Lynbrook/East Rockaway Herald 04-24-2025

Ainsley Martinez/ Herald

Casey Kennedy, left, Reagan Davis, Colin Kennedy and John Kennedy potted plants on April 21.

Planting event highlights initiative

Lynbrook residents get their hands dirty

By AINSlEY MARTINEZ amartinez@liherald.com

With soil-streaked hands, children knelt down to pot trees at an Arbor Day celebration on Monday hosted by the Lynbrook Recreation Department.

The event, held at Greis Park, was part of the village’s initiative to plant 10,000 trees this year, including varieties of flowering cherry trees.

“It’s such a positive and fun event,” Phil Healy, the village’s director of public works said. “Trees and people have been connected since the beginning of time.”

The trees were from Shades Tree Nursery in Jamesport, one of the few wholesalers of pre-potted trees on Long Island.

While children and adults experienced what Healy calls the “joys of planting” by potting trees to take home, the trees planted

for

Arbor Day

by the village will already be potted, so crews can take their time placing them around the area.

“Trees are really heavy, and in previous years, people would throw their backs out,” Healy explained.

The cherry blossom varieties will also grow at a slower rate, and are smaller, allowing the allotted infrastructure to remain intact, Healy said.

Arbor Day originated in Nebraska on April 10, 1872, when journalist and politician J. Sterling Morton proposed a treeplanting holiday to the State Board of Agriculture. The Nebraska State Historical Society estimates that more than a million trees were planted in Nebraska on the first Arbor Day.

The Nebraska Legislature made Arbor Day a legal holiday in 1885, setting the date

Lynbrook, E.R. Catholics react to pope’s death

By AINSlEY MARTINEZ amartinez@liherald.com

He became an ordained Jesuit priest at 33, and was the first pope from outside Europe in centuries. And Pope Francis, who died on Monday at age 88, was known for his human touch.

“He was a first in a lot of ways: the first Jesuit and Latin American priest,” the Rev. Chuck Romano, of St. Raymond’s Church on Atlantic Avenue in East Rockaway, said. “He lived a simple lifestyle . . . He lived a very uplifting and edifying life that we bring to our own church.”

Hold, and she helped the family make it to the front of the line.

“A few of the elderly women we met pushed us towards the barricades in hopes Arianna could be blessed by the pope,” Baal Depalo said.

Shortly afterward, Francis got out of his “pope-mobile,” Baal Depalo recounted, picked up Arianna and kissed her on the forehead.

e lived a very uplifting and edifying life that we bring to our own church.

THE REV. CHuCk RoMANo

St. Raymond’s Church, East Rockaway

Jaymie Baal DePalo, of Lynbrook, visited Italy in 2016 on a family trip with her parents — who had never been out of the country. She is Catholic, and her parish helped the family take part in the people’s audience, where hundreds gather in Rome for a chance to meet the pope. Her daughter, Arianna DePalo, had just turned a year

It was a particularly special moment, she said, because it occurred on the Catholic holiday Ash Wednesday in February 2016.

“He had all of us in tears,” she said. “It was the greatest honor, especially because this pope has been unlike any other pope.”

Jesuits are known for highlighting humility, aiding the poor and having respect for indigenous people.

In a statement after Francis’s death on Monday, Bishop John Barres, who leads the Archdiocese of Rockville Cen-

ContinueD on pAge 6

things to know about social security benefits

Nassau county officials address concerns, future of navigating benefits

Congressman Tom Suozzi, Congresswoman Laura Gillen, and former Social Security Administration Commissioner Martin O’Malley discussed federal concerns regarding social security benefits, and if Nassau county residents would feel the burden of staffing shortages and delays. The event took place at Tilles Center for the Performing Arts’ Krasnoff Theater at 720 Northern Blvd. Brookville on Monday.

— Ainsley Martinez

n Social security benefits serve millions of Americans

Social security provides crucial financial support to 69 million Americans, according to the most recent reports from the Social Security Administration. Suozzi highlighted the diverse range of beneficiaries: the majority being retirees, people with disabilities and children from low-income families. Additionally, 40 percent of seniors living alone depend entirely on Social security, and receiving checks is the “difference between living with dignity and living in poverty,” O’Malley said.

“Social security is a contract between the American people and our government, and it’s based upon the promise that if you work hard and pay into the system, that we will not let you fall and falter in your retirement, and that you should be able to retire with dignity,” Gillen said.

n Staffing shortages create gaps and backlogs

The Social Security Administration has seen a significant reduction in workforce, which Suozzi attributed to President Trump’s emphasis on staffing reduction through the Department of Government Efficiency. Using the data from the SSA offices, he noted that at the end of 2024, the administration staffed 57,000 employees. Now, it’s 50,000 employees.

“People are concerned about not getting checks. We’re concerned about checks being delayed,” Suozzi said.

n

Have a backup plan and remain informed

For those that rely on governmental benefits, he said to keep documentation of contributions, stay informed about potential changes and have a backup financial plan. O’Malley said writing letters to newspapers and local representatives move the needle of public opinion, and have an impact in political administrations.

“Organize community meetings, formal meetings with 5-10 people. Let me tell you about how social security works,” O’Malley said.

E.R. village rings in Easter with games

The Village of East Rockaway hosted its annual Easter celebration at Memorial Park on Saturday. The event brought many children and families who participated in various games, with challenges such as balancing eggs on spoons and a carrot toss.

— Ainsley Martinez

Emmy, 8, balances her egg on a spoon in an Easter-themed game.

Emmy, 8, celebrates the Easter festivities at the Egg Hunt at Memorial Park on Saturday.

Sloane, 3, completes the carrot toss with help from mom at the East Rockaway Easter Egg Hunt.

Sophia, 10, helps decorate the sidewalks with chalk bunnies at the East Rockaway Easter Egg Hunt on April 19.

Grace Hughes / Herald photos Miles, 5, is greeted by the Easter Bunny.

Arbor Day blossoms in Lynbrook

as April 22, Morton’s birthday. The observance spread to other states and eventually to countries around the world. In 1970, President Richard Nixon proclaimed the last Friday in April as National Arbor Day, encouraging tree planting and conservation efforts nationwide.

Lilly Ventilia, a recreational leader at Lynbrook Recreation Center center, dressed up as the Lorax, a character created by author Theodor Geisel, a.k.a. Dr. Seuss, in the 1971 children’s book of the same name. The character promotes environmental responsibility, and warns against the consequences of deforestation and industrialization.

Ventilia said she believes Arbor Day has become more significance with the increasing occurrence of environmental disasters.

“The kids love it,” she said. “It’s a nice little thing to get them out and show them the environment can be fun.”

Third-grader John Kennedy said this was his first time he had potted a tree. “It was fun, but really messy,” he said with dirt clinging to his hands.

He said he had learned the importance of working gently with trees, shimming them into the pots and making sure enough soil covered the roots. He hadn’t realized how many benefits trees offer to the ecosystem.

Ainsley Martinez/

Children met a tree mascot during the arbor day celebration at greis park in Lynbrook on monday.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, trees can reduce stormwater runoff by absorbing 15 to 27 percent of annual rainfall, helping to prevent flooding and improve water quality.

The same research found that trees improve air quality by absorbing pol-

Spousal Refusal - Just Say No

Spousal refusal is a legally valid Medicaid planning option in New York. By way of background, certain income and assets are exempt from Medicaid if there is a spouse. Generally, the spouse at home, known as the “community spouse” may keep about $3,950 per month of the couple’s combined income and up to about $158,000 of the assets or “resources”. Not included in those figures are any other exempt assets, such as a home (up to about $1,100,000 of the equity only) and one automobile. The spouse who is being cared for in a facility is known as the “institutionalized spouse”.

Many a spouse has advised us that they simply cannot afford to live on the allowances that Medicaid provides. This is where spousal refusal comes in. We start by shifting excess assets into the name of the “community spouse”. He or she then signs a document which the elder law attorney prepares and files with the county indicating that they refuse to contribute their income and assets to the care of the ill spouse since they need those income and assets for their own care and wellbeing. Note that you may not refuse your spouse’s own income over the $3,950 per month exemption as it is not coming to you.

Once the “community spouse” invokes their right to refuse, and all of the other myriad requirements of the Medicaid application are met, the state Medicaid program must pay for the care of the institutionalized spouse.

After Medicaid has been granted, the county may institute a lawsuit seeking to recover the cost of care from the refusing spouse. Nevertheless, there are a few reasons why spousal refusal makes sense, even in light of this risk. First, in many instances, the county never invokes this right. Secondly, these lawsuits are often settled for significantly less than the cost of care provided. Thirdly, the payment to the county can sometimes be deferred until the community spouse dies. As one county attorney told us when agreeing to such an arrangement, “the county is going to be around for a long time”. Finally, even though the county may seek recovery, it is only for the Medicaid reimbursement rate and not the private pay rate. For example, if the private pay rate is $18,000 per month, which is what you would have to pay, the amount Medicaid has to pay is generally a quarter to a third less. The county may only pursue you for the amount they actually paid.

lutants such as nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide and particulate matter — and urban trees in the U.S. are estimated to store 700 million tons of carbon.

