Wantagh Herald 12-29-2022

He’s

By Michael Malaszczyk

The Rev. Ron Garner is on a mission to end hunger and, at age 70, he has no plans to slow down.

Garner, the pastor of Wantagh Memorial Congregational Church for the past 13 years, continues to operate the Wantagh Giving Garden from his backyard, delivering fresh produce to food pantries. He also organizes weekly food drives for local pantries. In honor of his efforts, the Herald is proud to name Garner its 2022 Person of the Year.

He said he always wanted to use his position to do something special.

“I knew this would be my last pastor job, and now, at 70, I still feel that way,” Garner said. “But I don’t plan on retiring any time soon. There is still much I have to do.”

As he took on the issue of food insecurity, he developed a relationship with the Freeport Emergency Food Center — and noticed that there was a lack of fresh produce at the pantry. So he took a walking tour in 2011, starting in Montauk and ending in Wantagh, with a goal of collecting money and food donations for pantries along the way.

“My goal was to raise $1,111 and to collect 1,111 pounds of food, because the walk had started on Nov. 11, 2011,” Garner recounted. “I ended up collecting three times that amount.”

He created the Wantagh Giving Garden in 2012, and the 2022 season marked its 11th year of service. At first, he received help from his wife, Maureen, and stepdaughter, Jessica. But the garden soon became difficult for only three people to manage.

“Eventually, a congregant named Laurie Nunez took it over,” Garner said. “And recently we’ve gotten help from Kiwanis as well.”

Nunez, who lives in Bellmore, successfully applied techniques she learned on Google and YouTube to the garden, and it has produced cantaloupe, potatoes, tomatoes, kale, green beans, and more. They even tried corn one year.

“Ron is a very giving person, with a big heart,” Nunez said. “He looks at a person as a person — not by the color of their skin, sexual orientation, and so on. He loves his families — both personal and church. If I could describe him in

to

the hungry

canned goods and other non-perishables, so when you can get fresh produce, it’s really special, and it’s thanks to Ron that we’re able to do this.”

Silberger’s wife, Margaret, is involved with both Kiwanis and the church. “He’s never once wavered in his quest to feed the hungry,” she said of Garner. “The Giving Garden might not look very big, but it gives tons of produce.”

“We’d harvest on Sundays, but then we’d have work on Mondays,” Engleman added. “But Ron would always bring the fresh produce down to the pantries.”

Even those who don’t know him personally appreciate Garner’s efforts. “Fresh fruits and vegetables are critically important to a healthy lifestyle,” Christine Going, a member of the board of directors for Island Harvest Food Bank, said. “Food insecure families usually limit these foods due to cost and access. Their availability at local food pantries is an excellent way to meet this need.”

Garner comes from humble beginnings. He was born in the tiny town of Greensboro, Indiana, in 1952. “I spent my whole life there until I went to college,” Garner said. “My cousin Mark Williams and I were the first in the family to attend college.”

He went to Indiana Central, which is now known as the University of Indianapolis, and got a degree in elementary education in 1974. He taught in southern Indianapolis until 1977, and earned master’s degree in education from Indiana University. He and his first wife, Sheri, had two children, Sarah and Abby.

one word: selfless.”

The garden operates from May to November, and this year was one of its most successful to date. Jim Silberger and Mark Engleman, of the Wantagh Kiwanis Club, tended the garden alongside Nunez.

“Ron is a very caring individual who really understands the need to help others,” Silberger told the Herald. “People who go to pantries typically take home

In 1977, while riding his bicycle down the street, Garner stopped at an Army recruitment office and was offered the chance to enlist.

“I looked at the pay scale and said, ‘Oh man,’” he recalled with a laugh. “I told my wife at the time, and she wasn’t real keen on it, but understood the financial

Ron GaRneR

Ron Garner is the Herald’s Person of the Year

Food drives, produce from his Wantagh Giving Garden help feed the hungry

aspect.”

Garner served as a captain in the Army until 1988, but he eventually grew disillusioned, declared himself a noncombatant and withdrew. That was when he decided to attend seminary.

“Declaring yourself a noncombatant was the kiss of death for an infantry officer,” Garner said. “But luckily, a very kind chief of chaplains told me that I’d make a great Army chaplain when he heard I was going to seminary. So I finished out my time in the Army as a chaplain.”

He was on a promotion list for the rank of major, and most likely would have finished his career as a lieutenant colonel. But life pulled him in a different direction. In 1989, he and his wife divorced, amicably.

Garner attended the United Theological Seminary in Minneapolis from 1989 to 1992. He met his second wife, Maureen O’Hagan, there, and they married in 1991. With Maureen, he has a stepdaughter, Jessica.

Garner’s pastoral skills were so sought

after that he had two jobs in two Wisconsin churches while he was in seminary. He was a pastor at Parkview United Church of Christ in Peoria, Illinois, from 1992 to 1995, and then became senior pastor at a UCC congregation in Troy, Ohio, relocating with Maureen and Jessica.

“I didn’t really like being a senior pastor,” Garner said.

So he sent out resumes, got an offer from the United Reformed Church in England, and, starting in 1998, spent just over a decade overseas. Then, he said, “We started having grandchildren back in the states. So although we loved it (in England), we wanted to come back.”

In the first half of 2009, Garner split his time between preaching to congregations on Long Island and continuing his day job in England, before receiving an offer from Wantagh Memorial Congregational.

Even as a 70-year-old grandfather of five, Garner has no plans to end his good faith work anytime soon. He is driven, he said, by lessons he learned as a child.

“In my hometown of Greensboro, there

was a huge amount of poverty,” he said. “And we were of course a farming region. So members of the church would bring food from their gardens to donate to those in need. The best part about it is that

nobody was stigmatized or embarrassed, just people helping each other out. This is something I would like to see more of on Long Island. Neighbors helping neighbors.”

Jim Silberger member, Wantagh Kiwanis Club

Herald file photo

Garner, a pastor in Wantagh for 13 years, presided over a renewal-of-vows ceremony in 2017.

What’s neWs in and out of the classroom

HerAld ScHoolS

Fabric artists make blankets at Forest Lake

Asewing and weaving unit in art classes at Forest Lake Elementary School in the Wantagh School District not only gave fifth graders some new skills, it also allowed them to give back to the community.

Led by teacher Laura Capozzi, students worked in small groups and made seven no-sew blankets that will be donated to the Ronald McDonald House. The blankets, which were made by tying pieces of fabric together, will be part of welcome packages for families. The materials were donated by Forest Lake parents.

As part of the unit, students learned about notable quilt artists. To celebrate their charitable endeavor, fifth graders made a “Day of Giving 2022” quilt, with each student contributing a square.

–Michael Malaszczyk

Forest Lake eLementary School fifth graders, from left, Emma Bianculli, Rosalie Della Croce and Emma Jaramillo showed off their Day of Giving quilt in which each student in the class made a square.

High school group adds some holiday flair

Youngsters who attend Wantagh High School’s play group were in for a treat on Dec. 20, with a visit from some popular holiday characters.

The Child Development class hosts a program for preschool-age children in the community every Tuesday and Thursday. There are morning and afternoon sessions, which provide Wantagh High School students with valuable teaching experience.

“They get to apply the skills that they are learning in the Child Development class through hands-on activities,” teacher Valerie Gompers said.

On Dec. 20, the high school and preschool students visited the library for a holiday celebration. There were visits from Santa Claus, the Grinch and Buddy the Elf. The parts were enthusiastically portrayed by assistant principal Christopher Widmann, principal Paul Guzzone and assistant principal Nick Pappas, respectively.

