Uniondale Herald 04-18-2024

HERALD UNIONDALE BEACON BEACON

.500 ain’t bad, but winning record is best

New EPA standards offer hope, but challenges remain

By BRANDON CRUZ bcruz@liherald.com

Uniondale residents have been trying to raise awareness of the community’s water quality for years.

Civic associations, like the Greater Uniondale Area Action Coalition, have had the drinking water tested by independent Nassau County labs and found elevated levels of PFAS, or polyfluoroalkyl substances, known as “forever chemicals” because they do not break down naturally.

PFAS are used in a variety of industrial and consumer products, including firefighting foam, nonstick cookware, food packaging, dental floss, waterproof clothing and furniture.

In addition, the Town of Hempstead’s most

recent water quality report, in 2022, revealed high levels of 1,4-dioxane — a powerful chemical that is suspected of causing cancer — in Uniondale’s water. Though the report acknowledged that the concentrations it detected were above the state’s maximum contaminant level for dioxane, it aimed to assure residents that the water is still safe for consumption and “does not pose a significant health risk.”

Lawrence Smith, a research analyst with Health Water Consultants, told the Herald that despite that disclaimer, he recommends proceeding with caution.

Dioxane molecules are smaller than water molecules, making the chemical very difficult to effectively filter out. “This particular con-

Waking up the gardens

Emergency funds and NUMC fate hang in balance

By BRANDON CRUZ bcruz@liherald.com

As residents who rely on Nassau University Medical Center for their health care wait to see whether the county’s only public-benefit hospital will close in July — the month that NUMC Chairman Matthew Bruderman has said the facility will run out of money — the dispute between Bruderman and the state continues to heat up.

The hospital needs the state’s proposed $83 million in emergency funds to preserve roughly 300 jobs and to continue to serve more than 270,000 patients a year, 80 percent of whom are on Medicare or Medicaid. State officials have said that in order for NUMC to receive the emergency funds, it would have to agree to conduct a nationwide search for a new chief executive, submit a detailed five-year plan to improve its operations and reduce losses, review its organizational structure and submit monthly progress reports.

According to NUMC, the state would also tie funding to “additional controls” by the Nassau County Interim Finance Authority, which the hospital said in a statement would “conflict with a number of legal provisions”

But Bruderman, who called

the state’s condition’s “extortion,” claims that the hospital has already implemented most of what the state has asked for, and says he is refusing to comply any further.

“Over the past year, Nassau Health Care Corporation has undertaken significant management and operational reforms to enhance efficiency, increase revenue, reform financial standards and practices, and improve the quality of services,” NUMC said in a statement, referring to the hospital’s parent company.

“In 2023, NHCC initiated a comprehensive Financial Sustainability Reform Plan that is already increasing cash flow to the hospital and demonstrating that it can be financially sustainable,” the statement continued.

“Through the continued execution of this reform plan, NHCC’s goal is to rely on less State aid over time.”

“Without the benefit of access to supporting documentation and data, it is difficult for me or members of the public who rely on NUMC to determine the accuracy of their claims,” County Legislator Siela Bynoe told the Herald.

“However, the hospital administration and County COnTinUed On page 16

Courtesy Pearl Jacobs One of three water towers that supply Uniondale, next to Turtle Hook Middle School.

Neighborhood rocked by antisemitic graffiti

By JORDAN VALLONE jvallone@liherald.com

The community awoke on Monday to an act of antisemitism. Antisemitic graffiti was found spray-painted on a long stretch of fencing on Merrick Avenue, a few blocks south of Front Street, including statements like “Zionism is Nazism,” “Stop the Genocide” and “Free Palestine.”

The heavily trafficked road connects Bellmore and Merrick to East Meadow, and the graffiti was found just a mile from the East Meadow Beth-El Jewish Center. Neighborhoods nearby have a large number of Jewish residents. It’s also just a couple miles from the heart of Uniondale.

As Israel’s war on Hamas continues in the Middle East, antisemitism remains on the rise in the United States, and Monday’s incident sparked outrage from the local community and elected officials.

Debbie Habshoosh, whose yard backs up to Merrick Avenue, began displaying flyers on her fence last fall, showing photos of hostages taken by Hamas when it attacked Israel on Oct. 7. Habshoosh’s husband is Israeli, she told the Herald, and in the six months since she put up the flyers, they haven’t been touched.

But on Monday, she discovered that they had been defaced by the graffiti, which wasn’t confined to her fence. Many of her neighbors’ fences had been vandalized as well.

While it was unclear exactly when the

graffiti was spray-painted, Habshoosh said she checked her fence at around 10 p.m. on Sunday, and it had not been tampered with.

“I have never seen such a brazen attack on our friends of the Jewish faith,” Hempstead Town Supervisor Don Clavin said at a news conference on Monday, arranged in response to the incident. “We should all be outraged, and we should all make a commitment that we are not going to stand for antisemitism in our communities.”

Clavin was joined by Town Councilmen Chris Carini and Dennis Dunne, Receiver of Taxes Jeanine Driscoll, County Legislator Tom McKevitt and District Attorney Anne Donnelly, as well as dozens of East Meadow residents.

Clavin called East Meadow “the heartbeat” of the Town of Hempstead.

“This is a thriving community with many individuals of many faiths, but a hard-practicing congregation is just blocks away that I’ve been to many times,” he added. “I’ve never been so disgusted in my entire life as a public official.”

Donnelly said the incident could be categorized as a hate crime, which means it was motivated by bias. She added that her office has seen an increase in hate crimes in the past six months, and is aggressively prosecuting those who are responsible.

“Hate crimes are not acceptable in our town,” Donnelly said. “To our Jewish brothers and sisters, my heart hurts for you today. This is not something you should have to see. This is not something that you should have to put up with. I stand by you and stand with you, and will prosecute the individual and work with the police department to find out who did this.”

The Town of Hempstead’s Quality of Life task force, which was created by Carini, promptly began to remove the graffiti from the fences.

“We must stand firm with our ally,” Carini said, referring to Israel. “We must stand firm against antisemitism. We must stand firm against international terrorism. And we must demand that Albany fixes our broken criminal justice system and holds these criminals accountable.”

Rabbi Aaron Marsh, the spiritual leader of East Meadow Beth-El, said, “We read about these things in the news — you see them on the news all the time, but to see it happening two minutes from our synagogue here, it’s something else.”

Marsh added everyone has the right to their beliefs, but to deface property is outrageous. “It’s an act of intimidation,” he said.

The sidewalk in front of East Meadow Beth-El was also defaced by the spraypainted words “Free Palestine.”

The Nassau County Police Department and the district attorney’s office began investigating the graffiti at around 6:20 a.m. on Monday morning, and asked residents to check their homes’ cameras and report anything suspicious to the police or the D.A.’s office.

At around 1:40 a.m. on Tuesday, police announced that Sebastian Patino Caceres, 23, of East Meadow, had been arrested in connection to the incident. Caceres was charged with seven counts of criminal mischief, possession of graffiti instruments and seven counts of making graffiti. He was arraigned on Tuesday at First District Court in Hempstead.

“The location of this hateful act was not chosen by accident,” McKevitt, who also lives in East Meadow, said. “This is a portion of East Meadow which has a very large Jewish community. It was designed to incite violence and hate, which we will not tolerate here.”

Sebastian Patino Caceres

Voters take hard look at state Senate candidates

By BRANDON CRUZ bcruz@liherald.com

The November election will feature a highly contested race for State Senate in New York’s 6th District, which encompasses Freeport, Hempstead, Lakeview, New Cassel, Roosevelt and Westbury. The three candidates are women of color who are running on similar platforms.

Carmen Pineyro, the first and youngest-ever Afro-Latina elected to the Freeport Board of Education and the village board of trustees, has served the community for the past 20 years in positions including deputy mayor and school board president, and has a reputation for fighting for educational equity.

Taylor Darling, a three-term assemblywoman whose district includes Freeport and Roosevelt, has helped pass legislation focusing on police reform, housing, health care and education.

Nassau County Legislator Siela Bynoe, now in her fifth term, has fought for and passed legislation on police reform, housing, health care, education and mental health, and is a longtime community advocate.

On April 11, residents of 6th District communities submitted questions to the candidates at “A Conversation with the Candidates” at Nassau Community College, presented by The Corridor Counts, a coalition of advocates who fight for policy change. The topics ranged from the shortage of affordable housing on Long Island to policing, reproductive rights, fully funding Medicaid, inflation, child care, education, and community division.

The event was hosted by former Gov. David Paterson and the Rev. Donnie McClurkin, of Perfecting Faith Church in Freeport and moderated by Rahsmia Zatar, executive director of Strong Youth, a Uniondale based gang-intervention program. Questions were presented by Paterson; Mufti Mohammad Farhan, executive director of the Islamic Center of Long Island; and Sandra Castro, an education advocate.

Paterson pointed out that in Nassau County, only 25 percent of Black residents went to the polls last November, compared with 70 percent of the county’s white population.

But Jeannine Maynard, a co-facilitator of the Greater Uniondale Area Action Coalition who attended the even, said she believes in the work that the coalition and other civic associations in minority neighborhoods are doing to increase the voting numbers.

“We’re working hard to make sure that people get out and vote,” said Maynard, adding that she believed that events like this one will help close the gap. “When people fail to vote, it’s because they don’t know the candidates, or they don’t believe their vote will make a difference,” said Maynard, noting that she was “happily surprised” that the room was so “full and energetic.”

The candidates offered similar answers to many of the questions residents submitted, mostly agreeing on the

Candidates answered questions submitted by their potential constituents in an open forum at Nassau Community College on April 11, detailing their stances on issues ranging from housing on Long Island to policing, reproductive rights, funding Medicaid, inflation, child care, education and community division. County Legislator Siela Bynoe, far left, with Carmen Pineyro, former deputy mayor of Freeport, and Assemblywoman Taylor Darling.

Residents came to Nassau Community College to meet and hear the State Senate candidates speak on the issues that are important to them.

issues and the needed solutions. Maynard said she believed that all three truly care for their communities and the well-being of their residents, and that choosing one of them would be difficult

for their potential constituents. “It’s a real obstacle — there’s no real specific issue that separates one from the rest,” said Darinel Velasques, of Westbury.

Carmen Pineyro, the first and youngestever Afro-Latina elected to the Freeport Board of Education and village board of trustees, has served the community for 20 years in positions including deputy and school board president. She addressed questions at the April 11 open forum at Nassau Community College.

The only way he might be able to differentiate among Bynoe, Darling and Pineyro, Velasques said, is by studying their voting records and “following the money” — where their donations, and other campaign funding, are coming from.

“I was absolutely thrilled with this event,” Maynard said. “Even though there were many similarities between them, it was incredibly helpful to meet and greet the candidates and see young people involved in the process and ask great questions.”

The panel comprised Mufti Mohammad Farhan, far left, former Gov. David Paterson and education advocate Sandra Castro.

Brandon Cruz/Herald

CRIME BRIEFS

Mayfield hit with drug charges after Uniondale overdose death

An overdose death in Uniondale last week has led to the arrest of a Holtsville man.

Nassau County Police Department detectives have charged Nicholas Mayfield, 40, with a number of drug-related charges.

It all stems from the

NICHOLAS MAYFIELD

death of an unidentified person, who was found April 10.

Mayfield is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance, criminal sale of a controlled substance, and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child.

Police did not release any other details about the arrest or the overdose. However, Mayfield was scheduled to be arraigned in the First District Court last week.

An Elmont man has been charged in connection with a robbery earlier this month on Old Country Road.

Police claim Nehemiah Taylor assaulted a man the morning of April 10 on a NICE bus as it traveled near the 600 block of Old Country Road, hitting him with a blunt object and stealing his cell phone.

Taylor jumped off the bus, and headed toward the Roosevelt Field mall. Police found him a short time later, arresting him without incident.

The man — who police did not identify — was taken to a local hospital and treated for his injuries. Police did not provide a report on his condition.

Taylor was charged with robbery and criminal possession of a weapon.

He was expected to be arraigned before a judge in the First District Court last week.

