Franklin Square/Elmont Herald 10-02-2025

HERALD Franklin square/elmont

Joe providence, a beloved upS delivery driver who delivered packages to the elmont community for 24 years, retired Sept. 26 after over 30 years with the company.

Joe Providence, local UPS legend, retires after 31 years

By RENEE DeloRENZo rdelorenzo@liherald.com

Joe Providence, a local legend in the Elmont community, retired from United Parcel Service after delivering packages to residents for the last 24 years of his 31-year tenure at the company. Known for his bright demeanor and caring personality, Providence delivered between 300-400 packages to residents daily, always with a smile.

Managers and crewmembers gathered at the UPS Nassau Hub in Uniondale Sept. 26 for a short retirement celebration, coordinated by the Locustwood Gotham Civic

Association. The group gathered in front of the Mitchell Field management office, which manages 70 delivery routes including Elmont, and grabbed bagels as manager Dave Janosek and Bob Barker, president of the civic association, shared a few words about Providence’s decades-long legacy at the company.

“Joe has gotten to know almost everybody on his route,” Janosek said to the dozens of crewmembers that attended the celebration. Janosek said Providence was the last of the ‘Fab Five’ to retire — a group of five delivery drivers who worked the Elmont route along-

Continued on page 7

Library seeks to expand its social services

By RENEE DeloRENZo rdelorenzo@liherald.com

The Franklin Square Public Library has been expanding its social services to better address the needs of patrons seeking specialized resources. The library follows a years-long trend across the Nassau Library System.

Enlisting volunteers from nearby law firms to provide legal advice, health care workers to conduct free health screenings, and post office staff to host passport services, libraries have become central hubs for more than just books.

libraries

are

probably one

of the few

completely open

and public spaces where you can come and get help.

JamEs PagaNo Assistant director, Franklin Square Public Library

According to James Pagano, the library’s assistant director, the additional services are popular with patrons. They’re so well attended, he said, that appointments quickly run out.

“We’re doing what we can to fill the needs of the community,” Pagano said. “We’ve had lines out the door for some of our services.”

As a result of high atten -

dance at these programs, Pagano said, the library is exploring expanding the range of services it provides. One option the library is considering is hiring an intern studying social work at a local college to offer parttime assistance to patrons whose needs extend beyond existing library resources. Several libraries in the Nassau system have already partnered with Adelphi and Stony Brook universities to hire interns who visit on scheduled days and times, for up to 15 hours per week. The interns, who are graduate students, help patrons obtain unemployment benefits, behavioral health resources, food assistance and more.

Communities with libraries currently partnered with the colleges’ internship program include Bellmore, Freeport, Glen Cove and Uniondale.

According to Abby Balbi, assistant director of practicum education at Adelphi’s School Continued on page 13

By RENEE DeLORENZO

things to know Franklin square eVents

Franklin Square gears up for fall season

rdelorenzo@liherald.com

As fall arrives, Franklin Square residents can look forward to a variety of seasonal activities and events. The season will offer opportunities for families and neighbors to come together for shopping, entertainment, and community gatherings. Residents can expect a mix of outdoor activities, local treats, and family-friendly celebrations. These events provide a chance to enjoy the changing season, connect with the community, and take part in traditions that make fall in Franklin Square special.

Here are three events residents can mark their calendars for:

Franklin Square Street Fair- Oct. 4

The Franklin Square Street Fair returns Saturday, Oct. 4, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. along Franklin Avenue at the intersection of Hempstead Turnpike. The annual event, hosted by Nassau County, is expected to draw 65–75 vendors and about 2,500 shoppers, offering everything from handmade crafts and gifts to food stands and trucks. Admission is free for visitors, and the fair makes for a family-friendly fall outing with plenty to browse and taste. Guests can expect a lively street atmosphere filled with local flavor, shopping, entertainment, and seasonal activities, making it a highlight of the community’s fall calendar and a fun way to spend the day.

Trunk or Treat- Oct. 25

The Morton Civic Association will host its annual Trunk or Treat on Saturday, Oct. 25, from 2 to 4 p.m. in the back lot of Lidl grocery store on Dogwood Avenue. Families are invited to enjoy Halloween fun with decorated trunks, candy giveaways, games, crafts, and a magic show. Free pumpkins will also be available while supplies last. Guests are encouraged to bring a nonperishable item to contribute to the community food drive, as well. With festive activities for children and plenty of seasonal spirit, the event offers a safe, family-friendly way to celebrate Halloween and connect with neighbors in a fun community setting.

Long Island Heroes Celebration

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2025 | 8:00 A.M. TO 10:00 A.M. The Heritage Club at Bethpage

Community Yard Sale- Nov. 1

The Franklin Square Civic Association will host its annual community yard sale on Saturday, Nov. 1, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Rath Park pool parking lot. In past years, around 50 sellers have registered, offering shoppers a wide variety of home goods such as clothing, small furniture, crafts, jewelry, books, sports memorabilia, and seasonal decorations. Unlike larger street fairs, the event is reserved for community members selling household items, giving it a more personal, neighborhood feel. The sale provides residents with the chance to browse bargains while supporting neighbors and fostering a strong community connection.

For more than 100 years the American Red Cross on Long Island has helped the community prepare for, respond to and recover from emergencies.

HONORING

GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP HERO

COMMUNITY IMPACT HERO

Luv Michael

FIRST RESPONDER HEROES

Officers Timothy Deegan and Matthew Walling

Dr. Tochi Iroku-Malize

Charlie Dubofsky and Sydney Hassenbein Join

Mel Cohen

YOUTH HEROES

DISASTER HERO Jennifer Keane MILITARY HERO

The American Red Cross Heroes Celebration is the signature fundraising event for the American Red Cross on Long Island, serving Nassau and Suffolk counties.

Event Co-chairs: James Quent, Greg Lavine, and Jennifer Solomon

For tickets, sponsorships, journal ads and to learn more, please visit redcross.org/LIheroes

Weekly car shows fuel local friendships

John Randazzo has been hosting the Dawgwood Boyz car show every Tuesday night for over 18 years

By RENEE DeLORENZO rdelorenzo@liherald.com

John Randazzo has been running the Dawgwood Boyz Club car show every Tuesday night in the Lidl parking lot on Dogwood Avenue in Franklin Square for the past 18 years.

A resident of the community for 51 years after his family relocated from East Meadow when he was just 17, Randazzo has dedicated much of his time and effort to giving back to the town he built his life in.

Now in his late 60s, Randazzo serves as president of the club, a close-knit group of local car enthusiasts, after taking the reins from founder Mike Venderosa.

At the time of its founding, Venderosa had simply called the car group “Tuesday Nights,” which he started to help collect funds for his son, Mike Venderosa Jr., who was experiencing medical issues with his heart. The group raised over $10,000 in a single night just by passing a bucket around to the hundreds of attendees that showed up in support.

Now run by Randazzo, who renamed the club after the street it meets on, the lively group has grown to nearly 400 members, all of whom either own a unique car to add to the show or attend just for fun. There’s even a chapter called Dawgwood Girlz, which Randazzo started in order to create a more welcoming, inclusive environment for women to join.

Randazzo caters the car show each week with a food truck that serves sausage and peppers, hamburgers, hot dogs and zeppoles. However, on Sept. 23, he bought pizza for everyone instead, which he paid for out of his own pocket.

“I’ve always given back to the community,” Randazzo said. “If I could put a smile on everyone’s face, that means the world to me.”

The longtime Franklin Square resident has been a familiar face in the community after co-operating a familyowned business, Sandy’s Party Supply & Balloon Brothers Co., with his brother, Tony Randazzo, for over 50 years.

Since then, he has made his mark on Franklin Square through his broad involvement in the community, including several former roles such as leading the Carey Dads’ Club, serving as vice president of the Board of Education and serving as president of the Franklin Square Civic Association. A special award is also presented at the H. Frank Carey High School PTSA’s Founders’ Day Awards in Randazzo’s honor to students and residents that demonstrate leadership in community service.

His efforts to give back to the community are felt by all who attend the car show, many of whom have returned nearly every Tuesday night for over a decade.

Michael Abruzzo, who attends the car show each week with his golden 2002 Chrysler Prowler, has been a member of

the club since 2010. He met Randazzo while both their children attended H. Frank Carey High School together.

He said the strong sense of comradery among the members of the club is why he returns to the car show each week.

“It’s a nice night to get everybody

together,” Abruzzo said. “It’s a pretty tight community, and it’s diverse. It’s just a nice, safe place.”

With such charitable residents like Randazzo, Abruzzo said, the club not only provides a space for everyone to come together but also a place for them to support the community at large.

“John is just a very giving person,” Abruzzo said. “That’s why we try to give back. Everybody chips in.”

Mike Delaney, owner of a blue 1935 Ford Coupe, said he’s been slowly modifying his car piece by piece since he bought it 16 years ago — about a year before he began attending the Tuesday night car shows. Delaney, a resident of Bellmore, also attends shows in his hometown and nearby communities.

“It’s a good bunch of guys,” Delaney said. “Besides just looking at cars, you get to talk with some pretty interesting people.”

Some members, he continued, are more mechanically inclined and can speak with him about engines and other technical aspects of cars. But, he continued, many attend with cars they purchased straight off the lot and still have a great time.

Charlie Mule, who brings his 1940 Dodge Business Coupe to the show every Tuesday, has been a member of the club for over 10 years. He said he purchased his car for $8,000 in Missouri over 30 years ago, and he’s held onto it since, investing extra funds into maintaining it.

“It’s a labor of love,” Mule said. “But it’s about getting out and meeting everyone. It’s not about the car — it’s about the people. Instead of sitting at home, you’re out here.”

He said sharing a passion with so many like-minded people is worth all the money he invests in his car. “Money cannot replace it,” he emphasized.

The club will be hosting its first Christmas party on Dec. 12 at Knights of Columbus in Lynbrook, which will include food, music, a dance contest and more fun activities for attendees to enjoy. Those interested in learning more about the club can join its Facebook group, Dawgwood Boyz, or attend its next car show on Oct. 7.

“Everybody’s invited,” Randazzo said. “We’re all a family.”

Taking

Back

Control with a Living Trust

In the fall of 1990, thirty-five years ago, your writer first heard of the proposition that if you set up a living trust your estate doesn’t have to go to court to settle – the so-called probate court proceeding for wills. Having spent the previous eleven years as a litigation attorney, and having faced numerous problems probating wills, this sounded too good to be true.

At the time, some of the best estate planning lawyers were in Florida. Perhaps you can guess why. In any event, off I went to Florida to train as an estate planning lawyer and, upon returning, closed the litigation practice and founded Ettinger Law Firm in April 1991, to keep people just like you, dear reader, out of probate court.

The reason I was so excited about the living trust, and continue to be so to this day, is the concept of taking back control from the courts and government and giving it back to you and your family. After all, who doesn’t want control over their affairs?

When you go to court, who’s in charge? The judge, right? Now tell me, does the judge

always act in your best interest? Does the judge ever make a mistake? And when the judge says jump, you know what the answer is!

Not only do you pay considerably for this privilege, but it can take many months and often years to complete the probate court proceeding. Meantime, houses cannot be sold, bank accounts accessed, or investment portfolios managed – at least without the judge’s permission which involves additional time and resources to request. Of course, that permission may be denied as well.

With a living trust, your trustee (formerly your “executor” under the will) may act immediately upon death to sell the house, pay the bills and handle the investments – no permission required! An additional benefit is, in the event you become unable to handle your affairs later in life, your trustee may take over by simply getting a letter from your doctor showing you are unable to handle your legal and financial affairs. Essentially then, a living trust gives you back the control your may have thought you had.

ETTINGER LAW FIRM

Crime watCh

According to authorities, Kadijah Morian, 25, of Elmont, was arrested for shoplifting at the Target on Sunrise Highway, in Valley Stream, on Sept. 19 at 1:26 p.m.

Police said a victim reported an unknown man removed twelve cases of beverages from the Walgreens on

Dutch Broadway, in Elmont, on Sept. 20 at 11:17 a.m.

A victim reported that an unknown man removed four pairs of socks from the TJ Maxx on Hempstead Turnpike, in Elmont, on Sept. 20 at 8:42 p.m., according to police.

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.

News briefs

Local civilian patrol seeking new members

Franklin Square’s volunteer Civilian Patrol Association is seeking new members to bolster neighborhood safety.

The all-volunteer group conducts regular patrols, partners with the Fifth Precinct and hosts monthly meetings to coordinate with residents and police, providing a non-enforcement neighborhood-watch presence and community outreach.

The patrol has been active for years, often inviting precinct executive offi -

cers to speak at meetings and honoring long-time volunteers while maintaining a visible, non-confrontational presence in parks and commercial corridors. Interested residents can attend a general meeting the first Thursday of every month at 7:30 p.m., hosted via Zoom, to learn how to join. For information, call (516) 805-1126, or email FSCivilianPatrol@gmail.com.

–Renee DeLorenzo

Police: Two injured during Elmont break-in

A Queens man was arrested after authorities said he broke into an Elmont home the morning of Sept. 24, attacked two women with a knife and was later subdued by another resident.

Police said the alleged burglary occurred around 6:55 a.m. last Wednesday at a house on Waldorf Avenue. Two women, ages 29 and 70, confronted a man who had entered through a window. The intruder, later identified as Franklyn Ramos, 62, of Queens, allegedly demanded money before assaulting them with a knife, police said.

Both women suffered lacerations in the struggle before a 29-year-old male

resident was able to disarm the attacker. The man then fled but was quickly arrested by responding officers, according to police.

Authorities said the women were taken to a nearby hospital in stable condition. Ramos was also transported to a hospital for evaluation.

Ramos is charged with two counts of burglary, assault, criminal possession of a weapon and possession of burglar’s tools, police said. He was arraigned on Sept. 25 at First District Court in Hempstead.

–Renee DeLorenzo

■ WEB SITE: www.liherald.com/franklinsquare or www.liherald.com/elmont ■ E-MAIl: Letters and other submissions: fseditor@liherald.com ■ EDITORIAl DEPARTMENT: Ext. 282 E-mail: fseditor@liherald.com

Fax: (516) 622-7460

■ DISPlAY ADVERTISING: Ext. 249 E-mail: rglickman@liherald.com Fax: (516) 569-4643

■ PUBlIC NOTICES: Ext. 232 E-mail: legalnotices@liherald.com

LUKE MARTINI WANTAGH Sophomore FOOTBALL

IT WAS A HISTORIC 2024 for Martini and the Warriors as they captured both the Nassau Conference IV and Long Island Class IV titles. One of a handful of returning starters and a rise to Confernece III, Martini is being counted on to produce even more. So far, so good. He led a 35-7 victory at Elmont Sept. 20 with four rushing touchdowns, all coming in the second half. He finished with 195 yards on the ground with his longest score covering 78.

