Wantagh Herald 02-09-2023

When students become teachers

3

library joins wildlife group

2023 Honorary Patriots named Page 14

Blazing a scholarly trail all his own

By MICHAEl MAlASZCZYK mmalaszczyk@liherald.com

Evan Thole arrives at Wantagh High School every day eager to learn — and said he wouldn’t have it any other way. The senior has declined to take lunch periods or study halls, and has a burning desire to gain even more knowledge, making him a viable candidate for the United States Presidential Scholars Program.

Thole, a lifelong Wantagh resident, started out at Mandalay Elementary School, before attending Wantagh Middle School and eventually the high

school.

But Thole never saw himself as just another grade in a book. And while his grades are high, he has always been determined to get more out of school than that.

“To me, you get only so much time in high school,” Thole said. “And I wouldn’t really be happy with myself if I didn’t really take advantage of it, and took four study halls instead of classes. There’s only so much time in the day.”

He’s passed on the lunch periods, too, to take as many classes as possible. His academContinued on page 4

Ashley Diaz notches a frst at state wrestling tournament

By MICHAEl MAlASZCZYK mmalaszczyk@liherald.com

Some years from now, you could be mentioning Ashley Diaz in the same breath as Ronda Rousey — or perhaps, more accurately, Olympic gold medal-winning wrestler Helen Maroulis, Diaz’s hero.

Diaz, a junior at Seaford High School, is one of the first three girls to win a state championship in wrestling in New York — in her case, the 120-pound division.

Diaz is a lifelong Seaford resident, having gone to Harbor Elementary School, Seaford Middle School, and now the high school. She is also a lifelong fighter, who

began officially wrestling at school in seventh grade. She had trained in sixth grade at Wantagh Youth Wrestling, and before that she had trained in Brazilian jiu jitsu for as long as she can remember.

“I originally was a swimmer, and our school didn’t have a swim team,” Diaz said. “I knew I wanted to participate in a sport, so I tried wrestling and it stuck. And I liked it more than swimming.”

Diaz trained under coach Ray Hanley at Wantagh Youth Wrestling, and recalls winning a match against a boy of similar size.

“I felt bad,” Diaz said. “But

Coach Hanley told my dad, ‘She’s gonna do this on the team.’”

Diaz fought through the youth season in the program before starting seventh grade. There is only one wrestling team in the high school, and it welcomes both female and male wrestlers. Under the tutelage of Seaford wrestling coach David Takseraas, Diaz has developed a high-powered offense that keeps her in every match, no matter how well her opponent is doing.

“She shoots for the legs often,” Takseraas said. “She’s definitely an offensive wrestler. We have some wrestlers that are more defensive, but Ashley is aggressive. So she always puts points on

the board, and that’s why she’s in every match — because she can score.”

Wrestling can be won either by pins or on points — through takedowns, escapes, and reversals at the end of three periods. Pins are like a win by knockout in boxing — once the pin is successful, the match is over, regardless of how much time is left.

“I do have a favorite move,” Diaz said. “But I don’t want it published, although anyone who watches my matches could probably tell what it is.”

The state competition took place in Syracuse on Jan. 27. Diaz was the two-seed in a division of 16 wrestlers, and had four matches. She won all four of them by

Continued on page 2

Courtesy Wantagh Public Schools

WANtAgH HIgH SCHool principal Paul Guzzone and guidance counselor Marie Malafis congratulate Evan Thole on his selection to an invitation-only program, based on his perfect SAT score.

Ashley Diaz is already a trailblazer for girls’ wrestling

continued from front page

pin in a dominant display.

“They do seeding based on credentials,” Takseraas said. “In the final, she faced the one seed. It was a good match. Ashley scored first, then her opponent tied up the score, before Ashley got the pin in the third period.”

Diaz’s season is still not over. Counties are coming up, with the competition being officially set for Feb. 11. And, since she’s a junior, Diaz’s varsity career is still far from over — although she does have her sights on collegiate wrestling.

“In the offseason, I’m going to be wrestling at a bunch of national competitions outside of school,” Diaz said. “Hopefully I’ll get officially ranked by USA Wrestling. That’s the next step.”

Diaz has kept her eye on girls’ wrestling at several colleges, including the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Northeastern University, both of which could offer promising futures for female wrestlers.

“Ashley is a credit to Seaford,” Kevin Witt, Seaford’s athletic director, said. “She’s a credit to the coaches and all the kids they embrace. It makes the whole process for other kids in every sport so much easier knowing that Ashley had so much success.”

According to Takseraas and Witt, Diaz is already made history for women’s wrestling. But with another competition and one

Allard performs at Temple B’Nai Torah

more year in varsity, as well as wrestling in college, the best may be yet to come for her career.

“Sometime down the road, maybe 20 years from now we’ll look back and see how girls’ wrestling is so much bigger than it is now,” Takseraas said. “Ashley was a trailblazer in that she was the first one to win states.”

Temple B’Nai Torah welcomed Ellen Allard, center, a well-known musician in the Jewish music industry, on Saturday. With Allard were fellow performers Sean Cotty, Temple Cantor Rica Timman, Kevin Kelly, Dave Mackie, and Stacy Kelly. Third from right is the temple’s rabbi, Daniel Bar-Nahum. Allard has won numerous awards as a performer, educator, and composer. She spent the weekend of Feb. 3-5 as the ‘artist-in-residence’ at Temple B’Nai Torah.

Courtesy Seaford Public Schools

Ashley DiAz, A junior at Seaford High School, is among the first female wrestlers in New York to win at states.

Keith Rossein/Herald

Herald ScHoolS

Students become the teachers on Shadow Day

Whether they were preparing for a future career or just looking to take a trip down memory lane, it was a successful day for Wantagh High School students who participated in Shadow Day on Feb. 2.

The Groundhogs Day tradition pairs high school students with teachers at Forest Lake, Mandalay and Wantagh elementary schools. They assist with lessons and other tasks, and gain experience working with children.

More than 40 students took part in Shadow Day this year, assigned to classes from pre-K through fifth grade, as well as special subject areas such as art, music, physical education, reading and STEAM.

Business teacher Christine Compagnino, the district’s work-based learning coordinator, said it is a great opportunity for students who want to enter professions in which they could be working with children, such as day care, education or medicine. They experience the day in the life of a teacher.

In Jen Jencius and Jennifer Florio’s kindergarten class at Wantagh Elementary School, they welcomed three high school students, Julia Avena, Jessica Gutfleisch and Sadie Reich. They helped run centers, which featured small-group literacy and math activities.

Florio described Julia, Jessica and Sadie as very nurturing and caring, which are essential traits for anyone who wants to work with children.

Jessica, a senior, aspires to be a pediatric nurse and enjoyed taking part in Shadow Day.

“I love interacting with kids,” she said. “I want to work with them in the future.”

Sophomore Damien Crowley signed up

for Shadow Day to return to his fifth grade classroom and help out one of his favorite elementary teachers, Traci Weiss. He spent part of the day helping students with math problems. Ms. Weiss even had a surprise for Damien when she showed him his picture on her wall of photos from years past.

Junior Joe Robbins was paired with his track coach, James Punzone, who is also a fourth grade teacher at Wantagh Elementary School.

He assisted students during a handson activity in which they had to use a toothpick to “unearth” all of the chocolate chips from a cookie to simulate a fossil dig.

“This is fun,” Robbins, who wants to be teacher, said. “Everyone is having fun, so that’s cool to see.”

Junior Joe robbinS helped out with a fossil digging simulation in a fourth grade class.

Julia avena Worked with kindergartners Everett Pierce and Christina Pisani in their small-group learning centers.

FiFth grade teacher Traci Weiss’ shadow was her former student, Damien Crowley, whose face could still be found on her classroom photo wall.

Photos courtesy Wantagh Schools

Wantagh high School senior Jessica Balkunas was a guest physical education teacher at Wantagh Elementary School on Shadow Day on Feb. 2.

AP exams, perfect SAT score for Thole

ic record speaks for itself — he has taken 14 Advanced Placement classes. He enrolled in three his sophomore year, three his junior year, and six in now his senior year, with two other AP independent study courses. The independent study courses take place outside of class, since Thole completes the work on his own time, under the guidance of science teachers.

During his junior year, he positioned himself to be a Presidential Scholar, earning a perfect SAT score of 1600 in December 2021.

Thole’s primary academic interests lie in the science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM, field, and he has taken AP courses under the guidance of teachers Valarie Sebastiano, Samantha Gordon, Richard Colavita and Lori Houde. Initially, Thole preferred biology and chemistry, but fell in love with physics due to Gordon’s hands-on teaching approach.

“I figured that I would just kind of be like the ‘Biochem Kid,’ so to speak,” Thole said. “But taking physics with Mrs. Gordon and doing all the hands on activities really made me love the subject. And honestly, it’s one of my abso-

lute favorites now.”

But Thole is not just a STEM scholar. He has also taken AP music theory and is an accomplished musician as well, playing euphonium and tuba in school bands. Though his college career will likely be focused on a science, Thole said he intends to continue playing music as well.

Thole has looked at a number of colleges, but has not yet made a decision on one.

