HERALD LONG BEACH
Also serving Point Lookout & East Atlantic Beach
Annual fireworks mark America’s 250th birthday
Last Friday, residents and visitors gathered to celebrate the semiquincentennial (and at least one attendee apparently hoped the police would be too busy to notice a violation of the new city ordinance prohibiting locking bikes to the south railing of the boardwalk). People crowded the beach and the boardwalk for hours ahead of the night’s annual fireworks display. Story, more photos, Page 8.
After 16 years, firefighters union and city sign contract
By CHRIS ColuCCI ccolucci@liherald.com
The saying is that firefighters run in when others run out. Whether it’s a quick response to a local restaurant fire or sending crews to a nearby town for support during a callout, the Long Beach Fire Department doesn’t hesitate to live up to those expectations.
During last week’s City Council meeting, council members announced the end of a 16-year drought in contract negotiations between the city and the Long Beach Professional Fire Fighters Association, after an agreement was
reached to certify a multi-year contract that began almost immediately and stretches until June 2030.
Long Beach is the only municipality on Long Island with a paid cohort incorporated into the local fire department. Together, 24 paid firefighters work alongside more than 130 volunteers to keep the city and neighboring towns safe. The previous contract between the paid firefighters and the city went into effect in July 2004, and expired in June 2010. The extended interim without a contract was attributed to general difficulties in negotiation that were eventual-
ly overcome by both sides.
“It’s been at the top of our agenda as a council,” City Council President Brendan Finn said. “Starting in ’24 through ’25, and here we are in ’26 with a new council. We saw that it was really, obviously, way overdue. I applaud Dan Creighton’s — I would call them herculean efforts to bring this over the finish line,” Finn added, referring to the city manager.
The new contract outlines salary structure, benefits, responsibilities and expectations of the paid employees. Among its provisions are a continued work schedule of 24
hours on duty, 72 hours off; a starting salary of $60,000 for first-year firefighters — increasing for those who get advanced certification as paramedics — with a 2 percent annual pay increase until 2030, and no-cost health insurance for those hired before March 11, 2021. Firefighters hired after that date will contribute 5 to 15
percent of their health insurance costs, depending on the length of their career.
At the council meeting, Catherine Lewis, vice president of the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 287, spoke on behalf of the Professional Firefighters Association. “We’re extremely proud to have
Continued on page 11
Chris Colucci/Herald
TOH promotes UV Safety Awareness Month
By CHRIS COLUCCI ccolucci@liherald.com
With July at the heart of every summer, its designation as National UV Safety Awareness Month is timely. When beachgoers soak in the sun and outdoor activities fill most days, skin care and cancer prevention tips are as critical as ever.
Town of Hempstead Supervisor John Ferretti held a news conference at the Town Park at Point Lookout Thursday morning, joined by partners from Northwell Health, to launch the town’s Summertime Wellness Series.
“This program offers residents convenient access to important health services,” Ferretti said. “We’re kicking it off today with a free skin cancer screening event.” From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., medical professionals from Northwell Health were set up with a mobile unit, providing free skin cancer screenings to 50 town residents. “We urge all of our town residents in the Town of Hempstead to get checked on an annual basis for skin cancer,” Ferretti explained, “Whether that’s here in a town facility or with your own dermatologist.”
Ferretti shared effective tips to mitigate UV exposure, including the use of sunscreen with an SPF 30 or higher; aiming to stay in the shade during peak sunlight hours, typically 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and wearing proper clothing, sunglasses and headwear when outdoors.
Dr. Camila Villa-Ruiz, a dermatologist at Northwell Health, spoke at the conference discussing more realities surrounding skin cancer. “We estimate that one in five people will develop skin cancer by the age of 70,” Villa-Ruiz stated. “It is a very common, but preventable, cancer that has a high cure rate. Have your skin cancer screenings. Visit your dermatologist if you see
Town of Hempstead Supervisor John Ferretti, at
Clerk Kate Murray, Councilman Tom
Dorothy Goosby.
anything that’s changing, growing, or bleeding.”
Individuals with tattoos, or anyone considering getting a tattoo, should take extra precaution. “It is harder to screen, especially when you have tattoos that are covering moles,” Villa-Ruiz said. “It is definitely harder, but we can still do it. I would highly recommend to not get tattoos over existing moles.”
A second wellness series event and free skin cancer
screening will be held on July 16, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Veterans Memorial Park Pool in East Meadow. The series will conclude with a presentation on Four Ways to Save a Life — including how to administer CPR, how to use an automated external defibrillator and other potentially life-saving practices — from 11 a.m. to noon on July 23 at the Echo Park Pool Complex in West Hempstead.
Chris Colucci/Herald
podium, was joined, from left, by Councilwoman Laura Ryder, Town
Muscarella, Dr. Camila Villa-Ruiz from Northwell Health and Deputy Supervisor
Boardwalk presents Arts & Crafts Festival
By CHRIS COLUCCI ccolucci@liherald.com
A spritz of rain on Saturday afternoon dampened the boardwalk but couldn’t dampen the crowd’s enthusiasm for the annual Arts and Crafts Festival. Over 200 vendor booths stretched from Long Beach Boulevard to Edwards Boulevard.
The annual tradition is approaching 40 years of presenting small businesses during a summer weekend — this year, it was held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. last weekend on a rainy Saturday and picture-perfect Sunday. While food trucks and booths offered tasty treats from classic zeppoles to shaved ice, many local businesses were among the vendors.
Kasey Beggi, a Long Beach native, is in her second year operating Beech Street Apparel Co. and returned to the boardwalk fair for the second time. As rain misted down Saturday afternoon, Beggi kept a positive attitude regarding the turnout. “It’s been great and pretty steady even with the rain,” Beggi said. “I think tomorrow’s going to be really great, too.”
Long Beach junior firefighters featured at booth, drawing awareness to their role supporting the local fire department and encouraging new members to join. Gavin Wynne, 15, has been a junior firefighter for three years. Dressed in full kit, he explained that junior members help on scene, stationing themselves at the command post rather than fighting the fire directly. “We give out water for rehydration,” Wynee said. “At the end, we help pack the hose back up.”
The Long Beach Historical Society and Long Beach Soup Kitchen each had their own booth, selling merchandise and fundraising. The Historical Society is scheduled to host another two-day arts and crafts fair on the boardwalk on August 29 and 30, with registration proceeds helping the all-volunteer nonprofit organization. The Soup Kitchen also benefitted from last month’s Chamber of Commerce boardwalk fair, as the Chamber raised $2,000 from selling bottled water on behalf of the Soup Kitchen. One of the more eye-catching infor-
mation booths was the setup from Bikers Against Child Abuse — and internationally recognized child advocacy and abuse prevention group working with state and local agencies. “We bring in kids who’ve had some sort of reported abuse,” explained Mayhem, the president of the Long Island chapter — the group uses nicknames for anonymity, given the potentially dangerous nature of their work. “We make them part of our family and we’re there for them. We’ll escort kids to court. If there’s a threat to the family, we’ll provide security until that child is safe. Basically, what we’re doing is trying to empower children.”
Episcopal Health Services sponsored this year’s boardwalk festival. The multi-location health system had a booth offering on-the-spot blood pressure screenings and discussing the “Food as Medicine” program, detailing nutritional approaches with a registered dietician.
More than 200 vendor booths, tents and tables took over a section of the boardwalk last weekend. Food trucks offered snacks while nonprofits, including the Long Beach Soup Kitchen and the Long Beach Historical Society, presented their own booths.
Chris Colucci/Herald photos
The Long Island chapter of Bikers Against Child Abuse — an internationally recognized organization — raised awareness of their mission.
Gavin Wynne, 15, left, was joined by Jack Dean, 15, and Brianna Amey, 17, to discuss how important the junior firefighters can be.
Latoya Maragh, left, Kerinth Afflick, Antonio Handy, Gail Baker and Nicole Smith were on hand from Episcopal Health Services, the event’s sponsor, to offer health screenings and nutritional information.
Taxation of The Medicaid Asset Protection Trust (MAPT)
Your writer has often stated that, in elder law, there is more misinformation than information. For example, one of the most pernicious myths about MAPTs is that they lose the stepped-up basis at death. Indeed, a syndicated columnist under the byline “Ask the Expert” recently wrote “...the IRS has determined that assets in an irrevocable trust don’t qualify for a step-up in tax basis at your death.”
For those unfamiliar with the step-up in basis, it works this way. Let’s say you bought your house many years ago for $200,000 and when you pass away it is worth $850,000. The basis gets stepped-up from what you paid to what it was worth on the date of your death. If the heirs sell it shortly after inheriting, they pay no capital gain tax. Savings would be about $200,000 in taxes!
In 2023, the IRS issued a widely misunderstood Revenue Ruling stating that a certain type of irrevocable trust did not get the stepped-up basis. In tax law, it is well understood that (1) if assets pass at death they are includible in the estate and get the stepped-up basis, and (2) if the assets are given away during your lifetime, they keep your original basis. You either get the tax break of the
stepped-up basis and inclusion in the estate OR you get the exclusion from the estate but no stepup. Some aggressive tax lawyers tried to write a trust that purported to get both -- inclusion for capital gains tax purposes but exclusion for estate tax purposes. The 2023 IRS ruling simply stated that you cannot have your cake and eat it too. If the taxpayer claims the irrevocable trust is excluded from the estate for estate tax purposes, then no step-up in basis will be allowed.
Seeing as the estate tax exemption for New York is $7.35 million, most clients are not concerned about inclusion for estate-tax purposes, they want the step-up! Every elder law attorney worth their salt knows this and drafts the MAPT as a “Grantor Trust” keeping the trust assets in the estate.
