Tim Baker/Herald
Singer Taylor Dayne, a hit-making product of Long Island, gave a show-stopping performance at The Lannin catering hall at Eisenhower Park in East Meadow last Friday, at Nassau County’s 125th anniversary celebration. Full story, more photos, on page 3.
Valley Stream North High School senior Manmeet Singh dreads the thought of going to school for what could be scuttling near his feet. For months, he reports, teachers and classmates have been sharing hallways, classrooms, lockers, and even their snacks with some unwanted visitors: rodents.
In the past few weeks alone, Singh recalled, students found cotton balls covered in rodent droppings in the side closet of his AP environmental science classroom where lab supplies are kept.
“The cotton has turned a brownish-blackish color,” Singh said, bewildered at how students could be asked to learn anywhere in the vicinity of vermin poop.
“It’s absolutely disgusting.”
More than a simple nuisance that casts an icky pall over the school, he said, rodents are actively getting in the way of student learning — including his own.
“Because of the mice dropping ruining our lab supplies, my class hasn’t been able to do our two final labs, which we need to get credit for the class or else we won’t pass the AP college board curriculum,” Singh said. “Our parents are pay-
The spending plans at Valley Stream school districts received wide approval this year.
Among those passing were District 24’s $39.3 million budget with its 1.7 percent tax levy increase (390-116), as well as District 30’s $48.2 million budget with no tax levy increase (253101).
Also passing was the Central High School District’s $161.54 million budget that carried a 1 percent tax levy increase, earning 1,367 votes for to 727 against.
District 13’s $674.4 million spending plan with a tax levy increase of less than 1 percent, passed 793-455.
Alisa Clark is a new education board trustee for District 24, defeating Erika Vasquez and Annette Matthews. She succeeds Donna LaRocco, who withdrew her candidacy for this run.
Andrew Sgro defeated Jaianti Singh 597-324 in District 13 for the seat being vacated by board president Jennifer Oliveri. But departing unexpectedly is Anthony Bonelli, who lost his reelection bid to Sarah Sabatino, 725-467.
District’s 30’s incumbent board president Kelly Ureña ran unopposed.
Voters in District 24 also
passed propositions that would shift $1.2 million from existing accounts to pay for air-conditioning at Brooklyn Avenue and Robert W. Carbonaro schools, as well as district-wide fire alarm upgrades and door hold installations.
Voters also approved a third proposition to spend money for repair and reconstruction of school facilities.
District 13 voters easily passed a proposition to spend $700,000 on cybersecurity enhancements and security technology upgrades.
While in District 30, voters there approved $6.5 million to build a gymnasium and buy playground equipment at Shaw Avenue School, while creating security vestibules at not only Shaw Avenue, but also Clear Stream and Forest Road schools.
Central High School District voters approved $2.5 million to renovate the district’s maintenance garage and create a construction trades facility.
They also approved a second proposition that would spend up to $1.2 million to replace gymnasium windows and operating systems at Memorial Junior High School, North High School and South High School.
That measure passed with 1,461 votes in favor, with another 531 against.
The Town of Hempstead is taking a progressive approach to combatting water conservation issues on Long Island. Supervisor Don Clavin, joined by colleagues in government, as well as Frank Piccininni and Marshall Brown of the Long Island Conservancy, announced its plan to launch a new rain barrel program last week at the Norman J. Levy Park and Preserve in Merrick.
The initiative includes the installation of rain barrels in several town parks, including Levy Park, Baldwin Park, Echo Park, the Merrick Golf Course, Rath Park, Speno Park and Veterans Memorial Park. Hempstead residents can also purchase rain barrels at a discounted rate, making it easier for homeowners to contribute to the town’s water conservation efforts.
Overall, the program aims to promote water conservation and educate residents on the benefits of rainwater harvesting.
won’t happen during the summertime. Just last year, there was a nationwide drought, where in some areas, people weren’t even allowed to water their lawns. Town of Hempstead residents can place an order for a rain barrel no later that May 30 online at Hempstead.ComposterSale.com. They’ll receive a 55-gallon rain barrel, which must be picked up at the Four Towns Fireman Training Center between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. on June 1 and 2. The training facility is just minutes away from Levy Park, at 1640 Merrick Road,
Barrels cost $65, Clavin said, and through other retailers, barrels can cost upwards of $100.
“Residents want to reinvest in the environment,” Clavin said. “They want to do their part, and by teaming up with them and giving these out at a discounted price, you’re seeing that end result.”
If anyone has concerns as to how rain barrels work, Clavin said they can visit any park in the Town of Hempstead where they’re already in use.
“Ask a staff member, and we’ll show you how simple it is,” he said.
The rain barrels, which resemble an average-sized garbage can, collect water through a filtered opening on the top. To use the water supply, a hose is hooked up at the bottom where there’s a small opening.
All one has to do is turn the spicket of the hose, hold it in a downright position, and then utilize the supply that comes out to water their plants, flowers, grass and more.
Piccininni of the Long Island Conservancy, which raises awareness for the environmental issues that impact communities, said the rain barrels also help combat nitrogen pollution, which causes major issues in the island’s bays.
“Our atmosphere is something like 78 percent nitrogen,” he said, “and when it’s dry, and especially when it’s raining, the nitrogen is just falling out of the sky, ending up in our storm drains and our waterways. The (Town of Hempstead) is taking an incredible step providing these rain barrels, because the nitrogen is going to kind of just stick on site in the rain barrels, and not get washed away downstream.”
“It’s an investment in our environment and our community,” Clavin said, “and really, that’s what it’s all about. These are just good, great initiatives that team up with people with a passion for the environment, with good government that wants to help the environment. There’s always solution.”
Jordan Vallone/Herald photos
Nassau County turned 125 earlier this year, and an eclectic grouping of politicians, artists and celebrities celebrated with the clinking of glasses at The Lannin catering hall at Eisenhower Park in East Meadow.
Last week’s party — hosted by Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman — saw a packed room filled with dignitaries like Hempstead deputy town supervisor Dorothy Goosby and Valley Stream painter Mike Stanko, alongside celebrity guests like actor Vincent Pastore from “The Sopranos” television series, and singer Taylor Dayne.
“Nassau County was once known for agriculture, fishing, Gold Coast estates, and resort living,” Blakeman told attendees, during his toast. “Today, Nassau County is larger than 10 states in population. Our gross domestic product is larger than 146 nations in the United Nations. We are home to people of every race, every religion, every ethnic group, every lifestyle, and every ability. We are one of the healthiest — and thanks to our Nassau County Police Department, we are the safest.”
The county’s origin story was, in effect, an act of secession, according to historians. In 1898, when New York City annexed Queens County, its three eastern towns — Hempstead, North Hempstead and Oyster Bay — pushed to split away, drawing an invisible boundary between itself and the newly expanded city. Thus, on Jan. 1, 1899, Nassau County was born with its suburban future firmly secured.
But for Alexandra Wolfe, chief executive of Preservations Long Island — a regional historic preservation nonprof-
County,” she said. “Every movement in history left an imprint on Long Island. But you’re not often aware of it. It’s hidden away, privately owned, or built around.”
It’s partly the reason why those like former Nassau County Historical Society president Natalie Naylor treated the milestone as less of a cause for celebration and more as an opportunity to underscore serious challenges in preserving the county’s much longer heritage.
“Nassau County once had a wonderful system of museums that, over the years, has deteriorated with less and less funding, staffing and expertise,” she said, pointing to the “county’s declining financial support and interest over the decades” as a main concern.
Naylor also mentioned that longproposed projects like working with the county to bring back the Nassau County Historical Museum — formerly based in Eisenhower Park that shuttered in 1991 — have failed to get off the ground.
But the county still sought to make history a focal point of the celebration, commissioning Valley Stream artist Mike Stanko to create a rendering of the Theodore Roosevelt County Executive Building in his signature “poprealist” style.
Stanko chose the subject matter for his painting after touring the building with Blakeman, who personally requested him for the occasion.
“It’s the office of the county executive and of many other elected officials and public servants, and it’s going to be prominently displayed there,” Stanko said. “It’s a classic historic building, and it’s a true honor and privilege to be selected for this work.”
James A. Dever Elementary School proudly celebrated Neurodiversity Week recently, spearheaded by the school’s dedicated speech team, as part of National Speech-Language-Hearing Month. The weeklong event fostered understanding, inclusion, and appreciation of neurodiversity among students and staff.
Principal Darren Gruen expressed pride in the school’s commitment to inclusivity. “Neurodiversity Week at James A. Dever Elementary is a testament to our dedication to creating an inclusive environment where every student feels valued and understood,” he said. “Our speech team has done an exceptional job in organizing this event, and we are thrilled to see the enthusiasm and support from our students and staff.”
Throughout the week students engaged in a series of educational and fun activities designed to highlight the strengths and unique qualities of individuals with diverse neurological profiles. Each day of the week featured a differ-
ent theme to promote awareness and inclusivity.
“Kindness is Our Superpower Day” kicked off the week with a powerful message of inclusion. Students pledged to be superheroes for inclusion, donning their favorite superhero shirts to symbolize their commitment to kindness and acceptance. On “Neurodiversity Thursday,” the school was awash in vibrant colors as students wore rainbows or tie-dyed clothes. This colorful display celebrated the beauty and diversity of the human mind, emphasizing that every individual’s neurological differences are valuable and worth celebrating.
