Long Beach Herald 04-03-2025

LONG BEACH

Playing pickleball for more than fun

Second annual event benefiting breast cancer research sells out

By BRENDAN CARPENTER

bcarpenter@liherald.com

Each year in the United States, roughly 240,000 women, and more than 2,000 men, are diagnosed with breast cancer. The disease has hit one local woman’s family hard, and she is doing something about it.

Joanne Ameruoso wants to increase awareness of the disease and raise money for research. To do so, she hosted a special night in Long Beach last week, bringing people together with paddles and pickleballs.

Ameruoso, 58, of Merrick, hosted the second annual Pickleball for a Cause last Friday at the Long Beach Tennis Center, on Monroe Boulevard, where she once played tennis. She invited anyone and everyone to play, for fun and to support the cause. There was a $40 entrance fee, and the friendly competition was sold out, with about 45 people, ranging from teens to seniors, packing four courts.

“It was beautiful,” Ameruoso said. “The community is amazing. They’re so supportive. They have become my ConTinueD on PAge 10

Council reviews infrastructure projects, new funding

By ANGELINA ZINGARIELLo azingariello@liherald.com

The Long Beach City Council met on Tuesday to review updates on several ongoing infrastructure projects, discuss new funding opportunities and address other community initiatives. The meeting covered a range of topics, from progress on flood protection efforts to new grants aimed at improving local facilities and supporting future development.

Greg Buckley, an engineer with D&B Engineers and Architects, the engineers working on the North Shore Critical Infrastructure Protection Project,

provided an update on the work being done. The main components of the project include bulkhead sheeting installation from the municipal boat launch, at National Boulevard, to the Long Beach Tennis Center, on Monroe Boulevard; stormwater drainage improvements; and the construction of a new pump station on Riverside Boulevard, between Park Place and Water Street.

“The players in this project — all the utility companies — we are working to protect all of their infrastructure, as well as the local residents, especially the North Park community,” Buckley said. “That’s the main

W e’re accepting over $6 million in grants tonight from the state.

JoHN BENDo Councilman

goal of this project, to provide protection for them.”

About 90 percent of the bulkhead work is finished. The remaining areas requiring attention include Monroe Boulevard, the Long Island Rail Road crossing, the area near National Grid’s facility, off

Park Place and Riverside Boulevard, and the Long Beach Boulevard bridge. Delays in these sections stemmed from difficulties locating underground utilities, particularly unknown conduits in the LIRR area. To resolve this, pit tests — small excavations to verify the location and condition of buried utilities — were conducted.

Recent results are promising, and discussions with engineers and railroad officials are ongoing to finalize the necessary work schedule.

Construction of the pump station, which will be capable of process up to 33 million gallons of stormwater per day, is progressing. The structure is

ConTinueD on PAge 13

Danny Gillespie/Herald

Joanne Ameruoso, the organizer of Pickleball for a Cause, and her son, Christian Dano, had a blast on the court at the Long Beach Tennis Center last Friday, while benefiting breast cancer awareness.

Thursday, April 10, 2025

Gerrin Hagen Hockey Day back Saturday

Third annual event hosted by G2H Foundation brings entire community together

Gerrin Hagen was a lifelong hockey and lacrosse player in Long Beach. On Jan. 12, 2023, he was riding his skateboard along Cantiague Lane in Hicksville after finishing classes for the day at Nassau BOCES’ Joseph M. Barry Career & Technical Education Center, when he was struck by a Honda SUV. Hagen was rushed to a hospital, where he was initially listed in critical condition, but he died the next day.

At a candlelight vigil outside the Emile Francis Memorial Ice Arena for him in 2023, there was an outpouring of support for Hagen’s family members and friends. Standing at a lectern in front of the crowd, Parks Commissioner Joe Brand held up two fingers, symbolizing the number Hagen wore on his LBHS hockey jersey.

The community continues to honor Hagen and show its support and, on April 5, the third annual Gerrin Hagen Memorial Hockey Day will once again fully pack the ice arena. The day is hosted by the G2H Foundation, in partnership with the FDNY Hockey Team Fundraiser Series and the City of Long Beach.

The Nassau County Police Department Hockey Team will go up against the New York City Fire Department Hockey Team at 2:30 p.m. and, following that, the Mass State Police Hockey team will go up against the Long Beach Guardians Hockey Club at 5 p.m. This year’s games will also be live streamed by Long Island Sports Network.

There will be a 50/50 and raffles, donated by businesses and local supporters. The Chuck-A-Puck contest and T-shirt Launch are back and races across the ice will be added to the day.

–Brendan Carpenter

Hagen was a lifelong hockey player in Long Beach, taking the ice and representing the city.

This years games will features the Nassau County Police Department Hockey Team, the New York City Fire Department Hockey Team, Mass State Police Hockey and the Long Beach Guardians Hockey Club.

Legislator Pat Mullaney dropped the puck at last year’s event, alongside two of the games’ captains.

Herald file photos

The day features two competitive games in front of a large crowd.

The second annual Gerrin Hagen Hockey Day is set for Saturday, as a day to remember one of Long Beach’s own.

Board of Ed. talks budget, new high school principal

By ANGELINA ZINGARIELLO azingariello@liherald.com

The Long Beach Board of Education met March 25 to further review the proposed budget for the 2025-26 school year, presenting detailed changes and plans for the high school and middle school programs.

The proposed budget for the high school includes adjustments across five areas: senior supervision, teaching and learning, library, guidance and co-curricular activities. While some areas will see budget decreases due to staff retirements and replacements at lower salaries, others will experience increases to support growing student needs and new programming.

T50, with new additions including a prehealth professions club, historical club, book club and Science Olympiad. Funding for AP exams will increase to cover the cost of additional exams, with the district initially paying for them and parents reimbursing the cost, which will be reflected in revenue.

he wellness center that we have in mind is an extension of our preventative programming.

There is an expected reduction of 0.4 full-time equivalent positions in English instruction, achieved through the consolidation of smaller classes, which allows for increased efficiency without negatively impacting student access to courses. A reduction of 0.2 FTE in health instruction is also anticipated, reflecting adjustments in the co-teaching model.

MIchAEL DeVITO assistant superintendent, finance and operations

The Five Steps to an Elder Law Estate Plan

Elder law estate planning provides for (1) your care in the event you become disabled as you age, and who will be in charge of that care, and (2) the passing of your assets on death to whom you want, when you want, the way you want, with the least amount of taxes and legal fees possible. These are the five steps to creating an elder law estate plan.

Step One: Understanding the Family Dynamics. Clients often overlook the inestimable value of getting to know the family dynamic. We are firm believers that the social goes first and the legal should serve the social. Too often it is the other way around. Once we understand who’s who and everyone’s interpersonal relations with each other, we are far better able to craft a plan that will work socially as well as legally. The failure to address the social aspects has led to many a plan tearing the family apart.

Step Two: Reviewing the Client’s Assets. IRA’s and other “qualified” assets (i.e. tax deferred) are treated quite differently, on death or disability, from “non-qualified” assets. The determination of the amount and value of all assets, who owns them, and whether they have named beneficiaries are of the utmost importance in planning correctly,

including saving legal fees and taxes.

Step Three: Reviewing Existing Estate Planning Documents: Not having been prepared by an elder law estate planning attorney, clients’ documents rarely have adequate provisions to take advantage of the many benefits the law provides for our aging population. Wills instead of trusts have often been prepared either because the client was considerably younger and a trust was not needed or a trust was needed but the general practice lawyer was unfamiliar with the specifics of preparing a trust.

Step Four: Developing the Elder Law Estate Plan. We are now in a position to determine which persons are best suited to handle your legal, financial and medical affairs on disability or death, what type of plan should be used and how the estate should be distributed -- keeping in mind the preservation of harmony in the family.

Step Five: Executing and Maintaining the Plan. Legal documents are explained and executed, assets are retitled and beneficiaries on assets changed in keeping with planning objectives. The client is called in to the law firm every three years to ensure the plan meets the client’s current wishes and conforms with any law changes.

“We’re also proposing a staff member on special assignment for the new Wellness Center,” Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Operations Michael DeVito said. “The wellness center that we have in mind is an extension of our preventative programming for mental health and wellness.”

The high school budget also reflects adjustments to supply line items based on historical expenditures and anticipated changes in enrollment. There is an increase in the field trip budget to $40 per student to account for rising costs. Additionally, the school plans to increase the number of student clubs to

The middle school budget similarly reflects staffing changes tied to projected decreases in enrollment. Reductions of 1.0 FTE in reading, English and science instruction are offset by a 0.4 FTE increase in social studies. The middle school will also see adjustments in supply line items and an increase in the field trip budget to $40 per student. The school will maintain 33 student clubs, adding two new ones: the National Junior Honor Society and Athletes Helping Athletes. The robotics program will receive additional support through stipends and supplies to help expand the program’s reach and impact.

The board introduced the new high school principal, Andrew Smith. Board members are optimistic that the new leadership will contribute to the district’s goals of supporting student well-being and academic achievement.

“Dr. Smith, I think you have a fan club,” Trustee Anne Conway said. “Your appointment was an easy one, and I can tell you, I feel very comfortable knowing that you are going to lead our high school students, and know you will do so with kindness, respect and true leadership.”

The next budget presentation, scheduled for April 8, will focus on the district’s special education program. The board plans to adopt the final budget on April 23, with a public hearing to follow ahead of the budget vote on May 20.

Ext.

E-mail: ereynolds@liherald.com Fax: (516) 622-7460

■ DISPlAY ADVERTISING: Ext. 249 E-mail: rglickman@liherald.com Fax: (516) 569-4643

■

long beach

Mount Sinai South Nassau is Improving Health Care on the South Shore

The new Fennessy Family Emergency Department at Mount Sinai South Nassau doubles the size of our previous emergency department, o ering 54 private exam rooms with clear lines of sight for physicians, nurses, and support sta . Our new emergency department also o ers a separate triage area, dedicated areas for children and behavioral health patients, and has been designed to reduce wait times and improve patient outcomes.

The Fennessy Family Emergency Department is located within the new Feil Family Pavilion, opening later this year, which will have 40 new critical care suites and nine new operating rooms, designed to support the most complex surgeries on the South Shore.

To learn more visit www.mountsinai.org/feilpavilion

HERALD SPORTS

Hofstra seeks to exceed expectations

By ANDREW COEN sports@liherald.com

Hofstra baseball kicked off the 2025 season on the biggest of stages on Valentine’s Day at defending national champion Tennessee. Fourth-year head coach Frank Catalanotto hopes the opening series weekend where the Pride had an opportunity to play before a crowd of more than 6,000 serves as an omen for another chance to compete in a big-game environment in the NCAA Tournament if the team can capture the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) title.

“It was a great experience going there and playing against the best of the best,” said Catalanotto, who guided Hofstra to the NCAA Tournament in his first season leading the program in 2022 after winning the CAA’s automatic bid. “It was nice playing in front of all those fans.”

Hofstra will have to prove the doubters wrong in order to reach just the school’s second Division NCAA tourney appearance with the Pride picked to fin-

ish ninth in the 12 team CAA) preseason rankings. The Pride began its quest to reach the six-team CAA Tournament to give itself a chance to earn an NCAA bid by taking two of three in a series at Monmouth from March 21-23.

The Pride returned 14 players to its 37-man roster from last year’s 24-33 team that received the sixth seed in the CAA tourney including last season’s leading hitter, junior second baseman Dylan Palmer. The reigning Second Team All-CAA selection hit. .383 as a sophomore and entered the final week of March as the team;s offensive leader again with a .388 average through the first 23 games.

“He’s the same guy day in and day out and very rarely goes into slumps,” said Catalanotto of Palmer. “He’s putting the ball in play and using his legs to get on base and stealing bases so it’s nice to have him there at the top of the lineup to get things going.”

Sophomore shortstop Michael Brown is also shining offensively and was second on the team in hitting with a .300

average in late March. Catalano is also getting offensive production early this season from freshman second baseman Tyler Castrataro, who is also hitting above. 300.

Redshirt junior Tyler Cox, who plays center field, has also emerged as a new lefthanded offensive threat in the lineup after transferring from West Virginia. The Clarke High School product was hitting in .279 as of March 28 and recorded two hits in Hofstra’s 5-2 loss to Fordham on March 19.

“He brings calmness to the team,” said Catalano of Cox, whose Mark Cox was a two-sport standout in football and lacrosse at Hofstra. ‘“He hasn’t even tapped into his potential yet.:”

The pitching staff suffered a blow when 2024 First-Team All-CAA honoree Carlos Martinez was lost for the season. The team regained Tristan Nemjo, a graduate student from Troy, N.Y. who missed last season and has assumed one of the starting pitching spots. The starting rotation for weekend conference games also includes 6-5 junior Jackson

Bauer and 6-1 junior Sean Hamilton.

The bullpen features 6-4 graduate student Danny Kelleher, a Rockville Centre native who has recorded 16 strikeouts in 19 innings of relief work so far. The former South Side High School standout earned the win in Hofstra’s 13-12 win at Monmouth on March 22 after allowing one hit in 2 ⅓ innings.

“He’s been showing a lot of toughness because he’s been hurt and is battling through it,” said Catalano of Kelleher. “I think he is going to help us down the stretch.”

Freshman Michael Heyman is another local bullpen arm who arrived at Hofstra after a stellar high career at Hewlett. He recorded three strikeouts in the late stages of Hofstra’s 16-3 loss at Kent State on March 14.

Hofstra will host its first CAA games of 2025 this weekend for a series against UNC-Wilmington starting Friday. The home conference slate also includes a series against Long Island rival Stony Brook from April 18-20, Elon from May 2-4 and Towson from May 9-11.

Tyler Cox, a Clarke High School grad, transferred to Hofstra from West Virginia and patrols center field.

Nassau County hosts Israeli Elite hockey

By MICHELLE RABINOVICH sports@liherald.com

No fan bases are more divided than the Rangers, Islanders and Devils.

But on March 23, those bitter rivals, who have spent decades split by hatred and animosity, were bound together by blood, heritage and creed. United under the flag of Israel, draped around many like Superman’s cape, hundreds of spectators came together to watch the Jerusalem Capitals and HC Tel Aviv, the top teams in the Israeli Elite Hockey League (IEHL), as they participate in the USA Challenge Cup at UBS Arena.

“It’s a historic moment for Israeli hockey,” said Jerusalem assistant coach David Warsofsky. “The night in general was a huge success and I hope the fans enjoyed it as much as we did coaching it.”

The event started with IEHL cofounder and co-commissioner Marc Brunengraber greeted spectators with a welcome speech, with the league on the precipice of entering its fifth season later this year. Brunengraber said that the evening’s events were about more than just hockey, but about sharing love for the sport by growing it exponentially over the last five years, a sentence one of the star players harmonized with.

“Four years ago, we played four-onfour and look where we played now, in an NHL arena,” said Jerusalem forward Nikita Zitserman. “It’s just going to go

higher from here.”

“We’re showing everyone how great [Israeli hockey] is,” said Tel Aviv head coach Stuart Gourdji.

Gourdji pointed to the fact that this was an atmosphere unlike anything he’d ever experienced because of the unique mix of the Israeli background of the staff and players, and the same energy from the fans.

“This is a dream, coaching in front of eight thousand people,” he said. “The music and the Israeli flags, you see that a lot in soccer but it’s the first time I’ve ever seen something like that It wasn’t an NHL game as we’re used to it: the Israeli anthem was sung before the Star-Spangled Banner. The Islanders goal horn rang every time the puck found the back of the net, but it wasn’t

fans chanting “Islanders, Islanders, yes, yes, yes” when the home team scored. When Tel Aviv scored, the loud speakers played Tel Aviv by Omer Adam; when Jerusalem scored, the audience was serenaded with Naomi Shemer’s Yerushalayim shel Zahav.

Other than that, it was a typical NHL hockey game: three 20-minute periods and a pair of 20-minute intermissions in between them, junior hockey teams facing off during intermissions, trashtalking before a fight on the ice and penalty minutes in the Sin Bin. Ironically, after both players sat their penalty, they fist bumped each other on their way to the bench.