A very common way of doing this is to provide a “power of appointment” giving the grantor (creator of the trust) the right to change who they leave it to. This way the gift is “incomplete” until death, as which time the grantor can no longer change it. Since the gift is only “completed” at death, it is included in the estate and gets the step-
L.B.P.D. receives $100,000 for necessary renovations
By CHRIS COLUCCI ccolucci@liherald.com
City Hall — the building itself at 1 West Chester Street — houses not only the administrative arm of Long Beach government, with city council staff offices, but it also serves as headquarters to both the Long Beach Police Department and Long Beach Fire Department. Serving three separate agencies at three separate building entrances has led to natural disrepair over the years. The building has weathered the elements since its construction was completed in 1964.
Earlier this month, Assemblyman Ari Brown and New York State Senator Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick delivered six-figure funding to help renovate the Long Beach Police Department headquarters. “We secured $100,000 for improvements to the Long Beach Police Station,” said Assemblyman Ari Brown, “helping ensure that the dedicated officers who protect our community have facilities that better support the important work they do each day.”
Updating the facility’s exterior has been part of the city’s five-year Capital
Improvement Plan. At the May 19 meeting, Deputy Commissioner Steve Friedman talked about the need for structural upgrades. “I asked Commissioner DePalma to rope off the east side of this building by the ramp and the entryway into the police department,” Friedman explained. “We have shelf angles that are so deteriorated that the brick work is about to come down. I’ve got sidewalk sheds there for safety.”
The funds will be used to address improvements to the facade and entryway. “Investing in our first responders and the resources they need to protect our community leads to a safer, more vibrant community for everyone who calls it home,” Senator Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick said.
The local representatives delivered similar funding in 2024, bringing a $100,000 state grant for improvements to City Hall and the Police Department. “When government invests wisely, communities benefit,” Brown explained. “Strengthening public safety, supporting local businesses, and maintaining the beauty of our neighborhoods are investments that pay dividends for years to come.”
Courtesy New York State Assemblyman Ari Brown and New York State Senator Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick
The Long Beach City Council and Long Beach Police Department received $100,000 in funding from Assemblyman Brown and Senator Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick.
psegliny.com/revitalization These two moms opened a spa. It had one big,
Mery and Sindy always knew they wanted to open a spa to bring beauty to customers. Little did they know it would have the same effect on the community. And Business First was there. We provided $23,000 in grants to help with much-needed renovations so Mery and Sindy could bring their vision to life.* Now, not only does their spa impact clients in a beautiful way, it gives the community an economic lift as well.
*Incentives, grants, and savings will vary with every project.
Learn more about how we’re helping communities thrive.
Mery Seminario and Sindy Catalan, ISSI Beauty Spa, Port Washington
First rounders shine at Isles development camp
By TONY BELLISSIMO
tbellissimo@liherald.com
Unlike 2025 when the New York Islanders selected three players within the first 17 picks of the NHL Draft, including eventual unanimous Calder Trophy winning defenseman Matthew Schaefer No. 1 overall, they had only one pick in the first three rounds this year.
That came at No. 13 overall when Schaefer, in Buffalo for draft weekend June 26-27, stepped to the podium to announce the selection of 6-foot-4, 203-pound left-shot defenseman Malte Gustafsson.
“I’m a big two-way defender, I like to contribute all over the ice,” said the 18-year-old Gustafsson, who played 27 games in the Swedish Hockey League with HV71. “I like to use my size, my length and I play physical. Being annoying is part of my game,” he added.
Gustafsson was one of 37 players at Islanders Development Camp June 29-July 2 and impressed in the Blue & White Scrimmage played before an overflow crowd July 1 at Northwell Health Ice Center in East Meadow.
Gustafsson signed a one-year contract to remain with HV71 for the 2026-27 season, but perhaps one day he’ll be teammates with fellow Swedes Simon Holmstrom, Emil Heineman and Victor Eklund.
The latter two became Islanders property during the early stages of the 2025 Draft when General Manager Mathieu Darche dealt defenseman Noah Dobson to Montreal. Heineman scored 22 goals in his debut season on Long Island, while Eklund, drafted 16th, and defenseman Kashawn Aitcheson, 17th, were nothing short of dynamic in the SHL and Ontario Hockey League, respectively.
Eklund is very much looking forward to playing a full season in North America, either with the Islanders or recently relocated Hamilton Hammers of the American Hockey League. The 19-year-old winger registered 6 goals and 18 assists in 43 games for Djurgardens IF in the SHL and made his way to the Bridgeport Islanders (10 points in nine games) and ultimately Long Island for his NHL debut April 14. He recorded his first NHL point, an assist, against Carolina.
“I think I made the right decision at the end of last season to come to North America and adapt as fast as I can,” Eklund said after the Blue & White Scrimmage. “Being here with the boys and playing in front of the fans is a lot of fun. Now I’m looking to get stronger, gain weight and be ready for camp in September.”
Aitcheson, who brings a rare combination of physicality and offensive sizzle, is ready for the next step as well after the 19-year-old earned the OHL’s Most Outstanding Defenseman award after posting 70 points (28 goals, 34 assists) during the regular season and 27 in the playoffs (8, 19) for the Barrie Colts, helping them to the finals.
“Just putting my head down and putting the work in,” Aitcheson said. “This is another step to get ready for training camp. It’s been fun so far.”
Nobody had more fun at the Blue & White Scrimmage than Gleb Veremyev, an undrafted 23-year-old 6-5, 218pound forward born in Brooklyn. He had a hat trick to lead Team Blue to a 6-3 victory and also scored the winner in a shootout that followed the 40-minute game.
“I’m trying to take everything in this summer, and I feel like I have something to prove for the rest of my career,” Veremyev said.
Kashawn Aitcheson, one of the Islanders’ three first-round picks in 2025 is ready for the next level after starring in the Ontario Hockey League.
Tony Bellissimo/Herald photos
Goaltender Sam Hillebrandt made a stop on Jesse Nurmi during development camp held June 29-July 2 at Northwell Health Ice Center in East Meadow.
Residents enjoyed an all-day celebration
By CHRIS COLUCCI ccolucci@liherald.com
The City of Long Beach celebrated its own 100th birthday with fanfare in 2022, so it wasn’t about to let America’s 250th birthday be any less exciting. Last Friday, the city presented its annual July Fourth fireworks display on the beach.
The planning began in April, when the City Council rehired the Pennsylvania-based Starfire Corporation, which has staged the fireworks show in previous years. This year the council voted to increase the show’s funding, to $62,000 from $44,000 last year. The setup was conducted by a multi-person team including an executive producer, who oversaw the event; a project manager, who coordinated personnel; a safety and compliance manager, who monitored the setup and discharge of the explosives; and specialized technicians who operated the equipment.
The show was scheduled to start at around 9:15 p.m., and organizers promised that it would be visible from anywhere along the boardwalk or shore. The barge containing the pyrotechnics was stationed off Edwards Boulevard beach, and the sand was crowded the entire length of the boardwalk.
Residents Anthony Gach and Joseph Lee positioned themselves on a boardwalk bench at Edwards Boulevard. “We came down around 6, 6:30,” Gach said.
Chris Colucci/Herald
Attendees filed onto the beach hours before showtime to enjoy the summer evening and to stake out a perfect view.
“The closer you are to it, the better it is. I can see them from my house in the Canals, but it’s not like being here.”
Once the sky darkened, the display began, right on cue, at 9:15. For nearly 20 minutes, close to 8,000 fireworks lit up the sky 1,000 feet in the air. After what looked like a conclusion, a brief encore continued for a few extra minutes before the darkness returned and the echoes of explosions faded. As the crowd packed the boardwalk ramps, moving toward the street exits, special officers from the Police Department
Nearly 8,000 fireworks illuminated the sky. The massive display was visible from anywhere along the beach or boardwalk.
directed traffic to ensure everyone’s safety.
“It’s a nice night,” Lee said. “A very nice crowd, no problems. The evening was very pleasant and impressive. The show was very nicely done.”
Long Beach oral surgeon recognized best in state
or Dr. Steven Sutter, oral surgery is about far more than extracting teeth or placing dental implants. As founder of Ocean Implants in Long Beach, Dr. Sutter has built his practice around easing patients’ fears while delivering advanced oral surgery and implant care with a calm, personalized approach.
A Long Island native, Dr. Sutter took an unconventional path into dentistry. Originally a mathematics major, he discovered his passion for oral surgery after shadowing his uncle, a retired oral surgeon in Chicago.
“I went in to work with him every day and I loved it,” Sutter said.
He returned to complete the science prerequisites before earning his dental degree and completing his residency in Buffalo, where he met his wife, Dr. Erica Sutter, a board-certified pediatric dentist.
Dr. Sutter opened his Long Beach practice in 2012, only months before Hurricane Sandy devastated the community. While his office escaped major damage, the storm slowed business during its critical first year. Through perseverance and strong relationships with local dentists and residents, Ocean Implants steadily grew into a trusted referral practice. Today, Sutter performs wisdom tooth
extractions, complex dental extractions, dental implants and sedation dentistry. He believes technical skill is only part of successful patient care.
“People will tell you, usually immediately, what their concern is, and everyone has a different concern,” Sutter said. “Listening to my patients is just the beginning.”
Many patients arrive carrying anxiety from previous dental experiences. Rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach, Dr.
Sutter tailors each visit to the individual. Whether someone fears needles, dental drills or something else during treatment, he focuses on understanding those concerns before beginning any procedure.
