East Meadow Herald 09-11-2025

East Meadow kicks off new academic year

East Meadow students are back in school, ready for a new year of learning, growth and educational opportunities. Above, kindergarteners at George McVey Elementary School were eager to begin their journeys in East Meadow schools. Story, more photos, Page 10.

By JoRDAN VAlloNE jvallone@liherald.com

East Meadow native Chris Capuano faced his fair share of challenges throughout his youth — but he’s turned those struggles into the heart of his recently released memoir, “No Ceiling, No Excuses,” charting the turbulent childhood, hurdles he overcame and the lessons that have fueled his business success.

Capuano, 35, divides his memoir into three sections. He begins by recounting his childhood with an alcoholic mother and her partner’s drug addiction, along with other early hardships. The narrative moves into the many jobs he held in early adulthood, before culminating in Capua-

no’s realization that true success would come only from building something of his own.

“You can’t work for someone else to make your own dreams a reality,” he said. “You have to work for yourself and control your own destiny. That’s where I came up with the whole title of ‘No Ceiling, No Excuses.’ Everyone looks for excuses — reasons to not be able to do something. And my whole point to this book is if I was raised in this horrible, crazy, chaotic childhood and I bust through the noise, you can too.”

A graduate of East Meadow High School, Capuano comes from a family deeply rooted in the community — his parents, Jimmy and Diane, and his brother, also named Jimmy, all grew up

By JoRDAN VAlloNE jvallone@liherald.com

East Meadow-based EPIC Long Island has teamed up with Nassau BOCES Adult Education to launch a new training program aimed at bolstering the next generation of certified direct support professionals, who care for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Direct support professionals, or DSPs, play a vital role in assisting people with a variety of needs, from transportation and personal care to individualized support, cooking and cleaning, program organizers said in a press release shared with the Herald. The new program, beginning this fall at Nassau BOCES Career and Technical Education Center in Westbury, will be open to adults 18 and older.

Tsionals,” Brad Slepian, Nassau BOCES Adult Education supervisor, said. “We are excited to partner with EPIC LI to bring this training to our students. These professionals will ultimately assist people in realizing their full potential and help them become integrated and engaged in their community.”

hese professionals will ultimately assist people in realizing their full potential.

BRAD SlEPiAN

Nassau BOCES Adult Education supervisor

“With direct support in healthcare being one of the biggest industries on Long Island, there is a need for these profes-

EPIC Long Island, part of the EPIC Family of Human Service Agencies, operates a day habilitation program in East Meadow, 18 group homes across Nassau and Suffolk counties, and clinical services for children and adults with developmental disabilities.

Nassau BOCES provides programs for learners of all ages and abilities while offering cost-effective services for school districts and municipalities. Its programs range from alternative and special education to career and technical training, adult education and professional development, supporting teaching and learnContinued on page 13

A season of sounds: East Meadow library’s Sunday concerts return

By JORDAN VALLONE

jvallone@liherald.com

The East Meadow Public Library’s Sunday concert series returns next month, offering three free live performances for the community. Featuring a Journey tribute band, a celebrated folk-blues guitarist, and a jazz memorial performance, the series promises a wide range of music. All concerts take place in-person at the library, and registration is required — with priority given to East Meadow Library card holders.

Any Way You Want It – Oct. 5

Kicking off the series is Any Way You Want It, a top-tier Journey tribute band that has been thrilling audiences across the country since 2009. The group is known for its faithful recreations of Journey’s greatest hits, including “Don’t Stop Believin’,” “Separate Ways,” and “Faithfully.” With powerhouse vocals, soaring guitar riffs, and an energy that brings the 1980s arena rock experience to life, the band transports audiences back to the height of Journey’s fame. In addition to fan favorites, the group often mixes in classic rock staples from other legends of the era, making for an afternoon of singalong nostalgia. Registration for East Meadow Library card holders opens first, with a four-seat limit per household to ensure space for all.

Tal Naccarato – Oct. 12

The following Sunday, Italo “Tal” Naccarato will showcase his eclectic mix of Americana, folk-blues, and classical guitar traditions in an intimate solo performance. Born in the mountain village of Fiumefreddo Bruzio, Italy, and raised in Brooklyn’s East Flatbush, Naccarato draws from his multicultural upbringing to shape a unique sound. His music features soulful original compositions alongside inventive interpretations of traditional works, often infused with the rhythm of folk, the swing of the blues, and the precision of classical guitar technique. Registration rules remain the same: four seats per household, library card holders first.