Nearly 120 combined shots on goal made for a nail-biting game, one that went to overtime until Jerusalem’s Denis Zaychik netted his one-timer in one of the biggest stages he’s ever played on. The Capitals won, 7-6, in overtime.

“Feeling amazing,” Zaychik said, adding the fact that he’s never played in an arena this large before. “Fans of Israel and fans of hockey and together it’s a very good mix.”

“It was my dream since I was a kid,” Zitserman admitted. “I can only remember that I just wished to play in an NHL rink.”

Sports proved to be a unifier once again. Match 23 might have been the most Hebrew that the halls of UBS Arena heard. Sports proved to be a unifier in an increasingly divisive world.

Yonatan Resinger tended the goal for Jerusalem.

HC Tel Aviv’s Kirill Polozov’s blasted a slap shot.

Eric Dunetz/Herald photos

The Jerusalem Capitals beat HC Tel Aviv in overtime March 23 at UBS Arena in Elmont as the top teams in the Israeli Elite Hockey League were on display.

WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH

She’s all about improving people’s lives

By JORDAN VALLONE jvallone@liherald.com

Continuing a series of interviews with influential area women. Lisa Burch is president and chief executive of the EPIC Family of Human Service Agencies.

Herald: Tell me about yourself.

Burch: I have a master’s degree in public health education and have worked in the nonprofit space my entire career. I always knew I wanted to do something in the helping profession, so I started working to help women who were victims of domestic violence in college. Throughout my career, I’ve moved into different positions related to other types of helping fields — substance use, counseling, health education, criminal justice, mental health. I’ve always wanted to be in a position where I knew that the work I was doing was impacting and improving people’s lives.

Herald: As CEO, what you do?

Burch: My role is to make sure that the organization is stable and following guidelines and regulations. When I first started this position, not a lot of people had heard of EPIC Long Island despite it being around since 1953, so part of my job as the CEO was to get our name out there and the work that we do. There are always going to be individuals with

intellectual and developmental disabilities, individuals struggling with mental health and substance use, and individuals who have epilepsy. We provide group homes and day programs where people with developmental disabilities can come and socialize. We also provide important counseling, therapy, and treatment to help people deal with lifealtering substance and mental health issues.

Herald: What has challenged you in your career so far, and what keeps you going/inspires you?

Burch: In my current role, some challenges are with donor fatigue, people not knowing how to support organizations or how to spread their resources among various organizations. Donors are what help our organization grow. It doesn’t deter the work, because all I have to do is leave my office and go downstairs to our day program, where we have around 150 people with intellectual and developmental disabilities come every day who are just happy to be here and happy to see each other. It reminds me why I’m here and why I put up with some of the struggles that keep coming our way.

Herald: What have been the proudest moments in your life?

Burch: On a personal level, watching

my children grow up and develop as humans has been the greatest joy. Professionally, I’ve spent a lot of time mentoring young women, in particular, and trying to encourage them and help them grow personally and professionally in their careers. At EPIC Long Island, my goal is to bring vitality to our organization. People are happy to be here and are really enthusiastic about what we’re doing. I like to think that my presence has had some impact on that.

Herald: What advice do you have to offer? What work is left to be done?

Burch: I think that despite all of the progress we’ve made as women, and especially as women who work outside of the home, there’s still a level of criticism that you’re not doing enough if you aren’t home with your kids, or you’re not doing enough work if you do stay home. That “you can’t have it all” kind of mentality has caused a lot of stress and anxiety, and young women now are still trying to navigate that. I think you can, and it’s just learning how to balance it, and learning who your supporters are, how to rely on people, and giving people the flexibility to be able to do both.

My advice for young women is don’t wait for somebody to give you something. If there’s something you want, go

“Don’t be afraid to take chances” is

Burch’s advice to young women.

out and get it. Don’t be afraid to take chances. Your career is not going to be a stepladder up in one direction. It’s going to be a twisty, windy road, and you should take every single turn that comes at you and embrace it, learn from it, and then just move on to the next.

For more information on EPIC Long Island, go to epicli.org.

Defending the environment, for all of us

By WILL SHEELINE wsheeline@liherald.com

Adrienne Esposito is executive director and a cofounder of Citizens Campaign for the Environment, a nonprofit organization fighting for stronger environmental policies.

Herald: Tell me about yourself.

Esposito: I grew up in Copiague, and I literally grew up with one foot in the water and one foot on the land. As a kid, we went crabbing and fishing and to the beach, and my mom would bring us blueberry-picking in the Pine Barrens. And my dad was a really tremendous fisherman and outdoorsmen, so we grew up on the water. So I think that that really connects you to the natural world and impresses upon you the beauty of it and the need to protect it.

Herald: Why do you do what you do?

Esposito:Citizens Campaign is now a 40-year old environmental and publichealth-protection organization, and we do this because it’s necessary to do. Everybody drinks water, everybody breathes the air, and everybody has to be nurtured from the earth. So we feel that we fill a niche that puts a lot of pressure on government to clean up toxics and prevent contamination from

occurring in the future. Industry and polluters are all lobbying for their own corporate interests, and we counter that by lobbying for the public interest.

Herald: What has challenged you in your career so far, and what keeps you going/inspires you?

Esposito: One challenge was making sure the organization was financially viable. We started 40 years ago, so environmental groups were not as popular as they are today. We survived on $10 donations from the public. It was quite challenging, and we had to be very wise, frugal and efficient.

Also, many times — most times — I was the only woman in the room at meetings and advocating. I would walk into a room not only as a woman, but as a 5-foot-2 woman who was an environmentalist. In some cases there would be snickers and laughing, because they didn’t take me seriously. Luckily, being a little woman was God’s disguise, because I’m very smart, and those around me quickly learned there was nothing to laugh about. I look back at it now, and it makes me chuckle, because there was a lot of arrogance by older men, a lot of ignorance on their part that the world was changing.

Herald: What have been the proudest moments in your life?

Esposito: It’s been that we never give up. To me, there is a big amount of satisfaction knowing you’re representing the public, people who maybe don’t have a voice or are too timid to speak up. So such campaigns as stopping Broadwater, which was a Shell Oil and Trans Canada project — everyone told me I would never win. Everyone told me there was no way an environmental group would win against global fossil-fuel industries. And yet we organized in Connecticut and New York, and we empowered the public to speak up. I remember when we won, I opened my email and hundreds of people emailed me saying how excited they were, and how they cheered in their living room when they heard the news. This is how attached people got to that campaign.

Herald: What advice do you have to offer? What work is left to be done?

Esposito: When I started, the environmental movement was looked down upon as if it was just a bunch of hippies. Now surveys say 88 percent of the public considers themselves environmentalists. We’ve changed the perspective. So what I would say to the young is get off your phone and get out there. Gain skills that allow you to be able to talk to diverse groups of people and fight, fight, fight. Don’t worry about fail-

“Protecting the earth should always be a human health issue,”

ing or people who don’t agree with you. Protecting the earth should always be a human health issue. And do not fall into the trap where it becomes a Democratic or Republican issue. Remember, it’s everyone’s concern.

For more information about Citizens Campaign for the Environment, visit CitizensCampaign.org.

Courtesy Lisa Burch

Lisa

Courtesy Adrienne Esposito

Adrienne Esposito says.

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Ameruoso has plans for more fundraisers

pickleball family, and they’re just so supportive. It’s just so nice to be part of a community like that.”

IAmeruoso, an author, motivational speaker and health and wellness coach, was born in Brooklyn and grew up in Valley Stream before settling in Merrick with her family. There is a history of more than one form of cancer among her relatives, including breast cancer. Oddly, the BRCA gene, which increases a woman’s risk of developing the disease, was not found when she underwent genetic testing.

t’s just so nice to be part of a community like that.

Joanne ameruoso Organizer, Pickleball for a Cause

Joanne’s mother, Mary Jean, died of breast cancer in 2014, at age 73.

Reflecting on her loss, Joanne realized that much of her own health history mimicked her mother’s.

Having learned that she was predisposed to Lynch syndrome, an inherited genetic disorder that increases the risk of several cancers, including stomach, colon, liver, brain, skin and endometrial cancer, she opted to undergo a preventive double mastectomy 10 years ago, when she was 48.

“Losing my mom in a very traumatic way, I became proactive for myself to take preventative measures to avoid breast cancer,” Ameruoso previously told the Herald, “and in doing so, tried to find something in my genetics that was streaming down my family, because there was nobody BRCA-positive in my family. So I had genetic testing done to find out that I was predisposed to Lynch syndrome, and, being proactive, I had my mastectomy.”

She loved to play tennis, but now she has a slight case of lymphedema in her wrist, which leaves it stiff. The disorder can be caused by cancer and cancer treatment, and her doctor told her she shouldn’t play tennis anymore, so she took up pickleball — and decided to share the sport, which is easy to learn, with others, and use it to bring awareness to cancer while having fun.

“We’re really trying hard to get Lynch syndrome on the panel so that when women go to get blood work done for breast cancer, that would be just one more mutation to get screened for,” Ameruoso said. “So that’s why we’re trying to prove that this is another breast cancer gene.”

All of the money raised last week will go to Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory’s center for cancer research, whose current project, M.J.’s Research, is focusing on Lynch syndrome and is named in honor of Ameruoso’s mother.

Joanne said she couldn’t have done it without all of the sponsors of the event, which included Long Beach’s JJ Coo -

pers; the tennis center; Sunset Printing, in Lynbrook; and Brookhill NY Inc., in Oceanside. There were also raffles and prizes from Mio Posto and Xaga Sushi and Asian Fusion, both in Merrick, JJ Coopers and the tennis center.

fun.

“We’re going to keep it going,” she said. “We may even do more before next year, because they were so supportive. People love it, and they love the mission and what we’re raising the money for.”

ing the American Cancer Society. The forum focused on increasing migrant women’s knowledge of health care options. She has also appeared on the Catholic Faith Network, and wrote a memoir, “Faith Over Fear: How my mom’s fear of breast cancer became my fight,” detailing her experience. Continued from page 1

Ameruoso said she hoped to host more fundraising events across Long Island. They may not involve pickleball, but she does want to mix advocacy with

Ameruoso has been traveling as a motivational speaker on the subject, and spoke at a women’s forum at the United Nations last March, represent -

Sylvi Sy, of oceanside, showed off her form.

Danny Gillespie/Herald photos

maria Cino, of Long Beach, Susan frumer, of Lido Beach, and nadine Cohen Watts and Jane morgan, of Long Beach, on the court.

Leo ortiz, 2, of massapequa, took to the court with his custom dinosaur paddle.

abigail fromm, of oceanside, took part in the day’s outing.

PrinciPal

By Brendan Carpenter bcarpenter@liherald.com

spent my summers in Long Beach. I went to St. John’s University for undergraduate and graduate work, ultimately attaining a Doctoral Degree in Educational Administration from St. John’s University.

Q: What other positions have you held at Long Beach High School?

Smith: I started teaching at Lehman High School in the Bronx. My first year teaching Social Studies at Long Beach was in 2001. I was summer school principal for 10 years from 2004-2014. I was IB Coordinator from 2010-2014 and I have been the Vice Principal since 2014. I also coach the Surf Team, which I hope to continue to do next year as principal.

Q: How did you get involved in the IB Program and what has that experience been like for you?

areas including AP, SUPA and many technical courses.

Q: How has acting as a vice principal prepared you for this new role?

Smith: As vice principal I have been involved in every aspect of the building and how it is run. I am lucky to have been mentored by Mr. Jeffrey Myers, who was a wonderful principal. As Vice Principal, we work in curriculum, student management, and building decisions so we are very involved daily with our teachers and students.

Q: What do you love about LBHS? What are some things you want to see in the future?

Smith was announced as the next principal of Long Beach High School at the district’s board meeting last week.

of the 21st century.

Q: Where did you grow up, go to school?

Smith: I grew in Queens, but

Andrew Smith has spent over 20 years with the Long Beach School District. He’s been a teacher and an administrator, and now, he will be the newest principal of Long Beach High School.

Smith: I was asked to be IB Coordinator in 2010 when we first brought the program to Long Beach. We started with 10 students and the program has grown to over 60 Diploma Candidates per year and over 500 exams being administered to students. IB has been instrumental in the high school. We have also expanded many other

Smith: LBHS is an outstanding school — we have some many great teachers and talented students. The school offers so many opportunities for students and we want to continue to have courses and programs that get students excited about school, interested in courses and leave the high school with a purpose. New York State is revamping graduation requirements, and we have an opportunity to shape our curriculum and school to meet the challenges

Q: What do you want readers and community members to know about you?

Smith: I am so grateful to be in position to lead the high school. Long Beach is very special place, and I am proud to a part such a wonderful school community.

Courtesy Long Beach Public School

Andrew Smith has been named the new principal for LBHS.

Herald file photo

L.I.’s representatives discuss the issues

There was laughter, there were opposing views and there were reflective answers to questions about major issues as Matt Cohen, president and CEO of the Long Island Association, moderated the organization’s fourth annual What’s New in Washington panel with Republican Reps. Andrew Garbarino and Nick LaLota and Democrats Laura Gillen and Tom Suozzi at the Crest Hollow Country Club in Woodbury last Friday.

Congressional District 1, which is represented by LaLota, stretches east from western Suffolk County to encompass both the North and South forks of Long Island. Garbarino represents the 2nd District, along the South Shore, which includes parts of Suffolk and a small portion of southeastern Nassau County.

Suozzi’s 3rd Congressional District includes a portion of Queens, expands along the North Shore of Nassau and extends to several communities in the middle of the eastern portion of the county. District 4, represented by Gillen, extends along the South Shore of Nassau, from the Queens border through several central communities to Seaford.

“Because of the times we live in, it’s almost impossible that the delegations are 50-50 Republicans and Democrats — that’s not the case here on Long Island,” Cohen said. “Our delegation didn’t hesitate to say yes when we invited them to this event.”

Cohen asked the panel several questions, ranging from bipartisanship efforts to House Speaker Mike Johnson, the state and local income tax deduction, commonly known as SALT, and President Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE.

Garbarino on bipartisanship:

“We try to work with everyone, and have broad conversations, with many different ideas,” Garbarino said. “There are a lot of egos, but we try to get everyone on the same page before we leave the room.”

Garbarino and LaLota bucked their party by supporting the SALT extension. “Our party is asking how we can support this when we’re growing the state budget by $13 billion,” Garbarino said. “It goes against our argument. We could use some help from Albany on this.”

Both have met with Trump at Mar-aLago, and said that Trump told them, “We are going to fix this.”

On offshore wind:

“We have to bring jobs back home, but one, we need power, and two, we need to generate as much power as possible,” Garbarino said. “That is good for keeping local energy costs down for Long Island and our constituents.”

On DOGE:

Garbarino, like LaLota, acknowledged that mistakes have been made, but expressed confidence that the Trump administration is committed to addressing them.

“I have called the White House and told them, ‘There’s a mistake here,’ and

“I think the American people are sick of hyperpartisanship in Washington,” Gillen said. “They just want us to do our jobs and get things done.”

every time I’ve called, they’ve responded by saying, ‘OK, we’ll have someone look into it,’” Garbarino said. “This is a better response than I’ve ever gotten under the Biden administration.

Gillen on working across the aisle:

“The best way to get things done is by reaching out to the other side,” she said.

“I’m the rookie here — the freshman — and during orientation, we had a lot of events where Democrats and Republicans did events together. I had plenty of time to get to know people on my side of the aisle and make the effort to meet my freshman colleagues who were Republicans and build relationships with them.

“I think the American people are sick of hyperpartisanship in Washington. They just want us to do our jobs and get things done,” she said, drawing applause from the audience.

On DOGE:

“I agree, we need to tighten governments’ belts,” she said. “There’s a ton of waste in government. But it’s a wrecking-ball approach. We should do it in an

organized, deliberative, thoughtful fashion. That’s how they should go forward.”

LaLota on SALT:

“As you can imagine,” LaLota said, “the president did 80, 90 percent of the talking, but heard us in our seriousness about how we need a higher SALT deduction.”

