Bellmore Herald 09-11-2025

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Bellmore students head back to school

Pool days turned into school days and hallway hellos, fresh sneakers, and brand-new backpacks were out in full force on Sept. 2 as students across Bellmore bounded back to class.

Above, friends heading to Shore Road School were excited to be reunited. Right, Eighth-grade friends Reagan, Mia, and Zara waited for the bus to take them to Grand Avenue Middle School.

Story, more photos, Page 10.

Through illness, through books, through love

By BRIAN KACHARABA bkacharaba@liherald.com

For one North Bellmore mother, the simple act of walking through the doors of her local library and browsing the shelves became the heart of her family’s summer.

Recently diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disease after years of unanswered questions, Laura Arzberger found herself unable to do many of the activities she once enjoyed with her two young children. What she could do, however, was create a ritual of walks, stories, and new memories with her daughter.

just show up for them,” Arzberger said. “That was a big lesson for me, and it’s something that I literally witnessed by watching her and James. Because, whereas I was feeling guilty about everything that I couldn’t do, she definitely knew something was off and that things were different. It didn’t matter. Because she still got time with mom and it was still special time.”

l istening to her rea d got me out of my men tal spa ce.

lAuRA ARzBERgER North Bellmore mom

Every afternoon, Arzberger and her 5-year-old, Gina, took the short walk to the North Bellmore Public Library, chose a fresh stack of about 10 books, and carried them home. In the evenings, Gina curled up and read aloud to her 3-year-old brother James, bringing the stories to life. The next day, they would return and begin the cycle again.

“I think that really what’s most important, and it doesn’t matter how it looks, is that you

What began as a manageable routine soon became a lifeline for Arzberger, 37, whose days were otherwise filled with doctor’s visits and unpredictable symptoms. The library offered joy, normalcy, and a place where she and Gina could share uninterrupted time together.

“It was like a great thing to do because it got us out for like a good half hour between the walk and staying at the library,” she said. “She looked forward to going. It was something that got me out of the house, off my phone for researching [my illness]. I was seeing the librarian and all of

Continued on page 23

Running from history toward quiet healing

By BOB PALLESCHI Contributor

As most remember, the sky on Sept. 11, 2001, was clear and possessed a depth of blue uncommon to most days. The descriptors turn to azure or lapis to appreciate the intensity of the atmosphere. The calm that persisted was neither a harbinger of the coming events nor a disarming influence. It was merely an alluringly comfortable morning — the type of day that immediately entices you to shed all responsibility and appreciate nature’s offering.

I will always remember the crystalline sky and the temperate breeze that softly caressed my face as I walked to the entrance of the great stone tower on Church Street. The 2WTC logo glistening in the sun. The early hour provided a peacefulness and serenity uncommon to an area that mostly bustles with a mixture of tourists, workers, and those few souls who chose to be residents.

I was content in my approach to the day’s work and fully prepared to discuss the critical issues with my global colleagues. The call commenced at 7 a.m., and all was well in London, Tokyo, Hong Kong, and, of course, New York. The ensuing melee is one that loses its importance every year; like former combatants, the horrors are vivid, but the feelings wane each year.

The two images that evoke the sadness of the day and the ensuing period are forever in my mind. On the early morning of Sept. 12, I chose to run a few miles to be alone with my thoughts. What always comes to mind was one of my readings from high school, a short story by Alan Sillitoe called “The Loneliness of the LongDistance Runner.” The isolation of running left me to my thoughts. In my travels that early morning, I passed the Bellmore train station, the same one I was so thankful for when I reached it not more than 12 hours earlier.

I can still picture the few cars parked randomly in the empty lot, looking abandoned, struck by the reality that these cars belonged to commuters who did not make it home — perhaps never would. I ran longer and harder that morning than I ever had. I now realize that, like the book, running is a metaphor. I was running from society, from reality, and from history. Possibly comical, this is how Forrest Gump ends up: running and running from everything, all the ills of life and all the tragedy that sadly takes place.

The following day, on Sept. 13, I ventured wearily and reluctantly to Manhattan. The trepidation I felt was expected, but not to the level I experi-

enced. As I reached the concourse level of Penn Station, I saw a wall of photographs and posters, family and friends looking for their missing loved ones. As I approached, one poster caught my attention. It was for an NYC fireman who was missing and, surprisingly, he lived in my neighborhood.

My mind immediately went back to the cars in the parking lot. Which one belonged to him? The fate of this poor soul was something that would disturb me for many years. Each year I place a rose on his (and others) memorial at Mill Pond, a place that I have used for running, fishing with my young son, and now for nature walks. They eventually dedicated one of the pathways at Mill Pond Park after him – the Adam D. Rand Memorial Trail.

I then left the station Penn Station on my walk up to headquarters, and as I crossed 34th Street came upon an altercation. A pedestrian had a cab driver by the collar and was cursing him as a Muslim terrorist. I did intervene, but merely to point out that not all men wearing turbans are Muslims and that this man, in fact, was a Sikh.

As I think back, it was that combination of events that made me realize running and isolation were not the answer. The world had changed dramatically in a few short hours, and we all needed to participate in the healing process. Although peace seems unattainable, I look back to my parents and “The Greatest Generation.” Did they not recover and thrive after decades of economic depression and war?

**Bob Palleschi is a Bellmore resident who formerly lived in Merrick.

DOCK Holiday gets loud at library

By BRIAN KACHARABA bkacharaba@liherald.com

The Bellmore Memorial Library lawn became the center of the community on Sept. 5 as DOCK Holiday, a sixpiece cover band, delivered a lively outdoor concert that blended funk, country, pop, rock and soul.

Known for their mission to provide “the best live music show you have ever seen,” DOCK Holiday brought that promise to life with a dynamic set list spanning decade of favorites. From the opening notes to the final encore, the band’s playful energy and polished sound kept the crowd swaying, clapping and singing along.

Among the many highlights, Queen’s “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” had fans dancing on the grass, while Carrie Underwood’s powerhouse anthem “Before He Cheats” struck a chord with the crowd, drawing big cheers and singalongs. DOCK Holiday shifted gears effortlessly into Bryan Adams’ “Summer of ’69,” which filled the evening air with nostalgia and had neighbors belting out every word. Later, the group ignited a full-on dance party with Bruno Mars’ “Uptown Funk,” one of the biggest crowd-pleasers of the night.

The show was structured into themed blocks — from country and rock to soul, funk and party anthems — ensuring that every audience member heard something they loved. Each song was delivered with a mix of faithful musicianship and DOCK Holiday’s signature flair, showcasing the band’s ability to move seamlessly between styles while keeping the energy high.

And just when it seemed the night couldn’t get any bigger, DOCK Holiday invited the crowd to join them for one final singalong: Journey’s timeless classic, “Don’t Stop Believing’.” Voices rose together under the night sky as neighbors and friends swayed, laughed and sang in unison, closing out the evening on a note of pure community joy. For Bellmore residents, the free concert was more than just live music — it

was a summer celebration of connection and nostalgia. For DOCK Holiday, it was another chapter in a six-year

run of performances that continue to build their ever-growing fan base across New York and beyond.

DOCK Holiday Set List

Heatwave - Linda Ronstadt

Crazy Little Thing Called Love –Queen

Black Horse and the Cherry Tree –KT Tunstall

Before He Cheats – Carrie Underwood

Gunpowder & Lead – Miranda Lambert

Wagon Wheel – Darius Rucker

The Joker – Steve Miller Band

Bennie and the Jets-Elton John Your Love – The Outfield

Three Little Birds – Bob Marley

Don’t Worry Be Happy – Bobby McFerrin

Midnight Rider – Sharon Jones

Summer of ’69 – Bryan Adams

All Summer Long – Kid Rock

Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic – The Police Love Shack – B-52’s

Sunday Morning – Maroon 5

A Little Respect – Erasure

Dreams – Fleetwood Mac

Valerie ’68 – Amy Winehouse

Proud Mary – Tina Turner

Best of My Love – The Emotions-

Lil Boo Thang – Paul Russell

Love Rollercoaster – Ohio Players

Get Down on It - Kool and the Gang-

Uptown Funk – Bruno Mars

Play That Funky Music – Wild Cherry

Come and Get your LoveRedbone

I Wish - Stevie Wonder

Tubthumping – Chumbawamba

Don’t Stop Believing - Journey

Pols call for MTA audit

By BRIAN KACHARABA bkacharaba@liherald.com

Three New York State senators called for a forensic audit of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority during a press conference at the Mineola train station on Sept. 8, blasting the agency’s plan to raise Long Island Rail Road fares and have fourhour expiration limits on single-ride tickets.

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

For the LIRR, the 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.

State Sen. Jack Martins said commuters are being “gouged” while the MTA, which he says operates on a $19.9 billion budget, has failed to demonstrate costcutting measures.

The Difference Between Financial Advisors and Estate Planners

Many people are unclear about financial advisors versus estate planners. In fact, many financial advisors and accountants give their clients estate planning advice even though it is not their actual area of expertise.

The main focus of a financial advisor is to manage and grow your money during your lifetime. They look at which investments are suitable for your goals and your tolerance for risk. Financial advisors also assist with retirement planning so that you have enough income later on after you stop working as well as budgeting, debt management and cash flow planning during your working years. They also assist with various forms of insurance.

Estate planners, on the other hand, focus on protecting your wealth from being devastated by long-term care costs and transferring your assets after death to whom you want, when you want and the way you want, with the least amount of taxes and legal fees possible. Estate planners are lawyers since legal documents are needed for disability and death planning -- typically wills

and trusts, powers of attorney and health care proxies/living wills.

The client often has had a long-term relationship with their financial advisor or CPA when they go in to meet the estate planning attorney for the first time. They are used to relying on those trusted professionals for advice. Keep in mind that the experienced estate planning attorney has been doing this type of work on a daily basis for many years. Most of their time is spent on exploring family dynamics and planning to effectively (financially, legally and socially) protect assets and pass on inheritances. On the other hand, the financial advisor is spending the majority of their time dealing with finances and the CPA is spending the majority of their time on filing for and saving income taxes.

When it comes to protecting and passing assets, the estate planning attorney is your quarterback — they scan the field utilizing the services of your other advisors as needed, and then throw the winning touchdown pass for your family’s future well-being.

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Lhave the funding for.”

“If you give your kids $20 allowance on Sunday and they ask for another $20 on Thursday, you’d want to know where the first $20 went,” Rhoads said. “The governor and legislature never ask those questions of the MTA.”

Rhoads called the proposed four-hour expiration policy on single-ride tickets “absurd,” arguing that it serves no purpose other than squeezing more money from commuters.

“Stop the stupidity of trying to balance our tax on commuters,” he said.

Sen. Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick stressed that the MTA should address fare evasion, which she said costs the agency an estimated $700 million annually, rather than hiking prices for law-abiding riders.

et’s put the burden on the MTA, and frankly, on the governor and Albany, to show some real leadership and finally bring that $19.9 billion budget into some sense of sanity.

JACK MARtINs State senator

“I have yet to see a time when the MTA has come out and said, ‘We’re cutting our expenses, we’re cutting costs,’” Martins said. “Let’s put the burden on the MTA, and frankly, on the governor and Albany, to show some real leadership and finally bring that $19.9 billion budget into some sense of sanity.”

Martins noted that a round-trip peak fare from Mineola to Penn Station currently costs $29, which could exceed $30 if the increase takes effect in January 2026.

State Sen. Steve Rhoads echoed Martins’ concerns, describing the MTA as “addicted to spending.” He cited recurring structural deficits — nearly $2 billion last year — and a $70 billion capital plan, that he says “half of which they didn’t

To make matters worse for commuters, LIRR unions are threatening to strike as early as Sept. 18, after contract negotiations with the MTA stalled. Five unions, representing nearly half of the LIRR’s 7,000 employees, are seeking a 15 percent wage increase over three years, while the MTA is holding steady at 9.5 percent.

If the strike goes forward, it could shut down the entire commuter rail system, stranding the roughly 300,000 riders who rely on it each weekday.

A strike could still be avoided if a federal Presidential Emergency Board is appointed to mediate the dispute, a process available under federal law governing railroads. So far, no requests have been made by the unions, the MTA, or Gov. Kathy Hochul to trigger that step.

“Let’s be clear: Long Islanders are now facing the possibility of a labor action on the LIRR because the Trump administration took the unprecedented and reckless step of ending federal mediation early,” said Gordon Tepper, Hochul’s Long Island press secretary. “It’s now up to the unions to come to the table and negotiate in good faith with the MTA.”

jOsH kAMA FARMINGDALE Senior FOOTBALL

IT WAS A HISTORIC 2024 season for Kama and he’s looking to follow up with a big senior campaign and lead the Dalers to the promised land after they fell just short in last year’s Nassau Conference I championship game. A deadly combination of strength, size and speed, Kama rumbled for 1,717 yards on the ground and reached the end zone 29 times. He’s also a tackling machine at running back and a top Thorp Award candidate.

GAMES TO WATCH

Thursday, Sept. 11

Girls Soccer: Seaford at Wantagh .............................5 p.m.

Girls Soccer: Calhoun at Carey .................................5 p.m.

Girls Soccer: C.S. Harbor at Plainedge ......................5 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 12

Girls Soccer: Kennedy at East Meadow ....................5 p.m.

