INCORPORATING THE WEST HEMPSTEAD BEACON
Courtesy Kanisa Holder at Lutheran Church of the epiphany, Margaret Holder celebrated her 100th birthday. Holder, a professional milliner, wore a stylish hat that she had crafted for the occasion. With were, on her left, great-grandson Jordan Holder, nephew Walter Bell iii; great-grandson Kavon Holder, on her right, granddaughter Kanisa Holder, Cleon Mcdonald, Cyrus Holder; and great-granddaughter darrian Jackson, 19.
By REINE BETHANY rbethany@liherald.com
Standing on her own two feet and smiling, Margaret Holder opened her own 100th birthday party.
“This was a surprise for me,” Holder said on Oct. 19. “I appreciate you all coming and I love you all.”
Applause shook the undercroft of historic Lutheran Church of the Epiphany, which was packed with family, friends, and local officials.
sional milliner. She and her family also began their six-decade membership in Church of the Epiphany.
In 1993, at age 68, with former Mayor James A. Garner and son Lance Holder at her side, Holder opened Margaret’s Millinery in Hempstead. For many years, she supplied the village with her own line of sophisticated hats and accessories.
I hope that God blesses us all to live that long … and to see the strength that Aunt Margaret has and the love that she has.
Holder moved from the Bronx to Hempstead with husband Lancelot Holder and their son Lance in the 1960s. Once established in the village, Holder, who held a degree from the Fashion Institute of Technology, continued with her 34-year career as a profes-
By JOSEPH D’ALESSANDRO jdalessandro@liherald.com
Whenever an animal is in distress, John Debacker’s help is only a phone call away. A premier animal rescuer in the Town of Hempstead, he has a mission to help every animal he can.
Debacker, 32, who resides in Bellmore, lives alone with his four cats. He got his start as an animal rescuer around the time he graduated from Iris Wolfson High School in Greenvale in 2010. He saw that a neighbor had abandoned four cats when they moved away, and he volunteered to help catch them and finding them loving homes.
“We need more animal rescuers in the world,” he said. “There’s just not enough of us. Unfortunately, people abandon cats every day, every week. There’s never, never an excuse for animal abuse — there’s always resources, such as shelters, rescues. They’ll take the kitten happily from them.”
Debacker said. “I do take donations, but it’s all optional. If someone can’t afford my services, the animal won’t suffer. I’ll still catch the animal either way.”
Indeed, he stops at nothing to protect the lives of misplaced critters. In 2023 he got a message describing feline screams coming from a tree in someone’s backyard. There, 40 feet in the air, was a 6-week-old kitten. Debacker climbed as high as he could, and the kitten, as he tells it, leapt into his outstretched hands. The cat now has a safe and loving home.
WALTER BELL III Nephew W e need more animal rescuers in the world.
Last Sunday, a long table in the church undercroft displayed hats that Holder had made for parishioners across the decades.
Hundredth-birthday citations for Holder from New York state, Nassau County, the Town of Hempstead, and the Village of Hempstead stood proudly at the center of the display.
The undercroft glowed with white-
JOHN DEBAckER Animal rescuer
After that first experience, Debacker committed himself to helping animals any time and anywhere. These days his rescue work prioritizes emergencies, most frequently cats stuck in trees and sewers, in the middle of highways and in other precarious places. While he most frequently handles cats, he has also rescued raccoons, squirrels and other domesticated small animals.
He does his work with equipment he bought himself: nets, leashes, incubators, trail cameras, microchip scanners and more.
“It’s full time, but I don’t get paid — I don’t charge money for the services,”
“I’m available 24/7 for emergency cases,” Debacker said. “If there’s a cat stranded on the highway, I’m not gonna just say I’m busy — I’m gonna respond right away.” He responded to that exact circumstance not long ago. One of Debacker’s wildest rescues involved a kitten trapped near a concrete divider on the Wantagh State Parkway, which he was able to handle thanks to the help of State Police who closed the road temporarily. He carried out an even more complex operation over the course of 18 days at Kennedy Airport in 2021, when he tracked and trapped a cat on the tarmac.
“Emergency cases happen on an asneeded basis,” he explained. “Otherwise I go out trapping feral cats.”
Debacker’s work with feral cats is a necessity to combat cat overpopulation on Long Island in a humane way. After catching a feral cat, he feeds it, cleans it and takes it to veterinarians in Huntington, Freeport and Westbury and beyond for surgery. Once the cat recovers, its
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and-gold decorations. Decorative miniature hats made by church member Cora Daniels for the occasion brightened the room’s pillars. Enticing aromas from a dozen and a half hot-food trays filled the space and even floated upstairs into the grand church chapel.
Holder’s granddaughter and main caretaker, Kanisa Holder, had organized the event with a large team from the church including Pastor Emilce Erato, Mistress of Ceremony Lynda Straker, Church Council Vice-President Sonia Saravia, and Evangelism Committee Chair Doreen Davis.
Deputy Town Supervisor Dorothy Goosby, Deputy County Supervisor Anissa Moore, Nassau County Comptroller Elaine Phillips, Nassau County Legislators Olena Nicks and Scott Davis, Hempstead Village Trustee Tanya Carter, the Office of State Senator Siela Bynoe, and other officials paid their respects to the “birthday girl.”
Saxophonist Daniel Chapman sweetened the air throughout the ceremony.
As the meal began, so did
the family tributes.
One of Holder’s nephews, Walter Bell III, contributed a heartfelt prayer, saying, “I hope that God blesses us all to live that long … and to see the strength that Aunt Margaret has and the love that she has.”
Leroy Jackson, Jr., a member of the R&B group Black Ivory since 1971, belted out a soul version of “Happy Birthday” to introduce the cutting of the cake.
Holder’s many nephews, nieces, grandchildren, greatgrandchildren, with Epiphany church members, then shouted through several rounds of “Happy Birthday to Ya.”
Great-grandson Cyrus Holder began to read out his great-grandmother’s biography. But he set it aside and spoke from the heart.
“For me, every time I take my [great-] grandmother to the grocery store, it’s a celebration that she can still walk, she can still talk,” he said. “We’re thankful that all the people here share the same feelings about her, a kind person that just wants to take care of everybody.”
In 1993, Margaret
business, Margaret’s Millinery,
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By ANGELINA ZINGARIELLO azingariello@liherald.com
Diwali, also known as Deepavali, is celebrated by millions of people around the world, especially in South Asia. It marks the victory of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, and good over evil. While rooted in religion, it also has strong cultural and social traditions. This year, it is celebrated on Oct. 20.
Diwali is celebrated over five distinct days
Diwali isn’t a one-day festival; it spans five days, each with its own meaning.
It usually begins with Dhanteras, a day for cleaning and shopping, followed by Naraka Chaturdashi, when homes are decorated. The third day is the main Diwali day, when people worship Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and light oil lamps or candles to invite good fortune. The fourth day, Govardhan Puja, often involves symbolic offerings to honor prosperity. The fifth, Bhai Dooj, celebrates the bond between brothers and sisters.
The entire celebration is based on the Hindu lunar calendar, usually falling between mid-October and mid-November. Families decorate with rangoli, exchange sweets and enjoy fireworks. Even though practices vary across India and other countries, the theme of light overcoming darkness remains central throughout all five days.
2. Diwali is observed by more than one religion
Though Diwali is most commonly associated with Hinduism, it’s also a major festival for Jains, Sikhs and some Buddhists, each with different historical reasons for observing it.
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Hindus often celebrate the return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya after defeating the demon king Ravana, a symbol of good triumphing over evil. For Jains, Diwali marks the liberation, or moksha, of Lord Mahavira, their 24th spiritual teacher. Sikhs commemorate Bandi Chhor Divas, when Guru Hargobind Ji was released from imprisonment along with 52 other men. Some Buddhists, particularly in Nepal, observe Diwali as part of their Tihar festival, honoring gods, animals and ancestors. While the stories differ, all share the themes of freedom, justice, light and spiritual awakening.
This makes Diwali a unifying moment for multiple faiths, not just one.
3. Diwali is a social, cultural and economic event
Beyond its religious origins, Diwali plays a major cultural and economic role, especially in places with large South Asian communities. Homes are cleaned and decorated with flowers, lights and colorful rangoli patterns to welcome prosperity. Families dress in new clothes and prepare or exchange homemade sweets like ladoo and barfi. Fireworks and sparklers are common, especially on the main Diwali night. Markets see a sharp rise in shopping, from gold and clothing to electronics and gifts, making it one of the biggest retail seasons in India.