“I focus on alleviating what their anxiety is,” he said
Dr. Sutter also credits the close-knit team at Ocean Implants for helping create a welcoming experience. His practice operates with a small staff that emphasizes personal attention, with three front
office team members sharing scheduling, insurance and patient communication responsibilities, while his full-time surgical assistant works alongside him every day, assisting during procedures and ensuring everything runs smoothly behind the scenes.
“We are a team here in our office,” he said.
That patient-centered philosophy has also earned Dr. Sutter national recognition. He has been selected for inclusion in the Nationwide Registries Top Doctors of America Honored Edition 2026, which will be published in 2027. The recognition honors one specialist from each state based on professional accomplishments, peer reputation and patient reviews.
Dr. Sutter encourages patients to prioritize preventive care through consistent brushing and flossing while avoiding sugary drinks before bedtime. He notes that advances in digital imaging have dramatically reduced radiation exposure and modern implant technology offers more affordable, flexible options than many patients realize.
Courtesy City of Long Beach
Shootout for Soldiers: 24 hours of lacrosse
By WESLEY SCHNELL
Of the Herald
Shootout for Soldiers — the annual 24-hour lacrosse game and fundraiser — took place at the new Point Lookout Athletic Complex, marking the first time hosting the event in the Town of Hempstead. Along with a new game starting every hour, beginning at 9 a.m. last Wednesday and concluding at 9 a.m. Thursday, the nonstop event included community engagement activities and veteran recognition.
“Standing shoulder to shoulder with our Nation’s veterans is nothing short of an honor,” said FDNY lacrosse team captain Ryan Phelan. “The sense of brotherhood and sacrifice that these brave soldiers exude is humbling to witness and reminds us why we come down to play.”
The Shootout for Soldiers organization was founded in 2012 with the mission of using lacrosse as a platform to support veterans and first responders while fostering community engagement. Shootout for Soldiers exists to ensure that no one ends their service without feeling that they’re still part of a team. The nonprofit has raised more than $6 million on behalf of veterans and first responders, with over $1 million coming from fundraisers across Long Island.
“You see the tangible interactions of the veterans in their communities again,” Shootout for Soldiers Executive Director Erik Mineo said. “And then you’re seeing the veterans see the community show up for them and that’s a real special thing.”
Shootout for Soldiers initially started from the idea of playing a 24-hour lacrosse game — with fresh teams playing a new game every hour through the night and into the morning hours. Shootout for Soldiers Long Island continued this tradition hosting an all-day
lacrosse event open to the entire community. They are also the home of the FDNY vs. NYPD lacrosse game, as well as many other fire department vs. police department games from surrounding areas.
“Shootout for Soldiers is a special and unique thing,” Mineo stated. “It’s a festival-style day to engage with the ‘medicine game,’ and our veterans need medicine. They need medicine in the form of sports, community engagement and shared camaraderie. With Shootout for Soldiers, the veteran will always have a team to play for,
a uniform to wear and another mission to support.”
The Shootout for Soldiers organization has already decided to return to point lookout for next year’s 24-hour festival. There are also plans to improve the event next year by adding more sports and more opportunities to get involved in supporting local veterans and first responders.
“Shootout L.I. was a great time,” Army veteran Jacobe Nall said. “I’ve played every year since 2018 and it just gets better each year.”
Jordan’s makes comeback, reopens after fire
By ABIGAIL GRIECO
agrieco@liherald.com
Just over two weeks after a threealarm fire forced it to close, Jordan Lobster Farms reopened on July 1, marking an emotional return for the beloved Island Park waterfront institution.
The family-owned seafood market and restaurant announced its reopening on social media, thanking the community and first responders who helped make the quick turnaround possible.
The business also praised its employees — affectionately known as the “Lobstertricians” — for working throughout the cleanup and rebuilding process.
“Through the mess, the long days and the heartbreak, the faces you see here are just some of the hearts of this place,” the post continued, accompanied by photos of employees. “We could not have done this without a single one of them.”
For Co-owner John Vitale, the reopening was the culmination of weeks of nonstop work after the June 14 fire threatened one of the busiest seasons of the year.
“There was a tremendous sense of purpose on everyone’s part to get back open,” he said. “Experienced building trades understood the dire situation of getting back open during the height of our short summer season. They worked around the clock, 24 hours a day.”
Sue Grieco/Herald
taurant, fish market and kitchen, escaped significant damage, allowing restoration efforts to move forward quickly.
Vitale credited longtime employees with helping make the rapid reopening possible. “For our staff, this was very personal,” he said. “Not only are their livelihoods here, but Jordan’s is like a second home to most of the veterans.”
In the days after the fire, employees launched a GoFundMe campaign to help coworkers who suddenly found themselves without work. The campaign set a goal of $20,000 and reached it in just one week.
“I thought it was amazing,” Vitale said. “They divided it up amongst themselves, and it certainly helped many people through a difficult time.”
The generosity extended far beyond the fundraiser. “The Island Park and Oceanside communities have been beyond supportive,” Vitale said. “The kind words really resonate with our employees. They feel the love.”
The fire was reported shortly before 7 p.m. on June 14 at the restaurant and seafood market, at 1 Pettit Place. The Island Park Fire Department led the response, assisted by firefighters from Oceanside, Point Lookout, Long Beach, Lynbrook, East Rockaway, Freeport and Lawrence-Cedarhurst, bringing the
blaze under control in roughly 70 minutes.
Investigators ultimately determined that an old steam kettle emitted flames, sparking the fire, Vitale said. No injuries were reported, and the fire was contained to the building’s upper level. The lower level, including much of the res-
That support has continued since the restaurant reopened. “Seeing everyone returning to Jordan’s these first few days has certainly been a comfort,” he said. “People are not only coming back for our great lobsters, but also just to say welcome back and let us know they’re here to support our business and our staff.”
Courtesy Shootout for Soldiers
The FDNY team took the win over Team NYPD at this year’s face-off. Teams of all ages played nonstop for charity.
Olivia Short, Olivia Mieczkowska and owner Steve Jordan posed with some of their lobster friends on reopening day, following a three-alarm fire that forced the waterfront seafood market and restaurant to close for more than two weeks.
New agreement ends a 16-year dry spell
reached an agreement that allows us to move forward together,” Lewis said. “It provides fair, livable wages for our cross-trained firefighters, strengthens our ability to recruit and retain exceptional personnel and reflects our shared commitment to the community we are privileged to serve.”
The contract continues a series of investments the city has made in the Fire Department in recent months. In January, the City Council authorized the purchase of nearly $80,000 in bunker gear — the protective jackets, pants and boots that firefighters wear on calls. In April, the department added a new ambulance to the fleet of service vehicles for EMS and paramedic-related responsibilities, which complements a new tower ladder truck added last year. Last month, the department received authorization to renovate the sleeping quarters, locker rooms and showers at its National Boulevard barracks.
The contract’s announcement was met by several rounds of applause and praise from many attendees. Ruth Orellana, a Long Beach resident for nearly 50 years, shared a story about the LBFD. “Last year, my grandchildren were in a horrific car accident in the West End,” Orellana recounted. “I almost lost my three grandchildren and my son-in-law,
iaff Local 287 president Sam pinto, center left, and City manager daniel Creighton signed the long-awaited contract, surrounded by the City Council and members of the Long Beach f ire department.
but thank God that they’re here. Thank you to these people that work here for us. These guys, they saved my grandchildren.”
Each City Council member acknowledged the department’s hard work, and
looked forward to continued cooperation. Councilman George Ennis said he saw the new contract as an optimistic sign after more than a decade and a half of obstacles at the negotiating table.
“We knew it wasn’t going to be easy,
and it wasn’t,” Councilman Michael Reinhart said. “But at the end result, it’s good for the F.D. It’s good for the city. Everybody’s protected and we got the contract. We couldn’t be more thrilled.”
Courtesy City of Long Beach
ClearVote system set for November election
By MELISSA BERMAN mberman@liherald.com
The new voting machines Nassau County residents will use in November are designed to make casting a ballot faster while keeping the voting experience largely unchanged, according to election officials and the machines’ manufacturer.
Voters heading to the polls this fall will use an allnew voting system, after the county Board of Elections selected Clear Ballot’s ClearVote system following a competitive procurement process.
The system will replace the county’s traditional voting equipment, and Nassau will join more than a dozen New York counties that have already adopted ClearVote’s paper-ballot technology.
Although the machines are new, election officials said that voters should notice very little difference in how they cast their ballots. “To the public it will be pretty much the same as they’re used to,” Republican Elections Commissioner James V. Moriarty wrote in a news release. “These machines will be smaller, more efficient and new. New and better equipment.”
The ClearVote system uses full-sized paper ballots that voters fill out by hand or, for those requiring accessibility accommodations, through an ADA-compliant ballot-marking device that prints a full-sized ballot. Every voter ultimately casts the same type of paper ballot, regardless of how it is marked.
The biggest improvements, Democratic Elections Commissioner James Scheuerman explained, will take place behind the scenes, allowing election workers to administer elections more efficiently while preserving the familiar voting experience.
“It’s easier for us to build and run the election and it’s going to be the exact same for the voter, which is
what you’re looking for when you’re bringing on a new voting system,” Scheuerman wrote in a news release.
Once a ballot is filled out, it is inserted into a scanner that reads and records the vote while securely storing the ballot for auditing and recount purposes. Unlike some voting systems that rely on barcodes or summary cards, ClearVote records votes directly from the paper ballots, giving voters the chance to visually verify every selection before casting it.
According to Clear Ballot CEO Bob Hoyt, that transparency is central to the company’s philosophy.
