553: Section 50, Block 48, Lot 15 & 16:

ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND, SITUATE, LYING AND BEING AT UNIONDALE, TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, COUNTY OF NASSAU AND STATE OF NEW YORK

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 605776/2017. Howard Eric Colton, 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. 145325

LEGAL NOTICE

SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU. CARDINAL CREDIT X LLC, Plaintiff -againstSTEPHEN PRESCOD ENTERPRISES LLC, et al Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated January 25, 2024 and entered on January 30, 2024, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court “Rain or Shine” located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY on April 9, 2024 at 2:30 p.m. premises situate, lying and being at Uniondale, in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, bounded and described as follows: BEGINNING at a point on the westerly side of

Second Place, distant 370.95 feet southerly from the extreme southerly end of the arc connecting the westerly side of Second Place and the southerly side of Salem Road; RUNNING THENCE South West, 33.15 feet; THENCE South West, 17.00 feet; THENCE North West, 102.28 feet; THENCE North East, 50.00 feet; THENCE South East, 100.00 feet. Section: 50 Block: 109 Lot: 16 Said premises known as 396 SECOND PLACE, UNIONDALE, NY 11553

Approximate amount of lien $234,830.02 plus interest & costs.

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale.

Index Number

605280/2023.

RONALD J. FERRARO, ESQ., Referee

The Camporeale Law Group PLLC Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 585 Stewart Avenue, 770, Garden City, NY 11530 {* UNIONDALE*} 145270

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT

COUNTY OF NASSAU

Carrington Mortgage Services, LLC, Plaintiff AGAINST Lisa Wiley; et al., Defendant(s)

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered January 30, 2024 I, the undersigned

Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side Steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on April 11, 2024 at 2:00PM, premises known as 809 Jerusalem Avenue, Uniondale, NY 11553. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being at Uniondale, in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau, State of New York, Section 50 Block 138 Lot 361.

Approximate amount of judgment $339,234.30 plus interest and costs.

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index# 612018/2022. The auction will be conducted pursuant to the COVID-19

Policies Concerning Public Auctions of Foreclosed Property established by the Tenth Judicial District.

Foreclosure Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine.”

Ronald J. Ferraro, Esq., Referee LOGS Legal Group LLP

Attorney(s) for the Plaintiff 175 Mile Crossing Boulevard Rochester, New York 14624 (877) 430-4792

Dated: February 21, 2024 145339

To place a notice here call us at 516-569-4000 x232 or send an email to: legalnotices@liherald.com

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF FORMATION OF LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY. NAME:

Empire State Local News Coalition LLC. Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York, (SSNY) on 02/05/2024.

NY Office location: Nassau County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of the process to 2 Endo Blvd., Garden City, NY 11530

Purpose: To engage in any lawful act or activity. 145344

LEGAL NOTICE

CASE NO. 21527

RESOLUTION NO.231-2024 Adopted: February 27, 2024 Councilmember Dunne offered the following resolution and moved its adoption:

RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING AND SETTING ASIDE CERTAIN PARKING SPACES FOR MOTOR VEHICLES FOR THE SOLE USE OF HOLDERS OF SPECIAL PARKING PERMITS ISSUED BY THE COUNTY OF NASSAU TO PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED PERSONS.

WHEREAS, pursuant to Resolution No. 223-2024, adopted February 13th, 2024, a public hearing was duly held on the 27th day of February, 2024, at the Town Meeting Pavilion, Hempstead Town Hall, 1 Washington Street, Hempstead, New York, on the proposed establishment and setting aside of a certain parking space for motor vehicles for the sole use of holders of special parking permits issued by the County of Nassau to physically handicapped persons, in accordance with Section 202-48 of the Code of the Town of Hempstead, all as set forth in said resolution; and WHEREAS, after due consideration, this Town Board finds it to be in the public interest to establish and set aside a certain parking space for motor vehicles for the sole use of holders of special parking permits issued by the County of Nassau to physically handicapped persons;

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that in accordance with Section 202-48 of the Code of the Town of Hempstead, the following parking spaces be and the same hereby is set aside for the sole use of holders of special parking permits issued by the County of Nassau to physically handicapped persons:

FRANKLIN SQUARE CLEVELAND STREETeast side, starting at a point 88 feet south of a point opposite the south curbline of Wool Avenue, south for a distance of 18 feet.

