Manhasset Times 01-19-24

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Friday, January 19, 2024

Vol. 12, No. 3

HOME & DESIGN

40-LOVE LIFESTYLE STORE A SMASH

PILIP OFFERS OWN 10-POINT PLAN

PAGES 21-28

PAGE 2

PAGE 10

Voelker lone H.S. semifinalist 300 worldwide named in Regeneron search

BY B R A N D ON D U FF Y Two dozen high school seniors across North Shore public school districts were named semifinalists in the 2024 Regeneron Science Talent Search–the nation’s oldest and most prestigious science and math competition for high school seniors.

Leading the way was William A. Shine Great Neck South High School with seven students and Paul D. Schreiber High School in Port Washington with five students.

Long Island in total has 50 semifinalists, the most of any region in the country. From the crop of 300 semifinalists, 40 students will be selected as finalists, who are scheduled to be announced Jan. 24. Finalists will show their work to the public, meet with prestigious leaders in the science community in Washington, D.C., and compete for a variety of awards headlined by the $250,000 top prize in March.

The competition, formerly sponsored by Westinghouse and then Intel before its current sponsor, pharmaceutical company Regeneron, is run each year by the Society for Science and the Public, with the goal of finding solutions to the world’s challenges from budding young scientists.

From an initial 2,162 applicants, 300 students across 36 states and China were named scholars in 2024 and will each receive $2,000 along with their respective districts.

Continued on Page 38

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE CANDIDATE

Former U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-Glen Cove) opened his campaign headquarters in Great Neck on Sunday ahead of the special election for the 3rd Congressional District in February. See story on page 6.

Trump trial judge’s home swatted County, Kensington police respond to home after email says bomb was placed

BY C A M E RY N O A K ES Judge Arthur Engoron, who is presiding over ex-President Donald Trump’s civil trial for fraud in Manhattan, had his Great Neck home swatted early Thursday morning with a bomb threat that was determined to be unfounded upon police investigation, according to published reports.

A Nassau County Police Department spokesperson told Blank Slate Media that early Thursday morning police received the report of an email saying a bomb had been placed at a Kensington home in Great Neck.

Nassau County Police responded to the report at 5:30 a.m. along with the Kensington Police Department.

The county’s arson and bomb squad

and multiple other units investigated the home.

No threats were found at the home, according to the police’s spokesperson.

The spokesperson said he would not provide the information of who resided at the home to protect the victim, but multiple reports have said that it is the residence of Engoron.

The investigation is ongoing, according to the spokesperson, and police patrol will increase.

“The Nassau County Police Department continues to investigate this morning’s threat and takes seriously any threat made to an individual,” Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman said in a statement. “The Continued on Page 39

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The Manhasset Times, Friday, January 19, 2024

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Call for unity in fight against hate G.N. panel talks combating intolerance

BY C A M E RY N O A K ES

PHOTO BY MICHAEL J. LEWIS

Shauna Devardo, left, and Fiona Branchinelli opened 40-Love Lifestyle 18 months ago in Manhasset.

40-Love Lifestyle store smashing win Manhassetites find success with leisurewear, rackets

BY M I C H A E L J . L E W I S Like so many great business partnerships do, this one began at a bar, with two people discussing a shared problem.

Fiona Branchinelli was a longtime tennis player and fan, and her friend and neighbor, Shauna Devardo, was new to the game but loving it.

The two Manhassetites had come off the court at their country club in 2021 and, over drinks, were talking about how the area didn’t have any good women’s apparel stores.

“Shauna was saying how we really need a place to buy cute tennis outfits and actually try them on, a good place to try rackets, and not

just order online and then you don’t know exactly if you’re going to like it,” Branchinelli said.

“And the more we talked and the more I thought about it, the more it seemed like something we should do, and could do,” Devardo said.

That conversation was the brainchild that became 40-Love Lifestyle, located at 439 Plandome Road in Manhasset. Opened in June 2022, the store sells athletic leisurewear, along with tennis and pickleball rackets and equipment, and more.

The partners said that almost from the start, the strong tennis communities of Port Washington and Manhasset have responded positively, and business is booming to the point

A diverse panel of religious and ethnic leaders led a forum in Great Neck last week to call for unity to combat the rising tide of hate crimes and intolerance gripping the nation.

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere,” Great Neck Plaza Mayor Ted Rosen said, quoting from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s letter from a Birmingham jail.

The United Against Hate Conference hosted by Great Neck Plaza was a prelude to MLK Day, with more than 50 community members attending in person and via Zoom.

Rosen said the discussion was an important opportunity for the community to band together in confronting the increase in antisemitism, Islamophobia, racism and anti-Asian attacks in recent months and years.

“I believe that most people are good,” Rosen said. “And that the many people of goodwill that we have will stand up together and be united in speaking out against and denouncing acts of prejudice and hate regardless of whether the targets of such hate and prejudice are of the same religion, race or ethnic-

where they’re discussing expanding to another location.

It’s all been kind of a whirlwind for Devardo and Branchinelli; neither had experience in retail; Devardo said she owned some bakeries in her 20’s, while Branchinelli said she went to school for fashion merchandise marketing.

“It has been exciting and overwhelming, just everything we had to learn and how we had to earn the trust of (manufacturers) and customers,” Branchinelli said.

“And we’re one of the only women-owned businesses on Plandome Road, and we’re very proud of that,” Devardo added.

Continued on Page 39

CORRECTION: A story in last week’s Blank Slate Media newspapers incorrectly said that Mitchell Pitnick was terminated by the Town of North Hempstead during the Jan. 9 town board meeting. Pitnick resigned from the Town of North Hempstead, which was effective on Dec. 31, 2023.

ity as they are.”

Present on the panel were local and nationally known officials as well as religious leaders representing a diversity of backgrounds.

Included was Co-President of the Great Neck Chinese Association and Great Neck School School Board Trustee Steve Chen, Vice Chair of the NAACP National Board of Directors Karen Boykin-Towns, President of the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding Rabbi Marc Schneier, Imam of the Jamaica Muslim Center Shamsi Ali and New York State Supreme Court Justice Mojgan Cohanim Lancman.

The forum was moderated by Great Neck Public Schools Superintendent Kenneth Bossert, who said the forum is addressing an important topic “at a time where it is desperately needed.”

“Ignorance is our shared enemy,” Ali said. “And we must fight that.”

Schneier said MLK Day coincides with the Jewish tradition of reading the Biblical narrative of the exodus from Egypt, which details the 10 plagues cast upon the Egyptians.

Continued on Page 39

PHOTO BY CAMERYN OAKES

Panelists of diverse backgrounds discussed how to combat hate in Great Neck Plaza’s United Against Hate Conference. From left to right: NAACP National Board of Directors Vice Chair Karen BoykinTowns, Rabbi Marc Schneier, Great Neck Superintendent Kenneth Bossert and Imam Shamsi Ali.

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Suozzi takes stage alone at civic event Democrat candidate for CD3, association had sought debate with GOP hopeful Mazi Pilip

BY B R A N D ON D U FF Y Former U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi (DGlen Cove) recently spoke about his platform and policies Thursday night with 3rd Congressional District constituents at Michael J. Tully Park in New Hyde Park.

The meet-and-greet was hosted by the Lakeville Estates Civic Association, which has close to 1,200 registered homes as members in the greater New Hyde Park Area.

Suozzi, of Glen Cove, served three terms in the House representing the 3rd Congressional District from January 2017 to January 2023. He is vying for his old post against Republican candidate and Nassau County Legislator Mazi Melesa Pilip (R-Great Neck) to replace George Santos, who was expelled from Congress last year.

Suozzi told the meeting he was running to solve problems and help people.

“I’m not running on Democrat vs.

Republican, I’m running on who’s going to get things done compared to what we have in Washington right now with everyone fighting each other,” Suozzi said. “I’ll work with anybody if you want to actually help people and try to make the world a better place.”

PHOTO BY BRANDON DUFFY

Former U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-Glen Cove) speaks to the Lakeville Estates Civic Association in New Hyde Park on Thursday, Jan. 11.

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Suozzi, who has appeared at many public events throughout the North Shore recently, and his campaign have been calling on Pilip to join him in televised debates ahead of the Feb. 13 special election.

As of now, the two are currently scheduled for a debate on Feb. 8, hosted by News12.

The Lakeville Estates event was originally advertised as a debate between both candidates but later changed to the meet and greet since Pilip’s campaign told the civic it was her legislative office who originally confirmed the date, not knowing she had a fundraiser scheduled for that night.

The civic said on Facebook Pilip’s campaign has been offered a night for a meet and greet of her own, which has not been answered. Pilip’s campaign spokesman Brian Devine denied receiving a request from the civic at this time but told Blank Slate Media they are open to exploring the option further if the civic does reach out.

The questions Suozzi was asked were from civic members, who submitted them to a moderator ahead of the event and allowed the former Congressman a set amount of time to answer each one.

In response to many of the ques-

tions, Suozzi spoke about his past work in the House, sponsoring or cosponsoring bills to help lower taxes, increase the affordability in the area or help combat pollution on Long Island.

The former Nassau County executive said the complex problems that the world, country and district face require finding common ground. Suozzi also cited a recent Newsday article that said he “took center lane” during his time in the House.

“Anybody who says to you ‘Why don’t you just…’doesn’t know what they’re talking about,” Suozzi said.

“Every problem is complicated and you cannot solve complicated problems in an environment of fear and anger with everyone yelling at each other.”

On Israel and Ukraine, Suozzi affirmed that he supports continued aid for both countries. In a previous interview with Blank Slate Media, Suozzi said is in favor of a two-state solution for Israel and Palestinians.

Suozzi also reaffirmed that he will be an advocate of increasing the cap on state and local tax deductions, known as the SALT cap, which passed the House multiple times during his time in Washington but never the Senate.

Continued on Page 39

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G.N. Park district election challenged Ex-commissioner candidates Charlop files lawsuits charging illegal handling of abentee ballots

BY C A M E RY N O A K ES A former Great Neck Park District commissioner candidate, who lost in the Dec. 12 election, has filed a lawsuit alleging the district has conducted “improper, unfair, biased and illegal” election procedures.

“I think a close examination of the facts here can only lead to one conclusion, which is that this thing needs to be investigated further,” Gordon Charlop, who filed the lawsuit, said.

Charlop, who lost to Park Commissioner Tina Stellato in the 2023 election, filed the lawsuit in State Supreme Court in Nassau County on Dec. 29, 17 days after the election.

According to data from the park district, Stellato won re-election in the race with 1,580 votes and Charlop received 710.

The lawsuit alleges the park district election conducted inaccurate balloting, which led to Charlop losing PHOTO COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA COMMONS the race.

It alleges the park district’s han- Steppingstone Park in the Great Neck Park District. A lawsuit has been filed against the Great Neck Park dling of absentee balloting did not District that is alleging “improper, unfair, biased and illegal” election procedures by the district. abide by the law in permitting individuals to vote absentee when they Ballot harvesting is a voting This method has been criticized for to the nonprofit Lawyers Democracy may not have met the requirements to do so, as well as harvesting these bal- procedure whereby individuals col- compromising the fairness of elections Fund.

Charlop also questioned in the lots to be filled out by someone other lect completed absentee ballots and through lack of oversight and potenthan the voter. return them on behalf of the voters. tially influencing voters, according lawsuit the reporting of votes from

a voting machine that had broken down amid polling, speculating about 20 votes may have been lost, as well as district voting maps that omitted about 500 eligible voters.

Also alleged in the lawsuit is that the Parkwood Tennis Center, which falls within the district, posted on Instagram an endorsement for Stellato in the 2023 commissioner race which is not permitted.

Charlop said these components may have cost him the election.

Great Neck Park District Superintendent Jason Marra said in an email statement to Blank Slate that the district has been informed of the lawsuit and is referring the matters to its attorneys. He said the attorneys “advise that they are in the process of reviewing Mr. Charlop’s legal action.”

“We will have no comment on the matter beyond noting our confidence that the election for the open seat of commissioner was in all respects lawful and proper,” Murra said.

When previously asked about ballot harvesting, Stellato said she was not even sure if she knew what the term meant and denied that she or anyone else in the district was participating in such acts.

“A lot of people vote by absentee, Continued on Page 38

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Aid Jews in antisemitism fight: Hochul Gov says community support honors Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at G.N. temple address

BY C A M E RY N O A K ES Fifty-seven years after Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s speech at Temple Beth-El of Great Neck, congregants gathered once again for the annual Shabbat service honoring his legacy and calling for the continued alliance with Jewish people amid antisemitism.

“I want people to stand together as one people as Dr. King would have expected to call out antisemitism,” said Gov. Kathy Hochul, who provided the keynote address during the service Friday night. “It is not that difficult. And as Dr. King said, ‘It is the right thing to do.’”

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. spoke at Temple Beth-El of Great Neck in 1967, which launched an annual tradition to dedicate the temple’s Shabbat service to the civil rights leader before every Jan. 14 holiday honoring his legacy.

“This event commemorates Dr. King’s historic 1967 speech here at Temple Beth-El and throughout the Black-Jewish dialogues that our communities have created decades ago to develop an understanding and to find common ground,” said Gary Slobin, temple president. “We quickly discovered that we have much more in common than we thought.”

PHOTO BY CAMERYN OAKES

Gov. Kathy Hochul gives the keynote address at Temple Beth-El of Great Neck’s annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Shabbat service Friday.

Commonalities Slobin pointed out between the two groups are the importance of religion, God and family as well as their pursuit of social justice.

He called for the continued uniting of the Jewish people and people of color in order to prevent them from being

“dragged backward into darker times.”

“Sadly there are forces in our society which strive to rip us apart,” Slobin said. “They do this because they know together we are strong, we are powerful and we can accomplish great things.”

Hochul said King’s speech at the temple 57 years ago is a “point of pride.” His speech topic that day is something that the governor said is still with the American people to this day.

King spoke of two Americas: one where people have the milk of prosperity and the honey of quality, and another facing despair and injustice.

She said this can be true of today, with seemingly two Americas and sometimes even two New Yorks. But with this disparity, the governor said she has focused on uplifting the oppressed communities to unite the two Americas into one.

“We are all called to talk about that, put a spotlight on that,” Hochul said. “But more than just talk, we can do something about it.”

The governor said she was raised in a Catholic family that supported social justice and the words of King and the Civil Rights Movement were an ever-present aspect of her childhood.

She recounted the day she learned of his assassination, with tears in the eyes of her parents as they discussed how such an atrocity could occur.

“We prayed for our country,” Hochul said about her family upon learning the news of King’s death.

She said there was so much division and despair in the country at that time.

“A lot of people said ‘Our country, how can it possibly heal? We are so divided,’” Hochul said about the national mood in 1968. “So I think about today.”

Slobin called the recent rises in antisemitism an “unprecedented wave” and something that everyone needs to band together to combat.

Roger Tilles, the former temple president and current member of the New York State Education Department Board of Regents, applauded the governor for her support of the Jewish community in the wake of the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks, saying he was disappointed by the lack of support by fellow educators.

“We thank her for all the help that she is to Long Island,” Tilles said. “And we welcome her here on Long Island.”

The governor criticized the lack of support the Jewish community has received in the wake of the war in Israel.

“Where are the allies today who should be standing side by side with the Jewish people against antisemitism?” Hochul asked. “Where are they today?”

Continued on Page 46

Suozzi opens H.Q. for campaign in G.N.

BY B R A N D ON D U FF Y Former Democratic U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi opened his campaign headquarters in Great Neck, the hometown of his Republican opponent for the 3rd Congressional District, Nassau County Legislator Mazi Melesa Pilip (R-Great Neck).

Suozzi and Pilip are both vying for the seat formerly held by George Santos, who was expelled from Congress last year. The special elec-

tion will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 13.

Among the hundreds of supporters were state and Nassau County Democratic Committee Chairman Jay Jacobs, state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, U.S. Rep. Grace Meng of Queens, and North Hempstead Council Members Mariann Dalimonte and Christine Liu. Also in attendance was former North Hempstead Supervisor Jon Kaiman and former North Hempstead Council Member Veronica Lurvey, among others.

Continued on Page 46

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE CANDIDATE

Former U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-Glen Cove) poses with supporters after opening his campaign headquarters Sunday in Great Neck

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Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, January 19, 2024

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T:12.45"

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Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, January 19, 2024

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Suozzi campaigns on the environment

2023

Best OF Nassau County WINNER PRESENTED BY BLANK SLATE MEDIA

BY C A M E RY N OAKES

aback by an unusual sight: a bald eagle.

At Sea Cliff Municipal Tom Suozzi was in his Glen Beach Thursday afternoon, Cove home on a cold day late Suozzi recounted the environin December when he looked mental growth as he explained out his window and was taken his congressional campaign’s

PHOTO BY CAMERYN OAKES

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Tom Suozzi outlines his campaign focus on protecting the environment, alongside environmental organizations endorsing him, at a rally in Sea Cliff Thursday afternoon.

Pilip releases own 10-point plan for CD3

BY B R A N D ON D U FF Y Nassau County Legislator Mazi Melesa Pilip (R-Great Neck), the Republican candidate vying for the 3rd Congressional District, released her 10-point plan that calls for delivering tax relief, repealing New York’s cashless bail laws and supporting Israel among her priorities

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focus on continuing to protect the natural landscape amid endorsements by multiple environmental organizations.

“The environmental policies we implement today will be critical for our survival tomorrow,” Julie Tighe, president of the New York League of Conservation Voters Federal Fund, said. “And leadership matters.”

Suozzi, a Democrat, is facing off against Republican Nassau County District 10 Legislator Mazi Melesa Pilip in a Feb. 13 special election to finish out the term of Republican Rep. George Santos.

Santos was expelled from Congress in December after he was found to have repeatedly lied to voters – later indicted on 21 federal charges and found to have committed numerous violations by the House Ethics Committee.

Environmental organization endorsements of Suozzi have included the New York League of Conservation Voters Federal Fund, as well as the League of Conservation Voters Action Fund, the NRDC Action Fund and the Sierra Club.

Continued on Page 46

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE CANDIDATE

Nassau County Legislator Mazi Melesa Pilip (R-Great Neck).

Pilip is squaring off against former Democratic U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi for the seat he held before resigning to run for governor that was won by George Santos, who was expelled from Congress last year. Pilip said her “thoughtful and strategic” plan will protect the American Dream and “fix the damage done by Joe Biden and Tom Suozzi.”

“By focusing on key issues such as securing our southern border, providing tax relief, stimulating our economy, and combating crime in our neighborhoods, I will bring a fresh perspective to Congress that is sorely needed,” Pilip said in a statement. “I am a proven leader and a fighter, and I will never stop working to create a better future for our community.”

The special election to fill the seat vacated

by Santos is scheduled for Feb. 13. Suzzoi held the seat from 2017 to 2023.

Pilip’s plan comes weeks after Suozzi released a 10-point plan of his own to “Help Restore Sanity to Washington and Get Things Done.”

Included in Pilip’s priorities are delivering tax relief and restoring the state and local tax deduction in Congress–a priority of Suozzi during his six years in Congress. The cap has been passed in the House multiple times but failed to get past the Senate.

Continued on Page 46

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The Manhasset Times, Friday, January 19, 2024

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12 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, January 19, 2024

Opinion

OUR VIEWS

Warning for Nassau at judge’s G.N. home

I

n the end, no one was injured this time. At least physically.

The bomb threat that was made early Thursday at the Great Neck home of Justice Arthur Engoron, the judge presiding over ex-President Donald Trump’s fraud trial in Manhattan, turned out to be unfounded.

Nassau County Police said they responded to the threat at 5:30 a.m. along with the Kensington Police Department.

The county’s arson and bomb squad and multiple other units investigated the home and found nothing.

But there did not need to be an actual bomb or for that bomb to off to do actual harm.

The threat came just hours before Engoron was expected to hear closing arguments in a fraud trial in state court in which the judge had already ruled that Trump illegally inflated the value of properties he owns – including Trump Tower and Mar-a-Lago in Florida – by billions of dollars in paperwork submitted to banks, lenders and insurance companies.

Engoron is now deciding on a call by state Attorney General Letitia James to fine Trump $370 million and permanently bar him and his two sons from working in the real estate business in New York State.

The unfounded bomb threat – a tactic known as swatting — let Engoron know that at least one person who did not wish him well knew where he lived.

Engoron, his neighbors and law enforcement must now be concerned that someone will come back and follow up on their threat.

It also subjected Engoron and any family members at his residence to potential harm from law enforcement who descend in force in these cases — as they did at Engoron’s home.

In 2017, a swatting call over a video game dispute resulted in the death of an innocent man at his own front door.