“It’s symbolic of keeping people together,” Healy said. “It’s like positive karma, if you believe in that sort of thing.”

arbor day originated in nebraska on april 10, 1872, when journalist and politician J. Sterling morton proposed a tree-planting holiday to the State Board of agriculture. it gained national recognition during the nixon administration.

the trees were from Shades tree nursery in Jamesport, one of the few wholesalers of pre-potted trees on Long island.

Herald Photos

elIzABetH poIRot

West Hempstead Senior Lacrosse

TO SAY POIROT is off to an incredible start would be an understatement. A year after leading Nassau County in goals with 74 to go along with 25 assists, she’s set a torrid pace so far and has the Rams at 4-3 entering this week’s action. She scored their last seven goals April 2 in a 13-11 victory over Freeport and has a county leading 41 goals and 53 points. In 2023 as a sophomore, she scored 45 times to rank amoung Nassau’s best.

GAMES TO WATCH

Thursday, April 24

Softball: Freeport at Lynbrook ..............................4:30 p.m.

Baseball: South Side at New Hyde Park ...................5 p.m.

Baseball: Bethpage at East Meadow ........................5 p.m.

Baseball: MacArthur at Division ................................5 p.m.

Baseball: Mepham at Calhoun .................................5 p.m.

Baseball: Long Beach at Kennedy ............................5 p.m.

Softball: V.S. Central at West Hempstead ..................5 p.m.

Softball: Westbury at Hewlett ....................................5 p.m.

Softball: Mepham at Seaford ....................................5 p.m.

Softball: Wantagh at MacArthur ................................5 p.m.

Softball: Division at Plainedge ..................................5 p.m.

Boys Lacrosse: Calhoun at G. City (Mitchel Field) .....5 p.m.

Boys Lacrosse: North Shore at Hewlett .....................5 p.m.

Girls Lacrosse: Long Beach at South Side ................5 p.m.

Girls Lacrosse: Massapequa at Wantagh ..................5 p.m.

Girls Lacrosse: V.S. District at West Hempstead ........5 p.m.

Girls Flag Football: MacArthur at Lynbrook ..........6:30 p.m.

Friday, April 25

Baseball: C.S. Harbor at East Rockaway ...................5 p.m.

Baseball: Oceanside at Freeport ...............................5 p.m.

Baseball: North Shore at Malverne ...........................5 p.m.

Baseball: Sewanhaka at Lawrence ...........................5 p.m.

Softball: Massapequa at Kennedy ............................5 p.m.

Nominate a “Spotlight Athlete”

High School athletes to be featured on the Herald sports page must compete in a spring sport and have earned an AllConference award or higher last season. Please send the following information: Name, School, Grade, Sport and accomplishments to Sports@liherald.com.

Lynbrook searching for offense

By BRIAN KACHARABA sports@liherald.com

Lynbrook baseball coach Jon Zaccaro can only hope his team’s bats can start to heat up as the weather does.

Runs have been at a premium for the Owls this spring with just 13 on 18 hits in seven games, including three consecutive shutout defeats in their series against defending Nassau Class A champion Clarke last week. The losses dropped their Conference A-1 record to 1-5 and overall mark to 2-5.

“It’s been a struggle,” Zaccaro said. “We’re trying to get the bats going. We feel a little bit better about our swings recently. I know it doesn’t show in the offense, but the boys are coming out to work hard in practice every day.”

Lynbrook won seven games last year and Zaccaro was expecting this year’s group to take another step forward, but injuries threw that plan into a tizzy.

“We had high expectations coming out of last season with a lot of young guys, so we figured they would mature with age and help us out a lot this year,” Zaccaro said. “We got stuck with some injuries to some of our seniors that aren’t able to play, and it seems like we’re back to another young group that we didn’t expect to have.”

Lynbrook had to manufacture runs in its two wins.

On April 3, the Owls scored the lone run of the game against Floral Park in the bottom of the sixth when sophomore Marco Palleschi was hit by a pitch, advanced to second on a wild pitch, and scored on an error following a groundout. Their only hit came on a single by sophomore Jacob Knoblach the inning before.

A week later, senior Brady Rogan had two of Lynbrook’s four hits with three RBIs and tossed 4⅓ innings of four-hit relief with seven strikeouts in a 10-5 victory over Hicksville for the team’s second straight victory.

The offense showed signs of breaking out last Wednesday against Clarke by putting the first two batters on in each of the third and fourth innings while

is the

injuries and inconsistency at the plate.

trailing 1-0. But the big hit never came, and six runners were stranded overall in an eventual 11-0 loss that completed the Rams’ sweep.

Rogan held a powerful Clarke lineup to just one run on three hits through the first four innings that day, as the pitchers continued to keep the team in games.

Palleschi yielded two runs on five hits with seven strikeouts in the seasonopening 4-1 loss to Floral Park on April 1 and, two days later, brother Paolo limited the Knights to just two hits with nine strikeouts over 5⅓ innings in a nodecision. Fellow junior Blake Jaworowski fanned five batters in relief for the victory.

Juniors Miles Storm and Chris Mangieri have shared leadoff duties, with Zaccaro lauding the latter for his leadership qualities. Freshman Chris Morrissey went a combined 2-for-3 with a walk in the last two games against Clarke and sophomore newcomer Eric Ruiz collected two hits against Floral Park on April 2.

Zaccaro said senior catcher Jameson Morrissey has shown great contact during recent practices and is poised for a breakout second half.

The Owls take on Valley Stream North in a three-game set this week.

Karen Millindorf/Herald Blake Jaworowski

starting third baseman for the Owls, who are battling through

We don't do it for the attention. We don't do it for the recognition. We don't do it for the personal gain. And we certainly don't do it for the awards. We do it for you.

Catholic Health is the winner of Press Ganey’s 2025 HRO Foundation Award for exceptional reliability and patient safety.

At Catholic Health, we pursue the very best in health care for one reason only: you. Every single one of you that walks through our doors, every day. So, while we’re honored by this recognition, we also know there’s no finish line in health care. There’s always a new goal just over the horizon, and a new level of excellence for us to achieve for the health of Long Island.

Learn more at DedicatedtoBetter.org

Town hall

Laura Gillen answers questions on taxes and tariffs at Hofstra

By JOSEPH D’ALESSANDRO jdalessandro@liherald.com

U.S. Rep. Laura Gillen answered the questions that are on hundreds of Nassau County residents’ minds at a town hall event on April 16. Gillen, who represents a large swath of the county’s South Shore, initially spoke about her current projects in Washington. But the majority of the meeting was a questionand-answer session, with questions submitted on index cards by audience members.

Q: How will Gillen work with Republicans to eliminate the cap on the income tax deduction for state and local taxes?

Gillen: She is a member of the bipartisan SALT Caucus, a group of representatives from states that pay the highest taxes in the country, as well as the

Ways and Means Committee, which dictates tax policy. She co-sponsored a bill with fellow Long Island Rep. Andrew Garbarino to reinstate the full SALT deduction.

Q: How will she protect Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid?

Gillen: “I (joined) 200 of my colleagues in writing a letter to the administration saying that we will not tolerate cuts to Social Security, to Medicaid or to Medicare,” she said.

“We can use our voice,” she continued. “You can use your voice also to reach out to Republicans on Long Island and tell them that you will not stand for these cuts to Medicaid, and put pressure on them so that maybe they will retreat from this position.”

Q: What is she planning to

do to oppose President Trump’s “illegal removal of migrants”?

Gillen: “I, like the majority of Americans, do believe that people who are undocumented and who commit crimes should be deported,” she said.

The main problem, according to Gillen, is that the administration is not following orders from the judiciary. “I support our Constitution,” she said. “I will fight in the halls of Congress to make sure the dear principles upon which this nation was founded

are upheld, and will work with my colleagues in Congress to push back against overreach of the executive branch.”

Q: How is she working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to keep it operational?

Gillen: She is a member of the Science, Space and Technology Committee. “I continue to advocate to make sure that we get the grants necessary to continue the important work of the CDC, and we are pushing back

on our caucus against any action to reduce the ability of the CDC to perform its important work,” she said.

A theme that Gillen emphasized was bipartisanship — whether with members of the administration, or with representatives across the aisle, she emphasized her desire to cooperate for the best results.

Q: Why hasn’t Congress stepped in to prevent a trade war?

Gillen: She supports a new bipartisan bill, the Trade Policy Relief Act, which would “reassert Congress’s authority over trade policy.” The bill would give Congress the authority to review any tariff policies implemented by the administration for 60 days, and to cancel a tariff it does not consider justified.

Q: Why did sheen vote for the Laken Riley Act?

