Women from Elmont, Franklin Square, Valley Stream, Laurelton, Floral Park and South Floral Park were recognized for their efforts to hellp others in their communities. Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages, top row, center, presented the 15 women of distinction their awards at Sewanhaka High School on March 9.
The many accomplishments of amazing local women are making the annual selections of Women of Distinction honorees tougher and tougher.
Last Saturday, Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages presented the Women of Distinction awards to 15 accomplished women in the 22nd district community. She noted that the selection of the women to every year as the number of nominations increases. The women are discovered through nominations from community members or are identified when Solages and her team hear about them, sometimes through the Herald.
“We spot people who are doing great things and we add them to the list,” Solages said. “We just uplift those in the community we feel need uplifting as well. Every year it’s so difficult. This year we honor 15 women, because we had so many great candidates we
ContinuEd on PAgE 18
Valley Stream families and students heard from local lawmakers and school administrators and got their questions answered on pressing education issues at the annual Valley Stream Legislative Breakfast.
The public forum March 9, hosted by the Valley Stream Council of PTAs, has promoted itself as a rare occasion for residents to sit down with local leaders in a genuine dialogue on the best ways to deliver better educational outcomes for students going into the new year.
This year, Assemblyman Brian Curran and State Senator Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Republicans, sat shoulderto-shoulder with Democratic Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages as legislative panelists.
The conversation ran the gamut of education topics from top statewide issues like the expansion of universal pre-K and the quandary over the governor’s new state aid funding formula — down to more local concerns including shoring up more culturally sensitive language teachers to new ways of transitioning special education students into adult life.
Unal Karakas, District 24
Superintendent, was tapped to speak on behalf of his fellow superintendents and board of education members. In his speech, he outlined an extensive list of education policy reforms he urged the trio of lawmakers to take to Albany including:
■ Ensuring a legal pathway to make school funding permanent for the federal free meals program
■ Make state evaluations of teachers and principals less test-score-driven
■ Fuller access to funds for universal pre-K funding by
eliminating certain funding restrictions based on class-size requirements
But perhaps the issue overshadowing all others was the question of state aid funding.
School leaders, lawmakers say ‘no’ to state formula changes Karakas, who, like many school district leaders on Long
Island, made no effort to hide his opposition toward Governor Kathy Hochul’s proposal to change elements to the state aid funding formula —which decides how much state dollars get pumped to support schools— described it in plain terms as a financial blow to public education.
Since the earliest chapters of its history, the United States has suffered its share of scars on the social and economic landscape.
Now, with a legacy of slavery, Jim Crow and persistent discrimination, past injustices continue to echo in disparities in employment and housing opportunities, and access to quality education and health care.
There’s a lot of work that still needs to be done to allow Black and Brown communities in New York to flourish
MARiA MARTiNe Z Executive director, Empire State VoicesOn Feb. 29, Empire State Voices and Economic Security Project, two organizations dedicated to fighting for economic policies that benefit those who have historically been underrepresented and often neglected, hosted a forum in Elmont focusing on the intersection of race and economics, and how it affects communities all over Long Island.
“The economic impact of the disparities that exist are hitting Black people straight,” Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages, who took part in a panel discussion, said. “We’re talking about food insecurity, we’re talking about housing instability, we’re talking about issues like economic empowerment. We are getting the brunt end of it, and we need to push back. We need to make sure that we are educated and galvanized.”
Residents from Elmont, Uniondale, Roosevelt, Hempstead and elsewhere gathered at Le Spot Cafe for in-depth conversations about the economic policies that most dramatically affect their communities, where progress has been made, and where there still remains important work to be done.
“We must stop with the isolation of neighborhoods and people,” said community activist Mimi Pierre Johnson, who recently organized a bus protest with riders from Uniondale, Roosevelt, Hempstead and Elmont. “Understanding the system, sharing with each other and coming together,” Pierre Johnson added, is the only way forward.
“We have to help each other,” she said. “When you begin to see human beings — the dignity of a person — that’s when real work begins.”
The evening began with a presentation on a new groundbreaking initiative — the IRS Direct File pilot program, a free tool being offered to New Yorkers for the first time this year to ease the burden and reduce the cost of filing taxes. This will be the first time many residents will be able to file their taxes at no cost.
The event transitioned into the panel discussion, which was moderated by policy expert Sherrise Palomino. The guest panelists included Solages, Pierre Johnson and economist Ludy Thenor-Shaw, who shed light on the complexities of economic policies and helped listeners understand the broader economic landscape.
All of the panelists spoke on the state of the “Black economy” on Long Island, the benefits of legislative victories such as the Inflation Reduction Act and the CHIPS Act, as well as the impact of the ongoing gridlock in Congress over government spending. Conversations also centered on the importance of civic and community engagement, as well as how New Yorkers of all colors and backgrounds can support the economic growth of Black communities.
“We had important conversations around ensuring that we create a path-
way for economic opportunity in Black communities,” Solages said, “as well as what has and still needs to be happening across the state with regard to economic development and how we can tap into these opportunities for all New Yorkers.”
The panelists explored the challenges and opportunities in the Black economy, and delved into the benefits of recent legislation.
“We have seen important legislative steps taken in the past few years to direct funding and opportunities to these communities,” said Maria Martinez, executive director of Empire State Voices. “Tonight allows us to gather, organize, and ensure that these steps are only the beginning.
“But there is a lot of work that still needs to be done,” Martinez added, “to allow Black and Brown communities in New York to flourish.”
“A key component of building eco -
nomic power for working people is transforming the systems that deliver relief,” said Adam Ruben, the Economic Security Project’s vice president of campaigns and political strategy, who took part in the panel discussion.
“In the Biden administration’s first term,” Ruben said, “the American Rescue Plan, the Inflation Reduction Act, and now the IRS’s Direct File free and simplified tax filing program have helped bring costs down and opened the door to returning more money to middle-class families. When corporations pay their fair share and when junk fees are eliminated, it means more resources are better dedicated to caring for our children and their communities — and here in New York, it means more families will easily access the federal Child Tax Credit and New York Working Families Tax Credit to help their children thrive.”
Bruce Blakeman wants to ban transgender athletes who identify as female from participating in women sports on Nassau County playing fields. But Letitia James says he can’t do that.
So, the Nassau County executive is joining Mark Mullen — the father of a female athlete he says is protected by such a ban — to file a federal lawsuit contesting the state attorney general’s ceaseand-desist order halting Blakeman’s efforts to restrict who can be on a sports team.
“What the attorney general was asking us to do was a violation of federal Constitutional law and federal statutory law,” Blakeman told reporters in Mineola last week. “Our response was to file a lawsuit, for a declaratory judgment, requiring the attorney general to come before a federal judge and explain why this cease-and-desist order has been issued and the threat of sanctions and litigations against the county, when we in Nassau County are protecting women and girls, who are a protected class under the constitution, and under federal law.”
James sent her cease-and-desist letter to Blakeman on March 1, demanding he rescind his executive order banning transgender athletes identifying as female from participating in women’s
sports in county facilities. She called the executive order was transphobic and illegal under the state’s human rights and civil rights laws.
With the cease-and-desist, James ordered the county to rescind the executive order or face potential legal action.
“Not only will the order impact a wide array of Nassau-based teams and leagues, it will undoubtedly deter inclusive teams and transgender women and girls who participate in women’s and girls’ sports from other parts of the state who want to participate in sporting events and competitions in Nassau County,” James wrote.
A spokesperson from the attorney
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.
general’s office reiterated that after Blakeman’s news conference, saying the laws protecting people from discrimination are not “up for debate.”
“The executive order is illegal,” the spokesperson said, “and it will not stand in New York.”
Blakeman cited the New York City Marathon as an example where males and females compete exclusively in their own classified groups.
“There is a reason for those classifications,” he said. “Males are bigger, stronger and faster. And it wouldn’t be a fair competition with females.”
The county’s action is consistent with the Constitution, Blakeman added, treat-
“Elder Law Estate Planning” is an area of law that combines features of both elder law (disability planning) and estate planning (death planning) and relates mostly to the needs of the middle class. Estate planning was formerly only for the wealthy, who wanted to shelter their assets from taxes and pass more on to their heirs. But today estate planning is also needed by the middle class who may have assets exceeding one million dollars, especially when you consider life insurance in the mix.
Estate planning with trusts became popular starting in 1991 when AARP published “A Consumer Report on Probate” concluding that probate should be avoided and trusts should be used to transfer assets to heirs without the expense and delay of probate, a court proceeding on death. Trusts are also widely used today to avoid guardianship proceedings on disability, protect privacy, and reduce the chance of a will contest in court.
ing women and girls as a protected class under federal law.
“Transgender women who are biological males are not a protected class under federal law,” he said.
And because of that, Blakeman believes his order is not transphobic.
