Uniondale Herald 07-18-2024

Page 1


Bugs, a rabbit and a collection of reptiles from the Center for Science Teaching & Learning, in Rockville Centre, visited the children at the Academic Explorers Day Camp in Uniondale last week.

The interactive lesson on land animals, on July 11, was led by Brandon Ellis, a science teacher at CST&L. The campers, who ranged in age from 6 months to 10 years, were excited to learn about the animals and what makes them special.

“I feel that we are inspiring

Supporting kids with special needs Campers delight in day of animal fun

The Association for Children with Down Syndrome’s Early Intervention Clinic offers special-needs kids under age 5 from across Long Island services and support.

“It’s the happiest place in the world,” said Jane Shimkin, director of early intervention for the association, which is headquartered in Plainview.

The program offered homebased services before the coronavirus pandemic, sending physical, occupational and speech therapists to the homes

of children with specials needs.

But because of the health risks the pandemic created and the impact the isolation had on children’s development, Shimkin pushed to open a clinic where they could receive inperson care once it was allowed. It opened in Plainview in September 2020, with staff and students wearing masks and taking necessary safety precautions, and it has grown since then.

For Long Island families who could use the clinic but may not be able to travel to Plainview, there is van transportation service to and from the

facility.

Maria Wasilewski, who lives in Uniondale, is grateful for the van service, which she uses twice a week for her sons. “I can’t even describe how perfect it is,” she said of the clinic. “I can’t imagine going somewhere else.”

One of the first babies to come to the clinic was Francis Wasilewski, Maria’s son. He received care from the professionals in the clinic until he aged out at 5, and now, at age 6, he is preparing to begin first grade. Maria said she struggled to find the care he needed during the pandemic, and is appre-

ciative of the opportunity the clinic gave Francis.

“If it wasn’t for Jane and the clinic, we wouldn’t be getting services for a very long time,” Maria said.

Now her younger son, Michal, 3, is receiving occupational and speech therapy at the facility. Both boys, she said, love the place.

The clinic offers services ranging from physical and occupational therapy to group play and story time. There is even a new “splish-splash” area outside.

The emphasis is on communication and family training, so parents or guardians always know what is going on inside

Kelsie Radziski/Herald
Kids were excited, and a bit confused, to see Brandon Ellis wearing Chex Mex the snake as a hat.

Kids enjoy close encounters with animals

a new generation to give these (animals) a chance,” Ellis said. “We’re teaching (kids) responsibility — we’re teaching them all these wonderful skills with animals.”

Ellis provided information about each animal as he introduced it. He showed each of the four age groups at the camp the horns on a hissing cockroach’s head and explained how they fight one another in mating rituals. Girls squealed when Ellis asked if any of them wanted to be a cockroach’s girlfriend.

The kids got to pet Chelone the tortoise and watched him walk around on the carpet as they learned about the protection he gets from his shell, and his all-vegetable diet. They also met Wilma the Eastern long-necked turtle, a less commonly known species, and learned how her long neck helps her find bugs to eat within the rocks of her habitat.

Wnoses, he explained how snakes smell with their tongues.

He brought out a blue-tongued skink named Drago, a species of lizard with a blue tongue. The kids have blue tongues only when they eat blue lollipops, he pointed out to them, while Drago’s tongue is blue all the time.

Ellis ended the presentation with Jack the rabbit, and the children petted her fluffy back and ears.

e just want to offer different opportunities during the summer for them to have fun and be engaged, but also to learn.
Glenda Grady Marketing manager, Academic Explorers

The children were thoroughly entertained by Ellis’s presentation, laughing as he “wore” Chex Mex, a Mexican milk snake, as a necklace, a bracelet and even a hat. He asked the kids what they use to smell, and when they pointed to their

“I’ve always had a very strong passion for animals, a deep respect for them, a love for them, and when I think of these guys, I think we could do so much for them,” Ellis said.

The day camp invited the animal exhibit to fit with its weekly theme of “land,” during which the focus was on nature, the outdoors and animals.

Shinad Basden, the head teacher for the toddlers’ age group, said the kids read books and completed art projects all about different animals: where they live, what they eat and what they do.

“I try to make it fun to where they understand a little bit, but they do understand the different animals,” Basden said.

The summer camp accepts children

from 6 months old to age 10 or so, according to Glenda Grady, Academic Explorers’ marketing manager. The themes are selected before the summer begins, and they are based on subjects like science, English and social studies, as well as summer-related topics. To complement “land,” upcoming themes include “air” and “sea,” in which the kids will learn more about the environment, as well as a series of lessons on the arts — performing, literary and visual.

“We just want to offer different

opportunities during the summer for them to have fun and be engaged, but also to learn,” Grady said.

Academic Explorers was founded in 2017 by Rodney and Danielle Page, a father and daughter duo, with their first location opening in Roosevelt. It functions as a preschool and enrichment center throughout the school year, and a day camp in the summer, and has locations across Nassau County, including Uniondale, Merrick and Old Westbury. To learn more about the organization, visit AcademicExplorersLLC.com.

Attend Hofstra’s Virtual

GRADUATE OPEN HOUSE

Tuesday, August 6, 2024 6 p.m.

At Hofstra University, graduate students plant the seeds to advance in their career. Hear from representatives across 200 programs that include business, communications, education, engineering, health sciences, nursing, and psychology, and learn all the ways your success can sprout at Hofstra University. Your future awaits.

For event details and to RSVP, visit hofstra.edu/visit

Kelsie Radziski/Herald
Ayla Soul Dossous, 1, got to know Chelone the tortoise during a visit from the Center for Science Teaching & Learning on July 11.

New Hempstead leaders empower Girl Scout mission

Three Hempstead residents earned new positions within the Girl Scouts of Nassau County. They were sworn in during the organization’s 59th annual meeting at the Ruth S. Harley University Center on the Adelphi University campus on May 16.

Angela Stanley and Katrina Rochelle Sims were nominated as Members-atLarge to the Girl Scouts of Nassau County Board of Directors, and Deandra Denton was reappointed to the Girl Scouts of Nassau County Board Development Committee, where she will carry out her second term through 2026. Their first meeting in their new roles was on June 18.

They will be monitoring the implementation of the new Girl Scout strategic plan, which includes increasing visibility of the organization, improving access to membership, supporting volunteers, and growing revenue to provide high quality programs, according to Randell Bynum, Chief Executive Officer of Girl Scouts of Nassau County.

They will also be focusing on preparing in advance for two upcoming fundraisers–the Thin Mint Sprint in September and Raise A Glass in November.

“Being part of Girl Scouts of Nassau County on a grander scale means contributing to a network of dedicated individuals committed to empowering young girls and making a positive impact in our community,” Stanley said.

Stanley works in the mayor’s office of Hempstead village, where she assists with the board of trustees and special community projects. In addition to her new position on the Board of Directors, she also serves on the Board Development Committee for the Girl Scouts of Nassau County, which she joined four years ago.

The new appointment, she said, will allow her to “contribute to the organization on an even broader scale and support its mission more effectively.”

Stanley was a Girl Scout for a brief time in her youth, and she has three daughters who were Girl Scouts. She was deeply involved as a troop leader and troop mom for all three of their Girl Scout troops.

“This experience allowed me to witness firsthand the positive impact that Girl Scouts can have on young girls’ lives,” she said.

Sims is an assistant professor and Faculty-in-Residence at Hofstra University, as well as an author of several publications and books. She is inspired by the Girl Scouts’ outstanding organization and its mission to help girls grow and become empowered young ladies through their membership, as stated in a news release, and she works to emphasize how women entered public spaces to challenge inequities through their leadership, activism, and influence.

Denton works as an associate member of the Investment Management Group at Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, where she has been working since 2023. It is “an absolute pleasure and privi -

lege” to be a member of the Board Development Committee, she said, because of her involvement in advancing the Girl Scout mission.

She was a Girl Scout for over a decade, starting as a “Brownie” in elementary school and eventually earning her Gold Award, the highest achievement.

“As a Girl Scout of Nassau County alum, it is important for me to stay involved because it allows me to give back in meaningful ways and hopefully

inspire others to get involved with the Council,” Denton said.

Girl Scouts of Nassau County’s Board of Directors and Board Development Committee will “help raise vital funds to expand access to Girl Scout experiences that socially, academically, and emotionally empower girls throughout our community,” according to the news release.

“Girl Scouts of Nassau County is proud to have such prestigious and accomplished members on its Board of

Directors who inspire and empower our Girl Scouts,” Bynum said in the news release. “I am confident that this group of leaders will help cultivate the Girl Scout experience and help fulfill our mission to build girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place.”

For more information about Girl Scouts of Nassau County, and to join, volunteer, reconnect, or donate, visit GSNC.org.

Angela Stanley was sworn in as a member of the Girl Scouts of Nassau County Board of Directors at the 59th annual meeting on May 16.
Katrina Rochelle Sims was nominated to the Girl Scouts of Nassau County Board of Directors.
Courtesy Girl Scouts of Nassau County New officers and members-at-large of the Board of Directors and members of the Board Development Committee stand at their inauguration.
Deandra Denton was nominated to the Girl Scouts of Nassau County Board Development Committee through 2026.

ACDS golf outing in Hempstead next Monday

the classroom and during therapy sessions. Each child has an individualized plan of services and support.

Alexandra Di Zoppola-Brown, an occupational therapist who has been working at the clinic for three years, said she appreciates the constant communication and collaboration between the staff and the families.

“We’re always working towards

achieving goals so that (the kids) are developmentally doing the things they should be doing,” Di Zoppolo-Brown said.

Jolie Abel, a teacher assistant in Shimkin’s class for 2-year-olds who has been at the clinic for nearly two years, has worked with people with intellectual disabilities for over 30 years, and said she loves working clinic with the children.

“I’ve worked with adults but I’d never worked with children, so I was really excited to see where it all starts,” Abel said. “I love it here.”

In order to operate the clinic and the transportation service, Shimkin explained, the ACDS rely on grants and fundraisers such as its annual golf outing, scheduled for next Monday at the Hempstead Golf and Country Club. The event will feature not only an afternoon of golf, but also contests on the course, including a $10,000 hole-in-one prize, and unique raffle prizes like a signed New York Islanders jersey.

The funds raised by the outing will benefit the ACDS Foundation by helping to “support lifetime programs serving people with developmental disabilities and their families,” according to a news release.

For information on tickets for the golf outing and sponsorship opportunities, call (516) 933-4700 or email development@acds.org.

COMMUNITY

Maria Wasilewski with sons Francis, 6, left, and Michael, 3, in the ACDS’s occupational therapy gym.
Kelsie Radziski/Herald photos Matthew Padilla Perez, 2, played with toy cars in the Association for Children with Down Syndrome’s class for 2-year-olds.

Ducks pursue second-half turnaround

Gutted by roster departures and injuries, the Long Island Ducks completed the first half of the Atlantic League baseball season July 5 with a 30-33 record, 13 games behind the North Division-winning York Revolution.

First-year Ducks manager Lew Ford, the franchise’s all-time hits leader with 1,036 and a key member of three championship teams, witnessed plenty of second-half turnarounds in his 13 seasons and is hopeful for another.

“I try to look at the positives and so far we’ve helped eight guys sign to play either in a Major League organization or professionally overseas,” Ford said. “We’ve had a ton of turnover and some injuries, but I like our roster entering the second half.”

The offense, led by outfielder Tyler Dearden and first baseman Frank Schwindel, did its part through the first 63 games averaging 5.25 runs. Dearden and Schwindel finished first and third in the league in batting, hitting .361 and .353, respectively,

Dearden, who spent his first six professional seasons in the Boston Red Sox organization and played at the Triple-A level in 2023, appeared in 55 first-half games and cracked 12 homers with 46 RBIs and 37 runs. His contract was purchased July 2 by the Minnesota Twins organization.