Gillen: “Homeland Security has the right to detain undocumented folks who commit crimes,” she said of the act, which gives federal authorities broader power to deport immigrants accused of crimes. “This expanded the types of crimes that could require mandatory detention. I am proud to join a number of Democrats who voted for this legislation.”

Joseph D’Alessandro/Herald

U.S. Rep. Laura Gillen spoke to hundreds of her constituents about the state of the country at a town hall event at Hofstra University on April 16.

Residents reflect on Pope Francis’ impact

tre, noted those traits, which had inspired so many.

“As we mourn the death of Pope Francis on this Easter Octave Monday and the gift of his contemplative global evangelization, grounded in Matthew 25 and the spiritual and corporal works of mercy,” Barres said, “we give thanks to Father, Son and Holy Spirit for his unique graces and charisma and the compelling way, during his Pontificate, that he has been a Light of Jesus Christ and the mission of mercy of the Catholic Church to the world.”

In “Evangelii Gaudium” (2013), Pope Francis wrote about the enduring vitality of the Gospel, and Christianity has roots in breaking beyond rigid frameworks — revealing the divine through fresh creativity, Barres said.

“Every form of authentic evangelization is always ‘new,’” he said.

Pope Francis was known for his charm and humility, and his everyman style.

“As a family of faith, we join the Church in mourning the passing of Pope Francis, a humble servant, who led with compassion and simplicity,” St. Raphael Parish, in East Meadow, posted on Facebook. “May his soul and the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.”

“It is with a deep sense of sorrow that we join the Universal Church and the whole world in mourning the death

of our Supreme Pontiff, Pope Francis, who left this world to his Father this morning,” Father Eugene Umeor of Malverne’s Our Lady of Lourdes Church said in Monday’s morning prayer, which was posted online. “I hope in the resurrection we continue to live out the values he taught us, universal love, his care for poor, the vulnerable, and all those in special needs.”

As pontiff, Francis was more accepting of the LGBTQ community, which drew the ire of the more conservative members of the church.

“Today the Chair is Empty. Easter Sunday an empty tomb is found and we know Jesus our hope has risen,” said Mark Daley, former grand knight of Valley Stream Knights of Columbus.

“Today we pray for our Pope who has Risen to be with God Our Father.”

Phyllis Zagano Ph.D, is senior research associate-in-residence in the Department of Religion at Hofstra University. One of the world’s foremost experts on the question of whether women should serve as deacons, Zagano was appointed in 2016 to serve on Pope Francis’ first commission to explore the issue. She was the only commissioner to travel from the Western Hemisphere.

“Pope Francis will be remembered as the pope who opened the door to more people, especially lay people, especially women, to participate in conversations about how the Church might best move forward,” Zagano said.

Courtesy Jaymie Baal DePalo

Jaymie Baal depalo, of Lynbrook, visited rome in february 2016 with her family, and her 1-year-old daughter arianna was blessed by pope francis.

Lynbrook celebrates with whimiscal fun

The Incorporated Village of Lynbrook hosted its annual Easter Egg Hunt event on Saturday. Over 100 people attended the event, primarily children who raced for eggs, played themed-games and met an Easter bunny mascot.

— Ainsley Martinez

Maureen Lennon/ Herald photos

Nassau County Legislator John Ferretti, left, Vincent Sgaglione holding his granddaughter Elle, Bianca Sgaglione, Melissa Seganti and New York State Senator Patricia Canzoneri Fitzpatrick celebrate Easter.

Brothers Theo Seganti and Cruz Seganti compare and share their Easter egg goodies.

Mia and Jason Scibelli gather eggs at Greis Park.

Connor and Molly Chajkowski visited the Easter Bunny.

Rolando Munoz visits Greis Park with his children Alexander and Luka.

Amir and Stacy Brinson with their children Chase and Zuri, play games at the egg hunt.

E.R. students workshop with acclaimed poet

A select group of East Rockaway High School student poets had the unique opportunity to participate in a creative workshop with Nassau County Poet Laureate Alan Semerdjian on April 4. The after school session was designed to help students refine their final drafts and performance techniques in preparation for the school’s annual Poetry Madness competition, which will take place on April 10. Semerdjian—a writer, musician, and teacher at Herricks High School—began the session by reading one of his original poems. Through his performance, he demonstrated how body language, eye contact, pauses and emotional tone can elevate a poem from the page to the stage. Students were then invited to share their own work aloud. After each reading, Semerdjian offered thoughtful feedback, focusing on both content and delivery. He encouraged students to engage in peer critique as well, fostering a collaborative environment that left the students feeling confident and inspired.

The workshop was a powerful warmup for Poetry Madness, a much-anticipated tradition run by the East Rockaway High School English Department. The contest follows a bracket-style elimination format, narrowing down hundreds of student entries to the final eight. Each poem submitted must align with a central theme—this year’s theme is “empathy.”

— Ainsley Martinez

Courtesy East Rockaway School District

A select group of East Rockaway High School student poets had the unique opportunity to participate in a creative workshop with Nassau County Poet Laureate Alan Semerdjian on April 4.

Discover Long Island gears up for busy tourism season

Discover Long Island, the marketing organization promoting Long Island to the world, held its annual meeting and legislative breakfast at Hilton Long Island on March 14.

Discover LI presented its agenda for the year and premiered its new YouBelong campaign, featuring stories of local Long Islanders and business owners. “2025 is already proving to be a monumental year, and there is much more on the horizon,” said Mitchell Pally, chairman of the Discover LI board of directors.

In 2023, travelers spent $7.5 billion while visiting Long Island, in large part as a result of Discover Long Island’s global marketing of the region as a premier travel destination. With events like the 2025 Ryder Cup, the 100th anniversary of “The Great Gatsby” and the 2026 NHL All-Star Game, Long Island is expecting an unprecedented number of visitors in the coming months.

–Madison Gusler

The role of tourism in boosting the local economy

The goal of Discover LI is to increase tourism in the region, because tourism drives revenue across the Island. Over 42 million tourists visited Long Island in 2023, generating $900 million in local and state tax revenue. During peak season, tourism generates over 100,000 jobs.

With 11 social media channels and over 10 million followers, Discover LI promotes Long Island tourism to audiences around the globe.

Targeting high-value international visitors and promoting local exploration

Discover LI’s team attends tourism trade shows around the world to promote Long Island internationally. They target high-value visitors who spend more when they visit. When travelers come to LI from outside the region, they spend on hotels, dining and activities.

And Discover LI isn’t ignoring residents, featuring hyper-local marketing that aims to acquaint Long Islanders with new experiences in their own backyards.

Discover LI’s digital advances, with NearMe app and AI implementation

Discover LI has made strides in digital options for those planning a visit. Its AI chatbot, LiLi, was launched in 2024, and has since sent 6,071 messages. LiLi speaks a number of languages, and has saved Discover LI staff more than 200 hours of work.

The Discover LI app, which has seen a 300 percent increase in downloads since 2024, generates suggestions for dining and entertainment near users and provides information about the area.

Courtesy East Rockaway School District

Students, families and staff came together for an evening filled with presentations, music, dance, art and hands-on activities that highlighted the rich traditions of various cultures at the Family Engagement Night.

E.R. students celebrate their

vibrant cultures with event

The East Rockaway School District hosted its Family Engagement Night with a vibrant celebration of the diverse cultural heritage within the community.

Students, families and staff came together for an evening filled with presentations, music, dance, art and hands-on activities that highlighted the rich traditions of various cultures.

Families were invited to share unique aspects of their heritage through interactive trifold displays featuring facts, photographs and personal stories. Many also brought traditional foods, recipes and crafts, giving attendees a taste of their cultural backgrounds.

The event showcased a wide range of cultures, including Peru, Spain, Guatemala, Guyana, Germany, Poland, Ireland, Scotland, China, Honduras, Ukraine and Ecuador, among many others.

The evening featured engaging activi-

ties such as a lesson in Dominican folk dancing, a captivating bagpipe demonstration, and a world cultures quiz that challenged participants’ global knowledge.

YouNations, an organization dedicated to multicultural education, hosted a table with a fun and informative trivia game that drew enthusiastic participation.

Students and staff from throughout the district embraced the opportunity to learn from one another, fostering a sense of unity and appreciation for the diverse backgrounds that make up the East Rockaway community.

The event not only provided an enriching educational experience but also strengthened connections among families, making it a memorable and meaningful evening for all who attended.

— Ainsley Martinez

News briefs

Rock band to perform in Lynbrook

The Jet Set rock band will perform at the Shannon Rose Pub at 267 Merrick Rd. in Lynbrook on May 16 at 8 p.m.

The band, known for its eclectic mix of rock and pop tunes from the 60s to today, will cover a wide variety of artists, including Billy Joel, Ozzy Osbourne, Taylor Swift, and Def Leppard.

The performance will also feature unexpected songs, such as “Let It Go” from Frozen and “Defying Gravity”

from Wicked.