Each child received a book from Santa as a gift, which were donated by the English Language Arts department. High school students then worked with the children on crafts, coloring and reading.

Gompers said that there are morning and afternoon session play groups, which are centered on development such as knowledge of the alphabet, socialization, speech and fine and gross motor skills. The high school students design and implement activities that foster this growth.

–Michael Malaszczyk

Courtesy Wantagh Schools

Courtesy Wantagh Schools

Wantagh high schooL’s Child Development class held a special holiday event for children in its play group, with visits from Santa Claus, the Grinch and Buddy the Elf on Dec. 20.

Flood waters rise in Wantagh winter storm

The holiday-weekend storm that brought heavy rain and gale force winds made landfall on Long Island on Dec. 23.

Parts of Seaford Harbor and Wantagh Park were experiencing flooding as of early Friday morning. Piers are underwater, and the flooding threatened cars and houses located alongside the harbors.

Both Wantagh and Seaford had been prepared for this threat. County Legislator Steve Rhoads and Town of Hempstead Councilman Christopher Carini posted in the Facebook group “Friends of Wantagh-Seaford NY” detailing the storm’s threat and listing important numbers.

Additionally, North Stare Auto Body of Oceanside, Lynbrook, and Bellmore posted in the group letting residents know they wewre ready to make emergency repairs on any cars damaged by flooding.

–Michael Malaszczyk

Courtesy Christina Daly

Flood waters rose in Seaford on Dec. 23 due to a heavy storm that brought heavy rain and gale-force winds to Long Island.

Baker’s at-home business takes the cake.

Longtime Wantagh resident Melissa Ehl is self-made. The 24-year-old is founder of Mixed by Mel, a baking business that produces and delivers custom cakes, cupcakes and cookies.

L.I. Crisis Center adds six new volunteers. Bellmore-based Long Island Crisis Center expanded, adding six new volunteer members to its team. Part of their work includes Camp Ga’avah, a program for LGBTQ+ youth and allies in Oceanside.

Wantagh seniors keep district up to date. Angelina Maciak, left, and Emma Alexander serve as co-presidents of the student government and student liaisons to the school board at Wantagh High.

Wantagh Ave. crash results in severe building damage. An unknown driver plowed a vehicle into a business on Wantagh Avenue in Levittown on New Year's Eve.

Dog Rescue Club supplies Wantagh shelter. Christmas came early for Last Hope Animal Rescue in Wantagh thanks to students from W.T. Clarke High School. Teens in the high school’s Dog Rescue Club collected supplies for Last Hope a few weeks before the holidays.

Courtesy Ella Noonan

C ourtesy Melissa Ehl

Courtesy Wantagh School District

Herald file photo

Iryna Shkurhan/Herald

Wantagh BOE president opens family pizzeria. Liz and Anthony Greco, owners of Pies on Wheels in Wantagh, joined son Vincent to open their firstever brick-and-mortar location in Massapequa called Pies on Broadway.

Courtesy Kevin Madigan

Resident places first in photo contest, again. Legislator Steve Rhoads, Wantagh resident William McCabe and Wantagh Preservation Society vice president Matt Susco at the Wantagh Museum on Feb. 17 where McCabe was recognized for his outstanding photo abilities.

all

Chabad Center for Jewish Life combats antiSemitism. In the lead-up to International Holocaust Remembrance Day, Jan. 27, the Chabad Center for Jewish Life in Merrick hosted a special sermon, delivered by Rabbi Anchelle Perl, director of the Chabad of Mineola. Pictured here is Rabbi Shimon Kramer helping a young boy learn Hebrew letters.

Wantagh resident wins Emmy. From the soft keys of a grand piano to the harsh strokes of a violin, Netflix’s popular series 'The Queen’s Gambit' manages to capture the essence of the 1950s and ‘60s through sound. Helping to create that was Patrick Cicero.

Native American education at Harbor School. Seaford Harbor Elementary School fourthgraders Liam Murphy, far left, Gio Khurtsilava, Sofia Kitt and Frankie Collichio, made masks in honor of the Iroquois False Face Society as part of a study on Native American history.

Snow play,

day. Wantagh families and others stopped by Cedar Creek Park in Seaford on Sunday to sled down hills and play in the snow following the previous weekend’s storm. Wantagh received more than a foot of snow.

Neil Miller/Herald

Kate Nalepinski/Herald

Libraries speak out against state budget. Seaford Public Library director Frank McKenna, center, spoke out against a cut in state library construction aid in front of the Levittown Public Library in mid-February.

Mallory Wilson/Herald

Courtesy Patrick Cicero

Courtesy Seaford School District

Maria Cestero/Herald

Say ‘Sláinte’ to the man of the hour. At the Wantagh Chamber of Commerce’s Grand Marshal Dinner at Mulcahy’s Pub and Concert Hall, Nassau County Police Department commissioner Patrick Ryder received the grand marshal’s sash in preparation for the St. Patrick’s Day parade.

Elected officials, fire dept. to host blood drive. The Wantagh Fire Department hosted a blood drive at its headquarters in March to help replenish a supply that had become dangerously low during the pandemic.

The Seaford Historical Society, which operates the historical museum sought donations to make repairs to the 129-year-old structure.

Seaford Middle School goes purple with cheer. A sea of purple could be seen at Seaford Middle School when students, faculty and staff members took part in a nationwide initiative to spotlight mental health and bullying.

Town of Hempstead hosts vodka party. The town board, along with local bar and restaurant owners, disposed of Russian vodka in front of Peter’s Clam House as a symbol of solidarity with Ukraine.

Courtesy of Seaford School District

Kate Nalepinski/Herald

Courtesy Judy Bongiovi

Society seeks donations to keep history alive.

Herald File Photo

Neil Miller/Herald

Exploring animals at Jones Beach. Children reach down into a touch tank at the Jones Beach Energy and Nature Center in Wantagh as parents and an educator look on.

Christina Daly/Herald

Saint Markella flea market. Although the temperature was cold, vendors and patrons were more than cheery to be at the Saint Markella Greek Orthodox Church to shop from small vendors at the flea market.

TOH completes field at Seaman’s Neck Park.

Hempstead Town Supervisor Don Clavin and Councilman Chris Carini announced that field renovations at Seaman’s Neck Park have been completed in time for the spring season.

After many months, Seaford clubs return in-person. Members of Seaford High School’s Model Congress and Robotics Club were thrilled to return to in-person events this year, and being able to form personal connections with students from other schools.

Courtesy Seaford School District

Karen Millindorf/Herald

Seaford Little League returns with parade. After three years, the Seaford Little League and opening day parade returned to Seaford.

Local 20-year-old builds a cosplay business. Parents and children enjoyed a brunch at the Milleridge Inn when one of Marvel’s Agents of Shield delivered an important message. The agent read a notice from Stark Industries, informing guests that Marvel superheroes were on their way.

Maria Cestero/Herald

Maria Cestero/Herald

Courtesy Town of Hempstead Board

Maria Cestero/Herald

B’Nai Torah follows the yellow brick road. After years of inability to perform plays at the temple due to the pandemic, Temple B’nai Torah congregants organized to perform the Wizard of Oz.

29, 2022

John Theissen and Wantagh resident Lauren Rochel collaborated to create special grocery bags to be sold at Lidl grocery stores.

27-person

County.

