Courtesy Northwell Health Eusha Hasan worked in the Long Island Jewish Valley Stream hospital kitchen, sharpening his cooking skills during the session.
By ANGELINA ZINGARIELLO azingariello@liherald.com
A group of fourth-year medical students from the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell took part in the Culinary Medicine elective that integrates nutrition education with hands-on experience in a hospital kitchen.
The program is designed to help future physicians better understand how food and dietary choices intersect with patient care.
On Jan. 15, the students commuted to Long Island Jewish Valley Stream hospital for a pediatric nutrition session. They cooked in an active hospital kitchen while
observing how meals are prepared for patients.
Eva Sheridan, an assistant professor in the Department of Science and Science Education at the Zucker School, collaborated with Alice Fornari, a registered dietician and a professor of science education and family medicine at the school, to create the elective in 2020.
“My sister is a [veterinarian], and she went to vet school back at the time, and as part of vet school, she had a whole semester where she was learning about the feeding schedule of the animals,” Sheridan recalled, speaking at the start of the program. “And I
By ANGELINA ZINGARIELLO azingariello@liherald.com
Valley Stream North High School held its eighth annual Poetry Out Loud competition, continuing a tradition that celebrates the art of spoken word and encourages students to engage with poetry through performance.
This year’s competition, held on Jan. 14, marked an expansion of the program, as students from grades 7 through 12 participated.
The Poetry Out Loud competition at Valley Stream North has grown significantly since its inception, starting with just two participants in a small classroom setting. Over the years, it has evolved into a major school event held in the library, drawing an audience of nearly 60 students and staff members this year.
W e like having Poetry Out Loud in our school, because it represents our students
tinue its participation in the Poetry Out Loud program. Rather than eliminate the event, Valley Stream North chose to continue the competition independently within the district. This change gave the school greater flexibility to run the program, enabling it to expand eligibility and include younger students who had previously been unable to participate.
SOFIA OWEN Poetry Out Loud coordinator and English teacher, Valley Stream North High School
The decision to include seventh- and eighth graders for the first time followed New York State’s decision to discon-
Lori Belbol, chair of the English Department, and Sofia Owen, an English teacher and the Poetry Out Loud coordinator, emphasized that the competition has become a significant event within the school community.
“We like having Poetry Out Loud in our school, because it represents our students, and all the students are able to have this shared experience, because we have all different types of students competing,” Owen said. “We have [English Language ContInuEd on pagE 16
BUSINESS EXPO & WORKSHOPS
District 24 highlights progress in walkthrough
The Valley Stream 24 School District Board of Education hosted a walkthrough of all three district schools for community members and elected officials, offering an overview of current programs, completed projects and future initiatives.
The event drew a large crowd and offered opportunities to discuss the district’s accomplishments and priorities.
Attendees included Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages, Assemblywoman Judy Griffin, Senator Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick and Nassau County Legislator Cynthia Nuñez. The officials toured the schools with Superintendent of Schools Unal Karakas, Board of Education members and district administrators, reviewing ongoing initiatives, recent improvements and long-term planning efforts.
“We are incredibly proud of the work taking place throughout our schools and grateful for the opportunity to share it firsthand,” Karakas said. “The partnership and support of our elected officials are vital as we continue to enhance our facilities and expand meaningful opportunities for our students. On behalf of our Board of Education and our district, we look forward to building on these collaborative relationships to ensure that every student remains at the center of everything we do as we plan for the future.”
Highlights of the tour included a newly installed sensory playground at Robert W. Carbonaro Elementary School, constructed last spring through a grant secured by Solages, and redesigned learning environments across the district. The updated spaces emphasize access to physical books to encourage reading while also incorporating technology-enhanced areas to support modern instructional practices.
District leaders noted continued interest from visiting officials in instructional programs, facility upgrades and future collaboration. They reiterated the district’s commitment to transparency, community engagement and equitable educational opportunities for all students.
— Angelina Zingariello
Photos courtesy Valley Stream 24 School District
The Valley Stream 24 School District Board of Education welcomed members of the community and elected officials for a walkthrough of all three district schools.
Superintendent of Schools Unal Karakas guided attendees during a hallway walkthrough, highlighting district initiatives and recent improvements.
The newly installed sensory playground at Robert W. Carbonaro Elementary School, constructed last spring through a grant secured by Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages, supported inclusive spaces that address students’ social, emotional and physical needs.
The walkthrough focused on showcasing district accomplishments, highlighting ongoing initiatives and sharing long-term priorities across Valley Stream 24 schools.
Solages pushes for expanded UPK access
By ANGELINA ZINGARIELLO azingariello@liherald.com
District 22 Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages joined parents, educators, childcare providers and state lawmakers at Harbor Child Care in Mineola to call for expanded access to Universal Pre-K and increased state investment in early childhood education on Long Island.
The group highlighted ongoing issues, including childcare deserts, affordability challenges and a shortage of available seats.
The event was hosted by Solages Jan. 23, alongside local childcare providers and advocacy organizations, including Harbor Child Care, the Long Island Regional Technical Assistance Center and the Child Care Council of Nassau.
Participants acknowledged Governor Kathy Hochul’s recent executive budget proposal, which includes a minimum investment of $10,000 per student in UPK. While this funding represents a significant step, the coalition noted that in higher-cost regions such as Long Island, the funding covers only basic program expenses.
“We need to ensure that the conversation around childcare is just not limited to New York City, that we’re talking about all the state in a statewide plan,” Solages said. “In high-cost areas like Long Island, Hudson Valley, that money is spread thin — $10,000 just meets the basics. And we’re not here to just give basic education to our young, four-
year-olds. We’re here to give quality education and quality programs.”
Solages is advocating for a package of policy changes to improve access to early childhood education and childcare across Long Island and New York State. These proposals include expanding UPK capacity to ensure every family seeking a seat can secure one, increasing per-pupil funding rates to better cover the costs of high-quality programs, strengthening the Child Care Assistance Program to support working families with childcare and aftercare expenses, investing in the childcare workforce and allocating $1 million to expand LRTAC. The expanded center would assist school districts and community providers in opening new classrooms and sustaining existing programs, especially in childcare deserts where demand greatly exceeds supply.
“Early childhood education and care is the most critical thing we need for everyone in the future of this country,” parent Stephanie Washington said. “These things are not just learning numbers and colors and painting. They are learning compromise and communication and working with others and teamwork.”
The coalition also called for accelerating the timeline for UPK access, advocating for availability well before the state’s current target of 2028 to address the immediate needs of families and children across Long Island.
Courtesy Office of Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages
District 22 Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages advocated for expanded access to Universal Pre-K and increased state funding at Harbor Child Care in Mineola on Jan. 23.
things to know about PunXsutawnEY PhiL
By ANGELINA ZINGARIELLO
America’s most-known groundhog
azingariello@liherald.com
The mammal, the myth, the legend Punxsutawney Phil headlines Groundhog Day on Feb. 2 each year in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, as thousands gather for his traditional weather signal through centuries of seasonal lore.
n Phil’s “birthday” and origins
Phil does not have an actual, documented birth date recognized by zoological or veterinary records. No scientific or reliable registry shows the exact date this specific groundhog was born.
Instead, the day that Phil appears each year, Feb. 2, is symbolically treated as his “birthday” because that is Groundhog Day, the annual event when he is presented to the public to make his traditional weather signal.
The idea that the same animal has been making predictions since the late 19th century comes from folklore maintained by the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club, which plays up the legend that Phil is “immortal” and survives by drinking a mythical “elixir of life.”
n Phil’s diet and what groundhogs eat
There are no official records documenting a unique favorite food for Phil himself; the Groundhog Club does not publish a food preference list for him.
What scientists and wildlife experts do know is that groundhogs are primarily herbivores. In nature, they eat a wide range of vegetation, including grasses, clover, leaves, vegetables, fruits and other plant matter, and build up fat before hibernation.
Groundhogs may occasionally ingest small invertebrates such as insects or snail larvae, but this is rare and incidental; their diet is overwhelmingly plant-based. Because the species’ eating habits are documented across North America, it can be inferred that Phil, as a groundhog, feeds on the same sorts of plants and greens.
Phil is known as the official Groundhog Day groundhog because of a long-standing regional tradition that began in Punxsutawney.
The Groundhog Day tradition was formally established in 1887, when members of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club held an official ceremony at Gobbler’s Knob and designated a local groundhog as the community’s seasonal weather forecaster. The event’s roots trace back to older European traditions associated with Candlemas Day, where seeing a shadow on Feb. 2 was linked to continued winter weather.
German immigrants in Pennsylvania adapted this practice to use the locally common groundhog. Each year, Phil emerges before sunrise before a crowd and “predicts” weather by whether he sees his shadow; the Inner Circle of the Groundhog Club then reads a scroll announcing either six more weeks of winter or an early spring.
spotlight athlete
MEAGHAN CAMPBELL
MacArthur Senior Basketball
WELL ON HER WAY to earning All-County honors for a third consecutive season, Campbell joined the 1,000-career rebound club Jan. 14 in the Generals’ victory over New Hyde Park. She’s the first player in program history to accomplish the feat and has a chance to reach 1,000 career points before season’s end. Bound for Vasser, she ranks among Nassau’s top 10 scorers this season at 16.2 points per game. Last season, she averaged 14.5 ppg.
games to watch
Thursday, Jan. 29
Boys Basketball: Port Wash at Oceanside 5 p.m.
Boys Basketball: Farmingdale at Uniondale 5 p.m.
Boys Basketball: Lawrence at North Shore 5 p.m.
