Valley Stream Herald 12-15-2022

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Grace United Methodist has a new pastor

By JUAN lASSo jlasso@liherald.com

Grace United Methodist Church, the oldest religious institution in Valley Stream, has a brand new pastor — a youthful, well-spoken evangelist from upstate New York, the Rev. Jeffrey Luis Hooker.

that prompted me to share with the people there that I wanted to be a pastor,” he said. “And then I felt that that’s what God was calling me to do.”

Atlantic Beach Bridge tolls to jump 50 percent in the new year

By HERNESTo GAlDAMEZ hgaldamez@liherald.com

When it comes to getting to the Atlantic Ocean — and specifically the seaside community of Atlantic Beach — Valley Stream residents and their neighbors have long appreciated the convenience of the Atlantic Beach Bridge. Motorists make their way through the Five Towns and cross the bridge, paying $2 each way.

Come Jan. 1, however, the Nassau County Bridge Authority will be rolling out its first toll increases since 2007.

“The new toll rate schedule was approved in 2022 after a rigorous review process, and there will be no further planned increases for the next five years,” bridge authority officials stated in a news release earlier this month.

The toll for passenger vehicles will increase to $3 starting

in the new year. Trucks tolls will bump up from $4 to $8 or from $8 to $16, based on vehicle size.

When the E-ZPass system is introduced at the bridge next year, the fare for non-Nassau County motorists will jump to $4. The transponders of drivers with E-ZPass accounts will determine whether their vehicles are registered within or outside the county. All motorists

Youthful energy, however, is not the only thing Hooker brings to the pulpit, having devoted most of his adult life to preaching and ministering in New England and New York. Born in Louisiana to Nicaraguan immigrants, raised in the Bronx and later upstate, Hooker heard the call to ministry early in life, at age 13, which for him was something of divine revelation.

“I was sitting at a prayer meeting at a little Spanish United Methodist Church in West Haverstraw, New York, when I just felt something in me, like a little voice inside of me

Hooker attended Nyack College to pursue a degree in pastoral ministry, and earned a master’s in divinity from Boston University. He earned a Doctor of Ministry at Wesley Theological Seminary earlier this year. In 2008, he was appointed to a congregation at Immanuel United Methodist Church in Boston, where he ministered for seven years.

He returned to New York to minister in Newburgh where he learned the complexities of when a church tackles the social ills of its larger community. He and his congregants regularly cared for neighbors battered by crime, poverty, homelessness, and mental health problems.

It may feel a world away from

Courtesy Village of Valley Stream

These ladies are worth their weight in silver

Village Justice Melanie Jenkins, left, thanked the village’s Silver Thread members at their holiday luncheon, organized by program coordinator SallyAnn Esposito, for adding vibrancy to the village.

I

n six short months, Rev. Jeffrey has started to shape the future of Grace United Methodist Church.

JoANNE HAZEll Chairperson, Pastor Parish Relations Committee

Herald Sc H ool S

Valley Stream 13 students let the loud music play

Education experts have long hailed music’s ability to supercharge kids’ cognitive growth and improve brain health.

Valley Stream District 13 fourth-grade students were able to do just that as they took part in the Nassau Music Educators Association Parent Educators and Kids Festival. The NMEA’s mission is to “enrich school music programs by nurturing student musicianship and empowering members through collaboration and professional development,” according to their website.

Students engaged in an interactive music learning experience, which included activities that ranged from performing vocals and drum rhythms to playing the ukulele. Through the musical learning experience, students were able to gain various benefits such as building their confidence, creative thinking, and working on their coordination skills.

“Valley Stream District 13 has a robust and comprehensive elementary music program that offers opportunities for all students,” said Superintendent Judith LaRocca. “These special events are available thanks to the dedication of music teachers in our district and in dis-

tricts from across Nassau County. Thank you to our music teachers Johanna Land, Jaclyn Randazzo, Jeremy Arndt, Amy Yencharis, and Amanda Agosta for making it a musical day to remember.”

–Juan Lasso

WilloW Road ElEmEntaRy School student plays his drum. at music festival.

Photos courtesy Valley Stream District 13 WilloW Road ElEmEntaRy School students and teachers enjoy the music festival.

Grace United Methodist hosts Christmas concert

After going virtual for the past two years, Grace United Methodist hosts public concert

Music is an important part of the services at Grace United Methodist Church in Valley Stream. Throughout the year, whether it be at a normal service or a planned special event, music reaches high for the heavens. And last Sunday, Grace Methodist wowed audiences with their Christmas concert. The concert, which has been virtual for the past two years due to Covid restrictions, returned live and inperson, filling the pews with captivated listeners.

“Over 100 people turned out for the concert,” said Kenneth Richardson, the music director for the church. “It went very well. It was very well received.”

The concert featured a 35-minute performance as an orchestra and singers told the story of Christmas. Along with the singing and playing, there was some narration of the story as well.

When Covid prevented the Christmas show and services from being in person, Richardson improvised so he could still bring music to people’s ears. He has a lot of equipment in his house, including a Hammond organ. “I turned my house into a television studio,” he said.

“My entire family sings and is musical,” Richardson said. “We would do the entire service on Zoom. We would sing all the hymns and all the choir pieces.”

Richardson would do that every single week, for every single service. He enjoyed keeping the music going any way he could, but he’s happy the Christams show was finally able to be held in-person again. “I’ve done this every year for seven years, but I’m glad its back in-person,” he said.

–Brendan Carpenter

Photos courtesy Alain Epouta

Grace United Methodist Church hosted its annual Christmas concert in-person after two years of going virtual, opening its doors to Valley Stream residents and churchgoers.

a choir sanG heavenly at the Grace United Methodist Church Christmas concert. reverend Jeffrey LUis Hooker joined the choir with Christmas bells at the Grace United Methodist Church Christmas concert.

a christMas tree was shining bright at Grace United Methodist Church.

Balloon Mission is up and away to save

In its early stages, nonprofit sets tone for future

By JORDAN VALLONE jvallone@liherald.com

Where do helium-filled balloons go when they’re released into the sky?

Cynthia Seibold had that same question. And she discovered that the old axiom was true: What goes up must come down. But not in ways people might like.

The North Merrick resident with a background in insurance underwriting, spent a lot of time outdoors at the start of the coronavirus pandemic. She noticed, however, that among all the litter found in the various parks, preserves and beaches she visited, one category stood out: balloons.

Or rather, shreds of balloons. Seibold found their strings and what was left of their plastic or rubber bodies impacting trees and plants and, of course, wildlife — animals that could easily mistake balloon pieces for food.

It’s not that balloon releases — or how they potentially threaten the environment — is something new. But the pandemic created a new surge of such helium-intensive events as a different way to share birthdays, graduations and retirements.

“Balloons are (a) leading cause of pollution in our waters and our air,” Seibold said. “They break down into microplastics and nanoplastics. I kept saying to myself, ‘There has to be a better way.’”

She found it with her nonprofit, Balloon Mission.

“Our program is to collect balloons before they end up on the land and in oceans, reducing our carbon footprint and the harmful microplastics that are generated from balloons,” Seibold said. “And for every balloon that is sold and responsibly collected, we feel it’s going to be one less piece of litter that’s harming our wildlife.”

Still, Seibold wants to make one thing very clear: She is not “anti-balloon.”

“This is a growing issue,” she said. “I think people need to know that there are options of ballooning responsibly. We’re not telling you to not have your balloons, but discard them in an appropriate manner.”

Although the nonprofit is in its early stages, Seibold has already received a great deal of support while building relationships with local and statewide organizations. That includes the Hempstead town sanitation department, and the state environmental conservation department.

One of Seibold‘s primary goals is to the get the message out that Balloon Mission is collecting balloons with plans to set up collection bins as early as January so people can properly dispose their holiday balloons.

Those bins will be cardboard boxes with Balloon Mission signage, Seibold explained. Locations are still being determined, but she hopes to have them in community-oriented locations like firehouses, Veterans of Foreign Wars halls and libraries.

On a national level, Seibold said, people are noticing the effects balloons have on the environment.

“There was actually a New York Times article that came out in March of 2022 that talks about this surge in balloon frenzy,” she said. “We couldn’t celebrate and we couldn’t do things when we were in lockdown.

“We did these big balloon displays, and they’ve gotten even bigger, and it’s not going away. People want this — they want a balloon collection. They want options. They want to feel like they’re part of the solution, not part of the problem.”

Through her research and communication with Hempstead town officials, Seibold learned the municipality actually passed a local law prohibiting the intentional release of balloons in 2019. Yet, balloon releases still happen, she said, making it important that signage goes up — perhaps sometime next spring — advising against such activities.

Seibold is working closely with ACDS, an organization that offers lifetime services to people of all ages with intellectual disabilities. Formerly the Association for Children with Down Syndrome, the organization has locations in North Merrick and Plainview.

Jane Cohen, the day habilitation services supervisor at ACDS, says it’s important for her group to offer volunteers to various environmental organizations,

and that its members are excited about helping Seibold’s nonprofit.

“In January, we’re going to start collecting (balloons) from various pickup sites, and then we’re going to bring them back to our hub sites and sift through them,” Cohen said. Volunteers “can work on their office skills and note-taking, so they can feel like they’ve accomplished something. It’s very rewarding for our individuals.”

ACDS plans to provide some 200 volunteers to Balloon Mission.

“We feel this is a symbiotic relationship,” Seibold said, adding it “works in keeping with ACDS’s goal of increasing life and social skills, and work readiness for their participants.”

She also hopes to educate people on alternatives to balloons.