Marilyn Bunshaft Memorial with Jeremy Galloway – Oct. 19

The concert series will continue with a special performance honoring the memory of Marilyn Bunshaft, an East Meadow resident remembered for her contributions to the community. To mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month, acclaimed jazz guitarist Jeremy Galloway will headline the afternoon. Based in Massachusetts but a mainstay in the Hartford jazz scene, Galloway is celebrated for his versatility across jazz, rock, and fusion. With degrees from the Jackie McLean Institute of Jazz, his playing brings technical brilliance and emotional depth. This tribute performance offers both remembrance and uplifting music.

Years of service: EMFD marks anniversary

By JOSEPH D’ALESSANDRO jdalessandro@liherald.com

Rain on Sept. 6 couldn’t dampen community spirit as the East Meadow Fire Department celebrated its 95th anniversary with the Sixth Battalion parade followed by a block party filled with food, music and family fun. Residents lined the streets and packed the festivities, showing their support for the department’s 95 years of service to East Meadow.

The department first answered the call of its community 95 years ago. Since then, its members have witnessed the beginning and end of World War II, the terror attacks of 9/11, and endured the Covid-19 pandemic, all while ensuring the safety of Long Island communities.

Fire Commissioner Carey Welt has been part of the firefighting community for over 50 years. He is the vice chairman of the Nassau County Fire Commission and a former captain of EMFD Ladder Company 2.

“When you have the opportunity to save somebody’s life, or you have an opportunity to be part of saving somebody’s home or their business, there is no better feeling that you can get — that is a reward in itself,” he said.

For 35 years, Welt also served as an instructor at the Fire Service Academy in Old Bethpage. He retired in 2013 and noticed class sizes had gotten smaller.

“There were actually at one time waiting lists to join the volunteer fire service,” he said. “Now, there are no longer waiting lists. While staffing is not at a critical point, you can always use more people. Many hands make lighter work.”

To encourage new members, firefighters receive special tax credits from the state, including tuition assistance at Nassau Community College.

First Lieutenant Kasey Cheswick, a certified Emergency Medical Technician, has taken advantage of that program, earning a degree in Criminal Justice. She has been part of EMFD for eight years, following in the footsteps of her father, with her brother Connor also serving.

“I definitely think that it’s worth getting involved in,” she said. “You get to help your community, you build another family that you would never have if you didn’t join the fire department.”

One of the department’s newest members is 18-year-old Michael Dinolfo, a probationary firefighter with Engine Company 2. He joined the EMFD Juniors four years ago before becoming a full member.

“It feels like a full-circle moment, becoming the firefighter I used to look up to,” he said. “The experience has been incredible so far. Every drill, every call, even just spending time around the firehouse has helped me grow, not just in skill, but in confidence.”

For more information on becoming a volunteer with the East Meadow Fire Department, visit EastMeadowFD.com or call (516) 542-4565.

Souvenirs of a lifetime elevate the Conversation

Mariott Bonvoy has an interesting ad campaign that reminds travelers that they are the greatest souvenirs of all: not what they bring back, but the experiences they bring back and are forever shaped by.

Any smart travel advertiser could have snagged this idea, but if Marriott keeps it alive, it’s a really strong position for the brand.

So what did that mean if you’ve been in Paris, the first time to the city, the first time even overseas in over three decades? Could I be the souvenir that was fine enough to commemorate the trip?

My fellow tour participants dived in early in our trip. Heavy-duty, savvy shoppers, they stalked the stores because it was during “Les Soldes,” a twice-a-year sale period that is government regulated with deep discounts (nicknamed “Black Friday” by our travelers). In addition, our band of tourists staked out the atelier of Dior and Chanel to find the best of what Paris had to offer in luxury designer wear.

flat objects like postcards, ticket stubs, paper coasters and the electronic key at my French hotel. I pledged to take all these objects and affix them to either a frame or shadow box when returning home. And when it came to the family, I satisfied requests for currency, chocolate and a French Coca-Cola (empty) glass bottle. And of course, Olympic Phryge, the mascot of the Paris Olympics whose image on a T-shirt was making it home to East Meadow at any cost.

I think the most important souvenir I carry to this day is the feeling in my head about what it took to solo travel far away from home and being unwilling to rank the memorable experiences in priority order. Like a parent with many children, I loved the locales and moments equally, each had a character all its own.

