Merrick author Jen Calonita released her newest book, “The Taylors,” on Oct. 7, four days after Taylor Swift dropped her latest album.
He’s fur real: rescuer saving animals’ lives
By JoSEPH D’AlESSANDRo jdalessandro@liherald.com
Whenever an animal is in distress, John Debacker’s help is only a phone call away. Bellmore’s premier animal rescuer has a mission to help every animal he can.
Debacker, 32, lives alone with his four cats. He got his start as an animal rescuer around the time he graduated from Iris Wolfson High School in 2010. He saw that a neighbor had abandoned four cats when they moved away, and he volunteered to help catch them and finding them loving homes.
cue work prioritizes emergencies, most frequently cats stuck in trees and sewers, in the middle of highways and in other precarious places. While he most frequently handles cats, he has also rescued raccoons, squirrels and other domesticated small animals.
He does his work with equipment he bought himself: nets, leashes, incubators, trail cameras, microchip scanners and more.
e need more animal rescuers in
the world.
JoHN DEBACKER
Animal rescuer
Taylors’ drops days after Swift album
Local author channels Swiftie spirit Calonita’s ‘The
By BRIAN KACHARABA bkacharaba@liherald.com
When Merrick author Jen Calonita released her newest middle-grade novel, “The Taylors,” on Oct. 7, she didn’t expect to be in a release-week rivalry with Taylor Swift herself. Yet there she was, debuting her story about four Swift-loving middleschoolers just four days after the pop megastar debuted her own album, “The Life of a Showgirl.”
The timing seemed so ironic that some fans assumed that Calonita and Swift had conspired in a clever cross-promotion. But there was no secret collaboration, nor did the Swift camp ever contact Calonita about the release of her book, which was pub -
lished by Scholastic Inc. It was simply one of those coincidences that could make even the most skeptical reader believe in the power of the Swifties.
“The funny thing is, people really think we planned it that way,” Calonita said, explaining that the book was announced 10 months ago. “We had no clue she’d have an album coming out the same week. It was just this amazing coincidence.”
In a way, though, it couldn’t have been more perfect. “The Taylors” dives straight into the heart of fan culture, following four girls who share a name, a passion and a playlist. Each Taylor — ones nicknamed Teffy, TS and Tay Tay, and Taylor Perez — brings her own personality to the group: the shy
COnTinued On page11
“We need more animal rescuers in the world,” he said. “There’s just not enough of us. Unfortunately, people abandon cats every day, every week. There’s never, never an excuse for animal abuse — there’s always resources, such as shelters, rescues. They’ll take the kitten happily from them.”
After that first experience, Debacker committed himself to helping animals any time and anywhere. These days his res-
“It’s full time, but I don’t get paid — I don’t charge money for the services,” Debacker said. “I do take donations, but it’s all optional. If someone can’t afford my services, the animal won’t suffer. I’ll still catch the animal either way.”
Indeed, he stops at nothing to protect the lives of misplaced critters. In 2023 he got a message describing feline screams coming from a tree in someone’s backyard. There, 40 feet in the air, was a 6-week-old kitten. Debacker climbed as high as he could, and the kitten, as he tells it, leapt into his outstretched hands. The cat now has a safe
Courtesy Jen Calonita
Hablamos Español Maidenbaum Property Tax Reduction Group, LLC
Weekend nor’easter causes minimal outages
By BRIAN KACHARABA bkacharaba@liherald.com
A nor’easter that struck Long Island over Columbus Day weekend brought heavy rain, strong winds and coastal flooding across the region, but caused minimal power outages in the Bellmore-Merrick area.
The storm prompted Gov. Kathy Hochul to declare a state of emergency for New York City, Long Island and Westchester County. Nassau and Suffolk executives also issued emergency declarations for their respective regions.
Rain and wind began battering the South Shore on Oct. 12. In Bellmore, a downed utility pole on Sunrise Highway near Bellmore Avenue knocked out power in the area and forced the closure of the roadway in both directions, as power lines stretched across the street. It was unclear how the pole fell.
On the afternoon of Oct. 13, strong winds bent a traffic light pole at the corner of Bellmore and Beltagh avenues, leaving the signal hanging about four feet above the roadway.
In Merrick, PSEG Long Island reported nearly 80 outages in the vicinity of Yale and Beverly roads, Lindenmere Drive and Bradley Court, which were restored by noon on Oct. 13, according to the utility’s outage map. Another five outages near Henry and Richard streets were restored later that afternoon.
As of 8:30 p.m., PSEG said it had restored power to nearly all of its customers affected by the storm since 7 a.m. the previous morning. About 466 of the utility’s 1.2 million customers across Long Island and the Rockaways remained without power.
The company said more than 900 line workers, tree trimmers, surveyors and other field personnel were mobilized, along with about 580 off-Island workers
brought in to assist with restoration efforts. Crews had already responded to more than 90 reports of downed trees and large limbs across its service area.
PSEG said it expected most customers affected overnight to have their power restored by the end of the day on Oct. 13 and that the utility had enough personnel to respond effectively to remaining outages.
Conditions on Columbus Day remained cloudy, with periods of rain and temperatures in the low 60s. Winds from the northeast were sustained at 20 to 30 mph, with gusts between 45 and 55 mph. Rainfall totals increased by another 1 to 1.5 inches throughout the day.
The National Weather Service issued a coastal flood warning for the afternoon, with the South Shore under warning between 1 and 5 p.m., and the North Shore
between 2 and 8 p.m. Officials urged residents in floodprone areas to take precautions as high tides and strong onshore winds posed flooding risks.
PSEG said in a statement that crews had been “working in difficult conditions throughout the night and will continue to work safely and as quickly as possible until all outages are restored.” The utility also thanked customers for their patience during the storm recovery.
Hochul’s state of emergency allowed additional state resources to be deployed to affected areas as the storm moved through the region. The nor’easter’s combination of rain, strong winds and coastal flooding disrupted travel and power across much of Long Island through the holiday, as restoration and cleanup efforts continued into the evening.
Courtesy John Scalesi Jr.
A downed utility pole on Sunrise Highway near Bellmore Avenue knocked out power in
Faith and fellowship fill Sukkot evening
By BRIAN KACHARABA bkacharaba@liherald.com
The Merrick Jewish Centre brought community members together under the stars for a night of connection and reflection during its “Sipping with the Stars” celebration on Oct. 9.
The event, held in the synagogue’s sukkah, offered stargazing with telescopes, s’mores, and warm beverages — including spiked options for adults — as part of the week-long Sukkot festival. While earlier in the week brought unseasonably warm temperatures to Long Island, the chilly evening air perfectly matched the cozy, communal atmosphere of the gathering.
Rabbi Josh Dorsch said that Sukkot is often overlooked in favor of the better-known High Holy Days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, but it holds a deeply meaningful place in the Jewish calendar.
“Everybody thinks that the High Holy Days end after Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur,” he said. “But two days after Yom Kippur, there’s another festival known as Sukkot, that’s eight days long. The point of Sukkot is that you’re really just supposed to enjoy and be happy.”
Participants gathered inside and around the sukkah, a temporary structure built for the holiday to symbolize gratitude, humility, and connection. The fragile walls and open roof allowed guests to gaze up at the night sky — a reminder, Dorsch explained, of the holiday’s message about finding joy beyond material comfort.
“We leave the comforts of our own luxury homes and stability, and we build these temporary huts,” Dorsch said. “We’re just supposed to sit there and look up at the stars and recognize that true happiness is more than what you have — it’s really about the blessings in your life, spending time with family and friends in community.”
For attendees, the simple pleasures of stargazing, laughter, and shared warmth captured the spirit of Sukkot — celebrating gratitude and togetherness beneath a canopy of stars.
Merrick’s Howard Zryb enjoyed a memorable night with his grandson, six-yearold Dylan
Stu Goldman/Herald Photos Asa Bleier, 10, and father Darren set up their telescope to enjoy an evening of stargazing.
The “Sipping with the Stars” event was held in the Merrick Jewish Centre’s sukkah on Oct. 9.
Temple custodian Corey Stamler, from left, Josh Diamond, Sisterhood Co-President Marissa Bleier, and David Littman prepared s’mores for their guests.
Darren Bleier prepared the telescope to help Lucas KruegerBrozik, 8, Lena Calzontzi, 7, and Mira Calzontzi, 6, look at the stars.
Caleb Littman, 10, and Elijah Littman, 8, of Merrick enjoyed the tasty treats at the Merrick Jewish Centre.
Zryb of Wantagh.
Questions we’ve been asked...
My mother may soon be applying for Medicaid. How does this affect funeral arrangements?
The latest Medicaid regulations now permit individuals to set aside a portion of their assets in an irrevocable trust account in order to have funds for future funeral expenses. When an individual approaches the time when Medicaid coverage seems likely, social workers generally advise families to look into this funeral pre-funding option.
Here’s how we can help:
• The Family will make an appointment with us to discuss just what we are to do when the death occurs.
• We discuss options and record their wishes not just about preferred funeral home services but cemetery, church, monument inscription, newspaper notices, etc. We inform the family of exactly what the funeral home and third party costs are at the present time.
• Funds to cover those expenses can then deposited in our FDIC insured PRE - PLAN Trust. The Trust pays sufficient interest to allow us to guaranty those future funeral home costs into the future.
• While the funds remain in the name of the individual going on Medicaid, eligibility to receive Medicaid coverage is not affected.
If we can help you with this important matter, call us and our knowledgeable staff will answer your questions. Moreover, there is no cost involved in establishing a PRE-PLAN Trust.
Leo F. KEARNS, Inc. Funeral Directors
Thomas L. Kearns, Patrick J. Kearns, Paul C. Kearns-Stanley (516) 794-0500 or 1-800-640-9500 (NYS)
445 East Meadow Ave., East Meadow (across from the East Meadow Post Office) www.LEOFKEARNS.com
Law Firm’s New Guide
Families Coping with Alzheimer’s and Dementia
When the unfortunate diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia is made, the whole world shifts for the patient and their family. Uncertainty abounds. For this reason, Ettinger Law Firm has published a guide for families facing these dilemmas, available as a free download at our website, trustlaw.com.
Sections of interest are:
Communication Strategies: Adapting communication techniques to improve connection and reduce frustration.
Establishing Daily Routes: Predictability reduces anxiety, helps with orientation and promotes independence.
Creating a Safe Home Environment: Modifying the home to reduce the risk of falls and other accidents.
Medical Care and Support: The importance and benefits of early diagnosis in slowing the progress of the disease and improving quality of life, as well as a list of questions to ask the doctor. Non-Medical Interventions: Different types of therapy, both physical and
mental to support physical and mental wellbeing. Building a Care Team: Who is on the team and avoiding caregiver burnout.
Coping with Behavioral Changes: Tips on managing new and challenging behaviors, such as agitation, depression, waking and sleep disturbances.
One of the biggest mistakes we see families make is the failure to connect with an elder law attorney upon learning of the illness. We understand that it is easy to overlook the legal where there are so many other social, emotional, psychological and medical issues in play. Early legal intervention, however, allows the family to obtain all the legal documents they will need later on, such as the “prescription strength” elder law power of attorney. The earlier the family moves to protect assets from being depleted for the cost of care, the more assets will be saved. Perhaps most important of all, the elder law attorney will be able to assure the family that caregiver services will be available when needed and the home and life savings will not all be lost for care.
PLANNING SINCE 1991 trustlaw.com
Trusts & Estates • Wills & Probate • Medicaid NO-COST CONSULTATION: 516-327-8880 or email info@trustlaw.com 100 Merrick Rd., Rockville Centre • 3000 Marcus Ave., Lake
The driver, a Freeport man, was later arrested on drug-related charges.
Freeport man charged after crash that injured pedestrian
A Freeport man was arrested on Oct. 10 after police say he struck a pedestrian and a parked postal vehicle in Merrick while driving under the influence of drugs.
According to Nassau County police officials, officers responded to a crash in front of the post office on Merrick Road near Merrick Avenue around 10:40 a.m. Investigators determined that Jeffrey Butt, 45, was driving a 2025 black Chevrolet eastbound when his vehicle hit an unidentified 50-year-old man and then a parked United States Postal Service truck.
where he was listed in stable condition. Butt was also transported to a hospital with minor injuries.
Two other parked vehicles were also damaged in the chain-reaction crash.
The pedestrian suffered serious injuries and was taken to a local hospital,
According to detectives, an investigation revealed that Butt was impaired by drugs at the time of the crash. Police said he was found in possession of a substance believed to be cocaine and pills believed to be oxycodone. He was arrested without incident.
Butt is charged with driving while ability impaired by drugs, assault, vehicular assault, reckless driving, and multiple counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance.
He was scheduled to appear at Nassau First District Court in Hempstead on Oct. 15.
—Brian Kacharaba
Jeffrey Butt
Brian Kacharaba/Herald Police investigated the scene of a crash on Merrick Road near Merrick Avenue on Oct. 10, where officers say a vehicle struck a pedestrian and a parked U.S. Postal Service truck.