Schwindel, who has 145 games of Major League experience, appeared in 39 games and belted 11 homers and drove in 38 runs in the first half.

“Those guys were our MVPs in the first half,” Ford said of Dearden and Schwindel.

The most accomplished player Ford has penciled into the lineup is outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr., who appeared in 1,182 MLB games and won a World Series with the Boston Red Sox in 2018. He totaled 109 homers, 449 RBIs and 69 stolen bases over an 11-yer career.

A lower body injury forced Bradley Jr. to miss 35 games thus far. When healthy, he’s raked to the tune of a .360 average, 7 homers and 22 RBIs.

Catcher Chance Sisco, with nearly 200 MLB games under his belt, hit a team-leading 14 homers in the first half. Ivan Castillo has been steady with the glove and batted .298 with 6 homers, 23 RBIs and 7 steals in 42 first-half games.

Improving a team ERA of 5.34 and a league-worst .280 opponents’ batting average will go a long way in the Ducks’ chances of getting back to the playoffs. By far their most impressive arm to date is reliever Ramon Santos, who carries a 0.71 ERA with 3 wins (one shy of team leader Stephen Woods Jr.) and 45 strikeouts in 25 innings.

“We have to pitch better and the staff knows that,” Ford said. “They’re all capable.” Ducks reach 9 million fans all-time

The Ducks welcomed their record 9 millionth fan through the gates of Fairfield Properties Ballpark June 18 prior to their

Tyler Dearden, signed by the Minnesota Twins July 2, hit .361 with 12 homers and 46 RBIs in 55 games with the Ducks.

game against the Staten Island FerryHawks.

“This is another special day in the history of this great franchise,” Ducks General Manager Sean Smith said. “Reaching 9 million fans is a testament to the incredible support from our fan base since we first opened the gates in 2000 and to the fun and excitement Ducks baseball continues to provide Long Islanders every year.”

Five-year-old Ethan Oldham from Islip entered through the West Gate at 5:56 p.m. with his mother, Katie; father, Craig; and baby brother, Nolan. In doing so, Ethan became the 9 millionth fan in franchise history to attend a Ducks game in their home ballpark.

Long Island became the first club in Atlantic League history to reach the milestone attendance figure despite having begun play in the league’s third year of existence (2000). The Ducks are also currently the league’s all-time leader in sold out crowds with 707, have led the league in attendance 17 times and currently lead the league in 2024 attendance as well with an average of more than 4,500.

Ethan was recognized during a VIP onfield ceremony for being the 9 millionth fan. Sheldon Ellison, General Manager of the Levittown P.C. Richard & Son location, presented the lucky fan with a $1,000 gift card to use at any of the Ducks charter sponsor’s locations. In addition, the Ducks presented Ethan with a jersey featuring “9 Million” as the name on the back and the number “24”, representing this season. Ethan threw out a ceremonial first pitch, received a 2024 Ducks team-signed baseball, and he and his family were upgraded to VIP tickets for the night.

Photos courtesy Long Island Ducks
Reliever Ramon Santos pitched to a 0.71 ERA with 45 strikeouts in 25 innings through the season’s opening half.

Uniondale man sentenced to 12 years for narcotics trafficking

A Uniondale man was sentenced to 12 years in prison and five years post release supervision on July 8 for his role in a major narcotic trafficking ring that operated in the Hempstead area.

Orlando Ramsay, 49, pleaded guilty on May 21 to operating as a major narcotics trafficker, three counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance, conspiracy, criminal possession of a weapon, criminal possession of a firearm, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

“Orlando Ramsay was a major trafficker in a Hempstead narcotics ring that supplied dangerous opioids and other drugs to smaller dealers across Nassau County and promoted violence in and around Hempstead,” Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly said in the news release. “The defendant was arrested in possession of drugs with a street value of more than $500,000 including a kilogram of heroin.”

Donnelly said that on Oct. 17, 2020, Ramsay was allegedly pulled over with roughly 350 grams of cocaine in his vehicle on his way to deliver the narcotics. Nassau police arrested him.

Through a search of Ramsay’s home on Oct. 18, police said they found 1,500 grams of cocaine, 1 kilogram of heroin, 200 grams of morphine, 12 grams of fentanyl, four firearms, $185,000 in cash,

and various drug paraphernalia.

Donnelly said the street value of the narcotics recovered from the search warrant was nearly $500,000.

In October 2019, the Nassau County District Attorney, the Federal Bureau of Investigation Long Island Gang Task Force, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Long

Island Field Division began investigating an increase of violence and drug dealing in the Hempstead area, Donnelly said.

Operation Honeycomb was named because the home the drugs were packaged and stored at was referred to as the “honeycomb” on wiretapped calls by

ring, she added.

Ramsay was one of several individuals who emerged as a “major trafficker” during the investigation, Donnelly said, which requires the value of narcotics possessed or sold by the trafficker to exceed $75,000 during a period of six months or less.

“The defendant is one of the last to be sentenced as part of a multi-partner operation that resulted in the indictments of 40 individuals, including several major traffickers from Hempstead,” Donnelly said in the release.

These individuals allegedly acted as major suppliers to multiple small dealers in Nassau County and worked together to obtain and distribute narcotics, including heroin, fentanyl and cocaine, officials said.

Prosecutors allege that the drugs were trafficked from California, Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Puerto Rico.

When the coronavirus pandemic emerged, the cost of cocaine varied widely due to demand exceeding supply, Donnelly said. Cocaine prices rose to street prices of $125 per gram, and she said dealers began mixing fentanyl with cocaine and heroin to increase the potency of the supply while using less cocaine.

“I thank our many law enforcement partners for their work breaking up this dangerous outfit and making our communities safer,” Donnelly said in the

Herald file photo
Uniondale resident Orlando Ramsay was sentenced to 12 year for his role in drug trafficking, Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly noted. Donnelly, above, at a 2023 news conference.

Registration dates won’t help Jewish voters

Two Saturdays in the fall — and one Thursday — will conflict with Shabbat

Voter registration programs aim to make voting more accessible for people, and to encourage them to participate in the democratic process. But a recent directive from the state Board of Elections has done just the opposite for Jewish constituents, county executive Bruce Blakeman says.

A statewide voter registration date — this year, Thursday, Oct. 3 — is required by state law. A second, local voter registration program also takes place in Nassau County, but the dates that program may take place is up to the state Board of Elections, rather than the county’s. The state gave the county board two options to choose from: Sept. 28 or Oct. 5. Both are Saturdays.

That makes the voter registration program inaccessible for observant Jewish people, as well as Seventh-Day Adventists, and is antithetical to the program’s purpose of diversity and inclusion, Blakeman said at a news conference last week.

Blakeman appeared with county legislators Bill Gaylor and Mazi Pilip; the Legislature’s presiding officer, Howard Kopel; Comptroller Elaine Phillips and Rabbi Yossi Lieberman, of the Chabad of West Hempstead, on July 11 at Halls

and Rosh Hashana

bat is a day for many Jewish people, they are resting, they are going to synagogue, they don’t work, they don’t use phones, they don’t do anything that typically they’d do on a regular day.”

Even the statewide voter registration date of Oct. 3 is problematic for Jewish constituents, Kopel said.

“Nobody’s saying it’s necessarily deliberate,” Kopel said, “but let’s also remember that not only is that Thursday date a workday, it is also, as it happens, the day after Rosh Hashana. It is a fast day. Some people don’t feel well — they’re fasting, they can’t get out, they’re not up to it.”

Pond Park, in West Hempstead, to urge Attorney General Letitia James to step in and take action to correct the state election board’s decision.

“We are here in West Hempstead, which has a very large Jewish population,” said Blakeman, who is the county’s first Jewish executive. “And quite frankly, Nassau County is home to probably the third-largest Jewish county in population in the United States, and we

have a very large population of SeventhDay Adventists, especially in the Elmont and Franklin Square areas. So we believe that the state is making a big mistake, and we would ask them to correct that mistake.”

“As we welcome a voter registration program and we encourage everyone to participate in an election, I would expect from our state leadership to be sensitive for Shabbat,” Pilip said. “Shab-

Because the Saturday dates for the county program were finalized by state legislation, they cannot be changed without legislative action. The state Board of Elections, however, has the power to change the statewide registration program from a Thursday to a Sunday, so it is not on a working day. Blakeman called on James to direct the state board to make that change.

“It should be a very simple thing to do,” Kopel said. “Just go ahead, make the change. And I would also urge our officials to be a little bit more sensitive and a little bit more careful, and think about what you’re doing before you go ahead and do it. Because this was just really careless.”

Courtesy Office of Bruce Blakeman
The State Board of Elections gave Nassau County two Saturdays to choose from for a local voter registration program, making the program inaccessible to observant Jews, County Executive Bruce Blakeman said at a July 11 news conference.

Stop & Shop closing 32 stores, including Hempstead location

The Hempstead Stop & Shop on Fulton Avenue is one of four Long Island stores that the Massachusetts-based supermarket chain will close along with 28 other locations across New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Massachusetts.

Stop & Shops in East Meadow, Hempstead, Greenvale and Coram will closed by the end of the year, company officials said.

Company officials said that the stores are being closed because of poor performance. Shedding these locations will enhance the chain’s chance for growth.

“As we announced in May, Stop and Shop has evaluated its overall store portfolio and made the difficult decision to close underperforming stores to create a healthy base for the future growth of our brand,” Stop and Shop’s president Gordon Reid said in a news release.

Community members are disappointed that the Hempstead location is closing because of the limitations it will create for the community.

“It’s where minorities shop,” Tiffany Brown, Hempstead resident, said. “I’m going to miss it even though it’s expen-

FCA awards scholarships

The Family and Children’s Association, a leading health and human services nonprofit organization on Long Island, held its 39th Annual Scholarship Breakfast last month at Nassau County Community College. The event celebrated the shared accomplishments of its 46 scholarship recipients, who drew inspiration from two guest speakers: past scholarship winner Andrea Gomez and motivational speaker Anthony Robles, the 2011 NCAA individual wrestling national champion in the 125-pound weight class and a threetime All-America wrestler. Born with only one leg, Robles is the author of “Unstoppable: From Underdog to Undefeated: How I Became a Champion.”

Gomez opened the program, speaking of her journey to college, the challenges she faced immigrating from Honduras, her time in foster care, and her determination to succeed.

Robles gave the keynote address, holding the audience in rapt attention as he chronicled his journey to achieve his wrestling titles and life goals. Both speakers touched upon their successes and setbacks, stressing the importance of persistence, and belief in oneself.

Over three decades, FCA has awarded more than 1,500 scholarships collectively worth over $2 million to students engaged with FCA’s programs and services, enabling at-risk teens to pursue higher education and improve their lives. In 2023, 35 students received scholarship support, and this year, 46 students got scholarships. For more information on FCA, visit FCALI.org. — Jordan Vallone

sive.”

It will be an extra challenge for people who face mobility challenges, Corine Bacote, a Uniondale resident, said. They will have to shop for their groceries further away and find ways to get themselves there.

“Fortunately I can get around, but a lot of people, especially some of the seniors who come here in a cab or bus or something, it’s going to be harder for them to shop,” she said.

The global supermarket chain will continue to make investments in both price and customer experience as a part of it’s growth strategy initiatives in 350 stores

throughout the region being effected from the closings.

“Stop and Shop is proud of the deep roots and community ties we have developed as a neighborhood grocer of more than 100 years, and we remain committed to nourishing our associates, customers and communities,” Reid said in the release.