“I’m not really looking for the most competitive place,” he said. “I’m looking for a place that has a community where people are just really interested in learning. I’m not looking for a place where everyone wants to be number one and be at the top of everything but, more so, for a place where everyone is really interested in what they’re studying and how to support one another.”

Thole said he is greatly appreciative of his teachers in Wantagh, and specifically singled out Sebastiano, Colavita, Houde and Gordon as those who have inspired him to be great. Marie Malafis, a guidance counselor at the high school, has helped him through it all.

Spousal Refusal - Just Say No

Spousal refusal is a legally valid Medicaid planning option in New York. By way of background, certain income and assets are exempt from Medicaid if there is a spouse. Generally, the spouse at home, known as the “community spouse” may keep about $3,700 per month of the couple’s combined income and up to about $150,000 of the assets or “resources”. Not included in those fgures are any other exempt assets, such as a home (up to about $1,000,000 of the equity only) and one automobile. The spouse who is being cared for in a facility is known as the “institutionalized spouse”.

Many a spouse has advised us that they simply cannot afford to live on the allowances that Medicaid provides. This is where spousal refusal comes in. We start by shifting excess assets into the name of the “community spouse”. He or she then signs a document which the elder law attorney prepares and fles with the county indicating that they refuse to contribute their income and assets to the care of the ill spouse since they need those income and assets for their own care and well-being. Note that you may not refuse your spouse’s own income over the $3,700 per month exemption as it is not coming to you.

Once the “community spouse” invokes their right to refuse, and all of the other myriad requirements of the Medicaid application are met, the state Medicaid program must pay for the care of the institutionalized spouse.

After Medicaid has been granted, the county may institute a lawsuit seeking to recover the cost of care from the refusing spouse. Nevertheless, there are a few reasons why spousal refusal makes sense, even in light of this risk. First, in many instances, the county never invokes this right. Secondly, these lawsuits are often settled for signifcantly less than the cost of care provided. Thirdly, the payment to the county can sometimes be deferred until the community spouse dies. As one county attorney told us when agreeing to such an arrangement, “the county is going to be around for a long time”. Finally, even though the county may seek recovery, it is only for the Medicaid reimbursement rate and not the private pay rate. For example, if the private pay rate is $18,000 per month, which is what you would have to pay, the amount Medicaid has to pay is generally a quarter to a third less. The county may only pursue you for the amount they actually paid.

“I’m lucky to know him,” Malafis said of Thole.

“There’s no fluff to Evan, everything is deep, deep appreciation, deep intellect, deep kindness. He doesn’t speak without thought. You know, he’s just a unique individual. His complete disregard for numbers makes him special, because here’s a kid with a 1600 on the SAT and a 107 average. But he has no real attachment to those numbers — he just wants to learn everything. I could go on all day about him. We are sad to see him go this year, but excited to see

what he does.”

Thole’s achievements have not gone unnoticed by administration either.

“What strikes me most about Evan is how humble he is,” Paul Guzzone, principal of Wantagh High, said. “He has every reason not to be humble, with a perfect 1600 on his SAT. If it wasn’t for us talking about him, you would never know, because of his modesty. He’s just such a fantastic young individual with a bright future. He’s a great representation of what our building, our district, and our community has to offer.”

The Presidential Scholars Program

Evan Thole is a candidate for a U.S. Department of Education Presidential Scholar. This program was established in 1964, honoring the most prestigious high school seniors in the country. More information on it can be found at tinyurl.com/ USPresidentialScholars. If selected, Thole would be one of roughly 100 students in the country to earn this honor.

Courtesy Wantagh Public Schools

WANTAGH HIGH SCHOOl senior Evan Thole was selected as a candidate for the United States Presidential Scholars Program.

What strikes me most about Evan is how humble he is.

PAUl GUZZONE principal, Wantagh High School

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spotlight athlete

aMaNDa MoRRis

East Meadow Sophomore Bowling

a FoURth-YeaR vaRsitY bowler, Morris has earned a third All-County award and on Feb. 11 will try to repeat as Nassau’s individual champion. Last winter, she averaged 197 and earned AllState honors. So far this season, Morris has bowled 19 games over 200 and leads the county with a 210.4 average over 36 games. She rolled 18 consecutive strikes in a match Jan. 5, closing one game with 11 straight and starting the next with 7 in a row.

gaMes to WatCh

MacArthur seeks big fnish

By aNDReW CoeN sports@liherald.com

The MacArthur wrestling team has high hopes for a strong showing on the county championship stage and beyond.

MacArthur qualified 13 for the upcoming Nassau County Division 1 individual county championships at Hofstra this weekend and is positioned to produce multiple champions who can then compete for state titles. The Generals finished with the most points of the eight teams that competed in the Division I qualifier last Saturday at Bellmore JFK with 404 points.

counties last year at 145 and is favored to finish on top of the podium this season.

Lichter’s young brother, Matt Lichter, won the 118 -pound qualifiers by pinning Vasilios Katranis of Bellmore-JFK.

“He has been wrestling great,” said fourteenth-year MacArthur coach Rob Paletta of Matt Lichter. “We are hoping to get him All-County honors at least.”

solation finals win against JJ Pizzirusso of Bellmore-JFK. Also earning trips to the counties with fifth place finishes were Jack Healy (145) and Aidan Vargas-Colon (172). William Cardone at (110), Trevor Rizzo (145), Mathew Powers (172) and Allan Fernande (189) just missed out on reaching qualifiers by placing sixth.

11:45 a.m.

Boys Basketball: Baldwin at East Meadow 12 p.m.

Boys Basketball: Farmingdale at Freeport 12 p.m.

Girls Basketball: Wheatley at Seaford 12 p.m.

Girls Basketball: Locust Valley at West Hemp 12 p.m.

Girls Basketball: East Meadow at Baldwin 12 p.m.

Boys Basketball: Plainview at Oceanside 2 p.m.

Wrestling: Nassau Division 2 Finals at C.S. Harbor 6 p.m.

sunday, Feb. 12

Wrestling: Nassau Division 1 Finals at Hofstra 4:30 p.m.

Senior Benjamin Velasquez highlighted MacArthur’s big day at qualifiers by defeating four ranked opponents en route to a first place showing at 215 pounds. Velasquez, who is one ranked at 215 in Nassau County, was named the tournament’s most outstanding wrestler after knocking off Baldwin’s Rodney Mills in the finals, 5-2.

Paul Lichter (152) also won his weight class with a pin of Baldwin’s John Wornian. The senior took second place in the

Freshman Vincent Orandello finished as the qualifying 102 champion with his Generals’ teammate Charles Bergonzi placing second. The two had squared off a couple times already this season, but with both banged up Bergonzi opted to forfeit Saturday’s qualifying finals bout.

“I think both are going to be All-County at 102 and I think they both have a chance to be in the semifinals and finals,” said Paletta of Orandello and Bergonzi.

Sophomore Thomas Bennett has made strides of late and exceeded expectations with a second place showing at counties falling to Joseph Mattei of Herricks) in the 160-pound finals. Jonathan Fox (126) and James Jennison (138) also placed second.

Luke Burke placed third with a 5-4 con-

The county championships are scheduled to begin Saturday with the finals slated for late afternoon on Super Bowl Sunday at Hofstra’s Mack Sports Complex. The New York State Championships for those who qualify will take place on Feb. 24-25 at MVP Arena in Albany.

“We’re looking to get three county champions and hopefully another three or four make All-County,” said Paletta, who finished second in the counties in 1991 while wrestling for MacArthur. “We’re in a good position and we feel good with how the season has been going.”

The Generals competing at counties can qualify for states with a top three finish. Those who place in the top six will reach the podium with All-County accolades.

Donovan Berthoud/Herald MaCaRthUR seNioR paUl Lichter, top, is a leading contender to bring home a county championship after finishing runner-up last winter.

Congrats to all the Top 3 Finalists in the 2022 Herald Long Island Choice Awards presented by PSEG Long Island! Check back each week for the Top 3 Reveal in each category leading up to the Oscar-style awards ceremony in April 2023. Did your favorites make it to the top? Visit www.LiChoiceAwards.com!

*Finalists are listed alphabetically, not in order of placement.

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Nassau rolls dice on Coliseum casino plans

Las Vegas developer with

By ROKSANA AMID ramid@liherald.com

It could be one of the largest private endeavors in Nassau County’s history — and already one of its most controversial.

The Las Vegas Sands resort company wants to develop the 80 acres of vacant land surrounding the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum — an investment that could well exceed $1 billion. While some have championed a new commercial center complete with a hotel, celebrity chef restaurants, a convention center and a live performance venue, it’s the casino element some aren’t sure is worth the gamble.

Like Hofstra University president Susan Poser.

“So many people in our community are expressing the idea that this is already a done deal, and therefore not understanding that we are at the beginning of a competitive and quite lengthy process,” Poser told the hundreds of people who packed her school’s Monroe Lecture Hall on Saturday.

Poser has made her opposition to the casino project no secret, writing in one published opinion piece that it was a “very bad idea.”

The New York Gaming Facility Location Board opened the window last month for the bidding of three downstate casino licenses. Four licenses are already available upstate. To be successful, a bidder must win approval from a local community advisory committee made up of appointees by Gov. Kathy Hochul, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, state Sen. Kevin Thomas, Assemblyman Edward Ra and Hempstead town supervisor Don Clavin.