“Transgender athletes can compete freely here in Nassau County, and we welcome it,” Blakeman said. “If you’re a biological male and you identify yourself as a female, you can play against other biological males. Or, you can play in a co-ed league.”
Blakeman posed an idea with reporters of starting a transgender league, something he said his parks commissioner, Darcy Belyea, is open to.
Blakeman issued his executive order last month with County Legislator Samantha Goetz and sports activist Kimberly Ross standing by his side.
The executive order demands sports, leagues, organizations, teams, programs or sport entities operating in county facilities to first designate themselves based on gender makeup, and then only accept athletes who meet that criteria according to what was originally listed on their birth certificate.
While those born male would not be allowed to participate in female teams, the order does not ban someone born female from joining a male team, or for anyone who is transgender from participating on a co-ed team.
As the population aged, life expectancies increased, and the cost of care skyrocketed, the field of elder law emerged in the late 1980’s to help people protect assets from the cost of long-term care by using Medicaid asset protection strategies.
We have been practicing “elder law estate planning” together for over thirty years to address these needs:
• Getting your assets to your heirs, with the least amount of court costs, taxes and legal fees possible.
• Keeping your assets in the bloodline for your grandchildren and protecting those assets from your children’s divorces, lawsuits and creditors.
• Protecting your assets from the costs of long-term care and qualifying you for government benefits to pay for your home care or facility care.
• Avoiding guardianship proceedings if you become disabled and probate court proceedings on death.
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Parker Schug/HeraldValley Stream District 24’s Jack Mitchell and around 40 other volunteers participated in the second Lifetouch Memory Mission in Guatemala to construct “bottle classrooms”—sustainable classrooms that are made using plastic bottles and inorganic trash. The assistant superintendent of business volunteered in Xepatan, in the state of Chimaltenango, where he met the local students and helped host the community’s first “Picture Day” for kids in Kindergarten through sixth grade.
Through the mission trip, Lifetouch partnered with the Guatemala-based Hug It Forward and the community of Xetapan to build the bottle classrooms. The foundations, columns, and beams were made from concrete reinforced with iron rebar. Instead of cinder blocks, however, the classroom’s walls were created using “eco-bricks” or plastic bottles filled with inorganic trash. The schools are expected to last 100 years.
“I’m so touched by the opportunity to take part in this mission trip,” Mitchell said. “Building an eco-friendly school like this is fascinating and it’s something that will have an immeasurable impact on the community. I’m looking forward to immersing myself in a new country and giving my all to help the people living there.”
The Lifetouch Memory Mission also hosted the first ever Picture Day for the
the lives of its local students.
community’s kindergarten through sixth-grade children. Volunteers saw the joy in the students’ faces when they received their first photos on the last day of the trip.
In addition to creating an improved and stable classroom and school environment for the Guatemalan community, Mitchell was touched by the opportunity to engage with the community,
2024-2025
As per Education Law, Section 3635, the District must legally provide transportation for District children in grades K-6 attending private/parochial schools. Kindergarten children must be five (5) years of age as of December 1st, 2024.
• The parent must submit a written request for transportation each year and include the child’s name, date of birth, grade, and school.����
• The request must be submitted to the Transportation Department of Valley Stream School District Thirteen at 585 N. Corona Ave., Valley Stream, NY 11580����on or before APRIL 2nd 2024 for the school year beginning September 2024.
If your child qualifies for transportation, please be sure that your request is submitted on time. Applications received after April 1st will not be considered except for new residents who are required by law to apply within (30) thirty days after establishing residence in the District.
Visit the Valley Stream 13 website for additional information/ application: www.valleystream13.com
appreciating the land, tasting the food, and meeting the students.
Since 2000, Lifetouch has been inviting company employees and national education partners to volunteer on its Memory Mission and serve communities across the globe. Volunteers have built schools across Haiti and the Dominican Republic, rebuilt a village in Kosovo, repaired homes in Appalachia,
created a children’s center in Jamaica, and constructed a bridge in the land of the Navajo in Arizona.
–Juan Lasso
Jack Mitchell, the Assistant Superintendent of Business for Valley Stream District 24, recently volunteered on a mission trip to build a sustainable school in Guatemala and better
Photos courtesy Valley Stream District 24
Clear Stream Avenue School has a renovated playground, an upgrade that district officials say “will further enhance the educational experience for students.” The opening of Clear Stream Avenue’s new and improved play space marks the final phase of a districtwide project, following the earlier completion and opening of playgrounds at Forest Road Elementary and Shaw Avenue Elementary earlier in the school year.
To commemorate this milestone, a spirited “ribbon-cutting” ceremony was held, attended by enthusiastic students, dedicated staff and administration. Amidst smiles and cheers, students joyfully broke through the ribbon, symbolizing the beginning of a new era of play.
Superintendent Roxanne Garcia-France emphasized the importance of play in the development of students. “The board of education, families, and I firmly believe in the value of play,” she said. “That’s why we have invested in upgrading playgrounds at all of our schools. Our curriculum incorporates play as an important component, promoting skills such as cooperation, sharing and taking turns.” The new playground school officials note not only provide students with a fun and engaging environment, but also serve as valuable spaces for learning and social development.
–Juan Lasso
After just missing out on reaching its postseason conference tournament for a second straight year, the Hofstra men’s lacrosse team is sharply focused on extending its 2024 season into the month of May.
The Pride entered the final season game against Stony Brook in a win or go home scenario and fell 11-10 to its Long Island rivals and missed out on a tiebreaker for the final spot in the fourteam league tournament to compete for an automatic qualifier into the NCAA Tournament. The Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) preseason coaches poll projects Hofstra to finish fifth in the eight-team conference, which would leave Hofstra just shy once again of the postseason.
“After losing the tiebreaker two years in a row it doesn’t sit well with us,” said longtime Hofstra head coach Seth Tierney.
Hofstra enters the start of CAA play this weekend at 3-4 following a 21-9 loss to 18th-ranked North Carolina at home last Saturday in the program’s first meeting with the ACC power since 2018.
Junior attackman John Madsen (21 goals) and redshirt junior midfielder Rory Jones (16 goals) have paced the offense so far this season. Madsen, a Locust Valley High School graduate, tallied 27 points as a junior, while Jones neatly set a program record for goals in a game with eight in a season-opening 21-9 win against Wagner.
Madsen and Jones lead a deep Hofstra offense featuring multiple scoring options including Colton Rudd, Griffin Turner and Justin Sykes.
A key part of assuring Hofstra is in the offensive end of the field for much
of the game is the play of graduate student faceoff specialist Chase Patterson, who earned preseason All-CAA honors. Patterson led the CAA in faceoff win -
ning percentage at 59.5 percent last year and is at 60 percent through seven games this season.
“He’s been very self motivated and won some big face offs for us,” said Tierney of Patterson. “He very much thinks like a coach as even after a successful game he finds the negatives, he finds the ones that he missed and he continues to work each week to miss less and less.”
The defense is led by redshirt sophomore goalie Sean Henderson, who recorded 19 saves in a 17-13 victory against St. John’s on Feb. 13. Graduate student goalie Max May, a Hewlett High School product who previously played goalie at Muhlenberg College, serves as a solid backup behind Henderson and tallied three saves at the end of the Wagner game.
“They push each other every day in practice and no one can take a day off,”: said Tierney of his two top goalies. “Right now we are staying with what we’re staying with, but Max is right there ready to go to help the team when necessary.”
The starting defense in front of Hen-
derson features Henry Troy, Will Delaney and Blake Cooling. Graduate student long stick defensive midfielder is also a key component of the defense and earned All-CAA preseason accolades after playing 14 games at North Carolina last season.
The Hofstra defensive unit also features two local players in redshirt sophomore Ryan Kiernan, a Rockville Centre native and Chaminade graduate, along with junior short-stick defensive midfielder Chris Barry, an East Meadow High School alum.
The CAA season kicks off Saturday at Fairfield followed by a March 23 road trip to two-time defending champion Delaware. The conference home opener is set for March 30 against Monmouth at 1 p.m.
Hofstra’s late season schedule also includes an April 16 non-league game against Yale at 7 p.m., which will mark the program’s first meeting with the Ivy League school since 1995.
“They are a tremendous team with a lot of talent,” said Tierney of Yale. “It is another opportunity to sharpen our swords against a quality opponent.”
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The Valley Stream District 13 Board of Education voted unanimously in a meeting last month for the district to consider weaning itself away from outsourcing its school transportation to private bus service companies and toward buying its own bus fleet.
Trustee Anthony Bonelli offers a proposal, he argues, could save the district millions in transportation costs.
The idea of a school district-owned bus fleet is neither new nor unheard of, but Bonelli says that against the backdrop of soaring transportation costs, buying a bus fleet now will mean savings for years to come.
In recent months, conversations around the future cost of school transportation have indeed taken on a new urgency. Following Governor Hochul’s latest mandate that all school buses purchased by 2027 must emit zero emissions — and that each district’s entire school fleet must go electric by 2035 — school districts are hand-wringing over how to make the switch.
