The Franklin Square and Munson Fire Department, joined by community members and local politicians, hosted its annual Sept. 11 remembrance ceremony at the Rath Park memorial on Sept. 7 at 6 p.m. Story, more photos, page 10.
By RENEE DeloRENZo rdelorenzo@liherald.com
Giving Back to Community Corp., an Elmontbased nonprofit aimed at addressing food insecurity across Long Island and Nigeria, is hosting its fourth annual gala, Hearts in Action, to raise funds for upcoming food distributions.
The afternoon event, set for Sept. 27 from noon to 5 p.m. at Leonard’s Palazzo in Great Neck, will feature raffles, giveaways, music, dancing, guest speakers, dinner, wine and more. Tickets are $120, with additional donations strongly encouraged.
The nonprofit’s founder, Emilian Emeagwali, who raised over $16,000 at last year’s gala, said her goal this year is much higher: $50,000.
In addition to funding the annual Thanksgiving and Christmas food distributions in Elmont and Onitsha, Nigeria — the village where she founded Giving Back to Community — Emeagwali is looking for a permanent space to host community events.
“We don’t have funds to pay the rent,” Emeagwali said. “If we can get enough funds to secure a space, no matter how small, we can store nonperishable foods and start doing distributions on a regular basis.”
Her goal is to host weekly distributions for those who consistently struggle to afford groceries in the current economy.
For now, Emeagwali hosts distributions out of her Elmont physical therapy office, which she
By RENEE DeloRENZo rdelorenzo@liherald.com
Students of all ages from Elmont, Valley Stream and neighboring communities were given free backpacks and school supplies at an annual giveaway at Elmont Road Park, on Aug. 30. The event, organized and sponsored by Nassau County Legislator Carrié Solages, brought together several community organizations including Meera Empowerment, the Gift of Giving Foundation, Universal Interactions, the Elmont Cultural Center and Valley Stream’s Green Acres Mall, all of which donated supplies.
GI
profit that hosts community events, to be donated to other organizations.
older now,
realize why it’s such a point to make sure kids are prepared for school. I don’t want any kids left out.
Savitre Ferdinand and her daughter, Selene, who founded Meera Empowerment five years ago, when Selene was just 8, said that this was their fourth year of collaboration with Solages and the other community organizers for the giveaway. Meera Empowerment is a nonprofit that empowers the youth in Elmont and surrounding communities through events and fundraisers.
FENol laRock Co-founder, Universal Interactions
Over 400 backpacks were donated, as well as supplies including pencils, erasers and notebooks. After the two-hour event concluded, about 50 backpacks were left over and handed to organizers from Universal Interactions, an Elmont non-
“I was really happy with it,” Selene, who’s now 12, said. “It was a great turnout, and it made me feel really happy to see everyone with smiles on their faces as they got their bookbags.”
Savitre explained that Meera Empowerment and the other organizations previously hosted back-to-school giveaways separately before joining forces, pooling resources and hostContinued on page 23
By RENEE DeLORENZO
rdelorenzo@liherald.com
The Sewanhaka Central High School District unveiled its strategy to implement changes to its state-mandated emergency response plan for the 2025-26 school year after Desha’s Law, signed by Gov. Kathy Hochul on July 24, now requires public schools to create comprehensive cardiac emergency response plans.
The law was introduced in February, 16 years after Desha Sanders, a 12-year-old student, died after collapsing during gym class from cardiac arrest in 2009. Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages and state Sen. April Baskin, who is Desha’s cousin, sponsored the bill.
Here’s what parents need to know:
According to Scott Greene, co-chair of Sewanhaka’s safety committee, the district has begun hosting training sessions for school staff to identify the locations of Automated External Defibrillators and learn how to use them in the event of a cardiac emergency. Additional signage will also be installed, he said, to help responders quickly locate the equipment. As of now, Greene noted, the district has 56 AEDs – about seven to eight per school – placed in each main office, nurse’s office, gymnasium and athletic office, as well as in press boxes for outdoor sports and portable AEDs carried by trainers. He said more AEDs have been ordered for this year, as well.
The district is planning to conduct live, situational AED drills during sporting events, Greene said. These drills could be held during evening events and involve faculty and students to prepare anyone who might be near an emergency, such as locating the closest AED and delivering it to someone certified to use it. Greene said the school will work with the district’s athletic director, T.J. Burke, and the American Red Cross to ensure staff are trained on the equipment, including coaches, security officers, administrators, principals and anyone who volunteers to be trained.
Greene said the plans are not only meant to prepare staff and students, but also anyone who visits the campus – whether spectators, athletes or audience members – for school events such as sports, concerts, meetings or gatherings. Because the protocols were developed with input from law enforcement, Homeland Security, public health officials and the New York State Education Department, Greene said the community can rely on consistent, coordinated procedures. He also reminded parents that the Good Samaritan law protects anyone who steps in to help during an emergency while trying to save a life. Parents can visit NYSED.gov for more information.
The Little Saint Nick Foundation, a nonprofit that supports pediatric patients, hosted the Great American Giveback fundraiser to sponsor gift bags for children receiving medical care at Cohen Children’s Medical Center in New Hyde Park.
The Aug. 31 event, hosted at Plattdeutsche Park Restaurant in Franklin Square from noon to 4 p.m., featured food, drinks, raffles and a live musical performance by Ready in 10, a six-piece band from Long Island that plays top 40 hits from the 1960s through today.
According to Ciara Gallagher, Little Saint Nick’s director of marketing and impact, the nonprofit raised over $5,500 at the event that will fund 150 gift bags to be donated to the medical center. She said four Leaf Federal Credit Union team members would deliver the bags to pediatric patients.
Julia Galfunt, a past recipient of a gift bag through the nonprofit, attended the event in support of its ongoing efforts to uplift children in the local community.
“I received a bag and once I recovered, I gave back to the community by donating 200 bags,” she said.
For more information about the Little Saint Nick Foundation, visit LittleStNick.org.
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.
&
Richard Jefairjian, owner of A Slice of NY Squared LI in Franklin Square, is honoring an annual tradition shared with his brother, Sean Jefairjian: The pizzeria is delivering free pizza to first responders today, Sept. 11, in appreciation of their service.
According to Richard, pizza will be delivered to first responders including police officers, firefighters, Emergency Medical Technicians and 911 operators. Any first responder who approaches his truck and shows an ID will also receive free pizza. “It’s whatever they pick out,” he said. “A couple of slices, a soda, a pie — we make it for free.”