Thomas L. Kearns
MERRICK FESTIVAL
SARAH FLYNN
V.S. NORTH
Senior SWIMMING
A KEY MEMBER OF Valley Stream Central High School District’s girls’ swim program since its inception in 2023, Flynn earned the coaches award as a sophomore and has served as a two-year captain. She has earned an appearance in the Nassau County championships in each season and reached the finals of the 100-yard butterfly as a junior. Her career-best time in the event is 1:07.02, and she also thrives in the 100 and 200 freestyle.
games to watch
Friday, Oct. 17
Girls Volleyball: V.S. North at Clarke 5 p.m.
Football: Freeport at Westbury 5 p.m.
Football: Plainview at Oceanside 6 p.m.
Football: Floral Park at South Side 6 p.m.
Football: Elmont at Hewlett 6 p.m.
Football: Bethpage at Wantagh 6 p.m.
Football: Locust Valley at Plainedge 6:30 p.m.
Girls Volleyball: Mepham at Calhoun 6:45 p.m.
Football: Sewanhaka at V.S. North 7 p.m.
Football: V.S. South at Division 7 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 18
Football: Carey at Clarke 11 a.m.
Girls Volleyball: E.Meadow at V.S. Central 11:45 a.m.
Girls Volleyball: Plainedge at Elmont 11:45 a.m.
Football: Baldwin at Roosevelt 12 p.m.
Football: Massapequa at Farmingdale 1 p.m.
Football: New Hyde Park at Mepham 2 p.m.
Football: MacArthur at Calhoun 2 p.m.
Football: Long Beach at East Meadow 2 p.m.
Football: Jericho at V.S. Central 2 p.m.
Football: Kennedy at Roslyn 2 p.m.
Football: Lynbrook at Seaford 2 p.m.
Football: East Rockaway at North Shore 2 p.m.
Football: Malverne at Lawrence 2 p.m.
Nominate a “Spotlight Athlete”
High School athletes to be featured on the Herald sports page must compete in a fall sport and have earned an AllConference award or higher last season. Please send the following information: Name, School, Grade, Sport and accomplishments to Sports@liherald.com.
Long Beach hands Calhoun first loss
By TONY BELLISSIMO tbellissimo@liherald.com
Whipping winds are almost always a factor for sporting events at Long Beach Middle School and last Friday night was no different as an overflow homecoming crowd watched the Marines grind out a 14-7 victory over Calhoun in a Nassau Conference II defensive slugfest.
“It’s great to get a win on homecoming, especially against a team that came in here undefeated,” Long Beach senior linebacker Tim Miller said. “We prepared well and executed in big spots. It was definitely a grind. They’re a blitzheavy team and it’s hard to throw against that and the wind, but my man Charlie Conway did a great job.”
Conway, the Marines’ senior quarterback, completed 12 of 18 attempts for 123 yards and one touchdown and junior running back Brody Riedel had a combined 165 rushing (113) and receiving yards and a score as they improved to 3-2 while handing the Colts (4-1) their first loss.
“We hit some big screen plays because of how they were pressuring us defensively and we were able to run the ball well with Brody,” Long Beach head coach Scott Martin said. “We felt good up a touchdown at halftime and had a really nice long drive to open the second half. To go up two scores the way the game was unfolding and with the wind was huge.”
Calhoun, which ripped off impressive wins over New Hyde Park, Roosevelt, Kennedy and Roslyn out of the gate, scored its lone touchdown with 6:12 remaining in the fourth quarter but never got the ball back after Long Beach sophomore Jon Hayes recovered the ensuing onside kick.
“I’m not one to talk about morale victories,” Calhoun head coach Nick Rawls said. “The kids go hard every week and tonight was no different. We’d like a few plays back and had some tough penalties, but without a doubt I’d sign up to be 4-1 at this point.”
The Marines struck early in the second quarter and the weather was a fac-
tor in some decision-making. With the wind swirling, a 39-yard field goal never crossed Martin’s mind and on 4th-and-15 from the Calhoun 22, Conway connected with junior Brody Juan on a wheel route for a touchdown. It was 7-0 after senior Nick Amantea’s extra point.
Amantea’s ensuing onside kick was recovered by junior Danilo Corea after a monster hit by senior Kanye Ray, but a Colts’ defense that’s allowed an average of 8.5 points per game made sure the turnover wasn’t costly.
The best possession for either offense belonged to Long Beach to start the second half. Juan, Riedel, senior Zack Silva and junior Jaron Burns all caught pass-
es from Conway on a drive that covered 65 yards in 14 plays and ate up more than half of the third quarter. Riedel’s 3-yard touchdown help up as the gamewinning score.
Corea and Calhoun junior Michael Teta had takeaways in the fourth quarter. Teta’s fumble recovery set up senior Joe Beibol’s 23-yard touchdown reception. It was senior quarterback Tim Lynch’s ninth touchdown pass of the season.
Both teams have upcoming games sure to alter the standings. The Colts host MacArthur Saturday at 2 p.m., whilst Long Beach travels to East Meadow.
Eric Dunetz/Herald
Quarterback Tim Lynch and the Colts are off to an exciting 4-1 start despite a setback at Long Beach last Friday night.
Giangregorio focuses on fiscal responsibility
By BRIAN KACHARABA bkacharaba@liherald.com
After winning a special election in February to fill a vacant seat in the 19th Legislative District, Republican Michael Giangregorio is now seeking the seat in the newly redrawn 12th District.
The 58-year-old Merrick resident says his top priority as a county legislator is ensuring that the government spends taxpayer money wisely — and that families can afford to continue living in the communities they love. A vice president at J.P. Morgan’s Corporate & Investment Bank, Giangregorio said his decades in finance have helped shape his approach to local government.
“I bring a financial mindset to the Legislature,” he said. “We have to be fiscally smart and fiscally responsible. It’s about cutting waste and keeping services the same, because people have grown accustomed to them.”
Since taking office, Giangregorio said, he has voted three times against raising county taxes, emphasizing that his goal is to maintain affordability while still supporting essential services. He said he believes the county can continue to deliver strong public safety and quality-of-life programs without unnecessary spending.
“I was happy to be able to vote three times and not raise taxes in the county,” he said. “Holding the line as long as we can is part of our responsibility.”
The ability to find efficiencies without reducing services, Giangregorio said, is what makes Nassau’s government sustainable. “It’s about being smart with how we allocate resources,” he said. “People moved here for a reason — we have to protect what makes Nassau County desirable while being careful with every dollar we spend.”
‘It felt like a
Tim Baker/Herald
Nassau County Legislator Michael Giangregorio, of Merrick, is seeking the seat in the newly redrawn 12th District, focusing on fiscal responsibility and advocacy for people with disabilities.
Beyond fiscal policy, Giangregorio has made advocacy for people with disabilities a central part of his public service. A father of two sons, one of whom is on the autism spectrum, he said his personal experience drives him to push for inclusion and accessibility across the county.
“Being a legislator allows my voice to be heard,” he said. “It allows me to help other families who might not know where to turn.”
He has helped secure funding for an accessible playground at Cedar Creek Park, advocated to have communication boards installed in county parks for those who are nonverbal, and supported pay increases for preschool therapists who had gone decades without a raise. He also worked to streamline county coordination with service providers after a state restructuring created confusion for families seeking support.
Giangregorio’s commitment to autism awareness extends beyond legislation. He and his family have spoken at local schools to promote understanding and reduce bullying. Education and empathy, he said, are key to building stronger communities.
“When you challenge young people and you give them the opportunity to learn and understand, the bullying stops,” he said. “It starts at home. We’ve got to bring kindness and acceptance back.”
Before entering public office, Giangregorio volunteered extensively with the Boy Scouts of America, his parish and local civic organizations. He said that running for office felt like a natural next step in his lifelong commitment to service.
“I like what I do and I want to continue to do it,” he said. “We’re here to serve, and I’ll always do everything I can to make things better than when I found them.”
good time to serve,’ Gionesi says
By BRIAN KACHARABA bkacharaba@liherald.com
Democrat Michael Gionesi, a lifelong Bellmore resident and a first-time political candidate, says his run for the seat in Nassau County’s 12th Legislative District is motivated by a sense of duty to his community rather than political ambition.
“I got a phone call asking me to run, and I answered the call and said yes,” he said. “It kind of felt like a good time to serve to some degree.”
A graduate of SUNY Farmingdale and a former college baseball player, Gionesi went on to earn a law degree with honors, and now serves as a principal law clerk in the New York State Unified Court System, focusing on matrimonial and family law. His career, he said, shaped his understanding of people and their challenges. “I figured, what better way to serve people than helping them through a very raw, emotional time during their lives?” he said, explaining that his work in family court helped solidify his passion for community service.
As he campaigns in the 12th District — which encompasses North Bellmore, North Merrick, Bellmore, Merrick, and parts of Wantagh and Freeport — Gionesi said he is focused on addressing the issues that affect residents most deeply. Chief among them is reopening the Safe Center, Nassau County’s only agency dedicated to helping victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, which closed earlier this year.
He called its closure a critical loss for residents in crisis.
Charles Shaw/Herald
Democrat Michael Gionesi, a lifelong Bellmore resident and first-time candidate in Nassau County’s 12th Legislative District, says his campaign is driven by a commitment to community service.
“It shouldn’t be a Democratic issue. It shouldn’t be a Republican issue,” Gionesi said. “It should be a matter of common decency and a matter of common sense.”
He also emphasized the need to distribute more of the county’s opioid settlement funds, which he says
total over $100 million but have largely remained unspent. Citing his experience as a family law attorney, Gionesi said he has seen how addiction tears families apart and that the funds should be used for treatment and prevention.
“Addiction can affect anybody,” he said. “Those people need help and they deserve it. That’s what that money is there for.”
In addition to social services and addiction prevention, Gionesi said he is committed to keeping property taxes low, supporting small businesses and protecting county retirees’ health benefits. He said he views local economic stability and affordability as fundamental to community well-being.
He also pointed to the importance of bipartisanship and collaboration if he is elected to the Legislature, which currently has a Republican majority. He compared political cooperation to his work in family law, where compromise and communication often yield the best outcomes.
“Whether you’re Republican, Democrat or independent, the person I’m running against is not my enemy,” he said. “You can’t view people in the Legislature as your enemies, because that doesn’t engender work product that will best serve my constituents.”
Ultimately, Gionesi said, he wants voters to see him as an honest and approachable public servant focused squarely on their needs.
“With me, what you see is what you’re going to get,” he said. “The job’s not about me. It’s about them — the people I represent and the people I’m in charge of protecting.”
OBITUARY
Kevin Conroy, devoted public servant, dies at 68
Kevin Conroy, a respected public servant, accomplished professional, and devoted family man, died peacefully on Oct. 4. He was 68.
His life was defined by integrity, service and a deep commitment to those around him, family members said.
A native of Merrick, Conroy earned a degree from Hofstra University, where he distinguished himself as an AllAmerican lacrosse player — a testament to his drive and leadership from an early age. He went on to become a certified public accountant and served with distinction as comptroller for the largest township in the United States.
During his tenure, Conroy was widely respected for his fiscal expertise, diligence and ethical stewardship of public resources. In recognition of his contributions, he was honored by the Long Island Contractors Association — a reflection of the high regard in which he was held across both the public and private sectors.
Conroy’s professional life also included more than two decades of service as a sidelines official for the New York Jets, a role that combined his lifelong love of sports with his characteristic precision and dedication.
In the spirit of giving back, he also served on the Board of Education while
living in Levittown. There, he provided trusted fiscal guidance to fellow board members and district officials, contributing to the well-being of the local community and its students.
Beyond his professional achievements, Conroy was most proud of his family. He was the beloved husband of Constance Conroy and the devoted father of Katharine and Lauren. He was a guiding force in their lives, always offering support, wisdom and encouragement.
He was also a cherished brother to Maureen Grilli, Richard Conroy, Stephen Conroy, Robert Conroy, John Conroy and the late Paul Conroy. To his siblings and extended family, he was a steady presence — known for his humor, strength and unwavering love.
Conroy was a generous mentor to many young professionals, helping to shape careers and lives through his guidance and support. His influence will continue to be felt through the many people he inspired along the way.
Kevin Conroy’s legacy is one of service, love and leadership. He will be deeply missed by his family, friends, colleagues and all who were fortunate to know him.
— Brian Kacharaba
Courtesy Julie Grilli
Kevin Conroy, a Merrick native and longtime public servant remembered for his integrity, leadership and devotion to family, was admired for his decades of service as a comptroller, educator and mentor. He died peacefully on Oct. 4 at age 68.
Fayette marks International Day of Peace
Students and staff at Harold D. Fayette School in the North Merrick School District came together on Sept. 22 to celebrate the International Day of Peace, a day dedicated to unity, reflection, and hope for a better world.