The band members, all in their early to mid-fifties, aim to keep the audience engaged with a diverse setlist that appeals to a wide range of music lovers. For more information, visit their Facebook page at Jet Set Facebook or YouTube channel at Jet Set YouTube.

— Ainsley Martinez

100TH

STREET PARADE

PARADE STEP-OFF: 2:00pm

STARTING POINT: Wantagh Avenue at Beltagh Avenue in Wantagh ENDING POINT:

Beech Street and Park Avenue. Block party will take place at Railroad Avenue immediately after from 3:00pm-8:00pm.

SUNDAY, APRIL 27TH 2:00PM

Rain date: Sunday, May 4, 2025

Herald gala celebrates L.I.’s top lawyers

Legal excellence and community service are honored at Heritage Club gathering of 300

By Brian Norman

Some of Long Island’s top attorneys were honored for their professional achievements and community contributions at the 2025 Herald Top Lawyers of Long Island Awards Gala at the Heritage Club in Bethpage on April 8.

More than 300 people attended the gala, where 50 of Long Island’s top attorneys, nominated by their peers, were recognized for their professional excellence and dedication to their communities.

Before the awards ceremony, attorneys gathered for a cocktail hour, where they had the opportunity to meet and connect with fellow honorees and colleagues.

Stuart Richner, president and CEO of Richner Communications Inc., opened the ceremony by thanking all of those who were in attendance for their dedication to their professions and the people they serve. “Lawyers are pivotal in navigating business and personal matters, and we admire the commitment that our honorees have to their clients and all of the institutions they serve,” Richner said.

He added that a portion of the proceeds from the gala would be donated to the WE CARE fund, the charitable arm of the Nassau County Bar Association.

The gala attracted representatives from law firms across Long Island. Among those honored were Minevich Law Group, Villacorta Law Group, JAG Law Group, Schroder & Storm LLP, and Meyer Suozzi Attorneys at Law.

Thomas A. Kenniff, a criminal defense attorney and founding partner of Raiser & Kenniff P.C., was the keynote speaker. He detailed his high-profile defense of Marine veteran Daniel Penny last year, when the Long Island native was acquitted of homicide charges stemming from a fatal subway confrontation with a man who had a history of violent behavior.

Kenniff said he was humbled to speak in front of the gala honorees, and honored to be recognized by his peers as the recipient of the Distinguished Service Award.

“It’s very humbling, and it’s difficult to speak and be recognized by a crowd of this caliber,” he said. “You look around the room and see first-class attorneys, household names in the legal industry, and you can’t help but ask yourself, ‘Why me?’ It’s a tremendous honor.”

Nicholas Papain, director and managing member of Sullivan Papain Block McManus Coffinas & Cannavo P.C., was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award. Papain, who has spent his entire career with the firm since joining it in 1978, has been a personal injury lawyer for 47 years. He has represented families of first responders to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, and played a key role in securing a $700 million settlement for rescue and recovery workers.

“I represent people who have been

Hundreds attended to celebrate award winners recognition.

catastrophically injured, and offer them, through our work for them, some financial security for the losses that they have suffered,” Papain said. “It’s a huge honor, I am very humbled by it, I am very appreciative of it, and I am fortunate to be in this position.”

Other honorees included Svetlana Minevich, of the Minevich Law Group, named top health care attorney; Eduardo M. Villacorta, of Villacorta Law Group, recognized as top immigration attorney; and Marjorie Mesidor, of Mesidor PLLC, honored as top employ-

ment discrimination attorney. Mesidor said that to be recognized for what she does drives her to do well. “To be recognized for the work that you are doing is always a great motivator, particularly in times like these, where you feel like there is a lot going on in our country both socially and politically and in the legal field,” Mesidor said. “So this helps to put a little gas in your tank, so to speak, and encourages me to keep going.”

Vishnick McGovern Milizio LLP was among the firms with multiple members

The Schroder and Strom, LLP team, Allison Brewi (left), Nicolette MainiMoligano, Robert Goldstein, Esq., Edward Mohlenhoff, Esq., Anthony Forzaglia, Esq., Honorees Joseph C. Packard, Esq. and Christopher P. Byrnes Esq., Jeremy May, Esq., Asad Jilani, Michael Spellman, Esq. (right).

honored, and was recognized as the Top Law Firm on Long Island for the seventh consecutive year. Managing Partner Joseph G. Milizio said that it was a great feeling to receive the award at this point in his career.

“This award is an honor, and it means that I am at a stage in my career where I am able to be recognized for the things that I have done,” he said, “and that is a great feeling.”

For a full list of honorees and to view more pictures please visit: RichnerLive. com/toplawyerawards.

Tim Baker/Herald photos

Deborah A. Kelly, Esq. from Mejias, Milgrim, Alvarado, & Lindo, P.C.

Marjorie Mesidor from Mesidor PLLC.

Platinum Sponsor, Eduardo M. Villacorta, Esq. from Villacorta Law Group.

Courtesy Nixon Peabody

Allan Cohen (left), Honorees, Ashley Mistretta, Neil Diskin, and Christopher J. Moro (right) pose for photo representing their firm, Nixon Peabody LLP.

Honorable Joseph Spinola from Resolute Systems, LLC.

Anthony A. Nozzolillo Esq. accepts his award for Real Estate Law.

Jason A. Greenberg, Esq. from JAG Law Group.

Laurette D. Mulry accepts her award for her work with Legal Aid of Suffolk County, Inc.

Matthew T. McDonough, Esq. CRE accepts his award for Municipal Law.

Charles Skop from Meyer Suozzi, English, and Klein, P.C.

Ellen N. Savino from Sahn Ward Braff Coschignano PLLC.

Neil Diskin Esq. from Nixon Peabody.

Kathryn C. Cole from Greenberg Traurig.

Michael S. Amato from Ruskin Mosco Faltischek, P.C.

Platinum Sponsor, Svetlana Minevich from Minevich Law Group, P.C.

Amy E. Bedell from Lewis Johs Avallone Aviles, LLP.

Holden Leeds/Herald photos

The Vishnick McGovern Milizio LLP team, Roy Schwartz (left), Joseph Trotti, Katherin Valdez-Lazo, Theresa DeStasio, Honorees Joseph G. Milizio and Kristine Garcia-Elliott, Helen L. Tuckman, and Philip Hornberger. (right).

Nicholas Papain from Sullivan, Papain Block McManus Coffinas & Cannavo, P.C.

News briefs

Lynbrook pool registration opens April 26

Pool registration for the 2025 season in the Incorporated Village of Lynbrook begins April 26, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Recreation Center. Residents can also register at the pool starting Memorial Day weekend, when it officially opens for the season.

Memberships are available to residents of the Incorporated Village of Lynbrook, School District 20, and Rockville Centre. Registration forms will be provided on-site.

Applicants must bring two proofs of residency, such as a utility bill, driver’s license, or village tax bill.

Non–School District 20 residents must show a school tax bill, and birth certificates are required for children over age 3.

The pool will be open weekends only until June 19.

— Ainsley Martinez

Lynbrook residents experience outages

The Village of Lynbrook experienced scheduled power outages between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. on the nights of April 21–22 and April 22–23, according to the Lynbrook Emergency Management Office.

On average, the outages lasted between 15 and 30 minutes at a time.

— Ainsley Martinez

This was planned to perform system upgrades during the outages, according to Public Service Enterprise Group Long Island.

STEPPING OUT

An Evening with Misty Copeland

By Karen Bloom

pring is calling — and there’s no better place to answer than at Old Westbury Gardens. As blooms burst into color and we shake off winter — and early spring’s chill — the beloved 200-acre historic estate is the perfect place to be.

Now a few weeks into its re-opening, this idyllic landmark is ready to enchant visitors with its lush gardens, a refreshed Westbury House and a calendar packed with events and activities. And this momentous season marks the conclusion of its 65th anniversary year as a public garden and historic home.

For Maura Brush, Old Westbury Gardens’ president and horticulturist extraordinaire, the milestone continues to carry a deep meaning.

“Our anniversary year is still ongoing and we have so much to offer,” she says. “And we’re excited about the event we have planned for the 100th anniversary of ‘The Great Gatsby’ being published.”

Gatsby enthusiasts will have to wait for fall to celebrate iconic novel. In the meantime, there’s so much to enjoy — right now.

“When the gardens first opened to the public, it was Peggy Phipps and her friends who helped usher in that new chapter. Sixty-five years later, we’re still here, thriving,” Brush says. It’s a real testament to how loved these gardens are.”

Indeed, it’s not just about surviving — it’s about flourishing. The estate, once home to prominent lawyer John Shaffer Phipps, draws record numbers of visitors and members alike, year after year, enticed by its historic charm and horticultural magic.

And that magic begins the moment you step through the gates.

“All winter long you’re sort of just looking for any signs of life in the garden,” Brush says, about the transition to spring.