The stores that are impacted are set to close down on or before Nov. 2. All store employees that are being affected by the closings will be offered other opportunities within the company, officials said.

— Reporting by Brian Norman and Kelsie Radziski

Kelsie Radziski/Herald Stop & Shop’s Hempstead location, on Fulton Avenue, is one of four Long Island stores to be closing by the end of the year.

Neil Diamond tribute artist says ‘Hello Again’ to Eisenhower Park

Robert Neary returned to his roots, and brought with him a performance that would touch the hearts of thousands. Neary and Long Island-based cover band The Mystic covered Neil Diamond’s greatest hits in Neary’s selfmade tribute show, “So Good! The Neil Diamond Experience,” at Eisenhower Park on July 6.

At 19-years-old, Neary was an aspiring actor, getting his start by taking acting classes at Nassau Community College. While there, he studied the performing arts intensively, hoping that he could one day become a Hollywood star. One of his professors recognized his talent, encouraging him to pursue this dream.

“[He] said to me, ‘What are you doing here?’ He goes, ‘You need to be out in Los Angeles.’ I said that’s my goal, and that was it, that pushed me even further,” Neary said.

His professor’s encouraging words and his own determination inspired Neary to pursue an acting career in Los Angeles. Within only a year of living there, he landed roles in several television shows and even co-starred in the 1987 film “Teen Wolf Too.”

Throughout the next 40 years, his career exploded and he made a few notable appearances, including as a performer in the “Chippendales” show, a lead replacement in the Broadway musical revue “Smokey Joe’s Caf?,” and in Elton John and Tim Rice’s musical “Aida.”

However, over the course of this period, the business was transforming drastically. A fan of Neil Diamond, he was able to mimic his voice well, so he started putting together the materials for this passion project after gaining overwhelming support from his friends and family.

And in 2019, the show further came together when Neary attended a Halloween party at a music hall. One of Long Island’s premier cover bands, The Mystic, took the stage. Neary knew immediately that they were exactly what he needed, so he took advantage of this opportunity.

“This guy in the audience wanted to come up and sing and I’m like, ‘Here we go again,’” Sam Bello, head of The Mystic, previously told the Herald. “He played me an audio of him doing a Neil Diamond song and it was uncanny, I almost didn’t believe him. I said, ‘If this is you, I’m interested.’”

Since then, Neary and The Mystic’s Neil Diamond tribute show has taken off, and they have toured the country. As they traveled, selling out numerous venues, Neary has made sure to return to his roots in East Meadow. This show was so well received that he was invited to perform again at Eisenhower Park for Nassau County’s summer concert series.

People from all across Long Island came to watch this performance, proving how far Neary has come since he was a 19-year-old aspiring actor. Praised as “the most authentic and professional

tribute to Neil Diamond,” “So Good! The Neil Diamond Experience” continues to blow crowds away, making it an unforgettable experience for all. The show at Eisenhower Park earlier this month drew a substansial crowd.

In case you missed the recent show, you can catch it again at Merrick Road Park on July 17, through the Town of Hempstead’s summer series events. For more information on Nassau County concerts this summer, visit NassauCountyNY.gov.

Additional reporting by Brian Norman

Tim Baker/Herald Photos
The crowd sang and danced to a cover of Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline.”
A special guest was introduced and performed alongside Robert Neary and The Mystic.
Robert Neary and The Mystic played Neil Diamond’s greatest hits with Neary’s wife Natasha as a guest dancer.
Robert Neary presented “So Good! The Neil Diamond Experience,” a tribute to Neil Diamond, at Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre.

STEPPING OUT

Local

musicians and fans gather

in tribute to the beloved musician

Harry Chapin’s tragic death is now many decades behind us, but his music and philanthropy remain forever enshrined in Long Island’s collective consciousness. Stuart Markus, a longtime fixture on the local folk-acoustic scene, cherishes his role as guardian of Chapin’s legacy, organizing the yearly memorial concert each summer. Markus, who is based in Malverne, remains just as passionate about Chapin’s music and his humanitarian zeal as when he began this tribute event — taking on the role of concert organizer — 21 years ago. It has now moved on from its longtime home at Chapin’s namesake theater in Eisenhower Park — following last year’s well-publicized kerfuffle with Nassau County officials — to the Chapin Rainbow Stage in Huntington’s Heckscher Park. Some 30 musicians will gather with fans on Sunday, July 21, regrouping for this year’s edition of “Just Wild About Harry.”

“I’ve long thought it would be wonderful and extremely appropriate to do the show in Huntington, where Harry and Sandy lived and raised their family,” Markus says. “Harry is still held in such beloved regard by residents of the town and public officials at all levels.”

Despite the years that have passed since Chapin’s shocking death on the Long Island Expressway en route to his ill-fated performance in Eisenhower Park in July 1981, the man and his music still resonates. In fact, several show regulars were among the crowd when what was supposed to be a joyous event turned into a vigil, according to Markus.

“Harry is so beloved in memory on Long Island,” Markus says. “You don’t have to look too hard to find someone who met him, whose school he did a benefit for, or someone who’s been helped by one of his charities. It’s so meaningful for the music community to come together and, in effect, do the concert he might have given.”

And come together they do — year after year. “I never expected it would go on this long,” Markus says. “When I first started doing the show I thought it would run its cycle. Instead, each year it keeps growing and keeps getting better. It’s such a wonderful concert and everyone has a great time, which is a tribute to what a great man he (Chapin) was.”

• Sunday, July 21, 7 p.m.

Admission is free.

• Heckscher Park, located off Main Street (Route 25A) and Prime Avenue, Huntington

• Long Island Cares’ staff and volunteers will be collecting donations of nonperishable food at a tent at the entrance to the Chapin Rainbow Stage

The troubadour’s song catalogue is creatively interpreted by each act, who make it their own, while honoring Chapin. “We’ve had some amazing arrangements, from folky to country, torch-song style to hard rock,” adds Markus. “Throughout the two decades that we’ve been presenting the show, I’ve always encouraged everyone to make the songs fresh, however they imagine them. They’re not just reproducing them the way Harry did.”

Markus is pleased to welcome Chapin’s daughter, singer-songwriter Jennifer Chapin, in her first performing appearance at this year’s concert. She’ll do “I Wanna Learn a Love Song,” which tells

“It means a lot to her and the family that we’re doing this in Huntington, where they grew up,” Markus adds.

In another first, the lineup also includes Cantor Lisa Wharton, of Temple Beth Emeth in Mount Sinai, who appears with her husband, percussionist Akiva Wharton, and Cantor Judy Merrick, of Plainview Jewish Center. They’ll perform “I Wonder What Would Happen,” which Markus describes as very appropriate as “it’s a spiritual, gospel feeling song.”

Also Cantor Talya Smilowitz, with Oyster Bay’s Congregation L’Dor V’Dor, also graces the stage; Markus accompanying her for “Saturday Morning.”

“She has an amazing voice and in the chorus melody it just soars,” he enthuses.

Also participating, as always, are stalwarts of the local music community — including returnees Roger Street Friedman, Frank Walker, Patricia Shih and Stephen Fricker, Robinson Treacher, MediaCrime, Judith Zweiman, Martha Trachtenberg, Robin Greenstein, Christine Solimeno, and Grand Folk Railroad. They are joined, of course, by Markus, who performs with his longtime trio Gathering Time.

As is their signature, Markus, with Gathering Time, arrive on stage at the end to conclude the concert. They’ll perform “Cat’s in the Cradle,” which marks its 50th anniversary this year; also on the “Verities & Balderdash” album. Then, as always, in the true spirit of Harry Chapin, Gathering Time is joined by the entire group for their annual rendition of “Circle,” Chapin’s traditional closing.

More than just a concert, the free event, of course, involves a food drive. Concertgoers are asked to bring donations of nonperishable items to support Long Island Cares, the regional food bank and humanitarian organization Chapin founded n 1980.

Bring seating to the concert, held rain or shine. It will also be livestreamed on Facebook and the Harry Chapin Foundation YouTube channel.

Courtesy Keith Rossin

Top photo: Gathering Time’s Stuart Markus leads his fellow musicians in the spirited tribute.

Courtesy Doug Otto

Bottom photo: Everyone gathers to salute Harry

Comic showcase

Laugh the night away at Mom’s Night Out, presented Long Island Comedy Festival. You’ll enjoy standup delivered by four clever comics. Talia Reese, (pictured) an Orthodox woman, is one of the edgiest comedians on the circuit. Also a lawyer and a mom, she’s more than capable of not only wearing many hats, but mixing offbeat comedy, motherhood and Orthodox Judaism together. She’s joined by Carla Ulbrich, a singersongwiting comedian known as a “professional smart-aleck, with a love of the absurdities of ordinary life; Rockville Centre’s own Laura Patton, who encourages everyone to laugh along with her as she lives her dream; and national headliner Maria Walsh, “America’s Naughtiest Mommy,”known for her quick wit.

Thursday, July 18, 8 p.m. $45. Madison Theatre, Molloy University, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre. Tickets available at MadisonTheatreNY.org or call (516) 323-4444.

His ‘New York State of Mind’

Mike DelGuidice is, of course, forever known for his connection to Billy Joel. One of Long Island’s most celebrated singer/songwriters continues his “residency” on the Paramount stage, DelGuidice and his band always give it their all, especially when playing the iconic Billy Joel songs. Like his idol, DelGuidice has become one of the area’s most popular performers, balancing his schedule between doing his own thing and touring with Joel. DelGuidice, as with Joel, grew up mastering several instruments including bass guitar, guitar, piano, and drums. He’s renowned for his encyclopedic knowledge of the Joel catalog, which caught the attention of Joel himself, who ultimately brought him on stage with him. DelGuidice and his band pack hit after charttopping hit, along with his own tunes in a high energy show that’s always a crowd pleaser.

Friday and Saturday, July 19-20, 8 p.m. $60, $40, $25, $20. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at Ticketmaster.com or ParamountNY.com.

the story of Chapin meeting his future wife Sandy Cashmore in 1966 and their romance. It was included on his 1974 album “Verities & Balderdash.”
Chapin during the rousing finale that closes the concert.

THE Your Neighborhood

July 26

‘Cold Beer on a Friday Night’

Jimmy Kenny and the Pirate Beach Band are back on the Paramount stage, Friday, July 26, 8 p.m., with their beachy vibe. With summer in full swing, keep the mood going with their “Ultimate Beach Party Tribute” to Kenny Chesney, Jimmy Buffett and Zac Brown Band. Parrotheads, No Shoes Nation and the Zamily: it’s 5 o’clock somewhere so let’s ‘raise ‘em up and sing along.

The Long Island based band — guided by Paul C. Cuthbert (aka Jimmy Kenny) on lead vocals/ acoustic guitar, with Linn DeMilta (aka Lovely Linn), lead and backing vocals, Luis Rio, lead guitar/ backing vocals, Frank Stainkamp, keyboard/backing vocals, Dan Prine, bass, and drummer Mike Vecchione, have been celebrating the beach country sounds of Buffett, Chesney and Zac Brown Band for over a decade, spreading their vibe up and down the Northeast. Everyone has a great time grooving to their lively mix of their popular sing-along hits and feel good, easy living flair. It’s a show that connects everyone to good times and good friends. And, of course, you’ll know all the tunes. If you like your toes in the sand, wasting away with a margarita or a cold beer, then you’ll surely have a great time with the Jimmy Kenny Band. $35. $25, $20, $15. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at Ticketmaster.com or ParamountNY.com.

Dramatic Play

Theatre Playground returns to Long Island Children’s Museum with “Dramatic Play!,” Monday, July 22, 1 p.m., taught by Lisa Rudin, Director of Theatre Playground. In this interactive, theater-inspired workshop, children will act out an original story and help choose how it unfolds. Music, props, and sound effects create a theatrical world where participants are immersed in the story.

