Valley Stream Herald 07-20-2023

Drones looking for sharks

Valley Stream karate kid bet life against odds

By JUAN l ASSo jlasso@liherald.com

Two years ago, Armaan Mohammed grew too weak to walk, slogging around on crutches in his living room due to a severe form of scoliosis, resulting in his spinal cord slowly rotting away.

A touch of flower power

This city public school pioneer is V.S. Central’s new principal

By JUAN l ASSo jlasso@liherald.com

Candace Hugee was named Valley Stream Central High School’s principal earlier this year. She succeeds Joseph Pompilio, who announced his retirement after a 22-year run.

Born in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Hugee — pronounced “huey” — was a product of New York City public schools, where she discovered her leadership skills early on. She devoted her summers to tutoring students, and helped organize a neighborhood summer camp program. At 16 she enrolled at Hunter College, where she earned a degree in media communications and history. She enjoyed a comfortable career as a sports

video editor for ABC, but her untapped passion for youth and education shifted her trajectory to the classroom. She began teaching as a school aide and paraprofessional in a junior high school in the South Bronx, then became a general and special-education teacher in the city public schools.

Hugee earned a master’s in adolescent urban education from Long Island University, and a second master’s, in education leadership, from Brooklyn College.

She also received certificates in diversity, equity and inclusion in the workforce and women’s entrepreneurship from the University of South Florida in Tampa, and Cornell University, respec-

For most of his childhood, despite his condition, he has always been a spry and active kid. His mother, Parvin Uddin, knew there was no use corralling his rambunctious energy. She recalls squandering hundreds of dollars on swimming and soccer lessons because Mohammed didn’t take to them for very long. Then, in second grade, he discovered a perfect outlet for his bottled up energy in the martial arts, particularly karate.

“I love karate. It’s a passion for me. I’m not into anything else like not baseball, not soccer. Any of the big sports,” Mohammed said. “I got braver because of it.”

Uddin needed Mohammed, 13, to be brave, to have courage.

She knew that at some point soon, he would have to prepare himself for a surgery that his doctor’s told him would straighten out his spinal posture, but could leave him permanently paralyzed.

“I wanted to delay the surgery until he was 21 to enjoy the remainder of his teenage life” without concern that he may never walk again, said Uddin.

It pained her in dreams and visions to watch his son go from showing off his flying kicks and fluid jabs with a glowing grin on his face to spending his days wheelchairbound, his martial arts ambitions snuffed, and possibly his loving smile fading away.

But as time passed, his condition grew worse. Mohammed’s spine had been stretched and crushed so badly it had deformed into a C-shape. He was losing feeling in his legs and felt biting back pain. The symptoms, doctors warned, would only get worse with each passing day. Uddin labored over signing off on his corrective

Continued on page 12

Tim Baker/Herald

I was sad about the surgery, but I needed to make the most of the moment ArmAAN moHAmmeD scoliosis survivor

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Surf for All teaching brand new surfers

Long Beach group partners with The Felix Organization to help foster children

By BRENDAN CARPENTER bcarpenter@liherald.com

Long Beach is synonymous with surfing. People running into the water, jumping on their surfboards and riding the waves in the sun is a typical summer across the city.

Surf for All, one of Long Beach’s most popular programs for developmentally challenged teenagers, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to assisting individuals and exposing them to the ocean. They believe the ocean is a source of healing and spiritual strength that should be accessible to all, even if they never thought surfing was possible.

The organization taught a different kind of teen group earlier this month, though — those who live in the foster care system. Children and teens living in foster care got the opportunity to ride some waves, most it not all of them for the first time, have pizza and enjoy a unique day out. They surfed for about two hours.

They connected with another group, The Felix Organization, which offers camps and events and helps children in foster care. The group was co-founded by Darryl McDaniels of Run DMC, who found out he was adopted as an adult. McDaniels and the group has been active in Long Beach before, when he came and performed with a local children’s band, Deez Guyzz, in January.

“My son’s bands and my daughter, raised money for them to come to a surf outing,” said Jeanine Sorenson, who volunteers with Surf for All and whose 15-year-old son, Lars, plays drums for Deez Guyzz. “They had the idea, they raised money and the band supported it

and donated money that they made to make this happen.” Other band members include Paul Vivot, Bridie Bermingham Quinn Siegel and Alerjandro Coronado.

Sorenson’s daughter, Fiona, 10, and her friend Brooke Varian, also 10, made and spent the last few months raising money as well. They wanted to help out after seeing how happy some of the kids were when Surf for All and The Felix Organization collaborated for another event earlier this year, in February. They brought in some of the kids and they introduced them to wave pools at the American Dream mall in East Rutherford, New Jersey, where they began learning to surf in an enclosed environment rather than open water.

“We found it so inspiring,” Varian said of the wave pool day. “They were so excited and because they didn’t have their parents to take them on these experiences, we showed them stuff.”

Fiona said they reached out shortly after to Amanda Simonetta, executive director of The Felix Organization. They had a Zoom call, and they asked if they would be able to make bracelets with the groups names on them and sell them. She said yes, but they think they surprised her with their quickness and passion. “I don’t really think she took it seriously that we’d get this done so fast. I think she thought it would maybe be next year.”

The girls learned to make the bracelets and started putting up flyers around Long Beach at multiple restaurants and ice cream shops. They got some help from some other kids, too — a group of Valley Stream Central High School seniors.

Madelyn Clarke, Victoria Salisan and Sammy Mian, all 19, heard about the fundraiser and the event and wanted to help. One of their teachers is Alisha Varian, the mother of Brooke, one of the young girls selling bracelets. The three of

them sold T-shirts in school the last few months before graduating.

Combined, the bracelets and the T-shirts raised just under $4,000 for the event, allowing the foster children to enjoy the day with everything they wanted to supply — surfing, pizza, refreshments and cupcakes.

“This is really cool, to help these foster kids go surfing because they don’t always get these opportunities,” Clarke said. “It makes you proud connecting with the kids and seeing the looks on their faces.”

Photos courtesy The Felix Organization

Kids from The Felix Organization learned how to stand on their surfboards before going into the water earlier this month.

Surf for All allowed the kids to enjoy a day on the beach surfing — many of them for the first time.

The young surfers were eager to get into the water with their new boards.

Anne Mahoney, devoted volunteer leader, dies at 99

Anne Elizabeth Hubbs Mahoney, a Valley Stream resident for more than seventy- five years, passed away peacefully at her home on June 19, 2023. She was 99. Born in Rockville Centre on December 31, 1923 to Amanda and Walter Hubbs, Anne was the youngest of four children. Anne attended Rockville Centre schools, graduating from South Side High School

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Revocable living trusts, where the grantor (creator) and the trustee (manager) are the same person, use the grantor’s social security number and are not required to file an income tax return. All income and capital gains taxes are reported on the individual’s Form 1040.

Irrevocable living trusts come in two main varieties, “grantor” and “non-grantor” trusts. Non-grantor trusts are often used by the wealthy to give assets away during their lifetime and for all income and capital gains taxes to be paid either by the trust or the trust beneficiary but not by them. Gifts to non-grantor trusts are reported to the IRS but are rarely taxable. Currently, the annual exclusion is $17,000 per person per year to as many people as you wish. However, if you go over the $17,000 to any one person you must report the gift to Uncle Sam, but they merely subtract the excess gift from the $12,920,000 each person is allowed to give at death. Most of our clients are “comfortably under” as we like to say. These gifts then grow estate tax-free to the recipient.

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Protection Trust (MAPT), are designed to get the assets out of your name for Medicaid purposes but keep them in your name for tax purposes. You continue to receive income from the MAPT and pay income tax the same as before. The MAPT files an “informational return” (Form 1041) telling the IRS that all the income is passing through to you.

Gifts to non-grantor trusts take the grantor’s “basis” for calculating capital gains taxes on sale, i.e. what the grantor originally paid and, if real estate, plus any capital improvements.

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In 1941. While a student, she excelled in various athletics, was a Blue Team Co-Captain, senior class VP, sports editor of the Tower and a cornetist in the varsity band.

In June 1942, Anne married John Edward “Ned” Mahoney, formerly of Sault Ste. Marie, MI. They celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary just prior to Ned’s death in 2012. Following Ned’s honorable discharge from the Navy after World War II, Ned Mahoney Music, Ltd. was founded as a music studio, retail store and extensive instrument rental program, meeting the musical needs of Long Island’s public schools for more than 55 years. Anne served as office manager and bookkeeper and kept the family business running smoothly into the early 2000s.

In addition to Ned Mahoney Music, Ltd., Anne was involved in community philanthropy and various positions at Grace United Methodist Church, Valley Stream. She was delivering food weekly for Meals-on-Wheels and helping provide various services to those in need through the FISH organization. She was an avid volunteer with the Nation ALS Foundation in New York City. Together, Anne and Ned organized several successful benefit concerts for Lou Gehrig’s Disease research from 1978-1983.

At Grace Church, Anne served in many capacities. She served as President of the Board of Trustees, Lay Leader, Treasurer of the Thrift Shop, member of the Westminster Ringers, the adult handbell choir, was active in the women’s circle known as Guild and more. Above all else, Anne was a devoted

and loving daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt and friend. Her family and friends meant the world to her and she to them.

A private burial was held at Brooklyn’s Greenwood Cemetery on June 22, with Pastor Jeffrey Hooker officiating. A memorial service celebrating Anne’s life will take place at Grace United Methodist Church on Saturday, July 29 at 10:00 AM.

Anne is survived by her daughters, Barbara Hamel Raymond and Carol Tepper Steven, grandchildren Jessica Fiermonti Michael, Lisa Horten John and David Tepper. Great grandchildren are Michael and Taylor Fiermontiand Brooks and Ellie Horten. She is predeceased by her son, David Carl, and daughter-in-law, Lydia.

Memorial contributions may be made to Grace United Methodist Church Book of Remembrance/Music Ministry at gracevsny.org.

–Juan Lasso

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Courtesy Carol Tepper Anne Elizabeth Mahoney was as devoted to her volunteer her as her faith.

HERALD SPORTS

Ducks rally for first-half championship

By TONY BELLISSIMO tbellissimo@liherald.com

It was an eventful first half of baseball for the Long Island Ducks, who became the Atlantic League’s all-time winningest franchise (1,581 as of June 17), captured the North Division’s first-half title, and had four player contracts purchased by Major League organizations.

Ninth-inning magic in two games July 7 allowed the Ducks to snag first place in their division via a tiebreaker with York. Both teams finished 37-26.

Long Island scored three times in the top of the ninth to defeat Southern Maryland, 4-1, while York allowed two runs to Lexington in the top of the ninth and suffered a 7-6 defeat.

“We had one eye on the scoreboard all night,” Ducks manager Wally Backman said. “While we were up in the ninth inning, Dickerson [Alex] informed me York lost. All the guys knew when we took the field in the bottom of the ninth what was at stake.”

The Ducks closed the first half on a four-game winning streak and allowed only nine runs in the process.

The departures of Brett Kennedy and Stephen Woods Jr. left the starting pitching staff in a state of flux but not thin on talent. Stephen Tarpley, Robert Stock and Matt Solter all produced quality starts under pressure in the final week of the first half, Backman noted. Former MLB reliever Al Alburquerque (0.78 ERA, 0.74 WHIP) has been dominant and picked up the win in the clincher after Tarpley fired six strong innings.

