Baldwin Herald 09-04-2025

Meadow Elementary School PTA received the National PTA’s highest honor, the Phoebe Apperson Hearst Outstanding Family-School Partnership Award.

Meadow PTA earns top honor

Group recognized for building inclusive community

by HerNesto GAlDAmeZ hgaldamez@liherald.com

The Meadow Elementary School PTA, in Baldwin, has received the National PTA’s highest honor, the Phoebe Apperson Hearst Outstanding Family-School Partnership Award, in recognition of its efforts to build a more inclusive and connected school community.

The award, which comes with a $2,000 grant to support family engagement, distinguishes Meadow Elementary as a School of Excellence.

“Receiving this award is both humbling and affirming,” PTA Co-President Sophea Sainsurin, who also served as co-chair of Meadow’s School of Excellence program, wrote in an email to the Herald. “It validates the intentional work we’ve done to create a school where every family feels welcome, every culture is celebrated, and every voice is valued. It tells our families — past, present, and future — that they truly belong here.”

Sainsurin added that one of the PTA’s big-

gest challenges was ensuring that all school families — not just the most active ones — felt represented. To address that, the PTA expanded communication, offered surveys in Spanish, provided child care and studentfriendly programming during meetings, and created welcoming spaces for families to share input.

The PTA’s cultural celebrations, including its annual Multicultural Festival, became highlights of the school year. Families shared their traditions while students showcased their heritage, creating “joyful, authentic moments where children saw their cultures honored,” Sainsurin wrote.

The group was also recognized at the state level for its literacy efforts, winning the New York State PTA Pick A Reading Partner Award and a $250 prize for its “Meadow Candyland — Reading is a Sweet Treat” program. The initiative featured themed dress-up days, community guest readers and free book giveaways designed to make reading fun and engaging.

“Being awarded at the national level was

Commuters push back on MTA hikes

by brIAN KACHArAbA & HerNesto GAlDAmeZ of

the Baldwin Herald

Baldwin commuters could soon face higher ticket prices and stricter rules for riding the Long Island Rail Road, under a Metropolitan Transportation Authority proposal that has stirred pushback across the region.

The MTA board faced strong opposition at its headquarters in Brooklyn Aug. 19-20, when commuters packed public hearings to challenge the agency’s plan to raise ticket and toll prices starting in January 2026.

MTA is proposing an average 4.4 percent fare hike on oneway peak, monthly, and weekly tickets. Off-peak city tickets would increase by 25 cents, to $5.25, and peak city trips would rise to $7.25. Monthly tickets would be capped at $500.

W e strive to make fare, and toll increases small and predictable.

JessIe lAZArus MTA Chief of Commercial Ventures

The proposal, released July 30, would mark the MTA’s first increases since August 2023, when both fares and tolls climbed by more than 4 percent. Officials say the hikes are necessary to maintain service levels and support a transit system still recovering from the financial strain of the pandemic.

One of the more notable changes would be on the Long Island Rail Road, where the

In addition to the price hikes, the MTA plans to overhaul its ticketing system. All one-way mobile tickets would automatically activate upon purchase and expire within four hours. Paper tickets would follow the same rule. Currently, those tickets remain valid for up to 60 days, with 10-trip passes lasting six months. The new framework eliminates the round-trip ticket in favor of a “Day Pass,” which would allow unlimited travel until 4 a.m. the next morning

Some Baldwin commuters are concerned about how the changes could impact their daily routines.

Naresh Singh, who lives in Baldwin and takes the LIRR into Grand Central Madison twice a week, said he accepts CONTiNuEd ON PAgE 16

PTA says: ‘This award isn’t a finish line’

more than we could’ve imagined!” Susan Geevarghese, co-chair of the School of Excellence program, wrote to the Herald. “We have truly built a welcoming school community where families feel valued, and now we are invested in meaningful partnerships with our wider community.”

We have truly built a welcoming school community where families feel valued.

SuSan GeevarGheSe

PTA meeting attendance grew by more than 50 percent, Sainsurin noted, and membership increased by nearly 80 families. The group exceeded its goal of 260 members, reaching 301.

“One parent shared, ‘I’ve never felt so connected to the school community before,’” Sainsurin wrote. “That shift — from showing up to speaking up — signals that families no longer see PTA as something for ‘other people.’ They see it as theirs.”

Looking ahead, the Meadow PTA plans to expand multilingual communication, continue collecting family feedback, and expand partnerships with local organizations.

“This award isn’t a finish line—it’s a launchpad,” Sainsurin wrote. “Our vision is for Meadow to serve as a national model — a school where every family feels welcome, every culture is celebrated, and the home-school-community partnership thrives in powerful and lasting ways.”

communication, continue

family feedback, and expand partnerships with local organizations.

Neighbors paddle into tradition at Milburn Creek

By herneSTO GaLDaMeZ hgaldamez@liherald.com

Cardboard, duct tape and glue are all it takes to bring Baldwin and Freeport neighbors together for one of the area’s longest-running traditions.

The annual Cardboard Boat Race will set sail on Sept. 7 at 11 a.m. at Milburn Creek, drawing dozens of competitors and more than 100 spectators for a morning of creativity and fun on the water.

The race, nearly three decades old, began with the Freeport-Baldwin Elks Club before local residents stepped in to keep it going.

It’s just a fun event that brings a lot of people together.

JOhn COOLS

Organizers say the event has endured because it blends creativity, competition and community spirit.

“It’s just a fun event that brings a lot of people together,” said organizer John Cools. “Everyone’s got their own creative style to make the boats interesting and fun, and it really just brings everyone out to cheer on their friends.”

Participants may build boats only with cardboard, duct tape, glue and string. Designs have ranged from pirate ships to sea creatures, with past entries including a Viking dragon boat, a floating tiki bar and a UFO with an alien on board. Costumes often add to the spectacle before the paddling begins.

The event is sponsored by The Irish Pub. Participants and spectators can enjoy a $25 breakfast with bottomless mimosas or Bloody Marys, a $10 breakfast only, and children eat for free.

Cools said Milburn Creek has always been the race’s home, describing it as both the natural center

between Baldwin and Freeport and the place where he grew up swimming and fishing.

“It’s just the ideal location,” he said. “Many people called us ‘harbor rats’ growing up because we were always on the water, and it’s great to still be able to gather here as a community.”

While a trophy goes to the winning team, organizers say the real prize is camaraderie.

“When you see the size of the crowd that just shows

up because they know the event, you realize it’s about more than the race,” Cools said. “It’s about getting to know your community.”

The Cardboard Boat Race is held every year on the first Sunday after Labor Day. Admission is free, and organizers encourage first-time visitors to stop by, cheer on the boats and maybe be inspired to join in next year.

“Just come and have a good time,” Cools said. “Be part of the community.”

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Please join attorney Michael Ettinger for a live webinar, “Four Advantages of Using Trusts,” on Wednesday September 10 at 6:30 p.m. Register in advance at trustlaw.com

Leaving a Vacation Home to Family

We all know the road to you know where is paved with good intentions. Nowhere is this more true than leaving a vacation or beach home for the children to share after the parents have passed. We have often advised that if they are all happy and get along well this might very well lead to the end of those good feelings and relationships.

Inevitably, some will do more work on the premises than others, some will use the premises more than others, there will be disagreements as to maintenance and repairs. Some may never visit or use it at all.

Initially, all expenses tend to be shared equally, since all are equal owners. The foregoing issues, however, will quickly arise and then it will often be difficult or impossible to determine what each child’s fair share of the expenses should be. The one living across the country who never visits may insist that they be “bought out” or, if that’s unaffordable to the others, that the house be sold so that they can get their share.

Sooner or later, one of the siblings dies and

their share goes to a sister-in-law or brother-in-law who may remarry and bring a stranger into the shared arrangement. Or let’s say an owner of onethird of the house dies, and now their share goes to their four children. How is that going to work?

Vacation homes are an excellent example of why good estate planning is often more social work than legal work. In these cases we anticipate the problems and spend the time to figure out who wants and uses the home and perhaps leave it to those children only and compensate the others with money or other assets. If they all use and enjoy the home, we sometimes require that it be held jointly with the right of survivorship, allowing the last of the joint owners to decide who to leave it to.

While the possibilities are endless, each case should be looked at and thought through so as to keep harmony in the family by preempting any potential conflicts. Otherwise, it’s often a case of the old adage that “ no good deed goes unpunished”.

ETTINGER LAW FIRM

Crime watCh

Woman stole car in Baldwin

A Mastic Beach woman was arrested Aug. 26 after authorities said she stole a vehicle from a Baldwin parking lot and led police on a multi-village chase.

Police said the 61-year-old male owner of a 2015 blue Dodge Caravan reported that his car was stolen from the 7-Eleven at 2350 Grand Ave. at 5:03 a.m. The victim told police he had left the car running with the keys in the ignition when an unknown woman got into the driver’s seat and drove away.

First Precinct officers broadcast a description of the vehicle. Freeport police spotted it shortly after on Sunrise Highway. Nassau County and Freeport police units followed the vehicle as it traveled at high speed through Freeport, Baldwin, and Oceanside.

During the pursuit, police said the suspect, identified as 27-year-old Jiyell T. Jones, struck a fence, a light pole, and an occupied Freeport police car before failing to stop. She eventually lost control on the Meadowbrook State Parkway, where the vehicle became disabled and caught fire in marshland.

A Freeport officer suffered a knee injury while taking Jones into custody.

Jones faces multiple charges, including grand larceny, assault, criminal possession of stolen property, reckless endangerment, unlawful fleeing of a police officer in a motor vehicle, and traffic violations. She was arraigned the following day at First District Court in Hempstead.

— Hernesto Galdamez

News briefs

Baldwin couple opens event space with PSEG support

A Baldwin couple is turning a longvacant building on Grand Avenue into a new event space, with financial support from PSEG Long Island.

Nicole Sample-Harris, and her husband, Trevor, recently launched Suite 1937, which hosts milestone celebrations, intimate weddings, showers, networking mixers, workshops and community gatherings.

The business received an $18,750 Main Street Revitalization grant from PSEG Long Island, as well as credits on its electric bills during its first year through the utility’s Vacant Space Revival program.

“As new small business owners with no prior experience, we had no idea how much goes into transforming a building into a functioning event space,” Harris said. “The grant helped offset unexpected renovation costs and gave us a much needed cushion to preserve the aesthetic vision we had for the space.”

Suite 1937 is among the businesses

Nicole Sample-Harris, owner of Suite 1937 in Baldwin, received up to $10,000 through Long Island’s Vacant Space Revival program.

highlighted by PSEG Long Island during National Black Business Month, which recognizes and supports Black-owned businesses across the country.

