MANHASSET TIMES 2024_05_10

Flower Hill clerk walks out

Slams board over retirement benefits

BY CAMERYN OAKES

When the Flower Hill Board of Trustees went to end their meeting Monday night, Village Administrator Ronnie Shatzkamer said she stopped the board for one final agenda item to be addressed that was left out –establishing employee retirement benefits.

But nobody introduced the resolution upon her asking, Shatzkamer said, and the village’s attorney told the board that it could be discussed if any board member brought a motion forward to address the resolution. Everyone remained silent, Shatzkamer said.

“Nobody said a word,” she said.

So Shatzkamer closed her book, got up and walked out. As she walked out she said she told the board: “I am so disappointed.”

Shatzkamer said the mayor asked for the item to be removed from the agenda before the meeting but that she did not as it was right before she was leaving the office.

“Ms. Shatzkamer who’s employment is coming to an end asked the Board to change the terms of her own employment and the Board did not feel that it was appropriate [sic],” Rosenbaum wrote in an email to Blank Slate Media.

Currently, the Village of Flower Hill does not offer any retirement benefits for its employees, Shatzka-

Continued on Page 37

SINGING IN THE PARK

State aid restored, problems remain

School officials say inflation not properly addressed resulting in shortfall

BY CAMERYN OAKES

New York State finalized its school aid allocation after many school districts had already adopted their budgets as it restored foundation funding to all districts prepared to see a reduction.

Yet while foundation aid was considered restored through the state’s hold harmless policy, which ensures districts receive the same amount or more in foundation aid from year to year, final totals still came in lower than anticipated due to changes in the formula.

Port Washington Assistant Superintendent of Business Kathleen Manuel said that while at face value foundation aid was restored, it wasn’t actually in its entirety.

Multiple school district administrators said the inflationary increase percentage used to calculate the

Continued on Page 34

“Schools should have actually received more in aid if [Gov. Kathy Hochul] had let the formula run the way it should,” Manuel said. Despite this change, a majority of school districts on the North Shore are keeping their budgets as is.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE MANHASSET SCHOOL DISTRICT

The Shelter Rock and Munsey Park Chamber Choirs sang the national anthem at the Long Island Ducks game.

Philanthropist Peter Dejana dies at 84

Port resident remembered for charity to community

BY CAMERYN OAKES

Peter Dejana, an Italian immigrant who planted roots in Port Washington and continuously gave back charitably to his community, died Thursday. He was 84.

His cause of death is unknown.

Dejana is remembered for his work ethic, brilliance, energy and philanthropic dedication.

“Peter was a friend to all who offered their friendship. He interacted easily with people from all walks and stations of life,” his obituary said. “He found great satisfaction in getting to know people and learning about their lives and life stories. He was modest, wise, humble, and unassuming in all his dealings with people.”

Dejana was president and CEO of Dejana Holdings, LLC, a real estate investment firm, and president and CEO of the Peter & Jeri Dejana Foundation, a philanthropy based in his American hometown of Port Washington.

“Peter’s love for and dedication to family, friends, hard work, and charitable endeavors have set an example for the countless people whose lives he touched,” his obituary said. “He will be well remembered and much missed.”

Peter Dejana is survived by his wife Geraldine “Jeri” Dejana, his son Tyler Schweber Dejana, his sisters Giovanna “Giannina” Bruce and Antoinette Lewis, and his brother Vincent Dejana.

Nassau County District 11 Legislator Delia DeRiggi-Whitton (D–Glen Cove) said she was saddened by the passing of Dejana, referring to him and his charitable organization as an integral component supporting the community..

“Through their foundation they donated funds to almost every local organization that I can think of,” DeRiggiWhitton said in a statement. “Because of their generosity we have the Dejana Adult Activity Center, and they have funded the Nicholas Center — just to name a few. Peter also agreed to be a sponsor for the Diabetes Research Institute and has truly made such a difference in bringing us closer to finding a cure.”

gineer, which he most certainly would have become had he not chosen the path of building a successful business.”

A 70-year resident of Port Washington, Dejana’s love for his hometown surmounted all his passions.

“Port Washington was his home base, his anchor and his reference point in life,” the obituary said.

His funeral was held Monday at St. Peter of Alcantara Church in Port Washington. He is entombed in a mausoleum at the Nassau Knolls Cemetery.

“Thank you for all you did, Peter. Your soft and humble personality was something that I admired so much— you truly are a great example of a life well-lived,” DeRiggi-Whitton said “Rest In peace knowing you made a real difference.”

Palestinian child treated at Cohen’s

Gazan, 6, malnourished from famine

BY CAMERYN OAKES

A Palestinian child is being treated at Northwell Health’s Cohen Children’s Hospital in Queens for malnourishment caused by famine during the war in Gaza.

Four injured Palestinian children were seen arriving at John F. Kennedy International Airport from Cairo, Egypt, Sunday, led by the hand or carried through the airport by their family members.

The children were flown in by Palestine Children’s Relief Fund, an organization that provides free medical care for children who lack the medical resources they need to treat their injuries and illnesses.

Efforts to reach the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund for comment were unavailing.

cepted the deal.

The Palestine Children’s Relief Fund has provided refuge for more than 100 children in Egypt, of which 60 were transported to other countries for aid. Seven children were sent to the United States, including the four who arrived in New York Sunday.

A swath of people gathered at the Queens airport on Sunday to welcome the children and their families to New York, holding welcome signs and shouting their love for them.

Two of the children were injured during Israeli airstrikes in Gaza, one sustained injuries during a rocket and grenade attack at a hospital and the final child is battling malnourishment and cystic fibrosis, CBS News New York reported.

516-307-1045 x206 stabakin@theisland360.com

Dejana was born in Italy’s Pattada, Sardinia, the first of five children.

He immigrated to the United States at the age of 16, planting his roots in Port Washington’s sand miner’s housing on West Shore Road. His roots in Port Washington remained for the rest of his life.

A graduate of Paul D. Schreiber High School, Dejana worked to support his family from a young age and aided in their efforts to bring his remaining relatives in Italy to America. He began work as a landscaper.

“Beginning on Shore Road with a single truck and one Jeep with a plow, over a half-century he built the successful, multi-faceted contracting business that became known as Dejana Industries,” according to his obituary

Dejana’s passions were varied, from philanthropy to cars. His fascination with racing cars began in his youth and carried on through his adulthood, with “a passion for speed and performance” his obituary said.

“He enjoyed nothing more than designing, fabricating, fixing, repairing, and generally tinkering with machinery of all kinds – an abiding interest that served him well in business and added greatly to the success of Dejana Industries,” according to the obituary.

“He truly had the mind of a brilliant en-

Dejana’s passions were varied, from philanthropy to cars. His fascination with racing cars began in his youth and carried on through his adulthood, with “a passion for speed and performance” his obituary states.

“He enjoyed nothing more than designing, fabricating, fixing, repairing, and generally tinkering with machinery of all kinds – an abiding interest that served him well in business and added greatly to the success of Dejana Industries,” his obituary states. “He truly had the mind of a brilliant engineer, which he most certainly would have become had he not chosen the path of building a successful business.”

A 70-year resident of Port Washington, Dejana’s love for his hometown surmounted all his passions.

“Port Washington was his home base, his anchor, and his reference point in life,” his obituary states.

His funeral was held on Monday at St. Peter of Alcantara Church in Port Washington. He is entombed in a mausoleum at the Nassau Knolls Cemetery.

“Thank you for all you did Peter. Your soft and humble personality was something that I admired so muchyou truly are a great example of a life well lived,” DeRiggi-Whitton said in a statement. “Rest In peace knowing you made a real difference.”

The war in Gaza followed Hamas’ attack on Israel Oct. 7, which killed about 1,200 people and took hundreds of people hostage – of which many remain in captivity. In Gaza, more than 34,000 people have died since the attack in October, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.

Just two days after the children arrived in New York, Israel launched an attack on Rafah and seized control of Gaza’s vital border crossing into Egypt. The attack came hours after Hamas agreed to a cease-fire deal Monday, but Israel has not ac-

The child dealing with malnourishment, who the New York Times identified as Fadi Alzant, will be treated at Northwell Health’s Cohen Children’s Medical Center in Queens. Fadi, a 6-year-old with strawberry blond hair, weighs in at just about 25 pounds due to malnourishment from famine, The New York Times reported.

The children were selected through referrals, The Times reported based on information from the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund, many times found through social Continued on Page 34

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x218

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PHOTO COURTESY OF DEJANA INDUSTRIES

Peter Dejana.

PHOTO COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA COMMONS, TAKEN IN 2019

Four Palestinian children from Gaza arrived at JFK Airport on Sunday to receive medical treatment in the United States, including one at Cohen Children’s Medical Center in Queens.

Surendra Gupta joins Herricks race

Education center owner campaigns to bolster school district’s acceptance of diverse students

BY TAYLOR HERZLICH

Surendra Gupta, a longtime Herricks resident and owner of two children’s education centers in Nassau County, is running for the Herricks Board of Education along with four other hopefuls.

Gupta, physician Shaheda Quraishi, financial adviser Eric Lo and two other candidates are competing in the contested race for one of the two seats up for election.

Incumbent Trustee Brian Hassan is running for re-election. Challenger Maria Bono is running for his current seat.

Newcomers Gupta, Quraishi, Lo, Ravinder S. Ratra and Russell M. Stuart are all running for the seat left vacant by Trustee Nancy Feinstein, who is stepping down from the board after serving for 12 years.

Gupta lives in North Hills. He has been a Herricks district resident for 51 years and graduated from the Herricks district. Gupta has a 12th grader in the district and a son who graduated from Herricks in 2018 and now serves as a naval officer.

The North Hills resident runs two family-owned children’s education centers in New Hyde Park and Hicksville called Smart Brain International.

“My wife and I have run this family business in children’s education for the last 21 years and quite successfully. We understand education as an overall thinking,” Gupta said. “We’ve dealt with children here that have learning struggles and the other side of the gamut where kids are coming in and they got straight As. We understand that a one-path type of approach is not necessarily the best thing for the general student

population overall.”

The resident said his biggest concern for the district is intolerance toward diverse students and families.

“Diversity is celebrated on some levels and very much not celebrated on other levels,” Gupta said. “Comments that sometimes people make. ‘The neighborhood has changed. It’s not the same as it’s been in the past. We have such-and-such nationalities coming in. It changes the neighbor-

hood.’ Things like that.”

While Gupta acknowledged that addressing these tolerance issues is not an overnight fix, he said he hopes to take a multi-pronged approach to diversity conversations if elected. He said he wants to create an environment where people begin talking about diversity more often and encourage small group conversations to take place.

Regarding the district’s proposed

budget and how the administration is handling costs due to child sex abuse lawsuits filed under the Child Victims Act, Gupta said he would need to take a closer look at the budget before sharing his opinions. He said he would not be averse to piercing the tax cap during his tenure as trustee if elected, but there would need to be solid justification to do so.

Gupta said he enjoys serving the district and this trustee position is another way to continue that volunteer work. The North Hills resident is a firefighter and EMT in Albertson, his older son who is now a naval officer was also a firefighter and EMT and his 17-year-old son in high school is a firefighter.

“It’s been a very long time being in this district and I know a lot of other people have moved out. I stayed and I love this place,” Gupta said. “I love the schools and I think it’s done wonders for my own children and it’s just something that I want to make sure that other people have that opportunity.”

Quraishi is a lifelong Nassau County resident. She is no stranger to the district, having lived in the Herricks district for nearly 40 years. She has three children in the Herricks dis-

Continued on Page 33

COURTESY OF THE CANDIDATES

Surendra Gupta, left, Shaheda Quraishi, middle, and Eric Lo, right, are running for a seat on the Herricks Board of Education.

Town to sue state over election law

Residents call litigation a mishandling of taxpayer money, say a result of GOP partisanship

BY CAMERYN OAKES

The Town of North Hempstead voted along party lines Tuesday night to engage in litigation against the state law that moves most local elections to even years.

Residents overwhelmingly spoke out against the litigation, which they called a political move, a mishandling of taxpayers’ money, and sacrificing democratic processes for partisanship.

“It is inconceivable to me that there could be some members of this board, as well as our supervisor, who support such a frivolous and costly agenda item when it is your primary responsibility to protect the hardworking, middle-class families that call North Hempstead home,” resident Scott Wolff said.

Supervisor Jennifer DeSena said the law hinders local elections.

The law signed by Gov. Kathy Hochul in December is scheduled to take effect in 2026. Officials elected after Jan. 1, 2025, will serve shortened terms to match up with the upcoming even-year elections.

The lawsuit will be filed in tandem with the Towns of Hempstead and Oyster Bay, with town attorneys handling the case.

The town board’s Republicans

– DeSena and Councilmembers Ed Scott, Dennis Walsh and David Adhami – all voted to pursue litigation. Democratic Councilmembers Christine Liu and Mariann Dalimonte voted against the suit. Councilmember Robert Troiano was not present at the meeting.

Liu called the lawsuit political and divisive, saying the town should not be engaging in such matters better left to the political parties.

“I strongly feel that we should not use our town resources and taxpayer money on political litigation,” Liu said.

DeSena said she backed the lawsuit to preserve local elections. She said lumping them with national and state elections may drown out local issues through voter fatigue.

“Imagine with all the campaign materials that get sent out during an election and the signs you see,” DeSena said. “Imagine trying to keep track of 30 races and 60 candidates. Local government matters and how can a local candidate expect to be heard and remembered when they’re being drowned out by the huge contests and campaigns coming out of Albany and Washington D.C.?”

Resident Marc Sittenreich described the law’s intent as in-

Continued on Page 33

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PHOTO BY CAMERYN OAKES

Resident Ronald Brinn addresses to the Town of North Hempstead Board his opposition to the town’s lawsuit against the state’s even year elections law.

Town of Hempstead sues MTA

Clavin says congestion pricing plan for New York City a ‘money grab’ that would hurt Nassau

BY TAYLOR HERZLICH

The Town of Hempstead filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday in an effort to halt the MTA’s incoming New York City congestion pricing model, making Hempstead the first Long Island town to initiate a legal action against the plan.

The congestion pricing is set to hit commuters June 30, MTA officials said. Car drivers can expect a $15 charge to enter Manhattan at 61st St. and below and truck drivers can expect between a $24 to $36 charge depending on vehicle size. Motorcycle drivers can expect a $7.50 charge.

“This money grab, and it is nothing more than a money grab that is being done by the MTA, has really no impact or improvement on the services for anybody except for the pockets that are constantly drawn out by the MTA,” Hempstead Town Supervisor Don Clavin said at a press conference Thursday. “That is why we have hired attorneys and we are going to federal court…to seek an injunction to stop this program.”

An MTA executive compared Long Island officials’ protests against the congestion pricing plan to their previous opposition against the Third Track. The Third Track was part of a dis-

ruptive, yearslong Main Line Expansion Project that added a 9.8-mile railway line stretching from Floral Park to Hicksville.

“This lawsuit is coming from the people that were against Main Line Third Track. Think about that,” LIRR President Rob Free told Blank Slate Media in a statement. “I think everyone would agree Main Line Third Track was a resounding success. We are getting kudos from customers: satisfaction is up, reliability is up – 96.8% on-time performance – so I would say this is an investment in Long Island’s future.”

The proposed congestion pricing plan is the first of its kind nationally.

A majority of the MTA board voted to greenlight the program in March. The only board member to vote no was Nassau County board member David Mack, according to NBC New York.

Mack has spurred controversy over his continued access to a program that provided free E-ZPasses to all MTA board members – a program that ended five years ago. But Mack and two other board members were grandfathered in to the program, allowing him to hold onto his free rides, according to Newsday, despite the real estate mogul and philanthropist likely having no concrete need for the perk.

Despite Mack’s vote, the congestion

pricing plan is set to move forward. Taxi drivers will be exempt from the new tolls, though they will be surcharged $1.25 per ride and Uber, Lyft and other ride-share drivers will be surcharged $2.50 per ride.

Proponents of the plan argue that it will reduce traffic and generate muchneeded revenue for the MTA. Opponents like Clavin, who called the MTA the “money throw away department,” described the tolls as a cash grab and say they are unfair to residents who work and seek healthcare services in the city.

“We’ve heard the argument over and over and over again. Congestion pricing is gonna serve a plethora of issues. It’s going to reduce traffic. It’s not. It’s going to encourage individuals to utilize mass transit. It’s not,” Rep. Anthony D’Esposito (R-Island Park) said at a press conference Thursday. “People are scared to utilize public transportation. That’s why no one’s riding the subways or the buses.”

While the Town of Hempstead lawsuit is the first suit filed by a Long Island municipality against the MTA’s new plan, it comes after Rockland County filed a suit in March and Staten Island leaders and members of the United Federation of Teachers filed a joint suit in January.

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SCREENCAP BY TAYLOR HERZLICH

Hempstead Town Supervisor Don Clavin speaks at a press conference on Thursday.

T:12.45"

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Port middle schooler sponsors 3 dancers

BY TAYLOR HERZLICH

Hannah Edelsen sponsored three dancers through the Dance for Joy program at Berest Dance Center in Port Washington – and she is only 12.

The Dance for Joy program, which started back in 2021, gifts underprivileged children in the community whose families cannot afford classes with dance scholarships.

And when Hannah’s bat mitzvah was approaching, she knew exactly what she wanted to do with her birthday money.

“I knew that I wanted to support a cause by donating money, but I also wanted to take action,” Hannah said.

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Her bat mitzvah money was enough to support one child in the program, which costs $1,000. But Hannah didn’t stop there.

The middle schooler, who has been dancing at Berest Dance Center “since she was a babe,” according to studio owner Olga Berest, began working with the high school seniors who taught the scholarship classes. Hannah assists the seniors with demonstrations and makes sure the students in class understand the instructions, since even introductory ballet classes often include a slew of French technical terms.

As an assistant in the Dance for Joy program, Hannah went to Berest with another idea. The theater department at the Port Washington middle school holds a talent show called Talent for a Cause. Students present a pitch on a donation they’d like to make by using the prize money and the winner is decided by the theater board, Berest said, and Hannah was determined to win that prize money.