Kennedy was the first Ducks player to depart during the season after signing with the Cincinnati Reds. After a six-week stint at AAA Louisville, Kennedy picked up a W for the Reds July 4. “Congratulations to Brett on this well-deserved opportunity to pitch again in the Major Leagues,” Ducks President/GM Michael Pfaff said of Kennedy, who tossed five solid innings to defeat the Washington Nationals. “We are thrilled to have helped him achieve this milestone in his career.”

On his way to becoming the 29th Ducks alumnus to be promoted to the majors, Kennedy made three quality starts for Long Island and struck out 16 batters in 11 2/3 innings of work with a 3.09 ERA.

Three others had their contracts purchased by Major League or foreign professional organizations this season: Former three-time MLB All-Star and former New York Mets infielder Daniel Murphy (Angels, Triple-A Salt Lake), nine-year MLB infielder Adeiny Hechavarria (Kansas City Royals, Triple-A Omaha) and pitcher Stephen Woods Jr. (Fubon Guardians, China.) The latter was 7-2 with a 3.77 ERA in 11 starts.

“We’re going to roll with a six-man starting rotation and not push anyone too hard in the second half,” Backman said.

“That’s one of the luxuries of winning the first half.”

Murphy played in 37 games with the Ducks. He departed tied for fourth in the Atlantic League with 47 hits, sixth in batting average (.331) and 10th in on-base percentage (.410), all of which lead the Flock.

He also totaled two home runs, 19 RBIs, 20 runs, 64 total bases, nine doubles, one triple, 14 walks and an .861 OPS. Murphy compiled a 16-game hitting streak from May 16-June 1, the longest hitting streak by a Duck this season, and a 19-game onbase streak from May 12-June 1. Hechavarria appeared in 38 games with the Ducks. At the time of his departure to the Royals system, he led all Ducks and was tied for fifth in the Atlantic League with 12 doubles as well as tied for sixth in the league with 34 RBIs. He was also tied for the team lead with seven home runs while totaling 29 runs, 43 hits, 78 total bases, a triple, 21 walks and a .920 OPS. The 34-year-old reached base safely in 24 of his past 26 games going back to May 12, earning at least one hit in 21 of them. In that span, he compiled a .295 batting average with a .911 OPS.

Long Island’s offense in the first half was sparked by first baseman Sam Travis, who played all 63 games and batted .288 with 12 homers and 55 RBIs. He also scored a team-high 50 runs.

“Winning the first half was a lot of fun,” said Travis, who played three seasons with the Boston Red Sox. “We still want to go out and win every game we play. We have a lot of season left. It’s a great group of guys. If it’s not one guy getting it done on a given night, it’s another.”

Dickerson is raking at the plate with a .352 batting average, .637 slugging percentage, 13 homers and 44 RBIs in 49 games. Former highly touted Baltimore Orioles catching prospect Chance Sisco has also been dynamic at the plate with 11 homers and 33 RBIs in only 28 games with a .317 batting average. Outfielder Brian Goodwin, with a dozen years of MLB experience under his belt, batted .300 with 8 homers and 9 steals.

Regardless of what happens in the second half, the four-time league champion Ducks will participate in the Atlantic League playoffs for the 16th time in franchise history starting around Sept. 20.

Photos courtesy Long Island Ducks

First baseman Sam Travis enjoyed a huge first half at the plate with 12 home runs and 55 RBIs.

Al Alburquerque has pitched lights-out (0.78 ERA) and earned the first-half clinching victory in relief.

Living through hottest week in 125,000 years

By BEN FIEBERT bfiebert@liherald.com

The record for the highest global average temperature since at least 1979 was shattered a few weeks ago — and then that record was broken the next day. And then again two days later.

The Earth’s average temperature hovered around 62 degrees Fahrenheit, which would be a chilly day for the summer. Yet, on a global scale, it was a few degrees warmer than where it should be.

These record temperatures have been, in part, due to the forming a weather phenomenon called El Niño. It’s created when the central and eastern parts of the Pacific Ocean enter a warming phase as part of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation cycle.

There have been at least 30 El Niño events since 1900, according to meterologists, but many observers believe each of the seasons are becoming warmer over the years. And they’re blaming that on global warming.

“The first week of July appears to have been the hottest week on record globally,” said Mark Lowery, a climate policy analyst for the state’s environmental conservation department. “During that week, we saw four consecutive days of new records for the Earth’s hottest days.”

What the Earth experienced at the beginning of July was the hottest the Earth has been in more than 125,000 years, Lowery said. This extreme heat is

projected to get even worse over much of the world in the next couple of weeks, and will almost certainly continue into 2024 as El Niño remains intact.

“Once the Earth moves into the El Niño phase, it lasts about two or three years,” Lowery said. “So, we would have every reason to believe that there will be continued release of heat that will continue to accumulate in the atmosphere through 2024.”

That heat will be felt everywhere, even on Long Island. Alison Branco, climate adaptation director for The Nature Conservancy in Virginia, said that as the air warms, the ocean also warms. And when the ocean waters become warmer they expand. This, in turn, will cause the sea level to rise off the coast of Long Island.

“For a long and narrow, very flat island, sea level rise is a major impact of climate change that we need to be thinking about all the time,” Branco said. “Because it’s really going to change the face of Long Island.”

And it affects not only the South Shore, but the North Shore as well, according to reports. Rising tides will create higher waves, which in turn will erode bluffs, causing them to eventually slide into the ocean.

But warmer water and a fear of higher tides aren’t the only things people living and enjoying Long Island have to worry about. Charles Rothenberg, climate and energy attorney from the Connecticut-based advocacy group Save the Sound, says warmer waters are acting as fuel for tropical systems.

“We can anticipate some significant tropical storms and hurricanes in the months ahead,” he said, adding marine life also be affected by these warmer waters. “There’s been a lot of conversations about the decrease in lobster populations.”

Lobsters tend to like water at specific cooler temperatures — something that won’t be much abundance of if ocean waters continue to warm, scientists say. Some believe more than half the lobster population available for fishing could be decimated within the next three decades.

The climate is changing, and despite best efforts to slow it down, it might be too late to stop it. But there are ways people can adapt, Branco said. First and foremost, they will need to start thinking about ways to cool off. That could mean buying air-conditioning systems, fans, or having access to a pool or ocean they can swim in.

“Our government needs to be thinking about these hotter temperatures, too, and making sure that we have the resources to help people cool their homes,” Branco said.

Storms have been coming, and they’ll continue to come, she added. Because of that, following evacuation orders is essential. Families also need a “go” bag ready for if they need to evacuate, Branco added. Also, a plan for the family to meet at a certain location in case of a disaster is very important.

“Investing in energy appliances, which helps reduce the strain on our electric grid during these very hot sum-

Ways to cool off in a hotter planet

■ Invest in an air conditioning unit

■ Buy a fan for your room

■ Go swimming in a pool or the ocean

■ Take cool baths or showers

■ Have water handy at all times

■ Wear loose, lightweight and light-colored clothing

■ Limit outdoor activity

mers, are very critical,” Rothenberg added.

But in the end, if people really want to help, they should support policies that help curb the impact of climate change, Rothenberg said. It’s vital to address the root cause of global warming, and that can only happen through collective action.

Nassau County is part of the Climate Smart Communities Program, intended to reduce greenhouse gases said to cause global warming on a local scale. But this was an effort supported by former county executive Laura Curran. Her successor, Bruce Blakeman, is not known to have taken advantage of the program, or instituted any of its recommendations.

Ben Fiebert/Herald

The Earth set consecutive record-breaking temperatures during the first week of July, and it’s

not expected to get any better. El Niño is expected to affect weather through next

year, meaning more hot temperatures are on the way.

HERALD SchoolS

Valley Stream 24 welcomes new superintendent

the Valley Stream 24 Board of Education selected Unal Karakas as the next Valley Stream 24 Superintendent of Schools, effective July 1, 2023.

“We partnered with District Wise Consultants throughout the recruitment process, allowing us to choose from a wide range of educational and professional backgrounds,” said then board president John Maier,. “We felt strongly that Mr. Karakas was the perfect candidate and will be a great addition to Valley Stream 24.”

“I am humbled and honored to have been selected the next Superintendent of Valley Stream 24. It is a privilege to work alongside dedicated educators, staff, families, and community members. I embark on this journey with great enthusiasm, knowing the immense responsibility we have in supporting our students,” said Karakas.

“ I am excited about the opportunities that lie ahead, and I am confident that with our collective efforts, we will achieve great success together. I look forward to working collaboratively with our entire

community to ensure that our schools continue to be a place where every child can thrive and reach their fullest potential.”

Karakas is currently pursuing his doctorate in leadership and learning in organizations with a focus on innovative and equitable leadership at Vanderbilt University. He received a master of arts in childhood education from New York University, a master of science in educational leadership from Iona College, and a bachelor of arts in economics from Iona College.

Additionally, Karakas is an educator with 18 years of experience, formerly serving as the assistant superintendent for human resources in the Glen Cove City School District.

In that position, Karakas helped support the development of teachers and administrators by spearheading the development of the New Administrators Academy and the New Teachers Academy. Karakas also played an integral part in the Glen Cove City School District’s successful passage of its $30 million bond referendum in 2022.

Prior to his role as an Assistant Super-

intendent, Karakas was the principal of Brookside Elementary School in Baldwin for three years, during which time his school was recognized as a National School of Character for its robust and inclusive character education program. Criteria for selection for this prestigious nomination included providing students with opportunities for moral action, fostering shared leadership, and engaging families and communities as partners in the character-building effort.

His focus at Brookside Elementary also included innovative teaching and learning, and his school was part of the district’s AASA’s Learning 2025 initiative to create student-centered, equity-focused, and future-driven education. In fact, his school’s Hello Neighbor Project helped recognize the district as NYSSBA’s “Champion of Change” Award.

Before moving to Long Island, Karakas spent four years as a principal in an elementary school in the Bronx, where he not only helped increase student achievement, but spearheaded the school’s technology education, fine arts, and sports.

His educational experience began as

an elementary school teacher—in the very same school he attended in Queens— teaching fifth and sixth grade for nearly 10 years.

–Juan Lasso

Courtesy Valley Stream District 24 Unal Karakas has been named the next V.S. 24 Superintendent of Schools.

Water board holds first public meeting

By NICOLE FORMISANO nformisano@liherald.com

The atmosphere was tense in the meeting room of the Lynbrook Public Library on July 11 as dozens of South Shore residents gathered for a public meeting of the South Nassau Water Authority — the first since its creation in November 2021.

“I don’t anticipate a very congenial meeting tonight,” Seth Koslow, who is running for county legislator, said. “I think people are going to be upset and loud.”

Koslow was right. The meeting began with John Reinhardt, the authority’s temporary president, offering an overview of the timeline for its acquisition of Liberty Water, which provides water to most of Nassau County and is proposing a rate hike of up to 42 percent in some areas.

In March 2022, Town of Hempstead Supervisor Don Clavin promised the authority $500,000 in funding so it could move forward with acquiring Liberty’s assets. That May, the authority completed the first step in a four-step process for the takeover outlined by the state Public Service Commission, sending an introductory letter to Liberty Water to make it aware of the authority’s intent to acquire those assets. Over the following weeks, Liberty provided enough information to the authority to begin the valuation process.

Last week’s meeting continued with Bill DeWitt, an attorney representing the water authority, passing several resolutions, including the appointment of Robert York as the authority’s chairman and Michelle Bocci as its treasurer. Nearly in unison, many attendees asked with frustration why York was not at the meeting. When Reinhardt explained that York was on vacation, there were expressions of outrage, and the next several minutes were full of heated cross-talk, which set the tone for the rest of the evening.

