Valley Stream Herald 03-07-2024

HERALD

Fed says l.I. is on the rebound

Page 6

MARCH 7-13, 2024

Call to push electric bus date

Page 14

Keith Rossein/Herald

$1.00

Girl Scout helps people look for the positive

By JUAN l ASSo jlasso@liherald.com

The acute mental health challenges of children and teens, borne out by ballooning rates of anxiety and depression, are a reality universally acknowledged by mental health experts. Girl Scout Alicia Tritschler of Lynbrook Troop 2168, a 15-year-old student at Valley Stream South High School, knows this all too well.

Her generation has grown side by side with social media and its ability to amplify or reshape the social pressures and stresses her fellow teens face.

Emerging evidence also suggests the pandemic, whose years of forced isolation and lost socialization had a lasting effect on children’s and teens’ mental health.

“I know I wanted to do something that helps people, really kids and teens, who might not be in a good mindset right now or stressed out about life because of Covid,” said Tritschler.

Her answer, as part of her Silver Award project, was a ConTinued on

Village general election 2024: at-large trustee race

By JUAN l ASSo jlasso@liherald.com

Two at-large trustee seats are on the ballot at this month’s village election. Village trustee incumbents John Tufarelli and Sean Wright of the United Community Party seek to retain their seats against Achieve Party challenger Anthony Bonelli who made a similar unsuccessful bid for trustee in 2020.

In this three-way contest, the top two vote-getters on March 19 will earn their place at Village Hall. Trustees Wright and Tufarelli have been fixtures of village politics for years.

Sean Wright and John Tufarelli

Wright’s career background is in law, serving as a prosecutor for the village for more than seven years, handling ticket and building violations cases.

The 54-year-old trustee became a Hempstead Town attorney in 2011 and worked as an arbitrator in Queens and Nassau County. His community roots run deep. He was a former treasurer for the Friends of Bridge substance abuse counseling center, a former assistant coach with the Valley Stream Green Hornets, and a volunteer attorney advisor for High School Mock Trial.

Tufarelli, a longtime resi -

dent of Valley Stream, will seek his fourth term on the trustee board. He was the owner of the now-closed Wheeler Deli, a business the 62-year-old trustee operated for over two decades. He is the former President and Coach of the Valley Stream Mail League Baseball League and Blessed Sacrament Athletic Association board member. Affordability remains a central concern among residents, particularly in reducing the village property tax burden while preserving quality-of-life services.

Wright sympathized with the financial crunch families are under.

“No one wants to pay more. I get it,” said Wright. “The last thing I ever want to see is good friends and neighbors leave because of affordability.”

The village he argues has sought ways to spare the spending of taxpayer dollars by seeking out alternative sources of funding. The current administration has “a great track

record” of seeking out and applying for inter-governmental funding to pay for village projects to lessen the burden on residents.

The village has turned a corner on its financial situation, noted Tufarelli, as it strives to keep a tight financial grip on its spending. The same way one

Fifteen-year-old Girl Scout Alicia Tritschler demonstrates to Henry Waldinger Memorial Library patron Alejandro Sosa how to use her positivity board.

WE KNOW

WE KNOW CANCER WE KNOW YOUR CANCER

We know you. We focus on every detail, including your other health conditions and emotional and physical needs. We know cancer. We combine extensive clinical expertise and advanced technologies to create truly comprehensive and innovative care. We know your cancer™ . Leaving no stone unturned, we start with the genetic makeup of your tumor and consider every factor to provide a highly personalized care plan. It’s because we know that considering all the details can add up to a life-changing difference.

Neighbors gather for Black History Month

Around 200 members of the Elmont community gathered at Gateway Christian Center in Valley Stream last weekend to celebrate Black History Month and Women’s History Month.

The event was hosted by Universal Interactions, an Elmont-based nonprofit with hopes of bridging the gap between generations in the community.

“We just wanted to highlight people in our community,” said Christiano Marcello, an executive director of Universal Interactions.

Marcello said the event was dedicated to recognizing women in the community. He said the event was held March 3 so that Universal Interactions could highlight both Women’s History Month and Black History Month together.

Musicians, dancers, singers, spoken word performers and more performed at Gateway Christian Center for the crowd last weekend. In total, there were 11 acts that performed.

Singers included Jay Forbes, Geniale Rebecca Medna, Diamond, Soley, Kimberly and Isaiah Tart. Dancers included Elmont Memorial High School Dancers, Bianca’s Dance Academy, Etana, LaRock, Christiano Marcello, Marc and Mickey. Musicians Roland Cameau, Mark Mellowkeys, and James Onwodi performed for the crowd. Marjorie Dejour Morales and Pastor Curtis performed spoken word. The event was cosponsored by Gateway Christian Center and Krystie Foundation.

–Nicole Wagner

Keith Rossein/Herald photos

Bianca Hunter and student performers from the Bianca Dance Academy get ready to perform at the Women’s History and Black History Month Concert on March 3.

Etana Sissoko from the Ailey School performs a modern dance solo for the crowd at the Women’s History and Black History Month Concert.

Dancers from Elmont perform during the Women’s History and Black History Month Concert hosted by Elmont-based nonprofit Universal Interactions at Gateway Christian Center in Valley Stream last weekend.

Musicians Roland Cameau on guitar, Mark Mellowkeys on keyboard and James Onwodi on bass guitar perform for the crowd of 200 people at Gateway Christian Center in Valley Stream for a Women’s History and Black History Month Concert.

Setting short-term financial goals, as well as mid-term and long-term, is an important step toward becoming financially secure. If you aren’t working toward anything specific, you’re likely to spend more than you should. You’ll then come up short when you need money for unexpected bills, not to mention when you want to retire. You might get stuck in a vicious cycle of credit card debt and feel like you never have enough cash to get properly insured, leaving you more vulnerable than you need to be to handle some of life’s major risks.

Even the most prudent person can’t prepare against every crisis. What thinking ahead does is give you a chance to work through things that could happen and do your best to prepare for them. This should be an ongoing process so you can shape your life and goals to fit the changes that will inevitably come.

Be S.M.A.R.T.er

The first strategy to help you jumpstart your goals and your financial future is to set S.M.A.R.T. money goals. S.M.A.R.T. is an acronym that stands for Specific, Measurable, Attainable (or Achievable), Realistic and Timely.

Let’s start with Specific and Measurable. Here’s an example: Your goal may be to “spend less or invest more.” That’s a great goal, but it’s not specific enough. If you

instead said, “I will save or invest $1,500,” that’s a bit more specific and measurable.

Now let’s look at the Achievable and Realistic component. Using the same example, if you said, “I will invest $125 from each paycheck directly into my savings or retirement account or toward paying down a specific debt,” that is likely achievable and realistic.

Your goal must also be Timely, meaning you have a timeline for completing it. In this example, you said that you want to achieve your goal in one year’s time and $125/ month over 12 months equals $1,500 for the year.

Know Your Financial Flow

You have to get real about your spending. Understanding where your money is going is the foundation for developing healthy spending habits. Technology has made tracking your spending easy and there are several apps you can use, most of which are available on all of your devices. You may also want to utilize the “50/30/20 Rule” 50 percet of your income is allocated to meeting your needs, 30 percent to your wants, and 20 percet to savings.

Get On A Debt Diet

You must also get real about your debt. Take some time out to sit down and make a list of your debts, so you can determine which debt to pay off first.

"Here to assist you through each stage of the mortgage lending process"

Corinne DiPierro

Mortgage Loan Officer

NMLS#: 724417

E-mail: cdipierro@bethpagefcu.com/corinnedipierro

Office: 516-384-5765

Cell: 516-316-6059

www.bethpagefcu.com/corinnedipierro

You might want to begin by clearing off the debts with the smallest balance first, known as the “Debt Snowball Method.” Another strategy is to begin paying off the debt with the highest interest rate first, known as the “Debt Avalanche Method.”

Give Yourself A Cash Cushion

It is important to save for emergencies. The general recommendation is to save somewhere between three and six months’ worth of household expenses. However, more is

always better.

Invest in Your Future

Try making investing a habit. Begin with your retirement contributions. Set auto contributions if you haven’t already. If you’re already doing that, consider increasing your contributions by 2 percent (or more) of your income, and then set it to automatically increase the same amount next year.

accomplish.

by Joan Chittister

Your writer was grateful to find author Chittister’s book, subtitled “Growing Old Gracefully”, written by her at age seventy, the same age your writer turns this year.

Inevitably, we come to see things differently as we age. In “The Gift of Years” these changes in the “capstone years” as she calls them, present the gift of becoming more fully alive than ever. Cicero notes that old age is richer in reflection, force of character and judgement. The maturity and mellowing of character allows the older generation to provide a behavioral model for younger generations showing them the way to a fullness of life.

Seneca said these years abound with pleasure if we know how to use them. Free of obligations and deadlines, there is freshness in these years. Understanding, enjoyment and love of life all increase, allowing for deeper, richer and more important experiences. The world looks different — more to be treasured, explored and enjoyed.

A certain serenity sets in.

Chittister writes “But we are here to depart from this world as finished as we can possibly become. Old age is...exactly the time to grow in new ways [making] sense out of all the growing we have already done. It is the softening season when everything in us is meant to achieve its sweetest, richest, most unique self”.

Chittister calls it a damping-down time of life where anger, jealousy, envy, and pride subside to awaken another whole level of life.

“As Agatha Christie put it, we ‘bloom’ as we grow. New abilities emerge, new insights arise. New vision is possible.”

A certain urgency and intensity in living sets in as we become aware of the presence of time. With forty short chapters on subjects such as Regret, Joy, Possibility, Letting Go, Success, Wisdom, Time and Appreciation, “The Gift of Years” provides an indispensable guide to aging well.

Photo: When it comes to your finances, get specific about what you really want to

By MICHAEL HINMAN mhinman@liherald.com

We’ve heard a lot about the economy in the years coming out of the coronavirus pandemic — and those conversations will only get louder as we head into what is expected to be a rather contentious presidential election.

But when it comes to the economy on Long Island — at least for now, it’s rebounding. At least according to the man whose collection of gold in Manhattan far exceeds what’s found in Fort Knox.

John Williams, president and chief executive of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, paid the Cradle of Aviation Museum in Uniondale a visit last week, sharing the state of the economy with members of the Long Island Association. And there’s plenty to talk about.

“As business leaders, you all know all too well the impacts the pandemic had on our communities in our economy,” Williams said “In many way, Long Island’s economy mirrors New York City’s, and both were hit especially hard in 2020. In fact, much harder than what we saw in the rest of the country.”

Inflation was rampant, the job outlook was unstable, and the supply chain was struggling to regain its once super-efficient form.

But an important milestone was reached last year, Williams said: total employment numbers returned to what they were before the pandemic.

“Last year was also a turning point for the U.S. economy overall,” Williams said. “The economy grew far faster than anyone expected a year ago, boosted by increases in the labor force and productivity.”

The fact that the financial market has held for the past two years also is significant, Williams said, since that’s the longest stretch in five decades.

And although inflation continues to be a concern, at least as far as personal consumption expenditures go,

numbers are falling from the 40-year high experienced just a couple years ago to levels considered far more stable.

Williams visited with the LIA as part of an overall Long Island tour that included stops in Suffolk County as well as at Hofstra University. Although monetary policy itself is decided on Capitol Hill and the White House, the Reserve Bank of New York is where the nation’s monetary policy is implemented as part of the larger Fed.

Williams visited Long Island at a time when the economy here has stabilized, according to LIA president and chief executive Matthew Cohen.

“Our gross domestic product is $200 billion,” Cohen said. “About 45 percent of adults have a college degree — which is higher, actually, in both New York City, and the state as a whole. And, as a region, we have a low unem-

ployment rate.”

That’s pretty significant for a region that is larger than 15 states. Which is why it’s important businesses on Long Island work together, Cohen added, to lead the rest of the nation in the ongoing recovery.

“We need to work together — everyone in this room, everyone in our region — to create new good-paying jobs to support the growth of both legacy sectors and these emerging industries,” he said. It’s also important to “cultivate entrepreneurship so that the next Apple can be built here.”

Over the decades, Long Island and the country has proven to itself it can weather a number of storms. But the economy is ever-changing, Williams said, and the pandemic proved it’s important to strengthen the country’s financial infrastructure.

“It’s kind of a recognition of our limits to that resiliency,” Williams said. “Supply chains have become extremely complex.

“That’s one of the lessons — that when you have extreme movements in demand supply … things can crack in that system. People are recognizing that, in terms of businesses, of having more resiliency.”