Children are encouraged to express themselves as they create characters, explore different worlds, stretch their imaginations and build selfconfidence. This week’s theme: Pirates and Princesses to the Rescue. Costumes encouraged. $5 with museum admission. Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 224-5800 or LICM.org.

In concert

As part of the Town of Hempstead’s free Neighborhood Concert Series, Killer Joe performs its tribute to garage sound with rock ‘n roll, blues, and soul music, Monday, July 22, at 8 p.m., at Uniondale Avenue Park, 710 Uniondale Ave., Uniondale.

Tunes in the garden

Enjoy the glorious grounds of Old Westbury Gardens and listen to some stirring sounds, as Old Westbury Gardens’ summer music series continues, Sunday, July 21, 3-4 p.m. The Cambiata Cello Duo performs compositions spanning styles and centures at the Barn. Bring a lawn chair or blanket. Old Westbury Gardens, 71 Old Westbury Rd., Old Westbury. For information visit OldWestburyGardens.org or contact (516) 333-0048.

Darlene Graham’s “Singing at the Beach”

Darlene Graham’s “Singing at the Beach” concert is great for kids of all ages! She performs at Cedar Street Park, Tuesday, July 23, at 10:30 a.m. Admission is free. 645 Cedar St., Uniondale. For more information, call (516) 2929000.

LI

Minority Millennials host over 1,200 youth at Nassau Coliseum for 2nd annual “We Are the Future Summit” powered by Sands NY to empower the next generation of change-makers

Minority Millennials, a nonprofit civic and youth development organization, hosted its 2nd annual "We Are the Future Summit," on Friday, May 31 at Nassau Coliseum. Powered by Sands NY, the summit featured an enriching lineup of groundbreaking sessions, keynote presentations from thought leaders, elected officials, and influencers.

Additionally, the event showcased live performances by the 80 member Uniondale Marching Band & Steppers, Uniondale Jazz Band and Hempstead High School graduate Rising HipHop Star Chow Lee, adding a dynamic cultural element to inspire and engage attendees.

As the title sponsor, Sands NY is integral to the summit, supporting a new initiative to create a diverse local talent pipeline through preapprenticeships and procurement opportunities connected to their proposal for a multi-billiondollar integrated resort at the Nassau Hub. This collaboration will enable Minority Millennials to further their mission of empowering young people of color with access to jobs, wealth building, and enhanced civic engagement.

Ron Reese, Senior Vice President of Global Communications and Corporate Affairs at Las Vegas Sands, added, "This partnership

who we are:

exemplifies our commitment to not only develop a world-class entertainment and hospitality facility but also to invest in the local workforce and community. We are excited to see how this summit will open doors for many young professionals across Long Island."

of

Minority Millennials, highlighted the summit’s comprehensive approach: "We are thrilled to bring together an eclectic mix of culture, policy, and professional development at this year's summit. Alongside the inspiring talks and sessions, we will host a vibrant array of performances that reflect the cultural richness of our community."

Haugland Group and Vineyard Offshore led as Workforce Development and Clean Energy Sponsors, that helped to feature an extensive career fair, providing attendees the chance to connect with leading companies and organizations from emerging industries such as offshore wind, construction, manufacturing, and more. The career fair will include opportunities for on-the-spot job applications, interviews, and networking, helping to bridge the gap between Long Island’s youth and local economic opportunities.

Although entrepreneurship is popular with a lot of young people, Billy Haugland II said not to count out trade careers such as construction and touted the benefits of a union job. He’s CEO of Haugland Group in Melville, an infrastructure services holding company.

“The wages are typically 20- to-50 percent

Continued on page 4

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

Photo provided by Sands
Photo: On May 31, more than 1,200 people attended the “We Are the Future Summit” sponsored by Sands NY.

Las Vegas Sands and the Thurgood Marshall College Fund host 15 HBCU students for annual Immersive Las Vegas Experience

The Sands Hospitality Immersion Program aims to create pathways to careers in hospitality and tourism for students from historically Black colleges and universities.

Las Vegas Sands and the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) hosted 15 students representing 10 historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) from around the country in the second annual Sands Hospitality Immersion Program, June 16-22 in Las Vegas.

Sands and TMCF, the only national organization exclusively representing the Black college community, established the Sands Hospitality Immersion Program to encourage interest in travel, tourism and leisure by exposing HBCU students to the inner workings of the Las Vegas hospitality industry.

The 15 rising junior and senior students selected for the exclusive summer program include Joshua Lee, Alabama A&M University; Waneysha Louissaint, Bethune-Cookman University; Tori Carlisle, Coppin State University; Fatima Diallo, Eli Pearson, Salimah Scott and Morayo Adeyemi, Howard University; Mya Mendoza and Denise White-Scott, Morgan State University; Hizikiel Holloman and Trevor Elliott, North Carolina A&T State University; Christian Nettles, North Carolina Central University; Zora Cunningham, Tuskegee University; Malaysia Jones, Virginia Union University; and Darryl Quick, Jr., Winston-Salem University.

Students are studying a range of majors including business, computer science, communications, finance, hospitality management, information technology, marketing, sales and supply chain management. They will receive a deep introduction to the travel, tourism and leisure industry and its wide range of professional positions, to inspire them to consider one of the world’s fastest-growing and largest employment fields.

“As a sales and marketing major, this experience will help me to better understand customer engagement,” said Zora Cunningham, a Tuskegee University student and immersion program participant. “By understanding this crucial practice in hospitality, I can apply these strategies to broader marketing efforts. This experience will also help me build valuable connections, gain practical insights and develop a deeper appreciation for personalized service and attention to detail.”

The multi-day experience is being curated by the Harrah College of Hospitality’s Sands Center for Professional Development at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Program elements include on-campus learning sessions with college faculty, industry speakers and interactive activities such as a cooking competition led by the college’s executive chefs. Over the course of the program, student participants will receive special insider tours of integrated resorts, convention spaces and sports venues.

In addition, students will visit Sands’ corporate headquarters to hear from professionals who will outline their experience in a wide range of disciplines and provide insights into the realm of professional services within the hospitality industry.

The travel, tourism and leisure industry continues to experience tremendous job growth and encompasses many professional positions. Beyond traditional hospitality tracks in hotel operations or restaurants, meetings and venue management, the industry offers career opportunities in finance, marketing, sales, human resources, information technology, legal and

other professional service fields.

“The Sands Hospitality Immersion is a transformative initiative designed to give HBCU students unparalleled access and exposure to the dynamic field of hospitality. This program not only broadens their career horizons but also equips them with the essential skills and networks needed to thrive in a competitive industry. By fostering a deeper understanding of hospitality, we are empowering the next generation of leaders to drive innovation and excellence in this vital sector,” said Tristin Rainey, senior manager of learning and talent at TMCF. Sands established the Sands Hospitality Immersion Program as part of the Sands Cares global community engagement program. It is one of the company’s many education and workforce development initiatives, which include contributions to and partnerships with higher education institutions, funding for scholarship programs, on-property and industry-supported training opportunities for students and hospitality professionals, and mentorship and instruction from company leaders and experts. “The Sands Hospitality Immersion Program advances two of our core initiatives – helping to build a highly skilled, diverse workforce in the hospitality industry and fostering opportunities and advancement for young people from traditionally underrepresented groups,” said Ron Reese, senior vice president of global communications and corporate affairs, who spearheads corporate responsibility initiatives at Sands. “We hope this unique experience will inspire this talented group of students to consider the many opportunities the hospitality industry offers.”

Sands New York honored by United Way

Over 600 people turned out to the United Way’s 2024 “United in Purpose” Gala, where Sands New York was honored as the Corporate Impact Champion. To introduce the award, the organization showed a video of Theresa Regnante, President and CEO of United Way of Long Island driving with Former New York State Governor and Sands Senior Vice President David Paterson.

The segment included a conversation with two United Way beneficiaries, Matthew Knoblock, an alumni of United Way’s Power Up! Program, which led him to his position with PSEG Long Island; and Jennefer Maldonado, who received a DREAMS Scholarship to help get her through her college education, leading to her career with Brookhaven National Laboratory. Both Matt and Jennefer thanked United Way and Sands New York for the support they received as they pursued academic and professional goals.

Sands Senior Vice President Ron Reese was on site to accept the award, praising the United Way’s

work in the Long Island community. “Sands New York is proud to partner with United Way to help provide critical assistance for families and individuals throughout Nassau and Suffolk Counties.”

Sands New York celebrates PRIDE Month with the LGBT Network

On June 9, 2024 the Sands New York team joined the LGBT Network to celebrate PRIDE on Long Island. The event, held annually in Huntington, drew in more people than ever before making it the largest Long Island Parade ever, according to organizers thousands turned out to celebrate the LGBTQ+ and allies of the community and to enjoy a variety of vendor booths, live music, food trucks, games and entertainment, and fun for everyone.

“Sands has a proud history of supporting, employing and welcoming those within the LGBTQ+ community, and we are extremely proud to partner with the LGBT Network to celebrate June as PRIDE month,” said Tracey Edwards, Senior Vice President and Corporate Social Responsibility Officer for Sands New York. “If built, the proposed Sands New York project will carry on our legacy of equity and opportunityand it will be a space where every Long Islander

can feel safe and free to be their full authentic selves.”

Sands was a platinum sponsor of the event and managed several booths within the festival area, where they spoke to festival-goers and handed out water bottles, frisbees and lip balm.

LI TODAY

more than a job that’s not unionized, and there’s health care, retirement benefits. …” Haugland said. “It can give you the stability to let your entrepreneurial passions rise.”

“Clean energy not only preserves our environment for future generations, but it holds immense potential for sustainable and equitable career paths for youth and people early in their careers,” said Andrea Bonilla, Senior Manager of External Affairs at Vineyard Offshore. “We are proud to partner with Minority Millennials to help make this clean energy future a reality.”

Founded in 2017, Minority Millennials, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) organization committed to bridging the gap between policy and culture. Their mission is to help young people of color access, jobs, build wealth and become civically engaged.

Sands returns to East Meadow Day 2024

The East Meadow Community turned out in droves to celebrate East Meadow Community Day this year. The annual event is organized by the East Meadow Chamber of Commerce and local businesses to give back to the community.

The Sands New York Team joined in as a sponsor, providing refreshments, enjoying the music and reveling in the spirit of giving back. The team joined in on the pie-eating contest and the color run, and supplied a face painter to add to the messy fun!

Ted Rosenthal, East Meadow Community Day 2024 Chairperson said, “Thank you to the Sands team for once again supporting our East Meadow Community Day, now in our 34th year. Not only did they bring an unlimited supply of refreshments but ensuring that the sound system reached all of our participants was a tremendous asset. We were thrilled that you joined us in what was our best Community Day yet.”

Movie Night

Enjoy a family film outdoors on Eisenhower Park’s big screen, Wednesday, July 31, dusk, at the Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre. See the recent 3D animated musical fantasy “Trolls 3: Trolls Band Together.” The film serves as the threequel to Trolls, the sequel to Trolls World Tour, and the continuation of DreamWorks Trolls franchise. Eisenhower Park, Lakeside Theatre, East Meadow. For information, visit NassauCountyNY.gov.

Hydration workshop

Cornell Cooperative Extension nutrition educator Connie offers tips for staying hydrated during the hot weather, including how to measure the amount of sugar in popular drinks, at Uniondale Public Library, Tuesday, July 23 , 7-8 p.m. 400 Uniondale Ave. For more information, visit UniondaleLibrary.org or call (516) 489-2220.