(TH-15/24)

Public Notices

UNIONDALE PAFF AVENUE - west side, starting at a point 227 feet north of the north curbline of Pine Place, north for a distance of 22 feet (TH-26/24)

(NR) WESTBURY WESTLEY ROAD - north side, starting at a point 119 feet west of the west curbline of Washington Avenue, west for a distance of 20 feet. (TH-14/24)

and on the repeal of the following locations previously set aside as parking spaces for physically handicapped persons:

LEVITTOWN STONECUTTER ROADwest side, starting at a point 360 feet north of the north curbline of Rigger Lane, north for a distance of 20 feet. (TH- 362/10 - 4/23/10) (TH-30/24) ; and, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Town Clerk shall enter this resolution in the minutes of the Town Board and shall publish a copy of this resolution once a newspaper having a general circulation in the Town of Hempstead, and shall post a copy hereof on the signboard maintained by her, and file in her office affidavits of such publication and posting. The foregoing resolution was seconded by Councilmember Goosby and adopted upon roll call as follows:

AYES: SEVEN (7)

NOES: NONE (0) 145418

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT.

NASSAU COUNTY. L&L ASSOCIATES HOLDING

CORP., Pltf. vs. LLOYD RAMSAY, if he be living, if he be dead, his respective heirs-at-law, next of kin, distributees, executors, administrators, trustees, devisees, legatees, assignees, lienors, creditors, and successors in interest, and generally all persons having or claiming under, by, or through LLOYD RAMSAY, if he be dead, whether by purchase, inheritance or otherwise, including any right, title or interest in and to the real property described in the complaint herein, all of who and whose names and places of residence are unknown to the plaintiff, et al, Defts. Index #610740/2021.

Pursuant to judgment of foreclosure and sale entered October 28, 2022, I will sell at public auction on the North Side steps of the Nassau Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY on April 16,

2024 at 2:00 p.m. prem. k/a Section 50, Block 414, Lot 6. Sold subject to terms and conditions of filed judgment and terms of sale and the right of the United States of America to redeem within 120 days from the date of sale as provided by law.

PETER FAMIGHETTI, Referee. LEVY & LEVY, Attys. for Pltf., 12 Tulip Dr., Great Neck, NY. #101229 145454

LEGAL NOTICE SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS-SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, COUNTY OF NASSAU - WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY IN ITS CAPACITY AS OWNER TRUSTEE FOR OCWEN LOAN ACQUISTION TRUST 2023-HB1, Plaintiff, -againstJUANITA WRIGHT, AS HEIR OF THE ESTATE OF DIANE GILLIAM, AS HEIR, DEVISEE, DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF JUANITA HENRY; SHALAWNNA WRIGHT, AS HEIR OF THE ESTATE OF DIANE GILLIAM, AS HEIR, DEVISEE, DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF JUANITA HENRY; NAKIA WRIGHT, AS HEIR OF THE ESTATE OF DIANE GILLIAM, AS HEIR, DEVISEE, DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF JUANITA HENRY; ANY AND ALL KNOWN OR UNKNOWN HEIRS, DEVISEES, GRANTEES, ASSIGNEES, LIENORS, CREDITORS, TRUSTEES, AND ALL OTHER PARTIES

CLAIMING AN INTEREST BY, THROUGH, UNDER OR AGAINST THE ESTATE OF JUANITA HENRY; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ACTING ON BEHALF OF THE SECRETARY OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT; LATISHA SHEREE GILLIAM, AS PRESUMPTIVE HEIR, DEVISEE, DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF JUANITA HENRY; LEROY GILLIAM, AS HEIR, DEVISEE, DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF JUANITA HENRY; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ACTING ON BEHALF OF DEPARTMENT OF TREASURYINTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE; NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE; “JOHN DOE #1” through “JOHN DOE #10,” said names being fictitious and unknown to plaintiff, intended to be possible tenants or occupants of the premises, or corporations, persons, or other entities having or claiming a lien upon the mortgaged premises, DefendantsIndex No. 603294/2019

Plaintiff Designates Nassau County as the Place of Trial. The Basis of Venue is that the subject action is situated in Nassau County. To the above named 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(s) 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. That this Supplemental Summons is being filed pursuant to an order of the court dated January 2, 2024.

