East Meadow Herald 09-18-2025

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East Meadow vows to ‘Never Forget’

East Meadow marked the 24th anniversary of Sept. 11 last week with ceremonies around town that remembered the lives lost and honored first responders. In Veterans Memorial Park, the East Meadow Fire Department held its annual ceremony at the hamlet’s memorial which bears the names of community members who perished. Above, fire department leadership was joined by elected officials. Across town in Eisenhower Park, Nassau County held its memorial service filled with music, memories and more. Roses were laid on the county’s Sept. 11 memorial in the park. Story, more photos, Pages 3 and 10.

A Hall of Fame screening for Stevan Mena

By JoSEPH D’AlESSANDRo jdalessandro@liherald.com

Stevan Mena is a master of many disciplines. He has worked as a filmmaker, a novelist, and a musical composer across various projects, executing his ideas with shrewd pragmatism.

Mena was raised in East Meadow and now lives in Bellmore. His most recent film, ‘The Ruse’ earned him the honor of being this month’s featured filmmaker of the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame, which will hold a screening and Q&A in his honor on Sept. 27.

with a platform to share their work and connect with audiences who appreciate the power of storytelling,” said Needham in a statement. “This series is an important part of our mission to support the arts and highlight Long Island’s impact on the entertainment industry.”

In ‘The Ruse,’ Mena brings his experience as a veteran editor and screenwriter, in addition to his award-winning direction.

‘ T he Ruse’ is such a great suspense thriller

BRiAN o’HAlloRAN Actor

“I’ve been an aspiring filmmaker my whole life,” he said. “Back in 2023, I decided that The Ruse was gonna be my next picture. (It) premiered at the Toronto Film Festival in September of 2024.

Tom Needham, the vice chairman of LIMEHOF, runs the group’s Local Filmmaker Series program. “Each month, we showcase the creativity, passion, and dedication of local filmmakers, providing them

“The Ruse” follows the case of a vanishing in-home caregiver, from the perspective of their replacement, Dale, played by Madelyn Dundon. As she meets her new patient, everything about the household and the neighborhood becomes a source of paranoia.

Mena worked with celebrities including Alexandra Daddario in “Bereavement,” Veronica Cartwright in “The Ruse” and Brian O’Halloran in “Brutal Massacre: A Comedy.” O’Halloran, prominently featured in the movie Clerks, has known Mena for years — O’Halloran was emceeing at the

Continued on page 13

News briefs

Woman arrested for assault in NUMC

A Westbury woman was arrested in connection with an assault that occurred on Sept. 11 at 4:30 p.m. in East Meadow.

According to detectives, police responded to Nassau University Medical Center, 2201 Hempstead Turnpike, for a disturbance. While at the hospital, Sullethea T. Smith, 48, became violent with hospital staff and began making terroristic threats.

The male victim, 24, suffered a laceration to his left arm and an injury to his left shoulder, causing him substantial pain. Upon police arrival, Smith was placed under arrest without further incident.

Smith is charged with making a terroristic threat and second-degree assault. She was arraigned Sept. 12 at the First District Court in Hempstead.

–Jordan Vallone

Nassau County police arrested a woman they say assaulted someone and made a terroristic threat while being treated at the Nassau University Medical Center.

Motorcyclist injured in East Meadow crash

Nassau County police reported the details of a crash involving a motorcyclist that occurred on Sept. 10 around 5:15 a.m. in East Meadow.

According to police, a 36-year-old man was traveling south on Newbridge Road near the intersection of Hysler Street when he lost control. He struck a

fence and then hit a dumpster. The motorcyclist suffered two broken legs and was transported to a nearby hospital, where he is listed in stable condition.

No other injuries were reported.

–Jordan Vallone

East Meadow marks anniversary of Sept. 11

The East Meadow community once again gathered to honor the lives lost on Sept. 11, 2001, marking 24 years since the terrorist attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people. Among them were seven local residents — four who worked in the World Trade Center, two firefighters and a police officer — whose names remain etched into the community’s memory.

The East Meadow Fire Department hosted its annual remembrance ceremony at Veterans Memorial Park, where a 1,800-pound marble memorial stands in tribute. Erected in 2014 by the East Meadow Kiwanis, the monument features an etching of

the twin towers, a steel beam from ground zero and a footstone that reads, “In the name of freedom/To those who lost their lives/September 11, 2001.” It also bears the names of the seven East Meadow victims: Ann McGovern, Carlos Dominguez, Stephen Mark Fogel, Stephen LeMantia, Claude “Dan” Richards, Daniel Brethel and Thomas Patrick DeAngelis.

Each year, members of the fire department place a new wreath at the memorial to honor them and all who perished.

–Jordan Vallone

Protecting Your Future

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Local couple are among real estate fraud victims

By JORDAN VALLONE jvallone@liherald.com

An East Meadow couple who sold their home in 2023 were among dozens of victims defrauded by a Garden City attorney who stole more than $6 million through fraudulent real estate transactions, Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly announced.

Daniel Boldi, 50, was sentenced on Aug. 26 to 4 to 12 years in prison after pleading guilty last October to 13 counts of second-degree grand larceny, a C felony, and one count of first-degree scheme to defraud, an E felony, before Judge Caryn Fink. Civil judgment orders totaling more than $6.2 million were issued for 52 victims.

Prosecutors said that between September 2020 and January 2024, Boldi, who owned and operated Boldi Law Group P.C., embezzled $6,206,368 from clients and other parties who trusted him to hold funds in escrow. The victims included individual homeowners, real estate agents, lenders and other entities.

Donnelly said Boldi’s schemes left many families in financial ruin.

“Daniel Boldi’s clients trusted him to safeguard their money during the homebuying process, but he ultimately betrayed them with his greed,” she said. “The ripple effects of his theft are devastating, leaving victims in a financial hole of more than $6 million.”

One of the most significant thefts involved an East Meadow couple who worked with Boldi on the sale of their home in October 2023. Prosecutors said Boldi, serving as the settlement agent, received $309,367 from the buyer’s mortgage lender that should have been used to pay off the couple’s mortgage. Instead, he told the sellers the money had not posted to his escrow account, convincing them to proceed with a “dry closing.” Days later, he presented the couple with fraudulent proof of a wire transfer, leading them to believe the mortgage had been paid off and allow-

Fraud scheme at a glance

October 2023: An East Meadow couple sold their home with attorney Daniel Boldi handling the closing.

$309,367 missing: Instead of paying off the sellers’ mortgage, Boldi kept the funds.

Fake paperwork: He gave the couple falsified proof of a wire transfer.

Lasting damage: The couple no longer owned the home but still had to pay the mortgage.

ing the sale to close. The couple later discovered the funds had never been sent and were forced to continue paying the mortgage on a home they no longer owned.

Boldi also stole from lenders, including $1.15 million embezzled from a private lender through fraudulent mortgage and title closing records in two loan schemes between September 2020 and November 2023.

According to bank records, Boldi used stolen funds for personal expenses, including Venmo payments to individuals and property investments. Prosecutors said escrow thefts accounted for $4.7 million of the total embezzled. Boldi surrendered to Nassau DA investigators on April 10, 2024. The case was handled by Senior Investigative Counsel Jennifer Contreras of the Major Financial Frauds Bureau, under the supervision of Bureau Chief Maureen McCormack and Executive Assistant District Attorney Rick Whelan. Boldi is represented by attorney Michael R. Franzese.

JAYDEN MOYA

MALVERNE Senior SOCCER

IT’S IMPOSSIBLE TO tell Malverne/East Rockaway’s boys’ soccer team is coming off a winless 2024 campaign. To say the Rockin’ Mules have enjoyed an incredible start would be an understatement. Moya has been front and center of a club with four wins in its first five matches. He leads Nassau County in goals with 12 and has three or more games with at least a hat trick. He scored 5 times in wins over Valley Stream South and Clarke.

GAMES TO WATCH

Friday, Sept. 19

Girls Soccer: Manhasset at Carey 3 p.m.

Girls Soccer: Mepham at Calhoun 5 p.m.

Girls Soccer: South Side at Oceanside 5 p.m.

Football: Farmingdale at Oceanside 6 p.m.

Football: South Side at Division 6 p.m.

Football: New Hyde Park at East Meadow 6:30 p.m.

Girls Volleyball: Freeport at Baldwin 6:45 p.m.

Football: Long Beach at Glen Cove 7 p.m.

Football: Plainedge at C.S. Harbor 7 p.m.

Football: Lynbrook at Carle Place 7:15 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 20

Football: Floral Park at Carey 11:00 a.m.

Boys Soccer: Lynbrook at Plainedge 12 p.m.

Football: Wantagh at Elmont 12:30 p.m.

Football: V.S. North at Hewlett 1 p.m.

Football: Baldwin at Garden City 2 p.m.

Football: Roosevelt at Calhoun 2 p.m.

Football: Lawrence at East Rockaway 2 p.m.

Football: Roslyn at Kennedy 2 p.m.

Football: West Hempstead at Malverne 2 p.m.

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

Football: MacArthur at Mepham 3 p.m.

