Issuu

Serving Williston Park, East Williston, Mineola, Albertson and Searingtown

Friday, June 25, 2021

Vol. 70, No. 26

HEALTH, WELLNESS AND BEAUTY

MINEOLA CHAMBER TREASURER DIES

RYDER REJECTS CALLS TO STEP DOWN

PAGE 23-26

PAGE 3

PAGE 6

E.W. water meter opt-out comes at cost Village homeowners face hundreds in fees if they do not upgrade BY S A M U E L E PETRUCCELLI Approaching the finish line of a years-long initiative, East Williston residents could face hundreds of dollars in fees if they do not upgrade their water meters. If they haven’t already, homeowners must purchase at least part of a new meter under a modernization eﬀort taken up by the village. Though residents can opt out of the installation, they will be faced with annual fees upwards of $250. Mayor Bonnie Parente said East Williston was among the last villages not to have water meters read from outside the home, rather than requiring a technician to enter. “It is old-fashioned, outdated, antiquated technology,” Parente said of some of the meters that were installed in the 1950s. “Like all of our surrounding municipalities – who for several years have had meters that you could read

remotely outside of the home, not necessitating residents to be home and make appointments – we felt the need to catch up to modern technology.” Catching up will come at a price. The village said last year that the updated meters would cost $270 to $917, depending on the size, including installation. Though the cost of replacing meters could have been absorbed into village taxes, Parente said that would make some residents take on a portion of commercial properties’ fees, and being billed per household is more cost eﬃcient. “The majority of people are saving money this way,” Parente said. “Instead of making our single-family home residents pay for homes with larger meters, which is what you would have to do if you built it into the taxes, we decided to do a one-time fee where everybody pays for the meter that fits into their own home.” Continued on Page 34

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE WHEATLEY SCHOOL

The Wheatley School’s class of 2021 graduated outdoors on Sunday afternoon.

Wheatley grad’s speech met with backlash marks and make aggressive up for any injustice that you

BY S A M U E L E gestures, and has sparked ac- see,” the senior, Huda Ayaz, P E T R U C C E L L I A N D cusations that administrators said in her speech at the ROBERT PELAEZ provided false information to school’s graduation Sunday

members of the school com- afternoon. “Educate yourself A Wheatley School senior’s munity. about international dilemgraduation speech led some “Speak for those who mas, including the ethnic attendees to shout racist re- don’t have a voice, and stand Continued on Page 35

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The Williston Times, Friday, June 25, 2021

Mineola ed board bids Is Terry back farewell to Napolitano working in Port? Ex-Dem leader reported in Manorhaven B Y N O A H M A N S K A R cording to the footage. They are

PHOTO BY SAMUELE PETRUCCELLI

Christine Napolitano, right, held her final public meeting last Thursday evening, after announcing in March that she was stepping down. BY S A M U E L E PETRUCCELLI Mineola’s Board of Education president held her final public meeting last Thursday evening after announcing that she was stepping down from her position in March. Christine Napolitano ended her fourth term and 12th year of service after hearing congratulatory remarks from her fellow trustees and administrators. Her position will be filled by Garden City Middle School teacher Stacey DeCillis, who ran unopposed. “The special people that I sit next to now have become like family to me,” Napolitano said. “This community is so lucky to have such an incredible group of people who really live the mission statement.” After her departure, Napolitano said, she plans to enjoy time with her husband and grandchildren and do some world traveling. The scheduled meetings every other week made it diﬃcult for her to leave for extended periods. DeCillis, along with other teachers and administrators in the Mineola school district, attended the session. She said she intends to build on the strides made under the

previous administration. “Christine is remarkable, so there’s no one that could really fill her shoes,” DeCillis said. “But I hope to be able to do the work that she’s already done and continue the trajectory of the district moving forward.” DeCillis, who was wished “great success” by Napolitano, comes from a family of education administrators. Her father served as a Board of Education trustee and her mother worked in school administration, which she says relates to her goals of giving back to the community. Before concluding the public session, Mineola Superintendent Michael Nagler gave a history of Napolitano’s tenure, which began during a financially stressful time for the district. “It was all about a district which was hemorrhaging money,” Nagler said. “A ton on inequities in class size, what was being taught in diﬀerent buildings and really a lot of diﬀerent ships sailing wherever they wanted to sail.” Her first three years featured a board vote to close two school buildings, though it laid the foundation for improving Mineola’s status as a district, according to Nagler.

“We make a commitment to reutilizing those resources back into our educational program,” Nagler said. “It was the beginning of our modernization of buildings.” Dual language programs, full day pre-kindergarten and Lego robotics were a few highlights Nagler cited about Napolitano’s second term as well as the adoption of technology in the classroom. “The same time we implemented iPads, our neighboring district implemented them,” Nagler said. “We got the cover of Newsday and our neighboring district got an article in The Times, and three years later only one of those was an Apple Distinguished School because only one of those embraced the use of technology to accelerate learning in our classrooms.” As for her last term, Nagler attested to the school’s quickness in adjusting to remote learning. “We didn’t miss a beat in accelerating and scaling that instructional model,” Nagler said. “We are today the envy of most in our state for our ability to with a snap go digital.” After nearly $65 million in capital projects, Nagler told his soon to be former colleague “we’re a diﬀerent district because of your leadership.”

It appears Gerard Terry recently returned to his old stomping grounds in Manorhaven – but village oﬃcials have been quiet about his homecoming. The Democratic power broker-turned-tax fraudster paid a visit in March to Manorhaven Village Hall, where he worked as village attorney about a decade ago, according to surveillance footage and other sources. Video from the building’s security cameras shows a man who looks like Terry arriving shortly after 10:40 a.m. on March 24 with files and a bound book in hand. About 10 minutes later, he enters the courtroom to meet with village Clerk Joan Corbo Hanna until about 11:26 a.m., when they both leave the room. It is unclear what they discussed, but the mostly bald man – dressed in a navy blue long-sleeve shirt, khaki pants and brown shoes – can be seen thumbing through papers in one of his files while speaking with Hanna. The man returned to Village Hall at 3 p.m. and handed a document to Ron Kaslow, a consultant to the Building Department, ac-

seen walking into the courtroom together before the man leaves the building at 3:01 p.m. The man is wearing a face mask in the footage, but three people – including Manorhaven Trustee John Popeleski – identified him as Terry, who worked for eight government entities and led the North Hempstead Democratic Party before pleading guilty in 2017 to evading more than $1 million in federal income taxes. The other two people who identified Terry, 67, on images from the surveillance footage are former Town of North Hempstead employees who frequently interacted with him in political settings. They requested anonymity to discuss the matter. But Manorhaven oﬃcials have stonewalled Blank Slate Media’s eﬀorts to confirm more details of Terry’s apparent visit, which has not been previously reported, and the business he was conducting. Even the village’s Board of Trustees has been kept in the dark, said Popeleski, who was reelected to the Manorhaven board last week. Continued on Page 34

SCREENCAP FROM MANORHAVEN SURVEILLANCE VIDEO

Gerard Terry visited Manorhaven Village Hall on March 24, according to surveillance video and other sources.

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WILLISTON TIMES (USPS#685-100) is published weekly by Blank Slate Media LLC, 22 Planting Field Road, Roslyn Heights, NY, 11577, (516) 307-1045. The entire contents of this publication are copyright 2021. All rights reserved. The newspaper will not be liable for errors appearing in any advertising beyond the cost of the space occupied by the error. Periodicals postage paid at Williston Park, NY. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the Williston Times, C/O Blank Slate Media LLC, 22 Planting Field Road, Roslyn Heights, New York, 11577.

The Williston Times, Friday, June 25, 2021

Longtime Mineola chamber member dies Linda Doerrbecker addressed membership, speaheaded outdoor concerts in Memorial Park BY A L E X K RU TC H I K Linda Doerrbecker, longtime treasurer and board member of the Mineola Chamber of Commerce, died on Sunday. She was 75 years old and lived in Wantagh. A graduate of Elmont Memorial High School in 1963, she served the Chamber of Commerce for over 25 years. When Louis Panacciulli joined the chamber in 1996, he was the conductor and music director of the Nassau Pops Symphony Orchestra. He was trying to get to know about businesses more and interact with the community since the orchestra did several concerts each year in Mineola. Not only did he become more involved in the community, he also found a lifelong friend in Doerrbecker. She would address the membership at the monthly meetings and talk about the chamber’s financial situation. She would also encourage board members to take part in the chamber’s events, such as the annual Mine-

ola Street Fair, which was held at Memorial Park at the time. “She was just always very visible,” Panacciulli said. “She would go around to the tables and speak to everybody and introduce themselves, especially where new members were concerned. She was always ready to extend her hand and welcome you to the events that we held. She was a great woman.” Whether it was the street fair or the Taste and Style event, Doerrbecker always went above and beyond to help throw the best events for her community, he said. “Linda was always right there, helping organize at all the meetings,” Panacciulli said. “And we’re really going to miss her. She was terrific, always helped along with things, and made us laugh.” When Panacciulli joined the chamber, Doerrbecker spearheaded the hosting of concerts in Memorial Park. The chamber would go to performances, set up the table near the gazebo that used to stand there, and would

oﬀer refreshments and pastries. The goal was to show the community that the group was active and wanted people at the events. Panacciulli added that Doerrbecker’s personality was like “a fastball down the middle.” “If she had something she wanted to say, she would make her feelings and opinions known,” Panacciuli said. “And I think it was that part of her personality that made her so likable.” Eﬀorts to reach a family member were unavailing, and information on survivors was not immediately available. She will be missed as a mother, grandmother, aunt, great aunt and friend, according to a Facebook post by a family member. Her family asked for donations to the American Lung Association in her name. The viewing was to be on Wednesday at Franklin Funeral Parlor in Franklin Square. The funeral mass was to be at 10:30 a.m. the following day at St. Catherine of Sienna Roman Catholic Church in Franklin Square.

PHOTO COURTESY OF JOEL HARRIS

Linda Doerrbecker

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The Williston Times, Friday, June 25, 2021

AT&T lease atop water tower rejected Williston Park trustees vote against agreement after hearing strong resident opposition BY S A M U E L E PETRUCCELLI After hearing strong pushback from residents, the Williston Park Board of Trustees voted not to enter a lease agreement with AT&T that would have permitted telecommunications equipment to be installed atop a water tower. By unanimous vote, the trustees declined to enter the proposed lease. At a public meeting Monday evening, Mayor Paul Ehrbar read a statement to residents, who applauded after hearing the board’s decision. “Considering all the legal arguments and interests involved, the village board determined that leasing a portion of village property to AT&T for the purpose of erecting a wireless telecommunications facility is not in the best interest of the village,” Ehrbar said. Before voting, Ehrbar described the village’s obligations under federal and state law on leasing public property to private

PHOTO BY SAMUELE PETRUCCELLI

Mayor Paul Ehrbar, right, and Deputy Mayor Kevin Rynne spoke to Williston Park residents after rejecting a lease with AT&T. enterprises. Ehrbar also spoke of FCC regulations on applications of telecommunications carriers for special use permits. “On the advice of our village attorney, that decision meant that AT&T did not have my notice of consent, that AT&T did

not have legal standing to bring this application for a special use permit and the related remaining portions of the application,” Ehrbar said. “The application had to be dismissed and determined to be denied on that ground.” When trustees were asked

if AT&T could file a lawsuit, the village attorney, James Bradley, advised them not to answer that question. When asked if a carrier could operate a cell tower on private property, Ehrbar said that is almost impossible to prevent. In the same resolution that denied AT&T’s application, the village adopted a negative declaration under the State Environmental Quality Review Act, affirming that the proposal would not have had an adverse eﬀect on the environment. This came after arguments by the company’s legal representative at a public hearing in May indicated a limit in the scope of the trustees’ decision. “The municipality cannot deny the application for health and safety reasons if the telecommunications application is in compliance with FCC requirements,” said Anna Mercado Clark, a partner at Phillips Lytle LLP. “We want to be a good partner to the village, but the FCC sets the regulation and as long as we can be in compliance the

board does not have authority to deny the application.” Dan Penesso, a radio frequency engineer for the telecommunications company, testified at the May meeting that the installed equipment would emit electromagnetic energy on the ground at a level of 0.05%. FCC compliance is allowed up to 100%. Clark added that the type of technology to be installed would stay within safe exposure levels for humans and that the conservative nature of her client’s calculations could mean frequency levels operating less than what is projected. “FCC has recently as of December of 2019 reevaluated its safe exposure levels and reaffirmed those safe exposure levels and those are the levels we use for our calculations,” Clark said. “The American Cancer Society has also abided that this type of technology as Dan mentioned is non-ionizing which means it does not have the capability to modify human cells.” Continued on Page 35

Weinstein’s impact on law remembered BY R OB E RT PE L A E Z AND SAMUELE PETRUCCELLI Jack Weinstein, a prominent federal judge and longtime Great Neck resident, was honored as a strong proponent of justice and fairness at a private memorial service last Friday. Once the nation’s longest-serving federal judge, Weinstein was appointed to the federal bench in 1967 and went on to become chief judge of the Eastern District of New York before his retirement in February 2020. He died on June 15 at 99.

PHOTO BY SAMUELE PETRUCCELLI

U.S. naval service members presented an American flag to the family of Jack Weinstein at a private funeral service last Friday. Weinstein was 99 years old.

A naval veteran of World War II, Weinstein worked on the NAACP Legal Defense Fund with Thurgood Marshall, who would later become the first Black U.S. Supreme Court justice, to litigate Brown v. Board of Education. The Supreme Court’s ruling in the landmark 1954 case made racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional. Weinstein was a longtime honorary trustee at Temple Emanuel of Great Neck, where the memorial service was held. Senior Rabbi Robert Widom delivered a eulogy, telling stories of Weinstein’s faith that guided him as a judge. “Jack was famously vehement about the importance of being able to exercise judicial discretion as opposed to mandatory sentencing,” Widom said. “He combined a deep humility, as I saw him, with a fierce, unrelenting confidence in his beliefs.” Widom recalled Weinstein’s requests to be treated as a regular guy, citing his frequent seating position in the back row of the temple. He recalled conversing with Weinstein on biblical instructions to “love thy neighbor” and its accompanying caveats. “He [Weinstein] said we may not be able to control our feelings, but justice requires we control our actions,” Widom Continued on Page 35

The Williston Times, Friday, June 25, 2021

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Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, June 25, 2021

Curran backs Ryder amid calls to resign Nassau police commissioner under fire for comments made about department’s diversity BY R OB E RT PE L A E Z Nassau County Executive Laura Curran expressed support for Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder amid a flurry of civilian demands for him to resign after comments he made about the diversity of the Police Department last month. The Long Island Advocates for Police Accountability, a group that features civil rights advocates aimed at reforming policing in Nassau and Suﬀolk counties, said last week that Ryder should be removed as commissioner. Curran defended Ryder and praised the progress he has made while serving as police commissioner in a statement on Monday. “I have full confidence in Commissioner Ryder’s leadership of the Police Department, and he will be staying in his position,” Curran said. “Commissioner Ryder has championed the community policing model now being embraced nationwide as part of reform eﬀorts.” On May 27, Newsday published the findings of its investigation into the hiring process of

PHOTO BY ROSE WELDON

Nassau County Executive Laura Curran defended Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder amid calls from members of the community to resign from his post. the Nassau and Suﬀolk County police departments since 2012. The two departments hired just 67 out of the pool of 6,539 Black applicants, according to the findings. The number of Black applicants who choose to sit for Nassau County written exams fell

from 2,055 in 2012 to 1,213 in 2018, according to the findings. From 2012 to 2018, according to Newsday, only 36 of the 2,508 Black applicants were hired by the county Police Department. Ryder made comments to Newsday addressing the lack of

diversity in the department that met with ire from some members of the community. “A lot of these kids come from broken homes, these kids struggle in their communities because they don’t have both parents around, they don’t have a family history of law enforcement, they’re at a disadvantage starting oﬀ and we have to recognize it,” Ryder told Newsday. Ryder later apologized if the comments he made were offensive and said one goal of the Police Department is to improve diversity throughout the force. “My intention in my responses was not to be hurtful to anyone but to show how we are continuing to improve recruitment eﬀorts to increase diversity through community outreach and supporting applicants throughout the process,” Ryder said. The Long Island Advocates for Police Accountability said Ryder, along with the comments, “refused to acknowledge racial disparities in arrests” made by the Police Department in December and denied racial bias being a factor in arrests, rather than

“probable cause,” in March. “Based on strike one, strike two and strike three, Mr. Ryder, you’re out,” Frederick K. Brewington, a civil rights attorney, said at a news conference. “And we are calling on you now to resign because you have proven that you cannot address the issues of race when it comes to policing in Nassau County.” Standing with Brewington at the news conference were representatives from the Grand Council of the Guardians, an organization representing Black police oﬃcers, the National Latino Oﬃcers Association, Long Island United to Transform Policing and Community Safety, the Long Island Progressive Coalition, and the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives. “Mr. Ryder has said many awful statements about nonwhite candidates,” retired NYPD officer and Long Island Advocates member Dennis Jones said. “We cannot accept those kinds of comments from a police commissioner.” Continued on Page 31

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Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, June 25, 2021

Median home price jumps $50K in year $4,000 increase in Nassau County residences in May continues trend that began in 2019 BY R OB E RT PELAEZ The median price for residential homes sold in Nassau County in May increased by $4,000 over one month and by more than $50,000 over a year, according to One Key Multiple Listing Service. According to the statistics, the median price for residential homes sold last month was $654,000, an increase from $650,000 in April, and an increase from $602,000 May 2020. The figure is also a $104,000 increase from residential properties sold in May 2019. The median price of coops sold in the county in May increased to $282,500 from $245,000 in May 2019 and May 2020, according to the statistics. Condominium properties sold, on the other hand, decreased from $590,000 in May 2020 to $580,000 last month. The combination of all three properties sold in May had a median price of $635,000, an increase of $50,000 from May 2020, according to the statistics. The trend of year-to-date in-

PHOTO COURTESY OF COLDWELL BANKER RESIDENTIAL BROKERAGE

The median closed residential home price in Nassau County for May was $654,000 according to OneKey MLS. creases carried over from April, according to the figures. The median price of residential properties sold in Nassau County in April was $80,000 higher than in April 2020. More than 1,000 residential properties were sold in April, compared with just 516 in 2020,

a figure that most likely was impacted by the coronavirus pandemic’s restrictions on in-person tours and open houses. In April 2019, more than 800 residential properties were sold in the county, according to the statistics. In April, a combined 1,254 properties were sold throughout

the county, compared with 1,046 in May. In May 2020, 583 properties were sold, resulting in a 79.4 percent increase last month, according to the statistics. On Long Island, the median price for all homes sold was $580,000, an 18 percent increase from last year’s $491,000 figure.

The monthly closed sales activity throughout the island increased from May 2020 to 2021, with 3,131 total properties sold, including condos and co-ops, a 65 percent increase from the 1,896 sold in May 2020. The median sale price for a home on Long Island was $515,000 in 2020, an 8.4 percent increase from 2019, according to One Key. In more than 40 years of providing local real estate analysis to Long Islanders, last year was the first time that the median price for closed home sales exceeded $500,000. Nassau County reported an annual median home sale price of $575,000 in 2020, a 7.5 percent increase from $535,000 in 2019. Nassau’s 2020 median home sale price was $130,000 higher than Suﬀolk County’s $445,000, but Suﬀolk had an 11.3 percent increase from its 2019 median sale price of $399,900. Queens County saw a 6 percent increase from 2019, with the median home price reported at $615,000 in 2020.

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Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, June 25, 2021

Town of North Hempstead Supervisor Judi Bosworth and the Town Board Present:

FREE UPCOMING SUMMER EVENTS CONCERTS AT THE BEACH Something Fresh

Bring your own chairs and blankets.

