Uniondale Herald 06-08-2023

BEACON BEACON

Saying goodbye to Pierrela Guerrier Page

Teaching children about diversity, police

Uniondale resident pens new book

By BRANDoN CRUZ bcruz@liherald.com

Adrian Goodwin is on a mission to educate children about police work in a community while teaching them about diversity. The Uniondale resident wrote the book on the subject.

“Twins in The City: Let’s Learn About Police Officers,” is a children’s book that follows the story of a family’s outing to New York City, where twins Madison and Mia see various kinds of police officers throughout the day and

learn about each position’s responsibilities and functions. Goodwin has served 18 years with the New York City police department, and as a Black woman officer, diversity has become her area of expertise.

The inspiration for her book stemmed from a question raised by her own twins, who are also named Madison and Mia and are now 8. They asked their mom what it is exactly that police officers do, besides just “catching the bad guys,” a question she says many chilContinued on page 8

Nicole Burke on how she gives a voice to Uniondale

By REINE BETHANY rbethany@liherald.com

Uniondale real estate agent Nicole Burke does more than sell houses. She originated a popular weekly radio show on WRHU, Radio Hofstra University, called “The Voice of Uniondale,” which spotlights local achievers and addresses community issues.

The leap from showing houses across the metropolitan area for Charles Rutenberg Realty to hosting a lively half-hour with fascinating personalities can still seem intimidating at times.

“I sell houses. I’m not educated in being a journalist,” Burke said modestly. “But the feedback

from my guests is that I make them feel comfortable. I get them into their own stream of thinking.”

The idea for the show started with John Mullen, WRHU’s general manager for. “Nicole sat next to me at an event at Hofstra,” Mullen recalled. “I could tell she had an incredible personality. Her voice was positive and up-tempo. She was talking to everybody.”

Mullen asked Burke whether she would consider hosting a radio show. After interviews with management, “We gave her the opportunity, and she took full advantage of it,” he said. “I’ve never seen a radio civilian take

to radio so quickly.”

Burke, whose first broadcast was last December, had to master every aspect of production — fast.

“I’ve learned all those buttons and levers that go up and down for volume,” she said. “I adjust the headset, make sure the mic is close enough, monitor for

background noise and edit it, go back and listen to it.”

She now produces the entire show in addition to booking her guests, which have included former Gov. David Paterson; Ron Reese, vice president of communications of Las Vegas Sands; and Monique Darrisaw-Akil, superintendent of the Uniondale school district.

The interview with DarrisawAkil inspired Mullen to enter that segment in a yearly Press Club of Long Island contest.

“The superintendent was fabulous,” Mullen said. “Host and guest together were amazing, and I thought, why not send it in?”

“It was only my second or Continued on page 16

Courtesy Blue House Publishing

BRIA MoNéT DUBoSE illustrated ‘Twins in the City: Let’s Learn About Police Officers,’ that feature twins Madison, left, and Mia seeing a police officer that looks like them.

I’ve never seen a radio civilian take to radio so quickly.

JoHN MUllEN general manager, WRHU

OBITUARIES

Pierrela Guerrier, who was beloved by everyone

By REINE BETHANY rbethany@liherald.com

If true wealth is reflected in abundance of love, then Pierrela Delille Guerrier was immensely wealthy.

She was also unusual, because she lived to be 103 years old, which gave her many years to enjoy the loving support of her large extended family.

Her obituary as posted by Harnett Funeral Home in Uniondale lists 21 names of relatives, including her children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews, great-nieces—many of their names followed by “and family” — as well as “many cousins — some in Miami, some in Brooklyn.”

Pierrela Guerrier was born and raised in Port-de-Paix on the northwestern coast of Haiti. Her education in her hometown at a Roman Catholic school, Soeur de la Sagesse, helped to prepare her for running her own seamstress business while she raised a daughter and a son, France Guerrier Cezaire and Yves Bernard Guerrier.

Forty years ago, when France and Yves grew up and moved to the New York City metropolitan area, Pierrela remained in Port-de-Paix, surrounded by her eight siblings and her parents, Juge Delille Desmangles and Charmatine Poliard.

Many of Pierrela’s relatives moved to the U.S. mainland. At last, in her early 80s, she came to Brooklyn, and finally moved to Baldwin to live with Yves and his two children, Steve and Shanice.

“It was great to be with her,” said Yves. “She remembered everything and she did not suffer anything major, like diabetes. She did everything she needed for herself.”

Family and friends celebrated Pierella’s 103rd birthday on

March 13. Pierella was still in good health. But a problem arose suddenly.

“At the last minute she had a gallbladder problem, and that is what caused her death,” Yves said. “She was preparing for surgery. We gathered the family around her. She knew everybody was there. She was talking and still knew everything and was conscious. But she was in pain, and then suddenly, she couldn’t breathe.”

A day later, on May 12, 2023, Pierrela died.

Her obituary on the Hartnett Funeral Home website noted that she was a faithful attendee at Sunday church services,

“She was loving, patient and generous and kind to everyone,” the obituary continued. “She was a great mother and a great grandmother. She always cared for her kids, her grandchildren or other kids. She served and loved God with all her heart.”

According to the Hartnett posting, Pierrela is survived by her daughter France Guerrier Cezaire and grandson Makarios Cezaire, her son Yves Bernard Guerrier and grandchildren Dr. Shanice Guerrier and Steve Guerrier; her nieces and nephews, among whom are Estella Desmangles and family, Marie Anne Cyprien and family, Nirva Marseille, Yvette Desmangles, Ella Desmangles and family, Archange Desmangles and family, Serge Desmangles and family; her great-nieces: Marie Claude, M. Dorcena, Eugene Dorcena, Sebastien D. Dorcena, Annie Annacius and family, Lorina D. Simeon and family, Patrick Marseilles and family, Rosney Marseille and family; and many cousins—some in Miami, some in Brooklyn.

The impressive roster of relatives’ names illuminates the last line of her obituary: “She will be greatly missed by her family, friends and church community.”

Courtesy Yves Guerrier

ON HER 103Rd birthday, Pierrela Guerrier enjoyed a cake with friends and family.

Eisenhower Park scenery in full bloom

Spring has sprung and it’s clear to see in beautiful Eisenhower Park. With the weather warming up, it may be nice to take a stroll in the park and see the trees and flowers in bloom.

The 930-acre park — larger than Central Park — has a lot to offer.

See the wildflowers in bloom around the picnic areas while grabbing a bite to eat. Enjoy the fitness activities along the walk around the park. Set up a blanket in field 6 by the Harry Chapin Lakeside Theater.

There are ducks, geese and tur-

tles to see in the pond behind the theater. During certain times, people can be seen racing boats in the water.

The Veterans Memorial is beautiful. Not only because of the gorgeous landscape surrounding it, but because the monuments honor those who served our country. Take a look at the different memorials.

Play a game of Bocce, or hit up the mini golf course. There’s an inline rolling skating area, and soccer and baseball fields. Numerous playgrounds and a pool offer a place for children.

on your walk, you may come across from twolegged friends.

There are plenTy of wildflowers growing throughout the park. Grab a camera, and see how many colors you can find.

The VeTerans MeMorial is a great area of Eisenhower Park to walk around. Visitors can read up about the different memorials, and enjoy some gorgeous greenery.

Tim Baker/Herald photos

The pond behind the Harry Chapin Theater is a great spot to walk around and get some sun and fresh air.

Town deems motel ‘unfit for human occupancy’

By MALLORY WILSON mwilson@liherald.com

The Coliseum Motor Inn, in East Meadow, was closed by the Town of Hempstead May 30 due to unsafe and unsanitary living conditions, according to town officials.

An inspection of the hotel conducted by the town building department led to its closure. In a statement, Town Supervisor Don Clavin said that Nassau County police worked with other agencies to locate residents.

County spokesman Chris Boyle said that the Department of Social Services relocated 19 people from the beleaguered motel, on Hempstead Turnpike, across the street from Eisenhower Park.

“The safety of residents and neighbors remains a primary concern for the Town of Hempstead,” Clavin said in a statement.

The owner of the motel is listed as Mahadev Equity Partners LLC.

The town monitored the inn closely over the past year due to an increase in crime, Clavin’s office said. While the building is not fully condemned, it is closed and deemed “unfit for human occupancy.”

“Boy, am I glad they busted them finally,” Helen Meittinis, president of the Community Association of Stewart Avenue and a resident of Salisbury, said. “I am so glad to hear about that, because there was nothing but crime going on there. It was prostitution, drug sales, and everything else.”

Nassau police reportedly arrested

three men last month for allegedly having crack cocaine in their room. The three men were said to be living there.

Clavin’s office said that the unsafe and unsanitary state of the motel was severe. The structural steel was severely damaged, the brick walls were damaged from water intrusion and the outdoor stairways were heavily deteriorated. Because of the poor conditions, there were no adequate emergency exits.

Due to the exterior doors and windows being in poor condition, mold developed inside of the building and there were soiled carpets and flooring. Locks did not functioning properly. The roof was structurally unsound allowing water to enter the motel.

There was missing drywall throughout the motel along with missing or inoperable smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

Steve Edmondson, former securities director at the motel around 10 years ago, said that he went to a Uniondale civic association meeting about a month ago where a deputy inspector from the NCPD‘s 1st Precinct in Baldwin, said that they were going to close down the motel.

“I asked him if he was aware that the

The TOWN Of Hempstead said the condition of the motel was severe.

social services department has people living there,” Edmondson said. “He said he was well aware but they were going to close the place down because of drug activity.”

Edmondson said he remembers the fire marshal’s office and the police department coming in and giving the previous owner 64 summonses.

“The old owner used to refuse to put social service recipients in there because it was too much of a bother,” Edmondson said. “They still have a bad clientele.”

He also recalls people being evicted from the Coliseum Motor Inn who would then head to the Bethpage Motel.

Edmondson is also with the Poor People’s Campaign, a nationwide organization that focuses on helping poor and low-income people, and the Coalition for the Homeless, an advocacy group that helps the homeless in New York City. One of his main concerns about the motel closing was whether or not the relocated people have adequate housing.

“We need housing, we need it now,” Edmondson said.

■

Mallory Wilson/Herald photos

The COLISeuM MOTOR Inn, on Hempstead Turnpike, has been closed due to unsafe and unsanitary living conditions.

A team behind the team at games in Uniondale

By REINE BETHANY rbethany@liherald.com

Uniondale has much to boast about, and one of its assets is Mitchel Field.

The Nassau County-run athletic field sits across Charles Lindbergh Boulevard from the Long Island Children’s Museum. One of its yearly events is the Nassau County Games for the Physically Challenged, which occurs the weekend after Memorial Day

More than a thousand athletes from 5 to 21 competed this year, coming from schools all over the metropolitan area.

Transporting the athletes and supporting them on the field requires a cohesive team effort, a team to support the team.