A Blank Slate Media reader emailed us to criticize us for disclosing that Engoron lived in Kensington, apparently fearful that someone would use the information to make good on last week’s threat.

The location of the bomb threat was disclosed by Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman in a press release, at least one other Nassau-based publication had reported the Kensington location and certainly the person who made the false threat knew where Engoron lived.

But we understand our reader’s concern in the current atmosphere that Trump has created.

Did this threat have any impact on how Engoron conducted the day’s proceedings? We think no.

But Engoron did make an unusual decision to allow Trump to add to the closing statements made by his attorneys after the Republican Party’s leading contender for the presidential nomination missed the deadline set by the judge to agree to his requirements for the expresident to speak.

The requirements were for Trump to stick to the facts of the case, “not try to introduce new evidence, not deliver a campaign speech and not impugn myself, my staff, plaintiff, plaintiff’s staff, or the New York State Court System, none of which is relevant to this case.”

The behavior Engoren was describing is not uncommon when dealing with mobsters, drug dealers and gang leaders. But former presidents of the United States?

Engoron had already imposed a gag order Oct. 3 after Trump posted a derogatory comment about the judge’s law clerk to social media.

The law clerk, Allison Greenfield, began receiving 20-30 derogatory calls per day to her personal cell phone and 30-50 messages per day on social media, LinkedIn and two personal email addresses after Trump’s comment. The gag order was challenged by Trump’s lawyers and later upheld.

When Trump’s attorney asked if Trump could speak, Engoron began questioning Trump again about whether he would follow his instruction, but the former president interrupted and went on a six-minute harangue that violated the judge’s orders.

During his six minutes, Trump once again attacked James and Engoron – as

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Editorial Cartoon

he had throughout the trial. But neither Engoren nor James attempted to interrupt.

There is no question Engoron bent the rules for Trump and treated him differently than he would have treated anyone else.

It is possible that Engoron’s decision to allow Trump to speak was intended to remove an argument in any future appeal. It is also possible that he allowed Trump to speak because he was doing more harm than good especially since Engoron will be the person ruling on the matter.

But what does that do to the principle that we all stand equal under the law?

And he is not the first judge in Trump’s two civil cases and four criminal cases to allow him to say and do things that would get any other defendant punished for contempt of court.

Equally disturbing is that the swatting incident in Great Neck was not unusual.

NBC News reported that on Christmas Day Jack Smith, the special counsel in charge of two federal prosecutions of Trump, was “swatted.” The Washington Post reported last week that Tanya S. Chutkan, the judge presiding over one of those two cases, was also recently swatted.

U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland last week warned of a “deeply disturbing spike in threats against those

REPORTERS Brandon Duffy, Cameryn Oakes COLUMNIST Karen Rubin ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Stacy Shaughnessy, Melissa Spitalnick, Wendy Kates, Barbara Kaplan ART DIRECTOR Yvonne Farley

who serve the public.”

Prosecutors have recently brought cases against those accused of threatening FBI agents, federal judges, presidential candidates, members of Congress, members of the military and election workers, Garland said.

“These threats of violence are unacceptable,” he told reporters. “They threaten the fabric of our democracy.”

Sometimes the threats turn into action and the action intimidates public officials.

In the case before Chutkan, Smith has charged Trump with inciting an attack at the Capitol on Jan. 6 to overturn the 2020 presidential that threatened the lives of elected officials, including then Vice President Mike Pence and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and resulted in more than 140 police officers injured. Several died shortly after the attack.

Republican Mitt Romney, the GOP presidential candidate in 2012, said in a book that several colleagues refused to vote for Trump’s second impeachment because they feared for their own safety and that of their spouses and children.

Romney said he hired personal security for himself and his family at a cost of $5,000 a day to guard against threats to their lives.

This should frighten any American who believes in the founding father’s vision of democracy in this country, but it should not surprise us.

Last October, a poll taken by the Public Religion Research Institute and the Brookings Institution found 33 percent of Republicans agreed with the statement that “because things have gotten so far off track, true American patriots may have to resort to violence in order to save our country.”

Some 41 percent of pro-Trump Americans supported the statement This compares to 22 percent of independents and 13 percent of Democrats who shared the same view.

There is no mystery where threats, acted on or not, come from.

Trump has repeatedly advocated violence during his political campaigns, going so far as offering to pay the legal fees of rally attendees who beat up people opposing him.

At the Stop the Steal rally he delivered before the attack on Jan. 6, he said “And we fight. We fight like hell. And if you don’t fight like hell you won’t have a country anymore.”

Nassau County Republicans have said little or nothing against Trump’s call for violence before or after Jan. 6. Blakeman was the county Republican Party’s liaison with the Trump campaign.

Republican Congressman George Santos was picked by the party to be its candidate for the 3rd Congressional District after he claimed to have attended the Stop the Steal rally and provided money to the insurrectionists.

Continued on Page 32

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Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, January 19, 2024

13

OUR TOWN

Comic genius of Nassau native Jerry Seinfeld

J

erry Seinfeld is a Long Islander raised in Massapequa. I can assure you that there is nothing particularly funny or interesting about Massapequa. I was raised there myself and my experience of this little town on the South Shore of Long Island was a lot like his, I’m sure.

It was a bland, safe, boring, middle-class place with lots of kids playing touch football on the streets. The biggest thing you might say about Massapequa was that it was home to the All American Hamburger Drive-in. That’s it. Yet Massapequa gave birth to one of the great comic geniuses, Jerry Seinfeld.

He created “Seinfeld,” the television sitcom that is widely considered to be the greatest and most influential show of all time. Famously known as “the show about nothing,” “Seinfeld” is a series about four friends who live in Manhattan on the Upper West Side.

One character is played by Seinfeld, who plays himself as he interacts with his three friends in his apartment. It is referred to as the first post-modern sitcom and is filled with irony, incongruity and is actually based upon experiences Seinfeld or Larry David have had.

The mantra of the show’s creator was

that there should be no character development. It gave birth to many lines including “yada, yada, yada” and “No soup for you !”

After nine seasons and while still ranked No. 1 in ratings, Seinfeld walked away from the show, paused for a while and then created the wildly popular show “Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee.” When asked how he came up with the idea, he said: “I like comedians, I like cars and I like coffee.” If you haven’t seen this series, I recommend you do so. He chooses very funny comedians to talk to (Jim Carey, Eddie Murphy, David Letterman) and he chooses wonderful looking cars each week like the one you see in the photo.

But all of his television shows fail to reveal the true genius of Seinfeld. You only get that when you see his stand-up routines. In one of his shows, he goes on for five minutes about the wording of in versus on. He starts by introducing the story of how his family moved from Brooklyn to Long Island.

“We used to live in Brooklyn, but now we live on Long Island. Why is that? We never would say we live on Brooklyn and we would never say we live in Long island.” He goes on to discuss the use of in versus on regarding

DR. TOM FERRARO Our Town

trains. “We rode on the train, not in the train.” This word play goes on for some time and it shows how incredibly gifted Seinfeld is verbally, but it shows something else.

Seinfeld is perhaps the only truly popular comedian I know who exclusively uses what Freud called nontendentious humor. Non-tendentious humor is the use of word play or harmless, non-offensive humor. Almost every other comedian I can think of uses tendentious humor which employs sexual, aggressive, vulgar, and largely offensive humor. Lenny Bruce, Eddie Murphy,

Richard Pryor or the ever-offensive Ali Wong are good examples of this. But to be funny by using quirky, non-offensive observations about the minutia of life takes a comic genius.

So how does he do it? Maybe it had something to do with being raised in Massapequa. The fact that the place was so boring and bland may have forced Jerry to learn how to entertain himself by developing a keen sense of humor. In fact, in his standup routines he does tell one story about how bored to death he was when he was forced to accompany his mother to wallpaper stores or to banks. The North Shore of Long Island gave birth to the wildly funny Andy Kaufman, so perhaps Great Neck was as boring as Massapequa was and forced Andy Kaufman to get funny or go mad with boredom.

The suburbs are that faraway dreamland every parent living in Brooklyn or Queens yearns for. But the fun streets of Queens and Brooklyn are just fine for most kids. When my parents moved us from Bayside to Massapequa, I was about 8 years old. The mean streets of Bayside had action and a pulse, which was perfect for me and my brother.

When we moved to Massapequa, it

was like being sent to some dull, foreign, lifeless wasteland. I wish I had grown up next to Jerry Seinfeld instead of Richie Dezino, Gail Oppenheimer and Drew Agnone. If I lived next to Seinfeld, I could have been his very first audience, laughing uproariously at his little skits about Coco Puff Cereal and Fruit Loops.

Oh well, such is life. I’ll have to settle for seeing him in person at his next show at the Beacon Theater. Do you think this column will get me a backstage pass to to meet him?

Jerry Seinfeld was homegrwon in Massapequa but that didn’t seem to curb his enthusiasm. “Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee is yet another brainchild from this comic genius.”

KREMER’S CORNER

Too early to sweat the November election

L

ike it or not I get about five calls a day from people telling me the election is over.

Most of them come from Democrats who seem to be unnecessarily worried about Joe Biden and his chances for re-election. I ask them to make believe we are back in high school and looking at a blank chalkboard. That board will not have any important information to ponder before July 1.

Forget about the polls. I still remember the headline in 2018 which screamed, “Is Barack Obama Toast?.” I know that all of the current polls, including the fake ones say that Donald Trump is beating Joe Biden. Ignore them if you can.

There are lots of things cooking in the political oven that won’t be ready for consumption for quite a few months.

First of all, former President Trump has to officially be the party’s candidate. That is almost a given, even if Nikki Haley makes a last-minute surge in the polls.

There is no Republican Party. It

died in 2016 when Mr. Trump won his party’s nomination. Trump will be the candidate of his party and his actions or craziness will get even worse after Super Tuesday, when he locks up his party’s support for 2024.

To add to the current confusion, Nikki Haley will get some good news in other polls, but it will be impossible for her to overcome Trump’s lead.

Trump’s party is not ready to dump its leader for the former South Carolina governor. The next question is whether President Biden definitely becomes his party’s candidate?

Right now it looks like a sure thing, but there is really no such thing in politics. Biden could run into a series of bad luck developments that could change his decision to run. We will only know whether he is his party’s candidate, when he clinches the nomination.

Assuming Trump is the candidate, everyone including partisans in his party, all agree that Trump is

JERRY KREMER Kremer’s Corner

his own worst enemy.

Each day he makes some crazy announcement that could impact on how his voters and the more moderate voters think.

One of his latest words of wisdom was his wish that the “economy would crash.” He expressed the desire not to be the next “Herbert

Hoover”, but he is talking doom and gloom, praying for such a collapse.

Now comes the big if. Currently, Special Counsel Jack Smith is anticipating a March 4 trial on the Jan. 6 insurrection charges.

It is not a complex case like the Georgia election tampering case or the Mar-a-Lago document case.

There is a possibility that the March date could be postponed, but it could commence in either April or May. One of the first key witnesses in the Jan.6 trial would be Trump’s former chief of staff. Mark Meadows alone could destroy Trump.

What happens if Trump is convicted in the insurrection case?

Polls taken on that subject show that many Republicans now committed to Trump, would consider withdrawing their support and looking for another option.

A shift of a few percentage points could turn the election upside down and give President Biden a landslide victory. That possibility

is what is behind Trump’s everyday efforts to postpone any trial until after the election.

Each and every day one of Trump’s lawyers get out of bed hoping to invite a new procedure that could delay any trial until after November.

There is one facet to the presidential elections that hasn’t been mentioned lately. It is the Supreme Court.

That court has a number of cases that could have a dramatic impact on the election. The biggest one that could be a bombshell is the one which could decide whether a birth control pill, approved by the FDA, is illegal. More than half of America’s women take that pill and if the court rules against it, the election would have been decided.

So keep that chalkboard blank, because so much is yet to happen.

Scrap the polls and ignore the media mavens. Start filling in real information and hard facts somewhere around July 1 when the crystal ball starts to get a little clearer.

LETTERS POLICY Letters should be typed or neatly handwritten, and those longer than 750 words may be edited for brevity and clarity. All letters must include the writer’s name and phone number for verification. Anonymously sent letters will not be printed. Letters must be received by Monday noon to appear in the next week’s paper. All letters become the property of Blank Slate Media LLC and may be republished in any format. Letters can be submitted online at theisland360.com/submit-opinion/ or mailed to Blank Slate Media, 22 Planting Field Road, Roslyn Heights, NY 11577.

14 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, January 19, 2024

E A R T H M AT T E R S

It’s never too early to think about your lawn

I

t may be the dead of winter (even though it doesn’t seem like it with all this rain and no snow…yet), but the multi-billion-dollar green industry is busy getting ready for the spring season…a new spring season that spells trouble for our fragile environment here on Long Island.

The industry is using this seasonal down time to ramp up production and distribution of fertilizers, pesticides, and other chemical lawn products that landscaping services and homeowners will be applying to lawns as early as March to get a jump start on the growing season.

Landscaping companies are printing up their new 2024 contracts, listing all the “applications” they can apply to your lawn to make it the envy of your neighbors, and hoping you’ll sign up for another year of service. They’ll probably promise a “quick green-up” and a lawn free of weeds and insects, all courtesy of chemicals.

It’s emblematic of the hubris of man that we think we can outsmart nature with chemical innovations, instead of harnessing the natural power of nature to accomplish our goals. Keep in mind that before World War II, all the great gardens and beautiful golf courses around the world were maintained

without any chemicals at all. What happened?

Money is what happened. Today, manufacturers tell us we just can’t have a lush green lawn without using their pesticides and high nitrogen fertilizers – two things which are known to contaminate our ground and surface water and lay waste to broad swaths of our unseen but critical members of our natural world.

The story actually gets worse. You may have heard about PFAS, the class of cancer-causing and endocrine-disrupting chemicals that seem to be in everything from non-stick pans and waterproof boots to beauty products and grease-proof pizza boxes.

It turns out that a lot of “natural” lawn fertilizers contain dried sewage sludge (more often referred to as “biosolids”), which contain significantly high levels of PFAS. But that’s not the only source of PFAS in lawn fertilizers. Many of the most popular lawn fertilizers contain PFAS in the plastic coating of their “slow release” fertilizer pellets.

The thin layer of plastic is designed to keep the highly water-soluble nitrogen from dissolving too quickly. As the plastic begins to deteriorate on your

PATTI WOOD Earth Matters

lawn, the nitrogen and the PFAS are released into the environment. Oh, and did I mention that the plastic waste never goes away?

Some of the nitrogen will be taken up by the grass plants, but a lot of it (some studies have suggested as much as 50-60%) misses the plant completely and “disappears” into the environment, running off into nearby streams and bays or leaching down through the soil into our drinking water aquifers.

Lawn fertilizers, especially those

with high levels of nitrogen in excess of 12% are major contributors to our nitrogen loading (or nutrient loading) problem here on Long Island.

Excess nitrogen in our surface water is one of the root causes of harmful algal blooms and fish kills during the summer.

So the most popular fertilizers on the market deliver a double whammy to the environment: PFAS and harmful levels of nitrogen.

The good news is that this is a problem with a solution. First, nature has already figured out how to deliver just the right amount of nitrogen to your lawn: leave the clippings on the lawn to feed the microbes in the soil.

Those microbes will work for free, slowly turning those clippings into nitrogen for the grass plants. It’s an elegant process that works like a charm, unless humans get in the way.

And often, we do. In an effort to control “pests,” many homeowners and landscapers turn to chemical pesticides.

Pesticides kill virtually every living thing in the soil.

So think about it: if you use pesticides on your lawn, and then leave your grass clippings on the lawn, there won’t be any microbes left to turn the clippings into nitrogen.

You’ve defeated nature’s system!

Now you’ll have to go to the big box store or garden center and buy the nitrogen that nature would have provided for free.

So, bottom line, if you want free nitrogen and free labor, stop using chemical pesticides that kill the microbes that nature has provided for us, and if you want to avoid algal blooms, fish kills and contaminated drinking water, stop using high-nitrogen fertilizers.

If your lawn really needs more nitrogen than nature can deliver, there are several excellent products which contain water insoluble nitrogen and no PFAS. You can find a listing of those products on the website, LIWater.org, along with a list of landscaping companies that can maintain your lawn without harmful chemicals.

And of course, if you really want to get to the root of the problem (no pun intended), consider cutting down on the amount of lawn you have on your property.

Plant a vegetable or flower garden, build a pond or bird bath, plant native grasses, or let part of your property go wild and see what nature will create!

And let your kids and pets out to run and play.

VIEW POINT

Suozzi’s bipartisan plan for immigration reform

I

mmigration will be a key issue for the 2024 election – if the Republicans have their way – in order to deflect and drown out the war on women and reproductive health rights and the strong Biden economy (Bidenomics!).

Therefore, they have no interest in addressing the border crisis reasonably and every reason to exacerbate the crisis.

From his first day in office, President Joe Biden proposed Comprehensive Immigration Reform, and worked to address the desperation that causes millions of people to uproot their lives, leave family and home, and make the perilous, even deadly journey, to the U.S. Biden is not the cause of this latest migration wave,which is also being experienced in Europe and the Mideast, fueling similar anti-immigrant fascist movements.

Republicans have rejected Biden’s funding requests to bolster border security, add border control agents and increase the number of immigration judges so that asylum claims can be more promptly adjudicated.

The number you don’t hear: Biden has expelled 2 million who did not meet the criteria for asylum.

Of the 3.1 million who attempted to cross into the United States from the southern border in 2023, 2.5 million were “encountered” by border agents, 562,000 were immediately expelled under Title 42, 185,000 were immediately deported, 180,000 voluntarily departed, 300,000 from Venezuela and Nicaragua were given humanitarian “parole”;

600,000 made it through undetected and undocumented, The New York Times reported.

In all, of the nearly 2 million who were processed under Title 8 in 2023, only 2,700 were granted asylum or a path to permanent residency. Not undocumented. Not illegal. Hardly the freefor-all “open borders” the Republicans are charging. https://www.nytimes. com/interactive/2024/01/09/opinion/ immigration-in-one-chart.html) While Biden has agreed to compromise and the Senate is coming up with a bipartisan bill, House Speaker Mike Johnson has refused to consider anything but their HR2 cruelty, more interested in political theater and images of invading hoards so useful for fear mongering.

It is why Trump, who found his racist tirades against Mexicans and Muslims so productive in 2016, now demeans migrants as “vermin” “poisoning the blood of our nation” and promises to use the army in the biggest deportation project in history and renew the Muslim ban.

It is why Texas Gov. Greg Abbott dumps them in northern cities and suburbs, puts razor wire in the Rio Grande and says the only reason Texas isn’t shooting migrants is the Feds would charge it with murder.

It is why Gov. Ron DeSantis is using Florida taxpayer money to charter airplanes to traffic migrants not from Florida but from Texas to blue states.

(New York is now suing the bus charter companies that traffic humans across

KAREN RUBIN View Point

state lines, without any notification or coordination.)

Immigration is “complicated” but mainly politically. It seems obvious that there needs to be more funding for border agents, technology, immigration judges and social workers, better, bigger facilities to house people until processed, but most importantly, the ability and the will to send people where they are wanted – involving coordination and planning. More support is needed for computerized systems such as New York State has instituted to match migrants with jobs – in essence, a high-tech version of what the wave of immigrants, who built the railroads, roads, skyscrapers and manned the mines and factories, experienced in the early 20th century.

In fact, a report by the Immigration Research Initiative and the Ellis Is-

land Initiative, foundthat for every1,000 migrants who arrive onLong Island, about $3 million is paid in local tax revenue—with that number increasing to $4 million within fiveyears, Newsday reported. (https://www.newsday.com/ long-island/asylum-seekers-migrantslong-island-report-economy-qz99kzbw) The immigration issue affects our region, economically and socially certainly, but this is a national problem that requires Congress to act.

We know how former Congressman Tom Suozzi feels about immigration reform and that he has thoroughly studied the issue – he has advocated for reasonable, bipartisan compromise to achieve Comprehensive Immigration Reform in the past – in fact, partnered with Republican Long Island Congressman Peter King in 2019 on a plan.

And, now that he is seeking to return to Congress in the Feb. 13 special election, he has detailed his position again, addressing the 5 million still undocumented immigrants and the 600,000 children protected under Obama’s DACA program (who Trump vows to round up and deport). (See: Viewpoint: SuozziKing plan for immigration reform is spot on and long overdue, https://theisland360.com/promoted/viewpointsuozzi-king-plan-for-immigration-reform-is-spot-on-and-long-overdue/) “The national emergency is not on the border but in the nation’s capital — a failure of leadership in Washington. It’s been almost 40 years, back to 1986, since we had comprehensive immigration re-

form,” Suozzi, told a press conference and in letters to the president and House leaders. “It’s getting worse and worse.

