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Friday, February 18, 2022

Vol. 71, No. 7

LIVING 50 PLUS

ENG STEPS DOWN CURRAN BACKS ZIMMERMAN AS LIRR PREZ FOR CONGRESS

PAGES 23-26

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Paul Pereira unopposed in mayoral bid Williston Park’s Paul Ehrbar faces no challengers for re-election BY B R A N D ON D U FF Y Mineola Deputy Mayor Paul Pereira is running unopposed for mayor, and Williston Park Mayor Paul Ehrbar is also unopposed as he seeks re-election. Mineola will have a new mayor for the first time since 2011, the first year Mayor Scott Strauss was elected. Strauss is not seeking re-election following four terms on the village board. Pereira is running with Trustee Janine Sartori and resident Jeﬀrey Clark on the New Line Party slate. Elections for the Village of Mineola will be held on Tuesday, March 15, from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., according to the village’s calendar. Up this year are seats that have been held by Trustee George Durham, who is not seeking re-election, and ex-Trustee Dennis Walsh, who is serving on the North Hempstead Town Board.

Scott Fairgrieve, the village justice, is running unopposed for re-election. Pereira was first elected to the board in 2008 and became deputy mayor in 2011. He has lived in Mineola for over four decades and has the support of Strauss, according to a New Line Party press release. “Paul has consistently fought to keep our Mineola way of life,” the statement said. “He worked to lower debt and hold the line on taxes. He has voted time and time again to invest in infrastructure such as roads, sewers and clean water. Paul is the natural choice to succeed Mayor Scott Strauss and has his full backing.” If Pereira is elected as mayor, his seat on the board would become vacant. Someone would be appointed to fill his seat and finish his current term, similar to what Trustee Sartori is currently doing for Walsh’s term. Continued on Page 34

PHOTO COURTESY OF GOOGLE MAPS

Hildebrandt’s Restaurant in Williston Park has called for community members to push for the eatery to be granted landmark status by the village following rent hikes. See story on page 2.

Rice surprise: She will not run for re-election BY R OB E RT PELAEZ

gressional District. Rice, who was first elected to Congress in 2014 and is in U.S. Rep. Kathleen Rice the midst of her fourth term, (D-Garden City) announced on said in a tweet that elected ofTuesday that she will not run ficials “must give all we have for re-election in the 4th Con- and then know when it is time

NEWS FLASH!

to allow others to serve.” “Though I will not be running for re-election to Congress this year, I will remain focused on protecting our democracy and serving my constituents Continued on Page 35

Our website has a new name: theisland360.com. Come visit for the latest in breaking news.

The Williston Times, Friday, February 18, 2022

Mineola mayor points Hildebrandt’s seeks finger at bail reform landmark status Cites need for change following NYC police shooting Iconic W.P. eatery faces sharp rent hike BY B R A N D ON DUFFY

BY R OB E RT PELAEZ

Mineola Mayor Scott Strauss said bail reform was one of the issues that led him to call on state lawmakers to make changes after the burial of NYPD Oﬃcer Wilbert Mora. Mora and his partner Jason Rivera were killed in Harlem in the line of duty last month. At a Board of Trustees meeting on Feb. 2, Strauss said enough is enough. “How many more innocent people, people like you and me who for whatever reason take a chance and go into the city only to be robbed, assaulted, pushed in front of a train or slashed before our state lawmakers realize they need to change things,” he said. At that meeting, he did not did not specify what changes he sought or which lawmakers he had in mind. Responding to a request to clarify his remarks, Strauss said in a statement to Blank Slate Media that he was concerned about bail reform, the Manhattan district attorney’s policies and stricter law enforcement to curtail crime in New York. “If someone can’t aﬀord to post bail, maybe they should reconsider committing a crime,” Strauss said. “No one is being forced to rape, rob, slash or shoot someone. That is a choice each individual makes.” In 2020, the Democratic-led state Legislature passed bail reform laws that eliminated pretrial detention and monetary bail for most misdemeanors and nonviolent felonies. Republicans have assailed the changes and said they endanger the public. Without enough of a punishment, Strauss said, how can crime in New York City be expected to go down? “The Manhattan DA claimed

After announcing more than a year ago that it would remain open “a couple more months,” the iconic Hildebrandt’s Restaurant in Williston Park has called for community members to push for the eatery to be granted landmark status by the village. On Feb. 2, the restaurant’s Facebook page posted an update saying that the new landlord is looking to increase monthly rent from $4,500 to $6,700. With nearly 100 years in business, the business has urged all former and current village residents to help the store gain landmark status and preserve the Hildebrandt’s name. “Even if our current ownership has to release their control, we would like to keep the sign and store open to the public so future generations can enjoy the purity of our store,” the post read. The post, so far, has been shared more than 300 times and features more than 160 comments from residents sharing memories and expressing their support to help protect the res-

PHOTO BY SARAH IBRAHIM

Mineola Mayor Scott Strauss earned a NYPD Medal of Honor for his efforts during Sept. 11. he wouldn’t seek bail or prison except in just a few types of cases,” he said. “No bail, no prison, what is the consequence for committing crimes against society? Crimes against people? Since when does a District Attorney have the authority to not prosecute the very laws and constitution they swore to uphold when they took office? When they first became a lawyer?” In January, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg released a memo to staff that instructed prosecutors to avoid seeking jail time except for the most serious crimes, according to reports. The move prompted harsh criticism. On Feb. 4, Bragg released another memo that backtracked from some of his positions, calling for stricter policing, according to multiple reports. Strauss previously served as a detective with the Emergency Service Unit of the NYPD, where he earned the Medal of Honor, the department’s highest award, for his efforts during the Sept. 11 attacks. Strauss said that his points

essentially boil down to giving potential criminals a strong enough penalty to make them “think twice before breaking the law.” He said there is no penalty for jumping subway turnstiles in the city, which leads to revenue losses for the MTA and, in his opinion, is one of the reasons for too many illegal guns on the streets. “Who will make that up,” Strauss said. “Raising the fare won’t work, it will only cause more people to avoid paying it. Maybe they’ll add a tax to all NY’ers to help subsidize them.” He said that elected oﬃcials need to support the police and not “take away their authority, diminish their respect and dignity.” If people feel that current laws are outdated or constitutional, there are ways in government to address those concerns, he said. As for the current laws, Strauss said he believes they need to be properly enforced and executed, and that should not change. “One person, or a small group of people, should not and do not have that authority,” he said.

taurant. Village of Williston Park Mayor Paul Erhbar said the village received a request to landmark the store last week but the board has not had a chance to decide how to move forward on the process. Ehrbar acknowledged that the social media activity has centered around the village “saving” the business, but he said the village does not control the rent situation involving a landlord and tenant. “The only thing we can do is look at establishing the building as a landmarked building, but we have no say over the operation of the business at all as long as it meets the codes,” Ehrbar said in a phone interview. The village, he said, has not yet produced an agenda for the Board of Trustees meeting scheduled to take place on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. First opened by Henry Hildebrandt in the late 1920s, the restaurant was sold to Alma Steffens in the 1950s. Steﬀens then sold it to Helen Baum in 1974, and Baum sold it to Alfred and Joanne Strano in 1975. Continued on Page 34

PHOTO COURTESY OF GOOGLE MAPS

The iconic Hildebrandt’s is seeking landmark status from the Village of Williston Park after a rent hike.

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EDITORIAL: Editorial Submissions: theisland360.com/submit-news/ Event Submission: theisland360.com/local-events/ Great Neck News: Robert Pelaez 516-307-1045 x203 • rpelaez@theisland360.com New Hyde Park Herald Courier: Brandon Duffy 516-307-1045 x215 • bduffy@theisland360.com Manhasset Times: Robert Pelaez 516-307-1045 x203 • rpelaez@theisland360.com Roslyn Times: Brandon Duffy 516-307-1045 x215 • bduffy@theisland360.com Williston Times: Brandon Duffy 516-307-1045 x215 • bduffy@theisland360.com Port Washington Times: Robert Pelaez 516-307-1045 x203 • rpelaez@theisland360.com

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 2022. 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, February 18, 2022

Manhasset superintendent to leave Vincent Butera, ed board reach agreement after probe finds violations of district policy BY R OB E RT PE L A E Z The Manhasset Board of Education unanimously approved a separation agreement with District Superintendent Vincent Butera during a special meeting on Monday night. Butera, who has been on paid administrative leave since May 2021 due to a sexual harassment investigation, will remain on leave until his resignation from the school district becomes eﬀective on July 11, according to the agreement. Butera will also receive the full remainder of his annual pay, $286,844, until his contract expires on June 30, 2023, according to the agreement. Butera’s benefits will not be paid for by the district after July, according to the agreement. Board of Education President Pat Aitken read a prepared statement on behalf of the board during the meeting. “Consistent with how all District personnel matters are handled, including protecting the privacy of all individuals involved, the matter remained confidential,” the statement read. Butera, in a statement through spokesperson Jamie Moss of newsPros, reflected on his experience serving the school district and said he was grateful for the support he received from community stakeholders in-

cluding various educators and district officials at board meetings. “My years with Manhasset were fulfilling, and I am leaving the District proud of the accomplishments we achieved together,” the statement read. “I am so grateful for the outpouring of support from so many in the community over these past unfortunate months. You will never know how much your kindness and support meant during this difficult time for me and for my family.” In September 2020, a Shelter Rock Elementary School teacher filed a complaint alleging that Butera made her feel uncomfortable after hugging her twice in school and frequently visiting her classroom to “just stand in the back and stare,” according to NBC News. Both incidents were described as “creepy.” Following Butera’s voluntary leave, the school district appointed Gaurav Passi to serve as interim superintendent in August, a position he remains in. After that filing, the district hired the law office of Shaw, Perelson, May & Lambert to investigate the allegations, according to reports. Two months later, the firm found that since Butera’s actions were perceived as unwelcome by the teacher, they were against district policy. Blank Slate Media tried to obtain a document outlining the law firm’s findings through a public records request in May,

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sult of the investigation but said some of the claims against Butera by those urging that he be removed from his position were “uninformed.” Butera said he appreciated the board’s “comprehensive understanding of the complexity of the situation” and that the decision to not enforce any disciplinary actions was the correct one. “I am pleased that as a result of what the Board learned during the investigation process, it made necessary and recommended revisions to the District’s harassment policy for the benefit of all,” Butera said. District officials did not say what the PHOTO COURTESY OF THE ISLAND 360 specific changes to the harassment policy ARCHIVES were. Aitken said Butera helped navigate the Manhasset School Superintendent district through the initial year of the COVID-19 pandemic and prioritized the menVincent Butera’s resignation will go tal health and well-being of students, staff into effect in July, according to a and families during his four-year tenure as separation agreement. superintendent. “With the passage of time, both Dr. but Rosemary Johnson, deputy superinten- Butera and the District have mutually dent for business and operations, declined agreed that it is now best to put this chapto release it, citing the district’s attorney- ter behind us,” Aitken said. This underclient privilege and saying the record’s dis- standably has been a difficult time for the closure would “result in an unwarranted Manhasset school community, Dr. Butera, invasion of personal privacy.” and everyone involved in this matter. We Aitken acknowledged the “heated re- remain hopeful this resolution will enable action in the school community” as a re- all to move forward.”

The Williston Times, Friday, February 18, 2022

Phil Eng to resign as head of LIRR

Will become official on Feb. 28; Catherine Rinaldi appointed interim president BY B R A N D ON D U FF Y Long Island Rail Road President Phil Eng is resigning at the end of the month from the post he has held since April 2018, Metropolitan Transportation Authority Chairman and CEO Janno Lieber said last Thursday. Replacing Eng for the time being as interim president will be Catherine Rinaldi, who will concurrently serve as president of the Metro-North Railroad, a role she has held since 2018. Rinaldi’s first day in the position will be Feb. 26. Eng joined the MTA in 2017 from the New York State Department of Transportation, where he was executive deputy commissioner. The 60-year-old began working at the department in 1983. Since taking control of the LIRR, the largest commuter railroad in the nation with over 89 million rides a year, Eng oversaw a $6 billion capital program to modernize and expand the railroad’s infrastructure. Lieber said in 2021 Eng guided the railroad to the best on-time performance in its history. “Phil has been a really strong leader at the Long Island Rail Road,” Lieber said Thursday.

PHOTO BY REBECCA KLAR

LIRR President Phillip Eng greeting commuters at the Mineola train station. Eng said he will remain in an advisory role to ensure a smooth transition until March 11. “I can retire knowing that I leave the LIRR well positioned for continued success with a dedicated management team and a tenacious workforce who are delivering the best train performance in LIRR history while fulfilling our commitments on a historic capital program,” Eng said in his resignation letter. “I will always fondly look back on my time working with the MTA

family as one of the highlights of my career. The MTA is the backbone of New York – and I will always cherish the opportunity I had working alongside our hardworking, dedicated workforce.” In 2021, MTA Chairman and CEO Pat Foye, a Sands Point resident, resigned. Following his resignation, he initially was appointed by then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo to be interim president and CEO of Empire State Development, but declined in order for Gov. Kathy Hochul to fill out her own team. In 2019, Eng and Foye were in their roles when the MTA board approved a fiveyear plan with an “unprecedented” $5.7 billion for the LIRR. Rinaldi, 58, a Huntington native, served as vice president and general counsel at the Long Island Rail Road from 2008 to 2011. Additionally, she has served as MTA deputy executive director and general counsel, chief of staﬀ and counsel at MTA headquarters. “Cathy Rinaldi is a proven leader with nearly twenty years of experience at the MTA, having served in leadership positions at headquarters and both commuter railroads,” Lieber said in a statement. “At Metro-North, she has led eﬀorts to improve system reliability, achieve excellent customer service, and continue the intensive infrastructure work essential to maintain-

ing system safety. She has great relations with labor, has the respect of her staﬀ and puts the customer first. “Phil has done an incredible job as President of the LIRR, strengthening operations through the LIRR Forward Plan and overseeing historic infrastructure investments like East Side Access and Third Track – all the while navigating a once-ina-century crisis with COVID.” Rinaldi will step into the LIRR as it is slated to finish the third track project, which is adding a track from Floral Park to Hicksville, by the end of this year along with the end of the East Side Access project, which is connecting the railroad to Grand Central Terminal this year. Gerard Bringmann, MTA board member and chair of the LIRR Commuter Council, said Rinaldi knows the issues Long Islanders face. “She knows the LIRR because she worked there, and she knows the key issues facing commuters and railroads as we emerge from the COVID crisis,” Bringmann said in a statement. “She is no stranger to major projects, as Metro-North is undertaking significant capital work, and with East Side Access coming into Grand Central, the marriage of these two roles at this time makes sense. We look forward to working with her in her new role on behalf of riders from Wassaic to Montauk.”