Football: Port Washington at Freeport 3 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 off to dynamic start

By DYLAN BUTLER sports@liherald.com

East Meadow boys’ soccer is a true definition of a team, a cohesive unit that has impressed coach Bryan Horrmann in the early portions of the season.

“Certain teams have studs, and they try to feed it to the one kid. We have kids who can all do it,” he said. “I feel like they’re buying into we defend with 11, we attack with 11, and everyone is capable. I think it’s the most mentally healthy, emotionally structured team I’ve had in a while.”

And it’s a team that is the quickest to 10 points since Horrmann has coached the Jets. East Meadow raced out of the gates unbeaten in its first four games, defeating Valley Stream Central, Farmingdale, and Herricks, while drawing at Baldwin to top the table in Nassau Conference AAA.

Last Saturday, the Jets drew Westbury, 0-0.

“We have a lot of kids who are just put your head down and run through a wall for you. We’ve had to build this focus since day one, so the kids are buying it, which is good,” Horrmann said. “Plenty of season left, obviously, and this AAA league is no joke. You’re fighting every game, but I like hot starts, and we have to keep the momentum building and play as a unit.”

The message from Horrmann is the same as 2023, when East Meadow won its first-ever county championship, defeating Plainview JFK, 4-3, in the Class AAA final.

“That mentality is take one half at a time,” Horrmann

said. “No matter what game you’re in, we’re not looking too far ahead, we’re looking at the game that we have because anything could happen on any given day.”

Helping deliver that message are two holdovers from that county championship squad — Matt Rivas and Michael Valente.

Rivas, a dynamic senior who can play up front or in the midfield and has one of the hardest shots on the team, has taken a step up in leadership and already has two goals and two assists on the season.

Another early standout is Dayton Wauchope, whose older brother Dylan was a star on the county championship team two years ago and is a freshman on the Hofstra men’s soccer team.

“Dayton is very quick, very sleek on the ball, he’s a danger if I put him on the wing, if I put him up top,” Horrmann said of the junior who already has two goals. “He gets double-teamed constantly because they know him. But he’s a special player. He’s very shifty, has a great left foot, and smells the goal a lot. He wants to go in and score. He’s aggressive.”

Joel DelRosario is another leader, who orchestrates and organizes the midfield in front of a strong back four of Chris Carpio, Matt O’Leary, Evan Velez, and Brayan Soto, a transfer from Westbury.

DelRosario shares the captaincy with Adel Deljanin, who went from playing sparingly as a junior to being a man-marking specialist as a senior, while goalkeeper Marvin Espada has already accumulated 33 saves.

With new Time-of-Day Rates, 3 PM to 7 PM is now “me time.” By doing chores that use a lot of electricity before or after those hours on weekdays, you take advantage of the times when energy costs less to produce. So, think laundry at 12 PM. Read a book or catch up on emails at 4 PM. Dishes at 8 PM. It’s all about timing your savings and saving your time. Some of the appliances that use the most energy are shown below. For

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First L.I. Heroes breakfast set for Oct. 22

Hosted by American Red Cross on Long Island at Farmingdale’s Heritage Club at Bethpage

By ALYSSA R. GRIFFIN agriffin@liherald.com

A celebration of Long Island heroes is back — with a twist. On Oct. 22, the annual event hosted by the American Red Cross on Long Island will take place in the morning: The inaugural two-hour breakfast will be held at the Heritage Club at Bethpage, in Farmingdale, at 8 a.m.

And after years of having three or so honorees, the Red Cross will honor six heroes in categories including Community Impact Hero, First Responder Hero, Global Citizenship Hero, Disaster Hero and Military Hero. “This was just brought to our attention by our wonderful board and volunteers saying, ‘There are a lot more people that deserve some recognition,’” the organization’s CEO, Jose Dominguez, said.

Luv Michael is the Community Impact Hero honoree this year. Founded in 2015, Luv Michael is a nonprofit created by Michael Kessaris and his parents, Dr. Dimitri Kessaris and Dr. Lisa Liberatore, which is dedicated to producing meaningful work and independent living opportunities for young adults on the autism spectrum.

This year’s First Responder Heroes are Officers Timothy Deegan and Matthew Walling. These graduates of the

Nassau County Police Academy demonstrated exceptional bravery on Jan. 5, when they responded to an off-duty crash involving a fellow officer, and swiftly provided lifesaving care while awaiting EMS.

Dr. Tochi Iroku-Malize is the Global Citizenship Hero being honored. The president of the American Academy of Family Physicians and the founding chair of the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Iroku-Malize dedicated her career

to expanding accessibility to family medicine and shaping a more inclusive future for health care.

The Disaster Hero of the year is Jennifer Keane. When a referee collapsed mid-game, Keane quickly prepared an automated external defibrillator and made a lifesaving intervention. As an athletic director and a certified athletic trainer, she had the ability to stay in control under pressure.

Mel Cohen is this year’s Military Hero honoree. A U.S. Air Force veteran

and a retired Suffolk County police officer, Cohen has spent his life serving the community in honor of his brother Gerald, who died in Vietnam. He supports veterans across New York state, as well as Gold Star families, while staying active in various organizations including Vietnam Veterans of America and Wreaths Across America.

Along with the six honorees, two teens will be honored as Youth Heroes. Charlie Dubofsky and Sydney Hassenbein founded the HERO Project, a peersupport group for grieving students, after both experienced personal losses. The group allows middle and high school students to experience and share their grief in a safe space.

Active on Long Island for over 100 years, the American Red Cross on Long Island continues to serve the area and recognize its local heroes. “The mission of the Red Cross is to alleviate human suffering in so many different categories,” Dominguez said. “It is possible through the generosity of our donors and the time of our volunteers.”

All proceeds raised during the fundraiser will allow the Red Cross to continue its mission of helping those affected by disasters like hurricanes, fires and other crises. For more information on the organization and on attending the event, visit RedCross.org/LIHeroes.

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Blakeman announces police endorsements

By CAROLYN JAMES cjames@liherald.com

The Nassau County Police Benevolent Association, joined by law enforcement unions from across New York state, endorsed Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman for re-election on Sept. 9.

Standing with supporters in Massapequa Park village, union leaders urged residents to re-elect the Republican incumbent in November, praising his public safety record and commitment to law enforcement.

“Many people say they ‘Back the Blue,’ but Bruce Blakeman doesn’t just say it — he acts upon it,” said Tommy Shevlin, president of the Nassau PBA, which represents 2,000 officers. “Bruce has done a great job balancing protecting police officers, recruitment and training, ensuring officers are well paid, while at the same time protecting taxpayers.”

Shevlin added that the union looks forward to another four years of working with Blakeman.

Blakeman has made public safety a central theme of his campaign. In 2024, U.S. News&World Report named Nassau County the safest community in the United States. The ranking considered crime and injury rates, along with public safety spending.

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman spoke at press conference after receiving the endorsement of all the major local police unions.

According to the report, Nassau spent $1,148 per capita on health and emergency services—nearly three times the national average of $440. The report also found that 1.39 percent of Nassau’s population works in public safety, compared to the national average of 0.8 percent.

“These numbers are not by accident,” Blakeman said. “They’re the result of a government management plan designed to protect our residents.”

He credited cooperation among multiple agencies — including Nassau and Suffolk County police, the NYPD, MTA police, state police and local depart -

ments — with maintaining regional safety.

Blakeman also highlighted his 2022 executive order declaring Nassau a nonsanctuary county, saying it was a step toward protecting public resources and ensuring community safety.

“We are not spending vital public resources on people who are not vetted, who overburden our schools, contribute to homelessness, and in many cases, engage in criminal activity,” he said.

“And we were the first county in the country to sign a cooperation agreement with ICE.”

Democrat Seth Koslow, a Nassau County legislator representing the 5th District, in the Nov. 4 general election, is challenging Blakeman. Early voting runs from Oct. 25 to Nov. 2.

“Bruce Blakeman doesn’t care about community safety — he cares about publicity stunts and whatever advances his political career,” Koslow said. He argued that Blakeman’s claims, along with those of Nassau PBA officials, that local law enforcement agencies are well trained and fully staffed are not true.

“Our law enforcement agencies are facing severe shortages, which Blakeman has failed to address,” Koslow said.

For more information on the election, visit NassauCountyny.gov/566/ Board-of-Elections.

OPEN HOUSE

SACRED HEART ACADEMY

Nassau County marks Sept. 11 anniversary

Nassau County paused to remember the lives lost on Sept. 11, 2001, as hundreds gathered at Eisenhower Park last week for the 24th anniversary of the attacks. The annual memorial service, held at the Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, combined music, reflection and solemn tributes against the backdrop of the county’s lakeside memorial.

The ceremony featured remarks from county leaders, including Executive Bruce Blakeman, as well as parents who lost children in the attacks. Chris Macchio, an internationally recognized tenor, led the audience in musical performances that underscored the evening’s tone of remembrance.

At the heart of the memorial are two semi-transparent aluminum towers symbolizing the fallen World Trade Center, alongside the inscribed names of 344 Nassau County residents who perished that day.