People in my district and throughout country are angry about the immigration crisis. It’s a complicated issue, but I know that only way to solve complicated problems is by working across party lines.”

He went on to say: “It will require bipartisan compromise that secures border that gives Republicans what they want, and what Democrats want, whether more judges, border patrol, physical barriers, radar tech, secure border and to get to the root causes that drives people in the Northern Triangle to flee in record numbers.”

In contrast, we don’t have a clue what or if the Republican candidate Mazi Pilip thinks about immigration–— herself an immigrant first welcomed as an Ethiopian Jew to become an Israeli citizen and then easily obtaining U.S. citizenship (her husband is a UkrainianAmerican who studied in Israel).

Will she support shutting down government in order to extract untenable, inhumane (even illegal) and frankly anti-American immigration policies, including closing the border? Will she support blocking aid to Israel and Ukraine unless Biden complies with the Republicans’ cruel policies? She did not respond to our query.

But we do have a very good idea of how she will vote, based on how she performed in the Nassau County Legislature: however she is told to by the Republican leadership.

Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, January 19, 2024

15

READERS WRITE

Secretary Austin erred but we wish him well

S

ecretary of Defense Lloyd The only thing he should have Austin had prostate cancer done was to have told someone so and had a prostatectomy that the defense department could and came down with an in- run like it should and should not fection. have kept it a secret.

But on a personal note, I pray for his recovery. You see I myself came down with an aggressive prostate cancer six years ago and had to have my prostate removed so the

cancer would not spread to other Austin. Continue to get well Lloyd organs.

Austin.

I was lucky and they found the cancer early, like I believe they did Frederick Robert Bedell Jr. with Secretary of Defense Lloyd Bellerose

Tom Suozzi’s the furtherest thing from The Squad

M

azi Pilip’s most recent campaign ads make a ridiculous claim that Tom Suozzi joined the far-left Squad during his time in Congress.

Nothing could be further than the truth, as Tom was one of the most moderate members of Congress, serving as the vice chair of the Problems Solvers Caucus, a bipartisan group that seeks out policy solutions by reaching a middle ground (the antithesis of everything The Squad stands for).

In fact, he was one of the leading

critics of The Squad in Congress, including by going on CNN immediately after Rep. Ilhan Omar’s noxious “Benjamins” comment in which she claimed it was Jewish money influencing her colleagues’ votes on Israel policy to fiercely criticize her and stand against her antisemitic remarks.

Congressman Suozzi responded by relating his own family’s story as Italian immigrants, who were once treated as disloyal Americans and reiterating that he supports Israel because it is good U.S. policy.

Congressman Suozzi was one of the strongest allies of the U.S.-Israel relationship during his time in office, co-sponsoring multiple pieces of legislation and consistently speaking out against Israel’s detractors, and traveled to Israel in a show of solidarity following the Oct. 7 terrorist attacks by Hamas.

What supporters of Israel need now are representatives looking to build a bipartisan consensus in favor of the U.S.-Israel relationship, something that Congressman Suozzi has done and

will do again if elected on Feb. 13.

Pilip’s charges reek of projection, as despite her remarkable personal story, she has failed to offer critical information during her campaign to explain to residents what type of representative she would be.

She has declined opportunities to participate in numerous debates that would allow voters to assess her policy positions, refused to say who she voted for in the 2016 and 2020 elections, or how she came to support former Rep. George Santos, despite the red flags

about his background and support for the Jan. 6 rioters that he expressed during the campaign, as he defrauded our district and is the very reason this special election is even occurring.

I am supporting Tom Suozzi because of his strong, consistent and outspoken support of Israel and because he has the experience needed to deliver on the issues most important to our community.

Peter Fishkind Great Neck

I endorse Suozzi for the 3rd Congressional District

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ccording to the Republican candidate in the third district special election, having been in the Israeli army makes her uniquely qualified to be in Congress.

But as almost every Israeli does army service, it is hardly unique, (bragging about it is like boasting you have gone to high school), and more to the

point, it does not have anything to do with the office she is running for.

Unless of course, this self-described emissary of her native country wants to import national healthcare, legal abortion, strict gun control and free childcare, long-standing Israeli policies, to this country, which considering the party she is representing, is highly unlikely.

Not only does the GOP pick lack a record and almost any experience, but she also refuses to take a public stand on anything.

Tom Suozzi, on the other hand, throughout years of holding legislative and executive office, has a proven record of defending women’s reproductive rights, advocating sensible control

of firearms, protecting the environment, fighting crime, and backing legislation that benefits senior citizens, union members and area taxpayers.

He has not hesitated to reach across the aisle to achieve solutions and, if we must go there, despite never having been in the IDF, has always strongly supported Israel.

But he has never forgotten that his number one job is to work for the best interests of the people he represents right here in America, like he has done effectively, in various capacities, during decades of public service.

Rita Hall Great Neck

When it comes to migrant crisis, Schumer Is MIA

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igrants recently being transferred overnight from the Floyd Bennett Field shelter in Brooklyn to Madison High School due to poor weather conditions should come as no surprise to anyone.

Everyone already knew that the temporary shelter built at Floyd Bennett Field was not designed to deal with inclement weather, storms and cold winters. Both children and adults living at this and other shelters have never been fully screened,

tested and vaccinated as citizens are. Who pays for transportation of migrants back and forth, along with cleaning the school?

Never shy around a microphone or camera, 1967 Madison High graduate and Senate Majority leader Charles Schumer

is nowhere to be found. He has never borhood long ago. He has forgotten his visited the border, Floyd Bennett Field old neighborhood’s roots for the bright or his alma matter to see firsthand how lights of Washington elites.

President Biden’s open border policy is adversely impacting our nation. Schumer Larry Penner abandoned his Madison, Brooklyn, neighGreat Neck

Tom Suozzi — the right person at the right time

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merican Jewry and Israel, America’s closest ally, need friends and fierce advocates in Congress, especially now. Tom Suozzi is the right person at the right time.

Tom’s demonstrated commitment to supporting Israel, his deep understanding of government and the U.S.-Israel relationship, and his fearlessness in defending the Jewish state – including against antisemites within his own party – is exactly what we need right now.

All these essential characteristics are evident in Tom Suozzi’s very first speech on the floor of Congress seven years ago on Jan 5, 2017. In that maiden speech newly elected Congressman Suozzi condemned the recently passed United Na-

tions Resolution 2334, which declared that all of Israel’s presence outside its pre1967 borders is illegal.

The anti-Israel UN resolution declared that Jewish control of the Kotel was illegal. That Jewish sovereignty in the Jewish Quarter of the Old City was illegal. That Jewish jurisdiction over holy sites such as the Cave of Machpelah, in Hebron, where tradition holds that Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Sarah, Rebekah, and Leah are buried was Illegal.

In his brief, but impactful first official speech as a member of Congress, Tom Suozzi completely eviscerated the UN resolution’s wrongful notion that Jewish life in the eternal Jewish homeland is an obstacle to peace. Rather, as Tom stated that day, the obstacle to peace is “anti-

Israel terrorism.”

The fact that he chose to stand up for Israel on day one of his congressional career is itself a testament to his genuine and heartfelt commitment. Of all the issues on which he campaigned, of all the issues which he and his supporters cared about, of all the governmental and political forces and pressures pushing and pulling him to make a statement about this or that, Tom Suozzi devoted his first speech in that hallowed chamber to defending the safety and security of the Jewish state.

He did so despite the fact that it was a prior Democratic administration that declined to veto the UN resolution, thus letting it reach the Security Council for a vote in the first place. It tells us that Tom will not back down, will not relent, will

not sit still, and will not look the other way when Israel is unjustly singled out, maligned, and attacked.

Tom marshaled the evidence, and deployed his understanding of government and the U.S.-Israel relationship, to clearly demonstrate that he takes the job seriously and will continue to deliver. We need a representative in Congress who believes in the fundamental right of the Jewish people to self-determination and security, and who has proven that they will show up prepared and able to work every lever of government possible to get results. Tom has the knowledge of how government works, the relationships on both sides of the aisle, and the understanding of our issues to get the job done.

Tom has continued to be one of Is-

rael’s and American Jewry’s fiercest advocates, fighting for unconditional aid for Iron Dome and David’s Sling, condemning (publicly on CNN) antisemitic comments by Democratic colleagues like Ilhan Omar, passing bipartisan legislation to sanction the terrorist use of human shields, and even traveling to Israel as recently as December to support Israel and Jews throughout the world during this difficult time.

Governing is hard. For American Jewry and America’s closest ally, Israel, Tom Suozzi is the right person at the right time for the right place. That place is the United States Congress.

Rory Lancman Great Neck

16 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, January 19, 2024

READERS WRITE

No emergency alert from town about flooding in Port

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n Saturday, Jan. 13, at around noon, I was on my way to my local supermarket on Shore Road. The road,

however, was closed due to flooding. than 10 minutes.

Traffic was detoured and it took me I received no emergency alert almost 45 minutes to return home— from the ToNH. Had I received an a drive that normally would take less alert, I would NOT have driven there.

We used to receive alerts concerning is happening. extreme weather by phone, text and email. Now, we receive nothing! It is important for residents to know what

Jan Jamshidi Port Washington

Suozzi clear choice for Congressional District 3

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t is especially relevant, that experience and concern for others are important factors when we are given the opportunity to choose anything in our lives for consideration.

Throughout his long-standing, multifaceted career as a legislator, Tom Suozzi has proven that his experience, efforts and concern for people has produced positive results for all those he has served.

Tom’s credentials are the key that makes him well-qualified to be a legislative representative.

He is an accountant, a lawyer and has held seats in the public sector as the mayor of Glen Cove, Nassau County Executive and former congressman of District 3 for which he is renewing his candidacy.

During his 3-term tenure in the House, his efforts were always focused

on the betterment of his constituents.

He is known as a problem solver.

In fact, he was elected vice-chair of the Problem Solvers Caucus during his tenure which comprises membership by both parties.

During the pandemic, Tom negotiated a relief bill for state and local governments and was supported by the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus. “Let’s fix this,” could not be more apropos

regarding Suozzi’s message.

Suozzi’s efforts to reduce the SALT tax has been a major part of his mantra.

He worked hard to improve the conditions at the Northport VA Medical Center, he secured funding with Rep. Peter King for the Navy Grumman Plume.

On both a national and personal level, I am grateful to Tom Suozzi for his strong support of gun safety measures.

Given Tom’s credentials, his experience and demonstrated concern for others, his re-election would enhance and improve the community in which he serves. I urge you to join with me in Tom’s re-election to Nassau County’s District 3. Ultimately, we will all be the beneficiaries.

Lois A. Schaffer Great Neck

A campaign to misrepresent Tom Suozzi on Israel

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here seems to be an effort to mischaracterize Tom Suozzi’s positions on the issues affecting the Jewish community and Israel.

Let me tell you the emes (truth).I have known Tom Suozzi since he was mayor of Glen Cove and have supported and worked with him ever since he first ran for county executive, during his tenure in that office and during his time as a member of Congress. While I was serving first as vice chairman (2005-2012) and then as chairman (2012-2020) of the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center of Nassau County, Tom was extraordinarily committed to the success and growth of the center and to its mission of teaching the lessons of the Holocaust.

He understood the danger of growing antisemitism and made sure the county did everything it could to ensure the existence of a strong Holocaust education institution as one critical way to prevent such growth. I can say without any reluctance that HMTC would not be in existence today without Tom Suozzi’s devotion to the center and its cause.

From another perspective, I have worked with Tom from my positions as president of Temple Israel of Great Neck and as member of the Boards of the American Jewish Committee and the Jewish Community Relations Council on Long Island. He gets what we feel as American Jews, our concerns about growing antisemitism, and our close

connection to the State of Israel and the Israeli people.

From talking to him, seeing his actions at the county and congressional levels, his trips to Israel, it is apparent that he senses Jewishness in his kishkes.

It goes far beyond what every politician does to show affinity to all the racial, ethnic and religious groups in his or her constituency. Tom has a genuine and true connection with, and affection for, the Jewish people and Israel.

Tom’s opponent, despite her unique and interesting background, has so far not demonstrated any true understanding of the role of, and issues facing, a member of Congress. I have no doubt about her commitment to the safety and

survival of Israel, but her performance as a county legislator and inability to articulate positions on any of the critical issues our country is facing leave little confidence ion her ability to effectively represent us. Her voting and actions are strictly in lockstep with what Republican leaders tell her to do and she would have very little influence as a freshman Republican member from a blue state.

Tom Suozzi, on the other hand, is an experienced and highly respected former member and has the respect of members from both sides of the aisle. He has shown no reluctance to loudly criticize Democrats who are clearly anti-Israel and even antisemitic. He can do far more to represent the positions and feel-

ings of the Jewish residents of the Third Congressional District than his opponent could possibly do.

So, I (speaking solely for myself and not on behalf of any organization referred to above) am urging my fellow residents of Great Neck and everywhere in our district to put aside their blind party loyalty and to think about who could be most effective to represent our concerns and promote legislation and government actions that are most important to us.

I have no doubt that it’s Tom Suozzi...

Steven Markowitz Great Neck

What’s needed is more inclusion, more love, less hate

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ast week I had the pleasure of attending the panel against hate convened by Mayor Ted Rosen in the Village of Great Neck Plaza on the cusp of Martin Luther King Day. It was a special privilege to be invited to attend as president of the Great Neck Public Schools Board of Education and as immediate past president of Sephardic Heritage Alliance Inc. The panel’s original lineup included a regional leader from the NAACP, a prominent rabbi from the Hamptons, a prominent imam, and a local leader from the Great Neck Chinese Association.

Intimately familiar with Great Neck demography, the omission of any Mizrahi/Sephardi Jewish voice on the panel struck me as significant, particularly after the devastating Oct. 7 Hamas terrorist attacks on civilians in Israel and the correlative rise of antisemitism here in New York.

When I spoke to Mayor Rosen to express the concern, he understood. The

mayor requested that I secure an additional panelist. To everyone’s benefit, Justice Mojgan Morgan Kohanim Lancman agreed to participate on the panel.

A SHAI board member, Judge Lancman is believed to be the first Iranianborn elected judge in the State of New York. She is also the immediate past president of the Brandeis Association.

After each of the other panelist’s thoughtful remarks Judge Lancman invoked Martin Luther King to say no one walks the march of civil rights alone.

In fact, she stated her very oath is to ensure equal treatment for all before the law. The judge also spoke of the specific recent history of antisemitic persecution experienced by Iran’s Jews, and its correlation to lived experiences of many Middle Eastern immigrants in the local community, before and after Oct. 7.

The judge referenced model efforts made by organizations, such as Brandeis Association and SHAI, in allyship, with other organizations to counteract antisemitism and bigotry as well as teach

Holocaust and MENA history. She noted more will need to occur following Oct. 7.

To his great credit, Mayor Rosen appropriately included a representative from the GNCA on the panel. The Board of Education’s colleague, Steven Chen (whom the board recently appointed to fill a vacancy), spoke on behalf of the Great Neck Chinese Association with understanding and care for Great Neck’s children as future leaders.

The Village of Great Neck Plaza has previously convened against hate.

As Mr. Chen noted, many residents, my family and I included, gathered during the pandemic at a large rally in the Plaza in support of Asian-American lives during the terrible spike of anti-Asian violence and hate.

We somberly convened again when a GNCA banner was defaced at the LIRR station.

The Village of GN Plaza (and other Villages) were also instrumental in permitting our high school students to organize a walk in support for African-Ameri-

can lives which my family and I attended during the pandemic. That march also began in the Plaza, and was referenced by the speaker from the NAACP during the panel’s discussion.

One commends Mayor Rosen and the Village for facilitating these convenings in a nonpartisan manner. Each one amplified diverse voices and created opportunities for understanding and allyship in our pluralistic community. Raising up one another’s voices to be heard beyond silos is where growth happens; omitting voices and lived experiences is not the answer.

One especial thanks to our superintendent of schools, Dr. Kenneth R. Bossert. After Mayor Rosen invited Dr. Bossert to moderate, Dr. Bossert immediately rescheduled his calendar in order to accept.

As president of the Board of Education through the pandemic and many partisan communal divides (only some of which are referenced above) one stated repeatedly that the Board’s most last-

ing legacy would be the selection of our next Superintendent of Schools. I simply could not be more encouraged.

During the panel, Dr. Bossert set the tone for our entire peninsula: kind,thoughtful, modest, and nonpartisan engagement.

Moreover, Dr. Bossert spoke of aspiring to “acceptance” as Great Neck’s hallmark, not mere tolerance. Surely, this can be the inclusivity which honors both Dr. King’s legacy and Great Neck’s pluralistic future.

In conclusion, I echo Judge Lancman, who raised up rabbinic sages in memory of Rev. King. They taught that the remedy for baseless hatred, “sinat hinam” is love, “ahavat hinam.” The answer to bigotry and hate is more love via more education. If last week’s panel is any indication, Great Neck’s future remains bright.

Rebecca Sassouni President GNPS Board of Education

Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, January 19, 2024

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READERS WRITE

Experience, accomplishment in Suozzi-Pilip race

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y husband and I have known Tom Suozzi for a long time.

My husband Dave Sear sang at one of Tom’s inauguration ceremonies for mayor in Glen Cove during the 1990s.

Tom has a long history of public service and elected office. He has served as Nassau County Executive, as mayor of

Glen Cove and as congressman for the 3rd Congressional District.

He has a law degree and is a licensed accountant. This background and his commitment to good government facilitated his remarkable resuscitation of Nassau County’s terrible financial difficulty while he was county supervisor from 2016 to 2020.

He has always been a staunch advocate of our environment and has successfully initiated programs that have improved the waters around Nassau County. He has supported the SALT program that allows homeowners a $10,000 tax deduction and will continue to work to allow more dollars to be deducted.

He has a proven record of helping his constituents with their taxes. Tom believes he can work with all members of Congress and will continue on that path.

We have a choice of an experienced person who has a long record of accomplishments in improving our environment, working for better health coverage for veterans and others, providing

tax relief and a proven commitment to public service or choosing a novice who can only promise something about taxes with no record or plan.

Vote for Tom Suozzi who is always there to serve his constituents.

Charlotte Sear Great Neck

Soul of America is at stake in Pilip-Suozzi race On Feb. 13, there is a special election to choose a replacement for disgraced former congressman George Santos.

There are two candidates: one from the Democratic Party who will put us in drive and move us forward, and one who supports the same agenda as the Republican Party and who will put us in reverse.

During the 2 years that Suozzi’s opponent has served in the county Legislature, she has done little to contribute to our legislative district. She is a charming empty suit, as was her former disgraced colleague.

Tom Suozzi has served as a congressman, county executive and mayor, always

having a positive impact on the people he served. Tom, as our congressional representative, served on the Problem Solving Committee, which reached across the aisle to solve mutual interests.

He has fought for the reinstatement of the state and local tax deduction that was taken away under the Republican-

controlled house. I am sure that his opponent has no idea what that really is.

Please do not allow the Republican party to dilute the reason that we all came to America: Freedom of Choice, Freedom of Religion, the right of those who view our country with their sets of eyes.

On Feb. 13 support Tom Suozzi for

his return to Congress as our representative of CD3.

The soul of America and our soul is at stake. Our ancestors have shown that if you wait too long it becomes too late.

Charles Schneider Manhasset

Pilip better to support Israel, combat antisemitism

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afety, security and high taxes are crucial issues for voters in the upcoming Special NY 3rd Congressional District election that will be held on Feb. 13.Illegal immigrants have made their way to NYC and Nassau County. Millions of unvetted illegal immigrants continue to enter the U.S. through our open southern border, bringing with them gang violence and terrorism risks.

Nassau County Legislator Mazi Pilip is the best candidate to help our community in Congress with these and other issues.

Mazi has consistently fought against any tax increases and consistently voted against any tax increases. With no exceptions.

On the other hand, professional politician Tom Suozzi instituted major tax hikes and proposed even more tax hikes when he was the Nassau County executive, and made Nassau County into the highest taxed county in America. (Suozzi Proposes 20% Increase In Taxes For Nassau — The New York Times) Politifact says that it is true that Suozzi raised taxes by hundreds of millions of dollars when he served as county executive. (https:// www.politifact.com/factchecks/2016/ sep/23/national-republican-congressional-committee/suozzi-passed-major-taxhikes-nassau-county/) In addition, Suozzi knows that his pledge to advocate in the House of Representatives to restore the SALT state and local tax deduction is a worthless stunt. The House of Representatives has already passed the bill to restore the SALT deduction, but the Senate blocked it. So we would gain nothing by electing Suozzi, and would risk paying a lot more taxes by electing a known tax-hiker such as Suozzi.

