Paul Grassini/Herald
Wantagh quarterback Carter Loughman, right, and Luke Martini celebrated one of four touchdowns in last Saturday’s 28-21 victory over Bethpage in the Nassau Conference III football title game at Hofstra University. Story, more photos, Page 6.
By lUKE FEENEY lfeeney@liherald.com
The League of Women Voters of East Nassau hosted a forum at the Levittown Public Library last week, attended by more than a dozen residents, to analyze local and national results from the 2025 elections.
Barbara Epstein, co-president of the nonpartisan, grass-roots nonprofit, which is dedicated to empowering people to participate in democratic activities, opened the Nov. 19 forum by focusing on local races. She highlighted the continued success of Republican candidates in countywide elections.
Republican incumbent Bruce Blakeman secured another term as Nassau County executive on Nov. 4, defeating his Democratic challenger, Seth Koslow, 54 percent to 46 percent. County District Attorney Anne Donnelly was also elected to another term, defeating Democrat Nicole Aloise, 55 percent to 44 percent.
County Comptroller Elaine Phillips, another Republican, won re-election, besting Democrat Wayne Wink, 55 percent to 45 percent, in a race centered on fiscal oversight and government efficiency. Republican County Clerk Maureen O’Connell held on to her seat as well, defeating
By lUKE FEENEY lfeeney@liherald.com
Joseph Giardina recently returned to the Wantagh High School field where he played lacrosse more than 10 years ago — but this time, he showed up in a New York City Fire Department uniform.
Giardina, 31, a member of Wantagh’s 2012 graduating class and its lacrosse team, played defense for the FDNY against the New York City Police Department in the 30th annual Battle of the Badges on Nov. 1. The FDNY won the matchup, 15-7, in front of hundreds of spectators.
to Ladder Company 117 in Astoria, Queens, since May, said.
The FDNY vs. NYPD sports rivalry is a long-standing tradition featuring multiple annual events like the Heroes of Hockey game and the Fun City Bowl football game.
F or me, it was a homecoming.
“Two of the biggest rivalries in sports are Army-Navy and FDNY-NYPD,” Giardina, a Wantagh native who now lives in Astoria, said. “That just goes across the board in all sports.”
JosEPh GiARDiNA
Wantagh High School alum and FDNY member
In his fifth-grade yearbook at Wantagh Elementary School, Giardina was asked, “Where do you see yourself in 20 years?” Giardina wrote, “fireman,” and this year, that dream became reality.
“I was a teacher and a football and lacrosse coach at Long Island City High School, in Astoria. Then, I got the call for the FDNY, and I had to take it,” Giardina, who’s been assigned
As a tradition over the years, the FDNY and NYPD have faced off in several sporting events, including hockey, baseball, soccer, golf, football and lacrosse, often for charity and to honor fallen first responders.
“They all respect each other and respect everything that they do off the field,” Giardina said. “But the second that helmet gets buckled and you’re in between the lines, you hate each other.”
The game was initially set for Sept. 6 at John J. Burns
Continued on page 9
The Wantagh Board of Education met Nov. 20 to discuss updates on district finances, facilities projects and new academic offerings. The meeting also included recognitions, personnel approvals, and a student-led update from the high school government association. A large portion of the business session focused on special education services and capital improvements at all three district buildings. The board’s next meeting is Dec. 4. Here are three things that happened at the meeting.
— Luke Feeney
n Classic car donation fuels hands-on learning for high school students
The board accepted a unique donation from Wantagh resident April Meyer — a 1994 Ford Mustang Convertible Indy Pace Car — to be used in the high school’s Basic Car Care course. Administrators said the vehicle will give students a real-world learning experience in auto maintenance and mechanical systems. The donation underscores the district’s efforts to expand career and technical education, especially in high-interest electives. Several board members thanked Meyer for her generosity and emphasized how these types of contributions make classroom learning more engaging. The Mustang will be used for instruction, demonstrations and hands-on projects, pending any needed safety inspections.
n New student clubs receive approval, praise from administration and baord
A wide range of student clubs were officially chartered for the 2025–26 school year. At the middle school, students will now have access to the BEST Club and a new Yearbook Club. At the high school, 11 clubs were approved — including Chess Club, Model Congress, Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA), and the Surfrider Ocean Conservation Club. Athletics-based clubs for boys and girls basketball and wrestling were also renewed. Administrators said the goal is to support student interests across academics, wellness, and service. Board members praised the variety, noting that participation in extracurriculars builds leadership and fosters belonging.
n Construction change orders approved total more than $185K
The board approved several construction change orders related to ongoing facilities upgrades. The most significant — a $202,653 increase for lintel replacement in the Wantagh High School courtyard — was submitted by Arrow Steel Window Corp. Additional adjustments were made for districtwide masonry work, resulting in net increases and decreases across the high school, middle school, and elementary school. These changes stem from summer 2025 capital work and were reviewed and recommended by the district’s facilities team. Officials said the projects remain within the overall bond budget and emphasized the importance of safety, particularly with structural elements like windows and brickwork.
By LUKE FEENEY lfeeney@liherald.com
With the holiday season underway, Hempstead town officials are hoping residents will open their hearts and homes to a four-legged friend.
As part of its annual “Home for the Holidays” adoption initiative, the Town of Hempstead Animal Shelter is waiving all adoption fees from Nov. 24 through Jan. 4. The program, now expanded through a new partnership with the Milleridge Inn in Jericho, includes a free $50 Milleridge gift card for every family that adopts a pet.
“We are thankful to the Milleridge Inn for supporting this adoption initiative,” Town Supervisor John Ferretti said at a festive launch event on Nov. 20. “Few things are more uplifting than the joy of adopting a pet, and I encourage families to take advantage of this great opportunity — and then celebrate the season with a holiday meal at the festive Milleridge Inn.”
Ferretti was also joined by Trip, Petey and Indy–three festivally dressed up dogs who were treated to a special holiday meal at the Milleridge Inn. In addition to having their adoption fees waived, all adopted animals will be spayed or neutered, vaccinated and microchipped at no cost. Standard state licensing fees still apply.
Milleridge Inn owner and president Butch Yamali, who described himself as an animal lover, said the collaboration was a natural fit. “Every dog and cat at the Town’s shelter deserves to spend the holidays with a family,” Yamali said. “We’re happy to support adopters by offering a complimentary holiday dinner gift certificate to anyone who welcomes a pet into their home during this program.”
For the launch, the Milleridge team set up a special pet-friendly banquet, with veterinarian-approved Thanksgiving dishes prepared by the chef and served by waitstaff.
Town officials at the announcement included Deputy Supervisor Dorothy Goosby, Councilmen Dennis Dunne,
Tom Muscarella and Chris Schneider, Councilwomen Missy Miller and Laura Ryder, Town Clerk Kate Murray and Receiver of Taxes Jeanine Driscoll.
The Town of Hempstead Animal Shelter is a Wantagh-based municipal shelter that provides care, shelter and adoption services for lost, abandoned or neglected homeless pets in the Town of Hempstead. The shelter offers services like adoption and fostering.
“This holiday season is shaping up to be the most heartwarming yet,” Ferretti said. “When you’re looking to bring home a new companion, always adopt — don’t shop.”
Ferretti was joined by Trip, Petey and Indy — three holiday-ready pups treated to a special Thanksgiving meal
As the crisp autumn air settles over Long Island and the trees blaze with hues of gold, amber, and crimson, we are reminded that every season brings its own beauty and renewal. The turning leaves whisper a simple truth: life’s constant change is itself a blessing.
Thanksgiving is a moment to pause, breathe, and remember how much good surrounds us. It is not only about the feast on our tables, but about the fullness of our hearts. From the laughter of family gatherings to the quiet gratitude for health, freedom, and opportunity, we are all connected by the same simple miracle: the gift of being alive and able to love.
One of the most common and devastating misconceptions about elder law estate planning is that it is too late to save money from nursing home costs. On the contrary, there are crisis planning tools that may save substantial assets from being spent on nursing home costs, even after the client has already entered the nursing home. Almost always, if there are assets left, much can be saved. There are only three ways to pay for nursing home costs – your own assets, long-term care insurance (owned by less than five percent of the population), or Medicaid provided by the government.
Many people know about the “five-year look-back period” and assume nothing can be done without advance planning. The five-year look-back rule means that if you gave any gifts away within the last five years, when asking for Medicaid to pay for nursing home costs, the gift amount creates a penalty period, which results in a period of ineligibility for Medicaid coverage. Despite the five-year look-back, New York
law allows people to protect assets from nursing home costs, even without pre-planning. For single applicants, you may be able to save about half of the assets through the “gift and loan” strategy. For married couples, where one spouse needs a nursing home, “spousal refusal” may protect substantial amounts of assets for the spouse at home. These techniques are discussed in detail at trustlaw. com, under “Practice Areas”, then “Medicaid Strategies”.
The five-year look-back rule does not affect eligibility of Medicaid home care, also known as “community” Medicaid. Currently, an applicant may transfer their assets out of their name and still qualify for home care in the next month.
Many assets, such as retirement accounts, rental properties and even the family home in certain cases, are exempt from Medicaid. The bottom line is that if someone you love is in failing health, the sooner you consult an elder
the more you will
be able to
thanks. Let it be a call to action. Reach out to a neighbor, visit someone who is alone, share a meal, offer a smile. Gratitude becomes complete only when it flows outward, when it turns into generosity and care.
Since 1924, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade has floated through the streets of New York, filling the sky with color and imagination. Each balloon, each marching band, each cheer reminds us of the joy we can create when we come together. Even the presidential turkey pardon, a lighthearted tradition, reflects something deeper: compassion, mercy, and the power of kindness in public life.
Let this holiday be more than a day of
In these uncertain times, when the world can feel divided and weary, Thanksgiving gives us a sacred opportunity to remember what truly matters: love over hate, hope over fear, unity over division. The heart that is grateful sees abundance everywhere.
As you gather with family and friends, take a moment to count your blessings, not only the big ones but the small, quiet ones too: the sunrise, the laughter of children, the kindness of strangers, the promise of tomorrow. May this Thanksgiving fill your homes with warmth, your hearts with peace, and your lives with joy. And may we carry that spirit forward every day, in every season, with every act of kindness. Happy Thanksgiving to all!
Rabbi Moshe Weisblum is the spiritual leader of Congregation Beth Tikvah in Wantagh.
Before my mother passed, she spent every Thanksgiving with us from early in the morning wit us. From her buttered roll and coffee in the morning to a small slice of apple pie and tea in the evening. These were the days filled with food and conversation, where our kids shared teenage slang, and we replayed weddings we’d just attended—like the one we arrived two hours early for, bracing for “pre-Thanksgiving” Throgs Neck Bridge traffic that never came. But one moment still lingers. One year, my mother asked us to go around the table and say what we were
thankful for. I gave some forgettable answer—just wasn’t feeling it. I’ve wanted a do-over ever since. I found it at the Thanksgiving Interfaith service Nov. 23 at Saint Frances De Chantal in Wantagh. Twelve faith communities came together to sing, pray and reflect. It reminded me that our humble tables are where gratitude begins—and where it should continue. Mom, you were right. Thanksgiving shouldn’t last a day. Gratitude, and giving, should last all year.