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 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 the mortgage company will not stop the foreclosure action. YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY IN ITS CAPACITY AS OWNER TRUSTEE FOR OCWEN LOAN ACQUISTION TRUST 2023-HB1) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT. The foregoing summons is served upon you by publication pursuant to an order of the Honorable Jeffrey A. Goodstein, A.J.S.C. Dated: January 2, 2024 Filed: February 16, 2024. The object of this action is to foreclose a mortgage and covering the premises known as 411 Northern Pkwy, Uniondale, NY 11553.

Dated: October 23, 2023

Filed: March 5, 2024

Greenspoon Marder LLP, Attorney for Plaintiff, By: Raspreet Bhatia, Esq., 590 Madison Avenue, Suite 1800, New York, NY

10022 P: (212) 524-5000

F: (212) 524-5050 No Service by fax) Service purposes only: Trade Centre South 100 W. Cypress Creek Road, Suite 700, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309 P: (888) 491-1120

F: (954) 343-6982

145450

LEGAL NOTICE

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORKCOUNTY OF NASSAU BANK OF NEW YORK

MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A. AS TRUSTEE FOR MORTGAGE ASSETS MANAGEMENT SERIES I TRUST,

V.

ELAINE DEL COLLE, AS TRUSTEE OF THE KMETZ FAMILY TRUST, ET AL.

NOTICE OF SALE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure dated May 23, 2023, and entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Nassau, wherein BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A. AS TRUSTEE FOR MORTGAGE ASSETS MANAGEMENT SERIES I TRUST is the Plaintiff and ELAINE DEL COLLE, AS TRUSTEE OF THE KMETZ FAMILY TRUST, 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 April 16, 2024 at 2:00PM, premises known as 715 LAFAYETTE AVENUE, UNIONDALE, NY 11553:

Section 50, Block 120, Lot 198,199, 200, and 201: 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, STATE OF NEW YORK Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 613982/2021. Harold F. Damm, 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. 145443

Search for notices online at: www.newyorkpublicnotices.com

Siela

Bynoe’s

bill would eliminate ‘East Garden City’

cations, alerts, police reports and official documents, despite its “inaccuracy and divisiveness, including “no less than 44 press releases” by the Nassau County Police Department in 2023.

In 2021, the Nassau County Emergency Communications System recorded delays in site hazard information being relayed to the Uniondale Fire Department as a result of the geographic confusion.

“So in January of that year,” Maynard explained, “Congresswoman Kathleen Rice stepped into the discussions with Google and Google Maps to help correct the problem so that we would get realtime safety information. This is the kind of danger to the community that shows up periodically because of this mapping issue, and we’re not content to sit here and do nothing about it.”

It is mistakes like this, Bynoe said, that “illustrate the need for codifying this directive.”

Since 2000, the area has been referred to as East Garden City in an effort to separate the prime real estate north of Hempstead Turnpike from the neighborhood on the south side of the road, according to community activists like Maynard and Pearl Jacobs, president of the Nostrand Gardens Civic Association.

These efforts, they say, have proved to be profitable for area real estate agents. According to Homes.com, the average price of a home in the area designated as East Garden City is $223,000 more than those listed just south of Hempstead Turnpike, despite the fact that they are in the same school district.

“They wanted a better name for certain areas they wanted to promote north of the Hempstead Turnpike,” Jacobs said. “They wanted it to be more attractive to real estate developers, so they call it East Garden City.”

“The residents of Uniondale are right-

Uniondale’s newest census-designated map, which has been updated to accurately detail the community, including the area that has been called East Garden City.

ly proud of their rich heritage, and they advocated diligently and conscientiously to ensure that their historic, diverse and inclusive home would be accurately reflected in the census,” Bynoe said.

“Through my legislative proposal, Nassau County will fulfill its responsibility to complete the realization of this important change — one that is a matter of fundamental respect for the people of Uniondale.”

For those who would like to voice their opinions on Bynoe’s bill and its addition to the legislative calendar, the next public comment session is March 25, at 1 p.m., at the Theodore Roosevelt Executive and Legislative Building, at 1550 Franklin Ave. in Mineola. Statements can also be emailed to the county clerk, at legpubliccomment@nassaucountyny.gov.

Courtesy Greater Uniondale Area Action Coalition

The old ‘Welcome to Uniondale’ sign, south of Stewart Avenue, is across the street from the Garden City Center, which can be confusing.