(80s Freestyle, R&B, and Today’s Hits)

Street Fighter (Rolling Stones Tribute) Sunday, August 8 at 6 p.m. North Hempstead Beach Park

Dr. K’s Motown Review

Material Girl (Madonna Tribute) Sunday, August 22 at 6 p.m. North Hempstead Beach Park

Sunday, July 11 at 6 p.m. North Hempstead Beach Park (Sounds of Motown)

Sunday, July 25 at 6 p.m. North Hempstead Beach Park

CONCERTS BY CANDLELIGHT

Bring your own chairs and blankets.

Luis Damon (Salsa) Thursday, July 1 at 7:30 p.m. Martin “Bunky” Reid Park

(Classic Soul and Motown)

Endless Summer (Beach Boys Tribute) Thursday, July 8 at 7:30 p.m. Michael J. Tully Park

Copperline

The LP’s (Music of the 70s and 80s) Thursday, July 15 at 7:30 p.m. Clark Botanic Garden Captain Jack (Billy Joel Tribute Band) Thursday, July 22 at 7:30 Manorhaven Beach Park

A Decade of Soul

Thursday, July 29 at 7:30 p.m. Whitney Pond Park (Music of James Taylor and Friends)

Thursday, August 12 at 7:30 p.m. North Hempstead Beach Park (Amphitheatre)

Pour Some 80’s On Me

(Hits from the 80s, 90s and 2000s)

Thursday, August 26 at 7:30 p.m. Clark Botanic Garden

DRIVE-IN MOVIES The Greatest Showman Saturday, July 17 at 9 p.m. North Hempstead Beach Park

Monsters Inc. Saturday, August 14 at 8:30 p.m. North Hempstead Beach Park

The Boss Baby Sunday, August 1 at 9 p.m. North Hempstead Beach Park

Up Sunday, August 29 at 8:30 p.m. North Hempstead Beach Park

William Shakespeare’s

Romeo & Juliet

Friday, July 16 at 7 p.m. North Hempstead Beach Park Amphitheater

Sunday, August 15 at 3 p.m. Clark Botanic Garden

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Call 311 or (516) 869-6311 All events for Town residents only. CDC guidelines will be followed and are subject to change.

10 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, June 25, 2021

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Guidance Center names executive director/CEO The North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center has announced that Kathy Rivera will be the organization’s new executive director/CEO. Rivera is taking over the leadership role upon the retirement of Andrew Malekoﬀ, who served the agency for 45 years. Rivera spent the last 14 years at the Jewish Child Care Association, where she was the senior vice president of Care Management Services. Her experience at this multi-service child welfare agency, which provides comprehensive social services to children and families, makes her a perfect fit for the leading role at the Guidance Center, Long Island’s leading children’s mental health organization. “We believe Kathy will provide the strong leadership, experience and vision the Guidance Center needs to move into the future,” said Paul Vitale, Guidance Center Board president. “She has a proven track record in governance and fiscal management, and she has built and developed an expert, interdisciplinary leadership team that successfully operates a wide range of mental health, physical health, education and social well-being programs that serve more than 1,000 youth and families across Metro New York.” “North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center’s mission not only aligns

with my core values but supports my commitment to strengthening individuals and families to achieve self-determined optimum well-being,” said Rivera. “It is an honor and privilege to become part of a dynamic team and outstanding organization dedicated to ensuring equity and access with the highest quality services. I am thrilled to begin this new journey with the Guidance Center and look forward to supporting communities and families on their personal paths toward hope and healing.” Regina Barros-Rivera will serve as COO. “The Board of Directors believes that with Kathy’s leadership and Regina’s long-standing commitment and value to the organization, the Guidance Center will continue to uphold its unwavering dedication to the Nassau community,” said Vitale. Kathy Rivera earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Hunter College of the City University of New York and her Master of Social Work from the Hunter College School of Social Work. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and holds multiple certifications and training including being a Sanctuary Model (Trauma Informed) Trainer. She is a firstgeneration American-born child of immigrant parents from Thailand. When not working, Rivera enjoys spending leisure time with her husband, two sons and dog Luna.

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The Williston Times, Friday, June 25, 2021

Town recognizes students’ activism Honors leadership in social justice rallies, events against discrimination, child abuse BY R OB E RT PE L A E Z Oﬃcials from the Town of North Hempstead last week recognized a handful of local students who spearheaded a variety of activist events and social justice rallies on the North Shore. Town Councilwoman Veronica Lurvey and Clerk Wayne Wink celebrated the achievements of the students who went “above and beyond” in their communities by organizing rallies to support the Black Lives Matter movement, protests against AsianAmerican discrimination and the planting of pinwheels in honor of Child Abuse Awareness month. Manhasset Secondary School students Ada and Ava Shu, who organized a protest against Asian-American violence that brought more than 200 demonstrators to the Mary Jane Davies Green in mid-April, were two students honored by the town. They scheduled the event shortly after they heard about shootings in spas in the Atlanta area that left eight people dead, including six Asian women, in March. Once the Shus and their friends arrived at the Davies Green before the start time, they saw a steady stream of community members gather, many with signs reading, “Stop Hate, Spread Love,” “Hate Has No Home Here,” “This is My Home Too!” and

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE TOWN OF NORTH HEMPSTEAD

Officials from the Town of North Hempstead honored some of the local youth activists for their efforts over the past year. “Asians R Not Viruses.” “Maybe we can change one person’s opinion, that person can change someone else’s,” Ava Shu said. “And eventually we can change the whole community the whole time.” “Even though this rally is over, we’re not going to just stop,” Ada Shu said. “Even if we’re not the ones getting hurt, the others who are don’t deserve this at all, and we

should try to help them as much as we can.” Angelica Wu, a student at Great Neck North High School who spearheaded another rally to condemn Asian-American hatred in April, was also recognized for her eﬀorts. Around three dozen elementary and high school students from across the North Shore gathered at Grace Avenue Park in Great Neck to have their voices heard in response to the acts of hatred throughout the

nation. Wu said her main goal was to spur change in the North Hempstead community in light of the number of recent discriminatory acts towards Asian-Americans across the nation. Despite cultural teachings of “sweeping things under the rug,” Wu said, people can no longer continue to turn a blind eye to what is happening. “When I watch the videos of our elderly being pushed to the ground, beaten, treated like nothing, I was furious and disgusted,” Wu said. “But I felt another pain when I saw how no one helped her, no one stood up for them, and no one seemed to care.” Officials said more than 3,800 anti-Asian incidents were reported across the nation in 2020. There was also a 149 percent increase in anti-Asian hate crimes in the 16 largest cities in the U.S. in 2020, officials said. Chelsea Cohen, also from Great Neck North High School, was honored by the town for her efforts in organizing Black Lives Matter protests and being one of the organizing founders of the Instagram page @greatneckprotests in order to take activism beyond the internet. Hundreds attended the Black Lives Matter protest held in Grace Avenue Park in June of last year. Students, parents and members of the Great Neck community made signs Continued on Page 35

Legislature questions Anna Kaplan receives $375 cash payments anti-Semitic hate mail BY R OB E RT PE L A E Z Nassau County oﬃcials are seeking clarification from the U.S. Treasury Department on whether sending cash payments of $375 to eligible property owners, as proposed by County Executive Laura Curran in mid-May, is feasible. The Republican majority in the County Legislature held a hearing on Monday on Curran’s proposal, which would require the county to spend $100 million in American Rescue Plan funds provided to Nassau as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Nassau County Legislative Director Katie Horst said the county is meeting with Treasury representatives this week to go over the potential payments. “It is absolutely clear, according to the Treasury’s interim guidance, that direct cash payments to homeowners are permitted,” Horst said. The interim guidelines, posted on Thursday, said, “Cash transfers grossly in excess of the amount needed to address the negative economic impact identified by the recipient would not be considered to be a response to the COVID-19 public health emergency or its negative impacts.” Evlyn Tsimis, deputy county executive for economic development, said she and the rest of the administration are “very

optimistic we’ll get to where we want to be” and echoed Horst’s points on the need to check with the Treasury Department. Under Curran’s proposal households earning up to $500,000 annually would be eligible to receive the $375 cash payments. Those households generally qualify for the state’s School Tax Relief or STAR program. Updates on the proposal, which would have to be approved by the Republican-controlled County Legislature, were met with ire and confusion by Presiding Oﬃcer Richard Nicolello (R-New Hyde Park). Some of the questions Nicolello asked seven representatives of the Curran administration were left unanswered, including if anyone in the administration had sought guidance from Treasury consultants or legal counsel on whether the payments would be feasible prior to Curran’s announcement last month. “In my 25 years here, I have never seen this before,” Nicolello said regarding the lack of answers from administration oﬃcials. “The problem is, in case you’re not able to issue those checks as the county executive told people on May 17, at some point we’re going to have to explain that to the residents of Nassau County.” Continued on Page 44

BY R OB E RT PE L A E Z State Sen. Anna Kaplan (D-North Hills) received a piece of hate mail with explicit, insulting language and an antiSemitic reference on Tuesday in response to one of her mailers with information on the coronavirus vaccine. Kaplan posted a picture of the hate mail, which was written on the mailer providing Nassau County residents with

vaccination information, criticized the literature, and called Kaplan “stupid,” “dumb” and “evil,” along with a profane insult. The sender also wrote “109 soon 110,” a phrase the Anti-Defamation League said is used by white supremacists referring to the number of countries that have expelled Jews, implying the United States would be the 110th to do so. Continued on Page 44

PHOTO COURTESY OF ANNA KAPLAN’S OFFICE

State Sen. Anna Kaplan received a piece of hate mail with anti-Semitic references and profane language on Tuesday.

12 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, June 25, 2021

COMMUNITY NEWS

Virtual connections turn real for 7th grade BY SHARON SOLOMON AND HANNA HAREL As the Temple Beth Shalom school year comes to a close, we reflect back upon what has been a rollercoaster of a year. Our 7th grade class made a tremendous impact in our direct and broader community. Our partnership with the seniors at the Atria on Roslyn Harbor, made possible by the Legacy Heritage Better Together Grant, took an alternative course this year. With COVID restrictions still enforced, our relationships with the seniors turned virtually. We gathered on Zoom to share stories, celebrate holidays, do activities, and even had the wonderful opportunity to turn to pen and paper and have a pen-pal. Following our joyous live outdoor Chanukah Concert streamed via Zoom, spearheaded by our TBS Director Sharon Solomon, the new year rolled in with a series of new beginnings. Despite our 7th grade students learning from home and our senior buddies battling a host of COVID-related restric-

tions, our Atria-TBS partnership overcame obstacles and persevered. Friendships and relationships strengthened as students now had a fluid way to communicate with their buddies

through email and video. During the winter holidays, we celebrated with our senior buddies by delivering Hamantaschen cookies to the Atria along with Purim cards written

TBS Religious School artistic gift presentation to The Atria on Roslyn Harbor as a culmination gift. Present are (left to right) Hanna Harel, TBS Grant Coordinator, Anthony Gonzalez, Executive Director of The Atria, Meagan Devine-Collazo, Senior Engage Life Director, Sharon Solomon, Educational Director-Community Engagement and Silvia Kogan, Religious School Assistant Principal.

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by the students. In March, we had guest author and educator, Jared Harel, present a program entitled, “Wishing Upon A Star.” This uplifting, inspirational Zoom-session encouraged students to articulate their hopes and desires in a post-pandemic world. Harel taught them about repetition and refrains in both poetry and song. The students then compiled their wishes into one collective, inspirational poem, which they artistically designed with a picture of a senior embracing a child surrounded by twinkling stars, a plane, and the hopes of many. A creative “foiled star project” was designed by both students and seniors, then exchanged with one another. TBS picked John Lennon’s song “Imagine” as a symbol of our strength, resilience, and care. Working under such unique circumstances, our students and seniors understood there was room for flexibility and growth to reimagine how we connect. Our “End Of The Year Program” has been postponed

to this upcoming September, where an outdoor sing-along led by our Cantor at the Atria will be held for our students and buddies to meet in-person. Students are grateful and truly excited for this opportunity to meet their buddies and continue growing strong relationships. A unique artistic gift of photos of students and seniors “Hand in Hand” was presented on Monday, June 21 to the Atria on behalf of Temple Beth Sholom and the 7th grade class at this event. Our 7th grade class overcame the challenges of remote learning and found meaning in creating virtual connections. Our students were able to exceed expectations and create deep personal connections with their senior buddies. Some students even invited buddies to their virtual Bar Mitzvah ceremony, a true testament to how amazing our students are. While we have become accustomed to our virtual connections, our class remains optimistic that these connections will grow ever stronger in-person in the coming year.

Sport Psychology Dr. Tom Ferraro

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has specialized in sport psychology for 20 years and works in the fields of golf, tennis, soccer, baseball, football, wrestling, lacrosse, figure skating, gymnastics, softball, fencing and more. He has helped professional teams, Olympians and elite young athletes learn how to manage the intense pressure of competitive sports. He appears on both TV and radio and has sport psychology columns in 5 different newspapers and has been featured in The New York Times, Wall street Journal and the London Times. Golf Digest includes him in their list of top mental game gurus in America. For a consultation see below: Williston Park Professional Center 2 Hillside Ave, Suite E. Williston Park NY 11596 (building parallel to E. Williston railroad station)

drtomferraro.com drtferraro@aol.com

(516) 248-7189

The Williston Times, Friday, June 25, 2021

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14 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, June 25, 2021

Opinion

OUR VIEWS

Bringing fairness to Nassau elections

lection Day is months away and we have yet to get to know many of the candidates for the Nassau County Legislature, but we are ready now to make our prediction that the Republicans will win the majority of seats. No, we are not psychic. But we are able to understand given how well county Republicans gerrymandered Nassau County’s legislative districts in 2014 the GOP will win in 2021. How well were the districts gerrymandered? The Republicans managed to give themselves more registered voters in 12 of the 19 legislative districts. This was a neat trick since Republicans only held a 10-9 advantage at the time and Democrats had a 20,382 advantage among registered voters – 344,078 to 323,696. It just goes to show what you can do to rig a legislative map if you don’t mind slicing and dicing communities across the county with districts that follow no rhyme or reason except to favor one political party. To no one’s surprise, the Republicans then won a 12-7 advantage in the County Legislature. This doesn’t mean that Democrats have no chance to win a majority in the Legislature in November. Josh Lafazan, an independent running as a Democrat, won in a district with more registered Republicans in 2017, cutting the Republicans’ advantage in seats to 11-8. And the Democrats’ advantage among registered voters has grown significantly in the past seven years.

As of Feb. 21, the number of registered Democrats had risen to 434,327, 40 percent of the electorate, while the number of registered Republican voters had basically stayed the same at 335,771, nearly a 100,000 margin with their share of registered voters dropping to 31 percent. The Democrats could also win if they have fielded a particularly strong slate of candidates. That decision was pretty much controlled by Jay Jacobs, the chairman of the Nassau County and New York State Democratic parties. But despite holding both titles, Jacobs’ record in Nassau County has not been great, with Republicans holding the majority in the Legislature for nearly 20 years with Democratic slates often including recycled failed candidates. Democrat Lauran Curran did win the county executive seat four years ago, but that was after the previous county executive, Republican Edward Mangano, was indicted on charges of political corruption and, in separate charges, so was Dean Skelos, the then Nassau-based Senate majority leader. Still, if Curran does very well against her Republican 2021 opponent, Bruce Blakeman, a Town of Hempstead Republican challenger with a long string of election defeats, Democratic candidates running for the County Legislature could defy the odds and win a majority. Democrats can also hope that one or more legislative districts has turned blue over the past seven years. But the gerrymandered districts of 2014 do make winning the majority for Democrats a lot harder. The map is like giving

BLANK SLATE MEDIA LLC

Editorial Cartoon

Republicans four outs per inning and Democrats three in a baseball game. The stakes for this year’s elections for the County Legislature are particularly important because the winning party is likely to decide on the new district lines after receiving the results of the once-in-a-decade census. And that decision could determine the majority in the Legislature for the next 10 years. In September, Nassau Democratic legislators proposed the creation of a redistricting commission to determine legislative boundaries after the completion of the 2020 census. Democrats said the proposal, which included a timeline in which the process would take place and the appointment of a special master in case the commission missed its deadlines, was intended to create a fair and representative distribution of legislators. You know, like they do in democratic countries. This is in keeping with what the state of New York approved REPORTERS Rose Weldon, Robert Pelaez

in 2014 when it green-lighted an independent redistricting commission like those urged by good government groups and adopted by an increasing number of states. But Nassau Republican spokesman Christopher Boyle said in a statement in September that legislators were too focused on the COVID-19 pandemic, fiscal crisis and problems from a recent storm to comment on it. County Republicans have continued to say nothing since then despite the 2020 election, the Jan. 6 assault on the Capitol by Donald Trump’s supporters seeking to overturn the presidential election and a widespread attack on voting rights by Republican-controlled state legislatures across the country. For instance, Republican-led legislatures in 14 states have enacted 24 laws giving them power over election administration in those states. This, it should be remembered, is a threat to all of us since state governments control the administration of elections for the House, Senate and president.

When asked several years ago about a redistricting commission, Nassau County Legislator Richard Nicolello (R-New Hyde Park) said, “It would be as political when you have a nonpartisan commission redrawing the lines as it is now.” For this to be true, one would have to believe that the elected officials whose political futures are at stake are going to develop a fairer playing field than people with no vested interest in the process. If that’s the case, perhaps Major League Baseball can do without umpires and let the home team’s manager call balls and strikes. Democrats in Congress have proposed sweeping legislation to combat Republican eﬀorts to suppress voting in states across the country as well as reform obstacles like campaign finance laws to make elections fairer. You don’t think that the rich and large corporations paying little or no taxes is a coincidence do you? To no one’s surprise, the Democrats’ proposals have been opposed by Senate Republicans. Continued on Page 31

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PUBLISHERS OF

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Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, June 25, 2021

KREMER’S CORNER

Bipartisanship is just a dream in Congress

f Mr. Webster had created a political dictionary the first words on page one would have been “bipartisan.” It is a form of wishful thinking that all politicians talk about and the voting public loves to hear. At the national level, bipartisanship does occasionally happen these days but it is impossible to get a consensus on anything that is consequential. It is a fact that Congress was able to agree on legislation dealing with anti-Asian prejudice and there may even be a bill or two that passed with the support of both parties. President Joe Biden campaigned on a pledge to have bipartisanship, but he was dreaming that it was 20 or 30 years ago when big things happened in Washington and legislation passed with two-party support. A simple case in point is Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. On the day that President Barack Obama was sworn into oﬃce, McConnell pledged that he would

dedicate his life to “making President Obama a one-term president.” A few short weeks ago McConnell stated that he would do “all in his power” to stop President Biden from passing any of his political priorities. Over in the House of Representatives, a bunch of Republicans attacked Mr. Biden for not being more bipartisan, at the same time that 120 of them voted not to recognize the November election results. On a daily basis, almost any legislation that moves through the House passes with only Democratic votes. Is the continued resistance to bipartisanship a new event? Not really. Back in the mid-’90s when Newt Gingrich became Speaker of the House, he told his fellow Republicans that they were not to sponsor any legislation with Democrats and even frowned on members having a drink or dinner with any member of the opposite party. That event not only poisoned Washington politics but

JERRY KREMER Kremer’s Corner

it trickled down to state legislatures all over the country. The resistance to working together on Capitol Hill is not because there is some legitimate reason that working together is against the law. It is all about the politics of today. Once upon a time members of Congress worked on passing legislation that would impact on people for the next 10-plus years. Today, everything that happens depends on what will happen in the next 10 minutes.

McConnell and his team aren’t looking at the problems that the average citizen faces today. He is focused on the 2022 election and the possibility of regaining control of both houses. If he works with the Democrats on some bill that helps people, he worries that it will undermine his chance to regain power. President Biden has presented America with an ambitious program dealing with people’s needs following a year that impacted the lives of millions of Americans. Businesses were destroyed. Families suﬀered terrible tragedies. Local governments were saddled with astronomical costs that will take years to recover. Some of these challenges were solved with the passage of a major funding bill without any Republican votes. But that major legislation did not take care of the national needs that have not been met for the past 25 years. Roads and bridges are in danger of falling down all over America. Chil-

dren attend schools that are not only antiquated but in danger of falling apart. Over one-third of Americans do not have access to broadband. Rural hospitals are closing at a rapid rate. The menu of national needs is longer than you can imagine. The possibility of any of these challenges being met is very remote. The thinking of one group of Republicans is that if any or all of these items are addressed, that will help the other side and endanger a 2022 election win. To add to this partisan divide, former President Donald Trump threatens any legislator with a primary contest if they help pass anything advocated by President Biden and the Democrats. Sadly, the thought of bipartisanship is just a dream. They are words in the dictionary but they will not find a home in Washington. Whether those words will ever again become a priority for our badly divided America, is anyone’s guess.