The week concluded with “Sensory Friendly Friday,” where students wore their most comfortable clothes or pajamas. This day was dedicated to acknowledging and supporting students with sensory sensitivities, providing a comfortable and understanding environment for all.
Juan Lasso
Generally, parents leave their assets to the children thinking that the children will then take care of their children. Occasionally, parents want to bypass the children, either wholly or partially, and leave an inheritance directly to the grandchildren.
Inheritances to minors come in different varieties, such as bequests in wills and as beneficiaries or contingent beneficiaries on IRA’s, investment accounts, life insurance policies and annuities.
Although well-intentioned, inheritances to minors, without a trust, must go through a court proceeding on death. Minors, those under 18, cannot hold property in their names. In the proceeding, the judge appoints a legal guardian to protect the minor’s interest until age eighteen, at which time the beneficiary receives the asset. The expenses of the legal guardian will be paid out of the minor’s bequest. Generally, the legal guardian will use the funds for the child’s health, education, maintenance and support having regard to any other assets or resources of the
minor known to the guardian. Again, ready or not, the legal guardian must turn over the assets to the minor at age eighteen, a tender age in today’s world.
A better plan would be to leave assets to a minor beneficiary by creating a trust. You leave directions for the use of the funds, distribution at a stated age, such as thirty years old and, in the meantime, the trustee, a person you choose instead of a legal guardian chosen by the court, uses the money for the purposes enumerated above, either by giving money directly to the minor or by paying bills on their behalf.
Trusts avoid probate court proceedings entirely for the trust assets. You either put assets into the trust while you are living or, alternatively, you may name the minor’s trust as death beneficiary on bank accounts, investment accounts, IRA’s or the retirement plans, annuities and life insurance policies. The intention to benefit minor beneficiaries must be attended to with thoughtful planning to avoid having the good deed punished.
Baldwin Senior Lacrosse
IT WAS A NEAR-PERFECT regular season for the Bruins, who won 13 of 14 games and captured the Nassau Conference 3 title. And Ryan, who will play lacrosse at Hartwick College, was one of the biggest reasons for their success. She netted 52 goals, including the 100th of her career, and added 12 assists. She also had 87 draw controls. Ryan had eight points (six goals and two assists) May 6 as Baldwin sealed first place with a 14-13 win over Hicksville.
Valley Stream South’s baseball team had a highly productive season under coach Rich Hess.
“Coming off of last year, we had two players not in the lineup that were AllLeague as sophomore in 2022,” Hess said, referring to Michael Hernandez and Nicholas Alvarez.
Hernandez was only able to play the first eight games last season before an injury placed him on the bench, and Alvarez missed the season entirely due to thumb surgery a week before opening day. So with them both back this year, things were looking up.
“Getting those two players back added to our total team production; I knew we were going to have a better season due to Hernandez and Alvarez being in the lineup,” Hess explained. “Last year we won nine games, this year we won 16. [Hernandez and Alvarez] had a big part of that.”
Hernandez alone had 12 extra-base hits: four home runs, three triples and five doubles. Alvarez had an easy time getting on base himself: eight doubles, worked 11 walks and 10 HBPs. There was also Zach Dyer, second on the Falcons in RBIs, seemingly getting them when needed most according to Hess.
(Farmingdale State College) Thursday, May 23
Saturday, May 25
Nassau
Nassau Class B finals Game 3 if
p.m.
BOYS LACROSSE (Hofstra University)
Friday, May 24
Nassau Class B championship 5 p.m.
Nassau Class C championship 7:30 p.m.
Hess also credits Hernandez and Alvarez with providing stability in their defensive roles, at shortstop and catcher respectively, but most importantly, providing the proper leadership needed for the team to succeed in the coming years.
“Our program is built on that,” Hess said, citing how Hernandez, Alvarez, and teammate Ryan Rivera were taken under the wings of their senior class when they were freshmen. “As each season goes on, they just remember when they [were] young… how important it is to take the younger kids and look out for them. That’s what our program is about.”
The pitching staff consisted of last year’s catcher, Danny Casey on Mondays, someone who Hess categorized as an upand-comer who gets his fair share of strikeouts, all while developing three pitches. The Tuesday hurler was Nick
Simone, who’s also plugged into centerfield on the other days of the week. Lastly, there’s Peter Greif who started on Thursdays, patrolling third base Mondays and Tuesdays.
Overall, the entire rotation has progressed to Hess’ liking throughout the season.
“I think they’ve gotten stronger as the year has gone on,” he said. “Towards the end of the season there’s been a slight uptick in velocity, a slight increase in command with secondary pitches, with being able to get into the 110 pitch count area while still maintaining productivity.”
“Our philosophy with pitchers is to
pound the strike zone, get ahead of hitters, try not to walk guys and I think we’ve done a pretty good job of that with our pitchers this year. Let’s pitch to location, let’s pitch to contact, let people get themselves out. We’re not looking to try to throw the ball by anybody, we don’t have those types of arms, we need to pitch,” Hess said, doubling down on the importance of limiting walks. “In the past we’ve walked way more guys than we’ve walked this season, so we’ve done a good job of eliminating the, what coaches call the ‘free 90.’”
To summarize, it’s best put in Hess’ own words: “We came to compete, we came to play.”
howell Road Elementary School students took an educational excursion to Crossroads Farm. The collaboration between Crossroads Farm and Valley Stream District 13 aims to enrich students’ learning experiences by integrating hands-on agricultural activities into the classroom curriculum, fostering problem-solving skills, and promoting healthy eating habits.
One highlight of the partnership is that it provides students with a unique opportunity to engage in the “Sow-to-Grow” program. This innovative initiative introduces students to various aspects of farming, from seeding and transplanting to harvesting and salad making, while emphasizing the importance of nutrition and sustainable food practices.
“At Howell Road Elementary School, we are committed to providing our students with experiential learning opportunities that inspire curiosity and foster critical thinking skills,” said Frank Huplosky, principal of Howell Road Elementary
Crossroads Farm, supported by Valley Stream District 13, allows us to extend our classroom learning into the real world, empowering students to explore the connections between agriculture, nutrition, and environmental sustainability.”
During their visit to Crossroads Farm, students had the opportunity to participate in hands-on activities that promoted problem-solving and reasoning skills.
From planting seeds in the soil to harvesting fresh produce and preparing nutritious salads, students were actively engaged in every step of the agricultural process, gaining valuable insight into where their food comes from and the importance of making healthy choices.
Through this immersive learning experience, students develop a deeper appreciation for the interconnectedness of food systems and the role they can play in creating a more sustainable future.
Richner Communications, Inc. — Long Island’s largest publisher of local media — has acquired the Amityville Record, Babylon Beacon, Massapequa Post and Beacon Smart Shopper, from CJ Publishers Inc.
These brands join family-owned Richner Communications, which now owns and publishes 27 community-focused hyperlocal newspapers through its Herald Community Media division, which serves large parts of Nassau County, as well as parts of New York City through the Pulitzer Prize-winning Riverdale Press in the Bronx, and The Jewish Star, which serves the Orthodox Jewish communities throughout the region.
The Amityville Record, Babylon Beacon and Massapequa Post date back to 1904, 1966 and 1951, respectively. Today, they serve the communities of the Village of Amityville, North Amityville, Village of Babylon, North Babylon, West Babylon, Copiague, Deer Park, West Islip, Lindenhurst, South Farmingdale, Massapequa, Massapequa Park, Plainedge and Seaford.
Michael Hinman/Herald
For decades, the newspaper group that included the Amityville Record, Babylon Beacon and the Massapequa Post were published by Alfred and Carolyn James. Carolyn joins Herald Community Newspapers as an associate publisher.
Carolyn James, owner of CJ Publishers with her husband, Al, expressed a mix of emotions in announcing the sale. James says she trusts the sale will be seamless with careful stewardship, allowing the newspapers to remain “steadfast pillars within their communities under new guardianship.”
“In the pages of the June 19, 1991, editions of the Amityville Record, Babylon Beacon and Massapequa Post, we embarked on a journey, pledging to carry forth the legacy of those who came before us,” wrote James in a note to readers last week. “Now, nearly 32 years later, we stand on the precipice of change as Herald Community Newspapers — a stalwart in Nassau County’s weekly news landscape — assumes ownership of our beloved papers.”
The Richner and James families have a longstanding relationship. Richner Printing has printed the CJ newspapers for years and also prints other daily and weekly newspapers, specialty publications and newsletters throughout the tristate region, as well as general, high-volume commercial printing and mailing.
Like CJ Publications, Richner Communications is a proud family-owned business. Founded by Robert and Edith Richner in 1964, the company is today led by their son, Stuart Richner.
“We are excited to continue the great work of Carolyn, Al and their team, to ensure that the Amityville, Babylon and Massapequa communities have the critical news necessary to remain vibrant places to live and work,” Richner said. “Our company believes deeply in the importance of local journalism, and we look forward to introducing ourselves to our new readers.”
Carolyn James will assume the role of associate publisher at Richner Communications and will continue to oversee the four publications. The (516) 798-5100 phone number of CJ Publishers will remain the same, as will the newspapers’ websites of AmityvilleRecord.com, BabylonBeacon.com and MassapequaPost. com. James’ email address is now cjames@liherald.com.
