Kids golf World Championship from July 31 to aug. 2 in north Carolina, showing off his golf skills.
Rockville Centre golfer competes on world stage
By KElSIE RADZISKI kradziski@liherald.com
At just 10 years old, a young golfer from Rockville Centre is already making waves on the green, after competing in one of the biggest junior golf events in the world.
A rising talent with seven years of experience, Finley Palitz began playing the sport at age three. His dad, Mike Palitz, first got him into the game years ago, and now he plays with both his parents.
Now 10, Palitz said what he enjoys most about golf is “winning” — and that he golfs nearly every day to practice his craft. His favorite golfing memory so far is his first
hole-in-one, a feat he achieved this past April.
This past weekend, Palitz competed in his first U.S. Kids Golf World Championship. The championship, held in Pinehurst, North Carolina, from Thursday through Saturday, brought together over 150 of the best kid golfers from ages five to 12 across the world. Palitz was one of four kids who qualified from New York and the only one from Long Island to qualify in his age group.
“It was (for) the best kids in the world,” he said. “And I did good.”
Out of all the elite junior golfers from around the globe, Palitz wound up tied for
Continued on page 7
Teenagers take on hunger in the community
By KElSIE RADZISKI kradziski@liherald.com
A new youth-led project is tackling food insecurity in Rockville Centre with fresh produce and community outreach. Sharon’s Garden is the latest effort supporting Sharon’s Pantry, with local teens organizing donations, coordinating deliveries and raising awareness one grocery bag at a time.
The project, led by local teens Declan Taylor and Ryan Cooke, has quickly grown into a vital source of fresh produce and funding for the pantry — named for Sharon Sheppard, who co-founded it with Rena Riback in April 2020 — all while recruiting a new generation of civic-minded leaders.
just don’t know about the fact that there are so many people so nearby that are in desperate need of help.”
I wanted to help foster a community of people who care about this stuff.
RYAN CooKE Co-founder, Sharon’s Garden
Every Sunday during the Rockville Centre Farmers Market’s season, from June to December, Sharon’s Garden sets up a stand on the south side of Sunrise Highway across from the GMC dealer, where volunteers hand out fliers and collect donations as well as produce from shoppers. Volunteers also coordinate food pickups and use cash donations to purchase produce in bulk at Costco. That food is delivered to Sharon’s Pantry, based out of the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center, for distribution to families in need.
“We wanted to find a way to have the community feel involved and bridge the connection and build more understanding, while also helping other people who are in need,” Taylor said. “A large part of the problem is that a lot of people
“We used to get maybe two vegetables, (and) now we have two six-foot tables filled with produce,” Riback said of the weekly haul from the garden.
The teens, along with other volunteers from the community, deliver fresh food to the pantry twice a week, coordinating
Continued on page 13
Courtesy Mike Palitz
Finley palitz, 10, of Rockville Centre, competed in the u.S.
Swimmers dive in to honor Mary Ruchalski
The Mary Cup swim meet celebrated another glorious year at the Hempstead Golf and Country Club in honor of Mary Ruchalski. The Rockville Links swim team club faced off against the Hempstead Golf and Country Club swimmers on July 28 in a fun-filled interclub competition, with the Links taking home the win.
Around 200 swimmers and their families came down to participate from both club teams to honor Ruchalski, who lost her battle to rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare form of pediatric cancer, at only 12 years old.
Ruchalski, who was a talented multisport athlete, is remembered each year at the Mary Cup for not only her love for swimming, but her incredible legacy that lives on with the Mary Ruchalski Foundation. Swimmers look forward each year to the heartfelt competition to raise awareness and celebrate Ruchalski’s life.
Since 2018, The Mary Ruchalski Foundation has hosted dozens of fundraising events and sales to raise money for research for pediatric cancers like Ruchalski’s and supporting affected families in need. Currently, there have been no improvements in treatment for Ruchalski’s specific cancer.
“Her life mattered, she mattered, I want her to be remembered for as long as I live,” said Carol Ruchalski, founder of the Mary Ruchalski Foundation and Mary’s mother, “I want her memory to be kept alive. I want to keep pushing for better treatments and less toxic treatment because these kids and Mary deserved that.”
All participants got to enjoy the hot sun while swimming for a cause. Not only did they raise money for cancer
research, they got to kick off the nearbeginning of Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month, which begins in September. The foundation will be hosting a tree lighting at the village tree on Sept. 2, lighting the tree gold for pediatric cancer awareness. They will be visiting
neighboring towns in the following days to do the same.
For more information on The Mary Ruchalski Foundation, visit TheMaryRuchalskiFoundation.org.
–Alyssa R. Griffin
Courtesy Mary Ruchalski Foundation
Swimmers from the Rockville Links and Hempstead Golf and Country Club faced off in the 2025 Mary Cup, an annual swim meet in Mary Ruchalski’s memory, on July 28.
Kids Teaching Kids brings soccer fun to RVC
By ALYSSA R. GRIFFIN agriffin@liherald.com
Summer is in full swing, and so is the Kids Teaching Kids Soccer Club in Rockville Centre. Each year, residents and their children are welcome to join this free soccer clinic. Open to kids entering kindergarten through third grade, the club organizes this program each year with their volunteer coaches. This volunteer program allows kids to experience a two-week training session run by high school students. The young coaches choose how to run each lesson with different trials and games to keep the young kids entertained and skilled.
Kids look forward to the program each year to play rounds of games like “Sharks and Minnows,” which is sixyear-old Jack Burns’ favorite.
“One person’s the shark and he doesn’t have the ball, and the other people are the minnows and they do have the ball,” he explained. “You have to try to make it to the other lawn before the sharks get you.”
Many of these volunteer coaches were participants themselves at a young age, including 18-year-old Jonah Drew of South Side High School.
“I’ve been doing this since freshman year, so I’ve kind of built meaningful relationships with most kids that I’ve been with since they were four and now eight,” Drew said.
As these kids grow up and start families of their own, they return to their roots at the soccer club. Some of them take a step even further and become members of the board for the Rockville Centre Soccer Club, including Kaitlin McTague.
“It’s an amazing thing that it’s still around and still such a nice thing for the community,” she said. “It’s a real
full circle moment.”
Fun for the whole family, parents get to enjoy some fresh air and sunlight as they watch their little ones having the time of their lives playing soccer with the “big kids.” It’s a way to not only get the kids playing, but get the whole community together.
“I really think it’s a unique experience when younger kids get to play with the ‘big kids,’” said McTague, “you just see how they just have so much fun with the game in a different way.”
For more information on The Rockville Centre Soccer Club visit, RVCSoccer.com.
Coaches get ready to share their skills with the Rockville Centre youth.
Tim Baker/Herald photos
Boys from kindergarten through third grade had a blast learning soccer from the Kids Teaching Kids Soccer Club this summer.
Coach Kiersten Brull with Olivia Karasz, 4, enjoying the sunny soccer weather.
Colette Tyrrell, 4, from Lynbrook and Parker Borg, 4, from Rockville Centre practice their techniques on the field.
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Crime watCh harassment
On July 25, a Meehan Lane resident reported being punched by an unknown person in the vicinity of their residence.
On July 27, police units responded to Municipal Parking Field #1 after receiving a 911 call for several juveniles spraying “silly string” on pedestrians. Officers stopped two juveniles that were later picked up from the scene by their parents.
On July 29, a pedestrian reported an unknown person yelled obscenities at them while walking on Hempstead Avenue.
LarCeny
On July 26, a motorist reported that an unknown person stole their wallet from their unlocked motor vehicle while parked on Warwick Road.
On July 31, a Wright Road resident reported that an unknown person stole property from their unsecured garage.
On July 31, a patient at Mercy Hospital reported that an unknown person stole their EBT benefits card while admitted to the hospital.
On July 31, a customer of Webster Bank reported that an unknown person stole property from their safe deposit box in the bank.
On August 3, a S. Park Ave resident reported that an unknown person stole a bracelet out of her parked vehicle located in the rear parking lot of 130 S. Park Avenue.
On August 3, an employee at CVS Pharmacy located at 589 Merrick Rd reported that an unknown person stole multiple items from this location and fled on a scooter.
CriminaL misChief
On July 25, an Old Mill Court resident reported their door was kicked and damaged by a neighbor.
On July 26, an Old Mill Court resident reported their door was kicked and damaged by a neighbor.
ProPerty Damage
On July 29, a motorist reported their parked vehicle was struck by an unoccupied vehicle being unloaded from the tow truck on Montauk Avenue.
People named in Crime Watch items as having been arrested and charged with violations or crimes are only suspected of committing those acts of which they are accused. They are all presumed to be innocent of those charges until and unless found guilty in a court of law.
fire watCh
The Rockville Centre Fire Department is always looking for help in serving our community. If you live here or in any one of the adjacent communities and are interested in joining or just
July 27 – August 2
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Awareness: Whereas older adults previously accepted the advice of professionals as gospel, today’s superagers are avid consumers of information. The challenge today is the approach to information gathering and the curating of the “informational torrent”. Tips and techniques for searching and filing your information are provided.
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General Alarms – 10
Still Alarms – 12
Rescue – 1
Aided Cases (Ambulance) – 54
Mutual Aid Fire – 2
Mutual Aid Rescue – 0
Mutual Aid Ambulance – 1
Total – 80
■ PUBlIC NOTICES: Ext. 232 E-mail: legalnotices@liherald.com
have questions, please visit any firehouse on Sunday mornings and speak with one of the officers or call (516) 6789320. For emergencies dial 911 or (516) 766-0400.
Year To Date
General Alarms – 295
Still Alarms – 181
Rescue – 102
Aided Cases (Ambulance) – 1464
Mutual Aid Fire – 47
Mutual Aid Rescue – 1
Mutual Aid Ambulance – 4
Total – 2094
569-4643
Nassau HOF class of 2025 announced
By TONY BELLISSIMO tbellissimo@liherald.com
The Nassau County High School Athletics Hall of Fame will hold its 2025 induction ceremony Oct. 7 at the Crest Hollow County Club. For more information and tickets, go to www.sectionviii. org. Here’s a list of local honorees.
Ray Adams (Long Beach)
For the past 28 seasons, the Long Beach wrestling program has achieved remarkable success under the direction of Baldwin alum Adams. During that span, the team has a dual meet record of 328-110-1, winning the New York State Dual-Meet championship in 2016 and 2017. Adams has led Long Beach to an incredible 16 Conference titles and five Nassau County crowns.
Adams’ dedication to developing athletes at a very high level is palpable by the 168 All-County wrestlers he has coached. Of those, 11 went on to become state champions, 48 became Nassau County champions, and 42 were AllState wrestlers. Adams’ impact on wrestling goes beyond wins and championships. A member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame (Class of 2022), has been greatly recognized for his contributions, earning him Nassau County Coach of the Year three times.
Steve Costello (MacArthur)
Costello has been one of Nassau County’s elite baseball coaches for more than three decades at MacArthur High School. His teams have consistently won and have experienced deep playoff runs, resulting in three Nassau County championships, two Long Island titles and a New York State Class B title in 1994 with a record of 29-0.
Costello’s incredible success throughout the past 32 seasons has made him one of the premiere baseball coaches in county history. He is in the top five all time in career wins with over 575. He also earned the Michael Kostynick Memorial Award Coach of the Year honors three times. Additionally, Costello would take over the role as MacArthur’s varsity girls soccer coach in 2022. It was no surprise that in his first year at the helm, the Generals would go 15-1-2 and capture Nassau and L.I. Class AA championships.
Gina, Vicky and Rosie DiMartino (Massapequa)
It is a genuine honor to have one member of a family become a high school soccer star.
So what is there to say about a family that produces not one, not two, not three, but an astounding four All-Long Island players. That’s what made the DiMartino sisters so special. Each was a star in her own right. Each led teams to
championships. Each earned multiple individual honors. Gina, Vicky and Rosie DiMartino followed elder sister Christina into soccer stardom. Each proved to be winners while leading Massapequa to Nassau and New York State crowns.
Gina was a sensation at Massapequa. She led the Chiefs to two state soccer titles. She set the school scoring record. She won the Mike Clarke Award as the best player in the county. She was a two-time All-Long Island selection and has been inducted into the Long Island Soccer Players Hall of Fame. Victoria (Vicky) was an All-Long Island firstteam selection as a junior in 2005 and led Massapequa to the county, regional and state titles as a senior. She was chosen for the United States Under-17 World Cup team in New Zealand.