Boys Soccer: Clarke at South Side ...........................5 p.m.

Football: Mineola at Hewlett .....................................6 p.m.

Football: Carle Place at West Hempstead .................6 p.m.

Football: Malverne at East Rockaway ........................6 p.m.

Football: Freeport at Massapequa .......................6:30 p.m.

Football: Island Trees at Plainedge .......................6:30 p.m.

Football: V.S. North at Wantagh .................................7 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 13

Football: Oceanside at Uniondale ...........................11 a.m.

Football: Floral Park at Sewanhaka .........................11 a.m.

Football: V.S. South at Carey .....................................2 p.m.

Football: Glen Cove at Baldwin .................................2 p.m.

Football: MacArthur at V.S. Central. ...........................2 p.m.

Football: North Shore at Lawrence ............................2 p.m.

Football: Garden City at Long Beach.........................2 p.m.

Football: Clarke at South Side ..................................3 p.m.

Boys Soccer: Baldwin at Oceanside..........................6 p.m.

Nominate a “spotlight Athlete”

High School athletes to be featured on the Herald sports page must compete in a fall sport and have earned an AllConference award or higher last season. Please send the following information: Name, School, Grade, Sport and accomplishments to Sports@liherald.com.

Mepham features balanced roster

By MICHELLE RABINOVICH sports@liherald.com

After a 5-6-6 overall mark in 2024, which included a gritty playoff performance, Mepham girls’ soccer is rolling with a similar but revamped crew to build on, mostly in its own zone.

The back row is a carbon copy of last year: defenders Ava Parisi, Kaitlyn Tansey, and Anna Kaplun in front of senior goalkeeper Lia DiPreta. The new addition to the defensive line is Molly Trnka, who stood out to coach Janine Bizelia during tryouts.

“She really impressed us at tryouts, we’re looking to replenish the backline a little bit,” Bizelia said. “She might start in the back line as a left-back, which would be nice to see.”

What’s versatile about the Pirates is the likes of Tansey and Kaplun can move up to the defensive midfielder role if game plan calls for it. The rest of the midfield consists of Gabriella Caminiti, Stephaie Okolie, Addison Iemma and Victoria Olson, all kids Bizelia said have regularly wreaked havoc for opponents.

“[Caminiti is] a big, strong senior player for us, gets a lot of assists and causes a lot of dangerous havoc in the midfield or up top,” Bizelia said. “Okolie, she’s a returner, plays on the left side, more up top, super fast and helpful. Olson, probably the fastest one on the team and can be the most dangerous when we need her to be.”

One standout on the midfield is Katlyn Kestenbaum,

Media Origin Inc./Herald

Addison Iemma is part of a deep midfield for the Pirates, who will look to a versatile lineup to lead them back to the playoffs.

a senior who holds down the center. While Bizelia admitted Kestenbaum didn’t clock the most minutes, she did come up clutch in playoffs, as a sign of the player she’s growing into. “She scored a game-winning penalty kick,” Bizelia said. “She’s grown a

lot, hopefully we can get her more minutes.”

There’s room for growth in the midfield if a young group blooms, consisting of Devyn Marr, Kylie Tannus and Gabriella Dvoskin. If they need a hand, they’ll have teammates Bianca

Mayo and Taylor Almona to lean on, regular flank pieces that typically go from midfield and up.

In earnest, Bizelia has her eyes out for the newest recruits.

“I think when you have a lot of young talent, they’re just eager to go and they give you so much energy you’d be surprised what they can do,” she explained. “On the flip side, they’re young and may not be ready for it, but they’re going to play with nerves, they’re 14,15 year olds playing against 17,18 year olds so it’s a lot and a challenge for them.”

There’s also the off-thepitch contributions that players have, like Mayo, who has a rap for being the team mom.

“She’s always just looking out for everyone like who doesn’t have sunblock on, who didn’t bring their water, who didn’t get enough sleep,” Bizelia said. “She’s just always looking out for everybody and checking in and making sure everyone is working hard. She’s just a great kid.”

There’s the returners, who shoulder most of the responsibilities to have the team jell, and have done so successfully.

“[Returners] have been great, honestly they’re such a great group of seniors, and even the returning sophomore and junior girls, as far as being [a] team, including girls and gelling together, already they’ve been doing a good job,” Bizelia said. “This is probably the most, as far as I’ve seen, team atmosphere I’ve seen in a long time, which is great to see.”

Honoring lives, preventing future loss

By BRIAN KACHARABA bkacharaba@liherald.com

The Long Island Crisis Center will host its 17th annual “Let’s Walk, Let’s Talk: Stepping Together to Prevent Suicide” along the Long Beach boardwalk on Sept. 21, — an event that continues to grow in both reach and meaning since its beginnings in 2008.

What started as a gathering in response to the suicide of an area teenager has become a community-wide movement of remembrance, awareness, and hope.

“We originally started doing this event in response to a suicide that took place in 2008,” said Tawni Engel, the associate executive director of the Bellmore-based center “At first it was just family and friends, but by 2009, we wanted to make it an annual event to bring the community together.”

The walk’s location has proven to be a significant backdrop to the event.

“We chose Long Beach not only because the boardwalk is such a beautiful setting, but also because there are very high rates of suicide in that community,” Engel explained. “It was important to address that directly.”

Over the years, the walk has grown into more than just a fundraiser — it’s become a place of healing and solidarity for those who have been directly or indirectly impacted by suicide. At the same

Last year’s Long Island Crisis Center at Long Beach walk raised more than $90,000

time, the event is designed to raise awareness about suicide prevention and to let participants know they are not alone.

“We know this is a somber topic, and many people who come have been touched by suicide in some way,” Engel said. “But we also want it to be cathartic — a day of sharing stories, supporting each other, and celebrating the lives of the people we’ve lost.”

To that end, the day features live music, raffles, and community-building activities alongside its main program. Registration opens at 10:30 a.m. at Laurelton Boulevard, with speakers beginning a half hour later. At 11:30 a.m., participants will walk two miles along the boardwalk — east and back again — at their own pace.

Last year’s walk raised more than

$90,000, funding the Crisis Center’s lifesaving services, including its 24/7 crisis hotline. This year, the goal is $75,000.

“Right now, we’re about halfway there,” Engel noted.

That mission has remained unchanged since the center opened its doors in 1971: to be a lifeline for anyone in crisis.

“Our tagline is ‘any problem, anytime, anyone,’” Engel said. “We run eight hotlines, and we never know what the next call will bring. It could be a child upset after a fight with a friend, or someone who is actively suicidal. Our counselors are trained to respond to anything.”

The center has named the DiTucci family as its 2025 Persons of the Year. The family lost Kari DiTucci, a wife, mother and friend, to suicide in 2014, and has since remained active in the organization’s annual walk. For more than a decade, the DiTuccis have shared their story, raised awareness about suicide prevention and joined the community each year to honor the memory of loved ones lost.

“They’ve brought so much awareness and hope to others who are grieving,” Engel said. “We felt it was important to recognize their strength and their dedication.”

Those interested in joining the walk can register online at LongIslandCrisisCenter.org/TheWalk. Anyone in need of immediate support can reach the Crisis Center’s 24/7 hotline at 516-679-1111.

Seeking housing solutions on Long Island

Though too many homes are beyond first-time buyers’ means, there are options, the experts insist

By ROKSANA AMID, JOSEPH D’ALESSANDRO & ALYSSA R. GRIFFIN of Herald Community Newspapers

Final installment in a series on housing on Long Island.

With housing costs climbing and affordability dropping across Long Island, the path to homeownership has become increasingly complex, demanding not just financial preparation but also creative solutions from nonprofit organizations, lenders and policymakers. From credit-building and grant programs to community land trusts and accessory dwelling units, real estate professionals and housing advocates agree that a variety of strategies will be required to help families achieve stability and the long-held dream of owning a home.

For Connie Pinilla, principal of the Connie Pinilla Team at Compass Greater New York, homeownership is more than a transaction — it’s a long-term investment in stability and wealth. With more than 20 years of experience in real estate and law, she has guided both agents and clients through the complexities of buying a home.

“Everybody should strive to own a home — it’s the American dream,” Pinilla said. “But the most important element isn’t just finances, it’s your credit score.”

Pinilla emphasizes that a good salary isn’t enough without good credit. “You could make $300,000 a year, but if your credit score isn’t up to par, your chances of getting a loan are very slim,” she said. “On the other hand, with an excellent credit score and even a $50,000 or $60,000 salary, there are many programs that can help you purchase a home.”

She encourages buyers to plan at least a year ahead, starting with a mortgage broker. Reducing debt, keeping credit card balances below 30 percent and paying bills on time are critical steps toward building trust with lenders.

Grants and assistance programs

In addition to personal financial discipline, Pinilla says, grants are underused tools. Some programs are government-backed, while others come from banks and credit unions.

“Bank of America runs a program where qualified buyers can get up to $75,000 in grant money,” she said. “Chase often has private grants of $5,000 for closing costs. Credit unions also have excellent incentives and often lower rates.”

Grants typically apply to first-time homebuyers. Many require completion of a homebuyer education course on budgeting, credit and financial planning. If the buyer remains in the home for a set period, usually seven years, the grant does not need to be repaid.

Pinilla often asks clients to compare the cost of rent to a mortgage. In Glen Cove, a one-bedroom apartment averages about $3,000 per month.

“Rent money is gone forever,” she

said. “With a mortgage, you’re building equity, and you can deduct interest and property taxes on your income taxes. Strategically, you may be better off owning than renting.”

Preparation is key to navigating a competitive market. Pinilla advises securing a pre-approval letter before making an offer, because sellers want proof of financial readiness.

Once an offer is accepted, buyers work with inspectors, attorneys and lenders to ensure the home is sound, the title is clear and the property is properly valued before closing.

“Every step is designed to protect the buyer,” she explained. “That’s why you hire professionals — your attorney, mortgage officer and real estate agent — to guide you.”

your future.”

Payment risks, and avoiding them

As the need for affordable housing grows on Long Island, nonprofit organizations like Community Development Long Island are fighting back. They offer resources including single-family rehabilitation, multi-family home improvement and new home construction.

Pinilla encourages buyers to focus on needs rather than wants. Starting with a modest or multi-family property can be a smart path to building wealth.

“A lot of people have built wealth starting with a two-family,” she said. “You live in one unit, rent the other, and let that income pay the mortgage. Over time, you can build equity and move on to bigger investments.”

Her message is simple: Preparation and realistic expectations make the dream of homeownership possible. “If you have your finances in order, you’re not just buying a house,” Pinilla said. “You’re building equity and security for

To support first-time homebuyers, CDLI helps reduce the risk of future foreclosures and struggles they commonly face. “We provide education and orientation around what that looks like,” President and CEO Gwen O’Shea said, “helping people think about things like building their credit, reducing debt and ensuring you know good ratios when it comes time to close on a potential property.”

The assistance doesn’t end there: CDLI supports current homeowners as well. It offers a targeted home improvement program in the Village of Hempstead, which includes a $40,000 forgivable grant for home improvements for homeowners who may not have had access to other credit. “This is a great way to make necessary health and safety improvements while also increasing the value of your home,” O’Shea said.

Renters have access to CDLI’s support as well, as the organization works with those in need of homes to find

available properties that meet their needs. “We provide incentives to landlords to participate in the program as well,” she said.

For low to middle class families, Habitat for Humanity of Long Island is fighting the expensive housing market by providing safe and affordable places to live. They are built with the help of their volunteer staff, and awarded families work with a construction team to create their homes.

These homes are sold to these families based on construction costs alone. Each family’s mortgage and taxes are no more than 30 percent of their total income, ensuring these homes are sustainable for a stable living situation.

Homes usually have two to three bedrooms, with occasional four-bedrooms, based on family size. “When we build a home and partner with a family, they have to put in 300 sweat-equity hours helping build their home and other Habitat homes,” Caroljean D’Aquila, the organization’s director of corporate and community partnerships, said.

Families must go through an application process. “They have to meet a certain income level, depending on the family size,” D’Aquila said. “They have to have decent credit. They have to have a willingness to partner, and then the last thing is based on a need.”

Habitat for Humanity of Long Island has built around 270 homes in the past 38 years, helping over 800 people. With the growing need for affordable housing, it’s hard to keep up with the demand. Twice a year, applications open

‘Everybody should strive to own a home’

for a 14- to 16-month building period. Over 200 families apply for homes each application period, and only about three are accepted.

Ground lease agreements

One method to drive down the cost of a house is collaboration with a community land trust, as used in a new development in Uniondale.

One of the aspiring homeowners who entered the Affordable Homeownership Lottery in February will live in a newly built house without paying for the land underneath. The land is owned by the Uniondale Community Land Trust, a local nonprofit, using a ground lease agreement that dramatically reduces the house’s cost.

The 1,688-square-foot, two-story house will have three bedrooms and two bathrooms. It has an estimated value of $620,000, but has a sale price of $275,000.

Jeannine Maynard, vice president of U-CLT, said that the program has taken great effort: the permit collection, construction planning and lottery preparation were all carefully planned.

Recently, Maynard heard of the federal Manufactured Housing Pilot Program, which assists in financing manufactured homes by waiving certain regulatory barriers.

“There was a pilot program done upstate New York,” she said. “They expedited the permitting processes — they didn’t allow those kinds of hangups. They were able to bring homes to market close to the $250,000 level.”