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The Williston Times, Friday, February 18, 2022

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Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, February 18, 2022

Nassau Democratic Party endorses Hochul BY R OB E RT PE L A E Z

dorsed Gov. Kathy Hochul to retain her seat atop the state government on TuesLess than a week after the Nassau day. Nassau County and state Democratic County Republican Committee endorsed U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-Shirley) for gov- Chairman Jay Jacobs touted Hochul’s acernor, the county’s Democratic Party en- complishments and eﬀorts to cut taxes for New Yorkers since taking over for former Gov. Andrew Cuomo in August. “Governor Kathy Hochul has established that she has what it takes to govern New York eﬀectively,” Jacobs said in a statement. “From the moment she assumed the role, she has led this state with empathy, intelligence, and actual common sense. She has been an advocate for Nassau County during her tenure as Lieutenant Governor ensuring that Long Island receives the resources we are entitled to.” “The stakes couldn’t be higher in 2022, and we need to elect Democratic candidates who are committed to building stronger, safer communities,” Hochul said. “Nassau Democrats are united behind our campaign and ready to take on tough fights to get things done for hardPHOTO COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA COMMONS working Long Island families.” While Hochul has now received an Gov. Kathy Hochul received an enendorsement from the county’s Demodorsement from the Nassau County cratic party and a personal endorsement Democratic Party on Tuesday. Continued on Page 43

PHOTO COURTESY OF NASSAU COUNTY EXECUTIVE BRUCE BLAKEMAN

Republican officials gathered to announce that an audit of the county’s reassessment has begun.

Phillips announces reassessment audit BY R OB E RT PE L A E Z

The audit will cover the department’s application of the phase-in, which went into Nassau County Comptroller Elaine Phil- eﬀect in the 2020-21 school tax year, and the lips announced on Tuesday that her oﬃce assessment rolls for the years 2021 to 2024. has launched an audit of the county’s De- Phillips said the audit “will help restore taxpartment of Assessment over the handling payers’ confidence” in the county’s process to of a countywide reassessment introduced by properly value residential properties. former County Executive Laura Curran. Continued on Page 43

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Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, February 18, 2022

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Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, February 18, 2022

Nassau GOP Curran backs Zimmerman for endorses Zeldin 3rd Congressional District for governor BY B R A N D ON D U FF Y

BY R OB E RT PELAEZ The Nassau County Republican Committee endorsed U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-Shirley) for governor last Thursday at the party’s Westbury headquarters. Republican oﬃcials from Nassau County gathered to praise Zeldin for his service on Long Island as a member of Congress. Oﬃcials said Zeldin, if elected, would combat state bail reform laws, bring economic development to New York and cut taxes. “I join all my colleagues in enthusiastically supporting Lee Zeldin’s candidacy for governor,” Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman said.

“We’ve got to come out of darkness. We’ve got to bring light back to New York state. We have to bring common sense back to New York state. And Lee Zeldin is the one to do that.” Zeldin said he will waste “no time” in ending “all COVID mandates” if elected. He also said he will aim to provide law enforcement with the tools needed to eﬀectively protect New York streets. “We are going to send a message to our men and women in blue when we start repealing cashless bail and make sure the ‘defund the police’ crowd know that they are no longer in charge,” Zeldin said. Continued on Page 43

Former Nassau County Executive Laura Curran has endorsed Robert Zimmerman, a longtime Democratic National Committee member from Great Neck running for his party’s nomination in the 3rd Congressional District. Curran joins prominent state officials Assemblyman Charles Lavine and Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, who endorsed Zimmerman weeks ago. “Now more than ever, we need honest, thoughtful, and capable leadership in government – and that’s why I endorse Robert Zimmerman for Congress,” Curran said in a statement. “Robert brings the knowledge, experience, and work ethic needed to benefit all the residents of the Third Congressional District. “As a small business owner and advocate, Robert will support and strengthen our communities through investments in public safety, workforce development, and infrastructure projects. He will protect access to health care, women’s rights, voting rights, and much more. Whether

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE CANDIDATE

Former Nassau County Executive Laura Curran joins prominent Democrats in endorsing Robert Zimmerman. it is on national tv or in our neighborhoods, Robert has been there fighting for us. Please join me in supporting my friend, Robert Zimmerman, so that he may continue his advocacy for all of us in the United States Congress.”

Zimmerman, 67, is co-president of ZE Creative Communications on Bond Street, a public relations firm he began 33 years ago with Ron Edelson. He is seeking the congressional seat being vacated by Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-Glen Cove), who is running for governor. Since Zimmerman’s announcement, his campaign said, it has raised over $500,000. If elected, Zimmerman would become the first gay member of Congress from Long Island and Queens. Other endorsements for Zimmerman’s campaign include current North Hempstead council members Veronica Lurvey and Peter Zuckerman as well as retired Councilwoman Lee Seeman. Seeman recently sent a letter for Zimmerman’s campaign calling him a man of principle. “For decades, Robert has served as a leading voice for democratic policies,” Seeman said in a statement. “He is a steadfast supporter for a truly safe and secure Israel and a two state solution in the Middle East. Robert will also fight for voting Continued on Page 43

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The Williston Times, Friday, February 18, 2022

Four from Glen Cove charged in scheme BY B R A N D ON DUFFY Federal prosecutors have charged four Glen Cove residents and a Brooklyn man in an international scheme to defraud investors out of $8.4 million. Michael D’Urso, 54, Alyssa D’Urso, 28, Jay Garnock, 75, and Antonella Chiaramonte, 36,

all of Glen Cove, were arrested after an indictment unsealed last Wednesday said they conspired to commit securities fraud, wire fraud and operate unlicensed money transmitting businesses, among other charges. Robert Lenard Booth, 64, also known as “Trevor Nicholas,” of Brooklyn was also named in the indictment.

PHOTO COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Michael D’Urso, 54, Alyssa D’Urso, 28, Jay Garnock, 75, and Antonella Chiaramonte, 36, were arrested following an unsealed indictment last Wednesday.

From at least June 2019 through August 2021, authorities asserted, the five operated a scheme to defraud investors from around the world using multiple shell companies to launder the money. The Glen Cove suspects allegedly used fake companies with associated bank accounts that were based in New York alongside Booth’s boiler room operation, an outbound call center designed to lure investors to buy securities in privately and publicly held American companies, to steal from the victims. Investors believed that the boiler room operation Booth allegedly ran was a Manhattan-based investment firm, but authorities said it was located in Thailand. The suspects used fake identities as well as misleading websites, email addresses and phone numbers, authorities said. Continued on Page 35

Man charged with robbing Mineola bank BY B R A N D ON D U FF Y Police arrested a Hempstead man for allegedly robbing a Citibank Saturday on Old Country Road in Mineola, one of three bank

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE NASSAU COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT

Loreto Ferri, 49, of Cruikshank Avenue, Hempstead.

robberies he has been charged with. Detectives said a man entered the bank at noon and gave the teller a note demanding money. After the teller complied, he left on foot with an undisclosed amount of money. Authorities arrested Loreto Ferri, 49, on Tuesday, and he was charged with firstdegree robbery. His arraignment was scheduled for Wednesday. Ferri is also charged with third-degree robbery for allegedly robbing a Roslyn Savings Bank in Merrick on Monday in addition to a count of third-degree robbery for allegedly robbing a People’s United Bank in Garden City. Police said all of the robberies were performed in a similar manner, with the teller being handed a note demanding money. Police initially described the suspect in the Mineola robbery as a 6-foot white male in his 40’s with an average build and salt and pepper hair. He was wearing a black jacket over a black sweatshirt. None of the seven people at Citibank, including six employees and one customer, was injured.

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12 The Williston Times, Friday, February 18, 2022

EWSD parents pan F.P. jewelry store mask mandate robber sentenced BY B R A N D ON D U FF Y Parents at the East Williston Board of Education meeting on Monday voiced displeasure with the masking mandate in schools. After a Nassau County justice overturned Gov. Kathy Hochul’s statewide mask mandate in January, Appellate Judge Robert J. Miller “stayed,” or suspended, that decision, requiring students to once again wear protective face coverings in school. Oﬃcials said the mandate, which expired Feb. 10 for indoor settings like restaurants and is set to expire on Monday for schools, could stay in eﬀect until at least March 2, the deadline for the state to file documents for its appeal of a lawsuit filed by a group of 14 parents. The lawsuit, filed on Jan. 24, claims Hochul’s mask mandate was unconstitutional. During the public comment portion of the meeting, parents reiterated to the East Williston board that they want to decide whether to mask their children. One mother in the district, Ellie Konstantatos, said places outside schools are essentially maskless and children are suffering from what has been multiple years of masking.

“We all were able to go to a Super Bowl party last night maskless and we were able to celebrate Valentine’s Day without masks,” she said. “Yet our children are still lawlessly required to wear masks for seven hours a day without any scheduled mask breaks.” Board President Mark Kamberg said during January’s meeting that the board has always followed state guidelines. On Monday, he said, “It’s our intent that when masks are optional, we will be optional.” “One of the things that are central to our entire administrative team together with the board this entire process is to be consistent,” Kamberg said in January. “Consistent with following the rules and mandates in place. So I would expect that when those rules and mandates change, we will equally be consistent in how we go about things.” Another mother, Heather Ledwith, said children should not be burdened to protect adults. “We need only look at the suicide rates of teenagers, the rise of mental health cases, reading delays, speech delays and so on,” she said. “I support the choice for anyone who wants to continue Continued on Page 35

BY R OB E RT PE L A E Z A Brooklyn man last Wednesday was sentenced to 23 years to life in prison for a 2017 Floral Park jewelry store robbery, according to the Nassau County district attorney’s oﬃce. Oﬃcials said Justice Brunson, 43, was charged with two counts of first-degree robbery and second-degree robbery after aiding the robbery of Atelier Jewelers on Nov. 11, 2017. Brunson, along with Darkel Davis, 35, and a woman posing as a customer, stole more than $80,000 worth of jewelry from the store. Police said the men drew handguns and ordered store employees to drop to the floor before going through display cases and taking jewelry and watches. During the trial, prosecutor Michelle Lewisohn said Davis dropped a bag containing stolen valuables while escaping, according to Newsday. Brunson was arrested in February 2018, a month after Davis. Davis subsequently pleaded guilty to robbery and was sentenced to 15 years in prison prior to Brunson’s sentencing. In November 2021, Brunson was convicted by a jury 20 months after a mistrial was forced due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Store owner Antonio Hurtado said Brunson “got what he deserved” in a statement to Blank Slate Media. “This defendant orchestrated a plan to rob Atelier Jewelers, pointed a gun to the heads of the terrified owner and employees, and ran off with more than $80,000 worth of jewelry,” District Attorney Anne Donnelly said in a statement. “A jury convicted Justice Brunson on all counts because of the overwhelming evidence in this case, as well as the hard work of our prosecutors and police partners.” Brunson, according to Newsday, claimed police planted images of stolen jewelry on his phone, saying his rights were violated on “numerous” occasions throughout the trial. Brunson’s attorney Christopher Devane told Newsday that his client “feels he is innocent and feels he was wrongly convicted and feels that he’ll have his day in court again.” Efforts to reach Devane for further comment were unavailing. According to Newsday, Devane previously portrayed Keisha Payton, the 28-year-old woman who admitted aiding Brunson and Davis in the robbery and was a cooperating government witness, as a liar and claimed she withheld information from law enforcement officials.

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Justice Brunson was sentenced to 23 years to life for his role in a 2017 Floral Park jewelry store robbery.

The Williston Times, Friday, February 18, 2022

14 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, February 18, 2022

Opinion

OUR VIEWS

Gerrymandering always wrong

emocratic state legislators approved new congressional maps two weeks ago to give members of their own party as many as three more seats and eliminate as many as four of the Republicans’ eight seats. State Republican Party Chairman Nick Langworthy blasted the legislation. “New York Democrats have hijacked the redistricting process and this week passed and signed into law the most filthy, textbook gerrymandering that will destroy competitive elections in New York if allowed to stand,” Langworthy said. ”Democrats brazenly subverted the will of the people who voted twice by referendum to take redistricting out of the hands of politicians and give district drawing powers to an independent, bipartisan panel.” The legislation was signed the next day by Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat. The redistricting was certainly not the most “filthy” gerrymandering that has ever taken place. Just look at what Republican-controlled legislatures in Texas and Alabama have done. But otherwise we agree with Langworthy. Partisan gerrymandering does destroy competitive elections by grouping voters in districts favoring candidates of one party over another. With two-thirds of the new boundaries set nationwide, mapmakers are on pace to draw fewer than 40 seats — out of 435 — that are considered competitive based on the 2020 presidential election results, according to a New York Times analysis of

election data. Ten years ago that number was 73. The result of all these noncompetitive districts is elections that are eﬀectively determined by party primaries. This, in turn, means electing candidates who appeal to their party’s base and not independents and members of the other party. Langworthy is also correct that the decision subverted the will of the people who voted in 2014 to put district drawing powers for Congress, the state Senate and the state Assembly in the hands of a 10-member commission. But the commission, with former state Sen. and former Mineola Mayor Jack Martins serving as Republican chair, became deadlocked and failed to agree on a single set of maps. That meant the power to redraw the maps reverted to the Legislature, where Democrats hold supermajorities in both chambers. Democratic lawmakers then moved swiftly to draw and consider their own district lines. No public hearings were held, a move that was criticized by Republicans and goodgovernment groups. Democrats justified the lack of hearings as necessary to comply with a timesensitive electoral calendar. Baloney would be the genteel way of responding to this assertion. But then again the U.S Supreme Court just used the same nonsense to overturn a lower court decision that found Alabama had drawn its maps in a racially biased manner. We’d like to think Langworthy was sincere in what he says bout fair elections, but then there

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is the record of what he does. Langworthy was among Republican National Committee members who voted to censure two of its own members of Congress for the crime of helping investigate a pro-Trump mob that on Jan. 6, 2021, sought to overturn the presidential election. The Republican National Committee justified the move in part by declaring that eﬀorts to investigate the insurrection amounted to the persecution of individuals engaging in “legitimate political discourse.” By comparison, Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky described the attack as a “violent insurrection for the purpose of trying to prevent the peaceful transfer of power, after a legitimately certified election, from one administration to the next.” Langworthy’s world-class hypocrisy did not prevent a Republican-led group of voters from filing a lawsuit challenging New York’s freshly drawn congressional maps as unconstitutional. New York Democrats have

rejected the charge of gerrymandering, arguing that the new lines are a fair representation of a state that is overwhelmingly Democratic and where population changes over the last decade have only served to further depopulate conservative rural areas and grow urban and suburban communities that tend to be more favorable to their party. Though they have not said so publicly, many state Democrats privately have called for redrawing New York’s congressional maps to favor Democrats to oﬀset the partisan gerrymandering taking place in Republican-controlled states. There is another place where New York’s gerrymandering could be stopped – Congress. House and Senate Democrats have approved two major pieces of legislation to prohibit a wide range of voting abuses, including gerrymandering. But the legislation has been blocked by Republicans and the refusal of Democratic Sens. Joe Manchin and Krysten Sinema to override the filibuster to approve

REPORTERS Robert Pelaez, Brandon Duffy COLUMNIST Karen Rubin ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Stacy Shaughnessy, Melissa Spitalnick, Wendy Kates, Linda Robinson, Steven Schoenfarber ART DIRECTOR Jewell Davis

it.