“The smallest snowdrop or crocus means the world. And then when you hit this time of year it feels like I can take a walk in the garden in the morning, and by the afternoon something else has sprung up. I love that the garden really changes almost day to day.”

One of her favorite early spring spots? The serene lakeside.

“In the early part of the season, the lake areas are just

Old Westbury Gardens sets its sights on the exciting conclusion of a milestone anniversary year

stunning. The trees haven’t fully leafed out yet, so the

stunning. The trees haven’t fully leafed out yet, so the sunlight dances on the water,” she says.

Keep your eyes open for some of the garden’s wildest residents: turtles sunning on logs, ducks gliding and birdsong echoing through the trees.

“This time of year you start to see the turtles more,” she notes. “The logs are filled with those turtles trying to get their Vitamin D, getting any sun they can.”

Just like us.

• Old Westbury Gardens 71 Old Westbury Road, Old Westbury

• For more information and program/events schedule visit oldwestburygardens.org or call (516) 333-0048

Another mustvisit is the delightful Primrose Path, at its peak in April through mid-May. Here, you’ll find delicate primroses in vibrant hues, forget-me-nots and a scattering of ephemerals — in an expression seasonal joy.

As spring progresses, Old Westbury Gardens transforms week by week. Daffodils, fritillaria, tulips, and more unfurl in careful succession, planned and planted by Brush’s dedicated team.

Of course, you’ll want to head over to the Walled Garden where tulips are in spring’s spotlight.

“The tulips change every year. What we really try to do is create a display that starts with the very early spring tulips and goes to the late bloomers,” Brush explains. Some appear in early April while others flower closer to May, or even in the middle of May.

“We take a lot of pride in the tulip display,” she continues. “The combinations are very thoughtful. We’ll find a tulip that we really like and then we’ll try to find a pansy or some other annual that has some colors that bring out the tulip’s color and coordinate with that tulip. One row might be very ‘hot’ with ambers and yellows and oranges and then the center aisle will be very ‘cool’ with pale pink and silvery blues and purples. The Walled Garden is a masterpiece.”

Each year Old Westbury Gardens offers a soul-refreshing way to celebrate spring’s return. Plus the extensive schedule of programs enhances its surroundings — and its rich heritage.

“I am especially proud of the dynamic public programming we have curated,” Brush says.“Beloved favorites like Dog Days and Midsummer Nights return, alongside exciting new additions. From inspiring art programs and wellness, we always have a rich roster of programming because that’s who we are.

“It’s a legacy to the Phipps family that their lovely home is so enjoyed by so many people. I think that’s what Peggy envisioned when she so generously gifted Old Westbury Gardens. She had a very happy childhood and life here. Her vision was she would be able to share some of that with the generations to come after her. And that’s exactly what she’s done.”

So go ahead — let spring sweep you away. The gates are open, the flowers are blooming and it’s all more spectacular than ever.

Experience an intimate and inspiring night with Misty Copeland, the trailblazing ballerina who made history as the first Black female principal dancer at American Ballet Theatre. Hear her incredible journey, from overcoming obstacles to becoming a global icon in the dance world and beyond. Copeland has often spoken out about being “different” in the ballet scene. From living in a motel to dancing on the stage of the Metropolitan Opera House, her story of perseverance through poverty, racism, and overcoming setbacks from injury has made Copeland an inspiring figure to millions. She is joined in conversation by screenwriterauthor-producer Susan Fales-Hill. She reflects on lessons learned, the remarkable mentors who have guided her on her path and her hopes and aspirations for the future. Also enjoy a performance by members of the prestigious ABT Studio Company, media from Misty’s legendary and trailblazing career, and some surprises, including students of Copeland’s Be Bold program, her groundbreaking afterschool dance initiative.

Saturday, April 26, 7:30 p.m. LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Blvd., Brookville. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or tillescenter.org or (516) 299-3100.

Jessie’s Girl

Drag out that neon once again and give your hair its best ‘80s ‘do. Those wild days are back — as only Jessie’s Girl can pull off, on the Paramount stage. The band of NYC’s top rock/ pop musicians and singers gets everyone into that “Back To The Eighties” vibe with the latest edition of their popular concert experience. With a lineup including four pop-rock vocalists dressing and performing as 80s icons, backed by a dynamic band, this is the definitive ‘80s experience. Throw on top of that: a load of super-fun choreography, audience participation, props, costumes bubbles, and confetti — and you have a party that audiences don’t want to leave. Jessie’s Girl has mastered over-the-top renditions of the some of world’s most unforgettable songs, all while dressed up as the iconic characters of that decade. Theater meets live music — covered with a load of ‘80s glitz.

Saturday, April 26, 8 p.m. $49.50, $37.50, $35, $25. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com.

Photos courtesy Old Westbury Gardens

Old Westbury Gardens enchants visitors with brilliant pops of color.

Your Neighborhood CALENDAR

APR

The Day the Tornado Struck: A Historical Talk

Join historian Donald Pupke for a fascinating presentation on the 1897 tornado that hit north Lynbrook, detailing its path and the damage it caused, at Lynbrook Public Library.

•Where: 56 Eldert St.

•Time: 7 p.m.

•Contact: lynbrooklibrary.org

On Exhibit

APR

25

Nassau County Museum of Art’s latest exhibition, the original “Deco at 100” coincides with the 100th anniversary of the 1925 Paris International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts (Exposition internationale des arts décoratifs et industriels modernes) that publicly launched the movement. The direct follow-up to the 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. On view through June 15.

•Where: 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor.

•Time: Ongoing

•Contact: (516) 484-9337 or nassaumuseum.org

‘Elephant & Piggie’s We Are in a Play!’

The beloved musical adventure, ripped from the pages of Mo Willems’ beloved award-winning, best-selling children’s books, is back on stage at Long Island Children’s Museum. Willems’ classic characters Elephant and Piggie storm the stage in a rollicking musical romp filled with plenty of pachydermal peril and swiney suspense perfect for young audiences.

•Where: Museum Row, Garden City

•Time: Also April 27, April 30-May 1, times vary

•Contact: licm.org or call (516) 224-5800

Lynbrook Pool Registration Begins Pool registration for the 2025 season opens for residents of the Village of Lynbrook, School District 20, and Rockville Centre. Bring two proofs of residency.

•Where: Lynbrook Recreation Center, 55 Wilbur St.

• Time: 9 a.m.-noon

•Contact: Lynbrook.RecDesk.com

Pink Talking Fish

Time

to Shred

Safely dispose of your sensitive documents at this community shredding event at East Rockaway Public Library. The shredding truck will be stationed in the back parking lot. No binders, please.

•Where: 477 Atlantic Ave

•Time: 10 a.m-1 p.m.

•Contact: eastrockawaylibrary.org

Earth Day Beach

Cleanup

Celebrate Earth Day at beautiful Sands Preserve Preserve! Join the efforts to help prevent plastic and other harmful materials from polluting our oceans and help keep the preserve’s shoreline clean. Bring your own gloves, all other materials will be provided. No registration is required. All beach cleanup volunteers receive free admission to the Preserve, as a thank you for their help in this important mission.

in English, Italian and Spanish at the Madison Theatre. This exquisite concerts celebrates the enchantment of Italy, showcasing the captivating persona and velvety vocals of Giada Valenti. Her voice evokes memories of Celine Dion’s powerful vocals blended with the charm of Edith Piaf, accompanied by remarkable special guests. Hailing from Venice, Giada promises an unforgettable performance filled with passion, emotion, and pure musical artistry. From the hauntingly beautiful “The Prayer” to the romantic “A Place for Us” from Romeo and Juliet, she mesmerizes her with stunning interpretations of beloved tunes.

•Where: Molloy University campus, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre

•Time: 7 p.m.

•Contact: madisontheatreny.org or (516) 323-4444

•Where: Jeanne Rimsky Theater at Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington

• Time: 8 p.m.

•Contact: landmarkonmainstreet.org.

strategy and learn about boosting your online presence, hosted by the Chamber of Commerce.

•Where: Comprehensive Audiology, 261 Broadway

• Time: 8-9 a.m.

•Contact: lynbrookusa.com

Feel the beat with Carole’s Kings

Plaza Theatricals continues its tribute series with a lively look at the Carole King songbook. The iconic singer-songwriter gets a brand-new sound with Carole’s Kings, the world’s first all-male Carole King tribute. This dynamic performance is jam-packed with chart-topping sensations such as “The Locomotion,” “I Feel the Earth Move,” “You’ve Got a Friend,” and many more. $40, $35 seniors.

additional races return to Eisenhower Park with three days packed with races for runners of all ages and abilities, through May 4.

•Where: Eisenhower Park, East Meadow

•Time: Varying times on Friday, Saturday & Sunday

•Contact: RunSignUp.com/ Race/NY/EastMeadow/ LongIslandMarathon

Strongbox Theater: An Evening of Six 10-Minute Plays

Check out StrongBox Theater’s latest production, showcasing local talent.