GAMES TO WATCH

Friday, Oct. 3

Football: Carey at V.S. North 4:30 p.m.

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

Girls Soccer: Calhoun at Seaford 5 p.m.

Football: Plainedge at Lynbrook

Football: Seaford at East Rockaway

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

Football: South Side at Bethpage 6:30 p.m.

Football: Farmingdale at Freeport 7 p.m.

Football: Garden City at MacArthur 7 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 4

Girls Soccer: Garden City at Wantagh 2 p.m.

Football: Syosset at Uniondale 3 p.m.

Football: Lawrence at West Hempstead 3 p.m.

Football: Hempstead at Hicksville 3 p.m.

Football: Manhasset at V.S. South 3 p.m.

Football: Mineola at Sewanhaka 3 p.m.

Football: Wantagh at Clarke 3 p.m.

Football: Hewlett at Division 3 p.m.

Football: Roosevelt at East Meadow 3 p.m.

Football: Jericho at Kennedy 3 p.m.

Football: C.S. Harbor at North Shore 3 p.m.

Football: Floral Park at Elmont 3 p.m.

Nominate a “Spotlight Athlete”

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

DePietro, Anaya lead Carey victory

By TONY BELLISSIMO tbellissimo@liherald.com

It was a picture-perfect day for South Side’s Homecoming, but Justin DePietro, Christian Anaya and visiting Carey stole much of the Cyclones’ thunder in a clash of top contenders in Nassau Conference III football.

DePietro rushed for a pair of touchdowns and Anaya had a sack for a safety and a scoop-and-score 69-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown late in the fourth quarter, set up by DePietro’s sack, as the Seahawks extended their winning streak to 15 straight with a 35-14 victory last Saturday in front of a standingroom-only crowd in Rockville Centre.

South Side had first-and-goal from the Carey 9 looking to make it a one-possession game when a blitzing DePietro jarred the ball loose and a mad scramble ensued. Several bounces and about 20 yards later, Anaya pounced on it and raced down the sideline behind a convoy of teammates and into the end zone with 3:38 remaining to seal the deal.

“The safety felt great but the touchdown topped it because it was a first for me at any level of football,” said Anaya, a senior two-way starting lineman. “All that was going through my head was ‘don’t cramp up and keep running.’ I was just so happy to take it all the way and make that kind of contribution to the team.”

Anaya’s safety early in the second quarter put Carey (3-0) ahead for good at 9-7 after DePietro, a junior, and South Side junior AJ Magaraci traded firstquarter touchdowns covering 8 and 45 yards, respectively. Senior Tristan Hickis had a touchdown pass and an interception on defense to set up senior James McGrath’s 12-yard score off a jet sweep for a 16-7 halftime lead.

“We’re a different team than we were in the preseason for a variety of reasons and I’m really proud of these guys,” Carey head coach Mike Stanley said. “Some kids are learning new roles and we’re doing a nice job of figuring it out. This is a big win on the road against a good team.”

The Cyclones, who opened the season with back-to-back wins over Clarke and Division, slipped to 1-2.

“Carey has a tremendous program and we just made too many mistakes today,” South Side head coach Phil Onesto said. “Their big players made some big plays and we also unfortunately had some self-inflicted wounds.”

Junior Jayden Radow was front-andcenter in Carey’s success throughout. He had several long returns on special teams and was on the receiving end of Hickis’ 27-yard strike that capped the opening drive of the second half and made it 22-6.

Hickis was 10-for-16 for 124 yards, Radow had 7 catches for 97 yards and DePietro 51 yards rushing and a fumble recovery. For South Side, senior Owen Marigliano caught a 43-yard touchdown pass from sophomore quarterback Rob Cesario and senior Brendan Vetter added an interception.

Both teams are back in action Friday. The Cyclones will try to rebound when they travel to Bethpage at 6:30 p.m. Carey has a 4:30 p.m. kickoff at Valley Stream North.

“We’re dealing with some tough injuries, but we have a next-man up mentality,” Anaya said.

Community honors UPS driver’s retirement

side him, all of whom Janosek could always rely on.

The long-time delivery driver was awarded a citation from the Town of Hempstead, as well as two citations from the civic association and a $300 gift card to take his family out for dinner.

Providence, who grew up in Elmont and now lives in the Bronx, did not have a permanent route at first and instead filled in for absent drivers each day. However, after spending several years as a cover driver, a vacancy opened in the Elmont community and he put in a bid for it. He was soon granted the route.

“It’s been great,” Providence said. “The people are phenomenal. I’ve never been treated with more kindness and respect since I’ve been on a route.”

He said one reason so many Elmont residents knew him was because of his outgoing personality, and he would often go out of his way to speak with customers.

“I like to be out talking to people and doing the best service that I can,” Providence said. “It makes me feel good when I can help someone while also doing my job.”

Janosek said Providence has been integral to UPS’s hub in Uniondale since the beginning of his tenure. Oftentimes, he said, when newer crew members became overwhelmed in their first week on the job, Providence would pull

them aside and help calm them down.

“He’s talked people off the ledge several times,” Janosek said. “He’s very outgoing, very caring, and makes sure everybody gets what they need.”

Since serving the Elmont community, Barker said Providence made a positive impression on every resident he’s delivered packages to.

“I don’t even know what to say about

Joe,” Barker said. “Joe made sure that everyone in the community was covered. He went above and beyond. It’s been an honor and a pleasure to have him for all these years.”

Barker said he and the other members of Locustwood Gotham had planned the retirement celebration over two years ago. They initially thought Providence was going to retire in 2023,

Barker recalled, and the civic association had coordinated a brief toast to him during its annual block party on Sussex Road that year.

However, Providence was unable to attend that year or the following year, so Barker held onto the citation and waited to properly present it to him ever since. Barker finally presented it during the Sept. 26 celebration.

It will be a difficult task to replace Providence’s role in the community, Barker lamented. He said he hopes whoever steps into the role next will continue his high quality of service.

“He has an incredible personality,” Barker said. “He’s someone who’s always friendly, and you don’t find that everywhere it’s rare. He’s just unique, and words can’t even express who he is. And he was like that every day.”

Providence said he’s built many strong relationships with his coworkers over the past three decades. He added that his reputation at the company has extended beyond the Mitchell Field office, and many crewmembers that he’s never met before still know him by name — a testament to the legacy he leaves behind.

“Being on route for so long, you become family,” Providence said of the Elmont community. “But I’m also going to miss the comradery of the drivers that I’ve known for so many years. You could say it’s bittersweet.”

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2025 10:00 AM - 2:00

Long Island’s best gather for Excellence in Healthcare awards

By JOSEPH D’ALESSANDRO jdalessandro@liherald.com

Long Island is home to some of the nation’s most skilled medical practitioners, the best of whom were honored at the Herald’s fourth annual Long Island Excellence in Healthcare Awards.

The ceremony — at the Heritage Club at Bethpage on Sept. 17 — brought together almost 40 groups representing hospitals, researchers and independent practices.

Stuart Richner, CEO of Richner Communications and publisher of the Herald, began the gala evening by praising Long Island’s medical community for their unrivaled research and innovative programs and services.

“We’re here tonight to honor the doctors, nurses, hospital executives, educators, caregivers, and so many others who keep our families and our communities healthy, safe and informed,” he said. “Our honorees tonight are sources of both strength and inspiration, walking alongside us at some of the lowest and highest moments in life.”

Emmy award-winning investigative journalist Kristin Thorne, the creator of Hulu’s first true crime series “Missing,” emceed the ceremony.

Keynote speaker Dr. Purna Prasad, CEO of Vedi Robotics in Hicksville, led off the night’s awards segment preceding the distribution of honors.

“Our evolution in Vedi Robotics has made us who we are today,” he said. “We identified one problem that is always a challenge for healthcare: a deficit of workforce.”

During his tenure of 30 years at Stanford and Northwell, Prasad observed machine learning and artificial intelligence mature as a field of study. After two and a half years, his team produced a robotic platform that is ready for deployment; it can check in patients, process their paperwork and take their vitals.

“That whole concept of home-grown, state-of-the-art technology — you could say we are a flagship for that,” he said.

Vedi Robotics received the Trailblazers in Technology special award.

“What we’re trying to do is we’re trying to bring a curated artificial intelligence into the arena that is only going to be beneficial,” Vedi Robotics COO John Power added.

A portion of ticket proceeds from the event will benefit the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities Center at Stony Brook University. The LEND program, recipient of the Community Health Champions special award, provides interdisciplinary training to prepare the next generation — along with professionals, families and self-advocates — to lead in their fields as providers of high quality care for individuals with autism spectrum disorder and developmental disabilities.

“Our team truly excels, in an interdisciplinary fashion, to deliver health care for individuals with neurodevelopmental disabilities and their families,” LEND Program Director Michelle Ballan said. “We offer hundreds of hours of training for people with disabilities and healthcare professionals to learn how to work effec-

tively with this group.”

Kerri Anne Scanlon, president of Northwell’s Glen Cove, Syosset and Plainview hospitals, received the Healthcare Visionary special award alongside CEOElect John D’Angelo; Northwell CEO Michael Dowling was honored with the Healthcare Legacy special award.

“I think the foundation of Northwell is really the incredible culture,” Scanlon said. “It’s a culture that truly invests in its employees. It’s a culture about worrying about someone as much as yourself, and then building that engagement so that we can give the best care to our patients.”

Carolyn Quinn, the director of Northwell Health’s Cohen Children’s Medical Center, received the Community Health Champions special award. The pediatric hospital was honored for providing outstanding long-term care for children.

“The team is just over the moon,” she said. “They are an amazing group of women, just an amazing group made up of three nurses and three certified holistic nurses and four Reiki Masters who are also certified and gifted in other holistic services. There’s quite a menu of services that we offer.”

Anne Petraro. founder and CEO of

The team is just over the moon.

CAROLyN QuiNN Director of Cohen Childrens’ Medical Center

Mending Hearts Counseling in Elmont, was honored with a Community Health Champions award for establishing an Article 31 MHOTRS clinic during the pandemic to aid underserved communities, specializing in brain care.

“I would love to change the face of mental health,” she said. “There’s so much stigma against it. And I guess by starting this agency, we’re kind of coming with a different approach, more of like a private practice feeling where everyone feels at home.”

Co-founders Linda Harkavy and Mitchell Goldstein of Form & Function Aesthetics and Wellness in East Meadow received the Power Couple special award.

“We’re focused on now, rather than disease management and crisis management, keeping people well and getting them well and having them enjoy their best lives,” Harkavy said. “We engage in wellness, not only body but mind.”

Their practice now offers Exomind, an advanced non-invasive brain therapy designed to help patients with depression, anxiety and OCD.

“We’ve been doing health care here in Long Island for 40 years, and it’s been our great pleasure helping so many people over these decades,” Goldstein said. “We’ve taken it now to the next level with state of the art medical care and devices to improve people’s longevity and wellness — Nassau County deserves that.”

The following individuals were each recipients of Excellence in Healthcare awards.

Alla Shenkman is the former medical

director of PM Pediatrics in Syosset. After 10 years in the role, she stepped down to return to work as a regular physician.

“It’s my passion,” Shenkman said. “I love it. PM Pediatrics is a great — probably largest — urgent care for pediatric patients in the country, and I’ve been there since day one. I certainly want to thank all my colleagues. Without them, I wouldn’t be here. It was a mutual effort to bring PM Pediatrics to where we are today.”

Howard Goodman, better known as the Long Island Weight Loss Doctor, is the recipient of numerous Herald honors: two Long Island Choice, one Long Island Health and Beauty, and now two Excellence in Healthcare awards.

“All these awards put us on the map,” he said.

Goodman uses all-natural methods to help patients reach their ideal weight while combating common internet misinformation.

“We’re fixing the damage that’s caused by these erroneous medications,” he said.

Brian Caberas is the COO of the People’s Arc of Suffolk, a nonprofit that provides services to people with disabilities across Suffolk County.

“We offer them residential alternatives and the ability to find jobs out in the community and a multitude of other services as well,” he said. “We want the People’s Arc of Suffolk to become the premier provider for people with disabilities.”

Sponsors of the event include Northwell Health, Episcopal Health Services, Henry Schein, Cohen Children’s Medical Center Northwell Health, The Speech Language Place, Brightview Senior Living, Stony Brook University LEND Center, Mending Hearts Counseling, Veda Robotics, LiveOnNY, People’s Arc of Suffolk, Long Island Nurses Honor Guard, PM Pediatric Care, Bellmore Dermatology, The Stroke & Brain Aneurysm Center of Long Island, Harmony Healthcare Long Island and the New York Institute of Technology.

To view a complete list of honorees and photos, visit richnerlive.com/healthcare-awards/honorees.

Polka, pretzels and prost at Ompahfest

Music, bratwurst and plenty of “prost” filled the air during Ompahfest on Sept. 21, when the annual German-American celebration took over Plattdeutsche Park Restaurant in Franklin Square.

Ompahfest, which differs from the 16-day-long observance of Oktoberfest, is a one-day celebration of German-American heritage, culture and tradition. The annual festival gets its name from its use of “oompah” music, a Bavarian-style folk music with an emphasis on brass.

This year’s festival, hosted from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., featured classic German food favorites such as bratwurst, frankfurters, Bavarian pretzels with beer cheese, leberkase, German potato salad, potato pancakes with applesauce, and farmer’s sausage.

Many guests donned traditional German garments — the men in lederhosen and women in Dirndls — and shopped local vendors selling imported German goods such as beer steins, jewelry and various crafts.

Guests also participated in festive raffles, games and activities throughout the day, often raising a toast with beers in hand as the Oktoberfest anthem “Ein Prosit” filled the courtyard.

Across the Biergarten, music groups from Long Island and Germany took to the restaurant’s bandstands and performed lively sets of classic polka tunes — an energetic genre of music combining European folk from various regions and local American influences. Band members played clarinets, trumpets, flutes, tubas, accordions, drums and guitars with fervor as guests of all different ages danced, cheered and clapped along.

Performers this year included Bavarski, the Austrian Boys, Johnny Koening, die Spitzbuam, Foehrer Musik and Freunde.

For more information about future events at Plattdeutsche Park, including upcoming Oktoberfest celebrations, visit ParkRestaurant.com.

–Renee DeLorenzo

Town proposes 18 percent tax cut for 2026

By MELISSA BERMAN mberman@liherald.com

Just under six weeks before Election Day, the Town of Hempstead unveiled an 18 percent tax cut in its general fund as part of its 2026 budget.

