Valley Stream Herald 06-08-2023

Amid pandemic, dance studio reinvented itself

By JUAN lASSo jlasso@liherald.com

The financial disruption fueled by the pandemic burdened businesses across many industries, particularly in the arts and culture sector. That’s something Anayo Michel, owner of Layla’s Dance & Drum, knows all too well.

Michel said the past three years have been “a frightening time” for her dance studio in Valley Stream.

A veteran dance instructor specializing in African, Latin and Caribbean dance, Michel says the pandemic’s financial toll on her fellow artists, performers and instructors has been staggering.

Between 2019 and 2020, the arts economy shrank at nearly double the rate of the overall economy, according to data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis.

At the peak of the pandemic, as the financial fortunes of Michel’s business colleagues and arts friends

Continued on page 4

Meet the vals and sals of V.S. Central High School District

By CAroliNE KElly Intern

As the school year draws to a close, the Valley Stream Central High School district community announces its 2023 valedictorians and salutatorians.

With an advanced course load and multiple after school activities, these students pushed themselves to the top of their academic class.

Hannah Lee, valedictorian of Valley Stream North High School’s Class of 2023, spent her high school career not only excelling academically, but also dedicating herself to various extracurricular activities.

“Time management and communication are very important. Sometimes I have to choose between things because I just don’t have the time,” Lee said. “Being involved in a lot of different clubs can be hard, so it’s important to communicate with other members if I know I’m too busy to get something done.”

She plans to go to Dartmouth University in the fall majoring in mathematics.

Alyssa Garufi is the salutatorian of Valley Stream North. She knew from a very young age that she wants to go into medicine.

Over the summer, she volunteered at Northwell Long Island Jewish Hospital; and because

she is interested in working with children in the future, she is also a camp counselor for Malibu Beach Camp.

“Don’t be afraid to try new things,” said Garufi, a member of the varsity tennis and badminton teams. She uses the sports for fun and to balance out the rest of her school responsibilities. Garufi has been accepted into the BS/MD program at Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education.

At Valley Stream Central High School, Michaela Sinclair is the valedictorian of Valley Stream Central High School’s Class of 2023. She has thrown herself into the world of STEM

throughout her education and it has paid off. She participated in MITES (MIT Introduction to Engineering and Science) as well as the Columbia Science Honors Program. Sinclair is currently a member of the New York Academy of Science and is also an active member of Central High School National Honor Society.

“Take risks and focus on your

own journey,” Sinclair advises her fellow graduates. It has worked out for her as she plans to attend Harvard University this fall to study chemistry.

Then there’s Steven Huang of Valley Stream South High School who rose to the top of the academic ladder as its valedictorian. The community serviceContinued on page 15

Tim Baker/Herald

PHoENix MErCEr, 7, of Lynbrook, busts a move at Layla’s Dance & Drum.

Buck students box out bullying through theatre

Valley Stream 24’s William L. Buck Elementary School recently participated in a Box Out Bullying assembly, sponsored by the PTA. Box Out Bullying is an organization that tours nationwide to educate students about bullying and being an up stander through dynamic live theatre and research-based bullying prevention.

“The Box Out Bullying assembly was a huge success. At Valley Stream 24 Schools we have a zero tolerance for bullying and incorporate numerous learning opportunities, such as the Box Out Bullying assembly, to teach our students the importance of kindness, respect, friendship, and compassion, and pride ourselves in our students for having a unified understanding of kindness, friendship, and respect” said Buck principal Johanne Gaddy.

Students utilized auditory, visual, and kinesthetic learning cues during the assembly, all of which have been shown to promote enhanced learning retention and understanding. The assembly focused on promoting empathy and empowerment and equipped the students with the skills needed to identify bullying, both direct and indirect, and provided information and guidance regarding what to do when bullying, in any form, is identified.

–Juan Lasso

William l. Buck students gather at the Box Out Bullying assembly to learn how to be an up stander during bullying situations.

North High promgoers get a big sendoff

All gowned up and dressed to impress, Valley Stream North High School students grabbed their dates for the school’s annual prom held this year at the Jericho Terrace banquet hall in Mineola on June 1.

But the lead-up ceremony to the annual rite of passage was perhaps just as memorable. The aptly named Pre-prom ceremony is something of a North High tradition where seniors and their dates gather outside North High School to show off their finest prom ware and bask in a bit of fanfare prior to the big event.

Promgoers had their names announced as they walked a red carpet and across a golden, glittering runway leading into the school. There they were met with a crowd of “paparazzi” volunteers and adoring parents with smart phones at the ready for a photo. The promgoers then entered the school where they had their pick of among three photo backdrops for selfies. Finally, they were led to the school’s outdoor courtyard where more “paparazzi” awaited them for photo ops. The event closed with an outdoor group photo. Then, it was off to prom.

Admiring the corsAge are seniors Andre Phillip and Sophia Buccellato.

seniors KAmryn VAnetten and Olivia Muscatelli take to the North High School courtyard to greet paparazzi at Valley Stream North High School’s Pre-Prom on June 1.

seniors Princess noel and Mekhi White walk the red carpet in the pre-prom celebration at Valley Stream North High School.

Keith Rossein/Herald photos seniors Andrew Pinto, Brianna Mayo, Kasey Stroehlein, Phillip Merced, Ashley Mennecke, Jake Vitale pose for pre-prom photo ops at Valley Stream North High School.

–Juan Lasso

Layla’s Dance & Drum survives amid crisis

continued from front page

began to crumble, resulting in joblessness and depression, she never lost hope.

“I’ve had a tough life. I’ve lost my mother and father at a young age,” Michel said. “So, when you deal with stuff like that, everything else pales in comparison.”

As the pandemic stretched for months, Michel got to work enlisting her network of dance studio owners, receiving a “master class” on how to apply for the federal government’s small business loans program, known as the Paycheck Protection Program.

But she soon learned the eligibility requirements during the initial round of the program did not cover her business because most of her dancing teachers are independent contractors.

“Many dance studios like mine decided to throw in the towel after that,” she said.

That was out of the question for Michel. With or without a financial safety cushion, she expected to fight back.

“Businesses like mine had to completely reinvent and reimagine themselves to survive, and that’s what I did,” she said.

Stripped of the ability to hold in-person classes, she quickly pivoted to streaming her dance studio lessons over Zoom. When she couldn’t hold recitals at theaters on account of them being shut down, she had her students, mostly children and teens, do video shoots.

Things slowly began to look up. Restrictions softened to allow for limited open-air gatherings, so she held outdoor, socially distanced dance classes at Arthur J. Hendrickson Park. When Covid safety guidelines waned again to allow her to move things indoors, she pulled out all the stops to ease parents’ worry of the virus.

“Everyone was okay with wearing masks, and I think wearing the masks helps to reduce the anxiety,” she said.

This past year, she temporarily relocated her school to the Valley Stream Presbyterian Church to cut back on overhead costs. But now, the students have returned to the studio. And things, finally, “are starting to return back to normal.”

Michel said diligence and quick-thinking allowed her to walk away from the pandemic with her business intact. But the toll of absorbing the financial blows of the past three years is painfully obvious. For one thing, her classes have dwindled down considerably from pre-Covid times.

“In March of 2020, we had over 100 students. Now, we are about a third of that,” she said. “And a lot of kids, unfortunately, just stopped dancing.”

Michel, who has long prided herself on setting a tall bar of excellence at her studio, says the smaller classes are a blessing in disguise.

“We can give students more individualized attention and go deeper into professional dancing techniques,” she said.

Part of her branding and appeal is her often demanding expectations placed on her students. Because of it, her studio has become something of a magnet for talented child dancers. Under her tutelage, several of them have been propelled into prominent roles in acting and music.

“Over the years, I’ve noticed a lot of dance schools focus on recitals and just putting pretty dresses on kids,” Michel said. “I make sure our students learn in the ways of true professional dancers. I don’t want to say I’m a dancing snob, though I probably am.”

Parents seem to agree with her methods, purposely seeking out her mentorship, alongside her rotating menu of highcaliber, high-profile dancing instructors.

Since the pandemic, a younger, newer crop of parents have come in and are far less taken with strict training regimens and what Michel describes as an “old school” level of seriousness to dance.

“To get better at dance, you have to be committed, devote many hours, and be present,” she said. But nowadays, parents, perhaps worn out from the pandemic, are leaning less toward making great performers out of their kids and more pulled toward using dance class as a casual, pressure-free way to just get their kid out of the house and socializing again.

In response, Michel had to dial back on the discipline.

“Before the pandemic, you couldn’t miss more than three classes a semester. But since the pandemic, we’ve eliminated our attendance requirements entirely,” she said. “I wouldn’t have a business if I wasn’t more lenient with a lot of our rules to ensure people are accommodated.”

Despite the transformations she’s made to her studio, one point, universally shared among creative types like her,

hasn’t changed: being underpaid for her studio’s performances.

Receiving lowball offers on gigs is a fact of life for artists, even for well-sought professionals, noted Michel.