Could I ever reflect that feeling of accomplishment and wonder, of surprise and exultation in a trinket I could examine in my hand?

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.

1991 trustlaw.com Trusts & Estates • Wills & Probate • Medicaid NO-COST CONSULTATION: 516-327-8880 or email info@trustlaw.com 100 Merrick Rd., Rockville Centre • 3000 Marcus Ave., Lake Success Other offices in Huntington

But I was a bit more conservative. Before and during I thought carefully of the places I was seeing and how that might translate into ways to commemorate the trip. I most remember being concerned pre-trip about having the right technology (cellphone and French adapter, for example) and wondering if I could use the Metro swiftly and smoothly.

Those issues were quickly addressed and placed aside as I began to focus on Monet and Mona Lisa during these precious days. I found myself gravitating to

No, the trinkets will only trigger my thoughts, my confidence, my need to unpack the days in my mind slowly as I arrived home in direct contrast to the deliberate speed I needed to share and unpack the souvenirs in my orange duffle bag.

A contributing writer to the Herald since 2012, Lauren Lev is a direct marketing/ advertising executive who teaches marketing fundamentals as well as advertising and marketing communications courses at the Fashion Institute of Technology and SUNY Old Westbury.

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THE EAST MEADOW CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

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.

East Meadow embraces new rivals

By TONY BELLISSIMO tbellissimo@liherald.com

East Meadow girls’ soccer is coming off a conference title but is tasked with replacing a handful of key pieces from last year’s dynamic 15-win team while tackling a more challenging schedule.

Coach Nicolette Tortorici remains encouraged, however, despite a likely starting 11 with only one senior, three freshmen and mostly juniors. The Jets split their first two Conference III matches out of the gate, rebounding from a season-opening loss to New Hyde Park with a 2-1 victory over Herricks last Friday.

“We’re still expecting to do well,” she said. “We haven’t faced most of these opponents in forever so you can only get so much information before the first set of films are available. I think the first two games were a sign of what we can expect. Everyone we see is going to be tough.”

Junior goalkeeper Ava Matthews stopped 10 of 11 shots against Herricks and the Jets held on for the win thanks also to first-half goals from freshman sensation Charli Tesoriere and junior Angelina Calderon. “Ava came up big and we made the most of our scoring chances,” Tortorici said.

Tesoriere is no stranger to the scoresheet after exploding on the scene last fall with 28 goals as an eighth-grader. She earned All-County honors and could see a lot more time at striker than midfield this season. “Charli is an unbelievable talent,” Tortorici said. “She’s got quite a resume as a club player and is just so skillful and fast. She’s a complete playmaker.”

East Meadow’s other two starting freshmen, Jayden Padgett and Isabella Oliveira, join junior standout Ella Giordano in the midfield. Giordano (12 goals) earned All-Conference honors a year ago and stood out through the first two games, Tortorici said. “Ella is hands down the hardest worker and plays such a clean game,” the coach noted. “She’s our defensive center-midfielder but goes all over the place and is never afraid to put her body on the line.”

Padgett is operating in the center as well with Oliveira on the outside. “Jayden has so much poise and confidence,” Tortorici said of Padgett. “And Isabella has strong two-way ability and also never stops working.”

On the defensive end, there’s a new goalie for the first time in many years with Matthews taking over for longtime starter Jennah Farooki. “Ava knows she has big shoes to fill and she’s looking very good,” Tortorici said. “She made a ton of huge saves to help us beat Herricks and I’m looking forward to seeing what she can do.”

Anchoring the backline are senior Kaylee Pirozzi and juniors Zoe Pedicini and Peyton Chester. Pirozzi was an AllConference selection and is the voice of the defensive zone, Tortorici said. “Kaylee has taken the defense under her wing and any time we feel threatened, she’s there to get us out of trouble,” the coach said. “Zoe is a technically sound lefty who takes most of our set pieces and always seems to get to ball to the right spot, and Peyton has stepped up big time and plays with calmness.”

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.

A new year of learning in East Meadow

As the summer sun gradually gave way to a comfortable warmth, the streets of East Meadow and Salisbury were filled with excitement and anticipation on Sept. 3. It was the first day of school, and students were heading back to their classrooms.

For many, the first day of school is a mix of excitement and a touch of anxiety, but in the September air, there was an overwhelming sense of optimism. Elementary schools teachers greeted their students with warm smiles and welcoming words. The playgrounds, quiet during the summer break, were now alive with laughter and the joy of reunions as friends saw each other after a long vacation.