“Of course, I took this with a grain of salt. I said, ‘OK, Hannah, this is a wonderful idea,’” Berest said. “Well, sure enough, they presented my teacher with a check large enough to sponsor one student and my teacher calls me. She said, ‘Olga, I just got enough money to sponsor one child. What is this?’ She didn’t even know this was happening and then I realized it was Hannah.”

Hannah’s parents said their daughter came up with this idea all on her own. But her dedication to the cause certainly swayed her dad, who is responsible for the third sponsorship.

Hannah’s father, Steve Edelsen, owns a new ice cream sandwich shop, Smushed, in Port Washington. One day, he showed up at Berest’s doorstep with a check from his business sponsoring a third dancer, Berest said.

Continued on Page 33

Pictured left to right aret two student teachers, Hannah Edelsen and Olga Berest.

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Sen. Martins calls for Columbia prez to resign

BY CAMERYN OAKES

State Sen. Jack Martins, along with his fellow Republican colleagues, called for Columbia University President Minouche Shafik to resign in light of her handling of the pro-Palestinian protests on campus and demanded she testify in front of the state Senate.

A press conference was held on a street corner by Columbia University Friday afternoon, including Martins, fellow Republican state senators and Nassau County Legislator Mazi Pilip (R-Great Neck).

Martins’ criticism was not solely aimed at Columbia’s president, saying that any other university president who doesn’t quell such protests should also resign.

“I think any president that has not intervened aggressively in protecting students generally, and in this case not protecting Jewish students or frankly any other protected class, should resign immediately,” Martins said. “It’s shameful.”

Martins, chair of the Senate Republican Working Group on Antisemitism, called on state Senate leaders to hold a hearing to question the university president.

“This institution and its leadership, and in particular President Shafik, have let our students down,” Martins said. “First, they let down Jewish students who came to this school to learn and were placed in harm’s way and allowed to continue to be in harm’s way with the university taking no action whatsoever to protect them.”

Shafik has testified in front of Congress where she condemned antisemitism and denied claims that the university is fostering hate.

Martins said Democrats were invited to the press conference but none attended. He called for bipartisan unification in addressing these protests and condemned what he called the Democrat’s silence.

“Their silence is deafening,” Martins said.

countability, safety,” Martins said. “There has to be a study, there have to be hearings and people have to be held accountable.”

On Tuesday night, more than 300 protesters were arrested on Columbia’s campus after protesters broke into a campus building.

The NYPD said that about 47% of the protesters arrested Tuesday night were not affiliated with the school, ABC News reported.

“Why didn’t they prioritize the safety of the students of this institution or the integrity of the institution and hold them accountable?” Martins said.

The press conference Friday afternoon followed one the week before where County Executive Bruce Blakeman and Rep. Anthony D’Esposito (NY-04) also called for Columbia’s president to resign and for donations to be withheld.

Blakeman also condemned Hoftsra University President Susan Poser for protests on the campus and for “equivocating” in her support for Israel.

While Columbia’s protests have been in the national spotlight, protests at several other universities have been started as well. This includes universities on Long Island, like Stony Brook University, Hofstra University and Adelphi University, and multiple colleges in New York City.

Stony Brook University protests began on Tuesday and were initially described as peaceful. The university’s president told Newsday that they then escalated Wednesday night.

Protest at Stony Brook Unversity culminated with arrests late Wednesday night. A total of 29 protesters were arrested, including 22 students and two faculty members.

At least 10 were charged with disorderly conduct, Newsday reported, and three students were put on interim suspension.

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Protests at Columbia University have endured for weeks, with hundreds of protestors setting up encampments at the school. They have called for the university to divest its funding of organizations supporting Israel and contributing to the Israel-Hamas war.

Martins said that half of the protesters on Columbia’s campus are not affiliated with the university, calling them “agitators.” He said the university administration was aware of these protesters.

“It begs all kinds of questions with regard to ac-

Protests resumed on the campus Thursday despite the police breaking them up and arresting individuals.

A pro-Palestinian protest began on Hofstra’s campus on April 25, which a Hofstra spokesperson told News12 encompassed students and faculty. It was described as peaceful.

Pilip condemned the university protests Friday, which she referred to as “insanity” and said protesters had “lost their minds.”

“We are here to support [Jewish students] and we’ll do anything in our power to hold those terrorist supporters accountable,” Pilip said.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE OFFICE OF STATE SEN. JACK MARTINS

State Sen. Jack Martins (R-Dist. 7)

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Was Columbia worse than Jan. 6? OUR VIEWS Editorial Cartoon Opinion

Rep. Anthony D’Esposito (R-NY4)

joined House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana and other Republican colleagues at Columbia University April 24 to demand that school President Nemat “Minouche” Shafik resign for failing to quickly dismantle encampments built by pro-Palestinian protesters and, in their view, for not doing enough to ensure that Jewish people on campus feel safe.

“Until Pres. Shafik resigns & honor is restored to this once great institution, it’s no longer worthy of financial or personal support,” D’Esposito wrote in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, and Facebook.

Johnson said at his appearance that he would urge President Joe Biden to take executive action against the protesters, including using the National Guard if necessary.

A group of Jewish Democratic House members separately visited the school to express outrage over antisemitic harassment of Jewish students on and around campus.

But there were several differences between Republicans like D’Esposito and the Democrats that have large implications for congressional, Senate and presidential elections.

The Democrats, for one, did not raise the possibility of bringing in the National Guard.

This is a very bad idea for several reasons. One is history.

Four people were fatally shot at Kent State University during the Vietnam War by National Guardsman trained for military operations but not policing.

The second is that the 35,000 members of the New York Police Department are well-trained in crowd control and responding to riots, something they are regularly called upon to do. The most recent instance before Columbia was at NYU, where the problem was handled peacefully.

As a former New York police detective, D’Esposito should know this.

Further proof of the city Police Department’s effectiveness came just days after the Republicans’ visit when officers in riot gear removed demonstrators who had seized Hamilton Hall, a Columbia

building with a history of student takeovers. That cleared the encampment. No one was injured. And the protesters went quietly.

The third major difference between Democrats and Republicans was their response to a scene of actual violence – the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.

And the Republicans’ continued support of the man who orchestrated the attack intended to overturn the 2020 presidential election – former President Donald Trump.

The disruption of the Columbia campus and threats to Jewish students amid an alarming rise in antisemitism is unacceptable behavior.

Students who committed crimes in the takeover of Hamilton Hall should be prosecuted. Those who violate college policy should be expelled or suspended.

But as serious as this wrongdoing is, it does not compare to inciting a mob that threatened the lives of then Vice President Mike Pence and then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and everyone else in Congress on Jan. 6.

It does not compare to an attack in which 140 police officers were injured, five people died, and many suffered lasting injuries.

But in 2021, 139 Republican House members cast votes against certifying the results of the presidential election – just hours after the mob of Trump supporters stormed the Capitol.

Johnson, who led the visit to Columbia, was the leader of the House Republicans’ support of Texas’ request to the Supreme Court to throw out election results in Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin in December 2020.

This would have disenfranchised more than 20 million voters and changed the outcome of the 2020 presidential election. The Supreme Court tossed out the suit in a few sentences, saying Texas lacked standing to bring the lawsuit.

The Jan. 6 Committee documented that Trump sat in the White House during the attack on the Capitol for three hours and did nothing – despite the pleas of Republican and Democratic lawmakers to act.

We agree that Shakik responded too

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slowly to students who crossed the line from legitimate protest protected by the Constitution to an encampment that infringed on the rights of other students and was not protected.

We disagree that Shakik should resign because of her failure to act earlier, especially in response to demands from elected officials trying to score political points.

But if Republican House members want to demand Shakik’s resignation, they should explain why they did not make a similar call after Trump failed to uphold a hallmark of American democracy — the peaceful transfer of power — and led an attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Why has there been no call for him to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race, as Trump’s failure to act becomes even clearer?

Shakik may have been wrong to allow an encampment to be built at Columbia, but she did not call for a mob to descend on the U.S. Capitol to overturn an election and undermine democracy in America.

The hypocrisy here is breathtaking.

And, unlike protesters at Columbia, the threat of future violence posed by Trump continues.

Trump has also said if he doesn’t get elected, “it’s going to be a bloodbath for the country.” He later said his “bloodbath” comments only applied to the U.S. auto industry.

But after leading an assault on the

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Capitol on Jan. 6, calling those arrested “hostages” and making many other calls for violence on his behalf, it seems a safe assumption that Trump will say the 2024 election was rigged if he loses again. And call on his supporters to oppose the results.

Last week in Milwaukee, Trump again falsely claimed he won Wisconsin in 2020 and refused to say he would accept the results of the 2024 election there if he lost.

D’Esposito and every other Republican running for Congress should explain why someone running for president of the United States should be held to a lower standard than the president of Columbia University.

The Democratic lawmakers who visited Columbia were not as forceful as the Republicans, who left little room for the distinction between those targeting Jewish students and those peacefully protesting the Israel-Gaza war.

But they made more sense and have far more standing.

“Peaceful protest is a protected right,” Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.) later said on X, formerly known as Twitter. “Chanting ‘burn Tel Aviv to the ground’ and breaking into university buildings is not.”

Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) called on Columbia to discipline harassers, restore civility on this campus and encourage peaceful, constructive, civil dialogue.

This is easier said than done when

elected officials are attempting to score political points.

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, who joined the Republican congressmembers at Columbia, used the occasion to continue to make false claims against Hofstra University and its president, Susan Poser.

“As Nassau’s first Jewish county executive, I’m disgusted by what’s going on at Columbia, Yale University and at Hofstra University, where President Susan Poser is equivocating in her support for Israel,” Blakeman said in a Facebook post. “We denounced all forms of hate and antisemitism.”

Blakeman’s reference to Poser, who is also Jewish, refers back to his bid to get her fired following Hamas’ Oct. 7 terrorist attack on Israel in which 1,200 people were brutally murdered and more than 240 hostages were taken.

What did Poser say that so offended Blakeman?

“The world woke up on Saturday morning to news of the horrific and brutal attack by Hamas on Israel and the unspeakable, organized violence and hostage-taking against men, women, and children,” Poser said on Monday, Oct. 9, two days after Hamas’ attack.

Poser’s response helped Hofstra avoid the divisive rhetoric and violent attacks seen at schools like Harvard, Columbia and Stanford following Hamas’ terrorist attack.

Continued on Page 18

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OUR TOWN

World needs mystics, messiahs and geniuses

Dr. George Nicklin was a worldrenowned and innovative psychoanalyst who once told me:

”When you see a train, there is only one conductor who runs that train and the rest are just along for the ride.”

He was referring to leadership in any field, whether that’s the field of psychoanalysis, nuclear physics, art or religion. Freud broke new ground in psychology, Einstein gave us the Theory of Relativity, Picasso invented Cubism, and Jesus spoke words that sparked a revolution.

And each of these mystic geniuses were booed rather than cheered as they developed their ideas. Freud was jeered, Einstein was laughed at, Picasso was called crazy and we all know what happened to Jesus.

Leaders and mystics are necessary for any field to grow, but they always have a contentious relationship with the establishment.

When something new is created, the establishment is threatened and will resist the new idea. New paradigms cause an identity crisis and this is why cultural change in a corporation is so difficult to achieve.

The wisdom to see what is wrong and then to have the courage and fortitude to do something about it is a rare combination and why genius is rare. Without these geniuses, progress stops and that marks the beginning of a slow death in whatever field.

That is why so often you see major

corporations slow down and go out of business. They become rigidified and refuse to listen to the genius who is trying to introduce new ideas.

I was witness to this kind of thing while in graduate school. I was working as a program evaluator for the BOCES Arts and Humanities division in Suffolk County.

The program was run by one of the nation’s great educators, Clint Marantz. Clint also created and directed the Performing Arts Foundation in Huntington.

The Performing Arts Foundation, or PAF, was a regional theater group that kept getting bigger and began to attract internationally known actors.

As the fame of PAF grew, the foundation established a Board of Directors. And one of its first decisions was to fire Clint Marantz and get a big name director instead. Within three years PAF was killed.

That is a good example of the relationship between a mystic leader and the established order. If the board was smart, it would have kept Clint and we would still be hearing about PAF of Huntington and would have had access to international actors without going into Broadway.

I have been lucky enough to meet an occasional genius in my life. I met and got to know Spalding Gray, whose books and movie career is well-known but he also created a new type of theater called “An Evening with Spalding Gray.” Jackie

DR. TOM FERRARO Our Town

Kennedy described Spalding as one of the true geniuses in American performing art.

Just last week I was lucky enough to meet another mystic genius in the guise of a culinary critic and international podcast leader. Meet Ryan King whose podcast “Food on the Edge” is heard worldwide.

Ryan is a pioneer in the field of kitchen culture and is rightfully concerned about the toxic environment in most major restaurant kitchens. He told me that the turnover rate of chefs is alarming and that most are depressed, alcoholic or both.

Ryan King is attempting to change kitchen culture from something that is chaotic and stressed-filled to a culture that is more humane and mentally

healthy. For me to type the words humane and mentally healthy in the same sentence as restaurant kitchen seems like I am breaking a moral code.

We all know that chefs are crazy, but isn’t that the way they’re supposed to act? I’ve been a member of country clubs since I was a young teenager and I can honestly say that by far the craziest staff member in every one of these clubs was the chef. Yet they were all wonderful chefs, but they all seemed very stressed.

Ryan refers to the legacy of the chef as part of the “pirate culture,” but he is quick to add that the most famous pirate was Captain Hook, the guy with a hook for a hand.

The world is calling for culture change now with people becoming more aware that many institutional cultures are broken and toxic. We have seen movements like “Occupy Wall Street,” “The Me Too Movement” and “Black Lives Matter” that are trying to rectify power imbalances.

A group at Stanford University’s Department of Psychology is doing research on this and suggesting ways to make changes in a variety of institutions as varied as schools, the media, prisons and law, but I failed to see them mention restaurant kitchen culture. That may be because no one has given voice to this concern.

And this is sad indeed since going to enjoy a dinner at a restaurant is one of the last forms of social interaction left for

humans, given the domination of television and streaming devices that make TV the only game in town.

I hope that Ryan King continues to voice the concerns of the harried, harassed and overwhelmed chefs. I would sure hate to be left to cook my own meals every night. I would very soon grow tired of an endless string of hamburgers, chicken wings or pasta. God bless Ryan King. May the force be with you.

Open your eyes to danger before it’s too late

Politics is a complex business.

You have to pay close attention to each happening so that you can understand what is going on and who is the person to focus on?

Being former President Donald Trump is in the news each day, not every move he makes is significant. But if you took the time to read his Time magazine interview you will easily understand what a threat he is to every American voter.

Let’s start with abortion. Lately, he openly brags about the fact that his Supreme Court appointees are responsible for the repeal of Roe v. Wade.

He is on record that women should be punished for getting an abortion, even if their life is at stake. He added a new twist to this controversy by suggesting that pregnant women should be followed by law enforcement, to make sure they don’t get an abortion.

On the subject of immigrants, he has a simple solution. He wants to cre-

ate tent camps for 11 million people and conduct a mass deportation. Included in the 11 million are the “Dreamers” who were born here and are considered citizens under the Constitution.

Doesn’t that remind you a little bit of the guy with the mustache back in the 1930’s?

While Mr. Trump is sitting in a Manhattan courtroom attacking the presiding judge on his Truth Social website, four of his closest friends have been indicted by an Arizona grand jury for attempting to steal votes from President Biden in the 2020 election.

They are charged with creating false slates of electors whose ballots were sent to Congress for vote certification. In addition, there are three other states that have indicted so-called Trump electors. Let’s switch to what could happen after the 2024 elections.

Trump has made it clear that he will do a takeover of the Justice Department and direct them to go after President Joe

To add to his serious pledge, he has promised to do mass firings of all federal employees and install all of his people into those positions.

As an Imperial President, he wants a government that answers to him only, even if that means breaking the law. Hundreds of thousands of those people have civil service protection, but under the Trump plan, they will all be fired.

Do you remember what happened on Jan. 6, 2021? Most people do. It was the day that hundreds of so-called Patriots stormed the Capitol and attacked numerous Capitol police, causing the death of four officers.

is the defendant. That includes unlawful possession of top secret documents, attempting to steal votes in Georgia, and fomenting the Jan.6 insurrection. To date, Mr. Trump has been very successful in delaying those cases, but think about the fact that this man wants to go back to the White House.

Biden and his family.

He wants the “Biden crime family” to be indicted unless the Supreme Court grants him immunity. This is nonsensical, but he means what he says.

Trump has restated his pledge to pardon all of the people who were convicted by juries sworn to follow the law. That includes the Proud Boys and other radical groups, who led the crowds into the angry assaults.

Whether or not he gets to stand trial before the election, there are some other criminal cases pending where he

Many people have had a tendency to blow off the current New York trial, but it is worth taking a moment to focus on the charges. A former president, who is running for re-election, is alleged to have paid off a porn star and a Playboy bunny, in order to prevent these details from coming out just before the 2016 election.

Do you consider Mr. Trump as the role model for every young man and woman who aspires to be president? I could spend hours talking about so many warning signs surrounding the Trump candidacy, but his threat to a democracy is as plain as the nose on your face.

JERRY KREMER Kremer’s Corner

PHOTO BY TOM FERRARO

Meet Ryan King, the voice of reason in the chaotic world of culinary arts

Moving to smart power on Long Island is do-able

The 21st century demands that we think about new and efficient ways to power our lives, including clean energy systems to heat and cool our homes.

The ways we power our homes generate a large portion of greenhouse gases that are warming the climate, while buildings account for approximately one-third of all greenhouse gas emissions in New York State. The science is clear: we must stop burning fossil fuels to curb the climate crisis. We must electrify our homes. But how do we go about that?

At the moment, the great majority of Long Island homes are powered by gas and oil. Building electrification includes the conversion of fossil fuel appliances for space heating and cooling, water heaters, stoves and dryers into high-efficiency electric appliances.

The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that heating and cooling make up about 43% of a home’s monthly utility costs.

Thankfully the clean energy revolution is accelerating exponentially, and heat pumps hold great promise in the clean energy transition.Heat pumps?

Yes, the quiet revolution in heating and cooling over the past several decades has been a rapidly evolving reverse refrigerator-like technology that dramatically increases energy efficiency and reduces our demand for fossil fuels to power our

household needs.

