Valley Stream Herald 02-15-2024 by Richner Communications, Inc

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LIJ-Valley Stream nurses poised to strike next week By JUAN lASSo jlasso@liherald.com

Courtesy New York State Nurses Association

Long Island Jewish-Valley Stream hospital is bracing for an impending nurses’ strike next week as negotiators have failed to reach a compromise on a new labor contract.

Hundreds of nurses at Long Island Jewish-Valley Stream hospital are threatening to walk off on the job next week unless negotiators and hospital administrators agree on a new contract. The New York State Nurses Association authorized a strike against the Franklin Avenue facility earlier this month. “We would prefer to be inside the hospital caring for patients than out on the picket line,” union members said, in a statement. “Even if we exercise our rights to a work stoppage, we urge patients to not delay seeking medical care.” Northwell Health, which operates the Valley Stream hospital, told the Herald that while it is “disappointed in NYSNA’s decision to issue a strike notice,” the organization remains “optimistic that an agreement can be reached.” “Our goal is to reach an agreement that continues to provide our valued nurses with competitive compensation and ContInued on page 14

No cause yet for devastating Rockaway Avenue fire By JUAN lASSo jlasso@liherald.com

In the early-morning hours of Jan. 27, a fire, which originated at the Jadwiga’s Polish American Deli on West Lincoln Avenue, ravaged a row of neighboring businesses on Rockaway Avenue. After more than five hours, the skeleton of the building remained, but the trio of storefronts — Hearing Center of Long Island, Valley Stream Pharmacy, and Orange Skye Day Spa — were gutted beyond recognition. Mayor Edwin Fare described it as a “total loss.” In the imme-

diate aftermath of the disaster, police taped off the ruined storefronts, most of them stripped of their front windows and doors, with charred rubble and shattered glass spilled onto the sidewalk. The sidewalk debris has since been swept clean and the vacant storefronts have been boarded up — standing now as a sad reminder of the loss to business owners and the community, and a blow to a main business district still struggling to restore its commercial presence. “I found out about what happened when I arrived at the office that morning,” said Dr.

Larry Cardano, owner of the Hearing Center of Long Island. “We had made a home there for myself and my patients for over 20 years, so it was totally unexpected. “My first thought was how we’re going take care of our patients.” Although roughly 20 fire departments across the South Shore and 150 firefighters raced to the scene, fire officials were unable to keep the blaze from completely engulfing the commercial building from the inside. Fare said he was saddened by the loss, but stressed that no lives were lost: “Property can

be replaced, people cannot.” Apart from three firefighters, no one was harmed. The cause of the fire, after more than two weeks, remains “indeterminant” according to the Nassau County fire marshal’s office.

Why the fire was so destructive Fire officials said that a vulnerability in the building’s

design caused the fire to spread unusually quickly. It began at the rear of the stores. By the time firefighters entered the building, the fire had already spread to a common loft space between the ceiling and the roof, spanning the tops of all four stores, which firefighters described as a cockContInued on page 10

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South students delight with lion dance jlasso@liherald.com

A lion was set loose in the Children’s Room at Waldinger Memorial Library on Feb. 10. Not the kind that prowls in tall savannah grass, but instead dances majestically to a pulsing drumbeat — as a bringer of good fortune — and ring in the Lunar New Year. The Chinese lion dance performance, spearheaded by the Valley Stream South High School Cultural Society, gave village children a taste of the bevy of cultural celebrations around Asia this time of year. While often associated with Chinese traditions, many Asian countries celebrate their version of the lunar new year, highlighting the beginning of spring and the new year based on the lunisolar calendar. The lion dance was but one of a long set of cross-cultural performances performed by the club during its World Cultural Night in February. “It’s a nice experience to share with the kids what we’ve worked so hard on,” said club copresident Luke Lopez, 17, who has been in the club since 7th grade. “There are 26 acts in total that span different cultures from hip-hop to Indian.” The club makes a series of smaller performances across the village, including the library, and various elementary schools, to show off their dancing stuff to students, which doubly serves as final rehearsal practice for the big show. For the library director Mamie Eng, it’s an opportunity to foster cultural understanding and celebrate diversity. “You’ll notice that a lot of the students and kids watching today are not of

VALLEY STREAM HERALD — February 15, 2024

By JUAN LASSO

Asian descent,” said Eng. “It goes to show that people want to learn and experience different cultures in this community.” Much care and hours of practice are put into each performance. Club advisor Jeff Hsi, who began the club 18 years ago, said he had originally sent his earliest club members to the Chinese Center on Long Island to lear n the ste p sequences and drum patterns for the lion dance. “Those students brought back what they learned,” said Hsi. “So those students passed on what they learned to incoming students, and so on and so on down the line.” “Prior to joining the club, I had no idea about the cultures we performed for and now I’ve learned so much,” said co-president John Lenis, 17, who took part in 13 of the 26 acts this year. “It’s also just a lot of fun.” “It’s great to see students from all cultural backgrounds take part in these dances and appreciate people’s cultural differences and learn from each other,” said Hsi, who noted that the club’s popularity with students was made clear early on. “In our first year, we managed to get 120 members,” said Hsi, who believes the club struck a deep chord among the high school’s increasingly diverse student population. “I think there was a need for an outlet for expression of people’s cultural heritage,” said Hsi. “When we started the club, we just asked around, you know, who might be interested in teaching something from their own culture. It exploded from there.”

Virginia Maloney/Herald photos

Valley Stream South High School Cultural Society members gave a showstopping Chinese performance featuring a ribbon dance at the Waldinger Memorial Library. Valley Stream South High School Cultural Society members offer Jianna Hanna, 6, a chance to see what it’s like to operate the lion head, a Chinese symbol of good luck and prosperity during the Lunar New Year.

Gabriella Gonzalez, 17, and Sudan Belnavis, 14, help 9-year-old Dominic Laurent, center, embrace his inner Chinese lion during the library’s Lunar New Year festivity.

CRIME bRIEfS Two men allegedly scam 70-year-old man ‘Hell on Horton’ murderer seeks parole Nassau County Police are seeking the public’s help in identifying two men who allegedly scammed $239,500 from a 70-year-old Elmont resident. Two men allegedly approached the 70-year-old man’s house in Elmont on Nov. 30 and said they were masonry workers who would be willing to perform construction on his house that needed repairs. The 70-year-old man accepted their offer, and over the next two months the two men repeatedly returned. According to police, the two men would say they found more damages in need of repair each time they returned and required money de posits for “planned future work.” The 70-year-old man paid them $239,500 throughout the duration of their visits to his house for

work that was never completed. He notified police on Feb. 6 after he suspected that he was being scammed. The investigation is ongoing. Police describe one of the men to be a 5’9” white man with a stocky build who is approximately 50 to 60 years old. The other man is described as a 6’1” white man with a thin build who is approximately 30 to 40 years old. He is said to have short brown hair, a beard and a light complexion, according to police. Police ask anyone with information about this incident to call Nassau County Crime Stoppers at (800) 244-8477. All calls are kept confidential. –Nicole Wagner

On March 3, 1989, tragedy struck the ceration since he was first eligible for Horton Road community as 13-year-old parole in November 2013. Kelly Tinyes, a Valley Stream resident Before the last scheduled hearing, the and a Woodmere Middle School student, family circulated a petition on GoPetivanished while babysitting her younger tion.com, amassing over 4,000 signabrother, Richard. She left tures to date, urging the home after receiving a phone parole board to deny Golub’s call from an individual release. The Tinyes first named “John,” infor ming launched an online petition Richard that she would be campaign in 2013, after briefly visiting a friend. She lear ning that Golub had never returned. applied for parole. Robert Roughly 24 hours later, Tinyes, Kelly’s father, called Kelly’s body was discovered Golub “a very dangerous mutilated and concealed in a criminal” in an online statesleeping bag in a neighbor’s ment that accompanied the basement. The subsequent petition. investig ation led to the The family remains stalRobeRt Golub arrest of Robert Golub, a wart that Golub continues to 21-year-old bodybuilder, also be incarcerated. The Tinyes from Valley Stream. family is expected to tune in to the hearFollowing a rigorous yearlong trial, ing via video feed to testify against Golub was found guilty of second- Golub receiving parole. Having reached degree murder and sentenced to 25 the 25-year mark in 2013, Golub has been years to life imprisonment. eligible for parole every two years. This Now, only weeks away from the 35th will be Golub’s sixth attempt to date. anniversary of Tinyes’ murder, Golub, He admitted to killing Tinyes while 56, is expected to stand before the parole in a “rage” due to his use of a “ridicuboard next week to make the case for his lous” number of anabolic steroids. He freedom. claimed that he never intended to kill While an initial parole hearing had her, but prosecutors at his trial said been set for last November, Golub that she was strangled and sexually secured a three-month postponement. mutilated. Tinyes’ family has zealously and tirelessly advocated for his continued incar–Juan Lasso

Valley Stream resident killed in car crash BEFORE

A Lindenhurst man was charged in a one-crash where a vehicle he was driving overturned on Rosedale Road near Lawrence Court in North Woodmere and killed the lone passenger, Pablo Rivera, of Valley Stream, on Feb. 10, Nassau police said. Near 4:30 a.m., police responded to the scene where the driver of a 2023 Toyota, Aaron Cooper, 26, of Lido Parkway, was headed northwest and apparently lost control of the vehicle, police said.

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Rivera, 22, was pronounced dead at the scene. Cooper was arrested and taken by police ambulance to a local hospital for treatment. He was charged with manslaughter, vehicular manslaughter, assault, driving while intoxicated and reckless driving. Cooper will be arraigned when “medically practical,” police said. –Juan Lasso

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February 15, 2024 — VALLEY STREAM HERALD

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What’s neWs in and out of the classroom

up to celebrate the power of kindness represented in some of our favorite childhood stories. Another exciting day during spirit week was “Team Up for Kindness Day”, during which students proudly wore the jerseys and colors of their favorite sports teams to foster a sense of unity and emphasize the importance of kindness in sportsmanship and collaboration. On “Kindness Rocks Day”, students arrived at school dressed up as rock stars, showcasing their unique personalities through their vibrant outfits. In addition to spirit week activities, students also engaged in discussions about the meaning of kindness and shared ideas for acts of kindness. They filled out worksheets highlighting their positive characteristics and wore kind messages to their teachers and classmates, further promoting a culture of kindness and empathy within the school community. Courtesy Valley Stream District 13

–Juan Lasso

Willow Road Elementary School students dressed up as rock stars.

VALLEY STREAM UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT TWENTY-FOUR

TRANSPORTATION FOR PRIVATE AND PAROCHIAL SCHOOLS 2024-2025 As per Education Law, Section 3635, the District must legally provide transportation for District children in grades K-6 attending private/parochial schools. Kindergarten children must be five (5) years of age as of December 1st. This transportation is provided only when the following requirements of Education Law are met: • The Distance from home to school is not less than two (2) miles and not more than fifteen (15) miles. • The parent must submit a written request for transportation each year and include the child's name, date of birth, grade, and school. • The request must be submitted to the Transportation Department of Valley Stream School District Twenty-Four at 75 Horton Avenue, Valley Stream, NY 11581 PRIOR TO APRIL 1ST for the school year beginning September 2024. • All applications must be accompanied by two proofs of residency consisting of an original utility bill and an original lease, deed, or tax receipt. The application must also include a photo ID of the parent/guardian. • If your child is of kindergarten age, a copy of your child's birth certificate must also accompany the application request. If your child qualifies for transportation, please be sure that your request is submitted on time. Applications received after April 1st will not be considered except for new residents who are required by law to apply within (30) thirty days after establishing residence in the District. 1247676 PAID ADVErTISEmENT

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Valley Stream District 13’s Willow Road Elementary School recently took part in the Great Kindness Challenge, a week-long initiative aimed at promoting kindness and compassion. Throughout the week, students at Willow Road Elementary School engaged in various activities and discussions centered around the theme of kindness. The school organized a spirit week, during which students had the opportunity to express their kindness in creative and fun ways. Willow Road Principal Cindy Gervasi expressed her gratitude to students, teachers, and staff for their enthusiastic participation in the Great Kindness challenge. She emphasized the importance of kindness in building strong relationships and creating a supportive community within the school. One of the highlights of spirit week was “Throw Back the Magic of Kindness Day.” During this very special day, students dressed

VALLEY STREAM HERALD — February 15, 2024

HERALD SchoolS Willow takes on Great Kindness Challenge

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HERALD SPORTS Six county champions for VSN By BRIAN KACHARABA sports@liherald.com

MAKAYLA DAUBE Mepham Junior Basketball TO SAY DAUBE dominated in the paint in the Pirates’ 56-35 victory at Long Beach Feb. 7 would be a major understatement. The junior center, who is seeking a second straight AllCounty award, ripped down 28 rebounds and also added 21 points. Posting a double-double is nothing new for Daube, who ranks among Nassau County’s leading rebounders at 17.8 per game. She’s scoring at a 15.8 points per game clip for playoff-bound Mepham.

BASKETBALL PLAYOFFS All Games at Farmingdale State College Wednesday, February 21 Nassau Class B girls semifinals ......................6 and 8 p.m.

Friday, February 23 Nassau Class B boys semifinals ..........6:30 and 8:30 p.m.

Sunday, February 25 Nassau Class AAA girls semifinals ................12 and 2 p.m. Nassau Class AAA boys semifinals ........... 4 and 6:15 p.m.

Monday, February 26 Nassau Class AA girls semifinals ....................5 and 7 p.m.

Tuesday, February 27 Nassau Class AA boys semifinals....................6 and 8 p.m.

Wednesday, February 28 Nassau Class A boys semifinals......................6 and 8 p.m.

Thursday, February 29 Nassau Class A girls semifinals.......................5 and 7 p.m.