— Hernesto Galdamez

E-MAIl: Letters and other submissions: baldwineditor@liherald.com ■ EDITORIAl DEPARTMENT: Ext. 269 E-mail: baldwineditor@liherald.com ■ SUBSCRIPTIONS: Press ”7” E-mail: circ@liherald.com Fax: (516) 569-4942

Hofstra eyes big final season for Nuttall

By ANDREW COEN sports@liherald.com

The Hofstra men’s soccer team is aiming for the program’s fifth straight conference title and sending its longtime head coach out a winner.

Richard Nuttall announced just before kickoff of the 2025 campaign this would mark his last fall leading the Hofstra sidelines. Nuttall has elevated Hofstra into a powerhouse during his 37 years leading the sidelines with eight NCAA Tournament appearances and led the Pride to a fourth straight Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) championship in 2024.

“Sometimes it’s just the right time,” said Nuttall, who will leave the program to associate head coach Stephen Roche, who was named head coach in waiting last year, and longtime assistant Shaun Foster. “My two assistants are great people and they’re ready to go.”

Hofstra entered Nuttall’s final season ranked 23rd in the United Soccer Coaches Preseason Poll on heels of a 14-5-2 2024 campaign in which it earned the seven seed in the NCAA Tournament. The Pride’s historic season ended in heartbreaking fashion with a 2-1 second round loss to Vermont, who proceeded to go on a Cinderella run to win the national championship.

After a season-opening 2-1 loss to Bucknell on Aug. 21, Hofstra rebounded three days later with a 2-0 home victory against local Big East foe St. John’s on the strength of goals from seniors Laurie Goddard and Daniel Burko.

Nuttall said Goddard and Burko will play key roles in directing the offense this season on a squad that graduated much of last year’s starting lineup. Goddard, a midfielder from London, was named the Preseason CAA Player of the Year after tallying nine goals and five assists last season. Burko, a Norway native, transferred to Hofstra from Syracuse and will play a striker role with the Pride at forward.

Senior midfielder Aleksei Armas has

also factored into the offense early this season registering an assist on a goal from Goddard in the season-opening loss to Bucknell. The Floral Park High School product entered Hofstra last fall after playing two seasons at Adelphi University.

The backline is anchored by senior defender Gabriel Pacheco, a Brazil native who was named Honorable Mention Preseason All-CAA. The defense

held St. John’s to just two shots on goal in the Pride’s shutout of the Red Storm Aug. 24.

Senior goalkeeper Sean Bohan recorded two saves in the St. John’s clean sheet. The Dublin, Ireland native is patrolling the Pride net after playing the last two seasons at William Penn University in Oskaloosa, Iowa where he recorded a program record 20 shutouts.

“He’s got such a great presence about

him and we just named him a captain,” Nuttall said of Bohan. “He’s a vocal leader and gets people organized.”

Nuttall’s two other goalies on the roster are from Hofstra’s backyard in Gino Cervoni, an Elmont native and Carey High School alum, and freshman Aidan GaNunHear from Garden City South, a Chaminade product.

Hofstra’s next home match is scheduled for Sept. 13 against Long Island rival Stony Brook in its CAA home opener at 7 p.m. The Pride will then face Monmouth at home for another Saturday evening conference match on Sept. 20 before hosting Columbia on Sept. 23 at 7 p.m.

The Pride were picked to finish first in the CAA’s North Division, which also features Monmouth, Drexel, Northeastern and Stony Brook. The top three finishers will advance to the CAA Tournament with a chance to add to Nuttall’s championship resume and claim the league’s automatic bid into the NCAAs.

TOWN

NIMBYs, YIMBYs and the great divide

Communities are split on the value of new housing developments, and their effects on quality of life

By ANGELINA ZINGARIELLO, JOSEPH D’ALESSANDRO & RENEE DELORENZO of Herald Community Newspapers

Fourth in a series on housing on Long Island.

Communities across Long Island often fall into one of two camps: those in favor of new developments, and those against.

For some residents, the common refrain is “Not in my backyard!” — disapproving of the construction of new residential and commercial projects near where they live. The would-be neighbors of these developments are directly affected by their construction in the short term, and often see lifestyle changes for years to come.

Marge Congello, president of the Central Bellmore Homeowners Association, disapproved of recent plans to develop an apartment building on Bedford Avenue in Bellmore. After attending a public event reviewing the proposal, she described the project as “too robust.”

“Am I against apartment buildings? No, but I think that there’s becoming an influx of them in Nassau County,” Congello said. “The builder wants to make money, the developer wants to make money, and then they go live somewhere else. They’re not living in my backyard.

“Our main priority is maintaining and improving the quality of life here in Uniondale and all of Nassau County,” Jacobs said.

Another housing program Jacobs regarded with skepticism was accessory dwelling units — an initiative spearheaded by Gov. Kathy Hochul in 2024 state budget talks to add extensions to existing homes to create more — and less expensive — living spaces.

“ADUs — the vast majority of people that I speak with are totally against it,” Jacobs said. “With ADUs, they come with more people, more cars.”

While accessory units may not be a welcome solution, Jacobs acknowledges a need for housing on Long Island. “I do believe that there should be some affordable housing,” she said. “We want to retain our children and our grandchildren. We want them to stay here.”

On the flip side . . .

“There were lots of issues,” she added of the Bedford Avenue proposal. “There’s the traffic congestion that comes along with the overdevelopment. There’s the overburdening of utilities that comes along — the overburdening of schools and emergency services.”

Congello cited the loss of green space to new real estate developments as a major cause for concern, describing it as a type of urbanization that disrupts Nassau and Suffolk counties’ way of life.

“You can’t go and change the zoning in a residential area to allow an apartment building and then ‘save our suburbs,’” she said. “You can’t have both.”

Congello has been a member of Bellmore’s homeowners’ association for 25 years, serving as “the eyes and the ears for the local residents,” she said.

“We’re here to protect the quality of life that we feel very strongly about, not to hurt any businesses,” she said. “It’s definitely not about stopping growth, but it’s maintaining both.”

Congello’s criticisms of overdevelopment extend beyond apartment projects. She was a prominent voice of the Say No to the Casino movement, which opposed plans by Las Vegas Sands to build a casino resort in Uniondale. She worked with Pearl Jacobs, president of the Nostrand Gardens Civic Association, who shares similar concerns about overdevelopment.

Other community activists disagree, welcoming new projects with open arms as YIMBYs — “Yes, in my backyard!”

According to Hunter Gross, vice president of the Hempstead Housing Coalition, combating the NIMBY movement remains a challenge. When towns hold meetings on housing projects — such as apartment buildings with affordable units — the key demographic those projects aim to serve is usually underrepresented, Gross noted. Instead, he said, the attendees are often homeowners, many of them older than the group that would benefit most.

New York state’s 2025 Nassau County Rent Guidelines Board explanatory statement — compiled by the state’s Home and Community Renewal agency — reports that 81.9 percent of homes in the county are owner-occupied, and 18.1 percent are renter-occupied in the county.

“You’re always going to have people who show up who don’t have valid concerns about the project,” Gross said. “It creates this sentiment that every single person is objecting to a housing project.

“Oftentimes, elected officials listen to the loudest people in the room,” he continued. “I don’t think economic development and housing policy should be dictated by the small minority of people.”

The National Low Income Housing Coalition reports that about 40 percent of people in need of affordable housing are in the workforce, with 42 percent working more than 40 hours a week. As well, 33 percent of extremely-lowincome households are seniors, and 18 percent are people with disabilities.

The dynamic often becomes one of “ladder-pulling,” when homeowners block opportunities for those trying to enter the market, Gross said.

He recalled an older man at a Sayville

The real estate development firm Economic Development Strategies submitted to a third round of community feedback on plans to build a new apartment building on Bedford Avenue in Bellmore on April 2. Bill Bonesso addressed would-be neighbors, answering questions and getting feedback.

public hearing saying that he had worked multiple jobs to afford living on Long Island. Gross responded that he also juggles more than two jobs, but structural issues like wages failing to keep pace with inflation leave younger workers at a disadvantage.

“It has nothing to do with you working hard enough,” he said.

Gross also noted that homes bought decades ago would be unaffordable for those same buyers today. In a 2024 survey conducted by the real estate brokerage Redfin, nearly 40 percent of homeowners said they could not afford their homes if they were purchasing them now. Redfin cited population growth, housing shortages and rising mortgage rates as explanations, adding that the median home sale price has doubled in the past decade.

“If we truly care about our communities on Long Island, I think it’s time to say that we’re not going to close the gates,” Gross said. “We’re not a gated community, and we can ensure that people can afford to live here.”

Why some support new development

In communities across Long Island, new housing developments often spark debate, as they try to balance the need for growth with residents’ desire to preserve the neighborhood character.

In Lynbrook, that tension was visible with the opening of the Langdon, a sixstory apartment building at Broadway and Langdon Place that added 201 rental units to the village. While some residents raised concerns about traffic, crowding and other changes to the community, others, including local business leaders and many residents, viewed the project as an opportunity for revitaliza-

tion.

Polly Talbott, a former president and the current executive director of the Lynbrook Chamber of Commerce, lives in the village and has seen the transition firsthand. Her dual perspective as resident and chamber leader informs her view of the YIMBY approach. While construction created temporary disruptions, the project was thoughtfully executed, Talbott said, and recent improvements, including updated streets and parking, have already enhanced the surrounding area.

“It will help our village to flourish,” she said. “I think it’s inspiring to see our community embracing it. We understand that people, some people, have a hard time with it, but it is a great opportunity for young people to find a home here, and it will bring just life and vitality to our streets.”

The project included 20 affordable apartments designated for households earning up to 80 percent of the area median income — six studios, 11 onebedroom apartments and three two-bedroom units, with monthly rents ranging from $2,212 to $3,147.

Asked about the cultural resistance often associated with NIMBYism, Talbott acknowledged that some residents worry about overpopulation or losing the village’s small-town character, sometimes expressed as a fear of “turning Long Island into the city.” From her perspective, these concerns are understandable but overstated. She emphasized that Lynbrook continues to offer green spaces, parks and community amenities, and that adding housing does not diminish the village’s character; rather, it strengthens it by welcoming

Debating the pros and cons of new housing

new residents who are invested in the community.

“Are we going to put one on every corner? No, we’re not,” Talbott said. “We can’t stop change. We can’t stop progress. And I think we’ve done it tastefully.”

Affordable housing and rental options are also critical in the broader context of Long Island’s housing crisis. With the rising cost of homeownership, apartment complexes like the Langdon provide alternatives for young professionals and families who would otherwise be priced out.