A contributing writer to the Herald since 2012, Lauren Lev is a marketing executive and instructor at FIT.
By TONY BELLISSIMO tbellissimo@liherald.com
Down 14 points to Bethpage early in the second quarter of last Saturday’s Nassau Conference III football championship game, Wantagh didn’t flinch.
The fourth-seeded Warriors cut the margin to one by halftime and eventually built a 14-point lead of their own before holding on for a 28-21 victory over the third-seeded Golden Eagles at Hofstra University.
“I knew we’d be OK,” Wantagh head coach Keith Sachs said. “My goal was to be down seven at halftime since we were getting the ball to start the second half. To get a touchdown just before the half ended was a bonus.”
It’s the first time in program history Wantagh has captured back-to-back county titles. It lost 19 players from last year’s Nassau Conference IV and Long Island Class IV championship team.
“This one took a lot of work but it was a lot of fun seeing this group improve from week to week,” Sachs said. “We always want to be playing our best football at the end of the year. These kids stepped up big.”
The Warriors (8-3) will face unbeaten Sayville (11-0) for the Long Island Class III crown Friday at 4:30 p.m. at Hofstra. Bethpage finished 9-2.
“This feels great but we want one more,” said sophomore Luke Martini, who starred on both sides of the ball with 140 yards rushing and three touchdowns and a clutch interception late in the fourth quarter. “Bethpage is a strong team and put us in a tough spot early, but we stayed calm and confident,” he added.
Bethpage, which fell 35-12 at Wantagh Oct. 17, needed just 13:27 to top its offensive production against the Warriors in the rematch. Senior tight end James LiPetri was wide open for a 45-yard touchdown reception over the middle on just the fifth snap of the game, and senior Chase Solliday had a 1-yard touchdown run on its second possession that covered 76 yards.
Wantagh responded on the ensuing drive, getting a pair of fourth-down conversions from senior Joe Nicholson leading up to Martini’s 15-yard touchdown run with 4:09 remaining in the half.
After a fourth-down stop by the defense on an attempted gadget play by Bethpage at the Warriors 39, it took
senior quarterback Carter Loughman & Co. half a dozen plays and a horse-collar penalty to get back in the end zone on Martini’s 10-yard run. And suddenly it was 14-13.
“We didn’t have the ball much in the first half, but we scored on two of three possessions so we felt pretty good,” Sachs said.
Wantagh felt even better when Martini broke a 42-yard touchdown run two minutes into the second half and threw the two-point conversion to junior Joseph Adamo for a 21-14 lead. Loughman’s 21-yard connection to junior Michael Amodio got the drive going.
Then, with the Golden Eagles knocking on the door looking to pull even, a fourth-and-15 pass from the Wantagh 17 landed in the arms of senior Devin Paccione in the end zone. He returned it to the 45 and five plays later Loughman’s 9-yard touchdown run extended the lead to 28-14.
“Carter’s had an incredible year,” Sachs said of Loughman. “We’re a runfirst offense, but he’s phenomenal when we need to throw. He’d be great in an offense that throws it 40 times a game.”
Bethpage closed within seven on Solliday’s 4-yard touchdown run with 7:50 remaining and got the ball back inside its own 10 with less than three minutes to play but Martini’s interception sealed the deal.
“Incredible,” Nicholson said. “I’m so proud of our team.”
By AINSLEY MARTINEZ amartinez@liherald.com
Howard Jacobson sat in his car outside a Long Island rehab center, holding a box of medication that cost him more than he would be reimbursed to dispense it. The longtime pharmacist, who owns Rockville Centre Pharmacy and West Hempstead Pharmacy, said that moments like this have become routine in an industry he once believed had room for sustainable community care.
For Jacobson, a pharmacist for nearly four decades, the crisis is no longer abstract. It is existential.
Independent pharmacists across New York describe the same pattern: reimbursement rates from pharmacy benefit managers — the middlemen known as PBMs — frequently fall below the cost of the drugs they dispense. PBMs negotiate prices on behalf of insurance plans, adjudicate claims and determine how much pharmacies get paid. But with three companies controlling nearly 90 percent of the national market, pharmacists say they have little leverage.
“They pay me what they want,” Jacobson said. “Many times now they’re paying us below my cost of the medication.”
Jacobson said that as a result, he has cut hours, trimmed staff and subsidized losses out of his own pocket.
On some drugs, he said, the reimbursement rates defy logic. “Yesterday I
did a prescription for 46 cents,” he said. State lawmakers, backed by hundreds of pharmacists, are now pushing the Patient Access to Pharmacy Act, which would establish minimum reimbursement standards for commercial insurance plans and increase oversight of PBMs. Legislators say it mirrors a costplus model that New York’s Medicaid program implemented in 2023, and that independent pharmacies credit with stabilizing state spending.
Assemblywoman Judy Griffin said she had heard the same warnings from
pharmacists in her district for years. “They really have limited incomes, like our seniors,” Griffin said, referring to the patients who rely most heavily on local pharmacies. “Getting the drugs at a cheaper price is really important.”
Griffin is co-sponsoring the bill, which has more than 80 supporters in the Assembly. Pharmacy closures, she said — including dozens on Long Island — have already strained communities that depend on them for guidance, delivery and everyday care. “It’s nice when your pharmacist knows you,” she said.
The bill would set a minimum reimbursement rate tied to the cost of acquiring and dispensing medication, and impose transparency requirements on PBMs and restrict practices that critics say steer patients toward PBMowned mail-order pharmacies or chains.
At a rally last week outside Rockville Centre Pharmacy, Jacobson warned lawmakers plainly: “No business can afford to operate at a loss.”
“We’re offered one-sided contracts, and it’s take it or leave it,” he added. “If you leave it, then not only are you telling your patients you don’t care about them, you’re leaving a network.”
Critics of the bill — including some insurers, employer groups and PBMs — argue that mandating reimbursement floors could increase premiums, reduce negotiating flexibility and drive up pharmaceutical spending. They warn that cost-plus models can weaken market competition, and could ultimately shift financial burdens onto employers and consumers.
CVS Caremark, the PBM owned by CVS Health, did not respond to a request for comment.
Griffin said she sees the legislation as part of a broader effort to protect not just small businesses, but a key piece of the state’s health care infrastructure.
“I am really at my wits’ end on how to keep my business going,” Jacobson said. “I don’t want to concede defeat.”
Park in Massapequa, but the matchup had to be rescheduled due to the death of Joseph Herman, a 36-year-old firefighter at Ladder Company 111 in Brooklyn. Herman died on Aug. 31 after a crash on the westbound lanes near the Straight Path exits on the Southern State Parkway, where he was thrown off his motorcycle while attempting to change lanes, according to state police.
Herman’s funeral service was held on Sept. 6 at St. William the Abbot Church in Seaford.
In a Sept. 1 Instagram tribute to him, the FDNY lacrosse team wrote: “He was more than just a teammate to us. He was a fireman who dedicated his life to protecting others, and a devoted father whose love and strength guided his family every day. On the field, he gave everything he had.”
“We played for Joe,” Lt. Ryan Phelan, of Ladder Company 131 in Brooklyn and coach on the FDNY lacrosse team, said.
The original plan was to play the game at Seaford High School, Herman’s alma mater, but that idea fell through due to logistical issues, according to Phelan.
Around the same time, through friends at the FDNY, Wantagh High School Principal Paul Guzzone found out that the departments were in search of a game site and quickly got to work.
“I’m not sure if you have anything, but if you don’t, or if something falls through, please know you’ll have a home in Wantagh,” Guzzone recalled telling Phelan.
Guzzone added that he also was aware of Herman’s death, and that it was the reason for rescheduling the event. “I’m a Seaford resident myself, and I know he’s from Seaford,” he said. “I knew they postponed the FDNYNYPD lacrosse game out of respect because he passed away the week prior.”
The plan to host the game at Wantagh High School received the full support of Wantagh School District Superintendent John McNamara and Athletic Director Jennifer Keane.
“It brought a nice sense of pride to our committee to do something like this for our school,” Guzzone said. “Our
community really supported this initiative because of what our police and firefighters and nurses and military all means to everyone here in Wantagh.”
The Wantagh 9/11 Committee, a school-run group that supports student education around the Sept. 11 attacks, sponsored the game. Guzzone, who received a halftime plaque for his organizational efforts, said the atmosphere was unforgettable.
“They were fighting for their brother,” Guzzone said of the team’s dedication to Herman. “They were able to get that one for him.”
Phelan explained that the outreach from the Wantagh community impressed him more than any other year that he’s been on the team. “The real story was how the community showed out,” he said. “How all these people turned out for the game, and helped us put it on.”
Giardina thanked Guzzone, McNamara and Keane for helping to organize the event, adding that his return home was a resounding success. “I had a lot of memories just flooding right back,”
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he said. “It’s kind of hard to put into words. For me, it was a homecoming.”
Looking ahead, Giardina said he hopes to join the FDNY hockey or football teams after completing his 18-month probationary period with the department. He credited his grandfa -
“You don’t stop playing because you get old,” he said. “You get old because you stop playing.”
Each student created a hand-drawn float to attach to an Ozobot for the Macy’s-inspired robot parade.
By LUKE FEENEY lfeeney@liherald.com
inspired by the colorful spectacle of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, first graders at Wantagh Elementary School brought a high-tech twist to the tradition — launching their own parade powered by miniature robots.
The event, held in the school’s STEAM lab, capped off a hands-on lesson in coding and design. Students created floats by drawing their own designs, which they taped to wooden sticks and attached to Ozobots — small robots programmed to follow color-coded paths. The bots circled a black-lined parade route, passing buildings made of Magna-Tiles that students constructed to decorate the scene.
STEAM teacher Kaitlin Humphrey led the project after showing students a behind-the-scenes video of how professional parade floats are made. The activity blended science, technology, engineering, art and math — part of the school’s broader push to expose students to foundational robotics concepts like algorithms, sequencing and input.
The robot parade is one piece of a larger curriculum that introduces coding and engineering to every grade at Wantagh Elementary. First graders use BeeBots to practice directional programming, while students in upper grades use Dash robots, the Blockly app and Code.org to complete more complex challenges — such as navigating around obstacles or designing interactive games.
School officials say the integrated approach to STEAM education helps spark student curiosity and encourages problem-solving across subjects. Students work in teams, test out solutions, and iterate on their designs — all while building skills in both logic and creativity.
At the first grade parade, that spirit of exploration was on full display, as students proudly watched their robotic floats make their way through a route of their own invention.
First graders at Wantagh Elementary School, with STEAM teacher Kaitlin Humphrey, watch their robot parade in the school’s STEAM lab.