A LOOK ON THE LIGHTER SIDE

Spending some time ‘In The Heights’

’ve just spent a great weekend “In the Heights” — by which I mean I’ve been checking out the splashy blockbuster of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s first stage success. In spite of a bit of controversy, it was a toe-tapping lot of fun. I’m sure it would have been even more fun in an air-conditioned theater on a giant screen. But even at home in my living room on HBO Max, it was great. About that controversy. No sooner did this movie hit the screen than we heard complaints from some quarters that cast members weren’t Black enough. Lin-Manuel Miranda, who went on several years later to create “Hamilton,” could have just said that this story was based on his own life as a Puerto Rican-American who was born and raised in Washington Heights. He could have just said if you don’t like it, go ahead and write your own musical. Or try to. Instead, he took the high road and decided to apologize. But honestly, of all the people

to attack with this complaint — Lin-Manuel Miranda? The man who made George Washington a Black man? And who decided to cast virtually all of the Founding Fathers as people of color? In fact, you can use the word “iconoclastic” in its literal meaning of “idol-breaking” for Miranda’s casting of “Hamilton.” At one stroke, he swept into the dustbin of history all the previous rules of who could play what, opening every role to every color. It was daring. Breathtaking. Brilliant. And people only had the nerve to complain about this latest production because of what Miranda had already done in “Hamilton.” Truly, no good deed goes unpunished! As for director Jon Chu, he hasn’t escaped criticism either. Oh, sure, he achieved a masterpiece with the film “Crazy Rich Asians” in 2018. Sure, he got recognition for making the first Hollywood film in 25 years with an all-Asian cast. And, sure, the news at the time was full of stories about people crying from joy at finally seeing themselves

life.

JUDY EPSTEIN

A Look on the Lighter Side represented on screen. But what has he done lately? I admit that I do not know what it is like to grow up darkskinned in America. But I did grow up one kind of minority, and for me, all the recent craze for “seeing people who look like me” leaves me cold. I have not seen any movies representing right-handed, blueeyed Jewish- American girls who used to be tomboys but gained too much weight after having children. But if I had, I don’t think it would change my

You know what did in fact change my life and left me feeling validated? Somebody saying on public radio that being a stay-at-home mom is the hardest job in the world and the least appreciated. And you know who that was? You won’t believe me. It was Rick Santorum. Yes, that Rick Santorum. Of course, he then went on to blame Hillary Clinton for it, which is where we parted company. But I’m still grateful for his statement. I’ll take my validation where I can get it. This whole business about “representation” and “looking like me” reminds me of a story I once heard that if a soup company’s ads showed a spoonful of soup, the vegetables and meat in that spoon and bowl had better be in exactly the same proportions as in the actual soup: more carrots than potatoes, more potatoes than chicken, and so on, down to the smallest flake of parsley. Even if that meant that the photographer had to put glass

marbles in the bottom of the bowl, to push the vegetables to the top. Should we go around making sure that every movie cast has 72 percent Whites (as per 2019 Census estimate numbers), 12.8 percent Blacks, and 0.2percent Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islanders? What about Irish Americans (9.2 percent)? Italian Americans (4.9 percent)? Left-handers (13 percent)? By that logic, men could only make up 49 percent of any movie’s cast! Hmmm… maybe I like that one. But then there could never have been a “Monsters Inc.,” a “Toy Story” or even “WALL-E.” Nowhere in the census is there a category for sentient robots! The idea of casting a film by measuring birthplaces or skin tones rather than talent is repugnant to me. Because ultimately, film isn’t about science or technology — it’s about art. And the only important thing about a work of art is whether or not it tells the truth. By that standard, “In The Heights” rings true.

16 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, June 25, 2021

THE BACK ROAD

Turning the tables on the telemarketers

here was a brief period of time when I came to believe that I would no longer be pestered by unwanted calls from telemarketers and the like. The relief hasn’t lasted very long though, as they have continued to insinuate themselves, unabated, into my everyday life. Although I am almost exclusively a Smartphone user, my landline rings day and night with calls from people who I don’t know. Caller ID helps. I ignore bogus calls. If I’m not sure and I pick up, it only takes listening to a few syllables for me to determine whether or not to hang up. I have tried blocking callers and notifying the “do not call” registry, but neither method is foolproof. I understand that phone spammers use a spoof app that hides their actual number from your caller ID. Consequently, when they call and I block the

number, I’m blocking a number that does not exist. Back in the 1990s, I developed what I then believed to be a novel approach to addressing this chronic problem. I dubbed it “turning the tables on the telemarketers.” I’ll explain. The aim of telemarketers is to keep you on the line for as long as it takes them to make a pitch and sale. It could be for a carpet cleaning, the promise of a low-interest credit card or a sunny spot in a cemetery. I decided that rather than become aggravated with each call, I would flip the script and do whatever I could to make the telemarketer want to get oﬀ the phone with me. In time, I welcomed their calls. An easy place to start is at the very beginning of a cheery pitch which typically begins this way: “Hello Andrew, how are you doing today?” To which I

ANDREW MALEKOFF The Back Road

respond with news of a sudden illness that has left me partially paralyzed or a recent dog bite that has resulted in a festering wound, or a simple case food poisoning that has me running to the bathroom all day and night. The possibilities are endless. It throws them oﬀ their plan and opens the door for even more sad and nauseatingly graphic de-

scriptions of said maladies. When a carpet cleaning service calls, I might ask if they can get blood out of my carpeting. Naturally, this leads to details about how the blood got on my carpet in the first place. Explanations can range from a head-first slip-and-fall into a glass coﬀee table; to a gruesome Thanksgiving dinner turkey carving accident; to a violent confrontation with an unstable neighbor. Assuming the role of a parolee forced to wear an electronic ankle bracelet is one of my favorites. This tactic comes in handy when telemarketers try to entice me with a special gift. The gift might be minor league baseball tickets, for example, which would require me to travel outside of the square mile area which is a condition of my parole. I then press the telemarketer to call my parole oﬃcer and

vouch for me so I can make the trip to the baseball game. When they politely decline, I lecture them about the stigma that people like me face, “when civilians like you don’t give us a fair shake after we’ve paid our debt to society.” Depending on the telemarketer I might add, “after all it was only manslaughter, not murder.” Another favorite tactic is to ask a telemarketer where they are calling from, in which case it might go like this: “Oh, you live in New Mexico? What a coincidence! I have plans to travel there in a few weeks. Would it be okay if I stayed at your place for a few days so I can save a few bucks for sightseeing?” Whatever the scenario, it’s always fun hearing them try to squirm out of the sale and get oﬀ the phone. You ought to try turning the tables on the telemarketers. It just might make your day.

E A R T H M AT T E R S

Going bats over a misunderstood animal

ats have been in the news recently due to their potential as a source of the COVID virus. Bats are mammals just like us, but eons ago they evolved lightweight membranes between their fingers and forearms and took to the sky, the only mammals to achieve true flight. Because they are mammals, they can harbor viruses that can more easily cross over to humans. Bats are the second largest group of mammals with 1,400 species, and it is this species richness that makes them a larger reservoir for a variety of virus including SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19). But not all bats are carriers, and it is agreed by scientists that crossover requires direct contact; either consuming, handling, or breathing/ ingesting contaminated feces.Bats are found worldwide except in very cold areas, and range from the tiny Kitti’s Hog-nosed bat at 1 ½”, the smallest known mammal, to the Flying Foxes, fruit-eating mega bats with a wingspan of over 5 feet. Despite this size the Foxes only tip the scales at 3 pounds because flight requires light weight. Bats in flight are highly maneuverable allowing them to catch insets on the wing. They can even net an insect in their wing membrane and use their legs to move it into their mouth, without missing

a wing beat. Bats in our areas are primarily insectivores, consuming up to 600 mosquitos and other insects in an hour. Bats are not often seen since they are nocturnal feeders. Their nighttime habits make surveying them diﬃcult, but scientists have developed several methods. One is using fine-meshed mist nets. A newer method is taking sonic recordings while driving through areas with active bat populations. Each bat species has a unique echolocation signature that can be identified. Bats use echolocation to navigate and find food in the dark by sending out sound waves from the mouth or nose. When the sound waves hit an object, an echo bounces oﬀ the object and returns to the bats’ ears. They produce sound waves above human hearing, called ultrasound, but in certain circumstances it can be heard. I was privileged to be in a walled square in Italy with bats swirling around over our heads. Their calls bouncing around in the enclosed space were audible as a high clicking chatter. Little brown bats were once the most common bat in the east, but the advent of White-Nose Syndrome is decimating their populations. New York is ground zero as the first cases were discovered in caves near Albany in 2007. This

JENNIFER WILSON-PINES Earth Matters

fungus lurks in the caves where bats hibernate in winter. It causes bats to behave abnormally, doing things like flying outside in winter, and leads to death. It has spread rapidly and has been detected this year in Texas and Montana. It is thought the vector is cavers carrying the fungus on clothing and equipment so protocols for entering new caves have now been put in place. New York State is home to nine different species of bats including the Red bat, Hoary bat, Silver-haired bat, Northern longeared bat, Little brown bat, Indiana bat, Tri-colored bat, Big brown bat, and Eastern small-footed bat. Recent surveys in Suffolk have not seen large numbers of bats, though several different species were identified. In 2017, during a 10-day mist-netting survey at two

refuges, Wertheim and Elizabeth A. Morton, scientists caught 6 Eastern Red bats, one Northern longeared bat and 26 Big brown bats. An acoustic survey in the Pine Barrens identified five species: the Big brown bat, Hoary bat, Tri-colored bat, Northern long-eared bat, and the Red bat. These low numbers may be attributed to a lack of suitable hibernating and roosting spots. Bats need to hibernate in groups in order to stay warm. Wind turbines and deforestation have also played a role in dropping numbers of bats. The lack of roosting sites can be remedied with the installation of bat boxes. They need to be properly sited and constructed. A bat house is just an empty rectangular wooden box with an opening at the bottom. The bats roost inside hanging upside down, squeezing in tight with others for warmth. Bat houses should be mounted facing south, 12 to 15 feet above the ground on a pole or under the eaves of a house. Unlike birds that can fly oﬀ their perches, bats have weak legs and upon leaving the house need to drop a few feet before flying. Bats are important in the ecosystem for the control of insects. Recent studies estimate that bats eat enough pests to save more than $1 billion per year in crop damage and pesticide costs in the U.S. corn crop alone.

Bats also spread fruit seed and are pollinators of night-blooming flowers, sustaining many ecosystems worldwide. The International Union for Conservation of Nature estimated in 2012 that “Production of at least one-third of the world’s food, including 87 of the 113 leading food crops, depends on pollination carried out by insects, bats and birds. This ecosystem service is worth over USD200 billion per year.” Bat Myths Busted!Bats will fly into your hair and get stuckThis old myth that was used to keep young girls from going out at night. In reality bats are not interested in flying into your hair and getting stuck to a screaming maniac. All bats carry rabiesThe estimated number for free-ranging bats is less than 0.1%. Bats that are infected with rabies will act strangely and are often lying on the ground. Rabies can be fatal, and care should be taken not to touch bats, even dead bats. Bats are flying rodentsBats belong to the order Chiroptera, and rodents belong to Rodentia. Bats are blindBats use echolocation, but they can also see and have well developed eyes. Bats are blood feedersOnly three species of bats feed on blood and those live in tropical regions of the Americas. The majority of bats feed on insects, fruit or nectar.

Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, June 25, 2021

VIEW POINT

Immigrants can light spark in U.S. economy

resident Joe Biden has proclaimed June “National Immigrant Heritage Month.” It is most appropriate because June is also high school graduation season and looking over the names and faces of Long Island’s valedictorians and salutatorians in Newsday, what is so impressive is how many are firstor second-generation immigrants. The diversity of faces and backgrounds, a reflection of America, should be a source of pride for our community and our nation. The Census Bureau released the first results from its 2020 count and the number, 331.4 million on April 1, 2020, reflects the slowest growth rate of 7.4 percent in the U.S. population since the 1930s. The 7.3 percent growth in the 1930s reflected a decade that experienced the worst economic downturn in the history of the in-

dustrialized world (up until then). In contrast, the population grew 13.2 percent during the boom decade of the 1990s and 9.7 percent between 2000 and 2010. Declining birth rates are an issue – women delaying childrearing and families choosing to have fewer children, and what can be described as malaise over future prospects in light of climate change, finances and other concerns. But add to that, the last four years have seen the spigot of immigration shut oﬀ. The Trump administration turned its anti-immigrant agenda into a crusade to not only imprison, deport and de-legitimize as many of the estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants as possible, but to close oﬀ asylumseekers, refugees and legal immigration. Now, as we emerge out of the

KAREN RUBIN View Point

coronavirus pandemic, businesses are clamoring for workers, really resenting being forced into oﬀering a living wage, benefits, even signing incentives. A lot of this is blamed on workers not feeling safe enough to go to work, mothers kept home by lack of child care or schools not fully open, people who

have moved away after they were laid oﬀ, a disconnect between work available and workers willing to do it, and able to wait longer because of federal unemployment benefits as well as a revaluation of how one spends one’s limited lifetime. But it is also because of a shortage of immigrants. So it is not without irony that after five (or 20) years of tormenting, vilifying and barring even legal immigration, the U.S. – along with other industrialized countries (even China) that are experiencing low birth rates and aging population – may be competing for immigrants. As New York Times columnist Farhad Manjoo noted in “The World Might Be Running Low on Americans,” “immigrants provide the spark, the creativity, as well as the competition.” (www.nytimes. com/2021/05/20/opinion/the-

world-might-be-running-low-onamericans.html) And so we return to our list of valedictorians and salutatorians. The names of entrepreneurs and inventors. The doctors and nurses, the researchers who got us through COVID-19. More than 130,000 TPS holders and more than 200,000 DACA recipients have been working on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic to keep communities healthy and safe. You can look to the fact that immigrants have been awarded 37 percent of the Nobel Prizes won by Americans in chemistry, medicine and physics since 2000, according to the National Foundation for American Policy. “The significant number of immigrant Nobel Prize winners is a sign of America’s openness to new ideas and people,” writes Continued on Page 36

OUR TOWN

Choking at the U.S. Open, in our own lives

t’s amazing what you can learn about life by watching a golf tournament. It may be because golf is a slow-moving game played on such a large canvas and that the margin for error is miniscule.Anyone who tuned into this week’s U.S. Open at Torrey Pines will have seen the unheard of 46-year-old journeyman golfer by the name of Richard Bland, who was leading this pressure-packed tournament after two rounds. The ever so conscientious television producers at NBC, the network covering this year’s Open, tracked down Richard Bland’s golf coach to discuss his student. The coach, Tim Barter of Great Britain, repeatedly referred to Bland’s tendency to leave all his putts short of the hole. He said that Bland is a superb ball striker but somehow seems to have a block about reaching the hole when putting. And anyone who knows anything about golf knows that you “drive for show but you putt for dough. ”Putting is the sine qua non of golf and it thus goes without saying that if you want to make putts, you have to get the ball to the hole. That, my friend, is simple physics. Coach Barter referred to the putting guru Dave Peltz’s belief that if you are not putting the ball firmly enough, it tends to bounce about quite a bit when it nears the hole.But, alas, analytics and golfing swing mechanics will only take you so far. You also may need to get past one’s inner and largely unconscious

fears, anxiety and dread in order to get the ball to find its home at the bottom of the cup.\ Now lest you think that golfers are the only ones who are subject to unconscious fears of winning, let me expand upon our thesis. Nearly every human alive avoids success, happiness and joy on a daily basis. Evidence of anxiety or choking is observed when someone fails to go in a direction that will help their life. A job hunter will show up late for a key appointment. A salesman will fail to make a key phone call on a hot lead or someone will mysteriously come down with a serious cold just before a vacation. All these indicate the fear of success. Most try to describe this as bad luck or if you happen to be a little bit more introspective will say it’s a fear of failure. “Oh, if I make that crucial call and get a rejection, it will be too painful and thus let’s avoid the whole thing.” Yes, accidents do happen and yes, fear of failure is a trait that many suﬀer with. But choking on or oﬀ the course also suggests that there is something more deeply unconscious at play. And this may be where fear of success comes in. It is strange that the only golfer I have heard talk at all about fear of success is Jack Nicklaus, who won 18 majors, a feat that will probably never happen again. He understood that most in the field will back up in the end of a major out of a fear of winning. He felt that they all believed they were underserving of the win.

DR. TOM FERRARO Our Town

Nicklaus was on to something. There is one person, however, who introduced this concept and frequently talked about the fear of winning. He never played the game of golf because he was so busy treating patients. His name was Sigmund Freud, the father of psychoanalysis. I am certain you’ve heard of one of his more famous concepts, castration anxiety, or the “Oedipus Complex.” This little ditty, like almost all of his other brilliant findings, is never mentioned in the field of sport psychology where, in fact, it ought to be one of its central tenets. All it means is that as little boys grow up and reach the age of about 5, they fall in love with Mommy and fear that Daddy may find out, get angry and kill the lustful little boy. You will be pleased to note that Freud did not neglect little girls in the formulation, and he called it the “Electra Complex,” which simply means that about the same age, little girls fall in love with Daddy and

fear that Mommy may find out and do serious harm to them. Thus, they too inherit fear of getting what they really want. This fear is laid down in the unconscious and emerges in full force later in life when you are about to achieve your dreams. Whether you’re a man or a woman, it is likely that you are unconsciously avoiding success due to these nasty little fears that have their roots in childhood. So do not have too much pity on poor Richard Bland or his bewildered coach Barter. If you watched closely on TV, you will have seen that actually most of the players backed oﬀ the lead on Sunday and were probably suﬀering with the same dread of getting axed if they had the nerve to reach for that trophy.And furthermore, don’t lose too much sleep over these athletes. Instead ask yourself how and why you have been avoiding, obtaining and grasping onto your own particular version of joy in life.

The answer to why you avoid happiness will probably stem from what happened between you and Mom and Dad way back when you were 5 years old. But, of course, no one really believes in Freud, do they? All those arcane and oddsounding theories are nothing but silly talk. However, the grim truth is that no one has come close to producing a theory that is more eﬀective. Instead we hear that only if Mr. Bland would have listened a little more closely to Tim Barter and Dave Peltz and hit the ball a little harder than voila, he would have been smiling and holding the U.S. Open trophy in his arms. But instead, he will be reaching for a drink and doing his best to forget about what just happened. Until it happens again next week. It’s not his putter and it’s not for lack of will. Athletes back oﬀ of victory largely due to repressed childhood fears that are still swimming around inside their minds.

Why do so many people seem to fear their own success?

18 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, June 25, 2021

READERS WRITE

LIRR continues to fudge performance stats

ecent claims by Long Island Rail Road President Phil Eng that ontime performance is improving and averaging a record 96 percent in 2021 are misleading. A commuter train is considered on time by the LIRR if it arrives within 5 minutes and 59 seconds of its scheduled arrival time. Thus, a train is considered late only if it arrives at its final destination 6 minutes

or more after its scheduled arrival time. For many LIRR commuters who have to arrive at work on time, their bosses would not be happy. The LIRR definition of “On Time” is like a teacher giving students a passing grade by rigging the results. Ongoing cancellations and combining of trains due to signal and other problems in the East River tunnels along with other locations on all nine branches of the LIRR

system will continue for years to come. Amtrak will not initiate decades overdue major repairs of the 100-plus-year-old East River tunnels until 2025 (two years after East Side Access to Grand Central Terminal begins). This work on all four tunnels, including two that suﬀered significant damages from Superstorm Sandy in 2012, may not be completed until 2029. Until this work

is over, it will be impossible to guarantee reliable uninterrupted honest on time service Larry Penner Great Neck Larry Penner is a transportation advocate, historian and writer who previously worked for the Federal Transit Administration Region 2 New York Oﬃce.