Representatives from every classroom took the stage to share personal reflections on what peace means to them, speaking before their peers about kindness, respect, and inclusion. Each class also created colorful posters filled with thoughtful messages and drawings symbolizing harmony and friendship, which were displayed throughout the school.
The celebration culminated outdoors, where the entire Fayette community joined together beside the playground. Holding bright, multicolored pinwheels representing their commitment to peace, students and staff formed a giant heart shape — a visual symbol of compassion and togetherness that could be seen across the school grounds. The pinwheels, gently spinning in the breeze, served as a reminder of the power of simple acts of kindness to make a lasting impact.
The event highlighted Fayette School’s continued dedication to fostering an inclusive environment where every student feels valued and supported. Through creative expression and community participation, the International Day of Peace celebration offered a meaningful opportunity for students to connect, reflect, and share in a collective message of hope for the world around them. For Fayette, the day’s message was clear — peace begins close to home.
— Brian Kacharaba
With the help of Principal Dr. Christine Talbot, representatives of each class shared what peace means to them.
Every student gathered outside with pinwheels and messages of peace, which displayed the true meaning of what the day was all about.
Photos courtesy North Merrick Public Schools
The Fayette School community gathered to form the shape of a heart in celebration of the International Day of Peace.
‘The Taylors’ celebrates friendship, fandom
one, the athletic one, the imaginative one and the outspoken one. They band together not just to buy Eras Tour tickets, but also to survive the journey that is middle school.
The novel explores themes of friendship, identity and self-discovery. Calonita, 51, describes it as “The Baby-Sitters Club” for Swifties, a story about learning to stand up for oneself and embracing what makes every person unique.
The concept for “The Taylors” grew out of Calonita’s earlier success with “12 to 22,” her 2022 novel about a tween girl who uses a mysterious TikTok filter to jump forward 10 years. Seeing how young readers connected with the character’s admiration for Swift, Scholastic approached Calonita and asked her to expand the idea into a series about girls who share both a name and a passion for their favorite artist.
But there was a twist: Scholastic wanted the book written in just two months. Calonita received the offer in May, and was given an October release date. The two-month writing window was the shortest of her career, but it was an opportunity she couldn’t pass up.
IEach chapter title in “The Taylors” corresponds to a Swift song, which gave Calonita a creative way to structure the story, and the Indianapolis setting was chosen because it was one of the final stops on Swift’s Eras Tour. By the time Calonita was revising, the real-world concerts were underway, allowing her to weave authentic details — including Swift’s surprise songs — into the book.
While the story is full of fan references and lighthearted moments, it also touches on the emotional challenges of friendship. One subplot involves a betrayal among the girls, because Calonita felt it was important to portray real-life problems that develop among fifth-grade friends. She wanted readers to see that it’s possible to argue, make mistakes and still repair relationships.
t’s a story about friendship and finding your voice — and that’s something everyone can relate to.
Jen CalonIta “The Taylors” author
She spent the summer working at a friend’s home in Garden City, writing during quiet stretches of the day and occasionally taking breaks to swim laps in the pool or listen to Swift’s music for inspiration.
“It felt like a writing retreat,” she said. “I was surrounded by good energy, and I think that came through in the story.”
The project was also a collaboration. Calonita worked alongside Londonbased author Elizabeth Eulberg, who wrote a companion novel “Love Stories: The Taylors Version #1,” set a few years later, when the same characters are in high school. The two coordinated closely to make sure their portrayals matched, sharing a document outlining each girl’s family, personality and even her appearance.
“I wanted it to feel real,” Calonita said. “In fifth grade, so much happens at the lunch table. It was important to show that friends can have conflict and still figure out how to move forward.”
Calonita grew up in Carle Place and now lives in Merrick, where one of her sons graduated from Sanford H. Calhoun High School two years ago and her younger son is currently a student. Before becoming a full-time author, she was an entertainment journalist for “Teen People” magazine, and interviewed stars like Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Lindsay Lohan, Hilary Duff and Britney Spears.
Her first book, “Secrets of My Hollywood Life,” launched a second writing career that has spanned nearly two decades and dozens of titles, including the “Fairy Tale Reform School” series.
Her connection to Swift’s music isn’t purely professional. Calonita attended Swift’s 2023 MetLife Stadium concert after a friend surprised her with a ticket for her birthday amid the infamous Ticketmaster frenzy. That real-life experience — the friendship bracelets, themed outfits and shared excitement — helped shape “The Taylors.”
Even the book’s cover illustration, showing each girl dressed for a different Swift era, came directly from that concert.
The book has already been warmly received. Publishers Weekly praised its realistic portrayal of friendship, and it made an appearance on NBC’s “Today” show, prominently placed beside host Jenna Bush Hager during a segment.
For Calonita, the enthusiastic response from both young readers and parents has been especially rewarding.
“It’s been really nice to see how people connect with it,” she said. “Whether you’re a Swiftie or not, it’s a story about friendship and finding your voice — and that’s something everyone can relate to.”
Calonita hopes to continue expanding the world of the four girls in future books. In the meantime, she is working on “The Curse Breaker,” the sequel to “The Isle of Ever,” which will be released next March.
“I’d love to write more stories about these characters,” she said. “Fifth and sixth grade is such a sweet spot — kids are learning who they are. And if Taylor Swift taught us anything, it’s that everyone deserves to feel seen and celebrated.”
Calonita will be promoting “The Taylors” at the North Merrick Library on Thursday at 6:30 p.m.
Courtesy Jen Calonita
Jen Calonita has appeared at numerous meet-and-greet events in the tri-state area recently to promote and sign copies of “the taylors.”
O’Connell seeks to build on 20-year record
By AINSLEY MARTINEZ amartinez@liherald.com
Maureen O’Connell, the Nassau County clerk since 2006, is seeking re-election, with a focus on continuing the modernization of county records and expanding services for senior citizens and non-English speakers.
A registered nurse and an attorney, O’Connell, 74, has served in public office for more than three decades, including a term in the Assembly and as deputy mayor of East Williston. In the clerk’s office, she says, she is committed to improving access and service for residents.
“When I walked into that office … there were about 2 million unprocessed documents,” she said. “We were not really modernized.”
Since then, O’Connell said, the office has undergone a significant transformation. Court and land records are now digitized and available online, allowing attorneys and members of the public to file and access documents without visiting the clerk’s office in a building on Old Country Road in Mineola that is notorious for its limited parking.
“We created an electronic database so that a lawyer who wants to start a lawsuit doesn’t have to drive over,” O’Connell said. “They can electronically file a lawsuit from their home office.”
In addition to overseeing deed and mortgage filings, the clerk also serves as the clerk of county Supreme Court. O’Connell said she implemented one of the state’s first Supreme Court filing databases, and added digital interfaces with local and state agencies to streamline access to records.
She has also led efforts to digitize historical documents, a process she refers to as “backfilling.” “The more we backfill, the better the public is served,” O’Connell said. She noted frequent visits from senior
citizens needing access to decades-old property records they have misplaced. “Sometimes that safe place is so safe they can never find it again,” she said.
To further assist homeowners, O’Connell created a Property Fraud Alert Program. Property owners can sign up to receive email alerts if any documents — such as deeds or mortgages — are filed relating to their property. The goal is to prevent fraud involving falsified documents.
“Fortunately, we have not seen a lot of it in Nassau — a very minimal amount,” O’Connell said. “But the county clerks statewide do see it in some counties.”
COUNTY CLERK
If she is re-elected, O’Connell said, she plans to focus on expanding parking at the Mineola complex and to continue efforts to digitize older records. She also hopes to expand the effort to adapting services to the growing population of residents for whom English is not their primary language. A language line, which translates conversations between clerk’s office employees and visitors in real time, has been implemented to aid communication.
O’Connell said that her dual background in nursing and law has shaped her approach to public service. “As a nurse, you like to help people,” she said. “Get the problem solved, and help them resolve whatever issues they’re in need of resolving.”
A lifelong Nassau County resident, O’Connell grew up in Mineola and now lives in East Williston. She trained at Flushing Hospital School of Nursing, and has a bachelor’s degree in health care management from St. Joseph’s College and a law degree from St. John’s University School of Law. She is an assistant professor of nursing at SUNY Farmingdale, and serves on several local boards, including the Farmingdale School of Nursing advisory board and Harbor Child Care in Mineola.
She remains passionate about her work for the county. “It’s just a wonderful job,” she said. “I love working, serving in public.”
Clerk must be more accessible,Williams says
By AINSLEY MARTINEZ amartinez@liherald.com
Joylette E. Williams, a professor of English at Nassau Community College, is running for Nassau County clerk. A resident of the Village of Hempstead since 1993, she has built her career in education and local service, and in her campaign is emphasizing administrative experience, accessibility and modernization.
Williams has a Ph.D. in English, is completing a second doctorate in higher education administration at the University of Connecticut and is in her second term on the Hempstead Board of Education. She was first elected in 2022, and re-elected in May after community members urged her to continue her service. Her current term runs through 2028.
“It helps me to understand not only the concerns that residents have throughout the county, but it’s very, very rewarding to actually participate in those advocacy roles,” Williams said.
Her academic background, she added, which includes several master’s degrees and over two decades of teaching, has prepared her for the administrative demands of the clerk’s office, which manages the county’s legal documents, property records and business filings. She noted her experience with recordkeeping, document management and organizational leadership in higher education.
Williams served as a Hempstead village trustee from 2021 to 2022, and sits on the Town of Hempstead’s Industrial Development Agency board. She is also the assistant secretary of the Hempstead chapter of the NAACP, is active in the Hempstead Community Land Trust, the Hempstead chapter of the AARP and the Long Island chapter of the National Coalition of 100
Tim Baker/Herald
Joylette Williams has a Ph.D. in English and is completing a second doctorate in higher education administration at the University of Connecticut.
Black Women. She is a member of the Nassau Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.
A central goal of her campaign is to digitize county records and to modernize the operating systems of the clerk’s office. “Right now it’s running like it’s 1974,” she said.
Williams has spoken with title insurance companies and attorneys who frequent the clerk’s office, she said, and has identified inefficiencies, including a lack
of online access to court records that makes it necessary for paralegals to visit the office in person.
The clerk’s mobile outreach van is underutilized, she added, and she has proposed increasing its presence across the county, including at libraries and senior centers. She has also proposed extending the office’s hours to 7 p.m. one day a week to accommodate working residents.
“The clerk’s office needs to be more accessible to all residents of Nassau County, and not just a few areas,” Williams said.
If elected, she plans to propose to the Legislature that fees for deed transfers and property transactions be reduced, and has identified seniors, first responders, first-time homebuyers and veterans as populations that could benefit from fee reductions or waivers.
Williams also cited the need for translators in the clerk’s office, noting a range of languages, from Spanish to Urdu, that are spoken by residents who visit the office regularly. Increased language accessibility, she said, would ensure equitable service across the county’s diverse population.
Her work in civic organizations, Williams said, has helped her better understand residents’ needs and leadership strategies. She added that she plans to request a leave of absence from Nassau Community College if she is elected, because both positions are county-funded and cannot be held simultaneously.
Williams was invited to join the ticket by the Democratic Party leadership, and underwent a vetting process that included interviews, reference checks and social media review. Her commitment to public service and community advocacy, she said, motivated her to accept the nomination.
Tim Baker/Herald
A registered nurse and an attorney, Maureen O’Connell has served in public office for over three decades, including a term in the Assembly.
For more than 100 years the American Red Cross on Long Island has helped the community prepare for, respond to and recover from emergencies.
HONORING
COMMUNITY IMPACT HERO
Luv Michael
FIRST RESPONDER HEROES
Officers Timothy Deegan and Matthew Walling
GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP HERO
Dr. Tochi Iroku-Malize
DISASTER HERO
Jennifer Keane
MILITARY HERO
Mel Cohen
YOUTH HEROES
Charlie Dubofsky and Sydney Hassenbein
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2025
8:00 A.M. TO 10:00 A.M.
The Heritage Club at Bethpage
Event Co-chairs: James Quent, Greg Lavine, and Jennifer Solomon
For tickets, sponsorships, journal ads and to learn more, please visit redcross.org/LIheroes
SPONSORED CONTENT
Ear Works Audiology: Patient-Centered Hearing Care
When it comes to hearing healthcare, one size does not fit all. At Ear Works Audiology, providers take the time to understand each patient’s unique experience — whether it’s a child hearing clearly in class or a grandparent reconnecting with family.
“Hearing loss is a very individualized disorder,” says Dr. Anne Capogna, audiologist with Ear Works Audiology. “People can have the exact same level of hearing loss and have very, very different experiences with it…so, as an audiologist, our first job is to diagnose the level of the hearing loss. But then we really spend a lot of time working
one-on-one with our patients to see how this hearing loss is impacting their life and what their situations they have the most difficulty with.”