While NIMBY resistance often focuses on perceived disruptions, housing developments are increasingly seen as necessary to ensure that communities remain vibrant, inclusive and economically sustainable.

Bob Barker, president of the Locustwood Gotham Civic Association, in Elmont, said he believes that building affordable housing — or changing zoning laws to allow it — could help solve a nagging issue in some neighborhoods vacant houses.

“There are a lot of unoccupied buildings that are causing a blight in the community,” Barker said. “Let’s get rid of these zombie homes. Let’s get rid of these structures that have been there for years that are boarded up and look tacky.”

Barker argues, would benefit the community twofold: It would create more options for young people or families in need of affordable housing while eliminating properties that are poorly maintained and increasingly dilapidated. The economic benefits, Barker added, could also help towns attract new residents, generate more property tax revenue and boost local businesses.

And, he said, renovating existing homes to create accessory dwelling units could create jobs for local contractors.

“You want people to say, ‘You know what? This is a great program,’” Barker said.

But, he cautioned, community input is essential in determining what kinds of affordable housing make sense — whether apartments or smaller homes that can be converted into multi-family rentals.

NIMBYism vs. YIMBYism on Long Island

NIMBY (Not In My Backyard)

■ Oppose apartment projects as too extensive

■ Cite traffic, utility strain, crowded schools, and loss of green space

■ Fear suburban character will be lost

■ Skeptical of accessory dwelling units

■ Support quality of life over rapid growth

YIMBY (Yes, In My Backyard)

Marge CoNgeLLo President, Central Bellmore Homeowners Association

Best Neighborhood, a website that tracks real estate data, reports that the average vacancy rate in Nassau County is roughly 6 percent.

Converting vacant homes into affordable housing,

“These are things you have to look at in terms of how best the community agrees with it,” Barker said. “The community should play a vital part in what kind of structures and buildings are built.”

And, he stressed, just because current laws may limit development doesn’t mean they can’t be changed. As the community evolves over the years, laws need to reflect that change, and existing ones may not truly benefit the community.

“You can make amendments to the laws to make them better,” Barker said. “Progress is about change, and the only way you can do that is by amending the laws. We have to be proactive, and not reactive.”

■ Welcome new housing, including affordable units

■ Say opponents dominate public hearings while younger renters are absent

■ Argue that housing shortages and rising costs price out new residents

■ View projects like the Langdon, in Lynbrook, as revitalization

■ Advocate reusing vacant “zombie homes” as affordable housing

‘Shake It Off’ to close out the summer in Eisenhower Park

Nassau County residents — and Long Islanders from all over — didn’t have to travel far to listen to the music of Taylor Swift.

The pop and musical icon spent over a year dazzling audiences worldwide on her Eras Tour, but on Aug. 21 in Eisenhower Park, fans got to experience her stardom through the cover group, Let’s Sing Taylor.

Let’s Sing Taylor is a live band experience that serves as a tribute to Swift’s music. The group delivers lively and faithful covers of Swift’s extensive catalog, providing fans — known as Swifties — with an immersive and communal experience celebrating her work. The group has been performing at various venues across the country, bringing the magic of Swift’s songs to life with energetic performances that resonate with her audience.

The concert was part of Nassau County’s summer concert series at the Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre. Fans came dressed head-to-toe in outfits representing all of Swift’s “eras” — symbolizing her different albums and musical styles throughout the years.

Whether fans were there to sing along to her classic country hits or dance to her pop repertoire, there was something for everyone to enjoy. For more on the cover group, and to catch their next show close to home, visit LetsSingTaylor.com.

Nassau unveils new strategic police unit

Forty-member squad to deploy as academic year begins, with focus on school and public safety

By LUKE FEENEY lfeeney@liherald.com

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman has announced the formation of a new specialized strategic response team, set to be deployed across the county, which he said would provide an added layer of security and help keep communities safe.

“Our new strategic response team will be equipped with people who are experienced, who will be privy to intelligence and information on a real-time basis,” Blakeman said, “to make sure that they have the information they need to make sure that our communities are safe.”

The 40-person team will be rolled out as the school year begins, with members working closely with county schools and colleges to identify potential threats and ensure the safety of students, teachers and faculty.

“They will be able to travel and have the flexibility to go to places where they are needed,” Blakeman said at a news conference on Aug. 27 at the Nassau County Police Department Center for Training and Intelligence, alongside Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder, county Council of School Superintendents President Marie Testa and Legislators Samantha Goetz, Thomas McKevitt and Rose Marie Walker.

The team will receive weekly intelligence briefings, according to Blakeman, who added that drones would also be used to monitor schools and communities. While he said that the unit’s initial purpose is the monitoring of schools, its responsibilities could expand to handling large public gatherings, such as concerts and protest, as well as increased crime activity.

The new response team will serve as another arm

County Executive Bruce Blakeman announced a new police response team at the NCPD Center for Training and Intelligence on Aug. 27, along with a $1.4 million investment in cameras equipped with artificial intelligence.

of one of the largest police departments in the state. The NCPD currently has the largest mounted unit on the East Coast outside New York City, and fully staffed K-9 and motorcycle units, alongside 84 tactical officers. And the department will be adding 10 members to its Emergency Service Unit, according to the county executive’s office.

Blakeman detailed another county initiative, a $1.4 million investment in 100 license-plate-reading cameras equipped with artificial intelligence that will be purchased with asset forfeiture funds. The technology, Blakeman said, will help the department recover license plate information on cars in Nassau County with greater efficiency.

“If there is a white car that has a golden retriever hanging out the window,” he said, “that AI will get us every car that is white with a golden retriever hanging out the window.”

Ryder praised both initiatives, arguing that they demonstrate the lengths the county will go to “protect your kids,” and “make sure that they’re safe.”

Testa, the North Bellmore School District superintendent, said that the updated security measures introduced in schools are something that she and the council of superintendents “respect, appreciate and admire.”

“We have kept students safe together,” she said. “We have kept students happy to come to school together.”

SPORTS

Massapequa hosts Wrexham soccer camp

By NIKO SCARLATOS sports@liherald.com

The iconic Welsh soccer club Wrexham AFC (Association Football Club) touched down in Massapequa, bringing with it a wave of excitement, skill, and inspiration during a two-week youth soccer camp that captivated young players and families from across Long Island beginning Aug. 18 at John J. Burns Park.

The camp, hosted by the Massapequa Soccer Club, was made possible through the combined efforts of the Massapequa Soccer Club, the Long Island Junior Soccer League, the American Soccer Club, and the Town of Oyster Bay. According to Paul Bigilin, director of coaching for Massapequa Soccer Club, the collaboration with Wrexham was a dream come true for the local soccer community.

“We were able to connect with Wrexham and collaborate to hold a camp here for two weeks in August,” said Bigilin. Wrexham AFC is co-owned by actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.

The camp was a huge hit, drawing young soccer enthusiasts from Long Island and beyond. Kids not only had the chance to learn the game from toplevel coaches but also to connect with fellow players in a positive, high-energy environment.

“It has been very well received by the parents,” Bigilin said. “We’ve had kids from all over Long Island coming to participate in this camp. As the director of coaching for a community-based club, just to provide this experience and opportunity for the kids is amazing. It’s life-changing for these kids to see professionals on TV and now being able to train with coaches from Wrexham is fantastic.”

One of those kids is Charlotte Rismiller, an 8-year-old Massapequa resident who enthusiastically shared her favorite parts of the camp: “My favorite part is how fun the drills are. They are teaching us cool moves and they’re really good coaches,” she added. “This camp is very fun and we will totally come back again next year.”

Her brother, Noah, 9, echoed the excitement: “My favorite part is making new friends and learning new moves. I saw my sister playing soccer and it looked fun so I wanted to play too.”

For the coaches from Wrexham AFC, the camp was just as rewarding. Josh Evans, one of the visiting coaches, emphasized the value of cultural exchange and building connections through sport.

“I think it’s experiencing different cultures that makes this cool,” Evans said. “I’ve done this for many years now and working with different children and different age groups never gets old. We’re trying to make it educational

Wrexham coach Josh Evans spoke to kids

at Massapequa’s John J. Burns Park.

while also having fun at the same time. We are running and teaching drills for all different aspects of the game.”

Parents, too, have been impressed by the professionalism and passion brought by the Wrexham team. Roman Seltenreich, a father from Farmingdale, praised the camp’s atmosphere and impact on his children.

“It’s awesome! They really look like they live and breed soccer,” Seltenreich said. “Both my kids [Lillian, 9, and Charles, 6] have learned so much from the coaches while also having a great time. I’m definitely going to be talking this up to other parents. Every kid that plays soccer should be participating in this camp.”

Looking ahead, Bigilin hopes this inaugural partnership is just the beginning of a lasting relationship between Massapequa and Wrexham.

“We’d like to create a relationship, especially here for the community of Massapequa, where we would continue to host Wrexham AFC coaches for camps, and then have the opportunity to send Massapequa players, coaches and families over to Wales to experience the soccer culture they live over there,” Bigilin said.

things to know from the Board of education

The Baldwin Board of Education met for their Aug. 13 meeting. The Herald dives into what was discussed.

Key highlights from the August meeting

By HERNESTO GALDAMEZ hgaldamez@liherald.com

District wide safety updates

Assistant Superintendent of Director of Facilities Russ Randazzo presented the district wide safety plan, which includes a transportation annex and a cardiac emergency response plan, and highlighted the importance of community involvement and drills with local emergency services.

Facilities improvements

Assistant Superintendent of Business and Administrative James Robinson shared updates on summer projects, including major bathroom renovations across schools and ongoing roofing work, emphasizing contractor compliance.

New student programs and policies

The board announced an expansion of the Universal Pre-K program with new classrooms, and discussed the implementation of the district’s new phone policy requiring students to use designated locking bags during school hours.

to communicate with sources and editorial team

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Volunteers will see Ryder Cup up close

By JEFFREY BESSEN jbessen@liherald.com

On the floor of the David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex at Hofstra University on Aug. 23, the atmosphere was quiet and simultaneously busy — like a golf tournament. Volunteers picked up their uniforms and credentials, while organizers moved briskly, helping them with size changes.

More than 4,300 volunteers, from 46 states — including over 2,700 from New York — and 28 countries will play a pivotal role in the historic Ryder Cup competition Sept. 23 to 28. The biennial showdown between the United States and Europe will take place on Bethpage State Park’s famed Black Course in Farmingdale — the first time the prestigious event has been held in New York.

Kasey Minnigan, who manages volunteer operations for the Ryder Cup through the PGA of America, said the event simply wouldn’t be happening without the thousands of people who signed up to help.