“We work as a village,” said Nancy Lincoln, who for 29 years has acted as head coach for the troupe from P.S. 229 in Woodside, Queens. “We’re all volunteers. Some of our team members also come from Long Island.”

About 20 percent of the P.S. 229 student body is classified as having a limitation, Lincoln said, such as cerebral palsy, auditory or visual impairment or severe asthma. Erin Pinto and Maegan Walter-Garvey also serve as coaches.

“Often, the families of students that used to participate come back to help us coach the younger kids,” said Lincoln.

“It’s like a family reunion thing for us,” Walter-Garvey said.

“My son Owen is participating for the seventh time,” Pinto said. “He has scolio-

sis and low muscle tone. Last night he represented PS 229 in swimming and the high jump.”

This year, P.S. 229 brought 39 participants on a big Coach bus.

“These games instill confidence,” Lincoln said. “Some of our alumni athletes come back now as coaches because they loved the experience so much. They film everybody.”

Walter-Garvey said her, Marek, 27 has been coming to the games since he was in first grade.

On a semi-circle of chairs, seven partic-

ipating and alumni athletes sat talking about the just ended the two-day event.

Isaiah Roman, 36, holds a master’s degree. He has been coaching at the games for a decade and a half.

“It’s the highlight of my year,” he said, “helping the kids and giving back to the people who gave so much to me over the years.”

Aahil Ahsan and his two brothers, Yazdaan and Ahad, all 17, will attend Queens High School for the Sciences at York College in the fall. Yazdaan still competes. He won the archery contest this

year.

“I like helping by taking videos,” Aahil said.

“It’s bringing people out here and motivating them,” Ahad added, “and it’s relaxation.”

“I like what it offers people,” Yasdaan said. “You don’t let your physical challenge define you. Instead, you define how much you let it impact your life. That’s the best part of it.”

Brian Firners, 30, once represented P.S. 229 in swimming, archery and field events.

“Now I’m on the video team,” Firners said. “I helped design this year’s T-shirts with a little butterfly on the back. It’s in memory of my mother, who passed in 2020 from Covid.”

KeVaughn “K.E.” Plunket, 20, still participates.

“I have been doing this since 2005,” K.E said. “This weekend in the races I did the 1200 and the 1500 meters. What I’m doing now is help record, using the camera.”

“I’ll put their videos together and create a film that we’ll watch during the medals ceremony on June 15,” said Victor Barangan, the physical therapist for P.S. 229.

The pandemic diminished the number of competitors, Lincoln said, but the uniting spirit of the event remains the same.

“It brings them together,” Lincoln said. “That’s what it’s about, the connectivity, not only of the volunteers involved — it’s really about the kids.”

UNIONDALE SCHOOL DISTRICT Our Promise

Every Uniondale Scholar is empowered, responsible, resilient and prepared for leadership, college and careers.

Enrolling your children in public schools provides them with the opportunity to receive a well-rounded education in a diverse and inclusive environment, with a range of programs and resources. Uniondale Public Schools are also accountable to the community and operate under strict regulations, ensuring that every child receives a quality education regardless of their background or circumstances. With highly qualified teachers, a commitment to academic excellence, and a focus on equity and inclusion, our schools offer a comprehensive education that prepares students for success in college, career, and life.

Reine Bethany/Herald

AlumNI ATHlETEs logAN Lopez, Aahil Ahsan, Ahad Ahsan, K.E. Plunkett, Isaiah Roman, Yazdaan Ahsan, and Brian Firners of P.S. 229 return yearly to the Games for the Physically Challenged in Uniondale.

Sc H ool S

Geometry is hands-on at CAES

on a beautiful sunny day, California Avenue Elementary School scholars headed outdoors for the first in a series of hands-on geometry learning activities.

On the school playground, the students carried their school iPads along on a geometry scavenger hunt, searching for right, acute and obtuse angles. Upon finding the angles, the young math mavens took photos of them. They then logged the angles in their keynote journals on the iPads.

Back inside their classrooms, the scholars built 3-D models, using toothpicks and miniature marshmallows to assemble geometric objects. They then tracked the number of edges, vertices and shapes of each object’s planar faces and entered the numbers into a graphic organizer.

“When scholars have the opportunity to employ the lessons they have learned through hands-on activities, they reinforce the skills they have acquired,” said Uniondale Superintendent Monique DarrisawAkil. “By using hands-on math, scholars have the opportunity to better conceptualize concepts that could be otherwise challenging to visualize.”

–Reine Bethany

Photos courtesy Uniondale School District California avenue elementary School scholars create 3-D geometric models and recorded their features.

California avenue elementary School scholars used iPads to record the results of a geometry scavenger hunt.

Adrian Goodwin stops by Uniondale Library July 26

“I think that it is impor tant to continue to diversify law enforcement, and I hope this book is going to open up that dialogue and help foster a healthier community within,” Goodwin said.

Book illustrator Bria Monét DuBose aimed to create images that expedited the children’s understanding of the book.

“My goal for the illustrations was to make them palatable enough for kids to understand and digest the information,” she said. “The police have a job to do, and just like us, they do their best.”

Through her drawings, Dubose said she hopes to educate children about the different responsibilities of the police and work toward making the world a more inclusive and cohesive place for future generations.

Since the book release a month ago, Goodwin said the response has been positive.

informative, but thought it could have done more to articulate how to actually interact with police in a way that children would understand.

“This book is not to say that these things don’t exist within law enforcement, or that we don’t have work to do,” Goodwin said. “This book is more just to educate and inform little readers about the possibilities of one day becoming a police officer, and what that means.”

Goodwin says her work surrounding education and community relationshipbuilding won’t end with this book. Next, she is focusing on partnering with schools and libraries to host programs on topics such as character building, communication skills, and community initiatives.

AdriAn Goodwin author, NYPD officer

“I have received a lot of great feedback online and from educators and parents,” mainly for the book’s ability to teach children about the responsibilities of police officers in a simple way,” she said.

The book has critics, such as Suffolk County preschool teacher Jacqueline Phillips, who thinks the book shied away from the nuanced complexities of policecommunity interactions, particularly within racially diverse neighborhoods.

“I appreciate the representation and I see what Goodwin was trying to do, but I think it missed the mark,” Phillips said.

She acknowledged that the book is

“Twins in the City” will be available at the Uniondale Public Library next month. The library will host Goodwin on July 26 where she will read her book during a story hour, and answer questions from the children about the types of police work carried out by officers in every police department.

“In the past few years I have started booking local authors and adding their work to our local author’s collection,” the library’s Head of Children’s Service Christina Hirsch wrote in an email. “We also have a collection of books and programs that promote storytelling, writing and publishing for our community to participate in.”

“Twins in The City: Let’s Learn About Police Officers” can be purchased online from Amazon, Barnes and Noble or Blue House Publishing.

Courtesy Adrian Goodwin n NYPD officer from Uniondale, has released a children’s book about police work in a community.

like environment, resulting in what Executive Director Rahsmia Zatar describes as a deep and lasting connections of more than 100,000 people.

“You don’t get discharged from a family,” Zatar said. That powerful familial unit is paramount to STRONG’s success. The proof lies with the countless people who have gone through the program, grown up, and now have families of their own — lovingly calling STRONG staff members their “moms” and “aunties.” This enduring bond is a testament to the organization’s triumph in fostering a supportive community that extends far beyond a child’s time in the program.

simply providing temporary clinical support, STRONG instead creates a nurturing, family-

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New vet monuments for Eisenhower Park

By MALLORY WILSON mwilson@liherald.com

Two new monuments have joined Eisenhower Park’s Veterans Memorial in field 6 ahead of Memorial Day. The area was packed on May 28 as a Memorial Day service was conducted.

One of the new monuments was dedicated to disabled veterans of Nassau County. The other paid homage to those who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. Officials said this monument is Long Island’s first memorial honoring those who served in those areas.

The Iraq and Afghanistan monument is made up of four large granite slabs with messages engraved on them. In the middle sits a bronze battlefield cross complete with boots, a rifle and a helmet. The etchings on the slabs depict maps of Iraq and Afghanistan showing where some of the main battles took place. The outer two slabs show soldiers with touching quotes.

“When our values and freedoms are tested there are volunteers that answer our country’s call. We call them soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines,” one slab reads.

“The values of a country can we measured in the character and compassion of the men and women who defend those values,” the other reads.

Veterans from across the county came to Eisenhower to see the monuments.

“This is very special,” said Steve Seidenstein, 41, of Bellmore, who served in multiple deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. “This is the time to honor our fallen brothers and sisters who have given the ultimate sacrifice and to appreciate all the service that they and all of us do currently to keep America free.”

Seidenstein said he comes from a military family and that is what ultimately led him to serve. He was a member of the Army’s 101st Airborne Division and later served as a military police officer.

“This is why we’re here,” Frank Salamino, quartermaster of the Veterans of Foreign War Post 2736 in East Meadow, said. “We have to pay honor to the people who are fallen veterans. This monument is important because no one noticed them until 20 years later.”

County Executive Bruce Blakeman along with other elected officials, and members of various veterans organizations came to show their respect and support for those who served and the new pieces.

“It’s touching, it’s very touching,” Lecia Rodriques-Whyte, who served in the U.S. Army for 22 years and in Iraq in 2004 and 2005, said about seeing the monument, “(It) makes you remember soldiers that died because of hidden wars or tragedy in the military, but it’s touching and I think it’s beautiful. We deserve it.”

Rodriques-Whyte, 65, of Elmont, is the commander of the American Legion Post 1033 in Elmont. She also works with a lot of soldiers in mental health at the Brooklyn VA hospital. She said that people shouldn’t judge homeless veterans on the streets.

“There’s a lot of hidden wars,” she said. “Soldiers have suffered so much in the military with different types of illnesses, and they come home and it really bogs them down.”

The funds for the monument were raised by various veterans groups, said Kevin Colón, the commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Levittown-Island Trees Post 9592. They raised more than $100,000 for the piece itself, and the County paid for the installation.

Colón, 42, is a Marine Corps veteran who was deployed to Iraq in 2003 and 2004.

“We wanted to make this monument inviting to all members of the veteran community and their families,” Colón said. “I felt it was important to recognize Iraq and Afghanistan, and ensure that our Gulf War veterans finally received the recognition that they deserve.”

JOhN ScALeSI uNveILed the new disabled veterans monument.

AfteR the uNveILINg, different wreaths were brought to the new monument. fRANk SALAMINO, Left, and Frank Belardo from Veterans of Foreign War Post 2736 came to show their respect to the new monument. The East Meadow residents served in Vietnam and Korea, respectively.

Mallory Wilson/Herald photos

A NeW MONuMeNt was unveiled at Eisenhower Park on May 28 to honor those who served in Iraq and Afghanistan.