The board continued the meeting by announcing the hiring of consultants, including Walden Environmental Engineering, and then adjourned to meet in executive session. This was met with another uproar.

“Why are we here?” one attendee asked.

“They don’t respect our time,” another said.

One man began making chicken noises as board members made their way out the back of the room. When they board was gone, David Denenberg, co-director of Long Island Clean Air Water & Soil and a former county legislator, joined by Michael Reid, of the Merrick Fire Department, stood and addressed the gathering.

“We don’t have water service, yet we pay taxes for a service we don’t get,” Denenberg said to the crowd, referring to those in Liberty’s service area who pay utility and other taxes to the county and town, but do not receive public water. Reinhardt said later that Denenberg’s statement was inaccurate, as those in Liberty’s service area do not have a water line on their tax bill, while those in public water districts do.

Denenberg introduced Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages, who sponsored a bill

State outlines process of acquisition

Step One: Send an introductory letter to Liberty Water, notifying it of the water authority’s interest in acquiring its assets. This step was completed in May 2022.

Step Two: Send an offer letter to Liberty that includes a list of its assets and a monetary offer to acquire them. Walden Environmental Engineering recommended at the public meeting that the board move forward with this step.

to provide the water authority with $1 million in funding for the acquisition. She was met with a round of applause.

“The intention was to make sure the burden of financing is not on the citizen,” Solages said. “We’ve had many feasibility studies, even done by the state of New York, and we know this is possible. Let’s move forward and get it done.”

After 20 minutes, the board returned from its executive session, and the meeting was opened to public questions and comments. Denenberg asked why it had taken 17 months for the authority to hold a public meeting while the North Shore’s has had four.

“We are well ahead of the North Shore Water Authority,” Reinhardt said. “They’ve had four meetings so far where they’ve come forward and said, ‘We have nothing.’ Their website says everything is ‘to be determined.’ They’ve taken no action.”

Reinhardt later added that the South Nassau board didn’t want to hold a public meeting without having information available to present because it could create an “angry situation.”

Responding to the questions about the time that had passed since the board’s creation with seemingly no action taken,

Reinhardt said, “You don’t buy a house without having it inspected, without knowing the condition of the house. This is a half-a-billion-dollar house that we’re buying.”

“This is this board moving forward potentially with buying a utility company in the names of you and all the other ratepayers in the room,” he added. “We’re doing that after we do due diligence to make sure that there aren’t massive liabilities out there.”

Rabbi Howard Nacht, of Merrick, told the board, “I urge you to move forward expeditiously to accomplish [the acquisition].

“Bring us in line with the other 97 percent of people who are paying for water in this state,” he added, referring to residents who receive public than private water service. Nacht’s comments were applauded by the crowd.

“Right now we’re paying these extreme prices for water, and the ratepayers are suffering,” Solages said, also suggesting that the board request emergency funding from Albany for the takeover. “We have an affordability crisis, and we really need to work expeditiously to ensure that we are saving the ratepayers money.”

Fred Harrison, a volunteer for the envi-

Step Three: Update past appraisals of Liberty’s assets to reflect its present value.

Step Four: Liberty uses that updated information to present its own information on those assets.

When all four steps are completed, “good faith” negotiations will take place between the parties to see if a purchase will take place.

ronmental group Food and Water Watch, commended the board’s previously unknown efforts in the acquisition process.

“We’ve waited an awful long time, and that’s why the frustrations are boiling out, even though you gave us good news,” Harrison said. “Because there is good news. I wish I knew that this commission had done that process. I had no idea that you had authorized any investigation.”

“I wish you well, but we’re going to be watching,” he added. “And I know we’re all going to be here at future meetings.”

Those meetings will be announced on the South Nassau Water Authority’s website, SouthNassauWater.org.

Nicole Formisano/Herald photos

The South Nassau Water Authority comprises John Conroy, Robert Gizzi, John Reinhardt, Ella Stevens and Mark Plumer. All members of the board receive Liberty Water and are affected by the rate hike.

David Denenberg, Michael Reid and Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages addressed the crowd while the South Nassau Water Authority was in executive session.

Valley Stream 24 hosts reorganization meeting

Valley Stream District 24 held its Board of Education reorganization meeting on July 6 to swear in leaders both new and old. At the meeting, Trustee Donna LaRocco was elected board president and trustee Armando Hernandez as vice president. The district’s new superintendent Unal Karakas. was also officially installed.

“I am excited about the opportunity of collaborating

closely with the Board of Education to uphold our commitment to providing an outstanding academic experience for all our students,” said Karakas. “I look forward to building upon the strong foundation already established in our district, while fostering a collaborative approach with all stakeholders, to consistently enrich the supportive and inclusive learning environment we offer to our students.”

During the meeting, re-elected board members Armando Hernandez, Cynthia Nuñez, and Melissa Herrera were administered the oath of office. Donna LaRocco was sworn in as board president and Armando Hernandez as vice president. Karakas took the oath of office as the district’s new superintendent.

–Juan Lasso

Courtesy Valley Stream District 24

From left to right, Valley Stream 24 attorney Christopher Shishko, board trustees John Maier, Cynthia Nuñez, board president Donna LaRocco, superintendent Unal Karakas, board vice president Armando Hernandez, trustees Melissa Herrera, Markus Wilson, Kimberly Wheeler, and district clerk Lourdes Onesto.

LAKESIDE THEATRE

He was told he would likely never walk again

Continued from page 1

surgery for fear of making the wrong call.

She sought out two different medical opinions. She consulted friends and relatives. She listened for the spiritual advice and divinations of astrologers and priests. And yet, when it came to asking her son about his own future, Mohammed was unnerved.

“I was sad about the surgery, but I needed to make the most of the moment,” said Mohammed, urging his mom to let him go through with the procedure.

“He’s a very brave boy,” said Uddin. “I gave birth to a brave son.”

At Cohen Children’s Medical Center, Uddin waited tensely as her son underwent 10 hours of grueling medical treatment. Against all expectations, against all fears, Mohammed emerged from the operation room with his spine realigned and his courage rewarded. Though it would take long weeks of tearful, painstaking rehabilitation, Mohammed’s body would make a full recovery.

“Before I went to work, I offered my prayers that this little boy would make it,” said Dr. Vishal Sarwahi, Mohammed’s surgeon. “All prognosticators of a bad outcome were present. Armann was facing a life of permanent paralysis.”

His ailing spine could have shut down and given out at any moment during the surgery, a severe complication could have surfaced, but none did.

Nowadays, he is cleared to get back to his martial arts.

There he was earlier this month in his living room, his mother reposed calmly

in her seat with a smile, as he showed his favorite karate form.

“This is called statue of the crane,” he said. He bounced off the couch, walked to the center of the room where he stood motionless, took a deep breath, and burst into a series of elegant hops and fast strikes with a lively spark in his eye.

It was the same form he displayed for the cameras at the Northwell press conference earlier this month as his story of struggle and triumph went public.

“I’m happy that I’m here today, doing karate, being on the news,” he said. “I’m really happy.”

News brief

f ive towns premier nursing Scholarship recipient egar Quijano, center, with premier’s director of nursing, raywattie persuad, and administrator Joe Benden.

Hewlett grad awarded Premier scholarship

Egar Quijano, identified as an exceptional Hewlett High School senior this past school years, was the recipient of the Five Towns Premier Nursing Scholarship.

Five Towns Premier Rehab and Nursing Center awards one such scholarship. Students applied by submitting an essay on why they want to pursue nursing as a career. Guidance counselors review the

essays to choose the winner as the pool is narrowed to four finalists. Premier’s head of nursing, Raywattie Persuad, and administrator Joe Benden make the final decision.

Quijano will study nursing at Hunter College.

–Jeffrey Bessen

Courtesy Parvin Mohammed armaan mohammed, 13, of Valley Stream was given a signed autograph and book from the original ‘Karate Kid,’ ralph macchio.

Courtesy Five Towns Premier

STEPPING OUT

The Sixties Show

That influential decade comes alive in the form of the Sixties Show. This dynamic night of nostalgia features all the sights and sounds of the decade, with a lively ensemble of accomplished musicians who know their way around the beloved hits of the ‘60s. You will be grooving along to note-for-note recreations of some of the greatest songs of that memorable era. Take a trip back to another time and place that was the 1960s, where an AM radio is blasting out the latest sounds from a convertible, on a warm summer starlit Saturday night on any street USA.

Environment as RT

STEPPING OUT

Creative advocacy

By Karen Bloom

By Karen Bloom

n original and compelling voice in contemporary art, Courtney M. Leonard’s artistic perspective takes root in her heritage as a member of the Shinnecock Nation.

Her work amplifies Indigenous knowledge and expresses reverence for the earth and sea while advocating for their protection.

Trained as a ceramic artist, Leonard — who received an advanced degree from Rhode Island School of Design — has evolved her practice to reflect her many interests and pursuits, all in an effort to investigate narratives of cultural viability.

A sculptor, painter and filmmaker in addition to her calling as a ceramicist, Leonard is known for her immersive installations that immediately command attention.

Now her art comes into focus in the first retrospective of her work, “Courtney M. Leonard: Logbook 2004-2023” at the Heckscher Museum of Art, which also is her first solo museum exhibition in the New York metro region.

WHERE WHEN

• Now through Nov. 12

• Open Thursday through Sunday, noon-5 p.m.

• Saturday and Sunday, noon-4 p.m.; Tuesday through Friday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

project Breach, which she began in 2014. Conceived on the model of records kept by 18th century whaling ships, each “logbook” of Breach records — in ceramic, paint and video — one year of the artist’s experiences of “environmental fragility, shifting adaptations, and/or the ability to simply become anew.”

Pat McGann

The high-energy show is a largescale ambitious multimedia stage production, powerfully dramatized with a combination of special effects, narration, ‘60s archival audio, and newsreel footage and light show — a reminder of how uniquely inspirational, entertaining and historically significant the music and events of the ‘60s were and continue to be. It’s all meticulously recreated, combined with authentic period costumes and ‘60s-era staging and narration.

Friday, July 21, 8 p.m. $40-$55. Madison Theatre, Molloy University, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre. (516) 323-4444 or MadisonTheatreNY.org.

• Emily Lowe Hall Gallery, South Campus, Hempstead. For information and to RSVP, call (516) 463-5672, or visit Hofstra.edu/museum

• $5 suggested admission non-members; members and children under 13 free

• Heckscher Museum of Art, 2 Prime Ave., Huntington • (631) 380-3230 or Heckscher.org

“When We All Stand,” Hofstra University Museum of Art’s new exhibition, examines the collective power of the arts in society.

Curated by Alexandra Giordano — the museum’s assistant director of exhibition and collection — the exhibit underscores artists’ civic responsibility and influence.

“Her work is extremely beautiful and visually engaging,” says Heckscher Museum curator Karli Wurzelbacher. “It’s so well-made and deeply meaningful. So many important concepts are embedded within each piece.”

The two dozen pieces on view take over three of the museum’s galleries. Of particular note is the debut of her significant new work commissioned by the museum for its permanent collection. Titled “Contact 2,023…,” the approximately eight-foot-long wall hanging focuses on the moment of colonial contact on Long Island, by mapping the contours of the island with thousands of individual clay thumbprints resembling shells.

Sewn onto a cotton canvas with artificial sinew, each thumbprint becomes a “maker’s mark” indexing the artist’s contact with the earth.

A single installation contained in an entire gallery, Breach: Logbook 23|Alluvion takes its name from a legal term meaning the action of the sea or a river in forming new land by depositing sediment. Connecting the concepts of erosion and alluvion, Leonard explains:

“The purple and white of the quahog shell are formed by the water and minerals of a specific place. Alluvion speaks to the history of land, water, place, and to the displacement or disruption from loss of land due to erosion or imposed law. Yet it also speaks to the resiliency of our Shinnecock people and of our shoreline to heal itself.”