“We are just so excited to be a part of it,” said Minnigan, a Rockville Centre resident who grew up playing golf in Frisco, Texas, where the PGA is headquartered. “We get to give (the volunteers) access to the event for all six days, and they will be provided with two uniform shirts, a jacket, a headwear item and, most importantly, our credential.”

Minnigan, who captained golf teams in both high school, in Frisco, and college, at St. Francis, in Brooklyn, said that each volunteer becomes an ambassador for the event, whether on or off shift.

“We have shifts that cover up to 30 committees — from accessibility shuttles to the shops to on the course — every little thing is covered by volunteers,” she said. “The event would not be possible without them. When they’re on property during non-scheduled shift times, we ask that they wear their headwear so they can be easily noticed and able to step in if we need them.”

The merchandise tent — the largest the park has ever had for a golf event — will be manned by 1,200 volunteers, and there will be 1,300 marshals (also volunteers) stationed on the rope lines of Bethpage Black. Course marshals are tasked with crowd control, managing the pace of play and maintaining safety on the course.

“They are the backbone of this event,” Minnigan said of the volunteers. “We are just so grateful that they are excited to be a part of it.”

For many, the motivation to volunteer was simple: to experience world-class golf from just feet away. Sara Blau, a native of Brookville who now works for Citibank in Manhattan, said the bank offered slots to employees, and she jumped at the chance.

“I thought it would be a really cool opportunity for me to see the tournament up close,” Blau said. “I’m personally trying to get into golf more, taking lessons. I thought this would be a good opportunity for the start of my golf career.”

She said she sees golf as both a sport and a business tool. “It’s a lifelong sport, a great way to network, to take out clients,” she said. “And it’s just a lot of fun.”

For Andres Diez of Austin, Texas, the Ryder Cup will be a new volunteer experience, though he helped out at a Formula One race in his home state.

“I started playing as a kid, then took a hiatus,” he said. “It’s a great sport, especially playing with your friends in the summer. It’s a really nice way to ground yourself. You’re outdoors, it’s amazing. I love golf.”

Diez, a University of Texas graduate, said he was especially excited to see Scottie Scheffler — a fellow Longhorn who happens to be the top-ranked golfer in the world — lead Team USA.

“Honestly I think it’s worth it,” Diez said of the time and expense of traveling to New York.

Other volunteers are veterans of past tournaments at Bethpage. Diane and

Mark Wojcik, of upstate Troy, volunteered at the 2019 PGA Championship — also contested on Bethpage Black — and signed up for the Ryder Cup.

“We really enjoyed it, we had a great time, it was a great experience and we wanted to do it again,” Diane said.

She will work at the entry gates checking credentials, while her husband will serve as a marshal on the fourth hole — one of his favorites to play on the Black Course.

“It’s a lot longer than the courses that I usually play, and a lot more difficult, with the sand traps and the fescue,”

Mark said of the course’s tufted grass.

“It’s not what we’re used to. But that’s what makes it so special.”

“What I’m really excited about is just meeting new people,” his wife added.

“We’ve got Europe coming over, USA, I just think the whole experience is going to be amazing.”

The couple rented a recreational vehicle site near Bethpage for the week.

“After we win,” Mark joked, “the party is at our RV camp.”

For Hicksville resident Jonathan Gotto, this Ryder Cup has personal meaning. His father-in-law, Judge John Marks, who died in April 2024, first encouraged him to volunteer for the PGA tournament in 2019.

“He’s the reason that a lot of us are here,” Gotto said. “He was the guy who would call you up and say, ‘Hey, what are you doing? We’re doing the Ryder Cup in September.’”

Gotto admits that he’s not much of a golfer. “The best thing I have in my bag is a machete to find my ball after I tee off,” he said, adding that his fondest memory was of serving as a flagman for tee shots in 2019.

“I actually had goose bumps because it was one of the coolest experiences,” he said. “(John) Daly was teeing off, I’m standing right next to him shaking, hoping I didn’t mess it up. I’ve got photos of Tiger (Woods), (Phil) Mickelson walking right next to me. It’s just amazing.”

This year, Gotto will serve as a marshal on holes 4 and 11. “It’s a great week to see some of the pros,” he said. “It’s just amazing to be part of it.”

The Ryder Cup is one of the few sporting events in which volunteers can be part of the action without swinging a club. For Long Islanders, it’s also a chance to showcase their home course to the world.

Bethpage Black has built a reputation as one of the most demanding layouts in golf, with a sign at the first tee warning that it is “extremely difficult” and recommended only for highly skilled players. Previous major tournaments there drew enormous, raucous galleries, something both players and volunteers expect again.

And for many, the reward will be what Blau called “seeing the tournament up close and personal” — an experience no TV broadcast could match.

Town goes mobile with feral cat program

By ALYSSA R. GRIFFIN agriffin@liherald.com

The increasing stray cat population in the Town of Hempstead has moved officials to unveil changes to its Trap, Neuter, Return program.

This month, there will be a new addition to the program: a vehicle to make the functions of the town’s animal shelter mobile.

“Today we’re announcing the return of our mobile Trap, Neuter and Return program — that’s TNR,” Supervisor John Ferretti said at a news conference in Franklin Square’s Rath Park, which is home to many feral cats, on Aug. 26. “An important initiative that addresses the feral and stray cap population in a way that is both humane and effective.”

Feral cats cannot be put up for adoption because they are accustomed to living outdoors, so the initiative will help the town prevent overpopulation and reduce the strain on animal shelters.

Officials said the cats would be trapped humanely, and that residents could rent traps.

After they are safely caught, the cats will be neutered and, when they recover in 48 hours or so, released.

The TNR program is making its return after being halted in 2015 by the Town of Hempstead Animal Shelter in Wantagh. Officials did not comment on why the program was suspended.

Alyssa R. Griffin/Herald

Town of Hempstead Animal Shelter Director Ashley Behrens, far left, Town Clerk Kate Murray, Town Supervisor John Ferretti, Deputy Supervisor Dorothy L. Goosby and Town Councilman Thomas Muscarella discussed expansion of the town’s Trap, Neuter, Return program at Rath Park on Aug. 26.

“This program is to come out to the community, not just have trappers have to come to Wantagh to do it, so it’s more accessible for the people in the community,” Ashley Behrens, the animal shelter director, said.

“We’re making the extra effort to bring our commitment to humane animal care directly into local neighborhoods,” Ferretti said. “This is further evidenced by the fact that our TNR program is free, whereas other programs

across Long Island charge a fee.”

The new town vehicle will target Floral Park, Franklin Square, Lawrence, Levittown, Lynbrook, Malverne, Oceanside, Rockville Centre, Seaford and Wantagh for the remainder of the year. The animal shelter will also be expanding its availability from three days a week to four.

“The cats are allowed to recover on site in a controlled environment,” Ferretti explained. “Then they return to the exact location they were found, where they can live without adding to the overpopulation.”

The TNR program is described by the town as a humane, effective and widely recognized initiative that will reduce and manage the feral cat population. The neutering of cats will address the challenge by preventing the birth of kittens that often struggle to survive, and the program will also eliminate mating behaviors such as yowling, fighting and spraying, which in turn will help protect public health.

“This is about being proactive, compassionate and responsible,” Ferretti said. “With the launch of our mobile TNR vehicle, we’re making it easier than ever for residents to be part of the solution. Together we can create healthier communities for both people and animals.”

For more information on the Town of Hempstead’s program, visit HempsteadNY.gov.

Fair hikes could come starting in January

Continued from page 1

that costs are rising but worries about the new ticketing policy.

“I’m not happy about the increase but realize that costs across the board are rising,” he said. “Some of the other proposed changes are more worrisome, like tickets being activated at time of purchase.”

Another Baldwin commuter, Maria Torres, said she rides the LIRR to Penn Station five days a week to work in Midtown and is worried about the cumulative financial strain.

“I already pay close to $400 a month just on train tickets,” Torres said. “With groceries, utilities, and everything else going up, this feels like one more bill that’s going to squeeze people like me.”

Drivers would also see higher costs. The MTA’s plan calls for a 7.5 percent toll increase on its nine bridges and tunnels for E-ZPass users. That would raise the standard crossing fee from $6.94 to $7.46 on major spans such as the RFK, Whitestone, Throgs Neck and Verrazzano-Narrows bridges, as well as the Queens-Midtown and Hugh L. Carey tunnels. The Cross Bay and Marine Parkway bridges, which carry discounted tolls, would rise from $2.60 to $2.80. MTA’s last toll increase came in 2023.

Hundreds of riders and drivers attended the forums to register their opposition, voicing frustration over higher costs at a time of rising rents, food bills, and other living expenses. But the MTA defended the plan as a necessary step to sustain reliable service.

“We strive to make fare and toll increases small and predictable,” said MTA Chief of Commercial Ventures Jessie Lazarus while re-introducing the plan during the first night of the hearings. “In fact, 15 years ago, the MTA adopted a pattern of small and

predictable fare and toll increases every two years. And we’ve acted in compliance with this policy ever since, which has protected us all from those doubledigit percentage increases we experienced in the 1980s and helped the MTA keep service levels steady.”

Lazarus stressed that while no one welcomes higher prices, the agency must balance affordability with operational costs. They pointed to investments in expanded service and affordability programs such as reduced fares for students and low-income riders.

fair hikes may soon impact Lirr commuters due to a proposal by the metropolitan transportation authority that would increase fares and tolls starting in January 2026.

Tim Baker/Herald file

“Let’s ground ourselves in the fact that residents in the New York region have the lowest transportation costs in the country,” she said. “As the overwhelming majority of New Yorkers understand because they take public transit every day, the MTA is what keeps New York affordable. And fares and tolls are what keeps the MTA running and running frequent service.”

The proposal is subject to final approval by the MTA board this fall.

STEPPING OUT

From to table

By Karen Bloom

Labor Day may have come and gone, but there are still opportunities to fire up that grill to savor summer’s waning days before we head into apple picking, pumpkins and all those harvest season delights around the corner.

When it comes to entertaining outdoors, easy yet flavorful dishes that spotlight the season’s bounty can keep prep time to a minimum. Plus, they’re sure to please guests’ palates.

Skirt Steak with Roasted Corn Salad

• 1 1/2 pounds skirt steak, cut into 4-inch pieces

• 1/3 cup Tabasco Chipotle Pepper Sauce

• 1 tablespoon ground cumin

• 1 large garlic clove, crushed

In a large bowl, combine chipotle pepper sauce, cumin and garlic; add skirt steaks. Toss to mix well; cover and refrigerate at least 30 minutes or overnight.