The middle and high schools buzzed with a different kind of energy. For older students, the first day of school marked not only a return to their studies but also a reunion with friends, some of whom they hadn’t seen all summer. Hallways echoed with the sounds of lockers being opened, schedules being compared, and the excitement of what the new school year might bring.

As the day progressed, any first-day jitters quickly dissolved into the routine of the school day.

In all, the first day of school in East Meadow and Salisbury was a success. It was a day filled with smiles, laughter, and the promise of a year filled with learning, growth, and new experiences.

–Jordan Vallone

TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD

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.

New program addresses need for DSPs

ing across Long Island. The agency also delivers technology services that function as the backbone of many districts’ infrastructure and plays a leading role in implementing state education reforms.

The course, which runs about three months, combines classroom instruction with on-the-job training. Students will study everything from the direct support professional’s code of ethics to strategies for creating a person-centered culture, best practices for teamwork, and stress-management techniques. EPIC staff will also provide instruction on topics such as incident management and reporting.

Graduates will leave prepared to enter one of Long Island’s most indemand fields. Those who complete the program will be interviewed for openings at EPIC and will also have opportunities to apply with other state-certified providers. Nassau BOCES said it would continue to support graduates as they transition into the workforce.

“The direct support professional role is the backbone of quality care for people with disabilities,” Lisa Burch, president and CEO of the EPIC Family of Human Service Agencies, said. “We are proud to partner with Nassau BOCES to offer this training program, strengthening

epiC Long island, which is headquartered in east meadow, and nassau

have partnered to launch a new program to train direct support professionals, who assist individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Long Island’s workforce and addressing the urgent need for skilled DSPs in our region. Graduates will leave with the certification, training and skills to support the independence and quality of life of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.”

The new program, agency leadership said, comes as the need for DSPs continues to rise across Long Island,

where these caregivers are critical in helping individuals live independent, fulfilling lives.

For more information on the program, run dates and how to apply, visit NassauBOCES.org. To learn more about EPIC Long Island and its myriad of services, visit EPICLI.org.

EPIC Long Island’s headquarters are at 1500 Hempstead Turnpike, East Meadow.

Fast Facts: DSP Training Program

Partners: Nassau BOCES Adult Education and EPIC Long Island

Purpose: Prepare the next generation of certified direct support professionals to assist individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities

Location: Nassau BOCES Career & Technical Education Center, Westbury Who Can Apply: Adults 18 and older

Program Length: About three months

Instruction Includes:

■ Classroom learning on ethics, teamwork, stress management

■ Strategies for person-centered care

■ Incident management and reporting

■ On-the-job training alongside EPIC staff

Career Path: Graduates are interviewed for EPIC positions and may apply to other state-certified providers

Learn More: NassauBOCES.org and EPICLI.org

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

Your HealtH and Wellness — with a focus on living Well

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

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

attention of folks worldwide, who are discovering the many health benefits of different types of teas.

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.

News brief

Catch Ryder Cup action in Eisenhower Park

Golf’s biggest international showdown is coming to Long Island, and fans without tickets won’t have to miss a moment of the action.

The Ryder Cup, the biennial men’s golf competition that pits the best players from the United States against Europe, will be played Sept. 26–28 on the storied Bethpage Black Course in Farmingdale. Organizers expect roughly 25,000 spectators each day as the American team looks to reclaim the cup after Europe’s victory in 2023 in Rome.

For those who couldn’t land passes to Bethpage, Nassau County is bringing the excitement just a few miles south to East Meadow. A free, open-air watch party will unfold on the Kite Field at Eisenhower Park from noon to 6 p.m. each day of the tournament.

The Ryder Cup is coming to Bethpage later this month, but fans will have a chance to view the action at an open-air watch party in Eisenhower Park during each day of the tournament. Above, a view of the first tee box created for the cup.

Large screens will stream live coverage while fans spread out on the lawn with blankets and chairs. Food trucks and casual concessions are expected, and no advance registration or tickets are required.

The weekend will kick off with a concert and fireworks on Sept. 25 at 7 p.m. On Sept. 26, there will be a Steve Aoki concert at the Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre. Friday and Saturday’s watch parties will also include ticket giveaway drawings and more.