Bethpage Air Show back in the air. Jessy Panzer has done many air shows, but will flying in the Bethpage Air Show at Jones Beach for just the second time, and her first back in her single-seat pink airplane.

Courtesy Jessy Panzer

Courtesy Nassau County Department of Parks and Recreation

County officials celebrate Arbor Day. Planted in Partnership with PSEG Long Island, the Arbor Day Foundation and PSEG Foundation also gave away energysaving trees to those who attended the event.

Courtesy Rochel family

Helping cancer patients, one Lidl grocery bag at a time.

Tim Baker/Herald

County helps vets’ four-legged friends. Sparky and his handler, Gene Smith, came to Eisenhower Park to help out at the Vets2Vets Mobile Veterinary Clinic.

Courtesy Seaford schools

Writers workshop at Seaford hones student skills. Seaford sixth-graders — including Isabella Doering and Jimmy Hudson — took part in a workshop to improve their writing skills, showing off some of their new notebooks.

Lisa Margaria/Herald

Task force set to explore antisemitism surge. A

committee was asked to research and recommend prevention methods to combat antisemitism in Nassau

Nassau police raise funds for Buffalo, Uvalde victims.

Nassau

At Wantagh Middle School, growing food without

Salvatore

Wantagh

State hosts invasive species pull at Wantagh’s Mill Pond. Workers from the state's environmental conservation department joined volunteers to pull water chestnut out of the pond in kayaks and canoes, which aren’t usually allowed in Nassau County ponds.

Michael Malaszczyk/Herald

Michael Malaszczyk/Herald

Wantagh observes Memorial Day. The Wantagh American Legionnaires fired the 21-gun salute in honor of those who died in service at the annual Memorial Day parade on May 30.

Meet the top students at Seaford High. Class of 2022 Valedictorian Jack Pidherney, right, with Salutatorian Rayann Ramoutar and Seaford High School principal Nicole Schnabel.

Courtesy Seaford Public Schools

Michael Malaszczyk/Herald

County Executive Bruce Blakeman delivered remarks, alongside items donated by police precincts intended to be auctioned for charity.

Michael Malaszczyk/Herald

soil.

Mule spoke to a class of students from Mandalay Elementary School, hoping to pique their interest in hydroponics early in their academic careers.

Courtesy Cheryl Latif

\student looks back on day he became a hero. Wantagh High School freshman Ramy Latif rode his SeaDoo in the bay near the Wantagh Parkway Bridge on what started out as a normal Friday, only to help save a woman’s life.

LIC. MacArthur enjoyed a dogpile celebration Nov. 5 after edging Shoreham Wading-River, 1-0, in the L.I. Class A title game.

Wantagh falls in finals to Plainedge. Wantagh’s defense was unable to bottle up Plainedge in the Nassau Conference III championship game.

Eric Dunetz/Herald

Brian Ballweg/Herald

Wantagh’s championship hopes fall short. Wantagh’s Riley Forthofer, left, drove to Manhasset’s cage during the Nassau Class C championship game May 31 at Adelphi.

Karen Millindorf/Herald

Wantagh produces four county champs. Wantagh’s Joseph Clem, top, defeated Calhoun’s Ray Adams by a 3-1 decision to capture the Nassau County D1 118-pound title.

Karen Millindorf/Herald

MacArthur’s Foy caps career as Nassau champion. Senior Killian Foy captured the Nassau County 138-pound title Feb. 13 and went on to earn All-State honors.

Karen Millindorf/Herald

Thompson leads MacArthur to

December 29, 2022 —

A look back at 2022

RichnerLIVE Events, Expos & Programs

By Alexa Anderwkavich

Oh what a year 2022 has been! RichnerLIVE has been honored to CONNECT, COLLABORATE and, of course, CELEBRATE hundreds of incredible people and businesses on Long Island — from healthcare heroes, top lawyers, premier business women and family businesses to the highly anticipated senior expos and the Long Island Choice Awards.

It’s RichnerLIVE’s mission to produce top-level business and community events celebrating members of the vibrant and diverse communities in which we live. Our events highlight Long Island’s industry professionals, economic opportunities, community leaders, and local unsung heroes. This year we accomplished that through our Premier Business Women of Long Island Gala, Excellence in Healthcare Awards, the First Annual Herald Long Island Choice Awards, Top Lawyers of Long Island Awards, Family Business Awards, Tory BurchxRichnerLIVE Women’s Night Out Networking Event, Senior Health & Beyond Expo series and webinars that helped the community stay engaged, informed and connected.

“Although it was a challenge to go back to live events, we are so glad that we did,” Amy Amato, executive director of corporate relations at RichnerLIVE, said. “We made a conscious decision not to do virtual awards events during the height of the pandemic, because one of the greatest values in earning recognition at our ceremonies is to be able to network face-to-face and really celebrate together in person. I’m thrilled that we will be growing and expanding the RichnerLIVE division by adding new and exciting programs. I feel blessed to have a great team that brings years of experience, integrity and can effectively deliver results and produce a gala worthwhile for Long Island.”

Community is at the core of our events and thanks to our your engagement, the launch of the Herald Long Island Choice Awards presented by PSEG Long Island in 2021— the official community choice awards of Long Island — has been a resounding success. This contest highlights Long Island’s top businesses, people and places in a myriad of categories. We’re getting ready to release the 2022 Top 3 finalists next week leading up to the Oscar-style awards gala where the winner is announced live on April 18, 2023!

As part of all of the gala festivities, RichnerLIVE donates a portion of ticket sales proceeds to a local charity. We are grateful to be able to support organizations such as The Moxxie Mentoring Foundation, FealGood Foundation, Nassau County Bar

Association’s We Care Fund, the Family & Children’s Association (FCA) and the EAC Network, to name a few, in their missions. To find out how you can donate to these deserving organizations visit www. richnerlive.com/community.

RichnerLIVE’s success is largely due to the support of our partners and sponsors. A special thank you to PSEG Long Island, FirstNet built with AT&T, Grassi Accountants and Advisors, UnitedHealthcare, Vishnick, McGovern & Milizio, Investors Bank, Mount Sinai South Nassau, and many more.

So without further ado, let’s commemorate the year together and all of our collective accomplishments — we will see you next year and hope you join us for one of the many events to come. For more information visit richnerlive.com

RICHNER

1

- Keynote speaker Stew Leonard Jr. at the Family Business Awards.

2 - Custom crystal awards from the Excellence in Healthcare.

3- Sara Director from Barasch McGarry celebrates as she walks up to receive her award at Top Lawyers.

4 - An acrobat dancer performing at Herald Long Island Choice Awards presented by PSEG Long Island.

5 - Dr. Kimon Bekelis, neurosurgeon receives Excellence in Healthcare award

6 - Moxxie Mentoring Foundation was the beneficiary of the Premier Business Women event.

7

- Honoree Retha Fernandez at the Premier Business Women Event.

8

- Honorees Luciane Serifovic and Amy Flores enjoy a Champagne toast.

9 - Anthony Postiglione and Evelisis S. Valentin from FirstNet built with AT&T.

RichnerLIVE file photos

On June 24 at Wantagh High School’s graduating class received their diplomas and celebrated their persistence through an enormous amount of adversity.

Patriot

Seaford High School’s 2022 Patriot Award recipients were, from left, Alexandra Leggio, Annarose Romanelli, Brooke Surace, Parker Surace and Bryant Wong.

Building a balloon dream world. Balloon artisan Khadine McMillan, owner of the Wantagh-based Milan Event Experience, has been spicing up special occasions, such as anniversaries or Sweet Sixteens, with the ultimate in helium-filled fun for the past three years.