Heat pumps ensure stable and clean energy operation at a much lower monthly cost than dependence on gas or oil.

Given the geopolitical stressors affecting the price of fossil fuels, many homeowners are turning towards clean energy for rate stabilization and reliability. Of course, their motivation may also simply be to protect the environment for future generations!

Air source heat pumps are two to three times more energy efficient than propane or oil. Likewise, heat pump water heaters are two to three times more efficient than standard heaters.

Installing them in your basement will have the added benefit of dehumidifying the space. You could also replace your gas dryer with a heat pump dryer that uses less energy, doesn’t require ventilation and is gentler on clothes.

But what about cost? The BidenHarris administration is supporting homeowners in the clean energy transition with Inflation Reduction Act incentives. Rewiring America cleverly states on their website that “you miss 100% of the tax credits you don’t claim.”

If you already installed a heat pump, rooftop solar, bought an electric vehicle or weatherized your home in 2023, you qualify for tax credits (you can still amend if you already filed.) So here’s the deal:

HILDUR PALSDOTTIR

Earth Matters

the government is encouraging you to save money on heating and cooling while protecting the environment for your kids. Are you in?

The first step towards home energy efficiency is weatherization. You must make sure your home is insulated and take steps to prevent leaks.

Schedule a home energy audit to assess whether your home is drafty and learn what steps you have to take to make your home more energy efficient. By making your home more efficient and investing in clean energy, you can re-

duce your monthly utility bill, reduce both indoor and outdoor pollution and improve your home’s health and comfort. It’s never been more affordable to transition away from fossil fuels and towards renewable technologies in your home.

The Residential Energy Affordability Program is designed to meet the needs of low-income families and PSEG-LI offers free weatherization, air/duct sealing and insulation for qualifying customers who also receive a $50 bill credit.

The Town of North Hempstead offered a virtual webinar last month dedicated to your home’s energy efficiency.

You can visit the town’s website for a recording of this webinar to learn about: electrifying your home, solar options, electric vehicles and the regional Long Island Clean Energy Hub that’s dedicated to supporting the transition to clean energy with personalized assistance at no cost.

But beware of the push by Big Oil to convince the public that natural gas is the solution to our energy problems.

Because I’m an energy nerd, I’ve been intently watching a bill on the West coast, introduced by Democratic California state Sen. Henry Stern, who demands “natural gas” be named “methane” throughout all of the state’s energy codes. This change accentuates the fact that “natural gas” is indeed a potent greenhouse gas.

For Sen. Stern it’s personal. Wild-

fires destroyed his home. Wildfires are now more prevalent and devastating in a changing climate.

A fierce champion of the environment, he isn’t new to battling Big Oil. He led an effort to successfully shut down a natural gas storage facility notorious for methane leaks. He has placed special emphasis on climate justice, supporting those most vulnerable in a changing climate.

As responsible 21st century citizens of the global economy in a changing climate, we must clean up our energy sources and offer affordable, clean and equitable electricity for all. Solar and wind power is readily available here on Long Island; we don’t need to frack for fossilized plant materials anymore.

Clean energy technologies are already here and the transition is happening. Renewable technologies are focusing efforts on improved recyclability and closing the loop from dirty, linear to clean and sustainable, circular economy.

Who’s your local environmental champion? Who stands out on Long Island as the most critical voice on climate? Make sure you discover your local heroes and support them with your votes. And when casting your vote in November, there’s no doubt who’s going to be our clean energy president. Make sure you vote.

Supreme Court saves Trump, but not women

Anyone listening to the back-toback Supreme Court sessions –first on Idaho’s rejection of the federal requirement to provide emergency health care for pregnant women and next inoculating Trump against accountability for committing fraud to overturn the election and violating the peaceful transfer of power — had to be sickened, incensed and scared.

The Christo Fascist Supreme Court majority seems to be poised to rule that women do not have the right to emergency medical care to save their health and their future fertility standing at death’s door while also facing the likely loss of their baby, too.

At the same time, they seem likely to rule that Trump, in a second term, can have his political rival assassinated, sell nuclear secrets to Putin, extort paying vital military aid to Ukraine until President Zelensky announces an investigation into his political rival, Biden (wait, that happened); take $1 million to appoint someone an ambassador; take kickbacks on foreign aid he authorizes; mount a deadly insurrection; and commit election fraud without criminal liability as long as he claims retroactively these are “official acts.”

Listening to the oral arguments in these two cases was shocking – a study in strategic, willful obliviousness to the real consequences of overturning a woman’s right to reproductive health care, the real consequences of ignoring the deadly Jan. 6 insurrection and the conspiracy that led up to it, ignoring the growing use, even normalization, of intimidation and vio-

lence as a political weapon.

Justice Brett Kavanaugh postulated that a sitting president cannot be prosecuted for breaking any law that doesn’t specifically mention “the president.”

Justices Amy Coney Barrett and John Roberts tried to exempt Trump’s actions as “official.” Justice Clarence Thomas refused to recuse himself despite the fact that his wife joined the insurrection.

Justice Neil Gorsuch said presidents would wind up routinely pardoning themselves every four years (vs. not committing a crime for which they could be prosecuted).

But Justice Samuel Alito takes the prize for absurdity, saying that presidents must be immune from prosecution or else it would “destabilize our democracy” because they would be so fearful of being prosecuted after leaving office, they would take desperate measures to stay (what only Trump among our 45 presidents did).

Just the opposite, Justice Jackson asserted. “[The realization that a president might be criminally prosecuted is] what has kept the Oval Office turning into Crime Central. But once we say ‘no criminal liability, Mr. President, you can do whatever you want,’ I’m worried that we would have a worse problem than the problem of a president feeling constrained to follow the law while he’s in office.”

“I respectfully disagree,” Trump lawyer D. John Sauer smugly retorted. Even ordering the assassination of a rival, Sauer said, “could well be an official act.”

Michael R. Dreeben, counselor to the Special Counsel, countered: “Executive

in fact, ineligible under the 14th Amendment.

“I’m not focused on the here and now of this case,” Kavanaugh said. “I’m very concerned about the future.”

In the case pitting the federal emergency health care law, in place since 1986, against Idaho’s extreme abortion ban, the radical justices concocted hypotheticals, theoreticals and gobblygook that would give them an excuse to nullify the preemption of federal law that has applied for decades over the recently enacted state’s abortion ban.

or she has to leave the state,” said Solicitor General Elizabeth B. Prelogar, arguing on behalf of the federal government

Even Justice Amy Coney Barrett, a religiously anti-abortion activist, showed sensitivity if not sympathy to the plight of a woman frantically coming to an Emergency Room with some pregnancy horror.

immunity would license a president to commit ‘bribery, treason sedition, murder’ and as in Trump’s case ‘conspiring to use fraud to overturn the results of an election and perpetuate himself in power’.”

In response to Thomas, who loves to justify egregious decisions based on twisted cherry-picking of “history and tradition,” asked for historical examples of criminally prosecuting an ex-president. Dreeban replied, “The reason there were no prior prosecutions is because there were no crimes” warranting criminal prosecution.

So desperate to give Trump a lifeline back into the presidency, the Justices ignored the facts of the case in front of them and the right of the American people to see justice done, establish safeguards for free and fair elections, and know if a candidate for president is an insurrectionist,

Justice Sonia Sotomayor cited visceral examples of women suffering sepsis and hemorrhaging due to pregnancy complications but not quite at the point of threatening their lives and a patient who was denied an abortion earlier in her pregnancy and by the time she was able to deliver, the baby died and she was forced to have a hysterectomy.

Asked whether Idaho’s ban applied in those situations, Josh Turner, Idaho’s Constitutional Litigation & Policy chief, cavalierly replied it was a case-by-case assessment and up to prosecutorial discretion whether to prosecute the doctor.

But that is the problem – doctors are too afraid of being prosecuted, of losing their license and being locked in expensive litigation, to give their patient the care they should have.

“The situation on the ground in Idaho is showing devastating consequences –women and doctors in Idaho are in an impossible situation: doctors facing a grave threat to their health but not yet death have to delay care and let her deteriorate,

But her Christo Fascist male cohorts completely ignored the woman’s health emergency. What most concerned them was spending: Could the federal government withhold its funding unless the recipient complies with its “conditions?” (Answer: yes.) And states rights: Can the federal standard preempt the state abortion ban? (Answer: yes.)

And what of the unborn child? asked Alito, who wrote the Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade, ending women’s constitutional right to seek an abortion up until fetal viability. Doesn’t the doctor have an obligation to protect “the interests of the unborn child?” he asked, laying the groundwork for his ultimate goal, fetal personhood.

Prelogar countered that Alito’s reading of the statute was “erroneous” and the hospital only has a duty to stabilize the pregnant woman since the likelihood is that the fetus has no possibility of surviving.

“What Idaho is doing is waiting for women to deteriorate and suffer the lifelong health consequences with no possible upside for the fetus,” Prelogar said. “It just stacks tragedy upon tragedy.”

The conservative Supreme Court Justices in the majority can act with impunity because no one can or will stop them.

VIEW POINT

KAREN RUBIN

View Point

FROM THE DESK OF JENNIFER D e SENA

North Hempstead offers many spiritual choices

This past weekend I was invited to celebrate Greek Easter at Archangel Michael Church in Port Washington. Their candlelight vigil on Saturday evening was a profound display of faith, and in some ways the service marked the unofficial end to this spring’s many religious celebrations.

Indeed, every major faith seems to celebrate its holy days at this time of year and as town supervisor, I’m blessed to be invited to many of these services. For my Jewish friends, it’s Passover.

For Christians, it’s Holy Week and Easter. Hindus celebrate the spring festival of Holi, Sikhs celebrate Vaisakhi, and of course there’s Ramadan, a sacred time

for Muslims.

Perhaps it’s because spring brings with it a sense of anticipation for new beginnings. Or maybe we instinctually align the Earth’s reawakening with a spiritual renewal of our own.

All of these religious traditions include elements of devotion, prayer, reflection and even fasting – all part of a larger effort to cleanse hearts and minds and begin again. Since anyone can remember, human beings have yearned for a reset or what I like to call a “do-over.”

Whatever faith you practice or even if you don’t subscribe to any religion at all, spring has traditionally been that opportunity to wipe the slate clean and begin

JENNIFER DeSENA North Hempstead Supervisor

again.

In that light, the Town of North Hempstead is a great place to start that journey. You may not realize it, but our town is home to more than 300 houses of worship and the variety of congregations is as diverse as our population.

This rich diversity and the resulting interfaith unity it fosters are just some of the many reasons that I believe we are blessed to live here.

As I mentioned earlier, I’m lucky enough to worship with many of my neighbors, and best of all, I’m there for some of the most important moments in their lives. Truth be told, I never tire of connecting with people on this level.

So, I can give firsthand witness to the joy and faith that exists in our town and I can also tell you it’s there for the taking.

It’s true that a town’s character is expressed in many ways. Most people think of housing, shopping, parks, or schools when they move somewhere. But having vibrant places of worship that welcome everyone with opens arms is pretty nice, too. And we have that, right here in North Hempstead.

So no matter how you celebrate, I hope your spiritual reset is underway and that it brings you some peace. And wherever you are on your journey, please know that your North Hempstead neighbors can help you along the way.

Plans to upgrade street level outside Penn Station

The Vernado Realty Trust developers plans to spend $65 million for improving and expanding street level space outside of Penn Station. But New York Gov. Kathy Hochul’s $7 billion Penn Station Vision project just like previous investments, including the $1.6 billion Moynihan Train Hall Station, $300 million West End Concourse and $600 million 7th Avenue 33rd

Street Entrance and enlarged Main Concourse, do nothing at the track level for Long Island Rail Road commuters.

They all fail to eliminate periodic cancellation and consolidation of LIRR, New Jersey Transit and Amtrak trains utilizing either the East River or Hudson River Tunnels due to signal, power, broken rails or other malfunctions.

These investments provide no improvement for reliability of service or additional platform and track capacity. Periodic overcrowding at the platform levels will continue. This results in overcrowded trains with insufficient seating capacity.

Some riders end up standing in the vestibules and aisles. The rush to board late arriving, shorter or combined scheduled trains for

the trip home will continue.

for the Federal Transit Administration Region 2 New York Office of Operations and Program Management.

Why I am running for the Herricks Board of Education

I’m Shaheda Quraishi, honored to have graduated as Valedictorian from Herricks High School in ’95. The exceptional education I received at Herricks laid the groundwork for my academic and professional success.

Deeply committed to our community, I’ve been actively involved in various capacities. Starting with volunteering at the PTA from my son’s kindergarten days, I swiftly ascended to the Executive Board roles in both elementary and middle schools, where I remain actively engaged.

As my children progressed, I expanded my involvement, contributing to esteemed organizations such as Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts of America, and coaching both Girls on the Run and Let Me Run programs. Guiding teenage boys through athletics proved to be a rewarding

challenge.

My dedication extends beyond local initiatives; during the pandemic, I served on Herricks’ Health and Safety Committee, and our family was recognized by The Island Now for donating hundreds of Girl Scout cookies to frontline workers at North Shore University Hospital.

Professionally, I’ve been a practicing physician at Northwell Health since 2007 and hold a faculty position at the Zucker School of Medicine. Within our department, I actively participate in the Education Committee and the Clinical Competency Committee, mentoring and educating medical students and residents.

With immense gratitude for the opportunities Herricks provided me, I’m seeking election to the Herricks Board of Education.

My unique perspective as a former student

and current parent positions me to uphold Herricks’ tradition of excellence. With children in elementary, middle, and high school, I understand the diverse needs of our community intimately.

My top priority is the safety and security of our students. Long Island schools saw a big increase in the number of reported computer hacks and other cyber incidents in 2023 compared with the prior year and cybersecurity will be one of my top concerns.

Along that same vein, the health and wellness of our children is paramount. I intend to enhance both our mental health resources and our athletics program.

I hope to foster greater transparency and accountability from the board by improving channels of communication.

For the last 38 years, I have built meaning-

ful relationships with faculty and administrators in all our buildings, central administration, parents and community members at large. Lastly, I would like to focus efforts on optimizing funding from the state and federal level to reduce the burden on the taxpayer. We need to be cognizant of the economic diversity in our community.

Herricks is facing its unique set of challenges. It takes someone with experience and commitment to fully understand these issues and develop comprehensive and sustainable strategies to address them adequately.

I’m excited about the prospect of serving in this capacity and contributing to Herricks’ continued success.

Nanette Melkonian for Port school board trustee

Iam writing to strongly recommend that you vote for Nanette Melkonian for the Board of Education Trustee position in the upcoming Port Washington election.

Nanette is an experienced and passionate advocate for public education who has been a tremendous asset to the board in her first term. I have come to know Nanette and her family over the past three years and I am consistently impressed by her devotion to this community and its school district.

Nanette has deep roots in the Port Washington community. She moved here with her family in 2000, and all three of her children attended and thrived in Port Washington schools.

As a parent, Nanette was highly engaged, volunteering in the schools and co-founding the

parent advocacy group PWAPE (Port Washington Advocates for Public Education), a grassroots community group dedicated to researching and providing information on education issues relevant to the Port Washington school district.

Nanette continued her public education advocacy, serving for three years as Co-President of AGATE (Advocacy for Gifted and Talented Education) and as a member of Parents’ Council. Nanette has also served on a variety of district hiring committees and as a member of the District’s Vision and Mission Committee.

Nanette has spent 30 years working in public education as both a teacher and a tireless advocate. She has served as an elementary and special educator at all levels, from elementary to post-secondary.

Her combined professional and personal experiences give her critical insight into the needs of the students, families, and educators in our community.

Currently, Nanette is finishing her first term as a BOE member. In that capacity, she has consistently pushed for improvements that benefit students, such as enhancing professional development, literacy instruction and services for students with disabilities. Nanette is a thoughtful and diligent leader who asks the right questions to foster growth and excellence.

She serves on key committees, advocates for student voices and works to make the district more equitable and inclusive.

Nanette believes that strong public schools

are essential to our democracy. She is committed to nurturing the next generation of students and empowering them to be lifelong learners and engaged citizens. Nanette has the knowledge, experience, and passion needed to continue to provide outstanding leadership on the Board of Education. I have three children myself. One in Weber Middle School and two in Guggenheim Elementary. I trust Nannette fully to help this district realize its full potential. Please join me in voting for Nanette Melkonian for Board of Education trustee. She is dedicated to strengthening our schools and ensuring educational excellence for all.

Christopher Kolb Port Washington

Larry Penner Great Neck

Larry Penner is a transportation advocate, historian and writer who previously served as a former Director

Shaheda Quraishi, M.D. Herricks

Letter to the editor an insult to readers I

The depiction of Sen. Charles Schumer and Rep. Emeritus Nancy Pelosi as Muslim fanatics, along with a slew of antisemitic tropes in a letter headlined ‘We

the People,’ is an insult to your readers and an apology is needed.

Ronald Brinn Former Human Rights

Director

Great Neck

The truth about Nassau’s high taxes

Kudos to you on illuminating the reason for the high property taxes on Long Island, of which everyone complains.

For years, I have been explaining this to whomever will listen. In fact, when addressing our school board, a couple of years back about their fiduciary responsibility to only ask the taxpayers for the funding necessary to run the district, one of the board members told me that the way to reduce my taxes was to grieve them.

When I explained that as long as the spending stays the same, the taxes have to remain the same, therefore, if his particular taxes are going down due to a successful grievance, then his neighbors’ taxes are increasing.

He seemed confused by this. Can you imagine not understanding the tax impact to the community of their decisions?

Kathy Darmstadt Williston Park

Re-elect Nan Melkonian in Port

We are pleased and indeed honored to support Nanette Melkonian for reelection as a member of the Board of Education of Port Washington.

We have known Nanette and her family for many years and have appreciated beyond words her involvement and commitment to public education in our community. Her background and activities, both before and during her tenure as a board member and, thus, as trustee for our public school system, have focused on education at all levels.

In dealing with all the challenges of today’s world, the critical consideration must be

to provide to our students the opportunity to learn about all matters that affect us and the most effective means of addressing those matters.

Nanette brings to this task her own background, spanning decades as a teacher, a participant, and a leader of many programs and organizations involved in or with education.