In The Town of Hempstead and other parts of the U.S., local communities organize Diwali events, cultural shows and dance performances to keep traditions alive. Whether religious or not, the festival becomes a time for family, food and shared joy, reflecting values anyone can appreciate.
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ear is marked to show that it’s been spayed or neutered, and Debacker returns it to its colony.
Shari Feinberg came to Merrick in 2022, moving into a house where there were stray and feral cats outside. She called Debacker to take care of them, and since then the two have regularly worked together on feline matters.
“I just picked up another foster from John,” Feinberg said. “We have four foster failures and have a total of six cats — we have now become that proverbial crazy cat family.”
Feinberg is a strong proponent of getting pets from shelters and rescue operations rather than from breeders. “There are so many deserving, loving, sweet, equally beautiful (rescue) cats,” she said. “It will love you just as much, if not more, because you gave them that second chance.
Debacker’s efforts are funded through donations and his content creation online. Visit JohnTheCatGuy on YouTube and see ways to support his work at linktr.ee/JohnDebacker. Proceeds help pay rescued animals’ vet bills and fund new equipment. “I know things are tight for everybody financially,” Feinberg said, “(but) even if it’s just $1, every little bit helps.”
For emergency services, contact Debacker at (516) 557-3328.
By LUKE FEENEY lfeeney@liherald.com
Nicole Aloise, a Democrat running for Nassau County district attorney, is focusing her campaigning on public safety, community investment, and experience forged in courtrooms.
“I firmly believe in the job of a prosecutor,” she said. “It’s all I’ve done in my career.”
Aloise, 41, has worked as a prosecutor for 16 years in both Nassau and Queens, most recently as a senior assistant district attorney in the Queens Homicide Bureau. She began her legal career in 2008 after graduating from St. John’s University School of Law. While in Queens, she secured more than 20 violent felony convictions and helped establish case law by making use of NYPD body camera footage for the first time in a trial in New York City.
Aloise moved with her family from Astoria to Garden City in 2019. From 2019 to 2023, she prosecuted homicides and violent felonies as senior litigation counsel in the Nassau D.A.’s office. She returned to Queens for a brief period before stepping down in 2024 to launch her campaign.
Despite its staff of hundreds, one of the largest D.A.’s offices in the country, it has fallen behind, Aloise said. “The office now being run,” she said, “is not appropriate for a 2025 D.A.’s office.”
She criticized what she called a lack of courtroom experience in the office’s current leadership, and said that has led to high staff turnover. The issues that are central to her platform include strengthening the county’s Hate Crimes Bureau, especially when it comes to antisemitic and anti-Asian attacks; sup-
porting a statewide “death by dealer” law to hold drug suppliers accountable in fatal overdoses; and increasing funding for youth, mental health and violence prevention programs.
Aloise has also pledged to pursue tougher prosecutions in drunken-driving cases, and expanding cooperation
with local police departments. “I’ve got the best experience to be in this job,” she said, “because I won’t be asking anybody to do something I myself personally haven’t done, and I will know what resources and guidelines to put into place to make sure they’re successful.”
Like the Republican incumbent, Anne Donnelly, Aloise has criticized New York’s 2020 discovery and bail reform laws. “It absolutely makes our job harder,” she said. “I’ve been outspoken about these laws since prior to their inception.”
But, she noted, she successfully worked under the same rules in Queens, and argued that the county badly needs an upgraded functioning discovery system. “They have one in Queens,” she added. “They have one in Suffolk.” “I won’t run a stagnant office,” Aloise said. “I’ve got the passion, I’ve got the energy and I’ve got the vision to make the Nassau’s district attorney’s office one of the premier offices in the country — because we have the resources, if used correctly.”
‘It’s been my life’s work,’ Anne Donnelly says
By LUKE FEENEY lfeeney@liherald.com
For Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly, pursuing justice and supporting crime victims isn’t just a job — it’s a passion.
“It’s been my life’s work,” she said. “I have worked in every bureau in the office. I have been a boss, a supervisor, and I’m very passionate about what we do.”
Donnelly, 61, a Republican and a longtime prosecutor, defeated former State Sen. Todd Kaminsky in 2021 to become district attorney — the fourth consecutive woman to hold the office. A Garden City resident who graduated from Fordham Law School in 1989, she is seeking a second term on a platform of public safety, gang enforcement and law enforcement support.
Since taking office in 2022, Donnelly has created three county law enforcement units. The Firearms Suppression and Intelligence Unit, focuses on illegal gun sales and weapons trafficking. “We’ve had an uptick of guns being taken off the street, and I wanted to know why,” she said. The Pharmaceutical Diversion and Cybercrimes Unit targets opioid diversion by medical professionals and prosecutes cybercrimes, including dark web activity. The Hate
Tim Baker/Herald
Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly is seeking a second term as the county’s top prosecutor.
Crimes Unit is tasked with investigating bias-motivated violence and boosting community outreach, training and reporting.
“There’s always going to be crime,” Donnelly said. “The important aspect of maintaining or keeping Nassau safe
is to target the crimes that we see increases in.” She has been an outspoken critic of New York state’s bail reform and Clean Slate laws, which she described “problematic,” and argued they allow repeat offenders back onto the streets.
She also raised concerns about the state’s discovery reform law, passed in 2020, which requires prosecutors to quickly share evidence with defense attorneys. Under the law, prosecutors originally had 20 to 35 days after a defendant’s arraignment, depending on pretrial custody, to provide all evidence — with a possible 30-day extension.
“It’s not like we’re trying to hide anything from them,” Donnelly said. “Getting all the information within the window is the challenge.” A 2025 amendment now allows cases to proceed if prosecutors show “good faith and due diligence” in providing evidence.
On the subject of the 2019 bail reform law, which eliminated cash bail for many non-violent offenses, she pointed to aggravated animal abuse and DWI as examples of “violent and dangerous” offenses that don’t meet the law’s definition of violence.
With nearly 250 attorneys and a staff of more than 450, the Nassau County district attorney’s office is one of the largest in the country. Donnelly said that her management experience stands in contrast to her challenger in next month’s election, Democrat Nicole Aloise. “She’s a very nice person, but has never managed one person,” Donnelly said. “I don’t think she’s the person for it. I think I am.”
Candidate profiles, ballot Information and more inside!
Republican John Ferretti, appointed Hempstead Town Supervisor in August following Don Clavin’s resignation, is running to retain the position with a focus on fiscal discipline, public safety, and community values.
A former Nassau County legislator, Ferretti, a lifelong Levittown resident, has emphasized his record of opposing tax increases and supporting responsible budgeting. During his tenure, he led efforts to reduce county taxes by $70 million and block $150 million in proposed hikes. He has said government should operate within its means, similar to the financial discipline of local families.
Ferretti’s platform highlights a commitment to maintaining public safety and supporting law enforcement. As a legislator, he helped expand police presence, reopen a closed precinct, and invest in advanced public safety technology. He also worked with town
officials to increase patrols at houses of worship and co-authored legislation to prevent individuals from concealing their identities during acts of intimidation.
In addition to his focus on safety and fiscal management, Ferretti has positioned himself as a defender of suburban neighborhoods, opposing proposals for high-density housing developments he believes would alter the character of local communities.
Before his election to public office, Ferretti served as Chief Deputy County Clerk, overseeing a staff of more than 100 employees and managing over $240 million in annual revenue.
Ferretti has also prioritized strengthening community infrastructure and ensuring that development and town policies reflect the needs and values of local residents, supporting initiatives that preserve open spaces and enhance the quality of life in Hempstead.
Democrat Joe Scianablo, a Marine combat veteran, former NYPD officer, and prosecutor, is running for Town of Hempstead supervisor with a pledge to restore transparency, lower taxes, and hold local government accountable.
Scianablo, a Garden City resident, says families across the town are feeling the strain of rising costs, from a 12 percent property tax hike to increases in water, power, and fuel bills. He is calling for a full financial audit of all departments, a freeze on nonessential spending, and new measures to root out waste and corruption.
On the issues:
On the issues:
Carelus, 55, was approached by members of the West Hempstead Republican Club and, after discussing it with his wife, decided to step forward. “She said, ‘Yeah, why not? You have some good ideas,’” Carelus recalled in a conversation with the Herald. “And so I said, evidently, this might be the best time, since I was approached.”
Born in Haiti, Carelus immigrated to the United States with his family in 1977, settling in Westbury and later Hempstead. A Hempstead High School graduate, he went on to earn a master’s degree in economics from CUNY Brooklyn College. Professionally, Carelus has spent over two decades in financial services, including roles in structured finance and consulting. He currently works for the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, focusing on the risks and regulations of the insurance industry.