Joe Harrison, for one, hopes a casino project at the Hub moves forward.

“For economic growth, it’s going to be a great thing for the area,” said Harrison, vice president for Local One Elevator Constructors. “We’re looking for families to stay and earn living wages.”

The gaming location board explained to those attending the forum how the application process would work. Las Vegas Sands, for example, would have to demonstrate positives in several categories that include local impact, workforce enhancement, and how it will ensure diversity.

Most of the attention, however, will be on economic activity and development. Anyone developing through one of these licenses must work to provide as much tax revenue for state and local governments as possible, and must prove the benefits of the specific site they want to develop. They must also already have expertise in developing and operating a quality gaming facility, as well

international reach looks to beat odds

as be able to have the project come to fruition in years, not decades.

Founded by the late Sheldon Adelson in the late 1980s, Las Vegas Sands is considered one of the largest casino companies in the world, although much of its holdings are now in Asia rather than the United States. It reports assets of well over $20 billion.

Local impact examines how such a development will help — or hurt — businesses immediately surrounding the project, as well as those nearby. Workforce enhancement examines how a developer would utilize the existing labor force in Nassau County, providing an estimated number of construction jobs and developing training programs that serve the unemployed.

One of those training projects is expected to be based at Nassau Community College, with Las Vegas Sands providing, in turn, internships and potential jobs.

That, Sands officials have said, could also help develop its diversity framework, which requires the company in its application to examine workforce demographics of unemployed minorities, woman and service-disabled veterans.

But it’s not neighbors Las Vegas Sands would have to convince, but Nassau’s community advisory committee. Without a thumbs up from them, it will be a hard no from the gaming location board. Approval requires a two-thirds majority.

John Kaman, Suffolk County’s deputy executive, said residents and institutions within the town and surrounding areas should understand one another’s needs, and the impact they have on one another.

“We need to make sure that everybody’s listening, everybody’s participating,” Kaman said. “If something like this was going to go forward or not depends upon what the larger community wants to see in their county, in their town, and their neighborhood.”

Geraldine Hart, who leads public safety efforts at Hofstra, worried about the potential increase in crime.

“There’s a number of criminal activities that are associated with human trafficking,” she said. “They include illegal drug sales, kidnapping, extortion, money

GERALDINE HART, WHO leads public safety efforts at Hofstra University, shared with a community forum over the weekend what she says are risks communities face when casinos — like the one planned for the Nassau Hub — are built. Hart gave an overview of many instances of human trafficking and auto accidents — including some she personally witnessed — she says have direct ties with casinos.

laundering, prostitution, racketeering and gang related crime.”

Hart also cautioned that the Hempstead Turnpike — one of the most popular roadways traveled in Nassau — was also designated the fourth-most dangerous road in the state last year based on average number of fatalities. Hart cited a Journal of Health Economics study claiming a link between casino expansion and alcohol-related fatal traffic accidents.

Neyrely Munoz, a sophomore majoring in television and film at Hofstra, says she’s also concerned about safety, but much closer to home.

“Near a campus with college students, it doesn’t sound like the best idea,” she said. “I feel as though that the women on campus will feel a lot less safe.”

Tim Baker/Herald photos

HUNDREDS ATTENDED A community forum at Hofstra University to discuss the fate of the Nassau Hub, and the potential for a casino to become part of the community there. It’s a plan that has garnered mixed reactions from neighbors, including from Hofstra and nearby Nassau Community College.

W e need to make sure that everybody’s listening, everybody’s participating ... the larger community wants to see in their county, in their town, and their neighborhood.”

JOHN KAMAN Suffolk County deputy executive

The Seaford Public Library announced in a news release last week that they have been selected as “Affiliate Partners” with the Wildlife Conservation Society, which will allow them to provide cardholders with a discount at various zoos.

Money for a good cause

The EAC Network — a Garden City-based social service agency that empowers, assists and cares for people in need — receives a $2,000 donation from RichnerLive. The money was from a portion of ticket sales from last year’s Herald Excellence in Healthcare Awards Gala, which honored heroes and leaders within the health care industry. Neela Mukeriee Lockel, EAC’s president and chief executive, along with Robert Stricoff — the group’s chief development officer — accepted the donation from Herald Community Newspapers publisher Stuart Richner and RichnerLive executive director Amy Amato. From left, Herald Community Newspapers deputy editor Jeffrey Bessen, Stricoff, Richner, Amato, executive editor Michael Hinman, and Lockel. To find out more about EAC — and how to donate — visit EAC-Network.org.

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Library partners with Conservation Society

Seaford Library cardholders can now enjoy discounted trips to various zoos, as the library has announced that it has been selected as Wildlife Conservation Society Affiliate Partner.

The discount offered to cardholders is 20 percent, and applies to the Bronx Zoo, Central Park Zoo, the New York Aquarium, the Queens Zoo, and the Prospect Park Zoo.

“The Library’s affiliation with the Wildlife Conservation Society for discounted admissions to New York City’s

four zoos and Coney Island aquarium is a perfect fit for Seaford families,” Peter J. Ruffner, a trustee on the library’s board, said. “It is another wonderful example of the Library’s outstanding service and continuous commitment to Seaford residents.”

The tickets can be found on the library’s website, seafordlibrary.org. Click on “Borrow a Museum Pass” and enter the code “SPL” when purchasing.

–Michael Malaszczyk

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CAMP & SCHOOL – A guide to programs and activities

Extra help

Help your student achieve tutoring success

It’s a whirlwind for your family after school: Your kids need to have a snack, keep up with their activities, complete their homework on and on it goes. All the while academics are the priority. So how do you fit tutoring into a busy household without distracting your struggling student, or making them feel left out of all the fun?

Even when tutoring is necessary, learning sessions can be a tall order for kids who are already over-programmed and overtired. Here are some tips for how you can help your tutor make sessions more effective even if your household is as busy as ever.

Building Skills

One of the biggest benefits of at-home tutoring is giving your student a chance to interact one-on-one with a certified educator. Even young children who need more practice developing basic skills, like problem-solving, vocabulary, and working with numbers, may benefit from working with a tutor.

Of course, hiring a tutor isn’t always about helping your child get ahead. Tutoring also provides students with the extra help they need to complete schoolwork, address a learning disorder, or master content they struggle with. Depending on your child’s learning style, your tutor might use visual aids, audio clips, or art projects. They’ll need enough room and enough supplies to teach effectively.

During the hiring process, talk with your tutor about their plans for your child’s tutoring sessions. What kind of space do they need? Together, pick a quiet area in your home that you can dedicate solely to tutoring sessions. This could be the kitchen table, a study desk, or an out-of-theway corner wherever there’s enough room with limited distractions.

When your child and their tutor have a place that’s all their own to sit down and get to work, it provides the structure and stability for good learning. This routine carries over to every session and makes it easier for your tutor to develop a rapport with your student, so they can accomplish even more together.

Institute Quiet Hours

Have other children? Make sure they understand that the tutor and your student need time and space to work on their own. Establish this boundary early, so your kids all understand that tutoring time is important work time.

Tutoring time can also be good “quiet time” for the rest of your household.

Encourage your other kids to take up quiet activities, like reading, homework, or imaginative play. Turn off devices like TV, phones, or loud games and take a break from constant noise and simulation.

If true “quiet time” is a no-go at your house, try sending your other children outside or to a different part of the

Afternoon rush

Kids nowadays are certainly busier than ever before. The increasingly competitive nature of scholastic life combined with the increase of outside of classroom options available to kids means that kids today are much busier than their school-aged counterparts of yesteryear.

house to play. Most kids don’t get enough exercise or imaginative downtime as it is, and this will help them burn off energy and encourage creativity while keeping indoors relatively quiet for tutoring.

Coordinate Breaks And Boundaries

Most young children can only study for 20 to 30 minutes at a time before they need to move on to another activity or take a break. Teens and tweens can likely study for longer periods of time, from 30 to 40 minutes, before they need to get up and stretch or rest their eyes.

Remember: You’re paying a certified educator for their expertise in subject matter, as well as their knowledge about what makes a successful learning environment. Work collaboratively with your tutor to establish boundaries and rewards that feel appropriate for your student’s needs, your comfort level as a parent, and the tutor’s needs as an educator.

For most tutors and students it’s also best if parents make themselves scarce during tutoring sessions. If you hang around during a session, it could make it more difficult for your student to focus even if they’re on break. Establish with your tutor ahead of time where you’ll be hanging out or working during the session. Encourage your student to follow the rules and have a good time then make your exit!

Emphasize Family Time

Even though tutoring can be fun and engaging, it’s still extra work for your young student. That can make kids feel left out, especially when their brothers and sisters get to spend the time playing, attending after-school clubs, or hanging out with friends.

In order to make your tutored child feel included, make sure to emphasize family time after the tutoring session is over. Whether you all sit down to dinner together, watch a movie, or take a walk around the block before it gets dark, family time helps your student transition from a long workday back into being a kid.

According to a recent study from the Journal of Marriage and Family, the amount of time spent together matters less to a child’s development than the quality of the time. That’s good news for parents struggling to juggle after-school activities and tutoring sessions to boot.