“People take artists for granted,” she said, losing track of the inquiries she gets from businesses and organizations asking if her top dancers would do a free performance at this or that event.

“Everyone everywhere expects the dancers to perform for free not understanding that we are a business” she said. “I opened a studio for the joy of dancing, but we have bills to pay like everyone else.”

Michel “tries to find joy in everything,” but she says if the pandemic has taught her anything, it’s that the joy of the arts doesn’t come cheap. “Everything is expensive and artists need to look out for themselves because who else will?”

News brief

South student wins top global science prize

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Valley Stream South High School student Ibrahim Qadri earned a top prize at the 2023 International Science and Engineering Fair in Dallas,Texas. Qadri competed against 55 other student researchers to receive the third-place award in the animal sciences category. The award comes with a $1,000 prize.

Qadri’s strong showing at ISEF came after he earned first place in the animal sciences category at the regional Long Island Science and Engineering Fair in March. He was also a semifinalist in the Regeneron Science Talent Search, and is the South High School Class of 2023 salutatorian.

Qadri’s project, The Ability of Vitamin E To Improve the Reproduction and Metabolic Respiration of Nicotine-Induced D. Melanogaster, looked into the ways vitamin E might lessen the effects of nicotine on the body’s respiratory and reproductive systems. His experiments involved exposing flies to nicotine and vitamin E and studying the effects on the flies’ offspring. The research could have significant implications for pregnant women exposed to nicotine, as well as individual consumers of nicotine products looking to improve their respiratory and reproductive health.

–Juan Lasso

Businesses like mine had to completely reinvent and reimagine themselves to survive, and that’s what I did.

AnAyo Michel Owner, Layla’s Dance & Drum

Tim Baker/Herald eight-yeAr-old lAity thiAM, of Baldwin, left, dances it out with her classmates at Layla’s Dance & Drum in person after the studio was forced to close its doors during the pandemic.

At 13, students take a trip to Crossroads Farm

They are back at it again for another season. Valley Stream 13 students recently took a trip to Crossroads Farm to learn the ins and outs of sustainable agriculture. They toured the farm to learn about agriculture and animals, and the life cycle of honeybees. They had the opportunity to plant their own plants in the farm’s learning garden.

“Our partnership with Crossroads Farms enhances our students’ problem-solving and reasoning skills through the practice of growing and preparing food,” said Superintendent Judith LaRocca. “Students look forward to this experience and have a great time learning about farming. Through this experience, our students gain valuable life skills.”

This field trip was an opportunity for students to spend the day outside while learning about sustainable agriculture. They were able to work hands-on with each other while learning about farming practices, food systems, and environmental awareness.

Crossroads is a state certified organic farm dedicated to providing agricultural education to everyone. Using a collaborative approach, they cultivate growing on their small organic farm in Malverne. They are a part of the Nassau Land Trust, a not-for-profit organization that uses a board of volunteers to run the farm. Crossroads is the closest organic farm to New York City and they sell their crops, along with the crops of local farmers, at their farm stand, and host a farmers market every Saturday.

–Juan Lasso

Courtesy Valley Stream District 13

Howell Road elementaRy School students take a tour of the greenhouse at Crossroads Farm.

Sc H ool S

Clear Stream students lead food donation initiative

Students at Clear Stream Avenue School in Valley Stream District 30 led the charge in collecting food for those in need as part of a district wide effort.

Student representatives on the Global Leaders of Tomorrow Council have been working together to tackle zero hunger in their community. Their efforts have had a great start as members of the council at Clear Stream solicited the help of their classmates to collect food for the hungry. Cartier Burke, the sixth grade representative at Clear Stream, spearheaded the effort.

They sent out flyers to encourage participation and visited classrooms to collect donations, including nonperishable foods. Once everything collected was sorted, the items were sent to the House of Hope food pantry in Valley Stream.

–Juan Lasso

Photos courtesy Valley Stream District 30

From leFt, Cartier Burke, Athena Karantoni-Lewis, Ava Lam and Aysha Dar lead Clear Stream Avenue School in collecting food donations.

Cartier Burke, who spearheaded the effort, helped sort the many donations which were sent to the House of Hope food pantry in Valley Stream.

HERALD SpoR t S

VSN sweeps Class AA track championships

By BRIAN KACHARABA sports@liherald.com

The county championships were again twice as nice for the Valley Stream North track and field teams.

The boys’ and girls’ teams swept the Nassau AA title for the second straight year at their home track May 23 thanks to a combined five first-place finishes in the field events and six runner-up showings in the running finals. The girls finished with 116 points for their fourth straight county title, 17 better than second-place Calhoun, while the boys’ collected 99 points for their 14th championship in 17 years.

“It’s really like a tradition now,” coach Mike Frazer said. “It sort of becomes an expectation.”

Junior Brooke Fessler cleared 4 feet, 10 inches early in the high jump final to win that event and senior Charis Hackman (4-8) was third. Nattaly Lindo’s first shot put toss of 36-07.75 was just under two feet better than fellow junior and runner-up Moanna Thelusca, who herself won the discus with her 118-foot throw.

Lindo also finished third in the discus and Gabriela Mensah fell just under an inch shy of winning the uber-competitive triple jump, placing second inbetween two Calhoun competitors. The 4x100 relay team of Mensah, Lexie Sowerby, Uzoma Nweze and Alissa Azor also finished second.

Senior Melissa Innocent collected 24 of the North’s points thanks to second-place finishes in the 1500 and 3000-meter runs and the 2000-meter steeplechase. Her times in all three of those events

were season bests.

“The funny thing about her is she was annoyed that she didn’t win one of them,” Frazer said. “She goes out there, she grinds at practice, she grinds in meets. So obviously, you score 24 points for the team, you’re doing something right.”

On the boys’ side, senior Joshua Lopez won the shot put when his second toss went a distance of 48-08.25. Ethan Smalls, who is also a senior, was third in the shot put, but won the discus by just under three feet.

“I’ve never seen that before,” Frazer said of four different students winning the throw competitions. “I’ve seen it where teams sweep the throws, but usually with the same kids. Never with four different kids winning all four events.”

Junior Sedgeley Duperval was second in the long jump with a leap of 21-4, three inches better than third-place Jaiden Mathieu. Junior Mathew Olivencia was third in the pole vault after clearing 11-6. Duperval also shined in the running events by placing second in the 400-meter dash with a seasonbest time of 49.86 and third in the 200-meter dash. Junior Kevin Beltran had his best times of the season in the 1,600 (4:23.55) and 3,200-meter runs (9:48.38), finishing second in both.

Seniors Adel Waly and Jordan Ponsar finished third and fourth, respectively, in the 110-meter hurdles to earn a combined 10 points for the Spartans.

Both teams again went 14-0 during the regular season under Frazer and Tim Boyens. Since 2005, the boys’ team is an astounding 241-1 in spring outdoor meets, while the girls are 238-4.

Administrative Assistant

with Michael and Suzanne Ettinger Attorneys-at-Law

Qualifying for Medicaid to Pay for Long-Term Care

Spend-down. Look-back. Penalty Period. Uncompensated Transfer. These are just some of the terms Medicaid uses to determine eligibility for long-term care coverage. Medicaid is a combined federal and state program that pays for long-term care at home (community Medicaid) or in a nursing facility (institutional Medicaid). Asset, income and gift rules vary for community Medicaid versus institutional Medicaid.

To qualify for community Medicaid, an individual cannot make more than about $1,700 per month and cannot own more than about $30,000 in assets. A married couple cannot make more than about $2,300 per month and cannot own more than about $40,000 in assets. Applicants can “spend down” excess income to the allowed amount by paying for medical expenses.

To qualify for institutional Medicaid, an individual can keep $50 per month (the excess goes to the nursing home) and cannot own more than about $30,000 in assets. For married couples, the spouse at home can keep about $3,700 per month and can own between about

$75,000 and $130,000 in assets. If the spouse at home makes more than $3,700 per month, she may have to contribute some of the excess to the spouse’s cost of care. For married couples, the residence, up to value of about $1,000,000 and one car are exempt (not counted as assets). Everyone can have a burial trust worth up to $1,500 or any amount in an irrevocable pre-paid funeral trust.

Community Medicaid and institutional Medicaid also differ in “look-back” and gift rules. An institutional Medicaid application asks if you transferred (gifted) any assets in the last five years, hence the “five-year look-back period.” If the answer is yes, the transfer creates a penalty period, which causes a period of ineligibility for Medicaid coverage.

Community Medicaid does not currently have a look-back period, so you may transfer assets out of your name this month and qualify for Medicaid next month. New York is considering imposing a new thirty month lookback for community care in 2024. Now is the time to act to protect your assets.

Ron Manfredi/Herald photo

SeNIoR MelISSA INNoCeNt was All-County in three events to help lead the Spartans to a fourth consecutive county championship.

join our team, please email your resume to rglickman@liherald.com

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D’Esposito, LaLota still want Santos ousted

By MICHAEL MALASZCZYK mmalaszczyk@liherald.com

Republican Congressmen Anthony D’Esposito and Nick LaLota have been outspoken about the need to expel their Long Island colleague, George Santos, from the House of Representatives.