Courtesy Khadine McMillan

Courtesy of Wantagh Public Schools

Wantagh celebrates its class of 2022 seniors.

Courtesy Justine DeNicola

Seaford student sings in Italy. The Metropolitan Youth Orchestra selected a number of chorus students for a two-week singing tour in Italy in July, with the Vatican being the final stop. One of those students was Seaford High School senior Angelina LaVolpe, 17.

Tim Baker/Herald

Celebrating America’s independence. A fireworks show over the water off Jones Beach on July 4 commemorated the United States’ 246th birthday.

Tim Baker/Herald

Wantagh Preservation Society puts on a vintage car show. The Wantagh Preservation Society hosted its regular antique car show on July 16.

Courtesy Seaford Schools

Awards remember lives lost.

A lifelong dream fulfilled. Michael Scully, a Levittown native, refused to give up his dream of becoming a film writer and director, and now his many years of hard work finally paid off with his feature film premiere, 'Montauk77.'

Fresh produce at Seaford Farmers Market. Christine Abreu and daughter Ashley made the trip from Massapequa Park to the Seaford Farmers Market on Washington Avenue for fresh fruits and vegetables.

other

Wantagh County Park looks quiet, but gets busy. With a large marina for boats, long trails for walking and running, a public pool, large fields, and fishing spots, there are always activities at Wantagh Park, even as the summer winds down.

Experts provide insight on shark sightings. With the rising number of shark sightings seen on Long Island over the summer, experts educated beachgoers on how to deal with the ocean predators.

Joe Abate/Herald

Courtesy Michael Scully

Lions Club celebrates 70 years. The Seaford Lions Club was launched 70 years ago with a commitment to fight blindness. Since then, the group’s efforts have expanded to take on many

worthy causes in the Wantagh-Seaford community.

Courtesy Seaford Lions Club

Tim Baker/Herald

Michael Malaszczyk/Herald

courtesy of Jones Beach Energy and Nature Center

Jones Beach Nature Center releases rescued turtles. The Jones Beach Energy and Nature Center coordinated with the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society and Mystic Aquarium to released eight Kemp’s Ridley sea turtles and one loggerhead sea turtle.

Seaford native Jesse Kinch is quite familiar with beating the odds — he did it by becoming a successful rock musician and he has conquered an even greater challenge by overcoming a brain tumor.

For the first time in 30 years,

doors opened across Wantagh and Seaford, and Tonie McDonald wasn’t there welcoming students. Todd Winch, far right, is the new superintendent of Levittown Public Schools, replacing McDonald, second from right.

From the beach to Cedar Creek, and back. More than 100 people joined quadriplegic Casey Ellin as he rolled off the Jones Beach starting line of a run to raise awareness of spinal cord injuries and money for affordable personal housing.

Last cleanup of the summer at Jones Beach. As summer drew to a close, so did the need for environmentally minded residents of Wantagh, Seaford and neighboring communities to step up and help make Jones Beach a little cleaner.

Leaders decry latest discovery of antisemitic graffiti. Politicians, religious leaders and residents said they are united in their fight against anti-Semitism after swastikas were discovered at Cedar Creek Park in Seaford.

Michael Malaszczyk/Herald

Courtesy Levittown Public Schools

Todd Winch begins first year as Levittown superintendent.

school

Courtesy Rick Kinch

Jesse Kinch beats cancer, resumes music.

Courtesy Mark Simonson

Wantagh commemorate 9/11. Wantagh American legionnaires fire a 21-gun salute in a tribute to those who lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001.

Courtesy Matthew Libassi

Michael Malaszczyk/Herald

Library festival becomes a tradition. What started out as a pandemic- friendly effort to rally support for the Wantagh Public Library has turned into a tradition as the Wantagh Public Library now hosts a fall

Tom Dunn takes reins at Tilles Center. Wantagh, Seaford and Levittown are strongly linked by school zoning while their residents share common roads, parks and preserves. These communities can now also proudly lay claim to lead man at the Tilles Center.

The next grand marshal.

Wantagh Inn owner Michael Dunphy, center, was named grand marshal of Wantagh’s 2023 St. Patrick’s Day Parade. With him were, from left, Wantagh Chamber of Commerce vice presidents Karen Lofgren and Marilynne Rich; President Cathy Powell; Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder, Hempstead town councilman Christopher Carini, and others.

Michael Kefer realizes dream of rescuing wild mustangs. As a child, Wantagh native Michael Kefer often dreamed about rescuing and training wild mustangs — and he’s been one of the few to actually make those ambitions come true.

Courtesy Michael Kefer

Karen Millindorf/Herald

festival every year.

Is varsity video gaming next? Wantagh High School's eSports club has grown exponentially in the past year. Its members include Luke Kodisch, center, with Luca Pecora, James Garelick, Tom Lagomarsino, Sean Hill-Hotz, Bryson Prochillo and Ryan Mei.

Michael Malaszczyk/Herald

Michael Malaszczyk/Herald

Courtesy Wantagh Chamber of Commerce

Michael Malaszczyk/Herald

Seaford Museum hosts successful festival. Bay man Ben Sohm, a multi-generational Seaford resident, had many native animals from the Great South Bay on display at the Seaford Museum's fall festival.

Different uniforms, similar ideals. Wantagh honored its veterans at a special service at American Legion Post 1273. Legionnaires spoke at the ceremony and fired a 21-gun salute. Among those in attendance were State Sen.-elect Steve Rhoads, Assemblyman David McDonough, Hempstead town councilman Christopher Carini and members of Boy Scout Troop 96.

Biscuit turns canine treats into a howling success. Ira and Hillary Reiter started baking cookies for pets as a passion project, but now their business has the potential to take the pet food industry by storm.

Inspiring the next generation of Lions Club members in school. The newly formed student-run Leos Club at Seaford High School is picking up right where the Lions Club leaves off, helping with much-needed charity work, but by teenagers looking to make a difference.

Star Boxing comes to town. Ryan O’Rourke, left, and Andreas Maier fought in a boxing match at Mulcahy's Pub and Concert Hall in Wantagh. It was all part of 'Shore Wars,' hosted by Star Boxing, and was the group's first event at the venue.

MacArthur debuts ‘Mamma Mia.’ People living in Wantagh, Seaford and Levittown had a packed weekend of student theatre with Wantagh High School's 'Radium Girls' and MacArthur High School's 'Mamma Mia' bringing some great entertainment to November.

Tim Baker/Herald

Tim Baker/Herald

Tim Baker/Herald

Top business people make a difference. Hundreds gathered at Crest Hollow Country Club in Woodbury to honor the Nassau Council of Chambers of Commerce Businesspersons of the Year.

Michael Malaszczyk/Herald

Barking

Michael Malaszczyk/Herald

Michael Malaszczyk/Herald

High school grooms future athletic trainers. Mike Spreckels, a 20-year veteran of Seaford schools, lectures classes of teenagers on how to perform CPR.

Classical holiday music at the library. Long Island Chamber Music has made bringing highquality classical music to Long Island its priority. It did just that last Saturday, when members played a full set of holiday music at the Wantagh Public Library.

Walking in a Wantagh wonderland. Elected officials, members of the Wantagh Chamber of Commerce, and Long Island Realty Advisors helped put together the community's fourth annual Winter Wonderland celebration at the Wantagh Preservation Society. Some even dressed up to heighten the holiday cheer.