Friday, March 1 Nassau Class B girls championship game ................ 6 p.m. Nassau Class B boys championship game ............... 8 p.m.

Saturday, March 2 Nassau Class AAA girls championship game ..........11 a.m. Nassau Class A boys championship game ..........1:15 p.m. Nassau Class AA boys championship game ........3:30 p.m. Nassau Class AAA boys championship game ......5:45 p.m.

Monday, March 4 Nassau Class AA girls championship game .............. 5 p.m. Nassau Class A girls championship game ................ 7 p.m.

For the second straight year, both Valley Stream North track and field teams finished second at the Nassau Class B Championships at St. Anthony’s High School on Feb. 6. The boys and girls boasted three county champions apiece. The boys had 95 points – 16 better than last year but four shy of champion Manhasset, which placed fourth at this event a year ago. The girls amassed 88 points and their performance especially pleased coach Mike Frazer. “As far as the girls go, I think we overachieved this year,” he said. “We lost a couple of seniors last year and we tried to fill the gaps a little bit and I didn’t know how close it would be, but winding up getting second was quite a bit of a surprise.” The boys were hoping to take advantage of defending-champ Roslyn slumping to 19 points, but Manhasset held big scoring advantages in the distance events and relays to edge the Spartans. “On paper, we may have been the favorite before the meet, but Coach [Steve] Steiner over in Manhasset is doing a great job,” Frazer said. “He had his share of distance runners, but he did his legwork and found a thrower, a couple of jumpers and a couple of hurdlers and was able to fill the gap. I think Manhasset won the meet instead of us losing it.” Sedgeley Duperval paced the boys with 20 points and won the long jump with a distance of 21 feet, 5.25 inches. He fell just short of another county title in the 300meter dash and missed third place in the 55-meter dash by identical .01 seconds. “We’ve relied on him over the years for sure,” Frazer said. “In the sprints, .01, that’s the nature of the game. Sedgeley got nipped twice and he wasn’t happy about it. He’s happy he won the long jump.” Raphael Baez cleared 5-10 on his first high jump try, which stood up for the win, and he was a part of the 4x200 meter relay team with Zaiden Jackson, Derrick Thrasybule and Aaron Sibblies that finished second. Fellow senior Kevin Beltran won

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Moanna Thelusca cleared 34 feet to win the Nassau Class B shot put crown and helped lead the Spartans to a runner-up finish. the 3,200-meter run in just over 10 minutes and was third in the 1,600 with a time of 4 minutes, 43.14 seconds. On the girls’ side, Moanna Thelusca cleared 34 feet to win the shot put and fellow senior Nattaly Lindo took the weight throw with a toss of 47-8.5. Thelusca was third in that event at 38-10. The girls 4x200 relay of Alyanna Nadal, Alissa Azor, Jazmyn Dorsey and

Lexie Sowerby ran a season-best 1:54.14 to win that event. Nadal and twin sister Cianna finished second and third, respectively, in the 55-meter hurdles and Dorsey earned All-County status after being the runner up in the long jump. Sophomore Hailey Quinlan was second in the 1,500-meter walk and senior Brook Fessler held the same spot in the high jump.

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February 15, 2024 — VALLEY STREAM HERALD

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HERALD — February 15, 2024

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February 15, 2024 — HERALD

The hidden danger of noise and light By Will Sheeline, Nicole Formisano & Angelina Zingariello First part in a series Long Island faces a growing crisis as noise and light pollution become more troublesome. Noise pollution — characterized by unwanted and harmful sounds — and light pollution — stemming from excessive artificial lights — are pressing issues impacting not just all of us who live here, but also the environment. The World Health Organization defines noise pollution as disruptive sounds harmful to human health, while the International Dark-Sky Association — a nonprofit that fights to return the stars to our skies — warns that light pollution not only affects the natural night sky, but it also disrupts wildlife and interferes with astronomical observations. The consistent noise from traffic, airplanes, construction and urban development disrupts daily lives and sleep patterns. Simultaneously, the widespread artificial light from streetlights, billboards, and other sources diminishes the natural darkness at night, impacting stargazing and unsettling nocturnal wildlife. As Long Island tackles these escalating issues, local authorities are actively working to enforce noise regulations and promote responsible outdoor lighting practices, such as the Dark Skies Protection Act, put forth by the Assembly last year. The aim is to strike a balance between the imperatives of urban progress and the preservation of Long Island’s unique environment. Addressing noise and light pollution is vital for protecting human health, according to the WHO, as well as maintaining the integrity of natural ecosystems. Additionally, research shows the detrimental effects of noise pollution — including more stress, hypertension, and even cognitive impairment in both adults and children. Similarly, excessive exposure to artificial light at night contributes to lower quality sleep and insomnia, and even mood disorders. These environmental stressors also affects local wildlife populations by altering migration, nesting and foraging patterns, and even disrupting reproductive hormones and behaviors. Fireflies, for example, can no longer can find mates in an artificially lit night sky. “Almost every form of wildlife uses the night for either navigation or mating, or for many ways of regenerating the species,” said Susan Serven, a DarkSky spokeswoman. “So if you don’t have a deep dark night, you have this artificial daylight. It can confuse them, and it

Courtesy Junj Stare, LightPollutionMap.info

Using NASA’s Black Marble light product, observers can get a sense how bright different parts of the world really are. While it’s no surprise that New York City is one of the brightest spots in the region, it’s also clear that light pollution spreads well across Long Island — especially in Nassau County. can affect their physiology as well.” While it might not get the same attention as other forms of pollution — like air and water — community organizations are teaming up with environmental advocates and researchers to raise awareness and devise strategies against noise and light pollution on Long Island. The Town of Oyster Bay, for example, mandates that any outdoor light is properly shielded to ensure light is only cast on necessary areas rather than, really, all over the place. They must also be placed on a timer to turn on and off at appropriate times to save energy. The Village of Malverne passed a noise ordinance last December intended to limit the unnecessary sound neighbors say they experience at all hours of the day. “Sleep is the biggest factor in all of this,” Malverne mayor Tim Sullivan said. “Residents are trying to find peace at night. And if that’s disturbed, it has a negative effect on your mental wellbeing and your physical functionality, which could negatively impact your earnings potential, your family, your home life, and how you generally interact with people on a daily basis. “My biggest concern, as a father, is when I have a plane flying over my house in the middle of the day, that’s excessive. It has woken my daughter up from her nap, and that (nap is) important to her well-being and development.”

Battling light pollution Once the heart of aviation attracting

the likes of Charles Lindbergh and Wiley Post, Long Island is now a hot spot for the biggest threat to our sky: light pollution. South Shore neighbors, for example, are all too familiar with the incessant, 24-hour glow to the west that is New York City. But light pollution atlases maintained by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences reveal Nassau County is not without its own blame. Light pollution is “the human-made alteration of outdoor light levels from those occurring naturally,” according to Dark-Sky. And for more than 20 years, Long Island has produced light pollution on par with one of the world’s biggest cities: its neighbor, New York. “We’ve been losing our night sky for decades,” Serven said, adding that more than 90 percent of people throughout the country can no longer see the Milky Way — or even many stars, for that matter — from their backyards. “We’re really the first generation who has lost the night sky.” Some of our biggest contributors, according to Dark-Sky, are streetlights, electronic advertising, and even parking lots — and it’s getting worse. Light pollution has risen by nearly 10 percent every year, and is projected to double over the next decade, Serven said. That over-lighting comes at a cost. Every year, millions of sea turtles that call Long Island home are killed because they mistake endless streetlights and billboards for a glowing ocean horizon with a brightness that rivals the moon. The fireflies that marked summer nights on Long Island now face total extinction, and studies have shown light pollution is largely at fault. Humans are not exempt from the effects of light pollution. Our circadian

rhythm — or sleep-wake cycle — relies on light cues from our natural world. But in an environment full of blue light from cellphone and laptop screens, our natural clocks are ticking out of sync. This circadian disruption, studies show, is linked to mood disorders, reproductive problems, cancers and more. It also has drastic effects on our ability to produce melatonin, meaning more people are lying awake at night, often not realizing that the brightness that surrounds them throughout the evening is to blame. The cost of light pollution is literal, too. Dark-Sky estimates 30 percent of all outdoor lighting in the United States is misdirected — meaning shone on areas that don’t require light, often even up into the night sky itself — adding up to $3.3 billion wasted every year. The energy it takes to sustain those unnecessary lights creates 21 million tons of carbon dioxide every year, which is among the leading contributors to climate change. And light isn’t the only invisible menace draining your health.

Taking on noise pollution Noise pollution, is characterized by sounds that reach above the human decibel threshold, the level of sound it takes to cause auditory damage, and has far-reaching effects on our well-being. Various sources contribute to noise pollution, with cities like Glen Cove and Long Beach bearing the brunt of its impact. Traffic noise — including the incessant honking of horns and the roar of engines — dominates streets, reaching levels as high as 100 decibels — equivalent to a hair dryer or a blender — according to the Hearing Center of Excellence, a program created by the U.S. Defense Department to study and reduce hearing loss among veterans. CoNtINUed oN NeXt pAge

Remember when you could see stars in the sky? Similarly, air traffic noise, construction sites, and bustling nightlife establishments all contribute to the cacophony of urban-like life. Lawnmowers and leaf blowers long have been a point of contention between business owners and local governments, such as in the Village of Sea Cliff, which has discussed numerous complaints by both residents and businesses regarding their use in the last two years. Following nearly two years of research, village officials passed an ordinance in 2022 restricting the days leaf blowers can be used while promoting the use of electric leaf blowers as opposed to louder, diesel versions. “We needed to balance the public’s right to live in a quiet, bucolic setting versus other residents who hire landscapers to do their work,” Sea Cliff mayor Elena Villafane said. “So, we restricted the gas leaf blowers by prohibition during the spring and summer, and then we’ve limited the hours of electric leaf blowers during the same period to weekdays, business hours. And then, in the fall and winter, you can use both.” The effects of noise pollution extend beyond mere annoyance, according to the federal Environmental Protection Agency and similar organizations. Prolonged exposure to loud noises can lead to a range of health issues, including hearing loss, high blood pressure and

Will Sheeline/Herald

even sounds as innocuous as a car muffler can cause long-term auditory damage, especially compounded by the number of cars on the road in cities like glen Cove and Long Beach. heart disease. Moreover, noise pollution disrupts sleep patterns, increases stress levels, and impairs cognitive function, particularly in children according to Matthew Mannis, a noise consultant for AKRF Inc. “Whether it’s construction noise outside or aircraft flyovers — or even the most mundane things that we take for granted — these everyday noises can be disturbing,” Mannis said. “We are learning that higher degrees or levels of noise for extended periods

of time can raise anxiety and blood pressure levels.” For wildlife, noise pollution presents its own set of challenges. Marine mammals such as whales and dolphins — which have been spotted more often around the Long Island Sound as water temperatures have risen — rely on echolocation for communication and navigation, according to National Geographic. However, the underwater cacophony created by ships, sonar devices and seismic surveys interferes with their ability to perceive their surroundings, leading

to mass stranding and altered behavior. Awareness and education are essential tools in combating noise and light pollution. “Light pollution is actually the easiest form of pollution to fix,” Serven said. “Simply turn off any lights that aren’t needed at night. That’s the simplest thing you can do.” Dark-Sky also recommends neighbors swap unprotected outdoor lights for ones that are shielded or on timers to limit unnecessary light and energy drainage. Plus, more and more regions — including New York — are participating in “Lights Out,” a movement to shut off nonessential outdoor light between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m., during bird migration periods to help lessen light pollution’s effects on wildlife. Investment in noise-reducing technologies — such as sound barriers and quieter asphalt for roads — can mitigate the impact of noise pollution in urban areas, according to the European Environment Agency, an organization in the European Union that studies data to support Europe’s environment and climate goals. Moreover, fostering a culture of environmental stewardship and responsible noise management is crucial for safeguarding our health and the well-being of wildlife. “Learn as much as you can, and tell others,” Serve said. “Because it’s critically important. And, the issue is getting worse.”

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VALLEY STREAM HERALD — February 15, 2024

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February 15, 2024 — VALLEY STREAM HERALD

Fire marshal: Blaze’s cause is still unknown Continued from page 1

loft. Cockloft fires are notoriously difficult and dangerous to put out, according to fire experts. For one thing, cocklofts are combustible empty spaces designed to trap and disperse heat through vents. When on fire, they are prone to smoke explosions, commonly known as backdrafts, as oxygen meets extreme heat within their confined space. That’s just the dangerous part. “We had heavy tin ceilings we had to pull down to access the cockloft,” said Village Fire Chief Patrick Scanlon, according to reports. “Tin ceilings are very labor intensive and very hard to pull down so we needed long hooks and a lot of firefighters to help put it out.” “In this case with these stores, you had the regular drop ceiling with white tiles. That was approximately eight to 10 feet from the floor and then a gap to the tin ceilings, which was holding the fire back in the cockloft,” said Village Fire Department media liaison Brian Grogan. “When these ceilings come down, there’s a bunch of wiring that comes down with it, which can be an obstacle, tangle up or get stuck in our boots, and those have to be clipped.” As firefighters toiled to reach the cockloft, the odds of sparing the rest of the building from the fast-moving flames evaporated with each passing moment. In the end, the building’s fire safety deficiencies were no match for the blaze. The interior had been laid to waste.

Old businesses, an older building, brought down Not all buildings are as susceptible to fire destruction as large as the one seen

How to donate To donate to the Valley Stream Chamber of Commerce’s business relief fund, go to bit.ly/ValleyStreamRecovers.