STEPPING OUT

by the basketful

Adventures await in local strawberry fields

By Karen Bloom

Get outside and get pickin’. Strawberry season has arrived, and those luscious berries beckon. So gather up your gang and venture out to one of the many “u-pick” growers for a day in the berry patch.

Strawberry season reaches its peak here with the transition from spring to summer, as the fruit grows and ripen throughout May and June. Of course, local is always best, so skip the California and Florida fruit from the supermarket and pick your own.

When you return with your bounty, settle in to whip up some yummy strawberry treats. These fresh gems are always terrific on their own, of course. But when used in a recipe? They’ll jazz up any meal.

in strawberry puree until blended. Pour batter into cooled pan. Bake cheesecake about 1 hour 20 minutes, or until edges are just set and center jiggles slightly. Remove from oven and let cool on wire rack 5 minutes.

Stir together sour cream and remaining 2 tablespoons sugar in a medium bowl. Spread sour cream mixture on top of cheesecake in an even layer. Return to oven and bake 5 minutes longer. Turn oven off and prop the door ajar with the handle of a wooden spoon. Let cool in oven 1 hour. Remove from oven and cool completely. Place in refrigerator and chill until cold throughout, 4 to 6 hours, or overnight.

Using the remaining strawberries, halve them and arrange in concentric circles on top of cheesecake to serve.

Iris DeMent

The Americana singer-songwriter Iris DeMent visits the Landmark stage with her timeless songs blending traditional folk, country and gospel influences. With an inimitable voice as John Prine described, ‘like you’ve heard, but not really,’ and unforgettable melodies rooted in hymns and old country music, Iris DeMent is considered one of the finest singer-songwriters in America today. Praised for her storytelling and songwriting abilities, her career has spanned more than three decades, seven studio albums, and collaborations with Prine, Emmylou Harris and Steve Earle, among others. On her new record, ‘Workin’ On A World,’ DeMent faces the modern world — as it is right now — with its climate catastrophe, pandemic and epidemic of violence and social injustice — and implores us to love each other, despite our very different ways of seeing.

Friday, June 9, 8 p.m. $43, $38, $33. Jeanne Rimsky Theater at Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington. (516) 767-6444, or LandmarkOnMainStreet.org.

Strawberry Rhubarb Crumble

• 1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour

• 1-1/2 cups sugar

• 1 teaspoon fine sea salt

• 16 tablespoons (2 sticks) cold unsalted butter, cut into 1-inch cubes

• 1 cup rolled oats

• 2 pounds rhubarb, strings removed, stalks cut diagonally into 1/2-inch-thick slices

Double Strawberry Cheesecake

A classic cheesecake takes on added flavor with the addition of some luscious berries.

Graham cracker crust

• 1-1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs (about 9-1/2 crackers)

• 1 tablespoon granulated sugar

• 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

Filling and topping

• 16 ounces strawberries

• 4 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, room temperature

• 1-1/4 cups plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar

• 1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

• 4 large eggs

• 1 cup sour cream

Prepare graham cracker crust:

Preheat oven to 350° F. Stir graham cracker crumbs, melted butter and sugar together in a medium bowl. Press into bottom and at least 1-inch up sides of a 9-inch non-stick springform pan (if pan is not nonstick, brush first with melted butter). Bake until crust is golden brown, about 12 minutes. Let cool completely on a wire rack. Reduce oven to 300° F.

Then prepare filling and topping:

Hull 1/2 of the strawberries and puree in a blender or food processor. You should have about 3/4 cup puree. Beat cream cheese and 1-1/4 cups sugar in an electric mixer fitted with paddle attachment on low speed until smooth. Beat in vanilla until well combined. Add eggs, 1 at a time, on low speed, beating well after each addition, and scraping sides of bowl as needed. Beat

• 4 pints strawberries, sliced

Preheat an oven to 375°F.

In a food processor, pulse together 1-1/2 cups of the flour, 3/4 cup of the sugar and the salt until combined. Add the butter and pulse until the mixture resembles coarse bread crumbs. Add the oats and pulse to combine. Transfer to a bowl.

In another bowl, stir together the rhubarb, strawberries, the remaining 1/4 cup flour, and the remaining 3/4 cup sugar.

Spread the fruit filling in a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Using your fingers, press the topping into large clumps and scatter it over the fruit. Bake until the fruit is bubbling and the topping is golden and crisp, about 1 hour. Alternatively, divide the fruit and topping among eight 1/2-cup ramekins and bake for 30 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature. Serves 6 to 8.

Strawberry

Smoothie

• 1 cup coconut milk (or almond milk or your preferred milk)

• 1 cup strawberries (tops removed)

• 1 banana

• 1 cup frozen pineapple chunks

Combine all of your ingredients in your blender in the order that they are listed (liquid on the bottom and frozen on top). Blend until smooth.

His ‘Bronx Tale’

Chazz Palminteri is back on the Paramount stage with his solo version of ‘A Bronx Tale.’ The powerful one-man stage play depicts his bruising childhood, which included witnessing a gangland killing in the Bronx when he was 9. Palminteri plays 18 characters — friends, enemies and family all come alive on stage. ‘A Bronx Tale’ became a hit after he wrote it in 1989, and the most sought after property since ‘Rocky.’ This is the original show he wrote and performed that made him an in-demand character actor and served as the basis of the acclaimed movie and Broadway musical. In the tradition set forth in the 1970s by such icons as director Martin Scorsese and actors Robert DeNiro, Al Pacino and Joe Pesci, Palminteri has brought grit, muscle and an evocative realism to the sidewalks of his New York neighborhood, violent as they are and were.

Sunday, June 11, 7:30 p.m., $99.50, $89.50, $79.50, $59.50, $49.50. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Visit Ticketmaster.com or ParamountNY. com for tickets/information.

Your Neighborhood

THE SCENE

The Bacon Brothers

That ‘Footloose’ feeling comes alive when Kevin Bacon takes to the stage, Friday, June 23, 8 p.m., as one-half of the Bacon Brothers, at The Space at Westbury. Bound by blood and a mutual love of American roots music, Michael and Kevin Bacon have spent the past quarter-century in a creative whirl, funneling their shared DNA into a genre-bending sound. They call that sound “Forosoco” — a blend of folk, rock, soul, and country influences, delivered by two songwriters who were born to collaborate — and it’s taken the siblings across the world, from shows in Japan to performances at American landmarks like Carnegie Hall and the Grand Ole Opry. The Bacon Brothers turn a new page with their 11th release, “Erato,” whose five songs showcase the duo’s dynamic contrasts: quiet moments and big payoffs, organic instrumentation and electronic textures, self-penned songs and high-profile collaborations. Ticket are $45-$80; available at TheSpaceAtWestbury.com. The Space, 250 Post Ave. Westbury.

June 8

Breastfeeding Support Group

On exhibit

Nassau County Museum of Art’s exhibition, “Eye And Mind: The Shin Collection,” highlights the extraordinary collection masterworks assembled by 31-year-old connoisseur Hong Gyu Shin, an internationally recognized figure in the global art world. He shares his treasures, including works by Whistler, Lautrec, Boucher, Daumier, Delacroix, Klimt, Schiele, Balthus, Warhol, de Kooning, Gorky and many other important names from art history provocatively juxtaposed with the painting and sculpture of our own time from both Asia and the West. On view through July 9. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. (516) 484-9337 or NassauMuseum.org.

Mercy Hospital offers a peer to peer meeting for breastfeeding support and resources, facilitated by a certified breastfeeding counselor, every Thursday, 10:30 a.m.–11:30 a.m. Bring your baby (newborn to 1 year) to the informal group setting. All new moms welcome, regardless of delivering hospital. Registration required. Call breastfeeding counselor, Gabriella Gennaro, at (516) 7052434 to secure a spot. Mercy Hospital, St. Anne’s Building, 1000 North Village Ave., Rockville Centre. For information visit CHSLI.org.

June 10

Juneteenth storytime

Author Kim Taylor is at the Uniondale Library, Saturday, June 10, 11 to 11:45 a.m., for a Juneteenth storytime. Taylor is an expert quilter who shares a unique story of the celebration of Juneteenth from the perspective of a young girl. 400 Uniondale Ave., Uniondale. To sign up visit Uniondalelibrary.org.

Local colleges, the Sands creating world-class hospitality program

Global resort developer Las Vegas Sands, Nassau Community College (NCC) and Long Island University (LIU) will partner to create a new, comprehensive hospitality program for Long Island’s college students.

Here’s what you should know about the program’s potential impact on the Long Island area.

It would create new career opportunities

The strategic partnership will generate new career opportunities for students and graduates interested in hospitality management and culinary arts industries, both of which are expected to see significant local job growth if the proposed Sands resort and entertainment center is built.

“We are extraordinarily proud to be working with Long Island University and Nassau Community College to build a world-class hospitality program, creating new pathways to success for Long Islanders,” said Ron Reese Senior Vice President of Global Communications and Corporate Affairs for Las Vegas Sands. “We want to make sure that any Long Islander that has the desire to be part of this exciting new industry can build the skills and confidence to join us.”

Together, this collaboration will support sustainable job growth, economic development, and new career opportunities for students on Long Island and throughout the New York metropolitan region.

Who We are:

It would bridge a gap between LIU and NCC

The partnership is helping build a bridge between the two colleges, empowering NCC graduates to advance their two-year associate’s degrees to four-year bachelor’s degrees at LIU’s nearby campus.

NCC is recognized for outstanding associate’s degrees, certificates, and workforce development programs in hospitality, culinary arts, business, humanities, nutrition, theater, and technology. The collaboration is expected to lead to programs in hotel and casino management, security and surveillance, meetings and banquets, entertainment, and food and beverage. Sands and NCC will explore a variety of learning models, including internship and experiential learning components for students.

With its proximity to the proposed Sands resort, the partnership makes plenty of sense for Nassau Community College.

“Our students will have the opportunity to master the craft of culinary arts inside a modern learning laboratory that is opening next year at 108 Duncan Avenue on the NCC campus in Garden City, New York,” said Dr. Maria Conzatti, acting president of Nassau Community College of the State University of New York. “NCC alumni with an associate’s degree who wish to further their education toward a bachelor’s degree in business hospitality and related majors can seamlessly transfer to one of the nation’s leading private institutions, Long Island University Post campus in Brookville, Nassau County. Locally educated students with convenient access to professional job

Continued on page 2

Nassau Community College’s proximity to the proposed worldfamous Sands resort and entertainment center would place our students at the forefront of the hospitality, culinary arts and business industries.

op-

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

Dr. Maria Conzatti, Nassau Community College Acting President

Photo by Sands New York

Photo: Senior Vice President of Global Communications and Corporate Affairs for Las Vegas Sands, Ron Reese, announces its partnership with Long Island University (LIU) and Nassau Community College (NCC). Reese was joined by Dr. Maria Conzatti (far left), acting president for NCC, and Dr. Kimberly R. Cline, LIU President.