“It highlights the vital role that artists have in activating democratic values that promise equality and freedom, encouraging civic engagement, and cultivating unity,” Giordano says. “Artists often lead the charge and expose truths that may otherwise be ignored. The artists in this exhibition take a stand and call out injustices through their art and activism on issues such as immigration, gender, reproductive rights, mass incarceration, voting rights, racial bias, gun violence, and promises unfulfilled. They all combine the making of art with public service that has a grassroots approach in the hope of mobilizing their communities and the nation to ignite movement, create awareness, and inspire others to stand with them.”

Concurrently with the Heckscher exhibit, Leonard created a site-specific outdoor installation for Planting Fields State Park in Oyster Bay, located in the Taxus Field, on display now through summer 2024.

“We’ve integrated the installation into the landscape,” says Planting Fields’ president and chief executive Gina Wouters. There, Leonard has expanded on her Breach: Logbook 23 concept, with full-sized shipping container integrated into the ground. The shape of the container structure itself is meant to evoke the body of a whale. As you enter through the jaws of a Northern Right Whale, you move through the whale’s body.

“It’s one amazing work with over 1,000 components,” Wurzelbacher notes.

This exhibit, which runs through July 28, is in conjunction with Hofstra’s 13th presidential conference on the Barack Obama presidency coming up in April.

This monumental creation is a sister piece to two other artworks in Leonard’s Contact series. The two earlier works both map New York state. She created the first, “Contact 1,609… (2009),” on the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson’s “discovery” of Manhattan and what is now called the Hudson River. It is co-owned by the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and The Autry Museum of The American West in Los Angeles. The second, “Contact 2,021… (2021),” was recently on view at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and will next be shown at the New York Historical Society beginning in August.

“We were interested in the idea that the artist has a civic responsibility,” says museum director Karen Albert. “The initial idea for this exhibition was inspired by an Obama Administration White House briefing that took place on May 12, 2009, where more than 60 artists and creative organizers met with administration officials to discuss the collective power of the arts to build community, create change, and chart a pathway for national recovery in the areas of social justice, civic participation and activism.”

“It’s essentially a root cellar, which was a natural refrigeration system and means of food sovereignty for indigenous people,” Wouters says. “She added to that the idea of a shipping container, bringing in the theme of whaling, so important to coastal Indigenous groups, yet abused by colonists. It’s an impressive, ambitious installation because of its scale. It’s wonderful to have this collaboration with the museum, and interpreted into our historic landscape.”

Brandi Carlile

Pat McGann is quickly rising as one of the sharpest stand-ups on the comedy scene. A relative latecomer to comedy, he began doing standup at 31 after realizing he was not very good at selling packaging. He hustled his way to become the house emcee at Zanies Chicago, where he distinguished himself as especially adept at working the crowd. A husband and father of three young children, McGann’s appeal stems from his quick wit and relatable take on family life and marriage. In 2017, McGann began touring as the opening act for Sebastian Maniscalco, moving with him from clubs to theater, to arenas, including four soldout shows at Madison Square Garden. McGann’s relatively short, but impressive resume, includes Montreal’s famed Just For Laughs Festival, Gilda’s LaughFest, The Great American Comedy Festival, and more. McGann still calls Chicago home.

Saturday, Feb. 11, 8 p.m. $40, $35, $30, $25. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. (800) 745-3000 or Ticketmaster.com or ParamountNY.com.

The folk rocker is back on tour, appearing on the Tilles Center stage. Singer, songwriter, producer, activist, humanitarian, best-selling author — she’s done it all. Since the release of her breakthrough album ‘By the Way, I Forgive You’ in 2018, Carlile has won Grammy awards, earned Billboard’s Women in Music Trailblazer Award, and received several Americana Music Association accolades. She was honored with her seventh, eighth and ninth Grammys this year, winning for best Americana album with ‘In These Silent Days.’ Her song ‘Broken Horses’ won both best rock song and best rock performance. Don’t miss an evening of iconic songs such as ‘The Story,’ ‘That Wasn’t Me’ and ‘The Joke.’ Seemingly everywhere, Carlile has transitioned from an Americana powerhouse to a major headliner beloved by the industry and the public. Carlile’s career has been on a steep upward trajectory and her ‘Bramily’ — as her fans are known — is with her every step of the way.

Yarn/Wire

To that end, unlike other recent exhibits that showcased the museum’s permanent collection, Giordano reached out to contemporary artists who loaned the museum their selected works. Some 36 pieces are on view — representing all media — from Emma Amos, Molly Crabapple and the Equal Justice Initiative, For Freedoms, Miguel Luciano, Michele Pred, Hank Willis Thomas, and Sophia

Another important exhibit component extends Leonard’s ongoing

Friday and Saturday, July 21-22, 8 p.m. LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Blvd., Brookville. Tickets are $51.50-$481.50; available at TillesCenter.org or (516) 299-3100.

Now in its 18th year, Adelphi University’s ‘new music’ series welcomes Yarn/Wire. The intrepid New York-based piano-percussion quartet has forged a singular path with

Courtesy Heckscher Museum of Art

Top photo: Courtney Leonard’s large scale map of Long Island is made up of thousands of individual porcelain thumbprints resembling shells.

Courtesy David Almeida/Courtesy Planting Fields Foundation

Right photo: The artist’s first outdoor installation, at Planting Fields, intermingles her art with the landscape.

Can art change the world? It’s a question that’s been at the focus of our collective culture for centuries. Now as society navigates the complexities of modern life, art as a path for social change is at the forefront of artistic expression.

Courtney Leonard brings Long Island’s Indigenous tradition into focus

THE

July 28

Penn & Teller

The famed duo steps away from their Las Vegas residency to bring their act on tour, appear on the Tilles Center stage, Friday, July 28, 8 p.m. Penn & Teller’s brand of awe-inspiring illusions mixed with buddy-comedy shtick has kept the duo at the very top of the magic profession for the past 45 years. Their trademark is the updating of worn out or archaic routines, such as bullet catching or their recent adaptation of the classic bag escape trick (their version involved a trash bag and lots of helium). From humble beginnings busking on the streets of Philadelphia to acclaimed sold–out runs on Broadway to the longest running and one of the most-beloved resident headline acts in Vegas history, magic’s legendary duo continues defy labels—and at times physics and good taste — by redefining the genre of magic and inventing their own very distinct niche in comedy. Constantly evolving and refining their unique take on illusion, the pair’s slight of hand is always amazes, whether it’s a fresh take on an old “trick” or something altogether new. LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Boulevard, Brookville. Tickets are $94, $84, $58, $48; available at TillesCenter.org or (516) 299-3100.

On exhibit

View the landmark exhibition “Modigliani and the Modern Portrait,” opening at Nassau County Museum of Art, Saturday, July 22. Devoted to the way that Modigliani powerfully re-defined the art of portraiture, the show includes his masterworks along with paintings and drawings by his Parisian contemporaries (Picasso, van Dongen, Laurencin). Modigliani’s enduring influence on artists even in our own time is shown in a selection of Contemporary paintings by such important figures as David Hockney, Eric Fischl, Elizabeth Peyton and others. The exhibition is being curated by Dr. Kenneth Wayne, founder of The Modigliani Project, which authenticates paintings and drawings (two of the works in the show have been recently approved by the committee). Through Nov. 5. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. (516) 484-9337 or NassauMuseum.org.

July 27

Life Science of Summer

Kids ages 6-9 can tour Old Westbury Gardens and examine how science is all around us in nature, Thursday, July 27, 2 p.m. Learn how plants grow and take home your own plant, as you participate in experiments of the water cycle and how we can use science to change the color of a flower both naturally and artificially. 71 Old Westbury Rd., Old Westbury. For information visit OldWestburyGardens. org or contact (516) 3330048.

Aug.

13 board meets Valley Stream District 13 will hold their regular board meeting, Tuesday, Aug. 15, at 8 p.m., at James A. Dever School. 585 Corona Ave. For more information, call district clerk MaryAnn Rosamilia at mrosamilia@ valleystream13.com or visit ValleyStream13.com.

District

Hot Diggity Dog

It’s barbecue season and Long Island Children’s Museum is feeling in the spirit, Kids can celebrate National Hot Dog Month by making a customized hot dog craft to bring home, at the drop-in program, Sunday, July 30, 1-3 p.m. Long Island Children’s Museum, Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 224-5800 or LICM.org.

Aug. 17

Write on: College essay workshop

Not sure how to get started on your college essay? The Hofstra University Admission Office is offering a virtual workshop to help high school students learn the skills to tell their story in a way that helps them stand out. The final session, Thursday, Aug. 17, 4-5 p.m., is free and open to the public, but advance registration is required. Hear from Hofstra Admission counselors about how to brainstorm topics, and compose a thoughtful essay that shows your personality, talents and interests. For more information about Hofstra Admission’s other virtual summer workshops, go to Admission.Hofstra.edu/portal/ virtual_admission_webinars. To schedule a summer in-person visit go to: Hofstra.edu/visit.

Breastfeeding Support Group

Mercy Hospital offers a peer to peer meeting for breastfeeding support and resources, facilitated by a certified breastfeeding counselor, every Thursday, 10:30 a.m.–11:30 a.m. Bring your baby (from newborn to 1 year) to the informal group setting. All new moms are welcome, regardless of delivering hospital. Registration required. Call breastfeeding counselor, Gabriella Gennaro, at (516) 7052434 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.

Bon Journey

Enjoy the tunes of Bon Journey, at the Village of Valley Stream’s annual summer concert series, Wednesday July 26, starting at 8 p.m., at the Village Bandshell. 123 S. Central Avenue. For more information, call (516) 8254200 or visit their website at Vsvny.org.

Having an event?

Summer tunes

It’s night of tributes to musical icons at Eisenhower Park, Friday, July 21, 8 p.m. Enjoy Lamar Peters as Elvis Presley and Beyond Fab with their take on the great Beatles tunes. Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, Eisenhower Park, East Meadow. For information, visit NassauCountyNY.gov.

Snuggly story time

Henry Waldinger Memorial library hosts a snuggly reading time for children four and under, Thursday, Aug. 10, at 6:30 p.m. 60 Verona Place. Register at ValleyStreamLibrary.org or call (516) 825-6422.

Classic Car Show

The Village of Valley Stream hosts their annual summer car show, Thursday, July 20, starting at 6 p.m., along the Rockaway Avenue business district. For more information, call (516) 8254200 or visit their website at Vsvny.org.

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.

Westbury House Tour

For many years visitors to Westbury House at Old Westbury Gardens asked what was beyond the first floor corridor. Now go beyond the door and discover “secrets of the service wing,” during a 60-minute guided tour, Friday, July 21, noon; Sunday, July 23, 1:30 p.m.; Monday, July 24, noon; Wednesday and Thursday, July 26-27, noon. Be introduced to the intensive labor required to create the lifestyle experienced by the Phipps family and their guests; tour the many rooms that were “behind the scenes” to create the formal dining experiences of early 20th century. Go along the corridors to the butler’s pantry and silver cleaning room then descend the 17 steps to the kitchen, scullery, and wine storage rooms located on the ground floor. Reservations required. 71 Old Westbury Rd., Old Westbury. For information contact (516) 333-0048 or visit OldWestburyGardens.org.