“We believe the best way to establish voter trust is through paper ballots,” Hoyt said. “It allows people to verify their own vote before it’s cast so they know that it counted.”
The new scanners also process ballots significantly faster than older equipment. A ballot, Hoyt said, is scanned and accepted almost immediately after it is inserted — about one second — compared with four to five seconds on many older voting systems.
As soon as the ballot is processed, the screen confirms that the vote has been successfully cast and displays a running ballot count. “It processes the ballot almost immediately,” Hoyt said. “You get a message on the screen that your ballot has been cast, and you can actually see the ballot count increase.”
Clear Ballot first came to New York in 2017, providing high-speed scanners for absentee and mail-in ballots and conducting independent post-election audits.
The company introduced its first in-person voting system in the state in 2023. Nationally, its election technology is used in 14 states, serving more than 46 million registered voters.
Preparing Nassau County for the transition has been a months-long process. Roughly 500 voting machines have already been delivered for testing and poll worker training, with the remaining equipment — roughly 12 trailer loads — scheduled to arrive beginning later this month.
The company is also implementing a learning-management system that will help Nassau comply with New York’s mandatory poll worker training requirements by documenting training and providing ondemand instructional materials.
“If you train the election workers really well, and you have good equipment and good people servicing it,” Hoyt said, “you’ll probably have a really good election.”
Courtesy Clear Ballot Group
Nassau County voters will be using the new ClearVote voting system in the November election.
STEPPING OUT
Wild Child
Jazz is in the air
By Karen Bloom
Tilles Jazz Fest is going strong in its third season. The festival returns to the historic LIU Post campus, on Saturday, offering a full day of world-class jazz, family-friendly fun and community celebration across four stages.
Presented in collaboration with Jazz at Lincoln Center, this year’s edition again brings together legendary artists and rising stars. This is an immersive indoor/outdoor experience — from lawn picnics and second line parades during the day to headliner The Buena Vista Orchestra performing in the evening.
The day’s lineup includes the Bobby Sanabria Octet, the Grammy-nominated percussionist blends Afro-Cuban jazz with big band flair; Bluesy Beats and Jazzy Treats with Dan and Claudia Zanes, with a lively, family-friendly set of jazz rhythms; young vocalist Ruby Laks, a fresh, expressive voice in contemporary jazz; along with a swinging Second-Line Parade, led by Hot Jazz All-Stars, including up-and-coming trumpeter Bria Skonberg, when all artists and the audience are invited to join in.
As Tom Dunn, Tilles Center’s executive and artistic director puts it: “This festival captures the spirit of jazz, where iconic voices and emerging artists share the stage. It’s an energizing celebration of artistry, innovation, and community, set in a place that inspires creativity at every turn.”
The LIU Jazz Combo (current LIU students) and Long Island Rising Stars (LIU alumni and regional talent) welcome guests at festival entrances from 12:15 p.m. Members of the LIU Marching Band add energy to the New Orleans-style Second Line parade, closing the daytime festivities at 5:45 p.m.
The young superstars of tomorrow are certainly given their due, alongside the jazz greats. Of course, headliner, The Buena Vista Orchestra, surely deserves the spotlight. The orchestra (sometimes referred to as The Buena Vista Social Orchestra, Orquesta Buena Vista) is acclaimed as the world’s foremost Cuban music repertory ensemble — featuring a revolving lineup. Virtuoso Cuban violinist Rolando Morejón Reyes leads an exciting set of musicians pulled from The Buena Vista Social Club, AfroCuban All Stars, the bands of Celia Cruz, Omara Portuondo, Chucho Valdés, Willie Colón, and others.
To date, The Buena Vista Orchestra and related projects have toured the world and garnered global accolades, making it one of the biggest-selling and best known Cuban music projects in history.
On a more intimate scale are Dan and Claudia
Feel that beat
Zanes, who are delighted to bring what Dan Zanes described as their “community music” to this year’s festival audience.
“It was an exiting call to get,” he says, of the invite. He notes that while they’ve performed at Tilles before, their festival appearance allows the Zanes to show a different side of their musicianship.
• July 18, starting at noon
• Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or tillescenter.org or (516) 299-3100
• LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Blvd., Brookville
This is not a typical tribute or pretend concert act. Wild Child relies on recapturing the original: sound, feel, mood, dynamics and delivery of the Doors music. It’s about the music and its delivery. Wild Child lead singer Dave Brock’s Doors concert tribute debuted with a triple sellout at the Whisky a-Go-Go. Since then the act has been touring and playing at sold out national act venues and festivals around the world. Wild Child became the mold that “tribute bands” aspired to become, as they flooded the market with good and bad impersonations of famous artists. In 2010 Ray Manzarek and Robby Krieger of The Doors, invited Dave to tour with them as their vocalist on their concert engagements: a hug honorl Wild Child performances are praised as the closest thing to a real live Doors experience.
Friday, July 17, 8 p.m. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or paramountny. com.
“I come from the folk and rock ‘n roll world, but Claudia, my wife and partner in all this, is a jazz singer. She was performing and touring as a jazz vocalist before I met her. And Tyree Austin who’s also going to be singing with us is also a jazz vocalist. He sings jazz and gospel. So the spirit of jazz is really in what we do.”
Zanes, a Grammy-winner, occupies a unique place in American music — where sea shanties, English Music hall, play party songs, the spirit of early rock ‘n roll, soul, North American and West Indian folk music collide. For the past 20 years, he has toured the world with his band, Dan Zanes and Friends, sharing 21st century social music with enthusiastic crowds of all ages.
In the 1980s Zanes was a member of The Del Fuegos, the roots rock band that released several albums and toured heavily before spontaneously combusting in 1989. In 1994 he became a father and began trying to create music that he and his daughter could enjoy together as a shared experience — an updated version of the Folkways records he grew up on. In 2000, he released Rocket Ship Beach, which became an immediate hit with families in America. NPR called him “The Gold Standard in kid’s music.”
And while their music does have a certain kid-friendly appeal, Zanes is quick to point out that there’s much more to it than that. The Zanes prefer not to be categorized as “children’s entertainers.”
“Our music is social music. It’s very participatory. We come out of a lot of different folk traditions: North American folk traditions, blues, as well as Haitian folk traditions {influenced by Claudia who is Haitian-American). It’s for all ages, including young folks but also older.
“At our concerts there’s quite a bit of singing along. It’s a social experiment. Even though we’re a modern group we work with ancient traditions and one of those traditions is galvanizing people with song. There’s movement, there’s dancing. Three voices and a 12 string guitar is the foundation of what we do, with addition of trombone, horn and some percussion.”
He describes their sound as “joyful music.”
“These are hard times for a lot of people and music reminds us that there is so much beauty in the world and so much that we get from being with each other. There’s something about singing together that gives all a sense of life’s best possibilities. Behind it all is joy always.”
Guests are encouraged to come with lawn chairs and blankets for a day of relaxed listening and discovery. Youngsters will also enjoy the Kids Zone, with an instrument “petting zoo,” crafts and face painting. When everyone is ready for a bite, check out the food trucks and artisan purveyors with their tempting wares. Or bring your own picnic!
Derek Hough Symphony of Dance: Encore
Following sold-out successes of his previous tours, Derek Hough is back. The Emmy-winning dancerchoreographer-entertainer — known for his dazzling performances on “Dancing With The Stars” — takes his audience on an exhilarating journey through dance with breathtaking choreography, vibrant visuals and his signature stage presence. The high-energy production celebrates the artistry and emotion of movement while showcasing the versatility that has made Hough one of today’s most celebrated performers. Experience a thrilling fusion of dance and music; the fan-favorite dancer explores styles ranging from ballroom, tap, salsa, hip-hop and everything in between.
Sunday, July 19, 8 p.m. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or tillescenter. org or (516) 299-3100. Tilles Center, LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Blvd., Brookville.
Courtesy Anna Zanes Dan Zanes
partner in performing and
Courtesy Tilles Center Bobby Sanabria
Courtesy Andrea Escobar
The Buena Vista Orchestra
Courtesy Mark Mann Claudia Zanes
Your Neighborhood CALENDAR
jul
Summertime tunes
Eisenhower Park’s Summer Concert Series continues with Corey Reimer and The Dilemma Band with Scarborough Fair for a Simon & Garfunkel tribute.
• Where: Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, East Meadow
• Time: 7 p.m.
• Contact: nassaucountyny.gov or (516) 572-0200
jul 17
‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat’
The Madison Theatre’s production of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” brings the beloved Andrew Lloyd Webber musical to the stage, retelling the biblical story of Joseph, his colorful coat and his rise from slavery to Pharaoh’s trusted advisor. Told entirely through song, the familyfriendly production features memorable numbers including “Any Dream Will Do,” “Close Every Door” and “One More Angel in Heaven,” blending musical styles from calypso to country-western. Suitable for audiences of all ages, the show continues to be one of the world’s most frequently performed musicals.
• Where: Madison Theatre, Molloy University, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre
• Time: Various dates and times, through Aug. 2
• Contact: madisontheatreny. org or (516) 323-4444
Happy Birthday, Franklin!
Long Island Children’s Museum invites families to celebrate the Eastern Box Turtle’s 50th Birthday! Make him a one-of-akind cake craft inspired by all his favorite things! Come help honor 50 turtle-tastic years at the dropin program. For ages 3+.
• Where: 11 Davis Ave., Garden City
• Time: 1-3 p.m.
• Contact: licm.org or call (516) 224-5800
A Celebration of the Mighty Zep
jul
21
City Council Meeting
The Long Beach City Council meets the first and third Tuesday of every month. The public may make comments or ask questions pertaining to specific agenda items at the appropriate time. Those who wish to speak must sign in prior to the start of the meeting. Sign-ups will be accepted until the Council votes to close the meeting.