Boys Basketball: E.Meadow at V.S. Central 6:45 p.m.
Girls Basketball: Massapequa at Baldwin 6:45 p.m.
Girls Basketball: Syosset at Freeport 6:45 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 30
Boys Basketball: Clarke at Carey 5 p.m.
Boys Basketball: Plainedge at V.S. North 5 p.m.
Girls Basketball: Glen Cove at Hewlett 6:45 p.m.
Girls Basketball: Carey at Clarke 6:45 p.m.
Girls Basketball: Division at South Side 7 p.m.
Boys Basketball: Kennedy at MacArthur 7 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 31
Girls Basketball: Westbury at Uniondale 10 a.m.
Boys Basketball: Lynbrook at Floral Park 11 a.m.
Girls Basketball: Syosset at Oceanside 11:45 a.m.
Girls Basketball: Seaford at Friends Aca. 11:45 a.m.
Girls Basketball: Floral Park at Lynbrook 11:45 a.m.
Girls Basketball: V.S. North at Plainedge 11:45 a.m.
Girls Basketball: No. Shore at Lawrence 11:45 a.m.
Girls Basketball: E. Meadow at Plainview 11:45 a.m.
Nominate a “Spotlight Athlete”
High School athletes to be featured on the Herald sports page must compete in a winter sport and have earned an AllConference award or higher last season. Please send the following information: Name, School, Grade, Sport and accomplishments to Sports@liherald.com.
Can VSS ride momentum to playoffs?
By NICK MONGIOVI sports@liherald.com
The Valley Stream South boys have played their best basketball as of late, winning three of their last four and riding a two-game win streak. This is familiar territory, though, since the Falcons started the season winning three of four.
“We’ve shown we can beat anybody on a given night and we’ve shown that anybody can beat us,” head coach Michael O’Brien said. “That’s something we’re really, really trying to get through going into the later stage now for the playoff push.”
Coming off an overtime 51-47 victory over Wantagh on Jan. 15, Valley Stream South suffered a loss to non-league opponent Friends Academy two days later. The Falcons managed to bounce back with wins against East Rockaway on Jan. 19, 64-45 and Plainedge last Saturday, 53-34.
Against League 6A rival Wantagh, the Falcons trailed 31-28 going into the fourth quarter. A key defensive adjustment and big shots from Valley Stream South forced overtime.
“We went to a 1-3-1 and they seemed to have a little bit of trouble with it,” O’Brien said regarding what changed in the win over Wantagh. It was kind of the first time we showed it all season. Some of our kids hit some big shots and they finished strong.”
Junior point guard Landon Jones, who averages 7.4 points per game, finished with 11 and was leaned on late against Wantagh.
“My biggest credit is probably to our point guard Landon Jones,” O’Brien said. “We went with a more veteran squad at certain points, and those are kids that don’t panic. They’ve been through it before, where teams will go on runs and we talk about it all the time. They kind of just rallied together and played hard.”
Senior Jaden Pryce, South’s leading scorer at 15.4 points per game, recorded 15 in the overtime thriller. Pryce also recorded 19 in the win over East Rockaway and 22 against Plainedge. He’s scored in double figures in five of his last six games.
“He’s our guy,” O’Brien said. “He’s our number one option and I’d love to say at this point he’s almost an automatic 14 or 15
points per game.”
Valley Stream South has gotten four to seven points per game from a few other players outside of Pryce’s double-digit average. Junior center Sixtus Okorie averages 6.4, sophomore guard/forward JT Reid averages 4.6 and senior guard Milton Ponce averages 4.4.
Against Plainedge, the two teams were knotted up 16 apiece at halftime, after the Falcons led 14-9 after the first frame.
O’Brien said they were playing “slow,” but a personnel change is what sparked his offense.
“We were trying to pick up the tempo and play with a little bit of urgency,” O’Brien said. “We went with a smaller lineup. In the first half, we only had two
assists and in the second half, we had 12 assists. I think that was the biggest difference.”
With a playoff berth still in sight for the Falcons, they entered this week 7-8 overall and 4-3 in league.
“We built on a little bit of confidence in the second half and hopefully if we can start putting four quarters together like that, then we can hopefully be a dangerous moving forward,” O’Brien said.
The Falcons will travel to Mineola this Friday at 5 p.m.
“That’s never an easy game for us,” O’Brien said. “They’re a really tough team. They’re in every game. The hope right now is all about one game at a time and just hope we get in.”
Sue Grieco/Herald Shane Grant and the Falcons need a solid finish in order to qualify for the Nassau Class A playoffs.
Future doctors learn pain, addiction care
By ABIGAIL GRIECO agrieco@liherald.com
Third-year medical students at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell gained skills that many physicians do not learn until well into their careers during Pain and Addiction Care Prevention Week Jan. 13-16.
In more than 25 hours of intensive instruction, students were trained to address pain, substance-use and alcohol-use disorders using harm-reduction strategies, non-opioid alternatives and patient-centered care.
Beyond clinical techniques, students were taught to listen more closely to patients’ experiences and approach treatment with empathy, a skill educators said is critical to addressing the ongoing substanceuse crisis.
“While opioids certainly have a place in medicine, historically doctors weren’t adequately trained in judicious prescribing practices,” said Dr. Sandeep Kapoor, assistant professor of medicine, emergency medicine, psychiatry and science education at the Zucker School.
Kapoor, who is also vice president of emergency medicine addiction services and director of screening, brief intervention and referral to treatment at Northwell Health, added, “Ensuring the next generation of physicians is equipped to approach complex conditions like pain and substance-use disorders will undoubtedly drive positive change in patient and community health,” he added.
PACE Week builds on instruction students receive during their first two years of medical school. In total, Zucker students complete more than 30 hours of patient-centered education focused on pain and substance use — more than at any other U.S. medical school — addressing a topic many clinicians find
uncomfortable or difficult to discuss.
The program also fulfills a federal requirement mandating that clinicians seeking or maintaining DEA registration complete at least eight hours of training in treating pain and opioid or other substance-use disorders.
Each day of PACE Week began with first-person accounts from people in recovery, family members affected by addiction, medical residents and Zucker alumni. Among them were two physicians in recovery, who shared the challenges of seeking help while navi-
gating professional expectations and fear of judgment. Family members described the emotional, financial and personal toll substance use disorders can have, emphasizing the need for compassion, strong support systems and recovery resources not only for patients, but also for those who care for them.
Students took part in workshops covering medications for opioid-use disorder, medicinal cannabis and multimodal pain care. One component focused on femoral nerve blocks, a non-opioid pain management technique that interrupts pain signals at their source using ultrasound-guided injections.
“Adding this level of training means our students are starting their careers with skills many clinicians only learn later,” said Dr. Simone Rudnin, a Northwell Health Emergency Department physician. “They’re prepared from day one to treat pain differently than we did even a decade ago.”
Kapoor said that such interventions could reduce reliance on opioid medications and lower the risk of future substance use disorder. “Students are learning practical interventions that can offer equal or better pain relief while reducing long-term risks of patients,” he said.
PACE Week concluded with student capstone presentations for Northwell executives and Hofstra leaders. Students made “elevator pitches,” debated ethical scenarios, shared public-service announcements and offered narrative reflections on addiction and care.
“Hearing physicians and family members speak openly about their lived experiences with addiction was profoundly impactful,” Alexandra Boubour, a third-year medical student, said. “Their vulnerability challenged stigma and reinforced the importance of empathy, transparency and community in both healing and medical culture.”
Courtesy Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell Medical students at the Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell practiced femoral nerve blocks, a pain management technique, during PACE Week, Jan. 13-16.
Ferretti deploys ‘Pothole Patrol’ to tackle repairs
By HERNESTO GALDAMEZ hgaldamez@liherald.com
As winter conditions continue to strain Long Island roadways, Hempstead Town officials are rolling out a new strategy to tackle potholes before they worsen during the busiest repair season of the year.
Town Supervisor John Ferretti announced the launch of the town’s Pothole Patrol during a news conference in Merrick, citing repeated freeze-thaw cycles and heavy traffic as the primary causes of pavement deterioration.
“This is the time of year where potholes form from the constant freezing and melting of rain and snow. They aren’t just an inconvenience — they’re a safety issue,” Ferretti said. “The Pothole Patrol is part of our ongoing commitment to invest in infrastructure and maintain the quality of life enjoyed by our residents. Well-maintained roads protect vehicles, improve safety, and support our local economy.”
The initiative assigns crews to monitor streets daily and respond to reported hazards in an effort to reduce vehicle damage and improve roadway safety. Four newly hired patrol workers attended the event, and town officials said the program includes two dedicated trucks operating at all times, each staffed by four employees and equipped with machinery designed to dispense asphalt quickly.
Unlike previous years, when repairs were largely complaint-driven, the new patrol will actively search for potholes throughout the township. Pothole repairs will be prioritized based on traffic volume, visibility, and proximity to high-use locations such as schools and commercial corridors.
The initiative also introduces a new online reporting portal, developed by the town’s Information Technology Department, that allows residents to submit reports directly to the town. Users may enter an address manually or enable GPS location services on their devices to pinpoint a pothole, and photos can be uploaded to assist repair crews.
“We are relying on residents to be our eyes and ears,” Ferretti added. “By reporting potholes through our online form, they will help us prioritize repairs and respond faster. It’s a convenient way for our community to partner with us in keeping our roads in top-tier shape.”
The system can automatically determine whether a reported road falls under town, county, or state jurisdiction, and it will redirect residents if the pothole is outside town responsibility.