Getting out with Dorothy Goosby

Hempstead town deputy supervisor Dorothy Goosby took part in the NAACP Phenomenal Women’s History Month program hosted by the Hempstead branch of the NAACP last month at Kennedy Memorial Park in Hempstead. She joined other residents of the community that included Leona Goens, Thelma Glassford, Delores Cooper Kershaw and Barbara Powell. Later, Goosby — below — visited Joseph A. McNeil Elementary School for ‘Readers are Leaders’ Day.

Photos courtesy Town of Hempstead

It’s Career Day at Uniondale High School

By BRANDON CRUZ bcruz@liherald.com

Uniondale High School buzzed with excitement on Friday, April 12, as students immersed themselves in a dynamic Career Day event aimed at exposing them to various career paths and allowing them to gain insights into the workings and requirements of different industries. The event was designed to not only showcase different professions but also to inspire and empower students to explore their passions and set meaningful goals for their futures.

The day kicked off with a flurry of activities as students eagerly interacted with booths and displays representing a wide range of career paths. From healthcare professions like nursing to skilled trades like welding, and even a journalism table featuring the exemplary reporters from the Long Island Herald, students had the chance to immerse themselves in hands-on experiences and learn about the intricacies of different jobs.

Throughout the day, students had the opportunity to walk around and engage with different booths and displays, gaining exposure to a wide range of career options, offering a unique platform for students to interact with professionals from different fields, ask questions, and learn about the day-to-day responsibilities and requirements of various jobs.

One of the highlights of Career Day

was the VR car crash simulation, which gave prospective EMTs a taste of the challenges and responsibilities involved in saving lives in the healthcare field. The simulation not only provided a realistic experience but also emphasized the importance of critical thinking and quick decision-making in high-pressure

situations.

Representatives from various organizations, including trade unions, the Army, and Nassau Community College, were on hand to provide students with valuable information about career development opportunities, educational pathways, and support available in their

respective fields.

The presence of these professionals added depth to the event, allowing students to gain firsthand knowledge about different career trajectories and the steps required to achieve success and offering valuable information about the benefits of each field in terms of career development and support and even the possibilities of pursuing a college education.

Uniondale High School’s Career Day was not just about exploring potential careers: it was also about empowering students to envision their future and set goals for themselves.

By providing hands-on experiences and encouraging students to ask questions and seek guidance by helping them foster interactions with professionals, Uniondale’s Career Day event served as a catalyst for students to make informed decisions about their educational and career journeys.

But beyond just exploring potential careers, Career Day at Uniondale High School also aimed to help empower students to envision their own bright futures and take proactive steps towards achieving their life goals.

The atmosphere at the Career Day was vibrant and engaging, with students actively participating in discussions, asking thoughtful questions, and expressing enthusiasm about the various career opportunities presented to them.

Time Baker/Herald Uniondale ninth grader Adora Okoye experiencing a simulation of helping victims in a car crash as an EMT

SPOTLIGHT ATHLETE

GARRET GATES

North Shore Senior Baseball

GATES AND THE VIKINGS couldn’t have scripted a better start to 2024. In the March 25 opener, the hard-throwing southpaw who quarterbacked North Shore’s football team to the playoffs, pitched a perfect game against Herricks. Even more impressive was he needed minimal help from the defense, as he struck out 20 of 21 batters. An All-Conference selection last spring, Gates fanned 12 in his next start and blanked Manhasset over five innings.

GAMES TO WATCH

Thursday, April 18

Baseball: V.S. South at Sewanhaka 4:30 p.m.

Girls Lacrosse: Calhoun at MacArthur 4:45 p.m.

Softball: North Shore at West Hempstead 5 p.m.

Softball: Elmont at Lynbrook 5 p.m.

Baseball: Seaford at Clarke 5 p.m.

Baseball: Baldwin at V.S. Central 5 p.m.

Boys Lacrosse: Baldwin at East Meadow 5 p.m.

Boys Lacrosse: Oceanside at Long Beach 5 p.m.

Friday, April 19

Baseball: Malverne at Lynbrook 4:45 p.m.

Girls Flag Football: Lynbrook at West Hempstead 5 p.m.

Softball: Carey at Wantagh 5 p.m.

Softball: East Meadow at Calhoun 5 p.m.

Softball: V.S. Central at Uniondale 5 p.m.

Girls Lacrosse: Baldwin at Hewlett 5 p.m.

Boys Lacrosse: Calhoun at Carey 5 p.m.

Boys Lacrosse: Oceanside at Freeport 5 p.m.

Boys Lacrosse: Somers at South Side 6 p.m.

Saturday, April 20

Softball: Freeport at West Hempstead 10 a.m.

Softball: Sewanhaka at V.S. North 10 a.m.

Girls Lacrosse: Seaford at Long Beach 10 a.m.

Girls Lacrosse: MacArthur at Oceanside 10 a.m.

Nominate a “Spotlight Athlete”

High School athletes to be featured on the Herald sports page must compete in a spring sport and have earned an AllConference award or higher last season. Please send the following information:

Name, School, Grade, Sport and accomplishments to Sports@liherald.com.

Uniondale makes best of road work

By TONY BELLISSIMO tbellissimo@liherald.com

Road trips will be commonplace for Uniondale’s baseball team this spring as its home field at the high school undergoes a facelift, but the Knights will try to make the most of it following a 9-9 finish last spring.

They’ll play a pair of home games at Turtle Hook Middle School this week, sparing a couple of bus rides to Great Neck North, and will host Hicksville and Malverne at SUNY-Old Westbury and Eisenhower Park, respectively, to ease some of the travel.

“We have a committed group of kids and they just want to practice as much as they can and play games,” coach Ciro Gentile said. “We knew in February we weren’t going to be playing at the high school. The plan is to have a new field next year and that’ll be great. These kids would be on the field all day and all night if they could.”

Any game the Knights are scheduled to be the home team, they’ll bat last. That was the case last week when their entire series at Valley Stream South was played on the Falcons’ home turf.

“Even though we’re not at home we’re getting great support from parents and the community,” Gentile said. “They’re traveling to watch us play and it’s awesome to see. We have a pretty young roster and some growing pains are expected, but the kids are dedicated and have excellent work ethics.”

Uniondale’s roster features only three starting seniors: leadoff batter and center fielder/pitcher Jadon Pineda, first baseman/outfielder Jaden Acosta and catcher/ pitcher Jesther Lara.

Pineda is a three-year starter who makes contact at the plate and can create havoc on the bases with his speed, Gentile said. “He hits and runs well and has a strong arm,” the coach said. “He can be aggressive at the plate but also knows it’s important for us that he gets on base any way he can.”

Acosta also brings speed to the lineup along with some pop from the clean-up spot. A lefty hitter who sprays the ball to all fields, he had a productive 2023 cam-

Paul Grassini/Herald Freshman Oscarlin Pouriet-Paulino has made the jump from middle school baseball to varsity and is serving as the Knights’ starting shortstop.

paign and Gentile is expecting much of the same.

Lara is a starting pitcher and splits catching duties with junior Anthony Perez, who also handles third base and gets work as a relief pitcher. Lara is a thirdyear member of the varsity whilst Perez steps into a bigger role.

The middle infield is extremely young. Freshman Oscarlin Pouriet-Paulino has made the jump from middle school baseball to varsity and has a smooth glove at shortstop and bats second. Sophomore

Vaner Guerrero-Espinal starts at second base and has strong fundamentals from his experience playing in his native Dominican Republic.

Sophomore Carlos Vasquez pitches and bats third. He has excellent knowledge of the game, Gentile said, and is the No. 1 arm on the staff. “He’s improved his velocity and mixes pitches well,” the coach noted.

Juniors Xzavier White and Aitor Leonardo-Nunez are handling the bulk of innings in left and right field, respectively, and epitomize the entire team’s work ethic.

Lopez takes over county’s social services

By JOSEPH D’ALESSANDRO jdalessandro@liherald.com

Jose Lopez has stepped in as the new acting commissioner for Nassau County’s social services department, filling the absence left by Nancy Nunziata.

“I’m excited about the opportunity to serve, to work with the county executive,” Lopez said. “To work with all the employees at the DSS. And to build a team that has a sense of morale, and more importantly, a sense of trust that the administration understands that what they do is vital to everyone that we serve.”

Lopez has spent the last three years as the county’s labor relations director, settling more than 8,000 bargaining agreements with Nassau County employees. He also guided more than 40 county departments in their negotiations with unions, and even served a member of the county’s health care committee.

At DSS, Lopez is now responsible for a department focused on supporting local families with day care, housing and homelessness prevention. He also will oversee the county’s management of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known as SNAP, that assists low-income, disabled or senior citizen residents with needed financial support to purchase food.

“The role is to make sure that we serve the constituency of Nassau County, and to provide services that are very much needed,” Lopez said. “At the same time, you provide an opportunity for those working with the county to do their best.”

Lopez also will lead Child Protective Services, child support enforcement, and accommodating the Abandoned Infant Protection Act, which provides a safe way for those with unwanted infants to part with them. It’s with CPS Lopez would like to add more peo-

ple, including more than a dozen former cops to help manage the department’s ever-growing workload.

These new hires will assist caseworkers after undergoing a six-week training period — largely calling upon prior experience as first responders, according to reports.

CPS is responsible for investigating neglect and all kinds of child abuse. The service employs casework-

ers and court liaisons. Child victims are brought to Nassau’s Child Advocacy Center, where they share information and receive various support services from the Coalition Against Child Abuse and Neglect.

“Jose Lopez has demonstrated through his many assignments in government that he has the intellect experience and work ethic to take on important challenges,” County Executive Bruce Blakeman said, in a statement. “Protecting our neighbors in their time of vulnerability is of paramount importance to me as county executive.”

Nunziata, appointed in 2019 by then-county executive Laura Curran, abruptly resigned last month, according to reports, after she says she was asked to fire someone in her office from an official in the county executive’s office. Nunsiata left over a disagreement over policy with the county executive.

Blakeman had no knowledge of the request, according to Boyle, who told a news outlet the employee in question was later transferred to a different department. The county executive also said he received no communication from Nunziata about why she stepped down.

Lopez’s experience includes a decade as the human resources director for the Western Beef supermarket chain, where he oversaw more than 2,000 employees across 22 stores and three warehouses.

He’s also a former deputy commissioner of Nassau County Parks, Recreation and Museums, and also oversaw key functions of Eisenhower Park Aquatic Center, including staffing and event planning.

Lopez intends to reduce the amount of staff training occurring upstate, preferring to train them within Nassau instead. He also intends to broaden the services the department provides, although he has yet to share details.

Courtesy Nassau County

Jose Lopez is the new acting commissioner for the Nassau County’s social services department.

Fire departments rally to recruit new volunteers

By KEPHERD DANIEL kdaniel@liherald.com

“Firefighting is all about passion,” said Oyster Bay town supervisor Joe Saladino. “Do you have a fire in you?”

That’s the question being asked across Nassau County by the 69 volunteer fire departments that protect them. It’s all part of a renewed push from the Firefighters Association of the State of New York in its annual RecruitNY campaign to find more volunteer firefighters and EMTs.

To help support those efforts, County Executive Bruce Blakeman declared last week as a volunteer firefighter and ambulance worker recruitment week. That includes the launch of a new website, NassausBravest.com, providing information on volunteering in the county.

“Exactly 30 years ago in 1994, there were 10,000 firefighters here on Long Island. There are now 6.000, so we’ve got a lot of work to do,” Blakeman said. “It’s not just community service. That’s important, and it’s very rewarding to give back to your community, but it’s about the camaraderie between firefighters and EMT’s.”

Steve Klein knows exactly how rewarding it is. He joined the Oceanside Fire Department when he was 18, just a couple years after his father died from a heart attack. Now 77, Klein has decades of volunteer service under his belt, and is even the former president of state firefighters association.

Still, Klein will never forget how it was volunteer firefighters who responded to his father’s medical emergency. And it proves how important these types of services are. That’s why his statewide agency worked so hard to adopt more universal firefighting training methods.

“Anything we want to do, it’s going to cost money,” Klein said. “But the offshoot of that is that the volunteer fire service in the state of New York saves the taxpayers approximately $3.5 billion in taxes every year. We need to have trained people available to respond to emergencies.”

Much of that money is saved in sala-

ries, which volunteers obviously do not collect. Departments also look to fundraise as ways to avoid tax levies needed for purchasing, maintaining and operating firefighting equipment.

