Squatting for lazar laPenna
The annual 999 Squat Challenge, in honor of the late Lazar LaPenna, hit the boardwalk last Sunday, with hundreds of participants led by Alexander E. Tirado, front left.
Latino Civic Association earns a grant for environmental work
By ANGElINA ZINGARIEllO azingariello@liherald.com
The Long Beach Latino Civic Association was the recipient of a $100,000 Environmental Justice Community Impact Grant from the state Department of Environmental Conservation on April 24.
The funding will support the association’s “Pollution Mitigation Leads to Health Benefits” project, which kicked off last October and continues until Sept. 30, 2027. The project focuses on reducing pollution, improving public health, raising awareness of environmental issues and advocating for policy changes in Long Beach. The association will conduct environmental assessments, install monitoring sensors and
launch pollution-reduction initiatives, including purification systems and improved waste management, and offer health screenings, support services and educational outreach to residents.
Community engagement through events, research and online resources is central to the effort, along with working closely with policymakers to strengthen environmental regulations. The project’s success will be measured by reductions in pollution, increased community participation, broader educational reach, impactful research and tangible policy changes.
“DEC’s Community Impact Grants support the crucial work of people on the ground working tirelessly to lift up their communities and provide a healthier, more sustainable future,” Amanda
This L.B. man started anew in America
By BRENDAN CARPENTER bcarpenter@liherald.com
Mauricio Campos was born in Izabal, Guatemala, and grew up in Asunción Mita, a town of just over 20,000 in the Jutiapa department of Guatemala. Growing up, Campos knew what it meant to fight for everything he had, to value every plate of food, and to keep smiling even when it was difficult. His parents taught him important lessons he still values today: respect, hard work, and to always keep his word. He grew up being told that no matter where you start, your dignity and effort define who you are.
Bmoney, no friends, no easy road ahead. I took every opportunity I could, working in kitchens, cleaning, doing security, with the hope that one day all the sacrifices would mean something.”
ecoming a U.S. citizen is not the end of my journey, it’s just the beginning.
MAuRICIO CAMPOS Chef, The Cabana
Six years ago, he started a new life in America. Now he is the chef at The Cabana, in Long Beach’s West End.
“I arrived in the United States with nothing but a suitcase full of dreams and a heart ready to work hard,” Campos wrote in a text. (Rapid conversations in English remain a challenge for him.) “I had no
Campos, 33, came to the States in December 2019 on a fiancé visa, which allows a foreign citizen to enter the country to marry a U.S. citizen. He had met his then girlfriend, Jacqueline Palacios, of Long Beach, through mutual friends 15 years ago, when she was on vacation in Guatemala. They stayed in touch, and eventually realized that they wanted to be together. Mauricio joined Jackie in Long Beach, and they married on Jan. 28, 2020, shortly after he became a permanent resident.
He had to wait five years before applying for citizenship. The process was long, and included English and civics tests, interviews and, finally, taking the U.S. Oath of AlleContinued on page 5
Bob Arkow/Herald
Honoring her country and faith with sports
Long Beach resident to participate at Maccabiah Games in Israel
By BRENDAN CARPENTER bcarpenter@liherald.com
The Maccabiah Games are an international, multisport event for Jewish and Israeli athletes of all religions. Held every four years, it’s often referred to as the “Jewish Olympics.”
Being the largest Jewish competition in the world, thousands of athletes compete in a large number of events. Competitors battle it out in archery, baseball, volleyball, basketball, chess, cycling, fencing, field hockey, golf, gymnastics and more.
Hannah Austin, of Long Beach, will be one of this year’s athletes, representing the American volleyball team as one of the under-18 players at the games in Israel in July.
Austin, 16, went to the Hebrew Academy of Long Beach in Woodmere. It was a little tough for her, with most of her friends not living in Long Beach along with her. Now, as a junior at Yeshiva University High School for Girls in Holliswood, she’s the only one from Long Beach to go there, so she’s on a bus all by herself.
“Most of my friends don’t live in Long Beach, so I’ve had to work with that and manage that, along with having my Jewish community stand beside me,” Austin said. “I had to find the proper balance between them because I always wanted to stay within my Jewish community.”
Austin mostly played soccer growing up, but since it’s only a one-season sport, she wanted to find something else to compete in during the offseason. She wanted to try something new, and stumbled across volleyball.
“I need sports to ground me,” she said. “They help keep me sane.”
She started learning and playing volleyball as a freshman two years ago. Although she hadn’t been playing for too long, she picked it up quickly, and sent in her film to Maccabi USA. She was chosen to play alongside other girls to represent the country.
“I’m very excited to go because most of the girls on my team who are going aren’t religiously affiliated,”
Austin said. “This might sound weird, but I want to take it upon myself to show them why certain aspects of Judaism are so great. Then maybe they will start to have some of the same values that I do.”
Austin and her team will be in Israel for the games for about three weeks, from July 1 to July 23. While she’s excited to be going there, it won’t be her first time. She was most recently in Israel this past January, when she did an exchange program and went to school there for a month.
Courtesy Hannah Austin
Hannah Austin, third from right, will be representing the U.S. at the 2025 Maccabiah Games in Israel in July.
Remembering the Holocaust in Long Beach
By BRENDAN CARPENTER bcarpenter@liherald.com
Temple Emanu-El of Long Beach held its annual Yom Hashoah, Holocaust Memorial Day event, on the evening of April 23. Members of the local community attended the solemn commemoration remembering the victims of the Holocaust.
The temple’s president, Yvette Oppenheim, Cantor Lisa Klinger-Kantor and Rabbi Jack Zanerhaft joined the community members and several elected officials in the commemoration.
It truly was an important moment for Long Beach and beyond.
JACk ZANERhAfT Rabbi
“It’s an annual commemoration, and it felt that, this year, it was especially important given the backdrop of the surge of anti-Semitism,” Zanerhaft said. “It truly was an important moment for Long Beach and beyond, remembering the terrible end game of prejudice, bigotry, hatred, and the dislike for the unlike. It was a real message that resonated with the many people that attended.”
As a son of two Holocaust survivors, Zanerhaft spoke on how his parents emphasized the “need to warn about the dangers of remaining silent, that doing nothing and being apathetic leads to tragedy and horror.” Coming together, the night was a way to combat prejudice, discrimination.
The event’s keynote speaker was Alan Mindel, the chairman of the board of the Holocaust Museum and Tolerance Center in Glen Cove. Mindel is the child of Holocaust survivors and he shared his parents’ dramatic and harrowing story from their time of captivity in concentration camps till their arrival in America.
A candle lighting ceremony followed. Six flames were lit in honor of the six million Jewish people who died. However, the candle lighters represented other groups that were targeted and killed as well, such as political prisoners, children, the LGBTQ community and more.
“The candle lighting ceremony was particularly touching. Each candlelight represents a different demographic or different component of that genocide,” Zanerhaft said. “The candle lighting ceremony, I think, spoke to our hearts and really made us ponder what the night was about.”
Candles also were lit to honor the Catholic faith, and those who saved many Jewish people, and also on behalf of the soldiers who liberated the camps. Among the candle lighters were State Senator Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Nancy Davidson, Monsignor Donald Beckman, and United States Army Veteran Dr. Alan Zimmerman.
“We were grateful for the broad community support,” Zanerhaft said. “Of
course, it’s important for the Jewish world, but we understand that it’s really a microcosm for all peoples who are discriminated against. It really, we hope, sent the message, and we received the message by having people from all walks of life in Long Beach.”
The memorial ended with a prayer for all those who died.
People representing all groups that were put down lit candles, including children.
Nancy Davidson lit a candle in remembrance of the victims of the Holocaust.
Bob Arkow/Herald photos Temple Emanu-El President Yvette Oppenheim and Rabbi Jack Zanerhaft spoke at the beginning of the service.
Keynote speaker Alan Mindel told the attendees about his family’s Holocaust experiences.
Protecting Your Future
Legacy Planning
Some thirty-five years ago your writer was taught that estate planning is about getting your assets to whom you want, when you want, and the way you want, with the least amount of taxes and legal fees possible.
In the intervening time, we have learned that estate planning is more — it is legacy planning. Legacy has two meanings (1) the assets you leave, and (2) the impression you leave. Your assets will dissipate, but your impression will endure.
Were you kind and generous? Were you forgiving and grateful? Were you compassionate and did you bring light into the world, despite your setbacks.
Our readers have surely noticed over the years that these sponsored columns are not only about law, but just as often about how to become a better human being. Much of it has been learned from our interactions with clients. A client once asked if I had a degree in psychology. I answered yes, I have a Masters. When she asked where I got it, I said sitting behind this desk eight hours a day for the last thirty-five years!
Observing people, you learn that perspective is everything. We consider it part of our calling to provide clients with different perspectives with which to view personal and family matters. It is not difficult to see how looking at a situation from a different perspective can completely change the way we see the world. A client came in relating how furious she was that her daughter’s abusive husband used her daughter to obtain his degree and then asked for a divorce and move out. Yes, I said, but if it was my daughter and she had an abusive husband I would be thrilled that he had move out. Oh, the client said, “I never thought of that!” Her view of the matter had shifted considerably. Thoreau put it, “It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see.”
Working on oneself to become a better person is a classic win/win situation. Our lives become better as do those of everyone we come into contact with. The Dalai Lama says we are all selfish but we can engage in “enlightened selfishness”, doing better by others for our own sake.
ETTINGER LAW FIRM
News briefs
Man indicted for attempted murder, assault
A Long Beach man has been indicted on attempted murder and assault charges for allegedly attacking an ex-coworker with an axe, Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly’s office announced on April 24.
Anthony Calvo, 34, allegedly struck a 60-year-old former colleague in the head and face with an axe multiple times, resulting in life-threatening injuries.
“A past workplace disagreement spurred this alleged horrific unprovoked attack that left a man with catastrophic injuries and clinging to life,” Donnelly said. “Miraculously, despite the significant trauma he had allegedly suffered at the hands of this defendant, the victim was able to drag himself to his home, bang on the door, and get help. This brutal, senseless attack will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, and we will get justice for this victim.”
The attack allegedly happened on Feb. 13 just before 6 p.m. as the victim was walking home from his overnight shift as a taxi dispatcher in Long Beach. As he walked down Arizona Avenue toward his home, Calvo allegedly ran up behind him and hit him at least three
times with the axe. Calvo also previously worked as a taxi driver, up until 2022.
The victim was transported to Mount Sinai South Nassau Hospital in Oceanside, where he underwent multiple surgeries and is still in critical condition.
A search warrant was executed on Feb. 19 at Calvo’s apartment, where a face mask and a white electronic bicycle were found, which surveillance video footage showed him allegedly leaving on. Calvo was arrested in March 12 by the Long Beach Police Department.
“Thanks to the dedicated and collaborative efforts of the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office, the Nassau County Police Homicide Squad and our Long Beach Police Detectives and Officers, a dangerous individual has been taken off of the street,” Long Beach Acting Police Commissioner Richard DePalma said. “The arrest and subsequent indictment for attempted murder represent a critical step in delivering justice and ensuring safety for our community. We remain committed to protecting our city and will continue to pursue those who commit violence against others.”