Every family member has individual responsibilities, interests, hobbies, and activities they do on their own.

Helping your child see that tutoring is just one of the things they do makes it less isolating and more independent and confidence-building. Making sure that it’s balanced with quality family time benefits everyone.

Can after-school programs give your children an academic boost? According to a recent study of after-school programs serving low-income elementary and middle school students, the answer is yes. Students who regularly participated in after-school programs surpassed their peers in academic performance. They also exhibited notable improvements in work habits and behavior.

“These findings underscore the importance of high quality afterschool programs and activities for both elementary and middle school youth,” explains Deborah Lowe Vandell, PhD, Chancellor’s Professor Emerita, University of California at Irvine’s Department of Education, and the study’s lead author.

It’s no surprise that after-school programs can do much more than keep your children occupied during the afternoon. In fact, afterschool activities can help them in a variety of ways. Children develop time-management skills, build self-esteem, and practice goal-setting. While it may be tough to squeeze in after-school activities for your children, the benefits are well worth the extra effort.

Time management and prioritizing. Extracurricular activities teach children how to manage their time and prioritize various tasks and commitments.

Exploring diverse interests. The school band, drama club, or any sport may be an activity your children are interested in joining. By allowing your children the opportunity to explore diverse interests, you give them the opportunity to discover what they are passionate about. Once your children find an activity that they enjoy, succeeding in the activity could ultimately build their confidence and selfesteem.

Making a contribution. Extracurricular activities allow your children to make a contribution to their school or community, which is an important step in preparing them for life outside of academics.

Building self-esteem. Mastering new skills can help create confident kids. By participating in after-school activities, they can build their self-esteem in a relaxed setting as their activities provide the opportunity to be successful in something that they are passionate about.

Setting goals. Participation in extracurricular activities and programs present opportunities for your children to develop their goalsetting skills. Most involve reaching or achieving a goal, whether it be the lead actor in the school play, winning the state championship or coming in first place in the science fair. As a result, these activities help encourage students to work toward achieving those goals, while having fun at the same time.

Teamwork. Sports teams, clubs and activities, like dancing and music, all require children to work together toward a common goal. By participating in these activities, your children develop the skills they need in order to successfully work with others. In addition, extracurricular activities let children to build relationships and socialize with peers who share their interests.

College applications. And, of course, after-school activities look great on college applications. In addition to academic performance, colleges want a well-rounded student and look at what activities students are involved in outside of school as a way to fully understand each student.

The day’s far from over once the school bell rings

Photo: Children can benefit from having someone focused on them who can support their learning and help them to understand and accept their own learning styles.

Photo: Recent studies show a correlation between improved grades, behavior and work habits as a result of students’ involvement in after-school activities.

CAMP & SCHOOL A guide to programs and activities

Summer adventures

Being away from home builds self-esteem, independence

One of the many joys of parenthood is helping children navigate new waters. And, while often these situations are met with hesitation, slight anxiety or in the case of some first-time campers, homesickness it is these moments that develop the 21st century skills needed in adulthood. New situations, such as going away to camp, serve as teachers in life’s classroom developing leadership, self-esteem, teamwork, independence, and problem-solving.

It’s important, even critical, for parents to help children overcome any feelings of hesitation in order to help them grow. Take camp, for example. From a child’s perspective, camp is fun, fun, fun! Parents know that camp provides immeasurable growth opportunities, and is a vital part of childhood. As the day approaches, even the most excited campers sometimes get nervous about being away from home.

“Homesickness is completely normal,” says psychologist Michael Thompson.“If a child loves his or her parents and has a good home, why wouldn’t he or she feel some longing for mom, for dad, for the dog, or for home cooking?”

It is up to parents, then, to help ease the transition to camp, and help their children grow from the experience. Help alleviate anxiety and get a jumpstart on life’s lessons with some advice from camp professionals.

√ Encourage independence throughout the year. Practice separations, such as sleepovers at a friend’s house, can simulate the camp environment.

√ Involve children in the process of preparing for camp. The more they own the decision, the more comfortable they will feel being at camp.

√ Make sure to understand the camp’s philosophy on how issues, such as homesickness, are addressed. Talk candidly with the camp director to understand his/her perspective on the adjustment to camp life.

√ Discuss what to expect at camp before leaving for camp. Consider role-playing anticipated situations, such as using a flashlight to find the bathroom.

For a child who’s going to be away for a while, send a note or care package. Acknowledge missing the child, in a positive way. For example, saying “I am going to miss you, but I know that you will have a good time at camp,” lets the camper know that families are thinking about them, but confident in their ability to adapt to camp.

Above all, avoid bribing behaviors. Families send the wrong message when they link a successful stay at camp to a material object. Families should focus on the real rewards like newfound confidence and independence. And don’t plan an exit strategy. If a “rescue call” comes from the child, offer calm reassurance and put the time frame into perspective.

While most incidents of homesickness pass quickly, parents know their child best. If parents have concerns (for example, the child is not eating or sleeping, or appears overly anxious), they should immediately talk to their camp director. Camp staff are trained to identify and ease homesickness, and are a valuable resource for parents as well as campers.

discoveries

Offering recreational and professionaltrack classical ballet training for toddlers through adults, ABT © Curriculum, PrePrimary through Level 5.

Watch your child progress in a structured class environment with certi ed instructors. Our thorough syllabus prepares dancers for a career or simply a life-long love of the arts. No matter your goal, ever y child bene ts from a strong classical foundation.

Summer and fall classes include Ballet Technique, Pointe, Partnering, Acro*, Contemporary, Tap*, Jazz, PBT, Acting and Improv* and more.

*No ballet prerequisite.

Summer Classes, Camps & Intensives

4, 5 or 6 Week Sessions

Regular evening and weekend classes in July & August Youth

Day Camps in June & July

(August forming) Multi-week Intensives for Experienced Dancers in August

Summer and Fall Enrollment is now open

Adults, want a fun way to get in shape?

Join us for adult ballet, PBT or tap. BeginnerAdvanced adult classes are offered for students age 18+.

Nutcracker Auditions

June 18th or August 26th

Experienced dancers, age

Photo: Camp is a chance for kids to disconnect, make

and meet new people.

Although we are still a while off from the warm weather, it’s never too early to being thinking about summer camp. Since the most popular camps typically fill their rosters long before the first signs of spring, the earlier you begin the process, the more options your family will have available.

When choosing a camp or summer program, reputation and word of mouth are meaningful resources; however, a terrific match for one child and family might not be the best match for your child or family. The best advice is to think about your child’s interests and temperament, and make a list of camp features that are most important to your family and child.

Staff: The staff will play a crucial role in how much your child enjoys himself over the summer. A qualified staff is adept at making all children feel welcome, and will be experienced in making everyone’s time at camp as enjoyable as possible.

When connecting with camps, ask about staff and how the staff is assembled. What education and training is required of the staff? Does the camp run criminal background checks on its staff? A good staff will be trained in first aid and have some type of background in child counseling or education. Camps that simply hire recommends that 80 percent of a camp’s

staff should be 18 or older.

Camp goals: Camps can differ greatly with what they hope to offer a child. Camps can focus on religion, sports, music, recreation, or a host of other interests. If you’re looking for a sports camp, ask about affiliations with any local colleges or professional teams. If it’s a musical camp, ask about what your child can expect to learn from staff.

It’s also important to determine the general temperament of a camp. Does the camp foster a laid back or more competitive environment? This can be a big help in choosing the right camp for your child. For example, a child who isn’t very competitive likely will not enjoy a camp where competition is heavily emphasized, whereas a child who is competitive might not get much out of a camp that is more recreational.

Daily schedule: While some camps might be specialized, most parents send their children to recreational camps that they hope offer their kids a well-rounded experience. Ask to see the schedule from a typical day, and ask about how flexible that schedule is. Will kids be able to choose from different activities each day, or is every day regimented? Remember, kids will be spending their summer vacations at camp, and for many kids camp is an opportunity to relax

and spend some time doing what they want. Camps that feature strict schedules might not be the best fit.

Referrals: Chances are some of your child’s classmates attend camp in the summer. Ask around and seek some advice on what are the top options. If you’re lucky, you might even be able to send your child to a summer camp that some of his classmates also attend, which should make it easier for your child to adapt to camp, especially if it’s a first summer away from home. If you can’t find any personal referrals, ask a

camp for a list of references. These references shouldn’t weight too heavily in your decision, as a camp director is obviously not going to give you names of parents whose children didn’t have a good time. But the parents should be able to provide an accurate portrayal of how the camp conducts itself and how your child might fare should he attend that camp.

Photo: It’s much more than s’mores and sing-alongs: Camps can provide lifelong memories and skills.

STEPPING OUT

Creative advocacy

By Karen Bloom

WHERE WHEN

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“The way our climate is now, this exhibit could not be more timely than at this moment,” Albert adds.

Among the highlights, she points to the series of prints from the collective For Freedoms. Their four large scale photos are based on Norman Rockwell’s 1943 oil paintings inspired by President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s 1941 State of the Union address that outlined what he considered the essential four democratic values freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear. For Freedoms has interpreted these iconic works for our era.

