Lynbrook/East Rockaway Herald 04-03-2025

A historic nomination for the library

Gov. Kathy Hochul approved the nomination of the Lynbrook Public Library for inclusion on the state and national registers of historic places. Story, Page 2.

Lynbrook residents voice concerns about dangerous speeding incidents

By AINSlEY MARTINEZ amartinez@liherald.com

On March 26, Lynbrook resident Marisa Faranda reported that her husband parked near Lloyd Avenue, and when he opened his car door, another vehicle zoomed past and almost hit him.

“This was right as children were being dropped off at schools in the area,” Faranda recounted. “(I’m) hoping the Lynbrook Police Department was in pursuit and cornered him.”

The area Faranda mentioned is actually not under Lynbrook police jurisdiction, and is instead patrolled by the Nassau County Police Department. But Lynbrook Police Chief Brian Paladino said that one of his officers tried to pull

literacy skills

By AINSlEY MARTINEZ amartinez@liherald.com

Danielle Schneider brings toy blocks printed with letters to kindergarten classes in the East Rockaway Union Free School District, aiming to target a specific oral and literacy skill.

“We need to train their auditory processors to be able to hear and pick up on the individual sounds in words, and take them apart,” Schneider, the district’s literacy coach, said of the students.

“It’s fun, fast-paced and they use their hands to chop (the blocks) and to put things together. They feel like they’re playing a game, like they’re not really learning.”

Band distinguish the sounds in words.

“The science of reading tells us that you can’t read or decode words until you can hear them, so the oral language comes first,” Assistant Superintendent Sean Murray explained. “So we brought in a phonemic awareness program that was designed specifically to address the deficit we found in our (testing) data.”

y teaching the building blocks of words, we can help students unlock the meaning of new words more easily.

DANIEllE SchNEIDER Literacy coach

Kallen McNoble, a second-grade teacher at Centre Avenue Elementary School, said she sees the improvement in the former kindergartners who have been through the program.

over a speeding white Jeep Cherokee, the same model and color that Faranda described, that afternoon, near the intersection of Durland Road and Dunn Place. The officer attempted to pursue the vehicle, but called off the chase for safety reasons.

“We’re not going to have people get hurt, or ourselves get hurt, just for a traffic ticket,” Paladino said.

To address growing concerns about speeding, Lynbrook police have implemented several initiatives, including deploying traffic data collectors, discreet cameras placed in areas identified as hot spots, where vehicles ignore the village’s 30-mile-per-hour speed limit.

Three years ago, the district implemented a literacy coaching program to improve reading and writing in students from kindergarten through sixth grade. One part of the program targets phonemic awareness, the ability to hear

“I’ve also seen my students get super excited about the books that we’re reading,” McNoble said, “and they want to go to the library now and find the next book.”

The literacy coaching initiative was introduced as part of a broader effort to provide teach-

Continued on page 10

Courtesy Lynbrook Public Library

Library on its way to become historic place

By AINSLEY MARTINEZ amartinez@liherald.com

Gov. Kathy Hochul approved the nomination for the Lynbrook Public Library’s inclusion on the state and national registers of historic places, making it the only location on Long Island to receive this nomination.

“It’s a beautiful building, and beautiful in its architecture,” library director Robyn Gilloon said. “We still live by the standard ideology set back in 1929.”

While architectural and technological advances have changed some of the library’s processes, the core mission stays the same: provide a community gathering space, and encourage literacy and learning.

The nomination, announced on March 21, is one of 20 locations selected for the honor this year.

The library, designed by architect Hugh Tallant and completed in 1929, was initially threatened with demolition in 1985 due to its small size—just 9,000 square feet, including the basement—

which could no longer accommodate the growing community.

However, residents voted to save the library by a 61 percent majority, rejecting a proposal to build a new facility at the former Village Hall on Merrick Road.

In response to the community’s efforts, the library board approved an extension in 1986. The 11,000-square-foot groundfloor addition, completed in 1992, was designed to complement the historical

population grew with the expansion of the Long Island Rail Road. Tallant, alongside his partner Henry Beaumont Herts, was already a prominent architect, known for designing iconic New York City theaters such as the New Amsterdam Theatre and the Brooklyn Academy of Music.

The library features a formal entrance, large windows, and an expansive reading room, with intricate classical details. Exterior carvings of Pallas Athena, the goddess of wisdom and war, adorn the building, emphasizing its role as a place of learning.

Curran highlighted the library’s connection to the early 20th-century rise of women’s organizations, noting that many women’s clubs, including suffragist and volunteer groups, were instrumental in establishing public libraries across the country.

character of the original building.

Village administrator John Giordano said the historical significance of Hugh Tallant’s architecture inspired him and adult librarian Kathleen Curran to initiate the application process in 2020.

“It was a smart move on the Village back then to preserve the space and not move,” Giordano said.

In 1928, the Village Board hired Tallant to design the building as the community’s

Giordano noted the library needs improvements to its stone work, which could cost a few hundred thousand dollars.

“It’s very exciting because we could eventually receive grants for preserving the library,” he said.

The library is expected to learn in the coming months whether it will be officially added to the state and national registers of historic places.

“I think this nomination has shown what a jewel the library really is,” Gilloon said.

Courtesy of the Lynbrook Public Library

The library, designed by architect Hugh Tallant and completed in 1929, was initially threatened with demolition in 1985 due to its small size—just 9,000 square feet, including the basement—which could no longer accommodate the growing community.

Meet the elected, reelected Village members

By AINSLEY MARTINEZ amartinez@liherald.com

Richard Fasano

Richard Fasano was recently elected as the new Village Justice for Lynbrook, bringing over 16 years of legal experience to the role. Fasano, a former Assistant District Attorney in the Bronx County District Attorney’s Domestic Violence Unit, has extensive experience handling violent felonies and homicides. Additionally, he served as a juvenile justice prosecutor in the NYC Law Department in Queens County.

Fasano, who holds a Juris Doctor degree from St. John’s University Law School, has been actively involved in the legal system throughout his career, working on cases in high-pressure environments.

During the day, Fasano works for the New York City Law Department, handling interstate child support cases. In this role, he pursues unpaid child support claims for custodial parents living in New York City, even in cases involving international claims.

“I think [my experiences] helped develop that inherent sense of justice and fairness,” Fasano said. “And knowing what I know about criminal procedure and everything else, and having done it for so long, and knowing all of the ways in which it can be utilized and put into place fairly and equitably.”

In his new role, Fasano will preside over a range of cases, primarily dealing with traffic violations, village code breaches, and building code issues. He emphasizes that the Village Justice position, although part-time, is crucial in maintaining order and fairness within the community.

“It’s important to approach each case with the appropriate level of seriousness,” he said. “I will look at the specifics of each situation and aim to address issues in a way that upholds the integrity of our community while being mindful of people’s ability to comply with penalties.”

In addition to his legal work, Fasano

is active in his community. He is a devoted Lynbrook Titans Cheer Dad and remains deeply connected to the local area, which he describes as a major motivating factor for stepping into this judicial role.

“I’m excited to step into this role and to serve the people of Lynbrook,” Fasano said. “My goal is to ensure that everyone in this community feels they have been treated fairly and that the rule of law is respected.”

Michael Habert

Trustee Michael Habert was successfully re-elected to the village board this year. A retired first-grade homicide detective with 26 years of service in the New York Police Department, Habert also brings his expertise as a trained hostage negotiator and former detective investigator with the Kings County District Attorney’s Office.

Since 2023, he has been serving as a trustee, contributing significantly to various village initiatives, including the Lynbrook Cares Committee, the Zoning Appeals Board, and co-founding Lynbrook Oktoberfest.

Habert’s journey into local government began unexpectedly in 2023 when he was appointed to the village board following the departure of former Trustee Laura Ryder, who was elected to the Assemblywoman seat.

“I’ve always wanted to be involved in local government because it’s the most hands-on and has the most immediate impact on residents,” Habert said. “I grew up here, and I want to be approachable and available to the people of this community.”

As trustee, Habert’s focus has been on enhancing public safety, improving community services, and fostering growth in the village.

“Public safety is a priority,” Habert explained. “It’s about making sure our police and emergency services have the resources they need to protect our residents and respond quickly when needed.”

Habert is particularly proud of his

work with the Lynbrook Cares Committee, which helps senior residents by removing snow from their driveways and performing small household repairs.

“We get a lot of young people involved, from high school to college students. It’s about teaching them the value of helping others and being there for each other,” Habert said. “Our seniors appreciate it, and it’s a great way to build a sense of community.”

In addition to his work with the Lynbrook Cares Committee, Habert has been actively involved in the Zoning Appeals Board, working closely with residents and businesses to address zoning issues and ensure that the community remains well-planned and developed.

“The building department is extremely busy, and they work hard to guide people through the zoning process,” he said. “It’s important to make sure our village continues to grow in a way that is beneficial to everyone.”

Habert also co-founded Lynbrook Oktoberfest, an annual event that brings the community together to celebrate local culture and support businesses along Atlantic Avenue.

“I’m proud to serve the community where I grew up,” he said. “It’s been a rewarding experience, and I look forward to continuing to make Lynbrook a great place to live.”

Michael Hawxhurst

Deputy Mayor Michael Hawxhurst was also re-elected as trustee after serving in the role since 2019. With over 30 years of experience as an internal audit director and a master’s degree in taxation from St. John’s University.

“My experience in finance and auditing has helped me work on the budget and ensure that we’re providing services to the residents at the lowest possible cost,” he explained. “Taxes are always a concern, and we need to balance providing services with minimizing tax burdens.”

Hawxhurst, who has been a member

of the village board for over 16 years, credits much of his success to teamwork and transparency.

“The biggest lesson I’ve learned is the importance of the teamwork of the board,” he said. “We all have different responsibilities, and it’s essential to work together to make sure that we’re providing transparency to the residents.”

As deputy mayor, Hawxhurst acts as a liaison for various departments, including the building department and the library. He also steps in when the mayor is unavailable.

One of the most gratifying aspects of the role, according to Hawxhurst, is the opportunity to help his neighbors. “Whether it’s answering a question or resolving an issue, it’s rewarding to know you’ve made a positive difference in someone’s life,” he said.

Hawxhurst identified three significant budget challenges that may not be immediately apparent to residents. The rising costs of garbage disposal and recycling, increasing benefit costs, and rising pension costs are among the key concerns.

“The cost of recycling has shifted from generating revenue to becoming a financial burden,” he noted. “The closure of the Brookhaven landfill will also add to the cost of waste disposal.”

Looking ahead, Hawxhurst is focused on development opportunities and balancing the needs of the community with fiscal responsibility.

“We’re always looking for ways to improve services and bring in additional revenue,” he said.

There are also plans to expand recreational offerings, including adding lights to the soccer field on Ocean Avenue and exploring improvements at Greis Park.

“We’re here to serve the residents, and I always make myself available to answer questions and help however I can,” he said. “I’m looking forward to continuing to work with the board to improve Lynbrook for everyone.”

Courtesy the Village of Lynbrook

Richard Fasano was elected Village Justice, Michael Habert was re-elected as trustee, and Michael Hawxhurst was re-elected as deputy mayor of Lynbrook on March 18’s election.

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

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

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

The East Rockaway Education Foundation will host its annual 5K Run/Walk on April 5at Hewlett Point Beach. Last year’s race brought more than 100 runners.

East Rockaway Education Foundation 5K set for April 5

By AINSLEY MARTINEZ amartinez@liherald.com

including saving legal fees and taxes.

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

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

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

ETTINGER LAW FIRM

The East Rockaway Education Foundation will host its annual 5K Run/Walk on April 5at Hewlett Point Beach. The race, which will begin at 8:30 a.m., remains open to participants of all ages and will take place rain or shine.

“The East Rockaway Education Foundation 5K is our biggest annual fundraiser,” Erin Ginocchio, the race director, said.

Proceeds from the event will benefit

East Rockaway students through grants and scholarships. The foundation awards funds based on requests from local teachers, supporting various educational needs and initiatives.

“We don’t have a specific grant in mind for this money,” she said.

Participants can look forward to postrace refreshments, including water, bananas and small snacks. The event typically attracts between 100 and 125 runners each year.

For more information, visit EastRockawayEDFoundation.org.

Over 1,000 students attend trade show

Lynbrook High School hosted more than 1,000 students from across Long Island on March 27 for the Virtual Enterprise Trade Show, where young entrepreneurs pitched their business ideas to their peers.

Roughly 60 Virtual Enterprise firms were represented by 38 different schools in the Lynbrook High School auditorium. Each team set up elaborate booths complete with backdrops, interactive

experiences and prizes to help draw onlookers’ attention to their unique business propositions. In their Virtual Enterprise courses, students collaborated to build a simulated business from the ground up, starting with an initial idea and growing it to establish company roles, product concepts, marketing campaigns, websites and logos.

