Valley Stream Herald 01-19-2023

Better support for Haitian migrants

Page 6

GOP calls on Santos to resign Page 9

By BRENDAN CARPENTER bcarpenter@liherald.com

Charles J. Monica Senior Village has been offering housing for low-income seniors in Valley Stream since 1976 — and a sister senior housing facility, the Adler, will soon welcome a new group of seniors. Overseeing Monica Senior Village’s evolution over the years has been its executive director, Lucille Moran, who retired last week after 29 years.

Moran, 77, joined Senior Village as executive director in 1993 after working as an office manager and building manag-

er of a law firm in Garden City. During her nearly three decades there, Monica Senior Village improved greatly for both the workers and the tenants.

“When I first started in 1993, they didn’t even have air conditioning in the hallways,” Moran recalled. “The elevator doors would open and you could pass out, so that’s the first thing I did.”

Moran said the facility also installed new thermal windows and a new roof as well as modernizing the elevators and the lobbies during her time there.

Trustees expected to keep voting precincts where they are

By JUAN LASSO jlasso@liherald.com

The change was intended to respect state voting laws and operate elections more efficiently.

But Valley Stream village officials are rolling back plans that would have reduced the number of polling sites and pulled them from public schools after some public outcry that the move would make voting more difficult.

Instead, trustees were expected to consider a list of polling sites during their regular board meeting Tuesday night, after the Herald went to press, that very much resembled ballot-casting location maps from the past.

“The village maintains in strongest terms that in no way is there an effort to suppress any vote,” said the village clerk, James Hunter. “However, since a small number of people have expressed a concern, we will err on the side of caution.”

The original plan would have removed institutions like the Shaw Avenue School and the Valley Stream Central High School from the polling place maps, and instead, put them at locations like Hendrickson Park pool complex and the Engine Co. 1 headquarters on Rockaway Parkway. There were two primary factors affecting the move, Hunter said: Student safety when it comes to

JAMES

Covid-19 and having strangers in the school, as well as the fact schools now require visitors to present a state identification card before entering.

State law prohibits polling sites from asking for such identification from voters, Hunter said.

The plan also was an effort to get some polling places closer to the people who want to cast ballots. Even if the village reduced the number of voting locations from 13 to eight, Valley Stream would still exceed the number of locations required by law, Hunter said.

“We go far beyond most neighboring villages per voter-location

ratios,” Hunter said.

In just a couple weeks, voters will head to the polls to cast their vote for mayor, two village trustees and a village justice.

The original plan to reduce and move polling sites was criticized by some observers for its potential to introduce confusion and frustration into the election

Courtesy Barbara DeGrace

LUCILLE MORAN, LEFT, with Valley Stream Mayor Ed Fare and Charles J. Monica Senior Village’s new executive director, Pam Cappiello.

HUNTER Valley Stream village clerk

Herald Sc H ool S

V.S. District 24 kindergarten registration is here

It’s that time of year again. Kindergarten registration is open for families at Valley Stream District 24 to enroll for the 2022 to 2023 school year starting on February 1.

If you have a child or know of a child who will turn age 5 on or before December 1, 2023, he/she will be eligible to enter kindergarten in September 2023. Please contact the child’s home school in order to obtain a registration packet, which must be completed and notarized prior to the registration date for which you are scheduled. You can also find a registration packet on our website: ValleyStreamSchoolDistrict24.org .

If your child is currently registered with our universal pre-K program, at Our Kids Place, Hewlett, you will not be required to re-register for kindergarten. Once your child is registered, you will receive further information regarding kindergarten orientation which will take place on March 7, 2023. If you have any questions, please contact the building principal of your home school. For Robert W. Carbonaro, contact Principal

Brooklyn Avenue School

Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2023, 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

Robert W. Carbonaro

Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023, 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

William L. Buck

Friday, Feb. 3, 2023, 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

Rosario Iacono at (516) 434-2860. For William L. Buck, contact Principal Johanne Gaddy at (516) 434-2840. For Brooklyn Ave., contact Principal Scott Comis at (516) 434-2850.

–Juan Lasso

Courtesy Valley Stream District 24

Kindergarten orientation for Valley Stream District 24 will take place on March 7.

Speak Hope fundraises for mental health

It was an intimate soiree of dinner, dancing, and good music at the Speak Hope Foundation’s 2nd Annual Gala at the Coral House in Baldwin aimed at raising funds to help uninsured individuals and disadvantaged communities in and around Valley Stream pay for mental health treatments.

Even your average, middle-class individual could face a hefty price tag for seeking treatment, noted Speak Hope Foundation board member Don Skinfield

“Although many people are insured, their health insurance coverage has significant limitations,” said Skinfield. “A person who is looking for mental health counseling goes to a provider for a consultation, believes that the provider is a good match, and wants to continue treatment, but the healthcare provider will not provide authorization for the treatment. The person would then have to pay up to $1500 out-of-pocket or go to another provider who may have a two-month waiting period for treatment and a $40 co-pay is not uncommon.”

Counseling services will be provided by the New Hope Mental Health Counseling Services, a partner organization of The Speak Hope Foundation. Each $40 will pay for one session. “With roughly 150 attendees, we’ve raised about $17,500, so will be able to help a good amount of people with the funds raised,” said Skinfield.

“We’d like to thank A.B. Whitfield, founder of the Trey Whitfield school in Brooklyn, who attended and supported the cause, and Schneps media, who recently recognized individuals from the New Hope Mental Health Counseling Services, and sponsored the event,” he added.

summer Loannou and Ron Gold attended the Speak Hope Foundation’s 2nd Annual Gala at the Coral House last Sunday.

guests hit the dance floor at the Speak Hope Foundation’s 2nd Annual Gala at the Coral House in Baldwin to fundraise for mental health treatment.

trevor James, Left, Pamela Small, Gregory Gogan, Sonja Gugen, Jwger Moore, Gail Bernard, and Janice Hogan attended the Speak Hope Foundation’s 2nd Annual Gala at the Coral House last Sunday.

speak hope foundation board member Don Sinkfield, Director of New Hope Mental Health Counseling Service Dr. Fernandez, Johnny Perez, and President of the New Hope Mental Health Counseling Service Clinton Clovis attended the gala.

Licensed psychoLogist nicoLa Beckles delivers a speech on the importance of the night’s charity cause: providing mental health for the uninsured.

Photos courtesy Christopher Griffith

Plan to move, reduce polling places is nixed

process. Fewer polling sites typically translate to longer wait times. A switch-up in voting locations could be an added headache, discouraging would-be voters from going to the polls in the first place.

All of these issues could lead to lower turnout, placing a particular strain on lowincome, disabled and minority populations.

“People are taking time out of their day to vote, so making the process as hassle-free as possible is critical,” said Phil Dalton, director of Hofstra University’s Center for Civic Engagement.

Schools and churches have long served as popular polling sites for those who live in the densely residential neighborhoods that often spring up around them — and for good reason. The closeness and familiarity neighbors have come to associate with public schools lower their perceived logistical burden of going out to vote.

But even with the village going back to its original setup, Hunter stresses there are still issues with voting in schools.

“Unlike presidential or gubernatorial elections, village elections are conducted during a regular school day, when students and staff are present,” the clerk said. “The presence of election equipment, workers and voters can be very disruptive to students and the faculty. Entrance to the building by others who may not be there to vote is a safety and security risk.

“Also, schools now require a photo ID to enter, which is not required in state election law.”

If the village were to eventually consider moving polling places, that could be a problem for Nassau County Legislator Carrié Solages, who contends the logistical burden of these cuts could fall disproportionately on minority voters. Some areas of Valley Stream home to a dense portion of the village’s non-white population, would see fewer polling places if the village’s original changes were imple-

mented, Solages said.

“Remarkably, despite these severe cuts to Valley Stream’s minority communities, access to polling places in the village’s less diverse communities would be protected and even expanded under this proposal,” the legislator said.

The village is strapped for suitable village properties to host voting precincts on the west end, Hunter said, while other potential polling locations that he had hoped to use — like the Clear Stream Firehouse — have been used in past elections.

“Even when municipalities and villages face a cutback in polling places, it’s just as paramount for the village and political parties to not only get the vote out, but inform the public of the new locations,” Dalton said.

Adequate staffing of polling stations and robust awareness campaigns of polling locations help ensure a smooth process and avoid crowds.

For its part, the village plans to publish the location, date, and time of each poll site, 60 days prior to the election, Hunter noted, as well as publish in the newspaper and village website the poll site locations 10 days prior to Election Day.

Copies of the published notice will also be posted in six public places within the

village, and at each polling location.

“A village election has many moving parts to them, but we are committed to conducting a professional election and following election law to its fullest,” Hunter said. “It’s in everyone’s best interest to get every possible voter to the polling sites.”

Approved polling sites

■ Firemen’s Memorial Field Clubhouse, 120 Albermarle Ave.

■ Wheeler Avenue School, Rockaway Parkway

■ Brooklyn Avenue School, Brooklyn Avenue and Fifth Street

■ William L. Buck School, 35 Horton Ave.

■ Shaw Avenue School, Shaw Avenue

■ Clear Stream Avenue School, Clear Stream Avenue

■ Clearstream Avenue Firehouse, Clear Stream Avenue

■ Memorial Junior High School, Fletcher Avenue

■ Valley Stream Central High School, Fletcher Avenue

■ Valley Stream Village Hall, 123 S. Central Ave.

■ Monica Senior Village, 100 Payan Ave.

■ Engine Co. 3 Firehouse, 190 Cochran Place

■ R.W. Carbonaro School, Hungry Harbor Road

Additional reporting by Michael Hinman.

Graphic by Tim Baker, Courtesy Google Maps

VALLEY STREAM VILLAGE trustees were set to consider polling sites Tuesday night for the general election later this year. While the maps will remain mostly unchanged, officials had floated a plan to reduce the number of polling sites and pull them out of schools because of security requirements.

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EMMANUEL DEPAS, LEFT, Marie Pereira, Judith Hospedales and Nassau County Legislator Carrié Solages, gathered at the Theodore Roosevelt Executive and Legislative Building the day before the 13th anniversary of the 2010 Haiti earthquake to raise awareness for new immigration policy.

Migrating from Haiti, with a little support

By ANA BORRUTO aborruto@liherald.com

It’s been more than a decade since an earthquake devastated Haiti, killing more than 200,000 people, and leaving so many more thousands homeless. To this day, the Caribbean country continues to recover, all while facing other ongoing challenges such as limited access to health care, as well as poverty, political instability and violence.

While a lot of political talk in Washington is focused on what’s happening at the U.SMexico border, Nassau County Legislator Carrié Solages has joined immigration law professionals to share details of an expanded program under the Biden administration intended to provide legal pathways to America for migrants from Haiti, Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela as well as war-torn Ukraine.