Preheat grill to high. Grill skirt steak about 5 minutes, or until of desired doneness, turning once. To serve, plate steak with corn salad.

Corn Salad

• 4 ears corn on the cob, shucked

• 2 large tomatoes, chopped

• 1 small red onion, diced

• 1 ripe avocado, peeled, pitted and diced

• 2 tablespoons fresh chopped basil

• 2 tablespoons lime juice

• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

• 1 tablespoon Tabasco Chipotle Pepper Sauce

• 1/4 teaspoon salt

To prepare corn salad: Preheat grill to medium. Grill corn about 5 to 10 minutes, turning frequently, until tender-crisp. When cool enough to handle, cut corn from cob. In medium bowl, combine corn, tomatoes, red onion, avocado, basil, lime juice, olive oil, chipotle pepper sauce to taste, and salt; toss to mix well.

End-of-summer dining al fresco

Hoisin Garlic Drumsticks with Tomato-Corn Salad

Foreigner

Legendary rock band Foreigner visits Tilles Center for a special one-nightonly benefit concert, hosted by original lead singer Lou Gramm. Hear special acoustic renditions of the band’s biggest hits such as “Cold As Ice,” “Juke Box Hero”, “Waiting For A Girl Like You,” “I Want To Know What Love Is,” “Hot Blooded,” and more in a rare and intimate unplugged format. The concert celebrates the band’s groundbreaking collaboration with Tilles Center LIU Post Theatre Company to develop and stage “Feels Like The First Time — The Foreigner Musical.”All proceeds from the evening will support the production and LIU and Tilles Center’s New Works Initiative. This exciting new production is to be directed directed by Broadway icon Adam Pascal (“Rent,””Aida,” “Cabaret,”, “Chicago,”, “Something Rotten!” ) slated to premiere in April 2026. Pascal also performs with Foreigner in what is sure to be a truly memorable event.

• 8 chicken drumsticks, about 2 pounds total

• Kosher salt, to taste

• Ground black pepper, to taste

• 1/2 cup hoisin garlic sauce or hoisin barbecue

sauce

• 3 ears corn

• 1 pound tomatoes, cut into small dice

• 1/4 cup olive oil

• Thinly sliced basil leaves, for garnish

Season drumsticks with salt and pepper, and rub with about 1/3 cup hoisin sauce, reserving rest for basting.

Marinate at least 30 minutes, up to four hours.

As chicken is marinating, prepare grill for both direct (medium-high heat) and indirect cooking. Discard used marinade.

Grill chicken, starting with skin side down, about 8-10 minutes, keeping lid closed as much as possible and turning chicken once or twice.

Move to indirect heat, cover grill and continue to cook for another 25-35 minutes until juices run clear and an internal temperature of 165∫F has been reached, basting with extra sauce occasionally in last 10 minutes of cooking.

To make salad, boil corn if needed for about 2-3 minutes, then cut kernels off cob.

Toss with tomatoes and olive oil. Season to taste with salt and pepper and stir in basil. Serve salad and drumsticks together.

Mediterranean Vegetables

• 3 tablespoons rice vinegar (seasoned)

• 1/4 cup olive oil

• 1 teaspoon salt, plus extra, to taste

• 1/2 teaspoon pepper, plus extra, to taste

• 1 tablespoon, plus 1 1/2 teaspoons, fresh parsley, chopped

• 1 1/2 teaspoons fresh garlic, minced

• 1 cup fresh zucchini, sliced into 1 3/4-inch long, 1/4-inch thick planks

• 1 cup fresh green pepper strips

• 1 cup fresh red pepper strips

• 8 fresh stalks asparagus, slicing off 1/4 inch from bottom of stalk

• 1 fresh portobello mushroom, sliced into 1/2- inch squares

• 1 cup fresh eggplant, diced into 1/2-inch squares

Heat grill to 375 F.

In large bowl, mix together rice vinegar, olive oil, salt, pepper, parsley and garlic to create marinade.

Clean vegetables then place them in marinade in small batches. Toss to coat then place in foil pouch. Pour remaining marinade over vegetables and seal pouch.

Bake in oven or over indirect heat on grill 25 minutes. Add salt and pepper, to taste, after removing pouch from heat.

Chef’s tip: Open pouch after 20 minutes of cooking and allow vegetables to crisp slightly under direct heat for remaining 5 minutes.

Friday, Sept. 5, 8 p.m. Tilles Center, LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Blvd., Brookville. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or tillescenter.org or (516) 299-3100.

Maren Morris

Maren Morris brings “The Dreamsicle Tour” to the Paramount stage with special guest Jade LeMac. Morris has broken boundaries, smashed records and affirmed herself as a dynamic vocalist, prolific songwriter and showstopping performer. Her catalog encompasses a trio of acclaimed albums, namely “Hero” (2016), “Girl” (2019), and “Humble Quest” (2022). She’s the rare force of nature equally suited to collaborating with Zedd on the 6x-platinum “The Middle” or duetting with everyone from Taylor Swift, Stevie Nicks and Sheryl Crow to Teddy Swims and Hozier. She entered a bold new era with the release of her “Intermission” EP in August, which features the MUNA-produced and playful single “Push Me Over.” Maren promises to be unapologetically herself — and it shows in this music and in what is next to come.

Wednesday, Sept. 10, 7:30 p.m. $114.25, $92, $71.75, $65.25. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com.

YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD CALENDAR

SEPT

4

On Exhibit Nassau County Museum of Art’s latest exhibition, “At Play,” surveys artists’ perennial fascination with entertainment in all forms. Framing this topic between the nineteenth century Belle Époque and today, the exhibit includes works by Pablo Picasso, Reginald Marsh, Everett Shinn, and Max Beckmann among many others. The works are gathered to represent a wide range of expressions, from entertainmentrelated activities to the fascinating personalities involved. It encompasses dance, music, theater, movies, circus, boating, and beach scenes, along with horseracing and various sports, both active and passive Also featured are archival items from The Metropolitan Opera and the New York Philharmonic, including costumes by Marc Chagall for Die Zauberflöte, vintage fashion items by such designers as Alfred Shaheen, and iconic costumes from the Folies-Bergère in Paris. On view until Nov. 9.

•Where: 1 Museum Drive, Roslyn Harbor

•Time: Ongoing

•Contact: nassaumuseum.org or (516) 484-9337

SEPT

5

SEPT 17

The Australian Pink Floyd Show

•Where: 2385 Grand Ave.

•Time: 10:30 a.m.-11:15 a.m.

•Contact: baldwinpl.org or call (516) 223-6228

SEPT

18

Medicaid Assistance

Nassau-Suffolk Hospital Council’s enrollers visit Baldwin Library Obtain assistance with Medicaid, Long Term Care, Medicaid Spend-Down, Medicare Savings (MSP), Medicaid buy-in for Walking People with Disabilities (MBII-WPD), Medicaid for Institutional Care in a Nursing Home.

No registration required. First come, first serve.

•Where: 2385 Grand Ave.

•Time: 1-4 p.m.

•Contact: baldwinpl.org or call (516) 223-6228

Art Talk

Food Truck Fest

Check out some tasty bites at Baldwin Civic Association’s Food Truck Fest.

•Where: 1980 Grand Ave.

•Time: 5-8:30 p.m.

SEPT

Storybook Stroll

6

Bring the kids to Old Westbury Gardens for the next storybook adventure. Stroll the gardens and enjoy a telling of Allison Sweet Grant’s “Leif and the Fall.” With a take-home craft. For ages 3-5. Storybook Strolls start at the Beech Tree (next to Westbury House), and end at the Thatched Cottage.

•Where: 71 Old Westbury Road, Old Westbury

•Time: 10:30-11:30 a.m.

•Contact: oldwestburygardens. org or call (516) 333-0048

Art Talk

SEPT

7

Join John Grande when he visits Nassau County Museum of Art. The New Yorkbased artist reflects upon modern and contemporary culture with his constructed paintings, sculptures, and murals while carefully utilizing

techniques and traditions as far-reaching those of Old Master painters, 19th-century artists to 20th-century advertising and Pop Art. His subjects are diverse, often readily recognizable and at times quite humorous: from glamorous Hollywood stars to the art world itself and the grittier subjects of street art. $20, $15 seniors, $10 students, members free. Limited seating. Registration required.

•Where: 1 Museum Drive, Roslyn Harbor

•Time: 3 p.m.

•Contact: nassaumuseum.org or (516) 484-9337

SEPT

Art with Christianna: Art Class for Adults with Special Needs

Adults with special needs can visit Baldwin Public Library for an art activity/ project, along with a lesson that highlights both practical art skills and the power of art to bring joy, agency and self-expression. Registration required.

•Where: 2385 Grand Ave.

•Time: 10-11 a.m.

•Contact: baldwinpl.org or call (516) 223-6228

SEPT

11

Baldwin Civic Association meets

The Civic Association holds a general membership meeting.

•Where: 841 Ethel T. Kloberg Drive

•Time: 7:30 p.m.

Vaxmobile and health screenings

Mount Sinai South Nassau’s vaxmobile visits Baldwin Public Library. Obtain various free screenings, including blood pressure, MBI, memory and diabetes risk assessments,

•Where: 2385 Grand Ave.

•Time: 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

•Contact: baldwinpl.org or call (516) 223-6228

SEPT 13

Water Lantern Festival

The Water Lantern Festival returns to Eisenhower Park.

•Where: Eisenhower Park, East Meadow

•Time: 3:30-7:30 p.m.

•Contact: WaterLanternFestival. com

•Where: The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington

• Time: 7:30 p.m.

•Contact: ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com

After over 40 years performing, it is time to shine on again with The Australian Pink Floyd Show. Be there when the band returns from Down Under to the Paramount stage. The seminal album Wish You Were Here is performed in its entirety, including all nine parts of “Shine On You Crazy Diamond,” along with more of Pink Floyd’s greatest hits from The Dark Side of the Moon and The Wall. See what critics have acclaimed as “the gold standard” of tribute acts with stunning special effects that re-create Pink Floyd’s legendary stage shows. The band delivers a memorable experience. — with colorful lighting and video, pinpoint lasers, gargantuan inflatables and flawless live sound that was the benchmark of Pink Floyd shows. Replicating music from every phase of Pink Floyd’s journey, this tour reinforces the band’s dedication to the heritage of Barrett, Waters, Gilmour, Wright & Mason. With songs that mean so much to Pink Floyd fans everywhere, this is an unforgettable tribute to an iconic band’s classic album. $105.25, $88, $77.75, $66.25, $55.75.