Fact-based information trumps insults

n response to Eric Cashdan’s June 18, letter “Responding to the Trumpian cult,” I oﬀer the following from Rose Weldon’s July 21, 2020. letter “Blank Slate publisher featured in Washington Post”: Joan Swirsky, an author and writer who has contributed to The New York Times and Newsday, among other publications, replied to the Post story in an

email to Blank Slate Media. “Only in my community of Great Neck (which I also call the Mecca of Marxism … it actually had a Marxist Forum for decades) is fact-based, conservative thought considered extreme and the oh-so-delicate sensibilities of the largely leftist population considered credible,” Swirsky wrote. “If it weren’t so dangerous to our Republic, it would be downright comical.”

Steven Blank said in an interview that he encourages those who are unhappy with the letters they read to write their own letters and “do it in a way that educates and explains why they believe it’s wrong instead of name-calling.” I suggest that Mr. Cashdan and those interested read the following to be more informed: Opinion | When New York City Was

the Capital of American Communism — The New York Times (nytimes.com) When New York City Was the Capital of American CommunismBy Maurice Isserman, Oct. 20, 2017A great follow-up to the above article is:American Marxism by Mark R. Levin Walter Jaworski New Hyde Park

Middle Neck roadwork lacks planning, notice

regularly have to drive through the war zone in Great Neck, otherwise known as, Middle Neck Road. The rides are unique on Long Island in terms of their choppiness straining the riders and tormenting the motor vehicles. The asphalts were partially removed for placing pipes, but the new pieces of asphalts were planted neglectfully with substantial diﬀerences of level with the rest of the road. Supposedly, new asphalt is going to be

poured at the end of the summer but in the meantime something needs to be done to smoothen the road, e.g., filler asphalt can be added and tampered. Middle Neck Road is the main artery of the peninsula which passes through Village of Great Neck Plaza, Village of Great Neck Estates, the unincorporated areas of Town of North Hempstead, Village of Great Neck and Village of Kings point. Middle Neck Road is not a village road, it is a county road. Its repair and mainte-

nance are “mishandled” by Nassau County. One might be misinformed and think that the mayors of the villages or the Town of North Hempstead supervisor, should be reached for mitigating the “repairs.” The mayors and the town supervisor do not have any jurisdictions whatsoever for the repairs of this county road. Our representative (for Great Neck area) at the county (Nasssu County), Ellen Birnbaum, should have got involved already. The residents need not to wait until

the end of the summer when the county is going to pour new asphalt. However, while neglecting the opportunities to serve her constituents, Ms. Birnbaum, does not miss the best photo ops such as picking up garbage on the land next Piccadilly road on “Earth Day” or show up at the COVID vaccine site arranged by other oﬃcials. Leon Manoucheri Great Neck

Not COVID, but Mosquito Joe! Mum on

ell, it’s that time of year when flowers bloom, birds nest and all of nature comes to life. Not this year. No, it’s not COVID — it’s Mosquito Joe! Last week, while I was outside tending to my organic garden, I heard a loud noise coming from the yard behind me. The smell was like soap mixed with chemicals so I thought power washing?

Nope. Turns out it was Mosquito Joe, who did not notify me that they were spraying (which is required) since I live directly behind that property. So, I called Mosquito Joe to find out what I was exposed to. It was Bifenthrin, which, according to Beyond Pesticides, is toxic to bees, birds, fish and mammals. Also a neurotoxin. Bees are in serious decline and I haven’t seen any since be-

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

fore the spraying. So much for my nice organic garden! Mosquito Joe does oﬀer non-toxic garlic and essential oil-based sprays, which do work and are better for the environment( and us humans). To anyone who uses Mosquito Joe or has landscapers apply herbicides and pesticides to your lawns, please be mindful of the damage these products do to our environment, including bees, birds, fish and pets(dogs, cats) And the toll they take on human health. Many of these products cause cancer, neurologic and endocrine diseases, especially in children. And please consider using more non-toxic alternatives to keep our groundwater safe while deterring mosquitos. Susan Burian Williston Park

Trump’s corruption

wonder who bought up the spines of Republicans in Congress and which landfill they were dumped in. Every day we learn more about Trump’s corruption and the Republicans say nothing. Republicans and worshipers, who continue to pledge loyalty to a loser, are not angry that the election was stolen. They are angry because it was not stolen — by them — on Jan. 6, 2021. MaryEllen Scherer New Hyde Park

Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, June 25, 2021

READERS WRITE

Independent group needed for school elections

pen letter to Superintendent of Great Neck Schools, Dr. Teresa Prendergast. In a letter sent (May 18, 2021) entitled. “reflection of a victorious election” sent by the president of Great Neck Board of Education, Barbara Berkowitz, wrote: “ Personally, I even chose to vote by absentee ballot in order to avoid being seen at my specific polling place as any conflict of interest.” Should all candidates running for oﬃcenotvote in person at their polling sites? Do they all have a conflict of interest if they vote in their designated polling site? The stated reason by Ms. Berkowitz is at odds with the rules which could be used for voting by absentee ballots. According to School District Absentee Ballot Application form, the acceptable reasons for voting absentee are: Absence from county on Election Day, illness or physical disability, duties related to primary care for others, hospitalization in a Veterans Hospital, detention, jailed/prisoned awaiting trial (Box 1). “Concerns about COVID-19” could be another reason for voting by absentee ballot according to a booklet sent to the residents prior to the school elections. The reason Ms. Berkowitz cited, “being

seen at her own specific polling place as any conflict of interest” is not listed as one of the acceptable categories. Is she an exception to the rules? Applicants for absentee ballots are warned with a clear directive in the signature box (Box 7) that providing false statement in application could constitute a misdemeanor. Did Ms. Berkowitz commit a misdemeanor? She admitted in her public letter to voting by absentee ballot to avoid appearance conflict of interest – but that is not one of the choices on the application form. The person who should be concerned and answering that question is the superintendent of the Great Neck Public Schools, Dr. Teresa Prendergast. The superintendent oversees all the aﬀairs of the school including the school elections. She can either address this issue or avoid dealing with it and hope no one brings up the apparent falsehood on Berkowitz’s application. The elections for the Great Neck Public Schools district are conducted by the GNPS which is headed by the superintendent. The Board of Education (BOE) is the entity which hires the superintendent. The superintendent is the person in charge of anything going on at the district including the elections.

To be true to her oath of office, Superintendent Prendergast should not be silent and push these election issues under the rug. If she is not sufficiently knowledgeable about the legal aspects of the school elections can seek a consultation with the school’s counsel, and make an official statement about how the election staff processed Berkowitz’s voting application. Did they allow granting an absentee ballot to Ms. Berkowitz, the person who had appointed their boss? The school staff all work under the superintendent and ultimately report to her. The superintendent can investigate any irregularities in the school elections; though such an investigation could be detrimental to her own future contract, which would therefore also be a“conflict of her interests.” In a nutshell, it is clear that there is a vicious cycle by design at the Great Neck School District. The entities: “Great Neck Board of Education” and “Superintendent of School” constitute a closed system, protecting the interests of each other. This is utterly at odds with the separation of powers and contradicts the democratic process envisioned in the Constitution. A healthy process without the presence of feedback loops and with

no“conflict of interest”must replace the existing vicious cycle: The elections for the BOE for the GNPS should be conducted by an independent entity that is not controlled by the BOE. Maybe, the New York State Board of Elections is the correct entity that should manage these elections, excluding any employees of the Great Neck School District.The GNPS BOE polling sites should not be on the public school grounds, rather at the Park District buildings, e.g., Great Neck House, Parkwood facilities, in order to avoid the“appearance of any conflict of interest” or even“the real conflict of interest”in orderto maintain a fair and independent election. If this vicious cycle is not broken, it will eventually cause severe economic consequences for our community. The current system dates to two centuries ago when elections were designed for small schools in rural areas. It’s already the 21stcentury. The school’s archaic system needs a major overhaul. Should Superintendent Prendergast choose not to address the issues, the Board of Elections should get involved and clarify these rules. Ben Elihu Kings Point

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20 The Williston Times, Friday, June 25, 2021

COMMUNITY & SCHOOL NEWS

Chapter #716 celebrates Kindergartens grow Recently Mineola Chapter # 716 of the Order of the Eastern Star (who meets in New Hyde Park) recently commemorated Flag Day by Celebrating Our

Veterans. The fun-filled event included Posting the Colors, historical facts both about Flag Day and the United States Armed Forces

Event Speaker Panelists

all the while giving homage to our local veterans and their families for their dedication to our country to ensure the freedoms we enjoy daily. The event was also a book drive to benefit the not-forprofit organization, Books for Veterans. Many of the guests included Nassau County Executive Laura Curran, members of the Masonic War Veterans (Henry Biel Post #46), St. Albans Masonic Lodge # 56, and Order of the Eastern Star — Nassau Queens Brooklyn District. For further information about our wonderful organization, please email Livi1212@aol.com.

up at North Side

East Williston staff and families celebrate North Side's kindergarteners.

During the week of June 7, North Side Kindergarten classes individually celebrated their “Growing Up Ceremonies” with teachers and families. Students dressed up in costumes as their future career choices. Congratulations to East Williston’s youngest students.

Upcoming at the Williston Park Library Carl DelVecchio Memorial Library www.willistonparklibrary.org By: Donna McKenna, Director E-mail: wppubliclibrary@gmail.com From the Director: The Williston Park Library is excited to announce our partnership with Page Turner Adventures to offer children a virtual and fun summer experience. Please refer to the children’s calendar of events on our website, willistonparklibrary.org. Each week will feature a different theme and each day offers a new experience — theater shows, stories, crafts, children’s book author and illustrator interviews, contests, games, special guest performers, virtual field trips, and much more. Monday is Show Day featuring a virtual story theater show; Tuesday is Craft Day featuring crafts, games, recipes, science experiments, and other activities; Wednesday is Author and Illustrator Day featuring fun interviews, read-alongs, trivia games, book giveaways and other activities with children’s authors and illustrators; Thursday is Mashup Day featuring more crafts and activities; and Friday is Guest Day featuring special guests related to that week’s theme. New titles added to the collection: Legacy of War—Wilbur Smith Gambling Man—David Baldacci On the House: A Washington Memoir—John Boehner Permission to Dream—Chris Gardner Triumph of Nancy Reagan— Karen Tumulty

Lady has a Past—Amanda Quick We Begin at the End— Chris Whitaker Night Bird Calling—Cathy Gohlke Our Daily Hours Are: Browsing &Vestibule Pick-Up: Monday-Friday: 10am-5:30pm and Saturday: 10am-4pm “Open for Browsing” means you can come inside, walk around the Library, and look for books and other items. Please limit your time to 1 hour. Only one family at a time will be permitted in the Children’s Room. Items requested over the phone can be picked up in the Library vestibule. Please maintain social distancing practices while in the Library. All customers and staﬀ are required to wear face coverings at all times while in the Library, per Executive Order 202.17. Face coverings must cover both your mouth and nose. Congregating is not permitted. Three computers are available for public use for a limit of 30 minutes. Please return items in the outside book drops. For safety reasons, we cannot accept items returned inside the Library! Adult Programs Pollock-Krasner House & Study Center Virtual Tour—Tuesday—July 27—11 am-12 pm via Zoom. Register in advance for this meeting: https://us02web.zoom. us/meeting/register/tZMrcuGhqTksHNG444AE2dLAJRZ9XAcEZ-aP You

will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Empire Safety Defensive Driving Class—Thursday—July 29—10 am-4 pm in the Assembly Room of Village Hall. Open to drivers of any age. $28 p/person (check or money order payable to Empire Safety Council). Class is limited to 25 participants. Social distance seating and masks are required. Registration is required. Call the library to register. Children’s Programs Summer Reading Club Kickoﬀ—Saturday—June 26—11 am-1 pm in the parking lot of Village Hall. This year’s theme is Tales & Tails. Children of all ages are welcome to register for programs, dance to a DJ, and enjoy ice cream from a genuine Mr. Softee truck! Masks are required for everyone ages 2+. Parents can use the Solomon Schecter School parking lot. Pageturners—Monday-Friday—July 1-July 30—10 am-5:30 pm. Please refer to the children’s calendar of events on our website willistonparklibrary.org Too Many Tails! With Petra Puppets—Saturday—July 10—10:30-11:30 am in the parking lot of Village Hall. Masks are required for everyone ages 2+. Please bring your chair. Email willistonparkprograms@gmail.com to register. Green Meadows Farm with Jason Reilly—Tuesday—July 13—11 am via Zoom. Children of all ages are welcome to learn about frogs, bugs and other

animals. Email willistonparkprograms@ gmail.com to register. The Zoom link will be emailed to you. STEM-tastic: Mythical Tales-Unicorns, Mermaids & Dragon Tails—Friday—July 20—11 am in the Assembly Room of Village Hall for children of all ages. Explore a world of mythical creatures, create a rainbow in a bowl and build your own dragon. Masks are required for everyone ages 2+. Email willistonparkprograms@gmail.com to register. Reading to Dogs with Bide-A-Wee— Thursday—July 22—11 am-12 pm in the Assembly Room of Village Hall. Masks are required to everyone ages 2+. Email willistonparkprograms@gmail.com to register for a time slot (11 am, 11:20 am, 11:40 am or 12pm) First come, first served. Summer Reading Finale with Nick the Balloonatic—Saturday—August 7—11 am-12 pm in the parking lot of Village Hall. Masks are required for everyone ages 2+. Please bring your chair. Raﬄe prizes to be drawn and winners announced. Email willistonparkprograms@ gmail.com to register. Come into the Library for a free children’s craft every Monday for Take and Make Mondays. Check out the calendar of events for Virtual Puzzle Wednesdays and Virtual Game Fridays. Please check our website willistonarklibrary.org for updates on all upcoming events.

BLANK SLATE MEDIA WELCOMES YOUR SUBMISSIONS. PLEASE E-MAIL THEM TO NEWS@THEISLANDNOW.COM.

BLANK SLATE MEDIA June 25, 2021

YOUR GUIDE TO THE ARTS, ENTERTAINMENT AND DINING

Getting creative at Art Guild The Art Guild of Port Washington invites artists and community members to A Date to Create: Fun-raiser, an exciting summer event for adults to enjoy art, live music, food, and drink on Saturday, July 10 from 5-8 PM! This is a chance to soak up the sun in our backyard and flex your creative muscles. Our event will have a variety of artistic activities to participate in, including: – Sip and Paint with Joan Stevens– iPhone Photography with Howard Rose– Printmaking with Stephanie Navon-Jacobson– Sculpture with Megan Meehan– Tie Dye with Piper Lyman– Watercolor with Esther-Marie– Golf Game with Tony Chung & Jeﬀ Holtzman Tickets are on sale now for A Date to Create! Tickets are $75 donation per person. Dress for mess- casual for creativity. To purchase tickets, please visit www. theartguild.org/datetocreate. We appreciate your support endlessly and we hope to see you at our event this summer! The Art Guild’s next open call:“Mood and Ambiance” — Works of art for consideration due Monday, August 2nd. The exhibition will be open from September 2nd — September 25th. Registration is OPEN for Summer classes!– Keys to the Expressive, Life-like Portrait with Rob Silverman (All Levels), Wednesdays from 1-4 PM.– Oil Painting with Joan Stevens, Tuesdays from 10 AM-2 PM.– Intro to Sculpture with Meagan Meehan, Wednesdays from 6-8 PM. Workshops:– July 18 and July 19: Dynamic Still Life with Stacy Kamin– July 22: Acrylic Paint Pour with Ellen Kanner– August 12: Acknowledging the Negative with Lorraine Rimmelin Visit theartguild.org for more information about these workshops and more!

The Art Guild invites you to A Date to Create!

22 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, June 25, 2021

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Let’s celebrate 245 Years of Independence

On Sunday, June 27 at 11:30 am. Reach Out America will have its final event of the season at the Inn at Great Neck. Special Guest Speaker Attorney General Letitia James.A groundbreaking advocate for fairness and the rule of law, Letitia James is the first woman of color to hold statewide oﬃce and to serve as Attorney General; she will discuss her

past history and her current work.Brunch will be served; payment must be received in advance. To Attend the fundraiser, mail a check for $100 to Reach Out America c/o Harriet Becker 9 Cedar Drive Great Neck, NY 11021

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Guide to Health, Wellness & Beauty

A Blank Slate Media Special Section • June 25, 2021

24 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, June 25, 2021

How meditation can help combat work-life imbalance

uggling a family and a thriving career is no small task. It's easy to become overwhelmed when faced with responsibilities at home and at the oﬃce, and it's even easier to fall victim to a work-life imbalance. Such an imbalance can have troubling short- and long-term consequences. More than 40 percent of working professionals who were recently surveyed by the United Kingdom-based Mental Health Foundation noted that they are neglecting various aspects of their life because of work. The MHF notes that such an imbalance can make professionals more vulnerable to mental health problems. In fact, the same survey found that more than half of all workers who work long hours feel irritable, while 27 percent acknowledged feeling depressed. Various strategies can help working professionals overcome the negative side eﬀects of work-life imbalance. In addition to exploring ways to work fewer hours and find more time for their families, professionals who feel their life lacks balance can seek ways to overcome the stress associated with such an imbalance. Meditation is one such option. What is meditation? The Mayo Clinic notes that meditation dates back thousands of years. Modern meditation often aims to help people relax and reduce stress. When meditating, people focus their attention as they attempt to eliminate jumbled thoughts. That can be especially valuable to adults who are feeling overwhelmed by their many personal and professional responsibilities.

The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health notes that there are many types of meditation, but most require four common elements: · a quiet location to meditate where distractions are limited · a specific, comfortable posture · something people can focus their attention on while meditating, such as a set of words or an object · an open attitude How does meditation benefit the mind and body? Meditation advocates note that the practice can provide a sense of inner peace and help people rebalance their lives. That can pay dividends for both physical and mental health. The NCCIH notes that evidence suggests meditation can help reduce blood pressure. High blood pressure has been linked to both heart disease and stroke. A small study by the NCCIH also found that a form of meditation known as mindfulness-based therapy for insomnia helped reduce instances of chronic insomnia in adults. According to the NCCIH, a 2013 review of three studies suggested that meditation may help slow, stall or even reverse age-related changes in the brain. Adults confronting a work-life imbalance may feel as though they don't have the time to address their concerns in a healthy, eﬀective way. Meditation need not take up much time each day, but it can be an eﬀective tool in the fight against work-life imbalance.

Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, June 25, 2021

Add more exercise to the workday

any people can benefit from more exercise. But after a long day at work and tending to obligations at home, making time for exercise can be an uphill battle. Come nighttime, there may be little energy or time left to be active. However, failure to engage in regular physical activity can be detrimental to one's health. The World Health Organization lists inactivity as the fourth biggest risk factor for global adult mortality. Plus, long periods of sitting inactively may lead to increased risk for diabetes, cancer, heart disease, and obesity. Psychology Today also says studies indicate mental ability is directly linked to physical activity. Without regular exercise, one may have decreased concentration, poor memory, reduced mental stamina, and a lack of creativity. Finding time to exercise while at work can help people reap the rewards of a physically active lifestyle. The American Heart Association says taking advantage of little opportunities to move more throughout the day can add up to a significant amount of exercise. Here are some ways to exercise during the workday. · Ride or work a portion of your commute. People who live close enough to the office can ride their bikes or walk there. If the office is too far, think about getting off the bus or train a stop earlier and walk the rest of the way. You even can park further away if you drive to the office.