Kennedy Elbroody, left, Summer Miklas, center, and Luciana Braggs watch as Ozobots carry their parade floats around the table.
By HERNESTO GALDAMEZ hgaldamez@liherald.com
Nassau Community College’s board of trustees and local leaders expressed strong opposition after State University of New York trustees formally rejected the nomination of Maria Conzatti as the college’s next president. The unanimous 12-0 vote on Nov. 14 — the first of its kind in SUNY history — has heightened tensions over governance, autonomy and college leadership.
“SUNY does not comment on personnel issues,” a spokesperson told the Herald. “Community colleges are essential engines of student success and upward mobility, and SUNY is committed to excellent leadership for all of our campuses.”
Jerry Kornbluth, NCC’s vice president of community and governmental relations, called the decision “extremely upsetting,” citing Conzatti’s accomplishments during her tenure. Under her leadership, Kornbluth said, the college eliminated $14 million in debt and increased enrollment by 3 to 7 percent annually. As previously reported in the Herald, NCC also secured full eight-year accreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
“Here you have a president who has done everything possible to move the college forward, implementing all the things SUNY would want her to do,”
Kornbluth said. “The board and most of the faculty are fully behind her.”
County Executive Bruce Blakeman also criticized SUNY’s decision. “Once again, SUNY has taken local control away from the suburbs by refusing to confirm the duly selected president, Maria Conzatti, put forth by the Nassau Community College Board of Trustees,” Blakeman stated in a news release.
“This is a slap in the face to every local board in New York State. Maria has done an excellent job educating our students and increasing enrollment at our college.”
NCC has been without a permanent president since 2022, and Conzatti has led the college since January of that year, despite SUNY guidelines recommending that temporary appointments last no more than six months. In the spring of 2023, the NCC board gave her an “iron-clad” five-year contract, extending through Dec. 31, 2028, which remains in effect.
Despite the SUNY vote, NCC Trustee Elliot Conway confirmed the board’s full support for Conzatti.
“I find it an upside-down world where the leader of the college with the highest enrollment increase is deemed unacceptable by the SUNY board,” Conway said.
In June, SUNY trustees began implementing a rule that would limit interim appointments of an administrator-in-
charge to one year, effectively blocking Conzatti from continuing in her role. Conway has voiced concerns about what he calls state overreach into local governance.
Speaking at a SUNY listening session in August, Conway said, “SUNY’s proposed rule, giving the chancellor final say over presidential appointments, salaries and contracts, is unnecessary overreach. Centralizing control would harm responsiveness, equity and the partnership that makes our programs succeed.”
At the session, Conway highlighted Conzatti’s contributions, including balancing budgets, adding vocational programs and improving campus civility. He also noted that Nassau County contributes more funding to the college than the state, asserting that local trustees should retain oversight.
“If it’s not broken, don’t fix it,” Conway said, calling for SUNY to confirm Conzatti as president.
The dispute unfolds amid a long-running, bitter conflict with the faculty union, which has opposed Conzatti’s leadership, citing department consolidations and other governance changes.
Maria Conzatti has been leading Nassau Community College in an interim capacity since January 2022.
“The Board of Trustees’ decision is a responsible and necessary step toward restoring stability and confidence in Nassau Community College leadership,” Melinda Person, president of New York State United Teachers, said in a statement. “Visionary, sustainable leadership cannot be built on prolonged interim arrangements.”
SUNY has sent a letter to NCC regarding a new presidential search, and a SUNY representative will work with the campus on the process.
Democrat Joylette Williams, 57 percent to 43 percent.
Epstein also discussed results in the Town of Hempstead, where John Ferretti, a Republican who was appointed supervisor in August following Don Clavin’s resignation, was elected to a full term. He defeated Democrat Joe Scianablo, 53 percent to 47 percent. Epstein noted the closeness of the race compared with others. “It was relatively and numerically speaking, a closer race than a lot of the other races from numbers only,” she said.
She also pointed out that for the first time in 54 years, the City Council in Long Beach is entirely Republican. Incumbent Councilman Michael Reinhart, Tracey Johnson, and George Ennis defeated Democrats Roy Lester, an incumbent, as well as Peggy Butts and Lillian Mosley. In contrast, Epstein highlighted the victories of Democrats Danielle Fugazy Scagliola, John Frank Zozzaro and John Perrone in Glen Cove, resulting in a split council with three Democrats and three Republicans.
“Cities and towns are totally different entities,” Epstein said. “They function unto themselves, basically—particularly the cities.”
She also noted that the Republican supermajority in the Nassau County Legislature was reduced. “There is no super majority that exists,” she said, referring to the new 11–8 Republican majority.
“When you have a supermajority, that makes it possible for them to basically control everything that goes on when it comes to the budget and funding.”
Other results included races in the Town of North Hempstead and Suffolk County. In Suffolk, District Attorney Ray Tierney earned a second term, running unopposed. Suffolk County Sheriff Errol D. Toulon Jr. also ran unopposed to earn a third term.
Following Epstein’s Suffolk summary, several attendees questioned why certain races, such as sheriff and district attorney, featured no opposition. “Maybe they feel there’s no point because they’re not going to win,” asked Grace Felicetti, a member of the league.
Dania Smith, another league member, focused on turnout. “Very few of them (Democrats) came out to vote,” said Smith, a Levittown resident. “Do you think it’s because they’re giving in to the Republican machinery that’s been running things?”
According to the Nassau County Board of Elections, 32 percent of registered Democrats voted in county races this election cycle, compared with 27 percent in 2021. Forty percent of registered Republicans voted four years ago; that number dipped slightly to 39 percent this year. Roughly 20 percent of voters unaffiliated with a political party—known as “blanks”—cast ballots, with many of them leaning Republican in Nassau.
Luke Feeney/Herald
Barbara epstein, co-president of the east nassau League, led the over hour long analysis attened by a dozen residents on results of the 2025 elections.
While Democrats struggled locally, they found success on the national stage.
In New York City, Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani defeated former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who ran as an independent, to become the city’s first Muslim and first South Asian mayor—and the youngest in more than a century. Mollie Schwaber, the league’s co-president, observed that Mamdani’s candidacy became a talking point in Nassau campaigns.
“It provoked fear in people in Nassau County,” she said. “They’re afraid of a
socialist, and afraid of the policies that might leak into Nassau County.”
Cheryl Hobbes, of Westbury, who was a poll worker, said she saw that anxiety firsthand. “We actually had a couple come in who looked at the ballot and said, well, where’s Mamdani?” she said.
Epstein also cited two Democratic victories in gubernatorial races. In New Jersey, U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill defeated former Republican Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli to become the state’s governor. And in Virginia, former U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger beat Lt. Gov. Winsome EarleSears to become the commonwealth’s first female governor.
As attendees compared Democratic national gains with local defeats, theories emerged. “There just wasn’t the visibility of who the Democratic candidates were,” Hobbes said of the local races.
Mehri Fryzel, a Garden City resident and member of the League of Women Voters of Central Nassau, suggested Democrats lacked organizing power. “They (Republicans) say, you don’t have enough people coming out. I suspect they get on the phones and they call people, and they pick them up. I’ve yet to see any Democrat come to any polling place I’ve been at to do anything slightly similar.”
Meetings like this are part of the league’s mission to foster civic engagement and deepen public understanding of elections and policy. To learn more, visit LWVEastNassau.org.
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By Abbey Salvemini
Tis the season: Those Sugar Plum Fairies and various figments of a young girl’s imagination come alive once again on local stages. Sacred Heart Academy started it all off recently with its student-run production, now the holiday classic is thrust into the spotlight throughout December.
Rockville Centre-based Leggz Ballet, with Rockville Centre Guild for the Arts, brings sparkle to the Madison Theatre stage as ‘Nutcracker’ season dances on. This year’s production is especially meaningful for the studio’s founder Joan Hope MacNaughton, her staff and students: Leggz celebrates 30 years bringing this beloved classic to life. With MacNaughton’s artistic direction and choreography, accompanied as always by the beloved South Shore Symphony Orchestra, the theater is filled with the wonder of the delightful ballet that showcases Tchaikovsky’s mesmerizing score. You might say it’s one of the most memorable holiday soundtracks ever composed.
With over four decades leading Leggz, the 30-year milestone is both deeply personal and artistically meaningful for MacNaughton.
• Dec. 5, 7:30 p.m.: Dec. 6, 5 p.m.; Dec. 7, 4 p.m.
• Tickets are $35-$65; available at MadisonTheatreNY.org or call the box office at (516) 323-4444
• Madison Theatre, Molloy University campus, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre
“Something that was a dream many, many years ago to have my own Nutcracker came true,” she says. MacNaughton reflects on how the production has grown in scale, professionalism and reach since its first performance, then on the South Side High School stage in Rockville Centre.
“From the costumes to all the dancers, it evolved dramatically. It started with dancers from my studio doing the solo parts. Then, I brought in professionals from the dance world to fill the roles of Sugar Plum Fairy, Dewdrop and Snow Queen.”
Dancers from renowned companies — including Boston Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet, also Broadway — are now integral to the production.
MacNaughton — who danced professionally prior
Mark Tremonti
Sings Frank Sinatra ‘Christmas Special’
From redefining rock to reimagining Sinatra, Grammy-winning musician Mark Tremonti, backed by members of Frank Sinatra’s original orchestra, brings his timeless swing and holiday spirit to the Paramount. The lights go down. Familiar horns pipe up from a world-class orchestra as piano twinkles like the jackpot lights on a winning slot machine. Then, the voice kicks in. It has all of the smoky splendor those first few notes hinted at, but it ain’t Ol’ Blue Eyes. In a tailored suit with microphone in hand, it’s Mark Tremonti. The multiplatinum musician sounds just as at home paying homage to the catalog of Frank Sinatra as he does fronting Tremonti or shredding his soul out as the guitarist for Alter Bridge and Creed. Tremonti’s influence on rock music is undeniable. Now, witness a new side of his artistry as he pays heartfelt tribute to the legendary Frank Sinatra.
to opening her studio — attributes their interest in joining her production to her both network and her artistic standards.
“I have a lot of friends who are dancers in Manhattan, so I reached out to them for professional roles,” she says.
Yet, the heart of the show remains the young dancers, who include talented kids residing in Rockville Centre, Oceanside, Baldwin, among other communities. A cast of over 50 young dancers in all, from throughout the metro area, join the guest dancers in this dynamic staging.
“It doesn’t matter what school they come from,” MacNaughton emphasizes. “They all really love dance and know what a quality production is like.”
Performing alongside the South Shore Symphony adds another layer of magic. The orchestra, MacNaughton explains, elevates the performance for both dancers and the audience, adding a unique energy and richness that recorded tracks can’t match.
“There’s nothing more exciting for a dancer than performing with live music. Watching the musicians play is a treat, you’re getting both the dance and the music.”