• Where: City Hall. 1 W. Chester St.
• Time: 7 p.m.
• Contact: (516) 431-1000
jul
Summer grooves
18
The annual outdoor movie season returns. Grab your blankets, bring your beach chairs and plan to catch any or all of this summer’s free movies. All presentations jul
Movie nights on the beach
Led Zeppelin fans, rejoice! Get The Led Out returns to the Paramount with “A Celebration of the Mighty Zep,” two electrifying nights of classic rock, running through June 28. From the bombastic and epic, to the folky and mystical, GTLO has captured the essence of Led Zeppelin and brought their music to the concert stage. The Philadelphia-based group consists of six veteran musicians, intent on delivering Led Zeppelin live, like you’ve never heard before! Utilizing the multi-instrumentalists at their disposal, GTLO re-creates songs, in all their depth and glory, with the studio overdubs that Zeppelin themselves never performed. Hailed for their powerful tribute to what many consider the greatest rock band of all time, the band delivers a faithful and highoctane recreation of Zeppelin’s iconic sound. From thunderous anthems to mystical acoustic ballads, GTLO captures the full range of Led Zeppelin’s brilliance — complete with the layered instrumentation and soaring dynamics that the band rarely performed live. With no wigs or phony accents, just pure musical passion. When an album calls for three guitars, GTLO brings three guitarists to the stage — no shortcuts, no gimmicks. GTLO focuses on the legendary band’s early years and dives deep into beloved hits and rare cuts alike. Their approach is reverent and precise, more like a classical concert than a cover band — a true celebration of timeless rock.
start at dark and are weather permitting. See the Nicolas Cage action-adventure film “National Treasure,” rated PG.
• Where: Grand Boulevard beach
• Time: Sunset
• Contact: (516) 431-1000
Country
sounds
Eisenhower Park’s Summer Concert Series welcomes Simply Stapleton for a Chris Stapleton tribute.
• Where: Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, East Meadow
• Time: 7 p.m.
• Contact: nassaucountyny.gov or (516) 572-0200
46th Annual Beach Biathlon
Whether you’re a seasoned participant or a first-time racer, this event is an opportunity to embrace fitness and fun on the beach. This year also marks a significant change to the adult race: a boardwalk run. Participants can look forward to a safer and more enjoyable experience, so don’t forget your sneakers. The children’s running portion of the race remains on the shore. Adult competitors run three miles on the boardwalk and swim 300 yards in the ocean. Teens 13 to 15 run
one mile on the shore and swim 150 yards. Children ages 7 to 12 will run a half-mile on the shore followed by a 50-yard shallow water swim. Register at events.elitefeats. com/26lb10mile. Entrance fees begin at $15 for children’s pre-registration, $35 for adults. Registration increases day of race.
• Where: Riverside Boulevard
• Time: Children’s race begins at 8:30 a.m., adults at 9 a.m.
• Contact: (516) 431-3890
Farmers Market
Kennedy Plaza Farmers Market presents an incredible lineup of local farmers, makers and food vendors you know and love. Stop by the popular outdoor market, where community spirit and fresh local flavor come together. Explore the selection of seasonal produce, artisanal goods, homemade treats and handcrafted items from dozens talented local businesses.
• Where: Kennedy Plaza
• Time: Every Saturday and Wednesday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
• Contact: (516) 670-5046
jul 19
Rockin’ on Eisenhower Park’s Summer Concert Series continues with a double bill of Last Exit’s Pearl Jam tribute
• Where: The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington
• Time: 8 p.m.; also July 25
• Contact: ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com
and Foo For All with Foo Fighters tunes.
• Where: Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, East Meadow
• Time: 6 p.m.
• Contact: nassaucountyny.gov or (516) 572-0200
Family theater
Lance the Eagle welcomes families to “A Semi-Quincenten-EAGLE Birthday” on the Long Island Children’s Museum stage. In this original production, families are invited to celebrate his birthday. His message: As the national bird, this party will be happening throughout the whole month of July. Come to think of it, I did hear something about a birthday for the United States of America as well. Hmm... must be a coincidence! I’ll be throwing a parade through LICM’s galleries and a celebratory spectacle in the Theater. Come ready to party!” Keep an eye out 30 minutes before each show for a special interactive pre-show! For ages 3+. $5 with museum admission ($4 members), $10 theater only.
• Where: 11 Davis Ave., Garden City
• Time: 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.; also July 22
• Contact: licm.org or call (516) 224-5800
23
Eisenhower Park’s Summer Concert Series welcomes rising country and rock singer-songwriter Lanie Gardner, best known for her viral cover of Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams” and her sophomore album Faded Polaroids. Country sensation Brooke Moriber also performs.
• Where: Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, East Meadow
• Time: 7 p.m.
• Contact: nassaucountyny.gov or (516) 572-0200
Summer tunes
jul
24
The TOH summer concert series arrives in Point Lookout with Disco Unlimited. The lively block party atmosphere includes inflatable games for the kids, food trucks and an ice cream truck. Bring a lawn chair or blanket for your comfort as you relax and enjoy the atmosphere.
• Where: East Marina, 1501 Lido Blvd, Point Lookout
• Time: 6 p.m. block party, 8 p.m. concert
FREE community event focused on health, wellness, and lifestyle
Meet trusted local exhibitors and service providers
Take advantage of on-site health screenings
Enjoy lively entertainment, fitness demonstrations and interactive experiences
Hear from experts during a panel discussion with Q&A
Win raffles, prizes, and giveaways
Snack station for all
*Boxed lunches for first 150 attendees
All designed to help you stay active, informed, and engaged at every stage of life.
MAE CAIME FOUNDER, AMAEZING MIDLIFE & BEYOND AGENDA:
Register for this FREE event: Merrick.eventbrite.com or email rbamgbose@liherald.com or call 516.569.4000 x273
July 16, 2026 —
LEGAL NOTICE
Public Notices
NOTICE OF SALE
SUPREME COURT
NASSAU COUNTY
WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A., AS TRUSTEE, FOR PARK PLACE SECURITIES, INC. ASSET-BACKED PASSTHROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2004-WCW2, Plaintiff against ALIZA SIEGEL, et al Defendant(s) Attorney for Plaintiff(s) Margolin, Weinreb & Nierer, LLP, 575 Underhill Boulevard, Suite 224, Syosset, NY 11791.
Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered January 6, 2026, 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 July 27, 2026 at 2:00PM. Premises known as 271 W Olive Street, Long Beach, New York 11561. Sec 59 Block 60 Lot 8-10. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in Long Beach in the County of Nassau and State of New York. Approximate Amount of Judgment is $1,226,856.32 plus interest, fees, and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No 608076/2022. 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.”
Robert J Aiello, Esq., Referee File # 22-0321 160861
LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE OF SALE
SUPREME COURT. NASSAU COUNTY. MORET LLC, Pltf. vs. MADISON A. MERCHANT, et al, Defts. Index #601955/2024. Pursuant to judgment of foreclosure and sale entered May 4, 2026, I will sell at public auction on the North Side steps of the Nassau Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY on July 28, 2026 at 3:30 p.m. premises k/a Section 59, Block 93, Lot(s) 62-64 Sold subject to terms and conditions of filed judgment and terms of sale. The foreclosure sale will be held, “rain or shine.” If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, then the Court appointed Referee will cancel the foreclosure auction.
PAUL MELI, Referee. LEVY & LEVY, Attys. for Pltf., 12 Tulip Dr., Great Neck, NY 11021. #103013 160851
LEGAL NOTICE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU INDEX NO.: 605923/2025
DATE FILED: 03/18/2025 SUMMONS
Plaintiff designates Nassau County as the Place of Trial.
Designation of Venue is based upon the situs of the Subject Property. Subject Property: 6 November Walk, Long Beach, New York 11561.