Long Island’s most anticipated new oceanfront community is now open. At The
There’s no shortage of appreciation for veterans in the Village of Valley Stream, and the installation ceremony for the Veterans Banner program on May 17 was no exception. Village officials joined with families in the unveiling of banners displaying the names and faces of hometown veterans hung along the annual Memorial Day parade route.
The program asked Valley Stream families to submit photos of their loved ones along with their name, branch, rank, and years of service. That information was then used to fashion the banners, which will stay up until Veterans’ Day in November and stored during the winter months before being reinstalled in the spring. Many banners have already been put on display, and the village aims to have all of them hung up by Memorial Day.
Mayor Ed Fare, who applied for four banners to honor different members of his family, said that the program is an important new tradition.
“These are just ways to connect and stay connected to our veterans and our heroes and be reminded of that,” Fare said during his speech at the ceremony.
“We honor all veterans, those who are with us here today, those who have sadly passed away, but especially those who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty for our great country.”
Angela Ogurick had a banner commissioned for her father, Frank Gaeta, a World War II former prisoner of war. Ogurick first introduced the banner program to the Valley Stream Chamber of Commerce after seeing other towns with
similar programs and having her cousin’s likeness displayed on a banner. She said that after the war, her father was involved with many programs to help other POWs and that, because of this, honoring him is extremely important to
her.
“It means a lot to me because he did everything, he possibly could for other POWs that didn’t make it home in good condition,” Ogurick said. “He did a lot of fundraising. That’s why he went around with daisies to try to make things more comfortable for people in the hospital.”
Pat Ferro and Joan Grossman were also in attendance at the ceremony to honor their father, Dominic John Raia, a World War II army veteran whose banner hangs on West Maple Street in front of his brother’s home.
“They served our country and we wouldn’t be here if they didn’t,” said Ferro. “So I think they should teach that more in school, what our veterans did for this country ... We have to honor them.”
George Catalanotto, a Vietnam war veteran and a member of VFW Post 1790 and DAV chapter 145, helped to submit the information for a banner honoring Howard Klacksman, a former commander of the American Legion and decorated Vietnam veteran who received a Purple Heart.
Catalanotto said that he thinks the banner program is essential to remind people of the importance of the sacrifices veterans made.
“I think as time goes on, people take for granted this country,” said Catalanotto. “We’re so concerned about our individual challenges, but I can’t say with any more sincerity, the expression: ‘Freedom isn’t free.’”
Joanna Bishop/Herald
ing for these materials.”
Furry four-legged free-loaders
Another North student, Swaraj Pandit, has sworn off leaving snacks in his locker — a familiar practice among classmates — after a traumatizing experience a few months back. Pandit found a hole in his box of cookies, which he kept stashed in his locker. At first, he didn’t think much of it, chalking it up to some mistake with the store packaging and tossing it out.
But then one day after leaving $80 worth of bagged Stop&Shop snacks in his locker, he was incredulous to see the bags covered with tiny bite marks and soon realized he had a mice problem. The ordeal wasn’t over.
“When I went to get one of my schoolbooks out from the lockers, I discovered mice droppings everywhere, and even one of my papers had been chewed out,” said Pandit, who claims students have reported similar situations, from spotting dead mice in their lockers to discovering the nibbled-at remains of snacks and snack wrappers, or worse, accidentally eating them.
County finds high number of violations
The students’ outcry comes after a release of an analysis by media reports in which Nassau County health inspectors cited the Valley Stream Central High School District with 137 health code violations from 2017 to 2023.
Of the handful of school districts inspected during the health department’s biannual food safety inspections, Valley Stream came in second for the number of violations, eclipsed only by the Hempstead district with 142.
The district released a statement seeking to dissuade concerns about vulnerabilities in its food safety measures.
“The safety and health of our students is always our first priority. We are constantly working with our food service providers to maintain clean and healthy cafeteria and kitchen facilities,” wrote Superintendent Wayne Loper. “We take these health infractions seriously, and we will continue to strive to resolve any maintenance issues before they arise.”
The health infractions included the discovery of rodents, bugs, or both at all three high schools and Memorial Junior High School during their food inspection visits as recent as last year.
Under state and federal law, violations customarily are classified as critical and non-critical. Insects and rodents are considered not critical, meaning they do not directly cause foodborne illnesses or injury but can hamper the upkeep and cleanliness of the building.
As Rudy Hosler, manager at Arrow Exterminating notes, seeing the occasional mice or rat skittering through large buildings like a public school is not, on its own, cause for alarm.
“Unless in extreme circumstances where you have thousands of critters running around, there could be (particulates) of droppings in the air, but that’s
a rarity,” he said.
The health risks rodents pose
When dealing with mice and other pests, school districts start to cross into dangerous territory once food and rodents mingle and when such sightings are frequent.
Because mice are prime carriers of bacteria like salmonella “the biggest concern is that they contaminate food sources,” said Hosler. “Wherever a mouse travels, they are constantly urinating, leaving behind what is called ‘micro-droplets’ and defecating over 100 times a day” which could transmit viruses to humans, particularly via contact with food.
Last October, health inspectors cited the district with a critical health violation after spotting evidence of rodents hunting and digging through food in a dry storage room at the Valley Stream Central High School cafeteria. A doublebagged plastic bag of breadcrumbs had a gnawed hole through it. Boxes of cereals and shelves were covered in rodent droppings.
“If the school district cleans their food preparation services regularly, if foods are properly stored and if food preparation surfaces are wiped down, it shouldn’t be an issue,” said Hosler. “It’s almost impossible to completely rodentproof a school, but if the established rodent population is growing, and if you
■ Make sure all holes and exterior walls are sealed and clean, keep doors tightly closed and not left open for extended periods.
■ Regularly rotate food stocks and maintain clean, well-organized storage areas.
■ Discarded food items should not be stacked around a dumpster.
see mice often in a certain area, that needs to be addressed because that’s a big concern. There’s no other way to put it.”
Other North students like Sebastian Rick have not reported regular run-ins with rodents but says he has witnessed some scurrying in the boys’ locker room at Valley Stream Central where he plays lacrosse. He does, however, agree with his friend Dylan Rios, that Central has garnered a reputation among his classmates for being “dirty.”
Singh, nevertheless, remains outraged, arguing that the violations health inspectors have been able to flag only hint at the full reality of the situation, which is much bigger and more out-ofhand than what administrative leadership has been willing to admit.
“Our superintendent told us days ago that measures were being taken but there’s not enough being done at this point,” said Singh. “It’s repulsive to just think about.”
Parliament Funkadelic
HGeorge Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic revolutionized funk music in the 1970s, blending psychedelic rock with soulful grooves and creating an extravagant stage show that influenced generations of musicians. Their iconic sound and outlandish performances made them pioneers of funk, with hits like ‘Give Up the Funk (Tear the Roof off the Sucker)’ and ‘Atomic Dog’ cementing their legacy in music history.
By Karen Bloom
Here we are — ready to kick back and enjoy Memorial Day weekend’s prelude to summer. Besides the observances, parades and barbecues, that yearly trek to Jones Beach to watch the action overhead during the Bethpage Air Show is a beloved tradition for so many of us.
U.S.
Courtesy U.S. Navy
This year’s show — on Saturday, May 25 and Sunday, May 26 — celebrates its 20th year with much fanfare.
The U.S. Navy Blue Angels, headliners at the first Bethpage Air Show back in 2004, return to helm the spectacular two-day display of flying stunts. George Gorman, regional director of the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historical Preservation, enthusiastically says that “spectators are in for a real treat” this time around with 2024 being “a very special year for us.”
“Not only are we celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Bethpage Air Show, but we are also celebrating the 95th anniversary of Jones Beach State Park and the 100th anniversary of New York State Parks and the Long Island State Park Commission,” he notes.
The Blue Angels have strong ties to the region, flying Grumman Hellcats, built on Long Island for the team’s 1946 inaugural flight. The team then went on to fly other Grumman aircraft, including the Bearcat, Cougar and Tiger, one of which now hangs at the Cradle of Aviation Museum in Garden City.
Parliament Funkadelic (often abbreviated as P-Funk), led by Clinton, is known for their innovative and influential contributions to the genre, combining elements of funk, soul, R&B, and psychedelic rock. The collective originated in the 1960s, with Clinton serving as the central figure and creative force behind both groups. He’s recognized as the godfather of modern urban music.
Saturday, May 25, 8 p.m. $99.50, $79.50, $69.50, $54.50, $49.50. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at Ticketmaster.com or ParamountNY. com, (631) 673-7300
the American Airpower Museum Warbirds; along with Farmingdale State
College Flying Rams, flying several of their 22 college-owned aircraft, complete
The Skytypers, an air show favorite, combine the best of old and new. The team uses five of the remaining World War II-era NA SNJ planes left in the world,
team uses five of the remaining World War II-era NA SNJ planes left in the world, meticulously restored with the latest technology.
“These were Navy scout planes used on missions in World War II and the Korean War,” explains Larry Arken, the Skytypers’ longtime flight leader. “We’ve modernized them and give them plenty of TLC. We have to take care of our warbirds. They’ve got quite a military history; they’ve landed on aircraft carriers and as fighter trainers they trained the Greatest Generation.”
• May 25-26, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
• $10 vehicle use fee
• Jones Beach State Park, Wantagh
• For up-to-date information, visit BethpageAirShow.com or text ‘Airshow’ to (516) 842-4400, to download the Bethpage Air Show mobile app
The distinguished squadron — back for its 10th headlining appearance — is joined by other elite military pilots, including the U.S. Army Golden Knights Parachute Team, the U.S. Air Force’s A-10C Thunderbolt II Demo Team, and the U.S. Navy F-35C Demo Team. These expert aviators demonstrate the armed forces’ capabilities in fulfilling air-to-air and air-to-ground missions.