Calvo is due back in court on June 2.
Legislature candidate reported missing
Petros Krommidas, a 29-year-old Democratic candidate for the Nassau County Legislature, has been reported missing, prompting concern among local officials and community members.
Police confirmed Monday that Krommidas’ car was found parked outside the Allegria Hotel on National Boulevard in Long Beach with his clothing found on the beach.
According to the Nassau County Police Department, Krommidas was last seen in Baldwin on the night of April 23. He was reportedly wearing a camouflage sweatshirt and gray sweatpants at the time.
His family filed a missing persons report on April 24, and local authorities have since launched an investigation into his whereabouts.
Krommidas is a graduate of Chaminade High School and Columbia University, where he studied American history and business management. He previously worked in finance before turning to political organizing. In 2024, he began working as a field organizer for the Democratic Party.
Police are asking anyone with information to call 911 or 516-573-7347.
–Hernesto Galdamez
Petros Krommidas
Campos became a U.S. citizen in February
giance. Campos officially became a citizen on Feb. 27, after what he acknowledged was an ordeal, but one full of hope and gratitude.
His experience with food started when he was young and helped out in the kitchen of his mother’s small restaurant. He fell in love with cooking there, and when he came to the United States, he worked in numerous restaurants and kitchens, washing dishes, preparing ingredients, and watching and learning from others every day. He couldn’t afford culinary school, so he learned through sheer hard work, one of the lessons he carries with him from his parents, who still live in his hometown.
“I am forever grateful to my parents, who built my character with nothing but love and strong values: humility, honor and hard work,” he wrote. “I’m deeply grateful to God, because without His strength and grace, I wouldn’t be here today. I’m proud of where I come from, from the small streets of Asunción Mita to the kitchens of Long Beach. My roots are my strength, and they remind me every day to stay humble, to stay true, and to keep working hard.”
He eventually got a shot as a full-time chef at The Cabana in 2020. From the get-go, he made an impact. Bob Johnson, the restaurant’s owner, said that he is amazed at how well Campos has fit in, even with his relatively limited experience.
“He has a tremendous heart, and that’s all the difference in the world,” Johnson said. “He cares, and he put a work ethic into the staff that’s changed them, too. I come into work and I’m so at ease. It’s just a home run, through and through.”
Campos now usually works at the restaurant four days a week, Thursday through Sunday, and adds a fifth day during the busier summer months.
Beyond his regular hours, he also handles the preparation and inventory for the kitchen. During his time there, he has brought back some of The Cabana’s menu staples that had disappeared before his arrival.
He has fallen in love, he says, with the city, its beaches, The Cabana and the community that has embraced him. He takes pride in the way the restaurant’s kitchen has expanded its menu, and is grateful for the chance he was given, allowing him to live out his dream.
“Finding The Cabana changed my life,” Campos wrote. “Bob and Tracey didn’t just give me a job, they gave me a chance to belong, to grow, and to believe in myself,” he added, referring to Johnson’s wife, Tracey. “They trusted me to lead the kitchen, and through their trust, I found a new purpose. I just want to say thank you to this great country for the opportunity to dream bigger, to Bob and Tracey for believing in a young immigrant who just needed a chance, and to my wife Jackie, who has been my light through every dark moment.”
Though he is now an American citizen and a permanent resident with a creative full-time job, Campos believes his story is far from over. He’ll forever be proud of how far he has come, but will never forget where he came from. His roots are his strength, he said, and they remind him to stay true to himself. In Long Beach, he has found a community that has made him feel like family and, every day, he tries to repay that feeling. And he hopes to inspire others who may follow him.
“Becoming a U.S. citizen is not the end of my journey, it’s just the beginning,” he wrote. “I still have big dreams, and every day I wake up ready to fight for them, just like I always have. I hope my story shows others that no matter where you start, with faith, hard work, and gratitude, you can build a life you’re proud of, and that your dreams are always worth chasing.”
Campos, standing at center, and his friends threw a party after he became an american citizen.
Photos courtesy Mauricio Campos
mauricio Campos became a u.S. citizen on feb. 27, over five years after coming to the country on a fiancé visa.
MADISON WADE
Plainedge Senior Lacrosse
IT HAS BEEN A red-hot April for Wade and the Plainedge girls’ lacrosse team. The Red Devils have won eight of their last night games, with Wade serving as one of the integral parts of the success. The third-year varsity player is also a third-year captain and helping Plainedge’s offense fire. Entering this week’s action, Wade ranked near the top of Nassau County in goals with 42. She netted at least three goals in eight of the first 11 games.
GAMES TO WATCH
Thursday, May 1
Boys Lacrosse: Baldwin at Freeport 5 p.m.
Boys Lacrosse: Calhoun at Carey 5 p.m.
Boys Lacrosse: East Meadow at Clarke
Girls Lacrosse: Sewanhaka at Freeport
Girls Lacrosse: Mepham at Bethpage
Boys Lacrosse: Elmont at Uniondale
Friday, May 2
Flag Football: Lynbrook at East Rockaway 5
Flag Football: Bethpage at Long Beach 5
Boys Lacrosse: Farmingdale at Massapequa 5 p.m.
Boys Lacrosse: South Side at Wantagh 5 p.m.
Girls Lacrosse: South Side at North Shore 5 p.m.
Boys Lacrosse: Lynbrook at MacArthur
Girls Lacrosse: Long Beach at Massapequa 7 p.m.
Saturday, May 3
Softball: Uniondale at Elmont 10 a.m.
Softball: North Shore at Baldwin 10 a.m.
Girls Lacrosse: Lynbrook at Mepham 10 a.m.
Girls Lacrosse: Calhoun at Oceanside 10 a.m.
Flag Football: Freeport at Oceanside 11 a.m.
Girls Lacrosse: Clarke at Division 12 p.m.
Boys Lacrosse: Island Trees at Hewlett 3 p.m.
Nominate a “Spotlight Athlete”
High School athletes to be featured on the Herald sports page must compete in a spring sport and have earned an AllConference award or higher last season. Please send the following information: Name, School, Grade, Sport and accomplishments to Sports@liherald.com.
Long Beach finds winning formula
By ANDREW COEN sports@liherald.com
A double overtime win against a Macarthur team riding a six-game winning streak was a breakthrough moment for a young Long Beach boys’ lacrosse squad still finding its footing.
The Marines with a heavy underclassmen roster knocked off the Generals 9-8 in double OT Conference II win April 23 providing a confidence boost for a team that began the season with three straight losses. Long Beach (5-5), which has played a challenging schedule featuring defending Long Island Class A champion Farmingdale, has now won five of seven.
“We’re playing top teams like Massapequa and Farmingdale and pretty much most of the top teams from the A division and it paid off in the MacArthur game because they were resilient,” Long Beach head coach Jason Pearl said. “I can’t tell you how important that winning experience was that night, for the program as a whole and for the young ninth and 10th graders that are playing for us right now as you can never emulate that kind of experience in practice.”
Long Beach clinched the road win at MacArthur on a Brody Riedel goal in the second overtime session which ended a long scoring drought after both teams were held scoreless in the fourth quarter.
The Long Beach offense featured six different scorers in the MacArthur victory led by two goals apiece from Rory Ahearn, Jonathan Hayes and Cian Donaghy. Riedel had a goal and an assist with Wyatt Wojcieski also chipping in with one tally.
An 11-9 win at Mepham last Saturday also saw six different goal scorers led by three from Charlie Conway.
“They are sharing the ball and working well together,” said Pearl of the scoring depth on his team. “We don’t care who ends up with the ball at the end of the game.”
The defense also held strong at MacArthur with junior goalie Aiden
Derupo recording 13 saves while limiting the Generals to just one goal in the entire second half and overtime. Derupo was also solid in net during an 8-6 win at Island Trees on April 16 with 14 saves.
The defensive effort in front of Derupo has been led this season by Timmy Miller, Wyatt Katzen, Kellan De bruin, Bohdee Wardana and Charlie Muskin. The defense has held opponents to single digits in six of the team’s nine games which included a 7-2 win against Hewlett on April 2.
Miller brings versatility to the
defense with the ability to play close to the net or long stick defensive midfielder and has also registered two goals.
“He is playing really solid defense and making good decisions,” Pearl said of Miller. “Even though he’s a little banged up right now he’s just fighting through it.”
Long Beach will host Conference I foe Port Washington May 6 at 5:30 before returning home for a league game against Herricks May 10 at 5 p.m. The regular season concludes May15 at Alumni Field versus Lynbrook with a 4:45 p.m. faceoff.
Ron Manfredi/Herald Sophomore Cian Donaghy had two goals April 23 as the Marines outlasted MacArthur in a double overtime thriller, 9-8.
District adopts budget, expresses concerns
By ANGELINA ZINGARIELLO azingariello@liherald.com
The Long Beach School District adopted its $158.5 million budget for the 2025-26 school year on April 24, a 1.67 percent increase over this year’s budget of $156 million. The budget includes several adjustments addressing both student needs and fiscal constraints.
A large part of the budget increase will go toward employee compensation, which has been adjusted from 2.23 percent to 2.92 percent. This includes restoring the Social Studies Learning Director position, adding staff for the high school Wellness Center and creating specialized teaching roles at the elementary level.
“We say it’s restored because we used to have a social studies director that we did not have this past year, because we were really trying to tighten things, and we realized that we really do need that position,” Michael DeVito, the district’s assistant superintendent of finance and operations, said. “We’re expanding it to include business and workplace learning. So, it’s a restoration of social studies within an expanded form.”
be confirmed, they represent a key part of the district’s revenue plan. Other revenue sources, such as tuition income and interest earnings, are expected to decline due to enrollment reductions.
“There’s nothing that I heard that said that would be a risk,” DeVito said, referring to state foundation aid. “I thought there was talk earlier, maybe making that even a larger number. So based on that, I feel pretty good, but you never really know.”
To meet the budget’s costs, the district is proposing a 2.4 percent increase in the local tax levy, which will generate approximately $2.6 million. This increase is well below the maximum allowable tax levy, indicating a conservative approach to raising funds.
Employee benefits are projected to decrease by about $55,000 due to flat health insurance premiums, although increases in social security, Medicare and workers’ compensation costs have been factored into the budget.
The budget includes $1.5 million for technology improvements, such as the purchase of new Chromebooks, SMART Boards and desktop computers. It also provides funding for updated flexible furniture in classrooms and additional
The district is responding to projected declines in student enrollment by eliminating 2.6 full-time equivalent positions, mostly in general education programs at the middle school level. The reductions reflect lower enrollment but are offset by the creation of the new roles.
upgrades at the high school.
Spending on vendor services is expected to rise, driven by higher costs for bus transportation contracts, insurance premiums and facility maintenance. To help balance these increases, the district is reducing overall supply expenses in response to declining student enrollment. Funding is also set aside specifically for building repairs across the district.
State aid is estimated at $27.8 million, based on the governor’s proposed budget. While these figures have yet to
If the district does not receive the full amount of foundation aid it is projecting, DeVito suggests using more of the district’s operating surplus to cover the shortfall. This approach would avoid increasing the tax levy beyond the planned 2.4 percent and would allow the district to maintain its proposed spending plan. However, it would leave less surplus available to transfer into the capital reserve for future projects. With the budget now adopted, the district will hold a public hearing on May 13, followed by a final vote on May 20. This marks the end of the public budget process for the upcoming school year.