DEUTSCHE BANK NATIONAL TRUST COMPANY, AS TRUSTEE FOR NOVASTAR MORTGAGE FUNDING TRUST, SERIES 2007-1 NOVASTAR HOME EQUITY LOAN ASSETBACKED CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2007-1, Plaintiff, -againstELISABETH HILDENBRANDT AS HEIR AT LAW AND NEXT OF KIN TO ANTHONY MESSINA; ROBERT MESSINA AS POSSIBLE HEIR AT LAW AND NEXT OF KIN TO ANTHONY MESSINA; GINA MESSINA A/K/A GINA BARBER AS POSSIBLE HEIR AT LAW AND NEXT OF KIN TO ANTHONY MESSINA; JOHN DOE AND JANE DOE 1 THROUGH 50, INTENDING TO BE THE UNKNOWN HEIRS, DISTRIBUTEES,
DEVISEES, GRANTEES, TRUSTEES, LIENORS, CREDITORS, AND ASSIGNEES OF THE ESTATE OF ANTHONY MESSINA, WHO WAS BORN IN 1958 AND DIED ON SEPTEMBER 28, 2024, A RESIDENT OF NASSAU COUNTY, WHOSE LAST KNOWN ADDRESS WAS 6 NOVEMBER WALK, LONG BEACH, NEW YORK 11561, THEIR SUCCESSORS IN INTEREST IF ANY OF THE AFORESAID DEFENDANTS BE DECEASED, THEIR RESPECTIVE HEIRS AT LAW, NEXT OF KIN, AND SUCCESSORS IN INTEREST OF THE AFORESAID CLASSES OF PERSON, IF THEY OR ANY OF THEM BE DEAD, AND THEIR RESPECTIVE HUSBANDS, WIVES OR WIDOWS, IF ANY, ALL OF WHOM AND WHOSE NAMES AND PLACES, ARE UNKNOWN TO PLAINTIFF; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA O/B/O INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE; PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK; NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE; “JOHN DOE #1” through “JOHN DOE #12,” the last twelve names being fictitious and unknown to plaintiff, the persons or parties intended being the tenants, occupants, persons or corporations, if any, having or claiming an interest in or lien upon the Subject Property described in the Complaint, Defendants. TO THE ABOVE-NAMED DEFENDANTS: YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the Complaint in this action and to serve a copy of your answer, or, if the Complaint is not served with this Summons, to serve a notice of appearance on the Plaintiff’s Attorney within twenty (20) days after the service of this Summons, exclusive of the day of service (or within thirty (30) days after the service is complete if this Summons is not personally delivered to you within the State of New York) in the event the United States of America is made a party defendant, the time to answer for the said United States of America shall not expire until sixty (60) days after service of the Summons; and in case of your failure to appear or answer,
judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint. NOTICE: YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME. If you do not respond to this summons and complaint by serving a copy of the answer on the attorney for the mortgage company who filed this foreclosure proceeding against you and filing the answer with the court, a default judgment may be entered and you can lose your home. Speak to an attorney or go to the court where your case is pending for further information on how to answer the summons and protect your property. Sending a payment to the mortgage company will not stop the foreclosure action. YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (DEUTSCHE BANK NATIONAL TRUST COMPANY, AS TRUSTEE FOR NOVASTAR MORTGAGE FUNDING TRUST, SERIES 2007-1 NOVASTAR HOME EQUITY LOAN ASSETBACKED CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2007-1) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT. McCABE, WEISBERG & CONWAY, LLC By: MELISSA S. DICERBO, ESQ. Attorneys for Plaintiff One Huntington Quadrangle, Suite 4N25 Melville, NY 11747 631-812-4084 8 55-845-2584 facsimile File # 14-305652 HELP FOR HOMEOWNERS IN FORECLOSURE: NEW YORK STATE LAW REQUIRES THAT WE SEND YOU THIS NOTICE ABOUT THE FORECLOSURE PROCESS. PLEASE READ IT CAREFULLY. SUMMONS AND COMPLAINT: YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME. IF YOU FAIL TO RESPOND TO THE SUMMONS AND COMPLAINT IN THIS FORECLOSURE ACTION, YOU MAY LOSE YOUR HOME. PLEASE READ THE SUMMONS AND COMPLAINT CAREFULLY. YOU SHOULD IMMEDIATELY CONTACT AN ATTORNEY OR YOUR LOCAL LEGAL AID OFFICE TO OBTAIN ADVICE ON HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF. SOURCES OF INFORMATION AND ASSISTANCE: The State
News briefs
Gernhardt Memorial Tournament returns
The Scott Gernhardt Memorial Softball Tournament honors the memory of Long Beach High School varsity soccer star Scott Gernhardt, who died at age 21 in 2021. The tournament’s goal is to raise money for the Scott Strong Athletic Fund — which delivers money to Long Beach School District athletes in need of athletic gear and scholarships for graduating seniors.
The fifth annual event returns to the Long Beach Recreation Center on Satur-
day, July 25 at 9 a.m. and will feature competitive softball games, raffles and other fundraising activities. Friends, relatives and volunteers continue a tradition that celebrates Gernhardt’s legacy through community service and friendly competition. Gernhardt’s parents, Scott and Phyllis, have organized the event each year, growing it into a recurring reminder with support from participants.
–Chris Colucci
Yiddish music history at Temple Emanu-El
On Sunday, July 19, Temple EmanuEl of Long Beach will host Rabbi/Cantor David Katz of Temple Or Elohim, ACRC, and Jessica Gershitz, an expert in Yiddish history and language.
Attendees will take part in a concertlecture exploring the historical significance of Yiddish music. The program will examine Yiddish musical litera -
ture, from classical compositions to popular works from the Yiddish theater tradition, through an interactive concert format.
Tickets are $10 per person. The event begins at 3 p.m. Contact Temple EmanuEl at (516) 431-4060 for information.
–Chris Colucci
Public Notices
encourages you to become informed about your options in foreclosure. In addition to seeking assistance from an attorney or legal aid office, there are government agencies and nonprofit organizations that you may contact for information about possible options, including trying to work with your lender during this process. To locate an entity near you, you may call the toll-free helpline maintained by the New York State Department of Financial Services at 1-800-342-3736 or visit the Department`s website at www.dfs.ny.gov. RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS: YOU ARE NOT REQUIRED TO LEAVE YOUR HOME AT THIS TIME. You have the right to stay in your home during the foreclosure process. You are not required to leave your home unless and until your property is sold at auction pursuant to a judgment of foreclosure and sale. Regardless of whether you choose to remain in your home, YOU ARE REQUIRED TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR PROPERTY and pay property taxes in accordance with state and local law. FORECLOSURE RESCUE SCAMS: Be careful of people who approach you with offers to “save” your home.
There are individuals who watch for notices of foreclosure actions in order to unfairly profit from a homeowner`s distress. You should be extremely careful about any such promises and any suggestions that you pay them a fee or sign over your deed. State law requires anyone offering such services for profit to enter into a contract which fully describes the services they will perform and fees they will charge, and which prohibits them from taking any money from you until they have completed all such promised services. § 1303 NOTICE 16-12-20* 161056
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU NewRez LLC dba Shellpoint Mortgage Servicing, Plaintiff AGAINST Robert J. Arnold; et al., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered June 4, 2026, 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 August 10, 2026, at
2:00PM, premises known as 225 West Broadway, Unit E1, Long Beach, NY 11561. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, situate, lying and being a part of a condominium in the City of Long Beach, County of Nassau, State of New York, Section 59 Block 63 Lot 166 Unit 114. Approximate amount of judgment $335,648.81 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index# 607033/2024. Kenneth Gartner, Esq., Referee LOGS Legal Group LLP Attorney(s) for the Plaintiff 175 Mile Crossing Boulevard Rochester, New York 14624 (877) 430-4792
Dated: June 24, 2026
For sale information, please visit www.Auction.com or call (800) 280-2831 161107
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that pursuant to Article 9 of the New York State Constitution, the provisions of the Town Law and Municipal Home Rule of the State of New York, both as amended, a public hearing will be held in the Town Meeting Pavilion, Hempstead
Town Hall, 1 Washington Street, Hempstead, New York, on the 4th day of August 2026, at 10:30 o’clock in the forenoon of that day to consider the enactment of a local law to amend Section 198-2 of the Code of the Town of Hempstead by the addition of a location into subdivision “H” in relation locations of tow-away zones, as stated as follows: “H” - POINT LOOKOUT BELLMORE AVENUEEast Side - starting at a point 12 feet north of the north curbline of Lido Boulevard, north for a distance of 102 feet. (TH 283/26) ALL PERSONS INTERESTED shall have an opportunity to be heard on said proposal at the time and place aforesaid.
Dated: July 7, 2026 Hempstead, New York BY ORDER OF THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD JOHN FERRETTI Supervisor KATE MURRAY Town Clerk 161221
EMPLOYMENT
Help Wanted
ASSISTANT F/T NEEDED For Kidz Being Kidz Daycare In Oceanside Must Be Reliable And Love Children Call 516-608-2575
DRIVERS WANTED
Full Time and Part Time Positions Available!
Busy Print Shop in Garden City is Hiring Immediately for Full Time and Part Time Drivers.
Must Have a Clean License and BoxTruck Driving Experience.