“I’m not looking to get rid of balloons — they make people light up,” she said. “I would like to start thinking of alternatives. Can we blow bubbles? Can we send up a nice waft of smoke or sage into the air? It’s about finding these other ways of

commemorating those moments in our life.”

Seibold hopes her nonprofit will get people thinking about ways to help find solutions.

“There are people that are smarter than me out there,” she said, “and I need those people in on the Balloon Mission.”

Courtesy Cynthia Seibold CyNthiA SEiBOLD, fOuNDER and executive director of the nonprofit Balloon Mission, found an abandoned balloon at Lido Beach, a Hempstead town park in an effort to stop helium balloon releases.

Herald Sc H ool S

Valley Stream 24 pens their thanks to the veterans

Valley Stream 24 students honored Veterans Day last month through a series of patriotic activities and classroom lessons to learn about the significance of America’s veterans.

Valley Stream 24 students spent the week reading about veterans and writing thank you letters, some of which were delivered to the local Veterans Affairs office and others sent to the local Elks Lodge for distribution to its veteran members. The beautifully written, handcrafted letters will show the veterans the great appreciation the students have for their service. Along with the letters, students painted their hands with patriotic colors to create the American flag and decorated their envelopes. The students also colored in their Veterans Day posters while watching videos about the national day.

“Learning about the sacrifices men and women in our armed services have made throughout our country’s history is an important civics lesson for our students,” said Superintendent Don Sturz. “Through the activities and lesson plans we build around Veterans Day, our students come away with a deeper admiration for those who have served and a more profound appreciation for the freedoms and liberties we enjoy as Americans.”

–Juan Lasso

Courtesy Valley Stream District 24

RobeRt W. CaRbonaRo Elementary School students with their handwritten thank you letter.

Herald sports

Hofstra seeks CAA championship run

By ANDREW COEN sports@liherald.com

The Hofstra men’s basketball team is poised for another high finish in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) and hopes it can carry over regular season success into the postseason.

The Pride won eight of nine games last year to end the CAA schedule, but was quickly bounced in the quarterfinal round of the conference tournament by College of Charleston as the third seed.

“The goal is always to win a championship,” said head coach and former Pride star Speedy Claxton, who guided Hofstra to a conference title and NCAA Tournament as a star point guard in 2000. “We put together a tough non-conference schedule to prepare us for the physical teams we will face in conference play.”

Hofstra returned redshirt senior guard Aaron Estrada, the reigning CAA Player of the Year who Claxton says has a potential to become an NBA player. Estrada, who transferred to Hofstra from Oregon last year, scored 33 points in the Pride’s 85-80 home win against George Washington on Nov. 14.

“He is our hardest worker,” Claxton said of Estrada. “He is our best player for a reason because he is always in the gym working on his game.”

Estrada was sidelined by an ankle injury for the Pride’s Dec. 7 road trip to fourth-ranked Purdue and in his absence saw the emergence of red-shirt freshman guard Amar’e Marshall, who scored 24 against the Big Ten power.

Hofstra (6-4) opened the season with an 83-77 come-frombehind win at Princeton on Nov. 7 in which Estrada scored 27 points and the Pride ended the

game on a 10-1 run. The game also saw an emergence of sophomore guard Jaquan Carlos, who hit the eventual game-winning three pointer, the first of many clutch baskets he has made this season.

Sophomore Darlistone Dubar, a second-year Hofstra player after transferring from Iowa State, is making strides early this season averaging 10.9 points through the first 12 games. Redshirt senior guard Tyler Thomas, a Sacred Heart University transfer, has also provided an offensive spark, averaging 12 points a game including 26 in an 83-78 win against Iowa at home on Veterans Day.

Hofstra was picked second in the CAA preseason coaches poll behind Towson. The Pride’s CAA home opener is slated for New Year’s Eve at 1 p.m. against league newcomer North Carolina A&T. The Pride’s home conference schedule is highlighted by a Feb. 4 matchup against Long Island rival and CAA newcomer Stony Brook for a 4 p.m. tipoff.

pride women off to promising start

The Hofstra women’s basketball team is making strides early on in the new season after an 8-20 record in the 2021-22 campaign.

The Pride already achieved half of last year’s win total with a 56-53 home win against Army West Point on Dec. 7 that put the team at 4-4. It nearly got win number five last Saturday, but dropped a 62-61 overtime heartbreaker at Loyola (Md).

“I’m excited for what this season is going to hold,” said fourthyear head coach Danielle Santos Atkinson. “I truly believe we have a team that wants it and they’re willing to work for it.”

Hofstra returned six from last year’s team that reached the

CAA quarterfinals including AllCAA Defensive team selection Rosi Nicholson, who also displayed her offensive ability with 16 points in a season-opening 73-68 loss to Big Ten foe Rutgers. Senior Sorelle Ineza is also back after starting 11 games as a junior.

Baldwin native Brandy Thomas, a graduate student who transferred from nearby Long Island University (LIU), has become the team’s leading scorer early on averaging 13.3 points per game including 22 in a 76-68 loss at Wagner on Nov. 26.

“She’s very competitive and pushes everyone else to be competitive as well,” said Santos Atkinson of Thomas, Junior 6-3 center Zyheima Swint is the third leading scorer early in the season and gives the Pride a strong inside presence to complement its perimeter game.

The Pride’s roster features seven newcomers including Zaniyyah Ross-Barnes, a Stony Brook transfer who is the team’s fourth leading scorer. Junior guard Ally Knights, an Australia native who transferred from North Florida, is a key rebounder and defender also capable of hitting big jump shots.

New additions to the team this season also includes freshman Emma Von Essen of Rockville Centre, who shined as a four-year member at Long Island Lutheran. Von Essen is quickly gaining minutes and got her first start in a 74-71 victory against LIU on Dec. 3 in a game where she netted season-high 17 points.

Hofstra was picked to finish last in the 13-team CAA and will look to prove the doubters wrong starting with its league opener at Delaware on Dec. 30. The Pride’s CAA home opener is scheduled for New Year’s Day against Stony Brook at 2 p.m.

Photos courtesy Hofstra Athletics Communications PRiDE REDshiRt sENiOR guard Aaron Estrada, right, is the reigning CAA Player of the Year.

hOfstRA’s WOmEN’s tEAm is making early strides and aims

prove the preseason rankings wrong.

HempsteadWorks one-stop shop for job seekers

By MARK NOLAN mnolan@liherald.com

Searching for a new job at any stage can be daunting. Among myriad challenges are cold calls, maintaining contact lists, constantly updating social media profiles and customizing resumes, and recruiting references.

It’s enough to give even the most stalwart job hunter a feeling of timidity.

But there are resources available: HempsteadWorks. A joint effort between the Town of Hempstead’s occupational resources department and Long Beach’s city workforce development board, HempsteadWorks is intended to provide assistance at all phases of hunting for that next position.

Those services can include everything from workshops on how to create resumes and write cover letters, how to best approach a job interview, ways to utilize social media sites like LinkedIn, and even training and certification programs.

All for free to anyone living in the town or in Long Beach.

“If someone doesn’t have computer skills, we help them,” said Mary Drangel, a business services representative for HempsteadWorks. “Some don’t have a computer at home, so they can come in and use the computer resource room and work on their resume.”

HempsteadWorks, Drangel said, offers services for a wide range of professions — from truck driving to engineering.

“They are matched with a career counselor,” she said, “and we find out what their needs are and what career path they want to take. From there we have all of the services that they might need.”

While unemployment rates nationally and locally remain near record lows, there are still plenty of people in need of jobs, or even a new job. HempsteadWorks helps not just the unemployed, but the underemployed as well.

“For the adults, we have training and workshops so they can get a certificate or credential in any field,” Drangel said.

HempsteadWorks is especially skilled at helping young

and at-risk job seekers, Drangel said — even those with criminal records. The youth services program is currently helping nearly 150 Hempstead teens and young adults with job training, transportation and child care.

It’s a comprehensive program designed to eliminate potential barriers to getting hired.

“We want them to be self-sufficient,” said Nene Alameda, a co-worker of Drangel. “Some of the youth we work with have been involved with the justice system. We find companies that are willing to give them a second chance. We try to identify barriers and mitigate them. We want to help them find a sustainable wage to live on Long Island.”

The youth services program helps job seekers between 18 and 24 who dropped out of high school, have a criminal record, are homeless, pregnant, or economically disadvantaged. HempsteadWorks also has a program designed to help those trying to escape from the influence of gangs.

“We have a pro bono attorney to help them clean up their rap sheet,” Drangel said.

There are also services for those with physical and learning disabilities, as well as English language learners. Job seekers must, of course, have a legal right to work in the United States.

Job searches would be fruitless without jobs. Drangel and Alameda said that HempsteadWorks develops great relationships with businesses to meet their needs, and not just the needs of those looking for jobs.

A recent job fair in Freeport, for example, attracted 1,500 job seekers and 70 companies.

“I always feel like we’re a bit of a professional matchmaker,” Alameda said. “We work with companies to understand their needs, but we’re also working with participants who have workforce needs. How do we find that perfect fit?”

Drangel changes leadership, not her priorities

By MARK NOLAN mnolan@liherald.com

One of Hempstead’s most influential employment recruiters will soon find herself out of a job.

But on her terms.

Mary Drangel will retire from HempsteadWorks as a career center representative on Jan. 31, after 14 years of service.

But the Oceanside resident has a much longer resume with the Town of Hempstead, with jobs that include purchasing and procurement, the tax receiver’s office, and real estate. Drangel’s passion has been helping people find a job, and she exudes excitement when talking about helping them overcome the hurdles.

“It has been challenging, but also rewarding at the same time,” Drangel said. “I have to say, I feel proud of what I’ve done here.”

