Wantagh Herald 02-29-2024

HERALD

one hundred days of learning

Page 3

A rare birthday celebration

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STATE CHAMP!

The year of the dragon Page 10

Jeremy Loud is on the road to recovery

By CHARlES SHAW cshaw@liherald.com

Seaford resident Jeremy

“He’s been going since May of last year, and that’s where his progress has really come in,” his wife said.

HERALD

one hundred days of learning

Page 3

A rare birthday celebration

Page 9

STATE CHAMP!

Wantagh

Bagel store owners honored by veterans for their generosity

By RACHEl BAMGBoSE Correspondent

Aiding war veterans can take on all shapes and sizes, and the charitable contribution made to them by one Seaford store is round with a hole in the middle.

The owners of Seaford Bagels, at 3970 Merrick Road, have donated bagels to a veterans group for its holiday breakfast charity events.

As a result, the store owners were honored with a plaque as a show of appreciation for giving back to their community and to veterans. On Feb. 24, several members of the Catholic War

Veterans Post 1772 in Queens, including Stephen Biscotti, John Vosilla, John Scalesi, Henry Hernandez and Commander Raymond Fortune, stopped by the store for a ceremony to present a plaque to owner John Scannello and manager Virginia Glenn for their contributions.

State Sen. Steve Rhoads was also in attendance to commemorate the success of their donations, and presented a proclamation to the store owners.

For Easter and Christmas, the Queens post hosts charity events for veterans. Biscotti said the events draw between 150 and 200 community

The year of the dragon Page 10

Jeremy Loud is on the road to recovery

By CHARlES SHAW cshaw@liherald.com

Seaford resident Jeremy Loud has been on a difficult — yet persistent — quest to walk again after a pool accident almost four years ago left him confined to a motorized wheelchair.

Loud has been commuting with his wife, Jackie, more than 200 miles twice a week to undergo physical therapy at Project Walk, a paralysis recovery center in Mount Laurel, New Jersey. He said the facility provides exercise focusing on strengthening his core, and with some assistance, he said he’s able to stand on a treadmill and pedal an exercise bike — but acknowledges that he still has a long road ahead.

T“He’s been going since May of last year, and that’s where his progress has really come in,” his wife said.

Loud’s uncle, Chris Amato, has also seen how much progress he’s made since going to Project Walk. Amato became legal guardians to Loud and his sister Nicole after their mother died in 1987 when Jeremy was 9 years old. Though not directly related, Amato considers them his children.

he rough part about spinal cord injury is it’s a slow, slow process.

JEREMY loUd

“The rough part about spinal cord injury is it’s a slow, slow process,” he said. “It’s not something that’s going to happen overnight. I have to keep reminding myself, ‘I’m not running a race, I’m running a marathon.’”

However, Project Walk is not covered through insurance, and the Loud family must pay $240 for a two-hour session. In addition to tolls and gas, each commute they take to the recovery facility costs them around $400, but they said the trip is worth it.

Loud’s progress at Project Walk has been tremendous, improving his balance and regaining the use of his arms, according to Amato.

“All those things are making him be able to function at such a higher level than he was able to do,” Amato said. “We’re just hoping that it continues to the point where he gains a lot more independence.”

To help provide more sessions for him at Project Walk, Amato and his wife, Linda, have reached out to The John Theissen Children’s Foundation to set up a raffle and auction fundraiser, which will take place at Mulcahy’s Pub and Concert Hall in Wantagh on Sunday, March 3.

Loud said he’s thankful for all the help he’s received from the community in organizing the event.

“Everything seems to be

Continued on page 4

Raymond Nelson/Herald

High School senior Joseph Clem captured the New York state title in the 131-pound weight class last Saturday night in Albany with a dramatic 5-3 victory in the final match. Story, additional photo, page 8.

“The Vacant Space Revival Program qualified us for on-bill credits that really help me manage costs.”

—George Karatzas, James Cress Florist, Smithtown

Unoccupied business spaces are an opportunity to help bring vitality to downtown areas. For George Karatzas, owner of James Cress Florist, staying downtown was a priority, but costs were prohibitive. Then George applied for our Vacant Space Revival Program, which has provided $2,462 in bill credits to help offset his overhead.* And Smithtown continues to have a business that brings warmth and charm to the area. It’s a beautiful thing to see come together—just like George’s floral arrangements.

psegliny.com/EcoDev

What’s NEWs IN aND OUt OF thE CLassROOM

HERALD SCHOOLS

A hundred reasons to smile in Wantagh

The 100th day of school marked an important moment for kindergartners at Forest Lake Elementary School in the Wantagh School District. They showed their durability as they only have about 2,200 more school days left until graduation.

The young learners celebrated the milestone with an afternoon of fun. There were activities based around the number, such as building with 100 blocks or creating a gumball machine with 100 dots. Each student made a calming bottle to take home filled with water, glitter and 100 beads. Teachers and parent volunteers helped out at the stations.

In the hallway, the entire kindergarten contributed to a paint collage of 100 handprints. At home, students also made posters with 100 objects or stickers that they brought to school to show their mastery of the three-digit number.

Photos courtesy Wantagh school district

Forest Lake Elementary School kindergartners, from left, Ella LoMonaco, Charlie Zinser, William Martinek and Mikey Cavalieri donned their 100th day of school crowns on Feb. 8.

Luna Gragnaniello shook her calming bottle that included water, glitter and 100 beads.

Connor Ferraro added his mark to a wall of 100 handprints.

James Polito made a poster of 100 monster truck stickers.

Luka Bianco, left, Dominic Recher, center, and Camden Cook made their 100-day gumball machines with finger-painted dots.

Fundraiser to help pay for Loud’s rehab

Continued from page 1

pretty unbelievable,” he said. “Everybody’s pitching in and donating baskets.”

Insurance has covered Loud’s rehabilitation at Northwell Health STARS Rehabilitation in East Meadow, but his wife said limitations have been placed on what he can do during therapy.

Loud’s life changed over the Labor Day weekend in 2020 when he broke his C5 and C6 vertebrae in a swimming pool accident in Amato’s backyard. He said he doesn’t remember much about what happened, and none of his family members saw the incident. But he was found at the bottom of the pool and was pulled out and given CPR.

First responders arrived and rushed him to St. Joseph’s Hospital in Bethpage. From there, he was transferred to Winthrop Hospital in Mineola, where he underwent two surgeries to his neck. Afterward, he attended NYU Rusk Rehab in the city for two months of physical therapy before returning home around Thanksgiving in 2020.

“I could barely sit up, I could barely talk without passing out,” Loud said of his recovery. “Everything was extremely hard to do in the beginning.”

Jackie Loud said their son Hunter was born eight weeks after the accident.

“When Jeremy first came home, he couldn’t hold him,” she said. “He couldn’t feed him, he couldn’t do any-

thing.”

“I was afraid to hold him because of the lack of strength,” Jeremy Loud said. “I literally felt like a piece of pasta, flailing all over the place.”

Since the accident, he’s struggled financially, despite receiving disability checks and with his wife working. They are now converting their two-story home so that it’s more wheelchair-accessible, and he hopes to see changes in the state for more wheelchair accessibility in buildings and public spaces.

Loud added that he would like to see a little more flexibility from the banks during these tough times.

“When this happens to somebody and you’re a homeowner, there’s just no forgiveness from the banks as far as trying to work with you with a payment or mortgage,” he said. “It’s just unbelievable how expensive everything is, and now it’s a fixed income, for me, anyway. It’s not easy having two small kids, and being injured, but we’re doing the best we can.”

For more information on the March 3 fundraiser, visit tinyurl.com/day-for-jeremy.

Jeremy Loud on an exercise bike at project Walk, which his family says has helped build his core strength and balance after a swimming pool accident in 2020 left him unable to walk.

Courtesy Jeremy Loud

Coalition formed to advocate for local journalism

A statewide group of local news organizations — comprising of more than 100 newspapers across New York — have launched The Empire State Local News Coalition, a joint advocacy effort to advance a legislative package intended to deliver long-term sustainability to the sector.

The coalition launches at a watershed moment for the journalism industry as well as democracy. More than 3,000 newspapers have shuttered across the country since 2005, resulting in thousands of layoffs and countless communities losing essential platforms for sharing their stories.

In New York state alone, newspapers have declined 40 percent between 2004 and 2019. Since then, the number of journalists has halved, and there has been a 60 percent decrease in overall circulation.

There is a growing number of communities with little to no access to local newspaper coverage. More than a dozen New York counties are down to just one newspaper, and Orleans County in Western New York is the first with no local newspaper at all.

The decline of local journalism is a threat to the health of our democracy, as research from the Democracy Fund shows there is a direct correlation between the breadth of local media coverage and levels of civic engagement — an especially significant factor in an election year.

If newspapers continue to shutter, communities across the state risk being effectively disenfranchised, losing the ability to shape policy conversations, and hold local officials accountable.

“The Empire State Local News Coalition is dedicated to advancing a legislative package with bipartisan support aimed at providing a lifeline to newspapers across the state,” said founding member Zachary Rich-

In

other pet. Here is an abridged version of New York’s statute authorizing a trust for your pet:

a. The intended use of the principal or income, of a trust for the care of a designated domestic or pet animal, may be enforced by an individual designated for that purpose in the trust instrument. Such trust shall terminate when no living animal is covered by the trust.

b. No portion of the principal or income may be converted to the use of the trustee or to any use other than for the benefit of a covered animal.

c. Upon termination, the trustee shall transfer the unexpended trust property as directed in the trust instrument or, if there are no such directions in the trust

More than 3,000 newspapers have closed across the country since 2005, resulting in countless communities losing essential platforms for sharing their stories. The Empire State Local News Coalition intends to reverse that by advancing new legislation and initiatives that would protect jobs, and incentivize small business to advertise.

ner — director of Richner Communications, the parent company of Herald Community Newspapers — in a release. “All New Yorkers deserve to have their voices heard, and hometown newspapers are key to that mission.

“We urge government officials and local stakeholders to rally behind us, safeguarding democracy, and bolstering the future of local journalism in New York.”

The Empire State coalition is championing what it describes as a robust legislative package intended to

instrument, the property shall pass to the estate of the grantor.

d. A court may reduce the amount of property transferred if it determines that amount substantially exceeds the amount required for the intended use. The amount of the reduction, if any, passes as unexpended trust property pursuant to paragraph (c), above.

e. If no trustee is designated or no designated trustee is willing or able to serve, a court shall appoint a trustee and may make such other orders and determinations as are advisable to carry out the intent of the grantor and the purpose of this section.

If you are interested in setting up a trust for your beloved pet, please make an appointment to see us for a free consultation. Should you have no one to take care of your pet, try PetEstates.com, who will perform this service for you.

ensure local papers survive through the 21st century and beyond. Key priorities include:

• The Local Journalism Sustainability Act (S.625B, A.2958C) — Sponsored by state Sen. Brad HoylmanSigal, the bill would provide tax credits to local news outlets for the employment of local journalists, while providing job stability and paving the way for more hiring opportunities, and an expanded workforce in the future.

