Valley Stream Herald 11-24-2022

MARKENS JEWELERS

By ANA BoRRUto aborruto@liherald.com

An important figure in the Elmont and Valley Stream com munity, a champion of breast cancer awareness, was commem orated for her public health efforts and service in a walk-andrun event last month in Valley Stream.

The inaugural Dr. Elsy Mecklembourg-Guibert Memorial Breast Cancer Walk took place on Oct. 29 at Valley Stream State Park, in honor of the longtime public servant, community advo cate and Elmont resident, who was also Nassau County’s first

Haitian-American elected offi cial, a member of the Elmont Board of Education.

Mecklembourg-Guibert died at age 68 on Oct. 3, of CreutzfeldtJakob disease, a rare degenera tive disorder that kills one of every million people, and for which there is no treatment or cure.

One of her most notable acts of service was her dedication to helping the less fortunate gain access to proper health care.

Through her nonprofit, EMG Health Communications, Mecklembourg-Guibert hosted several annual events, including one

Nicole Eliopoulos is V.S. Business Person of the Year

By JUAN lASSo jlasso@liherald.com

Nicole Eliopoulos is not one to enjoy the spotlight, but her years of dedicated community service and business leadership have shined a bright light on her, earning the public praise of her local business colleagues as she was recognized as this year’s Valley Chamber of Commerce’s Business Person of the Year.

In her early 20s, Eliopoulos quit working at a high-end invi tation store in Manhattan whose clients included Michael Doug las and Rupert Murdoch, in hopes of starting afresh with more fulfilling work.

“Sales didn’t make sense to me because we were selling a piece of paper for $2,500,” she did. “I needed a break from that industry, because I didn’t believe in it, and thought it wasn’t worthwhile for me.”

Little did Eliopoulos know, she would find her calling in the insurance industry, working for State Farm. Pulled into the busi ness by a family friend, she began working for a State Farm Agent in 2000.

“I worked for three agents and ran an office as manager for many years,” said Eliopoulos. She found herself owning her own State Farm agency 16 years later.

The company offered her a way to serve others in the not-soglamorous but surprisingly inti mate business of insurance, par ticularly life insurance.

“What I found State Farm to be was about helping people,” Eliopoulos said. “You kind of become almost like a counselor to some families because they come, they sit down, they talk to you about everything, and you help guide them for the coverage that they need to protect their families. I’m not a salesperson. I want to get to know people, know their families, and know how I can help them.”

That people-first attitude explains everything she does at

the agency, from the hiring of her staff to the way she conducts sit-downs with her clients.

“That ‘good neighbor’ motto of State Farm and taking care of people and protecting their assets is what insurance is about,” she said. “I’ve learned from so many types of claims where people benefited from me being there to take care of them

and their families when a loss happens.”

Now a seasoned insurance agent, Eliopoulos is also a bona fide “mompreneur,” overseeing a 14-person staff team while also balancing the vital, sometimes elusive responsibilities of moth erhood, with four children.

“It’s a tough balance. Most

Courtesy Office of Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages

AttENDEES WERE All smiles, with their custom breast cancer awareness-themed cupcakes.

Nicole Eliopoulos is V.S.’s good neighbor

women somehow figure out multitasking very well because we all have to do it in different aspects of our lives every day,” said Eliopoulos. “I have a husband who has been a very good partner who helps push me ahead, so I’m very lucky in that sense.”

Eliopoulos nurtures a team of staff members that much like her have come from wildly different industries and found themselves at crossroads with their current careers in search of something more.

“This place offers an opportunity where you can take care of your fam ily, provide for them, and feel good about what you’re doing here,” Elio poulos said. “I don’t look at this as just a job, this is a career. Something you can build on. I run my office like a family and have that small office feel.”

She is a role model to her team members.

“When I first met her, she was very lively, very energetic,” said staff member Santina Arrigo who joined her office more than a year ago. ”She had a clear vision of what she want ed for her business. It was a great fit for me. She’s been an awesome boss. She’s very involved with the community and the schools.”

She’s not only sought to nurture the talent and job satisfaction of her employees but has delved

into a variety of volunteering opportunities and leadership roles.

“I love to volunteer. I coach for the HewlettWoodmere Little League and am involved in a lit tle bit of everything,” said Eliopou los, who worked with Chamber mem bers to provide services and donate to worthwhile causes from donating foodstuff to House of Hope to their latest project to return the Christ mas tree lighting to the Gibson train station.

“Nicole is our Secretary at the Hewlett-Woodmere Business Associ ation. She is also my friend. She is an excellent business person. Her hon esty and professionalism are to be admired,” said David Friedman, President of the Hewlett-Woodmere Business Association. “I’m happy she’s being recognized as Valley Stream’s Business Person of the Year.

“The idea of grassroots efforts from the ground up is the best way to support communities — and busi nesses supporting their communi ties — is the way to go. But the truth is, the commitment we make is not just to the chamber. What you want to do to support the businesses is to support each other.”

“It’s incredible and I’m touched to be honored by my peers,” said Eliopoulos of her recognition. “I’m very proud of this award and humbled.”

Courtesy Nicole Eliopoulos

State Farm InSurance Agent Nicole Eliopoulos was named the Valley Stream Chamber of Commerce Business Person of the Year for her exceptional business leadership.

’ve learned from so many types of claims where people benefited from me being there to take care of them and their families when a loss happens.

nIcole elIopouloS Insurance agent

Herald ScHoolS

Valley Stream 24 celebrates Red Ribbon Week

all three Valley Stream 24 schools took part in a Red Ribbon Week-inspired Spirit Week with students embarking on classroom activities and lessons cen tering on promoting awareness of the dangers of alcohol and drugs. This year’s National Red Rib bon Week theme was Celebrate Life. Life DrugFree.

The week-long celebration, sponsored by the National Family Partnership, the organization not only focuses on drug prevention but in recent years, advocates for the emotional and physical well-being of youth. To that end, Valley Stream 24 uses this occasion to educate students to value their physical, mental, and emotional well-being as much as their education.

During Red Ribbon Week, Brooklyn Avenue Elementary School students were treated to a visit by Brian Steckler from Elks Lodge number 1, whose community-based organization donated red ribbons to the students to help them celebrate Red Ribbon Week. Brooklyn Avenue families were also invited to the school to share some school spirit and take some photos.

As per the Red Ribbon Week tradition, each day had its own theme. On Dress Up as Your Future Career Day, Robert W. Carbonaro Elemen tary School students dressed up as what they wanted to be in the future. For some students, that meant coming to school dressed as their favorite teacher and even Principal Rosario Iacono. On Team Up to Stand Up Day, William L. Buck Ele mentary School students and teachers wore team shirts to stand up against drug and alcohol abuse.

–Juan Lasso

Valley Stream 13 art featured at state exhibit

during the recent New York State School Board Association’s annual convention, the confer ence’s digital art display exhib ited student artwork from around the state including the creative creation of Valley Stream 13 students. The display was made possible thanks to New York State Art Teachers whose mission is to strengthen art education by encouraging the study of art in public and private schools across the state.

The art exhibit at NYSSBA annual con ventions provides a showcase for student artwork from student artists ranging in grades from elementary to high school.

“The NYSSBA art exhibit provides our students with a wonderful opportunity to show their talents along with some of the state’s most talented student artists,” said Superintendent Judith LaRocca. “Art edu cation offers many benefits, including enhancing fine motor skills and develop ing critical and lateral thinking. Art also provides our students with an emotional outlet where painting or drawing can be used as an expression of their feelings.”

–Juan Lasso

Courtesy Valley Stream District 24

To celebraTe red Ribbon Week, William L. Buck Elementary School students wore team shirts in keeping with the theme of Team Up and Stand-Up Day in their stand against drug abuse.

Photos courtesy Valley Stream District 13

Wheeler avenue elemenTary School students’ artwork was featured in the NYSSBA Art Exhibit. Above is artwork made by Howell Road third-grader Karen Martorana.

Wheeler avenue elemenTary School students’ artwork was featured in the NYSSBA Art Exhibit. Above is “Greg Mike Inspired Bugs Bunny” by six-year-old Wheeler student Madeline Bitz.

Wheeler avenue elemenTary School students’ artwork was featured in the NYSSBA Art Exhibit. Above is “Architecture Blueprint” by three-year-old Wheeler stu dent Abel Lesane.

Paying tribute to a breast cancer warrior

each October — Breast Cancer Aware ness Month — that focused on early pre vention.

Her son, Youri Guibert, said early detection and prevention was his mother’s “motto.”

She encouraged women to conduct self-breast exams ahead of annual mammo grams, which helped many discover lumps on their breasts on their own.

“There were women who attended the conferences every year — some of them came back and said (to my mother), ’You saved my life,’” Guibert said.

proud — and she would feel the same way.

“She was a very humble woman, but to know that her work really was the cause of the honor, she would be very proud,” she said. “Especially in the Elmont community, which was her base.”

Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages joined Catho lic Health, Nassau Univer sity Medical Center and the Nassau Cancer Services Program to walk in Mecklembourg-Guibert’s memo ry, to help educate women on protecting themselves against the disease.

are addressed.”