Bonelli says that, by his estimates, his proposal to transition to an in-house bus fleet could pave the way for the district to save 10 million dollars in the next few years. Savings that could then help defray the expected expenses associated with shifting from diesel to electric in the next decade.
Since the pandemic, from 2019 to 2023, transportation costs have undeniably swelled, rising from roughly 1.9 million to 4.2 million dollars.
District 13 Superintendent Judith LaRocca has argued factors largely out-
side the district’s control are to blame for the cost spike including “transportation companies that have gone out of business, higher costs for drivers due to minimum wage increases, and an increase in gas prices.”
The district currently contracts with no less than 9 different bus companies. Anticipated transportation costs are expected to clock in around 4 million dollars this upcoming budget season, argues Bonelli.
Anticipating that transportation costs will not only stay at their current cost rate but grow by 3 percent each year, for the next four years, to account for inflation, Bonelli figures that by 2029, the district will pay $4.6 million for transportation.
If this financial forecast holds, Bonelli argues that buying a fleet of 38 dieselfueled, short buses makes savvy financial sense. The price tag of each bus is roughly $97,000 — using the market price offered by Bird Bus Sale, a regional bus dealer. That makes the total purchase for the bus fleet roughly $3.7 million.
WAfter the first year, transportation costs drop to around $1.5 million annually to run and maintain the fleet. Compare this with roughly $4.2 million for the ongoing cost of contracting out in the same year.
e are currently in the process of gathering facts and information regarding the district’s potential transition to purchasing its bus fleet as opposed to continuing with contracted services.JUdiTh LaROccA Superintendent, District 13
The total upfront cost of the bus fleet in the first year, plus anticipated expenses on maintenance, parking, insurance, and labor, would be about $5.5 million, argued Bonelli. It may look like a scary number, he admitted, but things become less scary once you consider the savings generated in the long run.
“After the first year, I estimate the district saves more than $2.7 million annually. In less than three years, the purchase cost of the bus fleet would be recovered. Within five years, the district would save more than $10 million,” noted Bonelli. “It’s short-term pain for long-term gain.”
Bonelli’s calculated financial predictions seem solid but board members and administrative leaders must mull over whether any bus-owning proposal will live up to its promise as a more efficient, cost-saving alternative.
Superintendent treads cautiously
Superintendent Judith LaRocca would not take a direct stance on Bonelli’s proposal at this time.
“We are currently in the process of gathering facts and information regarding the district’s potential transition to purchasing its bus fleet as opposed to continuing with contracted services,” she said in a statement. “This decision requires thorough research to define the costs and benefits involved.”
Bonelli’s money-saving promise is built on the expectation that private contractors will continue to charge as
much — and gradually more — for the district’s transportation needs in the coming years. It also expects the district can avoid any sharp increases in labor salaries, insurance, and maintenance that could inflate the price of ownership. Not to mention large, unexpected emergencies like an unforeseen uptick in eligible bus riders.
If a bus does go down, noted Bonelli, a spare bus added on to the required 37 buses to transport the district’s eligible riders could be put to work in case of emergencies or for larger-than-anticipated ridership levels.
Fielding criticism about bus storage during the day, Bonelli said the issue was a ‘red herring.’ Buses sit idly off school grounds during school hours and would only ever take up space in the school’s parking lot during the early morning or late evening and night hours — in keeping with the times in which most staff and students have either left the school or have yet to arrive.
Nevertheless, there are contingency versions of his plan, Bonelli assured, that include the expansion of parking lots at Dever and Willow to house the buses during school hours, if requested.
But perhaps the biggest question is if the district decides to purchase dieselfueled buses, what are the costs involved with eventually replacing them with electric vehicles by 2035? But LaRocca, again, urged restraint.
“It is important to note that the district does not currently own any buses, and therefore, we are not under any immediate obligation regarding Governor Hochul’s mandate,” she said. “We will update the community once we have gathered initial facts and have substantive information to share regarding this issue.”
Continuing a series exploring the impact pollution from air, noise and light has on our communities and way of life. Thoughts? Questions? Ideas? Email us at execeditor@liherald.com.
How can local representatives protect people from an invisible, ever-present hazard? That’s the question small governments across Nassau County have been trying to answer when it comes to noise pollution — all to varying degrees of success.
“Inevitably, you might be creating a standard that is unfair, that is inequitable,” said Kevin Walsh, an attorney who’s helped draft noise ordinances for municipalities like Malverne and Farmingdale. “Not because it isn’t applied equally, but because it hurts people that don’t have a problem with it.”
Noise pollution — excessive or frequent noise — is said to come with health risks like increased stress, hypertension and sleep disruption, according to the World Health Organization. But for some communities, dealing with excessive noise is nothing new.
Glen Cove’s noise ordinance, for example, has been largely unchanged since 1997, limiting noise that is “clearly audible at 50 feet.” Village ordinances for Sea Cliff — dating back to 1995 with updates more than a decade ago — define unreasonable noise as any constant, continuous or repetitive loud sound which “annoys” or “disturbs” the peace and comfort of neighboring residents.
But — despite what neighbors of barking dogs or chronic partiers may
wish — there is no legal definition of “annoying.” Noise ordinances often use subjective language, because noise pollution is a subjective experience, Walsh said. Sound that irks one neighbor may be hardly noticeable by another.
Finding a way to differentiate
“It’s difficult because it’s trying to regulate human behavior,” he said. “When you try to regulate people’s enjoyment of their existence like this, on relatively subjective degrees, it’s a problem.”
When someone wants to play music while their neighbor wants their child to go to sleep, where does law enforcement draw the line? The incongruous — yet equally defensible — interests are “making it more and more difficult to get a balance between what is acceptable noise and what is not,” Walsh said.
So, the question becomes, what is a fair standard to regulate noise? Do municipalities put the noise limit at the lower end to shield more sensitive people, and risk discouraging others from enjoying time outside?
Or do municipalities create more lenient ordinances that allow more noise, and risk leaving sensitive people unprotected?
“It’s a no-win situation, because, inevitably, you make one person happy. You’re making one person sad.”
Managing these conflicting expectations can result in local officials walking a tightrope. But Elena Villafane, Sea Cliff’s mayor, says that is an inherent part of serving the community.
“So, as with every local government, where you are managing how people reside in a community together, you’re always balancing a variety of interests.” she said. “Right now, we seem to be at a happy equilibrium.”
It’s a balancing act Glen Cove has had to grapple with.
“It is a very subjective criteria when one person’s noise pollution is another person’s ‘fun time,’ so to speak,” said Christopher Ortiz, deputy chief of the Glen Cove Police Department. “So, in that sense, it is difficult trying to precisely determine what is an excessive amount of noise, and it becomes kind of a gray area.”
And that “fun time” is on the rise, especially since Covid-19. People these days are spending more time in their backyards since the pandemic, Walsh said.
Malverne mayor Tim Sullivan noticed that trend as well.
“What we found is, during Covid, a lot of homeowners invested in their backyards,” Sullivan said. “Whether pools, or outdoor bars and kitchens and sound systems. The backyard has become a renewed entertainment focus of the home.”
Sound-measuring technology,
though, has dramatically improved in the decades since those original laws were passed, Walsh said — another reason why more governments across the county are passing updated noise ordinances.
Malverne’s noise ordinance, passed in December, limits outdoor music to 80 decibels — about the noise level of a vacuum cleaner — measured at the property line. Glen Cove considers 65 decibels — about the noise level of a conversation — “disturbing,” but also allows for subjectivity by employing a standard of whether the noise is “clearly audible” at 50 feet.
Too many variables?
But even something seemingly objective — such as a measurable standard like decibel level — presents new obstacles. A noise level that constitutes a nuisance to one neighbor may not bother another.
Sometimes, Walsh said, police will visit a property that is technically violating the noise ordinance, but the officer will personally find that the sound level or quality shouldn’t break the law.
So even with a measurable standard, enforcement is subjective.
And the actual sound level isn’t the only thing that matters — the source does, too.
Things like fire whistles and barking dogs polarize neighbors, Villafane said. Gas-powered leaf blowers are another malefactor that often earn their own section of noise ordinances.
The city ordinances also differentiate between how much noise various types of properties can make at different
times. For example, a private residence can be penalized for making 50 decibels or more of noise after 10 p.m., and before 7 a.m., while a commercial property operating at the same time would need to reach 70 decibels before neighbors can make a complaint.
These different standards for businesses and private residences can sometimes boil over in communities. Because Long Island is very much suburbia, Walsh said, the interests of commercial and residential parts of towns often conflict — commercial districts often create more noise, which is at odds with the interests of residential communities that typically neighbor them.
modate the residents on the ground that are dealing with the airplane influence? We maintain that there is.”