Her goal is that kids in the audience or who step onto the stage for the first time will continue to find inspiration in “The Nutcracker.” Keeping the beauty of dance alive is what’s behind MacNaughton’s decades of running her studio and producing the show each year.
Among the newest generation of dancers is 7-year-old Emma Lavas, of Rockville Centre, who’s making her first appearance in the ballet, continuing a family tradition. Her mom, Meg Guido, danced in the very first Leggz production, continuing for 12 years. Recalling the thrill of being on stage, she’s delighted, of course, that her daughter is now stepping into that role.
“It’s such a beautiful thing to see her dancing and smiling,” Guido says.
“She teaches me a lot of moves,” Lavas says, about her mother, as she carries forth with the family legacy.
Another Rockville Centre dancer, 14-year-old Analiese Cartier shares: “I’m so grateful for the opportunity to do this each year.”
For 15-year-old Paige McDaid, who also lives in Rockville Centre, the show has been as much about friendship as dancing.
“I’ve built some of my life-long friends and I’m so grateful for them.”
She wants audiences, whether returning or seeing it for the first time, to feel that same magic she experiences onstage.
“It’s such a beautiful performance, and we put so much effort into it,” McDaid adds, enthusiastically.
Celebrating three decades of Nutcracker, Leggz Ltd. has filled the Madison Theatre with music, movement and holiday spirit. From the youngest dancers to world-class professionals bringing the choreography to life, the production captures the essence of the season. It explains why this timeless performance continues to draw everyone back each year.
Saturday, Dec. 11, 8 p.m. $108.75, $86.50, $71.25, $59.75, $54.25, $43.75.The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com.
Everyone has another chance to go “Wild About Harry” when over 30 of Long Island’s top musicians and songwriters gather for another concert in tribute to the beloved Harry Chapin. Groove along to 18 acts — including concert organizer Stuart Markus and his trio Gathering Time — that perform Chapin classics including “Taxi” and “Cat’s in the Cradle,” plus many lesser hits and fan favorites like “Mr. Tanner.” The concert is concsdered a “Birthday Bash,” as Chapin would have turned 83 on Dec. 7. As they’ve done for the past 20 years, participating artists are encouraged to put their own interpretations on his songs. Long Island music “royalty” is turning out in force to support this most worthy cause. All revenues above production costs will be donated to Long Island Cares, the food bank Chapin founded. Long Island Cares will also be collecting non-perishable food donations.
Tuesday, Dec. 2, 7:30 p.m. Minimum $20 suggested donation per ticket. Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington. Tickets available at landmarkonmainstreet.org or (516) 767-6444.
27
LuminoCity Festival
LuminoCity is back at Eisenhower Park. Walk through a winter wonderland. Timed admission fee.
• Where: Eisenhower Park, East Meadow
• Time: 4:30-5:15 p.m., 6-6:45 p.m., 7:30-8:15 p.m., through Jan. 1
• Contact: luminocityfestival. com
‘Don’t Let The Pigeon Drive
The Bus! The Musical’ Long Island Children’s Museum welcomes back this delightful production, based on Mo Willems’ awardwinning “Pigeon” picture books. Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! The Musical! is even more fun than staying up late and having a hot dog party. It’s not easy being the Pigeon, you never get to do anything. But when the Bus Driver has a crisis that threatens to make her passengers (gasp!) late, maybe that wily bird can do something. Featuring an innovative mix of songs, and feathers, this show is sure to get everyone’s wings flapping. $11 with museum admission ($9 members), $15 theater only.
• Where: Museum Row, Garden City
• Time: 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.; also Nov. 29, Dec. 3-Dec. 4
• Contact: licm.org or (516) 224-5800
Special EFX All-Stars, led by guitar virtuoso Chieli Minucci, takes the stage for one extraordinary night of genredefying fusion. He’s joined his bandmates Lin Rountree, Eric Marienthal, Jay Rowe, Dave Livolsi, Joel Rosenblatt, Alan Grubner & Emedin Rivera. For over 40 years, Minucci has been a driving force in modern electric jazz, co-founding Special EFX and releasing more than 30 albums that blend rock, Latin rhythms and contemporary jazz into a signature sound. A threetime Emmy Award winner, he has collaborated with musical greats from Celine Dion and Lionel Richie to Kirk Whalum, Jeff Lorber, Omar Hakim, even Bernie Williams, and others.
• Where: Madison Theatre, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre
• Time: 8 p.m.
• Contact: madisontheatreny. org or (516) 323-4444
Get ready for an unforgettable night of music at the 9th Annual Allman Betts Family Revival! This extraordinary live music experience is hosted by Devon Allman and Duane Betts, the sons of Allman Brothers Band legends Gregg Allman and Dickey Betts. Inspired by the legendary Last Waltz, this tour features a revolving cast of top-tier artists from the realms of blues, Americana, country, and rock, all coming together to honor the timeless legacy and rich catalog of the Allman Brothers Band. This year’s amazing lineup features the Allman Betts Band, the iconic Jimmy Hall, former Wet Willie singer and Allman Brothers alumni; alongside Robert Randolph, Amanda Shires, G. Love, Judith Hill, Jimmy Hall, Cody & Luther Dickinson, Alex Orbison, and others. Special guests may also join in. Set against the backdrop of the famous Allman Brothers Brotherhood of Light show, blending electrifying music with stunning visuals. This unforgettable night that honors the rich history and timeless catalog of the Allman Brothers Band is a musical family reunion that promises to lift your spirits as you enjoy an authentic Allman Brothers musical experience. $108.75, $64.75.
• Where: The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington
• Time: 8 p.m.
• Contact: ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com
Thanksgiving
Step back in time at Old Bethpage Village Restoration for some holiday fun. Take some time to immerse yourselves in the sights and smells of the festive season, as those early years of our national day of feasting and giving thanks comes alive. Imagine that it’s 1863 and you’re preparing a holiday meal, following President Abraham Lincoln’s proclamation of the first official national holiday of Thanksgiving Day. In keeping with its longtime tradition, the restored site bustles with activity as it readies for an old-fashioned Thanksgiving: wood-burning stoves, beehive ovens and hearths are fired up to prepare foods and baked goods made from 19th-century recipes. Culinary exhibits include the “spitting” and roasting of turkey in a tin reflector oven beside the Williams House hearth and preparation of pies at the Powell House. Also on display are 19th-century methods of food preservation employed for late fall crops. Historical period music adds to the festive atmosphere each afternoon. $15, $12 seniors and children 5-12.
• Where: 1303 Round Swamp Rd., Old Bethpage
• Time: 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
• Contact: oldbethpagevillage restoration.org or call (516) 5728409
Long Island Children’s Museum welcomes everyone to a festive family night filled with merriment for all ages. The museum is transformed into a winter wonderland to celebrate the start of the holiday season. Among the highlights: Snap a festive family photo with Santa, join Rudolph and Miss on the dance floor for a holiday dance party, create keepsake holiday crafts to take home or give as gifts, decorate a cookie and design a special plate perfect for Santa’s visit, enjoy classic holiday tunes performed by carolers throughout the galleries. Also take in some “sock skating” on the museum’s indoor rink and meet the Ice Queen, and more. Come dressed in your holiday best: sparkles, pajamas, reindeer antlers, or your favorite holiday character costume! $16 per person ($14 members). Advance purchase is recommended as space is limited.
• Where: Museum Row, Garden City
• Time: 5:30-8:30 p.m.
• Contact: licm.org or call (516) 224-5800
return of Magic of Lights. The holidaythemed display features light tunnels, digital animation, and classic seasonal scenes along the beach’s West End.
• Where: Jones Beach State Park, West End, 2400 Ocean Parkway, Wantagh
• Time: Nightly through Jan. 3
• Contact: (516) 785-1600
Cream Tea at Westbury House
Savor a traditional Cream Tea featuring freshly baked scones with Devonshire cream, assorted sweets, and a fine selection of teas. The experience concludes with a guided tour of beautifully decorated Westbury House. $28, discounts for members and groups.
• Where: 71 Old Westbury Road, Old Westbury
• Time: 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and 1:30-3 p.m.; also Dec. 3-4
• Contact: oldwestburygardens.org or call (516) 333-0048
• Where: 2900 Jerusalem Ave., Wantagh
• Time: Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m.; Thursdays, 7:15-10 p.m.
• Contact: (516) 221-2370
Game time
Play Mah Jongg and Canasta every Thursday at Congregation Beth Tikvah. Snacks and drinks are provided. $5 contribution.
• Where: 3710 Woodbine Ave., Wantagh
• Time: Noon-4 p.m.
• Contact: mahjonggCBT@yahoo. com or (516) 785-2445
‘Into the Woods Jr.’ Temple B’nai Torah Junior Players welcome all to their staging of “Into the Woods Jr.” Stephen Sondheim’s and James Lapine’s cockeyed fairytale comes to life in this adaptation of their groundbreaking, Tony Award-winning musical. All of your favorite characters — Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Jack (and his beanstalk) and the Witch are in action in this lyrically rich retelling of classic Brothers Grimm fables, ideal for young audiences. $20, $15 seniors, $10 youth.
• Where: 2900 Jerusalem Ave. Wantagh
• Time: 7 p.m., also Dec. 7, 2 p.m., and Dec. 13
• Contact: (516) 221-2370 or email tbttix@temple-bnai-torah.org
Vendors wanted for Holiday Shopping Day
Congregation Beth Tikvah Sisterhood & Men’s Club seeks vendors for its Holiday Shopping Day. Vendor opportunities available at reasonable rates for selling apparel, jewelry, housewares, collectibles, gifts, toys, seasonal items, crafts, and more.
• Where: 3710 Woodbine Ave., Wantagh
• Time: 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
• Contact: For information and registration, email CBTWantaghHolidayShop@gmail. com
Having an event?
Jones Beach is once again transformed into a festive, family-friendly drive-through experience with the NOV
Magic of Lights brightens the season
Bingo at Temple B’Nai Torah Temple B’nai Torah hosts weekly bingo with prizes, progressive games, and refreshments every Wednesday and Thursday.
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.
LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE OF PUBLIC
HEARING
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that pursuant to Section 202-48 of the code of the Town of Hempstead entitled, “Handicapped Parking on Public Streets,” a public hearing will be held in the Town Meeting Pavilion, Hempstead Town Hall, 1 Washington Street, Hempstead, New York, on the 9th day of December, 2025, at 10:30 o’clock in the forenoon of that day, to consider the adoption of a resolution setting aside certain parking spaces for motor vehicles for the sole use of holders of special parking permits issued by the County of Nassau to physically handicapped persons at the following locations:
EAST ATLANTIC BEACH
OSWEGO AVENUEeast side, starting at a point 146 feet north of the north curbline of Beech Street, north for a distance of 16 feet.
(TH-429/25)
ELMONT
HILLSBORO AVENUEwest side, starting at a point 260 feet south of the south curbline of Hempstead Turnpike, south for a distance of 20 feet.