• Incentivizing small businesses to advertise in local media — This win-win proposal, according to organizers, would encourage local businesses to advertise in local media, driving revenue for hometown papers, while connecting businesses with their customers.

“Democracy places a responsibility on citizens to be informed so they can effectively participate in the electoral process, and in local government,” said Bill Shumway, editor and publisher of North Country This Week in Potsdam, in a release. “A trusted local news source is essential for that to happen. Healthy communities need an unbiased news organization to connect, enrich and inform citizens.”

“The bottom line is that this proposed legislation would be a major game changer,” said Mark Vinciguerra, president of Capital Region Independent Media out of Clifton Park. “We would be able to increase the number and type of journalists we have on staff. It would allow us to cover more beats, do more video reporting, investigative reporting, and expand our ‘Good News’ initiative we have started.”

A 2022 analysis found more than 350 newsrooms across the state would benefit from the local journalism payroll tax credit. This includes 53 newsrooms in New York City, with 21 of them being ethnic media outlets.

To learn more about the efforts, visit SaveNYLocalNews.com.

Blakeman defends banning trans athletes

By PARKER SCHUG pschug@liherald.com

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman says he’s protecting athletes in his executive order last week banning some transgender participants in female-centric sports in county facilities. But the action also has raised concerns — and legal questions. Some of which were brought before the Nassau County Legislature on Monday.

We’re confident that as soon as this executive order comes before court, it will be shut down

BoBBy HodGSon director New York Civil Liberties Union

“An individual’s gender is defined as the individual’s biological sex at birth,” Blakeman wrote in his executive order, which demands any sport entities interested in using county facilities to first designate themselves based on male, female or co-ed categories, and then only accept athletes who meet that criteria according to the gender that was originally listed on their birth certificate.

There are nearly 100 facilities in the county that will be impacted, Blakeman told reporters last week.

But Bobby Hodgson — director of LGBTQ rights litigation at New York Civil Liberties Union — says those impacts may not be felt long.

“Were confident that as soon as this executive order comes before court, it will be shut down,” Hodgson said.

The executive order primarily targets athletes born biologically male, but who now identify as female, from participating in teams intended only for girls or women. Blakeman’s order does not require facilities to ban athletes born female and now identifying as male from joining male-centric teams.

Blakeman, however, was quick to add last week, that trans athletes identifying as females aren’t completely banned — they will still be able to participate in co-ed leagues as well as male competitive leagues.

Nassau County Legislator Samantha Goetz backed Blakeman’s directive, citing safety and integrity.

“This is about protecting our female athletes,” said Goetz, whose district primarily represents Oyster Bay. “This is about making sure they’re not denied opportunities for scholarships, or any type of opportunity that comes with playing sports, recognition and things like that.”

Eva Nordman, an 8-year-old who plays basketball, softball and soccer, said it was also about keeping sports equitable.

“Boys have different chromosomes than girls and that makes them stronger,” Nordman said. “It’s not fair if they

college, whether it’s high school, whether it’s just a community league — and it is an unfair advantage for someone who’s a biological male to compete against a biological female.”

Dawn Foster — a former deputy county attorney and an Oceanside resident — stopped by Mineola on Monday to speak out against Blakeman’s executive order in front of the county legislature on behalf of her family.

“In 2021, when I finally stopped fighting against myself and accepted that I was a woman and needed transition, we felt fortunate to live in Nassau County,” Foster said, calling the executive order unlawful, and condemning what she described as efforts to demonize trans women. “That feeling was shattered last week.

“Blakeman and Goetz press conference was a total of repudiation of the humanity of trans people, implying that we are cheaters, liars and bullies.”

compete against us.”

Protesters gathered outside of Blakeman’s news conference last week led by Juli Grey-Owens, executive director of Gender Equality New York, chanting, “Trans kids are our kids.” They will get some support from the NYCLU — a notfor=profit legal right group — say they will consider taking Nassau County to court over what Hodgson described as a disregard of state human rights and civil rights laws.

An amendment to the state’s human rights law in 2019 outlawed gender identity and expression discrimination in employment, housing, places of public accommodation, and non-religious schools, according to state officials.

Hodgson is not alone. State attorney general Letitia James condemned Blakeman’s order, calling it “transphobic and

deeply dangerous.”

“In New York, we have laws that protect our beautifully diverse communities from hate and discrimination of any and every kind,” James said, in a statement. “My office is charged with enforcing and upholding those laws, and we stand up to those who violate them and trespass on the rights of marginalized communities. We are reviewing our legal options.”

But Blakeman told reporters last week he knew of no state policy that could threaten his executive order

“This is not precluding anybody from participating in sports,” Blakeman wrote in his executive order. “What it is, is identifying that there are women and girls who spent a tremendous amount of time and effort to excel and compete in their sports that are women’s sports whether it’s the WNBA, whether it’s

Foster already had support from some county legislators like Carrié Solages and Delia DeRiggi-Whitton.

“I have never, in my many years of government service, had a constituent or parent complain to me about this issue,” Solages said, “making it clear that this embarrassing and illegal order is just another attempt by County Executive Blakeman to distract from the many issues that plague Nassau County.”

But Blakeman is not going to let those efforts dissuade him.

“We are finding out, in the last few months, there was a movement for biological males to bully their way into competing in sports or leagues or teams that identify themselves — or advertise themselves — as girls, or female or women’s teams or leagues,” the county executive said last week. “We find that unacceptable. It’s a form of bullying.”

Parker Schug/Herald photos

Victoria Argueta, from left, Sophia Argueta, Eva Nordman, Julia Nordman and Jenna Nordman join Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman at a news conference, telling reporters he’s banning some transgender athletes from participating in female-centric sports in county facilities.

Juli Grey-Owens, executive director of Gender Equality New York, front, protests outside a Mineola news conference last week where Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman announced he was banning some transgender athletes from participating in female-centric sports in county facilities.

Bagel store recognized for its donations

Continued from page 1

members, and provide children with an opportunity to have breakfast with the Easter Bunny and Santa. These events, according to Biscotti, require a large amount of food to accommodate the numbers in attendance.

“We do a lot,” Biscotti said. “We purchase anywhere from 20 to 25 dozen bagels, cakes, cookies, juice, coffee, tea, etcetera.”

But Scannello and Glenn have lessened some of that burden by donating the bagels to Post 1772, according to Biscotti. The charitable gesture is just one of many ways the storeowners have been helping their communities.

Scannello and Glenn also have spread generosity throughout their community by offering a free bagel or cup of coffee to PTA organizers, students, churches and sports teams. When houses in Seaford burned down last December and February of this year, the bagel store didn’t hesitate to reach out to the community with a helping hand and a bagel free of charge.

The Seaford shop has been serving the community for more than 30 years, often bringing U.S. veterans to tears after they received their donations. For veterans, as well as members of the community, the bagel store has remained a constant as inflation continues to rise.

“They come in here, and they can be

very emotional, and they thank us for supporting the community,” Scannello said of veterans. “Or when PTAs come in, I stamp their business cards, inviting them to come back and get a free bagel. We are all so humbled and honored.”

During the plaque ceremony, Scannello thanked the veterans and gave them a round of applause for fighting

for their country.

“We at Seaford Bagels are known by the community to be generous,” Scannello said. “These veterans, they sacrifice their lives for us. This is the least we could do for them.”

Sen. Rhoads also thanked Seaford Bagels for supporting the Seaford and Wantagh communities, as he presented

the smiling shopkeepers with the plaque.

“I want to thank Post 1772 for everything you’ve done,” Rhoads said. “The Seaford success is about giving back to the community, not just about keeping things in the community. Seaford Bagels, John and Virginia, you understand that so well, and you do it willingly.”

State Sen. Steve rhoads, far left, with Seaford Bagels co-owners ralph facchini and John Scannello, manager Virginia glenn, and Stephen Biscotti. members of the Catholic War Veterans post 1772 in Queens stopped by Seaford Bagels last Saturday to present a plaque to the business for its generous bagel donations.

Rachel Bamgbose/Herald photos manager Virginia glenn shows off the plaque that was given to Seaford Bagels for its contributions to the community.

State championship for Wantagh’s Clem

By ANDREW COEN sports@liherald.com

It took until the final seconds of Joseph Clem’s Wantagh wrestling career to write a storybook ending at the New York State Championships.

Trailing by one point with under 30 seconds remaining in the third period of the state 131-pound finals last Saturday night, the Wantagh senior executed a reversal to go up by a point and tacked on another from an illegal clasp for a dramatic 5-3 victory against previously unbeaten Samson McKissick-Staley of Pittsford. The comeback win against the top-seeded McKissick-Staley assured that Clem would end his high school wrestling career as a state champion after previously falling just short of the top of the podium.

“I was shocked at first and it didn’t even feel real,” Clem said. “It’s been a long-term goal of mine to win the state title and it’s a perfect way to cap off my high school career.”

The late scoring rally by Clem was followed by preventing McKissick-Staley from breaking free over the match’s

final 13 seconds. The state championship at MVP Arena in Albany came a year after Clem (57-3) was runner-up in the 126-pound finals when he dropped a 4-2 decision to Jaden Crumpler of Niagara Falls in the 126-pound finals. He placed third in the states as a sophomore at 115.

“He has trained very, very hard for this,” said longtime Wantagh wrestling coach Paul Gillespie. “He did the weights, the running and all the extras that helped make him a state champion.”

Clem got the chance to enjoy the championship moment with his twin brother, Anthony Clem, who placed fourth at 124 pounds. The Clem brothers will both be competing on the collegiate level at West Virginia University and Anthony was in Joe’s corner to help push him through to the title.

“I heard him in the last 15 seconds when he collapsed yell ‘free move’ since he was right next to the mat,” said Clem of his younger brother’s presence in the bout’s closing sequence. “There was a big hug for him after the match.”

Senior Jesse Vanorden also earned

All State honors with a third place finish at 152 pounds. The Air Force commit knocked off Brentwood’s Jason Kwaak, 12-5 in the consolation finals after dropping a 3-1 overtime division in the state semifinals to Griffin Laplante of St. Francis in western New York. It marked the second straight high podium finish for Vanorden, who placed third at 145 as a junior.

The Clem brothers and Vanorden reached the state championship stage after winning county titles nearly two weeks earlier at Hofstra’s Mack Sports Complex. Junior Shareef McMillanm also qualified for states at 170 after battling back for second place at counties following a semifinal defeat.

Clem credits much of his wrestling success at Wantagh to Gillespie, who has produced six state champions since taking over the program in the 2011-12 season.

“He is the wrestling guru and nobody knows more about wrestling than him,” said Clem of his head coach. “He’s been through this with me the whole journey and helped prepare me for the long season and winning a state title.”

Raymond Nelson/Herald

Senior Joseph Clem, left, became Wantagh’s sixth state champion under coach Paul Gillespie with an epic comefrom-behind win in the 131-pound final.