“It’s the same composition,” Albert says. “From 1940s America, these (works) show what America is today, our diversity and what we look like now.”

As always the museum offers additional programming to enhance the exhibit experience. Upcoming events include an artist panel on Feb. 23, which examines the role of the artist as activist, and a gallery tour with Alexandra Giordano, March 16.

Pat McGann

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

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

Yarn/Wire

Now in its 18th year, Adelphi University’s ‘new music’ series welcomes Yarn/Wire. The intrepid New York-based piano-percussion quartet has forged a singular path with endlessly inventive collaborations, commissions and performances that have made a significant contribution to the canon of experimental works. The quartet features founding member Laura Barger and Julia Den Boer on piano and Russell Greenberg, also a founding member, and Sae Hashimoto playing percussion. Barger is a frequent guest with many top American contemporary ensembles. French-American Den Boer performs internationally as a soloist and chamber musician. Greenberg is in demand with varied ensembles. Hashimoto, the newest member, contributes a unique approach to performance cultivated by her intensive classical training .

Friday, Feb. 17, 7:30 p.m. $30 with discounts available to seniors, students, alumni and employees. Adelphi University Performing Arts Center, 1 South Ave., Garden City. (516) 877-4000 or Adelphi.edu/pac.

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

Courtesy Hofstra Universally Museum of Art

Photos: Norman Rockwell’s celebrated ‘Four Freedoms’ are reinterpreted as photos by Hank Willis Thomas and Emily Shur in collaboration with Eric Gottesman and the Wyatt Gallery.

Courtesy of the artist and Jack Shainman Gallery, New York.

Sculpture: Hank Willis Thomas, ‘Lives of Others,’ 2014, made from black urethane resin and standing 57 inches tall

THE SCENE

Feb. February 9, 2023 — WANTAGH HERALD

Alan Doyle

Mar. 16 Find Love That’s Fur-real North Shore Animal League America has a wide variety of dogs, cats, puppies, and kittens to choose from. 25 Davis Ave., Port Washington, NY 11050 516.883.7575 • animalleague.org • RR006 FOLLOW US ON:

Feb. 23

Art talk

Grab your lunch and join Nassau County Museum of Art Docent Riva Ettus for her popular “Brown Bag Lecture” live, via Zoom, Thursday, Feb. 23, 1 p.m. She’ll discuss the current exhibition, “The Big Picture: Photography Now.” Participants are invited to ask questions at the end of the program. Register at least 24 hours in advance to receive the program Zoom link. Also Feb. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. (516) 484-9337 or NassauMuseum.org.

St. Patrick’s Day Parade

Mike Dunphy, owner of the Wantagh Inn, will lead the third annual Wantagh Chamber of Commerce St. Patrick’s Day Parade, the biggest St. Patrick’s Day parade on Long Island, on March 19. For more information visit tinyurl.com/ wanstpaddy.

Weekly Mah Jongg

The JULIETS are back playing Mah Jongg and cards at Congregation Beth Tikvah, at 3710 Woodbine Ave., in Wantagh, every Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Masks are optional, but proof of Covid-19 vaccination is required for newcomers, as well as a contribution of $5 per person. For more information email mahjonggCBT@yahoo.com or call (516) 785-2445.

Winter seal walk

Have you thought of going to the beach during the winter? Jones Beach Energy & Nature Center hosts frequent seal walks throughout winter. Dress warmly and learn about the seal population, which are abundant on Jones Beach in the winter. For more information visit tinyurl. com/jbencprograms.

COME MEET YOUR NEW VALENTINE AT NORTH SHORE ANIMAL LEAGUE AMERICA 1204139 1204375

Author talk

Emmy award-winning journalist and WCBS-TV anchor Mary Calvi visits Molloy University to discuss her book, “If a Poem Could Live and Breathe: A Novel of Teddy Roosevelt’s First Love,” Wednesday, Feb. 15, 7-8:30 p.m. Her novel is an indelible portrait of the authenticity of first love, the heartache of loss, and how overcoming the worst of life’s obstacles can push one to greatness never imagined. $35, includes signed copy of the book. 1000 Hempstead Ave., Larini Room, 2nd Floor of Public Square Building, Rockville Centre. For tickets and information visit MadisonTheatreny.org or call (516) 323-4444.

An evening with Shira

Psychic and medium Shira returns to Seaford, Tuesday, Feb. 28, at the Seaford American Legion., 2301 Penatiquit Ave. With catered buffet dinner. For more information visit tinyurl. com/seafordpsychic.

$5 Skate Night

United Skates of America in Seaford wants to make skating year round activity. Every Thursday, from 4 to 6 p.m., enjoy a skate night with only $5 admission; skate rental is available for an extra $6. For more information visit tinyurl. com/thursdayskate.

On stage

Mo Willems’ popular Pigeon comes alive on the Long Island Children’s Museum stage, Saturday, Feb. 11, 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.; Sunday, Feb.12, 2 p.m.; Wednesday through Friday, Feb. 15-17, noon. Pigeon is eager to try anything, with the audience part of the action. LICM, Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 224-5800 or LICM. org.

Winter book reading

Book clubs aren’t just for the summer. The Seaford Public Library hosts “Walking in a Reading Wonderland” adult reading program through Feb. 25. Prizes will be offered at the end. For more information email adultprograms@ seafordlibrary.org.

Having an event?

Tackapausha Museum

Bring the family to Tackapausha Museum and Preserve, 2225 Washington Avenue in Seaford. The county museum is home to 100 different live animals. The museum’s many acitivities include birthday parties, community service projects, Boy and Girl Scout programs to earn badges, educational programs, and more. For more information contact (516) 571-7443.

Seaford Board of Education meeting

The Seaford Board of education holds their monthly meeting, Wednesday, Feb. 15, at Seaford Manor Elementary School’s allpurpose room, located at 1590 Washington Avenue. For more information call (516) 592-4000.

Donation opportunity

Support the communirty. St Frances de Chantal in Wantagh is always seeking donations for its pantry as well as its thrift shop. For more information, call (516) 785-2333.

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.

Platanos Y Collard Greens

See the romantic comedy about what happens when an African American and a Latina college student fall in love, presented by Nassau Community College Theater and Dance Department and the Africana Studies Department, Thursday through Saturday, Feb. 9-11, 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, Feb. 12, 2 p.m. Also Feb. 16-19, with talkback session with playwright David Lamb, immediately following final performance. Threaded by the culture of hip-hop, the lovers defend their relationship, as friends and family learn that this “food fight” calls for fusion instead of feud. Nassau Community College’s Mainstage Theatre, Garden City. Tickets $10; NCC students free with valid ID; $8 veterans, alumni, seniors 60+, students and NCC employees. For tickets/information, visit NCC.edu or call (516) 572-7676.

Family theater

The beloved fairy tale springs to life in a delightful musical romp, presented Plaza Theatrical Productions, Monday, Feb. 20, 11 a.m.; Friday, Feb. 24, 11 a.m.; Sunday, Feb. 26, noon. All the ingredients that have made this story a perennial favorite are here, including Cinderella, a zany Godmother, a trip to the royal ball, and a glass slipper. Tickets are $16. Visit the Plaza stage at The Showplace at Bellmore Movies, 222 Pettit Ave., Bellmore. For information/tickets, go to PlazaTheatrical.com or call (516) 599-6870.

legal noTIce

pUBlIc noTIce of coUnTY TReasUReR’s sale of TaX lIens on Real esTaTe

Notice is hereby given that I shall, commencing on February 21, 2023, sell at public on-line auction the tax liens on real estate herein-after described, unless the owner, mortgagee, occupant of or any other party-ininterest in such real estate shall pay to the County Treasurer by February 16, 2023 the total amount of such unpaid taxes or assessments with the interest, penalties and other expenses and charges, against the property. Such tax liens will be sold at the lowest rate of interest, not exceeding 10 per cent per six month’s period, for which any person or persons shall offer to take the total amount of such unpaid taxes as defined in section 5-37.0 of the Nassau County Administrative Code. Effective with the February 21, 2023 lien sale, Ordinance No. 175-2015 requires a $175.00 per day registration fee for each person who intends to bid at the tax lien sale. Ordinance No. 175-2015 also requires that upon the issuance of the Lien Certificate there is due from the lien buyer a Tax Certificate Issue Fee of $20.00 per lien purchased.

Pursuant to the provisions of the Nassau County Administrative Code at the discretion of the Nassau County Treasurer the auction will be conducted online. Further information concerning the procedures for the auction is available at the website of the Nassau County Treasurer at:

https://www.nassaucountyny.gov/526/County-Treasurer

Should the Treasurer determine that an in-person auction shall be held, same will commence on the 21st day of February, 2023 at the Office of The County Treasurer 1 West Street, Mineola or at some other location to be determined by the Treasurer.

The liens are for arrears of School District taxes for the year 2021 - 2022 and/or County, Town, and Special District taxes for the year 2022. The following is a partial listing of the real estate located in school district number(s) 8, 10 in the Town of Hempstead only, upon which tax liens are to be sold, with a brief description of the same by reference to the County Land and Tax Map, the name of the owner or occupant as the same appears on the 2022/2023 tentative assessment roll, and the total amount of such unpaid taxes.