Scianablo said improving public safety and supporting veterans would also be key priorities. Drawing on his law enforcement background, he aims to strengthen trust between communities and public safety departments. As a Marine veteran, he wants to expand access to healthcare, housing, and employment programs for fellow veterans.
He has also criticized the closure of the Safe Center and pledged to expand domestic violence services by working with Nassau County and community partners.
If elected, Scianablo said his first 100 days would include converting all town streetlights to LED to save $1 million annually, implementing zero-based budgeting where every dollar is justified, and exploring shared services with nearby towns to eliminate duplicate costs. His platform emphasizes “commonsense solutions,” including proactive infrastructure maintenance, performance-based funding, and energy efficiency upgrades. He has also vowed to hold monthly town halls and establish resident oversight to keep taxpayers informed.
Carelus is also deeply rooted in community service. For nearly 30 years, he has served as a lector at St. Thomas the Apostle Church and is a member of the Knights of Columbus. At 50, he became a volunteer firefighter and later an EMT, twice earning EMT of the Year honors.
“The biggest thing that they want, just like at the fire service, when there’s a call, respond, show up and work with everyone there to make sure that the issues are addressed,” he said. His campaign centers on housing, taxes, and equitable access to education and services. He supports affordable housing models like the Uniondale Community Land Trust and advocates for fairer property tax grievance processes.
“There are services that are being denied to these communities,” he said. “All the while the burden of the taxes have increasingly fallen on them.”
For more than a quartercentury, Dorothy Goosby, 86, councilwoman of District 1 and deputy supervisor, has been a pillar of public service and a trailblazer for minority representation in the Town of Hempstead. She is now running once again for re-election.
Goosby’s journey into public office began with a fight for fair representation. In the late 1980s, she was the lead plaintiff in a landmark lawsuit challenging Hempstead’s at-large voting system, which had long prevented minority communities from electing their own representatives.
“We started in ’88 and it took us to 1999 in order to finally win the suit,” Goosby recalled to the Herald. The victory led to the creation of councilmanic districts, ensuring that every community had a voice at the table.
Goosby became the first African American woman to serve on the Town Board, representing Hempstead,
Uniondale, Roosevelt, and Freeport. “I go to all of them, and I check to see what’s going on,” she says. This year, Goosby’s re-election bid stands apart she is running without Nassau Democratic Party backing. Instead, supporters mounted a grassroots petition drive that gathered more than twice the 4,000 signatures required to get on the ballot. Known for her persistence, Goosby said the key lesson of her 25-year career is “to make sure that whatever it is I need, I get it.”
“And I do,” she added, “because they don’t like to hear from me.”
Goosby’s priorities include addressing illegal dumping, promoting safer neighborhoods, and opposing highdensity housing developments she believes could strain local resources. She has also championed youth enrichment, running a summer reading program for more than two decades.
Charlene Jackson Thompson, 59, brings a wide-ranging background to her campaign for Nassau County’s 1st Legislative District. With experience as an attorney, government official, consultant and longtime community advocate, she is now running as the Republican candidate for the newly redrawn district. A Roosevelt native and graduate of Uniondale High School, Thompson made history as the first Black Homecoming queen at the College of William and Mary before earning her law degree from Howard University. Today, she serves as a deputy county attorney, handling child welfare cases on behalf of Nassau County.
On the issues:
Republican administrations, including leadership roles in housing and economic development. She has also prosecuted child abuse cases and led a consulting firm focused on grants and regulatory compliance. Her work is guided by a traumainformed and collaborative approach that places the well-being of individuals and families at the forefront.
Scott Davis, 63, a longtime Rockville Centre resident who grew up in Hempstead, was elected in 2023 to represent Nassau County’s Legislative District 1. Now seeking re-election, Davis reflects on a first term shaped by active community engagement and a commitment to legislative advocacy, particularly as a Democrat in the legislative minority.
Throughout her career, Thompson has consistently prioritized community engagement, working with people across backgrounds and meeting them where they are. Her public service has spanned both Democratic and
Thompson identifies as a conservative and acknowledges the challenges that come with holding views that may not align with the majority in her community. She said she has remained in the Republican Party because she believes in the importance of political diversity and feels that communities are best served when they do not align exclusively with one party. Her campaign is focused on increasing access to affordable housing, improving infrastructure and strengthening civic engagement across the district.
As a criminal defense attorney and a firstgeneration college graduate, Davis draws on his personal background growing up biracial in Hempstead and losing his mother at a young age as the foundation for his dedication to public service.
During his first term, Davis said he found that his longstanding desire to serve the public found real expression through his role as legislator. He focused on building relationships throughout his district, which encompasses Rockville Centre, South Hempstead, Roosevelt,
and parts of Baldwin and Hempstead. Davis said he considers his most significant legislative accomplishment to be securing $1.75 million in clean-water funding for the Village of Hempstead. The funding is aimed at addressing contamination caused by high levels of the carcinogen 1,4-dioxane. It took nearly nine months to obtain the funds, and Davis attributed the achievement to consistent advocacy and collaboration, particularly with now-State Senator Siela Bynoe. He made the issue a priority, speaking about it frequently and pushing for action at every opportunity.
Looking ahead, his goals include renovating Mirschel Park in Hempstead, upgrading recreation facilities in Rockville Centre and expanding youth programs across the district. He remains enthusiastic about continuing his work and serving the community with dedication.
Nassau County Legislature candidate
Danielle Smikle, a Freeport native and educator, is running a campaign focused on lowering property taxes, supporting education, strengthening small businesses, and revitalizing neighborhoods across Baldwin, Freeport, and Oceanside.
Smikle, who moved from Jamaica to Freeport at age three, currently works as a college and career counselor at the Academy Charter School in Uniondale and co-owns a wellnessfocused candle business with her mother. She is running in the 6th which combines parts of her previous Assembly campaign area with Baldwin and Oceanside.
Since entering public service last year with a run for the New York State Assembly, Smikle has emphasized community-first leadership and outreach across party lines, knocking on doors of Democrats and Republicans alike to ensure voters understand their options
Her priorities for the Legislature include addressing high property taxes, improving housing availability, maintaining infrastructure, and fostering stronger community-police relations. On housing, Smikle advocates redeveloping vacant and underused properties to provide opportunities for younger residents without overbuilding, aiming to balance growth with neighborhood character. Infrastructure and flood preparedness are central issues in the coastal district. Smikle has stressed the importance of maintaining floodgates, repairing aging roads, and keeping public facilities safe and accessible. She has also highlighted the need for ongoing upkeep of playgrounds, pools, and community spaces to ensure residents benefit consistently Smikle hopes to build strong relationships with colleagues across party lines to implement practical solutions for the district.
Nassau County Legislator Debra Mulé, a Democrat seeking her fifth term, is running a campaign centered on infrastructure upgrades, affordable housing, and community revitalization across Baldwin, Freeport, and Oceanside.
Currently representing the sixth legislative district, Mulé, first elected in 2017, has positioned herself as an advocate for public works and neighborhood improvements, emphasizing her commitment to securing long-term investments for local communities.
Party: Democrat
A former Freeport village trustee and school board member, Her priorities for another term include continuing capital projects, addressing aging sewer systems, and enhancing quality of life for residents through county partnerships.
Infrastructure renewal has been the defining issue of Mulé’s tenure. She has championed the Grand Avenue
Complete Streets Project, which introduced new paving, decorative lighting, safety improvements, and curb enhancements in Baldwin’s downtown.
The project’s next phase aims to extend the upgrades north to the Southern State Parkway, representing more than $20 million in total investment.
Mulé’s campaign also spotlights Nassau County’s affordable housing crisis, particularly in Baldwin and Freeport. She has supported projects which include Freeport’s Moxey Rigby apartments, which reserve units for veterans and seniors and the Baldwin Commons apartment complex. Mulé views these developments as models for balancing growth and affordability across the county.
Through the county’s Community Revitalization Program, Mulé has directed funding toward fire departments, school playgrounds, and local beautification projects.
Amendment to Allow Olympic Sports Complex In Essex County on State Forest Preserve Land. Allows skiing and related trail facilities on state forest preserve land. The site is 1,039 acres. Requires State to add 2,500 acres of new forest land in Adirondack Park. A yes vote authorizes new ski trails and related facilities in the Adirondack forest preserve. A no vote does not authorize this use.
Enmienda para Permitir Complejo Olímpico de Deportes En el Condado de Essex en Tierra de Reserva Forestal Estatal. Permite el esquí e instalaciones relacionadas de pistas en tierra de reserva forestal estatal. El sitio es de 1,039 acres. Requiere que el Estado añade 2,500 acres de nueva tierra forestal en el Parque Adirondack. Un voto afrmativo autoriza nuevas pistas de esquí e instalaciones relacionadas en la reserva forestal Adirondack. Un voto negativo no autoriza este uso.