When a birthday is once every four years

By CHARLES SHAW cshaw@liherald.com

Birthdays can be exciting, even more so when it comes around once every few years.

Wantagh High School sophomores Tyler Santomauro and Brianna McLaughlin are similar in one unique way: They were born on leap day, Feb. 29. According to them, it’s a fun experience to have their actual birthday come around once every four years.

This year, they’ll turn 16, or four, depending on who you ask.

“It’s cool,” Tyler said. “You pick your birthday sometimes, or sometimes you get the real one.”

Brianna says she thinks about how interesting it is to be born on leap day when the date approaches. Her family celebrates her birthday on Feb. 28 when it is not a leap year. When her actual birth date occurs, Brianna says her family makes it a special moment.

“We just celebrate it more I guess,” Brianna said. “Just like, a bigger party. We have it at a restaurant instead of having it at home.”

Tyler’s mother, Cassy Santomauro, says he chooses when to have his birthday on non-leap years. Mostly it’s celebrated on Feb. 28, but sometimes it’s celebrated on the nearest Saturday, or even on St. Patrick’s Day. Last leap year –when Tyler turned 12 – his mother says

said. “They said, ‘Do you want to change it?’ and I’m like, ‘no, I want this birthday.’ I thought it was the coolest birthday ever, so they were trying to talk me out of it.”

The purpose of leap day is to adjust the calendar of the Earth’s orbit around the sun as part of the Gregorian calendar. The planet’s annual rotation is not exactly 365 days, so to keep the calendar aligned with the astronomical seasons, a correction in the form of an extra day is added every four years.

Brianna and Tyler say their friends find their leap day birthdays interesting. According to the History Channel, there are around five million people in the world who were born on Feb. 29, making it the rarest birthday in the world.

“They just think it’s cool and interesting that you have a birthday every four years,” Brianna said.

“Sometimes when I’m talking about it and someone stops by, they’ll be like, ‘Oh, you’re born on leap year?’ And then ask questions about it,” Tyler said.

his friends gave him birthday cards that said he’s turning three, and gave him gift cards to baby stores as a fun way to celebrate.

“They just love the fact that he’s got this special day that he can say he’s four, or 16,” Santomauro said. “We just like to make it a little bit more of a cele-

bration.”

Santomauro knew her son was going to be a Feb. 29 baby, because she was scheduled to have a C-section that day. She said doctors tried to convince her to change the date, but she didn’t want to.

“The doctors called me like five times about changing the date,” Santomauro

Santomauro says Tyler loves his birthday, because it makes him stand out despite being a little bit shy.

“It makes him feel like he’s different than everybody and he loves that part,” Santomauro said. “He’s a little quiet sometimes in the beginning, but this is something that lets him be the star, so he loves it.”

Charles Shaw/Herald

Wantagh High School sophomores Brianna McLaughlin, left, and Tyler Santomauro were both born on leap day, and will celebrate their 16th birthday on Feb. 29. It will be the fourth time they’ve celebrated their birthday on their actual birth date.

It’s the Year of the Dragon at Lee Road

New

and

the holiday’s traditions on Feb. 7. Students in each grade excitedly entered the Year of the Dragon and worked collaboratively to learn about the meaning behind the Chinese holiday. In kindergarten, craft dragons came to life with a pop of colors commonly associated with the Lunar New Year. The students cut out their dragons and assembled them into puppets for a miniature parade. Additionally, a scavenger hunt had third graders parading around looking for clues to help them complete a Lunar New Year fact sheet.

The Lee Road Elementary School community in the Levittown School District marked Lunar

Year with crafts

lessons reflecting

Photos courtesy Levittown public schools Torre and Bischof’s kindergarten class were excited to craft their own paper dragons.

Lee Road Elementary School kindergartners John Scudero and Haris Ahmed entered the year of the dragon on Feb. 7.

Third grader Jeanne Marie Fuchs found several facts about the holiday.

STEPPING OUT

Her theatre life

Tony Award nominee Sheryl Kaller directs Off-Broadway’s ‘The White Chip,’ a play about alcoholism and recovery

By Iris Wiener

When Valley Stream native Sheryl Kaller was 12, she knew she wanted to be a director. It was 1973. She went to a Sunday matinee of “Pippin,” and Ben Vereen sang “Magic to Do,” immediately clinching her dream.

“I always knew theatre was the only place where we can authentically use our imaginations,” she says. “I had the Spidey sense of knowing that it was a collaborative art.”

It was the start to a journey that would lead her to a Tony nomination as she directed Broadway (“Next Fall,” “Mothers and Sons”) and Off-Broadway plays, including “The White Chip,” which follows a theatre director who finds himself spinning out of control with an addiction to alcohol. The play, exploring his journey to recovery, runs through March 9, at MCC Theater.

“Broadway and Off-Broadway always felt like my community,” Kaller says. “My parents were very vigilant about getting me in to see theatre all the time. It informed my exposure to the art and my love of New York City.”

As Kaller grew up in the Green Acres community of Valley Stream, she performed in community theatre with her mother, while her father — who repaired car seat covers for a living — would use his knowledge of sewing to design costumes for the shows. (“They were horrible actually,” Kaller says, laughing at the fond memories.)

In her senior year at Valley Stream South High School, Kaller got her first taste of directing. After landing the role of Rosie in “Bye Bye Birdie,” she realized a big number — “The Telephone Hour” — could use some major help.

“I said to the director, who was great, ‘With all due respect, may I redo (the number)?’ So I redid the whole ‘Telephone Hour.’ That’s when I knew I was much better at directing than acting, and it led me to go to Emerson College — as a director, not as an actor.”

In 2019, Kaller directed “The White Chip” at OffBroadway’s 59E59 with the support of acclaimed playwright Terrence McNally, who, much like the play’s narrator, was

• Now through March 9

• Robert W. Wilson MCC Theater Space, 511 W. 52nd St., Manhattan

• Tickets available at WhiteChipPlay.com

a recovered alcoholic. When McNally died during the pandemic, Kaller knew she had to bring the play back to the New York theatre community.

“In the world of Covid and in the world of losing community, we felt it was really important to bring it back because ‘The White Chip’ is a hopeful sobriety story, and a serio-comedy. There’s a lot of fun things in it,” she says of the play, which found its new home at the MCC Theater. “We are building community and doing service with this show, while entertaining at the same time.”

According to Kaller, after the pandemic, alcoholism in women doubled, while in men it was up a third.

“AA and addiction meetings were all on Zoom, and everybody kind of fractured,” she says. “This is a story that makes you laugh and cry. It also talks about how there’s no shame in being an addict. Shame touches everybody’s lives in one way or another.”

In deciding to take the piece on again, it didn’t hurt that Tony Award winner Annaleigh Ashford was at the show’s helm as producer.

“She’s very magical,” says Kaller of Ashford, who recently starred in Broadway’s “Sweeney Todd” opposite Josh Groban.

“The White Chip” has such an important message that it also boasts celebrity supporters and producers Jason Biggs, John Larroquette, Edie Falco and Hank Azaria. The pandemic even inspired playwright Sean Daniels to create The Recovery Project, an initiative working to heal the stigma of addiction and recovery through the development of new plays, theatre education programs, and outreach.

“All of our fancy producers are sober people,” says Kaller, of the importance of the play and the initiative. “Every producer who came on board financially was incredibly gracious. They don’t have the best deal in the world because a lot of the money is going into The Recovery Project. If you’re an actor, a designer, in the PR department, if you’re cleaning the toilets, you need resources. At all of our performances so far, at least one person has asked us for help. We have a QR code that gives them resources whether or not they have health insurance.”

The play continues to remind Kaller of the importance of community, a lesson that harkens back to her roots on Long Island.

“One thousand Long Islanders showed up to my dad’s funeral,” she recalls. “I grew up in such a beautiful community there. My heart will always be on the ‘Guyland.’ I got the wonderful suburban, great education at Valley Stream South, and yet I got to go into the city all the time. But I will always remember all of these people who showed up for my family.

“I wish Long Islanders would start coming back to New York theatre because we really do build a lot of beautiful community in the city and it’s worth it. It is apparent with ‘The White Chip’ and with so much more.”

Tusk

Tusk goes their own way, with their dynamic tribute to Fleetwood Mac. Since forming in 2008, Tusk has prided themselves on being the ultimate tribute to the ‘70s supergroup. No fancy tricks, no gimmicks, just five musicians recreating the music of Fleetwood Mac to perfection with note-fornote renditions. Seasoned musicians who go back some 25 years, their attention to detail, talent and reverence of their subjects has been critically acclaimed, resulting in their accolades as the premiere purveyors of ‘Mac. Time, trust, and close friendship have cultivated an intimate familiarity with each other’s musical nuances, shaping every performance with precision. More than a band, they are a family. Made up of Kathy Phillips (as Stevie Nicks on vocals), Scott McDonald (as Lindsey Buckingham, guitar and vocals), Kim Williams (as Christine McVie, keys and vocals), Randy Artiglere (as John McVie, bass) and Tom Nelson (as Mick Fleetwood on drums) the five-piece band transports you back to the group’s glory days.

Friday, March 1, 8 p.m. $63, $53, $45. Jeanne Rimsky Theater at Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington. (516) 7676444 or LandmarkOnMainStreet.org.

The Irish Tenors

These gents will warm your soul with the beauty of Irish music. The Irish Tenors have been the acknowledged Celtic music kings since bursting upon the scene during a 1998 television special. With 10 bestselling albums to their credit, they share company with the likes of The Three Tenors and Andrea Bocelli as the biggest money makers PBS has presented. They’ve since become a part of the Irish movement in America, with plenty of talented Irish acts coming after them. They have stood the test of time — audiences of all ages love the Irish Tenors. Now comprised of classically trained tenor Anthony Kearns, doctor-turned-vocalist Ronan Tynan, and tenor Declan Kelly, their repertoire is wide-ranging and they also introduce — or reintroduce — their audiences to Ireland’s exquisite jigs, reels and ballads.

Friday, March 1, 8 p.m. Tickets start at $70. Tilles Center for the Performing Arts, LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Blvd., Brookville. Tickets available at Ticketmaster.com,TillesCenter.org or (516) 299-3100.

Crystal Dickinson, Joe Tapper, and Jason Tam star in playwright Sean Daniels’ autobiographical comedy, a wry theatrical journey of recovery.

Photos by Jenny Anderson

Sheryl Kaller in rehearsal.

Your Neighborhood School budget workshops

THE

March 8

Janeane Garofalo

The comedianactress, who reigns as the queen of the alt-comedy scene, is eager to speak her mind on her current stand-up tour, when she visits the Landmark stage, Friday, March 8, 8 p.m.