July

27

Mindful mornings

On stage

Plaza Theatricals brings the iconic musical “Rent,” back to the stage, Friday, July 21, 7:30 p.m. The acclaimed reimagining of “La Vie Boheme,” loosely based on Puccini’s opera and set on East Village streets, fire escapes, tenements, and cafes. This groundbreaking roller coaster ride depicting the joys and sorrows of an eclectic, diverse group of young artists and activists is always captivating. It’s performed at the Elmont Library Theatre, 700 Hempstead Tpke., Elmont. $35, $30 seniors. Elmont. For tickets, call (516) 599-6870 or visit PlazaTheatrical.com.

Newest defense against sharks? Drones

By MICHAEL MALASZCZYK Special to the Herald

The water is getting warmed along the southern shorelines of Long Island — the kind of water that attracts all kinds of marine life, including sharks.

The aquatic creatures have made their presence known in recent years, and 2023 was no exception. In fact, state officials warned Long Island beaches in particular could see a lot more sharks — and the sharks delivered.

There already have been five sharkrelated incidents on Long Island beaches this year, according to Gov. Kathy Hochul — most of them occurring around July 4. And there is still plenty of summer left.

Last year, there were eight shark bites on Long Island — for the entire season.

“We went from having one shark encounter in 2012 to eight just a decade later,” Hochul shared at a news conference last week at the Jones Beach Energy and Nature Center. “Sharks are coming closer, and this is good news because the water is pristine, it’s cleaner than it was 50 years ago. But it’s also something that we need to be on-guard about.”

Lifeguards have access to Yamaha WaveRunner jetskis to better patrol the waters, and there has been more training for police and lifeguards on how to deal with sharks. And technology will come into play as well, with Hochul announcing 60 new drones will be deployed to supplement the existing 18 keeping watch.

“We want to make sure that none of our communities ever appear on ‘Shark Week,’ which premieres at the end of the month,” Hochul said of the popular Discovery Channel series.

Various shark species can migrate to Long Island, according to the state’s environmental conservation department, including the feared great white shark featured in Steven Spielberg’s “Jaws.” But the most common sharks on Long Island

How to avoid sharks

■ Stay close to shore in designated swimming areas

■ Avoid swimming in areas with schools of fish, diving birds, or seals

■ Do not swim at dawn, dusk, or nighttime

an integrated way of monitoring all the shark movements,” he said. “If you take proper precautions like swimming in a protected area, if you don’t go in the water where this schools of fish or seals, you’re going to be completely safe. But on top of that, we in Nassau County have our helicopters in the air, and all-terrain vehicles that are available.”

What’s driving the shark activity on Long Island in recent years? Hochul has two theories — not necessarily at odds with one another.

are sandbar sharks, dusky sharks, and sand tiger sharks.

Sand tiger sharks —the species featured at Riverhead’s Long Island Aquarium — are typically docile, but have been identified as reportedly responsible for a few of the bites this year.

These measures are important for keeping Long Island beaches safe, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman said.

“Over the last 50 years, extraordinary measures have been taken to clean up the water here to make sure that it’s safe for swimmers and deal with the pollutants,” the governor said. “As a result, the sea creatures that are consumed by sharks are moving in closer — the sharks are following their dinner. I don’t know if this is proven, but the fact that the waters are warmer due to climate change may also be

Michael Malaszczyk/Herald

Flanked by Nassau County Legislator Carrie Solages and state Sen. Kevin Thomas, Gov. Kathy Hochul shows off some of the drones that will be used to survey the waters on Long Island’s South Shore for sharks.

Wheeler students reconstruct ancient history

during the last month of the academic year, students at Wheeler Avenue Elementary School worked diligently on an ancient civilization project during their social studies classes. The objective of the assignment was to utilize knowledge gained in class to construct an artifact that represented a particular civilization from the past.

“I was very impressed with the creativity and commitment exhibited by our students,” said Principal Ruth Peets-Butcher. “Thank you to the teachers, faculty, and administrators of this school for making this year’s Ancient Civilization Project a huge success.”

Students had the option of working independently with a partner or in a small group to complete the task. All participants were required to create an artifact and write a five-paragraph essay on a topic of their choice. Students gained experience utilizing different research methods, which helps to prepare them for the next phase of their academic careers.

Assignment requirements were outlined in a rubric and discussed in class. The project culminated with an opportunity for students to showcase their projects for their fellow classmates and faculty members. In their presentations, students were encouraged to highlight the importance of their artifact, its uses in ancient civilizations, the materials used to construct it, and what piqued their interest in its operation and design. Students also read parts of their essay to support their presentation of the artifact.

–Juan Lasso

Courtesy Valley Stream District 24 Wheeler students showcased their ancient civilization artifact.

Public Notices

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT. NASSAU COUNTY. L&L ASSOCIATES HOLDING CORP., Pltf. vs. KAREN A. PUPKE, et al, Defts. Index #609115/2022. Pursuant to judgment of foreclosure and sale entered January 24, 2023, I will sell at public auction on the north front steps of Nassau Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY August 2, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. prem. k/a Section 39, Block 396, Lot 17. Sold subject to terms and conditions of filed judgment and terms of sale. Foreclosure auction 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 auction. JANE SHRENKEL, Referee. LEVY & LEVY, Attys. for Pltf., 12 Tulip Dr., Great Neck, NY. #100390 140410

LEGAL NOTICE

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK INDEX NO. 609978/2019 COUNTY OF NASSAU

THE BANK OF NEW YORK

MELLON TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FKA THE BANK OF NEW YORK TRUST COMPANY, N.A. AS SUCCESSOR TO JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, AS TRUSTEE FOR RESIDENTIAL ASSET SECURITIES CORPORATION, HOME EQUITY MORTGAGE ASSET-BACKED PASS THROUGH CERTIFICATES SERIES 2003-KS7, Plaintiff, vs. VALERIE RIZZUTO, INDIVIDUALLY AND AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF FLORENCE C. WAUGH; PATRICIA A. WAUGH-

HOWE; UNKNOWN HEIRS AND DISTRIBUTEES OF THE ESTATE OF FLORENCE C. WAUGH any and all persons unknown to plaintiff, claiming, or who may claim to have an interest in, or general or specific lien upon the real property described in this action; such unknown persons being herein generally described and intended to be included in the following designation, namely: the wife, widow, husband, widower, heirs at law, next of kin, descendants, executors, administrators, devisees, legatees, creditors, trustees, committees, lienors, and assignees of such deceased, any and all persons deriving interest in or lien upon, or title to said real property by, through or under them, or either of them, and their respective wives, widows, husbands, widowers, heirs at law, next of kin, descendants, executors, administrators, devisees, legatees, creditors, trustees,

committees, lienors and assigns, all of whom and whose names, except as stated, are unknown to plaintiff; JESSICA ROSE WAUGH, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE TO THE ESTATE OF MICHAEL C. WAUGH, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF FLORENCE C. WAUGH; KATHRYN A. WAUGH, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE TO THE ESTATE OF MICHAEL C. WAUGH, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF FLORENCE C. WAUGH; UNKNOWN HEIRS AND DISTRIBUTEES TO THE ESTATE OF MICHAEL C. WAUGH, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF FLORENCE C. WAUGH, any and all persons unknown to plaintiff, claiming, or who may claim to have an interest in, or general or specific lien upon the real property described in this action; such unknown persons being herein generally described and intended to be included in the following designation, namely: the wife, widow, husband, widower, heirs at law, next of kin, descendants, executors, administrators, devisees, legatees, creditors, trustees, committees, lienors, and assignees of such deceased, any and all persons deriving interest in or lien upon, or title to said real property by, through or under them, or either of them, and their respective wives, widows, husbands, widowers, heirs at law, next of kin, descendants, executors, administrators, devisees, legatees, creditors, trustees, committees, lienors and assigns, all of whom and whose names, except as stated, are unknown to plaintiff; HSBC MORTGAGE CORPORATION (USA); UNITED STATES OF AMERICA - INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE; NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE; INC. VILLAGE OF LYNBROOK; MRS “JANE” RIZZUTO, “JOHN DOE #2” through “JOHN DOE #12,” the last eleven names being fictitious and unknown to plaintiff, the persons or parties intended being the tenants, occupants, persons or corporations, if any, having or claiming an interest in or lien upon the premises, described in the complaint, Defendants. Plaintiff designates NASSAU as the place of trial situs of the real property

SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS

Mortgaged Premises: 111 OCEANVIEW AVENUE, VALLEY STREAM, NY 11581

Section: 42, Block: 271,

Lot: 259, 260, 261 and 262

To the above named Defendants YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the Complaint in the above entitled action and to serve a copy of your Answer on the plaintiff’s attorney within twenty (20) days of the service of this Summons, exclusive of the day of service, or within thirty (30) days after service of the same is complete where service is made in any manner other than by personal delivery within the State. The United States of America, if designated as a defendant in this action, may answer or appear within sixty (60) days of service. Your failure to appear or to answer will result in a judgment against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint. In the event that a deficiency balance remains from the sale proceeds, a judgment may be entered against you. NOTICE OF NATURE OF ACTION AND RELIEF SOUGHT THE OBJECT of the above caption action is to foreclose a Mortgage to secure the sum of $220,000.00 and interest, recorded on May 29, 2003, in Liber M 24208 at Page 353, of the Public Records of NASSAU County, New York., covering premises known as 111 OCEANVIEW AVENUE, VALLEY STREAM, NY 11581. The relief sought in the within action is a final judgment directing the sale of the premises described above to satisfy the debt secured by the Mortgage described above.

NASSAU County is designated as the place of trial because the real property affected by this action is located in said county. NOTICE

YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME

If you do not respond to this summons and complaint by serving a copy of the answer on the attorney for the mortgage company who filed this foreclosure proceeding against you and filing the answer with the court, a default judgment may be entered and you can lose your home.

Speak to an attorney or go to the court where your case is pending for further information on how to answer the summons and protect your property.

Sending a payment to the mortgage company will not stop the foreclosure action.

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

Dated: April 19, 2023

ROBERTSON, ANSCHUTZ, SCHNEID, CRANE & PARTNERS, PLLC

Attorney for Plaintiff

Veronica M. Rundle, Esq. 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310 Westbury, NY 11590

516-280-7675

140430

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU

JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, Plaintiff

AGAINST

Patricia D. Savage a/k/a

Patricia Savage; et al., Defendant(s)

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered November 8, 2017 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 28, 2023 at 2:00PM, premises known as 50 East Saint Marks Place, 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 98 Lot 14. Approximate amount of judgment $489,038.00 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index# 011595/2014. 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.”

Pallvi Babbar, 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: June 8, 2023 140388

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered May 5, 2023, 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 July 31, 2023 at 2:30 PM. Premises known as 114 Pershing Ave, Valley Stream, NY 11580. Sec 409 Block 6 Lot 107 amd 108. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with 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.

Approximate Amount of Judgment is $423,619.20 plus interest, fees, and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No 005636/2013.

During the COVID-19 health emergency, Bidders are required to comply with all governmental health requirements in effect at the time of the sale including but not limited to wearing face coverings and maintaining social distancing (at least 6-feet apart) during the auction, while tendering deposit and at any subsequent closing. Should a bidder fail to comply, the Referee may refuse to accept any bid, cancel the closing and hold the bidder in default. Bidders are also required to comply with the Foreclosure Auction Rules and COVID-19 Health Emergency Rules issued by the Supreme Court of this County in addition to the conditions set forth in the Terms of Sale. 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.”