Hours Vary, Salary Ranges from $17 per hour to $21 per hour Night Availability is a Must. Please Email Resume to careers@liherald.com or Call (516)569-4000 x239
EDITOR/REPORTER
Part Time & Full Time. The award-winning Herald Community Newspapers group, covering Nassau County's North and South Shores with hard-hitting news stories and gracefully written features, seeks a motivated, energetic and creative editor/reporter to join our dynamic (and awesome) team! This education and general assignment reporting position offers a unique experience to learn from some of the best in the business. Historically, reporters who have launched their careers with us have gone on to The New York Times, Newsweek, Newsday, the New York Daily News, New York Post, CNN, BBC, NBC News and The Daily Mail, among many others. We look for excellent writers who are eager to learn, enhance their skills, and become well-established and respected journalists in our industry. Salary range is from $20K to $45K To apply: Send a brief summary in the form of a cover letter describing your career goals and what strengths you can bring to our newsroom, along with a resume and three writing samples to jbessen@liherald.com
MAILROOM/ WAREHOUSE HELP
Long Island Herald has IMMEDIATE openings for a FULL-TIME & PART-TIME mailroom/warehouse helper in Garden City. We are a busy print shop looking for motivated and reliable individuals to assist in various duties in the shop. Forklift experience is a plus and heavy lifting is required. Hours vary, so flexibility is key. Salary Ranges from $17 per hour to $20 per hour. Email resumes or contact info to careers@liherald.com
MULTI MEDIA
ACCOUNT DEVELOPMENT
Inside Sales
Looking for an aggressive self starter who is great at making and maintaining relationships and loves to help businesses grow by marketing them on many different advertising platforms. You will source new sales opportunities through inbound lead follow-up and outbound cold calls. Must have the ability to understand customer needs and requirements and turn them in to positive advertising solutions. We are looking for a talented and competitive Inside Sales Representative that thrives in a quick sales cycle environment. Compensation ranges from $35,360 + commissions and bonuses to over $100,000 including commission and bonuses. We also offer health benefits, 401K and paid time off. Please send cover letter and resume with salary requirements to ereynolds@liherald.com Call 516-569-4000 X286
Operations/ Office Coordinator
Full-Time. Cedarhurst. $25–$30/hour. Seeking person with strong communication, organizational, computer skills. Resume: info@purebitessnacks.com
OUTSIDE SALES
Richner Communications, One of the Fastest Growing Media, Event and Communications Companies on Long Island is Seeking a Sales/Marketing Candidate to Sell our Print Media Products and our Digital, Events, Sponsorships. Earning potential ranges from $35,360 plus commission and bonuses to over $100,000 including commissions and bonuses. Compensation is based on Full Time hours
Eligible for Health Benefits, 401k and Paid Time Off. Please Send Cover Letter and Resume with Salary Requirements to rglickman@liherald.com or Call 516-569-4000 X250
PRINTING PRESS OPERATORS FT & PT. Long Island Herald has IMMEDIATE openings for Printing Press Operators in Garden City. We are a busy print shop looking for motivated and reliable individuals to assist in
Eldercare Offered
HomesHERALD
Waterfront Dream Home
Spectacular 8,100-square-foot stately brick Colonial offering seven bedrooms, seven full and two half baths on 215 feet of prime waterfront property. Beautifully renovated throughout, this exceptional home features a dramatic two-story entry foyer that opens to a second-floor balcony. Walls of windows flood the home with natural light while showcasing magnificent water views. Designed for both comfortable living and elegant entertaining, the home offers an exceptional flow and generously proportioned rooms throughout. The main-level primary suite overlooks the water and features two enormous walk-in closets and a luxurious radiant-heated bath with double vanities, separate water closets, a steam shower, and a Jacuzzi tub. The 2,100-square-foot finished basement, renovated just 10 years ago, includes a theater, recreation room, gym, wine cellar, bonus room, and full bath. The resortstyle backyard features a heated Gunite pool and spa, outdoor kitchen, expansive patio, and a newly renovated 215-foot raised vinyl bulkhead with a private dock for your boat. Additional highlights include a grand circular driveway and an attached three-car garage. Every luxury amenity has been thoughtfully included. Located in the Hewlett-Woodmere School District #14, this remarkable waterfront estate is conveniently close to the LIRR, shopping, and houses of worship. Asking $5,570,000. Call today to arrange your private viewing of this exceptional waterfront residence.
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What to do about cracking concrete, Part 2
Q. We have large cracks in our concrete driveway and garage floor, and want to make sure they are repaired correctly, since they appear to be recently done, possibly within a year before we purchased the house. In particular, there is a nearly round hole that turned to gravel, kind of, and we want to know why it happened and avoid having it happen again. What can you tell us?
A. As I previously explained, concrete reacts to extreme weather changes, and isn’t as stable as people think. Nature moves mountains, so your driveway was no challenge to the forces of nature. Extreme cold causes concrete to contract — push in on itself — while heat has the effect of stretching rigid concrete to the point of literally ripping apart.
As with any material, water and movement are the most critical factors to work with. You’ll never win over nature. The hole is basically like a zit, a buildup of pressure in a weaker place across the surface. Concrete develops strength as a chemical reaction to the specific combination of materials it is made from. With too much water in the mix, it will be weaker, especially in a particular spot. With not enough water to support the chemical reaction of Portland cement, sand and stone, the concrete will be weak. It’s important to follow the directions on the package(s) to get the correct mix.
Like any successful repair or construction project, analysis and planning are extremely important. You should have a professional take a look at the problem before you repair it, to decide if a repair is even worth it. A short consult more than pays for itself if it turns out you’d be wasting money on something that isn’t worth a quick fix. If that round hole reveals that there’s no steel reinforcement, for example, then the rest of the driveway is on its way to needing more serious work in the near future. If the hole reveals that the mix was too wet or too dry, or was poured in weather that was too cold, or that admixtures were the wrong combination, you’ll just be throwing good money after bad.
When I see concrete work being done in extreme cold or excessive heat, as I’m driving by, I make a mental note to double back, over time, to see how the experiment worked or didn’t work. You can only shake your head when you understand the possible outcome. There are concrete repair mixtures that include epoxy adhesives, but, again, follow the directions to the letter if you’re making the less expensive, quick repair.
It was invaluable for me to work with a mason, carpenter and painter during summers off from architecture school. The mason taught me to wet the area before continuing after our lunch break, not adding wet next to dry mortar. The dry area was already curing. The fresh mortar would have the moisture sucked right into the drier surface, weakening both, and the work in general. Good luck!
© 2026 Monte Leeper Readers are encouraged to send questions to yourhousedr@aol.com, with “Herald question” in the subject line, or to Herald Homes, 2 Endo Blvd., Garden City, NY 11530, Attn: Monte Leeper, architect.
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opinions America must not abdicate its leadership
Almost 60 years ago, former Secretary of State Dean Acheson wrote a memoir, “Present At the Creation,” which focused on the reality that the United States had to remake the world — or at least Europe — in the years after World War II. That required a rejection and repudiation of the isolationist “America First” policy that had predominated after World War I until Pearl Harbor.
In 1945, Hitler and Nazi Germany had been destroyed, and postwar Germany was in ruins. Though England and France had been victors, the war left them seriously weakened. The British economy was in shambles, and France, which had largely surrendered to Nazi collaborators during the war, was economically damaged and politically unstable.
Most ominously, it soon became apparent that Stalin’s Russia was intent on expanding Soviet rule in Europe, with no regard for treaties or territorial boundaries. Agreements such as Yalta and Potsdam were ignored as Soviet communist rule was imposed on
Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, East Germany and most of Eastern Europe, creating what Winston Churchill so accurately labeled the Iron Curtain.
Fortunately, the United States would not repeat the tragic errors it made after World War I, which led to the inexorable rise of Hitler and World War II. The first world war had left Germany impoverished, creating fertile ground for Hitler and the growth of Naziism. The U.S. had basically demobilized its armed forces after the “war to end all wars.”
UAs Hitler rebuilt the German war machine in the 1930s and Europe appeased Hitler at Munich, the U.S. was slow to respond, and then the America First movement opposed helping Churchill when England was under siege.
Ultimately, the Soviet empire would implode.
kraine needs American support, and in Iran we need NATO’s support.
Today, our world is in need of another act of creation. Russian President Vladimir Putin envisions a new Russian empire, beginning with the invasion of Ukraine. This was the first invasion of one sovereign European nation by another in the almost eight decades since World War II. This continuing attack threatens European stability and, as we should have learned from the two 20th-century conflagrations, America’s security is imperiled. The concept of Fortress America, with oceans protecting us, is outmoded, and potentially suicidal.
In the aftermath of World War II, however, the U.S. assumed the leadership of the free world. Unlike Germany under Hitler, Stalin’s Russian expansion would be halted. America First would be no more. The Marshall Plan was enacted to rebuild West Germany and Western Europe.
To prevent a replay of Munich and appeasement, NATO was created so that an attack on one would be an attack on all. Isolationism was over.
While Europe has stepped forward and provided Ukraine with needed weaponry, the Trump administration has cut off arms sales to Ukraine, instead selling them to Europe, which will provide them to Ukraine. This is unnecessarily convoluted, and is causing Ukrainian lives to be lost. The administration somehow sees a moral equivalence between Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, which isn’t that different from equating Hitler with Churchill.
Our lead negotiator, Steve Witcoff, is a real estate guy from New York with
no diplomatic experience, and he hasn’t met with the parties in months. Ukraine is fighting valiantly, and actually beating Russia on the battlefield. But being outnumbered and outgunned, Ukraine can’t survive without American support. Echoes of Munich! Similarly, we will not prevail in our struggle against Iran by announcing that we will never use ground troops or by pretending we are winning when we are stalemated by the Iranians, who have the ability to shut down the Strait of Hormuz. To succeed we will need the support of NATO nations to use their minesweeper expertise to clear the strait. That would have been easier if we had informed NATO of our intention to attack Iran in the first place. Every effort must be made to obtain congressional support, and to level with the American people that no war is easy, especially a war against religious fanatics. And every war has risks. Telling the enemy we won’t ever use ground troops only increases the risk of having to use them.
These are perilous times, and we cannot afford to repeat the mistakes of the past. America must show firm leadership. America First cannot be America alone!
Peter King is a former congressman, and a former chair of the House Committee on Homeland Security. Comments? pking@ liherald.com.
No need for Democrats to panic about Mamdani & Co.
These past few weeks have been difficult for middle-of the-road Democrats. Candidates aligned with the Democratic Socialists of America have won roughly half of 70 or so contested primary contests nationwide. The Wall Street Journal called the DSA successes “the political story of 2026.”
But will the DSA drag the Democratic Party permanently to the left, or will it fade away, as the Tea Party did on the Republican side in the mid-2010s?
Over the past 50 years, I have seen the Democratic Party tugged left and center by a number of forces, but in the end the moderates have always won the tug of war. The first big DSA win was in New York City, when Zohran Mamdani was elected mayor. He has now been in office just over six months, and the political jury is still out on whether he will be able to hold on to his job for more than one term. To date, Mamdani has won some major victories, and kept his pledges to
the voters who supported him. He has gotten lots of money from Albany for pre-K and child care programs, and his promised rent freeze has been approved. He has not delivered yet on his promise of free buses, because that’s a cost that would hurt all New Yorkers who use mass transit, and can’t afford to subsidize bus riders.