Herald file photo
District officials present the newly adopted 2025-26 budget during the April 24 school board meeting at Lido Elementary School.
The Southern State at 100: a divided legacy
History, and real or imagined inequity, collide on 25 miles of one of Long Island’s busiest roadways
By CAROLYN JAMES cjames@liherald.com
First in a series on the Southern State Parkway.
One bright Saturday afternoon in June 2020, a group of protesters stood near the Robert Moses statue in Babylon, calling for its removal. Their rallying cry: The “Master Builder” was not worthy of such recognition. He was, instead, a racist who, among other things, designed the Southern State Parkway to keep buses carrying low-income families from traveling from New York City to Long Island — and its beaches.
The group had collected more than 13,000 signatures in support of its cause.
major roadway expansion undertaken by New York state that also included the Northern State and Sagtikos parkways. Today, it is a 25.3-mile long roadway that stretches from the Queens-Nassau border to Heckscher State Park in East Islip.
Wayne Horsley, a former regional director of Long Island’s state parks and a local historian, countered at the time that the often aired claims against Moses, “a son of the village,” have never been proven.
What has been proven, however, is the impact of the visionary work of Moses, who was the architect behind the construction of the Southern State when he served as the chairman of the Long Island State Park Commission and president of the New York State Parks Council.
The 100th anniversary of the construction of the parkway this year offers an opportunity to reflect on both its history and its future.
Often referred to simply as “the parkway,” the Southern State was part of a
Construction on the Southern State began in 1925, under Moses’s leadership. It was designed to improve access to Jones Beach. The land was originally a water conduit owned by the borough of Brooklyn. It comprises the western portion of unsigned New York State Route 908M, with the Heckscher State Parkway occupying the eastern section. Its first section opened to the public in 1927; there were additions in 1949, and its current roadway was completed in 1962, when it reached Heckscher Parkway.
Following the post-war housing boom on Long Island, the parkway was widened and straightened in a number of places to serve commuters traveling at speeds unanticipated when the road was first constructed.
Initially, the Southern State had a toll between exits 13 and 14, at the Cross Island Parkway, until 1978 when the state eliminated it and removed the toll plaza.
Prior to World War II, the State Department of Transportation estimated that fewer than 15,000 cars traveled on the parkway each day. During the postwar population boom on Long Island, the volume expanded to 190,000 cars per day, with most using it to commute between home and work.
Mary Cascone, historian of the Town of Babylon, notes that the Long Island parkway system was initially designed to bring automobiles to state parks.
“By limiting access to passenger cars, the parkways were supposedly intended for recreational driving,” Cascone wrote in her research on Moses and the Southern State. “Drivers and passengers could enjoy the beauty of the tree-lined roadway, free of billboards and trucks, as they made the journey to the countryside.”
That intention is visually confirmed in photos taken of the road when it opened, showing one or two cars on a lushly landscaped parkway, portraying what was then known as the “leisurely Sunday drive.” With its verdant country-
side free of commercial traffic, the parkway appealed to the more affluent city residents who owned cars, whether an intentional outcome of the design or not.
An aspect of the roadway’s design that is often cited as evidence to support the claim that it was designed to deny access to the masses is its bridges, which have unusually low clearances.
“It appears to be accurate that the state parks and beaches reached by the Nassau and Suffolk County parkways were deliberately designed to accommodate motorists rather than people who used public transportation,” Cascone said. “The inference that many people make, however, is that Black people used public transportation — which they
Photos courtesy Babylon Town Historical Society
The Southern State Parkway under construction at Belmont Avenue in Babylon.
A colorized photo of the Southern State Parkway when it opened in 1927.
Southern State’s century of vehicular history
surely did — along with all the other people who could not afford to, or simply chose not to, own a car. This ignores the fact, however, that Black people did own automobiles, and drove them on the parkways and to the beaches.”
For some, however, the low parkway bridges are an unfortunate, lingering reminder of classism and inequity in the guise of public works, Cascone concluded.
Thomas J. Campanella, a professor at Cornell University, a historian and a writer on city planning and the urban environment, sees the potential evidence of discrimination in the lower height of the Southern State bridges compared with those on other parkways Moses designed.
“The low-bridge story is a microbiography of Moses, a tragic hero who built for the ages, but for a narrowly construed public,” Campanella wrote. “It also shows how something as inert as a stone-faced bridge can be alive with politics and meaning.”
He also noted that Moses’s attitude appeared contradictory, as he approved the construction of a swimming pool and play center in Harlem — now the Jackie Robinson Park — which is considered one of the best public works projects of the New Deal era anywhere in the United States, and established other recreational sites in communities of color across New York state.
In a press release dated July 23, 1934, Moses argued for the construction of more recreational facilities for all New Yorkers, noting, “It is no exaggeration to say that the health, happiness, efficiency and orderliness of many of the city’s residents, especially in the summer months, are tremendously affected by the presence or absence of adequate swimming and bathing facilities.”
Next installment: Accident statistics and causes.
■ Originally designed with quaint wooden lampposts, which became affectionately known as “woody” lights.
■ When the parkway was first built, then Gov. Franklin D. Roosevelt wanted to have a western extension that reached into Brooklyn. That stretch of highway is known today as the Belt Parkway.
■ Following the suburban expansion of Long Island after World War II, the parkway was widened and straightened in places to allow for higher speeds and more traffic.
■ A state police substation and barracks were built on either side of the parkway in North Valley Stream.
■ A median service station was built in the 1930s east of Exit 32 (Route 110). It closed in 1985, but its abandoned ramps can still be seen in the median.
Jeffrey Bessen/Herald
Heading east on the south side of today’s Southern State Parkway.
Celebrating the Nassau police centennial
By CHARLES SHAW cshaw@liherald.com
Thousands of residents lined the streets of Wantagh on Sunday, April 27, to celebrate the Nassau County Police Department’s 100th anniversary with a street parade and block party.
The parade stepped off from the corner of Wantagh and Beltagh avenues and featured antique police cars, motorcycles, pipe bands and horses. A helicopter flyover and performances by live musicians added to the festivities as the parade made its way toward Beech Street and Park Avenue.
According to a news release from the office of Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, around 70,000 residents attended the celebration. The police department, the release stated, is part of why U.S. News & World Report named the county as the safest in America in their 2024 report. Blakeman, the release added, plans to continue investing in local law enforcement to help keep residents safe.
“We appreciate the men and women who keep us safe each and every day and remember those who died in the line of duty protecting our beautiful and great County,” Blakeman said in a statement. “Residents of Nassau County love their Police Department. May God bless them all and God bless America.”
Following the parade, a block party took place on Railroad Avenue in front of Mulcahy’s Pub & Concert Hall, where attendees enjoyed food, music, and activities throughout the evening.
The police department was founded in April 1925 with 55 officers and has since grown into one of the largest police departments in the country, now serving more than 1.3 million residents with approximately 2,600 officers.
Blakeman and Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder helped lead the centennial festivities, which aimed to honor the department’s legacy. Officials previously described the celebration as an opportunity to thank past and present mem-
bers of the force and recognize the department’s impact on Nassau County over the past century.
At the event, Ryder thanked police officers and officials who attended the event.
“We are here for one reason, and one reason only: to recognize and thank the men and women who serve,” Ryder said at the parade. “The County Executive said he wanted the biggest police parade in the country. No one has ever in the country’s history done just a police parade. Well, it happened here today.”
The parade included appearances from village police departments and featured past and present police vehicles as well as pipe bands from throughout the region.
Additional reporting by Luke Feeney.
The Long Beach Police Department was one of the many departments to take part in the celebration.
Tim Baker/Herald photos
Mounted police officers rode down the street during the Nassau County Police Department’s 100th anniversary parade in Wantagh.
Max Zimmer, 7, left, Sean Nicholes, 7, and Mia Zimmer, 9, enjoyed the parade.
The Long Beach Seaside Marching Band played as they walked in the parade.
STEPPING OUT
“Choc”-full of delights
The Chocolate Expo is all sorts of delicious
By Danielle Schwab
Prepare for a day coated in all things chocolate.
Over 90 vendors soon set up shop at Hostra University’s David Mack Sports & Exhibition Center. The unique foodie experience returns, May 4, with sweet and savory tastes all in one place.
“We call ourselves the official home of chocolate, food, and fun,” Marvin Baum, the Chocolate Expo’s founder, says. “We’re using chocolate as a platform, not only to support small local businesses, but also to do good for the community.”
It all began in 2006, after Baum realized there was a strong desire to bring food vendors and communities together. Since 2012, the chocoholic’s delight has been sweetening Long Island and has grown to be the confectionery hot spot it is today.
“Long Island has always been a special spot for me. It helped us go to the next level in terms of what we could offer the public in terms of an experience,” Baum says.
From chocolate classics like bonbons, fudge and chocolate-dipped treats to interesting twists such as chocolate-covered bacon, there are no shortage of desserts to indulge in. For more savory pairings, baked goods, specialty foods, wine, and cheeses are also tempting; there’s surely something to satisfy everyone’s palate.
Visitors can check out the Long Island confectioners represented, including Bellmore’s Chocolate Works, a chocolaterie selling chocolate-covered pretzels, platters, and more.
“Last year was our first year at the Expo. We had a great experience,” Nimisha Patel, who owns the store with her husband, Raj, reports.“People always buy chocolate, and we get to be creative and decorate with different designs.”
Other local favorites include Chez Hedwidge, an artisan gluten-free bakery, based in Valley Stream; Massapequa’s Swizzled Desserts, a purveyor of small batch alchohol-infused ice creams and sorbets; and Sunflower Bakeshop, a Kosher bakery in West Hempstead that caters to customers with
• Sunday, May 4, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
• Tickets are $20, $10 ages 5-12 when purchased online, children under 5 free, $30, $15 child at door; available from thechocolateexpo.com
• Hofstra University, David S. Mack Sports & Exhibition Complex, Hempstead
food and dietary restrictions, offering a wide range of glutenfree and vegan options.
This year, the choice of treats is more enticing than ever.
“There are a limited number of chocolate shops on Long Island. We’re bringing vendors from other states and countries, so we can bring unique things that people from Long Island have not seen elsewhere before,” Baum says.
Be sure to sample the diverse offerings that include the trendy Dubai chocolate (Omniya), rich artisanal chocolates from Paris (Chocolaknin), and luxury Swiss assortments (Canonica).
The binge-worthy experiences don’t stop with chocolate. Guests can meet up with this years’ special guests — everyone’s favorite 1970s TV family, “The Brady Bunch.”
“There’s a strong nostalgic quality to connecting with the original show. This is a chance to get together, to connect without a television screen, in a much more informal kind of way,” says Barry Williams, who fans will know as the eldest Brady child, Greg Brady.
Williams is readu to answer all your eager-to-know questions about the show — along with his castmates Christopher Knight (Peter Brady), Mike Lookinland (Bobby Brady), and Susan Olsen (Cindy Brady) — during the morning panel discussion. He’s also bringing some “Tikis” that fans may recognize from the iconic Hawaii episode.
