Manhasset Times _2023_08_18

SCHOOLS & EDUCATION

PAGES 21-24

GIRL SCOUT PROJECT A TUTORING MODEL

Right-wing activist sparks anger in Port

Social media figure linked to QAnon conspiracies speaks at wellness center

BY BRANDON DUFFY

An event in Port Washington on Sunday featuring Scott McKay, a social media figure who is accused of spreading QAnon conspiracies and what the Anti-Defamation League describes as antisemitic rhetoric, focused on an alleged underground child trafficking plot around the world.

The gathering at Rays of Light on 168 Main St. was organized by Jason Shurka, a Port Washington native who founded UNIFYD, a “nonprofit faith-based” organization that offers a streaming service and alternative medicine products, according to its website.

Reawaken America Tour.

The tour included conferences that featured QAnon influencers, anti-vax activists and election fraud conspiracy theorists, the ADL said.

“In this intriguing event, we will dive into the secrets of the Under Ground Tunnels and explore fascinating insights,” the event’s online description said. “Plus, we’ll address the crucial issue of child trafficking and pleading to protect and safeguard our most vulnerable assets.”

See related story

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Rays of Light, along with other “UNIFYD Healing Centers” like McKay’s in Dallas, Shurka said, offer clients the Energy Enhancement System, a supposed technology that can treat cancer and autism, among other illnesses, according to online testimonials. Shurka’s family owns the Port Washington center.

McKay is a self-proclaimed “Patriot Streetfighter” who hosts a show on the social media platform Rumble with 228,000 followers and was part of the

COUNTY O.T. SOARS

McKay, a 36-yearold from Dallas, Texas, made comments previously that the ADL describes as antisemitic on the Khazarian Mafia, a group of Jews traced back to the 8th century.

The Khazars, McKay said, were marauders, thieves and Satanists who chose Judaism out of the three major religions in the world when they were threatened to be killed off completely.

“For the next 1,400 years, they’re infiltrating every institution and agency of civilization,” McKay said Sunday, according to an online recording posted by McKay of the event. “The central banks, the royal families. They breed

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Feinstein doc behind new postpartum depression pill

BY KARINA KOVAC

In a pivotal decision, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted approval for the first at-home oral pill to relieve postpartum depression after decades of preclinical research nationwide and the leadership role played by a doctor at Northwell Health.

The medication, zuranolone, is aimed at mitigating perinatal or postpartum depression, a condition known as PPD afflicting approximately one in

eight women and the most common complication of childbirth.

Dr. Kristina M. Deligiannidis, a professor at the Institute of Behavioral Science at Northwell Health’s Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research in Manhasset, is a key contributor to the development of the pill. She is also director of women’s behavioral health at Northwell’s Zucker Hillside Hospital.

Deligiannidis said the commitment to continue researching and the collaboration effort with scientists across the nation helped make the pill

a possibility.

“Years of dedicated research and collaborative endeavors with fellow scientists nationwide have culminated in an innovative, easily accessible treatment avenue for women confronting postpartum and perinatal depression,” she said.

“This momentous FDA decision has the potential to reverse the trend of underdiagnosed and undertreated PPD, promising assistance to a larger cohort of women in dire need.”

Continued on Page 40

PHOTO COURTESY OF FEINSTEIN INSTITUTES

Kristina M. Deligiannidis of Feinstein Institutes in Manhasset is the principle investigator who helped develop the first postpartum depression pill called zuranolone.

Girl Scout alum creates tutoring template

Fong’s project provides for 100 students, teachers

BY KARINA KOVAC

Grace Fong, 19, began her effort to make tutoring more accessible to local low-income students in 2021 as a Girl Scouts of Nassau County Gold Award project.

The project has now hit a milestone with the enrollment of 100 students and teachers with Fong, a Great Neck resident, continuing even after leaving Girl Scouts.

“My passion for education and learning inspired me to pursue this topic,” Fong said. “I have always wanted to pursue education as a career, whether within secondary teaching, university professorship, or working in education policy. I have always felt propelled to impact people’s lives and believed that education would give me the most direct way to pursue this

Tennis tournament honors fallen teens

Aaron Raja raises $1K for Roslyn friends

BY CAMERYN OAKES

At the 2022 Nassau County Doubles Championship, Roslyn High School’s Drew Hassenbein and Gavin Koo battled it out against Wheatley’s Aaron Raja and Kavin Shukla, securing a win for Roslyn at the competitive tennis match.

Raja, a friend of Hassenbein, reflected fondly on the match that had no impact on their friendship.

“We had a dog fight, a threehour final match, and we left it all on the court but then we were friends right after,” Raja said.

In the wake of Hassenbein dying with fellow teammate Ethan Falkowitz after a car crash in May, Raja took that memory of playing a doubles match against his friend and turned it into a doubles tournament fundraiser that would preserve the legacy of the late teens.

Raja, an incoming senior at The Wheatley School and a varsity tennis player, organized a tennis tournament at The Wheatley School Thursday to raise money for the teens and to honor the two tennis players who had a resounding impact on their community.

More than $1,000 was raised, Raja said, and more donations are expected to total $1,500.

The money raised will be donated evenly to the The Drew Hassenbein Foundation and Ethan Falkowitz’s GoFundMe.

Hassenbein and Falkowitz, both 14, were killed May 3 while being driven home from a tennis match celebration.

Their car was hit by Roslyn resident Amandeep Singh, who prosecutors allege was under the influence of alcohol and cocaine and driving 95 mph on the wrong side of the road.

Raja was close friends with Hassenbein and had played tennis with him since he started at the age of nine. He said they both trained at Robbi Wagner’s tennis training center, which is where the their friendship and friendly tennis rivalry began.

Three days before Hassenbein’s death, Raja and Hassenbein had battled against one another in a high school tennis match.

After losing his friend, Raja began planning a fundraiser for the

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goal.”

The Gold Award, the highest distinction attainable by a Girl Scout, serves as a platform for girls in grades 9 to 12 to launch community service initiatives addressing civic or social concerns. Much like Fong’s Step by Step Tutoring service, these projects are designed to endure beyond the award, creating lasting change and leaving a positive impact on communities.

The tutoring program, which has since become a non-profit, is aimed at assisting students in achieving their academic goals. The program has now expanded to a third school and garnered national recognition.

And Fong said she has no plans to stop. She is hoping to extend its reach to 200 students over the next few years.

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Fong said she was driven by her passion when she established the Step by Step Tutoring program.

The initiative focused on connecting students from grades 1 to 6 from low-income families with tutors ranging from grades 8 to 12. Students were offered free financial literacy tutoring, with Grace personally selecting and training tutors to broaden the program’s impact.

Using Zoom sessions, students in kindergarten through sixth grade received assistance, overseen by both Fong and other tutors.

Step by Step Tutoring has extended its influence on students across Queens and Long Island, collaborating with schools in Great Neck North, Roslyn, Manhasset, Jericho, and Syosset school districts.

Continued on Page 35

TO REACH US

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COURTESY ZE CREATIVE COMMUNICATIONS

Great Neck Girl Scouts alum Grace Fong is continuing her Gold Award project to deliver accessible tutoring to low-income families.

PHOTO COURTESY OF AARON RAJA

Participants play in a tennis doubles match in a tournament fundraiser for Drew Hassenbein and Ethan Falkowitz, two teens and rising tennis stars killed in a car crash in May.

Polo Club aims to open exclusive world

New owner of Old Westbury organization seeks to make niche sport more accessible

BY CAMERYN OAKES

Polo, one of the world’s oldest team sports played on the backs of horses, can be a niche and expensive sport, but the new owner of Meadow Brook Polo Club in Old Westbury is making the sport more accessible to introduce locals to the club in their own backyard.

Chetan Krishna, who took over ownership last year, is wrapping up his second season managing the club.

Krishna said the Meadow Brook Polo Club is one of the oldest clubs in the United States, formed in 1881 as a venue for golf, polo, fox hunting and other equestrian sports. The polo field was established just three years after the club’s opening in 1884.

In the 1920s, the U.S. Open Polo tournament was held at the club’s Bethpage, L.I., field.

But as time has progressed, Krishna said popular interest in the sport has died off.

Krishna said many people have only a slight awareness of the sport of polo and few have an idea about how to explore it further. He said the history of the sport has lent it an air of eliteness, which turns many people away.

But Krishna’s objective is to fight

this preconceived notion and provide a completely accessible polo club to new and old fans alike.

“Anyone can come watch and everyone has a great time with it,” Krishna said.

Krishna started as a player at Meadow Brook but said he was not happy with how the club was being managed. He said that while he was improving after two seasons on the field, he began seeking out other clubs to play at.

This is when the previous owners approached Krishna and asked him to take over the club.

Now in this position, Krishna said he is on a mission to revitalize the polo club, sharing the exciting and unique sport with potentially new fans and bringing the club into a new golden era.

Krishna has three plans of action to invigorate the club

His first plan of action is to update the playing fields.

“Build it, then they come,” Krishna said.

Meadow Brook Polo Club has three fields: Meadow Brook Polo Fields in Old Westbury, Bethpage Polo Field in Bethpage and Caumsett Polo Fields in Lloyd Harbor.

Continued on Page 35

PHOTO COURTESY OF MEADOW BROOK POLO CLUB

A polo tournament held at Meadow Brook Polo Club on Aug. 5.

Herricks sets tax levy for

BY BRANDON DUFFY

The Herricks Board of Education

Thursday night set the tax levy for the upcoming school year at $104,764,474.

The levy results in a tax increase of 1.83%, which was voted on earlier in the year as part of the budget.

President James Gounaris also thanked Herricks administration for the work they’ve done following an internal audit update from Richard Coffey on the district’s annual risk assessment.

“We received a pretty amazing report and we’re really proud of the team and what they do here,” Gounaris said. “Thank you for confirming their work is very good and the district’s work is excellent.”

In unrelated district news, the board agreed to a new collective bargaining agreement through June 30, 2026, with the Herricks Teachers’ Association. The agreement added coaching positions to the agreement, which the district negotiated stipends for.

The board also accepted a donation from the Herricks Athletics Boosters of an indoor scoreboard for the Herricks High School small gymnasium.

The next Board of Education meeting will be on Thursday, Aug. 24, at 6 p.m.

SCREENCAP BY BRANDON DUFFY

The Herricks Board of Education held a meeting on Thursday, Aug. 10.

3 county staffers top $200K in O.T.

Correction officers join 4 Suffolk County employees to lead

BY BRANDON DUFFY

LI

Three Nassau County employees, each of them a member of the correctional center, earned over $200,000 in overtime pay in 2022, according to the Nassau County Comptroller’s office.

The three employees were part of a total of eight county employees on Long Island that earned at least $200,000 in overtime pay last year.

Correction Officers Michael O’Malley Michele Acquista and Correction Sergeant Patrick McCaffrey joined Suffolk County Police Offices Vincent Liberator, John Sciara, Giancarlo Baranta and Gardy Wool and Deputy Sheriff John Shultz.

Wool topped all Long Island employees with $241,717 in overtime pay last year, according to Newsday.

The county’s police department, which takes up about half of Nassau’s payroll budget, paid current or former employees $505.5 million in 2022, according to the comptroller’s office.

Second behind the police department was the correctional center, which paid a total of $122.3 million to current or former employees last year.

In total, Nassau paid 15,236 former or current employees a total of $1.05 billion last year, a 5% increase from 2021.

County workers that earned over $200,000 increased 24% from 2021 to 2022, according to the comptroller’s office. Those 971 in 2022 accounted for nearly a quarter of the total payroll.

Among those 971 employees, 942 of them, or 97%, work in the county’s police department or correctional center staff, according to the county comptroller’s office.

Efforts to reach a representative of the Nassau County Police Department was unavailing.

A new Santos GOP challenger

BY CAMERYN OAKES

Air Force veteran and Hicksville native Greg Hach announced Tuesday his bid for New York’s 3rd congressional district as a Republican candidate, who said he is running

to restore integrity in the district’s office in the wake of Rep. George Santos’ election.

“I am running for Congress because honorable third district voters were conned by a crook and serial liar. I am running to restore integrity to an of-

Continued on Page 32

PHOTO COURTESY OF GREG HACH

Greg Hach announced his candidacy for New York’s Third Congressional District, challenging George Santos for the bid.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE ISLAND 360 ARCHIVES

The Nassau County Police Department, which takes up about half of Nassau’s payroll budget, paid current or former employees $505.5 million in 2022.

COMMUNITY NEWS

SUNY Old Westbury biz school earns accreditation

The State University of New York at Old Westbury has earned accreditation for its School of Business from AACSB International — The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.“AACSB accreditation recognizes institutions that have demonstrated a focus on excellence in all areas, including teaching, research, curriculum development, and student learning,” said Stephanie M. Bryant, executive vice president and chief accreditation officer of AACSB. “We congratulate State University of New York at Old Westbury and Dean Shalei Simms on earning accreditation and applaud the entire team — including the administration, faculty, staff, and students—for their roles in earning this respected honor.”Founded in 1916, AACSB is the longest-serving global accrediting body for business schools, and the largest business education network connecting learners, edu-

cators, and businesses worldwide.“Earning AACSB accreditation is all about our dedication to our students and our faculty’s commitment to excellence,” said SUNY Old Westbury President Timothy E. Sams. “AACSB sets the highest standards, so students and graduates of our School of Business now have more proof of what we’ve always known – that they receive a rigorous, relevant education that readies them for success in the careers and lives they want for themselves.”Synonymous with the highest standards of quality, AACSB accreditation inspires new ways of thinking within business education globally. As a result, less than 6 percent of the world’s schools offering business degree programs hold AACSB business accreditation.“Only the strongest business schools in the world have earned AACSB accreditation,” said Shalei Simms, acting dean of the SUNY Old Westbury School

of Business. “After AACSB’s intensive review process and through the commitment and expertise of our faculty, we are proud to be able to say that AACSB recognizes that we deliver on our promise to prepare the next generation of business leaders.”AACSB accreditation ensures continuous improvement and provides focus for schools to deliver on their mission,

innovate, and drive impact. AACSB-accredited schools have successfully undergone a rigorous review process conducted by their peers in the business education community, ensuring that they have the resources, credentials, and commitment needed to provide students with a first-rate, future-focused business education.

“The School of Business has more than 11,000 alumni around the region, state, nation and world who can attest to the quality that AACSB is now recognizing,” said Patrick C. Stines, a 1998 SUNY Old Westbury graduate, partner in the accounting firm Novak Francella LLC, and current chair of the School of Business Advisory Board.“Through these connections and its active partnerships with businesses and organizations across the region, the School of Business has a track record of developing the talent local businesses are looking for, both today and for tomorrow.

Northwell launches targeted liver cancer treatment

Surgical oncologists and other experts at the Northwell Health Cancer Institute are now providing game-changing treatment for certain types of liver tumors in patients who might not otherwise be eligible to undergo surgery.

This comprehensive multidisciplinary program offers patients on Long Island and people from other areas in the United States to receive innovative liver cancer treatment, which may help some patients become disease-free.

The therapy includes a device called a hepatic artery infusion (HAI) pump that provides treatment for colorectal cancer spread to the liver or bile duct cancers within the liver.

A specially trained surgical oncologist implants the pump, about the size of a hockey puck, in the abdomen that precisely delivers chemotherapy to tumors in the liver via the hepatic artery to shrink tumors.

The chemotherapy used has up to 400 times higher drug concentration as compared to traditional chemotherapy, with the pump being refilled every few weeks. The targeted liver chemotherapy also limits potential side effects to the body.

Dr. Sepideh Gholami,surgical director of the Northwell Cancer Institute’s Liver Multidisciplinary Clinic and director of the center’s Hepatic Artery Infusion Pump Program, developed the targeted liver cancer therapy program at Northwell.