Williams can’t make predictions of what the economy will bring, but can say the world we live in now is already different, and will continue changing as we move forward. Like the movement of more and more people to continue working from home, or maintaining hybrid work environments where they may only be in the office a couple times a week.

A potential solution?

“To do office space in the modern world, you have to invest a lot to make that office space attractive,” Williams said. “It’s just one of those kinds of evolutions that is jarring that we go through in cities like New York where things have changed, and we need to adjust to that. I’m confident we will be able to do that.”

Michael Hinman/Herald John Williams, right, president and chief executive of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, joined Long Island Association president and chief executive Matthew Cohen for a discussion on Long Island’s economy during a visit to the Cradle of Aviation Museum in Uniondale

Central senior scores dual scholarship

By ANGELINA ZINGARIELLO azingariello@liherald.com

Alyssa Santiago, 17, a senior at Valley Stream Central High School, has garnered attention for her remarkable achievements both on and off the soccer field.

Santiago’s journey in soccer began at a young age: approaching the sport with hesitation but which soon turned into a deep passion.

“I started playing soccer when I was around four or five years old,” Santiago said. “Actually, I didn’t really want to play soccer, that wasn’t my goal. But my parents ended up putting me in and I absolutely fell in love with it. And ever since then, I’ve known that I wanted to pursue it.”

Projects, pros honored at REAL Awards

Long Island’s most prolific real estate leaders highlighted at annual event

By Parker Schug

The diverse Long Island real estate scene includes industry experts from every niche specialty from construction and design, to insurance and sales. And the best of the best were honored last week as part of Herald Community Newspapers and RichnerLive’s third annual Real Estate Achievement and Leadership Awards, or REAL Awards.

“It’s a relatively small island, but a lot of things are happening,” said Chris Kelly, the marketing vice president at Tritec Real Estate Co.

Held at The Heritage Club at Bethpage, this year’s awards once again honored many leaders in the space who have been in the game for decades, as well as up-and-coming professionals — all with successful projects and happy clients to show for their work.

Antoinette Biordi, four-time Emmy Award-winning anchor and reporter for News 12, handed out a number of awards split into nearly 30 categories that included Broker of the Year, Construction Group of the Year, and the top residential and commercial broker.

Sara Gore, real estate saleswoman and four-time Emmy Award-winning television host for “Open House” and “New York Live” on NBC, was a keynote speaker and recipient of the special “Trailblazer” award.

“I’ve been in this business for a long time,” Gore said. ”But now to be on the other side of things — and be on the real estate side and really feel like I’ve solidified my place, my stake in this industry — it feels really good to be a part of it.

“I’m so proud to be included within this group of professionals that are here tonight.”

Mel Pulatani and son Dan of MP Construction D — a general contracting company specializing in luxury residential and sophisticated commercial projects — were given the Father & Son Power Team special award.

“I mean it’s obviously an honor to be honored at this event,” Dan Pulatani said. “But I have to give all credit to my father. He’s the real reason we’re here. He’s the guy that makes the dream happen. I’m lucky and honored to be his partner every day.”

Eric Alexander, executive director of Vision Long Island, accepted the NotFor-Profit special award.

“The theme of our work is connecting to local communities,” Alexander said. “And that’s how real estate development is successful: When they work with local communities. It means a lot when a number of the other honorees, too, are connected to local communities. I’m in great company.”

Steven Krieger, chief executive of B2K Development, was selected as Power Developer of the Year.

“Hard work leads to luck,” Krieger said. “I’ve been so lucky to meet so many great people in this business.”

Beth Donner, founder of Melvillebased Beth Donner Design, was honored

with the Interior Designer of the Year special award. Christopher Robinson, president of R&M Engineering, accepted the engineering special award, while also celebrating 25 years in the business.

Elisabetta Coschignano, of the Sahn Ward Braff Koblenz Coschignano law

firm, was among those honored in the commercial real estate category.

“I pride myself on being prepared in the Long Island real estate world, and especially as it relates to zoning and land use,” Coschignano said.

Connie Pinilla, principal agent for the

Connie Pinilla Team at Compass, received the brokers’ award in the residential category for her 21 practicing years.

“I love real estate,” Pinilla said. “It makes me feel on top of the world.”

Gold Sponsors of the event included B2K Development and Beth Donner Design.

Silver Sponsors were All State Abstract, Amazon, Anthony A. Nozzolillo Esq., Breslin Realty Development Corp., Brookhaven Industrial Development Agency, Brown Harris Stevens, Champion Elevators, Cronin & Cronin, Damianos Realty Group, Empire Electrical Corp., GC Advisory Group, Harris Beach PLLC, Long Island Board of Realtors, Men on the Move, Merritt Environmental Consulting Corp., Metropolitan Realty Associates, Mojo Stumer Associates, MP Construction D, PX4 Development, R&M Engineering, Sahn Ward Braff Koblenz Coschignano, Signature Premier Properties, Suffolk County Industrial Development Agency, the Connie Pinilla Team at Compass, the Crest Group and Tritec.

The ballroom filled with guests ready for the ceremony to begin.

Mark Stumer of Mojo Stumer Associates.

Tim Baker/Herald photos Sara Gore, host of Open House NYC, was the keynote speaker for the evening.

Kelly Heck accepts on behalf of Tritec. Eric Alexander of Vision Long Island.

Beth Donner with her crystal award. Christopher Robinson of R&M Engineering.

Joseph Farkas accepting his special award for Real Estate Investment/Development Company of the Year.

Kevin Leatherman of Leatherman Homes and president of LIBOR.

Steven Krieger of B2K Development

Honoree Connie Pinilla, right, at the REAL Awards photo booth.

Honorees Justin Breslin and Elisabetta Coschignano.

Honorees Marco Scarda, left, Daniel Scarda, Chuck Merritt and Cara Cronin at RichnerLive REAL Awards last week.

Father and son power duo Dan and Mel Pulatani.

Natasha Williams of LIBOR with her son.

Holden Leeds/Herald photos Julia Krispeal from Serhant.

Michael Puntillo of PX4 Development.

Jack Martins of Harris Beach PLLC.

Building self-worth, one Post-it note at a time

Continued

simple yet compelling tool to help her peers elicit feelings of self-confidence and self-worth: a positivity board.

What started as a broad white canvas with a small acrylic mirror in its lower center became covered in Post-it notes chock-full of uplifting phrases. From last August to February, patrons from the Waldinger Memorial Library have grabbed a marker and Post-it note, jotted down a word or sentence of positive affirmation, and tacked it onto the board.

“The mirror is there to look at yourself, as you say to yourself, whether silently or out loud, the kind words you wrote,” noted Tritschler. “The gesture of putting it on the board and letting someone else read it can also make you feel good knowing you’re passing on words of encouragement to a stranger you may never meet.”

Social media, pandemic stress, and self-Image

Psychologists have long spoken about the link between high stress and low selfesteem, especially in young people.

Some note that the same students who tie their self-esteem to how well they do in school are also the ones more vulnerable to the onset of increased stress from studying harder and longer to get higher grades. That stress can impair their academic performance on which their selfesteem depends, which can only further erode self-worth, creating a vicious spiral.

There’s also no shortage of anecdotes warning about how girls’ self-esteem is

Keith Rossein/Herald a collection of affirming words and pictures covers alicia tristchler’s positivity board. She focuses on spreading self-worth and self-acceptance to those who need it.

becoming increasingly tied up in their personality profiles online.

“I see stress in a lot of kids my age and in high school, like my peers,” said Tritschler, who argued that awareness is often the first step in wrangling stress. To that end, the board also comes with a fun teaching component to deepen her peer’s understanding of the nature of stress and its implications for their mental health.

“There’s a QR code on the board that takes them to a Kahoot game,” an online system that offers multiple-choice quiz questions under a game-like format, said Tritschler. “I got books on stress from the library, and I put maybe 15 questions on

tbellissimo@liherald.com

The next National Hockey League All-Star Game will be played at UBS Arena in Elmont.

The announcement came Sunday afternoon during the first intermission of the Islanders-Rangers Stadium Series game at MetLife Stadium. Islanders legend Denis Potvin broke the news alongside Islanders legend Bryan Trottier during a live interview on ABC with reporter Emily Kaplan.

It will take place in 2026, and serve as an appetizer to that year’s Winter Olympics. There will be no AllStar Game next season as the NHL pivots to a 4 Nations Face-Off.

“The National Hockey League is thrilled to have the best and brightest of our game hosted at the spectacular UBS Arena for the 2026 NHL All-Star Weekend,” NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement. “We have been looking forward to UBS Arena playing host to one of our major League events since before construction of this wonderful arena began. We have every confidence that the Islanders organization, led by Scott Malkin and Jon Ledecky, will deliver a celebration that will make the greater New York region and the NHL proud.”

Additional information on the NHL’s midseason showcase including its dates, ticketing and broadcast information, will be announced when available.

“We are honored to be invited to host the National Hockey League, the game’s finest players and fans from around the world to join us in New York for the 2026 NHL All-Star Weekend,” said Malkin, the Island-

the quiz game,” she noted. “Questions like ‘How many weeks of constant stress can you have before you’re diagnosed with anxiety?’”

Positivity Board gains momentum

But the Waldinger Memorial Library wasn’t the only place to promote the positivity board.

When Tritschler and her fellow Girl Scouts from across the country were treated to a theatre workshop production of Wicked the Musical, hosted by Wicked and StudentLive in partnership with Girl Scouts USA, she turned one of the program’s mini-events—an essay contest

about doing a “wickedly” good service project—into an opportunity to magnify her message.

From a spate of submissions, Tritschler was not only among the five girls selected to read aloud her good service project essay, but was awarded the grand prize.

“I wanted to let people know that despite the stress, there is still so much love and hope to go around,” she wrote in her essay. “More people could take a break from their stressful lives even for just a moment to read the words of encouragement someone left. There are always nice things to say.”

Some of the onlookers from the crowd of roughly 1,000 Girl Scouts, troop leaders, and their families who attended the event that day praised Tritschler for her message. Others noted it had piqued their interest in creating a version of the positivity board themselves.

“A school nurse from I believe Philadelphia told Alicia she is going to put a positivity board in her nurses’ office in her school,” said Michele Tristchler, Alicia’s mom. “Others said that ‘we were taking notes, we want to do this, we’re going to do this too.’”

Herald file photo elmont’s uBS arena will host the next national Hockey League all-Star game, two years from now.

ers’ Majority Owner.

“Whether our guests will be watching the talented players on the ice in UBS Arena, a building built specifically for hockey, shopping in Belmont Park Village or enjoying pre- and post-game festivities in The Park, the 2026 All-Star weekend will show NHL fans the outstanding destination we have for hockey, shopping and entertainment,” he added.

The 2026 All-Star Weekend will mark the second time the Islanders host NHL All-Star activities, with first being the 1983 edition featuring the Campbell Conference All-Stars defeating the Wales Conference

All-Stars 9-3, and Wayne Gretzky claiming NHL AllStar MVP honors at Nassau Coliseum.

Fans can sign up to receive news and updates on the 2026 NHL All-Star Weekend. Visit www.nhl.com/ Islanders for more information.

By TONY BELLISSIMO

“After an impressive All-Star Weekend earlier this month, the players are looking forward to raising the bar even higher at UBS Arena in 2026 where we know the New York Islanders will be great hosts for the event,” said Marty Walsh, NHLPA Executive Director. “The NHL All-Star Weekend will be an exciting lead-in to the 2026 Olympic Winter Games.”

Islanders to host 2026 NHL All-Star Game

LIJVS nurses secure new contract, call off strike

By JUAN LASSO jlasso@liherald.com

After months of haggling, Long Island Jewish Valley Stream Hospital nurses and hospital administrators agreed to a new labor contract, sidestepping a potential full-scale walkout on Feb. 21. The marathon bargaining session between the New York Nurses Association, and Northwell Health, the hospital’s parent company, resulted in an agreement that — both sides say — meet key demands raised by nurses, namely improved safe staffing standards, better employee benefits, and wage increases.

After operating without a contract for more than a month, Long Island Jewish Valley Stream Hospital nurses reached a new contract agreement with Northwell on Feb. 21.

Northwell told the Herald it is “pleased to have reached an agreement with NYSNA,” which represents roughly 700 nurses in the hospital. The decision follows closely on the heels of NYSNA nurses and health care workers at Peconic Bay Medical Center and Northwell Health reaching a similar agreement on Feb. 16.