The tax cut is anticipated to reduce the overall tax levy by $5 million, according to town officials, by “directly putting that money back into the pockets of every single taxpayer,” said John Ferretti, who was appointed town supervisor on Aug. 5 after Don Clavin resigned.

The announcement was made at Hempstead Town Hall on Sept. 25, 50 days after Ferretti was appointed.

“This budget is the result of fiscal responsibility, bipartisan collaboration and a deep commitment to preserving the suburban quality of life that makes the Town of Hempstead so special,” he added.

The budget was crafted to provide relief to families struggling with inflation and rising costs, Ferretti said, without compromising essential town services.

He described unfunded state mandates totaling $15 million as a significant challenge to town finances. Those services and programs, which the state requires but doesn’t pay for, directly impact the town’s budget.

“I’m intently focused on preserving

Council members joined Hempstead Town Supervisor John Ferretti, center, on Sept. 25 as he announced an 18 percent tax cut for the proposed 2026 budget.

our community’s suburban dream of an affordable quality of life,” Ferretti said.

“The town’s $576 million budget still manages to cut taxes while preserving vital services, investing in infrastructure and supporting residents of all ages.”

Joe Scianablo, the Democratic candidate for supervisor, agrees that Hempstead residents deserve lower taxes, but he contends that they also deserve more

transparency from the town.

“If Ferretti and his Republican allies truly wanted to save taxpayers’ money, the first thing they’d do is return the hefty raises they quietly gave themselves,” Scianablo wrote in a news release. “If you are going to set the fire and then claim credit for putting the fire out, then go the entire distance.”

Ferretti noted that 4 cents of every property tax dollar goes to the town, and

the rate is less than 1 cent per dollar for those living in incorporated villages.

Town services include maintaining 1,200 miles of roadway; managing over 200 parks and recreational facilities; and providing sanitation services for 85,000 homes, clean water for over 121,000 customers and programs for more than 200,000 senior residents, as well as birth and death certificates, marriage licenses, building permits, code enforcement, and much more.

Oceanside resident Danielle Asher said she was perplexed about how the town could cut taxes 18 percent now, after a substantial tax increase was implemented earlier this year.

“I need an explanation of how the problems were resolved that made them raise our taxes 12 percent in the first place,” Asher wrote on Facebook. “If the budget is remaining flat, then who is splitting the bill?”

Richard Schurin, of Island Park, shared those sentiments. “Their budgeting practice makes absolutely no financial sense and appears to be politically motivated,” Schurin posted on Facebook.

The 2026 town budget will be presented to the Town Board for possible adoption on Oct. 16. Public hearings are scheduled for that day, at 2:30 and 7 p.m., in the Nathan L.H. Bennett Pavilion at Hempstead Town Hall, 1 Washington St., Hempstead.

ATTENTION STUDENTS:

THE HERALD IS HOLDING A CONTEST TO DESIGN HOLIDAY WRAPPING PAPER

THE WINNING DESIGNS WILL BE PRINTED AS HOLIDAY GIFT WRAP IN 12/4/25 & 12/11/25 ISSUES OF YOUR HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER

CONTEST RULES:

Who can enter: There will be 2 categories: Students in grades k-5. Students in 6-12 One entry per student

Deadline: Entries must be received by 5 p.m.

Friday, October 31, 2025

Grand prize: Winners will have their design printed as wrapping paper in the Herald and will be featured in an article in their local Herald newspaper.

Entry format: Please use an 8 1/2 by 11 inch piece of unlined paper. All entries should have the student’s name, age, address, telephone number, email, grade and school printed on the back. Design can be reflective of all religious holidays. Entries will not be returned.

Mail or hand-deliver to:

Wrapping Paper Contest

Herald Community Newspapers

2 Endo Boulevard, Garden City, NY 11530 OR Scan and email to: ekimbrell@liherald.com

(No Photos of Artwork Will Be Accepted).

Winners will be notified by email or phone by November 14

HELPFUL HINTS

• Must use 8 1/2 x 11” unlined paper, copy paper or construction paper.

• Be creative & original.

• Use bright colors.

• Fill the entire page.

• Choose paint, crayon, chalk, markers, pens, or other creative materials.

• Remember your design will be used to make a real sheet of wrapping paper.

HERALD SchoolS

Hands-on science sparks curiosity in classrooms

Clara H. Carlson School third graders in Kayla Tierney’s class conducted hands-on science experiments to test how salt levels in water affect the growth and color of grass seeds, according to a news release from the Elmont Union Free School District.

The activity is part of the district’s new Oneida-Herkimer-Madison BOCES Science Center curriculum, which emphasizes real-world, inquiry-based science practices. The district said the program was implemented this school year for students in pre-K through fifth grade and aligns with the New York State Science Learning Standards.

In their first unit on adaptation and survival, Tierney’s students began by forming hypotheses using the SeeSaw app on their iPads, the release said. Equipped with protective eyewear, they

worked in teams assigned different roles: “No Salt,” “Low Salt,” “Medium Salt” or “High Salt.” Students mixed the designated salt levels into water, planted grass seeds in cups of potting soil and watered them with their custom solutions.

Each student took on a responsibility to ensure active participation, the release continued. Over a nine-day period, the class will water and observe the seeds, recording the number that sprout and the changes in grass color.

“The students have been so excited as they engage in real-world science practices,” Tierney said in the release. “They’re asking questions, experimenting and thinking like scientists.”

Need for social work grows at the library

of Social Work, the university has been partnering with libraries since 2022. “There was a gap in care for the type of services that social workers offer that weren’t readily available in libraries,” Balbi said. “One of our students started interning at a library, and it’s grown since then.”

This year, she said, 27 interns are enrolled in Adelphi’s program, and offer their services to libraries across Nassau County, as well as the five boroughs, New Jersey, Vermont and Georgia. She added that it has gradually become a more common practice.

Balbi, a social worker for 10 years, cited economic factors such as inflation, as well as cuts in social programs like Medicaid, as driving factors in the recent uptick in demand for services being requested in less traditional spaces like libraries.

“We’re seeing more and more patrons ask where they’re going to get the help that they need,” she said. “And so public community spaces like libraries are where it’s at.”

Herald file photo the franklin Square public Library is expanding beyond traditional services, offering legal aid, health screenings and passport assistance, and exploring a partnership with social work interns to meet the rising demand for community resources.

said. “But they aren’t social workers.”

While the interns aren’t full-time library employees, they regularly work with library staff, with oversight from the college, to ensure high-quality service. “They have really been a true asset,” Collumbell said. “It’s been a wonderful service, and the feedback so far has been very positive.”

Pagano said that as the Franklin Square library continues to weigh its options, its seven librarians and other staff members have stepped up and dedicated their time and energy to patrons looking for help. The welcoming atmosphere of the library, he said, encourages them to return for assistance.

That’s why, he added, it makes sense for the library to implement specialized resources to address the more complex needs of patrons of all ages who come to the library in search of unique guidance.

The services the interns provide generally focus on broader neighborhood concerns such as economic instability, poor education and health care access, lack of transportation, and unemployment and mental health concerns, including substance abuse. Interns make referrals, conduct assessments, engage in crisis intervention and supervise resource navigation. In addition to individualized support, some also conduct workshops aimed at supporting larger groups of people with mindfulness techniques and self-help strategies.

partnership specialist in the Nassau Library System, said the program helps libraries support the work their staff already does for patrons on a daily basis, while filling in areas where they might be limited.

Alicia Collumbell, an outreach and

“Of course, librarians are wonderful at finding information,” Collumbell

Securing an intern to help with these services is a matter of time and planning, Pagano explained, and the library staff is always looking to connect with volunteers willing to donate time and resources to address the growing need. In the meantime, he said, the library will continue hosting its current roster of social service programs.

“We’re always trying to do as much as we can with the staff that we have,” Pagano said. “It just takes time to get these things off the ground.”

Whether you're decked out in team colors, surrounded by game day snacks, or have the ultimate fan cave setup –We want to see it all! Upload photos of your Sunday football experience: your lucky jersey, famous wings, decorated living room, tailgate spread, or whatever makes your game day special.

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

STEPPING OUT

Doing it ‘His Way’ with the Nassau Pops

By Karen Bloom

ANew York moment arrives on the Tilles Center stage when Maestro Louis Panacciuill and his orchestra return with their popular gala musical in support of the Cerebral Palsy Association of Nassau County. This year the orchestra welcomes back Tony Danza and his band as their guest performers.

The concert continues to feature the Nassau Pops signature blend of popular and classical music as well as an inspiring moment with Creation, the CP Nassau vocal team. This heartwarming tradition dellights both musicians, guest performers and the audience.

“This is one big lovefest,” says Panacciulli, the orchestra’s longtime musical director. I’m so glad to be back at Tilles Center during our 42nd season. So many wonderful people have crossed this stage. It’s always exciting to be here.”

The connection between the Nassau Pops and CP Nassau is special for Panacciulli and the orchestra. He credits his mother, Panacciulli who was a member of the CP auxiliary in Valley Stream, for this special connection.

“When we first started performing, we decided we wanted to do more than just play music. We wanted to do something meaningful,” he recalls.

“In the past we had done benefits for Special Olympics, pop concerts for hospitals. This came about one day when I was discussing with her the idea of doing a benefit concert for CP Nassau. I’m thrilled to carry on Mom’s legacy. Plus it means a lot to the musicians. We’re leaving something behind long after the notes have faded away.”

And he’s delighted to have Danza, who performed with the Nassau Pops in 2023, back to share the stage.

“Tony dances, plays the ukele, always tells a corny joke or two,” Panacciulli says. “He’s very engaging, a wonderful entertainer.”

This collaboration brings a unique twist to Danza’s acclaimed cabaret show, “Sinatra and Stories.” Combining his trademark wit, charm, storytelling, with a dash of soft

Yes:

‘The Fragile 2025 Tour’

Get ready to experience an unforgettable evening of Yes on the Paramount stage, featuring its existential prog masterworks and instrumental pyrotechnics. Throughout a prolific and enduring music career spanning 45 years and 20 studio albums, Yes has electrified audiences with daunting virtuosity, complex musical textures and powerful lead vocals. The band — currently comprising Steve Howe on guitars and vocals, Geoff Downes on keyboards, Jon Davison on vocals and acoustic guitar, Billy Sherwood on bass guitar and vocals, and Jay Schellen on drums — performs their iconic 1971 album “Fragile” in its entirety. “Fragile” holds a special place in Yes’s discography, as it propelled the band to headline status in the U.S.

Tony Danza stars in the return of the orchestra’s gala benefit concert

shoe, he offers up his take on the music of the legendary ‘Ol Blue Eyes, with whom Danza had a personal relationship. Some might not realize that Danza, who grew up on Long Island and attended Malverne High School, is a well-established song and dance man, in addition to his acting chops in television, film and on stage.

Throughout his 60-plus minute set, Danza blends personal anecdotes with Sinatra’s unforgettable tunes.

“He always has a big smile on his face. He’s certainly having a good time. And I guarantee the audience will as well,” Panacciulli says.

The tone is set from the moment the orchestra strikes up their first note.

“We like to start out with something hot and jazzy,” Panacciulli adds.

• Sunday, Oct. 19, 3 p.m.

• Tickets start at $30; available at npso.org/tickets or tillescenter.org

• Tilles Center for the Performing Arts, LIU Post Campus, Brookville

Certainly the addition of a sax section gets the vibe going, as the orchestra opens the show with a medley of Big Band tunes.

As always, the musicians are joined by Creation — the singing duo who participate in CP Nassau’s Life Options Program — in a heart-warming segment during the concert’s opening. Each has their moment in the spotlight. David Tindal sings Kool & The Gang’s “Celebration,” while Chris Wawrzonek does “Till There Was You” from the Broadway classic The Music Man.

Tindal and Wawrzonek have ‘grown up’ with the orchestra.

“I’m filled with such a sense of gratitude that I can affect two lives by giving them a chance to perform in front of a full orchestra and a large audience,” Panacciulli says. “We share something special, when we share music together. They’re wonderful people and the audience gives them standing ovations every time. It’s just nice to see how they’ve grown up. They’re always smiling and in good humor.”

And for Panacciulli, a Franklin Square resident, who has been at the helm of the Nassau Pops since 1984 (and is on Nassau Community College’s music faculty where he serves as band director) that surely is the concert’s defining moment.

“Creation is a byproduct the wonderful work that CP Nassau does. It does my heart good to help them and give back to the community through the gift of music.”

Panacciulli gratefully acknowledges Long Island-based credit union Jovia (formerly NEFCU), the gala’s title sponsor since 2012. Proceeds from every ticket sold are donated directly to CPNassau.

Tuesday, Oct. 7, 8 p.m. $152.25, $129.75, $118.75, $108.75, $86.50. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com.

Roomful of Blues

The renowned, horn powered, Grammy-nominated, houserocking “little big band” is ready to celebrate STEPPIN’ OUT!, their first new album in five years. With this album, Roomful of Blues brings something new to the table. After 19 releases with male singers, STEPPIN’ OUT! is the first to feature a female vocalist, the sublime D.D. Bastos. Her powerhouse, soul-stirring voice and her charismatic stage presence bring a whole new spirit to the Roomful sound. For over 50 years, this beloved, iconic and much honored band has been delivering wildly infectious, hard-swinging blues. Guided by guitarist-bandleader Chris Vachon since 19989, Roomful remains a defining musical force in the blues world, with their sound rooted in tradition, but their sights reaching far into the future.

Thursday, Oct. 9, 8 p.m. $38. My Father’s Place in Roslyn, 1221 Old Northern Blvd., Roslyn. Tickets available at mfpproductions.com or (516) 5800887.

YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD CALENDAR

OCT

3

Peter LaRosa in concert

Peter LaRosa celebrates Italian singers at Elmont Memorial Library. Hear tunes from Frank Sinatra, Al Martino, Lou Monti, Dean Martin, Pavarotti, and many more. No registration is required. First come, first seated.

• Where: 700 Hempstead Tpke., Elmont

• Time: 12:30-2 p.m.

• Contact: Visit ElmontLibrary. org, or call (516) 354-5280

OCT 4

Oktoberfest Fundraiser

The Franklin Square and Munson Fire Department hosts a fundraiser in honor of the seasonal German celebration.

A $50 donation is required for adults 21 years and older, and $25 for anyone under. Tickets include food, raffles, live music and a sports auction.

• Where: Fire Headquarters, 841 Liberty Pl., Franklin Square

• Time: 6-11 p.m.