Drangel is getting ready for warmer temperatures with plans to move to Florida with her husband, Scott. He recently retired from the New York City’s environmental protection department. Their son, Michael, is a Rockville Centre resident, and Mary’s mother and two sisters live locally, so the couple plan to spend plenty

of time visiting back home.

Drangel plans to continue her passions for nature photography and hiking.

Drangel’s replacement, Nene Alameda, has been a part of HempsteadWorks since

June, and is intimately aware of all the programs and resources the office provides. Still, she is only grudgingly celebrating Drangel’s retirement. “When they invent the machine for

downloading of brains, I want to connect to Mary and keep downloading everything she knows,” Alameda joked. “Everything she touches turns to gold.”

Alameda has been largely responsible for HempsteadWorks’ social media campaign designed to attract younger job seekers.

She also added QR codes — two-dimensional bar codes people can scan with their smartphones taking them to specific websites.

“Our flyers are very dynamic,” Drangel said. “When you look at them, you’re attracted right to them. Nene is phenomenal at creating flyers.”

While Drangel has had good things to say about her successor, Alameda credits Drangel for much of HempsteadWorks’ success — especially after Covid-19.

“I said, ‘Why don’t we just think out-ofthe-box and do a job fair on Zoom?’” Drangel said. When asked how she was going to do that, Drangel had a simple answer.

“I said, ‘I don’t know. I’ll figure it out’” she said. “And it turned out that it really took off.”

“Who would have thought that a job fair online right after the pandemic started would take off,” Alameda said. “I don’t want her to leave.”

Mark Nolan/Herald

NENE ALAMEDA, LEFT, and Mary Drangel reviewed plans for upcoming job fairs offered by the Town of Hempstead’s occupational resources department through its HempsteadWorks Career Center.

Mark Nolan/Herald

HEMPSTEADWORKS CAREER CENTER employees Lily Dou, far left, Tamia Anderson, Maria Reed, Kurt Rockensies, Eric Mallette, Mary Drangel, Nene Alameda, Christopher DeRita and Jeanie Robano-Stocker provide comprehensive career services for Hempstead town residents.

Legislature approves secretive cyber contract

By MARK NOLAN mnolan@liherald.com

A cybersecurity services contract unanimously approved by the Nassau County Legislature’s rules committee on Dec. 5 has raised the eyebrows of an open government expert since this approval came in secret.

Yet, such discretion is necessary, county officials, said, since they believe not giving away the game plan is the best way to protect sensitive data from hackers.

At issue is a contract for Nassau County’s massive computer network. But it’s not just how the vendor will operate that remains cloaked, but also how much it will cost — and who the vendor is. All of this, according to the expert, is standard information courts have ruled the public has a right to.

The crippling malware attack on Suffolk County’s network on Sept. 8 sent shockwaves through government offices nationwide charged with protecting computer systems. Nassau officials immediately urged the legislature to act, which is exactly what its rules committee did a few months later.

A full vote of the legislature is not required under county law for contracts.

But why a secret? It’s simple, rules committee vice chair Howard Kopel said: ransomware.

“The vendor suggested (secrecy) would be a very important thing,” the legislator said. “We don’t want the crooks to know who (the vendor is) and what their meth-

Ransomware is when someone remotely locks up a computer network or servers, releasing them only after the owners of those networks pays a monetary ransom.

Yet, is computer security enough to keep the details of a taxpayer-funded project secret? Shoshanah Bewlay, executive director of the state’s Committee on Open Govern-

ment, disagrees. If the contract has been finalized and signed, Bewlay said, there is no reason not to disclose who the vendor is and how much taxpayer money is being paid.

“I can’t imagine what FOIL exemption would apply to permit the county to withhold the name of the vendor and value of the contract,” Bewlay said, referring to the Freedom of Information Law. “‘Cybersecurity’ isn’t on the list of exemptions to FOIL disclosure.”

Kopel said legislators were advised by Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman’s staff it could be against the

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law to provide more details about the contract.

They “told us not only is it unwise to release this information, but it’s potentially improper — potentially even illegal,” Kopel said. “We questioned the administration very closely for well over an hour, which is very unusual for a contract. We did vet this as closely as we could. We’re satisfied they did follow procedures properly.”

Blakeman spokesman Christopher Boyle defended the secrecy.

“This contract pertains to the cybersecurity of the county, and has been vetted by a committee composed of representatives from the office of the inspector general, county attorney, district attorney and police department to ensure its effectiveness and integrity,” Boyle said, in an email statement.

Public scrutiny of government contracts is a vital part of maintaining open government, Bewlay said. With the Nassau cybersecurity contract, the public does not know who the vendor is or how much they are being paid, or if the vendor is reputable or insured.

“Nobody wants hackers to compromise anybody’s systems,” she said. “But again, it is difficult to imagine how disclosing the name of a vendor — and the value of the contract for the vendor’s services — reveals the county’s critical infrastructure information such that it would be exempt from FOIL disclosure.”

Kopel agreed government needs better defenses against hackers, but also believes the public should trust the county that it is taking steps to protect the computer systems at the expense of details.

“What the public should know is that this is a huge problem,” Kopel said. “It is an ongoing, ever-present problem. Crooks will typically look for the easiest opportunity, the fastest buck.

“If we make it really, really hard, maybe they will go somewhere else.”

Tim Baker/Herald

STEPPING OUT

Toss off those shoes and skate away

By Karen Bloom

f you’ve never tried “sock skating” you’re definitely missing out. Yes, there’s plenty to enjoy about putting on skates and zipping along the ice, but sometimes the effort of dealing with the cold feet, etc., may seem a bit much for a family outing.

Long Island Children’s Museum’s indoor version enables everyone to stay warm and content while experiencing plenty of skating fun. The museum’s “ice rink,” which first made a brief appearance in Summer 2021, is back for the holiday season in a big way, through Jan. 8.

“This idea grew out of the many (post-pandemic) requests we received for physical activity for the kids,” says Maureen Mangan, the museum’s communications director. “There is a need to get kids off their screens and into some physical play. This is a great way to burn off energy and an opportunity to have a winter experience inside — warm and cozy.”

In fact, it’s been so well-received that the museum plans to make this an annual event during the holiday season.

The 800-square-foot indoor Snowflake Sock Skating rink (the equivalent size of a four-car garage) opened in mid-November to the delight of the museum’s young visitors — and their adult companions, who are just as keen to be in on the action.

“The kids are eager to get on the ‘ice,’ Mangan says. “And the parents are, too. They go out with them. You’ll see them twirling and spinning.”

WHERE WHEN

• Now through Jan. 8, Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• $15 admission

• View the LICM events calendar at LICM.org for additional information, or call (516) 224-5800.

•

The rink is made from a high-tech synthetic polymer surface that lets everyone slide around without blades, ringed by candy cane-striped posts topped with a “snowball.” Right outside, blue-hued bean bag chairs of various sizes have been placed so the “skaters” can take a break as needed.

Long Island Children’s Museum, Museum Row, Garden City.

“We frequently see kids fling themselves on the chairs for a quick rest before jumping back on the ‘ice,’” Mangan notes.

Off the “ice” a Snowflake Village beckons.

“We expanded on the concept to include plenty of experiential activities,” Mangan says. Kids can become a “baker” in the holiday sweet shop, step inside a giant (nine-foot) snowman and serve up some hot cocoa, take a turn in the rink’s “ticket booth” and “warm up” around the rink-side virtual “fire pit” where the entire family can relax, sit on a “tree stump” share stories and make some “s’mores.”

Adds education director Aimee Terzulli: “Kids use their imaginations as they take on roles associated with these familiar winter activities.”

Winter at its best — without the chill and the need to bundle up.

Photos courtesy Long Island Children’s Museum

Families can slip on sock skates”’ and take a spin — whatever the weather — on the museum’s seasonal skating rink, with plenty of activities to occupy their ‘off-ice”’ time.

Buddy is back!

Step into the world of Buddy, a young orphan child who mistakenly crawls into Santa’s bag of gifts and is transported back to the North Pole, in this special production of the holiday musical. Unaware that he is actually human, Buddy’s enormous size and poor toymaking abilities cause him to face the truth. With Santa’s permission, Buddy embarks on a journey to New York City to find his birth father, discover his true identity, and help New Yorkers remember the true meaning of Christmas.

Directed by Madison Theatre artistic director Angelo Fraboni — a Broadway veteran — the charming show features a versatile cast of Broadway professionals and Molloy University CAP21 Theatre Arts students, with Matteo Mennella, of Rockville Centre, and Malverne’s Brady Schumacher sharing the role of young Michael Hobbs.

Saturday, Dec. 17, 3 and 8 p.m.; Sunday, Dec. 18, 2 and 7 p.m.; Tuesday, Dec. 20, 7 p.m.; Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2 and 7 p.m.; Thursday and Friday, Dec. 22-23, 7 p.m. Madison Theatre, Molloy University campus, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre. (516) 323-4444, or MadisonTheatreNY.org.

Eileen Ivers

The Grammy-winning fiddler and her band return to the Adelphi University Performing Arts Center stage for a lively holiday show, ‘Eileen Ivers: A Joyful Christmas.’ Ivers captures her Irish and American roots in a concert that blends traditional, story-filled, ageold Wren Day songs, poems, foot stomping, and hollerin’ roots music. Ivers and the ensemble combine their numerous instruments and voices in what surely is a soulful celebration capturing the true spirit and joy of the season. She continues to push the fiddling tradition boundaries from folk music staples to a fiercely fresh, powerfully beautiful, intense world stage experience, celebrating the glorious story of Christmas with unbridled joy.