· Switch out your desk. Desks come in different configurations and you may be able to opt for a tall or adjustable desk to enable you to stand and move around a bit while working. If that's not possible, stand up and do some balance or strength exercises while on long calls. · Take the stairs. Skip the elevator and go up and down the stairs each day. Doing so when coming in, going in and out for a lunch break, and when leaving in the evening can add up over the course of a day. · Start a walking club. Get together with coworkers who also want to exercise and use your lunch hour to walk around. You can always eat at your desk before or afterwards. · Schedule walking meetings. Whenever possible, host walking brainstorming sessions or meetings. Take the meeting outdoors if the weather cooperates; otherwise, take laps around the building. · Store some workout gear at work. During breaks, do a few arm curls with dumbbells or use resistance bands to work inner and outer thigh muscles while sitting at your desk. · Volunteer to run errands. Step out for coffee or snacks during the day, making a concerted effort to walk when going for your daily jolt of caffeine. Exercise can be included in the work day by making some minor changes that really add up.

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26 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, June 25, 2021

3 strategies to protect mental health

mproving one’s overall health and maintaining that health over the long haul can have a profound impact on quality of life. For example, the Harvard Medical School notes that regular exercise can slow the natural decline in physical performance that occurs as people age. That means routine exercise can serve as something like a fountain of youth that allows people to keep their cardiovascular fitness, metabolism and muscle function on par with their younger counterparts. When attempting to improve long-term health, it’s important that people emphasize mental health as much as they do their physical health. The Anxiety & Depression Association of America notes the importance and effectiveness of preventive efforts in relation to depression and anxiety. In regard to mental health, prevention efforts can function in much the same way that exercise serves physical health. Routine exercise helps people to maintain healthy weights, reducing their risk for various conditions and diseases. Preventive efforts designed to improve mental health can significantly reduce a person’s risk for anxiety and depression. Various techniques and strategies can be utilized to promote mental health, and these three are simple and highly effective. 1. Get enough sleep. According to the Primary Care Collaborative, a not-for-profit member organization dedicated to advancing an effective and efficient health system, sleep and mental health are intimately related. Sleep loss can contribute to emotional instability. The amygdala is the part of the brain responsible for humans’

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emotional responses. When an individual does not get enough sleep, his or her amygdala goes into overdrive, leading to more intense emotional reactions. The prefrontal cortex is another part of the brain that needs sufficient sleep to function properly. Without it, the prefrontal cortex, which is integral to impulse control, cannot function properly. Adults can speak with their physicians about how much sleep they should be getting each night. Those needs change as individuals age. 2. Eat a balanced diet. A balanced, healthy diet doesn’t just benefit the waistline. According to the ADAA, a balanced diet that includes protein, healthy non-saturated fats, fiber, and some simple carbohydrates can reduce the likelihood that mental health issues like fatigue, difficulty concentrating and irritability will arise during the day. 3. Volunteer in your community. A 2020 study published in the Journal of Happiness Studies found that people who volunteered in the past were more satisfied with their lives and rated their overall health as much better than people who didn’t volunteer. Perhaps the most noteworthy finding in the study was that people who began volunteering with lower levels of well-being tended to get the biggest boost from volunteering. Volunteering provides opportunities to socialize, which can help ward off the loneliness that can sometimes contribute to anxiety and depression. Mental health is important, and protecting it should be part of everyone’s health care regimen.

Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, June 25, 2021

CSTL’s dinosaurs exhibit expands The Center for Science Teaching & Learning’s expanded Dinosaurs! and Animal Adventure exhibit, featuring four new animatronic dinosaurs, is open and welcoming families and groups. New to the exhibit are five animatronic dinosaurs that are located both inside and outside the exhibition hall. New additions include a mother Triceratops and baby, Citipati (CHITT-uhPUTT-ee) and Parasaurolophus (Pearuh-sore-AWL-oh-fus). A grand re-opening and expansion ceremony with state and local elected oﬃcials, VIPs and business leaders, was recently held to mark the occasion. Dinosaurs! And Animal Adventure is the only tourist and educational attraction of its kind on Long Island. Over the past two years, even during the pandemic, the exhibit has become a very popular family-friendly attraction. “The expansion of the Dinosaurs! and Animal Adventure marks the latest step in our mission to inspire and educate. We are certain that everyone that visits our expanded exhibit will be impressed and enjoy our new dinosaurs. Our exhibit will continue to bring tourists and economic activity to Rockville Center and Nassau County,” said Dr. Ray Ann Havasy, executive director, CSTL. The exhibit focuses on how animals adapt and survive. This is demonstrated

through a unique intermixing of dinosaur models and live animals together. It is housed at CSTL’s 35,000 square foot WAC Lighting Hall of Science at its Tanglewood Preserve headquarters located at 1450 Tanglewood Road, in Rockville Centre. School children and families from the New York region and beyond are expected to visit this exhibit annually to experience more than 80 unique displays. As a science and STEM educationfocused not-for-profit organization, CSTL is dedicated to providing people of all ages with a place to engage in both formal and informal learning. CSTL also creates signature corporate programs and delivers educational workshops. Dinosaurs! and Animal Adventure is open every day except Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets are $15 for anyone 13 and older, $12 for children 1-12 yrs. old. Tickets can only be purchased on site. For special group rates and programs for special events, birthday parties, camps trips and school field trips call (516) 764–0045 or email helpdesk@cstl.org. For more information about CSTL, special events and Dinosaurs! and Animal Adventure visit www. cstl.org.

YOUR VOTE COUNTS! VOTE DAILY IN EVERY CATEGORY FOR YOUR FAVORITE BUSINESS, SERVICE, PROFESSIONAL OR VENUE NOW THROUGH JULY 2 CHECK OUT ALL THE CATEGORIES IN ALL THE GROUPS Arts/Entertainment • Automotive Bars/Nightlife • Food/Restaurants Health/Wellness/Beauty • Home and Design Kids • Pets • Retail/Shopping • Services Sports and Recreation • Weddings

THEISLANDNOW.COM/CONTEST2021

PHOTO COURTESY OF CSTL

The Center for Science Teaching & Learning in Rockville Centre held a ribbon cutting marking the expansion of their Dinosaurs! exhibit on June 16, 2021. At the ribbon cutting were: Gerri DiSalvo, AAA Northeast; Rockville Centre Village Trustee Nancy Howard; Mayor Francis X. Murray, Village of Rockville Centre; Nassau County Legislator Debra Mulé; NYS Sen. Todd Kaminsky; Town of Hempstead Councilwoman Dorothy Goosby; CSTL Executive Director Dr. Ray Ann Havasy; Nassau County Parks Commissioner Eileen Krieb; Brianna McEnroe, Discover LI; RVC Chamber President Brian Croutier.

NEW HYDE PARK NEW HY D E PA R K

HeraldHerald Courier Courier Manhasset ManhassetTimes Times Great Neck News Great Neck NewsWilliston Times RoslynRoslyn TimesTimes Port Washington Times Port WashingtonTimes

28 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, June 25, 2021

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The Williston Times, Friday, June 25, 2021

SCHOOL NEWS

Herricks celebrates the Class of 2021 Herricks Public Schools leaders, families and members of the Herricks High School Class of 2021 were thrilled to come together in-person for the 62nd annual commencement, held on June 16 at Hofstra University. The event was especially meaningful to those involved, as it represented progress and perseverance after a challenging year marked by the global pandemic. Principal Joan Keegan opened the ceremony and seniors Alyssa Samuels and Allison Yu performed the National Anthem. The graduating class continued the high school’s timehonored tradition of greeting the audiences in various world languages. Band members and the Senior Graduation Choir provided musical entertainment to complement the festive ambiance. “Graduates, never take for granted the significance of your Herricks experience and what it took for you to get here today,” Ms. Keegan said. “Remember

PHOTO PROVIDED BY THE HERRICKS SCHOOL DISTRICT

to draw upon it as you begin to navigate the next stage of your life.” Board of Education President Henry Zanetti and Trustee Juleigh Chin presented inspiring comments and encouraged the graduates to embrace the changes and challenges ahead. “As times change, we go through cycles in our lives – we

go through times when we know nothing at all to when we know everything,” Ms. Chin said. “It’s not at the times when you feel you know everything that you’re maturing and growing the most, it’s when you feel like you know nothing.” Superintendent of Schools Dr. Fino Celano drew upon words from John F. Kennedy

prior to the first moon landing in 1969, and also shared inspiration from Martin Luther King, Jr. “Accomplishments are so much sweeter when we work hard to achieve them, and you have worked hard this year, overcome challenges and achieved success beyond everyone’s expectations,” Dr. Celano said. “After getting through this tough year, know in your heart that you can accomplish anything. As President Kennedy did 60 years ago, be bold and dream big.” Salutatorian Kyle Pinzon expressed his thoughts, and Valedictorian Rhea Rasquinha then shared remarks. “If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that no matter how much the world around us changes, if we want to grow with it, we have to start with ourselves,” Kyle said. “It’s important that we find our own happiness because once we do, we will truly be able to share with others and continue the impact that we started here at home.”

“We are conditioned to move vertically, always looking toward the next thing above us,” Rhea said. “Success is often defined by how far up we move, and we often forget to look sideways at everything else there. We made it through this year, and I call that a success.” Herricks High School PTSA President Madeline Svitak also praised the graduates, and Senior Class President Akshal Shah introduced six faculty members who were selected as guest speakers. Suzanne Faeth, Karim Gangli, Trisha Ho, John McManus, Stephanie Nelson and Liam O’Brien each shared reflections and words of wisdom. The stadium rang with applause and cheers as each graduate walked across the stage to accept a diploma. Class advisors then led students in the tassel turn, which signified their transition from students to graduates, and caps were tossed into the sky as a new chapter began.

Outgoing Mineola E.W. teachers group board prez honored awards scholarship At its June 17 meeting, the Mineola Union Free School District honored outgoing Board of Education President Christine Napolitano who is retiring after serving for 12 years. Past board members, community residents, Su-

perintendent Michael P. Nagler, Deputy Superintendent Matthew Gaven and fellow board members all shared their appreciation for her dedication, commitment and leadership within the district, not only during the time she served but also in

the years prior. She was presented with flowers, poems, words of thanks, and a table created by students in the FabLab with the Mineola logo and #MineolaProud tagline as departing gifts.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MINEOLA UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT

Retiring Board President Christine Napolitano brings down the gavel at her last meeting, while Vice President Margaret Ballantyne-Mannion, Ph.D. and Superintendent of Schools Michael P. Nagler, look on.

Visit us online at w w w.theislandnow.com

For the past 38 years, the East Williston Teachers’ Association has awarded a scholarship to a graduating senior who plans to study education and to become a teacher. The David K. Israel Scholarship is a $10,000 scholarship, named after a 40-year veteran English teacher who served as the East Williston Teachers’ Association President for more than a quarter-century. This year’s recipient is Ms. Karen Chu. One teacher describes this student as kind and supportive. A person whose personality exudes positivity. This person demonstrates a great desire to understand “why”, showing a great understanding of the value of education. This student is described by another faculty member as someone who is bubbly and adds great energy to class discussions. This student asks questions and adds anecdotes that help to continue the class conversation. The student is cheerful, welcoming, respectful and

Karen Chu and East Williston Teachers’ Association President Meryl Fordin has a great sense of humor. This student has the right attitude, the right amount of humility and the ability to connect with others at a deep level. This teacher continued, I would hope my children could have this student as a teacher. This student volunteers at the school she attended each Sunday for the past 12 years; no longer as a student, but now as the teacher. She crafts engaging lessons to ensure that her students are engaged, learning and having fun! She has learned

that teaching opens your heart to the kind-hearted and curious children entrusted to you. She has already learned that teaching, in essence, expands your family. Vanderbilt University is truly fortunate to welcome her this fall. Tax deductible contributions can be made to the David K. Israel Scholarship Foundation c/o The Wheatley School, 11 Bacon Road, Old Westbury, NY, 11568 Submitted by Meryl Fordin

30 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, June 25, 2021

COMMUNITY NEWS

Triplets born at North Shore University When it comes to celebrating Father’s Day, you just can’t beat Catherine and Stephan Vieitez, of Howard Beach Queens, who left North Shore University Hospital today after celebrating the birth of triplets on June 15. The babies – Stephan, Jr. (known as Baby A), Violet Meadows (Baby B) and Austin Stephan (Baby C) – made their oﬃcial debut as they were reunited with Dr. Victor Klein, vice chair of OB/GYN at NSUH. The over-the-moon father is a bus maintenance worker for the Metropolitan Transit Authority, where he often worked into the night keeping vehicles clean and sanitized. Having a pregnant wife during the pan-

demic was especially stressful, Vieitez admitted, requiring several minutes of decontamination work when he arrived home late at night before approaching his wife. “Being pregnant during the pandemic was certainly not easy,” said Mrs. Vieitez. “We had to do everything diﬀerently – from buying baby furniture to having a baby shower. Many of the friends and relatives we would have liked to celebrate with could not come into our home. Everything we did was with the health of our babies and my wife in mind.” What Mrs. Vieitez didn’t know was that her husband had purchased a three-stone diamond ring that he planned to present to her

as they left the hospital. In the excitement, he realized he had left the ring at home. “I just want my wonderful wife to know that I have this beautiful ring waiting for her at home,” he said. “Each stone represents our babies and the love we will share for all eternity. So, when we get home – you’re gonna be iced up, baby!” Mrs. Vieitez said that her husband has already surprised her with the quality of his love and support. “He’s doing so much while I recuperate,” she said. “He’s changed so many diapers and helped with the feedings. He is a wonderful father already.” All of which comes in very handy, ac-

cording to Klein, who pointed out the findings of a research study that predicts 10,000 diaper changes for three babies in the first year of life. Klein also noted that while the United States experienced a 4 percent drop in births this year – the largest such decline in the past 50 years – North Shore University Hospital saw a 10 percent increase in the number of babies born. “When dealing with triplets, our goal is to have the babies growing through 32-34 weeks in utero,” said Klein. “These babies were born at 36 weeks. They’re doing beautifully, and it’s going to be a wonderful Father’s Day for this family.”

JCC’s walk unites Town completes projects teen groups Local teens put the words “hate has no home here” into action on June 13 at Sid Jacobson JCC’s Center for Community Engagement’s first Empathy Walk, a social justice and leadership program. The walk brought together 30 teens from local high school Asian American Culture clubs and Jewish teens from SJJCC’s Teen Services programs to create an action step against the recent increase in acts of bias, hate, and intolerance. State Assemblywoman Gina Sillitti partnered with the JCC on the program and attended, walking in solidarity with the local teens. “I’m so incredibly proud of the students that participated in our pilot Empathy Walk,” said Sillitti. “These young people took time to learn about each other’s cultures, biases, and experiences. We hope that through this program, we can learn that we are more alike than we are diﬀerent, and start to put an end to the hate, bias, and violence in our nation.” Participants were paired together on the walk and given a list of questions to ask their partner while embarking on a scavenger hunt to locate hidden shoe boxes along the route. Inside each shoebox was one shoe and several props for the groups to discuss.

The goal was to try to uncover the story of the person. At the end of the discussion, leaders revealed the other shoe and the story. Each story touched on relevant issues including issues of anti-Semitism, Asian hate, race, gender and LGBTQ bias, and mental illness. At the end of the exercise, participants learned about unconscious bias and judgment and were more comfortable sharing their own stories and experiences. “The goal of our Empathy Walk is to create a safe space for young leaders to listen and learn from one another,” said Susan Berman, director of the Center for Community Engagement, Sid Jacobson JCC. “We are asking them to take a moment to walk in someone else’s shoes.” SJJCC’s Center for Community Engagement plans to hold future Empathy Walks for various age groups and communities to help create awareness and understanding that will result in position actions amongst attendees. To learn more about Sid Jacobson JCC’s Center for Community Engagement, visit sjjcc.org/ communityengagement or contact Susan Berman, director of the Center for Community Engagement at sberman@sjjcc.org or 516.484.1545 ext. 202.

Teen participants pose for a picture with Assemblywoman Gina Sillitti

Town of North Hempstead Supervisor Judi Bosworth and Council Members Veronica Lurvey and Mariann Dalimonte recently announced a slate of beautification projects for the Manhasset and Port Washington area. This includes the conversion to LED street lighting along Plandome Road and Main Street, newly painted lampposts, and the addition of planters. “The Town is always looking for new proj-

Newly painted lamppost with flags and planters located along Plandome Road in Manhasset.

ects that will enhance the quality of life for our residents,” said Bosworth. “The conversion to LED lights, repainting of the lampposts, and the addition of lovely planters will help enhance both the beauty and safety of our community for residents and visitors, alike.” “The LED lights, planters, and painted lampposts are truly a beautiful sight to see along Plandome Road,” said Lurvey. “They help beautify our streets and make them safer for drivers and pedestrians.” “The Town removed the existing fence which will help return the area to a more natural setting for all to enjoy. The black lampposts on Main Street also add to our local downtown’s character and splendor,” said Council Member Dalimonte 180 lampposts along Plandome Road in Manhasset and Main Street in Port Washington have been replaced with more energy-eﬃcient LED lightbulbs and the lampposts have been repainted with a fresh coat of paint. North Hempstead’s Highway Department also assisted in adding flags and flower planters on the lampposts along Plandome Road. The flowers were donated by the Manhasset Chamber of Commerce as part of its Adopt-A-Pole and Planter project. The planters are maintained by the Town.

Town ‘Tree City ‘again The Town of North Hempstead has announced that the Town has once again been recognized as a “Tree City USA” by the Arbor Day Foundation. This is the tenth year that the Town has received the designation of “Tree City USA.” This designation is given out to towns and cities that have a viable tree management plan and program. In order to be eligible to be recognized as a “Tree City USA” community, certain requirements must be met such as having a Tree Board or Department, having a Tree Care Ordinance, having a Community Forestry Program and the observance of Arbor Day. “We are proud to be celebrating the Town’s 10th year being recognized by the Arbor Day Foundation for our commitment to the environment, especially in planting and caring for our trees,” said North Hempstead Supervisor Judi Bo-

sworth. “It is important for us to preserve our local environment here in the Town of North Hempstead, and ensure it remains resilient for future generations.” The “Tree City USA” program was created by the Arbor Day Foundation, which is the nation’s leading community forestry program that provides a foundation for eﬀective and well-organized community tree care. It is also facilitated in cooperation with the USDA Forest Service and the New York Department of Environmental Conservation. This program provides direction, technical assistance, public attention, and national recognition for urban and community forestry programs in thousands of towns and cities that more than 93 million Americans call home. For more information 311 or (516) 869-6311.

Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, June 25, 2021

Curran backs Ryder amid calls to resign Continued from Page 6 Those in support of retaining Ryder as police commissioner rallied in Mineola on Monday with signs reading “We’ve got your back Pat!” Curran, in her statement Monday, cited the Police Diversity Committee launched several weeks ago. She said

the 10-member committee, composed of community, civic, civil rights and religious leaders, would help improve diversity in the Police Department. The 10 members of the committee include First Baptist Cathedral of Westbury Bishop Lionel Harvey, who will chair the committee, Ur-

ban League of Long Island President Theresa Sanders, Nassau Community College President Jermaine Williams, Westbury NAACP President Leslie Davis, Hempstead Hispanic Civic Association Executive Director George Siberón, Asian American Affairs and Indian American Association Council

member Jay Singh, Toufique Harun of Muslims for Progress, Gabriela Castillo of the county’s Office of Legislative Affairs, Nassau County Civil Service Executive Director Martha Krisel and Nassau County Police Department community affairs Officer Shajarah Williams.

Bringing fairness to Nassau’s elections Continued from Page 14 But Sen. Joe Manchin, a Democrat from West Virginia who has consistently frustrated Democrats by refusing to do away with the 60-vote requirement of the filibuster, has oﬀered a compromise. It eliminates much of what Democrats wanted, like the more ambitious campaign finance reforms, but among other things it bans partisan gerrymandering.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican, has said no – as he has promised to do on all legislation supported by President Joe Biden for the next three-plus years. But there is talk that Manchin’s plan might attract 10 Republicans needed to pass legislation like this in the Senate – or even five if the filibuster is reformed. Or that Manchin and other senators would grow so frustrated with Republi-

can obstructionism that they might do away with the filibuster altogether and pass whatever the Democrats wanted. But rather than wait for the machinations from Washington to end, Nassau voters – Republicans, Democrats and independents – could take things into their own hands and announce that they will not vote for any candidate who does not support nonpartisan redistricting.