On DOGE:

“For 25 years, neither Republicans nor Democrats in Washington have balanced the budget,” LaLota said. “You have a president who’s a disruptor — a self-admitted disruptor. “He is doing what he promised to do, maybe in a manner that is disruptive to us. But let’s acknowledge the moment we’re in — 25 years, we haven’t balanced the budget.”

On tariffs:

“The president’s objective in much of it, especially in the reciprocal tariffs, is to create better competitive fairness for American manufacturers,” LaLota said. “The long-term objective is to reduce the trade deficits we have with a lot of our trading partners, especially in

China, where we have $200 billion trade deals. We’re sending way more to China than they’re sending back.”

Suozzi on SALT:

“Let me first say I want to give credit to Andrew and Nick, because they’re going against their party on this,” he said. “They stood up … and they’re saying that they’re not going to support this reconciliation package unless it’s resolved.”

On offshore wind:

“We have to figure out how can we protect our zeal to protect the environment, to address climate change, and do the stuff that we believe are important to do,” Suozzi said. “We’ve got to get stuff done, because we can’t get things done (in our country) because we’ve passed all these rules and regulations over the years. And people are fed up with the bureaucracy.”

On DOGE:

“I think it’s been reckless,” he said. “When they laid off people who were responsible for overseeing the nuclear stockpile and said, oh, that was a mistake. And then they had a hard time getting the people back because they had cut them off their emails. They fired the people responsible for overseeing avian flu.”

On tariffs:

“I think that tariffs against China I support, especially when they’re targeted,” Suozzi said. “I’m very concerned about the tariffs that have been proposed for Canada and Mexico and the effects it’s going to have right here on Long Island as well as the rest of the country. I think it’s sending a bad message that our two biggest trading partners are being stifled in this way.”

Roksana Amid, Jeffrey Bessen, Hernesto Galdamez, Carolyn James and Jordan Vallone reported this story.

Tim Baker/Herald photos

Long Island’s congressional delegation at the Long Island Association’s March 28 What’s New in Washington panel discussion. From left were Republican Reps. Nick LaLota and Andrew Garbarino, and Democrats Tom Suozzi and Laura Gillen.

Updates on projects, funding and initiatives

nearing completion, the pump installation is finished and interior piping work is still underway. The station is expected to be operational later in the spring. In addition to the pump station, D&B crews have been working on the sanitary sewer, water main and stormwater pipe installations. Much of the sanitary sewer system has been completed, and stormwater piping is about 75 percent finished.

The remaining phases of the project depend largely on the completion of the bulkheading, especially near the LIRR crossing. Once that work is finished, reconstruction of Water Street and Riverside Boulevard will follow, with a target completion date of next winter.

City grants and infrastructure projects

“We’re accepting over $6 million in grants tonight from the state,” Councilman John Bendo said. “We owe thanks to both our elected officials, Ari and Patricia,” he added, referring to Assemblyman Ari Brown and State Sen. Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, “but also the governor as well. Like I said, $6 million is not chump change. We can do a good amount of stuff with that.”

The city accepted a $100,000 grant for renovations to the Long Beach Police Department headquarters, specifically for improvements to the front vestibule. And a $600,000 grant was approved for the construction of a salt storage dome

the Long Beach City Council met to review updates on several ongoing infrastructure projects and to discuss new funding, including for police headquarters.

in the transfer yard on Park Place, to comply with state regulations. Officials are considering cost-effective options such as a galvanized steel structure, which has been used successfully in other municipalities.

The city also secured a $390,775 grant for improvements to Sherman Brown Park, in the North Park area of the city, expected to be completed before Memorial Day. An additional $1.45 million in funding will be directed to upgrading the boardwalk, including two new concessions and three “bump-out” exten -

sions of the structure that will extend 10 to 15 feet toward the ocean. The bumpouts may include shade structures, and may be occupied by small businesses or nonprofits, depending on community input. The council also approved a $3.36 million grant for upgrades to Park Avenue and Kennedy Plaza. The plaza will be redesigned to enhance public events without removing any commemorative features.

Additional initiatives

The council authorized an agreement

with Yodel Pass to manage electronic beach passes this season, which will include a feature for scanning seasonal passes for better access control.

The council also approved a list of volunteer firefighters who are eligible for the 2024 Length of Service Award program.

“We have volunteer firefighters that go literally to hundreds of calls each year, and they don’t get paid for it,” Bendo said. “What this program does is, later on, when they retire, they get a very tiny pension if they accumulate enough points over enough time for their career as a thank-you for their years of service. So that’s what this is — it’s a tiny pension.”

To support future development, the city accepted a $170,000 grant for a Bayfront planning study, which will evaluate underutilized waterfront properties for potential redevelopment. The objectives of the study include creating jobs, increasing the tax base, developing commercial uses and improving access to Reynolds Channel. It will incorporate community input, conduct an economic analysis, assess what developers might offer and ensure that the city drives the development process rather than the developers. The focus will be on making the study community-driven, prioritizing the needs and desires of residents for the bayfront area.

Herald file photo

Honoring Premier Business Women of L.I.

By Christie Leigh Babirad

An empowering evening of camaraderie, gratitude and celebration, the sixth annual Premier Business Women of Long Island Awards on March 19, at the Heritage Club at Bethpage, presented by RichnerLive, drew close to 400 attendees, and more than 50 women were honored for their accomplishments across a wide range of industries on Long Island.

The event was organized by Amy Amato, RichnerLive’s executive director of corporate relations and events, who said that it was a privilege to be there with such a talented and driven group of dynamic and fearless women.

“Your presence here displays the countless accomplishments that women have made and will continue to make,” Amato said, “and it’s a pleasure to welcome you all to the Richner family.”

Stuart Richner, CEO of Richner Communications Inc. and publisher of Herald Community Media, said that the night was intended to celebrate remarkable women by honoring what they have achieved in their careers as well as their communities.

“Looking around the room, I am truly humbled by the caliber of our award winners,” Richner said. “These extraordinary women represent diverse fields, from health care to finance to education and entrepreneurship, yet share common traits of vision, resilience and unwavering commitment to excellence.”

He added that his mother, Edith Richner, who founded Richner Communications with Stuart’s father nearly 60 years ago, would undoubtedly be proud of all the women leaders being honored at the event, because in her time, she was almost always the only woman at the table.

The keynote speaker, and the winner of the Trailblazer Award, was Linda Armyn, president and CEO of FourLeaf Federal Credit Union and the creator of the initiative Money Like a Woman, which she said was conceived to celebrate all of the values that women bring to the table. “We want to put them up on a pedestal and say, you know what, women have all these great talents that they use every day,” Armyn said, “to multitask, to be a mom, be a businesswoman, be an innovator, entrepreneur, and we don’t celebrate that enough. Money Like a Woman is all about celebrating those great traits and sharing them with the rest of the world.”

She added that the night was a wonderful way to celebrate women and all of their accomplishments, and that man of them are making a difference not only on Long Island, but well beyond.

Guests enjoyed drinks, appetizers and dinner at the event, as they mingled with award winners, family members and friends.

Honoree Laura D’Amato, Apple Bank’s first vice president and assistant marketing director said that it felt amazing to be honored as a Premier Business Woman of Long Island. “I’m totally humbled to be in the same room with so many amazing women,” D’Amato said.

PSEG Long Island’s manager of customer and community partnerships, Honoree Veronica Isaac, echoed those sentiments, and said that an event like this inspires her to keep doing what she’s doing.

Another honoree, Jennifer Baxmeyer, executive director of the Cradle of Aviation Museum in Garden City, said that an award means a lot, but that you’re only as good as your team.

Celine M. Gazes, CFO at Suffolk Regional Off Track Betting Corp. Jake’s 58 Hotel and Casino, said that the award felt “validating.”

Susan Johnson, acting superintendent of Hempstead schools, said that she was truly humbled to be honored. “People believing you can do it and reaching out to you that you are making a difference, it means so much,” said Johnson.

“It’s so incredibly special, and such a unique oppor-

tunity, to see all the different industries helping to move women forward,” Mary Fu, chief advancement officer at People’s Arc of Suffolk, said.

And Susan Gatti, of Disruptive Spark Business Academy, wanted to thank RichnerLive for bringing together women of all different ages and industries. “It’s humbling, and such an opportunity to reflect, since you’re always so busy,” Gatti said. “It’s nice to know that you’re going in the right direction, and to celebrate with so many other amazing women.”

In keeping with RichnerLive’s commitment to giving back, a portion of the proceeds from the event were donated to Hair We Share, a nonprofit that offers wigs at no cost to those experiencing medical hair loss. Its mission to restore dignity and confidence aligns

with the spirit of the honorees. More information about its work can be found at hairweshare.org.

Event sponsors included FourLeaf Federal Credit Union, People’s ARC of Suffolk, Apple Bank, CSD Net, Reworld, Maidenbaum, Whisper Woods of Smithtown, Eclectic Psychotherapy, Mending Hearts Counseling, Premier HR Consulting, Farmingdale State College, Jake’s 58, Optimum Business, Disruptive Spark Academy, PSEG Long Island, Dime Community Bank, C Squared, Family Children’s Association, Certilman Balin, St. Joseph’s University, the Cradle of Aviation, Vandegrift Plastic Surgery, Suffolk Regional Off Track Betting Corp. and ConnectOne Bank.

For a complete list of honorees and photos, visit RichnerLive.com.

Tim Baker/Herald photos

Nearly 400 people attended the awards dinner.

Veronica Isaac, of PSEGLI, with Stuart Richner.

Keynote speaker and Trailblazer Award winner Linda Armyn, of FourLeaf Federal Credit Union.

Holden Leeds/Herald photos

Mary Fu, People’s Arc of Suffolk

Megan C. Ryan, Esq., Nassau University Medical Center

Stavroula Savelidis, Ph.D., Nassau County Medical Society Kristy Uvena, Optimum Business

Jennifer Baxmeyer, Cradle of Aviation Museum

Susan Johnson, Hempstead Union Free School District

Paige O’Brien, Family and Children’s Association

Susan Nielsen, Eclectic Psychotherapy Group of Nassau County

Carrie Adduci, Esq., Certilman Balin Adler & Hyman LLP

Maureen Early, Reworld

Monica LaCroix-Rubin, Dime Community Bank

Dawn Harmon, Reworld

Amy Madmon, Maidenbaum Property Tax Reduction Group, LLC Laura D’Amato, Apple Bank Terry Going, ConnectOne Bank

Desiree Krajnyak-Baker, Whisper Woods of Smithtown

Anne Petraro, Mending Hearts Counseling and Eclectic Psychotherapy

Susan Gatti, Disruptive Spark Business Academy

Laura Joseph, EdD, Farmingdale State College

Dr. Maria Fletcher, PhD, RN, CNE, St. Joseph’s University

Tax credit for local businesses gains momentum

By CASEY FERBER

Special to the Herald

A first-of-its-kind tax credit to give small businesses in Long Beach some much-needed financial support is gaining momentum in Albany.

Earlier this month, a large bipartisan group of New York State legislators joined business leaders and local news organizations in person at the State Capitol in support of the Lift Our Communities, Advertise Locally Act, or just simply the LOCAL Act, which would establish a new $10 million tax credit for small businesses advertising in local media outlets. Sponsored by State Senator Monica R. Martinez and Assemblywoman Jennifer Lunsford, the LOCAL Act aims to maximize the reach of small businesses’ advertising dollars, while supporting the work of the media outlets New Yorkers rely on every day for critical information.

“Communities are built on connections with neighbors, and the same is true for small businesses,” Martinez said at the March 11 event. “The LOCAL Act supports this relationship by encouraging these community-based businesses to advertise with the media outlets already trusted by the neighbors they are committed to serving.”

Courtesy Empire State Local News Coalition

The Lift Our Communities, Advertise Locally Act, which would establish a new $10 million tax credit for small businesses advertising in local media outlets for Long Beach and beyond, is gaining momentum in the New York state legislature.

The LOCAL Act now has four cosponsors in the State Senate and seven in the Assembly, several of whom attended the rally. Ahead of the rally, nearly 20 major business groups across New York — including the National Federation of Independent Business, Upstate United and the Queens Chamber of Commerce — sent a letter to Gov. Kathy Hochul and state leadership urging them to support the LOCAL Act.

small businesses that make New York the world’s preeminent place to start and operate a business.”

Championed by the Empire State Local News Coalition, the LOCAL Act also has the staunch support of the coalition’s more than 200 local newspapers across the state. More than two-anda-half U.S. newspapers disappear per week, and here in New York, several counties have only one local news outlet.

“The LOCAL Act is a win-win-win for local businesses, local news, and local communities,” Zachary Richner, founding member of the Empire State Local News Coalition, said. “These institutions are intricately connected and work together to create the vibrant communities that New Yorkers love.”

Under the LOCAL Act, a minority-, woman- or veteran-owned business, as well as any business with 10 employees or fewer, would be eligible to receive a refundable tax credit of 80% of its first $5,000 of local advertising for a maximum credit of $4,000 per year. The program would be capped at $10 million annually.

“Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, driving job creation and growth in communities across New York. However, they continue to face significant financial challenges,” the letter states. “This is pragmatic legislation that will help —and be tremendously appreciated by — the thousands of

“The LOCAL Act is about more than just advertising — it’s about investing in the economic health of our local community and investing in the kind of local journalism that we need now more than ever,” Lunsford said.

The bill is expected to be voted on later this year.

STEPPING OUT

Rockin’ with Jason Scheff and Tommy DeCarlo

personal outdoors Thinking ‘green’

Get out there and prep to enjoy your

By Karen Bloom

Now that we’ve stepped forth into spring — and Earth Month — the moment has arrived to think about how you embrace the season — and months ahead of being fully present in our natural world. Specifically in your personal environment.

Give some thought to the way in which you want your yard to serve your family, pets and wildlife. Maybe you’re aiming to have the best yard on the block or expand your entertaining options. Perhaps your kids or pets could use a better play space.

Spring and backyarding — the act of bringing indoor activities such as dining, entertaining, even exercising, out into our backyards — surely go hand in hand.

A little planning and preparation now can mean colorful flowers, fresh crops and beautiful garden scenery later down the line. Good gardening starts long before you sow the first seed, so let’s get started!

“With the season’s first signs appearing, this is surely the time to get your garden ready for a great season,” garden design expert Fiona Jenkins says. She offers some common-sense advice on creating a low-maintenance garden full of beautiful, healthy plants all year round without taking your time away from the other things life throws at us.

Limit flowerbed size and plant variety

When considering the size of your flowerbeds, the smaller ones are better if you are looking for a low-maintenance solution, as larger ones will require a lot more initial planting and upkeep.

“Sticking to flower beds that are only one to two feet wide will make them much more manageable,” Jenkins says.

Once you have set the size, think about what plants you want to put in them. Jenkins suggests limiting the variety of your plants to around five different ones. This way, you will easily learn and memorize the requirements of each, and caring for them will be a lot simpler.

Simple, low-maintenance plants are ideal to start with, especially for those who have little spare time or don’t feel very confident in gardening. Hardy perennials such as geraniums and peonies, as well as evergreen shrubs, are great options as they can survive the winter frost and won’t need replanting every year.

“Once settled in, these plants can bring years of color and beauty to your garden,” Jenkins notes. “There are other factors to consider, such as how often a plant will need feeding, watering, and pruning — only purchase a plant when you are certain you can keep on top of its needs.”

Invest in good soil and mulch

Good quality, rich, organic soil allows plants to thrive with minimum need for frequent watering and fertilizing. Add organic matter such as compost to your soil yearly, which you can even make yourself.

“Mulching is a great way of protecting your soil and making it last longer by helping to maintain moisture levels and prevent weeds from growing,” she advises.

A layer of organic materials such as bark chips, dead leaves or compost will improve soil as it breaks down.

Invest in hard landscaping

Hard landscaping, such as decking or paving, elevates your outdoor space

and helps to define different areas of your garden. It forms the backbone of a well-designed yard, providing structure and aesthetic appeal.

One of the most popular choices for hard landscaping these days is omposite decking, which offers a sleek, modern look while being durable and low-maintenance. Unlike traditional wooden decking, composite boards resist fading, warping and moisture damage, meaning you won’t need to worry about sanding, staining, or sealing them over time. This makes them an excellent longterm investment to create an elegant yet practical outdoor area.