“This is a positive development, and a humanitarian way to allow people to seek asylum,” Solages said. “We have witnessed so many people risking their lives in order to make it here in the United States.”

This new policy allows up to 30,000 individuals from these four countries to come to the United States per month for a period of up to two years —all receiving work authorization. These individuals must have an eligible sponsor, and pass a series of vetting and background checks.

To reduce overcrowding and wait times at U.S. ports of entry, those who are legal immigrants or citizens of the United

States can apply for someone in Haiti to come to America through an online application called the I-134A form, which gives that sponsor a chance to provide a declaration of financial support.

“They are basically asking you how are you going to take care of this person you are legally sponsoring, the person who is now called the beneficiary,” said Marie Pereira, founder of the Haiti Immigration Project. “Do you have the financial resources to take care of this person’s needs, from health to housing to clothing? Everything.”

Once the sponsor is approved, the beneficiary is required to submit their fingerprints and undergo an extensive background check. They also must be vaccinated for Covid-19, have a valid passport, and proof they are a Haiti native, Pereira added.

Those younger than 18 have to be accompanied by an adult who is their parent or legal guardian.

Judith Hospedales, an immigration law expert and formerly of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, said with the influx of displaced migrants in various states, the administration is trying to cut back on the issues migrants face when they arrive to the border.

Many migrants are seeking asylum — meaning they fear for their safety, or they believe they could be harmed if they stay in their home country — and want protection from another nation, like the United States.

But there are many who may not qualify for asylum status. In that case, they can

Who can become a sponsor?

Anyone who has legal status to live in the United States can sponsor a Haitian immigrant to the United States by submitting a free I-134A application.

That legal status means being a U.S. citizen, green card holder, or someone with temporary protection status.

However, sponsors should be wary of trying to bring in strangers, said Judith Hospedales. The further apart

the relationship between the sponsor and the person looking to come from Haiti, the more difficult it will be to prove that a person can be a suitable sponsor and financially responsible for the beneficiary.

To learn more, visit tinyurl.com/ SponsorHaiti.

–Ana Borruto

apply for temporary protection status, more commonly known as TPS. This status is for certain individuals who cannot return to their countries of origin because of circumstances within the country, such as those same countries not having the resources or capacity to take back their citizens at that particular time.

Emmanuel Depas, immigration attorney, founder and first president of the Haitian American Lawyers Association in New York, said prospective sponsors must take this process very seriously. Solages emphasized the importance of working with professionals like Depas when going through the sponsorship process.

“You have to say ‘yes’ with caution and understand what you’re getting into,” Depas said. “In those two years, you’re going to have to support (beneficiaries) financially, socially and help them get them acclimated to U.S. culture.

“I implore you to develop patience throughout this process.”

The Haitian American population is one of the fastest growing demographics in Nassau County, Solages said, with many living in communities like Elmont,

Freeport, Uniondale, Valley Stream and Hempstead. According to the most recent census numbers, the total Haitian population was just over 850,000 nationwide, with nearly 155,000 living in New York alone.

Haiti itself has a little more than 11 million people.

Elsie Smith has lived in the United States for 52 years, spending the last decade in Elmont. She wants to sponsor six family members who now live in Haiti — a widower father, his sister and his four kids, whose mother passed away five years ago. The children had to stop going to school last September.

Smith is grateful for the humanitarian relief program as it will give these children better opportunities in the United States.

“This is something for a country that is suffering too much, and we have so much we can offer in this country,” Smith said, through tears. “I live in a house with six bedrooms all by myself — I will provide, (the father) can get his papers for work, and the four children can go to school.”

This is something for a country that is suffering too much, and we have so much we can offer in this country.

ELSIE SMITH Haitian Elmont resident

Ana Borruto/Herald

spotlight athlete

Herald sports

VSC looks to keep pace

By ViNCeNt MatUla sports@liherald.com

After winning just three games last winter, the Valley Stream Central boys basketball team has already surpassed that total this season (five) with just under a month left to play.

The Eagles are looking to keep pace in a strong conference as they also build towards the future.

CaYlee DeMeo

Carey Senior Basketball

a tWo-tiMe all-CoUNtY selection and last season’s Conference Player of the Year when she averaged 22 points per game, DeMeo joined elite company Jan. 7 when she scored her 1,000th career point. The milestone basket came in Carey’s win over Glen Cove and was part of a 28-point performance. She’s the third player in program history to reach 1,000 points and currently ranks second in Nassau County in scoring.

gaMes to WatCh

thursday, Jan. 19

Gymnastics: Wantagh at North Shore 6 p.m

Gymnastics: Massapequa at South Side 7 p.m.

Girls Basketball: Port Washington at Baldwin 7 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 20

Girls Basketball: Malverne at West Hempstead 5 p.m.

Boys Swimming: So. Side/Lynbrook at Long Beach 5 p.m.

Boys Basketball: Lawrence at Clarke 7 p.m.

Boys Basketball: V.S. Central at Oceanside 7 p.m.

Boys Basketball: East Rockaway at Seaford 7 p.m.

Boys Basketball: West Hempstead at Malverne 7 p.m.

Boys Basketball: Baldwin at Port Washington 7 p.m.

Girls Basketball: Seaford at East Rockaway 7 p.m.

Girls Basketball: Hicksville at Freeport 7 p.m.

Girls Basketball: Oceanside at V.S. Central 7 p.m.

saturday, Jan. 21

Boys Basketball: Jericho at MacArthur 12 p.m.

Boys Basketball: New Hyde Park at Mepham 12 p.m.

Boys Basketball: G.N. North at South Side 12 p.m.

Boys Basketball: Wantagh at V.S. North 12 p.m.

Boys Basketball: North Shore at V.S. South 12 p.m.

Girls Basketball: G.N. South at Long Beach 12 p.m.

Girls Basketball: Elmont at Sewanhaka 12 p.m.

Girls Basketball: V.S. North at Wantagh 12 p.m.

They have a new look this season as they’re led by head coach Michael Wimmer, the team’s fourth bench boss in as many years. Even though Wimmer did not know much about the program going in, he still had a sense that this team could compete.

“When I took it over, I didn’t know what to expect,” Wimmer said. “I felt right away that there’s potential here and there’s definitely an opportunity to win some games.”

Valley Stream Central (5-8 overall) has a good mix of athletes on its roster, which is headlined by a starting five of Jayden Vera, Bryan Jean-Pierre, Oniel Spence, Saige Frisco, and Sean O’Neil. The youngest of the five is O’Neil, a freshman who’s averaging 8.5 points per game, third best on the team.

“He’s as polished a ninth grader as I’ve gotten to coach,” Wimmer said. “He picks up the other team’s best player every night.”

Vera, one of six seniors, leads the club in points per game (11.2) and is one of two players averaging double figures (Frisco, 10.5.) “He plays multiple positions for us,” Wimmer said. “His aggression is fantastic and when you combine that with his skill set, he’s doing some nice things for us.”

A four-point win on Jan. 11 versus Westbury broke a four-game skid for the Eagles, and they’ll look to build some momentum off that performance. Frisco led the way with 14 points while Vera recorded a double-double of 11 rebounds and ten points.

VSC led by 19 at halftime, but the lead was down to just two points with 12 seconds to play.

“The first half we were getting anything offensively that we wanted,” Wim-

mer said. “We shouldn’t have been in that situation. We still have to learn how to play that full game all the way through.”

The Eagles are looking to improve on both ends of the floor down the stretch. This includes their ability to close out games.

“This season matters to these kids,” Wimmer said. “It’s just a matter of continuing to grow together. It only grows through confidence and sustained success.”

The Eagles compete in Conference AA2, which features Baldwin, Port Wash-

ington, East Meadow, Plainview JFK, Oceanside, Herricks, and Westbury. It won’t be easy going forward as VSC plays each school one more time, but Wimmer feels that his group could turn some heads over the second half of the schedule.

“We’re getting better at this,” Wimmer said. “We’ve got a few more games to continue this on the direction it’s going and hopefully it puts us in a position to play a little bit longer.”

The Eagles visit Oceanside this Friday at 7 p.m.

Eric Dunetz/Herald

FreshMaN seaN o’Neil is proving he belongs at the varsity level and ranks among the Eagles’ leading scorers at 8.5 points per game.

Nassau GOP calls on George Santos to resign

By MICHAEL MALASZCZYK mmalaszczyk@liherald.com

U.S. Rep. George Santos has faced stiff opposition from his colleagues since arriving at Capitol Hill at the start of the new year. It looks like he won’t have an easy time at home, either.

Republican leaders from across the county gathered at GOP headquarters in Westbury last week calling on Santos to resign immediately amid his trail of fabrications on his work and education history, as well as the growing questions surrounding how he financed his campaign.

In fact, those in attendance — led by Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman — went as far as declaring they would not work with Santos. Instead, they would direct constituent issues to newly minted U.S. Rep. Anthony D’Esposito or U.S. Rep. Andrew Garbarino. And if they can’t go there, local Republicans would reach out to U.S. Sens. Chuck Schumer or Kirsten Gillibrand — both Democrats.

“I am joined here with my colleagues in calling on George Santos’s resignation, because he cannot serve anymore,” Blakeman said, calling the congressman a “pathological liar.”

“My office will have no interaction with George Santos or his staff until he resigns. “

D’Esposito — who joined Congress the same time as Santos — made it clear through a video link from Washington

that Santos is not fit to serve.

“I think that what’s most important as a public servant is treating the public with respect and gaining authority — something that all of you behind that podium have done,” D’Esposito said, referring to his fellow Republicans at the news conference. “George Santos does not have the ability to serve here in the House of Representatives, and should resign.”

State Sen. Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick took particular issue with one of the claims Santos made during his campaign — that he was Jewish, and that he was descended from Holocaust survivors. Investigations by a handful of news outlets have questioned those claims, not finding any evidence of his grandparents being anything other than Catholic, and finding no record of them being in Europe during the World War II era.

“It is a great stain on the Republican Party of Nassau County that he worked with us,” Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick said. “I am particularly offended also, as a representative of the Five Towns and the Orthodox community. What he did regarding his religious status was exceptionally offensive.”

But even as his fellow Republicans were delivering these calls for him to be removed, Santos told reporters outside his Washington office that he had no intention of leaving his position. He maintains that if the 142,000 voters who elected him decide he should go, then he

will go — but they won’t get the chance to express that until 2024.

“George Santos has no business serving in Congress,” Hempstead town supervisor Don Clavin said. “On behalf of all the board members — and frankly, the 750,000 residents living in the Town of Hempstead — it’s time to go. He’s a national joke. He’s an international joke. But this joke’s got to go. Not tomorrow. Not next week. Today.”

Those were sentiments shared by Clavin’s counterpart in Oyster Bay.

“George, I’m speaking to you,” town supervisor Joe Saladino said. “It’s time to step down.”