They could tell Republican candidates for the Nassau Legislature that no matter how long they served or what they may have accomplished previously nothing would be more important to them than creating a fair election system where the will of the people is heard. Yes, this might result in our being wrong in our prediction on the election’s outcome. But a fair election system would be worth the price.

COMMUNITY NEWS

N. Shore Soup Kitchen names new chair The board of North Shore Soup Kitchen and NOSH, a program of NSSK, has elected Christine Rice to lead the organization. Madeline Rubenstein, chair for the past four years stated: “Christine Rice is the perfect person to lead the next chapter in this organization’s long 32-year life. I can only imagine the wonderful things the organization will accomplish under Christine’s capable guidance.” The NSSK/NOSH board also announced that eight additional board members have been elected to oﬃce. NSSK/NOSH’s New Chairwoman Christine Rice grew up with her nine siblings in Garden City and continues to reside in that community. She brings to her new role at NSSK a wealth of personal and professional experience which includes having been primary caretaker for her mother, who had been diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s disease, and her father, who

PHOTO COURTESY OF MS. RICE

Christine Rice has been named chairwoman of the North Shore Soup Kitchen/NOSH.

died in 2013. She went on to serve the Long Island Alzheimer’s and Dementia Center as director of special events and community outreach. In 2019, Rice was named executive director of the Glen Cove Senior Center. The mother of two adult children, Rice received a bachelor’s degree from Catholic University of America in Washington D.C. and a master’s degree from Adelphi University in Garden City. NSSK/NOSH’s Newest Board Members Matthew Catapano of Sea Cliﬀ has worked with Doctors Without Borders and is pursuing a master’s degree in social work at Fordham University. As a member of the NOSH program committee, he has created special events for NOSH clients, particularly around holidays: Baskets of treats at Easter, boxes of chocolate hearts at Valentine’s Day and the makings for a family Thanksgiving feast. As a director of Cause Strategy Partners, Locust Valley’s Erin M. Connell oversees a national program to recruit, place, and train professionals to serve on nonprofit boards, helping nonprofits transform and strengthen their leadership. She has consulted in the social and nonprofit sector with an emphasis on strategic planning and board development. Connell holds an MPA in Nonprofit Management from NYU. Paula Cushman of Locust Valley brings a professional background in marketing and communications to the board as well as volunteer service with many educational and social services organizations including Save the Children Long Island, Old Westbury Gardens, the Green Vale School and the North Shore Land Alliance. Sea Cliﬀ ’s Pete Hayes, a CPA and MBA in Finance, brings extensive professional ex-

perience in banking and consulting to the NSSK board. Hayes has served four terms as a Sea Cliff trustee and has been on the board of Habitat for Humanity of Nassau for the last 12 years. As a NSSK volunteer, Hayes was a cook. He and his wife, Deirdre, have been NOSH driver/deliverers for the past year. Alan Hudson III has been assistant principal of Glen Cove High School for the past 16 years. During the pandemic, with his wife and some of his staff he reached out to Long Island Harvest and NOSH to create the Glen Cove High School Food Pantry. Hudson also serves with Glen Cove Economic Opportunity Council and The Alumni for Youth Scholarship/Mentorship program. Locust Valley’s Nitika Moran, having been a consultant to several banks and major financial services firms, brings financial expertise to the NSKK board. She is the founder of Clean Curated and the CC Bazaar and currently volunteers with the Locust Valley School District, NOSH and serves on the board of the Glen Cove Boys and Girls Club. Attorney Catherine A. Schwarz of Oyster Bay Cove worked for the Washington D.C. firm of Foley & Lardner LLP focusing on commercial and securities litigation and antitrust law. She is presently a freelance attorney with Montage Legal Group. Schwarz additionally is a council partner to Save the Children and works on alumni admission interviews for her alma mater, Middlebury College. Bob Sherman of Sea Cliff brings broad administrative and program management experience to the board. He was chief administrative officer for the SCO Family of Services in Glen Cove and director of operations and assistant commissioner for administration in Nassau County’s Department of

Social Services. Sherman is a volunteer for Big Brothers Big Sisters Long Island and Habitat for Humanity. About North Shore Soup Kitchen and NOSH The North Shore Soup Kitchen (NSSK) is a not-for-profit, volunteer-based organization established in 1989 to feed hungry people in the Glen Cove area. Located in the First Baptist Church on Continental Place in Glen Cove, the North Shore Soup Kitchen is staffed by a group of more than 100 volunteers. These volunteers cook, serve and clean up after meals. They also work behind the scenes ordering supplies, writing the newsletter, sorting and distributing donated clothing, fundraising and keeping the books and raising funds. NSSK had to discontinue its three-times-per-week in-person meal service due to the pandemic; NSSK expects to resume by fall 2021. In March 2021, NOSH, an emergency free food delivery service, was organized to help meet greater food assistance needs that arose during the pandemic. Now an official program of the North Shore Soup Kitchen, NOSH is a notfor-profit organization staffed by volunteers who deliver weekly NOSHBags, the groceries needed to prepare two meals for a family of four; additional NOSHBags are provided to larger families. These weekly deliveries are to homes in Bayville, Glen Cove, Roslyn, Locust Valley and Sea Cliff. Additionally, NOSHBags are available to those who come to the VFW Hall on a walk-in basis. The food distributed by NOSH is donated by Long Island charities and local businesses. Approximately 500 families are served each week. For further information on NSSK or NOSH or to support their work with a donation, visit www.northshoresoupkitchen.org.

32 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, June 25, 2021

Business&RealEstate

Decision to renovate or knock down Whether you renovate or go for a knockdown and building new will all depend on your personal needs and wants, the budget you have established and the time constraints built into a plan as well as how long you’ll plan to be living in that home. Renovating probably will be a much less costly path to pursue, but that will also depend on what you are trying to accomplish as costs can and will increase if you do not create a budget and a plan to guide and follow. The percentage of homeowners renovating went from 19 percent during the first quarter of 2020 to 36 percent in the second quarter. Are you looking to add more living space, upgrading your kitchen and bathrooms, family room, customer patio/barbecue area w/ pool, landscaping, etc.? What permits will you have to apply and attain and what will your timeline look like? Everything can be simplified by following a tried-and-true, step-by-step plan and process so that you can work hand in hand with your architect and contractor or builder if you are starting from scratch. Customizing your home whether renovating or

building new can be done right from the initial stages. There are always changes that can and will come about as you go along building your “dream home.” Humans are creatures who don’t always follow a specific, strict course of action and there are those who are always changing their minds and augmenting decisions for various reasons. Husbands, wives and significant others may and may not see eye to eye (we know what that is like, right?) in the beginning but vacillate as the project progresses and their vision unfolds. Visualizing and painting a picture of your specific needs and wants can establish a basis to start from and potentially minimize issues later on. When you do the required and necessary research, educating and learning, it will assist you in saving money as well as your valuable time. With a full kitchen renovation, homeowners can recoup about 59 percent of the cost, and a new master suite will typically return 50 percent, according to a study from the National Association of Realtors (1.4 million members) and the National Association of the Remodeling

PHILIP A. RAICES Real Estate Watch

Industry (463,537 members). But the highest returns come from less flashy projects as follows:1.) Minor Bathroom Remodel: Returns an average of 102%2.) Landscaping: Returns an average of 100%3.) Minor Kitchen Remodel: Returns an average of 98.5%4.) Attic Bedroom Conversion: Returns an average of 93.5%5.) Major Bathroom Remodel: Returns an average of 93.2% Prices on existing homes continue to increase as well as the bidding wars with multiple oﬀers. There are and will be more people who currently own who will consider staying in place and renovating and/or

expanding their existing homes instead of moving to larger quarters. Then there are those current baby boomers and others who feel that upgrading and redesigning their homes by retrofitting and adding handicapaccessible and special needs items will be the most prudent way for their future. This will provide them that much more comfort and enjoyment in their later years and their value will increase over time with their improvements. There are those who are extremely fortunate in the 1-5 percent club who have earned huge sums of money during the pandemic and have multiple choices as to either to renovate or buy, knock down or build new. Then again, however, there are more people who have already left large cities like New York over the last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic (and are not coming back) than ever before to have more open space, an oﬃce to do Zoom and telecommuting for their work at home, where they also have privacy and less physical human interaction as well as lower taxes and costs. Situations can always and do occur to enable, change or even disable

your plans. Projecting your future is never an easy task, but it’s all in the planning. Now that the pandemic is winding down as we reach the 60-70 percent vaccination rate in many locations, and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has eliminated the protocols for social distancing, things can get back to a more normal environment so we can all begin to travel once again and enjoy our lives. Philip A. Raices is the owner/ Broker of Turn Key Real Estate at 3 Grace Ave Suite 180 in Great Neck. He has 39 years of experience in the Real Estate industry and has earned designations as a Graduate of the Realtor Institute (G.R.I.) and also as a Certified International Property Specialist (C.I.P.S). For a “FREE” 15 minute consultation, a value analysis of your home, or to answer any of your questions or concerns he can be reached by cell: (516) 6474289 or by email: Phil@TurnKeyRealEstate.Com Just email or snail mail (regular mail) him with your ideas or suggestions on future columns with your name, email and cell number and he will call or email you back.

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The Williston Times, Friday, June 25, 2021

Recent Real Estate Sales in the

Willistons

43 Capitol Avenue, Williston Park

31 Post Avenue, Williston Park

4 bd, 2 ba, Sold On: 4/29/21, Sold Price: $752,000 Type: Single Family, Schools: Herricks

5 bd, 5 ba, 4,800 sqft, Sold On: 5/14/21, Sold Price: $1,315,000 Type: Single Family, Schools: East Williston

15 Mayflower Avenue, Williston Park

37 Syracuse Street, Williston Park

4 bd, 2 ba, 1,800 sqft, Sold On: 5/20/21, Sold Price: $830,000 Type: Single Family, Schools: Herricks

3 bd, 2 ba, Sold On: 5/27/21, Sold Price: $585,000 Type: Single Family, Schools: Mineola

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

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34 The Williston Times, Friday, June 25, 2021

E.W. water meter opt-out comes at cost Continued from Page 1 The program to upgrade East Williston’s meters involves both cellular and noncellular technology, said Bonnie Kreisman, secretary to the Board of Trustees. “The meter itself is a piece of brass that attaches to a pipe at one end and a pipe at the other end,” Kreisman said. “The next piece is called the register or the head, basically provides a display. These two pieces are manual, no sort of smart technology.” Declining to install this portion of the water meter is accompanied by a $250 fee. An additional $250 would be charged each year the meter is not installed. “The third piece is the endpoint,” Kreisman said. “That is the transmitter that sends out the water reading to the cloud and then reports it. The transmitter is the part with PHOTO BY SAMUELE PETRUCCELLI the smart technology.” Declining to install this portion of the The East Williston board of trustees held a public hearing last April on fines meter is accompanied by a $100 fee. Subthe water usage data would have associated with upgrading residents’ water meters. Opting-out could mean sequently, to be manually read twice a year, an added charges upwards of $250. charge of $100, $50 per reading.

Residents who choose to install the equipment are required to schedule an appointment by Dec. 31, though exceptions are being made. For those who choose not to upgrade and ignore the required fees, charges would eventually appear on their taxes in the same way as an unpaid water bill. And although an opt-out program for installing the meter exists, there is no optout of purchase. That means a resident must buy the new noncellular equipment, and pay all associated fees with their decision. Though upgrading the water infrastructure in East Williston has been in the works for several years, the village held a public hearing on fees associated with the program in early April. Parente said the village will use emails and monthly flyers to spread the word on the program. “We do have some residents who are reluctant to have a new meter installed,” Kreisman said. “They do have the ability to opt out of installing the meter and cellular technology, but it does come with a price.”

Has Gerard Terry returned to work in Port? Continued from Page 2 “As far as the board knowing about Gerard Terry, that is kept so under the covers it’s not even funny,” said Popeleski, adding that he heard about Terry’s trip from a village staﬀ member whom he declined to name. “It’s been like the best-kept secret,” he said. Hanna, the village clerk, did not respond to multiple emails or phone calls from Blank Slate Media about her meeting with Terry, who was disbarred as an attorney in September 2017. Kaslow, Mayor Jim Avena and other village oﬃcials did not respond to phone calls. A Blank Slate Media reporter visited Village Hall on June 4 to view documents related to Terry’s visit, including Building

Department files and the village’s visitor log for March 24. But a village worker required the reporter to file Freedom of Information requests for those records that had not been answered as of last Thursday. The worker also claimed that the Building Department records were not stored on site. However, the two former Town of North Hempstead employees said they were certain Terry was the man seen in the surveillance video. One of these people, who worked for the town from late 2013 to 2019, said he recognized Terry’s eyes, walk and mannerisms, adding that Terry always carries a notebook like the one seen in the footage. Terry did not respond to phone calls seeking comment.

Manorhaven was one of several municipalities where Terry worked before he was engulfed in a tax-evasion case that brought him down from his powerful perch in local politics – a case in which the Port Washington village appeared to play a role. A federal judge sentenced Terry to three years in prison in 2018, but oﬃcials released him in April 2020 to finish his sentence in home confinement during the coronavirus pandemic, Newsday reported last year. After Newsday unearthed his mountainous tax debt in 2016, federal prosecutors accused Terry a year later of hiding the hefty income he earned working for eight government entities, including Manorhaven, where he was village attorney from at least 2008 to 2012. The federal prosecutors said Terry had

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some help from an unidentified municipality that didn’t file a tax form showing his income for 2010 and “claimed he performed no work” that year. But this municipality did pay Terry 16 checks worth $76,733 in 2010, prosecutors said – the dollar amount and number of checks Manorhaven cut for Terry that year, as Blank Slate Media reported in 2017. Manorhaven oﬃcials asserted then that the village likely issued the tax form for Terry, but the document may have been destroyed in a warehouse fire or otherwise lost by a previous administration. Terry, for his part, previously blamed his tax debt on “Type-A workaholic compulsion with self-denial and truly catastrophic health issues.” Rose Weldon contributed reporting.

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The Williston Times, Friday, June 25, 2021

Wheatley grad’s speech met with backlash Continued from Page 1 cleansings of Palestinians and Uighur Muslims. Families are continuously torn apart and real human lives are being lost but ignored.” After giving the speech to her fellow students and parents at the ceremony, Ayaz was reportedly booed and told to “go back to Pakistan,” by a parent, Ayaz’s lawyer, Ahmed M. Mohamed, said in a phone interview with Blank Slate Media. Another male adult parent became aggressive at the ceremony, yelling and making gestures, causing him to be removed from the campus by a police detective, Mohamed said. “Immediately after the ceremony was over, two or three men came up to me to tell me my speech was ‘b*llshit’ and ‘a piece of crap’,” Ayaz said in a letter to the community following the graduation. “They were extremely aggressive and security had to hold them back.”

Wheatley School Principal Sean Feeney and East Williston School Superintendent Elaine Kanas claim a portion of Ayaz’s speech was not given approval for the ceremony. Later that day, both administrators sent emails to the Wheatley community explaining their understanding of the situation. “I apologize that such a wonderful ceremony became marred for many people in attendance due to those remarks,” Feeney wrote. “As an institution of learning, we will take what happened today and strive to make further sure our students understand the lessons we seek to teach above regarding time, place, openness and appropriateness.” “There was a very upsetting moment during the graduation ceremony when a student speaker inappropriately inserted political speech into a graduation address,” Kanas wrote. “Dr. Feeney and I have been in conversation today regarding the necessary steps that must

be taken to prevent such an upsetting occurrence ever happening again.” Both Mohamed and Ayaz claim Feeney spoke privately to her, apologizing and accepting fault for not reviewing her remarks beforehand. Mohamed said there was another witness who heard the apology as well. “[Feeney] actually walked up to [Ayaz],” Mohamed said. “Then said ‘the blame is on me’ and then [Feeney] stated that he didn’t read the speech carefully enough.” Ayaz, in the letter to the community, said the speech was “in no way meant to be a surprise” and that she assumed Feeney had read it before the ceremony. “The version I sent to Dr. Feeney Saturday morning included the changes and was the version I read at the graduation,” Ayaz said in the letter. “When he responded to my email of the final draft that afternoon, I assumed he had read it and approved of it.”

Mohamed said Ayaz felt “obligated” to write a follow-up letter to the community due to the backlash she received from her speech. “She definitely wrote that [letter] to the parents because she felt obligated to, because everybody was, in essence, accusing her of sneaking in this line, which should not have been controversial at all,” Mohamed said. The ceremony also included musical performances by several graduating students. Alexandra Levine sang the “Star-Spangled Banner;” a student musical group, Take Two, composed of Nadeem Al-Okla, Benjamin Gilbert, Shruti Goyal, Aarushi Jain, Frederick Lin, Ari Mizhiritsky and Neil Shah, performed a cover of the song “Good Old Days” by Macklemore and Kaileigh Fiorillo; and Eric Ness performed a cover of “The Climb,” originally written by Jessi Alexander and Jon Mabe and performed by Miley Cyrus.

AT&T lease atop water tower rejected Continued from Page 4 AT&T was prepared to sign the lease in its written form along with a $50,000 bonus, according to Clark. Now that it has been rejected, the village of Williston Park

loses out on collecting rent at $5,000 per month subject to a 3% escalator for five years, along with five renewal terms. Over 30 years, AT&T representatives claimed the village could have collected nearly

$2.854 million. Even so, some residents who attended Monday evening’s vote felt relieved, even thanking the trustees for their decision. “Even though we follow the [FCC]

guidelines and we concur to them, we as a village and you as leaders have a responsibility to take it a step further,” Williston Park resident Linda Piccirilli said. “You showed that recently by not voting for it.”

Weinstein’s impact on the law remembered Continued from Page 4 said. “We may not be able to oﬀer all of our neighbors love, but we are not permitted to withhold justice and fairness from the rule of law.” Weinstein went further, asserting “if we avoid harming our neighbors in any way … there is yet the possibility of getting to know them better, which may generate a feeling that may lead to a genuine concern,” according to Widom. When Widom asked if he believed that was a real prospect, Weinstein replied that he was simply oﬀering it as a possibility.

Seth Weinstein, Jack Weinstein’s oldest son, also spoke, describing his father’s “extraordinary life” as he educated multiple generations of good lawyers and stood as a towering figure in the law. “He sentenced people sitting not from the high bench but across the table,” Weinstein said. “Explaining to them what the sentence was, what it was for, and how they could redeem their lives.” Weinstein’s family was presented with an American flag by U.S. Navy personnel. As a federal judge, Weinstein presided over a case that resulted in a $180 million

settlement for veterans poisoned by Agent Orange during the Vietnam War. He also heard far-reaching cases involving tobacco, asbestos and handguns. Weinstein entered senior status on March 1, 1993, but maintained a full docket of cases until his retirement last year. He ended his career with the 11thlongest total service tenure among federal judges in American history. He was the last remaining judge appointed by President Lyndon Johnson. Born in Wichita, Kansas, in 1921, Weinstein moved to Brooklyn with his fam-

ily when he was 5 years old. He received his bachelor’s degree at Brooklyn College in 1943 and graduated from Columbia Law School in 1948. After law school, Weinstein spent time as a clerk at the New York State Court of Appeals for Justice Stanley Fuld. Weinstein also served as county attorney of Nassau County in the 1960s, writing briefs and arguing against gerrymandering. At the memorial service, Widom said: “We ought not to despair. For here among us in mind awakened by his, in spirit uplifted by his, in hearts gentled by his, he lives.”

N. Hempstead recognizes local youth activists Continued from Page 11 and peacefully protested in the park and marched through the main streets. Shayna Blumenfeld, an eighth-grade student at Weber Middle School in Port Washington and youth ambassador for the child safety advocacy group Kyra’s Champions, led the group in planting 744 blue pinwheels at the Mary Jane Davies Green in Manhasset and Blumenfeld Family Park in Port Washington in April.