Sean, who opened his pizzeria, A Slice of New York, in Pittsburgh, PA, began the tradition during his first year
in business in 2020. Richard, a Long Island resident for the past 15 years, hosted a grand opening for his own pizza truck on Hempstead Turnpike in late August and decided to continue the tradition.
Richard said many of his friends are police officers and several members of his family are firefighters.
“We just think it’s important to respect, honor and remember not only the first responders for the day, but the fallen, as well,” Richard said. “We want to keep that memory alive and make sure our first responders know they’re appreciated and that we respect them.”
–Renee DeLorenzo
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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.
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.
By PATRICK MOQUIN sports@liherald.com
The days of rebuilding at Carey boys’ soccer may be over at last, as the Seahawks are ready to take a big leap forward under coach Matthew Princi. Their last two seasons have both ended with losing records, but with dynamic veteran players and a small army of young talent, the time for rebuilding has finally ended.
“The vibe this year is just different,” Princi said. “We also just have a lot of talented players. There’s a bunch of younger kids on the team and they all can play, so it’s a highly competitive environment.”
Since finishing the 2021 season with a 12-2 record, Carey has not had a winning record and went 5-9-1 last year, missing the playoffs. Princi described the performance as disappointing, but the Seahawks seem intent on quickly turning it around.
Senior left-back and captain Christian Toto, a three-year varsity player, is expected to lead Carey on and off the field and has been highly influential in changing the culture and outlook in Princi’s program. Not only will he be a technical asset, but he has done well to impart advice on younger players.
“It’s all the little things in the offseason, strength training, conditioning, all of that, and Christian looks to encourage the rest of his teammates to do the same in the off-season,” Princi said. “He’s one of our best athletes. He’s up and down the sideline, all game long. He’s very vocal. You know, he pushes his teammates, but he’s always very positive in the way he does it.”
The other captains, midfielder Matteo Campoli and centerback Michael Lombardi, are both strong facilitators in different ways and excel through communication. Campoli is known for distributing the ball and serves as an inventive conductor on offense, while Lombardi uses a clear field of the pitch ahead and pilots the defense.
Carey doesn’t boast a large senior class, but midfielders Franklin Avendano and Michael Stratakis are both well-placed to have a massive impact in every game.
Andres Jimenez, a winger, didn’t play for Carey as a junior, but he has been playing for high-level club teams throughout high school and is expected to be an “unexpected spark” for the offense. He will play alongside senior Ronald Reyes and junior Evan Cardoso, two wingers who are expected to be aggressive goal scorers in 2025.
Every team needs a motor, and the Seahawks will rely on midfielder Christian Contti for this extremely active role. “He’s everywhere,” Princi said. “That’s the best way to describe him. He’s all over the field. He goes box to box, offensively, defensively, he doesn’t stop operating the entire game, and he’s not afraid to put his body on the line for the team.”
While Carey has the pieces in place to win now, the future also seems fairly secure. Princi described sophomores Anthony Tonkin, Ethan Joseph and Nick Moreno, as well as freshman Dylan Cruz, as highly precocious players. They have the potential to carry the Seahawks forward in the near-future, but their next step is still right in front of them this fall.
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
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.
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
■ Homes are sold at construction cost, not market value.
■ Mortgages and property taxes are capped at 30 percent of a family’s income.
■ Each family contributes 300 volunteer hours toward building 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.
■ 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.
Each year, the Franklin Square and Munson Fire Department hosts an annual remembrance ceremony in memory of those who died during the Sept. 11 attacks. The ceremony is hosted at the Sept. 11 Memorial in Rath Park and honors both first responders and civilians.
This year’s ceremony, hosted on Sept. 7, began at 6 p.m. as uniformed firefighters gathered alongside community members and local politicians to remember those who sacrificed their lives during the attacks, and first responders who have since suffered from illnesses as a result of the tragedy at the World Trade Center 24 years ago.
In attendance were Town Supervisor John Ferretti, County Legislator Seth Koslow, Councilman Thomas Muscarella, State Sen. Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, County Legislator John Giuffre, Assemblyman Ed Ra, as well as members of Knights of Columbus Twelve Apostles Council 5001, Daisy Troop 1084, Cub Scout Pack 372 and Boy Scout troops 485 and 93.
–Renee DeLorenzo
Leeds/Herald photos
County Legislator John Giuffre, Town Supervisor John Ferretti, Councilman Thomas Muscarella, Sen. Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick and Assemblyman Ed Ra joined members of the Franklin Square fire department for the annual Sept. 11 remembrance ceremony on Sept. 7 at Rath Park.
of the Sept. 11 remembrance ceremony, at Rath Park, on Sept. 7.
■ Ex-chief Robert J. DeAngelis Jr., Lakeview Fire Department
■ Firefighter Robert Evans, New York City Fire Department Engine 33, Franklin Square community member
■ Lt. Keith G. Fairben, Floral Park Fire Department
■ Firefighter Lee Fehling, Wantagh Fire Department
■ Ex-chief Ronnie E. Gies, Merrick Fire Department
■ Firefighter Michael Haub, FDNY Ladder 4; Former member, Franklin Square and Munson Fire Department
■ Honorary Chief Thomas J. Hetzel, FSMFD Hook and Ladder Company No. 1, FDNY Ladder 13
■ Ex-chief Brian C. Hickey, Bethpage Fire Department
■ Ex-captain George G. Howard, Hicksville Fire Department
■ Ex-captain Joseph G. Hunter, South Hempstead Fire Department
■ First Asst. Chief Jonathan L. Ielpi, Great Neck Vigilant
■ Capt. Thomas E. Jurgens, Meadowmere Park Fire Department
■ Chief of Department Ronald T. Kerwin, Levittown Fire Department
■ Firefighter Michael V. Kiefer, Hempstead Fire Department, FDNY Ladder 132, Franklin Square community member
■ Officer Ronald Kloepfer, New York City Police Department Emergency Service Squad No. 7, Franklin Square community member
■ Ex-captain Peter Langone, Roslyn Rescue
■ Ex-chief Thomas Langone, Roslyn Rescue
■ Officer John Levi, Port Authority Police Department – Port Authority Midtown Bus Terminal; former member, Franklin Square and Munson Fire Department
■ Salvatore Lopes, Sandler O’Neill and Partners, Franklin Square community member
■ Ex-captain Richard T. Muldowney Jr., Freeport Fire Department
■ Jill Metzler, Aon Corporation, Franklin Square community member
■ Ex-captain Durell V. Pearsall Jr. Hempstead Fire Department
■ Lt. Kevin M. Prior, Bellmore Fire Department
■ Firefighter Adam D. Rand, Bellmore Fire Department
■ Brooke Rosenbaum, Cantor Fitzgerald, Franklin Square community member
said is not enough space to meet the growing need. She continues to search for spaces in Valley Stream and sought the help of local politicians to provide funding to expand the organization.