But there are benefits to volunteering beyond just doing the right thing. Volunteers get free training and equipment, as well as tax breaks and insurance coverage. All of that is provided by the Volunteer Firefighter Benefits Law, first passed in 1957.

Those tax breaks could include income tax credits of $500 to $1,000 per year, as well as property tax reductions of up to 10 percent — assuming local gov-

ernments have opted in.

There also are possibilities to earn a pension, as well as tuition reimbursement and scholarships.

Eugene Perry first joined the Patchogue Fire Department in 1979, thanks to his father — even those he was never a firefighter himself.

“My uncles were both in the fire service, but my father … took me to one of the tournament drills they had in Patchogue, and it was something that piqued my interest and got me to come in the door,” Perry said. “I learned quickly after that, that that’s not the whole aspect of the volunteer fire service.”

Perry has been an administrative officer for many years and is involved in fundraising efforts for the fire department and companies and is hoping to help even more through efforts at the state level, encouraging, even more, to receive benefits from the fire service in more ways than one.

“I’m still an active interior firefighter,” Perry said. “It’s still the rush of being in a firehouse and getting on a fire truck and going to a fire trying to help somebody.”

And that’s a big reason why there is so much longevity in this line of work, Blakeman said.

“You have a built-in family when you join a firefighting service,” the county executive said. “You have friends that share a love of protecting the community.”

Kepherd Daniel/Herald Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman was joined by firefighters in Plainview to share how important these volunteer departments are — and why solid recruitment this month is vital, for residents of all ages.

‘Waking up’ the gardens in Uniondale

By BRANDON CRUZ bcruz@liherald.com

The Uniondale library recently hosted a vibrant and informative event in collaboration with the Nassau County Cornell Cooperative Extension — a nonprofit whose mission is to “enable people to improve their lives and communities through partnerships that put experience and research knowledge to work,” according to their website — aimed at helping residents “wake up” their gardens and achieve flourishing outdoor spaces.

The free event attracted gardening enthusiasts and novices alike, offering a wealth of valuable tips and best practices to ensure healthy and vibrant gardens. Attendees had the opportunity to delve into various aspects of gardening, from understanding the crucial role of bees and pollen in garden ecosystems to learning about the nuances of planting different types of seeds and providing optimal care for them.

One of the key highlights of the event was the emphasis on sustainable gardening practices. Participants gained insights into eco-friendly gardening techniques, including composting, water conservation, and natural pest control methods. These sustainable approaches not only contribute to the health of individual gardens but also promote environmental stewardship and biodiversity.

Experts from the Nassau County Cornell Cooperative Extension and the library alike shared their expertise and answered questions, providing personalized guidance to help attendees address specific challenges and optimize their gardening efforts. The interactive nature of the event allowed residents to engage directly with knowledgeable professionals, fostering a deeper understanding of gardening principles and techniques.

For many residents, the event served as a valuable resource to enhance their gardening skills and revitalize their outdoor spaces. The practical tips and insights shared during the event are expected to translate into healthier, more productive gardens throughout Uniondale.

Holden Leeds/Herald Uniondale residents received a mountain of information in terms of gardening and the community can probably expect to see more gardens ‘woken up.’

Sibling gardeners, Shillon and Shillona Mitchell learned about seeds and how to grow various types the proper way.

The mammoth sunflower challenge, something the entire community can participate in. Involves planting and growing sunflowers properly.

Eileen Gales, left, and Wendy Simpson attended Monday’s gardening class and took away some incredible tips that they feel will help ‘wake up’ their garden.

Margaret Green learning how honey bees affect her garden’s health and the best practices to ensure her gardens remains vibrant.

STEPPING OUT

Cultivating the future at Crossroads Farm

By Danielle Schwab

Vegetables, fruits, and honey, oh my!

Melissa Errico

With the growing season now upon us, Crossroads Farm at Grossmann’s is ready to welcome visitors again. The historic 5.5-acre site hosts its annual season-opening event, next Saturday, April 27. It’s a day to enjoy being outdoors, and partake of family-friendly activities, delicious eats, farm-fresh items to purchase, and, naturally, a wealth of information on planting.

Crossroads Farms at Grossmann’s has a long tradition that’s been shared by generations of folks from throughout Nassau County and beyond. Since 1895, it’s been a go-to for produce, plants and related agricultural products. Owned and cultivated for more than 100 years by the Grossmann family, it was purchased by Nassau County through the Nassau Land Trust to preserve the acreage as an open farm space. It’s one of the closest farms to New York City.

“One of the big things for the Grossmann family was that Long Island Rail Road runs directly through the back of the farm,” Crossroads operations manager Michael D’Angelo says. “Back in the early 1900s, that was huge. Instead of having to use a horse and cart to go to Manhattan to sell their produce, they were able to load up onto the train that would then go right into the city.”

With more than 75 products offered, the farm produces diverse and beloved selection of organic produce for its loyal patrons. This includes best sellers like tomatoes and greens, along with turmeric, and even loofas — among the many items

Crossroads also showcases its crops at the Long Island Fair. Its tradition of excellence is evident with strong finishes in the agricultural competition.

“We put in like 50 entries last year, and 90 percent of our crops placed first, second or third,” adds Peter Notarnicola, Crossroads’ field

This year, Crossroads is doubling its production by planting on twice as much of its land. Anything that can’t be grown or produced in-house is obtained through a barter system with other farms and sold at the farm store.

Melissa Errico appears on the Landmark stage with pianistarranger Billy Stritch for her new show ‘The Life and Loves of a Broadway Baby.’ Errico sets her own life to the Broadway songs that she has sung and owned in this theatrical tour de force. She presents both a sensational set of beloved standards and a series of witty and sometimes wicked stories about an ingenue’s life passed on the Great White Way. Its sexy, sublime study of American songs — ranging from Cole Porter to Harold Arlen, Lerner & Loewe to Taylor Swift, with a substantial peek at Melissa’s new Sondheim album, ‘Sondheim in the City’ — with songs like ‘Everybody Says Don’t,’ ‘Take Me to the World,’ and ‘Being Alive.’ A woman of stage, screen and song, Errico has been acclaimed as ‘the Maria Callas of American musical theatre’ by Opera News, referencing both her silken voice and dramatic, expressive intensity.

Friday, April 19, 8 p.m. $63, $53, $43. Jeanne Rimsky Theater at Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington. (516) 7676444 or LandmarkOnMainStreet.org.

• Saturday, April 27, noon-4 p.m.

• $10 per person or $25 per family, kids younger than 3 free

• Farmstand hours: Tuesday and Friday, 1-6 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

• 480 Hempstead Ave., Malverne

• XRoadsFarmLINY.com

either are first or second generation, or are foreign-born themselves. They ask for specific products that may be hard for them to find,” D’Angelo says. “And that is always exciting for us. We love hearing and catering to the way people cook different things.”

Crossroads also has a presence at local establishments. You’ll find Crossroads products incorporated into the menu at Malverne eateries such as Uva Rossa Wine Bar and Kookaburra Coffee Co.

While the season is just beginning, there will be no shortage of activities to occupy everyone on opening day. A ribbon-cutting ceremony kicks off the festivities, followed by entertainment, farm tours, hayrides and food vendors on hand with some tasty bites. Check out Rockin Roots, South Shore Brewery and Beach Barbecue, among the participating vendors.

Kids can keep busy visiting farm animals and taking in an ATV ride, along with puppetry and face painting. The youngsters can also gather around a maypole and chase down colorful ribbons.

Mike DelGuidice

Another popular product is the result of a collaboration with millions of special farm workers — worker bees that is. Their buzzy effort supplies the farm with rich tasty honey.

“It’s a family fun day to come down and just enjoy the farm,” D’Angelo says.

Crossroads is so much more than simply a place to visit. Its valued community partner can be relied up to support many endeavors.

“Fresh produce, fresh flowers, educational opportunities and entertainment space truly make Crossroads Farm unique” Maria Casini, Malverne Chamber of Commerce co-president, adds.

“We got about a million ladies that work on the farm, and they’re the bees,”

Among the projects she’s involved in with Crossroads, the farm has partnered with LIJ-Valley Stream Northwell Hospital to introduce a”Food is Health” program tackling nutrition and hunger.

D’Angelo jokes.

is of buzzy jokes.

D’Angelo and Notarnicola are always on the go, planning and moving forward with new ideas — and crops. They maintain a close dialogue with visitors.

The farm also offers an interactive Sunshine program to introduce kids up to 11 to agriculture.

“A lot of people don’t know the process that it takes for food to get to their table,” Notarnicola says. “To see that hands-on, I think for someone who didn’t grow up with planting, is eye-opening.”

From a tiny seedling to your dinner plate, it’s a team effort to get it all there.

Mike DelGuidice, one of Long Island’s most celebrated singer/ songwriters continues his ‘residency’ at the Paramount. Mike DelGuidice and his band always give it their all, especially when playing the iconic Billy Joel songs. DelGuidice leads his band in a rousing concert that highlights the ‘Piano Man’s’ decades of hits. Like his idol, DelGuidice has become one of the area’s most celebrated performers, balancing his schedule between doing his own thing and touring with Joel all over the world. DelGuidice, as with Joel, grew up mastering several instruments, including bass guitar, guitar, piano and drums. He’s renowned for his encyclopedic knowledge of the Joel catalog, which caught the attention of Joel himself, who ultimately brought him on stage with him. DelGuidice and his band pack hit after charttopping hit, along with his own tunes in a high-energy show that’s always a crowd pleaser.

“We have customers from all different backgrounds, some who

Interested in become a part of the farm family? Crossroads Farms welcomes volunteers to help out. Various volunteering options include working in the fields planting and harvesting, or participating in education and

Friday and Saturday, April 19-20, 8 p.m. $60, $40, $25, $20. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. (800) 745-3000. Ticketmaster.com or ParamountNY. com.

fundraising programming.

beloved selection of organic produce for its loyal patrons. This you’ll find here. manager.

Michael D’Angelo, operations manager, is ready to reopen the popular farm for another busy season.

Photos courtesy Crossroads Farm Crossroads field manager Peter Notarnicola tends to his plantings.

THE Your Neighborhood

April 26

Chris Ruggiero

April 18, 2024

Experience the magic of Chris Ruggiero’s new show, “Teenage Dreams and Magic Moments.” The dynamic vocalist visits the Landmark stage, Friday, April 26, at 7:30 p.m. Ruggiero is an old soul. Still in his 20s, the music that speaks to him is the music of the ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s, breathing new life into the timeless classics that form the soundtrack of our lives. His approach to performing is more in line with that of a bygone era, bringing to the stage the panache of Frank Sinatra or Paul Anka, coupled with the energy of Jackie Wilson. Ruggiero first came to national attention when he performed in concert on a PBS coast-to-coast special and was featured on Good Morning America. Since then, he has traveled the country, delivering his unique brand of vintage rock and roll and sharing his passion for the classics.

He has shared the stage with artists such as Bobby Rydell, The Duprees and The Drifters. It seems almost preordained that the young man who loves the special sounds of an era is now performing on the same stages as those he admires most. The young singer was a 2020 East Coast Music Hall of Fame nominee and at the 2019 induction ceremony, he performed alongside Tito Puente Jr. singing the iconic song Tito’s father wrote, “Oye Como Va.” In his new show, “Teenage Dreams and Magic Moments,” Ruggiero tells his story by breathing ew life into the timeless music of the eras he loves, enhanced with a six-piece band and live brass. Songs like “Unchained Melody,” “My Cherie Amour,” “You Can’t Hurry Love” and “This Magic Moment” come to life with unique interpretations of these classics and more, with new orchestrations by Charlie Calello, arranger for the Four Seasons and known in the industry as “The Hit Man.” Chances are you’ll know every word of every song. $59, $49, $39. Jeanne Rimsky Theater at Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington. (516) 767-6444 or LandmarkOnMainStreet.org.

On stage

Families will enjoy another musical adventure, “Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!” ripped from the pages of Mo Willems’ beloved children’s books, on the Long Island Children’s Museum stage, Friday, April 19, 10:15 a.m. and noon; Monday through Friday, April 20-26, 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Back by popular demand after a sold-out 2023 run, see Pigeon, Bus Driver, and some zany passengers sing and dance their way to helping The Pigeon find his “thing” in this upbeat, energetic comedy based on four of Mo Willems’ popular Pigeon books.