–Jordan Vallone

things to know: BRAin inJURY wALk

Walking for hope, healing and awareness in Eisenhower Park

By JORDAN VALLONE

jvallone@liherald.com

Survivors, caregivers, and advocates filled Eisenhower Park on Sept. 13 for the Brain Injury Association of New York State’s annual March On for Brain Injury Walk. The event highlighted both the challenges and resilience of those living with brain injuries. Families, health professionals, and supporters came together to raise awareness, share resources, and build community.

Survivors and supporters came together for awareness and hope

Eisenhower Park was filled with emotion, energy, and resilience on Sept. 13 as hundreds gathered for the Brain Injury Association of New York State’s annual March On for Brain Injury Walk. The event, held statewide in several locations, provides a platform to celebrate the strength of individuals living with brain injuries while raising awareness about the resources and support needed for recovery. Participants began the morning with registration, music, and entertainment before setting off on the walk at noon. Families walked together, some holding signs honoring loved ones or remembering those lost. The day was not just a fundraiser, but a chance to build understanding, amplify voices, and let survivors know they are not alone in their journey.

Long Island resident Aneeta Rai was honored

This year’s walk recognized Long Island’s own Aneeta Rai as the 2025 honoree. Rai’s powerful story began on March 25, 2022, when a drunk driver crashed into her car head-on along Vanderbilt Parkway. Her father, Nirmal, and young son were with her when a second vehicle struck them, leaving Rai with multiple severe injuries, including a traumatic brain injury. Firefighters used the Jaws of Life to rescue her, and she spent nearly six weeks in a coma and three months in the hospital. During her recovery, she had to relearn to walk, talk, read, write, and parent her son. 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.

The event builds community for survivors and families

Beyond the recognition of honorees, the March On for Brain Injury Walk fosters a deep sense of community for survivors, caregivers, and advocates. The event offered opportunities for families to connect with others who truly understand the daily challenges of living with brain injury. Representatives from the Brain Injury Association of New York State, health professionals, and volunteers were on hand to provide information and resources. Since its founding in 1982, the association has been a lifeline, promoting prevention, education, and support services that improve outcomes for both children and adults. The walk at Eisenhower Park was a testament to that mission, as survivors and supporters alike came together to honor courage and promoted awareness. Visit BIANYS.org for more information.

Greetings for Rosh Hashana holiday message

The Jewish New Year arrives on Sept. 22 and runs through Sept. 24, and comes at a time of global upheaval. Almost two years of war in Israel and Gaza, combined with rising antisemitism around the globe, has made it a hard time to be Jewish.

Tensions and polarization in the United States are rising. When Jews gather in the synagogue, we’ll be wishing the traditional greeting, ‘L’shana Tova tiketeivu v’tei’hateimu,’ or ‘May you be written and sealed for a good new year.’ How is it possible to pray for goodness and sweetness when there is so much pain and suffering all around us?

The Hebrew word “shana” has a double meaning: not only “year,” but also “to change.” Other Hebrew words tied to time carry similar ideas. “Chodesh,” meaning “month,” also translates as “renewal.” Even “shniyah,” or “second,” has the root “change.”

Time truly is about change. We reflect on the past to see what we’ve

learned and how we can grow. We move to create something better in the future. Time is about possibility, opportunity and renewal.

In December, we celebrate the New Year with parties, leaving the selfimprovement to Jan. 1. In the Jewish tradition, the weeks that precede Rosh Hashana are filled with self-reflection. The process of “Teshuvah,” repentance, means to return.

We revisit our goals for the world we want to live in. We consider the life we want to build for ourselves, for our families and for our communities. We take stock of what we can do to repair and amend where we missed the mark. We decide what we will do to bring that vision into reality.

year to come. We become partners in Creation with the Divine. We acknowledge God’s bringing the world into being, and we also consider how we can be part of that process. We lean into the power of change for ourselves and recognize how it spreads outward to our communities, cities, countries and our world.

R abbi R ishe G Rone R

Rosh Hashana is a moment to celebrate the possibility of the new

There is much to reflect on for each and every one of us on how to make the world a better place. And there is also so much to be grateful for.

When it comes to this Rosh Hashana, can we pray for the change we are so desperately needing, the one that only comes from a mass global awakening toward kindness, peace and bringing God-consciousness into the world? Can we dim the noise of the incessant social media

and news cycles to listen to our neighbors and friends and see whether we can live with kindness and empathy toward one another?

For the Jewish people, can we be proud and not afraid, tapping into the wisdom of our ancient ancestors who can guide us through difficult times like these? Can we build stronger, more resilient communities by coming together to care for each other? Can we bring rituals into our lives that make meaning and weave the fabrics of our families and communities?

May the new year bring us the powers of change for the good. May we enter into a new cycle of sweetness. I would like to wish all of the people in the world blessings for a true Shana Tova U’Metukah — a good and sweet new year!

Rabbi Rishe Groner

Rabbi Rishe Groner is the spiritual leader of Congregation Beth Ohr.

Local’s film will hit the Hall of Fame screen

Long Island International Film Expo where Mena won the Best Feature award for Bereavement.

“Stevan is such a great guy,” O’Halloran said. “We met 20 years ago at the Long Island Film and Television Expo. He reached out to me and said, ‘Hey, I was thinking about if I could send you this script,’ and I was like, sure, I’d love to see.”

“He’s so easygoing, and he had surrounded himself with a really great crew, and that’s how we got started,” he continued.

Brutal Massacre: A Comedy released in 2007. Since then, O’Halloran has been a trusted confidant for Mena, serving as an early viewer of ‘The Ruse.’

“The fact that he trusts me, and my opinion, to give him those types of notes, I find it a testament to the friendship we’ve developed over the years,” O’Halloran said. “‘The Ruse’ is such a great suspense thriller.”

Mena is planning his next project, a multimedia endeavor.

“Our next project is going to be called A Stranger Comes Along,” he said. “What we’ve done with this is we’ve released the story as a novel. You have to try to cultivate your audience from a very early stage.”

“Hopefully we’ll be releasing that in 2026,” he explained. “If you like ‘The Ruse,’ it’s a very similar genre: a horror, thriller, mystery type of film.”

Furthermore, Mena’s previously published novel, ‘Transience,’ is anticipating a film adaptation under the title A Memory of Murder.

“We’re very excited to turn that into a movie, but it’s a much larger production, so it’s a little bit down the road for us because we are still growing as a company,” Mena explained.

Mena’s movies are available to rent on Amazon Prime, and for his novels, Amazon or Kindle.

To learn more about Mena’s works, visit MenaFilms.org. For details on the special screening and other LIMEHOF events, visit LIMusicHallOfFame.org/Museum/.

FRIDAY

SEPTEMBER 19TH

Long Island Rail Road strike on hold…for now

By BRIAN KACHARABA bkacharaba@liherald.com

A potential Long Island Rail Road strike that was looming on Sept. 18 has been paused for now after the five unions threatening to halt service announced they are requesting intervention from the Presidential Emergency Board.

The move means negotiations will continue under federal mediation, postponing any immediate threat of a strike.

The development comes amid mounting tension between the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and the five remaining unions that have yet to reach a contract agreement with the railroad. These unions represent more than half of the LIRR’s workforce, and their decision earlier this month to pursue a strike authorization alarmed the MTA and the commuters who depend on the system every day.

More than 270,000 daily riders would be affected by a walkout. While the latest action delays that possibility, the disputes over wages and work rules remain unresolved, leaving the longterm outlook uncertain.

The MTA quickly responded to the unions’ decision.

ABrotherhood of Electrical Workers, and the Transportation Communications Union. Collectively, they form the Long Island Rail Road Bargaining Coalition, representing 55 percent of the unionized workforce at the LIRR.

According to the MTA, its current proposal calls for a 9.5 percent wage increase over three years. But the unions are pushing for an additional 6.5 percent raise on top of the existing deal, without giving ground on work rules that management says are ‘outdated.’

“Locomotive engineers make over $49 an hour currently. The average salary is over $160,000 a year, with top earners above $300,000,” Free said. “That’s largely the result of antiquated work rules that allow multiple days’ pay for one day of work. And now they want a bigger raise while keeping those rules in place.”

fter months of radio silence, these outlier unions have finally admitted that they weren’t serious about negotiating.

JoHN J. McCAR tHy chief of policy and external relations, MTA

“After months of radio silence, these outlier unions have finally admitted that they weren’t serious about negotiating,” said John J. McCarthy, the MTA chief of policy and external relations, in a statement. “They never had a plan to resolve this at the bargaining table.

“If these unions wanted to put riders first, they would either settle or agree to binding arbitration,” he continued. “And if they don’t want to strike, they should say so -- and finally show up to the negotiating table. This cynical delay serves no one.”

During a Sept. 11 news conference at Penn Station, MTA President Rob Free said negotiations had broken down after the National Mediation Board expedited the release of the unions. That opened the door to a strike that could have begun at 12:01 a.m. on Sept. 18.

The last LIRR strike occurred in 1994.

“We have attempted to negotiate in good faith with these five remaining labor organizations,” Free said. “A fair offer has been made and accepted by the majority of all the other represented employees at the Long Island Rail Road, including the largest union, SMART, and four others.”