She brings to the Board a powerful intellect and ability to both listen and get things done. Our community will be blessed to have Nanette Melkonian be re-elected for another term as a member of our Board of Education.

Kay and Leo Ullman

Port Washington

Port needs new ed board members

read in my subscription to the PW Times that five school board candidates are challenging three current trustees. Thanks is in order for these community members stepping forward to offer a new vision to the Port Washington schools.

The January 2024 Port Washington Times expose reporting that Port Elementary schools rank the lowest on the North Shore is alarming when you see our superintendent and educator salaries average more than some peer North Shore districts.

Newsday recently showed that student absentee rates are double those found in other LI districts. Port Washington has low elementary class sizes and we pay the superintendent around a $350,000 salary, which should mirror academic success.

New school board members are needed to demand accountability that shows reduced student absenteeism, increased academic proficiency and higher ranking on the next U.S. News & World Report rankings next year.

The new school board should mirror the best practices found in Great Neck, East Williston, Herricks and North Shore school districts.

This can be done without piercing the tax-cap and by limiting central administration expenses. Many tax-weary residents are concerned. One can search www.seethroughny.net for a comparison of school districts.

Re-elect Melkonian Port trustee

Incumbent Nanette Melkonian is running for re-election as a trustee on the Port Washington School Board.

Nanette has my full support! For eight years, I have known Nanette to be a tireless volunteer, constantly working toward greater support for children within our community.

We first met as volunteer leaders of parent organizations within Port Washington. Quickly, I learned that Nanette’s quiet composure is her strength. Her ability to listen, understand, and solve problems sets her apart from most other people we know.

Her discreet kindness and humble

intelligence is precisely why I encourage you to consider voting to re-elect Nanette Melkonian for another term as Port Washington school board trustee.

Re-elect Melkonian to ed board

Please join me in re-electing Nanette (Nan) Melkonian to the Port Washington Board of Education.

I feel fortunate to have gotten to know Nan when she was Co-President of AGATE as I was beginning my search for education resources for my family. Her ability to listen, provide perspective and advise are qualities I find extremely important in a Board Member’s role.

During our joint time on AGATE, I had the privilege of learning from Nan not only about the organization but also about the challenges and inequalities present in our district and how important it is to be the voice for all.

Nan’s first term on the board has proven that she is successful in building bridges and advocating for all students.

Creating equality across all aspects of

SAthe school district shows that she is focused on the growth of the community as a whole. Proven by her time working on the curriculum, including AI, PEP, and literacy (BOE Curriculum Committee), drafting new district policies on grading, homework, and inclusivity (Policy Committee) to her continued focus on DEI, mental health, school culture, and professional development for teachers.

Overall, her approach to the Board Position comes from one of strengthening our schools through education excellence for all learners. What better vision would you want for our children?

I have continually been impressed with Nanette’s contributions to our district and community even after her children have graduated from the Port Washington School District.

I have the pleasure of running into Nan

all over town and at functions across all topics. Nan is extremely engaged with our community, has a real pulse on what our district needs and most importantly wants to work with the other board members, Administrators, and parents. She is extremely approachable and really wants to hear from everyone in our community. As a parent in the Port Washington School District with 4 children currently in the school system, I am honored to vote for Nan and feel quite lucky to have her represent my family and our amazing Port community.

On Tuesday, May 21 please join me in proudly voting to re-elect Nanette Melkonian to the Port Washington Board of Education and supporting the district budget.

Lauren King Port Washington

day to honor our mothers

unday, May 12, is a day we honor all mother’s both living and deceased, far and near on Mother’s Day.

As I was reading on the internet, a woman named Anna Jarvis campaigned in 1905 for a day dedicated to mother’s living and deceased, and on May 8th, 1914 Woodrow Wilson signed it into law and made the second Sunday in May Mother’s Day.

I remembered my Mother Teressa Bedell, who I had for a short time. She passed away on Sept. 17, 1963, when I was 14 years old.

She was dedicated to me and our entire family, and worked tirelessly with her works of charity in the community.

I was a sickly child and had educational problems and stuttered. She helped me with the help of others that she had gotten me. I learned a lot from her love toward me. I’m am 75 years old now and had served in the United States Navy during the Vietnam era. I had gone to college and serve today in the American Legion Post #103 and the Catholic War Veterans and Auxiliary post

#1979. I am also Grand Knight of St. Anastasia Knights of Columbus Post #5911 and I am also a member of Our Lady of the Snows Holy Name Society and serve as a lector at St. Anastasia Parish.

Now that is something for a stutterer. All this for having a loving mother who taught me much about charity and service to others. Now to all mothers, have a happy and blessed Mother’s Day.

Frederick R. Bedell Jr. Bellerose

Was Columbia encampment worse than Jan. 6?

Continued from Page 14

Further proof of Poser’s proper handling of the issue came last Thursday when some Hofstra students par-

ticipated in a peaceful pro-Palestinian protest at the Hempstead campus as a smaller group of pro-Israeli students stood nearby.

Zainab Mozawalla, a pre-law student who is president of Hofstra Student Voices for Palestine, even accused Poser and Hofstra of suppressing the

voices of pro-Palestinian protesters. Blakeman, D’Esposito and Johnson have a right to comment on the Columbia protests. But they should not use

it to play politics while ignoring the existential threat posed to American democracy by Trump.

Joseph Campbell Port Washington

Amy Snorteland Volunteer, parent, and resident of Port Washington

WWW.THEISLAND360.COM

Museum of American Armor to host a World War II tribute

The Museum of American Armor will conduct their award winning World War II Encampment Weekend on Saturday, May 18, and Sunday May 19 between 10 am and 3:30 pm in cooperation with the Office of Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, the Nassau County Department of Parks, Recreation and Museums, the Long Island Living History Association and co-sponsored by PSEG Long Island, Bethpage Federal Credit Union, B2K, BDG, Ltd., RIPCO, and Local 138 of the International Union of Operating Engineers.

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the fateful D-Day invasion that

began the liberation of Europe during World War II and the museum will mark it with vehicles representing both Allied and enemy forces. The annual encampment will include military reenactments, a parade of operational armor vehicles from the museum’s extensive collection, and interactive exhibits that highlight tactics, strategies, and equipment from the period.

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman said, “Our county is proud to be the host of the Armor Museum now enjoying its first decade. We have watched it grow from strength to strength in attracting visitors from

throughout the United States and from as far away as Europe. Its unique presentation of operational armor provides families with a deep appreciation of what it must have been like for their grandparents to face a foe intent on destroying civilization.”

The Armor Museum’s founder and President Lawrence Kadish stated, “As we mark the tenth anniversary of the Armor Museum’s role to keep alive the legacy of freedom offered by our nation’s military, we have become a powerful educational destination for a new generation of Americans. Our World War II Weekend program is an important chap-

ter in that `living’ textbook.”

David Burman, a Armor Museum Trustee and a partner in B2K said, “This is a profoundly personal experience for the thousands of visitors who attend this event for it immerses you in the sights and sounds when freedom for millions hung in the balance. We are proud to be co-sponsors.”

Fellow Armor Museum trustee Jason Halloren, Colonel (Ret.) and the former Deputy Commandant of West Point, observed, “The Armor Museum and the Long Island Living History Association have created a series of programs that open the door to a period of history that

still directs many of today’s headlines. These immersion activities are unique, powerful, and memorable. And equally important, they serve as a lasting tribute to those who have served. It is no surprise that this annual event brings visitors from throughout the region and from overseas.”

Admission is $15 adults; $12 children 5 — 12 (under 5 are free); and $12 seniors, (60+) volunteer firefighters and veterans (Please provide ID). Tickets will be available at the gate or online a week before the May event. https://www.oldbethpagevillagerestoration.org/tickets

PHOTO BY SUZY BROOKS

‘Into the Woods’at Elmont Theatre

Plaza has announced the return of their highly acclaimed Broadway musicals.

In honor of the late Stephen Sondheim, who revolutionized the American musical, the Plaza will be presenting his awardwinning production of “Into the Woods.”

The show has recently completed a successful Broadway run and is currently on a nationwide tour, performing to packed audiences.

Event Dates: Sunday, May 18 — Sunday, June 9.Venue: The Elmont Memorial Library Theatre, 700 Hempstead Turnpike, Elmont.

Ticket Prices:— Regular Tickets: $49.00 (plus processing fee) — Senior Tickets: $45.00 (plus processing fee) — Group Tickets: $40.00 (plus processing fee)

May is Jewish American Heritage Month. The Great Neck Library is hosting a program on “The Jewish Legacy of Broadway”.

From the Jewish Immigrants and the Yiddish Theatre to FIDDLER ON THE ROOF. Award Winning Stage and Film Director Stephen Nachamie continues his BEYOND THE FOOTLIGHTS series with us.

He will explore and celebrate the theatrical Legacy of the Jewish Immigrants in NYC, the Yiddish Theatre — and Fiddler on the Roof — the work of Joseph Stein, Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick.

Stephen Nachamie is a New York based award-winning stage and film director, He is currently developing and adapting new work for the stage and screen.

This program will be on Zoom on Wednesday, May 15,2024 at 2:00 p.m. For more information, please contact Great Neck Library at (516) 466-8055 or email adultprogramming@greatnecklibrary.org.

Join Zoom Meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/8968673192 2?pwd=1ubHDb7D3TokMIYi99lShju79MKO 0v.1

Meeting ID: 896 8673 1922

Passcode: broadway

Temple Beth Sholom Brings Broadway to Roslyn JUNE 3, 2024 AT 7:30 PM

CELEBRATING AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND JEWISH HISTORY

Soul to Soul follows the experiences of the African-American and Jewish communities, and their paths to America’s promise of freedom — overcoming segregation, prejudice and economic hardship. The concert portrays stirring songs in Yiddish and in English (English supertitles will be provided), culminating in a high-energy collection of music, celebrating the historic partnership of these two communities during the Civil Rights Era. Featured performers include: Lisa Fishman (Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish), renowned Cantor Magda Fishman (Senior Cantor at B’nai Torah Congregation); Broadway veteran Elmore James (Disney’s Beauty and The Beast on Broadway and Big River); and, Tony Perry (Shpiel! Shpiel! Shpiel!). The musical ensemble includes Dmitri Zisl Slepovitch, Brian Glassman and Matt Temkin, with musical direction by Zalmen Mlotek. Special presentation by Cantor Ofer Barnoy.

Teach a child according to his way; even when he is old, he will not depart from it. (Proverbs 22:6).

Temple Beth Sholom is committed to quality education and to meet both the physical and cognitive needs of our students. Become a Sponsor, Buy a Ticket, Make a Donation Support Temple Beth Sholom’s Inclusion Program Register at www.tbsroslyn.org/event/soul-to-soul

Lisa Fishman Magda Fishman Elmore James Tony Perry

The Plaza Organization presents “Into the Woods”

5 inspirational gifts for Mother's Day

Mother's Day is celebrated on Sunday, May 12, 2024. Mother's Day is devoted to expressing love and showering praise on mothers, step-mothers and any other fi gure in one's life who has taken on a motherly role.

It is customary to lavish extra praise on moms come Mother's Day, and that often involves gift-giving. The following are fi ve gifts that can ensure Mom knows her eff orts and unconditional love have not gone unnoticed.

1. Prompt mindful thinking: The cards from Sunny Present Empowering Questions Cards pose questions to prompt meditation, journaling or simply to practice mindfulness during the day. They are a great way to encourage positive self-talk. Each of the 52 cards feature a door in the Estonian city of Tallinn. Available through Amazon and www. sunnypresent.com.

2. Motivational can-do candles: A little aromatherapy can treat any mother to an uplifting or relaxing fragrance in her special place in the home. But these inspirational candles from Bianchi Candle Co. feature names like "bravery," "joy" and "gratitude" and a motivational message. Purchase at bianchicandleco.com.

3. Inspirational coff ee table book: Author and educator Natalie Friscia Pancetti wrote, "This Too. Life-Isms to Savor the Sweetness of Life and Calm You Through the Storms" to pay homage to her parents, particularly her father,

who was fond of the phrase, "this too shall pass." Pancetti says people often relate the phrase to rough patches in life, but it also can refer to cherishing all the moments that are fl eeting. The book off ers many inspirational passages and lessons that can be applied to all aspects of life. It can be a touching gift for a mom, grandmother or another special woman. Available through Amazon, Barnes & Noble and at www.nataliefrisciapancetti.com.

4. Relaxing home spa experience: Many people have turned their bathrooms into home spas, particularly empty nesters who now have more time to relax and pamper themselves. Spending time in a relaxing shower is a way for Mom to clear her mind and unwind, and Shower Steamers from Body Restore can set the ideal environment. Purchase on Amazon and include alongside additional home spa necessities like loofahs or a bathrobe.

5. Ancestry exploration: Foster greater bonds in the family by giving Mom an opportunity to further trace her heritage. Popular genealogy companies include Ancestry.com, MyHeritage.com and 23andme.com, enabling anyone to enjoy a look back at the lineage that helped shape who they are today. These companies can help trace ancestors and even connect people with distant relatives.

Mother's Day gifting can revolve around inspirational and heartfelt gifts that show special mothers how much they are appreciated.

This recipe makes for a great breakfast in bed this Mother's Day

There may be no better way to start Mother's Day than serving Mom some breakfast in bed. A homemade meal before Mom even gets out of bed can set the right tone for a day that celebrates all mothers have done and continue to do for their children.

There's no shortage of breakfast in bed options to serve Mom this Mother's Day. If Mom loves a traditional hearty morning meal, this recipe for "Mixed Berry French Toast" courtesy of Taste of Home (tasteofhome.com) is sure to please.

Mixed Berry French Toast

Makes 8 servings

6 large eggs

1 - 3/4 cups fat-free milk

1 teaspoon sugar

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 loaf (1 pound) French bread, cubed

1 package (12 ounces) frozen unsweetened mixed berries

2 tablespoons cold butter

1/3 cup packed brown sugar

Confectioners' sugar and maple syrup (optional)

Whisk together the first 6 ingredients. Place bread cubes in a 13 x 9-inch or 3-quart baking dish coated with cooking spray. Pour egg mixture over top. Refrigerate, covered, 8 hours or overnight.

Preheat oven to 350 F. Remove berries from freezer and French toast from refrigerator and let stand while oven heats. Bake French toast, covered, 30 minutes. In a small bowl, cut butter into brown sugar until crumbly. Top French toast with berries; sprinkle with brown sugar mixture. Bake, uncovered, until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean, 15 to 20 minutes. If desired, dust with confectioners' sugar and serve with syrup.

Crafts lead the way for Mother's Day gifts

Mother's Day is a special time for children to show their appreciation for their mothers, grandmothers and the other special women in their lives. Older children typically are capable of designing their own Mother's Day crafts or even shopping for gifts for Mom, while younger children will likely need some help from an adult.

Youngsters may not be able to take charge of Mother's Day festivities alone, but they certainly have the energy and enthusiasm to chip in. Handmade craft gifts are a thoughtful way for young kids to show their love for Mom. Here are a few ideas that can occupy even the youngest of hands.

Handprint butterfly photo card

All that is necessary for this craft is a printed photograph of the child's face, paper, scissors, glue, and finger paints. The child should dip hands into the paint and make four handprints on paper in some preferred colors. When dry, cut around the perimeter of the handprints. These will serve as the "wings" of the butterfly. Glue the picture of the child's face in the middle of a piece of paper or card stock. Draw a butterfly body underneath it (or print out a stock image to use). Draw antennae sticking out of the child's head and attach the handprints around the head and butterfly body to make the wings.

Heartfelt masterpiece

Children can draw and color all over a large sheet of construction paper or another durable paper. An adult can then use another sheet of paper to make a frame mat of sorts, cutting out a heart shape from the middle. Both pieces of paper are then trimmed to the dimensions of a photo frame. The artwork is placed first and then the heart matting on top so that the artwork will show through the heart shape. Frame everything together for a lasting memento.

Fuzzy flowers

Kids can make Mom a bouquet of flowers that will never wilt. Print a photo of the child's face and attach it to a piece of circular card stock that is roughly six inches in diameter. Have the child paint a popsicle stick green, and then attach that to the back of the round card stock. The child then glues small fuzzy pom poms to the card stock surrounding the picture to make a flower. If desired, attach a magnet to the back of the flower so it can be secured to the refrigerator.

Crafts are a great gift option for young children looking to give something special to Mom on Mother's Day.

Learn the meanning behind popular

Mother's Day flowers

beautiful and symbolic of love and affection.

Mother's Day is a time to express love and appreciation for mothers, sentiments that are often expressed with gifts. Flowers are a popular present to bestow on Mother's Day, as they can brighten a room and bring a sweet aroma to any household.

While any flowers may ultimately suffice on Mother's Day, gift givers may want to select flowers for Mom that convey specific messages. The language of flowers has been recognized for centuries. Though perhaps not as heralded as it once was, flower symbolism persists to this day. Here's a look at some of the meanings behind certain types of flowers to help guide Mother's Day gifting.

· Amaryllis: These plants start as bulbs and are naturally spring-blooming flowers. The name comes from the Greek word "amarysso," which means "to sparkle," and they symbolize pride.

· Aster: These daisy-like flowers are delicate-looking perennials. Asters make great gifts because they symbolize love and daintiness.

Music and Lyrics by Irving Berlin

Orchestrations by Larry Moore

Book by Herbert & Dorothy Fields

Revised by Peter Stone

· Begonia: There are more than 2,000 types of begonias, and the flower symbolizes deep thoughts. Begonias were made famous by French horticulturist Michel Bégon, who thought the blooms looked like beautiful girls.

· Bleeding heart: These flowers are red and pink blossoms that look like the perfect heart shape with a teardrop at the bottom. They're

· Buttercup: These are associated with youthfulness and cheerfulness and can call to mind childhood days spent picking buttercups and holding them under chins to reveal that you like butter. The flower is known for its beauty and innocent charm.

· Camellia (white): White camellias stand for purity and innocence, but they also symbolize admiration and respect. Camellias make beautiful additions to any bouquet.

· Daisy: Daisies are happy-looking flowers, and according to Norse mythology they represent motherhood and children.

· Delphinium: Delphiniums come in pink, white and blue varieties and embody youth and renewal. They're a good pick if you want to convey a continued or renewed affection for a person.