SEPT

14

Musical delights

Visit Old Westbury Gardens and check out the Café in the Woods while you’re there. Grab a light lunch and settle in for an afternoon of classic rock, pop hits, and a splash of ’60s soul. Central Beat brings the groove to Café in the Woods. It’s the perfect Sunday soundtrack!

•Where: 71 Old Westbury Road, Old Westbury

•Time: 1-4 p.m.

•Contact: oldwestburygardens. org or call (516) 333-0048

In concert

Eisenhower Park welcomes country singer-songwriter Ashley McBryde. She delivers tales of broken hearts and the honky-tonk life.

•Where: Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, East Meadow

•Time: 6 p.m.

•Contact: nassaucountyny.gov

Walking club

SEPT

16

Meet up with friends and neighbors at Baldwin Public Library’s walking club. Get re-energized and re-focused on healthy living.

Join Nassau County Museum of Art Docent Riva Ettus for f her popular Brown Bag Lecture. Experience the museum’s exhibition “At Play: Artists & Entertainment” through a lively and informative presentation. Participants are invited to ask questions at the end of the program. Registration not required. First come, first seated.

•Where: 1 Museum Drive, Roslyn Harbor

•Time: 1 p.m., also Oct. 23

•Contact: nassaumuseum.org or (516) 484-9337

SEPT

19

Parti-gras at the park

Poison frontman Bret Michaels and former Eagles member Don Felder bring their spirited concert to Eisenhower Park. Rock on to fan favorite tunes.

•Where: Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, East Meadow

•Time: 7 p.m.

•Contact: nassaucountyny.gov

Having an event?

Items on the Calendar page are listed free of charge. The Herald welcomes listings of upcoming events, community meetings and items of public interest. All submissions should include date, time and location of the event, cost, and a contact name and phone number. Submissions can be emailed to kbloom@ liherald.com.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17

6:00-9:00PM

The Heritage Club at Bethpage 99 Quaker Meeting House Road Farmingdale, New York

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Public Notices

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS TRUSTEE OF STARWOOD MORTGAGE

RESIDENTIAL TRUST 2019-INV1, Plaintiff, vs. SILVIA PANTON, Defendant.

Pursuant to an Order Confirming Referee Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on July 19, 2023, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the front steps on the north side of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on September 16, 2025 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 746 Allwyn Street, Baldwin, NY 11510. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being at Baldwin, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 54, Block 575 and Lot 14. Approximate amount of judgment is $570,725.71 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #604010/2022.

Mary Ellen Divone, Esq., Referee Friedman Vartolo LLP, 85 Broad Street, Suite 501, New York, New York 10004, Attorneys for Plaintiff. Firm File No.: 234326-1 155041

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT. NASSAU COUNTY. BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., Pltf. vs. HERBERT A. JENKINS A/K/A HERBERT JENKINS, et al, Defts. Index #009152/2014. Pursuant to judgment of foreclosure and sale entered May 5, 2025, I will sell at public auction on the North Side steps of the Nassau Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY on September 25, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. premises k/a 882 Kings Parkway, Baldwin, NY 11510 a/k/a Section 36, Block 441, Lot 250-251. Said property beginning at the corner formed by the intersection of the southerly side of Kings Parkway with the easterly side of Decatur

Street and from said point, being a plot 41 ft. x 91.76 ft. x 40 ft. x 82.72 ft. Approximate amount of judgment is $633,619.46 plus costs and interest. Sold subject to terms and conditions of filed judgment and terms of sale. MICHAEL ZAPSON, Referee. HILL WALLACK, LLP, Attys. for Ptlf., 261 Madison Avenue, 9th Floor, Ste. 940, New York, NY 10016. File No. 017511-05247#102388 155239

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU ROCKET MORTGAGE, LLC F/K/A QUICKEN LOANS, LLC F/K/A QUICKEN LOANS INC., Plaintiff AGAINST LUKE SHEPPARD, LUBONA SHEPPARD, Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered October 31, 2024, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on September 30, 2025 at 2:00 PM, premises known as 2739 Park Avenue, Baldwin, NY 11510. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being at Baldwin, Town of Hempstead, Nassau County, State of New York, Section: 54, Block: 286, Lot: 105 and 106. Approximate amount of judgment $263,100.40 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #614918/2022. Scott H. Siller, Esq., Referee Gross Polowy, LLC 1775 Wehrle Drive Williamsville, NY 14221 22-002513 86795 155347

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that pursuant to Article 9 of the New York State Constitution, the provisions of the Town Law and Municipal Home Rule of the State of New York, both as amended, a public hearing will be held in the Town Meeting Pavilion, Hempstead Town Hall, 1 Washington Street, Hempstead, New York, on the 16th day of September, 2025, at

10:30 o’clock in the forenoon of that day to consider the enactment of a local law to amend Section 197-13 of the code of the Town of Hempstead to INCLUDE “TRAFFIC REGULATIONS IN THE VICINITY OF SCHOOLS” at the following locations:

BALDWIN

GARDEN PLACE (TH 310/25) South SideNO PARKING 8 AM to 4 PM SCHOOL DAYSstarting at a point 61 feet east of the east curbline of Milburn Avenue, east for a distance of 57 feet.

GARDEN PLACE (TH 310/25) South SideNO PARKING 8 AM to 4 PM SCHOOL DAYSstarting at a point 166 feet east of the east curbline of Milburn Avenue, east for a distance of 160 feet.

ALL PERSONS INTERESTED shall have an opportunity to be heard on said proposal at the time and place aforesaid.

Dated: September 3, 2025 Hempstead, New York BY ORDER OF THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD JOHN FERRETTI Supervisor

KATE MURRAY Town Clerk 155509

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that pursuant to Article 9 of the New York State Constitution, the provisions of the Town Law and Municipal Home Rule of the State of New York, both as amended, a public hearing will be held in the Town Meeting Pavilion, Hempstead Town Hall, 1 Washington Street, Hempstead, New York, on the 16th day of September, 2025, at 10:30 o’clock in the forenoon of that day to consider the enactment of a local law to amend Section 202-1 of the code of the Town of Hempstead to INCLUDE and REPEAL “PARKING OR STANDING PROHIBITIONS” at the following locations:

BALDWIN

STEELE BOULEVARD (TH 399/25) South Side - NO PARKING

ANYTIME - starting at a point 230 feet west of the west curbline of Eastern Boulevard, west for a distance of 80 feet.

BELLMORE

MARION STREET (TH 364/25) North Side -

NO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting from the east curbline of Bedford Place, east for a distance of 25 feet.

ELMONT LINCOLN STREET (TH 258(B)/25) East SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting from the south curbline of Rosalind Avenue, south for a distance of 30 feet.

ROSALIND AVENUE (TH 258(B)/25) South SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting from the east curbline of Lincoln Street, east for a distance of 30 feet.

ROSALIND AVENUE (TH 258(B)/25) North SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting from the east curbline of Lincoln Street, east for a distance of 30 feet.

ROSALIND AVENUE (TH 258(B)/25) North SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting from the west curbline of Lincoln Street, west for a distance of 30 feet.

ROSALIND AVENUE (TH 258(B)/25) South SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting at the west curbline of Lincoln Street, west for a distance of 30 feet.

FRANKLIN SQUARE POLK AVENUE (TH 387/25) South SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting at the west curbline of Lincoln Street, west for a distance of 30 feet.

POLK AVENUE (TH 387/25) North SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting from the west curbline of Lincoln Street, west for a distance of 35 feet.

INWOOD

LINCOLN STREET (TH 387/25) West SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting from the north curbline of Polk Avenue, north for a distance of 30 feet.

BAYVIEW AVENUE (TH 172(B)/25) North SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting from the west curbline of Harris Avenue, west for a distance of 30 feet.

BAYVIEW AVENUE (TH 172(B)/25) North SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting from the east curbline of Harris Avenue, east for a distance of 30 feet.

MERRICK

ELSIE AVENUE (TH 363/25) South SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting at the west curbline of Jefferson Street, west for a distance of 35 feet.

JEFFERSON STREET (TH 363/25) East Side - NO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting from the south curbline of

Murray hosts El Salvador flag raising event

Hempstead Town Clerk Kate Murray welcomed honorees, participants, and guests during the El Salvador Flag Raising event, hosted by the Town’s Department of Community Affairs, on Aug. 8. As the largest and most diverse township in America, Hempstead Town hosts many independence and cultural celebrations throughout the year.

Public Notices

Elsie Avenue, south for a distance of 40 feet.

POINT LOOKOUT

LIDO BOULEVARD (TH 405/25) South SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting from the west curbline of Bellmore Avenue, west for a distance of 67 feet.

LIDO BOULEVARD (TH 405/25) North SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting at the west curbline of Cedarhurst Avenue, west for a distance of 25 feet.

LIDO BOULEVARD (TH 405/25) North SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting from the east curbline of Bellmore Avenue, east for a distance of 28 feet.

ROCKVILLE CENTRE

CLINTON AVENUE (TH 381/25) North SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting from the west curbline of Woodfield Road, west for a distance of 28 feet.

CLINTON AVENUE (TH 381/25) West SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting at the north curbline of Clinton Avenue, north for a distance of 40 feet.

UNIONDALE

MERILLON STREET (TH 374/25) North SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting from the east curbline of Newbridge Road, east for a distance 53 feet.

MERILLON STREET (TH 374/25) East Side -

NO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting from the north curbline of Merillon Street, north for a distance 30 feet. (NR) VALLEY STREAM HOMMEL STREET (TH 395/25) West SideNO PARKING ANYTIME - starting from the north curbline of Oliver Avenue, north for a distance of 92 feet.

WESTBURY

STEWART AVENUE (TH 390/25) North SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting at the east curbline of Lincoln Court, east for a distance of 45 feet.

STEWART AVENUE (TH 390/25) North SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting from the west curbline of Lincoln Court, west for a distance of 35 feet.

WEST HEMPSTEAD

WOODLAWN ROAD (TH 367/25) East SideNO STOPPING ANYTIME - starting at a point 25 feet south of the south curbline of Hempstead Avenue, south for a distance of 90 feet.

WOODLAWN ROAD (TH 367/25) East SideNO PARKING ANYTIME - starting at a point 115 feet south of the south curbline of Hempstead Avenue, south for a distance of 208 feet.

COOLIDGE STREET (TH 356/25) North SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting from the East curbline of Langley Avenue, east for a distance of 34 feet.

WILSON STREET (TH 356/25) East SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting from the south curbline of Langley Avenue, south for a distance of 30 feet.

WILSON STREET (TH 356/25) East SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting from the north curbline of Langley Avenue, north for a distance of 30 feet.