Pet Adoption Program

Adopt your “fur-ever” friend this summer. There’s no better time to adopt a new pet than during the ”summer of love” at the Town of Hempstead Animal Shelter. Now through Sept. 1, all pet adoption fees are waived and include free spaying/ neutering, vaccinations and microchipping. There is a $10 license fee for dogs.

Check out the friendly faces of the dogs and cats before stepping foot in the shelter online at HempsteadNY. gov/179/Animal-Shelter or on the shelter’s Facebook page at Hempstead Town Animal Shelter. For more information, contact (516) 785-5220.

Uniondale Junior Friends

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

Having an event?

Best of Broadway

Sounds of the Great White Way return to Eisenhower Park with Neil Berg’s “100 Years of Broadway,” Saturday, July 20, 7-9 p.m., at the Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre. The lively musical revue, hosted by Neil Berg, on piano, shares those dynamic showstopping tunes performed by a cast of Broadway actors and actresses. These energetic talents light up the stage with songs from the hit shows in which they starred.

Berg presents creatively revived arrangements of Broadway classics as well as thrilling numbers from some of the newest hits, along with his fascinating commentary and historical notes in between songs. Bring seating. Eisenhower Park, East Meadow. For information, visit NassauCountyNY.gov.

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 exhibit

Nassau County Museum of Art ‘s latest exhibition

“Seeing Red: Renoir to Warhol,” reveals the many meanings, connotations, and associations of this powerful color in art. Evoking strong emotion, red can represent the human condition. Its myriad variations have come to signify authority as well as love, energy and beauty. Red warns us of peril and commands us to stop, but it can also indicate purity and good fortune. Red boldly represents political movements and religious identities. From the advent of our appreciation for this color in antiquity to its continued prominence in artistic and popular culture, this exhibition will span various world cultures through a range of media. It features more than 70 artists, both established and emerging, ranging from the classical to the contemporary. American portraitists such as Gilbert Stuart imbued red in their stately paintings of prominent individuals to conjure authority.

Robert Motherwell, Ad Reinhardt, and other major abstract painters displayed a deep fascination with red in their commanding compositions that evoke a sense of chromatic power. And, of course, Andy Warhol is known for his bold and imposing silkscreened portrait of Vladimir Lenin saturated in bright red to his signature Campbell’s Soup Cans. It opens July 20 and is on view through Jan. 5. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. (516) 484-9337 or NassauMuseum.org.

Meditation and Forgiveness workshop

Uniondale Public Library offers virtual program with long-time meditator Arlene Samsel, Thursday, July 25, 7-8 p.m. She teaches how meditation can awaken your consciousness, deepen your understanding of yourself and others, and help you practice forgiveness. For more information, visit UniondaleLibrary.org or call (516) 489-2220.

Teen Chess Club

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

A Mineola rededication for Nassau’s 125th

Despite pouring rain outside the Theodore Roosevelt Executive and Legislative Building in Mineola on July 12, there was a joyful rededication ceremony for the building, a highlight of Nassau County’s yearlong 125thanniversary celebration. Attendees reflected on the county’s journey from its separation from New York City, in 1899, to its present-day status as one of the bestknown, busiest, most vibrant and culturally diverse counties in the United States.

Moderated by County Executive Bruce Blakeman, the event brought together elected officials, local historians, and Tweed Roosevelt, the great-grandson of President Theodore Roosevelt, to honor the rich history and legacy of both the county and the former president.

“Today we reaffirm our commitment to the memory of Theodore Roosevelt, a great president, a great governor, a police commissioner, a state legislator,” Blakeman said. “Someone who was a war hero, and someone who overcame tremendous adversity to achieve so many great things.”

The county’s origin story was, in effect, an act of secession, according to historians. In 1898, when New York City annexed Queens County, its three eastern towns — Hempstead, North Hempstead and Oyster Bay — pushed to split away, drawing an invisible boundary between themselves and the newly expanded city. On Jan. 1, 1899, Nassau County was born, and its suburban future firmly secured.

The county building, designed by the architectural firm Shreve, Lamb & Harmon, best known for designing the Empire State Building, is historically significant, because then Gov. Teddy Roosevelt himself helped lay the cornerstone in 1900. When U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi was

Tim Baker/Herald

Tweed Roosevelt, President Theodore Roosevelt’s greatgrandson, honored the rich history and legacy of both the county and the former president.

serving as county executive in 2002, he announced that the building, a former county courthouse, would be renamed in honor of Roosevelt.

In 2005, a replica of a 17-foot statue of Roosevelt that stands on Theodore Roosevelt Island, in the Potomac River in Washington, D.C., was installed outside the building in Mineola. Now the statue’s plaque recognizes the county’s historic milestone.

Roosevelt’s legacy as a public servant and leader is extensive. He was born in New York City on Oct. 27, 1858, into a wealthy family. Though he was frail and asthmatic as a child, he was determined to pursue a vigorous lifestyle that would define most of his life.

Roosevelt’s education was a mix of private tutoring and formal schooling, culminating in his graduation

from Harvard in 1880. His political career began with his election to the State Assembly in 1882, where he earned a reputation as a reformer. As president of the New York City Board of Police Commissioners in 1895, he fought corruption and modernized the police force through hands-on inspections and reforms.

Appointed assistant secretary of the Navy in 1897, Roosevelt prepared the Navy for the Spanish-American War, and subsequent leading the Rough Riders, the first U.S. volunteer cavalry. His heroism propelled him to the governorship of New York in 1898, where he implemented significant labor, health care and conservation reforms.

Roosevelt’s New York-honed leadership led to the vice presidency in 1900, and the presidency just a year later, when William McKinley was assassinated. His progressive policies, including trust-busting and conservation efforts, were influenced by his New York experiences.

Roosevelt’s connection to New York remained strong throughout his life. His home at Sagamore Hill, in Oyster Bay, was his retreat as well as a hub of intellectual and political activity, and played a large role in his personal and political life. The name of the main house on the 150-acre estate, which he bought in 1880, is Native American for “chief,” and it was the scene of many milestones in Roosevelt’s life, from family moments to political decisions.

“He spent the better part of his life here,” his greatgrandson, Tweed Roosevelt, said during the event. “He’s reputed to have said on the day he died to his wife, ‘Dear, you have no idea how much I love Sagamore Hill.’”

“Teddy Roosevelt is a man that we all should try to emulate,” Scott Fairgrieve, president of the Nassau County Historical Society, said. “He was a family man. He was a great president of the United States, and he loved this country.”

Public Notices

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU

HSBC BANK USA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE UNDER THE POOLING AND SERVICING AGREEMENT

DATED AS OF DECEMBER

1, 2005, FREMONT HOME LOAN TRUST 2005-E, Plaintiff, Against

REGINALD MATHONE, ET AL.,

Defendant(s)

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale, duly entered 10/03/2016, I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction, on the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, N.Y. 11501 on 8/1/2024 at 3:00PM, premises known as 622 Hillside Court, Uniondale, NY 11553, And Described As Follows:

ALL that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Town Of Hempstead, County Of Nassau And State Of New York. Section 36 Block 153 Lot 664-667.

The approximate amount of the current Judgment lien is $586,880.87 plus interest and costs. The Premises will be sold subject to provisions of the aforesaid Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale; Index # 14881/08 If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, the then Court Appointed Referee will cancel the Foreclosure Auction. This Auction will be held rain or shine.

Richard Lawrence Farley, Esq., Referee. MCCABE, WEISBERG & CONWAY, LLC, 10 Midland Avenue, Suite 205, Port Chester, NY 10573

Dated: 6/10/24 File Number: 17-300289 SH 147679

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

Section 0036 Block 144.00 Lot 66

The approximate amount of the current Judgment lien is $87,224.89 plus interest and costs. The Premises will be sold subject to provisions of the aforesaid Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale; Index # 604506/2021

Mark S. Ricciardi, Esq., Referee.

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

Richland & Falkowski, PLLC, 28-07 Jackson Avenue, 5th Floor, LONG ISLAND CITY, NY 11101

Dated: 6/10/24 File Number: SMITH SH 147677

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, WILMINGTON TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS TRUSTEE FOR MFRA TRUST 2015-1, Plaintiff, vs. DINA VENTURA A/K/A DINA M. VENTURA, ET AL., Defendant(s).

Friedman Vartolo LLP, 85 Broad Street, Suite 501, New York, New York 10004, Attorneys for Plaintiff. Firm File No. 180599-2 147674

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE TO RESPONDENT, ALAZAR GETAACHW TEKALINGE

A petition has been filed against you seeking to terminate forever your parental rights to the minor children, Azariah Nathaniel Tekalinge and Amare Nazir Tekalinge, who were born on the 9th day of July, 2005 and the 16th day of May, 2012, respectively. It appears that ordinary process of law cannot be served upon you because your whereabouts are unknown. You are hereby ORDERED to appear in the Fourth Circuit Court of Davidson County in Nashville, Tennessee to personally answer the Petition for Termination of Parental Rights and Adoption. Failing to appear, without good cause, will result in the loss of your right to contest the petition to terminate your parental rights to the children listed above and for their adoption. You may view and obtain a copy of the Petition and any other subsequently filed legal documents at the Circuit Court Clerk, 1 Public Square, Suite 302, Nashville, TN 37201. 147830

LEGAL NOTICE

2:00PM, premises known as 650 WINTHROP DRIVE, UNIONDALE, NY 11553; and the following tax map identification: 50-447-14. ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND, WITH THE BUILDINGS AND IMPROVEMENTS THEREON ERECTED, SITUATE, LYING AND BEING AT UNIONDALE, TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, COUNTY OF NASSAU AND STATE OF NEW YORK

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No.: 000582/2017. Ronald J. Ferraro, 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. 147821

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.

Russell S. Burman, Esq., Referee Friedman Vartolo LLP, 85 Broad Street, Suite 501, New York, New York 10004, Attorneys for Plaintiff. Firm File No. 221028-2 147807

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

available to schools participating in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs for the 2024-2025 School Year. What does this mean for your child(ren) attending the school(s) identified above?

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU

BCMBI TRUST, Plaintiff, Against

BRIAN J. SMITH, ET AL., Defendant(s)

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale, duly entered 04/21/2023, I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction, on the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, N.Y. 11501 on 7/30/2024 at 2:00PM, premises known as 931 Cewell Avenue, Uniondale, NY 11553, And Described As Follows:

Pursuant to an Order Confirming Referee Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on August 8, 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 July 30, 2024 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 335 Locust Avenue, Uniondale, NY 11553. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being at Uniondale, Unincorporated Area, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 50, Block 47 and Lots 32-34. Approximate amount of judgment is $886,894.24 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #616578/2019. 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.

Malachy Patrick Lyons, Jr., Esq., Referee

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, F/K/A, THE BANK OF NEW YORK AS SUCCESSOR TO JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE FOR RENAISSANCE HOME EQUITY LOAN TRUST, SERIES 2003-2, -againstMICHAEL DENTON IF LIVING, AND IF SHE/HE BE DECEASED, ET AL. NOTICE OF SALE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Nassau on June 6, 2024, wherein THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, F/K/A, THE BANK OF NEW YORK AS SUCCESSOR TO JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE FOR RENAISSANCE HOME EQUITY LOAN TRUST, SERIES 2003-2 is the Plaintiff and MICHAEL DENTON IF LIVING, AND IF SHE/HE BE DECEASED, ET AL. are the Defendant(s). I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction RAIN OR SHINE at the NASSAU COUNTY SUPREME COURT, NORTH SIDE STEPS, 100 SUPREME COURT DRIVE, MINEOLA, NY 11501, on August 6, 2024 at

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY, BUT SOLELY AS TRUSTEE OF THE TRUMAN 2021 SC9 TITLE TRUST, Plaintiff, vs. JACY L. CAMPBELL, AS PURPORTED

ADMINISTRATOR AND HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF WINSTON CAMPBELL A/K/A WINSTON W. CAMPBELL A/K/A WINSTON WASHINGTON CAMPBELL, ET AL., Defendant(s).