In early January, D’Esposito, whose district includes the South Shore of Nassau County, was the first House Republican to call for Santos’ resignation, at a time when most Republicans had been silent on the matter.

LaLota, whose district encompasses the North Shore of Suffolk County, then joined D’Esposito in the call for Santos’ expulsion.

But they have now decided to refer him to the House Ethics Committee instead.

Last week, House Democrats offered a resolution to expel Santos, but when the measure reached the floor, the House voted, 221-204, to refer the matter to the committee.

LaLota and D’Esposito agreed that referring Santos to the Ethics Committee is a much better way of handling the matter because the votes needed for expulsion are lacking.

“I was one of the first members of this body to call on the subject of this resolution to resign,” D’Esposito said prior to the vote. “And I am personally in favor of this individual’s expulsion from this house. Regrettably, however, I’m in the understanding that we currently do

not have the two-thirds support from members in this house to expel that individual.

“I believe that this individual is a stain on this institution, a stain on the state of New York, a stain on Long Island and a stain on the beloved Nassau County,” D’Esposito added.

LaLota openly backed D’Esposito after the vote had passed, and said that the Ethics Committee should have Santos gone within 60 days.

“While I would have preferred there to be enough votes to expel the sociopath scam artist, Congressman D’Esposito has spearheaded the next best option — to refer this matter to the ethics committee, where we expect a result within 60 days for the terrible liar to be gone, by resignation or expulsion, before August recess,” LaLota said in a statement.

Andrew Garbarino, their other Long Island colleague, who represents the South Shore of Suffolk, has been silent on the subject of Santos because he sits on the ethics committee and must abide by its policy. But Garbarino expressed support for LaLota and D’Esposito, saying that sending it to the committee is the right move politically.

“No previous vote for expulsion of a member from the house has occurred without an accompanying report from the ethics committee or another select committee set up to review said expulsion resolution,” Garbarino said in a

far right, and Rep. Nick LaLota, at podium, have been outspoken about expelling George Santos from Congress, but voted last week to refer the matter to the House Ethics Committee. Rep. Andrew Garbarino, far left, serves on the committee and supports their votes.

statement. “The Ethics Committee is best positioned to investigate this matter.

I’m reserving all other judgment until the investigation is complete.”

Occasionally referred to as the “Long Island Three,” D’Esposito, LaLota, and Garbarino have actively refused to work with Santos on anything. When Santos introduced a bill — the SALT Relief Act — that would raise the state and local tax

cap to $50,000, the trio would not co-sponsor it. Instead, they introduced their own relief bill, the SALT Deductibility Act of 2023, because SALT relief has been a cornerstone of Garbarino’s tenure.

Santos has pleaded not guilty to 13 criminal charges, including fraud, money laundering, theft of public funds and making false statements, and has reportedly said that he would not resign.

Meet Gurtman, Nathan: HAFTR’s val and sal

Elisabeth Gurtman and Ellie Nathan are the valedictorian and salutatorian, respectively, of the Hebrew Academy of the Five Towns and Rockaway High School’s Class of 2023. Gurtman and Nathan have achieved at a high academic level and showed a deep commitment to HAFTR’s Torah values, school leadership and service in their yearts at the Cedarhurst school.

Gurtman, vice president of the Deah Chapter of the National Honor Society, has excelled in HAFTR High’s most rigorous honors and Advanced Placement courses and is very involved in student life.

She founded the school’s Public Speaking Club and excels as a stellar competitor on the Math Team. Gurtman took part in the Write On for Israel leadership training program and contributed articles to the student newspaper, The Tattler.

Gurtman was captain of the girls’ varsity basketball team and varsity softball team. Active the school’s Chesed (community service) Club, she has assisted at the Marion &Aaron Gural JCC food pantry, served as a Big Sib to guide freshmen

through their transition to high school, and volunteered at i-Shine and Friendship Circle.

She will attend Midreshet Torah v’Avodah Elisabeth in Israel after gradua-

tion and then major in psychology in the honors program at Stern College for Women of Yeshiva University.

Nathan served as president of the Deah Chapter of the National Honor

Society, and along with her academic achievement has also been a leader and a big part of student life at HAFTR.

She created the school’s podcast and established the Feminism in Film Club, which offers students an opportunity to learn about women in directing, producing and acting roles. Nathan also participated in the Write On for Israel leadership training program and served as a delegate to the Yeshiva University National Model United Nations conference.

Nathan captained the girls’ floor hockey team and involved with Community Chest South Shore’s Youth Board throughout high school; in her current role as Youth Board president, she leads volunteers in food and clothing drives and fundraising activities. She has also devoted time to Yachad, working on weekends with children with special needs.

Her next step is attending Aish Gesher for Women, in Israel, then Barnard College as a pre-med major.

–Jeffrey Bessen

Michael Malaszczyk/Herald file REp. AntHonY D’ESpoSIto,

Photos courtesy HAFTR

HAFtR’S CLASS oF 2023 includes valedictorian Elisabeth Gurtman, left, and salutatorian Ellie Nathan.

I

would have preferred there to be enough votes to expel the sociopath scam artist.

nICK LaLotA U.S. representative

STEPPING OUT

by the basketful

Adventures await in local strawberry fields

By Karen Bloom

Get outside and get pickin’. Strawberry season has arrived, and those luscious berries beckon. So gather up your gang and venture out to one of the many “u-pick” growers for a day in the berry patch.

Strawberry season reaches its peak here with the transition from spring to summer, as the fruit grows and ripen throughout May and June. Of course, local is always best, so skip the California and Florida fruit from the supermarket and pick your own.

When you return with your bounty, settle in to whip up some yummy strawberry treats. These fresh gems are always terrific on their own, of course. But when used in a recipe? They’ll jazz up any meal.

in strawberry puree until blended. Pour batter into cooled pan. Bake cheesecake about 1 hour 20 minutes, or until edges are just set and center jiggles slightly. Remove from oven and let cool on wire rack 5 minutes.

Stir together sour cream and remaining 2 tablespoons sugar in a medium bowl. Spread sour cream mixture on top of cheesecake in an even layer. Return to oven and bake 5 minutes longer. Turn oven off and prop the door ajar with the handle of a wooden spoon. Let cool in oven 1 hour. Remove from oven and cool completely. Place in refrigerator and chill until cold throughout, 4 to 6 hours, or overnight.

Using the remaining strawberries, halve them and arrange in concentric circles on top of cheesecake to serve.

Iris DeMent

The Americana singer-songwriter Iris DeMent visits the Landmark stage with her timeless songs blending traditional folk, country and gospel influences. With an inimitable voice as John Prine described, ‘like you’ve heard, but not really,’ and unforgettable melodies rooted in hymns and old country music, Iris DeMent is considered one of the finest singer-songwriters in America today. Praised for her storytelling and songwriting abilities, her career has spanned more than three decades, seven studio albums, and collaborations with Prine, Emmylou Harris and Steve Earle, among others. On her new record, ‘Workin’ On A World,’ DeMent faces the modern world — as it is right now — with its climate catastrophe, pandemic and epidemic of violence and social injustice — and implores us to love each other, despite our very different ways of seeing.

Friday, June 9, 8 p.m. $43, $38, $33. Jeanne Rimsky

Theater at Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington. (516) 767-6444, or LandmarkOnMainStreet.org.

Strawberry Rhubarb Crumble

• 1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour

• 1-1/2 cups sugar

• 1 teaspoon fine sea salt

• 16 tablespoons (2 sticks) cold unsalted butter, cut into 1-inch cubes

• 1 cup rolled oats

• 2 pounds rhubarb, strings removed, stalks cut diagonally into 1/2-inch-thick slices

Double Strawberry Cheesecake

A classic cheesecake takes on added flavor with the addition of some luscious berries.

Graham cracker crust

• 1-1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs (about 9-1/2 crackers)

• 1 tablespoon granulated sugar

• 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

Filling and topping

• 16 ounces strawberries

• 4 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, room temperature

• 1-1/4 cups plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar

• 1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

• 4 large eggs

• 1 cup sour cream

Prepare graham cracker crust:

Preheat oven to 350° F. Stir graham cracker crumbs, melted butter and sugar together in a medium bowl. Press into bottom and at least 1-inch up sides of a 9-inch non-stick springform pan (if pan is not nonstick, brush first with melted butter). Bake until crust is golden brown, about 12 minutes. Let cool completely on a wire rack. Reduce oven to 300° F.

Then prepare filling and topping:

Hull 1/2 of the strawberries and puree in a blender or food processor. You should have about 3/4 cup puree. Beat cream cheese and 1-1/4 cups sugar in an electric mixer fitted with paddle attachment on low speed until smooth. Beat in vanilla until well combined. Add eggs, 1 at a time, on low speed, beating well after each addition, and scraping sides of bowl as needed. Beat

• 4 pints strawberries, sliced

Preheat an oven to 375°F.