“From the start of negotiations, our sole focus remained on ensuring that our patients continue to receive world-class care and our dedicated nurses can continue to provide that care in the best environment,” Northwell said. “The agreement provides competitive compensation and benefits and reaffirms our commitment to our team members and patients.”

Over two-thirds of nurses voted for the agreement on Feb. 21, which enacts an average wage increase of 19.3 percent over three years with additional pay bumps tied to years of experience. Aside from better wages and pension benefits, the contract ensures fairer patient-tonurse staffing ratios, which figured prominently in nurses’ list of demands.

Under the new contract, “NYSNA members won improvements to safe staffing standards in medical-surgical, telemetry, and Emergency Department units.” said the union. There are also new provisions to fast-track the process of holding “grievance meetings” if and

when nurses raise alarm about staffing violations and have an impartial arbiter decide on these cases.

“Previously, we would have had to send staffing complaints to the corporate chief nursing officer, who was not an impartial judge of unsafe staffing in the way an arbitrator is,” said the union. “And the timeline for resolution would be much longer.”

The breakthrough deal came days after registered nurse and negotiator Sandra Marion-Armstrong painted a bleak picture of the working conditions of her fellow nurses. “There are nurses who have come and gone within six months,” she told the Herald. “Some nurses have come crying every day. They don’t know how much they can take. They don’t want to stay.

Now, she’s decidedly pleased with the results of the contract.

“LIJ Valley Stream was one of the hardest hit hospitals during the COVID19 pandemic and I think that made us even more determined to fight for our rights and our patients during these negotiations,” she said. “I am hopeful our new contract will help us keep more of our new and experienced nurses, and ultimately help us deliver the quality care our community deserves.”

In accordance with New York State Education Law and Board of Education policy, all requests for transportation of children in the Valley Stream Thirty School District to private and parochial schools for the following school year must be submitted in writing by a parent, guardian or authorized representative no later than April 1st. Parents whose children currently receive transportation to private and parochial schools must submit a new request each year along with proof of residency. If homeowners move into the District after the April 1st deadline, they have 30 days to submit a transportation request from the date they established residency in the district. Late transportation requests will not be considered.

Transportation applications are available online www.valleystream30.com/for_parents/transportation or by calling 516-434-3600 ext. 5225.

CRIME bRIEf

Horton killer’s parole hearing postponed

On March 3, 1989, tragedy struck the Horton Road community as 13-year-old Kelly Tinyes, a Valley Stream resident and a Woodmere Middle School student, vanished while babysitting her younger brother, Richard. She left home after receiving a phone call from an individual named “John,” informing Richard that she would be briefly visiting a friend. She never returned.

Roughly 24 hours later, Kelly’s body was discovered mutilated and concealed in a sleeping bag in a neighbor’s basement. The subsequent investigation led to the arrest of Robert Golub, a 21-year-old bodybuilder, also from Valley Stream.

Tinyes’ family has zealously and tirelessly advocated for his continued incarceration since he was first eligible for parole in November 2013.

ROBeR t GOLUB

Following a rigorous yearlong trial, Golub was found guilty of second-degree murder and sentenced to 25 years to life imprisonment.

Golub, 56, was expected to stand before the parole board on the week of Feb. 19 to make the case for his freedom, but that hearing has once again been postponed to August. This will be Golub’s second rescheduling with his initial parole hearing set for last November. The cause of the delay remains unknown.

Before the initially scheduled hearing, the family circulated a petition on GoPetition.com, amassing over 4,000 signatures to date, urging the parole board to deny Golub’s release. The Tinyes first launched an online petition campaign in 2013, after learning that Golub had applied for parole. Robert Tinyes, Kelly’s father, called Golub “a very dangerous criminal” in an online statement that accompanied the petition.

The family remains stalwart that Golub continues to be incarcerated. The Tinyes family is expected to testify against Golub receiving parole later this year. Having reached the 25-year mark in 2013, Golub has been eligible for parole every two years. This will be Golub’s sixth attempt to date. He admitted to killing Tinyes while in a “rage” due to his use of a “ridiculous” number of anabolic steroids.

–Juan Lasso

Herald file photo

BUILDER

WINDOWS COMPANY

Marcor Construction

Panther Siding & Windows, Inc. Unified Home Remodeling

KIDS & EDUCATION

ADULT EDUCATIONCONTINUING EDUCATION

Hofstra University

Molloy University

Nassau Community College

ART SCHOOL

ARTrageous Studio, LLC

Hue Studio

The Art Studio

BEAUTY SCHOOL

Brittany Beauty Academy, Levittown

Long Island Nail Skin & Hair Institute

Nassau BOCES

CHARTER/PAROCHIAL/ PRIVATE SCHOOL

East Woods School

Lawrence Woodmere Academy

St. Anthony’s High School

COLLEGE PREP

SERVICES/ADVISORS

Chaminade High School College Connection

Lawrence Woodmere Academy

COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY

Adelphi University

Hofstra University

Molloy University

COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY

PRESIDENT

Christine M. Riordan, PhD, Adelphi University

James Lentini, DMA, Molloy University

Susan Poser, PhD, Hofstra University

DANCE SCHOOL

Dance Mechanix

Hart & Soul Dance and Performing Arts

Sarah Beth Academy

DAY CAMP

Bellmore United Methodist Nursery School

Bright Star Academy

Hofstra Summer Camps

DAY CARE

Bright Star Academy

Five Towns Early Learning Center

Our Kids Place Hewlett

DRIVING SCHOOL

Bell Auto Driving School

East Meadow Driving School

Suffolk Auto Driving School

GYMNASTICS CENTER

CATS (Children’s Athletic Training School)

KidStrong, Carle Place

LI Elite Gymnastics

HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL

Alexandra Greenberg, George

W. Hewlett High School

Hank Williams, Lawrence

Woodmere Academy

Richard Schaffer, East

Rockaway High School

KIDS BIRTHDAY PARTIES

Epic Escape Rooms Long Island

Krafty Hands

Long Island Children’s Museum

LEARNING CENTER/TUTOR

Cornerstone Behavioral Services

Long Beach Public Library

Tutoring Club of Bellmore

MARTIAL ARTS

Aquacade Pools

Big Becks Pools & Pavers

Brothers 3

TITLE COMPANY

Fidelity

TREE SERVICE COMPANY

UPHOLSTERY

A & B Upholstery

East Meadow Upholsterers Corp.

Tony’s Decorating-Upholstering

PEOPLE & PLACES

B&B/INN

Ram’s Head Inn

Southhampton Inn

The Ocean Bay House

EVENT VENUE

Epic Escape Rooms Long Island

Kombert Caterers

Long Island Children’s Museum

HOTEL

Hampton Inn & Suites Rockville Centre

The Garden City Hotel

Uniondale Marriott

LOCAL TOURIST

ATTRACTION

Long Island Aquarium

Nunley’s Carousel

Raynham Hall Museum

MUSEUM

Cradle of Aviation Museum

Long Island Children’s Museum

Raynham Hall Museum

PLACE TO HAVE A PARTY

Epic Escape Rooms Long Island

Kombert Caterers

Long Island Children’s Museum

PLACE TO WORSHIP

First Presbyterian Church of Glen Cove

Temple Avodah

Temple Israel - Lawrence

WEDDING VENUE

Bridgeview Yacht Club

Crest Hollow Country Club

Swan Club On The Harbor

SERVICES

ADVERTISING AGENCY

Austin Williams

Creative Focus Designs, Inc.

Jillian’s Circus

ANIMAL ADOPTION/ RESCUE SERVICES

North Shore Animal League America

Ruff House Rescue

Terry Animal Hospital

APPLIANCE REPAIR STORE

Home Appliance

Reliable Appliance

The Appliance Doctor

ARBITRATION & MEDIATION FIRM

Certilman Balin Adler & Hyman, LLP

Resolute Systems, Inc.

Vaz Law, PLLC

ARCHITECT

Katherine Serrano Sosa, Rooted Architecture Studio

Long Island Architecture Studio

Stephen G. Hayduk, P.E., Hayduk Engineering LLC

CAR WASH

Majestic Auto Spa

Seaford Car Wash & Detail Center

Ultimate Express Car Wash

CAR/LIMO SERVICE

Broward Limousines

Executive Limousine of Long Island

Long Island Elite Limousines

M&V Limousines, Ltd.

CEMETERIES

Huntington Rural Cemetery

Pinelawn Memorial Park and Arboretum

St. Charles / Resurrection Cemeteries

CORPORATE LAW FIRM

Certilman Balin Adler & Hyman, LLP

Love Law Firm, PLLC

Ruskin Moscou Faltischek, P.C.

Goshinkan Jujitsu Dojo

Pakua Martial Arts

Warren Levi Martial Arts & Fitness

MUSIC SCHOOLS/CLASSES

Center Stage Music Center

Long Beach Guitar School

The Children’s Orchestra Society

NURSERY SCHOOL

Bellmore United Methodist Nursery School

Bright Star Academy

Lawrence Woodmere Academy

SPORTS CAMP

Beach Baseball Camp and Clinics

CATS (Children’s Athletic Training School)

Hofstra Summer Sports Academy Camps

DIVORCE ATTORNEY

David Mejias, Mejias, Milgrim & Lindo, P.C.

Marina Moreno, Law Office of Marina Moreno, PLLC

Robert Keilson, Esq., Garden City Law Firms

DRY CLEANER

American Drive-In Cleaners

Delta Cleaners

Old Country Cleaners

ELDER LAW ATTORNEY

Jennifer B. Cona, Cona Elder Law

Marina Moreno, Law Office of Marina Moreno, PLLC

Wendy K. Goidel, Goidel Law Group

EMPLOYMENT AGENCY

Express Employment Professionals

NRGUSA

PrideStaff

ESTATE PLANNING

ATTORNEY

Jennifer B. Cona, Cona Elder Law

Marina Moreno, Law Office of Marina Moreno, PLLC

Stephanie D’Angelo, D’Angelo Law Associates

FAMILY LAW FIRM

Joseph Law Group, P.C.

Law Office of Marina Moreno

Mejias Milgrim Alvarado & Lindo, P.C.

FEMALE MENTORING GROUP

Girl Scouts of Nassau County

Miss Long Island Pageants Moxxie Network

FUNERAL HOME

Gutterman’s Funeral Homes

N. F. Walker Funeral Home

Towers Funeral Home, Inc.

GREEN BUSINESS

Green Home Logic

Green Team LI Winters Bros. Waste Systems

HEALTH CARE LAW FIRM

Cona Elder Law PLLC Harris Beach

The Rizzuto Law Firm

LABOR LAW FIRM

Jackson Lewis P.C.

Law Office of Cohen & Jaffe, LLP

The NHG Law Group P.C

LAUNDROMAT

Bayport Laundromat

Laundry Palace

Lynbrook Laundry

Standard laundromat

LAW FIRM (OVERALL)

OVER 35 EMPLOYEES

Miller and Caggiano, LLP

Ruskin Moscou Faltischek, P.C.

The NHG Law Group P.C

LAW FIRM (OVERALL)

UNDER 35 EMPLOYEES

Cona Elder Law PLLC

Law Office of Cohen & Jaffe, LLP

The Rizzuto Law Firm

LITIGATION/BUSINESS

LITIGATION LAW FIRM

Levitt LLP

Sahn Ward Braff Koblenz PLLC

The Rizzuto Law Firm

MATRIMONIAL LAW FIRM

Law Office of Marina Moreno

Mejias Milgrim Alvarado & Lindo, P.C.

Picarello & Saciolo, P.C.

NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION

Hewlett House

Long Island Children’s Museum

Temple Avodah

PERSONAL INJURY

ATTORNEY - FIRM

Law Office of Cohen & Jaffe, LLP

The Rizzuto Law Firm

The Selvin Law Firm

PET GROOMER

Kelly, Spaw Pet Salon of Westbury

Maria - The Barrie Inn

Posh Paws Pet Spa & Boutique

PHOTOGRAPHER

Brian Ozegovich, Park Ave Studio

Gaitley Stevenson-Mathews, GSM Communications

Jonathan Ortiz, Creative Focus Designs

PROPERTY TAX

REDUCTION SERVICES

Herman Katz

Maidenbaum Property Tax

Reduction Group, LLC

Tax Correction Agency

PUBLIC RELATIONS

COMPANY

Ingrid Dodd Public Relations

Marketing Works

ZE Creative Communications

REAL ESTATE LAW ATTORNEY

Anthony Nozzolillo, On Point Land Services Corporation

Gilbert Balanoff, Law Offices of Gilbert L. Balanoff, P.C.