ConTinUEd from pAGE 1

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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

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Q. I’m planning to redo my whole backyard, and I live on a waterway. I plan to have a swimming pool, open bar, cabana with a shower room at the back of it, running water, outdoor kitchen and a fire pit. The yard is sloping to the water, so the seawall (bulkhead) will have backfill and then a concrete patio with stone paving on top. The question came up, and I’m wondering, can I rest the concrete patio on top of my seawall, or should the patio be built separately and have a separate foundation? I’ve seen where some bulkheads were damaged in a previous storm, so I’m wondering, before I spend all this money, which way to go?

A. I recently returned from an ocean voyage that included South America and Antarctica. During the trip, we were detoured away from ports that had been damaged by storms, and after seeing the aftermath of seawall damage, as far as a mile upriver from a port entrance, I have a profound respect for what Mother Nature can do to bulkheads, no matter where they are.

Your bulkhead is intended to take average to extreme horizontal loads from a body of water impacting it. Just remember, though, that just like bridges and skyscrapers being designed to work with the extreme impact of forces from wind and water, with built-in expansion joints and the ability to rock back and forth, so too is your bulkhead moving much of the time. Because you plan to put a rigid construction made of concrete and pavers next to that seawall, you’ll need to realize and work with the dynamic movement, and concrete isn’t flexible. It may be strong, but it has very little ability to resist being twisted, lifted and shifted.

You’re better off considering the bulkhead as a buffer that can lessen the impacts of water and wind and build your concrete structure separately, with its own supports and with engineered reinforcement to work with the natural movement. This means more foundation support, expansion joints, and internal reinforcement. Not working with nature will mean working through experimentation and, ultimately, failure.

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St. Patrick’s is so much bigger than one day

St. Patrick’s Day is in reality no longer a one-day festive occasion celebrated on March 17, but an almost three-week-long celebration full of parades, luncheons, dinners and parties.

On Long Island alone there will be more than two dozen parades and hundreds of events this month at Hibernian halls, bars, restaurants and community centers from western Nassau County to eastern Suffolk. And, of course, New York City’s parade up Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue, drawing a crowd of more than 500,000 and lasting more than seven hours, is the largest Irish celebration in the world.

As a proud Irish-American, I have marched in many St. Patrick’s Day parades over the years, including the

city’s, where I was grand marshal 39 years ago, and Huntington’s, last Sunday, where I was privileged to march with the grand marshal, a longtime family friend, Monsignor Steve Camp.

I remember around the time I was grand marshal in New York’s parade, there was discussion about whether, going forward, younger generations would continue to support it. The answer is a definite yes. Attendance is growing every year, and new parades are actually forming elsewhere. The Wantagh parade, for instance, which only began in 2019, draws overflow throngs all along the parade route, up and down both sides of Wantagh Avenue.

One beautiful pane in the stained-glass window that is America.

This increased interest and enthusiasm is a welcome development at a time when everyday life has become so frenetic and fast-paced, and institutions and traditions are under siege from some and ignored by others. Perhaps it is this societal turbulence that

moves good people to reach out for something that gives them and their families and friends a sense of stability and permanence. And I apply this to all ethnic groups and religions. While America is generally described as a melting pot, I prefer the late New York Gov. Mario Cuomo’s description of our magnificent country as a beautiful mosaic where each group maintains its uniqueness in the large stained-glass window that is America.

Parades are an expression of that uniqueness, and the mosaic. Whether it’s the Irish on St. Patrick’s Day, Italians on Columbus Day, Germans on Steuben Day, Poles on Pulaski Day, Jews on Israel’s Day of Independence, Greeks on Greek Independence Day, Puerto Ricans on Puerto Rican Day or any of the many newer people in our country celebrating their heritage, these parades honor the traditions that combine to make America

such a shining city on a hill. They also recall the travails and adversities each group had to overcome to become part of the American dream. For instance, the St. Patrick’s Day Parade represents so much more than the trivial stereotypes of green beer and leprechauns. The parade is always led up Fifth Avenue by the 69th Infantry Regiment (in which I proudly served), in recognition of this Army unit’s predominantly Irish membership protecting parade marchers from being attacked and St. Patrick’s Cathedral from being burned down by antiCatholic nativists in the 1860s.