In a food processor, pulse together 1-1/2 cups of the flour, 3/4 cup of the sugar and the salt until combined. Add the butter and pulse until the mixture resembles coarse bread crumbs. Add the oats and pulse to combine. Transfer to a bowl.

In another bowl, stir together the rhubarb, strawberries, the remaining 1/4 cup flour, and the remaining 3/4 cup sugar. Spread the fruit filling in a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Using your fingers, press the topping into large clumps and scatter it over the fruit. Bake until the fruit is bubbling and the topping is golden and crisp, about 1 hour. Alternatively, divide the fruit and topping among eight 1/2-cup ramekins and bake for 30 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature. Serves 6 to 8.

Strawberry

Smoothie

• 1 cup coconut milk (or almond milk or your preferred milk)

• 1 cup strawberries (tops removed)

• 1 banana

• 1 cup frozen pineapple chunks

Combine all of your ingredients in your blender in the order that they are listed (liquid on the bottom and frozen on top). Blend until smooth.

His ‘Bronx Tale’

Chazz Palminteri is back on the Paramount stage with his solo version of ‘A Bronx Tale.’ The powerful one-man stage play depicts his bruising childhood, which included witnessing a gangland killing in the Bronx when he was 9. Palminteri plays 18 characters — friends, enemies and family all come alive on stage. ‘A Bronx Tale’ became a hit after he wrote it in 1989, and the most sought after property since ‘Rocky.’ This is the original show he wrote and performed that made him an in-demand character actor and served as the basis of the acclaimed movie and Broadway musical. In the tradition set forth in the 1970s by such icons as director Martin Scorsese and actors Robert DeNiro, Al Pacino and Joe Pesci, Palminteri has brought grit, muscle and an evocative realism to the sidewalks of his New York neighborhood, violent as they are and were.

Sunday, June 11, 7:30 p.m., $99.50, $89.50, $79.50, $59.50, $49.50. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Visit Ticketmaster.com or ParamountNY. com for tickets/information.

THE SCENE

The Bacon Brothers

That ‘Footloose’ feeling comes alive when Kevin Bacon takes to the stage, Friday, June 23, 8 p.m., as one-half of the Bacon Brothers, at The Space at Westbury. Bound by blood and a mutual love of American roots music, Michael and Kevin Bacon have spent the past quarter-century in a creative whirl, funneling their shared DNA into a genre-bending sound. They call that sound “Forosoco” — a blend of folk, rock, soul, and country influences, delivered by two songwriters who were born to collaborate — and it’s taken the siblings across the world, from shows in Japan to performances at American landmarks like Carnegie Hall and the Grand Ole Opry. The Bacon Brothers turn a new page with their 11th release, “Erato,” whose five songs showcase the duo’s dynamic contrasts: quiet moments and big payoffs, organic instrumentation and electronic textures, self-penned songs and high-profile collaborations. Ticket are $45-$80; available at TheSpaceAtWestbury.com. The Space, 250 Post Ave. Westbury.

June 8

North High School Graduation

Valley Stream North High School will host its graduation ceremony, Thursday, June 22, starting at 5:30 p.m. For more information, contact the district clerk at (516) 872-5628 visit districtclerk@vschsd.org.

Breastfeeding Support Group

On exhibit

Nassau County Museum of Art’s exhibition, “Eye And Mind: The Shin Collection,” highlights the extraordinary collection masterworks assembled by 31-year-old connoisseur Hong Gyu Shin, an internationally recognized figure in the global art world. He shares his treasures, including works by Whistler, Lautrec, Boucher, Daumier, Delacroix, Klimt, Schiele, Balthus, Warhol, de Kooning, Gorky and many other important names from art history provocatively juxtaposed with the painting and sculpture of our own time from both Asia and the West. On view through July 9. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. (516) 484-9337 or NassauMuseum.org.

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

Valley Stream through the Arts

The Henry Waldinger Memorial library will be hosting a virtual art exhibit named “The Art & Legacy of Judith Zabatta Youshock” Wednesday, June 28 ,at 7:30 p.m. Registration is required. For more information, contact library director Mamie Eng at (516) 8256422 or visit ValleyStreamLibrary. org.

Bible Study

Valley Stream Presbyterian Church hosts a virtual and inperson Bible study, Wednesday, June 14, starting at 7 p.m. 130 S. Central Ave. For more information, call (516) 5610616 or visit ValleyStreamPres. org.

Microsoft Word Basics

Henry Waldinger Memorial library hosts a virtual workshop to cover Microsoft Word techniques and skills Saturday, June 10, at 10 a.m. Registration is required. For more information, visit ValleyStreamLibrary.org or call (516) 825-6422.

Passion for Pride

Support PFY, a division of Long Island Crisis Center, at a 30th Anniversary Benefit celebration, Tuesday, June 13, 6-10 p.m. With drag bingo and performances by Ivy Stalls and Syn; also special guest honoree actor-authoractivist Maulik Pancholy. The event, honoring PFY’s 30 years serving Long Island/Queens’ LGBTQ+ communities, is at Westbury Manor, 1100 Jericho Turnpike, Westbury. For more information and tickets, go to

Whale of a Drink fundraiser

Support The Whaling Museum by participating in Sandbar restaurant’s Whale of a Drink, Whale of a Cause fundraising effort, now through June 21 Enjoy the Sandbar’s iconic cocktail, the Whalebone, and a portion of the purchase will be donated to the museum. A “mocktail” version is also available. To help promote the fundraiser, mixologist Dan Leopold will offer a mixology demonstration and Whalebone tasting at the Museum’s Whales & Ales event on June 3, 2:30-3 p.m. Funds will support the Whaling Museum’s community education programs during its 2023 summer season. 55 Main St, Cold Spring Harbor. For information, visit SandbarColdSpringHarbor.com.

District 13 meeting

Valley Stream District 13 Board of Education meets, Wednesday, June 14, at 8 p.m. at James A. Dever School. 585 Corona Ave.

For more information, call (516) 568-6100 or visit ValleyStream13. com.

Having an event?

June 11

Celebrate Israel

Salute Israel and celebrate the nation’s 75 years of independence, while welcoming Eisenhower Park’s summer concert season, when Sid Jacobson JCC joins the Jewish Community Relations Council of Long Island for IsraelFest, Sunday, June 11 Enjoy family activities, 4-6 p.m., followed by concert with Israeli pop singer-songwriter Harel Skatt, 6-8 p.m. The Long Island Cantors Ensemble also performs. Bring seating. Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, Eisenhower Park, East Meadow. For more information, visit SJJCC.org/israelfest.

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

On stage Families will enjoy another musical adventure, ripped from the pages of Mo Willems’ beloved children’s books, on the Long Island Children’s Museum stage, Friday, June 9, 10:15 a.m. and noon; Wednesday through Friday, June 14-16, 10:15 a.m. and noon. This musical comedy adventure stars Willems’ beloved character The Pigeon, who is eager to try anything and everything. When a bus driver takes a break from the route, a very unlikely volunteer springs up to take the driver’s place — a pigeon. The audience is part of the action, in this innovative mix of songs, silliness and feathers. $9 with museum admission ($7 members), $12 theater only. Long Island Children’s Museum, Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 224-5800 or LICM.org.

‘The Beautiful and Damned’

Enjoy a musical interpretation of the classic novel at Westbury House, Friday, June 9, 7-10 p.m. Before there was Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote “The Beautiful and Damned”: a story that delves into the psychological tribulations of, at first, having everything you’ve ever wanted. What first presents itself as a beautiful love story quickly turns harrowing as the characters struggle to keep themselves afloat. As New York City tumbles into the Jazz Age, Fitzgerald’s characters tumble down a financial and psychological spiral they may never recover from. This adaptation by Long Island native Brooke Di Spirito combines Fitzgerald’s meticulously detailed novel with the elements of a stage musical: a brand new script, score, choreography. Reservations required. $40. 71 Old Westbury Rd., Old Westbury. For information contact (516) 333-0048 or visit OldWestburyGardens.org.

June 9

Mount Sinai South Nassau Health Fair on the Long Beach Boardwalk

• Anxiety and depression

• Balance testing

• Blood pressure

• Body Mass Index (BMI)

• Diabetes risk assessment

• Head and neck cancer screening

• Limited podiatry exams

• Memory screening

• Prostate-specific antigen (PSA)

These high achievers are at the top of their class

continued from front page

oriented senior encourages others to find a cause worth serving.

He is co-president and committee chairman of the Valley Stream South Key Club, which is focused on volunteer ism. He also served as Lieutenant Gover nor of the New York District of Key Club and earned a Key Club International Global Leadership Certificate.

Huang is also the co-founder of “The Elevate Project” which is a student-led platform to connect young leaders around the world. The project provides volunteer opportunities to middle and high school students who may not have access and encourages leadership in young minds.

He plans to attend Columbia University in the fall majoring in biology and

He tested his experiment on fruit flies. Quadri placed first in the Long Island Science and Engineering Fair, and later went on to place third at the National Science and Engineer Fair with his experiment.