The renowned Blue Angels Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron always delights air show visitors with unparalleled displays of flight precision, in keeping with the Navy’s time-honored tradition dating back to 1946. A total of 17 officers voluntarily serve with the Blue Angels, showcasing the precision and power of naval aviation. Each year, the team typically selects three tactical (fighter or fighter/attack) jet pilots, two support officers, and one Marine Corps C-130 pilot to relieve departing members.
As always, expert civilian performers join in the action. The popular Skytypers and their flight squadron of vintage World War II aircraft; Mike Goulian, North America’s most decorated aerobatic pilot; the Warbird Thunder team, piloted by former Skytypers members; Long Island’s aerobatic daredevil David Windmiller;
The Farmingdale-based Skytypers are, of course, a familiar sight along northeast beaches with their skytyped messages generated at an altitude of 10,000 feet with puffs of smoke in dot matrix-style letters. While those messages won’t be visible during the show this time around, the pilots are ready to entertain with their signature maneuvers.
“We’re thrilled that this is our 20th year with the show,” Arken says. “It’s so important to us as it’s our hometown show. For many of our friends, it’s the only time they get to see us (perform). We’re always excited to be here and put a smile on people’s faces. It’s great fun to fly down low and see everyone on the beach. This is a terrific event, and the pilots enjoy it as much as everyone on the ground.”
Flying at 500 feet, his team’s 18 minutes of precision skills always excite spectators. Among their favorite tricks is the “bomb burst,” in which the Arken’s planes come in at low altitude toward the spectators from five directions in a crisscross pattern.
“It almost looks like we’re going to hit each other,” he says. “It’s a real crowd pleaser.”
His team is a close-knit group of five pilots, with decades of military and professional experience, who honor the history and heritage of their refurbished aircraft.
“I consider us caretakers of these planes that had such a historical impact during World War II, “Arken says.”Everything we do is because we want to keep them alive for the generations to see them. We love flying these planes and bringing them to this show.”
The event is one of the largest air shows in the country. More than 240,000 people attended in 2022, when the Blue Angels last performed during a stormy weekend. Last year, more than 419,000 attended.
Aztec Two-Step 2.0 chronicles the extraordinary career of Simon & Garfunkel. The music speaks for itself, anchored by Rex Fowler, Aztec Two-Step co-founder and his wife, Dodie Pettit, an original cast member of Broadway’s ‘The Phantom of The Opera.’ Multiinstrumentalist Steven Roues, horn player Joe Meo, and drummer/ percussionist Peter Hohmeister round out the band. The show’s storyline was originally created by Pete Fornatale, the late great pioneer of progressive FM radio and author of Simon & Garfunkel’s Bookends biography. Now telling the stories, emceeing and directing is Fornatale’s protégé, Tony Traguardo, noted rock music historian, podcaster and founding board member of the Long Island Music Hall of Fame. Nostalgia and laughter abound, and a sing a-long is always in the mix.
Friday, May 31, 8 p.m. $42, $37. $33. Jeanne Rimsky Theater at Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington. (516) 767-6444 or LandmarkOnMainStreet.org.
Chris Botti
Award-winning jazz trumpeter Chris Botti visits The Paramount, Sunday, June 2, 8 p.m. Botti has found a form of creative expression that begins in jazz and expands beyond the limits of any single genre. He has thoroughly established himself as one of the important, innovative figures of the contemporary music world. Coming to prominence with the 2001 recording of his Night Sessions CD, Botti gained a reputation as a versatile musician in both jazz and pop music for his ability to fuse both styles together. He’s been one of the most popular instrumentalists in the world for nearly three decades; he’s collaborated with some of the biggest superstars on the planet, including Sting, Paul
Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra, Aretha Franklin, Bette Midler, Joni Mitchell, Steven Tyler, Andrea Bocelli, Herbie Hancock, Yo-Yo Ma, and others.
He knew his life’s dream was playing music after listening to Miles Davis play perform “My Funny Valentine” live from “Miles Davis – Four & More.” Before venturing out as a solo artist, Botti played in Carnegie Hall as part of the McDonald’s All American High School jazz band and went on tour with Frank Sinatra, Natalie Cole, Aretha Franklin, Bette Midler and others. His time performing with musicians such as Paul Simon, Sting, Tony Bennett and Michael Bublé in and out of the studio inspired the distinct style Botti has to this very day. He’s topped the jazz charts with numerous award-winning albums, and performed with symphony orchestras and on prestigious stages from Carnegie Hall to the Hollywood Bowl to the Sydney Opera House. After signing to Blue Note Records, Botti released his latest album, “Vol. 1.” In many ways, the album is a fresh start for the trumpeter. Having successfully crossed over from the underground jazz scene to pop stardom, Botti’s first album in over a decade finds him coming back to his roots, focusing on acoustic jazz and classic standards. $99.50, $89.50, $74.50, $64.50, $59.50, $39.50. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at Ticketmaster.com or ParamountNY.com.
theater
Families will enjoy another musical adventure, “Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!” ripped from the pages of Mo Willems’ beloved children’s books, on the Long Island Children’s Museum stage, Wednesday through Friday, May 29-31, 10:15 a.m. and noon; also Saturday, June 1, 11:30 a..m. and 2 p.m. Back by popular demand after a sold-out 2023 run, see Pigeon, Bus Driver, and some zany passengers sing and dance their way to help Pigeon find his “thing” in this upbeat comedy based on Willems’ popular Pigeon books.
Featuring a live band to bring Deborah Wicks La Puma’s jazzy score to life, audiences will thoroughly enjoy singing and flapping along with The Pigeon and friends. The audience is part of the action, in this innovative mix of songs, silliness and feathers. It’s an ideal way to introduce kids to theater and the humorous stories from Willems’ books. $10 with museum admission ($8 members), $14 theater only. Long Island Children’s Museum, Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 224-5800 or LICM.org.
On exhibit Nassau County Museum of Art’s latest exhibition, “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. On view through July 7. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. (516) 484-9337 or NassauMuseum.org.
Simon, Barbra Streisand, Lady Gaga,
Old Westbury Gardens Director Maura Brush leads a 45-minute floral arranging class just for kids, Saturday, June 1, 1010:45 a.m., to explore their creative side. Fresh flowers will be used, and she will teach proper care and handling, water, and how to make sure your floral arrangement lasts and looks beautiful. Discuss flower names and fun facts about each flower. For ages 5-12. $30. Registration required. Old Westbury Gardens, 71 Old Westbury Rd., Old Westbury. For information visit OldWestburyGardens.org or contact (516) 333-0048.
The Village of Valley Stream will be holding its Memorial Day parade starting at 9:30 a.m. at Wheeler Avenue and Rockaway Parkway on Monday, May 27 For more information, call (516) 825-4200 or visit Vsvny.org.
Village meeting
The Village of Valley Stream
Central Board of Education meets
Valley Stream Central High School District Board of Education holds its regular meeting, Tuesday, June 11, 8 p.m., at Memorial Junior High School cafeteria B. 320 Fletcher Ave. For more information, call (516) 872-5628 or email districtclerk@vschsd.org.
Henry Waldinger Memorial Library offers basic ESL classes for Spanish-speaking adults, Thursday, May 30, at 10 a.m. Wear a face mask during class. Registration required. 60 Verona Place. For more information, visit ValleyStreamLibrary,org or call (516) 825-6422.
Valley Stream District 30 Board of Education holds its regular meeting, Monday, June 10, 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.
‘Thomas & Friends’
Long Island Children’s Museum welcomes families to experience its newest exhibit, Thomas & Friends: Explore the Rails!, opening Saturday, May 25. Participate in fun activities celebrate the arrival of this traveling exhibit, 1-3 p.m., during the drop-in programs. Step onto the Island of Sodor, where visitors can climb aboard a large model of Thomas the Tank Engine, race trains along a giant track, work together to sort and load cargo and maintain engines.
Kids engage in a variety of STEM challenges from simple sorting and shape identification to more complex engineering obstacles. As they test their abilities, the smiling faces of Thomas, Percy, Victor and others are there to offer encouragement and remind children how “really useful” they all are. Long Island Children’s Museum, Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 2245800 or LICM.org.
Plaza Theatrical brings back its acclaimed Broadway series. With the recent passing of Stephen Sondheim, regarded as one of the most important figures in 20th-century musical theatre for reinventing the American musical, Plaza honors him with a staging of “Into the Woods,” Friday, May 31, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, June 1, 2:30 p.m.; also Thursday, June 6, 2 p.m. See it at Plaza’s stage at the Elmont Library Theatre. 700 Hempstead Tpke., Elmont. $49, $45 seniors. Elmont. For tickets, call (516) 599-6870 or visit PlazaTheatrical. com.
Valley Stream Central High School Cosmetology Department in partnership with Kiwanis Club of Valley Stream is offering a free wash, cut, and blow to anyone that wants to donate their hair (10 inch minimum ponytail or braid) to Locks of Love,. The nonprofit organization provides hairpieces, free of charge, to children suffering from medical hair loss. 135 Fletcher Ave. To make an appointment or for more information, call (56) 561-4436 or send an email to glasowk@ vschsd.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.