We have yet to hear Langworthy or other Republicans call on GOP members to endorse the voting rights legislation. New York Republicans could also demonstrate the sincerity of their commitment to nonpartisan redistricting in Nassau with the upcoming redrawing of the county’s 19 legislative districts. Nassau Republicans used a 10-9 advantage in seats in 2014 to draw a map with 12 districts with more Republican registered voters than Democrats. Even though Democrats had a 20,000vote advantage among registered voters in the county – 344,078 to 323,696. As of Feb. 21, 2021, the number of registered Democrats in Nassau 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, a margin of nearly 100,000 less with their share of registered voters dropping to 31 percent. Continued on Page 30

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Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, February 18, 2022

KREMER’S CORNER

Once again the fans of baseball strike out

fter two years of home confinement, triple vaccinations, wearing a mask and a few other health necessities, we are getting close to the end of our ordeal. D During the dark, cold and dreary days, I was looking forward to the announcement that “baseball pitchers and catchers were on their way to sunny Florida or Arizona to prepare for the upcoming baseball season.” It is those few words that make me feel that Spring is just around the corner. But sadly my sports hopes are about to be dashed. From October through December we learned that player after player was signing mega contracts. The last best estimate of the cost of that 90-day bacchanal was somewhere around $2.1 billion. Player after player turned their backs on their loyal home fans and sold their talents to the highest bidders. When the clock struck midnight on Dec. 2, the collective

bargaining agreement with the players union expired and since that time, players and owners have been locked in verbal warfare that seems to be going nowhere. Being a die-hard baseball fan, I forgot that the players belong to a union and regardless of the fact that the fans are hungry for the signs of an upcoming baseball season, the players have the right to thumb their noses at us poor suckers. Once each year I take a few of our grandchildren to a ball game and shell out over $300 to see them smile and give me thank you hugs. Baseball means a great deal to America and is a big deal to millions of children. Not every baseball fan lives in a major city and many devoted fans flock to some small minor league park where they can be entertained at a more modest price for a hot dog and a soda. That entertainment option is also going the way of the dinosaur. For reasons beyond explana-

JERRY KREMER Kremer’s Corner

tion, owners of the big league teams have decided to reduce the number of minor league teams, So fans in Staten Island who had a chance to see future Yankee superstars are forced to either travel to the stadium or watch their favorite sport on local television. Before I get on to the subject of stalled labor negotiations there is another subject that needs to be discussed. Owners of big league teams

in large cities earn mega bucks from hungry fans who buy tickets, food, and all kinds of hats, jackets and jerseys. The owners of teams located in smaller urban states in places like Colorado or Pittsburgh, get big fat checks to compensate them for the dollars that they can’t make because of smaller populations. Many of those teams struggle for lack of up-and-coming stars, despite the fact that the owners get monster checks. Some of those dollars could be spent on building up a respectable team, but that would cut down on their family payday. There hasn’t been a baseball strike since the 1994-95 stoppage. It took 232 days to get the players and the owners to make peace. Millions of baseball fans were denied the chance to enjoy their favorite sport. It took a White House intervention involving President Clinton and Vice President Gore to get the warring parties to sit

down and bury their diﬀerences. The fans got their revenge after that settlement by boycotting major league baseball for two years. At this point in time, the two sides have two weeks to work out a deal and if nothing happens there will be no timely opening day ceremonies. It is hard to tell if the owners and the players can work out their issues in time for the regular season. The owners have their needs and the players have an agenda of their own. Up to now, they have been taking a hard line and have shown no signs of wanting to get ready for 2022 baseball. If there is a shortened season it is a sure thing that the fans will be disheartened and won’t come running back to the parks. One would hope that sanity will prevail and the fans will get some respect. But sadly when it comes to an argument over big dollars, there has to be a loser and it will not be the two combatants.

A LOOK ON THE LIGHTER SIDE

Clear eyes, fair minds — and a winning idea

t’s not often that this column points to another column as its subject matter. But I’ve just read an opinion piece by swimmer and journalist Diana Nyad that was such a breath of fresh air — on a usually overheated topic — that I can’t resist pointing it out. Nyad’s piece in the Washington Post last week was titled “Celebrate trans athletes. But give cisgender women a fair shot at victory.” Diana Nyad is an athlete herself — a long-distance swimmer — as well as a journalist. She is the first and only person so far to swim from Cuba to Florida without the aid of a shark cage. It was her fifth try and took her 27 and 1/2 hours. In previous years, she swam across the Bay of Naples and around the island of Manhattan. I always thought she was an Olympic swimmer as well, and she had trained to be, with the 1968 Summer Games as her goal, but a bout of endocarditis put an end to that particular dream. But perhaps thanks to her achievements as both athlete and journalist, Nyad manages

to cut through a lot of fog: “To be clear,” she writes, “trans women are women. Full stop.” But she goes on: “We must also be clear that trans women who have gone through male puberty acquire physical advantages female puberty does not provide.” Nyad is specific: “When we compare elite men’s achievement standards to women’s, the gap in most sports is a huge 10 to 12 percent. It’s testosterone that drives that performance gap.” That’s why there are separate categories for men and women in the first place, and endless testing for the substance in women athletes. “But hormones,” she says, “aren’t the only factor….More red blood cells store and use oxygen more eﬃciently. Wider shoulders mean a leverage advantage and narrower hips make for more eﬃcient movement dynamics. Longer legs and arms, bigger hands and feet, can more easily handle a ball or cover a field.” What’s more, these advantages remain even if the person who achieved them then decides to transition:

JUDY EPSTEIN

A Look on the Lighter Side “A transgender woman who has transitioned from a testosterone-driven to an estrogendriven system loses speed and muscle mass, yes, but puberty’s ‘legacy advantages’ do not change…the physical disparity remains too great for true equal performance potential.” In other words, those longer bones are there to stay. I have wondered about these issues for years ever since I read about the South African runner Caster Semenya, who was raised and always thought of herself as a girl and ran in women’s events, winning many. But eventually she was chal-

lenged on the basis that testing revealed she is intersex, with both an X and a Y chromosome, and so has testosterone levels naturally occurring in her body that are higher than whatever “normal” would be for females. What’s the girl to do? In Caster’s case she was “born this way;” she didn’t make herself intersex. Yet at one point the IAAF (International Amateur Athletic Federation) even required her to take hormones to lower her body’s testosterone level — for years! — which made her sick and which feels, to me at least, like a crime. Another similar athlete of international fame is a runner from India named Dutee Chand. How can we strike a balance that is fair to such athletes, yet also fair to everyone competing against them? There are many opinions on this subject. American soccer star Megan Rapinoe was especially eloquent (also in the Washington Post), advocating for the rights of all trans athletes to enjoy sport: “Sports taught me so much more than is seen on the field,” she wrote, “and brought me so much joy. Every child deserves

to have that experience.” But Rapinoe has no answer for the plain old XX females who must compete against these folks. I suspect part of the reason is that Rapinoe’s sport, soccer, is a team enterprise; and a women’s team with one or two members who are trans, or maybe intersex, is probably no more unfair to compete against than would be a high school team which just happened to include the young Shaquille O’Neal or David Beckham or Megan Rapinoe. It’s diﬀerent when every runner or swimmer individually is up against every other runner or swimmer in the world. This is where Nyad spoke the most sense to me. She suggests the creation of a third classification for athletes: “Open: Cisgender, transgender, intersex — all are welcome.” This is brilliant. It may not solve every problem, but it’s the best idea I’ve come across yet, and I want to give Diana Nyad the credit. A third category is something the sports world, even the Olympic Committee, can figure out.

16 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, February 18, 2022

THE BACK ROAD

Teachers under siege from all sides

new National Education Association survey has found that immense staﬀ shortages in schools during the pandemic have led to teacher burnout, with a disturbing number of educators considering opting out of teaching for good and much sooner than anticipated. “Throughout this pandemic, America’s educators have shown us how committed they are to helping their students thrive,” said NEA President Becky Pringle. “But, as our new survey shows, after persevering through the hardest school years in memory, America’s educators are exhausted and increasingly burned out.” The NEA represents almost 3 million American educators. Among those who responded to the survey 90% indicated that feeling burned out is a serious problem; 86% said they have seen more educators leave the profession or retire early since the onset of the pandemic, and nearly 75% said they have had to fill in for col-

leagues or take on additional duties due to staﬀ shortages. Pringle recalls, “Last summer, I started traveling across the country and without exception, every stop I made, I heard those similar stories of educators who were exhausted, overwhelmed, feeling unloved, disrespected.” Reinforcing the study’s findings, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) indicates that there are 567,000 fewer educators in America’s public schools today than there were before the pandemic, with 43% of jobs posted going unfilled. The NEA suggested that raising salaries is one step that can help to stem the tide of departures. Although the Biden administration has touted the American Rescue Plan’s $122 billion in federal aid to K-12 schools, there is considerable concern that the monies will not be sustainable. Lest you think it is only prospective retirees talking about leaving early, the potential for a mass exodus includes educators

ANDREW MALEKOFF The Back Road

regardless of age or years of experience. The survey reports that 56% of educators under 50 years old say they will leave early. Moreover, 50% of educators with 10 or fewer years in the profession, 58% of educators with 11-20 years, and 57% of educators with 21 years or more say they are likely to leave before they had planned. Upstate New York school superintendent Randy Squier reported that there were far fewer applicants for a recent elementary

position than he would normally receive. “We would often see 120 applicants for an elementary position. Now we’re seeing 40,” he told ABC News. Beyond the areas covered by the survey, in places like Long Island culture wars are heating up. Battle lines have been drawn, which leave educators, parents and students in, what journalist Laura Meckler aptly referred to as, the “crosshairs of culture warriors.” On top of battles around masking and vaccinations, scattered school boards across the U.S. are making decisions about what books to ban and what history to truncate. For example in Florida, the Governor favors legislation that would allow people the right to sue teachers over what they teach based on student level of discomfort. For teachers, having to look over one’s shoulder does not help to reduce burnout. As for the mental health of students and school staﬀ, the Washington Post cited Teresa Ren-

nie, an eighth-grade math and science teacher in Philadelphia, who said that in 11 years of teaching, she has never referred as many children to counseling. “So many students are needy. They have deficits academically. They have deficits socially,” she said. Rennie said that she’s drained, too. “I get 45 minutes of a prep most days, and a lot of times during that time I’m helping a student with an assignment, or a child is crying and I need to comfort them and get them the help they need. Or there’s a problem between two students that I need to work with. There’s just not enough time.” As our nation confronts this extraordinary crisis in public education, it will take more than money to solve the challenges we face. Unless and until the political fever breaks and a spirit of collaborative commitment toward uplifting our children takes hold, students will continue to suﬀer emotionally and struggle to meet their academic potential.

OUR TOWN

Why people collect things they do

quick visit to The Container Store at the mall will reveal that people have a need to store what they have collected which begs the question of why people collect things in the first place. Some collect stamps, some like Teddy Bears and there are others who love coins or stamps. Did you know that President Teddy Roosevelt was a serious taxidermist (collector of dead animals by mounting and stuﬃng them)? Gertrude and Leo Stein collected paintings from guys like Picasso and Matisse. Since many of my patients seem to like to collect things like stuﬀed animals, cars, watches, or homes, I’ve been waiting for the right moment to do a column on

why folks buy, save and collect these objects. I planned on doing a piece on this subject until I awoke this morning and realized I could not relate to this compulsion. So with a deadline looming, I ran to my closet to throw on some clothes and get to the store to buy the Sunday New York Times in the hope that something in the Arts and Leisure section would inspire me with a subject to write about. The Super Bowl perhaps, maybe the Olympics or something about Ukraine vs. Russia. But as I looked down to find a pair of shoes to put on, I was astounded at the number of new and old shoes I seem to have accumulated and then said yes, I do

People collect coins, stamps, postcards, watches, and in my case, shoes.