If you prefer paving, consider materials such as natural stone, concrete or even porcelain tiling, all of which provide a clean and sophisticated finish.

Beyond aesthetics, hard landscaping also contributes to functionality. Paved walkways make navigating your garden easier, while decking extends your living space outdoors. For an added touch of luxury, consider incorporating built-in lighting into your design, illuminating paths and seating areas for a cozy ambiance during the evenings.

Also consider adding a lower-maintenance rock garden. “This feature will look very visually appealing if done correctly and will pretty much take care of itself, “ according to Jenkins.

Achieving the look of a stunning rock garden is simple: plant some alpine plants and succulents and surround with a mix of larger rocks and smaller pebbles to cover the soil completely.

“This will bring interesting textures to your garden space,” Jenkins adds.

Make use of raised beds

Utilizing raised beds, whether on top of your existing soil or over hard landscaping, can give you more control over your plants.

“A raised flowerbed will stop them from spreading out of control and add a focal point of interest to your garden,” Jenkins says.

Embrace the wild

Another interesting option, which certainly cuts down on lawn maintenance, is to embrace what Jenkins describes as the “wild look.”

“This isn’t to say you should let it grow completely out of control, but your garden can look beautiful with the aesthetic of a grassy meadow rather than an urban space,” she says.

To enhance this effect, try

To enhance this effect, try sprinkling some wildflower seed mixes onto your grass. These flowers won’t need any maintenance, come in a range of beautiful colors, and are a real treat for our beloved garden friends, such as bees and butterflies.

Get set for backyard bliss. Refresh your backyard with vibrant blooms, cozy outdoor spaces and even a touch of nature’s wild charm.

Chicago frontman Jason Scheff is joined by Tommy DeCarlo, Boston’s former lead vocalist for their The Lead Singers of Classic Rock tour. They team up for a night of unforgettable classic rock spanning the ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s. Their musical tribute features two great sets of classic hits with Chicago’s timeless ballads the guitar-driven rock of Boston. Over 15 million fans have attended a live concert of both bands over a 32-year span featuring either Jason or Tommy’s signature high-tenor lead vocals. Scheff joined Chicago in 1985 and went on to perform thousands of live concerts spanning four decades during a non-stop touring and recording career with the band. DeCarlo joined Boston in 2008 after the passing of Brad Delp was lead singer on every tour thereafter, These pair is backed by a top band of touring professionals.

Saturday, April 5, 8 p.m. Tickets available at tillescenter.org or (516) 299-3100. LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Boulevard, Brookville.

The Wallflowers

Grab those leather jackets, and rock on! The Wallflowers bring their sound to the Paramount stage, with special guest Jackson Melnick. For the past 30 years, the Jakob Dylanled act has stood as one of rock’s most dynamic and purposeful bands — continually honing a sound that meshes timeless songwriting and storytelling with a hard-hitting and decidedly modern musical attack. That signature style has been present through the decades. In recent years, Dylan — the Wallflowers’ founding singer, songwriter and guitarist — has repeatedly stepped outside of his band. Now the band has made its triumphant return, with “Exit Wounds,” their new studio offering. The much-anticipated record finds that signature sound — lean, potent and eminently entrancing — intact, even as Dylan surrounds himself with a fresh cast of musicians.

Sunday, April 6, 8 p.m., $75, $45, $35, $25. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or paramountny. com.

Joan Osborne sings Dylan

The seven-time Grammy nominee brings her extraordinary voice and artistic depth to the timeless music of Bob Dylan, on the Landmark stage, Friday, April 11, 8 p.m. Best known for her multi-platinum hit “One of Us,” Osborne has spent over 25 years captivating audiences with her fearless exploration of genres ranging from rock and blues to soul, gospel and country. Her critically acclaimed 2018 album, “Songs of Bob Dylan,” and her live performances showcase her ability to reimagine Dylan’s iconic works, offering fresh interpretations that highlight the emotional resonance and poetic brilliance of his music. Osborne first began her journey with Dylan’s catalog in 2016 with a series of “Dylanology” concerts. These performances deepened her appreciation for his vast and varied repertoire and inspired her to put her own stamp on his songs. Her renditions are both reverent and inventive, blending her soulful delivery with the rich textures of her band to bring new life to classics like “Tangled Up in Blue” and “Highway 61 Revisited.”

With a voice hailed as one of the most powerful and versatile of her generation, Osborne invites audiences to rediscover Dylan’s masterpieces through her singular lens. Her take on the “Dynalogy” reflects her reverence for iconic musician who remains forever young in the hearts and minds of his fans and the music world. The recent biopic, “A Complete Unknown,” brings Dylan to the forefront once again. Osborne turns back the clock with her artistic and soulful reinterpretations exuding passion, emotion and energy. $59, $55, $48, also special VIP package. Jeanne Rimsky Theater at Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington. Tickets available at landmarkonmainstreet.org or (516) 767-6444.

NEW YORK’S WRONGEST RUNNING COMEDY!

It’s a ‘Shore’ Thing! Poetry Festival

Several Long Beach residents, poets, artists and educators will be highlighted in the It’s a ‘Shore’ Thing! Poetry Festival, at Long Beach Public Library, presented by the Shore Poets and the library. Check out the two-day event, Saturday, April 5, 10 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sunday, April 6, 1-5 p.m. 111 W. Park Ave. For information, visit longbeachlibrary.org.

BOE meets

Long Beach Board of Education meets, Tuesday, April 8, 7 p.m., at Lido Elementary School. For more information, visit LBeach.org. 237 Lido Blvd., Lido Beach.

Celebrate Holi

Long Island Children’s Museum invites families to participate in Holi, the Festival of Colors, Sunday, April 6, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Originating in India, this Hindu festival marks the end of winter and the arrival of the colorful spring season. During this joyous celebration, families eat sweets, dance to traditional folk music and throw colorful powder made from flowers called gulal. Crafts, color throwing and dancing are part of this vibrant event. Welcome spring’s arrival with Holi. Participants are encouraged to wear clothes that they won’t mind getting messy. Long Island Children’s Museum, Museum Row, Garden City. Go to licm.org or call (516) 2245800 for more information.

Tunes with Dancing Dream

Plaza Theatricals welcomes the ABBA tribute band, Sunday, April 6, 2:30 p.m. This act takes you back to the days when Swedish disco group ruled the airwaves with their great pop hits and memorable performances. Come experience the glitter of the ‘70s. $40, $35 seniors. Groove along at Plaza’s stage at Elmont Memorial Library, 700 Hempstead Tpke., Elmont. Elmont. For tickets, call (516) 599-6870 or visit plazatheatrical.com.

Gerrin Hagen Memorial Hockey Day

The 3rd annual Gerrin Hagen Memorial Hockey Day is set for Saturday, April 5, at Long Beach Ice Arena. 150 W. Bay Dr. For more information, visit longbeachny.gov.

Jazz Tuesdays

If you love jazz and standards, come experience the Sunset Trio in the L’Onda Bar at the Allegria Hotel, every Tuesday, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Enjoy the incredible Vincent Loccisano on piano, the sultry vocals of Mariann Megna and Michael Luca, bass. No cover/no minimum. 80 W. Broadway. Call (516) 889-1300 for more information.

BOE meets

Long Beach Board of Education meets, Tuesday, April 8, 7 p.m., at Lido Elementary School. For more information, visit lbeach.org. 237 Lido Blvd., Lido Beach.

Easter Egg Hunt

Join in the fun at the City of Long Beach Department of Parks and Recreation’s annual Easter Egg Hunt, Saturday, April 12, at the Rec Center fields. 700 Magnolia Blvd. For more details, visit longbeachny.gov/egghunt.

Long Beach Catholic School Car Wash

Long Beach Catholic Regional School’s 8th grade students hold a car wash, Sunday, April 13. Bring your vehicle to the Catholic School yard, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. 735 W. Broadway.

Mah Jongg club

Do you play Mah Jongg and want to meet other community members who play? Join in the game, at Long Beach Library, Wednesdays at 11 a.m. in the auditorium. Practice your skills and have fun while you do it. Bring your own Mah Jongg tiles. 111 W. Park Ave.

‘Listen to the Music’

Join L.I. Cabaret Theatre for their latest performance, Saturday, April 5, 2 p.m., at the Elmont Library Theatre stage. In this spirited show, the plotline follows the startup of a TV network and streaming service. A cast of 30 keeps the action moving along, with original choreography, and band accompaniment.

Singers and dancers perform current hits, oldies and tunes from the Broadway stage. Free admission. Elmont Memorial Library Theater, 700 Hempstead Turnpike, Elmont. Visit elmontlibrary. org or call (516) 354-5280 for information.

Ask the tech guy

Spring Dog Festival

Get ready to wag those tails, at Old Westbury Gardens with your pooch (leashed of course), Saturday and Sunday, April 12-13, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Bring your canine companions for a scenic stroll through grounds bursting spring’s first blooms. Browse a selection of local dog-friendly vendors offering unique products and services for your furry friends, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Old Westbury Gardens, 71 Old Westbury Rd., Old Westbury. For information contact (516) 333-0048 or visit oldwestburygardens.org.

Do you have questions about your computer or laptop? Want to learn more about Zoom, streaming movies, etc to your device? Join Long Beach Library’s Tech Guy, every Wednesday, 2-3 p.m. to get answers to your pressing tech questions. 111 W. Park Ave. For information, visit LongBeachLibrary.org.

Having an event?

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.

On Exhibit

Nassau County Museum of Art’s latest exhibition, the original “Deco at 100” coincides with the 100th anniversary of the 1925 Paris International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts (Exposition internationale des arts décoratifs et industriels modernes) which publicly launched the movement. The direct followup to the well-received 2023 exhibit, “Our Gilded Age,” it comparably links the period’s signature innovation in the decorative arts, Art Deco, to the fine arts. The exhibit encompasses significant cultural advancements during Long Island’s Roaring Twenties/Jazz Age movement, including votes, jobs, and the automobile for women, the beginnings of suburbia with commutation for work, and planned residential communities, which all defined the era, while the following decade brought economic reversals and the WPA program. Works by Louis Comfort Tiffany, Fernand Léger, Guy Pène du Bois, Gaston Lachaise, Elie Nadelman, and Reginald Marsh, among others, along with art deco stylists of poster art and graphics, and photography will convey the Art Deco spirit along with its furniture, decorative arts, and fashion.

Like “Our Gilded Age,” the social scene of Long Island’s Gold Coast, and its personalities — both upstairs and downstairs — will be portrayed, along with the ongoing relationship with the immediate urban context of New York with its skyscrapers and deco-styled architecture. On view through June 15. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. (516) 484-9337 or NassauMuseum. org.

Hempstead House tour

April

13

Sands Point Preserve is the backdrop to explore the elegant Gold Coast home that’s the centerpiece of the estate, Sunday, April 13, noon-1 p.m. and 2-3 p.m. Visit the grand rooms inside the massive 50,000-square-foot Tudor-style mansion, the former summer residence of Gilded Age financier Howard Gould and later Daniel and Florence Guggenheim. Tours are limited in size and tend to sell out. Arrive early to purchase tickets. $10. Sands Point Preserve, 127 Middle Neck Road. For information, visit SandsPointPreserveConservancy.org or call (516) 571-7901.

April 3, 2025 —

LEGAL NOTICE

Public Notices

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU NEW YORK BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

CORPORATION d/b/a PURSUIT BDC, Plaintiff, againstMICHAEL D’ANTONI

a/k/a MICHAEL E. D’ANTONI, VERSA-TEL TS, INC., EMPIRE STATE CERTIFIED DEVELOPMENT

CORPORATION d/b/a PURSUIT CDC, U.S. SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE, MONTANA DATACOM INC., NYBDC LOCAL DEVELOPMENT

CORPORATION d/b/a THE EXCELSIOR GROWTH FUND, TBF FINANCIAL, LLC, AMERICAN EXPRESS NATIONAL BANK, CHILLAX LLC, CADLEROCK JOINT VENTURE, L.P., PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY, INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, and “JOHN OR JANE DOE” (such designation intending to refer to any and all other individuals occupying the subject premises and/or claiming any interest whatsoever in such premises), Defendants.

NOTICE OF SALE Index No.: 609011-2024

Property Addresses: 30 Delaware Ave. Long Beach, New York Honorable Thomas Rademaker Pursuant to Order Confirming Referee Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated February 5, 2025 and entered in the Nassau County Clerk’s Office of February 18, 2025 (the “Judgment”), I, the undersigned Referee, duly appointed in this action for such purpose, will expose for sale and sell at public auction to the highest bidder on the north side steps, Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, New York, on April 10, 2025 at 2:00 p.m., the mortgaged premises located at 30 Delaware Avenue, Long Beach, New York (Sec. 59 Block 260 Lot 13) (“Property”), as directed in and by said Judgment.

Approximate amount

of the Judgment is $80,670.12 plus postjudgment interest and costs. Please take notice that the Property is subject to a prior mortgage of record now held by CitiMortgage, Inc. in the original principal amount of $360,000.00 (Nassau County Clerk Liber 37176 Mp 100; Assignment at Liber 42896 Mp 855). Interested parties may contact Meghan Breen, Esq. at 518-581-8800.

Dated: March 7, 2025

/s/Ronald J. Ferraro

Ronald J. Ferraro, Esq. 152086

YOU ARE HEREBY CITED TO SHOW CAUSE before the Surrogate’s Court, Nassau County, at 262 Old Country Road, Mineola, New York, on May 7, 2025, at 9:30 o’clock in the forenoon of that day, why the account of Nassau County Public Administrator, a summary of which has been served herewith, as Administrator of the estate of Concetta Duchini, should not be judicially settled. [X] Further relief sought (if any):

1.Releasing and discharging the Petitioner from all liability, responsibility and accountability as to all matters set forth in the account of proceedings;

and further relief as to the Court is just and proper. Dated, Attested, and Sealed, March12, 2025 (Seal)

HON. HON. MARGARET C. REILLY

Surrogate s/ Debra Keller

Leimbach Chief Clerk

Signature of Attorney Richard T. Kerins, Esq. Print Name of Attorney Mahon, Mahon, Kerins & O’Brien, LLC

Firm Name (516) 538-1111

Telephone 254 Nassau Boulevard South, Garden City South, New York 11530

Address

rkerins@mmkolaw.com

Email (optional)

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered February 25, 2025, I will sell at public auction to the highest bidder at North Side Steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on April 29, 2025 at 2:00 PM.

Premises known as 507 Lindell Boulevard , Long Beach, NY 11561. Sec 59 Block 10 Lot 41. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the City of Long Beach, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York.

LEGAL NOTICE

SURROGATE’S COURT, NASSAU COUNTY CITATION

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, By the Grace of God Free and Independent TO: Grassi Advisory Group, Inc. Office of the NYS Attorney General

Jasper Surety

Susanne Lennon

Nancy Adams

Arthur Thomas D’Ari

a/k/a Tom D’Ari

Linda D’Ari

Richard D’Ari

Adele D’Ari

Paul D’Ari

2.Allowing the commissions of the Petitioner in the amount of $ 41,178.84 pursuant to SCPA 2307(1) and the reasonable and necessary expenses of the office in the amount of $ 12,871.53 pursuant to SCPA 1207(4);

3.Fixing and determining the attorney’s fees and disbursements of Mahon, Mahon, Kerins & O’Brien, LLC attorney for petitioner in the amount of $ 76,066.04 as and for legal fees and disbursements, of which $ 49,066.04 has been paid and $ 27,000.00 is unpaid; Fixing and determining the accounting fees of Grassi & Co, CPA’s, PC in the amount of $ 8,175.00, of which $ 2,175.00 has been paid and $ 6,000.00 is unpaid;

NOTE: This citation is served upon you as required by law. You are not required to appear. If you fail to appear it will be assumed that you do not object to the relief requested. You have a right to have an attorney appear for you, and you or your attorney may request a copy of the full account from the petitioner or petitioner’s attorney 152315

LEGAL NOTICE

Approximate Amount of Judgment is $328,408.17 plus interest, fees, and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No 608866/2023. The foreclosure sale will be conducted in accordance with 10th Judicial District’s Covid-19 Policies and foreclosure auction rules. The Referee shall enforce any rules in place regarding facial coverings and social distancing. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, then the Court Appointed Referee shall cancel the foreclosure auction. Foreclosure Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine.”