(TH-546/25)
CHELSEA STREETnorth side, starting at a point 79 feet east of a point opposite the southeast curbline of Hendrickson Avenue, east for a distance of 20 feet.
(TH-508/25)
REMSEN STREET - west side, starting at a point 25 feet north of the north curbline of Bedford Avenue, north for a distance of 19 feet.
(TH-471/25)
STERLING ROAD - west side, starting at a point 114 feet north of the north curbline of 106th Avenue, north for a distance of 20 feet.
(TH-505/25)
INWOOD
ROGER AVENUE - north side, starting at a point 28 feet east of the east curbline of Elm Road, east for a distance of 20 feet.
(TH-528/25)
LEVITTOWN
FAMILY LANE - west side, starting at a point 360 feet south of the south curbline of Horn Lane, south for a distance of 20 feet.
(TH-539/25)
ROOSEVELT
GORMLEY AVENUEnorth side, starting at a point 396 feet east of
the east curbline of Babylon Turnpike, ast for a distance of 18 feet.
(TH-475/25)
RONALD PLACE - west side, starting at a point 103 feet south of the south curbline of East Fulton Avenue, south for a distance of 20 feet.
(TH-527/25)
UNIONDALE
CLARENDON ROADeast side, starting at a point 288 feet north to the north curbline of Jerusalem Avenue, north for a distance of 20 feet.
(TH-477/25)
LOCUST AVENUEwest side, starting at a point 77 feet north opposite northeast curbline of Oakley Street, north for a distance of 20 feet.
(TH-483/25)
WANTAGH
POPLAR PLACE - south side, starting at a point 348 feet west of the west curbline of Wantagh Avenue, west for a distance of 20 feet.
(TH-526/25)
WEST HEMPSTEAD
COLONY STREET - west side, starting at a point 270 feet south of the south curbline of Hempstead Avenue, south for a distance of 20 feet.
(TH-517/25)
COVENTRY ROAD
NORTH - west side, starting at a point 170 feet east opposite the northeast curbline of Janos Lane, east for a distance of 20 feet.
(TH-501/25) and on the repeal of the following locations previously set aside as parking spaces for physically handicapped persons:
EAST MEADOW
MARIAN COURTnorth side, starting at a point 55 feet east of the east curbline of Prospect Avenue, east for a distance of 20 feet.
(TH-332/24 - 9/04/24)
(TH-502/25)
ELMONT
OAKLEY AVENUE - east side, starting at a point 49 feet south of the south curbline of Healy Street, south for a distance of 20 feet.
(TH-211/23 - 6/20/23)
(TH-569/25)
BELMONT BOULEVARD
- west side, starting at a point 218 feet north of the north curbline of Rosalind Avenue, north for a distance of 20 feet.
(TH-266/17 - 10/03/17)
(TH-525/25)
UNIONDALE
LOCUST AVENUE - east side, starting at a point
of 40 feet north of the north curbline of Oakley Street, north for a distance of 20 feet.
(TH-349/24 - 7/22/24)
(TH-349B/24)
WEST HEMPSTEAD
COLONY STREET - east side, starting at a point 114 feet south of the south curbline of Hempstead Avenue, south for a distance of 40 feet.
(TH-222/15 - 9/08/15)
(TH-518/25)
ALL PERSONS INTERESTED shall have an opportunity to be heard on said proposal at the time and place aforesaid.
Dated: November 18, 2025
Hempstead, New York BY ORDER OF THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD
JOHN FERRETTI
Supervisor KATE MURRAY Town Clerk 156935
Place a notice by phone at 516-569-4000 x232 or email: legalnotices@liherald.com
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that pursuant to Article 9 of the New York State Constitution, the provisions of the Town Law and Municipal Home Rule of the State of New York, both as amended, a public hearing will be held in the Town Meeting Pavilion, Hempstead Town Hall, 1 Washington Street, Hempstead, New York, on the 9th day of December, 2025, at 10:30 o’clock in the forenoon of that day to consider the enactment of a local law to amend Chapter 202 of the code of the Town of Hempstead to INCLUDE “REGULATIONS AND RESTRICTIONS” to limit parking at the following location:
BALDWIN Section 202-5
NORTH WILLIAM STREET (TH 512/25) South NO PARKING 7 PM to 7 AM - starting at a point 365 feet east of the east curbline of Grand Avenue, east for a distance of 34 feet.
BELLMORE Section 202-15
THOMAS PLACE (TH 491/25) East Side - NO
PARKING ANY TIME 8 AM to 6 PM - starting at a point 57 feet north of the north curbline of Royle Street, north for a distance of 57 feet.
ELMONT
Section 202-19
I STREET (TH 552/25)
South Side - TWO HOUR PARKING 8 AM
to 8 PM SUNDAYstarting at a point 147 feet west of the west curbline of Meacham Avenue, west for a distance of 53 feet.
GARDEN CITY SOUTH
Section 202-14
KILBURN ROAD SOUTH (TH 478/25) West Side - NO PARKING 7 AM to 4 PM MONDAY thru FRIDAY - starting at a point 211 feet south of the south curbline of Warren Boulevard, south for a distance of 70 feet.
(NR) ISLAND PARK Section 202-28
CALIFORNIA PLACE
NORTH (TH 472/25) North Side - NO
PARKING 7 AM to 4 PM EXCEPT
SATURDAYS, SUNDAYS and HOLIDAYSstarting at a point 127 feet east of the east curbline of Austin Boulevard, east for a distance of 106 feet.
NORTH VALLEY
Section 202-18
STREAM LINDEN
STREET (TH 553/25)
North Side - NO PARKING 11 AM to 4 PM EXCEPT
SATURDAYS, SUNDAYS and HOLIDAYSstarting at the east curbline of Scott Drive, east to a point 30 feet west of the west curbline of Chestnut Street.
CHESTNUT STREET (TH 553/25) West SideNO PARKING 11 AM to 4 PM EXCEPT
SATURDAYS, SUNDAYS and HOLIDAYSstarting at a point 25 feet north of the north curbline of Linden Street, north for a distance of 258 feet.
CHESTNUT STREET (TH 553/25) East Side - NO PARKING 11 AM to 4 PM EXCEPT
SATURDAYS, SUNDAYS and HOLIDAYSstarting at a point 30 feet north of the north curbline of Linden Street, north to the east for a distance of 289 feet.
OCEANSIDE
Section 202-13
MOORE AVENUE (TH 558/25) North SideNO PARKING 8 AM to 3 PM EXCEPT SATURDAYS, SUNDAYS and HOLIDAYSstarting at a point 224 feet east of the east curbline of Lawson Boulvard, east for a distance of 41 feet.
WANTAGH
Section 202-10
WANTAGH AVENUE (TH 554/25) West SideTWO HOUR PARKING 8 AM to 6 PM - starting from a point 350 feet south of the south curbline of Sunrise Highway south for a
distance of 120 feet.
WEST HEMPSTEAD
Section 202-20
ROOSEVELT
BOULEVARD (TH 549/25) North SideNO PARKING 8 AM to 5 PM EXCEPT SUNDAYS and HOLIDAYS - starting at a point 20 feet west of the west curbline of Munson Avenue, west for a distance of 90 feet.
ALSO, to REPEAL from Chapter 202 “REGULATIONS AND RESTRICTIONS” from the following locations:
BALDWIN
Section 202-5 NORTH WILLIAM STREET (TH 153/18) South Side - NO PARKING 10 PM to 7 AM -starting at a point 365 feet east of the east curbline of Grand Avenue east for a distance of 34 feet.
(Adopted 6/19/18)
GARDEN CITY SOUTH SEVENTH STREET (TH 180/80) North SideSection 202-14 NO PARKING 9 PM to 6 AM FRIDAY and SATURDAY - starting at a point 30 feet West of the west curbline of NassauBlvd., west for a distance of 74 feet.
(Adopted 11/18/80)
NORTH VALLEY STREAM
Section 202-18
LINDEN STREET (TH 427/79) North Side -NO PARKING 11 AM to 4 PM EXCEPT
SATURDAYS, SUNDAYS and HOLIDAYSstarting at the east curbline of Scott Drive, east to the west curbline of Chestnut Street
(Adopted 11/27/79)
CHESTNUT STREET (TH 362/09) West Side -NO PARKING 11 AM to 4 PM EXCEPT
SATURDAYS, SUNDAYS and HOLIDAYSstarting at the north curbline of Linden Street, north for a distance of 260 feet.
(Adopted 11/24/09)
CHESTNUT STREET (TH 590/23) South SideNO PARKING 11 AM to 4 PM EXCEPT
SATURDAYS, SUNDAYS and HOLIDAYSstarting at the north curbline of Linden Street, north then east for a distance of 283 feet.
(Adopted 2/13/24)
WANTAGH
Section 202-10
WANTAGH AVENUE (TH 184/74) West SideTWO HOUR PARKING 8 AM to 6 PM - from a point 24 feet south of a point opposite the south curbline of Woodward Avenue, south for a distance of
288 feet.
(Adopted 5/21/74) WEST HEMPSTEAD Section 202-20
COLONY STREET East Side - NO PARKING 8 PM to 8 AM - starting at a point 114 feet south of the south curbline of Hempstead Avenue, south to the north curbline of Plymouth Street.
(Adopted 5/18/65)
COLONY STREET (TH 41/98) West Side - NO PARKING 8 PM to 8 AM - starting at a point 114 feet south of the south curbline of Hempstead Avenue, south for a distance of 97 feet.
(Adopted 7/21/98)
COLONY STREET (TH 41/98) West Side - NO PARKING 8 PM to 8 AM - starting at a point 268 feet south of the south curbline of Hempstead Avenue, south to the north curbline of Plymouth Street.
(Adopted 7/21/98)
PLYMOUTH STREET (TH 54/75) North SideNO PARKING 11 PM to 4 AM - from the west curbline of Colony Street, west to the east curbline of Wilson Street. (Adopted 4/15/75)
PLYMOUTH STREET (TH 499/02) South SideNO PARKING 11 PM to 4 AM - starting at the west curbline of Colony Street, west for a distance of 108 feet.
(Adopted 1/07/03)
PLYMOUTH STREET (TH 499/02) South SideNO PARKING 11 PM to 4 AM - starting at a point 170 feet west of the west curbline of Colony Street, west for a distance of 54 feet.
(Adopted 1/07/03)
WILSON STREET (TH 453/74) West SideNO PARKING 8 PM to 8 AM - starting from the south curbline of Tudor Place, south to the north curbline of Plymouth Street.
(Adopted 11/12/74)
WILSON STREET (TH 384/79) East Side -NO PARKING 8 PM to 8 AM - starting at a point opposite the north curbline of Tudor Place, south for a distance of 45 feet.
(Adopted 03/04/80)
ALL PERSONS INTERESTED shall have an opportunity to be heard on said proposal at the time and place aforesaid.