“I see happen quite often is a fan will approach us, they might be middle-aged, and in front of my eyes they will turn into the giggling teenager that they were when they were watching the show,” he notes.
Balloon artist Robbie Furman adds to the magic, creating a life-sized ‘Brady Bunch’ — made entirely out of balloons!
For more family-sized fun, young visitors can drop by the Kidz Zone for face painting, balloon twisting and chocolate smashing. You may even catch a glimpse of a Stormtrooper — don’t forget to respond “May the Fourth be with you!”
At the end of the day, kids can enjoy a balloon popping party.
“We let the kids pop them with safe little picks at the end of the event, which we’ve never done on Long Island before,” Baum says.
Whether you’re familiar with the Expo or a curious newcomer, it’s always a delectable outing.
“We have a relationship with people on Long Island, and they look forward to it every year. I recently saw a Facebook post [about the Expo] saying ‘My friend and I had a magical day that we will never forget,’” Baum says.
“This is why we do what we do with the Chocolate Expo, for our guests have a magical time.”
Pink Talking Fish
Three mammoth bands. Three musical phenomenons. One idea inspired by love of the music. That’s Pink Talking Fish. The hybrid tribute fusion act takes the music from three iconic bands creating a remarkable musical jam. PTF brings their unique sound to the Landmark on Main Street stage, on their latest tour celebrating the 50th anniversary of the incredible Pink Floyd album “Wish You Were Here.” This show consists of two sets. The first set will be a full rendition of this epic album from start to finish, with “Classic PTF” combinations for the second set. “Wish You Were Here” is extremely meaningful to the band members and so many music lovers around the world and PTF is thrilled to bring this album to life in 2025. Although the music from each act is different, PTF has discovered that fusing the material together creates an amazing story. The epic emotion of Pink Floyd; the funky, danceable layerings of The Talking Heads; the styles, unique compositional structures and pure fun of Phish — to merge these three into one gives music lovers a special experience.
Friday, May 2, 8 p.m. $49 and $46. Jeanne Rimsky Theater at Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington. Tickets available at landmarkonmainstreet.org or call (516) 767-6444.
Regency Romance is afoot
Old Westbury Gardens welcomes everyone to Regency Romance Weekend, a most splendid affair in honor of Jane Austen’s 250th birthday. Families can wander the gardens for storybook strolls and hands-on crafts, while those with a playful spirit can enjoy lawn games fit for the finest estates. Also find inspiration in creative activities, while music lovers are serenaded with classical takes on familiar tunes. Of course, what would a Regency gathering be without fashion and society gossip? Take in a discussion on Regency fashion —fact versus fiction. And for those with a keen mind and a love of Austen’s world, Austen trivia will put your knowledge to the ultimate test. Plus indulge in a proper afternoon tea, or treat yourself to confections at the café.
Saturday and Sunday, May 3-4. Old Westbury Gardens, 71 Old Westbury Road, Old Westbury. For more information and program/events schedule, go to oldwestburygardens. org or call (516) 333-0048.
Photos courtesy Chuck Fishman Every bite is a sweet discovery at The Chocolate Expo.
Your Neighborhood CALENDAR
On Exhibit
MAY
1
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) that publicly launched the movement. The direct follow-up to the wellreceived 2023 exhibit, “Our Gilded Age,” it comparably links the period’s signature innovation in the decorative arts, Art Deco, to the fine arts. On view through June 15.
• Where: 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor.
• Time: Ongoing
• Contact: (516) 484-9337 or nassaumuseum.org
‘Elephant & Piggie’s We Are in a Play!’
The beloved musical adventure, ripped from the pages of Mo Willems’ beloved award-winning, best-selling children’s books, is back on stage at Long Island Children’s Museum. Willems’ classic characters Elephant and Piggie storm the stage in a rollicking musical romp filled with plenty of pachydermal peril and swiney suspense perfect for young audiences.
• Where: Museum Row, Garden City.
• Time: Also May 2-3, and May 7-8, times vary
• Contact: licm.org or call (516) 224-5800
MAY
2
Long Island Marathon Weekend
The Long Island Marathon and additional races return to Eisenhower Park with three days packed with races for runners of all ages and abilities, through May 4.
• Where: Eisenhower Park, East Meadow
• Time: Varying times on Friday, Saturday & Sunday
• Contact: RunSignUp.com/ Race/NY/EastMeadow/ LongIslandMarathon
MAY
Storybook Stroll
3
Bring the kids to Old Westbury Gardens for a storybook adventure. Stroll the gardens and listen to “Jane Austen: Little People Big Dreams” by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara. Later create a unique take home
MAY
11 • Where: 1 W. Chester St.
Brian Regan
Critics, fans and fellow comedians agree: Brian Regan is one of the most respected comedians in the country with Vanity Fair calling Brian, “The funniest stand-up alive,” and Entertainment Weekly citing him as “Your favorite comedian’s favorite comedian.” Having built his 30-plus year career on the strength of his material alone, Brian’s non-stop theater tour continuously fills prestigious venues across North America, visiting close to 100 cities each year. His comedic talent extends beyond the stage. He’s released two acclaimed Netflix specials, “Brian Regan: Nunchucks And Flamethrowers” and “Brian Regan: On The Rocks,” showcasing his knack for finding humor in everyday situations. He also starred in his own Netflix series,”Stand Up And Away! With Brian Regan,” and even made history with “Brian Regan: Live From Radio City Music Hall,” the first live broadcast of a stand-up special in Comedy Central’s history. Regan also co-stars in three seasons of Peter Farrelly’s series, “Loudermilk,” which moved to Netflix in January 2024, ranking in the Top 10 TV shows on Netflix for over a month. He’s also a familiar presence on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.” He’s the standup guest who the show invites on for two segments: a performance segment and also on the couch to chat with Jimmy. $99.50, $79.50, $69.50, $49.50.
craft. For ages 3-5. Storybook Strolls start at the Beech Tree (next to Westbury House), and end at the Thatched Cottage. Registration required.
• Where: 71 Old Westbury Road, Old Westbury
• Time: 10:30-11:30 a.m.
• Contact: oldwestburygardens. org or (516) 333-0048
‘Bridgerton’-inspired dance workshop
Learn to dance like Simon and Daphne! Enjoy an hour of grace and merriment at Old Westbury Gardesn and learn some of the dances from the “Bridgerton” and “Queen Charlotte” series. No experience is necessary and no partner is needed. Instructor Susan de Guardiola guides participants through easy choreographies inspired from the TV series and talks about how the Bridgerton dances differ from the dances of the actual Regency/Jane Austen era. Ages 16+ welcome.
• Where: The Barn at Orchard Hill, 71 Old Westbury Road, Old Westbury
• Time: Noon-1 p.m.
• Contact: oldwestburygardens.org
MAY
Splish Splash… Animal Baths
4
Hang out with some Long Island Children’s Museum’s “residents,” Join an animal educator in the Hive Studio in the Feasts for Beasts Gallery to learn what goes into the care of LICM’s animals. Observe animal bath time.
• Where: Museum Row, Garden City
• Time: 1:30-2 p.m.
• Contact: licm.org or (516) 224-5800
MAY
City Council meeting
6
Long Beach City Council meets, at City Hall. The meeting will also be streamed on YouTube. Join to learn about projects that may be going on in the area.
• Where: Sixth floor at City Hall
• Time: 7 p.m.
• Contact: 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. Enjoy the
• Time: Ongoing Wednesday and Saturday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
• Contact: Call (516) 889-1300 for more information.
MAY
Breastfeeding Support Group
8
Mercy Hospital offers a peer-topeer breastfeeding support group facilitated by a certified counselor. Open to new moms with babies from newborn to 1 year. Registration required.
• Where: St. Anne’s Building, 1000 North Village Ave., Rockville Centre.
• Time: 10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m.
• Contact: Call Gabriella Gennaro at (516) 705-2434
MAY
9
• Where: The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington.
• Time: 8 p.m.
• Contact: ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com
incredible layered sounds of their jazz stylings on the piano, drums and bass. No cover/no minimum. Full food menu and bar bites available.
• Where: 80 W. Broadway.
• Time: Ongoing Tuesday, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
• Contact: Call (516) 889-1300 for more information.
Ask the tech guy
Do you have questions about your computer or laptop?
Want to learn more about Zoom, streaming movies, or downloading ebooks to your device? Join Long Beach Library’s Tech Guy, every Wednesday, to get answers to your pressing tech questions.
• Where: 111 W. Park Ave.
• Time: Ongoing Wednesdays, 2-3 p.m.
• Contact: longbeachlibrary.org.
MAY
7
Little Learners’ Busy Bees
Planting Fields Little Learners series continues with a buzzing adventure for the little ones. Families discover how these tiny but mighty creatures help our environment flourish. Through fun activities, explore how bees spread pollen and help plants grow, making them essential to nature’s magic. Each child also gets to craft their very own beehive thumbprint masterpiece and enjoy a lively, buzzing game that brings the wonders of pollination to life. For ages 2-5. Registration required. $15 per child.
• Where: 1395 Planting Fields Road, Oyster Bay
• Time: 1-2 p.m.
• Contact: plantingfields.org or call (516) 922-9210
Having an event?
Farmers’ Market
The Kennedy Plaza Farmers’ Market returns to Kennedy Plaza, in front of Long Beach City Hall, every Wednesday and Saturday. Come check out locally grown fruits and vegetables!
Items on the Calendar 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 kbloom@ liherald.com.
Las Vegas Sands pulls out of casino bid
By KELSIE RADZISKI kradziski@liherald.com
Las Vegas Sands is no longer pursuing its $6 billion proposal to build a casino resort on the Nassau Coliseum site.
The company will not apply in June for one of three available downstate gaming licenses in New York. Executives cited a range of market forces, including the rise of online gambling, economic uncertainty in the U.S. and a strategic shift to preserve shareholder value.
The proposed project included a 400,000-square-foot casino, hotels, restaurants, retail space and a convention center. It was projected to create more than 8,500 construction jobs and over 5,000 permanent positions across the 72-acre site.
Last August, the County Legislature approved a 42-year operational lease agreement with Las Vegas Sands for the Coliseum and surrounding land in an 18-1 vote, meaning that Sands was responsible for the general upkeep and maintenance of the property but could not build or develop. The next steps for the project would have been for the company to apply for a lease that allowed it to develop the property, and to bid for one of the gaming licenses.
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, a forceful advocate for the project, issued a statement through Chris Boyle, his director of communications.
Kelsie Radziski/Herald
Las Vegas Sands has withdrawn its plan to build a $6 billion casino on the Nassau Coliseum site. The project sparked debate from the start, with groups like the Say No to the Casino Civic Association, above, protesting outside legislative meetings.
according to a statement issued by members Monica Kiely and Allison O’Brien Silva.
“While we are concerned the door remains open for the county to find a new casino partner, it was always a bad idea, and it will continue to be a bad idea, whether the county works with Las Vegas Sands or another predatory gambling company looking to extract wealth from our community,” the statement read.