· Tulip: Tulips with an orange hue are thought to represent understanding and appreciation. They can express appreciation for Mom or another special person. Yellow tulips symbolize happiness, while pink tulips are symbolic of love. Red blooms should be reserved for sweethearts.

Various flowers symbolize feelings people want to express to their mothers, grandmothers and other special women on Mother's Day.

The Arab-Israeli War of 1948 presented by Herf and Morris

This talk recalls the international political context in which the state of Israel was established contrasts sharply with that of today. In the United States, in the years immediately following World War II and the Holocaust, support for the Zionist project extended across most of the political spectrum but was most emphatic among liberals and leftists.

In France, the same spectrum of support extended from Gaullists to liberals, socialists, and communists. In the crucial years of 1947 to 1949, the Soviet Union and Soviet bloc offered crucial diplomatic and military support to the Zionists in Palestine, and then to the new state of Israel.

Conversely, in those same years, the United States Department of State and the British Foreign Office opposed the Zionists’ efforts because they suspected them of association with the Soviet Union and thought a Jewish state in Palestine would undermine West European access to oil.

In other words, the conventional meaning of famous words—colonialism, imperialism, racism, and fascism—were often the direct opposite of what they came to mean in global discussion especially since the 1960s.

This talk recalls these political coordinates of Israel’s Moment and reflects on their contemporary significance in light of the Hamas attack of October 7, 2023, and Iran’s missile barrage at Israel of April 13.

Jeffrey Herf is distinguished university professor, Emeritus in the Department of History, University of Maryland, College Park, where he taught modern European, especially modern German history since 2000.

He has published extensively on the origins, nature, consequences of Nazism, World War II and the Holocaust, and their aftermath in Europe and the Middle East, and on the history of antisemitism. His books include “The Jewish Enemy: Nazi Propaganda during World War II” and the “Holocaust (Harvard U.P., 2006);Nazi Propaganda for the Arab World” (Yale University Press, 2009); “Undeclared Wars with Israel: East Germany and the West German Far Left,” 1967-1989 (Cambridge U.P., 2016); “Israel’s Moment: International Support and Opposition for Establishing the Jewish State,” 1945-1949 (Cambridge U.P., 2022); and “Three Faces of Antisemitism: Right, Left, and Islamist” (Routledge, 2024).

He has also published essays on contemporary history in “American Purpose, New Republic, Quillette,” SAPIR, and The Washington Post.

Benny Morris was born in Israel in 1948 and grew up in Jerusalem and New York. He served in the IDF (Nahal paratroops) and did his BA at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and a Ph.D. in modern European history at Cambridge.

He worked as a journalist at the Jerusalem Post for 10 years and from 1997

until 2017 was a professor of Middle East history at Ben-Gurion University. In 2015-2018 taught at Georgetown University.

Among his books: “The Birth of the Palestinian Refugee Problem” 1947-1949 (Cambridge UP 1988); “Righteous Victims” (Knopf, 1999); 1948, “A History of the First Arab-Israeli War” (Yale UP, 2008); and “Sidney Reilly, Master Spy” (Yale UP, 2022). He has published articles in The New York Times, The New York Review of Books, The Wall Street Journal, The New Republic, Corriere della Sera, Die Welt,etc.

This Great Neck Library program will be held on Tuesday, May 14 at 2:00 p.m. on Zoom. Registration is required.

For more information, please contact Great Neck Library at (516) 466-8055 or email adultprogramming@greatnecklibrary.org.

Soviet Union

Lenin saw the revolutionary potential of avant-garde art, architecture and design and instituted sweeping changes in which modernism became almost the official art of the fledgling Soviet Union, but with Stalin’s rise to power, all art was banished that could not be used as propaganda by the Communist Party for furthering its social and economic objectives.

Most of Russia’s finest artists and designers emigrated to the West.

Presenter Dennis Raverty is a speaker, author and art historian who for decades has delighted audiences with lively presentations at libraries, churches, synagogues, hostels and business lunches on a variety of topics in the history of art, from the Italian Renaissance to the Harlem Renaissance.

His articles and criticism have appeared in Art Journal, Art in America, The International Review of African American Art, Art Criticism, The New Art Examiner, Prospects: An Annual of American Studies, Source: Notes in the History of Art. and Art Papers, where he was a contributing editor. He au-

thored four entries for the most recent edition of the Grove Encyclopedia of American Art, published by Oxford University Press (2011).

This lecture will be held at the Main Library at 159 Bayview Ave. in Great Neck on Monday, May 13 at 2:00 p.m. For more information, please contact Great Neck Library at (516) 466-8055 or email adultprogramming@greatnecklibrary.org.

Benny Morris

Fri 5/10

Megan Euell Spring Plein Air Workshop (4 weeks)

@ 10am / $265

May 10th - May 31st

The Long Island Academy of Fine Art, 14 Glen Street, SUITE 305, Glen Cove. 516-590-4324

The Basic Body: Fundamentals of Draw‐ing Anatomy Workshop with Lori Shorin Friday, May 10, 11am-2pm @ 11am / $72-$80

The Basic Body: Fundamentals of Drawing Anatomy Workshop with Lori Shorin Friday, May 10, 11am-2pm Adults and Teens 16+ Location: The Manes Art Education Center $72 members | $80 nonmembers The Manes Education Center at Nassau County Museum of Art, One Museum Drive, Roslyn. events @nassaumuseum.org, 516484-9337

Willy Porter

@ 6:30pm Unitarian Universalist Congre‐gation at Shelter Rock (UUCSR), 48 Shelter Rock Rd, Manhasset

Annie Get Your Gun presented by the Herricks Players @ 8pm / $22-$30

The Herricks Players proudly announce their upcoming pro‐duction of the beloved musical "Annie Get Your Gun," running from May 10-19 at the Herricks Community Center, 999 Her‐ricks Rd, New Hyde Park. Her‐ricks Community Center, 999 Herricks Road, New Hyde Park. herricksplayers@gmail.com, 516-742-1926

Sat 5/11

Little Make a Differ‐ence Day - May 11, 2024 9:00 am at the Village Hall. @ 9am

In conjunction with the Town of N. Hemp‐stead's Earth Day Pro‐gram, our Village will undergo a spring clean up. Williston Park. boardsecretary@village ofwillistonpark.org, 516-746-2193

Sea Cliff Fun Run @ 10:30am / $35

Sea Cliff Yacht Club, Sea Cliff

Diana Frohman and her Dancing Dogs @ 11am

Get ready to be amazed as Diana Frohman and her fa‐mous golden retrievers take the stage. Mineola Memorial Library, 195 Marcellus Road, Mine‐ola

Nature Walk & Outdoor Meditation with Dr. Hildur Palsdottir Saturday, May 11, 2024 | 10 am @ 10am

Nature Walk & Outdoor Meditation with Dr. Hildur Palsdottir Satur‐day, May 11, 2024 | 10 am Free for Mothers and their families | no registration required Meet at the Manes Art Education Center The Manes Center at The Nassau County Mu‐seum of Art, 1 Museum Drive, Roslyn Harbor. events@nassaumu seum.org, 516-4849337

Jimmy Shaka @ 12:30pm

Great South Bay Brewery, 25 Drexel Dr, Bay Shore

Annie Get Your Gun presented by the Herricks Players @ 8pm / $22-$30

The Herricks Players proudly announce their upcoming production of the beloved musical "Annie Get Your Gun," running from May 10-19 at the Herricks Commu‐nity Center, 999 Her‐ricks Rd, New Hyde Park. Herricks Commu‐nity Center, 999 Her‐ricks Road, New Hyde Park. herricksplayers@ gmail.com, 516-7421926

Creative Collage Workshop Workshop with Derek Owens Saturday, May 11, 12pm – 3pm Adults and Teens @ 12pm / $50

Creative Collage Work‐shop Workshop with Derek Owens Saturday, May 11, 12pm – 3pm Adults and Teens 16+ Location: The Manes Art Education Center at Nassau County Mu‐seum of Art The Manes Center at Nassau County Museum of Art, One Museum Drive, Roslyn Harbor. events@ nassaumuseum.org, 516-484-9337

Sun 5/12

Mother's Day at Old Westbury Gardens @ 10am / $15

Treat Mom to a memo‐rable Mother's Day at Old Westbury Gardens on Sunday, May 12, 2024! Old Westbury Gardens, 71 Old West‐bury Road, Old West‐bury. mramirez@old westburygardens.org, 516-333-0048

Friday May 10th

Dance Theatre of Harlem @ 8pm / $64

Tilles Center, LIU Post College, 720 Northern Boulevard, Greenvale

The multi-ethnic company performs treasured classics, neoclassical works, and innovative contemporary pieces to celebrate founder Arthur Mitchell’s belief that ballet belongs to everyone.

Broadway Leading Ladies @ 3pm / $59

Celebrate Mother’s Day with this very special concert hosted by New York casting director Stephen DeAngelis, and featuring �ve of New York’s �nest fe‐male vocalists. Tilles Center, LIU Post Col‐lege, 720 Northern Boulevard, Greenvale

Mon 5/13

Wire Charm/Keychain with Donna Irvine @ 6:30pm

Jewelry Designer and Instruc‐tor Donna Irvine teaches you wire wrapping techniques to make this wire charm/keychain. Students can customize their own creation by choosing wire color and bead color. Mineola Memorial Library, 195 Marcellus Road, Mineola

Tue 5/14

New York City Ballet @ 7:30pm

David H. Koch Theater, 63rd Street, New York City

5/15

Kidokinetics Babies @ 10:30am

Presented by Kidokinetics. Ki‐dokinetics empowers kids to play con�dently by providing a dun introduction to sports through physical education. Each class has the F.U.N Factor Mineola Memorial Library, 195 Marcellus Road, Mineola

5/16

Brown Bag Lecture @ 1pm

Brown Bag Lecture - Urban Art Evolution in the Mansion with Riva Ettus Select Thursdays at 1 pm May 16 and June 13 Mu‐seum Admission, Members Free No Reservations, �rst come, �rst seated Nassau

County Museum of Art, One Museum Drive, Roslyn. events @nassaumuseum.org, 516484-9337

Dementia Man: An Existential Journey @ 6:30pm / Free

This is an award-winning auto‐biographical story of a man who faces his diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease by actor and playwright Samuel A. Si‐mon. Half Hollow Hills Commu‐nity Library, 55 Vanderbilt Park‐way, Dix Hills. lmaldavir@ alz.org, 631-315-6487

5/17

JALC: Internationally Ellington with the Future of Jazz Orchestra @ 8pm / $42

The fruits of Jazz at Lincoln Center’s educa‐tional mission will be on display with Interna‐tionally Ellington. Tilles Center, LIU Post Col‐lege, 720 Northern Boulevard, Greenvale

Annie Get Your Gun presented by the Herricks Players @ 8pm / $22-$30

The Herricks Players proudly announce their upcoming pro‐duction of the beloved musical "Annie Get Your Gun," running from May 10-19 at the Herricks Community Center, 999 Her‐ricks Rd, New Hyde Park. Her‐ricks Community Center, 999 Herricks Road, New Hyde Park. herricksplayers@gmail.com, 516-742-1926

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

Foreclosure law needs to be updated

I was attending our Legislative Meetings in Washington, D.C. I had been contemplating a very beneficial idea for those end-users who want to purchase a foreclosure to be able to reside in the home.

There is a major dilemma, however, confronting those eligible first-time individual and family purchasers seeking grant money from local, state and federal programs. Who benefits the most from foreclosures, investors or endusers?

Currently it is the investor. Unfortunately, investors offer nothing to the community other than raising prices, after they fix and flip the home and put it back on the market to be resold once again, or adding one more available rental to the local market, thereby reducing the availability of homes for sale.

The end-user who wants to purchase will build roots in the community, growing and expanding their family, and connect, grow and increases their new friendships and long- term relationships.

But there are issues that have never been addressed when it comes to grant money for down payments and closing costs.

Most important is that the money doesn’t have to be paid back if the buyer lives in the home for at least 10 years

or whatever the requirement is within that locality. There are also income limitations normally created for lowerincome individuals and families.

Based on how foreclosures are handled, those first-time buyers eligible for grant money can be prevented from purchasing and becoming homeowners.

Unfortunately, foreclosures are winterized as the normal process, no matter what the time of the year or where they are located. Water, gas and electric are shut off to avoid any issues.

This is performed to prevent the further potential of broken pipes during the colder winter months or any other problems that might arise. I believe under normal circumstances, pipes have no issues, once winterized, but I cannot attest that this is what always occurs.

Even if there are issues, the real estate owned and controlled by the lender could fix whatever is wrong with the utilities after the foreclosure is finalized but prior to putting the home back on the market.

The current situation doesn’t allow first-time purchasers receiving grant money to provide offers, because an inspection cannot be performed on foreclosures due to the utilities being previously turned off.

More important, if they are eligible

for grant money up to $50,000, it can only be approved with a full inspection including checking the functionality of the gas, electric and water services. To qualify, you cannot have owned a home for the past three years or currently own any investment properties.

My proposal would allow the buyer(s) to purchase and become homeowners. The buyer(s) would put up, let’s say $550 or whatever amount that would be required by the new law, to dewinterize the home so a full inspection could be performed.

However, broken pipes or dangerous situations would be the responsibility of the bank to repair, prior to winterizing. The next step would allow the grant money purchaser, who has put up the required money to have the home de-winterized, to have a full inspection done. The home would be winterized again the same day.

Even if the buyer decides not to go ahead with the sale, at least the home utilities are again shut off, preventing any possible damage.

Moreover, if there is other physical damage to the home, possible government assistance could be provided to those eligible purchasers, with a 302 FHA rehabilitation loan with a low interest rate that could be piggybacked with the conventional or FHA loan.

Having a program such as this would allow more individuals and families to secure homeownership and begin to build their future wealth.

Homeownership is the most valuable asset for most people and the No. 1 way that the majority grows their wealth over their lifetime.

Changing the foreclosure laws and assisting more people in leaving the lifelong treadmill of renting and reducing one’s wealth will allow more to become owners. They will put more money back

into our economy than tenants do by being proactive in maintaining their homes that will require the expenditure of money over the long run.

One’s standard of living will increase with homeownership. I believe this will also benefit whatever is left of our middle class to hopefully enhance and increase that segment of our population. This will further grow our economy as the middle class represents 70% of our economy, which is made up of consumer spending.

The government will benefit by receiving more taxes by having more homeowners who tend to put more money back into our economy than renters.

Having legislators change and update our foreclosure laws will greatly benefit all parties and will assuredly be a win/win situation not only for the consumer but for our government.

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.LiRealEstate.Com

What is Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS)?

Have you noticed that a website address starts with the letters and symbols of http:// or https://? What is the difference and why should you care? HTTPS secures communication and data transmission between a user’s web browser and a website. HTTPS is the newer, more secure version of HTTP.

HTTPS helps to secure websites that send or receive sensitive data. Simply put, any website that requires login credentials or involves financial transactions should use HTTPS to ensure the security of users, transactions and data. This includes personal or business information exchanged by online banking services, online retailers and healthcare providers.

A malicious actor can easily impersonate, modify or monitor an HTTP connection. HTTPS protects against these vulnerabilities. As a result, it ensures that no one can tamper with these transactions, securing users’ privacy and preventing sensitive information from falling into the wrong hands.

Small and medium-sized business managers should be mindful to check for the secure HTTPS when accessing websites for banking, shopping online, and SAAS (software-as-a-service) programs. We highly recommend coaching all employees to look for this, as well. Human error is behind the majority of IT breaches and is avoidable with proper training and reinforcement. Contact Sandwire Technology Group for information on affordable cyber security training for your company.

IT SOLUTIONS FOR BUSINESS SUCCESS

PHILIP A. RAICES Real Estate Watch

Business&RealEstate

Meltzer, Lippe,

leading elder law firm

Meltzer, Lippe, Goldstein & Breitstone, LLP is proud to announce that Ronald Fatoullah & Associates, a leading elder law firm serving the New York metropolitan area, has joined the firm. Ronald Fatoullah, a pioneer in the elder law field who has devoted over 35 years to the practice, will be the chair of the firm’s Elder Law Practice Group. Joining Fatoullah at Meltzer Lippe are five attorneys and three paralegals.

With the addition of Ronald Fatoullah and the other members of the Fatoullah firm to Meltzer Lippe’s already existing Mental Health, Guardianship & Elder Law Litigation Practice, its large team of professionals will provide a full complement of services dedicated to the protection of our aging and special needs population.

“The addition of Ron and his team to our highly regarded Private Wealth & Taxation, Trusts & Estates, Estate Litigation and Elder Law Litigation Practice Groups uniquely situates us to be able to provide wealth preservation planning and advocacy to clients of all ages and needs and enables us to meet their legal needs during some of life’s biggest challenges,” said Meltzer Lippe’s Managing Partner David Heymann.

“I am thrilled that we have merged Ronald Fatoullah & Associates with Meltzer Lippe, a renowned law firm known for its excellence and commitment to client satisfaction. This merger represents a significant milestone in our journey

towards providing even greater value and expertise to our clients,” saidFatoullah.

Meltzer, Lippe, Goldstein & Breitstone is a full-service law firm with offices in Mineola, Manhattan and Boca Raton, Fla.

The firm’s 80-plus attorneys represent businesses and individuals in over 15 practice areas. For more information, please visit our website at www.meltzerlippe.com or contact Alison Keppel at 516-747-0300.

Trellus Same-Day Local Delivery, a logistics platform dedicated to supporting small businesses by providing fast and reliable delivery services, announces a significant milestone of surpassing 100,000 deliveries.

This achievement marks a doubling of Trellus’ total lifetime deliveries in less than one year, and underscores the company’s commitment to facilitating commerce within local communities.

The Nassau County-based company currently serves more than 60 business categories,

highlighting the diverse needs of the local small business community. Trellus drivers deliver across Long Island and Westchester County seven days a week.

Top delivery customers by volume include pharmacies, florists, farms, meal prep companies, chocolate shops, printers, wine and spirits stores, toy shops, pet stores, clothing retailers, and specialty food brands.

To further support local commerce, Trellus is preparing to launch a direct-to-consumer

Marketplace later this Spring. The app will provide gamechanging convenience for customers looking to shop local, providing access to an extensive selection of unique products with the added benefit of sameday delivery at checkout.