GMamdani got elected by virtue of the fact that his only primary opponent was former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who turned out to be a weak candidate. Mamdani’s success can also attributed to the so-called socialists’ mastery of social media. Moderate Democrats have failed to use that medium as effectively, giving the DSA a gift that other candidates around the country have benefited from as well. Can the DSA become a major force in American politics? I personally doubt its long-term ability to survive, but I may be proven wrong. An August 2025 Gallup poll found that 39 percent of Americans had a positive view of socialism, while 57 percent had a negative view. Socialist positions like defunding the police, eliminating rent and solidarity with the Palestinian cause may ener-
overning in the modern era is a big challenge for a fledgling movement.
gize the base, but they remain liabilities in swing districts and national races. A recent article in the Atlantic reported that the DSA’s sectarian wing has refused to endorse a Democratic presidential nominee. That will undercut its political influence.
The recent DSA wins have been concentrated in cities such as New York, Seattle, Denver and Washington, where progressive voters dominate. The organization has no U.S. senators and only a handful of House members, and no member of the DSA has never won a statewide race. And the Mamdani victory is instructive. He won because he softened his image, distancing himself from defunding the police, and stuck to breadand-butter issues.
The socialist movement has an internal contradiction. Its ideologically pure wing alienates voters it needs to build majority coalitions, while its more electable candidates drift toward positions that look a lot like those of typical progressives. In the early 1970s, the New Democratic Coalition made a run at taking over the moderate wing of the Democratic Party, but failed because it
lacked a strong party structure. Electoral success in blue cities does not equal long-term political viability. For socialist candidates to establish durable legitimacy, they will need to demonstrate competence at governing. Mamdani is being watched closely to see if he can hold on to his base. To do so he will have to relax some of his stated positions, which has already unnerved some of his DSA supporters. One example, that went beyond his campaign pledges, was his decision to keep the city police commissioner, Jessica Tisch, in her position.
Some of my Democratic friends in high party positions have reached for the panic button, but I’ve urged them to hold their fire. The DSA and its base have yet to capture the Democratic centrists and hold them hostage. They may notch a few more wins, but governing in the modern era is a big challenge for a small, fledgling movement. History informs me that the moderates in the Democratic Party are still in charge, and, while threatened, are very much alive and well.
Jerry Kremer was a state assemblyman for 23 years, and chaired the Assembly’s Ways and Means Committee for 12 years. He currently chairs the Capitol Insight Group, a government relations firm.
Sports still bring us together
Sports have always been about more than wins and losses. At their best, they remind us that we have far more in common than the headlines, social media feeds and political arguments would have us believe.
Over the past several weeks, Long Islanders saw two remarkable examples.
The New York Knicks’ championship run transformed Long Island and New York City into one giant community gathering. Bars overflowed with fans wearing blue and orange. Families planned evenings around playoff game tipoffs. Friends who hadn’t watched a game together in years reunited.
Even people who only casually followed basketball found themselves caught up in the excitement. Whether you watched from a crowded sports bar, a watch party or your living room, you became part of something bigger than yourself.
The FIFA World Cup offered a different, but equally meaningful, lesson.
U.S. forward Folarin Balogun’s red card sparked spirited debate among soccer fans. Many questioned the referee’s decision, others defended it, and nearly everyone had an opinion. Yet those conversations, like so many others about the competition, remained focused on the pitch. Fans dissected tactics, coach-
oPiNioN MatterS
ing decisions and player performances not as ideological opponents, but as people who simply loved the game.
That distinction matters.
In too many corners of public life today, disagreement quickly turns into hostility. Every issue seems destined to become another battle in an endless culture war. Sports remind us that there is another way. You can passionately disagree with someone’s opinion, make your case, and then sit beside that same person to watch the next match.
Even after Belgium eliminated the United States, American supporters found themselves tipping their caps to a talented Belgian squad. There was disappointment, certainly, but also respect. Some fans even joked that Belgium had earned a little good karma along the way for not making Balogun’s controversial reinstatement an issue. That’s the beauty of sports. Defeat doesn’t have to produce bitterness. Sometimes it simply produces appreciation for excellence.
The same spirit carried Knicks fans through every dramatic moment of their championship run. Complete strangers celebrated together after clutch baskets. Subway rides morphed into rolling pep rallies. Neighborhood restaurants and bars became gathering places where age, politics, profession and background mattered far less than
the logo on a jersey.
For a few hours at a time, everyone was simply a fan. Those shared experiences strengthen communities in ways that statistics never can. They create memories between parents and children, lifelong friends and even strangers who may never meet again.
Years from now, many people won’t remember every score or every lineup change. But they will remember where they were, whom they were with and how it felt when an entire room erupted in celebration.
Our communities need more moments like that.
Sports won’t solve our political differences or erase the challenges we face. They shouldn’t have to. Their value lies elsewhere. They remind us that healthy competition doesn’t require contempt, that spirited debate doesn’t have to become personal, and that people with different backgrounds and viewpoints can still cheer, groan and celebrate together.
The Knicks gave New Yorkers a championship to remember. The World Cup is giving the world another reminder of soccer’s unmatched ability to unite people across borders and cultures. Long after the trophies are lifted and the final whistles blow, that is the real victory worth celebrating.
Your opinion Matters
The strength of our community comes from open dialogue. We invite residents to submit letters to the editor on issues affecting our neighborhoods, schools, businesses and local government.
The strength of our community comes from open dialogue. We invite residents to submit letters to the editor on issues affecting our neighborhoods, schools, businesses and local government.
Letters must include your name and contact information for verification. Send them to execeditor@liherald.com.
Letters must include your name and contact information for verification. Send lettters to execeditor@liherald.com
Be heard. Be part of the conversation.
Be heard. Be part of the conversation.
Seeing for ourselves where a legendary writer lived
suffolk County has been the home of many literary giants. The number is unusual for any area. It includes Walt Whitman, James Fenimore Cooper, Kurt Vonnegut, James Jones, Truman Capote, Betty Friedan, Edward Albee, E.L. Doctorow, Joseph Heller, Lanford Wilson, Joe Pintauro, Terence McNally, Colson Whitehead, Peter Matthiessen . . . and John Steinbeck.
And now, you can get an extraordinary insight into Steinbeck.
The house in Sag Harbor in which Steinbeck and his wife, Elaine, lived has been preserved. That’s thanks to donations to the Sag Harbor Partnership, the participation of the Michener Center for Writers at the University of Texas (Elaine’s alma mater), $750,000 from New York state, $11.2 million from the Town of Southampton’s Community Preservation Fund, and individual contributions from folks in Sag Harbor. You can go on a free Saturday tour of the 1.8 acres of property overlooking
Sag Harbor Cove, and visit inside the house, too, on Holiday Open House Weekends. My wife and I took the tour on the Memorial Day weekend.
Among the many features of the property is Steinbeck’s charming little six-sided gazebo, his writing studio. He named it, with a sign, Joyous Garde, after Sir Lancelot’s castle in the legend of King Arthur. Steinbeck won the Nobel Prize for literature and the Pulitzer Prize for fiction for his renowned novel “The Grapes of Wrath.” Among his many other books were “East of Eden,” “Of Mice and Men,” “The Pearl,” “The Red Pony,” “The Winter of Our Discontent,” “Tortilla Flat,” Cannery Row” and “Travels with Charley: In Search of America” — which begins in Sag Harbor.
sHe and Elaine lived in the Sag Harbor house from 1955 until his death in 1968. Elaine continued to use the house until she died in 2003.
Our docent for the tour was Lori Raimondo, who is highly knowledgeable about Steinbeck. She told us how Sag Harbor reminded him of Monterey, Calif., on the Pacific Ocean south of San Francisco, where he had earlier lived. Monterey was a working-class waterfront town, like Sag Harbor in those days.
teinbeck wrote in a gazebo that had room for only a small desk and a chair.
Raimondo said that Steinbeck saw the house while looking at another one nearby, but was told it wasn’t for sale. He went over and knocked on the door, anyway, and the couple who owned it said they were just putting it up for sale.
a collection of rifles hung above the fireplace, and she showed us photos of them. In a hallway that led down to a bedroom were many photos, including one of Steinbeck receiving the Nobel Prize. Up what is now a metal circular staircase — which replaced a ladder, Raimondo said — was a loft for the Steinbecks’ two sons, Thomas and John. Outside, we visited a small workshop building that, Raimondo told us, Steinbeck originally thought he could use for writing. But he found there were too many diversions in it. Then it was on to the simple Joyous Garde, which had room for only a small desk and a chair. It was a tranquil place for Steinbeck to write, with a serene view of the waters of Sag Harbor Cove through its windows.
He hung out with friends in the village, which in recent years has featured the John Steinbeck Waterfront Park. In the 1960s, he was a founder and honorary chairman of Sag Harbor’s Old Whaler’s Festival (now known as HarborFest). We lived in Sayville back then, and as a reporter for the Long Island Press, I went to Sag Harbor and interviewed Steinbeck on a festival day.
Framework by Tim Baker
In the house, Steinbeck’s creativity — and humor — were apparent immediately. Raimondo pointed out a mobile hanging in the living room, which, she noted, Steinbeck constructed from the spokes of an umbrella. Adjacent was a cozy kitchen area.
A main feature of the living room is a fireplace made with large stones, especially big in the context of the small house. Originally, Raimondo explained,
To arrange to take the tour, go to steinbeckhouse.org/visit. “There are two options for visiting,” it advises. One is a “regular Saturday visit,” on dates that are listed. The other is holiday open house weekends, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays on which both the grounds and the home are open. Take the tour. It is immensely worthwhile.
Karl Grossman has been an investigative reporter in a variety of media for more than 50 years. He is a professor of journalism at the State University of New York at Old Westbury.
Thrilling the thousands on chairs and blankets below, the Blue Angels celebrated the nation’s 250th birthday — Jones Beach