Dated: November 18, 2025 Hempstead, New York BY ORDER OF THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD JOHN FERRETTI Supervisor
KATE MURRAY Town Clerk 156929
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING BY THE BOARD OF APPEALS
Pursuant to New York State Town Law Article 16, New York State Public Officers Law Article 7, and the Town of Hempstead Building Zone Ordinance, NOTICE is hereby given that the BOARD OF APPEALS of the Town of Hempstead will hold a public hearing in the Town Meeting Pavilion, Town Hall Plaza, One Washington Street, Hempstead, New York on 12/03/2025 at 9:30 A.M. to consider the following applications and appeals:
THE FOLLOWING CASES WILL BE CALLED STARTING AT 9:30 A.M. 618/25. WANTAGHMichael Cucci, Variances, lot area occupied, side yards aggregate, construct addition, rear roofed over porch & portico all attached to dwelling., S/s Emeric Ave., 372.37’ E/o Wantagh Ave., a/k/a 3370 Emeric Ave. 619/25. LEVITTOWNLevittown Catering Inc., Special exception for place of public assembly & amusement (live music, DJ & dancing); Failure to maintain the required unobstructed windows of 15% minimum; Waive off-street parking (proposed catering & cabaret)., S/s Hempstead Tpke., 73’ E/o Loring Rd., a/k/a 2686 Hempstead Tpke. ALL PAPERS PERTAINING TO THE ABOVE HEARING ARE AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION AT THE BOARD OF APPEALS, TOWN HALL, 1 WASHINGTON STREET, HEMPSTEAD, NY 11550. This notice is only for new cases in Wantagh & Levittown within Town of Hempstead jurisdiction. There are additional cases in different hamlets, towns and villages on the Board of Appeals calendar. The full calendar is available at https://hempsteadny.go v/509/Board-of-Appeals The internet address of the website streaming for this meeting is https://hempsteadny.go v/576/Live-StreamingVideo
Interested parties may
appear at the above time and place. At the call of the Chairman, the Board will consider decisions on the foregoing and those on the Reserve Decision calendar and such other matters as may properly come before it.
156920
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that pursuant to Article 9 of the New York State Constitution, the provisions of the Town Law and Municipal Home Rule of the State of New York, both as amended, a public hearing will be held in the Town Meeting Pavilion, Hempstead Town Hall, 1 Washington Street, Hempstead, New York, on The 9th day of December, 2025, at 10:30 o’clock in the forenoon of that day to consider the enactment of a local law to amend Section 202-1 of the code of the Town of Hempstead to INCLUDE “PARKING OR STANDING PROHIBITIONS” at the following locations:
BALDWIN CENTRAL AVENUE (TH 520/25) West Side -NO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting from the north curbline of Old Mill Road, north for a distance of 40 feet.
CENTRAL AVENUE (TH 520/25) East Side -NO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting at the south curbline of Merrick Road, south for a distance of 40 feet.
ELMONT 238th STREET (TH 503/25) West Side - NO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting from the south curbline of Dutch Broadway, south for a distance of 75 feet.
238th STREET (TH 503/25) East Side -NO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting from the south curbline of Dutch Broadway, south for a distance of 70 feet.
KESWICK ROAD (TH 503/25) East Side -NO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting at the north curbline of Dutch Broadway, north for a distance of 48 feet.
KESWICK ROAD (TH 503/25) West Side - NO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting at the north curbline of Dutch Broadway, north for a distance of 48 feet.
HOFFMAN AVENUE (TH
503/25) West SideNO STOPPING
ANYTIME - starting at a point 190 feet north opposite the northeast curbline of Baylis Avenue, north for a distance of 120 feet.
ATHERTON AVENUE
(TH 562/25) North Side -NO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting from the West curbline of Rockmart Avenue, west for a distance of 30 feet.
ATHERTON AVENUE
(TH 562/25) North Side -NO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting from the east curbline of Rockmart Avenue, east for a distance of 30 feet.
ATHERTON AVENUE (TH 562/25) South Side -NO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting from the east curbline of Rockmart Avenue, east for a distance of 30 feet.
ATHERTON AVENUE (TH 562/25) South Side -NO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting from the west curbline of Rockmart Avenue, west for a distance of 30 feet.
ROCKMART AVENUE
(TH 562/25) West SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting from the south curbline of Atherton Avenue, south for a distance of 30 feet.
ROCKMART AVENUE
(TH 562/25) East SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting from the south curbline of Atherton Avenue, south for a distance of 30 feet
ROCKMART AVENUE (TH 562/25) East SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting from the north curbline of Atherton Avenue, north for a distance of 30 feet.
ROCKMART AVENUE
(TH 562/25) West SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting from the north curbline of Atherton Avenue, north for a distance of 30 feet.
FRANKLIN SQUARE POLK AVENUE (TH
387(B)/25) South SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting at the east curbline of Lincoln Street, east for a distance of 30 feet.
POLK AVENUE (TH
387(B)/25) North SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting at
the east curbline of Lincoln Street, east for a distance of 30 feet.
INWOOD
BAYVIEW AVENUE (TH 543/25) North SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting from theeast curbline of Henry Street, east for a distance of 40 feet.
BAYVIEW AVENUE (TH 543/25) North SideNO STOPPING ANYTIME - starting at a point 90 feet east of the east curbline of Henry Street, east for a distance of 60 feet.
HENRY STREET (TH 543/25) East Side - NO
PARKING ANYTIMEstarting at a point 140 feet north of the north curbline of Bayview Avenue, north for a distance of 40 feet.
LEVITTOWN
OLD OAK LANE
(516/25) North SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting at the west curbline of Acorn Lane, west for a distance of 25 feet.
OLD OAK LANE (516/25) North SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting at the east curbline of Acorn Lane, east for a distance of 25 feet. (NR) LYNBROOK
FRANKLIN AVENUE (TH 536/25) West Side - NO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting from the south curbline of Edward Street, south for a distance of 35 feet.
FRANKLIN AVENUE (TH 536/25) West Side - NO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting from the north curbline of Edward Street, north for a distance of 35 feet.
EDWARD STREET (TH 536/25) North SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting from the west curbline of Frankin Avenue, west for a distance of 35 feet.
NORTH VALLEY STREAM
ARKANSAS DRIVE (TH 485/25) South SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting from the west curbline of Marlowe Road, west for a distance of 33 feet.
MARLOWE ROAD (TH 485/25) West Side - NO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting from the south curbline of Arkansas Drive, south for a distance of 45
feet.
LINDEN STREET (TH 553/25) North SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting from the west curbline of Chestnut Street, west for a distance of 30 feet.
CHESTNUT STREET (TH 553/25) West Side - NO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting from the north curbline of Linden Street, north for a distance of 25 feet.
CHESTNUT STREET (TH 553/25) East Side - NO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting from the north curbline of Linden Street, north for a distance of 30 feet.
OCEANSIDE LAWSON BOULEVARD (TH 493/25) East SideNO STOPPING
ANYTIME - starting at a point 470 feet south of the south curbline of Concord Avenue, south for a distance of 49 feet.
WANTAGH
DUCKPOND DRIVE
EAST (TH 523/25) West Side - NO STOPPING HERE TO CORNERstarting from the north curbline of Dell Lane, north for a distance of 46 feet.
DUCKPOND DRIVE
EAST (TH 523/25) East Side - NO STOPPING ANYTIME - at a point 41 feet opposite a point south of the south curbline of Dell Lane, north for a distance of 106 feet.
WANTAGH AVENUE (TH 554/25) West SideNO STOPPING
ANYTIME - starting from a point 70 feet south of the south curbline of Sunrise Highway, south for a distance of 350 feet.
WOODMERE
CLARK PLACE (TH 530/25) West Side - NO
PARKING ANYTIMEstarting at a point 107 feet south of the south curbline of Combs Avenue, south for a distance of 313 feet.
CLARK PLACE (TH 530/25) East Side - NO
PARKING ANYTIMEstarting at a point 168 feet south of the south curbline of Combs Avenue, south for a distance of 47 feet.
CLARK PLACE (TH 530/25) East Side - NO
PARKING ANYTIMEstarting at a point 147 feet north of the north curbline of Ocean Avenue, north for a
distance of 63 feet. ALSO, to REPEAL from Section 202-1 “PARKING OR STANDING PROHIBITIONS” from the following location:
BALDWIN
CENTRAL AVENUE (TH 438/65) East Side - NO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting at the north curbline of Old Mill Road, north for a distance of 30 feet.
(Adopted 03/01/66)
WANTAGH
WANTAGH AVENUE (TH 76/79) West SideNO STOPPING
ANYTIME - starting from a point 70Feet south of the south curbline of Sunrise Highway, south to a point opposite the south curbline of Woodward Avenue.
(Adopted 4/24/79)
WEST HEMPSTEAD
TUDOR PLACE (TH 534/83) North SideNO PARKING ANYTIME - from the west curbline of Wilson Street, west for a distance of 60 feet.
(Adopted 5/01/84)
WILSON STREET (TH 82/88) West Side -NO PARKING ANYTIMEstarting at the north Curbline of Tudor Place, north for a distance of 111 feet.
(Adopted 10/18/88)
WOODMERE
CEDAR LANE (TH 555/22) North SideNO PARKING ANYTIME - starting at a point 53 feet east of the east curbline of Irving Place, east to a point 34 feet west of the west curbline of Franklin Place.
(Adopted 01/10/23) ALL PERSONS INTERESTED shall have an opportunity to be heard on said proposal at the time and place aforesaid.
Dated: November 18, 2025 Hempstead, New York BY ORDER OF THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD JOHN FERRETTI Supervisor KATE MURRAY Town Clerk 156930
PUBLIC AND LEGAL NOTICES… To place a notice here call us us at 516-569-4000 x232 or send an email to: legalnotices@liherald.com
There is an ongoing investigation by the
that caused significant damage to a Wantagh home.
The Nassau County Arson Bomb Squad is investigating a fire that caused significant damage to a Wantagh home.
According to detectives, Seventh Precinct officers responded at 8:41 a.m. on Nov. 18 to a reported house fire on Beech Street. Officers arrived to find the rear of the house fully engulfed in flames. Firefighters from the Wantagh Fire Department and neighboring
departments responded to extinguish the blaze.
Officials said the home was unoccupied at the time of the fire and no injuries were reported. Both the first and second floors sustained extensive damage. The Nassau County Fire Marshal also responded to the scene. The investigation is ongoing.
—Luke Feeney
A Nassau County family has filed a federal lawsuit against the Levittown Union Free School District, alleging their son, who has autism, was repeatedly bullied and verbally abused on a school bus—and that district officials failed to stop it or properly respond.