Considered by many as an American institution since she first burst on the scene in 1992, the outspoken activist has plenty to say, in her own inimitable comedic style. Known for her incisive, cynical sense of humor, the SNL alum has branched out into many memorable film and TV roles, including “The Truth About Cats and Dogs,” “Wet Hot American Summer,” “Ratatouille,” “Steal This Movie,” “Reality Bites,” “Romy and Michelle’s High School Reunion,” “Mystery Men,” “The Ten” and “The Cable Guy,” along with including the final season of NBC’s “The West Wing.”

Garofalo’s informed opinions and unflinching honesty on topics ranging from everyday life to pop culture inspire laughs and strikes a chord with audiences everywhere. Often a lightening rod for controversy, Garofalo finds a way to get her point across with her trademark sense of humor. Known and respected worldwide, Garofalo was also instrumental in the successful launching of the first liberal radio network, Air America Radio, where she hosted her own talk show, “The Majority Report.” A lightning rod for controversy, her opinions and candor have inspired laughs, as well as striking a chord with the left, right and everyone in between. $33, $28. Jeanne Rimsky Theater at Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington. Tickets available at LandmarkOnMainStreet.org or (516) 767-6444.

Family theater

Inspired by L. Frank Baum’s stories, this clever adaptation puts the audience front and center, literally, on the Long Island Children’s Museum stage, Friday, March 1, 10:15 a.m. and noon, Saturday, March 2, 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.; Tuesday through Thursday, March 5-7, 10:15 a.m. and noon. Kids become cast members, singing dancing, and acting onstage alongside the professional cast.

One of our most interactive shows at LICM Theater, this production received rave reviews in its prior run. Going beyond the traditional telling of the Oz stories, “Journey to Oz” uses personal journal entries and historic newspaper headlines to bring the history of author L. Frank Baum and illustrator W.W. Denslow to life. Dorothy, the Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion take the audience with them on this lively, playful trip down the yellow brick road. $10 with museum admission ($8 members), $14 theater only. Long Island Children’s Museum, Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 224-5800 or LICM.org.

Wantagh School District offers four community workshops on the 2024-2025 budget. All residents are invited to attend the forums, which will include budget presentations and opportunities for comments and questions. Three evening workshops are held, Monday, March 11; Monday, March 18; and Tuesday, April 2, all starting at 7 p.m. in the Wantagh High School cafeteria. A daytime workshop will take place on Wednesday, April 3 at 10 a.m. at Wantagh Public Library. 3297 Beltagh Ave.

A day for Jeremy

Visit Mulcahy’s in Wantagh, Sunday, March 3, at 2 p.m., for a fundraiser for Jeremy, who suffered a life-altering injury that left him a quadriplegic unable to support his family. He is currently undergoing treament not covered by insurance. The John Theissen Children’s Foundation has organized this event to help continue his rehabilitation. $65 per person includes an open bar and buffet. 3232 Railroad Ave. Visit tinyurl. com/day-for-jeremy for tickets and information.

March 12

Peeps sushi competition

Kids in grades 6-12 can take part in a fun challenge,

Tuesday, March 12, 6:307:30 p.m. Work in teams to create delicious Peepthemed sushi. Let’s see if you can make it through the competition without eating it! Registration is required. 3285 Park Ave., in Wantagh. For more information, visit WantaghLibrary.org or call (516) 221-1200.

Nellie McKay performs

The effervescent multiinstrumentalist singer-songwriter returns to My Father’s Place with music from her recently released album, “Hey Guys, Watch This,”

Friday, March 1, 8 p.m. Recorded in Charleston, West Virginia with The Carpenter Ants and a roving retinue of musical compadres, her album traces the haunted sounds of Appalachia to a renaissance of revelry.

Doors open at 6 p.m., concert is at 8 p.m. 221 Old Northern Blvd., Roslyn. For tickets/ information, visit MFPProductions. com or call (516) 580-0887.

Breastfeeding Support Group

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

In concert

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with Linda Ipanema and The Dixie Cats, Saturday, March 16, 2 p.m., at Seaford Public Library. Their concert, “It’s a Great Day for the Irish,” features beloved Irish classics. Registration required. 2234 Jackson Ave. Visit SeafordLibrary.org or call (516) 221-1334.

Having an event?

Art explorations

Converse, collaborate and create at Family Saturdays at Nassau County Museum of Art, Saturday, March 2 and 9, noon-3 p.m. Get inspired by the art and objects in the galleries and then join educators at the Manes Center to explore and discover different materials to create your own original artwork. Kids and their adult partners connect while talking about and making art together. A new project is featured every week. $20 adult, $10 child. Registration required. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. (516) 484-9337 or NassauMuseum.org.

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

Forest Bathing

Take a meditative Forest Bathing walk, led by certified guide Linda Lombardo, Sunday, March 10, 2-4 p.m. Based on the Japanese tradition of Shinrin-Yoku, a wellness practice developed in the 1980s, the walk, on the grounds of the former summer residence of Howard Gould and later Daniel and Florence Guggenheim, inspires mindful connections with the natural elements of the woods for a range of healthful benefits. $40, $35. Registration required. Sands Point Preserve, 127 Middle Neck Road. For information, visit SandsPointPreserveConservancy.org or call (516) 571-7901.

AARP Tax Preparation

Wantagh Library hosts tax preparation sessions aimed at low to moderate income taxpayers with simple returns. IRS-Certified AARP Tax-Aide Foundation tax preparers will be available most Tuesdays, through April 9, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Registration is required. 3285 Park Ave., in Wantagh. For more information, visit WantaghLibrary. org or call (516) 221-1200.

Game time

Join the JULIETS for Mahjongg and card games at Congregation Beth Tikvah, every Thursday, noon-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. 3710 Woodbine Ave., in Wantagh, For more information email mahjonggCBT@yahoo.com or call (516) 785-2445.

St. Patrick’s Day Parade

Wantagh Chamber of Commerce hosts its 4th annual Wantagh St. Patrick’s Parade, Sunday, March 17. The parade will step off at 2 p.m. from Wantagh High School, 3297 Beltagh Ave. This year’s grand marshal is John Theissen, founder and executive director of the John Theissen Children’s Foundation. For more information, visit WantaghChamber. WildApricot.org.

Weekly bingo

Bingo everyone!

Temple B’nai Torah host fun-filled bingo sessions, every Wednesday, 10:30 a.m.- 1 p.m.; every Thursday, 7:15 p.m.-10 p.m. Prizes, progressive games and refreshments are available. 2900 Jerusalem Ave., in Wantagh. For more information, visit TBTWantagh.org or call (516) 221-2370.

Public Notices

LEGAL NOTICE

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORKCOUNTY OF NASSAU

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS TRUSTEE FOR THE RMAC TRUST, SERIES 2016-CTT, V. JOHN DELISA A/K/A JOHN F. DELISA A/K/A JOHN F. DE LISA, ET AL.

NOTICE OF SALE

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure dated December 15, 2023, and entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Nassau, wherein U.S. BANK

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS TRUSTEE FOR THE RMAC TRUST, SERIES 2016-CTT is the Plaintiff

JOHN DELISA A/K/A JOHN F. DELISA A/K/A JOHN F. DE LISA, ET AL. are the Defendant(s). I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction RAIN OR SHINE at the NASSAU COUNTY SUPREME COURT, NORTH SIDE STEPS, 100 SUPREME COURT DRIVE, MINEOLA, NY 11501, on March 13, 2024 at 2:00PM, premises known as 3014 VALENTINE PLACE, WANTAGH, NY 11793: Section 56, Block 263, Lot 427: ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND, WITH THE BUILDINGS AND IMPROVEMENTS

THEREON ERECTED, SITUATE, LYING AND BEING AT WANTAGH, TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, COUNTY OF NASSAU AND STATE OF NEW YORK

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 608335/2018. Jane P. Shrenkel, Esq. - Referee. Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310, Westbury, New York 11590, Attorneys for Plaintiff. All foreclosure sales will be conducted in accordance with Covid-19 guidelines including, but not limited to, social distancing and mask wearing. *LOCATION OF SALE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DAY OF IN ACCORDANCE WITH COURT/CLERK DIRECTIVES. 144739

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., Plaintiff AGAINST

Deborah Slade; Donald Slade, Defendant(s)

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered September 8, 2015 I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side Steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court at 100

Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on March 18, 2024 at 2:30PM, premises known as 960 Barrie Avenue, Wantagh, NY 11793-1702. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being at Wantagh, in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau, State of New York, Section 51 Block 280 Lot 0036.

Approximate amount of judgment $458,503.17 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index# 002092/2014. The auction will be conducted pursuant to the COVID-19 Policies Concerning Public Auctions of Foreclosed Property established by the Tenth Judicial District. Foreclosure Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine.” Richard M. Langone, Esq., Referee LOGS Legal Group LLP f/k/a Shapiro, DiCaro & Barak, LLC Attorney(s) for the Plaintiff

175 Mile Crossing Boulevard Rochester, New York 14624 (877) 430-4792

Dated: January 17, 2024 144860

LEGAL NOTICE

SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU.

U.S. BANK TRUST, N.A. AS TRUSTEE FOR WATERFALL VICTORIA

GRANTOR TRUST II SERIES G, Plaintiffagainst- RICHARD M. DEMARIA; DEBORAH

DEMARIA A/K/A

DEBROAH

SUPRANOWICH; JAMES FRAUENBERG; ANN FRAUENBERG, et al Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated May 15, 2023 and entered on May 16, 2023, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court “Rain or Shine” located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY on March 19, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. premises situate, lying and being at Wantagh, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, bounded and described as follows:

BEGINNING at a point on the Northerly side of DeMott Avenue, distant 54.92 feet Easterly from the Easterly end of a curve connecting the Northerly side of DeMott Avenue with the Easterly side of Jane Street; being a plot 100 feet by 60 feet by 100 feet by 60 feet.

Section 57 Block 246 Lot 19

Said premises known as 3611 DEMOTT AVE, WANTAGH, NY 11793

Approximate amount of lien $318,472.11 plus interest & costs.

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale.

Index Number

609318/2019. BRIAN J. DAVIS, ESQ., Referee Kosterich & Skeete, LLC

Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 707 Westchester Ave, Suite 302, White Plains, NY 10604

{* WANTAGH*} 144806

LEGAL NOTICE

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORKCOUNTY OF NASSAU

DEUTSCHE BANK

NATIONAL TRUST COMPANY, AS TRUSTEE FOR ARGENT SECURITIES

INC., ASSET-BACKED

PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2006-M1, V.

DONALD E. LANG, ET AL.

NOTICE OF SALE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure dated June 20, 2023, and entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Nassau, wherein

DEUTSCHE BANK

NATIONAL TRUST COMPANY, AS TRUSTEE FOR ARGENT SECURITIES INC., ASSET-BACKED

PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2006-M1 is the Plaintiff and DONALD E. LANG, ET AL. are the Defendant(s).