DR. TOM FERRARO Our Town

need to write about collectibles if for no other reason than to save me money. All those shoes you see in the photo are part of my unholy collection of shoes from Santoni’s from Italy, Brooks Brothers, Hubbard, Johnston and Murphy, Cole Haan, Ferragamo. These are not cheap shoes and I estimate that the entire collection cost over $10,000. If that’s not bad enough, a careful inspection showed me that they are all like new and still fit me. So exactly why do I need all these shoes? A rationalization is that since I developed ingrown toenails as part of the heinous aging process, I needed more comfortable shoes and found the answer at Eric Comfort Shoes of Williston Park, the little shoe

store that could. But that reason is a cop out. Why do people collect things? The motive to collect things varies and includes collecting as an investment, a way to preserve the past, to fill a psychological void, to stand out in the crowd, to experience the challenge of hunting an item down or for the joy of classifying things. Sigmund Freud weighed in about hoarding and felt it goes back to toilet training where flushing our waste down the toilet was enough of a shock that we would spend our adult life trying to regain control over the lost items. And who am I to argue with Freud? He is right about most things. My favorite artist is Jasper Johns, an artist famous for collecting images he keeps working on. He perpetually hoards his past images and refuses to let them go by using them in the next canvas. His continuous efforts to retrieve and hold onto the past is seen in his series called “Souvenir,” which is a group of works containing among other things a flashlight, a mirror and one of those souvenir plates with a photo of his face on it that he bought while vacationing in Hawaii. Here he is looking back to

his past, in this case a vacation, and holding onto it for dear life, almost like a postcard to himself. My preferred theory about why people want to collect and hold onto things is taken from Christopher Bollas’ concept of “Transformational Objects.” Bollas is a highly regarded psychoanalyst who believes that memories of earliest experiences with mother manifest themselves in the adult’s endless unconscious quest for an object that promises to transform the person into a better version of himself. Kind of like what Perceval and Sir Galahad did in “The Quest for the Holy Grail” where the grail is this hidden ephemeral object which promises to convert men into stronger and younger versions of themselves. The theme of the quest for the Holy Grail is reflected in the popular Indiana Jones films by Steven Spielberg. So, whether one collects to achieve status, have fun, to regain the past or to recreate oneself into a younger and better version, it seems advisable to understand the real reason for your purchases. That way you do not wind up with too many cars, too many stuﬀed Teddy Bears or, in my case, too many shoes.

Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, February 18, 2022

E A R T H M AT T E R S

Toilet paper climate concerns start at home

t is incumbent upon us to do as much as possible now, to address climate change and reduce the burden on future generations to live with the expanding eﬀects of climate change. Though many of the steps that need to be taken are much larger than the actions of any one individual, there are steps individuals can take that either have a direct impact on addressing climate change, impact the behaviors of a larger entity in an environmentally positive way, or influence a culture to value and adopt a way of living and working that is more sustainable. One such step involves our purchasing decisions. This is not an easy one as purchasing decisions are driven by personal finances, upbringing, social influences, habits and personal preferences. We often think we can’t possibly make a change because of any one of these factors. The reality, however, is that of course, we can make a change. We are resilient, adaptable and capable of change. We

just need the motivation to do it. The change in purchasing I am proposing has to do with toilet paper. It may seem like a strange one to focus on, but it is turning out to be a very important one. The issue concerns the trees being cut down to make the toilet paper. The toilet paper itself cannot be recycled so it is important that when it is manufactured, it is made with recycled materials. Unfortunately, COSTCO and other companies like Charmin and Bounty (made by Procter & Gamble), are manufacturing and selling toilet paper made from 100% virgin forest fiber. Specifically, they are using trees from Canada’s boreal forest, the most carbon-dense forest in the world. Not only are they making toilet paper with zero recycled content, they are making it from trees that are holding more carbon than any other trees in the world; carbon that would otherwise be in the atmosphere contributing to the greenhouse eﬀect and climate change.

LYNN CAPUANO Earth Matters When those trees are cut down, they can no longer continue to take in carbon through photosynthesis and reduce the overall carbon in the air. It is possible to buy paper products like toilet paper made from 100% recycled content or other materials like bamboo. Such products have 1/3 the impact on the environment of products made from 100% new material. The problem is, the packaging usually doesn’t tell the purchaser anything about the source of the paper for their

toilet paper. Companies have to assume responsibility for providing a sustainable product whose production isn’t going to directly contribute to climate change and create further hardship for all of us living with the consequences of climate change. Each of us can encourage the companies manufacturing these products to demonstrate characteristics of good citizens (being good stewards of the earth, taking into account the impact of their choices and behaviors on others, looking out for others in their actions) through our purchasing decisions and communications. Stop buying COSTCO and Procter & Gamble toilet paper and paper towels until they offer a product with 100% recycled content. Voice your concern about their manufacturing decisions by signing petitions, sending a letter or email or speaking with a store manager. It is up to these companies to sell a more sustainable and responsible product. It is up to each of us to make sure they know that is

what we expect them to do. Toilet paper is not the only product COSTCO sells that does not reflect their motto to “do the right thing.” By making it clear that you do not support their decision to sell such a destructive product you help to show the company and any others paying attention, that you as a consumer expect your supplier of goods to behave in a responsible way by oﬀering products that are not damaging to the environment, that are not contributing to climate change and that do not present a threat to all living things. And don’t stop with COSTCO. Take your message to all your stores. Let your retailers know, you expect them to provide products that we can all live with. Any other products should not be on their shelves. Imagine the lesson that it demonstrates to our kids – to see that an individual can influence a company to change its behavior in a globally impactful way. That could give them a reason to feel more hope than despair.

VIEW POINT

GOP 2022 plan: contrived culture wars

o now we know how the Republicans will campaign to unseat Democrats – at every level, from local villages and school boards to towns and counties, to state and federal oﬃce: fomenting culture wars, often out of thin air, which they brand “kitchen table issues.” It comes under the categories of Crime (but not a gun crime), victims (not gun victims) and “cashless bail;” Blue Lives Matter (but not the Capitol Police attacked by Trump supporters in the violent insurrection); Public Education (but banning books is okay); “personal freedom” (but not public health or reproductive freedom or LGBTQ rights); and, the latest, “they’re coming for your Suburban way of life” (the coming fight over accessory housing). This was on view – they were probably testing the brand – at a rally on the Village Green in Great Neck – not so long ago, a reliable bastion of progressives. Ostensibly the rally was to “Back the Blue,” but provided a

soapbox for the panoply of Republican electeds who now control Nassau County much to the delight of MAGA incarnations (Loud Majority from Suﬀolk in the house!). They used the phrase “Defund the Police” as a cudgel as if any elected Democrat actually proposed eliminating policing instead of making needed reforms like funding social workers and better training to deal with mental health and domestic violence. If anything, Trump was the one who would have defunded police – in New York and “sanctuary cities” led by Democratic mayors he didn’t like. But nowhere in this supposed vigil for the two murdered New York City police oﬃcers was there mention of the fact that they were killed after responding to a domestic violence incident by a man who never should have had possession of a gun, having nothing to do with “cashless bail.” Nor was there mention of the fact the state overhauled the controversial bail reform law in July

KAREN RUBIN View Point

2020. (They seem not to mind it when someone has enough money to put up bail when accused of attempted murder, like the Long Island man who went on to join the January 6 Capitol insurrection.) One freedom-loving, libertyloving woman at the rally told me she supports banning books because she saw videos of school meetings with “mothers seeing god-awful, borderline pornographic” books, and is against “forced vaccinations”, but, she added, what upsets her is “diversity, inclusion” in the curriculum.

Another woman said she formed Voices for Seniors to get justice for the 5,000 who died of COVID in nursing homes, including her father, yet backed Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman violating the state’s mask and vaccine mandates intended to protect New Yorkers from hospitalization and death. George Santos, a Republican candidate for Congress (NY-3), who served as the emcee for the event, plugged his own campaign saying, “I’m running for the right reason — a strong advocate of victims.” He urges a show of respect “for victims of absolute chaos that has taken over New York The men and women falling in service — 26 law enforcement attacked or murdered, all in name of racial justice, equity — what politicians use to excuse these atrocities.” It is interesting, though, that in this stoked “crime,” “cashless bail” and Blue Lives Matter and victims list of grievances, there was no concern about gun crime (or, for that matter, the cost in

suburban property taxes to fund school security and the loss of freedom of students confined in prison-like settings against a Parkland-style massacre). Congressman Lee Zeldin, running to be New York State governor, even mocked President Biden’s visit to New York City, where the President unveiled a host of initiatives aimed at addressing the epidemic of gun violence – after record numbers of gun deaths (and hate crimes) through the Trump years and into last year. Zeldin made no mention of the fact that police are killed with illegal guns, or for that matter, that too many unarmed people are killed by police because of the expectation that they are armed. Instead, he mocked Biden (a photo op!) for trying to stop ghost guns and oﬀered no support for initiatives to stop the “iron pipeline” of illegal guns traﬃcked from the Red States where “pro-life” means forced childbirth but not sensible gun regulation. Continued on Page 29

18 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, February 18, 2022

F R O M T H E D E S K O F K E VA N M . A B R A H A M S

Cooler heads must prevail in mask debate There is no disputing that the COVID-19 pandemic has been emotionally exhausting. I empathize with the frustration that so many are experiencing. However, as we approach what I pray is the end of the Omicron surge, it is not the time to hastily abandon masks or any other proven tool for preventing the spread of this virus. Throughout the pandemic, I have been a strong supporter of the eﬃcacy of mask-wearing in public settings as one leg of a multi-pronged approach for preventing the spread of COVID-19. Based on current trends, I am optimistic that conditions

will continue to improve so that universal masking in schools can end after winter break and that no further public health directives will be necessary. It has always been my firm belief that public health policies must never be political— especially when it impacts the health and safety of our children. However, in recent weeks especially, it has been truly disheartening to witness the eﬀorts by some to deliberately inject chaos into our society for the purposes of generating anger and confusion that they hope to selfishly exploit in the not-too-distant future.

KEVAN M. ABRAHAMS Nassau County Legislator

Already, this chaos has resulted in troubling impacts on the well-being of our children.

As a parent whose children are currently navigating education in the era of COVID-19, I have been horrified by reports from schools across Nassau County in which mask-wearing has become a flashpoint for confrontations, bullying and classroom disruptions. For months, we have all watched as school board meetings have become targets of violence and caustic rhetoric. It didn’t have to be that way. Unfortunately, far too many political figures in Nassau County and across our nation have put their own futures ahead of working in the interest of the

common good of the communities we are so blessed to serve. Someday soon the mandates will completely end. When that day comes, I urge those who opposed mask mandates to remember the mantra of “personal choice” they preach and respect the personal choice of those who continue to wear masks. Kevan M. Abrahams Freeport Kevan M. Abrahams represents the First Legislative District in the Nassau County Legislature and serves as the Leader of the Minority Caucus.

READERS WRITE

California Time — Point Reyes National Sea Shore These hills merge into the blue on blue, on whose slopes elk roam the rocky trails, following each other one at a time, stopping now and then for nourishment then move on. With nothing between but sunlight and birdsong, leaving you and me in wonderment far behind. Looking out over the wide ocean, until recently this headland was underwater. As the world turns the pacific plate continues to grind away and slowly push the coast northward. Thus uplift, mountains, and of course, those famous fault lines. From where I stand I sometimes wonder. If my world were to have set sail on its own mountain,would it have avoided the fall whose shadow is everywhere? Stephen Cipot Garden City Park

Plastics industry con job

ildur Palsdottir’s excellent article on recycling neglected to mention how the plastics industry quietly undermines the whole eﬀort. The industry dutifully imprints

each item’s recycling number inside the chasing arrow symbol. But you can’t read it! The image is so small that even with prescription reading glasses and a magnifying glass, I still have no idea what

the numbers are. What a con job! Clearly, the plastics industry has no interest in recycling. Lloyd Perell Great Neck Village

Energy solutions not so simple

ne of the most glaring pieces of misinformation (out of many) in Hildur Palsdottir’s Jan. 14 article (“Plastics pollution’s key role in global warming”) concerns natural gas produced by hydraulic fracturing, also called fracked gas. She says “it’s certainly a misnomer to call fracked gas ‘natural’ ”. Actually, there is no diﬀerence between natural gas produced by fracking and the natural gas that flows from conventional wells. Fracking technology has been used in oil and gas production for more than 60 years; it is used to crack rock miles beneath the surface that is so dense the embedded gas or oil cannot flow as it does from more porous formations. In recent years the use of hydraulic fracturing has unlocked immense reserves of gas and oil making the U.S. the preeminent energy producer. In fact, the most significant reductions in U.S. greenhouse gas emissions have been achieved through the production of abundant cheap natural gas through fracking which rapidly displaced coal as the principal fuel for generating electricity. The idea of a fossil-fuel-free economy is a pipe dream for the foresee-

able future. Even if a breakthrough technology comes on the scene, the transition would take decades. Along with natural gas and coal the principal fossil fuels are gasoline, heating oil, diesel, jet fuel, and propane all of which make modern life possible. Think of the misery when the electricity goes out for days on end after a storm. How would you recharge the car batteries? Ethane is a component of natural gas and petroleum – fracked or otherwise – and is a principal building block for the chemical industry. Ethylene, derived from ethane, is the basic material not only for polyethylene plastic but also thousands of other products including other industrial chemicals, antifreeze, detergents, synthetic lubricants, pharmaceuticals – the list goes on. Renewable energy, so beloved of environmentalists, comes with its own environmental baggage. The mining and refining of lithium and cobalt, key materials for electric car batteries and the rare earths used in car motors and wind turbines are not exactly environmentally benign processes. And since it is still early days for the use of electric cars what will be the impact of largescale disposal of spent car batteries?

Windmills bring their own problems. They can have a devastating impact on bird and bat populations, both of which play a vital role in controlling rodent populations. Polysilicon is the key raw material for solar cells and its production is energy-intensive. China is the principal world supplier of polysilicon. To supply the power it needs to make these products and generally support its industrial growth, China is also commissioning new coal-fired power plants. An article last year in “Yale Environment 360,” a publication of the Yale School of Environment, reported that in 2020, China brought 38,400 megawatts of new coal-fired power into operation, “more than three times what was brought online everywhere else.” The issues of a changing climate, CO2 emissions. the role of industrial activity and the impact on the economy and jobs are complex and really cannot be boiled down to a simplistic conclusion of fossil fuels and plastics, bad; renewable energy, good. Sam Glasser Port Washington Letters Continued on Page 29

Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, February 18, 2022

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YOUR GUIDE TO THE ARTS, ENTERTAINMENT AND DINING

‘THE WANDERERS’ TO COME TO GLEN COVE

Congregation Tifereth Israel at 40 Hill Street in Glen Cove will present two performances of “The Wanderers” in a special theatrical fundraiser on Saturday, Feb. 26 at 8 PM and Sunday, Feb. 27 at 7 PM. Public Invited! Live streamed performances on Zoom, $20 per person feehttps://www.ctionline.org/cti-theater. html Theatre Ariel, Philadelphia’s only Jewish theatrical troupe, presents two performances of Anna Ziegler’s acclaimed The Wanderers on Saturday, February 26

at 8 PM and Sunday, February 27 at 7 PM. The performances benefit education programs for adults and children at Glen Cove’s Congregation Tifereth Israel. The play is 80-minutes long and will be followed by a 20-minute Q&A with the performers. These virtual performances will be available on Zoom. The play recounts the story of Satmar Hasidic Jews Esther and Schmuli who embark on an arranged marriage despite barely knowing each other. Their story is paralleled with the story of Abe and Sophie, secular Jews whose marriage grew

from their childhood friendship. Two seemingly contrasting marriages, yet as Anna Ziegler’s play of twists and turns demonstrates we learn about human nature, marriage and what we neglect to see as we discover that there is much that binds these two very diﬀerent couples. The director of The Wanderers, Deborah Baer Mozes, said that the play will soon have a Broadway run.Tickets for the two performances of The Wanderer are $20 per person and must be arranged at least one day in advance. To purchase tickets for either of the

two performances of The Wanderers, go https://www.ctionline.org/cti-theater. html#. A link to view the show will be provided to those who reserve tickets. For further information about the presentations of The Wanderers and other programs and activities at CTI, call (516) 676-5080 or log onto ctionline.org. Long Island’s oldest continuously operating Jewish congregation, CTI has provided innovative Jewish programming and education to the Long Island community since 1897.