Seth I. Koslow
Fiscal del Distrito
MOD Nicole Aloise
Wayne H. Wink, Jr.
Joylette E. Williams
L. Goosby
actual ballot, but a composite of several sample ballots so as to refect all the districts within the communities covered edition of the Herald. Complete reporting on candidates running in districts covered by the Herald may be found at under the Elections ’25 tab. For election results after the polls close Tuesday night, go to LIHerald.com
Secretario Municipal
MOD
Yveline L. Dalmacy REP, CON Kate Murray
County Legislator
Legislador del Condado Distrito 1
for One (1)
Juez
David P. Sullivan DEM, REP, CON
for One (1) REP, CON
Scott M. Davis Charlene Jackson Thomas
County Legislator
Legislador del Condado Distrito 2
2
for One (1) REP, CON
Viviana Russell Pepitz Blanchard
County Legislator
Legislador del Condado Distrito 5
for One (1) REP, CON
Olena Nicks Moshe E. Hill
Justice of the Supreme
la Corte Suprema
for Eight (8) REP, CON
Kenny
Mark A. Cuthbertson
Margaret C. Reilly
Joseph C. Pastoressa
Steven A. Pilewski
James W. Malone
Carl J. Copertino
Bronwyn M. Black-Kelly
Juez de la corte de distrito
DEM, REP, CON
Nancy Nicotra Bednar
Donald X. Clavin, Jr.
Juez del
REP, CON
Robert E. Pipia
REP, CON Maria Boultadakis
Robert G. Bogle
Howard E. Sturim
Cross endorsed by Democratic, Republican and Conservative parties
Age: 65
Legal career: Bronwyn Black-Kelly has served as a Suffolk County District Court judge since 2023, following a long career in both public service and private practice. From 1990 to 2022, she was a partner at the Law Offices of Black & Black, a general practice firm. Earlier in her career, she worked as an assistant district attorney in the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office from 1985 to 1989.
Black-Kelly earned her law degree from Hofstra University School of Law in 1985, and her bachelor’s degree from Fairfield University in 1981. She was admitted to the state bar in 1986, and is also admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York and the U.S. Supreme Court. She is a member of both the Suffolk County and New York State bar associations.
Endorsed by Democratic, Republican and Conservative parties Age: 59
Legal career: Since 2018, James Malone has been a District Court Judge. From 2014-2017, he was a principal law clerk for State Supreme Court Justice William Condon. He received his undergraduate degree from Clarkson University in 1983 and a law degree from Touro College, Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center in 2005.
Cross endorsed by Democratic, Republican and Conservative parties
Age: 69
Legal career: Judge Carl Copertino currently presides over family cases in the Family Court of Suffolk County and has served as a New York judge for 13 years.Previously, he spent five years as an attorney with the New York City Transit Authority. He received his law degree from Fordham University School of Law in 1981. He was admitted to the New York State bar in 1981.
Endorsed by Republican and Democratic parties
Age: 59
Legal career: Mark Cuthbertson, a lifelong Huntington resident, focused his legal career on commercial real estate, municipal litigation, and the representation of municipalities and notfor-profit cemeteries.
Admitted to practice in New York and Connecticut, Cuthbertson earned his Juris Doctor, cum laude, from Albany Law School of Union University. There, he served as the executive editor of the Symposium for the Albany Law Review. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Villanova University.
In addition to his legal practice, Cuthbertson has served on the Huntington Town Board since 1998, where he has worked to reduce and stabilize taxes while advancing environmental protection and smart growth initiatives. He sponsored legislation preserving hillside areas and open space throughout the town.
Endorsed by the Conservative party Age: 36
Legal career: Matthew McDonough, of Massapequa, has been admitted to practice law in New York since 2019. He is also admitted to the District of Columbia, the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern and Southern districts of New York, the U.S. Tax Court, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit. McDonough, a graduate of the City University of New York School of Law at Queens College, he earned his Juris Doctor before serving a clerkship with the State Supreme Court. In 2020, he opened his private practice in Babylon, focusing on municipal and public sector law. He works often with local governments, businesses and residents on municipal policy, taxation and regulatory compliance.
Cross endorsed by Democratic, Republican and Conservative parties Age: 66
Legal career: Justice Joseph C. Pastoressa has served on the state Supreme Court in Suffolk County since 2012. Before that, he was an acting Supreme Court justice from 2004 to 2011, while also serving as a Court of Claims judge. Earlier in his career, Pastoressa worked in private practice, and later as a principal law clerk for a justice on the state Appellate Division, a Court of Claims judge and a state Supreme Court justice. He earned his bachelor’s degree from St. John’s University, and graduated cum laude from Brooklyn Law School.
Cross endorsed by Democratic, Republican and Conservative parties
Age: 69
Cross endorsed by Democratic, Republican and Conservative parties
Age: 64
Legal career: Paul Kenny, a Glen Head resident, began his career in 1986 as a court attorney in the New York City Criminal Court and later joined a general practice firm in Queens. He served as co-counsel to the State Court Officer’s Association. From 1992 to 2007, he worked in the Kings County Supreme Court Law Department, as a court attorney-referee for matrimonial matters, and from 2000 as the deputy chief court attorney.
He was appointed chief clerk of the Appellate Term, Second Department in 2007 and edited the Election Law Handbook for more than a decade. He serves on the Franklin H. Williams Judicial Commission, is an instructor at Lehman College, an adjunct professor at the NYC College of Technology and lectures at the Appellate Division, Second Department and State Judicial Institute on election law.
Endorsed by Republican, Conservative, and Democratic parties
Age: 61
Legal career: Steven A. Pilewski is a longtime member of the state’s court system, with more than two decades of experience in judicial chambers. From 2000 to 2022, he served as principal law clerk to Justice Guy J. Mangano Jr. in the state Supreme Court in Kings County. Before that, he worked as a principal appellate law clerk for the Appellate Term of the 2nd Department from 1995 to 2000. Pilewski earned his law degree from Touro College in 1994, and received a bachelor’s degree from St. John’s University in 1989. He has been a member of the Suffolk County Bar Association since 1999.
Legal career: Margaret Reilly has served as a Nassau County Surrogate’s Court judge since 2016. She was previously a Nassau County Supreme Court Justice from 2012 to 2015, an acting justice from 2007 to 2012, and a twice-elected County District Court judge from 1998 to 2011. Earlier in her career, Reilly practiced law as a deputy Nassau County attorney, the Stewart Manor village prosecutor and a senior associate at Mulholland Minion & Roe and the Law Office of Vincent D. McNamara. She has lectured at Hofstra and Touro law schools, co-chaired the Nassau County Courts’ Women in the Courts Committee, and served as an adjunct professor in trial advocacy at St. John’s.
Cross endorsed by Democratic, Republican and Conservative parties Age: 54
Legal career: Nancy Nicotra Bednar is a lifelong Nassau County resident raised in Elmont. She lives in Rockville Centre.
A 1993 Notre Dame graduate with a bachelor’s in English, she graduated from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law in New York City in 1996 She has over 25 years of legal experience working with the Innocence Project to her leadership roles in the Nassau County Attorney’s Office and state courts.
In 2003, Bednar became a deputy bureau chief-for the General Litigation Bureau in the County Attorney’s office until 2008. Then a senior principal law clerk for Appellate DivisionSecond Department She is now a principal law clerk in the County Supreme Court
Cross endorsed by Democratic, Republican and Conservative parties Age: 68
Legal career: Bogle has served as a New York judge for over 40 years and began his term after election in 2015. He also serves as a supervising judge of the Village Courts in the county. He received his law degree from Hofstra University in 1982 after receiving his bachelor’s degree in political science from Niagara University in 1979. Bogle has received awards such as the Magistrate of the Year Award from the State of New York in 2006 and the Frank J. Santagata Memorial Award from the Nassau County Magistrates Association in 2008. A lifelong resident of Valley Stream, he and his wife, Kathleen, have two children. He is a Knights of Columbus member.
Cross endorsed by Democratic, Republican and Conservative parties Age: 56
Legal career: Donald X. Clavin Jr. is the former Town of Hempstead Supervisor who served almost 3 terms from 2020-2025. He stepped down in August. Clavin was the Town of Hempstead Receiver of Taxes from 20012019.