The program has limited accessibility, requiring candidates to be eligible for a mortgage, to be able to afford a down payment, to be a first-time buyer and to make between 50 and 80 percent of the median household income in Uniondale — just over $78,000 for a family of four.

Accessory dwelling units

Long Island Housing Partnership is an organization that creates accessory dwelling units on new or existing properties. ADUs are independent living spaces on the same plot of land as a main house, ranging from converted basements and attics to completely new structures.

Last year, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the ADU Plus One Program, a $59 million grant to various organizations and municipalities to create roughly 500 ADUs across the state, according to the governor’s office.

The program is for two-person households that earn under $213,840, with a preference for those earning under $129,600.

LIHP President Peter Elkowitz has led efforts to build ADUs across Suffolk County. Recently the organization redeveloped homes in Bay Shore and in the Town of Islip, creating 78 ADUs.

“They’re very valuable,” Elkowitz said. “There’s extended families that live in these accessory dwelling units, with the grandparents, the parents and now the kids.”

He described ADUs as being able to financially support the owner of the

property, who would collect rent to offset their own mortgage payments and property taxes.

While ADUs do not take up more land, they do increase the population of a neighborhood, yielding more traffic and higher demand for parking in areas that may not have access to robust public transportation.

James Britz, executive vice president of LIHP, explained that the group is pursuing multiple housing solutions at once.

“All of our homes we built now go into our community land trust,” Britz explained. “Our next major development is 32 single-family homes, all with accessory dwelling units in them, so we’ll be able to assist 32 homeowners and 32 renters in the Bellport community.”

LIHP also administers county and town payment assistance programs for

these projects, and requires affordable home programs to include ADUs in municipalities that permit their construction, according to Maynard.

Fighting for the homeless

With the homeless population rising in recent years, the Long Island Coalition for the Homeless offers various resources, including a street outreach team and street medicine team.

A safe option support team is offered as a time-limited, evidence-based service that helps people in transition. Support services are provided for nine to 12 months, including initial outreach and engagement pre-housing. That includes multiple visits each week and a 90-day transition service after housing placement.

“We’re the lead entity of the Long Island Continuum of Care,” Paul

How Habitat for Humanity builds homes, and hope

Affordable ownership

■ Homes are sold at construction cost, not market value.

■ Mortgages and property taxes are capped at 30 percent of a family’s income.

Sweat equity

■ Each family contributes 300 volunteer hours toward building homes.

Family-sized homes

■ Typical builds are two- or threebedroom houses.

■ Each home is designed as a long-term residence.

Application process

■ Families must meet income guidelines, have decent credit and demonstrate need.

■ Only about three families are chosen out of more than 200 per cycle.

Impact

■ HFH has built about 270 homes on L.I. in 38 years, housing more than 800 people.

LaMarr, the organization’s policy and community planning manager, said. “We kind of are the command center for the homeless response system here on Long Island.”

To reach out directly, a helpline is available to connect with direct services and references. A boutique is available by referral for individuals to receive clothing and other home goods they may need.

An individual must be currently experiencing homelessness to receive these services. Those who qualify for programs are currently taking much longer to be housed. “I would say as a whole region it’s getting pretty stretched out, as far as our capacity as a region to adequately address and serve people who are experiencing homelessness,” LaMarr said. “The reality is that we have a lot more people entering into homelessness, and not enough housing to get people quickly housed.”

The housing crisis on Long Island is a problem at the intersection of social, economic and political stresses, and efforts to fix it must be multifaceted. Long Island’s communities differ in opinion, opportunity and solution strategies, but share a common cause in improving local living situations.

To reach the Long Island Homeless services hotline, call 211.

Back-to-school energy sweeps area

By BRIAN KACHARABA bkacharaba@liherald.com

The long days of summer gave way to sharpened pencils and packed lunches on Sept. 2, as families across Bellmore sent their children back for the first day of the 2025–26 school year.

Front lawns and driveways turned into photo studios as parents snapped the traditional “first day” pictures that likely ended up on social media — new sneakers lined up on the pavement, backpacks zipped tight, and smiles that mixed excitement with a touch of nerves.

At neighborhood corners, clusters of children compared schedules to see if they had the same teachers and swapped summer stories while waiting for the familiar rumble of the yellow bus. Some clutched new lunchboxes, others balanced oversized binders, all eager to reunite with friends they hadn’t seen since June. Parents lingered at the curbsides, waving as buses pulled away, calling reminders to “have a great day.”

For many families, the weekend leading up to the first day was a whirlwind of last-minute supply runs, labeling folders, and checking off items from shopping lists. The district’s social media feeds filled with cheerful posts from parents and teachers alike, celebrating fresh starts and the energy that comes with a new year.

Grand Avenue seventh-grader Dylan Gaynor,

poses with fourth-grade Winthrop Avenue sister Avery and Reinhard first-grade brother Owen.

Students entering new schools — whether sixth graders transitioning to middle school or ninth graders taking on the high school halls — were at the center of the buzz. Orientation tours and practice locker combinations gave way to butterflies in the stomach as the big day arrived.

As the sun rose higher and the buses rolled on, the Bellmore community embraced a familiar September rhythm. The return of routine marked not just the end of summer but the promise of new friendships, new lessons, and a year full of possibilities.

DNA ruled admissible in Gilgo Beach case

By LUKE FEENEY lfeeney@liherald.com

After nearly six months of hearings, Suffolk County Supreme Court Judge Tim Mazzei ruled in a written decision on Sept. 3 that the DNA evidence connecting alleged Gilgo Beach killer Rex Heuermann to several victims, obtained through a new type of DNA testing, will be admissible in Heuermann’s trial.

“Astrea Forensics’ use of whole genome sequencing to generate SNP data and create a DNA profile,” Mazzei wrote, “is generally accepted as reliable within the scientific community,” based on the testimony of prosecution witnesses Kelley Harris, an associate professor of genome sciences at the University of Washington, and Richard Green, founder of Astrea Labs in California.

Mazzei also wrote in his opinion that “neither of the defendant’s expert witnesses controverted Astrea Forensics’ use of whole genome sequencing, to extract DNA from rootless hairs to generate SNP data and create a DNA profile.”

Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney praised his staff and Mazzei’s decision outside the courtroom at the Arthur M. Cromarty Criminal Court in Riverhead. “The reason why we were able to prevail was one simple reason: The science was on our side,” Tierney said, in front of several family members

of victims of the Gilgo murders who chose not to speak.

Prosecutors have said that Astrea Forensics linked Heuermann to six of the seven killings he is alleged to have committed over the course of at least two decades, beginning in 1993, through the testing of rootless hairs found at the crime scenes and comparative analysis of those hairs to DNA samples obtained from Heuermann and family members.

His defense team has argued that the technology is new and unproven.

Five witnesses testified in a Frye hearing, a legal proceeding — also known as a general acceptance hearing — used to determine whether scientific evidence presented in court is widely accepted and considered valid within the relevant scientific community.

The admittance of DNA by Mazzei’s ruling could create a statewide prece-

dent. Prior to his decision, Astrea’s technology had only been admitted in court in Idaho. Heuermann’s defense filed another motion based on the court’s decision, alleging that the use of Astrea Forensics to analyze Heuermann’s DNA violates New York state health law.

“It criminalizes this very type of action,” Michael Brown, Heuermann’s court-appointed lawyer said, “which is an out-of-state, non-permitted laboratory for profit to test and offer evidence in the state of New York on a criminal case.”

The motion was filed on Sept. 3 with a return date of Sept. 17 — the same date the prosecution will certify its case. The Suffolk County district attorney’s office will answer the motion on Sept. 22.

Heuermann’s defense has been trying to sever the case into separate murder cases, while the prosecution has pushed to have the whole case combined in one trial. Mazzei called all parties back to court on Sept. 23, when he anticipates ruling on both motions.

Heuermann, 61, a Massapequa Park resident, now stands charged with the murders of a total of seven people: Melissa Barthelemy, Maureen BrainardBarnes, Amber Lynn Costello, Megan Waterman, Jessica Taylor, Sandra Costilla and Valerie Mack. He has pleaded not guilty to all of the charges, and has maintained his innocence since his July 2023 arrest.

TOWN

Women with Pelvic Organ Prolapse do not have to suffer HEALTH MEMO

It’s likely that you are, or know, a woman with pelvic organ prolapse (POP), a painful condition that’s disruptive to daily living and emotionally discouraging.

Many women suffer in silence from this common disorder. But help is available.

POP occurs most often in older women when pelvic organs, like the bladder, uterus, or rectum, descend or protrude into the vagina due to weakness in the pelvic floor muscles and tissues that hold these organs in place. POP affects one in four women in their 40s, one in three in their 60s and 50 percent of women in their 80s.

The many painful and awkward symptoms of POP (which intensify as the muscles and tissue weaken) include:

• Bulging or feeling of a mass in the vagina

• Urinary problems, such as frequent urination, difficulty emptying the bladder, or urine leakage when coughing or sneezing

• Constipation or fecal incontinence

• Incessant pain and pressure in the pelvic area lower back

• Increased or discolored vaginal discharge

• Decreased libido

• Lower extremity numbness or weakness (especially when POP is severe).

Women no longer have to suffer in silence. At Mount Sinai South Nassau in Oceanside, a team of physician specialists called urogynecologists led by Alan D. Garely, MD, Chair of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Division Director of Urogynecology and Pelvic Reconstructive Surgery, are using a minimally invasive, simplified surgical procedure to relieve women who are suffering silently with this burdensome condition.

Using one tiny incision, which is not visible, the procedure takes less than an hour, is done in the hospital, and is out-patient. It requires the insertion of a small anchoring device that lifts and supports pelvic organs and tissues and repositions them to their proper positions, eliminating the need to cut or remove tissue and

Alan Garely, MD, Chair of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Science and Division Director of Urogynecology and Pelvic Reconstructive Surgery at Mount Sinai South Nassau utilizes a minimally invasive surgical procedure for women with pelvic organ prolapse.

insert surgical meshing. Patients don’t need to have a hysterectomy.

A study published in the March 2023 edition of the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology found that the procedure is an effective treatment for uterine prolapse and can be used with other common POP repair procedures.

“When pelvic floor disorders are appropriately diagnosed and treated, the outcomes can be truly remarkable and liberating for patients,” said Dr. Garely.

Dr. Garely and Mount Sinai South Nassau’s team of urogynecologists also specialize in non-surgical and surgical treatments that enable women to gain control over urologic health problems, from urinary incontinence to bladder and voiding

dysfunction.

Each member of the team is fellowship-trained in pelvic surgery, board-certified in obstetrics and gynecology, and are among the first surgeons in the U.S. to be board-certified in female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery. They also have advanced training in gynecologic laparoscopy (an alternative to traditional surgery that uses smaller incisions, for quicker recovery), computer-guided hysterectomy using the da Vinci® Surgical System and a special interest in outpatient care including outpatient laparoscopy (and incisionless prolapse surgery).

On average, they prescribe non-surgical treatments to successfully treat more than 50 percent of patients annually. Nonsurgical options that they prescribe include pelvic floor physical therapy, pessary use (a soft, flexible device that supports the bladder, vagina, uterus, and/or rectum), home exercise regimens, peripheral nerve stimulation (a stimulator implanted near the tailbone to treat urinary incontinence, urinary retention, urgency, frequency, and fecal incontinence) and medication.

Accreditations, designations, and awards that Mount Sinai South Nassau has received in women’s health services include The Joint Commission Perinatal Care Certification; Healthgrades’ FiveStar for Vaginal Delivery, Gynecologic Procedures and Hysterectomy; US News & World Report High Performing Rating in Maternity Care, and Baby Friendly hospital.

To schedule a consultation or for more information, call the hospital’s Division of Urogynecology and Pelvic Reconstructive Surgery, call (516) 390-2850 or www.southnassau.org.

One Healthy Way Oceanside, NY 11572 • 877-SOUTH-NASSAU (877-768-8462) • www.mountsinai.org/southnassau

Health memos are supplied by advertisers and are not written by the Herald editorial staff.

mountsinai.org/southnassau

A cupful of good health

Getting to the bottom of a cup of tea

Tea may taste good and be especially soothing on a cool day, but there are also many medical benefits to this drink.

Tea is an ancient beverage that has been enjoyed for centuries thanks to its healing benefits. An estimated three billion cups of tea are consumed across the globe every day, with many people looking to tea when they are sick or to prevent illness.

As popular as tea has become, cer tain misconceptions about tea have spread over the years. Read on to learn more about what’s in your cup

Myth: Different tea varieties come from different types of tea plants.

Fact: Commercial tea comes only from the leaves of the camelia sinensis plant. Different methods of processing determine which variety of tea is produced. Black and oolong tea develops from oxidizing and fermenting tea leaves, while green tea is produced by steaming wilted leaves.

Myth: Adding milk to tea negates the health benefits.

Fact: According to a study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, the same amount of catechins, which are antioxidants associated with a reduced risk of some diseases, can be

absorbed tea that contains milk as tea that does not.

Myth: Anything with the name “tea” is true tea.

Fact: Only tea from tea plants constitutes real tea. Herbal varieties of tea are actually tisanes made from flowers and bark of other plants.

Myth: Fruits and vegetables contain more disease-fighting antioxidants than tea.