Ronald Gustafson (Wantagh)
A common theme runs throughout
the career of “Gus” Gustafson when competed as a member of Wantagh High School’s cross-country and track & field teams: Unprecedented success. As “leader of the pack”, Gustafson’s running career was impeccable. In cross country, he led the Warriors to two Nassau County Class B team championships and he was a three-time individual champion from 1962-64. Wantagh would win the New York State cross country team title in 1962 and he would win the NYS individual championship in 1963 and 1964. In track, Gustafson was a threetime Nassau County champion in the 3200-meter race.
William ‘Bill’ Hedgecock (Wantagh & Lynbrook)
Hedgecock was a fixture in Nassau County track & field and cross country for 41 years. His former players describe Coach Hedge as more than a coach –he’s a legend, a mentor, and someone
who left a lasting impact on everyone lucky enough to know him. He exhibited an extensive knowledge of both sports at Lynbrook and Wantagh. His career began at Lynbrook for 11 years from 1969-80.
In 1981, Hedgecock moved over to Wantagh, where he was the head coach in cross country and spring track for the next three decades. During his tenure, Bill’s teams amassed a staggering 1,207 wins (819 in XC and 388 in track) with only 102 losses. He led his teams to 50 undefeated seasons, two New York State cross country championships at Wantagh (boys in 1986, girls in 1992) and 37 Nassau titles between the two schools.
Quint Kessenich (Lynbrook)
Aside from being an extraordinary three-sport star at Lynbrook, Kessenich, a 1986 graduate, was also a bit of an introvert. All of which is ironic since he is now a vocal ESPN broadcaster for lacrosse, wrestling, football and other sports. Kessenich was an outstanding athlete in high school. He starred as a soccer player and was a two-time Nassau wrestling champion for the Owls. However, it was on the lacrosse field that he was truly extraordinary.
Kessenich was considered to be the top high school lacrosse goaltender in the country as a junior and senior, and twice was named All-American. He starred at the collegiate level at Johns Hopkins, becoming a rare four-time AllAmerican for the Blue Jays. He also was twice the recipient of the Ensign C. Markland Kelly Award, given to the best goaltender in collegiate lacrosse.
Courtesy Levittown Schools Steve Costello has racked up more than 575 wins and three county titles as MacArthur’s baseball coach.
Courtesy Nassau County Athletics
Lynbrook’s Quint Kessenich was a three-sport star for the Owls and one of the top lacrosse goaltenders in the country in the mid-1980s.
Young golfer aims high after world debut
128th place. Over three 18-hole rounds, he posted scores of 76, 77 and 86, with each round just a few strokes over par of 72. More importantly, he achieved his personal best score of 76 during the first round of the championship.
When Palitz learned he had qualified for the championship in June, his reaction was simple: “I was really happy.” He started playing in smaller championships about a year ago and had set a goal for himself to qualify for the world championship before the age of 12, his father explained, and he was excited to find out he had achieved that goal two years early.
“It was pretty impressive to see his drive to do it,” Mike said.
Qualifying for the U.S. Kids Golf Championship is a competitive, multi-stage process, according to the tournament website. Young golfers earn their place by participating in a series of events throughout the year, including local tours, state invitationals, regional championships and international tournaments.
Performance in these events helps players accumulate scoring and tour points, which determine their Priority Status — a ranking system from Level 1 to Level 12. Only those who achieve higher levels, typically Level 7 or above, are invited to apply for the championship.
To prepare for the tournament, Palitz practiced frequently at his favorite golf course, the Hempstead Golf and Country
Club training with coaches Michelle McConchie and Joe Ingoglia. McConchie also coaches the golf camp at the Hempstead golf course, where Palitz attends every summer.
When thinking about the biggest challenge he faces during golfing, Palitz said putting gives him the most trouble, requires precision and focus. Palitz focuses on this during his practice.
In addition to golf, Palitz plays baseball and basketball and is a member of the Rockville Centre Tigers 10U baseball team.
His long-term golfing goal? “Go far,” he said, hoping to get to the “pros” one day in the future.
Watching their son compete on a global stage has been a rewarding experience for his parents, Mike said.
“It was really cool, and we’re extremely proud of him,” he said. “He’ll play a round of golf and then he’ll just go practice, and want to just keep going. So it’s nice to just see how driven he is without us pushing him.”
One memorable moment from the tournament was when Palitz played alongside the eventual champion of the 10-year-old division, Graham Schmidt, on the first day.
“They became friends, which was kind of a cool side note to the weekend,” Mike added.
As Palitz continues to chase bigger goals in golf, it’s clear that he is just getting started. When asked what advice he’d give other kids who want to try golf, he suggested checking out the driving range and playing mini golf to get started.
Courtesy Mike Palitz
finley palitz shot a personal best 76 during his first round of the tournament, where he went with his dad, mike palitz.
RichnerLive Gala celebrates
By ALYSSA R. GRIFFIN agriffin@liherald.com
Herald Community Media held its first ever Health & Beauty Awards of Long Island Gala, presented by RichnerLive on July 16, people from across the Island flooded into the ballroom of The Heritage Club at Bethpage to get a glimpse of the beautiful honorees this year’s had to offer.
“This evening we celebrate the people and organizations shaping the future of health and beauty,” said Stuart Richner, CEO of Richner Communications and publisher of Herald Community Media, “Those whose innovation, leadership and dedication are making a lasting difference in our community.”
Regarding launching this new program, RichnerLIVE Executive Director Amy Amato shared, “This is a remarkable group of professionals who do more than just excel at what they do. They uplift, empower, and heal our community every single day. Whether helping someone feel beautiful, recover their strength, or simply feel seen and supported, this work touches lives in profound ways. It’s an honor to recognize that impact here tonight.”
Over 40 honorees were presented with awards in various categories pertaining to the health and beauty industry on Long Island, including Spa 505, Tranquility 3 Spa & Salt Cave and more.
Following the VIP cocktail hour which offered networking and a shopping and vendor experience for attendees, event emcees Krista Bennett DeMaio, founder of Pretty Local and Mae Caime, CEO and transformational architect of aMAEzing Midlife and Beyond kicked off the evening’s program and ceremony with a panel discussion on the industry.
Featured panelists included Dr. Luis Fandos, founder and CEO of Alluring Age Anti-Aging and Wellness Center, Dr. Helen Hsieh, founder and medical director of Vibrance 360, and Catherine Canadeo, CEO and founder of Health and Wellness Corp, who all also received awards later in the evening.
“With the new technology that we now have available, we can identify abnormal cellular processes that are going on,” Fandos said, “And by correcting those, any beauty treatments that you do will have a much longer lasting effect.”
Hsieh discussed common myths within the health and beauty industry. “More is not always better. Just the right amount is better than more. If you eat too much, it’s not good for you,” she said.
Canadeo mentioned the importance of addressing stress for one’s health. “It’s very important to be mindful of ourselves. We get distracted on a day to day basis and our emotional wellbeing is crucial. It is essential to glow from within,” she said.
Atul Bhatara, founder and CEO of Atul Skincare was amongst the honorees for the Achiever category. His skin-
care focuses on using safer ingredients in their products. Being born with cerebral palsy, he’s been able to defy the odds and be a voice for the disabled community.
“Throughout this journey, a lot of people didn’t believe in me. Don’t let somebody else’s opinion of you become your reality,” Bhatara said, “You control your own reality. Fear is false evidence appearing real, fear does not exist. It’s just something that comes up in your mind when you get overwhelmed.”
Constance Korol, CEO of Meta 180, received an award in Holistic Integrative Health. Her business centers around helping individuals dealing with issues from anxiety to physical ailments with a holistic approach both in-person and virtually. “Most of my clients, when I’m with them for some time, they’ll say ‘I just never knew that I could feel this way.’ That’s really the best part is seeing my clients grow,” Korol said.
Honoree, Dr. Linda Harkavy, was a recipient of the Science & Skin award. Harkavy is the president and medical director of Form & Function Aesthetics
and Wellness, which uses different devices and equipment to treat various physical issues. Harkavy said, “It’s a broad based aesthetic and wellness practice. The aesthetics came along with me because looking beautiful is a part of feeling great.”
These honorees were nominated not only by RichnerLive, but by people with-
in their communities as well. To see a complete list of the winners, visit RichnerLive.com/health-beautyawards/2025-honorees.
Proceeds from the event will be donated to The Maurer Foundation. For more information on the event or other events by RichnerLive, visit RichnerLive.com.
Photos by Tim Baker/Herald
EMCEE’s and Honorees (Left) Mae Caime and (Far right) Krista Bennett DeMaio speak with our panelists: (Left to right) Dr. Luis Fandos, Catherine Canadeo, and Dr. Helen Hsieh.
Our lovely gift bags sponsored by our amazing honorees
Attendees at the Heath & Beauty Awards
Health and Beauty innovators
Melissa Baptiste/Herald
Atul Bhatara from Atul Skincare.
Melissa Baptiste/Herald Alice Khalkad from House of Skin.
Tim Baker/Herald Jim Wang from Spa 505.
Melissa Baptiste/Herald
Linda Mashkabova, FNP from The Beauty Cellar NY.
Tim Baker/Herald Tom Amigdalos from PureCare Pharmacy and Wellness.
Melissa Baptiste/Herald
Linda Harkavy, MD from Form and Function Aesthetics and Wellness.
Tim Baker/Herald
Sarah K. Girardi, MD, FACS from Tideline Center for Health & Aesthetics.
Melissa Baptiste/Herald Meredith Vandegrift, MD, FACS from Vandegrift Plastic Surgery.
Melissa Baptiste/Herald Sharon Grasso, Ingrid Dodd, Dana Persico from the Rebranding Menopause Postcast.
Tim Baker/Herald
Luis Fandos, MD, FAAAM, FABAPM from Alluring Age Anti-Aging and Wellness Center with Amanda Fandos, Jessica Jordan, Pina Prainito and Jasmin Joya.
Melissa Baptiste/Herald Ali Artz from Ambiance Salon and Spa.
Melissa Baptiste/Herald
Samara S. Churgin, MD, FACS from Churgin Plastic Surgery.
Tim Baker/Herald Marisa Russell from Meadow & Bark.
Melissa Baptiste/Herald Donna Arigo from ISDIN USA.
Tim Baker/Herald
Leticia Huston from HER Spa Room & Benefit Cosmetics/LVMH.
Melissa Baptiste/Herald
Stephen T. Greenberg, MD, FACS from Greenberg Cosmetic Surgery.
Tim Baker/Herald
Ladies from Tranquility 3 Spa & Salt Cave: Therese Montanile, Angela Cui (honoree), Angela Wang and Maria Spatola.
Basketball tournament for mental health
The Ryan Patrick O’Shea Foundation recently has its seventh annual Rise Up for Ryan 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament and Suicide Awareness Walk.
The Rise Up for Ryan basketball tournament and walk served as a “thank you” to the community for participating in the Rise Up for Ryan fundraiser, which took place earlier in the summer, while continuing to promote suicide awareness.
“It’s to bring awareness to the community, to give back to the community that has supported us for all these years,” John O’Shea, Ryan’s father and co-founder of the organization, said.
It’s to bring awareness to the community, to give back to the community that has supported us for all these years.
John o’Shea Co-founder, Ryan Patrick O’Shea Foundation
Just under 200 basketball players played in the tournament, resulting in about 40 teams in total. Around 50 volunteers helped out to ensure the efficiency of the event.
The July 26 event took place at Lister Park from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with the suicide awareness walk beginning around noon. Ryan’s mother, Mary O’Shea, and a friend of the O’Shea family painted rocks with beautiful pictures and inspirational quotes, which were then placed around the walking path. Around 70 people participated in the walk.
“It’s about 2.3 miles because Ryan’s number in all his sports and athletics was 23,” O’Shea said about the walk. “It’s basically two loops around Lister Park.”
Even the weather at the July 26 even could not have been more desirable, O’Shea said.
“It was unbelievable, one of the nicest ones we’ve had,” he said. “The basketball players were very fortunate.”
Ryan Patrick O’Shea had completed his first semester at Iona University before dying by suicide in January 2019. He attended South Side High School and was a talented athlete, serving as captain of the school’s basketball team.
One resource the foundation promotes at all their events is the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
“It’s easy to remember for anyone who is struggling. It’s a great resource,” O’Shea said. “You can reach out to them for anything at all and there will be someone there to talk to.”
If you are anyone you know is struggling with mental health or thoughts of suicide, call the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988.
–Jane Bagatta
Around 40 teams competed in the seventh annual 3-on-3 basketball tournament.
Photos courtesy Ryan Patrick O’Shea Foundation
It was a beautiful day at Lister Park for basketball players, spectators, volunteers and walkers.