The creation of new studies specializing in hospitality management and culinary arts will offer unparalleled experiential learning and access to professional opportunities that will launch students to successful careers.

Dr. Kimberly R. Cline, Long Island University President

portunities will translate into a wide range of economic and societal benefits to the Long Island community.”

It would add new areas of study at LIU

Through the partnership, LIU will also seek approval for additional Bachelor’s and Master’s degree offerings that support in-demand careers in Hospitality Management and Culinary Arts.

Long Island University President Kimberly R. Cline supports the project because it will help create new areas of studies within the university.

“We are proud to partner with the Sands Corporation and Nassau Community College to build a stronger economic foundation for our region and create pathways to numerous career opportunities in hospitality and culinary arts,” she said.

It’s nothing new for Sands

This partnership is an extension of Sands’ long history of partnering with educational organizations, investing to build a strong local workforce, and advancing the skills of the hospitality industry in the communities it calls home. The company’s hospitality education initiatives span contributions to higher education

saNDs Macao

institutions, scholarship programs, on-property and industry-supported training opportunities for students and hospitality professionals, and mentorship support from company leaders and experts.

Other examples of Sands’ collaborations with educational institutions include its relationship with Northampton Community College near its previously-owned resort in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. In Las Vegas, the company also co-founded and continues to support the Sands Center for Professional Education at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas Harrah College of Hospitality. In addition, the company recently established a $1 million scholarship program to help advance hospitality careers in Singapore in conjunction with its iconic Marina Bay Sands resort, which also regularly hosts, trains and employs hospitality students onsite through a variety of developmental programs.

About the project

The project: Sands is proposing a Long Island integrated resort development that would include outdoor community spaces, luxury hotel rooms and a world-class live performance venue honoring the long legacy of live music at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

There’s more: The resort also would feature celebrity chef restaurants, experiential events and venues, and ballrooms with flexible meeting and conference space. Other planned amenities include high-quality casino gaming, representing less than ten percent of the project’s total square footage; a luxurious day spa; a swimming pool and health club; and a variety of other entertainment programming.

This public-private initiative would be contingent on the Sands being successful in securing the opportunity to develop a multi-billion-dollar resort complex on the site of the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. To learn more about the Sands as the world’s preeminent developer and

The ParisiaN Macao reSOrTS arOUND THe WOrLD

The first Las Vegas-style casino in Macao and the first American-based hospitality development in Asia, Sands Macao blends entertainment and gaming amenities with easy accessibility from Hong Kong near the Macau Ferry Terminal.

The Parisian Macao is the shimmering beacon of the Cotai Strip, inspired by the magic and wonder of the famed City of Light, including a half-scale authentic re-creation of the world-famous Eiffel Tower.

Nassau County Legislature OKs Sands land lease deal

Last week, plans by Las Vegas Sands to redevelop more than 70 acres at the Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale took another leap forward as the Nassau County Legislature voted 17-1 to approve the land lease agreement the county unveiled last month.

"The overwhelming bipartisan approval of lease terms with the Sands by the County Legislature affirms that Nassau County has made the right decision," County Executive Bruce Blakeman said, in a statement. "This is the first hurdle to overcome to provide a world-class entertainment center with a luxury spa and hotel, creating thousands of jobs and economic prosperity for Nassau County."

It is an agreement that gives the Sands control over the land, where it intends to build a resort that would include hotels, a casino, outdoor community spaces, meeting and conference space, a performance venue and restaurants for $4 billion.

Within 60 days, the Sands will give the county an additional $54 million. After the casino opens, the county will be guaranteed $25 million in the first three years of operations, and $50 million per year thereafter, Blakeman said at the April news conference announcing the lease agreement.

New York State still needs to approve a gaming license to Las Vegas Sands.

"The approval granted today by the Nassau County legislature is an important step in our company's efforts to secure a New York gaming license and ultimately develop a worldclass hospitality, entertainment and gaming destination," Robert Goldstein, Sands chair and chief executive officer said in a statement.

LI TODAY

CareS BriefS

More than just philanthropy, Sands Cares manifests Sand’s dedication to working hand-in-hand with communities to inspire positive impact. Through Sands Cares, the company integrates corporate giving, nonprofit capacity building and team member volunteerism to address the priorities they’ve identified in communities. Below is a sampling of Sands Cares recent work in Nevada.

What to know about Green Our Planet’s hydroponics program

Las Vegas-based Green Our Planet is the latest graduate of the Sands Cares Accelerator, a global initiative aimed at advancing nonprofits to deliver greater community impact. Coming out of the three-year journey, Green Our Planet is emerging with sustainable growth in its three Sands Cares Accelerator focus areas: growing its school hydroponics garden program, launching the HydroHealth corporate hydroponics garden program and improving its marketing capability.

Green Our Planet’s hydroponics program blossomed from 20 schools in Nevada to 200 schools in 33 states over the past three years, in part due to its work in the Sands Cares Accelerator. The nonprofit’s other two focus areas of strengthening marketing and launching the corporate hydroponics garden program also contributed to this growth. As part of the new corporate program, every hydroponics garden purchased by a company funds a school hydroponics garden.

“We are now the largest science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) school garden and hydroponics program in the United States,” said

Ciara Byrne, founder and co-CEO of Green Our Planet. “We have been able to mature our organization and infrastructure to meet this growing demand in large part due to the financial support, guidance and mentoring we received through Sands Cares Accelerator.”

Inspired by Sands’ founder Sheldon G. Adelson, the Sands Cares Accelerator marries his legacies of creating successful businesses and giving back to communities through meaningful philanthropic involvement. During the threeyear membership, nonprofits focus on building their capacity in a strategic area or enhancing a program offering to better serve the community. Sands serves as a catalyst and mentor for helping organizations achieve their goals.

“Sands and the Sands Cares Accelerator provided valuable partnership and inspiration during a crucial stage in our organization’s lifecycle,” Byrne said. “Because of the resources we received in this program, Green Our Planet is well positioned for long-term, sustainable growth.”

By the NuMbers

7 Number of properties worldwide

1990 Year their first property was opened

42,000

Number of team members worldwide

Las Vegas Sands announced it will contribute $100,000 through Sands Cares to Dress for Success ® (DFS) Southern Nevada. The commitment will support the organization’s core program and its free workforce development services for women who are unemployed and underemployed, as well as fund renovation of its Career Center and computer lab.

Sands’ Team Member resource group for women and their allies, EmpowHER, is consulting on and will provide volunteer support for the Career Center renovation effort.

DFS Southern Nevada is the local affiliate of the leading global nonprofit employment resource for women. The organization empowers women in Southern Nevada to achieve economic independence by providing a network of support, professional attire, and the develop-

ment tools to thrive in work and in life. Since its founding in 2009, DFS Southern Nevada has helped more than 13,000 women of diverse backgrounds and experiences on their road to achieving economic independence.

“We are honored that Sands has become a key partner in our efforts to empower underserved women to plan and achieve economic independence, putting them and their families on a path to a better life,” Norma Intriago, executive director of DFS Southern Nevada, said. “This critical funding from Sands Cares funding will help us reach more women in Southern Nevada to let them know they are not alone and that they have support to sustainably transform their lives, as well as bolster our Career Center, ensuring we can offer these critical services for years to come.”

Las Vegas Sands Announces a $100,000 Sands Cares Donation to Dress for Success

Passion for Pride

June 20

Art talk

Celebrate Israel

Salute Israel and celebrate the nation’s 75 years of independence, while welcoming Eisenhower Park’s summer concert season, when Sid Jacobson JCC joins the Jewish Community Relations Council of Long Island for IsraelFest, Sunday, June 11

Enjoy family activities, 4-6 p.m., followed by concert with Israeli pop singer-songwriter Harel Skatt, 6-8 p.m. The Long Island Cantors Ensemble also performs. Bring seating. Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, Eisenhower Park, East Meadow. For more information, visit SJJCC.org/israelfest.

Gospel fest

The Uniondale High School

Show Choir will be having a gospel fest on June 9 and 10, at 7 p.m., at Uniondale High School. 933 Goodrich St., in Uniondale. $20 for adults and $10 for students in advance; $30 at the door.

Join Nassau County Museum Director Charles A. Riley II, for a Director’s Seminar, Tuesday, June 20, 4 p.m. He’ll discuss “Baldessari and the Making of the Avant-Garde.” John Baldessari’s roster from Cal Arts featured famed artists, from Eric Fischl (who never technically took a class with him) to David Salle, James Casebere, Tony Oursler, Ericka Beckman, Ross Bleckner, Carrie Mae Weems, James Welling and so many other art stars. Examine not only Baldessari’s own art but some of the famous assignments offered by the man many consider the most influential art school teacher of the 20th century. Participation is limited; registration required. $40, $20 members. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. Visit NassauMuseum.org or call (516) 484-9337.

Having an event?

Support PFY, a division of Long Island Crisis Center, at a 30th Anniversary Benefit celebration, Tuesday, June 13, 6-10 p.m. With drag bingo and performances by Ivy Stalls and Syn; also special guest honoree actor-authoractivist Maulik Pancholy. The event, honoring PFY’s 30 years serving Long Island/Queens’ LGBTQ+ communities, is at Westbury Manor, 1100 Jericho Turnpike, Westbury. For more information and tickets, go to tinyurl.com/pfyevent2023.

Family fun day

Enjoy a community-oriented day courtesy of Legislator Kevan Abrahams, Heeling Soles, Glory House Recovery Inc., and Charmaine Robin, Saturday, June 10, 1-5 p.m. With food, games, face painting, vendors, giveaways, music and bounce houses all for free. The Uniondale High School show choir performs, at Uniondale Avenue Park, 710 Uniondale Ave., in Uniondale. Heeling Soles requests attendees bring shoes to donate for those in need.

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.

On stage

Families will enjoy another musical adventure, ripped from the pages of Mo Willems’ beloved children’s books, on the Long Island Children’s Museum stage, Friday, June 9, 10:15 a.m. and noon; Wednesday through Friday, June 14-16, 10:15 a.m. and noon. This musical comedy adventure stars Willems’ beloved character The Pigeon, who is eager to try anything and everything. When a bus driver takes a break from the route, a very unlikely volunteer springs up to take the driver’s place — a pigeon. The audience is part of the action, in this innovative mix of songs, silliness and feathers. $9 with museum admission ($7 members), $12 theater only. Long Island Children’s Museum, Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 224-5800 or LICM.org.

‘The Beautiful and Damned’

Enjoy a musical interpretation of the classic novel at Westbury House, Friday, June 9, 7-10 p.m. Before there was Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote “The Beautiful and Damned”: a story that delves into the psychological tribulations of, at first, having everything you’ve ever wanted. What first presents itself as a beautiful love story quickly turns harrowing as the characters struggle to keep themselves afloat. As New York City tumbles into the Jazz Age, Fitzgerald’s characters tumble down a financial and psychological spiral they may never recover from. This adaptation by Long Island native, Brooke Di Spirito combines Fitzgerald’s meticulously detailed novel with the elements of a stage musical: a brand new script, score, choreography. Reservations required. $40. 71 Old Westbury Rd., Old Westbury. For information contact (516) 333-0048 or visit OldWestburyGardens.org.