I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction RAIN OR SHINE at the NASSAU COUNTY SUPREME COURT, NORTH SIDE STEPS, 100 SUPREME COURT DRIVE, MINEOLA, NY 11501, on March 27, 2024 at 2:00PM, premises known as 2021 PINE STREET, WANTAGH, NY 11793: Section 57, Block 301, Lot 57:

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

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 010017/2015. Melvyn Roth, Esq. - Referee. Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310, Westbury, New York 11590, Attorneys for Plaintiff. All foreclosure sales will be conducted in accordance with Covid-19 guidelines including, but not limited to, social distancing and mask wearing. *LOCATION OF SALE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DAY OF IN ACCORDANCE WITH COURT/CLERK DIRECTIVES.

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

BY THE BOARD OF APPEALS

Pursuant to New York State Town Law Article 16, New York State Public Officers Law Article 7, and the Town of Hempstead Building Zone Ordinance, NOTICE is hereby given that the BOARD OF APPEALS of the Town of Hempstead will hold a public hearing in the Old Town Hall, 350 Front Street, Room 230, Second Floor, Hempstead, New York on 3/6/2024 at 9:30 A.M. to consider the following applications and appeals:

THE FOLLOWING CASES WILL BE CALLED STARTING AT 9:30 A.M.

133/24. LEVITTOWNCharles Robotsis, Renewal of grant to maintain 4’ high fence forward of dwelling which may substantially obstruct line of sight., N/s Bayberry La., 865’ E/o Abbey La., a/k/a 45 Bayberry La. 140/24. - 142/24.

WANTAGH - Richard Gutowitz, Variance, lot area occupied, maintain roofed over open porch, attached to dwelling; Special exception to maintain accessory structure (shed) exceeding horizontal maximum with a lot area occupied variance; Special exception to maintain 2nd accessory structure (shed) not permitted in side yard with a lot area occupied variance; special exception to maintain 3rd accessory structure (shed) with lot area occupied & percentage of rear yard occupied variances., E/s McLean Ave., 835.47’ N/o Campbell Ave., a/k/a 1031 McLean Ave.

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

The internet address of the website streaming for this meeting is https://hempsteadny.gov/ 576/Live-Streaming-Video Interested parties may appear at the above time and place. At the call of the Chairman, the Board will consider decisions on the foregoing and those on the Reserve Decision calendar and such other matters as may properly come before it. 145112

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT

COUNTY OF NASSAU, THE BANK OF NEW YORK

MELLON FKA THE BANK OF NEW YORK, AS TRUSTEE FOR THE CERTIFICATE HOLDERS OF CWABS, INC., ASSETBACKED CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2007-12, Plaintiff, vs. JOHN MURPHY, ET AL., Defendant (s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on February 11, 2020, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the Nassau County Supreme Court, North Side steps, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, New York on April 2, 2024 at 2:30 P.M., premises known as 28-75 LAWRENCE DRIVE, WANTAGH, NEW YORK 11793. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being at Wantagh, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section: 51, Block: 295, Lot: 29. The approximate amount of judgment is $725,521.18 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 014271/2011.

If the sale is set aside for any reason, the Purchaser at the sale shall be entitled only to a return of the deposit paid. The Purchaser shall have no further recourse against the Mortgagor, the Mortgagee, the Mortgagee’s attorney, or the Referee.

WILLIAM BIRNEY, Esq., Referee

Roach & Lin, P.C., 6851 Jericho Turnpike, Suite 185, Syosset, New York 11791, Attorneys for Plaintiff 145078

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT

COUNTY OF NASSAU, HCNP 1 LLC, Plaintiff, vs. THOMAS LOUIS MAURO, ET AL., Defendant (s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on December 20, 2022 I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side Steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, New York 11501 on April 1, 2024 at 2:00 P.M., premises known as 406 RED

MAPLE DRIVE A/K/A RED

MAPLE DRIVE WEST

WANTAGH, NEW YORK 11793. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section: 51, Block: 389, Lot: 38. Approximate amount of judgment is

$687,046.96 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 614501/2018. If the sale is set aside for any reason, the Purchaser at the sale shall be entitled only to a return of the deposit paid. The Purchaser shall have no further recourse against the Mortgagor, the Mortgagee, the Mortgagee’s attorney, or the Referee.

GEORGIA PAPAZIS, Esq., Referee

Roach & Lin, P.C., 6851 Jericho Turnpike, Suite 185, Syosset, New York 11791, Attorneys for Plaintiff 145076

LEGAL NOTICE SPECIAL MEETING AND ELECTION NOTICE FOR THE WANTAGH UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING AND BUDGET

VOTE AND TRUSTEE

ELECTION

WANTAGH PUBLIC LIBRARY

TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, COUNTY OF NASSAU, NEW YORK

Legal Notice NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that a public hearing of the qualified voters of the Wantagh Public Library of the Wantagh School District, Nassau County, Wantagh, New York, will be held at the Wantagh Public Library in said District on April 8, 2024, at 6:30 P.M. prevailing time, for the purpose of discussing expenditures contained in the proposed budget for the 2024-2025 fiscal year. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that said vote and election will be held in the Wantagh Public Library in said District on April 16, 2024, for the purpose of voting by the qualified voters of the District, between the hours of 1:00 P.M. and 8:00 P.M., prevailing time, at which time the polls will be open to vote by paper ballot upon the following items:

1. To adopt the annual budget of the Wantagh Public Library for the fiscal year 2024/2025 and to authorize the requisite portion thereof to be raised by taxation on the taxable property of the District.

2. Any other questions or propositions as to matters or expenditures or authority to levy taxes that may be presented for a vote under the Education Law.

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that at the said vote and election to be conducted on April 16, 2024, one (1) member is to be elected to the Board of Trustees as follows: one (1) member of the Board of Trustees for a (5) five-year term commencing July 1, 2024 and expiring on June 30, 2029.

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that petitions nominating candidates for the office of member of the Board of Trustees shall be filed with the Clerk of said School District at the Administration Building, no later than March 18, 2024 between the hours of 9:00 A.M. and 5:00 P.M. Vacancies on the Board of Trustees are not considered separate, specific offices, candidates run at large. Nominating petitions shall not describe any specific vacancy upon the Board for which the candidate is nominated, must be directed to the Clerk of the District, must be signed by at least (25) qualified voters of the District, must state the name and residence of each signer, and must state the name and residence of the candidate.

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that personal registration of voters is required either pursuant to §2014 of the Education Law or pursuant to Article §5 of the Election Law. If a voter has heretofore registered pursuant to §2014 of the Education Law and has voted at an annual or special district meeting prior to the last four (4) calendar years, he/she is eligible to vote in this election. If a voter is registered and eligible to vote under Article §5 of the Election Law, he/she is also eligible to vote in this election. All other persons who wish to vote must register. The Board of Registration will meet for the purpose of registering all qualified voters of the District pursuant to §2014 of the Education Law at the Wantagh Public Library on April 9, 2024 between the hours of 4:00 P.M. and 8:00 P.M. to add any additional names to the Register to be used at the aforesaid election, at which time any person will be entitled to have his or her name placed on such Register, provided that at such meeting of the Board of Registration he or she is known or proven to the satisfaction of said Board of Registration to be then or thereafter entitled to vote at such election for which the register is prepared.

Any person desiring to register may also register at the Office of the District Clerk between the hours of 8:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. during school days, Monday through Friday. Such registration, however, shall not take place less than five days preceding April 16, 2024. The register so prepared pursuant to §2014 of the Education Law will be filed in the Office of the Clerk of the School District at 3301 Beltagh Avenue, Wantagh, NY and will be open for inspection in said office by any qualified voter of

the District beginning on April 11, 2024 and each day thereafter prior to the day set for the election, except Sunday, between the hours of 8:00 A.M. and 4:00 P.M. prevailing time, and on Saturday, April 13, 2024 between the hours of 10:00 A.M. and 12:00 Noon prevailing time and at the polling place on the day of the vote.

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to §2014 of the Education Law of the State of New York, the Board of Registration will meet on April 16, 2024 between the hours of 1:00 P.M. and 8:00 P.M., prevailing time, at the Wantagh Public Library to prepare the Register of the School District to be used at the School District election to be held in 2024, and any subsequent special district meetings that may be held after the preparation of said Register, placed on such Register provided that at such meeting of said Board of Registration he/she is known or proved to the satisfaction of such Board of Registration to be then or thereafter entitled to vote at the Library election for which said Register is prepared, or any special district meeting held after April 16, 2024.

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS

HEREBY GIVEN that a copy of the statement of the amount of money which will be required to fund the Wantagh Library’s operating budget for 2024/2025 exclusive of public monies, may be obtained upon request by any resident of the District during school business hours beginning March 27, 2024 except Saturday, Sunday or holidays, at the Administration Office, 3301 Beltagh Avenue, Wantagh, NY, and at each of the following schoolhouse offices: Wantagh, Mandalay and Forest Lake Elementary Schools, Wantagh Middle School and Wantagh High School and at the Wantagh Public Library, 3285 Park Avenue, Wantagh, NY

These documents will also be available on the library website www.wantaghlibrary.org.

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS

HEREBY GIVEN that applications for the absentee ballots and early mail ballots may be received by the District Clerk no earlier than the 30th day before the election which is March 18, 2024. Applications for early mail ballots will be obtainable during school business hours from the District Clerk at the Administration Office, 3301 Beltagh Avenue, Wantagh, NY. Applications for absentee ballots will be obtainable during school business hours from the District Clerk at the

Public Notices

Administration Office, and at the Wantagh Public Library, 3285 Park Avenue, Wantagh, NY and on the Library website www.wantaghlibrary.org.

Applications for the absentee ballots and early mail ballots may be received by the District Clerk no earlier than the 30th day before the election which is March 18, 2024. To have an absentee ballot or early mail ballot mailed to your home, an applicable completed and signed application must be in the District Clerk’s Office no later than April 9, 2024.

Applications for an absentee ballot or an early mail ballot may be made in person from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on any school day and up until 5:00 p.m. on April 15, 2024. Absentee ballots and early mail ballots will be accepted in the Office of the District Clerk of the school district no later than 5:00 p.m. on April 16, 2024. No absentee or early mail ballot shall be canvassed unless it shall have been received in the Office of the District Clerk no later than 5 P.M. of the date of the Vote.

A list of persons to whom absentee ballots and early mail ballots are issued will be available for inspection to qualified voters of the District commencing with the issuance of the first of such ballots in the office of the District Clerk at the Administration Office, 3301 Beltagh Avenue, Wantagh, NY on and after April 11, 2024 between the hours of 8:00 A.M. and 4:00 P.M. on weekdays prior to the day set for the annual election, and on Saturday, April 13, 2024 between the hours of 10:00 A.M. and 12 Noon prevailing time and on April 16, 2024 the day set for the election. Any qualified voter present in the polling place may object to the voting of the ballot upon appropriate grounds for making his/her challenge and the reasons therefore known to the Inspector of Election before the close of the polls.