Ferretti addressed concerns that patched potholes may reopen, noting that full repaving cannot be done during winter months. Temporary repairs will continue until spring, when repaving resumes. The town maintains roughly 1,200 miles of roadway, repaving more than 100 miles in 2025 and planning to exceed that in 2026 as part of a 12-year plan to resurface every town road.
Residents can now utilize the reporting form at HempsteadTown.com/PotholePatrol.
Courtesy Town of Hempstead
Town Supervisor John Ferretti announced the launch of Pothole Patrol, a new strategy aimed to tackle potholes before they worsen during the repair season. 9 VALLEY STREAM HERALD — January 29, 2026
Snow settled on the bushes and shrubs in front of the homes, creating a quiet winter scene.
Weekend storm wraps Valley Stream in snow
Valley Stream streets, yards and residents were draped in a blanket after a winter storm moved through the region on last Sunday, leaving about 10 inches of snow in the village, according to National Weather Service measurements.
The snowfall was enough to give familiar neighborhoods a classic midwinter look, with tree branches outlined in fresh snow, shrubs fully coated and residential streets covered as the storm wound down. Residents and local crews
began clearing sidewalks, driveways and roadways as temperatures remained below freezing into last Monday and lingering flurries gradually tapered off.
While the steady snowfall required a significant dig-out and slowed travel, it also delivered a quiet, picture-perfect winter scene across Valley Stream.
–Angelina Zingariello
Aidan Warshavsky/Herald
Courtesy Brian Grogan
One and half year old Connor Grogan of Valley Stream played in the snow and watched a Valley Stream fire truck pass by cleaning hydrants.
Courtesy Desiree Fasulo
Angelina Fasulo “grounded herself” in the snow in her Valley Stream yard, saying she loved the snow more than Disney.
Courtesy Nicole Woessner
Mini golden doodle Cali raced across the snow-covered yard in Valley Stream, making the most of her winter day.
Nominate a student under 18 for the Sustainability Champion Award to recognize their efforts in driving sustainable change.
Submit a nomination of approximately 100 words or less describing the student’s leadership in promoting sustainability: What motivates them? What impact have they had?
Be sure to include a photo or an example of their work—whether it’s a community garden, an environmental campaign, or a creative solution to a sustainability challenge.
At LIJVS, med students focus on nutrition
was kind of thinking, huh, when I went to school, and still, there was no learning about the feeding of human beings, and that is essential.”
Sheridan joined the Zucker School faculty in 2018 after working in psychiatry research, where she focused on mitigating weight gain often caused by antipsychotic medications. Her current role involves facilitating small-group learning throughout the medical school curriculum.
The course uses Health Meets Food courseware, which integrates nutrition science, clinical cases and culinary instruction. When the elective first launched during the coronavirus pandemic, it was conducted remotely, with students taking part in case discussions and viewing live cooking demonstrations on Zoom. Once in-person learning resumed, the program moved into hospital kitchens.
It is structured around selected nutrition modules, which have included protein intake, food allergies, weight management and pediatric nutrition.
Executive Chef Russell Ficke, a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, leads the hands-on cooking at LIJ Valley Stream. Ficke has worked for Northwell Health since 2004, and came to Valley Stream in 2021, after 17 years at Syosset Hospital. He has been involved with the Culinary Medicine elective for five years.
“I think it’s great that … they know that we can help them help patients,” Ficke said of the medical students. “That's what I really like about it, that I’m making a difference in my own little way through the back end.”
During the session two weeks ago, students prepared dishes aligned with the pediatric nutrition module, including butternut squash and white bean quesa-
WINES
dillas, cauliflower mac and cheese, sweet potato fries, spaghetti squash pasta, hidden vegetable hamburgers, peanut butter and banana roll-ups and sautéed Swiss chard.
Cooking in a functioning hospital kitchen allows students to observe large-scale food preparation, offering them insight into how hospital food service operates while they work independently or in small groups on their own dishes. LIJ Valley Stream prepares meals
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from scratch and sources vegetables locally when available. Students shared the dishes they prepare as part of the course experience.
Student Eusha Hasan took part in Culinary Medicine while applying to internal medicine residency programs, having completed his undergraduate education at the University of Pennsylvania before enrolling at the Zucker School. The course, he said, allowed him to apply nutrition concepts discussed in patient cases directly to cooking and future patient education.
As a self-described novice cook, Hasan found the session at LIJ Valley Stream accommodating to students with varying culinary skills.
“[Ficke] was more than willing to teach us at all levels,” Hasan said. “Me being on the very more basic, rudimentary level, and that, while some of my other classmates were more advanced, and he was able to modulate his teaching based on that.”
Student Maia Pavlovic took the course to learn more about holistic medicine, her interest shaped by her personal experience living with Type 1 diabetes. After completing her undergraduate studies at the University of Florida, she has conducted research in infectious diseases, autoimmunity, diabetes and endocrinology at various research centers in different parts of the country. Culinary Medicine, Pavlovic said, increased her confidence in addressing food and nutrition as part of patient treatment plans, and reinforced the value of multidisciplinary care involving dietitians.
Sheridan said that the long-term goal is to expand nutrition education beyond an elective format and integrate the culinary coursework more broadly into the medical school curriculum. Northwell Health plans to open a dedicated teaching kitchen in the future.
Courtesy Northwell Health
Maia Pavlovic prepared a nutritious meal in the busy kitchen at Long Island Jewish Valley Stream hospital, putting her culinary skills into practice.
STEPPING OUT
‘Metamorphosis’ unleashed
South Shore Symphony reinvents familiar melodies — and itself
By Abbey Salvemini
When the South Shore Symphony takes the stage on Jan. 31 at their Madison Theatre home, on the Molloy University campus, the evening represents more than a single stop in its season. It reflects the orchestra’s artistic transformation under the leadership of esteemed conductor Adam Glaser, now in his third year as music director.
Since he took the helm of the South Shore Symphony (from former Music Director Scott Jackson Wiley) he’s continued to foster connections with its musicians and shape a shared artistic identity. He describes his group as “a community of friends and musicians who are always striving for excellence,” and says the experience has been both energizing and collaborative.
expanded to include a full orchestra — involving winds, brass and percussion.
Pete Correale
As Glaser explains, the passacaglia is a type of continuous variation built over a repeating bass line, a form that dates back centuries.
“Among the many musical interests I enjoy exploring over lunch with my colleague Jim Millar, the Brahms symphonies constantly rise to the top, particularly the final movement of the Fourth Symphony, an orchestral passacaglia. When accepting Jim’s commission for a new work to be performed by the highly advanced orchestra he leads in beautiful Tenafly, I chose the passacaglia form for inspiration and structure,” he continues.
Glaser adds that his time with the South Shore Symphony inspired him to revisit the piece, allowing him to reimagine its full expressive possibilities.
After opening for Sebastian Maniscalco on his massive “It Ain’t Right” arena tour, Pete Correale is now doing his own. Be prepared for the laughs when he brings his “As I Was Saying” tour to the Paramount stage. The Long Island-born comedian-actor-writer, best known for his conversational, reality-based humor, is one busy guy. He co-hosts co-host of the “Pete and Sebastian Show,” a podcast with comedian Sebastian Maniscalco, that’s of the most popular comedy podcasts on air today, consistently growing in audience eight years after its launch. His comedy is reflective of his life and the experiences he’s been through. Being married for over 20 years and having a young daughter, Pete’s never at a loss for material. With a conversational delivery and his trademark disarming regular guy attitude, Pete makes you feel like you’re listening to the funniest guy at a party as opposed to just another comedian on a stage.
Friday, Jan. 30, 9 p.m., doors open 8 p.m. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com.
• Saturday, January 31, 7:30 p.m.
• Madison Theatre, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre
• Tickets available at madisontheatreny.org
An established composer, Glaser — whose prolific career includes roles as Music Director of the professional-caliber Juilliard Pre-College Orchestras and Director of Orchestras and Associate Professor of Music at Hofstra University — brings his keen musicality to this concert, titled “Metamorphosis.” Programmed around the time-honored musical form of “theme and variations,” the repertoire highlights how composers begin with a simple musical idea and reshape it in inventive, surprising and often dazzling ways.
“[They] are all unique in their own way, but they are presented together because they all share a common theme,” Glaser says.
This fascinating program unites four works from the 19th and 20th centuries, each offering its own take on the theme and variations form. It opens with the “Wedding March” from Karl Goldmark’s Rustic Wedding Symphony.
“While I would rarely excerpt one movement from a symphony, in this case, it is just brilliant as its own piece,” Glaser explains.
The concert’s centerpiece is a world premiere: the full orchestral version of Glaser’s own “Passacaglia.”
Originally written in 2018 for a high school string orchestra in New Jersey, the piece has now been
“Since 2018, I have often felt that the string orchestra version of Passacaglia packed a lot of material into a relatively compact canvas, and wondered if the underlying composition might warrant an expansion that embraces all instrument families. Inspired by my new “musical family,” I am pleased to dedicate this new version to my friends in the orchestra and honored to conduct the premiere. This new version makes a few subtle references to a five-note musical signature derived from Rockville Centre’s zip code, 11570.”
Glaser acknowledges that conducting works by other composers presents its own challenges, requiring a balance between honoring the composer’s intentions and bringing his own interpretive insight to the music.
“Our job [as the conductor] is to be an advocate for the composer, but we only have notes on a page,” he says.
The evening’s second half celebrates musical reinvention with Korngold’s “Theme and Variations, Op. 42.” In seven short minutes, it delivers the sweeping melodies and lavish orchestration that earned Korngold his reputation for “Hollywood sound.”