Sara Parise, an oncology nurse, and director of the Cancer Services Pro gram of Nassau County at Long Island Jewish Medical Center, said it was inspiring to see the community coming together to support the cause.

Her program offers no-cost cancer screenings for uninsured residents of Nassau County and helps those who don’t have the resources to be able to receive a breast cancer diagnosis at the earliest and most treatable stage, she said.

Where to receive a free cancer screening

Elsy MecklembourgGuibert

In his mother’s and grandmother’s respective generations, Guibert said, breast cancer wasn’t often spoken of. He added that seeing his mother recognized for her outspokenness on the issue and her ded ication to informing others made him

“Dr. Elsy Mecklembourg has a legacy of being a strong advocate of public health in the community,” said Solages.

“She was an adamant supporter of dis ease prevention, early treatment, and detection, which is an important compo nent of how diseases like breast cancer

“Don’t think just because you don’t have insurance that you don’t have a way to get screened for cancer,” Parise said. “We’re going out and working with all the community partners anywhere in the county to be able to raise the awareness of screening and early detec tion.”

Talking to a healthcare provider, pin pointing the specific age of when to schedule a first mammogram, and con tinuing to get them annually are just a few steps one can take in taking respon sibility for their health.

“We don’t want folks to think that just because October is over, breast can cer awareness is over,” Parise said. “We want to make sure around the rest of the year folks are making sure to stay up on their breast cancer screenings, to make sure they are aware of signs and symptoms of their own health.”

Although mammograms typically occur at around age 40, depending on one’s risk, breast cancer awareness can begin at any age.

Britt Klein, a physical education teacher at Valley Stream Central High School, organizes and runs a yearly breast cancer walk for students, faculty, and parents. She began putting the walks together in 2008 after a couple of students approached her with the idea.

She said the event has been a success ever since, and although the school has

The Cancer Services Program of Nassau County works with the New York State Department of Health and providers in the county to pro vide free screenings for those who need them.

This includes people who can not pay for screenings, do not have health insurance or have health insurance that does not cover the cost. Clients must live in New York State and meet age or income eligibility requirements.

For more information or to schedule a free screening, contact (516) 470-4165.

–Ana Borruto

had to put a pause on the walk due to Covid-19, she hopes to bring it back next year.

During the month of October, the school holds a “Go Pink Fun Fair” where all the extracurricular clubs sets up tables geared towards breast cancer awareness, and the students are decked out in pink. Each attendee donates a dol lar to the fundraising efforts, Klein said. Students also help dress up the hallways with pink decorations that month.

“I think everyone has been affected by it in some way or another, or know somebody who was affected by it,” Klein said. “There is no better (cause) to be fundraising money for.”

Courtesy Office of Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages ThE inauGural Dr. Elsy Mecklembourg-Guibert Memorial Breast Cancer Walk took place on Oct. 29 at Valley Stream State Park, in honor of the longtime public servant.

ANCHOR dance returns to American Legion

By BRENDAN CARPENTER bcarpenter@liherald.com

The Town of Hempstead’s ANCHOR program serves over 1,000 children and adults with special needs. Throughout the year, they hold several events, includ ing camps, fitness classes and dances.

One event that stands alone is the dance for handi capped teens and adults host ed each year by the Valley Stream American Legion Post 854. ANCHOR, which stands for Answering the Needs of Citizens with Hand icaps through Organized Rec reation, has had their big dance hosted by the Ameri can Legion for 42 years. They hosted the dance again on November 15.

This year, though, a newer member of the post hosted the dance for the first time.

and it’s an opportunity for them to get out and dance.”

Vincente said about 80 teens and adults participated and he expects at least 100 next year.

Along with the program participants, scouts from Troops 116 and 99 do every thing they can to both ensure the partygoers enjoy them selves and the ANCHOR workers blow off some steam. The scouts act as wait ers, busboys and gophers for the night, working to let everyone there have a good time.

ViNCENTE Vice Commander, Post 854

Anthony Vincente was active duty in the Marines until the beginning of 2021. Upon returning home, he was introduced to the post and within a year, was promoted to vice commander. With that role, he had the opportunity to host for the first time.

“It was great, we had a great turnout,” Vincente said. “The kids had a great time

“The scouts love it,” Cub Master Patrick Burke said. I’m so glad that Legion Post 854 hosts this every year, it’s a credit to them. It’s also a credit to the scouts because they look forward to it too and do a great job.”

Between the two troops, there’s about 90 scouts. Burke said every scout wants to take part, but since there isn’t enough room, there’s a sign-up sheet that limits the amount of scout help for the dance. This year, 28 scouts and seven adult lead ers took part. “It’s actually quite nice having to limit it because we get to tell them we have too many volunteers, which isn’t always the case,” Burke said.

MaryAnn Hanson, the coordinator for the ANCHOR program, believes this dance is even more special for the teens and adults that attend, who range in age from 18 to 50. She said having the chance to eat, socialize and dance with all their friends and staff makes it a “very special

event.”

“Our kids absolutely love this,” Han son said. “They dress up more than nor mal and they turn out the lights and put on strobe lights, which they love. The kids feel like they are at a very special event, which they are.”

ANThoNy

Courtesy George Schuchman TEENs AND ADulTs from the Town of Hempstead’s ANCHOR program ate, laughed and danced at American Legion Post 854 last week.

That’s right, girls can play hockey, too

Islanders’ elite travel program celebrates Title IX

By MALLORY WILSON mwilson@liherald.com

It’s just 37 words long, but its impact has lasted 50 years and counting.

The civil rights law known as Title IX opened the doors to legal equality for women in educational insti tutions — including sports — and was celebrated at Garden City’s Cradle of Avi ation last week when more than 100 girl ice hockey players and their parents gath ered to talk about how this federal legisla tion afforded these girls the opportunity to play a sport that has typically been male-dominated.

They are members of the New York Islanders Girls Elite Hockey program run at the Northwell Health Ice Center in East Meadow — the same facility used by the cherished local NHL squad. The teams have girls ranging in ages from 8 to 19,and was started in 2016 by Alexis Moed, the general manager of the Pre mier Hockey Federation’s Connecticut Whale.

“It was just my feeling that things weren’t being done the best way that they could be, or the way that was the most beneficial to the players,” Moed said. “So, I took all of my experiences and what I went through, and taking everything that I didn’t have growing up, and putting it together for them in the program.”

The young players come from all over Long Island. Some started with Girls Elite Hockey, while others might have first dropped pucks in boys’ leagues before eventually finding themselves with the newer league. Either way, the consensus is clear — they like where they are, and they like having their own league.

Debbie Curry started playing with an Oyster Bay town league before joining a travel hockey team with the Long Island Sharks in New Hyde Park. But after three years playing with them, the 12-year-old goalie from Seaford was let go.

“She was so dedicated, and we were very involved,” her dad, Keith Curry said. “And then she got cut along with most of the other girls on the team.”

Moving Debbie to Girls Elite Hockey was the best thing to happen to her, said her mom, Christie.

“She always had a target (on) her for being a girl in a boy sport,” Christie said. “Here she can be recognized and have a chance to go somewhere with hockey in the future because they’re giving the girls a chance to shine. I’ve never seen her so happy, and she can just be herself.”

Debbie wants to eventually go pro, and feels like this Islanders group gives her that chance because “they accepted me much quicker than the boys did.”

Being accepted and feeling more com fortable were common themes.

“I felt welcome on the boys’ teams I played with, but there were definitely some boys who would tell me that they were better than me because I was a girl,” said Emily Stein, a 12-year-old from Bell more. “It’s so much better with girls because you feel more comfortable. And

it’s like a second family.”

Adrianna Morabito says she can com pete at the same level as boys, but cama raderie is what led the 12-year-old Want agh player to the all-girls league.

“At any other organization, I could’ve been at 12U and quit because I didn’t like anyone on my team,” she said. “But because I was here, the friendships have been really good, and they’ve made me a much better player.”

Last week’s panel, moderated by Jamie Hersch of the NHL Network, pre sented perspectives of Title IX’s impact from women in different fields. Among those joining Hersch were Girls Elite Hockey founder Moed along with UBS Arena human resources head Lea Del Rosario, Dr. Amy West from Northwell Health Orthopedic Institute in New Hyde Park, and Kelly Nash, the head coach of Long

ice

JAMIe heRSch, Of the NHL Network, asked each panelist a list of questions for them to give their input on.

AdRIANNA MORABItO, 12, far left, and teammates Megan McCarthy, 14, and Emily Stein, 12, joined those participating in a panel to talk about Title IX’s impact on women in sports at the Cradle of Aviation in Garden City.

hockey team.

“I’m surprised that there hasn’t been more growth in the last 50 years,” Moed said. “But we recognize that the change can be slow. And we’re all committed to pushing that along.”

Island University’s women’s

Tim Baker/Herald photos

MeMBeRS Of the New York Islanders Girls Elite Hockey program joined their parents and coaches celebrating the 50th anniversary of Title IX last week with a panel of women who spoke about how the groundbreaking law shaped their professional careers.

