Uniondale Herald 08-31-2023

Artsy times at public library

Getting ready to go back to school Page 10

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Awake at 5 a.m. to play hoops

By BRANDON CRUZ bcruz@liherald.com

The 5 am Brotherhood is a co-ed, Suffolk County-based basketball club that hosts earlymorning games starting at, yes, 5 a.m. every weekday in a competitive but fun, safe and familylike environment for hoopsters from all over Long Island. It has now officially expanded into Nassau County, and is inviting players of all skill levels to join the contests and be a part of something bigger than themselves.

Continued on PaGe 12

New app connects schools, families

By BRANDON CRUZ bcruz@liherald.com

Befitting the digital age of information, the Uniondale school district has unveiled an innovative application to help bridge the information gap among students, parents and district officials for the upcoming school year.

The app, Uniondale UUFSD, NY, was created by Thrillshare, a mobile developer that specializes in platforms that help schools manage online interactions between them and the families they serve. It will empower the district to establish its own unique identity

online and keep parents in the loop with individual school updates and information on district events and activities.

The app is designed to serve as a communications hub, and will share news, announcements and updates with each school’s social media accounts, simplifying administrative processes. It will also give users the ability to view everything from school calendars to lunch menus to staff directories, and to receive personalized, realtime alerts and updates on their phones.

“The app has all of our schools, so parents would go into settings and designate the

schools they want to allow notifications from, and then once that’s done, they have access to that school’s feed,” Ana Ritter, the district’s director of instructional technology and library media services, explained. “So whenever that school is posting an event, it comes automatically right to this new mobile app.”

Ritter added that parents’ anxiety-filled days of filling out forms brought to them by their children, who are then trusted to return them to school, are long gone. Parents can now sign and upload important documents, such as health forms

the uniondale uuFSd nY app was designed to be a communication hub for the families of students enrolled in the school district and district offices.

Courtesy 5 am Brotherhood

Posing after the first open games hosted by the 5 am Brotherhood this summer in Lake Grove.

BEACON BEACON

Brandon Cruz/Herald

Holland, Warner promoted to top police slots

By REINE BETHANY rbethany@liherald.com

Two of Hempstead village’s most experienced police officers assumed new positions on Aug. 21.

Assistant Chief of Police Richard Holland was sworn in as chief of police by Mayor Waylyn Hobbs Jr.

Deputy Chief Derek Warner became the new assistant c

The occasion was celebrated by a large crowd of family, friends, village officials and fellow police officers, including retired Hempstead police chiefs Willie Dixon, Mark Matthews, Paul Johnson, and Kevin Colgan, and current Freeport assistant police chief Michael Williams.

Former mayor James Garner attended, as did Assemblywoman Taylor Darling.

“To our new chiefs, my only advice to you is to continue to be friendly — but keep in mind that you can’t be everybody’s friend,” Hobbs said.

“As you are in this position, you’re going to make some tough decisions that will be for the benefit of the police department and the community. You have the support of myself and the trustees.”

Detective Anthony Cousins summed up Warner’s lengthy resume with the Hempstead Police Department: patrol

officer, sergeant of patrol, commanding officer of the Juvenile Aid Bureau, domestic affairs, and Police Athletic League, advancing from detective sergeant to detective lieutenant. He became the department’s deputy chief last year.

“He’s ready for the job,” Cousins said. “He’s received some of the highest training available, including a workshop with the FBI.”

The Rev. Dr. Sedgwick Easley, pastor of Union Baptist Church and assistant to the mayor, introduced Holland as a lifelong village resident who spent the

vast majority of his 29-year law enforcement career there.

“Brother Holland, we are praying with and we are praying for you, because we know that this promotion will not be a cakewalk,” Easley said. “We know the challenges you face, keeping our village safe. And we know that everybody that’s smiling with you is not rooting for you.

“Remember, they are watching you. But remember, while they’re watching you, there’s somebody watching over you.”

Darling called police work a “24/7 job, eyes open.”

“I’ve had dreams for this community of excellence,” the Assemblywoman said, “and I’m just grateful for my leaders that share that vision.”

Warner shared his own appreciation for the officers he learned and grew from.

“It’s a tough job,” he said. “There’s a lot of administrative work we have to take care of. We’re relying on everybody in the department — from whoever opens the door in the morning to closing at night — to get the job done. I was a kid coming to this courtroom, I got my first ticket here, never thought I’d be a police officer here, never thought I’d be chief here. But, I’m going to do the best I can.”

Holland applauded Johnson’s introduction of a database approach to identifying hot spots for crime in the village, and putting resources there, while partnering with community organizations for outreach to Hempstead residents.

“That’s the method that this administration has embraced and will continue to support,” Holland said. “These partnerships are important because we cannot have our own strong community without them. We need everybody. We need the residents, we need the civic associations, and we need the faithbased organizations.”

Courtesy Antonio Kelley

Derek Warner, at left, was joined by his wife Joanne as he was promoted to assistant chief of the Hempstead Police Department. Richard Holland — at right, with wife Gwen — was promoted to police chief.

A most successful Nassau Library Tour 2023

Uniondale Public Library had more than 1,600 extra visits

By REINE BETHANY rbethany@liherald.com

Among the summer’s most productive activities for the Uniondale Public Library was the Nassau Library Tour 2023.

The tour period ran from June 12 through August 12. The ultimate goal was for library patrons to visit all 54 public libraries and their branches, totaling 58 public library locations in the Nassau Library System.

At the Uniondale Public Library, the tour alone generated 1,654 visits. Uniondale librarian Amanda Borgia undertook the tour, as did 82-year-old Uniondale resident York Roberson

“Congratulations, Mr. Roberson!” posted the Uniondale Public Library on July 18, nearly a month before the tour period ended. “Our treasured patron completed the Nassau Library Tour! He visited all 58 libraries.”

Everybody is asking, when is the next tour?

NIcolE ScHERER associate director,

The Nassau Library System is the headquarters for the libraries in Nassau County, located at 900 Jerusalem Ave. in Uniondale. Its first Nassau Library Tour was in 2019. This year’s tour is the second.

System

“The Nassau Library Tour is

a summer event where we encourage everyone to visit as many of the Nassau Public Library facilities as possible,” said associate director Nicole Scherer. “It encourages people to explore the whole county, go to other neighborhoods, enjoy the libraries, try new parks and restaurants, and see the wonderful things there are to explore in Nassau County.”

Judging by posts on Facebook and Instagram, the tour accomplished its goal quite successfully.

“We got to know places that we didn’t know existed,” posted PariSarah on Instagram. “It was such an interesting experience for all of us.”

“What a great summer activity,” posted Polly_Esther, accompanying the post with a row of red hearts. “Huge thanks to everyone that made it possible.”

The “tourists” who plunged into the project, and the libraries they visited, applied their own inventiveness to documenting their journey.

Many proud “tourists” posted photographs of themselves with the tour map, which was available at all the library locations.

Some of the libraries created their own cardboard frames using the tour logo so that patrons could get a photograph of themselves in the frames.

The logo creator, Kelly Fernández, is a graphic novelist and cartoonist who is also a librarian at Floral Park Public Library. Her colorful cartoon images of two cats riding merrily in a minivan along a country road evoked the adventure of learning to read, and the fun of returning to favorite books while discovering new ones.

“The logo was created in collaboration with my contacts from the Nassau Library System: Caroline Ashby, Lisa Zuena, Nicole Scherer, and Renee McGrath,” Fernández said. “They gave me examples of what they were looking for (such as 1970s album covers, typography, and posters). They knew they wanted something bright, colorful, and groovy.”

Upon seeing the creative responses to her designs, Fernández said, “It’s been amazing! I’ve enjoyed seeing everyone’s different takes on the theme and seeing what they were able to come up with!”

The tour was sweetened by prizes offered by the Nassau Library System: a temporary tattoo at visit 5, a magnet and a sticker for visit 15, a tumbler for visit 30, a choice of an enamel pin, plush tiger doll, or hat for visit 50.

“Some libraries had scavenger hunts where they gave you things to look for in

the building,” Scherer said. “All our libraries are filled with such creative, enthusiastic staff. … Social media was a big booster to this. A lot of that is the work of Lisa Zuena, our communications and marketing specialist.”

“I posted on Facebook and Instagram, and some on X (formerly Twitter), pretty much every day,” said Zuena. “Libraries posted patrons with their backdrops, with their maps, or with their prizes when they had a milestone visit. It was really special.”

The numbers that emerged from tracking the visits to all the libraries were encouraging, to say the least

“There were 62,736 library visits drawn by the tour itself,” said Scherer. “And 563 people made it to all 58 locations. We were flabbergasted. It is nearly triple the number who participated in 2019. Everybody is asking, when is the next tour? We’re not even thinking about that right now. We need to catch our breath.”

Courtesy Uniondale Public Library

Uniondale Librarian Amanda Borgia displayed her prize for reaching her 50th library location on the Nassau Library Tour 2023.

Courtesy Uniondale Public Library Uniondale resident York Roberson dashed to all 58 libraries and library branches in about a month.

Courtesy Nassau Library System Graphic artist and Floral Park librarian Kelly Fernández designed the image for the NLT2023 campaign.

Courtesy Nassau Library System The Nassau Library Tour 2023 inspired over 65,000 library visits.

Nassau Library

NCC enters new year with same tuition as last year

STAFF REPORT

For the fourth straight year, tuition and fees will stay the same at Nassau Community College.

“At Nassau, we transform lives by providing a quality education, studentfocused support and scholarship opportunities to help our students achieve their academic and professional goals,” said Maria Conzatti, the SUNY school’s acting president, in a release. “The college has worked diligently to control costs and reduce financial burdens on our students. We are grateful to Nassau County and SUNY for their commitment to our mission to provide affordable opportunities for local residents to remain on Long Island for their college education and careers.”

Tuition rates will remain in effect throughout the 2023-24 academic year, including the spring and summer semesters next year.

New, continuing and transfer students are invited to apply for the fall semester, which begins Sept. 1. Full-time Nassau County residents enrolled in 12 or more credits pay $2,900 per semester for tuition, and $265 in fees. Part-time students pay $242 per credit, plus part-time fees.

For eligible students, tuition may be further reduced by Pell and other grants, as well as NCC Foundation scholarships. On- and off-campus jobs may also be available for qualified students.

With its most recent graduating class in May, Nassau Community College now has 162,000 alumni.

“The college’s alumni form the backbone of Nassau Count’s skilled workforce,” Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman said, in a release. “Every qualified resident should be empowered to attend our community college, to enrich their lives, and to build a brighter future for their families.”

NCC Foundation is a non-profit organization devoted to raising funds to benefit current students.

It continues to expand its range of scholarship offerings, including child care and emergency expenses for students who may need extra help to continue their paths to success.

Last year, more than 600 students benefitted from academic achievement scholarships, free textbooks, bus fare and food pantry items. Donors interested in making a gift to benefit students may visit the foundation website at NCC.edu/foundation, or call (516) 572-0670.

News briefs

Gielarowski new principal at BOCES children’s center

Jennifer Gielarowski has been promoted to principal of the Children’s Readiness Center at Nassau BOCES — a highly structured learning environment for students with autism spectrum disorders.

Gielarowski served four years as assistant principal at Jerusalem Avenue Elementary School in North Bellmore, a school dedicated to students with learning and behavioral challenges.

Gielarowski has worked with special needs students for more than 18 years, including stints as a special education teacher for New York City’s School of Performing Arts and Technology, as well as at the Helen M. Marshall School in Queens.

“Throughout my career, I’ve had the privilege of working with diverse student populations, fostering inclusive environments and empowering students to reach their fullest potential,” Gielarowski said, in a release. “As principal, I plan to build upon the center’s foundation of excellence. There is a sense of family here, (and) we will continue to create a nurturing and inclusive environment where every student feels valued, supported and inspired to grow.”

She holds a master’s degree in childhood and special education from CUNY Queens College, and a bachelor’s degree in art therapy from Long Island University.

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Dickson’s Uniondale law firm recognized nationally

By BRANDON CRUZ bcruz@liherald.com

Uniondale can now boast that they are home to some of the best lawyers in America, 14 of them, to be exact.

The law office of Forchelli Deegan Terrana, or FDT, which is located in Uniondale — announced last week that 14 of their practicing attorneys were awarded in this year’s edition of The Best Lawyers in America.