— Ainsley Martinez

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New tax credit for local businesses gains momentum

By CASEY FERBER

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

Earlier this month, a large bipartisan group of New York State legislators joined business leaders and local news organizations in person at the State Capitol in support of the Lift Our Communities, Advertise Locally Act, or just simply the LOCAL Act, which would establish a new $10 million tax credit for small businesses advertising in local media outlets.

Sponsored by State Senator Monica R. Martinez and Assemblywoman Jennifer Lunsford, the LOCAL Act aims to maximize the reach of small businesses’ advertising dollars, while supporting the work of the media outlets New Yorkers rely on every day for critical information.

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

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

“Small businesses are the backbone of

our economy, driving job creation and growth in communities across New York. However, they continue to face significant financial challenges,” the letter states.

“This is pragmatic legislation that will help —and be tremendously appreciated by — the thousands of small businesses that make New York the world’s preeminent place to start and operate a business.”

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

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

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

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

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

Courtesy Empire State Local News Coalition

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

E.R. students shine at the Physics Olympics

East Rockaway High School students proudly showcased their scientific prowess at the Physics Olympics, an exciting competition hosted by the Long Island Physics Teachers Association on March 20.

The competition featured the following events:

■ Fermi Questions – This event required students to tackle estimationbased problems, using logic and scientific reasoning to approximate seemingly impossible-to-answer questions with quick calculations.

■ Torque of the Town – A test of rotational equilibrium and torque, this event challenged students to solve physics problems involving balanced forces and rotational motion.

■ Slow Roller – Teams applied the principles of conservation of energy and kinematics to predict when and where a faster-moving object would overtake a slower-moving one.

■ Quiz Bowl – A fast-paced, knowledge-based event where students answered a series of physics-related questions, demonstrating their expertise in mechanics and other fundamental physics concepts.

■ Bowling for Glory – A unique challenge requiring teams to maneuver a bowling ball through an obstacle course using their understanding of physics principles.

Competing against schools from across the region, East Rockaway’s team took on five challenging events that tested their problem-solving skills, creativity and

teamwork, all while applying their knowledge of physics in real-world scenarios.

— Ainsley Martinez

Courtesy East Rockaway Union Free Public Schools

Students from East Rockaway High School participated in the Physics Olympics, a competition hosted by the Long Island Physics Teachers Association on March 20.

Hofstra seeks to exceed expectations

By ANDREW COEN sports@liherald.com

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bauer and 6-1 junior Sean Hamilton.

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

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

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

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

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

Join us on April 23rd at 6pm for a

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Cut Your Energy Costs – Get expert tips on simple, low-cost ways to start reducing your energy bills immediately.

Maximizing Rebates & Incentives – Explore available rebates and incentives to make energy-efficient upgrades more affordable.

Live Q&A with Energy Experts – Ask questions and get real-time answers from PSEG Long Island specialists on how to optimize your energy efficiency efforts.

Michael Voltz, P.E. Director, Energy Efficiency and Renewables

E.R. program improves students’ literacy

ers with in-house support. Schneider works with them on a daily basis, ensuring that teachers have continuous access to professional development without the disruption of outside consultants.

Schneider, a former second-grade special-education teacher in New York City, brings a wealth of experience in literacy coaching in various grade levels, Murray said.

“We’re providing specific, research-based professional development,” he said. “This enables us to ensure that students are getting consistent instruction across all grades, preparing them for future academic success.”

One of the key features of the program has been the revision of the district’s curriculum, which now includes more studies of novels, to foster a deeper engagement with literature, and incorporating reading into subjects like math, science and social studies.

The curriculum previous relied on the use of excerpts or paragraphs of novels, but Murray said that complete texts offer a richer, more comprehensive learning experience and help students enjoy reading as entertainment.

For older students, the program places a strong emphasis on vocabulary development, including morphology, the study of prefixes, suffixes and roots. By learning these language components, students can better understand and manipulate words, improving their reading comprehension.

“We’ve been diving into vocabulary instruction this year, focusing on how word parts change meanings,” Schneider said. “By teaching the building blocks of words, we can help students unlock the meaning of new words more easily.”

For example, if a student understands the word “hydrosphere” by recognizing that “hydro” relates to water and “sphere” refers to something circular, they can make more informed guesses about the meanings of related words like “hydraulic” and “atmosphere.”

Molly DeBenedetto, a fifth-grade teacher at Rhame Avenue Elementary School, said her students applied this concept in real life with one of their favorite water bottle brands, Hydro Flask.

“‘Oh, hydro! Flask must mean a cup,’” DeBenedetto

danielle Schneider teaches a first-grade class in

is intended to improve reading and writing in students from

said, imitating her students.

As the program continues to evolve, Schneider is exploring ways to integrate more writing into the curriculum, emphasizing the connection between reading and writing skills. She plans to focus on fluency in the coming year, particularly with high school students, because research shows that fluency is a key bridge between reading words and comprehending text.

“The goal is to ensure that by the end of sixth

grade, students are not only able to read fluently, but also write thoughtfully about what they read,” Schneider said.

DeBenedetto said that Schneider transformed her approach to teaching group lessons, where she focuses now on specific skill sets so she can target each group’s needs.

“Everything she gives us really seems like a tool,” DeBenedetto said.

Kindergartners celebrate women leaders

Lynbrook kindergartners at the Kindergarten Center marked Women’s History Month by researching and completing projects on a range of influential athletes, scientists and artists during the month of March.

Each class at the Kindergarten Center chose one female historical figure to collaboratively research.

Influential icons such as Judy Garland, Julia Child, Mae Carol Jemison and Simone Biles inspired the young minds with their myriad accomplishments.

Classes prepared unique, eye-catching projects on each historical figure that shares various facts about the individual or mimics their art style, like the vibrant flowers of Georgia O’Keefe’s paintings. Students’ projects hang outside their classrooms in the halls, where fellow classes toured to learn about the influential figures studied by their peers.

— Ainsley Martinez

Courtesy East Rockaway Union Free School District

vocabulary in her role as the district’s literacy coach. the program

kindergarten through sixth grade.

Courtesy Lynbrook Public Schools

Lynbrook kindergartners at the Kindergarten Center marked Women’s History month by researching and completing projects on a range of influential athletes, scientists and artists in march. Some of the students charted the athletic feats of olympic gold medal-winning gymnast Simone Biles.

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Nassau County hosts Israeli Elite hockey

By MICHELLE RABINOVICH sports@liherald.com

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

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

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

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

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

higher from here.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Yonatan Resinger tended the goal for Jerusalem.

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

Eric Dunetz/Herald photos

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

Thursday, April 10,

WOMEN’S HISTORY

MONTH

She’s all about improving people’s lives

By JORDAN VALLONE jvallone@liherald.com

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

Herald: Tell me about yourself.

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

Herald: As CEO, what you do?

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

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

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

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

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

Burch: On a personal level, watching

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

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

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

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

“Don’t be afraid to take chances” is Lisa Burch’s advice to young women.

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

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

Defending the environment, for all of us

By WILL SHEELINE wsheeline@liherald.com

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

Herald: Tell me about yourself.

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

Herald: Why do you do what you do?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Courtesy Lisa Burch

Courtesy Adrienne Esposito

Adrienne Esposito says.

most vehicle accidents occurred along Sunrise Highway, and many of those at the Broadway intersection.

Police chief discusses speed enforcement

Paladino said the data collectors allow officers to investigate speeding incidents after they happen, and use their resources more efficiently.

“What residents don’t like to hear is that having an officer sit for 24 hours to find the one guy who’s doing 45 on your 30-mile-an-hour block is fruitless,” Paladino said. “I’d rather have them up at Peninsula Boulevard, in a busier area, and write five tickets in a 24-hour period to send a message: slow down.”

Lynbrook is a racetrack.

cause a reduction in crime, because proactive policing may deter criminals from operating in areas where law enforcement is visible and active, Paldino explained. A 2021 study by the International Association of Directors of Law Enforcement Standards and Training, titled “Data-driven approaches to crime and traffic safety,” reached similar conclusions.

DiAnA RoLLy Lynbrook resident

Last week’s pursuit was part of the department’s Stop Aggressive Driving Now program, which focuses on reckless driving, especially during the morning hours, when parents are dropping their children off at local schools. April is also Distracted Driving Awareness Month, promoting safe driving behavior.

Effective traffic enforcement can

Traffic safety in Lynbrook

Accident reduction:

■ 2015: 1,500 accidents

■ 2024: 800 acccidents

Comparison to nearby areas:

■ Valley Stream: over 2,500 accidents in 2024

■ West Hempstead: roughly 300 accidents in 2024

Diana Rolly, an area resident for over 40 years, expressed frustration about speeding and reckless driving, which she believes has increased in recent years, particularly during the summer months.

“Lynbrook is a racetrack,” she said. “It’s only getting worse.”

Despite concerns raised by residents about speeding, Paladino pointed to recent data showing a decline in accidents in the village over the past 10 years. In 2015, the department responded to around 1,500 accidents, and last year the number was roughly 800.

Most occurred along Sunrise Highway, and many of those at the Broadway intersection.

According to the state Department of Transportation, Lynbrook saw a significant decrease in vehicle accidents compared with neighboring Valley Stream, which recorded more than 2,500 crashes in 2024. The number of accidents in Lynbrook is still higher than West Hempstead’s roughly 300 incidents in 2024.

Paladino said the issue reminds him of a “Simpsons” episode in which Homer Simpson runs for garbage inspector. In his campaign, he promises all the town’s requests, and he actually delivers.

“And then he finds out he’s out of

money,” Paladino said. “So the moral of the story is, you just don’t have unlimited resources. We deliver much more localized service than Nassau County, than the New York City Police Depart-

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Honoring Premier Business Women of L.I.

By Christie Leigh Babirad

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tim Baker/Herald photos

Nearly 400 people attended the awards dinner.

Veronica Isaac, of PSEGLI, with Stuart Richner.

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

Holden Leeds/Herald photos

Mary Fu, People’s Arc of Suffolk

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

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

Jennifer Baxmeyer, Cradle of Aviation Museum

Susan Johnson, Hempstead Union Free School District

Paige O’Brien, Family and Children’s Association

Susan Nielsen, Eclectic Psychotherapy Group of Nassau County

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

Maureen Early, Reworld

Monica LaCroix-Rubin, Dime Community Bank

Dawn Harmon, Reworld

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

Desiree Krajnyak-Baker, Whisper Woods of Smithtown

Anne Petraro, Mending Hearts Counseling and Eclectic Psychotherapy

Susan Gatti, Disruptive Spark Business Academy

Laura Joseph, EdD, Farmingdale State College

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

L.I.’s representatives discuss the issues

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

Congressional District 1, which is represented by LaLota, stretches east from western Suffolk County to encompass both the North and South forks of Long Island. Garbarino represents the 2nd District, along the South Shore, which includes parts of Suffolk and a small portion of southeastern Nassau County. Suozzi’s 3rd Congressional District includes a portion of Queens, expands along the North Shore of Nassau and extends to several communities in the middle of the eastern portion of the county. District 4, represented by Gillen, extends along the South Shore of Nassau, from the Queens border through several central communities to Seaford.

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

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

Garbarino on bipartisanship:

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

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

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

On offshore wind:

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

On DOGE:

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

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

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

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

Gillen on working across the aisle:

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

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

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

On DOGE:

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

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

LaLota on SALT:

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

On DOGE:

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

On tariffs:

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

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

Suozzi on SALT:

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

On offshore wind:

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

On DOGE:

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

On tariffs:

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

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

Tim Baker/Herald photos

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

STEPPING OUT

Rockin’ with Jason Scheff and Tommy DeCarlo

outdoors Thinking ‘green’

Get out there and prep to enjoy your personal

By Karen Bloom

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

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

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

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

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

Limit flowerbed size and plant variety

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

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

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

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

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

Invest in good soil and mulch

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

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

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

Invest in hard landscaping

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Make use of raised beds

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

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

Embrace the wild

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

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

To enhance this effect, try

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

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

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

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

The Wallflowers

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

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

THE Your Neighborhood

Joan Osborne sings Dylan

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

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

East Rockaway Education Foundation 5K

Support the East Rockaway Education Foundation by participating in the 5K Run/Walk, Saturday, April 5, 8:30 a.m. start, at Hewlett Point Beach. This annual event has raised almost $70,000, supporting grants and scholarship programs for the students of East Rockaway Schools. Register at Events. EliteFeats.com/25eref.

Voices wanted

The Oceanside Chorale is looking for new members to sing in its “Opera or Popera” concert Sunday, June 8. Voices are needed in all sections. Rehearsals are Wednesdays, 7:30 p.m., the Fulton Avenue School in Oceanside. For further information call Frank at (516) 764-2787, email fxdefontes@ hotmail.com or oceansidechorale. com. 3252 Fulton Ave.