•Where: Bethany Congregational Church, 100 Main St., East Rockaway

•Time: Also May 3, May 9-10, May 16-17, 8 p.m.

•Contact: StrongBoxTheater.com

MAY

3

Soccer/Tball Clinic

A Soccer/Tball clinic for 3- and 4-yearolds, offering a fun introduction to sports in a structured environment. Through June 7. Fee is $115.

•Where: East Rockaway Recreation, 17 John Street.

•Time: 9-10 a.m.

•Contact: NLanderer@ villageofeastrockaway.org or 516-984-2106

AARP Defensive Driving

Take a full-day defensive driving course to save on insurance and improve your driving skills, at East Rockaway Public Library, $25 for AARP members, $30 nonmembers. AARP member number must be included on your check.

•Where: 477 Atlantic Ave.

•Time: 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

•Contact: eastrockawaylibrary.org

Three mammoth bands. Three musical phenomenons. One idea inspired by love of the music. That’s Pink Talking Fish. The hybrid tribute fusion act takes the music from three iconic bands creating a remarkable musical jam. PTF brings their unique sound to the Landmark on Main Street stage, on their latest tour celebrating the 50th anniversary of the incredible Pink Floyd album “Wish You Were Here.” This show consists of two sets. The first will be a full rendition of this epic album from start to finish, with “Classic PTF” combinations in the second set. “Wish You Were Here” is extremely meaningful to the band members and so many music lovers around the world and PTF is thrilled to bring this album to life in 2025. Although the music from each act is different, PTF has discovered that fusing the material together creates an amazing story. The epic emotion of Pink Floyd; the funky, danceable layerings of The Talking Heads; the styles, unique compositional structures and pure fun of Phish — to merge these three into one gives music lovers a special experience. Tickets are $49 and $46. Having an event?

•Where: 127 Middle Neck Road, Sands Point

•Time: noon-2 p.m.

•Contact: sandspointpreserveconservancy. org or call (516) 570-2185 or email info@sandspointpreserve. org

Giada Valenti’s

‘From Italy with Love’ Enjoy an evening of romantic songs

•Where: Plaza’s stage at Elmont Memorial Library, 700 Hempstead Tpke., Elmont.

•Time: 2 p.m.

•Contact: plazatheatrical.com or call (516) 599-6870.

April 24, 2025 —

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE

Public Notices

SUPREME COURT

COUNTY OF Nassau, Waterfall Victoria Grantor Trust II, Series G, Plaintiff, vs. Jorge Arias, ET AL., Defendant(s).

Pursuant to Amend Caption, Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale After Inquest, and Appointment of Referee duly entered on July 31, 2014, an Order Extending Time 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 SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS INDENTURE TRUSTEE OF CIM TRUST 2022-NR1, Plaintiff, vs. DONNA DEMARINIS A/K/A DONNA A. DEMARINIS, ET AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to an Order Confirming Referee Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on February 18, 2025, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the front steps on the north side of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY

11501 on May 13, 2025 at 3:30 p.m., premises known as 1-A Farnum 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 Incorporated Village of Lynbrook, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 42, Block 211-01 a/k/a 21101 and Lots 3-5. Approximate amount of judgment is $611,475.72 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #614931/2023.

Chester H. Greenspan, Esq., Referee Friedman Vartolo LLP, 85 Broad Street, Suite 501, New York, New York 10004, Attorneys for Plaintiff. Firm File No. 230647-1 152830

Search for notices online at: www.newyorkpublicnotices.com

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF WORKSHOP NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS will hold a WORKSHOP on Thursday, May 8, 2025 at 5:30 P.M. in the Board Room at the Village Hall, One Columbus Drive, Lynbrook, NY 11563, to review the following case(s): #1022 - Joseph Daidone, 8 First Street, Lynbrook, BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS, Ginger Fuentes, Chair Person of the Board of Zoning Appeals, Brian Stanton, Superintendent, Department of Buildings Lynbrook Publish 1X 153096

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

LEGAL NOTICE PUBLIC NOTICE VILLAGE OF EAST ROCKAWAY NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Zoning Board of Appeals of the Incorporated Village of East Rockaway, Nassau County, New York, will hold a Public Hearing at the Village Hall, 376 Atlantic Avenue, East Rockaway, NY on Wednesday, June 25, 2025 at 7:00 PM on the following application: #06-2025 Application of Monte Leeper, Architect, on behalf of the Owner, requesting a variance of:

1.Section 288-11 Side yards. A. of the Village Zoning Code to construct a 2nd floor, on an existing nonconforming 1-story house, with side yard setbacks of 5.7 feet and 8.2 feet, where a minimum of 5 feet and 10 feet are required.

2.Section 288-13 Front yards. of the Village Zoning Code to construct a 2nd floor, on an existing nonconforming 1-story house, with a front yard setback of 22.4 feet, where a minimum of 25 feet is required.

3.Section 288-13 Front yards. of the Village Zoning Code to construct an overhang above the front entrance, on an existing nonconforming 1-story house, with a front yard setback of 19.9 feet, where a minimum of 25 feet is required.

The premises are located at 9 Elbert Place, as described on the Official Tax Map as Section 18, Block 2, Lot 23.

TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that all interested parties will have the opportunity to be heard at the aforesaid time and place.

BY ORDER OF the Zoning Board of Appeals of the Incorporated Village of East Rockaway. Terrence Riecker Superintendent Department of Buildings

Dated: April 24, 2025 153095

To Place A Notice Call 516-569-4000 x232

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING, BUDGET VOTE AND ELECTION

VALLEY STREAM UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. TWENTY-FOUR 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 Twenty-Ffour, Town of Hempstead, Nassau County, New York for the year 20252026 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 Twentyfour 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. Twenty-four 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. valleystreamschooldist rict24.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

Public Notices

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 2018e, 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, 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 516-2560163. 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 516256-0163. 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 non-military 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. Twenty-Four 75 Horton Avenue, Valley Stream, New York 152495

Search for notices online at: www.newyorkpublicnotices.com

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 20252026 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

Public Notices

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 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. valleystreamschooldist rict24.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 516-4979398 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 516256-0163. 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 516256-0163. 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 5164979398.

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 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 20252026 school year. The meeting will be open to the public and livestreamed at www. eastrockawayschools. org. To Place A Notice Call 516-569-4000 x232

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 threeyear 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.

Public Notices

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/ miscellaneous,http:// www.counsel.nysed. gov/common/counsel/ files/absentee-ballotapplication-andinstructions-spanish. pdf), the District’s website (https:// eastrockawayschools. org/district/ voter_registration_ information), or by contacting the District Clerk (namayamoran@ eastrockawayschools. 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.nysed. gov/miscellaneous), the District’s website (https:// eastrockawayschools. org/district/ voter_registration_ information), or by contacting the District Clerk (namayamoran@ eastrockawayschools. 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 (516887-1802), email (namayamoran@ eastrockawayschools. 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

To Place A Notice Call 516-569-4000 x232

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. eastrockawayschools. org.

TOME NOTA ADEMÁS de que la votación sobre la asignación de fondos para cubrir gastos necesarios para el año escolar 20252026, 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 202526 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 20252026, 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/ miscellaneous, http:// ww w.counsel.nysed. gov/common/cou nsel/ files/absentee-ballotapplication-andinstructions-spanish. pdf), el sitio web del Distrito (https:// eastrockawayschools. org/district/ voter_registration_ information), poniéndose en contacto con el Secretario del Distrito (namayamoran@ eastrockawayschools. 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. nysed.gov/ miscellaneous), el sitio web del Distrito (https:// eastrockawayschools. org/district/ voter_registration_ information), o poniéndose en contacto con el Secretario del Distrito (namayamoran@ eastrockawayschools. 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@ eastrockawayschools. 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

Public Notices

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 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 ser un conjunto de secretarios electorales para emitir y escrutar los votos de conformidad con la Ley de Educación, §2019-a(2)(b) en dicha reunión especial de la Junta. Con fecha: 11 de marzo de 2025, East Rockaway, NY 152525

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 3Lynbrook 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 20252026 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 20252026 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 districtwide 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 20252026 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_meetings. Copies of the condensed form of the budget proposition, the 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 20252026 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 (20212024); 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. nysed.gov/common/ counsel/files/absenteeballot-application-andinstructions-english. pdf, Español http:// www.counsel.nysed. gov/common/counsel/ fi l es/absentee-ballotapplication-and -instructions-spanish. pdf, or the District website https:// lynbrookschools.org/ district/finance_and_ budget or by contacting the District Clerk by email theresa.moran@ lynbrookschools.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.nysed.gov/ miscellaneous, the District website https:// lynbrookschools.org/ district/finance_and_ budget, or by contacting the District Clerk by email (theresa.moran@ lynbrookschools.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 (516887-6558), facsimile (516-887-3263), email (theresa.moran@ lynbrookschools.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

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Redoing a basement before the tariffs kick in

Q. We bought our home three years ago, and are finally ready to finish our basement to make a family room, guest bedroom and a bathroom while enclosing our laundry. Right now it’s just a big open space with a lot of columns. The ceiling is low, and we’ve had estimates to cut down the basement floor. It seems like a lot of money to do all these things at once, but we understand that we need to do it before the prices for materials, as we’ve been warned, go a lot higher. We want to know what needs to be done if we want to lower the floor, take out two columns so our recreation room is bigger, and put in a bathroom. Is there any way to save money?