Courtesy Valley Stream Fire Department

Valley Stream residents and business owners are coming to terms with the destruction of businesses on West Lincoln avenue and rockaway avenue on Jan. 27. on Rockaway Avenue. Experts note that depending on fire code requirements and building factors, newer commercial buildings whose stores share a cockloft space often have fire barriers or gaps between them to lessen the damage in the event of a fire. The fire-ravaged building on Rockaway Avenue was built in 1937, noted Mayor Ed Fare, when many of the currently existing “zoning and building codes, and many safety and fire regula-

tions” weren’t in place. Officials from the Nassau County Fire Marshal confirmed Fare’s assessment, referring to the building as a “pre-existing, non-conforming” structure. It did not have firewalls or any sort of fire protection in the cockloft space, noted village fire officials, adding that Rockaway Avenue is home to several of these kinds of older commercial buildings. Some house rows of stores or clus-

ter them together; several of which are “tricky” to navigate and handle should they ever become a battleground for firefighters. Fare assured that current safety standards will be met if the commercial space is rebuilt. “Current codes must be followed for all reconstruction,” assured Fare. “This responsibility will fall to the owners and their design, architectural, and engineering professionals to comply with all State, County, and Village codes.” At least for his business, Cardano has found hope in the ashes of the disaster. He’s moved his practice right around the corner to 20 West Lincoln Avenue. “In the long term, the new location has more space and allowed us to upgrade our equipment, setting up our office based on the newest methods of treatment,” said Cardano, who started seeing patients in early February. “So there is a silver lining in this dark cloud. “I was surprised at the outpouring of support, calling and texting me to show their support and ask how they can help. I’m glad we’re able to get into our new location so quickly, and I extend my condolences to the other business owners.”

Dever students excel in area poster contest Valley Stream District 13’s James A. Dever Elementary School is proud to announce that eight of its students were chosen as winners in the Malverne Mel Poster Contest. The Malverne Mel Poster Contest, organized by the Malverne Civic Association in collaboration with the Incorporated Village of Malver ne, aims to encourage young artists to express their creativity and imagination through visual arts. Students from various schools in the region participate in this annual contest. In recognition of their exceptional talent, the winners will receive a special prize provided by the Malverne Civic Association and the Incorporated Village of Malverne. As an exciting addition, the students had the opportunity to visit Crossroads Farm, where they had the chance to see Malverne Mel, the famous groundhog, and predict whether an early spring was on the horizon. –Juan Lasso

Poster contest winners Liam ramnarain Hank Bitonti angelina rose fusillo alice rogulski tristan amato Vedantika roy ariana asturizaga Lucy ryan Courtesy Valley Stream District 13

James a. dever elementary School malverne mel poster Contest at Crossroads farm.

VALLEY STREAM HERALD — February 15, 2024

“The Vacant Space Revival Program qualified us for on-bill credits that really help me manage costs.” —George Karatzas, James Cress Florist, Smithtown Unoccupied business spaces are an opportunity to help bring vitality to downtown areas. For George Karatzas, owner of James Cress Florist, staying downtown was a priority, but costs were prohibitive. Then George applied for our Vacant Space Revival Program, which has provided $2,462 in bill credits to help offset his overhead.* And Smithtown continues to have a business that brings warmth and charm to the area. It’s a beautiful thing to see come together—just like George’s floral arrangements.

*Incentives, grants, and savings will vary with every project.

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KIDS, CAMp and SCHOOL — with a focus on prOgrAMS AnD ACtIvItIeS

Extra help

Help your student achieve tutoring success It’s a whirlwind for your family after school: Your kids need to have a snack, keep up with their activities, complete their homework — on and on it goes. All the while academics are the priority. So how do you fit tutoring into a busy household without distracting your struggling student, or making them feel left out of all the fun? Even when tutoring is necessary, learning sessions can be a tall order for kids who are already over-programmed and overtired. Building Skills One of the biggest benefits of at-home tutoring is giving your student a chance to interact one-on-one with a certified educator. Even young children who need more practice developing basic skills, like problem-solving, vocabulary, and working with numbers, may benefit from working with a tutor. Of course, hiring a tutor isn’t always about helping your child get ahead. Tutoring also provides students with the extra help they need to complete schoolwork, address a learning disorder, or master content they struggle with. Depending on your child’s learning style, your tutor might use visual aids, audio clips, or art projects. They’ll need enough room — and enough supplies — to teach effectively. During the hiring process, talk with your tutor about their plans for your child’s tutoring sessions. What kind of space do they need? Together, pick a quiet area in your home that you can dedicate solely to tutoring sessions. This could be the kitchen table, a study desk, or an out-of-the-way corner — wherever there’s enough room with limited distractions. When your child and their tutor have a place that’s all their own to sit down and get to work, it provides the structure and

a time before they need to move on to another activity or take a break. Teens and tweens can likely study for longer periods of time, from 30 to 40 minutes, before they need to get up and stretch or rest their eyes. Remember: You’re paying a certified educator for their expertise in subject matter, as well as their knowledge about what makes a successful learning environment. Work collaboratively with your tutor to establish boundaries and rewards that feel appropriate for your student’s needs, your comfort level as a parent, and the tutor’s needs as an educator. For most tutors — and students — it’s also best if parents make themselves scarce during tutoring sessions. If you hang around during a session, it could make it more difficult for your student to focus — even if they’re on break. Encourage your student to follow the rules and have a good time — then make your exit!

Institute Quiet Hours Have other children? Make sure they understand that the tutor and your student need time and space to work on their own. Establish this boundary early, so your kids all understand that tutoring time is important work time. Tutoring time can also be good “quiet time” for the rest of your household. If true “quiet time” is a no-go at your house, try sending your other children outside or to a different part of the house to play.

Emphasize Family Time Even though tutoring can be fun and engaging, it’s still extra work for your young student. That can make kids feel left out, especially when their brothers and sisters get to spend the time playing, attending after-school clubs, or hanging out with friends. In order to make your tutored child feel included, make sure to emphasize family time after the tutoring session is over. Whether you all sit down to dinner together, watch a movie, or take a walk around the block before it gets dark, family time helps your student transition from a long workday back into being a kid. Every family member has individual responsibilities, interests, hobbies, and activities they do on their own. Helping your child see that tutoring is just one of the things they do makes it less isolating and more independent and confidence-building..

Coordinate Breaks And Boundaries Most young children can only study for 20 to 30 minutes at

Photo: Children can benefit from having someone focused on them who can support and help them to understand and accept their own learning styles

stability for good learning. This routine carries over to every session and makes it easier for your tutor to develop a rapport with your student, so they can accomplish even more together.

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February 15, 2024 — VALLEY STREAM HERALD

Scan this QR code to visit the Valley Stream Herald’s Page

KIDS, CAMp and SCHOOL — with a focus on prOgrAMS AnD ACtIvItIeS Local day camps that can keep your child occupied and happy all summer long.

It may feel far away right now but you’re going to need to start thinking about the endless days of summer sooner rather than later. Your child’s last day of school may still be months away, but as we all long for the easy, breezy days of summer you know that your time will not be as easy or breezy if you don’t find the right summer activities for your child. When shopping for a kids’ day camp, there are a few key things to look for to ensure that you’re comfortable with the program and that your preschooler swill be a happy camper. The camp should stress fun, not learning. As with preschool, your child’s earliest experiences with camp shouldn’t be about academics. If a brochure promises to jumpstart reading or prep your toddler for math, give it an “F” and move on to other options. (And rest assured, even if all your child does during the day is kick a ball, dribble water in a kiddie pool, and dabble in finger paint, she’ll still be learning plenty.) A kids’ day camp should mix it up. While older kids with special interests may benefit from specific programs like sports or musicaltheater camps, little ones thrive on exposure to different activities. Your preschooler will have the most fun if her day camp for kids includes a variety of endeavors — arts and crafts, supervised games, story time, cooking, swimming, or water play, etc. The camp should be in a safe, well-main-

sweetie is still napping, you’ll want to make sure that she’s able to catch her usual siesta at summer camp. And even if she’s over the nap thing, a quiet rest period lets her recharge her battery for more fun in the afternoon. Staff should take it outside. One benefit of day camp for kids is fun in the sun. Ask to see a typical day’s schedule to make sure that your tot will be spending plenty of time outdoors The camp should have an ideal kid-tocounselor ratio. Make sure there’s enough supervision, especially if your child will be doing water activities or spending a lot of time on playground equipment.The American Academy of Pediatrics doesn’t have specific guidelines for day camps, but for daycare and preschools it recommends a child-to-staff ratio of 5:1 for toddlers 31 to 35 months old, 7:1 for three-yearolds, and 8:1 for four- and five-year-olds. Staff should be hired with care. You may not need an advanced degree to be an effective camp counselor, but you do need to know how to deal with kids (and their many moods), cope with minor scrapes, and have CPR training. The camp should also do a screening process to make sure their employees have a clean criminal record (don’t be afraid to ask about this). tained location. In other words, a day camp for kids should provide a clean and neat indoor space that is free of potential hazards; and if there’s a playground, the equipment must be up-to-date and the surface soft.

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The camp shouldn’t be overstructured. This is a kids’ day camp, not boot camp. Besides lots of different things to do, there should also be plenty of (supervised) free time. It should have designated downtime. If your

Photo: When preparing to select a camp for your child, take a close look at the camp’s web site or brochure, do a site visit ahead of time, and ask the right questions.

It’s never too early to plan for summer. Hofstra Summer Camps is open for registration! A favorite of Long Island families for 40 years, Hofstra Summer Camps provides campers in grades K through 12 an exciting opportunity to explore their passions, learn new skills, or become better athletes in any of our 50+ camps. Campers beneﬁt from use of Hofstra’s state-of-the-art facilities, and our included lunch and transportation options make us the preferred choice for parents.

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Learn more about Hofstra Summer Camps at an Open House on Sunday, February 11, 12-2 p.m. RSVP at Hofstra.edu/camp.

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VALLEY STREAM HERALD — February 15, 2024

Introducing the younger ones to camp

February 15, 2024 — VALLEY STREAM HERALD

Nurses’ union demands better pay, staffing Continued from page 1

benefits,” Northwell Health said, “and ensures a safe, supportive, working environment.” If the strike does happen, it will start Feb. 21 at 7 a.m., potentially causing a host of disruptions, postponements, and delays in care. It also could potentially place enormous strain on the hospital’s critical operations, according to registered nurse and negotiator Sandra Marion-Armstrong. Yet, a strike won’t mean there won’t be health care professionals on hand to work with patients. Northwell is expected to mobilize traveling nurses not affected by the strike to act as stand-ins, according to a nurse at Northwell who is not directly involved in the contract negotiations. Whether that will happen, however, Northwell officials remain tight-lipped. “In the event of a strike, patient care remains our highest priority,” Northwell officials said, in a statement. “We will continue to serve our patients and our community by providing uninterrupted world-class care.”

What nurses want Central to the union’s demands are fairer patient-tonurse staffing ratios and higher compensation for its nurses. Nurses are seeking a 19 percent pay increase over the next three years, according to reports. Northwell is said to have countered with a 3 percent pay bump in the first year, followed by slightly larger raises over the next two years. The union says it wants to address a lack of ade-

t a time when hospital CEO and executive pay is out of control, it is unconscionable that our health care heroes would not be paid fairly with safe working conditions. John Durso president, Long Island Federation of Labor quate staffing by having “safe staffing ratio” guidelines explicitly outlined in future contracts. “Our nurse-to-patient ratio is 1-to-8,” Marion-Armstrong said. “That’s one nurse taking care of eight patients for 12 hours. It’s physically exhausting and does a disservice to patients. “We’re looking for a 1-to-5 ratio for our telemetry nurses who have to constantly monitor patients. And 1-to-6 for the regular floor nurses.” It’s a matter of patient safety, she added. “Nurses don’t have time to converse with patients and answer questions, which is important,” MarionArmstrong said. “We have nurses who, after their shift, take an hour just to fill out documentation because they’ve been dealing the whole day with patients in need of intensive care. And sometimes we deal with violent patients.” Marion-Armstrong is not as optimistic as Northwell there will be a resolution in time, saying that

while sides continue to talk, negotiations that began last October have reached an impasse. Meanwhile, nurses have been working without a contract for more than a month.

A health care hiring crisis Healthcare worker strikes have popped up around the country with unions haggling over benefits and safeguards to solve the problem of what unions are calling too many patients versus too few staffers. The Long Island Federation of Labor and 22 labor unions stood behind the union in a letter sent to the desk of Northwell Health chief executive Michael Dowling, saying that hiring enough people and paying their workers better is needed “to recruit and retain nurses,” while providing them a sense of “stability” that allows them “to remain focused on safe patient care.” “At a time when hospital CEO and executive pay is out of control, it is unconscionable that our health care heroes would not be paid fairly with safe working conditions,” said labor federation president John Durso. “Long Island is facing a crisis in hiring and retaining health care workers.” While the short-staffing problem was exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic of recent years, MarionArmstrong said nurses’ frustrations of being overworked and overburdened have been a long time coming. “There are nurses who have come and gone within six months,” she said. “Some nurses have come crying every day. They don’t know how much they can take. They don’t want to stay. “We need Northwell to do something.”

Valley Stream 24 hosts Scripps Spelling Bee Students from all schools within the Valley Stream 24 School District recently put their spelling skills to the test in the Scripps National Spelling Bee competition. The winners and runners-up at each school have earned the opportunity to advance to the next level of the national competition, which involves taking an online test to qualify for the regional spelling bee. Superintendent of Schools Unal Karakas expressed pride in the students’ efforts, saying, “We’re incredibly proud of all our students who enthusiastically participated in the spelling bee. They dedicated themselves to rigorous preparation, learning essential strategies and skills along the way. We’re also thrilled for our first and second place winners as they move forward in the competition.” Students collaborated closely with their teachers and families to prepare for this event, expanding their vocabulary and applying classroom strategies. The competition not only tested their spelling abilities but also deepened their understanding of the meanings and applications of challenging words, some even at a high school level. Here are the winners from each school:

Brooklyn Avenue school: Fourth-grade student Shannon Reece and fifth-grade student Kailyn Arroyave tied for first place.

robert W. Carbonaro school: Fifth-grade student Linval Frazer secured first place, while fifth-grade student Nathalie Pantangan took second place.