John M. Brickman, Esq., Referee NY202000000828-1 140390

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT

COUNTY OF NASSAU

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT

NASSAU COUNTY US BANK TRUST

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE FOR VRMTG ASSET TRUST, Plaintiff against JOSHUA PINTO A/K/A

JOSHUA S. PINTO, AS ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ESTATE OF GLORIA BRAVO A/K/A

GLORIA S. BRAVO A/K/A

GLORIA STELLA BRAVO, et al

Defendant(s)

Attorney for Plaintiff(s) Stern & Eisenberg, P.C., 20 Commerce Drive, Suite 230, Cranford, NJ 07016 .

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, State of New York, Section 37 Block 667 Lot 41. Approximate amount of judgment $597,228.47 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index# 008374/2016. 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.

Michael Jay Santino Pontone, 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: June 21, 2023 140531

Knuckles, Komosinski & Manfro, LLP, 565 Taxter Road, Suite 590, Elmsford, NY 10523, Attorneys for Plaintiff 140640

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT. NASSAU COUNTY. L&L ASSOCIATES HOLDING CORP., Pltf. vs. TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, NASSAU COUNTY TREASURER, Defts. Index #612224/2022. Pursuant to judgment of foreclosure and sale entered June 12, 2023, I will sell at public auction on the north side steps of the Nassau Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY on August 15, 2023 at 2:30 p.m. prem. k/a Section 37, Block 562, Lot 123, 131. Sold subject to terms and conditions of field judgment and terms of sale. RICHARD L. FARLEY, Referee. LEVY & LEVY, Attys. for Pltf., 12 Tulip Dr., Great Neck, NY. #100569

140642

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE

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 76962 140625

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that pursuant to Article 9 of the New York State Constitution, the provisions of the Town Law and Municipal Home Rule of the State of New York, both as amended, a public hearing will be held in the Town Meeting Pavilion, Hempstead Town Hall, 1 Washington Street, Hempstead, New York, on the 1st day of August, 2023, at 10:30 o’clock in the forenoon of that day to consider the enactment of a local law to amend Section 197-5 of the code of the Town of Hempstead to INCLUDE “ARTERIAL STOPS” at the following locations:

The Bank of New York Mellon FKA The Bank of New York, as Trustee for the certificateholders of the CWABS, Inc., AssetBacked Certificates, Series 2006-14, Plaintiff AGAINST Peggy Kouassi a/k/a Peggy Turner; et al., Defendant(s)

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly dated January 25, 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 August 8, 2023 at 2:30PM, premises known as 73 Broadway, Valley

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, NJCC-NYS COMMUNITY RESTORATION FUND LLC, Plaintiff, vs. ST LAWRENCE CAMPBELL A/K/A ST LAWRENCE CAMPBELL A/K/A LAWRENCE CAMPBELL, ET AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to an Order Confirming Referee’s Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on April 19, 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 August 15, 2023 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 44 Brook Road, Valley Stream a/k/a South 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 504 and Lot 4. Approximate amount of judgment is $580,919.46 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 609114/2019. Cash will not be accepted. 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.

Ellen Durst, Esq., Referee

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 August 15, 2023 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. For sale information,

MERRICK FREDERICK AVENUE (TH 218/23) - STOP -

All traffic traveling northbound on State Street shall come to a full stop.

FREDERICK AVENUE (TH 218/23) - STOP -

All traffic traveling southbound on State Street shall come to a full stop.

OCEANSIDE FOXHURST ROAD (TH 252/23) - STOP -

All traffic traveling southbound on Parkview Place shall come to a full stop. (NR) VALLEY STREAM PARK LANE (TH 578/22)STOP -

All traffic traveling westbound on Park Court shall come to a full stop. PARK LANE (TH 578/22)STOP -All traffic traveling westbound on Sherwood Street shall come to a full stop.

WANTAGH DEMOTT AVENUE (TH 268/23) - STOP -

All traffic traveling southbound on Temple Drive shall come to a full stop.

WILLOWOOD DRIVE (TH 271/23) - STOP -

All traffic traveling northbound on Western Lane shall come to a full stop.

TEMPLE DRIVE (TH 281/23) - STOP -

All traffic traveling eastbound on Princeton Drive North shall come to a full stop.

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

Dated: July 11, 2023

Hempstead, New York

BY ORDER OF THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD

DONALD X. CLAVIN, JR. Supervisor

KATE MURRAY Town Clerk 140776

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 AQUISITION

TRUST 2006--WMC4 ASSET BACKED PASSTHROUGH 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 August 22, 2023 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 140828

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT: NASSAU COUNTY. STEVEN C. HORN, Pltf. vs. MAXIM DIAGNOSTICS, LLC, et al, Defts. Index #608417/2019. Pursuant to judgment of foreclosure and sale entered October 11, 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 August 24, 2023 at 2:00 p.m., prem. k/a 33 South Montgomery Street, Valley Stream, NY a/k/a Section 37, Block 36, Lot 4. Said property located at the corner formed by the intersection of the Southerly line of Buscher venue and the Easterly line of Montgomery Street; Running thence Easterly along the Southerly line of the Buscher Avenue, 34/100 (100.34) feet; Thence Southerly parallel with Montgomery Street, 74/100 (41.74) feet; Thence Westerly at right angles to Montgomery Street, (100.000 feet to the Easterly line of Montgomery Street; Thence Northerly along the same, (34.00 feet to the point or place of beginning. Approx. amt. of judgment is $312,976.39 plus costs and interest. Sold subject to terms and conditions of filed judgment and terms of sale. Foreclosure auction 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 auction.

HAYLEY GREENBERG, Referee. HILL WALLACK LLP, Attys. for Pltf., 261 Madison Avenue, 9th Floor, Ste. 940-941, New York, NY. File No. 20426-18 - #100593

140830

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU U.S.

BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE FOR RCF 2 ACQUISITION TRUST, Plaintiff AGAINST

MICHAEL BERESFORD, TERIA BERESFORD, ET AL., Defendant(s)

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered May 2, 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 August 22, 2023 at 2:00PM, premises known as 53 EAST VALLEY STREAM BOULEVARD VALLEY STREAM, NY 11580 AKA 53 VALLEY STREAM 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, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 37, Block 074, Lot 15 & 16. Approximate amount of judgment $415,331.68 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #617977/2019. 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”. Peter V. Christiansen, Esq., Referee Gross Polowy, LLC 1775 Wehrle Drive Williamsville, NY 14221

19-005661 76877

140627

LEGAL NOTICE

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORKCOUNTY OF NASSAU WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A. AS TRUSTEE FOR SECURITIZED ASSET

BACKED RECEIVABLES

LLC 2005-HE1

MORTGAGE PASSTHROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2005-HE1,

V. DAVE DIXON, ET. AL.

NOTICE OF SALE

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN

pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure dated September 26, 2018, and entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Nassau, wherein WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A. AS TRUSTEE FOR SECURITIZED ASSET BACKED RECEIVABLES

LLC 2005-HE1 MORTGAGE PASSTHROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2005-HE1 is the Plaintiff and DAVE DIXON, ET AL. are the Defendant(s). I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the NASSAU COUNTY SUPREME COURT, NORTH SIDE STEPS, 100 SUPREME COURT DRIVE, MINEOLA, NY 11501 on August 15, 2023 at 2:30PM, premises known as 450 HUNGRY HARBOR ROAD, VALLEY STREAM, NY 11581: Section 39, Block 621, Lot 0030: ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND, 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 # 004857/2009. Raymond Nardo, Esq, 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.

SALE

Valley Stream Central welcomes its new chief

tively. In total, she brings 18 years of educational experience to Valley Stream.

Roughly 12 years ago, under then Mayor Michael Bloomberg, the city’s education department intensified a policy of dividing up or dissolving large, failing schools into smaller ones, to ease overcrowding and promote smaller class sizes. Hugee was among a select group of educators tapped to co-start her own specialized school, in the hope of boosting performance standards. Brooklyn’s Origins High School was created in 2013, and she served as its assistant principal until 2016. The school maintains an enviable academic reputation.

“Starting a school was a lengthy and arduous process,” Hugee said, “but I learned that what really drives learning is a curriculum that offers multiple forms of instruction beyond just the textbook, and tailors its approach to students’ preferred mode of learning.”

Legal Notices are everyone’s business READ THEM

Before coming to Central, Hugee helped create the Urban Assembly School for Collaborative Healthcare, a public high school aimed at preparing students for careers in the health care industry, and was its principal for seven years.

“Coming from a school with a career technical education program, I know that Central has many of these programs through BOCES, and I’m committed to expanding these programs to make sure students have post-secondary success,” she said.

“It’s really important that students

have skills in trades to be just really knowledgeable citizens, regardless of if they go to college or continue in the vocational setting.”

In whatever academic environment Hugee has served, a pattern of success has emerged. “I always place a tall priority on making the school feel like a safe space,” she said, “where students felt there was always someone they could talk to, where there was no need for physical altercations, and there was an expectation that this was a dignified place.”

She said she shares Pompilio’s vision of school as a “sacred place.”

To Hugee, that’s a place where students are asked to commit to learning, growing and conducting themselves with conscientious care for one another. In turn, the same should be expected of teachers and staff.

She also stressed the importance of an education that is tethered to the reality of what students must face in a modern professional setting, and one that cultivates whole individuals.

“I also want to make sure that the knowledge students acquire at school is useful and pertinent to them, and allows them, and all stakeholders, to have a role in readying our students to take on the world,” she said.

“It’s one thing to have students graduate. It’s quite another to have them be appropriately prepared for the next step in their careers, college-bound or otherwise once they graduate.”

Continued from page 1

Courtesy Valley Stream District High School Candace Hugee succeeded Joseph pompilio as principal of Valley Stream Central High School for the upcoming academic year. the Brooklyn native brings nearly two decades of educational experience to the school.

It’s one thing to have students graduate. It’s quite another to have them be appropriately prepared for the next step in their careers.

CandaCe Hugee principal, Central High

PROVISIONAL APPOINTMENT

EAST ROCKAWAY JR./SR. HIGH SCHOOL ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER (2 POSITIONS)

12 Month Position

Starting Salary $48,044–$50,462; increase pending contract negotiations.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS PER NASSAU COUNTY CIVIL SERVICE

PArAProfeSSioNAlS f/t: $23,736 - $24,286

Salary Commensurate with School Related Experience

fooD Service helPer P/t SubStituteS: $15.58/hr.

cleANer SubStituteS: $18.00/hr.

buS Driver SubStituteS: $22.50/hr.

SecuritY AiDeS (DAYS & eveNiNgS): F/T (7 hours) $22.28/hr.

NYS Security Guard Licensing required, law enforcement background preferred

mAiNtAiNer (7:00 A.m. – 4:00 P.m.)

Salary commensurate with experience

Send Cover Letter & Resume to: egomez@bmchsd.org or eric gómez

Assistant Superintendent – Personnel & Administration

1260 meadowbrook road, N. merrick, NY 11566

Additional information can be found on our website at: www.bellmore-merrick.k12.ny.us

EMPLOYMENT

Help Wanted

ASSISTANT TEACHERS: For Yeshiva

Of South Shore. Afternoon Hours. Competitive Pay. Please Send Resume To: monika@yoss.org

Bellmore-Merrick

Please Email Us office@bellmoremerrickchildcare.com

To Arrange For An Interview

Civil Project Engineer: Involve in document control, safety reports, billings, contracts, subcontract, award letters, bid tabulations, executive summaries. Understand construction process and MEP equipment. Assemble project turnover requirements submittals, O&M manuals, warranties/guarantees. Coordinate and involve in regular schedule and budget updates; monthly report preparation; and coordination of daily activities. Prepare safety reports. Track daily reporting; assist in monitoring LEED submissions. Prepare and coordinate presentations. Change order tracking; review monthly payment requisitions. Work loc: Port Washington, NY. Travel & relocation possible to unanticipated locs throughout

Training and Experience

Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited or New York State registered college or university, AND

Four years of satisfactory administrative staff experience, which must include participating in budget preparation, and/or personnel and/or procurement activities.