WILSON STREET (TH 356/25) West SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting from the south curbline of Langley Avenue, south for a distance of 30 feet.

WILSON STREET (TH 356/25) West SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting from the north curbline of Langley Avenue, north for a distance of 30 feet.

LANGLEY AVENUE (TH 356/25) North SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting from the east curbline of Wilson Street, east for a distance of 30 feet.

LANGLEY AVENUE (TH 356/25) South SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting from the east curbline of Wilson Street, east for a distance of 30 feet.

LANGLEY AVENUE (TH 356/25) North SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting from the west curbline of

Wilson Street, west for a distance of 30 feet.

LANGLEY AVENUE (TH 356/25) South SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting from the west curbline of Wilson Street, west for a distance of 30 feet. ALSO, to REPEAL from Section 202-1 “PARKING OR STANDING PROHIBITIONS” from the following locations: WEST HEMPSTEAD WOODLAWN ROAD (TH 125/98) East SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting at the south curbline of Hempstead Avenue, south for a distance of 65 feet. (Adopted 10/20/98) WOODLAWN ROAD (TH 495/04) East SideNO PARKING ANYTIME - starting at a point 175 feet south of the south curbline of Hempstead Avenue, south for a distance of 146 feet.

(Adopted 12/14/04) ALL PERSONS INTERESTED shall have an opportunity to be heard on said proposal at the time and place aforesaid.

Dated: September 3, 2025

Hempstead, New York BY ORDER OF THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD JOHN FERRETT Supervisor KATE MURRAY Town Clerk 155507

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Can we just handle some problems later?

Q. We are in contract for a house we were lucky to find. The price is right, fortunately, but we think it has some problems, mostly legal. The basement has a bathroom but is otherwise unfinished, except for the walls on either side of the stairs and a closet underneath. The sellers are selling as-is, so we want to just handle it later, but is this going to be a problem?

A. The answers are yes and no. In all of the selling cycles I’ve witnessed, issues seem to be mostly based on what the market is like, rather than the reality that it’s always best to have everything legally wrapped up before the closing. I’ve noticed that when there are fewer properties to sell, real estate and lending businesses tend to be less concerned with permits and more concerned with cash flow. Close now and worry about the open issues later.

It’s just like during the coronavirus pandemic, when prices climbed because there were fewer buyers of products, food and services, but the bills still had to be paid. The federal government sent out funds to help businesses survive.

You faced possibly overlooking the legality and absorbing considerable expenses later, when you decide to take care of issues or are forced to at the next sale, when banks have more foreclosures on their books and must make certain the properties they are selling are legal.

All the professionals helping you through the closing are doing their job, but I’m not certain they know how expensive the permit process can be for you. When I sit with clients for the first time, I look at their records and compare them with their property, becoming the “bad guy” for pointing out that the proposed work will now have to include these open items, complicating the cost and the process. This happens weekly. There is often a glut of permit applications for old issues.

Knowing that you really want this house, you’ll have to face the fact that building officials look at your property from a position of safety, and can easily require you to legalize the finished basement, even with only a few finished walls. In the beginning sections of the state code, building officials are given authority to interpret the regulations. You definitely would need to have plans for the basement, to show the bathroom and a plumbing permit as well as an electrical inspection and building permit.

In most jurisdictions, the plans examiners have leaned toward saying that even one or a few finished walls — like the bathroom, closet and stairway walls — constitute a finished basement. In that case, you would also need to have a second way to escape, by either adding a taller window and a 9-square-foot escape well or a door and stairs on an outside wall, so you could exit from the main basement room. I have watched the cost of doing just this rise from $3,000 to over $12,000. Good luck!

with “Herald question” in the subject line, or to Herald Homes, 2 Endo Blvd., Garden City, NY 11530, Attn: Monte Leeper, architect.

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College football just ain’t what it used to be

Besides the excellent education I was fortunate to receive at Notre Dame Law School, and the interesting people I had the opportunity to meet, and the lasting friendships I forged during those years, there was the added benefit of watching up close as the Fighting Irish won the 1966 college football national championship. As an IrishCatholic kid from Sunnyside, Queens, that was as good as it could get.

In Catholic neighborhoods in those days, Notre Dame football personified IrishAmerica’s acceptance into the American mainstream. Beginning in the 1920s and continuing through the mid-1950s, Notre Dame won more national championships and had more All-Americans than any other college football team. But by the time I got there, the famed Golden Dome had lost its luster. During eight long seasons under three head coaches from 1956 to 1963, Notre Dame lost more games than it won. The prevailing wisdom was that its academic standards precluded it from becoming a major college football power again.

TThen, in 1964, Notre Dame hired Ara Parseghian as its head coach. The “Era of Ara” had begun. In 1964 and ’65, the Irish were back in the Top 10, and in 1966 they won it all, clinching the national championship with a 51-0 victory over longtime rival Southern California, led by such luminaries as Heisman Trophy finalist and All-American quarterback Terry Hanratty, eventual four-time Super Bowl champion Rocky Bleier and future NFL Hall of Famer Alan Page.

A less-heralded but vital member of that championship team was substitute quarterback Coley O’Brien, who would have been the starter on almost any other college team. Stricken with diabetes halfway into the 1966 season, O’Brien hadn’t played for four weeks when, in the second-to-last game of the season against Michigan State, he was suddenly called into action to replace Hanratty, who’d suffered a fractured shoulder with the Irish losing 10-0. O’Brien played brilliantly to lead two scoring drives, and Notre Dame tied Michigan State and preserved its unbeaten record.

ship-clinching victory over USC.

After his college career, O’Brien attended Notre Dame Law School and became a successful attorney in Washington, D.C. When I chaired the House Homeland Security Committee, he served as a committee counsel. I was proud to call him my friend, and it meant a lot when he, Hanratty, Bleier and other members of the 1966 team would come to my district to campaign for me.

he ‘student athlete’ has become a hired gun, and school loyalty is traded for big bucks.

O’Brien died several weeks ago. Reflecting on his life and career got me thinking about how much the whole concept of college football has been altered, in many instances not for the better. The attraction of the game was that it wasn’t professional. There was the appeal of watching young athletes competing for their schools, cheered on by an often fanatical fan base. And there were the bitter rivalries: Notre Dame-Michigan State, AlabamaGeorgia, Michigan-Ohio State.

IThe following week, despite the fact that four starting players were sidelined with injuries, O’Brien led Notre Dame to the resounding, national champion-

Sure, some of it was mythical. There were recruiting violations. Some athletes were given academic shortcuts. But there was so much that was genuine. Hanratty might be on the cover of Time magazine or Sports Illustrated but then be seen on campus, eating in the same dining hall and trudging to the

same classes as other students. That world of college football — school loyalty, amateurism and tradition — barely exists anymore. Now paid for their name, image and likeness, recruited players can go to the highest bidder for millions of dollars. And they can opt out of the following season and the season after that by entering the “transfer portal,” again able to go to the highest bidder. (Years ago, Minnesota was sanctioned by the NCAA when the coach gave a player $100 to fly home for his father’s funeral.) So you can have a fiveyear senior suddenly playing starting quarterback for a team whose campus he has never set foot on and will be leaving at season’s end. Players can even go back and forth from one team to the other in succeeding seasons. The “student athlete” becomes hired gun. School spirit and loyalty are traded for big bucks.

Sure, there will still be pageantry and marching bands, and I’ll still be watching on Saturdays. But it won’t be the same. What I will always have, though, is the lasting memory of what Coley O’Brien and his 1966 national championship teammates meant to their many fans, and to college football.

Go, Irish!

Peter King is a former congressman, and a former chair of the House Committee on Homeland Security. Comments? pking@ liherald.com.

Now Trump wants to put lipstick on this pig

’ve been thinking about President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill, which Congress passed in July. Recently Trump stated that it was time to call the legislation something else. But what do you call a bill that is highly unpopular with the public and is set to do much damage?

Shakespeare said it best in “Romeo and Juliet,” when he wrote, “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” So Shakespeare might have agreed that no matter what you call this bill, it will have the same impact on the American public.

To begin with, when you pass a thousand-page piece of legislation, it will have good parts and bad parts. Members of the majority party in Congress are forced to vote for the entire bill, and they don’t have the luxury of stripping out the bad from the good. So they have to live with the results.

A poll last month by the Pew Research Center found that 46 percent of the country disapproved of the law, and just 32 percent approved of it, with 23 percent saying they weren’t sure. It seems obvious that calling it something else won’t change the public’s feelings about it.

NWhy is the bill so broadly unpopular? Much of the publicity about it prior to its passage was negative. Almost every part of it got people’s attention, and those who opposed it were much more vocal than its supporters. Perhaps most important, it was clear that millions of people who are now eligible for health care were going to be knocked off the eligibility rolls.

costs for families, and raise premiums for employer-sponsored plans.

o matter what the president calls his signature legislation, it’s not popular.

In the lead-up to the passage of the bill, supporters in the House of Representatives portrayed it as being aimed at eliminating “waste, fraud and abuse.” There is no doubt that there are some Medicaid participants who should be disqualified, but the vast majority of people in the program are worthy recipients. Supporters of the legislation claimed that no person in the program who was currently employed would lose their coverage, but that is not true. Because states will get less federal revenue, they will be forced to drop qualified people from the Medicaid rolls.

the United States experience food insecurity, meaning they have limited or uncertain access to adequate food. Most SNAP recipients go to work every day, but don’t earn enough to feed their loved ones. The SNAP program provides the help they need.

Historically, the Republican Party has favored letting the states run assistance programs and keeping Washington out of it. But the Big Beautiful Bill cuts federal allocations to the states, and leaves them to decide who should participate in federal programs. The net result is that the states will be the bad guys when it comes to doling out assistance funding.

The law will cut more than $1 trillion in Medicaid funding, and it’s estimated that more than 10 million people will lose their health coverage by 2034, including seniors, children and people with disabilities. States with high poverty rates are particularly at risk, because they rely on federal funding to maintain Medicaid and related programs. The loss of coverage will increase medical

For years, the more conservative members of the House expressed their opposition to the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or food stamps, on the grounds that it was too progressive and costly. They got their wish in the new bill, which would, by some estimates, cut federal spending on the program by more than $200 billion over 10 years. It’s worth noting that nearly 50 million people of all ages in

In the next few months, at the insistence of the president, there will be efforts to change the conversation about what is in the bill. Even though many of its provisions take effect after next year’s midterm elections, however, many millions of Americans are firmly opposed to it, and no amount of slicing, dicing and finessing of the contents will make them change their minds.

Jerry Kremer was a state assemblyman for 23 years, and chaired the Assembly’s Ways and Means Committee for 12 years. Comments about this column? jkremer@ liherald.com.