“[Theme and Variations] takes it to the highest level possible,” Glaser says, pointing out that audiences will recognize the Hollywood influence in the brief composition.
The concert closes with Hindemith’s “Symphonic Metamorphosis of Themes” by Carl Maria von Weber, a piece that literally transforms Weber’s melodies into a bold, rhythmically vibrant orchestral adventure — bringing the program’s title of “Metamorphosis” full circle.
“[Symphonic Metamophosis] is such a brilliant example of how a composer can take a small amount of material and spin so many wonderful variations from it,” Glaser enthuses.
Beyond the individual works, he sees “Metamorphosis” as a symbol of the South Shore Symphony’s evolving journey.
This concert offers the audience both familiarity and discovery: beloved repertoire alongside a brand-new works, all connected by a single unifying idea. For Glaser, it is an opportunity to begin shaping the orchestra’s future while honoring its past.
The season continues with a trio of exciting performances in the months ahead. Jazz vocalist Jane Monheit joins the South Shore Symphony on March 8 for an evening of rich, lyrical storytelling. Later that month, on March 28, the orchestra tackles Stravinsky’s “The Rite of Spring,” promising a thrilling display of rhythm and energy. The season concludes on May 29 with their annual concert at St. Agnes Cathedral, uniting powerful voices and orchestra for Beethoven’s monumental “Ninth Symphony.
With “Metamorphosis,” the orchestra invites concertgoers to experience music as a living, evolving art form — where familiar melodies are reborn, new works take flight and the orchestra’s journey of transformation continues under Glaser’s inspired leadership.
‘Madness takes its toll’ Fasten your garter belt and come up to the lab and see what’s on the slab: It’s The Rocky Horror Picture Show! Do the Time Warp in celebration of 50 years of Richard O’Brien’s legendary cult classic musical on the big screen! In this legendary comedyhorror cult classic, sweethearts Brad (Barry Bostwick) and Janet (Susan Sarandon), stuck with a flat tire during a storm, discover the eerie mansion of Dr. Frank-N-Furter (Tim Curry), a self-proclaimed “sweet transvestite” scientist. As their innocence is lost, Brad and Janet meet a houseful of wild characters, including a rocking biker (Meat Loaf) and a creepy butler (Richard O’Brien). Through elaborate dances and rock songs, Frank-N-Furter unveils his latest creation: a muscular man named “Rocky.” Nothing beats a Rocky Horror screening where you can jump up and dance to the Time Warp in this live, interactive experience. Get into it and dress to impress!
Friday, Jan. 30, 8 p.m. $25. Jeanne Rimsky Theater at Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington. Tickets available at landmarkonmainstreet.org or (516) 767-6444.
Photo courtesy Rachel Papo
Music Director Adam Glaser conducts the Juilliard Pre College Orchestra at Alice Tully Hall in Manhattan.
YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD CALENDAR
On Exhibit
Nassau County Museum of Art invites visitors into a world where reality is uncertain, dreams take shape, and the line between fact and imagination disappears. From dreamlike landscapes and uncanny portraits to images so exact they look like photographs, works in “Real, Surreal, and Photoreal” challenge what we see and what we believe. This exhibit explores how artists across generations have reimagined “the real” in strikingly different ways. Works from both American and European artists are featured. On view through March 8.
• Where: 1 Museum Drive, Roslyn Harbor
• Time: Ongoing
• Contact: nassaumuseum.org or (516) 484-9337
JAN 30
Let It Snow! Story Time & Craftsl
Children ages 2-4, with parent/caregiver, are invited to Henry Waldinger Memorial Library to enjoy winter-themed stories and simple craft activities designed to encourage creativity and early literacy. Registration required.
• Where: 60 Verona Place
• Time: 11 a.m.
• Contact: valleystreamlibrary.org or (516) 825-6422
A Cappella Festival
The SingStrong International A Cappella Festival returns to the Adelphi University Performing Arts Center. This exciting threeday, all-vocal event features five unique concerts and two days of classes and coaching, showcasing the versatility and power of the human voice. Festival proceeds support music programs and the Cure Alzheimer’s Fund. Audiences will experience a diverse range of a cappella styles, including pop, jazz, rock, barbers hop, hip-hop, doo-wop, and more. The festival hosts performances by professional a cappella groups from around the world, alongside talented collegiate and high school ensembles. Visit singstrong.org for details.
• Where: Adelphi University Performing Arts Center, 1 South Ave., Garden City
• Time: Varied, through Feb. 1
• Contact: adelphi.edu/pac or 9516) 877-4000
Michael Carbonaro
Biden Jr., visits Hofstra University to discuss her two books published last year, “Moving Forward: A Story of Hope, Hard Work, and the Promise of America” and “Independent: A Look Inside a Broken White House Outside the Party Lines.” Copies of both books will be available for purchase, and her talk will be followed by a book signing. Advance registration is required.
• Where: John Cranford Adams Playhouse, Hofstra University South Campus, Hempstead
• Time: 11:15 a.m.- 2:45 p.m.
• Contact: events.hofstra.edu to RSVP
FEB
Lunar New Year program
Long Island Children’s Museum welcomes Chinese Theatre
• Where: The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Contact: ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com
Actor-magician-comedian Michael Carbonaro has built a career turning the ordinary into the extraordinary. Best known as the star of the hit truTV series “The Carbonaro Effect,” he’s made millions laugh in astonishment by blending quick-witted comedy with jaw-dropping illusions in everyday settings. On stage, Carbonaro has headlined two hit national tours, with a live show that mixes theatrical magic, sly improv, gleeful trickery, and playful audience participation. Now, he’s delighting audiences with his newest adventure, Michael Carbonaro: Wonderboy — a tour where audiences discover him as the Hero of Mischief, in a world where magic is the superpower and laughter is the sidekick. An accomplished actor, he’s appeared in “Law & Order: SVU,” “CSI: Miami,” and “Grey’s Anatomy,” among other projects. As a magician, he’s been named Magician of the Year by the Academy of Magical Arts and is the sole recipient of the Copperfield Prize, awarded for elevating the art of magic itself. A performing magician since his youth, Carbonaro studied experimental theater at New York University with the aspirations of entertaining audiences through a variety of theatrical mediums, including hidden-camera magic, which he later showcased frequently on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.” Following Carbonaro’s frequent late-night appearances, Michael was presented with the opportunity to launch his hit comedic series, “The Carbonaro Effect.” A trickster at heart, Michael performs inventive tricks on unsuspecting members of the public who are unaware that he is a magician. Bringing wonder, mischief and magic to the stage — reality doesn’t stand a chance.
for Beasts Gallery to learn what goes into the care of the museum’s “residents.” Meet some of our reallife animals up close.
• Where: Museum Row, Garden City
• Time: 1:30-2 p.m.
• Contact: licm.org or call (516) 224-5800
Talking art
Nassau County Museum of Art welcomes Christian White. He discusses his work and artistic process rooted in the tradition of Realism. A descendant of a storied lineage of American artists, White continues to honor and expand this legacy through his detailed, perceptive paintings that capture the beauty and truth of everyday life.. $20, $15 seniors, $10 students (members free). Limited seating, register in advance.
• Where: 1 Museum Drive, Roslyn Harbor
• Time: 3 p.m.
• Contact: nassaumuseum.org or (516) 484-9337
by CosmosArt. Join in a guided paint party and an introduction to Tu B’Shvat, the New Year for Trees. With wine and cheese, sushi and traditional Tu B’Shvat fruits, $40 or $30 for YJP members.
• Where: 550 Rockaway Ave.
• Time: 8 p.m.
• Contact: (516) 825-5566
Long Island Choral Society Audition
The Long Island Choral Society is looking for new members for the final concert of their 97th Season. The Spring 2026 concert features Franz Schubert’s Mass in G. Auditions are by appointment only. If you love to sing consider auditioning to be part of this treasured Long Island tradition. For additional information about the Long Island Choral Society, visit lics.org.
• Where: Garden City Community Church, 245 Stewart Ave, Garden City
• Contact: (516) 652-6878 or audition.info@lics.org
charcuterie boxes and cupcakes from local businesses Madam Sara(H) Charcuterie & Grazing and To Dye For Bakes. Proceeds support a local family’s access to speech therapy services at no cost.
• Where: 20 W Lincoln Ave., Suite 103, Valley Stream,
• Time: 11 a.m.
• Contact: happyhourspeech.com
‘Inside Out’ Headquarter Hats
Join in some creative fun relating to Long Island Children’s Museum new exhibit. Disney and Pixar’s “Inside Out” focuses on Riley’s emotions Joy, Sadness, Anger, Disgust and Fear. Come explore your many emotions and craft an interchangeable hat to display which emotion is “in charge” throughout the day at the drop-in program.
• Where: Museum Row, Garden City
• Time: Noon-2 p.m., also Feb. 8
• Contact: licm.org or call (516) 224-5800
Works to the museum stage. Join in a celebration of the Lunar New Year with an original “budaixi” glove puppet production that features the twelve animals of the Chinese Zodiac. This year’s show stars the Horse, who presides over a jolly selection of wild puppet skits, dances, popular songs, and well known Chinese sayings that celebrate the wit and wisdom of the zodiac animals. Hao Bang Ah! Horse! A hands-on post show demonstration will make the Chinese bilingual cultural experience accessible to even the youngest audience members. $5, $4 members, $10 theater only.