NOTE: 1. Experience, as outlined above, in excess of the four-year requirement, may be substituted for college education on a year-for-year basis up to a maximum of four years.

2. A Master’s degree from a regionally accredited or New York State registered college or university may be substituted for one year of the experience as outlined above.

Anticipated Start Date: Upon Civil Service Approval

Please submit letter of interest and resume to: Ms. Diane Drakopoulos Personnel Clerk 443 Ocean Avenue East Rockaway, NY 11518 516-887-8300, x1-441 Email: ddrakopoulos@eastrockawayschools.org

Manager On Duty

At Blaze, Old Bethpage Village Outdoors From September Through November

5-8 Hour Shifts. Serve As The Primary Point Of Contact For All Issues That May Occur During The Event, Seeing Each Through To Resolution. Serve As The Primary Point Of Contact For Emergency Personnel Hourly Rate $25-$30 To Apply: https://hudsonvalley.org/ employment/

MEDICAL FRONT DESK Monday- Thursday 9am- 6:30pm. Computer Literate. Valley Stream. Fax Info to 516-295-0017

PARKING ENFORCEMENT OFFICER

Part Time, Various Shifts. Retirees Welcome. Duties include: \Patrols throughout the Village, issuance of code violation citations. Qualifications: HS graduate or equivalent. Valid driver’s license with satisfactory driving record. Contact: Inc. Village of Atlantic Beach 516-371-4600 e-mail office@villageofatlanticbeach.com

Path Monitor

At Blaze, Old Bethpage Village Outdoors From September Through November 5-8 Hour Evening Shifts

Providing A Welcoming Atmosphere And Ensuring Guest Safety. Hourly Rate $20.

To Apply:

https://hudsonvalley.org/ employment/

PROFESSIONAL TAILOR For Dry Cleaners In Merrick. Flexible Days And Hours. Call 646-593-1357

VALLEY

STREAM SCHOOL DISTRICT #24

75 Horton Avenue • Valley Stream, NY 11581

The Board of Education is seeking qualified applicants for the position of:

DISTRICT CLERK

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Good Clerical and Computer Skills, including Microsoft WORD, and speed writing

• Part-time Position – Approximately 15 to 20 hours per week, plus two evenings per month

• Principal responsibility includes preparing all Agendas, taking Minutes at all Board meetings, copying of all documents for Board and maintaining Board of Education records.

• Responsible for all aspects of Annual School District Budget Vote and Election of Board members

Send cover letter and resume to: Board of Education Valley Stream School District 24 75 Horton Avenue Valley Stream, NY 11581

1222852

RECEPTIONIST FULL TIME: Busy OBGYN Office Rockville Centre. Answering Phones, Filing, Checking Insurance. Maureen 516-764-1095

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

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Can I just start putting up walls?

Q. I’m doing a commercial space to expand my business, and I’m in a quandary about a lot of things I wasn’t expecting. First, the landlord is only giving me two months to build out the space, and I’m being told that’s not enough time to get plans and permits, which the landlord doesn’t seem to care about. If I just start putting up walls, is that acceptable? Will I get a violation if I get caught? Also, I was told I need a plumbing permit for a new sink and toilet — the ones that are there are disgusting. If I hire an expeditor to get the plans and permit, can they also get the plumbing permit so I can do the work myself? I was hoping this would go smoothly, but I can see there are going to be problems. What can I expect?

A. You didn’t say what the business was, and the first step is to confirm, with a search of records, whether the use is permitted. For example, some uses require special approvals, and each jurisdiction has limitations.

Tattoo parlors, animal sales and boarding, auto body work — these are a few of the many types of businesses that require special review, sometimes by a zoning board, a village, town or city board or both in the same municipality.

Just a heads-up: Your landlord only wants to rent the space. A landlord was put on the phone recently while I was going over a similar circumstance, and told me he expected the tenant would eventually get the permit, but it isn’t his problem. To answer your question, if you did get caught, the landlord or owner of the property is the responsible party, and can face violations in court, fines and, in extremely rare cases, conviction and jail for serious violations, especially calamities leading to death. Those are the ones we hear about in the news.

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An expeditor generally won’t be your first choice, since expediting is the handling of paperwork and filing. You need professionally prepared and sealed plans showing the space, fully noted and dimensioned, with code references to specific safety issues for the use. A pharmacy will have different requirements and licensing than a beauty salon or a day care, for example. Usually, a ceiling plan showing locations of lighting, emergency equipment, sprinkler heads, emergency lights and exit signs is required, along with heating and air conditioning vents and diffusers.

Depending on the locality, you may not be allowed to do your own construction or plumbing work, and if you were to ask, local building departments expect the licensed plumber to get their own permit, showing proof of licensing to do work in that community. I know, and building officials are well aware, that work goes on all the time without the delay of the permit process. Just keep in mind that public safety is everyone’s responsibility. Verify that the work is safe and code-compliant. Good luck!

© 2022 Monte Leeper

question” in the subject line, or to Herald Homes, 2 Endo Blvd., Garden City, NY 11530, Attn: Monte Leeper, architect.

Ask

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At this dinner, true patriotism was on vivid display

Recently I attended the annual Patriot Award Dinner hosted by the Seaford High School 9/11 Memorial Committee. This event, and other 9/11 programs in Seaford, are administered by the Memorial Committee, which was created in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks, with the commitment to “always remember.”

Communities across Long Island were devastated by 9/11. None, however, has been more consistent or wideranging in its dedication to preserving the memory and legacy of that day and its victims than Seaford.

In November 2002, a commemorative plaza was constructed at the entrance to Seaford High School, dedicated to the alumni who lost their lives: New York City Fire Department Battalion Chief Tom Haskell, FDNY Firefighter Tim Haskell, New York City Police Officer John Perry, Robert Sliwak and Michael Wittenstein.

Each year on Sept. 11, more than 1,000 people attend a memorial at the plaza — last year, undaunted by a driving rain. Since 2002, Patriot Award scholarships

totaling more than $235,000 have been given to 112 Seaford High seniors who reflect the values of the graduates who died on 9/11. Honorary Patriot Awards have been presented to 59 people who selflessly service the Seaford community.

District students make field trips to the 9/11 Memorial at ground zero.

This year’s dinner was held at Crest Hollow Country Club in Woodbury. As always, there was a large turnout, more than 300 people. The mood in the room was a mix of energy and respect. There was the energy of people who have been working for two decades to ensure that the memories and legacy of that day are preserved, along with respect for those who died and their family members, who were at the dinner, as they have been at so many commemorations over the years.

Among those sitting at my table were Monsignor Steve Camp and members of the Haskell family. Camp, now the pastor of St. Patrick’s Parish in Huntington, was a priest at St. William the Abbot in Seaford in September 2001. He officiated at funerals for victims of the attacks, and with his compassion and concern that did so much to help not only the victims’ families, but the Seaford community as well.

Tom and Tim Haskell were heroic FDNY members, as was their brother, Ken, who survived that day, and has dedicated so much to the Memorial Committee as its president. With Ken at the table were his mother, Maureen; his wife, Genene; their sons Kenny and Ryan; Ken’s sister, Dawn; and Tom’s widow, Barbara. No family has endured more than the Haskells. Somehow their spirit remains as strong as ever — as does the spirit of the other 9/11 families.

Seeing so many neighbors, friends and other familiar faces, I was pleased and reassured by the number of young people who were there who weren’t yet born on Sept. 11, 2001. I also gave a special hello to my sister, Barbara, a Seaford High graduate who put so much effort into making the dinner a success.

The student scholarship winners were very impressive, as were the Honorary Patriot Award recipients. Longtime Seaford High officials Tom Condon and Ray Buckley, who played strong leadership roles in forming the Memorial Committee and have continued their efforts to this day, spoke movingly, and then led everyone in an emotional and spirited rendition of “God Bless America.”

All these good, hardworking people gathered to show their unfailing dedication and commitment to their community and country more than two decades after America’s darkest hour exemplify patriotism at its best.

As I left that night, I thought about how wonderful it would be if the spirit of selfless dedication and commitment that these Seaford residents still demonstrate could once again predominate in our divided country. If the sense of unity and respect that Americans had in the days, weeks and months after the attacks could somehow be re-established. If we could work together on issues where we agree, try to find common ground where we disagree and do so respectfully, always remembering that we are Americans.

The terrorists who attacked us on 9/11 could not destroy us or break our spirit. Instead we emerged more united. We owe it to our nation, and all those who were murdered that day, not to divide against ourselves, but rather to do all we can to recapture the unity we had then, and never forget that we are still the greatest nation on earth. As the hundreds of Seaford residents proudly sang at the conclusion of the Patriot Award Dinner, let us all proudly proclaim, “God Bless America!”

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

Chimps face N.Y. court test of ‘personhood’

W“hen you meet chimps, you meet individual personalities. When a baby chimp looks at you, it’s just like a human baby. We have a responsibility to them.”

–Jane Goodall, animal right activist

U.S. Some 850 live in laboratories. About 250 chimps are in accredited zoos, 600 in sanctuaries, and 250 in private hands, such as carnivals and low-end zoos.

rarely accelerated new discoveries or the advancement of human health.”

The report added, “The majority of NIH-owned chimpanzees should be designated for retirement and transferred to the federal sanctuary system.”

Randi is on a brief leave. This column was originally published June 11-17, 2015.

Chimpanzee stories invite cheap shots, jokes and memories of J. Fredd Muggs (a regular on “The Today Show”), but the true story of these primates in modern times is both shameful and tragic. The continuing abuse of chimpanzees in research, and a New York state lawsuit arguing the “personhood” of chimps, demand our focused attention and action.

Chimpanzees are one of the four great apes, along with gorillas, bonobos and orangutans. But chimps are closer to humans in their DNA than they are to any of their ape brethren. They know how to use tools, have opposable thumbs and can learn sign language. They pass the “mirror” test, recognizing themselves in reflective glass, and they are self-aware; express grief, depression and joy; and play jokes on one another.

RANDI KREISS

Chimpanzees share 95 to 98 percent of our DNA. They are native to Africa and they are endangered, with only 180,000 to 300,000 remaining. Fifty years ago, there were probably a million chimpanzees roaming Africa. Deforestation, poaching and some people’s taste for bush meat have depleted the population.

Nearly 2,000 chimpanzees live in the

Yet for decades, these animals have been used for research in the U.S., by the National Institutes of Health and by medical schools and pharmaceutical companies. This research rests on the presumption that as higher beings, we have the right to subject other living creatures to pain and suffering to improve our own health and longevity.

The awful irony is that in 2011, the National Academy of Sciences concluded, “Most current biomedical research use of chimpanzees is not necessary.” In addition, a 2013 NIH report confirmed, “Research involving chimpanzees has

We are the only developed country in the world that continues to use chimpanzees in invasive experiments. A number of countries, including Australia, the European Union, Japan and New Zealand, have banned the use of all great apes in experiments.

What got me thinking about the shameful legacy of abuse of chimpanzees was the news in April of a lawsuit filed by the Nonhuman Rights Project seeking “personhood” status for two chimpanzees, Hercules and Leo, now being held at Stony Brook University.