The watch party also gives out-oftown visitors a reason to explore beyond the fairways. Nassau County tourism highlights range from Gold Coast mansions and local museums to scenic waterfronts and gourmet markets, offering plenty of ways to round out a golfthemed weekend.

For more details, visit Nassau County’s tourism site, NassauCountyTourism.com.

–Jordan Vallone

Memoir details childhood, hardships, and successes

CONCERTS

ASHLEY M c BRYDE

in East Meadow. After attending Nassau Community College, he worked a variety of jobs across Long Island before becoming a union steamfitter. Those experiences set the stage for him to launch a merchant services and point-of-sale business with his brother-in-law, a company that now helps Long Island businesses process roughly $150 million in annual revenue.

The path for Capuano that led to success in adulthood wasn’t straightforward, he explained, and it contributed to some early hurdles in the writing process.

“The whole first third of the book,” he said, “is just me pouring my heart out and emotion out — talking about very traumatic things.”

‘no Ceiling, no excuses,’ a memoir by east meadow native Chris Capuano, is now available for purchase. it details Capuano’s childhood in east meadow and his successes as a business owner, among other complex themes.

Capuano’s early years were marked by moments of chaos, including times when his mother, intoxicated, passed out behind the wheel, and the day his father revealed that he and his brother had a half-sister they never met. Later in life, Capuano faced another devastating loss when an employee he was close to died of a drug overdose — a painful experience he recounts in the memoir’s second chapter.

“The rest of the book was easy,” he said. “It’s just me talking about the different jobs I had and the different sales techniques that I use (for work). But the first third — it really, really cuts to the core.”

Despite some of the chaos in his early years, Capuano said his family was well known around East Meadow. His late father, remembered for cruising the neighborhood on a Harley-Davidson, spent decades as a welder for the Town of Hempstead and helped build the Sept. 11 memorial in Eisenhower Park. The town is set to honor him next year for his contributions. Capuano’s mother still lives locally, he said, and has become the “most popular cashier” at the neighborhood ShopRite.

Capuano worked with editor, Jennifer Fauci, who is married to his cousin. A Long Island native herself, she’s written children’s books and contributed to magazines.

“She’s amazing,” Capuano said. “Without her, this would not have gotten any traction whatsoever.”

The memoir, which is available through Amazon for purchase, has received great feedback from readers since its release — including from Fauci.

“In full transparency,” she said in a written review, “I edited this book with Chris, who I have known for more than 15 years. And while I knew a decent amount about his past, the many jobs he worked, and talents he had, I didn’t know how deep the nerve of wanting to be better truly hit him. Chris is ambitious, honest, and hard-working, but above all, he is kind. He has experienced life from many sides, and through it all, he still chose kindness. This book is one of the many ways he displays his gratitude.”

Capuano resides in Queens with his wife, he said, but they’ve recently purchased property on Long Island and are excited to move back in the near future.

As a first-time memoir writer, Capuano said he stumbled upon an ad on Instagram for a group called Peaceful Profits that helps aspiring authors map out a potential book plan. He ended up on a Zoom session with the company and they guided him through emotional, impactful questions that laid a framework for what would become his memoir. After that, Capuano said it only took him about six months to write the book, which officially hit shelves on July 10, his 35th birthday.

Capuano said he hopes the memoir helps readers get “unstuck.”

“I feel like I’m similar to a lot of people, but I’m also different,” he said. “I felt like I was just stuck in what I call perfection paralysis — I was trying a bunch of different things, but I wasn’t really doing anything right. It’s a combination of getting stuck because you don’t want the world to judge you, and also you being stuck because you’re not taking action. So, I hope (readers) feel the fire inside of them — the motivation inside of them — to just do whatever is that they feel called to do.”

For more on the book, Capuano’s background and links to purchase it, visit NoCeilingNoExcuses.com.

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. •

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

•

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 CALENDAR

On Exhibit

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

•Where: 1 Museum Drive, Roslyn Harbor

•Time: Ongoing

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

9/11 Remembrance

Ceremony

Nassau County welcomes all to mark the 24th anniversary of 9/11 at Eisenhower Park.

•Where: Eisenhower Park, East Meadow

•Time: 6:30 p.m.

•Contact: (516) 571-4044

SEPT

NYC Ska Orchestra

SEPT

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.

music, and more.

•Where: Eisenhower Park, Field 2

• Time: 6-10 p.m. (rides only); Sept. 16, 6-11 p.m. (rides only); Sept. 17, noon-11 p.m.; Sept. 18, noon-7 p.m.