Featuring a live band to bring Deborah Wicks La Puma’s jazzy score to life, audiences will thoroughly enjoy singing and flapping along with The Pigeon and friends. The audience is part of the action, in this innovative mix of songs, silliness and feathers. It’s an ideal way to introduce kids to theater and the humorous stories from Willems’ books. $10 with museum admission ($8 members), $14 theater only. Long Island Children’s Museum, Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 224-5800 or LICM.org.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. On view through July 7. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. (516) 484-9337 or NassauMuseum.org.

LI TODAY Welcome to COMMUNITY VOICES

Sands New York Returns as Title Sponsor for the HIA-LI Trade Show

Trade Show will include Two Procurement Information Sessions, Hosted by Sands New York for Local Business Owners

Sands New York will once again serve as the Title Sponsor for the upcoming HIA-LI 36th Annual Business-to-Business Trade Show and Conference.

For more than 45 years, HIA-LI has been one of the recognized voices for Long Island business and a powerful force for regional economic development. The trade show, scheduled for Thursday, May 23, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., will be held at the Suffolk Federal Credit Union Arena at Suffolk County Community College’s Grant Campus in Brentwood. Marking its second consecutive year as the Title Sponsor, Sands New York’s continued partnership underscores its commitment to fostering local business growth and economic development.

This year’s trade show, the largest of its kind on Long Island, is expected to attract over 4,000 attendees, including 78 percent decision-makers, alongside 300 exhibitors representing a broad spectrum of industries. The event serves as a critical platform for networking, knowledge sharing,

and collaboration among the region’s business community.

“We are extremely honored to welcome Sands New York back as our Title Sponsor for the second straight year,” said Terri Alessi-Miceli, President and CEO of HIA-LI. “Their unwavering support not only elevates the trade show but also significantly contributes to our mission of enhancing the economic health and resilience of the Long Island business community. Sands New York’s commitment to utilizing local suppliers and partnering with local businesses is a testament to their dedication to our region’s prosperity.”

Tracey Edwards, Senior Vice President, and Corporate Social Responsibility Officer for Sands New York said, “Should Sands receive a gaming license from the State of New York, it is committed to spending hundreds of millions of dollars with local Long Island businesses, with a particular focus on supporting minority, women, and veteran-owned entities. The HIA-LI Trade Show is an excellent platform for our Sands New York team to engage

Sands New York’s commitment to utilizing local suppliers and partnering with local businesses is a testament to their dedication to our region’s prosperity.

Terri Alessi-Miceli, President and CEO of HIA-LI

As Founder and President of Minority Millennials, I am excited to work with Sands to prepare small businesses for the economic opportunities an integrated resort project will bring to Long Island.

Dan Lloyd, Founder and President, Minority Millennials

The developer of a proposed multi-billion-dollar

hospitality and entertainment project on Long Island

Photo provided by Sands

Photo: Sands New York team at their booth at the 2023 HIA-LI Trade Show.

Women’s History Month Spotlight: Tracey Edwards Leads Corporate Social Responsibility for Sands New York

As part of Women’s History Month 2024, Sands featured women who continuously help drive the company’s success and exemplify its culture of professional growth and advancement. After holding a variety of corporate, civic and nonprofit leadership positions, Tracey Edwards joined Sands New York this past year and is the region’s newly appointed senior vice president/corporate social responsibility officer.

Prior to joining Sands New York, Edwards served as Commissioner of the New York State Public Service Commission, which ensures secure and reliable access to electric, gas, steam, telecommunications and water services for New York State’s residential and business consumers while protecting the natural environment.

Edwards spent a significant portion of her career at Verizon where she held a variety of leadership positions. As region president, Edwards led a team of 4,000 employees responsible for field operations of voice, broadband and video services across the state of New York. Prior to her region president role, she led staffing and diversity for Verizon, responsible for ethics, hiring, recruitment, diversity councils and human resource policies. Edwards also served as president of the Empire City Subway Company, a subsidiary of Verizon that specializes in subsurface engineering and construction services.

After many years as a corporate executive, Edwards started her own consulting company focused on branding; diversity, equity and inclusion; and organizational, workforce and economic development.

She currently serves on the boards of directors for the NAACP, New Hour for Women and Children, and the Scott J. Beigel Memorial Fund, and is the Long Island regional director of the NAACP New York State Conference. Edwards is a former board member of the United Way of Long Island, former executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Suffolk and past president of the Melville Lions Club.

other along the way. I also had male and female champions who helped me with my journey.

“My drive was to make sure that no one (male or female) could out-work me, but I also recognized that as women we try to be all things to everyone, which is not possible all the time. We need to pace ourselves and stay healthy while we work hard.

“After surviving breast cancer, I cherished naps! After work, I would lay down for 20 minutes, and then power back up to handle the rest of my family stuff or complete work I took home.”

with Tracey Edwards

Outline your career path and current role with Sands New York.

“After over a 30-year career in the public and private sector, I was honored to join Sands in October 2023 as senior vice president, corporate social responsibility officer. My role is to integrate our strategic plan and initiatives for our planned integrated resort operation in New York.”

What skills, trainings, mentors or experiences have helped you build a successful career?

“I was blessed to have a circle of women who worked in multiple departments that I could call on for advice, counsel and assistance. I, in turn, did the same for them. You need to realize that it is easier if you depend on and help each

What are your ideas for evolving the workplace to better support and empower women?

“Joining the EmpowHER Team Member resource group for women is a good start. Also, have executives lead a program of mentoring moments where you layout situational exercises and have those in power provide advice.”

What advice do you have for women or anyone who wants to advance in their careers?

“Volunteer for tough assignments and move around the business laterally so that you can learn about the many functions within the corporation.

“Once you learn more and more about the business, promotional opportunities will come. The focus should be about growing the business and exceeding the objectives through innovation.

“I also wanted to perform the jobs that no one else wanted to do, which made my position and brand more valuable.”

To learn more about the Sands as the world’s preeminent developer and

Sands New York Celebrates Long Island Women in Philanthropy

The Sands New York team was on-site to celebrate Long Island Women in Philanthropy with the Family & Children’s Association (FCA) last month at The Lannin in Eisenhower Park. Led by Jeff Reynolds, the FCA is a nonprofit organization that provides resources and hope to vulnerable families, children, and communities.

The event, held during Women’s History Month, featured a fashion show where FCA residents and local students modeled on the runway, with their hair and makeup done by Cosmetology students from the Sewanhaka School District in Floral Park. Local vendors were also on-site selling all kinds of goodies, gifts and giveaways with portions of proceeds benefiting FCA.

Continued from page 1 with business owners who stand to benefit from these opportunities. As this transformational project progresses, we recognize the diverse needs it entails, spanning construction and preconstruction support, technology, professional services, and food and beverage provisions. Long Island businesses must be first in line and fully equipped to seize these opportunities."

The trade show will feature an array of seminars including two Sands New York procurement information sessions designed to connect local businesses with Sands executives. This initiative aims to integrate local suppliers into Sands’ procurement process, opening doors to new business opportunities and fostering community engagement. In addition to the info sessions, Ms. Edwards will give opening remarks at the event, and Sands will sponsor a large informational tent for Long Island businesses and leaders to familiarize themselves with the proposed project at the Nassau Hub.

Carol A. Allen, Chair of HIALI and CEO of Peoples’ Alliance Federal Credit Union echoed this sentiment. “Sands New York’s

and operator of world-class integrated resorts visit sandsnewyork.com

role as Title Sponsor and their commitment to local engagement are invaluable to the success of this event. Their support enables us to offer a platform where local businesses can showcase their innovations, engage with decision-makers, and forge lasting partnerships. We are proud to have Sands New York as a key partner in our efforts to promote economic growth on Long Island.”

Attendees are encouraged to pre-register to avoid the same-day $10 walk-in fee. For exhibitor and sponsorship opportunities, please contact Anthony Forgione, HIA-LI’s Director of Business Development, 631-543-5355 or aforgione@hiali.org. Registration, exhibitor, and sponsorship information can also be found at https://www.hia-li.org/ trade-show/.

Sands New York sponsors local St. Patrick’s Day Parade

Sands New York was proud to be the Emerald Sponsor of The Wantagh Chamber of Commerce's 4th Annual St. Patrick's Day Parade on Sunday, March 17, 2024. The parade had over 120 units and included local fire and police, elected officials, local organizations, pipe bands, marching bands, dancers, entertainers, car clubs, local youth

sports teams, businesses, and more! Immediately following the parade a Block Party provided music, food trucks, vendors, and entertainment for the kids.

Congrats to Grand Marshal and Long Island legend, John Theissen founder of the John Theissen Children's Foundation.

John has been helping children and families in need since 1992.

Photos provided by Sands

Photo: This year’s parade, held on Sunday, March 17, consisted of more than 120 entrants.

Sands New York served as the Emerald Sponsor for The Wantagh Chamber of Commerce's 4th Annual St. Patrick's Day Parade in March.

Sands New York was honored as the event’s Emerald Sponsors.

Baby shower for momsto-be

Mercy Hospital hosts this free event for expecting moms-to-be, Saturday, May 11, noon to 2 p.m., in the lower level cafeteria. With raffles, giveaways for mom and baby, and meet and greets with physicians, lactation specialists, mother/baby nurses, games and more. For moms only. 1000 N. Village Ave. Email Elizabeth.Schwind@chsli.org to register. For more information, visit CHSLI.org/mercy-hospital or call (516) 626-3729.

UNO Tournament

Uniondale Library hosts a UNO Tournament for kids in grades 6 through 12, Tuesday, April 23 , 7-8:30 p.m. Compete against your peers in Uno to be the last teen standing and win a prize. Registration required. 400 Uniondale Ave. Register at UniondaleLibrary.org or call (516) 489-2220.

States of MatterChemistry Concoctions

Uniondale Library, in collaboration with the Long Island Science Center, hosts a hands-on experience students in grades 6 through 12, Monday, April 22, 4-5 p.m. Perform experiments and further an understanding of chemistry. Registration required. 400 Uniondale Ave. Register at UniondaleLibrary.org or call (516) 489-2220.

Senior Health & Beyond Expo

Families, caregivers and people of all ages are invited to the Senior Health & Beyond Expo, hosted by Richner Live, Thursday, April 25 , 10 a.m.1 p.m., at Rockville Centre Recreation Center. With over 40 exhibitors in health care, insurance, finance, estate planning, caregiver services, travel, fitness and more. Hear from the experts during a panel discussion, followed by a Q&A session. Learn from senior service providers about programs and recreational opportunities available for seniors. To register, call (516) 569-4000 Ext. 253 or email AAnderwkavich@LIHerald. com. 111 N. Oceanside Road.

Baldwin Homemakers Annual Auction

All are welcome to join Baldwin Homemakers for their annual auction, Wednesday May 1, 7 p.m., at Baldwin Middle School. $5 admission includes 1 front table raffle ticket. With coffee, cake and door prize. Additional raffle tickets will be available for sale. 3211 Schreiber Place, Baldwin.

Having an event?

Eglevsky Ballet Gala

Eglvesky Ballet presents “Live from Studio 4,” an intimate evening of classical and contemporary ballets, Saturday, April 20, 7 p.m. The program features new and existing repertory works chosen to showcase the dancers unique ability to transfer from classical to neo-classical to contemporary with ease and mastery of their techniques. Eglevsky Ballet Studio, 700 Hicksville Road, Suite 102, Bethpage. For information and tickets, visit Eventbrite.com/e/ live-from-studio-4-tickets859994295087?aff=oddtdtc.

Uniondale Junior Friends

Uniondale Junior Friends invite teens in grades 6 through 12 to join in their peer-led meetings, Fridays, 4:305:30 p.m. Discuss upcoming events, share ideas and learn about community service opportunities. 400 Uniondale Ave. For more information, visit UniondaleLibrary.org or call (516) 489-2220.

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.