The five unions still holding out include the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, the International

The BRS’s 809 members voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike as talks stalled. About 600 BLET workers also approved a work stoppage.

“[The] Long Island Rail Road has not negotiated in good faith and has not been serious from the onset of bargaining,” said BRS Vice President of Commuters and Passengers Tim Tarrant in a Sept. 11 statement. “[The] LIRR’s on-time performance has never been better and it’s time for them to recognize their hardworking men and women by offering a fair contract that keeps up with the cost of living in New York.”

BRS General Chairman Mike Sullivan echoed the frustration.

“Our members will not stand for a contract that results in a loss of real wages, and we are prepared to use all means available to achieve a fair contract,” he said in the same statement.

While the Taylor Law prohibits public employees in New York from striking, LIRR workers are covered under the federal Railway Labor Act. That law allows for strikes under certain conditions, though it also provides a process for federal mediation—such as the Presidential Emergency Board request now underway.

The MTA has repeatedly stressed its desire to resolve the dispute without disruption and was preparing contingency plans in case of a walkout. The plan would have included limited shuttle bus service.

Riders were also encouraged to use Nassau Inter-County Express buses for connections to Jamaica and Flushing.

With the gap between the MTA’s offer and the unions’ demands unresolved, the dispute is far from settled. The intervention may provide some breathing room, but the risk of a future work stoppage remains unless both sides can settle their differences.

STEPPING OUT

‘Love’ is all around us

Photos from the streets on view at Hofstra Museum

By Abbey Salvemini

Hofstra University Museum of Art opens its gallery to “Love Is The Message: Photography by Jamel Shabazz,” an inspiring exhibition honoring the decades-long creative output of the renowned street photographer. With his keen eye, Shabazz’s powerful images reflect pop culture, fashion and especially hip-hop, spanning the 1980s through today. The exhibit is on view in the Emily Lowe Gallery though Dec. 16.

Shabazzz’s striking black-and-white and color photography radiates joy and human connection, offering a deep sense of empathy and cultural pride. Alongside his photographs, visitors can also explore his personal collection of cameras, artwork and memorabilia.

“Jamel Shabazz is history, and it is a real gift that we are able to share this with our community,” Museum Director Sasha Giordano says.

As Giordano puts it, so thoroughly articulated in her forward in the exhibition catalogue: “Community is the heart of a museum.”

The exhibit was conceived with this spirit and curated by “Team Love,” a collective partnership composed of Shabazz; Robert Dupreme Eatman; Dr. Bilal Polson, principal of Northern Parkway School in Uniondale, Erik Sumner, art educator at Northern Parkway School; and the Hofstra University Museum of Art. Over two years, slowly and carefully, through meeting after meeting, the exhibition took shape from concept to fruition.

With Team Love’s valuable insights, “Love Is The Message”honors 50 years of Jamel Shabazz’s artistic achievement and is his first solo exhibition on Long Island — a fitting location as he is a longtime resident of Hempstead.

“Love Is the Message” explores how Shabazz’s work occupies a vital space at the intersection of art, activism and cultural storytelling. Deeply influenced by trailblazers like Gordon Parks, Shabazz embraces the camera not just as a creative tool, but as a means of witnessing everyday life within Black and Brown communities. Shabazz centers dignity, resilience, and beauty in his portraits by capturing not only how his subjects look, but how they live and love. His lens is one of empathy, inviting viewers not simply to observe but to feel and to witness the quiet strength of a

father holding his child, the joy in a group of friends dressed for a block party, or the pride in a young person striking a confident pose. In this way, Shabazz’s work does more than document; it cultivates understanding, mends division and illuminates the shared humanity that connects us all.

“Jamel wanted the team to put fourth an exhibition that showed love of community, friends, family and music,” Giordano explains.

As for Shabazz, he considers this retrospective a significant honor.

“When I look at the current situation of the country and the world, this exhibition is one of the most important shows of my life because we need love in the world right now,” he says. “I’m sharing my work to help inspire the next generation by using this universal global language of photography to create conversation.”

• Now through Dec. 16

• Programs require advance registration; call (516) 463-5672 to register

• Emily Lowe Gallery, behind Emily Lowe Hall, Hofstra University’s South Campus, Hempstead

Shabazz commutes to his day job daily but returns to his Hempstead studio, where he immerses himself in reflection and creativity.

“The Town of Hempstead offers me a space where I can get into deep thought and develop my ideas,” he says.

Among the many photographs and artifacts on view, Shabazz shares that a photograph of his mother holds especially deep meaning for him. Entitled “‘The Giver of Life,’ it’s the work of which he is most proud.

“I went out to Jones Beach with my mother and I caught an incredible photograph of her with bread in her hand as the seagull approaches her. She’s never experienced anything like that before.”

Beyond that moment, his eye offers his special perspective on the world around us.

“My objective was to contribute to the preservation of culture for this generation. It is my hope that the younger generations can look at my work and get a glimpse of the style and culture of back in the day. I want young people to understand the importance of love and see the power of photography,” he adds.

As always, related programming enhances the viewing experience. Upcoming on Oct. 1, 6-7:30 p.m., join Giordano for an exhibition tour. She’ll discuss the community collaboration that shaped the exhibit, offering insight into the artist’s creative process and the legacy of love reflected in the work.

Meet the man behind the camera at “Love Is the Message: A Conversation with Jamel Shabazz,” on Oct. 23, 10 a.m.-noon. He’ll talk about his creative process, personal influence and the impact of his work documenting everyday life in Black and urban communities. It’s followed by an audience Q&A session.

The events schedule also includes “Feel the Love – Experience the Photography of Jamel Shabazz with a Heart Meditation,” on Nov. 6. Denise Peterson, of Denise Peterson Yoga, brings mindfulness and meditation techniques to the art experience.

NYC Ska Orchestra

The NYC Ska Orchestra blends the exuberant musical layers of the jazz era with Jamaican roots music. The top-notch musicians, led by arranger-trumpeter-vocalist Kevin Batchelor, deliver a lively concert that surely will lead you to want to get up out of your seat and dance. This 20-piece big 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, band members 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.

Friday, Sept 26. 8 p.m. $42, $37 members. Jeanne Rimsky Theater at Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington. Tickets available at landmarkonmainstreet.org or (516) 767-6444.

Soulful notes with Vincent Ingala

Contemporary jazz saxophonist/ multi-instrumentalist Vincent Ingala and his electrifying band bring their funky grooves to the Madison Theatre. Declared by Jazziz Magazine as “one of the most exciting artists to emerge this past decade,” Ingala remains an unstoppable, creative force in urban contemporary jazz. His career includes10 #1 Billboard hits, 23 Top 10 singles, with more to come from his latest release and eighth album, “Escape With Me.” Ingala’s unique dual ability to electrify fans while connecting emotionally with them has made him one of the genre’s most popular talents on the scene today. He draws the audience in; becoming part of an exciting musical experience that bridges the gap between the music of his father’s R&B, funk and soul collection ( which he was heavily immersed in) and Ingala’s well executed horn lines.

Saturday, Sept. 20, 8 p.m. Tickets start at $45. Molloy University, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre. Tickets available at madisontheatreny. org or (516) 323-4444.

YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD CALENDAR

SEPT

18

On Exhibit

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

• Where: 1 Museum Drive, Roslyn Harbor

• Time: Ongoing

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

SEPT

19

Parti-gras at the park

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

• Where: Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, East Meadow

• Time: 7 p.m.

• Contact: nassaucountyny.gov

Gatsby’s Swingin’ Scavenger Hunt

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

OCT 4

‘…We will rock you’

Get ready to sing along — Queen-mania is back on Long Island. Almost Queen, the acclaimed tribute band, is set to return to the Paramount stage, bringing with them the soaring vocals, electrifying guitar riffs, and theatrical flair that defined one of rock’s most legendary groups. Almost Queen isn’t just another cover band. Their performances are carefully crafted to honor the spirit of Freddie Mercury, Brian May, John Deacon, and Roger Taylor while delivering a concert experience that feels fresh and alive. The lineup features Joseph Russo as the dynamic and charismatic Mercury, Steve Leonard as guitar virtuoso May, Randy Gregg as bassist Deacon, and John Cappadona as drummer Taylor. Together, they recreate Queen’s iconic sound with impeccable four-part harmonies, precise musical interludes, and the kind of stage energy that pulls audiences to their feet. Attention to detail sets the band apart. From authentic costumes to faithful renditions of classic hits like “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “We Will Rock You,” and “Somebody to Love,” the band captures both the power and the playfulness of Queen’s original shows. Their devotion to accuracy — paired with undeniable chemistry on stage — has earned them a loyal following that grows with every tour. $108.75, $98.25, $76.25, $64.75, $54.25, $48.75.

Old Westbury Gardens’ Gold Coast mansion through the lens 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 hands-on 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

Seasonal Sprouts

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

• Time: 8 p.m.

• Contact: ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com

SEPT

Little Learners Art Lab

Eisenhower Park, joined by DJ Theo and Untamed.

• Where: Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, Eisenhower Park

• Time: 8 p.m.