• Where: Museum Row, Garden City
• Time: 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
• Contact: licm.org or call (516) 224-5800
Valentine’s Evening with Jimmy Webb
Nassau County Museum of Art hosts a special benefit concert. Renowned songwriter-composersinger Jimmy Webb warms everyone up with a performance of his legendary hits, followed by a champagne and dessert reception, also exclusive evening access to the magnificent” Real, Surreal, Photoreal” exhibit. Limited availability, RSVP soon. $250 per person.
• Where: 1 Museum Drive, Roslyn Harbor
• Time: 8-10 p.m.
• Contact: nassaumuseum.org or (516) 484-9337
Having an event?
Items on the Calendar page are listed free of charge. The Herald welcomes listings of upcoming events, community meetings and items of public interest. All submissions should include date, time and location of the event, cost, and a contact name and phone number. Submissions can be emailed to kbloom@liherald.com.
Public Notices
LEGAL NOTICE
SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK - COUNTY OF NASSAU
HSBC BANK USA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION AS TRUSTEE FOR ACE SECURITIES CORP., HOME EQUITY LOAN TRUST, SERIES 2007-HE4, V.
MARTHA Y. BELMONT
A/K/A MARTHE Y. BELMONT, ET AL.
NOTICE OF SALE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure dated June 3, 2019, and entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Nassau, wherein HSBC BANK USA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION AS TRUSTEE FOR ACE SECURITIES CORP., HOME EQUITY LOAN TRUST, SERIES
2007-HE4 is the Plaintiff and MARTHA Y. BELMONT A/K/A
MARTHE Y. BELMONT, ET AL. are the Defendant(s). I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction RAIN OR SHINE at the NASSAU COUNTY SUPREME COURT, NORTH SIDE STEPS, 100 SUPREME COURT DRIVE, MINEOLA, NY 11501, on February 11, 2026 at 2:00PM, premises known as 902 EDWARDS
BOULEVARD, VALLEY STREAM, NY 11580: Section 37, Block 631, Lot 11:
ALL THAT CERTAIN LOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND, WITH THE BUILDINGS AND IMPROVEMENTS THEREON ERECTED, SITUATE, LYING AND BEING AT VALLEY STREAM, TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, COUNTY OF NASSAU, STATE OF NEW YORK
Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 000338/2016. Charles Casolaro, Esq.Referee. Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC, 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310, Westbury, New York 11590, Attorneys for Plaintiff. All foreclosure sales will be conducted in accordance with Covid-19 guidelines including, but not limited to, social distancing and mask wearing. *LOCATION OF SALE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DAY OF IN ACCORDANCE WITH COURT/CLERK DIRECTIVES. 157679
LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE OF SALE
SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC, Plaintiff, vs. LUCIA SHARPLIS-ESPRIT, ET AL., Defendant(s).
Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on May 18, 2016 and an Order duly entered August 25, 2025, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the front steps on the north side of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on February 11, 2026 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 41 Fourth Street, Valley Stream, NY 11581. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Village of Valley Stream, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 39, Block 12 and Lot 121. Approximate amount of judgment is $962,461.81 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #014415/2013.
Brian J. Davis, Esq., Referee
McCarter & English, LLP, 250 W 55th Street, 13th Floor, New York, New York 10019, Attorneys for Plaintiff 157671
LEGAL NOTICE PUBLIC NOTICE OF NASSAU COUNTY TREASURER’S SALE OF TAX LIENS ON REAL ESTATE
Notice is hereby given that commencing on February 17th, 2026, will sell at public online auction the tax liens on certain real estate, unless the owner, mortgagee, occupant of or any other party in interest in such real estate shall have paid to the County Treasurer by February 12th, 2026 the total amount of such unpaid taxes or assessments with the interest, penalties and other expenses and charges against the property. Such tax liens will be sold at the lowest rate of interest, not exceeding 10 percent per six-month period, for which any person or persons shall offer to take the total amount of such unpaid taxes as defined in Section 5-37.0 of the Nassau
County Administrative Code.
Effective with the February 2019 lien sale
Ordinance No.
175-2015 requires a $175.00 per day registration fee for each person who intends to bid at the tax lien sale. Ordinance No. 175-2015 also requires that upon the issuance of the Lien Certificate there is due from the lien buyer a Tax Certificate Issue Fee of $20.00 per lien purchased. Pursuant to the provisions of the Nassau County Administrative Code at the discretion of the Nassau County Treasurer the auction will be conducted online. Further information concerning the procedures for the auction is available at the website of the Nassau County Treasurer at: https://www.nassaucou ntyny.gov/526/CountyTreasurer
Should the Treasurer determine that an inperson auction shall be held, same will commence on the 17th day of February 2026 at the Office of The County Treasurer 1 West Street, Mineola or at some other location to be determined by the Treasurer.
A list of all real estate in Nassau County on which tax liens are to be sold is available at the website of the Nassau County Treasurer at: https://www.nassaucou ntyny.gov/527/AnnualTax-Lien-Sale
A list of local properties upon which tax liens are to be sold will be advertised in this publication on or before February 05th, 2026. Nassau County does not discriminate on the basis of disability in admission to or access to, or treatment or employment in, its services, programs, or activities. Upon request, accommodations such as those required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) will be provided to enable individuals with disabilities to participate in all services, programs, activities and public hearings and events conducted by the Treasurer’s Office. Upon request, information can be made available in Braille, large print, audio-tape or other alternative formats. For
Such tax liens shall be sold subject to any and all superior tax liens of sovereignties and other municipalities and to all claims of record which the County may have thereon and subject to the provisions of the Federal and State Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Civil Relief Acts. However, such tax liens shall have priority over the County’s Differential Interest Lien, representing the excess, if any, of the interest and penalty borne at the maximum rate over the interest and penalty borne at the rate at which the lien is purchased.
The Purchaser acknowledges that the tax lien(s) sold pursuant to these Terms of Sale may be subject to pending bankruptcy proceedings and/or may become subject to such proceedings which may be commenced during the period in which a tax lien is held by a successful bidder or the assignee of same, which may modify a Purchaser’s rights with respect to the lien(s) and the property securing same. Such bankruptcy proceedings shall not affect the validity of the tax lien. In addition to being subject to pending bankruptcy proceedings and/or the Federal and State Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Civil Relief Acts, said purchaser’s right of foreclosure may be affected by the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act (FIRREA),12 U.S.C. ss 1811 et seq., with regard to real property under Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) receivership. The County Treasurer reserves the right, without further notice and at any time, to withdraw from sale any of the parcels of land or premises herein listed. The Nassau County Treasurer reserves the right to intervene in any bankruptcy case/litigation where the property affected
by the tax liens sold by the Treasurer is part of the bankruptcy estate. However, it is the sole responsibility of all tax lien purchasers to protect their legal interests in any bankruptcy case affecting their purchased tax lien, including but not limited to the filing of a proof of claim on their behalf, covering their investment in said tax lien. The Nassau County Treasurer and Nassau County and its agencies, assumes no responsibility for any legal representation of any tax lien purchaser in any legal proceeding including but not limited to a bankruptcy case where the purchased tax lien is at risk. The rate of interest and penalty at which any person purchases the tax lien shall be established by his bid. Each purchaser, immediately after the sale thereof, shall pay to the County Treasurer ten per cent of the amount for which the tax liens have been sold and the remaining ninety per cent within thirty days after such sale. If the purchaser at the tax sale shall fail to pay the remaining ninety per cent within ten days after he has been notified by the County Treasurer that the certificates of sale are ready for delivery, then all amounts deposited with the County Treasurer including but not limited to the ten per cent theretofore paid by him shall, without further notice or demand, be irrevocably forfeited by the purchaser and shall be retained by the County Treasurer as liquidated damages and the agreement to purchase shall be of no further effect. Time is of the essence in this sale. This sale is held pursuant to the Nassau County Administrative Code and interested parties are referred to such Code for additional information as to terms of the sale, rights of purchasers, maximum rates of interest and other legal incidents of the sale. Furthermore, as to the bidding,
1. The bidder(s) agree that they will not work with any other bidder(s) to increase, maintain or stabilize interest rates or collaborate with any other bidder(s) to gain an unfair competitive
advantage in the random number generator in the event of a tie bid(s) on a tax certificate. Bidder(s) further agree not to employ any bidding strategy designed to create an unfair competitive advantage in the tiebreaking process in the upcoming tax sale nor work with any other bidder(s) to engage in any bidding strategy that will result in a rotational award of tax certificates.
2. The tax certificate(s) the Bidder will bid upon, and the interest rate(s) bid, will be arrived at independently and without direct or indirect consultation, communication or agreement with any other bidder and that the tax certificate(s) the Bidder will bid upon, and the interest rate(s) to be bid, have not been disclosed, directly or indirectly, to any other bidder, and will not be disclosed, directly or indirectly, to any other bidder prior to the close of bidding. No attempt has been made or will be made to, directly or indirectly, induce any other bidder to refrain from bidding on any tax certificate, to submit complementary bids, or to submit bids at specific interest rates.
3. The bids to be placed by the Bidder will be made in good faith and not pursuant to any direct or indirect, agreement or discussion with, or inducement from, any other bidder to submit a complementary or other noncompetitive bid.
4. If it is determined that the bidder(s) have violated any of these bid requirements then their bid shall be voided and if they were the successful bidder the lien and any deposits made in connection with said bid shall be forfeited.