Fact: Research indicates that tea has about 10 times the amount of antioxidants of vegetables and fruit. Individuals who consume reduced-calorie diets often find tea that is a good, no-calorie source of antioxidants.

Myth: Antioxidants can turn back aging.

Fact: Antioxidants may contribute to personal longevity, but they cannot reverse signs of aging. Antioxidants have been known to neutralize free radicals in the body that can contribute to many different diseases, including various forms of cancer.

Myth: Tea never goes bad.

Fact: It may take some time for properly stored tea to spoil, but the level of antioxidants in tea does begin to diminish after a

Personalized Solutions: No one-size-fits-all here – only customized solutions that work for you.

Trusted Expertise: We are your go-to partners for hearing health, using the latest in hearing technology and care.

Ongoing Support: Hearing needs can change, and we are with you every step of the way on your hearing journey.

few months. Research by the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry indicates catechins in green tea decrease by 32 percent in just six months. Tea is most beneficial to human health when it is consumed within six months of its production.

Myth: Tea has much less caffeine than coffee.

Fact: The amount of caffeine in tea can var y. The average amount of caffeine in tea ranges from 14 to 61 mg per eight-ounce cup Coffee, on the other hand, can contain

between 27 and 200 mg per ser ving.

Myth: Hot tea is better for you than cold tea.

Fact: As long as the tea is steeped in water long enough, both hot and cold tea provide the same bang for your buck.

Courtesy American Heart Association

discovering the many health benefits of different types of teas.

Dedicated to better hearing, better living HEALTH MEMO

ILove Hearing’s mission is simple: to provide compassionate, comprehensive hearing health care for every individual over the age of 18. From prevention to rehabilitation, the team is committed to guiding patients on their journey toward better hearing and a better quality of life. Every patient is unique, and so is our approach. The staff takes the time to listen, understand, and create personalized care plans that meet each person’s needs.

I Love Hearing’s state-certified audiologists are trusted throughout Nassau County for their professional expertise and caring touch. Whether it’s hearing loss treatment, tinnitus management, hearing aids, or auditory therapy and rehabilitation, they will help you find the right path forward. Patients can feel confident knowing that we offer not only the latest technology but also the dedication and support needed for long-term success.

ILH is a proud member of the American Tinnitus Association (ATA), the American Academy of Audiology (AAA), and the American Speech and Hearing Association (ASHA). In addition, their commitment to best-in-class patient care has been recognized with multiple Best of Long Island awards for compassionate service and outstanding results.

The dedicated staff goes above and beyond to make sure patients get the care they need without unnecessary delays. After your comprehensive hearing evaluation, you will begin treatment right away so you can start enjoying the sounds of life again. With convenient locations in East Meadow

and Port Washington, ILH proudly serves the community of Nassau County.

I Love Hearing’s goal is clear: to help you hear better, live better, and never miss the moments that matter most.

Program gives them a second chance in life

By HERNESTO GALDAMEZ hgaldamez@liherald.com

Nassau Community College recently hosted the first graduation of Rebound on the Road, a program led by former NBA star Jayson Williams that helps people recovering from addiction and incarceration earn commercial driver’s licenses and start new careers.

The initiative came to Long Island last fall after Nassau County officials approached the college about providing space for Williams’ nonprofit to expand.

“The county executive reached out to me and asked if the college would like to participate,” Jerry Kornbluth, NCC’s vice president of community and government relations said. “We were just providing space for him. We gave him three parking lots for the trucks, a classroom, and office space for staff, including a psychologist and psychiatrist.”

Williams, a standout at St. John’s University and former New Jersey Net, developed the program after serving 27 months in prison. Drawing on his recovery journey and his father’s ties to the trucking industry, he launched Rebound on the Road in Florida before expanding to Nassau.

He said that while playing in the NBA All-Star Game at Madison Square Garden was a career highlight, the work he is doing now carries a deeper meaning. Helping people who need a second chance, he explained, has given him a greater sense of peace and purpose.

“Helping people that you know probably can never, ever repay you is one of the best feelings you can ever have,” Williams said. “I tell people all the time, they ask what gives me peace these days, and I say, when people can depend on me.”

Earlier this month, 12 participants completed NCC’s first eight-week cohort. The program ran seven days a

Nassau Community College hosted the first graduation of Rebound on the Road, led by former NBA

week, and all graduates secured full-time jobs immediately after finishing, with starting salaries of about $75,000.

“They all had their families there, and it was extremely emotional to watch how appreciative they were,” Kornbluth said. “For the first time, possibly in their lives, they saw their child turning around and becoming a productive member of society.”

The program extends beyond CDL training. Each day begins with greetings and a “word of the day” discussion. Participants are expected to respect classmates, maintain attendance, and follow staff guidance from professionals including a psychologist and psychiatrist. Those who miss classes are removed from the cohort but may try again later.

“It’s not just about teaching folks how to drive tractor-

trailers,” Kornbluth said. “There’s a religious component, a mental health component, and tremendous camaraderie within the group.”

Williams’ personal history makes him a powerful role model, Kornbluth added.

“He doesn’t put himself above the students. He’s been there, and they can relate to him,” he said. “Even though they’re not traditional students, participants are on a college campus, and that gives them a sense of connection. This is another example of Nassau Community College opening its doors to provide support.”

The college hopes to expand the program statewide through the SUNY community college system, calling it “a strong engine for workforce and economic development.”

The next class is scheduled to begin in September.

News brief

Rinky Dinks rally to finish third

After a sluggish start, the North Bellmore “Rinky Dinks” fire drill team rallied late to finish third at the West Hempstead Labor Day Invitational on Sept. 1.

ASHLEY M c BRYDE

The annual event is a highlight of the summer racing circuit, drawing teams from across Nassau County for a day of ladder climbs, hose runs, and timed teamwork challenges. For the Rinky Dinks, who won the tournament a year ago, the day was an up-and-down affair that ended with a podium finish but short of their title defense.

Oyster Bay’s Teddy’s Boys captured the championship, winning three events and scoring points in seven of the eight categories. They finished with 24 points, edging out the host Westerners by just a half-point. The Westerners had surged to 8.5 points in the opening two events before being overtaken.

North Bellmore ended with 17 points, good for third, ahead of the New Hyde Park Termites (14.5) and the South Hempstead Rascals (14). The North Merrick Stump Jumpers, who claimed the efficiency event, finished sixth with 11 points. The Bellmore Ballbreakers narrowly missed breaking onto the scoreboard, placing sixth in both the efficiency and bucket events.

The Rinky Dinks opened the day in a hole, failing to score in the three-man ladder and B-ladder contests. They mounted a comeback by winning the C-ladder with a time of 9.13 seconds — one of the fastest runs of the afternoon — but came up empty in the C-hose event, which proved costly in the final tally.

Still, North Bellmore showed resilience down the stretch. The team collected a combined 12 points with second-place finishes in the B-hose, efficiency, and motor pump events. The Rinky Dinks entered the last contest with a chance to climb further in the standings but fell short in the bucket brigade finale, where they failed to collect a point.

Labor Day Invitational final standings

STEPPING OUT

A taste of the season in every bite

By Karen Bloom

Autumn’s many pleasures are upon us — and nothing says fall quite like a trip to the apple orchards.

As September rolls in, the air turns crisp, leaves begin to glow and our taste buds are tempted by the flavors that define this fleeting season: juicy apples, fresh-pressed cider and, of course, pumpkins. It’s the perfect time to gather family and friends, head to a local orchard, and fill your baskets with fall’s sweetest treasures.

Apple season is now in full swing, wich picking continuing into mid-October — giving everyone a chance to savor the harvest. When it comes to choosing apples, there’s no shortage of flavor. Local orchards are brimming with varieties to suit every taste and recipe.

Best for snacking: Crisp, juicy favorites like McIntosh, HoneyCrisp, Macoun, Zestar, Granny Smith, and Paula Red are perfect eaten fresh off the tree. More adventurous pickers might enjoy Cortland, Empire, Jonagold, or Crispin (also known as Mutsu).

Best for baking: McIntosh and Cortland shine in pies, crisps, and cakes — Cortlands, in particular, need less sugar because of their natural sweetness. Rome, Empire, Fuji, Crispin, and Ginger Gold are also reliable choices. For pies, a mix of varieties such as Crispin, Cortland, Rome, Granny Smith, and Northern Spy often brings out the best flavor.

Best for sauces and more: Paula Reds cook down beautifully into applesauce, while Cortlands add flavor and color to salads. And, of course, fresh-pressed cider remains the season’s star — orchards throughout the region urge everyone to “buy local” and enjoy each batch.

Once home with your bounty, make delectable apple treats.

is surely one of the definitive desserts of the season.

Filling:

• 3 pounds apples, to yield 2 pounds peeled, cored, and sliced apples; about 9 cups

• 1/4 cup (57g) rum, apple cider or juice, or water

• 1/4 to 3/4 cup (53g to 159g) light brown sugar or 1/4 cup (53g) dark brown sugar, depending on the sweetness/tartness of your apples

• 2 tablespoons (28g) butter, melted

• 2 tablespoons (43g) boiled cider, optional but good

• 1 1/2 teaspoons Apple Pie Spice, or 1 teaspoon cinnamon + 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg + 1/4 teaspoon ginger

• 3 tablespoons (20g) unbleached all-purpose flour or tapioca flour

• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Topping:

• 3/4 cup (90g) unbleached all-purpose flour

• 1/2 cup (45g) quick-cooking oats

• 1/4 teaspoon salt

• 2/3 cup (142g) light brown sugar or dark brown sugar, packed

• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

• 3/4 teaspoon baking powder

• 8 tablespoons (113g) butter, cold, cut in pats

• 1/2 cup (57g) diced pecans or walnuts, optional

Preheat oven to 350° F. Grease a 9” x 9” square cake pan, or similar-size casserole pan. Slice the apples about 1/4” thick. Toss them with the remaining filling ingredients, and spread them in the pan.

To make the topping, whisk together the flour, oats, salt, sugar, cinnamon, and baking powder. Add the cold butter, working it in to make an unevenly crumbly mixture. Stir in the nuts, if you’re using them.

Spread the topping over the apples in the pan. Set the pan on a parchment or foil-lined cookie sheet, to catch any potential drips. Bake for about 60 minutes, till bubbling and top is golden brown.

Remove to cool for at least 20 minutes before serving. If you serve the crisp hot/warm, it may be quite soft; you wait till it’s completely cool, it’ll firm up nicely.

Note: To make individual crisps, grease eight 8-ounce capacity baking dishes, and proceed with the recipe accordingly, baking the smaller crisps for 45 to 55 minutes.

New York Apple Slaw Salad

•

A tasty side with plenty of crunch.

chopped green cabbage

• 1 cup(s) sliced, finely chopped red cabbage

• 1 medium red apple, sliced thin and cut into

small matchsticks

• 1 medium green apple, sliced thin and cut into small matchsticks

• 1 cup(s) grated carrot

• 1/4 cup(s) shelled, roasted pistachios

• Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Sweet and Sour Cider Dressing

• 2 tablespoon(s) apple cider vinegar

• 1/2 teaspoon(s) country Dijon mustard (such as Grey Poupon)

• 1 tablespoon(s) honey

In a cruet or jar, combine dressing ingredients and shake well. Set aside. Combine cabbage, carrot and apples into a large bowl.

Chop pistachios with a knife or use a chopper. Add chopped pistachios to the bowl. Add dressing, salt and pepper to taste, and stir well. Refrigerate for at least 20 minutes; stir again before serving.

Fall’s Best Apple Cranberry Pie

Apples and cranberries combine for a welcome ending to any meal.

• Pastry for a 2 crust deep dish 9-inch pie

• 4 cups sliced, pared tart apples (thickly sliced)

• 2 cups fresh cranberries

• 3/4 cup brown sugar

• 1/4 cup sugar

• 1/3 cup all-purpose flour

• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

• 2 tablespoons butter

Preheat oven to 425° F. Prepare pastry. In large bowl, combine sugars, flour and cinnamon. Add apples and cranberries. Mix to coat well. Turn into prepared pie pan. Dot with butter. Cover with second crust and seal to bottom crust edge by pressing edges together, then flute. Cut slits in top crust. Bake 40-45 minutes until crust is lightly browned. Cover edge of crust with foil if crust is browning too quickly. Cool.

Both Sides Now: Music and Lives of Joni Mitchell and Leonard Cohen

This intimate theatrical concert explores the music and lives of longtime friends and one-time lovers, Joni Mitchell and Leonard Cohen. Created by, and starring folk-rocker Robbie Schaefer and award-winning jazz vocalist Danielle Wertz, the cabaretstyle performance — developed at Washington D.C’s Signature Theatre — traverses decades alongside songs such as “A Case of You,” “Hallelujah,” “Big Yellow Taxi,” “Suzanne,” and many more. Both Sides Now is at once a piece of the ‘60s and ‘70s, and of right now — offering us a story about the messiness of being human, of lives persistently lived at the edge of growth, and of finding the courage to turn toward one another, again and again. Robbie, a rabbi, singersongwriter and theater-film artist, and Danielle, a storyteller-composerarranger, pair up for an unforgettable evening.

Friday, Sept. 12, 8 p.m. $39, $36, $31. Jeanne Rimsky Theater at Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington. Tickets available at landmarkonmainstreet.org.