Previously Clavin worked as a trial attorney and as deputy county attorney in Nassau County’s Attorney’s office. Clavin holds a law degree from Hofstra University and a bachelor’s in history from Canisius College. Clavin lives in Garden City with his wife and two children. He has stated “tax relief” as his top priority. He also helped develop the town’s 2019 and proposed 2020 budgets, including tax cuts. He has also hosted public information forums
Cross endorsed by Democratic, Republican and Conservative parties Age: 61
Legal career: Robert E. Pipia is a judge on the Nassau County District Court in the 10th Judicial District of New York. He was first elected in 2014.
Before that, Pipia was the executive assistant to then Town of Hempstead Supervisor’s Office. This followed his work as deputy town attorney for the town’s Attorney’s Office where he served as the Americans with Disabilities Act compliance coordinator.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from SUNY Albany in 1987, and earned his law degree from Hofstra University in 1992. He was licensed in New York in 1993.
Born in Queens and raised in Elmont, he attended the Henry Viscardi School.
Cross endorsed by Democratic, Republican and Conservative parties
Age: 39
Legal career: Maria Boultadakis is a candidate for district court judge in Nassau County’s 2nd District. She was admitted to the New York State Bar in 2012 and is registered with the New York State Unified Court System. She earned her law degree from the Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University.
Boultadakis has served as a law clerk for three New York State Supreme Court justices, and she also held the position of deputy county attorney in Nassau County from 2022 to 2023.
Cross endorsed by Democratic, Republican and Conservative parties
Age: 55
Legal career: Karen L. Moroney serves as a judge in the Nassau County District Court, first elected in 2007, she was re-elected in 2013 and is currently serving a five-year term that expires at the end of this year.
Since 2017, she has also served as principal law clerk to Justice Sharon M.J. Gianelli of the Nassau County Supreme Court, and previously held similar roles for three other county Supreme Court justices. Her legal experience includes work as an attorney for the state Supreme Court and as an assistant district attorney in Queens County from 1992 to 1999.
Moroney earned her law degree from St. John’s University School of Law and was admitted to the bar in 1992. She is also admitted to practice before multiple federal courts.
Cross endorsed by Democratic, Republican and Conservative parties
Age: 41
Legal career: Diana Hedayati is an attorney based in Plainview and a candidate for district Court judge in Nassau County’s 3rd District. She was admitted to the New York State Bar in 2010 by the Appellate Division, First Judicial Department and is currently registered with the New York State Unified Court System.
Hedayati graduated from Pace University School of Law. Her professional background includes over a decade of legal experience in the public sector, with a focus on administrative and regulatory law.
Cross endorsed by Democratic, Republican and Conservative parties Age: 66
Legal career: Howard E. Sturim is a New York Judge in the Supreme Court of Nassau County and has served for 10 years. His career began as an assistant district attorney for the Nassau County District Attorney’s office from 1991 to 2004. He prosecuted misdemeanor and felony cases then became head of the Arson Unit and Major Offenses Unit. He then became a principal law clerk for the state Court of Claims to Alan L. Honorof before his term as New York Judge began in 2016.
Sturim earned his bachelor’s degree from the New York Institute of Technology in 1987 before receiving his law degree from Hofstra University in 1990 in the Maurice A. Deane School of Law.
Cross endorsed by Democratic, Republican and Conservative parties
Age: 60
Legal career: James A. Saladino is a district court judge in Nassau County, appointed in March of this year. He has over 30 years of legal experience, including service as a judge, law clerk, prosecutor and private practitioner. From 2019 to 2024, he served as a district court judge in Suffolk County, presiding over criminal and civil matters. Before that, he spent eight years as a principal law clerk in the New York State Supreme Court and practiced law as a partner at Saladino & Hartill, LLP. Earlier in his career, he was an assistant district Attorney in Suffolk County from 1991 to 2002.
Saladino earned his law degree from St. John’s University School of Law and a B.A. from Boston University. He was admitted to the New York State Bar in 1991.
Republican Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman is seeking a second term, emphasizing public safety, fiscal stability and preserving suburban character as the foundation of his administration. He said Nassau remains the safest large county in America, citing expanded law enforcement ranks, a stable budget and seven Wall Street bond-rating upgrades as evidence of sound fiscal management. Blakeman has repeatedly highlighted that county taxes have not increased during his tenure and that Nassau’s average home value has risen, which he sees as proof of prosperity and stability.
A central point of pride for Blakeman has been Nassau’s partnership with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement — the first of its kind in the country — which dedicates jail space and crosstrained detectives to assist federal agents. He said the agreement improves safety and has strong support among Hispanic residents who want “safe
neighborhoods and strong schools.” On crime prevention, Blakeman defended his creation of a volunteer emergency database, which critics have called a militia, describing it instead as a vetted roster of former police and military members who could be mobilized Blakeman continues to challenge the state’s takeover of Nassau University Medical Center, calling it “illegal” and harmful to residents who rely on it as a safetynet hospital. He contends the move is part of a broader state plan to reduce local control and diminish services. On housing, he opposes state-mandated density requirements, arguing that Nassau is already one of the nation’s most developed suburban counties and that zoning decisions should remain local.
Overall, Blakeman’s campaign message centers on fiscal prudence, public safety and protecting Nassau’s suburban quality of life.
Democratic Nassau County Legislator Seth Koslow, of Merrick, is running for county executive on a platform centered on transparency, fiscal accountability and restoring public trust in local government.
A former Queens assistant district attorney and small business owner, Koslow said his decision to run was motivated by frustration over what he views as secrecy and mismanagement under the current administration. He cited ongoing problems at Nassau University Medical Center and the county jail as examples of a government unwilling to answer questions or plan for the future.
Koslow criticized County Executive Bruce Blakeman’s creation of a civilian militia, saying it undermines law enforcement and creates liability, and argued that Nassau’s shortage of detectives poses a more urgent safety threat. On fiscal issues, he said the county must better track its spending, cut
waste and redirect resources toward infrastructure, housing and public services. He supports using county-owned properties for new mixed-use housing and simplifying the permit process for small businesses to boost local revenue without raising taxes. Koslow also said he would end Nassau’s cooperation agreement with federal immigration authorities, arguing it strains community relations and overextends county resources.
On social policy, he has rejected measures like the county’s bans on transgender athletes and public masking as divisive distractions from more pressing issues of affordability and public safety. His approach, he said, would emphasize collaboration with state and regional leaders, community input on major development projects such as the Nassau Hub, and long-term planning to keep future generations living and working on Long Island.
Elaine Phillips, the Republican Nassau County Comptroller, is seeking re-election on a platform centered on fiscal responsibility, government efficiency, and taxpayer protection. Since taking office in 2022, she has focused on modernizing Nassau County’s financial systems, strengthening oversight of county spending, and ensuring residents receive measurable value for their tax dollars.
Elaine Phillips Party: Republican
A former New York State senator representing the 7th District, Phillips previously served as mayor of Flower Hill, where she managed local budgets and enacted cost-saving reforms. Before entering public office, she built a successful career in finance with senior roles at J.P. Morgan, Goldman Sachs, and MetLife, bringing private-sector expertise to government operations.
As comptroller, Phillips has prioritized accountability and transparency in county finances. Her office has recovered millions in outstanding
payments owed to Nassau County, identified inefficiencies in procurement and contract management, and implemented updated auditing procedures to prevent waste and fraud. She has also emphasized modernization, leading efforts to digitize accounting systems.
On the issues: Phillips has focused on strengthening fiscal stability, monitoring contract performance, and scrutinizing the county’s partnerships with major public entities such as the MTA. She has also overseen audits addressing delayed payments to small businesses and service providers, ensuring timely reimbursements and greater financial clarity. Phillips points to her background in both finance and local government as key to her pragmatic approach to fiscal management. She has emphasized longterm planning, responsible borrowing, and efficiency-driven reforms designed to safeguard public resources.
Wayne Wink, the Democratic candidate for Nassau County Comptroller, is running on a platform centered on transparency, fiscal integrity, and restoring independence to the county’s chief financial office. With more than two decades of public service, he brings extensive legislative and administrative experience to the race.
Party: Democrat
A resident of Roslyn, Wink began his career in local government on the North Hempstead Town Board, where he served from 2003 to 2007. He was later elected to the Nassau County Legislature, representing the 10th District from 2007 to 2014, which includes parts of Great Neck, East Hills, Roslyn, and Manhasset. During his tenure, he developed a reputation for fiscal diligence and constituent advocacy, focusing on responsible budgeting and government accountability.