• Contact: nassaucountyny.gov

SEPT 27

Craft fair in the park

Check out the latest craft fair, which returns to Eisenhower Park to kick off the fall season.

• Where: Eisenhower Park, Field 8, East Meadow

• Time: 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

• Contact: nassaucountyfairs.com

Superheroes for Childcare 5K and Kids Fun Run

Unleash your inner hero at Child Care Council of Nassau Inc.’s 3rd annual superhero-themed 5K.

• Where: Eisenhower Park, Field 2

• Time: 9:30 a.m.

• Contact: childcarenassau.org

Curator’s Talk

SEPT

28

25

Bring the family to Old Westbury Gardens for fun, fresh air and fall beauty. Ages 4-10 can enjoy an educational outdoor tour through the vibrant autumn gardens, filled with colorful leaves, exploration, and nature-themed activities. This guided experience is designed just for kids, sparking curiosity about the changing seasons while encouraging hands-on discovery in the great outdoors. Registration required. $18, $10 children.

• Where: 71 Old Westbury Road, Old Westbury

• Time: 11 a.m.-noon

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

Noontime concert

Stop 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

Each week in this engaging workshop, participants are introduced to handson materials, artmaking, and inspiration from artists and techniques. Young kids, ages 2-5, build critical thinking skills, expand vocabulary, and support imaginations as they play, create and explore. This week use blocks to stamp patterns for geometric art. $4 with museum admission.

• Where: Museum Row, Garden City

• Time: 11:30 a.m.-noon

• Contact: licm.org or (516) 224-5800

75-Year McVey Anniversary Fall Festival

Join Franklin Hill Perrell for a fascinating look at Nassau County Museum’s exhibit “At Play.” The exhibit encompasses dance, music, theater, movies, circus, boating, and beach scenes, along with horseracing and various sports, both activeand passive. Examples of works include photography of rock stars and Hollywood icons; Andy Warhol’s celebrity portraits of such subjects as Marilyn Monroe, James Dean, and John Wayne; and opera and theater artworks. Limited seating. Registration required. $20, $15 seniors, members free.

• Where: 1 Museum Drive, Roslyn Harbor

• Time: 3 p.m.

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

George McVey Elementary School celebrates its 75th year with fall festivities and family fun.

• Where: 2201 Devon St.

• Time: 4:30-7:30 p.m. SEPT 26

Steve Aoki DJ Set

Get ready to party as multiplatinum DJ and producer Steve Aoki takes the stage at

Having an event?

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

News brief

Ryder Cup Youth Day is Sept. 25

The PGA of America will host Youth Day at the 2025 Ryder Cup on Sept. 25, at Bethpage Black, furthering its commitment to helping the game grow through PGA Jr. League and local youth initiatives.

PGA Jr. League players from the Metropolitan PGA Section and local high school students are invited to attend free of charge with a ticketed adult. Youth Day provides access to Ryder Cup practice rounds and the decisive Junior Ryder Cup singles matches, featuring the top 24 junior golfers from the U.S. and Europe.

The Junior Ryder Cup, established in 1997, has launched the careers of some of golf’s biggest stars, including Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas, Scottie Scheffler, Lexi Thompson, Rose Zhang and Rory McIlroy.

A select group of participants will also take part in Beyond the Green, a career exploration program led by the PGA of America REACH Foundation. The event will feature New York-based sports organizations and brands, with youth representatives from groups such as First Tee of Metropolitan New York, The Bridge Golf Foundation and 100 Black Men of New York. Youth Day attendees will also be invited to the Ryder Cup opening ceremony that evening.

As part of the PGA’s mission to

increase inclusion and participation, juniors ages 15 and under receive free admission on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of Ryder Cup week with a ticketed adult (limit two juniors per adult). Tickets for juniors are available only at the Main Spectator Entrance on the day of play.

Additionally, PGA Jr. League Day at Ryder Cup Live will take place on Sept. 27, at Rockefeller Center. Players wearing their PGA Jr. League jerseys will enjoy a watch party, simulator competition, activities, prizes and raffles. For more, go to Bit.ly/3VaI8EN.

For more information, visit RyderCup.com.

–Jeffrey

Bessen

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24TH | 12:00PM

Whether you're decked out in team colors, surrounded by game day snacks, or have the ultimate fan cave setup –We want to see it all!

The best photos will be featured in the Herald – and the WINNER will be chosen at random to win 2 tickets to an Islanders game!

EXCLUSIVE PRESENTING SPONSOR - $25,000

• Naming Rights & prominent recognition

• 15 Gala tickets, VIP reception

• Premium full-page digital journal ad

• Logo on all promotional materials, signage

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STRONG SPONSORSHIP - $15,000

• 12 Gala tickets, VIP reception

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THURSDAY NOVEMBER 6, 2025 6:30 - 10 PM THE HERITAGE CLUB AT BETHPAGE FOR INFO OR QUESTIONS, PLEASE CONTACT: JCAPELLABROWN@GIRLSINCLONGISLAND.ORG

CHAMPION FOR GIRLS - $2,500

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Public Notices

LEGAL NOTICE

Formation of BIG 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

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that pursuant to Section 202-48 of the code of the Town of Hempstead entitled, “Handicapped Parking

On Public Streets,” a public hearing will be held in the Town Meeting Pavilion, Hempstead Town Hall, 1 Washington Street, Hempstead, New York, on the 30th day of September 2025, at 10:30 o’clock in the forenoon of that day, to consider the adoption of a resolution 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 at the following locations:

BELLMORE

MADISON AVENUEwest side, starting at a point 40 feet north of the north curbline of Beltagh Avenue, north for a distance of 20 feet.

(TH-420/25)

ELMONT

MARSHALL STREETsouth side, starting at a point 48 feet west of the west curbline of Covert Avenue, west for a distance of 20 feet.

(TH-418/25)

LEVITTOWN

COTTON LANE - east side, starting at a point opposite the southwest curbline of Surrey Lane, south for a distance of 27 feet.

(TH-417/25)

ROOSEVELT

RONALD PLACE - west side, starting at a point 63 feet south of the south curbline of East Fulton Avenue, south for a distance of 20 feet.

(TH-425/25)

UNIONDALE

LAWRENCE STREETeast side, starting at a point 95 feet south of a point opposite the southwest curbline of Shady Street, south for a distance of 21 feet.

(TH-436/25) and on the repeal of the following locations previously set aside as parking spaces for physically handicapped persons:

LEVITTOWN PARKER AVENUEwest side, starting at a point 212 feet south of the south curbline of Coleridge Street, south for a distance of 24 feet.

(TH-466/03 - 11/18/03)

(TH-410/25)

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

Dated: September 16, 2025

Hempstead, New York BY ORDER OF THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD

JOHN FERRETTI

Supervisor

KATE MURRAY Town Clerk 155757

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that pursuant to Article 9 of the New York State Constitution, the provisions of the Town Law and Municipal Home Rule of the State of New York, both as amended, a public hearing will be held in the Nathan L.H. Bennett Pavilion, Hempstead Town Hall Plaza, 1 Washington Street, Village and Town of Hempstead, New York, on the 30th day of September, at 10:30 o’clock in the forenoon of that day to consider the enactment of a local law to amend Section 202-52 of the code of the Town of Hempstead to REPEAL

“BUS STOPS” at the following location: EAST MEADOW MERRICK AVENUE (TH 350/80) East Side - NO STOPPING BUS STOPstarting at the north curbline of Walter Street north for a distance of 60 feet. (Adopted 4/28/81)

ALL PERSONS

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

Dated: September 16, 2025

Hempstead, New York BY ORDER OF THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD

JOHN FERRETTI

Supervisor

KATE MURRAY Town Clerk 155755

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

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

RUGBY STREET (TH 409/25) North SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting at the east curbline of Prospect Avenue, east for a distance of 40 feet.

RUGBY STREET (TH 409/25) South SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting from the east curbline of Prospect Avenue, east for a distance of 40 feet.

MERRICK AVENUE (TH 434/25) East SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting at the north curbline of Walter Street north for a distance of 60 feet.

MERRICK AVENUE (TH 434/25) East SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting at the south curbline of Walter Street south for a distance of 30 feet.

ELMONT

HEATHCOTE ROAD (TH 407/25) East SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - from the north curbline of 106th Avenue, north for a distance 20 feet.

HEATHCOTE ROAD (TH 407/25) East SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - from the south curbline of 106th Avenue, south for a

distance 30 feet.

HEATHCOTE ROAD (TH 407/25) West SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - from the north curbline of 106th Avenue, north for a distance 30 feet.

106th AVENUE (TH 407/25) North SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - from the west curbline of Heathcote Road, west for a distance 35 feet.

106th AVENUE (TH 407/25) North SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - from the east curbline of Heathcote Road, east for a distance 30 feet.

106th AVENUE (TH 407/25) South SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - from the west curbline of Heathcote Road, west for a distance 28 feet.

106th AVENUE (TH 407/25) South SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - from the east curbline of Heathcote Road, east for a distance 30 feet.

HEATHCOTE ROAD (TH 407/25) East SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - from the north curbline of 109th Avenue, north for a distance 25 feet.