Marina Moreno, Law Office of Marina Moreno, PLLC

REAL ESTATE LAW FIRM

Ackerman Law PLLC

Law Office of Marina Moreno

The Law Offices of Gilbert L. Balanoff, P.C.

SELF-STORAGE COMPANY

CubeSmart Self Storage

Freeport Self Storage

Men On The Move Moving & Self Storage

TAX LAW FIRM

Barnes & Barnes, P.C.

Maidenbaum & Sternberg, LLP Tenenbaum Law, P.C.

TRAVEL AGENCY

Magical Dad Vacations - Keith Voets

Superior Travel Consultants

Vitas Travel Service

VETERINARIAN

Gabrielle Pimento, DVM, Bond Vet: Merrick

John Foy, DVM, Terry Animal Hospital

Timothy Sheppard, DVM, Sayville Animal Hospital

WASTE MANAGEMENT COMPANY

Jamaica Ash & Rubbish Removal

Long Island Waste Services, LLC

National Waste Services, LLC Winters Bros. Waste Systems

SHOPPING

ANTIQUE STORE

Collectors Coins & Jewelry

Garden City Antiques & Fine Arts, Ltd.

THE SHOPPE by Trubee Hill

APPLIANCE/HOME ELECTRONICS STORE

Appliance World P.C. Richard & Son

Reliable Appliance BOUTIQUE

Jolie Fleur

Trois Jours Boutique Etc.

Uniquely Yours

BRIDAL STORE

Blossom Brides

Bridal Reflections

Estelle’s Dressy Dresses

CARPET STORE

Carpet Depot

Dee-Jay Carpet Co., Inc.

Glen Floors

COIN STORE

Coin Galleries of Oyster Bay Collectors Coins & Jewelry

Long Island Rare Coin & Currency

COLLECTIBLES STORE

Collectors Coins & Jewelry

Living Legends Memorabilia & Collectibles

Remember Yesteryears Vintage Center

CONSIGNMENT/ THRIFT STORE

LuxeSwap

National Council of Jewish

Women Thrift Shop

Worth Repeating, Worth Repeating

EYEWEAR STORE

Eyeglass House

Eyes On Broadway

Mt. Sinai Optical

FARMERS MARKET

Crossroads Farm at Grossmann’s

Deep Roots Farmers Market

Meyer’s Farm & Greenhouses

FLORIST

Central Florist

Feldis Florist & Flower Delivery

Pedestals Floral Decorators

FURNITURE STORE

Bob’s Discount Furniture and Mattress Store

Furniture Gallery of Long Island

Raymour & Flanigan

GIFT SHOP

Dolce Confections

Pampered Professional

The SHOPPE by Trubee Hill

GOURMET MARKET

Grace’s Marketplace Sons of a Butcher

The Original Salpino’s of Wantagh

GROCERY/SUPERMARKET

Holiday Farms Stew Leonard’s

Uncle Giuseppe’s Marketplace

LOCAL CHILDREN’S

CLOTHING

Denny’s Fashion, Style, For All Koukla Children’s Boutique

Mur-Lees, Men’s & Boy’s Shop

LOCAL HARDWARE STORE

Costello’s Ace Hardware

Millers True Value

Schaefer’s Ace Hardware

LOCAL JEWELRY STORE

Hislon Jewelers

North Shore Gold & Diamond

Unicorn Jewels

LOCAL MEN’S CLOTHING

B2bespoke Custom Clothier

Mur-Lees, Men’s & Boy’s Shop Standard Thread

LOCAL WOMEN’S CLOTHING

A.J. & MOS

Trois Jours Boutique Etc.

Uniquely Yours

NURSERY & GARDEN

CENTER

Atlantic Nursery & Garden Shop

Dees’ Nursery And Florist

Hicks Nurseries

PAWN SHOP

Collectors Coins & Jewelry

Matthew James Jewelers

Pawn Express

WINDOW TREATMENT STORE

Blinds To Go

Homestead Window Treatments

The Blind Spot Inc.

SPORTS

BICYCLE STORE

Brands Cycle & Fitness

Oceanside Cycle

Trek Bicycle Massapequa

BOXING CENTER

Fit Theorem

iLoveKickboxing

Kayo Boxing

CROSSFIT GYM

CrossFit Merrick

CrossFit Seize The Day

Fit Theorem

GYM & FITNESS CENTER

Fit Theorem

Fit4Life Studios, Inc.

The Bodysmith Fitness & Massage

ICE SKATING RINK

Grant Park Skating Center

Newbridge Arena

Town of Oyster Bay Ice Skating Center

KIDS’ SPORTS LEAGUE

East Coast Football Club

East Rockaway Raiders Football

Hewlett Lawrence Soccer Club

PERSONAL TRAINER

Ava Donaldson, Fit4Life Studios

Leah Stukov, FitX50

Taylor Costello, CSCS, MMP, LMT, The Bodysmith Fitness and Massage

PERSONAL TRAINING

FACILITY

Fit Theorem

Fit4Life Studios, Inc.

Personal Training Institute of Rockville Centre PILATES

Club Pilates Merrick

Fit4Life Studios, Inc.

The Pilates Studio, Inc.

PLACE

Bay Shore

Michael’s

By CHARLES SHAW cshaw@liherald.com

A number of state electeds are calling on the governor to slow down her plans to make school buses electric by 2035 — something they say could have a devastating impact on district finances.

Some like state Sen. Steve Rhoads and state Sen. Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick joined Assemblyman John Mikulin and other officials handling fire and safety at schools at the Levittown Public School bus yard in Wantagh last week hoping they can convince Gov. Kathy Hochul to extend the deadline for that mandate deeper into the future to ensure it’s affordability for communities like those in Nassau County.

“There’s nothing magical about this New York state school bus mandate,” Rhoads said.

Citing the main character from the popular children’s television animated series “The Magic School Bus,” Rhoads said “even Ms. Frizzle herself would agree that this burdensome mandate takes chances, makes mistakes, and gets messy.”

The state’s current budget mandates all school buses must have no environmental impact through emissions by 2035, with districts only allowed to purchase electric school buses by mid-2027.

The idea, according to Hochul, is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 85 percent by 2050. The state’s environmental conservation department blames the transportation sector overall as one of New York’s largest sources of emissions, which contributes to climate change impacts such as increased heat waves, sea level rise and flooding.

“Old school buses are putting children’s health at risk, spewing toxic fumes and pollutants into the air that are proven to have negative health impacts,” Hochul’s office said, in a statement. “After New York vot-

ers approved an Environmental Bond Act that allocated $500 million for zero-emission school buses, Gov. Hochul is working with communities across New York to allocate these funds and ensure they are fully utilized.”

But Rhoads says the mandate does not account for the logistical and financial challenges that school districts, bus companies and power companies will face in implementing the plan. A new, full-sized electric bus costs as much as $450,000 — triple the price of a conventional.

With some 45,000 school buses on the road in the state, Rhoads says the full conversion by 2035 would cost in the neighborhood of $20 billion.

The Levittown school district — with a fleet of 80 buses — is in the beginning stages of the mandate. Superintendent Todd Winch said it would cost the district as much as $32 million to replace their fleet, and will purchase its first electric bus this year.

“We don’t replace a whole fleet for maybe 20 years, but now they’re asking us to replace the whole fleet from 2027 to 2035,” Winch said. “Now you’re talking about a very short time period to replace the whole fleet, which would be very, very difficult.”

In addition, the Levittown bus yard would require 40 charging stations, each one costing between $30,000 and $50,000, Winch added.

The state has offered to help, but Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick said the $500 million offered would only cover a little more than 1,200 buses. The rest would have to paid for by local taxpayers — and that’s not even including infrastructure and charging stations.

“Where’s the rest of that money coming from?” the state senator asked. “You, from the taxpayers, because that’s what the school districts will be forced to do to meet this mandate.”

But the current high costs associated with electric buses are expected to come down over time, Hochul said. The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority announced last September it believes the price of an electric school bus should be on-par with a gasoline-powered bus as early as 2027 thanks to advances in battery technology, more manufacturing, as well as lower fuel and maintenance expenses.

Rhoads calls Hochul’s mandate a rushed plan.

“We all want to see a greener future,” he said. “There is no question about that. But we have to make sure that if our goal is providing affordable, safe, and reliable transportation to our students, we have to make sure we have a plan which gets us to that future, but still accomplishes that primary goal.”

Charles Shaw/Herald

STEPPING OUT

FOREVER A) ‘

By Karen Bloom

Laughing along with Joe Gatto

All roads lead back to Lynbrook it seems. Certainly for Joe Gatto.

He’s stepped away from his comfort zone — “The Impractical Jokers” — to the dismay of many folks. His loyal cadre of fans came to know him from the popular improvisational hidden camera show, which he hosted with his buddies Brian “Q” Quinn, James “Murr” Murray, and Sal Vulcano, for nine seasons.

Fans were certainly disappointed when he moved on from Q, Murr and Sal in 2021 to focus on co-parenting his two kids, Milana and Remington (now 9 and 7).

But you needn’t fret. Gatto is doing just fine — as is “Jokers,” now in its 10th season.

Since leaving his pals to carry on “Jokers” without him, the jokes certainly continue as Gatto’s taken his energy — and his comedic talents — to the stand-up circuit.

His tour, “Joe Gatto’s Night of Comedy,” arrives Friday at The Paramount in Huntington. Minus his friends, fans get an hour of Gatto, as he riffs on life, his family, and probably even his dogs.

“I’m extremely proud of this hour of comedy I’ve put together, and am so excited to film it at the first theater I performed on this tour back in February 2023,” Gatto says. “It also happens to be one of my favorite theaters, too, which is nice since it’s in my ‘hometown’ of Long Island.”

Of course, there were some nerves involved in going solo.

“After my time with ‘Jokers,’ I needed to figure out the next step in my career,” Gatto reflects.

• Friday, March 8, 7 and 9:30 p.m.

• $59.75, $39.75, $29.75

• Tickets available at Ticketmaster.com or ParamountNY.com

• The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington

“I needed to figure out different ways to make people laugh because that’s what I love to do. Stand-up presented itself as a way to do that. My agents and managers were like, ‘Why don’t you give stand-up a shot?’”

And so he did, on a winter’s evening in a small club in Appleton, Wisconsin, in January 2022, for a brief 35 minutes.

“I enjoyed it right from the get-go,” he says. “It quickly graduated into an hour show, and I moved up to theaters. Fans were coming out, and we’re having a great time. Telling stories of my life and thinking about different ways that I could express myself to get people to know me a bit better has been a really fun journey.”

Gatto readily admits it’s been a learning experience.

“It was a different format that I wasn’t necessarily versed in, so I was a little nervous,” he says. “The biggest thing for me was I had never performed live before. For 20 years, I was part of an ensemble, stand-up being its own art was a thing I needed to adapt to. I quickly took to it.

“The challenge of writing the hour, curating it, and thinking of what stories I want to tell and how to tell them and punch up the jokes, was fun to do.”

Everyone’s in on the fun right along with him.

“I’ve always been pretty open on ‘The Impractical Jokers,’”

talk about parenting, I’ve got lots of stories of my kids, also

he says. “I was always myself. I didn’t play a character, so when people watched it, they really to got to know the sense of me, my personality. Even a lot of my personal life was in that show as well. People who come to my show know me already from that. But here I get to tell different stories. I talk about parenting, I’ve got lots of stories of my kids, also the craziness of animal rescue with my dogs, growing up with my crazy Italian mother on Staten Island, and of course, my friends, the Jokers. There’s no shortage of stories.”

Janeane Garofalo

Oh yes, about those dogs. There are nine of them in the Gatto household, all older rescues.

“It’s like a pack mentality,” he says, laughing, insisting his four-legged companions “pretty much follow the house rules.”

Eventually the Gattos realized they couldn’t rescue every dog in need. Hence their nonprofit Gatto Pups & Friends, which facilitates adoptions for mainly senior and disabled dogs, opened in Glen Head in November 2022.

“We wanted to do it in our neighborhood,” he says. “We love being around here. We found a cool space for the storefront, right across the street from one of our favorite places for lunch. It just all aligned.”

Although firmly ensconced in Glen Head, the South Shore still calls out to him. Gatto frequently visits Lynbrook, where he lived between 2014 and 2017, and where his sister still resides.

His family ties bring him frequently back to visit.

“I love Lynbrook,” he says.“I had such a great experience there. There’s always something special about your first home.”

Plus, “Vincent’s is still one of my favorite pizzerias,” he adds.