Quadri is also the first chair cellist for Valley Stream South’s chamber orchestra and led his section this year. Quadri has been accepted into the BS/MD program at Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education.

Andrew Barth Feldman stars in ‘No Hard Feelings’

With scenes filmed in the Five Towns last year, the movie “No Hard Feelings” stars Oscar-winner Jennifer Lawrence and Lawrence Woodmere Academy graduate

Andrew Barth Feldman. The R-rated flick will be released on June 23.

Lawrence plays Maddie, a downon-her-luck Uber driver who is on the brink of losing her childhood home. A unique job listing piques her interest: “Wealthy helicopter parents looking for someone to ‘date’ their introverted 19-year-old son before he leaves for college” — Percy, played by Feldman.

For a Buick Regal, Maddie agrees to act as Percy’s “girlfriend” and launch him into adulthood. With a Hollywood twist, Maddie learns that the “awkward Percy is no sure thing.”

Set in Montauk, “No Hard Feelings” was directed by Gene Stupnitsky and

includes Ebon Moss-Bachrach and Natalie Morales. It was written by Stupnitsky and John Phillips.

–Jeffrey Bessen

Valley Stream North High School Valedictorian Hannah Lee, left, and Salutatorian Alyssa Garufi.

Courtesy Andrew Barth Feldman lawreNce woodmere academy graduate Andrew Barth Feldman will star with Oscarwinner Jennifer Lawrence in ‘No Hard Feelings.’

Public Notices

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF FORMATION OF LIMITED LIABILITY

COMPANY. NAME:

ABASC, LLC. Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York, (SSNY) on 08/08/22. NY Office location: Nassau County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of the process to: c/o

The Carter Firm LLC, 229-19 Merrick Blvd, #235, Laurelton, NY 11413

Purpose: To engage in any lawful act or activity.

139467

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT

COUNTY OF NASSAU

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as Trustee for the Pooling and Servicing Agreement dated as of April 1, 2005

Park Place Securities, Inc.

Asset-Backed PassThrough Certificates

Series 2005-WHQ2, Plaintiff

AGAINST

Harisson William; Beatrice William, Defendant(s)

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale

duly entered June 25, 2018 I, the undersigned

Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side Steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on June 21, 2023 at 2:30PM, premises known as 150 Ormonde Boulevard, Valley Stream, NY 11580. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the Incorporated Village of Valley Stream, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau, State of New York, Section 37 Block 431 Lots 350 & 351.

Approximate amount of judgment $336,196.36 plus interest and costs.

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index# 005536/2014. The auction will be conducted pursuant to the COVID-19 Policies Concerning Public

Auctions of Foreclosed

Property established by the Tenth Judicial District.

Foreclosure Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine.”

Lisa Segal Poczik, Esq., Referee

LOGS Legal Group LLP

f/k/a Shapiro, DiCaro & Barak, LLC

Attorney(s) for the Plaintiff

175 Mile Crossing Boulevard

Rochester, New York

14624

(877) 430-4792

Dated: April 12, 2023

139542

AS TRUSTEE FOR THE RMAC TRUST, SERIES 2016-CTT, Plaintiff, vs. PATRICK W. FEASER, ET AL., Defendant(s).

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale

duly entered on August 10, 2022, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the front steps on the north side of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on June 27, 2023 at 2:30 p.m., premises known as 91 Flower Road, Valley Stream, NY 11581. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 39, Block 526 and Lot 29.

Approximate amount of judgment is $437,002.56 plus interest and costs.

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #002163/2017. 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.

George Esernio, Esq., Referee Friedman Vartolo LLP, 85 Broad Street, Suite 501, New York, New York 10004, Attorneys for Plaintiff. Firm File No.

180553-1

139722

LEGAL NOTICE

Notification is hereby given that JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., 1111 Polaris Parkway, Columbus, Ohio 43240 has filed an application with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (the “OCC”) on or about June 8, 2023, as specified in 12 CFR Part 5, for permission to establish a domestic branch at the northeast corner of the intersection of West Sunrise Highway and Mill Road, Valley Stream, Nassau County, NY 11581. Any person wishing to comment on this application may file comments in writing with the Licensing Manager, Large Banks Licensing Operations, 400 7th Street, SW, Washington, D.C. 20219 within 30 days of the date of this publication. The public portion of the filing is available upon request from the OCC. The public may find information about the filing (including the closing date of the comment period) in the OCC’s Weekly Bulletin available at www.occ.gov.

139852

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, WILMINGTON SAVINGS

FUND SOCIETY, FSB, AS OWNER TRUSTEE OF THE RESIDENTIAL CREDIT OPPORTUNITIES TRUST VI-A, Plaintiff, vs. JUSTINE C. GOLDEN, AS ADMINISTRATRIX OF THE ESTATE OF THE LATE PETER V. CANCILLA

A/K/A PETER CANCILLA, ET AL., Defendant(s).

Pursuant to an Order Confirming Referee Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on April 4, 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 July 11, 2023 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 56 East Jamaica Avenue A/K/A 56 Jamaica Avenue, Valley Stream, NY 11580. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Incorporated Village of Valley Stream, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 37, Block 120 and Lot 226.

Approximate amount of judgment is $472,102.41 plus interest and costs.

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 000504/2015. 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

Scott H. Siller, Esq., Referee Friedman Vartolo LLP, 85 Broad Street, Suite 501, New York, New York 10004, Attorneys for Plaintiff. Firm File No.: 213129-1

139984

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT: NASSAU COUNTY. THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON FKA THE BANK OF NEW YORK AS TRUSTEE FOR THE CERTIFICATEHOLDERS CWALT, INC.

ALTERNATIVE LOAN TRUST 2005-60T1

MORTGAGE PASSTHROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2005-60T1, Pltf. vs., RENU KUMAR, et al, Defts. Index #09-013769.

Pursuant to judgment of foreclosure and sale entered June 4, 2019 and order substituting the referee entered January 9, 2023, I will sell at public auction on the north side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY on July 12,

2023 at 2:00 p.m., prem. k/a 82 Ethel Street, Valley Stream, NY 11580. All that certain plot, piece, or parcel of land, situate, lying and being in the Incorporated Village of Valley Stream, in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, a/k/a Section 37, Block 267, Lot 83 . Approx. amt. of judgment is $797,438.51 plus costs and interest. Sold subject to terms and conditions of filed judgment and terms of sale. ELLEN DURST, Referee. PINCUS LAW GROUP PLLC, Attys. for Pltf., 425 RXR Plaza, Uniondale, NY File No. 03302021.48665#100483

139986

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU Bank of America, N.A., Plaintiff

AGAINST

Simran Kaur; et al., Defendant(s)

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered June 19, 2019 I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side Steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on July 12, 2023 at 4:00PM, premises known as 51 Sobro Avenue, Valley Stream, NY 11580. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being at Elmont, in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau, State of New York, Section 37 Block: 521 Lot 2. Approximate amount of judgment $482,798.41 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index# 605425/2018. The auction will be conducted pursuant to the COVID-19 Policies Concerning Public Auctions of Foreclosed Property established by the Tenth Judicial District. Foreclosure Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine.”

Leonard Symons, Esq., Referee LOGS Legal Group LLP f/k/a Shapiro, DiCaro & Barak, LLC Attorney(s) for the Plaintiff

175 Mile Crossing Boulevard

Rochester, New York

14624

(877) 430-4792

Dated: April 18, 2023 139989

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU U.S.

BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS TRUSTEE FOR THE RMAC TRUST, SERIES 2016-CTT, Plaintiff AGAINST QAISER KHAN AKA QAISER TCHAN, IRAM HAMEED, ET AL.,

Hello Herald readers, I’m the summer intern

This summer, I am serving as the intern for the Valley Stream Herald. I’m 20 years old and have grown up in East Islip and am an East Islip High School alumni.

I recently graduated from Farmingdale State College majoring with a liberal arts degree and plan to study English literature at Brooklyn College. I am an avid reader and aim to start a book club at CUNY Brooklyn next fall. I’m a lover of libraries and have a soft spot for working with kids.

for the East Islip Public Library and taught dance classes to kids in high school. My favorite author is Jane Austen. As a devoted fan of the classics, on the top of my best books list are the Iliad and the Odyssey of Homer.

Caroline Kelly

I also enjoy traveling and have been to over 10 different countries so far. I’m excited to expand my knowledge of journalism this summer and learn from the amazing mentors at the Long Island Herald.