About 70 people showed up for the Rise Up for Ryan Suicide Awareness walk around Lister Park, in honor of Ryan Patrick O’Shea.
The teams came out to support the Ryan Patrick O’Shea Foundation and play in Ryan’s memory.
Supporters filled the bleachers to watch the basketball tournament.
Gillen visits air traffic control in Westbury
By ALYSSA R. GRIFFIN agriffin@liherald.com
Staffing shortages, safety concerns, the need to update equipment and aircraft noise were the topics when U.S. Rep. Laura Gillen met with Federal Aviation Administration officials and air traffic controllers in Westbury last week.
“I think everyone can agree TRACON/N90 and other air traffic control towers are understaffed, have outdated technology, long hours and compulsory overtime, which is contributing to wider spread burnout and fatigue,” Gillen said on July 29 outside the New York Terminal Radar Approach Control facility that is known by its acronym.
TRACON/N90 manages aircraft approaching and departing from the metropolitan area’s airports, generally within a 30- to 50-mile radius.
in Philadelphia.
“I’m so glad the inspector general is finally looking into the impact of moving N90 air traffic controllers, and what this has done to New York airport cancellations and the safety of our passengers,” Gillen said.
I will continue to work with Secretary Duffy in a bipartisan fashion to make sure we are keeping the skies over the busiest airways in the country safe.
LAuRA GILLeN
U.S. Representative
Gillen put pressure on the FAA and federal Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy that resulted in an audit of a decision last year to relocate a dozen air traffic controllers from TRACON/N90 to an air traffic control center
The FAA relocated air traffic controllers who monitored Newark Liberty Airport, one of the busiest in the country, from TRACON/ N90 to Philadelphia. Controllers overseeing Newark subsequently experienced a roughly 90-second blackout of radar and radio contact with air traffic due to a burned copper wire on April 28. Another 90-second outage followed on May 9, caused by failures of communication infrastructure.
“The FAA’s reckless decision to relocate Newark air traffic controllers from N90 on Long Island to Philadelphia put our safety at risk and made it more difficult for our air traffic controllers to manage the nation’s busiest airspace,” said Gillen.
The incidents raised concerns about system redundancy, controller staffing and training and operational resilience. The audit will also review the FAA’s
planning and risk-assessment process and its operation response to flight delays, safety incidents and cancellations.
Gillen said she was also determined to address the issue of low staffing of air traffic controllers and the risks it poses to passenger safety.
“I will continue to work with Secretary Duffy in a bipartisan fashion to
make sure we are keeping the skies over the busiest airways in the country safe — safe for passengers, and to minimize cancellations and delays,” she said.
During a discussion of air traffic safety at a July 16 hearing of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Duffy said, “Our goal is to make air travel not just safer, but also more efficient.”
Courtesy Office of Laura Gillen
U.S. Rep. Laura Gillen responded to questions from reporters outside the New York Terminal Radar Approach Control facility in Westbury on July 29.
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SIBSPlace celebrates summer at Splish Splash
By KELSIE RADZISKI kradziski@liherald.com
More than 100 children and families from two Long Island nonprofits enjoyed a day of rides, waves and summer fun during the fourth annual “Carefree Day of Sun and Water Park Fun,” hosted by Splish Splash Water Park and Jovia Financial Credit Union.
Attendees from SIBSPlace in Rockville Centre and The Viscardi Center in Roslyn were treated to full-day admission, meals and giveaways that included string backpacks, T-shirts and water bottles. The annual event, created by Jovia and Splish Splash, aims to give children facing major life challenges a chance to relax and enjoy time with loved ones.
“Jovia Financial Credit Union welcomes the opportunity to once again offer children and their families a funfilled, carefree day at Splish Splash Water Park,” Rich Tavarez, Community Relations Officer at Jovia Financial Credit Union, said in a news release. “Our ongoing commitment is to collaborate with non-profit organizations in the community, creating meaningful experiences for youth through engaging activities and educational initiatives. Our fourth annual Carefree Day at Splish Splash is all about creating joyful memories and giving back to the communities that make Long Island special.”
Over 50 participants from SIBSPlace, the Rockville Centre-based organization offering therapeutic support to children with a sibling or parent facing a lifethreatening illness, came to the July 16 event. Another 50 children, mentors and volunteers attended from The Viscardi Center, which provides education and services for individuals with dis-
abilities.
“Events like these provide our families with opportunities to build connections with others who understand their journey,” Joanna Formont, Executive Director of SIBSPlace, said. “It is important for our families to disconnect from their personal lives, leave all the stress behind, and spend a meaningful day with their loved ones. We’re grateful to Jovia Financial Credit Union and Splish Splash for making this possible.”
“The Splish Splash experience that Jovia provided was really perfect for our students with intellectual disabilities,” Lauren L. Marzo, Chief Development Officer for The Viscardi Center, said. “Our students get to navigate a large area with a small amount of assistance from supervisors, and outings like this enable them to gain important personal skills while encouraging independence. The Viscardi Center is grateful to Jovia for providing this incredible day for our students.”
Splish Splash and Jovia worked together to sponsor this event for the two organizations.
“As Long Island’s premier summer destination, we take great pride in continuing our tradition of providing families with a joyful and unforgettable day at our park,” Mike Bengtson, General Manager of Splish Splash, said. “Like Jovia, we remain deeply committed to supporting our community and demonstrating that here on Long Island, we are united in our efforts to make a positive impact on families and children.”
To date, more than 400 children and families have participated in the annual summer event. Later this summer, Jovia will follow up with financial literacy education days for the youth and families of both organizations.
Courtesy Jovia Financial Credit Union
SIBSPlace and The Viscardi Center visited Splish Splash, sponsored by Jovia Financial Credit Union, for a fun day in the sun.
Awareness of local food pantry boosts support
Continued from page 1
with its distribution schedule. They have already donated more than 700 pounds of produce this season and raised over $1,500 — on pace to exceed last year’s total of $4,000 — in just a few weeks.
Cooke said their goal is to get kids involved who are truly passionate about giving back.
“I wanted to help foster a community of people who care about this stuff,” Cooke said. “So I think that’s another reason we started Sharon’s Garden, to help out the pantry and to get kids who really care about the mission, and not just to check off the box for their community service hours.”
Taylor and Cooke both take active roles: Taylor helps with volunteer recruiting and community outreach, and Cooke leads the food-distribution efforts at the pantry. Each week, they and their peers help organize, bag and distribute groceries, working with adult volunteers and pantry staff.
The project has gained enthusiastic support from the wider community. Fred Terry & Sons, a farmers market vendor, donates leftover produce each week, according to Courtney Taylor, Declan’s mother and a “facilitator” of the garden, and Homestead’s Hot Sauce contributes jars of hot sauce, seasoning rubs and homemade soups. In June, The Caffé on Park hosted an ice cream social and recruitment night for Sharon’s Garden, donating the ice cream and opening on a Monday night, when the restaurant is normally closed.
“We’ve met a lot of really nice people that we have not gotten to know in our 18 years in Rockville Centre,” Taylor said. “Something like this really does bring people together.”
The garden operates with a rotating team of 15 to 20 youth volunteers, who commit to helping out once or twice a month. Many of the teens volunteer at the pantry during the winter months.
“The group of volunteers that we have are just such fantastic kids who are really invested in the mission and in making a difference,” Kate Cooke, Ryan’s mom and another garden facilitator, said.
When Sheppard and Riback founded the pantry five years ago, as the coronavirus pandemic was spreading, it was sponsored by the local organization the Anti-Racism Project. Initially it served just over 20 families, but now it helps more than 100, offering fresh meat, produce and other staples, all funded by the community.
Now, with the addition of Sharon’s Garden, the pantry has been able to expand its offerings and raise awareness about food insecurity in the village.
“That’s one of the main things people do not understand in a community like Rockville Centre — that there is a great need for food, that people are suffering from food insecurity, and it’s getting worse,” Riback said, “and (the garden)
has helped raise awareness.”
Donations can be sent via Zelle to antiracismprojectli@gmail.com. Checks can be made out to the Anti-Racism Project and sent to 30 Seaman Ave., Rockville Centre, NY 11570, or to Sisterhood of Central Synagogue–Beth Emeth, at 430 DeMott Ave. in Rockville Centre, with “Sharon’s Pantry” in the memo line.
For more information, visit SharonsPantry.org.
Lea rassier, far left, elliot Sheridan, Sharon’s garden co-founders declan taylor and ryan Cooke, Jack moreback and Jake Santos, as well as Volunteer of the month Charlie digennaro (not pictured), volunteer on Sundays at the rockville Centre farmers market to raise awareness of the garden and collect donations.
• Exhibit your products & services to a targeted audience
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Courtesy Courtney Taylor
Your HealtH and Wellness — with a focus on fitness for life
In the business of staying healthy Motivation
By Kristen Castillo
for working out after work
Once your day is done, you’re probably tired from work, meetings, phone calls, and more. While you’re not necessarily in the mood to go work out after clocking out, the benefits of exercise — burning calories, flexibility, de-stressing, etc. — can leave you feeling healthy and rejuvenated and ready to take on the next workday. So how do you stay motivated to hit the gym instead of hitting happy hour or the couch? Fitness experts say putting structures in place is key to keeping your after-work fitness plans on track.
Be Ready
Bring your exercise clothes, shoes, a water bottle and snacks with you to work. That way you won’t have take extra time to stop home and potentially get sidetracked or find excuses. Joey Daoud is the founder and CEO of New Territory Fitness, an online fitness coaching company that works with office workers and companies remotely. He says if it takes you more than 15 minutes to get to a gym, that could be reason enough for you to skip working out.
“When exercising after work, you want to keep things as easy and decision free as possible,” he says.
Make It Convenient
Hit the gym right after work, especially if your employer offers it, or choose a gym location that’s close to your office or home.
“If your office has a gym, take advantage of it,” says Crystal McFerran, a senior vice president at an IT support company. She works out before leaving the office.
“Our office has a phenomenal gym, saving me money on
a gym membership and making it incredibly convenient to work out after work.”
Schedule It
Make an appointment with yourself to sweat. Pilates instructor Caroline Topperman urges you to book fitness into your schedule.
“We don’t often skip doctor appointments, so think of the gym as just that,” she says. “This is an appointment for your health and it’s written in your calendar.”
Structured time keeps you accountable and allows you to look forward to an hour of self-care.
HEALTH MEMO
TSuccessful Start
Starting a steady routine ensures that you won’t burn out or drop your plans altogether.
“You can’t just go from zero to hero, or five days a week hardcore,” says certified personal trainer Cat Kom. Two to three days a week is a reasonable and maintainable goal that will likely help you see fitness time as a treat, rather than a burden.
Community
Set yourself up for success by finding a fitness community to keep you accountable. That could mean working out with a buddy or signing up for group spinning or dance classes.
“Sweating it out together and being able to relate to one another, is key to sticking to a routine,” says Kom. “It also helps you to know you’re not alone throughout the fitness process.”
Think of exercise as an opportunity to disconnect from your desk and connect with people.
Focus On Feeling Great
Even if you dread working out, and regardless of the intensity of the workout, it’s almost undeniable that you feel accomplished just from sticking to your plan and moving your body. Use that mood and energy boost to keep you motivated.
Working out has many physical benefits, but it’s also great for your brain.
“It’s a great way to decompress after the day, gather your thoughts, process any difficult challenges and take some personal care time,” says Daoud.
If you give yourself time to manage your physical wellbeing, the benefits will show up in all other areas of life as well.
Photo: Treat working out after work as a priority, similar to a doctor’s appointment or any other important meeting.
Keep Yourself Safe From Ticks Before a Hike, Run, or Round of Golf
icks are on the march and heading for you and your family—unless you take precautions.
The Fordham Tick Index, which assesses the risk of encountering ticks in the New York area, was at its highest level of 10 on a 10-point scale as of mid-July, based on an increase in the tick population and the diseases they carry, most notably Lyme disease.
Over the last three years, New York State has averaged more than 17,500 new cases of Lyme disease each year, with more than 19,000 cases reported in 2023, according to the state’s Department of Health. What is more, Suffolk County reported the highest number of Lyme disease cases in the country between 2019 and 2022, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Long Island’s tick season runs from spring through fall, with peak activity from May to June and again from August to November. Aaron E. Glatt, MD, Mount Sinai South Nassau’s Chief of Infectious Diseases and Chair of the Department of Medicine, recommends the following steps to protect yourself from illnesses spread by ticks (and mosquitoes):
• Apply EPA-registered insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, or oil of lemon eucalyptus to clothing and exposed parts of your body (be sure to follow the instructions on the product label for safe and effective use).