GOP, Dems can’t agree on district maps

As comments close, voters beg for more time to decide

By KarINa KOVaC kkovac@liherald.com

Nassau County Republicans and Demo crats remained far apart when it comes to redistricting the county legislature. And as a final map is expected to be released this week — if not already — some who gath ered to see drafts proposals in Mineola seemed displeased, too.

Redistricting happens once every decade, coinciding with the census, and happening at all levels of government. Bat tles raged earlier this year over statewide maps determining congressional districts and state officeholders. And it was no dif ferent last week when the public had a chance to speak out about the maps used to determine who will represent them in the county legislature.

It was, of course, a meeting that also included claims of “gerrymandering,” from people like SUNY Binghamton politi cal science professor Daniel Magleby, who defined the term as districting that typical ly gives one political party “an unfair advantage by diluting opposition’s voting strength.”

“This is a textbook, example of what a packing gerrymander looks like,” Magleby said of the maps, comparing them to the last time the county redistricted, and what he described as an “extreme partisan ger rymander and an outlier relative to this ensemble of maps.

“Both maps — the 2013 map and the Nov. 10 Republican proposal — show pat terns of systematic bias against Democrat ic voters in ways that underweighs their influence on elections in this county.”

Even Francis Moroney, chair of the committee in charge of reviewing the maps, agreed with Magleby.

“We all know that their proposal is bla tantly illegal,” he said. “So it is not surpris ing that they are trying to shield the map from public view, and it made it impossible for the public to understand why they are proposing what they are proposing. We cannot ignore the fact that the severe seg

regation and discrimination in Nassau County is a result of gerrymandered maps.”

But if there was a lack of transparency on the Republican side, it wasn’t much dif ferent than what was happening on the Democratic side, said committee member Peter Bee.

“They ambush you,” he said. “That’s their job. They’re trying to paint a picture that doesn’t exist. From our point of view, a Democratically controlled Assembly, a Democratically controlled Senate, to the Democratic governor enacted a law that said redistricting shall be done in a partic ular manner.”

The main goal, Bee explained, is “one person, one vote,” that is that “each legisla tor should represent roughly the same number of people.”

“I think our map has a smaller devia tion in population than does the Democrat ic map,” Bee said. “The state law also says that you are not to deny racial or language minority groups their participation in pol itics. We do not think that our mapping has done so.”

But each map has its flaws, according to

civil rights lawyer Frederick Brewington, describing those problems with terms like “stacking,” “packing” and “cracking,” which he says creates an unequal balance of power.

“It’s very important for you to under stand that the reason why so many people are here, there is no hope that you’re going to do the right thing,” Brewington said. “But there is hope that we can take this to a place where they will say that you did them wrong. And as a result, we made the record for you, so you can’t say you weren’t warned.”

Brewington implored the committee to think of voters when designing the maps, while also looking inward.

“When you take a look at your own map, please, everybody, look at it in the mirror,” he said. “Look at yourself and evaluate whether or not am I, as a human being with authority and power, will hand this map over to the legislature so that they can do their dirty work?

“And if that’s your vote, shame on you. But God bless.”

The committee was expected to finalize its maps on Monday.

what the people are saying

Proposed redistricting maps for the Nassau County Legislature has drawn mixed reactions from some of the people it

“Possible 10,000 simulated maps using the gold standards method known as ensemble it was found to be more extremely gerrymandered in favor of Republicans that all of the maps run methodology recognized by the courts. The mapmaker then attempted to debunk the methodolo gy by saying that it doesn’t take pub lic comment into consideration, but neither do his maps. When asked if he believes a map would comply with the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, he said, ‘I don’t have to apply the law to this map.’”

Fleischer,

“Last time I spoke to this body, I asked you to redistrict by the interest of the people, not party. It seems that that has gone by the wayside. You’re dividing communities. You’re diluting our community representa tion and our ability to get anything done for our community. I look to our neighbor over in South Hempstead — they’re even smaller than us, and they are three parts. That’s crazy. How you divided up Freeport? Oh my gosh, crazy. I know firsthand the diffi culty of trying to get something done when you are divided up.”

–Karen Montalbano,

liaiso

Karina Kovac/Herald photos

There were a number of unhappy people attending last week’s meeting in Mineola of the committee in charge of creating districting maps for the Nassau County Legislature. A final decision was expected as early as this week.

POlITICal sCIeNCe PrOfessOr Daniel Magleby tells a Nassau County Legislature redistricting committee last week its maps from both Democrats and Republicans show clear gerrymandering. Final maps determining who will represent who at the county level are expected as early as this week.

would represent.

–Arlo

Nassau County Civil Liberties Union organizer

Baldwin Civic Association government

Hofstra law dedicates Abrams Fensterman Lobby

For 16 years, the law firm provided money to support students at Hofstra University’s Maurice A. Deane School of Law. And now the lobby there will be named after the firm.

The dedication of the new Abrams Fensterman Lobby is part of Hofstra Law’s Vision 2020 campaign. Samuel Fer rara, executive partner at the Lake Suc cess-based firm, was a member of the campaign’s leadership board.

“We as a firm are truly honored by this recognition from Hofstra Law,” said Howard Fensterman, the firm’s manag ing partner, in a release. “We are proudly committed to continuing our support of the law school and their talented and ded icated students.”

The first law school campaign was suc cessfully completed more than 22 years ago — around the same time Abrams Fensterman was founded, and has since raised nearly $22 million, surpassing its initial goals of $12.5 million, and even its “stretch” goal of $17.5 million. The cam paign was created as part of the law school’s 50th anniversary.

Funds were raised through alumni, friends, organizations, faculty and staff members. Hofstra also hosted a hall of fame and 50th anniversary celebration that supported the campaign.

Money is used to fund recruitment efforts as well as provide scholarships while expanding cutting-edge programs in areas such as legal technology. Funds

The main enTryway into the Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University is now known as Abrams Fensterman Lobby after the Lake Success-based firm that has provided money and instruction at the school. Joining in the dedication were, from left, Abrams Fensterman managing partner Howard Fensterman, Hofstra Law dean Gail Prudenti, and Abrams Fensterman executive partner Robert Abrams.

were also used to create new interdisci plinary programs within Hofstra’s gradu ate schools.

The current campaign has been underway the last four years and has

ficial intelligence projects within the school’s research lab while adding five new legal tech courses to the curriculum.

The campaign also supported faculty scholarship and hiring, and adapted to virtual and hybrid teaching during the coronavirus pandemic with upgraded “lecture capture” technology in newly modernized classrooms with a new stu dent lounge and public event spaces.

Attorneys from Abrams Fensterman — including more than two-dozen Hofs tra Law alum — routinely serve as adjunct professors and guest speakers. They also participate in the law school’s mentorship programs and mock inter view events.

The firm was founded in 2000 and has offices in Brooklyn, White Plains, Albany and Rochester.

The Abrams Fensterman Lobby is a multifunction space where students study, collaborate, and gather for law school receptions and communityfocused events.

“We are grateful for visionaries like Howard Fensterman, and everyone at Abrams Fensterman for their investment in Hofstra Law and their commitment to

Courtesy Brooke Walker

LIPA looks to power future with scholarships

Looking for a career? Long Island Power Authority might have it for you — and the utility is putting money behind it through a new scholarship program with Nassau and Suffolk County community colleges.

The LIPA scholarship is designed to provide education and training for stu dents from households with incomes below Long Island’s median, which is about $100,000 for a family of four.

The scholarship represents a $350,000 commitment over the next five years. It will provide 50 full scholarships for stu dents to attend one of the community col leges and earn an associate’s degree or certificate that’ll help them pursue a career in the electric utility or clean ener gy sectors.

“Electricity is the clean fuel of the future,” said Thomas Falcone, LIPA’s chief executive, in a release.

In fact, Falcone points to various stud ies he says predicts electricity will pro vide more than 70 percent of New York’s energy needs by 2050 — and be entirely carbon-free.

The 50 scholarships LIPA will offer over the next five years are intended to ensure there will be an adequate, home grown workforce to support it, the utility leader added.

Falcone was joined in the announce ment by Maria Conzatti, interim presi dent of Nassau Community College, and Edward Bonahue, president of Suffolk

What awardees get

Winning a Long Island Power Authority scholarship allows students to:

■ Get money toward earning an associate degree or certificate pro gram at either Nassau or Suffolk County community colleges.

■ Attend LIPA workforce seminars with utility executives and experts.

■ Receive job placement support for available positions at LIPA, PSEG Long Island, and other LIPA contrac tors and suppliers.

County Community College.

“The Long Island Power Authority’s generous scholarships will help us recruit and sustain students entering the STEM fields,” Bonahue said, “transforming our workforce and our region’s economy.”

The curriculum offered at both schools are expected to include courses relevant to the work LIPA does now — and is expected to do — to meet the clean energy goals set by New York’s Climate Act.

Signed in 2019, the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act requires New York to reduce greenhouse emis sions 40 percent by 2030, and no less than

85 percent by 2050 from 1990 levels. The law is designed to help guide New York toward carbon neutrality — achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions.

Also, the courses are expected to show case LIPA’s mission of providing clean, reliable and affordable energy to not only Long Island, but also the Rockaways.