Mazi will advocate for tax relief,including restoring the SALT deduction and other relief,and will also continue to vote against tax increases.

Regarding immigration, Suozzi’s immigration plan to build a large processing center in the United States for illegal

immigrants is likely to increase illegal immigration into the United States and make the problem even worse. Illegal immigrants should remain in Mexico and should not be encouraged to enter the United States in the first place. It also says a lot that Suozzi called for Jewish pro-Israel official Stephen Miller to be fired, and falsely implied that Miller was an antisemitic white supremacist. (“Suozzi wrong to call on Miller to resign.”) The real reason Suozzi seems to have attacked Stephen Miller is because Mr. Miller strongly opposes illegal immigration.

On the other hand, Mazi will work to restore a secure southern border.

Also, no one in Congress should praise or give credibility to terror-linked groups. I’m extremely concerned about Suozzi’s public letter to CAIR saying that he “applauds” and “appreciates” the Hamas-linked organization CAIR (Council on American-Islamic Relations).

[The letter is online at CAIR journal, page 78,https://www.scribd.com/document/443221667/Cair-PDF-Full#from_ embed] The federal government named CAIR as an unindicted conspirator that funneled money to Hamas.[https:// www.investigativeproject.org/1854/dojcairs-unindicted-co-conspirator-statuslegit] In response to the unprovoked massacre of Oct. 7, CAIR’s national executive director said that Palestinians have the right to “self-defense” while Israel does not have a right to self-defense, and that he was “happy to see” the people of Gaza “breaking the siege” on Oct. 7, when Hamas attacked Israel and massacred 1,200 people including over 30 Americans and took Israeli and American hostages. CAIR organized disruptive antisemitic pro-Hamas demonstrations throughout the country that shut down streets, airports and bridges in recent months. Then CAIR condemned the New York City police for dispersing the disruptive pro-Hamas demonstrators.

Although people urged Tom Suozzi to retract his letter praising CAIR and to

instead denounce CAIR, Suozzi still has not done so. [Times of Israel blog by Elchanan Poupko:https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/rep-tom-suozzi-must-retractsupport-for-terror-affiliate/] In 2020, Suozzi’s primary opponent, pro-Israel Democrat Michael Weinstock, said: “I was shocked to learn that Suozzi recently sent a beautiful letter of support to CAIR Suozzi’s endorsement of this anti-Semitic organization tells us that his support of the Jewish community is completely transactional. When he supports us, it’s never heartfelt.” [https://theislandnow.com/weinstock-calls-for-suozzito-rescind-letter-in-support-of-organization-with-alleged-ties-to-terrorism/] This is not where it all begins and ends. Just last year, Suozzi announced publicly that he wanted to become an “Honorary member of the Squad.”Suozzi has voted with the Squad 95% of the time. It is no secret that the Squad members, especially Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib, are venomous defamers of Israel and America. During a speech for CAIR, Omar trivialized the terrorists who killed thousands of Americans (including some of my friends and many people in our district) on 9/11 as “some people did something.”

During another televised interview, Omar justified terrorism as a reaction to “our involvement in other people’s affairs” and laughed about and mocked how Americans say the names of terror organizations Al Qaeda and Hezbollah.

Omar and Talib and company are also known for shamelessly espousing antisemitic tropes, and have been making antisemitism “acceptable” in America. I can never vote for Suozzi after he said that he wanted to be an “honorary member” of that Squad.

On the other hand, Mazi Pilip initiated the Nassau County Legislature Task Force on Combating Antisemitism, organized numerous events and efforts to stop antisemitism, fought against terrorism when she served in the Israeli army before immigrating to the United States, and will be a strong fighter in Congress

against terrorism and the Squad’s shameful bigotry.

Suozzi also falls short in other ways.

Souzzi voted for the dangerous antiIsrael House Resolution 326.H. Res. 326 wrongly insists that creating a Palestinian-Arab state on lands to which Israel has the historic and sovereign legal right is the “only” solution!”

In addition, Suozzi’s first ever speech in Congress in 2017 called for creating a Palestinian state, said he will “never abandon” calling for a Palestinian state, and criticized some of the Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria for existing, even though Jews have lived in these areas for thousands of years.

Suozzi repeated this in more speeches in Congress. [https://docs.house.gov/ meetings/FA/FA13/20170202/105508/ HHRG-115-FA13-Transcript-20170202. pdf].

Suozzi has no military background nor any training in the relevant sciences such as missile guidance, missile defense and electronic warfare. Suozzi has not fought against terrorists as Mazi has.

None of Suozzi’s experiences in Nassau County and Washington, DC, qualify him as an expert or warrants him jeopardizing the lives of those who live in Israel, a totally different “neighborhood” than Nassau County.

Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis are continuing to shoot barrages of missiles every day at Israeli civilians, American troops in Iraq and the region and international shipping. After the Oct. 7 massacre, it is obvious even more than ever that giving up Israeli control over the Judea-Samaria-the West Bank to create a Palestinian state there and in Jerusalem and Gaza is too high a security risk.

Hamas is the most popular group among Arabs in the West Bank. The Palestinian Authority in the West Bank celebrated murdering Israelis and Americans on Oct. 7 and also pays Arab terrorists to murder Jews and could do this even more if it becomes a state. A Palestinian state would encircle Israel and

would endanger the entire region with another state controlled by powerful terror groups that do Iran’s bidding.

Judea and Samaria-West Bank is a significantly larger territory than Gaza. It is clear now that if Israel ever removes its presence from the West Bank, there would be an even “grander war” starting from the West Bank than the Oct. 7 massacre and the battle in Gaza. Pushing for withdrawal of Israel’s presence from Judea and Samaria-West Bank by irresponsible individuals like Suozzi is a recipe for disaster by several orders of magnitude, for both the Israelis and the Arabs who live there and for American interests.

Suozzi needs to totally stay out of Middle East politics. We cannot afford his simplistic slogans calling for a “two-state solution.”We cannot afford a congressman who tries to dictate to Israel, and will “never abandon” a Palestinian state.

The situation in Israel and America has drastically changed after the Oct. 7 massacre. We cannot afford a congressman like Suozzi who clings to dangerous “solutions” that would make matters worse, and who has failed to retract his support of the Squad and CAIR. Tom Suozzi’s pattern of disturbing conduct towards the Jewish community, American security and high tax record are unacceptable.

It is also unacceptable that Suozzi is now allowing the Democrats to run dirty, racist and sexist attack ads that falsely call Mazi Pilip a “rubber stamp” for invented positions. Mazi Pilip is an impressive, intelligent woman. Mazi Pilip is an Ethiopian Jew who was rescued

by Israel, grew up in Israel and served in the Israeli military, and later immigrated to the U.S. and admirably served in the Nassau County Legislature. I would be very proud to have Mazi serve as our Congresswoman.

Catherine Goldman Manhasset Letters Continued on Page 32

18 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, January 19, 2024

DeSena to give State of the Town on Jan. 26

BY B R A N D ON D U FF Y North Hempstead Supervisor Jennifer DeSena will give her 2024 State of the Town address on Friday, Jan. 26, at Harbor Links Golf Course in Port Washington.

This will be the third address given by DeSena at the luncheon hosted by the League of Women Voters of Port Washington and Manhasset, a nonpartisan political advocacy organization.

DeSena, of Manhasset, became the first Republican candidate in 2021 to win the town supervisor seat in over 30 years, succeeding Democrat Judi Bosworth, who did not seek re-election.

She then won re-election to a second twoyear term in November over Democratic challenger and former Supervisor Jon Kaiman in a contest that saw Town Republicans flip the majority of the seven-member town board 4-3.

In the most recent election cycle, DeSena ran on cutting taxes, fixing the town’s Building Department and updating North Hempstead’s master plan.

In November the town board unanimously approved a $163.9M budget for 2024, which provided a 10% property tax cut and maintained services and programs in the town.

North Hempstead Comptroller Elaine Philips has been auditing the town’s Building Department since DeSena asked for it in July 2022 and is reportedly to be finished early this year. Ahead of Election Day in November, DeSena said in an interview with Blank Slate Media that she made recommendations to address issues in the Building Department outside of the audit, but said it was difficult to do so without the majority support on the town board, which she has now.

DeSena also said the town’s master plan is

PHOTO COURTESY RUSSELL LIPPAI

Republican North Hempstead Supervisor Jennifer DeSena applauds during her 2023 State of the Town address at Harbor Links Golf Course in Port Washington. nearly 35 years old and has not been updated since. The supervisor previously said she would like to redo the plan “very soon” and that it would help identify areas in the town that could be rezoned to build more housing.

For the past two years, then-Council Member Veronica Lurvey recorded a response to DeSena’s address that also laid out priorities for the town and highlighted accomplishments from Democratic town board members. It is unknown at this time if any Democratic town board council

member–Robert Troiano, Christine Liu or Mariann Dalimonte–will file a response to DeSena’s address.

There are currently a number of vacancies in multiple departments in the town, some of which can be filled by the next town board meeting.

In August, Comptroller Kristen Schwaner resigned suddenly after working in the town for four months. Schwaner’s absence left the top three positions in the town’s comptroller department open alongside two deputy vacancies. Both

DeSena and Town Democrats at the time blamed each other for Schwaner’s departure.

Director of Purchasing Moira LaBarbera also resigned in August last year.

During its first meeting of the year Jan. 9, the town board voted to terminate multiple employees who had been working with the town before DeSena and her administration took office in 2022.

The terminations included Deputy Commissioner of Parks and Recreation John Darcy, Commissioner of Public Safety Shawn Brown, Chief Research Assistant Jeanine Dillon, Administrative Assistant to the Town Board Rebecca Cheng, Secretary to the Commissioner of the Department of Services for the Aging Juleigh Chin and Public Information Officer Gordon Tepper.

Mitchell Pitnick, the secretary to the commissioner of finance, resigned from the town and Planning Commissioner Michael Levine retired.

All personnel actions–including hiring, terminations, resignations and retirements–are approved by a majority vote of the town board. It is unclear at this time what positions the town will fill, if any, during its Feb. 6 meeting. Personnel resolutions are included in each meeting’s agenda, which is usually posted on the Friday of the week before.

Those interested in attending the luncheon before DeSena’s address can do so by registering by Friday, Jan. 19, at www.lwvofpwm.org or contacting Kimberly Corcoran-Galante at corcorank@northhemspteadny.gov. The charge per person is $45 and the lunch will begin at 11:45 a.m. with an 11:15 a.m. check-in.

The State of the Town address is open to the public and free of charge and will begin at 1:15 p.m. It will also be live-streamed on the Town of North Hempstead’s website and Facebook page.

Pilip called to testify DiNapoli keeps tax about husband’s biz cap at 2% for ‘24-’25

BY B R A N D ON DUFFY Nassau County Legislator Mazi Melesa Pilip (R-Great Neck), the Republican candidate for the 3rd Congressional District, was subpoenaed to testify in an ongoing lease dispute case against her husband and his medical practice.

Pilip is due in court on Monday for a deposition related to allegations against her husband, Dr. Adalbert Pilip, and his medical practice, A.P. New York Comprehensive Medical Care. The suit accuses Dr. Pilip and his practice of allegedly failing to pay approximately $72,000 in rent due as of late 2020 and owing nearly $500,000 for the five remaining years on the lease through 2026, according to court documents filed in 2021.

Pilip, who was not named in the complaint, was allegedly the operations director of the practice at the time of the suit and stopped working there to run for her first elect-

ed office in 2021.

“This is nothing more than an ongoing lease dispute between a private business and a landlord,” Brian Devine, spokesman for Pilip’s campaign, said in a statement to Blank Slate Media.

Pilip is currently running against former Democratic U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi to fill out the remaining term of George Santos, who was expelled from Congress last year.

Steven Ferber, attorney for the plaintiff, Progressive Housing Corp., argued that Pilip has to be deposed before the Feb. 13 Election Day because if she does win then her availability will become limited.

“If Donald Trump can appear in court and for depositions while he is campaigning for his presidency, surely Ms. Pilip can spare a few hours to attend her deposition,” Ferber wrote to State Supreme Court Justice George Nolan. He is the senior partner for Islandia-based Davis & Ferber LLP.

William Birney, attorney for the Pilips, said the doctor was available to be deposed on Feb. 14 and that his wife could be deposed afterward, accusing the plaintiff’s counsel in “what appears to be an attempt to exert pressure upon the defendant and his wife who is presently actively engaged in her campaign as a candidate for election to the United States House of Representative in a special election to be held on Feb. 13, 2024.”

Ferber wrote that he subpoenaed Pilip after finding out in December from a newspaper interview that she was the operations manager of the practice and that she was as familiar with the business as her husband.

“If I was looking to exert pressure, I would have returned the multiple phone calls from the media seeking a statement concerning the lawsuit and actions of the defendant Dr. Pilip and his wife,” Ferber wrote to Nolan on Jan. 9.

BY B R A N D ON DUFFY State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli announced Thursday that the state-mandated tax cap will be a maximum of 2% for the third year in a row.

The new cap applies to school districts for the 2024-25 fiscal year, which starts on July 1.

The tax cap law went into effect in 2012 and requires local municipalities and school districts to restrict the annual increases in their tax levy, the amount of money they raise through property taxes, by the lower of 2% or the inflation rate–which is 3.4% for the year according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The tax cap has not changed since 2021-22 when it was 1.23% and has not changed from 2% for seven of the last nine years, according to the comptroller’s office.

Residents can still vote in budgets for their school district that override the tax cap if a supermajority of voters, or 60%,

approve it.

Voting day for school district budgets will be Tuesday, May 21.

“While inflation continues to decline from recent highs, it remains well above 2%,” DiNapoli–a former Mineola Board of Education trustee–said in a statement. “With one-time pandemic relief aid nearly exhausted, school district and municipal officials should carefully monitor cost growth to effectively manage their budgets and ensure

State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli.

they comply with the tax cap law.”

School districts make up the majority of property taxes in the Town of North Hempstead. In the year 2022, 71% of the taxes collected and disbursed by the town were for school districts and libraries, according to the town’s 2024 budget.

For the current 2023-24 school year, state aid for schools increased over $3 billion, or 9.6%, making the total over $34 billion.

Gov. Kathy Hochul proposed a $233 billion state budget Tuesday that would increase school aid by nearly 3% across the state–a drop from the 7.7% annual increases schools received from the past four years.

Specifically, Hochul proposed $35.3 billion for school aid, an increase of $825 million from last year.

New York has ranked No. 1 in the nation for per-pupil spending and in 2021 spent $26,571, 85% more than the national average, according to the governor’s office.

BLANK SLATE MEDIA January 19, 2024

YOUR GUIDE TO THE ARTS, ENTERTAINMENT AND DINING WWW.THEISLAND360.COM

Ex-prosecutors to discuss impact of legal cases in online talk

On Sunday, Jan. 28 at 3:00 PM, Stephen C. Widom Cultural Arts at Emanuel will present a virtual Video Conversation with Prosecutor Jill Wine-Banks and U.S. Attorney Joyce Vance, moderated by NY1 news anchor, host of Inside City Hall, and CNN political analyst, Errol Louis.

They will discuss the upcoming 2024 presidential election and the legal challenges ahead.

Jill Wine-Banks combines experience as a senior corporate executive and nonprofit CEO and COO with a successful legal career in government and private practice and service on corporate and civic boards.

She was one of the three Assistant Watergate Special Prosecutors in the Watergate obstruction of justice trial against President Nixon’s top aides in which the President was named an unindicted co-conspirator.

At the conclusion of the Watergate case, she entered private practice before being named General Counsel of the U.S. Army by President Carter. In the Pentagon, she supervised the world’s largest law firm, was a member of the Army Policy and Procurement Council and GC of the Panama Canal Corporation.

She has served as Solicitor General and then Deputy Attorney General of Illinois.

She was later appointed executive vice president and chief operating officer of the American Bar Association, the largest professional association in America.

She continues to hold major corporate and government posts and engage in numerous civic and charitable activities.

Jill Wine-Banks’ book, “The Watergate Girl: My Fight for Truth and Justice Against a Criminal President,” has been optioned by Katie Holmes to become a movie.

She is currently a legal analyst on MSNBC, a co-host of two Politicon podcasts, #SistersInLaw with 3 other MSNBC contributors (Joyce Vance, Kimberly Atkins Stohr and Barbara McQuade) talking about pressing legal issues each week and iGenPolitics with Victor Shi, a college student, bringing an intergenerational approach to political issues with interviews of leading politicians, activists and journalists.

Joyce White Vance is a Distinguished Professor of the Practice of Law at the University of

Jill Wine-Banks, Joyce Vance and Errol Louis.

Alabama School of Law. She served as the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama from 2009 to 2017. She was nominated for that position by President Barack Obama in May of 2009 and unanimously confirmed by the Senate in August of 2009.

Professor Vance served on the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee and was the cochair of its Criminal Practice Subcommittee.

As U.S. Attorney, she was responsible for overseeing all federal criminal investigations and prosecutions in north Alabama, including matters involving civil rights, national security, cybercrime, public corruption, health care and corporate fraud, violent crime and drug trafficking.

She was also responsible for affirmative and defensive civil litigation on behalf of the gov-

ernment and for all federal criminal and civil appeals.

Before becoming U.S. Attorney, Professor Vance served as an Assistant United States Attorney in Birmingham for 18 years. She spent ten years as a criminal prosecutor, before moving to the Appellate Division in 2002. She became the Chief of that Division in 2005.

Prior to her work as a federal prosecutor, she spent six years as a litigator in private practice.

Professor Vance received a B.A. from Bates College in Lewiston, Maine, magna cum laude, and a J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law. She recently received the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Public Health’s Lou Wooster Public Health Hero Award for her leadership in creating a community-engaged

initiative that included partners from law enforcement, the medical and business communities, and educators to address the heroin and opioid epidemic in northern Alabama. She is a frequent legal commentator on MSNBC and other news outlets.

This program is funded by Pamela & Daniel Perla.

Registration for this event is $15.

For further information, to register and purchase a ticket online, go to: https://www.scwculturalarts.org/sundayseries This event can be viewed through February 11th. To purchase a ticket after Jan. 28 at 2:00 PM, call 516.482.5701.

Please call 516.482.5701 if you have additional questions.

20 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, January 19, 2024

Treating troubling children

Esteemed prof to talk on U.S. Israel and world in Zoom meet

This presentation will highlight areas pertinent to assessing, understanding and treating problematic, excessive and addictive screen use in children across the lifespan.

Audience members will learn how excessive screen time impacts brain development and how certain populations of youth are more susceptible to the effects of screen time.

Various treatment interventions are discussed that target reducing and controlling screen time and promoting healthier digital use.

The program is on Jan. 23 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Great Neck Library Main Branch, 159 Bayview Ave., Great Neck.

This event will have a Chinese translator and registration is required.

Open Play is available for students in Grades 3 and up. Registration is required. Register here: http://tinyurl. com/5xh96vvh

Professor Ralph Buultjens

All members and friends are invited to Temple Emanuel’s SCW “Zoom” Friday Night Vesper Service, January 26, 2024 at 5:00 p.m., when Dr. Ralph Buultjens will offer the talk, “The Global Prospect: America, Israel & the World 2024.”

Buultjens is professor at New York University and former Nehru Professor/Professorial Fellow at the University of Cambridge (U.K.).

He is also on the faculty of the New School University and is affiliated with several educational institutions abroad. Professor Buultjens is a well-known media commentator, and he has been a consultant/advisor to the United Nations.

He is a prolific writer of books, articles, monographs and essays. Dr. Buultjens’ numerous awards include the Toynbee Prize for the Social Sciences, the French Order of Arts and Letters, several awards from India and other Asian countries, and many honorary degrees. He has been chairman of the International Development Forum and the Society of Asian Affairs.

He is continuing editor of the Boston Book Review, and he writes a syndicated column on international political economy.

Dr. Buultjens lectures regularly at the 92nd Street Y. The talk is preceded by a brief vesper service conducted by Rabbi Robert S. Widom. A Q&A follows the talk.

Call Missy at 516.482.5701 if you would like to receive a link to the Zoom service.

HOME DESIGN

A BLANK S L AT E M E D I A SPECIAL SECTION JA N UA RY 1 9, 20 24

• PAGE 9

22 HOME & DESIGN • Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, January 19, 2024

Give your living room

Light it up One of the easiest ways to transform a room’s vibe is to utilize lighting. Change draperies to allow more natural light to shine in. Consider additional windows or skylights if yours is a particularly dark home. If you desire to create a more vivid or cozy ambiance, use a combination of accent, task and supplemental lighting in the space so there are no dim corners.

a new vibe

A

n “out with the old, in with the new” mentality can extend to people’s visions for their homes. A home in need of repair or renovation can serve as a catalyst to take inventory of personal style and help make interior spaces reflect one’s unique vibe.