• When hiking or gardening, wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants, socks, and shoes/sneakers to reduce exposed skin areas. For extra protection, tuck your pants into your socks when in wooded terrain or thick vegetation.
• Wear light- or bright-colored clothing, like white, tan, yellow, or orange, which makes it easier to spot ticks.
• Treat clothing and gear with permethrin insecticiderepellent. Do not apply on the skin.
• Ticks congregate in grassy and wooded areas, so stay in the
Aaron E. Glatt, MD, Chief of Infectious Diseases and Chair of the Department of Medicine at Mount Sinai South Nassau recommends using fine-tipped tweezers to remove a tick and cleaning the site and your hands thoroughly after removal.
center of trails. Avoid tall grass and leaf litter. Golfers need to be aware of their increased risk when searching for balls in heavy rough and untamed parts of the course.
• After concluding outdoor activities, check your clothing, hair/head and hairline, armpits, between and toes, and entire body for ticks.
• Take a shower as soon as possible, which can help wash off unattached ticks, and consider putting the clothing in a dryer on high heat for 10 minutes to kill any attached ticks. To remove a tick, Dr. Glatt recommends the following steps:
• Use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible and pull straight out with steady, even pressure. Avoid twisting or jerking the tick. Dispose of the tick by wrapping it in tape or flushing it down the toilet.
• After removing the tick, clean the bite site and your hands with rubbing alcohol or soap and water.
If you are bitten by a tick, Dr. Glatt says to be on guard for these symptoms of a tick-borne illness: fever, chills, headache, fatigue, muscle aches, joint pain, or a rash.
“In 60-80 percent of Lyme disease cases, a rash with a bullseye center will appear around or near the site of the bite,” said Dr. Glatt. “If this rash develops as well as any other symptoms, schedule an appointment with your doctor or go to the emergency room immediately. Early diagnosis and treatment will prevent more serious complications, including chronic severe headaches, painful arthritis, swelling of the joints, and heart and central nervous system problems.”
The Long Island flagship hospital of the Mount Sinai Health System, Mount Sinai South Nassau operates 911-receiving emergency departments at its Oceanside and Long Beach campuses and is the only Trauma Center on the South Shore of Nassau County. In a medical emergency, dial 911.
For more information about Mount Sinai South Nassau or a physician referral, call (516) 632-3000 or visit mountsinai. org/southnassau.
mountsinai.org/southnassau
Your HealtH and Wellness — with a focus on fitness for life
Mind yourself
Focusing on your physical and emotional wellness
By Kristen Castillo
Not so long ago self-care was considered somewhat self-indulgent. Then the pandemic altered our reality and ever since we’ve turned attention on how we engage with our world and practices to be our best, healthy selves. It’s not selfish to take care of yourself and your well-being.
“Self-care is vitally important because if you don’t take the time to stop and care for yourself, your body will stop you,” says mental health advocate Mark Henick. “If you never let your foot off the gas, you won’t keep driving forever — you’ll either run out of gas or crash. The same is true for the body and mind.”
Henick says self-care is a choice to rebalance your internal resources so you can bounce back from stressors.
Loving yourself
Self-care can range from taking “me time” breaks in your day or chatting with a friend to yoga, exercising, of course, or meditating.
“Often, we posit that self-care is about doing less, but sometimes it is about doing more — at the end of the day, it is about responding to the needs of ourselves before others,” says Darren Pierre, Ph.D., author of
“The Invitation to Love.”
“The work is difficult because we can become easily distracted from focusing on ourselves,” Pierre says, urging people to “remain disciplined in the practice of selfcare.”
Honoring your life
“Self-care is choosing to honor your inner wants and needs in order to fulfill your potential,” says therapist Kimberly Hershenson.
One of her self-care recommendations is to make a daily gratitude list. “Focusing on what is good in your life as opposed to what is ‘going wrong’ helps relieve stress,” says Hershenson, who also suggests reading positive affirmations every morning.
Snooze
Self-care isn’t necessarily tough to do, but finding the time to take care of yourself can be challenging.
“Sleep is one of the best forms of self-care because it gives your body and mind some uninterrupted time to simply repair itself,” says Henick.
Write it down
Author Carrie Aulenbacher, a busy work-
ing mom, uses journaling as a self-care tool.
“Making time to take care of me is hard,” she says.“But journaling helps me unload and address issues that affected me but got pushed aside throughout the day.”
She says everything ranging from serious writing to doodling to making lists is helpful and counts as journaling.
The business of self-care
This increased interest in self-care is a
business boom, too.
According to the Global Wellness Institute, the global wellness industry is a $6.3 trillion market, including fitness, mind and body; healthy eating, nutrition and weight loss; and spa treatments.
This figure represents a significant portion of the global economy, exceeding 6 percent of global GDP, according to the GWI. Furthermore, the industry is projected to reach $9 trillion by 2028.
That means increased opportunities for consumers to invest in themselves and their wellbeing. The wellness industry features countless self-care options, ranging from buying vitamin infused waters to planning wellness retreat vacations to scheduling fitness classes like yoga, dance and cycling.
Calendar item
“Schedule self-care time on your calendar,” says Anza Goodbar, a coach, speaker and trainer for entrepreneurs. “If it is not scheduled, it most likely won’t happen.”
She suggests starting a self-care routine in small steps, such as getting up 15 minutes early to start your day with meditation or a quiet cup of coffee or tea.
“The bottom line is to be intentional about taking care of yourself through the different stages of life,” Goodbar says.
HEALTH MEMO
Compassionate care that enriches lives
The only skilled nursing facility in Oceanside, Oceanside Care Center is a 100-bed rehabilitation and nursing center that has been a part of the community’s fabric for more than 50 years. Their unique approach allows them to provide patient-centered care in a way that no other facility can. OCC specializes in an array of different services, from short-term rehab to long-term care.
Oceanside Care Center provides unrivaled residentcentered care. Under the guidance of the highly skilled, professional staff, the team customizes a care plan matched to specific needs and abilities. The nursing team consists of registered nurses, licensed practical nurses and certified nursing assistants who are driven to build warm and compassionate bonds with residents.
The unique and intimately sized facility attracts many residents who enjoy a meaningful relationship forged between devoted staff members, residents and their families. Many staff members have worked at Oceanside Care Center for over
25 years and take great pride in the compassionate care they provide every single day.
With private and semi-private rooms, OCC offers many comforts that create a homelike atmosphere, including complimentary flat screen TVs in every room and three home cooked meals a day. Residents enjoy numerous activities and
events that take place daily, and the kind and caring staff make it feel as if they never left home. The comfortable setting allows residents to focus on regaining their strength and independence while empowering them to enjoy fruitful lives with their families and friends.
Come in for a tour today!
Photo: Taking time for yourself, such as meditating or even getting a massage, is healthy, not selfish. Your body and mind will be recharged.
Camp Fahrenheit trains future firefighters
Every year, 25 fire departments from Nassau and Suffolk counties join together to create Camp Fahrenheit 516, sponsored by the Firefighters Association of the State of New York to train those ages 14 to 18 at the Nassau County Fire Academy in Bethpage for a weeklong training course in junior firefighting.
This summer, roughly 65 teenagers attended Camp Fahrenheit 516, with 13 from Lower Saxony Germany and two from Shrewsbury, Pennsylvania. Other participants included Jerry Presta, Nassau County Junior Firefighters Association chairman and vice chairman of FASNY’s Youth Committee, Paul Wilders, chief fire academy instructor, from the Nassau County Fire Service Academy and other FASNY representatives.
Camp Fahrenheit 516 hosted German junior firefighters this year to maintain its exchange relationship with Germany since the program sent its Long Island juniors to Germany last year for a summer abroad.
Throughout the five-day-long intensive, which started on July 21, the participants worked from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on courses like search and rescue, forcible entry, emergency evacuation procedures, fire extinguisher drills, and in honor of the program’s 10 year anniversary, alumni returned to the program to take part in a live fire evolution.
FASNY along with the Nassau County Fire Service Academy held a media day for Camp Fahrenheit 516 on July 24. Reporters were introduced to Long Island’s future firefighters and the intense training the junior firefighters underwent throughout their time through the program.
Recently, fire departments across the state have encountered challenges when looking for possible recruits. Firefighters have gotten more and more emergency calls ranging from medical emergencies,
flooded basements, car accidents and fires.
Camp Fahrenheit 516 was created to give junior firefighters a chance to train as firefighters and one day, have the opportunity to serve their community and become volunteer firefighters when they turn 18.
“We have the best firefighters in America,” County Executive Bruce Blakeman said in a news release, not-
ing that fire service academy will be given an additional $100,000 for Camp Fahrenheit. “They are the reason why we are the safest county in America. Our volunteer firefighters do an amazing job, and we’re so happy that we have our Junior firefighters here.”
–Samantha Wright
Courtesy Nassau County
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman met several of the teens that took part in Camp Fahrenheit 516, the weeklong training course in junior firefighting.
Auto
News brief
shop gives back to first responders
In a show of community support, Rockville Centre Auto Service and Repair has donated $2,000 to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, a charity that aids veterans, first responders, and their families.
For the summer up until July 15, for every service or repair over $500, the auto shop donated 10 percent of the pre-tax amount to the foundation. Customers were provided with certificates of donation as a token of involvement and gratitude from the shop. The donations totaled to $2,000.
The Tunnel to Towers Foundation, established to honor firefighter Stephen Siller’s heroic actions during the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, continues its mission to support veterans, first responders and their families. Siller, who perished while racing through the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel to the World Trade Center, is commemorated by the foundation’s range of charitable programs aimed at providing lifechanging assistance.
Since opening its doors in 2011, Rockville Centre Auto Repair has become a staple in the community, known for its customer-first approach and specialized expertise in luxury vehicles.
Founded by longtime technician and entrepreneur Kevin Killelea, the shop was built with the mission to deliver dealership-quality service without the dealership price tag, according to the website. With decades of experience in the automotive industry, Killelea has been running his shop for over 13 years. To learn more about the Rockville Centre Auto Service and Repair, visit RVCAutoRepair.com.
–Kelsie
High School Football Preview is coming!
Radziski
Courtesy Rockville Centre Auto Service and Repair Rockville Centre Auto Service and Repair donated $2,000 to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation.
Firefighters convention returns to Long Island
By CAROLYN JAMES cjames@liherald.com
The Firefighters Association of the State of New York will host its 153rd Annual Convention Thursday through Saturday at the Hyatt Regency Long Island, in Hauppauge.
The event is expected to draw more than 1,000 attendees, including volunteer firefighters from across New York, vendors and dignitaries. It will mark the 15th time the association has held its convention on Long Island since the organization was founded in 1872.
“We are very happy for the return of the FASNY convention to the Long Island region,” the organization’s president, Eugene Perry, said. “We are proud to welcome firefighters and guests from across New York state back to our vibrant and historic convention.”
Organizers estimate that the three-day event will generate about $1.1 million in economic activity for Suffolk County, with nearly 1,500 hotel-room nights expected to be booked as well as dining, social events and other spending.
The association is partnering with Discover Long Island, the region’s official tourism agency, to support the convention.
“Our organization is committed to driving economic impact through tourism, and our dedicated sales team works year-round to bring major meetings and events like these to Long Island,” Discover Long Island’s interim CEO, Mitch Pally, said. “We are proud to host these dedicated individuals who serve communities across the state, and look forward to showcasing Suffolk County’s hospitality, natural beauty and distinctive appeal.”
Eugene Perry, president of the Firefighters Association of the State of New York, right, spoke at last year’s convention with Ed Tase, a former FASNY president.
The convention will open with the annual golf tournament at the Wind Watch Golf & Country Club, adjacent to the Hyatt Regency. Attendees will also take part in training sessions, FASNY’s annual meetings and ceremonies honoring outstanding service.
A highlight of the event will be a keynote address by Chief Patrick Kenny, author of “Taking the Cape Off: How to Lead Through Mental Illness, Unimagina-
SANDWICH KINGS
ble Grief and Loss.” Kenny will speak on first responder mental health.
“I’ve heard him speak before, and his story is very moving,” Perry said. “Attendees should be ready with tissues.”
Other scheduled events include the annual Heroes Awards and a Friday-evening Tailgate for Heroes and scholarship fundraiser, featuring the Long Islandbased band Peat Moss and the Fertilizers.