The Australian Pink Floyd Show

For over 40 years the band from Down Under continues to shine. 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 performs the seminal album Wish You Were Here in its entirety, including all nine parts of “Shine On You Crazy Diamond,” along with tunes from The Dark Side of the Moon and The Wall. With colorful lighting and video, pinpoint lasers, gargantuan inflatables and flawless live sound that was the benchmark of Pink Floyd shows, the band delivers a memorable experience. Replicating music from every phase of Pink Floyd’s journey, this tour reinforces their dedication to the heritage of Barrett, Waters, Gilmour, Wright and Mason.

Wednesday, Sept. 17, 8 p.m. $105.25, $88, $77.75, $66.25, $55.75. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com.

YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD

On

Exhibit

SEPT

11

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 entertainment-related 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

Car show

SEPT

12

The Chamber of Commerce of the Bellmores and the Town of Hempstead welcomes all to the Friday Night Car Show Weather permitting, attendees are sure to find a wide selection of automotives, whether it be vintage vehicles, vans and buses, or newer models, like sports cars. Spectators can enter free of charge. The admission fee for cars is $5.

•Where: Bellmore LIRR, across from King Kullen parking lot

•Time: 5 p.m.

•Contact: (516) 679-1875

Groovy tunes

SEPT

13

North Bellmore Public Library hosts Central Beat. Enjoy an eclectic selection of fun, familiar covers from the 60s, 70s, 80s and beyond with a smattering of lively originals. No registration required and seating is first come-first served

•Where: 1551 Newbridge Rd., North Bellmore

•Time: 2:30 p.m.

•Contact: northbellmorelibrary. org or call (516) 785-6260

In concert

New York City-based writerperformer Joriah Kwame, a Jonathan Larson Grant recipient visits Adelphi University for a

CALENDAR

NYC Ska Orchestra

Get in the groove with the NYC Ska Orchestra. This 20-piece big band blends the exuberant musical layers of the jazz big band era with Jamaican roots music. The top-notch musicians, led by arranger-trumpetervocalist Kevin Batchelor deliver a lively concert that surely will lead you to want to get up out of your seat and dance. The band features star turns from celebrated octogenarian percussionist/vocalist Larry McDonald and master drummer Carl Wright. Alongside a powerhouse collective of instrumental artists from the reggae recording scene, bandmembers have performed with Peter Tosh, Bob Marley, Lee “Scratch” Perry, Toots & the Maytals. Together they play a non-stop selection of lush original compositions and arrangements of songs from the richly historic and culturally iconic Jamaican musical styles of 1950s and ’60s ska, mento, rocksteady and jazz. Don’t know the difference between mento and two-tone? Let this collective of musicians be your guide. The passionate team of talented musicians each bring unique energy and expertise to create an unforgettable sound experience. The band includes Pallavi Gummalam and singer/arranger Aida Brandies Hargrove, joined by top-notch pros who all combine for a hugely entertaining, danceable, unforgettable show. $42, $37 members..

special concert appearance. Kwame, who has a deep passion for musical theater, showcases work from various projects in development. He is most known for writing the viral song “Little Miss Perfect,” of which he is developing a stage musical of the same name. His current slate of projects (both original and adaptations) ranges widely, featuring collaborations with artists like Debbie Allen, Lena Waithe, Siedah Garrett, Marcus Gardley, Lauren Gunderson, and Sam Pinkleton. He brings a modern sensibility that acknowledges our respected traditions and emerging pop cultures. Tickets start at $25, with discounts available to seniors, students, Adelphi alumni and employees.

•Where: Adelphi University Performing Arts Center, 1 South Ave., Garden City

•Time: 3 p.m.

•Contact: adelphi.edu/pac or call (516) 877-4000

Country grooves Eisenhower Park welcomes country singer-songwriter

•Where: Jeanne Rimsky Theater at Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington

• Time: 8 p.m.

•Contact: landmarkonmainstreet.org or (516) 767-6444

Ashley McBryde. She delivers tales of broken hearts and the honkytonk life.

•Where: Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, East Meadow

•Time: 6 p.m.

•Contact: nassaucountyny.gov

SEPT 16

Tax forum seminar

Hempstead Town Receiver of Taxes

Jeanine C. Driscoll visits Merrick Golf Course Clubhouse to host a free tax forum. Address issues including property tax exemptions, challenging your tax assessment, payment dates and location, and tax discounts.

•Where: 2550 Clubhouse Rd., Merrick

•Time: 10:30 a.m.

•Contact: (516) 538-1500

Writer’s Guild workshop

Facilitated by members of the Long Island Writer’s Guild, this session at the Bellmore Library includes a writing exercise, volunteered presentations of individual work, and personalized college-level critiques of presented works. Writers will have the opportunity

‘Brown Bag’ Art Conversation

Join Nassau County Museum of Art Docent Riva Ettus for 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

Jazz Age Grooves

to learn writing strategies and techniques, share their worksin-progress in a supportive and educational environment, and, most importantly, have fun! Writers of all levels and genres are welcome to participate and no registration is required.

•Where: 2288 Bedford Ave., Bellmore

•Time: 10:30 a.m.

•Contact: bellmorelibrary.org or (516) 785-2990

SEPT

18

Street festival

The 38th annual Bellmore Family Street Festival is one of the biggest fall fairs on the South Shore of Nassau County. Hosted by the Chamber of Commerce of the Bellmores, it features crafters, vendors, live music, food, entertainment and carnival rides throughout the village.

•Where: Bedford and Pettit Avenues, Broadway, and in the LIRR parking lots

•Time: 6-10 p.m.; Sept. 19, 6-11 p.m.; Sept. 20, 11 a.m.-11 p.m.; Sept. 21, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.

•Contact: bellmorechamber.com or (516) 809-5892

The Sparrows are back at Old Westbury Gardens, during Gatsby at the Gardens weekend. After four sold-out productions the Sparrows return with an all new vaudeville revue. Enjoy high-energy jazz, show-stopping choreography, and cheeky comedy of the 1920s. $40. Limited availability. Reservations required.

•Where: 71 Old Westbury Road, Old Westbury

•Time: 7 p.m.

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

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.

News brief

Popular Morning Rose Café has closed

For more than a decade, the Morning Rose Café was the go-to spot in Bellmore for scratchmade breakfasts, steaming cups of fresh-ground coffee, and warm conversation. But after 12 years, the family-owned restaurant has closed its doors for good.

The beloved breakfast-andlunch destination on the corner of Bedford and Wilson Avenues had been on vacation since late August and was expected to reopen Sept. 11. Instead, in a heartfelt Facebook post last week, the owner shockingly announced that the café would not reopen.

“It is with tremendous gratitude that I write this post,” the message read. “As you know, we were scheduled to be closed for vacation through 9/11. However, I have had some time to reflect in the last few weeks and decided that we will not re-open following our vacation.”

The post went on to thank the staff whom helped make Morning Rose a staple in the community. Owner Rose Tzanetos gave special recognition to ‘Chef Jon,’ who had been with the restaurant since its opening, and daughter Nikki, who managed the dining room.

“It is because of the hard work and dedication of this talented team that we

were able to remain strong and on top to this day,” the post continued.

Morning Rose was more than just a breakfast spot — it became a community hub where many regulars became like family.

“It has been such a pleasure to get to know so many of you, who have become like family over the years,” the farewell message said. “We appreciate you more than words can say. We will miss you all so much! We wish you all the joy, health and happiness in the world.”

The announcement sparked an outpouring of memories and well-wishes on social media, with customers recalling everything from the welcoming atmosphere, efficient service, and delicious food.

—Brian Kacharaba

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17TH | 12:00PM

EISENHOWER PARK

Original Owner Bobby Kosher

Rosh Hashanah Menu

APPETIZERS

• chopped liver

• vegetable chopped liver

• gefilte fish

• our own homemade horseradish SOUPS

• chicken soup

• matzoh balls

• kreplach

• pea soup

PASTAS

• primavera

• ziti pesto

SIDE DISHES

ENTREES

PACKAGES (feeds 10-15 ppl)

CHOPPED LIVER • 5 QTS CHICKEN BROTH 15 PIECES GEFILTE FISH • 15 GIANT MEATBALLS

• mushroom & barely

• derma

• kasha varnishkes

• noodle pudding

• potato pudding

• potato latkes

• asparagus vinaigrette

• carrot tzimmis

VEGETABLES

• potato pudding

• string beans almondine

• honey glazed baby carrots

• tzimmes • carrot/ zucchini kugel

• southern fried chicken • roasted chickens

• glazed ducklings • turkey

• stuffed breast of veal

• meatloaf

• brisket

DESSERTS

• rugalah • fresh fruit compote

• delicious party cakes

• miniature Danish

• assorted candies & nuts

• assorted dried fruits

• cranberry fruit & nut compote

• fresh fruit salad

VEGETARIAN CHOPPED LIVER

(choose three of the following)

APPLE NOODLE PUDDING • KASHA VARNISHKAS

• ROASTED POTATOES • POTATO PUDDING CARROT OR SWEET POTATO TZIMMES

• MUSHROOM & BARLEY • STRING BEANS

15 lb ROASTED or BBQ TURKEY with stuffing or

September 11, 2025 —

LEGAL NOTICE

Public Notices

Notice of formation of AD LUFFMAN LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York SSNY on 7/1/2025. Office located in Nassau. SSNY has been designated for service of process. SSNY shall mail copy of any process served against the LLC 2703 John St Bellmore NY 11710. Purpose: any lawful purpose.

155126

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU HSBC BANK USA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE FOR FREMONT HOME LOAN TRUST 2005-D, MORTGAGE-BACKED CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2005-D, Plaintiff, Against MICHAEL BROWN, et al, Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale, duly entered 10/09/2018, I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction, on the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, N.Y. 11501 on 9/25/2025 at 2:00PM, premises known as 1855 Madison Avenue, Bellmore, New York 11710, and described as follows:

ALL that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being at Bellmore, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York. Section 56 Block L Lot 21

The approximate amount of the current Judgment lien is $992,729.74 plus interest and costs. The Premises will be sold subject to provisions of the aforesaid Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale; Index # 5261/09 If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, the then Court Appointed Referee will cancel the Foreclosure Auction. This Auction will be held rain or shine.

Louis B. Imbroto, Esq., Referee.

MCCABE, WEISBERG & CONWAY, LLC, 10 Midland Avenue, Suite 205, Port Chester, NY 10573

Dated: 7/29/2025 File Number: 17-300073 CA 155262

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU LONGBRIDGE FINANCIAL, LLC, Plaintiff, AGAINST STELLA ALVAREZ, et al. Defendant(s)

Pursuant to a judgment of foreclosure and sale duly entered on July 19, 2024.

I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction at the North Side Steps of the Nassau Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on September 18, 2025 at 3:00 PM premises known as 1231 George Road, North Bellmore, NY 11710.

Please take notice that this foreclosure auction shall be conducted in compliance with the Foreclosure Auction Rules for Nassau County, and the COVID 19 Health Emergency Rules, including proper use of masks and social distancing.

All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York. Section 56, Block 216 and Lot 77. Approximate amount of judgment $638,518.36 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment. Index #608548/2017. Peter Kramer, Esq., Referee, (516-510-4020) Aldridge Pite, LLPAttorneys for Plaintiff40 Marcus Drive, Suite 200, Melville, NY 11747 155260

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY, BUT SOLELY AS TRUSTEE OF THE TRUMAN 2021 SC9 TITLE TRUST, PLAINTIFF, VS. ADAM TIBBETTS, ET AL., DEFENDANT(S). Pursuant to an Order Confirming Referee Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on July 23, 2025, 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 October 1, 2025 at 2:30 p.m., premises known as 2657 Wilson Avenue, Bellmore, NY 11710. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 56, Block 275 and Lots 288, 289 and 290. Approximate amount of judgment is $444,485.65 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #602379/2023.

William J. Garry, Esq., Referee

Friedman Vartolo LLP, 85 Broad Street, Suite 501, New York, New York 10004, Attorneys for Plaintiff. Firm File No.: 223162-1 155365

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT: COUNTY OF NASSAU BEDFORD SQUARE CONDOMINIUM, Plaintiff, against DWAYNE CRUSE; and “JOHN DOE” and “MARY DOE”, Defendants. Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered herein and dated July 3, 2025, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on north side steps of the Nassau Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, New York, “Rain or Shine”, on September 30, 2025 at 3:00 p.m. premises being at The Condominium Unit (hereinafter referred to as the “Unit”) known as Bedford Square Condominium’s Unit No, 2378, in the Building (hereinafter referred to as the “Building”) known as the Bedford Square Condominium and by the street number Bedford Avenue, Bellmore, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau, State of New York, said Unit being designated and described as Unit No. 105, in a certain Declaration dated January 22, 1986, made by grantor pursuant to Article 9-B of the Real Property Law of the State of

New York (hereinafter referred to as the “Condominium Act”), establishing a plan for condominium ownership of the Building and the land (hereinafter referred to as the “Land”), upon which Building is situate, which Declaration was recorded in the Office of the County Clerk of Nassau County, State of New York, February 3, 1986, in Liber 9702 page 262 (which Declaration and amendments thereto are hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Declaration”).