That means looking beyond the test results. “We strive to improve their quality of life through better hearing,” Dr. Capogna says. Empathy plays a key role. “There’s a level of vulnerability to explain why you need help…that’s why I’m very vocal in encouraging my patients to give me as much feedback as possible. The more the patient shares about their hearing difficulties, the better I can assist and improve their communication goals.”
Follow-up visits are where real progress happens. “It is during these appointments that we can really fine tune the hearing aid to meet all of our patients’ needs,” she explains. “Helping [patients] is the most important part of my day.”
At Ear Works, it’s not just about better hearing — it’s about better living.
516-248-0068
www.EarWorksAudiology.com 11 Locations Throughout Long Island
Dr. Anne Capogna
The American Red Cross Heroes Celebration is the signature fundraising event for the American Red Cross on Long Island, serving Nassau and Suffolk counties.
Phillips has led county’s drive into digital era
By ROKSANA AMID ramid@liherald.com
Nassau County Comptroller Elaine Phillips traces her drive for public service to a childhood defined by independence, perseverance and the generosity of mentors who opened doors. Born in western Pennsylvania, the youngest of four daughters, she was the first in her family to attend college — a milestone achieved without guidance or financial help after her father’s death when she was 12.
“I was kind of left on my own a lot,” Phillips recalled. “There was no guidance for college.” That changed when she became a Rotary exchange student in Brazil for 13 months — an experience she described as life-changing. “It allowed me to mature and figure out who I wanted to be in life,” she said, adding that she still speaks fluent Portuguese nearly five decades later.
Phillips went on to earn both a bachelor’s degree in political science and an MBA in finance from Penn State, working as a bartender to pay tuition. Her career began in finance — first at Metropolitan Life, later at J.P. Morgan and Goldman Sachs, where she helped build mortgage-backed securities departments. After taking time off to raise her three daughters, she negotiated a rare job-sharing arrangement at Goldman that allowed her to balance motherhood with highstakes finance work for nearly a decade.
Public service came later. After serving as mayor of Flower Hill during Superstorm Sandy, she was elected to the State Senate in 2016, where she championed legislation closing a loophole that had allowed those convicted of domestic violence to keep certain firearms. In 2021 she was elected Nassau County’s comptroller — a role she calls both humbling and demanding.
Her signature initiative, she said, has been modernizing the county’s outdated financial system, which dates back to 1999. “We do our accounting basically
using Excel files,” Phillips said. “Departments like DPW, purchasing and accounting all had different data — none of it lined up.”
Her office led a two-year process to select CGI to implement a cloud-based enterprise resource planning system, dubbed Nassau Forward, that will unify county financial operations and automatically update accounting standards. “It’s transformative,” Phillips said. “Our goal is to go live between 2027 and 2028.”
During her tenure, the comptroller’s office also digitized vendor claims, cutting payment times from four months to less than 10 days. “There used to be paper almost to the ceiling,” she said. “Now it’s all online
COUNTY COMPTROLLER
through e-claims.” Phillips also overhauled the audit process, emphasizing collaboration and corrective action rather than punitive reports that “collected dust.”
She credited her staff for the county’s recognition by the Government Finance Officers Association with its Triple Crown award for excellence in financial reporting — the only county in New York state to earn it. Nassau has also received seven bond-rating upgrades during her term.
Looking ahead, Phillips said her top priorities, if re-elected, would be completing the Nassau Forward project, hiring additional accountants and expanding electronic systems for retirees’ benefits. “We’re still sending out paper checks to some retirees,” she said. “We want to move to direct deposit — it’s safer and more efficient.”
She acknowledged ongoing challenges balancing employee wages and benefits with affordability for residents. “You want to pay your employees a fair wage and provide good health care,” Phillips said. “But you also want to make sure people can still afford to live here.”
Reflecting on her career, she credited her success to teamwork. “I’m as good as the people around me,” she said. “You always want to do more — to make government more efficient, save taxpayers money, and keep Nassau in strong fiscal shape.”
Wink: Comptroller must be ‘fiscal watchdog’
By ROKSANA AMID ramid@liherald.com
Wayne Wink says Nassau County is once again standing on shaky financial ground — and he believes the comptroller’s office should be the first line of defense. The longtime public servant, attorney and former legislator is challenging incumbent Comptroller Elaine Phillips, arguing that the county needs more transparency, oversight and independence from the administration.
“I’ve always spoken truth to power,” said Wink, 58, who currently serves as minority counsel to the County Legislature. “What we need is a fiscal watchdog. What we have is a fiscal lapdog.”
A Hofstra University and St. John’s University School of Law graduate, Wink grew up in Uniondale, in what he describes as a “barely middle-class” household, and was the first in his family to go to college. He was elected to public office for the first time in the early 2000s and went on to serve 20 years in local government — including as a North Hempstead town councilman, county legislator and town clerk.
Among his legislative accomplishments, Wink cites the creation of Nassau’s Silver Alert law, modeled after the Amber Alert system but designed to locate missing seniors with cognitive disorders such as Alzheimer’s and dementia. “We’ve had a number of people saved because of that program,” he said. He also helped establish North Hempstead’s domestic partner registry before same-sex marriage was legalized in New York. and pushed for “right-sizing” government by transferring underused county assets to towns that could better manage them.
Jeff Bessen/Herald
Among his legislative accomplishments, Wink cites the creation of Nassau’s Silver Alert law, modeled after the Amber Alerts system.
Now, as he seeks to return to countywide office, Wink says that Nassau’s biggest problems aren’t new — they’re just unresolved. “When I left the Legislature in 2013, I came back 10 years later and found the same issues: the college, the medical center, the jail, assessments,” he said. “They’re all repackaged, but the same issues.”
One of his top concerns is the county’s ongoing fiscal oversight by the Nassau Interim Finance Authority, which was created more than 20 years ago amid
budget turmoil. “No county our size with our affluence and abilities should still be under a control board,” he said, adding that sustainable budgeting and stronger auditing practices could allow the county to regain autonomy.
Wink has been especially critical of the county’s use of American Rescue Plan Act funds to plug operating deficits. “The only way they’re balancing the 2025 budget is to take $120 million of Covid money,” he said. “We’re spending down reserves that were built up under Laura Curran,” he added, referring to the former county executive. “It’s unsustainable.” He said that Nassau faces a structural deficit of $200 million to $250 million per year in its four-year plan.
Wink argues that genuine transparency begins with full disclosure of how public money is spent — including vendor identities. “The county’s ‘open checkbook’ lists every transaction except who got the money,” he said. “That’s not transparency.”
If elected, he said, his first priority would be to restore field audits, which he claims have disappeared under the current administration. “The comptroller is there to make sure taxpayer dollars are spent wisely,” Wink said. “We need to get back to real audits, in the weeds, to find waste, fraud and abuse.”
He also called for greater oversight of county contracts, jail operations and agencies such as the Nassau University Medical Center, which he says have faced mounting financial and management issues.
“The county is slowly fading into the fiscal abyss again,” Wink said. “We’ve been here before — and if we keep the status quo, we’ll be back there again. Nassau needs new eyes, real accountability, and leadership willing to tell the truth.”
Tim Baker/Herald
Nassau County Comptroller Elaine Phillips is seeking re-election.
News brief
No progress again in Hollings DWI case
Sanford H. Calhoun High School
Principal Nicole Hollings returned to Nassau County First District Court on Oct. 10 for a continuation of her DWI case, but the brief hearing again produced no major developments.
A new court date was set for Nov. 12.
During the three-minute session before Judge David W. Wright, an order of protection was issued without objection from Hollings’ attorney, Robert Schalk. The proceeding mirrored her Sept. 10 appearance, which also yielded no new developments.
According to NYCourts.gov, the purpose of an order of protection in a DWI case “is to maintain peace and provide protection until all the facts have been gathered and the case is heard in court. When the court is convinced that someone has committed an offense or endangered the person protected by the order, a final order is issued.”
Hollings was arrested after a motor vehicle accident in Rockville Centre in the early morning hours of July 2. She was arraigned on July 25 and pleaded not guilty to charges of driving while intoxicated.
At her second appearance on Aug. 7, prosecutors said Hollings’ blood alcohol content was 0.25, more than three times the legal limit in New York. Her driver’s license was suspended, and she faces up to three years’ probation and a maxi -
Brian Kacharaba/Herald
Sanford H. Calhoun High School Principal
Nicole Hollings appeared in court on Oct. 10 for a brief hearing in her ongoing DWI case.
mum of 32 days in jail if convicted.
Two days before that hearing, Hollings announced she would take a leave of absence from her position as principal. In an email to families, she said the decision was necessary to address “personal issues” and emphasized the need for the role to remain free of distractions.
Michael Hughes is serving as interim principal for the 2025–26 school year, and Nicholas Grande was named interim assistant principal for sophomores and seniors.
— Brian Kacharaba
Hempstead Supervisor John Ferretti welcomes you to the 39th annual
Rock Hall Country Fair
199 Broadway, Lawrence | 516-239-1157
Saturday and Sunday October 18th & 19th 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free Admission & Parking
FEATURED ENTERTAINMENT
REDHAWK NATIVE AMERICAN ARTS COUNCIL DRUMMING. DANCING & STORYTELLING SATURDAY & SUNDAY: 1:00PM & 3:00PM
All Day Events
Historical Demonstrations Craft Vendors Harvest Tent Early American Open Hearth Cooking Antique Cars Food Area Children’s Craft Area Pumpkin Patch Animal Farm & Pony Rides
JOHN FERRETTI SUPERVISOR COUNCIL
Proceeds benefit The Friends of Rock Hall
Man saving furry lives, one call at a time
and loving home.
“I’m available 24/7 for emergency cases,” Debacker said. “If there’s a cat stranded on the highway, I’m not gonna just say I’m busy — I’m gonna respond right away.”
He responded to that exact circumstance not long ago. One of Debacker’s wildest rescues involved a kitten trapped near a concrete divider on the Wantagh State Parkway, which he was able to handle thanks to the help of State Police who closed the road tempo-
He carried out an even more complex operation over the course of 18 days at Kennedy Airport in 2021, when he tracked and trapped a cat on the tarmac.
“Emergency cases happen on an asneeded basis,” he explained. “Otherwise I go out trapping feral cats.”
Debacker’s work with feral cats is a necessity to combat cat overpopulation on Long Island in a humane way. After catching a feral cat, he feeds it, cleans it and takes it to veterinarians in Huntington, Freeport and Westbury and beyond for surgery. Once the cat recovers, its
spayed or neutered, and Debacker returns it to its colony.
Shari Feinberg came to Merrick in 2022, moving into a house where there were stray and feral cats outside. She called Debacker to take care of them, and since then the two have regularly worked together on feline matters.
“I just picked up another foster from John,” Feinberg said. “We have four foster failures and have a total of six cats — we have now become that proverbial crazy cat family.”
Feinberg is a strong proponent of getting pets from shelters and rescue oper-
ations rather than from breeders. “There are so many deserving, loving, sweet, equally beautiful (rescue) cats,” she said. “It will love you just as much, if not more, because you gave them that second chance.
Debacker’s efforts are funded through donations and his content creation online. Visit JohnTheCatGuy on YouTube and see ways to support his work at linktr.ee/JohnDebacker. Proceeds help pay rescued animals’ vet bills and fund new equipment. “I know things are tight for everybody financially,” Feinberg said, “(but) even if it’s just $1, every little bit helps.”
For emergency services, contact Debacker at (516) 557-3328.
Courtesy John Debacker
John debacker offers his animal rescue services 24/7 and free of charge.
debacker’s animal rescue projects are funded by donations of community mem-
STEPPING OUT
At the mock store modeled after Freeport’s Two Cousins Fish Market, kids role play as fishmongers and customers.
Visitors are introduced to the exhibit’s many components.
THE SEA IS CALLING
Children’s Museum’s ‘Saltwater Stories’ is rooted in local maritime traditions
By Abbey Salvemini
Long Island Children’s Museum sets sail on a bold new chapter with “Saltwater Stories: We Need the Sea and the Sea Needs Me,” its first new permanent exhibition in over a decade. The 1,900-square-foot immersive installation, which officially opened last week, invites families to explore Long Island’s rich nautical heritage, celebrating the people, traditions and cultures that have long relied on the sea.
Our coastal identity comes to life through storytelling, interactive play and local traditions. Kids (and grown-ups!) can climb into a full-size bay house, sort the day’s catch in a bustling fish market, explore the wonders under the sea and even hop inside a 500-pound hand-carved canoe. That canoe — a mishoon (Indigenous dugout canoe) commissioned by the museum — was created through the collaboration of Shinnecock Cultural Steward Chenae Bullock, her mentor Darius Coombs of the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe and apprentice Shane Weeks of the Shinnecock Nation. Welcomed by the museum in June, it now takes up residence within “Saltwater Stories.”