Graduates using LIPA scholarship funds are expected to get a competitive edge when it comes time to apply for jobs at the Long Island Power Authority, along with PSE&G Long Island, which plans to hire hundreds of entry-level workers over the next five years.

Ben Fiebert/Herald

Nassau CommuNity College is one of the two schools that are working with Long Island Power Authority to give scholarships to students looking to get into the electrical and power fields. LIPA predicts electricity will account for 70 percent of New York’s power needs by 2050.

The five-year program will provide annual funding for 10 full-time, two-year scholarships.

Scholarship recipients will come from low- to moderate-income students who reside in disadvantaged communities — identified by New York’s Climate Justice Working Group — planning to attend either Nassau Community College or Suf folk County Community College.

The first recipients are expected to be announced early next year. To learn more, visit LIPower.org.

–Ben Fiebert

LIJ Medical Center is in the top 10% of hospitals nationally for oncology, according to U.S.News&WorldReport.

Our doctors are raising health by pioneering innovative approaches to cancer from novel chemotherapy techniques to first in the nation robotic mastectomies with minimal scarring. Because when it comes to cancer, there’s no status quo. There’s only “how far can we go?”

STEPPING OUT

Usher in the Thankful for feasting and festivities

By Karen Bloom

Feasting Native American-style

Early on in our nation’s history Native Americans handed down time-honored practices to rejoice over nature’s bounty at harvest time, even though it certainly wasn’t Thanksgiving as we know it. Yet, there was plenty of feasting and festivities as these early Americans gathered to commemorate their harvest before preparing to settle in for the approaching winter.

An annual holiday event — one that has been popular here for more than 25 years now — takes place at Garvies Point Museum and Preserve yearly around Thanksgiving.

• Garvies Preserve Native American Festival, Nov. 26, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

50 Barry Drive, Glen Cove

• For information, contact (516) 571-8010 or GarviesPointMuseum.com

• Old Westbury Gardens

Shimmering Solstice, select dates through Jan. 1, beginning 5:30 p.m.

71 Old Westbury Road, Old Westbury

Saturday’s hands-on program — held both indoors and out — gives visitors a first-hand look at Native American life through a glimpse of how the state’s earliest inhabitants lived. Everyone can participate in tool and pottery-making, stone drilling and the use of the atlatl (a spear-throwing tool). Primitive fire building (without matches!) and some on-site cooking are among other activities always enjoyed by all who take part.

• For tickets/ information, contact ShimmeringSolstice.com or OldWestburyGardens.org or (516) 333-0048

Families can also explore the process of creating “dugout” canoes, along with corn grinding and storytelling (at 11 a.m., 1 and 3 p.m.) with Chief Redfeather of eastern Long Island’s Montaukett tribe. Also check out displays of artifacts from the museum collection and the authentic reproduction of a wigwam, always a favorite with kids and parents.

While there, be sure to take a look at the museum’s permanent exhibits, which showcase Long Island’s Native American culture and archaeology, as well as the geology of Long Island and New York state.

Shimmering Solstice

The famed lush grounds that define Old Westbury Gardens are festively lit up for the holiday season. The walk-through seasonal light show, “Shimmering Solstice,” returns for a second year, opening Friday, through Jan. 1.

This year more visuals have been added, including a re-designed interactive area with three new exhibits to engage adults and children alike; seasonal music throughout the expanded illuminated path, along with an illuminated water element on the West Pond. Also the Garden of Appreciation will be turned into a comfortable warming area with a concession stand for seasonal snacks and drinks.

The custom-built experience — created by Lightswitch, a collective of internationally recognized lighting, media, and visual designers — has been specially fashioned to highlight Old Westbury Gardens’ uniquen characteristics.

“Shimmering Solstice was designed to be a celebration of our space,” says Maura Brush, director of horticulture at Old Westbury Gardens. “The features that define Old Westbury Gardens such as the formal allées, ponds, and statuary are all illuminated so visitors can view them in a completely different light. Instead of flowers, the gardens will be blooming with light. This is truly an enchanting combination of the beauty of the gardens and the magic of the season.”

The family-friendly experience is intended to be explored at your own pace. For the exciting finale, everyone will be dazzled to see Westbury House’s south facade come alive with magical lights and seasonal sounds. And this year an exciting twist is promised, according to the design team.

The Doo Wop Project

The Doo Wop Project begins at the beginning: tracing the evolution of Doo Wop from the classic sound of five guys singing harmonies on a street corner to the biggest hits on the radio today. Featuring stars from Broadway hits ‘Jersey Boys,’ ‘Motown: The Musical’ and ‘A Bronx Tale,’ The Doo Wop Project brings unparalleled authenticity of sound and vocal excellence to recreate — and in some cases entirely reimagine — the greatest music in American pop and rock history.

It’s a musical journey featuring foundational tunes from the Crests, Belmonts and Flamingos through the vocal artistry of Smokey Robinson, The Temptations, and The Four Seasons all the way to ‘DooWopified’ versions of modern hits from Michael Jackson, Jason Mraz, Maroon 5, and Sam Smith.

Sunday, Nov. 27, 3 p.m. $40-$65. Madison Theatre, Molloy University campus, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre. (516) 323-4444 or MadisonTheatreNY.org.

Straight No Chaser

It’s been 25 years since Straight No Chaser introduced their signature style of a cappella to the world. If the phrase ‘male a cappella group’ conjures up an image of students in blue blazers, ties, and khakis singing traditional college songs on ivied campuses ... think again. These gents are neither strait-laced nor straight-faced, but neither are they vaudeville-style kitsch.

They have emerged as a phenomenon with a massive fan base and a long list of accomplishments including two RIAA Gold Certified albums, over 1.5 million concert tickets sold, over 1 billion streams on Pandora, and over 2 million albums sold worldwide. SNC is the real deal, the captivating sound of nine unadulterated human voices coming together to make extraordinary music — and with a sense of humor Now, these delightful fellas are on tour celebrating their milestone anniversary.

Tuesday, Nov. 29, 7:30 p.m. $99.50, $79.50, $69.50, 59.50, $25. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. (800) 745-3000 or Ticketmaster.com or ParamountNY.com.

WHERE WHEN

Courtesy Garvies Point Museum

Photos: Garvies Point Museum’s annual Native American Fall Festival is a seasonal tradition.

Now that we’ve enjoyed the big feast, all the spectacle and delights of the festive season have arrived. Yes you can head out and start that holiday shopping — or venture out to explore some of the many holiday-themed events nearby.

Courtesy Old Westbury Garden

Photo: Old Westbury Gardens’ meandering paths along the famed Walled Garden, the Rose Garden, and the South Lawn are aglow with holiday splendor.

THE SCENE

On stage

Plaza Theatrical continues its season with “Grumpy Old Men: The Musical,” Saturday, Nov. 26, 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, Nov. 27, 2:30 p.m.; Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2 p.m. Also Dec. 1-4. Based on the beloved 1993 film, which starred Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau and Ann-Margret, this stage adaptation captures the lovably crotchety characters through twinkling humor, great songs, and the affectionate depiction of a small town that feels like home to everyone. It’s performed at Plaza’s stage at the Elmont Library Theatre, 700 Hempstead Tpke., Elmont. $49, $45 seniors. Elmont. For tickets, call (516) 599-6870 or visit PlazaTheatrical.com.

Central High School District Board meets

Holiday fun

Tony Danza

The actor-entertainer bring his “Standards & Stories” concert to Tilles Center, Friday, Dec. 2, 7:30 p.m., performing a selection of his favorites from the Great American Songbook while interweaving stories about his life and personal connection to the music. In this joyous evening of glorious songs and personal storytelling, on the LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Boulevard, Brookville, Danza combines timeless music with wit, charm, storytelling, and a dash of soft shoe and ukulele, backed by a four-piece band.Tickets are $62, available at TillesCenter.org or (516) 299-3100.

Valley Stream Central High School District Board of Education meets Tuesday, Dec. 6, 8 p.m. for their committee meeting at the District Office Board Room, One Kent Road. For more information, call district clerk at (516) 872-5628 or visit Vschsd.org.

Visit the streets of 19th century London during the darkest days of the year, in this adaption of the classic “A Christmas Carol,” with the Experiential Theater Company, Friday and Saturday, Nov. 25-26, 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.; also Wednesday, Nov. 30, 10:15 a.m. and noon, on the Long Island Children’s Museum stage. Meet the Cratchit family, Mr. Scrooge, and the ghosts of past, present and future in this interactive show that weaves together music, humor, puppetry and collaboration. Celebrate the change of seasons through this beloved literary tale. Performances continue through December. Long Island Children’s Museum, Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 224-5800 or LICM.org.

Art talk

Join Nassau County Museum Director Charles A. Riley II, PhD, for a Director’s Seminar, Tuesday, Dec. 6, 4 p.m. He’ll discuss “Photography: Beauty and Truth,” in a session that examines the intensely emotional approach to photography taken by many of the greats. Participation is limited; registration required. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Drive, Roslyn Harbor. (516) 484-9337 or NassauMuseum.org.