Michael Barry, president of the Suffolk County Fire Chiefs Council and a 41-year member of the Medford Fire Department, said the convention is about more than celebration and tourism.
“We hope this event brings out people and they can understand the value of a volunteer fire service and all that it does,” Barry said. “It’s about compromise and sacrifice — giving up time from family to complete training and respond to calls, all to help your community.”
Perry agreed. “This year’s convention promises to be a meaningful celebration of service, tradition and unity,” he said. “We look forward to a memorable and successful event that honors firefighting and inspires the future of volunteer service.”
Perry added that the members of the FASNY board were pleased that Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine recently approved legislation that gives volunteer firefighters preference for affordable housing in the county, which will enable many young recruits to stay on Long Island, make their homes here and continue their volunteer fire service.
FASNY represents approximately 80,000 volunteer firefighters and EMS personnel statewide. For more information about the convention, visit fasny.com/ events/2025-annual-convention.
Courtesy FASNY
Courtesy RVC Oddfellows
STEPPING OUT
Long Islander adds “JOY” Off-Broadway
By Iris Wiener
Jerome Vivona knew from a young age that he was meant to tell stories. From performing at his Bayville elementary school, to “West Side Story” and “Guys and Dolls” at North Shore High School, he found there was a freedom in theater that was especially unique.
An accomplished performer, writer, producer, director, and choreographer, Vivona (Broadway’s “Seussical,” “Kiss Me Kate”) returns to the New York stage, Off-Broadway, in “JOY: A New True Musical.” Running now through Aug. 17, it’s based on entrepreneur Joy Mangano. Vivona plays Judge Jeremiah Abernathy (an integral figure in Mangano’s life), and is also a standby for other roles.
Vivona is right at home with JOY, which is mostly set at Mangano’s childhood residence on Long Island. As a teenager, Vivona was an avid athlete working part-time at an East Norwich ski shop (where he once helped Billy Joel and Christie Brinkley), and initially decided to attend college on a soccer scholarship; however, thanks to the encouragement of his teachers, he found that the calling to be a dancer was stronger.
At age 17 he entered a Sea Cliff studio and said, “I want to be a professional dancer.” He trained privately for six to eight hours each day for six months until he had caught up with the more experienced dancers.
“I worked very hard, and with the studio’s tutelage I ended up at the Joffrey Ballet School,” says Vivona. “[Afterwards,] I was very fortunate to tour with ballet companies.”
His life took another incredible turn when, at 23, he first met Jerome Robbins, for whom he was about to audition for “Jerome Robbins’ Broadway.”
“He took a liking to me and I took private rehearsal sessions with him in which I learned all of the ‘West Side Story’ choreography. Working with him and his believing in me was a seminal part of my career.”
Vivona went on to tour with Robbins’ show nationally and internationally, which was followed by a turn in the Paris production of “West Story,” where he met his wife, performer and dancer Michelle Vivona. It wasn’t long before he made his Broadway debut in “Guys and Dolls.”
“JOY” entered his life through the connections and friends he’s made through the years.
Jerome Vivona’s commanding presence is well suited to his latest project.
“My relationships are what brought me back and my friends having a belief that I would be the right fit. I’m really thrilled that [director] Lorin Latarro and choreographer Joshua Bergasse gave me the opportunity because the show is beautiful, powerful and uplifting.”
As he puts it: ‘JOY’ is about the dynamics of a family and how that can change your trajectory in life if you let it. It’s a powerful story about one woman who found herself in a situation where she had her back up against a wall, and she was able to create this mop that allowed her to change her family’s life and the lives of countless others. It really is ‘joy,’ and I think that what we need right now is a story that makes us feel good about humanity.”
As the only native Long Islander in “JOY,” Vivona helped with the authenticity of the actors’ dialect.
“During rehearsals we had a dialect coach who was going to play a recording for the actors to help with their speech,” Vivona says. “Instead … I was the reference for them. Whenever Betsy [Wolfe, who plays Mangano] said, ‘How do you say this?’ they would look for me and ask how to say ‘mop’ or ‘car door.’ They even asked me to record my mom saying a couple of things.”
Vivona also spoke with the production team about local towns, mascots and street names.
“Any time there was something that didn’t ring true to Long Island, I would mention it,” he says. “It feels like home [on stage], and it feels good to be representing Long Island in a show about Long Island and someone as successful as Joy. I’m proud to be telling her story.”
At 58, Vivona stands by the same values he held true when he was raising his children, who graduated from the East Meadow School District.
“I’ve always taught them that you should follow your dreams and believe in what your impact can be,” he says.“This show has taught me that I can continue to believe in myself and that being on stage telling a story is what I’m all about.
When Vivona is not performing, he and Michelle can be found in Mineola, where they own and operate American Theatre Dance Workshop, an award-winning conservatory-type performing arts school.
With new projects on the horizon, Vivona surely wouldn’t mind seeing “JOY” head to Broadway.
“I don’t think you leave the theater without a smile on your face and maybe a tear in your eye.”
“JOY: A New True Musical” is at the Laura Pels Theatre, 111 West 46th St., New York. Tickets are available at joythemusical.com or by calling (833) 274-8497.
‘My Son The Waiter’
Brad Zimmerman celebrates the 10th anniversary of his hit comedy “My Son The Waiter: A Jewish Tragedy, with a sequel; “My Son The Waiter: A Jewish Tragedy & Still Not Famous! His long journey to follow his show biz dream and his parents who suffered through it continues with plenty of laughter along way. Brad moved to New York and “temporarily” waited tables for 29 years, while pursuing his career as an actor. After many years, he finally got a role on the Sopranos and work as a comedian opening for Joan Rivers, George Carlin and Brad Garrett. He tells of his pursuit, along with stories about his childhood, family, and misbegotten love life with warmth, wit, self-deprecating humor, and wicked charm. Zimmerman also examines the trials and tribulations of waiting on tables — particularly for someone not exactly invested in that career, and with little tolerance for persnickety diners.
Friday, Aug. 1, 8 p.m.; Saturday, Aug. 2, 2 and 8 p.m.; Sunday, Aug. 3, 2 p.m. Through Aug. 24. Jeanne Rimsky Theater at Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington. Tickets available at landmarkonmainstreet.org.
‘The Rocketman Show’
Remember when rock was young? You will when you blast off into the stratosphere with this electrifying tribute to the Rocketman himself. With a nostalgic setlist, this is a must-see for Elton John fans — of all generations. Rus Anderson, Elton John’s official body double for his Farewell Yellow Brick Road world tour launch, recreates an early Elton concert complete with flamboyant costumes actually worn by Elton himself. Elton’s greatest hits, wildest outfits and outrageous stage antics come to life again as Anderson brings you the magic and live persona of a young Elton like no other. He storms around the stage with a fun-loving sense of flamboyance; part diva, killer vocalist, fierce piano player, all rock ‘n roller. This is a detailedv version of Elton John’s ‘70s shows that’s not to be missed. Anderson’s painstaking attention to detail includes wearing Elton’s iconic boots, glasses and jumpsuits from 1973, as well as a sparkly Swarovski tuxedo from ‘84.
Friday, Aug 8, 8 p.m. $82, $71.75, $60.25, $49.25, $37.25, $35. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com.
Courtesy Daniel G. Weiss
Production photos courtesy Joan Marcus
The true story of entrepreneur and inventor Joy Mangano now comes to life on stage, with Betsy Wolfe, top right, in the title role.
Your Neighborhood CALENDAR
On Exhibit
Aug
7
Nassau County Museum of Art’s latest exhibition, “At Play,” surveys artists’ perennial fascination with entertainment in all forms. Framing this topic between the nineteenth century Belle Époque and today, the exhibit includes works by Pablo Picasso, Reginald Marsh, Everett Shinn, and Max Beckmann among many others. The works are gathered to represent a wide range of expressions, from entertainment-related activities to the fascinating personalities involved. It encompasses dance, music, theater, movies, circus, boating, and beach scenes, along with horseracing and various sports, both active and passive Also featured are archival items from The Metropolitan Opera and the New York Philharmonic, including costumes by Marc Chagall for Die Zauberflöte, vintage fashion items by such designers as Alfred Shaheen, and iconic costumes from the Folies-Bergère in Paris. On view until Nov. 9.
•Where: 1 Museum Drive, Roslyn Harbor
•Time: Ongoing
•Contact: nassaumuseum.org or (516) 484-9337
Aug
8
The Midtown Men
Rock on at the park
Get in the groove with The Boss Project, the Bruce Springsteen tribute band at Eisenhower Park.
•Where: Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, East Meadow
•Time: 7 p.m.
•Contact: nassaucountyny.gov
Mindful Morning
View Nassau County Museum of Art’s galleries in a small group session. Take time to observe, question and reflect without hurry, distraction, or judgment. Explore one or two works of art in the galleries, with intention as you focus on color, texture, form and personal connections during the series of three sessions. Join for as many sessions as you like. Each will be a different opportunity to enjoy art together. Program is capped at 12 people. $20 per session, $10 members. Registration required.
•Where: 1 Museum Drive, Roslyn Harbor
•Time: 10-11 a.m., also Aug. 22
•Contact: nassaumuseum.org or (516) 484-9337
Aug
9
Unbox A-Saurus for Us!
Dr. Patricia Osiris visits with young paleontologistsin-training at Long
Lets move at Mercy Mercy Hospital invites everyone to walk for health and doand simple movement exercises at specific locations around the Mercy campus. Lets make this season your healthiest yet. Walking is the easiest way to be the healthiest version of you. Studies have shown that it can drastically improve your health and even help prevent ailments such as Type 2 diabetes, cancer and heart disease. With free blood pressure screening, exercise demonstration and giveaways.
•Where: 1000 North Village Ave., Rockville Centre
•Time: Ongoing Thursdays, noon–1 p.m.
•Contact: chsli.org/mercyhospital
Bubble Magic
Aug
15
•Where: Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, Eisenhower Park, East Meadow
• Time: 7 p.m.
•Contact: nassaucountyny.gov
Former stars of the Tony, Grammy and Olivier Award-winning jukebox musical “Jersey Boys,” reunited as The Midtown Men, are back with their ‘60s vibe at Eisenhower Park. During their time in the mega-hit musical, these talented artists — Tony Award winner Christian Hoff, Michael Longoria, Daniel Reichard and Tony Award nominee J. Robert Spencer — shared the stage for over 1,000 performances. The highoctane musical tour de force that took the Jersey Boys phenomenon to Broadway and beyond, is now rocking the stage as a concert. These Broadway veterans, with their powerhouse band, are realizing the dream they brought to life as the iconic Four Seasons. The dynamic foursome now celebrates the music that defined the 1960s. The Midtown Men is the next chapter for these accomplished entertainers, making them the first vocal group ever formed by the principal cast of a high-profile Broadway show. Not only have they continued to win over audiences of all ages in nearly 2,000 live shows, their selftitled debut album, The Midtown Men: Sixties Hits was met with critical acclaim and garnered five star album reviews across iTunes and was followed by their first radio single “All Alone On Christmas” with producer Steven Van Zandt and members of Springsteen’s E Street Band. Aug
Island Children’s Museum’s new stage production. This interactive theatrical experience invites visitors to join the eccentric paleontologist (a.k.a. “Dr. Patti”) as she attempts to reveal a neverbefore-seen dinosaur specimen — if only she can figure out how to open the crate it’s locked in. Along the way, the audience becomes key players in solving problems, sparking laughter and exploring the world of dinosaurs in a lighthearted “scientific” comedy that blends imagination and learning. $5 with museum admission, $10 theater only.
•Where: Museum Row, Garden City
•Time: 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.; also Aug 20
•Contact: licm.org or (516) 224-5800
Defensive Driving
Lower your insurance premium or reduce points on your license at Rockville Centre Public Library. $29 for drivers 60 and over, and all other drivers $38. Fee payable to Empire Safety Council day of instruction.
•Where: 221 N. Village Ave.
•Time: 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
•Contact: rvclibrary.org
Rooftop music
KC’s Rooftop welcomes all to live music every Friday, Saturday and Sunday in August.
•Where: 23 N. Park Ave.
•Time: 7-10 p.m.
•Contact: (516) 766-5049
Aug
10
Farmers Market Shop at the Rockville Centre Farmers Market, run by the Long Island Growers Market, every Sunday until Dec. 21.
•Where: 510 Sunrise Highway, across from Rockville Centre
GMC dealer
• Time: 7 a.m.-noon
•Contact: Ethel Terry at (631) 466-8939
Scherenschnitte with Marcia Olsen
Learn beautiful vintage paper-cutting art as you complete a summer-themed craft at Rockville Centre Public Library. Choose from either birdhouse or butterfly designs.