William L. Buck school: Fifth-grade student Jake Marlborough emerged as the first-place winner, and sixth-grade student Ava McIntyre secured second place. The district extends its congratulations to all these talented students and wishes them the best of luck in the upcoming rounds of the competition. –Juan Lasso

Courtesy Valley Stream District 24

Students from all three schools in the Valley Stream 24 School district recently competed in the Scripps national Spelling Bee competition.

Nassau disperses $6.8M to fight opioid crisis jvallone@liherald.com

Joined by various health professionals and drug treatment organizations, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman announced the allocation of $6.8 million for opioid use prevention, education and treatment last week in Mineola. The money will be distributed to health care providers across the county, as well as the Nassau County Police Department. Drug overdose deaths surged at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, hitting a record high by the end of 2020. Many health experts say the increase was fueled by fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid that is 50 times stronger than heroin. Catholic Health Services, which is headquartered at Mercy Hospital in Rockville Centre, will receive $2 million, and the Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow will receive $2.5 million. The county will also allocate $600,000 per year toward various education initiatives to inform the public about drug abuse and opioid addiction. At its news conference on Feb. 5, the county showed a recently recorded public service announcement featuring county Health Commissioner Dr. Irene Gelman and Anissa Moore, deputy commissioner of health and human services. “These public service announcements will start off within the next couple of weeks,” Blakeman said, “which will give people in the community the opportunity to know where they can go for help, whether it’s treatment, counseling or any educational purpose.” Dr. Larry Eisenstein, former county health commissioner and now the chief public and community health officer at Catholic Health, said the health care network was appreciative of the funding.

Jordan Vallone/Herald

County Executive Bruce Blakeman announced the allocation of $6.8 million to help health care providers and the Nassau County Police Department fight the opioid and substance abuse epidemic. “We saw that the pandemic exacerbated what was a growing problem with regard to opioid use and mental health,” Eisenstein said. “One in four people in this country has a diagnosable mental health disorder.” Catholic Health will embed primary-care physician officers with social workers and case managers to screen patients, and identify earlier those who may be suffering from substance abuse, Blakeman explained. Eisenstein said the money would be used to “build a center of excellence” and emphasized that the services would be accessible to all. “We’re going to be making services available that if

they don’t want to answer us on the spot, they know exactly where to go without barriers,” he said. “Catholic Health could not be more excited about this great opportunity — I cannot be more excited about it because preventative health has always been my life’s work.” Meg Ryan, acting chief executive officer of NUMC, said the funds are “well needed.” The hospital plans to build outpatient rooms, bathrooms, counseling centers, conference rooms and nursing stations on its 10th floor, where there’s an inpatient mental health and addiction unit, and to expand facilities on its ground floor, by the emergency room, to treat patients struggling with substance abuse and mental health disorders, Ryan explained. The county has received approximately $385 million in coronavirus relief money through the federal American Rescue Plan Act, and over $92 million in settlements form opioid manufactures, distributors and retailers. County Legislator Delia DeReggi-Whitton, the minority caucus leader, said less than $7 million of that money has been spent. She called Monday’s announcement a “disappointment.” “After two years of delays, the agencies that have been promised funding should have been paid in full, and a significant amount of additional funding should also have been released,” DeRiggi-Whitton said. “Neither have happened. “To have just paid about one-seventh of our opioid funding more than two years later is an insult to every family that continues to struggle with the opioid epidemic. This money cannot be used for anything else other than addressing opioid addiction, and I feel Nassau must begin distributing this funding at a pace that meets the urgency of this crisis.”

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Long Island’s best and brightest legal professionals will be recognized at the Fifth Annual Herald Top Lawyers Awards Gala. Nominate yourself or another deserving legal professional who has achieved excellence and given back to their communities.

VALLEY STREAM HERALD — February 15, 2024

By JORDAN VALLONE

Planning begins to upgrade electrical grid By KEPHERD DANIEL kdaniel@liherald.com

With a $3.26 billion investment, New York Transco and the New York Power Authority unveiled details of its Propel NY Energy project, aimed to fortify Long Island’s power grid by potentially bringing new underground electrical transmission and substations to Nassau County. The Long Island Association’s offshore wind committee hosted a discussion last week in Melville, with topics ranging from electrical grid reliability improvements to potential traffic disruptions caused by the work to make it happen. Propel NY represents a step toward a cleaner, more sustainable energy future for Nassau County and the wider region. After last year’s competitive bid process in 2023, the New York Independent System Operator — which monitors the reliability of the state’s power system — threw its support behind Propel NY, which is now entering the permitting process. Regulated by Article VII of the New York Public Service Law, the regulatory framework emphasizes environmental impacts, ensuring community involvement. “We want to make sure that we’re all working together … to make sure that effective outreach and communication is happening throughout the process,” said Carrie Gallagher, the Long Island office director for the state’s public service department. That means bringing together not only the Long Island Power Authority and PSEG Long Island, but also the public service department, Transco, and the power authority. Propel NY aims to bolster the reliability and resiliency of the Long Island power grid, according to officials. That means adding what they are calling bi-

Courtesy Propel NY

Propel NY Energy — which plans to invest billions in a project burying 90 miles of electrical transmission lines — will discuss exactly where those lines will go in detail with affected communities, residents and businesses. directional power flows from Long Island into the statewide grid through 90 miles of new transmission pathways. The goal is to transmit up to 3,000 megawatts of energy from offshore wind projects that could power hundreds, if not thousands, of homes. An estimated 66 miles of the new underground distribution lines will run across Nassau County, with less than two miles planned for Suffolk. That includes several separate high-voltage cables from Melville, Island Park, Syosset, Uniondale and Glenwood Landing in Oyster Bay that then would

extend under the East River to the Bronx and the Long Island Sound toward Westchester. The bidirectional line — meaning power will flow in both directions — will help accommodate the influx of renewable energy from offshore wind farms, officials said, with construction expected to begin in 2026, continue on until mid-2030. Residents, according to power authority vice president Girish Behal, will be “impacted the most by traffic and all the construction that happens. But, in addition to that, it’s also the local government and community groups that have an impact on the project.” Propel NY got the go-ahead to begin groundwork needed for construction this past June. The state’s Public Service Commission approved Transco’s plan to borrow as much as $1.4 billion to build power lines. Propel NY looks to harness various clean energy sources — particularly offshore wind — reducing reliance on fossil fuels and promoting sustainability, officials said. A key purpose of the project., they add, is the need for upgrades to accommodate renewable energy sources like offshore wind, while discussing the current sources of electricity on Long Island and the transition toward offshore wind as a significant clean energy source. “By 2030, 50 percent of our power will come from one source: offshore wind,” said Tom Falcone, the Long Island Power Authority’s chief executive. “Right now, it’s practically zero.” Half of the 10 turbines already built are now operating, he said, with two more expected be added to the overall total by March. At that time, “the first offshore wind project in federal waters will be operational,” Falcone said, “but it’s the first of thousands. And it’s coming very soon.”

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February 15, 2024 — VALLEY STREAM HERALD

STEPPING OUT

Dinos come to life at

By Danielle Schwab Walk among the prehistoric giants at Jurassic Quest, where everyone can roam about and glimpse what Earth was like more than 165 million years ago. Jurassic Quest — that traveling dinosaur experience combining archaeology with the latest tech — returns with its herd to Nassau Coliseum this weekend. This immersive spectacle features a bevy of lifelike dinosaurs — of all shapes and sizes — that are an impressive lot. They transform the arena environment back to the time when dinosaurs roamed, so that visitors can get up-close and personal with the creatures. The three days of prehistoric adventuring — Saturday through Monday — includes visiting with the lifelike dinos, who’ll glare and move about as folks pass by, along with all sorts of related activities. Plus, the playful dino “babies” — Tyson the T-Rex, Trixie the Triceratops and Cammie, the Camarasaurus — always delight visitors. You’ll find exciting curiosities at every turn. Rideable dinos, dinosaur shows, and interactive science and art stations — including a fossil dig • Feb. 17-18, 9 a.m.-8 p.m.; — are all part of the experience. Feb. 19, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. The littlest explorers will also enjoy • Tickets $32.50-$52.05 (Use a “Triceratots” soft play area, code FOSSIL for 10 percent bounce houses and inflatables. off admission price); It’s all self-guided, so everyone available at JurassicQuest. can go through the activities at com or NassauColiseum.com their own speed. But it’s suggested • Nassau Coliseum, carving out at least two to three 1255 Hempstead Turnpike, hours to get the most out of the Uniondale experience. It all began 10 years ago, created by Texas-based Jurassic Quest, which consults with paleontologists to make the creatures as realistic as possible, and reflect current thinking about how the giant creatures looked and acted. “Dinosaurs are sort of universal to all people,” says Nick Schaefer (aka Prehistoric Nick), one of the expert “dino trainers” and fossil experts, who’s been with Jurassic Quest since 2016. “When guests walk into our pillars, the first thing we have is our exhibit where we have dinosaurs from the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous periods. We have over 165 million years worth of dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures.” One of the more popular components allows kids to become dino-trainers. “We have the raptor training experience, where we have one of our trainers come out and interact with our guests to help train our full-sized Utahraptor (one of the newest additions to the animatronic pack),” Nick says. “Our guests will give central commands and try to make it listen.” Ever wonder what it’s like to ride a dinosaur? Climb

Friends of the Brothers Friends of the Brothers returns with their dynamic tribute to the Allman Brothers. Their powerful celebration of the Allman Brothers, featuring musician closely associated with the original band, continues the brotherhood with passion, committed to the ideals of every night being special and unique. Guitarist/singer Junior Mack has fronted Jaimoe’s Jasssz Band for 12 years, and starred in the acclaimed Broadway show ‘Lackawanna Blues.’ Guitarist Andy Aledort played with Dickey Betts for 12 years, has recorded with Double Trouble and Band of Gypsys, and toured with Experience Hendrix. Their ﬁrsthand 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. They perform songs from every stage of the Allman Brothers Band’s career, backed by a band of inspirational, veteran players. Friday, Feb. 16, 8 p.m. $33, $28. Jeanne Rimsky Theater at Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington. (516) 767-6444, or LandmarkOnMainStreet.org.

It’s estimated that a new species of dinosaur is named every two weeks. Photos courtesy Jurassic Quest

Trainer Prehistoric Nick knows his way around a dinosaur skull. aboard one — such as the mighty T-Rex — and find out. Kids also eagerly make their way to the fossil dig, where they can channel their inner paleontologist and study replicated and real fossils like T-Rex teeth, a triceratops horn, and life-size dino skull. Much like the dinos, Jurassic Quest continues to evolve (without heading to extinction). “The Quest” — a self-guided dinosaur scavenger hunt and expanded excavation station — add to this year’s experience. Visitors can also try to lasso escaped dinos in Rope-a-Raptor, assisting the experienced “Broncobusters” round up the creatures and bring them back to their pens. Also you might want to face off with a notoriously fast Utahraptor in a “Raptor Run” race. Each dinosaur is painstakingly replicated, from coloration to teeth size, to textured skin, fur or feathers, drawing on the latest research about how we understand dinosaurs and ancient giants of the sea looked and moved. Plant settings, sound effects, lighting and electronics add to the authenticity of the setting. “We actually have modified a few of the dinosaurs to stay as up to date as we can with the information,” Prehistoric Nick says. “One of our dinosaurs, the Spinosaurus, paleontologists are still learning about, and every couple of years, a new paper will come out and change the way it looks. So, we do our best to keep updating it.” Aspects like its snout, posture, and even the tail have been readjusted. These dino trainers really know their stuff. Prehistoric Nick, who studied archeology in college, shares the team’s passion for dinosaurs. He’s been involved in excavations, and has participated in paleontological digs in Canada. “Dinos are often the introductory science for younger kids,” Nick says. “I think it’s really important to bring a sense of wonder about dinosaurs to the public. Studies have shown that kids who have sustained interest — like a fascination of dinosaurs — have a tendency to do better in STEM fields. So fostering a love of dinosaurs and science and engineering is really beneficial.” Even more that that there’s magic in science. “When guests first come through for the first time, there’s this jaw-dropping awe,” Nick says. “When they see these full-sized dinosaurs, it blows their mind.”

Modi Get to know Modi when he visits Long Island with his highly anticipated comedy tour, Know Your Audience. Voted ‘One of the Top 10 comedians in New York City’ by The Hollywood Reporter, and ‘The Next Jackie Mason’ by The New York Times, he’s now one of the circuit’s most sought-after performers. Modi has received rave reviews for his charisma and positive message, relatable to both Jewish and nonJewish audiences. He and his family immigrated to the United States from Israel (at 7), and was raised on Long Island. After graduating from Boston University, he worked as an investment banker until his ﬁrst open-mic night, where he knew stand-up was his true calling. Equipped with a sharp wit, Modi has become a successful ﬁxture on the comedy scene. Sunday, Feb. 18, 7:30 p.m. $144.50, $69.50, $59.50, $49.50, $39.50. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington.Tickets available atTicketmaster.com or ParamountNY.com.

VALLEY STREAM HERALD — February 15, 2024

Watch them roar

Your Neighborhood

On exhibit

THE Feb.