District 30 board meets

Valley Stream District 30 board of education will meet Monday, Dec. 19, 8 p.m., for their business meeting at Shaw Avenue School, 99 Shaw Ave. For more information, call district clerk Ashley Starna at (516) 434-3600 or visit ValleyStream30.com.

Letters to Santa

Come to the Henry Waldinger Memorial Library to write a Letter to Santa, Friday, Nov. 25, 3 p.m. Registration is required. For every letter that is written and submitted, Macy’s will make a $1.00 donation to the Make-A-Wish Foundation more information, contact 516) 8256422 or email hwmlcontact@ hotmail.com.

Dec. 20

District 13 board meets

Valley Stream District 13 board of education will meet, Tuesday, Dec. 20, 8 p.m., at James A. Dever School, 585 Corona Ave, Valley Stream for their regular board meeting. For more information, call (516) 568-6100 or visit ValleyStream13.com.

Christmas Services

Join the Bethlehem Assembly of God for Christmas services, Saturday, Dec. 26, starting at 4 p.m. at their campus, 12 E. Fairview Ave. For more information, call (516) 285- 8585 or visit Bethlehemag.org.

Winterfest

Join Valley Stream for the Annual Winterfest, Friday, Dec. 2, 7 p.m., at Hendrickson Park. Christmas tree lighting and more. For info visitit VSNY.org.

On exhibit

Photography’s ascent in the art world is an international phenomenon. Nassau County Museum of Art’s star-studded exhibition spans the historical roots of the medium. View works by Ansel Adams and his generation and the thrilling, large-format color works of such contemporary masters as Cindy Sherman, Thomas Struth, James Casebere and Gregory Crewdson, among others. From the documentary to the painterly, images bear witness to the times.

On view through March 5. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Drive, Roslyn Harbor. (516) 484-9337 or NassauMuseum.org.

Hot Cocoa time

As the weather turns colder, turn to a soothing hot cocoa. Visit Long Island Children’s Museum and make some hot cocoa in a jar, at the drop-in program, Saturday, Nov. 26, noon-2 p.m. Pick your own toppings and decorate your jar. Long Island Children’s Museum, Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 224-5800 or LICM.org.

Having an event?

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

On stage

Everyone’s favorite candy man lights up the stage, in Plaza Theatrical’s family-friendly production of “Willy Wonka,” Saturday, Nov. 26, 11 a.m. This scrumdidilyumptious musical features the enchanting songs from the film starring Gene Wilder. Tickets are $16. Grab your golden ticket and visit the Plaza stage at the Elmont Library Theatre, 700 Hempstead Tpke., Elmont. For tickets, call (516) 599-6870 or visit PlazaTheatrical.com.

Grasso apologizes after social media altercation

By JUAN LASSO jlasso@liherald.com

What had been a private Facebook exchange has forced a Valley Stream vil lage trustee to apologize, with some even demanding his resignation.

A conversation between Vincent Grasso and 21-year-old Amil Virani sur faced earlier this month where it appears the trustee verbally jabs Vira ni’s autism. Active in local politics, Vira ni is no stranger to prodding elected offi cials on community issues.

Grasso wrote on the social media plat form that “I am really beginning to believe what people have told me” that Virani is a “spectrum kid,” referring to terms used to describe those with autism.

The remarks came after Virani reportedly pressed Grasso in a series of texts seeking an explanation of why Raymond Webb replaced the village trustee in his long-held role as executive director of the Nassau County Bridge Authority.

Virani’s friend, Nicolas Nogueira, posted an online petition shortly after denouncing Grasso’s remarks and call ing on the trustee for not only a public apology, but also his resignation. The petition has garnered hundreds of virtu al signatures, and also calls on Valley Stream village officials to change policy so that such exchanges with constitu ents won’t happen in the future.

Mayor Edwin Fare didn’t wait for the results of the petition, instead releasing a statement calling Grasso’s remarks “despicable” and “disgusting,” and

demanding he apologize not just to Vira ni, but “the entire Valley Stream com munity.”

“The use of hate language is unac ceptable and should not be tolerated in any form,” Fare said. “Elected officials must be held to the highest standards of comportment, striving to treat all mem bers of the community with respect, dig nity and kindness.”

Fare stopped short, however, of call ing for Grasso’s resignation.

In his own statement, Grasso accused Virani of stalking him online over the past six months, and that his comments were a result of frustration.

“For months, this very troubled young man has stalked and harassed me in order to get my attention, and I have asked him numerous times to stop con tacting me,” Grasso said. “He has obses sively called my employer trying to get personal information about me, record ing those conversations, and threatening to post them online unless I would go on a date with him.

“Dealing with an obsessive stalker is extremely unpleasant, and after six months of frustration, I made some very ill-chosen remarks for which I apologize and regret.”

Virani, however, denied Grasso’s accusations.

“He’s a sitting trustee, and he’s insult ing the very people who are paying his salary,” Virani said. “We all say things in life we don’t actually mean, but Grasso has made a number of insults (through out the years), and flat out refused to apologize for his remarks directly to me, and is now defaming me” publicly.

Juan Lasso/Herald

VALLey StreAm ViLLAge trustee Vincent Grasso earned a rebuke from Mayor Edwin Fare and hundreds in the community after a social media exchange with 21-year-old Amil Virani that appeared to ridicule his autism. Grasso apologized, but claimed Virani has been cyberstalking him for months.

The Bristal Assisted Living has been serving seniors and their families in the tri-state area since 2000, offering independent and assisted living, as well as state-of-the-art memory care programs. We are committed to helping residents remain independent, while providing peace of mind that expert care is available, if needed. On-site services and amenities include daily housekeeping, gourmet meals, a cinema, salon, plus so much more. Discover a vibrant community, countless social events with new friends, and a luxurious lifestyle that you will only find at The Bristal.

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

BY THE BOARD OF APPEALS

Pursuant to New York State Town Law Article 16, New York State Public Officers Law Article 7, and the Town of Hempstead Building Zone Ordinance, NOTICE is hereby given that the BOARD OF APPEALS of the Town of Hempstead will hold a public hearing in the Old Town Hall, 350 Front Street, Room 230, Second Floor, Hempstead, New York on 11/30/22 at 2:00 P.M. to consider the following applications and appeals:

THE FOLLOWING CASES WILL BE CALLED

STARTING AT 2:00 P.M.

NR VALLEY STREAMValley Stream Green Acres, LLC, Variance in off-street parking (proposed gas attendant Kiosk in conjunction with proposed BJ’s gas station)., S/E cor. Green Acres Rd. & Sunrise Hwy., a/k/a 2034 Green Acres Mall. S.E.Q.R. determination not made.

ALL PAPERS PERTAINING TO THE ABOVE HEARING ARE AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION AT THE BOARD OF APPEALS, TOWN HALL, 1 WASHINGTON STREET, HEMPSTEAD, NY 11550.

This notice is only for new cases in Valley Stream within Town of Hempstead jurisdiction.

There are additional cases in different hamlets, towns and villages on the Board of Appeals calendar. The full calendar is available at https://hempsteadny.gov/ 509/Board-of-Appeals

The internet address of the website streaming for this meeting is https://hempsteadny.gov/ 576/Live-Streaming-Video Interested parties may appear at the above time and place. At the call of the Chairman, the Board will consider decisions on the foregoing and those on the Reserve Decision calendar and such other matters as may properly come before it.

135595

LEGAL NOTICE

REFEREE’S NOTICE OF SALE IN FORECLOSURE SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU HSBC BANK USA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION AS TRUSTEE FOR ACE SECURITIES CORP. HOME EQUITY LOAN TRUST, SERIES 2006-HE1, ASSET BACKED PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, Plaintiffagainst - WILHELMENA KELLY, et al Defendant(s).

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered on October 5, 2017. I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, N.Y. 11501 “Rain or Shine” on the 7th day of

December, 2022 at 2:00

PM. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being at North Valley Stream, Town of Hempstead, Nassau County, New York.

Premises known as 1369 Carole Ct, Valley Stream, NY 11580-1515.

(Section: 37, Block: 660, Lot: 8)

Approximate amount of lien $740,829.84 plus interest and costs.

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed judgment and terms of sale.

Index No. 003133/2015.

Anthony W. Russo, Esq., Referee.

Stein, Wiener & Roth LLP

Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 1400 Old Country Road, Suite 315 Westbury, NY 11590 Tel. 516/742-1212

Dated: October 5, 2022

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

135027

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE

EASTERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK (BROOKLYN)

Millennium Trust Company, LLC; Plaintiff v. 25 Salem Road Corp, et al; Defendants Attorneys for Plaintiff: Hasbani & Light, P.C., 450 7th Ave, Suite 1408, NY, NY 10123; (212) 643-6677

Pursuant to judgment of foreclosure and sale granted herein on 8/30/2022, I will sell at Public Auction to the highest bidder in the EDNY-Brooklyn, 225 Cadman Plaza East, Brooklyn, NY 11201.

On December 8, 2022 at 1:00 pm.

Premises known as 25 Salem Road, Valley Stream, NY 11580

Section: 37 Block: Q05 Lot: 5

All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, situate, lying and being in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau, State of New York.

As more particularly described in the judgment of foreclosure and sale.