Dated: January 22, 2026THE NASSAU COUNTY TREASURER Mineola, New York 157891
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU UMB Bank, National Association, not in its individual capacity, but solely as legal title trustee for LVS Title Trust XIII Plaintiff, Against Unknown heirs at law of Compton I Wilson
Jr., and if they be dead, any and all persons unknown to plaintiff, claiming, or who may claim to have an interest in, or generally or specific lien upon the real property described in this action; such unknown persons being herein generally described and intended to be included in the following designation, namely: the wife, widow, husband, widower, heirs at law, next of kin, descendants, executors, administrators, devisees, legatees, creditors, trustees, committees, lienors, and assignees of such deceased, any and all persons deriving interest in or lien upon, or title to said real property by, through or under them, or either of them, and their respective wives, widows, husbands, widowers, heirs at law, next of kin, descendants, executors; administrators, devisees, legatees, creditors, trustees, committees, lienors and assigns, all of whom and whose names, except as stated, are unknown to plaintiff; Louanne V. Wilson, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, The People of the State of New York, The United States of America Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale, duly entered 11/14/2025, 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 2/24/2026 at 2:00PM, premises known as 139 Locust Street, Valley Stream, New York 11581, a/k/a 139 Locust Boulevard, South Valley Stream, New York 11581 and described as follows: ALL that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Incorporated Village of Valley Stream, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York.
Section 39 Block 47 Lot 12
The approximate amount of the current Judgment lien is $685,838.32 plus interest and costs. The Premises will be sold
subject to provisions of the aforesaid Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale; Index # 613616/2023 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. For sale information, please visit Auction.com at www.Auction.com or call (800) 280-2832. Glenn J. Wurzel, Esq., Referee.
SHELDON MAY & ASSOCIATES Attorneys at Law, 255 Merrick Road, Rockville Centre, NY 11570 Dated: 1/5/2026 File Number: 39393 CA 157938
To place a notice here call us at 516-569-4000 x232 or send an email to: legalnotices@liherald.com
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, METROPOLITAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY, Plaintiff, vs. JONATHAN CASTILLO, ET AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to an Order Confirming Referee Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on June 3, 2025 and an Order Appointing Successor Referee duly entered on December 11, 2025, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the front steps on the north side of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on February 25, 2026 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 1294 G Street, Valley Stream, NY 11580. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being at Elmont, in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 35, Block 633 and Lot 38. Approximate amount of judgment is $501,068.35 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #604919/2023. Joshua D. Brookstein, Esq., Referee Friedman Vartolo LLP, 85 Broad Street, Suite 501, New York, New York 10004, Attorneys for Plaintiff. Firm File No.: 230154-1 157932
Courtesy
Stream Central High School District
Public Notices
LEGAL NOTICE
INCORPORATED
VILLAGE OF VALLEY STREAM Office of the Village Clerk/Administrator 123 South Central Avenue Valley Stream New York 11580 (516) 592-5105
LEGAL NOTICE
TENTATIVE
ASSESSMENT ROLL
PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Assessor’s Department of the Incorporated Village of Valley Stream has completed the Tentative Assessment Roll for the year 2026/27 and has filed the same with the Village Clerk at his office in the Village Hall, located at 123 South Central Avenue, Valley Stream, New York, where it may be seen and examined as of February 2, 2026 by any interested person during regular business hours until 4:00 o’clock p.m. on Tuesday the 17th day of February, 2026 at which time the Board of Review will meet to hear complaints in relation to assessments.
The Tentative Assessment Roll will be available on the Village Website www.vsvny.org..
Dated: Valley Stream, New York
January 29, 2026
JAMES J. HUNTER Village Clerk/Administrator158 158097
LEGAL NOTICE
SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU HSBC BANK USA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION AS TRUSTEE FOR ACE SECURITIES CORP. HOME EQUITY LOAN TRUST, SERIES 2006-HE1 ASSET BACKED PASSTHROUGH CERTIFICATES, -againstWILHELMENA KELLY, ET AL. NOTICE OF SALE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Nassau on October 5, 2017, wherein HSBC BANK USA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION AS TRUSTEE FOR ACE SECURITIES CORP. HOME EQUITY LOAN TRUST, SERIES 2006-HE1 ASSET BACKED PASSTHROUGH CERTIFICATES is the Plaintiff and WILHELMENA KELLY, ET AL. are the Defendant(s). I, the undersigned Referee,
Competition marks eight years of growth
Learners] students competing, we have students in the special ed program competing, you have your athletes, you have your scholars, you have all different kinds of kids who just want to express themselves through poetry. And it is also a great opportunity for students to practice their public speaking skills, their ability to express themselves and to just kind of show their classmates what they can do.”
The event is judged by members of the Valley Stream North English Department, who evaluate performances based on a rubric that includes public speaking skills, clarity of expression, memorization accuracy and interpretation of the poem. Beyond the competitive aspect, the experience is valued for helping students gain confidence and pride in their ability to stand before an audience and convey meaningful messages through poetry.
Ogbemudia, who performed Ezra Pound’s “A Pact,” has been involved in Poetry Out Loud since ninth grade. Inspired by her older sister, who participated when she was in high school, she selects poems by studying their meaning and context. Her preparation involved daily memorization and repeated recitation of the poem’s stanzas. She welcomed the inclusion of younger competitors this year, viewing it as an opportunity to encourage new voices and perspectives in poetry.
“I would say it’s honorable that younger students competed, especially since other kids can be mean,” Ogbemudia said. “And I’m really happy that they were able to stand there and perform their poem.”
will sell at public auction RAIN OR SHINE at the NASSAU COUNTY SUPREME COURT, NORTH SIDE STEPS, 100 SUPREME COURT DRIVE, MINEOLA, NY 11501, on March 3, 2026 at 2:00PM, premises known as 1369 CAROLE COURT, VALLEY STREAM, NY 11580; and the following tax map identification: 003700660-00 - 00008. ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND, WITH THE BUILDINGS AND IMPROVEMENTS THEREON ERECTED, SITUATE, LYING AND BEING AT NORTH VALLEY STREAM, TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, NASSAU COUNTY, NEW YORK Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No.: 003133/2015. Anthony W. Russo, Esq. - Referee. Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC, 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310, Westbury, New York 11590, Attorneys for Plaintiff. All foreclosure sales will be conducted in accordance with Covid-19 guidelines including, but not limited to, social distancing and mask wearing. *LOCATION
OF SALE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DAY OF IN ACCORDANCE WITH COURT/CLERK DIRECTIVES. 158075
Place a notice by phone at 516-569-4000 x232 or email: legalnotices@liherald.com
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT: NASSAU COUNTY. PINE VALLEY ONE REAL ESTATE, LLC, Pltf. vs. AZAAN BUTT, et al, Defts. Index #603058/25. Pursuant to judgment of foreclosure and sale entered December 22, 2025, I will sell at public auction on the north side front steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY on March 4, 2026 at 2:00 p.m., prem. k/a 30 South Montgomery Street, Valley Stream, NY 11580 a/k/a District 30, Section 37, Block 363, Lot 26. Approx. amt. of judgment is $34,576.87 plus costs and interest. Sold subject to terms and conditions of filed judgment and terms of sale.
BRIAN J. CARMODY, Referee. BRONSTER, LLP, Attys. for Pltf. 156 West 56th Street, Ste. 703, New York, NY. File No. 720049.047- #102729 158069
Belbol and Owen noted that Poetry Out Loud offers students a unique experience distinct from traditional classroom instruction. It develops literary analysis, interpretation and memorization skills while encouraging selfexpression in a supportive environment. They underscored the importance of continuing to celebrate spoken word and performance poetry in schools, especially as many students find success and confidence through participation.
I would say it’s honorable that younger students competed, especially since other kids can be mean.
Placing second was a pleasant surprise, and she credited the competition with enhancing her memorization skills, her performance confidence and her ability to engage deeply with poetry. Ogbemudia advised younger students to embrace mistakes such as forgetting lines as part of the learning and performing process, emphasizing the importance of authenticity.
Osayware OgbemudIa Junior, Valley Stream North High School
This year’s competition recognized three top performers: first place went to senior Saniya Smiley, second to junior Osayware Ogbemudia and third to junior Kahel Mathieu.
Smiley, performing Langston Hughes’s “Mr. Man,” participated for the first time and was initially motivated by the opportunity for extra credit. However, the process of preparing and performing inspired her to pursue the competition seriously. She rehearsed in front of friends who provided feedback and helped her build confidence.
Despite initial nervousness, Smiley found the experience empowering and said that performing a poem she personally related to helped her connect with the material and audience.
“I actually didn’t think I was going to win first place at all,” Smiley said. “It’s not something I do on the regular. I don’t do public speaking. But winning first place really gave me the confidence.”
She encouraged future participants not to be afraid and to take part for their own growth.
Mathieu, performing Emily Dickinson’s “’Hope’ Is the Thing With Feathers,” competed for the first time, motivated by the encouragement of his English teachers and the desire to achieve recognition.
“I felt like other students who speak English better than me would win,” Mathieu said. “And they (his teachers) said, ‘Don’t say that to yourself, be confident and do it for fun.’ They really pushed me.”
He focused on daily practice, rehearsing in front of family, teachers and friends. Though initially anxious about performing in front of an audience, Mathieu found strength in his teachers’ encouragement and ultimately enjoyed the experience. Placing third was a meaningful accomplishment for him, and he expressed interest in competing again next year to win. His advice to fellow students was to trust themselves, be confident and not limit their potential.
The top two winners, Smiley and Ogbemudia, will advance to represent Valley Stream North in the upcoming district-level competition scheduled for March.
As the program grows, the school remains committed to supporting all students who wish to explore poetry and public speaking, ensuring Poetry Out Loud remains a vibrant and valued tradition at Valley Stream North High School.