•Where: 221 N. Village Ave.
• Time: 1:30-3:30 p.m.
•Contact: rvclibrary.org
Aug
13
Psychic Night
Robert E. Hansen shares with the audience his psychic gifts of communication with loved ones that have crossed over to the other side atthe fundraiser for the American Legion, Tickets are $60 each, limited availability.
•Where: American Legion Post 303, 197 Maple Ave.
•Time: 7-9 p.m.
•Contact: (516) 536-5674
Writer’s Workshop
Molloy University Writer-inResidence Novack shares tips and techniques for polishing your writing style at Rockville Centre Public Library.
•Where: 221 N. Village Ave.
• Time: 7-8 p.m.
•Contact: rvclibrary.org
Aug
14
Summertime tunes
Eisenhower Park welcomes the neotraditional country music trio The Castellows.
•Where: Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, East Meadow
• Time: 7 p.m.
•Contact: nassaucountyny.gov
Check out Long Island Children’s Museum’s Bubbles exhibit for some extra sudsy fun. Through playful, hands-on experiments explore what makes a bubble form, what makes them pop and discover new creative ways to make bubbles. Stop by anytime between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. to participate.
•Where: Museum Row, Garden City
• Time: 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
•Contact: licm.org or call (516) 224-5800
Summer tunes
‘Have the time of your life’ with Dancing Dream’s tribute to Abba at Eisenhower Park.
•Where: Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, East Meadow
• Time: 7 p.m.
•Contact: nassaucountyny.gov
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.
Donald Clavin resigns as town supervisor
John Ferretti named interim supervisor
By ALYSSA R. GRIFFIN agriffin@liherald.com
Hempstead Town Supervisor Donald X. Clavin Jr. resigned during Tuesday’s town board meeting, and Nassau County Legislator John Ferretti was appointed as the interim supervisor.
After a brief recess, Clavin returned to announce that he was stepping down after holding office since 2020.
“I want to say what an honor and a privilege and a friendship all of you have been. And to the residents, you have always been very kind to me,” said Clavin, “I’m grateful for the opportunity to serve all of you. Even the critics have been the nicest people in the world to me. And I wish all of you the greatest success, and God bless you and God bless America.”
Clavin, who was in his third two-year term, did not state his reasoning for his resignation. In April, he declined the Republican Party’s nomination for a fourth term and is thought to be considering a run for a judgeship. Ferretti was picked to replace him.
After his final words, he exited the meeting with a standing ovation from attendees and former fellow board members. The meeting continued after he left.
In a statement from Nassau County Republican Committee Chairman
Joseph G. Cairo Jr., appointing elected officials has been done by officials in the North Hempstead, Hempstead and Babylon towns, the City of Long Beach and other municipalities.
DoNALD X. CLAvIN
“The Board’s action ensures continuity of representation for residents of America’s largest township,” Cairo said. “What’s more, both Democrat and Republican majorities in control of local governments have employed this practice. I am confident that Supervisor Ferretti will provide excellent leadership for the town, bringing a solid record of reducing taxes and providing high quality services.”
In June, the Democrats lead by Democratic Supervisor candidate Joseph Scianablo unveiled proposed legislation to ban the practice of appointing town supervisors without a public election.
“This appointment is an insult to every voter in the Town of Hempstead,” Scianablo said in a statement. “Ferretti will now enjoy the perks of office, cars,
News briefs
Village parking lot renovations continue
The downtown revitalization project continues to make improvements to the parking lots of the south side of Railroad Avenue. This revitalization project began in late March of this year and continues to work toward better parking lots for their residents.
The parking lot project began underneath the railroad and includes concrete sidewalks, brick pavers, crosswalks and pavement restoration. They’ve worked on asphalt milling, resurfacing, restriping parking stalls and more.
Due to construction and weather conditions, the village has been updating the public on days and times each individual lot is closed or restricted for restoration. The village says efforts will be made to minimize any inconveniences
for their residents, but that delays will occur due to weather or unforeseen circumstances.
They continue to work toward finishing the project but no estimate has been made for its entire completion. Currently, the village is working on Parking Field #22, next to Front Street between Centre and Village Avenues, is currently being worked on focusing on handicap ramp and crosswalk installations. It continues to be open with limited parking availability.
For more information or any questions, contact the Engineering Department at (516) 678-9271.
–Alyssa R. Griffin
Homemakers set to return in September
The RVC Homemakers will begin their new season on Tuesday, Sept. 9, at 10 a.m. at the Rockville Centre Recreation Center, located at 111 North Oceanside Road. The group meets weekly on Tuesdays when school is in session.
Open to women with interests in crafts, healthy cooking, sewing, knitting, crocheting and games such as canasta and Mah Jong, the organization also dedicates time to community service projects supporting local hospitals, homeless shelters, veterans groups and
charities. In the past, the group has donated blankets, fleece shawls, Surgi dolls and baby clothes to Mercy Hospital and Love Nana over the years.
Membership for the September 2025 through May 2026 season is $30.
For more information, contact copresidents Karen Alterson at (516) 3186771 or kaltersonk4@gmail.com, or MaryAnn Grandazza at (516) 672-5815 or rvcny@aol.com.
–Kelsie Radziski
gas, glossy mailers, and free publicity, all paid for by taxpayers, to run a campaign that was rigged from the start, not to mention a $60,000 raise.”
Nassau County Legislator Seth Koslow, the Democratic candidate for county executive, aimed his anger at his Republican opponent, incumbent County Executive Bruce Blakeman.
“Don Clavin just stepped down as
LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE UNDER SECURITIZATION SERVICING AGREEMENT DATED AS OF AUGUST 1, 2005 STRUCTURED ASSET SECURITIES CORPORATION, STRUCTURED ASSET INVESTMENT LOAN TRUST MORTGAGE PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2005-HE3, Plaintiff, Against FOLAREMI ABIOLA; et al, Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale, duly entered 02/01/2018, 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 9/4/2025 at 2:00PM, premises known as 1288 Dekoven Street, Rockville Centre, New York 11570, and described as follows: ALL that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being at Rockville Centre, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York.
Section 38 Block 114 Lot 905, 906 and 907. The approximate amount of the current Judgment lien is $557,690.22 plus interest and costs. The Premises will be sold subject to provisions of the aforesaid Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale; Index #
Hempstead supervisor — exactly as we predicted last week — so that Blakeman’s chosen crony could gain an advantage in the upcoming election,” Koslow said in a statement. “This is a shameful attempt to circumvent the will of the voters and dismantle the democratic process.”
Ferretti represented Levittown, Bethpage, North Massapequa and parts of Farmingdale. The Republican candidate for the 15th Legislative District Kayla L. Knight and the Democratic candidate is Stephen Richard Hellman.
15-010953
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. Janine Lynam, Esq., Referee. MCCABE, WEISBERG & CONWAY, LLC, 10 Midland Avenue, Suite 205, Port Chester, NY 10573
Dated: 7/3/2025 File Number: 15-315268 CA 154838
LEGAL NOTICE
Public Notice to Bidders
Sealed Bids will be received by the Purchasing Department of the Village of Rockville Centre, One College Place, Rockville Centre, New York for the matter stated below until 11:00 am prevailing time on AUGUST 28, 2025 at which time they will be publicly opened and read aloud. The contract will be awarded as soon thereafter as practicable for: FIREMEN’S HEADQUARTERS FACADE REPAIRS 58 NORTH CENTRE AVENUE
Bid No. 2508CP1(1162) The contract documents, specifications and plans can be examined on the Village’s website at www.rvcny.gov. Follow the link to the Purchasing Department. Each bid must be accompanied by a certified check, bank check or bid bond payable to the Incorporated Village of Rockville Centre in the
amount of five (5%) percent of the gross amount of the bid. All questions should be directed to the Purchasing Department. Please contact Lisa Strazzeri via email only at Lstrazzeri@rvcny.us.
Questions must be submitted no later than August 21, 2025. Potential bidders for this contract can visit the site: 58 North Centre Avenue prior to submitting bids. Please contact Mario Bento (516) 852-0859 or (516) 678-9271 to schedule.
All contractors and subcontractors submitting bids or performing construction work on public work projects or private projects covered by Article 8 of the Labor Law are required to register with the New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) under Labor Law Section 220i and must include a copy of the registration with their bid response. Award of Contract will be made to the lowest responsible bidder in accordance with applicable provisions of the law. The Village reserves the right to reject all bids or make such determination as in the best interests of the Village, as provided by law.
Purchasing Department
Lisa Strazzeri Purchasing Agent 516-678-9213 155002
LEGAL NOTICE
Public Notice to Bidders
Sealed Bids will be received by the Purchasing Department of the Village of Rockville Centre, One College Place, Room
204, Rockville Centre, New York 11570 for the matter stated below until 11:00 am prevailing time on AUGUST 21, 2025 at which time they will be publicly opened and read aloud. The contract will be awarded as soon thereafter as practicable for: RISER POLE ELECTRIC UNDERGROUND RELOCATION Bid No. 2508E1(1161)
The contract documents, specifications and plans can be examined on the Village’s website at www.rvcny.gov. Follow the link to the Purchasing Department.
Please contact Stephen Blom at sblom@rvcny.us to confirm your attendance at a recommended site walk through.
All questions should be directed to the Purchasing Department. Please contact Lisa Strazzeri via email only at lstrazzeri@rvcny.us. Questions must be submitted no later than August 14, 2025. Award of Contract will be made to the lowest responsible bidder in accordance with applicable provisions of the law. The Village reserves the right to reject all bids or make such determination as in the best interests of the Village, as provided by law.
Purchasing Department Lisa Strazzeri Purchasing Agent 516-678-9213 154986
Wanted
Full Time and Part Time Positions Available!
Busy Print Shop in Garden City is Hiring Immediately for Full Time and Part Time Drivers. Must Have a Clean License and BoxTruck Driving Experience. Hours Vary, Salary Ranges from $17 per hour to $21 per hour Night Availability is a Must.
Please Email Resume to careers@liherald.com or Call (516)569-4000 x239
DRIVING INSTRUCTOR
Company Car/ Bonuses. Clean Driving Record Required, Will Train. Retirees Welcome!
$22 - $27/ Hour
Bell Auto School
516-365-5778
Email: info@bellautoschool.com
EDITOR/REPORTER
Part Time & Full Time. The award-winning Herald Community Newspapers group, covering Nassau County's North and South Shores with hard-hitting news stories and gracefully written features, seeks a motivated, energetic and creative editor/reporter to join our dynamic (and awesome) team! This education and general assignment reporting position offers a unique experience to learn from some of the best in the business. Historically, reporters who have launched their careers with us have gone on to The New York Times, Newsweek, Newsday, the New York Daily News, New York Post, CNN, BBC, NBC News and The Daily Mail, among many others. We look for excellent writers who are eager to learn, enhance their skills, and become well-established and respected journalists in our industry. Salary range is from $20K to $45K To apply: Send a brief summary in the form of a cover letter describing your career goals and what strengths you can bring to our newsroom, along with a resume and three writing samples to jbessen@liherald.com
Grill Person F/T
Counter Person F/T-P/T Experience Preferred Busy Lido Beach Deli Call Peter or Evelyn 516-432-2736
MAILROOM/ WAREHOUSE HELP Long Island Herald has IMMEDIATE openings for a FULL-TIME & PART-TIME mailroom/warehouse helper in Garden City. We are a busy print shop looking for motivated and reliable individuals to assist in various duties in the shop. Forklift experience is a plus and heavy lifting is required. Hours vary, so flexibility is key. Salary Ranges fromo $16.50 per hour to $20 per hour. Email resumes or contact info to careers@liherald.com
MULTI MEDIA
ACCOUNT DEVELOPMENT
Inside Sales Looking for an aggressive self starter who is great at making and maintaining relationships and loves to help businesses grow by marketing them on many different advertising platforms. You will source new sales opportunities through inbound lead follow-up and outbound cold calls. Must have the ability to understand customer needs and requirements and turn them in to positive advertising solutions. We are looking for a talented and competitive Inside Sales Representative that thrives in a quick sales cycle environment. Compensation ranges from $34,320 + commissions and bonuses to over $100,000 including commission and bonuses. We also offer health benefits, 401K and paid time off. Please send cover letter and resume with salary requirements to ereynolds@liherald.com Call 516-569-4000 X286
OUTSIDE SALES
Richner Communications, One of the Fastest Growing Media, Event and Communications Companies on Long Island is Seeking a Sales/Marketing Candidate to Sell our Print Media Products and our Digital, Events, Sponsorships. Earning potential ranges from $34,320 plus commission and bonuses to over $100,000 including commissions and bonuses. Compensation is based on Full Time hours
Eligible for Health Benefits, 401k and Paid Time Off. Please Send Cover Letter
Is a doorbell camera enough? Part 2.