Santos has been under fire since a New York Times expose last month challenged pretty much everything he has said about himself throughout this recent campaign, and his 2020 unsuccessful run against Tom Suozzi. Everything from education, employment, philanthropic activity, and salaries simply don’t check out.

Nassau GOP chair Joseph Cairo has taken some heat through all this, with a number of people questioning how much he knew of Santos’ past, and why there wasn’t better vetting. Cairo believed the Republican establishment there had already checked out his claims.

“He’s disgraced the House of Representatives, and we do not consider him one of our congress people,” Cairo said.

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy won’t personally take action to have Santos removed, saying it’s a decision voters should make. However, the congressman is under investigation at multiple levels — including potential criminal investigation about campaign finance.

Over the weekend, U.S. Rep. James Comer — the new House Oversight Committee chair — said if Santos is found to have broken campaign finance laws, he will be removed

The Medicaid Asset Protection Trust (“MAPT”)

For those who don’t qualify for long-term care insurance or can’t afford it, the Medicaid Asset Protection Trust (“MAPT”) can protect your assets from the high cost of long-term care in your home or in a facility.

The MAPT sets up two roadblocks that Medicaid cannot break through. First, you cannot be your own trustee. Usually, one or more of the adult children act as trustee.

Secondly, you, as the creator of the MAPT, are entitled to the income only, not the principal. If you don’t have access to the principal (your home or other assets in the trust), then Medicaid doesn’t have access to the principal. The MAPT makes good sense for assets you’re not going to spend – like your home and investments you’re not using. As we often say, if you don’t need it to live on, then why not protect it for your family instead of losing it to pay for long-term care.

When you apply for Medicaid for nursing home care, if you’ve transferred any assets in the past five years, you are ineligible. The full protection of the trust only takes place five

years after you establish the trust. This is why you want to plan ahead. Under new rules to take effect in the next year or two, you will also need to have the MAPT in place two and half years in advance to be eligible for care in your own home.

The MAPT does not affect your lifestyle. You still receive your pension, social security checks, minimum distributions on your retirement plans, interest and dividends. You have the exclusive right to use and enjoy your home. You keep all your property tax exemptions. You can sell your house, buy a new one, or invest the proceeds, which remain in the trust, still protected.

The MAPT is also flexible. You can change trustees and you can change who you leave it to.

Although the MAPT is an irrevocable trust, not only does it have the flexibility mentioned above, but in New York there is a mechanism to revoke an irrevocable trust. All that is required is for all parties, you and your children, to sign. We even have a workaround just in case one of the children refuses to sign.

Michael Malaszczyk/Herald NASSAU COUNTY EXECUTIVE Bruce Blakeman says his office will have no dealings with U.S. Rep. George Santos.

Attorney advertising

Baron inspires children, one poem at a time

By MARK NOLAN mnolan@liherald.com

Lindamichelle Baron wrote her first poem when she was 6. And it was a hit piece, making fun of her cousin Gerard’s big ears.

“I have a cousin named Gerard, I think his ears are very odd.”

Upon hearing those words, Gerard grew out his hair to cover his ears.

With that first venture into slant rhyme, Baron discovered the thrill — and impact — of the written word. “That’s when I saw the power of poetry.”

Poetry has been embedded in Baron’s life ever since. She leaned on writing to support her through teasing in elementary school, and ultimately made a career through verse.

Now 72, she is the first poet laureate for the Town of Hempstead. Her mission is to bring poetry to every corner, including Malverne — where she presented previously — and West Hempstead — where she has yet to recite her poems.

“This is just absolutely amazing,” said Baron, the author of three poetry books and an associate professor at York College.

She was ahead of her time, throwing shade at childhood rivals decades before social media existed. She eventually developed poetry that inspires. Blessed with an infectious laugh and sense of humor and wonderment about the world,

Baron infuses verse into just about everything she does.

Poetry has been the constant throughout her life.

“People who know me know I’ve been in the community and library and organizations for decades,” she said. “They know my energy, my love of life and language and people — it’s all embedded in my poetry.”

A former New York City teacher, Baron became a professor who teaches aspiring teachers. And she insists her students understand poetry shouldn’t be relegated to English class.

“So much of what I taught used poetry,” Baron said. “Even if it was math. Teachers would say they don’t have the time. You embed poetry into everything you do.”

Budget cuts cost Baron her city teaching job, leading her to become an educational salesperson until 1988. She made a name for herself throughout the tri-state area — not as a saleswoman, but for using rhymes to sell educational materials.

“I would use poetry in my presentations to teachers,” she said. “They saw that poetry can be used to extract contextual knowledge and get students to think critically. They kept asking me back.”

One of her books, “The Sun is On,” is recommended for middle schools by the state, and has sold more than 100,000 copies.

“So many people of so many different

backgrounds have embraced my poetry, and that makes me so happy,” Baron said. “So much of my poetry has connections to my background as a woman of African descent, but it does capture everybody.”

Living in Hempstead village, Baron has read poetry to many local groups over the years. Her desire is to bring poetry to more than just students.

“Poetry should not be conceptualized as stagnant on the page,” she said. “My goal is to promote the power of poetry and enjoyment of the gift of poetry to the entire community.”

As the town’s first poet laureate, Baron really won’t change much, if anything. She will continue to speak to children and adults at schools, libraries — pretty much anywhere and everywhere someone will listen to the beauty of poetry.

Town councilwoman Dorothy Goosby, who recommended Baron for the non-paying position, said the appointment would lead to a greater understanding of the positive power of poetry.

“Poetry is meaningful and beautiful,” Goosby said. “It’s a creative outlet that provides a way for people to express themselves.”

Baron will continue writing poetry as she always has, while paying homage to the many people who have helped her since she was young. Her father introduced her to Langston Hughes and Gwendolyn Brooks, and the family of a child she babysat for as a teenager gave her an album of Maya Angelou reciting poetry.

Baron hopes to inspire others to enjoy poetry by honoring those literary role models and her heritage. When she sees a child’s face light up as she recites a poem, she realizes she is achieving her ultimate goal of making poetry accessible.

“That makes me so happy,” Baron said. “My poetry is for the entire community.”

Courtesy Lindamichelle Baron

LINDAMICHELLE BARON HAS been named the first poet laureate for the Town of Hempstead. She has written three poetry books, and spent a lifetime sharing the beauty of poetry with anyone willing to listen.

STEPPING OUT

those

Monster trucks invade Long Island

By Karen Bloom

onster truck madness is back on Long Island this weekend when for two action-packed days at Nassau Coliseum. In this version, families can watch their favorite Hot Wheels trucks come to life when the Hot Wheels ‘Glow Party’ lights up the arena, Jan. 21-22.

While geared to the younger generation of monster truck fans, there is nothing tame about this version. You’ll still experience all the action of the 12-foot-tall, 10,000-pound machines will that bring audiences to their feet, racing and ripping up a customdesigned track full of obstacles to soar over — or smash through — delighting onlookers. A laser light show adds to the spectacle — the trucks maneuver their way through their stunts in a darkened arena.

Their names — Gunkster, Race Ace, Mega Wrex, Bone Shaker, Tiger Shark, Bigfoot and Demo Derby — reflect the outrageous mix of racing and showmanship that enthrall both the drivers and their fans.

WHERE WHEN

• Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 21-22; times vary

• Tickets start at $40 adult, $24 child; $10 additional for Crash Zone (prices are subject to change); available at HotWheelsMonsterTrucksLive. com or NassauColiseum.com

• Located at Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale

“Big trucks, big engines, crushing cars, hanging out with the fans, I love it all,” says Eric Steinberg, 22. “It’s an indescribable adrenaline rush.”

It’s clear Steinberg loves his job. In fact, he doesn’t describe his role as a “job.” It’s his passion — what he was born to do.

Like his fellow drivers, Steinberg became enthralled with the big trucks at a young age. Missouri-born and raised, he was 3 years old when he went to his first monster truck event. From that moment on he was hooked.

“I just knew this is what I wanted,” he says. “Monster trucks are amazing, and caught my attention more than anything else. I looked up to the drivers as my heroes. I remember how I felt and that helped me transition to being a driver.”

Branford Marsalis

After some scheduling delay — in part due to the pandemic — the renowned saxophonist makes his long-awaited appearance at the Madison Theatre with his quartet. The NEA Jazz Master, triple-Grammy Award winner and musical polymath with his stellar ensemble — pianist Joey Calderazzo, bassist Eric Revis and drummer Justin Faulkner — bring the brilliance that has made this quartet one of the most revered and influential in jazz. Marsalis is equally at home performing concertos with symphony orchestras and sitting in with members of the Grateful Dead, but the core of his musical universe remains the Branford Marsalis Quartet. After more than three decades of existence with minimal personnel changes, this celebrated ensemble is acclaimed for its uncompromising interpretation of a kaleidoscopic range of both original compositions and jazz and popular classics.

Friday, Jan. 20, 8 p.m. $40-$95. Madison Theatre, Molloy University campus, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre. (516) 323-4444 or MadisonTheatreNY.org.

Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company

monster truck world, was Steinberg’s entrée into the circuit. He debuted Gunkster, first created by Hot Wheels for its 2021 Monster Trucks Series collectibles, in 2022.

He’ll be in high gear with all his tricks, driving Gunkster through all the non-stop action, which includes a wheelie competition, long jumps, freestyle, and even motocross. And if that is not enough, there’ll be a special appearance by the car-eating, fire-breathing transforming robot Megasaurus.

Steinberg encourages everyone to come to the Crash Zone pre-show, Saturday, at 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., and Sunday, at noon. Crash Zone gives fans access to the arena floor where they can view of the trucks up-close and meet the drivers, get autographs and take photos and, of course, check out some toy versions of the big trucks.

“Fans love it,” says Steinberg. “The kids are excited to see the trucks before the show. It’s all for them. For me, I always wanted to meet the drivers as a kid. I always looked up to them as my heroes. And now I want to be that hero. Meeting the fans is truly special and encourages us.”

hooked up with the Bigfoot

Determined to follow his dream, he enrolled in State Technical College of Missouri’s Automotive Technology HighPerformance Program. After his 2021 graduation, he hooked up with the Bigfoot team. Bigfoot, a name synonymous with the

Top photo: Gunkster, driven by Eric Steinberg, and other popular trucks, including Tiger Shark, will thrill fans with exciting car-crunching feats as they fly more than 35 feet in the air. Three stories tall and weighing more than 50,000 pounds, Megasaurus — at left — roars into the arena ready to chomp.

The Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company welcomes the coming of spring, the Year of the Black Water Rabbit. It’s a spectacular experience for all ages, combining traditional Chinese dance with modern flair. The Red Lions dance to a hip hop beat. The Golden Dragon brings good luck and fortune for the coming year. The ensemble also showcases a contemporary dance work, ‘Ashes of A Dead Frog,’ choreographed by legendary Polish Choreographer Jacek Luminski that was commissioned by Nai-Ni Chen almost a decade ago. Guest artists from the Chinese Music Ensemble of New York provide traditional and contemporary music on classical and folk Chinese instruments. Dancers, acrobats and musicians perform in festive costumes in red, gold, blue and purple colors symbolizing their prayer for a peaceful and harmonious New Year with plenty of prosperity and good fortune for everyone to enjoy and share.

Sunday, Jan. 29, 7 p.m. $52, $42, $32. Tilles Center for the Performing Arts, LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Blvd., Brookville. (516) 299-3100 or TillesCenter.org.

Courtesy Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live

THE SCENE

Art talk

Feb. 23

Grab your lunch and join Nassau County Museum of Art Docent Riva Ettus for her popular “Brown Bag Lecture” live, via Zoom, Thursday, Feb. 23 , 1 p.m. She’ll discuss the current exhibition, “The Big Picture: Photography Now.” Participants are invited to ask questions at the end of the program. Register at least 24 hours in advance to receive the program Zoom link. Also Feb. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. (516) 484-9337 or NassauMuseum.org.

Help and Hope for Single Parents

Forest Bathing

Take a meditative Forest Bathing walk, led by certified guide Linda Lombardo, Saturday, Jan. 21, 2-4 p.m. Based on the Japanese tradition of ShinrinYoku, a wellness practice developed in the 1980s, the walk, on the grounds of the former summer residence of Howard Gould and later Daniel and Florence Guggenheim, inspires mindful connections with the natural elements of the woods for a range of healthful benefits. $40, $35. Pre-registration required. Sands Point Preserve, 127 Middle Neck Road. For information, visit SandsPointPreserveConservancy. org or call (516) 571-7901.

Friends of the Brothers

Friends of the Brothers visits the Landmark stage with their dynamic tribute to the Allman Brothers, Friday, Jan. 27, 8 p.m. Their powerful celebration of the Allman Brothers, featuring musicians closely associated with the original band, continues the brotherhood with passion, committed to the ideals of every night being special and unique. Their first-hand experience with the Allman Brothers Band and their deep knowledge of the repertoire and the music’s roots and heritage allows them to play with an unrivaled depth. Hear songs from every stage of the Allman Brothers’ career, backed by a band of inspirational, veteran players. $33, $28. Jeanne Rimsky Theater at Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington. (516) 767-6444 or LandmarkOnMainStreet.org.

Bethlehem Assembly of God is hosting Single and Parenting group sessions starting Friday, Feb. 3 starting at 7:30 p.m. at their M2 building, 11 E. Mineola Ave. Valley Stream, NY 11580For more information, call (516) 2858585 or visit Bethlehemag.org.

District 24 board meets

Valley Stream District 24 board of education will meet Wednesday, Jan. 25, 7:30 p.m., for their regular business meeting at Wheeler Avenue School, 75 Horton Ave. For more information, send an email to district clerk Elizabeth Fleurimond at efleurimond@ vs24.org or visit ValleyStream24. com.

District 13 board meets

Valley Stream District 13 Board of Education meets, Tuesday, Jan. 24, at 8 p.m., at James A. Dever School, 585 Corona Ave, Valley Stream for a regular board meeting. For more information, call (516) 568-6100 or visit ValleyStream13.com.

Village board meets

The village board of trustees will meet Monday, Feb. 6 at 6:30 p.m. at the Village Hall boardroom, 123 S. Central Ave. for their regular work session. For more information, call the village clerk at (516) 825-4200 Ext. 5 or visit Vsvny.org.

District 30 board meets

Valley Stream District 30 Board of Education meets Monday, Jan. 23, 8 p.m. for their business meeting at Shaw Avenue School, 99 Shaw Ave. For more information, call the district clerk at (516) 434-3600 or visit ValleyStream30.com.

Board of Zoning and Appeals meeting

The Village Board of Zoning and Appeals meets, Tuesday, Feb. 7 7:30 p.m. at Village Hall, 123 South Central Ave. For info (516) 592-5142 or Vsvny.org.

Virtual Author Visit

Waldinger Memorial Library’s virtual book club meets, Tuesday, Jan. 24 7:30 p.m. to discuss “Shutter” by Ramona Emerson.For more information, contact Library Director Mamie Eng at (516) 825-6422 or send an email to hwmlcontact@ hotmail.com.

On exhibit

Jan. 26

The Best of the Eagles

Feb. 14

Microsoft PowerPoint

Come join the Waldinger Memorial Library for a virtual workshop to cover Microsoft PowerPoint basics, Saturday Jan. 21, 10 a.m. For more information, contact Library Director Mamie Eng at 516825-6422 or send email at hwmlcontact@hotmail.com.

Having an event?

Photography’s ascent in the art world is an international phenomenon. Nassau County Museum of Art’s star-studded exhibition spans the historical roots of the medium. View works by Ansel Adams and his generation and the thrilling, large-format color works of such contemporary masters as Cindy Sherman, Thomas Struth, James Casebere and Gregory Crewdson, among others. From the documentary to the painterly, images bear witness to the times.

On view through March 5. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Drive, Roslyn Harbor. (516) 484-9337 or NassauMuseum.org.

Items on The Scene page are listed free of charge. The Herald welcomes listings of upcoming events, community meetings and items of public interest. All submissions should include date, time and location of the event, cost, and a contact name and phone number. Submissions can be emailed to thescene@liherald.com.

Get into the Eagles’ groove when the tribute band visits The Paramount stage, Thursday, Jan. 26, 8 p.m. With special guest Fleetwood Macked. This authentic recreation features individual bandmates taking on the persona of the original Eagles members. $39.50, $29.50, $19.50. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. (800) 745-3000 or Ticktmaster.com or ParamountNY.com.

VSCHD Board of Education meets

The Valley Stream Central High School District will meet Tuesday, Feb. 14, at 8 p.m., at the Memorial Junior High School cafeteria. For more information, call the district clerk at (516) 872-5628 or visit Vschsd.org.

The Pigeon Comes to Long Island!

Step into activities pulled directly from the pages of Mo Willems’ books, during opening weekend of Long Island Children’s Museum’s new exhibit, Sunday, Jan. 22, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., in residence through May 14. Step into activities pulled directly from the pages of Mo Willems’ books, make art inspired by his work, engage in dramatic play and learn about the rich social and emotional lives of the author’s characters. Interact with Willems beloved characters: best friend duo Elephant and Piggie, faithful companion Knuffle Bunny, and The Pigeon. Long Island Children’s Museum, Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 224-5800 or LICM.org.

Sands casino coming to Nassau Coliseum?

By JEFFREY BESSEN jbessen@liherald.com

A touch of Las Vegas could soon make its way to Uniondale’s Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum with hotels, performance stages, and even a casino.

The Las Vegas Sands, a resort company founded by late billionaire Sheldon Adelson, wants to develop what it calls a “multibillion-dollar flagship hospitality, entertainment and casino project” at the former home of the New York Islanders off the Hempstead Turnpike near the Meadowbrook Parkway. But the acquisition of up to 80 acres of the site would require state approval.

“The plan would include a casino accounting for 10 percent of the total project, outdoor community spaces, four- and five-star hotel rooms, and a world class live performance venue honoring the legacy of live music at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum,” Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman shared on Twitter.

There also would be celebrity chef restaurants, convention space and ballrooms, along with a luxurious day spa, a swimming pool, and a health club.

“We strongly believe Long Island can be home to one of the region’s great entertainment and hospitality developments,” said Robert Goldstein, Las Vegas Sands chair and chief executive, in a news release.

Sands, which is worth more than $42 billion on the New York Stock Exchange, says it wants to collaborate with the surrounding communities to create a plan as a way to maximizes economic opportunity while protecting the quality of life. Part of that plan would include creating 12,000 construction jobs, and then employing 5,000 people.

But making such a collaboration work will require Sands to listen, County Legislature Minority Leader Kevan Abrahams said.

“It is imperative for Sands resorts to conduct extensive community outreach, and then incorporate the feedback they receive into their proposal,” Abrahams said. That means not only talking to the people who live in the area, but also talking to officials at Hofstra University, Nassau Community College, as well as both Hempstead town and village.

Sands also needs to reach out to local fire departments, school districts, civic associations, chambers of commerce and others as a “necessary first step for addressing concerns and identifying opportunities.”

Scott Rechler is optimistic about a Sands development after nearly two decades of working to overhaul the Coliseum site.

“The plan envisioned by Sands is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create the kind of world-renowned entertainment and hospitality destination that has been

LAS VEGAS Sands

company

sought after by Long Islanders,” said Rechler, chief executive and chair of RXR Realty, in the release.

But not everyone shares that enthusiasm. Protesters have gathered outside the Coliseum opposing the casino component, which they say promotes multiple addictions. Others believe such a development would add to the existing traffic logjam while creating a blight on the environment.

And then there are people like Jay Goldmark from Woodmere who is OK with the plan.

“Surprisingly I have no absolutely no issue with them building a casino as long as they have absolutely no exemptions granted under any circumstances as far as any construction, sales or use taxes,” Goldmark posted on social media. “If they can afford to build for millions of dollars and fees etc., they surely can afford to pay the sales taxes. It will also create hundreds of jobs.”

THE

resort

is considering the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum property as a site for a new upscale casino. It’s championed by Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, but being met with cautious optimism by others, like County Legislature Minority Leader Kevan Abrahams.

Herald file photo

Public Notices

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

BY THE BOARD OF APPEALS

Pursuant to New York State Town Law Article 16, New York State Public Officers Law Article 7, and the Town of Hempstead Building Zone Ordinance, NOTICE is hereby given that the BOARD OF APPEALS of the Town of Hempstead will hold a public hearing in the Old Town Hall, 350 Front Street, Room 230, Second Floor, Hempstead, New York on 1/25/23 at 9:30 A.M. to consider the following applications and appeals:

THE FOLLOWING CASES WILL BE CALLED

STARTING AT 9:30 A.M. 72/23. NR VALLEY STREAM - Kevin Mowatt, Variance, lot area occupied, construct 2-story addition attached to dwelling., S/s Hungry Harbor Rd., 297.82’ W/o Longacre Ave., a/k/a 677 Hungry Harbor Rd.

ALL PAPERS PERTAINING TO THE ABOVE HEARING ARE AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION AT THE BOARD OF APPEALS, TOWN HALL, 1 WASHINGTON STREET, HEMPSTEAD, NY 11550.

This notice is only for new cases in Valley Stream within Town of Hempstead jurisdiction. There are additional cases in different hamlets, towns and villages on the Board of Appeals calendar. The full calendar is available at https://hempsteadny.gov/ 509/Board-of-Appeals The internet address of the website streaming for this meeting is https://hempsteadny.gov/ 576/Live-Streaming-Video Interested parties may appear at the above time and place. At the call of the Chairman, the Board will consider decisions on the foregoing and those on the Reserve Decision calendar and such other matters as may properly come before it.