Pursuant to an Order Confirming Referee Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on October 27, 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 August 6, 2024 at 2:30 p.m., premises known as 1090 Fayette Street, Uniondale, NY 11553. 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, Section 50, Block 346 and Lots 17 and 18. Approximate amount of judgment is $217,832.61 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #612060/2022. This foreclosure sale will be held on the north side steps of the Courthouse, rain or shine. COVID-19

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that pursuant to Article 9 of the New York State Constitution, the provisions of the Town Law and Municipal Home Rule of the State of New York, both as amended, a public hearing will be held in the Town Meeting Pavilion, Hempstead Town Hall, 1 Washington Street, Hempstead, New York, on the 6th day of August, 2024, at 10:30 o’clock in the forenoon of that day to consider the enactment of a local law to amend Chapter 202 of the code of the Town of Hempstead to INCLUDE “REGULATIONS AND RESTRICTIONS” to limit parking at the following location:

ROOSEVELT WEST

RAYMOND AVENUE (TH 260/24) South SideSection 202-6 30 MINUTE PARKING BETWEEN SIGNSstarting at a point 26 feet west of the west curbline of Nassau Road, then west for a distance of 80 feet.

ALL PERSONS INTERESTED shall have an opportunity to be heard on said proposal at the time and place aforesaid. Dated: July 2, 2024 Hempstead, New York BY ORDER OF THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD

DONALD X. CLAVIN, JR. Supervisor KATE MURRAY Town Clerk 147994

LEGAL NOTICE THE STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT / THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK / ALBANY, NY 12234 Office of P-20 Education Policy

Child Nutrition Program Administration 89 Washington Avenue, Room 375 EBA, Albany, NY 12234 (518) 473-8781 Fax (518) 473-0018 www.nysed.gov/cn/cnms. htm

Letter to Parents for School Meal Programs Special Provision Options (Provision 2 Non-Base Year & Community Eligibility Provision) Dear Parent or Guardian: We are pleased to inform you that our Uniondale Union Free School District will be implementing a meal certification option

All students enrolled at Any school of our Uniondale Union Free School District are eligible to receive a healthy breakfast and lunch at school at no charge to your household each day of the 2024-2025 school year. No further action is required of you. Your child(ren)will be able to participate in these meal programs without having to pay a fee or submit an application. Studies have shown that children who are not hungry perform better in school. By providing lunch to all children at no charge, we are hoping to create a better learning environment for our students. The school breakfasts and lunches that we serve follow U.S. Department of Agriculture guidelines for healthy school meals. The School Breakfast and Lunch Programs cannot succeed without your support; please encourage your children to participate in the school meal programs. Meals will be served to all students at no charge regardless of the eligibility status. If you have any further questions, please contact us at 516-918-2320 Food Service Program Office Sincerely, Yohana Arevalo School Lunch Program Coordinator In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English. To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint

Form, (AD-3027) found online at: http://www.ascr.usda.gov /complaint_filing_cust.ht ml, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: program.intake@usda.go v. This institution is an equal opportunity provider. 148021

LEGAL NOTICE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU OCWEN LOAN SERVICING, LLC, -againstWILLIAM F. JONES, JR, ET AL.

NOTICE OF SALE

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION AS TRUSTEE OF TIKI SERIES IV TRUST, Plaintiff, vs. BERNICE OSUJI, Defendant(s). Pursuant to an Order Confirming Referee Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on June 11, 2024, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the front steps on the north side of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on August 19, 2024 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 712 Campus Street, Uniondale, NY 11553. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being at Uniondale, in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 50, Block 265 and Lot 67. Approximate amount of judgment is $525,746.06 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #610628/2022. 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. Fabiana Ida Talarico, Esq., Referee Friedman Vartolo LLP, 85 Broad Street, Suite 501, New York, New York 10004, Attorneys for Plaintiff Firm File No.: 221656-1 148061

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Nassau on May 3, 2023, wherein OCWEN LOAN SERVICING, LLC is the Plaintiff and WILLIAM F. JONES, JR, ET AL. are the Defendant(s). I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction RAIN OR SHINE at the NASSAU COUNTY SUPREME COURT, NORTH SIDE STEPS, 100 SUPREME COURT DRIVE, MINEOLA, NY 11501, on August 21, 2024 at 2:30PM, premises known as 529 LIBERTY STREET, UNIONDALE, NY 11553; and the following tax map identification: 50-137-317. 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 No.: 008792/2014. 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. 148046

DRIVING INSTRUCTOR Company Car/ Bonuses. Clean Driving Record Required, Will Train. Retirees Welcome! $20 - $25/ Hour Bell Auto School 516-365-5778 Email: info@bellautoschool.com

EDITOR/REPORTER Part Time & Full Time. The award-winning Herald Community Newspapers group, covering Nassau County's North and South Shores with hard-hitting news stories and gracefully written features, seeks a motivated, energetic and creative editor/reporter to join our dynamic (and awesome) team! This education and general assignment reporting position offers a unique experience to learn from some of the best in the business. Historically, reporters who have launched their careers with us have gone on to The New York Times, Newsweek, Newsday, the New York Daily News, New York Post, CNN, BBC, NBC News and The Daily Mail, among many others. We look for excellent writers who are eager to learn, enhance their skills, and become well-established and respected journalists in our industry. Salary range is from $20K to $45K To apply: Send a brief summary in the form of a cover letter describing your career goals and what strengths you can bring to our newsroom, along with a resume and three writing samples to mhinman@liherald.com

HANDYPERSON WANTED Immediate Opening at our Garden City Location DESIRED SKILLS: Electrical * Welding * Carpentry Mechanical * Plumbing Part Time/Fulltime (benefits available with full time) $18-$30 per hour based on experience Richner Communications, Inc 2 Endo Blvd Garden City, NY 11530 Send resume to careers@lixtherald.com or Call 516-569-4000 ext 211

LIBRARY AIDE FULL TIME

Are you customer-service focused? Do you love libraries? Apply for a FT Library Aide position at the Baldwin Public Library. This is a rare opportunity in our Circulation department that does not require a Civil Service exam. Job is 35 hrs per week with at least one night per week and rotating Saturdays. $35,000-40,000 depending on experience. Possibility of Sunday hrs. Send resume and cover letter to dkelly@baldwinpl.org by Fri, July 26.

MAILROOM/ WAREHOUSE HELP

Long Island Herald has IMMEDIATE openings for a FULL-TIME & PART-TIME mailroom/warehouse helper in Garden City. We are a busy print shop looking for motivated and reliable individuals to assist in various duties in the shop. Forklift experience is a plus and heavy lifting is required. Hours vary, so flexibility is key. Salary Ranges fromo $16 per hour to $20 per hour.

Email resumes or contact info to careers@liherald.com

Looking for an aggressive self starter who is great at making and maintaining relationships and loves to help businesses grow by marketing them on many different advertising platforms. You will source new sales opportunities through inbound lead follow-up and outbound cold calls. Must have the ability to understand customer needs and requirements and turn them in to positive advertising solutions. We are looking for a talented and competitive Inside Sales Representative that thrives in a quick sales cycle environment. Compensation ranges from $33,280 + commissions and bonuses to over $100,000 including commission and bonuses. We also offer health benefits, 401K and paid time off. Please send cover letter and resume with salary requirements to ereynolds@liherald.com Call 516-569-4000 X286

OUTSIDE SALES

Richner Communications, One of the Fastest Growing Media, Event and Communications Companies on Long Island is Seeking a Sales/Marketing Candidate to Sell our Print Media Products and our Digital, Events, Sponsorships. Earning potential ranges from $33,280 plus commission and bonuses to over $100,000 including commissions and bonuses. Compensation is based on Full Time hours Eligible for Health Benefits, 401k and Paid Time Off. Please Send Cover Letter and Resume with Salary Requirements to rglickman@liherald.com or Call 516-569-4000 X250

PERSONNEL CLERK/ ACCOUN T CLERK ASSISTANT. $20-$23 per hour. 17 hours per week. Monday and Tuesdays 9:30-3:30. (remaining shift TBD w/ candidate) Occasional Saturday may be required depending upon payroll schedule Duties include Payroll, Benefits Administration,

4th Avenue. 2 Story. 5 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms. Finished basement. Spacious 2 family house on quiet dead end street. First floor has 3 bedrooms, with eat-in kitchen and living room. Second floor has a large living room and gourmet kitchen with many cabinets, plus 2 bedrooms. Basement recently updated with a bar, family room, laundry, utility room and plenth of extra space. Fenced-in yard with shed. Double driveway with parking for 4 plus cars.

Taxes: $13,862

Franklin Square $860,000

Delmar Avenue. Tudor. 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms. Finished basement. Kitchen with granite countertops. Formal dining room. Den/family room. Security system.

Taxes: $10,668.97

Hewlett Harbor $3,900,000

Thixton Drive. Estate. 9 bedrooms, 8.55 bathrooms. Gourmet chef-style eat-in kitchen with granite countertops. Formal dining room. Den/family room. Exercise room with sauna/steam room. Other features include wet bar, guest quarters, elevator, security system.

Taxes: $84,610

Long Beach $1,985,000

W. Penn Street. Colonial. 4 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms. Gourmet eat-in kitchen. Ensuite master bedroom with walkin closet. Three levels of luxury with rooftop deck and lounge. Panoramic city views. Steps away to beach.

Taxes: $11,073

Malverne $675,000

Linmouth Road. Cape. 3 bedroom, 2 bathrooms. Finished basement. Eat-in kitchen. Formal dining room. First floor master bedroom.

Taxes: $14,503.12

Merrick $750,000

Hanover Place. Expanded Cape. 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms. Partial finished basement. New eat-in kitchen with stylish farmhouse chic cabinetry and quartz countertops. Formal dining room. Updated great room with fireplace. Updates also include bathrooms and cathedral ceiling. Trex deck overlooking sweeping yard.

Taxes: $14,774.54

Q. We have a siding problem that nobody, so far, seems able to solve. We added a second floor three years ago, and redid all our siding. The siding representative came after the siding people couldn’t figure out why our siding began to distort and hang, almost as if it had melted. We don’t keep our barbecue near the house because we learned the hard way, after the siding melted, when the barbecue was too close. This is different, and nobody has any idea why our siding is sagging. The representative took pictures but hasn’t gotten back to us. Have you ever heard of this, and is there anything we can do to stop it? We did replace two sections, but after a year it began happening again. We even checked to see if maybe an appliance was overheating indoors, but there’s nothing nearby that could have caused this. Any ideas?

A. I can shed some light on this, literally, by confirming that your siding, is indeed, melting, but for a reason you didn’t mention: the sun. In the past, when there were mysteries like this, they created fear of the unknown, and your may have thought your home was possessed, but as long as the mortgage is paid, the house isn’t possessed, and it won’t be repossessed. I’ve only seen this problem three times over the 50 years I’ve been in the field, and each one was solvable, but with some rethinking and extra expenditure.

If you were to check to see the orientation of the house and monitor where the sun reflects in either the early morning or late afternoon — and I have seen both phenomena — you’d notice that the sun is especially intense at certain angles. In each case I’ve traced, the sun hit an upper window and reflected with great intensity — like holding a magnifying glass over an innocent bug — off a neighbor’s window and back onto the siding of the first house. This “house of mirrors” phenomenon was intense enough to melt the vinyl siding, which simply wasn’t able to resist the heat.