ImpoRTanT

THE NAMES OF OWNERS SHOWN ON THIS LIST MAY NOT NECESSARILY BE THE NAMES OF THE PERSONS OWNING THE PROPERTY AT THE TIME OF THIS ADVERTISEMENT. SUCH NAMES HAVE BEEN TAKEN FROM THE 2022/2023 TENTATIVE ASSESSMENT ROLLS AND MAY DIFFER FROM THE NAMES OF THE OWNERS AT THE TIME OF PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. IT MAY ALSO BE THAT SUCH OWNERS ARE NOMINAL ONLY AND ANOTHER PERSON IS ACTUALLY THE BENEFICIAL OWNER.

TERMS OF SALE

Such tax liens shall be sold subject to any and all superior tax liens of sovereignties and other municipalities and to all claims of record which the County may have thereon and subject to the provisions of the Federal and State Soldier’s and Sailors’ Civil Relief Acts. However, such tax liens shall have priority over the County’s Differential Interest Lien, representing the excess, if any, of the interest and penalty borne at the maximum rate over the interest and penalty borne at the rate at which the lien is purchased.

The Purchaser acknowledges that the tax lien(s) sold pursuant to these Terms of Sale may be subject to pending bankruptcy proceedings and/or may become subject to such proceedings which may be commenced

Public Notices

LONG ISLAND PRESS

NASSAU COUNTY WEBSITE

NEWSDAY

ROSLYN NEWS

ROSLYN TIMES

Herald scHools

Dist 3306

FARMINGDALE OBSERVER

MASSAPEQUA POST

MASSAPEQUAN OBSERVER

NASSAU COUNTY WEBSITE

NEWSDAY

City of Glen Cove

HERALD

Dist 3020

Dist 3021

Dist 3022

Dist 3023

Dist 3024

Dist 3203

LEGAL NOTICE

Wantagh School District

Transportation Notice

Dist 4005

GLEN COVE HERALD GAZETTE

GLEN COVE RECORD PILOT

LOCUST VALLEY LEADER

NASSAU COUNTY WEBSITE

BETHPAGE

BETHPAGE NEWSGRAM

BETHPAGE TRIBUNE

NASSAU COUNTY WEBSITE

NEWSDAY

BETHPAGE NEWSGRAM

BETHPAGE TRIBUNE

NASSAU COUNTY WEBSITE

NEWSDAY

FARMINGDALE OBSERVER

MASSAPEQUA POST

NASSAU COUNTY WEBSITE

NEWSDAY

MASSAPEQUA POST

MASSAPEQUAN OBSERVER

MID-ISLAND TIMES

NASSAU COUNTY WEBSITE

NEWSDAY

GLEN COVE HERALD GAZETTE

GLEN COVE RECORD PILOT

NASSAU COUNTY WEBSITE

NEWSDAY

Wantagh School District parents are reminded that state law requires a written transportation request annually from parents or guardians of students who plan to attend private or parochial schools. Applications must be submitted prior to April 1st for the school year beginning in September. However, frst time enrollees in a private or parochial school shall be permitted to submit their application by June 30th, and new residents moving into the district have 30 days after establishing residency to submit their application.

Transportation applications for the 2023 - 2024 school year are now submitted electronically on our website at www.wantaghschools.or g by using the Services and Transportation links. If you need assistance, please contact the Wantagh UFSD Transportation Offce, 3301 Beltagh Avenue, Wantagh, NY 11793, at (516) 765-4155.

January 2023

137231

LEGAL NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

AUCTION OF SURPLUS ASSETS

The Board of Education, Levittown Public Schools, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau, is conducting an online auction of surplus assets in partnership with Auctions International, Inc. These assets which include a number of schools buses that have been declared surplus and approved by the Board of Education in accordance with State Laws. Items will be auctioned over a 14 day time period beginning Friday, February 3, 2022. Bidders may view items up for auction on the auction website:

www.auctionsinternation al.com. Additional details, terms and conditions, and instructions for registering to place bids can be obtained on the auction website.

Levittown Public Schools reserves the right to reject any and all bids, or parts of bids, to waive any and all technicalities, and to accept any bid, or part of bid which it deems advantageous to itself.

Bonnie Pampinella Purchasing Agent 137209

Dist 5028

NEWSDAY

City of lonG BeaCh

LONG BEACH HERALD

LONG BEACH TRIBUNE

NASSAU COUNTY WEBSITE

NEWSDAY

Nassau County does not discriminate on the basis of disability in admission to or access to, or treatment or employment in, its services, programs, or activities.

Upon request, accommodations such as those required by the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) will be provided to enable individuals with disabilities to participate in all services, programs, activities and public hearings and events conducted by the Treasurer’s Office. Upon request, information can be made available in braille, large print, audio tape or other alternative formats. For additional information, please call (516) 571-2090 ext. 13715.

Dated: February 08, 2023

THE NASSAU COUNTY TREASURER MINEOLA, NEW YORK 1204475

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING BY THE BOARD OF APPEALS

Pursuant to New York State Town Law Article

16, New York State Public Offcers Law Article 7, and the Town of Hempstead Building Zone Ordinance, NOTICE is hereby given that the BOARD OF APPEALS of the Town of Hempstead will hold a public hearing in the Old Town Hall, 350 Front Street, Room 230, Second Floor, Hempstead, New York on 2/15/23 at 9:30 A.M. to consider the following applications and appeals:

THE FOLLOWING CASES WILL BE CALLED STARTING AT 9:30 A.M. 99/23. LEVITTOWNBrian & Susan Schmidt, Special exception to maintain accessory structure (shed) higher & larger than permitted & exceeding horizontal maximum on both sides with less than required side yard setback., E/s Spiral La., 160’ N/o Sprucewood Dr., a/k/a 25 Spiral La.

ALL PAPERS PERTAINING TO THE ABOVE HEARING ARE AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION AT THE

BOARD OF APPEALS, TOWN HALL, 1 WASHINGTON STREET, HEMPSTEAD, NY 11550. This notice is only for new cases in Levittown within Town of Hempstead jurisdiction. There are additional cases in different hamlets, towns and villages on the Board of Appeals calendar. The full calendar is available a t https://hempsteadny.gov/ 509/Board-of-Appeals

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

137200

Courtesy

Summit Lane’S Second grade classes had a great time during the visit.

Schools

Summit Lane students learn safety tips

Second graders at Summit Lane Elementary School in the Levittown Public School District were ecstatic to receive a surprise visit from members of the MTA Police Department’s Canine Unit on Jan. 31.

Second grade classes gathered in the gymnasium and listened to safety tips from MTA officers who are stationed at busy subway and train stations. They learned to always stay with an adult,

how to navigate the platform safely and who to look for if they need help.

As the Canine Unit entered the room, the children could hardly contain their excitement, but they respectfully stayed in their seats. They learned about the role of the Canine Unit in keeping public transportation safe. At the conclusion of the presentation, students were able to approach and pet the unit’s dog one by one.

Future coders get started in Wantagh

They may have been taking part in the Hour of Code initiative, but students at Wantagh Elementary School have been doing way more than an hour of computer programming. STEAM teacher Kaitlin Humphrey said students in kindergarten through fifth grade are doing coding activities throughout January and February.

In kindergarten and first grade, children have been working with Bee-Bots, small robots that move around on a mat and are programmed by pushing a

sequence of directional buttons. Students in grades 2-5 are doing various coding activities through the Code.org website based on their interests.

Fourth and fifth graders are also using Bitsbox to program and actually get to write coding text. This is a natural next step to enhance their skills, Humphrey said, after doing drag-and-drop coding in the younger grades.

To enhance their knowledge of computer programming, students are also introduced to coding vocabulary.

Levittown

Courtesy Wantagh Schools Wantagh eLementary SchooL fourth graders learned how to write lines of code as part of a computer programming unit in STEAM class.

ROCKVILLE CENTRE

Real estate IN BRIEF

V.I.Properties Welcomes Corrine Hachmon!

We are happy to welcome Corrine Hachmon to team Rozana and Sara at V.I.Properties.

FULL TIME LIBRARY AIDE Are you customer-service focused? Do you love libraries? Apply for a FT Library Aide position at the Baldwin Public Library. This is a rare opportunity that does not require a Civil Service exam. Job is 35 hours per week with at least one night per week and rotating on Saturdays. $30,000-40,000 depending on qualifications and experience. Possibility of Sunday hrs. Send resume and cover letter to dkelly@baldwinpl.org.

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Corinne has always had a passion for sales and fashion. She was born and raised in Israel, and has been living in the Five Towns for the last 7 years. For the last 5 years she's been working as a real estate agent. Corinne is devoted to her family. She's a wife and mother of 3 beautiful children. She also enjoys giving back to her community, and is involved with local Chabad organizations. When it comes to real estate, Corinne is an expert listing agent and a strong buyers agent. She loves helping people relocate to the area, buy their first house, upsize or downsize. She prides herself on being able to provide top-notch customer service that exceeds her clients' expectations. Contact Corrine at 857.800.1533 or by email ch@rozana-sara.com

Realtors are encouraged to send briefs and photographs to: Herald Homes, 2 Endo Blvd.., Garden City, NY 11530.