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that

Military Voters who are not currently registered to vote may apply to register as a qualified voter of the District by contacting the District Clerk at 3301 Beltagh Ave., Wantagh, NY, to receive an application to register as a qualified voter of the District for said vote on April 19, 2024. The Military Voter may indicate their preference for receiving the registration application by mail, by facsimile or email. The application to register must be received by the District Clerk no later than 5:00 P.M. on the twenty-sixth day before the vote which is March 21, 2024. The

register of voters prepared and filed in the District Clerk’s office shall include the names of all military voters who submit a valid military voter registration. A military voter means a qualified voter of New York State who is in actual military service and will, therefore, be absent from the District in which he or she is qualified to vote on the day of registration or election or is discharged from military service within 30 days of an election, or a spouse, parent, child or dependent of the military voter, accompanying or being with such voter, if a qualified voter of New York State and a resident of the same school district as the military voter, or military personnel residing on a military base within a school district in New York.

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Military voters who are qualified voters of the school district may apply for a military ballot. A military ballot application may be requested from the District Clerk and must be returned, in person or by mail, to the Office of the District Clerk, at 3301 Beltagh Ave., Wantagh, NY, not later than 5:00 P.M. on the twenty-sixth (26th) day before the election which is March 21, 2024. A military voter may indicate their preference for receiving the military ballot application by mail, facsimile transmission, or e-mail.

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that the vote on all propositions and the election of candidates on the election held on April 16, 2024 will be conducted by paper ballot. All references to the timing, location, and manner of hearings, registration, and voting in the budget vote and election are subject to modification based on applicable legislation or direction by an entity with jurisdiction over the Library.

QUALIFICATIONS FOR VOTING:

1. A person shall be a citizen of the United States.

2. Eighteen or more years of age.

3. A resident of the District for a period of thirty days or more next preceding the election at which he or she offers to vote.

4. Must be registered to vote.

Elaine F. McGuigan, District Clerk

Dated:______________

Wantagh Union Free

School District

Town of Hempstead County of Nassau, New York 145047

LEGAL NOTICE REUNIÓN ESPECIAL Y AVISO DE ELECCIONES

PARA LOS WANTAGH

DISTRITO ESCOLAR LIBRE DE UNIÓN

AVISO DE AUDIENCIA

PÚBLICA Y VOTACIÓN DE PRESUPUESTO Y FIDEICOMISARIO

ELECCIÓN

BIBLIOTECA PÚBLICA DE WANTAGH

CIUDAD DE HEMPSTEAD, CONDADO DE NASSAU, NUEVA YORK

Aviso Legal

POR EL PRESENTE SE

NOTIFICA que una audiencia pública de los votantes calificados de la Biblioteca Pública de Wantagh del Distrito Escolar de Wantagh, Condado de Nassau, Wantagh, Nueva York, se llevará a cabo en la

Biblioteca Pública de Wantagh en dicho Distrito el 8 de abril de 2024, a las 6:30 PM. horario predominante, con el propósito de discutir los gastos contenidos en el proyecto de presupuesto para el año fiscal 2024-2025.

POR EL PRESENTE SE

NOTIFICA que dicha votación y elección se llevarán a cabo en la

Biblioteca Pública de Wantagh en dicho Distrito el 16 de abril de 2024, con el propósito de que los votantes calificados del Distrito voten. entre las 13:00 horas. y las 8:00 p. m., hora vigente, momento en el cual las urnas estarán abiertas para votar mediante papeleta sobre los siguientes puntos:

1. Adoptar el presupuesto anual de la Biblioteca Pública de Wantagh para el ejercicio fiscal. año 2024/2025 y autorizar que la porción requerida del mismo se recaude mediante impuestos sobre la propiedad sujeta a impuestos del Distrito.

2. Cualquier otra pregunta o proposición sobre asuntos o gastos o facultades para recaudar impuestos que puedan presentarse a votación bajo la Ley de Educación.

POR FAVOR, TENGA MÁS AVISO que en dicha votación y elección que se llevará a cabo el 16 de abril de 2024, se elegirá un (1) miembro para la Junta de Síndicos de la siguiente manera: un (1) miembro del Patronato por un (5) período de cinco años comenzando el 1 de julio de 2024 y terminando el 30 de junio de 2029.

Y POR EL PRESENTE SE

NOTIFICA ADEMÁS que las peticiones que nominen candidatos para el cargo de miembro de la Junta Directiva se presentarán ante el Secretario de dicho Distrito Escolar en el Edificio Administrativo, a más tardar el 18 de marzo de 2024 entre las 9:00 a.m. y 5:00 p.m. Las vacantes en el Patronato no se consideran cargos separados y específicos,

los candidatos se postulan en general. Las peticiones de nominación no describirán ninguna vacante específica en la Junta para la cual se nomina al candidato, deben dirigirse al Secretario del Distrito, deben estar firmadas por al menos (25) votantes calificados del Distrito, deben indicar el nombre y residencia de cada firmante, y debe indicar el nombre y residencia del candidato.

Y POR EL PRESENTE SE NOTIFICA ADEMÁS, que el registro personal de los votantes es obligatorio de conformidad con el artículo §2014 de la Ley de Educación o de conformidad con el artículo §5 de la Ley Electoral. Si un votante se ha registrado hasta ahora de conformidad con el artículo 2014 de la Ley de Educación y ha votado en una reunión anual o especial del distrito antes de los últimos cuatro (4) años calendario, es elegible para votar en esta elección. Si un elector está registrado y tiene derecho a votar en virtud del artículo §5 de la Ley Electoral, también tiene derecho a votar en esta elección. Todas las demás personas que deseen votar deben registrarse. La Junta de Registro se reunirá con el propósito de registrar a todos los votantes calificados del Distrito de conformidad con la Sección 2014 de la Ley de Educación en la Biblioteca Pública de Wantagh el 9 de abril de 2024 entre las 4:00 p.m. y 8:00 p.m. agregar cualquier nombre adicional al Registro que se utilizará en la elección antes mencionada, momento en el cual cualquier persona tendrá derecho a que su nombre se incluya en dicho Registro, siempre que en dicha reunión de la Junta de Registro se le conozca o se ha demostrado, a satisfacción de dicha Junta de Registro, que en ese momento o en adelante tiene derecho a votar en la elección para la cual se prepara el registro. Cualquier persona que desee registrarse también puede registrarse en la Oficina de la Secretaria de Distrito entre las 8:00 a.m. a 4:00 p.m. durante los días escolares, de lunes a viernes. Sin embargo, dicho registro no se llevará a cabo menos de cinco días antes del 16 de abril de 2024. El registro así preparado de conformidad con el artículo 2014 de la Ley de Educación se archivará en la Oficina del Secretario del Distrito Escolar en 3301 Beltagh Avenue, Wantagh. , NY y estará abierto para inspección en dicha oficina por cualquier votante calificado del Distrito a partir del 11 de abril de 2024 y todos los días

posteriores al día establecido para la elección, excepto el domingo, entre las 8:00 A.M. y 4:00 p.m. hora vigente, y el sábado 13 de abril de 2024 entre las 10:00 a.m. y las 12:00 horas del mediodía hora vigente y en el colegio electoral del día de la votación.

Y POR EL PRESENTE SE NOTIFICA ADEMÁS que, de conformidad con el artículo 2014 de la Ley de Educación del Estado de Nueva York, la Junta de Registro se reunirá el 16 de abril de 2024 entre las 1:00 p.m. y las 8:00 p.m., hora predominante, en la Biblioteca Pública de Wantagh para preparar el Registro del Distrito Escolar que se utilizará en las elecciones del Distrito Escolar que se llevarán a cabo en 2024, y cualquier reunión especial posterior del distrito que pueda celebrarse después de la preparación de dicho Registro, incluido en dicho Registro, siempre que en dicha reunión de dicha Junta de Registro se sepa o se demuestre, a satisfacción de dicha Junta de Registro, que en ese momento o posteriormente tiene derecho a votar en la elección de la Biblioteca para la cual se prepara dicho Registro. , o cualquier reunión especial de distrito celebrada después del 16 de abril de 2024.

Y POR EL PRESENTE SE NOTIFICA ADEMÁS que cualquier residente del Distrito puede obtener una copia de la declaración de la cantidad de dinero que se requerirá para financiar el presupuesto operativo de la Biblioteca Wantagh para 2024/2025, excluyendo los fondos públicos, a pedido de cualquier residente del Distrito durante el horario escolar. horario comercial a partir del 27 de marzo de 2024, excepto sábados, domingos o feriados, en la Oficina de Administración, 3301 Beltagh Avenue, Wantagh, NY, y en cada una de las siguientes oficinas escolares: Escuelas primarias Wantagh, Mandalay y Forest Lake, escuela secundaria Wantagh y escuela secundaria Wantagh y en la biblioteca pública de Wantagh, 3285 Park Avenue, Wantagh, NY Estos documentos también estarán

disponibles en el sitio web de la biblioteca. www.wantaghlibrary.org. Y POR EL PRESENTE SE NOTIFICA ADEMÁS que las solicitudes para boletas de voto ausente y boletas anticipadas por correo pueden ser recibidas por el Secretario del Distrito no antes del 30th día antes de las elecciones que es el 18 de marzo de 2024. Las solicitudes para boletas anticipadas por correo se podrán obtener durante el horario comercial escolar en la Secretaria del Distrito en la Oficina de Administración, 3301 Beltagh Avenue, Wantagh, NY. Las solicitudes para boletas de voto en ausencia se podrán obtener durante el horario comercial escolar en la Secretaria del Distrito en la Oficina de Administración y en la Biblioteca Pública de Wantagh, 3285 Park Avenue, Wantagh, NY y en el sitio web de la Biblioteca.www.wantaghl ibrary.org. Las solicitudes para boletas de voto ausente y boletas anticipadas por correo pueden ser recibidas por el Secretario del Distrito no antes del 30th día antes de las elecciones, que es el 18 de marzo de 2024. Para recibir una boleta de voto en ausencia o una boleta de voto anticipado por correo a su hogar, debe presentar una solicitud completa y firmada en la Oficina del Secretario del Distrito a más tardar el 9 de abril de 2024. Solicitudes para un voto en ausencia La boleta o la boleta anticipada por correo se pueden realizar en persona de 9:00 a. m. a 4:00 p. m. en cualquier día escolar y hasta las 5:00 p.m. el 15 de abril de 2024. Los votos en ausencia y los votos anticipados por correo se aceptarán en la Oficina del Secretario del distrito escolar a más tardar a las 5:00 p.m. el 16 de abril de 2024. No se escrutará ninguna boleta en ausencia o por correo anticipado a menos que se haya recibido en la Oficina del Secretario del Distrito a más tardar a las 5 p.m. de la fecha de la votación. Una lista de personas a quienes se les emiten boletas de voto ausente y boletas anticipadas por correo estará disponible para su inspección para los votantes calificados del Distrito a partir de la

emisión de la primera de dichas boletas en la oficina del Secretario del Distrito en la Oficina de Administración, 3301 Beltagh Avenue. , Wantagh, NY a partir del 11 de abril de 2024 entre las 8:00 a.m. y 4:00 p.m. los días laborables anteriores al día fijado para la elección anual, y el sábado 13 de abril de 2024 entre las 10:00 a.m. y las 12 del mediodía hora vigente y el 16 de abril de 2024 día fijado para la elección. Cualquier votante calificado presente en el lugar de votación puede objetar la votación de la boleta basándose en motivos apropiados para hacer su impugnación y las razones por lo tanto conocidas por el Inspector de Elecciones antes del cierre de las urnas.