A living room can grow stale over time and often serves as a catchcall for clothing, blankets, gadgets, and other items. Upon recognizing a living room has seen better days, individuals may decide it’s time to give the space a new vibe. That transformation can start with these strategies.

Organize first Clutter frequently is the culprit behind a living room that may not give off the vibe individuals desire. As families grow and people add belongings, space may be at a premium. Less is more has never been a more important

concept. Remove extraneous items before purchasing new furniture or transitioning to a new design. You may even want to remove everything and start from scratch before reintroducing desirable elements to the space.

Seek the assistance of professionals Some people are adept at decorating and designing spaces.

But just as you wouldn’t perform your own medical procedures, you should leave jobs like interior design and renovations to the professionals. Hiring a professional interior designer and contractors can really bring a living room together in ways

homeowners may have never imagined. These pros can build off of your ideas and truly create a space that may be worthy of a magazine spread.

Promote wellness You may want to consider adding natural materials in the design to promote well-being. Eco-friendly furnishings, raw fibers and organic textures will create an environment from sustainable choices. Plenty of plants also can create a welcoming environment that helps you surround yourself with positive energy and the items you love.

Create an industrial or urban vibe Industrial-chic design celebrates the bones of a building. It’s what makes city lofts so appealing, with their exposed beams and brick.

Even those who live in suburbia or out in the country can give a living room this look with subtle nods to the style. Unadorned windows, clean lines on furniture, oversized, gallery-style art, and metal accents can add touches of this popular look to your home.

Revamping a living room doesn’t have to be difficult. With an idea in place and some professional touches, an entirely new vibe can be achieved.

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24 HOME & DESIGN • Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, January 19, 2024

Turn your bedroom into a relaxing retreat

STAY WARM THIS B WINTER!

H

omeowners want to view their homes as a respite from all that goes on outside their doors. Indeed, turning a home into a residentsonly retreat can ensure everyone looks forward to walking through the front the door at the end of the day.

One of the more popular ways to turn a home into one’s own personal retreat is to upgrade the bathroom. A renovated bathroom can completely transform how individuals feel about their homes. The following are some features to consider when remodeling a bathroom with relaxation in mind.

and the installation of such a feature can eliminate the need for floor mats and bath mats that some homeowners may not like.

Commit further to the heat theme with a heated towel rack, which is another feature associated with luxury hotels that can be just as enjoyable at home.

• Add soft lighting. Adjust the intensity and the color of the lighting in the bedroom. It should be subtle and warming. Dimmers enable homeowners to adjust lighting as needed.

edrooms are more than places to lay our heads at the end of the day.

Bedrooms serve different functions, and not all are conducive to relaxation.

People who use their bedrooms as a work space may find they’re compromising their well-being by introducing activities into the • Soaking tub: An open shower bedroom. The Sleep Foundation creates an instant feeling of says having an office in the luxury, but few things are more bedroom blurs the lines between suggestive of relaxation than a work and personal life, which can soaking tub. A long day at school have serious effects on sleep. or the office or a day when winter people should be looking PLUMBING & Rather, HEATING winds are howling SERVING outside THEisLOCAL COMMUNITIES FOR OVER 38 YEARS to turn their bedrooms into made much better with a good a relaxing retreats that offer a soak. The National Kitchen & Bath respite from the outside world.

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• Open shower: An open shower is a visually stunning addition to any bathroom. Such showers give a bathroom a more open look, thanks in part to the fact that these modern features do not feature a door or require the use of a shower curtain. The result is a clean look that many people the room. Floor-to-ceiling associate with a luxury hotel. windows may seem appealing in When speaking with a contractor WE ARE or FULLY STAFFED FOR brochures advertisements, but about an open shower install, ALL YOUR EMERGENCIES * SINKS * FAUCETS * LEAKS such features do not create the homeowners can ask about a halfSERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES FOR OVER 30 YEARS sense of privacy many people wall to safeguard against water * STOPPAGES * OIL GAS CONVERSIONS Your prefer in One-Call-Does-It-All their bathrooms. One or splashing out of the shower. In PLUMBER two skylights can create that BOILERS addition, a heat * lamp can help & WATER HEATERS sense of privacy and still allow for ensure residents stay*warm until BACKFLOW TESTING natural light to enter the room, they’re ready to leave the making this an option that * SERVICE CONTRACTS * LEGALIZATIONS bathroom. provides the best of both worlds.

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• Declutter the room. A sense of calm can be achieved simply by removing excess clutter. There is some evidence that the brain is more calm near an empty dresser, desk or clothes hamper.

Therefore, removing excessive items from the room is a first step to making a nice retreat.

• Add an area rug. Even in rooms with carpeting, an area rug under the bed can further define the perimeter of the bed and add extra plushness underfoot.

• Invest in aromatherapy diffusers. Certain smells can create a relaxing mood. These may be sandalwood, lavender or jasmine. Utilizing their preferred scents, homeowners can employ reed diffusers in their bedrooms to enjoy the aromas of natural oils.

• Used closed storage. Open shelves and visible closet interiors may not hide a mess. Exposure to clutter can contribute to feelings of anxiety. Store items that shouldn’t be on display behind closed doors or drawers.

• Bring in luxury linens.

Homeowners should not skimp on comforters, sheets, duvet covers, and pillows for their beds. A cozy bed to dive right into can serve as the centerpiece of a bedroom retreat.

Turning a bedroom into a relaxing space can help individuals sleep better and reduce anxiety.

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• Use a neutral color palette.

Neutral color palettes evoke a spa feeling. Walls can be painted white, beige or a light shade of gray. This can help the room feel calming and welcoming.

• Install an electric fireplace.

There is something to be said for the relaxing effects of gazing into the flames of a fire. A crackling (faux-wood) fire is an added layer of indulgence in a bedroom.

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HOME & DESIGN • Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, January 19, 2024

Make Your Website and Social Media Work For You:

Features to consider for a relaxation-themed bathroom remodel

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H

omeowners want to view their homes as a respite from all that goes on outside their doors. Indeed, turning a home into a residentsonly retreat can ensure everyone looks forward to walking through the front the door at the end of the day.

and the installation of such a feature can eliminate the need for floor mats and bath mats that some homeowners may not like.

Commit further to the heat theme with a heated towel rack, which is another feature associated with luxury hotels that can be just as enjoyable at home.

One of the more popular ways to turn a home into one’s own personal retreat is to upgrade the bathroom. A renovated bathroom can completely transform how individuals feel about their homes. The following are some features to consider when remodeling a bathroom with relaxation in mind.

• Soaking tub: An open shower creates an instant feeling of luxury, but few things are more suggestive of relaxation than a soaking tub. A long day at school or the office or a day when winter winds are howling outside is made much better with a good a soak. The National Kitchen & Bath Association notes that luxury bathrooms featuring soaking tubs are wildly popular, and that vaunted status is undoubtedly due to the relaxing benefits of a good soak.

• Open shower: An open shower is a visually stunning addition to any bathroom. Such showers give a bathroom a more open look, thanks in part to the fact that these modern features do not feature a door or require the use of a shower curtain. The result is a clean look that many people associate with a luxury hotel.

When speaking with a contractor about an open shower install, homeowners can ask about a halfwall to safeguard against water splashing out of the shower. In addition, a heat lamp can help ensure residents stay warm until they’re ready to leave the bathroom.

• Heated features: Additional features to keep everyone calm and warm can be considered when upgrading the bathroom.

Radiant flooring can ensure everyone’s toes remain toasty,

• Skylight: Even if the goal of a luxury bathroom is to leave the outside world outside, allowing some natural light inside is a great way to add a little extra calm to the room. Floor-to-ceiling windows may seem appealing in brochures or advertisements, but such features do not create the sense of privacy many people prefer in their bathrooms. One or two skylights can create that sense of privacy and still allow for natural light to enter the room, making this an option that provides the best of both worlds.

These features and more can help homeowners transform their bathrooms into luxurious, relaxing respites from the outside world.

B

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• Rem devi sma elec whic mela that devi nigh

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Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, January 19, 2024 • HOME & DESIGN

• PAGE 11

Full Service General Contractor Builder, Remodeler While home buyers typically take their time to examine each room and space inside and outside a home before making an offer, the real estate experts at Trulia note that two rooms in particular seem to merit the closest inspection among prospective buyers. Kitchens and the bathroom in an owner’s suite can dramatically increase the value of a home. Trulia recommends that homeowners consider their neighborhood and identify their target buyers prior to beginning a kitchen or owner’s suite renovation, as such variables can provide direction and inspiration when refurbishing these widely valued areas in a home.

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28 HOME & DESIGN • Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, January 19, 2024

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Taub talk on the people, culture of Bermuda, Brits Explore the cultural and political ties between Bermuda and Great Britain. Learn about Bermuda’s African traditions.

Bermuda was discovered and named after a Spanish captain, but was settled by the British.

Unlike other areas in the New World, Bermuda was uninhabited when discovered. Learn about the different groups of people that call Bermuda home.

Discover what Bermuda has to offer and why it is a popular tourist destination.

Sheila Taub is a retired high school business teacher who taught in Manhattan and Queens.

She loves to travel and enjoys sharing what she observes and learns while visiting exciting destinations. Taub has presented at libraries and community centers and has been a guest destination lecturer on cruise ships for many years.

The Lecture is on Thursday, Jan. 25 at the Great Neck Library, Station Branch, 26 Great Neck Road, 2nd floor, Great Neck at 2:00 p.m. No registration is re-

quired and open to all Adults. For more information, please contact Great Neck Library at (516) 4668055 or email adultprogramming@greatnecklibrary.org.

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30 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, January 19, 2024

powered by

Fri 1/19

Featured

Featured

Editor's Voice

The Movielife at Sand City Brewing South (with Victory Garden + Humankind)

Gold Coast Arts Cinema Series present The Promised Land @ 7pm / $16 Manhasset Cinemas, 430 Plandome Road, Manhasset. info@goldcoastarts.org, 516-829-2570

@ 7pm Sand City Brewing, 150 S Well‐ wood Ave, Lindenhurst

Catch a special screening of "The Promised Land," the Danish entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 96th Academy Awards, and one of the 15 �nalist �lms in the December shortlist.

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Disney On Ice presents Find Your Hero

@ 8pm / $19.50-$39.50 Trucks Live Glow The Paramount, 370 Party @ 7pm / $15-$115 New York Ave, Hunting‐ @ 7:30pm / $38-$58 Barclays Center, 620 Atlantic ton Nassau Veterans Ave, Brooklyn 90s vs 2000s Dance ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////Memorial Coliseum, Party 1255 Hempstead Turn‐ Glenn Strange Band @ 9pm / $10 pike, Uniondale @ 7:30pm / $10 Mulcahy's Pub and Concert Hall, 3232 Railroad Avenue, Wantagh

Wednesday Jan 24th

Mulcahy's Pub and Concert Hall, 3232 Railroad Avenue, Wantagh

Featured

Coliseum, 1255 Hempstead Turnpike, Uniondale

Big Daddy's Restaurant, 1 Park Ln, East Massapequa

//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Barbara Martinez: Flamenco Tuesdays @ Sala Astoria

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Sarah Gross: Great South Bay Brewery (Covers)

//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

@ 7pm Sala Astoria, 34-39 31st St, Flushing

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Great South Bay Brewery, 25 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Sat 1/20

Brooklyn Nets v. New York Knicks

Featured

Zac Brown Tribute Band & Guys with Guitars

Drexel Dr, Bay Shore

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Featured

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Paint Pour Canvas Workshop

Wed 1/24

Grace Potter @ 7pm @ 1:30pm The Paramount, 370 New York NEW! Paint Pour Work‐ @ 7pm / $29.50-$59.50 Ave, Huntington shop makes a great //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// The Paramount, 370 Ruben Studdard & last-minute Holiday Gift New York Ave, Hunting‐ David Drake Comedy: Clay Aiken for all ages. Gold Coast ton Comedians You Should Tributes to U2 / @ 8pm @ 9pm Arts Center, 113 Middle Poetry Know NYC NYCB Theatre At West‐ Coldplay - Featuring Half Moon Bar & Grill, 22 E Park Neck Road, Great Neck. @ 7pm @ 9pm Ave, Long Beach bury, 960 Brush Hollow info@goldcoastarts.org, Unforgettable Fire & Sand City Brewing, 150 S Well‐ The Gutter, 200 N 14th St, //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Rd, Westbury 516-829-2570 Fix You wood Ave, Lindenhurst Brooklyn Teddy Kumpel and //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// @ 8pm / $18-$35 Nome Sane? at Still The 90's Band Featured The Paramount, 370 @ 7pm Partners New York Ave, Hunting‐ Featured Plattduetsche Park, 1132 @ 8pm ton Hofstra Pride Mens Hempstead Turnpike, Franklin Still Partners, 225 Sea Cliff Ave, Basketball vs.

William Square Sea Cliff and Mary Tribe Mens //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Basketball Pakho Chau Sal Viviano

Tom Papa: Good Stuff Tour

@ 7:30pm / $15 Mulcahy's Pub and Concert Hall, 3232 Rail‐ road Avenue, Wantagh Category3: The Shore House Bar & Grill

@ 7:30pm / $75-$6750 Barclays Center, 620 Atlantic Ave, Brooklyn

@ 7pm

Sun 1/21

Thu 1/25

@ 8pm UBS Arena, 2400 Hempstead Turnpike, Belmont Park

@ 8pm The Argyle Theatre at Babylon Village, 34 W Main St, Babylon

2024 NYS Parks Winter Run Series Babylon

A Bronx Tale - One

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Chazz Palminteri

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@ 7pm Mack Sports Complex, Hofstra University, Hempstead

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The Royal Philhar‐ monic Orchestra @ 8pm / $45.50$110.50 Tilles Center Concert Hall, 720 Northern Boulevard, Brookville

Mon 1/22

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Model Workshop with Karen Lee

@ 8pm Crabtree's NY & Main, 330 New York Ave, Huntington

Nate Charlie Music

@ 5pm / $150 //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Tower Talent, 598 Broadhollow Rd, (Hilton Hotel), Melville. 858//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Lovesong The Band: 824-0700

Krisi live at Pino Wine Bar & Bistro (Lindenhurst, NY)

@ 6pm Pino Wine Bar & Bistro, 143 N Wellwood Ave, Lindenhurst

Fri 1/26

Stage 317 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Tue 1/23 Jimmy Shaka: Mercato

After School Programs Florence Brownstein at Chabad - Toddlers 12:05pm - 7 Classes

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@ 6pm @ 12:05pm / $189 Mercato Kitchen & Cocktails, Jan 26th - Mar 15th //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// 4958 Merrick Rd, Massapequa Chabad of Port Washington New York Islanders vs.

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Nassau Veterans Memorial @ 6:30pm ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

The best place to promote your events online and in print. Visit us @ https://theisland360.com/local-events/

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Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, January 19, 2024

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32 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, January 19, 2024

READERS WRITE

Why I as a Democrat will vote for Tom Suozzi for CD3

T

his is a very important election for Congressional District 3.

We must send Democrat Tom Suozzi to represent us and give

him the chance to bring some sanity to the chaos caused by the extremist factions in both parties. He has a proven record of reaching across the aisle to solve problems.

Last week Carrie Rubinoff impugned Tom Suozzi’s record on Israel. If she took the time to look at the Congressional record she would find the truth. He has always sup-

ported Israel and its right to defend cial Election Day Feb. 13. itself {H.R.1033 116th Congress.} Tom Suozzi will protect our Judith Ludwig democratic values. Vote for Tom Great Neck Suozzi early Feb. 3 — 11 or on Spe-

Why I am voting for Tom Suozzi to return to Congress

I

am voting for Tom Suozzi because Tom’s credential make him a qualified representative for the constituents of District 3. He is an accountant, a lawyer and has held publicly elected offices as the mayor of

Glen Cove, Nassau County executive and congressman representing our District 3.

For us, he negotiated a relief bill during the pandemic for state and local governments. For us, he worked to

increase our SALT tax deduction. For us and our veterans Tom worked to improve conditions at the Northport VA Center. For us, he secured funding to mitigate the polluting Grumman Plume.

For us, he produced funding for the

Grace Ave. Senior Center. For us and plishments, experience and advocacy the safety of our children he supports for constituents, i urge you, too, to vote gun safety measures. For us he has a for Tom Suozzi. plan to control and ease the immigration crises.

Josie Pizer Given Tom’s credentials, accomGreat Neck

To set record straight, Suozzi a pro-Israel champion

I

n response to the Jan. 9 letter titled “Why I won’t vote for Suozzi,” which grossly misrepresents Tom Suozzi’s position on Israel, I feel it’s crucial to provide accurate context regarding Suozzi’s unequivocal support of the Jewish state. Contrary to the assertion in the letter, Suozzi has consistently been one of Israel’s strongest supporters in Congress.

The author’s criticism that Suozzi’s first speech in Congress pushed for a

Palestinian state in the West Bank is inaccurate. In fact, in his inaugural speech, Suozzi stood firmly with Israel by supporting legislation that condemned an anti-Israel UN resolution. In that speech, Suozzi talked about his visit to Israel in 2002 during the Second Intifada and his conversations with Prime Minister Shimon Peres about achieving a lasting peace.

Tom Suozzi has demonstrated

throughout his career that he is a true Zionist. His proactiveengagement with Israel, his condemnation of far-left members of his own party, and his support for the Abraham Accords and moving the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem all underscore his dedication to the security and well-being of Israel and the Jewish people.

I would also like to highlight Suozzi’s recent solidarity mission to Israel after Hamas’ Oct. 7 attacks. During this visit,

he met with hostage families and visited Kfar Azza, one of the hardest-hit communities near the Gaza border. These actions buttress his commitment to understanding the challenges faced by the people of Israel firsthand.

In an era when maintaining bipartisan support for the U.S.-Israel relationship is crucial, having elected officials like Tom Suozzi, a staunchly pro-Israel Democrat, is more important than ever. His ef-

forts contribute to fostering a bipartisan consensus in support of a strong and enduring alliance between the United States and Israel.

I encourage voters to consider the facts of Tom Suozzi’s pro-Israel record as you weigh your decision in the upcoming election.

Arnie Herz Port Washington

OUR VIEWS

Bomb threat at judge’s G.N. house a warning Continued from Page 12 In November 2021, Nassau Democrats blasted a march by members of the far-right Proud Boys without a permit down Sunrise Highway and into Rockville Centre where they stormed stores

shouting slogans and passing out fliers.

The Proud Boys had already risen to prominence in September 2020 when President Trump was asked about regularly encouraging white supremacist groups. He answered: “Proud Boys

Stand back and stand by. Somebody has to do something about Antifa and the left.”

The Proud Boys went on to violently lead the attack on the Capitol on Jan. 6 and their members would later receive

some of the stiffest sentences in federal court.

The Nassau GOP’s response to the Proud Boys’ march in Rockville Centre?

Silence.

The threat of violence has now been

raised again in Nassau County with the swatting incident at Engoron’s Great Neck home.

What more needs to happen before Nassau Republicans raise their voices against Trump’s violent rhetoric?

COMMUNITY NEWS

JCC, temple partner on bereavement group Sid Jacobson JCC has partnered with Temple Beth-El of This group provides a safe and caring environment where or SJJCC members/$175 for non-members.

Great Neck to offer a Bereavement Support Group for spouses individuals can connect with others who understand while givFor information or if you have questions, please contact (consisting of 10 sessions) professionally facilitated by a li- ing and gaining support.

Nelson Rothstein, LMSW at nrothstein@sjjcc.org or 516-484Meetings are at Temple Beth-El, 5 Old Mill Road, on Mon- 1545, ext. 171. censed social worker to help community members navigate grief and find solace. day nights at 6 p.m. The cost is $125 for 10 sessions for temple

BLANK SLATE MEDIA WELCOMES YOUR SUBMISSIONS. Please visit theisland360.com/submit-news

Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, January 19, 2024

Business&RealEstate

33

The need to build rapport, relationships If you are a seller, investor, purchaser, or even potential tenant, are you being properly advised and educated sufficiently enough or seeking out someone to consult you about the current challenging market?

Do you know enough about how to strategize and position yourself as a seller?

If an investor, are you doing your due diligence when looking and finding a quality property and knowing the short and longterm R.O.I.?

As a purchaser who has dropped out for a multitude of reasons, have you thought outside the box and your need and desire for the creative and cuttingedge ways to keep you in the market?

Even if you are looking for a rental, are you open to learning how you might potentially be in a position to purchase by listening and learning various strategies and methods of ways that you can accomplish this to be a homeowner and build your long-term wealth?