You’ll even find him hanging out at Lynbrook’s Regal, taking in a movie with his niece and nephew.

“I go there all the time with them,” he shares. “They’re movie buffs like me, and that’s our go-to movie theater.”

In fact, a film may be in his future.

“I’m doing pretty good, enjoying my ride right now,” Gatto says. “But I’ve always wanted to write and direct film. That’s actually why I got into entertainment. So that’s what I’m focusing on now. That’s what’s left on the bucket list, along with always creating and thinking of new ways to make people smile.”

And as for his outing at The Paramount, it’s being filmed for a comedy special.

“I’ve been working to two years on the thing,” he says, “so I don’t it want it to just go away.”

And there’s always the possibility of another collaboration with his “Jokers” buddies.

“I never un-united with them,” he says. “They’re still my friends. We’re just not ‘friends from work’ anymore. I love creating with those guys, so who knows what the future holds.”

The comedian-actress, who reigns as the queen of the alt-comedy scene, is eager to speak her mind when she visits here with her latest stand-up tour. Considered by many as an American institution since she first burst on the scene in 1992, the outspoken activist has plenty to say, in her own inimitable comedic style. Known for her incisive cynical sense of humor, the SNL alum has branched out into film and television, including ‘The Truth About Cats and Dogs,’ ‘Wet Hot American Summer’ and ‘Ratatouille,’ among her memorable roles. Garofalo’s informed opinions and unflinching honesty on topics ranging from everyday life to pop culture inspire laughs and strike a chord with audiences everywhere. Often a lightning rod for controversy, Garofalo finds a way to get her point across with her trademark sense of humor. Known and respected worldwide, Garofalo was also instrumental in the successful launching of the first liberal radio network, Air America Radio, where she hosted her own talk show, ‘The Majority Report.’

Friday, March 8, 8 p.m. $33, $28. Jeanne Rimsky Theater at Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington. Tickets available at LandmarkOnMainStreet.org or (516) 767-6444.

‘Greatest Show On Earth’

The circus is back. The iconic Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey spectacle returns after a hiatus, re-imagined as a 360-degree experience that brings fans into the action. Packed with explosive excitement, ‘The Greatest Show On Earth’ begins and ends with a bang. Lauren Irving, Alex Stickels and Jan Damm join forces as Aria, Stix and Nick Nack, who serve as its soul, rhythm and funny bone. The trio, appearing as show guides, encounter never-before-seen stunts, acrobatic displays, and comedic acts along the way. An international cast of 75 performers take on a variety of enthralling circus acts, including new stunts like the Triangular Highwire, led by the Lopez Family, sixth-generation circus artists hailing from Mexico and Chile. There are also comic clowning, extreme sports, and acrobatic aerial feats — all enhanced with original music.

Friday through Sunday, March 8-10, times vary. Tickets available at Ticketmaster.com, or Ringling. com. UBS Arena, 2400 Hempstead Turnpike, Elmont.

Courtesy Joe Gatto

Joe lives his life by a code of pastry and family, loving his wife, two children, cannolis — and his dogs.

Photo by Jonathan Thorpe

THE Your Neighborhood

March

JigJam

When virtuoso Irish playing jumps the pond running through the wide open fields of Bluegrass and Americana, JigJam is born. This Offaly and Tipperary-born band has started the Irish invasion of Americana with a brand new band member from Glasgow injecting the magic of Scottish folk music. The lads bring their foot-stomping sound to the Landmark stage, for a St. Patrick’s Day celebration, Saturday, March 16, at 8 p.m. Described as ‘The best Irish band in bluegrass’ and ‘sparkling, infectious’ these gents have been hailed as ‘Ireland’s answer to New Grass Revival’. Founding members from Offaly Jamie McKeogh (lead singer and guitar) and Daithi Melia (5 string banjo and Dobro) were joined by Tipperary-born Gavin Strappe (mandolin and tenor banjo) in 2016. They’ve since added Glasgow native Danny Hunter (fiddle) to make up this iGrass (Irish Bluegrass) quartet. They’ve been hailed as “Ireland’s answer to New Grass Revival,” with a sound that has its roots in Irish music and Irish immigration. iGrass and JigJam is what happens when the Irish find their prodigal son. $38.14-$49.48. Jeanne Rimsky Theater at Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington. Tickets available at LandmarkOnMainStreet.org or (516) 767-6444.

Family theater

Inspired by L. Frank Baum’s stories, this clever adaptation puts the audience front and center, literally, on the Long Island Children’s Museum stage, Friday, March 8, 10:15 a.m. and noon, Sunday, March 10, 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.; Wednesday and Thursday, March 13-14,10:15 a.m. and noon. Kids become cast members, singing dancing, and acting on stage alongside the professional cast.

One of our most interactive shows at LICM Theater, this production received rave reviews in its prior run. Going beyond the traditional telling of the Oz stories, “Journey to Oz” uses personal journal entries and historic newspaper headlines to bring the history of author L. Frank Baum and illustrator W.W. Denslow to life. Dorothy, the Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion take the audience with them on this lively, playful trip down the yellow brick road. $10 with museum admission ($8 members), $14 theater only. Long Island Children’s Museum, Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 224-5800 or LICM.org.

On exhibit

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.

Legion Post meeting

Valley Stream’s American Legion Post 854 meets, Thursday, March 21, at 7 p.m. 51 Roosevelt Ave. For more information, call (516) 791-0719 or visit AmericanLegion854.com.

District 24 board meets

Valley Stream District 24 Board of Education holds its regular board meeting, Wednesday, March 27, at 7:30 p.m., at William L. Buck School, 75 Horton Ave. For more information, email district clerk Jennie Padilla at districtclerk@vs24.org or visit ValleyStreamSchoolDistrict24.org.

Village Election Day

The Village of Valley Stream holds its general election, on Tuesday, March 19, starting at 6 a.m. For more information on polling sites, visit Vsvny.org or call (516) 825-4200 (Option 5).

Supermarket Bingo

Valley Stream North High School PTSA hosts a Supermarket Bingo fundraiser, Friday, March 8 at 7 p.m.. at Valley Stream North High School Cafetorium. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Preevent tickets are $12, $15 at the door and can be accessed at NorthPTSA.MemberHub. com. Raffle baskets, grand raffle baskets, door prizes, 50-50 tickets are available for purchase. All proceeds benefit the PTSA’s scholarship fund for graduating 12th graders. 750 Herman Ave., Franklin Square.

District 13 board meets

Valley Stream District 13 Board of Education holds its regular board meeting, Tuesday, March 19, at 8 p.m., at James A. Dever School, 585 Corona Ave. For more information, email district clerk MaryAnn Rosamilia at mrosamilia@valleystream13.com or visit ValleyStream13.com.

Public hearing

The Village Board of Trustees holds public hearing on community development funding at their regular meeting, Monday, March 11, starting at 7 p.m., at Village Hall. 123 South Central Ave. For more information, visit Vsvny.org or call (516) 825-4200 (Option 5).

Meet the Easter Bunny

Families can enjoy Easter fun at Hendrickson Park, Saturday, March 23, 9:30-2 p.m. Meet the Easter Bunny, with bounce house and Easter goodie bag. 123 W. Merrick Road. Registration required at Vsvny. org or call (516) 821-3786.

Having an event?

Art explorations

Converse, collaborate and create at Family Saturdays at Nassau County Museum of Art, Saturday, March 9, noon-3 p.m. Get inspired by the art and objects in the galleries and then join educators at the Manes Center to explore and discover different materials to create your own original artwork. Kids and their adult partners connect while talking about and making art together. A new project is featured every week. $20 adult, $10 child. Registration required. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. (516) 4849337 or NassauMuseum.org.

District 30 board meets

Valley Stream District 30 Board of Education holds its regular board meeting, Wednesday, March 25, at 8 p.m., at Shaw Avenue School, 99 Shaw Ave. For more information, email district clerk Ashley Starna at AStarna@vs30.org or visit ValleyStream30.com.

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.

In concert

Icon and superstar Whitney Houston, has left a lasting legacy that is celebrated an exhilarating spectacle.

“Queen of the Night, A Musical Tribute to Whitney Houston,” Saturday, March 9, 8 p.m., at NYCB Theatre at Westbury. An exhilarating tribute to Houston’s remarkable musical repertoire, the electrifying production, which premiered on London’s West End, honors her timeless songs with sensational vocalists and a full live band.

Named after the swaggering hard rock single from “The Bodyguard” soundtrack, the show celebrates 30 years of hits sung by the superstar, from “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” and “Saving All My Love for You” to “How Will I Know,” “Greatest Love of All” and, of course, “I Will Always Love You.” With the accompaniment of a dynamic band, backing vocalists and dancers, “Queen of the Night” fully conveys the essence and persona of Houston in a captivating production has been described as “a powerhouse performance that delivers on every level.” NYCB Theatre at Westbury, 960 Brush Hollow Road, Westbury. Tickets available at LiveNation.com or call (516) 247-5200.

Forest Bathing

Take a meditative Forest Bathing walk, led by certified guide Linda Lombardo, Sunday, March 10, 2-4 p.m. Based on the Japanese tradition of Shinrin-Yoku, a wellness practice developed in the 1980s, the walk, on the grounds of the former summer residence of Howard Gould and later Daniel and Florence Guggenheim, inspires mindful connections with the natural elements of the woods for a range of healthful benefits. $40, $35. Registration required. Sands Point Preserve, 127 Middle Neck Road. For information, visit SandsPointPreserveConservancy.org or call (516) 571-7901.

Best of Broadway

Adelphi University Performing Arts students celebrate the music of Broadway during their semi-annual Best of Broadway concert, Sunday, March 10, 4 p.m.

The theme of this season’s concert is a royal one, paying tribute to the kings, queens, “Aladdin,” “Camelot, “ “Six,” “Frozen,” “Anastasia,” “The Little Mermaid,” “Cinderella,” and more. $30, with discounts available to seniors, students, Adelphi alumni and employees. Adelphi University Performing Arts Center, 1 South Ave., Garden City. (516) 877-4000 or Adelphi.edu/pac.

Public Notices

LEGAL NOTICE

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORKCOUNTY 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

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT

NASSAU COUNTY U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE FOR STRUCTURED ASSET INVESTMENT LOAN TRUST, MORTGAGE PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2005-8, Plaintiff against FAISAL N. LODHI A/K/A FAISAL LODHI, et al

Defendant(s)

Attorney for Plaintiff(s)

Fein Such & Crane, LLP, 28 East Main Street, Suite 1800, Rochester, NY 14614. Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered August 27, 2019, I will sell at public auction to the highest bidder at North

Side Steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on April 3, 2024 at 2:30 PM.

Premises known as 88 Sobro Avenue, Valley Stream, NY 11580. Sec 37 Block 466 Lot 7. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, situate, lying and being in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York.

Approximate Amount of Judgment is $527,157.31 plus interest, fees, and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No 005074/2012.

The foreclosure sale will be conducted in accordance with 10th Judicial District’s Covid-19 Policies and foreclosure auction rules. The Referee shall enforce any rules in place regarding facial coverings and social distancing. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, then the Court Appointed Referee shall cancel the foreclosure auction.

Foreclosure Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine.”

Rod E. Kovel, Esq., Referee File # SPSJN204 145154

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

George P. Esernio, Esq., Referee. MCCABE, WEISBERG & CONWAY, LLC, 10 Midland Avenue, Suite 205, Port Chester, NY 10573

Dated: 1/17/2024 File Number: 464-0051 CA 145098

LEGAL NOTICE

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK

COUNTY OF NASSAU

INDEX # 613616/2023

Property: 139 Locust Street, Valley Stream, New York 11581

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU SELENE FINANCE LP

Plaintiff, Against JERD ORIENTAL A/K/A JERD M. ORIENTAL, MIRLYNE RICHARDSONORIENTAL, GARDY ORIENTAL, et al.

Defendant(s)

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale, duly entered 10/18/2016, I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction, on the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on 4/2/2024 at 2:30PM, premises known as 16 Hudson Ave, Valley Stream, New York 11580, And Described As

Follows:

ALL that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Incorporated Village Of Valley Stream, Town Of Hempstead, County Of Nassau And State Of New York. Section 37 Block 452 Lot 11-14.