On April 24, County Legislator Seth Koslow sent a cease-and-desist letter to Blakeman demanding that all expenditures surrounding the Sands casino be terminated. Koslow said at a news conference that morning that there was no clear path forward for the project, and he was concerned about “wasting time, energy and money” on something that is “not what people wanted.”
“County Executive Bruce Blakeman has been aware of certain pressures that have factored into Las Vegas Sands’ rethinking of land-based brick and mortar casinos in the United States,” the statement read.
the licensing application process.”
“The County Executive is grateful that Las Vegas Sands is committed to the development of the Coliseum site with or without a casino,” Boyle added. “However, there is strong interest from gaming organizations which have been in confidential discussions with Nassau County in taking the place of Las Vegas Sands in
“Nassau County will crystallize within the next 30 days whether or not to entertain a casino component or develop the site without,” Boyle stated. “In either event there will be an exciting new development that will create jobs and positive economic activity.”
The Say No to the Casino Civic Association, whose members have been vocal opponents of the project since the beginning, is “thrilled” after a long fight against the “wholly destructive casino,”
Koslow, who is the Democratic candidate for county executive, supports development on the site that both brings in the money that the casino promised and aligns with what he maintains community members want.
“We need to invest in a real project that’s going to get done, that people want, that has community buy-in,” he said at the conference. “We can certainly do a hotel, an entertainment facility, with a convention center, something that’s going to bring more people here, something that’s going to bring tourism here.”
PSEG Long Island Hosts First “Business First” Workshop for Entrepreneurs
By Maureen Fitzgerald
On April 15, nearly 50 Long Island business owners attended PSEG Long Island’s first “Business First” workshop at its Bethpage headquarters, hosted in collaboration with the Nassau Council of Chambers of Commerce. The morning session featured a networking breakfast and expert-led presentations on reducing energy costs, managing utility bills, and securing funding for energy-efficient upgrades.
“Small businesses power our communities and fuel economic growth,” said Veronica Isaac, Manager of Customer and Community Partnerships at PSEG Long Island, reflecting on the vital role small businesses play here — a theme that resonated throughout the day’s program. “By helping them thrive, we unlock local jobs, boost reinvestment and create a cycle of shared success. A strong small business is a win for all of us.”
Christine Bryson and Shamisha Sims kicked off the event with an overview of financial and technical resources available through PSEG Long Island and partner agencies. Bryson explained how federal, state, and local programs—including grants, loans, and tax credits—can support energy-saving improvements. She also provided tips on working with economic development agencies. Sims introduced PSEG’s Business First program, which offers free or low-cost energy assessments, and shared sample audit reports highlighting quickreturn upgrades like LED lighting and HVAC controls.
The technical portion of the workshop focused on implementation. Matt Connors shared case studies of local companies that cut energy use by up to 25% and explained how to apply for rebates tied to improvements like programmable thermostats and motor retrofits. Nicole Jones-Cumberbatch followed with a presentation on PSEG’s renovation support services, which help businesses navigate permits, hire contractors, and stay on schedule. Paul DiBenedetto wrapped up the segment with a discussion on EV charging stations and available
incentives, sparking interest from several attendees planning future installations.
Thenaris Godbolt walked through PSEG Long Island’s commercial billing system, helping attendees better understand rate schedules, online tools, and cost-saving features like budget billing and prompt-payment discounts. The session closed with Jimmy Alty offering procurement tips to help businesses evaluate vendor bids, negotiate terms, and leverage PSEG Long Island’s contractor network — their Prime Efficiency
Partners — for quality assurance and cost control. Attendees also had the opportunity to meet one-onone with Business First Advocates to discuss next steps, from rebate applications to project planning, receiving personalized advice and customized next steps and key contacts for follow-up support. Future workshops are planned throughout the year. Businesses can email PSEGLI-BusinessFirst@pseg. com to schedule a free energy assessment or learn more.
photo courtesy PSEG Long Island Long Island business owners attend PSEG Long Island “Business First” workshop on April 15.
May 1, 2025 —
LEGAL NOTICE
Public Notices
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
LEGAL NOTICE
SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE, LLC, -againstBETTY OSEI-MENSAH, 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 31, 2018, wherein NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE, LLC is the Plaintiff and BETTY OSEI-MENSAH, 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 13, 2025 at 2:00PM, premises known as 31 BARNES ST, LONG BEACH, NY 11561; and the following tax map identification: 59-223-37 & 214. 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 Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No.: 022937/2009.
Brian J. Davis, 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. 152866
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION AS TRUSTEE FOR SOUNDVIEW HOME LOAN TRUST 2007OPT1, ASSET-BACKED CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2007-OPT1, Plaintiff, AGAINST
ASHANTI RANDOLPH, EXECUTRIX AND HEIR OF THE ESTATE OF JAMES RANDOLPH A/K/A JAMES A. RANDOLPH, JAMES RANDOLPH A/K/A
JAMES RANDOLPH JR., AS HEIR TO THE ESTATE OF JAMES RANDOLPH A/K/A
JAMES A. RANDOLPH, et al. Defendant(s)
Pursuant to a judgment of foreclosure and sale duly entered on November 21, 2024. I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction at the North Side Steps of the Nassau Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on May 12, 2025 at 2:00 PM premises known as 545B W Broadway, Unit 205, Long Beach, NY 11561.
Please take notice that this foreclosure auction shall be conducted in compliance with the Foreclosure Auction Rules for Nassau County and the COVID 19 Health Emergency Rules, including proper use of masks and social distancing. 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 0059, Block 00028-00 and Lot 00184. Approximate amount of judgment $695,803.91 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment. Index #005461/2014. Karen C. Grant, Esq., Referee, Aldridge Pite, LLPAttorneys for Plaintiff40 Marcus Drive, Suite 200, Melville, NY 11747 152852
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS TRUSTEE FOR THE RMAC TRUST, SERIES 2016-CTT, Plaintiff, vs. HELEN PINTO; IF SHE BE LIVING, AND IF SHE BE DEAD, THE RESPECTIVE HEIRS AT LAW, NEXT OF KIN, DISTRIBUTEES, LEGATEES, ASSIGNORS, LIENORS, CREDITORS AND SUCCESSORS IN INTEREST, AND GENERALLY ALL PERSONS HAVING A CLAIM UNDER, BY AND THROUGH, SAID DEFENDANT HELEN PINTO WHO MAY BE DECEASED, BY PURCHASE, INHERITANCE, LIEN OR OTHERWISE OF ANY RIGHT, TITLE OR INTEREST IN THE PROPERTY DESCRIBED IN THE COMPLAINT; ET AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to An Order Discharging Guardian Ad Litem, Confirming Referee’s Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on February 18, 2025, 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 20, 2025 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 119 Belmont Avenue, 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 197 and Lot 39. Approximate amount of judgment is $698,028.35 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #605160/2021. Cash will not be accepted. Michael Sepe, Esq., Referee Knuckles & Manfro, LLP, 120 White Plains Road, Suite 215, Tarrytown, New York 10591, Attorneys for Plaintiff 153001
LEGAL NOTICE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, AS SUCCESSOR TO JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, NOT INDIVIDUALLY BUT SOLELY AS TRUSTEE FOR THE HOLDERS OF THE BEAR STEARNS ALT-A TRUST 2004-13, MORTGAGE PASSTHROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2004-13, -againstBETTE RICHMAN, 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 December 17, 2018, wherein THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, AS SUCCESSOR TO JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, NOT INDIVIDUALLY BUT SOLELY AS TRUSTEE FOR THE HOLDERS OF THE BEAR STEARNS ALT-A TRUST 2004-13, MORTGAGE PASSTHROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2004-13 is the Plaintiff and BETTE RICHMAN, 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 20, 2025 at 2:00PM, premises known as 1514 BEECH STREET, ATLANTIC BEACH, NY 11509; and the following tax map identification: 58-61-55. ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND, WITH THE BUILDINGS AND IMPROVEMENTS THEREON ERECTED, SITUATE, LYING AND BEING AT LONG BEACH, TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD COUNTY OF NASSAU AND STATE OF NEW YORK Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No.: 004724/2015. Rita Solomon, 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. 152999
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU Bank of America, N.A., Plaintiff AGAINST
Charlene Banks; Moses Josiah; Mark Simon; et al., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered November 13, 2019, amended January 9, 2025 and March 17, 2025, I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction at the North Side Steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on May 15, 2025 at 2:00PM, premises known as 23 New Hampshire Street, Long Beach, NY 11561. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land situate, lying and being at Long Beach, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau, State of New York, Section 59. Block 252 Lot 32. Approximate amount of judgment $687,724.44 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index# 003383/2015. Foreclosure auction will be held “Rain or Shine”.
Louis B. Imbroto, Esq., Referee
LOGS Legal Group LLP f/k/a Shapiro, DiCaro & Barak, LLC
Attorney(s) for the Plaintiff 175 Mile Crossing Boulevard Rochester, New York 14624 (877) 430-4792
Dated: April 3, 2025 For sale information, please visit www.Auction.com or call (800) 280-2831 152997
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT NASSAU COUNTY
ATCF II NEW YORK
LLC, Plaintiff against 316 EAST FULTON STREET, LLC, et al
Defendant(s)
Attorney for Plaintiff(s) Hersko & Ehrenreich P.C., 555 Willow Avenue, Cedarhurst, NY 11516, (516) 942-4216.
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 May 22, 2025 at 4:30 PM. 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 in the State of New York. Premises known as 316 East Fulton St., Long Beach, NY 11561. Sec 59 Block 136 Lot 13 (Group Lot: 13-14). Approximate Amount of Judgment is $5,851.43 plus interest, fees, and costs and Attorney fees. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No 603982/2024. 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.”
Chad Lupinacci, Esq., Referee File # 20-0384 153087
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 05/07/2025 at 9:30 A.M. to consider the following applications and appeals: THE FOLLOWING CASES WILL BE CALLED STARTING AT 9:30 A.M.
207/25. POINT LOOKOUT - DS Real Estate Holding, LLC, Variances, height, lot area occupied, front yard average setback, side yard, side yards aggregate, exceeds construction standards in flood zone over 30’ above design flood elevation, construct dwelling with garage (demolish existing dwelling)., N/s Bayside Dr., 50’ E/o Freeport Ave., a/k/a 80 Bayside Dr. 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
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. 153230
LEGAL NOTICE
At a meeting of the Town Board of the Town of Hempstead, Nassau County, New York, held at Pavilion, Hempstead Town Hall, 1 Washington Street, Hempstead, New York, on April 29, 2025
P R E S E N T: Hon. Donald X. Clavin, Jr., Supervisor Dorothy L. Goosby Dennis Dunne, Sr. Thomas E. Muscarella
Melissa Miller
Laura A. Ryder Chris Schneider, Council Members.