I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court “Rain or Shine”, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on April 30, 2025 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 610 Laurelton Boulevard, Long Beach, NY 11561. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the City of Long Beach, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 59, Block 54 and Lots 6-7. Approximate amount of judgment is $643,946.03 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #607903/2023. 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. Brian J. Davis, Esq., Referee Adam Leitman Bailey, P.C., Attn: Jackie Halpern Weinstein, Esq., One Battery Park Plaza, 18th Floor, New York, New York 10004, Tel: 212.825.0365, Attorneys for Plaintiff 152407

AND

NOTICES…

168/25. POINT LOOKOUT - Jaap Goudsmit & Fransje Van Der Waals, Variances, lot area occupied, side yards, side yards aggregate, rear yard setback, construct 2nd story addition with deck & stairs, convert garage to living space, all attached to dwelling., E/s Mineola Ave., 400’ S/o Lido Blvd., a/k/a 66 Mineola Ave. ALL PAPERS PERTAINING TO THE ABOVE HEARING ARE AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION AT THE BOARD OF APPEALS, TOWN HALL, 1 WASHINGTON STREET, HEMPSTEAD, NY 11550. This notice is only for new cases in Point Lookout 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.go v/509/Board-of-Appeals

The internet address of the website streaming for this meeting is https://hempsteadny.go v/576/Live-StreamingVideo

TRUST, MORTGAGE PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES SERIES 2006-BC5 is the Plaintiff and PATRICIA BERKELEY, 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 May 6, 2025 at 2:00PM, premises known as 520 LAURELTON BOULEVARD, LONG BEACH, NY 11561; and the following tax map identification: 59-56-1, 2, 3, 4 & 5. ALL THAT CERTAIN PARCEL OF LAND SITUATE IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH, TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, COUNTY OF NASSAU AND STATE OF NEW YORK

PUBLIC AND LEGAL NOTICES… Printed in this publication can be found online. Search by publication name at: www.newyorkpublicnotices.com PUBLIC AND LEGAL NOTICES… Printed in this publication can be found online. To search by publication name, go to: www.newyorkpublicnotices.com TO PLACE AND AD CALL 516-569-4000 x 232

Rocco J. Labella, Esq. and any and all unknown persons whose names or parts of whose names and whose place or places of residence are unknown and cannot after diligent inquiry be ascertained, distributees, heirs-atlaw and next-of-kin of the said Concetta Duchini, deceased, and if any of the said distributees named specifically or as a class be dead, their legal representatives, their husbands or wives, if any, distributees and successors in interest whose names and/or places of residence and post office addresses are unknown and cannot after diligent inquiry be ascertained.

A petition having been duly filed by Nassau County Public Administrator, who is domiciled at 240 Old Country Road, Mineola, New York 11501.

5.Releasing and discharging the surety;

6.Allowing and directing payment of the claim of Rocco J. Labella, Esq. in the amount of $ 13,476.23, none of which has been paid;

7.Directing each of you claiming to be a distributee of the Decedent to establish proof of your kinship, and show cause why the balance of said funds should not be paid to said alleged distributees upon proof of kinship or deposited with the New York State Comptroller on account for the unknown next of kin of Concetta Duchini, decedent, should said alleged distributees default herein or fail to establish proof of kinship;

8.Granting such other

online. To search by publication name, go to: www.newyorkpublicnotices.com TO PLACE AN AD CALL 516-569-4000 x 232 PUBLIC AND LEGAL NOTICES… Printed in this publication can be found online. To search by publication name, go to: www.newyorkpublicnotices.com TO PLACE AN AD CALL 516-569-4000 x 232

For sale information, please contact XOME at www.Xome.com or call (844)400-9633.

PUBLIC AND LEGAL NOTICES… Printed in this publication can be found online. To search by publication name, go to: www.newyorkpublicnotices.com TO PLACE AN AD CALL 516-569-4000 x 232 Place a notice by phone at 516-569-4000 x232 or email: legalnotices@liherald.com

Notice is hereby given that a license, number “Pending” for beer, cider, liquor and wine, has been applied for by the undersigned to sell beer, cider, liquor and wine, at retail in a restaurant under the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law at 36 B. E Park Ave, Long Beach, Nassau County, NY 11561 for on premises consumption.

CASA MADE, INC. d/b/a Taste of Italy 152477

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT

NASSAU COUNTY

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON AS TRUSTEE FOR CDC

MORTGAGE CAPITAL TRUST 2004-HE3, Plaintiff against JOHN P. PEERS, et al Defendant(s) Attorney for Plaintiff(s) McCalla Raymer Leibert Pierce, LLC, 420 Lexington Avenue, Suite 840, New York, NY 10170.

Paul L Meli, Esq., Referee File # 22-12053NY 152419

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB, D/B/A CHRISTIANA TRUST, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE OF RESIDENTIAL CREDIT OPPORTUNITIES TRUST II, Plaintiff, vs. COZY NEST HOMES, LLC, ET. AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to an Order Confirming Referee’s Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on September 19, 2024 and an Order Appointing Substitute Referee duly entered on November 18, 2024,

in this publication can be

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 04/09/2025 at 9:30 A.M. to consider the following applications and appeals: THE FOLLOWING CASES WILL BE CALLED STARTING AT 9:30 A.M.

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. 152616

LEGAL NOTICE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE FOR STRUCTURED ASSET SECURITIES CORPORATION MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST, MORTGAGE PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES SERIES 2006-BC5, -againstPATRICIA BERKELEY, ET AL. NOTICE OF SALE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Nassau on January 3, 2025, wherein U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE FOR STRUCTURED ASSET SECURITIES CORPORATION MORTGAGE LOAN

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No.: 610508/2020. James Pascarella, Esq.Referee. Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC, 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310, Westbury, New York 11590, Attorneys for Plaintiff. All foreclosure sales will be conducted in accordance with Covid-19 guidelines including, but not limited to, social distancing and mask wearing. *LOCATION OF SALE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DAY OF IN ACCORDANCE WITH COURT/CLERK DIRECTIVES. 152723

LEGAL NOTICE

Notice of Sale Supreme Court: Nassau County Point 62 LLC v Brian McBrearty et al. Defts Index 607236/2022 Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered December 19, 2023, I will sell at public auction at the North Side Steps of the Nassau Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Dr. Mineola NY 11501 on May 6, 2025 at 2:30 pm premises known as School District 28 Section 59, Block 189 Lot 348U CA157 Unit 200, City of Long Beach , County of Nassau, State of New York Sold subject to the terms of sale and filed

Public Notices

judgment of foreclosure, any liens owned or held by the Board of Managers of the Ocean Crest Condominium. Bank Checks Only, must be payable to the Referee for 25% of Bid Price, No Cash Accepted. Foreclosure Auctions will be held “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 and safety concerns, then the Court Appointed Referee shall cancel the foreclosure auction.

Brian J. Davis, Esq. Referee 152725

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, MORTGAGE ASSETS MANAGEMENT, LLC, Plaintiff, vs. ANY AND ALL KNOWN OR UNKNOWN HEIRS, DEVISEES, GRANTEES, ASSIGNEES, LIENORS, CREDITORS, TRUSTEES, AND ALL OTHER PARTIES CLAIMING AN INTEREST BY, THROUGH, UNDER OR AGAINST THE ESTATE OF MICHAEL BERGER A/K/A MICHAEL T. BERGER, DECEASED, ET AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to an Order Confirming Referee Report, Amend the Caption, and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on November 15, 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 May 6, 2025 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 443 B West Broadway, Unit 201, a/k/a 441 B Broadway, Unit 201, Long Beach, NY 11561. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the City of Long Beach, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 59, Block 39 and Lot 151U a/k/a 151 together with an undivided 16.66 percent interest in the Common Elements. Approximate amount of judgment is $864,961.73 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #605358/2018.

Keith Lavallee, Esq., Referee

Greenspoon Marder, 1345 Avenue of the Americas, Suite 2200, New York, NY 10105, Attorneys for Plaintiff 152729

To place a notice here call us at 516-569-4000 x232 or send an email to: legalnotices@liherald.com

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU FREEDOM MORTGAGE CORPORATION, Plaintiff AGAINST DENNIS P. O’MALLEY AKA DENNIS PATRICK OMALLEY, CANDY MCLAUGHLIN, ET AL., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered June 5, 2023, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on May 6, 2025 at 2:00PM, premises known as 221 New York Avenue, Long Beach, NY 11561. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the City of Long Beach, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 59 Block 243 Lot 46. Approximate amount of judgment $539,159.35 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #600531/2018.

George P. Esernio, Esq., Referee Gross Polowy, LLC 1775 Wehrle Drive Williamsville, NY 14221 18-007128 85045 152571

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING, BUDGET VOTE AND ELECTION OF THE LONG BEACH CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT NASSAU COUNTY, NEW YORK

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a public hearing on the proposed school district budget will be held on May 13, 2025 at 7:00 P.M. in the Long Beach High School Auditorium, 322 Lagoon Drive West, Lido Beach, New York, and can also be viewed remotely at tinyurl.com/proudtobeL B; for the transaction of business as authorized by the Education Law, including the following items:

1. To present to the voters a detailed statement of the amount of money which will be required for the 2025-2026 fiscal year.

2. To discuss all the items hereinafter set forth to be voted upon by voting machine at the Budget Vote and Election to be held on Tuesday, May 20, 2025.

3. To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting pursuant to Education Law of the State of New York and acts amendatory thereto. PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that a copy of the statement of the amount of money required for the ensuing year for school purposes (school budget) exclusive of public monies may be obtained by any district resident beginning May 6, 2025, between the hours of 8:00AM and 4:00PM, prevailing time, except Saturday, Sunday or holidays at the Office of the District Clerk, 235 Lido Boulevard, Lido Beach, New York, at Long Beach Public Library, at 111 West Park Avenue, Long Beach, New York, and on the District’s internet website. A copy of the statement of the amount of money that will be required for the Library purposes exclusive of public money will be available at the Long Beach Public Library and the Library’s district clerk’s office for the year beginning July 1, 2025.

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that said Budget Vote and Election will be held on Tuesday, May 20, 2025 at the school election districts indicated below, between the hours of 7:00AM and 9:00PM, prevailing time, at which time the polls will be opened to vote by voting machine upon the following items:

1. To adopt the annual budget of the School District for the fiscal year 2025-2026 and to authorize the requisite portion thereof to be raised by taxation on the taxable property of the District.

2. To elect one member of the Board of Education for a three (3) year term commencing July 1, 2025, and expiring on June 30, 2028, to fill the positions held by

Anne Conway, whose terms expire on June 30, 2025.

3. To vote on the following proposition:

CAPITAL RESERVE FUND EXPENDITURE PROPOSITION

“SHALL THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF THE LONG BEACH CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT (the “School District”) be authorized to appropriate and expend: a sum not to exceed $2,877,971 representing monies from the 2018 Capital Improvement Fund for the following purposes: replace ceramic tile pool deck including mud setting bed, install new waterproofing membrane, reline entire pool shell with Murtha pool PVC liner system including new main drain and gutters; replace pool bleachers; replace gym bleachers , as well as preliminary and other costs incidental thereto?

(Because the funds to be expended hereunder are from the referenced Capital Reserve Funds, approval of this proposition will not require a tax levy upon the real property of the district.)”

4. To elect one (1) trustee of the Long Beach Public Library for a five (5) year term commencing on July 1, 2025 and ending June 30, 2030.

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that, per resolution of the Board of Education adopted on February 8, 2022, this vote and election will be held at the following school election districts (the accurate description of the boundaries is on file and may be inspected at the Office of the District Clerk, Administration Building, 235 Lido Boulevard, Lido Beach, New York 11561):

LINDELL SCHOOL

ELECTION DISTRICT

LINDELL SCHOOL

GYMNASIUM

601 LINDELL

BOULEVARD, CITY OF LONG BEACH

This election district embraces the territory bounded on the West by a line parallel to and sixty (60) feet westerly from Malone Avenue, on the North by Reynolds Channel, on the East by the center line of Long Beach Boulevard and on the South by the Atlantic Ocean.

EAST SCHOOL

ELECTION DISTRICT

EAST SCHOOL

GYMNASIUM

456 NEPTUNE

BOULEVARD, CITY OF LONG BEACH

This election district embraces the territory bounded on the West by the center line of Long Beach Boulevard, on the North by Reynolds Channel, East to the easterly bounding line of the City of Long Beach, and on the South by the Atlantic Ocean.

LIDO/MS SCHOOL

ELECTION DISTRICT

LIDO COMPLEX

AUDITORIUM LOBBY 239 LIDO BOULEVARD, LIDO BEACH, NEW YORK

This election district embraces the territory of the area known as Lido Beach, bounded on the West by a line commencing due east of the City of Long Beach, on the North by Reynolds Channel, on the East by the easterly boundary line of Point Lookout and on the South by the Atlantic Ocean.

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that pursuant to Section 495 of the Real Property Tax Law, the School District is required to attach to its proposed budget an exemption report. Said exemption report, which will also become part of the final budget, will show how the total assessed value of the final assessment roll used in the budgetary process is exempt from taxation, list every type of exemption granted by the statutory authority, and show the cumulative impact of each type of exemption, the cumulative amount expected to be received as payments in lieu of taxes (PILOT) and the cumulative impact of all exemptions granted. In addition, said exemption report shall be posted on any bulletin board maintained by the District for public notices and on any website maintained by the District.

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that petitions nominating candidates for Board of Education trustees and Library Board trustee are available from the Clerk of said School District at her office in the Administration Building, 235 Lido Boulevard, Lido Beach, New York, 11561. Nominating petitions must be filed with the Clerk of the School

District not later than April 30, 2025, between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., prevailing time. Vacancies on both the Board of Education and the Library Board are not considered separate, specific offices; candidates run at large. Nominating petitions for Board of Education trustee must be directed to the District Clerk, must be signed by at least 100 qualified voters of the District; must state the name and residence of each signer; and must state the name and residence of the candidate.

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that applications for early mail ballots and absentee ballots for the school district election are to be completed on a form prescribed by the state board of elections and may be obtained by visiting the New York State Education Department’s Website (http://www.counsel.ny sed.gov/common/couns el/files/absentee-ballotapplication-andinstructionsenglish.pdf; http://www.counsel.nys ed.gov/common/counse l/files/absentee-ballotapplication-andinstructionsspanish.pdf), or by contacting the District Clerk by email or phone at sfamiletti@lbeach.org or 516-897-2108. Completed applications must be received by the District Clerk no earlier than April 21, 2025 and at least seven (7) days before the election, May 13, 2025, if the ballot is to be mailed to the voter, or the day before the election, May 19, 2025, if the ballot is to be delivered personally to the voter. Absentee ballots must be received by the District Clerk not later than 5:00 p.m., prevailing time, on Tuesday, May 20, 2025.

A list of persons to whom early mail ballots and absentee ballots are issued will be available for inspection to qualified voters of the District in the Office of the District Clerk on and after Thursday, May 15, 2025, between the hours of 8:00a.m. and 4:00p.m., prevailing time, on each day prior to the day set for the annual election, except Sunday, and on May 20, 2025, the day set

for the election. Any qualified voter then present in the polling place may object to the voting of the ballot upon appropriate grounds by making his or her challenge and the reasons therefore known to the Inspector of Election before the close of the polls. A challenge to an absentee ballot may not be made on the basis that the voter should have applied for an early mail ballot.

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that any person who is not registered under permanent personal registration on or before January 1, 2018, or supplemental registration lists furnished by the Nassau County Board of Elections, or has not voted at an intervening school district election, must present himself or herself personally for registration in order to be entitled to vote on May 6, 2025 from 2:00pm to 8:00pm; at Long Beach Middle School Auditorium Lobby, 239 Lido Boulevard, Lido Beach, New York 11561.