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Nailing down the permits

Q. We completely rebuilt in 1996, and are ready to retire and sell. Our real estate agent told us they checked our permit records and it was never signed off. Although it’s a long story, our first contractor went to jail and destroyed our original permit papers. The second contractor never got a plumbing permit or electrical sign-offs, even though they had people do the work. Is this going to be a big problem to get everything signed off, because we want to sell within the year to take advantage of the market right now? What can you advise?

A. Sounds like you went through a lot. Most people tell me they could write a book about their experience. You need to see your building department records and get copies of the signed and sealed plans. Many municipalities keep records either in paper form, which you may have to pay for copies of, or microfilm or computer files.

Nanci-sue Rosenthal CBR C: 516.316.1030 Nrosenthal@bhhslaffey.com

Stacey Simens CBR C: 516.455.8152 Ssimens@bhhslaffey.com

Then speak with your inspector to find out what they think needs to be done. Most will be very helpful, and allow for the process to continue, asking you to hire a plumber to get a permit, which involves your notarized signature so you know it’s being done. In way too many cases, the plumber or contractor says it was done when it really wasn’t, so most municipalities require the owner’s signature on permit applications so the building department and owner are aware that the process is being done and is not false.

The plumber needs to see your bathrooms, kitchen, heating equipment and any other plumbing to be sure it meets the plumbing code (and building code). The same process must be done with an electrician, but most building departments ask for a certification from a private agency, not your electrician, since most building departments don’t have an electrical inspector. The reason for this is that one of the two leading causes of fire is electrical (the other being use of the kitchen) so your local government wants nothing to do with the liability for fire safety.

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You’ll find that almost everyone in this process wants to avoid responsibility as much as possible. You may have to either call for an inspection agency yourself or, if you suspect that there could be questionable electrical work, hire a licensed electrician to inspect and correct before hiring an agency to detect, if you elect. The private agency charges a few hundred dollars, usually, depending on the number of rooms and outdoor items, like air conditioning condensers, pool equipment and landscape lights, which must also be inspected. After all this is done, you may be able to get a final inspection and a sign-off and certificate from your building department, unless … your building department makes you get plans and a new survey redrawn and updated to the most recent code, which is complicated, time-consuming and expensive — in the thousands of dollars — before you can get a final inspection. Allow plenty of time.

© 2022 Monte Leeper Readers

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

Ask The Architect

Monte Leeper

ANNOUNCEMENTS

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THANK YOU ST. JUDE For Answering

My Prayers Regarding My Procedures.

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MERCHANDISE MART

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WHEELS

Those horrifc videos, and what they show

“Icouldn’t bear the thought of people being horrified by the sight of my son,” Mamie Bradley, the mother of 14-year-old Emmett Till, a Black kid from Chicago who was tortured and murdered by white racists in Mississippi in 1955, told the press at the time.

“But on the other hand, I felt the alternative was even worse,”

Bradley continued. “After all, we had averted our eyes for far too long, running away from the ugly reality facing us as a nation. Let the world see what I’ve seen.” Bradley had refused to close the lid of her son’s coffin.

What Bradley had to say then has echoed through the decades, and helped inspire America’s civil rights movement.

Her words are still relevant today.

I’ve heard many people say they “can’t look” at the televised footage of the Memphis police beating of Tyre Nichols, a 29-year-old who died a few

days after he was brutally assaulted by five police officers, who have been charged in his death. The footage has been shown and re-shown. And you could say that seeing it once is enough.

And I agree. But I know of others who refuse to look at all.

Many are the same people who refused to look at the images of the police as they suffocated George Floyd in 2020. They also didn’t want to look at the flag-draped coffins of American service members who had been killed in Afghanistan or Iraq.

The first Bush administration banned photos or video of the caskets of dead returning veterans. That decree wasn’t overturned until the Obama administration.

Some ask why we should look at any of it. What good does it do? To some, it’s similar to the almost unavoidable glances at an auto accident that attracts rubberneckers. Common decency should overcome the morbid desire to slow down to a crawl.

But it’s unacceptable to refuse to look at the images of Floyd as he lay gasping for breath, or of Eric Garner, who died in a prohibited police choke-

hold in 2014, or of Nichols as he was beaten.

In 1955, what Bradley saw was the horribly battered body and the crushed face of her son, who had traveled to the small town of Money, Mississippi, to spend a summer with his sharecropper great-uncle Moses Wright.

WAfter work one night, young Emmett and some friends stopped at a grocery store. Accounts vary, but some say that Till whistled at the store’s white cashier, Carolyn Bryant. In the early-morning hours of Aug. 28, Roy Bryant, Carolyn’s husband, and J.W. Milam, Bryant’s half-brother, broke into Wright’s home and dragged Till out.

He was severely beaten. One of his eyes was gouged out. His nose was so bent out of shape, his mother said, that it resembled an S. Then he was taken to the Tallahatchie River, where he was shot in the head. His body was dumped into the river.

Wright reported the kidnapping to the police the following day, and Bryant and Milam were arrested. The only way police were able to identify Till was by

a monogrammed ring he wore that had belonged to his father.

At the funeral, relatives asked Bradley to close the casket, but she refused. Photos of her son’s body appeared in Jet magazine and the Chicago Defender, two of the most important Black publications in the United States.

Bryant and Milam were acquitted by an all-white jury that deliberated for only four hours. Years later, the FBI extracted a deathbed confession from Milam’s brother, Leslie, who admitted his own involvement. By that time, however, Bryant and J.W. Milam were long dead.

Till’s mother’s decision to let the public see what had been done to her son still resonates today.

Those who ask why we should look at any of these disturbing images say, what good does it do? The footage of Floyd, Garner and, now, Nichols, is more than painful to watch, I agree. But the cameras don’t lie. They force us to see things we don’t want to see, but must see. When we turn away, we are lying to ourselves about the reality of what happens so often to members of minorities in this, our America.

James Bernstein is editor of the Long Beach Herald. Comments? jbernstein@ liherald.com.

Hot love, cold love, new love, old love

These days, when my husband and I share affairs of the heart, there is usually anesthesia and a sameday procedure involved. For us, Valentine’s Day, the fire sale of romantic love, doesn’t speak to a 55-year relationship. Heart-shaped cakes, red roses, pink balloons and chocolates have become cheap (although not inexpensive) symbols of love. We subscribe to a more expansive view of love that includes authentic moments, nourishing memories and new experiences in the world. We learned during the pandemic that a brilliant TV movie or a sighting of a comet in a dark sky can trigger the same endorphins as “love.” It all counts. One of the unintended consequences of living in the time of Covid-19 is an impatience with posturing and a desire for genuine emotion. Let’s sift through the dross of recent weeks for the gold nuggets. Think for a moment of the intense super-joys that give value to your days — the gifts that Hallmark and

Godiva cannot confer.

These past few weeks, I have been leading a book discussion group. I do this all the time, but suddenly this year the group is intensely wonderful. The people in our circle jelled. The talk is fast, funny and wicked smart. Maybe it seems odd to think of this meet-up in terms of love, but we need all the love we can gather, and we each get to define our own experiences.

Other random love bombs:

Last week I caught a glimpse of the green-hued comet that last visited earth in prehistoric times. It was a momentary sighting, but I thought to myself, “Be still my heart” when I spotted the ball of dust and ice that won’t swing by this way again for 55,000 years. What a show.

Two weeks ago, I saw “Shades of Spring,” a new ballet choreographed by Jessica Lang. During a fairly dull week of subpar weather, a week I would give a C+, the evening of dance was a breakout moment. The performance captivated every sense and held our attention until the last bow. It was love.

Then there is Rachel Maddow. She

makes my Mondays, which are the only days she’s on the air at MSNBC with commentary about the dreaded news. An investigative pit bull with a smile on her face and a crisp sense of humor, Maddow helps mitigate the despair I feel after an intemperate eruption from Marjorie Taylor Greene. Maddow’s wit is dead on, and she is rigorous in her craft. I would not want to be in her sights, but I love being in her audience.

My life would be different, and less joyful, without Lillybee, our 5-year-old Coton. I don’t need to explain this to dog lovers. And I can’t explain it to non-dog-lovers. We celebrated her birthday Feb. 1 with a heavy spoonful of shredded pork in her kibble. I heard her whisper, “Be still my heart.”

I love our expanding daylight, which translates to elevated moods, for me and everyone else. There is just no boogying to the 4:30 p.m. Sunset Blues. The happy dance must wait for the sun to travel closer, and it is, by the minute, and I love it.

Another love bomb in my life is pasta al dente, still the most delicious, cheap-

est meal in America. When I’m ready to take on some carbs, a half-box of pasta with olive oil, parsley and garlic is sublime. Anytime we lust for linguine, we have this, right here in all our lives, and it is an affair of the heart as much as the belly.

Great books are the red roses that never fade. Consider the books I talked about this month: “The All of It,” by Jeannette Haien; “The Glass Hotel,” by Emily St. John Mandel; “Lila,” by Marilynne Robinson; and “Drag your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead,” by Olga Tokarczuk. The joy of disappearing into a book, giving up one’s grounding in time and space, is a gift. Then to talk about it with like-minded readers? Enchanting.