In preparation for the Local Marketplace launch, Trellus is currently 80% subscribed on its seed funding round. These initiatives follow closely behind Trellus’ acquisition of the LocaLI Bred gift box brand.

Adam Haber, co-founder and CEO of Trellus, expressed his gratitude and vision for the future: “We couldn’t have achieved 100,000 deliveries without our community of small businesses. Our partners’ success is our success. With the upcoming launch of the Trellus Local Marketplace, we look forward to driving even more traffic to our partners and keeping more dollars in the local economy.”

Small businesses interested in expanding their reach with Trellus can get started for free, with no contracts or commitments. Visit www.bytrellus.com/ forbusinesses to learn more.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY MELTZER, LIPPE, GOLDSTEIN & BREITSTONE, LLP

Ronald Fatoullah

PHOTO PROVIDED BY TRELLUS

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Grant supports Heckscher mission

Continuing the legacy of founders August and Anna Heckscher, The Heckscher Museum of Art has provided the community with free access to its exhibitions, with suggested donations, since reopening its doors after the peak of the pandemic.

A grant from Bank of America will allow The Heckscher Museum of Art to off er free admission into 2025, and welcome more visitors and families to enjoy art and community.

“We are grateful to Bank of America for its generosity and partnership,” said Heather Arnet executive director & CEO. “Founders Anna and August Heckscher envisioned a thriving ‘museum for all’. This grant will allow the Museum to continue that important mission and ensure that cost will not be a barrier for any individual or family to view the Museum’s fi ne art collection and exhibitions.”

The Heckscher Museum was founded in 1920 as a space for the people of Huntington, especially the children, to enjoy

free access to world-class art. Throughout the last century, The Heckscher Museum has worked to maintain that legacy through key partnerships and fundraising eff orts. These eff orts have helped sustain the museum’s quality arts education and outreach programs, caretaking of the permanent collection, and the organization and presentation of renowned art exhibitions.

A supporter of Long Island’s vibrant arts scene and cultural institutions, Bank of America is dedicated to fostering greater cultural understanding through the arts.

Providing and expanding access to museums and the arts is critical for enriching local communities and driving social progress. The $25,000 grant will ensure that more visitors will be able to experience The Heckscher Museum’s exhibitions free of charge.

“Making Long Island’s fl ourishing arts community and cultural institutions accessible to locals and visitors alike has the power to create long-lasting, positive change in our communities,” said Marc Perez, president, Bank of America Long Island. “In partnership with The Heckscher Museum of Art, we look forward to ensuring that access to the museum’s dynamic exhibitions and permanent collection is free to the public.”

August and Anna Heckscher donated the Museum building and original collection of 185 works of art in 1920 to benefi t the citizens of Huntington. In his dedication speech, Mr. Heckscher stated that Huntington was to be “one of the few places in the United States outside of the large cities [that] possess galleries of such extent and importance.” He intended this gift to be “especially for the children.”

About The Heckscher Museum

The Heckscher Museum of Art is in its second century as a source of art and inspiration on Long Island.

Founded by philanthropists Anna and August Heckscher in 1920, the Museum’s collection comprises more than 2,300 works from the 16th to the 21st century, including European and American painting, sculpture, works on paper, and photography. Located in scenic Heckscher Park in Huntington, the building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Visit Heckscher.org for more information. Heckscher.org

Guests will enjoy the thrill of playing Blackjack, Craps and Roulette and even a Horse Race. Some lucky people will win a “golden ticket” upon the purchase of a Wonka Bar for $10, and get a prize!

Opportunities Via Education) at the Agency.

Raffle prizes include a 5 night stay at a gorgeous home in Montauk, accommodations at the Renaissance Wind Creek in Aruba, a golf foursome, restaurant gift certificates, sports tickets and more!

The popular “Bottle Ring Toss” will be back featuring 150 bottles of various wines and spirits. Upon landing the ring fully on the neck of the bottle, you win that bottle. Special thanks to Wolffer Estates for donating a large portion of the wine on this table!

Go to www.cpnassau.orgof call 516378-2000 x 651 to register at $125 per person.

The

PHOTO COURTESY OF CP NASSAU

Casino Royale event will feature lots of prizes.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE HECKSCHER MUSEUM OF ART

The Heckscher Museum of Art in Heckscher Park, Huntington.

5 vie for 1 seat on Herricks ed board

Continued from Page 3

trict: one in elementary school, one in middle school and one in high school.

“As a physician from Northwell, I am uniquely poised to help facilitate [the partnership between Northwell and Herricks],” Quraishi said, as reported by Blank Slate Media last week. “The mental health needs of our students is also a very, very big concern and I want to make sure we’re providing all the resources that we can to help our kids be the best that they can be.”

If elected, the lifelong Nassau County resident said her goals include improving the safety and security of students with additional security guards, improving cybersecurity efforts and improving the district’s partnership with Northwell.

The physician also works as an assistant professor at the Hofstra school of medicine.

“I educate on a daily basis. I teach residents and medical students at my practice and I also teach at the medical school at the anatomy lab, so for me, educating our youngsters is the most important job that we have as a society and it’s definitely my most favorite part of my job,” Quraishi said.

She said her biggest concern for the district is growing enrollment, a financial stressor that she would hope to combat by maximizing state aid and federal grants.

Quraishi said she supports the board’s adopted 2024-2025 budget and believes the board is doing a good job of handling costs associated with child sex abuse lawsuits.

Lo is running against Quraishi for a seat on the board. He said he thinks the board is doing a good job of handling lawsuit costs and would like to work with board members on this issue.

Lo has been a Williston Park resident for six years. While Lo works as a financial adviser, his wife owns a coffee shop in Williston Park where he said local parents often come in and speak about their experience as district parents. The couple have two young children in the Herricks district.

If elected, his goals include improving school facilities, especially at the middle school, replacing outdated sports uniforms, lending his financial background to budget conversations, improving communication efforts between the board and district parents and better supporting district-wide sports and arts programs. He said he wants to act as a conduit for these district parents and their concerns.

“I do have two very young children in the district so we are going to have a number of years here,” Lo said in an interview with Blank Slate Media last week. “Being in a position that we do have this establishment within the community, it allows us to really listen to a lot of the local parents all around, not just our elementary school, but elsewhere. The middle and high school.”

Lo said some of his biggest concerns for the district include CVA costs and student access to social media. He said he worries about cyberbullying and the spread of misinformation online among students.

“I think residents should vote for me because I am here for the long haul,” Lo said. “I want to improve the experience for our students and, of course, hopefully the teachers as well.”

Efforts to reach Ratra and Stuart were unavailing.

An issue top of mind for candidates is the large budget-to-budget increase included in the proposed budget.

Herricks School District board members adopted a proposed 2024-2025 budget of $141,710,364, which represents a 5.2% increase from the 2023-2024 budget of $134,719,970.

The proposed tax levy increase is 2.38%, which is within the state tax cap. The average tax levy over the past seven years in the district was 1.78%, Superintendent Tony Sinanis said.

Herricks is set to receive a larger increase in state aid than initially proposed, from 6.58% to 8.32%, according to the state budget adopted nearly three weeks late. It is unclear how the new state budget will affect the current adopted budget.

Board members said the larger-than-usual budget-to-budget increase was due in part to the cost of settling child sex abuse claims against the district filed under the Child Victims Act. The district has paid $1.1 million to settle four of the 21 claims thus far.

Residents are set to vote on the budget and elect two trustees on May 21 from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the Herricks Community Center at 999 Herricks Rd., New Hyde Park.

Town to sue state over election law

Continued from Page 4

creasing voter turnout and participatory democracy by putting local elections on the same ballot as those including the president and governor, which typically draw in more voters.

“The whole point of that is to make the government more representative, to have more turnout,” Sittenreich said of the law

Kim Keiserman, a Democratic candidate in the District 7 state senate race, said increasing voter participation in local elections will bolster local representation.

“That should be a goal that all of us share,” Keiserman told the board.

Multiple residents echoed this intent of the law, saying it would deepen democratic participation and help attract more voters to the polls.

“This is not about municipal sovereignty, this is not a David versus Goliath battle against the state or Gov. Hochul,” Sittenreich said. “It’s about keeping one party entrenched in power. It’s really quite simple: when more people vote, democracy wins.”

Multiple residents called the lawsuit a political stunt to prop the board’s own political interests.

Looming over this issue is the belief that Democrats vote at higher rates during evenyear elections, which residents cited as a reason for the Republican-controlled Town of North Hempstead to get involved in this fight.

But in 2022, the last even-year election, multiple Long Island races resulted in Republicans winning. This included George Santos being elected to the 3rd Congressional District, Jack Martins being elected to District 7 state senate, and Bruce Blakeman being

elected county executive—all seats formerly held by Democrats.

Walsh said the issue is arising because of the results of the prior years’ elections.

Sittenreich said he was frustrated by “frivolous lawsuits” that now include the town and multiple others by the county. He said these are expended on the backs of taxpayers.

“...this is not a David versus Goliath battle against the state or Gov. Hochul. It’s about keeping one party entrenched in power. It’s really quite simple: when more people vote, democracy wins.”

— Marc Sittenreich RESIDENT

Residents referred to the town’s lawsuit as a double whammy that would result in expenses for both the town and the county.

“Nassau County is already doing it,” Dalimonte said. “Why do we have to jump on the wagon?”

Residents argued that taxpayer funds should go towards initiatives – like infrastructure – that benefit the community instead of going towards a lawsuit.

“Please, I beg you, turn your attention and energy to improving conditions in the

Town of North Hempstead, not wasting money on what appears to be a political stunt,” resident Nina Gordon said. “This not in the best interest of the town.”

While the litigation will be held in-house and no explicit expense is associated with the suit, Dalimonte said having the town attorney’s office handle the case will take them away from other work needed in the village and come at the expense of those issues.

DeSena said many of the residents who spoke against the lawsuit were Democratic officers, candidates and employees of Democratic politicians.

No speaker identified their political party affiliation, excluding one member of the public who said he was a registered Republican and asked for the board to consider the litigation’s costs further. Keiserman is seeking the Democratic nomination for state senate’s 7th District.

Dalimonte denounced the supervisor’s callout of the residents speaking all being Democratic officials, saying it was not accurate and belittles their ability to participate as members of the public.

“Residents of the Town of North Hempstead have the right to come to our board meetings to have their voices be heard regardless of what party they represent,” Dalimonte said. “It shouldn’t be about that.”

DeSena said the residents who spoke Tuesday night do not completely represent the town.

Dalimonte said that this litigation does not reflect the desires of the town’s constituency.

“I strongly believe that democracy and government work best when they reflect the will and the values of the people they serve, not just some of the people but all of the people,” Dalimonte said.

Student funds dancers

Continued from Page 8

“Living in Port Washington and being able to have our kids who have such amazing opportunities… knowing that there’s a lot of kids in Port Washington who don’t have those same opportunities and trying to share those opportunities with everybody just makes us really happy and [a] better overall community,” Edelsen said.

Berest has been running Berest Dance Center since 1976 and she said there is a dire need to break down barriers to the arts, especially in Port Washington.

“There’s a disparity in Port Washington. Port Washington is known for wealthier families, but it’s not so… and from what I have seen, there are no programs. No outreach programs other than little projects here and there,” Berest said. “We have to support these people and we have to make the arts, not only dance, accessible to them.”

And that is no small feat, considering how quickly the expenses for dance can pile up at any studio. Every class at Berest Dance Center costs $1,000. For senior dancers who stack lots of classes, their tuition is capped at seven classes.

But costs extend far beyond the price of classes, to recital costumes, leotards, tights, specific shoes for each dance genre, photos and more. Berest estimates that a student dancing for 12 years spends a minimum of $35,000 at her studio.

That barrier to dance is why Michelle Wasserman, then a high school senior in Great Neck, jump-started the 10-week Dance for Joy program soon after the pandemic.

Now, students who complete the introductory 10-week program are merged into the Berest Dance Center classes. The studio currently supports 16 families and their dancers through a 36-week program, covering costs for attire, shoes, tuition, show tickets and costumes wholly through fundraising, Berest said.

It is a program that brought tears to Berest’s eyes while she spoke and moved Hannah to dedicate her money, time and effort.

“This program is so meaningful to me because I’ve always loved to dance. I’ve been dancing since I was like 2 1/2,” Hannah said. “It’s something where I know I can express my joy, my happiness, all my emotions and I really feel that other people should be able to be given the opportunity to dance because it’s really powerful.”

Donations can be made through the Berest Dance Center. Interested sponsors can reach the center at berestdance.com or 516-944-6687.

State aid increased, but issues remain

Continued from Page 1

amount of foundation aid awarded was lower than the inflationary factor that should have been used – leading to lower amounts of foundational aid being handed out.

Inflationary increases were estimated at about 4.1% while the governor used a 2.8% increase in foundation aid calculations.

Districts, though, were expecting that 4.1% increase and received foundation aid totals that were still lower than what they anticipated if foundation aid’s hold harmless policy had been restored.

Manuel said she did not understand why a 2.8% inflation increase was used rather than the actual 4.1%.

Multiple school districts drafted budgets in anticipation that foundation aid would be restored. While this did happen, districts still received fewer funds than they expected due to the altering of the foundation aid formula.

For the Port Washington School District, this amounted to $170,000 fewer funds than what their 2024-2025 budget anticipated in foundation aid.

Manuel said “$170,000 doesn’t sound like a lot, but that’s a teaching position.”

She also said no teaching position will be eliminated to offset this lesser foundation aid amount.

To compensate for the loss of nearly $170,000 in foundation aid, Manuel said other district revenues will likely supplement it.

“It’s going to definitely make things tighter,” Manuel said.

Port Washington was proposed by the governor initially to receive $13,370,570 in foundation aid but received $13,469,734 under the final budget — a $100,000 increase. The district’s total state aid amounts to $21,222,636.

Despite the changes in state aid, Manuel said the original $194.5M budget adopted by the Port Washington Board of Education will stay in place and be the one presented to the public for a vote. It also includes a 4.55% tax levy increase that exceeds the cap and will require a 60% vote of approval from residents.

At the Great Neck Public Schools, this change in the foundation aid formula amounted to a shortfall of nearly $99,000 fewer funds than expected.

Great Neck Assistant Superintendent of Business John O’Keefe said that despite a loss of $99,000 due to a lower allocation of state

aid than expected, the budget revenues are estimated conservatively and greater revenues than budgeted would offset these lower state funds.

Its $281,995,500 budget will remain as is without any adjustments.

Great Neck’s foundation aid amounts to $9,046,163, a 0.012% increase from the prior year’s state budget. Its total state aid is set at $15,322,280, or about 3.05% greater than the year prior.

The Manhasset School District was to receive an unprecedented drop in state foundation aid funding of about $629,000, or 20.7%, under the governor’s January proposal.

This was restored, Manhasset’s Assistant Superintendent for Business and Operations Sam Gergis said, but without inflationary adjustments. Gergis said they will now receive the same amount of foundation aid from the prior year.

The Manhasset School District adopted a $111M budget based on the full amount of expected foundation aid to be restored. In the case that it is not, those lapses in funds would be fulfilled through its FEMA recovery funds.

Because the budget was contingent on these funds being restored, which ultimately were, Gergis said the district will not be altering its budget.

“We built the budget with the assumption of restoration, which did occur,” Gergis said. “And that’s how the budget was adopted.”

Gergis said the district is pleased that it was restored.

Some school districts, though, received more than they had budgeted.

With a net increase of $80,556 in state aid from the January proposal, the North Shore School District opted to use the boost in aid to lower its tax levy.

The North Shore School District adopted a 3.96% tax levy increase at its budget adoption in April, but will now lower it to a 3.87% increase in light of the final state aid numbers.

But some that received increases will keep budgets as is.

Mineola’s Assistant Superintendent for Business and Operations Jack Waters said Mineola previously was proposed to have a $90,000 drop in state aid but will now receive about a $150,000 boost.

While Mineola will now get $240,000 more than what it anticipated when adopting its bud-

get in April, Waters said no budget adjustments will be made.

“If we hold harmless, if we get a little bit more in state aid, that’s great,” Water said. “If we got a little bit less in state aid…Mineola can handle it without affecting programs.”

Waters said the greater amount of state aid would be used to offset potential lapses in other revenue areas for the district, and if not needed would go toward the district’s surpluses at the end of the year.

Mineola has a greater amount of PILOT properties, or properties that make payments in lieu of taxes, which Waters said can pay amounts different from what the school district budgets for. In those cases, he said the greater state aid could help offset those differences, too.

The Floral Park-Bellerose School district received an increase of $51,190 in state aid from the governor’s initial proposal. Interim Superintendent of Schools Lisa J. Ruiz said this will not cause any budget modifications.

“Despite a challenging budget process and a modest 4.34% increase in state aid, our proposed 2024-2025 budget reflects our commitment to quality education for all and fiscal responsibility,” Ruiz wrote in an email to Blank Slate Media. “Through creative planning and a thoughtful allocation of resources, as well as input we received from our new strategic planning survey and committee, we’ve maintained programs, addressed key facility needs and invested in various new programs for student success.”

East Williston School District Deputy Superintendent Diane Castonguay said the district’s net change from its original state aid proposal to what it received was an increase of about $36,000.

Castonguay said the Board of Education has not discussed how it would handle the increase and could not comment on how it would be addressed in the budget.

What the public will vote on in May are the school districts’ expenditure budgets and corresponding tax levies, not the estimated revenues expected to fund those budgets. This allows the districts’ revenue side of their budgets to remain in flux as amounts may change due to different events.

All budget modifications for school districts must be approved via a vote by the district’s Board of Education.

But while aid increases, Manuel said there is still space for it to be further expanded by the state.

Manuel said that what makes Port Washington unique is its demographics with a larger non-English speaking student population.

Some school districts receive additional aid for teaching migrant students, but Manuel said the same is not provided to Port Washington for its students who don’t speak English, have a lower English proficiency or are homeless –which she said comes at additional costs to the district.

“Part of what makes Port Washington such a wonderful place is our diverse population,” Manuel said. “We want to make sure all students can be successful. Additional funding is necessary for us to continue to do so.”

Manuel said she has been advocating for greater funds for these student populations to further aid in their education and mental health needs.

