Parents have demanded that a controversial book hitting on themes of sexual orientation and suicide be removed from the Wantagh High School library.
The outraged parents expressed their opinions during the final Board of Education meeting of the school year.
As the final seconds ticked away in the NCAA Division 1 women’s lacrosse final game cementing Northwestern University’s first national title since 2012, the championship moment was particularly special for Wantagh’s Madison Taylor, after many near misses on the high school level.
Taylor, who reached the county finals each season at Wantagh High School, was a big part of Northwestern’s title run as a freshman. That run culminated May 28 in an 18-6 championship win over Boston College in Cary, North Carolina.
“We made it to the county finals every year in lacrosse and lost every single time, and just could never get over that hump,” Taylor, a twotime All-American at Wantagh in 2021 and 2022, recalled, “so to come in as a freshman and win a national championship just made all of it worth it. It’s a moment I’ll cherish forever.”
The Wantagh native quickly adjusted to lacrosse on the collegiate level, tallying five goals in her debut for Northwestern on Feb. 11, jump-starting a season in which she would win the Big Ten Freshman of the Year award. Taylor, who was switched from her usual midfield role to attack prior to the game against
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The book, “Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic Book,” which was published in 2006, is a graphic memoir by cartoonist Alison Bechdel. The book addresses themes of sexual orientation, gender roles, suicide, emotional abuse and dysfunctional family life.
and asked about the school’s vetting process for library books.
You may not want your kids reading it, so might I suggest you not read it?
CHriStiNa
NiColEtti
Wantagh parent, Copiague librarian
“I’m not sure who’s giving (the school) the right to determine the maturity of my children,” Rich said. “My husband and I are the only two adults that can determine which faculty members are going to have a conversation with minor children on such adult matters in this book, including oral sex, homosexuality, pedophilia and suicide. The images from this book were flagged for violating community standards on Facebook, yet they are available to our children in the library.”
The high school has received several formal complaints about the book, which first entered the school’s library in 2016. Wantagh resident Marilynne Rich, one of the parents calling for the its removal, questioned why the book was made available
Carol-Ann Winans, Wantagh’s director of curriculum, said materials in the high school library are made available to students only on request, after they “have demonstrated their understanding of the context of the material and meet the level of maturity required.”
The book tells the story of the author Bechdel, a young gay
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Syracuse due to an injury to starting attacker Hailey Rhatigan, finished her first college season with 70 points — 53 goals and 17 assists — as well as 56 draw controls.
“We switched Maddie from midfield to attack for the first game because Hailey was out, and she scored five goals against Syracuse to set the tone,” said Northwestern head coach Kelly Amonte Hiller, who has won eight national titles since taking over the program in 2002. “We just kept her on the attack end, and when Hailey came back, they were an amazing duo.”
In the championship game against B.C., much of the defensive attention was focused on Rhatigan and Northwestern’s star, Izzy Scane, the eventual winner of the Tewaaraton Award, lacrosse’s version of the Heisman Trophy. Taylor stepped up her game when it mattered most, with four goals, including the first two of the game, to help Northwestern jump out to a commanding lead. The Wildcats (21-1) finished the season with 21 straight wins after the season-opening 16-15 loss to Syracuse.
“Going into the finals, we expected B.C. to take out Izzy Scane, and we also had a hunch they’d try to lock up Hailey, so others had to step up,” Amonte Hiller said. “The night before, we had a conversation with Maddie about it, and told her, ‘If that’s how they defend us, you’ve got this.’ And she did.”
Robyn Rooney, former head coach of girls’ lacrosse at Wantagh, said she sees the potential for Taylor to one day join her teammate Scane as a Tewaaraton Award winner. The
strong competition Taylor faced on Long Island, Rooney said, competing in Nassau County’s top conference with a number of Division I recruits, was ideal preparation for big-time college lacrosse.
“The speed of the game is obviously very different at the college level, but I think Long Island is pretty much as close as you’re going to get, day in and day out, to having that kind of competition,” said Rooney, who took over the Wantagh program during Taylor’s freshman season in 2019. “She’s a hard worker, and she didn’t just sit back and wait for the season to come. She attacked it.”
The heavily recruited Taylor chose Northwestern over Michigan, Florida and Syracuse due to its stellar lacrosse tradition under Amonte Hiller and the chance to receive what she described as ”the education of a lifetime.” Despite the school’s location in suburban Chicago, Taylor’s parents were able to attend nearly all of Northwestern’s games, with many of the road contests held in the Northeast.
Taylor had some extra motivation as she began her freshman season, when she was not selected to compete in the annual girls’ AllAmerica Lacrosse Game, which features the top graduating seniors, despite her distinguished Wantagh career. She more than proved the doubters wrong, but, like any top competitor, remains focused on taking her game to a higher level.
“There’s always more to improve on, like expanding my dodging more and adding more skills into my game,” Taylor said. “I’m never satisfied.”
After finishing up eighth grade, Wantagh Middle School’s newest graduates won’t have to go very far for high school next year. Though the bus will take them to and from the same street, their experiences will be vastly different.
On June 12, the middle school held its graduation ceremony for 224 eighth graders in the gymnasium of their new school. Principal Anthony Ciuffo reflected on their achievements over the past three years, including the perseverance they demonstrated as they began middle school in 2020 at the height of Covid-19.
“This certainly was not an easy transition for you,” he told the graduates, “and I greatly admire how each of you persevered through these difficult times and made the best out of a bad situation. I am so happy that three years later, you’re able to participate in all of the exciting end-of-year activities.”
Anthony Ciuffo said that even as they turn into young men and women, they shouldn’t turn away from their beloved childhood activities — riding bikes, playing outside with friends, doing cannonballs into the pool, writing stories, and drawing pictures.
“Play is not a luxury, play is a necessity,” he stated in his advice to the departing eighth graders. “High school can get stressful at times, and the workload will certainly increase, but be sure you make time for yourselves to just enjoy the things that you have always enjoyed as a kid.”
Following Ciuffo, student speakers took their classmates on a journey of middle school. Nina Myers reflected on both the challenges and delights of sixth grade, when they came to a new school under pandemic restrictions, but finally got to experience middle school when they were allowed to change classes later in the year. Lauren Feuer looked back on a more normal seventh grade, including the joy they had when masks were allowed to come off and they finally got to know their friends by their faces instead of their eyes.
Jackson Lehrer reminisced about this past year. Eighth-grade memories included the pep rally, the Skittles vs. Starburst games, a great performance of the “Descendants” by the drama club, and trips to Disney World with their musical groups. His advice to his fellow graduates was: “Stay curious and try new things.”
The final speaker, Mairead HillHotz, looked ahead to high school. She said the future Wantagh High School class of 2027 should feel confident to face new challenges.
“The path to Wantagh High School will open up a variety of opportunities,” she said. “While the next chapter may seem daunting, we won’t be facing this journey alone. By our side, we’ll have our family and friends to offer us advice, listen to our concerns, and provide moments of laughter.”
woman’s childhood in rural Pennsylvania and her relationship with her closeted gay father, who she believes has committed suicide. The book states it contains alternate sexualities alternate gender, ideologies profanity, alcohol use, suicide commentary, inflammatory religious commentary, sexual activities and sexual nudity.
Christina Nicoletti, a Wantagh parent and librarian in the Copiague School District, supported parents’ right to protect their child from what they perceive to be threatening or harmful materials, but questioned the idea of books being harmful.
“You may not want your kids reading it, so might I suggest you not read it?” Nicoletti said. “Book banning and removing its access for all students means you are stepping into my role as a parent, a place you have no right to be. The people leading the book banning tend not to be the readers because readers don’t ban books. We don’t prevent others from enjoying them because reading is awesome.”
The Board of Education has policies that govern the selection of library materials and manage complaints about them. The district utilizes multiple journals and online databases backed by the American Library Association. The board stated that the district’s library collection is regularly evaluated to
ensure it remains relevant and up to date, and library media specialists assess current materials, collect reader, staff and community feedback and identify areas in need of improvement.
“Any book banned for any reason takes the opportunity away from my child to read it,” parent Belinda Rodriguez said. “If there’s a book that I don’t want my daughter or son to read, whether it’s in Forest Lakes library or the high school’s library, I parent my child at my house and tell them not to take out this book. Everyone should be accepted for who they are and should have the right to be represented, whether on a Wantagh sports team, a Wantagh club and a book in a library.”
The book comes with a warning, which states it may contain content of an adult nature, including pictures and materials some viewers may find offensive, and aims the warning to readers under the age of 18.
“My only issue with this book is that it’s not for minors, and ninth, 10th, and 11th (graders) are all under 18,” Wantagh alumnus Lesley Molino said. “Half your kids are in 12th grade, under 18. Kids don’t need to see it. It is porn.”
“Fun Home” has earned several accolades and was a National Book Critics Circle Award Finalist, winner of the Stonewall Book Award, and was nominated for the GLAAD Media Award. As a musical theater piece, it was a finalist for
the 2014 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, while winning the Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Musical, the New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award for Best Musical, and the Obie Award for Musical Theater.