“Approximately half of patients with colorectal cancer will develop liver metastases in their lifetime,” said Gholami. “Of these patients only a small percentage of them are eligible for liver surgery and most of these patients will have a recurrence of their disease despite traditional systemic chemotherapy. Treatment with HAI pump therapy has been shown to shrink tumors in patients to a point where tumors can be surgically resected, extending their overall survival even more and decreasing the rate of the tumor coming back.”

Prior to joining Northwell Health from UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center in Sacramento, Calif., Gholami implanted an HAI pump

into her patient, Cheryl Andresen, now 67, who was diagnosed with colon cancer that spread to her liver, where six large tumors were found.

Gholami also removed her patient’s gallbladder and resected some tumor in her liver in June 2022.

After traditional chemotherapy and approximately seven months of the HAI therapy, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans showed that the rest of the tumors shrunk considerably.

The HAI pump, developed by the Bostonbased company Intera Oncology, combined with surgery, gave Ms. Andresen newfound hope.

Andresen, who lives in the small California town of Truckee near Lake Tahoe with her husband, Larry, of 46 years, learned Gholami was recruited by Northwell earlier this year to start

an HAI pump program in New York.

Given the confidence she felt with her surgeon, Andresen decided to have her second major surgery by Gholami at the R.J. Zuckerberg Cancer Hospital at Long Island Jewish (LIJ) Medical Center in New Hyde Park.

Andresen and her husband arrived on Long Island for presurgical testing four days before the scheduled surgery on March 13, 2023. Avid hikers and nature lovers, the couple squeezed in a trip to Montauk before surgery, saying the visit to the scenic East End boosted their positive outlook toward surgery and recovery on Long Island.

To perform the complex surgery, Gholami teamed up with Dr. John Ricci,, chief of colorectal surgery at LIJ Medical Center.

Gholami first resected the liver, removing the tumors. Then Dr. Ricci removed two tumors in the colon. Andresen tolerated the procedure well and spent 11 days in the hospital. After discharge, the couple spent another two weeks on Long Island for follow up and to ensure safe travel back to their home.

In early June, almost 18 months after being diagnosed with cancer,Andresen’s MRI scan showed she was cancer-free. Her results showed negative tumor markers and a new blood test looked at circulating tumor DNA.

“There’s no doubt in my mind that Dr. Gholami saved my life,” said Andresen. “I could have had my surgery with another doctor, but I felt very secure in her hands…she is compassionate and truly made me feel like family. She is so passionate about what she does and is on a mission to spread the word about the pump to help other patients who face a serious cancer diagnosis.”

Gholami credits the success of the Liver Multidisciplinary Clinic to a long list of team members for the superb care they provide to patients.

“It’s my fellow surgical oncologists, nurse practitioners, medical oncologists, pharmacists, navigators, clinicians and ancillary staff that ensure we are delivering care to patients in a highly personalized fashion,” she said. “We strive to provide high-quality care and the best possible outcomes for our patients. We want people in the region and beyond to know we are here, and we can help them.”

“I feel I’m totally back to normal,” said Andresen, who noted Gholami and clinicians at the Northwell Cancer Institute have been “amazing” in following up with her in Calif. “I’m a doer, I have a lot of energy now. I’m looking forward to spending more time with my four grandchildren and getting away with my husband to our annual vacation in Hawaii this winter – something we couldn’t do last year.”

To make an appointment or to reach a nurse navigator through Northwell’s Cancer Care Direct, call 833-223-4732 or online at cancercaredirect@northwell.edu.

COURTESY OF AACSB INTERNATIONAL

Dr. Gholami holds an implantable chemotherapy infusion pump used to treat liver cancer.

Herricks students shine in music program

Herricks Summer Music Program completed another successful summer with 100 student musicians entering grades four through nine joining together for four weeks of fun, friendship building and phenomenal music-making. The program, which is held at Herricks Middle School, is overseen by the district’s music teachers with support from the high school’s Tri-M Honor Society who serve as counselors and mentors to the campers.

During the program, participants were introduced to a variety of musical styles with the option to join band or orchestra ensembles, perform with a chorus and engage in unique electives, including ukulele classes. They also were able to focus on their instruments of choice in small group lessons with the volunteer counselors.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for musicians to stay engaged over the summer,” said music teacher Jesse Torres. “It gives students a different perspective and encourages them to hone their skills and express their creativity in a fun, low pressure environment.”

Herricks graduate Alannah Egan who joined in 2016 as a student and is now a head counselor said, “The camp definitely provides a unique experience giving students the chance to explore music in a nontraditional setting.” She is proud that the program inspires student musicians to create their own

music by ear, improvise solos and experience a variety of instruments.

With the support of the Herricks Music Boosters, the campers were treated to a variety of special guests who entertained and engaged while opening young minds and ears to their unique musical styles. “The North Folk” introduced the students to Bluegrass with their fun and uplifting performance. Brooklyn-based Rock and Roll band “Friendly Company” performed original songs and highlighted their catchy melodies, inspiring the students to clap along. Finally, Darius from “Sounds of Earth” gave students an upclose look at a variety of unique instruments, including bagpipes which were a camper favorite.

The summer concluded with two concert performances. The first was small ensemble groups and the second was the full band, orchestra and chorus along with featured performances from the ukulele groups.

“I continue to be proud of our young musicians and am thrilled we were able to provide another successful Summer Music Program for our students,” Director of Fine and Performing Arts Anissa Arnold said. “Students were able to enrich what they have learned during the school year, but most importantly, they are making music together while having fun with fellow musicians from the Herricks music community.”

Students musicians make music and friends while honing their craft and expanding their appreciation for diverse musical styles at Herricks Summer Music Program, a unique four-week immersive experience that is held at Herricks Middle School.

Manhasset-Lakeville FD blood drive a near record

The Manhasset-Lakeville Fire Department held a blood drive Aug. 10 with the help of the New York Blood Center and state Sen. Jack Martins to combat the current blood shortage. The New York Blood Center is one of the largest community-based, non-profit blood collection and distribution organizations in the United States.

The blood drive was so successful that the fire department is already trying to schedule another blood drive later in the year.

Captain Mark Sard, a 31-year department veteran who serves as the chairman of the Manhasset-Lakeville Fire Department Blood Drive, said they saw more people than ever donating.

“This was by far one of our most successful blood drives ever,” he said. “We had 61 donors, which is a near record high for our effort. We’re grateful to our community and we’re grateful to Sen. Martins for partnering with us. We’re hoping to do it again this December and will release the dates soon.”

Martins, who represented New York’s 7th Senate District, said firefighters are heroes in more ways than putting out fires, racing to accidents and saving lives as emergency medical technicians.

“They find ways to help us be heroes,

too, with events like this,” he said, “Every pint a person donates can save up to three lives and blood can only be had when good people roll up their sleeves and donate. So, you are very likely saving lives when you get involved. What’s better than that? That’s why I’m proud to partner with our fire departments.”

Town of North Hempstead Supervisor Jennifer DeSena donated blood at the drive, commenting how blood supplies are critically needed for local hospitals to meet the demand and continue saving lives.

“It’s quick, easy, and safe to donate a single pint of blood which in turn can save up to three lives,” she said, “Donating blood is an incredibly selfless way for all of us to pitch in and give back, bolster blood banks, and ensure as many people as possible can be helped. On top of all that, it helps ease the burden our Healthcare heroes face as they continue to provide lifesaving efforts.”

She also noted the Town of North Hempstead will be hosting a blood drive from 11 am to 5 pm on August 16at Tully Park in New Hyde Park.

The Red Cross states that every two seconds someone in the United States needs blood or platelets and that approximately 29,000 units of red blood cells are needed every day in the nation.

PHOTO COURTESY OF HERRICKS SCHOOL DISTRICT

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE OFFICE OF NYS SENATOR JACK MARTINS

Members of the Manhasset-Lakeville Fire Department and North Hempstead Supervisor Jennifer DeSena at the department’s annual blood drive.

OUR VIEWS Editorial Cartoon

A Jersey jeer for congestion pricing foes

The good news is that an issue has united Democrats and Republicans from Nassau County and New Jersey in common purpose.

The bad news is that the bipartisan opposition of officials from both sides of the Hudson River to congestion pricing is wrong on so many levels.

New York City has very good reason to implement a congestion pricing plan that calls for tolls of up to $23 during peak hours and as low as $5 during non-peak hours from 60th Street to the Battery beginning in the spring of 2024.

The Manhattan Central Business District, the hub of the largest U.S. economy, ranks as themost congestedin America. Its air quality also ranks among the worst in the world.

Between 2010 and 2019, travel speeds in the Manhattan Central Business District fell by 22% from 9.1 mph to 7.1 mph, according to the New York City Planning Commission.

The planning commission estimated that the region around New York City suffers from driver congestion costs of 102 hours of wasted time per year and around $1,595 per driver annually. Economists say the price is much higher.

The congestion fee is expected to reduce Midtown traffic by about 20%, or roughly 143,000 vehicles a day, and reduce pollution.

It would also provide $1 billion to keep the MTA’s buses and trains running efficiently — about 8% of which would support the LIRR.

Often unappreciated is that the plan would benefit another area suffering from congestion — Nassau County.

This is well known to the 100,000 Nassau commuters who begin their journeys on congested highways in this county and then travel the 10 miles across often congested highways in Queens before entering Manhattan.

But so do commuters to Queens

and Brooklyn and non-commuters just traveling highways and roadways within the county.

Now think what a reduction of 20,000 commuters driving to and from Manhattan as expected under the plan would mean.

All these benefits have not discouraged officials from Nassau County and New Jersey and beyond from telling New York City how to run their city and opposing the plan.

So much for local control.

Nassau Congressman Anthony D’Esposito (CD-4), facing a tough re-election fight, recently joined New Jersey Congressmen Josh Gottheimer, a Democrat, and Thomas Kean, a Republican, in sponsoring a resolution in Congress opposing New York’s tolling program.

Among other things, the resolution calls for New York State to make publicly available an economic impact program that has been long available and for state and federal agencies to halt implementation of the program.

But the main opposition is being led by New Jersey’s governor, Philip D. Murphy, a Democrat, who is suing the Biden administration over New York’s plan.

Fewer than 60,000 New Jersey residents commute to New York City by car – about a quarter of the number of Garden State residents who work in the city. But that hasn’t stopped Murphy.

The opposition of Murphy, a selfproclaimed environmentalist with national ambitions, to a plan that seeks to address climate change, has not gone over well with people in New Jersey concerned with record-setting temperatures, fires and extreme weather in the United States and beyond.

But he has gained other admirers, including Vito John Fossella Jr., Staten Island’s Republican borough president. He praised Murphy and announced that he, too, would sue.

In a press release, D’Esposito

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quoted Gottheimer as saying that New York’s plan comes “at a time when we should be doing everything we can to make life more affordable for hard-working families, New York’s and the MTA’s Congestion Tax will whack middle-class Jersey and New York drivers with a $23-a-day tax to go south of 60th in Manhattan.”

This echoes the criticism of County Legislator Steve Rhoads, who kicked off Nassau’s opposition to congestion pricing last year by calling the MTA proposal’s plan a “commuter tax.”

But the MTA’s plan is not a commuter tax for a simple reason — no one is required to pay it.

People avoid the fee by simply commuting to work by train or bus.

And the MTA has spent $14 billion in recent years on two projects that make it easier to commute by train from Nassau County to Manhattan: East Side Access and the 3rd track.

East Side Access is now saving commuters headed to the East Side valuable time by taking them to Grand Central Station on the East Side rather than Penn Station on the West Side.

The 3rd Track, the 9.8-mile expansion of rail service from Floral

Park to Hicksville, has improved service on a stretch that carries 40% of the LIRR’s traffic on Long Island.

Village of Floral Park Mayor Kevin Fitzgerald recently said the increased service will make “living in Floral Park even more attractive than it already is.”

And if the city’s Central Business District Tolling Program is a tax, then so are tolls at the Midtown Tunnel, George Washington Bridge, Throgs Neck Bridge, Whitestone Bridge, Lincoln Tunnel and the Holland Tunnel, among others.

Are the opponents of New York’s congestion plan in favor of eliminating the tolls at these crossings as well?

Congestion pricing is also not an attack on the middle class unless you consider people with a median annual income of more than $100,000 to be middle class.

And, as we have pointed out, they have the option of not driving to work and using mass transit like most commuters. This would save them the Central Business District toll, a possible Midtown Tunnel toll and the cost of gasoline and parking.

As for D’Esposito’s goal of doing everything we can to make life more affordable, Newsday recently

published a series of stories on what makes Nassau County so expensive for residents.

No. 1 on the list was a lack of housing, which Newsday and others before them have said can be attributed to the county’s restrictive zoning and the opposition of local residents and officials.

Between 2010 and 2018 Nassau was last in the country in approval of new housing at 6 units per 1,000 people, according to The Citizens Budget Commission.

But Republican and Democratic officials vehemently opposed two proposals by Gov. Kathy Hochul to increase new housing in Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester counties.

Perhaps New York Mayor Eric Adams will be inspired by the suburban officials’ demands on how he runs New York City to demand that Nassau County change its zoning laws. What’s good for the goose is good for the gander. No?

In his press release, D’Esposito also qualified for the Olympics of Chutzpah by quoting Gottheimer attacking the congestion plan by pointing to an MTA study that showed traffic at the George Washington Bridge would increase by 1%.

Free speech, criminal conduct not the same

The federal indictment of Donald Trump for attempting to overturn the 2020 presidential election has triggered considerable legal analysis and debate. Defendant Trump has been charged with conspiring to defraud the government, disenfranchise voters and corruptly obstruct a congressional proceeding.

One of the emerging arguments, addressed in Paragraph 3 of the indictment, is regarding Defendant Trump’s First Amendment rights. Criminal conduct is not protected by the Constitution, only free speech. To illustrate: I can legally threaten that “I am going to rob that art gallery.” That said, if I then proceed to abscond with paintings, the act of theft is not a protected First Amendment right.

The 45-page indictment claims that Defendant Trump used false claims about Vice President Mike Pence’s authority to overturn the election. The falsehood became central to the rioters’ menacing chants to “Hang Mike Pence” and ominous calls looking for then Speaker of the House

Nancy Pelosi – “Where are you, Nancy? We’re looking for you!”

Paragraph 11a of the indictment plainly states that Pence, “who personally stood to gain by remaining in office as part of the Defendant’s ticket and whom the Defendant asked to study fraud allegations—told the Defendant that he had seen no evidence of outcome-determinative fraud.”

Nevertheless, the rioters accepted Defendant Trump’s false claims and erected gallows complete with a hangman’s noose in front of the Capitol as an unambiguous symbol of the political violence to come.

Paragraph 96 of the indictment explains that on Jan. 5, 2021 “the Defendant encouraged supporters to travel to Washington on Jan. 6, and he (Trump) set the false expectation that the Vice President had the authority to and might use his ceremonial role at the certification ceremony to reverse the election outcome in the Defendant’s favor.”

The Defendant met with Pence alone on Jan. 5. Pence (Paragraph

97), Pence “refused to agree to the Defendant’s request that he obstruct the certification.” The Defendant then said that he would have to publicly criticize Pence; to which Pence’s chief of staff alerted the then VP’s secret service detail out of grave concern for his safety.

With respect to the violent undercurrents leading up to the Jan. 6

insurrection former Appellate Judge Michael Luttig, a lifelong conservative, was enlisted in “an urgent effort on the part of Mr. Pence’s inner circle to bolster the VP’s stance that he could not do what Mr. Trump was demanding of him: unilaterally decide to invalidate the election results when he presided over the joint session on Jan. 6,” The New York Times reported on June 16, 2022.

At the same time Trump acolyte Jeffrey Clark, former assistant attorney general for the Environment and Natural Resources Division of the DOJ and widely considered to be Co-conspirator 4, suggested that Mr. Trump consider invoking the Insurrection Act. That would have enabled the use of the military to suppress civil disorder, insurrection, or rebellion.