In 2014, Wink was elected North Hempstead Town Clerk, a position he held until 2021. In that role, he oversaw
modernization of the town’s recordkeeping and licensing systems, implemented digital accessibility initiatives, and ensured compliance with open government and transparency laws. His administrative experience as clerk further solidified his focus on efficiency
On the issues: Wink has framed his campaign for comptroller around independence and transparency. He emphasizes the need for unbiased financial oversight, ensuring that county contracts, audits, and expenditures are handled with integrity and free from political influence. His platform includes expanding digital access to county financial data, improving internal controls, and strengthening collaboration with local municipalities to enhance fiscal efficiency. Wink holds a bachelor’s degree from Union College and a law degree from St. John’s University School of Law.
Maureen O’Connell, Nassau County Clerk since 2006, is seeking re-election to continue her work modernizing the office and expanding services for seniors and non-English-speaking residents. With over 30 years in public service, O’Connell brings experience as both a registered nurse and attorney, having previously served in the New York State Assembly and as Deputy Mayor of East Williston
On the issues:
state’s earliest Supreme Court e-filing systems and integrated digital connections with state and local agencies. She has also prioritized digitizing historical documents, making decades-old records more accessible for residents, particularly seniors who often need to retrieve property information.
During her nearly two decades as clerk, O’Connell has overseen a major transformation of the office’s operations. Under her leadership, millions of backlogged documents were processed, and the office transitioned to a fully digitized system for court and land records. This modernization has allowed residents and attorneys to file and access official documents online, reducing the need for in-person visits.
O’Connell implemented one of the
In an effort to protect homeowners, O’Connell launched a Property Fraud Alert Program, allowing property owners to receive email notifications if deeds or mortgages are filed in their name, helping to prevent fraud.
If re-elected, she plans to continue digitizing older records and expand parking at the Mineola office. She also intends to further adapt services for residents who speak languages other than English, building on the existing language line currently in place.
A lifelong Nassau County resident, O’Connell lives in East Williston and teaches nursing at SUNY Farmingdale.
Joylette E. Williams, a longtime educator and community leader, is running for Nassau County Clerk with a platform focused on modernization, accessibility, and administrative efficiency. A county resident since 1993, Williams has spent over two decades in public service and education, currently serving as a professor of English at Nassau Community College and a two-term member of the Hempstead School Board.
Williams holds a Ph.D. in English and is completing a second doctorate in Higher Education Administration at the University of Connecticut. Her academic and professional background includes extensive experience in document management, recordkeeping, and organizational leadership—skills she says directly translate to the responsibilities of the clerk’s office.
Her public service includes prior roles as a Village of Hempstead trustee and current board member of the Town of
Hempstead Industrial Development Agency. Williams is also actively involved in civic organizations, including the NAACP, the Chamber of Commerce, the Lions Club, and the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, among others
On the issues: If elected, Williams plans to prioritize the digitization of county records, improve online access to public documents, and expand the use of the clerk’s mobile outreach van to underserved communities. She also proposes extending office hours one day a week to better serve working residents and increasing language accessibility for non-English-speaking residents.
Williams advocates for reducing or waiving fees on property transactions for groups such as seniors, veterans, first responders, and first-time homebuyers, citing Nassau’s fees as higher than neighboring counties.
Anne Donnelly, a Republican and prosecutor for over 30 years, defeated former State Sen. Todd Kaminsky in 2021 to become Nassau County’s top prosecutor; becoming the fourth consecutive woman to do so.
Donnelly, 61, is campaigning on her record as a career prosecutor who has prioritized public safety, gang enforcement and support for law enforcement. She is a Garden City resident and took office in 2022.
Anne Donnelly Party: Republican
Upon taking office she assembled a team of prosecutors and law enforcement officials—including a former police commissioner—to focus on violent crime, narcotics, and unsolved cold cases.
Donnelly also assisted in the Gilgo Beach serial killer investigation and helped close multiple cold cases from the 1960s and 1970s. Donnelly has said her administration prioritizes justice for vulnerable populations, including animals, and has prosecuted abusers under animal cruelty laws.
On the issues:
To address gun violence and online drug trafficking, she created a Firearm Suppression Unit and a Cyber Crimes and Pharmaceutical Unit. Her office has also expanded education programs in schools and invested in hate crime prevention efforts.
Donnelly has been an outspoken critic of New York’s “Cashless Bail” and “Clean Slate” laws, which she argues put repeat violent offenders back on the streets. She has called for their repeal while voicing continued support for police.
Before her election, Donnelly served 32 years in the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office, most recently as deputy bureau chief of the Organized Crime and Rackets Bureau. Her cases included murder-for-hire schemes, narcotics rings, and a counterfeit electronics bust that led to the largest asset forfeiture in county history.
Donnelly holds degrees from Fordham University and Fordham Law School.
Nicole Aloise, a Democrat and candidate for Nassau County District Attorney, is mounting a campaign centered on addressing crime in the county, community investment and public safety.
Aloise, 41, brings 16 years of experience as a prosecutor in both Nassau and Queens counties, including recent work as a senior assistant district attorney in the Queens Homicide Bureau. She began her career in 2008 after earning her law degree from St. John’s University. In Queens, she helped secure more than 20 violent felony convictions and made case law by introducing the first NYPD body camera footage used in a New York City trial.
run for district attorney.
On the issues: Her platform includes strengthening the county’s Hate Crimes Bureau to better address attacks on Jewish and Asian communities, supporting the creation of a “death by dealer” statute to hold drug traffickers accountable in fatal overdose cases, and boosting funding for mental health, youth and violence prevention programs.
Aloise has also pledged to crack down on DWI cases through the county’s Vehicular Crimes Bureau and continue partnering with local police departments to improve public safety.
From 2019 to 2023, she served in the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office as senior litigation counsel, prosecuting violent felonies and homicide cases. She returned to Queens in 2023 and continued her work until stepping down in 2024 to
She lives in Garden City with her family, serves on her school’s PTA, coaches youth soccer and teaches legal ethics as an adjunct professor at Molloy University.
Kate Murray is running for re-election as Town Clerk of Hempstead. She was first elected to the position in 2002 and returned to the office in 2019 after serving as Hempstead Town Supervisor from 2003 to 2016, making her the first woman to hold the position.
She has also served in the New York State Assembly representing the 19th District.
on the issues:
As Town Clerk, Murray has focused on improving accessibility and convenience for residents. Her initiatives include the “One-Stop Passport Shop,” online access to permits and licenses and commuter parking permits available directly at LIRR stations. She oversaw the construction of a $6 million multipurpose center for the ANCHOR Program, which offers programs in
athletics, aquatic activities, theater, computer skills, nutrition and social engagement. Murray’s office has also advanced renewable energy initiatives, including a green energy park and a solarpowered government office recognized by the Environmental Protection Agency for its zeroemission design.
The Town Clerk’s Office handles vital records, marriage licenses, permits, public notices, town board records, official records and historical archives dating back to 1644. The office also performs wedding ceremonies and processes applications for zoning changes, public garages, and other municipal permits.
Democratic candidate Yveline Dalmacy has not responded to requests for an interview for a roundtable.
on the issues:
Viviana Russell is a former North Hempstead councilwoman, small business owner, and longtime public servant running for the newly redrawn 2nd Legislative District. She represented District 1 in North Hempstead from 2010 to 2021, where she led affordable housing efforts, downtown revitalization, and infrastructure improvements.
Her campaign focuses on “Moving Forward Together” and brining people together, regardless of part or background to create opportunities, solve problems.
She also advocates for smart economic development and more equitable distribution of county resources — especially in historically underserved areas of the district.
Russell helped bring more than 200 housing units to the area, secured
funding for the “Yes We Can” Community Center, and worked across party lines to deliver over $80 million in neighborhood revitalization projects. After leaving office, she led innovation efforts in Suffolk County government and oversaw operations for its 311 call center.
District 2 includes Uniondale, Westbury, Hempstead, Carle Place, Jericho, and Hicksville — communities Russell calls central to Nassau’s future. She lives in New Cassel/Westbury with her husband Gary and says her experience, faith, and grassroots roots make her ready to lead on day one
Pepitz Blachard did not come in for a roundtable.