June 9

Wearing orange to promote gun awareness

By MALLORY WILSON mwilson@liherald.com

Orange is worn to remember and honor those who were killed or wounded by guns. Every June, people gather for nationwide Wear Orange events to spark change.

Wear Orange was started in 2015 by a group of teenagers who were honoring their friend Hadiya Pendleton who was shot in the back by two men at a park in Chicago when she was 16. Orange has become a defining color of the gun violence prevention movement because it is the color that hunters wear to stay safe.

The third annual Wear Orange event in Eisenhower Park on June 2 brought people together all over Long Island to promote common sense gun legislation and gun safety in the country. Wear Orange lasted from June 2 through 4 this year, with national Gun Violence Awareness Day being on June 2.

Tables were set up in the park with resources for those who want to get involved in the movement or for those who have been affected by gun violence. Speakers got up to share their stories or ways that they could help.

Some people who attended were survivors of gun violence. Others were those who lost family and friends to gun violence, such as Stephanie Draine, founder of Life After Loss ANDRE.

“The community pride has been great, getting more people out, being able to raise awareness of the impact of gun violence that’s not only affecting our communities, but also impacting us nationwide,” Draine said. “So the fact that this is a national event, the message is getting spread around.”

Draine started her organization with her husband to

Andre Graydon, was killed in 2014. ANDRE stands for ability, navigate, depression, recovery and empowerment. The organization focuses on supporting all people with healing achieving empowerment through the grief process.

“Getting the message across, most importantly, for the community residents to know all of the resources that are available,” Draine said. “I thought that it was important to invite these organizations that are in the community, because as I deal with a lot of families, I hear, ‘I don’t know, we don’t have resources, we don’t have this.’ So by setting up a table and putting out the information, people are more aware of all of the choices and places that they can reach out to.”

as well. Moms Demand Action, a group that fights for gun safety in America, SNUG Hempstead, an organization that work with victims of community violence, BeSMART for kids, a group that raises awareness for secure gun storage, Northwell Health, STRONG Youth, an organization specializing in youth and gang violence prevention and intervention in Uniondale and others were there to educate the public on what they offer.

The keynote speaker was Dr. Tochi Iroku-Malize, a family physician on Long Island with Northwell Health.

“We do this to honor, and remember all victims and survivors of gun violence and urge action,” Iroku-Malize said. “There’s a reason that you’re wearing orange, it’s not just to remember them, but to urge action and to remind people that this is an epidemic that exists, and that we need to do something about it.”

Iroku-Malize said that recent research shows that gun violence is now the number one cause of death for children within the United States. According to the CDC, approximately 124 people die from firearm related injuries every day, and Americans are 26 times more likely to die by gun homicide that people in other high income countries.

Radiah Simmons, a mom of two from Hempstead, was there to share her and her daughters stories. Just last year her then-7 year old daughter was shot in her arm outside of her home. Three months later Simmons was shot in the same spot.

“People that go through gun violence, it’s not just gang members,” Simmons said. “It’s not just people on the street, it’s not just people that you think is bad — it’s people that go to work every day and it’s little kids.

“They just want to play outside and their whole life

Mallory Wilson/Herald

TheRe WeRe ORANge hearts on display to represent those lost to gun violence.

SUMMER YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM

Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) is the nation’s largest youth employment program, connecting the Town of Hempstead (TOH) and City of Long Beach youth between the ages of 16 and 20 with career exploration opportunities and paid work experience each summer.

By participating in structured project and work-based opportunities, Long Island youth are better prepared for careers of the future.

WHAT THE PROGRAM OFFERS

Career Exploration: Hone your research skills and uncover exciting new career possibilities.

Structured Work-based Opportunities: If you're a TOH and City of Long Beach youth between the ages of 16 and 20, you can get paid to learn about different careers and make a positive impact in your community through work-based activities.

Work Experiences: TOH and City of Long Beach youth between the ages of 16 and 20 can develop job readiness skills and explore diverse career pathways through paid summer jobs in various industries throughout Nassau County.

Earn Money: Don't miss out on the chance to earn money while gaining valuable experience and exploring your career options!

WORKSITE PARTNERS

Partner with the Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) at HempsteadWorks and provide valuable work experience to youth while expanding your business's staff at no cost. The program pays participant wages in full, so there's no financial burden on the hosting employer. As a SYEP worksite, you can play a vital role in the region's economic development and access a pool of talented, hyperlocal youth who are the future workforce.

Please review the important information below for details on this summer's program.

SYEP 2023:

Participants can work up to 30 hours per week

Rate of pay is $16 per hour, paid by the TOH Participants go through physical clearance and drug screening

Worksite Responsibilities:

Ensuring youth time and attendance procedures are followed, and the timesheets are complete and accurate Supervision of participants, along with guidance and training as appropriate Monitoring youth attendance, punctuality, and job performance

Don Clavin Supervisor

‘The Voice’ speaks volumes and volumes for Uniondale

coNtiNued from froNt page

third show,” Burke said.

Burke is a finalist in the PCLI awards, which means she will be awarded either first, second or third place. Winners will be announced at the PCLI dinner on June 15.

“The Voice of Uniondale” episode that aired on May 31 demonstrated Burke’s deft, empathetic interviewing skills. Her guest was Twyla Joi Sommersell, an area vocal coach.

Burke explained that Sommersell directed a student gospel choir at her alma mater, Uniondale High School, from 2002 to 2010, and that she has had a private coaching business since 2017.

Then Burke started the interview with a simple prompt: “Tell us about a day in the life of a vocal coach.”

Somersell’s response came back just as simply.

“I wake up, warm up my voice, have breakfast, and then I coach,” she said. “Usually I coach by virtual contact, but I also coach in person, especially if I’m coaching children.”

From there the interview flowered. Over the next 25 minutes, listeners learned that Sommersell coaches people that want to sing professionally as well as those who just want to improve their voices. She works on diction and enunciation with actors and public speakers, and helps groups like church choirs prepare for important occasions.

Since 2015, it turns out, Somersell has coached a young-adult group at the Uniondale Public Library called the Dewey Decibels, which was created by Syntychia Kendrick-Samuel, the library’s assistant director.

“I reached out to Twyla, an accomplished musician who knows how to draw the children out,” Kendrick-Samuel said. “Even kids that don’t speak English can sing in English.”

Kendrick-Samuel herself was the first

Public Notices

LLEGAL NOTICE

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORKCOUNTY OF NASSAU CIT BANK, N.A. F/K/A ONEWEST BANK, N.A. F/K/A ONEWEST BANK, FSB, V. GRADY H. HAMPTON, ET. AL.

NOTICE OF SALE

hear ‘the Voice of uniondale’

Nicole Burke broadcasts her program on Wednesdays from 5 to 5:30 p.m. Tune in to WRHU, at 88.7 FM, or online at StreamWRHU.net.

Previously aired segments can be found at UniondaleRadio.com.

— Reine Bethany

“Voice of Uniondale” guest. “It was exciting for me, and I was excited for Nicole,” she said. “She is such an easy person to talk to.”

Burke started preparing the first segments of “The Voice of Uniondale” last October, two months before she went on the air, because learning the procedure was so complex.

“I was skeptical and afraid back then,” she said, “but John Mullen said, ‘Nicole, you can do this.’”

The show is a volunteer effort, but Burke’s motivation to persist is strong. “I put the pressure on myself,” she said. “I’m doing it because it’s an opportunity to show the great people we have in Uniondale. I come across them all the time while selling houses or being at different organization meetings, or at the library, or the grocery store. Now people who run into me ask me what’s going on, because they’ve listened to the show.”

She showed her support for Heeling Soles, a Uniondale-based charity that provides shoes for the needy, by interviewing them before a charitable even and airing the segment in time to inform the community.

“Nicole is quite a talent,” Mullen said. “I have never in 19 years seen a community volunteer be so totally capable. She’s a superstar.”

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure dated October 24, 2017, and entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Nassau, wherein CIT BANK, N.A. F/K/A ONEWEST BANK, N.A. F/K/A ONEWEST BANK, FSB is the Plaintiff and GRADY H. HAMPTON, ET AL. are the Defendant(s). I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the NASSAU COUNTY SUPREME COURT, NORTH SIDE STEPS, 100 SUPREME COURT DRIVE, MINEOLA NY 11501, on June 21, 2023 at 2:30PM, premises known as 808 NORTHGATE DRIVE, UNIONDALE, NY 11553: Section 55, Block 532, Lot 8: 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, Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 003853/2012. George Esernio, Esq. - Referee. Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310, Westbury, New York 11590, Attorneys for Plaintiff. All foreclosure sales will be conducted in accordance with Covid-19 guidelines including, but not limited to, social distancing and mask wearing. *LOCATION OF SALE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DAY OF IN ACCORDANCE WITH COURT/CLERK DIRECTIVES.

139568

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, PANCAP, LLC, Plaintiff, vs. ANNIE JETER AS HEIR AT LAW AND NEXT OF KIN OF ALBERT JETER, ET AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on November 16, 2022 and a Short Form Order duly entered on March 9, 2023, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the front steps on the north side of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on June 21, 2023 at 2:30 p.m., premises known as 1010 Jerusalem Avenue, Uniondale, NY 11553. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the

buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 50, Block 372 and Lot 107.

Approximate amount of judgment is $88,522.38 plus interest and costs.

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 011600/2014. This foreclosure sale will be held on the north side steps of the Courthouse, rain or shine. COVID-19 safety protocols will be followed at the foreclosure sale. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, the Court Appointed Referee will cancel the sale.

George P. Esernio, Esq., Referee Friedman Vartolo LLP, 85 Broad Street, Suite 501, New York, New York 10004, Attorneys for Plaintiff. Firm File No. 170591-1 139565

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT. NASSAU COUNTY. L&L ASSOCIATES HOLDING CORP., Pltf. vs. MARITZA FUENTES et al, Defts. Index #606537/2021. Pursuant to judgment of foreclosure and sale entered June 17, 2022 and order to substitute the referee entered May 1, 2023, I will sell at public auction on the North Side Steps of the Nassau Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY on June 29, 2023 at 3:30 p.m. prem. k/a Section 36, Block 140, Lot 8. Sold subject to terms and conditions of filed judgment and terms of sale. Foreclosure auction will be held “rain or shine.” If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, then the court appointed referee will cancel the sale.