Given his stature and the high respect with which he is held, Luttig was urged by close associates of Pence to intervene. While the judge revealed that he was unfamiliar with tweeting, he had recently registered with Twitter (now known as “X”). He solicited

tweeting instructions from his son, and then issued his first ever thread (@judgeluttig) on Jan. 5, 2021, which reads in part:

“The only responsibility and power of the Vice President under the Constitution is to faithfully count the electoral college votes as they have been cast. The Constitution does not empower the Vice President to alter in any way the votes that have been cast, either by rejecting certain of them or otherwise Neither the President nor the Vice President has any higher loyalty than to the Constitution.”

On Feb. 14, 2022 Luttig, who served on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, wrote in The Times that “Mr. Trump had exploited the convoluted language of the Electoral Count Act to delegitimize electoral votes for Mr. Biden in the 2020 election, and that he believed Mr. Trump could do so again in 2024.”

When a failure of civic character prevails, the fate of America lies in the balance.

Get out the vote!

The beginning or the end for Ron DeSantis?

He was once the fair-haired boy of politics. He was a congressman and then a successful governor. He won re-election by a stunning margin. He was lauded by local Democrats and Republicans. Without a formal announcement that he was running for president, he became the darling of mega donors, itching to give their money to anyone but Donald Trump. But early frontrunners have a tendency to stumble. Ask Jeb Bush.

Like the Greek tale of Icarus who flew too close to the sun, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has fallen from his lofty perch and is struggling to revive his flagging campaign. Having $100 million in campaign funds is no guaranty of anything in politics. DeSantis may have the funds, but he has made mistake after mistake in his efforts to topple former President Trump’s campaign for re-election.

Over a period of two years, DeSantis has focused on moving further to the right than Donald Trump. He

has championed anti-gay legislative efforts, signed a law curbing abortions after six weeks, and has encouraged changes in school curriculums that make right-wing zealots dance with joy. He has taken on the Disney corporation, which brings 40 million visitors a year to Orlando.

While DeSantis may still be a star back in Florida, his extreme views have hurt him on the campaign trail, where voters are begging for someone with a fresh message who sounds like Donald Trump but isn’t Donald Trump. Aside from being boring, DeSantis spends all of his valuable time bragging about what he has accomplished in Florida. The problem is that not everyone agrees with what he has done in Florida.

When he isn’t bragging about his fight with Disney, he is constantly talking about his anti-woke efforts. I consider myself fairly well tuned into the political scene, but I don’t believe that the average voter understands what “woke” really means. It

is a way of attacking liberal policies, but I don’t think the word “woke” will get you a winning ticket to the White House.

DeSantis has other problems. His original campaign team had no idea how to win over voters in places like

Iowa and New Hampshire and spent millions on that effort. With only a few short weeks until his first Republican debate, DeSantis has fired his campaign manager and most of his campaign staff. When you are trying to convince voters that you are a good manager, you ought to be able to manage your own campaign first.

The history of Republican primaries should have been a lesson to DeSantis as well. When the 2016 presidential campaign started, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and Wisconsin’s Scott Walker were considered to be the hot properties. Both were greeted as the best possible candidates for the Republican nomination. Sadly, after the first presidential debate, both started to fade away. Within months they had flamed out.

DeSantis has the same dilemma as the other 10 announced candidates. Many moderate Republicans are looking for a person that they can embrace and that is not Donald Trump. DeSantis is afraid of alienat-

ing Trump voters and that blocks him from being considered by the voters he would need in a general election. Winning this year’s Republican primary is no guarantee of success in November.

The next two months will decide whether DeSantis has any chance to take on Donald Trump successfully. Former President Trump will likely have been indicted four times by various grand juries. It is possible that some potential Republican voters will start looking for alternatives to Trump and DeSantis needs to show he has the ability to become the party nominee.

It is possible that DeSantis is already toast and he doesn’t know it. Trump’s popularity with his base may be unshakable. But the voters are looking for someone who can win in November 2024 and there is a chance that if it isn’t DeSantis it might be someone else. For now it looks like DeSantis is like Icarus, who flew too close to the sun and crashed.

The secret to enjoying your vacation

Iam about to leave on a trip to Switzerland, the land of perfectly synchronized watches, timepieces and clocks. Both the challenges and the joys of any trip one attempts occur long before departure. My personal strategy for vacation trips is to pick a desirable destination spot that I have not seen before and begin planning. The initial concept is always pleasant. Vague fantasies of rapturous moments gazing at historic buildings or landscapes once seen in a blockbuster movie.

However, the grim part of any vacation is in the nasty, endless details like booking plane tickets, informing my patients that I will be leaving, paying for the flight and booking

reservations in a hotel. This planning part shares more with the character of work instead of play but without a paycheck for your efforts. In fact, one is paying for all this fun.

The next part of the vacation is planning the itinerary. This I also find exceedingly difficult if not downright painful. I tend to get overwhelmed with so many ideas given to you in all the travel books you buy to orient you.

In the case of Switzerland, there are many cites, like Zurich, Bern, Luzern, Lausanne, etc. Even when you narrow that down, you have to figure out which mountain you want to climb, which restaurant you want to visit, and which museum you must see. All this is daunting, anxiety producing and exhausting.

Of course, the alternative is to not have any itinerary and just wing it. But that usually means you give into jet lag and hang out in the hotel for the whole trip. Not a good idea since the trip is costing you large dollars and one does want to get one’s money’s worth.

So as you can readily see, the planning and the paying for the trip is a painful, tedious and anxiety producing affair. And that’s why only 10 % of American’s have passports. They all see that it’s easier to just take a trip to Disney World and say hi to Mickey and Minnie Mouse.

So far no fun but I have found a very solid solution to this Vacation Optimization Problem. I look up what is the most important novel written about the country I’m visiting, go to the library and check it out. This is the

EARTH MATTERS

only part of the trip that costs nothing.

Before I went to Paris I read “Les Misérables” by Victor Hugo. Before I went to Hawaii I read “Hawaii” by James Michener. Before I went to Spain I read “Don Quixote” by Cervantes. This not only added to the trip’s fun, but it allowed me to enjoy the trip long before I got there. In many ways reading the book is better than the trip itself.

So this time, in preparation for my trip to Switzerland, I’m reading “The Magic Mountain “ by Thomas Mann, a 706-page masterpiece about a guy named Hans Castorp. who goes up to a tuberculosis sanitarium in the Swiss Alps for a three-week visit to his cousin and winds up staying for a few years. Perhaps the Swiss Alps are as addictive as Capri is. Somerset Maugham wrote that wonderful book “The Lotus Eater” about the guy who visited Capri on vacation and decided to stay for the rest of his life.

“The Magic Mountain” book is an intense study of time, magic, indolence and illness. Thomas Mann talks about how taking your temperature four times a day is quite a useful exercise in meditation. The sanitarium suggests that the proper way to take your temperature is to keep the thermometer in the mouth for a full seven minutes. which forces you to stop what you’re doing, slow down and do nothing at all. This is like Transcendental Meditation but without the guru.

In the sanitarium, time is not measured by days or weeks but months

and years. There is a wondrous leisurely pace to the place and contrary to expectation, even the patients who are nearest to death are jovial and joyful. This reminded me of what my analyst once said when I was in training at Nassau County Medical Center. He remarked that on most hospital wings, the patients were not depressed at all and seemed to enjoy the rest, relaxation and pampering provided by the doctors and nurses.

Perhaps there is something magical in the air in the Swiss Alps. There is another creative genius who was born and raised in a tiny shack in the Swiss Alps. Werner Herzog, the director of masterful films like “Aguirre: Wrath of God” and “Fitzcarraldo,” grew up in the Swiss mountains without electricity but went on to create some of the greatest films.

I am sure that I will enjoy the sights and sounds and food of Switzerland, but I doubt that I will enjoy any of it as much as I am enjoying “The Magic Mountain,” a wonderful book about life, death and the magic found atop mountains.

I now have many merry thoughts in my mind as I prepare for this journey to the top of the world. I have these thoughts only because I chose to read a masterpiece, which will be my travel guide throughout my journey. Vacations are a time to leave the prosaic and the mundane behind for a week and enter the world of magic. And what better way to find magic than to first read about it on the page.

The hidden gems of Hempstead Harbor

Recently my Audubon chapter had a walk at two of the underappreciated gems of the North Shore, Roslyn Pond Park/Gerry Park and Cedarmere. Both sites have undergone removal of invasive plants and restoration of native pollinators and bird-attracting plants. These are just two of the small parks and preserves scattered along the North Shore that are well worth a visit for their gardens, birds, butterflies and natural beauty.

Roslyn Pond Park/Gerry Park is surrounded by historic Roslyn and features the Mackay Horse statue. One of a pair that once graced the Mackay estate on the hill tops above the village, it was moved to the park in 2013 following restoration. Its twin stands in front of Roslyn High School.

Four ponds and newly restored wetland areas alongside the ponds and brook that connects the ponds are an attraction for birds and wildlife. Many of the new plantings are in flower now including Goldenrod, Asters, Bee balm, and Black-eyed Susans, which are attracting visitors like Ruby-throated Hummingbirds and

Goldfinches. Rarer visitors to the park include Louisiana Waterthrush and Wilson’s Snipe in addition to many other species.

In winter the main pond generally stays open, attracting not only the ubiquitous Canada Geese, both domestic and migratory, and Mallards, but Gadwals, Black Ducks, Northern

JENNIFER WILSON-PINES Earth Matters

Pintails, Northern Shovelers, Greenwinged Teals, and other waterfowl. Rarer visitors include Pink-footed and Cackling Geese. Public parking is available in the park in front of the lower pond and on East Broadway past the library. A list of the 122 species seen at the park can be found on ebird.org https://ebird.org/hotspot/

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Cedarmere is located on Bryant

Avenue north of the village. Once the country home of poet William Cullen Bryant, it is now a Nassau County Park. The site offers spectacular views of lower Hempstead Harbor. In addition to the historic home, there are several other structures on the grounds: an ice house, greenhouse and the beautiful Gothic-style water mill. The mill’s waterwheel is currently being restored.

The pond that fed the mill hosts a variety of dragonflies, turtles and frogs. The original boxwood parterre and slightly later sunken garden have been restored, though instead of Victorian bedding plants, they now feature an array of native plants. Huge Rose Mallows are in bloom, along with Cardinal flower, Phlox, Joe Pye Weed.

The grounds also boast several notable tree species and specimens, including NYSDEC certified largest American Holly in New York State., the largest Pignut Hickory on Long Island, Chinese Scholar Trees (Sophora Japonica) and NYSDEC certified largest Kentucky Coffee tree in New York State.

Goldfinches are collecting thistle down for their nests, Eastern Kingbirds hawk for insects from bare snags and in Hempstead Harbor, Egrets and Great Blue Herons hunt along the edges. Cedarmere’s 107 observed bird species can be found on ebird. org here, https://ebird.org/hotspot/ L3046996

The restoration of the buildings and grounds has been driven by the Friends of Cedarmere and the Roslyn Landmark Society. The Friends offer tours and events that can be found on their website, www.friendsofcedarmere.org There are three public parking lots on the grounds.

The parks are close to each other and can easily be visited in one outing. If you have more time, just up the hill is the Nassau County Art Museum, which sits within the large grounds of the William Cullen Bryant Preserve. The grounds feature sculptures, trails, two small ponds and a formal garden. On the west side of the harbor is the Hempstead Harbor Shoreline trail with amazing views of the harbor, and the Hempstead Harbor Natural Area with mountain bike and hiking trails.

DR. TOM FERRARO Our Town

PHOTO BY TOM FERRARO

The key to enjoying your vacation destination is to read a masterpiece about it.

Cedarmere

Hochul bites bullet on new housing push

It is a common refrain: Long Island (Nassau County, North Hempstead) is unaffordable. Housing is too expensive. Property taxes are too high. Our young people can’t afford to stay in the communities they grew up in (Do they even want to?). Seniors can’t afford to stay in their home.

But we also hear literally shrieks of horror at every housing development that is proposed. This was clear at a Great Neck BZA hearing when neighbors even opposed building a house on an empty lot big enough to accommodate a Residence A zoned house. Opponents claimed it would continue the trend toward turning our neighborhood into Queens – the argument that was made when areas of the Peninsula were up-zoned to Residence AA to stop “shoehorning.”

On the other hand, the Nassau County IDA has just awarded enormous tax concessions to Gesher Center LLC for a four-story, 60-unit apartment building (nine units at below market rate) at 733-741 Middle Neck Rd. which residents argued was too massive for the site. The Great Neck School District also protested giving the developer a 23-year PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) that would not only force other residents to make up the difference, but because of the tax cap on what can be charged, may well force curtailment of the very quality public education system that makes living in Great Neck so desirable and therefore valuable.

Clearly a conundrum. Is there a balance? I think so: There should be a bal-

ance between adding housing but doing it in a way that contributes to the quality of life of a community and by giving that community the benefit that should come from more development — lower taxes, not higher.

The New York Times recently reported about a new affordable housing community in the Jamaica Bay area that is being designed around “Blue Zone” principles that integrate environmental sustainability and health and wellness (even a community farm that will sell its fresh produce to residents).

On the other hand, a Newsday article described how The Hain Celestial Group Inc. is leaving Lake Success despite getting $1.3 million in tax breaks from the IDA (which it will have to repay), to open new headquarters in Hoboken, NJ, noting the employees were attracted to walking paths, green spaces, gyms and yoga studios, restaurants and shops, and public transportation options to the office and New York City. Likely a factor was also the availability of more affordable housing, which would make it easier to attract employees at lower salary than living in Long Island requires.

Gov. Kathy Hochul has made this point about the housing crisis being a drag on economic development because workers can’t afford to live near their work, even if they could find a home.

County Legislator Mazi Melesa Pilip sent out her taxpayer-funded newsletter crowing over how the Republicans beat back Hochul’s bold housing sup-

KAREN RUBIN View Point

ply plan, exaggerating as they do, that it would have ended local control (the plan was to work in partnership with localities). They are great at saying no, but truly horrible at coming up with any ideas to solve this or any other challenge.

“It is not just a shortage, it is a crisis,” Hochul said, announcing new executive orders. “That has become one of the No. 1 reasons people leave our state People do want to be here, but we’ve not kept up with the need for building housing for decades, and we’re going to address that starting here today.”

Hochul acknowledged how her housing plan went down in flames: “The legislature was not ready for it and would not commit at the time to the transformative change that New Yorkers so desperately need and deserve. But I still believe that we need a com-

prehensive solution to meet the scale of this housing crisis We press on because New Yorkers need houses built now.”

The essence of the plan is not to flood neighborhoods with low-income residents, but by building more supply of houses in all categories, it will drive down the cost. “It is basic supply and demand: you build more housing, the prices drop. And we have not been building, and the prices are going up and it’s hurting our residents,“ the governor said.

Well, Hochul has come back with a new housing plan, one that minimizes the “sticks” that were so objectionable to localities (which upset nervous Democrats as well) while maximizing the carrots (funding for supporting infrastructure). Communities that show they are expanding housing can qualify for a slice of $650 million in statewide funding. Existing programs, such as the $10 million Downtown Revitalization Initiative grant, also help communities repurpose and build transit-oriented housing.

Hochul has signed executive orders designating discretionary funds totaling $650 million as “Pro-Housing Community Programs” to reward municipalities that actively seek to “unlock” their housing potential. It will prioritize funding based on a new certification process factoring whether localities have streamlined permitting or adopted pro-housing policies, and whether they have submitted critical housing and zoning data to the state to help identify challenges to and track progress on housing growth. Communities that ad-

ditionally meet annual housing growth targets of 1% downstate and one-third of a percent upstate will get the highest priority for funding.

The governor is also taking administrative actions to ease state regulatory hurdles to building new housing. The Department of State has initiated regulatory updates to align the State Environmental Quality Review Act with other agencies’ SEQR regulations and will help facilitate obtaining variances under the Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code and Energy Conservation Construction Code. The Department of Environmental Conservation will also look for opportunities to promote environmentally friendly housing growth while maintaining SEQR’s critical protections for all communities.