LEGAL NOTICE
SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
INDEX NO.: 617460/2024 COUNTY OF NASSAU
U.S. BANK TRUST
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE FOR RCF 2 ACQUISITION TRUST, Plaintiff, vs. DENISE
ROSEBOROUGH, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF CHRISTOPHER
ROSEBOROUGH, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF PEGGY ROSEBOROUGH
A/K/A PEGGY ANN ROSEBOROUGH; TORIAN
ROSEBOROUGH, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF CHRISTOPHER ROSEBOROUGH, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF PEGGY ROSEBOROUGH
A/K/A PEGGY ANN ROSEBOROUGH;
GLYNITA WILSON, INDIVIDUALLY AND AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF PEGGY ROSEBOROUGH
A/K/A PEGGY ANN ROSEBOROUGH; LAMONT ROSEBOROUGH, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF PEGGY ROSEBOROUGH
A/K/A PEGGY ANN ROSEBOROUGH, if living, and if she/he be dead, any and all persons unknown to plaintiff, claiming, or who may claim to have an interest in, or general or specifc lien upon the real property described in this action; such unknown persons being herein generally described and intended to be included in the following designation, namely: the wife, widow, husband, widower, heirs at law, next of kin, descendants, executors, administrators, devisees, legatees, creditors, trustees, committees, lienors, and assignees of such deceased, any and all persons deriving interest in or lien upon, or title to said real property by, through or under them, or either of them, and their respective wives, widows, husbands, widowers, heirs at law, next of kin, descendants, executors, administrators, devisees, legatees,
creditors, trustees, committees, lienors and assigns, all of whom and whose names, except as stated, are unknown to plaintiff; UNKNOWN HEIRS AND DISTRIBUTEES OF THE ESTATE OF CHRISTOPHER ROSEBOROUGH, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF PEGGY ROSEBOROUGH A/K/A PEGGY ANN ROSEBOROUGH, any and all persons unknown to plaintiff, claiming, or who may claim to have an interest in, or general or specifc lien upon the real property described in this action; such unknown persons being herein generally described and intended to be included in the following designation, namely: the wife, widow, husband, widower, heirs at law, next of kin, descendants, executors, administrators, devisees, legatees, creditors, trustees, committees, lienors, and assignees of such deceased, any and all persons deriving interest in or lien upon, or title to said real property by, through or under them, or either of them, and their respective wives, widows, husbands, widowers, heirs at law, next of kin, descendants, executors, administrators, devisees, legatees, creditors, trustees, committees, lienors and assigns, all of whom and whose names, except as stated, are unknown to plaintiff; UNKNOWN HEIRS AND DISTRIBUTEES OF THE ESTATE OF PEGGY ROSEBOROUGH A/K/A PEGGY ANN ROSEBOROUGH, any and all persons unknown to plaintiff, claiming, or who may claim to have an interest in, or general or specifc lien upon the real property described in this action; such unknown persons being herein generally described and intended to be included in the following designation, namely: the wife, widow, husband, widower, heirs at law, next of kin, descendants, executors, administrators, devisees, legatees, creditors, trustees, committees, lienors, and assignees of such deceased, any and all
persons deriving interest in or lien upon, or title to said real property by, through or under them, or either of them, and their respective wives, widows, husbands, widowers, heirs at law, next of kin, descendants, executors, administrators, devisees, legatees, creditors, trustees, committees, lienors and assigns, all of whom and whose names, except as stated, are unknown to plaintiff; MORTGAGE ELECTRONIC REGISTRATION SYSTEMS, INC.; VANGUARD FUNDING LLC F/K/A FBM, LLC D/B/A FIDELITY BORROWING MORTGAGE BANKERS, A LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY; MUTUAL SECURITY CREDIT UNION INC.; NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; MS CANAL LLC, Defendants. Plaintiff designates NASSAU as the place of trial situs of the real property
SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS
Mortgaged Premises: 45 SYCAMORE AVENUE
HEMPSTEAD, NY 11550
Section: 34, Block: 380, Lot: 442-443
To the above named Defendants YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the Complaint in the above entitled action and to serve a copy of your Answer on the plaintiff’s attorney within twenty (20) days of the service of this Summons, exclusive of the day of service, or within thirty (30) days after service of the same is complete where service is made in any manner other than by personal delivery within the State. The United States of America, if designated as a defendant in this action, may answer or appear within sixty (60) days of service. Your failure to appear or to answer will result in a judgment against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint. In the event that a defciency balance remains from the sale proceeds, a judgment may be entered against you.
NOTICE OF NATURE OF ACTION AND RELIEF
SOUGHT
THE OBJECT of the above caption action is to foreclose a Mortgage to secure the sum of $360,000.00 and interest, recorded on April 12, 2007, in Liber M 31766 at Page 45, of the Public Records of NASSAU County, New York., covering premises known as 45 SYCAMORE AVENUE, HEMPSTEAD, NY 11550.
The relief sought in the within action is a fnal judgment directing the sale of the premises described above to satisfy the debt secured by the Mortgage described above.
NASSAU County is designated as the place of trial because the real property affected by this action is located in said county.
NOTICE YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSINaG YOUR HOME
If you do not respond to this summons and complaint by serving a copy of the answer on the attorney for the mortgage company who fled this foreclosure proceeding against you and fling the answer with the court, a default judgment may be entered and you can lose your home. Speak to an attorney or go to the court where your case is pending for further information on how to answer the summons and protect your property.
Sending a payment to the mortgage company will not stop the foreclosure action.
YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (MORTGAGE COMPANY) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT.
Dated: September 17th, 2025
ROBERTSON, ANSCHUTZ, SCHNEID, CRANE & PARTNERS, PLLC
Attorney for Plaintiff Orit Avraham, Esq. 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310 Westbury, NY 11590 516-280-7675 155974
LEGAL NOTICE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU. U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE OF LEGACY MORTGAGE ASSET TRUST 2020-GS5, Plaintiff -againstPATRICK BENOIT, et al Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated March 3, 2025 and entered on March 11, 2025, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court “Rain or Shine” located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY on November 12, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. premises situate, lying and being in the Incorporated Village of Hempstead, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, bounded and described as follows: BEGINNING at a point on the Easterly side of Rutland Road, distant 468.16 feet Northerly to the corner formed by the intersection of the Easterly side of Rutland Road and the Northerly side of Jerusalem Avenue; being a plot 50.05 feet by 116.29 feet by 50.015 feet by 114.25 feet.
Said premises known as 178 RUTLAND ROAD, HEMPSTEAD, NY 11550
Approximate amount of lien $519,080.34 plus interest & costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of fled Judgment and Terms of Sale. Index Number 608647/2023.
LISA POCZIK, ESQ., Referee Kosterich & Skeete, LLC Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 707 Westchester Ave, Suite 302, White Plains, NY 10604 {* HEMPSTEAD*} 156094
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY, BUT SOLELY AS TRUSTEE OF LSRMF MH MASTER PARTICIPATION TRUST II, PLAINTIFF, VS. SERGE MARS; MARIE
GINA MARS A/K/A
MARIE G. MARS A/K/A
MARIE MARS, ET AL., DEFENDANT(S). Pursuant to an Order
Confrming Referee Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on May 5, 2025, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the front steps on the north side of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on November 13, 2025 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 171 Allen Street, Hempstead, NY 11550. 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 Hempstead, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 36, Block 41 and Lot 54. Approximate amount of judgment is $296,808.44 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of fled Judgment Index #617176/2022. Scott H. Siller, Esq., Referee Friedman Vartolo LLP, 85 Broad Street, Suite 501, New York, New York 10004, Attorneys for Plaintiff. Firm File No.: 232579-1 156152
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, STATE OF NEW YORK MORTGAGE AGENCY (SONYMA), Plaintiff, vs. TIFFANY DUNCAN, ET AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to an Order Confrming Referee’s Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on July 26, 2024, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the front steps on the north side of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on November 12, 2025 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 154 Cornell Street, Hempstead, NY 11550. 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 Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 34, Block 225 and Lots 31-32, 820. Approximate amount of judgment is $446,505.75 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of fled Judgment Index
#607349/2023. Cash will not be accepted. Michael Sepe, Esq., Referee Knuckles & Manfro, LLP, 120 White Plains Road, Suite 215, Tarrytown, New York 10591, Attorneys for Plaintiff 156144
LEGAL NOTICE VILLAGE OF HEMPSTEAD EXEMPTIONS
FILING PERIODOCTOBER 1ST THRU DECEMBER 31ST ALTERNATIVE VETERANS
Veterans who served in the military during World War 1, World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War, and Persian Gulf War may qualify for an exemption of 15 to 25% off their assessed value.
SENIOR CITIZENS
All persons on the deed must be 65 years of age, except if husband and wife are sole owners, only one must be 65. Income of all owners cannot exceed $45,500.00 yearly. This exemption is renewable each year.
CLERGY
Real property that is owned and occupied by a member of the clergy is exempt from general municipal and school district taxes to the extent of $1500 of assessed value.
IMPROVEMENTS TO PROPERTY PURSUANT TO AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT OF 1990
Real property altered, installed or improved for persons with disabilities is exempt from taxation to the extent of any increase in value attributable to these improvements up to 10 years.