HEATHCOTE ROAD (TH 407/25) East SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - from the south curbline of 109th Avenue, south for a distance 30 feet.

109th AVENUE (TH 407/25) North SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - from the west curbline of Heathcote Road, west for a distance 30 feet.

109th AVENUE (TH 407/25) North SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - from the east curbline of Heathcote Road, east for a distance 30 feet.

109th AVENUE (TH 407/25) South SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - from the east curbline of Heathcote Road, east for a distance 30 feet.

109th AVENUE (TH 407/25) South SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - from the west curbline of Heathcote Road, west for a distance 28 feet.

OCEANSIDE FORTESQUE AVENUE (TH 421/25) East SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting from the south curbline of Ayers Place, south for a distance of 30 feet.

MERRICK SENECA PLACE (TH 214(B)/25) East SideNO STOPPING ANYTIME - starting at a point 12 feet south of

the south curbline of Smith Street, south for a distance of 38 feet.

WOODMERE

FORDHAM LANE (TH 423/25) West SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting from the north curbline of Hargale Court, north for a distance of 40 feet.

FORDHAM LANE (TH 423/25) East SideNO STOPPING ANYTIMEstarting at a point 17 feet opposite at a point north of the south curbline of Hargale Court, north for a distance of 60 feet. ALSO, to REPEAL from Section 202-1 “PARKING OR STANDING PROHIBITIONS” from the following location:

MERRICK SENECA PLACE (TH 214/25) East SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - from the south east curbline of Smith Street, south for a distance of 50 feet. (Adopted 6/17/25)

WOODMERE CEDAR LANE (TH 54/16) South SideNO

PARKING ANYTIMEstarting at a point 55 feet east of the east curbline of Irving Place, east for a distance of 73 feet.

(Adopted 4/12/16) ALL PERSONS INTERESTED shall have an opportunity to be heard on said proposal at the time and place aforesaid.

Dated: September 16, 2025 Hempstead, New York BY ORDER OF THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD JOHN FERRETTI Supervisor

KATE MURRAY Town Clerk 155739

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, US BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE FOR VRMTG ASSET TRUST, PLAINTIFF, VS. ALCIDES P. RODRIGUES, ET AL., DEFENDANT(S). Pursuant to an Order Confirming Referee Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on May 8, 2024, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the front

steps on the north side of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on October 21, 2025 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 60 Bright Street, Westbury, NY 11590. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Incorporated Village of Westbury, Town of North Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 10, Block 309 and Lot 36. Approximate amount of judgment is $382,093.58 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #609877/2023.

Wayne H. Wink Jr., Esq., Referee Friedman Vartolo LLP, 85 Broad Street, Suite 501, New York, New York 10004, Attorneys for Plaintiff, Firm File No.: 231979-1 155785

LEGAL NOTICE SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS-SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, COUNTY OF NASSAUU.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE FOR RCF 2 ACQUISITION TRUST, Plaintiff, -againstVICTOR N. WILLIAMS, CHRISTOPHER NATHANIEL JAMES, MICHAEL SAMUEL JAMES, SONIA D. JAMES, STEVEN JAMES, AS POTENTIAL HEIRS AND DISTRIBUTEES OF THE ESTATE OF ADDIE E. WILLIAMS A/K/A ADDIE E. JAMES-WILLIAMS; SHERELLE MONIQUE JAMES, TAMEKA JAMES AND SYLVIA K. SIMMS, AS POTENTIAL HEIRS AND DISTRIBUTEES OF THE ESTATE OF ADDIE E. WILLIAMS A/K/A ADDIE E. JAMES-WILLIAMS, IF THEY BE LIVING AND IF THEY BE DEAD, THE UNKNOWN HEIRS-ATLAW, NEXT-OF-KIN, DISTRIBUTEES, EXECUTORS, ADMINISTRATORS, TRUSTEES, DEVISEES, LEGATEES, ASSIGNEES, LIENORS, CREDITORS AND SUCCESSORS IN INTEREST AND GENERALLY ALL PERSONS AND PARTIES HAVING OR CLAIMING, UNDER, BY OR THROUGH SHERELLE

MONIQUE JAMES, TAMEKA JAMES AND SYLVIA K. SIMMS, BY PURCHASE, INHERITANCE, LIEN OR OTHERWISE, ANY RIGHT, TITLE OR INTEREST IN AND TO THE PREMISES DESCRIBED IN THE COMPLAINT HEREIN; THE UNKNOWN HEIRSAT- LAW, NEXT-OFKIN, DISTRIBUTEES, EXECUTORS, ADMINISTRATORS, TRUSTEES, DEVISEES, LEGATEES, ASSIGNEES, LIENORS, CREDITORS, AND SUCCESSORS IN INTEREST, AND GENERALLY ALL PERSONS OR PARTIES HAVING OR CLAIMING, UNDER, BY OR THROUGH THE ADDIE E. JAMES A/K/A ADDIE JAMES LIVING TRUST, B Y PURCHASE,INHERITAN CE, LIEN OR OTHERWISE, ANY RIGHT TITLE OR INTEREST IN AND TO THE PREMISES DESCRIBED IN THE COMPLAINT HEREIN; THE UNKNOWN BENEFICIARIES OF THE ADDIE E. WILLIAMS A/K/A ADDIE E. JAMESWILLIAMS LIVING TRUST; NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE; THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (EASTERN DISTRICT); PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK; NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE; INC VILLAGE OF LYNBROOK; EMPIRE PORTFOLIOS, INC.; ALISHA MARIE JAMES; NASSAU SURGICAL ASSOCIATES, PC; BANK OF AMERICA, N.A. SUCCESSOR IN INTEREST TO NORSTAR BANK; NEW CENTURY FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC,; “JOHN DOE #1” through “JOHN DOE #10” inclusive, the names of the ten last name Defendants being fictitious, real names unknown to the Plaintiff, the parties intended being persons or corporations having an interest in, or tenants or persons in possession of, portions of the mortgaged premises described in the Complaint, Defendants - Index No. 619716/2024 Plaintiff Designates Nassau County as the Place of Trial. The Basis of Venue is that the subject premises is situated in Nassau County. To the above named DefendantsYOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the Complaint in this

action and to serve a copy of your Answer or, if the Complaint is not served with this Summons, to serve a Notice of Appearance upon the Plaintiff’s attorney within twenty (20) days after the service of this Summons, exclusive of the date of service or within thirty (30) days after the service is complete if this Summons is not personally delivered to you within the State of New York. If you fail to so appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint. That this Supplemental Summons is being filed pursuant to an order of the court dated September 4, 2025. NOTICE-YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME - If you do not respond to this summons and complaint by serving a copy of the answer on the attorney for the mortgage company who filed this foreclosure proceeding against you and filing the answer with the court, a default judgment may be entered and you can lose your home. Speak to an attorney or go to the court where your case is pending for further information on how to answer the summons and protect your property. Sending a payment to the mortgage company will not stop the foreclosure action. YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE FOR RCF 2 ACQUISITION TRUST) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT. The foregoing summons is served upon you by publication pursuant to an order of the Honorable Jeffery A. Goodstein A.J.S.C. Dated: September 4, 2025 Filed: September 4, 2025. The object of this action is to foreclose a mortgage and covering the premises known as 16 Barrington Street, Westbury, NY 11590. Dated: November 26, 2024 Filed: December 3, 2024 Knuckles & Manfro, LLP, Attorney for Plaintiff, By: Mark R. Knuckles, Esq., 120

HERALD SCHOOLS

East Meadow schools remember Sept. 11

Students, teachers and administrators throughout the district took time to reflect last week on the events of Sept. 11, 2001. Each building recognized the 24th anniversary of the day with age-appropriate conversations and activities.

At the Salisbury School, Superintendent of Schools Kenneth Rosner, board of education trustees and district administrators held a flag-raising ceremony to reflect on the events of Sept. 11, 2001. The building’s security supervisors raised the flag as Rosner urged educators at the Salisbury School to never forget. Students and teachers throughout the district wore red, white and blue to demonstrate their respect and appreciation for the country. Among this year’s activities was Barnum Woods Elementary School’s annual schoolwide remembrance ceremony in which members of the Student Council gave speeches to reflect on Sept. 11, 2001. Barnum Woods Principal Amanda Sagnelli and Assistant Principal Harriet Alfano also gave speeches, urging students and teachers to never forget.

Additionally, all of the elementary schools held activities such as crafting ribbons, coloring American flags and learning about everyday heroes.

The social studies department at both high schools crafted lesson plans to teach students about the events of Sept. 11, 2001 and how it changed the world. At East Meadow High School, students visited the school’s 9/11 memorial, consisting of two trees to signify the Twin Towers, as well as a small piece of the World Trade Center. American flags were planted in the memorial and all staff were provided with American flag pins to stand in unity of remembrance.

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A reader offers a correction on P.T. boats

A reader from Bellmore, Steven Vella, wrote to question my recent column in which I addressed bomb shelters and the related specific construction of P.T. boats (“In today’s world, bomb shelters are part of the conversation,” July 24-30).