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Q. We have a doorbell camera, and understand that it’s a deterrent to would-be burglars, but as we’re renovating our home, can we “design” in other ways to keep people from robbing it? We keep seeing reports on the neighbor app of our door camera about people checking out houses in the area, and we’re very concerned. Any ideas would be appreciated.
A. Continuing from last week, I recommend hurricane glass windows, which are a costly upgrade that resist high winds, flooding and flying debris from blowing in the window and creating instant havoc. Although fire rescue has to use a special tool to get the windows open, since they’re hard to break, the windows will deter a robber by costing them time, if they’re even successful at doing more than creating a small hole in the reinforced panes.
Remember, anything that can delay a burglar for more than 60 seconds is an advantage, because a robber wants to get in and out quickly. Bars on windows can be avoided by using hurricane glass, and I only advise installing them on basement windows, where they are less seen but useful.
If your area is considered a high-crime vicinity, steel security shutters can also be employed. To keep the appearance of your home from being compromised to look like the county jail, steel roll-down shutters can be designed into overhangs above the windows and doors, to be employed when the home is unoccupied. But I think it adds to the message that you’re away, and only advise installing them if it’s your last resort for protection.
Garages are a great entry point, often neglected. Consider that you increase a burglar’s time frame to enter with an attached garage. They lift the door, spend whatever amount of time they need to break the lock on the interior door, and once the garage door is back down, they now have a staging area to sort your jewelry, medications and expensive computers and appliances before packing up to move out. With a cellphone in hand, their getaway car is at the ready, waiting for the call. Installing security pins or locks by drilling into the garage door track(s), and remembering to use them when you’re away for a prolonged time, is a very important deterrent.
If there are roofs under upper-story windows, install alarm devices there as well when you install alarms on first-floor openings. Even though 80 percent of break-ins occur on ground floors, the other 20 percent are either basements or second floors. Burglars dressed as painters and carrying ladders often go unnoticed. According to the National Center for Policing Innovation, 40 percent of breakins use no force at all.
Clear concealing landscaping from the exterior walls of the home, especially near windows and doorways. Limit greenery to no more than two feet in height, and only install fences of the see-through variety.
There’s still more to be covered next week.
© 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,
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opinions
Honoring 250 years of the U.S. Postal Service
Most people who are familiar with Independence Hall, in Philadelphia, know — at least — that important decisions were made there during the American Revolution. The beginning of our nation can be traced back to the debates and discussions there of a small group of men risking their lives to start and lead a rebellion against the British crown.
One of the most important meetings of the Second Continental Congress occurred in that hall on July 26, 1775, against a dramatic backdrop of thunderstorms, nearly a year before the Declaration of Independence and just weeks after the Battle of Bunker Hill. The city was hearing shocking reports from Boston, which was being held by British forces attempting to tamp down the American rebellion by force, largely against the will of its citizens. The topic was the urgent need to establish secure and reliable communications
with the Continental Army and among the colonies.
Following debate, the Congress agreed to, among other points:
■ Appoint a postmaster general, with an office in Philadelphia, a $1,000 salary, $340 for a secretary and comptroller and the power to appoint deputies — local postmasters.
■ Establish a line of posts from Maine to Savannah, Georgia, with cross posts as needed.
■ Establish postage rates, to be 20 percent less than charged by the British post.
Tindependence, they had their eyes on the future, methodically creating infrastructure, attuned to the mundane matters of payments and administration. They were intent on transforming their world.
he first — unanimous — choice for postmaster general? Ben Franklin.
The Congress then elected a postmaster general “for one year, and until another is appointed by a future Congress.” The unanimous choice was Benjamin Franklin.
After creating the Postal Service, the Congress called it a day and adjourned.
Despite the personal danger — the first postmasters were risking their lives to enable the flow of information — those leaders of the day were supremely optimistic about building a nation and its institutions. Even amid the stresses and tumult of their war for
When the United States became a nation, a free press and the unhindered flow of ideas and commerce was enabled by a universally accessible Postal Service. In those early, formative years, the service was part of the bedrock of America’s economy and its democracy — and it has been ever since.
In the following decades, as postal roads traversed the country, commerce flourished on a national basis, literacy expanded dramatically and the free press created a highly informed nation. As America industrialized and cities grew and railroads crossed the nation, people became more mobile. The great connector, and sometimes the only connector, was the Postal Service.
The demands of the public evolved as the nation did. Americans in cities began getting mail delivered to their homes and businesses, and then rural
areas — secure, affordable, universal service across a far-flung nation.
The 20th century saw the Postal Service essentially shape America’s airline industry, automate on a massive scale, and connect Americans to one another on a scale unmatched in the world.
With the perspective of 250 years, we can see that the service helped our nation grow economically; it strengthened our democracy by ensuring the uncensored and unrestricted flow of communications and personal expression; and it bound the nation together. Every mail delivery today is a living reminder that our democracy, our commercial success and our unity as a nation were all shaped by the constant presence of the Postal Service in our daily lives.
And so, on the 250th anniversary of the United States Postal Service, perhaps as you visit your mailbox, please give a thought to those far-sighted founders in Philadelphia. They would no doubt be amazed and gratified to know that their ideals and aspirations are carried forward every day by the 630,000 men and women of the service who live, work and serve in every community in America.
Stephen Kochersperger is the historian of the United States Postal Service.
Serving Nassau and Albany: drinking from a fire hose
When I’m out in the community, people often ask, “How’s it going in Albany?”
I usually think back on the whirlwind that the past six months have been and reply, “I’m happily busy.” There’s a saying in Albany that the first session of your first term is like drinking water from a fire hose — and truly, it is. Serving as a newly elected state senator has been one of the most rewarding chapters of my career in public service.
Since being sworn in in January, I’ve been immersed in the fast-moving, high-stakes work of legislating. I quickly learned Albany’s policy lingo, adapted to the weekly back-andforth between the Capitol and my district, and jumped headfirst into the state’s budgeting process.
One of many lessons I’ve learned so far is that change doesn’t only come from passing bills. The impact you can make from budget-related policy can be just as meaningful. Several of my key policy wins, like the rebate program for
the purchase of smart irrigation devices on Long Island, and $50 million for capital improvements for Nassau University Medical Center, which I wrote about previously, will make positive changes throughout the district.
Another policy achievement was reinstating funding for libraries statewide. We increased previously cut capital funding by $10 million, bringing the total up to $44 million, which was initiated in the Senate One House Bill.
EAs chair of the Senate Standing Committee on Libraries, I introduced legislation that would establish a pilot program for employing social workers in public libraries in economically disadvantaged communities. This program would increase access to social services by placing trained professionals in libraries, which are often safe and accessible community spaces. Uniondale and Roosevelt have been selected to pilot this program, and I am working to expand this initiative statewide.
Increased charter school expenses paid out of public-school budgets. At 36 percent, the Hempstead district has the highest saturation rate of charter schools outside New York City.
very time I’ve returned home, I’m reminded why I chose this path.
In collaboration with conference leadership, including Senate Majority Leader Andrea StewartCousins, I submitted and secured a formula in the Senate One-House Budget, which was developed by the state-appointed fiscal monitor for Hempstead, Dr. William Johnson. This permanent, annual funding allocation, enacted in the final budget, provides a sustainable budget stream that will help stabilize school districts in which over 20 percent of the school population is attending charter schools, which helped Hempstead, Albany and Lackawanna. For the Hempstead district, that amounts to a $24 million increase in this year’s budget. It’s likely that Roosevelt, which is at the cusp, with 18 percent charter school saturation, will receive this aid in the coming years.
plexity and promise of the issues we face, including unfunded mandates, rising costs and resource gaps. In the spirit of those conversations, I targeted the issuance of more than $500,000 in micro-grants to community organizations throughout the district. With these grants, we are investing in public safety as it relates to our local fire departments and village law enforcement, including updated 911 recording systems, fire-prevention education and a variety of lifesaving equipment. Micro-grants enable our local school districts to cover the cost of trips to local educational attractions, provide technical assistance for college readiness, and purchase equipment and supplies for innovative educational initiatives. The grants will also help community organizations meet the needs of our senior citizens, support community violence-intervention efforts, and bolster nutritional services throughout the district.
In the midst of budget season, urgent news came from the Hempstead school district, of a projected $27 million shortfall that threatened teacher layoffs and a school closure. The primary cause?
Back home in the district, I’ve continued meeting with elected officials, school superintendents and community organizations. These conversations fuel my work, and remind me of the com-
Every time I’ve returned home, I’m reminded why I chose this path. I see it in the resilience of our families and neighborhoods, the passion of our educators, the strength of our health care workers and the spirit of our young people. Thank you for trusting me to be your voice in Albany.
Siela Bynoe represents the 6th State Senate District.
opinions
Enough with our obsession with conspiracies
politics has always been marked by conspiracy theories. There was the theory that President Franklin Roosevelt had prior knowledge of the attack on Pearl Harbor, but allowed it to happen to force the United States to enter World War II. In the 1950s, the founder of the John Birch Society wrote a manifesto concluding that President Dwight Eisenhower was a Soviet agent. More recently, there was the Sept. 11 “truther” theory that the administration of President George W. Bush had advanced notice of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and might have actually planned them.
Today, with social media and artificial intelligence, conspiracy theories are more rampant than ever. What allows these theories to thrive is that, by their very nature, they are inherently difficult, if not impossible, to disprove. They are based on assorted often unrelated facts, rumors, conjecture and speculation.
The ongoing furor over the handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case is a classic example of a conspiracy theory run amok and creating a conspiracy on top of itself. For years the Trump camp peddled rumors that the Biden administration was hiding FBI files to protect prominent Democrats who were involved in the Epstein scandal, and that Epstein’s jail-cell suicide was actually an inside-job murder. Once in office, however, with complete access to all Justice Department and FBI files and records, Trump administration officials had to announce that they could find nothing irregular: There was no secret list of names, and Epstein had in fact committed suicide.
no one was more surprised when Donald Trump was elected than Vladimir Putin.
The illogic of all this was, of course, that if the “files” did incriminate Trump, why didn’t the Biden administration disclose that when it had full access to the Epstein records? If congressional Democrats are so dedicated to transparency and so concerned about full disclosure, why did they do and say nothing when they were in control? And why would candidate Trump have made an issue of Epstein if he thought it would remotely incriminate him? Hopefully the Trump camp will learn that trafficking in unverified conspiracy theories is not only wrong, but it can come back to bite them.
below ground in the Capitol. There wasn’t one bit of evidence connecting the Trump campaign to Russia. There was, of course, the salacious and thoroughly discredited “Steele dossier,” which was in fact a political opposition memo prepared for Hillary Clinton’s campaign and based on false information from a former Russian spy. Yes, Russia had attempted to interfere in the 2016 campaign, as it always has. But Russia’s intention was to weaken Hillary Clinton’s expected presidency.
This caused apocalyptic shrieks of outrage from the fringes of MAGA world, led by the likes of Tucker Carlson. Now Trump officials were being accused by the president’s own supporters of likely collusion with myriad coconspirators such as former President Joe Biden, Israel and Mossad. The Democrats also feigned outrage, insisting that Trump must be covering his own guilt.
Buyer’s remorse
Have you ever heard of the term “buyer’s remorse”? It’s been a while since I’ve heard those words, but lately I’ve been hearing them from some of my friends who are Republican members of Congress when they refer to President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill. He wanted it passed by July Fourth, and he got his way. Now that it is law, some of the Republicans who voted for it are confessing to me that maybe it went a little too far in cutting agencies and programs.
Having served in the State Legislature, I can understand what happens when a member is confronted with having to support a bill that’s nearly a thousand pages long. You may know about some of the provisions, but it’s impossible to know every section when you only have a few hours before the final vote. One of the reasons why these bills are crafted to be so thick is
To me, the most baseless — and insidious — theory was the false narrative that there was Russian collusion with the Trump campaign during the 2016 election. The main propagators of this “Russia hoax” were former CIA Director John Brennan, former FBI Director James Comey and former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper. I was on the Intelligence Committee during this saga, and sat through endless months of testimony in a secure committee room three floors
No one was more surprised when Donald Trump was elected than Russian President Vladimir Putin. It’s only now, with much of this information declassified, that I can discuss details that I learned at the time. This hoax was a true threat to democracy, undermining a duly elected president and tying down his administration with intrusive investigations for more than half of his first term of office.