The committee’s primary goal right now is to get accurate, specific decibel readings from FAA monitors.
The problem, Vilardi said, is the information the FAA provides right now is warped because the decibel readings are averaged out among neighborhoods.
But if the committee gets the raw data and finds that the decibels violate municipal or federal code, they can appeal to the FAA to make changes.
The FAA, however, is largely unwilling to even acknowledge the noise abatement committee.
“It’s difficult to make changes in their policy
The Town of Hempstead is gearing up once again to a job fair — this one scheduled for Thursday, March 21 at the Freeport Recreation Center.
Appointments are already filling up for the event, set to run between 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., at the center, located at 130 E. Merrick Road — all aimed to connect job seekers with prospective employers.
HempsteadWorks — a branch of the town’s occupational services department — has hosted the fair since 2021. Established more than 40 years ago, HempsteadWorks serves as a career center for not only the town, but also for Long Beach. Its primary mission is to provide access to training, develop skills, and share job opportunities across various industries, including health care, construction and manufacturing.
“Our primary goal is to help people within our township to better themselves, promote , careers that are up and coming, provide them access to training and skills,” said Nene Alameda, a business representative who works for the town.
“And if they don’t have those skills, we we give them access to occupational skills training.”
More than 85 such companies already
have registered to participate in the Freeport job fair, That includes prominent entities like the U.S. Postal Service, the New York Police Department, Mount Sinai Hospital, Brookhaven National Lab, Amazon, and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
“We have the job fair to make sure that companies who are looking for people are partnered with people who are looking for jobs,” Alameda said.
The fair is experiencing radical growth in every iteration, Alameda adds, growing from fewer than 1,000 attendees in 2021, to more than 2,100 in its most recent outing. For next week’s event, more than 1,100 job seekers have
already signed up.
This rapid growth has produced long lines. To make everything more convenient, HempsteadWorks has instituted a time slot-based registration system, which job seekers can sign up for at HempsteadWorks.com/jobfair.
This registration system already was in effect last year, Alameda said, cutting down the wait from two hours to almost nothing.
The first hour of the fair, beginning at 9:30, is dedicated to veterans and people with disabilities. But no matter what time you sign up, attendees are advised to bring several copies of their resume.
Caroline Coyne, a 22-year-old Maris College graduate, says her current job hunt “has been pretty terrible.”
“It seems like there’s an oversaturation of applications because so many people are getting laid off and so many people didn’t get jobs during Covid when they were graduating,” she said. “So now, along with the 2022 graduates, you have the 2023 and the upcoming 2024. And everybody’s just trying to find their way at the same time.”
But, Alameda said, it’s important to remain optimistic and not despair.
“For every job seeker that’s out there, there (are) two positions,” she said. “Employers are in dire need of workers.”
In fact, the HempsteadWorks job fairs have likely helped at least 500 people find jobs directly in recent years. The end of pandemic-era benefits may also play a role in the sudden increase of people looking for work, as those bonuses and extra money are no longer available.
“As the largest and most diverse township in America, the Town of Hempstead is dedicated to leading the way in job creation and economic growth throughout the community,” said Town Supervisor Don Clavin, in a release.
“With dozens of employers participating in this year’s HempsteadWorks Job Fair, we encourage all job-seekers to come on down to the Freeport Recreation Center on March 21.”
Spring is in our sights and we’re sure ready for its embrace. The arrival of St. Patrick’s Day on Sunday always is a welcome harbinger of the season. Enjoy some of the lively parades nearby, even a concert, and certainly bring St. Patrick’s Day into your home with some tasty Irish cuisine. Favorites include corned beef and cabbage, and, of course, soda bread.
Among these quintessential Irish foods, Irish Soda Bread is a tempting quick bread that everyone enjoys and is quite easy to make. It gets its name from the baking soda used as a leavener, instead of yeast. While the traditional version is made with only flour, buttermilk, salt and baking soda, consider adding a modern version to your repertoire.
• 3 cups pastry flour blend or unbleached all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• Heaping 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup currants or raisins
• 1 tablespoon caraway seeds, optional
• 1 large egg
• 1 3/4 cups buttermilk
• 4 tablespoons butter, melted
Topping:
• 1 tablespoon milk
• 1 tablespoon coarse white sparkling sugar
Preheat the oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 9x5 loaf pan. In a large bowl, whisk together the pastry blend or flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, sugar, currants, and caraway seeds.
In a separate bowl, or in a measuring cup, whisk together the egg and buttermilk (or milk and yogurt).
Quickly and gently stir the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Stir in the melted butter.
Spoon the batter into the prepared pan. Draw your finger around the edge of the pan to create a “moat.” Drizzle the bread with the 1 tablespoon of milk; the moat will help prevent the milk from running down the sides of the loaf. Sprinkle with the coarse sugar.
Bake the bread for 50 minutes to 1 hour, or until a cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean; the interior of the bread will measure 200°F to 210°F on a thermometer.
Remove the bread from the oven, loosen its edges, and after five minutes turn it out onto a rack to cool. Cool completely before slicing. Wrap airtight and store at room temperature.
Serve with hot tea and organic jam, Irish stew, traditional Irish cabbage dishes, or enjoy on its own!
• 2 1/2 cups flour
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons caraway seed
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon red pepper, ground
• 1/2 cup shredded Irish Cheddar cheese
• 2 eggs
• 1 1/4 cups buttermilk
Preheat oven to 350°F. Mix flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt and seasonings in large bowl. Stir in cheese. Set aside. Mix eggs and buttermilk in medium bowl. Add to dry ingredients; stir until well blended. Spread in lightly grease 9-inch round cake pan.
Bake 30-40 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan on wire rack 10 minutes. Remove from pan. Cool completely on wire rack.
Tip: Make muffins instead of bread. Prepare dough as directed and divide among 12 greased muffin cups. Bake 20-25 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
• 1 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup white whole wheat flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/3 cup granulated sugar
• 1 1/2 cups currants (first choice) or raisins
• 1/2 to 2 teaspoons caraway seeds, to taste
• 1 large egg
• 1 cup buttermilk, yogurt, or sour cream
• 6 tablespoons butter, melted; or 1/3 cup vegetable oil
• sparkling white sugar, for topping
Preheat the oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a standard muffin pan; or line with papers, and grease the papers.
In a medium-sized mixing bowl, whisk together the flours, baking powder, baking soda, salt, sugar, currants or raisins, and caraway seeds.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the egg, buttermilk (or equivalent) and melted butter (or equivalent).
Quickly and gently combine the dry and wet ingredients; honestly, this won’t take more than a few stirs with a bowl scraper or large spoon. As soon as everything is evenly moistened, quit; further stirring will cause the muffins to be tough.
Spoon the batter into the prepared pan, filling the cups about 3/4 full; the stiff batter will look mounded in the cups. Top with sparkling white sugar, if desired.
Bake the muffins for 20 minutes, until a cake tester inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean. Remove them from the oven. Tip the muffins in the pan, so their bottoms don’t get soggy. Wait five minutes, then transfer the muffins to a rack to cool. Serve them plain, or with butter and/or jam.
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 an injection of the magic of Scottish folk music. The lads — described as ‘The best Irish band in bluegrass’ and ‘sparkling, infectious’ — bring their footstomping vibe to Long Island for a lively St. Patrick’s Day celebration. Founding members from Offaly Jamie McKeogh (lead singer and guitar) and Daithi Melia (five-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. With a sounded rooted in Irish music and Irish immigration, the Irish have found their prodigal son in JigJam.
Saturday, March 16, 8 p.m.
$38.14-$49.48. Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington. Tickets available at LandmarkOnMainStreet.org or (516) 767-6444.
The colorful YouTube sensation known as Blippi is ready to delight preschoolers when The Wonderful World tour visits Tilles Center. Families will dance, sing and learn with Blippi and special guest, Meekah, as everyone discovers how different cities are unique and special. Will there be monster trucks, excavators, and garbage trucks galore? You bet! So get ready to shake those wiggles out and O.J. Twist your way through this musical party. The lively show expands upon creator Stevin John’s engaging world that inspires curiosity in young families. Clad in his iconic blue and orange outfit, Blippi — along with best friend Meekah — clearly excites preschoolers with experiences that are relatable and accessible and make learning fun. Kids 4 and younger quickly respond to Blippi’s endearing personality as they explore the world around them through adventures that relate to everyday life, involving fire trucks, zoos, animals, and so much more.
Tuesday, March 19, 6 p.m. Tickets start at $32. Tilles Center for the Performing Arts, LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Blvd., Brookville. Tickets available at Ticketmaster.com or TillesCenter.org or (516) 299-3100.