Y POR EL PRESENTE SE NOTIFICA ADEMÁS que los votantes militares que actualmente no están registrados para votar pueden solicitar registrarse como votantes calificados del Distrito comunicándose con el Secretario del Distrito en 3301 Beltagh Ave., Wantagh, NY, para recibir una solicitud para registrarse como votante. elector calificado del Distrito para dicha votación el 19 de abril de 2024. El Elector Militar podrá indicar su preferencia para recibir la solicitud de registro por correo, por facsímil o correo electrónico. La solicitud de registro debe ser recibida por el Secretario del Distrito a más tardar a las 5:00 p.m. el vigésimo sexto día antes de la votación, que es el 21 de marzo de 2024. El registro de votantes preparado y archivado en la oficina del Secretario de Distrito incluirá los nombres de todos los votantes militares que presenten un registro de votantes militares válido. Un votante militar significa un votante calificado del Estado de Nueva York que está en servicio militar real y, por lo tanto, estará ausente del Distrito en el que está calificado para votar el día del registro o la elección o es dado de baja del servicio militar dentro de 30 días de una elección, o un cónyuge, padre, hijo o dependiente del votante militar, que acompañe o esté con dicho votante, si es un votante calificado del

estado de Nueva York y residente del mismo distrito escolar que el votante militar, o un militar personal que reside en una base militar dentro de un distrito escolar en Nueva York.

Y POR EL PRESENTE SE NOTIFICA ADEMÁS que los votantes militares que son votantes calificados del distrito escolar pueden solicitar una boleta militar. Se puede solicitar una solicitud de boleta militar al Secretario del Distrito y se debe devolver, en persona o por correo, a la Oficina del Secretario del Distrito, en 3301 Beltagh Ave., Wantagh, NY, a más tardar a las 5:00 p. m. el día veintiséis (26th) día antes de las elecciones, que es el 21 de marzo de 2024. Un votante militar puede indicar su preferencia por recibir la solicitud de boleta militar por correo, fax o correo electrónico.

POR FAVOR, TENGA MÁS AVISO que la votación de todas las proposiciones y la elección de candidatos en las elecciones celebradas el 16 de abril de 2024 se realizará mediante votación en papel. Todas las referencias al momento, la ubicación y la forma de las audiencias, el registro y la votación en la votación y elección del presupuesto están sujetas a modificaciones según la legislación aplicable o las instrucciones de una entidad con jurisdicción sobre la Biblioteca.

CALIFICACIONES PARA VOTAR:

1. Una persona será ciudadana de los Estados Unidos. 2. Dieciocho o más años de edad.

3. Un residente del Distrito por un período de treinta días o más inmediatamente antes de la elección en la que se ofrece a votar.

4. Debe estar registrado para votar. Elaine F. McGuigan, Secretaria de Distrito Con fecha de:

Distrito Escolar Libre Unión Wantagh ciudad de hempstead Condado de Nassau, Nueva York 145049

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Our floor is expanding

Q. Last fall we had the walls removed between our living room, dining room and kitchen. We had a new kitchen installed with an island plus a wall of cabinets. Now the new flooring is rising at the seams, everywhere. We have a heated floor, and the flooring was specially chosen because it clicks together and “floats.” We were told that with the floor being able to move, it would be better with the heated floor. What caused this, and what can we do?

A. Your floor is expanding, and the ridges at the seams are rising, because the floor has nowhere else to expand to. This problem is common, and was caused by the floor being limited from expanding because the cabinets and island, along with heavy furniture placed over the finished floor, keep the floor from expanding when the heat is on. Wetting the floor to clean it also causes expansion, and should be limited or not done with water at all.

Solving this problem is easier said than done. Basically, anywhere the floor is unable to move defeats the purpose, and only by freeing up the floor will the problem work itself out. There’s a simple wall molding that our ancestors used that seems to be generally forgotten. Even though I include this detail in most of the drawings I prepare, I rarely see this last little strip of molding being installed. What the molding does is act like a gap cover, since properly installed flooring has a quarter- to halfinch gap at the edges of the floor, including around a fixed island and around the room’s perimeter. The whole perimeter will need to be cut so the trim molding will need to be added, unless the vertical trim board has been installed with a space, in which case the flooring has to be able to float (slide back and forth) under the vertical wallboard trim.

Our ancestors were very observant of nature, and skilled finish carpenters passed along their knowledge of the way materials behave. I worked for a finish carpenter while in high school, and learned that molding and trim weren’t just a finishing touch, but also a necessity to hide the places where materials needed room to expand and contract, at ceilings, floors, stairs and doors. Miracle materials have come along since then that were supposed to change the industry, like plastic moldings that are more temperature stable, but nature never disappoints. Natural or not, materials all have to work together, whether it’s the way they react to moisture, sunlight, heat or cold.

You’re going to need to get the contractor to organize the flooring installer and the finish carpenter to coordinate cutting the floor, and either install the shoe molding or space the vertical trim baseboard so the floor moves and adjusts underneath, even at the island and kitchen cabinet bases. Hopefully, the flooring was installed over a moisture-proof expansion membrane. Then enjoy your floor.

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Reflections on the special election

It isn’t often that a congressional race becomes the center of national attention. But that was the case in the campaign between Tom Suozzi and Mazi Pilip to succeed the disgraced George Santos in the 3rd Congressional District.

In less than 12 months in office, Santos became a joke — a very sick joke. After the House of Representatives voted to expel him in December, Gov. Kathy Hochul set a special election for Feb. 13.

pETER KInG

Under state election law, candidates in a special election are selected by party leaders. Not surprisingly, Democrats selected Tom Suozzi, a seasoned veteran of the political wars who had represented the district in Congress for three terms before giving up his seat to make an unsuccessful gubernatorial primary run against Hochul in 2022.

Nassau GOP Chairman Joe Cairo set up a selection committee (that I was part of) that interviewed 22 potential candidates, and overwhelmingly recommended Pilip. Not wanting to repeat the Santos calamity, Cairo had Pilip vetted by several firms, and she passed with flying colors.

IIOrdinarily it would be a gamble for a relative newcomer who had served barely one term in the County Legislature to run against a veteran like Suozzi, but Pilip personified the American dream. She’d escaped from Ethiopia to Israel with her family when she was 12, and served in an elite parachute unit in the Israel Defense Forces. She was highly educated, married a Ukrainian cardiologist, moved to the United States and raised seven children in Great Neck. She was the first Republican ever re-elected in the 10th Legislative District.

Pilip was the new running against the old. She was coming off a solid victory against the odds in a Democratic district, while Suozzi had lost badly to Hochul in the primary. Pilip was the legal immigrant who supported strong border security, challenging the candidate of the party that had allowed more than 8 million illegal migrants into the country, many of whom were overwhelming New York City and the parts of Queens that fall in the 3rd District. She was the candidate who was endorsed by the Border Patrol Agents’ union, while Suozzi had recently boasted of throwing Immigration and Customs Enforcement out of Nassau County when he was county executive. Pilip, a

trained soldier, supported strong defense at a time when Israel was at war with Hamas, Russia had invaded Ukraine and China was threatening Taiwan.

Though the Democrats had a significant registration edge over Republicans, 39 percent to 28 percent, President Biden’s popularity was at record lows, and Suozzi was on record saying he supported Biden “100 percent.”

heard there was real concern in the Suozzi camp right up to Election Day.

Pilip campaigned tirelessly, and was making strong inroads. Suozzi countered by separating himself from prevailing Democratic positions on immigration, border security and support for police and didn’t seek Biden’s endorsement.

In the campaign’s closing days, every published poll had the race within the margin of error. A Republican poll had Pilip up by 5 points. Suozzi never got above 50 percent in any poll, a bad sign for a virtual incumbent. Democratic sources and some friendly reporters told me there was real concern in the Suozzi camp right up to Election Day. When the numbers were in, though, Suozzi won, 54 percent to 46 percent.

It’s still early, but my preliminary thoughts are that:

■ The snowstorm on Election Day hurt Republicans, but not enough to make the

difference.

■ Suozzi effectively managed to separate himself in the eyes of the voters from the sins of his party on immigration and support for the police.

■ Democratic congressional campaign committees provided extensive financial support to Suozzi early on.

■ Though Pilip actually garnered a higher percentage of votes against Suozzi than former President Donald Trump did against Biden in 2020, she couldn’t overcome the built-in Democratic registration edge.

■ Cairo and the Nassau Republican organization worked hard and effectively, but Pilip didn’t receive financial support from national Republicans comparable to what Suozzi received from Democrats.

■ Pilip was handicapped by having to campaign against the backdrop of the antics of congressional Republicans like Matt Gaetz and Marjorie Taylor Green, who come across as a gang that can’t shoot straight.

Suozzi won. No complaints. No excuses. But Pilip ran an excellent and courageous campaign, and has an excellent political future.

Peter King is a former congressman, and a former chair of the House Committee on Homeland Security. Comments? pking@ liherald.com.

Check your Medicare statement carefully

f a poll were to be taken, I would have to be the last person on this planet who thinks that government is a perfect institution. I respect the FBI and the CIA, and I even trust the IRS. As a senior citizen, I have always considered Medicare one of the finest agencies we have, but some new facts have emerged that have convinced me that it is a sloppy and careless government behemoth.

JERRY KREMER

My loss of faith in the folks who run Medicare started about three months ago, when I opened up my wife, Suzan’s, periodic statements of money spent on her medical needs. I quickly noticed that Medicare had approved $14,300 for a Texas company named Pretty in Pink Boutique. There was a claim for the sale of 600 urinary catheters over a 60-day period to my wife.

I’m happy that Suzan is physically well and by no means has any need for a warehouse full of catheters. Within minutes of discovering that Medicare had approved and paid for all of them, I

placed a call to the agency’s general number. I was connected to a woman named Gladys, who listened patiently to my complaint and, at my request, I was transferred to a Fraud Unit.

The person there noted my complaint, and assured me that it would be passed up the bureaucratic chain, to make sure there was a record of the payment, which was obviously fraudulent. A few days, later I received my periodic Medicare statement, and immediately noticed that Medicare had paid a company in Chicago for a coronavirus vaccine that I had allegedly received. That seemed strange, because I had gotten my shot at a local pharmacy, not connected to any company in Illinois.

In a farreaching scam, people everywhere are getting billed for catheters.