Camellias and more

Flogging Molly Celtic-punk rockers Flogging Molly have hit the road with their “Road to Rebellion” tour, sure to rouse audiences with their anthemic odes to the Emerald Isle, on the Paramount stage, Sunday, Feb. 25, at 7:30 p.m. Formed in L.A. in 1997 by Irish expat Dave King, the band got its start (and its name) from local Hollywood bar Molly Malone’s, where each week the band performed, grew their following and laid down the blueprint for eventual success. Their infectious Celtic-tinged reels are perfect for dancing along to, for those who love their Irish heritage and those who just want a Expect an elective mix of old favorites, sing-a-longs, rare acoustic numbers and new material strung together by King’s cheeky tales and jokes and first-rate musicianship from the legendary seven-piece group. Building a loyal following through endless touring, Flogging Molly has become a staple in the punk scene over the past 20-plus years, kicking off with its riotous debut, “Swagger,” and continuing through their additional studio albums. With numerous late-night TV appearances under their belt, a sold-out Salty Dog Cruise through the Caribbean, and a yearly St. Patrick’s Day Festival in L.A., the band’s juggernaut continues. $79.50, $49.50, $39.50 . The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at Ticketmaster.com or ParamountNY.com.

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February 15, 2024 — VALLEY STREAM HERALD

Shake off the winter blues at Planting Fields Arboretum State Park’s annual two-day Camellia Festival, Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 17-18, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Enjoy light music and be amazed by the variety of colors and gorgeous blooms of these glorious camellias. Coe Hall is the center of activity throughout the festival, with music, watercolor painting crafts, activities, a typewriter poet, tea tastings, learning experiences for all ages, shopping, self-guided tours of the historic mansion and more. Learn about Planting Fields rare and extensive collection of hundreds of camellia trees. Both historic and modern plants native to Japan, Korea and China display a wide variety of spectacular flowers ranging from red, pink, white, bicolor and even yellow. $15, $10 seniors. 1395 Planting Fields Road, Oyster Bay. Visit PlantingFields.org or call (516) 922-8600 for more information.

Nassau County Museum of Art’s latest exhibition, “Our Gilded Age,” examines the appearances and the realities of an era that mirrors our own in many ways. Like the nation’s economy, American art and literature flourished during the Gilded Age. The art of John Singer Sargent, Childe Hassam, Louis Comfort Tiffany and others adorned palatial residences designed by Stanford White and Ogden Codman Jr., architect of the museum’s own quintessential Gilded Age mansion. Drawing heavily upon the local literary history of Long Island, including William Cullen Bryant, Mark Twain (who named the Gilded Age), Walt Whitman, Edith Wharton and others, the exhibition will include paintings, fashion, decorative arts including period silver and china, photographs, manuscripts, first editions and other historic memorabilia. The “Upstairs, Downstairs” approach to the life of a country house brings to life not only the storied conspicuous consumption for which the Gilded Age was infamous, but also the real lives of these many individuals who maintained the palatial estates where that lifestyle was enjoyed. On view through March 10. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. (516) 484-9337 or NassauMuseum.org.

District 24 board meets

Feb. ‘Parallel Perspectives’ View Molloy University Art Gallery’s current exhibition, a duo exhibit displaying artwork of noted Long Island artists Holly Gordon and Ward Hooper. Various complementary paintings and prints are on view. Upon meeting, it became obvious that both Gordon and Hooper were deeply inspired by Long Island’s fascinating environment and natural beauty. Together, they toured the island and captured the same places, each interpreting the scenes in front of them through their distinctive artistic styles. Their creations not only influence one another but also blend unique aesthetics in their collaborative artistic journey. Gordon and Hooper’s partnership yielded numerous accomplishments, one of which was the publication of their book “Parallel Perspectives: The Brush/Lens Collaboration.” Through Feb. 16. Kellenberg Gallery, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre. Call (516) 323-3196 or email artgallery@ molloy.edu for more. artgallery@molloy.edu.

2023-2024

Valley Stream District 24 Board of Education holds its regular board meeting, Wednesday, Feb. 28, at 7:30 p.m., at William L. Buck School. For more information, email district clerk Jennie Padilla at districtclerk@vs24.org or visit ValleyStreamSchoolDistrict24. org.

Legion Post meeting Valley Stream’s American Legion Post 854 holds their regular meeting, Thursday, Feb. 22, at 7 p.m. 51 Roosevelt Avenue. For more information, call (516) 791-0719 or visit AmericanLegion854.com.

District 13 board meets Valley Stream District 13 Board of Education holds its regular meeting, Tuesday, Feb. 27, 8 p.m., at James A. Dever School. For more information, email mrosamilia@valleystream13. com or visit ValleyStream13. com.

Feb.

Art talk Join Scott Defrin, owner of European Decorative Arts in Greenvale for Nassau County Museum of Art’s exhibit related program “Collecting Decorative Arts During the Gilded Age; Connoisseurship vs. Decoration,” Sunday, Feb. 25, 3 p.m. New York was the center for collecting during the Gilded Age. More money was spent on fine art, decorative art and interior decoration than at any time in American history. From Carnegie to Frick, and Morgan to Vanderbilt, Defrin discusses the different approaches to collecting among these magnates and how their fortunes helped establish the permanent collections of today’s museums. Limited seating with registration required.1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. (516) 484-9337 or NassauMuseum.org.

Having an event?

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.

Princesses and other enchanting heroes and heroines take to the stage, when Plaza Theatricals presents its Winter Princess concert, Friday and Saturday, Feb. 23-24, 11 a.m. Take part in an interactive singa-long featuring an array of everyone’s favorite winter characters. $15. See it at The Showplace at Bellmore Movies, 222 Pettit Ave., Bellmore (Friday) or at Elmont Memorial Library Theatre, 700 Hempstead Turnpike, Elmont (Saturday). For tickets, visit PlazaTheatrical.com or call (516) 599-6870.

Tax Grievance

Village board meets

The Village Board trustees hold a board of review meeting to hear the public’s protest of their property taxes, on Tuesday, Feb. 20, starting at 4 p.m., at Village Hall. For more information, visit Vsvny.org or call (516) 825-4200 (Option 5).

The Village Board trustees will hold their regular board meeting, Monday, Feb. 26, at 7 p.m., at Village Hall. For more information, visit Vsvny.org or call (516) 8254200 (Option 5).

Family Bingo Night Everyone can have some fun at bingo night at Henry Waldinger Memorial Library, Thursday, Feb. 22, 6:30- 7:15 p.m. All ages, Kindergarten and up, welcome. Registration required. 60 Verona Place For more information, visit ValleyStreamLibrary. org or call (516) 8256422.

Breastfeeding Support Group Mercy Hospital offers a peer to peer meeting for breastfeeding support and resources, facilitated by a certified breastfeeding counselor, every Thursday, 10:30 a.m.–11:30 a.m. Bring your baby (from newborn to 1 year) to the informal group setting. All new moms are welcome, regardless of delivering hospital. Registration required. Call breastfeeding counselor, Gabriella Gennaro, at (516) 705-2434 to secure you and your baby’s spot. Mercy Hospital, St. Anne’s Building, 1000 North Village Ave., Rockville Centre. For information visit CHSLI.org.

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VALLEY STREAM HERALD — February 15, 2024

On stage

Public Notices

News brief

February 15, 2024 — VALLEY STREAM HERALD

LVAL1 0215

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, 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 27, 2024 at 2:30PM, 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 79018 144388

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, MCLP ASSET COMPANY, INC., Plaintiff, vs. AVA N. COHEN, Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on December 6, 2017, an Order Appointing Substitute Referee duly entered on December 3, 2018 and an Order Extending Time to Conduct Foreclosure Sale and Other Relief duly entered on December 28, 2023, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the front steps on the north side of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on March 4, 2024 at 3:00

p.m., premises known as 11 Fir 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 in the Incorporated Village of Valley Stream, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 37, Block 382 and Lots 42 & 43. Approximate amount of judgment is $333,179.61 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 015553/2012. 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. Michael Zapson, Esq., Referee Friedman Vartolo LLP, 85 Broad Street, Suite 501, New York, New York 10004, Attorneys for Plaintiff Firm File No.: 231356-1 144652

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

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., Plaintiff AGAINST Jose Irizarry; et al., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered October 17, 2023 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 March 14, 2024 at 2:30PM, premises known as 24 Standish Road, Valley Stream, NY 11580-1132. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being at Laurelton, in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau, State of New York, Section 37, Block Q-3 and Lot 12. Approximate amount of judgment $1,102,535.21 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index# 015217/2013. 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.” Michele Bencivinni, 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 26, 2024 144733

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB, D/B/A CHRISTIANA TRUST, NOT INDIVIDUALLY BUT AS TRUSTEE FOR PRETIUM MORTGAGE ACQUISITION TRUST, Plaintiff AGAINST DHARMIE D. INDER, ET AL., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered March 7, 2023, 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 March 11, 2024 at 2:30PM, premises known as 208 Dean Street Valley Stream, NY 11580 AKA 208 Dean Street, North Valley Stream, NY 11580 AKA 247-15 135 Road, Rosedale, NY 11580. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being partly in the Borough and County of Queens, and partly in the Incorporated Village of Valley Stream, Town of Hempstead, State of New York, Block:13230, Lot: 12 (QUEENS COUNTY), Section: 37, Block: 415, Lot: 0384 (NASSAU COUNTY). Approximate amount of judgment $382,521.71 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #602017/2019. 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”. Harold F. Damm, Esq., Referee Gross Polowy, LLC 1775 Wehrle Drive Williamsville, NY 14221 18-002063 79183 144672 LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that pursuant to Article 9 of the New York State Constitution, the provisions of the Town Law and Municipal Home Rule of the State of New York, both as amended, a

public hearing will be held in the Town Meeting Pavilion, Hempstead Town Hall, 1 Washington Street, Hempstead, New York, on the 27th day of February, 2024, at 7:00 o’clock in the evening of that day to consider the enactment of a local law to amend Section 202-1 of the code of the Town of Hempstead to INCLUDE “PARKING OR STANDING PROHIBITIONS” at the following locations: EAST MEADOW ROSALIE DRIVE (TH 4/24) West Side NO PARKING ANYTIME starting at a point 41 feet south of the south curbline of Bard Lane, south for a distance of 25 feet. FRANKLIN SQUARE ARLINGTON AVENUE (TH 8/24) South Side NO PARKING ANYTIME starting at a point 235 feet east of the east curbline of Doris Avenue, then east for a distance of 47 feet. (NR)ROCKVILLE CENTRE LANGDON BOULEVARD (TH 35/24) East Side NO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting from the south curbline of Clinton Avenue, south for a distance of 30 feet. LANGDON BOULEVARD (TH 35/24) East Side NO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting from the north curbline of Clinton Avenue, north for a distance of 30 feet. OCEANSIDE MERLE AVENUE (TH 20/24) North Side NO STOPPING ANYTIME starting at a point 20 feet west of the west curbline of Oceanside Road, west for a distance of 50 feet. LONG BEACH ROAD (TH 28/24) East Side NO STOPPING ANYTIME starting at a point 15 feet south of the south curbline of Bellevue Avenue, then south for a distance of 50 feet. OAKVIEW AVENUE (TH 596(B)/23) North Side NO PARKING ANYTIME starting from the east curbline of Brower Avenue, then east for 116 feet. (NR) VALLEY STREAM HEWLETT DRIVE (TH 32/24) East Side NO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER starting from the south curbline of Rosedale Road, south for a distance of 40 feet. ALSO, to REPEAL from Section 202-1 “PARKING OR STANDING PROHIBITIONS” from the following locations: OCEANSIDE MERLE AVENUE - North Side - NO STOPPING starting from the west curbline of Oceanside Road, west for a distance of 50 feet. (Adopted 11/18/58) OAKVIEW AVENUE (TH 124/84) North Side -NO PARKING ANYTIME starting at the east curbline of Brower Avenue, east for 85 feet. (Adopted 4/16/85)

Haitian leaders gather in D.C. for summit County Legislator Carrié Solages joined his government colleagues at the 15th annual National Haitian American Elected Officials Network, also known as NHAEON, Leadership Summit, which was held at the Fairmont Washington D.C. in Georgetown from Jan. 26 through Jan. 28. NHAEON is a 501(c)(3) and a nonpartisan coalition of elected and appointed officials that engages in the education, empowerment and political process to amplify the voice of the Haitian American community. Its members, who are elected and appointed leaders in 15 states and the District of Columbia, represent millions of constituents and advocate for domestic policies, legislation and issues

impacting Haitian Americans. With his 2011 electoral victory, Legislator Solages became the first Haitian American to serve in the Nassau County Legislature. “Across our great nation, NHAEON members work tirelessly as advocates for greater civic engagement, equality, equity and social justice in the communities that we are so blessed to serve,” Legislator Solages said. “It was truly inspiring to share this weekend with so many colleagues in government from around the country who share a deep and unwavering commitment to the principles of community service.” –Nicole Wagner

Public Notices

ALL PERSONS INTERESTED shall have an opportunity to be heard on said proposal at the time and place aforesaid. Dated: February 13, 2024 Hempstead, New York BY ORDER OF THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD DONALD X. CLAVIN, JR. Supervisor KATE MURRAY 144884 Place a notice by phone at 516-569-4000 x232 or email: legalnotices@liherald.com

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that pursuant to Article 9 of the New York State Constitution, the provisions of the Town Law and Municipal Home Rule of the State of New York, both as amended, a public hearing will be held in the Town Meeting Pavilion, Hempstead Town Hall, 1 Washington Street, Hempstead, New York, on the 27th day of February, 2024, at 7:00 o’clock in the evening of that day to consider the enactment of a local law to amend Section 197-5 of the code of the Town of Hempstead to INCLUDE “ARTERIAL STOPS” at the following locations: (NR)VALLEY STREAM NORTH FLETCHER AVENUE (TH 1/24) - STOP - All traffic traveling west bound on Bowe Road shall come to a full stop. NORTH FLETCHER AVENUE (TH 1/24) - STOP - All traffic traveling east bound on Bowe Road shall come to a full stop. ALL PERSONS INTERESTED shall have an opportunity to be heard on said proposal at the time and place aforesaid. Dated: February 13, 2024 Hempstead, New York BY ORDER OF THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD DONALD X. CLAVIN, JR. Supervisor KATE MURRAY 144885