Spring Dog Festival

Enjoy the glorious grounds of Old Westbury Gardens with your pooch (leashed of course), Saturday and Sunday, April 20-21, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. With varied vendors and activities. Old Westbury Gardens, 71 Old Westbury Rd., Old Westbury. For information contact (516) 333-0048 or visit OldWestburyGardens.org.

New York Mac and Cheese Fest

The cheesiest competition in the state is making its way to Long Island, Saturday, April 20 , at The Tap Room in Rockville Centre. Enjoy tasting amazing Mac and Cheese from the competitors and vote for the best Mac and Cheese on Long Island. Two sessions are offered, noon to 3 p.m. from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $30-$40; available online via Eventbrite. com. Must be 21 and over to participate. For more information visit NYBestWingsFestival.com.

Teen Chess Club

Kids in grades 6 through 12 are welcome to join Uniondale Library’s Teen Chess Club, Fridays, 4-5:30 p.m. Interested in playing Chess with other Teens? Not sure how? Former Junior Friends member Mr. Raynor is here to help. Registration required. 400 Uniondale Ave. Register at UniondaleLibrary.org or call (516) 489-2220.

Art explorations

Converse, collaborate and create at Family Saturdays at Nassau County Museum of Art, Saturday, April 20, noon-3 p.m. Get inspired by the art and objects in the galleries and then join educators at the Manes Center to explore and discover different materials to create your own original artwork. Kids and adults connect while talking about and making art together. A new project is featured every week. $20 adult, $10 child. For ages 2-14. Registration required. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. Visit NassauMuseum.org for to register or call (516) 484-9337.

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.

COURT OF THE INDEX NO. 002246/2014 COUNTY OF NASSAU

BETHPAGE FEDERAL CREDIT UNION, Plaintiff, vs. VENUS CABALE A/K/A VENUS V. CABALE, JOSEPH CABALE, INDIVIDUALLY AND AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF ARLIN CABALE, UNKNOWN HEIRS AND DISTRIBUTEES OF THE ESTATE OF ARLIN CABALE any and all persons unknown to plaintiff, claiming, or who may claim to have an interest in, or general or specific lien upon the real property described in this action; such unknown persons being herein generally described and intended to be included in the following designation, namely: the wife, widow, husband, widower, heirs at law, next of kin, descendants, executors, administrators, devisees, legatees, creditors, trustees, committees, lienors, and assignees of such deceased, any and all persons deriving interest in or lien upon, or title to said real property by, through or under them, or either of them, and their respective wives, widows, husbands, widowers, heirs at law, next of kin, descendants, executors, administrators, devisees, legatees, creditors, trustees, committees, lienors and assigns, all of whom and whose names, except as stated, are unknown to plaintiff, NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE; THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, BETHPAGE FEDERAL CREDIT UNION, MICHAEL CABALE, TERESA CABALE, Defendants. Plaintiff designates NASSAU as the place of trial situs of the real property

SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS

Mortgaged Premises: 104 MELANIE DRIVE, EAST MEADOW, NY 11554 District: , Section: 0045, Block: 00567-00, Lot: 00014

Servicer: Bethpage Federal Credit Union Servicer Telephone: (866) 546-2935

To the above named Defendants

YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the Complaint in the above entitled action and to serve a copy of your Answer on the plaintiff’s attorney within twenty (20) days of the service of this Summons, exclusive of the day of service, or within thirty (30) days after service of the same is complete where service is made in any manner other than by personal delivery within the State. The United States of America, if designated as

a defendant in this action, may answer or appear within sixty (60) days of service. Your failure to appear or to answer will result in a judgment against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint. In the event that a deficiency balance remains from the sale proceeds, a judgment may be entered against you.

NOTICE OF NATURE OF ACTION AND RELIEF SOUGHT

THE OBJECT of the above caption action is to foreclose a Mortgage to secure the sum of $386,625.00 and interest, recorded on September 10, 2003, in Liber M24910 at Page 539, of the Public Records of NASSAU County, New York., covering premises known as 104 MELANIE DRIVE, EAST MEADOW, NY 11554.

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.

NASSAU County is designated as the place of trial because the real property affected by this action is located in said county.

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 (MORTGAGE COMPANY) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT.

March 15th, 2024

CERTIFICATES, SERIES

2006-CH2, Plaintiff, Against MAUREEN E HILLARY

AKA MAUREEN HILLARY; ET AL Defendant(s)

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale, duly entered 10/28/2016, 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 5/7/2024 at 2:00PM, premises known as 612 Newton Avenue, Uniondale, NY 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, Town Of Hempstead, County Of Nassau And State Of New York. Section 36 Block 134 Lot 507

The approximate amount of the current Judgment lien is $388,511.23 plus interest and costs. The Premises will be sold subject to provisions of the aforesaid Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale; Index # 11090-14 For sale information, please visit Auction.com at www.Auction.com or call (800) 280-2832. 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.

Jane Shrenkel, Esq., Referee.

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

Dated: 2/8/2024 File Number: 32669 CA 145872

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT NASSAU COUNTY THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, F/K/A, THE BANK OF NEW YORK, AS TRUSTEE FOR CWABS, INC., ASSET-BACKED CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2005-3, Plaintiff against JANET LAWSON-CALDER A/K/A JANET LAWSON CALDER A/K/A JANET S. LAWSON A/K/A JANET S. CALDER, et al Defendant(s) Attorney for Plaintiff(s) Fein Such & Crane, LLP, 28 East Main Street, Suite 1800, Rochester, NY 14614. Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered March 4, 2024, I will sell at public auction to the highest bidder at North Side Steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on May 7, 2024 at 2:00 PM.

Premises known as 314 Green Grove Avenue, Uniondale, NY 11553. Sec 34 Block 500 Lot 302 and 303. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York. Approximate Amount of Judgment is $461,216.00 plus interest, fees, and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No 614691/2020. The foreclosure sale will be conducted in accordance with 10th Judicial District’s Covid-19 Policies and foreclosure auction rules. The Referee shall enforce any rules in place regarding facial coverings and social distancing. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, then the Court Appointed Referee shall cancel the foreclosure auction. Foreclosure Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine.”

Ronald J. Ferraro, Esq., Referee File # SPSNY598 145860

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT

COUNTY OF NASSAU The Bank of New York Mellon FKA The Bank of New York as Trustee for the Certificateholders of the CWABS, Inc., AssetBacked Certificates, Series 2005-2, Plaintiff AGAINST Maria Messias, Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered March 4, 2024, 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 May 7, 2024 at 2:00PM, premises known as 725 Newton Avenue, Uniondale, NY 11553. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York,

SECTION: 50, BLOCK: 125, LOT: 48.

Approximate amount of judgment $426,994.50 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #604195/2019. 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. For sale information, please visit Auction.com at www.Auction.com or call (800) 280-2832. Ron Ferraro, Esq., Referee Frenkel Lambert Weiss Weisman & Gordon, LLP 53 Gibson Street Bay Shore, NY 11706 01-090124-F00 80025 145819

LEGAL NOTICE

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK

INDEX NO. 606080/2019

COUNTY OF NASSAU

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION AS TRUSTEE FOR SECURITIZED ASSET BACKED RECEIVABLES

LLC TRUST 2006-NC2 MORTGAGE PASSTHROUGH CERTIFICATES SERIES 2006-NC2, Plaintiff, vs. CLAUDIO RODRIGUEZ; LUIS LOPEZ, if living, and if she/he be dead, any and all persons unknown to plaintiff, claiming, or who may claim to have an interest in, or general or specific lien upon the real property described in this action; such unknown persons being herein generally described and intended to be included in the following designation, namely: the wife, widow, husband, widower, heirs at law, next of kin, descendants, executors, administrators, devisees, legatees, creditors, trustees, committees, lienors, and assignees of such deceased, any and all persons deriving interest in or lien upon, or title to said real property by, through or under them, or either of them, and their respective wives, widows, husbands, widowers, heirs at law, next of kin, descendants, executors, administrators, devisees, legatees, creditors, trustees, committees, lienors and assigns, all of whom and whose names, except as stated, are unknown to plaintiff; NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE; CLERK OF COURT, DISTRICT COURT FOR NASSAU COUNTY; CLINTON REALTY COMPANY; DEUTSCHE BANK NATIONAL TRUST COMPANY, AS TRUSTEE FOR MORGAN STANLEY ABS CAPITAL I INC TRUST 2006-NC4; HNH INVESTORS CORP., if living, and if she/he be dead, any and all persons unknown to plaintiff, claiming, or who may claim to have an interest in, or general or specific lien upon the real property described in this action; such unknown persons being herein generally described and intended to be included in the following designation, namely: the wife, widow, husband, widower, heirs at law, next of kin, descendants, executors, administrators, devisees, legatees, creditors, trustees, committees, lienors, and assignees of

such deceased, any and all persons deriving interest in or lien upon, or title to said real property by, through or under them, or either of them, and their respective wives, widows, husbands, widowers, heirs at law, next of kin, descendants, executors, administrators, devisees, legatees, creditors, trustees, committees, lienors and assigns, all of whom and whose names, except as stated, are unknown to plaintiff; THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; MARCO RODRIGUEZ; NINA RODRIGUEZ, “JOHN DOE #3” through “JOHN DOE #12,” the last ten 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, Defendant(s). Plaintiff designates NASSAU as the place of trial situs of the real property

SECOND SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS

Mortgaged Premises: 763 COLERIDGE ROAD, UNIONDALE, NY 11553

Section: 50, Block: 450, Lot: 21

To the above named Defendants

YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the Complaint in the above entitled action and to serve a copy of your Answer on the plaintiff’s attorney within twenty (20) days of the service of this Summons, exclusive of the day of service, or within thirty (30) days after service of the same is complete where service is made in any manner other than by personal delivery within the State. The United States of America, if designated as a defendant in this action, may answer or appear within sixty (60) days of service. Your failure to appear or to answer will result in a judgment against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint. In the event that a deficiency balance remains from the sale proceeds, a judgment may be entered against you.

NASSAU County is designated as the place of trial because the real property affected by this action is located in said county

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 (MORTGAGE COMPANY) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT. Dated: March 7th, 2024

ROBERTSON, ANSCHUTZ, SCHNEID, CRANE & PARTNERS, PLLC Attorney for Plaintiff Jian Chen , Esq. 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310 Westbury, NY 11590 516-280-7675 145846

NOTICE OF NATURE OF ACTION AND RELIEF SOUGHT THE OBJECT of the above caption action is to foreclose a Mortgage to secure the sum of $322,240.00 and interest, recorded on January 31, 2006, in Liber M 30040 at Page 898 of the Public Records of NASSAU County, New York., covering premises known as 763 COLERIDGE ROAD, 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.

SALE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DAY OF IN ACCORDANCE WITH COURT/CLERK DIRECTIVES.

146101

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF ANNUAL DISTRICT ELECTION OF UNIONDALE UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT, TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, COUNTY OF NASSAU, STATE OF NEW YORK, TO BE HELD ON May 21, 2024

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN

that, in lieu of an annual meeting of all election districts in one place, the vote by the qualified voters of the Uniondale Union Free School District, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau, at an annual election, will be held on May 21, 2024 beginning 6 AM in the school designated in each election district bounded and described hereinafter, for the purpose of voting upon the appropriation of necessary funds to meet the necessary expenditures of the School District for the year 2024-2025, upon all propositions duly filed with the Board of Education, and to elect two (2) members to the Board of Education to fill the following vacancies:

a. The office of Natalie J. Longsworth, J.D., a member of the Board of Education, whose term expires on June 30, 2023 for a new term commencing July 1, 2024 and expiring on June 30, 2027.

b. The office of Charmise P. Desire’, a member of the Board of Education, whose term expires on June 30, 2024 for a new term commencing July 1, 2024 and expiring on June 30, 2027.

Proposition # 1 2024-2025 Proposed Budget

Shall the budget for the 2024-2025 school year in the amount of $266,734,425.00 be adopted and the requisite portion thereof be raised by tax upon the taxable real property of this School District after first deducting the estimated monies available from State Aid and other sources as provided by law?