Courtesy Mark Simonson

Courtesy Levittown Schools

Abbey Lane students celebrate Thanksgiving. Students at Abbey Lane Elementary School in the Levittown Public School District designed parade-style balloons in celebration of Thanksgiving.

Sharing small moments in one big moment. Two months of hard work paid off for young writers at Seaford Manor Elementary School, who proudly shared their small moment stories at a publishing celebration on Nov. 22.

Courtesy Seaford Public Schools

Michael Malaszczyk/Herald

Michael Malaszczyk/Herald

Karen Millindorf/Herald

Wantagh-based synagogue celebrates Torah restoration. Temple B’nai Torah in Wantagh took a giant step forward in unifying its diverse congregation by hosting a weekend-long spiritual Torah restoration. Included in the event were Ronni Fauci, left, Rabbi Daniel Bar-Nahum, Cantor Rica Timman and Joyce Rappaport.

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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 1/4/23 at 9:30 A.M. & 2:00 P.M. to consider the following applications and appeals:

THE FOLLOWING CASES WILL BE CALLED

STARTING AT 9:30 A.M. 18/23. WANTAGH - Eric Hajdukiewicz, Variance, rear yard, construct garage & roofed over patio both attached to dwelling., S/W cor. Hawthorne Dr. West & Ivy La., a/k/a 1260 Hawthorne Dr. West

THE FOLLOWING CASES WILL BE CALLED

STARTING AT 2:00 P.M. 24/23. LEVITTOWNRichard Merlini, Variances, lot area occupied, front yard average setback, side yards aggregate, construct addition, roof over open porch & convert garage to living space all attached to dwelling., S/s Tower La., 426’ W/o Water La. North, a/k/a 32 Tower La.

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

This notice is only for new cases in Rockville Centre 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. 136355

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on November 30, 2015 and an Order Appointing Successor Referee and Amend Case Caption duly entered November 15, 2022, 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 January 26, 2023 at 2:30 p.m., premises known as 2848 Riverside Drive, 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 63, Block 291 and Lot 59. Approximate amount of judgment is $720,266.86 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #014266/2013. 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.

Scott H. Siller, Esq., Referee

Friedman Vartolo LLP, 85 Broad Street, Suite 501, New York, New York 10004, Attorneys for Plaintiff. Firm File No. 212934-1 136145

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE

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.

Ralph Madalena, Esq., Referee Knuckles, Komosinski & Manfro, LLP, 565 Taxter Road, Suite 590, Elmsford, NY 10523, Attorneys for Plaintiff 136113

LEGAL NOTICE

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A., Plaintiff, v. JEFFREY G. ALESI A/K/A JEFFREY ALESI, CHRISTINE E. ALESI A/K/A CHRISTINE ALESI, ET AL, Defendant. NOTICE OF SALE IN FORECLOSURE

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE THAT In pursuance of a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the Office of the County Clerk of Nassau County on April 11, 2017, I, Bruce Bekritsky, Esq. the Referee named in said Judgment, will sell in one parcel at public auction on January 23, 2023 at The North Side Steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501, County of Nassau, State of New York, at 2:00 PM the premises described as follows:

1211 Garden Court Wantagh, NY 11793 SBL No: 51-384-23

ELIZABETH SHERIDAN, AS EXECUTOR OF THE ESTATE OF JEANNETTE SULLIVAN, ET AL.

NOTICE OF SALE

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure dated October 18, 2022, and entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Nassau, wherein BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A. AS TRUSTEE FOR MORTGAGE ASSETS MANAGEMENT SERIES I TRUST is the Plaintiff and ELIZABETH SHERIDAN, AS EXECUTOR OF THE ESTATE OF JEANNETTE SULLIVAN, 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 January 31, 2023 at 2:30PM, premises known as 2969 LINDALE ST, WANTAGH, NY 11793: Section 56, Block 469, Lot 4:

ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND, SITUATE, LYING AND BEING AT NORTH BELLMORE, TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, COUNTY OF NASSAU AND STATE OF NEW YORK

Memories flow at Mandalay Elementary

They may still be pretty young, but fifth graders at Mandalay Elementary School in the Wantagh School District have lots of stories to tell. They recently wrapped up their memoir writing unit by publishing personal narrative pieces.

then came up with ideas for memories they wanted to share.

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE OF THE LBCABANA SERIES IV TRUST, Plaintiff, v. JOSEPH P. LEONARDO, et al., Defendant(s).

SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, CITIMORTGAGE, INC., Plaintiff, vs. DAVID W. KEEFER; ROSANNE KEEFER, 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 January 24, 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 # 004494/2014. Cash will not be accepted. This foreclosure sale will be

ALL THAT TRACT OR PARCEL OF LAND situate in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau, State of New York.

The premises are sold subject to the provisions of the filed judgment, Index No. 002966/2015 in the amount of $473,097.00 plus interest and costs.

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

Richard S. Mullen

Woods Oviatt Gilman LLP

Plaintiff’s Attorney 500 Bausch & Lomb Place Rochester, NY 14604 Tel.: 855-227-5072 136119

LEGAL

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 006522/2012. William R. Boccio, Esq. - Referee. Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310, Westbury, New York 11590, Attorneys for Plaintiff. All foreclosure sales will be conducted in accordance with Covid-19 guidelines including, but not limited to, social distancing and mask wearing. *LOCATION OF SALE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DAY OF IN ACORDANCE WITH COURT/CLERK DIRECTIVES.

136332

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF ADOPTION OF TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD LOCAL LAW NO. 85-2022

Teacher Bridget Montario said her students followed an eight-step writing process that began with the study of mentor texts. They explored several books that served as good examples of authors writing about themselves and telling a personal story. Using this knowledge, students

Montario, noting that students were learning about story themes, said that they were encouraged to pick a moment that was also a learning experience. There was a first draft, writing conferences with the teacher, and an editing and revision process before the stories were finally published, complete with handmade covers.

NOTICE

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORKCOUNTY OF NASSAU BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A. AS TRUSTEE FOR MORTGAGE ASSETS MANAGEMENT SERIES I TRUST, V.

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that, pursuant to Article 9 of the New York State Constitution, the provisions of the Town Law and the Municipal Home Rule Law of the State of New York, both as amended, a public hearing was duly called and held December 6th, 2022, by the Town Board of the Town of Hempstead on the proposed adoption of Town of Hempstead Local Law No. 85-2022, and following the close of the hearing the Town Board duly adopted Town of Hempstead Local Law No. 85-2022, amending Section 197-5 of the Code of the Town of Hempstead, to include “ARTERIAL STOPS” at various locations.

Dated: December 6, 2022 Hempstead, New York

KATE MURRAY Town Clerk 136344

Public Notices

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF ADOPTION OF TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD LOCAL LAW NO. 84-2022

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that, pursuant to Article 9 of the New York State Constitution, the provisions of the Town Law and the Municipal Home Rule Law of the State of New York, both as amended, a public hearing was duly called and held December 6th, 2022, by the Town Board

of the Town of Hempstead on the proposed adoption of Town of Hempstead Local Law No. 84-2022, and following the close of the hearing the Town Board duly adopted Town of Hempstead Local Law No. 84-2022, amending Section 202-1 of the Code of the Town of Hempstead, to include and repeal “PARKING OR STANDING PROHIBITIONS” at

various locations. Dated: December 6, 2022 Hempstead, New York BY ORDER OF THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD DONALD X. CLAVIN, JR Supervisor KATE MURRAY Town Clerk 136343

BY ORDER OF THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD

DONALD X. CLAVIN, JR Supervisor

Courtesy Wantagh Schools

Mandalay ElEMEntary School fifth graders, from left, Matteo Tretter, Sabrina Elmazi, Mia Sleeper, Noelle Sileo and Madeline Parente published their personal memoirs.