Franklin Square Street Fair

The fall street fair is returning to Franklin Square for a day of family, shopping and fun! The event will feature food trucks, bouncy houses, pony rides and a petting zoo. Parking and admission are free.

• Where: 191 Franklin Ave.

• Time: 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

• Contact: (516) 442-6000 or NassauCountyFairs.com

Art explorations

Converse, collaborate and create with kids at Family Saturdays at Nassau County Museum of Art when it resumes following the summer hiatus. Get inspired by the art and objects in the galleries and then join educators at the Manes Center to explore and discover different materials to create your own original artwork. Kids and adults connect while talking about and making art together. A new project is featured every week. $20 adult, $10 child. For ages 2-14. Registration required. $20, $10 child; members free.

• Where: 1 Museum Drive, Roslyn Harbor

• Time: Noon-3 p.m.

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

Annual breast cancer walk

The annual breast cancer walk, hosted in collaboration with the Adelphi NY Statewide Breast Cancer Hotline and Support Program, honors survivors, supports OCT

5

OCT 16

Kate Kortum: The Music of ‘Wild Woman’

happy to accept new members, especially those with school-age children so as to better represent all segments of the community.

• Where: Franklin Square Public Library, 19 Lincoln Road

• Time: 10 a.m.-noon

• Contact: Call (516) 488-3444 or visit FranklinSquarePL.org for application

OCT

10

Sculpture Stroll

Visit Nassau County Museum of Art for hour for discovery and conversation. Explore a selection of sculptures sited across the museum property. Each stop on the tour delves into the choices, inspirations and material of the artists and their sculptures. Registration required. $20, $10 members

• Where: 1 Museum Drive, Roslyn Harbor

• Time: 5-6 p.m.

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

Plattdeutsche Senior Oktoberfest

• Where: Tilles Center, LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Blvd., Brookville

• Time: 7:30 p.m.

Tilles Center’s Atrium becomes an intimate lounge, showcasing 23-year-old Kate Kortum, one of the most exciting breakout artists in the jazz world. Hailing from Houston, Texas, her warm, distinctive sound blends bebop, blues, the Great American Songbook, and musical theater with captivating, storydriven lyrics. Her artistry bridges tradition and innovation, offering audiences a fresh, contemporary take on the jazz vocal legacy. Kortum discovered her passion for music at Houston’s legendary High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, where she studied flute and saxophone before ultimately falling in love with singing. She went on to earn a degree in jazz voice from the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music and a master’s degree from the Juilliard School, studying with some of the leading voices in modern jazz. Critics have praised her ability to revitalize jazz with authenticity and daring. “Wild Woman,” her sophomore album. featuresreimagined standards and originals that explore a woman’s relationship with complex emotions like obsession, promiscuity, self-pride, and hatred. She gives her audience a glimpse into the past, present, and future of jazz through her unique arrangements and improvisatory deliveries.

those undergoing treatment, and lives lost.

• Where: Arthur J. Hendrickson Park, 23 W. Merrick Road, Valley Stream

• Time: 3-5 p.m.

• Contact: Office of Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages at (516) 599-2972, or email District22@NYassembly.gov

Franklin Square Museum Open House

Bring the family to see the history of Franklin Square. Hosted by the Franklin Square Historical Society. Free admission.

• Where: Franklin Square Historical Museum, 861 Naple Ave., Franklin Square

• Time: 2-4 p.m.

• Contact: FSHistoricalSociety. org or call (516) 775-7260

In concert

Pianist Philip Edward Fisher returns to Adelphi University for an afternoon of music for solo piano. He performs three of Chopin’s works: Variations Brilliantes, Fantasie in F minor and Sonata No 2 in B-flat minor. The program also include Haydn’s Fantasia in C Major, along with works by Corigliano, Mompou and Scriabin. Fisher is

widely recognized as a unique performer of refined style and exceptional versatility. Tickets start at $35, with discounts available to seniors, students, Adelphi alumni and employees.

• Where: Adelphi University’s Westermann Stage, 1 South Ave., Garden City

• Time: 3 p.m.

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

Are you game?

OCT

8

Bring some friends and make some new ones at Elmont Memorial Library. Many games to choose from. All games are non-instructional and open to anyone!

• Where: 700 Hempstead Tpke., Elmont

• Time: 1:30-4:30 p.m. and 6-8 p.m.

• Contact: Visit ElmontLibrary. org, or call (516) 354-5280

Franklin Square Civic Association meets

The Franklin Square Civic Association invites everyone to its general meeting. All residents are welcome to help improve the community!

• Where: Franklin Square Public

• Contact: ticketmaster.com or tillescenter.org or (516) 299-3100

Library, 19 Lincoln Road

• Time: 7-8:45 p.m.

• Contact: Visit FSQCivic.org

Franklin Square BOE meets

Attend the Franklin Square School District Board of Education meeting.

• Where: Washington Street School, 760 Washington St., Franklin Square

• Time: 8 p.m.

• Contact: Visit FranklinSquare. K12.NY.org, or call (516) 4814100

OCT

9

Celebrate Plattdeutsche Park’s Oktoberfest with music, food, beer and dancing by G.T.E.V. Schlierachtaler Stamm. $65 per person. Reservations are required.

• Where: Restaurant, 1132 Hempstead Tpke., Franklin Square

• Time: Noon-3:30 p.m.

• Contact: ParkRestaurant.com or call (516) 354-3131

OCT

27

Franklin Square Library Board meets

The public is invited to attend the library’s Board of Trustees meeting.

• Where: 19 Lincoln Rd., Franklin Square

• Time: 6-8:30 p.m.

• Contact: FranklinSquarePL.org or call (516) 488-3444

Bus ‘noshing’ tour

Hop on board the bus for a tasty adventure sampling multi-ethnic foods in New York City, with an Italian accent! $125, includes a tour guide, server, bus driver tip, food and water. In-person registration is required. No refunds.

• Where: Meet at Franklin Square Public Library, 19 Lincoln Road

• Time: 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

• Contact: FranklinSquarePL.org

Friends of the Franklin Square Library meeting

Friends of the Library are always

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.

New district STEAM program engages students

Stewart Manor School’s fifth and sixth grade students explored science, technology, engineering, art and math through a new districtwide STEAM program. According to a news release from the district, the initiative, offered once weekly to each class, is designed to give Elmont students 21st-century skills while sparking creativity, collaboration and critical thinking.

In a lesson on Sept. 12 led by STEAM teacher Grace Lipponer, the news release said, sixth graders learned about the engineering design process: Ask, Imagine, Plan, Create, Experiment and Improve. Students discussed famous structures such as the Eiffel Tower and Empire State Building and examined what makes them sturdy.

They then teamed up to build the tallest freestanding tower using only toothpicks and mini marshmallows, working within a 10-minute limit. The project emphasized principles of structural design, stability and time management, the news release said. Students experimented with different load-bearing techniques and geometric configurations.

Lipponer measured each tower to determine results, the news release continued. Afterward, the sixth graders reflected on their work by writing down possible improvements to their designs.

–Renee DeLorenzo

Public Notices

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF PUBLIC

HEARING

ELMONT FIRE DISTRICT

ANNUAL BUDGET FOR 2026

WHEREAS, on the 24th day of September, 2025, pursuant to Sections 105 and 181 of the Town Law, the Board of Fire Commissioners of the Elmont Fire District confirmed that the Annual Fire District Budget Hearing will be conducted with reference to the Annual Fire District Budget for fiscal year 2026 on Monday, October 20, 2025 commencing at 6:00 p.m. at the Fire District Building located at 100 School Street, Elmont, New York, and

WHEREAS, the Board of Fire Commissioners is required to adopt a proposed budget at least 21 days before Monday, October 20, 2025 so that it is available for public inspection prior to the budget hearing.

NOW, therefore, BE IT

RESOLVED that the Board of Fire Commissioners of the Elmont Fire District has adopted a proposed Annual Fire District Budget for 2026 as of this date for purposes of discussion and review at the Budget Hearing to be held on Monday, October 20, 2025 and a copy of the proposed budget is available at the office of the Town Clerk of the Town of Hempstead and at the office of the Elmont Fire District Secretary at 100 School Street, Elmont, New York where it may be inspected by any interested person during office hours. In addition, a copy of the proposed budget will be available on the night of the said hearing.

NOW, therefore, BE IT

FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board of Fire Commissioners of the Elmont Fire District will hold the Annual Fire District Budget Hearing to be conducted with reference to the Annual Fire District Budget for fiscal year 2026 on Monday, October 20, 2025 commencing at 6:00 p.m. at the Fire District Building located at 100 School Street, Elmont, New York.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the aforesaid budget will be presented to the residents and taxpayers of the Elmont Fire

District and to the Board of Fire Commissioners of the Elmont Fire District, for their respective consideration at this public hearing and for the purpose of considering the said budget and hearing all persons interested in the subject concerning same on Monday, October 20, 2025 commencing at 6:00 p.m. at the Fire District Building located at 100 School Street, Elmont, New York.

Dated: September 24, 2025

Elmont, New York

BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS

ELMONT FIRE DISTRICT TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD ATTEST:

FRANCES ANDINO

ELMONT FIRE DISTRICT SECRETARY 156011

LEGAL NOTICE TO THE TAXPAYERS of the Franklin Square & Munson Fire District, Town of Hempstead, Nassau County, New York:

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a resolution was adopted by the Board of Fire Commissioners, Franklin Square & Munson Fire District, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau, State of New York at a regularly scheduled meeting thereof held on September 23, 2025, subject to Permissive Referendum as provided by Town Law.

An abstract of the resolution is as follows: BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Board of Fire Commissioners of the Franklin Square & Munson Fire District, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau, shall expend monies for the purchase of one new district vehicle and related accessories in an amount not to exceed, ninety thousand dollars ($90,000.00). Said funds to be expended from Equipment Reserve as authorized by Section 6-g of the General Municipal Law. This resolution shall take effect 30 days from the date hereof, unless within 30 days a valid petition, as provided for in the Town Law is filed with the Fire District Secretary requesting a Permissive Referendum.

BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS

FRANKLIN SQUARE & MUNSON FIRE DISTRICT

TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD

Attest: Kerry Santina District Secretary September 23, 2025 156009

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

FRANKLIN SQUARE & MUNSON FIRE DISTRICT

ANNUAL BUDGET FOR 2026

WHEREAS, on the 23rd day of September 2025, pursuant to Section 105 of the Town Law and Section 181 of the Town Law the Board of Fire Commissioners of the Franklin Square & Munson Fire District confirmed that the Annual Fire District Budget Hearing will be conducted with reference to the Annual Fire District Budget for fiscal year 2026 on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, commencing at 6:00 pm at Fire District Headquarters located at 833 Hempstead Turnpike, Franklin Square, NY and WHEREAS, the Board of Fire Commissioners is required to adopt a proposed budget at least 21 days before October 21, 2025, so that it is available for public inspection prior to the Budget Hearing. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Board of Fire Commissioners of the Franklin Square & Munson Fire District has adopted a proposed Annual Fire District Budget for 2026 as of this date for the purposes of discussion and review at the Budget Hearing to be held on October 21, 2025 and a copy of the proposed budget is available at the office of the Town Clerk of the Town of Hempstead and at the office of the Franklin Square & Munson Fire District Secretary at 833 Hempstead Turnpike, Franklin Square, NY where it may be inspected by any interested person during office hours. In addition, copies will be available on the night of the said hearing. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board of Fire Commissioners of the Franklin Square & Munson Fire District will hold the Annual Fire District Budget Hearing to be conducted with reference to the Annual Fire District Budget for the fiscal year 2026 on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, commencing at

6:00 pm at Fire District Headquarters, 833 Hempstead Turnpike, Franklin Square, NY.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the aforesaid budget will be presented to the residents and taxpayers of the Franklin Square & Munson Fire District and to the Franklin Square & Munson Fire Commissioners for their respective consideration at this public hearing and for the purpose of considering the said resolution and hearing all persons interested in the subject concerning same on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, commencing at 6:00 pm at Fire District Headquarters, 833 Hempstead Turnpike, Franklin Square, NY BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS FRANKLIN SQUARE & MUNSON FIRE DISTRICT September 23, 2025

Attest: Kerry Santina Fire District Secretary 156008

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SPECIAL DISTRICT MEETING OF THE FRANKLIN SQUARE UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT, IN THE COUNTY OF NASSAU, NEW YORK

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Board of Education of the Franklin Square Union Free School District, in the County of Nassau, New York, has adopted a resolution on August 6, 2025, authorizing a Special District Meeting of the qualified voters of said School District to be held on Tuesday, October 21, 2025 at 8:00 o’clock A.M. (Prevailing Time) in the school designated in each election district bounded and described hereinafter, for the purpose of voting on the following Bond Proposition: BOND PROPOSITION RESOLVED:

(a) That the Board of Education of the Franklin Square Union Free School District, in the County of Nassau, New York (the “District”), is hereby authorized to construct alterations and improvements to all District school buildings and sites thereof (the “Project”), substantially as described in a plan prepared by H2M Architects + Engineers, which is on file with the District Clerk and available for public inspection, (the “Plan”), including (as

and where needed) roof and window reconstruction and/or replacement; fire alarm, communication, emergency lighting and HVAC system upgrades; ceiling replacement; installation of door access controls; exterior masonry, building envelope and interior wall improvement; replacement of artificial turf; turf field and parking lot lighting upgrades, and roadway and parking lot improvements, all of the foregoing to include the original furnishings, equipment, machinery, apparatus and ancillary or related site, demolition and other work required in connection therewith; and to expend therefor, including preliminary costs and costs incidental thereto and to the financing thereof, an amount not to exceed the estimated total cost of $37,951,946; provided that the costs of the components of the Project may be reallocated among such components if the Board of Education shall determine that such reallocation is in the best interests of the District;

(b) that a tax is hereby voted in an amount of not to exceed the estimated total cost of $37,951,946 to finance such cost, such tax to be levied and collected in installments in such years and in such amounts as shall be determined by said Board of Education; and

(c) that in anticipation of said tax, bonds of the District are hereby authorized to be issued in the aggregate principal amount of not to exceed $37,951,946 and a tax is hereby voted to pay the interest on said bonds as the same shall become due and payable.