“Because at the end of the day, what kind of state do you want to be?,” she asked. “If we don’t step up now and start taking bold action, who will? No governor has taken on housing since Nelson Rockefeller. You know why? Because it gets a little hot in the kitchen sometimes, right? Yeah, I’ve been burned, but I’m still here. I can promise you this: as long as I’m the governor, I’m going to focus every single day on making New York State more desirable, more livable and more affordable because the future rewards those who persevere.”

The key – and the challenge – for Hochul will be that housing development not be shoddy and a blight on a community, but done in a way to maximize quality of life for everyone.

Getting the most out of attending college

College students, no matter their age, whether recent high school graduates or adults entering college for the first time, and even those returning to college after years of child-rearing or pursuing a career receive a great deal of advice. They are told how to choose a college, how to choose a major, how to finance a college education and even how to study and take tests. But little advice is available on how to “approach” a college education, about how to get the most out of college.

Getting the most out of college requires that we match our interests, motivation and abilities to an institution’s culture, its commitment to student success, its approach to student development. We consider “approach” in most other endeavors, whether in sports, clubs or romance. Likewise I believe we should consider the approach of those who would educate us or our family. Indeed, we should understand our own approach to education.

I express my approach, my philosophy of education by using several words that begin with the letter “I.” The key words are simple; they are inquiry, integration, involvement and independence.

By inquiry, I mean the spirit of in-

quisitiveness. This means that we should, and our students should, and our faculty should, ask those fundamental questions asked by journalists everywhere: who, what, where, when, why and how? We and our students and our teachers should ask those questions at the end of each chapter, at the end of each class session, at the end of a conversation. We should be inquisitive in order to deepen our understanding as well as our knowledge. Closely related to the spirit of inquiry is the application of imagination. We can improve the questions we ask by imagining that we are in the other person’s shoes, and by imagining the subject from another vantage point. By inquiring and imagining, we show that we approach every subject with serious intent.

The second key word starting with “I” is that of integration. Too often teachers, and consequently students, think of knowledge as belonging to a special compartment: English in the English box, and math in its own section. This, of course, is not the way professionals think. As professionals, we draw upon our knowledge and experience in a variety of fields. We address a topic in economics by considering historical and behavioral questions with the perspective of history and psy-

ROBERT A. SCOTT, Ph.D.

chology. This is what we mean by integration — we help students see the interconnectedness, the interdisciplinarity of subjects. We emphasize this through our teaching methods, the design of our courses, even the makeup of our programs.

The third word beginning with the letter “I” is involvement. John Dewey was correct: we learn by doing. We learn by exercising our talents, by using both our knowledge and our analytical skills, by

expressing our ideas, by assuming positions of leadership and by participating. To be involved is to be fully engaged, emotionally as well as intellectually.

Too often students at colleges and adults in communities stay at home and do not contribute to the greater good. They not only deny their talents to the community, but also they fail to hone their skills and build their reservoir of experience. We know that students learn best and succeed more when they are involved. We should encourage involvement and exploration. As Swedish designer Josef Frank said, “The world is a book and they who stay at home read only one page.”

Furthermore, through engagement and exploration, we will learn more about ourselves as persons. T. S. Eliot captured this notion when he wrote, “We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time.”

The sum of these steps is the fourth “I”, independence as an individual. Inquisitiveness, integration and involvement all contribute to our becoming an independent person, one who in many ways is more fully human, aware of our

desires and our biases. Independent, though, does not mean distant or aloof from others. An independent person is one who has confidence in his or her abilities, is willing to ask for help and to give it and is committed to the broader community as well as to personal interests.

We become more complete as individuals because of the experience in a family group or other nurturing arrangement. We become more fully independent individuals when we are inquisitive, when we exercise our imagination, when we do not allow our thoughts, experiences, and observations to be limited to separate compartments. We become more fully complete when we contribute to the betterment of society, whether it be in our dormitory, campus, neighborhood, community, state, or nation.

These four key words are the building blocks for an effective undergraduate education. They help prepare graduates in character and for citizenship as well as for careers and commerce. Students who apply all four will benefit fully and get the most from their college education.

Robert A. Scott, President Emeritus of Adelphi University

My Turn

Call it what it is – capitalist globalization

The New York Times recently ran a front-page article “Failures of Globalization Shatter LongHeld Beliefs.” It was a very comprehensive article with one major flaw. It blamed globalization for a slew of problems but barely mentioned its connection to capitalism.

According to the article, globalization hastened climate change and deepened inequalities internationally and domestically. In the United States, industrial jobs were exported to lower-wage countries as “companies embarked on a worldwide scavenger hunt for low-wage workers,” removing a “springboard to the middle class.” Essential human needs like health care and housing and higher education were priced beyond the means of many Americans and the job exodus undercut wages and “workers’ bargaining power, spurring anti-immigrant sentiments and strengthening hard-right populist leaders.”

The transporting of raw materials and manufactured goods from mines and factories to consumers on the other side of the planet worsened global warming by increasing greenhouse gas emissions. The promised rebalancing of wealth never happened as poorer nations fell deeper into debt and were forced by lenders to invoke austerity measures increasing misery in the very nations most threatened by climate change.

Capitalism has been a transformative force in global history starting

with the commercial revolution in the Mediterranean basin during the 13th century. Capitalism created the modern world with its technological marvels and longer human life spans. But capitalism has also been responsible for some of the most negative developments in human history, including chattel slavery, the depopulation of indigenous American civilizations, colonization, imperialism, world war, genocide and an impending climate catastrophe.

Within a hundred years after Columbus’ arrival in the Caribbean, the population of the Valley of Mexico declined by 90%. The devastation of the indigenous population of the Americas meant a new labor force had to be introduced to develop the land and resources. During the course of about 150 years, first on agricultural plantations in the Caribbean and Brazil, and then more generally, enslaved Africans became the primary un-free workforce.

An estimated 13 million Africans were shipped to the New World from coastal slave ports. Millions of others died in tribal warfare stimulated by the demand for slaves, during raids, while being transporting to the coast, or when left behind in decimated communities. Profit from the trans-Atlantic slave trade and the sale of slave-produced commodities fueled the movement of Western Europe from the global periphery to center stage. It provided the capital for the Industrial Revolution, funds for building the physical

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ALAN SINGER Hofstra University

infrastructure of European nations, and the money to support powerful armies and navies leading to imperialism and European global domination.

In the contemporary era, transnational capitalism, unleashed from national loyalties and regulatory restraints, supported by computerization and instantaneous communication, and utilizing mature financial and distribution networks, has taken on a dynamic of its own with the potential to undermine the nation-state system built up during the preceding 500 years, a system that still organizes, governs, taxes, represents, and provides services for, most of the people of the world.

In “Capitalism in America: A History,” Alan Greenspan (2018), formally chair of the Federal Reserve banking

system in the United States, and coauthor Adrian Wooldridge, a columnist and editor for the weekly financial magazine The Economist, championed the “creative destruction” unleashed by free-market capitalism and argued it would propel a more productive global economy and overall long-term social benefit.

However, Greenspan and Wooldridge largely ignored the social impact of short- and medium-term dislocation. They also ignored the way the destructive forces and unequal power relationships that capitalism generates treated the environment, including air, land, water, and climate, as a renewable resource to be exploited, an assumption that no longer can be sustained.

In recent years it has become clearer that unrestrained industrial capitalism, now operating on a global scale, has misused resources, polluted the planet and altered the climate in ways that threaten the survival of human civilization as we know it. It has also stimulated vast human migration and weakened confidence in the ability of governments to address social needs. For a long period, it was believed that capitalism and democracy were symbiotic, but the emergence of new undemocratic movements in more advanced economies suggests that this is a fragile relationship. It is not clear whether our globalized civilization has either the will or the ability to resolve the contradictions that

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threaten it.

In a 2018 year-end letter to investors in his Baupost Group that was distributed at the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, in January 2019, billionaire Seth Klarman warned that widespread social tensions, rising debt levels, and receding American leadership on the world stage were creating an expanding political and social divide that could end in a global economic calamity. According to Klarman’s analysis of the global political economy, “it can’t be business as usual amid constant protests, riots, shutdowns and escalating social tensions.” And Klarman did not even address uncertainties that will result from climate change.

New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman popularized the idea that globalization in the modern era has produced a world that is flat, without the disruptive forces that impeded economic development in the past. But it may be more useful to describe it as seismically unbalanced, with capitalist economic forces producing goods for non-existing markets, promoting change without plan, and maximizing short-term profit without concern for long-term social and environmental consequences. It is as if Shiva, the Hindu God of creation and destruction, walks the Earth and is out of control.

Alan Singer, director, Secondary Social Studies Hofstra University

A call to elevate Nassau’s Alzheimer’s response

Afirst-of-its-kind nationwide study by the Alzheimer’s Association revealed that approximately one-eighth of the senior citizens residing in Nassau County are afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease. This distressing revelation illustrates that our county is among the localities most heavily impacted by a horrific and heartbreaking disease that robs its victims of their memory and cognition. I have witnessed firsthand the heartbreak and devastation that cognitive disorders like Alzheimer’s disease brings to our community.

In November 2021, Chesnel Veillard, a resident of New Cassel who suffered from dementia, wandered from his home. I first learned of Mr. Veillard’s disappearance and condition when his daughter, Sendy, who previously worked as an intern in my office, called to request assistance in locating him. Tragically, he perished after he wandered onto the railroad tracks and was struck by a train. His death was devastating to his family, his loved ones, and his neighbors in New Cassel. As we approach two years since his untimely passing, I remain as convinced

as ever that his death was preventable.

A key stated purpose of the Alzheimer’s Association study was to provide resources and data to local municipalities that can guide them in how they apportion and allocate resources toward optimally serving and protecting their constituents. The fact that approximately 31,300 Nassau seniors have been identified as suffering with Alzheimer’s disease must be a clarion call for local leaders to marshal the necessary resources to aid this sizable – and likely growing – population of at-risk adults.

Nassau County currently utilizes Project Lifesaver in conjunction with its Silver Alert System to help safely return cognitively impaired individuals who have wandered away from caregivers. This internationally regarded search and rescue program is a powerful tool for protecting the safety and welfare of cognitively impaired individuals. However, under the current county program, participants must pay $325 to enroll, and that can make access to this potentially life-saving resource cost-prohibitive for workingclass families.

SIELA A. BYNOE Nassau County Legislator

To address this gap, I authored and sponsored legislation, which was introduced in January 2022 and refined and re-filed later that year in September, to create the Chesnel Veillard Program – an initiative in which the county would fund cost-free access to Project Lifesaver for clinically eligible individuals and families whose household income is less than $76,050 a year.

To maximize the benefits of the Project Lifesaver technology, anyone who enrolls in the Chesnel Veillard Program would also be entered into the County’s Return Every Adult and Child Home (REACH) registry — a database of children and adults with Alzheimer’s, dementia and other conditions that potentially limit their ability to communicate. The Veillard program is designed to serve income-eligible individuals who do not currently live in a nursing home, long-term care facility, Alzheimer’s special care unit, or similar facility that would have programs in place as a function of its operation to protect cognitively vulnerable residents.

Increasing the use of Project Lifesaver will help law enforcement and first responders more quickly locate cognitively vulnerable individuals who wander – an outcome that simultaneously saves taxpayer resources and provides families with the peace of mind they need. Not only would the Chesnel Veillard program proactively aid in safeguarding vulnerable Nassau residents, its implementation would be the embodiment of the wise stew-

ardship of municipal resources.

As of this writing, the measure has not been brought to the floor by the Legislative Majority for a public hearing or vote. This delay in acting upon a cost-effective, common-sense proposal to protect our most vulnerable citizens is truly regrettable. Yet, I remain hopeful that the findings of the Alzheimer’s Association’s rigorous nationwide study will spur my colleagues into action so that we can adopt this measure during the month of September, which coincidentally happens to coincide with World Alzheimer’s Month.

The crisis of Alzheimer’s disease is already here in Nassau County, and I anticipate that the number of our residents suffering from this and other debilitating cognitive ailments will only grow in the coming years. Now is the time to take decisive, proactive action so that we can bring comfort to those who are already suffering and prepare ourselves to respond to future needs.

Siela A. Bynoe, of Westbury, has represented the Second Legislative District in the Nassau County Legislature since 2014.

The Art of Fracture

On this beach we collect our treasure. Fragments and those cherished large baubles worn smooth, tossing back the jagged new. How beauty continues to work through the body, the heart is filled with beauty and pain.

Sometimes I should ask forgiveness for breaking like a shell: “Hear me, hear what I ask; I only ask to stay sanguine a little while, we’re not here long.”

What would be the reply?

A small voice full of the joys and breaks of a child? A faded old message in a wave-tossed container? Silence stretched across an empty wind-blown shore? The shudder of a soul not yet shattered or silenced. The cry of a gull becoming lost in the distance.

Sand snakes snap at our ankles hissing our foolishness. The glint of sun like the moon casts its reflection. Life builds its kingdom from the pieces.

When the surf is not rough you and I will walk barefoot on the sand and choose what we want to keep and loose. Striving for perfection. Letting time do its careful work.

Stephen Cipot Garden City Park & Montauk, 2006

Congestion pricing’s pluses

Continued from Page 12

“The MTA admitted in their own report that the Congestion Tax will increase traffic and cancer-causing air pollution in Jersey and the outer boroughs,” Gottheimer said. “New York’s anti-environment, anti-commuter and anti-business Congestion Tax is nothing but a bailout for the terribly mismanaged MTA — and that’s why there is strong bipartisan support in Congress to stop this cash grab.”

According to the two congressmen, New York City should forego a 20% decrease in traffic and cancer-causing pollution so the George Washington Bridge doesn’t get a 1% increase in traffic.

And yes the MTA has been mismanaged in the past and could run a tighter ship now.

But does that mean we deprive them of a needed source of funding that will help keep fares down now?

D’Esposito would better serve his constituents by pressing the MTA to provide more direct train service to Penn Station and Grand Central and low-cost parking around Nassau’s train stations. That would help boost local businesses around train stations in Nassau County.

New York City is a convenient scapegoat for suburban officials of both parties.

But opponents of congestion pricing should spend more time trying to find solutions to problems in their own backyards and not choking the metropolitan area’s economic golden goose.

READERS WRITE

Nightmare on Barstow Rd. Bridge

The ongoing bridge construction project at the east end of the Great Neck railroad station over Barstow Road is the highlight of ineptitude and incompetence by the Village of Great Neck Plaza.

The project commenced on July 7 with a published completion date of July 31. The completion date was then moved to Aug. 11. It has now been pushed back again to August 25. On more than half the days since they started “working,” no workers showed up and the job was shut down. At this rate, we’ll be lucky if it is completed by Thanksgiving. Once or twice a week will not get it done.

The closing of the Barstow Road bridge is causing traffic-

havoc on Middle Neck Road and a nightmare for those who use the railroad since the east end stairs in both directions are also closed.

Perhaps if this Village had competent leadership this disaster would have been avoided. You can’t finish a job if the crew hardly ever shows up to work. Someone is Nassau County Building Dept. should investigate this.

Let’s not forget about this fiasco come time for the next Village election.

Mark Burim Great Neck

State GOP attack ads tell it all

Over the last week I have received three distinct attack ad mailings from various Republican Committees attacking former Town Supervisor and current Democratic candidate for North Hempstead Supervisor Jon Kaiman. While attack ads are par for the course in typical political strategy, what is unique here is the fact that the Republicans or Town Supervisor Jennifer DeSena have not yet made any comparable campaign investment (and may not have sent out a single mailing) for any positive messaging for her re-election.