If the apes are freed, they will go to Chimp Haven, a sanctuary for retired and rehabilitated chimpanzees in Florida. According to a spokesman, NhRP is not seeking personhood for apes so they can roam the streets. It is seeking only one specific right: the right to one’s bodily freedom, the freedom not to be taken and kept involuntarily for any purpose.

When I brought this subject up for dis-

cussion at a dinner table this week, the reaction of my friends — all kind, wellinformed people — was complete lack of concern for or interest in chimpanzees, abused or otherwise. They trotted out the old argument about it being OK to experiment on animals so people can live better lives. They said they just couldn’t care about what happens to chimpanzees. They asked where I would draw the line. OK to experiment on dogs? Rats? Fruit flies?

I do draw a line. No experimentation on any higher-functioning animal that is sentient, but self-aware and capable of emoting feelings and socialization. I can be OK with experimenting on mice and rats and fruit flies and other lower life forms.

We don’t have the moral right to experiment on chimpanzees. The systematic torture of chimps, once considered “research” and now discredited by the NIH as inhumane and ineffectual, must stop. Please join me in supporting Jane Goodall’s work to save and rehabilitate chimpanzees. Go to janegoodall.org, where you can learn, donate or volunteer.

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

The U.S. continues to use chimpanzees in invasive experiments.

We need to rekindle the sense of unity we had in the days after 9/11.

rHonda GLiCkman

Staying safe from shark close encounters

it won’t be long before the iconic film “Jaws” turns 50 — a fact that’s just difficult to imagine.

Yet this single movie, from a then unknown director named Steven Spielberg, singlehandedly created the summer blockbuster model many studios work to recreate every year, and proved the big screen could deliver big thrills.

HERALD

But “Jaws” had another, more lasting effect on society. It made many people fearful — or, at least, more cautious — about going to the beach. And it turned sharks, like the great white featured in Spielberg’s film, from ocean predators to living, breathing and biting beasts of pure evil.

Humans are a land species. Put us in the water and we’re at a clear disadvantage against anything that might mean us harm living in that environment. Especially something that can weigh more than two tons while boasting more than 300 teeth. Vigilance when in the water is essential — but demonizing an animal for simply acting on its nature is not.

In the years following the release of “Jaws,” many fishermen set out to hunt the great white, deeming the slaughter that came with it — cutting the population nearly in half — a way to rid the world of a man-eating predator.

But sharks are sharks, and for us to enjoy the ocean, we have to find ways of sharing it with these creatures, and everything else living below the waves. No one wants to be bitten, and hopefully most of us would rather stay as far away from

letters

Randi’s tribute to journalists still rings true — even today

To the Editor:

Keep your distance from the sharks

The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission in Florida where more than half of the country’s shark attacks happen each year says it’s always good to stay in groups, since sharks are more likely to bite someone swimming alone. Also, don’t wander too far from shore especially if it isolates you from other swimmers. It also takes you farther away from any help you could receive from land. Avoid the water at twilight or after dark. Those are the hours when sharks are most active. Even during the day, if the water is murky, be extra careful. And most important, stay in areas watched by lifeguards.

sharks as possible. Yet the cleaner, warmer waters splashing onto the beaches of Long Island will indeed attract all kinds of aquatic life, and sharks won’t be far behind.

Drones certainly make a difference, with the state tripling the number of the flying camera-equipped contraptions patrolling local beaches. They can cover more territory in a short time, rather than simply putting lifeguards on WaveRunners, and beachgoers are getting the added protection of both.

Long Island beaches attract a number of species of sharks, although few of them, other than dusky sharks and the great whites featured in “Jaws,” pose any immediate danger. But it’s still imperative to stay away, because if a shark did decide to turn on you, it’s a battle you likely wouldn’t win.

Sharks are the ocean’s dominant predator for sure — and humans should stay far away from them — but they aren’t evil. We shouldn’t be happy when a shark is killed, or wish for a world in which they don’t exist.

In the end, sharks are a key component to our very fragile marine ecosystem. And they are dying, with few people standing up to defend them because of the fear perpetuated by movies like “Jaws” and annual television events like Discovery Channel’s “Shark Week.”

Even Spielberg regrets how the great white was portrayed in his 1975 film. When a British radio personality asked him last year how he’d feel if he lived on a desert island surrounded by sharks, the Oscar-winning director said it’s something he fears. “Not to get eaten by a shark,” he added, “but that sharks are somehow mad at me for the feeding frenzy of crazy sport fishermen that happened after 1975.”

Sharks may not actually hold grudges, but we can share the ocean with them, and keep ourselves safe, by steering clear of them. It’s the only way we can have the fun, relaxing summer we’ve always enjoyed on Long Island beaches.

Re Randi Kreiss’s column last week (reprised from Sept. 11-17, 2014), “Journalists become targets for jihadists”: We, in the field, doing the coverage and writing the story and taking the photographs, know the truth. The courage lies in the reporting of that truth.

Many of us are doing local, community news coverage, and our readers (and viewers) want our presentation of the facts and our intelligent analysis. We are in the same tradition of those who report the news from abroad. We must take chances to offer the public the facts.

I am one of an old breed. It is my personal and deep passion to (try to) make a difference. Whereas building a house, or representing others in court, or even serving as an elected official, can be meritorious, I take photographs. I offer them to news sources all over the world. I imagine when they are displayed in some newspaper, someone, somewhere, may say: “This is truth.”

However, this hopeful wish on my part may be completely false. As more and more photos are cre-

ated and offer images of terrible events in the world, the public may become numb, and people may say, “I can’t change anything in the world, and these terrible photos just make me feel really sad.”

Professor Lauren Walsh, of New York University, wrote about this common public reaction recently in an article in the global documentary magazine Zeke. “What is the value of a photojournalist?” Walsh wrote. In

You have no idea what teachers deal with

His name was David, and he killed himself in my second year of teaching.

The Long Island high school stopped functioning that day. David was an enormous personality. A terrific athlete with a giant grin. Some of his basketball friends read poems they wrote about him at his funeral.

David ended his life 11 years ago, and I still remember him now and then. The time I beat him in an impromptu rap battle between classes. He bounded down the hall, yelling, “Nolan is nice!”

The time I pranked him by pretending that a phone call from the main office directed him to pack his stuff and go to the principal’s office. (David was a habitual linecrosser.)

Or how I tried to teach him about selffulfilling prophecies, perhaps out of some intuition of the storm that surely raged within him.

I see his face, remember specific moments. David was a gifted athlete — not a great student, but what a personality. I spoke at his wake about how he brought people together. He knew every-

one, and everyone knew him. He was kind to other students.

His death remains the single worst experience I had as a teacher. I sought help for him, but I was a second-year teacher and didn’t realize how much danger he was in. No one did, not even his friends. I tried to put the pieces together afterward, to see how I missed any signs, but I only found more questions.

Two weeks ago, a former student of mine died in a dirt-bike crash. Last month, the murderer of a student I knew was sentenced. A year before his murder, two students I knew were attacked in the woods by a group wielding machetes, and left with scars on their necks and scalps.

When I started teaching, I quickly realized how many kids were suffering. Neighbors don’t always fully grasp the depth of hardship in their own communities. Students deal with abusive and drugand alcohol-dependent parents, incarcerated siblings, and violence in their neighborhoods — in addition to run-of-the-mill adolescent angst, which can be turbulent enough.

My wife teaches elementary school, and has come home crying because of the stress some of her students — some as young as 5 — have had to bear.

One time she asked a little girl why

Letters

the end, she stated that it is to offer visual evidence — evidence that offers proof when atrocities are committed by autocratic leaders, and that allows legal action to be taken to compensate the oppressed.

Thus, the photojournalist bears witness to the truth with visual evidence. I offer that critical truth, and I may actually change the world: I take photographs to protect the oppressed! And those overseas reporters, journalists and photojournalists — I believe, in my heart, they are in agreement.

If you want to do your own research on journalists abroad, look into the Committee to Project Journalists, at cpj.org.

JOe ABATe Writer/photographer Island Park

Two bills could expand recycling

To the editor:

New York has a chance to pass two bills that could significantly reduce the state’s plastic waste and improve its current recycling system: the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act (A.5322/S.4246) and the Bigger, Better Bottle Bill (A.6353/S.237A).

If passed, the Packaging Reduction

and Recycling Infrastructure Act would be the most progressive extended producer responsibility law in the country. The law would reduce packaging by 50 percent over 12 years, and remove 12 toxic chemicals from packaging — including PFAS, lead, cadmium, and brominated flame retardants.

It would also prevent “chemical recycling” — or incineration — to count as recycling.

New York City spends $448 million to export its waste out of the state. Some of this waste ends up at the Covanta incinerator in Newark, where it pollutes an environmental justice community. By shifting the responsibility of recycling costs from taxpayers to packaging companies, the law would also ensure investments in reuse and refill systems and funding to improve recycling.

The Bigger, Better Bottle Bill would expand the current law, first passed in 1982. It would help reduce waste from common containers not currently under the law. To date, there are only nickel deposits on soda, beer and water. This bill would add non-carbonated containers like lemonade, iced tea, liquor and wine.

Moreover, the bottle bill would increase the deposit from 5 cents to 10 cents, which has proven to increase recycling rates and reduce bottle waste in states that have passed similar laws. It would also increase

she looked so tired. The answer? Her family had been huddled together all night in a corner of their basement, hiding from a gang that threatened to shoot up the house.

Another year, my wife taught a boy who, as a toddler, had been found by police sleeping on his murdered father’s chest. A group of teens had broken into the house and shot the dad.

This is part of education on Long Island. You can be certain that in just about every school there are students dealing with unimaginable grief and stress.

The mental, and at times physical, stress of helping children cope with grief can be overwhelming for a teacher. Knowing a child will go home — if he has a home — to an empty pantry, a house filled with trash or walls marked by bullet holes isn’t something you can just shelve at the end of the day.

A big part of 21st-century education is emotional learning. Mindfulness is a focus in classrooms, in the form of yoga and lessons on empathy and expressing emotions. Teachers benefit by learning these techniques, and being part of the conversation with their students.

During and after the pandemic, schools were, and still are, stretched to near the breaking point. Teachers have

endured ridiculous stress levels with pandemic-mandated changes, drops in highstakes test scores, being under fire by political groups for myriad illogical reasons, and more.

Yes, other professions are stressful. Highlighting the hardships of one job doesn’t exclude or diminish others. Law enforcement, first responders, social workers, landscapers, nurses, drivers — they all face stress and job-related hardship.

But there is a misconception that teachers are overpaid for four hours of work a day and summers off. How could that be stressful? Some people overlook the fact that teaching is more than time in a classroom, and involves more than helping a student learn the significance of Bastille Day.

Most teachers I know use the summer to decompress, and then plan and reimagine their classroom and teaching style. They take courses, read deeply, and contemplate better ways to motivate students.

As summer kicks into high gear, take a moment to thank a teacher and wish them a well-deserved break. It won’t be long before they’re helping a student with much more than long division.

Mark Nolan, the editor of the Lynbrook/ East Rockaway and Malverne/West Hempstead Heralds, taught high school English for 11 years. Comments? mnolan@liherald.com.

the handling fee from 3 cents to 5 cents per bottle — an increase that would vastly improve the livelihoods of thousands of recyclers known as “canners.”

Passing both bills is crucial, because they would work together to enhance

waste management in New York, leading to substantial waste reduction, improved recycling, and reduced landfill and incinerator use.

MARíA GuILLéN

Framework by Tim Baker

Oohing and aahing at the fireworks show overhead — Rockville Centre

In virtually every school on Long Island, there are students suffering with grief and stress.