Lynbrook Chamber of Commerce Happy Hour

Lynbrook Chamber of Commerce hosts a networking happy hour, Thursday, April 24, 5-7 p.m. Enjoy appetizers and meet local business professionals. Sponsorship opportunities are available for $100. For more information, visit LynbrookChamber.org. Location TBD.

Bingo

Stop by St. Mary’s Maris/Stella Knights of Columbus, every Thursday, 7 p.m. for bingo. With $2,000 cash prizes this week, food from Vincents Restaurant, coffee, snacks, and more. For more information, call (516) 887-2228. 78 Hempstead Ave.

Move matinee

Emjoy a movie onLynbrook Public Library’s big screen, Tuesday, April 8. See “Absolution” (rated R), Tuesday April 8, 2-4 p.m. 56 Eldert St. Visit lynbrooklibrary.org or call (516) 599-8630 for more.

Catch up with Kiwanis

Lynbrook Kiwanis Club meets twice monthly. Meetings are held the first Thursday of each mont, 6:30 p.m., at Lynbrook Library; the third Thursday, at 7 p.m., at Savino’s, 88 Atlantic Ave. For more information, visit Facebook.com/KiwanisLynbrook.

AARP Defensive Driving

East Rockaway Library offers an AARP Defensive Driving course, Saturday, April 5, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Improv driving skills and obtain insurance discounts. Cost is $25 for AARP members, $30 for non-members. For more information, visit eastrockawaylibrary.org. 477 Atlantic Ave.

‘Listen to the Music’

Join L.I. Cabaret Theatre for their latest performance, Saturday, April 5, 2 p.m., at the Elmont Library Theatre stage. In this spirited show, the plotline follows the startup of a TV network and streaming service. A cast of 30 keeps the action moving along, with original choreography, and band accompaniment. The singers and dancers perform current hits, oldies and also tunes from the Broadway stage. Free admission. Elmont Memorial Library Theater, 700 Hempstead Turnpike, Elmont. Visit elmontlibrary.org or call (516) 354-5280 for information.

Art Explorations

Converse, collaborate and create at Family Saturdays at Nassau County Museum of Art. The drop-in program continues, Saturday, April 5, noon-3 p.m. Kids and their adult partners talk about and make art together. While there, enjoy reading and play in the Reading Room, and contribute to The Lobby Project, a collaborative art installation. Registration required. 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. Visit nassaumuseum.org to register or call (516) 484-9337.

‘Palette of Petals’ at Planting Fields

Visit Planting Fields Arboretum for a delightful stroll among the early bloomers, as part of its First Fridays series, Friday, April 4, 1-2 p.m. Experience the enchanting spring colors at the Margaret Sullivan Heather Garden. Director of Horticulture Donna Moramarco guides visitors through the remarkable collection of azaleas, cherry blossom trees, magnolias, camellias, and more as you stroll the grounds to the recently restored garden. Discover the rich horticultural history of this space, learn about the Coe family’s dedication to these vibrant flowers, and delve into the vision that the Olmsted Brothers had for this beloved site. $20. Registration required. 1395 Planting Fields Road, Oyster Bay. Visit plantingfields. org or call (516) 922-9210 to register and for information.

Having an event?

East Rockaway

Village

Board meets

East Rockaway Village Board holds its monthly meeting, Tuesday, April 8, 7 p.m., at Village Hall. 376 Atlantic Ave. For more information visit villageofeastrockaway.org

Chi Gong

Lynbrook Public Library hosts a Chi Gong session, with Marianna Farina, Thursday, April 10, 10:30-11:30 a.m. The ancient Chinese meditative practice enhances the immune system and promotes relaxation from Registration is not required. 56 Eldert St. Visit lynbrooklibrary.org or call (516) 599-8630 for more.

Business profile photos

East Rockaway Library offers professional business profile photos, with additional appointments available, on Tuesday, April 15 or May 13 from 2-4 p.m. Three edited PNG files will be emailed to each participant. Appointments required. For more information, visit eastrockawaylibrary.org. 477 Atlantic Ave.

Items on The Scene page are listed free of charge. The Herald welcomes listings of upcoming events, community meetings and items of public interest. All submissions should include date, time and location of the event, cost, and a contact name and phone number. Submissions can be emailed to thescene@liherald.com.

On Exhibit

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

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

Spring Dog Festival

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

Public Notices

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU

WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A., Plaintiff AGAINST NANCY LINARES, SARA MOTA, ET AL., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered January 16, 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 April 10, 2025 at 2:30PM, premises known as 134 Scranton Avenue, Lynbrook, NY 11563. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the Incorporated Village of Lynbrook, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 42, Block 172, Lot 48. Approximate amount of judgment $720,130.13 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #604527/2019.

Ronald J. Ferraro, Esq., Referee Gross Polowy, LLC 1775 Wehrle Drive Williamsville, NY 14221 19-001406 84432 152089

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that the Annual Financial Statements for the Incorporated Village of Lynbrook for fiscal year June 1, 2023 through May 31, 2024, has been completed and is on file in the office of the Village Clerk, at the Village Hall, One Columbus Drive, Lynbrook, New York, and is available for inspection between the hours of 8:00 A.M. and 4:00 P.M. Monday through Friday.

JOHN GIORDANO, VILLAGE

ADMINISTRATOR

LYNBROOK, NEW YORK 152631

to Set Sale and Amending Caption duly entered on December 14, 2021, and an Order for Extension of Time to Conduct Foreclosure Sale duly entered on February 2, 2022, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the front steps on the north side of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on May 6, 2025 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 18 Catherine Street, Lynbrook, NY 11563. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 37, Block 226 and Lot 593. Approximate amount of judgment is $342,900.28 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #008272/2009.

Mark Ricciardi, Esq., Referee

Greenspoon Marder, 1345 Avenue of the Americas, Suite 2200, New York, NY 10105, Attorneys for Plaintiff 152632

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING, BUDGET VOTE AND ELECTION

VALLEY STREAM UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. TWENTYFOUR TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD AND NASSAU COUNTY, NEW YORK NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a public hearing of the qualified voters of the Valley Stream Union Free School District No. Twenty-Four of the Town of Hempstead, Nassau County, New York, will be held at the William L. Buck School on Horton Avenue, Valley Stream, New York in said District on May 7, 2025 at 7:30 p.m., prevailing time, for the transaction of such business as is authorized by the New York State Education Law, including the following items.

1. Presentation of the budget document.

2. To discuss all of the items herein set forth, to be voted upon by voting machine, at the election to be held on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, as hereinafter set forth.

3. To transact

such other business as may properly come before the meeting AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that said vote and election will be held on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, at 7:00 a.m., prevailing time, in the school buildings located in such districts as enumerated below:

District No. 1: Valley Stream Fire Department 112 South Corona Ave, Valley Stream, New York

District No. 2: William L. Buck School 75 Horton Avenue, Valley Stream, New York

District No. 3: Brooklyn Avenue School 24 Brooklyn Avenue, Valley Stream, New York

District No. 4: Robert W. Carbonaro School

50 Hungry Harbor Road, Valley Stream, New York at which time the polls will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., prevailing time, to vote by voting machines upon the following items:

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

2. To elect three (3) members of the Board of Education for a three (3) year term commencing July 1, 2025 and expiring on June 30, 2028, as follows:

a. One (1) member of the Board of Education for a three (3) year term to succeed John Maier, whose term expires June 30, 2025;

b. One (1) member of the Board of Education for a three (3) year term to succeed Kimberly Wheeler, whose term expires June 30, 2025;

c. One (1) member of the Board of Education for a three (3) year term to succeed Markus Wilson, whose term expires June 30, 2025;

3. SHALL the proposed budget of expenditures of Valley Stream Union Free School District TwentyFfour, Town of Hempstead, Nassau County, New York for the year 2025-2026 in

the amount of $41,285242,4980 and for the purposes shown in the statement thereof presented at the Annual Meeting, that the sum be raised through a levy upon the taxable property in the Valley Stream Union Free School District Twenty-Ffour, after first deducting the monies from state aid and other sources, as provided by law.

4. SHALL the Board of Education of the Valley Stream Union Free School District Twenty-Four be authorized to appropriate and expend the maximum amount of $850,000 from the 2018 and 2024 Capital Reserve Funds established for the purpose of completing capital improvements as follows: District wide door control access and alarms, District wide roofing replacement and repairs, Three (3) classroom renovations District wide, all of the above to include labor, materials, equipment and incidental costs.

5. SHALL the proposed budget of expenditures of Valley Stream Central High School District, Nassau County, New York for the year 2025-2026 be approved in the amount of $166,848,681 and that the sum be raised through a levy upon the taxable property in the Valley Stream Central High School District, after first deducting the monies from state aid and other sources, as provided by law.

6. SHALL the Board of Education of Valley Stream Central High School District Union Free School District Twenty-four be authorized to appropriate and expend the maximum amount of $4,500,000 as follows from fund balance for the purpose of completing capital improvements as follows: Restoration of Valley Strean South Streambank, Renovation of District Offices and Renovation of Classrooms. All of the above to include labor, materials, equipment, apparatus and incidental costs.

7. SHALL the Board of Education of the Valley Stream Central High School District be authorized to acquire by purchase that certain real property and

improvements known as 10 Fifth Street, Valley Stream, New York, located in the Town of Hempstead, New York, Section 39 Block 27 Lot 4-7 & 418, at a cost not to exceed $6,400,000, and said sum is hereby appropriated for out of the District’s Capital Reserve Fund established on May 15, 2018 and unappropriated fund balance.

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that petitions nominating candidates for the office of Member of the Board of Education of the Valley Stream Union Free School District No. Twentyfour shall be filed with the District Clerk of said School District at the District Clerk’s office, 75 Horton Avenue, Valley Stream, New York, not later than April 21, 2025, between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., prevailing time. All nominating petitions must be signed by at least twenty-five (25) qualified voters of the District (representing the greater of 25 qualified voters or 2% of the number of voters who voted in the previous annual election); must state the name and residence of each signer, and must state the name and residence of the candidate. Each petition shall be directed to the District Clerk and shall describe the specific vacancy for which the candidate is nominated. Each vacancy upon the Board of Education to be filled shall be considered a separate specific vacancy. A nominating petition may be rejected by the Board of Education if the candidate is ineligible for the office or declares his or her unwillingness to serve. Forms for nominating petitions may be obtained at the office of the Superintendent of Schools at the William L. Buck School on Horton Avenue, Valley Stream, New York and the office of the District Clerk of said School District. AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that personal registration of voters is required either pursuant to New York Education Law §2014 or pursuant to Article 5 of the New York State Election Law. If a voter has heretofore

registered pursuant to New York Education Law §2014 and has voted at any annual or special district meeting within the past four (4) calendar years, such voter is eligible to vote at this election; if a voter is registered and eligible to vote pursuant to Article 5 of the New York State Election Law, such voter is also eligible to vote at this election. All other persons who wish to vote must register. The Board of Registration will meet for the purposes of registering all qualified voters of the District pursuant to Education Law §2014 at the William L. Buck School, on May 12, 2025 at 5:30 p.m., prevailing time, to add any additional names to the Registers to be used at the aforesaid Budget Vote and Election, at which time any person will be entitled to have his or her name placed on such Registers, provided that at such meeting of the Board of Registration he or she is known or proven to the satisfaction of said Board of Registration to be then or thereafter entitled to vote at such Budget Vote and Election for which the Register are prepared. The Registers so prepared pursuant to Education Law §2014 will be filed in the Office of the Clerk of the School District in the Administration Building, located at 75 Horton Avenue, Valley Stream, New York, and will be open for inspection by any qualified voter of the District beginning on Thursday, May 15, 2025, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., prevailing time, on weekdays, and each day prior to the day set for the Budget Vote and Election, except Sunday or holidays, and on Saturday by prearranged appointment, and at the polling places on the day of the Budget Vote and Election.

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to New York Education Law §2014, the Board of Registration shall meet on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, the respective polling places between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m., at the prevailing time, to prepare the Register of the School District to be used at the annual

meeting and election that is to be held in 2026 and any special meeting that may be held after the preparation of said Register, at which time any person will be entitled to have her or his name placed on such Register, provided that at such meeting of the Board of Registration he or she is known or proven to the satisfaction of such Board of Registration to be then or thereafter entitled to vote at the school meeting or election for which such Register is prepared.