22 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, February 18, 2022

Gold Coast named finalist in Imagine Awards Gold Coast Arts Center was named a Finalist in The Claire Friedlander Arts & Culture Award category in the 10th Annual Long Island Imagine Awards. The Long Island Imagine Awards was created to offer formal acknowledgement to some of Long Island’s most effective and innovative nonprofit organizations. Having successfully transitioned to virtual platforms for the past two years due to the pandemic, the Long Island Imagine Awards is thrilled to celebrate their 10th Annual event in-person as well as offering a hybrid feature. Winners will be announced live at the awards gala at the Crest Hollow Country

Club on Tuesday, April 26, 2022. Nominated organizations, their constituents and the Long Island business community are expected to attend. Approximately 150 entries were submitted for consideration in 5 categories, including Innovation, Leadership Excellence, Rising Star, Social Impact and Arts & Culture. Gold Coast Arts Center is one of four finalists in The Claire Friedlander Arts & Culture Award category. Gold Coast Arts Center has been an important part of the Long Island community for over 25 years. Whether you are looking for innovative classes and programs from our School for the Arts, the best in independent film-

making for our year-round film series and International Film Festival, or everything cultural in the specially curated events and Art Gallery exhibits we bring to our community, you can find everything you love at the Arts Center. “We are so honored to be included as finalists among so many dynamic, worthy cultural organizations on Long Island. I know that I speak for our Board of Directors, faculty and administrative staﬀ when I say that we look forward to attending the event when the winners in every category will be announced,” said Regina Gil, executive director. Finalists were chosen by Long Island business professionals during pre-

liminary judging. Members of the Awards’ Distinguished Judging Panel selected the Imagine Awards winners from among the Finalists during final judging. “Being named a Finalist in The Long Island Imagine Awards is an important achievement,” said Ken Cerini, Founder of the Long Island Imagine Awards. “It means that the Organization has been identified as a leader on Long Island, exhibiting impactful and innovative operations. Congratulations to all of the Finalists on their achievement.”Details about Long Island Imagine Awards and the list of Finalists in all categories are available at https://imagineawardsli.com/the-awards/

David Broza & Trio Havana at Landmark Israel’s legendary singer-songwriter David Broza brings a unique Cuban twist to his hit songs through a collaboration with Trio Havana. Band members include Manuel Alejandro Carro– Cuban-born singer-songwriter and master percussionist with a style firmly rooted in Latin Pop; Yuniel Jiminez “El Guajiro” – master tres guitar player from Santa Clara, Cuba; Jorge Bringas – renowned bassist from Havana, Cuba, who played previously with Albita Rodriguez and the late Celia Cruz.

David Broza, one of Israel’s most important recording artists,brings the full spectrum of his music in collaboration with the Cuban band, Trio Band

Let Me Help You Make Your Next Move

From his whirlwind fingerpicking to Flamenco percussion and rhythms to a signature rock and roll sound, David Broza’s charismatic and energetic performances have delighted audiences throughout the world. Raised in Israel, Spain and England, Broza has performed worldwide since 1977, when his song “Yihye Tov” first hit the airwaves, promoting a message of peace. Broza has been fascinated with Cuban music since he was a teenager listening to Celia Cruz. Further explorations led him to become absolutely hooked on the Afro-Cuban sound. Broza first met Trio Havana at a private event in New York and was stunned by their versatility. By the end of the evening, they were jamming together and found a special magnetism in the sweeping rhythms. Combining the Cuban sound with Broza’s Spanish guitar and songs sung in Spanish, Hebrew and English proved a rich common ground that connected naturally. Now touring again post-COVID, the result has been pure magic – every show is a mystery, a dance and romance expressed through pulsing rhythms and sweet melodies, resulting in uplifting, energetic performances that leave audiences delighted and exhilarated.

Home is where your heart is. Live your dream, love your home. Jennifer Villano

Licensed Real Estate Salesperson

O 516.627.2800 | M 917.270.8614 jennifer.villano@elliman.com

110 WALT WHITMAN ROAD,

A B l a n k S l a t e M e d i a S p e c i a l S e c t i o n • F e b r u a r y 18 , 2 0 2 2

24 LIVING 50 PLUS • Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, February 18, 2022

Gains in fighting the aging process GIVE YOURSELF THE BEST GIFT OF LOVE….. AGING, Everyone’s Enemy…. Can NOW be a Thing of the Past Say good-bye to Aging, as we welcome a new era. Clinical Anti-Aging and the study of how we age, be it evolutionary, biological, medical, social or psychological has evolved substantially in recent years. Together with the implementation of the many alternative forms of medicine and combined with technologically advanced medical esthetic treatments, we are able to completely rejuvenate the face, body and mind. What a great time to be alive and benefit from these technologies. The new holistic approach to aging enables us to uncover the root cause and really nip it in the bud before becoming an issue. The truth is that Aging is a disease. Yes, that’s right, Aging can be classified as a DISEASE, caused mainly by inflammation. And, as such, when treated preventatively, the aging process can be slowed down to greatly improve your quality and longevity of life. Researchers predict that life expectancy will soon reach 120 and so we really want to take even more care of ourselves, starting with changing our lifestyle! Long Island has an abundance of spas and medical spas oﬀering the usual medical aesthetic treatments. However, very few address how to age well from the inside out. Two experts in the medical and aesthetics field, members of the American Anti Aging Association, have changed that. “Aging Well”….. the first step to preventing or even reversing certain aspects of Aging is proper diagnosis. Beginning with a comprehensive health, nutrition and lifestyle questionnaire and blood and DNA analysis, gives you a personalized program that will address your individual needs and help you to put your life back on track.

Most Eﬀective Anti-Aging Diagnostics utilized are:• Natural Bio Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy is used in treating both women and men’s hormone imbalances, which are key to maintaining overall health and well-being by maintaining good organ function, consistent muscle mass, healthy libido, tight and firm skin and managing menopausal symptoms. • DNA Test, shows the body’s natural predisposition to the five most common age-related diseases. (ie. Heart disease, diabetes, cancer, oxidative stress, Alzheimer’s ), as well as any DNA mutations that may exist.) • Oxidative Stress Test reveals levels of free-radical damage, directly related to the cellular and organ aging

exercise, external aging, skin damage, work habits, stress related issues, home environment, and even psychological factors that may be aﬀecting your health. Some of the most Eﬀective Anti Aging Programs: • Hormone Support and Replacement Therapy –HGH, Testosterone, Estrogen & Progesterone Supplementation • Vitamin Infusion Therapy &B12 Shots • Hyperbaric Oxygen Capsule Therapy (or Activated Oxygen Therapy) • Holistic Detox & Nutritional Program

• Other Biochemical Blood and Hormone Saliva Test-

• Revolutionary Medical Esthetics Program using the “Facelift of the Future” technique, combining Aerolase and Versa PL Laser Skin Rejuvenation therapy, the latest in Venus VIVA and MORPHEUS8 RF skin resurfacing and skin tightening and the Venus Legacy RF/PEMF Skin Tightening for Face and Body.

• Bio-Marker Telomerase and ANS Heart Variance Testing which examine internal biological age, as compared to your chronological age.

• 30-Day Fast Track Medical Detox and Weight-Loss Program and “Skinny Shot” Don’t miss out on giving yourself the best Valentine’s Day gift of Self-Love!

• Complete Body Analysis and External Body Assessment (as related to existing age) including BMI index, muscle mass, fat mass, weight, metabolic function, skin condition, tone, etc. Having evaluated your needs properly, you can implement one or more of our Programs and help you to change your lifestyle by introducing an easy, beneficial daily program. By examining all aspects, such as nutrition,

Katherine Sempecos – Founder and Co-Owner of Prism Med Spa, Roslyn, NY Clinical Aesthetician & Laser Expert Prism Med Spa is located at 41 Main Street in Roslyn. Prism was voted the Best Spa on the Northshore, as well as received the Roslyn “Excellence in Physicians” Award for 2015-2021. For a complimentary consultation, call 516277-2293. Katherine Sempecos

• Zytoscan Testing reveals the bio-rhythm data of our bodies physical & emotional stress-related factors that affect our health ing

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Safe Harbor’s monthly rate covers individualized care, three delicious meals a day, full calendar of activities, beautiful accommodations, s much more! and so

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Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, February 18, 2022 • LIVING 50 PLUS

Day trips that seniors can enjoy Vacations to faraway destinations can make lasting memories that families cherish forever. Though day trips might not require the planning of more traditional vacations, these brief getaways can still be a great way to spend a day, especially for seniors. Day trips typically are based around visits to historic attractions, shopping districts, restaurants, or museums. Since they don’t require much in the way of advanced planning, and tend to be easy on the wallet, day trips are ideal for those looking for short getaways. When considering day trips, seniors should look for locales that are no more than two to three hours away. Such proximity ensures travelers will have plenty of time to see the sights and still get home at a reasonable hour. Need day trip inspiration? Here are some ideas to get started. Botanical gardens Botanical gardens are beautiful and relaxing places to spend a day. The Botanic Gardens Conservation International reports that there are between 296 to 1,014 botanical gardens and arboretums in the United States, while there are roughly 70 botanic gardens across Canada. People can tour topiaries, exotic plants, butterfly retreats, acres of rolling landscape, and even bonsai collections. Seaside towns Visits to the coast make for memorable, scenic excursions. Many boast quaint shops to purchase coastal trinkets or decor. Seaside spots also may boast their share of fishing charters or sightseeing cruises, and seafood fans will appreciate what these regions have to oﬀer in the way of dining.

Historic cities and villages Touring historic places of register, like Colonial Williamsburg or areas of historic Boston, can be a hands-on way to learn about the country’s history. They can provide more personal experiences than books and movies alone. Zoos and aquariums Interacting with wildlife is on the itinerary when visiting zoos and aquariums, and such establishments typically oﬀer discounted admissions to seniors. From the famed San Diego Zoo to the Georgia Aquarium, it’s possible to get up close and personal with many species. Wine tasting A recent study from Wine & Vines magazine said there are 8,391 wineries in North America, and that number is on the rise. One is likely to find a winery to visit and sample the wares close to home. Make a day of it by bringing a picnic lunch.

Museums Museums are ideal day trip destinations because many are indoors. That means weather never needs to be an issue while visiting. With historic artifacts, paintings, sculptures, or niche items like pop art or collectibles, there are museums for just about every interest. For example, railway enthusiasts can visit the National Railroad Museum in Wisconsin, one of the oldest railroad museums in the country. Restaurant crawl Certain town centers and tourist destinations organize restaurant events where day trippers can enjoy tasting menus from various establishments for a single price. Day trips also can culminate at one specific restaurant. A new restaurant can be visited each month. Day trips are enjoyable ventures that seniors can enjoy when they want to get out but not necessarily get away.

Always dedicated to you! I take the stress out of buying or selling your home. • Your local senior expert • 30+ years experience in LI real estate !"#"$%&'()*+",(-./"0&(1"',*&,",("2)3'/

Shelley Scotto, SRES Founding Agent of Compass North Shore Licensed Associate RE Broker shelley.scotto@compass.com shelleyscotto.com M: 516.816.7428 | O: 516.517.4751 1695 Northern Blvd., Manhasset, NY 11030 Located in the Munsey Park Center !"#$$#%&!'())(&*+&,&-*'#.+#/&0++('*,)#&1#,$&2+),)#&34(5#4&,67$*,)#/&8*)"&9(:;,++<& 9(:;,++&*+&,&-*'#.+#/&1#,$&2+),)#&34(5#4&,./&,=*/#+&=%&2>?,$&@(?+*.A&B;;(4)?.*)%&-,8+<

26 LIVING 50 PLUS • Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, February 18, 2022

PARKER CARE. THE BEST. FOR THE BEST.

THEY GAVE YOU THE BEST

NOW IT’S YOUR CHANCE TO GIVE THEM THE BEST

Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, February 18, 2022

PORTRAITS IN 4 SESSIONS! GOLD COAST ARTS presents

our exclusive portrait workshops with award-winning artist Paul David Elsen. All supplies are included so bring your friends and have fun creating together! Sessions - March 1, 8, 15, 22 6:30pm - 7:45pm 113 Middle Neck Road, Great Neck NY

www.goldcoastarts.org | 516.829.2570

!"#!$%&#'()*+,-()*(-*"%( .*/')*01(2,2'%333 4')().'(5**+&'($,%+(5%''6 !,7'(89:( !"#$!%&"'#!(#)!*+)# ,&'-+.,+"-'#/0&-0&,# 1!.#$2"&32"4#-+5&3!.-# !,#6&-#$&)27&,1

GOLD COAST ARTS and ShortsTV proudly present

Oscar ® Nominated Shorts - LIVE ACTION DATE: Wednesday, March 2 TIME: 2pm & 7:30pm PLACE: Manhasset Cinemas

(430 Plandome Road, Manhasset, NY)

Reserve your tickets & predict the winner! www.goldcoastarts.org | 516.829.2570 !