–Michael Malaszczyk

PRESS-ROOM/WAREHOUSE CLASSIFIED Fax your ad to: 516-622-7460 E-mail your ad to: ereynolds@liherald.com E-mail Finds Under $100 to: sales@liherald.com DEADLINE: Monday, 11:00 am for all classified ads. Every effort is made to insure the accuracy of your ad. Please check your ad at the first insertion. Credit will be made only for the first insertion. Credit given for errors in ads is limited to the printed space involved. Publisher reserves right to reject, cancel or correctly classify an ad.

HELP To pLACE your AD CALL 516-569-4000 - press 5

EXPERIENCED bellmore-merrick chsd MERRICK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DISTRICT Send cover letter & resume to: hr@merrick.k12.ny.us In the email subject line please include the job title for which you are interested in applying. EOE

ings Employment HERALD 1197399

Pressroom/wareImmedIate OpenIngs: paraprOfessIOnals, f/t regIstered nurse, f/t (10 am – 5 pm) Salary Commensurate with School Related Experience Other avaIlable pOsItIOns: substItute teachers: $120 - $130 per day NYS Certification required fOOd servIce helper p/t substItutes: $15.09/hr. securIty aIdes days and evenIng f/t (7 hours): $21.63/hr. NYS Security Guard License required, law enforcement background preferred Send Cover Letter & Resume to: egomez@bmchsd.org or mail Eric Gómez Assistant Superintendent – Personnel & Administration 1260 Meadowbrook Road N. Merrick, NY 11566 Additional information can be found on our website at www.bellmore-merrick.k12.ny.us EOE

NEW

Big Bus $27.18/hr. Non-Benefit Rate

BUSDRIVERSWANTEDDoN’T MISS The Bus! EDU c ATI o NAL BUS TRANS po RTATI o N 516.454.2300

STARTING SALARIES Van $24.41/hr. Non-Benefit Rate

EMPLOYMENT

Help Wanted

ADMINISTRATIVE

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

Multi-Media Coordinator (Hours Flexible)

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

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

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

CIRCULATION ASSOCIATE

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

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

DRIVERS WANTED

Seasonal. Jan- Mid April. Franklin Square. CALL: 516-358-9455. 1197642

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

MERRICK BEFORE/AFTER SCHOOL

PROGRAM seeking mature individuals to supervise elementary school aged children from 2:45 pm to 5:00 or 6:00 pm weekdays. Experience helpful. If interested email merrickbasp@aol.com or call (516)379-4245

1197564

Malverne UFSD Long Island, New York Security Guard $20.40 per hour Required: NYS Certification w/security photo ID 1198210 1197761

OUTSIDE SALES

Richner Communications, One of the Fastest Growing Media, Event and Communications Companies on Long Island is Seeking a Sales/Marketing Candidate to Sell our Print Media Products and our Digital, Events, Sponsorships. Salary, Commission, Eligible for Health Benefits, 401k and Paid Time Off.

Email or mail resume to my attention:

dlawlor@malverneschools.org Malverne, UFSD Administration Building, HR Dept 301 Wicks Lane, Malverne, NY 11565

LAWRENCE PUBLIC SCHOOLS POSITIONS IMMEDIATELY AVAILABLE SCHOOL NURSE PART-TIME CLEANERS TEACHER AIDES Fingerprint clearance required Contact human resources for further information 515-295-7037 and 516-295-7036 5th_floor • Clients • m-Clients • Malverne • 44862 Malverne Richner Communications 3.125x 3" Richner Communications

$2,500.00 for CDL driver bus and van $500.00 for non CDL drivers. Will train qualified applicants Sign On Bonus *Some restrictions may apply. EOE One phone call, one order, one heck of a good price to run your ad in any state, or across the country Call the USA Classified Network today! 1-800-231-6152

Malverne Union Free School District is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Applications may be picked up at:

SPANISH SPEAKING Malverne Union Free School District is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Malverne UFSD Long Island, New York 1198194

RESUME: 516-358-9483. E MAIL: ed@loturco.com. Elementary School Nurse (10 Months, school calendar) $60, 000 and benefits NYS Licensed Required Part-Time Teacher Aide (4 hours per day) $13,378 – 10 months, school calendar Teaching Assistant (6.25 hours per day) $29,979 – 10 months, school calendar NYS Teaching Assistant or NYS Teacher Certification required Maintainer (Evenings Monday–Friday, 3:00–11:00PM) Electrical, Plumbing, Carpentry and/or HVAC preferred $59,733 and benefits Bus Driver Full Time (10 Month, school calendar position, plus 30 Summer Days) $38, 000 and benefits NYS Commercial Driver’s License P & S and 19A 5th_floor • Clients • m-Clients • Malverne • 44870 Malverne Richner Communications 3.125x 3" Richner Communications

In Early Childhood Education. Teacher's Salary $32K. EMAIL RESUME: kgreene@fivetownsmail.org 516-239-6244 School Monitors Part Time $15.61/Hour. 17 ½ to 25 Hours/Week. Starting Immediately! Malverne UFSD Office of Human Resources 301 Wicks Lane, Malverne, NY 11565 or Call 516-887-6419 dlawlor@malverneschools.org

Coming Soon…On the Ocean

Welcome to a bright, spacious and completely renovated direct oceanfront unit in the desirable Westholme area of Long Beach. Enjoy stunning views from your picture window directly on the beach and boardwalk and capture the breathtaking sunset from your southwest corner terrace. This desirable corner oceanfront, 2 bedroom, 1.5 bath unit features an ocean view from every room, a high-end renovated kitchen featuring quartz counter tops, brand new flooring, several closets including a custom walk-in, recessed lighting and new air conditioners. This pristine buildng offers on-site laundry, secure bulk-storage, bicycle, chair and surf board storage, a private outdoor entertaining area with cooking grills and seating and a set of dedicated parking spots for residents. Close proximity to both the West End, Central Business District, and the LIRR with 27 daily trains to NYC in under an hour. Come see how life is best enjoyed at the beach! $699,000.

Am I being singled out?

Q. I just rented a retail space, and I’m planning changes with my architect. The architect says I have to “upgrade” the restroom to handicapped-accessible, which will cost at least $8,000 and maybe more, depending on whether the old pipes can be reused where they are. I don’t understand why other stores around me have original restrooms but I have to change mine. We were only moving a couple of walls and installing a new ceiling. Can you tell me if the architect is right about the change?