Among those who won, attorney Kathleen Deegan Dickson, who has been practicing law for 32 years, 15 of which have been in Uniondale — was listed for the second time in a row for her work in Cannabis Law. Although she is best known for her work in FDT’s land use & zoning practice, Dickson also co-chairs the firm’s cannabis practice group.

Dickson was also recently recognized as one of the Most Influential Long Islanders and

Women Leaders in the Law category for Long Island Business News. Her “evolution” Into the cannabis space ties into her land use and zoning law. “Back when medical cannabis was made legal, I had a few clients who were looking to open up dispensaries in the area, and so I learned a lot about the industry as a whole from them,” Dickson explains. “We wanted to be in a position that when cannabis did become legal for adult use, that we had an opportunity to represent across the board, and make sure that our clients understand what can and can’t be done in different real estate spaces.”

But where her love for law and making a difference really lie, is in the affordable housing practice. “I have a passion for affordable housing development, I feel like there’s too many people who are priced out of living around here and there’s been an attitude against it,” Dickson says.

Dickson explains that a lot of times, residents are skeptical of affordable developments being built in their neighborhoods, but she says once they are built and integrated into the community, people think they’re “wonderful.” “You have to get a toehold and change people’s minds about the benefits of having housing that people can afford to live in.”

Dickson and FDT hope to continue serving the Uniondale community and leave an indelible mark on both the legal profession and the community it serves.

You have to get a toehold and change people’s minds about the benefits of having housing that people can afford to live in.

KAthleeN Deeg AN DiCKsON attorney at law

Courtesy Forchelli Deegan Terrana LLP Kathleen Deegan Dickson has practiced law for 32 years — 15 of which took place in Uniondale.

HERALD SPORTS

Hofstra aims for another CAA Crown

By ANDREW COEN sports@liherald.com

Hofstra women’s soccer defied the odds last year to repeat as conference champions and will look for a far clearer postseason path this fall in the Coastal Athletic Association.

The Pride was in danger of missing the 2022 CAA tourney following a 2-1 defeat to Stony Brook in the regular-season finale but moments after the game learned they had earned the league’s final tournament spot when results in other matches went Hofstra’s way. Hofstra proceeded to take full advantage of its renewed life to win its fifth CAA title in six years as the eight seed starting by knocking out top-seeded Monmouth and culminating in a dramatic overtime win at Northeastern.

“Once you face the jaws of defeat, I think it’s easy to have a new lease of life,” said 18th-year Hofstra women’s soccer head coach Simon Riddiough, who has guided the Pride to seven CAA titles and nine NCAA Tournament appearances since taking over the program in 2006.

“To get that opportunity again was like a breath of fresh air and new impetus.”

Riddiough returns seven starters off last year’s 10-8-4 team that reached the NCAA Tournament for the sixth time in eight seasons. After a season-opening 2-1 loss at Albany, Hofstra rebounded in a major way with a 1-0 upset win at Big Ten power Rutgers on Aug. 20 on a late goal from junior midfielder Olivia Pearse on a counter attack in the 88th minute.

Pearse, a former standout at Seaford High School, has emerged as one of Hofstra’s most impactful players on both ends of the field. She netted two goals and two assists as a sophomore.

“She has come in fetter than I have ever seen her and with a new attitude,” said Riddiough of Pearse, who switched from the wide forward to fullback role last season. “She wears her heart on her sleeve and she leads by example.”

Hofstra returned last year’s leading scorer Dagny Run Petursdottir, who registered 19 points on seven goals and five assists as a freshman out of Iceland and was named to the Preseason All-CAA Honorable Mention team.

Another Iceland product, Thorhildur Thorhallsdottir, also shined as a first-year college player with three goals and two assists.

Sophomore midfielder/defender Wiktoria Fronc, a London native, also made her mark on Long Island from across the pond with seven assists to earn AllCAA Third Team and All-CAA and CAA All-Rookie Team honors.

While the Hofstra roster is global in nature featuring 10 international players from four countries to go along with 10 U.S. states, the team boasts many impactful local players led by Pearse and graduate student defender Cailey Welch, a former standout at North Shore High School. Freshman defender Jill Conlon, a two-time all county player from Calhoun High school in Merrick, could potentially see some minutes on the backline during her rookie college season on the college soccer pitch.

“She’s composed on the ball,” Riddiough said of Conlon. “She’s a wonderfully nice kid who cares and I’m assuming will work hard to get to where she needs to go.”

Graduate student starting goalie Skylar Kuzmich has missed the beginning of the season due to injury,

but Riddiough hopes to have her back during the heart of CAA play. Junior goalie Mackenzie Sullivan has stepped up in Kuzmich’s absence and recorded five seasons in the Rutgers victory.

Hofstra kicks off its home schedule this Sunday against Atlantic 10 oe Saint Joseph’s at 1 p.m. before beginning its quest for another CAA title on Sept. 10 when it hosts league newcomer Campbell at 1 p.m.

The Pride’s home schedule is highlighted by a CAA finals rematch against Northeastern on Oct. 1 at 1 p.m.

The Pride were picked to finish third in the CAA Women’s Soccer Preseason Poll behind Monmouth and Northeastern.

The top six finishers in the 13-team conference will earn spots to the CAA Tournament that commences on Oct. 26.

“If we stay healthy I think we can compete and beat anybody in the conference,” Riddiough said.

Photos courtesy Hofstra Athletics Communications Thorhildur Thorhallsdottir, above right, a native of Iceland, shined as a first-year college player with three goals.

Midfielder/defender Wiktoria Fronc, a London native, made her mark from across the pond with seven assists as a freshman.

Irish eyes were smiling at Eisenhower Park

While it wasn’t St. Patrick’s Day last week, there certainly was a lot to celebrate at Nassau County’s Eisenhower Park. After a weather cancelation earlier this month, Irish American Night went off successfully on Aug. 21, drawing crowds of county residents, who came out to celebrate Irish music, dance and culture.

The event is hosted by the Irish American Society of Nassau, Suffolk & Queens, Inc., which is based in Mineola, alongside the Nassau County Department of Parks, Recreation and Museums.

The evening was organized possibly by co-chairs Bridie Mahoney and Brendan Kerins and its master of ceremonies was Tony Jackson. P.J. Smith, president of the Irish American Society, was also present.

Performances by the Inis Fada Pipe Band, Clann Agus Cairde Ceili Band, Inis Fada Set Dancers and the Donny Golden School of Champion Irish Step Dancers entertained hundreds of fans packed into the fields of the Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre.

The National Anthem was performed by Tommy Mulvihill and Sean Quinn. The Tommy Mulvihill Band took the stage later in the evening to put on a complete set. The band features Mulvihill, a Celtic singer.

Frank Alagia, the deputy commissioner of Nassau County parks, recreation and museums, on behalf of County Executive Bruce Blakeman, presented citations to several honorees. The honorees

12 people were honored by the Irish American Society of

included Michelle Byrne, Jeff Clark, Michael Flannery, Ed Friel, Don Lavin, Mary Lennon, Rita Lydon-Lenz, Don Mahoney, Frances McLoughlin, Niall Mulligan, Eileen Myers and Kit Smith. There’s more free concerts and cultur-

al nights in store throughout the remainder of the summer. For more information and a full list of upcoming shows, visit NassauCountyNY.gov.

— Jordan Vallone

Citations were presented to the evening’s honorees by Frank Alagia, the deputy commissioner of Nassau County parks, recreation and museums.

UNIONDALE SCHOOL DISTRICT Our Promise

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

Keith Rossein/Herald photos

Nassau, Suffolk & Queens at Irish American Night in Eisenhower Park.

The evening attracted residents from all over Nassau County. Families from Williston park and Westbury, above, enjoyed the festivities.

DON’T

RAFFLE

Alzheimer’s Foundation brings walk to Nassau

By JORDAN VALLONE jvallone@liherald.com

They are walking for a cure at Eisenhower Park this year — a cure for Alzheimer’s disease.

The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America bringing its annual walk to Nassau County this year on Saturday, Sept. 9. Fundraising efforts center around enriching the lives of those with the disease, and creating hope for a future without it.

Bert Brodsky founded the group in 2002, a decade after he lost his mother to the disease after a 12-year struggle. Today, the foundation provides support, services and education to individuals, families and caregivers affected by Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias worldwide. It also funds research for new treatments — and hopefully, one day, a cure.

This is the first time the East Meadow park is hosting the walk — something that had previously been held in the Town of Babylon, according to Chuck Fuschillo, the foundation’s president and chief executive who also is a former state senator. Eisenhower Park caught the attention of organizers after it opened a respite care area this past May.

The respite care park, Fuschillo said, serves many purposes.

“One, is for caregivers to go with the person they’re caring for in a beautiful setting,” he said. “It’s also for themselves, to avoid caregiver burnout. But it’s also educational — there are signs along the

park that provide education about Alzheimer’s disease, and tips and strategies for caregivers.”

Signage also provides contact information for the foundation’s national helpline at (866) 232-8484, which connects callers to licensed social workers trained to help with situations that may arise when caring for Alzheimer’s patients.

The foundation’s national Walk in the Park weekend will include physical walks on Long Island, and on Sept. 10 in New York City’s Battery Park.

“We encourage people to participate in both walks, but we have walkers through-

out the entire country that create their own walks and support the work of the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America,” Fuschillo said. “So, we’re very appreciative of individuals doing this throughout the entire country on that weekend.”

The walk serves as a major fundraiser for some of the foundation’s programs and initiatives. For example, the organization recently finalized the purchase of a building in Amityville, which will become the its Long Island education and resource center. There, the foundation will offer daily therapeutic programs, dementia training to professionals and

nonprofessionals in the health care industry, memory screenings and more.

“It will be one of the largest therapeutic and domestic training centers on the island,” Fuschillo said. “You know, this disease has affected so many people and it’s continually growing throughout Long Island — there’s more than 60,000 people living with it now. We want to make sure that we have support services for families. And we’re also providing hope with the research dollars that we provide.”

The foundation also funds research at Stony Brook University and NYU Langone, as well as the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research at Northwell Health in Manhasset. Some of it includes finding new treatment for Alzheimer’s patients who experience hallucinations and agitation — work that takes place at Feinstein.

The foundation also provides scholarships to high school seniors across the country who submit essays detailing how Alzheimer’s disease has impacted their lives. To date, the foundation has awarded more than $450,000 to college-bound students.

Registration for the walk can be done so ahead of time at AlzFdn.org/walk. Individuals can register with a team or as a solo walker. They can also sign up onsite, the day of the walk.

This year’s goal is to raise $300,000, with nearly $85,000 already collected. In-person registration opens at 9 a.m. at Field 6, located at 1899 Park Blvd. The walk officially kicks off at 10.

Courtesy Alzheimer’s Foundation of America

The Alzheimer’s Foundation of American host its national Walk in the Park weekend this year at Eisenhower Park in East Meadow. The walk is slated to take place Saturday, Sept. 9.

Another successful back to school event in Uniondale

The Back-2-School Health & Wellness Fair celebrates community, health, education, and culture

By BRANDON CRUZ bcruz@liherald.com

The Long Island branch of EC Media Strategies, a media-consulting agency with over 25 years of experience, hosted its 8th annual Back-2-School Health & Wellness Fair at the ShopRite supermarket parking lot on Jerusalem Avenue in Uniondale last Saturday.

The event was centered around aiming to create an impact in the lives of the children in Uniondale and Hempstead by bringing families, children, and community members together for a day filled with health, education, entertainment, and of course, fun.

The fair, which ran from noon to five p.m., provided a platform for families and children to engage with the diverse array of activities and much needed services offered on site. The main features — the provision of free medical screenings, offering residents valuable health insights and physicals before the new school year, as well as handing out free essential school supplies for children in an attempt to alleviate the financial burden parents face during the back-toschool time and give kids a head start to a successful school year.

Entertainment also played a vital role in the day’s festivities as attendees were treated to a captivating lineup of performances — including traditional gospel choirs, hip-hop Haitian dancers, and local group, Everton Bailey & the Instrumental Sounds of Praise band, known for their sound that mixes the elements of gospel, jazz, reggae, and funk.

The fair also featured weightlifting and strength presentations by bodybuilder and author Jean Laguerre, as well featuring keynote speakers such as Rosa Yordan, a certified educational leader, mentor, and speaker, who spoke on the importance of community and leaving positive impacts on the children in them.