Blumenfeld became involved with the organization when she heard Kyra’s Champions founder Jacqueline Franchetti of Manhasset speak last year, spurred on by an interest in politics. In the summer of 2016, Franchetti’s daughter Kyra was killed by her father at his home in Fairfax, Virginia, while on an unsupervised, court-sanctioned visit. The sleeping 2-year-old was shot twice in the back before her father set the house on fire

and shot himself to death. Franchetti recruited Blumenfeld to cochair the event. As part of her role, Blumenfeld attended planning meetings with the Town of North Hempstead, assembled and sent packets of pinwheels across the state, and even staked out the parks ahead of time. “We connected over the summer,” Blumenfeld said of her ties with Franchetti. “I got to hear her talk at Zoom meetings and

I thought she was really, really incredible.” The number of pinwheels placed at each park, 744, not only represent Kyra and the other 18 children in New York state who have been murdered by their father or mother while going through a child custody case, divorce or separation, but 725 children whose deaths are said to have been hidden by Child Protective Services. Rose Weldon contributed reporting.

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36 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, June 25, 2021

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Immigrants can light spark in economy Continued from Page 17 Stuart Anderson in Forbes. The study “shows recent immigrants have played an outsized role in bringing honor and recognition to America in scientific fields. The achievements of immigrants in the form of Nobel Prizes, successful businesses and contributions in other fields are a testament to the American Dream.” (www.forbes.com/sites/stuartanderson/2020/10/14/immigrants-nobel-prizes-and-the-american-dream) Immigrants founded or lead half of America’s most valuable technology companies. Immigrants are more than twice as likely as native-born Americans to become entrepreneurs. In 2019, there were 3.2 million immigrant entrepreneurs employing 8 million people. Between 1996-2011, while the rate at which businesses were founded by immigrants increased 50 percent, the rate declined by 10 percent among nativeborn. (www.newamericaneconomy.org/issues/entrepreneurship) There is a reason why so many of our entrepreneurs and so many of the innovations of recent decades have come from immigrants. They are motivated, success-driven, first to be motivated to leave their homeland behind – quite literally hungry — and then faced with having to overcome any number of obstacles once here, as so many of us second- and thirdgeneration Americans can testify. They bring a zest, a zeal, an energy and if necessity is the mother of invention, that extra spark born of necessity to survive. Arguably, native-born Americans feel entitled – spoiled, even – and take for granted the legacy of wealth, privilege and property created by their forebears, who undoubtedly were immigrants who had their own struggles to succeed. Biden has already done a lot to reverse the Trump policy of inflicting terror on asylum-seekers – reuniting hundreds of separated children with their families; ending contracts with torturous for-profit private prisons (a doctor sterilizing women without their knowledge or consent); repealing the unconstitutional Muslim Travel Ban and the “public charge” rule that was a slap in the face of Lady Liberty; and reinstating the Temporary Protected Status for immigrants from countries hit by natural disasters or armed conflict. One of the first acts Biden took on Jan. 20 was to introduce his U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021, which would legalize the status and provide an “earned” path to citizenship for Dreamers brought here as children and TPS holders who entered the country legally while addressing the root causes that have pushed so many to make the dangerous journey from their homelands. Notably, the Biden-Harris administration has also taken a strong position against illegal immigration. Now the Biden Administration is developing a blueprint to make legal immigration easier — shorter, simpler forms so applicants have to jump through fewer hoops — and reverse Trump policies of raising fees and increasing time to go through the naturalization process, creating a backlog of 300,000. Foreigners will have better opportunities to join their families and more chances to secure work visas. All of this is to ensure America re-embraces its “character as a nation of opportunity and of welcome.” (www.nytimes. com/2021/05/31/us/politics/biden-immigration.html) “Across each generation throughout our history, wave after wave of immigrants have enriched our nation and made us better, stronger, more innovative, and more prosperous,” Biden states in his June proclamation. No one is suggesting throwing open borders, or abandoning vetting. What is needed is investment in the agencies, the immigration courts, the social services to properly welcome to America the people who will continue the tradition of revitalizing and improving our nation. Inspiring immigrants to come to America to revitalize our society is a lot preferable than forcing women to bear babies to insure a labor supply.

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PAINTING & WALLPAPER est. 1978

Interior and Exterior • Plaster/Spackle Light Carpentry • Decorative Moldings Power Washing 516-385-3132 New Hyde Park

www.MpaintingCo.com

516-328-7499 Licensed & Insured

RUBBISH REMOVAL

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“Quality Construction with a Personal Touch”

JUNK REMOVAL

Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, June 25, 2021

BUYER’S GUIDE ▼

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TREE SERVICE

OLD VILLAGE TREE SERVICE

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FREE ESTIMATES

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WINDOW REPAIRS

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WINDOW REPAIRS & RESTORATIONS

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Outdated Hardware • Skylights •Andersen Sashes • New Storm Windows • Wood Windows • Chain/Rope Repairs • Falling Windows • Fogged Panes • Mechanical Repairs • Wood Repairs

ALL BRANDS

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nassau

40 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, June 25, 2021

COMMUNITY CLASSIFIEDS To advertise here call:516.307.1045

▼ EMPLOYMENT To Place Your Ad Call

EMPLOYMENT

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

Phone:

516.307.1045 x 218

Fax:

516.307.1046

e-mail:

DFlynn@theislandnow.com

In Person:

22 Planting Field Road Roslyn Heights, NY 11577

We’re Open:

Mon–Thurs: 9am-5:30pm Fri: 9am-6pm

Deadlines

Tuesday 11:00am: Classified Advertising Tuesday 1:00pm: Legal Notices/ Name Changes Friday 5:00pm Buyers’s Guide Error Responsibility All ads placed by telephone are read back for verification of copy context. In the event of an error of Blank Slate Media LLC we are not responsible for the first incorrect insertion. We assume no responsiblity for an error in and beyond the cost of the ad. Cancellation Policy Ads must be cancelled the Monday before the first Thursday publication. All cancellations must be received in writing by fax at: 516.307.1046 Any verbal cancellations must be approved by a supervisor. There are no refunds on cancelled advertising. An advertising credit only will be issued.

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

EMPLOYMENT

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

DIRECTOR OF HUMANITIES Penfield Central School District seeks an experienced administrator to be the next Director of Humanities with the following qualifications: • New York State certification (SDA/SDL) • Thorough knowledge of sound teaching and learning practices K-12 • Experience with NYS testing, Next Generation Learning Standards and Student Learning Objectives • Strong literacy background focusing on data-based decision making • Experience with curriculum and program development • Experience in coaching, collaboration, teacher development and professional learning Interested candidates please visit www.penfield.edu EOE

HELP WANTED ASSISTANT PART TIME in Port Washington. Quickbooks a plus. Good communication skills & dependable. Send resume to:Joseph@plastics-exchange.com FULL TIME PROFESSIONAL PIZZA MAKER needed. Good Pay. PLUS Room and Board. Upstate NY.Call Dominick 315-725-6969 Help Wanted $18.50 NYC$17 LI $13.50 UPSTATE NY! If you need care from your relative, friend or neighbor and you have Medicaid, they may be eligible to start taking care of you as a personal assistant under NYS Medicaid CDPA program. No Certificates needed. Phone: 347-713-3553 HOME HEALTH AIDE WANTED for permanent part-time position Saturday-Sunday. Additional hours available. Must have car. Speak English. Nassau County. Call: 516-299-6331 NOW HIRING!!! DRIVERS, BUS MONITORS & MECHANICS. Bus terminal locations throughout Nassau & Suffolk Counties. Earn While you learn. FREE TRAINING to obtain CDL. Apply at: www.wetransport.com OR CALL 516-349-8200

SITUATION WANTED A COMPANION HOME HEALTH AIDE With 20 years experience In Home Care & Nursing Homes Seeking Position To Care For Sick/Elderly. Experience With Parkinsons, Alzheimers, Dementia, Stroke. References Available. English Speaking. Please Call 347-546-4133

LIST YOUR SERVICES HERE. CALL TODAY 516.307.1045

SITUATION WANTED

Certified HHA

• Experienced • Excellent references.

We will provide you the best caregivers in America. Filipino men and women. Kind, loving and caring at this very difficult time.

Call Gertrude

347–444–0960 AIDE/CARE GIVER: CARING, EFFICIENT, RELIABLE Live In/Live Out Available FT/PT days, evenings, weekends to care for your sick or elderly loved one. Cooking, light housework, tidy up, personal grooming, administer medications. 15 years experience. References available. COVID SAFE Please Call 516-448-0502 HOME HEALTH AIDE AVAILABLE Experienced Home Health Aide seeking work to care for the elderly. Can work 6, 12 or 24hr shifts. Driver’s License. References avaiable. Please call 516-406-6812 or 516688-9251 HOME HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL Over 30 years experience caring for elderly including patients with Alzheimer’s and Dementia. All long term assignments. Available immediately days, nights or weekends. Excellent references. Call Monica 516-325-5774 LIVE IN CAREGIVER/HOME HEALTH AIDE Experienced Caregiver/Home Health Aide is looking for a job for live-in position. Excellent references available. For more information Call: 929-245-1744

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

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CAREER TRAINING COMPUTER & IT TRAINING program! Train ONLINE to get the skills to become a Computer & Help Desk Professional now! Now offering a $10,000 scholarship for qualified applicants. Call CTI for details! (844) 947-0192 (M-F 8am-6pm ET) TRAIN AT HOME TO DO MEDICAL BILLING Become a Medical Office Professional online at CTI! Get trained, certified & ready to work in months! Call 855-543-6440 (M-F 8am-6pm ET)

ANNOUNCEMENTS

ADOPTION Family Oriented single woman looking to welcome a child into her life. Any ethnicity welcome, expenses paid. Please call 347-470-5228 or my attorney: 800-582-3678 for information.

NOVENAS/PRAYERS PRAYER TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN (Never known to fail). Oh Most Beautiful Flower of Mount Carmel, fruitful vine of Splendor of Heaven, Blessed Mother of the Son of God, Immaculate Virgin assist me in this necessity. Oh Star of the Sea help me and show herein you are my Mother. Oh Mary Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and Earth I beseech thee from the bottom of my heart to succor me this necessity (make request). There are none that can withstand your power. Oh show me herein you are my Mother. Oh Mary conceived without sin pray for us who have recourse to Thee (three times). Oh Holy Mary I place this cause in your hands (three times). Thank you for your mercy to me and mine. Amen. This prayer must be said for three days and after three days your request will be granted. The prayer must be published. Grateful thanks. (J.E.D.)

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RECEPTIONIST Part Time

PORT WASHINGTON ANIMAL HOSPITAL

Must love animals. Excellent opening for experienced person. (Will train right indiv.) Responsible individual to work Evenings, Weekends. Busy & friendly environment. Call: 516-883-2005

AUCTIONS Cool Old Stuff in Glen Cove Vintage Shop. WINNER OF BEST OF NORTH SHORE 2020. GREAT PRICED items for Boat and Home. See ALL online: Wilsonsdrydock. com. For info / appt Please call 516-662-2821

MARKETPLACE

WANTED TO BUY

A.T. STEWART EXCHANGE CONSIGNMENT SHOP 516-746-8900 Antiques-FurnitureJewelry-Silver-Mirrors-LampsArtwork Come to Consign & Stay to Shop Visit.... Our Shop 109 Eleventh St. Garden City Tues-Fri 10-4 (Wed till 6) Saturday 12-4 Shop Our Online Store ATStewartExchange.org Items to Consign? Email photos (with sizing info) to: store@atstewartexchange. org All proceeds benefit The Garden City Historical Society Like us on Facebook & Instagram

FREON WANTED: We pay $$$ for cylinders and cans. R12 R500 R11 R113 R114. Convenient. Certified Professionals. Call 312-291-9169 or visit RefrigerantFinders.com

FOR SALE: SCOOTER 2009 YAMAHA ZUMA 125, Black Helmets included 10,000 miles. All service records. Asking $1,000 Call 516-775-2526

TOP CASH PAID: ESTATE CONTENTSALL OBJECTS OF ARTJEWELRY, ETC. Please call 718-598-3045 or 516-270-2128 www.antiqueassets.com

INVITED ESTATE SALES BY TRACY JORDAN is doing VIRTUAL TAG SALES and ONLINE AUCTIONS now! Sell the contents of an entire house or sell just a few things! You can host your own sale on invitedsales.com and Facebook and Instagram or we can do it for you. We can photograph, advertise and handle the winning pickups for you within a week! Don’t worry about your closing date, we can get your house ready on time! We are a one stop service for all your needs when you are moving or selling a property! Selling, donating, discarding and cleaning out services can be done to meet your time frame with minimal stress. Contact info@invitedsales.com for more information or call 516-279-6378 to schedule a consultation or receive more information. Visit us at www. invitedsales.com for a listing of our upcoming Virtual Tag Sales and Weekly Auctions!

AUTOMOTIVE

MULTI FAMILY SALE GARDEN CITY TONS OF MERCHANDISE ! Friday, June 25 andSaturday June 26 9 am4 pm 35 Roxbury Rd Multi family sale with something for everyone. Everything is priced to sell!

LOOKING TO BUY! Estates, Oriental items, Gold, Silver, Costume Jewelry, Dishes, Flatware, Watches, Clothing, Old Photos, Coins, Stamps, Records, Toys, Action Figures, Comics, Art and Furniture. Immediate Cash Paid Call George 917-775-3048 or 718-386-1104

AUTO SERVICES Dettaglio Detailing: Anthony Masia. Owner/Operator. Dependable, professional detailer. SUVs, vans, pick-ups also detailed at a higher price. We specialize in imports/Mercedes Benz, BMW, Audi, Jaguar & Maserati. $10 off with this ad. Call 631-612-7152

AUTOS WANTED

JUNK CARS BOUGHT Auto Wrecking Frank & Sons

516-997-5736 ***AAA*** AUTO BUYERS $Highest$ Ca$h Paid$ All Years/ Conditions! WE VISIT YOU! Or Donate, Tax Deduct Ca$h. DMV 10#1303199 Call LUKE 516-VANCARS 516-297-2277

Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, June 25, 2021

▼ HELP WANTED

Immediate Hiring

“Agents of Change”

• • • • •

Referral of a Friend Collects $500 after 3months of employment

Immediate Work PCA, HHA/CNA

Sick Days Vacation Days Bonus after 3 months ($300) Rate increase after 4 monthss Health Insurance

Starting

$15

Per Hour

718-255-5946

BRONX NXX – BR BROOKLYN B ROOKLYN – M MANHATTAN ANHATT TAN – QUEENS QUEENS NS - NASSAU 118-35 Queens Boulevard, Tower Suite 400, Forest Hills, NY 11375 250 Fulton Ave, Suite 212 Hempstead, NY 11550 1650 Eastern Parkway, Suite 400-403 Brooklyn, NY 11233 260 E. 138th Street, 4Fl Bronx, NY 10451 75 Clinton Street, Staten Island, NY 10304 SERVICE DIRECTORY

SERVICES

** EVON’S SERVICES ** HOME HEALTH AIDES ELDER CARE CHILD CARE AND MORE! We offer the following services: Companions, Home Health Aides/Elder Care Child Care and Housekeeping Laborers Days / Nightsn Live In or Live Out NO FEE TO EMPLOYERS Call: 516-505-5510

AUTOS WANTED

OFFICE SPACE

Drive out Breast Cancer: Donate a car today! The benefits of donating your car or boat: Fast Free Pickup24hr response Tax deductionEasy to do! Call 24/7: 855-905-4755

OFFICE CONDOMINIUM FOR PURCHASE OR LEASE 1505 sf Office Condominium located in a nicely appointed Professional Building immediately adjacent to Garden City. It contains one oversized office that can easily accommodate three people at traditional executive desks, three single-occupant executive offices, a fully functional kitchen, half bathroom, and an additional office suitable for your desired purpose. The unit has been completely renovated with a bright, comfortable appearance. Asking Price $225,750. Please Contact: Thomas DeGruccio 516-528-0460

REAL ESTATE FOR RENT

APARTMENT FOR RENT

ALBERTSON Senior Building. Spacious 1 BR apartment rental. 1 1/2 bath, terrace, washer/dryer, closets galore! Asking $2,250 Rummel Real Estate Call Mary Ann 516-606-3790

GARAGE/PARKING SPACE FOR RENT STEWART MANOR PARKING SPACE AVAILABLE. Do you need a safe place to store/park your car for a few months? My driveway in Stewart Manor is available. $75/ month. Call Diane 516-437-3066

VACATION RENTAL OCEAN CITY, MARYLAND Best selection of full/partial week rentals. FREE Color Brochure. Holiday Real Estate, Inc: 1-800638-2102. Online reservations: www.holidayoc.com $50 discountnew rentals Code “ToTheBeach2021” (Expires 06-21-2021) LIST YOUR PROPERT FOR RENT/ SALE 516.307.1045

BEST SATELLITE TV with 2 Year Price Guarantee! $59.99/mo with 190 channels and 3 months free premium movie channels! Free next day installation! CALL 888-508-5313

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HOMES WANTED GARDEN CITY HOME WANTED Retired couple sold GC home and wish to purchase Cape Cod or Ranch style home in Village. Can pay all cash. Close now; move at your convenience. Principals Only. Call : 516-747-1024

SERVICES Dr. Marlene Levy (PhD,LCSW,DAAPM) Virtual and Outdoor CLINICAL HYPNOSIS & PSYCHOTHERAPY. Call 516-944-3885 FITNESS/MASSAGE Virtual workout available via Zoom. One on One Rehabilitation in the comfort of your home. Following COVID-19 Safety Practices. Contact: 917-612-0460 Andersongourdet@gmail.com

DECORATOR

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!"#$%&'()*"+"%%%%%% SERVICES HOME

JACK’S CUSTOM FRAMING We can frame anything! Quality Care & Workmanship Thousands of frames to choose from!! Over 30 years in business! 92 Covert Ave, Stewart Manor 516-775-9495 WE HAVE THE HELP YOU NEED HHA, LPN, Nurse’s Aide, Childcare, Housekeeping & Day Workers. No Fees to Employers. Call Evons Services 516-505-5510

ATTORNEY

STEPHANIE A. D’ANGELO, ESQ. Elder Law, Wills & Trusts Asset Preservation, Estate Planning, Probate & Estate Administration/Litigation 901 Stewart Ave, Ste 230 Garden City, NY 11530 516-222-1122 www.dangelolawassociates.com

HOME IMPROVEMENTS AMBIANCE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES *Handyman & Remodeling *Kitchen Installations *Furniture Assembly *Finish Carpentry *Minor Electrical & Plumbing 28 year GC Resident Lic & Ins H18E2170000 Call BOB 516-741-2154

TO LIST YOUR SERVICES HERE, CALL 516.307.1045

IMPROVEMENTS

AQUATEC LAWN SPRINKLERS SPRING TURN ONS Backflow Device Tests Free Estimates Installation Service/Repairs Joe Barbato 516-775-1199 CHIMNEY KING ENT. INC. FREE ESTIMATES Stainless steel liners cleaning & repair specialists. Masonry specialist. FULLY licensed & insured. NYC NASSAU SUFFOLK 516-766-1666 or 631-225-2600 Since 1982 chimneykinginc.com Eliminate gutter cleaning forever! LeafFilter, the most advanced debris-blocking gutter protection. Schedule a FREE LeafFilter estimate today. 15% off and 0% financing for those who qualify. PLUS Senior & Military Discounts. Call 1-877-763-2379 FREE ESTIMATES Extensions, Kitchens, Baths, Basements, Carpentry Work, Porticos, Siding, Dormers, Stone, New Construction & Conversions, Mason Work, Stone. Insured. Please Call 516-581-9146 MADE IN THE SHADE CUSTOM WINDOW TREATMENTS Blinds, Shades, Shutters, Draperies Top Brands at Discount Prices! Family owned & operated www.madeintheshadensli.com 516-426-2890