MALACHY LYONS, JR., Referee. LEVY & LEVY, Attys. for Pltf., 12 Tulip Dr., Great Neck, NY. #100407

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NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure dated October 19, 2022, and entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Nassau, wherein NATIONSTAR HECM ACQUISITION TRUST 2016, WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB, NOT INDIVIDUALLY, BUT SOLELY AS TRUSTEE is the Plaintiff and CARLA BRADFORD A/K/A CARLA MICHELLE BRADFORD AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF CHARLES BRADFORD, ET AL. are the Defendant(s). I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the NASSAU COUNTY SUPREME COURT, NORTH SIDE STEPS, 100 SUPREME COURT DRIVE, MINEOLA, NY 11501, on June 27, 2023 at 2:30PM, premises known as 273 WARREN STREET, UNIONDALE, NY 11553: Section 44, Block 38, Lot 191: ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND, WITH THE BUILDINGS AND IMPROVEMENTS THEREON ERECTED, SITUATE, LYING AND BEING AT HEMPSTEAD, TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, COUNTY OF NASSAU AND STATE OF NEW YORK,

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 010031/2009. Adrienne Flipse Hausch, Esq.Referee. Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310, Westbury, New York 11590, Attorneys for Plaintiff. All foreclosure sales will be conducted in accordance with Covid-19 guidelines including, but not limited to, social distancing and mask wearing. *LOCATION OF SALE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DAY OF IN ACCORDANCE WITH COURT/CLERK DIRECTIVES.

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judgment $141,107.13 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #015270/2011. 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. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, then the court appointed referee will cancel the foreclosure auction. Foreclosure Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine”. Matthew Vishnick, Esq., Referee Frenkel Lambert Weiss Weisman & Gordon, LLP 53 Gibson Street Bay Shore, NY 11706 01-084796-F00 76170 139674

LEGAL NOTICE

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORKCOUNTY OF NASSAU NATIONSTAR HECM ACQUISITION TRUST

2016, WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB, NOT INDIVIDUALLY, BUT SOLELY AS TRUSTEE , V.

CARLA BRADFORD A/K/A

CARLA MICHELLE BRADFORD AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF CHARLES BRADFORD, ET. AL.

NOTICE OF SALE

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU DLJ Mortgage Capital, Inc., Plaintiff AGAINST Frank Romanek; Lynda Romanek; et al., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered September 30, 2019, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on June 27, 2023 at 2:30PM, premises known as 688 Beck Street, 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: 050, BLOCK: 385, LOT: 21-22. Approximate amount of

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT: NASSAU COUNTY. U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE OF CVI LCF MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST I, Pltf. vs., KEVIN HEARN AS HEIR TO THE ESTATE OF SHIRLEY M. HEARN, et al, Defts. Index #605631/2021. Pursuant to judgment of foreclosure and sale entered May 15, 2023, I will sell at public auction on the north side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY on July 6, 2023 at 2:00 p.m., prem. k/a 1300 Pembroke Street, Uniondale, NY 11553. All that certain plot, piece, or parcel of land, situate, lying and being in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, a/k/a Section 50, Block 03901, Lot 221. Approx. amt. of judgment is $454,709.54 plus costs and interest. Sold subject to terms and conditions of filed judgment and terms of sale and the right of the United States of America to redeem within 120 days from the date of sale as provided by law. SCOTT H. SILLER, Referee. PINCUS LAW

Courtesy WRHU Radio Hofstra University

Nicole Burke hosts ‘The Voice of Uniondale,’ a popular interview-style radio show that airs on Wednesday evenings on WRHU, Radio Hofstra University.

DRIVERS WANTED

DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS NOW HIRING !!

No Experience Necessary. Flexible Hours. Paid Training.

Requir ements: Valid NYS Driver's License

High Sc hool Diploma or GED

Complete Bac kground Screening

Community Mainstreaming (CMA) www.communitymainstreaming.org | 516-683-0710, ext 256

Assistant Secondary Principal

The successful candidate should possess: Knowledge of research-based instructional programs & practices; exp. w/ teacher supervision & evaluation; a record of successfully improving learning experiences and enhancing school to home communication; and can provide a supportive environment with knowledge of social-emotional competencies, restorative practices, and promote a culturally responsive educational climate.

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NYS SDA/SDL/SBL Certification Required plus 3 yrs. exp. as a classroom teacher preferred. Please apply online by June 15th at https://monticelloschools.tedk12.com/hire

DRIVING

OUTSIDE SALES

Assistant Elementary Principal

The successful candidate should possess: Knowledge of research-based instructional programs & practices; exp. w/ teacher supervision & evaluation; a record of successfully improving learning experiences and enhancing school to home communication; and can provide a supportive environment with knowledge of social-emotional competencies, restorative practices, and promote a culturally responsive educational climate.

Salary Range: $95,000 to $105,000

NYS SDA/SDL/SBL Certification Required plus 3 yrs. exp as a classroom teacher preferred.

Please apply online by June 15th at https://monticelloschools.tedk12.com/hire or OLAS EOE

EDITOR/REPORTER

The award-winning Herald Community Newspapers group, covering Nassau County's North and South Shores with hard-hitting news stories and gracefully written features, seeks a motivated, energetic and creative editor/reporter to join our dynamic (and awesome) team! This education and general assignment reporting position offers a unique experience to learn from some of the best in the business. Historically, reporters who have launched their careers with us have gone on to The New York Times, Newsweek, Newsday, the New York Daily News, New York Post, CNN, BBC, NBC News and The Daily Mail, among many others. We look for excellent writers who are eager to learn, enhance their skills, and become well-established and respected journalists in our industry. To apply: Send a brief summary in the form of a cover letter describing your career goals and what strengths you can bring to our newsroom, along with a resume and three writing samples to mhinman@liherald.com

LINE COOK: Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday 10am-6pm. Sandwiches/ Salads. Beach Restaurant. Great Summer Job. 516-835-2819

MULTI MEDIA

ACCOUNT DEVELOPMENT

Inside Sales

Looking for an aggressive self starter who is great at making and maintaining relationships and loves to help businesses grow by marketing them on many different advertising platforms. You will source new sales opportunities through inbound lead follow-up and outbound cold calls. Must have the ability to understand customer needs and requirements and turn them in to positive advertising solutions. We are looking for a talented and competitive Inside Sales Representative that thrives in a quick sales cycle environment. We offer salary, commission, bonuses, health benefits, 401K and paid time off. Will consider part time. Please send cover letter and resume with salary requirements to ereynolds@liherald.com Call 516-569-4000 X286

Richner Communications, One of the Fastest Growing Media, Event and Communications Companies on Long Island is Seeking a Sales/Marketing Candidate to Sell our Print Media Products and our Digital, Events, Sponsorships. Salary, Commission, Eligible for Health Benefits, 401k and Paid Time Off. Will Consider Part Time. Please Send Cover Letter and Resume with Salary Requirements to rglickman@liherald.com or Call 516-569-4000 X250

PRESS-ROOM/WAREHOUSE HELP

Long Island Herald has IMMEDIATE openings for a FULL-TIME Pressroom/warehouse helper in Garden City. We are a busy print shop looking for a motivated and reliable individuals to assist in various duties in the shop. Forklift experience is a plus and heavy lifting is required. Hours vary, so flexibility is key. Email resumes or contact info to careers@liherald.com

UP TO $20.70 NYC, $20.00 L.I., $16.20

Upstate NY! If you need care from your relative, friend/ neighbor and you have Medicaid, they may be eligible to start taking care of you as personal assistant under NYS Medicaid CDPA Program. No Certificates needed. 347-713-3553

Childcare Offered CHILDCARE

Renovated 2 BR, 2 Bth Coop in Garden Town. Gourmet Kit W/Thermdore St Steel Appl Opens Into DR & LR. Primary BR w/Bth Plus Spac 2nd BR. W/D in Unit. New Self Controlled CAC. Oak Flrs, LED Lights. Near LIRR. Parking Avail. SD#14. You Don't Want to Miss This...$359,000 Ronnie Gerber, Douglas Elliman 516-238-4299

HEWLETT BA 1534 Broadway #205, Open House By Appt, BIG REDUCTION!! MOTIVATED SELLER!!Extra Large 2000 Sq Ft, 2 Bedroom(Originally 3 BR), 2 Bath Condo in Prestigious Jonathan Hall with Doorman & Elevator. Updtd Wood/Quartz Kit, LR & DR. Washer/Dryer in Unit. Underground Pkg. Loads of Closets. Terrace Faces Back. Easy Ranch Style Living...$579,000 Ronnie Gerber, Douglas Elliman 516-238-4299

HEWLETT BA 1638 RIDGEWAY DR.

FIRST TIME ON MARKET Well Maintained 6 BR, 3.5 Bth 3500 Sq Ft Exp CH Colonial on Beautiful St. LR/Fpl, Spac Fam Rm/Fpl, FDR, EIK & Sun Rm Overlooking 1/3 Acre Resortlike Prop w/ IG Lap Pool, Hot Tub,Bar & Gazebo. Fin Bsmt. 2 Car Gar. SD#20...$1,149,000 Ronnie Gerber, Douglas Elliman 516-238-4299

HEWLETT BAY PARK BA,190 Meadowview Ave Ever Dream of Living in A Castle? This 8000 Sq Ft Mansion is Full of Character. Amazing Architectural Details, Soaring Ceilings, Stained Glass Windows. 5 BR, 6.55 Bths. Sprawling 1.3 Acre Prop with IG Gunite Pool. SD#14.Near All. Must See This Unique Home!..$3,200,00 Ronnie Gerber, Douglas elliman 516-238-429 ba

HEWLETT HARBOR BA 1299 Seawane NEW! Move Right Into This Beautiful 4 BR,

3 Bth Exp Ranch with Open Layout in Prime Location. LR, FDR, State of the Art Kit & Great Room Overlooking Magnificently Landscaped æ Acre Property. SD #14...$1,799,000 Ronnie Gerber, Douglas Elliman 516-238-4299

Open Houses

WOODMERE BA, 504 Saddle Ridge Rd., FIRST TIME ON MARKET! Move Right Into This Renovated 4 BR, 2 Bth Split with Open Layout in Prime Location! Granite/Wood EIK Opens to Dining Room & Living Room. Lower Level Den. HW Flrs, Gas Heat, CAC. Oversized Property! SD#14.Near

Administrative Opening Monticello Central School

FDR, EIK & Sun Rm Overlooking 1/3 Acre Resortlike Prop w/ IG Lap Pool, Hot Tub, Bar & Gazebo. Fin Bsmt. 2 Car Gar. SD#20 $1,149,000 257 Willard Dr, BA, MUST SEE NEW KITCHEN UPDATES!! Spacious 5 BR, 3 Bth Exp Ranch With Open Layout. Main Floor Mstr Ste Plus Potential Mstr Ste on 2nd Flr. LR/ Fpl, FDR, EIK & Sundrenched Family Rm w/ Doors to Deck. Fin Bsmt.