The eighth annual Back-2-School Health & Wellness Fair aimed to be more than just an end of event — it was a celebration of community, health, education, and culture, fostering a sense of unity and empowerment. As another successful year comes to a close, attendees and organizers alike can reflect on the positive impact created and look forward to the event’s continued growth in the years to come.

Tim Baker/Herald photos

Miss New York, Selene Ferdinand, posing at her booth at the Back-2-School Health & Wellness Fair this past Saturday.

Organizers of the Back-2-School Health & Wellness Fair this past Saturday, from left to right, Alphons Lemanya, Annette Trewick and Elseah Chea.

Chef Tee Watson and Loretta Glover working their booth and giving out samples of their homemade ‘fuel’ drink, ‘Go Heal Thy Self.’

Shannon Lawrence, Taneer Lawrence, and Shada Danzy of Young Voice selling socks, sunglasses, and other accessories at their booth at the Back-2-School Health & Wellness Fair this past Saturday.

Professionals from Harmony Healthcare, Sheri Grant and Dulce Ramirez, standing at their booth offering information on their services and handing out free accessories for those passing by.

Keynote speaker, Rosa Yordan, a certified educational leader mentor and speaker, delivering her speech on the importance of community and leaving positive impacts on the children within the ones we represent.

Mitch Robinson, recipient of a citation for recogniation of ‘outstanding individuals and businesses who render significant contributions for the enhancement of our region and the betterment of our residents,’ with Pastor Emmanuel Asse representing the Nassau County Government.

D’Esposito settles in, but loves coming home

By HERNESTO GALDAMEZ hgaldamez@liherald.com

It’s been a fast eight months for Congressman Anthony D’Esposito into his first term as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives. The former New York Police Department detective and longtime volunteer firefighter who would work his way to being elected a Hempstead town councilman is well known for commitment to being anywhere and everywhere in his community.

In fact, it’s like having someone who has their “boots to the ground,” as he might say.

Now, D’Esposito’s boots are in Washington, nearly 300 miles away from Long Island. But that doesn’t mean home isn’t on his mind. In fact, the congressman thinks about the part of Nassau County he represents a lot.

So, what’s the work-life balance been for the congressman?

“It’s early days into late nights,” D’Esposito said. “Whether it’s having committee hearings, markups for legislation, voting on the floor, having meetings with groups and organizations and concerns to deliver, it’s really a nonstop job.”

D’Esposito is the first Republican since Dan Frisa — who won the seat back in 1995 — to represent the congressional district. He defeated Laura Gillen in what had become a Long Island “red wave” last year, flipping the seat to the GOP after

Democratic congresswoman Kathleen Rice retired. Before her, Carolyn McCarthy kept the district blue.

The Island Park native takes pride in being involved in his community — an involvement he has since brought to Washington.

In his first month, D’Esposito joined three committees. With the House Committee on Homeland Security, he’s tasked with safeguarding national security from threats both foreign and domestic, The House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure is tasked with overseeing the nation’s air, rail, road and transportation networks as well as the country’s infrastructure. And lastly, the House Committee on House Administration is tasked with operations of the congressional lower chamber, as well as federal elections and Capitol complex security.

But being a congressman is more than just Joining committees. D’Esposito recently hopped onto a long flight to Israel as part of a 20-person bipartisan congressional delegation formed by House Speaker Kevin McCarthy to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Israel’s independence.

“It was a historic visit,” D’Esposito said.

Now, D’Esposito is committed with other members of Congress to work on continuing peace efforts in the Middle East, expanding on the Abraham Accords — which seeks to find peace among the three major Abrahamic religions of

Christianity, Islam and Judaism — as well as visits to Israel, or their government leaders coming to the United States.

Most recently, the spike in crime to fentanyl overdoses has pushed for the creation of a congressional task force aimed at combating Mexican cartels. The congressman — tapping into his former police experience — was named to the group to share his expertise.

Still, being so far away from home is not something D’Esposito looks forward to. But good communication helps, something the congressman praises his staff for maintaining, so he can remain in touch with the concerns, questions and needs of his constituents while the House is in session.

“We make ourselves very accessible on social media platforms and emails to ensure that we’re meeting all their needs,” D’Esposito said. “I’m usually on the first flight out right after our final vote. And as soon as I land, we’re heading into the district.”

That means meeting with local leaders, members of village boards, and even spending time working with Hempstead Town Supervisor Don Clavin and Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman.

Now back on Long Island as part of an August break, D’Esposito has kept himself busy. In Wantagh, he joined the celebration of 40 years of the family-owned Mulcahy’s Pub and Concert Hall. He also has community events and meetings lined

up with local elected officials on the state and village level.

“It’s making sure that every inch of this district — whether it’s in the west closest to the city, or in the east in Seaford and Wantagh, or down along the Barrier Island or up in Garden City and everywhere in between — making sure that they understand that they have somebody who has their boots on the ground,” D’Eposito said, “their ears open, and want to be representing their communities as best they can.”

Tim Baker/Herald file U.S. Rep. Anthony D’Esposito has stayed busy since filling the seat previously occupied by U.S. Rep. Kathleen Rice.

Morning basketball as therapy for those who love the court

Continued from page 1

The 5 a.m. games — known in the parlance of street hoops as “runs” — began in Lake Grove, and have been taking place every weekday since last summer 2022. They are now set to begin at various LA Fitness branches around Nassau, with the first one happening earlier this month in Freeport.

Mike Edwards, who lives in Uniondale and drives to Lake Grove every week to play, said he was excited to see the games move closer to home. Edwards, 29, was introduced to the brotherhood last summer by a friend, and has been playing a few times a week ever since.

What makes the travel across the island to play basketball at 5 a.m. worth it? For Edwards, the quality of the games says it all. “For me, it’s the sort of camaraderie, the fact that the games move pretty quickly, they’re organized, and there’s not really a lot of commotion that goes back and forth.”

Edward gives all the credit to the 5 am Brotherhood’s founder, John Peloso, a New York City police officer who played basketball at both Queensboro and Suffolk community colleges before moving on to a career in corrections and law enforcement.

Peloso’s inspiration for starting the Brotherhood is the recognition that many adults don’t have an outlet to relieve the stresses and tensions of their lives. He believes that the mental discipline to wake up so early to play basketball can have a productive impact on the rest of your day and translate positively to other aspects of your life.

“Working in Rikers, I got to see really good basketball players in jail,” Peloso recalled, “so when talking with them, I just realized that a lot of people, if they would have had an outlet or have had somebody to go to besides gangs and the negative things around them, they wouldn’t be making the same mistakes they did.”

Peloso explained that the Brotherhood is bigger than basketball: It’s about community and establishing a sense of family. The once small group, which started out as a circle of friends that would meet up and play every morning, has since grown to around 20 players who gather for games each weekday, and more in a Saturday-morning league. The games are

recorded, so players can save and revisit them.

The group also hosts community initiatives, such as backpack giveaways; partners with Police Activities Leagues to bring basketball tournaments to different areas; and this year sponsored a summer pro-am team for a tournament at Bolden Mack Park in Amityville.

The Saturday-morning league is off to a great start, comprising eight teams in Suffolk County and over 50 players, and continuing to grow. The league keeps players’ stats, livestreams games on Twitch and plans to host an all-star day, which Peloso said would be held in honor of fallen NYPD officer and friend Alexis Ramirez. The league’s standout players will go head to head in an all-star game and take part in activities such as 3-point shootouts, dunk contests and skills challenges.

“I didn’t know what to expect at first,” Christian Bryant, a 24-year-old from Hempstead who plays in the Saturdaymorning league, said, “but it’s pretty much been like a family. It’s a bunch of hoopers. We all wake up early, everybody loves ball, and we all connected in that way.”

Bryant has also come to be a believer in Peloso’s notion that the games serve as a kind of therapy. “If you got stuff going on in life, it’s just a good outlet to go there,” Bryant said, “and you just feel like, ‘All right, I’m here to hoop,’ and just let everything out.”

More people began showing up and wanting to play after Peloso dedicated a social media page to the Brotherhood. “By making an Instagram, I wanted to show people that this isn’t just all about basketball,” he said. “This is more than that. People are seeing that we’re having fun with each other, people are actually playing, and they could talk to each other and have a good time with no drama.”

Peloso said that his goal is to eventually expand the 5 am Brotherhood statewide and create large communities of players. “What the 5 am Brotherhood could do,” he said, “is bigger than any community affairs that any police department in the whole world could do.”

To learn more, and to find out where the next Nassau County games will be held, follow the group on Instagram @5amBrotherhood.

Courtesy 5 am Brotherhood

5 am Brotherhood founder John peloso with his awards for leadership and police duty.

A. BLAKEMAN NASSAU COUNTY EXECUTIVE

STEPPING OUT

Anders Osborne Duo

Backyard pleasures

…even as summer winds down

By Karen Bloom

Home is a place of refuge. Now more so than ever, we’ve rediscovered the pleasures of our abodes to entertain, relax and otherwise “chill out.”

We learned as we endured the coronavirus pandemic that moving our living spaces to the outdoors — with many of the creature comforts of indoors — has so many benefits. It’s something we’ll continue to enjoy to fullest in the seasons — and years ahead.

Your backyard is the ideal location to create summers full of memories for you, your family and friends, which will easily continue through fall. Easy to access? Check. Affordable? You bet. Able to accommodate all sorts of activities? Absolutely.

Your backyard’s potential is really only limited by your imagination and willingness to roll up your sleeves to create a sensational space. Plus, you can get the whole family involved in the process — from start to finish.

“Home is not where you live your life – it’s how you live your life,” says food stylist and consultant Wendy Perry.

Today’s outdoor vocabulary includes words like al fresco (in the fresh air), patio (Spanish for back garden), lanai (Hawaiian covered room), veranda (open-walled roofed porch) and portico (covered walkway with columns supporting it).

“We’ve all been practicing our ‘backyarding’ skills for the last few years, taking our indoor lives out into the green space around us,” says Kris Kiser, president of the TurfMutt Foundation. “Now’s a great time to turn your yard into the ideal outdoor room.”

She cites a recent poll commissioned by the TurfMutt Foundation and conducted by The Harris Poll, that reports more than three-quarters of Americans who have a yard (76 percent) say the family yard space is one of the most important parts of their home.

Backyards can become your personal oasis. Fire pits, now all the rage, can be used for warmth on a chilly fall night. Overhead awnings can be used to shade you from the hot sun. Careful landscaping can turn a stone walkway into a tempting journey.

You might want to consider the approaching Labor Day weekend as an opportunity to get all hands on deck to begin the process of giving your yard a facelift. The first step to establishing a fun zone is to work with what you have. Think of it as a pre-fall cleanup. Clean out flowerbeds. Clear the yard of debris. Spread a fresh layer of mulch around trees and bushes. And keep the grass mowed.

See what additional trees, shrubs and plants might be needed.

List all the fun you want to continue to have outside. Identify activity zones for games, entertaining and relaxation. Can your lawn lure your kids away from their screens and into the great outdoors for cornhole bocce ball, croquet, or a giant checkers board game? Do you have a patio table or deck where family game nights can be held? Have a swimming pool where you can plan a “dive in” movie night, and invite your neighbors to bring their favorite pool float? Not to mention a memorable family “staycation” in your own backyard with camping, parties and more.

Bring learning outdoors. Learning is, of course, a year-round process. Keep “summer slide” at bay by setting up an area for outdoor learning, like a space under a shade tree where your kids can do summer reading. Create games and do experiments outdoors.

Don’t forget Fido. Pets are part of the family, too, so think about what backyard improvements you can make to ensure they fully enjoy their outdoor time. Add a water feature for them to cool off. Plant some bushes for napping in the shade. Use a row of hedges to separate their “business” spot from the rest of the backyard activity areas. Just remember when planting to check the ASPCA’s list of toxic and non-toxic plants. Make outdoors as inviting as indoors. Think about ways to make your outdoor living area just as comfortable as your indoor spaces. String lights add a warm glow. That fire pit is great for toasting marshmallows. Consider the good you’re doing. Whether putting in a vegetable garden, planting pollinator-supporting shrubs and flowers, or creating activity zones, your family yard can do a lot — all at once, both for your family and the environment. A grassy area is not only a field for play, but it’s also an excellent carbon-capturing and oxygen-producing space.