“There’s lots of adult material that wins awards — that doesn’t mean we should be allowing our children access to it unfettered,” parent Gina Dignan said. “Some of us do read books, but that doesn’t mean they’re appropriate for our children to read. We should be protecting them, not giving them access to any filth they feel like looking at. Yes, they will have access to it everywhere else, but why are we in such a battle over protecting our children’s innocence? Do they not deserve it? It seems like it’s common sense, but I guess it’s not.”
A contentious crowd was split on whether to have the book ‘Fun Home’ removed from the school library.
As a result of the complaints about “Fun Home,” a formal review process has been initiated and a review committee consisting of administrators, teachers and parent representatives has been created. Once the committee agrees upon the review of the text and placement, the information will be shared with the superintendent.
“Everyone deserves to see themselves represented,” Nicoletti said. “I’m less concerned about what young adults may or may not be reading about and more concerned about what they’re doing. If “Fun Home” allows even one gay student to feel represented in our school, then I say it stays, because the library is for everyone. I don’t need you protecting my kids from a book. My kids need protection from intolerance and ignorance.”
there was no shortage of thrilling finishes and heartbreak on Nassau County high school athletic fields this spring, capped by a nearly 4-hourlong Long Island Class A softball championship game between MacArthur and Bayport. Here’s a recap of the 10 wildest postseason endings to the 2022-23 sports year.
1. Carey 6, Plainedge 5
Class A softball first round
The Seahawks trailed 5-1 in the top of the sixth inning but staged a comeback of epic proportions still down three with two outs and nobody on base in the bottom of the seventh. Caylee DeMeo had a two-run single and winning pitcher Lauren Peers followed with a towering fly that dropped between outfielders, bringing home the tying and winning runs.
2. Calhoun 6, Mepham 5
Class A baseball semifinal
The host Colts were down three runs and down to their last out in Game 3 with nobody on base in the bottom of the seventh before pulling out a win for the ages. A hit batter, a single, and a walk set the stage for Joey Goodman, who blasted a walk-off grand slam over the fence in left.
3. Calhoun 6, South Side 5
Class B boys’ lacrosse semifinal
Jayden Finkelstein had a hat trick and an assist and junior goaltender Mark Restivo made 13 saves to propel the Colts to victory. Jake Lewis, Braden Garvey and Shaun Walters also scored as Calhoun avenged a 10-5 regular-season defeat to the Cyclones.
4. North Shore 11, South Side 10
Class C girls’ lacrosse semifinal
The Vikings trailed by five goals in the first half before rallying and eventually winning in triple overtime on a goal by Kylee Colbert.
5. Garden City 7, Calhoun 6
Class B boys’ lacrosse championship
Garden City, which defeated the Colts handily, 16-8, April 21, had its hands full in the rematch on the county title stage and scored the decisive goal with 1:48 remaining off the stick of Carson Kraus. Lewis scored three times for Calhoun and had the potential tying goal nullified with seconds remaining due to a crease violation.
6. Garden City 9, Long Beach 8 Class B girls’ lacrosse championship
For the second straight year Long Beach fell a goal short of topping Garden City for the county title. A late goal by Garden City’s Kendal Morris with 2:41 left in the second half proved the difference. Delaney Chernoff had a hat trick and Delaney Radin added four points for the Marines.
7. Manhasset 13, North Shore 12 Class C girls’ lacrosse championship
The Vikings dropped an OT heartbreaker after leading 12-9 with less than six minutes remaining in regulation. Colbert had seven goals to finish the campaign with 101. Ava Bartoli and Daniela Martini scored twice apiece.
8. Seaford 1, Center Moriches 0 L.I. Class B softball championship
Scoreless in the bottom of the ninth, the Vikings captured their first Long Island crown in walk-off fashion on Kaitlyn Young’s bases-loaded single to left with one out to bring home Gabby Bellamore. Pitcher Skyler Secondino dominated in the circle with 15 strikeouts.
9. Babylon 6, Seaford 5 L.I. Class B baseball championship
One strike away from making more program history after winning its firstever county title, Seaford baseball was unable to shut the door against Babylon. The Phantoms scored four runs in the bottom of the ninth to win it in unbelievable fashion after the Vikings plated three runs in the top of the inning.
10. Bayport 4, MacArthur 2 L.I. Class A softball championship
After defeating Clarke for the county championship in a series that went the distance, MacArthur gave everything it had in a marathon L.I. Class A title game before falling in 12 innings. The Generals tied it in their final turn at-bat on star pitcher Taylor Brunn’s RBI double.
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They don’t just want to pause rent increases in rentstabilized apartments in Nassau County. They want to go back to 2021, before the Nassau County Rent Guidelines Board allowed 2 percent increases on one-year leases, and 3.5 percent on two-year leases.
Those tenants along with politicians supporting them banded together at the Hempstead Town Hall last week to issue those demands, which were set for a final vote on Wednesday after the Herald’s publication deadline.
The rent guidelines board is responsible for imposing rent caps on rent-stabilized apartments in the county, a quarter of which are in Hempstead. Rent stabilization was implemented in 1962 to help prevent the displacement of low- and middleincome residents from excessive rent increases in an effort to provide affordable housing.
Buildings offering rent-stabilized units are typically larger properties built before 1974 that are privately owned and operated.
“Democracy is a participation sport, and it’s essential that people go out and voice their concern,” Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages said.
Last week’s demonstrations were organized by the Long Island Progressive Coalition, Working Families Party, and Nassau Democratic Socialists of America.
Jeremy Joseph, an advocate and organizer with DSA, claims tenants weren’t notified about the open hearings regarding raising their rent.
“We knocked on a lot of doors, we put up flyers in buildings,” he said. “By the next day, almost all of those flyers were taken down by landlords because they don’t want their tenants to come out and speak their minds.
“Every year landlords show up because it’s their job to know about this. They want to raise the rent as much as they can, but they don’t tell the tenants.”
Landlords seeking another raise in rent due to infla-
tion and because they say they want to use the extra money to help upgrade poor conditions of the buildings they own. Richard Rush, a landlord whose real estate firm owns and manages various apartments throughout Nassau, said the buildings “require a lot of repairs and maintenance to upkeep, and landlords should be incentivized to maintain their buildings for the benefit of the tenants.”
But Darinel Velasquez, an advocate from New York Communities for Change, says it is absurd landlords need to feel incentivized in order to provide an inhabitable space to their tenants.
“Landlords have been making consistent profit every year while failing to maintain and upkeep the buildings they own,” he said.
Data compiled by the tent guidelines board reveals the consumer price index surged by nearly 4 percent in the metropolitan area over the past year through April. Meanwhile, Nassau landlords saw their income grow nearly 3 percent, but their expenses expand wider at nearly 4.5 percent between 2021 and 2022.
However, tenant advocates are questioning the credibility of this data, claiming it was developed by landlords and lacked independent auditing. Landlords, however, say the data inflates their income by incorporating earnings from non-stabilized units, which they say are considerably more profitable.
The state’s housing and community renewal division has found the average rent for a rent-stabilized apartment in Nassau County was $1,474 per month in 2022, resulting
AssemBLywOmAN mIChAeLLe sOLAges tells the Nassau County Rent Guidelines Board it should carefully consider the impact any rent increase would have right now on tenants working through the same inflationary pressures as landlords.
in a profit of more than $360 per month for landlords.
Joseph calls this new attempt to raise rents to nothing more than landlord greed, who place profits over people and already charge more than market value for their other non-stabilized properties.
“The problem with treating housing like a commodity is that its value outpaces our wages,” he said.
Some tenants shared with the rent guidelines board their issues with their landlords, while they as tenants continue to struggle financially.”
Some tenants claimed they were pressured into signing leases without reading them, having their rent randomly raised, and even charging upward of $150 per month for parking.
That has forced some residents, like Melissa Devone, a 62-year-old battling lung cancer, to park three blocks away from her apartment after chemo treatments because she simply cannot afford that additional monthly expense.
Tenants also claimed rodents run rampant through many units, mold, a lack of security and sense of safety, lack of maintenance and upkeep, and an overall lack of quality living.
Although the vote was expected to happen this week, some organizations do offer free legal resources for tenants who might find themselves in an untenable situation. Long Island Housing Services is a private, non-profit fair housing advocacy and enforcement agency serving Nassau and Suffolk counties. They can be reached at LIFairHousing.org.
Democracy is a participation sport, and it’s essential that people go out and voice their concern.
mIChAeLLe sOLAges Assemblywoman
Seaford High School junior Faith Schaefer will explore biomedical research this summer at Northwell Health’s Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research. Faith was awarded a six-week internship from the Advancing Women in Science and Medicine association.
The program aims to advance career opportunities for females in science. Faith received one of two 2023 AWSM/Girl Scouts Summer Internship awards and was recently recognized at the 13th annual awards luncheon at Lincoln Center. She is very active in the scouts and has already received her Bronze and Silver Awards.
This summer, she will join a team studying neurodevelopment and neuroimmunology disorders. During the internship, which is five days a week, Faith will get to work alongside doctors and other health professionals.