In one case, the solution was to add a trellis to the side of the house to shield it from the sunlight. This can be done with a freestanding trellis instead of puncturing the siding and causing potential leaks with invasive hardware. Ironically, in that case you could be solving one problem while creating another.

You could also add tall shrubs or short trees between the houses if you have the room. The most expensive way is to side the area with a different, more durable, siding material such as cement board, which looks like vinyl siding, brick or stone. As we experience more intense sunlight due to climate change, I anticipate seeing more of this problem, but it’s still rare, because the windows have to align just right, and it usually happens when the sun is oriented to the Earth just right, possibly only twice a year. Good luck!

© 2024 Monte Leeper

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

Ask The Architect
Monte Leeper

Stuff HERALD

FREON WANTED Certified buyer looking for R11, R12, R22 & more! Call Clarissa at 312-535-8384

YARD SALE 129 East Walnut St, Long Beach. Every Thursday-Sunday from June 27-July 28, 12-5pm. Something for everyone, kids and adults.

GLEN COVE HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF '79 45th Reunion September 21, 2024 6PM Contact Barry Feldman for details. (215) 534-7368 verythinguy2@gmail.com

SAVE ON YOUR TRAVEL PLANS!

Up to 75% More than 500 AIRLINES and 300,000 HOTELS across the world. Let us do the research for you for FREE! Call: 877 988 7277

We Buy Antiques, Fine Art, Coins & Jewelry Same Day Service, Free In-Home Evaluations, 45 Year Family Business. Licensed and Bonded, Immediate Cash Paid. SYL-LEE ANTIQUES www.syl-leeantiques.com 516-671-6464

THOMASVILLE COUCH AND Love SeatGreat Condition, Redecorating Must Sell! $500. Call 516-457-6046 Lynbrook/Cash and Carry

BABY BREZZA FORMULA Pro Advanced Mixer, $50, 516-884-9994.

BISELL ELECTRIC CARPET Shampoo Cleaner with Supplies. Like New. $85. 516-486-7941

ERNIE KEEBLER WATCH, like new, for boy or girl, great graduation gift. $35. 516-486-2363

HAMILTON ALTO TENOR Saxophone stand with Clarinet Peg, VGC. $40. Jack Taylor (516) 486-2363

RADIAL TIRE R255/65R16 In New Condition. $20 Firm! 516-486-7941

SCUBA WATER SHOES,

TORCHIERE LAMP, DALE Tiffany signed, stained glass shade, $75, $516-884-9994.

WROUGHT IRON RAILINGS for 3 step stoop, free. 21" electric start snow thrower $35.00 516-481-1384

YOUTH WETSUIT, AKONA shorty size 7/8, 2 mm. Worn twice, $30. Call 516-695-8360.

*MICHAEL LO BAIDO CONSTRUCTION*

Cement Specialist, Brickwork, Interlock Bricks, Belgium Blocks, Stoops, Patios, Driveways, Sidewalks, Basement Entrances, Pavers, Waterproofing. Quality Work, Lic./ Ins. Owner Always Onsite Free Estimates 516-354-5578

Get DISH Satellite TV + Internet! Free Install, Free HD-DVR Upgrade, 80,000 OnDemand Movies, Plus Limited Time Up To $600 In Gift Cards. Call Today! 1-866-782-4069

MARINA'S CLEANING SERVICES: Cleaning Homes, Apartments, Condos, Offices. Experienced. FREE Estimates. 10% Off With This Ad. Serving Long Island. 516-670-7764

E-Z ELECTRIC SERVICES, INC. All Types Residential/Commercial Wiring, Generators, Telephone/Data, Home Entertainment, Service Upgrades, Pools, Spas. Services/Repairs. Violations Removed. Free Estimates Low Rates. 516-785-0646 Lic/Ins.

PEST CONTROL: PROTECT YOUR HOME from pests safely and affordably. Roaches, Bed Bugs, Rodent, Termite, Spiders and other pests. Locally owned and affordable. Call for service or an inspection today! 1-866-448-8311 Have zip code of property ready when calling!

HANDYMAN

Repairs and Installations for the Household. Careful and Reliable and Vaccinated. Licensed and Insured. 30-Year Nassau County Resident. Friendly Frank Phone/Text 516-238-2112 E-mail-Frankcav@optonline.net

BEAUTIFUL BATH UPDATES in as little as ONE DAY! Superior quality bath and shower systems at AFFORDABLE PRICES! Lifetime warranty & professional installs. Call Now! 1-855-399-2076

GET BOOST INFINITE! Unlimited Talk, Text and Data For Just $25/mo! The Power Of 3 5G Networks, One Low Price! Call Today and Get The Latest iPhone Every Year On Us! 844-329-9391

PLUMBER! PLUMBER! PLUMBER! FREE ESTIMATES! Heating, Repairs, Installations. $25 OFF New Customers. 24 Hour Emergency Response. 516-599-1011.

POWERWASHING ALL SURFACES: Houses, Fences, Concrete/ Brick, Decks/Sealing. . ANTHONY & J HOME IMPROVEMENT, INC. 516-678-6641

Attention: VIAGRA and CIALIS USERS! A cheaper alternative to high drugstore prices! 50 Pill Special - Only $99! 100% guaranteed. CALL NOW: 1-855-399-2582

HEARING AIDS!! HIGH-QUALITY revv less than competitors. Tiny and NEARLY INVISIBLE! 45-day money back guarantee! 855-819-7060

FREEDOMCARE. LET YOUR loved ones care for you and get paid! Paid by Medicaid. Choose family or friends as your paid caregiver. Check your eligibility today! Call FreedomCare now! 1-855-3 85-7556

INJURED IN AN ACCIDENT? Don't Accept the insurance company's first offer. Many injured parties are entitled to major cash settlements. Get a free evaluation to see what your case is really worth. 100% Free Evaluation. Call Now: 1-888-454-4717. Be ready with your zip

FRANCISCO'S TREE SERVICE AND LANDSCAPING: Tree Removal, Stumps, Fertilization, Planting, Land Clearing, Topping. Free Estimates. Lic# H206773000. Office 516-546-4971, Cell 516-852-5415

DIRECTV- All your entertainment. Nothing on your roof! Sign up for Direct and get your first three months of Max, Paramount+, Showtime, Starz, MGM+ and Cinemax included. Choice package $84.99/mo. Some restrictions apply. Call DIRECTV 1-888-534-6918

ATTENTION OXYGEN THERAPY USERS! Discover Oxygen Therapy That Moves with You with Inogen Portable Oxygen Concentrators. FREE information kit. Call 1-855-399-2719

In a medical emergency, we were in experts’ hands

Iam writing this with the strong encouragement of my wife, Rosemary, who just underwent emergency surgery to remove her gallbladder. She believes it is important to express gratitude to the medical profession, and stress the benefits of early medical attention and detection.

Three Sundays ago, early in the morning, Rosemary began feeling mild but persistent stomach pain and discomfort, which continued into midafternoon. She wasn’t concerned, but she contacted our family physician, Dr. Eric Barth, in Wantagh, to see if he could prescribe something to address her discomfort. Even on a Sunday afternoon, Barth got back to her within minutes.

As she answered his questions, he told her this could well be a serious gallbladder issue, and that she should quickly go to an emergency room for an MRI and blood tests. (Interestingly, it was Barth’s brother, Dr. Michael Barth, a

gastroenterologist, who discovered a cancerous tumor in my stomach wall during a routine endoscopy last year.)

Still not overly concerned and having only mild pain, Rosemary calmly got dressed and sat down in the front seat of our car, which I was driving, joined by our 20-yearold grandson, Jack, who took the back seat. Barely five minutes into the drive to the North Shore University Hospital emergency room, we suddenly realized how accurate Barth’s diagnosis had been. Rosemary was struck with severe abdominal pains, causing her to scream and kick like she never had before, including during labor. At almost the same time, it started raining, and there was an accident on the LIE, which made Waze divert us off the expressway as I tried to maneuver through the rain and reassure Rosemary while Jack navigated from the back seat. When we arrived at North Shore, the doctors and nurses worked calmly but feverishly to relieve the pain and determine the course of treatment. Melissa Zimmerman, a retired police detective who was on my security detail when I was in Congress and has become a close

Ifamily friend, joined us in the emergency room and stayed with us at the ICU, where Rosemary was taken next and excellently cared for.

My wife initially wasn’t concerned about her mild but persistent stomach pain.

She was operated on late Tuesday afternoon by an outstanding surgeon, Dr. Geraldo Tamayo Enriquez, who had initially hoped to remove her gallbladder in a laparoscopic procedure rather than by opening her up. Several hours later, though, Enriquez was in the waiting room, explaining to my sister Barbara and me how complicated, difficult and extensive the surgery was and how it could not have been done laparoscopically. (Barbara is a retired nurse who is always there and invaluable to our family in stressful health care situations.)

The next few days were rough for Rosemary, but she received excellent care and is on her way to full recovery. I cannot begin to thank Barth for his initial diagnosis and the doctors, assistants, nurses and support staff at North Shore for all they did for Rosemary from the moment we arrived at the emergency room to the day of her discharge. She was truly fortunate.

Now that the crisis has passed, she

and I have the chance to appreciate what a teaching experience the surgery has been. There is no substitute for staying in contact with a trusted family physician and other doctors you deal with regularly and know you well. This was proven true this month with Rosemary and Dr. Barth, and last year with me, when his brother detected a stomach tumor when I had no symptoms whatsoever.

Just as important were the skilled medical professionals at North Shore, who began immediate emergency treatment and then conducted so many tests and procedures over the next several days, including the complicated surgery itself, to restore Rosemary to good health. I admit my bias as a consultant to Northwell Health, but I maintain that the American health care system and its hospitals do extraordinary work that could not have been imagined even several years ago. (I say this as someone who grew up in the old Irish tradition of avoiding doctors.)

We should be grateful to the medical profession, and diligent and attentive to our individual health.

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

If you like horror stories, read Project 2025

don’t watch horror movies, and even if my friends recommend them to me, I take a pass. I try to avoid anything else that is gory, including news photos and some Facebook posts. But one horror story that has captured my attention is a political document known as Project 2025.

Project 2025 is a 922-page manifesto created by the Heritage Foundation. It has been described as a road map for any new Trump administration. It outlines, agency by agency, the federal programs and projects that should be eliminated, and what the policies of a second Trump administration would be.

Over the past few weeks, officials in former President Donald Trump’s campaign have attempted to disavow any connection between themselves and this recipe for a government revolution, but those denials do not have any substance. Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, who was willing to say anything or do anything to be Trump’s running mate, called Project 2025 “a bunch of recommendations by

scholars and has no substance.”

The facts belie all of the protestations by the Trump team. The Heritage Foundation is a conservative think tank that had enormous influence on the first Trump administration. It recommended all three of the justices whom Trump appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court. Foundation Chair Kevin Roberts has bragged that 64 percent of the organization’s 2016 recommendations were adopted by the administration. Roberts has attracted national attention with his recent statement that “we are in the process of a second American Revolution, which will remain bloodless if the left allows it to be.”

n o federal agency is spared from the Heritage Foundation’s governing plan.

There is much more to the Project 2025 blueprint. It recommends that upward of 50,000 federal civil service workers be reclassified so that they can become political appointees. It recommends that Medicare and Medicaid funding be reduced, and that the president take total control of the FBI, the Department of Justice, the Federal Trade Commission, the Department of Commerce and the Federal Communications Commission.

ernment is overlooked, Project 2025 advises that all climate-change regulations favor fossil fuel production, and that Medicare be banned from negotiating with pharmaceutical companies to lower drug costs. To make Medicare less costly, it calls for a new health insurance tax, and concludes by recommending that “Christian Nationalist policies be incorporated into the administration’s mission.”