The Ivy League of Comedy is the premier group of stand-up comedians touring America. Known for their elite brand of clever comedy, you’ve heard their brilliant comedic voices on latenight TV and Comedy Central. Now come see them live when Carmen Lynch, Ryan Reiss and Shaun Eli bring their act to the Madison Theatre, Saturday, March 23 , 8 p.m. Lynch, who made it to the semi-finals of NBC’s “Last Comic Standing,” is known for her deadpan delivery and riffs on life. A rising star from a bi-lingual family, who lived in Spain as a child, she’s appeared on a string of late night TV shows. Shes’s also appeared “Inside Amy Schumer,” “That Damn Michael Che,” “Life & Beth,” and the documentary “Hysterical.” Funnyman Reis, also a writer-actor, began his career while attending NYU, and quickly became a favorite act on the scene. He made his network TV debut on “Late Night With Seth Meyers.” His quit wit, instant likeability and unique way of engaging any audience have made him one of the most sought-after comics on the club circuit and a favorite audience warm up performer. Eli has rightfully been called one of America’s smartest comics. Whether it’s a story about dining with a vegetarian or successfully fighting a parking ticket in criminal court, master storyteller Eli shows you that there’s hilarity in the ordinary if you approach life with a comedic warp. Even job interviews. For just about anything he’s experienced he has hilarious stories at the ready. $45-$50. Molloy University, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre. Tickets available at MadisonTheatreNY.org or (516) 323-4444.
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 15, 10:15 a.m., noon, 6:15 p.m. (sensoryfriendly performance); Saturday, March 16, 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.; Wednesday and Thursday, March 20-21,10:15 a.m. and noon. Kids become cast members, singing dancing, and acting on stage alongside the professional cast. One of the museum’s most interactive shows, it received rave reviews in its prior run. Going beyond the traditional telling of the Oz stories, the performance uses personal journal entries and historic newspaper headlines to bring the history of 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. Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 224-5800 or LICM.org.
On exhibit
Nassau County Museum of Art’s latest exhibition, “Urban Art Evolution,” is a comprehensive exhibit featuring a diverse range of compositions from the 1980s through the present by creators who were based in the rough and tumble downtown area of New York City known as Loisaida/LES (Lower East Side/East Village) and close surrounding neighborhoods.
Artists pushed the boundaries of what was considered “art” with a primary focus on street/graffiti art. The exhibit’s scope, guest curated by art collector/gallerist Christopher Pusey, offers an even broader view from other creative residents, who worked inside their studios but still contributed to the rich fabric of the downtown art scene from different vantage points and aesthetics.
Works include sculpture, paintings, photography, music, and ephemera from many noted and influential artists.
Opens March 23, on view through July 7. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. (516) 484-9337 or NassauMuseum.org.
Poet-essayist Elizabeth Schmermund, who is an assistant professor of English at SUNY Old Westbury, reads from her works, as part of Hofstra University’s Great Writers Great Readings series, Wednesday, March 27, 4:30 p.m.
Her work has appeared in The Independent, Mantis, and Gyroscope Review, among other venues. Her first poetry chapbook, “Alexander the Great,” is published by Finishing Line Press. Free and open to the public. Guthart Cultural Center Theater, Axinn Library, South Campus, Hempstead. Register in advance at events.hofstra. edu or call the Hofstra Cultural Center at (516) 463-5669 for more information.
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.
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.
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.
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).
Green Acres Mall hosts a Bunny Bubbles Bash, Saturday, March 23, starting promptly at 1 p.m. With bubble activities and Spring-themed Easter Airbrush tattoos. For more information call (516) 561-1157 or visit GreenAcresMallOnline.com.
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 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.
Plaza Theatrical welcomes spring with a lively tribute to The Temptations, Saturday, March 23, 7:30 p.m. Groove along with The Fellas, in their concert “Just My Imagination,” a powerful salute to the Motown icons. Enjoy all those great tunes, including “Just My Imagination,” “My Girl,” “Papa Was A Rollin’ Stone,” “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg,” and more. See the concert at Plaza’s stage at the Elmont Library Theatre. 700 Hempstead Tpke., Elmont. $40, $35 seniors. Elmont. For tickets, call (516) 599-6870 or visit PlazaTheatrical.com.
See some birds with the South Shore Audubon Society. All are welcome to join members for the next in its series of bird walks, at Mill Pond Park in Wantagh, Sunday, March 17, starting at 9 a.m. The Park is on the north side of Merrick Road, four blocks west of the Wantagh State Parkway. Meet at the gazebo. Walk leaders, other birders and nature enthusiasts are happy to share their knowledge and experience with you. Bring binoculars. The group will meet at the gazebo. To register, text your name and contact information to (516) 467-9498. No walk if rain or snow. Text regarding questionable weather. For more information, visit SSAudubon.org.
Mercy Hospital offers a peer to peer meeting for breastfeeding support and resources, facilitated by a certified breastfeeding counselor, every Thursday , 10:30 a.m.–11:30 a.m. Bring your baby (from newborn to 1 year) to the informal group setting. All new moms are welcome, regardless of delivering hospital. Registration required. Call breastfeeding counselor, Gabriella Gennaro, at (516) 705-2434 to secure you and your baby’s spot. Mercy Hospital, St. Anne’s Building, 1000 North Village Ave., Rockville Centre. For information visit CHSLI.org.
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couldn’t choose from, so we picked everybody.”
Solages presented the awards to: Yvette AllenCampbell, of Valley Stream, Myrlande Alouidor, of Laurelton, Gabriella Burke, of Valley Stream, Lisa Burke, of Valley Stream, Erika Cave, of Elmont, Dr. Jelisa M. Dopwell-Best, of Elmont, Patricia D. Eren, of Floral Park, Selene M. Ferdinand, of Elmont, Dr. Patricia Galaskas, of Franklin Square, Rahmat Khuteja, of Valley Stream, Trustee Porscha Lyons, of South Floral Park, Cynthia Nunez, of Valley Stream, Darlene Phillips, of Elmont, Magaly Polo, of Elmont, and Susan Saint-Joy, of Floral Park.
Dopwell-Best is known in her community for her nursing skills and expertise. She specialized in geriatric care for the last six years and nursing in general for the last 12. She is also the Assistant Director of Nursing and Clinical Operations for a New York health system.
“It’s a very prestigious award and it’s important that we recognize what we’re doing in our communities, so it’s an honor,” said Dopwell-Best. “You always kind of underplay your role in the community, so it was nice to be honored and recognized.”
Dopwell-Best wants to increase health literacy in the community. She thinks it has to start with moms, dads, sisters and uncles of the patients.
The ceremony recognized Eren for her work as director of the Floral Park Library. She wants to create a safe space where people of all ages are welcome. She works with schools to meet the needs of students. She has two daughters: Colleen, a tenured professor with a Ph.D. in sociology; and Meaghan, a veterinarian specializing in pathology.
“She’s brought us from one century to another,” said Linda Sartini, who was there to celebrate Eren.
“She’s an amazing woman. I expected her to do great things. As soon as she became director she did.”
“It’s very, very flattering, when you work hard to have someone acknowledge your efforts,” said Eren.
“So I’m very grateful to Assemblywoman Solages for this moment. I want to make the library more and more part of the community.”
Polo serves as a licensed social worker with the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, working with clients 16 and older. She graduated from Hunter College with a bachelor’s and master’s degree.
Polo co-founded the New York Association for Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services Cultural Competence Committee, now known as Alliance for Rights and Recovery. She advocates for and educates the Haitian community to celebrate the country where she was born.
“To be honored for something that you do out of the goodness of your heart without expecting anyone to recognize it, it feels really good,” Polo said. “I was like, ‘Wow, me, yes, thank you!”
“She’s a wonderful human being,“ said Marie Moore, who was there to celebrate Polo. “She goes above and beyond to help others. She’s truly a kindhearted person. And I’m not just saying that because she’s my sister. She always put herself out there for others, so I knew she would achieve greatness.”
This is the 11th year of the ceremony. Solages said it gets bigger and better every year, growing from just five nominations the first year. “It doesn’t have to be someone who does great, stupendous things. It could be your neighbor, or your friend that you feel needs the recognition,” Solages said. “We believe that each and every woman in the community should be honored
The ceremony opened with the Sewanhaka Highble presented the welcome and closing remarks. This year, the Pretty Toni Café, a woman-owned business,
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“We must continue to advocate for the reinstatement of the ‘save harmless’ provision. Investing in public education is an investment into the future of our society,” he said. “And we must never curtail that funding.”
The exact policy change that has convulsed many school districts mainly boils down to one thing: the “save harmless” or the “hold harmless” provision.
Investing in public education is an investment into the future of our society, and we must never curtail that fundingUnal KaraKas Superintendent, District 24
For decades, the provision guaranteed school districts get at least as much foundation aid this year as they did the last. Education stakeholders say the provision has provided a predictable baseline of funding for districts when planning their budgets.
Hochul says school funding method is unfair, obsolete Hochul, however, wants to scrap the provision, arguing that doing so will give the state more flexibility in allocating state funds to the schools that need it most.