Planting shrubs and flowering plants feeds our birds, bees and butterflies. A leafy tree is a perfect perch for a relaxing swing in a hammock, and it provides shade to combat the heat island effect. It also produces oxygen and captures carbon. A garden where you can grow some food for the family gets you digging in the dirt, proven to be good for our immune systems and happiness. (Soil is the new Prozac, after all.)

The roots/Americana rocker brings his acclaimed sound to the Landmark stage. Between the potency of his richly detailed songwriting, intensely emotional, soulful vocals and his piercing, expert guitar work, New Orleans’ Anders Osborne is a true musical treasure. He is regarded among the most original musicians writing and performing today. Osborne’s six-string virtuosity, inventive musicality, and poetic songcraft underpin an everexpanding three-decade catalog celebrated by fans and critics alike. As a sought-after studio talent, his writing resounds through Keb Mo’s award-winning ‘Slow Down,’ Tim McGraw’s ‘Watch the Wind Blow By,’ and more. His extensive touring history encompasses collaborations and performances alongside everyone from Derek Trucks, Warren Haynes, and Stanton Moore, to Phil Lesh and Jackie Greene. Not to mention, he lit up the screen on an episode of the HBO hit ‘Treme.

Sunday, Sept. 3, 7 p.m. $48 and $43. Jeanne Rimsky Theater at Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington. (516) 767-6444, or LandmarkOnMainStreet.org.

Sugar Ray

Sugar Ray closes out the summer concert season at Eisenhower Park. Most everything continues to change, yet Sugar Ray never seem to go out of style. While leaders cycle in and out of office, trends come and go. Vinyl dies, then comes back to life. Television shows go off the air and end up somewhere on the internet. Sugar Ray might just outlast them all. Beyond sales of 10 million records, four top-10 songs, streams in the hundreds of millions, and tickets sold, Sugar Ray — co-founded by Mark McGrath (vocals) and Rodney Sheppard (lead guitar) — embodies the endless summer of popular music and culture. Furthermore, how many acts can claim sharing the stage with the Rolling Stones, KISS, and the Sex Pistols; collaborating with Run-DMC, and interpolated by Post Malone? Just Sugar Ray. As always, bring seating.

Sunday, Sept. 3, 8 p.m. Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, Eisenhower Park, East Meadow. For information, visit NassauCountyNY.gov/parks.

Photos: The backyard is an important extension of a home’s living space, so it makes sense that your family’s individual style be reflected in its design.

THE Your Neighborhood

Sept. 8

George Thorogood & The Destroyers

Since 1975, George Thorogood & The Destroyers have sold over 15 million albums, played more than 8,000 ferocious live shows, and built a catalog of classic hits that includes “Who Do You Love”, “I Drink Alone”, “One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer”, “Move It On Over” and “Get A Haircut.” Their definitive badass anthem “Bad To The Bone,” deemed the most popular song for bikers by Spotify, celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2022. Now “one of the most iconic bands in rock & roll history” (according to the Rapid City Journal, among others) celebrates it all with their tour Bad All Over The World: 50 Years Of Rock, visiting the Paramount stage, Friday, Sept. 8, 8 p.m. For the past 50 years, it’s been very good to be George Thorogood & The Destroyers. And in 2023, their tour Bad All Over The World: 50 Years Of Rock will prove why like never before. “If you’re content, you may as well be dead.” George says. “I think everyone has thoughts about retiring, but the phone keeps ringing. ‘You want me and The Destroyers to come to your town, set up our gear, wear some cool threads and play ‘Who Do You Love?’ End of conversation. Let’s rock!” $89.50, $59.50, $49.50, $39.50. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. (800) 745-3000 or Ticketmaster. com or ParamountNY.com.

On exhibit

View the landmark exhibition “Modigliani and the Modern Portrait,” at Nassau County Museum of Art. Devoted to the way that Modigliani powerfully re-defined the art of portraiture, the show includes his masterworks along with paintings and drawings by his Parisian contemporaries (Picasso, van Dongen, Laurencin). Modigliani’s enduring influence on artists even in our own time is shown in a selection of Contemporary paintings by such important figures as David Hockney, Eric Fischl, Elizabeth Peyton and others. The exhibition is being curated by Dr. Kenneth Wayne, founder of The Modigliani Project, which authenticates paintings and drawings (two of the works in the show have been recently approved by the committee). Through Nov. 5. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. (516) 484-9337 or NassauMuseum.org.

Sept. 9

Bird walk

The South Shore Audubon Society welcomes all to join its members for a bird walk, at the Oceanside Marine Nature Study Area, Saturday, Sept. 9, starting at 9 a.m. Walk leaders, other birders and nature enthusiasts are happy to share their knowledge and experience with you. Bring binoculars. 500 Slice Drive, off Waukeena Ave. To register, text your name and contact information to (516) 467-9498. Also text regarding questionable weather conditions. For more information, visit SSAudubon.org

Leaf Peepers

Celebrate fall and all the colors of the season with the family at Long Island Children’s Museum, Saturday, Sept. 23, 12-2 p.m. Use your imagination to make animal art out of colorful leaf shapes, focusing on the seasonal shades of vibrant yellow, deep purple, and fiery orange, at the drop-in program. Suitable for ages 3 and up. Long Island Children’s Museum, Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 224-5800 or LICM.org

St. Jude Run/Walk

Registration is open for the St. Jude Walk/ Run Long Island, presented by Tweezerman International during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, Sunday, Sept. 10, 9 a.m., at Marcum Corporate Offices & Park. The St. Jude Walk/Run offers everyone a chance to walk or run and gather in-person or virtually to raise funds and awareness for the St. Jude mission: Finding cures. Saving children. Besides the walk/run, the event features entertainment, food and activities for the whole family to enjoy. Participants will even have the opportunity to connect with St. Jude patients and learn firsthand how their support makes a difference. 10 Melville Park Road, Melville. Register or learn more at StJude.org/ walklongisland.

Flag Raising Ceremony for Trinidad and Tobago

The Town of Hempstead celebrates The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago by hosting a historic flag raising ceremony, invites everyone join in on the celebration, Friday, Sept 8, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. With a free breakfast and ceremony at Hempstead Town Hall. 1 Washington St., Hempstead.

Sept. 8

AARP Defensive Driving/Safety Course

Uniondale Public Library hosts a 6 hour driving safety course, Friday, Sept. 8, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. $25 for AARP members, $30 for non-members. Bring money orders payable to AARP on the day of the course in order to attend. 400 Uniondale Ave. Register at UniondaleLibrary.org/ events, or call (516) 489-2220.

Showtime

Uniondale Public Library hosts an exclusive performance of “The Guys,” a play by Anne Nelson, about the aftereffects of the tragic events that occurred on 9/11, Saturday, Sept. 9, 2 p.m. 400 Uniondale Ave. Visit UniondaleLibrary.org/events, or call (516) 489-2220 for more information.

Having an event?

Sept. 2

Storybook Stroll

Bring the kids to Old Westbury Gardens for a storybook adventure, Saturday, Sept. 2, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Stroll the gardens and open your ears to Mary Howitt’s classic tale The Spider and The Fly.” Later create a unique take home craft. For ages 3-5. Old Westbury Gardens, 71 Old Westbury Rd., Old Westbury. For information visit OldWestburyGardens.org or contact (516) 333-0048.

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.

Westbury House Tour

For many years visitors to Westbury House at Old Westbury Gardens asked what was beyond the first floor corridor. Now go beyond the door and discover “secrets of the service wing,” during a 60-minute guided tour, Sunday, Sept. 3, 1:30 p.m. Be introduced to the intensive labor required to create the lifestyle experienced by the Phipps family and their guests; tour the many rooms that were “behind the scenes” to create the formal dining experiences of early 20th century. Go along the corridors to the butler’s pantry and silver cleaning room then descend the 17 steps to the kitchen, scullery, and wine storage rooms located on the ground floor. Reservations required. 71 Old Westbury Rd., Old Westbury. For information contact (516) 333-0048 or visit OldWestburyGardens.org.

Art talk

Sept. 7

Grab your lunch and join Nassau County Museum of Art Docent Riva Ettus for her popular “Brown Bag Lecture,” now back on-site at Nassau County Museum of Art, Thursday, Sept. 7, 1 p.m. Enjoy an in-depth presentation on the current exhibition

“Modigliani and the Modern Portrait.” Participants are invited to ask questions at the end of the program and to join the 2 p.m. public tour of the exhibit. Also Oct. 19. 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. (516) 484-9337 or NassauMuseum.org.

Wine tasting

Grab a glass and expand your palette with German wine. Wunderwein LLC will offer some of the best wines from Germany at Das Weinfest, the original German wine festival, Sept. 10, 1-6 p.m., at Platteduetsche Park Biergarten. $35 per person includes three tastings; also an additional two complimentary tastings with the option of a dessert wine you can pair with the purchase of a tasty treat. Additional samplings are available for purchase, $3 individually or 10 for $25. 1132 Hempstead Turnpike, Franklin Square. Visit ParkRestaurant. com for information.

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

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

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

Welcome Scan this QR code for faster service

New app promises to improve district communications

and permission slips, straight to the app. Ritter told the Herald that the inspiration for the idea was the success of a similar platform implemented by the East Meadow school district, with internal discussions about Uniondale’s possible creation of its own app beginning in March 2022, led by district superintendent Monique Darrisaw-Akil.

The app has all of our schools, so parents would go into settings and designate the schools they want to allow notifications from, and then once that’s done, they have access to that school’s feed.

AnA RiTTeR Director of instructional technology and library media services, Uniondale school district

According to Ritter, about one-third of parents of the nearly 6,600 district students have already down loaded the app. Although this is a statistic that she and other district officials are proud of, Ritter said she hoped to see that number rise to near 100 percent as the school year begins.

The app, and others like it, Ritter added, are the future of school commu nication, tools that are benefi cial and easy to use. “We have a very diverse par ent community,” she said. “We also have a lot of newly immigrat ed parents, so

Town of Hempstead celebrates El Salvador

Thousands joined in a festival hosted at Town of Hempstead town hall in Hempstead to celebrate the Central American nation of El Salvador in early August.

Long Island has the largest concentration of Salvadorans in the metropolitan New York area and Hempstead town is considered “Little El Salvador” as Salvadoran businesses populate Franklin Avenue in Hempstead village as well as Brentwood in Suffolk County.

Roughly 100,000 Salvadorans live in Nassau and Suffolk counties, based on the latest census numbers.

— Jeffrey Bessen

they might not be hip so much to social media. This has our own live feed, so you don’t have to be a participant in social media.”

Ritter also explained that the app is compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, meaning, for instance, that photos that appear on it can be identified by text or audio for those with visual impairments.

To stay up to date on the latest news and events around the Uniondale school district, you can download the app from the App Store or the Google Play Store by searching for its title, Uniondale

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27

6:00-9:00PM

The Heritage Club at Bethpage 99 Quaker Meeting House Road Farmingdale, New York

KIMON BEKELIS, MD

Chairman

TO PURCHASE TICKETS VISIT richnerlive.com/2023healthcare

A portion of ticket sales proceeds will be donated to a local charity. For more information or to sponsor this event, contact Amy Amato Executive Director, Corporate Relations and Events at aamato@richnerlive.com or 516.569.4000 x224

MEET THE 2023 AWARD WINNERS*

Neurointerventional Services at Catholic Health

Director

Stroke and Brain

Aneurysm Center of Long Island

JOSEPH BENDEN LMSW, LNHA

Administrator

The Five Towns Premier Nursing and Rehabilitation Center

MATTHEW J. BRUDERMAN

Chairman, Board of Directors

Nassau University Medical Center

JORDAN BRODSKY, MD

Medical Doctor & Rheumatologist

Rheumatology Consultants

TARA BUONOCORE-RUT

President & CEO

CenterLight Health System

DONNA CELARDO, MSN, RN, SAFE

Director ACLD

CRISTINA CELLUCCI, MSN, RN, SAFE

Director of Nursing, Emergency Department

Mount Sinai South Nassau

REBECCA CHARLES, MHA

Director of Operations

Harmony Healthcare Long Island

STACEY CONKLIN, MSN, RN-BC, MHCDS, NE-BC

Senior Vice President & Chief Nursing Officer

Mount Sinai South Nassau

NOVLET DAVIS, RN

Nurse Practitioner St. Francis Hospital

KRISTEN DESIDERI

Licensed Practical Nurse

Glengariff

DANIEL DIAZ

Orthotist & Prosthetist

Complete Orthopedic Services Inc.