Valley
Sofia Owen, a Valley Stream North English teacher and the Poetry Out Loud coordinator, far left, with student winners Osayware Ogbemudia, Saniya Smiley and Kahel Mathieu and English Department Chair Lori Belbol at the school’s eighth annual competition on Jan. 14.
Richner Communications, publisher of Herald community newspapers has an excellent opportunity for a FT/PT
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Salary Range is $17 per hour to $20 per hour.
For consideration, please send resume & salary requirements to: circulationassociate@liherald.com
DRIVERS WANTED
Full Time and Part Time Positions Available!
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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
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Part Time & Full Time. The award-winning Herald Community Newspapers group, covering Nassau County's North and South Shores with hard-hitting news stories and gracefully written features, seeks a motivated, energetic and creative editor/reporter to join our dynamic (and awesome) team! This education and general assignment reporting position offers a unique experience to learn from some of the best in the business. Historically, reporters who have launched their careers with us have gone on to The New York Times, Newsweek, Newsday, the New York Daily News, New York Post, CNN, BBC, NBC News and The Daily Mail, among many others. We look for excellent writers who are eager to learn, enhance their skills, and become well-established and respected journalists in our industry. Salary range is from $20K to $45K To apply: Send a brief summary in the form of a cover letter describing your career goals and what strengths you can bring to our newsroom, along with a resume and three writing samples to jbessen@liherald.com
MAILROOM/ WAREHOUSE HELP Long Island Herald has IMMEDIATE openings for a FULL-TIME & PART-TIME mailroom/warehouse helper in Garden City. We are a busy print shop looking for motivated and reliable individuals to assist in various duties in the shop. Forklift experience is a plus and heavy lifting is required. Hours vary, so flexibility is key. Salary Ranges from $17 per hour to $20 per hour. Email resumes or contact info to careers@liherald.com
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Inside Sales
Looking for an aggressive self starter who is great at making and maintaining relationships and loves to help businesses grow by marketing them on many different advertising platforms. You will source new sales opportunities through inbound lead follow-up and outbound cold calls. Must have the ability to understand customer needs and requirements and turn them in to positive advertising solutions. We are looking for a talented and competitive Inside Sales Representative that thrives in a quick sales cycle environment. Compensation ranges from $35,360 + commissions and bonuses to over $100,000 including commission and bonuses. We also offer health benefits, 401K and paid time off. Please send cover letter and resume with salary requirements to ereynolds@liherald.com Call 516-569-4000 X286
OUTSIDE SALES
Richner Communications, One of the Fastest Growing Media, Event and Communications Companies on Long Island is Seeking a Sales/Marketing Candidate to Sell our Print Media Products and our Digital, Events, Sponsorships. Earning potential ranges from $35,360 plus commission and bonuses to over $100,000 including commissions and bonuses. Compensation is based on Full Time hours
Eligible for Health Benefits, 401k and Paid Time Off. Please Send Cover Letter and Resume with Salary Requirements to rglickman@liherald.com or Call 516-569-4000 X250
PRINTING PRESS OPERATORS FT & PT. Long Island Herald has IMMEDIATE openings for Printing Press Operators in Garden City. We are a busy print shop
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Keeping indoor air clean
Q. Every winter I get terrible colds, and this year I got a postcard from a company that cleans air conditioning ducts. Does this help? I’m concerned about stirring up more dust. What else can I do except buy one of those portable air cleaners?
A. These days, with all the requirements for home energy savings, airtight homes and pressurized air testing, homes are much more likely to have impurities in the air. Homes used to be built with alkali-laden plaster, which mold couldn’t live on. People wore sweaters, because windows leaked cold air and homes were cooler. It seems that modern materials and methods actually brought on more sickness.
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The paper backing on gypsum wallboard provides an excellent place in a dark wall cavity for mold spores to live. Inert, sprayed-in foam does help, but most people are intimidated by the cost. Carpets gather dust and, when vacuumed, may release more impurities into the air.
Cleaning hard-walled metal air ducts is a good idea after a couple of years of continuous use. If you only use the system in midsummer heat spells, the main reason to clean the ducts is because dust settles there and adheres to the sides of the air ducts. Spores and other mold prosper in the layers of dust, and can remain inactive until moisture is present, which is why, at certain times of the year, condensation from cold meeting warm air allows the mold to develop.
You should be aware that some air conditioning companies make life easier for themselves by putting in flexible, soft, round duct, which comprises an inner lining of foil attached to a wire spiral frame covered with a thin layer of fiberglass insulation and a plastic sheeting cover. The system installation costs less if the installer passes on the savings to you, and is simpler to install. By simpler, I mean that duct tape is used instead of mechanical fastening with bends of metal and screws.
Unfortunately, you can’t clean flex duct, since the devices used to clean duct apply pressure, with vacuum and scraping techniques that will destroy your flex duct and render your system useless. You should consider cleaning the main “trunks,” which are probably made of metal duct. Duct cleaning is the first step to better breathing in the home. Then, after cleaning, have a reliable mechanical contractor install a filter in your central air conditioning unit, so you have “in-line” filtration.
Ask about the different types of filter systems, such as an electronic, static-type unit that catches dust like a magnet, and also how often the filter requires cleaning or replacement. Don’t just look for the lowest-priced unit, since the maintenance or replacement of the filter may be much more than the savings. With the electrostatic filter, you may be able to simply wash the filter and put it back. Once the filter is installed, you won’t require the portable type, and you should breathe easier, which is nothing to sneeze at.
Readers are encouraged to send questions to yourhousedr@aol.com, with “Herald question” in the subject line, or to Herald Homes, 2 Endo Blvd., Garden City, NY 11530, Attn: Monte Leeper, architect.
Monte Leeper
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What did Trump gain by badmouthing Denmark?
President Trump’s myriad pronouncements on Greenland have been confusing and convoluted, and appear to serve no American national interest.
I agree with him that Greenland is vital to our national security, and that increased measures must be taken for missile defense and to prevent incursions by Russia and China into the Arctic region.
Trump’s insistence, however, that the United States must “own” Greenland is wrong and actually counter to our national security interests.
For starters, Greenland is a territory of Denmark, one of our most loyal allies and a founding member of NATO, the linchpin of our defense against Russian aggression for more than 75 years, which caused the defeat and collapse of the Soviet Union. Under our existing treaty agreements with Denmark, the U.S. has the power to take whatever measures we believe necessary to defend Greenland, including constructing military bases, installing missile defense systems and deploying troops on the ground.
If we simply allow Greenland to
remain under Danish “ownership” while we take whatever strategic security measures we deem essential, we would have the full support of NATO, which, with its 32 member nations, is the most powerful and effective military alliance in history, and under Article 5 is required to come to the defense of any member nation when attacked.
HTrump’s threat to invade Greenland and take it by force made no sense. Such a move would fracture NATO — and, ironically, constitute the first attack ever made against a NATO nation, weakening our defenses at a time when we are facing major military challenges in the Caribbean, Pacific and Middle East. It would be the diplomatic and military equivalent of shooting ourselves in the foot — “America First” turned upside down.
except the U.S.
is threat was a dismissive, condescending disparagement of a loyal friend.
From a personal perspective, I visited Denmark in 1987 and 2024, and found the people to be exceptionally pro-American. The dismissive, condescending disparagement of such a loyal friend, for no apparent or meaningful purpose, sends a chilling message not just to allies, but also to other nations thinking of engaging with the U.S. It reflects Trump’s proclivity to demean democratic allies such as Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, whom Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance ganged up on and berated in the Oval Office) while extolling enemy dictators like Russia’s Vladimir Putin (whom Trump greeted literally with a red carpet), China’s Xi Jinping (“my friend”) and North Korea’s Kim Jong-un (“sends me love letters”).
cessfully than at any time in recent memory.
Those successes, with no loss of American lives, make Trump’s actions toward Greenland and Denmark all the more inexplicable. Sometimes it appears that he is seeking almost immediate validation of his diplomatic policies. History shows, however, that world affairs don’t lend themselves to neat, precise timetables or overnight successes.
Most notably, President Harry S. Truman’s Marshall Plan, enacted in 1948 to rebuild Europe, and his support of NATO, which was formed in 1949, did not receive acclaim until more than four decades later, with the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Nor did President Richard Nixon’s skillful diplomatic efforts, which rescued Israel from defeat by Egypt and ended the Yom Kippur War in 1973, have their maximum effect until the signing of the Camp David Accords in 1978, which brought about a peace that has lasted almost 50 years.
Almost as damaging to our national interest was Trump’s demeaning language and attitude toward a nation that has stood so loyally with us. Describing Denmark’s military capabilities as limited to “dogsleds” ignores the reality that Danish troops fought side by side with Americans in Iraq and Afghanistan, and suffered more combat deaths in Afghanistan, as a percentage of Denmark’s population, than any country
What is so disappointing about Trump’s actions toward Denmark is how they contrast with his clear foreign policy successes: standing with Israel against Hamas and bringing about a cessation of that war; carrying out immensely effective attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities; brilliantly extricating Nicolas Maduro from his Venezuelan hideout and bringing him to the U.S. for trial; and sealing our borders more suc-
TTo consolidate the legacy of his already considerable foreign policy achievements, Trump must cease his needless antagonism of our closest allies so America can further the quest for world peace. If not, “America First” might well become “America Alone.”
Peter King is a former congressman, and a former chair of the House Committee on Homeland Security. Comments? pking@ liherald.com.