The necessary conclusion to draw from this strategy is that Supervisor Jen DeSena has no vision for our Town or any positive agenda with which to run on. While baffling for someone in a position of power and influence to do nothing on her own, this merely follows the last year and a half of her term. The supervisor’s term in office began with an inaugural speech to “remove politics from Town Hall” (after succeeding Judi Bosworth, who retired after repeated victories with nearly 70% of the Town’s vote and no recent scandal to even consider) and consistently saw Supervisor DeSena lash out at her Democratic colleagues

rather than trying to find common ground and govern with a politically divided Town board.

Thus, the supervisor and her allies have come to the conclusion that following a term in which she has failed to accomplish anything of significance, has been unresponsive to the needs of constituents who have contacted her office directly, and displayed inexplicably poor judgment by, among other things, writing an opinion piece endorsing George Santos where she called him a “friend and true leader,” that all they should do is to attack their opponents rather than lead

Jon Kaiman’s terms as supervisor birthed the development of numerous programs in North Hempstead, including Project Independence, 311 and numerous environmental projects across the Town. Spend a minute listening to him and you’ll hear real ideas to actually support our community and businesses with solutions that will benefit us all. I’m proudly supporting him for supervisor and encourage you all to do the same.

Peter Fishkind Great Neck

Curb excessive MTA overtime

Recent news that overtime for MTA employees grew to a record $1.3 billion in 2022 is nothing new. The ongoing problem of excessive overtime of over $1 billion annually for MTA employees has gone on since 2018. This is despite repeated promises by current MTA Chairman Janno Lieber and his predecessor, Pat Foye, LIRR President Catherine Rinaldi and her predecessor Philip Eng along with other MTA operating agency presidents to significantly reduce excessive employee overtime. It will never be resolved until real change is implemented by MTA leadership. Every generation of MTA chairmen, agency presidents, board members, finance officers and executive management, who manage agency budgets, since the 1980s has made the wrong choice. They believed it would be cheaper to pay overtime than hire additional employees, whose critical specialized skills were necessary for maintaining functioning safe and reliable transportation operations. They thought it would be less expensive by avoiding the costs of training, full-time salary plus fringe, medical insurance and pensions by not increasing the head counts of various departments. This has contributed to excessive overtime expenses. There is a difference between necessary overtime due to malfunctioning equipment, accidents or adverse weather conditions when attempting to restore service vs. others. There is still significant overtime abuse and out-ofcontrol pensions. Employees with seniority in their last year of employment enjoy lots of overtime. This results in record pensions

upon retirement the following year. MTA management needs to reduce mandatory, excessive overtime and double shifts to complete capital projects. This is sometimes done to placate public officials so they may participate in ribbon- cutting ceremonies during election seasons. MTA union leadership consistently out-negotiates management when it comes to work rules and assignments, medical insurance contributions and pensions. There is still ongoing recording of time and attendance that relies on a honor system. How effective is the installation of biometric time clocks connected into the MTA Payroll System?

How many supervisors continue signing off on overtime work hour abuses by employees and are not held accountable by their own supervisors? Private sector business would have an up-to-date time, attendance and payroll system years ago. They would insist on documented justification for employee overtime pay. The MTA must successfully negotiate future union contracts with both Long Island and Metro North Rail Roads to include more flexible work assignments. The option to contract out more work to the private sector or hiring part-time employees must be more readily available as appropriate without sacrificing the safety and system reliability that riders count on. Salary increases should never exceed the Consumer Price Index. Employees need to increase contributions toward medical insurance and retirement pensions just as other government, private sector employees, taxpayers and commuters

do. Future pensions must be calculated based on the final year’s base salary and not inflated by overtime.

Federal civil servants pensions are calculated based on the average for the last three years of employment. Overtime is not included in determining the pension of federal employees.

Allow MTA workers to remain part time while collecting a portion of their pension. This affords experienced employees time to train replacements and be available during emergencies. Many federal agencies already offer this opportunity to employees who are contemplating full retirement. A larger pool of employees, including those part time, could help deal with morning and evening peak service requirements along with unanticipated emergency disruptions. Allow unions to bid on projects like the private sector. Offer union employees bonuses like outside vendors when completing projects ahead of schedule or under budget. Share these cost savings with union employeesEvery dollar counts, be it generated by riders paying at the fare box, city, state or Federal Transit Administration grants. Taxpayers expect nothing less.

Larry

Penner Great Neck

Larry Penner is a transportation advocate, historian and writer who previously served as a former Director for the Federal Transit Administration Region 2 New York Office of Operations and Program Management.

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Morgan Park music festival to feature Richie Cannata, Lords

The Morgan Park Summer Music Festival will on Sundayt, Aug. 20 present Richie Cannata and the Lords of 52nd Street — the Music of Billy Joel. The free performance begins at 7:00 p.m. in Morgan Park in Glen Cove.

One of LI’s top musical attractions returns to Morgan Park! Richie Cannata and the Lords of 52nd Street were an integral part of Billy Joel’s career. They collaborated closely with Billy, performing with him on recordings and on tour.

After a period of inactivity, Can-

nata and the Lords reunited, blowing away the sold-out crowd at The Space at Westbury. They have since toured regularly throughout the region before enthusiastic public and private audiences.

The ensemble’s members are Richie Cannata on sax and keys, Liberty DeVitto on drums, Russell Javors and Anthony Babino on guitar, Malcolm Gold on bass, Doug Kistner on keys and Dan Orlando on piano and vocals.

“Glen Cove’s exceptional talent is

showcased when we welcome Richie Cannata and the Lords of 52nd Street to our stage. One of Long Island’s top musical attractions has traveled the globe sharing their immense talent and they will rock our stage this Sunday. We are expecting a strong turnout and encourage concertgoers to arrive early,” said the festival chairman, Tom Suozzi.

All concerts are held at Morgan Memorial Park in Glen Cove, overlooking the harbor at Germaine Street between Landing Road and McLough-

lin Street. The free concerts begin at 7 pm.

The Title Sponsor for the 2023 season is The Terian Family and Rallye Motor Company. This year marks the 65th anniversary of the opening of the Rallye Motor Company’s first dealership in Glen Cove.

Since its founding, the Company has steadfastly manifested what it means to be a good corporate citizen and neighbor. The Terian Family and Rallye will ensure that the music will keep playing in the park for genera-

tions to come.

Morgan Park Summer Music Festival is an all-volunteer nonprofit organization. The high-caliber professional concerts offered each summer are free to the public and are completely funded through generous donations from businesses and individuals.

Taxpayer money is not requested nor received to fund these seasons of family entertainment. To see a listing of the entire season and explore support opportunities visit www.www. morganparkmusic.org.

PHOTO COURTESY MORGAN PARK SUMMER MUSIC FESTIVAL.

The Morgan Park Summer Music Festival will present Richie Cannata and the Lords of 52nd Street and the music of Billy Joel on Sunday, Aug. 20.

Blindness, low vision no obstacle to art

Art Guild of Port Washington opens exhibit of artists from the Helen Keller National Center

BY CAMERYN OAKES

Antwawn Williamson grew up with music in his home as far back as he can remember. He said he remembers coming home every day to his mother’s piano music filling the space of their home.

“It would never stop,” Williamson said as he communicated through his tactile sign language interpreter. “It was constantly happening in our house.”

Williamson followed in his family’s footsteps and picked up the guitar, but as time passed Williamson’s vision began to diminish. Within six years, he said everything deteriorated, including his vision and his ability to play the guitar.

But being DeafBlind has not stopped Williamson in his pursuit of art and music, whose sculptural piece “Musical Instrument Group” is being displayed at the Art Guild of Port Washington for its newest exhibition.

The exhibit, “Journey through Touch: A Tactile Art Experience,” displays a diverse collection of art in different mediums created by members of the Helen Keller National Center. The art exhibit – which patrons are invited to touch – was produced entirely by artists who are blind, have low vision and are DeafBlind.

This was the first collaborative DeafBlind exhibition between Helen Keller Services and the Art Guild of Port Washington.

The Art Guild is a local nonprofit that provides art classes, workshops and exhibits

with the purpose of offering an inclusive and enriching art environment. It has a rotating gallery and monthly themed art exhibits.

Art Guild Executive Director Lisa Gross -

man said the guild is a community-based visual arts center that has in recent years expanded services to reach a diverse array of community members. This includes art workshops for cancer patients and neurodiverse adults.

Helen Keller Services is an organization that provides services to individuals who are blind, DeafBlind, have low vision or a combination of hearing and vision loss. The Helen Keller National Center is located in Sands Point, but centers are spread throughout the United States.

Williamson’s “Musical Instrument Group” depicts various clay instruments and vinyl record players. He said the piece’s stage floor is a wood base because you can feel the vibrations.

His second artwork in the exhibition, “Pool Table,” is a mixed-media depiction of a pool table with two pool cues and pool balls.

For Williamson, having his art shown in the exhibit has given him a new perspective.

“Having it being shown here, what I made, and the Helen Keller National Center have really helped me as somebody who has lost their vision later in life,” Williamson said.

Williamson said it is his goal to learn how to play the guitar again.

Antonia Isnardi, an art therapist at the Helen Keller National Center, said the art program at the center is a place for students to decompress after long days of learning other skills and working.

Isnardi said her job is to simply get students to give art a chance, but over time the participants have become increasingly dedicated to the craft.

“But as beautiful as these pieces are, the artwork means so much more than how they

appear,” Isnardi said.

Isnardi said the participants’ artwork has become a “vehicle of communication and connection” which speaks when words cannot be used.

Grossman said the Art Guild’s mission is to “create an inclusive and enriching home for visual arts education, exploration and exhibition.”

Grossman said she first viewed the art exhibit hosted by the Helen Keller National Center in December at its Sands Point location. She said it was incredible learning about how the artists created their artwork.

Grossman said the Art Guild was inspired to show the artists’ works to the rest of the community.

“We are all members of the same community,” Grossman said. “I always feel like there would be so much less hatred in the world if people understood one another and got to know how similar we really are. I think that an exhibit like this does that.”

Grossman said she is hopeful that the exhibit will inspire patrons to pursue their passions regardless of their abilities.

“It’s so important to show everyone that you are capable of doing anything,” she said.

Helen Keller Services CEO Sue Ruzenski said the exhibit is a celebration of creativity, diversity and inclusivity.

“Their works of art are not just beautiful and inspiration, but they really do provide us with a unique perspective, a window into their perspective of the world,” Ruzenski said.

Ruzenski said that while she is hopeful that the art in the exhibition will bring patrons joy, she also hopes that it will spark a conversation to bring together the community through their shared experiences.

“Art has this incredible power and it really does reflect our value as a society,” Ruzenski said. “It really brings the experiences to us of different communities and tonight we are able to celebrate the richness of human experience from the perspectives of people who are blind, have low vision and are DeafBlind.”

Ruzenski thanked the Art Guild for welcoming Helen Keller Services and hosting the exhibit.

“This is really a message to us that signifies how much you support our mission at Helen Keller Servies and certainly supporting the arts,” Ruzenski said.

Ruzenski also thanked the HEARTS Port Washington organization, a local arts nonprofit, for providing a grant to Helen Keller Center to support their art initiative. Grossman said Hearts donated a $2,000 grant to be split between the Helen Keller National Center and the Art Guild.

Grossman said she is hoping to continue to work with the Helen Keller National Center in the future and provide ongoing opportunities for their artists.

The exhibition is on display at the Art Guild at 200 Port Washington Blvd. from Aug. 4-18 and is open from noon through 4 p.m. on Aug. 15-18.

A BUSINESS BUILT ON SOUND, HE HAD A VISION.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MATTHEW SALAVERRY

A patron touching an art piece at the collaborative exhibit between the Art Guild of Port Washington and Helen Keller Services.

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Keep reading

may not be on the radar early mer, but it’s wise to purchase s early Right before school here is a mad dash to grab oks, pens, clothing, and more, can make for a stressful ng experience for all involved ng early helps families avoid tcome

School may not be on the r in summer, but it’s wise to supplies early Right before starts there is a mad dash to notebooks, pens, clothing, which can make for a stress shopping experience for all Shopping early helps famil that outcome

h up on h skills

hurt for students to do a few roblems over the summer e keeps skills fresh and any matical formulas prominent in inds. All it takes is one or two ms per day to stay on top of kills.

Brush up on math skills

generates mixed emotions among students Many children look forward to being back on campus with their friends but may not revel in the idea of waking up early or doing homework each night While summer break is a much needed-respite from the rigors of school, it doesn’t mean school should be forgotten entirely In fact, doing some preparatory steps before a new school year begins can make the year go much more smoothly Here’s how students and parents can direct their focus during the final countdownVisit educational attractions

It can’t hurt for students to math problems over the sum Practice keeps skills fresh a mathematical formulas pro their minds. All it takes is o problems per day to stay on math skills

fter a summer of relaxation, the start of a new school year generates mixed emotions among students Many children look forward to being back on campus with their friends but may not revel in the idea of waking up early or doing homework each night. While summer break is a much needed-respite from the rigors of school, it doesn’t mean school should be forgotten entirely. In fact, doing some preparatory steps before a new school year begins can make the year go much more smoothly. Here’s how students and parents can direct their focus during the final countdownFamilies can include museums, art exhibits, animal sanctuaries, libraries, science centers, and similar attractions in the list of places they visit over the summer. This way students can learn and be entertained simultaneously.

Star t enforcing bedt imes

Visit educational attraction Families can include museu exhibits, animal sanctuaries science centers, and similar attractions in the list of plac visit over the summer. This students can learn and be e simultaneously

School-aged children (six to 13 years) need nine to 12 hours of sleep every night, according to KidsHealth org During the summer, late nights can easily be rectified by sleeping in the next day. But when school resumes, the alarm clock will be ringing earlier than expected. Parents can gradually implement earlier bedtimes as summer winds down so that kids are getting the rest they will need.

Star t enforcing bedt imes

Keep reading

According to Scholastic, summer slide is a concept that was first acknowledged by researchers in 1996 Many comprehensive studies have come out since then and indicated that kids lose significant knowledge in reading and math over summer break, which can have a cumulative effect and lead to skill loss each year. Some research says up to 20 percent of school year gains in reading and 27 percent in math are lost during summer break Children should be encouraged to read as much as possible during summer break, particularly since many schools require summer reading and subsequent essays or book reports upon returning to the classroom. Let kids read what they want, whether it’s comics, magazines, the newspaper, or even books they’ve read before.

should be encouraged to read as

Get in the know

Parents can begin to pay closer attention to emails and social media posts from schools as they’ll likely contain information about upcoming school calendars, bus routes (or transportation registration), changes in personnel, or any additional updates This will help alleviate any surprises on the first day of school Families can take several steps to get ready for school as the first day draws near

School-aged children (six t years) need nine to 12 hour every night, according to KidsHealth.org. During the late nights can easily be rec sleeping in the next day Bu school resumes, the alarm c be ringing earlier than expe Parents can gradually imple earlier bedtimes as summer down so that kids are gettin they will need

Get in the know

h l l d b t

Students entering high school have two different paths they can choose: public or private Attending a public high school in the United States generally comes with few out-ofpocket costs because the running of the school is subsidized by local property taxes In Canada, public secondary schools are free to Canadian residents, but most charge tuition fees for international students. Private schools charge tuition because they likely do not receive any oversight or assistance from government agencies. As a result, private high schools may be able to set their own curricula, policies and costs of attendance Tuitions to attend private high schools vary greatly Secular schools may cost more than Catholic and other religious schools Also, location can affect the cost of attendance According to U S News & World Report, Connecticut is home to the most expensive private schools, with private high school there costing twice the national average Wisconsin is the lowest for private high school, with that tuition being half the national average As of March 2023, Education Data Initiative reported the average tuition at a private high school in the U S came in at $15,645 per year. Private high schools in New England tend to cost more than schools in other parts of the country

ART CLASS

Fat Boys inducted into LI Music Hall of Fame

The Fat Boys, that iconic hip-hop group, was recently inducted into the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fameat its newly opened museum location in Stony Brook. Kool Rock-Ski (Damon Wimbley), the last surviving member of The Fat Boys, accepted the induction in person from hip-hop legend and LIMEHOF inductee Erick Sermon of EPMD. Public Enemy’s DJ Johnny Juice (also a LIMEHOF inductee) was also on hand to show support and speak about the group.