Sold subject to all of the terms and conditions contained in said judgment and terms of sale.

Approximate amount of judgment: $405,240.00 plus interest and costs. Case Number: 1:21cv-06636-WFK-LB Susan E. Rizos, Esq., Referee 135395

LEGAL NOTICE

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A., Plaintiff, v. TYRON DAVIS A/K/A TYRONE DAVIS A/K/A TYRONE DAVIS, SR., ET AL, Defendant NOTICE OF SALE IN FORECLOSURE

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE THAT

In pursuance of a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the Office of the County Clerk of Nassau County on September 06, 2017, I, Scott H. Siller, Esq. the Referee named in said Judgment, will sell in one parcel at public auction on December 15, 2022 at The North Side Steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501, County of Nassau, State of New York, at 2:30 PM the premises described as follows: 89 N Cottage Valley Stream, NY 11580 SBL No: 37-108-31 & 32 ALL THAT TRACT OR PARCEL OF LAND situate in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau, State of New York.

The premises are sold subject to the provisions of the filed judgment, Index No. 009892/2012 in the amount of $629,483.54 plus interest and costs.

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

Richard S. Mullen Woods Oviatt Gilman LLP Plaintiff’s Attorney 500 Bausch & Lomb Place Rochester, NY 14604 Tel.: 855-227-5072 135335

LEGAL NOTICE

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK INDEX NO. 614656/2021

COUNTY OF NASSAU

FAREVERSE LLC I/L/T/N FINANCE OF AMERICA REVERSE LLC Plaintiff, vs. FINDLEY KEROLLE, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE TO THE ESTATE OF VIVIANE KEROLLE; PEGGY KEROLLE A/K/A PEGGY SAVASTA, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE TO THE ESTATE OF VIVIANE KEROLLE; THEOPHILE KEROLLE, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE TO THE ESTATE OF VIVIANE KEROLLE; ROSELYNN COCKBURN,

AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE TO THE ESTATE OF VIVIANE KEROLLE; ; UNKNOWN HEIRS AND DISTRIBUTEES OF THE ESTATE OF VIVIANE KEROLLE; 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, SECRETARY OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT; NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; “JOHN DOE” (REFUSED NAME) AS JOHN DOE #1” “JOHN DOE #2” through “JOHN DOE #12,” the last twelve names being fictitious and unknown to plaintiff, the persons or parties intended being the tenants, occupants, persons or corporations, if any, having or claiming an interest in or lien upon the premises, described in the complaint,, Plaintiff designates NASSAU as the place of trial situs of the real property

SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS

Mortgaged Premises: 40 CLOVERFIELD ROAD SOUTH, VALLEY STREAM, NY 11581

SLB: Section: 39, Block: 496, Lot: 25 Servicer: Compu-Link Corporation Servicer Telephone: (866) 444-0026 Defendants.

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 $555,000.00 and interest, recorded on July 16, 2014, in Liber M39803 at Page 138, of the Public Records of NASSAU County, New York., covering premises known as 40 CLOVERFIELD ROAD SOUTH, 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:October 27, 2022 ROBERTSON, ANSCHUTZ, SCHNEID, CRANE & PARTNERS, PLLC Attorney for Plaintiff Oluwatobi Adedokun, Esq. 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310 Westbury, NY 11590 516-280-7675 135286

Place a notice by phone at 516-569-4000 x232 or email: legalnotices@liherald.com

LEGAL NOTICE

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK INDEX NO. 616669/2019 COUNTY OF NASSAU

REVERSE MORTGAGE FUNDING LLC, Plaintiff, vs. ANTHONY A. BARBERA III, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE TOR THE ESTATE OF GLORIA BARBERA; UNKNOWN HEIRS AND DISTRIBUTEES TO THE ESTATE OF GLORIA BARBERA, 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

Odd Fellows make a donation

On Saturday, Nov. 19, members of the Rockville Centre Odd Fellows Lodge No. 279 donated 150 turkeys and over $1,000 of nonperishable food items to the Rockville Centre Recreation Center, Assemblywoman Judy Griffin, and the St. Agnes Food Pantry. Courtesy David Ajello

Public Notices Public Notices

plaintiff; SECRETARY OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT; NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; DISCOVER BANK; MIDLAND FUNDING, LLC; JOHN DOE; JANE DOE, “JOHN DOE #3” through “JOHN DOE #12,” the last ten 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: 1297 SOUTH STREET, VALLEY STREAM, NY 11580 Section: 35, Block: 518, Lot: 40

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 $544,185.00 and interest, recorded on April 11, 2007, in Liber M 31762 at Page 94, of the Public Records of NASSAU County, New York., covering premises known as 1297 SOUTH STREET, VALLEY STREAM, NY 11580.

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:October 28, 2022 ROBERTSON, ANSCHUTZ, SCHNEID, CRANE & PARTNERS, PLLC Attorney for Plaintiff Matthew Rothstein, Esq. 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310 Westbury, NY 11590 516-280-7675 135494

DRIVERS WANTED

EMPLOYMENT

Help Wanted

ADMINISTRATIVE

Richner Communications - a rapidly growing multimedia company and publishers of the Herald newspaper grouphas several administrative job openings: Receptionist (P/T), Accounts Receivable/Billing Collections Clerk

Multi-Media Coordinator (Hours Flexible)

Qualified candidates are fast learners with good organizational and people skills - entry level ok.

Role requires working knowledge of Microsoft Office and ability to learn custom software programs.

If you would like to join a communitydriven, fast-paced environment, please send your resume to: careers@liherald.com.

ASSISTANT TEACHER

Needed For Early Childhood Education And Care Center

In Rockville Centre

Full Time Position High School Diploma Needed E-mail Resume: rlychildhoodctr@aol.com Call 516-536-5674

CIRCULATION ASSOCIATE

Full Time/Part Time

Richner Communications, publisher of Herald community newspapers has an excellent opportunity for a FT/PT Customer Service Clerk in our busy Circulation Department. Basic customer service and administrative responsibilities include: heavy computer work, answering phones, making phone calls, entering orders, faxing, filing, etc.

STRONG knowledge of EXCEL a must! Knowledge of DATABASE maintenance or postal regulations a big plus. Qualified Candidates must be computer literate, able to multitask, dependable, reliable, organized, energetic, detail oriented and able to work well under deadlines. For consideration, please send resume & salary requirements to: careers@liherald.com

EDITOR/REPORTER

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

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

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What’s the best way to clear the air?

Q. I saw an article in a magazine about how I may be able to add air and water purifiers in my office to minimize sickness and infections. Is this for real? Can air purifiers limit things like Covid, and does it pay to put in a full water purifier instead of just having a bottled-water cooler station, even in my home or in my office (for my employees)?

A. There is a lot of misinformation and mis understanding about levels of purification and, depending on the source of the information, like an advertisement instead of research reports, the facts are unclear. I couldn’t tell anyone, definitively, what works best, or even the spe cifics as to why, only that there are systems that are required and units that do have benefits for employers and homeowners, accord ing to industry reports.

Ask The Architect

Monte Leeper

For example, it almost always comes up during the design phase of offices and retail spaces that the owner wants to put in a bottled-water cooler instead of a drinking fountain, but the plumbing code, which is a law, states that two drinking fountains or a dual unit, the high and low kind, are required to be installed. (The reason for the low drinking fountain is to avoid discrimination, along with many other regu lations, in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, signed into federal law by President George H.W. Bush in 1990.) A bottle station is nice to have but not required.

Water purification will be a healthy solution for your employees and family, since it removes chlorine, sediments and multiple trace minerals. There are many different types of purifiers on the market. For commercial purposes, consider a cartridge-type puri fier specific to your commercial space, and for a resi dence, a whole-house system such as the ones from PurifiedSolutions.net, which use a seven-stage reverse-osmosis process. Just remember, these sys tems all require the replacement of filters, so factor in replacement costs so you aren’t surprised later.

As for the bigger question, air purification, it is a much broader and more questionable issue, since dif ferent systems filter air in different ways, and even though advertisements tout all the wonderful particu lates that can be removed, virus particles aren’t nec essarily one of them. Smoke from cigarettes and dust have a much larger mass, and are more easily removed with high-efficiency particulate air, or HEPA, filters than bacterial or viral-laden particles. Even though microscopic-sized allergens can be removed, unless they are treated with either damag ing light or chemical containment, just catching the allergens doesn’t necessarily get rid of them. Make sure you find out what the filtration unit will do from an independent testing source report before spending the money on one.

Recent studies do show the workplace benefits for having enhanced ventilation and filtration. Some 90 percent of maintenance costs are for keeping people productive at work, increasing profits by reducing infection, sickness and missed days by employees. Choose systems wisely and it will benefit you. Good luck!

© 2022 Monte Leeper Readers are encouraged to send questions to yourhousedr@aol.com, with “Herald question” in the subject line, or to Herald Homes, 2 Endo Blvd., Garden City, NY 11530, Attn: Monte Leeper, architect.

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OpINIONS

I’ll take the GOP agenda — without Trump — any day

Like most people, I don’t like Trump. I’ve disdained him ever since then-developer Donald demanded drastic concessions at my beloved Jones Beach State Park so he could build a catering hall at the main mall to make more big bucks. He revealed an unappealing, obnoxious acquisitiveness.