She asserts that the overwhelming majority of school districts impacted by the change are over-resourced—having far fewer students than in previous years yet sitting on a cash surplus in their reserve funds.
Following years of historic increases in education funding, the current funding formula is no longer “sustainable,” argues Hochul, and its distribution of funds has proven deeply unfair, enabling more money to be funneled to districts with higher property values than lesswealthier areas.
But without the cash safety net provided by the “save harmless” provision, critics point out it’s not just moderate to high wealthy school districts that bear the brunt. Several low-income, rural school districts, which have fallen short in financing their schools on revenue generated from property taxes, could also see millions of funding dollars fizzle under the new formula.
Karakas also noted that the “save harmless” provision is just one factor in a complicated formula of weighted factors that determine how state funding is divided each year among school districts. Hochul seeks to rewrite other elements of the formula as well, namely how the consumer price index is calculated.
As it stands, the CPI is adjusted annually based on the CPI from the previous year, but Hochul plans on using a tenyear average and dropping the highest and lowest years.
Karakas said this “altered” version promises to “lead to substantial cuts in foundation aid to schools despite nominal increases.”
While her critics may concede the funding formula needs fixing, the financial shakeup produced by the governor’s bold efforts to forgo long-established features of the formula will be felt far and wide. About 337 school districts across the state, according to an analysis by NYSUT, will see some sort of reduction in their budget. Some will feel that loss more deeply than others.
That same analysis found that next to more well-to-do school districts like Long Beach—where millions of dollars are at stake—the loss is far less critical to Valley Stream public schools.
A 1.3 percent decrease in school aid, for example, is expected for Valley Stream District 13 and District 24. That’s about a $229,000 and a $126,000 cut for each school district, respectively. For comparison, the Long Beach school district could lose up to $4.3 million in state aid.
Lawmakers call for a middle way
Nevertheless, the three lawmakers were practically all of one mind that the governor should pump the breaks on what they described as her “piecemeal” approach to foundation aid formula
reform.
Instead, they called for extra time to take input from all relevant stakeholders on a holistic improvement to the state’s antiquated funding formula that can benefit all school districts.
That too, it seems, is the more palatable alternative taken by the state Board of Regents which has called for a $1 million study to explore potential changes in that formula before any action is taken. The board also noted factors like poverty levels, regional costs, property values, and inflation should be weighted more carefully in a revised formula.
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.
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
Approximate
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
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
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
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:
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 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 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, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on April 11, 2024 at 4:00 p.m., premises known as 123 Albermarle Avenue, Valley Stream, NY 11580. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Incorporated Village of Valley Stream, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 37, Block 607 and Lot 22. Approximate amount of judgment is $545,528.46 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #611066/2020. This foreclosure sale will be held on the north side steps of the Courthouse, rain or shine. COVID-19 safety protocols will be followed at the foreclosure sale. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, the Court Appointed Referee will cancel the sale.
Cary David Kessler, Esq., Referee
Friedman Vartolo LLP, 85 Broad Street, Suite 501, New York, New York 10004, Attorneys for Plaintiff Firm File No.: 191501-3 145327
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF ADOPTION OF TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD
LOCAL LAW NO. 14-2024
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 27th, 2024, by the Town Board of the Town of Hempstead on the proposed adoption of Town of Hempstead Local Law No. 14-2024, and following the close of the hearing the Town Board duly adopted Town of Hempstead Local Law No. 14-2024, amending Section 197-5 of the Code of the Town of Hempstead, to include “ARTERIAL STOPS” at various locations.
Dated: February 27, 2024
Hempstead, New York BY ORDER OF THE TOWN
BOARD OF THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD
DONALD X. CLAVIN, JR. Supervisor
KATE MURRAY Town Clerk 145416
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF ADOPTION OF TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD
LOCAL LAW NO. 13-2024
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 27th, 2024, by the Town Board of the Town of Hempstead on the proposed adoption of Town of Hempstead Local Law No. 13-2024, and following the close of the hearing the Town Board duly adopted Town of Hempstead Local Law No. 13-2024, amending Section 202-1 of the Code of the Town of Hempstead, to include and repeal “PARKING OR STANDING PROHIBITIONS” at various locations.
Dated: February 27, 2024
Hempstead, New York BY ORDER OF THE TOWN
BOARD OF THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD
DONALD X. CLAVIN, JR.
Supervisor
KATE MURRAY
Town Clerk 145415
LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU
NATIONSTAR AGE LLC D/B/A
CHAMPION MORTGAGE COMPANY Plaintiff, Against CAROLYN J. ANDERSON A/K/A CAROLYN ANDERSON, ET AL
Defendant(s)
Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale, duly entered 08/27/2019, I, the undersigned
Referee, will sell at public auction, on the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, N.Y. 11501 on 4/16/2024 at 2:30PM, premises known as 111 South Drive, Valley Stream, New York 11581, 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 39 Block 409-06
Lot 102
The approximate amount of the current Judgment lien is $494,051.08 plus interest and costs. The Premises will be sold subject to provisions of the aforesaid Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale; Index # 13-014284
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.
Dominic A. Villoni, Esq., Referee.
MCCABE, WEISBERG & CONWAY, LLC, 10 Midland Avenue, Suite 205, Port Chester, NY 10573
Dated: 2/1/2024 File Number: 548-0111 CA 145452
LEGAL NOTICE REFEREE’S NOTICE OF SALE IN FORECLOSURE SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU
WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A., Plaintiff - againstJEAN M. PETION, et al Defendant(s).
Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered on October 17, 2016. I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, N.Y. 11501 “Rain or Shine” on the 11th day of April, 2024 at 2:00 PM. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, situate, lying and being at Valley Stream, in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York.
Premises known as 1630
Arkansas Dr., Valley Stream, NY 11580-1806.
(Section: 37, Block: 670, Lot: 28)
Approximate amount of lien $848,367.70 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed judgment and terms of sale.
Index No. 000588/2012.
Malachy P. Lyons, Esq., Referee.
Stein, Wiener & Roth LLP Attorney(s) for Plaintiff
1400 Old Country Road, Suite 315 Westbury, NY 11590 Tel. 516-742-1212
PETION-69123
For sale information, please visit Auction.com at www.Auction.com or call (800) 280-2832
Dated: January 26, 2024
During the COVID-19 health emergency, bidders are required to comply with all governmental health requirements in effect at the time of sale including but not limited to, wearing face coverings and maintaining social distancing (at least 6-feet apart) during the auction, while tendering deposit and at any subsequent closing. Bidders are also required to comply with the Foreclosure Auction Rules and COVID-19 Health Emergency Rules issued by the Supreme Court of this County in addition to the conditions set forth in the Terms of Sale.
145396
Help Wanted
Part Time & Full Time. The award-winning Herald Community Newspapers group, covering Nassau County's North and South Shores with hard-hitting news stories and gracefully written features, seeks a motivated, energetic and creative editor/reporter to join our dynamic (and awesome) team! This education and general assignment reporting position offers a unique experience to learn from some of the best in the business. 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
Long Island Herald has IMMEDIATE openings for a FULL-TIME & PART-TIME mailroom/warehouse helper in Garden City. We are a busy print shop looking for motivated and reliable individuals to assist in various duties in the shop. Forklift experience is a plus and heavy lifting is required. Hours vary, so flexibility is key. Salary Ranges fromo $16 per hour to $20 per hour. Email resumes or contact info to careers@liherald.com
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Looking for an aggressive self starter who is great at making and maintaining relationships and loves to help businesses grow by marketing them on many different advertising platforms. You will source new sales opportunities through inbound lead follow-up and outbound cold calls. Must have the ability to understand customer needs and requirements and turn them in to positive advertising solutions. We are looking for a talented and competitive Inside Sales Representative that thrives in a quick sales cycle environment. Compensation ranges from $33,280 + commissions and bonuses to over $100,000 including commission and bonuses. We also offer health benefits, 401K and paid time off. Please send cover letter and resume with salary requirements to ereynolds@liherald.com
Call 516-569-4000 X286
OUTSIDE SALES
Richner Communications, One of the Fastest Growing Media, Event and Communications Companies on Long Island is Seeking a Sales/Marketing Candidate to Sell our Print Media Products and our Digital, Events, Sponsorships. Earning potential ranges from $33,280 plus commission and bonuses to over $100,000 including commissions and bonuses. Compensation is based on Full Time hours Eligible for Health Benefits, 401k and Paid Time Off.
Please Send Cover Letter and Resume with Salary Requirements to rglickman@liherald.com
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Q. I’m planning to redo my whole backyard, and I live on a waterway. I plan to have a swimming pool, open bar, cabana with a shower room at the back of it, running water, outdoor kitchen and a fire pit. The yard is sloping to the water, so the seawall (bulkhead) will have backfill and then a concrete patio with stone paving on top. The question came up, and I’m wondering, can I rest the concrete patio on top of my seawall, or should the patio be built separately and have a separate foundation? I’ve seen where some bulkheads were damaged in a previous storm, so I’m wondering, before I spend all this money, which way to go?