“It’s definitely an honor on behalf of the group, two members who are no longer here,” Kool Rock-Ski said. “To accept this on their behalf is huge, because they brought so much to the culture. Their legacy lives on with an award like this. We got to the pinnacle of our success—and we got there the hard way, by doing a lot of hard work. We did a lot of hard work.”

The Fat Boys rose to fame in the 1980s when they pioneered their influential beatbox style of hip-hop music. The group was from East New York in Brooklyn and included “Prince Markie Dee” (Mark Morales), “Kool Rock-Ski” (Damon Wimbley), and “Buff Love” (Darin Robinson).

They would heavily influence hip-hop culture through beatbox, comedic charisma, and rhymes. The trio released seven studio albums, four of which went gold by RIAA. In addition to their music, they went on to star in three feature films: Krush Groove, Knights of the City, and Disorderlies.

The Fat Boys had several successful singles which included “Stick ‘Em,” “Can You Feel It,” “The Fat Boys Are Back,” “Wipe Out,” “Fat Boys,” and “Jail House Rap,” to name a few.

Throughout their career, they participated in several tours, one of which was Fresh Fest. And despite having eventually broken up as a group,

each of the three members maintained a strong brotherhood. The Fat Boys is credited as having had a strong influence on the development and growing popularity of hip-hop.

“The Fat Boys introduced the beatbox, to the world and the song they made was funky to me,” said EPMD’s Erick Sermon, himself a LIMEHOF inductee, when he officially inducted The Fat Boys on stage. “I’m honored to do this because

my memories of my kitchen on that ledge was playing The Fat Boys album.”

Kurtis Blow, another LIMEHOF inductee, has a personal connection to The Fat Boys, as he produced their first two albums.

“The Fat Boys being inducted into the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame is so well deserved,” Blow said in a written statement that congratulated the group on this honor.

“These young men were talented and passionate about their craft at a very young age. Producing The Fat Boys was one the highlights of my career. Rest in peace, Buffy (the Human Beatbox Master) and Prince Markie Dee (Mark Morales). I will never forget you, and you are greatly missed. Continue to carry the torch, Kool Rock-Ski!”

LIMEHOF has long recognized the unique talent and contributions that Long Island artists brought to the hip-hop genre. Notable hip-hop inductees include LL Cool J, Run-DMC, Public Enemy, Eric B. & Rakim, Big Daddy Kane, Kurtis Blow, Whodini, Salt-N-Pepa, and EPMD. Earlier this year, LIMEHOF held an event to honor the 50th anniversary of hip-hop which had a strong participation and turn out from Long Island artists.

“This historic induction—coupled with our recent 50th Anniversary of Hip-Hop Concert— cements Long Island’s legacy as one of the most important regions in the country for contributing to hip-hop’s long-term success,” said Ernie Canadeo, LIMEHOF chairman.

“Inducting The Fat Boys into the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame is a tribute to their enduring influence—recognizing their role in shaping the genre and inspiring generations,” said Tom Needham, LIMEHOF Vice Chairman and longtime host of the “Sounds of Film” radio show, and who organized the induction event.

At the induction ceremony, Kool Rock-Ski announced that he is working on a documentary film about The Fat Boys and intends to hold the premiere at LIMEHOF when it’s released.

For more information about events and future inductions, please visit https://www.limusichalloffame.org/museum/.

PHOTO COURTESY OF LIMEHOF

Kool Rock-Ski, left, accepts LIMEHOF’s induction of The Fat Boys from EPMD’s Erick Sermon and Public Enemy’s DJ Johnny Juice.

Open House Erev Shabbat

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Open House Shabbat Temple

Beth-El of Great Neck, 5 Old Mill Road, Great Neck. info@tbe greatneck.org, 516-487-0900

The Lumineers

@ 7pm Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater, 895 Bay Park‐way, Wantagh

The Como Brothers

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Nate Charlie Music @ 7pm

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Ron Artis II

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The Paramount, 370 New York Ave, Huntington

Elvis Tribute Artist Spectacular, Starring

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NYCB Theatre at Westbury, 960 Brush Hollow Road, Westbury

8/19

Kelli Baker LIVE at the Bar at Jones Beach

@ 6pm Jones beach boardwalk, Jones Boardwalk, Wantagh

Choro Das Três: Long Island Bluegrass and Roots Music Festival 2023 @ 7pm Tanner Park, 400 Bay‐lawn Ave, Copiague Harbor

The Toby Tobias Ensemble: Toby Tobias at the Songwriter Network of Long Island @ 7pm Songwriter Network of Long Is‐land, Oyster Bay

The Acchords Dance Party @ 7:30pm Knights of Columbus, 45 Heitz Pl, Hicksville

Radio Flashback (70s and 80s Hits)

@ 7:30pm

Join the Town of North Hempstead for its sum‐mer concert series. Manorhaven Beach Park & Pool, Manorhaven Boulevard, Port Washington. feed back@northhemp steadny.gov, 516-8696311

Bronco Tour USA 2023

"¡En vivo y a todo color!"

@ 8pm / $43-$183 UBS Arena, 2400 Hempstead Turnpike, Belmont Park - Long Island

Adam Ezra Group @ 9:30pm

Spotlight NY Huntington, 370 New York Ave, Huntington

8/20

The Fab Four: The Ultimate Tribute

@ 8pm / $29.50-$74.50

NYCB Theatre at West‐bury, 960 Brush Hollow Road, Westbury

Landmark Summerfest Outdoor

Concert

@ 6pm

A FREE show! Land‐mark Summerfest Out‐door Concert Featuring the New Orleans Brassa-holics horn section with special guest Lil’ Sammy & the Funked Up Daddies Sousa Band Shell, Main Street, Port Washing‐ton. bo�of�ce@land markonmainstreet.org, 516-767-6444

Pearl Jam Tribute - Last Exit: Last Exit at Jones Beach Bandshell @ 7pm Jones Beach Bandshell, Jones Beach, Wantagh

New York City Football Club vs. Minnesota United FC @ 7:30pm / $1-$610

Citi Field, 41 Seaver Way, Queens

Sunday Aug 20th

Palladium Entertainment Presents

BRIT FLOYD 50 Years of Dark Side

@ 8pm / $25-$79.50

The Paramount, 370 New York Ave, Huntington Brit Floyd returns to the stage in 2023 to perform a brand-new pro‐duction celebrating 50 years of the ground-breaking and iconic mu‐sical masterpiece The Dark Side of the Moon. The show will feature classic tracks from the album such as Time, Money, Us and Them and The Great Gig in the Sky. The set list will also include other high‐lights from Pink Floyd's magnificent catalogue of albums, including tracks from The Wall, Wish You Were Here, Animals, The Division Bell, Medal and much more.

Tue 8/22

Jewish Learning Series

@ 12:30pm

Stars of the OpenExhibition Matches @ 7pm / $25-$50

Louis Armstrong Stadium, Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Flushing

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

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

Join the Mid Island Y JCC and a host of guest presenters for interesting and relevant lec‐tures and discussions related to Judaism and Jewish Culture. Mid-Island Y JCC, 45 Manetto Hill Road, Plainview

Thu 8/24

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

Fri 8/25

Post Camp Soccer Training Camp @ 9am

The fun doesn't stop when camp is over! 74 Hauppauge Rd, 74 Hauppauge Road, Commack. jwertheimer @syjcc.org, 631-4629800

New York Mets vs. Los Angeles Angels @ 7:10pm Citi Field, 120-01 Roosevelt Av‐enue, Flushing

Gentlemen of Soul

@ 7pm

Join the Town of North Hempstead for its sum‐mer concert series.

Martin Bunky Reid Park, Broadway Ave & Urban Ave, Westbury. feedback@northhemp steadny.gov, 516-8696311

Wed 8/23

FunDay Monday

@ 11am

Join the Town of North Hempstead for its sum‐mer FunDay Monday series. North Hemp‐stead Beach Park, 175 West Shore Road, Port Washington. feedback @northhemp steadny.gov, 516-8696311

Karen Bella

@ 5pm

THE CLUBHOUSE LONG IS‐LAND - BELLMORE, 134 Club‐house Rd, Bellmore

Jets Fall Football Clinic at the SYJCC @ 9am / $175

Learn from the best while having fun at our Jet's football clinic! 74 Hauppauge Rd, 74 Hauppauge Road, Commack. jwertheimer @syjcc.org, 631-4629800

The Linwood - Sarah Gross @ 6pm The Linwood Restaurant and Cocktails, 150 E Main St, Bay Shore

Mon 8/21 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

James Maddock at My Father's Place @ 8pm / $30

James Maddock will be playing at My Father's Place on August 25. Advanced tickets are $30, and tickets the day of the show are $35. My Father's Place, 3 Pratt Boulevard, Glen Cove. myfathersplaceproduc tions@gmail.com

VOYAGE - The Ultimate Journey Tribute @ 8pm / $20-$40

The Paramount, 370 New York Ave, Huntington

Calendar information is pro‐vided by event organizers. All events are subject to change or cancellation. This publica‐tion is not responsible for the accuracy of the information contained in this calendar.

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Business&RealEstate

Expanding your home to stay where you are

You’ve been searching high and low for another home to purchase with more space for your growing family and for working remotely. Maybe it’s about your location, better schools or having your in-laws reside with you to watch your children. Whatever your reasons are, this market has been very stressful for those looking to move.

Even for those first-time buyers, losing bidding wars or not being prepared sufficiently enough by losing that all-important piece of paper called the commitment letter, getting stuck in your current situation, whether it is staying in your current rental or living with parents or in-laws has its pluses and drawbacks.

But solutions are hard to come by as the inventory is at historic lows, and interest rates are causing monthly payments to exceed many budgets. There are no extra dollars to be had to compete with the vast number of other purchasers who are vying for the same limited number of homes that are for sale.

Those who are already in a home in a desirable location with excellent schools have an option to consider expanding their footprint and go through the construction process, especially if a room for your job or business is a mandatory requirement.

I get it, it’s not an easy task or decision to make, especially if you don’t want to rent another place and go through that additional expense while your home is under construction. However, you could consider staying in your home while construction is underway as my daughter did when she purchased her new home in 2022 but locked in her financing in December of 2021.

She, her husband and children lived in one section of their home, while the other part was renovated. It’s not an easy path to take, but it can be accomplished with some concerted effort, stick-to-itiveness, determination, and perseverance. Obviously, it will save you a lot of money and you can see the daily progress as it unfolds showing you all the improvements.

As far as inconvenience, there will always be some, but as they say, “no pain no gain.” The contractor can completely seal off the areas properly, so the dust can be pretty much minimized as was done in my daughter’s new home. Interview at least three to five contractors and get referrals and recommendations when hiring to make sure that the company you hire will start and finish the job within certain time constraints.

Even paying a little extra bonus

may incentivize your contractor to complete your renovation sooner or at least in a timelier manner. One issue that I will convey to you is depending on the level of quality and the availability, especially if they are high-end, is to order all your appliances right from the beginning as it took my daughter 16 months with the delays and supply chain and production issues to get her Subzero refrigerator. Another important item to consider

is your budget for the upgrades and improvements. Will you be financing or paying outright for the job? You could also think about a HELOC (home equity line of credit).

This could be less money depending on your relationship with your lender and/or who you borrow from. This type of financing can be used and interest is only applied when the money is utilized as you will be paying your contractor a portion of the total as each step of the work is completed. Start with your bank and check a few others for comparison. You can do a secured loan if you have the necessary funds as this should provide you the lowest rate and cost.

If you work remotely at home, then there is an allowable tax deduction equal to a percentage of the total number of rooms being used overall for your business. So if you have five rooms and use one, then you would have a 20% write-off on all the expenses in running your home, including your mortgage. But I would advise you to always speak to your CPA to know the exact extent of your benefits from working at home.

The working environment will never be the same after the Covid-19 pandemic. The hours lost traveling to and from work can now be utilized either

by being more productive or adding to your quality family time. I am quite positive that many will no longer have to go to their normal offices anymore. There have been some conflicting studies (WWW.BusinessNewsDaily.com May 26, 2023, and apollotechical.com Jan. 3, 2023) with some saying working remotely is more productive than being in an office environment and some saying the opposite. It’s all up to the individual and how they approach their work.

But for a majority, studies have shown that the work-life balance increases productivity and enables a healthier lifestyle. So staying put, upgrading, and adding space just might be the solution to not having to move. Consider contributing to those who lost everything in the devastating fires on Maui, Hawaii: click here: Maui Hawaii Relief Fund

Philip A. Raices is the owner/Broker of Turn Key Real Estate at 3 Grace Ave Suite 180 in Great Neck. For a free 15-minute consultation, value analysis of your home, or to answer any of your questions or concerns he can be reached by cell: (516) 647-4289 or by email: Phil@TurnKeyRealEstate.Com or via https://WWW.Li-RealEstate.Com

Phishing: A Real and Present Danger to Small Business

Phishing is a form of cyber fraud that uses bogus emails in order to lure victims to part with something of value, such as passwords and credit cards. It does this by mimicking a trusted sender, convincing an employee to click a link. This immediately installs malware like viruses and ransomware to the company’s network where it can access invaluable data.

Sandwire Technology Group fights back on behalf of its clients, small and midsize businesses (SMBs), with limited budgets. Our CyberSafe stack serves as a defensive shield, featuring:

• Email/data backup to retrieve and restore data

• Spam filtration, secure email platform

• Artificial Intelligence (AI) driven anti-phishing software

• Dark web monitoring/credential exposure protection

• Employee training with phishing tests and educational videos

Phishing emails are becoming increasingly difficult to spot, a trend that sees no end. Today, nearly every major data breach begins with a successful attack. Is your company protected?

PHILIP A. RAICES Real Estate Watch

Business&RealEstate

DGNY Commercial welcomes Pezza FCA welcomes Kellee Barrett as AVP for Residential Services

DGNY Commercial recently announced that veteran commercial real estate broker Gary Pezza will lead its team of brokers as chief commercial associate.

Headquartered in Melville, the commercial real estate entity operates on Long Island, Brooklyn, and Queens.

“Gary has an exceptional knowledge of the region’s commercial real estate industry,” said Frank Socci, Jr. chief of

DGNY Commercial, head of Finance & Facilities. “He brings innovative options and the professional business experience of close to 40 years to DGNY. We are exceedingly pleased to welcome him to our growing team of veteran and up and coming brokers.”

Over the decades Pezza has developed an extensive client base. Prior to joining DGNY, Pezza was senior director in the Capital Markets Group of Cushman & Wakefield, where he focused on tenant and agency representation as well as investment sales.

Previously, he was a Senior Director at NAI Long Island where he was engaged in all areas of commercial real estate sales and lease transactions.

FCA, Long Island’s leading health and human services not-for-profit organization, recently named Kellee Barrett, LCSW, Assistant Vice President for Residential Services.

A clinical social work/therapist and longtime advocate for at-risk adults and children, Barrett will oversee FCA’s four residences.

FCA’s Nassau Haven Emergency Youth Shelter and its Walkabout Youth Transitional and Independent Residence Program, serve runaway and homeless youth.

The agency’s Lakeview House and West Nassau residences provide Office of Mental Health-licensed housing for youth and adults with mental health conditions.

provided guidance on how to talk to children and the affect domestic violence has on children in both the short and long term and assisted survivors on securing safe and affordable housing.

Her work in the shelter included assisting those with substance abuse issues, mental health issues, homelessness, and trafficking just to name a few.

Barrett’s prior experience also includes working with the Salvation Army’s therapeutic foster care program, where she worked with the children to help them reconnect with, and have a relationship with their birth parents.