The student, referred to in court papers as A.V., was attending East Broadway Elementary School in Seaford in March 2024 when, over several days, he became the target of verbal attacks from both the bus matron and the driver, according to the complaint. Audio recordings, captured by another student and provided to A.V.’s parents on March 22, include the matron telling him “Nobody likes you,” “You have no friends,” and “We wish you could go on a different bus.” She also asked students to raise their hands if they were “sick” of him, while the driver encouraged students to join in.
A.V.’s parents contacted the school principal that same day. The driver and matron were removed from the route, pending an investigation.
But the lawsuit, filed Sept. 23 in Nassau County Supreme Court and later removed to federal court, argues the emotional damage had already been done. A.V. began refusing to board the bus, exhibited signs of trauma, required increased therapeutic support, and has since been driven to and from school by his parents.
Filed by the Iakovou & Xanthopoulos
Law Group, the lawsuit accuses the district of negligence, failure to supervise, hiring unqualified staff, and violating federal disability laws, including Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act. “This is not just about one bus ride –it is about a systemic failure to protect a child with disabilities,” said attorney Michael Iakovou. “The conduct captured on these recordings is appalling.” The case is pending in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York. “The Levittown School District is aware of the lawsuit but does not comment on ongoing litigation,” a district spokesperson wrote to the Herald.
—Luke Feeney
Help Wanted
CIRCULATION ASSOCIATE
Full Time/Part Time
Richner Communications, publisher of Herald community newspapers has an excellent opportunity for a FT/PT Customer Service Clerk in our busy Circulation Department. Basic customer service and administrative responsibilities include: heavy computer work, answering phones, making phone calls, entering orders, faxing, filing, etc. STRONG knowledge of EXCEL a must! Knowledge of DATABASE maintenance or postal regulations a big plus. Qualified Candidates must be computer literate, able to multi-task, dependable, reliable, organized, energetic, detail oriented and able to work well under deadlines.
Salary Range is $16.50 per hour to $20 per hour.
For consideration, please send resume & salary requirements to: circulationassociate@liherald.com
Full Time and Part Time
Positions Available!
Busy Print Shop in Garden City
is Hiring Immediately for Full Time and Part Time Drivers. Must Have a Clean License and BoxTruck Driving Experience.
Hours Vary, Salary Ranges from $17 per hour to $21 per hour
Night Availability is a Must.
Please Email Resume to careers@liherald.com or Call (516)569-4000 x239
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 fromo $16.50 per hour to $20 per hour. Email resumes or contact info to careers@liherald.com
MULTI MEDIA
Inside Sales
Looking for an aggressive self starter who is great at making and maintaining relationships and loves to help businesses grow by marketing them on many different advertising platforms. You will source new sales opportunities through inbound lead follow-up and outbound cold calls. Must have the ability to understand customer needs and requirements and turn them in to positive advertising solutions. We are looking for a talented and competitive Inside Sales Representative that thrives in a quick sales cycle environment. Compensation ranges from $34,320 + commissions and bonuses to over $100,000 including commission and bonuses. We also offer health benefits, 401K and paid time off. Please send cover letter and resume with salary requirements to ereynolds@liherald.com Call 516-569-4000 X286
Richner Communications, One of the Fastest Growing Media, Event and Communications Companies on Long Island is Seeking a Sales/Marketing Candidate to Sell our Print Media Products and our Digital, Events, Sponsorships. Earning potential ranges from $34,320 plus commission and bonuses to over $100,000 including commissions and bonuses. Compensation is based on Full Time hours
Eligible for Health Benefits, 401k and Paid Time Off. Please Send Cover Letter 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 looking for motivated and reliable individuals to assist in various duties in the shop. Hours vary, so flexibility is key. Salary Ranges from $20
Q. I went to my Building Department, because, as you suggested, I should get an idea from them as to what to do and how to go about it. After discussing the problems I would have to overcome, they suggested certain people, drafting services, and also told me that if I use an architect, I should only use the ones they suggest, because others might not be “acceptable” to them. I thought this was kind of strange. Should they do that, and is that acceptable practice?
A. That is not only strange, but also illegal. Putting limits on who provides a state-licensed professional service is, at the very least, a restriction-oftrade issue that I am sure would turn into a legal matter if the jurisdiction you live in ever tried to enforce the practice. Maybe you could finance your project by going through that process, getting hassled for the reasons you describe, and then suing the individuals and department that created the scenario. Of course, you would have to show hard evidence, such as documents and/or recordings of this kind of exchange. Or you could just go along with them, if you feel comfortable with the racket they’re running.
Lately I have seen more situations like this occurring, and it’s disheartening, as a professional, but many officials have commented, over the years, that certain architects only like to handle, or are only capable of handling, the “small stuff.” Clearly they don’t recognize the situation created by their own jurisdictions, where you’re required to have an architect’s or engineer’s professional seal on the submitted drawings when applying for a permit. Instead they encourage people to get an unlicensed person to prepare plans, and then that unlicensed individual gets a retired professional who could use the extra money to just sign and seal.
Even worse than that is the problem created during the pandemic, when an electronic seal was issued by the state to architects and engineers, creating the opportunity to just electronically float a seal onto plans, with or without the licensed professional’s permission.
It seems that people have forgotten what that seal represents. Not only does it represent a level of trained expertise — it also represents safety. Protection of public safety was once the paramount objective of local governments. And aside from the skirting of enforcement of licensed professionalism, safety is still important, but money, favoritism and territorial behavior make you wonder what you’re really dealing with.
I know so many people who are sincerely trying to enforce public safety in their government jobs, people who are equally disgusted with the ones who make their profession look bad. Defying the public trust or manipulating the public should not be tolerated. Thirty years ago, the state attorney general’s office did an investigation, and concluded that this practice was widespread — but investigators candidly admitted that they did not have the resources to pursue prosecutions, leaving the public to decide. Good luck!
© 2025 Monte Leeper
Readers are encouraged to send questions to yourhousedr@aol.com, with “Herald question” in the subject line, or to Herald Homes, 2 Endo Blvd., Garden City, NY 11530, Attn: Monte Leeper,
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The spirit of Thanksgiving is particularly welcome and needed this year. Times are turbulent. Discord appears to be almost everywhere. Prices are still too high. The federal government has just gone through its longest and most bitter shutdown ever, with another one threatened in less than three months.
The political divide continues, as Democrats scored overwhelming victories across the country, while Nassau Republicans, led by County Executive Bruce Blakeman, swept every countywide office and retained control of the county’s three towns and two cities — including Long Beach, where the GOP won every elective office for the first time since 1971. And while Nassau was voting bright red, New York City went deep blue, electing a committed socialist, Zohran Mamdani, as its mayor, promising to upend the city’s political and social structures as we’ve known them.
Ideally in a time of discord and stress, the citizenry turns to sports as an escape, as an island of refuge in a sea
of turmoil. This time, though, no such luck. At least not yet. The Yankees were eliminated in the second round of the playoffs, while the Mets, with their astronomically high payroll, didn’t even make it to the postseason, eliminated for the final playoff slot by the unheralded, low-income Cincinnati Reds.
Not even New York sports offer an island of refuge in our current sea of turmoil.
Granted, there was temporary relief for baseball fans, as the World Series confrontation between the Dodgers and Blue Jays provided intense drama right down to the final out of the climactic seventh game. But that moment of escape was soon overtaken by what portends to be Major League Baseball’s biggest and worst gambling scandal since the Black Sox scandal in 1919: Two relief pitchers for the Cleveland Guardians were arrested and charged with colluding with organized crime on “micro bets” — wagers on what type of pitches they would throw. This scandal, like the NBA betting scandal that preceded it just weeks earlier, is expected to expand, because of professional sports’ extensive, and misguided, business dealings with the gaming industry.
Thank God for the arrival of Thanksgiving! Taking time to celebrate the spirit of the holiday, which gives us the opportunity to step back and reflect on
what we should be thankful for, is a true American tradition. As we learned in our early school days, legend has the earliest Thanksgiving being celebrated in 17th-century Colonial times between by the Pilgrims and native Indians in Plymouth, Massachusetts. The national celebration of Thanksgiving in November was proclaimed by President George Washington in 1789. During the darkest days of the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln certified the final Thursday of November as the official day for celebrating Thanksgiving. Later, after Americans endured the depths of a Depression and as we got involved in the tragedy of World War II, President Franklin Roosevelt reaffirmed the significance of Thanksgiving while officially declaring the fourth Thursday of November to be the day of celebration. These actions by Lincoln and Roosevelt should be guideposts for Americans. Neither the absolute horror raging through our country during the Civil War, nor the economic devastation of the Depression, nor the carnage and suffering of World War II, would prevent Americans in those years from being thankful for, and appreciating, the blessings of living in this great land. Not to minimize our current hard-
ships, but we should take the time to show our thanks for all that we do have. America is not at war. It provides more opportunity for its people than any other country on earth, as demonstrated by the tens of millions of people from all over the world who want to live here.
During my years in Congress, I traveled to many countries, mainly in Europe but also in parts of Asia and North Africa. There was no country that could match America for our ingenuity, industriousness and opportunity for generations of people to move upward and thrive. Often we fail to remember that the United States was the first nation to experiment with democracy since Greece many centuries ago, and how that experiment has worked so successfully.
There are reasons why America has the world’s strongest economy and strongest military. That success results from our commitment not just to free enterprise but to freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of the press and freedom of opportunity, which allow the human spirit to fully develop and thrive. So let’s enjoy our blessings and give thanks for living in this great land. Happy Thanksgiving, and God bless America.
Peter King is a former congressman, and a former chair of the House Committee on Homeland Security. Comments? pking@ liherald.com.
When you’re a news junkie like me, you reach out for a large variety of sources of information. Finding and digesting the offerings of all these many outlets takes a lot of time, but there is one resource that I constantly rely on: the weekly newspaper.
My love for the weekly goes back as far as when I was a bold 12-year-old who walked into the offices of the Long Island Independent and offered my services as a writer. Rather than usher me out the door, the publisher, the late Paul Jackson, gave me an assignment: to read all of the social announcements and to distill them into a few short paragraphs.
By the time I turned 15, I was a paid employee, enjoying my $10-a-week stipend, and I went on to become the principal reporter for the Independent and
the Long Beach Life. Later, during my years in the Assembly, I kept close working relationships with all of the weekly papers in my district, and assigned a full-time staff member to keep the weekly papers informed about my activities in Albany.
Every Friday, I make it a point to look for the latest news in the Herald. I read about the goings-on in five or six communities and read the opinion pages. I offer these details because many residents of our region don’t always take advantage of the many items published in their local papers that are genuinely of interest.
of our schools.
N ational news is great, but I learn the important stuff from the weeklies.
While I have the greatest respect for the mass media, I learn from the weeklies about local athletes who may someday wind up on the national sports pages. Today’s high school track star could eventually become a member of an Olympic team. People complain a lot about high taxes, but if they read their local paper, they would know that 60 percent of their tax bill is for the operation
I like to stay in touch with old friends, and sometimes I find out that they have experienced some great family events thanks to my weekly paper. I also frequently learn that some potential countywide political battle has its roots in an action taken by a village or another municipal entity. So many people would be surprised to learn how much they can find out about local politics by subscribing to a weekly.