Faih Schaefer is enrolled in Seaford High School’s Advanced Placement Research class, which is the second part of the AP Capstone program. She looks forward to the internship experience as she considers pursing a research-focused career.
Faith recently attended an Advancing Women in Science and Medicine luncheon where she officially was awarded the internship.
with Michael and Suzanne Ettinger Attorneys-at-Law
In second marriage planning, a co-trustee is sometimes recommended on the death of the first spouse. While both spouses are living and competent they run their trust or trusts together. But when one spouse dies, what prevents the other spouse from diverting all of the assets to their own children? Nothing at all, if they alone are in charge. While most people are honorable, and many are certain their spouse would never do such a thing, strange things often happen later in life. A spouse may become forgetful, delusional or senile or may be influenced by other parties. Not only that, but the children of the deceased spouse tend to feel very insecure when they find out their stepparent is in charge of all of the couple’s assets.
If you choose one of the deceased spouse’s children to act as co-trustee with the surviving spouse there is a conflict that exists whereby the stepchild may be reluctant to spend assets for the surviving spouse, because whatever is spent on that spouse comes out of the child’s inheritance. Then what if stepparent gets remarried? How will the stepchild trustee react to that event? What if it turns out the stepchild liked the stepparent when his parent was living, but not so much afterwards?
Here is where the lawyer as co-trustee may provide an ideal solution. When one parent dies, the lawyer steps in as co-trustee with the surviving spouse. The lawyer helps the stepparent to invest for their own benefit as well as making sure the principal grows to offset inflation, for the benefit of the deceased spouse’s heirs.
The stepparent in this case takes care of all their business privately with their lawyer. The trusts cannot be raided. These protections may also be extended for IRA and 401(k) money passing to the spouse through the use of the “IRA Contract”. Surviving spouse agrees ahead of time that they will make an irrevocable designation of the deceased spouse’s children as beneficiaries when the IRA is left to the surviving spouse, and further agrees that any withdrawals in excess of the required minimum distribution (RMD) may only be made on consent of the lawyer.
When the trust terms are read the deceased spouse’s children are relieved by the protection that has been set up for them, have no concern about the stepparent’s having sole control of the assets and the relationship between them may continue to grow and flourish.
A community is filled with people who do many different jobs, and first graders at Seaford Harbor Elementary School recently explored these vital roles on their way to publishing a book.
Students in Krista Clark’s class recently created a book about community helpers. Together, they came up with a list of important jobs, and each child was tasked with selecting a community helper. Students wrote about their roles, using digital books from Epic to assist them in their research.
But Ms. Clark’s class book also had a little mystery to it. The young authors wrote clues based on job responsibilities, attire, and other characteristics. The reader can then guess what the job is and turn the page to find out. Each student drew an illustration of their community helper, which included chefs, doctors, emergency responders, lifeguards, pilots, soldiers, teachers, and more.
For more than 20 years, Ms. Clark’s classes have published a book. Every year the topic changes — past books have been about the alphabet, animals, and the Earth.
Students could buy hard- or soft-cover copies of the book as a keepsake. The class also donated a copy to the Harbor School library.
They may be busy preparing for their futures, but on June 12, Seaford High School seniors took a trip to the past instead. The class of 2023 was saluted by the district’s elementary and middle school students, as well as many of their former teachers, at the second annual clap out.
For their last day of school before finals, seniors donned their green and white caps and gowns and boarded buses bound for their former elementary schools. One group of students headed to Manor, while the other group traveled south to Harbor.
About 45 minutes later, they reconvened at Seaford Middle School, the place that brought them together for the first time as sixth graders. Students and teachers lined the hallways to applaud, cheer, and give high-fives. The soonto-be graduates went in the front entrance, made a pass through the hallways, then went out the back door for the walk across the field to return to the high school, where they enjoyed a picnic and yearbook signing.
Journey back in time to 1960s Detroit and the birth of the Motown sound, when Motor City Revue visits the Landmark stage, Friday June 30, 8 p.m. This 11-piece tribute band will have everyone dancing and singing along to the songs immortalized by Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, Marvin Gaye, The Temptations, The Supremes and countless others. From Hitsville to Soulsville, they’ll perform it all, with a passion and delivery of the true Motown sound that is undeniable. Their ability to match the vocal harmonies and instrumental mix that distinguished the original recordings is not to be missed. All will be humming along to these iconic tunes that defined a generation, in this authentic recreation of the great era that revolutionized the music industry. $47, 42, $38. Jeanne Rimsky Theater at Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington. (516) 767-6444 or LandmarkOnMainStreet.org.
June 25
June 24
Radio Flashback rocks
Eisenhower Park, Saturday, 24, 8 p.m. Highlighted by their 4-part harmonies, this is a classic rock tribute to the music, the artists and the experiences everyone fondly remembers. Bring seating. Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, Eisenhower Park, East Meadow. For information, visit NassaucCountyNY.gov.
Plaza Theatrical continues its season with “All About Joel: A Billy Joel Tribute,” Sunday, June 25, 2:30 p.m. David Clark’s stunningly accurate piano playing, lead vocals and an eerily similar stage look to the Piano Man himself delights audiences, while engaging everyone with wit and humor. Come hear all your favorite tunes including “Just the Way You Are,” “New York State of Mind,” “Piano Man,” and so many more. It’s performed at Plaza’s stage at the Elmont Library Theatre, 700 Hempstead Tpke., Elmont. $40, $35 seniors. Elmont. For tickets, call (516) 599-6870 or visit PlazaTheatrical.com.
The Seaford Historical Museum, on Waverly Avenue, has new hours, and is now open to the public on the first and third Saturdays of each month. Both admission and any activity on these Saturdays are free. For more information email President Judy Bongiovi at judybongiovi@aol.com.
Wantagh High School’s Class of 1973 celebrates their 50th reunion, Sunday, July 22, 6:30 p.m., at Mulcahy’s. 3232 Railroad Ave., Wantagh. $100 per person; paid either with checks or through Venmo. For more information, email Long-Along1017@aol.com or Mimila924@aol.com.
Nassau County Museum of Art’s exhibition, “Eye And Mind: The Shin Collection,” highlights the extraordinary collection masterworks assembled by 31-year-old connoisseur Hong Gyu Shin, an internationally recognized figure in the global art world. He shares his treasures, including works by Whistler, Lautrec, Boucher, Daumier, Delacroix, Klimt, Schiele, Balthus, Warhol, de Kooning, Gorky and many other important names from art history provocatively juxtaposed with the painting and sculpture of our own time from both Asia and the West. On view through July 9. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. (516) 484-9337 or NassauMuseum.org.
Mercy Hospital offers peer to peer breastfeeding support fwith 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. Registration required. Call breastfeeding counselor, Gabriella Gennaro, at (516) 705-2434 .Mercy Hospital, St. Anne’s Building, 1000 North Village Ave., Rockville Centre. For information visit CHSLI. org.
The family of longtime Wantagh resident Catherine Marie Sokol, recently deceased, hosts a celebration of life, Sunday, July 9, 2 p.m. at Wantagh Park. With a toast and opportunities to share memories at 3:30 p.m. Appetizers and drinks will be served; no RSVP is necessary. Wantagh Park’s Red Barn #2 Pavilion.
Stroll Old Westbury Gardens with Gabriel Willow, a New York Citybased urban naturalist and environmental educator, Saturday, July 8, 7:309:30 p.m. He will lead a walk through the gardens to listen and look for bats while discussing bat ecology and conservation. All ages are welcome. Space is limited and reservations are required. Rain date is Saturday, July 15. 71 Old Westbury Rd., Old Westbury. For information contact (516) 333-0048 or visit OldWestburyGardens.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.
For many years visitors to Westbury House at Old Westbury Gardens asked what was beyond the first floor corridor. Now beyond the door and discover “secrets of the service wing,” during a 60-minute guided tour, Friday, June 23, noon; Sunday, June 25, 1:30 p.m.; Monday, June 26, noon, Wednesday, June 28, noon; Thursday, June 29, noon and 1:30 p.m. Be introduced to the intensive labor required to create the lifestyle experienced by the Phipps family and their guests; tour the many rooms that were “behind the scenes” to create the formal dining experiences of early 20th century. Visit corridors to the butler’s pantry and silver cleaning room then descend the 17 steps to the kitchen, scullery, and wine storage rooms located on the ground floor. Reservations required. 71 Old Westbury Rd., Old Westbury. For information contact (516) 333-0048 or visit OldWestburyGardens.org.
Enjoy game night. The JULIETS are back playing Mah Jongg and cards at Congregation Beth Tikvah, at 3710 Woodbine Ave., in Wantagh, every Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Masks are optional. $5 per person. For more information email mahjonggCBT@yahoo.com or call (516) 785-2445.
Patriot Award Dinner
Every year, the Seaford 9/11 Memorial Committee gives out awards to five outstanding Seaford High School seniors, as well as two or three members of the Seaford community for service, character, and commitment. According to the committee, these were the values held by the five Seaford High School alumni that died on 9/11. This year’s Patriot Award dinner is Monday, June 26, at Crest Hollow Country Club in Woodbury. For more information, contact Lynda Schachner at lschachner@seaford911.org.