A culmination of more than 15 years of museum programming and partnerships with local fishermen, Indigenous communities and historians, it anchors Long Island’s past to its future with creativity and care. The concept first took shape several years ago, sparked by the museum’s long-running partnerships with tradition bearers and a desire to give families a more personal connection to the natural world around them.
Museum President Erika Floreska describes the exhibit as “authentic, playful and beautiful.”
Director of Exhibits Margo Malter traces its roots back to weekend programs begun in 2009, when local baymen and fishermen shared firsthand stories about life on the water. Over the years, those early conversations grew into a deeper exploration of Long Island’s maritime culture. The turning point came in 2019, when the museum received a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. That funding allowed the team to assemble a cohort of community advisors — fisherfolk, Indigenous leaders, historians, and educators — whose voices helped shape Saltwater’s foundation.
“We like to say the exhibit is informed by community, for the community,” Floreska adds.
From the stories of generations of baymen to the bustling fish markets of the Nautical Mile, the exhibit’s components are rooted in the everyday lives of Long
Anthony Rodia
Anthony Rodia is back with his “Laugh Till It Hurts” tour. Building on the success of his previous outing, this is his biggest and most ambitious yet. Born and raised in Westchester, Rodia came out of the womb making people laugh. In his 20s he tried a few open mics, but ultimately took a different career path. In 2019, Rodia returned to comedy and left his day job to become a full-time stand-up comic. With a background steeped in family traditions, Italian-American culture and the ups and downs of modern life, Anthony’s comedy feels like a conversation with your funniest friend. His blend of observational humor, self-deprecation and witty impressions has led him on his path as one of the most exciting rising stars on the comedy scene.
Saturday, Oct. 18, 7 and 9:30 p.m.
Islanders past and present. It also highlights the connections between the traditions of immigrant communities who share seaside cultures, offering opportunities for shared experiences and dialogue.
Visitors are welcomed by a nine-foot high immersive, stylized wave tunnel. Visible from the three entries to the museum’s second floor, this wow-moment hooks you into the gallery and recreates that first introduction to the sea for many of us — a day at the beach. Lighting and sound effects give a transportive transition into “Saltwater Stories.”
• Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Among the exhibit’s many features, young visitors can role-play life on the bay in a walkin replica of a bay house, where a “magic window” lets them observe real-time changes in weather, tides and marsh life. Nearby, in a classic Long Island fish market, you can sort, weigh and sell the day’s catch — mimicking the work of generations who lived off the sea. Also everyone will enjoy “Lifting the Ocean’s Lid,” an early learner area where kids can get a close-up look at what lives under the sea.
• View the events calendar at licm.org for additional information or call (516) 224-5800
• Long Island Children’s Museum, Museum Row, Garden City
For Floreska, Saltwater’s heart lies in its ability to tell a local story while providing a playful, hands-on space that’s deeply connected to the real world — something she describes as both unique and meaningful.
“It gives visitors of all ages a chance to connect with a cultural richness that defines Long Island,” she says.
Integrating new technology felt like a natural next step in the evolution of the museum’s approach to storytelling, according to Malter. She highlights the bay house installation as a standout example, where digital features are used to make the environment feel dynamic and real.
To create the immersive “magic window,” the team hired a videographer to capture time-lapse footage of a local marsh over the course of several days, including scenes at night and during a storm. With the push of a button, kids can change the view outside the window — transforming from day to night or calm to stormy — making the experience both magical and grounded in the real world.
“Observing the natural world was a big educational goal for me,” Malter explains. By blending real footage with playful interaction, young visitors notice environmental details they might otherwise overlook — fostering a sense of wonder and curiosity rooted in the rhythms of local life.
The phrase “we need the sea and the sea needs me” serves as the exhibit’s guiding inspiration.
Even the quintessential Long Island Islander — Billy Joel — has a place here. Everyone can watch a video of his “The Downeaster ‘Alexa’,” commercial fishing’s unofficial anthem.
To help families turn inspiration into action, a resource guide on the museum website provides ideas for local, family-friendly activities that extend the learning into the home. Floreska points to community programs like Freeport-based “Operation Splash,” where families can participate in cleaning up local shorelines.
As a permanent fixture now, “Saltwater Stories” continues the museum’s commitment to ignite curiosity, encourage stewardship and strengthen our bond with the environment — reminding us all that the sea’s story is deeply intertwined with our own.
$144.75, $108.75, $98.25, $86.50, $76.25, $64.75. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com.
Nassau Pops Symphony Orchestra
Gala
Maestro Louis Panacciulli and the Nassau Pops Orchestra return to the Tilles Center for their annual gala supporting the Cerebral Palsy Association of Nassau County, joined again by Tony Danza and his band. Danza’s latest cabaret show, “Sinatra and Stories,” blends personal anecdotes, humor and some classic tunes. He pays tribute to the music of ‘Ol Blue Eyes, whose music formed the soundtrack of his childhood. He brings his trademark charisma and storytelling — along with touch of soft shoe and ukulele-strumming — to his selection of Sinatra’s timeless classics. Swing into an afternoon of great tunes and fascinating stories — all to benefit this vital organization.
Sunday, Oct. 19, 3 p.m. Tickets start at $30. Tilles Center for the Performing Arts, LIU Post Campus, 720 Northern Blvd., Brookville. Tickets available at npso.org/tickets or tillescenter.org.
Photos courtesy Kevin Chu/KCJP Everyone is welcomed into “Saltwater Stories” through a stylized wave tunnel.
YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD CALENDAR
OCT
16
‘Taylors Take The Library’
Author Jen Calonita hosts “The Taylors Take the Library: A Swiftie Event” at North Merrick Library. Kids in fourth grade and up can celebrate all things Taylor just as the new album drops — bookish fun, Swiftie trivia and more await!
• Where: 1691 Meadowbrook Road, North Merrick
• Time: 6:30 p.m.
• Contact: nmerricklibrary.org or call (516) 378-7474
Car show
OCT 17
The Chamber of Commerce of the Bellmores and the Town of Hempstead welcome all to the Friday Night Car Show Weather permitting, attendees are sure to find a wide selection of automotives, whether it be vintage vehicles, vans and buses, or newer models, like sports cars. Spectators can enter free of charge. The admission fee for cars is $5.
• Where: Bellmore LIRR, across from King Kullen parking lot
• Time: 5 p.m.
• Contact: (516) 679-1875
Fire Prevention Day
North Bellmore Fire Department hosts its Fire Prevention Day at the department’s main headquarters. It promises to be a fun and family-friendly community event designed to educate, inspire and bring neighbors together. With demonstrations of fire fighting and rescue techniques, interactive preventions exhibits, a bouncy house, fire truck rides and hands-on activities for kids, raffles, and community partners and special guests.
• Where: 829 Newbridge Road, North Bellmore
• Time: 5 p.m.
• Contact: NorthBellmoreFD.org
Outdoor movie night
Wear your costumes, bring your chairs and get ready for a night of scares. Merrick Library is running ‘AMOK, AMOK, AMOK’ with its Frights & Bites Outdoor Movie Night! in the Narwood Avenue parking lot. Enjoy an outdoor screening of “Hocus Pocus 2” and savor the fall flavor on Long Island with cider donuts, crisp apple cider, and empanadas; all available for purchase. Space is limited and will be granted on a first-come, first-served basis. No registration required.
• Where: 2279 Merrick Ave. (Narwood Avenue parking lot is closest one to the building)
• Time: 6:30 p.m.
• Contact: merricklibrary.org or call (516) 377-6112
25
Little Feat
One of America’s most distinctive and longest-running rock bands, Little Feat is back in a big way with a revitalized lineup, a stellar new record — its first album of original material in over a decade The venerable six-piece is touring in support of ‘Strike Up the Band,” their first new studio album reliant on new material since 2012’s Rooster Rag. It’s Little Feat’s triumphant return to rock ‘n roll with plenty of swampy Southern soul. The band builds on a deep, over 50-year history. Little Feat used a combination of elite musicianship and brilliant, idiosyncratic songwriting to create a repertoire that transcends all boundaries. California rock, funk, folk, jazz, country and rockabilly mixed with New Orleans swamp boogie led to a powerful sound that has kept the audience dancing for decades. Their groove — in songs like “Dixie Chicken,” “Spanish Moon,” “Fat Man in the Bathtub,” and “Feats Don’t Fail Me Now” — was so infectious it allowed them to endure and press on even when losing their founder, Lowell George, and founding drummer, Richie Hayward. They’re in top form now with Scott Sharrard on lead/vox and Tony Leone on drums/vox, and with founder Bill Payne on keys/vox, Fred Tackett on guitars/vox, Kenny Gradney on bass, and Sam Clayton on percussion/vox. Fifty years on, they’ve been up and they’ve been down and they know where they belong — standing or sitting behind their instruments, playing for you. And anything’s possible, because the end is not in sight. Tickets are $141.25, $120.25, $99.75, $77.75, $66.25
• Where: The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington
• Time: 8 p.m.
• Contact: ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com
OCT
Fall harvest fest
The Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church welcomes the community to its 15th annual Harvest Craft Fair in North Bellmore. Browse booths from local vendors offering unique handmade crafts and gift items, try their luck in exciting raffles, and sample fresh-baked treats. Also activities for kids.
• Where: 1294 Bellmore Ave., North Bellmore
• Time: 10 a.m.
• Contact: Terry at (516) 785-5029 or email gelcnb@aol.com
Ghostly Gala
Bring the kids to Long Island
Children’s Museum’s annual Halloween celebration. Enjoy the holiday in a fun, safe and spooky (not scary) way! Show off your costumes and dance moves in a Monster Mash Dance Party. Visit the Spooky Studio and meet mysterious underwater creatures. Also make some cool and creepy crafts. Start offyour spooky night by decorating a bewitching trick-or-treat bag, then collect ghostly goodies from the museum’s roaming staff. Also a special showing of “Uncle Vlad’s Pumpkin Patch” in the LICM theater.
$16, $14 members; show $5.
• Where: Museum Row, Garden City
• Time: 6-9 p.m.
• Contact: licm.org or call (516) 224-5800
Family fun fest
The Calhoun OTC Boosters Corp. host a spooky and fun Halloween event at the high school. With trick-or-treating, tattoos, themed crafts, entertainment, face painting, games, a scavenger hunt, and so much more! $10 per child, adults free. Enter at the back of the school. Bring a bag for trick-or-treating.
• Where: 1786 State St., Merrick
• Time: 2:30 p.m.
• Contact: Nicole LoCurto at (516) 884-8941
Justin Gusmano performs Justin Gusmano, a local 15-yearold recording artist, keyboardist, and producer, visits North Bellmore Public Library. Gusmano is known for his passion for crafting powerful, and melodic music that he creates straight from his home studio. His live show features an electrifying blend of original progressive rock, fusion and blues, also select covers. His debut album. “Forever Alive,” is available now on CD and streaming platforms, with a portion
OCT
23
‘Brown Bag’ Art Conversation
Join Nassau County Museum of Art Docent Riva Ettus for her popular Brown Bag Lecture. Experience the museum’s exhibition “At Play: Artists & Entertainment” through a lively and informative presentation. Participants are invited to ask questions at the end of the program. Registration not required. First come, first seated.
• Where: 1 Museum Drive, Roslyn Harbor
• Time: 1 p.m., also Oct. 23
• Contact: nassaumuseum.org or (516) 484-9337
OCT
24
Fall festival
Be sure to participate in Merrick Chamber of Commerce’s annual fall festival. With carnival rides, free live entertainment, a magic show, a petting zoo, pony rides, and plenty of refreshments. Browse among vendors selling crafts and other gifts.
• Where: Merrick Ave. between Sunrise Highway and Loines Avenue., Merrick
• Time: 6 p.m. start; Oct. 25-26 , opens at 11 a.m.
• Contact: (516) 771-1171
OCT
of proceeds benefiting the Tunnel to Towers Foundation.
• Where: 1551 Newbridge Road, North Bellmore
• Time: 2:30 p.m.
• Contact: northbellmorelibrary. org or call (516) 785-6260
OCT
19
Babyccino at Chabad Center
The Chabad Center for Jewish Life introduces the new babyccino class, an exciting program for local families designed children ages 0–3 and their moms. Babyccino offers a warm and engaging six-week session that blends music, play, sensory exploration, and hands-on learning. Through joyful interaction, families will explore beautiful core Jewish values in a holistic and creative environment. Each session combines music, movement, and sensory activities, offering meaningful opportunities for learning and connection. Moms will enjoy the supportive, nurturing environment while their children delight in discovery and play.
• Where: 2174 Hewlett Ave., Merrick
• Time: 10:30 a.m.; also Oct. 26, Nov. 2, Nov. 9, Nov. 16, and Nov. 23.
• Contact: (516) 833-3057, ext. 104
25
Drug drop-off
BellmoreMerrick Community Coalition hosts its 12th annual ‘Drug Take Back’ event at the Brookside School. Dispose of any illegal drugs anonymously; keep all medications in their original containers, block out names, and cross out all medical information. Thermometers, IV bags, liquids, and chemo drugs are prohibited. Rain date is Nov. 1.