To me as a professional Real Estate Broker, building a spark that leads to a positive rapport and long-term relationships with a Realtor will assist you in gaining a trusted adviser, with the expertise and knowledge that you deserve.

This will surely assist you in saving, earning, and keeping more of your hardearned dollars in your pocket (instead of someone else’s) in the short and long term.

This is also of utmost importance for all Realtors in doing the same in building and growing their businesses and income.

There are times when we as brokers

have to take a step back and pay it forward by giving more than we may take.

We must take into account, realize and be cognizant that some of our clients might be having difficult times financially or are looking for guidance and have many pressing questions in solving their dilemmas.

Our job is to always try to perform skillfully and to take a position to be the best “problem solvers” and have the required and necessary and complete knowledge to step up to the plate to be a troubleshooter, fixer of issues, and difficulties in coming to satisfactory resolutions.

This will lead to minimizing stress for all involved, maximizing client satisfaction, and solving issues along the way to the closing table. This is the most advantageous path to take in leaving a lasting impression.

We as Brokers surely need to earn a living especially today with the costs of everything and the intricacies of running a successful and profitable business. However, many lose sight of what is truly most important: taking care and the concerns of our clients.

It’s not about selling anything, but what it’s about is nurturing, guiding, and educating consumers to assist them in making the best and most advantageous decisions in the sale, purchase, or investment of the most expensive and valuable asset that they will have potentially owned in their lifetimes.

Being at the top of one’s game will be tantamount to becoming more involved

PHILIP A. RAICES Real Estate Watch

and being transparent, sympathetic, compassionate and empathetic. Appreciating and understanding client concerns worries and stress during the selling, investing, purchasing, and renting process will aid in dealing with minimizing and solving those bumps in the road.

This can only lead to a stronger, more caring and mindful importance of those crucial and valuable relationships and a foundation for continued success today and in the future.

A client might want or need to buy a home. Let’s call that home “chocolate,” but some will try to sell them another home.

Let’s call that “vanilla” just to make a sale and not focus on their “specific needs and

wants” by working smarter and harder to find their chocolate.

I would rather do the latter by growing a stronger connection and greater confidence with consumers for future referrals and recommendations. That is the true lifeblood of any successful long-term business.

Over the last year or two, there have been major lawsuits against the National Association of Realtors as well as some of the largest firms due to issues with “supposed” fixing and inflating commissions.

However, there are appeals currently underway. Part of the problem that has led to this unfortunate event is the lack of providing accurate information, transparency in the transaction, and the discussion of fees and how and why we don’t just get paid for doing what we do, but why and how some of us earn our commissions: being the best we can be in becoming our clients’ best advocate and representative whether a seller or buyer’s agent during the transaction.

From my 42 years in the industry, I have never seen any Broker or company fix commissions. We don’t put handcuffs or any pressure on any homeowner and the seller has a legal right to say no to any specific amount of commission.

Negotiating is part of the proceedings.

Way back when, we got paid a higher percentage on a sale and our remuneration was less.

As prices and our expenses have increased drastically over the years, those

who do their business in a professional, candid, upfront, and legal way by adhering to the NAR code of ethics as well as the “fair housing” rules created by HUD, in most instances charge less of a percentage but are worth what they earn today.

The “cream of the crop” follows the rules and regulations and are a cut above the rank-and-file. We deserve our income because we do the right thing for our clients. I wonder why (my estimation) 100,000 agents have left the industry since 2020?

I always say, “Nobody cares how much you know until they know how much you care and know!”

Martin Luther King Day on Jan. 15 was the day to celebrate the efforts and sacrifices of MLK and others to gain a fair and equitable playing field to be treated as equal human beings with all the benefits and the freedoms, opportunities and the right to be treated equally.

Philip A. Raices is the owner/Broker of Turn Key Real Estate at 3 Grace Ave Suite 180 in Great Neck. For a 15-minute consultation, value analysis of your home, or to answer any of your questions or concerns he can be reached by cell: (516) 6474289 or by email:Phil@TurnKeyRealEstate.Com /https://WWW.Li-RealEstate.

Com My New Electronic signature/ Bio/Reviews to save to your contacts: https://onetapconnect.com/turnkeyrealestate-philraices

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With cybercrime now exploding, small and midsize businesses (SMBs) must be proactive to protect their critical data. This includes access to their networks, accounting systems and operational systems, hosted both locally and in the cloud. Every SMB has its own considerations. Some need email encryption, most need secure VPNs to support remote workers.

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35

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The Manhasset Times, Friday, January 19, 2024

37

Recent Real Estate Sales in

15 Travers Street, Manhasset

82 Country Club Drive, Manhasset

2 bd, 2 ba, 1,170 sqft, Sold On: 12/15/23, Sold Price: $900,000 Type: Single Family, Schools: Manhasset

3 bd, 3 ba, 2,426 sqft, Sold On: 12/19/23, Sold Price: $2,050,000 Type: Single Family, Schools: Manhasset

149 Circle Drive, Manhasset

72 Kensington Circle, North Hills

5 bd, 5 ba, 5,000 sqft, Sold On: 10/31/23, Sold Price: $3,650,000 Type: Single Family, Schools: Port Washington

3 bd, 5 ba, Sold On: 11/9/23, Sold Price: $1,675,000 Type: Townhouse, Schools: Herricks

Editor’s note: Homes shown here were recently sold in Manhasset by a variety of real estate agencies. This information about the home and the photos were obtained through the Zillow.com. The homes are presented solely based on the fact that they were recently sold in Manhasset and are believed by Blank Slate Media to be of interest to our readers.

38 The Manhasset Times, Friday, January 19, 2024

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Jack Voelker lone H.S. semifinalist Continued from Page 1 Great Neck South is represented by Luke Huang, Brandon Kim, Brian Liu, Helen Tang, Maggie Wu, Alexander Xu and Tiffany Zheng.

The school’s science research program is led by Nicole Spinelli and James Truglio.

“The hard work, dedication, creativity and time it takes to have work considered among the best in the nation is truly a reflection of the effort given to the task,” Superintendent Kenneth Bossert said in a statement. “I am certain these aspiring researchers will continue to make significant contributions in their selected areas of interest.”

Schreiber was represented by Hannah Rosenberg, Harrison Roth, Sadie Muller, Tej Parekh and Benjamin Gordon.

“We take immense pride in our five scholars who have demonstrated that their hard work and dedication have been recognized,” Port Washington Superintendent Michael Hynes said. “Their success serves as a shining example of the commitment to excellence deeply ingrained within Paul D. Schreiber High School and the broader Port Washington School District.”

Herricks High School’s semifinalists include Rebbeca Bover, Hiuyi Cheng, Heemali Patel and Kishan Shanmugananthan. Superintendent Tony Sinanis said during the district’s board of education meeting on Jan. 11 that this is a huge recognition for the students and district.

“This speaks to the depth of our science program, our science research program, our kids and their commitment,” Sinanis said.

Roslyn High School’s semifinalists include Jacob Gross, Cayden Shen, and Shayla Zheng.

The school’s secondary research coordinator is Allyson Weseley, who said she was proud of the three and that they are “phenomenal students out of a truly remarkable group of 12 Roslyn High School seniors who submitted to Regeneron this year” in a statement.

Rounding out the rest of the North Shore’s scholars, the group includes Claire Tao and Michelle Yu from North Shore High School, Luigi Sartori and Samantha Stewart from Mineola High School and Jack Voelker from Manhasset High School.

The 300 scholars and their respective projects were picked based on research, leadership skills, community involvement and exceptional promise as STEM leaders.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE MANHASSET PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Senior Jack Voelker from Manhasset High School was selected as a 2024 scholar in the Regeneron Science Talent Search, a program of Society for Science.

G.N. Park District accused of ‘illegal’ elex Continued from Page 4 they have the right to vote by absentee,” Stellato said. “I’ve seen no foul play in any elections.”

A total of 641 in-person votes were cast for Charlop and 719 for Stellato, according to the park district. This equates to a total of 69 absentee ballots cast for Charlop vs. the 861 cast for Stellato, leading to the incumbent garnering 92.6% of absentee votes.

The Great Neck Park District did not provide the difference between machine votes and absentee votes cast in each district. Charlop provided election results for each district based on information he collected from poll watchers on Election Night.

The biggest discrepancy between the can-

didates was in District 1 – which encompasses Kings Point – where Charlop said he received 151 total votes and Stellato garnered 779. In this district, 22 absentee ballots were cast for Charlop and 398 were for Stellato.

Charlop, a lifelong resident of the Great Neck Park District and a Wall Street broker dealer serving as the managing director of Rosenblatt Securities, said he ran for park commissioner to shine a light on issues in the district’s elections and to advocate for the district’s southern parks.

The lawsuit was a last resort for Charlop, who had spent months trying to obtain the information from the district to verify the validity of the election himself.

Before the election, Charlop said he had asked the district’s attorney if he could compare the signatures on the absentee ballot applications with the submitted ballot from the prior election. He said the attorney denied the request.

Charlop said on Nov. 22, the first day he could view the voter registration in the park district, there were already about 1,200 absentee ballots mailed out to voters. This was also the first day ballots could be mailed out, and he questioned how so many absentee ballots could have been sent out so quickly.

When as a candidate Charlop could view the list of absentee ballots sent with names, he said he found many registered individuals who

PHOTO COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Steppingstone Park in the Great Neck Park District. A lawsuit has been filed against the Great Neck Park District that is alleging “improper, unfair, biased and illegal” election procedures by the district.

did not live in the district. He could not leave the district’s office with copies of these records.

Charlop questioned the validity of more than 1,000 absentee ballots within the district as there are narrow qualifications to receive one, saying he suspects very few meet the requirements and are illegitimate.

He said despite these absentee ballots being mailed out, Charlop said many other individuals he knows had difficulty obtaining an absentee ballot. He attributed these challenges to the district obstructing votes to benefit the candidate they wanted.

Charlop, with the help of his softball teammate who is an attorney, sent legal notes to the park district days before the election to inquire about concerns regarding how the absentee ballots are conducted and irregularities. The letter requested a meeting between the two and the park district administration but no meeting was ever held.

Before filing the lawsuit, Charlop said they informed the district that they would take legal action if the district itself provided no remedy, but no response came from the park district.

“Then the election comes out and we get the results and, of course, the absentee ballots are just utterly skewed,” Charlop said.

Charlop said that in the wake of the election he was faced with two choices: just letting it go or continuing to fight against it.

“Somebody has got to step up and do something,” Charlop said.

Just days after the election, Charlop began working to draft the lawsuit filing.

“We felt we were wronged,” Charlop said.

“We wanted to get right at it.”

Charlop said he is hoping, at the very least, the lawsuit will shine a light on how the election is conducted. If nothing is found, he said they will have at least restored integrity to the election.

But if wrongdoing is found, he is asking for election results to be tossed out and the district’s election processes “cleaned up.”

He said there will be no negative outcome to this lawsuit unless the process is obstructed.

The case is scheduled to be heard in court on Jan. 24.

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The Manhasset Times, Friday, January 19, 2024

40-Love Lifestyle store a smash hit Continued from Page 2 Once the idea was hatched and a shop location was found, there were many obstacles to overcome. The biggest was getting major tennis equipment and apparel manufacturers to believe in them, and allow their merch to be sold.

“We got so many ‘no’s and so many ‘what are you crazy? We’re in the middle of Covid and you guys want to open a store now?” Branchinelli said. “So much negativity. But we basically stalked sales reps for the big companies, and wore them down.”

Their results are apparent in the store; Major tennis companies like Babolat, Wilson, and Head are all prominently displayed.

But the women said they made sure to also offer higher-end tennis merchandise; things like Swarovski crystal racket dampeners are also available at 40-Love.

In addition to clashes with manufacturers, the partners had to learn the tennis world, and spent many nights “on the phone at 3 a.m. with China” getting the business up and running,” Devardo said.

But the results have been worth the work.

The women said that their clients range from kids and parents learning the junior tennis circuit, who come in asking about string tension and the best racquet to use to get a competitive edge, to older tennis players who want a re-stock on their gear, to women seeking skirts and other leisure wear.

And they’ve grown to nine employees besides themselves, plus a large number of online orders come in through their website, 40lovelifestyle.com.

“It was important to us that we had the lifestyle part in the name, because we cater to

people who want a certain color bag to go with their racket, and a lot of other individualized stuff,” Branchinelli said. “We want people to have fun with their equipment.”

The 40 Love owners said that if things continue well, they’d like to expand to another city.

But they’re not quite on the same page there.

“Maybe Greenwich, Conn.,” Branchinelli offered.

“How about someplace warm?” Devardo added, with a laugh.

“But honestly it’s important to us that if we were to expand, that the people (running) another store were as invested as we are,” Devardo said. “We’re a couple of local Moms, we’ve tried something, and it’s been working.

So that’s been really exciting and rewarding.”

Call for unity in fight against intolerance Continued from Page 2 The ninth plague is the plague of darkness, but Schneier said it was not physical darkness but rather a darkness found within one’s heart.

“And that, my friends, is the most terrible plague of all,” Schneier said. “And that’s our challenge, not only here but throughout the country and throughout the world. And that is to find that light of understanding and caring that enables us to see the other so that we see each and every person as a human being who has the hopes, the needs, the hunger, the feelings that appear just as we do, who is a child of God just as we are and who is entitled to be treated with the same indignity, justice and compassion that we claim for ourselves.”

Boykin-Towns cited data that showed hate crimes increasing in recent years, and a prediction that the trend would continue to increase

in 2024 due to an association with presidential election years. She called for people to unite in order to challenge this prediction.

“Fighting hate has no political party,” Boykin-Towns said. “We are all duty-bound to fight together because hate is hate and our safety and our futures are intertwined… 2024 will be another battle, but I am optimistic because if you’re not optimistic, then what do you have?”

Schneier said there has been an “exponential growth” in various forms of prejudice, but quoted King in his statement expressing that all forms of prejudice is to be fought by everyone not just those directly affected.

All the panelists called for the same thing to help combat hate to their respective communities: allyship.

“We need friends,” Schneier said. “We need

allies…we cannot fight these battles alone.”

Lancman said uniting starts with inviting others into the conversation.

Boykin-Towns expanded upon this, saying it also is important to show up after receiving these invitations.

Ali said casting aside ignorance is the first step to combat hate.

The Imam said that New York City is the greatest city in the world for many reasons.

But he didn’t say it was due to the impressive architecture or the notable monuments of the city Rather he attributed it to the bridges that connect the boroughs and its people.

“There is only one supremacy, and that is human supremacy,” Ali said.

While Boykin-Towns said the discussion held Thursday night is valuable, she said it is the actions taken afterward that are important.

Threat at G.N. home of Trump trial judge Continued from Page 1 Police Department continues to work with our local, state and federal law enforcement partners on all aspects of this case.”

Efforts to contact the Kensington Police Department were unavailing.

Swatting is the act of an individual reporting a false threat to police to garner a large police response to a location.

The threat reported at Engoron’s home comes amid recent swatting incidents against judges across the United States.

PHOTO COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

The federal judge presiding over ex-President Donald Trump’s fraud case had his Great Neck home swatted early Thursday morning.

This includes Judge Tanya Chutkan, who is presiding over Trump’s federal election interference case, who was reported to have also been a victim of swatting days before the Thursday morning incident.

The swatting occurred hours before Trump was to appear in court for closing arguments in his New York civil fraud trial – over which Engoron is presiding. No delay to the court appearance Thursday morning due to the threat was reported.

Trump’s relationship with Engoron has been tumultuous during the trial, with many personal jabs made by the ex-president directed at the judge and his staff.

After Trump made a series of ridiculing comments towards a court staff member during the trial last year, Engoron issued a gag order to prevent him from continuing to make comments towards the individual.

Trump posted on social media Wednesday night continuing the attacks against Engoron, saying that Engoron is working with New York Attorney General Letitia James to “screw” him.

Correction: This story has been corrected after previously mis-titling Engoron as a federal judge.

Engoron is a New York State Supreme Court justice.

Suozzi alone at civic event Continued from Page 3 Suozzi said his bipartisan solution to help solve the migrant crisis at the southern border would be to build an Ellis Island-type facility that can increase the efficiency of processing people when they come in.

“There are border crossings on the southern border that were built in the 1950s, most of them are dilapidated,” Suozzi said.

Suozzi, who has a 100% rating from Planned Parenthood, said he supports a national codification of Roe v. Wade and securing the right to an abortion.

He said he also supports bans on assault weapons and the implementation of universal background checks.

Suozzi and his campaign have been critical of Pilip’s unwillingness to meet constituents or debate him in the district ahead of the special election.

Devine said in a statement to Blank Slate Media that Pilip’s schedule has quickly filled up, making the requested debate dates unworkable.

He added that Pilip is working to accommodate as many media requests as possible.

“Mazi has prioritized spending time attending community events and meeting with voters throughout the 3rd District. She will continue to be an extremely visible presence in the district over the coming weeks, and voters will have plenty of opportunities to get to know her,” Devine said.

“She is on the right side of the issues, from securing our borders to supporting the police and fixing our economy.

In stark contrast, Tom Suozzi is spending millions of dollars in advertising trying to erase his track record as an extremist. The voters of CD-3 are smarter than Tom Suozzi gives them credit for and will see through his attempts to rewrite history and paint himself as a moderate.”

Suozzi is next scheduled to speak at a forum hosted by the PlainviewOld Bethpage, Syosset-Woodbury and Hicksville Chambers of Commerce on Wednesday, Jan. 17, at 7:30 a.m.

Pilip will be having a meet-and-greet Wednesday at 7 p.m. at American Legion Hall in Whitestone, Queens in an event hosted by New York City Councilwoman Vickie Paladino.

Pilip on Sunday at 6:30 p.m. will also be speaking at an event in Manhattan with The New York Sun. She will speak with the associate editor of the publication, A.R. Hoffman, in the event reserved for “Sun Founder” subscribers, who pay $2,500 a year to become members.

A previous version of this story was published. It has since been updated.

39

40 The Manhasset Times, Friday, January 19, 2024

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COMMUNITY NEWS

Cutting-edge technologies highlighted at symposium The Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell successfully concluded its inaugural Medical Innovation Symposium on Saturday, Jan. 6, at the medical school on the Hofstra University campus.

The symposium showcased groundbreaking technologies and medical advances implemented by physicians and researchers across various medical specialties to enhance patient care and outcomes.

The school’s first-ever conference dedicated to medical innovation was spearheaded by members of the student body with help from the school’s faculty and staff. David L. Battinelli, dean and Betsey Cushing Whitney Professor of Medicine, applauded the conference organizers and encouraged students to continue to innovate and solve problems.

“Innovation is a discipline – every time you look at an aspect of medicine and healthcare, you should ask yourself, is there a better way to do that,” said Battinelli, executive vice president and physician-in-chief of Northwell Health.

“When we developed the medical school curriculum in 2008, we had our eyes on the year 2020; people thought that was too far in the future, but here we are now, and now we’re thinking about medical education in the year 2035 and beyond. Innovation is not immediate; it takes time, but innovators are always thinking about the future and asking, what if you could?”

The symposium was well attended by medical students, faculty, physicians, scientists, and medical innovators, exceeding the expectations of the organizers, including Eusha Hasan, Aleksandra Qilleri, Swara Kalva, and Brian Li, who are second-year medical students passionate about sharing their interest in medical technology with others in healthcare.

“The conference is a unique opportunity for medical professionals, researchers, and students to come together to preview research and get a glimpse of emerging cutting-edge innovations that can transform patient care, ” stated Eusha Hasan.

Presentations by distinguished speakers provided valuable insights into how advanced medical practices are being tested and used to improve the quality of care and enhance the quality of life for patients.

Many medical advances and emerging technologies involve Artificial Intelligence, which applies computer intelligence to problem-solve and perform tasks.

Scientists with the Neural Bypass and BCI Lab at The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, are studying the integration of AI and bioelectronics, a new medical field that uses electrical pulses rather than drugs to treat disease.

The research team, led by Chad Bouton, a professor at the Institute of Bioelectronic Medicine, Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, and professor of Molecular Medicine at the Zucker School of Medicine, developed and is testing a technology called the Double Neural Bypass that enables patients with paralysis to regain mobility and restore their sense of touch.

Team member Santosh Chandrasekaran, presented the lab’s groundbreaking technology to conference attendees.

“We are happy to present our research today because it’s important for medical students to be exposed to multiple ideas, not in their core field of learning,” explained Chandrasekaran, who has been a member of the BCI Lab team for nearly 5 years. “For projects like the Double Neural Bypass, we need the cross-pollination of ideas from people in different disciplines – we have neurologists, scientists, neural engineers, and

others in our lab, and not everyone is an expert on everything, so it brings out new ideas that are not tied to any one field.”