All races, ethnic groups and religions can point to what they have achieved and what they have overcome in their American experience. That is why celebrating our heritage is celebrating America, which has made it all possible. Happy St. Patrick’s Day, and God bless America.

Peter King is a former congressman, and a former chair of the House Committee on Homeland Security. Comments? pking@ liherald.com.

Solving Long Island’s housing problem

We have seen how a global pandemic has made local housing prices surge to levels that make them unaffordable for many disheartened house hunters on Long Island. While the housing market is starting to return to pre-Covid levels, an average price is still out of reach for most young adults starting their careers, single-income households, and older residents looking to downsize. Long Island has also been plagued by a lack of home inventory, which for many has turned the American dream into a dream deferred.

As the Assembly member in District 18, I have heard my constituents’ cries for more housing. While we search for solutions to ensure a pathway to homeownership, we need to do this the right way so that our present planning is not a setup for future failures.

Ideally, the housing plan should include partnerships with our local municipalities and school districts so

we have a thorough understanding of what type and volume of housing we can comfortably support without straining our already strained infrastructure. We should also protect the integrity of our communities and the landscape of our suburbs. After all, part of why we live here is because we value space, fresh air, and effective teacher-to-student ratios.

IIt’s difficult for young adults to leave the comfort of their parents’ homes because of the housing problem we face. We need inventory so our children have options when it comes to moving out of our homes and into their own. This will help them grow as individuals and productive contributors to society.

to moving away. We want to keep families together and here on the Island.

I propose a Pathway to Home Ownership, a program that incorporates smart solutions with a multi-pronged approach. This includes creating micro apartments for young adults to serve as starter dwellings. They will then be able to work with home-ownership programs to get wise counsel on saving money, building credit, and becoming mortgage-ready so they are well positioned to purchase in the future.

t’s going to take government, communities, NGOs, schools and more.

We need inventory for our seniors to have options when it comes to downsizing when the homes in which they have reared their families — and in which they have created so many memories — no longer meet their needs. But it has to make economic sense for them. They should be able to age in place, in the community they have invested in for so many years. They should be able to stay close to their families instead of having

Another aspect of the Pathway to Home Ownership program would answer the need of Long Islanders ready to purchase a second property to build generational wealth. Real estate has long been used to build wealth, and studies show it is more consistent than other asset classes. Homeowners often buy second properties and rent them out to tenants who may not want to purchase or may not be able to. This pathway would also aggressively target zombie and abandoned homes with enforceable policies across the Island so that all inventory is accounted for and up to code.

The final part of the program would

target our golden Long Islanders who would like to downsize, creating an inventory of available larger homes for new families. We would need to create affordable cottages or other comfortable housing options for our seniors to transition into, equipped with all they need to keep them safe. This pathway would be smothered in support from counselors and housing/financial professionals to assist everyone at every phase. If you look at the model of assistance created by the New York Small Business Development Center, you will see how this level of guidance, training and hand-holding could help.

I want to bring various stakeholders to the table to get this done. It is going to take government, communities, nongovernmental organizations, schools and more to help solve the housing problems on Long Island. Partners in the faith-based community who have or want to improve neighborhoods by building housing is just one avenue worth exploring. We are currently working on the Faith-Based Affordable Housing Act in the State Legislature. If you believe New York needs faith housing, you can contact your state elected officials to urge them to pass Assembly Bill A8386 and Senate Bill S7791.

Taylor Darling represents the 18th Assembly District.

pETER KInG

TAYLOR DARLInG

HeraLd editoriaL

Shining light where government remains dark “K

nowledge will forever govern ignorance,” President James Madison once said.

“And a people who mean to be their own governors must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives.”

Madison may not be the most wellknown of the Founding Fathers — not even getting the most prominent of roles in the hit musical “Hamilton” — but it’s hard to imagine an America without him. Not only was he an early advocate of the U.S. Constitution, but Madison is also credited as the author of the Bill of Rights — the first 10 amendments to the Constitution that address, among other things, the freedom of the press — and, by extension, the ability to arm ourselves with the very knowledge he championed.

So it’s fitting that Sunshine Week — this week, when we promote open government and the freedom of information — happens to include Madison’s birthday, March 16. But sadly, more than two centuries later, we still have a long way to go to ensure the transparency in government that the founders promised us.