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I stated that gunite concrete has some of the highest construction strength, at over 6,000 pounds per square inch, and that swimming pools and “P.T. boats are as strong as steel, and when all of the layers of steel reinforcement rods are contoured into the shape of a boat hull, the ships prove capable, as they did in World War II, of catching exploding torpedoes and absorbing the impact.” P.T. stands for patrol torpedo, and P.T. boats were meant to be lighter, swifter craft for short-range reconnaissance and rapid deployment of torpedoes to attack enemy ships. Vella, a World War II buff, pointed out that he was only aware, through a relative who worked for the Elco Boat Company, in Bayonne, New Jersey — a major builder of P.T. boats for the U.S. Navy — that “the keel is a 70-foot-long piece of 6 x 6 Alaskan spruce. The stem is of American oak. The frames (ribs) are of African mahogany. Sides and bottom of the hull are double-planked mahogany with canvas laid in marine glue in between the diagonally spaced planking.” I misstated that the steel-rod-reinforced construction was used for P.T. boats, when it was actually used for slower-moving landing craft, such as the type used at the beach landing at Normandy, and for barges shipping supplies. The slower-moving craft needed to be heavily reinforced because they were, presumably, easier targets.

Unlike today, where we can instantly find information on almost any topic using our cellphones, I sat in my Methods and Materials classes in architecture school, 50 years ago, and listened to professors explain the physical and chemical properties as well as the applied uses of materials in construction, without the ability to research or fact-check. I never forgot the story related to us about the strength of the concrete, the application to Navy vessels and the story of torpedoes being trapped without exploding, in the sides of some boat hulls. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to confirm the type of concrete used, or that the boats in which the cement and steel reinforcement were applied weren’t P.T. boats, back then.

The concrete type was still steel-reinforced, but it was fero-cement, and not gunite. Gunite is cement that is sprayed using a high-pressure gun, often referred to as a cannon, and the mix is semi-dry cement and sand. The actual concrete hulls that the Navy engineers came up with were made of handapplied cement over steel reinforcing rods. Concrete and steel are used together in many different configurations, because concrete is extraordinarily strong in compression and highly resistant to crushing, and steel is highly tensile or flexible. When applied together, the combination provides great resistance to impacts, such as bombs. So thank you, Steven, for your noteworthy question.

© 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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On the stump and on the field, the pressure builds

We’re just past the midway point of September, the month that traditionally signifies key flashpoints in two very competitive American pastimes: Major League Baseball and American politics.

Before MLB initiated division play and wild cards, there were just two leagues, the National and American, and the team with the best record in each league at the close of the regular season, at the end of September, made it to the World Series. That made the league pennant races do-or-die. Sudden death. No “postseason” or second chances.

There were years in which the pennant race had as much drama and tension as the World Series. In 1951, for instance, the Brooklyn Dodgers and the New York Giants finished the regular season in a dead heat, necessitating a three-game playoff, which the Giants won on Bobby Thompson’s three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning of Game 3 — the fabled “shot heard

Baround the world.” That was one of the most famous moments in baseball history, and the fact that the Giants went on to lose the World Series to the Yankees is barely a footnote.

Now there six divisions, and 12 teams qualify for the postseason, taking away the suddendeath aspect. The flip side of the coin is that with more teams in the hunt and more games to be played, there’s sustained fan interest almost to November. That’s especially welcome news for New York fans this year, since neither the Yankees nor the Mets will win their division, but both are good position to be wild card teams.

TLabor Day. Voters are back from vacation or home from the beach. All that went before was but a prelude to the nine-week race that won’t end until late on election night, Nov. 4.

This campaign run to the finish is both a sprint and a marathon. Having run for elective office 19 times, I can tell you that a campaign is both exhilarating and exhausting. A candidate who has run a serious race should have nothing left at the end.

he candidates and the playoff contenders head down the stretch.

And the postseason is a brand new ball game. Last season, the Mets won postseason series over the Brewers and the Phillies, both of which had finished ahead of the Mets in the regular season. The Mets then pushed the Dodgers to six games before finally succumbing, falling short of the World Series by just two games. This year’s September challenge for the Mets is to make sure they nab a wild card slot so they can go on to October, where anything can happen.

Much like baseball, the American political season begins in earnest after

This is especially true in Nassau County, where there are few easy races. I assure you that despite Bruce Blakeman’s excellent record as county executive, with Nassau being rated the safest county in the United States and no tax increases, he is not taking his re-election for granted. Yes, polls show that Blakeman has a solid lead over his challenger, Democratic County Legislator Seth Koslow, but he also knows there are 100,000 more registered Democrats than Republicans in Nassau County.

Blakeman remembers just four years ago, when he was the challenger and incumbent County Executive Laura Curran was the frontrunner, clearly leading in the polls. But Blakeman waged a strong, hard-fought campaign,

and on election night in November 2021, he was victorious.

Similarly, in the race for county district attorney that same year, Democratic State Sen. Todd Kaminsky was the clear favorite over career prosecutor Anne Donnelly, a Republican. The consensus among political insiders was that Kaminsky would use the D.A.’s office as a steppingstone to state attorney general, and then governor. But Donnelly ran as a strict law-and-order candidate, opposed to the so-called “bail reform” legislation supported by Kaminsky. Election night saw a landslide win for Donnelly.

While national and statewide races get the most media attention, it’s county and town races that are closest to, and most intense for, voters. There are no flyover candidates or Rose Garden campaigns. The candidates are right there in our communities, at local events. We see them up close, and get to know who they are and what they stand for. And the issues are ones that affect us directly: safe streets and neighborhoods, support for our police, preventing tax increases and creating jobs. All of it leading to Nov 4, Election Day, the World Series of politics.

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

The battle of egos in the Big Apple

eing a former elected official, I am asked frequent questions about political matters. Some are about national developments or personalities, but lately, almost all are about New York City’s mayoral contest. For most of this year, many people, city and suburban voters, have been transfixed by fear about the possibility that a total unknown, Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, could become the city’s first socialist mayor.

My initial comments have been intended for city dwellers who failed to show up at the June Democratic primary and are now brooding about the potential of having someone so controversial and unqualified running a city of more than 8 million people. I remind them that the city primary elections now use a ranked-choice voting system, which favors unknown candidates, who may have little funding but know how to run a campaign. Mamdani was able to raise a substantial amount of money through

small donations, and ran a professional campaign that is now the envy of the political establishment. The first political shockwave was on primary night, when, early in the evening, it became evident that he would be the clear winner. He won so handily that his opponent, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, made an early concession speech.

UBy the time the sun was up the following day, my telephone was ringing off the hook. While the summer months are usually la-la time, the inquiries continued on a daily basis. In August I switched my responses from “I don’t know” to “Let’s see who will run against Mamdani,” hoping that Mayor Eric Adams, Cuomo and the Republican candidate, Curtis Sliwa, would agree on one independent challenger who could give Mamdani a real contest.

have massive egos, there has been a lot of pushback, though Adams has appeared to leave the door open to “a challenge where my country calls me.”

nless there’s a show of humility, New York City will be led by a political novice.

The “country” Adams is referring to is President Trump, who has made it clear that he doesn’t want Mamdani to win. Even though having a socialist mayor would give Republicans a great issue against traditional Democrats, the president is a New Yorker at heart and has many interests to protect if the city were to take a downturn. It’s possible that Adams will be enticed to drop out, and that may have happened by the time this appears, but even then the picture would still be cloudy if Curtis Sliwa stays in the race.

is hard-nosed, and the winner will be Mamdani.

There is another facet to this New York City battle. Few city elections have ever attracted national attention, but this one is attracting national and even international poll watchers. The Republican Party would love for Mamdani to win, so they could label all Democrats socialist sympathizers. Gov. Kathy Hochul endorsed Mamdani over the weekend, but many other major Democratic officeholders have yet to take a position on the race. The few who have were almost forced to act, because their party base is made up of all factions, which include socialist backers.

But now the September clock is ticking, and there is daily buzz about who will stay in the race and who will drop out. Behind the scenes, prominent conservatives, such as the philanthropist Ronald Lauder and the supermarket mogul John Catsimatidis, have been trying to get either Adams or Sliwa, or both, to drop out. But because both men

A recent Siena Research/NY Times poll concluded that if the only candidates in the race were Cuomo and Mamdani, Mamdani would win 48 percent of the vote, and Cuomo 44 percent. But those figures may not take into account how, in a race that tight, voters in all political parties might coalesce around Cuomo because of their fear of the Democratic designee. I expect that on Election Day it will be a three-person contest, because Sliwa

The November date of destiny is coming at us quickly. There are an impressive number of young voters in the city who have been smitten by Mamdani’s pledge of free buses, rent freezes and public grocery stores. But they don’t pay the real estate taxes and support the infrastructure that make New York the most important city in the world. And if the political novice gets elected, all of New York City and state will suffer.

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

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tOur disagreements must stop at debate

he United States has long prided itself on being a nation in which political differences are aired by way of ballots, not bullets. In recent years, however, violence has too often invaded our public square, shattering lives, feeding a general atmosphere of fear and distrust, and undermining the democratic ideals we claim to cherish.