Wordle and Spelling Bee, my twin obsessions, have the best words. For the uninitiated, these are New York Times daily word games. And they’re like crack. You can’t stop. When you figure out the puzzle, the rush is unmistakable and familiar: love.

From the ridiculous to the sublime: I embrace my friends on Valentine’s Day and every day, don’t you? They can love anybody, and they choose you, and me. Hold them close, every precious one.

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

RANDI KREISS

Even a comet in a dark sky can trigger the same magical endorphins.

e don’t want to see the images of Floyd, Garner and, now, Nichols. But we must.

JAMES BERNSTEIN

HERALD

Getting what you pay for in the classroom

When we think of the most influential people in our lives growing up, we’re likely to point out our parents, some members of our extended family, maybe even a religious leader or two.

But no list is complete without teachers. It’s a role so important in our development that we spend nearly 13,000 hours of our childhood in front of teachers — whether we’re learning long division, the Civil War, natural selection, Newton’s laws of motion, or even where, exactly, New York is on the planet.

Education is vital, and we depend on teachers more than anyone else to deliver it. Yet when it comes time for us to show our gratitude for their extraordinary contribution to our lives, we instead focus on debates on whether teachers are overpaid, underworked and demanding just too much.

It’s not that exploring whether teachers are appropriately compensated isn’t important — in the public sphere, at least, it’s taxpayers’ hard-earned dollars that pay their salaries. However, such discussions must be done in a way that not only provides an accurate and complete look at educator salaries, but also still respects the essential role teachers fill.

A recent analysis conducted by Newsday found that more than half of all teachers on Long Island — 31,000 of them — are making at least $100,000 a year. A handful of them earned even more — upward of $300,000 and even $400,000. Numbers, we assume, we should be outraged about.

letters

Why ‘Santos, for better or worse’?

To the Editor:

Assemblyman Chuck LaVine’s letter, “It’s Santos, for better or worse,” which appeared in last week’s issue, has me perplexed. The black cloud that U.S. Rep. George Santos finds himself under is clearly his doing, and his alone. If I were a constituent of his, I would welcome a call or email from another representative who understands our Long island issues.

While Lavine said he appreciated Rep. Andrew Garbarino reaching out, the tone in his reply was less than respectful. It seems that Lavine is up to his old tricks by attempting to cast shade on an otherwise respected member of Long Island’s congressional delegation, as well as the Nassau Republican Party. Here’s a concept you might not be familiar with, Chuck: Instead of bickering, try working together, for the people

But those specific large amounts were anomalies, not the norm. Three teachers — two with more than four decades in the classroom — retired from the Central Islip school district with a mountain of sick days for which they were due compensation. These are teachers who were in the classroom nearly every day, providing consistency for their students and saving their district the need to hire substitutes.

Making this more atypical is that Central Islip has a rather unique — and far more generous — benefits package compared with other districts on Long Island.

On average, however, teachers on Long Island made a little more than $110,000 per year. That’s what the Empire Center for Public Policy told Newsweek, pointing out that that average is higher than any other region in the state, and higher than average salaries in other states. Three of the 11 school districts with the highest wage earners were in Nassau County — Jericho, Great Neck and Syosset.

Teachers have built-in holiday breaks —including the entire summer. They are done teaching by early afternoon. Their jobs aren’t physical. Who hasn’t heard these cries about teachers whenever discussions about compensation crop up?

But we also cannot forget that teachers take work home with them. They are there after school, many times giving an extra hand to our kids, helping them get the most out of their educational experience through sports or other extracurricular activities.

And while some might argue that

teachers make up for lower pay than their private-sector counterparts with better benefits, even that can be a tricky mound to stand on. A 2021 report from the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College concluded that while teachers might earn the same as those with similar educational backgrounds in the private sector, ongoing across-the-board benefits cuts through pension reform means that new teachers have a far bleaker economic outlook than their more experienced colleagues.

That’s bad. “Uncompetitive compensation may make it harder to recruit highquality individuals into the teaching profession,” the report stated. Low-quality teachers — or worse, simply not enough teachers — means potentially low-quality education.

For a country struggling to keep up with many of our international competitors, an educational system in decline will only make the situation worse.

The United States already falls below the global average in math test scores, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. That put us well behind Singapore, Macao, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Japan. And while our children’s science scores are higher than the global average, the United States remains behind Singapore, Macao, Estonia, Japan and Finland.

We must keep our public schools costs under control — absolutely. But just like anything else, we get what we pay for. And if we pay for high-quality teachers here on Long Island, we’ll continue to get them.

A useful way to enshrine a name we’d sooner forget

“make lemonade out of lemons” is a saying ingrained from an early age in students across the country to teach perseverance in the face of adversity. In essence, when we’re faced with a bad situation, we navigate the circumstances to imagine a positive outcome.

When it comes to U.S. Rep. George Santos, it’s far easier to imagine a steady stream of lemon juice squirted directly into our eyes than successfully following this elementary maxim. Each new day seems to bring a new Santos lie with it, one more outrageous than the next. From a fake resume to a fake address to a fake religion and more, Santos remains as defiant as ever in the midst of his fictional masterpiece: the most sophisticated web of lies ever created in the history of American politics.

My grandparents never talked about the Holocaust

To the Editor:

Great op-ed by Daniel Offner, “We must remember — and teach — the Holocaust (Jan. 26-Feb. 1), about his childhood memories of his grandmother, her history and what she went through.

I can really relate to it, but on my side, my grandparents would never, ever talk about what they lived through in Europe, while they raised their five children (my mom and her four siblings). The only piece of information I know is that all five of them were born in different countries while the family kept running from country to country to try and avoid Hitler. I know my grandparents were in camps, because they both had numbers on their arms, but they never, ever talked about it.

MICHAEL GILLER West Hempstead

Honor Damar Hamlin by learning CPR

To the Editor:

Last month on “Monday Night Football,” we all witnessed a horrific event when Damar Hamlin suffered a cardiac

The good news is that people of good conscience all across New York state’s 3rd Congressional District, regardless of political affiliation, are exasperated by the Talented Mr. Santos, and have had enough. Calls for him to resign ring out from the headquarters of both the Nassau Republicans and county Democrats. But being outraged isn’t a solution to our Santos problem.

Santos is an issue for the nation, but let’s not forget that he is a problem of our local creation. Therefore, the burden lies with us here in the 3rd District not just to destroy Frankenstein’s monster, but also to ensure that the next George Santos is barred from ever getting his, or her, name on the ballot.

In the meantime, what Santos — the long-lost brother of fake German heiress Anna Delvey? — has shown us is that guardrails to prevent charlatans and liars from running for office simply don’t exist in the 21st century.

That’s why I’ve proposed the

arrest on the field. Cardiac arrest is a leading cause of death in the world. Each year, more than 350,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur in the United States. Almost three out of four of them happen at home.

If you’re called on to do cardiopulmonary resuscitation, you will likely be saving the life of someone you love. The members of our community need us. Our children need us. Our neighbors need us. Our co-workers need us.

The American Heart Association recognizes this need, and has a plan to help. You can be the difference, by learning CPR to save a life. The American Heart Association is committed to being the leader in resuscitation science, education and training.

This month — American Heart Month — the American Heart Association is specifically focused on helping people learn the life-saving skill of CPR, and we want every family and home to have someone who knows it. With the help of local supporters, we can help more of our community be prepared when called on in an emergency.

I encourage you to Be the Beat by learning CPR to be the difference and save a life. To find a class near you, visit cpr.heart.org.

DR. LAWRENCE KANNER Chief of cardiology, and director of electrophysiology/arrhythmia Services Mount Sinai South Nassau

GEORGE Package here in Nassau County, a series of laws named for Mr. Santos: Get Egregious Officials Removed from Government Elections. It features several proposals to keep people like Santos from ever getting elected in the first place. They include:

■ Mandatory background checks for all candidates, just like any employee of any company is subjected to.

■ Barring anyone with an open foreign arrest warrant from holding office.

■ Making it a misdemeanor for a candidate to lie about his or her education, employment history, address or income sources.

The GEORGE Package would not be a guarantor against politicians lying to get elected. It would, however, offer voters more peace of mind that they have an honest choice between two candidates, and assurance for those voters that if candidates don’t play by the rules, they, like us, will be held

accountable.

When James Madison created the framework for the Constitution, never in the wildest dreams of our founders did they envision needing laws like the GEORGE Package on the books. But just as the Constitution is a living document, our governments also must continue to evolve with the times.

And in the age of George Santos, when many politicians take an ends-justify-the-means approach to elevate lies over the truth and perpetrate fraud against the voters in order to win elections, these safeguards are needed now more than ever to protect our democracy.

My hope is that versions of the GEORGE Package pass in Mineola, in Albany and in Washington. If they do, voters across the state will be able to breathe a collective sigh of relief that no matter which candidate wins, no one who is as morally reprehensible as George Santos will be representing them.

Santos may be the lemons, but the GEORGE Package would be our lemonade. Let’s drink up.

Framework by Tim Baker

Josh Lafazan is a Nassau County legislator representing the 18th District.

we must ensure that the next George Santos is barred from getting his, or her, name on the ballot.

JosH LaFaZan