It’s time for Americans to ignore the conspiracy nuts on all sides and address the real and serious issues that confront our nation.
Peter King is a former congressman, and a former chair of the House Committee on Homeland Security. Comments? pking@ liherald.com.
is no consolation for the losers
because leadership knows that some parts of them couldn’t pass if they were presented as single bills. My friends in Congress aren’t alone in their misgivings about the Big Beautiful Bill. Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley agonized for weeks over its deep Medicaid cuts, because hundreds of thousands of his state’s voters rely on Medicaid to survive. Hawley was agonizing on behalf of those hardworking citizens who don’t deserve to lose their benefits. Despite wringing his hands and suffering sleepless nights, he voted for the bill when it reached the Senate.
B ut what happens when all these budget cuts are the hot topic next year?
Hawley must have had buyer’s remorse, because a few weeks after the bill became law, he introduced his own bill, which would restore many of the Medicaid cuts. Obviously Hawley’s upset was hypocritical, because you don’t vote for such far-reaching cuts and then introduce a bill restoring them. This was a good example of the lack of conscience surrounding the actions that were taken.
some parts of the bill that are worthy of support, but mixing the good with the bad results in mostly bad for the needy and good for the people who won’t have any sleepless nights about the tragedies that will happen on the other end of the income spectrum. Few House members who voted for the bill will suffer at the ballot box. Many serve in districts that would elect Attila the Hun if he were nominated for the seat.
Two more cases in point are Maine Sen. Susan Collins and Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski. Both went public with their concerns about the cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, which provides food assistance to more than 40 million people nationally. For days on end, the two senators expressed their concerns about their constituents losing access to food stamps that are a life-or-death necessity. But when push came to shove, they both voted for the cuts.
The SNAP program has for years been a target of conservatives who maintain that it and other safety-net programs like it are abused and unnecessary. And there is no doubt that some SNAP beneficiaries have used food stamps to buy beer instead of milk and bread. But the vast majority of people who get food stamps are the aged or have disabilities, and who meet the tests for approval. In the months and years ahead, it will be no consolation to those who lose their benefits that their representatives in Congress voted in favor of the Big Beautiful Bill and then had pangs of guilt about its impact.
There is also no doubt that there are
The problem for fair-minded House and Senate members is that the program cuts are not a secret, and will be publicized extensively next year at election time. The latest national polls show that the legislation has high negative numbers, which won’t fade from the minds of the people who are the victims of the cuts, or many other voters.
I was surprised that about a half-dozen members of Congress from New York and surrounding states expressed their unhappiness in the Big Beautiful Bill to me. Sadly, however, their buyer’s remorse may be too little, too late come November 2026.
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.
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tSupport your local volunteer firefighters
he Firefighters Association of the State of New York will hold its 153rd annual convention in Hauppauge from Thursday to Saturday. While the event is an opportunity to celebrate the service and sacrifice of New York’s 80,000 volunteer firefighters, it is also a moment for reflection — a chance to confront the urgent challenges facing fire protection services in our communities.
Volunteer fire departments have long been essential to public safety across the state, which has more than 1,600 of them. On Long Island alone there are nearly 180 volunteer departments, which respond to emergencies of every kind, from house fires and highway accidents to natural disasters and medical calls. And they do it all without pay. It’s no exaggeration to say that these volunteers — and the emergency medical technicians and paramedics who work alongside them — are among the most selfless public servants we have.
Yet despite their critical importance, these departments face steep recruitment and retention challenges. The number of active volunteer firefighters in New York state has declined markedly in recent decades, from roughly 120,000 in the early 2000s, even as call volumes have nearly doubled over the past 30 years, from 750,000 to 1.4 million annually, according to state figures, and training demands continue to rise due to expanded safety regulations.
Balancing work, family and extensive training is no small feat, especially for volunteers. The result is that many departments are stretched thin, struggling to maintain robust crews and
letters
We need more open-minded politicians like Tom Suozzi
To the Editor:
ensure timely responses to emergencies.
That’s where the state firefighters association steps in — and why its convention deserves more than ceremonial attention. For over 150 years, the organization has served as the voice and support system for volunteer fire service statewide.
FASNY advocates for funding, offers educational resources and legal guidance, provides mental health support, and promotes recruitment campaigns such as Is There a Fire In You?, which encourages everyday New Yorkers to consider joining their local department.
The Hauppauge convention will bring together more than 1,000 firefighters, instructors and leaders. Discussions will focus not just on tactics and technology, but on issues such as firefighters’ mental health, peer support programs and the evolving needs of a modern volunteer force. These conversations matter. They have real-world implications for the safety of firefighters and the resilience of the communities they serve.
Mental health, in particular, is an area that demands greater attention. Of course firefighting is dangerous, but it is also emotionally taxing. Volunteers often respond to traumatic events involving neighbors and loved ones — a severe house fire that kills or injures its occupants, or a disaster like Hurricane Sandy. Without proper support systems in place, these experiences can take a huge toll on emergency responders. FASNY has made great strides in breaking down the stigma around mental health care in the fire service, but continuing community awareness of the
Re U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi’s op-ed, “Why I care about immigration — and why all of us should,” in last week’s issue: Suozzi voiced a clear understanding of the immigration issues and called, once again, for a bipartisan solution to a problem that impacts everyone in this country. He has taken this bipartisan stand on many issues for as long as I’ve been following him, including his previous time in Congress.
I, and many others, are re-energized that Mr. Suozzi returned to Congress. Yes, I would have loved to have him replace Kathy Hochul as our governor, but he can, hopefully, do so much more good if he can generate a following in Congress for more bipartisan solutions to the problems we face.
I consider myself one of those independent voters who try to see both sides of an issue. There are times when I agree with the Democratic platform, such as
challenges these men and women face is crucial as well.
How can you show support for these selfless volunteers?
First, get to know your local department. Attend an open house. Follow its social media accounts. Volunteer departments rely on community awareness to grow their ranks and raise funds.
Second, support the volunteers’ fundraising efforts. Many departments operate on limited budgets, depending heavily on donations and local drives to raise the money to pay for essential equipment. Whether it’s from a resident or a business, a contribution — financial or in-kind — can go a long way toward ensuring their readiness.
Third, talk to young people about the value of volunteerism. FASNY’s Junior Firefighter programs are an excellent way to introduce teens to public service and give them a sense of civic responsibility.
Finally, consider whether you might have “the fire in you.” Even if running into burning buildings isn’t for you, departments have many support roles — from administrative help to public education — for which willing hands are always needed. Simply stop in at a local firehouse or call them to learn more.
Volunteer firefighting is a tradition rooted in community, courage and compassion. As Long Island continues to grow, the need for well-supported fire departments becomes more urgent. The FASNY convention is a timely reminder that while these men and women may serve without pay, they should never serve without appreciation, resources or help.
iThe town supervisor’s seat belongs to the people
magine preparing to vote in an important election. You do your homework, weigh the positions of the candidates, and are set to make your voice heard. But before you can cast your ballot, you find out that the decision has already been made behind closed doors, without your input, without a vote, and without any accountability. That is exactly what is happening right now in the Town of hempstead. Supervisor Donald clavin stepped down early, on Tuesday. That is his decision. But what is unacceptable, and frankly unethical, is the Town Board’s plan to skip over the voters and appoint clavin’s handpicked successor, Nassau county Legislator John Ferretti, to the job just months before an election. That is not leadership; it is manipulation.
The strategy is clear. Ferretti is already running for town supervisor in November. Appointed now, he will get to run as an incumbent. That means the full benefits of the job — the title, taxpayer-funded mailers, public appearances and media coverage — all before he has earned a single vote. It is a political cheat code, and it is rigged against the public.
As this plan moves forward, it won’t be the first time. In fact, it will mark the seventh time in the last 11 successions that a hempstead town supervisor was chosen not by voters, but by party insiders. This is not an isolated incident; it is a pattern. And it should concern anyone who values democracy and transparency. When people say the system is rigged, this is exactly what they’re talking about.
w ay too often in the Town of Hempstead, the party bosses usurp the voters.
supervisor. So why look outside the board to appoint a new supervisor? Because a sitting supervisor controls the town’s messaging, appears on every official mailer and gets to shape the public narrative. Giving that platform to one candidate while denying it to the other is not just unfair, it is anti-democratic.
The truth is, this kind of one-party rule is exactly what brought us the largest tax hike in recent history. While the insiders maneuver for power behind closed doors, the public is left with the bill — literally. The same group that wants to install a supervisor without your vote just passed a property tax increase on your home of over 12 percent. That is the cost of unchecked control, and it is time we said “enough.”
reform to ban these kinds of appointments in the future. Under my proposal, if a supervisor steps down early, the deputy supervisor would serve as the interim replacement, and the voters, not the board, would choose a new leader in the next scheduled election or a special one.
Simple, fair, democratic. It is similar to what former supervisor, now U.S. Rep. Laura Gillen proposed, but was rejected by clavin’s allies on the board. That’s why we need new blood.
When the same party holds power for decades, it gets comfortable and careless. It stops asking for your vote and starts making decisions in the shadows. But democracy demands more than backroom deals and power swaps. It demands accountability. It demands integrity. And most of all, it demands that we trust the voters to decide who leads them.
Let’s be clear. There is already someone in place who should step in: Senior councilwoman Dorothy Goosby, the longest-serving member of the Town Board and the current deputy
Letters
on gun control, where we have absurdly allowed guns to proliferate across our nation into the hands of criminals and, worse, the mentally ill who are the predominant perpetrators of mass shootings.
And there are times I agree with Republican stands, including the recent government spending cuts, which the bipartisan Government Accountability Office has been touting for years. No, I don’t condone all of the cuts, and I’m hopeful that some will be restored as a clearer picture of what is being done comes into focus.
But the overspending that we have allowed our federal government to do for the past 50 years, under both Democratic and Republican presidents, is absurd. We need to get past the anger at President Trump, who can easily infuriate even Republicans with his outlandish rhetoric, and see that much of what he is doing will benefit the majority of people.
We need to look at the math, and whether it adds up or dilutes the benefits to all of us. I’m not convinced that Trump has done that, but shaking things up and making cuts is long overdue.
And last, I would like Suozzi to run for president in 2028. The Democrats do not have a viable candidate right now, so let me be one of the first, for whatever it’s worth, to endorse Suozzi. We need someone like him, with a vision of bringing both sides of the political spectrum to the table.
If you look at the history of our elec-
tions over the past 75 years, you’ll see that fringe candidates don’t win presidential elections, no matter on which side of the aisle they sit. On the other hand, some of our most effective presidents were those like John F. Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson and Ronald Reagan, who fostered bipartisan politics.
RIchARD S. KAhN Glen Cove
How about some new ideas, Jerry?
To the Editor:
Jerry Kremer’s column in the July 24-30 issue, “It’s long past time to shut down the cellphone,” highlighted exactly what is wrong with the Democratic Party today. Mr. Kremer spend the first half of his op-ed bemoaning current politics — in particular, the devastating “One Big Beautiful Bill,” especially for the most vulnerable among us — but offered no hint of a remedy. If he is illequipped to lead or advise the next generation of voters, perhaps he should step aside and allow someone who can. Instead, Kremer spent the second half of his column belittling a dynamic young Democratic candidate, Zohran Mamdani, who has energized voters with policy ideas that address the real needs of New Yorkers — many of whom are the prime targets of the cuts that so distress Kremer. If Mamdani is inexperienced, our veteran Democrats should
This town deserves better than secret deals and insider politics. The supervisor’s office belongs to the people, not the party bosses. That’s why I have proposed straightforward ethics
To every resident in the Town of hempstead: Your vote should never be treated as a formality. It should be the only thing that matters. Let’s make sure it stays that way.
Joe Scianablo is the Democratic candidate for Town of Hempstead supervisor.
Framework by Tim Baker
be throwing their weight behind him and offering support and expertise. I cannot fathom why institutional Democrats such as Kremer would prefer Andrew cuomo, a sexual predator, or Eric Adams, an indicted alleged criminal, over a, yes, young, but moral, galvanizing upstart. Younger Demo-
crats do not want corrupt, lecherous and unrepentant leaders, and we do not want complacency. If Kremer can’t see that, perhaps he should shut down his phone and put down his pen.
At the Great Canoe Race in Cow Meadow Park — Freeport
KATE SchWEchERL Rockville Centre
Joe sCianaBLo
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