PROPOSITION NO. 2 -

CAPITAL PROJECTS TO BE FUNDED THROUGH THE CAPITAL RESERVE

Shall the Board of Education of the Uniondale Union Free School District be authorized, to expend from the Capital Reserve Fund, which was established on May 18, 2021 (“Reserve Fund”) pursuant to Section 3651 of the Education Law, for the following capital improvement projects: (1) Replace all hallway ceiling tiles at Walnut Street School ($130,000);

(2) Classroom Casework/Sink

Renovation at Walnut Street School ($50,000);

(3) Repair and refinish classroom wood floors in 11 classrooms at California Avenue School ($110,000); (4) Classroom Casework/Sink Renovation at California Avenue School ($50,000);

(5) Replace roof above Fifth Grade Wing at Northern Parkway School ($300,000); (6) Upgrade the Natural Gas line to high pressure for the boilers at Northern Parkway School ($125,000); (7) Upgrade the Natural Gas line to high pressure for boilers at Turtle Hook Middle School ($125,000); (8) Install new exit door from the kitchen to courtyard/access to outdoor Walk-In freezer at Smith Street School ($95,000) and (9) Classroom Casework/Sink Renovation at Smith Street School ($50,000); other work required in connection therewith; and to expend from the Reserve Fund therefore, including preliminary costs and costs incidental thereto, an amount not to exceed the estimated total cost of One Million Thirty-Five Thousand Dollars ($1,035,000), provided that the Board of Education may allocate funds amongst various components within the overall total expenditure at its discretion?

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER

NOTICE, that the voting shall be on voting machines and the polls will remain open from 6 AM until 9 PM and as much longer as may be necessary to enable the voters then present to cast their ballots, and that the Board of Registration shall meet during the annual election for the purpose of preparing a register for the budget vote and election in 2025 and any special district meeting that may be held after the preparation of said register.

The condensed form of the budget proposition and the text of all other propositions to appear on the voting machine and a detailed statement in writing of the amount of money which will be required for the school year 2024-2025 for school purposes, specifying the purposes and the amount for each, will be prepared and copies thereof will be made available, upon request, to any resident in the District at each schoolhouse in the district in which school is maintained between the hours of 9 AM and 4 PM during the period of fourteen (14) days immediately preceding said election of May 21, 2024, excluding Saturday, Sunday and holidays, and at such annual election.

from 9 AM until 7 PM and on Wednesday, May 8, 2024 from 9 AM to 7 PM in the California Avenue Elementary School, Grand Avenue Elementary School, Northern Parkway Elementary School, Smith Street Elementary School and Walnut Street Elementary School for the purpose of preparing a register of the qualified voters of this District for said annual district election, at which time any person shall be entitled to have his/her name placed upon such registry provided that at such meeting of the Board of Registration, he/she is known, or proven to the satisfaction of the Board of Registration, to be then or thereafter entitled to vote at the annual District election for which such register is prepared:

California Avenue School Election District: Place of Registration

California Avenue Elementary School

236 California Avenue Uniondale, NY 11553

Grand Avenue Elementary School District: Place of Registration

Grand Avenue Elementary School

711 School Drive

North Baldwin, New York

Northern Parkway Elementary School: Place of Registration

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER

NOTICE that any proposition or question to be placed upon the voting machines shall be submitted in writing by petition subscribed by at least 25 qualified voters of the district (representing the greater of 25 qualified voters or 2% of the number of voters who voted in the 2023 annual election), and filed in the Office of the Clerk of the District between the hours of 9 AM and 5 PM, not later than the 30th day preceding the election at which such question or proposition shall be voted upon, except that this rule shall not apply to those questions or propositions which are required to be stated in the published or posted notice of the meeting or to those propositions or questions which the Board of Education has authority by law to present at any annual or special meeting of the District. Propositions with respect to a proposition or question which is required to be stated in the Notice of Meeting must be filed in the office of the Clerk of the District, between the hours of 9 AM and 4 PM on or before the 60th day immediately preceding the meeting or election at which such questions or proposition shall be voted upon.

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER

NOTICE that the Board of Registration of this School District shall meet on Thursday, May 2, 2024

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that nominations for the office of member of the Board of Education, unless otherwise provided by law, shall be made by petition subscribed by at least 25 qualified voters of the District (representing the greater of 25 qualified voters or 2% of the number of voters who voted in the 2023 annual election), and filed in the Office of the Clerk of the District between the hours of 9 AM and 5 PM not later than the 30th day preceding the election at which the trustees shall be voted upon. Such petition shall state the residence of each signer and shall state the name and residence of the candidate and the specific vacancy on the Board for which the candidate is nominated, which description shall include at least the length of the term of office and the name of the last incumbent, if any. Each vacancy shall be considered a separate office, and a separate petition shall be required to nominate a candidate to each separate office. No person shall be nominated for more than one separate office on the Board of Education. A nomination may be rejected by the Board of Education if the candidate is ineligible for the office or declares his/her unwillingness to serve.

time, on Tuesday, May 21, 2024. A list of all persons to whom absentee ballots shall have been issued, and a list of all persons to whom early mail voter’s ballots shall have been issued will be available for inspection beginning May 16, 2024 in the office of the clerk between the hours of 9 AM and 4 PM and will also be available on May 21, 2024.

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER

Northern Parkway Elementary School

440 Northern Parkway Uniondale, NY 11553

Smith Street Elementary School: Place of Registration

Smith Street Elementary School

780 Smith Street Uniondale, NY 11553

Walnut Street Elementary School: Place of Registration

Walnut Street Elementary School

1270 Walnut Street

Uniondale, NY 11553

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER

NOTICE that applications for absentee and early mail ballots for the school district election will be obtainable at the Office of the Clerk of the District and must be received by the District Clerk no earlier than 30 days before the election for which an absentee or early mail ballot is sought. To obtain a ballot by mail, completed applications must be received by the Office of the District Clerk at least seven days before the election. The absentee or early mail ballot will be mailed to the address set forth in the application, no later than six days before the election. To obtain a ballot in person (applicant or his or her agent), the completed application must be delivered to the Office of the District Clerk no later than the day before the election, Monday, May 20, 2024. Absentee and early mail ballots must be received by the Office of the District Clerk not later than 5:00 p.m., prevailing

NOTICE that military voters who are not currently registered may apply to register as a qualified voter of the school district. Military voters who are qualified voters of the school district may submit an application for a military ballot. Military voters may designate a preference to receive a military voter registration, military ballot application or military ballot by mail, facsimile transmission or electronic mail in their request for such registration, ballot application or ballot. Military voter registration application forms and military ballot application forms must be received in the Office of the District Clerk no later than 5:00 p.m. on April 25, 2024. No military ballot will be canvassed unless it is returned by mail or in person and (1) received in the Office of the District Clerk before the close of the polls on election day and showing a cancellation mark of the United States postal service or a foreign country’s postal service, or showing a dated endorsement of receipt by another agency of the United States government; or (2) received by the Office of the District Clerk by no later than 5:00 p.m. on election day and signed and dated by the military voter and one witness thereto, with a date which is ascertained to be not later than the day before the election.

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER

NOTICE that the register shall include (1) all qualified voters of the District who shall personally present themselves for registration; and (2) all previously qualified voters of the District who shall have been previously registered for any annual or special District meeting or election and who shall have voted at any annual or special District meeting or election held or conducted any time within the last four calendar years (2020-2023) prior to preparation of the said register; and (3) voters permanently registered with the Board of Elections of the County of Nassau.

#1185 to Notre Dame Court all numbers; thence north on Milburn Avenue to Harold Avenue; thence east on Harold Avenue to Nassau Road; thence northwest on the southwest side of Nassau Road to the western boundary of the District.

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER

NOTICE that a Real Property Tax Exemption Report prepared in accordance with Section 495 of the Real Property Tax Law will be annexed to any tentative/preliminary budget as well as the final adopted budget of which it will form a part; and shall be posted on the District bulletin board(s) maintained for public notices, as well as on the District’s website.

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER

NOTICE that description of the boundaries of the election districts as designated by the Board of Education is filed with the records of the School District and available for inspection by any qualified voter together with a map of the District, in the Office of the District Clerk at Uniondale High School, 933 Goodrich Street, Uniondale, New York, during regular business hours and that said election districts and the respective schools in each where the voting shall take place are generally described as follows:

California Avenue School Election District - The area within the District beginning at a point on the east side of Grove Street at Commercial Avenue (not including any houses on Grove Street), south on Grove Street to Hempstead Turnpike; thence south along the district line (see district line list) to Jerusalem Avenue; then east on the north side of Jerusalem Avenue to Uniondale Avenue to Front Street; thence east on Front Street to Pamlico Avenue to the center of the intersection of Pamlico and Warwick Street; thence west to Walton Avenue; thence north on the west side of Walton Street to Hempstead Turnpike; thence west on Hempstead Turnpike to Oak Street; thence north on Oak Street to Commercial Avenue;

thence west on Commercial Avenue to the point of beginning.

Grand Avenue School Election District - The area within the District beginning at #585 Willis Street to Helena Drive, all numbers to Central Avenue #1012 to Willis Street #681 to Grand Avenue #1219 to Village Avenue #1218 to South Drive, all numbers to Fenimore Place, all numbers to School Drive #942 to Coes Neck Road

The Register shall be filed in the office of the District Clerk of the School District at Uniondale High School, 933 Goodrich Street, Uniondale, New York, where it shall be open for inspection by any qualified voter between the hours of 9 AM and 4 PM on each of the five (5) days prior to the day set for the election, except Sunday, and between the hours of 9 AM and 12 noon on Saturday, May 18, 2024; and at each polling place on election day.

Northern Parkway School Election District - The area within the district beginning at Martin Avenue and Nassau Road west on the south side of Nassau Road to Northern Parkway; thence south on a line to the Southern State Parkway so as to include all of the houses on Nassau Road and west of Nassau Road; thence east along Southern State Parkway to Nassau Road; thence northwest on the west side of Uniondale Avenue to Jerusalem Avenue; thence west on the south side of Jerusalem Avenue to Perry Street; thence north on the west side of Perry Street to Cedar Street; thence west on the south side of Cedar Street to the District boundary line. Smith Street School Election District - The area within the District beginning at a point on the east side of Nassau Road where it crosses Southern State Parkway, northwest to the east side of Uniondale Avenue; thence north on the east side of Uniondale Avenue to Jerusalem Avenue; thence east on the south side of Jerusalem Avenue to Winthrop Drive, to include Mitchell Place, continuing east on a line from Winthrop Drive to the District boundary line.

Walnut Street School Election District - The area within the District beginning at a point on the eastern boundary of the district, south of the end of Sterling Street on a line due south to the middle of Jerusalem Avenue; thence west on the north side of Jerusalem Avenue to Uniondale Avenue; thence north on the east side of Uniondale Avenue to Front Street; thence east on the south side of Front Street; thence north on the east side of Pamlico Avenue to the center of the intersection of Pamlico and Warwick; thence north on the east side of Walton to Hempstead Turnpike. Also including all of Mitch Field.

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER

NOTICE that the Board of Education shall hold a public hearing for the purpose of discussion of the expenditure of funds and the budgeting thereof for the year 2024-2025 on Tuesday, May 7, 2024 at 6:30 PM in the little theater of Uniondale High School.

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER

NOTICE that this Board shall convene a special meeting hereof within twenty-four hours after the filing with the District Clerk of a written report of the results of the ballot

for the purpose of examining and tabulating said reports of the result of the ballot and declaring the result of the ballot; that the Board hereby designates itself to be a set of poll clerks to cast and canvass ballots pursuant to Education Law, § 2019-a, subdivision 2b at said special meeting of the Board.

Dated: March 18, 2024 Uniondale, New York BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, UNIONDALE, UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT, TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, COUNTY OF NASSAU, NEW YORK

Susan Camille Trenkle District Clerk Uniondale Union Free School District 146159

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT NASSAU COUNTY ROUNDPOINT

MORTGAGE SERVICING CORPORATION, Plaintiff against MARIE BRIFIL

Nassau County’s sole public-benefit hospital in jeopardy

Executive’s misguided hostility toward the State’s reasonable conditions for future aid, I am led to question the characterizations set forth in their response. Now more than ever, a legislative public hearing on NHCC’s current condition is essential for creating transparency and charting a path toward saving our region’s only safety-net hospital.”