Bryan McMillen

Before signing on with NAI, he founded and served as president of East Neck Development, where he supervised the purchasing, development, sales, leasing and marketing of commercial and residential real estate for more than thirty years.

“We are greatly pleased to welcome a leader of Kellee’s experience and substance to our Residential programs,” said FCA President and CEO Jeffrey L. Reynolds. “As a solution-oriented professional who takes a holistic approach to every individual situation, she will be a strong asset to our those who rely on us for housing and services as well as FCA as a whole.”

Barrett comes to FCA after more than a dozen years at the Center Against Domestic Violence, an innovative New York Citybased domestic violence prevention and support organization.

There, Barrett assisted and empowered people of all ages in need of support, refuge

and counseling, from heads of households to single people, parents of domestic violence victims and children affected by domestic unrest.

In 2018, CADV merged with Urban Resource Institute, the largest provider of domestic violence shelter services in the country. URI’s domestic violence shelter was the first in the metro region to allow survivors to bring their pets.

Barrett continued her work helping survivors understand the dynamics of healthy and unhealthy relationships, and

Additionally, Barrett was a collaborative member of a research team at The McSilver Institute for Poverty Policy and Research at New York University that developed an evidence-based treatment model called the “4R’s and 2S’s for Strengthening Families.”

The family treatment model addressed Rules, Responsibilities, Respectful Communication, and Relationships and Stress and Social Support.

A graduate of Audrey Cohen College, now the Metropolitan College of New York, Barrett earned her Master of Science for Social Work at Columbia University’s School of Social Work.

She lives in Elmont, Queens.

OBITUARIES, TRIBUTES AND MEMORIES

Share thoughts of those who have passed. Honor the memories of your loved one with your message of remembrance and love.

Share thoughts of those who have passed. Honor the memories of your loved one with your message of remembrance and love.

Tributes will appear in-print in a Blank Slate Media newspaper and on-line at theisland360.com.

Tributes will appear in-print in a Blank Slate Media newspaper and on-line at theisland360.com.

To place your announcement, go to https://theisland360.com/submit-tributes/

To place your announcement, go to https://theisland360.com/submit-tributes/

Greg Hach running for 3rd District

Continued from Page 6

fice that’s been corroded by fraud,” Hach said in a press release. “It’s time to elect a principled, conservative public servant with the experience and the toughness to take on the liberals in Washington and get things done. The road to solving these problems will not be easy and our shared goals will not be reached overnight. But I will work tirelessly to earn the trust and support of third district voters and represent them honorably in Congress.”

The 3rd Congressional District is currently represented by Santos, who is currently being investigated by the House Ethics Committee and pleaded not guilty to a 13-count federal indictment alleging multiple counts of wire fraud and money laundering.

Santos could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted of the top charges.

Hach is facing up against fellow Republican candidates Mike Sapraicone, a

retired NYPD detective and Oyster Bay resident, and Kellen Curry, an Afghanistan war veteran and former vice president at J.P. Morgan, in their bid to oust Santos.

Hach said in a press release that his campaign will focus on the main issues affecting the lives of district’s constituents. This includes crime, economic uncertainty and inflation, immigration and national security.

His campaign has been endorsed by International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 30, a trade union representing operating engineers.

William Lynn, Local 30 business manager, financial secretary and International Union of Operating Engineers vice president expressed his support for Hach.

“Greg Hach is the best candidate to represent our district in Congress, hands down,” Lynn said in the press release. “Greg is in this race for all of the right

reasons and will be a force for families and workers in Washington. A man of impeccable character, Greg will represent us honorably and fight for his constituents each and every day. For these reasons, the men and women of IUOE Local 30 enthusiastically endorse Greg Hach’s candidacy for Congress.”

Hach, who currently lives in Brookville with his wife and three kids, comes from a “proud union household,” according to the press release.

Hach enlisted in the United States Air Force after graduating from high school. After serving several years in the Air Force, Hach received a bachelor’s in criminal justice at John Jay College and a law degree from Ohio Northern University.

He co-founded Hach & Rose LLP, a workplace injury law firm, after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. His firm represented victims of the terrorist attack at no cost.

THE AWARD-WINNING

Recent Real Estate Sales in

29 Rockcrest Road, Manhasset

3 bd, 3 ba, Sold On: 6/27/23, Sold Price: $1,756,000

Type: Single Family, Schools: Manhasset

44 Shoreview Road, Manhasset

4 bd, 3 ba, Sold On: 6/29/23, Sold Price: $1,703,000

Type: Single Family, Schools: Manhasset

90 Aldershot Lane, Manhasset

3 bd, 3 ba, 2,584 sqft, Sold On: 7/10/23, Sold Price: $1,775,000

Type: Single Family, Schools: Manhasset

121 Park Avenue, Manhasset

3 bd, 5 ba, Sold On: 7/7/23, Sold Price: $1,870,000

Type: Single Family, Schools: Manhasset

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.

D’Arrigo says she was harrassed online

Continued from Page 5

a group of Jews traced back to the 8th century.

McKay had said on Rumble that Adolf Hitler was “built,” “created by” the Khazarian Mafia and “was actually fighting the same people that we’re trying to take down today.”

McKay’s earlier comments triggered strong opposition to his Aug. 6 appearance in Port Washington.

The North Hempstead Town Board condemned McKay’s rhetoric.

North Hempstead Council Member Mariann Dalimonte, who represents Port Washington, and state Assemblywoman Gina Sillitti (D-Port Washington) issued a joint statement.

“As not only residents of Port Washington but its elected representatives, it was so troubling to hear that someone peddling in vile, antisemitic tropes would be invited to speak here,” the joint statement said.

The Port Washington Democratic Club released a statement prior to the event castigating McKay’s antisemitic comments and urging individuals not to attend the event. The statement said they were not calling for a protest.

Kim Keiserman, president of the Port Washington Democratic Club, said they released the statement because it is their mission to promote democratic values and speak out against hate. She said the club thought the community had the right to know this event was being hosted.

“It just shows that people everywhere need to be aware of what’s happening in their community, we need to be willing to speak out against hate even when it’s uncomfortable and we have to tell the truth,” Keiserman said. “Sometimes that can be difficult…We have to be willing to tell the truth, we have to be willing to listen to one another and we need to work to come to-

gether and we all have to stand up to hate.”

She said the club’s statement purposefully focused on McKay, not mentioning the business

or Shurka, as their concern was with the speaker’s reputation.

Shurka, who is Jewish, said the claims that McKay has made antisemitic comments and the event was antisemitic were offensive to him.

Shurka said the comments made by McKay that critics claim are antisemitic are never verbal statements and are written comments that are twisted by other people. He said McKay has never said anything against Jewish people.

“Otherwise he wouldn’t be sitting at my Shabbat dinner table,” Shurka said. “He sat at my Shabbat dinner table, he did the blessings with us, and he’s very close with my family. You think an Israeli Jewish family is going to be friends with an antisemite that praises Hitler? Absolutely not.”

In the wake of this statement from the Port Washington Democratic Club, Shurka said he called out D’Arrigo and the club for attempting to shut down the event.

D’Arrigo said she was not involved in the statement from the club and was not aware of the Rays of Light Wellness Center business prior to the event. Keiserman confirmed that D’Arrigo was not involved in the club’s statement and had no prior knowledge.

D’Arrigo said both Shurka and McKay targeted her on social media, claiming that she had called various local municipalities, like law enforcement and the North Hempstead Building Department, to halt the event.

She said none of these claims were true and that she made no efforts to shut the event down.

D’Arrigo described the posts as a call to action for harassment against her.

Shurka said he did not do anything wrong or illegal. He said he was sharing on social media that these attempts were being made and that the individuals needed to be stopped.

QAnon linked speaker condemned by pols

Continued from Page 1 their way in, they kill their way in.”

McKay previously said on Rumble that Adolf Hitler was “built,” “created by” the Khazarian Mafia and “was actually fighting the same people that we’re trying to take down today.”

Believers claim Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s incursion into Ukraine was a means to help the country counter ad dispel an invasion of “Khazar Jews.”

McKay also said on Rumble that the Khazarian Mafia was responsible for the Sept. 11 attacks and the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995.

McKay’s previous comments led to opposition to his appearance in Port Washington.

The Port Washington Democratic Club and members of the North Hempstead Town Board gave statements condemning McKay’s rhetoric.

One resident, Doug D’Arrigo, told the board at their Aug. 8 meeting his family was the target of attacks on social media by McKay’s supporters.

D’Arrigo, married to Progressive Democrat Melanie D’Arrigo, who has run for Congress twice, said the McKay camp had made “a direct call to action to their followers to harass us.”

D’Arrigo said his family, children and wife’s LGBTQ+ nonprofit Be the Rainbow were labeled alongside the Democratic club as pedophiles who trafficked children.

Shurka said McKay’s comments were taken out of context.

An hour into the event, the two men spoke on what they called The Light System, underground tunnels and child trafficking.

“There are superhighway systems,” McKay

said on the alleged underground child trafficking system. “There are fully built unoccupied cities under this country and around the world.”

The conversation stemmed from a discussion on the movie “Sound of Freedom,” which Shurka said he was an executive producer of and was funded in part by the Energy Enhancement System.

Sound of Freedom, a movie about a former federal agent rescuing children from trafficking, premiered in theaters in July and has grossed over $100 million in revenue, according to multiple reports.

When asked in a Q&A how McKay got his map of the apparent tunnels, he said he doesn’t remember and that he got it from someone else.

D’Arrigo’s husband spoke at a town meeting on Aug. 8 claiming that his wife’s personal information was spread, also known as doxxed, to over 500,000 social media followers. At the meeting, multiple council members expressed support for the D’Arrigos and denounced the event.

Shurka denied that he doxxed D’Arrigo or released any personal information about her. He said her social media accounts are public and able to be shared.

He also said he never made any claims that D’Arrigo is a pedophile and involved in child sex trafficking.

D’Arrigo said she went to the police to file a report about the online harassment as she was nervous about the potential for inciting violence against her and her family.

“It’s one thing when you’re commenting on a national story, it’s quite another when someone is bringing this to your town and is a neighbor,” D’Arrigo said.

Keiserman said the Port Washington Democratic Club has supported D’Arrigo in the wake of the events and applaud her and her husband for speaking out against the alleged harassment.

Upon filing the police report, D’Arrigo said the police department asked Shurka to remove her name from his social media post. Shurka confirmed the police did ask him to do so, but that it was a request and not a demand.

Shurka said he is not upset with the community members in Port Washington who were in opposition to the event.

“As a matter of fact I totally understand where they are coming from because they don’t know better,” Shurka said. “Because they read something on CNN, they read something on the media that showed them something, and they believed it because that’s what they were taught to do.”

Shurka said in response to the event and the controversy, Rays of Light has doubled in size, their Instagram following quadrupled and more new customers have come to the center.

“Because inadvertently by trying to shut us down, they made us bigger than we’ve ever been,” Shurka said. “And that’s a lesson in and of itself. They call it what you resist persists. We never resisted them, they resisted us and in turn, they helped us.”

Shurka said the event, viewed by 15,000 people via live stream, was filled with unity and love.

He said many community members silently praised him and his event, but are not speaking out loud. He said this included politicians, authorities and residents, but would not provide names.

D’Arrigo said she is an outspoken advocate against hate and injustice so she wasn’t pleased to hear that McKay would be speaking at a local event.

She said she found this event upsetting along with fellow community members. She said people were taking down their pride flags and signs out of fear of also being targeted.

D’Arrigo said that while every town has the need to expand upon its inclusivity, she said Port Washington is a community that has an emphasis on fostering inclusivity and safety for all individuals.

“So it was pretty shocking to see someone with so much well-documented hate be invited,” D’Arrigo said.

D’Arrigo said that she hopes there is more thought into the types of events brought to this town and reflect the interests of the community.

“Hate has no home here, so if it has no home here then let’s make sure that is true in all facets,” D’Arrigo said.

.PHOTO COURTESY OF MELANIE D’ARRIGO

Melanie D’Arrigo of Port Washington said she was harassed online ahead of a local event in the village on Sunday, Aug. 6.

SCREENCAP BY BRANDON DUFFY Scott McKay, left, and Jason Shurka, right, speak during an event held at Rays of Light in Port Washington.

Wheatley senior honors fallen friends

Continued from Page 2

teens. He presented the idea to his school’s athletic director, who approved the tournament event.

Since it was close to the conclusion of the school year, and Raja had to secure permits for the event, the fundraiser was delayed until August. This also helped increase attendance, Raja said, as students would be returning from summer camps and be local again.

(From left to right) Rahul Dawar, Aaron Raja and Riya Mittle assisted in putting on the tournament. (Photo courtesy of Aaron Raja)

The event was supported by Raja, as well as student volunteers Riya Mittle, Liel Agajan and Rahul Dawar.

The fundraiser was also supported by the Wildcat Athletic Foundation, which helped Raja

conduct the event by designing T-shirts and gathering supplies. He said the help of foundation members Susan Marasco and Bernadette Quinn was essential.

“Without it, I couldn’t have pulled this off,” Raja said.

Rain was predicted to begin at the time the tournament was scheduled, but inclement weather was not going to stop the event.

Instead, the tournament was pushed two hours earlier in the day to evade the weather. Despite the last-minute change, Raja said everyone who signed up for the tournament arrived to support the cause.

“You could really see how much we all cared as a community,” Raja said. “That even though they had to get up a little bit earlier, it didn’t matter because of the cause they were playing for.”

The tournament included about 80 participants, Raja said, with a mix of adults and kids playing in either a beginner or advanced tennis bracket. Additional patrons showed up in support of the players in the tournament.

Tournament players included tennis players from Roslyn, Syosset, East Williston, Port Washington and all over the county, Raja said.

“Everyone who was impacted by Drew and Ethan’s legacy had paid their respects by coming to the event and donating,” Raja said.

Raja also played in the tournament, battling against Hassenbein’s father on the court where his son had beaten him just months prior.

Raja said he opted for a low registration fee of $10 in order to boost participation and still raise money for the teens’ foundations. Tournament players were granted at least two matches and two hours on the court.

Girl Scout alum creates tutoring template

Continued from Page 2

In recognition of her extended Gold Award project, Fong has received awards of recognition from state Assemblywoman Gina Sillitti and the Rotary Club of Great Neck. Her outstanding work on the Girl Scouts Gold Award project also played a role in securing a $160,000 Leadership Scholarship at Syracuse University, where she is an incoming sophomore.

Randell Bynum, CEO of Girl Scouts of Nas-

sau County, expressed admiration for Fong’s dedication to expanding her Gold Award project and her commitment to making a positive impact.

“Girl Scouts of Nassau County’s mission is to empower and inspire girls to both accomplish their dreams and help enhance the world around them,” said Bynum. “We commend Grace for her efforts to expand upon her Gold Award project and continue helping to make

the world a better place.”

Bynum also noted how the Gold Award project is a solution-driven project. “Girl Scouts who earn the Gold Award focus on an issue they care about deeply and put forth solutions to approach it,” he said, “The work Grace has done exemplifies how to complete a successful Gold Award project.”

For more information about the Girl Scouts of Nassau County, visit gsnc.org.

Polo club owner seeks new members

Continued from Page 3

“We now have two fields that are phenomenal, in great shape, and it’s also important for the safety of horses, also movement of play and safety of players,” Krishna said.

The second aspect of revitalization was finding professionals to play at the club. He said this is important for the safety and enjoyment of the game.

The best match makeup, according to Krishna, is three professionals and one amateur on the team.

“Polo is not a game where you can have four amateurs play,” Krishna said.

But bringing in professionals means that the club has to attract them. Krishna said Meadow Brook is doing this by fostering relationships, implementing a nice field and hosting tournaments.

The third aspect is finding playing sponsors for the polo club in order to draw in new players for the sport.

Krishna said that while he has worked to achieve those three aspects, there is still more work to be done for Meadow Brook to be where Krishna envisions it.