Sunday, Dec. 18, 4 p.m. Tickets start at $50, with discounts available to seniors, students, alumni and employees. Adelphi University Performing Arts Center, 1 South Ave., Garden City. (516) 8774000 or Aupac.Adelphi.edu.

Photo:

THE SCENE

Baby Shark Live: The Christmas Show!

Splash along with Baby Shark and Pinkfong, on the Tilles Center stage, Tuesday, Dec. 27, 6 p.m., as they journey into the sea for the holidays to sing and dance through some of your favorite songs. This immersive experience, on the LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Boulevard, Brookville, specially appealing to ages 2-6, will have families dancing in the aisles. Join Baby Shark and friends for exciting adventures into the jungle and under the sea to explore shapes, colors, numbers and more. Enjoy hit songs in this dazzling kids spectacular, including “Baby Shark,” “Five Little Monkeys,” “Wheels On The Bus,” and “Monkey Banana Dance,” as well as holiday classics such as “Jingle Bells.” Tickets are $69.50, $59.50, $49.50, $39.50; available at TillesCenter.org or (516) 299-3100.

Art talk

Join Nassau County Museum Director Charles A. Riley II, PhD, for a Director’s Seminar, Tuesday, Jan. 10, 4 p.m. He’ll discuss “Photography: Beauty and Truth,” in a session that is keyed to the photojournalism of Robert Capa and the Magnum group as well as the pioneering work of Walker Evans and Lewis Hine. He’ll compare their approach with the digital manipulation of images (including video) in the media of our time and consider the relationship between the photographer as documentarian and as artist who holds the mirror up to nature. Participation is limited; registration required. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. (516) 484-9337 or NassauMuseum.org.

Holiday fun

Visit the streets of 19th century London during the darkest days of the year, in this adaption of “A Christmas Carol,” with the Experiential Theater Company, Thursday and Friday, Dec. 15-16, 10:15 a.m. and noon; Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 17-18, 2 p.m.; Wednesday and Thursday, Dec. 21-22, 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 with this beloved classic tale. Long Island Children’s Museum, Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 2245800 or LICM.org.

Village board meets

The village board of trustees will meet, Monday, Dec. 19, 7 p.m. at the Village Hall boardroom, 123 S. Central Ave. for their regular public meeting. For more information, call the village clerk at (516) 825-4200 Ext. 5 or visit Vsvny.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.

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- 585 or visit Bethlehemag.org.

New Year New Eve

Bethlehem Assembly of God holds a New Year, New Eve concert, Saturday, Dec. 31, 7:30 p.m, at their campus, 12 East Fairview Ave., Valley Stream. With special musical guest Odane Whilby. For more information, call (516) 5616150 or visit Bethlehemag.org.

On exhibit

Las Posadas Poinsettias

Celebrate Las Posadas, the popular Latin American tradition, at Long Island Children’s Museum, Saturday, Dec. 17, 1-3 p.m. Learn about the story of La flor de Nochebuena and the significance of poinsettias during this holiday, at the drop-in program. Long Island Children’s Museum, Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 224-5800 or LICM. org.

Having an event?

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.

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.

Dec. 18

Bethlehem Christmas

Join Bethlehem Assembly of God for a Bethlehem Christmas, Sunday, Dec. 18, after their regular Sunday service starting at 8:30 a.m, at their campus, 12 East Fairview Ave., Valley Stream. This outdoor event will include hot cocoa and treats, characters, photo opportunities, crafts, and face painting. For more information, call (516) 561-6150 or visit Bethlehemag.org.

Candlelight Tour

The Valley Stream Historical Society hosts its annual candle light tour of the Pagan-Fletcher Restoration Friday, Dec. 30, starting at 6 p.m. Visit the Pagan-Fletcher Restoration at 143 Henrickson Ave. For more information, call Valerie Esposito at (516) 647-0963 or visit Vsvny.org.

Matinee s time

Join crafty Jack Frost on a magical, musical winter adventure, in Plaza Theatrical’s production of “Jack Frost,” Saturday, Dec. 17, 11 a.m. The story, narrated by the groundhog Pardon-Me-Pete, tells about the immortal winter sprite, who falls in love with a human girl named Elisa after rescuing her. Tickets are $15. Bring the kids to the Plaza stage at the Elmont Public Library Theatre, 700 Hempstead Tpke., Elmont. For tickets, call (516) 599-6870 or visit PlazaTheatrical.com.

NCBA: Toll increases needed to offset losses

without E-ZPass will be charged $4.

“The decision to raise tolls does not come lightly,” Nassau County Bridge Authority Chairman Samuel Nahmias said. “Especially at a time when our residents are hurting due to high inflation.”

The increases are required to keep the authority via ble, Nahmias said. Unlike other bridges across New York, the authority’s revenue is generated only from tolls; it has no state or federal funding.

Increasing revenue will allow for upgrades to the 70-year-old, 1,173-foot-long bridge, including $6 million needed for cleaning, painting and roadwork; $5 million to install E-ZPass and for toll plaza refurbishment; and $5 million for bulkhead replacement. The bride authority expects E-ZPass to be implemented by mid-2023.

On Facebook, motorists expressed frustration with eliminating annual decals once E-ZPass is operating. The price of a decal is currently $130. To counter what was considered misinformation being spread on the social media platform, Nahmias stated in the Dec. 5 news release that decals will be incorporated into the E-ZPass system.

Bridge authority board member Shalom Maidenbaum offered further clarification in a Facebook post. “The benefits that existed before are simply going to be incor porated into the E-Z Pass system,” Maidenbaum wrote.

“The annual resident discounted rate will increase to only $199. While it represents an increase over the pres ent discounted rate, it is necessary for the continued operation of the bridge.”

Atlantic Beach resident Barry Ringelheim said he wonders why the authority needs a sudden increase in tolls when it spent $9.9 million to restore the bridge in 2017. Ringelheim does, however, look forward to using E-ZPass on the bridge.

“I don’t mind the E-ZPass,” he said. “I want proof that it was necessary to raise the tolls, and if in 2022 the bridge makes money or loses money.” Nahmias said the authority lost nearly $1 million over the past three years, and was on track to lose $2 million in 2023.

Earlier this year, the authority created, and then disbanded, the Atlantic Beach Bridge Citizens’ Committee, with the purpose of encouraging input from community members. It consisted of 12 members, one of whom, Woodmere resident Asher Matathias, said he believes the bridge authority should be disbanded. “The time has long been here to bury the bridge authority and permit the easing of its transfer to Nassau County,” Matathias

said.

Ringelheim called for members of the authority to come to an Atlantic Beach village board meeting on Monday, to hear what commuters had to say about the decision to raise the tolls.

At the meeting, no authority members were in evidence, and Atlantic Beach Mayor George Pappas spoke only briefly about the tolls, emphasizing that the village was not involved.

He suggested to those in attendance that they attend a meeting planned by the authority at its headquarters on the bridge, scheduled for Thursday at 6:30 p.m., at which the tolls were expected to be the main topic of discussion.

News brief

Valley Stream firefighters free trapped man

An unidentified man was caught in quite the snag when his leg was found trapped in a loading dock at the Green Acres Industrial Park on Nov. 22. The Valley Stream Volunteer Fire Department responded to the emergency call. Ladder 346 and Ladder 345 started began the extrication process while Assistant Chief Anthony Capone requested the Elmont Fire Department Technical Rescue to respond, and the individual was eventually freed with an industrial power saw.

Nassau County Police ESU also responded to assist and ambulance 349 stood by on the scene with Nassau County Police Department Emergency Ambulance Bureau for patient care.

The patient’s leg was freed in half hour, and was transported by Nassau Police Emergency Ambulance Bureau with non-life-threatening injuries. All operations were under the command of Assistant Chief Capone.

Courtesy Nassau County Bridge Authority users will see the first increase in tolls since 2007, starting Jan. 1.

–Juan Lasso

Courtesy Elaine Epouta the VAlley StreAM Volunteer Fire Department responded to an emergency call for an unidentified man whose leg was trapped in a loading dock on Nov. 22.

Grand Central Madison deadline looms large

By JUAN LASSO jlasso@liherald.com

Only a few months ago, all signs were pointing to the imminent opening of Grand Central Madison — Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s new, fully operational terminal in Manhattan’s East Side meant to redefine the way commuters get around by putting the Long Island Railroad to full use with a new terminal station.

The MTA has conducted a number of public meetings explaining new commuting patterns in the wake of updated train schedules. Top MTA and LIRR executives hosted private leadership events enlisting the help of business leaders and local leaders to hammer home the message: Grand Central Madison is coming by the end of this year, so get ready.

Passengers might have been ready, but the MTA apparently may not. Yet, the state organization has not veered from its message — the latest flurry of public advertisements relaying the sweeping words “All aboard for Grand Central!”

With the end-of-the-year deadline looming and still no official word about when Grand Central Madison might open, some observers have begun to question whether commuters will have to reset expectations about what they’re getting. At least while the calendar still reads 2022.

One thing is certain: it has been a complicated final stretch of construction for

the $11.6 billion mega-project.

The MTA cleared a regulatory hurdle last month that would have otherwise derailed any hopes of opening train service thanks to a federal waiver that pushed the deadline for engineers to install new federally mandated safety technology meant to prevent Amtrak trains from entering East River tunnels until February.

MTA spokesman Aaron Donovan says passengers should be rest-assured technology is already in place that helps prevent trains from speeding, colliding or derailing. In the meantime, the MTA will have to submit weekly safety reports to the Federal Railroad Administration, and conduct tests before the terminal goes online.

Then came a project update that parts of the LIRR’s concourse and facilities at Grand Central won’t be completed until February. That, at least, according to a capital program committee meeting report from last month citing the need for additional time.