LEGAL NOTICE Incorporated Village of Valley Stream Office of the Village Clerk/Administrator 123 South Central Avenue Valley Stream New York 11580 (516) 592-5105 LEGAL NOTICE WHEREAS, there will be a General Village Election in the Incorporated Village of Valley Stream, on Tuesday, March 19, 2024 for the purpose of electing two (2) Trustees; MIENTRAS, va haber una Elección General en el Incorporated Village of Valley Stream, la cual tomara lugar el Martes 19, de Marzo, 2024 para elegir Dos (2) Concejales; WHEREAS, only qualified persons who are duly registered may vote at such election; and MIENTRAS, que personas cualificadas que están debidamente registrados para votar en la siguiente elección; Y WHEREAS, those persons registered to vote with the Nassau County Board of Elections on March 8, 2024 shall be eligible to vote at such election; MIENTRAS, que solamente las personas registradas en el Condado de Nassau County Borde de Elecciones en Marzo 8, 2024 serán elegible para votar en la siguiente elección; NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that all other qualified and interested persons may register to vote by appearing before the Board of Registry authorized under Section 15-118(9) of the Election Law, at the Village Hall, 123 So. Central Avenue, Valley Stream, New York on the following dates and times: Actualmente está resuelto, que todas otras personas cualificadas y interesadas se pueden registrar para votar presentándose en persona con el Borde de

Registro autorizado por Sección 15-118 (9) de la Ley de Elección, en el Village Hall, 123 So. Central Avenue, Valley Stream, New York en las siguientes fechas: Thursday, March 7, 2024 - Noon to 5:00 p.m. Jueves, Marzo 7, 2024Mediodia-5:00 p.m Saturday, March 9, 2024 Noon to 5:00 p.m. Sabado Marzo 9, 2024Mediodia-5:00 p.m. AND IT IS FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Board of Registry shall meet in accordance with Section 15-118(6)(a) of the Election Law, at the Village Hall for the purpose of local registration and the following Election Inspectors with compensation fixed at fifteen dollars an hour ($15.00) per inspector and shall serve as the Board of Registry: Más está resuelto, que el Borde de Registro se encontraran, de acuerdo con la Sección 15-118 (6)(a) de la Ley de Elección, en el Villaje Hall con el propósito de conducir una registración local con los siguientes Inspectores de Elección , con compensación de quince dólares por hora ($15.00) por cada inspector , que servirán como el Borde de Registro: Peter Panzarino Lisa Allen Dated: Valley Stream, New York JAMES J. HUNTER February 15, 2024 Village Clerk/Administrator Oficinista del Villaje de Valley Stream Fecha: Valley Stream, New York Febrero 15, 2024 144857

LEGAL NOTICE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU U.S. BANK TRUST, N.A., AS TRUSTEE FOR LSF9 MASTER PARTICIPATION TRUST,

V. SANDRA MULLINGS, ET AL. NOTICE OF SALE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure dated December 12, 2023, and entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Nassau, wherein U.S. BANK TRUST, N.A., AS TRUSTEE FOR LSF9 MASTER PARTICIPATION TRUST is the Plaintiff and SANDRA MULLINGS, 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 March 19, 2024 at 2:00PM, premises known as 140 ARLINGTON AVENUE, VALLEY STREAM, NY 11580: Section 37, Block 441, Lot 777-778: ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND, SITUATE, LYING AND BEING IN THE INCORPORATED VILLAGE OF VALLEY STREAM, TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, COUNTY OF NASSAU AND STATE OF NEW YORK Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 008415/2013. Mark L. Lieberman, Esq. - Referee. Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310, Westbury, New York 11590, Attorneys for Plaintiff. All foreclosure sales will be conducted in accordance with Covid-19 guidelines including, but not limited to, social distancing and mask wearing. *LOCATION OF SALE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DAY OF IN ACCORDANCE WITH COURT/CLERK DIRECTIVES. 144870

To Place A Notice Call 516-569-4000 x232

H1 02/15

Employment

CLASSIFIED

Fax your ad to: 516-622-7460 E-mail your ad to: ereynolds@liherald.com E-mail Finds Under $100 to: sales@liherald.com DEADLINE: Monday, 11:00 am for all classified ads.

To pLACE your AD CALL 516-569-4000 - press 5

Every effort is made to insure the accuracy of your ad. Please check your ad at the first insertion. Credit will be made only for the first insertion. Credit given for errors in ads is limited to the printed space involved. Publisher reserves right to reject, cancel or correctly classify an ad.

HEWLETT-WOODMERE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Be A Part Of A Growing Multi Media Company Based in Garden City

NOW HIRING:

SALES/MULTI MEDIA CONSULTANTS – INSIDE & OUTSIDE* FT/PT

Hewlett-Woodmere Public Schools is seeking an Administrator/Supervisor for the District’s Summer Playschool Program. The program runs July 1, 2024 August 9, 2024, Monday - Friday from 8:00 am - 3:00 pm (closed July 4). Campers range in age from Pre-K-grade 9. Staff orientation will be held on June 28, 2024. The administrator in charge of the program will be responsible for hiring and overseeing camp staff, group scheduling, vendor contracts, field trip planning, etc.

Help Wanted

Part Time & Full Time. The award-winning Herald Community Newspapers group, covering Nassau County's North and South Shores with hard-hitting news stories and gracefully written features, seeks a motivated, energetic and creative editor/reporter to join our dynamic (and awesome) team! This education and general assignment reporting position offers a unique experience to learn from some of the best in the business. H i s t o r i c a l l y, r e p o r t e r s w h o h ave launched their careers with us have gone on to The New York Times, Newsweek, Newsday, the New York Daily News, New York Post, CNN, BBC, NBC News and The Daily Mail, among many others. We look for excellent writers who are eager to learn, enhance their skills, and become well-established and respected journalists in our industry. Salary range is from $20K to $45K To apply: Send a brief summary in the form of a cover letter describing your career goals and what strengths you can bring to our newsroom, along with a resume and three writing samples to mhinman@liherald.com

Call Nancy For More Details Serious Inquiries Only

516-426-2427

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, Salary Ranges from $17 per hour to $21 per hour Night Availability is a Must. Please Email Resume to careers@liherald.com or Call (516)569-4000 x239

DRIVING INSTRUCTORS WANTED Will Certify And Train HS Diploma

NYS License Clean 3 Years $20 - $25/ Hour

Call 516-731-3000

DRIVERS FT/PT (Salary Range $17 per hour to $21 per hour)

Eldercare Offered

or Call

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LOGISTICS ANALYST: ALPI USA Inc. seeks a Logistics Analyst in Valley Stream, Nassau County, New York. Bachelor's degree in International Business or Operations and Supply Chain Management required. Knowledge and Proficiency in Cargo Wise, Microsoft Office (Access, Word, Excel, and Power Point), Trade Map, SAP Business and Management software. Qualified applicants may submit resume directly to Michael Laurence Carkin, Chief Operating Officer, via email to michael.carkin@alpiusa.com

ext 200

Help Wanted MAILROOM/ WAREHOUSE HELP Long Island Herald has IMMEDIATE openings for a FULL-TIME & PART-TIME mailroom/warehouse helper in Garden City. We are a busy print shop looking for motivated and reliable individuals to assist in various duties in the shop. Forklift experience is a plus and heavy lifting is required. Hours vary, so flexibility is key. Salary Ranges fromo $16 per hour to $20 per hour. Email resumes or contact info to careers@liherald.com MULTI MEDIA ACCOUNT DEVELOPMENT Inside Sales Looking for an aggressive self starter who is great at making and maintaining relationships and loves to help businesses grow by marketing them on many different advertising platforms. You will source new sales opportunities through inbound lead follow-up and outbound cold calls. Must have the ability to understand customer needs and requirements and turn them in to positive advertising solutions. We are looking for a talented and competitive Inside Sales Representative that thrives in a quick sales cycle environment. Compensation ranges from $33,280 + commissions and bonuses to over $100,000 including commission and bonuses. We also offer health benefits, 401K and paid time off. Please send cover letter and resume with salary requirements to ereynolds@liherald.com Call 516-569-4000 X286

1234932

Careers@liherald.com

Help Wanted

Fun, Energetic, Reliable $16.00/ Hour

MAILROOM/WAREHOUSE HELP FT/PT (Salary Range $16 per hour to $17 per hour)

Email Your Resumes to

EMPLOYMENT

DAY CARE ASSISTANT Full Time Needed

CIRCULATION ASSOCIATE FT/PT (Salary Range $16 per hour to $23 per hour)

(Salary Range $20 per hour to $30 per hour)

1247796

Equal Opportunity Employer

REPORTER/EDITOR FT/PT (Salary Range $20,000 to $45,000)

PRINTING PRESS OPERATORS FT/PT

Interested candidates must have NYS SBL certification. Interested candidates must apply on-line at www.hewlett-woodmere.net click on career opportunities

Salary Range $33,280 to $100,000 including Commissions & Bonuses

OUTSIDE SALES

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

PRINTING PRESS OPERATORS FT & PT. Long Island Herald has IMMEDIATE openings for Printing Press Operators in Garden City. We are a busy print shop looking for motivated and reliable individuals to assist in various duties in the shop. Hours vary, so flexibility is key. Salary Ranges from $20 per hour to $30 per hour. Email resumes or contact info to careers@liherald.com

Project Managers, Westbury, NY: Coordinate jobs start to finish, plans, permits, scheduling & updating statuses; Review scope of work to see if matches contract; Prep necessary materials & attend weekly project meeting & manage project field m a n p ow e r. S a l a r y $ 1 0 2 , 0 0 0 $121,597/year. Send res to: Cardoza Plumbing Corp, Janet@cardozaplumbing.com.

SANTA CRUZ SERAG Caregivers Provide The Best Male/ Female Caregivers In America. Certified HHA's, Professional. Experts In Dementia, Alzheimers, Parkinsons Cases. Live-in/Out. Gertrude 347-444-0960

Helping you find a HOME or sell a HOME … a place to call your own. Suburb or country, house, condo, townhouse or apartment, our Classifieds can help you find a HOME that fits your style, your budget and Real Estate needs... it’s a MUST SEE!

Call us today!

Your Hometown Newspaper

To Place an Ad Call: 516-569-4000 • Press 5

HERALD

Homes

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

REAL ESTATE Open Houses EAST ROCKAWAY 2/18,12-1:30, 62 Bulaire Rd, NEW TO MARKET! Move Right Into This 4 BR, 2.5 Bth Exp Ranch in Waverly Park Area of SD#20(Lynbrook). Open Floor Plan. LR w/Fpl, DR, Gran/Wood EIK Plus Family Rm w/ Vaulted Ceiling. Upper Level Has Huge Skylit Recreation Rm, BR, Bth & W/D. Beautifully Lanscaped Oversized Prop W/ Trex Deck for Enter taining. Multi Car Drvewy...$899,000 Ronnie Gerber, Douglas Elliman 516-238-429

HEWLETT BA, 1534 Broadway #213,.! Move Right Into This 2 Bedroom, 2 Bath Condo in Prestigious Jonathan Hall with Doorman & Elevator. Spacious Corner Unit. Updtd Gran/Wood Kit, LR & DR. Washer/Dryer in Unit. Garage Pkg. Loads of Closets. Terrace Faces Back. Easy Ranch Style Living. Convenient to Shops, LIRR & Houses of Worship....$649,000 R o n n i e G e r b e r, D o u g l a s E l l i m a n 516-238-4299

Rent Your Apartment through the Herald and PrimeTime Classified section. Call us for our great *specials. 516-5694000, press 5 for Classified Dept. *(private party only)

Open Houses HEWLETT: 1267 Peninsula Blvd, Open House By Appt, NEW! 5 BR, 2 Bath Exp Cape in SD#14(Hewlett Woodmere)Living Room, FDR & Updtd Gran/Wood EIK w/ Vaulted Ceiling. 2 Main Flr BRs & Updtd Bth. Upper Level 3 BRs & Updtd Bth. 1.5 Car Det Gar Plus 4/5 Car Drivewy. Priv Yd w/ Deck.HW Flrs, Gas Ht. Near Shops, L I R R , Tr a n s & H o u s e s o f W o r ship...$599,000 Ronnie Gerber, Douglas Elliman 516-238-4299 HEWLETT: 1267 Peninsula Blvd, Open House By Appt, NEW! 5 BR, 2 Bath Exp Cape in SD#14(Hewlett Woodmere)Living Room, FDR & Updtd Gran/Wood EIK w/ Vaulted Ceiling. 2 Main Flr BRs & Updtd Bth. Upper Level 3 BRs & Updtd Bth. 1.5 Car Det Gar Plus 4/5 Car Drivewy. Priv Yd w/ Deck.HW Flrs, Gas Ht. Near Shops, L I R R , Tr a n s & H o u s e s o f W o r ship...$599,000 Ronnie Gerber, Douglas Elliman 516-238-4299 H EW L ET T 1 53 4 B ROA DWAY # 213 , OPEN HOUSE By Appt, FIRST TIME ON MARKET! Move Right Into This 2 Bedroom, 2 Bath Condo in Prestigious Jonathan Hall with Doorman & Elevator. Spacious Corner Unit. Updtd Gran/Wood Kit, LR & DR. Washer/Dryer in Unit. Garage Pkg. Loads of Closets. Terrace Faces Back. Easy Ranch Style Living. Convenient to Shops, LIRR & Houses of Worship....$649,000 Ronnie Gerber, Douglas Elliman 516-238-4299

HERALD — February 15, 2024

HERALD

H2 02/15

Merrick Woods

HOME Of tHE WEEK February 15, 2024 — HERALD

One Of A Kind!

his turnkey, truly unique, one of a kind Ranger Ranch, boasts 5 bedrooms including 2 primary suites, 3 full baths, extended eat in kitchen, extended great room, and dedicated laundry room on main level. This incredible home has too many amenities to list. Nestled in the heart of Merrick Woods, within minutes to all, this 1/4+ acre property has a resort style heated saltwater pool/ waterfall and landscaping for spectacular privacy and beauty that is second to none. For those with a discriminating taste, this home is a must see both inside and out. $1,349,999 Call for a private showing

Q. I have been looking for houses with my daughter and son-in law. We finally found one; unfortunately, everything we’ve seen needs some kind of work, and this one is no exception. It has cracks in the foundation that we were told could be a structural problem. We got three people to look at the foundation, and one, a contractor with a lot of experience in the area, told us that the whole foundation should be replaced, that it’s a “structural mess.” An engineer told us about a horizontal crack that’s only on the outside and not on the inside, saying it needs filling with a kind of cement that would repair the problem. The third person, a mason contractor, also told us that the crack is a sign that the whole section on that side of the house is dropping and would need to be cut out and replaced. We don’t know which way to go. The wall looks straight, even though the mason said it’s already almost an inch out of vertical and could continue to tilt. What would you do if these were your children and such an expensive repair?