Four staffers from Herald Community Newspapers earned recognition last week for their work over the past year during the annual Press Club of Long Island awards dinner in Woodbury.
Reine Bethany, currently the editor of the Uniondale Herald Beacon, won third place in the government and politics category for her stories focusing on the Cleveland Avenue athletic field controversy in Freeport while she was editor of the Freeport Herald. Elected leaders from the village and the school district have been at odds over what to do with the green space, as plans for a distribution center there could bring millions of dollars into the community.
Ana Borruto, editor of the Franklin Square/Elmont Herald, took third place in the crime and justice category for her web story “Justice for Julio,” about residents in Hell’s Kitchen holding a vigil for a Bay Shore High School graduate while writing for GreaterLongIsland.com.
Borruto joined Herald Community Newspapers as a senior reporter last November, and was promoted to editor of the Franklin Square newspaper a short time later.
“Our whole editorial team has shown a knack for understanding their communities and following the stories vital to their readers,” Michael Hinman, executive editor of Herald Community Newspapers,
said. “Recognition from the Press Club of Long Island — itself a chapter of the esteemed Society of Professional Journalists — is greatly appreciated.”
Longtime Herald staffer Laura Lane was recognized as one of the best print reporters on Long Island as she picked up
a third place award in the Reporter of the Year category. Lane’s stories that contributed to the honor included one that talked about who cares for the caregivers at Glen Cove Hospital, how ex-interns led Nassau County Legislator Josh Lafazan’s congressional campaign, the limited options
facing refugees, and the funeral of famed Teddy Roosevelt impersonator James Foote.
Lane, who has been with the Herald for roughly 20 years, serves as senior editor for the Glen Cove Herald, Oyster Bay Herald, and Sea Cliff/Glen Head Herald.
Barely a year after he started working full-time at the Herald, Michael Malaszczyk placed second in the environment narrative category. His story, “New York state adds to South Shore Estuary Reserve Act,” was highlighted.
Malaszczyk began freelancing for the Herald in March 2022 while a graduate student at Hofstra University. He became a full-time reporter a few months later in charge of the Seaford Herald and Wantagh Herald, where he was since promoted to senior reporter. All while continuing to pursue his graduate degree at Hofstra.
“There are many dedicated and hardworking journalists on Long Island, and Herald Community Newspapers is proud to be a part of that community as well as the communities our papers serve,” Jeffrey Bessen, the company’s deputy editor — and a Press Club of Long Island board member — said.
The Press Club of Long Island was established in 1974 as an independent press club after a reporter was jailed for failing to reveal a source. It is now one of SPJ’s largest pro chapters. It has honored member media organizations with an annual awards presentation since 1982.
It was a celebration of 30 years proving service and guidance to the young LGBTQ community of Long Island, and it was a celebration in style.
PFY — formerly known as Pride for Youth — raised thousands of dollars for its Long Island Crisis Center programs last week during its annual gala at Westbury Manor.
Special guest at this year’s event was Maulik Pancholy, the openly gay actor many would know for his roles in the NBC sitcom “30 Rock” as well as the children’s series “Phineas and Ferb.”
maulik Pancholy, acTor from shows like ’30 Rock’ and ‘Star Trek: Discovery,’ shares why organizations like the Long Island Crisis Center’s PFY group are so important to helping the LGBTQ community. The gala at Westbury Manor raised tens of thousands of dollars for PFY’s programs.
“I think the gala is going to be a time for us to kind of get together and reflect on where we have come as an agency, where we need to go as an agency, and really honor the pioneering leadership and spirit that has laid
the groundwork that has made PFY what it is,” PFY director Devon Zappasodi told the Herald ahead of the event.
The organization was originally intended for young people, but grants have allowed PFY to expand to serve anyone who identifies as LGBTQ on Long Island and in Queens.
The crisis center operates a 24/7 hotline for people with mental health crises, and PFY was formed in 1993
after former executive director Linda Leonard noticed an influx of calls from members of the LGBTQ community.
“They were actually getting a lot of calls on the hotline for folks who were looking for LGBTQ services, such as counseling … or support groups,” said Tawni Engel, the crisis center’s associate executive director. “There was nothing like that that existed at the time.”
Anyone seeking more information or help can visit LICCPFY.org.
Photos courtesy Jonah Murdoch
The sTaff from Long Island Crisis Center’s PFY group that focuses on the LGBTQ community of Long Island and Queens, gather for a group picture during the organization’s annual gala last week at Westbury Manor, celebrating 30 years of the program on Long Island.
LEGAL NOTICE
SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS-SUPREME
COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, COUNTY OF NASSAU - U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE FOR VRMTG ASSET TRUST, Plaintiff, -againstDOMINIC R. GRECO, IF HE BE LIVING AND IF HE BE DEAD, THE UNKNOWN HEIRS-AT-LAW, NEXTOF-KIN, DISTRIBUTEES, EXECUTORS, ADMINISTRATORS, TRUSTEES, DEVISEES, LEGATEES, ASSIGNEES, LIENORS, CREDITORS AND SUCCESSORS IN INTEREST AND GENERALLY ALL PERSONS AND PARTIES HAVING OR CLAIMING, UNDER, BY OR THROUGH DOMINIC R. GRECO, BY PURCHASE, INHERITANCE, LIEN OR OTHERWISE, ANY RIGHT, TITLE OR INTEREST IN AND TO THE PREMISES DESCRIBED IN THE COMPLAINT HEREIN; ROSE M. DONADIO; RALPH JOSEPH GRECO; TIFFANI AYN MOREA; MICHAEL R. GRECO; DOMINIC R. GRECO, JR.; NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (EASTERN DISTRICT), DefendantsIndex No. 614346/2022
Plaintiff Designates Nassau County as the Place of Trial. The Basis of Venue is that the subject premises is situated in Nassau County. To the above named Defendants- YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the Complaint in this action and to serve a copy of your Answer or, if the Complaint is not served with this Summons, to serve a Notice of Appearance upon the Plaintiff’s attorney within twenty (20) days after the service of this Summons, exclusive of the date of service or within thirty (30) days after the service is complete if this Summons is not personally delivered to you within the State of New York. If you fail to so appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint. That this Supplemental Summons is being filed pursuant to an order of the court dated May 4, 2023. NOTICEYOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME - If you do not respond to this summons and complaint by serving a copy of the answer on the attorney for the mortgage company who filed this foreclosure proceeding against you and filing the answer with the court, a default judgment may be entered and you can lose your home. Speak to an attorney or go to the court where your case is pending for further information on how to answer the summons and protect your property. Sending a payment to the mortgage company will not stop the foreclosure action. YOU MUST
RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE FOR VRMTG ASSET TRUST) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT. The foregoing summons is served upon you by publication pursuant to an order of the Honorable David P. Sullivan J.S.C. Dated: May 4, 2023 Filed: May 5, 2023. The object of this action is to foreclose a mortgage and covering the premises known as 4 Elizabeth Drive, Bethpage, NY 11714.
Dated: May 16, 2023 Filed: May 16, 2023 Knuckles, Komosinski & Manfro, LLP., Attorney for Plaintiff, By: Richard F. Komosinski, Esq., 565 Taxter Road Suite 590, Elmsford, NY 10523 Phone: (914) 345-3020
139812
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB, NOT INDIVIDUALLY BUT SOLELY AS TRUSTEE FOR FINANCE OF AMERICA STRUCTURED SECURITIES ACQUISITION TRUST 2018-HB1, Plaintiff, vs. NANCY BENGYAK A/K/A NANCY FRISCH, AS HEIR, DEVISEE, DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF GLEN FRISCH A/K/A GLEN T. FRISCH, DECEASED, ET AL., Defendant(s).
Pursuant to an Order Confirming Referee Report, Amending the Caption, and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on February 16, 2023, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the front steps on the north side of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY on July 12, 2023 at 2:30 p.m., premises known as 3680 Carlisle Court, Wantagh, NY 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 509 and Lot 35. Approximate amount of judgment is $452,326.96 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #611722/2019. This foreclosure sale will be held on the north side steps of the Courthouse, rain or shine. COVID-19 safety protocols will be followed at the foreclosure sale. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, the Court Appointed Referee will cancel the sale. Brian Davis, Esq., Referee Greenspoon Marder, 590 Madison Avenue, Suite 1800, New York, NY 10022, Attorneys for Plaintiff
139939
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, FEDERAL NATIONAL MORTGAGE ASSOCIATION (“FANNIE MAE”), A CORPORATION ORGANIZED AND EXISTING UNDER THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff, vs. HARRY LAGONIKOS A/K/A HARILAOS I. LAGONIKOS A/K/A HARRY J. LAGONIKOS, ET AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to an Order Confirming Referee Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on March 22, 2023, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the front steps on the north side of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on July 11, 2023 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 2957 Curtis Place, Wantagh, NY 11793 a/k/a 2957 Curtis Place, Bellmore, NY 11793. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being at Bellmore, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 56, Block 411 and Lots 441 & 442.
Approximate amount of judgment is $461,899.42 plus interest and costs.
Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #609058/2018. This foreclosure sale will be held on the north side steps of the Courthouse, rain or shine. COVID-19 safety protocols will be followed at the foreclosure sale. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, the Court Appointed Referee will cancel the sale. Mark Ricciardi, Esq., Referee Friedman Vartolo LLP, 85 Broad Street, Suite 501, New York, New York 10004, Attorneys for Plaintiff. Firm File No. 231006-1 139941
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF LEGAL POSTPONEMENT OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, CITIMORTGAGE, INC., Plaintiff, vs. DAVID W KEEFER, ET AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale After Inquest and Appointment of Referee duly entered on July 30, 2015, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the front steps on the north side of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY on June 26, 2023 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 3621 Regent Lane, Wantagh, NY 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 500 and Lot 2. Approximate amount of judgment is $481,785.44 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #4494-14. Cash will not be accepted. This foreclosure sale will be held on the north side steps of the Courthouse, rain or shine. COVID-19 safety protocols will be followed at the foreclosure sale. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, the Court Appointed Referee will cancel the sale. The original sale was scheduled for June 5, 2023 at the same time and location. Ralph Madalena, Esq., Referee Knuckles, Komosinski & Manfro, LLP, 565 Taxter Road, Suite 590, Elmsford, NY 10523, Attorneys for Plaintiff
140266
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 6/28/23 at 9:30 A.M. to consider the following applications and appeals: ----------------------
-----------
THE FOLLOWING
CASES WILL BE CALLED
STARTING AT 9:30 A.M. 406/23. - 409/23.
WANTAGH - Robert & Joyce Green, Renewal of grant for special exception for storage of new & used motor vehicles in conjunction with new car agency located elsewhere; Waive off-street parking & permission to park in Res. “A” district (no sale of automobiles) (Parcel 3); Renewal of grant to maintain 6’ high fence in Res. “A” district; Renewal of grant to maintain 6’ high fence in “Bus.” district; Renewal of grant for special exception for storage of new & used motor vehicles in conjunction with new car agency located elsewhere; Waive off-street parking & permission to park in Res. “A” district (no sale of automobiles) (Parcel 2)., S/W/s Seaford Ave., 118.53’ S/E/o Sunrise Hwy., a/k/a 1886 Seaford Ave. 410/23. WANTAGH - 1886 Seaford Realty, LLC, Renewal of grant for special exception for storage of new & used motor vehicles in conjunction with new car agency located elsewhere (no sale of automobiles) (Parcel 1)., S/W/s Seaford Ave., 118.53’ S/E/o Sunrise Hwy., a/k/a 1886 Seaford Ave. ALL PAPERS PERTAINING TO THE ABOVE HEARING ARE AVAILABLE FOR
■ Infiniti of Massapequa, located on Sunrise Highway, reported that unknown suspects stole five New York State Inspection Stickers from their location on June 5.
■ On Jenkins Street in North Merrick, a man reported that his laptop was stolen from his car on June 8.
■ On June 10, a North Merrick man reported that a tool box was stolen from his vehicle while it was parked on Whittier Avenue.
■ A Levittown woman reported that her catalytic converter was stolen from her vehicle on June 10, while parked on North Newbridge Road.
■ A North Massapequa woman reported that a birthday card and $5 were stolen from her car while parked on Cheryl Road on June 12.
■ CVS, located on Hempstead Turnpike in East Meadow, reported that an unknown male suspect stole various items from its store on June 13.
■ Walgreens, located on Newbridge Road
in North Bellmore, reported that an unknown female suspect stole various items from its store on June 13.
■ Stacey Locascio, 54, from Levittown, was arrested on June 8 for allegedly shoplifting from Target, located on Corporate Drive in Westbury.
■ Cindy Godla, 40, from Merrick, was arrested on June 8 for allegedly shoplifting from Target, located on Hempstead Turnpike in Levittown.
■ Paul Hawxhurst, 60, from Oyster Bay, was arrested for alleged DWI at the intersection of Sunrise Highway and Washington Avenue in Seaford on June 9.
■ An individual at a construction site on Wantagh Avenue reported that graffiti was written on pieces of plywood on June 7.
■ On Crescent Lane in Levittown, a man reported that the driver’s side door of his car was damaged on June 10.
People named in Crime Watch items as having been arrested and charged with violations or crimes are only suspected of committing those acts of which they are accused. They are all presumed to be innocent of those charges until and unless found guilty in a court of law.
Summer is here, and swimming isn’t the only thing to do at Jones Beach. The Jones Beach Energy and Nature Center, open year round, has plenty for you to do.
INSPECTION AT THE BOARD OF APPEALS, TOWN HALL, 1 WASHINGTON STREET, HEMPSTEAD, NY 11550. This notice is only for new cases in 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/
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.
140286
LEGAL NOTICE COMMUNITY MEMBER NEEDED
The Wantagh School District is soliciting interest from any community member for
consideration to serve on the District’s Audit Committee. The role of the Audit Committee is advisory in nature, and it has been established to assist the Board of Education in oversight of the claims, internal and external audit functions. Committee members should possess experience in accounting, auditing, financial reporting and/ or school district finances and possess the requisite skills and experience necessary to understand technical and complex
financial reporting issues. Those wishing to be considered should send a letter of interest and a current resume by July 31, 2023, to Anthony Cedrone, Assistant Superintendent for Business at cedronea@ wantaghschools.org. All information received by the deadline will be forwarded to the Wantagh Board of Education for consideration.
140312
To place a notice here call us at 516-569-4000 x232 or send an email to: legalnotices@liherald.com
Full
MULTI MEDIA ACCOUNT DEVELOPMENT
Inside Sales
Please Email Resume to careers@liherald.com or Call (516)569-4000 x239
DRIVING INSTRUCTOR Company Car/ Bonuses. Clean Driving Record Required, Will Train. Retirees Welcome! Bell Auto School 516-365-5778 Email: info@bellautoschool.com
DRIVING INSTRUCTORS WANTED
Will Certify And Train HS Diploma NYS License Clean 3 Years Call 516-731-3000
EDITOR/REPORTER
The award-winning Herald Community Newspapers group, covering Nassau County's North and South Shores with hard-hitting news stories and gracefully written features, seeks a motivated, energetic and creative editor/reporter to join our dynamic (and awesome) team! This education and general assignment reporting position offers a unique experience to learn from some of the best in the business. Historically, reporters who have launched their careers with us have gone on to The New York Times, Newsweek, Newsday, the New York Daily News, New York Post, CNN, BBC, NBC News and The Daily Mail, among many others. We look for excellent writers who are eager to learn, enhance their skills, and become well-established and respected journalists in our industry.
To apply: Send a brief summary in the form of a cover letter describing your career goals and what strengths you can bring to our newsroom, along with a resume and three writing samples to mhinman@liherald.com
LINE COOK: Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday 10am-6pm. Sandwiches/ Salads. Beach Restaurant. Great Summer Job. 516-835-2819
MACHINE PROGRAMMER/ MACHINE OPERATOR
Will Train
*Math Skills Helpful.
*Work In A Machine Shop. Northfield Precision Instruments Phone 516-431-1112 Ask For Charles. E-mail Resume sales@northfield.com
Manager On Duty
At Blaze, Old Bethpage Village Outdoors From September Through November 5-8 Hour Shifts. Serve As The Primary Point Of Contact For All Issues That May Occur During The Event, Seeing Each Through To Resolution. Serve As The Primary Point Of Contact For Emergency Personnel Hourly Rate $25-$30
To Apply: https://hudsonvalley.org/ employment/
Looking for an aggressive self starter who is great at making and maintaining relationships and loves to help businesses grow by marketing them on many different advertising platforms. You will source new sales opportunities through inbound lead follow-up and outbound cold calls. Must have the ability to understand customer needs and requirements and turn them in to positive advertising solutions. We are looking for a talented and competitive Inside Sales Representative that thrives in a quick sales cycle environment. We offer salary, commission, bonuses, health benefits, 401K and paid time off. Will consider part time. Please send cover letter and resume with salary requirements to ereynolds@liherald.com Call 516-569-4000 X286
OFFICE HELP PT/FT: Computer Literate. Answer Phones, Packing, Process Orders. Baldwin Dental Supply Company. 516-783-7800
Richner Communications, One of the Fastest Growing Media, Event and Communications Companies on Long Island is Seeking a Sales/Marketing Candidate to Sell our Print Media Products and our Digital, Events, Sponsorships. Salary, Commission, Eligible for Health Benefits, 401k and Paid Time Off. Will Consider Part Time. Please Send Cover Letter and Resume with Salary Requirements to rglickman@liherald.com or Call 516-569-4000 X250
Path Monitor
At Blaze, Old Bethpage Village Outdoors From September Through November
5-8 Hour Evening Shifts Providing A Welcoming Atmosphere And Ensuring Guest Safety. Hourly Rate $20. To Apply: https://hudsonvalley.org/ employment/
PRESS-ROOM/WAREHOUSE HELP
Long Island Herald has IMMEDIATE openings for a FULL-TIME Pressroom/warehouse helper in Garden City. We are a busy print shop looking for a motivated and reliable individuals to assist in various duties in the shop. Forklift experience is a plus and heavy lifting is required. Hours vary, so flexibility is key. Email resumes or contact info to careers@liherald.com
SEWING MACHINE OPERATOR/ CANVAS FABRICATOR For Foreman Position. Experience a Must. Awning Company. Call/Text Tommy 516-250-8094; tgawnings@aol.com Send Resume
NICHE FRANCHISE OPPORTUNITY
THEFANWHISPERER.COM REPLACING NOISY BATHROOM FANS & PLAY EASY. I TRAIN. 1-888-888-2134
REAL ESTATE
Open Houses
HEWLETT BAY PARK BA,190 Meadowview Ave Ever Dream of Living in A Castle? This 8000 Sq Ft Mansion is Full of Character. Amazing Architectural Details, Soaring Ceilings, Stained Glass Windows. 5 BR, 6.55 Bths. Sprawling 1.3 Acre Prop with IG Gunite Pool. SD#14.Near All. Must See This Unique Home!..$3,200,00 Ronnie Gerber, Douglas elliman 516-238-429 ba
HEWLETT HARBOR 1051 Channel Dr, OPEN HOUSE SUNDAY 6/25, 12-1:30, FIRST TIME ON MARKET! 3/4 BR, 2.5 Bth Split on Beautiful Ω Acre Parklike Property. Updtd Gran/Wood EIK, Spac LR/DR with Vaulted Ceiling & Fpl, & Fam Rm. 2 Car Att Gar.Endless Possibilities!