SEPT

18

•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

‘Brown Bag’ Art Conversation

of 1920s history and Art Deco design. Includes an interactive guided tour and an art activity where kids create their own art deco architecture. Registration required. $18, $13 child,

•Where: 71 Old Westbury Road, Old Westbury

•Time: 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

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

Block Party With Imagination Playground

Get the kids ready to join in an oversized “block” party at Long Island Children’s Museum! Stack them, crawl through them or team up to make dream designs come true. Back by popular demand these giant, lightweight blocks turn playtime into extraordinary adventures. Construct castles, mazes, fantastical creatures or secret hideaways in this incredible exhibit experience. Imagination Playground blue blocks provide a blank canvas for children to express their creativity and bring their ideas to life. Giant and lightweight, these blocks encourage handson exploration and problemsolving, collaboration and spatial awareness. Through Nov. 2.

•Where: Museum Row, Garden City

•Time: 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

•Contact: licm.org or call (516) 224-5800

The Water Lantern Festival returns to Eisenhower Park.

•Where: Eisenhower Park, East Meadow

• Time: 3:30-7:30 p.m.

•Contact: WaterLanternFestival. com

SEPT

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

•Contact: EastMeadowChamber.com

‘Ceaselessly

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

out productions the Sparrows return with an all new vaudeville revue. Enjoy high-energy jazz, showstopping choreography, and cheeky comedy of the 1920s. $40. Limited availability. Reservations required.

SEPT 20 Water Lantern Festival

SEPT

17

into the past: ‘The Great Gatsby Tour and Talk’

• Time: 1 p.m., also Oct. 23

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

•Where: 71 Old Westbury Road, Old Westbury

•Time: 7 p.m.

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

Gatsby’s Swingin’ Scavenger Hunt

SEPT

Noontime concert

Pop by Eisenhower Park for an afternoon performance with Risky Business. Enjoy tunes ranging from Motown to rock and more.

•Where: Eisenhower Park, Field 1

•Time: Noon-2 p.m.

•Contact: nassaucountyny.gov

SEPT

•Where: Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, East Meadow

• Time: 6 p.m.

•Contact: nassaucountyny.gov

SEPT

15

14 Fall Festival East Meadow Chamber of Commerce invites all for a weekend of carnival rides, food,

Explore Sands Point Preserve’s Hempstead House, one of the grand Gold Coast mansions that provided the inspirational backdrop for F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby” on a guide tour. Then, instructors from The Story Round lead a table discussion on the novel’s lasting impact on the North Shore and Port Washington. $25, $20 members.

•Where: 127 Middle Neck Road, Sands Point

• Time: 6:30-8 p.m.

•Contact: sandspoint preserveconservancy.org or call (516) 571-7901

Parti-gras at the park

19

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

The Sparrows are back at Old Westbury Gardens, during Gatsby at the Gardens weekend. After four sold-

Old Westbury Garden’s Gatsby Weekend celebration the 100th anniversary of “The Great Gatsby,” continues with a family adventure. The jazz artists are late for Gatsby’s big bash and lost in the gardens! Hunt for jazz players hidden in the landscape. Check off your findings then and return to Westbury House for a special prize.

•Where: 71 Old Westbury Road, Old Westbury

• Time: 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

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

Junior Architect: A Kid’s Tour of Westbury House Families are invited to explore Old Westbury Gardens’ Gold Coast mansion through the lens

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.

Brain injury awareness walk returns to E.M.

By JORDAN VALLONE jvallone@liherald.com

Survivors, caregivers, and advocates will gather at Eisenhower Park on Sept. 13 for the Brain Injury Association of New York State’s annual March On for Brain Injury Walk.

The statewide event celebrates the strength and resilience of individuals living with brain injuries while raising awareness about the resources and support needed for recovery. Registration and entertainment begin at 10 a.m., and the walk steps off at noon.

This year, the association will recognize Long Island resident Aneeta Rai as its 2025 honoree. Rai’s story is one of survival, determination and hope after a devastating crash changed her life three years ago.

On March 25, 2022 — the first warm spring day of the year — Rai left work looking forward to taking her 3-year-old son to the park. But that evening, her car was struck head-on by a drunk driver on Vanderbilt Parkway. Her father, Nirmal, was in the car with her when a second vehicle also collided with them. More than 30 first responders rushed to the scene, and firefighters used the Jaws of Life to pull Rai from the wreckage.