In addition to improving quality of life for patients, new technologies are breaking down barriers to quality healthcare by expanding accessibility, communication, education, and advocacy for patients.

Conference presenter Dr. David Langer, chair of neurosurgery at Lenox Hill Hospital and vice president of Neurosurgery for the Western Region of Northwell Health, introduced a smartphone app he helped develop called Playback Health.

The app uses AI and speech-to-text technology to document, in real-time, doctor/patient conversations, care recommendations, and other vital information that patients often have trouble remembering, especially when they are ill or presented with a stressful diagnosis.

Playback Health is used at Northwell Health, New York State’s largest healthcare provider. The app bolsters the current electronic medical record, which is inputted by hand.

“This technology allows patients to revisit their medical information, whether it be a document, video, audio, speech or text, and share it with others,” explained Langer, a professor of Neurosurgery and Radiology at the Zucker School of Medicine. “It’s a different way of generating a medical record. It’s a much more accurate and valuable history, and we are changing the way medical records are created and consumed.”

Innovations presented at the conference cross the spectrum of medical care and address several issues, including health disparities. One such application called Maternal Outcomes and Morbidity Collaborative or MOMS, uses advanced chat-bot technology to ensure comprehensive and personalized care

for mothers and helps educate them about potential pregnancy.

“Empowerment of patients is an incredibly important application of medical technology,” said conference organizer Swara Kalva. “Enabling patients to take control of their own health and advocate for themselves can help improve health outcomes and lower the burden on the healthcare system.”

Another hot topic during the conference was wearable technologies that can provide the wearer with important health metrics, including heart rate, blood oxygen levels, and temperature.

Wearables are also being used to measure physician skills.

Dr. Gary Deutsch, chief of Surgical Oncology at South Shore University Hospital, and Dr. Hardik Patel, a fourth-year general surgery resident at Staten Island University Hospital, discussed their research on wearable technology, used to assess surgeon performance.

This innovative approach aims to measure the quality of a surgeon’s hand movements and operative skills, potentially revolutionizing the evaluation of surgical procedures.

The day-long symposium also provided attendees with networking opportunities promoting collaboration and the exchange of ideas.

“Advances in the medical field are constantly being made, and fortunately, many of them are here in our own backyard,” said Aleksandra Qilleri, a member of the conference organizing committee. “By inviting clinician-innovators to share their work with medical students, we aim to bridge the gap between undergraduate medical education and the greater healthcare system. We hope students will be inspired by our speakers to look for new ways to improve patient care as they move through their training.

Someday, they too may be one of the next biggest changemakers in medicine.”

DeRiggi-Whitton sworn in JCC, Manhasset Arts as Dem minority leader Association celebrate exhibit Nassau County Legislature Minority Leader Delia DeRiggi-Whitton (D – Glen Cove) was sworn in as the new minority leader of the Legislature’s Democratic caucus during inaugural ceremonies held on Friday, Jan. 5.

In taking the oath of office, she also

PHOTO BY PETER M. BUDRAITIS

embarked upon her seventh term as a Nassau County Legislator. The 11th District she represents includes Sands Point, Port Washington, Roslyn, Roslyn Harbor, Glen Head, Glenwood, Sea Cliff and Glen Cove.

With her family, friends and supporters looking on, Minority Leader DeRiggi-Whitton was sworn in by former Nassau County Legislature Minority Leader Kevan M. Abrahams.

“I am so grateful for the opportunity to serve as Minority Leader of the Nassau County Legislature and truly humbled by the trust that my colleagues have placed in me to lead this caucus,” DeRiggi-Whitton said. “I have tremendous confidence that our caucus is well equipped to address the biggest issues facing our County, and I am looking forward to working in a bipartisan manner with Presiding Officer Howard Kopel to meet the needs of Nassau residents.”

The idea of community is something the Manhasset Art Association and Sid Jacobson JCC share in common. Both offer enrichment opportunities to people living in the Nassau/ Suffolk/Queens areas. Both are also proud of their beginnings.

MAA is currently celebrating 75 years! In 1948, a small group of artists met at the home of Helen Jennings with the goal of organizing an art workshop.

An idea and a dream became a reality!

Through the years, our members PHOTO COURTESY OF SID JACOBSON JCC have enjoyed congregating with fellow artists in a warm and friendly Members of the Manhasset Arts environment. They may participate Association Board: Marilyn Kesin weekly model sketch workshops, as well as exhibit their art at juried tin, Barbara Silbert, Nina Wolf shows held at various libraries on hold our Holiday Art Show in “CelLong Island.

Most importantly, the MAA is ebration of Art!” We invite the comgrateful to the JCC for inviting us to munity to join us!

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The Manhasset Times, Friday, January 19, 2024

41

COMMUNITY & SCHOOL NEWS

Women’s Club of Flower Mark Berger sworn in Hill’s philanthropic efforts as new commissioner The Women’s Club of Flower Hill recently hosted their annual Christmas Luncheon, their biggest fundraising event.

Almost 100 women got together for a day of shopping and raffles, joined by past presidents, current members and guests. It was a great afternoon to kick off the holiday season and raise money for their philanthropic fund.

The Social Club’s mission is to raise funds for charitable and philanthropic purposes. The WCoFH has been a supporter of children’s charities on Long Island as well as local organizations in our community.

This past year the Philanthropic Committee organized a November “Socks” drive and a December “Hat and Gloves” drive for the homeless through local organization One Love Outreach Mission.

The WCoFH also sponsored a family and organized a toy drive for the holiday season.

The Club’s next big fundraiser will be their “Go Red Luncheon” on Feb. 9, a Galentine’s Luncheon fundraiser for the American Heart Association.

Sip & Shop, Raffles and Lunch will be provided, in-

cluding a CPR demonstration by a representative of the American Heart Association. Guest Speakers include Dr. Evelina Grayver director Women’s Heart Program, Katz Institute and business and life coach, Cathleen Mancino will be sharing some easy-to-adopt tips on Managing chaos by owning your own schedule and kicking stress to the curb.

The Women’s Club of Flower Hill is one of the longest running Women’s Club on Long Island,bringing neighbors together for friendship and philanthropy.

WCoFH will be celebrating its Diamond Jubilee in June 2024. An elaborate 75th Anniversary event is being planned to celebrate this special philanthropic club and all its accomplishments.

The club believes that there are no strangers in Flower Hill .only friends who haven’t met yet.

The club organizes luncheons, ladies and couples nights, and children events.

Becoming a member is a great way to get involved in the community. Membership is $40 yearly (September to June) and can join online anytime, http:// www.womensclubflowerhill.com. The club is now on social media (FB/IG) @womensclubflowerhill.

Great Neck Water Pollution Control District Commissioner Mark Berger, left, took his oath of office to begin his term on the GNWPCD Board of Commissioners on Jan. 4.

Women’s Club of Flower Hill Board of Directors at annual Christmas luncheon, Port Washington Yacht Club

The Great Neck Water Pollution Control District has announced that Great Neck resident Mark Berger has been sworn in as the newest member of the GNWPCD Board of Commissioners following his victory in the Dec. 12 election.

Berger took his oath of office during the district’s meeting on Jan. 4 and will serve in his role for the next three years. He fills the seat on the Board which opened following the retirement of Jerry Landsberg, who held the role of GNWPCD Commissioner for 16 years.

“I am truly honored to have been chosen by my neighbors to serve our community as GNWPCD Commissioner,” said Berger.

“I have a strong passion for public service and environmental advocacy, and I am dedicated to serving the Great Neck Peninsula to the best of my ability. I look forward to working with my fellow commissioners, Superintendent Christopher Murphy and our dedicated staff to continue the great work

that our District does to protect our environment.”

Berger and his wife have lived in Great Neck since 2010, raising three children who all attend Great Neck public schools. He believes that preserving Great Neck’s environment is the key to ensuring that the District’s residents will prosper and thrive for generations to come. This idea serves as a driving force for his desire to serve his community as a member of the GNWPCD Board.

Formerly an attorney for the New York City Police Department, Berger currently operates as a supervising attorney at the largest public interest law firm in the United States.

He brings an extensive knowledge of what it takes to negotiate contracts for the betterment of those he represents. He is looking forward to combining this expertise with his passion for the local environment as he takes on the role of GNWPCD commissioner.

Munsey Park celebrates Fourth Graders Day Manhasset fourth graders from Munsey Park Elementary School celebrated National Fourth Graders Day on Jan. 8 by participating in a Connect Four Challenge.

Tournament brackets arranged pairs to compete against each other and a class championship went on to compete against winners

across the grade.

Players took turns dropping checkers and analyzing the possibilities. The game required patience, thinking ahead, analyzing what their opponent might be thinking and coming up with strategies for winning combination. While it is impossible for two players to end in a

draw, all games had a clear winner.

Students showed great sportsmanship when they cheered each other on and competitors congratulated their opponents. Students also received passes that admit them into all National Parks, as part of the Every Kid Outdoors program.

Munsey Park fourth graders prepared to play Connect Four against peers in their class.

42 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, January 19, 2024

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THOMAS DELUCA Managing Director Cushman & Wakefield CHRISTOPHER DiLEONARDO Educational Development Officer Jovia Financial Credit Union THERESA DILLMAN, DNP, MSN, MHA, RN, NE-BC Chief Nursing Officer Glen Cove Hospital/Northwell JACOB DIXON Founder & CEO Choice for All ANN FANGMANN, AICP Executive Director Glen Cove Industrial Development Agency Glen Cove Community Development Agency

LAWRENCE LESSING Executive Vice President Restaurants Lessings Hospitality Group

KRISTEN RODRIGUES, M.A., CCC/SLP, TSSLD Speech-Language Pathologist North Babylon School District

ASHLEY LYNCH Senior Account Executive WordHampton Public Relations

MALCOLM SIMMS Business Relationship Manager J.P. Morgan Chase 1st Vice President Westbury-Carle Place Chamber of Commerce

JENNIFER MARKS Managing Director and Market Team Leader J.P. Morgan Private Bank KYLE MOELLER Relationship Manager/Director, Regional Commercial Banking Capital One Bank JOSEPH MORETTA Supply Chain Planner Zebra Technologies

GREGORY FANTAUZZI Vice President, Relationship Manager, NY Metro Commercial Real Estate Provident Bank

GRANT NEWBURGER Director of Communications and Organizing Building and Construction Trades Council of Nassau and Suffolk

SABINE FRANCO Founder and Managing Attorney Ambitious Legacy Firm, P.C.

BROOKE OLIVERI Manager, Communications, Health Outreach, and Research Nassau-Suffolk Hospital Council

HONG “DANA” GUO Realtor Proagent Realty FATIMA HASSAN-SZLAMKA Associate Director, Global Public Policy Ernst & Young LLP AIDEN KAPLAN, LMSW Assistant Director, Operations and Programs PFY

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SAVITREE PESTANO CFO Harmony Healthcare Long Island

COURTNEY TRICARICHI Adjunct Professor Long Island University Co-Founder & COO Legendary Realms and Games

MICHAEL RANT, P.E. President, Civil Engineering Northcoast Civil

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To advertise call:

The Williston Times, Friday, February 25, 2022

WT 516.307.1045

• Great Neck News • Williston Times • New Hyde Park Herald Courier • Manhasset Times • Roslyn Times • Port Washington Times • Garden City News • Bethpage Newsgram • Jericho Syosset News Journal • Mid Island Times • Syosset Advance

▼ EMPLOYMENT, SITUATION WANTED, MARKETPLACE To Place Your Ad Call

REPORTER WANTED BLANK SLATE MEDIA, the publisher of 6 award-winning weekly newspapers and website is seeking one or more people to assist our reporting staff in covering government meetings and community events.

e-mail:

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• Good writing skills and a car a must.

• Newspaper experience preferred • The government meetings to be covered take place at night.

Story deadlines are the next day by noon.

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NASSAU COUNTY NEEDS CERTIFIED HHA’S, COMPANIONS AND HOMEMAKERS. HIRING IMMEDIATELY

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Cancellation Policy Ads must be cancelled the Monday before the first Thursday publication. All cancellations must be received in writing by fax at: 516.307.1046 Any verbal cancellations must be approved by a supervisor.

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Publisher’s notice: All employment advertising herin is subject to section 296 of the human rights law which makes it illegal to advertise any preference based on religion, sex, familial status, arrest record, national origin, color, age, or disability. This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertisement for employment which is in violation of the law. Employment opportunities advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis.

Don’t miss an opportunity for a great job where you can serve your community and make good money too.

• Training provided to obtain your commercial drivers license

IMMEDIATE OPENING

Phone: 516.307.1045 x 218

Publisher's notice: All real estate advertised herein is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act, which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation, or discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin, or intention to make any such preference, limitation, or discrimination.

We will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis.

Work For A Company That Rewards Your Experience

• Competitive Pay Rate • Flexible Scheduling • All Shifts & Locations Available

“A Special thank you to all the Nurse Aides and all who Save Lives.”

718-850-3400 Parking Meter Attendant Needed (Part Time) Monday to Saturday 20 hours per week (4 hours per day between 10 am and 6 pm) $19.00 an hour to start Drivers License required.

Contact: Charles P. Puglisi Inc. Village of Bellerose 50 Superior Road Bellerose Village, NY 11001

516-354-1000

Email: villageclerk@bellerosevillage.org HELP WANTED

HELP WANTED

A nonprofit organization in Nassau County is seeking sealed bids for the sale and installation of Door Hardening/ Replacing, a PA system,Security Cameras and Cybersecurity assessment. Selection criteria will be based on knowledge of security, adherence to projected work schedule, prior experience, references, and cost. Please email ariel@lihagn. org for project specifications and bid requirements. All interested vendors must provide primary contact, phone and email address.

Busy Diner in New Hyde Park looking for FT or PT positions including Cashier, Servers and Grillman. Please call for more info 516-354-4666.

SITUATION WANTED

CERTIFIED HHA • EXPERIENCED • EXCELLENT REFERENCES. WE WILL PROVIDE YOU THE BEST CAREGIVERS IN AMERICA. FILIPINO MEN AND WOMEN. KIND, LOVING AND CARING AT THIS VERY DIFFICULT TIME. CALL GERTRUDE

Part Time receptionist needed for Funeral Home. Qualifications. Greet visitors and direct them to the appropriate person or office. Ability to answer telephones & take messages.Light maintenance of chapels. Responsibilities.

As a Funeral Assistant, you will have a diverse range of responsibilities aimed at providing support & assistance to both clients & the funeral home’s manVISIT US ONLINE TODAY! agement. Your role will involve welcomHerald Courier Roslyn Times ing & assisting the general public with Great NeckNews empathyWillistonTimes & professionalism. Schedule: ManhassetMon, Times Thurs, PortWashingtonTimes Friday, flexible 9-1, poswww.gcnews.com www.theisland360com sible early start & late start as needed.

2 2 P l a n t i n g F i e l d Ro a d , Ro s l y n H e i g h t s , N Y 1 1 57 7 • O ff i c e : 5 1 6(516) .3 07.1 04 5 • Fa x : 5 1 6 .3 07.1 04 6 YOUR ITEMS AND OFFERS Park Funeral Chapels 747-4300 LIST www.theIsland360.com HERE. CALL 516.307.1045 or email info@parkfuneralchapels.com Founded September 26, 1923

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NEW STARTING SALARIES

• BUS: $28.15 hr.

• VAN: $25.76 hr.

We Have Openings for School Bus & Van Drivers

SIGN ON BONUS $2,500 FOR CDL DRIVERS Bus & Van $500 For Non CDL Drivers Will train qualified applicants

Positions available for mechanics and bus attendants

SITUATION WANTED

Health Aide/Companion Gentle. Optimistic.

Experienced with many medical conditions and kinds of people.

Families have told me I created a lovely environment, more than they could have hoped for. I am seeking work in Nassau County or Manhattan.

I have my own car.

I’ve worked mostly in the Great Neck area.

My references are outstanding & available upon request.

Please Call: 917-499-9520 A HOME HEALTH CARE AIDE with 10 years experience and excellent checkable references available. Honest and reliable. Licensed driver with own transportation. Please call 718-634-3421 (Leave Message) AIDE/CARE GIVER: Caring, Efficient, Reliable. Available FT Live In nights & weekends to care for your sick or elderly loved one. Cooking, tidy up, personal grooming, administer medications. 15years experience. References available. Fully Vaccinated. Please Call 516-951-8083

ANNOUNCEMENTS ATTENTION OXYGEN THERAPY USERS! Discover Oxygen Therapy That Moves with You with Inogen Portable Oxygen Concentrators. FREE information kit. Call 888-514-3044 DIRECTV Sports Pack 3 Months on Us! Watch pro and college sports LIVE. Plus over 40 regional and specialty networks included. NFL, College Football, MLB, NBA, NHL, Golf and more.

Some restrictions apply. Call DIRECTV 1-888-534-6918 HEARING AIDS!! High-quality rechargeable, powerful Audien hearing aids priced 90% less than competitors. Tiny and NEARLY INVISIBLE! 45-day money back guarantee! 855-598-5898

MARKETPLACE INVITED ESTATE SALES BY TRACY JORDAN is doing VIRTUAL TAG SALES and ONLINE AUCTIONS now! Sell the contents of an entire house or sell just a few things! You can host your own sale on invitedsales.com and Facebook and Instagram or we can do it for you. We can photograph, advertise and handle the winning pickups for you within a week!

Don’t worry about your closing date, we can get your house ready on time! We are a one stop service for all your needs when you are moving or selling a property! Selling, donating, discarding and cleaning out services can be done to meet your time frame with minimal stress. Contact info@invitedsales.com for more information or call 516-279-6378 to schedule a consultation or receive more information. Visit us at www.invitedsales.com for a listing of our upcoming Virtual Tag Sales and Weekly Auctions!

We guarantee 30 hours per week

Equal Opportunity Employer

WE OFFER: • Flexible hours • 401K plans with matching funds • Health & Life insurance • Emergency family leave • Safety and attendance bonus twice a year RETIREES WELCOME!

EDUCATIONAL BUS TRANSPORTATION available for 516.454.2300 Positions Nassau & Suffolk

PART TIME POLICE COMMUNICATION OPERATOR Local Police Department Part Time Police Communications Operator position available REQUIREMENTS:

• 2 years satisfactory work experience or 2 years military • Familiar with Central Station Village Resident Alarm Computer System • Enter Data, as directed, into the Departments E-Force computer records program, NYSPIN, and blotter • Make appropriate notifications, as directed by tour supervisor • Wear uniform prescribed by Department directives • Transfer all calls to appropriate extensions or departments • Dispatch radio messages in the prescribed manner • Hours may fluctuate as per needs of the Department • Must be available for assignment on days/nights, weekends, and holidays.

• Background check required

$22.00 per hour

All resumes please submit to: vlsadmin@villageoflakesuccess.com

WE HAVE THE HELP YOU NEED! HHAs, LPNs, Nurse’s Aides, Childcare, Housekeeping & Day Workers

No Fee to Employers SERVING THE COMMUNITY FOR OVER 20 YEARS

EVON’S SERVICES 516-505-5510 MARKETPLACE A.T. STEWART EXCHANGE CONSIGNMENT SHOP 516-746-8900 Antiques-Furniture-Jewelry-SilverMirrors-Lamps-Artwork Come to Consign & Stay to Shop Visit.... Our Shop 109 Eleventh St. Garden City Mon-Fri 10-4 (Wed till 6) Saturday 12-4 Shop Our Online Store ATStewartExchange.org Items to Consign? Email photos (with sizing info) to: store@atstewartexchange.org All proceeds benefit. The Garden City Historical Society. Like us on Facebook & Instagram LIST YOUR JOB OPPORTUNITIES HERE. CALL 516.307.1045

MARKETPLACE

WANTED TO BUY LOOKING TO BUY! Estates, Oriental items, Gold, Silver, Costume Jewelry, Dishes, Flatware, Watches, Clothing, Old Photos, Coins, Stamps, Records, Toys, Action Figures, Comics, Art and Furniture. Immediate Cash Paid Call George 917-775-3048 or 718-386-1104

AUTOMOTIVE

AUTO FOR SALE AUTO FOR SALE 1997 MERCEDES E320 “CAR OF THE YEAR” Garaged.