SD#14...$1,349,000 Ronnie Gerber, Douglas Elliman 516-238-429
HEWLETT HARBOR 6/25, 2-3:30, 246 Adams Rd, FIRST SHOW! Elegant & Stately 4200 Sq Ft CH Col on Beautiful Quiet St. 5 BR, 4.55 Bth. Sweeping Staircase. All Spacious Rooms with Top Quality Finishes. Amazing Fam Rm with Cathedral Ceiling Overlooking 1 Acre Resortlike Prop Featuring IG Gunite Pool, Patio & Tennis Ct. XL Fin Bsmt. Upper Level has Primary Ste w/ Dressing Rm & Bth Plus 3 BRs & 2 Bths. 2 Car Att Gar. Low Taxes!
SD#20..$2,500,000 Ronnie Gerber, Douglas Elliman 516-238-4299
Open Houses
WOODMERE BA, 504 Saddle Ridge Rd., FIRST TIME ON MARKET! Move Right Into This Renovated 4 BR, 2 Bth Split with Open Layout in Prime Location! Granite/Wood EIK Opens to Dining Room & Living Room. Lower Level Den. HW Flrs, Gas Heat, CAC. Oversized Property! SD#14.Near All!..$999,000 Ronnie Gerber, Douglas Elliman 516-238-4299
Apartments For Rent
CEDARHURST NO FEE Private Entrance, Modern 1BR, 2BR, 3BR, CAC, W/D, Storage, Wall To Wall Carpeting, Indoor Parking Space. Starting At $1450 For One Bedroom When Available. (516)860-6889/ (516)852-5135/ (516)582-9978
Garages For Rent
OCEANSIDE 2 CAR
To place an ad call 516-569-4000 press 5 • To place an ad call 516-569-4000 press 5
This grand home is set on park like grounds (.43 acre) just blocks away from Rockville Centre's vibrant downtown and LIRR. This grand home has all of todays most sought after amenities, combined with yesterday's master craftsman details. A gracious welcoming front porch and private rear gazebo are perfect for outdoor entertaining. Inside you'll marvel at the 11 foot ceilings, original pocket doors, multiple window seats, and irreplaceable original parquet banded floors. Any chef would delight in the expansive kitchen with high end appliances, tons of counter space, and the perfect island for your guests. Other amenities include a walk in pantry, three full baths, five bedrooms on the second level, and second floor laundry room. $1,999,999 . Please contact Maureen Lane or Theresa Ahern for a private viewing of this special home!
Q. We need some advice on how to pick a contractor. Our neighbors down the street are going through a tough time with delays, seemingly shoddy work that didn’t pass inspection and extra costs for things they didn’t want or expect. Do you have any suggestions on how to interview a contractor, and what to ask about or look for in their proposal? We want to avoid what our neighbor is going through.
A. If it were up to me, I would ask them to drive me around to look at their work. This helps in many ways. One, you have more conversation and maybe a little less sales pitch while they’re navigating the streets. Two, you can tell a lot about a person by the way they drive, such as whether they obey the laws. If they blow through every stop sign, cut people off or otherwise drive recklessly, you’ll realize right away that they have little regard for others and won’t follow regulations, or your interests.
People who don’t follow basic rules we all have to live by aren’t going to do things for you as much as for themselves. If they tell you “you don’t need a permit,” give you a ridiculously low number compared with others or confidently tell you they will have the work done way before you expected, be concerned. If their proposal doesn’t spell out the process and the materials to your satisfaction, at least with milestone breakdown numbers — such as windows and doors, $40,000, concrete work, $30,000, etc. — and you feel that they’re evasive when you ask questions, then move on.
FIRST SHOW! Elegant & Stately 4200 Sq Ft CH Col on Beautiful Quiet St. 5 BR, 4.55 Bth. Sweeping Staircase. All Spacious Rooms with Top Quality Finishes. Amazing Fam Rm with Cathedral Ceiling Overlooking 1 Acre Resortlike Prop Featuring IG Gunite Pool, Patio & Tennis Ct. XL Fin Bsmt. Upper Level has Primary Ste w/ Dressing Rm & Bth Plus 3 BRs & 2 Bths. 2 Car Att Gar. Low Taxes! SD#20 $2,500,000 HEWLETT B ay Pa RK
190 Meadowview Ave, BA, Ever Dream of Living in A Castle? This 8000 Sq Ft Mansion is Full of Character. Amazing Architectural Details, Soaring Ceilings, Stained Glass Windows. 5 BR, 6.55 Bths. Sprawling 1.3 Acre Prop with IG Gunite Pool. SD#14. Near All. Must See This Unique Home! $3,200,00 HEWLETT
1638 Ridgeway Dr, BA, FIRST TIME ON MARKET! Well Maintained 6 BR, 3.5 Bth 3500
Sq Ft Exp CH Colonial on Beautiful St. LR/Fpl, Spac Fam Rm/Fpl, FDR, EIK & Sun Rm
Overlooking 1/3 Acre Resortlike Prop w/ IG Lap Pool, Hot Tub,Bar & Gazebo. Fin Bsmt.
2 Car Gar. SD#20 $1,149,000
1193 E. Broadway # M23, BA, Move Right Into This Stunning Gut Renovated 2 BR, 2 Bth Coop in Garden Town. Gourmet Kit W/Thermdore St Steel Appl Opens Into DR & LR.
Primary BR w/Bth Plus Spac 2nd BR. W/D in Unit. New Self Controlled CAC. Oak Flrs, LED
Lights. Near LIRR. Parking Avail. SD#14. You Don’t Want to Miss This $359,000
1599 Lakeview Dr, BA, 4 BR, 3 Bth Exp Ranch on Tree Lined St in SD#14. Spacious LR, DR & Family Rm, EIK & Fin Bsmt. Att Garage. HW Flrs. Near Park, Trans, Shops & Houses
of Worship REDUCED! $799,000
1534 Broadway #205, BA, Extra Large 2000 Sq Ft, 2 Bedroom (Originally 3 BR), 2 Bath
Condo in Prestigious Jonathan Hall with Doorman & Elevator. Updtd Wood/Quartz Kit, LR & DR. Washer/Dryer in Unit. Underground Pkg. Loads of Closets. Terrace Faces Back. Easy Ranch Style Living BIG REDUCTION!! MOTIVATED SELLER! $579,000 WOO dMERE
504 Saddle Ridge Rd, BA, Move Right Into This Renovated 4 BR, 2 Bth Split with Open Layout in Prime Location!
I recommend that the payments be organized by those milestones, since you can see that all the concrete work is done and write a check, or confirm that all the windows and doors are installed and make a payment, instead of guessing when 30 percent of the work has been completed or wondering why they need to get paid every Friday when nobody has been there for two weeks. It may be obvious to say that you need to feel that what the plans show is what you want, and you have to feel confident that this person and their team can give you what you need.
I often get calls and end up acting as adviser and therapist to spouses who are now arguing with each other about how unhappy they are instead of sitting the contractor down with a third party, like a building official, who usually won’t tolerate the excuses. Many inspectors don’t have the time or the patience for a contractor who is creating code or safety violations, since it can reflect on the official who lets the work be approved with cut corners. One inspector recently told a contractor who was falling short of the regulations that the official gets audited and will not accept work that can be questioned later on by an auditor.
You need satisfaction. More on licensing, insurance and experience in upcoming columns. Good luck!
© 2022 Monte Leeper
Readers are encouraged to send questions to yourhousedr@aol.com, with “Herald question” in the subject line, or to Herald Homes, 2 Endo Blvd., Garden City, NY 11530, Attn: Monte Leeper, architect.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Garage Sales
BALDWIN: MULTI-FAMILY SATURDAY 6/24, SUNDAY 6/25, 8am-4pm. 699 New York Avenue. Between Spruce And Grove Street. Something For Everyone!