Kelly Forman Licensed RE Salesperson

COMPASS Real Estate

780 Long Beach Blvd. Long Beach NY 11561 516.297.3308 Kelly.forman@compass.com

Open Houses

HEWLETT 1534 BROADWAY #103, OPEN HOUSE BY APPT, REDUCED! Magnificent New Renovation! One of a Kind Ranch Style Living in Luxurious Jonathan Hall Condominium with Doorman & Elevator. Just Move into This Gut Renovated, Spacious 2 BR, 2 Bath Apt with Open Layout.Large Designer Eat in Kitchen with Sep Pantry & Laundry Rm.Master BR Boasts Gorgeous Bth & Walk in Closet. Terrace Faces into Courtyard. Garage Parking Incl...$699,000 Ronnie Gerber, Douglas Elliman 516-238-4299

HEWLETT 1534 BROADWAY #205, Open House By Appt! 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...$699,000 Ronnie Gerber, Douglas Elliman 516-238-4299

Apartments For Rent

MoneyTo Lend

Ask The Architect

Monte Leeper

A. You would think the answer is an easy one, that it would be either yes or no. Unfortunately, the answer is that the decision in these matters is discretionary, left to the plans examiner, who either strictly interprets the code and the federal and state laws based on the Americans with Disabilities Act (which was signed into law by President George H.W. Bush in 1990), or determines that the physical upgrade of the restroom isn’t necessary. The law states that businesses with 15 or more employees must comply, but is overridden by the fact that establishments cannot discriminate against people with disabilities, patrons or employees.

I once had a meeting at which the attorney for my client was challenging my advice to our mutual client that an upgrade — a renovation — would be necessary. The attorney appropriately pointed out exactly the same argument that you’re making, that nobody else has had to upgrade, and therefore you shouldn’t have to, either. My guess is that your neighbors may have been in that location for many years, and as long as nobody brings their location up to an official, we leave well enough alone, or that the official interpreted that the upgrade wouldn’t be necessary. I’m willing to bet that your neighbors, for the most part, moved in without anyone filing anything formally, with plans and permits, so the proprietors think they have no issue to deal with. You, on the other hand, operating honestly and legitimately, probably feel that even though you can’t discriminate against a person with a disability, you’re being unfairly discriminated against.

Although I agree that you are being unfairly judged differently than your neighbors, your architect and any licensed professional, including the attorney, swore to uphold the laws of the state they practice in. If officials choose not to investigate every location, that is the governing bodies’ choice. Your architect is only trying to do what is right under the law.

Coincidentally, that very morning, when the attorney was making the case that others were not in compliance, there was an incident in lower Manhattan in which an attorney had his heels slashed by a homeless man on a subway platform, and was instantly debilitated. I pointed out to the attorney that that poor guy was now disabled, and that we humans are all vulnerable, by age or accident, and need to be considered. He answered, “You should have been an attorney.”

© 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.

SNOW

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Plumbing

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Satellite/TV Equipment

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PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Education

COMPUTER & IT TRAINING PROGRAM! Train ONLINE to get the skills to become a Computer & Help Desk Professional now! Grants and Scholarships available for certain programs for qualified applicants. Call CTI for details! 844-947-0192 (M-F 8am-6pm ET). Computer with internet is required.

TRAIN ONLINE TO DO MEDICAL BILLING! Become a Medical Office Professional online at

8am-6pm ET). Computer with internet is required

Health & Fitness

& MARINE

Autos For Sale

The

masthead

The box at the far left side of the page is called the masthead. It contains the newspaper’s flag, or nameplate. The masthead offers important information about the paper, including the names of the staff members who are responsible for producing it each week.

Publisher Stuart Richner guides the business and news operations of the 23 newspapers in the Herald Community Newspapers group, including the Nassau Herald, which serves the Five Towns, and Heralds for Baldwin, Bellmore, East Meadow, Franklin SquareElmont, Freeport, Glen Cove, Long Beach, Lynbrook-East Rockaway, Malverne-West Hempstead, Merrick, Oceanside-Island Park, Oyster Bay, Rockville Centre, Sea Cliff-Glen Head, Valley Stream, Wantagh and Seaford.

Each paper’s editor is responsible for the assignment, selection and placement of stories, most of which the editors and reporters write. The executive editor, MIchael Hinman, oversees news operations for all the papers in the group, with the help of Jeffrey Bessen, the deputy editor.

The production department is responsible for the papers’ general design. The advertising and art departments produce the large, oftenillustrated display advertisements that appear throughout the papers. The classified department produces the smaller advertisements at the back of the papers.

The masthead also lists each paper’s age, the names of its founders, its address, email, and telephone and fax numbers, and provides notice that all contents of the paper are copyrighted.

Editorial comment

Editorials offer the opinions of the Herald. Editors write them. Editorials do not necessarily reflect the views of the individuals who write them; rather, they are the institutional voice of the news organization.

That is why they are unsigned.

Herald editorial department heads meet regularly to plan the editorials. Independent reporting by our staff often helps inform our editorials. We might also speak with experts and advocates to gain their perspective before sitting down to write an editorial.

We are proud to say that we have won many state awards for our editorial writing over the years.

There are times we might use this space to endorse candidates in local elections. We take this responsibility seriously. Editorial staff members sit down with candidates to question them about their views on major issues before offering the paper’s opinions about which candidates would best represent our readers.

Editorial cartoon

Editorial cartoons are almost as old as newspapers themselves. They date back to 18th century England, and are a staple of the modern American opinion section. Yet, opinions here do not necessarily represent the opinions of the Herald or its staff.

Advertising, call Rhonda Glickman, vice president of sales, at (516) 569-4000, ext. 250. For

Subscriptions,

call Dianne Ramdass, circulation manager, at ext. 231.

For your information

Editorial page

. . .

Remembering for those who no longer can

Where were you when Kennedy was shot?”

Many of us remember asking that, or being asked. That question has since been supplanted by ones like “Where were you when the Challenger exploded?” or “Where were you on Sept. 11?”

But those singular tragedies were hardly the first to dominate our everyday lives on such a massive scale. That is a tragedy remembered for decades with its own question: “Where were you when Pearl Harbor was bombed?”

Yet there are very few people left who can answer that. Not surprising, since the stunning attack that officially brought the United States into World War II happened over 80 years ago. Without those living witnesses, however, we risk the possibility that the attack, the war itself, and atrocities like the Holocaust will become mere footnotes in history.

And that’s simply not acceptable.

This was the time of what NBC anchor Tom Brokaw coined the Greatest Generation. People who lived through the suffering of the Great Depression, only to find themselves fighting for something greater: freedom. Not for Americans, but for people on a global scale. We fought to destroy fascism as well as its key components, totalitarianism and authoritarianism, as well as hate.

Not that we were perfect in doing so —

far from it. But if anything good came from that period, it was the fact that our global society at least took some significant steps forward.

Conflict has been a part of human history, but never on the scale we saw in World War II. Never in the numbers of people lost. The outright attempted genocide of an entire religious ethnicity. We have to take time to remember because, as Winston Churchill said, “Those that fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.”

Part of that education comes from exploring what happened at Pearl Harbor — a place thousands of miles away, practically across an ocean, on a group of islands that, at the time, were merely an American territory. The attack killed 2,403 U.S. personnel and destroyed or damaged 19 ships — nearly half of them battleships.

By the time World War II ended in 1945, American deaths would reach nearly 420,000, while globally, 15 million soldiers and 45 million civilians would lose their lives.

The pain from that war — and World War I, “the Great War,” before it — was felt for generations, to the point where governments worked as hard as they could not to let any other conflict balloon to such a global scale. But memories fade, hastened by the loss of those who experienced that suffering firsthand.

Now we live in a time when fears of a

worldwide conflict are stronger than they have been in decades. It’s not just political polarization, but also what has become a broader tolerance of intolerance and outright hate — something that can never be allowed to normalize, whether it’s antisemitism, racism, sexism or homophobia. Attacking where someone is from, how they worship — or if they worship — or even how they identify gender-wise.

History is fading, and with it its lessons. And we can’t let that happen.