• Where: 1260 Meadowbrook Road, N. Merrick
• Time: 10 a.m.
• Contact: Eric Caballero at (516) 992-1048 or Scott Bersin at (516) 992-1040
Having an event?
Items on the Calendar page are listed free of charge. The Herald welcomes listings of upcoming events, community meetings and items of public interest. All submissions should include date, time and location of the event, cost, and a contact name and phone number. Submissions can be emailed to kbloom@ liherald.com.
Public Notices
LEGAL NOTICE
At an I.A.S. Part 5 of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, held in and for the County of Nassau, at the Courthouse located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, New York, on the 18th day of September, 2025
P R E S E N T: HON. JEROME C. MURPHY, J.S.C.
SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU ________________X
In the matter of the Application of LISA HAZLEWOOD, Index No.: 619668/2025 Petitioner, ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE
For the Judicial Dissolution of MEDACCOUNTS, INC., Pursuant to § 1104 of the Business Corporation Law, -againstHEATHER FOY and MEDACCOUNTS, INC. for the Judicial Dissolution of MEDACCOUNTS, INC., a domestic corporation. Respondents. ________________X
Upon the annexed Petition of LISA HAZLEWOOD, the holder of one-half of all outstanding voting shares of MEDACCOUNTS, INC., a corporation incorporated and existing under the Business Corporation Law of the State of New York, executed on August 28, 2025, LET Heather Foy of MEDACCOUNTS, INC., and all other interested persons, or their attorneys, show cause at I.A.S. Part __5__, Room _____ of this Court, to be held in and for the Couonty of Nassau, at the Courthouse located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, New York, on the 7th day of November , 2025, or as soon thereafter as counsel may be heard, why an Order should not be made and entered: a) dissolving MEDACCOUNTS, INC., pursuant to BCL § 1104(a)(1); b) adjusting the rights and interests of the shareholders of MEDACCOUNTS, INC., pursuant to BCL § 1104-a; c) enjoining and restraining MEDACCOUNTS, INC. and HEATHER FOY i) from transacting any unauthorized business and from exeercising any corporate powers, except by permission of the Court; and ii) from
collecting or receiving any debt or other property of the corporation, and from paying out or otherwise transferring any debt or other property of the corporation, and from paying out or otherwise transferring or delivering any property of the corporation, except by permission of the Court; c) awarding Petitioner her costs and disbursements in this special proceeding; and d) granting Petitioner such other, further or different relief as the Court may deem to be just and proper; and it is further ORDERED, pursuant to BCL § 1106(a), that HEATHER FOY and all parties shall, on or before the return date of this Order to Show Cause, furnish the Court, and serve on Petitioner’s attorney, a schedule of corporate assets and liabilities of MEDACCOUNTS, INC., and the name and address of each creditor and claimant, including any with unliquified or contingent claims and any against whom the corporation has unfulfilled contracts; and it is further ORDERED, pursuant to BCL § 1104-a(c), that in addition to all other disclosure requirements, HEATHER FOY and all parties shall, no later than thirty days after the date of this Order to Show Cause, make available for inspection and copying to Petitioner or her attorneys, under reasonable working conditions, such corporate financial books and records as HEATHER FOY may have maintained for MEDACCOUNTS, INC., since its inception; and it is further ORDERED, the pending the hearing of the Petition on the return date of this Order to Show Cause, HEATHER FOY and all parties shall not sell, transfer, encumber or secrete any of the property or assets of MEDACCOUNTS, INC., or remove any of said property or assets from the State of New York; and it is further ORDERED, THAT A COPY OF THIS Order to Show Cause shall be published in: the Merrick Addition of the Long Island Herald , a newspaper in general circulation in the County of Nassau, once in each of the three weeks before the
appointed for hearing thereon; and it is further ORDERED, that a copy of this Order to Show Cause and the papers on which it is based shall be served on MEDACCOUNTS, INC. And Heather Foy, the manner, and within the time prescribed in BCL §1106(c), which shall be deemed good and sufficient service. Respondent has accepted service on the Record.
E N T E R :
Jerome C Murphy J.S.C. 156072
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, FAMILY BENEFIT LIFE INSURANCE
COMPANY, PLAINTIFF, VS. EXECUTIVE RENTALS NY INC, ET AL., DEFENDANT(S). Pursuant to an Order Confirming Referee Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on August 21, 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 November 5, 2025 at 2:30 p.m., premises known as 2216 Van Nostrand Avenue, Merrick, NY 11566. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being at Merrick, not an Incorporated Village, in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 56, Block 25 and Lots 396-397. Approximate amount of judgment is $745,015.49 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #610395/2023.
Oscar A. Prieto, Esq., Referee Friedman Vartolo LLP, 85 Broad Street, Suite 501, New York, New York 10004, Attorneys for Plaintiff. Firm File No.: 231149-1 155993
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE
SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A., NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS TRUSTEE FOR RMAC REMIC TRUST, SERIES 2009-9, Plaintiff, vs. CLAUDIO JOVELL, ET AL., Defendant(s).
Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on October 25, 2016 and an Order Appointing Successor Referee duly entered on January 6, 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 November 13, 2025 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 1720 Montague Avenue, Merrick, NY 11566. 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 55, Block 24 and Lot 120. Approximate amount of judgment is $633,799.60 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #003996/2014. Cash will not be accepted. Scott Siller, Esq., Referee Knuckles & Manfro, LLP, 120 White Plains Road, Suite 215, Tarrytown, New York 10591, Attorneys for Plaintiff 156137
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF BUDGET HEARING
Notice is hereby given that the proposed 2026 budget of the North Merrick Fire District, in the Town of Hempstead, Nassau County, New York will be presented to the Board of Fire Commissioners’ of the North Merrick Fire District for its consideration.
A Public Hearing will be held on Tuesday October 21, 2025 at 7 PM. The meeting will be held on the second floor of the North Merrick Fire Department Headquarters building located at 2095 Camp Avenue, North Merrick, New York 11566. Pursuant to Town Law Section 181, The Board of Fire Commissioner must hold a public hearing on the budget, make the proposed budget available to the public prior to the public hearing and allow the public to comment in favor of, or against, as it is submitted, or for or against, any item, or items contained therein.
News brief
Car vaults guardrail in N.Merrick crash
The North Merrick Fire Department responded to a rollover crash on the eastbound Southern State Parkway near the Meadowbrook Road exit during the morning of Oct. 12.
Fire officials said the driver of the vehicle lost control on the parkway, went up an embankment, cleared a guardrail and landed on Meadowbrook Road.
According to fire department officials, four people at the scene were treated for non-life threatening injuries, with three being transported to local hospitals.
The Bellmore-Merrick and Nassau County ambulance corps all assisted at the scene.
— Brian Kacharaba
Public Notices
Copies of the proposed budget, will be made available to any person(s) at no cost, at the fire district office, 2095 Camp Avenue, North Merrick, New York 11566. Office hours Monday through Friday 8AM to 4:30 PM. Copies of the proposed budget are also available at www.northmerrickfd.or g and at the office of the Town Clerk of the Town of Hempstead, One Washington Street, Hempstead, New York 11550. BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS DAVID WARD DISTRICT CLERK NORTH MERRICK FIRE DISTRICT SEPTEMBER 9, 2025 156339
LEGAL NOTICE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE, ON BEHALF OF THE HOLDERS OF THE ADJUSTABLE RATE MORTGAGE TRUST 2007-1, ADJUSTABLE RATE MORTGAGE-BACKED PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2007-1, -againstSEAN C. BRISTOL, ET AL. NOTICE OF SALE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Nassau on September 8, 2025, wherein U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE, ON BEHALF OF THE HOLDERS OF THE ADJUSTABLE RATE MORTGAGE TRUST 2007-1, ADJUSTABLE RATE MORTGAGEBACKED PASSTHROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2007-1 is the Plaintiff
and SEAN C. BRISTOL, ET AL. are the Defendants. I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction RAIN OR SHINE at the NASSAU COUNTY SUPREME COURT, 100 SUPREME COURT DRIVE, NORTH SIDE STEPS, MINEOLA, NY 11501, on November 18, 2025 at 2:00PM, the premises known as 1425 TADMOR STREET, MERRICK, NY 11566; tax map identification 50-590-9 & 10; and description: ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND, WITH THE BUILDINGS AND IMPROVEMENTS THEREON ERECTED, SITUATE, LYING AND BEING AT EAST MEADOW, TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, NASSAU COUNTY, NEW YORK . Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No.: 605890/2024.
Brian J. Davis, Esq., as Referee. Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC, 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310, Westbury, New York 11590, Attorneys for Plaintiff. All foreclosure sales will be conducted in accordance with Covid-19 guidelines including, but not limited to, social distancing and mask wearing. *LOCATION OF SALE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DAY OF IN ACCORDANCE WITH COURT/CLERK DIRECTIVES. 156314
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON F/K/A THE BANK OF NEW YORK AS SUCCESSOR TO JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, NOT INDIVIDUALLY BUT SOLELY AS TRUSTEE FOR THE HOLDERS OF THE BEAR STERNS ALT-
A TRUST 2004-10, MORTGAGE PASSTHROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2004-10, Plaintiff, Against LUIS A. QUIJANO, ET AL, Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale, duly entered 03/22/2023, I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction, on the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, N.Y. 11501 on 11/20/2025 at 2:00PM, premises known as 174 Babylon Turnpike, Merrick, New York 11566, and described as follows: ALL that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in Merrick, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau, State of New York. Section 55 Block 166 Lot 158
The approximate amount of the current Judgment lien is $1,154,373.34 plus interest and costs. The Premises will be sold subject to provisions of the aforesaid Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale; Index # 005630/2015 If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, the then Court Appointed Referee will cancel the Foreclosure Auction. This Auction will be held rain or shine.
Ronald J. Ferraro, Esq., Referee.
MCCABE, WEISBERG & CONWAY, LLC, 10 Midland Avenue, Suite 205, Port Chester, NY 10573 Dated: 10/8/2025 File Number: 17-300295 CA 156294
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., Plaintiff AGAINST
Alys Balbes; et al.,
Defendant(s)
Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered November 5, 2018, I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction at the North Side Steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on October 28, 2025, at 2:00PM, premises known as 2599 Orr Street, Merrick, NY 11566-4745. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being at Merrick, in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau, State of New York, Section 63 Block 135 Lot 861. Approximate amount of judgment $588,637.31 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index# 014715/2013. Foreclosure Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine.”
Irene Villacci, Esq., Referee LOGS Legal Group LLP f/k/a Shapiro, DiCaro & Barak, LLC
Attorney(s) for the Plaintiff 175 Mile Crossing Boulevard Rochester, New York 14624 (877) 430-4792
Dated: September 8, 2025
For sale information, please visit www.Auction.com or call (800) 280-2831 155916
Stunning Euro Chic Home
This stunning, fully rebuilt four bedroom, two and a half-bath Euro Chic home,
Why can’t the architect and the contractor be friends?
Q. We’re trying to figure out how a mess started right at the beginning of our renovation. The plans were permitted, so we believe they were properly reviewed, but the mason and the contractor built something different than what was in the plans. The contractor is a friend who we trust. They have told us that the architect made mistakes, and they couldn’t build it the way the plans show, so they did something different.
We don’t want to stop the job, but the architect came by and said that there are many problems now, because the structure isn’t going to work the way the contractor made changes, and because the structure had to be a certain way. The contractor keeps sending us texts showing different ways to do the job, complete with sketches. The architect is saying that the work will be unsafe the way the contractor is proposing the changes. What should we do?
A. When plans aren’t followed, which happens all too frequently, the job has to stop while the design is reassessed by the architect. If you take that authority away from the architect, you set yourself up for a prolonged set of problems that can go on and on, delaying the work and possibly not even getting the outcome you were looking for.
The contractor is not given the authority to change the design or construction. Most construction plans have clauses stating that the contractor is not to deviate from them, and also instruct the contractor to contact the architect with questions, or to get clarification on any issues or discrepancies before any work starts. Once the work starts, the contractor will often begin to point fingers at the architect for anything not clear and misunderstood. I refer to this as “divide and conquer,” a common practice in which the contractor, empowered to run the construction job, alienates the architect from the owner, creating an often permanent rift.
Contractors and building inspectors have told me it is rare to see an architect on a construction site, but I recommend that the architect look at the work — especially foundation forms — before a concrete pour and also framing. During demolition is an important time to see previously hidden structure, especially because older homes were often built with bare-minimum beams — hence the explanation for sagging floors that people often point out before the architect starts redesigning. You need to listen to the architect before this problem becomes harder, and more expensive, to undo.