Health care reform is a failure from top to bottom
here are very few things that scare me. Black cats coming my way are a nuisance. Bumps on an airliner are expected, and I don’t panic. Those crazy e-bike drivers who can kill you in a heartbeat are dangerous, but I’m constantly on the lookout for them. Odd-looking people on the street can be frightening, but I cross fast to avoid them.
So what scares me? It’s the American health care system, which can frighten people to death, no pun intended. A month ago I wasn’t feeling peppy, and was sleepy in the middle of the day. It felt like a hangover, but I’m not a drinker, so that wasn’t it. I decided to go to an emergency room, fearing some malady that I didn’t recognize. It turned out that I had a pulse of 38, which is dangerously low unless you’re, say, a professional triathlete.
I arrived at the ER (of a purposely unnamed hospital) on a Friday, which
means you’re destined to stay in the hospital over the weekend. In fairness, if you’re having a heart attack or a stroke, you’ll get immediate attention, but all other symptoms get lesser treatment. Once I saw some physicians, they gave swift attention to the issue and how to resolve it. I spent a total of four nights at the hospital, and a few weeks later I learned that the bill was $249,892.
TFortunately, I have coverage for the claim, which eventually was reduced to $13,405, which was paid by my insurer. The size of the original statement is typical in hospitals all over the country, which tend to inflate their charges to astronomical numbers in order to get to a fair settlement. For the better part of my life, I have seen dozens of bills that list crazy charges, all in the effort to get to a livable amount.
alive.
Let’s start with the hospitals. In 23 years in Albany, I heard countless stories about the hospital lobby and the steps it takes to protect its turf. Periodically, legislation is introduced that would correct a flaw in the delivery system, but if it doesn’t meet with the approval of the hospital industry, it dies a silent death.
he clock will continue to tick, and many more patients will face $250,000 bills.
Last year the health care industry spent $653 million on issues involving Congress. Hospitals are a part of that mammoth number, but there’s a heated competition among all types of providers. And the major blame is on Congress and the presidents.
— in 2020. House Speaker Mike Johnson said he had a bipartisan bill ready for action, but in the end he passed a onehouse, partisan bill that is going nowhere. Over in the Senate they had a “great bill” three weeks ago, and it crashed and burned. At this moment, a bipartisan group of senators say they are “making progress” on a bill, but I’ll get many haircuts before their dream comes true.
Two presidents have come and one is gone since Obamacare was passed. No bill has come from a White House occupant or Congress, so what should health care providers do? Year after year goes by, and there are no changes to existing law. Obamacare patients are getting hit with horrifying increases. Congress is in a state of continuous gridlock.
Are the hospitals the major culprit? No, it’s the entire system. There’s a massive game going on all over America, played by health care providers, insurers and Congress, which makes the system the mess that it is. Each one has to use all the gimmicks it knows to stay
Waiting for Congress to come up with a health care bill that satisfies all of the parties is an impossible dream. Part of the reason there’s never any compromise solution is the role of the president. The Obama administration passed a major bill that everyone agrees is in need of tweaking. But who’s going to tweak it?
President Trump promised to come up with a new bill “ within two weeks”
The clock will continue to tick, and there will be many more patients dealing with $250,000 bills. Congress’s failure to find a solution is an indictment of our elected officials from top to bottom.
Jerry Kremer was a state assemblyman for 23 years, and chaired the Assembly’s Ways and Means Committee for 12 years. He currently chairs the Capitol Insight Group, a government relations firm. Comments? jkremer@liherald.com.
PETER KinG
JERRY KREMER
History’s lessons demand lifelong vigilance
though this month’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day and International Holocaust Remembrance Day have passed, the lessons we can take from both are lifelong.
On Jan. 19, the nation commemorated the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the civil rights movement. MLK Day isn’t just a celebration of one man’s achievements; it is a call to examine the enduring struggle for racial justice, equality and human dignity. King’s life and legacy remind us that progress is neither automatic nor permanent. It must be protected through vigilance, education and moral courage.
Eight days later was Holocaust Remembrance Day — another solemn day of commemoration. Each year on Jan. 27 — the date of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp in 1945 — we pause to reflect on one of history’s darkest chapters and reaffirm our responsibility to remember. The day commemorates the 6 million Jewish men, women and children murdered by the Nazi regime during World War II, along with millions of others, including Roma, people with disabilities, political dissidents, members of sexual minorities and others who were targeted and killed.
Remembrance days such as these are often accompanied by moments of
silence, educational programs, survivor testimonies, memorial ceremonies, museum exhibits and classroom discussions across the globe. These observances are intentional acts of learning and reflection, meant to ensure that history is not forgotten, distorted or repeated.
What unites the remembrance of the Holocaust, MLK Day and similar historical observances is their shared warning: injustice thrives in silence, ignorance and apathy.
In our era, which is experiencing rising antisemitism, racism, xenophobia and political polarization, these lessons are more urgent than ever. Misinformation spreads quickly, and historical facts are sometimes questioned or deliberately distorted. Remembrance days serve as anchors of truth. They remind us that these events are not abstract or distant; they happened to real people, within living memory, and their consequences still shape our world today.
Education is the most powerful antidote to hate. Learning about the Holocaust helps people understand where intolerance can lead when fear and conspiracy replace empathy and critical thinking. Studying the civil rights movement reveals how ordinary people, from students to clergy to workers, can challenge unjust systems through collective action, nonviolence and moral clarity.
These stories empower new generations to recognize injustice and believe that change is possible.
Importantly, remembrance is not about assigning guilt to those alive today, but about assigning responsibility. Responsibility to speak out against hate, to protect democratic values, to stand with marginalized communities and to recognize early warning signs of injustice. When we remember, we honor the victims by committing ourselves to a more humane future.
These observances also create space for empathy. Survivor testimonies and historical narratives humanize events that can otherwise feel overwhelming or distant. They remind us that behind every statistic is a person with dreams, family and dignity. This human connection is essential in countering the tendency to reduce others to labels or stereotypes.
Remembering is not passive. It is an active commitment to learning, teaching and acting. By honoring the lessons of the Holocaust, King’s legacy and other pivotal moments in history, we affirm the shared values of dignity, justice and humanity. In doing so, we help ensure that “Never again” and “Justice for all” aren’t empty phrases, but guiding principles for the present and the future.
New Yorkers deserve more retirement investment options
as the cost of living continues to rise across New York — from housing and energy to groceries and health care — many families and small-business owners, especially those from historically underserved communities, are being forced to make painful tradeoffs that leave little room to save for retirement.
To build a more resilient financial future, workers with 401(k) plans should have more opportunities to diversify their nest eggs. That’s why we need to ensure that private-sector employees have access to the same options long enjoyed by publicsector pension holders.
Today, that parity does not exist. While public pension systems have long been able to invest in private-market assets such as private equity, real estate and infrastructure — which can generate outsized long-term growth — the vast majority of 401(k) plans remain confined to traditional public stocks and bonds. This leaves millions of privatesector workers — including a dispropor-
tionate share of African American employees — with fewer tools to grow their retirement savings in an increasingly expensive economy.
There is some good news: the U.S. Department of Labor has taken initial steps to implement rulemaking that would expand access to private-market investments, creating a path toward closing this gap. Critically, the proposal also aims to protect employers from speculative lawsuits for offering employees more options to invest.
pA clear majority of voters favor allowing access to these assets, according to a recent poll by the Council for a Safe & Secure Retirement. Support is broad and bipartisan, with 62 percent of Black voters, 69 percent of Hispanic voters, and majorities of both workingclass and middle-class voters — no matter whom they voted for in the last election — backing the inclusion of private markets and more diverse investment options in 401(k) plans.
in 2025, and generated an impressive 11.9 percent return on investment. Private-sector workers of every stripe should be allowed the same retirement opportunities as public-sector workers.
Beyond New York, private assets have been outperforming public stocks for years. From 2002 to 2022, the average annual returns for private-equity investments were estimated to be 14.75 percent, compared with 9.25 percent for the S&P 500 and 8.84 percent for the Dow Jones Industrial Average.
rivatesector employees don’t have publicsector pension holders’ choices.
For decades, public pension plans have enjoyed access to these investments, while those working for Main Street businesses missed out. In fact, infrastructure made up a total of $9.1 billion of New York City pension plans
Framework by Patrick Baker
Private investment also helps drive capital to minority-owned businesses. Earlier this year, the New York City Employees’ Retirement System reported a total of $26.5 billion allocated to minority- and women-owned investment managers, representing 14.6 percent of the fund’s U.S.-based actively managed assets. These allocations not only expand opportunities for diverse firms, but also demonstrate that investing with minority, women and emerging managers can deliver competitive returns, with privatemarket portfolios outperforming publicmarket equivalents by roughly 7 percent.
New York’s pension funds illustrate how private markets can generate wealth while promoting inclusion. This
model can and should be emulated with 401(k) plans by enabling them to offer private-market investments for privatesector employees.
Unlocking these investments for private-sector workers can also strengthen local economies, build wealth and create a cycle of opportunity and prosperity. A whopping 85 percent of private-equitybacked businesses are small companies. By investing in private-equity funds that support local entrepreneurs, retirees won’t just enhance their returns; they can nurture economic growth in their own communities.
By moving forward with formal rulemaking to clarify how private-market investments can be included in 401(k) plans, the Labor Department can provide plan fiduciaries with the certainty needed to diversify investment options and help our historically underserved communities grow long-term wealth. Acting decisively would ensure that retirement security and inclusive investing aren’t just goals for public funds, but for private-sector workers as well. All of our communities deserve the same opportunity to invest and build a more secure future.
Phil Andrews is president of the Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce and founding president of the New York City Minority Small Business Chamber of Commerce.
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