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that qualified voters with disabilities who seek information about access to polling places may, in advance of the day of the vote, contact the District Clerk at 516-497-9398 for information about accessibility. AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that beginning seven (7) days immediately preceding the May 7, 2025, public budget hearing, any resident in the District may request to review a copy of the proposed budget by appearing at the Office of the District Clerk, 75 Horton Avenue, Valley Stream, New York. Additionally, a statement of the estimated expenses for the ensuing year may be obtained by any resident in the District during the fourteen (14) days immediately preceding said election on the school district website www.valleystreamscho oldistrict24.org, at the Henry Waldinger Memorial Library during its normal hours of operation, located at 60 Verona Place, Valley Stream, New York, at the School District Administrative Center, 75 Horton Avenue, Valley Stream, New York, and at each of the following school buildings in which school is maintained between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., prevailing time, except Saturdays, Sundays and holidays:

1. Brooklyn Avenue School located at 24 Brooklyn Avenue, Valley Stream New York;

2. William L. Buck School located at 75 Horton Avenue, Valley Stream New York; and 3. Robert W. Carbonaro School located at 50 Hungry Harbor Road, Valley Stream New York. AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that pursuant to Real Property Tax Law Section 495, the School District is required to attach to its proposed budget an exemption report. Said exemption report, which will also become part of the final budget, will show how much of the total assessed value on the final assessment roll used in the budgetary process is exempt from taxation, list every type of exemption granted, identified by statutory authority, and show: (a) the cumulative impact of each type of exemption expressed either as a dollar amount of assessed value or as a percentage of the total assessed value on the roll; (b) the cumulative amount expected to be received from recipients of each type of exemption as payments in lieu of taxes or other payments for municipal services; and (c) the cumulative impact of all exemptions granted. The exemption report shall be posted on any bulletin board maintained by the District for public notices and on any website maintained by the District. AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that applications for absentee and early mail ballots will be obtainable during school business hours at the office of the District Clerk beginning April 21, 2025. In accordance with Education Law §§ 2018-a and 2018-e, completed absentee and early mail ballot applications may not be received by the District Clerk earlier than thirty (30) days prior to the election, and must be received by the District Clerk at least seven (7) days before the election if the ballot is to be mailed to the voter, or the day before the election, if the ballot is to be delivered personally to the voter or to the agent named in the absentee or early mail ballot application. Absentee and early mail ballots must be received by the District Clerk not later than 5:00 p.m., prevailing time, on Tuesday, May 20, 2025.

A list of persons to whom absentee ballots shall have been issued,

Public Notices

and a list of all persons to whom early mail voter’s ballots shall have been issued, will be available for inspection to qualified voters of the District in the office of the District Clerk on and after Thursday, May 15, 2025, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on weekdays prior to the day set for the annual election and on Saturday, May 17, 2025, by advanced appointment by contacting the District Clerk at 516-497-9398 and on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, the day set for the election. Any qualified voter may, upon examination of such lists, file a written challenge of the qualifications as a voter of any person whose name appears on such lists, stating the reasons for such challenge. Any such written challenge shall be transmitted by the District Clerk or a designee of the Board of Education to the inspectors of election on Election Day.

AND FURTHER NOTICE

IS HEREBY GIVEN, that military voters who are not currently registered may apply to register as a qualified voter of the Valley Stream Union Free School District No. TwentyFour by requesting and returning a registration application to the District Clerk in person, or by email to districtclerk@vs24.org or fax sent to 516-256-0163. The request for the registration application may include the military voter’s preference for receipt of the registration application by either mail, fax or email. Military voter registration application forms must be received in the office of the District Clerk no later than 5:00 p.m. on April 24, 2025.

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that military voters who are qualified voters of the Valley Stream Union Free School District No. Twenty-Four may request an application for a military ballot from the District Clerk and return such military ballot application to the District Clerk in person, or by email to districtclerk@vs24.org or fax sent to 516-256-0163. In order for a military voter to be issued a military ballot, a valid military ballot application must

be received in the office of the District Clerk no later than 5:00 p.m., on April 24, 2025. Military ballot applications received in accordance with the foregoing will be processed in the same manner as a nonmilitary ballot application under Section 2018-a of the Education Law. The application for military ballot may include the military voter’s preference for receipt of the military ballot by mail, fax, or email. A military voter’s original military ballot application and military ballot must be returned by mail or in person to the office of the District Clerk at 75 Horton Avenue, Valley Stream, New York, along with the required signed affidavit by the voter. AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that military ballots shall be canvassed if they are received by the District Clerk before the close of polls on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, showing a cancellation mark of the United States Postal Service or a foreign country’s postal service, or showing a dated endorsement of receipt by another agency of the United States Government; or received not later than 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, and signed and dated by the military voter and one witness thereto, with a date which is ascertained to be not later than the day before the election. AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a rule adopted by the Board of Education in accordance with New York Education Law §2035, any referenda or propositions to change the number of Board of Education members, or a bond issue for capital improvements, or any other petition required by law to be stated in the Notice of Annual Meeting and Election must be filed with the District Clerk at 75 Horton Avenue, Valley Stream, New York, not later than 5:00 p.m., prevailing time, on February 20, 2025. Any other petition, except those petitions required by law to be stated in the Notice of Annual Meeting and Election, must be filed with the District Clerk at 75 Horton Avenue, Valley Stream, New York, no later than

5:00 p.m., prevailing time on March 21, 2025. All such petitions must be typed or printed in the English language; must be directed to the Clerk of the School District; must be signed by at least one hundred (100) qualified voters of the District (representing the greater of 100 or 5% of the number of voters who voted in the previous annual election); and must legibly state the name of each signer. However, the Board of Education will not entertain any petition to place before the voters any proposition the purpose of which is not within the powers of the voters to determine, nor any proposition or amendment which is contrary to law.

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that those voters seeking information regarding this Budget Vote and Election in Spanish should contact the Office of the District Clerk at 516-497-9398. Jennie L. Padilla District Clerk of the Board of Education Valley Stream Union Free School District No. TwentyFour 75 Horton Avenue, Valley Stream, New York 152495

LEGAL NOTICE NOTIFICACIÓN DE AUDIENCIA PÚBLICA, VOTACIÓN DE PRESUPUESTO Y ELECCIÓN DISTRITO ESCOLAR LIBRE UNIDO VALLEY STREAM VEINTICUATRO CIUDAD DE HEMPSTEAD Y CONDADO DE NASSAU, NUEVA YORK POR LA PRESENTE SE NOTIFICA que el 7 de mayo de 2025 a las 7:30 p.m., hora en vigor, se celebrará una audiencia pública de los votantes calificados del Distrito Escolar Libre Unido de Valley Stream Veinticuatro la ciudad de Hempstead, Condado de Nassau, Nueva York, en la Escuela William L. Buck en Horton Avenue, Valley Stream, Nueva York, en dicho Distrito, para la transacción de los asuntos autorizados por la Ley de Educación del Estado de Nueva York, incluyendo los siguientes puntos. 1. Presentación del documento

presupuestario.

2. Diálogo sobre todos los puntos aquí establecidos, que se votarán mediante máquina de votación, en las elecciones que se celebrarán el martes 20 de mayo de 2025, según se expone a continuación.

3. Tramitar cualquier otro asunto que pueda plantearse en la reunión.

Y ADEMÁS SE NOTIFICA POR LA PRESENTE que dicha votación y elección se llevará a cabo el martes 20 de mayo de 2025, a las 7h00, hora en vigor, en los edificios escolares ubicados en los distritos que se enumeran a continuación:

Distrito No. 1 Departamento de Bomberos de Valley Stream

112 South Corona Ave, Valley Stream, Nueva York

Distrito No. 2

Escuela William L. Buck 75 Horton Avenue, Valley Stream, Nueva York

Distrito No. 3

Escuela Brooklyn Avenue 24 Brooklyn Avenue, Valley Stream, Nueva York

Distrito No. 4:

Escuela Robert W. Carbonaro

50 Hungry Harbor Road, Valley Stream, Nueva York en cuyo momento las urnas estarán abiertas de 7h00 a 21h00, hora en vigor, para votar por máquinas de votación sobre los siguientes puntos:

1. Adopción del presupuesto anual del Distrito Escolar para el año fiscal 2025-2026 y la autorización para que la parte necesaria del mismo se recaude mediante impuestos sobre la propiedad imponible del Distrito.

2. Elección de tres (3) miembros de la Junta de Educación para un período de tres (3) años a partir del 1 de julio de 2025 hasta el 30 de junio de 2028, como se detalla a continuación:

a. Un (1) miembro de la Junta de Educación por un mandato de tres (3) años para suceder a John Maier, cuyo mandato finaliza el 30 de junio de 2025; b. Un (1) miembro de la Junta de

Educación por un período de tres (3) años para suceder a Kimberly Wheeler, cuyo mandato finaliza el 30 de junio de 2025;

c. Un (1) miembro de la Junta de Educación por un período de tres (3) años para suceder a Markus Wilson, cuyo mandato finaliza el 30 de junio de 2025;

3. SE DEBERÁ [autorizar] el presupuesto de gastos propuesto del Distrito Escolar Libre Unido de Valley Stream Veinticuatro, ciudad de Hempstead, Condado de Nassau, Nueva York para el año 2025 -2026 por un monto de $41,242,480 y para los propósitos que se muestran en la declaración del mismo presentada en la reunión anual, que la suma se recaude a través de un gravamen sobre la propiedad imponible en el Distrito Escolar Libre Unido de Valley Stream Veinticuatro, después de deducir primero el dinero de la ayuda estatal y otras fuentes, según lo dispuesto por la ley.

4. SE DEBERÁ autorizar a la Junta de Educación del Distrito Escolar Libre Unido de Valley Stream Veinticuatro a apropiarse y a gastar la cantidad máxima de $850,000 de los Fondos de Reserva de Capital 2018 y 2024 establecidos con el propósito de llevar a cabo mejoras de capital como sigue: acceso y alarmas de control de puertas en todo el Distrito, reemplazo y reparaciones de techos en todo el Distrito, renovaciones de tres (3) aulas en todo el Distrito; todo lo anterior cubriendo la mano de obra, materiales, equipos y costos incidentales.

5. SE DEBERÁ aprobar el presupuesto propuesto de gastos del Distrito Central de Secundaria de Valley Stream, Condado de Nassau, Nueva York para el año 2025-2026 por un monto de $166,848,681 y la suma que se recaude a través de un gravamen sobre la propiedad imponible en el Distrito Central de Secundaria de Valley Stream, después de deducir primero el dinero de la ayuda estatal y otras fuentes, según lo dispuesto por la ley.

6. SE DEBERÁ autorizar a la Junta de

Educación del Distrito Central de Secundaria de Valley Stream Veinticuatro a apropiarse y gastar la cantidad máxima de $4,500,000 como sigue del saldo de fondos con el propósito de llevar a cabo las mejoras capitales como sigue: restauración de la ribera sur de Valley Stream, renovación de las oficinas del distrito y renovación de las aulas. Todo lo anterior cubriendo la mano de obra, materiales, equipos, aparatos y costos incidentales.

7. SE DEBERÁ autorizar a la Junta de Educación del Distrito Central de Secundaria de Valley Stream a adquirir por compra esa cierta propiedad real y mejoras conocidas como 10 Fifth Street, Valley Stream, Nueva York, ubicada en la ciudad de Hempstead, Nueva York, Section 39 Block 27 Lot 4-7 & 418, a un costo que no exceda los $ 6,400,000, y dicha suma se apropia por la presente con cargo al Fondo de Reserva de Capital del Distrito establecido el 15 de mayo de 2018 y el saldo de fondos no apropiados.

Y SE NOTIFICA ADEMÁS POR LA PRESENTE que las peticiones de nominación de candidatos para el cargo de Miembro de la Junta de Educación del Distrito Escolar Libre Unido de Valley Stream Veinticuatro deberán presentarse ante el Secretario del Distrito de dicho Distrito Escolar en la oficina del Secretario del Distrito, 75 Horton Avenue, Valley Stream, Nueva York, a más tardar el 21 de abril de 2025, entre las 9h00 y las 17h00, hora en vigor. Todas las peticiones de nominación deben estar firmadas por al menos veinticinco (25) votantes cualificados del Distrito (que representen el mayor número de 25 votantes cualificados o el 2% del número de votantes que votaron en la elección anual anterior); deben indicar el nombre y la residencia de cada firmante, y deben indicar el nombre y la residencia del candidato. Cada petición deberá ser dirigida al Secretario del Distrito y deberá describir la vacante específica para la cual el candidato es nominado. Cada vacante de la Junta de Educación que deba cubrirse se considerará una vacante específica independiente. Una petición de nominación puede ser rechazada por la Junta de Educación si el candidato no es elegible para el cargo o declara su falta de voluntad para servir. Los formularios para las peticiones de nominación pueden obtenerse en la oficina del Superintendente de Escuelas en la Escuela William L. Buck en Horton Avenue, Valley Stream, Nueva York y en la oficina del Secretario de Distrito de dicho Distrito Escolar.