If you have doubts about the architect, especially about structure, bring in a structural engineer to meet with the architect. One of the biggest reasons these problems occur is because of a lack of communication. You, the owner, should have brought everyone, including the architect, contractor, subcontractors — especially the mason — together and had a team meeting. Letting everyone do their own thing with the assumption that everything would run smoothly was the first problem. But it’s not too late. Good luck!
© 2025 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.
Stuff HERALD
AFFORDABLE TV & INTERNET. If you are overpaying for your service, call now for a free quote and see how much you can save! 1-833-323-0160
SAVE ON YOUR TRAVEL PLANS! Up to 75% More than 500 AIRLINES and 300,000 HOTELS across the world. Let us do the research for you for FREE! Call: 877 988 7277
516-671-6464
Wanted To Buy
Costume Jewelry Wanted Necklaces, Earrings, Bracelets & Rings. Also Buying Gold & Silver. $$ CASH PAID $$ 631-500-0792
Long Island / Will Travel
(2) 30 X 36 mirror, bevelled edge, etchings in corners, hardware attached. beautiful 516-579-9089 $45.00
AIWA NSX-AJ200 STEREO. Digital Compact 3 CD changer. AM/FM Radio Remote, 2 speakers. $60 516-320-1906
ARTIFICIAL CHRISTMAS TREE, 6.5Ft, Lights attached. with stand, good condition FREE Jack Taylor (516) 486-2363
BRAND NEW HOLLY Pattern Vase, Vintage Statues (Christmas), Christmas ornaments, excellent. (516)579-9089 under $25.00 all
CEDAR RABBIT HUTCH: Mica cleanout drawers, Casters, 54" X 24", Solid construction. $95. 516-343-4010
DRESSERS: TWO BLACK Wood. Single drawer, 2 doors w/shelf. Formica top. W-32"xH-30"xD-18" $35 each. 516-320-1906
GIRLS SIZE 10, Hoodies, Long-sleeve tops & pants, New with Tags $10. Text (917) 420-5814
GIRLS SIZE 6 Tops and Jeans - New with Tags $8. Text (917) 420-5814
GRACE FOODS, JAMAICAN style BBQ gift basket. $15. Valley Stream. (516)209-7970.
IKEA SOLID OAK: Unassembled, Media Storage Cabinets, New in Box: DVD, CD VCR $50 each. 516-486-7941
MIKASA SENTIMENTS CARAFE, glass, new, boxed, inscribed with Happiness, Success, Wisdom and Friendship. $25, 516-678-0694.
Finds Under $100
MIKASA SENTIMENTS CHAMPAGNE Fluted Glasses, 4, inscribed with Friendship, Wisdom, Success and Happiness. $40. 516-678-0694.
NEW BASEBALL H.O.F. "UNTUCKit" black shirt, large, $25 (Retail $50). (516)705-8398."
QUARTERS: ALL FIFTY STATES: Uncirculated, in presentation folders. 3 sets all 50 States. $50. 516-486-7941
SERVICES
Brick/Block/Concrete/Masonry
***MASONRY & CONSTRUCTION*** EARLY BIRD DISCOUNTS!
GIUSEPPE MUCCIACCIARO
We Do Pavers, Cultured Stone, Concrete, Bluestone, Blacktop, Fireplace, Patio, Waterproofing, Walkways, Pool Work. Lic#H2204320000 Family Operation Over 40Years. 516-238-6287
Cable/TV/Wiring
Get DISH Satellite TV + Internet! Free Install, Free HD-DVR Upgrade, 80,000 OnDemand Movies, Plus Limited Time Up To $600 In Gift Cards. Call Today! 1-866-782-4069
HERALD Crossword Puzzle
Electricians
E-Z ELECTRIC SERVICES, INC.
All Types Residential/Commercial Wiring, Generators, Telephone/Data, Home Entertainment, Service Upgrades, Pools, Spas. Services/Repairs. Violations Removed. Free Estimates Low Rates. 516-785-0646 Lic/Ins.
Handyman
PAINTING & HANDYMAN SERVICE
Tired of calling a contractor & they don't call back? I will call you back the same day! 917-822-0225 Ricky Specializing in carpentry, bathrooms, kitchens, sheetrock, flooring, electric, plumbing. Over 25 yrs exp.Lic/Ins H3805150000
Home Improvement
BEAUTIFUL BATH UPDATES in as little as ONE DAY! Superior quality bath and shower systems at AFFORDABLE PRICES! Lifetime warranty & professional installs. Call Now! 1-833-807-0159
DO YOU KNOW what's in your water?
Leaf Home Water Solutions offers FREE water testing and whole home water treatment systems that can be installed in as little one day. 15% off your entire purchase. Plus 10% senior & military discounts. Restrictions apply. Schedule your FREE test today. Call 1-866-247-5728
PAVERS- CONCRETE- BLACKTOP Book Now & Save On All Masonry Work. Driveways- Patios- Stoops- SidewalksWalkways- Stonework- Pool SurroundsOutdoor Kitchens- Family Owned/ Operated For Over 40Yrs. FREE Estimates. Lic# H1741540000.
DANSON CONSTRUCTION INC 516-409-4553; 516-798-4565 www.dansoninc.com
PREPARE FOR POWER outages today with a Generac Home Standby Generator. Act now to receive a FREE 5-Year warranty with qualifying purchase. Call 1-877-516-1160 today to schedule a free quote. It's not just a generator. It's a power move.
PREPARE FOR POWER outages with Briggs & Stratton® PowerProtect(TM) standby generators - the most powerful home standby generators available. Industry-leading comprehensive warranty - 7 years ($849 value.) Proudly made in the U.S.A. Call Briggs & Stratton 1-888-605-1496
SAFE STEP. NORTH America's #1 WalkIn Tub. Comprehensive lifetime warranty. Top-of-the-line installation and service. Now featuring our FREE shower package and $1600 Off for a limited time! Call today! Financing available. Call Safe Step 1-855-916-5473
Miscellaneous
GET BOOST INFINITE! Unlimited Talk, Text and Data For Just $25/mo! The Power Of 3 5G Networks, One Low Price! Call Today and Get The Latest iPhone Every Year On Us! 844-329-9391
Painting
CHARLIE THE PAINTER: Highly Skilled Professional Painter. All Phases Of The Painting Trade. Interior/ Exterior. Expert Repairs. Commercial. 25 Years Experience. FREE Estimates. Charlie 516-325-6574
Plumbing
PLUMBER! PLUMBER! PLUMBER! FREE ESTIMATES! Heating, Repairs, Installations. $25 OFF New Customers. Family Plumbing. 516-825-3606
Power Washing
POWERWASHING ALL SURFACES: Houses, Fences, Concrete/ Brick, Decks/Sealing. ANTHONY & J HOME IMPROVEMENT, INC. 516-678-6641
Services
AGING ROOF? NEW HOMEOWNER? STORM DAMAGE? You need a local expert provider that proudly stands behind their work. Fast, free estimate. Financing available. Call 1-833-880-7679
INJURED IN AN ACCIDENT? Don't Accept the insurance company's first offer. Many injured parties are entitled to major cash settlements. Get a free evaluation to see what your case is really worth. 100% Free Evaluation. Call Now: 1-833-323-0318. Be ready with your zip code to connect with the closest provider.
PEST CONTROL: PROTECT YOUR HOME from pests safely and affordably. Roaches, Bed Bugs, Rodent, Termite, Spiders and other pests. Locally owned and affordable. Call for service or an inspection today! 1-833-549-0598 Have zip code of property ready when calling!
Sprinkler Syst./Irrig.Wells
Health & Fitness
ATTENTION OXYGEN THERAPY USERS! Discover Oxygen Therapy That Moves with You with Inogen Portable Oxygen Concentrators. FREE information kit. Call 1-833-661-4172
ATTENTION: VIAGRA AND CIALIS USERS! A cheaper alternative to high drugstore prices! 50 Pill Special - Only $99! 100% guaranteed. CALL NOW: 1-833-641-6397
HEARING AIDS!! HIGH-QUALITY rechargeable, powerful Audien hearing aids priced 90% less than competitors. Tiny and NEARLY INVISIBLE! 45-day money back guarantee! 855-819-7060
LI'S ACUPUNCTURE: 30+ Years Of Expert Care For A Wide Range Of Conditions. Major Insurances Accepted. Senior Discounts Available. CALL NOW 516-806-5538
Telephone Services
CONSUMER CELLULAR - the same reliable, nationwide coverage as the largest carriers. No long-term contract, no hidden fees and activation is free. All plans feature unlimited talk and text, starting at just $20/month. For more information, call 1-844-919-1682
Tree Services
T&M GREENCARE TREE SERVICE *TREE REMOVAL *STUMP GRINDING *PRUNING. FREE ESTIMATES. 516-223-4525, 631-586-3800 www.tmgreencare.com
Satellite/TV Equipment
DIRECTV- All your entertainment. Nothing on your roof! Sign up for Direct and get your first three months of Max, Paramount+, Showtime, Starz, MGM+ and Cinemax included. Choice package $84.99/mo. Some restrictions apply. Call DIRECTV 1-888-534-6918
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
We will remain the leader of the free world
American foreign policy is at a watershed moment, comparable to the critical years after World War II, when the United States and our allies were forced to accept that the euphoria of victory over Nazi Germany and imperial Japan had been supplanted by the reality of the Iron Curtain and the threat of Soviet expansion. The Cold War had begun.
The NATO alliance was formed to prevent Joseph Stalin from emulating Adolf Hitler’s march through Europe after the Munich Conference capitulation in 1938, which had given Hitler virtually free rein to invade and seize Czechoslovakia. A decadeslong struggle would continue through various iterations and crises until the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 — a struggle that today’s isolationists would have labeled an “endless war.” Fortunately, neither American political party elected isolationists during those defining 45 years. Pre-World War II isolationism had long since been consigned to the ash heap of history.
The fall of the Soviet Union in 1991 created a sense of euphoria similar to
Staying
Ithat of 1945 and ’46. Eastern Europe was liberated from the yoke of Soviet communist rule, and the Soviet republics declared their independence from Moscow. One of them was Ukraine, which, tragically, had been brutalized for centuries by Russia.
TUkraine was also left with thousands of Soviet nuclear weapons. In 1994, in keeping with the spirit of the Soviet demise, Ukraine gave up those weapons in return for guarantees of security from the United States, Britain and Russia, in what was known as the Budapest Agreement. All indicators seemed to foresee a reformed Russia, and no aggression of the type that drew the U.S. into the two world wars of the 20th century.
rump’s turnabout with Zelensky and Putin sends a clear message to China.
There would be fits and starts with Russia during the later Bush years, including an incursion into Georgia, and then a promise by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in 2009 that the Obama administration would “reset” the relationship with Russia. That reset never worked, and Russia seized Crimea from Ukraine in 2014. There was no Russian aggression during the first Trump administration, but then, in February 2022, Putin launched an invasion of Ukraine — the first invasion of a sovereign European nation since the end of World War II.
defeating Russian aggression, having supplied more funding to Ukraine than the U.S. Unfortunately, President Trump has shown reluctance to stand with Ukraine, ascribing equal blame for the war to Zelensky — even berating him in the White House, telling him he had no cards to play.
I accompanied President Bill Clinton and Secretary of State Madeleine Albright to Moscow in September 1998 for meetings with Russian President Boris Yeltsin and other Russian officials to strengthen economic and cultural ties between our two nations. The dialogue between the leaders was extremely positive. Then, after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in 2001, the newly elected Russian president, Vladimir Putin, was among the first foreign leaders to pledge President George W. Bush his full support.
Ukraine, under its newly elected reform president, Volodymyr Zelensky, was expected to succumb in days or weeks. President Joseph Biden even offered to have American jets provide Zelensky safe passage out of Ukraine. But with the U.S. and NATO countries supplying weapons and logistical support, Zelensky and Ukraine have fought Russia to a stalemate for over three and a half years — longer than America’s war against Nazi Germany.
Russia has suffered more than a million casualties, and has had to resort to using North Korean troops. Its economy is in shambles. NATO has admitted two previously neutral nations, Sweden and Finland, and remains committed to
Trump met with Putin in Alaska, and implored him to meet with Zelensky to reach a compromise. Putin implied that he would, but reneged. Realizing he was being played, Trump denounced Putin in his speech to the United Nations General Assembly last month, and just hours later, met one on one with Zelensky. Then, going full circle, Trump released a statement hailing Zelensky’s leadership, saying that Ukraine was in a position to “fight and win,” and pledging to continue to supply weapons to NATO for Ukraine’s use against Russia.
Trump’s turnabout will prevent a catastrophic replay of Munich and halt Putin’s attempt to rebuild the Russian empire. This defeat of Russian aggression in Europe will simultaneously send a clear message to China not to move against Taiwan or other Pacific nations such as the Philippines and Japan. The United States will remain the leader of the free world.
Peter King is a former congressman, and a former chair of the House Committee on Homeland Security. Comments? pking@ liherald.com.
sane in the age of information overload
’m tired. In fact, I’m exhausted. I’m overwhelmed. It’s not from going to the gym. It’s not from being glued to my TV, watching my favorite baseball team trying to survive the playoffs.