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Never forget: 9/11’s legacy lives through us

Next Thursday will be the 24th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks. Remembrance ceremonies will take place across Long Island. They serve as more than solemn commemorations — they are living reminders of the strength and resilience that define us as New Yorkers, and as Long Islanders.

Nearly 3,000 lives were lost on that day in 2001, and among them were hundreds of men and women who called Long Island home. Nearly every area community lost someone: a parent who kissed her children goodbye at dawn before catching a train to Manhattan, a firefighter who answered the alarm, a neighbor who never made it home from his office in one of the twin towers.

Names etched in memorials — usually near a piece of steel from the towers — are not simply markers of history. They are reminders that the victims were our neighbors, classmates, teammates and friends. And attending remembrance ceremonies is not mere ritual. It is an act of collective will — a promise that those lives will never be reduced to a statistic. When communities gather at candlelight vigils, at town memorials and at firehouses, they reaffirm the values that carried us through the aftermath: sacrifice, unity and perse-

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Young Professionals Network collects school supplies

To the Editor:

verance.

The shared experience of loss binds us, within and across different communities. And each ceremony, whether on a village green or in a community park, serves as a bridge between past and present — between those who remember that day vividly and those who were not yet born.

It is vital that younger generations come to understand why we gather. Students returning to school this year were not alive on Sept. 11, 2001. For them, the images of collapsing towers are history lessons, not lived memory. Yet the lessons of that day — the bravery of first responders, the resilience of families, the unity of strangers who became helpers — are timeless. Attending these ceremonies ensures that young people see remembrance as a civic responsibility.

For the firefighters of Nassau County who still gather in uniform, and for the police officers, EMTs and volunteers who rushed to the site of the attacks from Long Island, the ceremonies are also about recognizing the continuing toll in the decades since: More than 4,350 additional people have died after suffering long-term health problems, such as cancers and respiratory illnesses, linked to the toxic environment at the World Trade Center site. That number grows

United Way of Long Island’s Young Professionals Network hosted its Summer Social at Blue Point Brewery on Aug. 7, gathering more than 200 neighbors for an evening of networking, entertainment and purpose.

Thanks to the generosity of attendees, the event raised over $20,000 and collected several boxes of school supplies for United Way’s Stuff-A-Bus initiative, which delivers backpacks and essentials to elementary students across Long Island.

Now in its 17th year, Stuff-A-Bus helps ensure that children from underserved communities step into classroom confident and ready to learn. Funds from the Summer Social will be used to purchase supplies for the coming school year — investments that make an immediate, tangible difference.

“The donations we’ve received through the StuffA-Bus initiative have made a profound impact on our school community,” Hannah McCarthy, assistant principal at Laurel Park Elementary School, in Brentwood, said. “Each year, our teachers share supply lists with families, but we know that many students arrive with only a few items, or sometimes none at all. Thanks to these donations, our staff can confidently ensure that every child has the tools they need to succeed from day one.”

McCarthy recalled a student living in a shelter

every year, and we cannot forget the need to provide health care and other resources to those heroes and their families, too.

When we gather to pay tribute, we do more than keep memory alive — we look to the future. “Never Forget” isn’t just a slogan or a rallying cry. It implores us to take seriously the responsibility of building stronger, more compassionate communities by bonding with our neighbors, supporting local volunteers, and ensuring that the ideals of service and unity overcome fear and division.

Long Islanders have always known what it means to come together in times of crisis. The outpouring of support after Sept. 11 — food drives, blood donations, and neighbors taking care of one another’s children — showed us our best selves. At our many memorials, we honor not only those we lost, but also the spirit of community that helped carry us forward.

Next Thursday, let’s recommit ourselves to remembrance. Attendance isn’t just symbolic. It is a living act of devotion to the people we lost, the families who still grieve, and the generations who must carry the hard lessons of a dark day forward.

Long Island’s promise is simple, but profound: We will never forget.

who arrived carrying supplies in her arms after losing her backpack — which her family couldn’t replace. Thanks to Stuff-A-Bus, the school provided a brand new backpack in the child’s favorite color. That small act, made possible by community support, is the kind of dignity and hope this initiative delivers every day.

This year’s Summer Social succeeded through the dedication of event cochairs Justin Merk, of FourLeaf Federal Credit Union; Lauren Grasso, of Ruskin Moscou Faltischek P.C.; Brendan Bateman, of Flushing Bank; the Young Professionals Network committee, and generous sponsors. Attendees enjoyed craft brews, live entertainment

opinions

When drawing lines, two wrongs don’t make a map

every 10 years, the U.S. Census is taken, and states redraw their congressional and legislative districts. In theory, this process is supposed to ensure fair representation as populations shift. In practice, it often becomes an exercise in gerrymandering — manipulating maps so politicians choose their voters rather than ensuring that voters choose their representatives.

New Yorkers know this history all too well. For decades, Albany insiders from both parties have used redistricting to entrench power. Districts were often bizarrely shaped, stitched together more to preserve political advantage than to accurately reflect the communities living in them. Voters recognized the abuse, and in 2014 they overwhelmingly passed a constitutional amendment creating the Independent Redistricting Commission, a bipartisan body designed to ensure a fair and transparent process for redrawing legislative and congressional districts. For the first time, both majority and minority parties had equal seats at the table.

Just seven years later, in 2021, voters were asked to weaken those safeguards with a constitutional amendment that would have made it easier to gerrymander districts. New Yorkers rejected it, and they were right to. In 2022, Democratic lawmakers advanced maps that were so blatantly partisan that one congressional district stretched from Suffolk County all the way up to Westchester. That sprawling 3rd District was engineered purely for political gain.

Now Gov. Kathy Hochul is forcefully talking about “war” on the IRC, with the intent of dismantling the system New Yorkers voted for. She points to what is happening in Texas, as if bad behavior elsewhere justifies bad behavior here. But as we know, New York has already walked this road long before Texas, California, Ohio and Missouri catapulted the issue onto the trending pages. When the courts struck down Albany’s unconstitutional maps in the last redistricting cycle, it was the IRC’s bipartisan plan that offered a fairer alternative. Instead of respecting that process, Democratic leaders ignored it and rammed through their own version.

ew Yorkers must defend the Independent Redistricting Commission.

out. Elections become less competitive. Politicians become less accountable. Voters stop believing that their voices matter. In Connecticut, for example, more than 40 percent of voters supported a Republican for president, yet the state has zero Republican representatives in Congress. Illinois is another example, where partisan maps have locked in incumbents and undermined meaningful representation. That is the future New York risks if we abandon the safeguards currently in place.

Gerrymandering breaks up neighborhoods, discourages civic engagement and ultimately deepens political divides. When voters feel powerless, participation drops and local concerns fall by the wayside. New York already leads the nation in population loss because of high taxes, a crushing cost of living and an adversarial business climate. If maps are carved up to protect politicians instead of communities, even more families will decide they’ve had enough and leave.

stand, but one our governor is determined to disregard. She presents her actions as well-intentioned, as if bending the rules is somehow for the public good. She hopes the electorate will somehow forget her previous attempts to undermine and ignore the independent process put in place. Accepting gerrymandering here because it happens elsewhere surrenders the principles that protect our democracy.

That’s not what New Yorkers voted for. They voted for the Independent Redistricting Commission in 2014. They rejected efforts to weaken it in 2021. And they deserve leaders who will defend it, not wage war against it. For Democratic leadership to now use Texas as a cover story while undermining the system New Yorkers demanded is the height of hypocrisy.

The IRC is a critical defense, but it is not foolproof. We should seek to strengthen it, not weaken it, as my Democratic colleagues seem hell-bent on doing. I reject the notion that undermining democratic processes is somehow a means to protect democracy. If we sit silent, this very rhetoric justifying gerrymandering will gain traction, and efforts to manipulate power will take hold here.

Across the country, we’ve seen what happens when gerrymandering wins

Letters

and raffles, and made connections with young professionals committed to making a difference.

Thank you, Long Island, for showing up for our students.

Democracy only works if power flows upward from the people to their elected officials, not the other way around. Two wrongs don’t make a right, a principle even children under-

tourism generated $945 million in state and local taxes last year. Without that revenue, the average Long Island household would face nearly $1,000 more in annual taxes.

Ed Ra, of Franklin Square, represents the 19th Assembly District and is the ranking Republican member of the Assembly Ways & Means Committee.

Island

THERESA REGNANTE President and CEO, United Way of Long

Long Island is breaking tourism records

To the Editor:

Long Island has long been known for its beaches, wineries and charming downtowns, but new data confirms what residents and visitors alike already know: Our region is thriving as a premier travel destination. For the third consecutive year, tourism on Long Island has broken records, with travelers spending $7.9 billion in 2024 — an impressive 3.8 percent increase over 2023.

This surge in tourism is more than a point of pride; it is a vital driver of our local economy. According to the recently released state Tourism Economics report, visitor spending supported 78,418 jobs in 2024, up from 76,227 in 2023.

From restaurant servers and hotel staff to retail clerks and tour operators, these are real, local jobs that sustain families and strengthen our communities. In addition,

The benefits ripple across the economy. Food and beverage spending alone accounted for 36 percent of all tourism dollars, while lodging comprised another 21 percent. Retail and service stations saw $1.2 billion in visitor spending. Suffolk County, in particular led the way, experiencing a 7 percent increase in tourism spending, while Nassau County’s numbers held steady, with only a slight decline. Overall, Suffolk now makes up nearly 60 percent of Long Island’s tourism tax base.

This remarkable growth did not happen by chance. It is the result of tireless efforts by Discover Long Island, whose leadership and innovative marketing strategies continue to attract visitors year-round. Looking ahead, the region is well positioned to keep building momentum, with major international events like this year’s Ryder Cup and next year’s U.S. Open drawing global attention.

Tourism is more than visitors coming and going — it is an investment in our quality of life, our small businesses and our future. Long Islanders should take pride in this achievement and continue supporting efforts that keep our region shining on the national stage.

MITCH PALLY, INTERIM PRESIDENT/CEO SHARON WYMAN, COO Discover Long Island

Help Us Improve Cardiac Care on The South Shore

THE LANNIN EISENHOWER PARK | SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2025, 6:30 PM | DINNER & DANCING

Join us to celebrate the work of Mount Sinai South Nassau and support the expansion and advancement of Mount Sinai South Nassau’s cardiac services on the South Shore.

Enjoy a delightful culinary experience with dinner, a live 10-piece band, and dancing.

Your contributions—no matter the amount—will have a meaningful impact in helping us reach our overall goal of “Bringing Heart Home.”