Established by the American Society of News Editors nearly 20 years ago, Sunshine Week is an important reminder of the vital role transparency plays in a democratic society. It’s vital we protect the public’s right to know.

While New York might lead the nation in many different categories, one area in which the state is not a pioneer is government transparency. In fact, four states have the right to open government spelled out in their state constitutions,

according to the New York Coalition for Open Government, but none of them are New York.

A bill offered by Assemblyman Phil Steck and state Sen. Rachel May would fix that by enshrining access to public information as a fundamental right in the state constitution, because it’s a “necessary and vital part of democracy and public deliberation.”

“The right of the people to inspect and/or copy records of government, and to be provided notice of and attend public meetings of government, shall not be unreasonably restricted,” according to the legislation.

Yet even if that constitutional amendment passed, enforcement would be nearly impossible. Right now, the only way any of us can ensure that government is transparent is by taking it to court. But even if we win, courts are not required to also award attorneys’ fees unless someone “substantially prevails” in such a case — something that is quite subjective and hard to prove.

With that, governments can simply run up legal costs until someone exhausts their financial resources. And if there were a violation of open-government laws, it would never reach a judge.

Instead, the open-government coalition is pushing a bill from Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal that would create a hearing-officer system to adjudicate those issues and impose penalties.

It’s certainly not a new approach. The open-government coalition points out the small-claims assessment reviews for property tax assessment disputes, in which homeowners complete a simple

NUMC needs state funding restored

To the Editor:

I write to underscore the critical situation facing the Nassau University Medical Center, as reported in the Herald in recent weeks. Without restoration of state funding that was drastically cut from the hospital in 2020, this vital community resource could be lost.

NUMC stands as a cornerstone of our community, providing vital health care services to hundreds of thousands of patients annually, with a significant portion relying on Medicare or Medicaid. Reductions in state aid — not current leadership — have endangered the hospital’s ability to provide care for Long Island’s most vulnerable populations.

Despite these challenges, NUMC’s team has forged ahead, with those we serve remaining our top priority. Hospital leadership has initiated comprehensive reforms to improve financial health. These reforms are already demonstrating the hospital’s commitment to financial sustainability.

Unfortunately, NUMC, as a safety-net hospital, cannot overcome these challenges alone. It’s paramount for lead-

application, pay a filing fee, and then have their case decided by a hearing officer. More than 100,000 such complaints made their way through the system in 2020, costing just over $100 each. The same system is needed for disputes over government records, and Rosenthal is pushing just that. But she has yet to get any support from anyone in the state Senate.

The coronavirus pandemic introduced many of us to livestreaming online — especially when it came to government meetings. Now that we are on the other side of the pandemic, those online streams are not as common. Yet a bill from Assemblywoman Amy Paulin and state Sen. Joseph Addabbo Jr. would require all public bodies to not only broadcast their meetings, but record them, and leave them online for five years.

Even more important is a chance for members of the public to comment at meetings — something that is not guaranteed by the state’s open meetings law, and which a number of organizations don’t make time for. Unfortunately, there’s nothing in front of lawmakers yet to make this happen — but it’s needed.

Sunshine Week is important to remind us that we have some work ahead of us as citizens, but it’s also good to remind government officials that they need to prioritize transparency and accountability as well. It’s vital that we stay informed and engaged, and reach out to our lawmakers so that these bills — and others designed to make our government more open — will indeed see the light of day.

Where do our young leaders fit in the age debate?

It’s a common refrain your wellmeaning, often younger friend or coworker might tell you to dampen your fears of getting older: “Age is just a number.”

Of course, to our inner cynics, these are just pretty words. But it’s true, isn’t it? Judging oneself based purely on one’s time spent on earth can lead to false conclusions. And if we struggle to extend this generous thinking to ourselves, imagine how hard it’s been for voters to extend it to this year’s presidential candidates.

Fate is pointing toward a rematch between President Biden and former president Donald Trump, the two oldest nominees in history — as they were when they faced off four years ago. Their age has given voters plenty to talk about.

In fact, age — and its toll on the physical and mental fitness of the candidates — has become a leading issue in the campaign.

Trump would be 82 at the end of a second term. Biden, who is already the oldest president in history, would be 86.

If current polls are correct, most Americans are less than thrilled about another four years of a geriatric presidency.