On a more somber note, I learn from weeklies that someone I met and liked has died. Too often we learn about family tragedies weeks and months after they occur, and realize that if we’d checked out a weekly paper, we would have known much sooner to reach out to the bereaved family.
When I meet some young man or woman who has decided to run for public office, one of the first things I tell them is not to ignore their weekly newspaper, and to make an effort to meet with its editors so they know about their
candidacy. And I don’t restrict my advice just to budding candidates. I frequently advise federal and state officeholders to keep in touch with their weeklies.
A few years ago, a large group of weekly newspaper owners and editors converged on Albany in an effort to change how state laws govern those local weeklies. Not surprisingly, they were welcomed by members from both sides of the aisle who had learned well and understood the power of those news outlets. If you want to do the right thing, subscribe to your local paper. (If you’re reading this, I’d like to think you already have.) And if you’re a local business owner, think about buying an ad. I’ve been fortunate enough to be an unpaid columnist for the Herald for over 20 years, and I’ve wanted to write this tribute to weekly papers for the longest time. They need your support, and like any business that serves the community, they also merit your help in keeping them as a great asset.
Jerry Kremer was a state assemblyman for 23 years, and chaired the Assembly’s Ways and Means Committee for 12 years. Comments about this column? jkremer@ liherald.com.
Established
Incorporating the
Citizen in 2013
Luke Feeney
Reporter
RobeRt Cummings
Multi-Media Marketing Consultant
oFFiCe
2 Endo Boulevard
Garden City, NY 11530
Phone: (516) 569-4000
Fax: (516) 569-4942
Web: www.liherald.com E-mail:
eld each year on the Saturday after Thanksgiving — Nov. 29 this year — Small Business Saturday encourages consumers to shift their attention from big-box and giant online retailers to the locally owned businesses that are the backbone of our neighborhoods. These local businesses create jobs, spark innovation and keep more dollars circulating in the local economy, strengthening the very places we call home.
Founded by American Express in 2010 and embraced by the U.S. Small Business Administration, Small Business Saturday has grown into a nationwide tradition. It’s nestled between the commercial frenzy of Black Friday and the digital deals of Cyber Monday, and it’s crucial that all of us make a concerted effort to shop at our favorite corner store or buy a gift card for our beloved neighborhood restaurant.
The impact of Small Business Saturday, of course, reaches far beyond economics. When people support a local bookstore, bakery, boutique or service provider, they’re investing in relationships and affirming the value of personal connection — the friendly wave from a shop owner who knows your name, the sense of pride in discovering a one-of-akind product crafted nearby, the feeling of belonging that comes from familiar streets buzzing with activity. These are experiences you simply can’t replicate
To the Editor:
New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani’s electoral appeal, centered on his affordability agenda, has prompted some of his opponents to start emphasizing this issue. Republican State Sen. Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick is among those proposing actions to rein in New York’s cost of living in her Herald commentary last week, “The cost of living is driving families out of New York.”
Some of her suggestions make sense and, if adopted, might make Long Island living marginally more affordable. But CanzoneriFitzpatrick offers only Band-Aids for the hemorrhaging housing crisis that forces young families to look elsewhere for starter homes. As a professed capitalist, the senator should understand that a grossly inadequate supply of housing cannot meet demand, thus causing prices to spiral ever upward. The solution is obvious: build thousands of new homes.
with anonymous online transactions.
Small Business Saturday reminds us that thriving communities don’t happen by accident — they grow through intentional support and shared commitment. By shopping local, we help build vibrant neighborhoods where businesses and residents lift one another up, strengthening the community fabric, one small shop at a time.
Small businesses account for a significant portion of job creation across the country, and on Long Island they are essential to the economic ecosystem. When shoppers choose small over large, more money stays in the community. Studies show that when you shop at a small, locally owned business, more of your money stays here on Long Island — supporting infrastructure, schools and friends, and even reducing your tax burden. For every $100 spent at a small business, about $67 stays in the community. At a large chain, only about $43 does.
But most importantly, small businesses help define the identity of a place. Neighborhoods with bustling local shops tend to have stronger social ties, safer streets and greater civic engagement. Choosing to support a local business is choosing to support a stronger, more connected community.
Participating in Small Business Saturday is simple and enjoyable. Consumers explore local shops, take part in spe-
cial promotions, share their experiences on social media and leave positive reviews of their favorite spots. Spot a great bargain? Tell a friend! These small actions have big ripple effects, helping local entrepreneurs gain visibility, attract new customers and employ local workers.
Business owners can prepare for Small Business Saturday by using free marketing materials provided by the SBA and American Express, such as fliers, posters and social media graphics. Local governments, chambers of commerce and community groups also do their part by organizing events, hosting holiday markets, and creating interactive maps to guide residents to participating businesses. Many of the best local businesses and deals can be found right here, on the pages of the Herald, or at LIHerald.com.
This Saturday, Long Islanders have the opportunity to demonstrate what makes our communities so special: We show up for our neighbors and they show up for us. Our local small businesses are the ones donating to school fundraisers, sponsoring youth sports teams, hosting community events, providing teenagers with summer jobs, and paying taxes that help keep our local downtowns alive.
So shop local, Long Island — because when small businesses thrive, we all prosper.
imagine: You co-own a lovely 233-year-old home, furnished with heirlooms, with property and gardens admired by all. You and your co-owners love this house. In keeping with longstanding tradition, you allow an employee and his family, selected by the majority of your group, to live in it. The terms are that the tenants may live in the house rent-free as long as they welcome visitors, bar criminals from the property and, when the rental period is over, vacate the premises.
nothing, you have in effect given him permission to demolish the home, discard its contents and history and thumb his nose in contempt at the people who are letting him live there.
You know where this is heading.
A few months after moving in, however, the latest tenant, without permission or consultation, demolishes one-fifth of the house and hires contractors to build an addition that will be used for his private parties. He tells the contractors not to worry; the house really belongs to him. And he tells you and your co-owners that when the time comes for him to move out, he may simply decide to stay.
You are in a bind. If you object, some will see you as being overly critical of a bold and adventurous man. If you say
To be fair, Donald Trump is not the first president to make dramatic modifications to the White House. In 1902, Theodore Roosevelt built what is now called the West Wing to accommodate a rapidly growing executive staff and to create separation between the workspace and the Roosevelt family’s private quarters.
Wealthy patrons are treating the renovation as an open invitation to buy influence.
In 1942, Franklin Roosevelt authorized the construction of the East Wing. The government’s day-to-day operations had expanded exponentially during World War II. There was a need for more space for larger international conferences. The East Wing also had offices for the first lady’s staff, areas for public events, and a shelter for wartime security.
By 1948, the 156-year old White House was in need of significant repairs. Wooden beams were rotting and the entire infrastructure needed updating. President Harry Truman called for steel beams, concrete, mod-
But Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick has nothing to say about the extreme nimbyism that makes it so difficult to build housing anywhere in Nassau County. It’s particularly egregious that right-wing politicians have succeeded in blocking transit-oriented developments. Building housing near Long Island Rail Road stations would help make Long Island more affordable without worsening traffic congestion.
Republicans should adopt a variation on a mantra favored by their leader: “Build, baby, build!”
KEvIN J KELLEY
Atlantic Beach
To the Editor:
Re Jerry Kremer’s column in the Oct. 30-Nov. 5 issue, “Presidents make mistakes, but this one was a doozy”: What
message was being sent to hardworking, honest people when President Trump excused former Rep. George Santos from serving a seven-year prison term after only three months? Santos was proven to be a liar, a cheat, a thief — a dishonest individual who harmed and deceived many people by falsifying everything he touched.
How do we know that he didn’t fabricate the conditions of his prison stay, inasmuch as he is a pro at making up stories? It appears that Trump commuted his sentence due to his being a good Republican supporting Trump.
In my eyes, Santos’s crimes are worse than those of a bank robber. His deceit is now being forgiven, and will Trump, in his generosity, assume the more than $300,000 in restitution that Santos is liable for? It is ludicrous that the president of the U.S. takes his time from government affairs to release an admitted criminal back into society. Outrageous indeed.
GRACE SEARBY Oyster Bay
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ern wiring and plumbing. The renovations were not without controversy. When builders installed the “Truman Balcony,” some objected to the $16,000 price tag (around $215,000 today); others argued that it wasn’t a good look to add a private terrace to the world’s most public house. But every president since then has enjoyed using the balcony for relaxation and for greeting people gathered on the South Lawn.
Back to the present. Trump recently authorized the demolition of the East Wing. He wanted a ballroom that could hold 650 people; the price would be around $200 million.
Then he announced that the new space would be “slightly larger” — 90,000 square feet, to accommodate 900 guests, at a cost in excess of $300 million.
Trump has often said that for major events, he wants a permanent, grand space similar in size and style to his Mar-a-Lago ballroom. His guests, Trump says, will pay “a lot of money” for the privilege of gathering in “my beautiful ballroom.”
Protests have come from Republicans and Democrats who question both the stated exclusivity of the new space and its exorbitant cost at a time when people
are losing health insurance, food-assistance programs and general buying power. Trump has responded that he doesn’t need anyone’s permission to change one of the world’s most historically significant national monuments.
Asked whether he intends to name the ballroom after himself, Trump has replied that he hasn’t “really thought about it.” About the price, he has said repeatedly, “I’ll pay for it myself.” But the fact is, he won’t. Wealthy patrons have already stepped in to cover the cost, treating the renovation as an open invitation to buy influence.
Trump has always called himself a builder. But builders strengthen foundations; they don’t bulldoze symbols of public life to erect shrines to themselves. He seems to have no interest in building on the past to create something lasting for others; instead he is building over it, as if erasure were the surest form of legacy. The question isn’t how to undo the demolition work, but how long Americans can afford to pretend that it doesn’t matter. The Trump ballroom will open, the guests will arrive and the message will be that the People’s House has less and less room for the people who own it.
Michael Blitz is professor emeritus of interdisciplinary studies at the City University of New York’s John Jay College of Criminal Justice.
We will be bringing Mount Sinai’s top-ranked open heart surgeons to Oceanside beginning next year, so patients and their families don’t have to travel to NYC or to the North Shore for advanced cardiac care.
The Mount Sinai Fuster Heart Hospital at The Mount Sinai Hospital in Manhattan ranks No. 2 nationally for Cardiology, Heart, and Vascular Surgery, according to 2025 U.S. News & World Report ® That expertise is coming to our Oceanside campus.
If you or a loved one have suffered a cardiac event, consider making a donation in their name today.
Scan the QR code, visit bringinghearthome.org , or call Anne Fernandez in our Development Office at 516-377-5360 to learn more.
Donate today.
Together, we can bring the of Mount Sinai home to the South Shore.