Emeagwali founded the nonprofit in 2009 after witnessing widespread poverty in her home country of Nigeria.
“It was deplorable,” Emeagwali said. “The hunger and food insecurity there is so alarming.”
She began buying large quantities of rice, beans, tomatoes, and other necessities, including school supplies, socks, and hygiene products. Since then, the effort has grown into a large-scale operation serving more than 2,500 Nigerians in need annually.
However, in 2020, as Covid began exacerbating food insecurity in communities like Elmont and others across Long Island, Emeagwali sprang into action and began operating local food distributions. Last year’s Thanksgiving turkey distribution served more than 70 local residents. However, she knows many more families are in need of food and other necessities.
“At Giving Back to Community, we feel no one should feel forgotten,” she said. “We are committed to uplifting families right here in Elmont and beyond. The money we raise goes directly to these families.”
Nadege Tassegalles, a friend of Emeagwali’s who began promoting the nonprofit’s events on social media in May, said she is passionate about Giving Back to Community’s mission of fighting poverty and food insecurity.
Tassegalles, already an active volunteer in Valley Stream before retiring, said she reignited her service by joining Emeagwali’s organization earlier this year.
“It’s nice to use your skills to help others,” she said. “Organizations like this are the bridge between despair
and dignity. It’s not only to help people survive but to help them stand tall and empower them so they know they’re not invisible.”
She said she is appalled by the level of local poverty and food insecurity, stressing that many suffer in silence. She cited cuts to social programs such as Medicaid as factors contributing to rising poverty across Long Island. She said poverty is not a reflection of an individual’s work ethic but rather societal forces beyond their control.
She added that resources exist to provide food, shelter, and clothing for everyone, but many efforts to
appeal to politicians are fruitless, leading her to believe that they simply don’t care.
“There’s no excuse for poverty,” she said. “I think as humans in the 21st century, we owe it to ourselves and others to help in any way we can. Having a roof over your head should be as universal as the sky above us.”
She said it is critical for communities to come together to help those harmed by society’s failure to support people who become impoverished through no fault of their own. Groups like Giving Back to Community, she said, are among the first steps in combating poverty.
Sandra Fernandez, a board member and volunteer of the nonprofit since 2022, said Emeagwali’s work is essential for the community to thrive. Already active in ministries and youth groups at her Queens church, Fernandez said she shared her experiences as a missionary with Emeagwali before decidng to volunteer.
“I have a high regard for those in need,” Fernandez said. “There’s not always an outreach program or a voice to speak up for them.”
Fernandez said she admires Emeagwali’s efforts because many are unaware that their neighbors struggle to afford basic needs such as food, health care, and education.
“I’m looking forward to more people becoming interested in our charity,” Fernandez said. “It’s beautiful to see the results of helping people in need. Your heart fills up when you know you can do something for somebody else.”
Tickets for the gala can be purchased through Zelle at (516) 993-0977, or at GivingBackToCommunity.org.
“It’s going to be a night of fun,” Emeagwali said, adding that it is for a good cause. “We invite all our neighbors to join us on Sept. 27 and be part of real change in our community.”
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.
BRUCE A. BLAKEMAN NASSAU COUNTY EXECUTIVE
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.
JOSEPH SALADINO TOWN SUPERVISOR
The Nassau County Office of Minority Affairs Workforce Development Center in Collaboration with the Town of Oyster Bay Workforce Partnership and the NYS Department of Labor Present
To connect job seekers with employers, training providers and career resources. It also services as a networking and recruitment event designed to promote employment opportunities, workforce development and professional growth. Bring your CV/Resume & Drivers Bring your Abstract
OFFERING POSITIONS IN: • Healthcare • Education • Manufacturing • Technology • Government • Retail • MTA and LIRR • Hospitality • Armed Forces • Law Enforcement
NASSAU
Energy & Utilities • Construction Trades
COLISEUM 1255 Hempstead Tpke | Uniondale
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2025 • 10:00am-2:00pm
Early entrance will be available from 9:00am to 10:00am for Seniors, Veterans and Individuals that are Physically Challenged to avoid crowds.
OFFICE OF MINORITY AFFAIRS
Please Register with the QR Code or visit: https://app.nassaucountyny.gov/oma/event-registration/event-form For more information contact: Runnie Myles 516-402-7372 or Alicia Williams 516-572-1061 Workforce@NassauCountyNY.gov
One West Street, Suite 136, Mineola | 516-572-2240
Follow Us on Social Media:
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By Robert H. Shmerling, M.D.
Have you met your step goals today? If so, well done! Monitoring your step count can inspire you to bump up activity over time.
But when it comes to assessing fitness or cardiovascular disease risk, counting steps might not be enough. Combining steps and average heart rate (as measured by a smart device) could be a better way for you to assess fitness and gain insights into your risk for major illnesses like heart attack or diabetes. Read on to learn how many steps you need for better health, and why tagging on heart rate matters.
Steps alone versus steps plus heart rate
First, how many steps should you aim for daily? There’s nothing special about the 10,000steps number often touted: sure, it sounds impressive, and it’s a nice round number that has been linked to certain health benefits. But fewer daily steps — 4,000 to 7,000 — might be enough to help you become healthier. And taking more than 10,000 steps a day might be even better.
Second, people walking briskly up and down hills are getting a lot more exercise than those walking slowly on flat terrain, even if they take the same number of steps.
So, at a time when millions of people are carrying around smartphones or wearing watches that monitor physical activity and body functions, might there be a better way than just a step count to assess our fitness and risk of developing major disease?
According to a new study, the answer is yes.