42 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, June 25, 2021

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!"#$%&'#()%*'#%+,-./012%34)%5#,6#4%6)$%'#,()'#.72%8#%#9./:-&/#4%)(&/;-&)%<-./7%0#$%=%1)-$2%%!!3>%)$%<-./7%-&%&/;)%#0%)(&/;-&)%#4.1%% 2The leading consumer reporting agency conducted a 16 month outdoor test of gutter guards in 2010 and recognized LeafFilter as the “#1 rated professionally installed gutter guard system in America.” CSLB# 1035795 DOPL #10783658-5501 License# 7656 License# 50145 License# 41354 License# 99338 License# 128344 License# 218294 WA UBI# 603 233 977 License# 2102212986 License# 2106212946 License# 2705132153A License# LEAFFNW822JZ License# WV056912 License# WC-29998-H17 Nassau HIC License# H01067000 Registration# 176447 Registration# HIC.0649905 Registration# C127229 Registration# C127230 Registration# 366920918 Registration# PC6475 Registra&/#4?%@ABC=DEF%%A):/(&$-&/#4?%=CGHEIIJCIEE%%A):/(&$-&/#4?%KLEMICDC%%N,>%#.O%H@P% License# 52229-H License# 2705169445 License# 262000022 License# 262000403 License# 0086990 Registration# H-19114

HOME IMPROVEMENTS LAMPS FIXED $65 In home service. Handy Howard. 646-996-7628 MASONRY All types of stonework Pavers, Retaining Walls, Belgium Block Patios, Foundations, Seal coating, Concrete and Asphalt driveways, Sidewalks, Steps. Free Estimates Fully Licensed & Insured #H2219010000 Boceski Masonry Louie 516-850-4886 Never Pay For Covered Home Repairs Again! Complete Care Home Warranty COVERS ALL MAJOR SYSTEMS AND APPLIANCES. 30 DAY RISK FREE. $200.00 OFF + 2 FREE MONTHS! 866-440-6501 ROOF LEAKS REPAIRED Slate Roof Repairs Caulking/Roof Maintenance Copper Flashing Replacements Shingle Roof Repairs Snow Guards/Roof Vents Nassau Lic#H1859520000 B.C. Roofing Call 631-496-9711 (Office) or 516-983-0860 (Owner direct) THE GENERAC PWRcell a solar plus battery storage system. SAVE money, reduce your reliance on the grid, prepare for power outages and power your home. Full installation services available. $0 Down Financing Option. Request a FREE, no obligation, quote today. Call 1-888-871-0194

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HOME IMPROVEMENTS PAULIE THE ROOFER STOPPING LEAKS IS MY SPECIALTY! Slate & Tile Specialists All types of Roofing Local References Licensed & Insured 516-621-3869

PAINTING & PAPERHANGING MICHELANGELO PAINTING & WALLPAPER Interior, Exterior, Plaster/Spackle, Light Carpentry, Decorative Moldings & Power Washing. Call: 516-328-7499

CLEANING CLEANING AVAILABLE EXPERIENCED POLISH HOUSE CLEANER Good references, ability. Very honest, reliable, responsible and hard working. Own transportation. English speaking. Flexible days and hours. Reasonable rates. I will do a good job. Call or text 516-589-5640 Deep Cleaning Experts Commercial and Residential Window, Gutters, Power Washing Call Richie 917-5538008 Email: delgadothebestcleaning@gmail.com GARDEN CITY WINDOW CLEANING HOME WINDOW CLEANING INTERIOR/EXTERIOR SERVICE BY OWNER Fully Insured / 25 yrs experience 516-764-5686 631-220-1851

1-800-404-9776 DENTAL Insurance from Physicians Mutual Insurance Company.

Call to get your FREE Information Kit

1-855-225-1434 dental50plus.com/nypress

Includes the Participating (in GA: Designated) Providers and Preventive Benefits Rider. Product not available in all states. Acceptance guaranteed for one insurance policy/certificate of this type. Contact us for complete details about this insurance solicitation. This specific offer is not available in CO; call 1-800-969-4781 or respond for similar offer. Certificate C250A (ID: C250E; PA: C250Q); Insurance Policy P150 (GA: P150GA; NY: P150NY; OK: P150OK; TN: P150TN); Rider kinds B438/B439 (GA: B439B). 6255

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Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, June 25, 2021

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44 The Williston Times, Friday, June 25, 2021

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Anna Kaplan receives anti-Semitic hate mail Continued from Page 11 “This incident is a sad reminder that Nassau County is not immune to hatred and white supremacy, and it’s our responsibility as a community to forcefully reject this evil whenever it reveals itself among us,” Kaplan said in a news release. “As a former religious refugee who fled anti-Semitism in my birth country, I have seen first-hand how anti-Semitism begins to permeate a society and ultimately lead to violence against Jewish people.” “This is vile Anti-Semitism and it has no place in Nassau County,” Nassau County Executive Laura Curran tweeted The Nassau County Police Department was notified of the incident and is conducting an investigation, according to the news release. Kaplan, who is Jewish, was the first refugee elected to the New York State Legislature and has been an outspoken voice against anti-Semitic acts in Nassau County and New York. In May, the state Senate passed a bill backed by Kaplan aimed at banning hate symbols from being displayed on public property and taxpayer-funded equipment. “We all deserve to live in a community free from hatred and bias,

and I’m extremely grateful for the efforts of our Nassau County Police for their hard work and dedication to keep our community safe, and for their efforts to investigate this matter,” Kaplan said. The legislation came after Confederate flags were hung in the window of a local fire department in Nassau County and from the side of a firetruck that appeared in a parade in Suffolk County last year, Kaplan’s office said. Expanding on legislation enacted last year, the bill would bar municipal corporations, towns, cities, villages, fire districts, volunteer fire companies or police departments from selling or displaying symbols of hate, except when the display is for educational or historical purposes. The legislation passed the Senate on May 25 with a vote of 567, and now goes to the Assembly where it is expected to be taken up by the Rules Committee soon. The North Shore has been no stranger to anti-Semitic acts over the past year. In October, vandals spray-painted 12 swastikas after breaking into the Port Washington Police Athletic League’s Sunset Park clubhouse. PAL Executive Director Rob Elkins said the vandals broke into the clubhouse, found a

can of red spray paint in the clubhouse and sprayed swastikas “all over the inside of the building, onfield equipment, on balls and bats, on the bathroom walls, on our tractor, and on the front door to the building.” In December, images circulated online of the North Shore Hebrew Academy High School website being the victim of a hacking scheme featuring anti-Semitic images, messages and songs. Screenshots of the website were then posted with anti-Semitic messages with slurs above a notification that the website was under construction. In the website’s “About Us” tab, there were more pictures of Nazi soldiers holding up swastikas and referring to the school as the “North Shore Concentration Camp.” The tab also featured a profile on Adolf Hitler and outlined “field trips” the students would take to Auschwitz. The post said that students would have to “walk into an SS oﬃce and declare themselves as Jews,” and listed the deadline for the application as “January 1945.” Both of those incidents were under investigation by the county Police Department, but eﬀorts to reach a law enforcement representative for an update on their status were unavailing.

Legislature questions $375 payments to homeowners Continued from Page 11 Horst reiterated the administration’s desire to provide direct relief for some 300,000 eligible Nassau homeowners. County spokesman Michael Fricchione said Curran remained “confident we will be able to lessen the burden on the middle class as details go through the Treasury Department for further clarification before a final proposal is filed and presented to the Legislature for approval.” “After announcing a ‘Homeowner Assistance Plan,’ which would use the federal relief funds to distribute $375 checks to more than 300,000 Nassau residents, the administration has now discovered that those payments may not be possible,” Nicolello said. “This is another inexplicable failure by the administration to do its homework before announcing a flawed plan. Nassau residents deserve better.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE’S OFFICE

County officials said on Monday they are meeting with representatives from the U.S. Treasury Department this week regarding the proposed $375 cash payments to Nassau homeowners announced by County Executive Laura Curran last month.

The Williston Times, Friday, June 25, 2021

COMMUNITY NEWS

Rotary Clubs, sanctuary to protect pollinators There’s something taking root and growing in Connecticut and Long Island…KINDNESS! On a bright and sunny Saturday, the first delivery of 59 KINDNESS GARDEN plants were delivered to Long Island Rotary Clubs and local businesses including the Catholic Cemeteries of Long Island, Manhasset-Lakeville Water District, and the Science Museum of Long Island. KINDNESS GARDENS, an environmental initiative between the Catherine Violet Hubbard Animal Sanctuary in Newtown, Conn. and the Manhasset Rotary Club, work to beautify the land while increasing the number of truly native plants in each ecoregion. 2021 KINDNESS GARDEN plants were grown specifically for the Long Island region in order to thrive in

the coastal climate while promoting local pollinator health and propagation. Over 5,000 square feet of pollinator habitat was planted as a result of the initiative. Jenny Hubbard, executive director of the Catherine Violet Hubbard Animal Sanctuary, made the drive from Newtown, Conn. to Manhasset to personally distribute the plugs and answer any questions recipients might have. “It was a thrill to come to Manhasset and meet the Rotary Club members in person to kick oﬀ this initiative. Thanks to the deep care and commitment of these Long Island business and civic leaders, these plants are going to flourish and spread, providing much-needed food and sustenance to nature’s most fragile crea-

tures. I can’t wait to come back and see how they’ve grown.” The concept behind KINDNESS GARDENS stems from the fact that all of nature — farms, meadows and gardens — depend on a robust population of pollinators and beneficial insects, and those insects depend on native plants. Robert Donno from Manhasset Rotary/Gift of Life International couldn’t wait to sign on with the sanctuary to bring the pilot program to life in Long Island. “The CVH Animal Sanctuary was created in honor of 6-year-old Catherine who lost her life at Sandy Hook Elementary…a young girl who would whisper to animals and insects, ‘Tell all your friends that I am kind’. It’s that quote which echoes in our mind and will live in the flowers we plant,

the animals we care for and the hearts of children we mend.” KINDNESS GARDENS are a 2021 piloted program that utilizes plant plugs exclusively grown for the Ecotype Project — an initiative to support habitat restoration and pollinator health and is a plant- and place-based approach to land stewardship. Included in the garden kits were 16-64 Ecotype plant plugs, planting and care instructions, and detailed landscape maps to show layout design and soil, sun or shade specifications. Ecotype plants are available in select nurseries and were supplied by Newtown-based grower, Planters Choice. To learn more about the initiatives and programs oﬀered by the sanctuary or Manhasset Rotary visit: www.CVHFoudnation.org or www.manhassetrotary.org

Access-Ability Awards from Helen Keller Helen Keller Services, a national non-profit working with individuals who are blind, visually impaired, DeafBlind and/or have combined hearing-vision loss to live, work and thrive, today announced the first annual “Access-Ability Awards,” recognizing companies, nonprofit organizations and individuals doing work to support the individuals who are DeafBlind, blind or have low vision in a variety of ways. The Awards are timed to coincide with both the birthday of Helen Keller and DeafBlind Awareness Week, on June 27 to July 3. The Awards will be presented in a special virtual ceremony on June 30, 2021 at 2:45 – 3:45 p.m. EST and broadcast on the Helen Keller Services Facebook page.

The recipients of the inaugural set of awards are: · Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, for its outstanding work in providing accessible accommodations to first-time casted DeafBlind actor Robert Tarango in the Oscar®-nominated film

ment to a diverse and inclusive workforce · Sunrise Credit Services, for making diversity and inclusivity a priority by providing training and employment opportunities to people who are blind, DeafBlind and have low vision

Join HKS on June 30 for the presentation of its first “Access-Ability Awards” Feeling Through during the 93rd Oscars® ceremony · Microsoft, for its exceptional commitment towards accessibility when developing products and services, and by doubling down on disability inclusion throughout the company and empowering others to adopt similar best practices · UsableNet, for its work in improving website accessibility and its commit-

· Be My Eyes, for its exceptional services in making the world more accessible for people who are blind through its newtork of volunteers “We have witnessed the progress towards greater accessibility and inclusivity for and among the communities we work with, but there is still a great deal more of work to be done,” said Sue Ruzenski, CEO of Helen Keller Services.

“It is our honor to be celebrating our partners who are using their talents and resources to make our society more accessible and inclusive through their services, practices, products and workforce diversity eﬀorts.” Larry Kinitsky, Chairman of HKS added, “The companies we are recognizing have made significant contributions to improving the everyday life of those who are DeafBlind, blind and have low vision. We are truly thankful that so many companies are working towards improved accessibility and look forward to more innovation in the future.” LINK to Access-Ability Awards Logo and photos of Sue Ruzenski, Larry Kinitsky and more: https://drive.google. com/drive/folders/15hXtOJRt4xZZdhs6 XV5U3HuMCpLqMwP_?usp=sharing

Credit unions give $30K to Cohen Children’s The New York Credit Union Association – Long Island Chapter, including Ocean Financial Federal Credit Union recently presented a $30,000 check to Cohen Children’s Medical Center, representing what would normally be the amount raised by that group’s annual Golf Outing. For the past 28 years Long Island Credit Unions have conducted a charity golf outing to raise funds for non-profits in Nassau and Suﬀolk Counties. In 2020, 29th Annual Long Island Credit Unions Golf Outing was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, the credit

unions appealed to annual supporters and fulfilled their promise to Cohen Children’s Medical Center Pediatric Diabetes Program with a donation comparable to previous years. “The pandemic wasn’t going to keep us from supporting the important work of Cohen Children’s Medical Center Pediatric Diabetes Program,” said Joe Tedesco, president and CEO of OFFCU. “We and our credit union colleagues from around Long Island are proud to have been able to keep up this tradition of support for kids and families undergoing such an immense challenge.”

Pictured L. to R.: Eric Oterson (Jovia Financial Credit Union), Robert Muir (Town of Hempstead Employees Federal Credit Union), Victoria Loachino (Cohen Children’s Medical Center, Northwell Health Foundation), Kevin Healy (Pentagon Federal Credit Union), Dr. Graeme Frank (Cohen Children’s Medical Center, Interim Chief of Pediatric Endocrinology), Michelle Traynor (Bethpage Federal Credit Union), Tricia Daley (Ocean Financial Federal Credit Union)

46 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, June 25, 2021

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The Williston Times, Friday, June 25, 2021

SCHOOL NEWS

Herricks ‘21 commencement Herricks frosh with personal bests

Herricks Public Schools leaders, families and members of the Herricks High School Class of 2021 were thrilled to come together in-person for the 62nd annual commencement, held on June 16 at Hofstra University. The event was especially meaningful to those involved, as it represented progress and perseverance after a challenging year marked by the global pandemic. Principal Joan Keegan opened the ceremony and seniors Alyssa Samuels and Allison Yu performed the National Anthem. The graduating class continued the high school’s time-honored tradition of greeting the audiences in various world languages. Band members and the Senior Graduation Choir provided musical entertainment to complement the festive ambiance. “Graduates, never take for granted the significance of your Herricks experience and what it took for you to get here today,” Ms. Keegan said. “Remember to draw upon it as you begin to navigate the next stage of your life.” Board of Education President Henry Zanetti and Trustee Juleigh Chin presented inspiring comments and encouraged

the graduates to embrace the changes and challenges ahead. “As times change, we go through cycles in our lives – we go through times when we know nothing at all to when we know everything,” Ms. Chin said. “It’s not at the times when you feel you know everything that you’re maturing and growing the most, it’s when you feel like you know nothing.” Superintendent of Schools Dr. Fino Celano drew upon words from John F. Kennedy prior to the first moon landing in 1969, and also shared inspiration from Martin Luther King, Jr. “Accomplishments are so much sweeter when we work hard to achieve them, and you have worked hard this year, overcome challenges and achieved success beyond everyone’s expectations,” Dr. Celano said. “After getting through this tough year, know in your heart that you can accomplish anything. As President Kennedy did 60 years ago, be bold and dream big.” Salutatorian Kyle Pinzon expressed his thoughts, and Valedictorian Rhea Rasquinha then shared remarks. “If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that no matter how much the world around

us changes, if we want to grow with it, we have to start with ourselves,” Kyle said. “It’s important that we find our own happiness because once we do, we will truly be able to share with others and continue the impact that we started here at home.” “We are conditioned to move vertically, always looking toward the next thing above us,” Rhea said. “Success is often defined by how far up we move, and we often forget to look sideways at everything else there. We made it through this year, and I call that a success.” Herricks High School PTSA President Madeline Svitak also praised the graduates, and Senior Class President Akshal Shah introduced six faculty members who were selected as guest speakers. Suzanne Faeth, Karim Gangli, Trisha Ho, John McManus, Stephanie Nelson and Liam O’Brien each shared reflections and words of wisdom. The stadium rang with applause and cheers as each graduate walked across the stage to accept a diploma. Class advisors then led students in the tassel turn, which signified their transition from students to graduates, and caps were tossed into the sky as a new chapter began.

Herricks High School’s Counseling & Wellness Center distributed Personal Best Awards to all freshmen on May 18 and 19. Ninth graders were invited to stop by the courtyard for a complimentary snack and recognition from their counselors.

“We wanted to honor the freshmen class as they close out their first year of high school and did their ‘Personal Best,’” said Guidance Counselor Caryn Krucher. They put their best foot forward, while starting a brand new school, and transitioning during a year like no other.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF HERRICKS PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Searingtown raises $3K Herricks athletes Students at the Herricks Public Schools’ Searingtown Elementary School are dedicated to making a diﬀerence and this year, fifth graders set out to do so for parts of the world that face water shortage. As a result of compassion, motivation and teamwork, the school raised a total of $3,189.90 for the Ryan’s Well Foundation, which is committed to providing access to safe water and sanitation to improve lives in the developing world. The initiative was introduced by Martina D’Astolfo’s class after a read-aloud, which stemmed from the integration of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal of Clean Water into the curriculum. The class was moved by the book “A Long Walk to Water,” by Linda Sue Park, which is inspired by the story of Salva Dut and portrays the water scarcity struggles in Sudan. The topic was further covered by a science unit, and the class embarked on additional explorations, which led it to

Ryan’s Well. After student Aarav Harisinganiapproached Mrs. D’Astolfo expressing a desire to help raise funds for the organization, the rest of the class was quick to jump on board and expanded their initiative to the building. The fifth-graders and their teachers organized a weeklong fundraiser that featured Searingtown’s own “well” and daily themes that encouraged participants to contribute change and dress the part. They invited peers to wear unique accessories to represent “Crazy Quarters,” sport jeans in support of “Denim and Dimes,” brighten the halls on “Nickel and Neon” day, get cozy for “Pennies and Pajamas” and show their school spirit in blue and white during the “Any Amount Scottie” culmination. Mrs. D’Astolfo’s class created a Flipgrid presentation to promote the eventand had the opportunity to attend a video chat with Ryan’s Well Foundation Founder

Ryan Hreljac. The Foundation has completed over two thousand water projects and latrines in developing countries all over the world, bringing access to clean water and sanitation to over one million people. The Searingtown students and staﬀ members are proud to have been able to help support this valuable mission.

PHOTO COURTESY OF HERRICKS PUBLIC SCHOOLS

on Top 100 lists

The Herricks Public Schools are proud to congratulate several students who have been named to Newsday’s Top 100 sports lists, which spotlight the highest achieving athletes on Long Island. Eighth-grader Om Thakur was recognized among the Top 100 Fencers, sophomore Stefani Murciano was honored as a Top 100 Softball Player and senior Dylan Haase and junior Aaron Cho were both listed as Top 100 Boys Lacrosse Players. Om earned second-team All-County honors this year, after finishing fourth in the Nassau County Championships for Epee last year. Stefanie earned All-County honors as an eighthgrader. Dylan’s past achievements include top 10 in Nassau County in scoring with 47 goals and 26 assists for 73 points on a playoﬀ team, All-County Honorable Mention in 2019, Nassau County

Top 25 Rising Freshmen Showcase Team, Rising Sophomore Showcase Team and Rising Senior Showcase Team. Aaron has earned accomplishments such as top 10 in Nassau County in scoring with 40 goals and 34 assists for 74 points on a playoﬀ team, All-Conference in 2019, Nassau County Top 25 Rising Freshmen Showcase Team and Rising Sophomore Showcase Team.

PHOTO COURTESY OF HERRICKS PUBLIC SCHOOLS

48 The Williston Times, Friday, June 25, 2021

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