Y ADEMÁS SE NOTIFICA POR LA PRESENTE que se requiere el registro personal de votantes de conformidad con la Ley de Educación de Nueva York §2014 o de conformidad con el Artículo 5 de la Ley Electoral del Estado de Nueva York. Si un votante se ha registrado hasta ahora de conformidad con la Ley de Educación de Nueva York §2014 y ha votado en cualquier reunión anual o especial del distrito en los últimos cuatro (4) años calendario, dicho votante es elegible para votar en esta elección; si un votante está registrado y es elegible para votar de conformidad con el Artículo 5 de la Ley Electoral del Estado de Nueva York, dicho votante también es elegible para votar en esta elección. Todas las demás personas que deseen votar deberán inscribirse. La Junta de Registro se reunirá con el propósito de registrar a todos los votantes calificados del Distrito de conformidad con la Ley de Educación §2014 en la Escuela William L. Buck, el 12 de mayo de 2025 a las 17h30, hora en vigor, para agregar nombres adicionales a los Registros que se utilizarán en la Votación y Elección Presupuestaria antes mencionada, momento en el cual cualquier persona tendrá derecho a que su nombre se incluya en dichos Registros, siempre que en dicha reunión de la Junta de Registro se sepa o se pruebe a satisfacción de dicha Junta de Registro que

tiene derecho a votar en ese momento o posteriormente en la Votación y Elección Presupuestaria para la cual se preparan los Registros. Los Registros así preparados de conformidad con la Ley de Educación §2014 se archivarán en la Oficina del Secretario del Distrito Escolar en el Edificio de Administración, ubicado en 75 Horton Avenue, Valley Stream, Nueva York, y estarán abiertos a la inspección de cualquier votante calificado del Distrito a partir del jueves 15 de mayo de 2025, entre las 9h00 y las 15h00, los días laborables y todos los días anteriores al día fijado para la Votación y Elección del Presupuesto, excepto los domingos o días festivos, y los sábados con cita previa, y en los colegios electorales el día de la Votación y Elección del Presupuesto. Y ADEMÁS SE NOTIFICA POR LA PRESENTE que, de conformidad con la Ley de Educación de Nueva York §2014, la Junta de Registro se reunirá el martes 20 de mayo de 2025, en los respectivos lugares de votación entre las 7h00 y las 21h00, hora en vigor, para preparar el Registro del Distrito Escolar que se utilizará en la reunión y elección anual que se celebrará en 2026 y en cualquier reunión especial que pueda celebrarse después de la preparación de dicho Registro, en cuyo momento cualquier persona tendrá derecho a que su nombre se incluya en dicho Registro, siempre que en dicha reunión de la Junta de Registro se sepa o se demuestre a satisfacción de dicha Junta de Registro que tiene derecho a votar en ese momento o posteriormente en la reunión o elección escolar para la que se prepara dicho Registro. Y ADEMÁS SE NOTIFICA POR LA PRESENTE que los votantes calificados con discapacidades que busquen información sobre el acceso a los lugares de votación pueden, antes del día de la votación, comunicarse con el Secretario del Distrito al 516-497-9398 para obtener información sobre la accesibilidad. Y ADEMÁS SE NOTIFICA POR LA

Public Notices

PRESENTE que a partir de los siete (7) días inmediatamente anteriores a la audiencia pública sobre el presupuesto del 7 de mayo de 2025, cualquier residente del Distrito podrá solicitar revisar una copia del presupuesto propuesto presentándose en la Oficina del Secretario del Distrito, 75 Horton Avenue, Valley Stream, Nueva York. Además, cualquier residente del Distrito puede obtener una declaración de los gastos estimados para el año siguiente durante los catorce (14) días inmediatamente anteriores a dicha elección en el sitio web del distrito escolar www.valleystreamscho oldistrict24.org, en la Biblioteca

Conmemorativa Henry Waldinger durante su horario normal de atención, ubicada en 60 Verona Place, Valley Stream, Nueva York, en la Administración del Distrito Escolar, en la Oficina del Secretario del Distrito, en 75 Horton Avenue, Valley Stream, Nueva York y en cada uno de los siguientes edificios escolares en los que se imparten clases entre las 9h00 y 16h00, hora en vigor, excepto sábados, domingos y días festivos:

1. Escuela

Brooklyn Avenue situada en 24 Brooklyn Avenue, Valley Stream, Nueva York;

2. Escuela

William L. Buck situada en 75 Horton Avenue, Valley Stream Nueva York; y

3. Escuela

Robert W. Carbonaro situada en 50 Hungry Harbor Road, Valley Stream Nueva York. Y ADEMÁS SE NOTIFICA POR LA PRESENTE, que de conformidad con la Ley de Impuestos sobre Bienes Inmuebles Sección 495, el Distrito Escolar debe adjuntar a su proyecto de presupuesto un informe de exención. Dicho informe de exención, que también formará parte del presupuesto final, mostrará qué parte del valor total tasado en la lista final de tasaciones utilizada en el proceso presupuestario está exento de impuestos, enumerará cada tipo de exención concedida, identificada por autoridad estatutaria, y mostrará: (a) el impacto acumulativo

de cada tipo de exención, expresado en dólares o en porcentaje del valor catastral total del padrón; (b) el importe acumulado que se espera recibir de los beneficiarios de cada tipo de exención como pagos en lugar de impuestos u otros pagos por servicios municipales; y (c) el impacto acumulado de todas las exenciones concedidas. El informe de exenciones se publicará en cualquier tablón de anuncios que mantenga el Distrito para avisos públicos y en cualquier sitio web que mantenga el Distrito.

Y ADEMÁS SE NOTIFICA POR LA PRESENTE, que las solicitudes de voto en ausencia y voto anticipado por correo podrán obtenerse durante el horario escolar en la oficina del Secretario del Distrito a partir del 21 de abril de 2025. De conformidad con la Ley de Educación §§ 2018-a y 2018-e, el Secretario del Distrito no podrá recibir solicitudes completas de boletas para voto en ausencia y por correo anticipado antes de los treinta (30) días previos a la elección, y el Secretario del Distrito deberá recibirlas al menos siete (7) días antes de la elección si la boleta se enviará por correo al votante, o el día anterior a la elección, si la boleta se entregará personalmente al votante o al agente designado en la solicitud de boleta para voto en ausencia o por correo anticipado. El Secretario del Distrito debe recibir las papeletas de voto en ausencia y por correo anticipado no más tarde de las 17h00, hora en vigor, del martes 20 de mayo de 2025. Una lista de las personas a quienes se emitieron las boletas para votantes ausentes y una lista de todas las personas a quienes se emitieron las boletas para votantes por correo anticipado estarán a disposición de los votantes calificados del Distrito para su inspección en la oficina del Secretario del Distrito a partir del jueves 15 de mayo de 2025, entre las 9h00 y 16h00 los días laborables anteriores al día fijado para la elección anual y el sábado 17 de mayo de 2025, con cita previa

llamando al Secretario del Distrito al 516-497-9398 y el martes 20 de mayo de 2025, día fijado para la elección. Cualquier votante calificado puede, al examinar dichas listas, presentar una impugnación por escrito de las calificaciones como votante de cualquier persona cuyo nombre aparezca en dichas listas, indicando las razones de dicha impugnación. Dicha impugnación escrita será transmitida por el Secretario del Distrito o una persona designada por la Junta de Educación a los inspectores electorales el día de las elecciones.

Y ADEMÁS SE NOTIFICA POR LA PRESENTE, que los votantes militares que actualmente no están registrados pueden solicitar registrarse como votante calificado del Distrito Escolar Libre Unido de Valley Stream Veinticuatro solicitando y devolviendo una solicitud de registro al Secretario del Distrito en persona, o por correo electrónico a districtclerk@vs24.org o fax enviado al 516-256-0163. La solicitud de inscripción puede incluir la preferencia del votante militar para recibir la solicitud de inscripción por correo, fax o correo electrónico. Los formularios de solicitud de inscripción de votantes militares deben recibirse en la oficina del Secretario del Distrito a más tardar a las 17h00 del 24 de abril de 2025. Y ADEMÁS SE NOTIFICA POR LA PRESENTE, que los votantes militares que sean votantes calificados del Distrito Escolar Libre Unido de Valley Stream Veinticuatro pueden solicitar una solicitud de papeleta militar al Secretario del Distrito y devolver dicha solicitud de papeleta militar al Secretario del Distrito en persona, o por correo electrónico a districtclerk@vs24.org o fax enviado al 516-256-0163. Para que a un votante militar se le emita una papeleta militar, debe recibirse una solicitud válida de papeleta militar en la oficina del Secretario del Distrito a más tardar a las 17h00 del 24 de abril de 2025. Las solicitudes de boleta militar recibidas de conformidad con lo

anterior se procesarán de la misma manera que una solicitud de boleta no militar en virtud de la Sección 2018-a de la Ley de Educación. La solicitud de papeleta militar puede incluir la preferencia del votante militar de recibir la papeleta militar por correo, fax o correo electrónico. La solicitud original de boleta militar y la boleta militar del votante militar deben devolverse por correo o en persona a la oficina del Secretario del Distrito en 75 Horton Avenue, Valley Stream, Nueva York, junto con la declaración jurada firmada requerida por el votante.

Y ADEMÁS SE

NOTIFICA POR LA PRESENTE, que las boletas militares serán escrutadas si son recibidas por el Secretario del Distrito antes del cierre de las urnas el martes 20 de mayo de 2025, mostrando una marca de cancelación del Servicio Postal de los Estados Unidos o del servicio postal de un país extranjero, o mostrando un endoso fechado de recibo por otra agencia del Gobierno de los Estados Unidos; o recibidas a más tardar a las 17h00 del martes 20 de mayo de 2025 y firmada y fechada por el votante militar y un testigo de la misma, con una fecha que se compruebe que no sea posterior al día anterior a la elección.

Y ADEMÁS SE

NOTIFICA POR LA PRESENTE, que, de conformidad con una norma adoptada por la Junta de Educación de acuerdo con la Ley de Educación de Nueva York §2035, cualquier referendo o proposición para cambiar el número de miembros de la Junta de Educación, o una emisión de bonos para mejoras capitales, o cualquier otra petición que la ley requiera que se indique en el Aviso de Reunión Anual y Elección debe presentarse ante el Secretario del Distrito en 75 Horton Avenue, Valley Stream, Nueva York, a más tardar a las 17h00, hora en vigor, el 20 de febrero de 2025.

Cualquier otra petición, excepto aquellas peticiones que la ley exige que se indiquen en el Aviso de Asamblea Anual y

Elección, deberá presentarse ante el Secretario del Distrito en 75 Horton Avenue, Valley Stream, Nueva York, a más tardar a las 17h00, hora en vigor, del 21 de marzo de 2025. Todas estas peticiones deben estar escritas o impresas en idioma inglés; deben estar dirigidas al Secretario del Distrito Escolar; deben estar firmadas por al menos cien (100) votantes cualificados del Distrito (representando el mayor de 100 o el 5% del número de votantes que votaron en la elección anual anterior); y deberá indicar de forma legible el nombre de cada firmante. Sin embargo, el Consejo de Educación no admitirá ninguna petición para presentar a los votantes una proposición cuyo objeto no esté dentro de las facultades de los votantes para determinar, ni ninguna propuesta o enmienda que sea contraria a la ley.

Y ADEMÁS SE NOTIFICA POR LA PRESENTE que aquellos votantes que busquen información con respecto a esta Votación Presupuestaria y Elección en español deben comunicarse con la Oficina del Secretario del Distrito al 516-4979398. Jennie L. Padilla Secretaria del Distrito de la Junta de Educación Distrito Escolar Libre Unido de Valley Stream Veinticuatro 75 Horton Avenue, Valley Stream, Nueva York 152497

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF ANNUAL DISTRICT ELECTION AND BUDGET HEARING OF LYNBROOK UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT, TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, COUNTY OF NASSAU, STATE OF NEW YORK TO BE HELD ON MAY 20, 2025.