I’ve volunteered at kid’s programs

–Caroline Kelly

Public Notices

Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered November 7, 2019, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on July 6, 2023 at 2:30PM, premises known as 47 Clarendon Drive, Valley Stream, NY 11580. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the Incorporated Village of Valley Stream, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, SECTION 37, BLOCK 301, LOTS 255A, 255B & 255C. Approximate amount of judgment $579,919.25 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #006347/2013. The aforementioned auction will be conducted in accordance with the NASSAU County COVID-19 mitigation protocols and as such all persons must comply with social distancing, wearing masks and screening practices in effect at the time of this foreclosure sale. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, then the court appointed referee will cancel the foreclosure

auction. Foreclosure

Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine”. Mark Ricciardi, Esq., Referee Gross Polowy, LLC 1775 Wehrle Drive Williamsville, NY 14221 20-002067 76050

139890

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT

COUNTY OF NASSAU HSBC Bank USA, N.A., Plaintiff AGAINST Hassan Taylor, et al.,

Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered October 20, 2017, 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 July 11, 2023 at 2:00PM, premises known as 1226 DUTCH BROADWAY, VALLEY STREAM, NY 11580. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the North Valley Stream, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section: 35 Block: 521 Lot: 2. Approximate amount of judgment $460,474.73 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #019445/2010. 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. 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”. Scott H. Siller, Esq., Referee Fein, Such & Crane, LLP 28 East Main Street, Suite 1800 Rochester, NY 14614 XFSLN007 76145 139894

LEGAL NOTICE

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK

COUNTY OF NASSAU

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS LEGAL TITLE TRUSTEE FOR TRUMAN 2016 SC6 TITLE TRUST, Plaintiff, v. LEONORE SILVERMAN, et al

Defendant. NOTICE OF SALE IN FORECLOSURE PLEASE TAKE NOTICE THAT In pursuance of a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the Office of the County Clerk of Nassau County on April 12, 2023, I, Martin

Dehler, Esq., the Referee named in said Judgment, will sell in one parcel at public auction on July 10, 2023 at the North Side Steps of the 100 Supreme Ct. Dr., Mineola, NY 11501, County of Nassau, State of New York, at 2:30 PM the premises described as follows: 934 Park Lane Valley Stream, NY 11581 SBL No.: 014-39-556 -00230

ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND, situate, lying and being in Valley Stream, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York.

The premises are sold subject to the provisions of the filed judgment, Index No. 011866/2008 in the amount of $1,344,180.23 plus interest and costs.

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

Richard S. Mullen Woods Oviatt Gilman LLP Plaintiff’s Attorney

500 Bausch & Lomb Place Rochester, NY 14604 Tel.: 855-227-5072 139971

DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS NOW HIRING !!

No Experience Necessary. Flexible Hours. Paid Training.

Requir ements:

Valid NYS Driver's License

High Sc hool Diploma or GED

Complete Bac kground Screening

Community Mainstreaming (CMA) www.communitymainstreaming.org | 516-683-0710, ext 256

Administrative Opening Monticello Central School

Assistant Secondary Principal

The successful candidate should possess: Knowledge of research-based instructional programs & practices; exp. w/ teacher supervision & evaluation; a record of successfully improving learning experiences and enhancing school to home communication; and can provide a supportive environment with knowledge of social-emotional competencies, restorative practices, and promote a culturally responsive educational climate.

Salary Range: $95,000 to $105,000 NYS SDA/SDL/SBL Certification Required plus 3 yrs. exp. as a classroom teacher preferred. Please apply online by June 15th at https://monticelloschools.tedk12.com/hire or OLAS EOE

DRIVING

OUTSIDE SALES

Administrative Opening Monticello Central School High School Principal

The Monticello CSD is seeking forward thinking and dynamic School Building Principal who can lead MCSD’s highly engaged faculty, staff, parents, students, and community. The successful candidate will have a vision of educational excellence, be highly motivated, and demonstrates an ability to impact student learning.

Starting Salary: $150,000 NYS SDA/SAS/SBL Certification Required plus 2 yrs. of previous administrative leadership and 3 yrs. exp as a classroom teacher preferred. Please apply online by June 15th at https://monticelloschools.tedk12.com/hire or OLAS EOE 113456

Assistant Elementary Principal

The successful candidate should possess: Knowledge of research-based instructional programs & practices; exp. w/ teacher supervision & evaluation; a record of successfully improving learning experiences and enhancing school to home communication; and can provide a supportive environment with knowledge of social-emotional competencies, restorative practices, and promote a culturally responsive educational climate.

Salary Range: $95,000 to $105,000 NYS SDA/SDL/SBL Certification Required plus 3 yrs. exp as a classroom teacher preferred. Please apply online by June 15th at https://monticelloschools.tedk12.com/hire or OLAS EOE

EDITOR/REPORTER

The award-winning Herald Community Newspapers group, covering Nassau County's North and South Shores with hard-hitting news stories and gracefully written features, seeks a motivated, energetic and creative editor/reporter to join our dynamic (and awesome) team! This education and general assignment reporting position offers a unique experience to learn from some of the best in the business. Historically, reporters who have launched their careers with us have gone on to The New York Times, Newsweek, Newsday, the New York Daily News, New York Post, CNN, BBC, NBC News and The Daily Mail, among many others. We look for excellent writers who are eager to learn, enhance their skills, and become well-established and respected journalists in our industry.

To apply: Send a brief summary in the form of a cover letter describing your career goals and what strengths you can bring to our newsroom, along with a resume and three writing samples to mhinman@liherald.com

LINE COOK: Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday 10am-6pm. Sandwiches/ Salads. Beach Restaurant. Great Summer Job. 516-835-2819

MEDIA

MULTI

ACCOUNT DEVELOPMENT

Inside Sales

Looking for an aggressive self starter who is great at making and maintaining relationships and loves to help businesses grow by marketing them on many different advertising platforms. You will source new sales opportunities through inbound lead follow-up and outbound cold calls. Must have the ability to understand customer needs and requirements and turn them in to positive advertising solutions. We are looking for a talented and competitive Inside Sales Representative that thrives in a quick sales cycle environment. We offer salary, commission, bonuses, health benefits, 401K and paid time off. Will consider part time. Please send cover letter and resume with salary requirements to ereynolds@liherald.com Call 516-569-4000 X286

Richner Communications, One of the Fastest Growing Media, Event and Communications Companies on Long Island is Seeking a Sales/Marketing Candidate to Sell our Print Media Products and our Digital, Events, Sponsorships. Salary, Commission, Eligible for Health Benefits, 401k and Paid Time Off. Will Consider Part Time. Please Send Cover Letter and Resume with Salary Requirements to rglickman@liherald.com or Call 516-569-4000 X250

PRESS-ROOM/WAREHOUSE HELP

Long Island Herald has IMMEDIATE openings for a FULL-TIME Pressroom/warehouse helper in Garden City. We are a busy print shop looking for a motivated and reliable individuals to assist in various duties in the shop. Forklift experience is a plus and heavy lifting is required. Hours vary, so flexibility is key. Email resumes or contact info to careers@liherald.com

UP TO $20.70 NYC, $20.00 L.I., $16.20

Upstate NY! If you need care from your relative, friend/ neighbor and you have Medicaid, they may be eligible to start taking care of you as personal assistant under NYS Medicaid CDPA Program. No Certificates needed. 347-713-3553

Childcare Offered CHILDCARE AVAILABLE

2 BR, 2 Bth Coop in Garden Town. Gourmet Kit W/Thermdore St Steel Appl Opens Into DR & LR. Primary BR w/Bth Plus Spac 2nd BR. W/D in Unit. New Self Controlled CAC. Oak Flrs, LED Lights. Near LIRR. Parking Avail. SD#14. You Don't Want to Miss This...$359,000 Ronnie Gerber, Douglas Elliman 516-238-4299

HEWLETT BA 1534 Broadway #205, Open House By Appt, BIG REDUCTION!! MOTIVATED SELLER!!Extra Large 2000 Sq Ft, 2 Bedroom(Originally 3 BR), 2 Bath Condo in Prestigious Jonathan Hall with Doorman & Elevator. Updtd Wood/Quartz Kit, LR & DR. Washer/Dryer in Unit. Underground Pkg. Loads of Closets. Terrace Faces Back. Easy Ranch Style Living...$579,000 Ronnie Gerber, Douglas Elliman 516-238-4299

HEWLETT BA 1638 RIDGEWAY DR.

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Removing a deck to add a room

Q. We started planning a project to add a room, 303 square feet, in 2015, and due to many delays, we received approval for a permit only in January of this year. The costs from when we originally started planning until now increased from an estimated $80,000 to almost $200,000. Part of the work was to remove the previous owner’s handicapped-accessible deck with a permitted roof, which, thankfully, we don’t need. We got an alternative estimate for a paving-block patio, which we understand doesn’t need a permit in our town if it’s on the ground. The contractor even said we could cover the entire yard. We still want to keep the roof, so do we need a permit for the patio, and do we need a permit for the footings to continue supporting the roof we want to keep?

IA. You can see, firsthand, what has happened with the economy and costs. Fortunately, you have an alternative to save money. People who are planning enclosed rooms aren’t as fortunate in the economy we’re now facing.