X IN THE MATTER - ofTHE INCREASE AND IMPROVEMENT OF THE POINT LOOKOUT PARK DISTRICT IN THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, COUNTY OF NASSAU, STATE OF NEW YORK
-X
ORDER CALLING PUBLIC HEARING
WHEREAS, the Deputy Commissioner of the Town of Hempstead Department of Parks and Recreation, as the Representative of the Point Lookout Park District (the “District”), proposed an improvement project regarding the replacement of a septic tank at Civic Beach, and requested the Town Board of the Town of Hempstead hold a public hearing on such increase and improvement of the District; and, WHEREAS, the Deputy Commissioner submitted to the Town Board an estimate of cost relating to said increase and improvement; and, WHEREAS, the proposed increase and improvement is a Type II Action pursuant to the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act and 6 N.Y.C.R.R. Part 617; and, WHEREAS, it is in the public interest that the Town Board of the Town of Hempstead consider the proposition herein set forth and to call a public hearing thereon; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
ORDERED, the proposed increase and improvement is a Type II Action pursuant to the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act and 6 N.Y.C.R.R. Part 617; and, be it further,
ORDERED, that a public hearing be held by this Town Board at the Town Meeting Pavilion, Hempstead Town Hall, 1 Washington Street, Hempstead, New York, on May 13, 2025 at 10:30 o’clock in the forenoon of the day, on the increase and improvement of the Point Lookout Park District at an estimated maximum cost of $50,000.00 to be financed by the issuance of obligations of the Town of Hempstead. ALL persons desiring to be heard concerning the subject of the above-mentioned hearing will be given an opportunity to be heard at the time and place aforesaid.
Dated: Hempstead, New York April 29, 2025 /S/
Donald X. Clavin, Jr., Supervisor /S/________________ Dorothy L. Goosby
Public Notices
/S/________________
Dennis Dunne, Sr. /S/
Thomas E. Muscarella /S/
Melissa Miller /S/
Laura A. Ryder /S/
Chris Schneider
Members of the Town Board of the Town of Hempstead 153250
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE
SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU SUNWEST MORTGAGE COMPANY, INC., Plaintiff, Against THE NASSAU COUNTY PUBLIC
ADMINISTRATOR AS ADMINISTRATOR TO THE ESTATE OF OMAR KAROM; JOSEPH WILLIAM AS HEIR TO THE ESTATE OF OMAR KAROM; SAM O CHERRY AS HEIR TO THE ESTATE OF OMAR KAROM; MICHELLE LEE LONG AS HEIR TO THE ESTATE OF OMAR KAROM; ANITA DAWNHEALING AS HEIR TO THE ESTATE OF OMAR KAROM; EDWARD LEN CHERRY AS HEIR TO THE ESTATE OF OMAR KAROM; ROSIE KAROM AS HEIR TO THE ESTATE OF OMAR KAROM; et al, Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale, duly entered 02/17/2025, I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction, on the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, N.Y. 11501 on 6/5/2025 at 2:00PM, premises known as 205 Maple Boulevard Long Beach, Long Beach, New York 11561, and described as follows: 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 215 Lot 72
The approximate amount of the current Judgment lien is $921,669.23 plus interest and costs. The Premises will be sold subject to provisions of the aforesaid Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, the then Court Appointed Referee will cancel the Foreclosure Auction. This Auction will be held rain or shine; Index # 004836/2015
Scott H Siller, Esq., Referee.
MCCABE, WEISBERG & CONWAY, LLC, 10 MIDLAND AVENUE, SUITE 205, PORT CHESTER, NY 10573
Dated: 4/29/2025 File Number: 16-302301 MB 153278
LEGAL NOTICE
SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU CITIMORTGAGE, INC., Plaintiff -againstSCOTT UNGER, et al Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered herein and dated April 25, 2017, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court “Rain or Shine” located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY on June 3, 2025 at 2:30 p.m. premises situate, lying and being in the City of Long Beach, County of Nassau and State of New York, bounded and described as follows: BEGINNING at the corner formed by the intersection of the Easterly side of Lafayette Boulevard with the Southerly side of Hudson Street; being a plot 100 feet by 60 feet by 100 feet by 60 feet. Section 59 Block 44 Lot 1, 2 and 3. Said premises known as 520 LAFAYETTE BOULEVARD, LONG BEACH, NY 11561
Approximate amount of lien $830,835.20 plus interest & costs.
Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale. If the sale is set aside for any reason, the Purchaser at the sale shall be entitled only to a return of the deposit paid. The Purchaser shall have no further recourse against the Mortgagor, the Mortgagee or the Mortgagee’s attorney. Index Number 014534/2012.
MATTHEW HUNTER, ESQ, Referee
David A. Gallo & Associates LLP
Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 47 Hillside Avenue, 2nd Floor, Manhasset, NY 11030 File# 9024.106 {* LONG BEACH*} 153174
interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #600924/2018. Fay Mattana, Esq., Referee Gross Polow y, LLC 1775 Wehrle Drive Williamsville, NY 14221 19-005692 85259 153189
PUBLIC AND LEGAL NOTICES…
To place a notice here call us us at 516-569-4000 x232 or send an email to: legalnotices@liherald.com
LEGAL NOTICE
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB, D/B/A CHRISTIANA TRUST, NOT INDIVIDUALLY BUT AS TRUSTEE FOR HILLDALE TRUST, Plaintiff AGAINST MARY MARKS, RON MARKS AKA RON EVAN MARKS, ET AL., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered September 16, 2022, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on May 29, 2025 at 2:30 PM, premises known as 47 East Beech Street, 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, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 59, Block 99, Lot 61-64. Approximate amount of judgment $1,405,702.49 plus
NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY, BUT SOLELY AS TRUSTEE OF LSRMF MH MASTER PARTICIPATION TRUST II, Plaintiff AGAINST ROBERTO ARROYO, MEDALIA RIVERA, Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered March 24, 2025, 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 June 2, 2025 at 2:00 PM, premises known as 369 East Pine Street, Long Beach, NY 11561 AKA 369 Pine Street, 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, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 59 Block 134 and Lots 71-72. Approximate amount of judgment $442,349.98 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #609825/2 023. Christine M. Grillo, Esq, Referee Gross Polowy, LLC 1775 Wehrle Drive Williamsville, NY 14221 22-003458 85345 153193
THEM
Association has also started community garden
Lefton, the department’s acting commissioner, wrote in a press release. “DEC remains committed to supporting organizations advancing environmental justice, and looks forward to working with this newest round of grantees and their partners to improve environmental outcomes across the state.”
In addition to the pollution-mitigation project, the civic association has established a community garden at its headquarters on Long Beach Boulevard, offering organically grown produce including peppers, tomatoes, broccolini, zucchini, eggplant, peas, cucumbers and romaine lettuce. The garden also serves as an open-air classroom for those who want to learn about healthy eating and sustainability.
“We’re especially proud because it has a cultural piece to it,” association President Helen Dorado-Alessi said. “We’re teaching people how to grow their own organic food, not necessarily to spend a lot of money, and to help keep diabetes away and all kinds of other diseases. I’d like to also say a special thankyou to all the government partners that are here today. It’s been a difficult time over the last couple of months, and we just want to show our appreciation. This is a true team effort.”
DEC officials and City Councilman John Bendo were on hand for the check presentation ceremony to show their support for the association’s efforts. Dorado-Alessi and Lefton planted a tree in the community garden to mark Arbor Day.
The DEC grants support nonprofit organizations in communities that it has recognized for promoting environmental justice. The grants help fund projects that address environmental harms, health hazards and related public education efforts. Eligible organizations must
be based in, and serve, communities affected by pollution, lack of green space and health issues, and must have annual revenues of less than $3 million.
The grants are funded by the state Environmental Protection Fund, which offers up to $100,000 for projects such as community gardens, urban farming, habitat restoration, tree planting and environmental monitoring. The projects must include a research component to expand the community’s understanding of its environmental challenges.
“There’s a reason why we started celebrating Earth Day,” Lefton said, “and part of that is really founded on just historic injustice where certain communities, local communities — Black and brown communities in particular — were really bearing environmental harm, more so at higher rates than other communities. These injustices have persisted over many, many years, and at DEC we’re really committed to fighting those historic injustices.”
The Latino Civic Association is one of 21 community organizations across the state to receive a share of roughly $2 million in Environmental Justice Community Impact Grants.
At the check presentation, Lefton also highlighted some statewide environmental goals, including Gov. Kathy Hochul’s initiative to plant 25 million trees. A newly introduced online tree tracker will monitor progress toward that goal.
Since 2006, the DEC’s Office of Environmental Justice has awarded nearly $17 million to some 257 projects across the state. The association has been awarded five additional grants since 2008 to support its initiatives. Additional grant opportunities are expected to be announced later in 2025. Nonprofit organizations are encouraged to register in the Statewide Financial System to apply.
Continued from page 1
Angelina Zingariello Herald
amanda Lefton, acting commissioner of the state department of environmental Conservation, left, and the Long Beach Latino Civic association’s executive director, Helen dorado- alessi, planted a tree to mark the earth Week event.
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Q. Our basement is unfinished, and we plan to put in walls and a finished ceiling. We know we need an escape window, but what are your suggestions on other things, like the kind of ceiling? I’m thinking about just sheetrock, but what kind of access do you recommend for the pipes and wires I’ll need to get to?
A. There are many items to include in your thought process for finishing your basement. Mistakes are made, first, by ever assuming that the people doing the work know the laws.
The biggest problem I see is that the ceiling is just a little too low, that someone dropped the entire ceiling level just because of one pipe. The minimum ceiling height in the current code is 6 feet 8 inches clearance, with 6 feet 4 inches under the center beams, air ducts or soffits anywhere in the basement. Always leave access for shutoff valves, wiring connections, cleanouts and other controls.
If you need to move pipes that were installed without any care for your future use of the basement, move them. Piping should go around the perimeter of the basement, no matter what excuse you hear. Because of poor planning and even worse execution, pipes are the No. 1 problem, because someone thoughtlessly put them in a place that was good for them and not for you.
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The ceiling finish can be sheetrock in the larger areas with perimeter “hung” track ceilings outfitted with removable ceiling tiles. Again, even those lowered perimeter and under-beam soffits need to be no less than 6 feet 4 inches above the floor. Tall firefighters need to avoid hitting their heads when they’re running though your smoke-filled basement to rescue you or your loved ones.
Although you know you need an escape well window or exterior door entry, placement of the well in some side or front yards can cause a code violation if it’s closer than allowed to a property line. Verify your setback requirements for your zone, and even confirm that with an official at your local building department.
Many jurisdictions require a permit with plans and inspections, so don’t forget these important requirements. There are so many people who are frustrated that their contractor didn’t tell them that they needed a permit, and even worse, that they now have a violation that requires reconstruction to pass inspections. Don’t be one of those people.
Other important issues include what to do with enclosing your heating equipment, putting laundry sinks and washing machines too close to the main electrical service panel, using the wrong kind of wall studs for perimeter walls, not insulating correctly and forgetting to put handrails on the access stairs, inside and out. Heating equipment, to the code, must follow the manufacturer’s specifications. Installers rarely leave a manual. Sometimes the internet helps. There must be 5/8-inch type X gypsum board on the ceiling extending at least 1 foot in each direction around the boiler. Best of luck!