“Opening a facility this size is an enormous task,” said Jamie Torres-Springer, president of MTA Construction & Development, during that meeting. “It is a 700,000-square-foot terminal station with three-and-a-half tunnels to Queens attached to it. It’s like laying the Chrysler Building on its side to get a sense of the complexity of the systems that need to operate to make this concourse, terminal and platforms function.”

Torres-Springer is, nevertheless, hold-

ing fast to the MTA’s promise that passenger trains will run at Grand Central by the deadline.

“I want to emphasize that the terminal is complete in every visible and functional way,” he said. “The escalators and elevators are running, and the fire alarm is installed. So the project is looking great, and we’re confident about opening service this year.”

Torres-Springer noted, however, that while systems are installed, they are currently undergoing testing and commissioning to ensure the project meets safety and operational standards. A major challenge currently at play is finalizing the test of the terminal’s airflow system.

“This is to confirm that we can move air quickly throughout the platform and the concourse in the event of a smoke condition,” he said. Testing “becomes very complex, and there’s a lot of (professionals) involved to make sure the system is safe.

“Obviously we won’t open our facilities before we are signed off on the safety of the system.”

Over the weekend, LIRR took over operational control of Grand Central Madison, making the terminal and tunnels federally regulated railroad territory. MTA officials described that as a significant step to getting the station up and running before the end of the year.

The MeTrOpOLiTAN TrANSpOrTATiON Authority is entering the final hours before opening passenger train service from Long Island Rail Road to Grand Central Terminal ahead of its endof-year deadline despite hurdles and concerns over its completion.

Courtesy Metropolitan Transportation Authority

WINNER:

BEST BOUTIQUE

Artisan Jules Gifts and Goodness

215 Glen Cove Ave, Sea Cliff, NY 11579 (516) 240-1894 www.artisanjules.com

FINALISTS: Madison’s Niche Multiple Locations (516) 246-9964 www.madisonsniche.com

Hummingbird Boutique 321 Sea Cliff Ave, Sea Cliff, NY 11579 (516) 671-2281 www.welovehummingbird.com

BEST GIFT SHOP

THE L.I. GUIDE TO:

HOLIDAY SHOPPING

BEST LOCAL WOMEN’S CLOTHING

WINNER: Ruby and Jenna 433 Glen Cove Rd, Roslyn Heights, NY 11577 (516) 801-3444 www.rubyandjenna.com

FINALISTS: Rose and Eye 893 W Beech St, Long Beach, NY 11561 (516) 544-4477

Temptations for Her 3175 Long Beach Rd, Oceanside, NY 11572 (516) 678-1150 www.temptationsforher.com

WINNER:

Artisan Jules Gifts and Goodness

215 Glen Cove Ave, Sea Cliff, NY 11579 (516) 240-1894 www.artisanjules.com

FINALISTS:

Dolce Confections 1319 Broadway, Hewlett, NY 11557 (516) 347-1940 www.dolceconfections.com

White House Home 288 Hempstead Ave, Malverne, NY 11565 (516) 887-1288 www.white-house-home.business.site

BEST LOCAL JEWELRY STORE

WINNER:

Ritz Jewelry 3574 Long Beach Rd, Oceanside, NY 11572 (516) 255-0465 www.ritzjewelryinc.com

FINALISTS:

Hewlett Jewelers 1344 Broadway #6, Hewlett, NY 11577 (516) 374-3950 www.hewlettjewelersny.com

Matthew James Jewelers 76 Rockaway Ave, Valley Stream, NY 11580 (516) 561-3080

BEST LOCAL MEN’S CLOTHING

WINNER: Mur-Lees Men’s & Boy’s Shop 24 Atlantic Ave, Lynbrook, NY 11563 (516) 599-7777 www.murleesclothing.com

FINALISTS: Bertalia 15 N Park Ave, Rockville Centre 11570 (516) 536-3100 www.bertalia.net

MyTuxes at Ginos Galleria Tuxedos 234 NY-109, Farmingdale, NY 11735 (631) 753-4466 www.tuxes.business.site

BEST LOCAL CHILDREN’S CLOTHING

WINNER: Denny’s Fashion. Style. For All. 343B S Oyster Bay Rd, Plainview, NY 11803 (516) 681-4490 www.shopdennys.com

FINALISTS:

Morton’s Official Camp Outfitter 533 Central Ave, Cedarhurst (516) 347-1940 www.dolceconfections.com

Cathy’s Touch 67 Merrick Ave N, Merrick, NY 11566 (516) 377-1127 www.cathystouch.com

BEST LOCAL SHOE STORE

WINNER: Hummingbird 321 Sea Cliff Ave, Sea Cliff, NY 11579 (516) 671-2281 www.welovehummingbird.com

FINALISTS:

Eric’s Comfort Shoes 426 Hillside Ave, Williston Park, NY 11596 (516) 877-2002 www.ericshoes.com

Halperin Comfort Footwear and Orthotics 1 N Village Ave, Rockville Centre, NY, 11570 (516) 766-9220 www.halperinfootwear.com

BEST CONSIGNMENT/THRIFT STORE

WINNER: LuxeSwap 21 Berry Hill Rd, Oyster Bay, NY 11771 (516) 226-1055 www.luxeswap.com

FINALISTS: National Council of Jewish Women Thrift Shop 342 Central Ave (516) 569-0510 www.longislandthriftncjw.com

Lucky Finds Boutique

7A N Park Ave, Rockville Centre, NY 11570 (516) 442-4600 www.luckyfindsboutique.com

Reverend Jeffrey begins a re-energized new ministry

the mild, more well-to-do suburban village of Valley Stream, Hooker noted, but one thing remains clear: every community has its own set of unique challenges and needs and there’s no “magic bullet” that will solve everything.

It’s been roughly six months having joined the church, but he’s still actively listening and learning, trying to get his finger on the pulse of the community and get a sense of what “bridges to build, opportunities to create and need gaps to fill.”

Pastors and church leaders often wrestle with the “million-dollar question” of what makes for a healthy, thriving congregation, Hooker noted. While some pastors lean exclusively on hard metrics like attendance rates, membership size, and donation amount, he promises to focus on less tangible, morally informed goals.

“I think a thriving congregation is one that doesn’t look inward, one that is not insular-focused,” said Hooker. “A church that makes a point not to get lost in itself and locks its doors, but looks outward and asks how we can be part of our community. How better can we serve our community? How better can we serve our neighbors and those around us?”

Remaining relevant and visible in the eyes of the community remains an urgent challenge for churches in Valley Stream and around the country amid declining attendance as pastors and priests struggle to entice back their once-regular churchgoers in the wake of Covid-19 pandemic restrictions.

“When I first got here. [My congregation] were almost in a lull, but not asleep,” Hooker said. “My goal was to reopen the

space and reopen the church. Meeting virtually became normative, and hybrid worship has become the standard, but I want to reemphasize the importance of gathering in person and sharing the physical space. Presence is something we are trying to recapture.”

He has certainly brought a dynamic presence. One that, JoAnne Hazell, a 30-year-veteran church member, says churchgoers will be happy to stand behind.

“In six short months, Rev. Jeffrey has started to shape the future of Grace United Methodist Church in Valley Stream with his ability to bring people together, his welcoming nature, willingness to listen to our congregation, strong leadership skills, and results-driven attitude,” said Hazell. “Throughout the years, our congregation has adapted to change. Church leadership plays a critical role in the evolution of the church [during that change].”

The long-standing institution has weathered and overcame difficulties for decades and is no stranger to change, noted Grace Methodist Nursery School director Diane Panzarino.

“The church needs to overcome the attendance and economic challenges presented by Covid, but I believe Pastor Jeff Hooker’s new ministry will reflect his positive energy, his strong sense of community, and commitment to inclusiveness, which will attract families to Grace United Methodist Church,” said Panzarino.

However, some things never change.

“We are a family of faith striving to share God’s love,” said Hooker. “That is our mission statement, our guiding light, our modus operandi.”

Markens Jewelers holds going-out-of-business sale

For nearly 80 years, Markens Jewelers has been a staple in the Long Island community.

Throughout the decades, they’ve provided the highest level of quality service and care to their base of loyal customers. From shining gifts to heirloom-worthy pieces, Markens Jewelers has prided itself in helping Long Islanders mark their special moments with timeless treasures. While Markens Jewelers will be closing their doors for good, you can take home a piece of their shining legacy at up to 70 percent off.

As of press time, they’ll be clearing their inventory with special pricing on everything in the store. Since 1947, Markens Jewelers has been a familyowned and operated business. It began with a storefront in Queens, NY where Kurt Strauss established a name for himself in the jewelry industry. He later passed on his passion for glimmering gifts to his son, Marc Strauss.

When he was 16, Marc joined his father in the jewelry store and quickly learned the ins and outs of the industry. By 1995, he took over the family business and grew Markens Jewelers into a reputable and trusted retailer.

Throughout his tenure as owner, Marc has upheld their motto of “Quality and service since 1947”. Every customer that

walks into the store is met with superior care and patience while they shop. As a locally owned business, Markens has the advantage of catering its selection of fine jewelry to match the demands of the market. This has allowed Markens to source only the highest quality pieces at the best prices and include a variety of diamond classics, necklaces, bracelets, gemstones, wedding rings and more for all.

While the decision to close Markens Jewelers is bittersweet, Marc is looking forward to what the future holds. He invites you to come into the store during these last remaining weeks to take home diamond necklaces, bracelets, earrings, gemstones, men’s jewelry, wedding bands, engagement rings, GIA-certified bridal sets, and watches at unbeatable prices.