The endless media clips of incoherent garble, memory slips and puzzling public performances by both candidates have done little to quell fears. Instead, they’ve served as endless fodder for speculation and rumor, with words like “dementia,” “senile” and “incompetent” dripping from commentators’ lips.

Much of the panic is over-hyped, medical experts say. Forgetting things and stumbling over words are not, by themselves, telltale symptoms of cognitive decline, they explain — rather, symptoms of just being human.

they’re in a cohort all their own. They are “super seniors,” pushing the limits of an average lifespan while competing for the hardest job in the world.

It’s one thing not to judge people by their age, but quite another to ask the American public to ignore the effects of aging on these two people.

a merica today isn’t the America in which Biden and Trump came of age.

Age is a factor for the average senior managing the strains and pressures of a normal life, to say nothing of one who’s dealing with the unthinkable pressures of leading the free world. Can either Trump or Biden do it? Sure they can. But if the past few months are any indication of the next four years, it won’t be pretty.

ing to Pew Research. For a senator, it’s 65.

Is it any wonder that young people feel they have been shut out of a place at the decision-making table, and that their concerns don’t rank high among their representatives’ priorities?

Young people’s alienation from and skepticism about politics have created a vacuum of engagement that older politicians have exploited in their own interests, as evidenced by the culture war focusing on gender in universities and school board meetings — and by extension against young people, who are by and large more open than past generations to redefining such concepts.

They remind us that no president under 24-hour media scrutiny has been spared cringe-worthy moments. Who can forget the gaffes of President George W. Bush, a spring chicken compared with Biden and Trump?

Nonetheless, I think Americans do have a right to be worried.

The fact that we must consider the possibility that either man could die in office of natural causes should give us pause. Doctors tell us that both are exceptionally healthy for their age, but

Letters

ers in Albany to restore the funding in this year’s state budget. Without this essential aid, NUMC’s capacity to fulfill its mission will be in jeopardy.

I implore our governor, legislative leaders and local state legislators to prioritize our community’s health and well-being by reinstating funding for NUMC and ensuring its long-term sustainability.

CARMINe CARMONe Director of environmental services, NUMC Levittown

Peter King, who’s to blame for the border crisis?

To the editor:

I am one of the growing number of American voters who are politically unaffiliated. I have no allegiance to either party or personality cult.

I believe that we have to have a functioning border system. There’s a difference between who I believe, and who former Congressman

Peter King believes, is to blame for the border crisis (“Reflections on the special election,” Feb. 29-March 6).

The Republicans have historically scuttled any attempts to resolve this issue. There really are many instances of this, but I’ll just list a few. In 2013, then House Speaker John Boehner refused to allow a comprehensive reform bill to come to the floor of the House. Recently, a bipartisan bill that had been worked on for months was voted down in the Senate by Republicans, after House Speaker Mike Johnson had numerous discussions with former President Donald Trump and said that it would be “dead on arrival” in the House.

During the Trump administration, one of the most disgraceful border policies separated minor children from their parents and put them in chain-link enclosures to provide photo opportunities for the Republicans. Now Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has spent more than $150 million to send migrants to socalled sanctuary cities so that other Republican officials can share in the fun. Perhaps that money would be better spent on helping the victims of the recent

The problem is bigger than just Trump and Biden — it’s a sign of deeper trouble with our politics. We complain about our leaders being too old, but we’ve paid too little attention to the other side of that coin: Where are our young leaders?

Socially and technologically, America today is not the America in which Biden and Trump came of age. Yet those in their 40s and younger are still passed up and overlooked for positions of power. The median age of a member of the U.S. House of Representatives is 58, accord-

Those generational differences are also evident in the sluggish pace with which the government has mobilized technology and legislation to combat climate change, despite the urgent cries of young people demanding change now.

And those differences are brutally obvious in the lack of progress toward rethinking the cost of education and housing, for which young people stand most to lose.

Our present discontent toward our aging leaders is neither inevitable nor forever. It’s something we’ve chosen by refusing to let our young people take the lead and have a say in their future.

Juan Lasso is editor of the Valley Stream Herald, Comments? jlasso@liherald.com.

wildfires in Abbott’s home state.

So, Mr. King, I don’t believe Republicans want to solve this problem, because they want to use it for political gains. What have you done to encourage your fellow Republi-

cans to solve it? Did you ever work on a bipartisan solution? Just asking.

JUan Lasso