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Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, February 18, 2022

READERS WRITE

Nicolello violates Nassau’s property rights

residing Oﬃcer Richard Nicolello claims to be representing the homeowners of Nassau County. His opposition to accessory units is a violation of property rights of Nassau homeowners. An essential feature

of private property is that it is private. How you wish to use you property is not meant to be subject to excessive government regulation. As long as you are not harming your neighbor’s property, why should the government prohibit it?

The main reason Nicolello gives for opposing it is that it would increase taxes. It is not clear why taxes would go up, as accessory units would increase the tax base, which should balance the increased expenditure. It is also hard to see how driv-

ing young families out of Long Island is good in the long run. If Nicolello is actually concerned about high taxes, he should be doing something about the excessive pay and pensions for government employees that have made New

York the most heavily taxed state in the United States. For now, let’s support Governor Hochul’s proposal to reduce regulations on homeowners. Roger Cooper Albertson

Gov’s zoning plan endangers Great Neck Village

assau County Executive Bruce Blakeman and Town of N. Hempstead Supervisor Jennifer DeSena are in agreement that Gov. Kathy Hochul’s plan for “accessory dwelling units” would result in a negative cascade effect to our water supply, electrical supply, emergency services, sanitation, traﬃc and utility resources. Gov. Hochul also called for dramatically changing zoning laws. That’s not news in the Village of Great Neck. In the Village of Great Neck, zoning laws are constantly evolving each time a developer or religious institution seeks a building permit to construct a new project. For years, I have witnessed my onemile village become the site of deterioration and demolition in

order to make way for religious use, non-tax-paying properties. Temples in my village frequently buy up single-family homes. Each time taxable, residential and commercial properties are taken oﬀ the tax-rolls, the impact stems far beyond the village taxes. What about the Nassau County tax rolls and the 60-plus percent school property taxes? Who is left to foot the bill for the lost revenue? Great Neck residents—that’s who. You, me, elderly seniors on fixed incomes. Not so long ago, we had only a handful of tax-free properties. Presently, we have at least 50-plus tax-free properties with more being added every day. To date, Wood Road has five residential houses waiting to be demolished. The former Friendly Taxi at the corner of Wood Road

and Steamboat Road is a good illustration. What about Ravine Road, East Shore Road and Baker Hill Road? The county desperately needs taxes to pay for services that homeowners receive. Think of the police, sanitation and road repair work. I, like my fellow neighbors, have paid my fair share of taxes over the years, so I admittedly resent having to absorb and pay for the overwhelming number of so-called “not for profit institutions.” It is imperative that Sen. Brad Hoylman introduce legislation regarding the number of tax-exempt properties one village or town can sustain. It’s all about sustainability. How can we hope to continue our suburban way of life if our local roads are crammed, jammed and

gridlocked much like the Long Island Expressway? What about our finite water supply? What about our two volunteer fire companies, Alert and Vigilant? Will it soon become the “new normal” for both fire companies to become routinely overwhelmed, requiring more and more outside assistance from neighboring fire companies? The current crisis that many Great Neck residents easily refer to as only “a village problem” eventually becomes everyone’s problem. Ultimately, our entire infrastructure is at stake. I firmly believe that Gov. Hochul should consider focusing on New York’s drug scene, crime scene, and violence against law-abiding citizens. Gov. Hochul should leave Nas-

sau County housing problems to local leaders and local law. Perhaps, she, too, can propose legislation which minimizes the number of religious properties, recreation centers, learning centers, dormitories (for both rabbis and students) in any one village or town. Let’s start with “revitalizing” and prioritizing suburban life issues in the Village of Great Neck. It’s all about sustainability. (If you would like to share your thoughts with Gov. Hochul on the above matter, telephone: 518-474-8390, Press the Option that allows you to speak with a live agent or leave a message. Fax: 518-474-1513) Jean Pierce Great Neck

GOP 2022 plan: contrived culture wars Continued from Page 17 In contrast, Biden, in a statement commemorating the Parkland school massacre (notably Congress has done nothing in the aftermath to rein in gun violence), outlined his comprehensive plan “to reduce gun crime that includes curbing the proliferation of “ghost” guns, cracking down on gun dealers who willfully violate the law, issuing model extreme risk protection order legislation for states, and promoting safe firearm storage, among other efforts. The Department of Justice is also helping more cities adopt smart law enforcement models like the one I recently

saw in New York City, in which federal, state, and local law enforcement work together to share intelligence and remove shooters from our streets.” Far from defunding police, Biden is asking Congress for $500 million to fund “proven strategies we know reduce violent crime — accountable community policing and community violence interventions” and increased funding for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the U.S. Marshals, while urging Congress to pass universal background checks, renewing the ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, and eliminating

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www.theisland360.com

immunity for gun manufacturers. What is the wannabe governor Zeldin;s crime-fighting platform? “Repeal cashless bail in this state; give judges discretion to hold for being a flight risk, for violent crime; overhaul the parole board and remove any DA who refuses to enforce the law. It’s up to all of us to do everything to remove from office anybody who doesn’t agree with us backing the blue.” And then his pitch: “We need to do more than rally to insure November 8, 2022 we are doing everything, all in, taking nothing for granted

to fight and win the battle for the heart and soul of the country. We must win the race for governor here because losing is not an option,” Zeldin declared. “Elect Republicans. Back the Blue. Get rid of cashless bail. For freedom. This is what it is all about – law enforcement. Our freedom, our liberty. We refuse to lose.” In fact, it is Democrats who care about crime, victims and stopping the gun violence epidemic and want to do something about it. State Sen. Anna M. Kaplan (D-North Hills) and Assemblywoman Judy Griffin (D-Rockville Centre), just introduced legislation, S.7537/A.9094, to

establish a statewide network of Crime Victim & Trauma Survivor Recovery Centers. The centers would provide comprehensive, evidencedbased, trauma-informed services free of charge, to help crime victims and their families recover from the lasting harm inflicted upon them and break the cycle of violence by preventing repeat victimization. Actually, the $10 million to fund these centers should come from mandatory liability insurance (like auto insurance) on gun owners and taxes on gun and ammo purchases. No reason for taxpayers to be doubly victimized.

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@theisland360.com or mailed to Blank Slate Media, 22 Planting Field Road, Roslyn Heights, NY 11577.

30 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, February 18, 2022

READERS WRITE

Is $33B Gateway Tunnel ready to proceed?

here is more to the Amtrak Oﬃce of Inspector General report concerning problems with project management for the $33 billion Gateway Tunnel project. Some of the key elements of the Gateway Tunnel project include the construction of two new Hudson River tunnels and repairs to the two existing 110-year-old tunnels damaged by 2012 Super Storm Sandy connecting Penn Station New York with New Jersey Amtrak Northeast corridor used by both NJ Transit and Amtrak. Ninety days after a contract is awarded, it is common for the contractor

submitting a detailed construction schedule that includes the critical path for completion of the project. This is reviewed and approved by the transit agency. The critical path documents what any future delays could trigger other delays to the overall project schedule For example, take construction of the NJ-based $1.6 billion Portal Bridge which supports Amtrak and NJ Transit access to Penn Station. It integrates the scheduling of work to be performed by the prime contractor, Skanska, with all 15 subcontractors. If the work of one falls behind their portion of the project, it could

Management Plan, but also a Quality Assurance and Quality Control Plan (this is used to ensure that the contractor builds to the design and engineering specifications, Fleet Management Plan, Annual Force Account (in house employees who work with and provide support to third party contractors) and Annual Track Outage Plan. This also includes up-to-date approved Title VI, Equal Employment Opportunity, Disadvantaged Business Enterprise and Americans With Disabilities Act programs. These are some of the transit health food groups that lend themselves to any transit agency,

delay the start of work by another subcontractor or Skanska. This, in turn, would delay progress for the overall project. The more subcontractors you have, the greater the risk of something could go wrong. How many subcontractors will be hired for the $12 billion first phase (two new tunnels and repairs to the two original 110-yearold tunnels) and $33 billion full scope Gateway project? Any successful transit project, especially those over $100 million and/or in receipt of a Federal Transit Administration Full Funding Grant Agreement (FFGA) should not only have an approved Project

be it Amtrak, MTA, NJ Transit or the Gateway Development Corporation completing a significant federal transit investment on time, within budget, built to the design and engineering specifications so that it will remain in beneficial use for the promised intended useful life. Taxpayers and commuters deserve no less. 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.

Gerrymandering wrong in all circumstances Continued from Page 14 The county’s minority population has grown to more than 40 percent of Nassau’s headcount at a time when only three of the Legislature’s 19 members are members of minorities. Despite the Democrats’ edge in registered voters, Republicans built their advantage in seats to 12 in November in an election that saw Bruce Blakeman elected

county executive. In that role, he would have to vote on redistricting lines drawn by the county Legislature. Nassau Democratic legislators proposed the creation of a redistricting commission to determine legislative boundaries in September 2021. But they have yet to hear a response from county Republicans. And we are not optimistic we will.

vania. This came after the assault against the Capitol that threatened the lives of members of Congress and Vice President Mike Pence and left more than 150 police oﬃcers injured. He then became the lone dissenting vote by the Long Island congressional delegation on a bill to create a 9/11-type commission to investigate the most serious attack on our election system since

The Nassau County Republican Party made clear its support of the GOP’s pro-Trump faction this week by endorsing Lee Zeldin, a congressman from Suﬀolk County and vocal supporter of the former president, as the Republican nominee for governor. Zeldin was one of 121 House Republicans to vote against certifying the presidential election results in both Arizona and Pennsyl-

Sport Psychology

the Civil War. Perhaps Presiding Oﬃcer Richard Nicolello (R-New Hyde Park) and Blakeman will demonstrate that Langworthy and other Republicans across the state are sincere in their opposition to gerrymandering and ensure a fair redrawing of lines for county Legislature districts. Or perhaps that opposition is just politics as usual.

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Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, February 18, 2022

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/-/,)"565$22% Eric Alexander

Director Vision Long Island

Dr. Anthony Boutin

President/CEO/ Chief Medical Officer Nassau University Medical Center

Phillip Eng

Matt Cohen, Esq.

President MTA/Long Island Railroad

President/CEO Long Island Association KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Steven A. Fangmann, P.E., BCEE

Dominic Coluccio

Chief Leasing & Development Officer Samanea New York

CEO Long Island Division Douglas Elliman

Lee J. Brodsky CEO BEB Capital

John Buran

President/CEO Flushing Bank

Michelle Byrne, CPA CFO Long Island Association

Brad C. Calhoun

President/CEO Teachers Federal Credit Union

Franklin Camarano, Jr.

Nancy Costopulos

CEO Nassau Industrial Development Agency

Kathleen Caputi

Michael Dowling

Sr. Vice President Epoch 5 Public Relations

David Chauvin Partner ZE Creative

Dr. Kimberly R. Cline President Long Island University

Sr. Global Real Estate Advisor The Friedman Team Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty

Harry Coghlan

Dr. Robert R. Dillon

Peter Goldsmith Chairman LISTnet

District Superintendent Nassau BOCES

William L. Gordon Sr. Advisor Palumbo Wealth

President/CEO Northwell Health

Michael Dubb

Dr. Joseph Greco

Founder/CEO The Beechwood Organization

John R. Durso

President Local 338 RWDSU/UFCW

A. Thomas Levin

Sarah (Rudi) Friedman

President/CEO Old Westbury Gardens

President Nassau Council of Chambers of Commerce

Henry C. “Hank” Foley, PhD.

Sr. Global Real Estate Advisor The Friedman Team Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty

CEO Costello’s Ace Hardware

Sr. Vice President/ Chief of Operations NYU Langone HospitalLong Island

Elaine Gross, MSW Founder/President ERASE Racism

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Business Banking Market Executive for Long Island Bank of America

Jason Friedman

Michael Costello

President/CEO Bethpage Federal Credit Union

President D&B Engineers and Architects President New York Institute of Technology

Ann Conroy

Wayne N. Grossé

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Dr. Michael Mayrsohn, DPT OCS

Dr. Patrick M. O’Shaughnessy President/CEO Catholic Health

Paule T. Pachter, A.C.S.W., L.M.S.W.

CEO Long Island Cares, The Harry Chapin Regional Food Bank

Mitchell H. Pally

CEO Long Island Builders Institute

Anthony (Tony) Piscopio Senior Manager Douglas Elliman

Dr. David Podwall

President-Elect Nassau County Medical Society

CEO/Co-Owner Metro Physical and Aquatic Therapy

Gunjan Rastogi

Carolyn Mazzenga, CPA

Charles A. Riley II, PhD

Office Managing Partner, Tax and Business Marcum LLP

Joseph Milizio, Esq.

Managing Partner Vishnick McGovern Milizio LLP

Founder/CEO UniversaCare

Director Nassau County Museum of Art

Theresa E. Sanders

President/CEO Urban League of Long Island

Dr. Adhi Sharma

Christine Miller Partner Janover LLC

President Mount Sinai South Nassau Hospital

Matthew Nartowicz

Kathleen Wisnewski

Chief Retail Officer/ Senior Vice President American Community Bank

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32 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, February 18, 2022

Business&RealEstate

4 factors driving housing market

he four variables of interest rates, demand, inventory and housing prices have a major eﬀect one other. However, interest rates and prices will be a stronger determinant on demand and increased inventory. The reason I make this assumption is looking back during previous markets as rates rose, demand lessened and inventory increased and lastly, prices decreased. But at the moment demand has never been this high. I have never experienced such heightened desire to own a home in my professional career. I think fear of missing out has also fueled the market, just like Bitcoin, cryptocurrencies and the massive increases in stock market prices. Fear has also been part of the equation as trillions have been sitting on the sidelines, not sure of where it should be invested. As most have realized and experienced, inventory is at the lowest point in history as well as where interest rates have been and still are. Over-the-topdemand causing bidding wars (driven in part by Covid in the past two years) has led to a 60 percent increase in housing prices over the last 10 years.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics a $100,000 home in 1967 increased by 841.67 percent or at 2022 prices $941,668.422. Average inflation rate for housing over those years was 4.16 percent per year, even though overall inflation was only 3.95 percent. As I have mentioned in previous columns the Consumer Price Index doesn’t include food and energy due to their volatility. So when you include those commodities. inflation today is closer to 15 percent. Again, I am quite sure those items are not included because that would be a negative for consumer spending habits or maybe not. Although demand for consumer goods is still strong even with current inflation, I see a more moderate or inflationbased increase in housing prices for 2022 which will be set in motion as interest rates rise. But I do not see rates going higher than 4.5-5 percent because this would raise the cost of U.S. debt tremendously (currently every 1 percent increase in rates would add more than $225 billion of interest to our debt). Although still a seller’s real estate market, higher rates at some point will slowly reduce

PHILIP A. RAICES Real Estate Watch

demand, leading to increased inventory. Then those changes will have an eﬀect on home prices. The timeline for all this to occur isn’t certain or guaranteed, but something will eventually happen. Although builders are trying to construct more housing, many local governments and homeowners are seeking to block new construction. Moreover, inflation and supply chain disruptions and shortages have raised the cost of building by an average of $35,000 for single-family homes, creating an environment of higher prices for builders. Some are constructing fewer single-family homes.