It was all about his deal, with a disregard for the good and welfare of generations of us lesser mortals. Worse, he wanted residents and state officials to believe he was doing us all a favor, but his mendacity was obvious. It took Superstorm Sandy to sweep away his avaricious plan and his oily conceit.

Trump’s personality, I had absolutely zero doubt about how duplicitous and deceitful Hillary Clinton was. Trump was openly, shamelessly vain. Clinton was a backstabbing, secretive, supercilious, lying, characterless cypher. I could trust him to act to benefit my country as long as it also served him self. I couldn’t trust her (and her malign cabal) with any thing, least of all my coun try. And more important, I opposed all of the national policies she embraced.

gieg-Ilhan Omar ticket vs. Trump-Kristi Noem or Trump-Nikki Haley or TrumpJoni Ernst or Trump-Winsome EarleSears? Any of those GOP teams would destroy Buttigieg-Omar.

JOHN O’CONNELL

And yet I voted for him in 2016. His promises, the possibility of gaining origi nalist Supreme Court nominees and his declared support of conservative causes were consistent with my social, cultural and political preferences. We Trump vot ers realized it would take an arrogant bully to barge through the rock-solid bureaucracy that Washington had become. He’d be our bully, as it were.

And besides, as insufferable as I found

Now he’s running for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024. I wish it were not so. Trump is a minor-league version of lit erature’s classic tragic fig ure: a man who — while accomplishing great things — destroys himself with his own hubris.

If Trump gets the GOP nomination (and I think that’s a big if), whom the Democrats choose will be critical for the country. Obviously it shouldn’t be Presi dent Biden. If they pick a far-left version of Trump, someone like California Gov. Gavin Newsom or Biden’s useless trans portation secretary, Pete Buttigieg, most voters, sick of liberal Democrats’ failed leadership, will gag violently and go for Trump. (Even if, again, he can’t win the popular vote, he could prevail in the Elec toral College.) Can you imagine a Butti

I mean, really, look at how unappealing the Democrats’ presidential and vice-presidential bench is: Kamala Harris, Adam Schiff, AOC, Stacey Abrams, John Fetterman, Cory Book er, Hillary, Rashida Tlaib, Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, Kirsten Gillibrand (New York’s invisible sena tor), Amy Klobuchar, Beto O’Rourke, Bill de Blasio and others who are so light they defy gravity. Puhleeze! How about the quintessentially Democratic bicoastal, affir mative-equity pairing, Harris-Hochul?

Non-radical Americans, i.e., almost all of us, want someone smart, articulate and tough who’ll try to keep us out of wars, reduce inflation, faithfully and fairly exe cute the laws, defend the Constitution, support the police, keep taxes as low as possible, respect and care for our veter ans, spend prudently, regulate only when required, maintain a strong national defense, trade well but with a sharp eye on national security, curb the domestic abuses of the so-called intelligence com munity, and put a hard stop on our dan gerously wide-open southern border.

Someone who salutes America’s great ness. That definitely won’t be the Demo crats’ platform in 2024. It certainly will be the GOP’s agenda, and Trump would sell it. He’s usually good at selling things (his Jones Beach fiasco notwithstanding). I mean, he sold the Abraham Accords, a peace treaty among Israel, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, for heaven’s sake.

We will be voting again in 24 months (unless I missed something and early vot ing starts next week). Actually, the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire prima ry are in January 2024. No one knows what will happen in the world between now and then. Will Biden finish his term? Will Kamala visit the wizard in Oz and get what she needs? How disastrous will Trump’s self-inflicted stumbles on the campaign trail be? Will better, brighter lights shine in either party?

For newsies like me, it will be a fasci nating and important two years. I hope everyone, young folks particularly, find serious, un-opinionated journalism and read and think critically about all the pol itics. We must use these two years to brush up on our civics studies and see how America is supposed to work. Then learn how it really works, and vote to try to make it better than that.

John O’Connell is a former executive editor of the Herald Community Newspapers. Comments? oconnell11001@yahoo.com.

Flying the not-so-friendly skies

Iwrote to Pete Buttigieg this week. I thought that the head of the U.S. Department of Transportation should know what’s up.

Last week, Secretary Buttigieg announced some $600 million in fines against the airlines for bad behavior dur ing the continuing pandemic. It’s a start.

on our wedding trip in 1968, we flew East ern Airlines to Bermuda. I wore a match ing coat and dress, white gloves, high heels and a hat. The “stewardesses” wore perky outfits and heels and little cha peaus, and they were all super-attractive and into providing excellent service to the customers.

Seen through today’s lens, it was sexist and white and stiffly formal. We enjoyed tasty little meals served on individual trays, even in coach, and the crew happily did all the heavy lifting. We have fallen out of the sky, in terms of standards for pas sengers and crew.

But that’s a low bar, right? The crews are nice enough, which isn’t nice enough. No crew member offers a hand to help place a suitcase in the overhead bin. Then they try to sell you stuff. You get your drink when the wagon rolls by, and a dis mal choice of snacks. Heav en help us, the Terra Blue potato chips, basically the most compelling reason to fly JetBlue, are gone.

That’s when I decided to write to Butti gieg.

First, no customer should have to wait 90 minutes to speak to an agent. If they can’t run the airline better than that, with all the money they got from us, they should shut down and turn the planes into affordable housing.

Apparently, the airlines took bil lions of bailout dollars, and failed to pass on the goodwill or the big bucks to their cus tomers. In fact, they canceled or delayed oodles of flights and didn’t refund the fees to passengers. Some times — and this took chutzpah — they rebooked folks on other flights with out finding out whether those new book ings were good for the travelers.

Supply chain issues? The airlines got a gazillion dol lars from the government. Open a damn potato chip factory!

RANDI KREISS

I hate to pick on JetBlue, but I must, because that’s the only airline I’ve flown recently.

But let’s back up the plane. My bias is that my airline experience began when flying was a special treat. When we went

Two weeks ago, I flew Jet Blue back and forth from New York to Florida. While I was waiting for my flight, an announcer at the gate said that the flight before mine, on the same route, would be turbulent, passengers should expect to stay seated, and there would be no bathroom breaks. This is bad, I thought. I’m about to get on this flying tube to ride 1,500 miles at 600 mph at 36,000 feet into a hurricane. I nearly bolted, but I talked myself down.

Turns out, we were on time, and there were no violent outbursts by passengers or inappropriate behavior by crew members.

My real and serious issue is with the JetBlue website and its reservation process. In recent months, the web site has been buggy. The fees for “extras,” like being able to bring a carry-on in “basic blue,” are excessive.

When I needed to change my flight on the return, it took two hours online to book the change and pay for a seat. Then I got a message that I had the flight but no seat. I tried to call. It was a 90-minute wait to speak to a person, and I was informed that booking or changing or canceling a flight on the phone with a human being would cost me $25.

Second, how dare they charge $25 to speak to someone to book a flight? I know many people, especially older folks, who don’t use computers. They don’t know how to book a flight online. They need to talk to a real person, and they can’t wait 90 minutes on the phone. This is unfair to fli ers who don’t have the necessary technolo gy skills. Why should they be penalized with a $25 fee for what should be a basic service to a paying customer?

Years ago, I wrote to JetBlue in the name of my dog, requesting frequent flier points for her even though she traveled under the seat. They had a sense of humor. They said they couldn’t offer points, but they did give Zoe and me a free flight. Just like that. Goodwill.

JetBlue needs to drop the $25 phone fee, hire enough agents to reduce the phone wait time, and please, please, bring back the Terra Blues.

Copyright 2022 Randi Kreiss. Randi can be reached at randik3@aol.com.

O ne slight after another led me to drop a line to Secretary Buttigieg.

Trump is a minorleague version of literature’s classic tragic figure.

50 years of a better world thanks to Title IX

He’s a man you’ve likely never heard of. The son of an Indiana State University basketball coach who excelled in sports himself — primarily as a boxer and a col legiate baseball player — Birch Bayh was sworn in as a U.S. senator from his home state on Jan. 3, 1963.

Bayh spent 18 years in that office, becoming the only non-Founding Father to author two amendments to the U.S. Constitution: the 25th Amendment, han dling presidential succession, and the 26th, which lowered the federal voting age to 18.

But it was his days playing sports that occupied the senator’s mind. Although the Civil Rights Act of 1964 tackled all kinds of discrimination when it came to employment and public accommodation, it bothered Bayh that the bill failed to address sex discrimination at schools.

He set out to change that, crafting the 37 words that would make up what we now know as Title IX: “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimi nation under any education program or activity receiving federal financial assis tance.”

While we might see Title IX today as a law focused on sports, what Bayh and his House counterpart, U.S. Rep. Edith Green, pushed through Congress did more than that. No more could schools legally favor one gender over another in any respect, including pay and employment opportuni ties. If it was good enough for a man, it was good enough for a woman.

But yes, some of the most visible impacts came in the world of sports,

letters

Thanks to all who uplift and help others

To the Editor:

changing what was once a male-dominat ed enterprise into something that could be enjoyed by anyone. Like Elizabeth Serra, who just finished her first season with the Woodland Middle School football team in East Meadow.