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that any person who has moved from one school election district in the Long Beach City School District to another, and who has not registered in the new school election district, and who is still registered in the district from which he or she moved, may vote in the election district in which he or she registered. Such people must advise, at the time of voting, the election inspectors of his/her new address to correct such registration.

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that only those qualified voters whose names appear on the registers prepared for said school district election will be entitled to vote on Election Day. The register will be filed in the District Clerk’s Office and open to inspection by any qualified voter of the school district from 8:00a.m. to 4:00p.m. on weekdays from May 6, 2025 to May 20, 2025, and Saturday May 10, 2025, when it will be available from 9 A.M. to 12 noon by appointment only. AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that military voters who are not currently registered may apply to register as a qualified voter of

the school district. An application for registration as a military voter can be requested by contacting the District Clerk by telephone (516) 897-2108, facsimile (516) 771-3944, email sfamiletti@lbeach.org, mail to 235 Lido Boulevard, Lido Beach, NY, 11561, or in person (during regular office hours or between the hours of 8:15 AM to 4:00 PM); the application for registration must be received in the office of the District Clerk no later than 5:00 pm on May 6, 2025. In the request for an application for registration, the military voter is permitted to designate his/her preference for receiving the application for registration by mail, facsimile transmission or electronic mail. PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that military voters who are qualified voters of the district may submit an application for a military ballot by requesting an application form from the District Clerk; in order to receive a military ballot, the military ballot application must be received no later than 5:00 pm on May 5, 2025. In the request for an application for a military ballot, the military voter is permitted to designate his/her preference for receiving the application for a military ballot, and the military ballot, by mail, facsimile transmission or electronic mail. All qualified military voters’ ballot applications and military ballots must be returned by mail or in person. Ballots for military voters shall be distributed to qualified military voters no later than May 6, 2025. Military ballots must be received by the District Clerk (1) before the close of the polls, on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, and must show a cancellation mark of the United States postal service or a foreign country’s postal service, or must show a dated endorsement of receipt by another agency of the United States Government; or (2) not later than 5:00 pm on the day of the election and be signed and dated by the military voter and one

April 3, 2025 —

Public Notices

witness, with a date ascertained to be not later than the day before the election.

A list of persons to whom military ballots are issued will be available for inspection to qualified voters of the District in the Office of the District Clerk on and after Thursday, May 15, 2025, between the hours of 8:00a.m. and 4:00p.m., prevailing time, on each day prior to the day set for the annual election, except Sunday, and on May 20, 2025, the day set for the election. Any qualified voter then present in the polling place may object to the voting of the ballot upon appropriate grounds by making his or her challenge and the reasons therefore known to the Inspector of Election before the close of the polls. AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that pursuant to a rule adopted by the Board of Education in accordance with Section 2035 of the Education Law, any referenda or propositions to amend the budget, or otherwise to be submitted for voting at said election, must be filed with the Clerk of the Board of Education at the District Office, Administration Building, 235 Lido Boulevard, Lido Beach, New York 11561, in sufficient time to permit notice of the proposition to be included with the Notice of the Public Hearing, Budget Vote and Election required by Section 2004 of the Education Law or on or before April 21, 2025 at 4:00 p.m., prevailing time; must be typed or printed in the English language; must be directed to the Clerk of the School District; must be signed by at least 25 qualified voters of the District; and must legibly state the name of each signer. However, the School Board will not entertain any petition to place before the voters any proposition the purpose of which is not within the powers of the voters to determine, which is unlawful, or any proposition which fails to include a specific appropriation where the expenditure of monies is required by the proposition, or where other valid reason exists for

excluding the proposition from the ballot.

Dated: Lido Beach, New York, March 25, 2025

By Order of the BOARD OF EDUCATION OF THE LONG BEACH CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT

Lido Beach, New York

Susannah Familetti, District Clerk 152703

PUBLIC AND LEGAL NOTICES…

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PUBLIC AND LEGAL NOTICES…

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LEGAL NOTICE ANUNCIO DE AUDIENCIA PUBLICA, VOTACION DE PRESUPUESTO Y ELECCION DEL DISTRITO ESCOLAR DE LA CIUDAD DE LONG BEACH, CONDADO DE NASSAU, NUEVA YORK POR LA PRESENTE SE NOTIFICA que se llevará a cabo una audiencia pública sobre el presupuesto propuesto del distrito escolar el 13 de mayo de 2025 a las 7:00 p.m. en el Auditorio de la Escuela Secundaria de Long Beach, 237 Lido Boulevard, Lido Beach, Nueva York, y también se puede ver de forma remota en tinyurl.com/proudtobeL B ; por la transacción de negocios según lo autorizado por la Ley de Educación, incluyendo los siguientes artículos:

1. Para presentar a los votantes una declaración detallada del monto de dinero, el cual será requerido para el año fiscal 2025-2026.

2. Para discutir todos los artículos que se establecen a continuación para ser votados por máquina de votación en la Votación y Elección del Presupuesto que se llevará a cabo el martes 20 de mayo del 2025.

3. Para tramitar cualquier otro asunto que pueda presentarse adecuadamente ante la reunión de conformidad con la Ley de Educación del Estado de Nueva York y las leyes que la modifican.

POR FAVOR TENGA EN CUENTA ADEMÁS que cualquier residente del distrito puede obtener una copia de la declaración de la cantidad de dinero requerida para el año siguiente para propósitos escolares (presupuesto escolar) sin incluir dinero público a partir del 6 de mayo del 2025, entre las 8:00 a.m. y 4:00 p. m., horario vigente, excepto los sábados, domingos o feriados en la Oficina del Secretario del Distrito, 235 Lido Boulevard, Lido Beach, Nueva York, en la Biblioteca Pública de Long Beach, en 111 West Park Avenue, Long Beach, Nueva York , y en el sitio web de Internet del Distrito. Una copia de la declaración de la cantidad de dinero que se requerirá para los fines de la Biblioteca, sin incluir el dinero público, estará disponible en la Biblioteca Pública de Long Beach y en la oficina del secretario del distrito de la Biblioteca para el año que comienza el 1 de julio del 2025. Y POR LA PRESENTE SE NOTIFICA ADICIONALMENTE que dicha Votación del Presupuesto y Elección se llevarán a cabo el Martes 20 de mayo del 2025 en los distritos electorales escolares que se indican a continuación, entre las 7:00 a. m. y las 9:00 p.m. Se abrirán urnas para votar por máquina de votación en los siguientes artículos:

1. Para Adoptar el presupuesto anual del Distrito Escolar para el año fiscal 2025-2026 y autorizar que la parte requerida del mismo se recaude mediante impuestos sobre la propiedad imponible del Distrito.

2. Para elegir un (1) miembro de la Junta de Educación por un término de tres (3) años comenzando el 1 de julio del 2025 y expirando el 30 de junio del 2028, para llenar la posiciónes mantenida por Anne Conway, cuyo término expira el 30 de junio del 2025.

3. Para votar en la siguiente propuesta: PROPUESTA DE GASTOS DE FONDOS DEL CAPITAL DE RESERVA “¿SE DEBE AUTORIZAR A LA JUNTA DE EDUCACIÓN del Distrito Escolar de la

Ciudad de Long Beach (el “Distrito Escolar”) a asignar y gastar: una suma que no exceda $2,877,971 que representa dinero del Fondo de Mejoras de Capital del 2018 para los siguientes propósitos: reemplazar la cubierta de la piscina de baldosas de cerámica, incluido el lecho de barro, instalar una nueva membrana impermeabilizante, revestir todo el vaso de la piscina con el sistema de revestimiento de PVC Murtha, incluido un nuevo desagüe principal y canalones; reemplazar las gradas de la piscina; reemplazar las gradas del gimnasio, así como los costes preliminares y otros costes incidentales? (Dado que los fondos que se gastarán a continuación proceden de los Fondos de Reserva de Capital mencionados, la aprobación de esta proposición no requerirá una exacción fiscal sobre los bienes inmuebles del distrito).

4. Elegir a un (1) fideicomisario de la Biblioteca Pública de Long Beach por un período de cinco (5) años a partir del 1 de julio de 2025 y hasta el 30 de junio de 2030.

TENGA EN CUENTA

ADEMÁS que, según la resolución de la Junta de Educación adoptada el 8 de febrero del 2022, esta votación y elección se llevarán a cabo en los siguientes distritos electorales escolares (la descripción precisa de los límites está archivada y puede ser inspeccionada en la Oficina del Secretario del Distrito, Edificio Administrativo, 235 Lido Boulevard, Lido Beach, Nueva York 11561):

DISTRITO ELECTORAL DE LA ESCUELA

LINDELL

GIMNASIO ESCOLAR

LINDELL

601 LINDELL

BOULEVARD, CIUDAD DE LONG BEACH

Este distrito electoral abarca el territorio delimitado al oeste por una línea paralela y sesenta (60) pies al oeste de Malone Avenue, al norte por Reynolds Channel, al este por la línea central de Long Beach Boulevard y al sur por el Océano Atlántico.

DISTRITO ELECTORAL DE LA ESCUELA EAST

GIMNASIO ESCOLAR

EAST 456 NEPTUNE

BOULEVARD, CIUDAD DE LONG BEACH

Este distrito electoral abarca el territorio delimitado al oeste por la línea central de Long Beach Boulevard, al norte por Reynolds Channel, al este hasta la línea límite este de la ciudad de Long Beach y al sur por el Océano Atlántico.

DISTRITO ELECTORAL DE LAS ESCUELAS

LIDO/MS

VESTIBULO DEL AUDITORIO DEL COMPLEJO LIDO

239 LIDO BOULEVARD, LIDO BEACH, NEW YORK

Este distrito electoral abarca el territorio del área conocida como Lido Beach, delimitada al oeste por una línea que comienza al este de la ciudad de Long Beach, al norte por Reynolds Channel, al este por la línea fronteriza este de Point Lookout y al Sur con el Océano Atlántico.

Y POR LA PRESENTE SE DA AVISO ADICIONAL de que, de conformidad con la Sección 495 de la Ley del Impuesto sobre la Propiedad Inmueble, el Distrito Escolar debe adjuntar a su presupuesto propuesto un informe de exención. Dicho informe de exención, que también formará parte del presupuesto final, mostrará cómo el valor catastral total de la nómina final utilizada en el proceso presupuestario está exento de tributación, enumerará cada tipo de exención otorgada por la autoridad estatutaria y mostrará el impacto acumulado de cada tipo de exención, el monto acumulado que se espera recibir como pago en lugar de impuestos (PILOT) y el impacto acumulado de todas las exenciones otorgadas. Además, dicho informe de exención se publicará en cualquier tablón de anuncios mantenido por el Distrito para avisos públicos y en cualquier sitio web mantenido por el Distrito.

POR FAVOR TENGA EN CUENTA ADEMÁS que las peticiones de nominación de candidatos para miembros de la Junta de Educación y miembro de la Junta de la Biblioteca están disponibles en la Secretaría de dicho Distrito Escolar en su oficina en el Edificio de Administración, 235

POR FAVOR TENGA EN CUENTA ADEMÁS que cualquier persona que no esté registrada bajo el registro personal permanente el 1 de enero del 2018 o antes, o las listas de registro suplementarias proporcionadas por la Junta Electoral del Condado de Nassau, o que no haya votado en una elección del distrito escolar intermedio, debe presentarse o ella misma personalmente para registrarse para tener derecho a votar el 6 de mayo del 2025 de 2:00 p. m. a 8:00 p. m.; en el vestíbulo del auditorio de la Escuela Media Long Beach, 239 Lido Boulevard, Lido Beach, Nueva York 11561.

POR FAVOR TENGA EN CUENTA ADEMÁS que cualquier persona que se haya mudado de un distrito escolar electoral en el Distrito Escolar de la Ciudad de Long Beach a otro, y que no se haya registrado en el nuevo distrito escolar electoral, y que todavía esté registrado en el distrito de donde proviene movido, puede votar en el distrito electoral en el que se registró. Dichas personas deberán informar, al momento de votar, a los inspectores electorales de su nuevo domicilio para corregir dicha inscripción.

POR FAVOR TENGA EN CUENTA ADEMÁS que

Lido Boulevard, Lido Beach, Nueva York, 11561. Las peticiones de nominación deben ser presentado ante el Secretario del Distrito Escolar a más tardar el 30 de abril de 2025, entre las 9:00 a. m. y las 5:00 p. m., hora vigente. Las vacantes tanto en la Junta de Educación como en la Junta de la Biblioteca no se consideran cargos específicos separados; los candidatos corren en general. Las peticiones de nominación para el fideicomisario de la Junta de Educación deben dirigirse al Secretario del Distrito, deben estar firmadas por al menos 100 votantes calificados del Distrito; debe indicar el nombre y la residencia de cada firmante; y debe indicar el nombre y la residencia del candidato. SE NOTIFICA ADEMÁS que las solicitudes de boletas de voto anticipado por correo y de voto en ausencia para las elecciones del distrito escolar deben completarse en un formulario prescrito por la junta electoral estatal y se pueden obtener visitando el sitio web del Departamento de Educación del Estado de Nueva York (http://www.counsel.ny sed.gov/common/couns el/files/absentee-ballotapplication-andinstructionsenglish.pdf; http://www.counsel.nys ed.gov/common/counse l/files/absentee-ballotapplication-andinstructionsspanish.pdf), o comunicándose con el Secretario del Distrito por correo electrónico a sfamiletti@lbeach.org o al 516-897-2108. El Secretario del Distrito debe recibir las solicitudes completas no antes del 21 de abril del 2025 y al menos siete (7) días antes de la elección, el 13 de mayo del 2025, si la boleta se enviará por correo al votante, o el día anterior a la elección, el 19 de mayo del 2025, si la boleta se va a entregar personalmente al elector. El secretario del distrito debe recibir las boletas de voto en ausencia a más tardar a las 5:00 p.m., hora vigente, el Martes 20 de mayo del 2025. Un listado de las personas a las que se les emitieron las boletas de voto anticipado por correo y de voto en ausencia estará disponible para su inspección por parte de los votantes calificados del Distrito en la Oficina del Secretario del Distrito a partir del Jueves 15 de mayo del 2025, entre las 8:00 a.m. y las 4:00 p. m., hora vigente, todos los días anteriores al día fijado para la elección anual, excepto el Domingo, y el 20 de mayo del 2025, día fijado para la elección. Cualquier votante calificado que esté presente en el lugar de votación puede oponerse a la votación de la boleta por motivos apropiados, dando a conocer su impugnación y las razones por las cuales el Inspector de Elecciones antes del cierre de las urnas. No se puede impugnar una boleta de voto ausente basándose en que el votante debería haber solicitado una boleta de voto anticipado por correo.

solo aquellos votantes calificados cuyos nombres aparecen en los registros preparados para dicha elección del distrito escolar tendrán derecho a votar el Día de la Elección. El registro se archivará en la Oficina del Secretario del Distrito y estará abierto a la inspección de cualquier votante calificado del distrito escolar de 8:00 a.m. a las 4:00 p. m. los días laborables del 6 de mayo del 2025 al 20 de mayo del 2025, y el Sábado 10 de mayo del 2025, cuando estará disponible de 9 a.m. a las 12 del mediodía solo con cita previa. Y POR LA PRESENTE SE DA AVISO ADICIONAL de que los votantes militares que no están actualmente registrados pueden solicitar registrarse como votantes calificados del distrito escolar. Se puede solicitar una solicitud de registro como votante militar comunicándose con el secretario del distrito por teléfono (516) 897-2108, fax (516) 771-3944, correo electrónico sfamiletti@lbeach.org, correo a 235 Lido Boulevard, Lido Beach, NY, 11561, o en persona (durante el horario normal de oficina o entre las 8:15 a. m. y las 4:00 p.m.); la solicitud de registro debe recibirse en la oficina del secretario del distrito a más tardar a las 5:00 p. m. del 6 de mayo del 2025. En la solicitud de registro, el votante militar puede designar su preferencia para recibir la solicitud de registro por correo, transmisión por fax o correo electrónico. POR FAVOR TENGA EN CUENTA ADEMÁS Un votante militar que esté debidamente registrado puede solicitar una boleta militar solicitando un formulario de solicitud al Secretario del Distrito; para recibir una boleta militar, la solicitud de boleta militar debe recibirse a más tardar a las 5:00 p. m. del 5 de mayo del 2025. En la solicitud de una boleta militar, el votante militar puede designar su preferencia para recibir la solicitud de boleta militar, y la boleta militar, por correo, transmisión por facsímil o correo electrónico. Todas las solicitudes de boletas

Local nonprofit celebrates proactive parents

Your Time for Creative Empowerment holds anti-bullying conference, features comprehensive panel

By REI WOLFSOHN Correspondent

Local nonprofit Your Time for Creative Empowerment held an anti-bullying conference on March 29 at the Merrick Golf Course Clubhouse, a Town of Hempstead facility, to examine the correlations of — and proactive solutions to — bullying.