Such Bond Proposition shall appear on the ballots to be used for voting at said Special District Meeting in substantially the following condensed form: BOND PROPOSITION YES NO

RESOLVED:

(a) That the Board of Education of the Franklin Square Union Free School District is hereby authorized to construct alterations

and improvements to all District buildings and sites thereof, substantially as described in a plan prepared by H2M Architects + Engineers, and to expend not to exceed $37,951,946 therefor; (b) that a tax is hereby voted in an amount of not to exceed the estimated total cost of $37,951,946 to finance such cost, such tax to be levied and collected in installments in such years and in such amounts as shall be determined by said Board of Education; and (c) that in anticipation of said tax, bonds of the District are hereby authorized to be issued in the aggregate principal amount of not to exceed $37,951,946, and a tax is hereby voted to pay the interest on said bonds as the same shall become due and payable. PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE, that the voting will be conducted on voting machines and the polls will remain open from 8:00 o’clock A.M. to 9:00 o’clock P.M. (Prevailing Time) and as much longer as may be necessary to enable the voters then present to cast their ballots. A qualified voter shall vote at the place hereinafter designated within the school district election district within which such qualified voter resides.

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that personal registration of voters is required either pursuant to Section 2014 of the Education Law, or pursuant to Article 5 of the Election Law. If a voter has heretofore registered pursuant to Section 2014 of the Education Law and has voted at an annual or special district meeting within the last four (4) calendar years, he or she is eligible to vote at this Special District Meeting. If a voter is registered and eligible to vote under Article 5 of the Election Law, he or she is also eligible to vote at this Special District Meeting. All other persons who wish to vote must register.

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, the voters may register with the Clerk of said School District at her office in the District Administration Office, 760 Washington Street, Franklin Square, New

York, between the hours of 8:00 o’clock A.M. and 3:30 P.M. (Prevailing Time), when school is in session at any day prior to October 16, 2025 to add any additional names to the Register to be used at the aforesaid Special District Meeting, at which time any person will be entitled to have his or her name placed on such Register provided that at such meeting with the District Clerk of said School District he or she is known or proven to the satisfaction of the District Clerk of said School District to be then or thereafter entitled to vote at such Special District Meeting for which the Register is prepared. The Register so prepared pursuant to Section 2014 of the Education Law will be filed in the Office of the District Clerk, at her office in the District Administration Office, 760 Washington Street, Franklin Square, New York, and will be open for inspection by any qualified voter of the District beginning on Thursday, October 16, 2025, between the hours of 8:00 o’clock A.M. and 3:30 P.M. (Prevailing Time), on each day prior to the day set for the Special District Meeting, except Sunday, on Saturday October 18, 2025 by advance appointment only and at each polling place on the day of the vote. AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that military voters who are not currently registered may apply to register as a qualified voter of the school district. An application for registration as a military voter can be requested from the office of the District Clerk at her office in the District Administration Office, 760 Washington Street, Franklin Square, New York, between the hours of 8:00 o’clock A.M. and 3:30 P.M. (Prevailing Time), when school is in session. The application is also available on the website of the Franklin Square Union Free School Districthttps://www.franklinsq uare.k12.ny.us/ under “Voter Information.”

The application for registration must be received in the office of the District Clerk no later than 5:00 o’clock P.M. (Prevailing Time) on September 26,

2025. In the request for an application for registration, the military voter is permitted to designate his/her preference for receiving the application for registration by mail, facsimile transmission or electronic mail. AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that military voters who are qualified voters of the District may submit an application for a military ballot during school business hours from the District Clerk at her office in the District Administration Office, 760 Washington Street, Franklin Square, New York. The application is also available on the website of the Franklin Square Union Free School Districthttps://www.franklinsq uare.k12.ny.us/ under “Voter Information.” Completed applications must be received by the District Clerk by 5:00 o’clock P.M. (Prevailing Time) on September 25, 2025. In the request for an application for a military ballot, the military voter is permitted to designate his/her preference for receiving the application for a military ballot, and the military ballot, by mail, facsimile transmission or electronic mail. All qualified military voters’ ballot application and military ballot must be returned by mail or in person. Ballots for military voters shall be distributed to qualified military voters no later than twenty-five days before the election, September 26, 2025. Military ballots must be received by the District Clerk one (1) day before the close of the polls, on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, and must show a cancellation mark of the United States postal service or a foreign country’s postal service, or must show a dated endorsement of receipt by another agency of the United States Government; or (2) not later than 5:00 P.M. (Prevailing Time) on the day of the Special District Meeting and be signed and dated by the military voter and one witness, with a date ascertained to be not later than the day before the Special District Meeting. A list of persons to whom military ballots are issued will be available for inspection

October 2, 2025 —

Public Notices

to qualified voters of the District in the Office of the District Clerk on and after Thursday, October 16, 2025, between the hours of 8:00 o’clock A.M. and 3:30 P.M. (Prevailing Time), on each day prior to the day set for the Special District Meeting, except Sunday, on Saturday October 18, 2025 by advance appointment only, and on October 21, 2025, the day set for the Special District Meeting. Any qualified voter then present in a polling place may object to the voting of the ballot upon appropriate grounds by making his or her challenge and the reasons therefore known to the Inspector of Election before the close of the polls.

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that applications for early mail ballots and absentee ballots will be obtainable during school business hours from the District Clerk beginning September 23, 2025. The application is also available on the website of the Franklin Square Union Free School Districthttps://www.franklinsq uare.k12.ny.us/ under “Voter Information.” Completed applications must be received by the District Clerk no earlier than September 23, 2025 and at least seven (7) days before the Special District Meeting, October 14, 2025, if the ballot is to be mailed to the voter, or the day before the Special District Meeting, October 20, 2025, if the ballot is to be delivered personally to the voter. Early mail ballots and absentee ballots must be received by the District Clerk not later than 5:00 P.M. (Prevailing Time), on Tuesday, October 21, 2025.

A list of persons to whom early mail ballots and absentee ballots are issued will be available for inspection to qualified voters of the District in the Office of the District Clerk on and after Thursday, October 16, 2025, between the hours of 8:00 o’clock A.M. and 3:30 P.M (Prevailing Time), on each day prior to the day set for the Special District Meeting, except Sunday, on Saturday, October 18, 2025 by advance appointment only, and on October 21, 2025, the day set

for the Special District Meeting. Any qualified voter then present in a polling place may object to the voting of the ballot upon appropriate grounds by making his or her challenge and the reasons therefore known to the Inspector of Election before the close of the polls. A challenge to an absentee ballot may not be made on the basis that the voter should have applied for an early mail ballot. AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a description of the boundaries of the election districts as designated by the Board of Education is filed with the records of the District and available for inspection by any qualified voter in the Office of the District Clerk, at 760 Washington Street, Franklin Square, New York, during regular business hours and that said election districts and the respective schools in each where the voting and registration herein provided shall take place generally described as follows: THE FIRST ELECTION DISTRICT Place of Registration John Street School and Voting: John Street Franklin Square, New York

Beginning at the point of intersection of the rear lot line of the properties fronting on the west side of Claflin Boulevard projected northerly to the center line of Hempstead Turnpike; thence easterly along said center line to the easterly boundary line of the school district; thence southerly and westerly along the said boundary line to the rear lot line of the properties fronting on the westside of Dogwood Avenue; thence northerly along said rear line to its intersection with the rear lot line of the properties fronting on the north side of Plato Street and the projection thereof easterly; thence westerly and along the said projection and the rear lot line of the properties fronting on the east side of Jefferson Street; thence northerly along said rear lot line and along the center line of the brook and projection thereof northerly to the center line of Naplo

Avenue; thence easterly along said center line to the projection southerly and the rear lot line of the properties fronting on the westerly side of Claflin Boulevard; thence northerly along said projection and the said rear lot line to the point or place of the beginning. (Excluding Jackson Street).

THE SECOND ELECTION DISTRICT

Place of Registration Polk Street School and Voting: Polk Street

Franklin Square, New York

Beginning at the intersection of the westerly boundary line of the school district and the intersection of the center line of Hempstead Turnpike; thence easterly along said center line of Hempstead Turnpike to the intersection of the back lot line of Claflin Boulevard; thence southerly along the rear lot line of the properties fronting on the westerly side of Claflin Boulevard to the center line of Naple Avenue; thence westerly along the said center line to the center line of the brook; thence southerly along said center line and the rear lot line of the properties fronting on the easterly side of Jefferson Street including properties fronting on Jackson Street to the rear lot line of the properties fronting on the northerly side of Plato Street; thence easterly along said rear lot line and the projection thereof easterly to the rear lot line of the properties fronting on the west side of Dogwood Avenue; thence southerly along said rear lot line to the southern boundary line of the school district; thence westerly and northerly along the said boundary line to the point or place of beginning. THE THIRD ELECTION DISTRICT

Place of Registration Washington Street School and Voting: 760 Washington Street Franklin Square, New York

Beginning at the northwesterly corner of the school district (at Fernwood Terrace); thence easterly along said boundary line to the northeasterly corner of the school district; thence southerly along the

easterly boundary line of the school district to the center line of Hempstead Turnpike; thence westerly along the said center line to the intersection of the westerly boundary line of the district; thence northerly along said line to the point of origin. Only qualified voters who are duly registered will be permitted to vote.

BY THE ORDER OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION

Dated: August 6, 2025

Laura Langstrand District Clerk 155513

LEGAL NOTICE AVISO DE REUNIÓN ESPECIAL DEL DISTRITO ESCOLAR LIBRE DE FRANKLIN SQUARE UNION, EN EL CONDADO DE NASSAU, NUEVA YORK POR LA PRESENTE, SE NOTIFICA que la Junta de Educación del Distrito Escolar Libre de Franklin Square Union, en el condado de Nassau, Nueva York, ha adoptado una resolución el 6 de agosto de 2025, autorizando una Reunión Especial del Distrito de los votantes calificados de dicho distrito escolar, que se hará el Martes, 21 de octubre de 2025 a las 8:00 a. m. (hora oficial local) en la escuela designada en cada distrito electoral delimitado y se describe aquí, con el propósito de votar sobre la siguiente Propuesta de bonos: PROPUESTA DE BONOS SE RESUELVE: (a) Que la Junta de Educación del Distrito Escolar Libre de Franklin Square Union, en el condado de Nassau, Nueva York (el “Distrito”), por la presente está autorizada a construir alteraciones y mejoras a todos los edificios escolares del Distrito y sus sitios (el “Proyecto”) sustancialmente, como se describe en un plan preparado por H2M Architects + Engineers, que está archivado con la Secretaria del Distrito y disponible para inspección pública, (el “Plan”), incluyendo (según y donde sea necesario) la reconstrucción de techos y ventanas o su reemplazo; actualizaciones de alarma contra incendios, comunicación, iluminación de

emergencia y del sistema HVAC; reemplazo de techos; instalación de controles de acceso a puertas; mejora de la mampostería exterior, la envolvente del edificio y de la pared interior; reemplazo de césped artificial; mejoras en la iluminación de los campos de césped y estacionamientos, y mejoras en caminos y estacionamientos, todo lo anterior para incluir el mobiliario original, equipo, maquinaria, aparatos y sitios auxiliares o relacionados, demolición y otros trabajos requeridos en relación con estos; y para gastar para ello, incluyendo los gastos preliminares y los gastos conexos y su financiación, una cantidad que no exceda del costo total calculado de $37,951,946; siempre que los costos de los componentes del Proyecto puedan reasignarse entre dichos componentes si la Junta de Educación determina que tal reasignación es en el mejor interés del Distrito; (b) que, por la presente, se vota un impuesto por una cantidad que no exceda el costo total calculado de $37,951,946 para financiar tal costo, dicho impuesto se recaudará en cuotas en los años y en las cantidades que determine dicha Junta de Educación; y (c) que, en previsión de dicho impuesto, por la presente se autoriza la emisión de bonos del Distrito en una cantidad principal total que no exceda los $37,951,946 y, por la presente, se vota un impuesto para pagar los intereses de dichos bonos a medida que los mismos venzan y sean pagaderos. Dicha Propuesta de bonos aparecerá en las boletas que se usarán para votar en la Reunión especial del Distrito sustancialmente de la siguiente forma condensada: PROPUESTA DE BONOS SI NO

SE RESUELVE: (a) Que la Junta de Educación del Distrito Escolar Libre de Franklin Square Union, por la presente, está autorizada a construir alteraciones y mejoras

a todos los edificios del Distrito y sus sitios, sustancialmente como se describe en un plan preparado por H2M Architects + Engineers, y a gastar sin exceder $37,951,946 para ello; (b) que, por la presente se vota un impuesto por una cantidad que no exceda el costo total calculado de $37,951,946 para financiar tal costo, dicho impuesto se recaudará en cuotas en los años y en las cantidades que determine dicha Junta de Educación; y (c) que, en previsión de dicho impuesto, por la presente se autoriza la emisión de bonos del Distrito en una cantidad principal total que no exceda los $37,951,946 y, por la presente, se vota un impuesto para pagar los intereses de dichos bonos a medida que los mismos venzan y sean pagaderos.

TENGA EN CUENTA que la votación se hará a cabo en máquinas de votación, y las urnas permanecerán abiertas de 8:00 a. m. a 9:00 p. m. (hora oficial local) y tanto más tiempo como sea necesario para permitir a los votantes presentes emitir sus votos. Un votante calificado votará en el lugar designado en la presente en el distrito electoral del distrito escolar en el que reside dicho votante calificado.

Y, POR LA PRESENTE SE NOTIFICA ADEMÁS, que el registro personal de votantes se requiere según el Artículo 2014 de la Ley de Educación, o según el Artículo 5 de la Ley Electoral. Si un votante se ha registrado hasta ahora según el Artículo 2014 de la Ley de Educación y ha votado en una reunión anual o especial del distrito en un plazo de los últimos cuatro (4) años calendario, él o ella es elegible para votar en esta Reunión Especial del Distrito. Si un votante está registrado y es elegible para votar bajo el Artículo 5 de la Ley Electoral, él o ella también es elegible para votar en esta Reunión Especial del Distrito. Todas las otras personas que quieran votar deben registrarse.

Y, POR LA PRESENTE SE NOTIFICA ADEMÁS, que los votantes pueden registrarse con la Secretaria de dicho Distrito Escolar en su oficina en District Administration Office,

760 Washington Street, Franklin Square, New York, entre las 8:00 a. m.y 3:30 p. m. (hora oficial local), cuando la escuela está en sesión en cualquier día antes del 16 de octubre de 2025, para agregar cualquier nombre adicional al Registro que se usará en la mencionada Reunión Especial del Distrito, en cuyo momento cualquier persona tendrá derecho a que se coloque su nombre en dicho Registro, siempre que en dicha reunión con la Secretaria de Distrito de dicho Distrito Escolar, se demuestre o compruebe, a criterio de la Secretaria de Distrito de dicho Distrito Escolar, que en ese momento o después él o ella tiene derecho a votar en la Reunión Especial de Distrito para la que se prepara el Registro. El Registro así preparado según el Artículo 2014 de la Ley de Educación se archivará en la Oficina de la Secretaria de Distrito, en su oficina, en District Administration Office, 760 Washington Street, Franklin Square, New York, y quedará disponible para inspección por cualquier votante calificado del Distrito a partir del jueves 16 de octubre de 2025, entre las 8:00 a. m. y las 3:30 p. m. (hora oficial local), en cada día anterior al día fijado para la Reunión Especial del Distrito, excepto los domingos, el sábado 18 de octubre de 2025 solo con cita previa y en cada lugar de votación el día de la votación.