It seems that a woman named Linda Hennis, a resident of suburban Chicago, was checking her January Medicare statement when she noticed that a company she had never heard of had been paid about $12,000 for 2,000 catheters. She had never needed, or received, any catheters. They had been sold by a company called, guess what, Pretty in Pink Boutique.

the catheter billings. She would not confirm whether the claims had been paid. She described Medicare billing scams as “one of these problems that is ever-present and ever frustrating.”

Not to be deterred, I placed another call to the Medicare Fraud Unit, and they dutifully noted my concern about another improper payment for medical services. Satisfied that I had performed my civic duty, I turned my attention back to my law practice and other pursuits. My satisfaction lasted about 48 hours, until I spotted a New York Times article titled “Staggering Rise in Catheter Bills Suggests Medicare Scam.”

It seems that Ms. Hennis and my wife are among the 450,000 Medicare beneficiaries whose accounts were billed for catheters in 2023, up from 50,000 in previous years. It turns out that the massive increase in billing for catheters included $2 billion charged by seven high-volume suppliers, which was the equivalent of nearly one-fifth of all Medicare spending on supplies in 2023. Doctors, state insurance departments and health care groups around the country said this spike in claims for catheters that were never delivered suggests that it is not only a scam, but a far-reaching one.

What is the government doing? Dara Corrigan, who runs Medicare’s Center for Program Integrity, declined to say whether the agency was investigating

It turns out that Pretty in Pink Boutique billed Medicare at least $267 million for catheters between October 2022 and December 2023. The vast majority of the suspicious claims came from seven companies, many of which had shared executives. One of the businesses had a working phone number, but no calls were returned. The Pretty in Pink Boutique has a telephone number connected to a body shop.

Other scams are getting public attention, such as phony Covid vaccine claims, which are slowly surfacing. Regardless of its denials or bureaucratic double-speak, Medicare is failing the millions of Americans who rely on the system to be accurate and honest. Every dollar lost to some con artist is a dollar meant to pay for a legitimate health care claim.

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

HeraLd editoriaL

Let’s be sure we don’t relive some of our history

Black History Month is a chance for us to celebrate the many contributions African-Americans have made to the country. They’ve done this despite discrimination and oppression — something even Long Island, in the past, was not immune to.

For example, when we think of slavery, we think of the Deep South before the Civil War. In fact, slavery existed in New York until 1827, and the state had more enslaved people than all the New England states combined, many of them on Long Island.

At the start of the American revolution, there were roughly 10,000 enslaved Black Americans living on Long Island — nearly half of the state’s total enslaved population. While they were allowed more mobility and financial opportunities than their counterparts in the South, the claim that slavery wasn’t as bad in the North is largely inaccurate.

Throughout the 1700s, New York lawmakers created the Black Codes, which historian and author richard Moss — in his book, “Slavery on Long Island” — claimed were “the harshest criminal laws and penalties enacted by northern colonists.” Punishments for striking a white person included two weeks’ imprisonment and corporal punish-

Letters

Leave trans kids alone

To the Editor:

ment.

Enslaved people were forbidden from gathering in groups of more than three, and prevented from owning property. Children born to enslaved mothers were automatically enslaved at birth. And testimony by enslaved people was inadmissible in court.

One common practice at the time on Long Island and New York was shipping unruly African-Americans to the Caribbean slave colonies. Conditions on islands such as Barbados and Jamaica were particularly brutal, with less than a third of slaves surviving on some plantations.

Even after slavery ended in New York, discrimination did not. In the 19th and 20th centuries, the number of AfricanAmericans in the Town of Oyster Bay dwindled from roughly 17 percent to less than a half-percent as racist real estate practices and federal policies prioritized homeownership for whites while driving Black Americans — and other minorities — from the area through a mix of intimidation, legislation, and rising property rates.

When Levittown — long touted as the model of the modern American suburb — was created in 1947, non-whites were expressly forbidden from owning any of the 17,400 new homes, with the deeds

Bruce Blakeman couldn’t care less about girls’ sports.

By signing an executive order to ban teams that allow transgender girls and women from playing in Nassau County athletic facilities last week, Blakeman continued to distract from his shirking of responsibilities as Nassau County Executive.

Since his marginal win over Laura Curran in 2021, after campaigning on the promise of $128 million in tax cuts, Blakeman has rejected every cut in annual budget proposals.

In 2022, amid the highest rates of new Covid-19 cases and hospitalizations in the county, he issued a series of orders against mask mandates in schools.

What has he been doing instead in his capacity as executive? Attacking the participation of the county’s small percentage of transgender girls and women in athletics, a right that is supported by experts in the field, including the National Women’s Law Center. Blakeman’s order does not mention transgender boys and men — instead he hides his under-researched and dangerous order behind a thin veil of Victorian-era patriarchal values and personal opinion.

“Part of good government is listening to your constituents,” Blakeman said in a recent interview. Listen to this constituent, Bruce: Do your job, and leave trans kids alone.

CArTEr ALLEN Garden City

themselves preventing ownership by “any person other than members of the Caucasian race,” according to a 2011 research paper by Baruch College Sociology professor robert Courtney Smith. robert Moses, the urban planner and public official who is best known today for creating Jones Beach State Park and the state parkway system, designed Long Island parkways to make them impassable for buses, frequently the only mode of transportation for non-white and lowincome families. While some latter-day historians question the validity of this claim, Moses was also known to have fought against integrating public swimming pools in the 1920s.

African-Americans have continuously defied the odds and obstacles set against them — whether it be Jackie robinson playing Major League Baseball, or mathematicians Creola Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson helping NASA put men on the moon. recognizing those contributions — and learning from our mistakes of the past can open the door for even greater accomplishments in the future, as we look to remove more barriers.

The late Maya Angelou once said that “history, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived. But if faced with courage, need not be lived again.”

last week, “It’s Library Lovers Month — borrow a book.” Libraries are the greatest thing. They open the world to anyone willing to look. Not everyone bothers to look, but those who want to have the opportunity.

Writing climate change into the K-12 curriculum

waLaN sINGer

e are living in the midst of a climate emergency, with the expectation that conditions will significantly worsen in the near future. In January, NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration confirmed that 2023 was the hottest year ever recorded. In New York state, climate change is impacting the environment, society and the economy as extreme weather events increase in frequency and intensity. Floods are more frequent, and the growing season for crops is changing. Climate disasters have cost the northeastern United States over $80 billion since 1980. In response to the threat of a climate catastrophe, there is a renewed push to include climate awareness in the K-12 school curriculum. New Jersey was the first state to mandate climate change lessons in its public schools. New York State Senate Bill S278A would amend state education law, “establishing a course of instruction and learning expectations on climate education in all public pre-kindergarten, elementary and secondary schools.” There is a com-

panion bill in the Assembly, A1559A.

Over 200 educational professionals and organizations representing tens of thousands of members have signed a letter in support of the state legislation. It reads in part:

“New York State has set ambitious climate change adaptation and mitigation goals under the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA). This Act commits the state to 100% zero-emission electricity by 2040, and a reduction of at least 85% below 1990-level (greenhouse gas) emissions by 2050. The CLCPA implementation plan recognizes that actions to address climate change will be needed at scale and across all sectors of the state, including ‘the need for P-12 curricula to include climate change education,’ as well as ‘a coordinated effort on outreach and education across all sectors of the economy.’ Addressing climate change is an educational project, and we stand ready as educational professionals to assist New York State as it addresses the challenges and opportunities presented by the rapidly changing climate.”

tincludes a guide for teaching about climate and climate change. The Climate and Resilience Education Task Force offers a toolkit for supporting climate action and education.

he New York City Department of Education isn’t waiting for legislative action.

While New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and California want to expand student understanding of the threat of climate change to the world as we know it, a number of states governed by Republican Party climate change deniers, including Florida, Texas and Virginia, are committed to ignorance and obfuscation. In Connecticut, Republican State Rep. John Piscopo is demanding that lessons on climate change include unsupported challenges to the scientific consensus that human action and the emission of fossil fuels into the atmosphere are the primary engine of global warming. Piscopo charges that scientists and teachers who want a climate-awareness curriculum are trying to indoctrinate students.

different grade levels, such as “Rain School,” by James Rumford, a picture book for kindergarten through thirdgrades about children living in the town of Kélo, in the Central African country of Chad. Every year their school must be rebuilt because the building is destroyed by powerful storms.

Monica Pagan-Guzman, who teaches third grade at Public School 83 in East Harlem and took part in the program, started a lunch club in which students discuss climate change.

This month, the Department of Education and the United Federation of Teachers co-hosted a climate change training session for up to 500 educators.

The National Wildlife Federation is already asking teachers to pledge to teach at least 10 hours a year to promote climate change awareness. Its website

Letters

We need to keep that going, and not be controlled by closed-minded people.

You may not know that about one-third of Nassau County libraries allow adult patrons to borrow a telescope just like a book. I have been promoting the Library Telescope Program for almost eight years now, and I work with 17 Nassau County libraries so far.

Everything I do is free to the library. It just needs to buy the telescope and various accessories directly from vendors, totaling about $450. I help by modifying the telescope to make it easy to use and transport, and provide maintenance as needed. I also provide staff and patron training on how to handle and use the telescope, as well as periodic astronomy-related presentations. In March I will be doing eclipse presentations at eight libraries, and occasionally I do Moon Parties as well. All at no cost.

There are now over 1,000 libraries running the Library Telescope Program, mostly in the U.S. and Canada, but also in other countries.

TOM LYNCH Lynbrook

A neighborly winter surprise

To the Editor:

Looking out my bedroom window, noticing the snowfall had just about stopped, I decided to gear up and start the removal process. As I was clearing off the car, readying to start the shoveling, I noticed that part of my front walk has been cleared. Looking even closer, I saw a body working on the front entranceway. My neighbor has often started snow removal for me as I have done for him, so I thought for sure it was either him or one of his sons helping out.

As I got closer to the sidewalk, I realized for sure that this helper, a young man, was unknown to me. I asked why he was helping, and he said, “I got up early, noticed the snowfall and decided to do some shoveling.” He was finishing up the last section of sidewalk, so I went inside to grab some cash to give him, but when I came back outside, he was gone. Off to job No. 2, I suppose.

Whoever you are, thank you!

PHIL GRELLA Rockville Centre

The New York City Department of Education isn’t waiting for legislative action. Last summer, 39 city elementaryschool teachers took part in a four-day training on “Integrating Climate Education in N.Y.C. Public Schools.” The workshop included children’s literature that teachers can use in their classrooms at

Since the start of the Industrial Revolution, human-caused climate change has impacted the globe with the burning of fossil fuels. The debate in classrooms and the political realm should not be over whether climate change is happening, or to what extent it puts human civilization at risk, but rather how societies and individuals should respond. On my website, alansinger.net, I have high school-level lesson material aligned with my book “Teaching Climate History: There is No Planet B.” The package includes documents for use in both science and social studies classes.

Dr. Alan Singer is a professor of teaching, learning and technology and the director of social studies education programs at Hofstra University.

Framework by Tim Baker

At Ogden Elementary School’s Father-Daughter and Special Person Dance — Valley Stream