It’s the torrent of information that has been drowning me 24 hours a day, with no promise of abating. Is there any hope that the flood will end and that I’ll have a respite from information overload? Is there any hope that the barrage will shut down over the weekend, when we try to pay less attention to our laptops and cellphones? Or are we doomed to being perpetually overwhelmed by the greatest avalanche of facts, figures, news, emails, text messages and robocalls since the dawn of the high-tech era?
There is no one culprit that we can identify whose elimination would give us a reprieve from the onslaught. One of the biggest offenders of them all is,
Aof course, the White House, which engages in a strategy known as Flood the Zone. Every day, it releases so many “hot” news items that it would take you or me two or three days just to get through them. In addition to the media flood, President Trump holds freewheeling news conferences that can last well over an hour. Generally, those events generate other news stories on top of the daily pressroom output.
Then there’s the smartphone app challenge. I checked my phone and found that I am attached to Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and X and have subscriptions to the Daily News, the New York Post, The Washington Post, The New York Times, Newsday, Newsday TV, the Huffington Post, Apple News, The Hill, CNN, The Weather Channel and some others that I’ve forgotten. I know that over the course of the day, I tap into every one of those outlets for some type of information.
imagine waiting at a bus stop for six hours. It’s a long time.
ll ‘breaking’ news all the time — and for goodness’ sake, don’t forget podcasts.
Beyond all these challenges is the introduction of artificial intelligence into our lives. No matter how hard you try, there’s no way to escape the onslaught of articles, studies, memos and office talk about AI. Just a few years ago, if someone had uttered the words artificial intelligence, they would have been largely ignored. These days, those words hover over us like a threatening storm cloud, with most of us having no idea whether it will help or harm us.
program. How many times in a halfhour can there be so much “breaking” news? And the repetition of the same stories can be head-splitting.
Last, but by far not least, is the introduction into our space of the podcast. Today, almost every media, political, religious, sports or entertainment personality has a podcast of some kind. They have rotating guests, and offer a mountain of opinions on the subjects of the moment. Many of them are interesting and informative, but how many hours in a day do we have to partake in this newest information vehicle?
Once a week, I get a text telling me that, on average, I’m on my phone for a minimum of six hours a week. That doesn’t sound like a lot of hours, but
Once upon a time, watching television was a respite from the pressures of the day. Today, watching TV can leave you dazed and confused by hour after hour of commercials for countless drugs, all of which, apparently, will save humanity. On top of the drug tsunami, there are countless other ads that dominate the time you would like to just sit back and watch your favorite show, uninterrupted.
To add to the desperation for some chill time, there’s today’s typical news
So that is my ongoing nightmare. It is mine, but it’s the nightmare that we all face. We’re just human beings; we’re not robots. At least for now, they can’t implant a chip in our brain to help us fend off the cascade of facts, figures, opinions, ideas, theories and concepts that flood our every waking hour. So we’ll have to find new ways to help ourselves live a normal life, and still be adequately informed people.
Jerry Kremer was a state assemblyman for 23 years, and chaired the Assembly’s Ways and Means Committee for 12 years. Comments about this column? jkremer@ liherald.com.
Established 1994
Incorporating the Merrick
Brian KacharaBa
roBert cummings
Multi Media Marketing Consultant
2 Endo Boulevard Garden City, NY 11530
Phone: (516) 569-4000
Fax: (516) 569-4942
Web: www.liherald.com
HERALD
iHerald editorial
Real journalists, reporting real stories
n an age of uncertainty and skepticism toward the media, one mission has remained unwavering: to inform, empower and connect our community with journalism rooted in truth and integrity.
That mission defines Herald Community Media, publisher of 27 community weekly newspapers serving Nassau and Suffolk counties and a touch of New York City. It is the foundation of everything we do — every story we report, every question we ask and every issue we print.
The Herald’s purpose has never been clearer or more vital, especially now, during election season. Across the nation, trust in media has declined as misinformation spreads faster than facts and as social media platforms blur the line between opinion and truth. Yet despite this turbulence, the need for reliable local journalism has never been greater. We know you depend on us not only to tell you what’s happening, but also to help you understand why it matters — to your neighborhood, your family and your future.
This summer, the Pew Research Center published “How Americans View Journalists in the Digital Age,” an indepth look at how the public perceives our profession. Pew surveyed nearly 9,400 U.S. adults and convened a number of focus groups, and found both optimism and concern. Most Americans still believe journalists are vital to our soci-
letters
There’s often been bias in journalism
To the Editor:
Re Nick Buglione’s column in the Oct. 2-8 issue, “I was proud to be a reporter — but things have changed”: I, too, would like to put to rest the argument that Facebook, Instagram, Tik-Tok and other social media have any role in serious journalism. It’s indeed unfortunate that so many people rely on these geysers of rumor, gossip, misinformation and lies for their news.
But the journalism profession has never been as idealistic and innocent as Mr. Buglione seems to suggest it once was. In fact, long before social media invaded our world, the press’s coverage of important events was at times nakedly partisan, ignorant and dishonest.
In the 19th century, for example, some newspapers accepted hefty sums of money from politicians for favorable coverage of their campaigns. At least one paper from that era, William Randolph Hearst’s New York Journal, ran sensationalized stories about Spanish atrocities in Cuba, which, many believe, helped
ety’s well-being — but many also express frustration, feeling that the media’s credibility and influence have declined amid political division and technological upheaval.
Yet within those findings lies a message of hope and direction. Americans say what they value most in their news providers is honesty, intelligence and authenticity — qualities that have guided the Herald’s reporting since its founding in 1964. Our journalists live by those values every day. We verify information carefully, we listen with compassion and we report with clarity and context. We are not distant observers; we are your neighbors, your fellow community members and your partners in truth.
At a time when the term “media” often evokes distrust, the Herald reaffirms its promise: to deliver accurate, objective and trustworthy local journalism. That means being transparent about how we report, being accountable when we err, and being authentic in how we connect with you.
Authenticity, as editors across the country have noted, may be the most powerful defense against today’s flood of misinformation and artificial intelligence-generated content. Real, local journalism can’t be practiced from behind a desk or from a distant city. It requires trained professionals who show up in the community, ask hard questions and share the stories of other real-life
people.
Every week, Herald journalists attend school board meetings, interview local business owners, chronicle civic debates, and celebrate the achievements of neighbors doing extraordinary things. We are not reporting on the community from afar — we are reporting within it, with care, empathy and purpose.
Readers deserve to know how stories come together — how sources are verified, why certain facts are included and how conclusions are drawn. We are committed to correcting mistakes quickly and publicly, because credibility is not earned by claiming perfection but by demonstrating honesty.
As Pew’s research highlights, Americans long for media that is clear, fair and accountable. The Herald’s commitment to those ideals has not wavered for more than six decades, and it will not waver now. Our mission — to inform, empower and connect our community with journalism rooted in truth and integrity — is our responsibility, our calling and our promise. As a locally owned family business, our commitment is to our communities, not to Wall Street.
In a world increasingly driven by algorithms and artificial noise, the Herald’s voice remains steady: local reporting by real journalists, telling real stories that matter. That is how we serve. That is how we strengthen our community. And that is how we continue.
Fixing our roads starts with fixing unequal funding
in my 15 years of representing you, I’ve seen a full spectrum of concerns, but none spark as much frustration and conversation as our roads. That’s no surprise to anyone who has navigated the Southern State Parkway, Hillside Avenue, Hempstead Turnpike or Glen Cove Road.
Nearly everyone on Long Island relies on our roads every single day. It’s one of the few things that actually unites Americans across the country: our dependence on infrastructure that has been left to deteriorate in more places than not. The condition of our local roads is a public safety hazard, making the frustration I hear regularly from residents both understandable and warranted. Every year, my colleagues and I hold news conferences in Albany and around the state to call for greater investment in our roads. But it remains an uphill battle.
Gov. Kathy Hochul and her administration continue to throw money at misguided priorities, while inflation in the
highway construction industry, outdated and flawed state funding formulas and the unequal distribution of aid stack the deck against suburban neighborhoods like ours. Time and again, other Long Island representatives and I have made clear that our region is not getting its fair share.
iIt’s outrageous that Long Islanders, who are taxed more than most New Yorkers, also endure some of the worst roads. It’s not merely anecdotal; the numbers back it up. Long Island’s local roads rank among the worst in New York, with 42 percent rated in “poor” or “fair” condition, compared to 35 percent statewide. Despite the fact that we spend more money on roads than any other region except New York City, our heavy traffic volume and dense population mean those dollars don’t stretch nearly far enough.
and dead last in aid per lane-mile, even though we have the second-highest taxable property value per lane-mile in the state.
t’s outrageous that we highly taxed Long Islanders put up with such bad roads.
We can all see that Long Island’s roads are aging. What deserves equal attention, but is far less visible, are the outdated funding formulas meant to repair them. Each year in Albany, lawmakers divide money into five “formula programs” that make up the bulk of local road aid. Four of them rely on factors like lane mileage, vehicle registrations and government type, while the fifth — added in 2021 — applies only to a select few municipalities with specially designated “state touring routes.”
secure Long Island’s fair share of road funding. One option is to restore the Long Island Suburban Highway Improvement Program, which once targeted funding specifically to suburban communities. It was discontinued after 1997, but the need for dedicated suburban highway funding has only grown since then. I’m drafting a bill to direct the DOT to study current funding streams to gauge regional fairness. Only with a dedicated review can the system finally be improved. The goal is to determine whether reinstating SHIPS, or a similar program, is necessary to ensure that our roads are properly funded.
This year, Long Island received only about 8 percent of Department of Transportation Capital Plan funding, far below our share of local lane-miles (12 percent) and population (15 percent). Western New York, by comparison, received about 40 percent. Long Island ranks near the bottom in aid per capita
Letters
drum up support for American involvement in the Spanish-American War.
Closer to our time, the press remained curiously silent about the 1940s Levittown covenant restricting home ownership in that community to white people. And in 2002, when President George W. Bush justified our invasion of Iraq by insisting that the country’s weapons of mass destruction posed a threat to America, few newspapers questioned his claim.
I’m sure Mr. Buglione enjoyed a wonderful working relationship with his Herald colleagues 20 years ago. And while I’ve no reason to doubt his statement that Herald reporters were genuinely committed to presenting the news accurately, we’d be hard-pressed to find a time when the press — in general — has been entirely squeaky clean.
RICHARD J. CONWAY Massapequa
Koslow’s a better choice than Blakeman
To the Editor:
It can be an easy win for a candidate with name recognition who has enough money and government power
to bombard us with fliers, signs and TV ads each day. Bruce Blakeman, our current Nassau County executive, has this power. We need to look beyond the hype.
It’s time for a more centrist candidate. Blakeman and his team are entrenched in national politics, pleasing President Trump by doing such things as training a group of our county police officers to work in tandem with the president’s controversial ICE force, setting aside cells in our county jail for nonviolent ICE detainees, and creating a volunteer, private militia that Blakeman can use when and how he decides.
On the other hand, Seth Koslow is a centrist candidate for county executive with years of experience as a Queens district attorney, a privatepractice lawyer and a current member of the Nassau County Legislature. He has lived in Nassau County his entire life, and is raising his family here. He is very concerned about our taxes in Nassau, and has said that he would order a full, independent audit of county spending to see where our money is being spent.
Koslow has stated that he would share ideas with his Republican counterpart in Suffolk County, because he believes in the idea of people on both sides working together for the benefit of the county. He has said he would
The problem is that many of these formulas are decades old, built on precedents from as far back as 46 years ago, when demographics and driving patterns looked nothing like they do today. These stuck-in-the-past formulas don’t reflect today’s realities. They also fail to account for New York’s diverse weather conditions, like the heavy rainfall and flooding that regularly hit Long Island. Updating these formulas is essential if Long Island is going to get the funding it’s owed.
There are additional ways to help
The cost of inaction and deferred maintenance is too large to ignore. In 2023, Nassau County reported 39,104 crashes resulting in 650 serious injuries and 61 fatalities. Pedestrian accidents alone increased by 2.2 percent from 2022, with 875 incidents in 2023, including 24 fatalities — an increase of 9.1 percent. The frustration we feel over potholes, faded lane markings and inadequate drainage systems is nothing compared with the accidents they actively contribute to. Proactive investment is critical, and it depends entirely on proper funding.
Ed Ra represents the 19th Assembly District and is the ranking Republican on the Ways and Means Committee.
disband Blakeman’s private militia because he believes that our excellent county police force is more than capable of handling our citizens’ safety.
The bottom line is that Seth Koslow is a highly qualified local resident who
would concentrate solely on the needs of our county. This makes him and his team best suited to run our county.
Framework by Jackie Adamo
Waiting to hail a gondola? — Castello, Venice
ELAINE RAUCH Lynbrook