–Juan Lasso

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU SELEN FINANCE LP, Plaintiff, Against JERD ORIENTAL A/K/A JERD M. ORIENTAL, MIRLYNE RICHARDSONORIENTAL, GARDY ORIENTAL, et al., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale, duly entered 10/18/2016, I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction, on the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, N.Y. 11501. This Auction will be held rain or shine on 1/17/2023 at 2:30 PM, Premises known as 16 Hudson Avenue, Valley Stream, NY 11580 and described as follows: ALL that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in thein the Incorporated Village of

Valley Stream, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York. Section 37 Block 452 Lot 11-14. The approximate amount of the current Judgment lien is $643,572.55 plus interest and costs. The Premises will be sold subject to provisions of the aforesaid Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale; Index # 3680/2012. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, the then Court Appointed Referee will cancel the Foreclosure Auction.

George P. Esernio, Esq., Referee.

McCabe, Weisberg & Conway, LLC, Suite 205, 10 Midland Ave, Port Chester, NY 10573

Dated: 10/31/2022 File Number: 464-0051 PCO 135943

LEGAL NOTICE

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORKCOUNTY OF NASSAU NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC D/B/A MR. COOPER, V. DENNIS BEAUDRY.

NOTICE OF SALE

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure dated March 4, 2020, and entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Nassau, wherein NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC D/B/A

MR. COOPER is the Plaintiff and DENNIS BEAUDRY is the Defendant. I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction

RAIN OR SHINE at the NASSAU COUNTY

SUPREME COURT, NORTH SIDE STEPS, 100 SUPREME COURT DRIVE, MINEOLA, NY 11501, on January 18, 2023 at 2:30PM, premises known as 1139 SLABEY AVENUE, VALLEY STREAM, NY 11580: Section 35, Block 235, Lot 60:

ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND, WITH THE BUILDINGS AND IMPROVEMENTS THEREON ERECTED, SITUATE, LYING AND BEING AT VALLEY STREAM, IN THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, COUNTY OF NASSAU AND STATE OF NEW YORK

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 608035/2019. Charles Casolaro, Esq. - Referee. Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310, Westbury, New York 11590, Attorneys for Plaintiff. All foreclosure sales will be conducted in accordance with Covid-19 guidelines including, but not limited to, social distancing and mask wearing. *LOCATION OF SALE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DAY OF IN ACORDANCE WITH COURT/CLERK DIRECTIVES.

continued from front page

Courtesy Alain Epouta

The Rev. JeffRey Luis Hooker, the new pastor of Grace United Methodist Church, hosted a Christmas concert open to the public last Sunday.

Courtesy Markens Jewelers MaRkens JeweleRs is having a big going-out-of-business sale after nearly 80 years of service.

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.

American Software Resources Inc. is seeking 1 FT professional (40 HW) for the position of Data Engineer II at 4 Brower Ave, Ste # 4, Woodmere, NY 11598 for competitive salary. Data Engineer II: Analyze, Design, Develop & Test general computer applications software using Power BI, Tableau, Alteryx, Microsoft Project/Excel/Access/Visio, SQL Server, Power Apps, Sharepoint, SQL, Snowflake, Microsoft Analysis Services, Database Management, Spend Analytics, Supply Chain & Logistics Management, Accounts Receivable/Payable, Project Costing, Asset Management, Billing, Purchasing, Supplier Relationship Management, Root Cause Analysis, Lean Six Sigma. Educational & Exp Requirements: Masters in Comp Sci or Tech Mgt in Engg Tech or Info Tech + 12 months of experience as Comp Software Professional. We offer comprehensive benefits. Travel within the USA is required for the position. To apply send your resume to the above address.

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

DRIVERS WANTED

Full Time and Part Time

Positions Available!

Busy Print Shop in Garden City is Hiring Immediately for Full Time and Part Time Drivers. Must Have a Clean License and BoxTruck Driving Experience. Hours Vary, Night Availability is a Must. Please Email Resume to careers@liherald.com or Call (516)569-4000 x239

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

HIRING MAIL SORTERS $16.00-$17.00, Pickers/ Packers Springfield Gardens, $17.00. Mystery Shoppers Ages 21-25 $20.00. 860 Long Island Ave., Deer Park NY 631-586-4699

OFFICE MANAGER/ RECEPTIONIST: Private Dental Practice Far Rockaway/ Lawrence. Insurance Experience Necessary. Great Salary/ Benefits. jonfriedmandds@gmail.com 917-435-7138

OUTSIDE SALES

Richner Communications, One of the Fastest Growing Media, Event and Communications Companies on Long Island is Seeking a Sales/Marketing Candidate to Sell our Print Media Products and our Digital, Events, Sponsorships. Salary, Commission, Eligible for Health Benefits, 401k and Paid Time Off. Will Consider Part Time. Please Send Cover Letter and Resume with Salary Requirements to ereynolds@liherald.com or Call 516-569-4000 X286

PRESS-ROOM/WAREHOUSE HELP

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

RECEPTIONIST EXPERIENCED P/T Seasonal. Jan- Mid April. Franklin Square. CALL: 516-358-9455. FAX RESUME: 516-358-9483. E MAIL: ed@loturco.com.

Bsmt. 2 Car Att Gar. MUST SEE!! SD#20 $1,599,000

1534 Broadway #103, BA, Magnificent New Renovation! One of a Kind Ranch Style Living in Luxurious Jonathan Hall Condominium with Doorman & Elevator. Just Move into This Gut Renovated, Spacious 2 BR, 2 Bath Apt with Open Layout. Large Designer Eat in Kitchen with Sep Pantry & Laundry Rm. Master BR Boasts Gorgeous Bth & Walk in Closet. Terrace Faces into Courtyard. Garage Parking Incl REDUCED $699,000

1534 Broadway #205, BA, Extra Large 2000 Sq Ft, 2 Bedrooms (Originally 3 BR), 2 Bath Condo in Prestigious Jonathan Hall with Doorman & Elevator. Updtd Wood/Quartz Kit, LR & DR. Washer/ Dryer in Unit. Underground Pkg. Loads of Closets. Terrace Faces Back. Easy Ranch Style Living BIG REDUCTION!! $699,000

E a ST ROCK aWay

8 Acorn Rd, 2-3:30, 5 BR, 3 Bth Front to Back Split on Beautiful Quiet St in Lynbrook SD#20. Fin Bsmt, Att Gar. CAC, Gas Ht, HW Flr. REDUCED! $749,000 8 Howland Rd, BA, 4 BR, 2.5 Bth Exp Ranch on Beautiful Tree Lined St in SD#20. LR, DR, EIK, Den & Enclosed Porch. Full Fin Bsmt., 1 Car Gar. CAC, Gas Ht, HW Flrs. Update to Your Taste! $699,000 Fa R ROCK aWay 33-47 Bay Ct., BA, Enjoy The Waterviews in This Bayswater 4 BR, 1.5 Bth Split Tucked Away in Cul de Sac. Fin Bsmt. Att Gar. O/S Resortlike Yard on the Bay. Opportunity to Make This Your Dream Home! REDUCED $675,000

Apartments For Rent

Cemetery Plots

Shemtov

Home Sales

A sampling of recent sales in the area

Baldwin $580,000 Edwards Street. Cape. 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms. Updated eat-in kitchen with stainless steel appliances. First floor bedroom. 2 car garage. Central location near all.

Taxes: $15,290.84

Bellmore $695,000 Oak Street. Colonial. 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms. New eat-in kitchen with stainless steel appliances. Spacious living room. Formal dining room. Many updates. Taxes: $11,737.22

Cedarhurst $940,000 Harbor Drive. Hi Ranch. 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms. Eat-in kitchen. Den/family room. Deck and enlarged driveway. Security system.

Taxes: $8,470

East Meadow $580,000 Harton Avenue. Cape. 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms. New eatin kitchen with quartz countertops. Open floor plan. Formal dining room. Den/family room and exercise room. Many updates, including whole house water filtration. Oversized property. Convenient location near LIRR and park.

Taxes: $8656.81

East Rockaway $599,000 Thixton Avenue. Contemporary. 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms. Updated eat-in kitchen with quartz countertops and ample storage. L-shaped dining room. Den/family room and home office. 2 gas fireplaces and cathedral ceiling. Screened Trex deck.

Taxes: $14,931.77

Franklin Square $729,000 Craft Avenue Colonial. 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms. Finished basement. Eat-in chef’s kitchen with cherry cabinets, granite countertops and high-end appliances. Open floor plan. Living room with vaulted ceiling. Large master bedroom. Den/family room.

Taxes: $15,077

Freeport $566,500 Maryland Avenue. Colonial. 3 bedrooms, 1.5 bathrooms. Finished basement. Updated eat in kitchen with granite countertops. Living room with fireplace. Formal dining rom. Large bedrooms. Oversized property with patio and Trex deck. Second deck over 2 car garage.

Taxes: $11,596.47

Long Beach $620,000 W. Hudson Street. Colonial. Westholme neighborhood. 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms. Eat-in kitchen with stainless steel appliances. Formal dining room. Covered front porch. Spacious yard with fire pit. Central air conditioning. Parking for 5+ cars. Convenient location near LIRR, restaurants, shopping.

Taxes: $9,499.90

Oceanside $615,000

Davis Street. Ranch. 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms. L-shaped dining room. Den/family room.

Taxes: $13,090.82

Source: The Multiple Listing Service of Long Island Inc,, a computerized network of real estate offices serving Nassau, Suffolk, Queens, and Brooklyn.

Are you raising a grandchild, young relative or child of a family friend in the absence of the biological parents?

Are you raising a grandchild, young relative or child of a family friend in the absence of the biological parents?