136772

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, U.S. BANK TRUST, N.A., AS TRUSTEE FOR LSF9 MASTER PARTICIPATION TRUST, Plaintiff, v. MICHAEL J. CARR, et al., Defendant(s).

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on September 1, 2017 and an Order Extending Sale Deadline duly entered on January 21, 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 February 7, 2023 at 3:00 p.m., premises known as 637 Diane Place, Valley Stream, NY 11581 a/k/a 637 Diane Place, South Valley Stream, NY 11581.

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 39, Block 595 and Lot 7. Approximate amount of judgment is $177,240.29 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 003666/2016. 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.

Lisa A. LeimbachGutman, Esq., Referee Friedman Vartolo LLP, 85 Broad Street, Suite 501, New York, New York 10004, Attorneys for Plaintiff 211487-1 136490

LEGAL NOTICE

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORKCOUNTY OF NASSAU JAMES B. NUTTER & COMPANY, V. ERIC H FEINTUCH, AS SUCCESSOR TRUSTEE OF THE BERNARD FEINTUCH LIVING TRUST, ET AL. NOTICE OF SALE

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure dated May 29, 2018, and entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Nassau, wherein JAMES B. NUTTER & COMPANY is the Plaintiff and ERIC H FEINTUCH, AS SUCCESSOR TRUSTEE OF THE BERNARD FEINTUCH LIVING TRUST, ET AL. are the Defendant(s). I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction RAIN OR SHINE at the NASSAU COUNTY SUPREME COURT, NORTH SIDE STEPS, 100 SUPREME COURT DRIVE, MINEOLA, NY 11501, on February 7, 2023 at 2:30PM, premises known as 636 NUTLEY PLACE, VALLEY STREAM, NY 11581: Section 39, Block 600, Lot 0009: ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND, WITH THE BUILDINGS AND IMPROVEMENTS

THEREON ERECTED, SITUATE, LYING AND BEING IN NEAR VALLEY STREAM, TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, COUNTY OF NASSAU AND STATE OF NEW YORK Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 009783/2013. Cary David Kessler, Esq. - Referee. Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310, Westbury, New York 11590, Attorneys for Plaintiff. All foreclosure

sales will be conducted in accordance with Covid-19 guidelines including, but not limited to, social distancing and mask wearing. *LOCATION OF SALE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DAY OF IN ACORDANCE WITH COURT/CLERK DIRECTIVES. 136519

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT

COUNTY OF NASSAU

The Bank of New York Mellon FKA The Bank of New York, as Trustee for the certificateholders of the CWABS, Inc., AssetBacked Certificates, Series 2006-14, Plaintiff AGAINST Peggy Kouassi a/k/a Peggy Turner; et al., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly dated January 25, 2019 I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side Steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on February 8, 2023 at 2:30PM, premises known as 73 Broadway, Valley Stream, NY 11580. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau, State of New York, Section 37 Block 667 Lot 41.

Approximate amount of judgment $597,228.47 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index# 008374/2016. The auction will be conducted pursuant to the COVID-19 Policies Concerning Public Auctions of Foreclosed Property established by the Tenth Judicial District. Foreclosure Auctions will be held Rain or Shine.

Michael Jay Santino Pontone, Esq., Referee LOGS Legal Group LLP f/k/a Shapiro, DiCaro & Barak, LLC Attorney(s) for the Plaintiff 175 Mile Crossing Boulevard Rochester, New York 14624 (877) 430-4792 Dated: November 30, 2022 136521

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION AS TRUSTEE ON BEHALF OF THE HOLDERS OF THE CITIGROUP MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST INC. ASSETBACKED PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2007-OPX1, Plaintiff AGAINST ALINA DODARD AUGUSTE AKA ALINA AUGUSTE, AKA ALINA DODARD, ET AL., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered October 3, 2019, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public

auction at the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on February 7, 2023 at 2:30PM, premises known as 934 LYNN DRIVE, VALLEY STREAM, NY 11580. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being at Elmont, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 37, Block 659, Lot 8. Approximate amount of judgment $458,856.49 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #610102/2017. The aforementioned auction will be conducted in accordance with the NASSAU County COVID-19 mitigation protocols and as such all persons must comply with social distancing, wearing masks and screening practices in effect at the time of this foreclosure sale. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, then the court appointed referee will cancel the foreclosure auction. Foreclosure Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine”. George P. Esernio, Esq., Referee Gross Polowy, LLC 1775 Wehrle Drive Williamsville, NY 14221 17-005179 74516 136445

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON FKA THE BANK OF NEW YORK AS TRUSTEE FOR THE CERTIFICATEHOLDERS OF THE CWALT 2004-5CB, Plaintiff, vs. ANTOUN A. HAMAWI, ET AL., Defendant(s).

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on October 2, 2018 and an Order Extending Time to Sell duly entered on February 1, 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 February 21, 2023 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 84 Roosevelt Avenue, Valley Stream, NY 11581.

All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Incorporated Village of Valley Stream, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 39, Block 388 and Lot 2. Approximate amount of judgment is $599,418.52 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 015252/2009. 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.

Patricia Latzman, Esq., Referee

Pincus Law Group, PLLC, 425 RXR Plaza, Uniondale, New York 11556, Attorneys for Plaintiff 136738

Place a notice by phone at 516-569-4000 x232 or email: legalnotices@liherald.com

LEGAL NOTICE

REFEREE’S NOTICE OF SALE IN FORECLOSURE SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU CITIMORTGAGE, INC., Plaintiff - against - HUGO GOMEZ A/K/A HUGO S. GOMEZ, JR., et al Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered on November 20, 2015. I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, N.Y. 11501 “Rain or Shine” on the 16th day of February, 2023 at 2:00 PM. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being at Valley Stream, in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York.

Premises known as 124 Rockaway Avenue, Valley Stream, (Town of Hempstead) NY 11580. (Section: 37, Block: 125, Lot: 132) Approximate amount of lien $278,488.31 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed judgment and terms of sale.

Index No. 013895/2013. Thomas A. DeMaria, Esq., Referee.

Davidson Fink LLP Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 400 Meridian Centre Blvd, Ste 200 Rochester, NY 14618 Tel. 585/760-8218

For sale information, please visit Auction.com at www.Auction.com or call (800) 280-2832

Dated: November 17, 2022

During the COVID-19 health emergency, bidders are required to comply with all governmental health requirements in effect at the time of sale including but not limited to, wearing face coverings and maintaining social distancing (at least 6-feet apart) during the auction, while tendering deposit and at any subsequent closing. Bidders are also required to comply with the Foreclosure Auction Rules and COVID-19 Health Emergency Rules

issued by the Supreme Court of this County in addition to the conditions set forth in the Terms of Sale.

136704

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as Trustee for the Pooling and Servicing Agreement dated as of April 1, 2005 Park Place Securities, Inc. AssetBacked Pass-Through Certificates Series 2005-WHQ2, Plaintiff AGAINST Harisson William; et al., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered June 26, 2018 I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side Steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on February 22, 2023 at 2:30PM, premises known as 150 Ormonde Boulevard, Valley Stream, NY 11580. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the Incorporated Village of Valley Stream, County of Nassau, State of New York, Section 37 Block 431 Lots 350 & 351. Approximate amount of judgment $336,196.36 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index# 005536/2014. The auction will be conducted pursuant to the COVID-19 Policies Concerning Public Auctions of Foreclosed Property established by the Tenth Judicial District. Foreclosure Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine.” Lisa Segal Poczik, Esq., Referee LOGS Legal Group LLP f/k/a Shapiro, DiCaro & Barak, LLC Attorney(s) for the Plaintiff 175 Mile Crossing Boulevard Rochester, New York 14624 (877) 430-4792 Dated: January 6, 2023 136762

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, Plaintiff AGAINST Patricia D. Savage a/k/a Patricia Savage; et al., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered November 8, 2017 I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side Steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on February 17, 2023 at 2:00PM, premises known as 50 East Saint Marks Place, Valley Stream, NY

11580. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the Incorporated Village of Valley Stream, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau, State of New York, Section 37 Block 98 Lot 14. Approximate amount of judgment $489,038.00 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index# 011595/2014. The auction will be conducted pursuant to the COVID-19 Policies Concerning Public Auctions of Foreclosed Property established by the Tenth Judicial District.

Foreclosure Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine.”

Pallvi Babbar, Esq., Referee

LOGS Legal Group LLP f/k/a Shapiro, DiCaro & Barak, LLC Attorney(s) for the Plaintiff 175 Mile Crossing Boulevard Rochester, New York 14624 (877) 430-4792 Dated: December 20, 2022 136760

Place a notice by phone at 516-569-4000 x232 or email: legalnotices@liherald.com

Woods Oviatt Gilman LLP Plaintiff’s Attorney 500 Bausch & Lomb Place Rochester, NY 14604 Tel.: 855-227-5072 136687

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE

LEGAL

NOTICE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU DEUTSCHE BANK NATIONAL TRUST COMPANY, Plaintiff, v.

AUDREY SCOTT, IAN ALEXANDER, ET AL, Defendant. NOTICE OF SALE IN FORECLOSURE PLEASE TAKE NOTICE THAT

In pursuance of a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the Office of the County Clerk of Nassau County on April 18, 2018, I, David Marc Shwartz, Esq. the Referee named in said Judgment, will sell in one parcel at public auction on February 22, 2023 at The North Side Steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501, County of Nassau, State of New York, at 2:00 PM the premises described as follows: 716 Golf Drive N. Woodmere, NY 11581 SBL No: 39-613-17

ALL THAT TRACT OR PARCEL OF LAND situate in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau, State of New York.

The premises are sold subject to the provisions of the filed judgment, Index No. 015460/2013 in the amount of $880,257.52 plus interest and costs.

Foreclosure Auctions will be held Rain or Shine. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, then the Court Appointed Referee will cancel the foreclosure auction.

Richard S. Mullen

SUPREME COURT: NASSAU COUNTY. STEVEN C. HORN, Pltf. vs. MAXIM DIAGNOSTICS, LLC, et al, Defts. Index #608417/2019. Pursuant to judgment of foreclosure and sale entered October 11, 2022, I will sell at public auction on the north side front steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY on January 30, 2023 at 2:00 p.m., prem. k/a 33 South Montgomery Street, Valley Stream, NY a/k/a Section 37, Block 36, Lot 4. Said property located at the corner formed by the intersection of the Southerly line of Buscher venue and the Easterly line of Montgomery Street; Running thence Easterly along the Southerly line of the Buscher Avenue, 34/100 (100.34) feet; Thence Southerly parallel with Montgomery Street, 74/100 (41.74) feet; Thence Westerly at right angles to Montgomery Street, (100.000 feet to the Easterly line of Montgomery Street; Thence Northerly along the same, (34.00 feet to the point or place of beginning. Approx. amt. of judgment is $312,976.39 plus costs and interest. Sold subject to terms and conditions of filed judgment and terms of sale. Foreclosure auction will be held “rain or shine.” If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, then the court appointed referee will cancel the auction.