Marinela Lizana Plaza, Cedarhurst
American Legion Post 339
I think of soldiers that fought in our wars to keep freedom, our liberties and America as we know it, how much we owe them and their memories. I have a friend, a member of my unit, who died, who I think about every Memorial Day.
Ralph Esposito, Elmont Veterans Service Agency
We pay tribute to those who gave all to make it possible for the rest of us to enjoy the freedoms we have today. I run the Elmont Memorial Day parade to remember those who gave it all and who made the supreme sacrifice.
Davian Savage, Lynbrook
American Legion Post 339
It’s a day to recognize the fallen military personnel over the course of many wars, and to remember their impact on the freedom we have today, and the ultimate sacrifice they made.
Howard Stillwagon, Glen Cove Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 347 (with Cruiser, his service dog) Memorial Day is to honor the fallen veterans of all wars but (personally) for the 20 young men I saw get killed in Vietnam from January to July of 1969. For us combat veterans, we know what it was like to see them lose their lives We never forget.
Gary Glick, Bellmore Jewish War Veterans
It’s a day of mourning for guys who have passed away or who were killed in the war — in all wars. My motto is to help veterans. It shouldn’t just be one day of taking care of veterans, it should be every day.
Annual Concert at St. Agnes Cathedral THE SOUTH SHORE SYMPHONY
SOUND VISIONS: MUSIC AND ART
ADAM GLASER MUSIC DIRECTOR AND CONDUCTOR WITH MICHAEL BOWER, ORGANIST SUNDAY JUNE 2, 2024 • 7:00 PM
PROGRAM - MUSIC INSPIRED BY ART Respighi: Church Windows
Mozart: Overture to The Magic Flute
Granados: Intermezzo from Goyescas Liszt: Battle of the Huns
LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE OF SALE
SUPREME COURT
COUNTY OF NASSAU
JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, Plaintiff
AGAINST
Quan Li He a/k/a Quan L.
He a/k/a Quan He; et al.,
Defendant(s)
Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered June 5, 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 June 5, 2024 at 2:00PM, premises known as 51 Dewitt 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 Valley Stream, the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau, State of New York, District: 2820 Section: 37 Block: 495 Lot: 223. Approximate amount of judgment
$287,118.88 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index# 600388/2018. 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.”
John Kennedy, 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: April 18, 2024 For sale information, please visit www.Auction.com or call (800) 280-2832 146506
LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE OF SALE
SUPREME COURT
NASSAU COUNTY
BAYVIEW LOAN
SERVICING, LLC, Plaintiff against VARICK FLORES, et al
Defendant(s)
Attorney for Plaintiff(s)
Fein Such & Crane, LLP, 28 East Main Street, Suite 1800, Rochester, NY 14614. Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered November 10, 2016, I will sell at public auction to the highest bidder at North Side Steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on June 11, 2024 at 3:00 PM. Premises known as 42 Cedar Avenue, Valley Stream, NY 11580. Sec 37 Block
00537-00 Lot 00014. 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.
Approximate Amount of Judgment is $492,185.78 plus interest, fees, and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No 009285/2011.
The foreclosure sale will be conducted in accordance with 10th Judicial District’s Covid-19 Policies and foreclosure auction rules. The Referee shall enforce any rules in place regarding facial coverings and social distancing. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, then the Court Appointed Referee shall cancel the foreclosure auction. Foreclosure Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine.”
Richard L. Farley, Esq., Referee File # CARN262 146639
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE
SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee for Banc of America Mortgage Securities, Inc. Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2007-2, Plaintiff AGAINST Debelle J. Emmanuel a/k/a Debelle Emmanuel, et al., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered April 20, 2018, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on June 12, 2024 at 2:00PM, premises known as 182 Hungry Harbor Road, Valley Stream, NY 11581. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the Incorporated Village of Valley Stream and partly near Valley Stream, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, SECTION: 39, BLOCK: 506, LOT: 33. Approximate amount of judgment $793,856.18 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #008650/2016. The aforementioned auction will be conducted in accordance with the NASSAU County COVID-19 Protocols located on the Office of Court Administration (OCA) website (https://ww2.nycourts.gov /Admin/oca.shtml) and as such all persons must comply with social distancing, wearing masks and screening
practices in effect at the time of this foreclosure sale. Foreclosure Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine”. For sale information, please contact XOME at www.Xome.com or call (844) 400-9633. Ellen Durst, Esq., Referee Frenkel Lambert Weiss Weisman & Gordon, LLP 53 Gibson Street Bay Shore, NY 11706 01-082464-F00 80388 146597
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, MCLP ASSET COMPANY, INC., Plaintiff, vs. AVA N. COHEN, Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on December 6, 2017, an Order Appointing Substitute Referee duly entered on December 3, 2018 and an Order Extending Time to Conduct Foreclosure Sale and Other Relief duly entered on December 28, 2023, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the front steps on the north side of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on June 18, 2024 at 2:30 p.m., premises known as 11 Fir Street, Valley Stream, NY 11580. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Incorporated Village of Valley Stream, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 37, Block 382 and Lots 42 & 43. Approximate amount of judgment is $333,179.61 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #015553/2012. This foreclosure sale will be held on the north side steps of the Courthouse, rain or shine. COVID-19 safety protocols will be followed at the foreclosure sale. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, the Court Appointed Referee will cancel the sale. Michael Zapson, Esq., Referee Friedman Vartolo LLP, 85 Broad Street, Suite 501, New York, New York 10004, Attorneys for Plaintiff Firm File No.: 231356-1 146835
LEGAL NOTICE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU PHH MORTGAGE CORPORATION, -againstEDGAR E. REINOSO, ET AL.
NOTICE OF SALE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Nassau on April 4, 2024,
wherein PHH MORTGAGE CORPORATION is the Plaintiff and EDGAR E. REINOSO, ET AL. are the Defendant(s). I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction RAIN OR SHINE at the NASSAU COUNTY SUPREME COURT, NORTH SIDE STEPS, 100 SUPREME COURT DRIVE, MINEOLA, NY 11501, on June 20, 2024 at 2:00PM, premises known as 525 DUBOIS AVE, VALLEY STREAM, NY 11581; and the following tax map identification: 39-406-15. ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND, WITH THE BUILDINGS AND IMPROVEMENTS THEREON ERECTED, SITUATE, LYING AND BEING AT VALLEY STREAM, COUNTY OF NASSAU AND STATE OF NEW YORK
Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No.: 000897/2016. Melvyn K. Roth, Esq. - Referee. Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310, Westbury, New York 11590, Attorneys for Plaintiff. All foreclosure sales will be conducted in accordance with Covid-19 guidelines including, but not limited to, social distancing and mask wearing. *LOCATION OF SALE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DAY OF IN ACCORDANCE WITH COURT/CLERK DIRECTIVES. 146847
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU Deutsche Bank National Trust Company, as Trustee, in trust for the registered holders of Morgan Stanley ABS Capital I Inc. Trust 2005NC2, Mortgage PassThrough Certificates, Series 2005-NC2, Plaintiff AGAINST Ivy May Johnson a/k/a IvyMay Johnson, et al., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered December 10, 2019, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on June 14, 2024 at 2:00PM, premises known as 1033 Stafford Road, Valley Stream, NY 11580. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, SECTION: 37., BLOCK: 582, LOT: 30. Approximate amount of judgment $722,479.46 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #003354/2015. The
aforementioned auction will be conducted in accordance with the NASSAU County COVID-19 Protocols located on the Office of Court Administration (OCA) website (https://ww2.nycourts.gov /Admin/oca.shtml) and as such all persons must comply with social distancing, wearing masks and screening practices in effect at the time of this foreclosure sale. For sale information, please visit Auction.com at www.Auction.com or call (800) 280-2832. Charles Casolaro, Esq., Referee Frenkel Lambert Weiss Weisman & Gordon, LLP 53 Gibson Street Bay Shore, NY 11706 01-066204-F01 80471 146748
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, U.S. BANK N.A. AS TRUSTEE, ON BEHALF OF THE HOLDERS, OF THE J.P. MORGAN MORTGAGE
ACQUISITION TRUST
2006--WMC4 ASSET BACKED PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2006-WMC4, Plaintiff, vs. WILLIAMS FAMILY TRUST; EVERARD WILLIAMS, ET AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale with Reference for Sale duly entered on September 12, 2019, 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 June 18, 2024 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 187 Fir Street, Valley Stream, NY 11580. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Incorporated Village of Valley Stream, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 37, Block 395 and Lots 453 and 454. Approximate amount of judgment is $831,973.71 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #533/2015. 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.