“This is an area where state aid can actually help school districts,” Manuel said.

Palestinian child taken to Cohen

Continued from Page 2

media.

Fadi was discovered by the organization after a video of his mother pleading for help went viral online.

The other three children were making a pitstop in New York Sunday with their journeys ending elsewhere at other hospitals in Ohio, Texas and South Carolina.

Saja Bilal Junaid, 3, was seen in the airport with a large bandage surrounding her head, making her eyes, nose and mouth barely visible. Her face sustained third-degree burns after an Israeli airstrike hit the Jabalia refugee camp where she was housed, according to The Times.

Interviewed by CBS News New York, Saja’s mother said that thankfully her daughter is doing well in the aftermath of her injuries, still able to play and seen bouncing around the airport, but that resources to help her daughter were unavailable in Gaza.

Saja will be treated at a hospital in Dayton, Ohio.

Rakan Aldardasawi, 9, was injured in an Israeli airstrike that buried him under rubble for hours before being rescued. His three sisters were killed in the strike, the New York Times reported.

Rakan will be traveling to Galveston, Texas, for treatment.

Adam Abu Ajwa, 11, was injured on Jan. 16 when his shelter was bombed. His mother and brother were killed and his 26-year-old sister was also injured. Adam’s sister joined him on his journey to the United States, which will end in South Carolina. She told The Times of the horrors they endured and her focus on getting her brother treatment, but that someday they will return to Gaza.

PHOTO COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Paul D. Schreiber High School.

Earth Day cleanup in Manhasset

North Hempstead Town Supervisor Jennifer DeSena recently volunteered at the Manhasset Chamber of Commerce’s Earth Day Community Clean Up on Monday, April 22. Volunteers from the Chamber, the

Manhasset School District, and residents of Manhasset joined together in a display of community spirit to clean up trash, weed planting beds and sweep debris from the sidewalks of Plandome Road and the surrounding areas.

North Hempstead Town Supervisor Jennifer DeSena with volunteers from the Manhasset Chamber of Commerce and Manhasset School District preparing to clean up Plandome Road and the surrounding area.

Searingtown School ‘Scotties’

visited by Scottish Terriers

Students at Herricks’ Searingtown School, who proudly declare themselves “Scotties” and even have a six-foot-tall Scottie mascot, were visited by their namesake dogs for a fun and fuzzy assembly.

The Scottish Terrier Club of Greater New York hosted the visit which featured three friendly pooches who were

happy to spend time with the excited students. The group also shared details on the dogs, including a history of the breed and care tips.

During the assembly, the students were proud to present their guests with food and pet supplies that were generously donated by the school community during a collection drive.

PHOTO COURTESY OF HERRICKS PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Students from Herricks’ Searingtown School get to know their namesake “Scotties” during a visit by the Scottish Terrier Club of Greater New York.

Asian American Fest at town Beach Park Ceremony honors Long Island’s

Town of North Hempstead Supervisor Jennifer DeSena and the Town Board have announced that the town’s Asian American Festival will be held on Saturday, May 18, starting at 11:30 a.m. at North Hempstead Beach Park in Port Washington. WAC Lighting will be the primary sponsor for this year’s event.

“North Hempstead’s Asian American Festival is a special celebration of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders Heritage Month,” said DeSena. “Our town’s eclectic diversity makes North Hempstead such a wonderful place to live and raise a family. Such diversity is our strength, and we must embrace the heritage of our neighbors and town. I encourage everyone to stop by on May 18 for an exciting and educational day for the whole family.”

May 2024 has officially been proclaimed Asian American and Pacific Islander American Heritage Month in the Town of North Hempstead.

Since the first Asian American Festival in 2010, members of the North Hempstead community have celebrated the Asian cultures represented in North Hempstead during AAPI Heritage Month. The celebrations include live performances, food from local restaurants, and cultural activities.

Additionally, there will be a market and food representing the countries of Afghanistan, China, India, Japan, Korea, Pakistan and the Philippines.

There is a $10 parking fee per vehicle if paying with cash and a $7 fee if paying with a credit or debit card.

For more information, please call 311 or (516) 869-6311.

Deputy Secretary addresses The LIA

On April 30, the Long Island Association hosted its annual “What’s New in Washington” event. This event offers the business community an opportunity to hear directly from government officials about federal policies that impact Long Island’s economy.

This year, the LIA welcomed Don Graves, the deputy secretary of the United States Department of Commerce, to discuss how the department drives economic competitiveness, fosters innovation, and spurs the growth of quality jobs in all communities in the nation.

Don Graves is the 19th deputy secretary of commerce and brings decades of experience in the private sector, government, and nonprofits to the Department of Commerce and is second in command after Secretary Gina Raimondo.

Most recently, he served as Counselor to President Joe Biden during the 2020 presidential campaign.

Prior to that, Graves served as executive vice president and head of corporate responsibility and community relations at KeyBank.

During the Obama-Biden Administration, Mr. Graves served as counselor

and domestic and economic policy director for then-Vice President Biden.

LIA President & CEO Matt Cohen said, “Deputy Secretary Graves visits regions across the country, and we are grateful that he made a stop at the Long Island Association to discuss federal policies and programs that directly impact businesses operating here. It was fascinating to hear how the Department of Commerce directly impacts so many different areas of our economy and is implementing critical programs, including the CHIPS and Science Law, to support the nation’s competitiveness in innovative sectors of the future.”

“It was a pleasure to join the Long Island Association earlier this week to speak with local community leaders about the historic economic accomplishments of the Biden-Harris Administration and the Department of Commerce,” said Graves. While there, I laid out where we started, where we are now, and where we are headed under President Biden’s leadership. I look forward to continuing these dialogues and strengthening these partnerships as we continue our work to build an economy that works for all Americans.”

Vietnam War veterans

Long Island’s Vietnam War veterans will receive the Vietnam 50th Anniversary Commemorative Medal in a solemn ceremony signifying the official end of United States involvement in the Vietnam War.

Conducted by the Long Island Air and Space Forces Association and hosted by the American Airpower Museum, the ceremony takes place on Saturday, May 11, starting at 11:30 a.m., and honors 30 local veterans who served in all branches of the U.S. Military during the Vietnam War period.

The United States Department of Defense Vietnam 50th Anniversary Commemoration program has been going on for nine years now (ends at the conclusion of 10 years). The Long Island Air and Space Forces Association is a DOD 50th Anniversary Commemoration Sponsor. Please visit their website at https://www.vietnamwar50th.com

Local public officials, as well as the honorees’ families, will be on hand for this historic ceremony. “This special ceremony honors Vietnam veterans who will receive long overdue recognition and thanks for their service” said Fred DiFabio, president of the LIAFA who served in Vietnam. “Honoring our Vietnam Vets with the commemorative medals means a lot to these guys, especially since their families will also be there to bear witness,” DiFabio added.

Conducting the ceremony will be Colonel (ret.) Bill Stratemeier, LIAFA treasurer, a U.S. Air Force pilot who flew supplies into Vietnam between 1972 and 1974. “Many vets were criticized for their service in Vietnam, but we’re proud to honor them over five decades later,” Stratemeier said. He noted LIAFA began honoring Vietnam veterans with the commemorative medals in 2015. “To date, LIAFA has honored over 1,300 veterans with such medals,” he added.

One of the reasons the American Airpower Museum was chosen for this ceremony is their exhibits include actual

BY

Vietnam-era fighter-bomber aircraft that were used during the Vietnam War. Jeff Clyman, AAM president, explained: “Our Museum is the ideal site for these veterans and their families to gather, commiserate and reminisce. Please come and applaud our home-grown heroes, show them respect, that we appreciate and honor their service,” he said. The ceremony will include a Presentation of Colors, Introduction of Distinguished Guests, Dignitary Comments, Presentation of Medals and Singing of God Bless America and the National Anthem. The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla Band will perform the popular “Armed Forces Salute,” featuring six official melodies of the U.S. Armed Forces: Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Forces and the Coast Guard. The program is free and open to the public.

North Shore Child raises

On Tuesday, April 30, a sold-out crowd of over 250 guests came together for North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center’s Annual Spring Luncheon.

This year’s event, which supports the Guidance Center’s mission to restore and strengthen the emotional well-being of children and their families, garnered over $100,000 in support.

The gathering at Glen Head Country Club began with a morning session of Mahjong and Canasta accompanied by exclusive boutique shopping from several of Long Island’s most philanthropic small businesses including Ameliora, A2Z Loungewear, Chintz Giraffe, Dash Accessories, Designs that Donate, Eye Candy, Kostume Klassics, Meryl Roesch Sunglasses, Precious Scripts, Walters Faith, and 2 Friends.

At the event, the Guidance Center debuted its line of signature jewelry featuring the calendula flower, known for its healing properties. The elegant assortment of necklaces represented the guidance center’s mission of providing hope and

healing.

After an elaborate buffet lunch, Cathy Riva, founder of the wellness brand Celebrate Everyday, led the crowd in a guided meditation toward mindfulness.

Following this grounding exercise, Cindy Hsu, Emmy Award-winning anchor & reporter for CBS 2 News, shared a moving story of her journey in overcoming depression and a suicide attempt. Hsu is a longtime advocate of mental health and has found her passion in breaking down the stigma surrounding mental health treatment.

“Cindy Hsu’s story was an eye-opening account of the strength it takes to reach out for help,” said Board President Alexis Siegel. “She showed remarkable resilience in the face of adversity and, in turn, inspired so many people in the room. I am proud to represent an organization that works to end the stigma and bring people together.”

The luncheon wouldn’t have been such a triumph without the hard work of the co-chairs, Jan Ashley, Amy Cantor, and Alexis Siegel. “I am grateful for this event because it allows the Guidance Center to help shift our society’s attitudes towards children’s mental health to a place of awareness, acceptance, and action,” said Kathy Rivera, executive director/CEO of the Guidance Center. “Our success was achieved with the support of so many who are dedicated to helping our children and families begin their journey toward hope and healing.”

The Guidance Center also thanked its sponsors -The Linda and Denis Cronin Foundation, Nancy Lane, Joan Grant, The Peter and Caroline Striano Foundation, Americana Manhasset, Jill Berman, Klipper Family Foundation, Alexis Siegel, United Healthcare, Flagstar Bank, Mary Margiotta, Merry Slone, South Oaks and Zucker Hillside Hospitals, Marilyn Albanese, Jan Ashley, Tracy Brown, Ruth Fortunoff Cooper, Stephanie Ginsberg, Robyn Jaslow, Andrea Leeds, Debbie Klein, & Lauren Schiff.

PHOTO

AAM

Col. Bill Stratemeier, LIAFA, USAF pilot who served in Vietnam from 1972 to 1974, speaking at American Airpower Museum.

Cathy Riva, Amy Cantor, Kathy Rivera, Cindy Hsu, Alexis Siegel and Jan Ashley

Clerk slams board over retirement benefits

Continued from Page 1

mer said.

Shatzkamerr said Flower Hill is the only village of comparable size in Nassau County that does not provide retirement health benefits.

Those that do provide retirement benefits include Sands Point, Roslyn, North Hills, Old Westbury, Kings Point and East Hills.

She said even smaller villages than Flower Hill provide retirement benefits of some form.

The village originally established retirement benefits in 1969. This was changed in 1992 when two classes were established differentiating between those hired before and after 1992.

Employees hired before 1992 received 100% village-paid retirement health insurance, and those hired after 1992 contributed 50% of the cost after retirement. In 1997, this was further changed to abolish retirement benefits for employees hired after 1992.

In 2009 a 10% contribution was established for all employee’s retirement benefits.

Shatzkamer said the village paid 90% of the premium for six retired employees hired before 1992 in 2023.

Shatzkamer previously presented the possibility of establishing employee retirement benefits to the village, preparing a presentation with information about what it could include.

The New York State Health Insurance Program provides retirement rates for state and local government employees.

Under this program, the village would pay a total of $52,590 annually, with 90% of the premium paid by the village, according to Shatzkamer.

She proposed to the board that the New York State retirement program be offered to employees working for more than 10 years. This includes three employees currently employed at the village who are anticipated to retire within five to 10 years.

She said offering retirement benefits is common among most other villages and described it as a “longheld tradition in all of public service.”

Shatzkamer said this helps draw in employee candidates to the public

sector, where they receive lower salaries than in the private sector and retain employees.

“This is not a gift, it’s a reward for years of loyal service,” she said.

Shatzkamer said while hoping for the benefit program to be implemented, she at least wanted it to go before a vote for the sake of all the village’s employees.

“After everything I’ve done in this village, you couldn’t even give me the courtesy of taking a vote,” Shatzka-

mer said.

The village’s board of trustees meetings are live-streamed and posted on its YouTube channel, but no audio was available for Monday’s meeting where the retirement benefits were discussed.

Shatzkamer, who has worked for the village for more than 15 years, is set to retire in less than 25 days and said she will be forced to enroll in Medicare upon retirement.

PHOTO COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA COMMONS, PUBLIC DOMAIN

Flower Hill Village Hall

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This Arbor Day, North Hempstead Town Supervisor Jennifer DeSena, Councilmember Christine Liu, and Town Clerk Ragini Srivastava were on hand at Ridders Pond Park in Manhasset Hills to help plant new trees and carry on the town’s long tradition of preserving our local green spaces.

Town officials expressed their gratitude to partners from the MTO Shahmaghsoudi organization whose volunteers assisted with the day’s planting.

The Arbor Day Foundation has once again recognized the town as a “Tree City USA.”

The “Tree City USA” title is given to towns and cities that have a viable tree management plan and program.

To be recognized, certain requirements must be met, such as: having an active Tree Board, having a Tree Care Ordinance, having a community forestry program and an observance of Arbor Day.

Cold Spring Harbor Lab and Northwell extend affiliation Officials plant trees at Ridders Pond Park

Leaders from two of New York’s preeminent bioscience and healthcare institutions came together at Carnegie Hall to acknowledge the signing of an update to their affiliation agreement initiated in 2015.

The Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory—Northwell Health affiliation aims to bring cutting-edge biology research to the bedside of tens of thousands of cancer patients in diverse communities across the state. The agreement ensures continued collaboration and support for ongoing clinical trials, among other advanced biotechnology initiatives.

“The alliance between Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory and Northwell Health brings transformative bioscience research into the clinic,” says CSHL President & CEO Bruce Stillman.“As New York’s largest healthcare provider, Northwell Health serves a remarkably diverse patient population. This agreement will provide patient communities with greater access to cutting-edge biomedical technology, allowing for more precise diagnoses and treatments, and ultimately facilitating new breakthroughs in cancer care.”

“Reaffirming our exclusive strategic affiliation with Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory and Northwell Health marks a pivotal moment in accelerating our efforts to advance cancer research and revolutionize treatment in the fight against cancer,” said Michael J. Dowling, president and CEO of Northwell Health. “We are building on nearly 10 years of shared vision and collaboration, merging cutting-edge discovery science with novel clinical trials to drive therapeutic applications for the patients we serve across the New York metropolitan area and beyond.”

The CSHL-Northwell Health affiliation aims to enhance biology and cancer research at CSHL’s NCI-designated Cancer Center and more than 60 research labs, as well as the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, the home of research at Northwell Health with 50 research labs and 5,000 researchers and staff systemwide.

The affiliation also seeks to translate basic research into clinical applications, provide access to diverse patient populations, and train the next generation of scientist-clinicians.

Over the past ten years, the affiliation has funded 82 research projects, resulting in more than 100 peer-reviewed publications. Through this integration, CSHL appointed 13 adjunct professors and trained 24 medical students, 27 residents and fellows. Together, they’ve initiated three clinical trials in various stages.

One of the affiliation’s greatest collaborations to date has been the development of more than 200 cancer organoid models through its organoid facility on Long Island. These living threedimensional tissue models are derived from patient tumor cells and cultivated outside the body, in a clinical laboratory, for disease analysis and drug testing.

Northwell Health President & CEO Michael Dowling, left, and Bruce Stillman, President & CEO of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, reaffirm their exclusive strategic affiliation for another 10 years.

This revolutionary technology in Phase-II clinical trials enables clinicians to predict favorable patient responses to new drug combinations. The CSHL-Northwell Health affiliation has also led to significant discoveries in pancreatic cancer, leukemia, glioblastoma, and COVID-19research.

Northwell Health and the Northwell Health Cancer Institute, with its 400 physicians and researchers, have significantly expanded their oncology footprint since the initial CSHL affiliation was announced in 2015.

Over the past three years, the Northwell Health Cancer Institute has invested nearly $550 million to open and expand cancer treatment centers throughout Long Island and the boroughs.

Major initiatives include the $32 million, 37,000-square-foot outpatient Northwell Cancer Institute at Rego Park, Queens, which serves one of the most diverse communities in the country; and the $43 million, 40,000-square-foot Florina Cancer Center in Staten Island, which provides adult and pediatric care.

In addition, the health system is building a new 200,000-squarefoot medical pavilion adjacent to Northwell Lenox Hill Hospital in Manhattan, which will be anchored by an innovative cancer center. Northwell Health treats more than 19,000 people with cancer through its integrated health system and nine cancer centers.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY THE TOWN OF NORTH HEMPSTEAD

North Hempstead Supervisor Jennifer DeSena, Councilmember Christine Liu, and Town Clerk Ragini Srivastava with volunteers from MTO Shahmaghsoudi helping plant new trees at Ridders Pond Park.

Terrorist attacks, Gaza: what students ought to know

Over 30,000 people have been killed by Israeli attacks in Gaza, including over 12,000 children in retaliation for the deadly terrorist attack made by Hamas on Oct. 7 that killed over 1,200 Israelis, with an additional 240 taken hostage. Is there any difference between the two killings?

The Jews were murdered for no apparent current cause. It was an out-and-out terrorist attack. No warning. No nothing. The Gazans were killed in retaliation for the terrorist attack. Would you, the average American, reciprocate if any member of your family had been murdered by such a terrorist attack? What if it had been your entire family that was murdered?

How about a question to all you college folk and many others that apparently has never before been brought to your mind. What does the term “never again” refer to and how does it pertain to Jews and the Jewish state?