This Unit is also designated as Tax Lot 361, in Block 337 of Section 56, of the Town of Hempstead, on the Tax Map of the Real Property Assessment Department of the County of Nassau and on the Floor Plans of the Building, certified by Angelo Corva Architects, on August 25, 1985 and filed with the County Clerk’s Office on February 3, 1986, as Condominium Plan No. CA#118, TOGETHER with an undivided 3.84% interest In the Common Elements.

Said premises will be sold subject to zoning restrictions, covenants, easements, conditions, reservations and agreements, if any; subject to any state of facts as may appear from an accurate survey; subject to facts as to possession and occupancy and subject to whatever physical condition of the premises may be; subject to any violations of the zoning and other municipal ordinances and regulations, if any, and if the United States of America should file a tax lien, or other lien, subject to the equity of redemption of the United States of America; subject to the rights of any lienors of record whose liens have not been foreclosed herein, if any; subject to the rights of holders of security in fixtures as defined by the Uniform Commercial Code; subject to taxes, assessments and water rates which are liens on the premises at the time of sale, with accrued interest or penalties thereon; and a first mortgage initially given by Dwayne Cruse, as mortgagor, to MERS, Family First Funding,

LLC, as mortgagee, in the original amount of $242,100.00 dated 1/30/2018 and recorded on 2/9/2018 in the Office of the Nassau County Clerk in Liber 42673 at Page 973. Said mortgage was assigned to Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. by Assignment dated 6/15/2022 and recorded in the Office of the Nassau County Clerk on 6/27/2022 in Liber 46710 at Page 412. Said mortgage was further assigned to Specialized Loan Servicing LLC by Assignment dated 3/7/2023 and was recorded in the Office of the Nassau County Clerk on 3/15/2023 in Liber 47080 at Page 797.

Premises also known as: 2378A Bedford Ave, Unit 105, Bellmore, NY

Section 56 - Block 337Lot 361- Unit 105 Index No. 616873/2024

Ralph J. Madalena, Esq., Referee Cohen, Warren, Meyer & Gitter, P.C., Attorneys for Plaintiff, 98 Maple Avenue, Suite 100, Smithtown, New York 11787. 155337

LEGAL NOTICE

Onetrackmind Vintage, LLC.

Articles of Organization filed with the New York Department of State on 8/12/2025.

Office location: Nassau County. Secretary of State designated Amy Swanteck as agent for service of process, and shall mail process to: 2445 Washington Blvd North Bellmore New York 11710

Purpose: To bring vintage items to retail 155428

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF FORMATION OF LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY. NAME: Rayell Strategic Marketing Solutions LLC Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York, (SSNY) on 4/21/25. NY

Office location: Nassau County. SSNY has been designated as an agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of the process to: 306 Lorraine St. N. Bellmore, NY 11710

Purpose: To engage in any lawful act or activity. 155426

RESOLUTION NO. 852-2025

Adopted: September 3, 2025

Councilmember Goosby offered the following resolution and moved its adoption: RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING AND SETTING ASIDE CERTAIN PARKING SPACES FOR MOTOR VEHICLES FOR THE SOLE USE OF HOLDERS OF SPECIAL PARKING PERMITS ISSUED BY THE COUNTY OF NASSAU TO PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED PERSONS.

WHEREAS, pursuant to Resolution No. 844-2025, adopted August 5, 2025, a public hearing was duly held on the 3rd day of September, 2025, at the Town Meeting Pavilion, Hempstead Town Hall, 1 Washington Street, Hempstead, New York, on the proposed establishment and setting aside of a certain parking space for motor vehicles for the sole use of holders of special parking permits issued by the County of Nassau to physically handicapped persons, in accordance with Section 202-48 of the Code of the Town of Hempstead, all as set forth in said resolution; and WHEREAS, after due consideration, this Town Board finds it to be in the public interest to establish and set aside a certain parking space for motor vehicles for the sole use of holders of special parking permits issued by the County of Nassau to physically handicapped persons; NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that in accordance with Section 202-48 of the Code of the Town of Hempstead, the following parking spaces be and the same hereby is set aside for the sole use of holders of special parking permits issued by the County of Nassau to physically handicapped persons:

BELLMORE MILDRED PLACE - east side, starting at a point 136 feet south of the south curbline of Sunrise Highway, south for a distance of 23 feet.

(TH-306/25)

EAST MEADOW

EVERGREEN LANEnorth side, starting at a point 48 feet east of the east curbline of

Hemlock Avenue, east for a distance of 21 feet.

(TH-344/25)

ELMONT

BELMONT BOULEVARD - west side, starting at a point 218 feet south of the south curbline of Hempstead Turnpike, south for a distance of 20 feet.

(TH-331/25)

FRANKLIN SQUARE

FENDALE STREET - east side, starting at a point 455 feet south of the south curbline of Naple Avenue, south for a distance of 22 feet.

(TH-278/25)

LEVITTOWN GRASSY LANE - west side, starting at a point 340 feet north of the north curbline of Hempstead Turnpike, north for a distance of 20 feet.

(TH-287/25)

OCEANSIDE EVERS LANE - east side, starting at a point 289 feet west to the southwest, southwest for a distance of 20 feet.

(TH-311/25)

SEAFORD

ARDMORE PLACEeast side, starting at a point 135 feet south of the south curbline of Marion Street, south for a distance of 20 feet.

(TH-302/25)

UNIONDALE

GOODRICH STREETnorth side, starting at a point 590 feet east of the east curbline of Chester Street, east for a distance of 20 feet.

(TH-284/25)

MERILLON STREETnorth side, starting at a point 53 feet east of the east curbline of Manor Parkway, east for a distance of 20 feet.

(TH-322/25)

PAMLICO AVENUEeast side, starting at a point 260 feet south of the south curbline of Warwick Street, south for a distance of 20 feet.

(TH-324/25)

WANTAGH

CHURCH STREET - east side, starting at a point 69 feet south of the south curbline of Island Road, south for a distance of 60 feet.

(TH-301/25)

WEST HEMPSTEAD

ESSEX COURT - west side, starting at a point 187 feet south of the south curbline of Coventry Road north, south for a distance of 20 feet.

(TH-323/25) and on the repeal of the following locations previously set aside as parking spaces for physically handicapped

persons: BALDWIN

BERTHA DRIVE - east side, starting at a point 183 feet south of the south curbline of Cherrywood Drive, south for a distance of 20 feet.

(TH-387/23) - 10/05/23) (TH-355/25)

; and, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Town Clerk shall enter this resolution in the minutes of the Town Board and shall publish a copy of this resolution once a newspaper having a general circulation in the Town of Hempstead, and shall post a copy hereof on the signboard maintained by her, and file in her office affidavits of such publication and posting.

The foregoing resolution was seconded by Councilmember Dunne and adopted upon roll call as follows:

AYES: SEVEN (7) NOES: NONE (0) 155651

LEGAL NOTICE CASE NO. 16214 RESOLUTION NO. 851-2025

Adopted: September 3, 2025 Councilmember Schneider offered the following resolution and moved its adoption: RESOLUTION ADOPTING TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD PUBLIC PARKING FIELD MAPS SHOWING PARKING REGULATIONS AT CERTAIN PARKING FIELDS.

WHEREAS, pursuant to Resolution No. 843-2025, adopted August 5, 2025, a public hearing was duly held on the 3rd day of September, 2025, at the Town Meeting Pavilion, Hempstead Town Hall, 1 Washington Street, Hempstead, New York, on the proposed adoption of the following public parking field maps showing the repeal of one (1) “No Parking Taxi Only” sign in parking field B-3, Bellmore; all in accordance with Section 80-4 of the Code of the Town of Hempstead: WHEREAS, after due consideration this Town Board finds it to be in the public interest to adopt the following Town of Hempstead public parking field

Mom and daughter use library to escape

the women at the front desk every day. It became like a little friendly community.”

Gina, who is homeschooled, embraced the tradition with enthusiasm beyond her years. Over the summer, she read an astonishing 200 books, collecting raffle tickets and gift baskets along the way.

“She’s reading on a 7-, 8-year-old level,” Arzberger said. “She is a great reader and something that she’s always enjoyed.”

Arzberger’s road to diagnosis was long and painful. For more than a decade, she suffered from recurring, unexplained stomach pain and debilitating cycles that drained her physically and emotionally. She didn’t feel safe driving with her kids in the car because of her symptoms and vertigo, so even simple trips became difficult.

“Even taking them to my parents’ house to go swimming, I just couldn’t physically and mentally do it,” she said. “On top of that, the doctor’s appointments alone, for like a month solid, it

was three to four times a week. It was grueling. I wasn’t home. I didn’t even have the time.”

Public Notices

maps showing the revisions thereon; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the following Town of Hempstead public parking field maps showing the adoption of one (1) “No REVISED Parking Taxi Only” sign in parking field B-3, Bellmore; all in accordance with Section 80-4 of the Code of the Town of Hempstead: BELLMORE B-3 Commuter Parking Field Bellmore Town of Hempstead (TH-293B/25) and, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Town Clerk shall enter this resolution in the minutes of the Town Board and the Ordinance Book and shall publish a copy of this resolution once in a newspaper of general circulation in the Town of Hempstead, and shall post a copy hereof on the signboard maintained by her, and file in her office affidavits of such publication and posting. The foregoing resolution was seconded by Councilmember Dunne and adopted upon roll call as follows:

AYES: SEVEN (7)

NOES: NONE (0) 155652

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF ADOPTION OF TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD

LOCAL LAW NO. 54-2025

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that, pursuant to Article 9 of the New York State Constitution, the provisions of the Town Law and the Municipal Home Rule Law of the State of New York, both as amended, a public hearing was duly called and held on the 3rd day of September, 2025, by the Town Board of the Town of Hempstead, on the proposed adoption of Town of Hempstead Local Law No. -2025, and following the close of the hearing the Town Board duly adopted Town of Hempstead Local Law No. 54-2025, to amend Section 197-5 of the Code of the Town of Hempstead, to include “ARTERIAL STOPS” at various locations.

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 155649

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF ADOPTION OF TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD

LOCAL LAW NO.

52-2025

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that, pursuant to Article 9 of the New York State Constitution, the provisions of the Town Law and the Municipal Home Rule Law of the State of New York, both as amended, a public hearing was duly called and held on the 3rd day of September, 2025, by the Town Board of the Town of Hempstead, on the proposed adoption of Town of Hempstead Local Law No. -2025, and following the close of the hearing the Town Board duly adopted Town of Hempstead Local Law No. 52-2025, to amend Chapter 202 of the Code of the Town of Hempstead, to include and repeal “REGULATIONS & RESTRICTIONS” to limit parking at various locations.

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 155647

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF ADOPTION OF TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD

LOCAL LAW NO.

Laura arzberger and 5-year-old daughter gina spent their summer visiting the north Bellmore public Library daily, turning books into a cherished family ritual.

but her daughter was asking every day, ‘Mom, is it time to go to the library?’ To us, that’s why we’re here. We want to help people. We want to be a place where they feel comfortable and relaxed.”

That sense of routine mattered deeply.

“When you’re going through something, it is one of the first things that’s easiest to fall apart because A, I’m selfwallowing, and B, I’m going through all of the stages of grief,” Arzberger said. “Then I’m going through just the physicality of appointments, research time. It’s very easy to just lose yourself and your routine.

“So, I made the routine,” she continued. “It wasn’t like, ‘We will come home, and you will read these books.’ It definitely got me out of my space for a little bit. And then listening to her read got me out of my mental space. It was the books, it was the raffles, it was the trip to the library. And every day I can look forward to 1 p.m.”

53-2025

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that, pursuant to Article 9 of the New York State Constitution, the provisions of the Town Law and the Municipal Home Rule Law of the State of New York, both as amended, a public hearing was duly called and held on the 3rd day of September, 2025, by the Town Board of the Town of Hempstead, on the proposed adoption of Town of Hempstead Local Law No. -2025, and following the close of the hearing the Town Board duly adopted Town of Hempstead Local Law No. 53-2025, to amend Section 202-1 of the Code of the Town of Hempstead, to include and repeal “PARKING OR STANDING PROHIBITIONS” at various locations.

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 155648

PUBLIC AND LEGAL NOTICES…

To place a notice here call us us at 516-569-4000 x232 or send an email to: legalnotices@liherald.com

The time she needed for healing and medical appointments eventually cost her a job as a paralegal. Arzberger’s husband, Jeff, is an accountant and has been very supportive of her situation.

“There were times where things got dark mentally,” she said. “You have lost the quality of life and I’m such an advocate for health. I’m trying so hard, and I just keep hitting wall after wall, and no one’s working with me.”

The uncertainty only added to the stress of raising two young children while struggling with an illness few understood. A recent diagnosis provided some clarity but also forced Arzberger to accept limitations she never expected.

“We love going to the local preserves,” she said of past summers. “I would do day trips, children’s museums, we would go to the beach almost every morning and just do a lot of day-to-day activities. [Suddenly], I couldn’t do anything. I was absolutely drained and just disassociated most of the time but pretending that I wasn’t.”

The library became the solution. The staff greeted them warmly each day, and soon the colorful walls of the children’s section felt as familiar as their own living room.

“The library is so much more than books,” public information assistant Leanna Cherry said. “As much as their tradition was centered around books, it created this beautiful routine that I think she didn’t realize was happening,

The daily library trips have been put on hold for now, but Arzberger said there will still be valuable time spent with her family—art projects, playing with Barbies, or simply snuggling together in bed.