“I’m not going to say that we’re where we want to be yet, but we’ve made significant strides for this season vs. the last year and the year prior to that,” Krishna said. “We’re hoping that next year is just going to be amazing.”

Krishna said his objective for the polo club is to make it more accessible for individuals who are interested in the sport but

have never participated as either a spectator or a player.

He said through the three objectives he has pushed to implement, Meadow Brook is able to put on a good show for people to watch and fall in love with the sport, increasing its accessibility to patrons.

The polo season runs until Sept. 23 with

In tandem with drawing in spectators and putting on a good show, Krishna has also founded a polo academy at the club to train the next generation.

“It’s the follow-up to the next polo players,” Krishna said.

Krishna said that when he moved to the North Shore, he found it difficult to find a polo instructor. With his own experience and knowing that this may be an issue for others looking to join the sport, he set out on a mission to open an academy.

Meadow Brook’s polo academy is run by Kylie Sheehan, a USPA Certified Polo Instructor and former Team USPA member. The academy provides lessons for all levels, from those who have never been on a horse to the seasoned professional.

The club offers 12 different types of lessons, with booking available online for single classes or class packages at varying prices.

This is the first year the academy has been offering lessons at the polo club, and Krishna said it has garnered so much attention and interest that lessons are full.

T-shirts were sold for $20 each at the event that featured a wildcat and a bulldog, the mascots of The Wheatley School and Roslyn High School, respectively.

Raja said feedback from the event was overwhelmingly positive. He said an added benefit of the fundraiser is that it brought the tennis community together.

“People don’t really see each other in high school tennis except for the high school season,” Raja said. “So [it was] old friend catching up, chatting about Drew, talking to me… Everyone letting their feelings out, talking about, laughing, smiling, playing tennis. It was just a really beautiful event.”

Two participants do a hand shake after a doubles match at the tournament fundraiser Thursday. (Photo courtesy of Aaron Raja)

While Raja said planning the tournament was stressful at times, the community response of wanting to help made it all worth it. He said a community is better when they act together, and that was exemplified through the tournament.

“The main thing for me as a personal takeaway was how close a community could be if they all put their minds to it,” Raja said.

Raja said there were “smiles all around” the day of the tournament, with lots of joy and laughter when coming together to honor the two teens.

He said the tournament was personal to him due to his friendship with Hassenbein and the loss that he and the community have experienced in the wake of his death.

“It’s still a bit fresh in a lot of our hearts and minds, and [the tournament] made it a great way to not make peace with it but at least cope up with it a little bit.”

Raja said he is considering making the tournament an annual event to “make sure none of their legacy gets forgotten.”

NHP man sentenced for scam

Continued from Page 5

making false statements in loan applications to unlawfully acquire PPP funds from both the SBA and SBAauthorized lending institutions.

They submitted deceptive information in multiple loan applications, including incorrect details about the companies’ workforce size, payroll figures, and the designated purpose of the loan funds for the PPP and EIDL initiatives.

tournaments held at the club’s fields every Saturday and an occasional Sunday. Tickets to watch the tournaments can be purchased online.

With the club located on Long Island’s North Shore, Krishna said it is looking to attract spectators of the sport locally and from the surrounding communities.

He said there is high demand for their academy, so he plans to keep expanding the program to meet the community’s desires.

Krishna said the Northeast has a deep history in equestrian sports, but with changes over time sports like polo have tapered off in popularity. He said it is important to preserve this history.

“If you don’t make a concentrated effort of keeping it alive, it will die,” he said.

Although the loan initiatives were specifically made to aid businesses in maintaining their workforce during the urgent period of the coronavirus pandemic, it was revealed that none of the implicated companies possessed any actual employees or related payroll expenses throughout the duration of the illicit scheme.

“We now have two fields that are phenomenal, in great shape, and it’s also important for the safety of horses, also movement of play and safety of players.

— Chetan Krishna

Guidance Center dedicates conference room to Fortunoff

North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center, Long Island’s premiere children’s mental health agency, hosted a dedication ceremony for the Helene Fortunoff Legacy Room. Fortunoff, who passed away in 2021 was a board member, donor, and trusted advisor to the Center. The Legacy Room will exist as a great tribute to her valued work.

Kathy Rivera, executive director and CEO of North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center stated “Whether this room is used for client yoga classes, teen group ses-

sions, staff training, or as a meeting place for community members to express their issues and learn how the Guidance Center will serve them… in all these ways, Helene’s presence will be here with everyone on their journey of hope and healing.”

Ruth Fortunoff Cooper who is one of Fortunoff ’s six children, is a board member of the Guidance Center. At the ribbon cutting. Ruth was joined by her fellow Guidance Center Board Members, her sisters Esther and Andrea, her sister-in-law Jennie and her daughter Charlotte.

“What an honor to cut the ribbon for the Helene Fortunoff Legacy room at the Guidance Center,” Coopersaid. “My mom recognized the center’s dedication and commitment to the mental health of children and families in our community. This room will be put to good use for meetings, therapy and education and will be a vital part of the center. I can’t imagine a better way to honor my mom.”

The Helene Fortunoff Legacy room is located in Westbury at the Guidance

Umberto’s of NHP to host car show, aid food bank

Umberto’s of New Hyde Park, Long Island’s iconic pizzeria and Italian restaurant, will be hosting a special car show with the New York Alfa Romeo Owner’s Club on Sunday, August 20 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at their New Hyde Park location at 633 Jericho Turnpike in New Hyde Park.

he event will support Island Harvest Food Bank, the leading hungerrelief organization with a mission to end hunger and reduce food waste on Long Island.

host Alfa Romeo Car Show to support Island Harvest Food Bank

The show will feature vintage and modern Alfa Romeo automobiles. The event is free to the public, and attendees are asked to bring nonperishable and non-expired food items for Island

Harvest. Donations will also be accepted. There will also be music, prizes and giveaways.

“We love our community and proud of our Italian heritage. We are hosting this event to support Island Harvest and create an opportunity to connect with neighbors, friends and our loyal customers. We encourage everyone to come, bring a food item to donate and make a difference. Nobody on Long Island should go hungry,” said Umberto Coteo, owner and founder Umberto’s of New Hyde Park.

The New York Alfa Romeo Owner’s Club members are happy to display their cars and talk with attendees.

“Our members are always willing

to give back and support non-profit organizations like Island Harvest. A non-profit organization is only as strong as the community that holds it up. Together, we can do more than we can alone. We are proud to display our Alfa Romeos in front of Umberto’s and celebrate the Italian culture and heritage. Umberto’s is an iconic brand here on Long Island and everyone loves their pizza,” said NYAROC President, Anthony Intintoli.

For more information about Umberto’s of New Hyde Park, please visit, https://www.umbertosfamily.com/.To learn more about Island Harvest Food Bank, please visit, https://www.islandharvest.org/.

N. Shore University golf event raises record $440K

More than 275 golfers and guests participated in the North Shore University Hospital Auxiliary Golf Classic, turning it into the most successful charitable experience in the event’s 44-year history. The Golf Classic raised a record $440,000, which will go to support the renovation of the hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit.

The all-volunteer Auxiliary of North Shore University Hospital, now celebrating its 70th anniversary, has supported the hospital and community through various fundraising programs through the decades.

This year’s event, which took place at the Glen Oaks Club in Old Westbury on July 31, honored James Dussich, CEO of Mint-X, a College Point, NY-based leader in the plastic manufacturing of bespoke consumer products.

“We are beyond appreciative to the many supporters of this year’s event for their gen-

erosity and friendship,” said Jon Sendach, the hospital’s executive director. “This hospital opened 70 years ago with community-raised funds and that tradition has become no less important to its future.”

This year’s event brought in $60,000 more than in 2022, a new record. The Auxiliary made a 10-year pledge to raise $2 million toward the renovation of NICU in 2016, which it completed ahead of schedule in 2021. The volunteer organization then embarked on a second $2 million pledge to support the NICU.

“I was so thrilled that this year’s outing raised over $440,000 to benefit North Shore Hospital’s NICU,” said Dussich. “As a father raising three young children in Manhasset, my wife Cara and I felt it was such an important opportunity to support the families as well as the doctors and nurses in our community who do amazing work every

day.”

North Shore University Hospital is a Level I trauma center and teaching hospital that treats more than 90,000 patients each year. It is home to the Sandra Atlas Bass Heart Hospital, the Katz Women’s Hospital, neurosurgery, multiorgan transplant services and one of the busiest emergency departments in the New York Metropolitan area.

“The Auxiliary is so grateful for the generosity of everyone who supported this golf outing,” said Lori Ballen, president of the Auxiliary of North Shore University Hospital. “With the help of the community, we have been able to ensure that our tiniest patients and their families continue to receive superior care in our updated NICU.”

To learn more about supporting the Auxiliary of North Shore University Hospital, call the Volunteer Experience Department at 516-562-4947.

Esther Fortunoff, left, Andrea Fortunoff, Ruth Fortunoff Cooper, Charlotte Cooper and Jennie Fortunoff

Umberto’s of New Hyde Park and NYAROC

PHOTO COURTESY OF NORTHWELL HEALTH

Manhasset resident James Dussich, CEO of Mint-X in College Point, Queens, was the honoree at the 44th North Shore University Hospital Auxiliary Golf Classic at Glen Oaks Club in Old Westbury.

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Feinstein doctor led research on historic pill

Continued from Page 1

The pill is expected to launch as soon as October. It is prescribed to be taken once a day for two weeks.

Shortly following the conclusion of the SKYLARK Study’s phase 3 clinical trials assessing zuranolone, findings were published with Deligiannidis as lead author in The American Journal of Psychiatry on July 26.

The results showed significant relief after three days of treatment, merely after two doses, and this progress continued until the trial’s conclusion on day 45.

“Postpartum depression is underrecognized, undertreated and disruptive for those who live with the condition. We collaborate with researchers around the world in an effort to develop more rapid and effective therapies for the many women who need support,” said Deligiannidis in a press release from July after reaching phase 3 in clinical trials.

Results found that 57% of the women administered zuranolone showed a notable improvement of 50% or more in their depressive symptoms by day 15, as opposed to 38% of those who were given a placebo. At day 45, 61.9% of participants receiving zuranolone experienced a 50% or more improvement for their depressive symptoms compared to the 54.1% of women receiving a placebo.

The most prevalent treatment-related side effects, observed in over 5% of participants in the zuranolone 50 mg group, were drowsiness, dizziness, sedation, headache, diarrhea, nausea, urinary tract infection, and Covid-19.

“Dr. Deligiannidis is a leader in clinical trials for postpartum depression, a condition that affects millions,” said Dr. Kevin J. Tracey, president and CEO of the Feinstein Institutes, Karches Family Distinguished Chair in Medical Research. “The FDA approval stemming from her work will make available new therapeutic options that are clearly needed.”

According to a recent study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the rate of diagnosing depression at the time of delivery was found to be sevenfold higher in 2015 than in 2000.

The Feinstein Institutes and Deligiannidis have received more than $4 million in multiyear grants to use non-invasive brain imaging to study how perinatal depression develops in women and to develop novel treatments, including bright light therapy, sleep modification and non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation to treat major depressive disorders.

Back in 2019, the FDA granted approval to brexanolone, marking it as the inaugural drug exclusively designated for postpartum depression treatment. This product, produced by Sage Therapeutics and marketed as Zulresso, has seen limited use because it costs $34,000 per dose and requires infusion lasting 60 hours within a hospital setting.

Sage Therapeutics and Biogen Inc. are also producing zuranoloneso, but so far do not have a price for the postpartum depression pill.

WILLIAM J ALLSBROOK Jr.

“William, you were always my hero. I wanted to be just like you, but I didn't play football or basketball like 'The Will', just didn't have your touch. I enjoyed watching you and was always proud to be your brother. Never does a day go by that I do not think of you. What would it be like to be able to call you. I have told my daughters about you letting me drive Mom and Dad’s new car around Tarboro although I was only 14 years old. October 2, 1970, Daddy’s birthday and the day that changed my life. You were my hero before Nam and you are still and one day I hope to walk with you again. I Love you. Mike”

Help us find a photo for ever y name on The Wall

Each name on The Wall represents a family who was forever changed by their loss

Help us find photos for the Wall of Faces to ensure that those who sacr ificed all in Vietnam are never forgotten.

BY MICHAEL J. LEWIS

For a few weeks in September, the makings of a glorious season were right there for the Port Washington football team.

Three consecutive wins had them reigning as surprise kings of the local gridiron scene. Led by quarterback John McCarthy, fleet playmakers like Harry Behan and Anthony Iuorio, and hard-hitting defenders like Bryson Bodner, the Vikings were undefeated and looking to make noise in Conference I.

Then the roof metaphorically caved in. And the injuries that started to pile up were anything but metaphorical. Busted ribs, injured knees, broken feet. You name it, a player or two on the Vikings suffered it.

And before you could say “Is there a doctor in the house?” a 3-0 start ended up in a 3-6 finish, with a first-round playoff loss.

But talk to the Port Washington head coach and returning players, and the glorious feeling of winning is still with them.

“I think about the Freeport game, and I’d never been more scared in my entire life,” Behan said. “But then

PORT EYES REVENGE

Football team seeks success after injury-marred season

we went in there, and won, and kept winning for a few weeks, and it’s the greatest feeling in the world. We know we can get that back.”

Whether it comes back or not may depend on how quickly Behan, now a 6-foot-3 junior, adjusts to being the full-time starting QB. The strong-armed thrower is also effective as a runner, and head coach Kevin Cloghessy said he believes Behan is ready to lead.

“He’s a big, athletic kid who likes to hit and is very physical running the ball himself,” said Cloghessy. “He’s the kind of guy the other kids look to as a leader, and he’s got a heck of an arm, too.”

Helping Behan on offense is a group of fleet playmakers, including senior wide receiver/slot player Anthony Iuorio (four touchdowns last season), and Jake Siciliano.

“Not many people know how good he is, but they’re going to,” Iurio said of Siciliano. “We feel like last year, we had a great chance to win a lot of those games down the stretch, if we had just been healthy enough.

So the big key for me and a lot of other guys this year is staying healthy.”

Along the offensive and defen-

sive lines Port Washington will be led by senior Bryson Bodner, described by teammates as an “animal” and “a monster” at defensive tackle and offensive guard. Bodner broke his foot

vibes from the 3-0 start faded.

“We had a lot of injuries, yeah, but our feelings in the locker room weren’t the best,” Bodner said. “We’d be in there at halftime trying to keep

first time,” Iuorio said, referring to the site of the county championship games. “That’s got to be our goal, and we believe we can accomplish a lot this season.”

For Cloghessy, the strong junior class this year gives him more depth than he’s had, and expects that to pay off at the end.

“It feels like a long season and all the experience they got last year, with all the injuries, should start to pay off this year,” he said. “Our kids deserve a lot of credit for fighting through everything last year, and I’m excited to see where we can go now.”

midway through last season and had to miss the final four games.

“He came flying through the air one game last year and hit a guy and sent him five yards back,” Behan said, laughing. “Bryson tackles you hard.”

The 5-foot-10 defensive lineman will be helped on defense by senior middle linebacker Andrew Neuwirth, and junior linebacker Haiden Nadboy, who had three sacks last season.

Bodner said it was hard to keep spirits up last season once the good

each other up, but it wasn’t easy.”

Neuwirth said he feels this year’s team, through offseason workouts, is a tighter-knit group, and that the fast start last year gave young players a feeling of what winning is like.

“We saw what guys like Anthony and Harry and the other players can do last year, how explosive they can be,” Neuwirth said. “It’s something where if we can stay healthy, I think we can have a great season.”

“My goal is to see Hofstra for the

Port Washington 2023 schedule:

“I think about the Freeport game, and I’d never been more scared in my entire life. But then we went in there, and won, and kept winning for a few weeks, and it’s the greatest feeling in the world. We know we can get that back.”

— Harry Behan STUDENT ATHLETE