MARK C. DRAKOS, MD

Medical Director Hospital For Special Surgery

ADINA GELFAND-EREZ R-PAC

CEO Bleu Glove Concierge

CAROL GOMES, MS, FACHE, CPHQ

CEO, Stony Brook University Hospital

Stony Brook Medicine

TIANA HAKIMI, DDS

Board Certified Pediatric Dentist

North Shore Smiles Pediatric Dentistry

JAY ITZKOWITZ, MD, MBA, FACEP

Chair of Department of Emergency Medicine

Mount Sinai South Nassau

JONATHAN JASSEY, DO FAAP

Founding Pediatrician

Concierge Pediatric Practice

LINDA JACOBS, MD

Pediatrician Concierge Pediatric Practice

FELICIA KASTOW

Director of Marketing & Operations

Pure Mammography

CHRISTINE L. KIPPLEY, RN

VP Patient Care Services & Chief Nursing Officer

Peconic Bay Medical Center Northwell

ALEXANDER M. KOTLYAR, MD, FACOG

Staff Physician

Genesis Fertility and Reproductive Medicine

KEN LONG

Senior Vice President, Administration & Chief Clinical Integration Officer

Mount Sinai South Nassau

JEFFREY MCQUEEN M.B.A., L.C.D.C.

Executive Director

Mental Health Association of Nassau County

COLLEEN MERLO

CEO Association for Mental Health and Wellness

EUNICE E. PARK, MD, MPH

Dual-board certified Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon

Founder AIREM Modern Beauty Rituals

DAVID PODWALL, MD

President Nassau County Medical Society

JOHN POHLMAN, CPA

Senior Vice President & Chief Operating Officer/Chief Financial Officer

Mount Sinai South Nassau

CHRISTINE PONZIO

Executive Director Winters Center for Autism

KAITLIN POWERS

Regional Director of Admissions

Long Beach Nursing and Rehabilitation Center

JEFFREY L. REYNOLDS, PhD

President & CEO

Family & Children’s Association

AMY RECCO

COO, Owner & Vice President

Friends for Life Homecare & Medicaid Consultants

YOLANDA ROBANO-GROSS, LMSW, MHA

CEO Options for Community Living, Inc.

STAVROULA SAVELIDIS, MS

Executive Director

Nassau County Medical Society

KERRI ANNE SCANLON, RN, FAAN

Executive Director

Glen Cove Hospital, Northwell Health

MELISSA SCHACHTER, MS, CCC-SLP, TSSLD

Director

Speech Language Place

SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR EVENT PARTNERS

GARY SCHLESINGER

President & CEO

ParCare Community Health Network

CMSGT (RET.)

Chairman

EDWARD SCHLOEMAN

Operation Warrior Shield

AMY SILVA-MAGALHAES

COO

The Bristal Assisted Living

SHARON SOMEKH, MD, IBCLC

Pediatrician

Concierge Pediatric Practice

SPECIAL AWARDS

DISTINGUISHED VISIONARY

MICHAEL J. DOWLING

CEO Northwell Health

EDUCATION

DAVID BATTINELLI, MD

Executive Vice President & Physician-in-Chief, Northwell Health

Dean, Betsey Cushing Whitney Professor of Medicine, Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell

MARIA FLETCHER, PhD

Associate Dean for Nursing & Associate Professor St. Joseph’s University

DEBORAH HUNT, PhD, RN

Dean & Professor Adelphi University

PETER IGARASHI, MD

Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook Stony Brook Medicine

NICOLE WADSWORTH

Dean & Professor New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine (NYITCOM)

CHRISTOPHER R. VAKOC, MD/PhD

Alan and Edith Seligson Professor of Cancer Research

Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory

INNOVATOR OF THE YEAR

PROF. CHAD BOUTON

VP, Advanced Engineering, Director of Neural Bypass and Brain-Computer Interface Laboratory, Institute for Bioelectronic Medicine

Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health

ORGANIZATIONS OF EXCELLENCE

FAMILY & CHILDREN’S ASSOCIATION

NEW YORK STATE NURSES ASSOCIATION

R.J. ZUCKERBERG CANCER CENTER

R.J. ZUCKERBERG CANCER HOSPITAL

THERALYMPIC SPEECH THERAPY

a screenshot of the opening page in the new app.

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 Front Steps of the Nassau County Courthouse, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501. This Auction will be held rain or shine on 9/12/2023 at 2:30 p.m., 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.

Richard Lawrence Farley, Esq., Referee.

MCCABE, WEISBERG & CONWAY, LLC, 10 MIDLAND AVENUE, SUITE

205 PORT CHESTER, NY 10573

Dated: 6/28/2023 File

Number: 17-300289

RS 141212

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT

COUNTY OF NASSAU, PS FUNDING, INC., Plaintiff, vs. BLUE ROCK CAPITAL HOLDINGS LLC, ET AL., Defendant(s).

Pursuant to an Order

Confirming Referee Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on November 3, 2022, 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 September 19, 2023 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 13 Charles Street, Roosevelt, NY 11575. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being at

Roosevelt in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 55, Block 422 and Lots 174 & 175. Approximate amount of judgment is $287,328.82 plus interest and costs.

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 601354/2021. 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.

Charles Casolaro, Esq., Referee Chartwell Law, One Battery Park Plaza, Suite 710, New York, New York 10004, Attorneys for Plaintiff

141324

LEGAL NOTICE

NASSAU - INDEX NO.: 601980/2018SUMMONS. Plaintiff designates NASSAU COUNTY as the place of trial based upon the location of the premises herein described having tax map Section 0050, Block 00447-00, Lot 00018, UNIONDALE, NY, County of NASSAUWILMINGTON SAVINGS

FUND SOCIETY, FSB, D/B/A CHRISTIANA TRUST

NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS TRUSTEE FOR WINSTED FUNDING TRUST 2016-3, PLAINTIFF, -againstEDWARD W. POWERS, AS THE PUBLIC ADMINISTRATOR OF NASSAU COUNTY, AS ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ESTATE OF GUMERCINDO LLANOS; ESTELA GONZALES, INDIVIDUALLY AND AS HEIR-AT-LAW OF THE ESTATE OF GUMERCINDO LLANOS; ROSAURA

DERAMIREZ SERRON A/K/A ROSAURA LLANOS A/K/A ROSAURA RAMIREZ A/K/A ROSAURA DE RAMIREZ, INDIVIDUALLY AND AS HEIR-AT-LAW OF THE ESTATE OF GUMERCINDO LLANOS; WILFREDO LLANOS, INDIVIDUALLY AND AS HEIR-AT-LAW OF THE ESTATE OF GUMERCINDO LLANOS; any and all persons unknown to Plaintiff, claiming, or who may claim to have an interest in, or generally or specific lien upon the real property described in this action; such unknown persons being herein generally described and intended to be included in the following designation, namely: the wife, widow, husband, widower, heirsat law, next of kin, descendants, executors, administrators, devisees, legatees, creditors, trustees, committees, lienors, and assignees of GUMERCINDO LLANOS, deceased, any and all

persons deriving interest in or lien upon, or title to said real property by, through or under them and their respective wives, widows, husbands, widowers, heirs-at law, next of kin, descendants, executors, administrators, devisees, legatees, creditors, trustees, committees, lienors, and assignees, all of whom and whose names, except as stated, are unknown to Plaintiff; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA - INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE; NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE, “JOHN DOE #1” through “JOHN DOE #12,” the last twelve names being fictitious and unknown to plaintiff, the persons or parties intended being the tenants, occupants, persons or corporations, if any, having or claiming an interest in or lien upon the premises, described in the complaint, DEFENDANTS. YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the complaint in this action and to serve a copy of your answer, or, if the complaint is not served with this summons, to serve a notice of appearance on the Plaintiff’s Attorney within 20 days after the service of this summons, exclusive of the day of service (or within 30 days after the service is complete if this summons is not personally delivered to you within the State of New York); and in case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the complaint. NOTICE YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME If you do not respond to this Summons and Complaint by serving a copy of the answer on the attorney for the mortgage company who filed this foreclosure proceeding against you and filing the answer with the court, a default judgment may be entered against you and you can lose your home. Speak to an attorney or go to the court where your case is pending for further information on how to answer the summons and protect your property. Sending a payment to your mortgage company will not stop this foreclosure action. YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (MORTGAGE COMPANY) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT. Dated: Syosset, New York, August 14, 2023. Roach & Lin, P.C., attorney for Plaintiff, 6851 Jericho Turnpike, Suite 185, Syosset, NY 11791. Tel: 516-938-3100. To the above named defendants: The foregoing summons is served upon you by publication pursuant to an Order of the Hon.

David P. Sullivan, a Justice of the Supreme Court, State of New York, dated July 18, 2023 and filed with the NASSAU County Clerk together with the supporting papers thereon. This is an action to foreclose a mortgage held by Plaintiff on the premises known as tax map Section 0050, Block 00447-00, Lot 00018, UNIONDALE, NY, County of NASSAU as described in the complaint on file and commonly known as 674 WINTHROP DRIVE, UNIONDALE, NY 11553.

Community unites for back to school event

The National Council of Jewish Women hosted its 8th annual Back 2 School Store event on Aug. 6, aiding elementary students from underserved communities in obtaining clothing and school essentials for the upcoming school year.

77616

141413

LEGAL NOTICE CASE NO. 5021

RESOLUTION NO, 717-2022

Adopted: June 14, 2022

Coµncilmember Goosby offered the following resolution and moved its adoption: RESOLUTION GRANTING THE PETITION OF UNITED GAS CORP. FOR INCLUSION IN THE “GSS” DISTRICT AND FOR A PERMIT TO INSTALL GASOLINE STORAGE TANKS AT THE HEREINAFTER DESCRIBED PROPERTY LOCATED AT 510 UNIONDALE AVENUE, UNIONDALE, TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, NASSAU COUNTY, NEW YORK.

WHEREAS, the petition of United Gas Corp., doing business at 35 Roosevelt Avenue, Syosset, New York 1179.1, dated· January 29, 2020, for inclusion in the “GSS” District and a Permit to install gasoline storage tanks at the location known as 510 Uniondale Avenue, Uniondale, Town of Hempstead, Nassau County, New York, was filed with this Town Board; and

WHEREAS, a public hearing was duly called and held by this Town Board on March 1, 2022, pursuant to the provisions of the Building Zone Ordinance of the Town of Hempstead, and all persons present desiring to be heard on said Petition were heard thereon, and decision was reserved thereon; and

WHEREAS, this Town Board deems it to be in the public interest to grant said Petition subject to conditions set forth below;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the petition of United Gas Corp., dated January 29, 2020, for inclusion in the “GSS” District and a Permit to install gasoline storage tanks concerning the hereinafter described property at Uniondale, New York, is hereby granted, and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the property which is the subject of this petition is known and designated as Section 34, Block 281, Lot

The annual event was jointly sponsored by the South Shore Section and the Peninsula Section of the NCJW. The South Shore Section includes several communities, including Baldwin, Freeport, Island Park, Long Beach, Oceanside and Rockville Centre, showcasing their commitment to the collective well-being of the children of these neighborhoods.

Over 250 volunteers came together to ensure the success of the event, which saw an attendance of approximately 800 elementary school students.

Children were paired with personal shoppers to pick out essential items without their parents. The young participants selected everything from winter jackets and sneakers to shirts, pants, socks, toiletries, backpacks, and other school necessities. Local and national businesses generously provided all-new items as donations for the event.

An additional day was scheduled several days ahead of the main event. This exclusive day was specifically for children with disabilities, ensuring they could partake in the shopping experience comfortably and have a dedicated day tailored to their needs.

Herald File Photo

– Angelina Zingariello

to the provisions of Chapter 132 of the Code of the Town of Hempstead and the Building Zone August 31, 2023 — UNIONDALE HERALD BEACON

Ordinance of the Town of 18

Elementary school students were treated to a back to school event from the National Council of Jewish Women.

The Art League of Long Island has launched a new initiative, Youth Pride in the Arts, a mentoring and scholarship program sponsored by TD Bank.

The art program is designed to empower LGBTQ+ youth and allies with a safe space to explore their identities, amplify their voices, and celebrate their unique contributions to the world of art.