“We could do meaningful things in the house or smaller trips when I can,” she said. “[Gina] loves just sitting and making beaded bracelets with me. So, I try to do those little things and, like, fill their love cups, and that just looks different. That keeps me in a positive mindset.”

gina arzberger, 5, read over 200 books during the summer and is now reading at an 8-year-old level.

National Library Card Sign-Up Month

established in 1987 by the american Library association, national Library Card Sign-up month is celebrated every September as a reminder that a library card is the first step to academic success, lifelong learning, and community connection. at the north Bellmore public Library, cardholders not only gain access to technology and resources, but can also reserve free passes to many Long island museums and enjoy exclusive discounts at local businesses. to learn more about nBpL programs and services, visit northBellmoreLibrary. org or call 516-785-6260.

info@bellautoschool.com

HomesHERALD

Expanded Luxury Ranch

REALESTATE

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‘How

does anybody want to do business here?’

Q. Can you explain why I have to go back through a whole repeat of applying for a permit that has already been approved twice in the past 10 years for the same thing? I bought a property that I was told could be developed for multiple families. I looked up the records and found that it had been approved as recently as 10 years ago, but the person who was getting the permit must have run out of money or something. I applied for the exact same thing and was told I would have to go through applying for the permit, getting a denial, going through a board meeting with the council, and if approved, would still need to get a zoning variance that has already been given approvals twice before. I was also warned that this whole process could take three to four years. How does anybody want to do business here? Buying a property, paying the taxes, getting nothing, just shelling out loads of money on the assumption that the whole thing will be approved hardly makes it worth it. Is this avoidable? Is there another way?

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A. Not every municipality has this long a process, but the process is generally the same in every government, no matter the size. The only way through it is to promptly apply at each stage but, unfortunately, the procedures and rules make the process extremely drawn out. In theory, each phase of approval is intended as a “checks and balances” procedure, and as long as you are writing the checks and keeping the local government’s balances, they rarely try to streamline unless you cooperate. I did recently experience an exception worthy of recognizing Long Beach for its wisdom and compassion toward a homeowner. The person had a deck built that had columns running right along the property line, which is not allowed in the zoning regulations. The owner went through the building permit and zoning variance process, but the contractor deviated from the plans once the permit was issued. Instead of putting all the columns right along the property line, even though the second floor deck was set back the required 5 feet, the contractor only put the first two front columns on the property line, and then installed the remaining three columns 5 feet in, so that a car couldn’t park under the deck. It made no sense, but the owner can’t read plans, and didn’t know what was happening until it was too late. They questioned this with their building department, and an official looked at the problem, but instead of forcing the owner to go back through the whole process, the official recognized that this problem had a simpler solution, and only required a letter of explanation from a licensed professional, and the problem will be solved without the expensive and time-consuming burden to the owner.

So it can be done, if only compassion prevailed. Good luck!

© 2025 Monte Leeper

Readers are encouraged to send questions to yourhousedr@aol.com, 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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Confessions of a democratic capitalist

i’m a capitalist. There, I said it. Even more than that, I’m a Democrat. In fact, I serve as a Democratic national committeeman. I have also been a partner in a small business on Long Island for more than 35 years. Capitalism is neither a threat nor just a theory to me; it is a reality that provides opportunities for me as well as our employees, vendors and clients.

As I write this confession sequestered in my undisclosed location, it is important to remember that our nation’s capitalist economy and entrepreneurial spirit are the envy of the world, attracting workers, investment and admiration. But this success wouldn’t be possible without two critical features: a social safety net that allows people to take risks, start businesses and join unions, and federal funding for research and development.

It is because of my commitment to capitalism that I stand in strong opposition to President Trump’s economic agenda.

Think about the child tax credit, the

Affordable Care Act, Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security — these historic programs achieved by visionary leaders during national crises protect people from the vicissitudes of the market and allow them to pursue economic opportunity. Trump is tearing up that legacy by gutting Medicaid and food assistance for tens of thousands of New Yorkers.

THis Big Beautiful Bill — a big, ugly bill — will spike health care premiums for more than 24 million households that receive health insurance through the ACA exchange, and the exorbitant expense will cost as many as 80,000 New Yorkers their coverage. It will lead to the layoffs of more than 3,000 hospital workers in our state. It will reduce aftertax income not just for the very poor and vulnerable, but also for the middle class. It will raise electricity bills, and make basic consumer goods more expensive. Our small businesses and their employees will suffer the repercussions.

rump’s economic agenda is an assault on everything from jobs to science.

are fully implemented. Moreover, Trump’s decision to fire the Bureau of Labor Statistics commissioner over a weak jobs report and his attempt to fire Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, in addition to eroding the independence of the Fed, are the tactics of a banana republic that undermine American capitalism. Our fellow citizens can’t succeed when they are denied opportunities to enter the middle class and build a future for their families.

nomic standing in the world.

There’s no question that unchecked government and unchecked capitalism are equally dangerous. Imagine two scenarios: In one, American businesses innovate, grow and compete globally, powered by a workforce with access to health care, education and financial opportunity. That leads to a future in which new industries emerge, lifechanging technologies are invented and prosperity is widely shared.

The latest jobs report indicates a slumping economy, with just 22,000 jobs added in August and the unemployment rate at the highest level since October 2021. This will only get worse as the administration’s unprecedented tariffs

Contrary to conventional belief, the federal government has funded and developed leading technologies, such as GPS, Siri, the Covid-19 vaccines, the space program and the internet. According to a recent Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas paper, non-defense government research and development has been responsible for more than 20 percent of productivity growth since World War II. Instead of doubling down on these critical investments, the Trump administration has canceled billions of dollars in grants for the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation. His research funding budget would inflict even more austerity. Put simply, this is an assault on American jobs, education, science, health, medicine and our eco-

In the other scenario, we watch our competitive edge erode. Entrepreneurs can’t take risks because they can’t afford to get sick. Innovation stalls. Inequality deepens. Businesses fail. Families suffer.

The choice we face isn’t between capitalism and government, but between a sustainable capitalism that works for all and a broken system that serves and favors only a few. If we are to create jobs, power local businesses, develop innovation and protect the American dream, we must rise above party labels and partisan rhetoric and respond as patriots by learning from history. The investments that have cured disease and provided economic growth have made our country the beacon of innovation. That requires standing in defense of capitalism.

Robert Zimmerman is a co-president of ZE Creative Communications in Garden City.

Don’t let this pipeline threaten Long Island’s future

As a past president of the New York Marine Education Association and a grandfather who takes his grandchildren, Noah and Sophie, to Long Island’s beaches, I care deeply about the waters and coastline that define our communities. Our shores are more than scenery — they are classrooms, playgrounds and lifelines. But if the Williams Northeast Supply Enhancement pipeline is approved, those same waters could soon carry a very different legacy — one of pollution, higher utility bills and broken promises to protect our climate future. This frackedgas pipeline, last rejected in 2020 after massive public opposition, has been resurrected under pressure from President Trump. Now Gov. Kathy Hochul’s administration is rushing the project through review with a truncated public-comment period and no public hearings — silencing the very people who will live with the consequences. New Yorkers have already made our voices clear: More than 11,000 public

comments were submitted against NESE last month. Hundreds of people rallied across the Brooklyn Bridge. More than 130 elected officials signed a letter urging Hochul to stop this dangerous project. And yet the state continues to treat public input as a boxchecking exercise, not a democratic responsibility.

The risks of the Northeast Supply Enhancement line couldn’t be clearer.

The risks could not be clearer. The pipeline would bury 23 miles of frackedgas infrastructure beneath New York Harbor, disturbing toxic chemicals long buried in the ocean floor. Williams Companies’ own plans call for excavating 23 miles of seabed, which is laced with industrial toxins like lead and dioxin that would be churned back into our waters. This would threaten marine life ranging from dolphins to endangered sea turtles — and it would put coastal communities at risk of contamination and explosions. Williams, the developer, has a record of safety violations and pipeline accidents nationwide.

And Long Islanders would be asked to pay for the privilege. National Grid — the utility backing the project — acknowledges that customer bills would rise by 3.5 percent, roughly $150 a year for the average household. The overall

cost of the project would be upward of $3.2 billion, a tab to be passed on to National Grid customers in Nassau and Suffolk counties, Staten Island, Brooklyn and the Rockaways. That’s on top of rate hikes already planned for 2026. A several-billion-dollar pipeline will lock us into higher costs for decades while renewable projects are delayed or sidelined.

The irony is painful: New York’s climate law — the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act of 2019 — requires us to cut fossil fuel use dramatically in the years ahead. Building more gas pipelines isn’t just backward; it’s unlawful. Experts estimate that overbuilt gas infrastructure has already cost American households $179 billion in unnecessary spending. Why would we saddle Long Island families with the bill for obsolete infrastructure that will only accelerate the climate crisis?

The fossil fuel industry argues that we need more gas to keep the lights on while renewable projects catch up. Yet demand for fossil fuels is declining, thanks to policies passed that support energy efficiency and cleaner heating systems. Plus, New Yorkers overwhelm-

ingly voted for the Environmental Bond Act ballot initiative in 2022, supporting a clear mandate for clean water, resilient infrastructure and renewable energy. State residents have spoken. We should be investing in offshore wind, solar and efficiency — not doubling down on fracked gas just because Trump is working to protect the fossil fuel lobby.

Hochul has a choice. She can stand with Long Island families who treasure our beaches, our health and our future. Or she can stand with pipeline companies looking for a quick profit at our expense, alongside Trump, who is working to empower those companies.

Long Island residents like me have already fought and won this battle once before. We’re ready to do it again. But we shouldn’t have to. The governor can — and must — reject NESE and any attempt to resurrect dead pipelines.

For me, this fight is about more than policy. It’s about leaving a safer, healthier world for my grandchildren, Noah and Sophie. Our communities deserve clean water, affordable energy and a government that listens to the people it serves. Let’s not let Trump’s pipeline scar our shores and burden our future.

Joseph M. Varon is a volunteer leader of Food & Water Watch and a past president of the New York Marine Education Association.

Every Sept. 11 should be a day of resolve

ioften reflect on how people thought differently about the world on Sept. 10, 2001. Then, in an instant, everything changed. I remember the confusion, chaos and fear — and the extraordinary unity that followed. In the days and weeks after the attacks, we weren’t Democrats or Republicans. We were Americans, bound by grief, resolve and an unshakable sense of shared purpose.

I was buoyed by the sight of American flags flying everywhere, on cars, on homes, on buildings. They reminded us, even in our darkest hour, that we were still united as one people. That unity stands in stark contrast to the fractured and divided state of our country today. On this solemn anniversary, I believe Sept. 11 must not only be a day of remembrance, but also a day of recommitment. Let’s rededicate ourselves to the dream that is America — the proposition that all men and women are created equal, and the promise that hard work will be reward-

ed with a decent life. Let’s re-devote ourselves to faith, family, community and country.

I vividly remember those first hours. In Glen Cove, where I was serving as mayor, one of the first decisions we made was to run continuous trips of the Glen Cove Ferry to help bring people trapped in Manhattan to safety. Our crews and volunteers transported thousands of people. It was a small act of service compared with the enormity of what had happened, but it was something tangible, something immediate, something that made a difference.

Lness of those who stood ready to serve. I lost friends and neighbors that day, and I know others who survived because they decided not to go to the office that morning. One friend instead handed out my campaign literature at the train station.

et’s carry forward the spirit of unity and purpose that defined us in those dark days.

We solicited hundreds of volunteer doctors, nurses and first responders to be ferried to the city. We also coordinated with New York City emergency management and Glen Cove Hospital to bring the wounded back to our facility. Sadly, as the day wore on, the reality became painfully clear. There were no wounded. They didn’t need our hospital, or our volunteers — the devastation was so complete that there were no survivors to be saved.

That truth still weighs heavily on me, a reminder of both the cruelty of that day and the extraordinary selfless-

We must be grateful for our lives and what we have when we have it. Let’s do the work we can, while we can.

Over the years, I’ve been privileged to work closely with John Feal, of Commack, a man who turned his own tragedy into a life of service. John was working as a demolition supervisor at ground zero when a falling steel beam crushed his foot. After his injury, he was denied compensation. He made it his mission to fight for others. Through the FealGood Foundation, and with allies like Jon Stewart and many others, we’ve fought hard on behalf of first responders and survivors, ensuring that they receive the care and resources they deserve.

This year, U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick and I introduced the bipartisan Patriot Day Act, to establish Sept. 11 as a federal holiday. Our goal is simple: to give every American the chance to com-

memorate one of the most significant days in our history. For 24 years we have honored 9/11 in our own ways. By enshrining the day in federal law, we would affirm that remembrance is not optional; it is essential.

But remembering isn’t enough. We owe it to those we lost, and to those who rushed into the burning towers to save others, to carry forward the spirit of unity and purpose that defined us in those dark days. Let us never forget the pain that was visited upon us, the bravery and sacrifice of our first responders and the extraordinary sense of togetherness that carried us through. And most of all, let’s rededicate ourselves to the dream and promise of America, that we’re stronger together, that our differences don’t divide us, and that hope, not hatred, will define our future.

On Sept. 11, 2001, everything changed. Twenty-four years later, the memories are still raw. The grief still lingers. But so, too, does the possibility of renewal. If we remember well, and recommit ourselves, Sept. 11 will not only be a day of mourning, but also a day of resolve. That’s how we can best honor those we lost: by building a country worthy of their sacrifice.