Y, POR LA PRESENTE SE NOTIFICA ADEMÁS, que los votantes militares que no estén registrados actualmente pueden solicitar registrarse como votantes calificados del distrito escolar. Puede pedir una solicitud de registro como votante militar en la oficina de la Secretaria de Distrito, en su oficina, en District Administration Office, 760 Washington Street, Franklin Square, New York, entre las 8:00 a. m. y las 3:30 p. m. (hora oficial local), cuando la escuela está en sesión. La solicitud también está disponible en el sitio web del Distrito Escolar Libre de Franklin Square Unionhttps://www.franklinsq

uare.k12.ny.us/ en “Voter Information” (Información del votante). La solicitud para el registro debe recibirse en la oficina de la Secretaria de Distrito a más tardar a las 5:00 p. m. (hora oficial local) del 26 de septiembre de 2025. En la solicitud de registro, el votante militar puede designar su preferencia para recibir la solicitud de registro por correo, transmisión por fax o correo electrónico.

Y, POR LA PRESENTE SE NOTIFICA ADEMÁS, que los votantes militares que son votantes calificados del Distrito pueden presentar una solicitud para una boleta militar durante el horario de atención escolar de la Secretaria de Distrito, en su oficina, en District Administration Office, 760 Washington Street, Franklin Square, New York. La solicitud también está disponible en el sitio web del Distrito Escolar Libre de Franklin Square Unionhttps://www.franklinsq uare.k12.ny.us/ bajo “Voter Information” (Información del votante). Las solicitudes completadas debe recibirlas la Secretaria del Distrito antes de las 5:00 p. m. (hora oficial local) el 25 de septiembre de 2025. En la solicitud de una boleta militar, el votante militar puede designar su preferencia para recibir la solicitud para una boleta militar por correo, transmisión por fax o correo electrónico. Todas las solicitudes de boleta de votantes militares calificados y la boleta militar deben devolverse por correo o en persona. Las boletas para los votantes militares se distribuirán a los votantes militares calificados a más tardar veinticinco días antes de las elecciones, el 26 de septiembre de 2025. Las boletas militares debe recibirlas la Secretaria de Distrito un (1) día antes del cierre de las urnas, el martes 21 de octubre de 2025, y debe mostrar una marca de cancelación del correo postal de los Estados Unidos o del servicio postal de un país extranjero, o debe mostrar un endoso de recibo fechado por otra agencia del Gobierno de los EE. UU.; o (2) a más tardar a las 5:00 p. m. (hora oficial local) el

Public Notices

día de la Reunión Especial del Distrito y estar firmada y fechada por el votante militar y un testigo, con una fecha determinada que no sea posterior al día antes de la Reunión Especial del Distrito. Una lista de personas a las que se les entregan boletas militares estará disponible para su inspección a los votantes calificados del Distrito en la Oficina de la Secretaria de Distrito a partir del jueves 16 de octubre de 2025, entre las 8:00 a. m. y las 3:30 p. m. (hora oficial local), en cada día anterior al día fijado para la Reunión Especial del Distrito, excepto los domingos, el sábado 18 de octubre de 2025 solo con cita previa, y el 21 de octubre de 2025, el día fijado para la Reunión Especial del Distrito. Cualquier votante calificado presente en un lugar de votación puede objetar la votación de la boleta por motivos apropiados, declarando su impugnación y las razones al inspector de elecciones antes del cierre de las urnas. Y, POR LA PRESENTE SE NOTIFICA ADEMÁS, que las solicitudes de boletas por correo enviadas con antelación y las boletas de voto en ausencia se podrán obtener durante el horario de atención de la escuela con la Secretaria de Distrito a partir del 23 de septiembre de 2025. La solicitud también está disponible en el sitio web del Distrito Escolar Libre de Franklin Square Unionhttps://www.franklinsq uare.k12.ny.us/ bajo “Voter Information” (Información del votante). Las solicitudes completadas debe recibirlas la Secretaria de Distrito a más tardar el 23 de septiembre de 2025 y al menos siete (7) días antes de la Reunión Especial del Distrito, el 14 de octubre de 2025, si la boleta debe enviarse por correo al votante, o el día antes de la Reunión Especial del Distrito, el 20 de octubre de 2025, si la boleta se va a entregar personalmente al votante. Las boletas por correo enviadas con antelación y las boletas de voto en ausencia debe recibirlas la Secretaria de Distrito a más tardar a las 5:00 p. m. (hora oficial local) del martes

21 de octubre de 2025. Una lista de personas a las que se emiten boletas por correo enviadas con antelación y boletas de voto en ausencia estará disponible para la inspección de los votantes calificados del Distrito en la Oficina de la Secretaria de Distrito a partir del jueves 16 de octubre de 2025, entre las 8:00 a. m. y las 3:30 p. m. (hora oficial local), en cada día anterior al día fijado para la Reunión Especial del Distrito, excepto los domingos, el sábado 18 de octubre de 2025 con cita previa solamente, y el 21 de octubre de 2025, el día fijado para la Reunión Especial del Distrito. Cualquier votante calificado presente en un lugar de votación puede objetar la votación de la boleta por motivos apropiados, declarando su impugnación y las razones al inspector de elecciones antes del cierre de las urnas. Una impugnación de una boleta de voto en ausencia no se puede hacer sobre la base de que el votante debería haber solicitado una boleta por correo enviada con antelación.

Y, POR LA PRESENTE SE NOTIFICA ADEMÁS, de que una descripción de los límites de los distritos electorales designados por la Junta de Educación se presenta con los registros del Distrito y están disponibles para su inspección por cualquier votante calificado en la Oficina de la Secretaria de Distrito, en 760 Washington Street, Franklin Square, New York, durante horario de atención habitual, y que dichos distritos electorales y las respectivas escuelas en cada uno de ellos, donde se harán la votación y el registro previstos en este documento, se describen en términos generales de la siguiente manera: EL PRIMER DISTRITO ELECTORAL Lugar de registro y votación: John Street School

John Street

Franklin Square, New York

Comenzando en el punto de intersección de la línea trasera de los terrenos que dan al lado oeste de Claflin Boulevard, proyectada hacia el norte hasta la línea central de Hempstead Turnpike;

desde allí hacia el este a lo largo de dicha línea central hasta la línea límite este del distrito escolar; desde allí hacia el sur y el oeste a lo largo de dicha línea límite hasta la línea trasera de las propiedades que dan al lado oeste de Dogwood Avenue; desde allí hacia el norte a lo largo de dicha línea trasera hasta su intersección con la línea trasera de las propiedades que dan al lado norte de Plato Street y su proyección hacia el este; desde allí hacia el oeste y a lo largo de dicha proyección y la línea trasera de las propiedades que dan al lado este de Jefferson Street; desde allí hacia el norte a lo largo de dicha línea trasera del lote y a lo largo de la línea central del arroyo y su proyección hacia el norte hasta la línea central de Naplo Avenue; desde allí hacia el este a lo largo de dicha línea central hasta la proyección hacia el sur y la línea trasera del lote de las propiedades que dan al lado oeste de Claflin Boulevard; desde allí hacia el norte a lo largo de dicha proyección y dicha línea trasera del lote hasta el punto o lugar de inicio.

(Excluyendo Jackson Street).

EL SEGUNDO DISTRITO

ELECTORAL

Lugar de registro y votación: Polk Street School Polk Street Franklin Square, New York

Comenzando en la intersección de la línea límite oeste del distrito escolar y la intersección de la línea central de Hempstead Turnpike; desde allí hacia el este a lo largo de dicha línea central de Hempstead Turnpike hasta la intersección con la línea trasera del terreno de Claflin Boulevard; desde allí hacia el sur a lo largo de la línea trasera del terreno de las propiedades que dan al lado oeste de Claflin Boulevard hasta la línea central de Naple Avenue; desde allí hacia el oeste a lo largo de dicha línea central hasta la línea central del arroyo; desde allí hacia el sur a lo largo de dicha línea central y la línea trasera de las propiedades que dan al lado este de Jefferson Street, incluyendo las propiedades que dan a Jackson Street, hasta la

línea trasera de las propiedades que dan al lado norte de Plato Street; desde allí hacia el este a lo largo de dicha línea trasera del lote y su proyección hacia el este hasta la línea trasera del lote de las propiedades que dan al lado oeste de Dogwood Avenue; desde allí hacia el sur a lo largo de dicha línea trasera del lote hasta la línea límite sur del distrito escolar; desde allí hacia el oeste y el norte a lo largo de dicha línea límite hasta el punto o lugar de inicio.

EL TERCER DISTRITO ELECTORAL

Lugar de registro y votación: Washington Street School

760 Washington Street Franklin Square, New York

Comenzando en la esquina noroeste del distrito escolar (en Fernwood Terrace); de allí hacia el este a lo largo de dicha línea límite hasta la esquina noreste del distrito escolar; de allí hacia el sur a lo largo de la línea límite este del distrito escolar hasta la línea central de Hempstead Turnpike; de allí hacia el oeste a lo largo de dicha línea central hasta la intersección con la línea límite oeste del distrito; de allí hacia el norte a lo largo de dicha línea hasta el punto de origen. Solo los votantes calificados que estén debidamente registrados podrán votar.

POR ORDEN DE LA JUNTA DE EDUCACIÓN Fecha: 6 de agosto de 2025

Laura Langstrand Secretaria de Distrito 155515

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

LEGAL NOTICE

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU HSBC BANK USA, N.A., AS TRUSTEE ON BEHALF OF ACE SECURITIES CORP. HOME EQUITY LOAN TRUST AND FOR THE REGISTERED HOLDERS OF ACE SECURITIES CORP. HOME EQUITY LOAN TRUST, SERIES 2006-ASAP3, ASSET BACKED PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, -againstWILLIE MAE POUNCY, 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 27, 2025, wherein HSBC BANK USA, N.A., AS TRUSTEE ON BEHALF OF ACE SECURITIES CORP. HOME EQUITY LOAN TRUST AND FOR THE REGISTERED HOLDERS OF ACE SECURITIES CORP. HOME EQUITY LOAN TRUST, SERIES 2006-ASAP3, ASSET BACKED PASSTHROUGH CERTIFICATES is the Plaintiff and WILLIE MAE POUNCY, 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 20, 2025 at 4:00PM, the premises known as 14 KEIL STREET, ELMONT, NY 11003; tax map identification 37-381-95, 103, 104 & 105; 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.: 616643/2023. Thomas A Montiglio Jr., 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. 155775

LEGAL NOTICE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON F/K/A THE BANK OF NEW YORK AS SUCCESSOR IN INTEREST TO JP MORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. AS TRUSTEE FOR STRUCTURED ASSET MORTGAGE INVESTMENTS

II TRUST 2006-AR8 MORTGAGE PASSTHROUGH CERTIFICATES SERIES 2006-AR8, -againstPUBLIC

ADMINISTRATOR OF NASSAU COUNTY, 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 27, 2025, wherein THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON F/K/A THE BANK OF NEW YORK AS SUCCESSOR IN INTEREST TO JP MORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. AS TRUSTEE FOR STRUCTURED ASSET MORTGAGE INVESTMENTS II TRUST 2006-AR8 MORTGAGE PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES SERIES 2006-AR8 is the Plaintiff and PUBLIC ADMINISTRATOR OF NASSAU COUNTY, 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 20, 2025 at 2:30PM, the premises known as 44 CARNEGIE AVENUE, ELMONT, NY 11003; tax map identification 32-359-20-22 AND 67; and description: ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND, WITH THE BUILDINGS AND IMPROVEMENTS THEREON ERECTED, 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.: 600402/2018. Oscar A. Prieto, 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.

155773

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT

NASSAU COUNTY

ELM CAPITAL LLC, Plaintiff against LEON THOMAS, et al Defendant(s)

Attorney for Plaintiff(s)

The Frank Law Firm P.C. 71 New St Huntington NY 11743 (516) 246-5577

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated October 23, 2017 and recorded October 25, 2017, I will sell at public auction to the highest bidder on the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court “Rain or Shine” located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY on October 17, 2025 at 3:00PM All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being, and identified on the land and tax map of the County of Nassau in the State of New York. Premises known as Section 32 Block 379 Lot 0114. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No 605736/2016. Tony D’Anzica, Esq., Referee 155733

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 Defendants. 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, NORTH SIDE STEPS, MINEOLA, NY 11501, on October 21, 2025 at 2:00PM, the premises known as 276 BENSON AVENUE, ELMONT, NY 11003; tax map identification 32-493-81, 82 & 83; and description: ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND SITUATE, LYING AND

John Street School library gets renovation

John Street School students began the new school year with a freshly renovated library featuring new paint, sleek flooring and modern furniture. Students in grades 3-6 are also learning to check out their own books, a news release about the renovations said, building independence and responsibility.

During September library sessions, students studied the works of author and illustrator Peter H. Reynolds, including “The Dot,” “Ish” and “Sky Color.” As part of Dot Day, a global celebration inspired by “The Dot,” students read the book and participated in creative activities throughout the week. On Sept. 17, third graders designed and colored their own dots on paper before using the QuiverVision app to bring their artwork to life in 3D.

Dot Day encourages students to “make their mark” on the world by celebrating creativity, courage and self-expression, the news release said.

–Renee DeLorenzo

John Street School librarian Paige Chambers read aloud “The Dot” to third grade students during a Dot Day celebration on Sept. 17.

Public Notices

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., 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. 155767

LEGAL NOTICE

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU DEUTSCHE BANK NATIONAL TRUST COMPANY, AS TRUSTEE FOR MORGAN STANLEY HOME EQUITY LOAN TRUST 2006-3, MORTGAGE PASS THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2006-3,

-againstRAMON FRANCISCO, 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 18, 2025, wherein DEUTSCHE BANK NATIONAL TRUST COMPANY, AS TRUSTEE FOR MORGAN STANLEY HOME EQUITY LOAN TRUST 2006-3, MORTGAGE PASS THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2006-3 is the Plaintiff and RAMON FRANCISCO, 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 22, 2025 at 3:00PM, the premises known as 165 RANDOLPH AVENUE, FRANKLIN SQUARE, NY 11010; tax map identification 35-21-102 & 238; and description: ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND, WITH THE BUILDINGS AND IMPROVEMENTS THEREON ERECTED,

SITUATE, LYING AND BEING AT FRANKLIN SQUARE, TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, COUNTY OF NASSAU AND STATE OF NEW YORK . Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No.: 602425/2023. Thomas R. Scanlon, 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. 155769

LEGAL NOTICE

SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU. MORTGAGE ASSETS MANAGEMENT, LLC,

Plaintiff -againstYVONNE M. BOLLINGKENNEDY a/k/a YVONNE KENNEDY, et al Defendant(s).