HAYLEY GREENBERG, Referee. HILL WALLACK LLP, Attys. for Pltf., 261 Madison Avenue, 9th Floor, Ste. 940-941, New York, NY. File No. 20426-18 - #99938 136396

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS TRUSTEE FOR THE RMAC TRUST, SERIES 2016-CTT, Plaintiff AGAINST QAISER KHAN AKA QAISER TCHAN, IRAM HAMEED, IF LIVING, OR IF EITHER OR ALL BE DEAD, THEIR WIVES HUSBANDS, HEIRS-AT-LAW, NEXT OF KIN, DISTRIBUTES, EXECUTORS, ADMINISTRATORS, ASSIGNEES, LIENORS AND GENERALLY ALL PERSONS HAVING OR CLAIMING UNDER, BY OR THROUGH SAID IRAM HAMEED, BY PURCHASE, INHERITANCE, LIEN OR OTHERWISE, OF ANY

Lucille Moran spent 29 years overseeing tenants

Every 10 years, tenants were provided with new refrigerators and new stoves for their apartments.

While executive director, Moran’s biggest concern was the well-being and quality of life of the tenants and making the facility a shining jewel in Valley Stream. Her main focus, from day one, was to provide a clean, healthy, and energetic atmosphere for each and every person. She wanted them to “always be proud to say they lived in Monica Village.”

“I couldn’t be over-friendly because I was still managing the building,” Moran said of her relationships with the tenants. “But they know I cared for them, and they know that you know if I saw something, I would bring it to their attention. So, I would bring whatever it was to the attention of the family so they can help them.”

Along with creating meaningful relationships with the tenants, Moran created relationships with people around the community, including Valley Stream

Mayor Ed Fare, who said Moran made “every visit to Monica Village happy and engaging.”

“For as long as I can remember, (Moran) has been an important piece of the fabric of Valley Stream and the absolute heart of Monica Village,” Fare said. “Her energy and compassion helped to keep so many seniors in Valley Stream safe in a warm and welcoming environment. I speak for the entire Village Board of Trustees, our Village Justice and the many members of our village staff and community who have worked closely with Lucille, in bidding her a fond farewell. We wish her every happiness in her well-earned retirement.”

The new executive director is Pam Cappiello, who worked as Moran’s assistant for the past six years. Moran said Cappiello knows the routine and the shift has gone “beautifully” so far.

“I met a lot of wonderful people who had really vibrant, exciting lives,” Moran said. “And Pam, I worked here for six years. She’s going to do a wonderful job.”

Arrests for underage alcohol sale in North Valley Stream

LVAL2 119

Public Notices

RIGHT, TITLE OR INTEREST IN AND TO THE PREMISES DESCRIBED IN THE COMPLAINT HEREIN, AND THE RESPECTIVE HUSBANDS, WIVES, WIDOW OR WIDOWERS OF THEM, IF ANY, ALL OF WHOSE NAMES ARE UNKNOWN TO PLAINTIFF, ET AL., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered November 7, 2019, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on February 1, 2023 at 2:00PM, premises known as 47 Clarendon Drive, Valley Stream, NY 11580. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the Incorporated Village of Valley Stream, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, SECTION 37, BLOCK 301, LOTS 255A, 255B & 255C. Approximate amount of judgment $579,919.25 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #006347/2013. The aforementioned auction will be conducted in accordance with the NASSAU County COVID-19 mitigation protocols and as such all persons must comply with social distancing, wearing masks and screening practices in effect at the time of this foreclosure

sale. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, then the court appointed referee will cancel the foreclosure auction. Foreclosure Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine”. Mark Ricciardi, Esq., Referee Gross Polowy, LLC 1775 Wehrle Drive Williamsville, NY 14221 20-002067 74477 136299

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, THE BANK OF NY MELLON FKA THE BANK OF NEW YORK, AS SUCCESSOR IN INTEREST TO JP MORGAN CHASE BANK, NA., AS TRUSTEE FOR BEAR STEARNS ASSET BACKED SECURITIES TRUST 2006-3, ASSET-BACKED CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2006-3, Plaintiff, vs. TIFFANY PORTER, ET AL., Defendant(s).

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on February 1, 2019 and an Order Substituting CourtAppointed Referee duly entered October 28, 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 on January 27, 2023 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 311 Lyon Street, Valley Stream, NY 11580. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and

improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being at Valley Stream, in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 37, Block 309 and Lot 33, 34,35, & 36.

Approximate amount of judgment is $979,569.95 plus interest and costs.

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 004222/2013. 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.

Edward Andreas Vincent, Esq., Referee

Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott, LLC, 10 Bank Street, Suite 700, White Plains, New York 10606, Attorneys for Plaintiff 136392

LEGAL NOTICE

OF SALE

NOTICE

SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION AS TRUSTEE OF THE CABANA SERIES IV TRUST, Plaintiff, vs. OTTO CASAL A/K/A OTTO L. CASAL, ET AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on November 3, 2017 and an Order Extending Sale Deadline and Other Relief duly entered January 21,

2022 and an Order Appointing Successor Referee duly entered on July 22, 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 January 31, 2023 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 645 Wyngate Drive West, Valley Stream, NY 11580.

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 35, Block 522 and Lot 10.

Approximate amount of judgment is $584,347.63 plus interest and costs.

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 8654/2014. This foreclosure sale will be held on the north side steps of the Courthouse, rain or shine. COVID-19 safety protocols will be followed at the foreclosure sale. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, the Court Appointed Referee will cancel the sale.

Glenn R. Jersey, III, Esq., Referee

Friedman Vartolo LLP, 85 Broad Street, Suite 501, New York, New York 10004, Attorneys for Plaintiff Firm File No. 201408-1 136394

Search for notices online at: www.newyorkpublicnotices.com

Three clerks and one business owner were arrested for allegedly selling alcohol and tobacco products to minors in an undercover investigation on Monday. The arrests were part of the Nassau County Police Department’s Project 21 initiative, which enlisted undercover agents who attempted to purchase alcohol and tobacco from a handful of stores across Elmont, Franklin Square and North Valley Stream.

Partish Wadhwa, 34, of Queens, was arrested after allegedly selling liquor to minors at Prince Liquor and Wine on Hempstead Turnpike in Elmont. Michael David Alamgir, 39, of Brooklyn, was

arrested after allegedly selling alcohol to minors at the BP Gas Station at 270 W. Sunrise Highway in Valley Stream.

Karanbir Singh, 23, of Franklin Square, was arrested after allgedly selling alcohol to minors at the Valero gas station convenience store at 758 Franklin Ave. in North Valley Stream. The store owner, Sukhjinder Singh, 38, was arrested for the illegal sale of cannabis products. He was arraigned in First District Court in Hempstead.

All three clerks were issued appearance tickets and are due back in First District Court in Hempstead on Feb. 2.

–Juan Lasso

Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick sworn in as senator

Newly-elected

Senator Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick was elected to the 9th Senatorial District seat in November with 56.1 percent of the vote. She is a former Malverne trustee, deputy mayor, budget director, police commissioner and fire commissioner.

Courtesy Metro

NASSAU COUNTY POLICE arrested three clerks and one business owner during an underage tobacco and alcohol sales investigation on Monday in Elmont, Franklin Square and Valley Stream.

Courtesy Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick

JOINING PATRICIA CANZONERI-FITZPATRICK for her swearing in were Assemblymen Ed Ra, left, and Michael Durso; State Senator Steve Rhoads; Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor Joseph Saladino; State Senator Jack Martins; and Assemblyman John Mikulin.

State Senator Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick was officially sworn into office. Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick was ceremonially sworn in by her father, former Mayor of Malverne Joseph Canzoneri.

ADMINISTRATIVE

Richner Communications - a rapidly growing multimedia company and publishers of the Herald newspaper grouphas several administrative job openings: Receptionist (P/T), Accounts Receivable/Billing Collections Clerk Multi-Media Coordinator (Hours Flexible) Qualified candidates are fast learners with good organizational and people skills - entry level ok.

Role requires working knowledge of Microsoft Office and ability to learn custom software programs. If you would like to join a communitydriven, fast-paced environment, please send your resume to: careers@liherald.com.

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

CLEANING PERSON FT Needed For Local Cleaning Company. Will Train. If Interested Call Bill 516-678-5943

CONSTRUCTION WORKERS Assist General Contractor. Drivers License. Knowledge Of Construction. Call Mike. 516-887-8877.

DRIVERS WANTED

Full Time and Part Time Positions Available! Busy Print Shop in Garden City is Hiring Immediately for Full Time and Part Time Drivers. Must Have a Clean License and BoxTruck Driving Experience. Hours Vary, Night Availability is a Must. Please Email Resume to careers@liherald.com or Call (516)569-4000 x239

DRIVING

FULL CHARGE BOOKKEEPER :

Proficiency Quickbooks, 2/ 3 Days/ Week, Flexible. Send resume: Catalina Beach Club, 2045 Ocean Blvd. Atlantic Beach, NY 11509; Call 201-417-9940

MEDICAL

REAL ESTATE

Open Houses

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HEWLETT BA, 1608 RIDGEWAY Dr, NEW Move Right Into This Completely Gut Renovated 4 BR, 3.5 Bth Col on 1/4 Acre Prop. New Kosher EIK, FDR, LR w/ Fpl, Den & Enclosed Porch. Full Fin Bsmt. 2 Car Att Gar. SD#20...$1,469,000 Ronnie Gerber, Douglas Elliman 516-238-4299

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Open Houses

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HEWLETT 1534 BROADWAY #205, Open House By Appt! 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...$699,000 Ronnie Gerber, Douglas Elliman 516-238-4299

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BALDWIN GORGEOUS COLONIAL 2/3 Br. $3200. LOVELY RANCH 3 Br. 2 Ba. $3000. BEAUTIFUL TUDOR 3 Br., RVC Schools. $3300. Call Nancy Scarola Real Estate. 516-286-4310. 516-633-5300.

PRESS-ROOM/WAREHOUSE HELP

Long Island Herald has IMMEDIATE openings for a FULL-TIME Pressroom/warehouse helper in Garden City. We are a busy print shop looking for a motivated and reliable individuals to assist in various duties in the shop. Forklift experience is a plus and heavy lifting is required. Hours vary,

NYS License Clean 3 Years Call 516-731-3000

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

Health Care/Opportunities

estate

IN BRIEF

V.I.Properties Welcomes Zina Israelov!!