Costs in the postpandemic world

Q. We are concerned we may have waited too long because of inflation. It seems nearly impossible to afford our renovation. We got “ballpark” estimates, and just look at each other in wonder when we think about how things changed from before the pandemic. Do you see prices coming down? Should we wait, rethink or do the repairs to our roof that led to doing the bigger job and just live with it? Are some cost increases real or made up?

Ask The Architect

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Are you raising a grandchild, young relative or child of a family friend in the absence of the biological parents?

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A. Your decision will be made based on what you’re willing to pay, not on what you can afford. Some prices are dropping, slightly, but as a window representative said recently, if you were a trucker being paid more to haul perishable groceries than windows, which would you choose? Across the board, as the pandemic waned and people went back to work who were being paid not to work, they had to be enticed with higher wages at the same time that the world economy shifted due to war and sanctions. Who could have guessed that the U.S. would become the largest oil producer in the world?

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People often look back in their lives and ask themselves, “How did we do it?” when pondering some of the most seemingly unmanageable situations. This is not to suggest that you gamble, but you must project the terms: whether you will need to earn more, and how, borrow more and work longer to pay, settle for a little less, change or abandon the goal.

The cost of any project is the number one question I get, and the most unpredictable, since, even before the life-changing pandemic, construction bids were generally all over the place. It isn’t uncommon to get an extremely low bid against an extremely high one and wonder why. The four primary factors in a contractor’s bid are overhead, labor, material cost and profit. Labor, and the choice of how much to add in for profit, would seem to be the most controllable, while overhead costs and material prices are often not controllable.

As I go about the everyday tasks of building design and construction, I speak with a whole range of people, from real estate salespeople to bankers, developers, contractors and tradespeople to lawyers, material representatives and the end users. The whole picture of where costs are going is influenced by many factors, and trying to pinpoint the cause of fluctuations is based more on people trying to simplify something extremely complex than on looking at a much broader picture.

Energy production dropped and costs increased. Fewer people were driving or working, so debt and prices increased. Add to this a world in conflict and the huge debt of war, and you begin to see that the project you want to do is affected by issues that are far beyond your control. Design can reduce some costs, finish material choices can save money, but only you can determine your willingness to “settle” or go for it. Good luck!

Monte Leeper

KING

SYL-LEE

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OPINIONS

Beware the lure of DeSantis

Former President Donald Trump has been hit with a barrage of bad news in the past few weeks. It’s also clear that his popularity is taking a hit due to the failure of his anointed candidates to win a number of contests around the country last month. With each passing day, more Republican voices are raising their fears of a potential wipeout in 2024, and are promoting Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis as a possible presidential candidate. Having closely followed the actions of DeSantis, my advice to the party is to be careful what you wish for.

him. Some call him “tough” and others describe him as “forceful,” but none of his admirers are able to articulate what makes him so great.

issue, and cruise ship owners were forced to shut down for months.

may be forced to hire people who are unlicensed and have no formal training.

JERRY KREMER

There is no question that DeSantis is a true conservative, and that he is outspoken on many issues. My friends who spend their winters in Florida rave about him. A number of them have chosen to become permanent residents, primarily to avoid New York state taxes. But I have yet to find one fan of DeSantis who can spell out specifically what they like about

There is no question that he comes off as a bold leader of his state. He embraces issues that he thinks will eventually make him popular beyond Florida, but he has been careful not to announce any presidential ambitions. If you take a close look at his record, you will find him to be anti-business, and reckless in his views on public education. One good example of his antibusiness attitude is the way he has treated Florida’s two biggest money generators.

At the height of the Covid scare, DeSantis decided that it was good politics to be anti-mask and impose no government health restrictions. Florida residents liked the idea that there should be no mandates, but many tourist industry leaders felt differently. The heads of the three biggest cruise lines insisted that their passengers wear masks when they were in public areas of the ships. DeSantis made numerous threats over this

The Walt Disney Company fiasco is another example of DeSantis’s poor judgment. Disney is the largest taxpaying business in the state, and its top attraction. The former Disney chief executive Bob Chapek criticized DeSantis for his position on gay education restrictions. DeSantis decided that Disney had no right to speak out and had the company’s special legislative status revoked. In the end, it isn’t Disney that will suffer as much as the communities that surround the park, which will be forced to pay for costly fire, police and health facilities in 2023.

DeSantis has decided that his administration must be the only voice on the education of Florida’s students. His education commissioner has recommended all types of restrictions that have frightened teachers around the state. Numerous teachers have left the Florida system for fear that they might be punished for teaching subjects that are not stateapproved. Next year, Florida will have a shortage of thousands of teachers, and

And, of course, DeSantis was anxious to get in on the program of sending immigrants to liberal northern cities as a protest against the Biden administration. In September he approved a plan to fly 50 immigrants who were detained in Texas to Martha’s Vineyard. They were not on Florida soil, and DeSantis used unauthorized federal funds for the trip. Even Maryland’s Republican Gov. Larry Hogan called the stunt a “terrible idea.” There are countless other DeSantis actions that merit some daylight, but it’s fair to say that most people outside Florida have no clue as to how reckless he is. You can bet that the national press corps will have a field day when he throws his hat into the ring of the presidential campaign sometime next year. For now, his is just a name being used by the “anyone but Trump” faction of the party, but if he’s the ultimate choice to run, the DeSantis story will not be a pretty one.

Jerry Kremer was an Assemblyman for 23 years, and chaired the Assembly’s ways and means committee for 12 years. He now heads Empire Government Strategies, a business development and legislative strategy firm. Comments about this column? jkremer@liherald.com.

Standing in the doorway of 2023, with the holidays ahead, I want to focus on the ways we Americans connect and love one another. This is a challenge during our great political divide, but my hope is that we can disagree peacefully, argue with civility, and celebrate our common appreciation for millions of things, from the majesty of our Rocky Mountains to same-day delivery by Amazon.

the problem. They feel loyal to the former administration.

The former president, now a 2024 presidential candidate, spoke last week about dissolving the Constitution. He hosted a dinner two weeks ago at Mar-a-Lago at which two guests felt empowered to indulge in antisemitic slurs. Perhaps we are reaching a tipping point. We need room for people to re-evaluate their loyalties and reconsider their alliances with people like the men and women who participated in the Jan. 6 insurrection.

stand why many people are reactive to our brave new world and want to go back to simpler times. Life has been unfair to large swaths of people across America. I understand it, but the “simpler times” refer to a whiter, male-dominated heterosexual culture with little room for people who were different. Our world has changed, not fast enough for some people and too fast for others.

keep our elders safe through the holidays.

Across America, people of every stripe and every polka dot and from every corner of every small town, east, west, north and south, will be traveling, feeling the love of family, and sharing food at common tables.

There will be the inside family jokes and the debate over eggnog and the best recipes for chocolate chip cookies.

There has always been open and lively conflict across America, but we are witnesses, today, to disturbing political and cultural warfare, real threats to democracy. This time around could be the last time around if we don’t figure out a way forward.

RANDI KREISS

That said, I own every single word I have written about former President Donald Trump and his extremist followers. I believe with all my heart that his MAGA movement has already compromised our democracy, but not irreparably. I acknowledge — and I have the letters to prove it — that many readers see things differently. They see President Biden as

I have not yet heard any Trump loyalist defend his comments about the Constitution. The principles of this document are our reason for being as a democratic country. The words matter. How does anyone reconcile his verbal attack on the Constitution?

I believe in the possibility of change. As voters and our law enforcement agencies move toward holding the former president accountable, we will have time and space to find the best in one another again. May the accountability unfold with dignity and gravitas.

Looking at the rapid shifts in our society and culture, it is possible to under-

We can likely agree that political sideshows on all sides are unproductive and self-serving. We need to get behind quality candidates who can check off the basic boxes: Honest? Skilled? Work well with others? See themselves as public servants?

Let’s take a breather over the holidays.

Hanukkah is coming up, with remembrances of hope and heroism going back to ancient times. Jewish people and their friends will light the candles and eat the latkes and give their children food and goodies over the eight days.

Christmas and Kwanzaa approach with people feeling more comfortable gathering with family, especially with vaccines and healthy protocols in place. Some of us will mask up, not as a political statement, but as a sensible way to

This is the season of miracles. It shouldn’t take one to bring together a people who settled a new country, fought wars for freedom together, laughed at the same movies, cried together on 9/11 and suffered together during the terrible years of the pandemic. We should be able to get it together, literally and figuratively.

After the holiday parties, we have work to do. We have children way behind in their academic studies; teenagers psychologically traumatized by lockdowns; people, including hurricane survivors and immigrants, who need safe places to live and jobs and acceptance. If we are pulling in different directions, it will be challenging to move forward.

Two things can be true at once. We are divided, and we share values and traditions. We can try to stand in one another’s shoes instead of stepping on one another’s toes.

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

Yes, left and right, we are more alike than not

This is the season of miracles. It shouldn’t take one to bring us together.

Most people outside Florida have no clue how reckless the governor is.

Fusion can augment clean-energy creation

It existed for just five seconds — but it was enough to power a home for an entire day.

It was a result of nuclear fusion, taking place last February in Culham, England, a village of barely 500 people not far from the University of Oxford. A machine there called a tokamak created heat measuring upward of 270 million degrees Fahrenheit — 10 times hotter than the core of the sun — and used a series of high-powered magnets to contain it.

It produced 59 megajoules of energy, but like many experiments before it, it used more energy than it ultimately yielded.

All of that changed on Dec. 6, when U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm revealed that scientists working at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California had accomplished what no others had done before: created a fusion reaction that resulted in a net energy gain.

All of this might not seem substantial, but the breakthrough is extraordinary. Especially in a world where new, cleanenergy sources are crucial for breaking our dependence on fossil fuels, which is rapidly destroying our environment.