52K Miles LIKE NEW!! Asking $6,500 Call 516-924-1423

44 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, January 19, 2024

▼ SERVICES, HOME IMPROVEMENT ATTORNEY

AUTOMOTIVE

AUTOS WANTED ***AAA*** AUTO BUYERS $Highest$ Ca$h Paid$ All Years/Conditions! WE VISIT YOU! Or Donate, Tax Deduct Ca$h. DMV ID#1303199 Call LUKE 516-VAN-CARS 516-297-2277

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SERVICES SAVE ON YOUR TRAVEL PLANS! Up to 75% More than 500 AIRLINES and 300,000 HOTELS across the world. Let us do the research for you for FREE! Call: 877 988 7277 JACK’S CUSTOM FRAMING We can frame anything! Quality Care & Workmanship. Thousands of frames to choose from!! Over 30 years in business!

92 Covert Ave, Stewart Manor 516-775-9495

STEPHANIE A. D’ANGELO, ESQ. Elder Law, Wills & Trusts. Asset Preservation, Estate Planning, Probate & Estate Administration/Litigation. 901 Stewart Ave, Ste 230, Garden City, NY 11530 516-222-1122 www.dangelolawassociates.com

HOME IMPROVEMENTS AGING ROOF? NEW HOMEOWNER? STORM DAMAGE? You need a local expert provider that proudly stands behind their work. Fast, free estimate. Financing available. Call 1-888-920-9937 BATH & SHOWER UPDATES in as little as ONE DAY! Affordable pricesNo payments for 18 months! Lifetime warranty & professional installs. Senior & Military Discounts available. Call: 866-393-3636 CHIMNEY KING ENT. INC. FREE ESTIMATES Stainless steel liners cleaning & repair specialists. Masonry specialist. FULLY licensed & insured. NYC NASSAU SUFFOLK 516-766-1666 or 631-225-2600 Since 1982. chimneykinginc.com MADE IN THE SHADE CUSTOM WINDOW TREATMENTS Blinds, Shades, Shutters, Draperies Top Brands at Discount Prices! Family owned & operated www.madeintheshadensli. com 516-426-2890

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PARTY HELP LADIES & GENTLEMEN RELAX & ENJOY Your Next Party! Catering and Experienced Professional Services for Assisting with Preparation, Serving and Clean Up Before, During and After Your Party Bartenders Available. Call Kate at 516-248-1545

CLEANING

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Nonspeaking? Supporting access to effective communication to promote authentic connecting with family and friends. Free Consultation Contact: Diane Collins Certified S2C Practitioner dianecollins97@yahoo.com

SERVICES PASSION FOR SENIORS Certified HHA’s, Companions & Homemakers. 24 hour care available. Also Nassau Locations. Trained in Dementia and Alzheimer’s care. Call 718-850-3400 MAGNUM SECURITY SYSTEMS, INC. Serving Garden City for 40 years. Let Magnum Upgrade Your Existing Security System. Burglar & Fire Alarms Cellular Radio 3G Upgrades Remote Access. Call: 516-486-5484 LEAK REPAIRS Plumbing Repairs Bathrooms, Showers, Kitchens 24 HOUR SERVICE Call 516-668-5624

HEALTH SERVICES FAMILY CARE CONNECTIONS, LLC Dr. Ann Marie D’Angelo PMHCNS-BC Doctor of Nursing Practice Advanced Practice Nurse Care Manager Assistance with Aging at Home /Care Coordintion Nursing Home & Assisted Living Placement PRI / Screens / Mini Mental Status Exams Medicaid Eligibility and Apllications 516-248-9323 www.familycareconnections.com 901 Stewart Ave, Ste 230 Garden City, NY 11530

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45

COMMUNITY NEWS

Music Institute of LI brings cheer to Cerebal Palsy Nassau The Music Institute of Long Island, located in Manhasset at live concerts!

The MILI performers and parents plan on coming to next the Manhasset Community Reformed Church has been playing holiday concerts at the Cerebral Palsy Nassau, located in Roos- years holiday concert.

As Ludwig van Beethoven said “Music can change the world.” evelt, Nassau County for over thirty years.

This year the holiday concert on Dec. 23 became the ” Larry Kushner Memorial Concert,” after a beloved member of the CPN community who passed away during the pandemic and brother of the owners of the music school, Carol and Geri Kushner.

During the pandemic, MILI brought the holiday concert via zoom so the Cerebral Palsy Nassau, community and the music students would not miss performing the holiday concert.

This year, MILI returned to an in person concert. The performer’s ages ranged from six years old up to sixty , including alumni and former parents. Spreading holiday cheer playing songs such as we Wish You a Merry Christmas and a Hanukkah medley.

Following the concert a friend of Larry’s, Danielle Gordon gave Carol and Geri memory bottles that she had made and gave a speech about how the community misses the kind and funny member of their community on a daily basis. It was a very touching presentation for Danielle, Cerebral Palsy Nassau, and the Kushner sisters.

The Cerebral Palsy concert attendees loved the concert.

PHOTO BY ZISU ZHAO They told Carol and Geri how they look forward to this concert every year! The parents and students who performed were so happy to be a part of this special concert bringing joy to those Cerebral Palsy Nassau presents memory vases to Carol who are less physically fortunate and may not be able to attend and Geri Kushner.

Dejana Foundation donates $25K to Tribute and Honor Foundation

The Peter and Jeri Dejana Foundation recently granted $25,000 to the Tribute and Honor Foundation Inc., a Long Island-based nonprofit veteran support organization, to aid in their efforts within the veteran community.

The Peter & Jeri Dejana Foundation’s contribution will advance the Tribute and Honor Foundation’s mission to honor and support veterans and their families across Long Island. Furthermore, the donation will play an important role in helping assure the longevity of the Tribute and Honor Foundation’s recently instituted Ben Farnan Scholarship Fund.

The scholarship, named for Korean War veteran and Tribute and Honor Foundation’s 2022 Legacy Award recipient Ben Farnan, is dedicated to graduating seniors from Glen Cove, Locust Valley, and North Shore High Schools who are entering the military or a military academy upon graduating.

The Tribute and Honor Foundation will be working closely with the schools in identifying exceptional young people from each school to receive the annual scholarship.

Peter Dejana, a successful Port Washington entrepreneur, and his wife, Jeri, established their family foundation in 2011 to benefit nonprofits on Long Island.

Their recent gift to the Tribute and Honor Foundation demonstrates the Dejanas’ continued commitment to supporting veterans and their families. “The board and I are profoundly grateful to Peter and Jeri Dejana, and the entire Dejana Foundation, for their extraordinary generosity,” said Gaitley Stevenson-Mathew, President of the Tributewith and Honor Place your ad Slate in print and online theFoundation.

Place your ad in print with the Blank Media The Tribute and Honor Foundation began in December of 2021 and Litmor Publications Advertising group.

Blank Slate Media and Litmor Publications Advertising group. when Glen Cove resident, Gaitley Stevenson-Mathews, met with ad will appear in of all our 11 ofhyper-local, our hyper-local, award winning community newspapers and Your ad Your will appear in all 11 Jeanine DiMenna, owner of Glen Cove’s The View Grill. StevensonPost your ad yourself by going to https://classifieds.theisland360.com award-winning community newspapers.

Mathews had an idea for a fundraising event and awards ceremony Contact to benefit VFW Post 347 following a devastating fire that occurred Debbie ContactFlynn Debbie Flynn at the post earlier in the year.

Classified Advertising Classified Advertising Manager With DiMenna’s help, Stevenson-Mathews formed a committee, Manager 821 Franklin Avenue, Suite 208 22 Planting Field Rd, 516-307-1045 Ext. 218 516-307-1045 Ext. 218 City, NYwith 11530the leadership of VFW Post 347, secured scheduledGarden a meeting Roslyn Heights, 11577 (516) 294-8900 www.gcnews.com dflynn@theisland360.com www.theisland360.com liaison members dflynn@theisland360.com to provide input to the committee, and hosted their first Annual Awards Ceremony and Fundraising event.

Within months following the first Awards Ceremony, plans were underway for a 2nd annual celebration, additional members were brought on board, and the organization was officially incorporated.

22 Planting Field Road 821 Franklin Avenue, Suite 208 Roslyn Heights, NY 11577 Garden City, NY 11530 To date, the Tribute and Honor Foundation has raised close www.theisland360.com (516) 294-8900 www.gcnews.com to $50,000 for VFW Post 347, supports programs such as the Glen

Cove Library’s VetNow Program, and has honored over twenty local heroes both locally and from across Long Island.

In recognition of the recent gift, the Tribute and Honor Foundation is naming the Peter and Jeri Dejana Foundation as Event Sponsor for the organization’s upcoming Gala and Awards Ceremony to be held on February 3rd at 6 pm at the Crescent Beach Club.

The Tribute and Honor Foundation hopes to raise $100,000 through this year’s gala, better enabling the organization to serve Long Island Veterans. A portion of the proceeds will also support the Ben Farnan Scholarship fund.

For more information on the Tribute and Honor Foundation, including ticket and sponsorship opportunities for the foundation’s upcoming Gala and Awards Ceremony, please visit www.phoenixrisingawards.com.

FIND A JOB? WANTWANT TO FINDTO A JOB? READY TO FILL A JOB? READY TO FILL A JOB?

PHOTO COURTESY TRIBUTE AND HONOR FOUNDATION

Members of the Tribute and Honor Foundation’s Board and Liaison Team are pictured accepting a donation of $25,000 from the Peter & Jeri Dejana Foundation. Pictured left to right Liaison Member Wayne Cohen, 1st Vice President Connie Pinilla, Treasurer Thomas Bunger, Treasurer Angelina StancoStone, President Gaitley Stevenson-Mathews, 2nd Vice President, Harold Bollaci, Board Member Lydia Wen Rodgers, Board Member Mike Gadaleta, and Liaison Member Virginia Cervasio.

46 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, January 19, 2024

Hochul calls for support of Jews in antisemitism fight Continued from Page 6 She said the Jewish people have been supportive of other notable social causes, including their role as prominent allies in the Civil Rights Movement. She called for allies to stand alongside Jews today.

Hochul said the events of Oct. 7 in Israel had left her heart torn apart.

She called for the release of the hostages after 100 days in captivity, including Long Island-born Omer Neutra.

“Where’s the moral outrage about

this?” Hochul asked.

Yet despite the divisions she sees in the country today, the governor said she finds hope in the words of King that she quoted Friday night.

“The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice,”

King once said.

But while it does bend towards justice, Hochul said it doesn’t do so on its own.

“It takes some people united together to bend it, to bend it and be united in that cause,” Hochul said.

“And then we can band together during difficult times and come out even stronger, which I know we can do… then we will be worthy of the name the United States of America because that’s what Dr. King would have expected.”

Suozzi opens campaign headquarters in Great Neck Continued from Page 6 Suozzi, of Glen Cove, represented the 3rd Congressional District from 2016 to 2022 and did not seek re-election to make what became a failed gubernatorial run in 2022.

Jacobs told the New York Post that Suozzi, who has made many appearances throughout the North Shore recently, and his campaign are targeting Republican areas in the district.

“Suozzi is taking his campaign to the Republican heartland,” Jacobs said to the Post. “It’s going to bear

fruit.”

Blank Slate Media earlier this month reported that Great Neck has shifted from being a stronghold for Democrats to Republicans, according to unofficial data from the Nassau County Board of Elections. Republican Supervisor Jennifer DeSena defeated Kaiman, of Great Neck, with help from securing 60% of the 11,155 total votes in Great Neck for a 2,216 vote advantage.

Within Great Neck, DeSena won the Villages of Great Neck, Great

Neck Estates and Kings while Kaiman won Great Neck Plaza, Lake Success and Russell Gardens.

Pilip herself was the first Republican to represent the county’s 10th Legislative District since its inception in 1995, becoming the only candidate to flip a district during her first campaign in 2021.

Suozzi, who previously served as Nassau County executive, said to his supporters he is a known name in the area who will work with both sides of the aisle.

“Not everybody loves to hear this, but the people of Nassau and Queens know that I will work with anyone, conservatives, progressives, centrists, Republicans and Democrats, who like me, will work to find common ground and get something done,” Suozzi said, according to the Post.

Pilip’s campaign said that Suozzi is an extremist whose efforts to win Great Neck voters will not work.

“Tom Suozzi can try to pander to voters in Great Neck by opening a headquarters there, but families

in Great Neck won’t forget that he joined AOC’s Squad, which embraces an antisemitic and anti-Israel agenda,” Brian Devine, spokesman for the Pilip campaign, said in a statement to Blank Slate Media. “Tom Suozzi’s extremism is out-of-touch with Great Neck and the entire 3rd Congressional District.

During his three terms in Congress, however, Suozzi was known as a middle roader and was vice chairman of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus.

Suozzi campaigns on environmental protections Continued from Page 10 Suozzi, who presented the 3rd Congressional District for six years before seeking the Democratic nomination for governor in 2022, said that there are federal funds for infrastructure and the environment, and his goal is to deliver money from those funds to the people of District 3. “‘We’re not getting enough infrastructure money back here to home,’” Suozzi recounted hearing from someone earlier that day. “I know how politics work. I know how government works. I’m a talker and arguer and I’m a doer and I know how to make things work in government… And I am going to fight to make sure we get that money here.”

He said that with recent storms that have hit Long Island, he thinks Hochul should declare a state of emergency to

get funds to help areas hit hard.

With pressing environmental concerns, like major storms and wildfire smoke polluting the air, Souozzi said it is important to address these issues in the campaign.

Pilip released her campaign’s 10-point plan Wednesday – weeks after Suozzi’s – which outlines a focus on issues including tax relief, securing the border, supporting law enforcement, supporting Israel and reproductive rights.

Suozzii said Pilip, did not include the environment in her 10-point plan, represents the political party that denies climate change.

“I often say that clean air and clean water aren’t partisan issues,” Tighe said. “Everybody wants their kids to drink clean water and breathe air that isn’t going to give them asthma.”

Suozzi’s 10-point plan does include environmental protection measures, a difference from his opponent, but the Democratic candidate said Pilip’s plan lists similar campaign focuses to his.

He said he too promotes issues like supporting tax relief, securing the border, law enforcement, Israel and reproductive rights.

Where they differ, he said, are the depths of their plan – with Suozzi claiming to have more substance.

“The difference is I give detailed policy prescriptions as to what we need to do on each of these issues,” Suozzi said. “She refuses to tell us anything in detail and she refuses to debate or appear in public in front of the ladies and gentlemen of the media.”

He said in the wake of Santos, it is even more important that candidates are transparent in what they stand for.

“I will do that,” Suozzi said. “I will not just do the talk points of my party, just listen to the party bosses and just parrot things that don’t make any sense. I will try and talk about detailed policy prescriptions and I have a record of getting things done and we’ll try to do it again in the future.”

Many of the speakers representing environmental organizations endorsing Suozzi highlighted his track record in protecting the environment, spanning his entire political career.

This included a clean-up of the Superfund in Glen Cove while the city’s mayor and securing federal funds for water infrastructure on the Longs Island Sound as the district’s congressman.

“Tom has always demonstrated strong leadership when it comes to the environment,” Tighe said.

Nassau County District 11 Legislator Delia DeRiggi-Whitton said the people of New York’s 3rd Congressional District need someone with experience who will understand the processes to fight for their constituents, something she said Suozzi is capable of and his opponent is not.

Al Fredericks, a representative for the Sierra Club, echoed this sentiment and said that Suozzi’s knowledge and experience as a politician who has worked to protect the environment is no match against Pilip.

“The voters of District 3 can not afford to gamble once again on an inexperienced unproven candidate,” Fredericks said. “In short, the stakes are high and the challenges are great, but the Sierra Club is confident that Tom Suozzi is the candidate who will help us to meet these challenges.”

Pilip releases own 10-point plan in race for CD3 Continued from Page 10 Pilip said she will work to restrict spending, cut waste and create new jobs. The legislator said if elected she will work with ICE–the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement–to curb illegal immigration, the drug trade that comes with it and to simplify the legal immigration process.

Pilip was critical of the state’s

cashless bail laws and Clean Slate Act, which Gov. Kathy Hochul signed last year. It seals certain criminal records and allows individuals who have been convicted of crimes to seek employment, housing and educational opportunities. She also said she would continue to support local control when it comes to housing instead of state mandates–a priority of Suozzi’s during his gubernatorial run in 2022.

Republicans in 2021 used the cashless bail and affordable housing issues to flip multiple elected offices from Democrats.

On abortion, Pilip, a registered Democrat, said that abortion is “a very personal choice” and she will not support a national abortion ban or funding cuts for reproductive rights and care.

Pilip said she will look to invest

in safety patrols in houses of worship, increase punishment for hate crimes and expand educational efforts amidst a disturbing rise in antisemitism.

She immigrated to Israel from Ethiopia in 1991 when she was 11 years old, along with her family, as part of Operation Solomon. She served in the Israel Defense Forces as a gunsmith in a paratroopers unit and called Israel “our greatest ally in

the Middle East” who she will always stand with.

Suozzi’s campaign said Pilip’s plan may appear like Suozzi’s at first but lacks substance and “is a whole lot of nothing.

“When she claims to have something to say, it is heavy on national Republican talk points and low on actual ideas or solutions,” Suozzi said in a statement.

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Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, January 19, 2024

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HONORING HIS DAD Mineola wrestler Joe Keese draws inspiration from death

BY M I C H A E L J . L E W I S The car rides weren’t especially loud. No heart-to-heart talks, or rollicking story-telling. But so much about father and son relationships is just being together, and Chris and Joe Keesee were together an awful lot.

Chris was a gregarious fellow, known to almost all in Mineola thanks to his warm smile and pleasant nature.

He was a father to four boys, and the third of those was Joe, a soccer star as a kid who discovered a passion for wrestling when he approached high school.

Chris’ wife, Graceann, would often be driving Joe’s younger brother, Michael to soccer tournaments on weekends, so Chris was chauffeuring Joe to his wrestling meets and tournaments.

It was a lot of hours hanging in the car, just father and son.

“We were always close, and he was always so proud of me and everything I did,” Joe said. “He loved how hard I worked in my sports, and would get really into it while watching. He was friends with everybody, and was always fun to be around.”

Chris Keesee was stricken with esophageal cancer a few years ago and passed away last April 28. Joe had just finished his junior year of wrestling, reaching the county tournament and placing fifth at 145 pounds.

As last winter progressed, as his dad’s health worsened, Joe found inspiration.

“I didn’t know all the details of what was going on, the severity of it, but I knew he wasn’t feeling well,” Joe said. “I just knew I wanted to try to make it to the state tournament, for him. He got to see me at counties, but I didn’t make states.”

The loss of his dad has motivated Keesee to do even better in his senior year, and the 2023-24 sports campaign for him has already been incredible.

A starting defender on the Mustangs boys soccer team, Keesee was a key piece to the squad that won the county and Long Island championships for the first time since 2005.

Now back in wrestling mode, he’s gone 22-2 so far this season as Keesee dreams of finally making it to states.

“It meant a lot to me that we went so far (in soccer), because it was my

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE KEESEE FAMILY

Mineola senior Joe Keesee (right) took fifth place at the county wrestling tournament last year, and looks to qualify for states for first time this year. last year playing,” Keesee said. “But a couple of years ago wrestling became my biggest passion.”

That switch started to happen after ninth grade, as Keesee saw the potential in wrestling.

His coach at Mineola, Dan Guido, saw how athletic and tough his new charge was and thought he could have a future in the sport. Keesee also knew that older brother Matt Keesee was a three-time county champion “He’s got a little bit of everything: smarts, tough, very competitive and a great wrestling IQ,” Guido said. “There may be still kids who are stronger than him, but he beats most

of them.”

In 10th grade Keesee gave up club soccer and started training for wrestling most of the year; he now wrestles in club season at Savage Academy in Huntington.

The individual aspect of the sport began appealing to him more and more, as the idea that “all the pressure and all the glory and blame is on me if I don’t do well. No teammates to blame if you don’t win.”

After beginning his career at 112 pounds, Keesee now grapples at 160, a weight at which he said he’s much more comfortable than last year’s 145.

“I feel faster and better technically

than a lot of other guys at this class,” Keesee said.

As a sophomore Keesee went 0-2 at counties, making him motivated to improve as a junior.

He was one match away last February from fighting for a spot at states, but winning the fifth-place battle gave him confidence for a state berth this year (because of changes in the state rules in 2023-24, Long Island wrestlers must reach the title bout of their weight class to qualify for states.)

“You could see how much it meant to him, trying to do well for his Dad,” Guido said. “Chris was such a good guy, and seeing him (get worse) was

hard for Joe and the family.”: Keesee has gotten so good that Guido has taken him and a few other Mineola teammates to other schools for practice sometimes, so they can get a better battle.

While he competes and keeps dreaming of his ultimate goal, Keesee said he plans to attend Nassau Community College next year before embarking on a career in construction.

Like father, like son.

“I just need to wrestle smart, and not rush things when I’m out there,” Keesee said. “Just slow things down, and use what I know to help me win.”

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