We are happy to welcome Zina Israelov to Team Rozana and Sara at V.I.Properties. Zina Israelov is an accountant with over 15 years of experience, in a well-known and prestigious real estate company. She holds degrees from Queens College and Hunter College in accounting and psychology, respectively. What Zina loves most is spending time with her grandson and watching basketball with her two boys. She moved to the Five Towns about 15 years ago and it has been nothing but home since day 1. One of her beliefs is that honesty, reliability, and being personable are essential when building trust with clients. This philosophy has driven her to be motivated and committed in finding the perfect home for youwith an easy and smooth experience throughout. Contact Zina at 347-836-1907 or by email zi@rozana-sara.com

Realtors are encouraged to send briefs and photographs to: Herald Homes, 2 Endo Blvd.., Garden City, NY 11530.

Acre Prop. New Kosher EIK, FDR, LR w/ Fpl, Den & Enclosed Porch.Radiant Heated Flrs. Full Fin Bsmt. 2 Car Att Gar. MUST SEE!! SD#20 DRASTIC REDUCTION! $1,469,000 1534 Broadway #103, BA, Magnificent New Renovation! One of a Kind Ranch Style Living in Luxurious Jonathan Hall Condominium with Doorman & Elevator. Just Move into This Gut Rvated, Spacious 2 BR, 2 Bath Apt with Open Layout. Large Designer Eat in Kitchen

INTRODUCING.… 2697 Morton Avenue. This completely renovated and rebuilt, all new construction 4 bedroom, 2 full bathroom home features an all new eat in kitchen with quartz countertops, shaker cabinets and stainless steel appliances. This home boasts two brand new bathrooms, custom moldings, crown moldings and hardwood floors throughout. There is also a full finished basement with high ceilings, all new windows, siding, roof, electric, plumbing along with gas fired hydronic heating system, central air conditioning and driveway. You will enjoy low taxes and no flood insurance is required. $749,000.

A zoning variance for a bigger den?

Q. I wanted to add on to the den on the side of my house. The den has been there since 1930. The problem I’m having is that if I want to make the addition so that it’s in alignment with the current den, the side distance to my property line is too close, by 12 inches, according to my building department. They say that I have to match the code requirement that was adopted in 1938, so instead of having a straight wall going all the way back, I either need to make a jog in the wall or go for a zoning variance. It just doesn’t make sense. I’m not adding a monster-sized addition, just 10 feet by 10 feet on the side of my house, behind tall hedges. My neighbor doesn’t mind, so what can I do about this?

A. Not much, except decide whether you want a ridiculous-looking room with a jog in the wall or want to spend the money and time to go through the zoning variance process. When I see cases like this, I understand the intent of the law, but not the “spirit” of the law. The intent is to prevent the construction of buildings too close to a property line, based on historical catastrophes such as the London fire and the Chicago fire, both of which saw hundreds of lives lost and tens of thousands of buildings destroyed, mainly because of their closeness to one another and their ability to burn easily.

We live in a modern age in which materials have been tested, analyzed, certified and regulated to limit flame spread, and communities have been set up with strict guidelines to leave spaces between buildings for safety and appearance. But knowing, or not remembering, this, communities may invoke the strictness of the law like a stern punishment, or look at the separate conditions and merits of each case, deciding that your straight wall versus a jogged wall isn’t going to hurt anyone and, being located on the side or behind your house, isn’t going to detract from the character of the community.

Some building departments have been given the flexibility to make these decisions, to avoid throwing the baby out with the bathwater, and have the authority to give approval for minor issues. Some municipalities have even gone so far as to pass ordinances allowing the discretion of building departments to allow for the alignment of built structures, previously approved, on the first story. It makes sense not to put homeowners through an unnecessary hearing process, sometimes costing thousands of dollars and many months of delay, just so they can have a straight wall.

Allowing alignment with a previously approved part of a building isn’t the same as having a flammable wall too close to a property line or another building. In the long run, a variance will be worth it. Otherwise the weird wall shift won’t be understood or be beneficial to you. Good luck!

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

MoneyTo Lend

© 2022 Monte Leeper Readers are encouraged to send questions to yourhousedr@aol.com, with “Herald question” in the subject line, or to Herald Homes, 2 Endo Blvd., Garden City, NY 11530, Attn: Monte Leeper, architect.

Ask The Architect Monte Leeper

MERCHANDISE MART

Antiques/Collectibles

We Buy Antiques, Fine Art & Jewelry Same Day Service, Free In-Home Evaluations, 45 Year Family Business. Licensed and Bonded, Immediate Cash Paid.

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Miscellaneous For Sale

TORO POWER-MAX SNOWBLOWER: Model #826OAE. New. Original $1300. Asking $900. Call Arnold 516-432-1492

FINDS UNDER $100

Finds Under $100

ADULT TRICYCLE: VERY good, with a few rust spots, valued at $250. $99.00 firm. 516-458-6729

ANTIQUE BLACKBOARD, FREE standing with carving, rolling scroll pictures, flip down desk, $99. 516 295-1548

ANTIQUE GOLD DECORATIVE mirror 19" x 45" wide ,carved crest. $50 (516) 295-1548

BOYS GAP FLEECE Hoodie: Camo, Size 12: New with tags. $15 917-420-581

CHRISTMAS DECOR: HUGE assortment. Call for details and pics $40 & under. 516-225-919

CRYSTAL STEMWARE (MACY'S). Gorgeous Wine , Water, Champagne. Brand new original boxes $95. 516-225-9191

Finds Under $100

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WALL SAFE: HEAVY Steel "New in Box," Mount Surface or in Wall. $50 Firm. 516-486-7941

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Cleaning Services

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Electricians

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Handyman

HANDYMAN

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OpINIONS

The Republicans have sent in the clowns

One of my all-time favorite comedians was Groucho Marx. He always had the right response to the question of the moment. He used to say, “No matter what you ask for, the answer is no.” That describes the crazy new Republican majority in the House of Representatives.

can candidates who have run for Congress have campaigned on the promise to make government smaller. They made it a point never to explain which programs they were after, because they knew specifics would kill them.

Democratic Senate will no doubt vote against such changes, but that would leave the country without a budget.

of the House majority.

JERRY KREMER

For decades, the federal government has been providing funds for Social Security, Medicare, Homeland Security and the Department of Defense. Most rational people will tell you that these are crucial parts of the government, but various members of the new majority have targeted these programs for extinction.

When asked why they would seek to end one of these key programs, the individual Republican members would answer, “Because I don’t like it.” The idea that many members of the new majority want to bring government to its knees should be a warning sign to every American.

The Republican effort to dismantle American government is nothing new to political observers. Hundreds of Republi-

Eliminating programs goes along with the entire package of rules that were just adopted by the House of Representatives under the leadership of its new speaker, Kevin McCarthy. McCarthy has wanted to be speaker for over a decade. In 2015 he lost the job to John Boehner, and Boehner gave it to Paul Ryan. This year, for McCarthy, the speakership was now or never.

To avoid never, he agreed to a set of rules changes that at best could be described as insane. At the top of the list is a rule that will allow any one of the 435 House members to make a motion to take away the speakership from McCarthy.

Another rule allows members to single out any federal agency and vote to eliminate its budget. Because the House is empowered to craft the government’s spending plan, this rule could wipe out the entire budget of the Defense Department or the allocation for Medicare, with little or no debate in the House. The

What spells more trouble is a requirement that any increase in the debt ceiling must be matched by reductions in federal spending, which could target Social Security and Medicare. What is the next ugly byproduct of McCarthy’s failure to give into the far-right mob?

Spending limits, counterbalanced by cuts in programs, would create the possibility that Congress would default on its requirement to pay the nation’s debt. A debt default could lead to a global meltdown and a downgrading of America’s credit rating. The Republican House majority threatened debt default under President Barack Obama, but in the end, the Republicans came to their senses and approved the borrowing to keep the government functioning.

Apparently, rules changes weren’t enough for the 20 or so fringe House members as McCarthy sold his soul. In addition to giving in to them on rules, he agreed to appoint them to key committees, including the powerful Rules Committee. In effect, the group of 20 will have more power than the other 202 members

It is important to explain the significance of the appointment of troublemakers to the Rules Committee. The committee has the authority to do virtually anything during the course of consideration of a measure, including deeming it passed. It can rewrite parts of a bill, or the entire measure. House members such as Lauren Boebert, of Colorado, can hold the committee hostage. It’s a recipe for disaster.

Some readers might call these observations partisan, but any student of government will tell you that all of these changes are a recipe for disaster. As an example of the thinking of this power cluster, Rep. Jim Jordan, of Ohio, was asked why he favored cuts in the Defense Department, and he answered that there are too may generals in the military, and we have to get rid of many of them.

When all of these so-called reformers announced their plans, I thought of the word “clowns,” and then the song “Send in the Clowns” popped up in my thinking. Clowns are funny, but not this group of them.

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

Playing hide-and-seek with top secrets

Imagine my surprise when I opened my toaster oven to slide in a meatloaf and found a bunch of classified documents inside. Wow, I thought, secret docs are really popping up all over the place.

the documents were his because, well, just because. His team resisted turning them over, although the law demands that important papers get returned to the government after a president leaves office.

wizards.

People wondered if spies were hanging around Mar-a-Lago, hoping to read our nuclear codes over the dessert buffet. Or maybe someone was thinking about selling information to the other side, a kind of monetizing of the outgoing presidency.

Let me retreat a bit. After all, I did lose my most precious Covid-19 vaccine card just a week after I got the jab in January 2021. I awoke in the middle of the night and couldn’t remember where I had put it for super-safekeeping. I began to toss the room and the closet.

fight the government’s request to return the papers to safekeeping.

I once forgot to turn off the stove. Another time, I misplaced the code for my bicycle lock. Nearly every day I forget why I jumped up to run upstairs.

The papers were in a folder that said Top Secret, so I read them immediately. Showing up in my oven makes them mine, right? Also, I took the extra precaution of declassifying them by chanting the order of the planets according to their distance from the sun, even Pluto, which is officially a nano planet. I mean, I don’t want to break any laws.

RANDI KREISS

Just a few months ago, everyone was talking about a former president possessing bundles of classified documents, which he or someone close to him stuffed in various cabinets and closets in and around Mar-a-Lago, his golf club and happy place. The Justice Department, not known for leaping into action, actually raided the premises — that’s how worried it was that secrets may have fallen into the hands of spies. The former prez said

A special counsel was appointed by the DOJ to investigate the case of the purloined papers. Think: a kind of Wizard of Oz operating behind a screen.

Starting in early November, more secret documents were discovered, this time in offices and homes owned or formerly occupied by President Biden. He said he was surprised that classified material turned up under his watch, and his people did move with alacrity to give the paperwork back to the proper authorities in the government. Still.