A. I recently returned from an ocean voyage that included South America and Antarctica. During the trip, we were detoured away from ports that had been damaged by storms, and after seeing the aftermath of seawall damage, as far as a mile upriver from a port entrance, I have a profound respect for what Mother Nature can do to bulkheads, no matter where they are.
Your bulkhead is intended to take average to extreme horizontal loads from a body of water impacting it. Just remember, though, that just like bridges and skyscrapers being designed to work with the extreme impact of forces from wind and water, with built-in expansion joints and the ability to rock back and forth, so too is your bulkhead moving much of the time. Because you plan to put a rigid construction made of concrete and pavers next to that seawall, you’ll need to realize and work with the dynamic movement, and concrete isn’t flexible. It may be strong, but it has very little ability to resist being twisted, lifted and shifted.
You’re better off considering the bulkhead as a buffer that can lessen the impacts of water and wind and build your concrete structure separately, with its own supports and with engineered reinforcement to work with the natural movement. This means more foundation support, expansion joints, and internal reinforcement. Not working with nature will mean working through experimentation and, ultimately, failure.
Another alternative is to build with wood materials and no backfill, since wood has greater flexibility. The problem is that wood — even chemically treated wood — tends to deteriorate, so if you’re going for a look of stone or concrete, you need to work with professionals who may cost more than just guessing, but the whole idea is to develop a better structure that won’t need rebuilding, at a much higher cost, than a well-designed construction. Without placing the correctly coated steel reinforcement in the proper strength concrete on the correctly located underground supports, you’re just guessing, and either overbuilding at greater cost or under-building, at even greater cost. You’ll save money resting the concrete on the new bulkhead, and then spend the money to do it all over again. Good luck!
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St. Patrick’s Day is in reality no longer a one-day festive occasion celebrated on March 17, but an almost three-week-long celebration full of parades, luncheons, dinners and parties.
pETER KinG
On Long Island alone there will be more than two dozen parades and hundreds of events this month at Hibernian halls, bars, restaurants and community centers from western Nassau County to eastern Suffolk. And, of course, New York City’s parade up Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue, drawing a crowd of more than 500,000 and lasting more than seven hours, is the largest Irish celebration in the world.
As a proud Irish-American, I have marched in many St. Patrick’s Day parades over the years, including the
city’s, where I was grand marshal 39 years ago, and Huntington’s, last Sunday, where I was privileged to march with the grand marshal, a longtime family friend, Monsignor Steve Camp.
I remember around the time I was grand marshal in New York’s parade, there was discussion about whether, going forward, younger generations would continue to support it. The answer is a definite yes. Attendance is growing every year, and new parades are actually forming elsewhere. The Wantagh parade, for instance, which only began in 2019, draws overflow throngs all along the parade route, up and down both sides of Wantagh Avenue.
One beautiful pane in the stained-glass window that is America.
This increased interest and enthusiasm is a welcome development at a time when everyday life has become so frenetic and fast-paced, and institutions and traditions are under siege from some and ignored by others. Perhaps it is this societal turbulence that
moves good people to reach out for something that gives them and their families and friends a sense of stability and permanence. And I apply this to all ethnic groups and religions. While America is generally described as a melting pot, I prefer the late New York Gov. Mario Cuomo’s description of our magnificent country as a beautiful mosaic where each group maintains its uniqueness in the large stained-glass window that is America.
Parades are an expression of that uniqueness, and the mosaic. Whether it’s the Irish on St. Patrick’s Day, Italians on Columbus Day, Germans on Steuben Day, Poles on Pulaski Day, Jews on Israel’s Day of Independence, Greeks on Greek Independence Day, Puerto Ricans on Puerto Rican Day or any of the many newer people in our country celebrating their heritage, these parades honor the traditions that combine to make America
such a shining city on a hill.
They also recall the travails and adversities each group had to overcome to become part of the American dream. For instance, the St. Patrick’s Day Parade represents so much more than the trivial stereotypes of green beer and leprechauns. The parade is always led up Fifth Avenue by the 69th Infantry Regiment (in which I proudly served), in recognition of this Army unit’s predominantly Irish membership protecting parade marchers from being attacked and St. Patrick’s Cathedral from being burned down by antiCatholic nativists in the 1860s.
All races, ethnic groups and religions can point to what they have achieved and what they have overcome in their American experience. That is why celebrating our heritage is celebrating America, which has made it all possible. Happy St. Patrick’s Day, and God bless America.
Peter King is a former congressman, and a former chair of the House Committee on Homeland Security. Comments? pking@ liherald.com.
it’s a common refrain your wellmeaning, often younger friend or coworker might tell you to dampen your fears of getting older: “Age is just a number.”
JUAn LASSO
Of course, to our inner cynics, these are just pretty words. But it’s true, isn’t it? Judging oneself based purely on one’s time spent on earth can lead to false conclusions. And if we struggle to extend this generous thinking to ourselves, imagine how hard it’s been for voters to extend it to this year’s presidential candidates. Fate is pointing toward a rematch between President Biden and former president Donald Trump, the two oldest nominees in history — as they were when they faced off four years ago. Their age has given voters plenty to talk about.
In fact, age — and its toll on the physical and mental fitness of the candidates — has become a leading issue in the campaign.
Trump would be 82 at the end of a second term. Biden, who is already the oldest president in history, would be 86.
If current polls are correct, most Americans are less than thrilled about another four years of a geriatric presidency.
The endless media clips of incoherent garble, memory slips and puzzling public performances by both candidates have done little to quell fears. Instead, they’ve served as endless fodder for speculation and rumor, with words like “dementia,” “senile” and “incompetent” dripping from commentators’ lips.
Much of the panic is over-hyped, medical experts say. Forgetting things and stumbling over words are not, by themselves, telltale symptoms of cognitive decline, they explain — rather, symptoms of just being human.
they’re in a cohort all their own. They are “super seniors,” pushing the limits of an average lifespan while competing for the hardest job in the world.
It’s one thing not to judge people by their age, but quite another to ask the American public to ignore the effects of aging on these two people.
A merica today isn’t the America in which Biden and Trump came of age.
Age is a factor for the average senior managing the strains and pressures of a normal life, to say nothing of one who’s dealing with the unthinkable pressures of leading the free world. Can either Trump or Biden do it? Sure they can. But if the past few months are any indication of the next four years, it won’t be pretty.
ing to Pew Research. For a senator, it’s 65.
Is it any wonder that young people feel they have been shut out of a place at the decision-making table, and that their concerns don’t rank high among their representatives’ priorities?
Young people’s alienation from and skepticism about politics have created a vacuum of engagement that older politicians have exploited in their own interests, as evidenced by the culture war focusing on gender in universities and school board meetings — and by extension against young people, who are by and large more open than past generations to redefining such concepts.
They remind us that no president under 24-hour media scrutiny has been spared cringe-worthy moments. Who can forget the gaffes of President George W. Bush, a spring chicken compared with Biden and Trump?
Nonetheless, I think Americans do have a right to be worried.
The fact that we must consider the possibility that either man could die in office of natural causes should give us pause. Doctors tell us that both are exceptionally healthy for their age, but
The problem is bigger than just Trump and Biden — it’s a sign of deeper trouble with our politics. We complain about our leaders being too old, but we’ve paid too little attention to the other side of that coin: Where are our young leaders?
Socially and technologically, America today is not the America in which Biden and Trump came of age. Yet those in their 40s and younger are still passed up and overlooked for positions of power. The median age of a member of the U.S. House of Representatives is 58, accord-
Those generational differences are also evident in the sluggish pace with which the government has mobilized technology and legislation to combat climate change, despite the urgent cries of young people demanding change now.
And those differences are brutally obvious in the lack of progress toward rethinking the cost of education and housing, for which young people stand most to lose.
Our present discontent toward our aging leaders is neither inevitable nor forever. It’s something we’ve chosen by refusing to let our young people take the lead and have a say in their future.
nowledge will forever govern ignorance,” President
James Madison once said.
“And a people who mean to be their own governors must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives.”
Madison may not be the most wellknown of the Founding Fathers — not even getting the most prominent of roles in the hit musical “Hamilton” — but it’s hard to imagine an America without him. Not only was he an early advocate of the U.S. Constitution, but Madison is also credited as the author of the Bill of Rights — the first 10 amendments to the Constitution that address, among other things, the freedom of the press — and, by extension, the ability to arm ourselves with the very knowledge he championed.
So it’s fitting that Sunshine Week — this week, when we promote open government and the freedom of information — happens to include Madison’s birthday, March 16. But sadly, more than two centuries later, we still have a long way to go to ensure the transparency in government that the founders promised us.