The approximate amount of the current Judgment lien is $643,572.55 plus interest and costs. The Premises will be sold subject to provisions of the aforesaid Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale; Index # 3680/2012

Supplemental Summons with Notice of Action to Foreclose a Mortgage UMB Bank, National Association, not in its individual capacity, but solely as legal title trustee for LVS Title Trust XIII, Plaintiff(s), against Unknown heirs at law of Compton I Wilson Jr., and if they be dead, any and all persons unknown to plaintiff, claiming, or who may claim to have an interest in, or generally or specific lien upon the real property described in this action; such unknown persons being herein generally described and intended to be included in the following designation, namely: the wife, widow, husband, widower, heirs at law, next of kin, descendants, executors, administrators, devisees, legatees, creditors, trustees, committees, lienors, and assignees of such deceased, any and all persons deriving interest in or lien upon, or title to said real property by, through or under them, or either of them, and their respective wives, widows, husbands, widowers, heirs at law, next of kin, descendants, executors; administrators, devisees, legatees, creditors, trustees, committees, lienors and assigns, all of whom and whose names, except as stated, are unknown to plaintiff; Louanne V. Wilson, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, The People of the State of New York, The United States of America, and “JOHN DOE #1,” through “JOHN DOE #12,” the last twelve names being fictitious and unknown to plaintiff, the persons or parties intended being the tenants, occupants, persons or corporations, if any, having or claiming an interest in or lien upon the premises being foreclosed herein, Defendant(s). WE ARE ATTEMPTING TO COLLECT A DEBT AND ANY INFORMATION

OBTAINED WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE TO THE ABOVE-NAMED DEFENDANTS: YOU ARE

HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the complaint in this action and to serve a copy of your answer, or, if the complaint is not served with this summons, to serve a notice of appearance on the Plaintiff’s attorneys within 20 days after the service of this summons exclusive of the day of service or within 30 days after completion of service where service is made in any other manner than by personal delivery within the State. The United States of America, if designated as a defendant in this action, may answer or appear within sixty (60) days of service hereof. In case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the complaint. NOTICE YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME If you do not respond to this summons and complaint by serving a copy of the answer on the attorney for the mortgage company who filed this foreclosure proceeding against you and filing the answer with the court, a default judgment may be entered and you can lose your home. Speak to an attorney or go to the court where your case is pending for further information on how to answer the summons and protect your property. Sending a payment to your mortgage company will not stop this foreclosure action. YOU MUST

RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (MORTGAGE COMPANY) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT.

Sheldon May & Associates, P.C. by Ted Eric May, Esq., Attorneys for Plaintiff. 255 Merrick Road, Rockville Centre, New York 11570. Phone: 516-763-3200. File # 39393 145090

LEGAL NOTICE

CASE NO.21527

RESOLUTION NO.140-2024 Adopted: February 13, 2024

Councilmember Goosby offered the following resolution and moved its adoption:

RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING AND SETTING ASIDE CERTAIN PARKING SPACES FOR MOTOR VEHICLES FOR THE SOLE USE OF HOLDERS OF SPECIAL PARKING PERMITS ISSUED BY THE COUNTY OF NASSAU TO PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED PERSONS.

WHEREAS, pursuant to Resolution No. 135-2024, adopted January 23rd, 2024, a public hearing was duly held on the 13th day of February, 2024, at the Town Meeting

Pavilion, Hempstead Town Hall, 1 Washington Street, Hempstead, New York, on the proposed establishment and setting aside of a certain parking space for motor vehicles for the sole use of holders of special parking permits issued by the County of Nassau to physically handicapped persons, in accordance with Section 202-48 of the Code of the Town of Hempstead, all as set forth in said resolution; and WHEREAS, after due consideration, this Town Board finds it to be in the public interest to establish and set aside a certain parking space for motor vehicles for the sole use of holders of special parking permits issued by the County of Nassau to physically handicapped persons;

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that in accordance with Section 202-48 of the Code of the Town of Hempstead, the following parking spaces be and the same hereby is set aside for the sole use of holders of special parking permits issued by the County of Nassau to physically handicapped persons:

BELLMORE FARMERS AVENUE - west side, starting at a point 400 feet south of the south curbline of Merrick Road, south for a distance of 17 feet.

(TH-603/23)

ROOSEVELT EAST PENNYWOOD AVENUE - south side, starting at a point 492 feet west of the west curbline of Park Avenue, west for a distance of 16 feet.

(TH-599/23)

(NR) VALLEY STREAM ALDEN AVENUE - south side, starting at a point 126 feet west of the west curbline of Charles Street, west for a distance of 20 feet.

(TH-604/23)

and on the repeal of the following locations previously set aside as parking spaces for physically handicapped persons:

FRANKLIN SQUARE MAPLE DRIVE - south side, starting at a point 90 feet west of the west curbline of Court House Road, west for a distance of 20 feet.

(TH-319/20 - 1/26/21)

(TH-598/23)

; and, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Town Clerk shall enter this resolution in the minutes of the Town Board and shall publish a copy of this resolution once a newspaper having a general circulation in the Town of Hempstead, and shall post a copy hereof on the signboard maintained by her, and file in her office affidavits of such publication and posting.

The foregoing resolution was seconded by Councilmember Muscarella and adopted upon roll call as follows:

AYES: SEVEN (7)

NOES: NONE (0) 145256

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

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that there will be a Public Hearing of the Board of Trustees of the Incorporated Village of Valley Stream in person and on ZOOM in the Village Hall Auditorium, 123 South Central Avenue, Valley Stream, New York on Monday, the 11th day of March, 2024, at 7:00 o’clock p.m. before the scheduled Regular Meeting of the Board of Trustees.

The public may attend the Public Hearing or join on ZOOM using the link provided: https://us02web.zoom.us/ j/7148140969

The Public Hearing is to consider the continuation of expenditure of money in regards to community development projects that include:

1.Public Facilities & Improvements -

a. To request funding ($250,000) for Decorative Lighting on the Village Green and update existing restrooms with ADA compliant restrooms at the Village Green Community Band Shell.

b. To request funding ($250,000) to update the existing playground to an ADA compliant playground at 120 Albermarle Avenue (Firemen’s Memorial Field).

2.Streetscape Improvements - To request funding ($100,000) for the beautification of Sunrise Highway from Hook Creek Blvd. to Horton Avenue.

3.Residential Rehabilitation ProgramTo request continuation of funds ($100,000) for income eligible residents to have essential home improvements performed such as roof repairs or the replacement of energy efficient windows.

ALL PERSONS INTERESTED shall have an opportunity to be heard on the proposed project at the time and place aforesaid.

Dated: Valley Stream, New York March 7, 2024

By Order of the Board of Trustees of theIncorporated Village of Valley Stream

JAMES J. HUNTER

Village Clerk/Administrator 145320

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF ADOPTION OF TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD

LOCAL LAW NO. 8-2024

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE

that, pursuant to Article 9 of the New York State Constitution, the provisions of the Town Law and the Municipal Home Rule Law of the State of New York, both as amended, a public hearing was duly called and held February 13th, 2024 , by the Town Board of the Town of Hempstead on the proposed adoption of Town of Hempstead Local Law No. 8-2024, and following the close of the hearing the Town Board duly adopted Town of Hempstead Local Law No. 8-2024, amending Chapter 202 of the Code of the Town of Hempstead, to include and repeal “REGULATIONS & RESTRICTIONS” to limit parking at various locations.

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 Town Clerk 145252

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF ADOPTION OF TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD

LOCAL LAW NO.11-2024

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE

that pursuant to Article 9 of the New York State Constitution, the provisions of the Town Law and the Municipal Home Rule Law of the State of New York, as amended, a public hearing was duly called and held on the day of February 13th, 2024, by the Town Board of the Town of Hempstead, on the proposed adoption of Town of Hempstead Local Law No.11-2024, and following the close of the hearing the Town Board duly adopted Local Law No.11-2024, to amend Section 190-4 of the Code of the Town of Hempstead by the insertion of a location to subdivision “A”, in relation to twenty miles per hour school speed limits, 7 AM to 6 PM, school days as follows:

INSERT:

“A” - 20 mph school speed limits

NORTH VALLEY STREAM, Stuart Avenuebetween Central Avenue and Law Street. (TH-448/24)

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 Town Clerk

145255

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT

COUNTY OF NASSAU

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. as Trustee for WaMu Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2005-PR4 Trust, Plaintiff

AGAINST

Michael C. Browne a/k/a Michael Browne; et al., Defendant(s)

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered April 20, 2020 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 April 9, 2024 at 2:00PM, premises known as 20 Charles Street, Valley Stream, NY 11580. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in Rosedale, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau, State of New York, District 16 Section 37 Block 470 Lot 5. Approximate amount of judgment $402,541.67 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index# 612120/2018. 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.”

Joseph Trotti, 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: February 5, 2024 145335

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU

Bank of America, N.A., Plaintiff

AGAINST Simran Kaur; et al., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered June 19, 2019 I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side Steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on April 10, 2024 at 4:00PM, premises known as 51 Sobro Avenue, Valley Stream, NY 11580. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being at

Two incumbents, one challenger face off

would run a household on a strict budget noted Tufarelli, is the way village officials “act as good stewards of public trust: we must constantly seek ways to do more with less.” As an example of a key cost-saving strategy, he mentioned “utilizing a lot of part-time employees and employing local youth whenever possible” to bring down the cost of full-time work.

He also noted that village taxes, despite the strain on residents, help maintain a stable suburban style of living.

“The Village taxes are between 21- 25 percent of the overall property tax bill,” noted Wright, and those taxes fund a host of critical services “such as sanitation, roads, library, and of course fire protection, among others.”

Concerning improving road safety and pedestrian walkability, Wright argued that good road conditions first start with good infrastructure.

“I can say without hesitation that this Village administration has been very proactive about maintaining the condition of the 95 miles of roads that wind through the Village of Valley Stream,” said Wright. “At a cost of more than $ 1 million per mile, we obviously cannot pave every road every year. This is why the Village, working closely with our skilled workforce, follows a carefully thought-out road maintenance schedule, so paving and necessary repairs are constantly underway on a rotational basis.”

He touted his fervent support for investing in “stateof-the-art pothole repair equipment” that’s fast-tracked village crew’s pot-hole repair initiative.

“I have been listening and involved in the lives of so many of my fellow Valley Streamers over the years, that I consider this community to be my big, extended family,” said Tufarelli. “I know the beat of the village, its needs and wants. It is part of the fabric of who I am.”

As far as launching new traffic-calming initiatives, Tufarelli asserted that any new proposals are taken up with “traffic experts, county, town, and village advisory boards, who will often conduct traffic studies to see what is going on and offer solutions to fix the problems.”

But Tufarelli is, nevertheless, attuned to “serious safety issues” on traffic corridors like Hendrickson Avenue and promised to work closely with Nassau County on extensive traffic calming initiatives to address the problem.

Anthony Bonelli

In his plan to earn a seat at Village Hall, Bonelli is recycling many of the same themes he’s run on in previous village contests — the latest being last year’s unsuccessful bid for the mayor’s seat — transparency, integrity, efficiency.

This may not be surprising for a man who spent decades of his working life across various city services, optimizing systems, and improving working standards.

When asked how he would reduce the tax burden on residents while maintaining quality-of-life services, Bonelli said: “Firstly, you must be honest with the public.”

Bonelli took direct aim at village officials for, in his view, irresponsibly downplaying the extent of the village’s fiscal troubles, at least where its credit worthiness is concerned.

“The administration denied that Moody’s Investors Service had rated the Village’s credit to the lowest level in its history,” said Bonelli, citing a village board meeting in which village officials disagreed with characterizing the village’s credit status as “junk bond.”

“In 2023, the Village’s Ba1 rating was a junk bond which means non-investable, meaning investors should not buy the Village’s debt.”

Bonelli, the Brooklyn-born and District 13 school board trustee, promises to run a tighter fiscal ship to

Public Notices

Elmont, in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau, State of New York, Section 37 Block 521 Lot 2. Approximate amount of judgment $482,798.41 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index# 605425/2018. 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.”

Leonard Symons, 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: February 8, 2024 145333

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, WILMINGTON TRUST, N.A., NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY IN ITS CAPACITY AS TRUSTEE OF MFRA TRUST 2015-1, Plaintiff, vs. SEBASTIAN A. LEONARDI A/K/A SEBASTIAN LEONARDI, ET AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to an Order

Confirming Referee Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on January 30, 2024, I, the undersigned

Referee will sell at public auction on the front steps on the north side of the Nassau County Supreme Court,

save taxpayer money. His first order of business is to stop what he describes as the rampant hiring of politically connected family members and associates at Village Hall.

“It’s legal thievery that the residents must pay for these people’s salaries and benefits with their tax dollars when these expenditures could go for enhanced park maintenance and expanded park activities,” argued Bonelli.