She suffered multiple severe injuries, including a traumatic brain injury. Rai spent nearly six weeks in a coma

and three months in the hospital, where she began the long road to recovery. Basic tasks — walking, talking, reading, writing and even parenting her son — had to be relearned. With the support of her family, friends and the first responders who saved her, Rai slowly regained her independence. Rai continues to rebuild her life with courage and grace. Before the walk begins, she will be honored and share a

few words with participants about her experience.

The March On for Brain Injury Walk also provides an opportunity for survivors and their families to connect with others who understand the challenges of living with a brain injury. Members of the Brain Injury Association of New York State, health professionals, and caregivers will take part in the event.

Founded in 1982, the Brain Injury

Association of New York State is a nonprofit membership organization that advocates for people with brain injuries and their families. The group promotes prevention, education and community support services aimed at improving outcomes for both children and adults.

For more information or to register for the March On for Brain Injury Walk, visit BIANYS.org.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17

6:00-9:00PM

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

TO PURCHASE

TICKETS VISIT

richnerlive.com/ healthcare-awards or scan here

Executive

HEALTHCARE LEGACY AWARD

MICHAEL J. DOWLING

President & CEO

Northwell Health

HEALTHCARE VISIONARIES AWARD

JOHN K. D’ANGELO, MD, FACEP

CEO-elect Northwell Health

KERRI ANNE SCANLON, MSN, RN, FAAN

SVP & President

Glen Cove, Plainview, and Syosset Hospitals Northwell Health

KIMON BEKELIS, MD, FAANS, FACS, FAHA

Director

The Stroke and Brain Aneurysm Center of Long Island THE TEAM AT LIVEONNY

DONALD T. MORRISH, MD, MMM

CEO

Episcopal Health Services

DYNAMIC DUO AWARD

VANESSA BAIRD-STREETER

President & CEO

Health and Welfare Council of Long Island

LORI ANDRADE

Executive Vice President

Health and Welfare Council of Long Island

POWER

COUPLE AWARD

LINDA HARKAVY, MD

Founder, CEO and Medical Director

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MITCHELL GOLDSTEIN, MD

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COMMUNITY IMPACT AWARD

THE CASEY SKUDIN 343 FUND

COMMUNITY HEALTH CHAMPIONS AWARD

INTEGRATIVE HOLISTIC CENTER TEAM

Cohen Children’s Medical Center, Northwell Health

THE MENDING HEARTS COUNSELING TEAM

THE LEND TEAM

Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities

Stony Brook University

TRAILBLAZERS IN HEALTHCARE TECHNOLOGY AWARD

THE TEAM AT VEDI ROBOTICS INC.

EXCELLENCE IN HEALTHCARE HONOREES

JESSICA COLON BOHANNON

Founder & Board President

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JORDAN BRODSKY, MD, FACR

Rheumatologist

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BRIAN CABEZAS

COO

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Weight Loss Doctor

The Long Island Weight Loss Doctor

DANIELLE HAMILTON, RN, MSN

Director of Wellness

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LON HECHT CEO

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JONATHAN JASSEY, DO, FAAP

Founding Pediatrician

Concierge Pediatrics

ANNE Y. F. LIN ’84P, ’86PHARM.D., FNAP

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College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences

St. John’s University

ROB MILLER

General Manager & SVP

CITIZ3N Government Solutions, A Softheon Company

VANESSA MORILLO, LCSW

Lead Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Harmony Healthcare Long Island

KELLY MURPHY

SVP & General Counsel

Henry Schein

KAREN PAIGE, MBA, RN, CPHQ, CPPS, CPXP, OCN

EVP & COO

Episcopal Health Services

DIMITRIA PAPADOPOULOS, MD

Founder Bellmore Dermatology

SAMANTHA RENIERIS, MS, CCC-SLP, TSSLD

Speech-Language Pathologist

The Speech Language Place

BERNADETTE RILEY, DO, MS

Professor and Director, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome / Hypermobility Treatment Center

New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine

ALLA SHENKMAN, MD

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ROUMIANA T. TZVETKOVA, DDS, DMD

Owner

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Public Notices

LEGAL NOTICE

SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU. FEDERAL NATIONAL MORTGAGE ASSOCIATION (“FANNIE MAE”), A CORPORATION

ORGANIZED AND EXISTING UNDER THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff -againstADRIANNE EDMUNDHENRY, et al

Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated May 15, 2025 and entered on June 18, 2025, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court “Rain or Shine” located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY September 19, 2025 at 3:30 p.m. premises situate, lying and being in the Incorporated Village of Westbury, Town of North Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, bounded and described as follows: BEGINNING at a point on the easterly side of Talbot Drive, distant 67.81 feet Southerly, as measured along the Easterly side of Talbot Drive from the Southwesterly end of a curve connecting the southeasterly side of Franklin Street with the Easterly side of Talbot Drive; being a plot 100 feet by 76 feet by 100 feet by 76 feet. Section: 11 Block: 397 Lot: 6 Said premises known as 5 TALBOT DRIVE, WESTBURY, NY 11590

Approximate amount of lien $588,124.25 plus interest & costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale. If the sale is set aside for any reason, the Purchaser at the sale shall be entitled only to a return of the deposit paid. The Purchaser shall have no further recourse against the Mortgagor, the Mortgagee or the Mortgagee’s attorney. Index Number 020702/2009.

EVETTE C. ENNIS, ESQ., Referee

David A. Gallo & Associates LLP

Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 47 Hillside Avenue, 2nd Floor, Manhasset, NY 11030 File# 7254.725

{* EAST MEAD*} 155198

FOODIES LLC filed with the Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 8/5/2025. Office loc.: Nassau County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. The address SSNY shall mail process to Taniya Dewan, 155 Tremont St., Westbury, NY 11590. Purpose: Any lawful activity 155283

LEGAL NOTICE

Formation of LIL FOODIES LLC filed with the Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 8/5/2025. Office loc.: Nassau County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. The address SSNY shall mail process to Taniya Dewan, 155 Tremont St., Westbury, NY 11590. Purpose: Any lawful activity. 155281

LEGAL NOTICE CASE NO. 21527

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)

(TH355/25)

; 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 NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING BY THE BOARD OF APPEALS

Pursuant to New York State Town Law Article 16, New York State Public Officers Law Article 7, and the Town of Hempstead Building Zone Ordinance, NOTICE is hereby given that the BOARD OF APPEALS of the Town of Hempstead will hold a public hearing in the Old Town Hall, 350 Front Street, Room

Back to school fun

East Meadow students are back in the classroom, looking forward to a year of learning. Above, Meadowbrook Elementary School students were excited to return to school.

Public Notices

230, Second Floor, Hempstead, New York on 09/17/2025 at 9:30

A.M. & 2:00 P.M. to consider the following applications and appeals:

THE FOLLOWING CASES WILL BE CALLED STARTING AT 9:30

A.M.

499/25. - 500/25. EAST MEADOW - Pietro Sirianni, Variances, lot area occupied, side yard, construct 2-story addition, 2nd story addition & portico all attached to dwelling; Variances, lot area occupied, side yards, side yards aggregate, rear yard, maintain dwelling & roof over attached thereto., W/s Avalon Pl., 200’ N/o Marlboro St., a/k/a 408 Avalon Pl.

THE FOLLOWING CASES WILL BE CALLED STARTING AT 2:00 P.M.

510/25. EAST MEADOW - Catch Air Inc., Special exception to use portion of existing building for public assembly & amusement (proposed indoor kids play center)., S/E cor. Hempstead Tpke. & East Meadow Ave. running thru to Front St., a/k/a 1900-1980 Hempstead Tpke.

ALL PAPERS

PERTAINING TO THE ABOVE HEARING ARE AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION AT THE BOARD OF APPEALS, TOWN HALL, 1 WASHINGTON STREET, HEMPSTEAD, NY 11550.

This notice is only for new cases in East Meadow within Town of Hempstead jurisdiction. There are additional cases in different hamlets, towns and villages on the Board of Appeals calendar. The full calendar is available at https://hempsteadny.go v/509/Board-of-Appeals

The internet address of the website streaming for this meeting is https://hempsteadny.go v/576/Live-StreamingVideo

Interested parties may appear at the above time and place. At the call of the Chairman, the Board will consider decisions on the foregoing and those on the Reserve Decision calendar and such other matters as may properly come before it.

155653

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

LOCAL LAW NO. 55-2025

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. 55-2025, to amend Section 197-13 of the Code of the Town of Hempstead, to include and repeal “TRAFFIC REGULATIONS IN THE VICINITY OF SCHOOLS” 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 155650

info@bellautoschool.com

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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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opinions

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.

Bruce

Established

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.

HERALD

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