EAST MEADOW 2209 POST STREET
Saturday, July 1st. 9am-4pm. Rain Date Sunday July 2nd. Treadmill, Household & Holiday Decor. Something For Everyone.
Announcements
WITNESS WANTED To The Accident
That Occured On May 15th around 2pm At The Intersection Of Lakeville Road And Marcus Avenue. Please Call 347-235-0525
MERCHANDISE MART
Antiques/Collectibles
We Buy Antiques, Fine Art, Coins & Jewelry Same Day Service, Free In-Home Evaluations, 45 Year Family Business. Licensed and Bonded, Immediate Cash Paid. SYL-LEE ANTIQUES www.syl-leeantiques.com 516-671-6464
FINDS UNDER $100
Finds Under $100 3 PIECE BEIGE leather sectional couch. Good condition. $99 call Lisa @ 516-241-7713
Announcements
Finds Under $100
30X12X12 FISH OR reptile tank with matching screen cover and 30" wooden stand. $75. 516-366-4004
CUSTOM SURF FISHING rod. Lamiglass
Honey color SB1213M, cork tape butt, fuji conventional guides. $99. 516-781-7069
CUSTOM SURF FISHING rod. Lamiglass Honey color SB1362M, cork tape butt, mildrum spinning guides. $99. 516-781-7069
ELECTRIC SINGER #95 sewing machine with table. Good condition $75. Call Lisa@ 516-241-7713
GOLF BAG 3 Woods 8 irons $65 (516) 445-7390.
GOLF CART LIKE New $25.00 Assorted Woods $15.00 each Like New 516 781-8313
GOLF CLUBS COMPLETE set Tourney Irons $30.00 Golf Bag $25.00 Very Good Condition 516 781-8313
SNACK PLATES FLEUR de Lis 12 plates 10 teacups $60. 516 445-3212
VINTAGE CHODZIEZ BONE china complete service for 8. Made in Poland $80.00. 516-785-6031
WOOD HEADBOARD TWIN bed with Sealy Mattress (excellent) box spring and frame hardware. $99 516-366-4004
SERVICES
Cement Specialist, Brickwork, Interlock Bricks, Belgium Blocks, Stoops, Patios, Driveways, Sidewalks, Basement Entrances, Pavers, Waterproofing. Quality Work, Lic./ Ins. Owner Always Onsite Free Estimates 516-354-5578
Decks
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Last week I was at two events that, in very different ways, encapsulated significant aspects of my life. The first was in Washington, where I was invited to testify before the House Intelligence Committee, along with four other retired members of Congress — two Republicans, Frank LoBiondo and Ileana RosLehtinen, and two Democrats, Jane Harman and Jim Langevin, who had also served on the committee. Except for a few fleeting hours in February, this was my first time back in Washington since late December 2020, just days before my retirement.
The chairman of the Intelligence Committee, Republican Mike Turner, and the ranking member, Democrat Jim Himes, wanted our perspective on what the committee’s current focus should be, and on the need to restore bipartisanship, which has been sorely lacking over the past six years. In my testimony, I stressed the necessity of not losing sight of the continuing threat of Islamist ter-
rorism. None of us wants to experience another 9/11, and the terrorists are in many ways as lethal as they were on Sept. 10, 2001.
I also joined my former colleagues in strongly urging bipartisanship. The committee is a vital component of our national security, and should not be politicized.
Besides testifying, I met with Long Island Representatives Andrew Garbarino, Anthony D’Esposito and Nick LaLota and joined Speaker Kevin McCarthy at a meeting in his office with elected officials from Northern Ireland. I also ran into various congressmen, Capitol Police officers and reporters I knew from my days on the Hill. And I went to my old haunt, the Dubliner, to have dinner with staff members from my office and the Homeland Security Committee.
Being back in the halls of Congress with current and former members brought back 28 years of memories encompassing victories, tough losses and challenges as well as meetings with presidents and world leaders. While I made the decision to retire from Congress and turn the page, I never regret
even a day that I was fortunate to be there. Those were almost three decades of unparalleled moments that I had never imagined I would experience.
Back on Long Island two days later, I relived different, but equally meaningful memories. Several times a year, Tom Dewey, my Brooklyn Prep classmate and a Fordham Hall of Fame track coach, organizes a get-together of a group of guys I hung out with during my high school years, just blocks from fabled Ebbets Field in Brooklyn. Meeting at the Valbrook Diner in Valley Stream with Tom, Charlie, Allen, Johnny and Jackie is like going back in time. For better or worse, no one has changed. There’s the same banter, sarcasm and stories, with no one allowed to take himself seriously. In the past few years, we’ve been joined by retired Nassau County Police Department Detectives Jim Skopek and Melissa Zimmerman, who were on my security detail when I was in Congress and fit right in. Before his days as a Nassau cop, Skopek was an NYPD officer patrolling the Prospect Heights, Brooklyn, neighborhood where these guys grew up.
Zimmerman’s classic moment last week was when she asked my old friends what they thought of my recent successful cancer surgery, and she was met with blank looks, grunts and smirks. Not a hint of sympathy or concern.
Behind all this tough-guy talk, though, there is genuine friendship and loyalty, as well as a real knowledge of life and reality. These guys have all done well, but never brag about it. I’m not one of those guys who say the good old days were perfect or so much better. But during these diner reunions, I’m struck by the true authenticity of these guys — an authenticity I sense is diminishing in today’s world.
During my years in Congress and politics, I was known for not backing down or caring about what was said about me. This thick skin — or thick-headedness — was in many ways attributable to the street smarts I learned from these old friends. It’s reassuring to see nothing has changed.
All this interconnection of experiences came together for me again during those few days last week. Thanks for the memories.
Peter King is a former congressman, and a former chair of the House Committee on Homeland Security.
Ishould point out that this is a really open letter, because my dad died four years ago.
I write because I have so much to tell him. My dad, who would have been 101 last week, loved his time on earth; he so enjoyed the rhythm and small pleasures of his days.
Every morning he woke up thinking about his first cup of coffee, and he prepared it with all the exquisite ritual of a Japanese tea ceremony. He moved slowly, and the making of the coffee could easily take 15 minutes.
RANDI KREISS
Once it was brewed, he filled his cup to the very brim and sloshed it all over the floor before he got to the table.
“Why do you have to make the cup so full?” my mother said pretty much every day for 72 years.
I like to think he’s with my mom, who died two years ago. They were married so long that they walked, talked, ate and laughed with a special kind of synchro-
ny. Hard to tell where one left off and the other began.
Dad would have been gripped by the public drama of the impeachment hearings. He died the day Donald Trump got elected, and although I’m not suggesting cause and effect, he did say,
“I can’t believe I lived to see this day,” before he succumbed to a major heart attack at 97.
He would read the newspapers at the breakfast table as breakfast lingered into lunch in his last years. He read the best parts out loud to my mother, and she was his cheerleader, damning the folks he saw as the bad guys and taking into her heart, like family, the leaders he loved. Their fierce loyalty to the Dems, going back to FDR, was part of what kept them chugging along. They cared. They followed the news. They talked back to the TV.
some time, couldn’t we, reassuring ourselves that no, the United States of America would never elect a man like Donald J. Trump, and then we did. Dad, it’s worse than we feared, but I believe in our better angels, and I’m patient. I know our country will right itself. I’ll keep you posted. Promise.
You missed the coronavirus. Missed Roku. Missed cauliflower pizza crusts.
So, Dad, I’m sorry you missed this state of affairs, this unraveling of our government and erosion of our moral center, because you would have found it fascinating, even if it depressed the hell out of you. Mostly I miss commiserating with you about it all. We could go on for
You missed the coronavirus. Missed Roku. Missed cauliflower pizza crusts.
You knew about Amazon but you missed letting it rule your life. You and Mom went to stores, right? Well we hardly do that now, because if you need anything, from the 4.0 readers you wore to rare Ethiopian pistachio nuts, you can order them online and Amazon will get them to you in hours, or days at most.
You missed some terrific books, Dad. We spent a lot of time talking about what we were reading, and even in your last months, when you were kind of dreaming your days away, you still held a book in your lap because it felt familiar. You kept saying you wanted to learn how to use a Kindle.
You missed the great-grandkids get-
Randi is on a brief leave. This column was originally published Feb. 20-26, 2020.
ting braces, and learning to drive, and several mitzvahs. You missed that we bought a new vacation house. I gave some thought to the idea that you might not be able to find me, but I suppose your travel rules are different. In my old place, I used to see the occasional heron on the beach or a dolphin in the surf and imagine it might be a kind of visitation.
I did see an unseasonal robin the other day that gave a wicked shake of its wing as it landed on a naked branch, and I confess, I thought of you.
Mostly, Dad, I hate the idea that you aren’t in the world, in the light, in the realm of sunrises and sunsets, just a phone call away, at the Thanksgiving table.