On the issue of improving road safety and pedestrian safety, Bonelli again went on the offensive, arguing that the tied-up traffic on village streets was a direct result of more people and more cars brought in by “the unprecedented increase in apartment building construction.”

“These apartments increase the population density which directly affects the traffic loads on our streets, the school taxes due to possible increases in student enrollment as well as other village services that get paid for by the taxpayer,” noted Bonelli, who would push to halt any further apartment construction. He’d also repurpose certain village-owned property into parks and other public service sites.

But more than anything Bonelli says he vows to bring “integrity” to the office of the trustee as a check on the mayor and break away from decades of United Community Party dominance.

“When people say, ‘elections matter,’ how true it is,” he said.

News brief

She represents L.I. at national symposium

Hewlett High School senior Stella Fratti was named a finalist in the Junior Science and Humanities Symposium competition. She was one of 11 fellow Hewlett students who were selected as regional semifinalists.

Fratti will represent the Long Island region at the 62nd National Junior Science and Humanities Symposium in Albuquerque May 1 to 4. The national symposium will have 245 high school students who qualified by submitting and presenting original scientific papers at regional symposiums.

“When I first found out that I was a regional finalist for JSHS, I was extremely nervous as well as excited,” Fratti wrote in an email. “I was nervous because I was the only one selected from Hewlett H.S. I felt there was more pres-

sure on me to do well. After the regional finalist presentation on Feb. 24, 2024, and discovering that I am one of the five national finalists to represent the Long Island area, I was amazed and grateful for the opportunity to gain more experience.”

Roughly 130 high school teachers, mentors, university educators, military personnel and others will also attend and take part in supporting the next generation of scientists and engineers, and celebrating the students’ accomplishments.

Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia is what Fratti studied. It is a cancer that causes the abnormal growth of B-lymphocytes or B-cells, a type of white blood cells.

–Jeffrey Bessen

JOHN TUFARELLI

SEAN WRIGHT ANTHONY BONELLI

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

IT Opportunities Melville, NY

SR SOFTWARE ENGR-Position requires System Analysis, Design and Implementation of Web Applications and Windows Applications in Microsoft Technologies using ASP.NET, MVC, Web Forms, SQL server 2017, Angular7, React Js, .Net Core, Ajax, JSON, Angular 8, Visual (link removed) 2017/2015, C#, Micro Services, Web API’s, GIT, .Net, Framework 4.5, Entity Framework 6.0/4.3, LINQ, WCF, AZURE, TFS 2013, IIS 7.0. HTML, HTML5, DOM, Bootstrap, Tidal, OSI PI Explorer, TTD, Microsoft Azure cloud and IIS.$169229.00/yr. QA AUTOMATION TEST LEAD-Develop, execute, maintain automated functional tests for multiple services, using , Java, JDK 1.5/1.6, J2EE , TDD, REST Web Services and SOAP, JUnit, HTML, XML, VB Script, JavaScript, Selenium Web driver, UFT, Rational Quality Manager, Main frames, SQL Server, MySQL, Maven, TestNG , Angular JS, JIRA, HP ALM/Quality center, Cassandra, Agile, Jenkins, Eclipse, Teamcity, Stash, Cognos, Postman. Above positions require MS or equiv in Compu Sci/Comp Technology/Engg (ANY)/Info Systems with 36 months of experience in related occupation; Will also accept BS in Compu Sci/Compu Technology/Engg (ANY)/Info Systems with five years of progressively responsible exp in lieu of MS+3; $143021.00/yr. Travel/relocate to unanticipated locations within the USA possible. ; Resumes: IQ SYSTEMS, INC 560 Broad Hollow Rd Ste 313 Melville, NY 11747

WE HAVE THE HELP YOU NEED!!!

HHA's, LPN's, Nurse's Aides

Childcare, Housekeeping Day Workers

No Fee To Employers

Serving The Community

Over 20 Years

Evon's Services 516-505-5510

ADMINISTRATOR AVAILABLE

To Work For You FT/ PT Immediately.

I Am Experienced. RVC Vicinity. Call 516-536-6994

PERSONAL ASSISTANT

Retired NYC Executive Assistant

Available P/T Weekdays For Running Errands, Driving

To/From Doctors' Or Other

Appointments, Grocery Shopping, Personal Correspondence. Reliable, Responsible, Caring.

Please Call 516-775-5578

To Meet And Interview

HHA, CNA, COMPANION, BABYSITTER And House Keeper Looking For Private Work. Caring for Your Loved One is My Top PRIORITY. Call Sandy 347-551-7555

HOME HEALTH AID with 20 Years Experience, Looking to Care for Elderly Male or Female. Experience in Hospitals, Nursing Homes and Private Homes. Day or Night. No Live-in. Driver's License. 914-720-4426 or Email joyceprince990@gmail.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

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.

EAST

Making an old home newer

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

1267 Peninsula Blvd, BA, 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 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

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

Q. We are suing our contractor and need some advice. A year ago, we finished our second-floor addon and first-floor kitchen and rear family room remodel by opening up walls to join them. Everything seemed fine until it rained the first time. The windows began to leak at the bottom, and then around the tops and sides. Our new sliding glass door did the same. The basement flooded, and we are not in a flood area. Then the air-conditioning company said somebody disconnected the ducts, and when we opened the ceilings, more water poured down. The house is now filled with mold, which we clean with bleach where we can get to it, but we couldn’t move out and have two small children under age 4.

Although we have many questions and hired an attorney, we’re wondering whether we should hire an architect to go over all the problems and identify them, with remedies, or hire one of the contractors who said they could fix the problems, or wait until the lawsuit is finished to make it possible for a jury to see the damage. The job architect, whom we never met, has now had their license revoked for the next two years, but we wouldn’t go to them, anyway.

A. Ugh! This is more common than you would think. It starts with not having the architect working for you and instead working for the contractor. I can guess that the contractor was contacted first, and you hired them to get their architect and provide plans. That was your first mistake.

Next, people are lazy, expecting that anyone they hire knows all the best techniques to build and knows all the rules, codes and laws. That was mistake number two. Even though you hire people, you should have gone over critical details, especially about waterproofing and structural techniques on the plans, to make sure that the building owner looks for those steps to be carried out. You, the building owner, I always say, are the “eyes and ears” on the job, since the architect often isn’t there at critical times, when waterproofing membranes and materials are joined.

Mistake number three was not doing a water test with a garden hose when the finish siding, windows roofing, etc., had been applied. Simulating rain by pointing a hose skyward so that the water cascades down — not a direct fire-hose hit — tells you right away if something is failing.

You’re going to need a licensed expert — an architect or an engineer — to work with your attorney. Document everything with videos during simulated or storm events to show the water coming in and whatever other failures, such as leaking and disconnected air ducts, and hire people who can do the job correctly as soon as you can. You need to have a healthy home for your family, and a lawsuit could take years while you possibly get sick from the mold and the chlorine you’re breathing. Good luck!

CLARINET:

REFRIGERATOR:

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

Plus Limited Time Up To $600 In Gift Cards. Call Today! 1-866-782-4069

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

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

CARPENTRY & PAINTING: Residential/ Commercial. All Phases. Licensed/ Insured. FREE ESTIMATES! Anthony & J Home Improvements 516-678-6641

DO YOU NEED a Roof or Energy Efficient Windows & Help paying for it? YOU MAY QUALIFY THROUGH NEW RELIEF PROGRAMS (800) 944-9393 or visit NYProgramFunding.org to qualify. Approved applications will have the work completed by a repair crew provided by: HOMEOWNER FUNDING. Not affiliated with State or Gov Programs.

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

DIRECTV SPORTS PACK – 3 Months on

Us! Watch pro and college sports LIVE. Plus over 40 regional and specialty networks included. NFL, College Football, MLB, NBA, NHL, Golf and more. Some restrictions apply. Call DIRECTV 1-888-534-6918

TAX PROBLEMS: IRS/NYS. Business/ Personal. Tax Letters. Audits. Unfiled Returns. Wage & Bank Levies. Call TaxKingUSA.com at 631-743-4829 for a Solution and Peace of Mind.

ATTENTION OXYGEN THERAPY USERS! Discover Oxygen Therapy That Moves with You with Inogen Portable Oxygen Concentrators. FREE information kit. Call 888-514-3044

HEARING AIDS!! HIGH-QUALITY rechargeable, powerful Audien hearing aids priced 90% less than competitors. Tiny and NEARLY INVISIBLE! 45-day money back guarantee! 855-598-5898

VIAGRA AND CIALIS USERS! 50 Pills SPECIAL $99.00 FREE Shipping! 100% guaranteed. CALL NOW! 855-413-9574

DIVORCE $389

Why I joined the Congressional Offshore Wind Caucus

Growing up in Island Park, I was always acutely aware of how lucky I was to be surrounded by beautiful beaches, bountiful waterways and stunning coastlines. Preserving Nassau County’s coastal environs has been a main priority of my tenure in public office, and I am proud to represent so many community partners who share in that goal. Indeed, the pristine nature of our South Shore was recently threatened by a largescale offshore wind turbine project proposed by Equinor, but thanks to unified community opposition, this dubious plan appears to have stalled — for now.

The growing national push to advance offshore wind energy has clearly reached Long Island, and while Equinor’s plan was defeated due to the corporation’s failure to properly liaise with local stakeholders, there will certainly be other developers attempting their own offshore wind projects mov-

ing forward.

Now more than ever, it is vital that our communities make their voices heard on any projects that would impact our coastline, which is why I am proud to announce that I have been made a co-chair of the Congressional Offshore Wind Caucus. This bipartisan panel provides members of Congress from across the country a forum to discuss the growing utilization of offshore wind energy, compare notes on offshore wind projects being advanced, and strategize on how best to approach future development questions. What’s more, my leadership role in the caucus also provides neighbors in the 4th District with an enhanced voice when the panel communicates with turbine developers — ensuring that the thoughts, concerns and opinions of South Shore residents are made known.

We’ve seen interest from other developers seeking to take Equinor’s place.

residents of the Long Beach barrier island, Island Park, Oceanside and beyond during the development of its Empire Wind 2 offshore wind turbine plan. This lack of engagement justifiably led to distrust among community members, and fueled the successful grass-roots campaign to quash the project.

Like my neighbors along the South Shore, over the course of several meetings, Equinor representatives failed to provide me with adequate information on the long-term environmental impacts of the project or outline a proper plan to support the communities that would have hosted facets of Empire Wind 2 — which is why I fought to stop the project from moving forward.

ment, residents’ wishes are respected, and local communities’ bests interests are advanced. If a company can articulate a vision for an offshore wind energy project that safeguards our environment, incorporates robust stakeholder feedback into the development process, benefits the community, and creates good union jobs, I believe it is beneficial for the public to hear them out and approach the plan with an open mind. I intend to utilize my position on the Congressional Offshore Wind Caucus to hold corporate developers accountable by demanding full transparency on any proposed projects that come before the community.

Those residents have recently seen firsthand the difficulties that stem from a corporate entity outright ignoring the concerns of community stakeholders when developing a large-scale project. Indeed, Equinor failed to engage with

Now that Equinor appears to have realized the error of its ways and pulled back from its offshore wind plan, we have seen growing interest from several other developers seeking to take Equinor’s place. As the selection process plays out and companies vie for a chance to develop offshore wind energy in Nassau County, it is vital that stakeholders have a say in project advance-

I will continue to utilize all the tools at my disposal to advocate for the best interests of South Shore neighbors and ensure that our communities are not negatively impacted by overdevelopment. My position as co-chair of the bipartisan caucus will give our community a stronger voice in that arena, and ensure that any proposed plans include real benefits for the South Shore. Long gone are the days when developers like Equinor thought they could simply muscle their way past community opposition. We won’t allow it.

Anthony D’Esposito represents the 4th Congressional District.

For Democrats, Suozzi’s victory is nothing to brag about

Democrats were understandably elated when former Democratic Congressman Tom Suozzi won the special election in New York’s 3rd Congressional District on Feb. 13, but they shouldn’t be popping any champagne. In truth, Suozzi’s victory over the Republicans’ candidate, Mazi Melesa Pilip, was a lot closer than it should have been.

Suozzi won just under 54 percent of the vote. Doesn’t that seem a little low? After all, he’s a former mayor of Glen Cove, a former Nassau County executive, and a former three-term representative of the district in Congress. Pilip, meanwhile, is a sophomore county legislator.