Bruderman insists that the state is at fault for the fiscal condition of the hospital, saying he inherited a mess when he was appointed almost two years ago. He also blamed a massive drop in state funding as the main contributor to the hospital’s financial woes.

Since 2017, state funding for NUMC has plummeted by more than $160 million, from $189 million to just $30 million this year, according to County Executive Bruce Blakeman’s office. That is just about all the money NUMC has left to operate — which Bruderman has said he believes is enough to last through July, but not without possibly having to cut nearly 300 jobs in the coming months.

“The state decided that in our state, we want to make sure that everyone can access health care,” Bruderman said at a rally for the hospital last month. “That’s what we pledged to do through legislation — it doesn’t matter your color, creed, religion, or how much money you have. The three safety-net hospitals were set

Frank Zelinski, seated, being treated by nurses James Buonagura and Mary Philip. If there is no new funding for NUMC by July, according to Chairman Matthew Bruderman, patients like Zelinski, who rely on the public-benefit hospital’s low costs, may have to go elsewhere.

up to serve the people with a special mission,” he added, referring to NUMC, SUNY Downstate, in Brooklyn, and SUNY Upstate, in Syracuse. Bruderman has also claimed that

state officials, whom he did not name, have told him that their plan is to shut down the hospital and force patients into the for-profit health care system — claims that Gov. Kathy Hochul and coun-

ty legislators deny. A statement from Hochul’s office called Bruderman’s assertions “as baseless as they are misguided,” and added that the governor “remains fully committed to health care accessibility for all,” but “the state cannot give a bailout using taxpayers’ dollars without ensuring structural reforms.”

No matter who is at fault, the permanent closure of a hospital in which 70 percent of patients are members of racial minorities, and four-fifths rely on government assistance for health care, would be a burden that the county’s most vulnerable would bear — with taxpayers remaining on the hook for over $100 million in debt.

Federal water standards address PFAS, but not dioxane

taminant is very different from anything else,” Amanda Field, a former water commissioner for the hamlet of Plainview, said. “There is no home filtration system that can take this out.”

This week, the Biden administration and the Environmental Protection Agency announced new national standards limiting the amount of PFAS allowed in

drinking water — the first time since the Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments of 1996 that a federal law has been passed governing drinking water contaminants.

It gives municipalities, like the Town of Hempstead, three years to monitor their water’s PFAS levels and an additional two years to implement the changes needed to comply with the new standards.

There are over 14,000 known PFAS,

Public Notices

During the COVID-19 health emergency, Bidders are required to comply with all governmental health requirements in effect at the time of the sale including but not limited to wearing face coverings and maintaining social distancing (at least 6-feet apart) during the auction, while tendering deposit and at any subsequent closing. Should a bidder fail to comply, the Referee may refuse to accept any bid, cancel the closing and hold the bidder in default. Bidders are also required to comply with the Foreclosure Auction Rules and COVID-19 Health Emergency Rules issued by the Supreme Court of this County in addition to the conditions set forth in the Terms of Sale. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained

then the Court Appointed Referee

according to the EPA, which can cause health issues such as cancer, organ damage and infertility. The new standards set maximum contaminant levels for six groups of the chemicals, with two of the most common groups, known as PFOA and PFOS — perfluorooctanoic acid and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid — limited to 4 parts per trillion, the rough equivalent of one drop of water in 20 Olympic-sized pools.

These chemical compounds are so widespread that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that roughly 99 percent of all Americans have a detectable level of PFAS in their bodies.

A 2021 study of Uniondale’s water by the Environmental Working Group, a national nonprofit that focuses on environmental and public health issues, found a concentration of PFOA of 2.61 parts per trillion, 372 times higher than their recommended limit. Although this is below the new legal limit of 4 parts per trillion, legality does not equate to safety, according to EWG.

“Getting a passing grade from the state and federal government does not mean the water meets the latest health guidelines,” the organization’s website states, “as the government’s legal limits are not health-protective.”

Besides PFOA, EWG found a total of 45 other known contaminants, none exceeding legal limits but nine exceeding the organization’s own health guidelines for safe consumption.

And residents like Jeannine Maynard, believe it is safe to assume that the con-

centration of these chemicals has increased since the study was conducted. EWG detected dioxane at .8 parts per billion, but one year later, the Town of Hempstead measured the chemical at levels above the state’s maximum contaminant level of 1 part per billion.

“I’m thrilled,” Maynard said of the federal legislation, but she added that she thought more could and should be done to address the chemicals’ changing health standards and the presence of dioxane.

In a statement, John Reinhardt, the Town of Hempstead’s water commissioner, said, “The Department has been testing for the compounds covered in the recently announced PFAS standards and is working with leading water quality professionals on Long Island to design improvements where needed to install additional treatment systems as needed to continue providing our consumers with the high-quality water they demand.”

“The Department of Water continues to move ahead with over $200 million in water-treatment improvements approved by the Town Board to address emerging contaminants including 1,4 dioxane and PFAS compounds,” Reinhardt told the Herald. “Work continues on the construction of these treatment plants, including the new advanced oxidation process systems being installed at the Oak Street well site in Uniondale.

“The town will continue to pursue all funding opportunities to meet these regulations,” Reinhardt added, “so that our residents are not saddled with the exorbitant costs to comply.”

Jennifer Corr/Herald file

NUMC chair Matthew Bruderman.

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How can I earthquakeproof my house?

Q. Since the recent earthquake, I have looked all over my house and see some small cracks in corners and a few in ceilings. Some of the cracks were there before, but it made me concerned about whether my house is protected from earthquakes, and what can I do to make it safer. Of course, nobody can predict earthquakes or how strong they’ll be, but if there is anything you can suggest, please tell me.

A. I was surprised by the number of questions I got about this. Obviously, the unknown is scary, because people feel helpless against the power of nature. Your home, unless it’s made of extremely rigid masonry (concrete or brick) without any reinforcement, is already fairly flexible. Unfortunately, seismic design of residential structures isn’t very well understood, either by designers or builders, because there are very few threatening earthquakes in our region.

Ask The Architect

Monte Leeper

Our safety factor on Long Island is the ground we are built on, which is very sandy along the shorelines, and becomes a little more rigid moving inland, but not enough to put us in a more restricted category. There are charts and graphs in the New York State Residential Building Code that show what categories to follow when designing a building, and what restrictions and exceptions there are to various conditions.

If your home, for example, has interior walls that are perpendicular to exterior walls, bracing the exterior walls, and if the exterior walls are generally in the same plane, from foundation to roof, you have met some of the first requirements for strength in an earthquake. The exterior walls are sheer walls, and the interior perpendicular walls are brace walls that help resist inward and outward movement in a high-wind or an earth-shaking event.

Many people have opened up the interiors of their homes, making the kitchen, dining room and living room, for example, one big open space. In doing so, especially without the benefit of having included a trained professional architect or engineer in the design, they may have subjected themselves to problems with a lack of bracing or sheer design. Just having a beam connecting an outside wall where a wall used to connect to an interior wall across the room usually isn’t enough to resist extreme seismic or high-wind conditions. But because we rarely have either of these two events, most people ignore the possibility. That makes everything much more difficult when a licensed professional has to mop up the mess from when a homeowner only hired someone who didn’t know the whole scope of different regulations.

Cracks in walls and ceilings are often caused by movement, but there are multiple types of movement, from heating and cooling resulting in expansion and contraction, humidity and settling. There is little you can do to strengthen your home’s conditions without the knowledge of a trained professional, engineer or architect, because you may just be adding weight in the wrong places.

© 2024 Monte Leeper

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

Migrants get more government support than veterans

Many corners of New York continue to deteriorate thanks to the left-wing policies instituted by radical ideologues in the White House, the governor’s mansion and City Hall — but prioritizing the financial well-being of migrants over American military veterans who served our nation should be a step too far, and a rallying cry for Empire State residents fed up with the status quo instituted by the Democratic “leaders” of New York.

AnTHonY D’ESpoSiTo

Indeed, recent reporting has uncovered that in many cases, illegal migrants who have made their way to New York City are receiving more public assistance than disabled veterans. What’s even more jarring is that there seems to be no appetite for correcting this glaring misplacement of priorities among Democratic lawmakers.

Reporting by Newsweek revealed that “a family of four migrants in New York City receives more monthly funding than a family of four that includes a military veteran who receives disability compensation.” Many migrants who have arrived in New York City are receiving prepaid debit cards that can be used to cover a wide range of expenses. Indeed, many migrant families of four are receiving debit cards preloaded with $1,400 a month — courtesy of taxpayers. This dwarfs the amount received by a family of four utilizing the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, which averages $713 monthly.

Too many elected officials believe in open-border, pro-migrant policies.

The assistance for migrants is also higher than military veterans’ disability compensation in many cases: A veteran who has a 50 percent disability rating, a spouse and one child receives only $1,255 every four weeks, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

These infuriating statistics are just the latest iteration of New York’s proillegal migrant record. In fiscal year 2023 alone, the Big Apple welcomed over 175,000 migrants and shelled out

over $1.45 billion to shelter, feed and provide services to these lawbreakers. Thanks to New York City’s progressive “right to shelter” legislation, there is reportedly no end in sight to the droves of migrants consuming taxpayer resources at an unsustainable rate. Indeed, if the current rate of migration holds, the city alone could spend around $12 billion to support migrants by fiscal year 2025.

While President Biden, Gov. Kathy Hochul and New York City progressives continue to facilitate the migrant cost crisis with their open-border and pro-migrant policies, over 35,000 veterans had no permanent housing in the United States in 2023, and the number continues to rise. It’s time we place the priorities of veterans, and all Americans, ahead of migrants whose first action in this country was breaking our immigration laws.

Correcting Democrats’ horrific migrant policies in New York will require a multifaceted approach, starting at the municipal level and ending at the White House. New Yorkers and all

Americans must elect leaders committed to ending the migrant crisis, and not merely “managing” it.

In Congress, I was proud to join my fellow House Republicans in passing a comprehensive border-security bill last year. This sweeping legislative package is the strongest bill in a generation, and would provide a large infusion of resources to support our Border Patrol agents and enhance security infrastructure along our southern border — tools that would end the migrant crisis. The Democratic majority in the Senate has refused to vote on the legislation, and instead attempted to sell the American people a bag of fake goods in the form of their “compromise” border security plan, which would have merely codified the current migrant crisis, not ended it.

We can stop the prioritization of migrants’ well-being over that of veterans and all Americans by rejecting the radical immigration policies of a Democratic Party that has been captured by its progressive base from the top down, and demanding that Democratic leaders join Republicans in placing the interests of Americans first once again.

Anthony D’Esposito represents the 4th Congressional District.

Spring cleaning: Forget the brooms and mops

My clothes closet is a throwback, a collection from a past life. Who bought all these clothes, I wonder. Whose life was dressed in these costumes? What woman, aside from the extravagantly shod Imelda Marco, could possibly think she needed so many pairs of shoes?

RAnDi KREiSS

I stand in awe at the bizarre items hanging inside. I cannot connect to the life these clothes adorned. There is a floorlength, multi-colored, layer-cake skirt that I bought and last wore on a trip to Africa, when it was only marginally appropriate, even in Mozambique. Truth? There are two of these skirts. I also have a bright, bright red, heavily embroidered Chinese jacket I bought in Shanghai in 2003. It’s lovely, and it fits, but it is so, so pre-Covid life.

I see shirts I bought 25 years ago, when big, padded shoulders were de rigueur. They still have paper stuffed into the sleeves from the last time I had

them cleaned, several decades ago.

It’s like wandering through Pompeii. Who was this person? I wonder. The big belts, the silk shawls, the long velvet pants for formal attire add to the sense of disconnection. A hot pink cocktail dress?

Today I could keep my wardrobe in a paper sack. Since the pandemic and the collapse of the social life we once enjoyed, I dress down. Way down. Still, there are four pairs of spiked heels on the shelf. A walk in those babies would be a suicide mission.

SOn another shelf in the closet is the crocheted blanket that I started with my mother-in-law, who has been dead 40 years. Any day now I guess I’ll take up crocheting again. The bejeweled handbag I bought in the gift shop at the Raffles Hotel in Singapore doesn’t go with my mom jeans.

perfect symbol of all that is tucked away, out of sight.