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opinions Battery storage is key to economic competitiveness
As a lifelong Long Islander, I’ve seen firsthand what happens when our energy system fails. I lived through Superstorm Sandy and helped lead recovery efforts in its aftermath — and I don’t need to remind those who went weeks without power and spent hours on gas lines that grid resilience isn’t just a buzzword. It’s a necessity — one we must urgently prioritize.
Unfortunately, more than a decade later, the challenge not only persists, but it’s more complex than ever. The surge in electric vehicles, the rise of data centers and the electrification of homes and businesses are pushing Long Island’s energy demand to unprecedented levels. This isn’t just about the next superstorm — it’s about how we power everyday life for families and small businesses right now. Our existing grid wasn’t designed for this kind of load, and without proactive investment, we risk higher costs, decreased reliability and a system stretched to its breaking point. And the pressure is mounting. The Long Island Power Authority anticipates a steep rise in electricity demand in the
As I fight tooth and nail for every dollar, every program, every piece of support that I can secure for my constituents, a clear pattern has emerged in the performance of Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman — one that it is marred by self-promotional pageantry, misplaced priorities and big promises that ultimately collapse.
The most recent example is the failure of the NYU Langone hospital project that was supposed to rise on the campus of Nassau Community College. When Blakeman introduced it, he billed it as a multibillion-dollar economic engine that would create thousands of jobs, deliver cutting-edge medical care and provide opportunities for our students.
When it was withdrawn in March, it became just another abandoned plan — another missed opportunity that could have changed lives and transformed our economy. Questions from the public and lawmakers have been met with a lack of
coming years. Storage will be key. Planned battery storage projects in Shoreham and Hauppauge are expected to deliver 129 megawatts of capacity, enough to power 25,000 homes once they’re operational in 2028. These aren’t theoretical solutions; they’re essential to keeping Long Islanders’ lights on. And they demonstrate that the public and private sectors can work together to address infrastructure challenges with innovative solutions.
important in ensuring that clean power doesn’t go to waste.
Without it, rising demand can trigger price volatility, hurting small businesses.
Battery energy storage systems are a smart response to this challenge. By storing excess energy during off-peak times and discharging it when demand peaks, these systems stabilize the grid without requiring massive infrastructure overhauls. They help prevent blackouts, curb price spikes, and improve efficiency. In short, they let us do more with what we already have, and that’s a win for everyone.
One of BESS’s most powerful features is its flexibility. It can store energy from any source — solar, wind, natural gas — and dispatch it where and when it’s needed most. This ability to smooth out fluctuations in supply and demand is crucial not just for stability, but also for affordability. And as more renewable sources come online, storage becomes even more
And we don’t have to look far to see BESS in action. On Long Island, Brookhaven recently approved two major battery storage projects that will add more than 300 megawatts of capacity to the grid. These facilities will store renewable energy when production is high and release it during peak usage — cutting costs, improving reliability and reducing emissions. As New York state accelerates its clean energy goals, battery storage projects like these will prove to be a critical tool for making our power system cleaner, smarter and more resilient. They also mean job creation and local investment, as the clean energy economy continues to grow.
Beyond environmental benefits, BESS has an economic upside. Without storage, rising demand can trigger price volatility, hurting working families and small business owners most. Battery storage helps keep costs predictable by reducing reliance on expensive “peaker” plants. And for high-tech industries like AI, data processing and advanced manufacturing, energy stability isn’t just a bonus — it’s a requirement for doing business. The long-term economic competitiveness of our region depends on
getting this right. Of course, safety must be top of mind. Modern battery storage systems are equipped with cutting-edge fire-prevention measures, modular designs and rigorous safety protocols. Proposed updates to fire codes will go even further, requiring comprehensive emergency planning and more frequent inspections. These systems aren’t just high-performing — they’re engineered to be safe and dependable, with oversight from both developers and local authorities.
If we want Long Island to stay competitive, battery storage must become a core part of our energy strategy. That means updating regulations to enable faster deployment, incentivizing private investment and supporting community engagement. Doing nothing is not an option. The longer we wait, the more vulnerable we become — not just to storms, but also to soaring costs and system failures. The future of energy here doesn’t hinge on simply generating more power — it depends on using the power we already have more wisely. Battery storage is the bridge between today’s strained grid and tomorrow’s resilient, affordable and sustainable energy future. Let’s not wait for the next storm or the next blackout to act. The time is now.
Sammy Chu is chairman of the U.S. Green Building Council-Long Island Chapter and chief executive officer of Edgewise Energy.
Nassau has little to show for Blakeman’s big promises
transparency, and no explanation.
Just up the road from NCC, you’ll find the Uniondale Hub, where Blakeman unsuccessfully chased a casino license. Whether you supported or opposed it, you couldn’t help but notice that the pursuit was fraught. The first time it went through the Legislature, the process was so flawed that a court made him start over. The project, with his promises of jobs and tax revenues, finally fell through, and billions of dollars in promised economic development and opportunities for union workers disappeared with yet another failed attempt to develop the Hub.
accounting for how the money was used.
The same can be said of the handling of the ICC Men’s T20 Cricket World Cup. After major portions of Eisenhower Park were closed for months, and there was the promise of an economic windfall, all Nassau got in return (from what we can tell so far) is major disruptions to the park’s operations, questions about whether taxpayers made a dime and, once again, no accountability.
H e favors political theater over policies that will address our serious issues.
Worse yet, the Blakeman administration blocked the use of project labor agreements to build the temporary stadium, squandering an opportunity to boost the livelihoods of local workers.
world-class burn center and lifesaving drug detox facilities, fails, it won’t just be a health care catastrophe — it will also be an economic earthquake. Working families will lose access to care, and thousands of jobs in the medical field could vanish overnight. Finger-pointing does not suffice as a strategy.
And let’s not forget the fundamentals: Blakeman passed a county budget that was so out of balance that it violated generally accepted accounting principles, and Nassau’s fiscal monitor forced him to fix it. The county’s most recent capital infrastructure plan was stalled for months because of Blakeman’s inexplicable refusal to fund more than $1 million in grants for first responders in Democratic districts, adding political rancor where there should be none.
These are not the only things that have vanished under this administration. Remember Blakeman’s plan to use $10 million in federal coronavirus recovery funds to promote himself under the guise of the county’s 125th-anniversary celebration? While families struggled to get back on their feet after the pandemic, his administration concluded that the best use for a significant portion of those funds was gala banquets, golf outings, fireworks and parades. Yet many of these events never happened, and there is little
The disrespect for labor is further exemplified in the treatment of CSEA employees and retirees, the backbone of our county workforce. They were promised affordable health care in exchange for their service. Instead, Blakeman gutted their benefits.
Then there’s the future of Nassau University Medical Center. Instead of delivering on promises to save the hospital, the administration has installed political cronies and further deepened the crisis. If NUMC, a Level 1 trauma center with a
As someone who is fighting to make things better for our communities, it is profoundly frustrating to pick up the pieces after an administration that prioritizes political theater over implementing policies that will address the most serious issues facing our communities. Nassau County deserves better than disappearing headlines. We deserve leadership that delivers.
Seth Koslow, who represents Nassau County’s 5th Legislative District, is the Democratic candidate for county executive.
sAMMY CHU
sETH i. KosLoW
There should be nothing but support for law enforcement
in recent weeks I have been at a number of events sponsored by police organizations, including a gala honoring 100 years of the Nassau County Police Department. I also spoke at a meeting of the Long Island Shields, which comprises retired police and law enforcement officers from New York City’s five boroughs as well as Nassau and Suffolk counties. And I attended a news conference with County Executive Bruce Blakeman and Police Commissioner Pat Ryder, at which they announced the creation of a house of worship desk, and demonstrated how drones can be deployed within minutes of mass shootings at houses of worship to determine the precise location of the shooter.
I regularly attend NCPD briefings on possible terror threats on Long Island. This isn’t new for me, since for my final almost two decades in Congress after 9/11, both as chairman and as a member of the Homeland Security Committee, I worked very closely with the New York
The lessons of the Holocaust are for everyone opinions
Last week, millions of people of the Hebrew faith observed an event known as the Shoah. It is the Hebrew word for catastrophe or disaster, and it is frequently used to refer to the Holocaust, the deliberate killing of six million Jews by the Nazi regime. While not all of us pause to formally recognize this event, it is a painful reminder of man’s inhumanity to man, and deserves to be observed every year.
I am very much aware of the need to pause to remember the Holocaust, because many members of my immediate family were either innocent victims of the Nazi killing machine or managed to escape the horror. Despite the fact that many of my aunts and uncles were Holocaust survivors, there was rarely any discussion about their experiences, because they were too painful to recount.
City and Nassau and Suffolk police departments on counterterrorism strategies and resources. Unfortunately, I was also in Congress during the summer of 2020, when we saw massive demonstrations against the police, a number of which turned violent, and the coordinated effort to “defund the police.” Tragically, I have also attended too many funerals of cops who have been shot and killed in the line of duty.
Too many people take the police for granted, or in some cases are even anti-police.
I say all this because too many people too often take the police for granted, or in some cases even join or support the anti-police movement, focusing on inappropriate actions taken by the smallest minority of police while ignoring that no one does more than the men and women in blue to safeguard all of us while respecting the rights of everyone regardless of race, creed or national origin — all while putting themselves at great risk.
While I understand why everyday people, who are busy trying to make a living and provide for their families, can overlook the outstanding work cops are doing to protect us 24/7, I have little tolerance for elected officials who enact laws or implement policies to tie the
hands of the police or, even worse, turn against them when it suits their political purposes. Support for police shouldn’t be subject to the shifting political winds. It is hypocritical to see politicians who, just a few years ago, were riding the “defund the police” bandwagon, or saying nothing in defense of the police, now shamelessly demanding more funding for more police. Similarly hypocritical are those legislators who hailed themselves for passing “bail reform” now claiming they never intended it to put more criminals back on the streets.
Recent elections have shown that everyday Americans are rallying for the police and supporting policies best described as pro-law and order. For instance, most observers, Democrats and Republicans alike, would agree that Anne Donnelly was elected Nassau County district attorney over her much more well known opponent, State Sen. Todd Kaminsky, four years ago not just because of her decades-long career as a prosecutor, but because of Kaminsky’s previous outspoken support of cashless bail, which he unsuccessfully attempted to run away from during the campaign.
Similarly, the most obvious example of this growing pro-cop sentiment was Donald Trump’s election last fall. Trump ran on a clear pro-police, toughon-crime platform, moving many traditional Democrats to cross party lines to vote for him over the party they believed abandoned them.
I must admit that my support for the police is due in part to personal dealings I’ve had with members of law enforcement over the years, beginning with my father, who was in the NYPD for more than 30 years, and friends of mine who joined the NYPD and NCPD. There were also my close dealings with all levels of law enforcement — federal, state and local — in the years after 9/11, including the officers assigned to my security detail because of foreign and domestic threats against me.
But support for law enforcement must be based on more than personal or family friendships and relationships. Very basically, it is in all of our best interests to support the men and women who — often against the odds — put themselves at risk to protect our streets and communities. It’s also simply the right thing to do.
Peter King is a former congressman, and a former chair of the House Committee on Homeland Security. Comments? pking@ liherald.com.