More important, as has been erroneously reported, it was not the institutional investors buying up homes that caused the shortage, but individual investors looking for greater returns and increasing their wealth rather than leaving their money in their bank accounts where there is less risk and volatility than the stock market. From what I have researched there are more larger rental developments being created throughout the U.S. for current and future tenants, who will not be able to aﬀord to buy homes. The demand and return on investment will be more lucrative for investors. The future will have more long-term demand from renters than ever before in history. A key question is about the 1.5 months of available inventory locally. How long will it take for inventory to increase to normal six- to seven-month levels that will be directly related to a combination of higher interest rates aﬀecting current and future demand? For now, I believe the American Dream is still alive and well, but for how long I don’t know, as the reality of higher costs become a wakeup call for the budgets of current purchasers and those entering

the market this year and beyond. I see buyers backing oﬀ and hopping back on the fence, leaving not only NYS and all the higher priced, higher taxed states to lower rates. I also see an opportune moment in time to sell and cash in with the highest prices to date, while demand is high and inventory low. I also see potentially more investors leaving New York state as new laws are being discussed in the Legislature about non- eviction rules and rent increases. Philip A. Raices is the owner/ Broker of Turn Key Real Estate at 3 Grace Ave Suite 180 in Great Neck. He has 40 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, February 18, 2022

Recent Real Estate Sales in the

Willistons

131 Charles Street, East Williston

33 Meritoria Drive, East Williston

4 bd, 3 ba, 1,900 sqft, Sold On: 11/1/21, Sold Price: $1,150,000 Type: Single Family, Schools: East Williston

5 bd, 4 ba, 3,300 sqft, Sold On: 11/5/21, Sold Price: $1,549,000 Type: Single Family, Schools: East Williston

409 Roslyn Road, Williston Park

215 Derby Street, Williston Park

3 bd, 2 ba, 1,650 sqft, Sold On: 12/10/21, Sold Price: $750,000 Type: Single Family, Schools: East Williston

4 bd, 3 ba, Sold On: 12/30/21, Sold Price: $1,420,000 Type: Single Family, Schools: East Williston

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.

SEND US A NEWS TIP! WE WANT TO HEAR ABOUT NEWS IN OUR COMMUNITY. LET US KNOW WHAT’S GOING ON! THEISLANDNOW.COM/SUBMIT-NEWS THEISLAND360.COM/SUBMIT-NEWS WWW.THEISLANDNOW.COM

34 The Williston Times, Friday, February 18, 2022

Paul Pereira unopposed in mayoral bid Continued from Page 1 Sartori moved to the village with her husband and two sons 17 years ago from Staten Island. Before her appointment to the board, Sartori was on

the Mineola Board of Zoning Appeals for four years and has been active in the community through school organizations. “Janine has taken her position very seriously,” the party

said. “She has attended many events and meetings on behalf of the Mineola residents she was asked to serve. Her Degree in Finance and long history of involvement in our schools and

PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE NEW LINE PARTY

Mineola Deputy Mayor Paul Pereira (left), Trustee Janine Sartori (middle) and resident Jeffrey Clark are running unopposed in village elections.

community make her a solid choice for election as a Village Trustee this year.” Clark is running for the seat being vacated by Durham. Clark has been a Mineola resident for 35 years with his wife and six children. He is currently a warden on the fire council of the Mineola Fire Department, where he previously served as chief. In addition, Clark was president of the Irish American Society and was chosen as grand marshal for Mineola’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade. “Jeﬀ has also coached his and many other children through the great athletic programs found in Mineola,” the party press release said. “He is a great choice because he understands what it takes to keep Mineola a community of friends and families.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE INTEGRITY PARTY

From left to right, Village Justice Kevin Kiley, Deputy Mayor Kevin Rynne, Mayor Paul Ehrbar and Trustee Bill O’Brien are running unopposed for their respective seats.

In Williston Park, Ehrbar is running on the Integrity Party slate alongside Trustees Kevin Rynne and Bill O’Brien and Village Justice Kevin Kiley. Village elections will be held Tuesday, March 15. On the ballot will be the seats for mayor, two trustees and the village justice. Ehrbar, first elected in 2010, is running for a fourth four-year term after winning reelection in 2018 against former Williston Park Fire Chief Anthony Gagliardi by 410 votes. Rynne, who is deputy mayor, and O’Brien are seeking their fourth and second terms, respectively. Kiley has been in his current role with the village since 2007. “Mayor Paul Ehrbar, Trustees Kevin Rynne, Bill O’Brien, and Village Justice Kevin Kiley are proud to be seeking reelection as candidates under the Integrity Party nominations,” a party news release said. “All four have been honored to serve the Village. They are anxious to work towards the continued improvement and betterment of this great Village of Williston Park and all its residents... Statements from the candidates will be forthcoming, in a future issue of the Williston Times.” Ehrbar, who ran the DWI program in the Nassau County Department of Probation before retiring, was elected to the Herricks school board in 1994. He served on the board for the next six years, three as president. Ehrbar has overseen the village during the COVID-19 pandemic and during the ongoing village roads project, among others. He is the second in his family to serve as mayor. His wife, Doreen, served as Williston Park mayor from 2000 to 2006. East Williston does not have village elections this year.

Hildebrandt’s seeks landmark status Continued from Page 2 The Stranos later sold it to their daughter Susan, who owned and operated it with her husband, Bryan Acosta, from 2007 until her death in 2015. Since then, Acosta has kept the store going with his and Susan’s daughter, Hunter. Films like “The Book of Henry,” starring Naomi Watts, and, most notably, Martin Scorsese’s “The Irishman” have used the shop’s frozen-in-time interiors to

evoke a cozy soda fountain aesthetic. In 2011, the restaurant was featured on the Food Network program “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives,” with manager Tom Bauman showing host and chef Guy Fieri a process for making butter pecan ice cream. Joanne Strano also appeared, making sauce and fried mozzarella with the chef. Fieri praised the location as “timeless.” The 14-table candy confec-

tionery and ice cream shop said in a post on its Facebook page in July 2020 that it would “no longer be in business within the next few months.” The statement said that the closing was due to the building’s landlords deciding to sell it, and the new owners “creating something diﬀerent,” and explicitly stated that the closure was “unrelated to COVID-19.” Another post in October 2020 said that “the new landlords cannot evict us till the end

of the year.” A comment on that replying to a customer’s inquiry if the store would be able to move stated that moving would not be an option “because of the large expense.” Local preservationist Andrew Cronson created an online petition in 2020 that more than 15,000 people have signed so far. Cronson, in a Feb. 3 update, said he has reached out to a variety of historical societies and other organizations to help proceed with

landmarking, but has heard virtually nothing from any. “For those who live in Williston Park or the neighboring areas, now is the time to stand up and be counted if you want to see this incredible restaurant protected for the future,” Cronson said in the update. “It is really up to you to band together and speak up. If there ever was a landmark worth protecting and ensuring [it] survives for the next hundred years, Hildebrandt’s may be it.”

The Williston Times, Friday, February 18, 2022

Rep. Rice not running for re-election Continued from Page 1 throughout the rest of my term,” she continued. “As I turn to the next chapter of my own personal and professional story, I do so with profound thanks to the community leaders, colleagues and staﬀ who have lived our shared commitment to service with courage and humility.” Eﬀorts to reach Rice, who made the announcement on her 57th birthday, for further comment were unavailing. Before running for Congress, Rice began her career as an assistant district attorney in Brooklyn after receiving a Juris Doctor degree from the Touro Law Center. In 1999, she was appointed as an assistant U.S. attorney in Philadelphia. Rice then defeated 31-year incumbent Denis Dillon in the 2005 election for Nassau County district attorney. Rice served in that position from 2006 to

2014, expanding eﬀorts to combat public corruption and crack down on drunken driving, which led to an overhaul of the state’s DWI laws. In 2014, Rice ran in the 4th Congressional District, which comprises central and southern Nassau County, including Floral Park, Garden City, Hempstead, Mineola, Carle Place, New Hyde Park and Westbury. She defeated Nassau County Legislature Minority Leader Kevan Abrahams (D-Freeport) and Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman in the process. With Rice deciding not to run for reelection, she becomes the 30th Democratic member of Congress to bow out of the fall elections, including U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-Glen Cove), who represents the 3rd Congressional District on the North Shore and is running for gov-

ernor. Nassau County and New York Democratic Chairman Jay Jacobs told Newsday he believe’s Rice’s choice to not run for re-election was a “personal decision” and that the party “should be fine” finding a candidate to replace her. “We just have to find the right candidate,” Jacobs told Newsday. “This is a district that needs a moderate Democrat with broad-based appeal.” Eﬀorts to reach Jacobs for further comment were unavailing. Whoever the party selects to run for Rice’s seat will also be representing constituents from the villages of East Williston, Williston Park, Lake Success, Mineola and some unincorporated parts of the Town of North Hempstead, according to the newly drawn redistricting maps.

PHOTO COURTESY OF KATHLEEN RICE VIA TWITTER

U.S. Rep. Kathleen Rice announced on Tuesday she will not run for reelection this year.

4 from Glen Cove charged in financial scheme Continued from Page 11 Damian Williams, U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, said the group cheated victims out of their savings. “Hiding behind fake investment firms and a network of shell companies, these defendants preyed on victims around the world and cheated them of their hardearned savings,” Williams said. “In selling their victims fake investments in American companies, the defendants abused the

confidence and trust that investors worldwide have in American securities and American banks. Thanks to the tireless eﬀorts of our law enforcement partners, these defendants now find themselves in hot water, being held accountable for their crimes.” The suspects are accused of stealing over $8.4 million and laundering $4.6 million. Thomas Fattorusso, special agent in

charge of the New York field oﬃce of the Internal Revenue Service, said criminals are getting savvier. “Criminals have become extremely sophisticated in preying on unsuspecting victims, and this alleged boiler room scheme is no exception,” he said. “This team of fraudsters allegedly went to great lengths to create fake marketing materials, fake contact information, and fake companies to dupe victim-investors and then laun-

dered the funds for personal gain.” Each of the suspects has been charged with conspiracy to commit securities fraud and operate unlicensed money transmitting businesses, conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. The charges carry a maximum sentence of five, 20 and 20 years in prison, respectively. Eﬀorts to reach lawyers for the suspects were unavailing.

EWSD parents protest mask mandate Continued from Page 12 to wear a mask to do so. I also support educating our children about why some of their classmates will still continue to wear a mask after they themselves have stopped.” Ledwith continued that students, especially at young ages, are taught why

some children with allergies sit at different tables, some have glasses or may be in a wheelchair, reiterating that they should be taught empathy and standing up for what they believe in. “Hopefully our governor will follow suit with New Jersey and Connecticut and remove the mandate,” she contin-

ued. “At that point, I expect the board to put our children first and advocate for choice.” Another resident, Arthur Golub, said as a school psychologist in a diﬀerent district he has seen that children are being told there is danger everywhere they go. “For the last few years our children

have been psychologically abused,” Golub said. “They’re told by people they trust that even though you feel healthy you may be carrying a deadly virus that could kill you, your friends and your loved ones.” The next Board of Education meeting will be Monday, March 21.

COMMUNITY NEWS

Water Authority of Western Nassau meeting The next regular meeting of the Water Authority of Western Nassau County Board of Directors will be held on Mon-

day, February 28, 2022 at the oﬃces of the Water Authority located at 1580 Union Turnpike, New Hyde Park, NY

starting at 7 p.m.. The public is welcome to contact the Water authority 24 hours before the

meeting for information to access the meeting online.

CHECK US OUT ON FACEBOOK AT FACEBOOK.COM/THEISLAND360

36 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, February 18, 2022

Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, February 18, 2022

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COMMUNITY CLASSIFIEDS To advertise here call:516.307.1045

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Monday 2:00pm: 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.

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EMPLOYMENT

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Nassau Democratic Party endorses Hochul Continued from Page 6 from its leader, local oﬃcials across Nassau County recently criticized the governor for a statewide plan that would require local municipalities to permit residents to build accessory dwelling units on single-family properties. Some have claimed Hochul’s plan will destroy suburban areas

throughout Nassau County and that ADUs could negatively impact the quality of life, electric and water supply, emergency services and other issues on Long Island. Last month, Hochul rolled out a $25 billion five-year housing plan aimed at creating and preserving 100,000 aﬀordable homes across New York, 10,000

of which would have support services for vulnerable populations. Establishing ADUs could help senior citizens on fixed incomes remain in their homes, help younger people aﬀord homes and be a new source of income for homeowners who live in high-cost areas. The party also unanimously voted to endorse Senate Major-

ity Leader Chuck Schumer, Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin, Attorney General Letitia James and state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli. Jacobs individually endorsed all of those Democratic candidates, including Hochul, last fall. James announced in December that she was dropping out of the race for governor, tightening the contest for the Demo-

cratic nomination. James said in a statement she is focused on continuing her work as attorney general. “I have come to the conclusion that I must continue my work as attorney general,” James said. “There are a number of important investigations and cases that are underway, and I intend to finish the job.”