That’s why Dec. 7 is so important. Or Jan. 27 — International Holocaust Remembrance Day — as well as spring’s Yom Hashoah. Because you can’t even begin to talk about loss during this period without talking about the 6 million Jews who were killed — a third of Jews worldwide. Or the 2 million ethnic Poles.

Or 500,000 Roma. Or thousands more who were gay, or who were political or religious prisoners.

The late Elie Wiesel, a Holocaust survivor himself, once said, “To forget a Holocaust is to kill twice.” And that can be applied to any tragedy we try to forget.

Next week, we have a chance to remember on the 81st anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor. There might be few left to ask where they were when this tragedy took place, but remembering means we’re learning. And learning gives us a fighting chance to never repeat those horrors again.

LETTERS

O’Connell sure didn’t pull any punches

To the Editor:

Don’t you love freedom of the press? That basic right enables people like John O’Connell, former executive editor of the Heralds, to blatantly cast aspersions on public figures without including specific evidence to support his claims.

In his op-ed last week, “I’ll take the GOP agenda — without Trump — any day,” O’Connell refers to Hillary Clinton as a “backstabbing, secretive, supercilious, lying, characterless cypher.” While I don’t love Hillary, I question what purpose such unsupported name-calling achieves, except perhaps to justify why O’Connell opted to vote for Trump, despite his “unappealing, obnoxious,” “insufferable” and “bullying” behavior.

O’Connell goes on to blast our sitting president, vice president, transportation secretary and governor,

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Opinion pages

OPINIONS

‘Energy efficient’ may become a contradiction in terms

Hearings are getting under way on a proposal to socialize energy on Long Island. It would make the Long Island Power Authority the region’s sole entity responsible for keeping our lights on. Its structure would replicate virtually every government agency, bureau or department that you have cursed as inept, incompetent or indifferent.

why capitalism is always better, and why it provides for more-efficient creation and distribution of goods and services than any government-controlled or socialized economy.

Opinion columns

We publish three columns every week. Columns represent the views of the writers themselves, not of the Herald. Each writer works independently and chooses his or her own subjects. Among our regular contributors are the Heralds’ executive editor, Michael Hinman, and the Nassau Herald’s former executive editor, Randi Kreiss, both of whom have won numerous awards for their opinion writing. We also feature columns by prominent political figures, including former Assemblyman Jerry Kremer, who is now a consultant. And we regularly invite guest columnists to offer their views.

What is instructive about this forced march to complete government control is that these hearings were mandated by law to be held by the end of September, but are just beginning now. The government commission couldn’t even get its act together to hold them on time. Good thing it isn’t responsible for directing our electrical future.

Oh, wait. It is.

Hanley has identified the ideological underpinnings of this power grab. It has little to do with the efficiency, innovation and accountability demanded of PSEG Long Island under a strict don’t-screw-up contract with LIPA. Rather, it is about a progressive agenda of growing government whenever it can, assuming authority over infrastructure that it has no competence running and operating costs it has no interest in cutting.

agement structure would balloon with executives making six-figure salaries. There would be no financial incentives for any of them to work smarter, better, more efficiently.

The hearings, by a special commission, are the result of legislation signed into law by Gov. Kathy Hochul. It directs the review of a plan to convert the existing public-private partnership that manages our electrical grid to one that would, in essence, make the governor ultimately responsible for its operation and maintenance.

RONALD J. ROSENBERG

To set the stage for these hearings, you need to understand that LIPA currently owns most of the Long Island electrical grid, including the bulk of our power plants. It has an incentive contract with PSEG Long Island, which actually runs the system. If PSEG does well and hits certain performance criteria, it is financially compensated. If it fails, it will take a financial bath. This is the essence of

James Hanley, a fellow with the Empire Center for Public Policy, is a seasoned observer of Albany’s political stinkpot. “It’s hard to predict what will come of this proposal,” Hanley has written. “Public power (left wing) advocates clearly want to eliminate any role for a private utility in operating LIPA’s grid. They don’t have any evidence that LIPA could improve upon PSEG’s management; they seem to think the word `public’ is a magical incantation that will make everything better.”

In truth, it makes everything worse. An example? Which delivery service is more reliable, the government controlled U.S. mail, or the privately owned Federal Express? The answer is obvious.

among others, again without a logical explanation. He cites the GOP agenda, familiar to most of us. However, he does not mention the many Americans who suffer from a housing shortage, food insecurity, climate change, or a lack of adequate gun control. He also exhibits no concern for the recent increase in racist, antisemitic and homophobic violence against fellow human beings.

Will these people merely be casualties of war as the GOP tries to stifle the voices of its opposition? Surely a nation as great as ours must be able to find a way to achieve compromise so that the needs and safety of so many of its citizens are not ignored.

PAM SINGER Malverne

24-30 column that he doesn’t like Donald Trump, but that the former president accomplished “great things.”

What in the world would those “great things” be?

His disrespect for the country’s courts and its diplomatic and intelligence services? His refusal to accept the results of an election? Deepening political divisions and encouraging racial bigotry?

O’Connell’s column derides potential Democratic candidates for president and vice president, but omits any mention of the many GOP members of Congress who have gone along with Trump’s lies about a rigged election. Nor is there any mention of Trump’s attempt to defy the will of American voters by backing a coup.

What makes this power play particularly toxic is that LIPA had been tasked with running the grid before. It failed, miserably, when Superstorm Sandy came ashore a decade ago.

As a result, then Gov. Andrew Cuomo required LIPA to engage private industry in running the grid, and to use financial incentives and penalties that are employed in the real world. Having had such a raving success with cashless bail, today’s progressive powerbrokers seem quite content to ignore those lessons, and now seek the keys to the power grid.

How would that work? For starters, the people currently working for PSEG would probably be asked to transfer their skills and expertise to LIPA, a government entity. As LIPA employees, they would be given salaries, benefits and pensions that you and I would pay for. The LIPA man-

Compare that with a recent J.D. Power survey that found dissatisfaction with PSEG Long Island among businesses on the Island. That could mean a financial hit for the utility management company, because its compensation is directly tied to customer opinions of its performance. Were LIPA in charge, and faced with such a report, its response would undoubtedly be “Feh,” for there would be no accountability under a socialized structure. That would be good news for those who feast on political patronage, because one suspects someone’s brother-in-law would be in charge of consumer complaints.

We can assume that it will be Hochul’s decision as to whether Long Island’s power goes progressive. She needs to, but probably doesn’t, appreciate, or care, that if that’s the future of LIPA, her office number will be on speed dial for 2.7 million Long Islanders the next time a hurricane takes down the grid. And if last month’s elections proved anything, it’s that those LIPA customers vote.

Ronald J. Rosenberg has been an attorney for 42 years, concentrating in commercial litigation and transactions, and real estate, municipal, zoning and land use law. He founded the Garden City law firm Rosenberg Calica & Birney in 1999.

FRAMEWORK by Fatima Lasso

Special features

The op-ed, or opposite the editorial, page features a weekly Framework photo, which is chosen by our photo editor, Tim Baker. The Framework offers a creative, at times humorous outlet for our photography staff. In this spot, we also publish photos sent to us by readers featuring them on vacation, reading the Herald at various international landmarks. We call it Herald Around the World.

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Trump’s

‘great’ accomplishments?

To the Editor:

John O’Connell asserted in his Nov.

O’Connell even claims there is a “GOP agenda.” And what would that be? More stunts such as votes to end Obamacare?

LARRY McCOY Rockville Centre

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I n Albany, a potential plan to gut the public-private management of our electricity.