Rita Solomon, Esq., Referee
Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott, LLC, 10 Bank Street, Suite 700, White Plains, New York 10606, Attorneys for Plaintiff 146831
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE CO-OP APARTMENT PLEASE TAKE NOTICE, that pursuant to Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code, STEPHAN G. MARCELIN, Auctioneer, RICHIE SCHULTZ, Auctioneer, RICHARD J. CANTWELL, Auctioneer or MICHAEL CAMPBELL, Auctioneer, will sell at public auction with reserve to the highest bidder, North Side Steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501, at 1:30 PM on June 13, 2024, security consisting of 232 shares of VALLEY PARK ESTATES OWNERS CORP., in the name of HURMAT HOTAKI, and all right, title and interest in and to a Proprietary Lease for Cooperative, located in a building known as and by the street address 1808 SHIPLEY AVENUE UNIT 2, VALLEY STREAM, NY 11580, between HURMAT HOTAKI as Lessee, and VALLEY PARK ESTATES OWNERS CORP., as Lessor. This sale is held to satisfy an indebtedness of the unpaid principal balance, interest, attorney fees and advances through June 13, 2024, and to enforce the rights of CITIBANK, N.A., NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY, BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE OF THE NEW RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST 2019-NQM3 (the “Secured Party”), arising under a Security Agreement dated July 18, 2017, executed by and between HURMAT HOTAKI and QUONTIC BANK The Secured Party reserves the right to bid. The Co-op Apartment will be sold “AS IS”, subject to open common charges, and possession is to be obtained by the purchaser.
DATED: April 29, 2024 Knuckles & Manfro, LLP Attorneys for SECURED PARTY 120 White Plains Road Suite 215 Tarrytown, NY 10591 (914) 345-3020 146986
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT: NASSAU COUNTY. WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A., AS TRUSTEE FOR CARRINGTON MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST, SERIES 2006-FRE1 ASSET-BACKED PASSTHROUGH CERTIFICATES, Pltf. vs. DONOVAN RUSSELL, et al, Defts. Index #17-001892. Pursuant to judgment of foreclosure and sale dated Oct. 29, 2019 and order substituting the referee entered Sept. 20, 2022, I will sell at public auction on the north side front steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY on June 26, 2024 at 2:30 p.m., prem. k/a 117 Martens Avenue,
Valley Stream, NY a/k/a Section 37, Block 14, Lot 266. Approx. amt. of judgment is $780,261.11 plus costs and interest. Sold subject to terms and conditions of filed judgment and terms of sale. JANINE LYNAM, Referee. MARGOLIN, WEINREB & NIERER, LLP, Attys. for Pltf., 165 Eileen Way, Ste. 101, Syosset, NY. #101427 146974
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB, D/B/A CHRISTIANA TRUST, NOT INDIVIDUALLY BUT AS TRUSTEE FOR PRETIUM MORTGAGE ACQUISITION TRUST, Plaintiff AGAINST DHARMIE D. INDER, ET AL., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered March 7, 2023, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on June 25, 2024 at 2:30PM, premises known as 208 DEAN STREET VALLEY STREAM, NY 11580 AKA 208 DEAN STREET NORTH VALLEY STREAM, NY 11580 AKA 247-15 135 ROAD, ROSEDALE, NY 11580. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being partly in the Borough and County of Queens, and partly in the Incorporated Village of Valley Stream, Town of Hempstead, State of New York, Block: 13230, Lot: 12 (QUEENS COUNTY), Section: 37, Block: 415, Lot: 0384 (NASSAU COUNTY). Approximate amount of judgment $382,521.71 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #602017/2019. The aforementioned auction will be conducted in accordance with the NASSAU County COVID-19 mitigation protocols and as such all persons must comply with social distancing, wearing masks and screening practices in effect at the time of this foreclosure sale. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, then the court appointed referee will cancel the foreclosure auction. Foreclosure Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine”. Harold F. Damm, Esq., Referee Gross Polowy, LLC 1775 Wehrle Drive Williamsville, NY 14221 18-002063 80690 146910
place a notice here call us at 516-569-4000 x232 or send an email to:
LEGAL NOTICE
SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC D/B/A MR. COOPER, -againstCHARLES BROCKINGTON, ET AL.
NOTICE OF SALE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Nassau on April 16, 2024, wherein NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC D/B/A MR. COOPER is the Plaintiff and CHARLES BROCKINGTON, ET AL. are the Defendant(s). I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction RAIN OR SHINE at the NASSAU COUNTY SUPREME COURT, NORTH SIDE STEPS, 100 SUPREME COURT DRIVE, MINEOLA, NY 11501, on June 26, 2024 at 2:30PM, premises known as 8 GREENLAWN BOULEVARD, VALLEY STREAM, NY 11580; and the following tax map identification: Section 0037, Block 00575-00, Lot 00029. ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND, SITUATE, LYING AND BEING IN THE INCORPORATED VILLAGE OF VALLEY STREAM, TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, COUNTY OF NASSAU AND STATE OF NEW YORK Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No.: 610699/2018. Janine T. Lynam, Esq. - Referee. Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310, Westbury, New York 11590, Attorneys for Plaintiff. All foreclosure sales will be conducted in accordance with Covid-19 guidelines including, but not limited to, social distancing and mask wearing. *LOCATION OF SALE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DAY OF IN ACCORDANCE WITH COURT/CLERK DIRECTIVES. 146994
LEGAL NOTICE Notice of formation of Monaco Muse LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York SSNY on January 22, 2024. Office located in Nassau County. SSNY has been designated for service of process. SSNY shall mail copy of any process served against the LLC92 E. St. Marks Place Valley Stream, NY 11580. Purpose: any lawful purpose. 146926
DRIVERS WANTED
Full Time and Part Time
Positions Available!
Busy Print Shop in Garden City is Hiring Immediately for Full Time and Part Time Drivers. Must Have a Clean License and BoxTruck Driving Experience.
Hours Vary, Salary Ranges from $17 per hour to $21 per hour Night Availability is a Must. Please Email Resume to careers@liherald.com or Call (516)569-4000 x239
DRIVING INSTRUCTOR
Company Car/ Bonuses. Clean Driving Record Required, Will Train. Retirees Welcome!
$20 - $25/ Hour Bell Auto School 516-365-5778 Email: info@bellautoschool.com
DRIVING INSTRUCTORS WANTED
Will Certify And Train
HS Diploma
NYS License Clean 3 Years
$20 - $25/ Hour Call 516-731-3000
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
GRAPHIC DESIGNER F/T
Needed For Valley Stream
Digital/ Print Shop
Work Direct With Clients Digital/ Copy Shop Exp. Preferred Bilingual (Spanish) A Plus Call 516-285-8526 Email Resume: lmninvoice@gmail.com
HANDYPERSON WANTED
Immediate Opening at our Garden City Location
DESIRED SKILLS: Electrical * Welding * Carpentry
Mechanical * Plumbing Part Time/Fulltime (benefits available with full time) $18-$30 per hour based on experience Richner Communications, Inc 2 Endo Blvd Garden City, NY 11530 Send resume to careers@lixtherald.com or Call 516-569-4000 ext 211
MAILROOM/ WAREHOUSE HELP
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PRINTING PRESS OPERATORS FT & PT. Long Island Herald has IMMEDIATE openings for Printing Press Operators in Garden City. We are a busy print shop looking for motivated and reliable individuals to assist in various duties in the shop. Hours vary, so flexibility is key. Salary Ranges from $20 per hour to $30 per hour. Email resumes or contact info to careers@liherald.com
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5
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Finished basement. Eat-in kitchen with granite countertops. Open layout. Den/family room and home office. First floor master bedroom. Updates include skylight. Security system. Taxes: $14,588.78
East Rockaway $660,000
Rhame Avenue. Colonial. 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms. Partial finished basement. Eat-in kitchen with granite countertops. Formal dining room. Den/family room. First floor master bedroom. Updates include cathedral ceiling and skylight. Security system.
Taxes: $16,008.46
Elmont $705,000
Butler Boulevard. Split Ranch. 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms. Partial finished basement. Eat-in kitchen with granite countertops. Formal dining room. Den/family room, home office and exercise room. Legal accessory apartment.
Taxes: $11,723
Hewlett Harbor $1,675,000
Hedge Lane. Split Level. 7 bathrooms, 4.5 bedrooms. Partial finished basement. Gourmet eat-in kitchen with granite countertops. Formal dining room. Den/family room, home office, exercise room with sauna/steam room. Ensuite master bedroom. Security system. Private location at end of cul-de-sac.
Taxes: $26,542.42
Island Park $705,000
New York Avenue. Hi Ranch. 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms. Eatin kitchen with granite countertops and pantry. Formal dining room. Den/family room and home office. Many upgrades including wet bar and wood burning stove.
Taxes: $9,741.41
Malverne $760,000
Orbach Avenue. Cape. 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms. Partial finished basement. Eat-in kitchen with granite countertops. Formal dining room. First floor bedroom. Updates include cathedral ceiling and skylight.
Taxes: $13,526.16
Merrick $1,300,000
Lake End. Road. Colonial. 5 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms. Lindenmere neighborhood. Finished walk-out basement. Gourmet eat-in kitchen with granite countertops and Bosch appliances. Formal dining room. Den/family room with natural quarry brick fireplace. Home office. Large ensuite master bedroom with cathedral ceiling and walk-in closet. Highend finishes include picture frame moldings and hi-hats throughout. Front porch with bluestone walkway. Rear Trex deck. New HVAC system.
Taxes: $19,440
Q. We are wondering what to do about our projects. Our building department told us that we probably didn’t need a permit after all for our kitchen, because we are only moving one wall and changing the cabinets to a new layout, but with the sink in the same location. At the same time, we are making changes to our business, which we know needs a permit because we are changing a warehouse space to offices, also with a kitchen and new bathrooms. In that case, we are being asked to provide a complete estimate, but not from the contractor (whom we haven’t chosen yet) but from our architect. Does that sound right to you, that the architect, and not the contractor, should provide the estimate with a breakdown of line items anyway?