Get out your calculator:
A new measure of health risks and fitness
Researchers publishing in the Journal of the American Heart Association found that a simple ratio that includes both heart rate and step count is better than just counting steps. It’s called the DHRPS, which stands for daily heart rate per step. To calculate it, take your average daily heart rate and divide it by your average daily step count. Yes, to determine your DHRPS you’ll need a way to continuously monitor your heart rate, such as a smartwatch or Fitbit. And you’ll need to do some simple math to arrive at your DHRPS ratio.
The study enrolled nearly 7,000 people (average age: 55). Each wore a Fitbit, a device that
straps onto the wrist and is programmed to monitor steps taken and average heart rate each day. (Fitbits also have other features such as reminders to be active, a tracker of how far you’ve walked, and sleep quality, but these weren’t part of this study.)
Over the five years of the study, volunteers took more than 50 billion steps. When each individual’s DHRPS was calculated and compared with their other health information, researchers found that higher scores were linked to an increased risk of Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure (hypertension); coronary atherosclerosis, heart attack, and heart failure; stroke.
The DHRPS had stronger associations with these diseases than either heart rate or step count alone. In addition, people with higher DHRPS scores were less likely to report good health than those who had the lowest scores. And among the 21 study subjects who had exercise stress testing, those with the highest DHRPS scores had the lowest capacity for exercise.
In this study, DHRPS scores were divided into three groups:
√ Low: 0.0081 or lower
√ Medium: higher than 0.0081 but lower than 0.0147
√ High: 0.0147 or higher.
How to make daily heart rate per step calculations
Here’s how it works. Let’s say that over a onemonth period your average daily heart rate is 80 and your average step count is 4,000. That means your DHRPS equals 80/4,000, or 0.0200. If the next month your average heart rate is still 80 but you take about 6,000 steps a day, your DHRPS is 80/6,000, or 0.0133. Since lower scores are better, this is a positive trend.
Should you start calculating your DHRPS? Do the results described in this study tempt you to begin monitoring your DHRPS? You may decide to hold off until further research confirms actual health benefits from knowing that ratio. This study merely explored the relationship between DHRPS and risk of diabetes or cardiovascular disease like heart attack or stroke. This type of study can only establish a link between the DHRPS and disease. It can’t determine whether a higher score actually causes them.
Can soft drinks, sports drinks and energy drinks fit into a healthy diet?
By Heidi McIndoo
The healthy beverage business is booming. You can find flavored seltzers, vitamin-infused water, all sorts of “sports drinks” and now, prebiotic sodas. Yep, the same ones you may have seen all over social media. In looking for an alternative to sugar-laden sodas, many turn to those sports drinks, energy drinks, and some of the newer “healthy” sodas. But are those beverages actually a better choice to wash down your lunch?
Traditional sports drinks were developed for a college football team practicing all day in the hot sun. There’s no shortage of neon-colored sport and electrolyte drinks sitting on store shelves. Those bottles are filled with promises of improved physical performance, faster workout recovery and less fatigue.
There’s no shortage of those neon-colored sport and electrolyte drinks sitting on store shelves. They are filled with promises of improved physical performance, faster workout recovery and less fatigue.
They’re made up of sugar, sodium, and more to replace what’s lost in sweat during intense workouts. If you’re not working out intensely for hours, consider these drinks glorified sodas. A 20-ounce bottle of Gatorade provides the equivalent of 8 1/2 teaspoons of added sugar, just shy of the 9 3/4 teaspoons in a 12-ounce can of soda.
Most have sugar-free options that use artificial sweeteners or sugar alcohols, but excessive amounts of those may contribute to digestive distress. Many energy drinks pose the same concerns.
When it comes to prebiotic sodas and the like, most actually contain far less added sugar and have a bonus of fiber and beneficial prebiotics. These specialized sodas and flavored sparkling waters could be a tasty alternative if you’re looking for some bubbly sweetness in your drink.
Helpful hints
Keep some of these ideas in mind when choosing your next drink. Can you drink just one? Some of these drinks provide two or more servings per bottle. If you down a full bottle in one sitting, be aware you may be getting more calories and sugar than you think.
Water it down. If you really want a sugar-sweetened drink, consider diluting it with water to cut sugar intake but still get some of that flavor. Need a pick-me-up? Consider choosing a simple coffee and some fruit for healthy carbs and caffeine but not the potential 13-plus teaspoons of sugar from an energy drink.
Queens-Long Island Renal Institute (QLIRI), a 2025 Bests of Long Island winner and located at The Parker Jewish Institute, now offers a state-of-the-art Home Hemodialysis Program for people battling kidney disease. Those patients who also require Certified Home Health Care can access it conveniently through QLIRI’s affiliate, Parker Jewish Institute.
With QLIRI’s Home Hemodialysis Program, patients can transition from an in-center setting to receiving hemodialysis from the comfort of their home, using the Tablo Hemodialysis System. Enrolled patients are first trained by a registered nurse. The nurse provides step-by-step guidance four days a week over the course of four weeks, or longer if necessary. With this training, patients learn to use the system before transitioning to the convenience of home hemodialysis.
If needed, patients of Parker’s Certified Home Health Care Agency receive individualized nursing, medical, and rehabilitation services, so they can maintain maximum independence in the comfort of their homes. Home-care services can include skilled-nursing care; physical, occupational and speech therapy; home-health aides; medical social services; medical supplies; and 24-hour telephone availability.
Call (718) 289-2600 with questions. To learn more about QLIRI’s Home Hemodialysis Program, visit qliri.org.
For more on Parker’s Certified Home Health Care, visit parkerinstitute.org.
Queens Long Island Renal Institute • 271-11 76th Ave., New Hyde Park • (718) 289-2600
Health memos are supplied by advertisers and are not written by the Herald editorial staff.
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
Amusical ensemble at the Parker Jewish Institute brings harmony and wellness to residents and patients alike.
The ensemble is known as Sur Sagar, which means “Ocean of Melody” in Hindi. It features five women from the Institute’s long-term care residence at Parker’s Indian Cultural Unit. The Indian Cultural Unit is the first of its kind in the region, accommodating the rehabilitation, healthcare and cultural needs of older adults in New York’s growing Indian population.
At Parker, members of Sur Sagar come together in song to create something special. Beyond their enchanting melodies, Sur Sagar represents the therapeutic power of music in elder care. Music therapy can help reduce anxiety, improve cognitive function and provide a powerful outlet for emotional expression for older adults. While Parker’s residents and patients diligently participate in physical, occupational and speech therapies that nurture their bodies, these musical gatherings nourish their spirits, helping
them to feel at ease so that they can heal.