Through a combination of mentorship, self-expression and community-building, this program is set to create a more inclusive and diverse artistic landscape, where participants can thrive and leave a lasting impact. It’s designed to create a sense of belonging and community, enabling members to not only develop their artistic skills, but also build a deeper connection with their own identities.

The program is open to high school students who are part of the LGBTQ+ community, non-identified individuals and allies. One member will also receive an additional scholarship equivalent to 35 free class hours at the Art League — chosen based on work quality and financial need.

Applications for the program will be accepted through Sept. 20, and will run between October and next April. The program culminates with an exhibition at the Art League’s Pride Festival in June.

To learn more — and to apply — visit ArtLeagueLI.org.

approvals if

of

Seeking Candidates for the Following Positions:

TEACHER AIDES

Starting Salary: $18.65 per hour

Two years’ college preferred

SUBSTITUTE TEACHER AIDES

Salary: $17.00 per hour

Two years’ college preferred

SUBSTITUTE CLEANERS

Salary: $16.00 per hour

District Wide – All Shifts

SUBSTITUTE MONITORS

Salary: $15 per hour

District Wide

SUBSTITUTE REGISTERED PROFESSIONAL NURSE

Salary: $150 per diem

Must have Registered Nurse’s License, CPR and AED Certification

SUBSTITUTE CLERICAL

Salary: $20 per hour

District Wide

SUBSTITUTE SECURITY AIDES

Salary: $20.00 per hour

District Wide

Must have continuing possession of NYS registration as a security guard issued by the NYS Department of State. Security and/or law enforcement experience preferred Candidates are to submit a letter of interest with resume and credentials to:

MS. Diane DrakoPouloS Personnel Clerk east rockaway uFSD 443 ocean avenue, east rockaway, nY 11518 (516) 887-8300 ext. 1-441 ddrakopoulos@eastrockawayschools.org

The Seaford Union Free School District has the following opening:

SCHOOL NURSE (Floater)

FULL-TIME

Effective Date: August 30, 2023

*Starting Salary $60,948

RN NYS License required, BLS certified

• Experience with school aged children, including students with disabilities preferred.

• Knowledgeable of CDC, OHSA, NYSDOH guidelines as they pertain to disease and or illness including COVID.

• Maintains records and performs screenings as per N.Y.S guidelines.

• Provides basic healthcare and first aid to students that are ill, medically fragile and/or injured.

• Provides treatment, documents injuries and maintains ongoing student medical records.

• Administers daily medications.

• Knowledgeable of diabetic care and seizure protocol in a school setting.

• Must have superior nursing skills to include experience in emergency procedures, anaphylaxis, injuries and general triage.

• Must be highly skilled communicator, with strong interpersonal and organizational skills.

• Must be collaborative in nature and contribute to the health and well being of the school community.

On-Line Applications Only www.olasjobs.org/nassau

Field Ser vice Technicians F/T

(Mobile Mechanics) Needed For Crown Lift Trucks Nassau/Suffolk, Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx

EMPLOYMENT

Help Wanted

ASSISTANT TEACHERS For Yeshiva

Of South Shore. Afternoon Hours. Competitive Pay. Please Send Resume To: monika@yoss.org

ATTENTION HIGH SCHOOL /COL-

LEGE /GRAD SCHOOL STUDENTS :

Staff Needed Before School 7:00-9:00AM Afterschool 2:45-6:00PM. Experience with children preferred. Friedberg JCC Locations in Oceanside, Bellmore, Baldwin, Long Beach, Island Park. Send resume to: tcorchado@friedbergjcc.org or call 516 -634-4179.

CIRCULATION ASSOCIATE

Full Time/Part Time Richner Communications, publisher of Herald community newspapers has an excellent opportunity for a

FT/PT Customer Service Clerk in our busy Circulation Department.

Basic customer service and administrative responsibilities include: heavy computer work, answering phones, making phone calls, entering orders, faxing, filing, etc.

STRONG knowledge of EXCEL a must! Knowledge of DATABASE maintenance or postal regulations a big plus. Qualified Candidates must be computer literate, able to multitask, dependable, reliable, organized, energetic, detail oriented and able to work well under deadlines. For consideration, please send resume & salary requirements to: careers@liherald.com

DELI

DRIVING

EDITOR/REPORTER

The award-winning Herald Community Newspapers group, covering Nassau County's North and South Shores with hard-hitting news stories and gracefully written features, seeks a motivated, energetic and creative editor/reporter to join our dynamic (and awesome) team! This education and general assignment reporting position offers a unique experience to learn from some of the best in the business. Historically, reporters who have launched their careers with us have gone on to The New York Times, Newsweek, Newsday, the New York Daily News, New York Post, CNN, BBC, NBC News and The Daily Mail, among many others. We look for excellent writers who are eager to learn, enhance their skills, and become well-established and respected journalists in our industry.

To apply: Send a brief summary in the form of a cover letter describing your career goals and what strengths you can bring to our newsroom, along with a resume and three writing samples to mhinman@liherald.com

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. Salary, Commission, Eligible for Health Benefits, 401k and Paid Time Off. Will Consider Part Time. Please Send Cover Letter and Resume with Salary Requirements to rglickman@liherald.com or Call 516-569-4000 X250

PART TIME ASSISTANTS

Garden City Childcare Center

Monday through Friday $15 per hour

HS Diploma Required Call 516-572-7614

PERSONAL TRAINER : Fitness Studio East Rockaway. Competitive Compensation. Experience Required. Email resume amplifiedems@gmail.com Call (516)253-5450

PRESS-ROOM/WAREHOUSE HELP

MULTI MEDIA ACCOUNT DEVELOPMENT

Inside Sales

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

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

PRODUCTION ASSOCIATE FT: Medical Device Manufacturer in Baldwin. Duties/ Responsibilities Include Organizing, Assembling, Labeling And Stocking Of Inventory. Computer Literacy Required.

Long Island’s Premier Short-Term Inpatient Neurological Rehabilitation Team

Long Island’s Premier

Short-Term Inpatient Neurological Rehabilitation Team

Innovative Patient Centered Care Rehabilitating Patients with Brain Injury, Stroke, and other Neurological Disorders. Intense rehabilitation programming is provided up to 3.5 hours per day and up to 7 days per week. PT/OT/Speech Therapy, Brain Training and Cognitive Rehab. Certified Brain Injury Specialists On Site.

Innovative Patient Centered Care Rehabilitating Patients with Brain Injury, Stroke, and other Neurological Disorders. Intense rehabilitation programming is provided up to 3.5 hours per day and up to 7 days per week.

PT/OT/Speech Therapy, Brain Training and Cognitive Rehab. Certified Brain Injury Specialists On Site.

HomesHERALD

To place an ad call 516-569-4000 press 5 • To place an ad call 516-569-4000 press 5

East Atlantic Beach

FEMA Compliant Stunner

Welcome home to this totally renovated, 2 story home with parking for 3 cars plus storage. This brand new home boasts a main floor with living room, 3 bedrooms, full bath and deck. The top floor features a state of the art kitchen with quartz countertops and stainless steel appliances, a primary bedroom with full bath, office, half bath and deck with ocean views. There is ground level parking and storage, sliders to back deck, brand new CAC, washer/dryer, on demand hot water heater and sprinklers. You will love having your own private beach! Enjoy all the West End of Long Beach has to offer with the privacy of living in East Atlantic Beach!

The problems water causes

Q. Our attic air conditioning leaked into our ceiling. The ceiling is so wet we need to replace it. We now understand we’ll need to have the pipe that drains water out of our A.C. drain pan blown out every spring, and now have a service contract for that. The insulation is also wet. We were told to let it dry out and it will be fine. Is this true? Also, the ceiling joists over our 12-foot-wide master bedroom are only 2 x 6, which might cause the ceiling to sag and isn’t enough for the insulation, we’re told, which we understand has to be 10 inches thick. When we asked our contractor about this, he told us we can push the insulation down and then replace the plywood floor in our attic. What do you think?

Rhonda Healy

Century 21 Verdeschi & Walsh Realty 1025 W. Beech Street Long Beach 516.236.7269 cell rhondaghealy@gmail.com OPEN HOUSES SUNday, 9/3/23 HEWLETT Bay Pa RK

190 Meadowview Ave, BA, Ever Dream of Living in A Castle?

This 8000 Sq Ft Mansion is Full of Character. Amazing Architectural Details, Soaring Ceilings, Stained Glass Windows. 5 BR, 6.55 Bths. Sprawling 1.3 Acre Prop with IG Gunite Pool. SD#14. Near All. Must See This Unique Home! REDUCED $2,700,000

HEWLETT

1390 Broadway #102, BA, NEW! Move Right Into This

Magnificent Newly Renovated 2 BR, 2 Bth Coop in Prestigious Hewlett Townhouse. Open Layout. NEW State of the Art Kitchen & Bths, HW Flrs, Windows, HVAC, Recessed LED Lights, Doors, W/D. Community Pool. Full Service 24 Hr Doorman, Valet Pkg, Elevator, Priv Storage. Gar Pkg. Near Shops, Trans & Houses of Worship $579,000

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

Jonathan Hall with Doorman & Elevator. Updtd Wood/Quartz Kit, LR & DR. Washer/Dryer in Unit. Underground Pkg. Loads of Closets. Terrace Faces Back. Easy Ranch Style Living BIG REDUCTION!! MOTIVATED SELLER! $579,000

WOO dMERE

504 Saddle Ridge Rd, BA , Move Right Into This Renovated

4 BR, 2 Bth Split with Open Layout in Prime Location! Granite/ Wood EIK Opens to Dining Room & Living Room. Lower Level Den. HW Flrs, Gas Heat, CAC.

A. When it rains, it pours. The leaking was a wakeup call that A.C. unit condensation occurs every summer season, and even though you have a drain pan, if it doesn’t have a working sensor to shut off before the drain pan overflows and you never clean the drain pan pipe to the outdoors, the water overflows. You should, by law (code), have a floor in the attic around the unit, also, which can dry out, since it remains structural, and will be minimally affected by the water.

The insulation and the sheetrock are another story. If the sheetrock hasn’t loosened and isn’t sagging, then it can just be left to dry out. Make certain, even using a moisture meter, that the sheetrock is completely dry before repainting to avoid potential mildew and discoloration. The insulation, if it is either fiberglass or closed-cell foam, can be dried out also, but only if it can be exposed. This means removing the plywood flooring above so that air can get to the insulation.

In addition, the insulation should be inspected to see that it isn’t compressed by the saturation weight of the water, since compressing insulation, contrary to what you were told, actually takes away the ability for it to work properly. The principle behind insulation technology isn’t just the use of thermally resistant material but, most critically, the insulation forms tiny air pockets within the material that form the resistance to air passing through. Each trapped air bubble slows the transfer of cold or heat by first conducting or resisting the temperature change within the air molecules.

Heat moves by one of three mechanical principles, convection, conduction and radiation. If the air bubbles or pockets in the insulation are pressed closer together and the material made denser by this, the conduction or transfer of temperature is easier, so the insulation has less likelihood of resisting, and resisting is what you want insulation to do. It would be great to rebuild the floor with deeper joists or have closed-cell foam sprayed in, since it also resists water saturation to solve the problem. Good luck!