Phillips announces reassessment audit Continued from Page 6 “Nassau County taxpayers are confused and frustrated with our complex property assessment system,” said Phillips, the former Flower Hill mayor and state senator. “It’s my job, as the independent protector of Nassau County taxpayers and residents, to not only ensure that county departments are functioning properly and eﬃciently, but to see that taxpayers are being treated fairly.” According to county data, 65 percent of Nassau County homeowners received increases in their school taxes compared with

35 percent who received reductions in December 2020. Curran called for the reassessment of more than 385,000 homes in 2018 after the county’s assessment roll had been frozen since 2008. During that period, thousands of residents filed grievances on the value of their homes, winning reduced assessments and shifting the tax burden to others who did not challenge their assessments. Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, who has been critical of the reassessment process since announcing his can-

didacy for county executive last year, said the goal is to make the system “more fair, accurate and transparent” for Nassau’s residents. “I want to commend Comptroller Phillips in fulfilling her promise to the taxpayers to do this reassessment audit,” Blakeman said. “Property assessment is one of the most important issues facing Nassau County right now. We know that the reassessment system and process is broken.” “After years of misinformation and mistakes by the previous administration, which re-

sulted in tax increases to 65% of homeowners, it is important that we use every means available to reform how the county assesses properties,” Presiding Oﬃcer Richard Nicolello (R-New Hyde Park) said. “The Legislative Majority remains committed to ensuring that the reassessment process is fair and transparent.” Nassau County Legislator and Legislative Minority Leader Kevan Abrahams (D-Freeport) said Curran went about addressing taxes “the best way she could.” “I think all Nassau County residents realized the tax system

that was in place before she got there was completely unfair,” he said. In October, Republican officials called for an audit of alleged errors in the phase-in that could result in $50 million in overbilling if left uncorrected. Oﬃcials claimed the overbilling of more than 16,000 homes was caused by an error in calculating the assessed values of properties. Despite claims of an erroneous assessment from Republican legislators, former county spokesperson Michael Fricchione said the majority was incorrect.

Nassau GOP endorses Zeldin for governor Continued from Page 9 Zeldin also said New Yorkers have been fleeing the state because they feel “their wallets, their safety, their kids’ education and their freedoms are under attack.” Zeldin has been a supporter of Donald Trump, voting against a resolution that claimed the former president “incited an insurrection against the government of the United States” with the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. During Trump’s impeachment probe in January 2021, Zeldin said, “Let’s be honest that this president did a lot to make America greater than ever.” Zeldin also said the Jan. 6 event was a “pre-planned attack,” citing pipe bombs that were discovered

and saying the Capitol’s perimeter was breached while Trump was speaking. Last Thursday Zeldin touched on the success the Republican Party had throughout Nassau County in the November elections, which saw a handful of Democratic incumbents lose their seats. The Nassau County GOP was selected to host the New York Republican Party’s statewide nominating convention at the Garden City Hotel from Feb. 28 to March 1. The announcement was made in January by Nick Langworthy, chairman of the state’s Republican Party. He touted the work of Nassau GOP Chairman Joseph Cairo Jr. in getting Republicans elected on a county and town

level in November. “I’m thrilled that Chairman Cairo has agreed to host us,” Langworthy said in a statement. “He is the ultimate strategist who is a key part of our team helping to lead our candidates to victory. This convention will put a huge spotlight on how we plan to replicate Nassau’s victories statewide.” Zeldin is part of a Republican field for governor that includes Andrew Guiliani, Rob Astorino, Derrick Gibson, Michael Carpinelli and Kris Lord. Fellow U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-Glen Cove) is also running for governor in a Democratic field that includes Gov. Kathy Hochul, Jumaane Williams, Paul Nichols and Nicolae Bunea.

PHOTO BY KAREN RUBIN

U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-Shirley) received an endorsement from the Nassau County Republican Committee last week.

Curran endorses Zimmerman for Congress Continued from Page 9 rights, restore the SALT deduction, demand the child tax credit be made permanent and enact important social programs like Medicare for All. He will be the staunch advocate we need in Congress.”

According to newly drawn lines, the 3rd Congressional District will include several areas in Westchester County and the Bronx along with Manhasset, Roslyn, Port Washington, Great Neck, Floral Park, and Whitestone, Queens,

among other areas, and stretches to Kings Park in Suﬀolk County. Following the approval of new congressional maps by state legislators last week, a Republican-led group filed a lawsuit claiming the Democrats gerrymandered the

districts to retain control of the House. Others running for the Democratic nomination in the district include former North Hempstead Supervisor Jon Kaiman, Nassau County Legislator Joshua Lafazan,

state Sen. Sen. Alessandra Biaggi, Oyster Bay’s Reema Rasool and Melanie D’Arrigo of Port Washington. George Santos and Kevin Surdi are seeking the Republican nomination.

44 The Williston Times, Friday, February 18, 2022

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Denton Ave. kids art exhibit on display The Denton Avenue Elementary School art program in Herricks has featured an art exhibit on display in the Children’s Room at the Shelter Rock Library. Close to 100 drawings, paintings and collages make up the exhibition and are the creations of budding kindergarten through fifth grade artists. “The students have worked really hard on their projects,” said art teacher Maria Monda. “The finished pieces are quite impressive for such young artists!” The Denton Avenue art exhibit will remain on display throughout the month of February for library visitors to enjoy.

PHOTO COURTESY OF HERRICKS PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Denton Elementary art teacher Maria Monda is proud of the nearly 100-piece exhibit on display at the Shelter Rock Library through the month of February.

Recognizing seniors in Regeneron’s top 300

Herricks High School seniors Caitlin Chheda, Aanya Goel and Roshni Patel were recognized at the Feb. 3 board of education meeting for being named in the top 300 scholars in the Regeneron Science Talent Search 2022 contest, the nation’s oldest and most prestigious science and math PHOTO COURTESY OF HERRICKS PUBLIC SCHOOLS competition for high school seniors. The three were selected (l-r) Superintendent of Schools Dr. Fino Celano, Assistant Superintendent for from more than 1,800 Curriculum and Instruction K. Elizabeth Guercin, Board of Education Vice Presiapplicants, representdent Nancy Feinstein, Scholars Roshni Patel, Aanya Goel, Caitlin Chheda, Science ing 603 high schools Research Program Coordinator Caitlin Etri, High School Science & Technology Chair nationally and internationally. Karen Hughes and Board of Education President Mr. Henry Zanetti.

Holocaust survivors share experiences The Wheatley School, in the East Williston School District, devoted one hour for the entire student body and staﬀ to hear from three Holocaust survivors during a memorable program arranged by the Nassau County Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center. The students are part of the last generation who will be able to hear directly

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PHOTO COURTESY OF THE EAST WILLISTON SCHOOL DISTRICT

Students in the Wheatley School created a banner, which hangs in the school lobby, sharing their reflections on the Holocaust Survivors assembly.

from survivors of the Holocaust. Students remained in their classes and watched the presentation in small group settings. Using Zoom technology, three Holocaust survivors Werner Reich (94 years old), Renee Silver (91 years old), and Anita Weisbrod (98 years old) shared short testimonies about what they experienced during the Holocaust. The Zoom link was also available to the entire East Williston community. To make their words even more impactful and meaningful, the survivors shared artifacts that they had personally donated to the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center. After the moving assembly, the students were asked to share some reflections on what they had just heard. Students were saddened by the stories, but inspired by the resilience of the survivors. The presentation left an indelible impression on the students and was a reminder of the importance of being an upstander. As part of the reflection process, the students were asked to share their thoughts on the assembly. A banner with a word cloud and several of the students’ reflections about this powerful assembly now hangs in The Wheatley School main lobby.

The Williston Times, Friday, February 18, 2022

COMMUNITY & SCHOOL NEWS

100th day of Serving those in need school in Mineola Meadow Drive School in the Mineola Union Free School District commemorated 100 days of school with fun activities for the students. They created a list of “100 Acts of Kindness” and dressed as centenarians. Additionally, students participated in a scavenger hunt and a 100-second dance party.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF MINEOLA UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT

The members of the Willets Road Middle School student government, in the East Williston School District, organized a community service drive to support the Long Island Coalition for the Homeless. The donation drive kicked oﬀ with a themed spirit week to help remind students to donate much needed items as well as build school and community spirit. This year’s student government co-presidents Michael Bank and Thaddeus Bhagan encouraged students to support the Long Island Coalition with daily announcements, led by club advisers Ms. Kasey Caracciolo and Ms. Jane Tracy.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE EAST WILLISTON SCHOOL DISTRICT

Members of the Willets Road Middle School student government organized a community service drive to support the Long Island Coalition.

Joining forces to get valentines to veterans With the help of students from Hampton Street, Jackson Avenue, Meadow Drive, and Mineola Middle Schools, Assemblyman Ed Ra (R-Franklin Square) and volunteers were able to celebrate another successful year of the Valentine’s for Veterans program. Students created beautiful and unique Valentine’s Day cards that will be sent to veterans across Long Island. Staﬀ were also able to collect donations of socks, toothbrushes, and other personal care items, which the Mineola Student Service Center members used to assemble comfort care kits that will be distributed to veterans at the Northport

VA Hospital and the LI State Veterans Home. “Being able to participate in great causes like Valentines for Veterans is one of my favorite parts of being a public servant. It is always amazing to see the passion and dedication people have when they come together to serve a cause greater than themselves,” said Ra. “Far too many of our veterans are lacking the compassion and support they deserve. These programs provide a great opportunity for us to give back to those brave men and women that have dedicated their lives to defending our freedoms and hopefully put a smile on their face this Valentine’s Day.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF ASSEMBLYMAN ED RA’S OFFICE

Assemblyman Ed Ra (R- Franklin Square) with Assemblywoman Gina Sillitti (D-Port Washington), Student Service Center Co-Coordinators Mrs. O’Donnell and Mrs. Rudnet, Mineola High School Principal Dr. Whittney Smith and members of the Student Service Center.

School transit application deadline April 1 New York State Education Law and the Mineola Union Free School District require that a parent or guardian of a resident student planning to attend a

private school for the 2022-2023 school year who wishes to receive transportation services must submit an application for such services to their school district of

residence on or before April 1, 2022. Failure to submit such application prior to the April 1st deadline will result in a denial of the request for transportation.

Please contact our District Registrar, Michelle Rescigno, at 516-237-2031 or mrescigno@mineola.k12.ny.us, for an application.

Class examines L.I.’s environment Mineola High School’s Living Environment classes attended a presentation given by New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to discuss Wildlife Forensics. The presentation required

students to collaborate on an inquiry-based activity where they used analytical skills to examine various mammal skulls. The NYSDEC monitors the health of wild mammal populations and uses some of

these skills to help scientists better understand the Long Island ecosystem. Students are looking forward to the presenter returning in May to explore various Human Impacts on the environment.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MINEOLA UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT

46 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, February 18, 2022

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The Williston Times, Friday, February 18, 2022

COMMUNITY NEWS

Happening at the Williston Park Library The library will be distributing Covid-19 self-test kits while supplies last. We are no longer accepting donations at this time. We hope to begin in late Spring, but the date is still to be determined. Please DO NOT put donations in the outdoor book bins. New titles added to the collection: Beautiful Little Fools—Jillian Cantor Replacement Wife—Darby Kane Atlas of the Heart: Mapping Meaningful connection & the Language of Human Experience—Brene Brown Brown Girls—Daphne Palasi Andreades Man of Honor—Barbara Taylor Bradford Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States— Roxane Dunbar-Ortiz Wish You Were Here—Jodi Picoult Flying Angels—Danielle Steel Dead Cry Justice—Rosemary Simpson Find Me—Alafair Burke End of Days—Brad Taylor Our Daily Hours Are: Browsing &Vestibule Pick-Up: Monday-Friday: 10am5:30pm 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. Library items may now be returned inside the library Adult Programs Reiki—Thursdays—February 17; March 17 & 31—6 pm in the Assembly Room of Village Hall. $10 p/person. Knitting Circle—Thursday—February 17; March 3/17 & 31 —11:30 am-1:30 pm in the Assembly Room of Village Hall. Book Club—March 2—7 pm via Zoom. Copies of Nature of Fragile Things will be at the Circulation Desk. Author Susan Meissner will join the discussion via Zoom. Irish Heritage Cooking with Barbara Sheridan—Tuesday—March 8—6 pm in the Assembly Room of Village Hall. Limited to 25 participants. Masks are required. Call the library (742-1820) or email willistonparkprograms@gmail.com to register. Empire Safety Driving Course—Wednesday—March 30—10 am-4 pm in the Assembly Room of Village Hall for drivers of all ages. $30 p/person with check pay-

able to Empire Safety Council. Limited to 25 participants. Masks are required. Children’s Programs Storytime—Tuesdays—February 15, 23 (Wednesday); March 1, 8, 16 (Wednesday), 22, & 29—11-11:45 am in the Assembly Room of Village Hall for children ages 1-4. Limited to 10 children plus caregiver. Masks required for everyone over 2 years old. Please call the library to register. No walk-ins. Lego Tower Challenge—Thursday—February 24—11 am-12 pm in the Assembly Room of Village Hall for children of all ages. Masks are required. Limited to 12 participants. Register at willistonparkprograms@ gmail.com Sensational Playtime: OT for Kids—Thursday— March 10—10:30 am-11:30 am in the Assembly Room of Village Hall for children 18-36 months. Led by 2 occupational therapists, this program emphasizes learning and developmental motor skills. Limited to 15 participants. Call, stop by or email (willistonparkprograms@gmail) to register. Tie Dye T-shirt workshop—Tuesday—April 19— 11:30 am-12:30 pm in the Assembly Room of Village Hall for children ages 4+. Limited to 15 participants. $15 material fee (includes t-shirt) Register at willistonparkprograms@gmail.com or call the library at 7421820. Please specify shirt size. Masks are required. Come into the Library for a free children’s craft every Monday for Take and Make Mondays.

For the latest news, visit us at w w w.theisland360.com

Honoring Mineola Memorial Library North Hempstead Town Supervisor Jennifer DeSena recently joined with Councilman Dennis Walsh and Town Clerk Ragini Srivastava to present Mineola Memorial Library Director Charles Sleefe with a proclamation honoring the Mineola Memorial Library on its 100th Anniversary. The Mineola Memorial Library celebrated 100 years

of service to the community on February 2, 2022, and Supervisor DeSena commended Library Director Charles Sleefe for the amazing job he has done shepherding the library during his tenure, encouraging the library’s eﬀorts to preserve local history, and expanding the membership base amongst the residents of Mineola.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE SUPERVISOR’S OFFICE

48 The Williston Times, Friday, February 18, 2022

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