MAY 20, 2025

NOTICE is hereby given that the Annual School District Election of the voters of the Lynbrook Union Free District will be held on May 20, 2025, from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., in the following locations: Election District 1Lynbrook North Middle School, 529 Merrick Road, Lynbrook, NY;

Election District 2Lynbrook High School, 9 Union Avenue, Lynbrook, NY; Election District 3 - Lynbrook South Middle School, 333 Union Avenue, Lynbrook, NY. The election shall be for the purpose of: (1) filling two vacancies on the Board of Education; (2) voting on the appropriation of the necessary funds to meet the estimated expenditures of the District for the 2025-2026 school year (Proposition One); Proposition One: Budget BE IT RESOLVED, that the Budget of the Board of Education of the Lynbrook Union Free School District for the school year 2025-2026 in the amount of $110,153,587 as proposed by the Board of Education of the Lynbrook Union Free School District be adopted and the Board of Education be authorized to levy a tax for that sum upon the taxable property of the school district to meet said expenditures after first deducting the monies available from state aid and other sources. (3) voting on the following three additional propositions (Propositions Two, Three and Four): Proposition Two: Use of the Technology Replacement Capital Reserve Fund BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education of the Lynbrook Union Free School District (“District”) be authorized to expend from the Technology Replacement Fund, established on May 15, 2007, and extended and amended by the voters of the Lynbrook Union Free School District at the Annual District Meetings held on May 15, 2012, May 16, 2017, and on May 17, 2022, an amount not to exceed $400,000 for the purposes of providing instructional technology devices and equipment, as well as continuing a multi-year data wiring replacement and improvement project at no additional cost to District taxpayers and to commence during the 2025-2026 school year; all of the foregoing to include furnishings, equipment, machinery, demolition and other work required in connection therewith, as well as

preliminary costs and costs incidental thereto and to the financing thereof; provided that the costs of the components of said project may be reallocated among such components if the Board of Education shall determine that such reallocation is in the best interests of the District and no material change shall be made in the scope of the project.

Proposition Three:

Use of the Continuous Facilities Improvement Capital Reserve Fund BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education of the Lynbrook Union Free School District (“District”) be authorized to expend an amount not to exceed: $3,200,000 from the Continuous Facilities Improvement Capital Reserve Fund established on June 9, 2020 for the following purposes: at Lynbrook High School, the replacement of the roof; and at North Middle School, the renovation of one science classroom; all at no additional cost to District taxpayers and to commence during the 2025-2026 school year; all of the foregoing to include furnishings, equipment, machinery, demolition and other work required in connection therewith, as well as preliminary costs and costs incidental thereto and to the financing thereof; provided that the costs of the components of said project may be reallocated among such components if the Board of Education shall determine that such reallocation is in the best interests of the District and no material change shall be made in the scope of the project.

Proposition Four

Continuous Facilities Improvement Capital Reserve Fund

Reauthorization BE IT RESOLVED, that the Lynbrook Union Free School District’s (“District”) existing Continuous Facilities Improvement Capital Reserve Fund (“Fund”), heretofore established on June 9, 2020, by voter authorization for a probable term of five (5) years, which has not yet expired, in the amount of Twelve Million Dollars ($12,000,000), for the purpose of funding future district-wide improvements,

renovations and/or alterations, including but not limited to the construction, reconstruction, upgrade and/or replacement of district wide facilities and property, capital improvements related to future enrollment growth needs, other infrastructure improvements and similar projects, and associated expenses, IS HEREBY AMENDED by extending the probable term of said Fund by an additional three (3) years through and including June 30, 2028, and increasing the Fund’s ultimate amount to Eighteen Million Dollars ($18,000,000); without any change, increase or alteration to the Fund’s purpose, source or annual amount of funding, which shall remain as previously authorized by District voters. (4) and to transact such other business as may properly come before the voters.

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that nominations for the office of Board of Education member shall be made by petition subscribed by at least twenty-nine (29) qualified voters of the District and filed in the District Clerk’s office at the Atlantic Avenue Administration Office, 111 Atlantic Avenue, Lynbrook, NY, during regular office hours not later than the 30th day before the election, this year, on April 21, 2025, petitions may be filed from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Each petition shall state the name and residence of the signer and the name and residence of the candidate. The two candidates receiving the highest number of votes will each be elected to serve a three (3) year term to commence on July 1, 2025.

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that the Board of Education shall hold a public budget hearing to discuss the expenditure of funds and the budgeting thereof for the 2025-2026 school year on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, at 7:30 p.m. in the Lynbrook High School cafeteria. The budget hearing will also be livestreamed at www.lynbrookschools. org/boe/virtual_meetin gs. Copies of the condensed form of the budget proposition, the

Public Notices

text of all other propositions to appear on the ballot and a detailed statement in writing of the amount of money that will be required for the 2025-2026 school year, specifying the purposes and the amount for each, will be made available, upon request, to any District resident at each school house in the District which school is maintained from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. during the fourteen (14) days immediately preceding the election, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, at the public library within the District and on the District website.

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that pursuant to Section 495 of the Real Property Tax Law, the District is required to attach to its proposed budget an exemption report. Said exemption report, which will also become part of the final budget, will show how the total assessed value of the final assessment roll used in the budgetary process is exempt from taxation, list every type of exemption granted by the statutory authority, and show the cumulative impact of each type of exemption, the cumulative amount expected to be received as payments in lieu of taxes and the cumulative impact of all exemptions granted.

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that registration is permitted in the District Clerk’s office from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, up to and including May 14, 2025. The Board of Registration will meet on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Lynbrook High School, to prepare a register of the qualified voters for the Annual District Election, at which time any person shall be entitled to have his/her name placed upon such registry provided that at such meeting of the Board of Registration, he/she is known, or proven to the satisfaction of the Board of Registration, to be then or thereafter entitled to vote at the election for which such register is prepared. The Board of Registration will also meet during the Annual District Election at each

polling place to prepare a register for subsequent elections. The register shall include (1) all qualified voters of the district who personally present themselves for registration; (2) all previously qualified voters of the district who have been registered for and voted at any annual or special district election held within the last four calendar years (2021-2024); and (3) voters permanently registered with the Nassau County Board of Elections. The register will be filed in the District Clerk’s office where it will be open to inspection by any qualified voter from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on each of the five (5) days prior to the election, except Sunday, by appointment from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon on Saturday, and at each polling place on the day of the election.

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that applications for absentee ballots must be completed on a form prescribed by the state board of elections and may be obtained by visiting the State Education Department’s Website http://www.counsel.nys ed.gov/common/counse l/files/absentee-ballotapplication-andinstructionsenglish.pdf, Español http://www.counsel.nys ed.gov/common/counse l/files/absentee-ballotapplication-andinstructionsspanish.pdf, or the District website https://lynbrookschools. org/district/finance_an d_budget or by contacting the District Clerk by email theresa.moran@lynbro okschools.org or phone (516-887-6558). Applications for early mail ballots must be completed on a form prescribed by the state board of elections and may be obtained by visiting the State Education Department’s website https://www.counsel.ny sed.gov/miscellaneous, the District website https://lynbrookschools. org/district/finance_an d_budget, or by contacting the District Clerk by email (theresa.moran@lynbro okschools.org) or phone (516-887-6558). Completed absentee and early mail ballot applications must be received at least seven

(7) days before the election if the ballot is to be mailed to the applicant, or the day before the election if the ballot is to be delivered personally to the applicant or to his or her designated agent. Absentee and early mail ballot applications will not be accepted prior to April 21, 2025. A list of all persons to whom absentee and early mail ballots have been issued will be available in the District Clerk’s office on each of the five (5) days prior to the election except Sunday, and by appointment only from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon on the Saturday prior to the election.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that pursuant to Education Law §2018-d, any person serving in the military, including spouses and dependents, may register to vote in the upcoming school district election. A military voter who is a qualified voter of the District may obtain a registration form by contacting the District Clerk by telephone (516-887-6558), facsimile (516-887-3263), email (theresa.moran@lynbro okschools.org), mail (111 Atlantic Avenue, Lynbrook, NY 11563), or in person (during regular office hours or from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.). A military voter may designate a preference to receive a military voter registration form, military ballot application or military ballot by mail, facsimile or electronic mail in the request for such registration, ballot application, or ballot. A military voter who is duly registered may apply for a military ballot by requesting an application from the District Clerk. Completed applications must be personally delivered or mailed to the District Clerk and received no later than 5:00 p.m. on April 24, 2025. Military ballots must be received by 5:00 p.m. on May 20, 2025, if signed and dated by the military voter and one witness thereto with a date which is not later than the day before the election, or not later than the close of the polls on May 20, 2025, if showing a cancellation mark of the United States postal service or a

foreign country’s postal service, or showing a dated endorsement of receipt by another agency of the United States government.

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that any proposition or question to be placed upon the voting machines shall be submitted in writing by petition subscribed by at least 250 qualified voters of the District and filed in the District Clerk’s office during regular hours, except on the 30th day preceding the election at which such question or proposition shall be voted upon (this year April 21, 2025), when the hours shall be from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., except that this rule shall not apply to those questions or propositions which the Board of Education has authority by law to present at any annual or special meeting of the District or propositions which are required by law to be placed in the legal notice.

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that this Board shall convene a special meeting thereof within twenty-four (24) hours after the filing with the District Clerk of a written report of the results of the ballot for the purpose of examining and tabulating said reports of the result of the ballot and declaring the result of the ballot; that the Board hereby designates itself to be a set of poll clerks to cast and canvass ballots pursuant to Education Law, Section 2019-a, Subdivision 2b at said special meeting of the Board.

By Order of: Board of Education Lynbrook Union Free School District Administration Building 111 Atlantic Avenue Lynbrook, NY 11563 Theresa Moran District Clerk 152634

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF BUDGET HEARING AND ANNUAL DISTRICT ELECTION OF EAST ROCKAWAY UNION FREE SCHOOL

DISTRICT, TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, COUNTY OF NASSAU, STATE OF NEW YORK, TO BE HELD ON MAY 20, 2025

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the annual meeting of the qualified voters of the East Rockaway Union Free School District,

Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau, will be held on May 20, 2025, from 7:00 A.M and 9:00 P.M. in the East Rockaway Jr./Sr. High School, 443 Ocean Avenue, East Rockaway, New York, for the transaction of such business as is authorized by law.

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that a public budget hearing will take place on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, at 6:00 P.M. in the library of Centre Avenue School, to discuss the proposed budget of expenditures of funds for the 2025-2026 school year. The meeting will be open to the public and livestreamed at www.eastrockawaysch ools.org.

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that the vote upon the appropriation of funds to meet the necessary expenditures for the 2025-2026 school year, on all propositions duly filed with the Board of Education, and to fill two (2) vacancies on the Board of Education, will be held in the East Rockaway Jr./Sr. High School, 443 Ocean Avenue, East Rockaway, New York, on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, from 7:00 A.M. to 9:00 P.M. for the following purposes: to:

a) To elect two (2) members of the Board of Education to fill the offices currently held by Maureen Doyle and Peter McNally, whose terms expire on June 30, 2025, for a new three-year terms commencing on July 1, 2025.

b) To vote upon the annual school budget for the school year 2025-2026 and to authorize the levying of a tax upon the property of the district for the foregoing purposes.

c) To vote upon the following proposition:

PROPOSITION NO. 2: (Capital Reserve Fund for Building Improvement Projects): RESOLVED, that the East Rockaway Union Free School District is hereby authorized to appropriate and expend $250,000 from the District’s Capital Reserve Fund for Building Improvements and Repairs III, in addition to the amount of $313,000 previously authorized by the voters on May 24, 2023, to be expended from said reserve fund for the construction of the High School Cupola

Replacement project (the “Project”), including equipment, construction and other required work, and preliminary, incidental and financing costs, for a total project cost not to exceed $563,000, to be undertaken during the 2025-26 school year at no additional cost to District taxpayers; provided that the detailed component costs may be reallocated among such components if the Board of Education shall determine that such reallocation is in the best interests of the District and can be made without any material change in the scope of the Project.

d) To vote upon such other propositions as may properly come before the meeting. The election will be held in accordance with the Rules for the Conduct of Meetings and Elections adopted by the Board of Education. The condensed form of the budget proposition and the text of all other propositions to appear on the voting machine, and a detailed statement in writing of the amount of money which will be required for the 2025-2026 school year, specifying the purposes and the amount for each, will be prepared and copies thereof will be made available, upon request, to any resident in the District at each schoolhouse in the District in which school is maintained from 8:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. during the fourteen days before the May 20, 2025 election, excluding Saturday, Sunday and holidays, at such election, and on the District website.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN, that pursuant to Section 495 of the Real Property Tax Law, the District is required to attach to its proposed budget an exemption report. Said exemption report, which will also become part of the final budget, will show how the total assessed value on the final assessment roll used in the budgetary process is exempt from taxation, list every type of exemption granted by the statutory authority, and show the cumulative impact of each type of exemption, the cumulative amount expected to be received

as payments in lieu of taxes and the cumulative impact of all exemptions granted.

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that nominations for the office of member of the Board of Education, unless otherwise provided by law, will be made by petition subscribed by at least 25 qualified voters of the District, and filed in the District Clerk’s Office, in the East Rockaway Jr./Sr. High School, from 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M., not later than the 30th day before the election, this year April 21, 2025. Such petition must state the name and residence of each signer, the name and residence of the candidate, and the length of the term of office. The two candidates receiving the greatest number of votes will be considered elected to office. Where terms are of different length, the candidate receiving the highest vote will be elected to the longest term. A nomination may be rejected by the Board of Education if the candidate is ineligible for the office or declares his unwillingness to serve.