OPEN HOUSES SUNDAY, 2/18/24 EAST ROCKAWAY 62 Bulaire Rd, 12-1:30, NEW TO MARKET! Move Right Into This 4 BR, 2.5 Bth Exp Ranch in Waverly Park Area of SD#20 (Lynbrook). Open Floor Plan. LR w/Fpl, DR, Gran/Wood EIK Plus Family Rm w/ Vaulted Ceiling. Upper Level Has Huge Skylit Recreation Rm, BR, Bth & W/D. Beautifully Lanscaped Oversized Prop W/ Trex Deck for Entertaining. Multi Car Drvewy ............................................................................................ $899,000

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

This Robin won’t rest until you are in your new NEST! How’s the market?? Please contact me for your free market report and personalized service!

“Leading Edge Award Winner” Robin Reiss

Licensed Real Estate Salesperson Cell: 516.510.6484 Office: 516.623.4500 Robin.Reiss@elliman.com

Results that Move You

HEWLETT 1267 Peninsula Blvd, 2-3:30, 5 BR, 2 Bath Exp Cape in SD#14 (Hewlett Woodmere) Living Room, FDR & Updtd Gran/Wood EIK w/ Vaulted Ceiling. 2 Main Flr BRs & Updtd Bth. Upper Level 3 BRs & Updtd Bth. 1.5 Car Det Gar Plus 4/5 Car Drivewy. Priv Yd w/ Deck. HW Flrs, Gas Ht. Near Shops, LIRR, Trans & Houses of Worship .................................................. $599,000

A BETTER WAY TO BUY AND SELL REAL ESTATE! “Call A Realtor With Proven Experience!” Rob Kolb Licensed Real Estate Salesperson Tripodi Shemtov Team

Douglas Elliman Real Estate

30 West Park Ave | Long Beach, NY 11561 Cell: 516-314-1728 • Office: 516-432-3400 Rob.Kolb@elliman.com • Elliman.com/RobKolb

1554 Moffitt Ave, BA, WHOLE HOUSE RENTAL! Updtd 4 BR Col w/ 2 New Bths. LR/Fpl, FDR, Den & Kit. Main Flr BR/Off. Newer W/D, Ductless AC Units, Gas Ht. 2 Car Det Gar. Enclosed Yard. SD#14 (Hewlett-Wood). Great Location Near Schools, Park, LIRR & Houses of Worship. $4500 per month

Houses For Rent HEWLET BA 1554 Moffitt Ave, OPEN , WHOLE HOUSE RENTAL! Updtd 4 BR Col w/ 2 New Bths. LR/Fpl,FDR, Den & Kit. Main Flr BR/Off. Newer W/D, Ductless AC Units, Gas Ht. 2 Car Det Gar. Enclosed Yard. SD#14(Hewlett-Wood). Great Location Near Schools, Park, LIRR & Houses of Worship...$4500 per month Ronnie Gerber. Douglas Elliman 516-238-429hewlett

Apartments Wanted SOUTH SHORE VICINITY: Nice, Responsible Person Seeking Studio/ 1 BR/ Share. Lower Level Okay. 516-569-5054

Rooms Wanted RESPONSIBLE PERSON LOOKING for Room to Rent in either Uniondale, Freeport, Hempstead or Baldwin. Non-Smoker, Reliable, Quiet and Very Nice . Please Call/ Text 929-620-9363

3487 5th Street, Oceanside

Instagram: @aigamazz

Listing Agent : AigA MAzzAnobile Cell: 516-425-2068 “Taking The Mystery Out Of Real Estate Since 1983”

Apartments For Rent

Furnished Rooms/Apts.

CEDARHURST NO FEE Pr ivate Entrance, Modern 1BR, 2BR, 3BR, CAC, W/D, Storage, Wall To Wall Carpeting, Indoor Parking Space. Starting At $1450 For O n e B e d r o o m W h e n Ava i l a bl e. (516)860-6889/ (516)852-5135/ (516)582-9978

RESPONSIBLE PERSON LOOKING For a Room to Rent or Apartment to Share in either Hempstead, Uniondale, Freeport, or Baldwin Vicinity. Non-Smoker, Reliable, Quiet and Very Nice. Call/ Text 929-620-9363

ELMONT: 1 BR, Upper Level, All New, All Included, Near All, No Pets. $2,000. 516-547-8015

Sold Price! S $ 687,000 O L 4 Bedroom / 3 Bath Expanded Cape D

1245284

1390 Broadway #117, BA, NEW TO MARKET! Move Right Into This Beautiful JR 4 Coop Apt in Luxurious Hewlett Townhouse. Huge LR & DR, Ren Kit w/ Wood Cab/Quartz Counters/ Stainless St Appl. Encl Terrace Overlooking Garden can Be Rm. Spac BR w/ En Suite Bath. W/D in Apt. 24 Hr Drmn, Elevator, Valet Pkg, Priv Storage. Redone IG Comm Pool. Gar Pkg. Near Shops, LIRR & Houses of Worship ................................ $359,000

1247545

1247963

1534 Broadway #213, BA, FIRST TIME ON MARKET! Move Right Into This 2 Bedroom, 2 Bath Condo in Prestigious Jonathan Hall with Doorman & Elevator. Spacious Corner Unit. Updtd Gran/Wood Kit, LR & DR. Washer/ Dryer in Unit. Gar Pkg. Loads of Closets. Terrace Faces Back. Easy Ranch Style Living. Convenient to Shops, LIRR & Houses of Worship .... $649,000

Call the One phone call, one order, one heck of a good price USA Classified Network to run your ad in any state, today! or across the country. 1-800-231-6152

A. The question really is, who do you trust, and how much really needs to be done? Do you accept the engineer’s opinion? Are they really a licensed engineer or a home inspector? It does matter, because there is a level of responsibility that goes with truly professional advisement versus the opinion of experienced trades-people. onte eeper Basically, it always comes down to one thing: In a court of law, whose testimony and credentials will be acceptable to the judge. Will the contractor or mason be able to demonstrate to a court that they have the training, license(s) or credentials to be recognized as the final word? A concrete wall out of vertical alignment after many years of service can be concerning, but consider that if the wall is still supporting, the one inch is one-eighth (approximately) of the width of the wall, which is still attached to the rest of the construction and is not severed away. I would doubt that the wall is as great a concern as you have been led to believe. It is certainly worth monitoring. When I approach such a condition, which happens several times a year, I look at the much greater surroundings to try to evaluate causes. Is the foundation subject to ground vibration from traffic, underground tidal activity, surface drainage that hasn’t been sloped away from the building, poor soil conditions? There can be many different reasons for the separation. Sometimes it’s just a bad construction job, where the second pour on top of the first was delayed too long, and the horizontal crack is due to what is referred to as a “cold joint,” where the concrete didn’t set up together to begin with. It doesn’t mean the foundation wall will fail. Stick with impartial advice from qualified licensed professionals to make your decision. Good luck!

Ask The Architect

1247667

1246682

Jane Clifford Signature Premier Properties 516.359.2060 Cell JCliff1743@aol.com Lic Real Estate Salesperson Lic # 10391201876 324 Merrick Avenue Merrick, NY 11566

Ronnie Gerber 516-238-4299

‘Everything we’ve seen needs some kind of work’

Apts./House To Share HEMPSTEAD, UNIONDALE, FREEPORT, BALDWIN OR VICINITY: Responsible Person Looking to Share a 2 Bedroom Apartment or House. Non-Smoker, Quiet, Very Easy Going. Willing to Split All Expenses. Please Call/ Text 929-620-9363 If No Answer, Leave Message

© 2024 Monte Leeper Readers are encouraged to send questions to yourhousedr@aol.com, with “Herald question” in the subject line, or to Herald Homes, 2 Endo Blvd., Garden City, NY 11530, Attn: Monte Leeper, architect.

H3 02/15

Market Place • •

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

VALLEY STREAM HERALD — February 15, 2024

HERALD

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

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RepaiRs & installations

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JOBS, MERCHANDISE, REAL ESTATE & MORE... JOBS, MERCHANDISE, It’s in the Herald Classifieds... REAL ESTATE & MORE... Call 516-569-4000 JOBS,To Advertise MERCHANDISE, REAL ESTATE & MORE... JOBS, MERCHANDISE, REAL ESTATE & MORE... press 5

HERALD

Stuff

To place an ad call 516-569-4000 press 5 Cemetery Plots BETH DAVID CEMETERY: Elmont, NY. 3 Plots. Separate Or All Together. Graves 18, 25, and 32. Purchase Separate $5000; Purchase Together $14000. Negotiable. Call 845-641-7316

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

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

FINDS UNDER $100 Finds Under $100 AUDIOVOX PLAYER D1998 with two earphones, battery charger, in black carry bag, $15. 516-884-9994

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opinions

ong Island lost an American icon with the passing of Baldwin resident Bob Beckwith last week. The image of Beckwith standing with President George W. Bush amid the ruins of the World Trade Center days after the Sept. 11 attacks will forever personify America’s unyielding courage and quiet determination in the face of horrific tragedy and massive challenge. In the aftermath of 9/11, the deadliest attack ever on American soil, the country was shattered. I pETER traveled to New York from WashKinG ington on Friday, Sept. 14. Bush was on Air Force One, and I was on an accompanying Air Force jet with other members of Congress from New York. Riding in a government vehicle from LaGuardia Airport to Lower Manhattan, I was struck by how quickly New York had become a ghost town. There was virtually no traffic on its usually congested streets, and just handfuls of pedestrians on otherwise busy sidewalks. We were driven to a corner adjacent to the wreck-

age of the twin towers. Though I had worked in an office building on Vesey Street years before, when the towers were being constructed, I had difficulty getting my bearings amid all the destruction. We were told that the president was several blocks away, and would be making his way toward us, when we heard a loud roar and cheers of “USA!” This was before the age of social media, so it wasn’t until I got home that I saw the video on television of Bush standing atop a damaged vehicle, shouting into a bullhorn that “the people who knocked these buildings down will hear all of us soon!’’ His left arm was wrapped around the shoulder of a strong-faced, quietly confident, veteran New York City firefighter. This image resonated with me like the iconic photo of the Marines raising the Stars and Stripes at Iwo Jima inspired a previous generation of Americans. At that moment, on Sept. 14, 2001, Americans knew we would not be vanquished. We would fight back with American spirit, determination and courage. Overnight, photos of the scene flew around the world, including to the cover of Time magazine. In the subsequent days I would talk

with firefighter friends who had worked with Bob Beckwith over the years. Everything they said about him was positive. The most common descriptions of him included “solid,” “regular guy,” “loyal” and “very patriotic.” Sure enough, when I got to know Bob and his wife, Barbara, I saw that he was all that and more. He gave no indication that his image had been seen by tens of millions of people around the world, or that he had visited Bush in the White House and maintained a friendship with him. He was a thoroughly decent man who was proud to have been a firefighter, and considered himself no more important than other firefighters. Often I would be invited to join retired firefighters at monthly breakfasts at a Lindenhurst diner. I was always struck by how Beckwith, an internationally known symbol of 9/11, mingled and sat so unassumingly as just one of the guys, expecting no recognition or special acknowledgment. Rosemary and I became friendly with Bob and Barbara. We visited their home and invited them to ours for Christmas parties. Bob campaigned for me, handing out flyers at shopping centers, appearing at fundrais-

e’d be the last to tell you that his image had been seen by millions around the world.

ing events and attending swearing-in ceremonies in Washington. In November, Rosemary and I visited him when we heard his health had taken a turn for the worse. It was a heartwarming visit. Bob was as sharp as ever, talking with us about his friendship with Bush and how he used his fame to focus public attention on the need to help burned and injured firefighters. He also reminisced about his 30 years of service in the FDNY, without ever making himself the center of the story. Though he was using a walker that day, he got around easily, using it more as a safeguard than a necessity. As always, Barbara not only joined in the conversation, but had coffee and pastries for us as we sat around the dining room table. Bob wasn’t kidding himself. He knew his cancer had spread, and he would be undergoing immunotherapy. But he was both hopeful and fatalistic, hoping it would work while knowing it might not. Bob Beckwith fought hard to the end and died as he lived, with courage and class. It was my privilege to be able to call him my friend. Bob Beckwith and 9/11. The right man for a historic moment. R.I.P. Peter King is a former congressman, and a former chair of the House Committee on Homeland Security. Comments? pking@ liherald.com.