A. Being put in this position, you wonder if your architect gave you any good advice. At the same time, the architect is wondering why they are being thrown under the bus in front of their client, who now does not trust them. The conflicts created here are by a party to the equation that separates itself less and less from health, safety and welfare and enters into the realm of “divide and conquer.”
The change made for your kitchen includes removing a wall. Unless your building department wants to lessen their control over such matters, you absolutely need a building permit. I am wondering if you told them the full scope of what you were doing. If you wrongly communicated or interpreted that you could do wall configuration or structural changes to your home, and told your building department that you were only changing the kitchen cabinets, you have misinformed, and then been misinformed in return. They only understand what you tell them.
Most people are not too eager to tell the whole story because of the concern over the amount of work they will have to file for, with expensive plans, so they diminish the amount of work, which then creates the friction you described. Regulations make everyone uneasy and often unhappy. It does not sound right to me, for example, that your architect would need to do the full breakdown cost estimate for your project, because it sets everyone up to be at odds with one another before the construction even starts. When the architect provides one set of numbers, which the unknowing owner sees as the cost and then the contractor provides their estimate, if the two are far off from one another, the conflict begins.
Either the architect’s number is too low or too high. Too low makes the owner challenge the contractor, who from then on will have nothing to do with the architect. Too high and the architect is made to look foolish. Unless the architect gets their numbers from the contractor and all agree, the project has been set up for failure by a third party. In both cases, communication and acceptance of facts is necessary. Good luck!
© 2024 Monte Leeper
Readers are encouraged to send questions to yourhousedr@aol.com, with “Herald question” in the subject line, or to Herald Homes, 2 Endo Blvd., Garden City, NY 11530, Attn: Monte Leeper, architect.
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Recently I had the opportunity to take part in a forum on President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Four Freedoms, hosted by Cornell University’s Institute of Politics and Global Affairs, which is directed by former U.S. Rep. Steve Israel. (Full disclosure: My daughter, Erin King Sweeney, works as an assistant to Israel at the institute.)
The event was held at upstate Hyde Park, the site of FDR’s birth, home, burial, library and museum, and it provided a perfect backdrop for the daylong series of discussions on the president who led the United States through the Great Depression and World War II.
As a history major and a political junkie who has read numerous books on FDR and his times, I found the forum interesting and rewarding. The most detailed and illuminating segment was the presentation by Andrew
Meier, author of the epic work “Morgenthau: Power, Privilege, and the Rise of an American Dynasty,” who focused on Henry Morgenthau, Roosevelt’s longtime friend and the U.S. Treasury secretary for almost 12 years.
What struck me the most while listening to Meier was a renewed realization of just how perilous those years were. The country’s fabric was being threatened internally by the corrosive economic and social dislocation of the Depression, and, of course, externally, our independence and freedom as a nation was imperiled by Hitler’s Nazi Germany and Tojo’s Imperial Japan. And in the years leading to the attack on Pearl Harbor, the American people were committed to America First and strongly opposed to any involvement in foreign wars.
Would we and our leaders have the same stamina and unity of purpose today?
reality of the Holocaust, which he had to confront as the only Jewish member of FDR’s cabinet. Yet somehow, Morgenthau, Roosevelt and, most important, the American people came through all this, emerging with the world’s strongest economy and most powerful military, and the forces of Nazism and Japanese imperialism defeated and crushed.
because that was still not known to Japan and would damage our war effort in the Pacific, Dewey complied in the national interest. That contrasted sharply with what I saw in the war against terrorism, when secret agreements we had with countries were disclosed on newspapers’ front pages for political benefit, without regard to national harm.
pAs treasury secretary, Morgenthau had to deal simultaneously with severe budget, economic and banking crises as well as the Herculean two-front war effort against Germany and Japan. Hovering over all this was the horrific
This made me wonder whether America and our leaders would have that same stamina and unity of purpose today. And whether there would be the same level of patriotism, putting country before party. I remember reading that during the 1944 presidential campaign, Thomas Dewey, the Republican nominee, learned that the United States had broken the Japanese code prior to Pearl Harbor. This raised the question of whether FDR had been negligent or actually allowed the attack to happen (which Dewey believed).
Yet when Army Chief of Staff George Marshall asked Dewey not to disclose that we had broken the code,
My last impression from the FDR forum was how important it is for Americans to remember the past and the lessons to be learned from it. To realize that the world did not begin the day before yesterday or the day you were born. That crises do not lend themselves to the easy black-and-white solutions of social media. As the philosopher George Santayana famously said, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” America has had a difficult but proud history. A prouder history than any nation in the history of the world. A history we must do all we can to learn and never forget going forward.
Peter King is a former congressman, and a former chair of the House Committee on Homeland Security. Comments? pking@ liherald.com.
oll after poll shows that most Americans believe the United States is more divided than usual. With many contentious issues appearing to lack compromises, constructive policies can emerge, but zealots on either side must have no greater influence in the debate, and solutions must be based not on either side’s so-called “facts,” but rather on the truth.
One such issue is the environment and climate. I have yet to meet anyone who wants polluted air or water. Everyone I know wants a clean environment, and supports a transition to green energy that supplants as much of fossil energy as possible. The overwhelming majority of people I speak to on the issue understand that investment in renewable energy is a must so that technology will continue to develop.
At the same time, that majority wants public policy on the transition to green energy to be smart, realistic and, most of all, not financially ruinous to their families. That shouldn’t sound radical, but to the zealots on either side of the issue, it’s an unacceptable posi-
tion. To the right, there is no such thing as climate change or, they say, “Climate is always changing.” To the left, climate change is an existential threat to humanity, and if we don’t act immediately, the world will end.
Let’s face it: Green energy has become for Democrats what Big Oil has been for Republicans. Both are booming and competing industrial sectors willing to accept the support of one political party over the other in the hope of gaining market share in the world of energy.
The transition to green sources must be smart, realistic and make financial sense.
The debate over climate change and resulting policy is not only a federal issue but a state-to-state battle as well. It stands to reason that New York, a heavily Democratic state, is at the forefront of devising and implementing climate policy. But is that policy smart, realistic and affordable?
In 2019, New York, under Democratic rule, passed the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, mandating that 70 percent of the state’s energy come from renewable resources by 2030, and that 100 percent of its electricity be emissions-free by 2040. The cost of the act was estimated at $295 billion, but recent data puts total expenses closer to $4.9 trillion.
Will the CLCPA’s goals be achieved, or is it just a political boondoggle? To
meet its targets, more than 111 gigawatts of generation capacity will be needed by 2040, and 95 gigawatts must be new generation. To put that in perspective, one gigawatt is enough to power roughly 750,000 homes, and today the state generates a total of roughly 41 gigawatts. We have added only 12.9 gigawatts of new generation since 1999, so it’s responsible to ask whether we can produce another 70 by 2040.
Not reaching that arbitrary, unrealistic benchmark wouldn’t be fatal, but the all-in, nothing-butrenewable-energy approach is dangerous.
The New York Independent System Operator has warned that fossil fuel-powered facilities that were at one time feeding the largest share of energy to the state grid are being taken offline faster than renewable sources can be added. Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s decision to shut down Indian Point in 2021 is a perfect example.
For years, it was claimed that energy lost from shutting the nuclear plant down would be replaced by gains in renewable energy. The reality is far from that, with wind, solar and other renewable energy increasing by only 2.2 percent since the closure, with fossil electricity generated rising by 11 percent. Basically, we closed a reliable, carbon-
free plant so we can more heavily rely on a fossil fuel-driven electrical grid.
Even if renewable energy completely replaced fossil-based fuels, are these systems reliable? What happens when the sun isn’t shining or the wind isn’t blowing? If New York eliminates all fossilfuel power plants and won’t consider nuclear, it will need an unrealistic amount of battery storage. To highlight this issue, the state Energy Research and Development Authority has estimated that in periods when wind and solar resources are low, as much as 2,400 gigawatt-hours of storage will be required, which is well beyond current capability.
Then there is the question of the cost of the green transition — not just to government, but also to customers. This question was never answered before CLCPA became law. Ratepayers will cover that cost with increased fees, taxes, and energy bills. The real-life ramifications are beginning to be noticed: Customers of National Grid, PSEG and Liberty Water have seen their bills increase.
Moving forward, New York can lead in environmental protection, but not at the expense of its residents’ financial stability. A comprehensive review of the flawed CLCPA, incorporating accurate cost estimates and reliability studies, is imperative to chart a viable and broader path toward a cleaner future.
Brian Curran represents the 21st Assembly District.
When we think about 125 years of Nassau County, we have to look back to when the newly expanded New York City enveloped Queens County into its new domain — well, not quite all of it.
The towns of Hempstead, Oyster Bay and North Hempstead were excluded from the plans to join the city — despite being part of Queens. The 55,000 people who lived in this part of Queens County were not happy, and they gathered at a Mineola hotel in late January 1898 to do something about it.
They decided it was time to create their own county — which they would call Nassau, for King William III, who reigned from the House of Nassau when this land was first settled, and whose house name was already used for some settlements on the island.
But convincing lawmakers in Albany wasn’t so easy.
The measure ultimately passed, however, and was signed into law by Gov. Frank Black on April 27, 1898, officially bringing Nassau County into existence as of Jan. 1, 1899.
Now, 125 years later, Nassau is New York’s fifth-largest county by population with nearly 1.4 million people — making it larger than both the Bronx and Staten Island — and the 29th largest in the nation.