Those members of my family who were survivors were blessed to live long lives even though they suffered greatly during the war. A few lived into their 90s, and my grandma Sarah lived to be 100. Some might say that for them, long life was a blessing, but I believe it was a testament to their willingness to be living examples of what they had seen so that we didn’t forget their ordeal, or the millions who didn’t survive.
M y Grandma
Sarah never spoke of her confinement until her late 90s.
At this point, I choose to write about my grandmother and my aunt Irene. On a few rare occasions, they put aside their reticence to tell us something about the horrible past. In the case of Irene, she spoke of how she had been sent to a concentration camp, along with her mother and sister. When they got there, a German soldier directed her mother and sister to go to one area, and Irene to another. After that moment, she said, she never saw them again, because their fate was sealed. Grandma Sarah had another story, but she never spoke of her confinement
until her late 90s. We had been forced to put her in the Komanoff Pavilion, in Long Beach, due to her many physical needs. On the few occasions that we visited her, she told us that “they beat me last night.” She told us many other things that we knew she would never willingly reveal if she had control of her faculties. I share these stories out of my fear for where the world is going.
Recently there was an election in Germany. Before it, Vice President J.D. Vance decided to meet with the leaders of all of the nation’s political parties. He gave special support to the far right Alternative for Germany, or AfD, party, which has strong pro-Nazi leanings. Its platform has frightened the country, and Europe in general. Vance made a plea for the party to be recognized as a partner in future governments. His visit was totally unnecessary, and sent a message to bigots around the world that their antisemitism has the approval of a White House occupant. We are currently hearing a great deal
of talk about antisemitism on college campuses as well as in the rest of America. Leaders of the Anti-Defamation League recently reported that there have been over 10,000 antisemitic incidents in the U.S. since the horrific tragedy of Hamas’s attack on Israel on Oct 7, 2023. It is believed to be the highest number of incidents ever recorded in a similar period since the ADL started tracking them in 1979.
History tells us that hate crimes don’t just single out one particular group. People of Italian, Irish, Chinese, Muslim and other backgrounds have suffered at the hands of wicked political leaders who strategically pick some group as their scapegoats. The observance of the Shoah is a stark reminder that, once again, these horror stories can be repeated, unless we are vigilant and willing to fight against hate in all forms. The forces of evil are always there waiting to strike, especially when we fail to ignore them.
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.
JERRY
KREMER
HERALD
Your Board of Education needs your attention
oWn Long Island and across New York state, incumbent trustees and new candidates for school district boards of education have submitted their petitions and are now on the ballot on May 20, when residents go to the polls to vote on their school budgets and capital improvement referendums, and elect their trustees.
For the next two and a half weeks, the candidates will hold forums with residents and plant lawn signs across their communities in an effort to keep their names in voters’ minds, as well as their stances on the districts’ spending plans.
While elected positions from village trustee to state legislator might appear more important and larger in scope, the decisions that shape our daily lives are frequently made on those school boards. And, from voters’ perspective, lifeimpacting decisions about where they choose to live are more often than not made based on where their children will go to school.
Quality public education not only prepares our children for bright futures, but also increases communities’ property values, attracts new residents, reduces crime and promotes social mobility.
For the 125 school districts in Nassau and Suffolk counties, boards of education, typically consisting of five to nine people, play a critical role in overseeing and shaping the educational system. Their responsibilities include creating a vision for the district, setting goals and
letters
Gillen’s
establishing policies, overseeing multimillion-dollar budgets, and collaborating with administrators to help ensure the schools’ smooth operations. They must be accountable to the community, and offer regular, constructive public engagement.
Though trustees are volunteers, they are entrusted to guide the district and have a duty to represent their constituencies during their three-year terms. That includes being aware of, and understanding, the influence they wield.
All of the above are great reasons why you should care about your local school board: because its members represent the beating heart of civic responsibility, and because our schools deserve leadership that is not only competent and informed, but also reflective of and responsive to the communities they serve. Board trustees may have none of the glamour of state or national office holders, but the impact they have is often more immediate, and more personal. Their decisions don’t just affect students — they affect entire neighborhoods, in so many ways.
Residents have a responsibility to know who represents them and what those representatives stand for. That means researching school board candidates, attending their town halls, asking tough questions — making sure community concerns are heard — and judging the results with your vote. You can learn
‘town hall’ wasn’t much of one
To the Editor:
U.S. Rep. Laura Gillen advertised a “Town Hall Meeting” on April 16. Sadly, it was nothing more than a performative press release with an audience. What a disappointment. and waste of her constituents’ time! A 30-minute presentation with no comments, feedback or questions from the audience.
While technically meeting the definition of a Q&A by reading pre-submitted — and perhaps prescreened — questions, Gillen answered them with superficial, pre-fabricated responses that, in some cases, matched exactly the column she wrote for the Heralds last month. We could have just stayed home and read our copy of the Herald!
Gillen told us why she chose which committees she wanted to serve on, her hope and plan to work in a bipartisan fashion, and her desire to reduce roadway deaths and dangers. She shared her reason for supporting the Laken Riley Act, which requires the Department of Homeland Security to detain illegal immigrants who commit certain crimes, but when there was criticism from the audience, the person was removed by security.
more about candidates before elections, and then their effectiveness as trustees, each week in the Herald.
And anyone can run for their local school board. You don’t need a background in teaching, or a master’s in education policy, or to be working in a profession that has anything to do with either one. What you do need is a commitment to fairness, a willingness to listen and a passion for serving your community by providing its children with the highest-quality education possible.
Public education needs leaders who understand the complexities of modern classrooms and the myriad challenges faced by working families who have kids in school, and public servants who put the needs of students above special interests. That leadership doesn’t have to come from somewhere else. It can come from you. We need more residents to step forward — not for the prestige of being a trustee, but for the purpose.
At a time when trust in institutions is fragile and divisions run deep, school boards offer a rare opportunity to focus on unity and progress, where politics can — and certainly should — take a backseat to the shared goal of improving children’s lives.
So let this be a call not only to vote, but also to get involved. Attend meetings. Volunteer to help with a school activity. Speak up — ask questions. And if you’re ready to lead, step up. Our children are depending on us.
What was never touched on was the elephant in the room, the reason so many people wanted to attend the meeting: We are in crisis in this country, our rights are being overridden, the Consti-
tution trampled. The current administration is committing illegal acts in our name, “disappearing” people and shipping them to foreign countries where our tax dollars are used to keep them
Hochul Housing ies, towns Housing state funding. focused economic housing-related
L.I. should build on Pro-Housing Communities Program
with the State Legislature in budget season, there is a ripe opportunity to improve one state program that works to combat New York’s limited housing supply by helping fund local infrastructure: the Pro-Housing Communities Program. On Long Island, that limited supply of housing has caused prices to soar to record heights.
The average home price stands at nearly $780,000 in Nassau County and over $662,000 in Suffolk County.
Gov. Kathy Hochul created the $650 million ProHousing program in 2023, enabling cities, towns and villages to apply for ProHousing designation and pursue related state funding. That funding is broadly focused on downtown revitalization and economic development, but it includes housing-related infrastructure such as
water and sewage.
So far, 26 localities on Long Island have applied for the designation. Fifteen have been certified. The others are still pursuing it.
Those 15 localities include the cities of Glen Cove and Long Beach, as well as the Towns of Babylon, Brookhaven, East Hampton and Riverhead. They also include the villages of Farmingdale, Freeport, Hempstead, Mineola, Port Jefferson, Port Washington North, Sag Harbor, Valley Stream and Westbury.
it’s an important step in making affordable housing more available.
Those 15 localities have also now applied for related state funding. The funding decisions will be announced in June.
This is a start, but the $650 million covers the entire state. With high construction costs, these funds will not be enough to make the improvements necessary to satisfy Long Island’s housingrelated infrastructure needs. More is required.
In the governor’s proposed fiscal year
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detained without due process. Our confidential personal data is being taken by rogue invaders without any security clearance. Our Social Security, health care system and Medicaid are in grave danger. This was not addressed in Gillen’s “town hall.” The fear, concern and dissent were not acknowledged in any way.
While I guess we should be happy that at least there was a performance of a town hall, since so many legislators are totally ignoring their constituents, and in fact hiding from them, this event was barely better. She can and should do better!
LINdA ROBERTSON West Hempstead
New chief program officer at United Cerebral Palsy-LI
To the Editor:
United Cerebral Palsy of Long Island would like to introduce Robin Lane as the organization’s first-ever chief program officer.
A dedicated member of the UCP-LI family since 1993, Lane has over 35 years of experience providing services to people with disabilities.
“Robin’s career with UCP is a testament to her unwavering dedication, passion and leadership,” Colleen Crispino, president and CEO of UCP-LI, said. “Her promotion is not only well-deserved, but also a natural progression for someone who has made such a lasting impact on our organization and the people we serve.”
2026 budget, a $100 million infrastructure fund would be set aside for certified Pro-Housing Communities. Yet this fund represents a drop in the bucket of what is needed to cover the infrastructure needs across the state and Long Island. Just one project, the recently completed Central Islip sewer expansion, had a price tag of $13.7 million.
An additional $10 million in the governor’s proposed budget would fund a new housing ombudsman’s office, which would work to assist municipalities with their housing needs and provide technical support for the Pro-Housing Communities Program. These are vital steps, but they still don’t go far enough.
Recurring funding is needed, and it is crucial. This should not be just a piecemeal allocation.
The program should also provide data on the amount of housing created by it. Promoting housing is the overall goal, so its specific impact should be
Lane began her journey with UCP-LI as a residential manager, and has held various leadership roles in the program, including associate director. Her most recent position was director of quality management and corporate compliance. In that role she had the responsibility for incident management, quality assurance and compliance, ensuring adherence to regulatory standards.
As chief program officer, Lane will oversee the planning, development, and management of all program areas, including adult day services, the Children’s Center, residential services, and a wide range of family support programs.
She will also serve as a key member of the executive leadership team, where she plays an integral role in strategic planning, systems development and program innovation.
“I am honored and excited to step into the role of chief program officer,” Lane said. “UCP has been my professional home for over three decades, and I am deeply committed to advancing our mission, supporting our dedicated staff, and continuing to provide the highest quality services to the individuals and families we serve.”
Lane earned a bachelor’s degree in health policy and administration from Pennsylvania State University and a graduate degree from Stony Brook University.
For more information about UCP of Long Island and its programs, visit UCP-li. org.
JILLIAN CAVALIERI
Community relations specialist, UCP of Long Island
reported.
One improvement has been made. In response to feedback from communities on Long Island like Patchogue, applicants across the state can now be judged on a wider range of activities over a longer time frame.
The demand is clear. In July 2024, the Village of Mineola stood alone as the only Pro-Housing Community on the island. Now, 15 Long Island localities have been certified, and 11 more are pursuing it.
The momentum is growing. The need for more housing has never been greater.
The Long Island communities that are pursuing this program are taking important steps to improve the availability of more affordable housing. More localities should move in this direction, thereby creating more equitable opportunities.
The state should continue to reinforce and improve this program. Everyone will benefit.
April Francis Taylor is acting president of ERASE Racism, the regional civil rights organization based in Syosset.
Framework by Tim Baker
apriL FranCis taYLor