Elizabeth scored 16 points as a kicker, and even broke a tie to give Woodland a final win over the Seaford Vikings. Yet being the only girl on the team didn’t faze her a bit.

“I was a little bit nervous, but then I realized what I really wanted to do,” the 13-year-old said. “I just really wanted to play football. So it didn’t really bother me that much.”

Even a few years ago, a girl kicking field goals for a football team was consid ered a novelty. Today it’s just another day on the gridiron. Elizabeth is far from alone.

Before Title IX, just 300,000 girls took part in high school sports, according to a report last summer by NPR. Today that number is 3.5 million. And while Title IX focuses on schools, it has a much wider reach.

Like with the New York Islanders Girls Elite Hockey program, started in 2016 by Alexis Moed, the general manager of the Connecticut Whale, a team in the womenfocused professional Premier Hockey Fed eration. Working with the NHL’s Island ers, the league is filled with girls ages 8 to 19, all playing on the same ice at the Northwell Health Ice Center in East Mead ow as the four-time Stanley Cup champi ons.

The league has become a second home for Debbie Curry, a 12-year-old from Sea ford, who started her hockey career on boys’ teams.

“She always had a target (on) her for being a girl in a boy sport,” Debbie’s moth er, Christie, said. “Here she can be recog nized and have a chance to go somewhere with hockey in the future, because they’re giving the girls a chance to shine.

“I’ve never seen her so happy, and she can just be herself.”

Title IX has helped girls come a long way, but the fight is far from over. Many schools still don’t know how to properly enforce Title IX compliance, while others have chosen to cut programs rather than expand them to include everyone. Retalia tion runs rampant, and the U.S. Depart ment of Education believes there are more areas of improvement needed, including the end of discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity or sex characteristics.

Birch Bayh died in 2019, at age 91. But he lived long enough to see the impact his 37 simple words had on the lives of mil lions. An impact that literally brought him to tears.

Kelly Krauskopf is an assistant general manager of the Indiana Pacers. But in 2000, she made her mark helping to bring the Indiana Fever into existence in the WNBA. They sold out their first game with 16,000 people filling the arena, and Krauskopf invited Bayh to join her on the hardwood before the tipoff.

“I said to him, ‘Look at this place. Can you believe this?’” she told the Indianapo lis Star. “‘This would never have happened had it not been for you.’

“He looks at me and he has these big tears in his eyes. And he said he had no idea (Title IX) would have this kind of impact. It was just one of the coolest moments.”

In this season of hope and gratitude, I want to express my heartfelt appreciation to all Long Islanders who give of themselves to help others here in Nassau and Suffolk counties, and beyond.

Nearly every day, Red Cross volunteers are at the scene of fires, floods and other disasters that occur all too regularly on Long Island, providing urgent assistance to those coping with loss and uncertain ty. In addition to responding to local emergencies, this past year, many of my colleagues traveled far from home to offer a helping hand following wild fires in California, tornadoes and flash floods in Kentucky and, most recently, Hurricanes Ian and Nicole in Florida.

Our volunteers also work to prevent future disas ters by installing free smoke alarms, providing fire

Millions in opioid-fighting funds are still available

nassau County continues to hold Big Pharma accountable in the courts for the wave of destruc tion that the pharmaceutical companies’ highly addictive opioid drugs unleashed on families and children across the country, and right here in our own backyards.

On Nov. 7, the county took the first leg islative step toward approving a $68.25 million settlement with Actavis LLC and Actavis Pharma Inc., Watson Labo ratories Inc., Anda Inc., Teva Pharma ceutical Industries Ltd., and Teva Pharmaceuticals USA. Once this settlement is approved by the full Legislature and County Executive Bruce Blakeman — which I anticipate will occur this month — it will supple ment the $70.4 million the county has already received through various Big Pharma settlements.

Drawing from the funds now at the county’s disposal, Blakeman in mid-Sep tember announced plans to distribute $15 million per year for the next four years to agencies that offer addiction prevention, treatment or recovery services. Approxi

mately $2.4 million per year was immedi ately earmarked, with the lion’s share going to Nassau University Medical Cen ter. The remaining $12.6 million per year will be awarded to agencies that respond to a Request for Expressions of Interest that closed on Monday.

Above and beyond Blake man’s announced plans, there is still approximately $10.4 million that has not been designated. The Teva Pharmaceutical settlement will add significantly to that sum, as will the pro ceeds of future settlements as additional pharmaceuti cal companies are held responsible for their gross negligence and complicity in this ongoing public health crisis.

While I have consistently expressed my frustration with the slow pace of allo cating these funds, this influx of new resources gives us a golden opportunity to proactively plan for how we can get life-saving resources where they need to be as expeditiously as possible. My frus tration is amplified by my concern for all our friends, loved ones and neighbors who are suffering at this very moment.

I’m a mother of three daughters who are now young adults, and the opioid drug crisis remains one of my greatest fears. We have had countless conversa

tions as a family to instill vigilance as they navigate the world. As parents, we do so motivated by awareness of the stark reality that addiction is an indiscrimi nate killer — that there is no race, creed, religion, sex or economic background that substance abuse does not impact.

In Glen Cove, I have grown close to a group of women who have estab lished a local chapter of Families Anonymous, an organization that gives peo ple navigating the trauma of living with a loved one suffering from addiction a safe space to meet and share their experiences, strength and hope with one another. I have introduced friends to Families Anonymous, and the warmth, support and generosity of spirit they received was truly remarkable, and life-affirming.

Several members of the organization came to the Legislature on Oct. 24 and courageously shared their stories. They have seen their children arrested and sent to prison, and fought with insurance companies to secure long-term treatment upon their release. Several have seen their loved ones come through the tem pest one day at a time and achieve longterm, sustainable sobriety. Sadly, far too many have endured the unthinkable trag

edy of losing a child to the disease of addiction.

What they shared offers some impor tant insights into our next steps. With the funds from our opioid lawsuit settle ments, Nassau County would be wise to look closely at supporting organizations that provide drug rehabilitation pro grams with longer terms of stay beyond the customary 28-day term; dual-diagno sis approaches that get to the complicated and often intertwined root causes of the disease; and aggressive early-interven tion strategies.

It is also crucial to keep talking openly about addiction, so we can continue chip ping away at the stigmas that can hinder people from seeking the help they need. Addiction is a public health crisis, not a moral failing.

Thanks to its advocacy and willing ness to confront Big Pharma in the courts, Nassau County has created tre mendous opportunities for progress.

Armed with these resources and more on the way, it is more important than ever for us to work together as parents and leaders to act on decisions that will make a significant, lifesaving impact on the tra jectory of the opioid addiction crisis.

Delia DeRiggi-Whitton, of Glen Cove, a Nassau County legislator representing the 11th District, is the ranking member of the legislature’s Committee on Health & Social Services.

safety and emergency preparedness edu cation and teaching first aid and CPR.

Through our Service to the Armed Forces program, a dedicated Red Cross team provides 24/7 support for military members, veterans and their families at home and around the world.

The life-changing work our volunteers carry out day in and day out would not be possible without our financial donors and our civic-minded partners. I want to recognize them as well for their generosi ty and community spirit.

Finally, I want to give special thanks to our military heroes, who sacrifice so much, and to our first responders, who work to ensure our safety and well-being.

As we enter this holiday season, let’s give special thanks to all those who make our communities stronger and safer all year long.

Wishing you all a happy Thanksgiving!

JOSE DOMINGUEz CEO, American Red Cross on Long Island

Shop local this weekend

To the Editor:

In these difficult economic times, as a result of inflation, it is especially impor tant to patronize your neighborhood

Lettersbusinesses. Do it not only on annual Small Business Saturday, Nov. 26, but every day of the year.

I don’t mind occasionally paying a lit tle more to help our local stores survive. The employees go out of their way to help find what I need. Customer service is their motto.

Independent mom-and-pop stores don’t have bulk-buying purchasing power that Amazon or large national chain stores have. The owners can’t negotiate lower prices from suppliers. They’re at the mercy of those suppliers, especially third-party brokers, who con trol the prices they have to pay for mer chandise. That’s why they sometimes charge a little more. But it’s worth the price to avoid the crowds and long lines at larger stores in exchange for the con venience and friendly service your neighborhood store offers.

Remember, these people are our neigh bors. They work long hours, pay taxes and keep as many employed as possible. Many maintain the tradition of offering job opportunities to students during the holidays and over the summer.

Customers also patronize other com mercial establishments on the block. Foot traffic is essential for the survival of any neighborhood commercial dis trict. If we don’t patronize our local stores and restaurants to shop and eat,

they don’t eat, either. We help keep our neighbors employed and the local econo my growing.

The owners of independent, momand-pop stores are the backbone of our

neighborhood commercial districts. Show your support by making a pur chase.

LARRy PENNER Great Neck

Framework by Tim Baker

A flapping, chattering gathering — Long Beach

w e have a golden opportunity to get life-saving resources where they need to be.

DeLia DeriGGi-wHitton

Find a doctor today at mountsinai.org/southnassau