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that any proposition or question to be placed upon the ballot must be submitted in writing by petition subscribed by at least 100 qualified voters of the District and filed in the District Clerk’s Office from 9:00 A.M. to5:00 P.M., not later than the 30th day preceding the meeting or election at which such question or proposition will be voted upon, this year, April 21, 2025, except that this rule does not apply to those questions or propositions which are required to be stated in the published notice of the meeting, or to those propositions or questions which the Board of Education has the sole authority by law to present at any annual or special meeting of the District. PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that registration of the qualified voters of this District for said Annual District Election is permitted in the District Clerk’s Office, from 8:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M., Monday through Friday, up to and including Thursday, May 15, 2025. A

register will be prepared and filed in the District Clerk’s Office and will be open for inspection by any qualified voter from8:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. on each of the five days prior to the election, except Sunday, from 8:00 A.M. to 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, May 17, 2025 by appointment only, and at the polling place on election day. The register will include: (1) all qualified voters of the District who personally present themselves for registration; (2) all previously qualified voters of the District who have previously registered for any annual or special District meeting or election and who have voted at any annual or special District meeting or election held or conducted at any time within the last four years (2021-2024); and (3) voters permanently registered with the Board of Elections of Nassau County. The Board of Registration will meet during the hours of voting at the Annual District Meeting on May 20, 2025, for the purpose of preparing a register for subsequent District meetings or elections. PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE THAT applications for absentee ballots are to be completed on a form prescribed by the state board of elections and may be obtained by visiting the State Education Department’s Website ((https://www.counsel. nysed.gov/miscellaneou s,http://www.counsel.n ysed.gov/common/coun sel/files/absenteeballot-application-andinstructionsspanish.pdf), the District’s website (https://eastrockawaysc hools.org/district/voter _registration_informati on), or by contacting the District Clerk (namayamoran@eastro ckawayschools.org) (516-887-8300, Ext.1-433) from 8:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. on school days. Applications for early mail ballots are to be completed on a form prescribed by the state board of elections and may be obtained by visiting the State Education Department’s website (https://www.counsel.n ysed.gov/miscellaneous ), the District’s website (https://eastrockawaysc hools.org/district/voter

April 3, 2025 —

Public Notices

_registration_informati on), or by contacting the District Clerk (namayamoran@eastro ckawayschools.org) (516-887-8300, Ext.1-433) from 8:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. on school days. Completed applications for absentee and early mail ballots must be received at least seven (7) days before the election if the ballot is to be mailed to the voter, or the day before the election if the ballot is to be delivered personally to the voter or to his or her designated agent, but such applications will not be accepted before April 21, 2025. Absentee and early mail ballots must be received in the District Clerk’s office not later than 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 20, 2025 to be canvassed. A list of all persons to whom absentee and early mail ballots have been issued will be available for inspection in the District Clerk’s office on each of the five days prior to the election from 8:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. except Sunday, and by appointment only from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on the Saturday prior to the election.

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE, that pursuant to Education Law §2018-d, any person serving in the military, including spouses and dependents, may register to vote in the upcoming school district election. A military voter who is a qualified voter of the District may obtain a registration form by contacting the District Clerk by telephone (516-887-8300, Ext. 1-433), facsimile (516-887-1802), email (namayamoran@eastro ckawayschools.org), mail (433 Ocean Avenue, East Rockaway, NY 11518), or in person (during regular office hours or from 8:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M) A military voter who is duly registered may apply for a military ballot by requesting an application from the District by also contacting the District Clerk. Completed applications must be personally delivered or mailed to the District Clerk and received no later than 5:00 p.m. on April 24, 2025. Military ballots must be received by 5:00 p.m. on May 20, 2025, if signed and dated by the military voter and

one witness thereto with a date which is not later than the day before the election, or not later than the close of the polls on May 20, 2025, if showing a cancellation mark of the United States postal service or a foreign country’s postal service or showing a dated endorsement of receipt by another agency of the United States government. A military voter may designate a preference to receive a military voter registration form, military ballot application or military ballot by mail, facsimile, or electronic mail in the request for such registration, ballot application, or ballot.

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER

NOTICE that this Board will convene a special meeting thereof within twenty-four hours after the filing with the District Clerk of a written report of the results of the ballot, in the East Rockaway Jr./Sr. High School for the purpose of examining and tabulating said reports of the result of the ballot and declaring the result of the ballot; that the Board hereby designates itself to be a set of poll clerks to cast and canvass ballots pursuant to Education Law, §2019-a(2)(b) at said special meeting of the Board.

Dated: March 11, 2025, BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF East Rockaway, New York EDUCATION, EAST ROCKAWAY UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT, TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, COUNTY OF NASSAU, NEW YORK NEREYDA AMAYA MORAN District Clerk 152523

LEGAL NOTICE AVISO DE AUDIENCIA DE PRESUPUESTO Y ELECCIÓN ANUAL DE DISTRITO ESCOLAR DE UNION LIBRE DE EAST ROCKAWAY, CIUDAD DE HEMPSTEAD, CONDADO DE NASSAU, ESTADO DE NUEVA YORK, QUE SE CELEBRARÁ EL 20 DE MAYO DE 2025

POR LA PRESENTE SE NOTIFICA que la reunión anual de los votantes calificados del Distrito Escolar East Rockaway de Unión Libre, Pueblo de Hempstead, Condado de Nassau, se celebrará el 20 de mayo de 2025,

desde las 7:00 A.M. hasta las 9:00 P.M. en East Rockaway Jr./Sr. High School, 443 Ocean Avenue, East Rockaway, Nueva York, con el objeto de que se concrete este asunto conforme lo autoriza la ley.

TOME NOTA ADEMÁS de que el martes 13 de mayo de 2025, a las 6:00 p.m., se llevará a cabo una audiencia pública sobre el presupuesto en la biblioteca de la Escuela Centre Avenue, para discutir el presupuesto propuesto de gastos de fondos para el año escolar 2025-2026. La reunión estará abierta al público y será transmitida en vivo en www.eastrockawaysch ools.org.

TOME NOTA ADEMÁS de que la votación sobre la asignación de fondos para cubrir gastos necesarios para el año escolar 2025-2026, sobre todas las proposiciones debidamente presentadas ante la Junta de Educación, y para llenar dos (2) vacantes en la Junta de Educación, se llevará a cabo en la Escuela Secundaria East Rockaway Jr./Sr. High School, 443 Ocean Avenue, East Rockaway, Nueva York, el martes 20 de mayo de 2025, de 7:00 A.M. a 9:00 P.M. para los siguientes propósitos:

a) Elegir a dos (2) miembros de la Junta de Educación para ocupar los cargos que actualmente ocupan Maureen Doyle y Peter McNally, cuyos mandatos expiran el 30 de junio de 2025, para un nuevo mandato de tres años a partir del 1 de julio de 2025 b) Votar sobre el presupuesto escolar anual para el año escolar 2025-2026 y autorizar la recaudación de un impuesto sobre la propiedad del distrito para los fines mencionados. c) Para votar sobre la siguiente proposición: PROPOSICIÓN NO. 2: (Fondo de Reserva de Capital para Proyectos de Mejora de Edificios): SE RESUELVE, que por la presente se autoriza al Distrito Escolar de Union Libre de East Rockaway a apropiarse y gastar $250,000 del Fondo de Reserva de Capital del Distrito para Mejoras y Reparaciones de Edificios III, además de la cantidad de $313,000 previamente

autorizada por los votantes el 24 de mayo de 2023, para ser gastados de dicho fondo de reserva para la construcción del proyecto de Reemplazo de la Cúpula de la Escuela Secundaria (el “Proyecto”), incluyendo equipo, construcción y otros trabajos requeridos, y costos preliminares, incidentales y de financiamiento, por un costo total del proyecto que no exceda $563,000, para ser llevado a cabo durante el año escolar 2025-26 sin costo adicional para los contribuyentes del Distrito; siempre y cuando los costos de los componentes detallados puedan reasignarse entre dichos componentes si la Junta de Educación determina que dicha reasignación es en el mejor interés del Distrito y puede realizarse sin ningún cambio material en el alcance del Proyecto. d) Votar sobre cualquier otra propuesta que se presente a la reunión. La elección se llevará a cabo de conformidad con las Normas para la Organización de Reuniones y Elecciones adoptadas por el Consejo de Educación. La propuesta de presupuesto condensada y el texto de todas las demás propuestas que aparecerán en la máquina de votación, y una declaración detallada por escrito de la cantidad de dinero que se requerirá para el año escolar 2025-2026, especificando los propósitos y la cantidad para cada uno, se prepararán y copias de los mismos se pondrán a disposición, previa solicitud, a cualquier residente en el Distrito en cada escuela en el Distrito en el que se mantiene la escuela de 8:00 A. M. a 4:00 P.M. durante los catorce días anteriores a las elecciones del 20 de mayo de 2025, excluyendo sábados, domingos y días festivos, en dichas elecciones, y en el sitio web del Distrito. SE NOTIFICA ADEMÁS que, de conformidad con el Artículo 495 de la Ley de Impuestos sobre Bienes Inmuebles, el Distrito debe adjuntar a su proyecto de presupuesto un informe de exenciones. Dicho informe de exención,

que también formará parte del presupuesto final, mostrará cómo el valor total tasado en la lista de evaluación final utilizada en el proceso presupuestario está exento de impuestos, enumerará cada tipo de exención concedida por la autoridad estatutaria y mostrará el impacto acumulativo de cada tipo de exención, la cantidad acumulativa que se espera recibir como pagos en lugar de impuestos y el impacto acumulativo de todas las exenciones concedidas.

TOME NOTA ADEMÁS de que las nominaciones para el cargo de miembro de la Junta de Educación, a menos que la ley disponga lo contrario, se harán mediante petición firmada por al menos 25 votantes calificados del Distrito, y presentada en la Oficina del Secretario del Distrito, en la Escuela Secundaria East Rockaway, de 9:00 A.M. a 5:00 P.M., a más tardar 30 días antes de la elección, este año el 21 de abril de 2025. Dicha petición debe indicar el nombre y la residencia de cada firmante, el nombre y la residencia del candidato y la duración del mandato. Los dos candidatos que reciban el mayor número de votos se considerarán electos para el cargo. En caso de mandatos de diferente duración el candidato más votado será para el mandato más largo. Una candidatura puede ser rechazada por el Consejo de Educación si el candidato no es elegible para el cargo o declara no estar dispuesto a ejercerlo.

POR FAVOR TOME NOTA ADEMÁS que cualquier proposición o pregunta para ser colocada en la boleta electoral debe ser presentada por escrito mediante petición suscrita por al menos 100 votantes calificados del Distrito y archivada en la Oficina del Secretario del Distrito de 9:00 A.M. a 5:00 P.M., a más tardar el 30 días anteriores a la reunión o elección en la que se votará sobre dicha pregunta o proposición, este año, el 21 de abril de 2025, excepto que esta regla no se aplica a aquellas preguntas o proposiciones que deban indicarse en el aviso publicado de la reunión, o a aquellas proposiciones o

preguntas que la Junta de Educación tenga la autoridad exclusiva por ley para presentar en cualquier reunión anual o especial del Distrito. TOME NOTA ADEMÁS de que se permite la inscripción de los votantes calificados de este Distrito para dicha Elección Anual de Distrito en la Oficina del Secretario del Distrito, de 8:00 A.M. a 3:00 P.M., de lunes a viernes, hasta el jueves 15 de mayo de 2025 inclusive. Un registro será preparado y archivado en la Oficina del Secretario del Distrito y estará abierto para inspección por cualquier votante calificado de 8:00 A.M. a 3:00 P.M. en cada uno de los cinco días anteriores a la elección, excepto el domingo, de 8:00 A.M. a 11:00 A.M. el sábado, 17 de mayo de 2025 sólo con cita previa, y en el lugar de votación el día de la elección. El registro incluirá: (1) todos los votantes calificados del Distrito que se presenten personalmente para registrarse; (2) todos los votantes previamente calificados del Distrito que se hayan registrado previamente para cualquier reunión o elección anual o especial del Distrito y que hayan votado en cualquier reunión o elección anual o especial del Distrito celebrada o llevada a cabo en cualquier momento dentro de los últimos cuatro años (2021-2024); y (3) los votantes registrados permanentemente en la Junta Electoral del Condado de Nassau. La Junta de Registro se reunirá durante las horas de votación en la Reunión Anual del Distrito el 20 de mayo de 2025, con el propósito de preparar un registro para las reuniones o elecciones subsiguientes del Distrito. TENGA EN CUENTA ADEMÁS QUE las solicitudes de voto en ausencia deben completarse en un formulario prescrito por la junta estatal de elecciones y pueden obtenerse visitando el sitio web del Departamento de Educación del Estado ((https://www.counsel. nysed.gov/miscellaneou s, http://www.counsel.nys ed.gov/common/cou nsel/files/absenteeballot-application-and-

instructionsspanish.pdf), el sitio web del Distrito (https://eastrockawaysc hools.org/district/voter _registration_informati on), poniéndose en contacto con el Secretario del Distrito (namayamoran@eastro ckawayschools.org) (516-887-8300, Ext.1-433) de 8:00