Park Avenue Rockville Centre NY, 11570 516.678.1510

I have always recommended patios, properly drained, supported and finished, over the other choice of decking, where possible, not just because many jurisdictions don’t require a permit for the paving, but also because the maintenance is less for a patio, and it will last much longer than a deck system. Some communities have regulations for a permit to be filed for paving to show the authorities that the paving is “permeable” — that it still allows rain to seep into the ground to recharge the water supply deep in the earth below. Your location is in a town that doesn’t require a permit for anything that’s built less than 8¼ inches above the ground. Incidentally, the magic of 8¼ inches isn’t arbitrary; it’s the maximum height of a step in the building code.

I just returned from a trade fair where I had the opportunity to discuss material pricing with many suppliers, and the consensus is that prices for commodity materials such a raw lumber and cement will begin to fluctuate downward, but many said that they don’t anticipate manufactured items to come down again. Just as real estate has seen a dramatic increase, so now have materials and construction in general.

The biggest concern we should all have, if we care about the next generation and the health of our economy, is whether they will ever be able to afford what their parents had. Currently, only 9 percent of the next generation of American families own or have a mortgage on a home, while the majority of the generation has had to find alternatives, such as multi-generational living arrangements or apartments, trailers or recreational vehicles as permanent living, according to Building magazine, among other building information resources. I hope the existing deck roof already has a correct supporting footing in the ground. If not, good luck!

© 2022 Monte Leeper

Monte

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Now pitching, after five weeks on the injury list ...

Last week I had the opportunity to throw out the first pitch before a Long Island Ducks game against the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs. The game was played at the Ducks’ home field, the Fairfield Properties Ballpark in Central Islip. The Ducks played well, and won 9-2. A normal person reading this might say, that’s nice, but no big deal.

Real baseball fans, however, don’t fit the definition of normal. For one thing, they never really grow up, and being on a professional baseball field, even just to throw one pitch before the game has even begun, is for many a childhood dream.

But living this dream includes living through and overcoming incredible tension and fear of failure. This is especially true if you happen to be a politician who knows that no matter how beloved you think you might be, there are thousands of fans just waiting to see you suffer the ignominious fate of bouncing the

pitch before it crosses home plate and settles into the catcher’s mitt. I know of several otherwise courageous politicians who will never accept the offer (or challenge) to throw out the first pitch. Or if they do develop some nerve, they throw the ball from well in front of the rubber, which, of course, is atop the pitcher’s mound, 60 feet, 6 inches from home plate.

To me, that shortened version doesn’t count as a real first pitch, so I always summoned the courage — more than I ever needed to deliver a major speech on the floor of Congress — to pitch from the rubber, and always succeeded, except for the one time, which I will never forget and always regret, when the ball faded away at the last instant and drifted off at the front of the batter’s box, forcing the catcher to make what looked like a hockey goalie’s acrobatic save.

Last week’s first pitch was particularly stressful. I had been successfully operated on for stomach cancer less than five weeks before, during which part of my stomach was removed and I was left with a 9-inch-long incision that

had to heal. The surgeon, who probably considered referring me to a psychiatrist, consented to my first-pitch antics if I threw it “softly” from in front of the mound. Reluctantly I agreed to those terms and conditions. Walking to the mound, I felt more tension than when I was being wheeled into the operating room.

But both times, my prayers were answered. The surgery had been successful, the pitch was over the plate, and the incision didn’t reopen.

Separate from my baseball delusions, I can’t tell you how much I appreciate being able to associate with the Ducks organization. The team and its owner, Frank Boulton, have been a Long Island institution for a quarter century. Playing in the Atlantic League, the Ducks bring a solid, high level of baseball to Long Island.

Their roster invariably includes future and past major leaguers, the most current and prominent being their designated hitter, former Mets great Daniel Murphy. Also notable is their manager, Wally Backman, the star second base-

man on the Mets’ 1986 World Series champion team. No one, though, has been more beloved in Ducks history than Bud Harrelson, the Mets’ All-Star shortstop when they won the 1969 Series, who was a Ducks coach and team vice president for so many years until he had to step aside because of Alzheimer’s.

The Ducks are an integral part of the Long Island community, being active in charitable and veterans events and making their home games family-friendly and affordable. Being at a Ducks game is like viewing a Norman Rockwell painting depicting real America: kids, parents and grandparents enjoying an afternoon or evening of baseball; members of local organizations singing the pre-game national anthem; veterans, police officers and firefighters being honored on the field. All this and so much more makes me appreciate the Ducks and what they mean to Long Island.

Boulton initially invited me to throw out a first pitch at a game back in 2002, and it has been an honor to be invited back over the years. I’m proud to call Frank my friend and proud to be a loyal Ducks fan. Play ball!

Peter King is a former congressman, and a former chair of the House Committee on Homeland Security.

No, I don’t have time to answer your survey

You don’t have a moment, and neither do I, but what does that matter? Ubiquitous, intrusive and endless surveys are a good idea gone rogue.

Suddenly, all of life’s experiences are followed up with an emailed questionnaire asking you to rate your doctor, car rental, pet groomer, colorist, breakfast cereal, political candidate, wine, motel, coffee or underpants. Have a moment? Have a moment? Have a moment?

vey popped up on my phone before I even left the premises. It was pages long and asked my input on everything from the hygiene of the location to the friendliness of staff at all levels and my thoughts about ever returning to that center or recommending it to others.

RANDI KREISS

The basic idea of soliciting people’s opinions about service and products and experiences is sound. But, as with many decent ideas today, folks are beating it to death with overuse. You can’t make simple purchases without the inevitable survey landing in your inbox.

Let’s agree that there are surveys you will consider answering and some you delete immediately for very good reason.

Example: I hurt my wrist last week and went to a local urgent care. The sur-

I was impressed with the place, the efficiency and the kindness of the staff and the thoroughness of the doctor. I was not so happy with one of the medical support people who poked around my wrist with some indifference to my pain level, and there was a place on the form to say so. I gladly filled out the online survey and happily signed my name. I will probably not go back there again, because I have my own doctor. That’s why I felt safe to relinquish anonymity.

meal when I complained about an eatery we frequent.

brain, I believe my doctor somehow can access the surveys and find out who threw him under the bus. I can imagine him in the evenings, poring over the surveys, tracking the patients who mentioned how freezing the examining rooms are or how frustrating the office phone system can be. He’s the guy with the needles and potions and sharp instruments at his disposal; I would never put anything online that wasn’t in the order of high praise. No. No surveys for me at my doctor’s office.

but fill out surveys, I would be giving feedback to Chukar Cherries, my food gift outlet of choice; Optum RX, my mail order drug company; Amazon; The Washington Post; BridgeBase, my online game site; UPS; Marriott Hotels; Chewy, my go-to store for pet supplies; American Airlines; and every magazine to which I ever subscribed.

But I have a busy life, and in order to discover how well I’m doing in my own arena, I developed a small survey for my son and daughter to complete. Just five easy-to-answer questions, which I emailed to them last week:

1. Did you have a happy childhood?

A few days later, I had a follow-up appointment with my physician to check my wrist. I see him twice a year. I chose him as my doctor because I like him and the way he works with patients. By the time I got into my car, swish, the survey popped up.

In the most suspicious part of my

Open Table, the restaurant reservation website, sends surveys all the time, soliciting consumers’ opinions about everything from food to service to ambience. In one happy exchange, I wrote a seriously negative review of a restaurant we frequent, explaining that our experience seemed to be an anomaly but it was awful, and I wanted the owner to know. I signed my name.

The owner called me and invited us back for a free dinner. We went. It was great. I said so in a follow-up survey. Good. Good.

Now, if I had nothing to do in my life

2. Do you have any memories of the time I flipped out, took the car and ran away from home when you were 5 and 2?

3. Why don’t you call more often?

4. Have you ever told a therapist any family secrets?

5. What are your feelings about adult children taking in their parents?

No surprise: There has been a complete communication blackout. I guess answering anonymously wasn’t an option.

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

But we got a free

This time I had no choice but to throw from in front of the mound.

HERALD

Our armed forces need your help

there were more than a dozen of them — some wearing caps denoting their military service, others in full uniform. They were veterans of various conflicts over the past several decades, many of them members of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2736 in East Meadow. They paid a visit to East Meadow High School ahead of Memorial Day to ensure that the true meaning of the annual observance of those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for freedom was not forgotten.

“We wanted to come here and tell the high school students what it was like to serve,” one veteran, Frank Belardo, said. “We wanted to do this before Memorial Day to teach the students, and honor those who did not come home.”

But that wasn’t the only thing on the minds of the veterans as they met with social studies classes that day.

“It seems like less kids are going down that route of joining the military,” Navy veteran Tom Kelly said. “So you just have to keep reminding them about the commitment to America, and how proud we are. It’s something that should be carried on. It seems like it’s a dying art these days, but I hope not.”

Kelly wasn’t exaggerating. America’s military forces are struggling to recruit new members. The Army, for example, missed its recruiting goal by 25 percent last year, according to the military industry news outlet War on the Rocks. In fact, the Army believes its overall forces will be reduced by 20,000 soldiers by September — part of an overall downward trend across the branches.

Young people just don’t see the military in the same light that previous generations did. They are bombarded by images of war, death and gruesome injuries, as well as many soldiers returning home and dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder.