With that in mind, I want to springclean my mind of the addictive behaviors brought on by the deprivations and anxieties of the coronavirus. The superkiller is done, and we’re still standing. The virus, no doubt, is here to stay, but with the appropriate vaccines, we will go on. What remains is our pathological obsession with devices that intensified during the pandemic, and that needs to be treated.

ince the pandemic and the collapse of the social life we once enjoyed, I dress down.

You get my point. I hereby publicly vow to use this spring to fling out the old and give away the wardrobe of the woman who once lived a very different life from mine. My new life requires five hangars and a drawer.

There’s more. Closets are a metaphor, are they not? Clichéd, but still the

For example, I thought I had a clear mind when I sat down to write this. Then I glanced at an incoming text. My sister wanted a recipe, so I stopped writing and looked up the ingredients of sheet pan lasagna. But wait — as I searched, there was “incoming”: A new sale by Eileen Fisher, so I checked it out, and was about to buy a new T-shirt to stash in the aforementioned closet when, blip, there were notices from a dozen charities offering to match my donation today if I made them right now. I started to give my $25 to Planned Parenthood when, whoosh, there was a text from my granddaughter, who was turning in a paper in three

minutes that she wanted me to edit.

So, what was I doing? Writing my column — right, that’s it. But sister texted back, thanking me for the lasagna recipe, and then my husband texted to ask which lettuce to buy at the supermarket. I had to tell him romaine, right? Or he might come back with iceberg.

What did I sit down here to do? Oh yes, I want to focus on spring cleaning, but the news and the texts and the endless notifications are a disorienting sound-and-light show signifying nothing but distraction.

But, really, hold on a minute, can I afford to ignore a text from a company that will help me control upper-arm fat? Can I write about spring cleaning this week, when Donald Trump is possibly eating a puppy online in another magic MAGA moment? (Relax, I made that one up.)

What practical steps will I take to clean up the psychological and technological distractions? I will stop “notifications” and turn off my phone when I write. Next time. I really will do that, I promise, but first I have to check out two tiny must-read urgent news flashes: the best undiscovered beaches in Newfoundland and photos of an ancient worm that grew to 37 feet long.

Weaving a future of peace, harmony and justice

as the vibrant hues of spring emerge, so, too, do the sacred observances of Easter, Passover and ramadan — each offering a tapestry of traditions woven with threads of renewal, redemption and hope.

Christians and Muslims have completed their observances of Easter and ramadan, and now Jews are set to celebrate what they call Pesach — a holiday that commemorates the liberation of the Israelites in ancient Egypt, and their eventual exodus to the Promised land.

When it comes to the tapestry of humanity, however, all of these celebrations serve as poignant reminders of our shared quest for spiritual uplift and communal solidarity, transcending cultural boundaries and religious affiliations.

At the heart of Easter lies the profound narrative of resurrection, symbolizing the triumph of life over death, and the promise of renewal. Christians around the world gathered to commemorate the resurrection of Jesus Christ, finding solace in the belief that, through faith and redemption, new beginnings are possible.

Letters

There’s ‘my-partisanship’ far from D.C., Jerry

To the Editor:

Similarly, Passover holds a special place in the hearts of Jewish communities. Through rituals steeped in tradition, families gather around the Seder table to retell the story of Exodus, passing the torch of remembrance down from one generation to the next. Passover embodies the timeless themes of liberation and redemption, inspiring people to break free from the shackles of oppression and embrace the promise of a brighter future.

Amid the tapestry of religious diversity, ramadan shines as a beacon of spiritual devotion and self-discipline for Muslims worldwide. During this holiest month of the Islamic calendar, believers fast from dawn to dusk, engaging in prayer, reflection and charity. Through the rigor of fasting, Muslims seek purifications of the soul and a deepened connection with the divine — finding strength and solace in the collective journey of faith.

Despite their distinct cultural expressions and theological nuances, Easter, Passover and ramadan converge on the shared terrain of universal values and aspirations. Across these sacred seasons, the themes of renewal, redemption and hope serve as bridges that

Jerry Kremer’s good heart, I fear, is overly generous for our current moment (“Washington: where bipartisanship goes to die,” April 11-17). His desire for bipartisanship is currently unfashionable, not only in Washington but right here in Massapequa. Our former honorable representative and gentleman, Peter King, is now willing to pronounce on the political qualifications of mourners attending services for an NYPD officer lost in action.

The lawbreaking, felon-praising Donald Trump is noted for his “dignity” at Jonathan Diller’s memorial, while a rumor of Gov. Kathy Hochul’s being snubbed is pandered. Other notable Democrats are named and shamed with King’s party’s “anti-police” canard. Thus was Diller’s memorial stained with gratuitous my-partisanship. Bipartisanship is often a corpse, Mr. Kremer, before it departs for Washington.

BrIAN KEllY Rockville Centre

unite humanity in its quest for transcendence and meaning.

In the tapestry of diversity, we find unity in our shared humanity, transcending the boundaries of creed and nationality. As we reflect on the timeless messages of these three observances, let us embrace the richness of our religious heritage, and celebrate the mosaic of traditions that adorn the fabric of our collective existence.

In the face of adversity and uncertainty, these sacred days remind us of the resilience of the human spirit and the enduring power of faith to sustain us through life’s trials.

Together, let us embrace unity in diversity, forging bonds of understanding and compassion that transcend the barriers of ignorance and prejudice. And may we find strength in our shared humanity, and hope in the process of a brighter tomorrow.

As the spring sun rises, let us embark on a journey of spiritual renewal and communal solidarity, guided by the timeless wisdom of Easter, Passover and ramadan. In this tapestry of diversity, may we weave a future of peace, justice and harmony for generations to come.

ed to “allow” state school funding to remain status quo, I sent the following sentiments to my Board of Education as well as lobbyist/membership organizations that advocate for school boards, including the Nassau-Suffolk and New York State school boards associations. The crime of this state aid funding game is that districts ran around in a

frenzy and a state of panic for the past six weeks, each looking to make changes and cuts, all for nothing! This disturbing yearly exercise of dangling money like a carrot is getting old and tiresome. A new method must be put in place, immediately.

Perhaps it’s as simple as educating district boards with the understanding

How will we discuss the presidential campaign in class?

amajor goal of teachers, especially secondary school social studies teachers, is to help students learn to evaluate multiple perspectives on issues by weighing evidence, separating fact from fiction, examining underlying assumptions and then formulating their own informed opinions. As a teacher, I generally withhold my opinion on a topic — but I have no problem asserting that slavery, genocide, racism, dictatorship and antisemitism are bad. There are no upsides.

aLan J.

sinGer

On any given topic, I give students documents to evaluate that include things I agree with and things I don’t. In class, my primary role is to ask questions that promote respectful discussion of the issues. I use this approach whether we’re talking about the past — say, the causes of the American Revolution — or current issues, such as the role of human action in climate change, whether a military campaign constitutes war crimes, or whether a group’s behavior should be identified as terrorism.

This fall, one important topic of discussion will be the Biden administration’s record on foreign policy, the economy, the climate, and the migrant/refu-

gee “crisis.” Another will be whether Biden’s age should be an issue in the election, whatever your evaluation of his first term.

The big problem in September will be what to do about former President Donald Trump. How do you manage a balanced, unbiased analysis of a candidate who makes outrageous, hateful and blatantly false statements? Trump is facing scores of criminal indictments, has been found guilty of defamation and fraud, tried to overturn the 2020 presidential election, continues to claim that the election was stolen, dismisses any accusations against him as politically motivated, and demands immunity from prosecution as a former president.

the big problem in September will be what to do about you know who.

open to accusations of injecting opinions into class dialogue and trying to influence students’ ideas. But a teacher’s job is to influence students’ ideas. Our responsibility to promote civic discourse supported by evidence in an election year means we must encourage students to think critically about the campaign and the candidates, and if that means presenting an accurate picture of the threat Trump poses, we’ll have to live with the consequences.

tional guarantees of due process.

November’s election will be a major focus in middle school and high school social studies classes. I’m not neutral about slavery, genocide, racism, dictatorship or antisemitism, and I’m not neutral about the threat Trump poses to the future of democracy in the United States and the country’s constitutional foundation. I won’t use unsubstantiated conspiracy theories, propaganda websites, and Trump-sycophantic reports in document packages and pretend that students are evaluating legitimate sources.

Even an exercise in fact-checking Trump statements can leave a teacher

Letters

that they can run their budgets like a business. Not only can they, they should! We are the fiduciary stewards of the taxpayers’ money. Let’s teach boards to be fiscally responsible.

The issue with most administrations, which is no fault of their own, is that they don’t earn the money they’re in charge of. Our schools are multi-million-dollar businesses, and there’s a very different understanding of how to spend money when you’re responsible for generating the business and chasing down the receivables. When you’re responsible for making payroll, and paying worker’s comp, insurance and all other fixed costs each week, you spend differently. When fixed costs rise, they eat into your profits, but in the educational world we just raise everyone’s taxes and ask for more. The mindset is vastly different.

The long and short of it is that the entire state just spent six weeks of budget season — the busiest time of year, when we’re planning for next year — wasting time, energy, manpower and productivity, only to be told, don’t worry, you really do have the money. It is counterproductive, cruel,

bad business and a cycle that has become accepted by all! We succumb to this every year, praising the governor for giving us our money back.

Our leadership at the state level — the education commissioner, Board of Regents members and elected officials on both sides of the aisle — needs to start having hard conversations with the governor’s office about their modus operandi. This disaster needs to stop.

Any successful businessperson understands that when an organization is kept in constant crisis mode, it affects every operation. The permacrisis in which this administration keeps our education system is slowly killing public education. So I’m not thankful that the governor let us “keep” our taxpayers’ money. Personally I’m disgusted, and I’m waiting for those who can to advocate for real change.

MARgARET MARCHAND

President, Locust Valley Board of Education Founder, Coalition of New York State School Boards

There will be students in every class who support Trump, which is their right. They should be welcomed into the discussion and encouraged to offer evidence to support their positions, but they can’t be permitted to shout down or intimidate other students, which I witnessed in 2016 and 2020.

Trump has recently said some scary things, some of which he has backtracked on and some of which he has not. Any one of them should disqualify him from being president. He told American Jews, who already face a rising tide of antisemitism, that “Any Jewish person that votes for Democrats hates their religion. They hate everything about Israel, and they should be ashamed of themselves.” He has accused immigrants of “poisoning the blood of our country,” echoing the ideas of Adolf Hitler, and promises mass deportations, in violation of constitu-

Trump lowers the character of political speech as he raises the level of hostility. He has warned of a “bloodbath” if he isn’t elected, threatens to withdraw the United States from, or sharply reduce U.S. financial support for, NATO, which has helped prevent broader European wars since tens of millions of people died in World Wars I and II, and to withdraw the U.S. from global efforts to minimize climate change. He has repeatedly expressed admiration for authoritarian leaders like Russia’s Putin, China’s Xi and North Korea’s Kim.

In his speeches, Trump continuously lies about his record as president. He didn’t build the greatest economy or pass the biggest tax cut in U.S. history. He didn’t do more for African Americans than any president since Lincoln. He didn’t defeat ISIS or increase government revenue — and he wasn’t reelected in 2020.

Teachers shouldn’t tell students who to vote for or how they themselves will vote, but they will be remiss if they don’t help them understand who Trump is and what he represents. Those who are unsure how to do this can have students read and debate the points raised here. Students can evaluate whether they raise legitimate concerns, or are just anti-Trump propaganda.

Dr. Alan Singer is a professor of teaching, learning and technology and the director of social studies education programs at Hofstra University.

Framework by Nicole Formisano

Attend our upcoming UNDERGRADUATE

OPEN HOUSE

Sunday, May 5, 2024

Campus Tour times: 9 a.m., 10:30 a.m., Noon, 1:30 p.m.

Hofstra University is a community designed with your future in mind.

During this year’s Spring Open House, speak with Hofstra’s world-class faculty and learn about its 175 undergraduate programs, various student services, clubs, organizations, and NCAA Division I athletics, all while touring a stunning 244-arce campus filled with cutting-edge facilities and research labs, and residence halls that will make you feel at home.

In-person and virtual tours are available. For event details and to RSVP, please visit hofstra.edu/visit