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated July 2, 2024 and entered on July 17, 2024, I, the

undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court “Rain or Shine” located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY on October 28, 2025 at 4:30 p.m. premises situate, lying and being in the Incorporated Village of South Floral Park, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, known and designated as SBL# 32345 -112 Said premises known as 112 FREDERICK AVENUE, FLORAL PARK, NY 11001

Approximate amount of lien $930,202.69 plus interest & costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale. Index Number 002395/2017.

JOSEPH DEMARCO, ESQ., Referee Pincus & Tarab Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 425 RXR Plaza, Uniondale, NY 11556 {* Elmont Herald*} 155731

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

HomesHERALD

Stunning Home, Great Location

This custom built brick Colonial home invites you in through a grand foyer, leading to a gracious living room and formal dining room, with beautiful hardwood floors throughout. The huge gourmet kitchen with Caesarstone countertops and stainless steel appliances adjoins a sunlit breakfast room, while off to the side is the casual den with a fireplace, and a half bath. Upstairs you'll find a fabulous primary en-suite, with closets galore & a 4-fixture bathroom, plus a second en-suite,

The challenges of building next to open water

Q. We were given two options for building a new building next to a saltwater bay where there are great views. The first option is to build a wood building with siding, and the second is to build a metal building that comes in a kind of kit form, with the option to have the company selling the parts also assemble the building. Which type would you recommend, considering the salt spray we will get, and will we need helical piles in the ground? We were told that we could just build on a 6-inch concrete slab.

A. If you remember the story of the three little pigs, you’ll also remember the big, bad wolf, who huffed and puffed … Salt spray is just one of the natural issues you’re dealing with. If you’re concerned about possible rust, verify with the company engineering the metal system that the building will be subjected to salt.

If the steel components are galvanized, zinc-coated, anodized or stainless steel — that is, treated to resist salt — then the best choice is the steel system, for many reasons. Consider all the elements your building must resist, not just salt. Wind, water and weight settlement are also factors that any professional building designer, either an architect or engineer, would examine as well.

A wood building, by the standards of state building codes, would still require metal connections to hold places where wood parts are joined to meet wind-resistance requirements. Wood-to-steel connections aren’t as strong as steel-to-steel connections, generally, due to the reactions of the dissimilar materials. Those reactions include internal expansion and contraction that can loosen wood fibers, warping, twisting and the loss of fiber strength due to changes in moisture of the fibers. The fibers loosen as they expand with moisture, so metal screws or nails can pull out in extreme conditions.

Metal-to-metal will hold together better, because the reactions are similar in metal-to-metal connections. In similar expansion and contraction, the screw connections will stay connected. After virtually every tornado and hurricane disaster, investigators uncover evidence that steel-to-steel connectors held together, while wood connections often failed.

As for the foundation, consider that a helical pile is like a screwed-down fastener and a tree root system combined. Whoever told you that a building next to an open body of water need only be attached to a concrete slab was misleading and uninformed about the power of any large body of water in motion. Just by researching the height of ocean surges on your smartphone, you can educate yourself to the fact that the ocean height rose as much as 32 feet and moved inland at levels between 12 and 15 feet in Superstorm Sandy in 2012. Once the surge contacts land, it can reduce to 7 feet from that greater surge and spill inland, reducing in height to where some people experienced 3 to 4 feet while others saw only ankle-deep water. 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.

Brick/Block/Concrete/Masonry

JEWELRY WANTED Necklaces, Earrings, Bracelets & Rings. Also Buying Gold & Silver. $$ CASH PAID $$ 631-500-0792

CARGO CARRIER, FOR rooftop, Soft, used once, call for specs, $50. (516)225-9191

METAL MUSIC SHEET stand up to 42", blue lamp, burlap shade, 18". $20 each 516-857-5804

PICTURE FRAMES, ALL shapes, sizes, colors etc. Under $3.00 each or all $30. 516-225-9191

TEETER INVERSION TABLE: Excellent Condition, $99. 516-650-4942

SERVICES

***MASONRY & CONSTRUCTION*** EARLY BIRD DISCOUNTS!

GIUSEPPE MUCCIACCIARO

We Do Pavers, Cultured Stone, Concrete, Bluestone, Blacktop, Fireplace, Patio, Waterproofing, Walkways, Pool Work. Lic#H2204320000 Family Operation Over 40Years. 516-238-6287

Cable/TV/Wiring

Get DISH Satellite TV + Internet! Free Install, Free HD-DVR Upgrade, 80,000 OnDemand Movies, Plus Limited Time Up To $600 In Gift Cards. Call Today! 1-866-782-4069

Electricians

E-Z ELECTRIC SERVICES, INC.

All Types Residential/Commercial Wiring, Generators, Telephone/Data, Home Entertainment, Service Upgrades, Pools, Spas. Services/Repairs. Violations Removed. Free Estimates Low Rates. 516-785-0646 Lic/Ins.

Home Improvement

BEAUTIFUL BATH UPDATES in as little as ONE DAY! Superior quality bath and shower systems at AFFORDABLE PRICES! Lifetime warranty & professional installs. Call Now! 1-833-807-0159

Home Improvement

DO YOU KNOW what's in your water?

Leaf Home Water Solutions offers FREE water testing and whole home water treatment systems that can be installed in as little one day. 15% off your entire purchase. Plus 10% senior & military discounts. Restrictions apply. Schedule your FREE test today. Call 1-866-247-5728

PAVERS- CONCRETE- BLACKTOP Book Now & Save On All Masonry Work. Driveways- Patios- Stoops- SidewalksWalkways- Stonework- Pool SurroundsOutdoor Kitchens- Family Owned/ Operated For Over 40Yrs. FREE Estimates. Lic# H1741540000. DANSON CONSTRUCTION INC 516-409-4553; 516-798-4565 www.dansoninc.com

PREPARE FOR POWER outages today with a Generac Home Standby Generator. Act now to receive a FREE 5-Year warranty with qualifying purchase. Call 1-877-516-1160 today to schedule a free quote. It's not just a generator. It's a power move.

PREPARE FOR POWER outages with Briggs & Stratton® PowerProtect(TM) standby generators - the most powerful home standby generators available. Industry-leading comprehensive warranty - 7 years ($849 value.) Proudly made in the U.S.A. Call Briggs & Stratton 1-888-605-1496

SAFE STEP. NORTH America's #1 WalkIn Tub. Comprehensive lifetime warranty. Top-of-the-line installation and service. Now featuring our FREE shower package and $1600 Off for a limited time! Call today! Financing available. Call Safe Step 1-855-916-5473

Miscellaneous

GET BOOST INFINITE! Unlimited Talk, Text and Data For Just $25/mo! The Power Of 3 5G Networks, One Low Price! Call Today and Get The Latest iPhone Every Year On Us! 844-329-9391

Plumbing

PLUMBER! PLUMBER! PLUMBER! FREE ESTIMATES! Heating, Repairs, Installations. $25 OFF New Customers. Family Plumbing. 516-825-3606

Power Washing

POWERWASHING ALL SURFACES: Houses, Fences, Concrete/ Brick, Decks/Sealing. ANTHONY & J HOME IMPROVEMENT, INC. 516-678-6641

Services

AGING ROOF? NEW HOMEOWNER?

STORM DAMAGE? You need a local expert provider that proudly stands behind their work. Fast, free estimate. Financing available. Call 1-833-880-7679

INJURED IN AN ACCIDENT? Don't Accept the insurance company's first offer. Many injured parties are entitled to major cash settlements. Get a free evaluation to see what your case is really worth. 100% Free Evaluation. Call Now: 1-833-323-0318. Be ready with your zip code to connect with the closest provider.

PEST CONTROL: PROTECT YOUR HOME from pests safely and affordably. Roaches, Bed Bugs, Rodent, Termite, Spiders and other pests. Locally owned and affordable. Call for service or an inspection today! 1-833-549-0598 Have zip code of property ready when calling!

Telephone Services

CONSUMER CELLULAR - the same reliable, nationwide coverage as the largest carriers. No long-term contract, no hidden fees and activation is free. All plans feature unlimited talk and text, starting at just $20/month. For more information, call 1-844-919-1682

Tree Services

T&M GREENCARE TREE SERVICE *TREE REMOVAL *STUMP GRINDING *PRUNING. FREE ESTIMATES. 516-223-4525, 631-586-3800 www.tmgreencare.com

Satellite/TV Equipment

DIRECTV- All your entertainment. Nothing on your roof! Sign up for Direct and get your first three months of Max, Paramount+, Showtime, Starz, MGM+ and Cinemax included. Choice package $84.99/mo. Some restrictions apply. Call DIRECTV 1-888-534-6918

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Health & Fitness

ATTENTION OXYGEN THERAPY USERS! Discover Oxygen Therapy That Moves with You with Inogen Portable Oxygen Concentrators. FREE information kit. Call 1-833-661-4172

ATTENTION: VIAGRA AND CIALIS USERS! A cheaper alternative to high drugstore prices! 50 Pill Special - Only $99! 100% guaranteed. CALL NOW: 1-833-641-6397

HEARING AIDS!! HIGH-QUALITY rechargeable, powerful Audien hearing aids priced 90% less than competitors. Tiny and NEARLY INVISIBLE! 45-day money back guarantee! 855-819-7060

AUTOMOBILE & MARINE Autos Wanted

AUTO BUYERS $Highest$ Ca$h Paid$. All Years/ Conditions! WE VISIT YOU! Or Donate, Tax Deduct + Ca$h. DMV ID#1303199. Call LUKE 516-VAN-CARS. 516-297-2277

GET A BREAK on your taxes! Donate your car, truck, or SUV to assist the blind and visually impaired. Arrange a swift, nocost vehicle pickup and secure a generous tax credit for 2025. Call Heritage for the Blind Today at 1-855-484-3467 today!

GOT AN UNWANTED CAR??? Your car donation to Patriotic Hearts helps veterans find work or start their own business. Fast free pick. Running or not! Call

OpiniOns

Trump meets with the king and mixes it up at the U.N. p

resident Trump’s state visit to Great Britain and his meetings with foreign leaders at the United Nations General Assembly emphasized the continued significance of personal diplomacy in international affairs.

Trump’s royal welcome by King Charles III at Windsor Castle demonstrated the lasting relationship between the United States and Great Britain. (I say this as an Irish-American who severely criticized British policy in Ireland in the years before the signing of the historic Good Friday Agreement in 1998.) The reality is that beyond a common language, Americans and Brits share common values emanating from the Magna Carta. British leaders have demonstrated firmness and strength at key moments in our history.

Winston Churchill stood alone, defending Western civilization against Adolf Hitler and Nazi Germany in the dark early days of World War II, and then, in the postwar years, alerted the U.S. and the world to the growing menace of Joseph Stalin and the Soviet Union’s Iron Curtain.

Margaret Thatcher allied with Presi-

dent Ronald Reagan and Pope John Paul II to bring down the Soviet empire.

Tony Blair stood with President George W. Bush and America in the aftermath of 9/11. I observed Blair behind the scenes during the negotiations leading to the Good Friday Agreement, and was struck by his extraordinary courage and leadership. That British leadership continues today, as Britain provides weapons to Ukraine and deploys RAF fighter jets to Poland to help the nations resisting Russian aggression.

The state dinner Charles hosted for Trump was more than pomp and ceremony. It was a dramatic affirmation of the special relationship between our nations. This show of unity was particularly vital when totalitarian states — Russia, China and North Korea— threaten world security. In his remarks, Charles urged the U.S. and Great Britain to stand strong against Russian aggression in Ukraine, as we did against Hitler. (My wife, Rosemary, and I met then Prince Charles in Washington in 2011. He was very engaging and down to earth.)

ing, friendly relationship. Their meeting certainly appeared to go well, with Starmer emphasizing the importance of the U.S. and Europe standing with Ukraine.

By all accounts, the president’s visit to Great Britain was a solid success.

F for the General Assembly, a classic performance on the world stage.

The following week, he was in New York for the annual opening of the U.N. General Assembly. Trump was the first major leader to speak, and it was a classic Trump performance brought to the world stage. He began by mercilessly critiquing the U.N. for being consistently ineffective, exemplified that morning by the malfunctioning of an escalator and his teleprompter.

al concessions to Putin).

Just hours after his General Assembly speech — which went three times longer than his allotted time — Trump met with Zelensky, and went beyond just criticizing Russia and Putin. He made a full reversal. Informed by a key adviser, Gen. Keith Kellogg, how weak Russia was after having suffered more than a million casualties, taken control of only 1 percent of Ukraine and with its economy in shambles, Trump hailed Ukraine’s courage and fighting ability. With allied support, he said, Ukraine could win the war and regain its lost territory, and that NATO countries should shoot down Russian planes that violate their air space.

I have supported Ukraine from the start, not just because its position is just, but because it’s in America’s national interest for Russia’s aggression to be stopped.

The following day, Trump met with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Though Starmer is a member of the Labor Party and has a number of policy and ideological differences with Trump, the two are known to have a good work-

Not content to assail the organization itself, Trump verbally attacked countries individually and continents collectively. He was particularly critical of Russia and its dictator, Vladimir Putin, for its continued attacks on Ukraine, especially its innocent civilians. Significantly, one country that was spared Trump’s caustic criticism was Ukraine (in stark contrast with Trump’s White House encounter earlier this year with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, whom he criticized for continuing to wage what Trump thought was a futile battle against Russia, because Ukraine had “no cards” left to play and would have to make territori-

British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain’s failure to stop Hitler at Munich because it was a “faraway” war led to World War II and millions of deaths, including more than 400,000 Americans. I believe that Trump’s visit with our closest ally was a reminder of the necessity to follow Churchill’s example, stand with Europe against Russian imperialism and not let the tragic failures of appeasement and isolationism be repeated.