We all think about loved ones who have passed. Some write letters or post to websites for the departed. It all helps.
Many find that Shakespeare offered wise counsel to those who grieve when he wrote, “Give sorrow words.”
Copyright 2023 Randi Kreiss. Randi can be reached at randik3@aol.com.
In one memoryfilled setting, I was testifying. In another, I ribbed old friends.
it might not be easy to discuss the Greek playwright Euripides and the Dutch philosopher Erasmus in the same breath, especially considering they walked the earth 2,000 years apart. But they did have a shared philosophy, and it’s one all of us are familiar with: money talks. Especially in politics.
When it comes to government, if you want to make a splash, all you need is to flash — some green. The loudest voices in a campaign, or in any discussion, really, are typically those with the deepest pockets. Even running for local office can cost thousands of dollars, with that total easily hitting six digits for state office, and far more if you want to go to Washington.
Over the years, however, New York has worked hard to level the playing field. New York City, for example, has offered candidates a matching public-finance option for years. Anyone not taking large special-interest donations can qualify for public money, allowing their voice to be just as loud as anyone else’s, no matter how much anyone has raised. The option is intended to keep big business and heavily funded political movements away from lawmakers, while ensuring that taxpayer investments are returned to communities through campaign expenditures.
Lawmakers in Albany have paid attention as well, writing legislation that would provide matching funds to any Assembly candidate who raises at least $6,000 from 75 different donors in his or her district, and to any State Senate candidate who raises at least $12,000 from 150 donors.
Statewide candidates would see a
Dear Congressman D’Esposito:
match of $6 for every $1 of qualified donations. Assembly members and senators would see matching qualified donations ranging from $12-to-$1 to $8-to-$1.
Candidates would still have to campaign. They would still need to win support. But this law would help ensure that that support isn’t drowned out by opponents with massive campaign war chests, funded by special interests.
Everything was looking good for the proposed bill until the final week of the legislative session. Then lawmakers apparently had a chance to take a closer look at it, and suddenly remembered something really important: They have to run for re-election. The candidates with the deep pockets whom this law would weaken? It’s them, the incumbents. The politicians who already have a built-in advantage simply because they have “Assembly member” or “Senator” in front of their name.
So, those very lawmakers revisited the new law, and introduced some changes. Instead of raising $6,000, Assembly candidates would have to raise $10,000, from 145 donors, to qualify for matching funds. Senators would need to raise $24,000, from 350 donors.
Candidates wouldn’t need to win just some support — this is an exceedingly high bar.
In fact, the only people who would actually benefit from this bill, S.7564, if Gov. Kathy Hochul signs it into law are the very incumbents this kind of campaign finance reform is intended to humble by preventing them from winning races
before they even start, simply because of how loudly money talks. If this revised bill becomes law, the voice and reach of the incumbents would be stronger — and further — than ever before. Not only would they have the big money of special interests, but they’d have taxpayer money backing them as well. And anyone challenging them? Well, good luck.
The reworked legislation easily passed the Assembly and Senate, but fortunately, not with the help of many of our local representatives. State Sens. Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Jack Martins and Steven Rhoads voted against it, as did Assembly members Jake Blumencranz, Ari Brown, Brian Curran, David McDonough, John Mikulin, Edward Ra and Michaelle Solages.
State Sen. Kevin Thomas was a “yes” on the bill, as were Assembly members Taylor Darling and Charles Lavine.
All are Republicans except for Solages, Thomas, Darling and Lavine.
A representative democracy mandates leaders who truly represent the people. If someone believes they can represent them better, they deserve to have every opportunity to prove it. The matching-campaignfunds program could have been a great start, helping this particular democracy achieve those goals.
But if the governor signs this monstrosity into law, not only will the potential gains of the earlier law be erased, but the entire democratic process will take 10 giant steps backward.
Hochul must do the right thing, and veto S.7564.
While New Yorkers choke on fumes from Canadian wildfires fueled by climate change, it’s worth highlighting the role that Republicans are playing in making the problem worse. House Republicans, including my own representative, Anthony D’Esposito, brokered a debt ceiling bill that advances construction of the controversial Mountain Valley Pipeline and makes it easier to build fracked-gas pipelines. This dirty deal will increase profits for the fossil fuel industry while increasing air pollution and wrecking our climate.
The dangerous air we are breathing now is only the beginning — we must reverse course and move off fossil fuels. As a grandfather and a member of Food & Water Action, I urge D’Esposito to stand up for Long Islanders, not the fossil fuel industry. And as a Long Islander, I urge my neighbors to remember the Republican dirty deal at the ballot box. JOSEPH M.
all of us owe an immeasurable debt of gratitude to the heroic men and women who lost their lives while protecting our country as members of our nation’s armed forces.
our end to care for them when they come back home.
Across the country, fewer than 50 percent of returning veterans in need receive any mental health treatment. An estimated 250,000 veterans are unemployed and in need of work. And with 68,000 of them homeless, there are 5,000 veterans here in Nassau who are at risk of homelessness.
■ The right to be supported in the community, in such organizations as VFWs and American Legions.
sure make them valuable candidates for public service.
JosHUa a . LaFaZan
Americans recently commemorated Memorial Day — a sobering occasion that reminds us that freedom is never free, and that in a perilous world, we sleep safely at night precisely because of those servicemen and women who are fighting for us.
After our collective pause to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice, it behooves us to take the next step by renewing our commitment to taking care of veterans right here in Nassau County.
Some 67,000 of the 16.5 million veterans in the United States call Long Island home. And there’s no denying that while these heroes have upheld their end of the contract to protect and serve the nation, we haven’t adequately fulfilled
Those statistics should shock the consciences of every American and provide clear evidence that this moment requires immediate action. That’s why I have proposed the creation of a 21st-century Veterans’ Bill of Rights that would ensure that none of them are ever left behind in Nassau County.
Such a bill would reaffirm the fundamental rights for veterans that must be protected:
■ The right to dignified housing.
■ The right to gainful employment.
■ The right to be protected from discrimination.
In addition, the Veterans’ Bill of Rights would formally commission a study to identify where resources are needed to best serve our veterans, and recommend additional investments ranging from new technology to advancements in health care, and more. Once completed, the study’s findings would be presented at a public hearing of the County Legislature’s Veterans Committee.
My office has already taken important steps toward fulfilling the tenets of the Veterans’ Bill of Rights. In January 2022, the Legislature unanimously passed the Hiring Our Heroes Act, a measure I sponsored that exempts veterans and active-duty service members from county civil service exam fees. Not only does removing a financial burden of up to $200 from eligible applicants incentivize their return to the civilian workforce, but it also recognizes how veterans’ leadership, military experience and ability to perform under pres-
To the Editor:
As my first legislative session came to a close, I was struck by just how out of touch Albany Democrats are with the needs of New Yorkers. The concerns about rising crime rates and a struggling economy, both of which make it more difficult for many to live, work and thrive in our communities, are at an all-time high. To combat this, my State Senate Republican colleagues and I introduced a plan to Rescue New York, which fell on deaf ears. We will continue to fight for common-sense, realistic solutions to the hardships faced by families and business owners.
During the 2023 legislative session, Albany’s misplaced priorities came in the form of new laws and policies that exacerbate our hardships instead of relieving them. The budget was a month late and spent a record $229 billion, more than $8 billion over what was spent last fiscal year. It included new taxes on businesses and individuals, and provided no relief for middle-class families and struggling small businesses; rather, it allocated $1 billion for transporting and housing illegal immigrants instead of directing funds to struggling New Yorkers.
Instead of focusing on why New Yorkers are leaving the state, a bill was passed that moves all local elections to even years, over the objections of local communities and boards of election. The justification was to increase voter turnout, yet it excluded New York City, where voter turnout is the lowest in the state.
Additionally, “Clean Slate” legislation was passed allowing the records of violent criminals to be sealed while ignoring the rights of law-abiding victims. In addition, the overriding theme of the legislation passed this session was an erosion of parental rights and an increase in government control, both of which will continue to destroy the New York
by Tim BakerThis legislative measure builds on the Dignity for Our Heroes initiative, another legislative package that I sponsored and passed in 2019 that protects veterans from discrimination in housing and employment, and convened the Nassau Commission on Ending Veteran Homelessness.
While I take great pride in these earlier measures, they should be viewed as a foundation to build on. We must not cease in our efforts until every veteran in the county has access to the resources they need to meet their health care, housing and workforce needs. And it is imperative for all of us to approach this issue with compassion and care, so that we can continue chipping away at harmful stigmas that dissuade our heroes from seeking the assistance they need and deserve.
These men and women have always had our backs, and it is imperative for us to always have theirs. Please contact your legislator and ask them to support the Veterans’ Bill of Rights. And I ask you to never forget our fallen heroes, or our veteran heroes at home.
we know and love.
We deserve better than one-party rule that places political aims above all else. There’s still so much work to be done, but Senate Democrats, who hold a supermajority, continue to disregard New Yorkers’ needs. I will continue to fight for a safer and more
affordable New York while standing up for our values and working to restore balance, accountability, and common sense to our state government.
too many who have come home lack housing, jobs and mental health care.