The enthusiasm and unity of Sur Sagar members illuminate the profound impact of culturally meaningful activities. As part of Parker’s Indian Cultural Unit, these sessions incorporate familiar melodies and rhythms that resonate deeply with residents, awakening cherished memories and creating moments of pure joy.
Sur Sagar embodies the essence of Parker’s Indian Cultural Unit. The unit fosters the understanding that healing and
care must address the physical being while also honoring cultural identity and nurturing the soul through art and expression.
About The Parker Jewish Institute for Health Care and Rehabilitation<
The Parker Jewish Institute for Health Care and Rehabilitation is headquartered in New Hyde Park, New York. The facility is a leading provider of Short-Term Rehabilitation and Long-Term Care. At the
Parker Jewish Institute • (718) 289-2212
Health memos are supplied by advertisers and are not written by the Herald editorial staff.
forefront of innovation in patient-centered health care and technology, the Institute is a leader in teaching and geriatric research. Parker Jewish Institute features its own medical team, and is nationally renowned as a skilled nursing facility, as well as a provider of community-based health care, encompassing Home Health Care, Medical House Calls, Palliative Care and Hospice. Parker Jewish Institute is also home to Queens-Long Island Renal Institute (QLIRI), providing patients with safe, comfortable Hemodialysis treatments in a relaxed setting, as well as PRINE Health, a Vascular Center offering advanced vascular services. The Center and QLIRI further Parker’s ability to expand access to essential health-care services to adults in the greater New York metropolitan area. For more information, visit parkerinstitute. org or call (877) 727-5373.
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.
crisp 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.
A tasty side with plenty of crunch. •
•
•
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
• 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.
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.
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.
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 entertainment-related activities to the fascinating personalities involved. It encompasses dance, music, theater, movies, circus, boating, and beach scenes, along with horseracing and various sports, both active and passive Also featured are archival items from The Metropolitan Opera and the New York Philharmonic, including costumes by Marc Chagall for Die Zauberflöte, vintage fashion items by such designers as Alfred Shaheen, and iconic costumes from the Folies-Bergère in Paris. On view until Nov. 9.
•Where: 1 Museum Drive, Roslyn Harbor
•Time: Ongoing
•Contact: nassaumuseum.org or (516) 484-9337
All are welcome to join the VHS Cover Band perform live at the Plattdeutsche Park Biergarten as they play hits from the ‘80s and ‘90s!
•Where: 1132 Hempstead Tpke, Franklin Square
•Time: 6:30-10:30 p.m.
•Contact: parkrestaurant.com or call (516) 354-3131
Howie’s Heart partners with Canine Companions for this year’s tail-wagging Dog-Fest celebration! It’s a fun-filled day of giving back to an organization that transforms the lives of the disabled with their expertly trained service dogs. Families are encouraged to sign up for a shift and help make tails wag for a great cause! Open to both residents and non-residents of Franklin Square. For families with children ages 10 and up. Registration required.
•Where: Marjorie R. Post Community Park, 451 Unqua Rd., Massapequa Park
•Time: 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
•Contact: Visit HowiesHeart.org to register
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.
•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
Portrait of Aretha
Back by popular demand, and just returning from a World Tour, Plaza Theatrical welcomes award-winning vocalist CeCe Teneal to its stage at Elmont Memorial Library. She honors the legacy of the Queen of Soul with personalized interpretations of both popular and lesser-known songs from this 18-GrammyAward-winning icon’s 50-year career, including “Chain of Fools,” “You Make Me Feel Like A Natural Woman,” “Rock Steady” and “Until You Come Back to Me (That’s What I’m Gonna Do).” $40, $35 seniors.
•Where: 700 Hempstead Tpke., Elmont
• Time: 2:30 p.m.
•Contact: PlazaTheatrical.com or call (516) 599-6870
Art Reception
Meet photographer Tom Cupolo and view his Revolutionary War location photos at Elmont Memorial Library. First come, first seated.
•Where: 700 Hempstead Tpke., Elmont
•Time: 1-3 p.m.
•Contact: ElmontLibrary.org, or call (516) 354-5280
The Sparkle of the 20th Century
Karen Reiter, a lifelong collector of vintage jewelry, shares her knowledge of this “collectible art” at Franklin Square Public Library. Have a special piece of costume jewelry? Bring it in to share!
•Where: 19 Lincoln Road, Franklin Square
• Time: 7-8:30 p.m.
•Contact: FranklinSquarePL.org or call (516) 488-3444
SEPT
Enjoy the company of friends and neighbors in the community at Franklin Square Public Library. No registration needed. Refreshments provided by Holiday Farms.
•Where: 19 Lincoln Rd., Franklin Square
• Time: 6-8 p.m.
•Contact: Visit FranklinSquarePL. org or call (516) 488-344
Fall Back with Jim Papa Jim Papa performs the greatest hits of years gone by at Elmont SEPT 19
•Where: 861 Naple Ave., Franklin Square
•Time: 10 a.m.
•Contact: Visit FSHistoricalSociety.org or call (516) 775-7260
Simply Magic visits Elmont Memorial Library with classic songs of yesterday and today. No registration is required.
•Where: 700 Hempstead Tpke., Elmont
• Time: 2-3:30 p.m.
•Contact: ElmontLibrary.org, or call (516) 354-5280
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
Memorial Library. No registration is required. First come, first seated.
•Where: 700 Hempstead Tpke., Elmont
• Time: 12:30-2 p.m.
•Contact: ElmontLibrary.org, or call (516) 354-5280
The Sparrows are back at Old Westbury Gardens, during Gatsby at the Gardens weekend. After four sold-out productions the Sparrows return with an all new vaudeville revue. Enjoy highenergy jazz, show-stopping choreography, and cheeky comedy of the 1920s. $40. Limited availability. Reservations required.
•Where: 71 Old Westbury Road, Old Westbury
• Time: 7 p.m.
•Contact: oldwestburygardens. org or call (516) 333-0048
Franklin Square Historical Society Fall Festival
Celebrate the change in season during the Franklin Square Historical Society’s annual fall festival at Franklin Square Historical Museum. With vendors, food, raffles and music! Rain date is Sept. 27.
29
Franklin Square Library Board meets
The public is invited to attend the library’s Board of Trustees meeting.