Let’s make the most of this chance to learn from history
To the Editor:
Why do so many choose Nassau County to not only work in and visit, but also to call home? Especially with the bustling, never-sleeping New York City quite literally over the next hill?
That answer is simple: Big homes and big yards. Less noise and pollution. Quieter streets. Much lower crime rates. And superior schools — especially when it comes to public schools.
Where else can you jump in the ocean at Jones Beach, then head to Tanglewood Preserve, in Rockville Centre, to enjoy everything else nature has to offer, and finish your day exploring the Cradle of Aviation Museum in Uniondale?
Why just read about history when you can actually visit it? Like Sagamore Hill, in Oyster Bay — the home of Theodore Roosevelt, existing today pretty much the way it did when the 26th president lived there. There’s also Raynham Hall, also in Oyster Bay, which was a spy headquarters during the American Revolution.
The Rock Hall Museum, in Lawrence, brings Colonial times to life not just with the artifacts inside, but the 1767 mansion they are all housed in.
Even Eisenhower Park, in East Meadow, has made history. As the site of the former Meadow Brook Club, it hosted the first-ever national women’s golf tournament in 1895, won by Lucy Barnes — the wife of Charles S. Brown, who
As a history Ph.D. and a high school history and civics teacher, I was gratified to read Peter King’s column urging Americans to heed the lessons of history (“We should have learned more than we have from history,” May 9-15). Unfortunately, there is little that most Americans can do directly to help defend Israel and Ukraine from the evils that assault them, to reduce trade with China for the material goods we have no choice but to buy, or even to calm tempers on college campuses. But there’s one thing every American can easily do to help our politics, and that is vote this November, to preserve the norms essential to American democracy.
Before coming to power, Adolf Hitler made clear his intention to expel or exterminate Jews and create an Aryan Empire in Central Europe. Mussolini promised to use violence to cleanse Italian politics of leftists. Rodrigo Duterte campaigned in the Philippines on promises of summary mass executions of drug dealers. These men, and others like them, were brought to power by a combination of voters who were sadistic enough to want exactly what each one promised, and others who didn’t take their promises seriously, found the audacity titillating, or assumed that power itself would tame these leaders. But once in office, each leader set about doing precisely what he had promised. History’s lesson is that megalomaniacal politicians must be taken at their word.
Donald Trump repudiated the tradition of conceding power
would go on to found what is now the Brown Harris Stevens real estate company. The park also hosted the ninth PGA championship tourney in 1926, won by Walter Hagen — the “father of professional golf.”
There are also great places to shop, pretty much in every neighborhood. So many Nassau County businesses are family-owned. So many of them have been in families for generations. And you know it the moment you walk through their doors. The way you are greeted. The way you are served. It proves you don’t need to be a Roosevelt to be treated like royalty here.
But when it’s all said and done, Nassau County is all about all of us, the people. Our neighbors. Our doctors and nurses. Our school superintendents, principals and teachers. Our police officers. Our sanitation workers. Those who do good in public service. The men and women who volunteer — and put their own safety on the line — as firefighters and first responders.
“This country will not be a good place for any of us to live in unless we make it a good place for all of us to live in,” Teddy Roosevelt once said. And that’s true not just for the United States, but also in our neighborhoods. And all of us here in Nassau County have shone for the past 125 years, and we look forward to shining for the next 125, too.
peacefully, a cornerstone of democracy. After losing the 2020 election, he and his henchmen assembled cadres of fake electors, spread demented conspiracy theories to confuse the public, and had Michael Flynn put out feelers for a declaration of martial law. Since the failure of his Jan. 6, 2021, coup attempt, Trump has campaigned on promises to turn the U.S. military against civilians, throw migrants into detention camps,
hijack Congress by withholding legitimately voted funds, and strip the independence of the judiciary in order to remove obstacles to these actions.
He has said he will countenance the tracking of women’s pregnancies by state governments and the invasion of NATO allies by Russia. It is beyond any well-informed person’s doubt that, in office, he will weaken the NATO alliance, give Vladimir
after months of contentious budget negotiations, the State Legislature and Gov. Kathy Hochul recently agreed to a historic $237 billion state spending plan. The final budget compromise included the Legislature’s reversal of Hochul’s proposed funding cuts to education, as it instead allocated nearly $36 billion in public-school aid.
The state’s public-school funding model can best be described as a three-legged stool consisting of state aid, commercial taxes, and residential property tax revenue.
But even as New York makes historic investments in our schools with taxpayer dollars, many corporations and commercial properties are skipping out on their fair share of tax payments, leaving residents to pick up the hefty tab for education costs.
According to a 2023 report, public schools in the state lost at least $1.8 billion in revenue to corporate tax breaks, also known as tax “abatements,” in fiscal year 2021. Nassau County ranked among New York’s top 10 counties in total forgone school revenue, and recorded the second-highest number of approved corporate net tax exemptions.
DThe independent report, published by Good Jobs First, a pro-economic development research organization, found that a massive portion of corporate tax abatements occur when local industrial development agencies acquire properties and lease them to private companies in exchange for payments in lieu of taxes. Of course, these PILOTs are only a fraction of the corporate tax revenue that would help fully fund our education system.
to private companies, resulting in billions of dollars in lost commercial tax revenue for school districts across the state.
istricts are losing many millions of dollars to corporate tax breaks.
According to this analysis, the lost revenue for Nassau County public school districts included $3 million — or $1,031 per pupil — for the Mineola Union Free School District, $8.4 million — $1,668 per pupil — for the Westbury Union Free School District, and $12.6 million — $1,827 per pupil — in the Uniondale Union Free School District, the highest in Nassau County and the third-highest among public schools statewide.
PILOTs where tax revenue was intended for public school districts. The bill has gained significant support from labor organizations, teachers unions and good-government groups seeking to reform IDAs to better serve our schools. Fundamentally, the Good Jobs First report argues, IDAs should not have the power to waive commercial taxes that would otherwise benefit our schools. The report makes key policy recommendations toward this end, including expanding school and community representation on IDA boards, increasing transparency and accountability in reporting forgone tax revenues, and eliminating IDAs entirely.
Let’s recap: Industrial development agencies, which are essentially public entities, buy up properties and offer them tax-free, for pennies on the dollar,
Putin a green light to expand his conquests in Ukraine, and encourage leaders — from U.S. state and local officials to dictators around the globe — to copy his methods, including delegitimizing any election that does not favor him or his party.
History’s lesson is that if Trump wins, he will do all he says he will do, and likely worse. The next four years will consist of a struggle between Executive’s efforts to dismantle democracy’s guardrails, and other government branches’, federal and state, to preserve them. That’s why Americans should vote for Joe Biden this November, as well as for Democrats up and down the ballot, and only those Republicans who promise they will stand up, rather than acquiesce, to the installation of a Trumpist dictatorship in the United States.
ALEx DILLON CedarhurstTo the Editor:
I share Jerry Kremer’s unease with recent campus unrest (“The blemish of college demonstrations,” May 9-15), but I’m also uneasy with his conclusion that college administrators need “outside help” to prevent future “drama.” My dissent is reflected in Kremer’s comment about “publicity-minded government officials” like House Speaker Mike Johnson and Gov. Greg Abbott. Jeremy Suri’s two cents indicates the category of “offi-
cials” extends beyond government.
The solution is for all involved to return to their respective corners, to reset the bargain, including the media. It must be remembered that the hardfought-for principle of freedom of speech and its extension to the principle of academic freedom began as protections against government power to suppress. This is what is at issue. Academic freedom developed during the Enlightenment as societies, and governments, realized that valuable and beneficial knowledge emerge from organized study, the pursuit of knowledge.
Many did not accept this intellectual freedom as a good idea, not then and not now. This is what we see in the general MAGA disdain for science, disparagement of expertise, distrust of libraries. Lately these “officials” have been supported by university donors who want greater control over staffing, curriculum and knowledge, undermining the premise of academic freedom.
Some academics have taken their protected status for an enhanced right of free speech to engage publicly in promoting their work, which has drawn criticism as activism beyond the original remit. Some students, too, have exceeded their commission to become learned in the service of social improvement by attacking that very privilege.
The media is part of all this, and can constructively be more balanced. But the outside agitators, those various “officials” seeking greater influence, must withdraw. Then university administrators need to review, clarify, revise if necessary, the ground rules under which they function, their unique status and
The estimated $1.8 billion in lost school budget revenue could have been used for such essential investments as air conditioning in classrooms, athletic field renovations, wages for bus drivers, and teacher training for new technology.
Last year, the State Legislature introduced a bill that would prohibit IDAs from granting corporate tax breaks and
In Nassau County, residents pay among the nation’s highest property taxes, 60 percent of which are earmarked for our public schools. But if we are to achieve a fairer, more equitable education and tax system, we cannot continue to allow corporations to shortchange our school districts at the expense of hardworking families.
Karl A. Valere is chief of staff and senior policy adviser to Assemblyman Khaleel M. Anderson. He lives in Baldwin.
what they owe the greater society. They must assert their independence from outside interests.
Students, similarly, need reminding of concepts like noblesse oblige, of behavior that infringes on free speech, and how, especially for them, “civil discourse” should be considered a virtue.
The responsible media can seek less
drama and superficial speculation, and greater substance, and point out those who seek accommodation over those who prefer discord.
A very conservative suggestion to promote a very liberal goal.