A.M. a 4:00 P.M. los días de escuela . Las solicitudes de voto anticipado por correo deben completarse en un formulario prescrito por la junta estatal de elecciones y pueden obtenerse visitando el sitio web del Departamento de Educación del Estado (https://www.counsel.n ysed.gov/miscellaneous ), el sitio web del Distrito (https://eastrockawaysc hools.org/district/voter _registration_informati on), o poniéndose en contacto con el Secretario del Distrito (namayamoran@eastro ckawayschools.org) (516-887-8300, Ext.1-433) de 8:00 A.M. a 4:00 P.M. en días escolares. Las solicitudes completas para las boletas de ausente y de correo anticipadas deben recibirse al menos siete (7) días antes de la elección si la boleta se enviará por correo al votante, o el día antes de la elección si la boleta se entregará personalmente al votante o a su agente designado, pero dichas solicitudes no se aceptarán antes del 21 de abril de 2025. Las papeletas de voto en ausencia y por correo anticipado deben recibirse en la oficina del Secretario del Distrito no más tarde de las 5:00 p.m. del martes 20 de mayo de 2025 para ser escrutadas. Una lista de todas las personas a quienes se han emitido boletas de ausente y de correo anticipado estará disponible para inspección en la oficina del Secretario del Distrito en cada uno de los cinco días anteriores a la elección de 8:00 A.M. a 4:00 P.M. excepto el domingo, y sólo con cita previa de 8:00 a.m. a 11:00 a.m. el sábado anterior a la elección. ASIMISMO, SE NOTIFICA de que, de conformidad con la Ley de Educación §2018-d, cualquier persona que preste servicio militar, incluidos los cónyuges y dependientes, pueden inscribirse para votar en las próximas elecciones del distrito escolar. Un votante militar que es un votante calificado del Distrito puede obtener un formulario de inscripción poniéndose en contacto con el Secretario del Distrito por teléfono (516887-8300, Ext. 1-433), fax (516-887-1802), correo electrónico (namayamoran@eastro ckawayschools.org), correo postal (433 Ocean Avenue, East Rockaway, NY 11518), o en persona (durante el horario regular de oficina o de 8:00 A.M. a 3:00 P.M) Un votante militar que esté debidamente registrado puede solicitar una papeleta militar pidiendo una solicitud al Distrito poniéndose también en contacto con el Secretario del Distrito. Las solicitudes completadas deben entregarse personalmente o enviarse por correo al Secretario del Distrito y recibirse a más a las 5:00 p.m. del 24 de abril de 2025. Las boletas de los militares deben recibirse a más tardar a las 5:00 p.m. del 20 de mayo de 2025, si están firmadas y fechadas por el votante militar y un testigo de la misma con una fecha que no sea posterior al día anterior a la elección, o no posterior al cierre de las urnas el 20 de mayo de 2025, si muestran una marca de cancelación del servicio postal de los Estados Unidos o del servicio postal de un país extranjero o muestran un endoso fechado de recepción por otra agencia del gobierno de los Estados Unidos. Un votante militar puede designar una preferencia para recibir un formulario de registro de votante militar, una solicitud boleta electoral militar o una boleta electoral militar por correo, fax o correo electrónico en la solicitud de dicho registro, solicitud de boleta electoral o boleta electoral. POR FAVOR TOME NOTA ADEMÁS que esta Junta convocará una reunión especial dentro de veinticuatro horas después de la presentación con el Secretario del Distrito de un informe escrito de los resultados de la votación, en el East Rockaway Jr./Sr. High School con el fin de examinar y tabular

Pottery night brings in new donors, volunteers

Rescuing Families Pottery Night raises funds for people with disabilities while making art

By REI WOLFSOHN Correspondent

Rescuing Families, a Franklin Square-based nonprofit, held a pottery night fundraiser on March 12, during which attendees hand-built and painted their own gnomes to take home.

The event was hosted to raise funds toward home renovations for a family in Valley Stream that has a disabled father and son, and whose mother is their sole caregiver.

“It’s definitely a good thing that they’ll have something to take home and look at and remember they did this at the Rescuing Families charity event,” Linda Lamberta, volunteer and board member for Rescuing Families, said of the attendees.

Local potter Rachele Leone, who has previously been a vendor at Rescuing Families charity fundraisers, led pottery night. She met the non-profit’s founder, Gina Centauro, who is also an artist, at their Valley Stream moms group.

“I think it’s an amazing organization. Amazing,” Leone said. “They do a lot of good for a lot of people that need it.”

TAttendees paid a flat fee to attend pottery night, but all of them either bought things in the thrift store for a discount or donated a little extra.

Centauro said the donations they received were great. She said her goal is to get new people in their warehouse, which events like pottery night help do.

Getting the word out about the charity, she said, helps them become familiar with their location.

Of the 20 donors Rescuing Families welcomed to the event, and almost half of them were new to the charity.

hey really have gone above and beyond to help a lot of people in the community that are disabled or elderly and don’t have the financial means.

BRIaN BaRRy Rescuing Families donor and recipient

Leone taught attendees the “pinching method” to build the gnomes out of clay, later showing them how to glaze the gnomes in many different colors.

After the event, she brought the pieces back to her studio, The Pottery Workshop located in Lynbrook, to fire them in the kiln. Leone said the gnomes are a celebration of spring.

When they’re ready, she’ll bring them back to the Rescuing Families thrift store and warehouse, which the nonprofit moved into seven months ago. Centauro said the new building makes it easier for visitors to locate where to donate, and for people to come in from the nearby street and discover them.

“We wound up with so many repeat customers, which to me is incredible,” Centauro said. “We know what they buy so we make sure we have that kind of stuff out for them. It’s really cool.”

dichos informes del resultado de la votación y declarar el resultado de la votación; que la Junta por la presente se designa a sí misma para

Funds raised during the event will go toward improving accessibility in the Valley Stream family’s home. The charity’s team has already visited the location to shore up their dangerous ramp and improve the home.

“We’ve done some landscaping for them to just cheer them up,” Centauro said.

The home needs a complete renovation, however. Before getting help from Rescuing Families, the Valley Stream family enlisted the help of a contractor, who opened up walls and ceilings and left the house in complete disarray.

Brian Barry, one of the event’s attendees, said he has been donating to Rescuing Families for five years. He explained how the charity donated $3,000 to him a few years ago after his handicap chairlift became inundated by water in East Rockaway after a storm. As a stroke survivor, he greatly appreciates Rescuing Families’ donation.

“They really have gone above and beyond to help a lot of people in the community that are disabled or elderly and don’t have the financial means,” Barry said.

Another attendee, Donna Ferrara, said she brings her son’s girlfriend and friend to the thrift store to shop together frequently. She has also attended Rescuing Families’ group psychic reading.

“The people that I met here are the loveliest people and they do good work,” Ferrara said.

Brian Barry, donor and recipient of Rescuing Families’ charity, enjoys building his gnome during the fundraiser.

Rei Wolfsohn/Herald photos

Attendees at the Rescuing Families fundraiser pick out glaze colors for their pottery gnomes.

Rachele Leone, left, Gina Centauro and Vinny Centauro celebrate the success of Rescuing Families’ Pottery Night.

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Trying to keep the terminology straight

Just Move In!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Acore part of my mission in Congress is bipartisanship. That may sound quaint these days, but I believe it’s what the people I represent — and, more broadly, the American people — want and deserve. It’s also getting harder to achieve. The current climate in Washington is more toxic and polarized than I’ve ever seen. As the Democratic co-chair of the Problem Solvers Caucus — which is evenly split between Democrats and Republicans — I work every day to find common ground. But I can’t pretend it’s easy in an environment where performative politics too often replaces problem-solving. Nonetheless, I’ll continue to work across party lines, and when I must, buck my own party, if it means getting things done for my constituents.

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

TI’ll never sacrifice my core values.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tom Suozzi represents the 3rd Congressional District.

No more excuses on county opioid funding

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Their testimony and lack of results

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Just when you thought

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

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

IopInIons

we were hopelessly

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

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

A

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

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

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

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

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

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

“We need more Democrats like you.”

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

“I always respected you as governor.”

divided . . .

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

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

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

The Voice of America has been silenced

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

If you live in Levittown or Long Beach, your initial reaction might be, why should anyone care about broadcast-

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

HERALD

tCelebrating the vitality of our libraries

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

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

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

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

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

letters

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

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

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

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

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

Celebrating East Rockaway High’s 100 percent graduation rate

To the Editor:

I would like to highlight an achievement that speaks volumes about the dedication, perseverance and collaborative efforts of the entire East Rockaway School District community. For the past two years, East Rockaway High School has achieved a 100 percent graduation rate — a testament to the commitment of our teachers from kindergarten through 12th grade, support staff, administrators, students and parents. High School Principal Richard Schaffer, Assistant Principals TJ Terranova and Brad Krauz, and Director of School Counseling John Madden deserve recognition for this outstanding accomplishment, with contributions from the previous administration under Lisa Ruiz, the former superintendent. This remarkable milestone is not the result of a single initiative but rather the collective impact of several key strategies that have been implemented to ensure that every student reaches their full potential. Here are some of those strategies.

■ Personalized student support and dedicated staff. Our educators and support staff provide individualized academic and social-emotional support through targeted

ing and discovery.

Wednesday, April 9: National Library Outreach Day

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

Thursday, April 10: Take Action for Libraries Day

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

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

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

intervention, mentorship and a deep commitment to student success. Their dedication ensures that every student receives the guidance and encouragement needed to thrive.

■ Early intervention, data-driven instruction and i-Ready implementation. We use real-time data to identify at-risk students early and provide targeted support. I-Ready enhances this by assessing individual needs, helping struggling students stay on track while allowing others to advance, driving measurable K-8 growth in lit-

opinions Republicans, too, are backing clean energy

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

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

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

tives nationwide.

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

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

pro-business policies can align with environmental goals.

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

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

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

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

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

Letters

eracy and math.

■ Expanded course offerings and rigorous curriculum. Over the past few years, we have expanded access to Advanced Placement courses, college-level courses, and career and technical education programs, ensuring students are both challenged and prepared for life beyond high school.

■ Project-Based Learning success. Now in its second year, PBL has engaged students in hands-on, real-world problem-solving, fostering critical thinking, collaboration and a passion for learning. Next year the entire district staff will be Gold Standard trained.

■ Social-Emotional Learning initiatives. Programs like RULER and peer mentoring have created a supportive school culture where students feel seen, heard and valued — key components of academic success.

■ Family and community partnerships. The support of parents and the broader East Rockaway community has been instrumental in reinforcing academic goals, providing encouragement and ensuring that students receive the guidance needed to succeed.

■ Universal Acceleration and AVID program. Our Universal Acceleration initiative challenges students with advanced coursework, while the AVID college-prep program equips them with essential skills for success in college and beyond.

■ Increased college acceptance rate. Our col-

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

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

lege acceptance rate improved by 20 percent over the past year, with students earning admission to institutions such as Harvard, NYU, Fordham and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

This is what makes the East Rockaway school district special — our small-town feel, strong sense of community, and collective pride in our students. Unlike larger districts, where individual students may blend into numbers, each student here represents over 1 percent of our data — but, more important, they count as individuals, as future leaders and as valued members of our community. Our uniqueness cannot and should not be measured by test scores alone; rather, it is defined by the relationships we build, the support we provide, and the shared commitment to student success that sets us apart from others.

Achieving and sustaining a 100 percent graduation rate isn’t an easy feat, nor is it something we take for granted. It’s the result of a true team effort — one that reflects the values of our district and the collective dedication of our students, families and educators.

As we continue to innovate and refine our educational practices, we remain committed to ensuring that all students graduate not only with a diploma in hand but also with the knowledge, skills and confidence to thrive in college, careers and beyond.

JAMES DeTOMMASO Superintendent, East Rockaway School District

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

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

Two members of the Norman J. Levy Park and Preserve welcoming committee — Merrick

Brett patriCk

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

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

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

To learn more visit www.mountsinai.org/feilpavilion