•Where: quare Public Library, 19 Lincoln Rd., Franklin Square
•Time: 6-8:30 p.m.
•Contact: FranklinSquarePL.org or call (516) 488-3444
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.
According to authorities, a victim reported an unknown man removed a Natty Daddy container from the Conoco Gas Station on Linden Boulevard, in Elmont, on Aug. 24 at 9 p.m.
Mustafa Fleming, 41, of Hempstead, was arrested for shoplifting at the TJ Maxx on Hempstead Turnpike, in Elmont, on Aug. 26 at 3:41 p.m., police said.
A victim reported an unknown man removed two bottles of wine from the Dogwood Liquor Store on Dogwood Avenue, in Franklin Square, on Aug. 27 at 6:30 p.m., authorities said.
Police said Marisa White, 22, of Elmont, was arrested for shoplifting at the Target in the Broadway Mall, in Hicksville, on Sept. 1 at 12:10 p.m.
Rushane Smith, 28, of Rosedale, was arrested for shoplifting at the Target on Hempstead Turnpike, in Elmont, on Sept. 2 at 1:59 p.m., according to authorities.
According to police, Sabueen Yasmine, 22, of Elmont, was arrested for shoplifting at the Target on Hempstead Turnpike, in Elmont, on Sept. 2 at 4:42 p.m.
Authorities said Allizon Hidalgo, 30, of Elmont, and Luis Cedeno, 35, of Elmont, were arrested for shoplifting at Macy’s in the Green Acres Mall, in Valley Stream, on Sept. 3 at 8:19 p.m.
Authorities said a man reported an unknown subject removed a New Jersey license plate from his vehicle while parked on 237th Street, in Elmont, on Aug. 29 at 4 p.m.
Police said Tatiana Gedeon, 32, of Brooklyn, was arrested for driving while intoxicated at the intersection of Linden Boulevard and 237th Street, in Elmont, on Aug. 16 at 2:27 a.m.
People named in Crime Watch items as having been arrested and charged with violations or crimes are only suspected of committing those acts of which they are accused. They are all presumed to be innocent of those charges until and unless found guilty in a court of law.
11, 2025 —
LEGAL NOTICE
SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, -againstMAHMOOD ALI, ET AL.
NOTICE OF SALE
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Nassau on September 20, 2024, wherein U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION is the Plaintiff and MAHMOOD ALI, ET AL. are the Defendant(s). I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction RAIN OR SHINE at the NASSAU COUNTY SUPREME COURT, NORTH SIDE STEPS, 100 SUPREME COURT DRIVE, MINEOLA, NY 11501, on September 18, 2025 at 2:00PM, premises known as 276 BENSON AVENUE, ELMONT, NY 11003; and the following tax map identification: 32-493-81, 82 & 83. ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND SITUATE, LYING AND BEING IN THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, COUNTY OF NASSAU AND STATE OF NEW YORK
Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No.: 617170/2019. Ronald J. Ferraro, Esq.Referee. Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC, 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310, Westbury, New York 11590, Attorneys for Plaintiff. All foreclosure sales will be conducted in accordance with Covid-19 guidelines including, but not limited to, social distancing and mask wearing. *LOCATION OF SALE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DAY OF IN ACCORDANCE WITH COURT/CLERK DIRECTIVES. 155250
LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., Plaintiff AGAINST VIVIAN PRYOR, ET AL., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered September 7, 2018, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100
Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on September 22, 2025 at 2:30 PM, premises known as 29 Litchfield Avenue, Elmont, NY 11003. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being at Franklin Square, in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 35, Block 31, Lot 391 & 392. Approximate amount of judgment $662,737.09 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #001660/2016. Martin Dehler, Esq., Referee Gross Polowy, LLC 1775 Wehrle Drive Williamsville, NY 14221 20-002195 86446 155206
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU Citibank N.A., Plaintiff AGAINST Kathleen Brancaleone, et al., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered June 27, 2023, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on September 30, 2025 at 2:30 PM, premises known as 497 Tulip Avenue, Floral Park, NY 11001. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the Village of Floral Park, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section: 32, Block: 273, Lot: 26. Approximate amount of judgment $542,666.53 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #609197/2019. Scott H. Siller, Esq., Referee Frenkel Lambert Weisman & Gordon, LLP 53 Gibson Street Bay Shore, NY 11706 01-091795-F00 86936 155349
LEGAL NOTICE
SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU NEWREZ LLC D/B/A SHELLPOINT MORTGAGE SERVICING, -againstJEAN ZACARY
JOSSELIN, ET AL. NOTICE OF SALE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Nassau on June 23, 2025, wherein NEWREZ LLC D/B/A SHELLPOINT MORTGAGE SERVICING is the Plaintiff and JEAN ZACARY JOSSELIN, ET AL., are the Defendants. I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction RAIN OR SHINE at the NASSAU COUNTY SUPREME COURT, 100 SUPREME COURT DRIVE, NORTH SIDE STEPS, MINEOLA, NY 11501, on October 8, 2025 at 2:00PM, the premises known as 750 MEACHAM AVENUE, ELMONT, NY 11003; tax map identification 32-699-30; and description: ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND, SITUATE, LYING AND BEING AT ELMONT, TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, COUNTY OF NASSAU AND STATE OF NEW YORK
Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No.: 601062/2024.
Brian J. Davis, Esq., as Referee. Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC, 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310, Westbury, New York 11590, Attorneys for Plaintiff. All foreclosure sales will be conducted in accordance with Covid-19 guidelines including, but not limited to, social distancing and mask wearing. *LOCATION OF SALE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DAY OF IN ACCORDANCE WITH COURT/CLERK DIRECTIVES. 155526
LEGAL NOTICE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION AS TRUSTEE FOR SOUNDVIEW HOME LOAN TRUST 2007-OPT1, ASSET-BACKED CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2007-OPT1, -againstLESLY TURNIER, ET AL. NOTICE OF SALE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of
Nassau on June 23, 2025, wherein WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION AS TRUSTEE FOR SOUNDVIEW HOME LOAN TRUST 2007OPT1, ASSET-BACKED CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2007-OPT1 is the Plaintiff and LESLY TURNIER, ET AL., are the Defendants. I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction at the RAIN OR SHINE at the NASSAU COUNTY SUPREME COURT, NORTH SIDE STEPS, 100 SUPREME COURT DRIVE, MINEOLA, NY 11501, on October 8, 2025 at 2:00PM, the premises known as 1662 WOODSTOCK STREET, ELMONT, NY 11003; tax map identification 32-605-242; and description: ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND, WITH THE BUILDINGS AND IMPROVEMENTS THEREON ERECTED, SITUATE, LYING AND BEING AT ELMONT, IN THE TOWNSHIP OF HEMPSTEAD, COUNTY OF NASSAU AND STATE OF NEW YORK . Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No.: 620320/2023. Georgia Papazis, Esq., as Referee. Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC, 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310, Westbury, New York 11590, Attorneys for Plaintiff. All foreclosure sales will be conducted in accordance with Covid-19 guidelines including, but not limited to, social distancing and mask wearing. *LOCATION OF SALE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DAY OF IN ACCORDANCE WITH COURT/CLERK DIRECTIVES. 155524
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 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.