The conference covered mental and emotional correlations of bullies and those bullied. Local parents reflected on the problem.

“There are some words associated with bullying,” Ira Gerald, a longtime educator and an award-winning school administrator in New York state, said. “Let’s see if you recognize them in your adult life: intimidate, dominate, terrorize, frighten, coerce…If bullying were limited to children, they wouldn’t have harassment laws.”

One key takeaway was that adults should exemplify coping skills for difficulties in life.

“You don’t have to say, ‘How was your day,’ and then tell them, ‘Don’t do this,

The Garard family, attendees to the conference, were honored for their involvement in their children’s lives.

do that,’” Gerald said. “Tell them stories about your life, about your coping. In your mind you’re really borrowing a lit-

Public Notices

de votantes militares calificados y boletas militares deben devolverse por correo o en persona. Las boletas para votantes militares se distribuirán a los votantes militares calificados a más tardar el 6 de mayo del 2025. El Secretario del Distrito (1) debe recibir las boletas militares antes del cierre de las urnas, el Martes 20 de mayo del 2025, y deben mostrar un marca de cancelación del servicio postal de los Estados Unidos o del servicio postal de un país extranjero, o debe mostrar un endoso de recibo fechado por otra agencia del Gobierno de los Estados Unidos; o (2) a más tardar a las 5:00 p. m. del día de la elección y estar firmado y fechado por el votante militar y un testigo, con una fecha que no sea posterior al día anterior a la elección. Una lista de las personas a las que se emiten las boletas militares estará disponible para su inspección por parte de los votantes calificados del Distrito en la Oficina del Secretario del Distrito a partir del jueves 15 de mayo de 2025, entre las 8:00 a.m. y las 4:00 p. m., hora vigente, todos los

días anteriores al día fijado para la elección anual, excepto el domingo, y el 20 de mayo de 2025, día fijado para la elección. Cualquier votante calificado que esté presente en el lugar de votación puede oponerse a la votación de la boleta por motivos apropiados, dando a conocer su impugnación y las razones por las cuales el Inspector de Elecciones antes del cierre de las urnas. Y POR LA PRESENTE SE NOTIFICA ADICIONALMENTE que, de conformidad con una regla adoptada por la Junta de Educación de conformidad con la Sección 2035 de la Ley de Educación, cualquier referéndum o proposición para enmendar el presupuesto, o que de otro modo se someta a votación en dicha elección, debe ser presentada ante el Secretario de la Junta de Educación en la Oficina del Distrito, Edificio Administrativo, 235 Lido Boulevard, Lido Beach, Nueva York 11561, con tiempo suficiente para permitir que el aviso de la propuesta se incluya con el Aviso de la Audiencia Pública, Votación del Presupuesto y Elección

requerida por la Sección 2004 de la Ley de Educación o antes del 21 de abril de 2025, a las 4:00 p. m., hora vigente; debe estar escrito a máquina o impreso en el idioma inglés; debe dirigirse al Secretario del Distrito Escolar; debe estar firmado por al menos 25 votantes calificados del Distrito; y debe indicar legiblemente el nombre de cada firmante. Sin embargo, la Junta Escolar no considerará ninguna petición para presentar a los votantes ninguna propuesta cuyo propósito no esté dentro de los poderes de los votantes para determinar, que sea ilegal, o cualquier propuesta que no incluya una asignación específica donde el gasto de la proposición requiere dinero, o cuando existe otra razón válida para excluir la proposición de la boleta.

Fechado: Lido Beach, New York 25 de marzo del 2025

Por Orden de la JUNTA DE EDUCACIÓN DEL DISTRITO ESCOLAR DE LA CIUDAD DE LONG BEACH

Lido Beach, Nueva York Susannah Familetti, Secretaria del Distrito 152706

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF FORMATION OF LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY. NAME:Techquinnet, LLC. Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York, (SSNY) on 12/31/25. NY Office location: Nassau County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of the process to:Brian Quinn, 474 East Harrison Street, Long Beach, New York 11561 Purpose: To engage in any lawful act or activity. 152731

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tle piece from their life and adding to it, using it as a teaching moment.

Organizer Madona Cole-Lacy emphasized another view.

“When the child goes to school to interact with other children, what happens is that child wants to walk out of that group alive,” Cole-Lacy said. “So they tend to gravitate towards negativity. It’s almost like, ‘If I don’t join them, then I’m going to be a victim.’”

Panelists agreed on correlations between mental-emotional states and being a bully.

“Children that are aggressive, easily frustrated, have less parental involvement, have issues at home, think badly of others, have difficulty following rules, view violence in a positive way, have friends who bully others,” Gerald said. “Wanting to dominate others, improve their social status, having low self-esteem and wanting to feel better about themselves, having a lack of remorse or failing to recognize their behavior as a problem, feeling angry, frustrated, jealous or struggling socially, being the victim of bullying themselves.”

This age-old problem plagues certain targets.

“Perceived as different from their peers, such as being overweight, underweight, wearing glasses, different clothing, brand new to a school, light skinned, dark skinned — unable to defend themselves, depressed, anxious, have low self-esteem — they normalize someone mistreating them,” Gerald added.

Clinical social worker and grief recovery specialist Marie Swiderski added perspective.

“It’s a loss of who they were, when things were in a better time for them,” Swiderski said. “A child loses himself, loses his self-esteem. The world can become a very scary place for him. With the right support though, with people caring, it can get a lot better.”

“Bullying can really distort the way a

Ira Gerald, a longtime educator and an award-winning school administrator in New York state, opened the conference.

child thinks about themselves, and operates and functions,” Jeanine Cook-Garard, a nurse practitioner who spent 30 years teaching at Nassau Community College, said. “So I think that children that come to their parents and give them stories about bullying, it is essential that they respond immediately and make sure that there are interventions that are put in place for not just their own child but for all children.”

“Volunteer in your child’s school,” Gerald said. “If I see you every day coming to the school, once a week coming to the school, I’m going to make sure your child is not injured at all.”

Cole-Lacy doesn’t just leave it up to parents. She emphasized involving mental health practitioners, and the organization promotes children standing up for themselves.

“If someone is trying to bully you and you draw your line,” Cole-Lacy said. “And you say, ‘This is who I am. This is who I’m gonna be. Not what this person tells me that I’m going to be.’”

Rei Wolfsohn/Herald photos

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Q. I’m confused about what to call my addition. I want to put in a double dormer, and it seems clear to people I talk to, but two building department inspectors and two architects have corrected me as to what I want to do. Can you explain to me if there is a difference? I also have something on my plan that says “patio,” but I’m being told it’s not just a patio, but actually a screened room on my back patio. Again, does this matter?

A. Officially, it matters. Correct descriptions are important for legal reasons, and there should be no confusion when it comes to legal descriptions, because it affects whether you will have a problem with having to file for something over again in the future, or even your taxes and insurance. For example, let’s say that your old survey describes the screen room as a patio. Some surveyors, many years ago, would refer to a screened room as a patio because that was a common sales term. Unfortunately, it implies a hard ground surface material and not an actual building, causing some homeowners to spend money reapplying for a permit for an already approved screened room because the records didn’t reflect what was actually there.

Building Department records are sometimes very sketchy, literally, since it used to be a much less formal process, and simple sketches were accepted. They probably thought they were doing homeowners a favor, but in recent years the whole informal attitude changed, and now, with the strictness of officials, there is little or no proof of the structure, and the descriptive word doesn’t match what’s there, even though that screened room may always have been there.

The same is possible for a “double dormer,” or just “dormer.” People often call to request to “dormer” their house. Architects, in the interest of understanding what the caller really wants, have to then ask whether the person wants an outcropping room, extending sideways through their roof, or a new second-floor addition with a higher, newly constructed structure. Even on something like a half second floor, often referred to as a Cape Cod, where only the center of the second floor is tall enough to stand in, the roof and walls are going to be removed and the “dormer” is really a second floor.

I interpret that the misnaming is really intended to make the whole scope of work sound simpler and, hence, cheaper to build. Of course, it isn’t cheaper to build, and the misleading oversimplification can set the homeowner up for disappointment or stress when the construction cost comes in for the seemingly simpler-sounding dormer.

So, for many reasons, the description matters. Insurance companies charge more when they finally realize what they’re insuring, as well. In modern times, you may be trapped into doing something all over again that was already approved. Decks aren’t porches (and cellars aren’t basements, either). Good luck!

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In a toxic D.C., bipartisanship is the only way forward

Acore part of my mission in Congress is bipartisanship. That may sound quaint these days, but I believe it’s what the people I represent — and, more broadly, the American people — want and deserve. It’s also getting harder to achieve.

The current climate in Washington is more toxic and polarized than I’ve ever seen. As the Democratic co-chair of the Problem Solvers Caucus — which is evenly split between Democrats and Republicans — I work every day to find common ground. But I can’t pretend it’s easy in an environment where performative politics too often replaces problem-solving. Nonetheless, I’ll continue to work across party lines, and when I must, buck my own party, if it means getting things done for my constituents.

Why? Because those constituents tell me to. They’re sick and tired of the partisan bickering and political point-scoring. They want results, and that’s what I’m here to do. My philosophy is as it has always been: I’ll work with anyone, regardless of party, who’s serious about delivering for the American people, but

TI’ll never sacrifice my core values.

And let me be clear: there are some things this administration is doing that I cannot support, and that require relentless pushback.

The reckless budget cuts proposed by the Department of Government Efficiency are putting everything from national security to public health at risk. They not only haphazardly fired officials in charge of overseeing our nuclear stockpiles, but they’ve proposed slashing funding for pandemic preparedness, and fired those in charge of monitoring measles and avian flu, just as we face outbreaks of both. Once they realized this was a major mistake, they had a difficult time rehiring these people because they didn’t have their emails. This episode put on full display the cavalier approach DOGE is taking.

Even members of the far-right Freedom Caucus are saying enough is enough.

Problem Solvers colleague, Rep. Don Bacon, has called for targeted spending reforms, not reckless, across-the-board cuts. Another Republican, Mario DiazBalart, stresses congressional oversight, asserting that “Congress still has the power of the purse, and I zealously protect it.” And Republican Rep. Troy Balderson said President Trump’s executive orders are “getting out of control.”

Even members of the far-right Freedom Caucus are saying enough is enough. Rep. Gary Palmer argued that dismantling the Department of Education “can’t be done by executive order.” Sen. Lisa Murkowski put it simply: “That’s outside the bounds of the executive.”

back, standing up to DOGE on behalf of our 9/11 first responders.

When it comes to the state and local tax deduction, all four members of the Long Island delegation sit on the Congressional SALT Caucus, with Garbarino and I serving as co-chairs. And I commend my Republican colleagues for holding their party’s feet to the fire on this crucial Long Island issue; they have made clear to Speaker Mike Johnson that they won’t vote for legislation that doesn’t include raising the SALT deduction.

Internationally, Republican leaders like Sen. Roger Wicker and Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick have shown courage by continuing to support Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression. They understand that peace doesn’t come from appeasement — it comes from strength and unity.

Opposing these efforts isn’t about partisanship; it’s about protecting our country. And many Republicans agree.

Two weeks ago, Republican Sen. Susan Collins joined Democratic Sen. Patty Murray in calling out the administration’s attempt to block emergency spending authorized by Congress. They reminded us all: “We must follow the law as it is written, not as we would like it to be.”

Across the Capitol, Republicans are standing up for our institutions. My

The national security implications are just as alarming. Reports that top officials were discussing war plans over Signal, a commercial messaging app, triggered bipartisan outrage. Republican Senators John Thune and Lindsey Graham both sounded the alarm about the serious risks posed by these lapses in judgment.

On Long Island, there have been positive examples of bipartisan cooperation to stand up for what’s right. When DOGE tried to make drastic cuts to the World Trade Center Health Program, Rep. Andrew Garbarino publicly pushed

These Republicans aren’t breaking with their party for political gain. They’re doing it because they know what’s at stake.

We need to encourage other Republicans to speak out — to find the courage to stand up not only for their constituents, but also for the country. We need more courage, more cooperation, more commitment to doing what’s right. I will keep fighting for results alongside my colleagues, no matter their party.

We have to work together. The stakes are too high for either party to go it alone.

Tom Suozzi represents the 3rd Congressional District.

No more excuses on county opioid funding

hree years into Nassau County Executive Bruce A. Blakeman’s administration, nearly $100 million in opioid settlement funds sits mostly untouched. Meanwhile, lives are being lost. The money is stuck in limbo — apparently with no urgency, no transparency and no plan emerging from his administration.

This is unacceptable. While families mourn and communities struggle, Blakeman’s inaction has left these critical funds collecting dust. It’s time for outside experts to step in and fix this mess.

The county’s opioid settlement funds came from lawsuits initiated by former County Executive Laura Curran against the distributors, manufacturers and retailers of addictive drugs. The funds were intended to support agencies providing treatment, prevention and recovery services on the front lines of this crisis. The most recent funds accepted by the County Legislature — $1.185 million in total — came

from settlements with ShopRite supermarkets, Target and Henry Schein Inc.

Yet out of nearly $100 million, only $4.8 million has been spent. That is a shocking failure.

While Blakeman and his administration claim that $36 million is “encumbered” to various agencies, that’s just a fancy way of saying they’ve promised the money but haven’t delivered it. Worse yet, they blame the service providers for failing to submit reimbursement claims quickly enough.

W e need pros to get these resources to where they belong.

That’s an insult to families fighting to save loved ones in the grip of addiction. “Help is on the way” means nothing when that help never arrives.

Under intense questioning by Legislator Scott Davis and me during the Feb. 24 meeting of the Legislature, Department of Human Services officials finally admitted that only $4.8 million has been spent to date — even though we had selected many of the intended recipients because of the county’s familiarity with their programs and trust in their leadership.

Their testimony and lack of results

to date made it clear that DHS doesn’t have the ability to handle the distribution of these funds under its current leadership — and that agencies entrusted with distributing these funds should at least be consulting with experts in the field as they formulate a strategy.

After years of delays, the Legislature in February created a method for providers to submit applications, and authorized a maximum allocation of $1 million to bring in an outside firm to fix this disaster.

I joined my fellow legislators in supporting the measure because we need professionals to cut through the confusion and get these lifesaving resources to where they belong. Had we known of the level of disorganization three years ago, we could have acted much sooner — but the administration would not admit that it was unable to adequately manage this critical task. Its failure to come clean — a recurring problem with the administration — will have real-life consequences.

I have attended far too many funerals for young overdose victims, and know the heartbreak this crisis inflicts. Addic-

tion doesn’t discriminate — it devastates families of all backgrounds, regardless of age, race, religion, sex or economic status. The catastrophic danger posed by the increasing presence of deadly fentanyl makes the stakes higher than ever before.

I regularly hear from families pleading for help, desperate for action. While we cannot undo the pain already inflicted, we can demand accountability. Nassau’s opioid settlement funds must reach those in need without further delay, and it is my hope that hiring a qualified firm will help us fulfill this mandate.

Every life we lose to opioid addiction is one too many. I will continue to meet my responsibility as a fiduciary of the county by continuing to closely monitor the distribution of these funds, which are intended to be used in an efficient, impactful and serious manner. In memory of everyone we have lost and with the hope of reaching our neighbors who are struggling right now, I am committed to doing everything in my power to ensure that we maximize the positive impact of these resources as expeditiously as possible.