Established by the American Society of News Editors nearly 20 years ago, Sunshine Week is an important reminder of the vital role transparency plays in a democratic society. It’s vital we protect the public’s right to know.
While New York might lead the nation in many different categories, one area in which the state is not a pioneer is government transparency. In fact, four states have the right to open government spelled out in their state constitutions,
according to the New York Coalition for Open Government, but none of them are New York.
A bill offered by Assemblyman Phil Steck and state Sen. Rachel May would fix that by enshrining access to public information as a fundamental right in the state constitution, because it’s a “necessary and vital part of democracy and public deliberation.”
“The right of the people to inspect and/or copy records of government, and to be provided notice of and attend public meetings of government, shall not be unreasonably restricted,” according to the legislation.
Yet even if that constitutional amendment passed, enforcement would be nearly impossible. Right now, the only way any of us can ensure that government is transparent is by taking it to court. But even if we win, courts are not required to also award attorneys’ fees unless someone “substantially prevails” in such a case — something that is quite subjective and hard to prove.
With that, governments can simply run up legal costs until someone exhausts their financial resources. And if there were a violation of open-government laws, it would never reach a judge.
Instead, the open-government coalition is pushing a bill from Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal that would create a hearing-officer system to adjudicate those issues and impose penalties.
It’s certainly not a new approach. The open-government coalition points out the small-claims assessment reviews for property tax assessment disputes, in which homeowners complete a simple
To the Editor:
I write to underscore the critical situation facing the Nassau University Medical Center, as reported in the Herald in recent weeks. Without restoration of state funding that was drastically cut from the hospital in 2020, this vital community resource could be lost.
NUMC stands as a cornerstone of our community, providing vital health care services to hundreds of thousands of patients annually, with a significant portion relying on Medicare or Medicaid. Reductions in state aid — not current leadership — have endangered the hospital’s ability to provide care for Long Island’s most vulnerable populations.
Despite these challenges, NUMC’s team has forged ahead, with those we serve remaining our top priority. Hospital leadership has initiated comprehensive reforms to improve financial health. These reforms are already demonstrating the hospital’s commitment to financial sustainability.
Unfortunately, NUMC, as a safety-net hospital, cannot overcome these challenges alone. It’s paramount for leaders in Albany to restore the funding in this year’s state bud-
application, pay a filing fee, and then have their case decided by a hearing officer. More than 100,000 such complaints made their way through the system in 2020, costing just over $100 each. The same system is needed for disputes over government records, and Rosenthal is pushing just that. But she has yet to get any support from anyone in the state Senate.
The coronavirus pandemic introduced many of us to livestreaming online — especially when it came to government meetings. Now that we are on the other side of the pandemic, those online streams are not as common. Yet a bill from Assemblywoman Amy Paulin and state Sen. Joseph Addabbo Jr. would require all public bodies to not only broadcast their meetings, but record them, and leave them online for five years.
Even more important is a chance for members of the public to comment at meetings — something that is not guaranteed by the state’s open meetings law, and which a number of organizations don’t make time for. Unfortunately, there’s nothing in front of lawmakers yet to make this happen — but it’s needed.
Sunshine Week is important to remind us that we have some work ahead of us as citizens, but it’s also good to remind government officials that they need to prioritize transparency and accountability as well. It’s vital that we stay informed and engaged, and reach out to our lawmakers so that these bills — and others designed to make our government more open — will indeed see the light of day.
Our communities need more doctors who look like me
I’m 26, and have lived virtually my whole life in Hempstead. I’ve seen a lot of health-related issues — lowincome people of color, like me, suffering from chronic conditions like asthma, diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, and untreated mental illness. often they haven’t been able to receive proper treatment for their conditions. I wanted to do something about it, and soon I will be able to, because I’m on my way to becoming a doctor.
sHakIa mILLer
There was a one-in-a-million chance that I would ever reach this goal. I’m an african-american woman from a low-income neighborhood, raised in a single-parent household. My father was incarcerated by the time I knew what it meant to have one, and remains imprisoned to this day — though he’s using this time to reflect and to continue his education. My mother, a crossing guard, worked extremely hard to provide for my brother and me, but
there were days when the money she made didn’t seem like enough to put food on the table, or ensure that we would keep a roof over our heads, or keep us from falling victim to the violence that plagued our community.
tI had to fight every step of the way to become the person I wanted to be. I graduated from Hempstead High School in 2015 in the top 1 percent of my class, and then, thanks to Stony Brook University’s economic opportunity Program, I graduated in 2019 with a double major in biology and psychology, and went on to earn a master’s in physiology and biophysics. I was the first person in my family to go to college, so there was no blueprint to follow but the one I created along the way.
icine and Biomedical Sciences is lifechanging. There are classes to prepare me for the rigors of medical school, and a stipend I can use for living expenses so I can focus on my studies. I have mentors to turn to for help.
here was a one-in-amillion chance that I would ever be able to go to medical school.
I got jobs in the health care field, but becoming a doctor seemed out of reach until I was selected for the Diversity in Medicine pipeline program sponsored by associated Medical Schools of New york. This post-baccalaureate program at SUNy Buffalo’s Jacobs School of Med-
get. Without this essential aid, NUMC’s capacity to fulfill its mission will be in jeopardy.
I implore our governor, legislative leaders and local state legislators to prioritize our community’s health and well-being by reinstating funding for NUMC and ensuring its long-term sustainability.
CarMINe CarMoNe Director of environmental services, NUMC LevittownWe need to keep our commitment to Ukraine
To the editor:
When I see U.S. rep. a nthony D’esposito reneging on america’s promise to Ukraine, I cannot sit idle and remain silent. as a widow of a Ukrainian a merican, I joined a rally with clergy from St. Michael’s Ukrainian orthodox Church, Ukrainian a mericans from both St. Michael’s and St. Vladimir’s Ukrainian Catholic Church, and concerned residents of D’ e sposito’s district at his office last Saturday asking that he keep the promise
america made to Ukraine in 1994.
Before the Soviet Union broke up, it housed most of its nuclear arsenal in Ukraine. So, when Ukraine gained independence in 1992, russia wanted its arsenal back. It was the third-largest nuclear arsenal in the world at that time. Terrorist factions were also interested in getting their hands on it, and the U.S. and europe were worried.
So, in 1994, the U.S. and some european countries signed a pact with Ukraine that if Ukraine dismantled its nuclear arsenal, we would protect it from future russian aggression. Well, Ukraine kept its part of the deal. If it hadn’t dismantled its nuclear arsenal, russia never would have started this war.
From the onset, President Volodymyr Zelensky asked for only military aid. He could have asked for boots on the ground, but he didn’t. Isn’t that the least we could do for a country that disarmed itself, trusting that we would live up to our part of the pact? Ukrainians are fighting this war so that american soldiers don’t have to.
r ussian President Vladimir Putin’s aggression won’t stop with Ukraine. Ukrainians are on the front lines in a fight to save democracy — not only theirs, but democracies around the globe, including
Most important, if I successfully complete the oneyear program, I will go to medical school in the fall, and could be selected to receive aMSNy’s Diversity in Medicine Scholarship to help defray the cost. This amazing program is 100 percent state-funded.
Pipeline programs like this are needed to help diversify the physician workforce. research has shown that patients are more likely to visit and follow the instructions of doctors who understand their language and culture, resulting in better health outcomes. yet in New york state, where more than 30 percent of the population identifies as Black or Hispanic, just 13 percent of the state’s doctors come from those groups.
Physicians from racial and ethnic groups that are underrepresented are
more likely to go into primary care and practice in under-served communities, where they are desperately needed. I have seen 30 to 40 people waiting, endlessly, to see a doctor; minor symptoms that were left untreated develop into chronic disease; and people with mental illness who are homeless, unable to pay for the care they need and jaded by past interactions with the health care system. People in these communities do not trust that system. I want to be a doctor who can change that, and earn their trust.
Growing up, I never saw a doctor who looked like me. Now I am one of 24 future physicians in this year’s aMSNy program who want to give back to our communities. I am immensely grateful to our state representatives and Gov. kathy Hochul for making that possible.
In the past two years, the state’s investment in Diversity in Medicine programs has tripled. This funding must continue, and even increase, so more people like us can become doctors and leaders of change for our communities.
Shakia Miller is scheduled to complete the AMSNY Diversity in Medicine program in May.
our own.
Ukrainian americans rallied in front of Congressman D’esposito’s office on Saturday to remind him to keep america’s promise to Ukraine and pass the Ukrainian aid bill. If House Speaker Mike Johnson won’t move the bill to the floor, then D’esposito must sign the discharge petition that will force Johnson to bring it to a vote.
D’esposito says he supports Ukraine. Well, it’s time for him to put his money where his mouth is. Ukrainians are now rationing bullets. every day the House delays, more Ukrainians die. We need to keep our promise to them.
ClaUDIaBoreCky President, Bellmore Merrick Democratic Club