1320/25. FRANKLIN SQUARE - Kiwanis of Franklin Square, Amusement Rides (Special Event) duration September 25, 2025September 28, 2025., S/E cor. Pacific St. & Holzheimer St., a/k/a Town of Hempstead Parking Lot FS-3. THE FOLLOWING CASES WILL BE CALLED STARTING AT 2:00 P.M.
507/25. FRANKLIN SQUARE - Taco Bell of America LLC, Install animated menu board sign in conjunction with drive-thru (not permitted)., W/s Franklin Ave., 140’ S/o Gavrin Blvd., a/k/a 596 Franklin Ave.
508/25. ELMONTMeacham 190 LLC, Variances, subdivision of lot, lot area, front width from & on street line to front setback line, construct dwelling (Lot A) (existing dwelling demolished)., W/s Meacham Ave., 165’ N/o Herald Ave., f/k/a 190 Meacham Ave.
509/25. ELMONTMeacham 190 LLC, Variances, subdivision of lot, lot area, front
width from & on street line to front setback line, construct dwelling (Lot B)., W/s Meacham Ave., 205’ N/o Herald Ave. 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 Franklin Square & Elmont 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.
155654
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF ADOPTION OF TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD LOCAL LAW NO. 53-2025
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that, pursuant to Article 9 of the New York State Constitution, the provisions of the Town Law and the Municipal Home Rule Law of the State of New York, both as amended, a public hearing was duly called and held on the 3rd day of September, 2025, by the Town Board of the Town of Hempstead, on the proposed adoption of Town of Hempstead Local Law No. -2025, and following the close of the hearing the Town Board duly adopted Town of Hempstead Local Law No. 53-2025, to amend Section 202-1 of the Code of the Town of Hempstead, to include and repeal “PARKING OR STANDING PROHIBITIONS” at various locations. Dated: September 3, 2025 Hempstead, New York BY ORDER OF THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD
ing one large event at the end of the summer. “It just made sense to work as a team,” she said.
Using funds raised at other Meera Empowerment events during the year, such as its annual fashion show in July, the mother and daughter purchased nearly 100 backpacks and more than 200 notebooks.
Mimi Pierre-Johnson, founder of the Elmont Cultural Center, said that she and her daughter, Tamar Paoli-Bailey, coordinated with Solages for two weeks leading up to the event and donated water for the attendees. They also set up a table in the park and chatted with guests about future projects.
“What was so nice about it was that the community really came together,” Pierre-Johnson said. “You had parents hugging each other, asking how their summers were and talking about their kids going back to school.”
Universal Interactions co-founders Fenol LaRock and twin brothers Christiano and Antonio Marcello volunteered at the event, and donated more than 100 backpacks.
“The event was beautiful,” LaRock said. “A lot of kids were having fun, running around and dancing, and it was just vibrant.”
The activities included face painting, artwork, music and dancing, and there were drinks and snacks as well, LaRock said, all donated by the community organizers. Universal Interactions, he said, secured donations of supplies from local sponsors, and paid for some of it them of their own pockets.
JOHN FERRETTI
Supervisor
KATE MURRAY Town Clerk 155648
LEGAL NOTICE
LaRock, 23, a 2020 graduate of Elmont Memorial High School, said he
RESTRICTIONS” to limit parking at various locations.
Dated: September 3, 2025
NOTICE OF ADOPTION OF TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD
LOCAL LAW NO. 52-2025
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that, pursuant to Article 9 of the New York State Constitution, the provisions of the Town Law and the Municipal Home Rule Law of the State of New York, both as amended, a public hearing was duly called and held on the 3rd day of September, 2025, by the Town Board of the Town of Hempstead, on the proposed adoption of Town of Hempstead Local Law No. -2025, and following the close of the hearing the Town Board duly adopted Town of Hempstead Local Law No. 52-2025, to amend Chapter 202 of the Code of the Town of Hempstead, to include and repeal “REGULATIONS &
Hempstead, New York BY ORDER OF THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD
JOHN FERRETTI
Supervisor
KATE MURRAY Town Clerk 155647
LEGAL NOTICE
REFEREE’S NOTICE OF SALE IN FORECLOSURE SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU
U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, Plaintiff - against - SHIRLEY GARTNER, et al Defendant(s).
Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered on March 1, 2024. I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, N.Y. 11501 on the 9th day of October, 2025 at 2:00 PM. 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 Floral Park, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York.
Premises known as 100 Geranium Avenue, Floral Park, NY 11001. (S/B/L#: 32./188/41 and 42)
Approximate amount of lien $782,990.97 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed judgment and terms of sale.
Index No. 000151/2018. Karen C. Grant, Esq., Referee. McCalla Raymer Leibert Pierce, LLC
Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 420 Lexington Avenue, Suite 840 New York, NY 10170 Tel. 347/286-7409
For sale information, please visit Auction.com at www.Auction.com or call (800) 280-2832
Dated: August 11, 2025
During the COVID-19 health emergency, bidders are required to comply with all governmental health
requirements in effect at the time of sale including but not limited to, wearing face coverings and maintaining social distancing (at least 6feet apart) during the auction, while tendering deposit and at any subsequent closing. Bidders are also required to comply with the Foreclosure Auction Rules and COVID-19 Health Emergency Rules issued by the Supreme Court of this County in addition to the conditions set forth in the Terms of Sale. 155605
PUBLIC AND LEGAL NOTICES…
To place a notice here call us us at 516-569-4000 x232 or send an email to: legalnotices@liherald.com
AND
To place a notice here call us us at 516-569-4000 x232 or send an email to: legalnotices@liherald.com
had noticed the growing need for school supplies since he was a student. It was common, he recalled, for his classmates to ask for pens and pencils, which he was always willing to provide.