You Don’t Want to Miss This REDUCED! $359,000

1599 Lakeview Dr, BA, 4 BR, 3 Bth Exp Ranch on Tree Lined St in SD#14. Spacious LR, DR & Family Rm, EIK & Fin Bsmt. Att Garage. HW Flrs. Near Park, Trans, Shops & Houses of Worship REDUCED! $799,000

1534 Broadway #103, BA, Magnificent New Renovation! One of a Kind Ranch

Style Living in Luxurious Jonathan Hall Condominium with Doorman & Elevator.

Just Move into This Gut Rvated, Spacious 2 BR, 2 Bath Apt with Open Layout.

Large Designer Eat in Kitchen with Sep Pantry & Laundry Rm. Master BR Boasts

Gorgeous Bth & Walk in Closet. Terrace Faces into Courtyard. Garage Parking

Incl REDUCED & MOTIVATED!! $599,000

1534 Broadway #205, BA, Extra Large 2000 Sq Ft, 2 Bedroom (Originally 3 BR), 2 Bath

Condo in Prestigious Jonathan Hall with Doorman & Elevator. Updtd Wood/Quartz Kit, LR & DR.

Removing a deck to add a room

wet bar. This home boasts a serene primary suite, 3 generous bedrooms, and a bath on the 2nd floor. You will also enjoy a finished lower level, CAC, in-ground sprinklers, 3-car garage with loft, and ample parking. This home is close to shops, restaurants, and transportation. Move right in to this lovingly maintained home!

Q. We started planning a project to add a room, 303 square feet, in 2015, and due to many delays, we received approval for a permit only in January of this year. The costs from when we originally started planning until now increased from an estimated $80,000 to almost $200,000. Part of the work was to remove the previous owner’s handicapped-accessible deck with a permitted roof, which, thankfully, we don’t need. We got an alternative estimate for a paving-block patio, which we understand doesn’t need a permit in our town if it’s on the ground. The contractor even said we could cover the entire yard. We still want to keep the roof, so do we need a permit for the patio, and do we need a permit for the footings to continue supporting the roof we want to keep?

A. You can see, firsthand, what has happened with the economy and costs. Fortunately, you have an alternative to save money. People who are planning enclosed rooms aren’t as fortunate in the economy we’re now facing.

Margeurite Fine Real Estate Salesperson margeuritefine@danielgale.com 516.384.4028

Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty 36 South Park Avenue Rockville Centre NY, 11570 516.678.1510

I have always recommended patios, properly drained, supported and finished, over the other choice of decking, where possible, not just because many jurisdictions don’t require a permit for the paving, but also because the maintenance is less for a patio, and it will last much longer than a deck system. Some communities have regulations for a permit to be filed for paving to show the authorities that the paving is “permeable” — that it still allows rain to seep into the ground to recharge the water supply deep in the earth below. Your location is in a town that doesn’t require a permit for anything that’s built less than 8¼ inches above the ground. Incidentally, the magic of 8¼ inches isn’t arbitrary; it’s the maximum height of a step in the building code.

I just returned from a trade fair where I had the opportunity to discuss material pricing with many suppliers, and the consensus is that prices for commodity materials such a raw lumber and cement will begin to fluctuate downward, but many said that they don’t anticipate manufactured items to come down again. Just as real estate has seen a dramatic increase, so now have materials and construction in general.

The biggest concern we should all have, if we care about the next generation and the health of our economy, is whether they will ever be able to afford what their parents had. Currently, only 9 percent of the next generation of American families own or have a mortgage on a home, while the majority of the generation has had to find alternatives, such as multi-generational living arrangements or apartments, trailers or recreational vehicles as permanent living, according to Building magazine, among other building information resources. I hope the existing deck roof already has a correct supporting footing in the ground. If not, good luck!

© 2022 Monte Leeper

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Monte

AUTOMOBILE & MARINE

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

Garage Sales LONG BEACH HISTORICAL SOCIETY Yard Sale 226 W. Penn St. Sat. June 10th 10am-5pm. Call For More Information 516-432-1192.

Garage Sales NORTH MERRICK: SATURDAY 6/10, 8AM-4PM, RAINDATE SUNDAY 6/11, WENSHAW PARK, BRIAN DRIVE, BRUCE LANE, CLARK STREET, EARL DRIVE, JENKINS STREET, ROSE LANE, SHAW DRIVE, SYDNEY DRIVE, WINIFRED DRIVE AND WHITTIER AVENUE. ANNUAL Community Garage Sale! Something for Everyone!

ROCKVILLE CENTRE 6/10, 10-4PM, 85 South Forest Ave, Furniture,, Treadmill, Holiday Decor, Guitar, Something For Everyone !

Announcements

WITNESS WANTED To The Accident That Occured On May 15th around 2pm At The Intersection Of Lakeville Road And Marcus Avenue. Please Call 347-235-0525

MERCHANDISE MART

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Now pitching, after five weeks on the injury list ...

Last week I had the opportunity to throw out the first pitch before a Long Island Ducks game against the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs. The game was played at the Ducks’ home field, the Fairfield Properties Ballpark in Central Islip. The Ducks played well, and won 9-2. A normal person reading this might say, that’s nice, but no big deal.

Real baseball fans, however, don’t fit the definition of normal. For one thing, they never really grow up, and being on a professional baseball field, even just to throw one pitch before the game has even begun, is for many a childhood dream.

But living this dream includes living through and overcoming incredible tension and fear of failure. This is especially true if you happen to be a politician who knows that no matter how beloved you think you might be, there are thousands of fans just waiting to see you suffer the ignominious fate of bouncing the

pitch before it crosses home plate and settles into the catcher’s mitt. I know of several otherwise courageous politicians who will never accept the offer (or challenge) to throw out the first pitch. Or if they do develop some nerve, they throw the ball from well in front of the rubber, which, of course, is atop the pitcher’s mound, 60 feet, 6 inches from home plate.

To me, that shortened version doesn’t count as a real first pitch, so I always summoned the courage — more than I ever needed to deliver a major speech on the floor of Congress — to pitch from the rubber, and always succeeded, except for the one time, which I will never forget and always regret, when the ball faded away at the last instant and drifted off at the front of the batter’s box, forcing the catcher to make what looked like a hockey goalie’s acrobatic save.

Last week’s first pitch was particularly stressful. I had been successfully operated on for stomach cancer less than five weeks before, during which part of my stomach was removed and I was left with a 9-inch-long incision that

had to heal. The surgeon, who probably considered referring me to a psychiatrist, consented to my first-pitch antics if I threw it “softly” from in front of the mound. Reluctantly I agreed to those terms and conditions. Walking to the mound, I felt more tension than when I was being wheeled into the operating room.

But both times, my prayers were answered. The surgery had been successful, the pitch was over the plate, and the incision didn’t reopen.

Separate from my baseball delusions, I can’t tell you how much I appreciate being able to associate with the Ducks organization. The team and its owner, Frank Boulton, have been a Long Island institution for a quarter century. Playing in the Atlantic League, the Ducks bring a solid, high level of baseball to Long Island.

Their roster invariably includes future and past major leaguers, the most current and prominent being their designated hitter, former Mets great Daniel Murphy. Also notable is their manager, Wally Backman, the star second base-

man on the Mets’ 1986 World Series champion team. No one, though, has been more beloved in Ducks history than Bud Harrelson, the Mets’ All-Star shortstop when they won the 1969 Series, who was a Ducks coach and team vice president for so many years until he had to step aside because of Alzheimer’s.

The Ducks are an integral part of the Long Island community, being active in charitable and veterans events and making their home games family-friendly and affordable. Being at a Ducks game is like viewing a Norman Rockwell painting depicting real America: kids, parents and grandparents enjoying an afternoon or evening of baseball; members of local organizations singing the pre-game national anthem; veterans, police officers and firefighters being honored on the field. All this and so much more makes me appreciate the Ducks and what they mean to Long Island.

Boulton initially invited me to throw out a first pitch at a game back in 2002, and it has been an honor to be invited back over the years. I’m proud to call Frank my friend and proud to be a loyal Ducks fan. Play ball!

Peter King is a former congressman, and a former chair of the House Committee on Homeland Security.

No, I don’t have time to answer your survey

You don’t have a moment, and neither do I, but what does that matter? Ubiquitous, intrusive and endless surveys are a good idea gone rogue.

Suddenly, all of life’s experiences are followed up with an emailed questionnaire asking you to rate your doctor, car rental, pet groomer, colorist, breakfast cereal, political candidate, wine, motel, coffee or underpants. Have a moment? Have a moment? Have a moment?

vey popped up on my phone before I even left the premises. It was pages long and asked my input on everything from the hygiene of the location to the friendliness of staff at all levels and my thoughts about ever returning to that center or recommending it to others.

RANDI KREISS

The basic idea of soliciting people’s opinions about service and products and experiences is sound. But, as with many decent ideas today, folks are beating it to death with overuse. You can’t make simple purchases without the inevitable survey landing in your inbox.

Let’s agree that there are surveys you will consider answering and some you delete immediately for very good reason.

Example: I hurt my wrist last week and went to a local urgent care. The sur-

I was impressed with the place, the efficiency and the kindness of the staff and the thoroughness of the doctor. I was not so happy with one of the medical support people who poked around my wrist with some indifference to my pain level, and there was a place on the form to say so. I gladly filled out the online survey and happily signed my name. I will probably not go back there again, because I have my own doctor. That’s why I felt safe to relinquish anonymity.

But we

brain, I believe my doctor somehow can access the surveys and find out who threw him under the bus. I can imagine him in the evenings, poring over the surveys, tracking the patients who mentioned how freezing the examining rooms are or how frustrating the office phone system can be. He’s the guy with the needles and potions and sharp instruments at his disposal; I would never put anything online that wasn’t in the order of high praise. No. No surveys for me at my doctor’s office.

a free meal when I complained about an eatery we frequent.

A few days later, I had a follow-up appointment with my physician to check my wrist. I see him twice a year. I chose him as my doctor because I like him and the way he works with patients. By the time I got into my car, swish, the survey popped up.

In the most suspicious part of my

Open Table, the restaurant reservation website, sends surveys all the time, soliciting consumers’ opinions about everything from food to service to ambience. In one happy exchange, I wrote a seriously negative review of a restaurant we frequent, explaining that our experience seemed to be an anomaly but it was awful, and I wanted the owner to know. I signed my name.

The owner called me and invited us back for a free dinner. We went. It was great. I said so in a follow-up survey. Good. Good.

Now, if I had nothing to do in my life

but fill out surveys, I would be giving feedback to Chukar Cherries, my food gift outlet of choice; Optum RX, my mail order drug company; Amazon; The Washington Post; BridgeBase, my online game site; UPS; Marriott Hotels; Chewy, my go-to store for pet supplies; American Airlines; and every magazine to which I ever subscribed.