An alarming sign for me is the money spent by each campaign for each vote. Suozzi spent $2.36 million and won roughly 91,300 votes, meaning he spent almost $26 per vote. In comparison, Pilip spent just $714,000 and won roughly 78,200 votes, or just over $9 per vote.

That means that Pilip needed on average one-third the cash to bring her vot-

ers out to the polls. That indicates to me that Pilip’s voters were more excited and zealous. Suozzi, on the other hand, had to fight to bring Democrats out.

If Pilip and Suozzi had had the same fundraising numbers, and the cash-pervote numbers held, Pilip would have garnered over three times her vote total. Even if we halved Suozzi’s advantage (to make the comparison a bit more realistic), Pilip still might have won, with over 58.5 percent of the vote, if she’d spent as much money as Suozzi.

HSo, Democrats, is this your grand victory?

Aside from that lingering question, Suozzi ran a good campaign. He attacked Pilip where he needed to and worked hard in just the couple of months that he had, barnstorming through the district. He held a large event in my native Westbury, which I appreciate. The difficult fight he had, and the difficult fight many Nassau Democrats have, was beyond his control.

e spent nearly three times as much campaign money as Pilip for each vote.

To top it off, state Democrats are going to get another chance to draw district lines this year, meaning that Suozzi is almost certainly going to be redistricted into a safer, more heavily Democratic district. Why sink millions into an election that you most likely would have won more easily in nine months?

I read the election results this way: A Democratic political veteran with high name recognition and a 3-to-1 fundraising advantage won an election with the second-worst margin he’s won his House seat with, against a neophyte opponent no one had ever heard of, whom he probably would have more easily defeated in nine months.

For one thing, the political landscape on Long Island is shifting against Democrats. For years in Nassau County, the number of new voters registering as Democrats outpaced those registering as Republicans, but that is changing. In the towns of North Hempstead and Oyster Bay and the City of Glen Cove, which account for most of the population of the 3rd District, voter registration data for the past year confirms that the ratio of Democrats to Republicans is shrinking.

Area Democrats have also been suffering from guilt by association. The Nassau GOP has successfully associated local Democrats with their more leftleaning colleagues in New York City. The Long Islanders are branded with

negative labels like “radical” and “socialist,” or worse, “radical socialist.”

Finally, local Democrats continue to be hammered on bail reform, affordable housing and crime. These attacks are nonsense, but they stick because there is no apparatus in place to respond. None of this is Suozzi’s fault. Rather, the problem lies squarely with the Nassau and state Democratic committees, which have poor fundraising operations, abysmal organizing capacity, and virtually nonexistent communication with voters.

The party is failing to recruit new members, and cannot adequately defend its candidates, let alone go on the offensive. The state Democratic Party continues to fail candidates like Suozzi and the voters that make their existence possible.

That’s why I don’t consider Suozzi’s victory any kind of Democratic renaissance. His hard-fought win doesn’t portend more party wins in Nassau, because a successful two-month campaign can’t fix a state Democratic Party that has lost almost every position of power on Long Island in the past eight years.

Matthew Adarichev is a public policy major at Hofstra University, a political activist and an aspiring journalist whose work has appeared in the Hofstra Chronicle and the Anton Media Group.

Herald editorial

Support the Local Journalism Sustainability Act

as objective and independent news writers and editors, we have an imperative to cover the issues most important to you, the people of our community.

Every day, our team of reporters is on the ground questioning elected officials, uplifting the stories of community changemakers, and uncovering truths that some would rather keep hidden.

But, amid industry challenges, it is no longer unfathomable to picture a future when New York state is completely without local newspapers and other local news outlets.

According to the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University, 2.5 newspapers now close each week in the United States. More than 3,000 newspapers have shuttered across the country since 2004, and New York has been particularly hard hit.

In 2004, New York boasted 501 newspapers. Today, it’s only 260. In 2022 alone, 30 newspapers closed across the state.

A quarter of New York’s counties are news deserts — down to their last newspaper. Orleans County recently became the first in the state to have none. These closures have also resulted in thousands of lost journalism and newsroom-supporting jobs.

Local news matters. Studies show that when a community loses its source of local news, it experiences decreased voter turnout and civic engagement. Increased municipal borrowing costs that lead to higher taxes. And decreased transparency among government and business officials, leading to increased waste, fraud and abuse.

As newspapers shutter, communities become more polarized, leaving us stuck in a never-ending doom loop where we lose sight of our shared values. During this era of intense national partisanship, local news offers a path forward.

letters

Let these elected officials know that we need to save local news

■ Contact Gov. Kathy Hochul: (518) 474-8390

■ Contact State Sen. Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick: (516) 766-8383

■ Contact Assemblyman Brian Curran: (516) 561-8216

■ Contact Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages: (516) 599-2972

Our newspaper is a proud member of the Empire State Local News Coalition. Support the coalition at SaveNYLocalNews.com.

The time to act is now. That is why the Valley Stream Herald has joined with more than 150 other New York local newspapers to launch the Empire State Local News Coalition.

Comprising both print and online local newspapers, this coalition is advocating for sound public policy that ensures the important work of local news organizations can continue in our state. Through our independent journalism, we aim to serve, inform, uplift and protect New York residents.

Our coalition cares deeply about our local communities as well as the future of New York’s free press. However, market forces are making it nearly impossible for us to survive. So, together, we are sounding the alarm bell for our leaders in Albany to hear.

At the heart of our advocacy is the Local Journalism Sustainability Act.

Bruce Blakeman bans trans athletes

To the Editor:

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman’s recent signing of an executive order banning transgender girls from playing sports in county facilities was a disingenuous performance to ingratiate himself with the cruel anti-LGBTQ movement. These kinds of orders and bans do more harm than good, setting a dangerous tone that can send the message that hateful acts against the LGBTQ community are justified. Nex Benedict, the non-binary 16-year-old from Oklahoma who died last month after an altercation in a high school girls’ bathroom, comes to mind.

Sadly, by targeting transgender young people, Blakeman chose to use his executive power to sacrifice a very vulnerable group, already struggling for acceptance and facing far greater rates of depression and suicide than their peers, for his own political gain. Instead of doing something to help the transgender commu-

Sponsored by state Sen. Brad HoylmanSigal and Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner — with the bipartisan support of 55 co-sponsors — this bill provides tax credits to local news outlets for the employment of local news journalists. News organizations are incentivized to actually add jobs, returning reporters to many of the state’s newsrooms, which are becoming increasingly desolate.

Importantly, the bill is also contentneutral, meaning that any legitimate local news outlet — left, right or inbetween — can benefit from this bill. The objectivity of the bill’s eligibility requirements means the legislation cannot be weaponized to penalize news organizations critical of government officials.

As New York loses talented journalists, lawmakers must act to ensure the industry is allowed not only to survive, but also to thrive. Only local news outlets — with boots-on-the-ground journalists — can deliver the hyperlocal updates and investigations necessary to sustain a community’s civic and financial wellbeing.

Imagine no stories about the village or town board meeting, or the school budget debate. No pictures of your granddaughter’s first soccer goal. No obituary of your friendly (and eccentric) neighbor. No investigative reporting to hold public officials to account. And no trusted institution to convene the community around a family in need.

We need your help to save local news in New York. To get the Local Journalism Sustainability Act across the finish line, lawmakers need to hear from you about why our newspaper matters and why this bill is important to you.

If you would like to help, reach out to Gov. Kathy Hochul and your local state representatives to let them know you stand with local news.

It’s time we find common ground on ‘Raise the Age’

Long island has become the center of New York’s — and the nation’s — political conversation. in recent elections, state and local policies have had an enormous influence on Nassau and suffolk County campaigns that ultimately played a decisive role in determining control of Congress.

CHarLes LaVINe

But while politicians and party operatives struggle to find a political advantage in laws passed by albany or our County Legislature, real people affected by these policies are waiting for those of us in office to find common ground on issues that should bring us together, not divide us.

Look at the raise the age law, for example. in 2017, i was proud to join both my Democratic and republican colleagues in support of ending New York’s shameful status as one of the last two states to prosecute all 16- and 17-year-olds as adults. Today, thanks to the law, a large majority of young people’s cases move through family court, where the goal is rehabilitation through effective intervention rather than criminalization.

raise the age is a crucial component in building a healthy, sustainable future. it allows young people to get the services they need to get their lives on track. it also allows them to access quality jobs and fully contribute to our society without convictions from when they were teenagers holding them back.

sContrary to false claims labeling family court a “slap on the wrist,” young people may face mandatory programs, supervision by law enforcement, pretrial detention, and placement in residential facilities. But when the system is working well, they are connected with a range of community-based services and resources, which aim to address the underlying factors that led them to commit crimes. and they can use of those services — and the opportunities they provide — without the burden of an adult criminal record.

reduction in shootings with injuries from 2021 to 2023.

as a former public defender, i know firsthand how crucial services like sNUG are to the health and safety of our young people and their communities. By targeting the crux of the issue, they reduce recidivism and help struggling youth become wellfunctioning, productive members of their communities.

etting young offenders straight without burdening them with adult criminal records.

since raise the age took effect, thousands of young people who would otherwise have spent months or even years of their childhood in adult jails and prisons have had access to services designed to help them improve their lives and avoid future interactions with the criminal legal system. For some, this is the first time they have had trusted adults whom they can rely on and turn to for guidance.

vices, serious crimes perpetrated by those under 18 decreased by 12 percent in Nassau County and a stunning 57 percent in suffolk. These statistics demonstrate the efficacy of, and critical need for, community-based programming to make our neighborhoods safer.

Despite raise the age’s success, its implementation has received a mere fraction of the funding state leaders promised. it’s been reported that as of 2022, only $270 million of the $800 million that was appropriated for it had been invested in community-based programs and services for young people around the state. Think of how much more successful raise the age could be if the state adequately funded it, and community-based organizations and service providers could apply for and receive that funding directly.

one such service is the sNUG street outreach program, which uses a public health model to reduce gun violence throughout the state by mediating conflict, mentoring youth, and working with local partners to make our streets safer. The 13 communities that are home to the program — including hempstead — reported a 36 percent

Letters

nity in Nassau County, he decided to put them at further risk. Blakeman claims that “boys” are bullying their way onto girls’ teams, but he’s the real bully here.

KariN JohNsoN RVC Pride Rockville Centre

It was obvious why Republicans chose Pilip

To the Editor:

i read the h erald’s coverage of the special election between Tom suozzi and Mazi Pilip. You didn’t mention that Pilip was a registered Democrat when she ran against s uozzi. s he didn’t change her party affiliation until a few days ago. right from the beginning, Pilip didn’t want to take many questions from the press, and showed she didn’t know very much about the issues. The republicans had her run because she was pretty, black, and Jewish, with an interesting background.

MYroN MariNBaCh Lynbrook

Immigrants make our economy stronger

To the Editor:

it’s time to cut through the noise and tell the

in recent years, i’ve been disappointed by how many of my misinformed colleagues have attempted to blame raise the age for an increase in crime on Long island, especially when the data say otherwise. This should be a law that unites us.

From the law’s implementation in 2018 through 2022, according to the state Division of Criminal Justice ser-

truth about immigration: o ur economy and community is stronger because of it. s ome leaders would have us think it’s a zero-sum game when our country takes in immigrants, but that’s not true at all.

The nonpartisan Congressional Budget o ffice estimates that the U. s . economy will grow by an extra $7 trillion over the next 10 years thanks to immigrants!

But we don’t have to wait for the future to see how they are strengthening the economy. in 2021, immigrants paid $524.7 billion in taxes. That’s money that helps fuel our nation’s schools, Medicare, Medicaid and social security programs. i mmigrants help support our communities as consumers and taxpayers.

Don’t believe it? Even former President Donald Trump’s appointed Federal reserve chair, Jerome h. Powell, recognized the massive contributions immigrants make in an interview on “60 Minutes,” saying, “a big part of the story of the labor market coming back into better balance is immigration returning to levels that were more typical of the pre-pandemic era.”

so let’s give credit where credit is due, stop the anti-immigrant rhetoric and end the zerosum mindset. i mmigration truly is essential for our economic growth and our communities’ prosperity.

JosEPh M. VaroN Long Island chapter, Bend the Arc West Hempstead

it’s high time that we rise to the occasion and demand more for the most vulnerable members of our communities, and that starts by calling on albany to invest in our youth by fully funding raise the age and supporting evidence-based strategies that create pathways for our young people’s rehabilitation, growth and opportunity. Let’s not let fear-mongering and political mudslinging talk us out of public policy that is proven to work — and that lifts all of us up.

Charles Lavine represents the 13th Assembly District.