“Getting older now, I realize why it’s such a point to make sure kids are prepared for school,” he said. “I don’t want any kids left out. Our mission is to bring them together and make sure they’re prepared.”
Selene Ferdinand echoed LaRock’s sentiments, noting how many families are unable to afford school supplies. “Being able to help children in my community and others helps them achieve better future careers,” Selene said.
Pierre-Johnson said that events like the backpack giveaway ease some of the economic pressures families are facing, and help them save money they would
otherwise spend on school supplies so they can buy food or clothes for their children.
“It’s very stressful, because you want to make your child happy,” she said. “You want them to start the school year on a positive note.”
Events like these, Pierre-Johnson continued, encourage neighbors to come together and discuss their needs as individuals and as a community.
According to Solages, the event is important to the community because of the affordability crisis on Long Island, which he said has worsened in the 13 years he has been in office. That’s why, he said, he organizes events like the backpack giveaway.
“It’s all about the children,” Solages said. “Seeing the joy and smiles on their face is just awesome.”
place an ad call 516-569-4000 press 5 • To place an ad call
Bar Harbour, spectacular expanded multi-level Ranch in the heart of South Massapequa Park. Unique one-of-a-kind home offering expansive living space and luxurious details throughout including crown moldings and coffered ceilings. The main level features a family room with a fireplace, separate formal living room, an updated eat-in kitchen, spacious dining room, convenient butler’s pantry, stylish half bath, and a laundry room—all thoughtfully laid out for everyday comfort and entertaining. The upper levels boast a primary suite complete with a full bath and
‘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?
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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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.
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.
TThe 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
he risks of the Northeast Supply Enhancement line couldn’t be clearer.
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.
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-
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
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.
repeatedly happened across our country. I am taking every possible step, however, to ensure that those tragedies do not happen in Nassau County.
a week, with many of them known members of gangs like MS-13, the 18th Street Gang and the Trinitarios.
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.
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
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For the past few weeks, the Herald has presented a series on housing and the challenges of finding an affordable place to live for Long Islanders — a necessity that seems to be slipping further from reach for so many in Nassau and Suffolk counties.
For decades, people came here to build lives rooted in family, work and community. These days, however, housing has become not just a financial burden, but also a destabilizing one that threatens health, safety and the very fabric of our towns.
Housing supply has stagnated while demand has soared. Rising rents and homes priced beyond the reach of working families are reshaping daily life. They are forcing impossible choices: whether to stay close to loved ones, whether to sacrifice health care in order to pay the rent or the mortgage, whether to leave Long Island altogether. The crisis is no longer theoretical — it is personal, urgent, and in desperate need of solutions.
Consider the story of Karen Wihlt, whom we featured in Part 2 of our housing series, “Personal stories of L.I.’s housing crisis,” three weeks ago. Wihlt, 58, lives in uncertainty with her service dog in a Bethpage hotel room. After years of building a life here, working as a chef and helping open restaurants around the area, she now faces homelessness.
She can no longer work, but her income from disability benefits — too much for her to qualify for local aid but
letters
King stirs memories of what football used to be
To the Editor:
nowhere near enough for her to afford rent or a continued hotel stay — illustrates the sobering arithmetic of survival on Long Island.
The cost of insecurity reaches beyond the wallet. As Peggy Boyd, vice president of community services and advocacy for the Family Service League, noted in that story, the trauma of losing housing often triggers depression, anxiety and hopelessness. The Family Service League is a social service agency that provides support and security to Long Islanders in need.
Children, the fastest-growing segment of the homeless population nationwide, suffer disrupted schooling, constant moves and the erosion of the routines essential for healthy development. When a child repeatedly sleeps in a car or a motel instead of a bedroom, the damage isn’t just temporary — it echoes through a lifetime.
Even middle-class professionals, long considered the backbone of Long Island, are struggling. Brandon Webber, a lieutenant in the New York City Fire Department, and his fiancée, preschool director Alexa Rubinstein, who rent an apartment in Farmingdale, embody the contradiction: two educated, hardworking adults with multiple jobs who still can’t buy a home in the communities they serve.
For some, like Denise Minicozzi, 60, the only option is to work harder by working more hours — but still never getting ahead. Minicozzi waits tables and works part-time at an assisted-living facility just to cover the $4,200 rent for a
Re Peter King’s op-ed, “College football just ain’t what it used to be,” in last week’s issue: I arrived at Dillon Hall, University of Notre Dame, a graduate of Baldwin High School, in the fall of 1966. Alan Page walked through Dillon every day from Alumni Hall to get to the south dining hall. Bob Gladieux, Rocky Bleier, Tom Schoen — all regular guys, passing through the hall. I use the term “regular guys” because they were. And they were students as well.
I always remember Tom McKinley, All-American center on the team, with a 3.97 GPA in electrical engineering, writing an article for the N.D. paper, called The Observer. He described his day, and the focus was on time management. I’m 77, and have never forgotten the clarity of time these players had to observe in terms of classes, studying, practice, meals, travel, game days.
The 1966 team was electrifying. We all gathered in the old fieldhouse for the first pep rally. The team sat
modest Bayville house — an arrangement with no security and the constant threat of increases. Like many others, she and her partner are contemplating leaving Long Island.
Too many longtime residents are reaching the same conclusion: the place they love no longer loves them back. The ripple effects are already visible. Assemblyman Charles Lavine, a Democrat who represents the 13th District, warns that without affordable housing, Long Island is “losing its future.”
Middle-class families are being priced out, young people are leaving and communities risk being hollowed out. Without a thriving middle class, schools weaken, businesses falter and neighborhoods lose their vitality.
State funding has helped, and projects near Long Island Rail Road stations hold promise. But efforts remain piecemeal, stymied by local resistance to new development and a lack of federal investment.
The solution requires bold action: regionalizing poverty thresholds so assistance matches local costs, investing in supportive housing that integrates mental health care, and building more homes and apartments where people need them. Above all, it requires the political will to overcome “not in my backyard” resistance and acknowledge the reality staring us in the face.
Housing is not just shelter. It is health care. It is education. It is stability. It is dignity. If we don’t act now, we risk losing the very essence of what has always made Long Island home.
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-
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
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