But I have a busy life, and in order to discover how well I’m doing in my own arena, I developed a small survey for my son and daughter to complete. Just five easy-to-answer questions, which I emailed to them last week:

1. Did you have a happy childhood?

2. Do you have any memories of the time I flipped out, took the car and ran away from home when you were 5 and 2?

3. Why don’t you call more often?

4. Have you ever told a therapist any family secrets?

5. What are your feelings about adult children taking in their parents?

No surprise: There has been a complete communication blackout. I guess answering anonymously wasn’t an option.

Copyright 2023 Randi Kreiss. Randi can be reached at randik3@aol.com.

got

This time I had no choice but to throw from in front of the mound.

Our armed forces need your help

there were more than a dozen of them — some wearing caps denoting their military service, others in full uniform. They were veterans of various conflicts over the past several decades, many of them members of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2736 in East Meadow. They paid a visit to East Meadow High School ahead of Memorial Day to ensure that the true meaning of the annual observance of those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for freedom was not forgotten.

“We wanted to come here and tell the high school students what it was like to serve,” one veteran, Frank Belardo, said. “We wanted to do this before Memorial Day to teach the students, and honor those who did not come home.”

But that wasn’t the only thing on the minds of the veterans as they met with social studies classes that day.

“It seems like less kids are going down that route of joining the military,” Navy veteran Tom Kelly said. “So you just have to keep reminding them about the commitment to America, and how proud we are. It’s something that should be carried on. It seems like it’s a dying art these days, but I hope not.”

Kelly wasn’t exaggerating. America’s military forces are struggling to recruit new members. The Army, for example, missed its recruiting goal by 25 percent last year, according to the military industry news outlet War on the Rocks. In fact, the Army believes its overall forces will be reduced by 20,000 soldiers by September — part of an overall downward trend across the branches.

Young people just don’t see the military in the same light that previous generations did. They are bombarded by images of war, death and gruesome injuries, as well as many soldiers returning home and dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder.

Yet that’s not the only factor causing a drain of personnel in the armed forces. The nation’s low unemployment rate means there’s less incentive for many to seek out the military. And the sheer number of people eligible to serve is lower than ever.

A Pentagon study last year determined that 77 percent of America’s 17- to 24-yearold population wouldn’t qualify without some kind of waiver. Many are overweight. Others abuse drugs and alcohol. And then there’s the growing number of young people who wouldn’t qualify because of mental and physical health issues, especially in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

More than 44 percent, the study concluded, would be disqualified for more than one reason.

U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis, of North Carolina, a ranking Republican member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, shared during a hearing last year that “every single metric tracking the military recruiting environment is going in the wrong direction.”

“To put it bluntly, I am worried we are now in the early days of a long-term threat to the all-volunteer force,” Tillis said, according to Military.com. There is “a small and declining number of Americans who are eligible — and interested — in military service.”

So, what can be done? Many military leaders and lawmakers are trying to figure that out. The branches already offer a number of incentives to new recruits — from signing bonuses to education funding, solid (and free) medical care, room and board allowances, and a month of vacation every year, among other things.

But we must do more — and maybe we can, right here, closer to home. The Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps has been a fixture in thousands of high schools — and even some middle schools — across the country since 1916. It gives young people a taste of what it’s like to serve, without leaving home. And it has been instrumental in not only providing stability for many young people over the decades, but recruiting for military service as well, since nearly half of them eventually do that.

The problem? There aren’t enough JROTC programs, especially in New York. Especially on Long Island. The vast majority are concentrated in the Southeast, according to the Rand Corp. South Caroli-

na and Georgia, for example, boast JROTC programs in far more than half their schools. New York? It’s less than 10 percent.

JROTC has been great at addressing demographic representation by being in many schools with larger ethnic diversity, Rand says. But geographic representation is severely lacking. Just 16 percent of young people live in states with high numbers of JROTC programs, while more than half of the total population of teenagers are in 28 states like New York where such programs are lacking.

More schools need to offer JROTC, but they can’t do it alone. Congress needs to expand JROTC overall — and pay for that expansion, retired U.S. Army Lt. Gen. David Barno and Johns Hopkins professor Nora Bensahel say. At the same time, members of Congress — on both sides of the aisle — need to stop using the military as a political football.

“Painting the entire U.S. military as either woke or extremist undermines public support for the institution and the people in uniform, and often deflects examination of concrete problems that are affecting military capabilities and readiness,” Barno and Bensahel told War on the Rocks. “Elected officials should stop making broad assertions about the entire force, and instead focus their legitimate oversight role on the senior officials who testify in front of Congress.”

The brave men and women — like those who visited East Meadow High School — should forever be honored by all of us. But let’s not let their service and sacrifice become part of a dying breed.

Why I voted for a casino at the Coliseum

since 2014 I have had the privilege of representing the residents of the 2nd District at the Nassau County Legislature. Throughout that time, I have contemplated and made decisions on a full spectrum of controversial and consequential issues. Deciding whether or not to execute a lease transfer agreement between the county and Las Vegas Sands was one of the most difficult decisions I have been confronted with to date.

What made it so challenging is the fact that I don’t have the luxury of analyzing this or any other issue that comes before me as a lawmaker through a one-dimensional lens.

Because I am entrusted with overseeing and safeguarding Nassau County’s fiscal future, I had to carefully considering the tax revenue, economic development and job creation opportunities presented by the resort and casino Las Vegas Sands has proposed building at the

Nassau Hub. The last two factors are especially vital for the economically disadvantaged communities that I serve as a legislator.

As a policy maker, I must always be aware of the legislative atmosphere in which I am operating — and in New York state, legal gambling is a growing reality. Online sports betting became legal in January 2022, and in a 2013 statewide referendum, 67 percent of Nassau voters cast ballots in favor of the siting of seven new casinos throughout the Empire State.

As a community advocate, I researched, vetted and deliberated on the heartfelt concerns my constituents expressed about potential impacts of the Hub development on public safety, traffic and behavioral health. One especially important element of advocacy is robust community engagement.

To get the pulse of the communities I represent, I took part in numerous events in Hempstead, Uniondale and Westbury. In Uniondale — the host community for any development at the Hub — I met with leaders of the public

Letters

Give neighbors a chance to manage L.I.’s electricity

To the Editor:

Re Jerry Kremer’s column last week, “The PSEG love affair is over”: Mr. Kremer opposes “giving a group of local neighbors the power to dictate to professionals” operating a Long Island power company.

“Dictate” may be hyperbole, but it identifies the general problem: unaccountable power. The history provided — LILCO, LIPA, PSEG — demonstrates consistently inadequate infrastructure, a focus on shareholders over ratepayers, the interference of friends in high places, and the general disdain for customer concerns characteristic of near-monopolies. We can agree that “John Q. Citizen” ought not “dictate” to professional operators, but Mr. Citizen is also a ratepayer, dissatisfied by the “professionals’” history of mismanagement, and now seeks greater transparency, accountability and responsiveness.

Dictatorship by professionals is well known, and is what must be curbed. So long as the primary interests remain short-term corporate goals, the future delivery of Long Island’s electrons will replicate its past. Municipalization may not be the answer, but our history of failures suggests we try a new arrangement.

BRIAN KELLY Rockville Centre

Clearing the air about marijuana

To the Editor:

Since the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act was enacted in New York in March 2021, confusion remains about marijuana’s legal and medical realities. As part of the North Shore Coalition Against Substance Abuse efforts to reduce the use and abuse of substances by our youth, we offer below some information on marijuana so you can inform yourself and your family.

The law allows those 21 and older to use cannabis wherever smoking tobacco is permitted, except in a motor vehicle or where the Clean Air Act is in effect. Specifically, it allows for adult possession of up to 3 ounces of cannabis and up to 24 grams of cannabis concentrate. An adult may grow up to three marijuana plants at home, and homes with more than one adult may grow up to six plants (three mature, three immature).

So, does that mean that adults can purchase adult-use marijuana locally now?

The answer may surprise you: no. Most Nassau County municipalities have opted out of permitting retail sales of marijuana in their jurisdictions. For a complete review of what is legal and illegal, go to government sites including NewYorkStateCannabis.org.

As important as legality is to the conversation about marijuana, equally critical is the discussion of its impact on teen health. Marijuana potency has steadily

library, the Fire Department, the Nassau County Land Bank and other key stakeholders to ascertain the community’s concerns and needs. I listened intently to public commentary presented through various media, and read dozens of emails we received from across the county to gain a fuller understanding of public sentiment.

During the Legislature’s May 8 Rules Committee hearing, it became abundantly clear to me that the lease transfer agreement would pass on May 22 with or without my vote. Given that fact, my charge was to ensure that the communities that would be most directly impacted by development at the Hub would not have to wait until its completion to receive the public benefits they were promised.

Following extensive and fruitful negotiations, I was pleased that Las Vegas Sands agreed to enhance its community benefits package by $25 million — $10 million for Uniondale, $10 million for East Meadow and $5 million for Hempstead Village. At least half of these funds would have to be disseminated during the construction of the proposed inte-

grated casino resort. Throughout that process, the collaboration with my legislative colleague Tom McKevitt, who represents East Meadow, which directly abuts the Hub, was invaluable in navigating the issues related to securing this funding for our respective constituents.

After balancing the array of public comments, completing a painstaking review of the more laudable elements of the Las Vegas Sands proposal, and factoring in the company’s agreement to invest tens of millions of dollars in bolstering crucial services and activities in the most directly impacted communities, I decided to vote in favor of the lease transfer agreement.

While the Legislature’s action on May 22 represents an important benchmark, there are many steps that must be completed before any construction begins. As this process continues to unfold, make no mistake: I will remain vigilant and focused on the series of actions to follow, and I will hold the entities associated with this project accountable for meeting their contractual obligations and fulfilling the commitments they made to the residents of Nassau County.

Siela A. Bynoe, of Westbury, has represented the 2nd District in the County Legislature since 2014.

Framework by Tim Baker

increased in the past decades, up from about 4 percent THC levels in the 1980s to an average of 15 percent today. More disconcerting is that marijuana extracts, used in dabbing and edibles, contain, on average, 50 percent THC, and can go as high as 90 percent.

Research suggests that kids who use cannabis may face greater mental health risks, such as worsened depression and anxiety, poor attention and memory problems. Specifically, using a cannabis product with a THC potency of over 15 percent

is linked to a three-fold increase in the likelihood of experiencing mental health and other problems. Studies also suggest that 17 percent of those who start using marijuana in their teens will become dependent on it.

Given these risks, it’s important that parents know the facts and talk to their kids. For more info, go to NSCASA.org.

Rocco, Myles and Lily Pad hanging out at the Memorial Day Parade — Wantagh

Iwanted to ensure that the communities most impacted would receive promised benefits.

ALISON CAMARDELLA KEVIN McGILLOWAY President and vice president, NS-CASA