Project 2025 is the work of a team composed almost exclusively of former Trump appointees, including the former chief of staff of the Office of Personnel Management, Paul Dans. Many of its planks are identical to speeches made by Trump on the campaign trail. They include instituting tariffs on all imported goods; setting up deportation camps for non-citizens and so-called Dreamers, even those married to American citizens; and deploying the military for local law enforcement.

No agency would be spared the wrath of Project 2025. It suggests that the Department of Education be abolished and reconstituted as a way of “enhancing parental rights in education and reclaiming the funds from students whose college loans were forgiven.” While it does not suggest that abortions be banned, it recommends that the abortion pill mifepristone be removed from the market. It urges that 100 current government workers have their names publicly posted so that citizens can comment on whether they will be loyal to the new administration. Parts of the document sound like they were written during World War II.

To make sure that no function of gov-

When questioned about Project 2025, Trump, who followed many of the Heritage Foundation’s previous government and court reform strategies, stated, “I have no idea who is behind it. I disagree with some of the things they are saying.” That’s not much of a denial. Trump campaign operatives can deny any connection to Project 2025, but the facts say otherwise. One of its loudest supporters has been Steve Bannon, a Trump confidant, who is currently in federal prison. “This is not empty rhetoric,” Bannon recently stated. “This will be the manifesto of the new administration. Take it seriously.”

Jerry Kremer was an Assemblyman for 23 years, and chaired the Assembly’s Ways and Means Committee for 12 years. He now heads Empire Government Strategies, a business development and legislative strategy firm. Comments about this column? jkremer@liherald.com.

2 Endo

Phone: (516) 569-4000

E-mail:

HERALD

HeraLd editoriaL

The key to safe swimming? Paying attention.

Last week we offered tips on fire safety, and this week we’re focusing on another summer activity that is usually fun, but nevertheless requires responsible behavior in order to keep it safe as well. There were three backyard swimming pool deaths on Long Island in just 24 hours earlier this month, and another incident a few days later in which a 2-year-old fell into a pool and, fortunately, was rescued.

Swimming pools are supposed to be places of joy, not tragedy. They offer respite from the summer heat, host family gatherings and are a place for those of all ages to play and exercise — but they also present significant potential dangers, especially for younger children and inexperienced swimmers.

The recent drownings — like those we hear about every summer across the country — underscore the absolute necessity of an annual focus on swimming pool safety. A study released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last month reported that over 4,500 people drowned in pools or other waterways each year from 2020 to 2022.

The allure of a swimming pool is undeniable, but it is essential to recognize its inherent risks. Drowning is one of the leading causes of accidental death in children, and it usually happens not amid a flurry of attentionattracting splashing and shouting, but unnoticed and all but silently. Unlike the dramatic portrayals seen on TV or in

Letters

movies, many real-life drownings are quick and quiet, making it all the more critical for adults to remain vigilant when their children are swimming. Lapses in supervision for even mere seconds at a time simply aren’t unacceptable.

A responsible adult should always be within arm’s reach of young children who are in or near the water. Designating a “water watcher” can ensure that there is always someone focused on the pool, free from distractions like phones or animated conversation. This simple yet effective practice can be a lifesaver.

Equally important are physical barriers and safety devices. A pool should be surrounded by a fence that is at least four feet high, with self-closing and selflatching gates. This is the first line of defense against accidental drownings, particularly for toddlers, who are naturally curious and drawn to water. Pool covers and alarms can add extra layers of security, alerting homeowners to potential dangers before they escalate.

Swimming lessons are another crucial component of pool safety. Teaching children to swim when they’re young — most can become comfortable in deep water at age 6 or 7 — not only equips them with the skills they need to stay safe, but also instills a sense of respect for a pool’s potential dangers. Community centers, clubs and other organizations offer swimming lessons, and investing in them brings lifelong benefits.

Do the math: There’s a better way to conserve water

To the Editor:

I applaud any effort endorsed by local government to conserve water, but I find the recent Town of Hempstead rain barrel campaign a bit of a stretch and, after careful analysis, downright foolish, shortsighted and inherently a waste of time and money.

A plastic container with a 50-gallon capacity and an overflow outlet requires installation by skillfully cutting your roof downspout pipe to position it on a firm and level base. If you have the tools, time and expertise, go for it.

In the spring and fall, when we get plenty of rain, it will fill quickly, just in time to water your plants that somehow don’t need watering because of all the rain. The surplus will simply overflow, with no benefit. In the hot, dry summer months, those 50 gallons will be used up in a few days with no replenishment in sight. Turn on the garden hose!

The math: The barrel costs you $65. For that price you can buy about 6,500 gallons of water from Liberty Water, or about 130 barrels full. And this water is available on demand when needed. My guess is that you’ll be lucky to end up collecting, storing and actually using

In addition, educating pool users about risks and safety protocols is essential. Training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or CPR, for adults and older children can mean the difference between life and death in the critical moments before emergency responders arrive in an actual emergency. Anyone whose regular summer routine includes time at the pool should know how to respond when someone is pulled unconscious from the water. CPR courses hosted by schools, public pools, and the offices of the American Red Cross and many other organizations, should be a regular part of teens’ and adults’ summer preparation in every community.

The recent deaths on Long Island serve as a stark reminder of the consequences of neglecting pool safety. Each represents not just a statistic, but a family shattered by an avoidable tragedy — emphasis on avoidable. Public-awareness campaigns can play a vital role in the effort to eliminate those tragedies altogether, and those efforts should involve local governments, schools, community centers, service clubs, health clubs and police and fire departments. Ultimately, the goal is to create an environment in which memories of joyfilled days in the pool will be the highlights of your children’s summer. Make sure they learn to swim — adding some incentive, perhaps, by taking a lesson or two yourself — and keep a close eye on them whenever they’re in the water.

about 10 full barrels per season. And don’t forget to drain, move and reattach that section of drainpipe before winter, or you’ll end up with a 50-gallon ice block that may well crack your

investment. Are there better alternatives? There most certainly are. It’s called a well-andpump system, connected to your lawn sprinkler — and most of us have one of

opinions NUMC is on the road to financial recovery

the treatment is working. For the past year, the leadership of Long Island’s largest safety-net hospital has buckled down to demonstrate that this beacon of hope for so many residents can survive, and thrive.

That may not be the message of some politicians, Albany bureaucrats and media often content to push misinformation, but the facts tell a story of resilience. The Nassau Health Care Corporation and Nassau University Medical Center are demonstrating the power of strategic reform and unwavering dedication in the face of intense financial strain.

The comprehensive reforms implemented over the past year have been nothing short of transformative. We overhauled NUMC’s ancient billing and collections processes, updated financial standards and practices, strengthened quality controls, and upgraded our information technology systems. All were longstanding areas of deficiency in hospital management that needed reform.

Today NUMC boasts on-time budgets, comprehensive audits, greater transpar-

ency and daily financial reporting that have enabled us to identify more than $100 million in savings in the past year.

those, right?

The math: A well/pump system will pay for itself in about three years, from savings of metered water use. Ironically, a shallow well also actually recycles rainwater, storing it in a trillion-gallon natural aquifer rather than a 50-gallon molded plastic barrel. You decide.

Minimizing the risk of shark interactions

To the Editor:

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is promoting public safety at ocean beaches by educating the public to help minimize the risk of negative interactions between people and sharks.

The annual summer migration of sharks into New York’s coastal waters is underway, and sightings of shark activity in the nearshore ocean waters are expected to increase during the summer months through September.

DEC encourages New Yorkers to be aware of their surroundings in the water with the potential for sharkhuman interactions, and to follow DEC

The recent audit by Grant Thornton confirms that our reforms are working. NHCC is on a path to long-term fiscal sustainability. The numbers speak for themselves. Despite what has been reported by Newsday, our cash on hand increased from $23 million to $67 million in just the first six months of 2024.

we’ve identified more than $100 million in savings in the past year.

Net patient service revenue saw a significant boost, rising by $76 million to $536 million in 2023. We also managed to reduce our operating losses by $30 million, and reduced overtime costs by $4 million. These aren’t just dollar figures; they represent our commitment to responsible stewardship and our dedication to providing quality health care.

For 2023, NUMC was projected to have a $179 million budget gap. We’ve closed that projected deficit by more than half.

This remarkable progress underscores the efficacy of our Financial Sustainability Reform Plan, initiated last year, and highlights the potential for more success if health care is prioritized over political gamesmanship.

This dramatic reform program has

Letters

guidelines to minimize the risk of negative interactions.

■ Avoid areas with seals.

■ Avoid areas with schools of fish, splashing fish, or diving seabirds.

■ Avoid swimming at dawn, at dusk or at night.

■ Avoid murky water.

■ Swim, paddle, and surf in groups.

■ Stay close to shore, where your feet can touch the bottom.

■ Always follow the instructions of lifeguards and park staff.

Sharks have existed in New York’s marine waters for millions of years. Today there are more than a dozen shark species that migrate through New York’s marine waters.

Each shark species has unique habitat and food preferences, and plays an important role in maintaining a healthy and balanced marine ecosystem. Sharks can prevent other species from monopolizing limited resources and degrading the marine environment. The presence of sharks in New York’s marine waters is a positive sign of a healthy marine ecosystem.

Humans assume risk whenever they enter any wild environment, whether on

been a team effort led on a daily basis by our interim president and CEO, Megan Ryan. Her leadership, combined with the tireless efforts of our new chief financial officer and the entire NHCC management team, has been pivotal in demonstrating that despite chronic challenges, the hospital can thrive, giving peace of mind to future generations.

It is important, however, to acknowledge that our journey is far from over. While the audit results are encouraging and key metrics are positive, there is an underlying and inescapable truth that seems inconvenient for some Albany leaders. As a safety-net hospital, NUMC cannot continue to serve its more than 275,000 patients per year without state aid and higher Medicaid reimbursement rates. We serve a diverse community, including Nassau’s most at-risk patients, many of whom cannot afford to pay for care.

Even though the Legislature just increased the state budget by $8 billion, there continues to be reticence to commit to ensuring that our hospital survives. Our progress shows clearly that our stated goal for NUMC of relying on less aid over time is achievable. But we still need help to provide care for those

who cannot afford to pay.

Claims that the state doesn’t have the money are nonsense. Claims that management isn’t making reforms are patently false. Cutting our staff by 90 percent, which was recommended by the Nassau Interim Finance Authority in 2020, would be an insult to the people who rely on us for care. Caring for our most vulnerable should be government’s top priority, not political jockeying for control over vital institutions.

Nassau needs NUMC. No other hospital can serve our patients. There simply isn’t enough capacity. Other local hospitals are disincentivized from treating Medicare and Medicaid patients and won’t treat the uninsured. While we wait for Albany to recognize that, our team will continue to protect this vital institution. We are determined to address the challenges we face head-on, with the same commitment and resilience that have brought us this far.

Despite what you’ve heard, the future of NHCC is indeed promising. The hospital is treating what has ailed it for decades. This success should be a rallying cry for bipartisan support now for a healthier tomorrow for all we serve.

Matthew J. Bruderman is chairman of the board of directors of Nassau Health Care Corporation, which operates Nassau University Medical Center and the A. Holly Patterson Extended Care Facility.

Framework by Tim Baker

land or in the water. Although it is impossible to eliminate risk altogether, ocean users can modify their behavior to minimize potential interactions with sharks and reduce overall risk. When in the ocean, follow DEC’s shark safety guidelines to minimize the potential for negative interactions with sharks.

Learn

CHRISTOPHER SCOTT Supervising biologist, Division of Marine Resources New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

Now this is what summer’s all about — Eisenhower Park, East Meadow

Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.