A. I doubt that you’ll save money, since you are correct that prices are creeping up, but only because of the uncertainty of markets. It seems that the Canada lumber tariffs may not take affect so rapidly, because Congress — including those from both sides of the aisle — is reportedly working on bills to stop the economic strife with our neighbor to the north. But it’s anybody’s guess, right now, day to day.

Basements have always seemed so minor when compared with additions and other renovations, but there are many safety codes you should become familiar with. First, many jurisdictions disallow any sleeping room in basements. Bathrooms are allowed in most jurisdictions, but verify whether a bathing fixture, shower or tub, is allowed. Some will only allow a toilet and sink.

You also need a second means of escape from the main room, not just the staircase you already have from the first floor. You’ll need an escape window or stairwell to the outside. If you choose a window, the sill can’t be more than 44 inches above the floor, and the window must have at least 5.7 square feet of clear opening, swinging outward into a 9-squarefoot (3 feet by 3 feet minimum) area of escape well with a ladder to get out to the ground level. I’ve watched these escape wells go from $3,500 to $12,000 over the past decade.

You will also be required to insulate the basement walls, and insulation must meet the State Energy Code, because when the basement is done legally, with a permit, it must pass the energy code analysis submission to the state’s website portal.

Many people, hearing all these requirements, elect to skirt the rules by hiring someone who does what they think will pass. When you are required to legalize the work, as the responsible party (the homeowner) in the process, sometimes work has to be redone because someone missed something. There’s a reason that professionals have to be involved, and it’s best not to try to save money by avoiding the inevitable, because experience teaches that the rules don’t get simpler over time. More next week.

© 2022 Monte Leeper

Readers are encouraged to send questions to yourhousedr@aol.com, with “Herald question” in the subject line, or to Herald Homes, 2 Endo Blvd., Garden City, NY 11530, Attn: Monte Leeper, architect.

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Albany’s failure is hurting our most vulnerable

ihave spoken directly with impacted families, caregivers and personal assistants about the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program, and their frustrations, fears and concerns are not falling on deaf ears. I hear their message loud and clear, and I share their views.

The program, known as CDPAP, is a lifeline. It allows elderly and disabled people to receive care at home from someone they trust, instead of being placed in an institutional setting. For approximately 250,000 people across New York, the program is the reason they can stay in their homes, maintain a level of autonomy and lead fuller, safer lives.

One of the bills in last year’s state budget quietly reshaped the entire program by ultimately handing a $9 billion contract to a single fiscal interme-

picking up right where we left off last legislative session, the Liberty Water team has been hard at work, talking with New York’s elected officials about providing meaningful rate relief to customers. Currently, roughly 30 percent of a Liberty customer’s bill is made up of taxes that provide no benefit to the water system itself.

The disproportionate level of taxes paid by our customers unnecessarily drives up the cost of water. That is unjust, but thankfully, we are keeping up the momentum from last year’s efforts to eliminate the special franchise tax — which makes up a significant portion of the overall taxes paid by Liberty customers — and to provide access to the state’s drinking water infrastructure grant programs. Once again, we are

diary, Public Partnerships LLC, an outof-state company with poor performance reviews. This decision eliminated the network of trusted local intermediaries and replaced it with a centralized system that has, by all accounts, been disorganized, unresponsive and deeply flawed. What is bewildering is that the adverse impacts this radical shift in care would create were entirely foreseeable, which is why I voted against that budget bill, and why, along with many of my colleagues, I have been raising the alarm on this transition since last year.

We must allow elderly and disabled people to have care they trust.

Unfortunately, the burdens of the transition are not borne simply by its administrators; they are borne by New Yorkers in a manner that is both personal and painful.

Quite simply, PPL has not been able to process the thousands of cases in this program, and many families have no information about the continuing care for their loved ones. Caregivers haven’t been paid. Patients can’t get questions answered. Families are left

navigating a confusing system that has failed to deliver even the most basic support. These aren’t merely abstract policy missteps — they are tangible policy failures with reallife consequences. Vulnerable New Yorkers are suffering while Albany refuses to admit that this rollout has gone off the rails. New Yorkers deserve better. This is not about politics, it’s about people. It’s about the mother who can no longer secure reliable in-home care for her disabled child, the senior who is terrified that he may lose his caregiver, and the personal assistant who depends on this work to feed her family but hasn’t been paid in weeks.

We cannot accept this as the new normal. As lawmakers, we have a moral obligation to protect the most vulnerable among us. That begins with acknowledging that this transition has failed and taking immediate steps to correct its course.

As I write this, the courts have extended the deadline for the transition, and lawmakers on both sides of

the aisle have come together in calling for a pause or outright repeal of it. In fact, I cosponsor legislation with more than 40 of the 62 state senators to repeal the transition to a single fiscal intermediary. This bipartisan concern underscores what is at stake. We simply cannot move forward with a policy that risks stripping some of our most vulnerable neighbors of the personal care assistants they rely on.

For many, these aides are not a luxury — they are essential for maintaining dignity, independence and, quite frankly, their ability to survive day to day. One of my constituents shared that, despite his best efforts, he still has not been able to secure the care he needs to support his blind mother, who cannot be left alone. Without proper support, it can be a seemingly impossible situation to navigate.

We must halt the transition of the CDPAP program to a single fiscal intermediary and demand a full, transparent public review of this deeply flawed and harmful policy. The wellbeing and independence of thousands of New Yorkers hang in the balance.

Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick represents the 9th State Senate District.

Liberty Water customers, we need your help

asking our customers to join us in this fight in Albany, and use the tools we have created to make their voices heard.

JStopthehiddentax.org is our advocacy website, and we encourage every Liberty New York Water customer to visit and use it to take action. Showing your support for these legislative changes is very simple. Visit the website, click on the “Take Action” tab and fill out some basic information. Once it is submitted, a letter will automatically be sent on your behalf to key decision-makers who can move this legislation forward.

extremely impactful, and will build on the nearly 60,000 letters that have been sent to elected officials in the past year.

oin us in the fight in Albany to stop the hidden taxes and lower your water bills.

Showing overwhelming support from our customers for this legislative change will move the needle. If you are one of the more than 3,600 Liberty customers who have already taken action through the site, take action again. The continuous reinforcement to our elected officials that you want to see these cost-saving efforts become a reality is

As a company, we continue to make a strong case to the prominent policymakers on behalf of our customers, and the message is resonating. Legislation to eliminate the special franchise tax as well as to provide access to public grant funding has been introduced again this year. Right now it is vital that the elected officials responsible for moving the bill through the legislative process hear from our customers. For those who want to see lower water bills, going to Stopthehiddentax. org and sending a letter to state leaders takes less than five minutes, and policymakers won’t be able to ignore the voices of our 125,000 customers. While the taxes collected do help fund local taxing jurisdictions, it is our firm belief that these taxes should not be collected through customer water bills. Making matters worse, our cus-

tomers are the only ones in Nassau County who have to pay this excessive tax. Moreover, your tax dollars are being used to fund water infrastructure projects throughout the state that Liberty is currently ineligible to access. Once again, those dollars are being collected without any benefit returning to the water system in your community. I want to be perfectly clear on one final point: The only advantage Liberty stands to gain in pursuing this legislative change is water rates that more accurately reflect the true cost of providing high-quality water service. That’s it. It is written into the proposed legislation that Liberty cannot realize any financial benefit from either bill. So what can our customers do? Visit stopthehiddentax.org, click on the “Take Action” section, and fill in your information to have a letter sent on your behalf directly to key decisionmakers. There is power in numbers, and we are hoping every one of our customers will join the fight for lower bills. Let your voice be heard!

Deborah Franco is president of Liberty Water New York.

Small Business Week celebrates entrepreneurs

every May for more than 60 years, the United States has taken the time to celebrate a crucial force in its economy: the small-business owner. This year during National Small Business Week, May 4 to 10, we will honor the entrepreneurial spirit that fuels innovation, drives local economies, and creates opportunity in communities across the country.

It’s important to recognize that this is more than just a ceremonial observance. Small Business Week is a chance to spotlight the backbone of America’s economic engine and the importance of supporting the 33 million small businesses nationwide.