Delia DeRiggi-Whitton represents Nassau County’s 11th Legislative District and is the Legislature’s Democratic minority leader.

ToM sUoZZi

Just

when you thought we were hopelessly divided . . .

At a time when extreme political partisanship threatens to divide our nation, it is reassuring to realize that there are those who can engage people across the political aisle without sacrificing or surrendering their principles. The classic example of working to find solutions to serious issues while disagreeing amicably was the storied relationship between President Ronald Reagan and House Speaker Tip O’Neill in the 1980s.

Reagan was the most staunchly conservative president of the past 80 years, and O’Neill as liberal as any speaker ever. I use the term “relationship” rather than “friendship” because people who worked for O’Neill didn’t share the genuinely warm feelings Reagan had for him. But that didn’t prevent these two larger-than-life, strong-minded leaders of their respective political parties from respecting the office the other held and accepting their joint responsibility to find ways to get things done. Probably the best-known example of this cooperation was their agreement on Social Security, the “third rail” of poli-

Itics, which saved the system and strengthened it for another 40 years.

Though not as cordial, President Bill Clinton and House Speaker Newt Gingrich found ways to work together in the mid-1990s, achieving successes for the country on such critical issues as welfare reform and the only balanced budget in a half-century. But that didn’t come easily. For the first two years of Gingrich’s speakership, after leading Republicans in 1994 to their first control of Congress in 40 years, he and Clinton were bitter, partisan rivals.

calmly about politics and serious issues, including the direction of the country.

A t King Umberto’s in Elmont, diners show a highprofile Democrat some love.

Then, when Clinton stalemated Gingrich by being re-elected in 1996, both realized that it made more governmental, and political, sense to find common ground. And they did.

It wasn’t anywhere near the same magnitude, but a similar bipartisan spirit prevailed last week, when my wife, Rosemary, and I had dinner with former Gov. David Paterson and his wife, Mary, at King Umberto’s in Elmont. Paterson is a lifelong Democrat whose father was a well-known state senator and Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor. Despite our party differences, David and I have been friends over the years, and can talk

At King Umberto’s the conversation and the food were great, and, adding to the bipartisanship, Nassau County Republican Chairman Joe Cairo came by to say hello and exchange words of friendship and respect with Paterson. So here you had Cairo, the most successful political chairman in the country, having led the Republicans to more victories throughout Nassau than at any time since 1971, and Paterson, a former Democratic governor, displaying friendship and respect to each other in full view of a restaurant full of diners.

As we got up to leave, I was stopped by a number of customers who said hello and wished me well. I appreciated their kind words but wasn’t that surprised — not because I’m universally acclaimed, but because they were Republicans, and I’d been in elective office for 45 years. In fact, all told me they had voted for President Trump. What did surprise me were the universal expressions of friendship and support for Paterson:

“We need more Democrats like you.”

“Is there any way you could run for mayor this year?”

“I always respected you as governor.”

That’s how it went, from table to table, as we made our way to the door. I realize that was only a snapshot in time, and not a scientific survey. But as a political practitioner for all these years, I was pleasantly surprised that in these extraordinarily partisan times, a lifelong Democrat would receive such a warm response from a strong Republican crowd.

It could well have been that Paterson reminded them of a time that was more civil, that he was never known to be an extreme partisan or maybe just that he seemed so comfortable spending an evening with Republicans. Whatever the reasons, it was a signal to me that there’s still a place for bipartisanship. Nassau is in many ways the ultimate politically competitive county. There are 100,000 more registered Democrats here, but Trump carried Nassau by 30,000 votes, and Republicans hold every county office and control all three towns and two cities. At the same time, Democrats hold the majority of the state legislative districts. But with all the political infighting and the close balance of power, Joe Cairo and I are proud to show our friendship with and respect for a prominent Democrat like Paterson. Could be a good model for the country.

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

The Voice of America has been silenced

love old war movies. The battle scenes that have been colorized help bring old films back to life. I enjoy spy movies that feature brave private citizens using makeshift radio transmitters to relay the enemy’s battle plans. Many of the heroes are eventually captured and put to death, but their valor is praised and monuments are created in their memory. These old memories came alive when I learned that the U.S. Agency for Global Media was defunding Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty. These two agencies reach an average of 47.4 million people a week in locations around the world. Their staff of 1,700 has programs that communicate in 27 languages to 23 countries. Their voice is heard in Eastern Europe, Central Asia, the Caucasus and the Middle East. They were founded in 1950, with the blessing of President Dwight Eisenhower. If you live in Levittown or Long Beach, your initial reaction might be, why should anyone care about broadcast-

ing to countries that are controlled by dictators? No one in our region wants us to be engaged in another war, but if we can spread truthful information around the globe, words can be more important than bullets. China, Russia and Iran spend billions of dollars telling people what a bad country America is.

We get our daily news from traditional media, podcasts and outlets like Facebook, X and Instagram. People who live in the Ukraine or Iran have found ways to make contact with Radio Free Europe, their only source of real news. Without it and Radio Liberty, they are inundated with propaganda telling them about the “Evil Americans” who will desert them if there is any conflict. Up to a month ago, the two networks were working 24 hours a day to tell the world about America’s technological successes and our many new business achievements. They were also working to help free independent journalists from countries controlled by our political enemies. In fact, it was the Trump administration that helped free the journalist Andrey Kuznechyk from captivity in Belarus, a victory for the West.

F or dictators, there’s great news about Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty.

Dictators around the world want to see Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty go out of business because they get in the way of their propaganda machines. In 1981, a terrorist bomb exploded at the Munich headquarters of the two groups, injuring six and causing over $1 million in damage to the building.

After that episode, many Europeans thought maybe it was time to shut down their operations. When it looked like the groups would cave in and shut down for good, the Russians ramped up their efforts to downgrade America, and support for the networks strengthened again.

During the failed Soviet overthrow of some of its neighbors, then President Boris Yeltsin decided that the two companies provided helpful information for his country, and they received official accreditation. For a short time the networks operated offices in Moscow. When it was suggested that the Moscow offices be closed, they relocated to Prague, Czechoslovakia, with the blessings of then President Vaclav Havel. History will show that changing events kept the two groups alive.

Following the violent breakup of Yugoslavia, RFE/RL began broadcasting in Serbian, Croatian and Bosnian so they could be of service to the people in that region. A bureau was established in North Macedonia, for Albanians and Macedonian, in 2001. Once again there was pressure for a shutdown, but a series of armed aggressions by Russia brought about an increase in the networks’ operations.

With this history, it’s hard to understand why our new Department of Government Efficiency, run by billionaire Elon Musk, decided that the funding for these nonprofits should be eliminated. Clearly Musk knows nothing about theses two operations, their successes and the role they have played in fighting for democracy around the globe.

The good news is that the Czech government has stepped forward to provide funding for them. This short-term solution will help send the message of the West to the East and Far East. But the failure of America to step up is a sign of an administration that is truly out of touch with reality.

Jerry Kremer was a state assemblyman for 23 years, and chaired the Assembly’s Ways and Means Committee for 12 years. Comments about this column? jkremer@ liherald.com.

HERALD

tCelebrating the vitality of our libraries

he 54 public libraries in Nassau County and the 53 in Suffolk have long been pillars of knowledge and civic engagement.

More than just buildings filled with books, they are hubs of learning and connection. As we celebrate the 67th annual National Library Week — April 6 to 10 — it is important to recognize the invaluable role libraries play in our society, providing resources, fostering literacy, and hosting a range of community events.

Each day of National Library Week highlights a different aspect of their significance, underscoring their multifaceted contributions to their towns. While reading remains at the core of their mission, 21st-century libraries offer a vast array of services that cater to diverse community needs. From digital literacy programs to job-search assistance, they help people of all ages navigate an increasingly digital world. Free access to computers, and with them internet and research databases, empowers those who might otherwise lack these essential tools.

Libraries also serve as community centers, offering classes in everything from new languages to financial literacy. Programs for children, such as story time and summer reading challenges, foster a love of books and learning from an early age.

Most libraries also offer services for senior citizens, including technology training and social gatherings that keep them from becoming isolated. The inclu-

letters

It’s up to us to minimize the damage to history

To the Editor:

sivity of those services ensures that everyone, regardless of age, education or socioeconomic status, has the opportunity to learn and grow.

In a time when access to information is more important than ever, libraries remain steadfast in their commitment to education and community. They provide safe spaces for learning as well as opportunities for career advancement. Every day next week emphasizes a different facet of their importance:

Monday, April 7: Right to Read Day. The freedom to read is fundamental to democracy, yet book bans and attempts at censorship continue to threaten access to diverse perspectives. Right to Read Day serves as a rallying call for readers and library lovers and advocates to defend intellectual freedom.

The American Library Association marks the occasion by releasing its annual State of America’s Libraries report. By promoting open access to information, libraries empower their patrons to explore new ideas and think critically about the world around them.

Tuesday, April 8: National Library Workers Day. Every library has a team of dedicated professionals who make its services possible. This day is an opportunity to recognize and appreciate the efforts of librarians, archivists and support staff, who not only manage collections but also offer patrons guidance, research assistance and technological support. Their work ensures that libraries remain welcoming spaces for learn-

Re last week’s editorial, “History should not be a political casualty”: History, as history teaches, is inseparable from politics, and thus constantly in opinions’ crossfire, sometimes becoming a specific issue. As history also reveals, efforts to suppress or over-write reality mostly fail.

The musketeers in the Trump administration who are assigned to sniff out any aromas of diversity, equity and inclusion are one line of attack in MAGA’s self-described “culture war.” The current social, economic, political and religious hierarchies are to be reconstructed, which requires construction sites to be created and cleared. That demolition is underway, and will damage the fabric of American history.

In war, as Winston Churchill noted, truth is often the first casualty, and that is what uprooting DEI is all about. But because “casualty” does not always mean “fatality,” it is up to us to minimize the damage, end the assault and repair the fabric. That task is also underway. Join in.

ing and discovery.

Wednesday, April 9: National Library Outreach Day

Libraries are not confined to physical buildings; they extend their services to underserved populations through outreach programs. Whether it’s bookmobiles bringing literature to rural areas, mobile internet access for remote communities or library partnerships with schools and shelters, outreach initiatives ensure that no one is excluded from the benefits of library resources. National Library Outreach Day celebrates these efforts and the professionals dedicated to meeting patrons where they are.

Thursday, April 10: Take Action for Libraries Day

Libraries depend on advocacy and support to continue their mission. On this day, their patrons are encouraged to speak up for policies and funding that sustain library programs.

From securing government funding to rallying local support, Take Action day reminds us of the power of collective action in protecting and expanding library services. Whether creating petitions, attending town hall meetings or simply spreading awareness, everyone can play a role in strengthening libraries for future generations.

This year’s Library Week theme is “Drawn to the Library,” with the goal of bringing more people from the community into libraries. If you haven’t been to your library recently, stop by. You can check out a book — and so much more.

opinions Republicans, too, are backing clean energy

Long Island stands at a crossroads: It can continue along its traditional energy path, or embrace a transformative opportunity to lead in clean energy innovation. With an increasing number of projects focused on clean hydrogen production, battery manufacturing and renewable energy, the region has the potential to create new economic opportunities while addressing environmental challenges.

These investments aren’t just about going green; they reflect core conservative values — economic growth, energy independence and responsible environmental stewardship.

Conservatives have long understood that economic growth and environmental protection can go hand in hand. Former Gov. George Pataki, a Republican, supported the Clean Air Environmental Bond Act, which funded environmental projects across New York, preserving natural resources while also creating jobs and fostering economic activity. It clearly demonstrated that environmental protection can boost the economy, a principle that resonates with conserva-

tives nationwide.

Today, this bipartisan approach continues on Long Island, where members of Congress are advancing policies that embrace market-driven, clean-energy solutions. Republican Rep. Andrew Garbarino has been an advocate of preserving local natural treasures like the Great South Bay, while Rep. Nick LaLota has championed sustainable transportation investments.

tLong Island leaders are also making strides in promoting clean energy. The Suffolk County Legislature’s presiding officer, Kevin McCaffrey, supports public-private partnerships in renewable-energy projects, which have brought significant investment to the county. Conservatives are increasingly advocating market-based solutions to the energy transition.

pro-business policies can align with environmental goals.

hey understand that growth and environmental protection can go hand in hand.

The economic benefits of clean energy investments extend beyond the environmental sector. Projects like the South Fork Wind Farm, expected to generate thousands of jobs, will help boost Long Island’s economy. And the growing battery-manufacturing industry presents an opportunity to create skilled labor jobs while improving grid reliability. These investments in clean-energy solutions will not only boost employment, but also help reduce energy costs, making energy more affordable while promoting regional energy independence.

should encourage competition and innovation, empowering the private sector to lead. Federal and state policies should be designed to incentivize the development of new technologies without stifling businesses with unnecessary red tape. Long Island should focus on integrating clean energy with traditional energy sources to create a more resilient, diverse energy grid.

Investment in grid modernization and battery storage will be essential to ensuring that Long Islanders continue to enjoy stable, affordable power. Combining renewable energy with traditional energy sources will provide the flexibility needed to meet energy demand.

Garbarino and 21 fellow Republican lawmakers have led an effort to promote clean-energy technologies such as hydrogen production, nuclear energy and carbon capture, which are expected to generate jobs, reduce emissions and contribute to energy independence — all without the need for top-down mandates that could stifle innovation and economic growth. Garbarino and his colleagues are showing that pro-growth,

Letters

Trump’s EPA can’t ignore reality of greenhouse gases

To the Editor:

I am a concerned citizen calling for urgent action regarding President Trump’s stance on global warming and the environment. The administration’s proposal to reconsider the Environmental Protection Agency’s endangerment finding is reckless, anti-science, and a huge step backward for climate action. This decision isn’t just about politics — it puts our health, environment and future on the line.

The endangerment finding, established in 2009, is based on clear scientific evidence that greenhouse gases harm public health and the planet. It’s been the legal backbone for policies that reduce emissions from cars, power plants and industry. Without it, we lose a key tool for fighting climate change — and that’s exactly what polluters want.

The reality is, climate change isn’t some distant threat. It’s here. We’re seeing recordbreaking heat, wildfires, floods and hurricanes that devastate communities. Our state is not immune to these catastrophes, and the administration’s actions would reverse progress. Gutting this policy ignores science and common sense at a time when we need stronger action, not more rollbacks. This also sends a terrible message to the rest of the world. While other countries are

Environmental improvements are another key benefit of investing in clean energy. Long Island has long struggled with the consequences of poor environmental practices, from air pollution to coastal erosion exacerbated by climate change. By embracing clean, Americanmade energy, we can improve air quality, protect public health and preserve our natural landscapes — while maintaining a robust economy.

Conservatives have long supported market-driven incentives over burdensome regulations. Rather than imposing top-down mandates, energy policies

working toward clean energy solutions, the U.S. risks becoming a climate laggard instead of a leader.

We can’t let this happen. We need to push back against this dangerous move and demand real climate solutions. The health of our planet — and future generations — depends on it. The EPA should scrap its plan to undo this regulation and maintain the rules that are protecting all of us, and the air and water we rely on.

KAILI DeSANTIS Oyster Bay

‘We must make our voices heard’

on Social Security

To the Editor:

Social Security isn’t a handout — it’s a promise that millions of us older Americans have paid into with every paycheck. This administration is dismantling an essential program, closing offices, cutting hotlines, and spreading misinformation to justify these attacks. We elders deserve dignity, not broken promises.

We must stand together and make our voices heard. We cannot allow our American way of life to be decimated, and all the promises we believed in to be broken.

DONNA PAOLINO Bellmore

Republicans across the country have a valuable opportunity to embrace the clean-energy future that is emerging on Long Island. By supporting investments in clean energy, conservatives can show that their approach to energy policy works: It creates jobs, drives economic growth and enhances environmental protection. Now is the time for Republicans to champion a forward-thinking energy strategy that strengthens the economy, supports American innovation and secures a healthier, more sustainable future for all.

Brett Patrick is a branch leader of the American Conservation Coalition and a political science student at Binghamton University, where he is a member of the onors program.

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