But first, answer truthfully: How many of you learn-ed college students and others really know about the Holocaust? For you accounting or finance majors, what is the significance of the number 6,000,000? For those of you not into numbers, that’s six million. Does that number have anything to do with a war, for instance like World War II?

The Holocaust is defined as the murder of approximately six million Jews by the Nazis and their collaborators.This was systematic genocide. Did the Holocaust really happen? Did World War II really happen? Did tens of millions, other than Jews, also die? How about the 400,000 Americans in the military whose lives were taken plus another 600,000 wounded?

What do I personally know about the war and the Holocaust? Growing up, both children and young adults were inundated by movies, especially on this new popular medium called television, about World

War II and the Nazis. We knew that we were the good guys and we won. It even hit home.

When I was a little boy, two or three years of age, way back between 1944 and 1945, living in an apartment building on New York City’s Lower East Side, I remember on certain nights, I could hear men from outside in the street yelling “blackout, lights out” as a precaution in case the enemy would attempt to bomb us by plane.

My mother had a friend who had a tattooed number on his arm. During the Holocaust, concentration camp prisoners had tattoos branded on their arms, but this was done at only one location, the Auschwitz concentration camp complex. Why don’t you ask your parents if they knew anyone who sported a tattoo on their arms? It was not a fashion statement

Regarding “never again,” it justifies acts of reprisals against terrorism in the name of fighting antisemitism. Words mean little without backing them

up with action.

Dear College Boys and Girls, so many of you don’t know much about many things and you don’t even know what you don’t know. You think you’re smart? You should be, especially if you’re in college. Therefore, I suggest you do some research on the Holocaust and you might begin to understand why many Jews are paranoid, knowing that so many people would like to see them destroyed.

Even if you weren’t around when the Holocaust happened, you should know your history. It did happen. Six million! What a horrific number. So is 1,200, the number of Jews killed by Hamas terrorists. That could have been the sign of “The Beginning.” Never again! Let’s make sure that history is not repeated. Numbers do count.

Trip to Israel inspires me to continue to serve public

My name is Joshua Lafazan, and I proudly represented the 18th District of the Nassau County Legislature from 2018 — 2023.

I just returned home from my family trip to Israel, and I wanted to write a reflection to share why this trip was so significant to me, and the lessons I learned from the Israeli people during this turbulent time.

As I’ve spoken publicly about, my cousins were called up on IDF reserve duty and served in Gaza in the wake of Hamas’ brutal attack on Oct. 7. My family living near Jerusalem has had terrorist attacks thwarted near their homes and my cousins near Tel Aviv have lived for months under the loud sirens of bomb shelter warnings.

And all the while our Jewish community here at home has dealt with a shocking increase in antisemitism in our schools, our cities, and our college campuses alike.

Despite living within miles of nations who pledge Israel’s destruction, I witnessed the people of Israel persevere without a modicum of fear in their hearts. Faced with a choice between hope and despair, Israelis choose hope every single time.

The security state that the Israeli people now live with as daily reality is something unlike I had ever seen before.

In the elevator of my hotel stood an active duty soldier home on break, his outfit consisting of blue jeans, sandals, a plain white T-shirt,

and an additional accessory: an IDF-issued automatic rifle slung over his shoulder with a full magazine of ammunition at the ready.

Our tour guide, a former soldier who volunteered as community security after Oct. 7, regaled our group with facts and figures of the sites we walked by, all the while having a pistol secured to the small of his back.

The various security checkpoints across the country — from the airport, to sensitive religious sites to major highways and more — stood swarms of special forces donned in our SWATequivalent military gear.

Yet through it all, the tiny State of Israel — a country roughly the size of New Jersey — has somehow maintained a sense of normalcy. To

see the resilience of the Israeli people through my own eyes during this time of unprecedented danger left me speechless.

This seemingly impossible level of resiliency reminded me of my grandfather Boris, a Holocaust refugee who, despite living through history’s most unspeakable tragedy, never lost his sense of goodness and hope.

And the no-quit spirit of a people determined to fulfill Tikkun Olam — to “heal the world” — has left me even more inspired to continue to make a difference through public service here at home.

The answer is no to artificial turf on our fields

Having put a lot of time and effort into researching the risks and benefits of artificial turf, I agree 100% with Doug Wood’s assessment of its hazards (“Artificial turf must be a community decision,” May 3, 2024). The chemicals in artificial turf are dangerous, not just to the children who play on the fields, but to the community at large.

Artificial turf fields are made up of blades of plastic grass as well as crumb rubber (from used tires). The crumb rubber is ground up and sprinkled in between the blades of grass to give the turf a more cushioned feel.

These fields contain chemicals, including arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, vanadium, zinc, and acetone, which can interfere with hormones, reproduction, and immunity and which can cause developmental delays and neurological impairment in children. These chemicals are linked to cancer, liver problems, thyroid issues, birth defects, and kidney disease.

Compared with natural grass fields, artificial turf causes a higher incidence of sports-related in-

juries, including knee and ankle injuries, abrasions, and concussions.

In hot weather, artificial turf sports fields significantly exceed the temperatures of natural grass. These higher temperatures (on the playing field) have been directly linked to skin burns, heat stroke, and heat exhaustion. On a summer day (80o), the temperature of the artificial turf has been measured at about 176o!!

On a more practical note, the crumb rubber usually becomes embedded in the children’s sneakers, ending up in cars and houses when they come home. Also, consider what happens (or doesn’t happen) with animal droppings. With natural grass, they will gradually be absorbed into the ground. Not so with artificial turf. Same with food that’s dropped. That’s why someone has to come around regularly to clean the entire field.

In light of the known dangers of the chemicals inside artificial turf, the New York State legislature has proposed that a comprehensive environmental and public health study be undertaken immediately.

Until the results of the study are in, NYS has proposed a moratorium on the installation of synthetic turf products that contain crumb rubber. What might be the benefits of artificial turf? It may look neater than natural grass. Some people believe that artificial turf is less expensive to maintain, but this is not the case. Although it may not puddle up in the rain (depending on how well it was installed), how many children will want to play in the rain?

Now to the question of who should be making the decision—to install or not to install—in any particular community. I think it’s clear that in no case should a private group of residents be allowed to install an artificial turf playing field on public property. If an artificial turf field is being considered for a public space, the appropriate board of trustees, with input from the community, has the responsibility to make decisions as to what is permitted on that property. In any case, we need to have a decision as important as this controlled by people who have a clear understanding of the dangers involved.

We all need to inform ourselves as to the haz-

ards presented by artificial turf. We can’t make a reasoned decision unless we do so!

It’s true that several communities on Long Island have artificial turf playing fields, which were installed a number of years ago. In Great Neck in particular, serious consideration is being given to installing artificial turf fields both in Great Neck North HS and in Kings Point Park. We now know a lot more about the hazards of these fields than we did several years ago. Knowing now about the hazards of artificial turf and those of microplastics (which have come to light only recently), we should hold back on installing these fields.

Let’s follow the lead of the New York State legislature, which is considering banning it outright. Our health, our children’s health, and the health of the environment demand it.

Let’s be the smart ones!

Alvin Goldberg Great Neck

Joshua A. Lafazan Nassau County Legislator (2018 — 2023)

Amy Glass Great Neck

26 reasons to re-elect Smith as Port’s BOE leader

Adam Smith, our Port Washington Board of Education president, exemplifies progressive leadership. Here are 26 reasons, from A to Z, why he deserves your vote for re-election: A is for Accountability. Mr. Smith champions transparency and responsibility in his decisions and policies.

B is for Budgeting. He manages our school budgets to ensure maximum efficiency and effectiveness in resource allocation.

C is for Course Correction. Adam Smith and Adam Block joined the board at the peak of BOE uncertainty during the pandemic and quickly righted the ship.

D is for Diversity. He promotes inclusive education that celebrates diverse backgrounds.

E is for Engagement. Adam has strengthened ties with local organizations, from religious groups to community organizations.

F is for Facilities. He prioritizes modernizing learning environments.

G is for Getting Things Done. Elementary after-school programs, Capital Reserve for HVAC and Ventilation Upgrades, Expansion of Twilight programs, Expansion of Pre-K, Audits of Security and PPS departments, new Student Information and mobile bus tracking systems, and more.

H is for Humor. Adam listens patiently to all inputs and opinions. He reads every email and listens to all community comments, even when many of them are absurd and misinformed. He’s able to balance serious decision-making with timely humor, enhancing board discus-

sions.

I is for Insightful. He leverages his professional background to derive meaningful insights from data to make informed decisions in the best interest of the community.

J is for Justice. Adam promotes fairness and equitable treatment for all students and staff.

K is for Kindness. His policies foster empathy and respect within our schools.

L is for Leadership. His collaborative style inspires optimal performance.

M is for Management. Adam was instantly recognized by his peers as a supreme manager, someone capable of seeing big ideas and getting things done.

N is for Network. Adam draws support across many different groups. He’s a connector, a collaborator, a facilitator, and a uniter.

O is for Opportunity. He tirelessly expands educational resources for all students.

P is for Progress. His tenure has seen significant enhancements in curriculum development and extracurricular offerings.

Q is for Quality. Adam champions a high-quality education that prepares students for the future.

R is for Responsiveness. He listens and addresses the concerns of parents and educators. With responsiveness comes respect, and he has earned that from administrators, parents, and teachers alike.

S is for Students. With young children in the district, unlike several

candidates, Adam is personally invested. In a complex web of state funding, legacy contracts, teacher unions, and administrative budgets, Adam Smith consistently prioritizes student interests.

T is for Transparency. He maintains open dialogue about district issues while respecting privacy.

U is for Understanding. Adam shows deep understanding of the challenges faced by teachers and students.

V is for Vision. His forward-thinking approach includes integrating modern technology to aid learning. He champions these types of innovative teaching methods.

W is for Wellness. Adam promotes programs that support the overall wellness of our school community, supports programs that address both physical and mental health needs, and has improved school meal programs to ensure students have access to healthy food.

X is for Excellence. Adam refuses to settle for “good enough,” aiming always for excellence.

Y is for Youth Development. Adam prioritizes programs that support the personal and professional development of our youth.

Z is for Zeal. His enthusiasm for education reform and student advocacy is unparalleled.

Vote for Adam Smith to continue the progress and maintain the excellence our school district deserves. Re-elect a leader who stands for all the right reasons. It’s as simple as ABC.

Clavin’s conceit on congestion pricing

You have to laugh at the sense of entitlement Hempstead Town Supervisor Don Clavin has. On his social media feed, he rails against adding more housing density around LIRR stations and then has the nerve to sue New York City for imposing congestion pricing. Clavin’s slogan is “local control, not Hochul control.”

Well, yeah, because we’ve seen how much damage can be done to our housing situation when policy is left in the hands of hairdressers and local hacks.

And who could blame him? After all, everyone knows Hempstead is just dripping with charm and world renowned as a destination just oozing je nesais quoi. More housing around a mass transit hub would just ruin the place. I think….

But apparently, the City of New York isn’t allowed “local control.”

That’s a privilege Mr. Clavin reserves for himself, so while he complains about “duh nuys and duh twaffic,” he thinks he’s perfectly within his rights to export as much of it as he wants to midtown.

Despite the carnage caused by roiling up the NIMBYs, not only can he do what he likes locally, he’s also entitled to dictate tax policies to other municipalities. How’s that for chutzpah?

While I have my doubts about congestion pricing’s merits, Clavin’s actions are obnoxious pandering. You don’t have to be a Constitutional scholar to know that the case he filed has no legal merit, and watching the town attorney squirm as he spoke on this was pure comedy.

New York has the same right to impose this tax just as they do on sales taxes or anything else. Long Islanders who work in the city already pay the City a payroll tax, so the lawsuit is pure theatre.

I personally liked how he called the tax “disin-

genuous.” Imagine arguing that in a court of law. Clavin wants it both ways, but in a well-governed society, he should get neither.

Here’s why:

The MTA’s debt stack alone is larger than that of the state of New Jersey. That’s due to decades of featherbedding, corruption, patronage, and mismanagement, features that I’m sure Mr. Clavin, as a Nassau County Republican, is well familiar with.

So if his bailiwick happens to be gifted with the convenience of a LIRR station, that is a public asset to be leveraged to the hilt. No Supervisor should have any say over its use. For that matter, nor should a village mayor.

Mr. Clavin should save his revenue resources for something that actually has a chance of working.

Donald Davret Morristown

Israel must be allowed to free Gaza from Hamas

The only people who wanted to commit the intentional killing of innocent civilians were Hamas, Qatar, Hezbollah, Iran, Russia, the Houthis, the Gazans who cheered and celebrated and joined in the murder spree, the United Nations, the media, and the insane protesters and propagandists marching for the genocide of Jews everywhere.

The only people that still want to commit the intentional killing of innocent civilians are Hamas, Qatar, Hezbollah, Iran, Russia, the Houthis, the Gazans who cheered and celebrated and joined in the murder spree, the United Nations, the media and the insane protesters and propagandists marching for the genocide of Jews everywhere.

All the gaslighting and lies and delusions

and false claims of genocide and ethnic cleansing and famine and massacres and blood libels don’t change how this all started, and why this will end the way it needs to end.

I don’t care about the outrage to this post or the criticism or the personal attacks or whatever any idiots want to throw out there.

While there are still innocent hostages inside Gaza, not a single one of the protesters or media or propagandists or anyone else from the proHamas side are demanding their release to actually end this war. And while the woke world leaders who have shown to be terrorist appeasers and apologists, and while millions run wild screaming for the murder of Jews, and while rockets and missiles continue to be fired at Israel, which has

BLANK SLATE MEDIA

been going on for almost 30 straight years, we will go it alone and finish the job the rest of the world don’t have the balls to do regardless of the fact that the same hypocrites would have done the same or more if it happened to them.

I do not in any way celebrate the death of even a single human being in Gaza (though I’d dance through the night if Yahya Sinwar was killed), but I will never be made to feel an ounce of guilt for anything that happens in a war we didn’t start, and at a time when millions are screaming and marching for my death.

This is war. Many hate wars. But yet they do everything in their power to keep it raging by cheering on those who start wars. The deathly hypocrisy is crystal clear and only serves to make me

more resolute in my support for ending this war the way it must be finished.

We will go into Rafah and do what we must to finish off a group of savage murderers and rapists. The world can cry and scream and protest, but it’s too late for all of that.

You, world, helped get us where we are today. You expect from us what you expect of nobody else. And we have had enough. We are the only ones who want peace, and sometimes war brings peace.

It’s long past the time to end it, and now we will.”

Bill Spitalnick Roslyn

Matt Wurst Port Washington

TENNIS STAR, SINGER

Herrick’s Samartha Deepudass succeeds on, off the court

BY MICHAEL J. LEWIS

The question is asked all the time, and the answers are usually as predictable as the sunset.

“What do you like to do in your spare time?” high school athletes hear, and 99% of the responses are some combination of “hang out with my friends and family, play video games, and watch movies or TV.”

But every once in a while, an answer knocks your socks off.

“I sing professionally at parties and weddings,” Herricks junior tennis star Samarth Deepudass said. “About once a month. And people pay me.”

Wait, what?A side hustle as a wedding singer, like Adam Sandler in the hit 1998 movie? Yep.

Deepudass has been belting out mostly Indian tunes at weddings, Sweet Sixteens and other parties for about five years now. He found he liked singing when he was 10, and at age 12 “I started to get better at.”

So Deepudass’ Mom, a former singer herself, took a couple of recordings that he’d made and started showing it to friends. And they showed their friends, who showed their friends, and now Samarth’s music is displayed on his father Deepu’s YouTube channel.

“It’s fun, something different,” Deepudass said. Asked if he ever sang in front of his teammates on the tennis team bus on road trips, and he practically recoils at the idea.

“Oh no, no no no,” he said with a laugh.

While he may not belt out music in front of his mates, he certainly has led them on the courts. An accomplished junior player who is rated by TennisRecruiting.net as the 19th best in his class in New York State, Deepudass decided to try high school tennis last season, with smashing results.

He went 14-0 in singles for the Highlanders, and lost in the quarterfinals of the county tournament.

This season, with Herricks stepping up to Division I play, Deepudass has gone 3-0 as Herricks has begun strongly, with a win over defending county champ Syosset. One opposing coach said Deepudass “might be the best player in the county.”

“He’s a kid who has gotten better and better and always gets better and better as matches go along,” said Herricks head coach Ray Cross. “He’s so consistent, and as matches go on you see (his opponent) backing up further and further.”

Deepudass began playing tennis around age 5, when he said he and his family all took up the

PHOTO BY DAVID NOH

sport together while living in Bellerose, Queens.

By age 7 he started taking lessons and began getting into the sport, going to the U.S. Open each year to watch Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal.

Deepudass remembers his first USTA tournament at age 8, when he lost a two-hour battle to a kid named Xavier (of course he remembers the other kid’s name) and cried afterward.

“I was so upset and basically said to myself, ‘you’ve got to get better, you have to win from now on,'” he recalled. “And then I started to take it more seriously.”

With athletic genes inherited from Deepu (who was once an Olympic-level track athlete for India), Samarth’s game grew.

Deepudass’s baseline game and excellent conditioning made the righthander an excellent tournament player, and as he got better he noticed more and more onlookers came to watch his matches.

“At first I liked it, people thinking of me as the marked man,” Deepudass said. “But then it got to be a lot of pressure and I was wishing people would stop watching me.”

Deepudass has gotten used to being watched, and as he continues to train at John McEnroe Tennis Academy in Syosset and Port Washington.

As college coaches start to come calling (he’s already had some Division I offers, but hopes to play at Binghamton or Boston University), Deepudass is laser-focused on winning the Nassau Co. singles title this year, with the tournament being held May 18-19, and qualifying for states.

In the meantime, he’s trying to improve his serve a bit and work on not beating himself up when he’s losing.

“I get really down on myself especially when I know I can beat the guy I’m losing to,” he said. “I just need to stay positive.”

Cross said Deepudass’ instincts carry him far (“He always knows where the ball is going before the opponent hits it,” he said) and that there’s still room for improvement.

“I just want to keep getting better, because I really love playing,” Deepudass said “Being on a team these last two years, it’s been so much fun, and so different than tournaments when you’re all by yourself.”

Herricks High School junior Samarth Deepudass went undefeated in singles in 2023 and is looking to win his first Nassau County title on May 18-19.