As we count down to Election Day on Nov. 4, we must recommit to the principle that civil political discourse — not intimidation, assault or bloodshed — is the only legitimate path forward.

Consider the troubling list of recent events. On Jan. 6, 2021, rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol, brutally attacking police officers in an effort to halt the peaceful transfer of power to then President-elect Joseph Biden, a Democrat. Five people died in the rioting. Since then, President Trump, a Republican, has survived two assassination attempts.

In 2022, Paul Pelosi, the husband of former Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, was bludgeoned with a hammer in the Pelosis’ home in San Francisco. In April of this year, a man attempted to burn down the residence of Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, a fellow Democrat.

In June, Minnesota State Rep. Melissa Hortman, a Democrat, was killed in a targeted attack at her home, along with

letters

Blakeman has a narrow definition of ‘safe’

To the Editor:

Re County Executive Bruce Blakeman’s op-ed last week, “Protecting our kids and keeping Nassau County safe”: Blakeman’s myopia ought not be ours. Though the Nassau County Police Department is top-notch in both competence and compensation, “safety” is a far broader sentiment than armed personnel.

With the most foreclosures in the metropolitan region, Nassau is not a safe place for those who can’t keep up with the Joneses. Our growing population of residents dependent on food bank services, absentee landlords and gig work surely appreciate our police, but don’t feel safe from economic predation. And neither drivers nor pedestrians are especially safe in Nassau, and the roadways themselves would win no awards.

Our famed police are no comfort to anyone viewed through ICE-eyes as dusky, dusty or dawdling. We are not yet saved from Nassau’s dual-action dysfunctional

her husband, Mark Hortman. In a separate incident, Minnesota State Sen. John Hoffman, also a Democrat, and his wife were wounded, allegedly by the same gunman.

On Sept. 10, one day before our national commemoration of the worst terrorist attack on U.S. soil, the assassination of conservative political activist Charlie Kirk shook the nation.

All of these acts, though politically motivated in different ways, shared a tragic theme: a rejection of reasoned debate in favor of violence. The perpetrators’ actions defied both justice and ethics. Political leaders, regardless of party, must unequivocally denounce violence not only when it is directed at their allies, but also when it strikes their adversaries.

The answers to bitter disagreements can be found instead in the very foundation of American law: our Constitution, which guarantees freedom of speech, association and petition. These rights were spelled out so that individuals and groups could argue, persuade and organize without fear of reprisal.

Violence, by contrast, seeks to silence opponents permanently. It is not an expression of political conviction but rather a repudiation of it — an attempt to destroy debate rather than contribute to it. That is why every civilized society criminalizes assault, murder and terrorism. To resort to such methods is not

only to break the law but also to tear at the moral fabric that holds communities together.

Violence corrodes democracy itself. When citizens and leaders live under constant threat, they retreat from public engagement. Ordinary people withdraw from activism. Elected officials alter decisions out of fear for their families’ safety. Journalists censor themselves to avoid becoming targets. These chilling effects shrink the civic space, and create an atmosphere of suspicion and anger.

The way forward requires a cultural shift that emphasizes respect, empathy and resilience even in the face of profound disagreements. Everyone from students to business executives to politicians to the media should refuse to share disinformation, avoid demonizing those with whom we have differing opinions and welcome calm, reasoned argument that can change minds more effectively than threats ever could.

Passionate debate is fine. Disagreement is natural in a diverse society, and progress often emerges from that vigorous discussion. In stark contrast, every time a political leader is targeted, every time a citizen is attacked for his or her beliefs, the American experiment itself is weakened.

At this point in our country’s history, the stakes could not be higher. We must choose civility over cruelty, and persuasion over violence.

FLegislation that’s critical to L.I. firefighters’ safety

irefighters across Long Island, especially volunteers, face growing risks not just in the line of duty, but also from the very gear meant to protect them. That’s because many of the region’s fire departments — including those in Nassau and Suffolk counties as well as Brooklyn and Queens — have relied on turnout gear and firefighting foam that contain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, a class of synthetic chemicals now strongly linked to a variety of serious health problems. As a result, many fire service personnel around the region deal with repeated and prolonged exposure to toxic compounds, often without access to safer alternatives.

The issue has become even more concerning as PFAS have leached into the water and soil, which ultimately caused widespread contamination. While federal and state agencies have begun to address this ongoing issue, the occupational health risks tied specifically to firefighters remain insufficiently prioritized.

The PFAS Alternatives Act — first introduced in Congress in July 2023 — presents a targeted and science-driven response. By investing in the development of PFAS-free turnout gear and training programs focused on reducing exposure, the legislation advances measures that protect not only full-time firefighters, but also volunteers.

ESince the 1950s, PFAS have become a staple in various commercial goods because of their remarkable resistance to extreme temperatures and moisture. The problem is that, because of their strong carbon-fluorine bond, these so-called “forever chemicals” don’t break down easily. Instead, they accumulate in the environment and even the human body, triggering many catastrophic illnesses, including cancer, immunosuppression, liver damage, Type 2 diabetes in women, and developmental delays in children.

ments in Nassau County and over 100 in Suffolk County. Despite their critical roles in safeguarding their communities, these brave firefighters are often forced to respond to emergencies using contaminated equipment.

quipment meant to protect them contains harmful ‘forever chemicals.’

This public health issue has also led to a big wave of legal battles involving the firefighting community. Thousands of firefighters nationwide have filed lawsuits in multidistrict litigation to hold chemical manufacturers, such as 3M and DuPont, accountable for distributing hazardous products without providing proper warnings about the dangers. As of early last month, there were more than 12,000 active cases. Although this mounting legal pressure indicates a growing awareness among victims of their right to hold chemical manufacturers liable, it also underscores the urgent need for legislative solutions.

safety. The bipartisan group that initiated it included Long Island Reps. Andrew Garbarino and Michael Lawler, as well as former Rep. Anthony D’Esposito, all of whom signed on as cosponsors, recognizing the urgent need for action in New York state.

The latest iteration of the legislation prioritizes a vital investment of $25 million annually, through fiscal year 2029, for the innovation and testing of PFASfree turnout gear. Besides this, a $2 million yearly budget is likewise set to be allocated during the same period to support training programs that will help first responders reduce PFAS exposure while safer gear is being developed. This funding is particularly critical on Long Island, where many volunteer fire departments continue using contaminated equipment simply because affordable alternatives are unavailable.

These medical facts prompted the Environmental Protection Agency to issue an advisory stating that no level of PFAS is considered safe, and even the slightest exposure can have serious repercussions.

Unfortunately, this danger is almost unavoidable for hundreds of firefighters on Long Island, in nearly 70 fire depart-

LETTERs

property-tax regime, its failed bus patrol tax, its Nassau University Medical Center mess nor wasteful BLAKEMAN signage. Nassau’s water safety is in question. Discoveries of buried chemical toxins and depleted shorelines threaten real estate, and the police cannot arrest viruses. Nassau has enough police, but not enough security.

BRIAN KELLY

Rockville Centre

Honoring veterans through service and support

To the Editor:

On Sept. 12, the day after 9/11, the National Day of Service and Remembrance, PSEG Long Island, National Grid and the nonprofit General Needs came together to host the first-ever Veteran Warm Up event, serving more than 100 local veterans. At this drivethrough event, veterans received bedding, pillows, heaters, LED light bulbs and information about financial and energy-efficiency

programs designed to help them keep warm when the weather gets colder.

Why would PSEG Long Island step into this role? The answer is simple: because veterans are our neighbors, and many are among the most vulnerable members of our communities. Long Island is home to one of the largest populations of veterans in the country, and too many of them face challenges related to housing, health and employment. At PSEG Long Island, we believe our responsibility goes beyond keeping the lights on — we have a duty to support the well-being of the communities we serve.

That’s why, year after year, our employee-volunteers give their time, energy and compassion at events that provide direct aid to veterans and other neighbors in need. Collaborating with organizations like General Needs amplifies that impact, ensuring that resources reach those who need them most.

This commitment to community is an extension of our mission: to provide safe, reliable energy while also strengthening the fabric of the neighborhoods we call home. By supporting veterans, we

The PFAS Alternatives Act is a crucial federal initiative aimed at tackling the severe health risks firefighters are compelled to confront because of their prolonged exposure to PFAS. First introduced by U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick in July 2023 and reintroduced by Rep. Debbie Dingell and other lawmakers this May, the bill reflects a longstanding and even growing concern over firefighter

But for the region and the entire state to fully benefit from this legislation, local leaders must strongly support its immediate ratification and effective implementation. Until PFASfree equipment becomes standard statewide, firefighters will continue to confront serious risks from the very gear that’s supposed to safeguard them.

Jonathan Sharp is chief financial officer of the Environmental Litigation Group, a firm that helps fast-track compensation claims filed by victims of toxic exposure and their families.

honor their service and sacrifices while building a culture of understanding and respect that benefits us all.

The Veteran Warm Up event is just one example of how PSEG Long Island strives to live out its values of safety, security and

service. We do this because it’s the right thing to do — for our veterans and for our communities.

Interim president and chief operating officer, PSEG Long Island

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