Tom Suozzi represents the 3rd Congressional District.

Protecting our kids and keeping Nassau County safe

As county executive, I am proud to announce that Nassau County has reached unprecedented levels of safety during my time in office. Despite having a larger population than 10 U.S. states, our crime numbers have continued to decline every year. After falling by 9 percent in 2024, major crimes are now down by over 13 percent in the county yearto-date in 2025. This is a massive accomplishment for our Nassau County Police Department, and it’s a major reason why we continue to be regarded as the safest county in America.

But despite our accomplishments, we know that we can never rest on our laurels. Every day we strive to find new ways to bring security and peace of mind to our residents. One of my top priorities is protecting our children from criminals who threaten their security at school. With a new academic year underway, many parents may be feeling anxious about shootings and other devastating events that have

repeatedly happened across our country. I am taking every possible step, however, to ensure that those tragedies do not happen in Nassau County.

Last month, I announced that the NCPD was creating and deploying a new Strategic Response Team specifically to safeguard our schools and mitigate any threats to students, teachers and faculty. The team is made up of dozens of dedicated police officers who work closely with school officials to identify and prevent potential threats. I’m proud to say that the team’s deployment was a complete success for this year’s back-toschool transition, and it will be a critical tool moving forward for all of the county’s educational institutions.

W

ith efforts like the largest gang takedown in the county’s history last month.

a week, with many of them known members of gangs like MS-13, the 18th Street Gang and the Trinitarios. This monumental achievement was the largest gang takedown in Nassau County history, and it helped remove illegal criminals who had no business being here in the first place. Nassau is not a sanctuary county, and we will not tolerate criminality from illegal migrants who threaten our neighborhoods.

training alongside our federal, state and local partners. The real-life scenarios and exercises they undertake there will give them the experience to handle any situation they encounter on the job with confidence.

Part of the task of keeping our children safe is ensuring that the streets they live on are free from crime. The NCPD is doing an excellent job of collaborating with local, state and federal partners to achieve this goal. Just last month, we coordinated a tactical takedown of gang members with the assistance of Immigration Customs and Enforcement officials. We arrested dozens of dangerous criminals in less than

Tackling public-safety issues is critically important to me, which is why I’ve made so many investments in our local police. While other counties and leaders are reducing their focus on public safety and seeing an increase in crime, I have authorized hiring over 600 police and correctional officers during my time in office. I plan to expand our law enforcement hires even further in the years to come, to continue giving our residents the security they deserve.

Our officers will be the best in the nation thanks to a brand new policetraining village that we opened this summer. This critical resource will ensure that the brave men and women who protect us receive the best available

In addition to the best training, my administration and the County Legislature are ensuring that our police have the necessary funding to access the most advanced equipment and resources. It’s my goal that every police officer working for the county is put in the best position to do their job effectively so they can return home safely at the end of their shift.

My administration’s commitment to the safety and well-being of our residents has never been stronger. Under my leadership, we will continue to prioritize the safety of our communities so that every resident can live, work and prosper without fear. That means not only maintaining and enhancing our law enforcement resources, but also fostering strong relationships among our police, local organizations and the community. We will engage with residents, listen to their concerns and respond proactively to keep our streets safe. Together we will ensure that Nassau County remains the best place to live for everyone.

Established

Incorporating

Phone: (516) 569-4000

Fax: (516)

HERALD

L.I.’s housing crisis costs us more than homes

For the past few weeks, the Herald has presented a series on housing and the challenges of finding an affordable place to live for Long Islanders — a necessity that seems to be slipping further from reach for so many in Nassau and Suffolk counties.

For decades, people came here to build lives rooted in family, work and community. These days, however, housing has become not just a financial burden, but also a destabilizing one that threatens health, safety and the very fabric of our towns.

Housing supply has stagnated while demand has soared. Rising rents and homes priced beyond the reach of working families are reshaping daily life. They are forcing impossible choices: whether to stay close to loved ones, whether to sacrifice health care in order to pay the rent or the mortgage, whether to leave Long Island altogether. The crisis is no longer theoretical — it is personal, urgent, and in desperate need of solutions.

Consider the story of Karen Wihlt, whom we featured in Part 2 of our housing series, “Personal stories of L.I.’s housing crisis,” three weeks ago. Wihlt, 58, lives in uncertainty with her service dog in a Bethpage hotel room. After years of building a life here, working as a chef and helping open restaurants around the area, she now faces homelessness.

She can no longer work, but her income from disability benefits — too much for her to qualify for local aid but

letters

King stirs memories of what football used to be

To the Editor:

nowhere near enough for her to afford rent or a continued hotel stay — illustrates the sobering arithmetic of survival on Long Island.

The cost of insecurity reaches beyond the wallet. As Peggy Boyd, vice president of community services and advocacy for the Family Service League, noted in that story, the trauma of losing housing often triggers depression, anxiety and hopelessness. The Family Service League is a social service agency that provides support and security to Long Islanders in need.

Children, the fastest-growing segment of the homeless population nationwide, suffer disrupted schooling, constant moves and the erosion of the routines essential for healthy development. When a child repeatedly sleeps in a car or a motel instead of a bedroom, the damage isn’t just temporary — it echoes through a lifetime.

Even middle-class professionals, long considered the backbone of Long Island, are struggling. Brandon Webber, a lieutenant in the New York City Fire Department, and his fiancée, preschool director Alexa Rubinstein, who rent an apartment in Farmingdale, embody the contradiction: two educated, hardworking adults with multiple jobs who still can’t buy a home in the communities they serve.

For some, like Denise Minicozzi, 60, the only option is to work harder by working more hours — but still never getting ahead. Minicozzi waits tables and works part-time at an assisted-living facility just to cover the $4,200 rent for a

Re Peter King’s op-ed, “College football just ain’t what it used to be,” in last week’s issue: I arrived at Dillon Hall, University of Notre Dame, a graduate of Baldwin High School, in the fall of 1966. Alan Page walked through Dillon every day from Alumni Hall to get to the south dining hall. Bob Gladieux, Rocky Bleier, Tom Schoen — all regular guys, passing through the hall. I use the term “regular guys” because they were. And they were students as well.

I always remember Tom McKinley, All-American center on the team, with a 3.97 GPA in electrical engineering, writing an article for the N.D. paper, called The Observer. He described his day, and the focus was on time management. I’m 77, and have never forgotten the clarity of time these players had to observe in terms of classes, studying, practice, meals, travel, game days.

The 1966 team was electrifying. We all gathered in the old fieldhouse for the first pep rally. The team sat

modest Bayville house — an arrangement with no security and the constant threat of increases. Like many others, she and her partner are contemplating leaving Long Island.

Too many longtime residents are reaching the same conclusion: the place they love no longer loves them back. The ripple effects are already visible. Assemblyman Charles Lavine, a Democrat who represents the 13th District, warns that without affordable housing, Long Island is “losing its future.”

Middle-class families are being priced out, young people are leaving and communities risk being hollowed out. Without a thriving middle class, schools weaken, businesses falter and neighborhoods lose their vitality.

State funding has helped, and projects near Long Island Rail Road stations hold promise. But efforts remain piecemeal, stymied by local resistance to new development and a lack of federal investment.

The solution requires bold action: regionalizing poverty thresholds so assistance matches local costs, investing in supportive housing that integrates mental health care, and building more homes and apartments where people need them. Above all, it requires the political will to overcome “not in my backyard” resistance and acknowledge the reality staring us in the face.

Housing is not just shelter. It is health care. It is education. It is stability. It is dignity. If we don’t act now, we risk losing the very essence of what has always made Long Island home.

opinions University trustees must serve as guardians

the intrusions into the governance and operations of the University of Virginia, George Mason University, Harvard and columbia, among others, by federal and state officials contradict U.S. Supreme court precedent and undermine the integrity of higher education.

The White House and the Department of Justice threaten the withholding of federal research funds as leverage to force changes in who is admitted, who teaches and what is taught. They accuse institutions of being silent in the face of antisemitism; ignoring presidential orders limiting diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives; and violating the Supreme court’s decision on affirmative action in Students for Fair admissions v. Harvard. In addition to reductions in federal funding, the government has threatened to limit the enrollment of international students and the employment of international scholars.

These actions, based on unproven allegations and without due process and respect for the law, expose the vulnerability of colleges and universities, despite Supreme court decisions including Dartmouth college v. Woodward

(1819) and Sweezy v. New Hampshire (1957). Both decisions affirmed that universities must remain free from government interference in their teaching, hiring, admissions and governance. Institutional autonomy and board independence are fundamental to academic freedom, educational excellence and the fulfillment of fiduciary duties, the court affirmed.

aThe attacks against universities elsewhere should raise concern on long Island. We are home to 15 colleges and universities, and all rely on federal funding for student financial aid. Some have substantial research agendas. Stony Brook University, for example, is a major recipient of federal research grants, which totaled over $16 million in 2023. adelphi, cold Spring Harbor laboratories, Hofstra, long Island University, New York Institute of Technology and Northwell Health, among others, also have active research programs that rely on government grants. Earlier this year, Newsday reported that the new federal budget could reduce research funding on long Island by over $163 million for medical, science, technology and other projects.

tion, the Department of Energy, NaSa and the Department of Education.

ence between governance and management, and questions and prescriptions.

ttacks on colleges elsewhere should raise concerns on Long Island.

like universities elsewhere, ours are governed by boards of trustees that are responsible for preserving institutional independence, academic freedom and free speech, all necessary for teaching and scholarship that challenges assumptions and assertions. Surprisingly, fewer than 15 percent of american college and university trustees have any professional experience in higher education, which underscores the need for rigorous orientation in academic governance and mission. can we imagine a public company saying its directors did not know its legal landscape, finances and markets?

Public university trustees are mostly appointed through a political process, although some states allow public elections, and most independent college and university trustees are selected with consideration given to their philanthropic capacity. Neither are generally selected for their governance acumen or knowledge of higher education. Nevertheless, the duties of trustees are threefold: care, loyalty and obedience.

The duty of loyalty: Board members must act in good faith and in the best interests of the institution, not out of self-interest or in the interest of a particular constituency.

The duty of obedience: Boards must uphold the institution’s charter and mission, maintaining public trust through honest stewardship.

Each institution has a covenant with the public that gives it a charter, its major asset. The faculty may be the heart and students the soul, but the license to award degrees and certificates is what gives the institution stature, credibility, relevance and viability. That is what trustees hold in trust as guardians of the institution.

Key federal agencies providing research funding for long Island institutions include the Department of Health and Human Services, the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Defense, the National Science Founda-

Letters

downfield, furthering the distance between himself and the Boilermaker defense. Terry Hanratty threw a pass toward the sideline where no one was until, a moment later, Jim Seymour, on a timed route, appeared out of nowhere to snag the throw. It was glorious.

Every visit to the campus brings me home, as it does with the thousands who have attended the university. But Peter King is correct: The sports landscape has changed. It’s mind-boggling to hear the play-by-play announcer name the three different schools that this or that player has attended before he landed on the team out on the field.

It’s a cliché, but how often is the answer to just about anything one word: money? It doesn’t seem like a degree in electrical engineering is in the offing. Not that these young athletes aren’t smart. They’re being offered something that may never come along again in their lifetime, and it’s hard to resist.

In some ways, people of our age resist change. We could never imagine the terms being presented to today’s players. (This goes for technology as well. I thank God our grandchildren live in town, so we can call them any time we need something that relates to

our phone, computer or TV.) Go, Irish!

BIll PIccHIoNI

Notre Dame class of 1970

MaTTHEW PIccHIoNI

Notre Dame class of 2000 Rockville Centre

Workers aren’t getting what Trump promised

To the Editor:

Workers deserve fair pay, safe working conditions, affordable health care and the freedom to retire with dignity. We deserve the right to join unions that give workers a voice; an economy that works for all families, not just the wealthy; and a democracy in which every voice is heard and every vote counts.

Workers and families deserve fully funded public schools that are safe, welcoming, relevant and engaging, as well as higher education that is accessible, affordable and free from political intrusion.

President Trump campaigned on making life better and more affordable

The duty of care: Board members must prepare diligently, participate actively and protect the institution through appropriate oversight, including guarding against external interference. Trustees need to know the differ-

Trustees are most effective when they know the history, mission and purpose, the students, local community and the comparative advantages of the institutions they serve. This is vital not only for the health of the institution but also to maintain the standards of independence that have been the hallmark of U.S. higher education. as a former university president and trustee, and as a member of PEN america’s champions of Higher Education, I believe it is my responsibility to speak out on behalf of our institutions, our students and our country’s future.

Dr. Robert A. Scott is president Emeritus of Adelphi University and Ramapo College of New Jersey, and the author of “How University Boards Work.”

for working families, and I’m sad to say that his administration has not delivered on these promises. Instead we have seen funding slashed for schools, health care, child care and more — while tax breaks are handed to the ultra-wealthy. our family members and communities will be sicker, hungrier and poorer. We deserve so much better.

Whether it’s peacefully protesting with our neighbors and co-workers in the streets, forming unions at our workplaces or engaging with elected officials in congress, let’s work together to fight for the future that all workers deserve.

claIrE laBorDE Hempstead

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