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

There are many reasons not to embrace Mamdani

Over the past few weeks, Democrats have been having a slugfest over the question of the obligation of party officials to endorse the Democratic nominee for mayor of New York City, Zohran Mamdani. The debate was triggered by Gov. Kathy Hochul’s decision to endorse Mamdani. State Democratic Chair Jay Jacobs angrily pledged that he would not support Mamdani, in an obvious break with the governor. So who’s right and who’s wrong?

power in the House of Representatives. A state chair’s endorsement of a controversial mayoral candidate could reverberate around the state. and beyond.

First of all, to quote my parents, it’s a free country. You’re entitled to endorse whomever you want, and Jacobs has the right to break from Hochul. She has yet to explain why she endorsed Mamdani, but I have no doubt that she has her own bona fide reasons to do so.

And Jacobs has a lot of reasons to disagree with her endorsement. Next year there will be dozens of congressional races that will decide the balance of

The more I’ve thought about Mamdani’s candidacy, the more I’m convinced that there are lots of reasons why some Democrats will rightly shun him. He made a decision to run for mayor after analyzing the field of potential opponents, and had the backing of the Working Families Party and the Democratic Socialists of America. He had the endorsements of other socialist and progressive groups that have the ability to organize voterturnout operations and have helped elected a number of members of the State Assembly. They’re especially effective when moderate Democrats are sound asleep.

Tmedia and old-time get-out-the-vote operations to win the nomination. He had a story to tell right out of the socialist playbook.

He focused on the high cost of living in the city, and pledged free bus rides, a rent freeze and public grocery stores. While these promises aren’t realistic, they appealed to thousands of young voters, many of whom had never voted in a primary.

he failure of some prominent Democrats to endorse him is no surprise.

Mamdani saw that his Democratic rivals would likely be former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Eric Adams. Both had a ton of political problems that would affect their chances — indeed, Adams suspended his campaign on Sunday — and that gave Mamdani a clear field to tell his story, and utilize social

Another facet of the campaign is that the vast majority of moderate voters don’t vote in city primaries. They show up in November for the general election, but don’t understand that the primaries determine who the candidates will be in November. It’s no surprise that all of these factors combined to help Mamdani win a decisive victory, which stunned Democratic elected leaders as well as party officials. While they privately conceded that Mamdani won fair and square, they simply couldn’t believe that a socialist might be the next mayor. Aside from the fact that Mamdani wasn’t a moderate candidate, once the primary was over, the media began exploring his views on Israel, and focused on his

Muslim background. He had made numerous controversial statements on the war in Gaza. In the past he has also advocating defunding the police. Post-primary, he has backtracked on a number of previous positions, including that one, but he has failed to satisfy his critics, and he has made other controversial statements that have kept the political pot boiling. In my political lifetime I have often noted that retractions only make things worse, and that the public rarely changes its views after the first missteps.

So the failure of some prominent Democrats to endorse Mamdani is no surprise. Embracing him could be fatal for a moderate member of the party. Other than having won its primary, Mamdani isn’t a traditional Democrat, and there’s no reason to believe that he would act like one come next January. He will temper his past comments now, but he is rumored to be selecting lots of people who are pleasing to him and the socialist movement. In the past, I’ve gone against my party on some major occasions. If I were still in office, I wouldn’t endorse Mamdani, either.

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

Franklin square/elmont

HERALD

Established 1998

Incorporating the Franklin Square/Elmont Record in 2001

Renee DeLoRenzo

RhonDa GLickman

2

Phone: (516) 569-4000

Fax: (516) 569-4942

Web: www.liherald.com

E-mail: fseditor@liherald.com

HERALD

Protecting Long Island from invasive species

asilent invasion is making its way across Long Island. From beetles boring through forests to aggressive weeds choking native plants, invasive species pose an urgent and growing threat to the natural beauty, the economy and the very identity of our region.

As these pests encroach on farmland, damaged crops mean higher food prices and struggling farms. Infested woodlands mean fewer tourists and diminished property values. And the loss of treasured natural spaces — from forests and meadows to backyards and parks — erodes the very character of Long Island.

The recent detection of the redbay ambrosia beetle in Suffolk County, likely imported accidentally from Asia and bringing with it a tree-killing fungus, only increases the volume of our collective wake-up call. The question before us is simple: Will we act now to defend our communities, or will we watch as our landscapes steadily degrade and our land-based livelihoods slowly unravel?

Invasive species aren’t a new problem, but their spread has accelerated dramatically in recent decades. Increased global trade, climate change and urbanization have opened doors for pests and plants that don’t belong here, allowing them to thrive in places where native species have no natural defenses. The result is widespread ecological disruption.

In Nassau County, we already know the damage invaders can do. The spotted lanternfly, a deceptively attractive insect with mottled wings, feeds on more than

letters

70 species of plants. Its favorite targets include vineyards, orchards and hardwood forests — ecosystems that support industries that have helped Long Island grow. Left unchecked, lanternfly infestations can cripple agriculture and rob us of the fall foliage many tourists come here to see.

The plant kingdom has its own wellknown adversaries. Japanese knotweed, with its bamboo-like stalks and dense root systems, is nearly impossible to eradicate once it takes hold. It smothers native plants, leaving wildlife without food or shelter, and even undermines human infrastructure, pushing up through sidewalks, driveways and foundations. Its spread is a quiet but relentless reminder that invasive species are as much an economic challenge as an ecological one.

And then there’s the southern pine beetle — a small insect with an outsized appetite that can be found across the Island. This pest can wipe out acres of pine forest, reducing green woodlands to brown arboreal graveyards. The loss is not only aesthetic; forests are essential for carbon storage, stormwater absorption and wildlife habitat.

Together, these threats underscore a sobering reality: Invasive species weaken biodiversity, strain local economies and diminish our quality of life. Each unchecked outbreak increases the costs borne by everyone from homeowners to landscapers to farmers, while also endangering industries like agriculture and tourism that are the backbone of Nassau and Suffolk’s economies.

A tale of three cities, and two socialist mayors — so far

To the Editor:

Jerry Kremer warns in his Sept 18-24 Herald column, “The battle of egos in the Big Apple,” that “all of New York City and state will suffer” if Zohran Mamdani is elected mayor in November. “Many people, city and suburban voters, have been transfixed by fear about the possibility” of Mamdani becoming the city’s first socialist leader, Kremer notes.

In terms of dynamism and attractions, New York has only a few peers among cities worldwide. London and Paris are two of them. So it could come as a surprise — or, one hopes, a reassurance — to Kremer and others fearful of a Mamdani victory that both London and Paris have been governed by socialists for the past nine and 11 years, respectively.

And voters in those European cities seem quite satisfied with the performance of their progressive mayors. London’s Sadiq Khan was elected to an unprecedented third term last year by an 11-point margin over a Conservative Party opponent. Paris’s Anne Hidalgo won a second six-year term in 2020 by 15 percentage points over a conservative rival.

Khan, a Muslim of Pakistani descent, is a member of a Brit-

The earlier an invasive species is detected, the greater the chance of stopping it before it becomes a living feature of the landscape. Funding for local monitoring programs isn’t a luxury; it’s a necessity.

Public education is equally critical. Residents are often the first line of defense against invasive species. With the right tools and training, they can help identify and report harmful insects and plants before they spread out of control. Imagine how much better off we’d be if every homeowner could recognize lanternflies and every gardener knew how to prevent knotweed from hitching a ride in soil or mulch.

State and local governments, environmental nonprofits, research institutions and industry leaders must work together to create a unified strategy. Protecting Long Island’s agriculture, landscaping and tourism sectors requires pooling resources, sharing knowledge and mobilizing communities. A fragmented, haphazard response will only give invasive species more opportunities to occupy new territory.

By investing in prevention, monitoring and education today, we have the power to preserve our island’s future. The rising tide of invasive species is controllable — but only if we act decisively. Long Islanders have always taken pride in protecting our shoreline, parks and communities. Now we must extend that vigilance to these less visible, but no less dangerous, invaders among us. Our environment, economy and way of life depend on it.

ish political organization roughly equivalent to Democratic Socialists of America, to which Mamdani belongs. Hidalgo, a Spanish-French politician, is a prominent figure in France’s Socialist Party.

Has violent crime run rampant in London and Paris under left-wing

leadership? The London police recorded a total of 110 murders in 2023. That’s 10 fewer than in 2015, the final year of Boris Johnson’s tenure as that city’s Conservative Party mayor.

Urban crime rates are difficult to measure in France because such sta-

My grief for my late grandma is love imploding

my 2025 began in a way that no one wants their new year to kick off: I got the flu. I woke up the first Monday of the year with a 103-degree fever, body aches that were almost unmanageable and a headache so intense I could barely keep my eyes open.

The one thing that made me smile that day was a text from my sweet grandma, a nurse, who wrote, “Hang in there. Eat some nice warm soup and toast. Comfort food.”

Grandmas always know best.

In my dreary state, I decided to kick-start my annual reading goal of at least 50 books. I opened up “Sandwich,” by Catherine Newman, a witty tale of a family that has spent nearly every summer on Cape Cod, told from the perspective of its matriarch, Rocky. The book explores love, lost dreams, hope and more, offering a well-rounded glimpse into the many life stages we all experience.

When I read, I highlight lines that leave an impression on me, either by writing them down or using a tool on my Kindle. “Sandwich” was filled with them. I noted several things, but the one I kept thinking about in the days and weeks after I finished reading it was this: “Maybe grief is love imploding. Or maybe it’s love expanding.”

Like everyone, I’ve experienced grief for different things, for different people, but I hadn’t truly encountered its profound weight — the type of grief that makes it hard to breathe.

iCatholic, she was devoted to her church, its people and myriad ministries.

t’s hard to put into words how much those final chats with her meant to me.

My grandma died unexpectedly on May 4, at age 85. She took excellent care of herself, and besides a few minor incidents in her later years, she was generally in great shape. All it took was a brief, serious illness that led to sepsis and eventually organ failure. Her last few days were filled with moments I fear I’ll never be able to comprehend. She was an exceptional woman, as most grandmothers are. She had seven children, 10 grandchildren, and family and friends galore in her neighborhood of Middle Village, Queens. A devout

Letters

tistics are kept primarily on a national rather than the local level. But according to a compilation used by the publication World Population Review, Paris was the 23rd safest city in the world in 2024. Safer than Brussels, Madrid, Barcelona and Rome.

Mamdani, meanwhile, has retracted his call for defunding the NYPD — a stance he took at the height of the Black Lives Matter agitation. He has pledged to make public safety a top priority of his mayoralty, along with making New York City more affordable for all of its residents.

Instead of freaking out over political labels, Kremer and other fearmongers should calm down and see how Mamdani actually governs.

Closer to home: I lived in Burlington, Vermont, when Bernie Sanders was mayor. A socialist who had held no previous elected office, Sanders made Vermont’s largest city a more equitable and prosperous place. Burlington’s business community came to regard him as an outstanding mayor.

KEVIN J. KELLEY Atlantic Beach

The fight against smoking isn’t over

To the Editor:

As partners in the New York State Tobacco Control Program, Health Systems for a Tobacco-Free NY and the

The last day I saw her was April 19, the day before Easter. It was exceptionally warm — over 80 degrees in Queens — and we had lunch and a long chat about baseball. A tried-and-true Yankees fan, she reminded me that she never rooted against the Mets, unless they were playing the Yankees. That day, she told me her favorite Met was Francisco Lindor — who had hit a walkoff home run the night before, much to her delight. I guess we Yankees fans know a thing or two about good shortstops.

It’s hard to put into words how much those final conversations mean to me. I never could’ve imagined that the next time I saw her would be our last moments together.

As I write this, I feel that overpowering sense of grief. This year didn’t start off the way I wanted it too, and really, it hasn’t gotten much better. There have been good moments, of course, but there have been a lot of sad ones, too.

It’s funny, though: As I think about

“Sandwich” — a book I decided to read maybe an hour or so after Grandma sent me well-wishes for the new year — I realize I can feel this way because before grief, there was love.

What I’m feeling is love imploding. I can’t say I’ve enjoyed the experiences I’ve endured this year, but I’m grateful that Grandma loved us so deeply that her absence leaves me with such a profound sense of loss, which is really just a testament to the type of person she was. All of us would be lucky to be loved so deeply, so consistently, by someone like her.

They say time heals all wounds, but I don’t always think that’s fair. The hurt I’ve felt these past few months may fade, but there will always be this void in my heart that only she could fill. I’ll wait forever, I hope, to see her again.

As her love expands in her absence, I hope to carry it with me everywhere — through every book I read, every milestone I reach and every ordinary day in between. If grief is love imploding, then maybe what follows is love reshaping itself, reminding me that she’s still here, in everything I do.

Jordan Vallone is deputy managing editor of Herald Community Newspapers. Comments? Jvallone@liherald.com.

Tobacco Action Coalition of Long Island work together to reduce the burden of commercial tobacco use and support a healthier, tobacco-free Long Island.

Since the inception of the state’s comprehensive Tobacco Control Program 25 years ago, cigarette smoking among adults in the state has dropped dramatically, from 23.2 percent in 2001 to 9.3 percent in 2023. Nassau and Suffolk counties have achieved two of the five lowest smoking rates in the state. There has also been a striking decrease in youth smoking since 2000, when 27.1 percent of high school youth reported cigarette use. The latest data show a 92 percent drop, to just 2.1 percent.

Nonetheless, the tobacco industry continues to harm New Yorkers. Industry documents reveal how tobacco companies have deliberately marketed menthol cigarettes to specific populations, including LGBTQ, Black and Hispanic communities, for decades. Data from the Adult Tobacco Survey highlight these disparities: Menthol cigarette use was highest among adults who identify as Black or African American (88 percent) and those who identify as Hispanic (70 percent).

The use of e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches is on the rise, especially among youth. Vaping exposes users to serious health risks such as heart disease, lung cancer, asthma attacks and long-term effects from toxic metals. Nicotine can harm the developing brains of adolescents, and nearly one in five high school students in our state report vaping. Add-

ing to the concern, social media have begun promoting pouches as a cheaper alternative to weight-loss drugs.

The closing of the CDC’s Office on Smoking and Health puts years of progress at risk. Without this support, states will have a harder time keeping prevention and quit-smoking programs strong. These programs have helped countless families in New York and around the country live healthier lives. The cuts will hit vulnerable communities the hardest.

Here in New York, funding cuts have led to the layoff of more than a dozen key members of the state’s tobacco

control program. This could weaken our free State Quitline services, reduce support for the Health Systems program and limit several other vital tobacco-control initiatives.

It’s imperative that we continue to employ comprehensive, evidence-based strategies to prevent and reduce tobacco product use and nicotine addiction. The decline in cigarette smoking is worth celebrating, but there is still more work to be done.

mountsinai.org/southnassau