© 2023 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

HomesHERALD

To place an ad call 516-569-4000 press 5 • To place an ad call 516-569-4000 press 5 IT

Open Houses

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

HEWLETT BAY PARK BA,.190 Meadowview Ave Ever Dream of Living in A Castle? This 8000 Sq Ft Mansion is Full of Character. Amazing Architectural Details, Soaring Ceilings, Stained Glass Windows. 5 BR, 6.55 Bths. Sprawling 1.3 Acre Prop with IG Gunite Pool. SD#14.Near All. Must See This Unique Home!..REDUCED $2,700,000 Ronnie Gerber, Douglas elliman 516-238-4299

REAL ESTATE

Open Houses

CEDARHURST BA, 332B Peninsula Blvd, Move Right Into This Updated 3 Br, 2.5 Bth Coop Townhouse. LR, DR, Gran/Wood Kit w/ Stainless Steel Appl. Trex Deck Off LR.Primary Ste Features Updtd Bth & WIC. Att Gar Plus 1 Pkg Spot incl in Maintenance. W/D in Unit.Pull Down Attic.SD#15. Convenient to Shops, Trans & Houses of Worship...$449,000 Ronnie Gerber, Douglas Elliman 516-238-4299

Open Houses

HEWLETT BA, 1390 Broadway #102, NEW! Move Right Into This Magnificent Newly Renovated 2 BR, 2 Bth Coop in Prestigious Hewlett Townhouse.Open Layout. NEW State of the Art Kitchen & Bths,HW Flrs, Windows, HVAC,Recessed LED Lights, Doors, W/D. Community Pool. Full Service 24 Hr Doorman, Valet Pkg, Elevator, Priv Storage. Gar Pkg. Near Shops, Trans & Houses of Worship...$579,000 Ronnie Gerber, Douglas Elliman 516-238-4299

Parking Space Available

COMMERCIAL PARKING VANS, TRUCKS, TRAILERS, STORAGE CONTAINERS, OVERNIGHT, DAYTIME

516 996 5818

Garages For Rent

OCEANSIDE 2 CAR Garage.Great Location.Good for Classic Cars or Storage. Call For Further Informations. Must See! 516-476-8787

Florida Real Estate

WOODMERE BA, 504 Saddle Ridge Rd.,Move Right Into This Renovated 4 BR, 2 Bth Split with Open Layout in Prime Location! Granite/Wood EIK Opens to Dining Room & Living Room. Lower Level Den. HW Flrs, Gas Heat, CAC. Oversized Property! SD#14.Near All!..$999,000 Ronnie Gerber, Douglas Elliman 516-238-4299

Apartments For Rent

CEDARHURST NO FEE Private Entrance, Modern 1BR, 2BR, 3BR, CAC, W/D, Storage, Wall To Wall Carpeting, Indoor Parking Space. Starting At $1450 For One Bedroom When Available. (516)860-6889/ (516)852-5135/ (516)582-9978

OCEANSIDE 1st Floor, 2Bds, 1Bath, Large EIK, Large LR, Fin. Basement/ Bath Yard, Oceanside SD. Call 516-476-8787

DELRAY BEACH, FL: For Sale, opportunity before it hits the market! Single Story Ranch Condo. Beautifully appointed in desirable Emerald Pointe gated community, Approx 1800 Sq Ft. Furnished, All Appliances, 2 Bed / 2 Bath, Eat-In Kitchen, Walk-In Closets, Great Interior Storage and Exterior Storage Room, Screened-In Porch with Dual Interior Access, New Rheem HVAC Jan 2019, Ceiling fans throughout, 4 Private Parking Spots, Clubhouse with Auditorium, Pool, Gym, Tennis, Pickleball (TBD), Game and Card Rms, Interior Walking-Paths, Pet Friendly, 55+ Community, Easy access to Palm Beach International and Ft Lauderdale Airports. Exciting Downtown Delray offers beautiful Beaches, Shopping, Restaurants, and Nightlife. Asking $309,999. Call David at 248-240-8154 SWCGRPMI@gmail.com

Herald

Home Sales

A sampling of recent sales in the area

Baldwin $670,000

Park Avenue. Other. 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms. Eat-in kitchen. Living room with fireplace. Formal dining room. Den/ family room. Master bedroom with fireplace. Charming historical details, including French doors.

Taxes: $13,593

East Meadow $785,000

Cleveland Avenue. Expanded Ranch. 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms. Finished basement. Updated eat-in kitchen with granite countertops. Formal dining room. Den/family room and home office. First floor master bedroom. Updates include cathedral ceiling, skylight and security system.

Taxes: $13,299.60

Elmont $692,500

Francis Court. Cape. 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms. Finished basement. Eat-in kitchen with stainless steel appliances. Front porch. First floor master bedroom. Updates include gas fireplace.

Taxes: $12,350

Lido Beach $999,000

Lido Boulevard. Split Level. 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms. Finished basement. Eat-in kitchen. Den/family room and home office. Updates include cathedral ceiling and skylight.

Taxes: $12,374.48

Lynbrook $861,000

Northumberland Gate. Split Level. 6 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms. Finished basement. Eat-in kitchen. Granite countertops. Formal dining room.

Taxes: $18,766.97

Merrick $720,000

Wynsum Avenue. Splanch. 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms. Partial finished basement. Large eat-in kitchen. Formal dining room. Den/family room with sliders to spacious yard. Laundry room on main level. Updates include cathedral ceiling. Great location within walking distance of Wynsum Avenue Park.

Taxes: $22,916.44

Oceanside $745,000

River Avenue. Expanded Cape. 5 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms. Eat-in kitchen with granite countertops and pantry. Open layout. Den/family room. Skylight and wood burning stove. Updates include cathedral ceiling and security system.

Taxes: $13,057

Rockville Centre $1,775,000

Allen Road. Colonial. 4 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms. Gourmet eat-in kitchen with granite countertops. Formal dining room. Den/family room. Ample storage.

Taxes: $18,500

West Hempstead $630,000

Fairlawn Avenue. Cape. 3 bedrooms, 1.5 bathrooms. Updated modern open eat-in kitchen with granite countertops, island and stainless steel appliances. Living room with fireplace. Two bedrooms on first level, large bedroom with office on second floor. Private yard. Convenient location near transportation and shopping.

Taxes: $12,602

Source: The Multiple Listing Service of Long Island Inc,, a computerized network of real estate offices serving Nassau, Suffolk, Queens, and Brooklyn.

To place an ad call 516-569-4000 press 5 • To place an ad call 516-569-4000 press 5 • To place an ad call 516-569-4000 press 5

MERCHANDISE MART

Antiques/Collectibles

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

FINDS UNDER $100

Finds Under $100

20LB YORK DUMBELL set and 12lb Reebok dumbell set. $40 for both sets. 516-707-0357

32 X 32 Mirror beveled edge etchings in corners, hardware included for hanging.$70.00 (516)579-9089 excellent

ANTIQUE BLUE AND white flow blue pitcher 8" and bowl 10". Excellent condition

$60 516-295-1548

ANTIQUE HALF DOLL lamp 7" tall original lace dress. needs plug, $55

516 295-1548

GIRLS FALL CLOTHES Size 5 New with Tags $8 each item. 917-420-5814

GIRLS FALL CLOTHES Size 8 New with Tags $9 each item. 917-420-5814

GOLDTONE LIGHTER BY Colibri, Brand new with butane refill, vintage $20,00 take all (516)579-9089

OUTDOOR CHRISTMAS DECORA-

TIONS: Lights, Lawn Ornaments, Tree Ornaments, 10 Figure Nativity Set w/Stable. Free! 516-889-3439

Finds Under $100

PROHT 100 INCH, Portable Tripod Projection Screen, New, $45, 516-816-7383, Wantagh

TABLETOP GRILL, PROPANE, 13"W x 19"L, New, $35, 516-816-7383, Wantagh

TOP FLIGHT GOLF clubs for sale. Irons

3-9 plus pitching iron. $99.00 516-333-9878

VINTAGE VOLTRON LION force 11" pull back motion action toy w/sword, shield. $75. mint 516-707-0357

Finds $100-$350

DINING ROOM CHAIRS (6): Beige, Strong, Beautiful, Luxurious. 2 Slightly Soiled. $350 Negotiable. Call 516-889-0321

SERVICES

Appliance Srvc./Repair

APPLIANCE REPAIRS

Washers, Dryers, Ranges, Ovens, Refrigerators, Freezers, Dishwashers,

Brick/Block/Concrete/Masonry

*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

Doors & Windows

DOOR INSTALLATION & REPAIRS Free Estimates! We Manufacturer, Supply, and Install All Types of Doors. Entrance Doors, Garage Doors, Patio Doors, Kantm Storm Doors. Custom Sizes Available. MR. DOORS 516-781-7596

Electricians

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.

HErald Crossword Puzzle

Handyman

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

Home Improvement

BATH & SHOWER UPDATES in as little as ONE DAY! Affordable prices - No payments for 18 months! Lifetime warranty & professional installs. Senior & Military Discounts available. Call: 866-393-3636

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Our children’s education can’t be all about numbers

imagine students who can not only grasp the concepts of science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM, courses through the diligent application of the scientific method, but also generate original and thought-provoking work in the humanities. Picture them creating intricate pieces in fine, performing and culinary arts, and graduating with a thorough comprehension of holistic health and physical wellbeing. Isn’t this the kind of holistic education that benefits society?

But such growth and learning cannot be conveniently distilled into numerical values. It’s a fallacy to assume that numbers hold the ultimate truth about the depth of our students’ learning.

The New York State Education Department has created a blue-ribbon

committee to present potential changes to graduation measures. One desired change is to shift toward more holistic assessments that evaluate a broader range of skills and knowledge alongside the traditional Regents exams, incorporating project-based assessments, portfolios, presentations and other methods.

Additionally, there is a need for more flexible pathways to graduation, acknowledging students’ diverse strengths, interests and career goals. New pathways could involve offering various courses, internships and experiences on college campuses, allowing students to specialize in their areas of passion.

A focus on real-world relevance is also important, emphasizing practical skills, critical thinking, problem solving and the application of knowledge to prepare students for future challenges. The aim is to create a learning environment that nurtures mastery, creativity and individual identity, in which students

can pursue their unique interests and meet their specific needs. By fostering each student’s unique identity, we can ensure equal opportunities for success and access to necessary resources and support, irrespective of their background or circumstances. It would require flexible scheduling, differentiated instruction, and opportunities for students to pursue their interests.

There is a prevailing concern that the Education Department might contemplate reducing standards and expectations. I am hopeful that it will do no such thing, and I strongly oppose any such direction of thought. All students, without exception, should be given the chance to display their mastery in all areas of learning. This encompasses a comprehensive understanding of subjects ranging from STEM to humanities, encompassing fine, performing and culinary arts as well as physical education and health.

Across the nation, societal divisions have deepened, yet our common ground outweighs our differences. Unfortunately, the decline of tight-knit neighborhoods, the excessive reliance on social media, and the neglect of reading have hindered genuine and civil interactions among us. Instead of engaging meaningfully with our neighbors, we often resort to shouting into the echo chambers of social platforms. Both classic and contemporary literary works are rejected as unworthy of our attention, further fragmenting our intellectual pursuits.

As educators, we possess the extraordinary power to give students the platform to realize their potential. I promote the idea of the hashtag “Read Write Think Critically Daily.” Rather than instructing students what to think, our role should focus more on guiding them in the art of critical thinking. I sincerely hope that any forthcoming changes in graduation requirements will be designed to unlock the full potential of every student.

Gone camping, better late than never

There are probably some experiences people shouldn’t try for the first time when they’re over 65, but I really wanted to go camping out West. I don’t much like the notion of a “bucket list,” with its attendant connotation of impending bucketkicking, but I knew I wanted to try camping while I’m still fit. My daughter, an experienced outdoorswoman, organized the adventure, and came along with her two kids, ages 6 and 4. My son and daughter-inlaw immediately signed on with their two kids, 10 and 8. We picked a week in August when my husband would be immersed in the most anticamping experience imaginable, a trade show in Las Vegas.

He didn’t go outside for six days straight, working, eating, sleeping in the hotel. We didn’t go inside for a week, except to sleep (briefly).

Long story short: I’m thrilled that I went. I did it all, and now I’m done.

We drove from San Francisco to the Big Sur Campground, about three hours south. First observation: To camp you must be willing to do an enormous amount of work that you wouldn’t need to do if you just stayed home in your house.

We had tents and sleeping bags, a medical kit, a cooler filled with food, bags of dry groceries, water, wool hats and gloves, layers of silk and wool and spare shoes, eyeglasses and medications. We brought wine and cheeses and salamis and bread and peanut butter and jelly.

We arrived at the campground in the late afternoon. Look at it through my eyes: a stunning expanse of land set among giant redwoods; a pictureperfect creek burbling around the perimeter of the campground; kids in rubber tubes floating by. But I expected wilderness, and we pitched our tents right next to cars and giant RVs. It was like sleeping in a parking lot, with a serious possibility of getting run over in the middle of the night.

We got the tents set up and put wood beside the fire pit and went off on a small hike. The smell of fresh pine trees was intoxicating, and I was really beginning to relax when I saw the posted sign warning about mountain lion attacks. It said that if a mountain lion leaps at you, try to look big. I wonder how one does that.

We hiked on. It was a walk that ended at a beach, a stunning landscape of rocks and crashing waves. Of course, no one can swim in the northern Pacific without a wetsuit, and the great whites are kind of a buzz kill, but the kids had fun on the beach.