Yet that’s not the only factor causing a drain of personnel in the armed forces. The nation’s low unemployment rate means there’s less incentive for many to seek out the military. And the sheer number of people eligible to serve is lower than ever.

A Pentagon study last year determined that 77 percent of America’s 17- to 24-yearold population wouldn’t qualify without some kind of waiver. Many are overweight. Others abuse drugs and alcohol. And then there’s the growing number of young people who wouldn’t qualify because of mental and physical health issues, especially in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

More than 44 percent, the study concluded, would be disqualified for more than one reason.

U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis, of North Carolina, a ranking Republican member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, shared during a hearing last year that “every single metric tracking the military recruiting environment is going in the wrong direction.”

“To put it bluntly, I am worried we are now in the early days of a long-term threat to the all-volunteer force,” Tillis said, according to Military.com. There is “a small and declining number of Americans who are eligible — and interested — in military service.”

So, what can be done? Many military leaders and lawmakers are trying to figure that out. The branches already offer a number of incentives to new recruits — from signing bonuses to education funding, solid (and free) medical care, room and board allowances, and a month of vacation every year, among other things.

But we must do more — and maybe we can, right here, closer to home. The Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps has been a fixture in thousands of high schools — and even some middle schools — across the country since 1916. It gives young people a taste of what it’s like to serve, without leaving home. And it has been instrumental in not only providing stability for many young people over the decades, but recruiting for military service as well, since nearly half of them eventually do that.

The problem? There aren’t enough JROTC programs, especially in New York. Especially on Long Island. The vast majority are concentrated in the Southeast, according to the Rand Corp. South Caroli-

na and Georgia, for example, boast JROTC programs in far more than half their schools. New York? It’s less than 10 percent.

JROTC has been great at addressing demographic representation by being in many schools with larger ethnic diversity, Rand says. But geographic representation is severely lacking. Just 16 percent of young people live in states with high numbers of JROTC programs, while more than half of the total population of teenagers are in 28 states like New York where such programs are lacking.

More schools need to offer JROTC, but they can’t do it alone. Congress needs to expand JROTC overall — and pay for that expansion, retired U.S. Army Lt. Gen. David Barno and Johns Hopkins professor Nora Bensahel say. At the same time, members of Congress — on both sides of the aisle — need to stop using the military as a political football.

“Painting the entire U.S. military as either woke or extremist undermines public support for the institution and the people in uniform, and often deflects examination of concrete problems that are affecting military capabilities and readiness,” Barno and Bensahel told War on the Rocks. “Elected officials should stop making broad assertions about the entire force, and instead focus their legitimate oversight role on the senior officials who testify in front of Congress.”

The brave men and women — like those who visited East Meadow High School — should forever be honored by all of us. But let’s not let their service and sacrifice become part of a dying breed.

Why I voted for a casino at the Coliseum

since 2014 I have had the privilege of representing the residents of the 2nd District at the Nassau County Legislature. Throughout that time, I have contemplated and made decisions on a full spectrum of controversial and consequential issues. Deciding whether or not to execute a lease transfer agreement between the county and Las Vegas Sands was one of the most difficult decisions I have been confronted with to date.

What made it so challenging is the fact that I don’t have the luxury of analyzing this or any other issue that comes before me as a lawmaker through a one-dimensional lens.

Because I am entrusted with overseeing and safeguarding Nassau County’s fiscal future, I had to carefully considering the tax revenue, economic development and job creation opportunities presented by the resort and casino Las Vegas Sands has proposed building at the

Nassau Hub. The last two factors are especially vital for the economically disadvantaged communities that I serve as a legislator.

As a policy maker, I must always be aware of the legislative atmosphere in which I am operating — and in New York state, legal gambling is a growing reality. Online sports betting became legal in January 2022, and in a 2013 statewide referendum, 67 percent of Nassau voters cast ballots in favor of the siting of seven new casinos throughout the Empire State.

As a community advocate, I researched, vetted and deliberated on the heartfelt concerns my constituents expressed about potential impacts of the Hub development on public safety, traffic and behavioral health. One especially important element of advocacy is robust community engagement.

To get the pulse of the communities I represent, I took part in numerous events in Hempstead, Uniondale and Westbury. In Uniondale — the host community for any development at the Hub — I met with leaders of the public

Letters

Give neighbors a chance to manage L.I.’s electricity

To the Editor:

Re Jerry Kremer’s column last week, “The PSEG love affair is over”: Mr. Kremer opposes “giving a group of local neighbors the power to dictate to professionals” operating a Long Island power company.

“Dictate” may be hyperbole, but it identifies the general problem: unaccountable power. The history provided — LILCO, LIPA, PSEG — demonstrates consistently inadequate infrastructure, a focus on shareholders over ratepayers, the interference of friends in high places, and the general disdain for customer concerns characteristic of near-monopolies. We can agree that “John Q. Citizen” ought not “dictate” to professional operators, but Mr. Citizen is also a ratepayer, dissatisfied by the “professionals’” history of mismanagement, and now seeks greater transparency, accountability and responsiveness.

Dictatorship by professionals is well known, and is what must be curbed. So long as the primary interests remain short-term corporate goals, the future delivery of Long Island’s electrons will replicate its past. Municipalization may not be the answer, but our history of failures suggests we try a new arrangement.

BRIAN KELLY Rockville Centre

Clearing the air about marijuana

To the Editor:

Since the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act was enacted in New York in March 2021, confusion remains about marijuana’s legal and medical realities. As part of the North Shore Coalition Against Substance Abuse efforts to reduce the use and abuse of substances by our youth, we offer below some information on marijuana so you can inform yourself and your family.

The law allows those 21 and older to use cannabis wherever smoking tobacco is permitted, except in a motor vehicle or where the Clean Air Act is in effect. Specifically, it allows for adult possession of up to 3 ounces of cannabis and up to 24 grams of cannabis concentrate. An adult may grow up to three marijuana plants at home, and homes with more than one adult may grow up to six plants (three mature, three immature).

So, does that mean that adults can purchase adult-use marijuana locally now?

The answer may surprise you: no. Most Nassau County municipalities have opted out of permitting retail sales of marijuana in their jurisdictions. For a complete review of what is legal and illegal, go to government sites including NewYorkStateCannabis.org.

As important as legality is to the conversation about marijuana, equally critical is the discussion of its impact on teen health. Marijuana potency has steadily

library, the Fire Department, the Nassau County Land Bank and other key stakeholders to ascertain the community’s concerns and needs. I listened intently to public commentary presented through various media, and read dozens of emails we received from across the county to gain a fuller understanding of public sentiment.

During the Legislature’s May 8 Rules Committee hearing, it became abundantly clear to me that the lease transfer agreement would pass on May 22 with or without my vote. Given that fact, my charge was to ensure that the communities that would be most directly impacted by development at the Hub would not have to wait until its completion to receive the public benefits they were promised.

Following extensive and fruitful negotiations, I was pleased that Las Vegas Sands agreed to enhance its community benefits package by $25 million — $10 million for Uniondale, $10 million for East Meadow and $5 million for Hempstead Village. At least half of these funds would have to be disseminated during the construction of the proposed inte-

grated casino resort. Throughout that process, the collaboration with my legislative colleague Tom McKevitt, who represents East Meadow, which directly abuts the Hub, was invaluable in navigating the issues related to securing this funding for our respective constituents.

After balancing the array of public comments, completing a painstaking review of the more laudable elements of the Las Vegas Sands proposal, and factoring in the company’s agreement to invest tens of millions of dollars in bolstering crucial services and activities in the most directly impacted communities, I decided to vote in favor of the lease transfer agreement.

While the Legislature’s action on May 22 represents an important benchmark, there are many steps that must be completed before any construction begins. As this process continues to unfold, make no mistake: I will remain vigilant and focused on the series of actions to follow, and I will hold the entities associated with this project accountable for meeting their contractual obligations and fulfilling the commitments they made to the residents of Nassau County.

Siela A. Bynoe, of Westbury, has represented the 2nd District in the County Legislature since 2014.

Framework by Tim Baker

increased in the past decades, up from about 4 percent THC levels in the 1980s to an average of 15 percent today. More disconcerting is that marijuana extracts, used in dabbing and edibles, contain, on average, 50 percent THC, and can go as high as 90 percent.

Research suggests that kids who use cannabis may face greater mental health risks, such as worsened depression and anxiety, poor attention and memory problems. Specifically, using a cannabis product with a THC potency of over 15 percent

is linked to a three-fold increase in the likelihood of experiencing mental health and other problems. Studies also suggest that 17 percent of those who start using marijuana in their teens will become dependent on it.

Given these risks, it’s important that parents know the facts and talk to their kids. For more info, go to NSCASA.org.

Rocco, Myles and Lily Pad hanging out at the Memorial Day Parade — Wantagh

Iwanted to ensure that the communities most impacted would receive promised benefits.

ALISON CAMARDELLA KEVIN McGILLOWAY President and vice president, NS-CASA