Two of their biggest backers are the federal Small Business Administration and SCORE, a nonprofit organization that has mentored more than 11 million entrepreneurs since 1964. The SBA is a government agency that promotes and safeguards the interests of small businesses. Its mission is to support them and help them thrive, because they are such a vital component of the nation’s economy. The SBA provides access to federal contracts, counseling and financing, among other resources, to help these business grow.

Together, the SBA and SCORE will offer invaluable resources to both aspiring and established business owners at the annual National Small Business Week Virtual Summit, a free online event May 6 and 7. It will offer more than educational workshops; it will be a showcase of what’s possible when the public and private sectors collaborate.

That effort will include mentorships,

letters

Remembering ‘Steady Eddie’

To the Editor:

practical advice and access to federal programs and tools that can help smallbusiness owners navigate the myriad challenges they face, from financing to digital marketing.

The Summit won’t just be about learning — it will also be about community. Consider the sheer number of small businesses that dot the landscape of the cities, towns and villages that Herald newspapers cover. How many do you patronize on a regular basis, from your favorite pizza place to your favorite stationery store or barbershop? Many are anchors of their neighborhoods or downtown commercial areas, making towns into home towns.

Beyond the summit, the SBA is organizing in-person events across the country, including a national awards celebration in Washington, D.C., on May 5. There will be local events as well, giving municipalities the chance to recognize their own standout entrepreneurs.

But why should National Small Business Week matter to everyone — not just business owners? Because small businesses do more than sell products and services. They create jobs. Half of all U.S. workers are employed by small and medium-sized businesses, which contribute 43 percent of the country’s GDP. Small businesses mentor future leaders. They drive innovation. They support schools, sponsor local Little League teams, and strengthen the fabric of our communities.

Almost every dollar spent at a small business goes back into the local economy. And during challenging times, as we saw during the coronavirus pandemic,

Re Peter King’s column, “Ed Kranepool was the real Mr. Met,” last week: As a graduate of James Monroe High School in the Bronx (I entered as Kranepool left), I was following even his high school career, because my dad umpired high school games as Ed chased Hank Greenberg’s (no relation) career high school home run record.

As an aside, the title of Jimmy Breslin’s book, “Can’t Anybody Here Play This Game?” was a quote by Casey Stengel as he appraised his new team.

JOEL GREENBERG Merrick

Time for a bigger, better bottle bill

To the Editor:

Over 40 years ago, I walked with a group of concerned citizens from Inwood, Manhattan, to the Coca-

these businesses often demonstrate resilience and creativity that not only help their communities endure those times, but inspire new ways to overcome them, bringing residents closer together in the process.

Smart legislation is critical, too. State Sen. Monica Martinez, whose district covers parts of Long Island, recently introduced the Lift Our Communities, Advertise Locally, or LOCAL, Act. This bill would provide truly small businesses — 10 employees or fewer — as well as minority-, female- or veteran-owned businesses of any size with a tax credit of up to $4,000 so they can advertise their products and services.

Supporting small businesses is a yearround responsibility, but next month’s special week will give us a chance to recommit to their success. Whether you attend the virtual summit, shop locally, or simply share the story of a small business that inspired you, there are countless ways to show support.

To learn more about this year’s events, to register for the summit, or to find a celebration near you, visit SBA. gov/NSBW. And be sure to follow along, and join the national conversation, at #SmallBusinessWeek. Throughout the year, the Herald offers small businesses webinars and training, too, and we encourage businesses to sign up for these valuable sessions.

In celebrating this special week, we celebrate the grit, vision and drive that continue to shape our nation by shaping its economy — one idea, one storefront and one hardworking entrepreneur at a time.

tbride and ing disturbed moment. What much and the versity I thought than mine. the cheapest But separate

opinions Reconnecting with old friends

the other week I had the pleasure of flying to Atlanta to celebrate the wedding of two good friends. The ceremony was beautiful, the bride and groom were happy, and nothing disturbed the sanctity of the moment.

What really struck me was how much fun I had seeing a bunch of old friends from college and high school, and how much I’d missed spending time with them.

The groom and I had gone to neighboring colleges, although we’d known each other for years through mutual friends. I spent so much time over my four years with him and the other kids at St. Andrews university that there were some days when I thought I knew their campus better than mine. Certainly I knew where all the cheapest bars in their town were. But after graduation, we all went our separate ways, as happens. While we

kept in touch sporadically, the demands of life and work — not to mention the pandemic and general global craziness — meant that I rarely, if ever, saw or talked to many people who only a few years before I’d hung out with every day.

until this recent weekend, when we spent practically every waking moment getting up to our old shenanigans again. It sounds cliché to say, but it truly felt like no time had passed.

aThe most astonishing part was finding out how many of these friends now lived so close to me, with the majority of them having moved to New York City in the past few years. The last I’d heard from them, they were scattered as far apart as Los Angeles and London; little did I know that most of them now lived less than an hour away on the LIRR. I’ve already made plans to see some of them again soon.

every weekend. And for many young people, this connection is something that we’re all deeply missing.

Most people are aware that there is a loneliness epidemic in America. According to a study released in 2024 by the American psychiatric Association, 30 percent of adults experience feelings of loneliness at least once a week, with 10 percent admitting that they feel lonely every day.

fter college, we went our separate ways, but it was silly of me not to reach out before.

That got me thinking about how silly it was of me not to reach out before. A simple text, “Hey, how’s it going, dude?” and I could have been seeing them

Letters

Cola plant in Tarrytown to call attention to the fact that New York state needed a bottle deposit bill. I was sore for three weeks! We achieved victory, and New York passed the Returnable Container Act, commonly known as the Bottle Bill. This landmark law has proven to be a highly effective program, reducing litter and increasing recycling rates in our state.

Albany now needs to support the Bigger Better Bottle Bill (S5684, A6543). This legislation would raise bottle and can deposits from 5 to 10 cents, which would increase redemption rates, support some of our state’s most marginalized workers and further reduce litter. The nickel deposit was enacted into law in 1983. If it were adjusted for inflation, it would be 15 cents today.

This bill could generate as much as $100 million for the state, and those funds could be used to address limits on redemption options in low-income communities and other litter and solid waste problems. It would also create more consistency by including sports drinks, iced tea, wine and spirits and more. With more beverage types included, there would be more recycling, less confusion and less pollution.

We must stop littering our Earth with one-time-use disposable bottles. This 42-yearold law needs to be updated. Here’s hoping our Legislature and governor will carry this bill through to fruition.

JoSEpH M. VARoN West Hempstead

Joseph Varon is a past president of the New York State Marine Education Association, and a member of the Long Island chapter of

This is even more pronounced in young people, with 30 percent of Americans ages 18 to 34 saying they are lonely every day or several times a week.

This crisis, while not as immediately obvious as a drug or disease epidemic, is just as insidious in its negative impact on the health of our country and our communities. A variety of factors are believed to contribute to this problem, from technology to being overworked to our hyper-focused sense of individualism.

While experts argue about the cause, the negative results speak for themselves. Humans are naturally social

Food & Water Watch, and Beyond Plastics.

Surely we can shelter the homeless and their pets

To the Editor:

There is a desperate need for Nassau County politicians to establish a homeless shelter for people with pets.

There is nothing more emotionally jarring than looking into the eyes of a person who has lost everything and, in order to be admitted to a shelter, must surrender a beloved lifelong companion to an animal rescue — or continue to live on the streets — because Nassau County has no place for the two of them to go.

And it’s equally soul-wrenching to sit with a newly surrendered homeless animal, confused and scared, and console them as they get one last glimpse of the best friend they adored unconditionally.

Last month, the Safe Center of Long Island, in Bethpage, closed. Isn’t there a space like this that can be used as shelter for both the homeless and their pets?

politicians, for decades you have been telling homeless people what they need, instead of asking them. They have told me through their tears, and their animal friends by their despair. Will you act, or continue to look away from the truly voiceless, who in your campaign speeches you profess you will be a champion for.

DANA

FuCHS Long Beach

Dana Fuchs works at an animal rescue facility.

animals, and when we are unable to socialize, for whatever reason — from prisoners in solitary confinement to teenage shut-ins who spend all of their time online — the effects of being separated from others take a serious mental and physical toll on our health.

Studies have compared the impact of loneliness on our bodies to the effects of smoking 15 cigarettes, and concluded that it leads to higher rates of Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases. Loneliness literally kills us.

on the flip side, the desire for companionship can also lead people to seek connection and validation from unhealthy sources, such as political extremist groups, criminal organizations, and even drugs.

That’s why, now more than ever, it’s important to reach out. Shoot a text to your buddy from high school or call your friend from your sports team in college. Sometimes even a short conversation catching up is all you need to remind yourself how many friends you have, and how much they mean to you.

Will Sheeline is an editor covering Glen Head, Locust Valley, Oyster Bay and Sea Cliff. Comments? wsheeline@liherald.com.

Framework by Tim Baker

Hanging out on the Nautical Mile — Freeport