Back at the campsite, we made a dinner plan. This being Northern California camping, we had a reservation at Nepenthe, a trendy restaurant a few miles away. Think $25 entrees. Set on a cliff over the sea, the place attracted elegant women driving expensive sports cars and men with just the right amount of shabby chic to disguise their immense wealth. It was as if the entire Silicon Valley was in Big Sur for the weekend. These people weren’t camping out unless it was at Clint Eastwood’s Carmel estate.

Back at the campsite, day was done. People were in their tents and RVs. I noticed it was dark. Not just dark but a total blackout, with just a sliver of moon in the sky over the trees. Where had I put my toothbrush? How would I brush my teeth? What if, heaven forbid, I had to go to the bathroom during the night? Turns out there were communal bathrooms and showers.

We slept, we ate well, we played in the creek and we toasted s’mores over our campfire. Still, I don’t get it. A campground does have some amenities, but it also has other people who cook smelly food and play music at night and bring their annoying dogs. The idea seems to be that you drag as much equipment — food and lights and tents and blow-up mattresses and portable stoves — as you can to make yourself comfortable when

Randi is on a brief leave. This column was originally published Aug. 29, 2013.

you could just stay home and not have to walk a quarter-mile in the dark to pee.

That’s the unromantic take on camping.

This is what I choose to remember: my four grandkids, sitting around the campfire at night, stuffing their faces with marshmallows and chocolate. They ask for a “Grandma Randi story” and I tell them one:

“Sabrina, Jacob, Elijah and Emi, when I tell you stories, they always begin the same way, with you four cousins, who love each other so much, going on an adventure. Well, kids, you’re living the story. Here you are together sleeping in a tent by a river. Put your arms around each other. This is a moment to remember.”

The next night, when we were gathered by the fire, they asked for another story, a “real” campfire story. “See that star up there next to the moon?” I said. “It’s actually a spaceship, and tonight, when you’re sleeping, it will land here next to our tents. Tiny aliens with enormous heads will lift the flap of your tent and carry you off to their planet, which happens to be made of ice cream.”

The grandkids looked giddy with excitement and fear. My work was done.

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

RAnDi KREiss

i

’ll remember my four grandkids, sitting around the campfire at night.

Daniel Rehman is the superintendent of the West Hempstead school district.

There is a need to acknowledge students’ diverse strengths and goals.

DAniEl REhmAn

HERALD

Why supporting local news is so important

it’s called the Fourth Estate, a term used by journalists referring to their responsibilities and obligations as watchdogs of democracy, providing objective truth to the public they serve.

In a nation where we pride ourselves on freedoms, the First Amendment is the only line of defense newspapers — like this one — can rely on to maintain that Fourth Estate.

That’s why what happened in Kansas recently is so important. A small-town newspaper, the Marion County Record — not much different from this one — had its offices raided by police as part of an identity-theft investigation.

It’s not that media outlets work above the law — far from it. But raiding a newspaper office and retrieving materials that may have otherwise been protected under the First Amendment is something that can’t be done on a whim, and requires near-extraordinary circumstances.

This particular raid, according to reports, stemmed from a complaint by a local restaurant owner who felt that her privacy was violated when the Record uncovered her troubled driving record.

Police weren’t sure how the newspaper obtained the information on her 2008 drunken driving conviction, and concluded that it had to involve illegality of some sort. They said that the only way a reporter — or someone working with the reporter — could have obtained that information was by falsely claiming to be the restaurant owner. And if they did, they committed fraud.

But verifying information is what reporters do. Yes, they must use legal means, but a number of First Amendment advocates questioned whether there was enough probable cause against the newspaper to meet the extraordinarily high bar

Letters

WTC Health Program shouldn’t go begging

To the Editor:

of raiding the newsroom.

Eric Meyer, the publisher and editor of the Record, suspected the raid was retaliation for the paper’s coverage of the local police department, and may have even been an attempt to stall future reporting on the police chief. Instead, the raid — and the effort to justify it in light of nationwide criticism — has created new problems for law enforcement and prosecutors, whom we depend on to serve and protect all of us.

Newsroom raids are extremely rare thanks not only to First Amendment, but also the Privacy Protection Act of 1980, which prohibits law enforcement from searching or seizing information from reporters, with a few exceptions.

One of the exceptions is how an organization obtains its information, which is what law enforcement and prosecutors in Marion County claimed opened the door to the raid in the first place. In the initial fallout, those government officials defended the action, saying they had enough evidence to support it.

Yet less than a week after the raid, local prosecutors withdrew the search warrants and returned the seized items, determining that “insufficient evidence exists to establish a legally sufficient nexus between this alleged crime and the places searched and the items seized.”

Freedom of the press is a guaranteed right, and must be recognized by law enforcement agencies responsible for upholding our rights. The Founding Fathers made this protection explicit, because as Thomas Jefferson famously said, ”The basis of our government being the opinion of the people, the very first object should be to keep that right. And were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without news-

papers, or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter.”

The press must be allowed to work independent of government scrutiny. If a media outlet does violate the law, it should be prosecuted — but only in a way that keeps protections guaranteed by the First Amendment intact.

Otherwise, violations of the amendment not only threaten community newspapers like the Record, they also endanger democracy as a whole.

Reporters, armed only with an obligation to the truth, must be protected in carrying out their watchdog role, especially when it comes to investigating corruption or scandal. Journalists have a duty to hold public officials accountable, and without the protections of the First Amendment, they would be left to fend for themselves in the face of very powerful forces capable of changing anyone’s life forever.

We pity societies in which the press is not free. Where oppressive behavior like unjustified office raids is used by despots and dictators as a way to suppress knowledge and information from public view.

That’s why a threat to one local newspaper like the Marion County Record is a threat to all media. As reporters, we pride ourselves on our integrity — the only currency we have with you, our readers — and work hard to supply the news coverage you want and need to be engaged and informed.

Maybe law enforcement felt it truly was justified in its actions in Marion County. But in the end, it simply reminded us that our rights in the free society that is the United States are solely dependent on the people we put in place to govern us — and the independent media that exists to hold them truly accountable.

Re U.S. Rep. Andrew Garbarino’s op-ed piece last week, “It’s time to deliver on our promise to never forget”: The funding for the World Trade Center Health Program should be a slam drunk. But during these times, is it?

President Biden has requested an additional $25 billion from Congress for Ukraine, for a total of $135 billion since the war began. Funding provided by the American taxpayer, who just pays, but has no say.

The migrants arriving each day have to be funded by someone. The American taxpayer will be funding this as well. Another example of pay, but have no say.

The WTC Health Program should not need begging to be funded. Our homeless, our veterans, and citizens in need should be our priority. You take care of your family first, and then reach out to others.

A get-together of Republican all-stars

recently I was privileged to attend a reunion dinner, which Nassau County Republican Chairman Joe Cairo hosted at King Umberto’s Restaurant, in Elmont, for former Town of Hempstead councilmen and supervisors who served at various times over the past half century. The town, whose population of almost 800,000 makes it the largest township in America, has always been the base of the Nassau GOP’s support and success. As county chairman, Cairo has done an outstanding job leading the party to repeated victories over the past several years. These successes include winning back the North Hempstead supervisor’s position for the first time in more than three decades; the offices of county executive, district attorney and comptroller; three State Senate seats in Albany; and congressional seats in Washington. These victories, in a county where registered Democrats outnumber Republicans, brought about Cairo’s election as New York’s national committeeman.

I believe much of his success as county chairman is attributable to the knowledge and experience he has acquired over his many years in politics and govern-

ment — particularly his service as a councilman on the Hempstead Town Board beginning in 1975. The board was known for working together, getting the job done and realizing that good government is good politics. I was elected councilman in 1977, and served until I was elected county comptroller in 1981.

Those attending the reunion dinner included:

■ Al D’Amato, who served as the town’s receiver of taxes, supervisor and presiding supervisor before his election to the U.S. Senate.

■ Leo McGinity, who was elected councilman in 1969 before being appointed to the bench in 1976 and ultimately serving as an associate justice in the Appellate Division of the State Supreme Court.

■ Jim Bennet, Greg Peterson and Rich Guardino, all of whom served as councilmen and supervisor.

■ Pat Zagarino, who served as councilman.

■ Bruce Blakeman, who was a councilman before being elected our current county executive.

This was a truly great evening of not just sharing stories and reminiscing, but getting input and advice from these pros after Cairo detailed the recent successes

Letters

Charity begins at home, yet in our country, our self-serving representatives have it butt backward.

TONY GIAMETTA Oceanside

Appointments or special elections?

To the Editor:

Re the editorial “Replace appointments with special elections (Aug. 17-23): The editors imply but don’t state the essential problem: The public perception that “equal justice” is undermined by our process for selecting judges. The only good sign may be that, last time, all parties offered the same candidates. This suggests some pre-election selection by insiders, making “local control” a sham. It need not be so, because it shows a path forward.

Selection by appointment risks partisan interference by those empowered to choose. But party control is threatened by elections, because they’re a gamble. Elections can be distorted by money, incumbency, and popularity over professionalism. All administrations, and all of

their opponents, have a motive to game the system.

A greater problem with elections is that, for voters, life gets in the way. The average citizen’s time for politics is limited by work, family and other commitments. Often there’s little available information about candidates, and the growing fog of misinformation also limits effective participation, depressing turnout and giving the advantage to insiders and partisan influences.

The ideal of “local control” may never be attained, but we can do better. I suggest a pool and random selection model. Make choices comparable with specific, relevant criteria. Candidates’ credentials, experience, performance record, and perhaps health and any potential conflicts, would provide a common base for evaluation. Extreme views are likely to be revealed, as are any obviously weak candidates.

All applicants would be vetted first by our professionals, who would all affirm acceptance of several candidates as “qualified.” Their ability to do so has been demonstrated. Those accepted would have their resumes published, with time for public, and press, comment. Transparency promotes engagement.

and the challenges ahead in the fastchanging world of politics and government.

Certainly, times have changed. Aside from Blakeman, none of us served on the board during a time of pervasive social media. Also, while politics was always a tough business, and stories of the “good old days” are usually exaggerated, there was nothing then like today’s bitter partisanship. Yet the underlying governmental and political precepts of those days are still meaningful: quick responsiveness to local governmental issues and problems, a strong year-round presence in the community, and doorto-door campaigning by candidates and local committeemen and women.

Most important, government officials should always be taking the political pulse of their constituents, and not be swayed by the media or elitist opinion makers. That was true then, and is just as true today, as was proven in the past two election cycles, in which Democrats’ advocacy of misguided proposals, such as bail reform and defunding the police, paved the way for Republican victories and devastating defeats for the Democrats in Nassau County.

Because those issues were largely ignored by the mainstream media, however, Republican candidates would not have prevailed without extensive paid

media advertising, a large social media presence and the unmatched Nassau GOP ground game of direct mail to voters, targeted telephone campaign calls, door-to-door distribution of campaign literature and saturation walk-throughs. All this was overseen and coordinated by Cairo, using the feedback he got from candidates and local campaign workers as well as polling results from campaign consultants such as John McLaughlin.

As I’ve said, much has changed in the Town of Hempstead and in Nassau County over the years, including demographics, party registration and the reality that so many households now have two working spouses. What Cairo and the county Republican organization have done is update and modernize the same methods of year-round hard work and attention to constituent needs and beliefs to achieve political and governmental success. That was certainly the conclusion of the “oldtimers” who attended the reunion dinner.

Nothing in politics is easy or guaranteed, and you can never afford to rest on your laurels, but we are confident that with Cairo at the helm, the Nassau GOP will remain the most effective and responsive political organization in the nation.

One additional lesson I learned is to take the same vitamins as Judge McGinity, who at age 96 is as sharp, alert and mobile as any of us!

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

Framework by Tim Baker

Finally, the selection from this group, which should be a manageable four to six qualified judges, would be done by the public. The “gamble” element provides some insulation against insider/partisan interference, is “fair” and should boost a general sense of legitimacy.

Otherwise, if there is to be a special election, ranked-choice ballots should be used, after the process described above, also with at least four candidates per seat.

Looking for a loving home at an adoption event at Bourbon & Brews — Merrick

Celebrating a number of victories, from Hempstead to Washington, for the party.

The Best on Nassau County’s South Shore. Three

Years in a Row.

High Performing in Ten Areas of Care