Fusion would be just that: clean energy. When we hear about anything nuclear, we think either weapons, or dangerous — and highly wasteful — ways of generating power. Today’s nuclear power plants depend on a process that harnesses energy from splitting the atom, a highly radioactive process that just isn’t sustainable long-term.

But fusion is different. Instead of splitting atoms, scientists smash them togeth-

LETTERS

Mayor remains in denial of village’s ‘junk’ bond status

To the Editor:

At the October meeting of the Valley Stream village board, resident Anthony Bonelli inquired about what the village was doing about its fouryear-long “junk” credit rating from Moody’s Investor’s Service.

Mayor Ed Fare did not offer a solution, but instead denied that the village’s credit was “junk,” to the astonishment of the audience. Several citizens used their smartphones to corroborate the Moody’s rating, but the mayor continued to refuse to acknowledge it.

At the Nov. 21 board meeting, Bonelli again addressed the mayor, explaining that after the October board meeting, he had called Moody’s,

er. Unlike fission, we wouldn’t need uranium. Instead, fusion depends on isotopes of hydrogen like deuterium and tritium — both naturally available in seawater.

Of the two, tritium is radioactive. But the amount of fuel needed to create fusion is so small that very little waste is generated. Even better, fusion doesn’t produce carbon dioxide — the primary contributor to our planet’s so-called greenhouse effect — meaning that instituting technology like this could be the very means needed to reduce global warming.

Yet as much as all of this is being hailed as a breakthrough, don’t start planning for your fusion-powered car or home anytime soon. We are still years, if not decades, away from putting fusion to practical use. The Culham experiment lasted only five seconds, because that’s how long the magnets could withstand the heat. The Livermore experiments had better results, but it’s still only the beginning. Creating something that can become a regular part of our lives still requires far more research and development.

And the Earth might not have that long. The United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change says we have to move out society to a “net-zero” carbon emission system in a little more than 25 years. To even have a shot at reversing the climate change damage, we need to cut our current greenhouse emissions in half before this decade ends.

Fusion might not be here yet, but alternative energy sources are — like wind and solar. Our focus on electric vehicles is also a significant step, but not if we have to use

coal or other fossil fuels to generate the electricity to power them in the first place.

New York enacted the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act in 2019, requiring 70 percent of electricity consumed in the state to come from renewable sources by 2030, with the hope of being completely carbon-neutral by 2040.

It’s one of the most aggressive laws in the country, and one that PSEG Long Island — through the Long Island Power Authority — has been working around the clock to achieve. A number of projects are also well underway, including wind farms planned for 15 miles or so off the coast of Long Island.

Projects like that are certainly not without controversy. Fishermen fear that the wind farms will disrupt their livelihood and affect natural habitats. Closer to home, some Island Park residents have challenged plans of the Norwegian energy company Equinor to build a substation for wind energy in their neighborhood, rather than up the road a bit at the E.F. Barrett Power Station.

Achieving our renewable-energy goals will take a lot of work, as well as give and take, from both sides. And no matter what, we can’t lose focus on the end goal: To leave a beautiful planet for our children and grandchildren. The same beautiful planet we enjoy now.

But it will only stay beautiful if we make changes now. Otherwise, by the time we can turn five seconds of fusion power into something sustainable, there might not be a planet left to benefit from it.

OPINIONS

It’s a strange time to be a Jew, but when isn’t it?

Igrew up in a non-religious family, but it was always important to my parents that we knew we were Jews, and my family followed certain traditional rituals. My father went to work on Saturdays, and the only religious holidays on which he shut his luncheonette were Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. My younger brother and I were bar mitzvahed, and attended youth services on Saturdays and holidays. The rule in our family was, no synagogue Saturday morning, no ball playing that afternoon; no synagogue on Jewish holidays, then you go to school.

ALAN SINGER

My wife and I used to celebrate both Hanukkah and Christmas with our children, who are grown now and have kids of their own. For Hanukkah, we invited the staff and families from her day care center for a latkes festival in our apartment, where I turned 20 pounds of potatoes and four pounds of onions into potato pancakes and told the story of the Maccabees as a freedom struggle. After Hanukkah, we set up a Christmas tree with a giant origami peace crane as its crown and pres-

ents underneath, to be opened on Christmas morning.

As an adult, I’m a confirmed atheist. I joke that I’m an evangelical atheist because I recruit. I can’t support Israel’s occupation of Palestinian lands on the West Bank of the Jordan River, and its treatment of Palestinians in Gaza and Israel proper. I believe Israel has the right to exist, but not as a religious state, and not as an occupying power, and I won’t visit the country while these policies are in place. But I always identify as a Jew — a secular Jew, a Jew by birth, a Jew by history, and a Jew by tradition. I call myself a Jew, not Jewish, because I know that in many households in this country, the word Jew is still used as a curse.

Today there is a lot of antisemitism in the air in the U.S., and I feel that it’s important to publicly be a Jew. The losing gubernatorial candidate in Pennsylvania, Republican Doug Mastriano, said he wanted America to be a Christian nation, and attacked his opponent, Democrat Josh Shapiro, who won, as an “elitist,” but we knew he meant Jew. In the past, attacks on the “Rothschilds” for supposedly controlling global banking were really claims that Jews somehow

LETTERS

and its credit rating for Valley Stream was still “junk.” The mayor said he was unaware of said rating. When Bonelli inquired about Town of Hempstead Comptroller John Mastromarino, in the hope that he might take the podium to provide clarity on the matter, Mayo Fare waved him to remain seated.

A buzz went through the audience upon hearing this unprecedented dis. After all, the purpose of having department heads and consultants at a board meeting is to toss the mayor and board a life preserver when they are floundering. Having a mayor who is a Moody’s denier is not reassuring.

BILL FREDA Valley Stream

Trustee

refer to Grasso as someone who apologized.

At best, his statement was a backhanded apology. In fact, since the story was published, Grasso has gone on to accuse me of cyberbullying, stalking, harassment, a desire to go on a “date” with him, and other allegations. Let me be clear: Grasso’s statement is meritless and without proof, which is why he did not forward any screenshots to news organizations.

secretly ran the world. Few people remember the Rothschilds, so now the antisemites blame George Soros, another Jew, and claim he is the evil puppet master conspiring with his co-religionists.

Kanye West has declared that he was “going death con 3 on Jewish people,” and basketball player Kyrie Irving tweeted a link to a book and movie that denies that Jews are really Jews. These claims echo positions taken by a small group that calls itself the Black Hebrew Israelites. West and Irving may be nuts, but it’s dangerous to dismiss deep antipathy toward Jews as the work of cranks.

Former President Donald Trump has been very cozy with antisemitic groups, and we know what happened in Europe in the 1930s.

Recently I attended a play about the Holocaust, and I suspect that very few non-Jews were in the audience. It was a one-actor show about the life of Jan Karski, a Polish Christian who put his life at risk to help European Jews, and it was excellent. As a teacher, as I sat there with tears in my eyes, I wondered how relevant the Holocaust and the murder of European Jews is to American students today who aren’t Jewish. The Holocaust

FRAMEWORK

happened over 75 years ago, and for students, that’s ancient history. Since then there have been so many other horrific events — genocides in Bosnia, Rwanda, Cambodia and the Congo and wars and the forced displacement of populations all over the world — that the near-extermination of European Jewry no longer stands out, at least for me, as a topic that deserves a special place in the school curriculum.

Politically, I’m on the left. I can’t support the Israeli occupation, and I don’t agree with expanding Holocaust education. But I am a Jew, and I know that if antisemites take power, my family and I will be threatened. I am a Jew, which is why I am compelled to fight for rights for all people — for sexual, ethnic, linguistic and religious minorities, and for immigrants and refugees, no matter their legal status. I fight for their rights as the best way to protect my own and my family’s. Shalom.

Dr. Alan Singer is a professor of teaching, learning and technology and the director of social studies education programs at Hofstra University. He is a former New York City high school social studies teacher and editor of Social Science Docket, a joint publication of the New York and New Jersey Councils for the Social Studies. Follow him on Twitter at Twitter.com/ AlanJSinger1.

by Tim Baker

rude

To the Editor:

In a story in the Nov. 24-30 issue of the Herald, “Grasso apologizes after social media altercation,” detailing Village Trustee Vincent Grasso’s idiotic and hateful remarks, the Herald was wrong to

Furthermore, it is a shame that Mayor Edwin Fare is now trying to bury this story as seen by his behavior at the last village meeting. For months, Grasso has engaged in behavior that is unbecoming of an elected official. He challenged residents to a “keyboard warriors challenge.” He compared a school trustee to Uvalde police officers for not coming to a village meeting. He called people racist for disagreeing with him on affordable housing, in addition to other insults. The bottom line is that Grasso is unfit for office, and it’s a shame his colleagues don’t have the courage to call for his resignation. Perhaps that speaks to their true intentions.

AMIL VIRANI Valley Stream

Horse and carriage rides at the Christmas tree lighting — Bellmore

My wife and I used to celebrate both Hanukkah and Christmas with our children.

Grasso’s

remarks are an embarrassment

Buy a Brick

Celebrate or honor your loved ones this holiday season and give the gift of a lasting legacy in the Mount Sinai South Nassau garden, located at the corner of Oswald Court and One Healthy Way. Purchase an engraved brick, tree, or garden bench, or name the entire plaza and garden space that thousands of patients, visitors, and employees will see every year as they enter and exit the hospital’s front entrance

Honor a loved one or someone who made a di erence in your life. Remember a special person or celebrate a special occasion. Support Mount Sinai South Nassau’s mission and vision for a healthier tomorrow.