Who is minding the store? How do secrets get passed around and land in somebody’s garage? A second special counsel was appointed. Now we have two

HAfter two days of misery, I tried to contact someone at the vaccine location. Someone there told me I had to appear in person, and even then I might not be successful. So I started all over again, searching my room and closets and, in case I really misplaced it, the fridge and the inside of my sneakers. On Day 4 I found the card exactly where I had put it originally, in a drawer. So I understand these lapses, but my vaccine card isn’t a nuclear code.

Biden apparently set down some papers and then forgot where they were, or when they needed to be returned to the government archives. More likely, he didn’t think about it all, and it was his staff that messed up.

Not so much with the other guy, who claimed possession of what were clearly classified papers and hired lawyers to

But shouldn’t the Secret Service, Homeland Security, the FBI, the president’s briefers and the CIA do better? Hell, I did better hiding my diary from my sister when I was 12. No way MI-5 or the code breakers of Bletchley Park would have stashed spy secrets under a cushion.

I was surprised, but not really shocked, to find the eyes-only documents in my toaster oven. How to get rid of them? Roast? Convection bake? Air fry? I tried them all, and now I have a pile of ashes in my oven that I probably have to bake into another meatloaf, for security reasons.

This may not be the end of the story. All the president’s men and women somehow thought it was OK to store spycraft information in POTUS’s sock drawer or the ottoman at Camp David. Our government, bless its confused leaders, apparently subscribes to a special protocol for keeping secret documents secret, known as L.G.

That would be Loosey Goosey.

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

ell, I did a better job of hiding my diary from my sister when I was 12.

Twenty fringe House majority members have more power than the other 202.

We don’t need Albany’s concrete fist in Nassau

New York has lost Oyster Bay. Well, more accurately, the state has lost 300,000 people — the town’s population — in just a single year.

Only California lost more people from domestic migration in the past year, and it wasn’t by much. But at least according to census numbers, New York can only watch as an average of 820 people move to another state. Each day.

Those are the kinds of numbers you’d expect from a state that’s struggling financially. But New York is anything but. In fact, it’s hard to find a time when New York was more prosperous. It’s just a prosperity that far too many people can’t afford to take part in.

“Over the last 10 years, our state had created 1.2 million jobs, but only 400,000 new homes,” Gov. Kathy Hochul said in her recent State of the State address.

Without a robust supply of homes, prices remain high. That’s great for developers and landlords, but bad for everyone else. The simple fact is, if our family members, friends and neighbors can’t afford to live in our communities, they’ll find a neighborhood where they can.

“Many forces led to this state of affairs,” Hochul said.

“But front and center are the local landuse policies that are the most restrictive in the nation. Through zoning, local communities hold enormous power to block growth.”

There are certainly benefits to such power, like preserving neighborhoods’ suburban single-family feel. But that feel isn’t cheap. The median sales price of homes in Nassau County in 2021 was $620,000, according to the state’s taxation and finance department. Outside New York City, the closest counties are Rockland, at $550,000, and Suffolk, at $510,000.

To afford a home like that, you’d have to

make at least $45 an hour — nearly three times the minimum wage. A typical salary in New York pays a little less than $25.

But you can’t work in New York if you can’t live in New York. And with the dearth of truly affordable housing, that just isn’t happening. It’s not that our local government officials don’t want affordable housing. It’s just that many don’t like the best way to create such housing: apartment buildings.

“Between full-on bans of multifamily homes, and onerous zoning and approval processes, they make it difficult — even impossible — to build new homes,” Hochul said. “Think about that. People want to live here, but local decisions to limit growth mean they cannot. Local governments can — and should — make different choices.”

Those choices need to begin here. Between 2010 and 2018, the governor said, counties like Nassau granted fewer building permits per capita than virtually all suburban counties across New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Northern Virginia and Southern California.

“With less supply, demand drives up prices,” Hochul said. “And who gets squeezed? Middle-income families and low-income families.”

Yet, not to fear, Hochul has a plan to fix it. She calls it the New York Housing Compact, and its intent is to build 800,000 new homes in the state over the next decade, setting “clear expectations for the growth we need, while at the same time giving localities plenty of tools, flexibility and resources to stimulate growth.”

Doing that requires downstate localities like Nassau to increase their housing stocks by 3 percent every three years. That can happen through redevelopment of dilapidated sites like old malls and office parks, incentivizing new housing production, or simply updating zoning rules.

In return, Hochul said, the state will offer new funding for schools, roads and sewers while removing some of the bureaucratic barriers standing in the way of new housing.

But failure to meet these goals on Hochul’s timetable means facing the governor’s mighty concrete fist. Albany will override local authority, and implement what she calls a “new fast-track approval process” to get home construction under way.

That’s one step too far. Forcing such change by trampling local government not only makes a bad mess worse, but also sets a bad precedent for the kind of power the governor wields over these communities.

What the concrete fist needs is a velvet glove in the form of incentives, as well as good education on what properly planned housing can bring.

There is a constant fear of city encroachment on our suburban way of life, but even a good suburb finds room for everyone from every walk of life.

How often do we hear friends talk about how much they enjoy visiting the vibrant town centers of places like Rockville Centre, Long Beach and Farmingdale? All of that is thanks to multifamily housing done right — not just for those who don’t necessarily make a lot of money, but for our young neighbors, who are just starting out in the world, and our older neighbors, looking to downsize and enjoy a simpler life.

This can happen by shining light on these successes, and how housing diversity grows neighborhoods rather than destroying them.

But let’s do it without the threats, without the negativity. Let’s provide the right incentives to make housing more affordable in our communities, and show why our Nassau County neighborhoods are indeed the best places to live.

letters

Next week, a nationwide focus on school choice

To the Editor:

You likely don’t need me to tell you that children all over the country are suffering the academic consequences of the pandemic, and New York is no exception.

A 2022 survey revealed that 52 percent of American families were looking for a new school. To put it in personal terms, in a classroom of 25 students, 13 families are not satisfied with the education their children are receiving.

A great K-12 education for every child is no small undertaking, and we know there are many learning environments that help different students achieve their potential.

Every child is different — with different abilities, personality and needs. In a place like New

Pence can persuade America he’s the president it needs

one thing I should have learned from my 28 years in Congress and the 15 years before that in the maelstrom of New York politics and government is that political life is very tough and all-consuming — especially at the national level.

Now that I’m away from the incessant turbulence of campaigning, and can wake up in the morning knowing I can go back to sleep and not have to worry during the day about prying reporters or angry constituents, I am increasingly aware of how unnatural the political world can be — and usually is.

This was reinforced for me during a recent meeting and subsequent radio interview with former Vice President Mike Pence. The meeting was in the fifth-floor Manhattan office of the Red Apple companies headed by John Catsimatidis, one of New York’s most successful entrepreneurs and business leaders. Among John’s companies is 77WABC Radio, which has

become a major political force in New York.

(Full disclosure: I am a 77WABC contributor and co-host, and consider Mike Pence a good friend.)

The meeting with the former vice president was the latest of many that Catsimatidis has had with prospective national and statewide candidates and political heavyweights. Joining him were a number of executives, staff members and Sid Rosenberg, who hosts the station’s most popular show.

It went well from the start. Though his questions about a possible presidential candidacy were probing, Catsimatidis made clear his admiration and respect for Pence. As did the participants. Pence’s demeanor was calm and relaxed, and his answers were thoughtful and coherent.

Following the 50-minute meeting, John, Mike Pence, Sid Rosenberg and I took the elevator down to the 77WABC studio on the second floor to record interviews with Sid for “Sid and Friends,” and with John and me for “Cats at Night.” On both floors, there were the

requisite photos with staff members, studio workers and technicians. Mike Pence handled it all with smiles and good humor. Then he was off to his next engagement with his four staff assistants.

All of this sounds calm and rational. But think of how many times Mike Pence must go through this drill. How many business and political leaders, how many special-interest advocates and former politicians must Mike Pence meet, and how many radio and television interviews must he do, realizing that one word or expressed thought taken out of context could endanger — or even torpedo — his possible campaign?

How many big cities, suburban centers and small towns must he visit? How many early mornings and late nights will he have?

How will he keep to his endless schedule? I couldn’t help but notice the understandably tense looks on the faces of the Pence assistants trying to keep him at least reasonably close to his schedule without offending anyone at these meetings, while thinking about how they

would explain his lateness at the next meeting, and the meetings after that.

Mike Pence’s real challenges, though, as he thinks through a presidential run, are:

■ Figuring out how to claim justifiable credit for his real contributions to the Trump-Pence administration while disclaiming the Trump excesses — particularly the shameful events of Jan. 6, 2021, when Pence acted with courage and honor.

■ Understanding how, in a time of political anger and rage, such a sharply divided nation can be persuaded to get behind a candidate of experience, knowledge and calm demeanor.

These challenges must be met while enduring the exhausting rigors of endless travel, interminable meetings, raising campaign funds, and unexpected news stories about the latest misadventures of Donald Trump. It won’t be easy. It will certainly be difficult. But I, for one, hope that Mike Pence stays in the arena, perseveres, and makes the run.

Peter King is a former congressman, and a former chair of the House Committee on Homeland Security. A version of this essay previously appeared in The Hill.

Letters

York, families need the flexibility to choose the school that will set their child up for success — whether it’s a traditional public school, a public charter school, a public magnet school, a private school, online learning or home-schooling.

If it’s been a while since you had school-aged children, you may not realize just how different the landscape of options is than it was even a decade ago.

A 2022 survey by the Harris Poll revealed that since the pandemic, home-schooling and public charter schools were the first and second most popular options for parents who decided to switch their children’s schools.

What’s more, some six in 10 parents said their children were happier with the change.

On the other hand, interest in open enrollment in traditional public schools, as well as magnet schools, remains high. Private school choice programs have expanded in many states in the last few years, and learning pods and micro-schools are a new and growing option.

But time is of the essence. Due to the explosion of education options in many places, application deadlines often fall as early as

January for the next academic year.

The upcoming National School Choice Week — Jan. 22-28 — will streamline things for parents through a national public awareness campaign and thousands of events hosted by schools around the country.

Parents who have chosen a school they love can also empower others by sharing their own experiences.

All families can help their kids achieve academic success.

The first step is to choose the perfect school fit, and the best way to do that is by being aware of the local options and regulations.

To learn about the academic alternatives in New York, parents can visit SchoolChoiceWeek.com/ new-york.

While parents in New York and across the country are exploring and choosing schools next week, I hope they can count on all of our support.

SHelBY DOYle

Nashville, Tennessee

Doyle is vice president of public awareness of the National School Choice Awareness Foundation.

Framework by Carol Vallone

Catching Cinderella up on the news 1,100 miles away — Walt Disney World, Orlando

He should claim credit for his contributions while disclaiming Trump’s excesses.