Stop playing petty political games with county resources

or Nassau County, 2024 is a year of new beginnings — a fact that is evidenced by the ascension of two new legislative caucus leaders and five new legislators. I was looking forward to a fresh start and greater bipartisan cooperation as we confront the county’s most important issues. Unfortunately, our first meeting did not go as I hoped. Amid the coronavirus pandemic, the federal government allotted funding to help local communities weather the crisis and recover from the many challenges it created. The county received roughly DELiA $385 million in DeRiGGi-WHiTTon American Rescue Plan Act funds, and, as of Jan. 22, still had around $299 million left to allocate. By law, ARPA funding must be allocated by the end of this year and spent by the end of 2026. Otherwise it will be clawed back by the federal government. Some municipalities have used the money for tax rebates for residents, to launch medical bill forgiveness programs or to establish other initiatives that directly aid small businesses and non-

profit organizations. On the other hand, County Executive Bruce Blakeman has recently stressed two ideas — moving more than $222 million into the county’s operating budget, and using $10 million to help stage and promote a series of galas and other celebrations of the county’s 125th anniversary. By comparison, Blakeman proposed setting aside a relatively small portion of the funding — $15 million — to support various nonprofits and special districts that deliver ARPA-approved services. Initially, the minority caucus advocated for the inclusion of roughly $12 million for worthwhile agencies in our seven districts. When presented with the $15 million number for the entire county, our hope was to reach a compromise that increased the total to $19 million, with an agreement to divide the funds equally, with $1 million for each of the 19 districts. That would have allowed each legislator to help arrange for the distribution of resources to the most severely impacted programs and initiatives to help communities fully rebound from the pandemic. Ultimately, the majority would not commit to an equitable distribution approach, or even a small increase of the

allocation. Naturally, this was a disappointing outcome. And recent events have made the absence of an equity agreement a real concern. For the past several years, applications for grant funding in my district — for fire departments, public libraries, and more — seem to have been stonewalled by the Blakeman administration. During our ARPA negotiations, implications were made that the funding was indeed being held up. The reason? The administration didn’t approve of my comments in a recent column, urging it to expedite the delivery of opioid settlement funds to agencies that deliver life-saving prevention, treatment and recovery services. Specifically, when I argued that the administration’s approach is “badly out of touch with the needs of our constituents,” it was alleged that I engaged in “personal attacks.” By fast-tracking approval of $10 million in funding for 125th-anniversary celebrations while opioid funding continued to languish on our ledger books, the administration made its priorities clear. Pointing that out is a policy critique, and I stand by my statement today. I am still dismayed that the county held back hundreds of

e need to make better use of federal funding left over from the pandemic.

millions of dollars in remaining ARPA and opioid settlement funds for as long as it did to bolster its reserves for the sake of impressing rating agencies and potentially generating interest on the funds. In my opinion, by acquiescing to the administration’s wishes, the Legislature’s presiding officer, Howard Kopel, missed a relatively easy opportunity to start off his tenure in a good-faith, bipartisan manner. Even after hearing directly from dozens of organizations that would have put those resources to such good use, the majority rubber-stamped the administration’s plan and gave every indication that the county executive’s office will have the final say on where this $15 million will be spent. While I hope the office will be responsive to the will of the people and each district will receive a fair share, that outcome is now out of the control of the members of the minority caucus. Yes, this was an incredibly disappointing start to the year, but it’s just that — the start. I’m still optimistic that we will do a better job for the people of Nassau County in the months ahead, and that the county will use this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to give worthwhile organizations that serve our communities the resources they deserve. Delia DeRiggi-Whitton is the County Legislature’s new minority leader, and represents the 11th District.

VALLEY STREAM HERALD — February 15, 2024

I’ll never forget Bob Beckwith

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Saying goodbye to a true American hero

“W

hen the terrorists attacked, Bob suited up. And, like so many brave first responders, raced toward the danger to save and search for others.” Those were the words former President George W. Bush shared in a statement last week about Bob Beckwith, a Queens firefighter from Baldwin who had indeed raced to the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001, and ultimately stood with the president a few days later as he gave a rousing speech to the first responders with nothing but a bullhorn in that iconic moment. Except that Beckwith — who died on Feb. 4, at 91 — wasn’t on active duty in 2001. He was 69, and had been retired from the New York City Fire Department since the mid-1990s, following a stellar 30-year career. But it was in his blood to rush and help, and that was the only thing on his mind as he raced to the scene in search of survivors, donning his old firefighter helmet from Ladder Co. 164. It was by pure chance that the president spotted him that day. But once he did, Bush wanted nothing more than to have Beckwith at his side while he sought to build optimism during one of the country’s darkest periods. “I want you to know that America today is on bended knee in prayer for the people whose lives we lost here,” Bush told the first responders that day, his left arm draped around Beckwith. “For the workers who work here. For the families

who mourn. This nation stands with the good people of New York City, and New Jersey and Connecticut, as we mourn the loss of thousands of our citizens.” “We can’t hear you,” someone shouted from the crowd. Without missing a beat, the president yelled back into the bullhorn: “I can hear you!” earning cheers from those gathered around him. “I can hear you. The rest of the world hears you. And the people who knocked these buildings down will hear all of us soon!” Afterward, Bush extended his hand to Beckwith, who shook it proudly before stepping off the rubble so he could get back to work. Beckwith wasn’t introduced that day, but that didn’t keep the world from knowing who he was. From multiple news reports in the months that followed to the cover of Time magazine, the image of Bush standing with Beckwith demonstrated the resolve of the American people, helping to begin the healing process. Yet those days were very difficult for Beckwith. Of the 2,977 people who died that day, 343 were FDNY members who had raced into the twin towers as others desperately tried to find their way out. Another 71 were law enforcement officers — primarily from the New York City Police Department — while 55 others were military personnel, most of them killed in the attack on the Pentagon in Washington. After it seemed the initial danger had passed, another remained hidden among

Letters Too many Long Island teens are driving distracted, and dying To the Editor: Recently, a fatal issue has been making headlines on Long Island. While motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for 15- to 18-year-olds in the U.S., Nassau and Suffolk are two of the deadliest counties for traffic fatalities in New York. According to the Institute for Traffic Safety and Management, Long Island averages 18.2 roadway deaths per month. That number skyrocketed to 31 in August 2023. Crashes claimed 243 lives in 2022, 29 percent more than in 2019. On Jan. 2 of this year, on the SeafordOyster Bay Expressway in North Massapequa, while returning to school after the holidays, Dylan Nuccio went off the road at Exit 5’s northbound ramp, hit a tree, and flipped the car, a crash that took his life. We at EAC Network, a nonprofit comprising 114 social service programs helping New Yorkers in need, can educate more teen drivers and their parents to decrease these numbers and save lives. Rachel Lugo, EAC’s division director and the force behind our Driving Equation program, partnered

the rubble, and it attacked every one of those brave men and women who sifted through the debris that day and in the weeks and months that followed. Cancers believed to have developed after exposure to the toxic debris sickened many of them in the years afterward, and claimed many lives. Last September, after the death of former EMT Hilda Vannata and retired firefighter Robert Fulco, the number of FDNY members killed in the aftermath by those diseases equaled the total who died on Sept. 11 itself. And that number, horrifically, will only grow. The first responders and their families will continue to need our help. And it’s imperative that our leaders at both the state and federal level continue to ensure that funding is in place to make that happen. Bob Beckwith lived to 91, capping an extraordinary life. But even his was cut short by a 9/11-related illness. Something he never would have developed if he had just stayed home that day. But that wasn’t Bob Beckwith. And it certainly wasn’t who President Bush saw that day at ground zero. Beckwith was a man who raced toward danger while others ran from it. And retired or not, it wasn’t going to stop him. “I was proud to have Bob by my side at ground zero days later,” Bush said after learning of Beckwith’s death. “And privileged to stay in touch with this patriot over the years.” Rest in peace, Bob Beckwith. You truly do define what it means to be an American.

opinions

ith rising fears of contaminated drinking water for residents across Long Island, I am disappointed by Gov. Kathy Hochul’s proposal to cut $250 million from the Clean Water Infrastructure Act. Since 2019, each state budget has included $500 million to keep New York’s water clean. Not only does this program prioritize the public’s health, it also helps create thousands of jobs, and even helps lower water bills for so many New Yorkers. These funds are used to repair water mains and replace lead michaeLLe pipes, and for the remediation of soLaGes emerging toxic chemicals known as PFAS. Along with many of my fellow legislators, I believe that at least $600 million must be included in this year’s budget if we are to keep up with these demanding public health needs.

While the state has taken monumental steps since 2017 to address the need for clean drinking water, there is so much work that must be done to ensure that we meet the needs of all New Yorkers. If we are to properly address these issues with the state’s drinking water and wastewater infrastructure, an estimated $80 billion must be allocated by 2037, because the federal government will require states to replace all of their lead pipes and to implement more filtration technology to remove toxic chemicals from our water. Toxic PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals,” have been found in water sources across the state, and are an obvious threat to the public’s safety. According to a study done in Minnesota, it costs between $2.7 million and $18 million to remove and eliminate PFAS from municipal water. If we don’t implement legislation that bans the use of PFAS throughout multiple sectors in New York, we will surely be paying for it down the line.

e must invest in expanding the state’s capacity to test for contaminants.

Letters with community agencies and Long Island high schools to promote safe driving and reduce distractions behind the wheel through free educational programs including Second Chances in Occupant Protection for Everyone, or SCOPE, and Teen Driving Equation. Lugo also oversees Safe Start, a program promoting child passenger safety by educating parents and child care providers. According to Lisa Mirabile, an involved parent, an EAC defensive driving program participant, an EAC Network Board member and the president and CEO of Vertigo Media Group, “The EAC program is invaluable. When a young person receives their license, they don’t realize they’re driving a weapon. EAC’s defensive driving program showed my son — through live examples and testimony from EMTs, police officers and victims — what it’s like to live in the aftermath of catastrophic accidents. The instructor revealed how he lost his own son. It brought my son to tears — he even hugged me. It scared him straight. This saves lives and should be taught in every high school. I’m so grateful that we had this experience. It made my son a respectful driver with no accidents to date.” As Long Island mourns, swift results are essential. The community must

As we continue to take samples from municipal water sources to test them for toxic chemicals like PFAS, it is also vital to the well-being of our residents that we invest in expanding New York’s capacity to test for other emerging contaminants. Even now, we are seeing backlogs for testing at Environmental Laboratory Approval Program labs, and those delays are only expected to get worse. It’s apparent that we need more resources to help labs expedite the testing process and, possibly, to test for more emerging contaminants in the future. It is also imperative that we extend and fund the Low Income Household Water Assistance Program. By using federal funds during the pandemic, New York state was able to provide nearly $70 million in water bill assistance to lowincome households. This program expired last summer, and it is not likely to receive any funding in the near future. The state now must step in and implement a program of its own to

address the needs of its impoverished, disenfranchised and marginalized communities. As a lifelong Long Island resident, I know that providing residents with plentiful, clean water is essential. While Nassau and Suffolk counties have seen success in the state’s Septic System Replacement Program, there is still much work ahead of us. Living on a barrier island means that we are on the front lines of the climate crisis and, therefore, are leading the fight for clean water. Estuaries like the Long Island Sound are an extraordinary environmental and economic asset for New York, with an estimated economic value of $17 billion to $37 billion. Over 23 million New Yorkers live within 50 miles of the Sound, and more than 191,000 watershed jobs depend on its preservation. If we plan on keeping Long Island’s water clean, we need to ensure that we continue to fund the Clean Water Infrastructure Act. Michaelle Solages, who represents the 22nd Assembly District, is the Assembly’s deputy majority leader and chairs the Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic, and Asian Legislative Caucus.

Framework by Tim Baker

unite, support partners like EAC, and emphasize driver responsibility. It’s time to act. Any Long Island high school interested in free educational driving programs for parents, caregivers and students can contact the EAC Network’s Second Chances in Occupant Protection for Everyone at (631) 648-7100, ext. 210. Together we can reverse the devastating statistics.

Celebrating 60 years since the Beatles first landed — TWA Hotel at Kennedy Airport

GILLIAN HANNA Public Relations, EAC Network

Do you transfer from the LIRR to the subway? To the Editor: Thousands of LIRR commuters who transfer to the New York City subways should be concerned that neither Gov. Kathy Hochul, MTA chair Janno Lieber nor NYC Transit president Richard Davey told the whole story at a ceremony when they boarded the new R211 train beginning passenger service on the C local subway line. These new cars are unable to be safely operated on the A line express tracks. A series of Federal Transit Administration grants to the MTA, over several years, paid for most of the base bid of $1.44 billion awarded to Kawasaki to

purchase 535 new state-of-the-art R211 subway cars. They will primarily replace a similar number of cars currently operating on the A and C lines, along with the Staten Island Railway, that have reached the end of their useful lives. Delivery of all 535 cars is anticipated to be completed before the end of 2024. This assumes there are no additional project delays. Davey said that NYC Transit is being overly cautious by keeping the subway cars on local subway routes. What they all did not share with commuters, taxpayers, elected officials, the MTA board and transit advocates is that the design of the gangway on the new cars makes it impossible for train opera-

tors to safely perform a required inspection following the activation of the emergency brakes. Not a day goes by in which someone doesn’t pull an emergency brake, which results in major service disruptions. Will Hochul, Lieber and Davey hold those responsible for the design, engineering, procurement, inspection and acceptance of these new subway cars accountable for this major error? Never in the history of the MTA have new subway cars not been able to be safely operated on both local and express tracks. Whoever is responsible for this disaster should be fired. LARRY PENNER Great Neck

Stream District 13’s education board meets Tuesday, Feb. 27 at 8 p.m., at the James A Dever School, 585 Corona Ave. A calendar item correction Valley that appeared in recent editions of The Scene provided an incorrect date.

VALLEY STREAM HERALD — February 15, 2024

Investing in clean water for a healthier Long Island

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February 15, 2024 — VALLEY STREAM HERALD