SOLAR
Real property that contains a solar or wind energy system approved by the State Energy research and Development authority is exempt from taxation for a period of 15 years to the extent of any increase in assessed value due to the system.
VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS AND VOLUNTEER AMBULANCE WORKERS EXEMPTION.
Property owned and occupied by volunteer frefghters and ambulance workers with at least 5 (fve) years of enrolled service are eligible to an exemption of 10% of the assessed value.
NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATION
EXEMPTION.
Real property that (1) is owned by a nonproft corporation or association organized or conducted exclusively for one or more specifc purposes (religious, educational, charitable, hospital, or moral or mental improvement of men, women, or children) and (2) is used exclusively for carrying out one or more of these purposes is wholly exempt from taxation and is exempt, for certain purposes, from special ad valorem levies and special assessments. 156341
LEGAL NOTICE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE FOR LEHMAN ABS MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST 2007-1, MORTGAGE PASSTHROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2007-1, -againstMARITZA VILLELA A/K/A MARITZA VILLELAVILLA, ET AL. NOTICE OF SALE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure entered in the Offce of the Clerk of the County of Nassau on October 3, 2023, wherein WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE FOR LEHMAN ABS MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST 2007-1, MORTGAGE PASSTHROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2007-1 is the Plaintiff and MARITZA VILLELA A/K/A MARITZA VILLELA-VILLA, 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 November 13, 2025 at 2:00PM, the premises known as 225 BEVERLY ROAD, HEMPSTEAD, NY 11550; tax map identifcation 34-462-207, 208, 209 and 210; and description: ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND, SITUATE, LYING AND BEING IN THE INCORPORATED VILLAGE OF
HEMPSTEAD, TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, NASSAU COUNTY, STATE OF NEW YORK
Premises will be sold subject to provisions of fled Judgment Index No.: 610614/2019.
Brian J. Davis, Esq.Referee. Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310, Westbury, New York 11590, Attorneys for Plaintiff. All foreclosure sales will be conducted in accordance with Covid-19 guidelines including, but not limited to, social distancing and mask wearing. *LOCATION OF SALE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DAY OF IN ACCORDANCE WITH COURT/CLERK DIRECTIVES.
156316
LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE OF SALE
Supreme Court County of Nassau U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, on behalf of the holders of the First Franklin Mortgage Loan Trust 2006-FF14 Mortgage PassThrough Certifcates, Series 2006-FF14, Plaintiff AGAINST Raisa M. Rodriguez, Jose Ferrufno, et al, Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on September 30, 2019, I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction at the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, North sides of the steps, Mineola, NY 11501 on November 13, 2025 at 2:00 PM premises known as 175 West Marshall Street, Hempstead, NY 11550. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the County of Nassau, State of New York, SECTION: 36, BLOCK: 55, LOT: 4, 5, 6 & 7. Approximate amount of judgment is $1,118,573.90 plus interests and costs. Premises will be sold
subject to provisions of fled Judgment Index # 004241/2016. For sale information, please visit Auction.com at www.Auction.com or call (800) 280-2832. Russell S. Burman, Referee FRENKEL LAMBERT WEISS WEISMAN & GORDON LLP 53 Gibson Street Bay Shore, NY 11706 87565 156263
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT. NASSAU COUNTY. L&L ASSOCIATES HOLDING CORP., Pltf. vs. 65 LAFAYETTE LLC, et al, Defts. Index #605998/2024. Pursuant to judgment of foreclosure and sale entered Sept. 24, 2025, I will sell at public auction on the North Side steps of the Nassau Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY on November 20, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. premises k/a Section 34, Block 206, Lot 458. Sold subject to terms and conditions of fled judgment and terms of sale. The foreclosure sale will be held, “rain or shine.”
LESLIE LOWENSTEIN, Referee. LEVY & LEVY, Attys. for Pltf., 12 Tulip Drive, Great Neck, NY 11021. #102574 156276
LEGAL NOTICE
ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS VILLAGE OF HEMPSTEAD, NY PLEASE TAKE NOTICE THAT THE Board of Zoning Appeals will hold a Regular Meeting on Thursday, November 6, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. in the Village Boardroom, 99 James A. Garner Way, Hempstead, New York to consider the following appeals: CASE #25-0185Application of Food Bazaar and Hub Property Owner LLC for a variance under Section 139-6 compliance required, Section 113-1A defnitions, wall sign of the Zoning Code of The Village of Hempstead for permission to install
rear wall signage at rear parking on front street - food bazaar rear wall sign at 132 Fulton Avenue AKA 15 Bell St., Hempstead, NY 11550. Said property is located in a Business B zone known as Section 34, Block 300, Lot(s) 70 on the Land and Tax Map of the County of Nassau and Incorporated Village of Hempstead. CASE # 25-0409Application of Farang Homes LLC for a variance under Section 139-6 compliance required, Section 139-8 extension, or alteration of use, Section 139-13 damage, destruction or demolition of use of the Zoning Code of The Village of Hempstead for permission to rebuild existing nonconforming dwelling, over 50% of reconstruction at 58 Remsen Ave., Hempstead, NY 11550. Said property is located in a Residence B zone known as Section 34, Block 231, Lot(s) 148 on the Land and Tax Map of the County of Nassau and Incorporated Village of Hempstead.
DAN OPPENHEIMER, CHAIRMAN
ASHLEY ZEIGLERFLETCHER, ZONING BOARD
ADMINISTRATOR
Dated: October 23, 2025
D/N: October 21, 2025 156433
LEGAL NOTICE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU DEUTSCHE BANK NATIONAL TRUST COMPANY, AS TRUSTEE FOR FFMLT TRUST 2006FF3, MORTGAGE PASSTHROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2006-FF3, -againstGARY BRIFIL, JR., ET AL.
NOTICE OF SALE
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure entered in
the Offce of the Clerk of the County of Nassau on January 30, 2023, wherein DEUTSCHE BANK NATIONAL TRUST COMPANY, AS TRUSTEE FOR FFMLT TRUST 2006-FF3, MORTGAGE PASSTHROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2006-FF3 is the Plaintiff and GARY BRIFIL, JR., 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 November 25, 2025 at 2:00PM, the premises known as 22 CORNWALL LANE, HEMPSTEAD, NY 11550; tax map identifcation 34-436-139; and description: 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 HEMPSTEAD, TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, COUNTY OF NASSAU AND STATE OF NEW YORK Premises will be sold subject to provisions of fled Judgment Index No.: 611232/2018. Mark Ricciardi, 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. 156429
To place a notice here call us at 516-569-4000 x232 or send an email to: legalnotices@liherald.com
of the Senior Center at 260 Clinton Street.
By REINE BETHANY
Special to the Herald
The incumbent Nassau County comptroller is a sixth-degree black belt.
With that on her resume, Elaine Phillips was invited to lead a safety workshop by LaShawn Lukes, president of the New Greater Hempstead Chamber of Commerce.
Phillips, who is running for re-election against Wayne Wink, has done many such workshops across Nassau County.
“I’ve been training and teaching for 30 years now,” Phillips said at the senior center on Clinton Street in Hempstead on Oct. 20. “I still train five days a week. In martial arts, we say, ‘Be soft on the inside but strong on the outside.’”
She first addressed the number one safety risk for senior citizens: falling. Phillips explained simple at-home exercises to do while carefully holding a counter or bar, using good posture, to strengthen ankles, knees, and hips.
Regarding the threat of physical attack on a vulnerable senior, Phillips laid out simple but vital principles.
“I have a sixth-degree black belt, but I can’t fight someone who is physically heavier and stronger,” Phillips said. “It comes down to awareness. We have this little sixth sense that tells us if someone is behind us. We’re going to stop walking, maybe get a tissue out of our pocket, and allow that person that was behind us to get in front of us. If someone’s behind us, they’re in charge. If
they’re in front of us, we’re in charge.”
But if it looks like a senior citizen is in danger of physical attack, Phillips said, “Your number one tool if someone comes at you is this.”
Shrieking at top volume, Phillips threw her arms from side to side while screaming, “Get away, you crazy man! Get away!”
While the seniors laughed, she told them that research showed that if someone is attacking, “They do not want to deal with crazy people.”
Phillips told her audience members how to practice raising their voices in the shower, where warm water loosens the vocal chords and neighbors can’t hear. She also recommended that the whistle she had placed in small bags with informational literature should be looped onto a senior’s keyring, not dropped into a pocket or a purse.
“Men,” Phillips added, “I like to tell you, put a rubber band around your wallet and put it in your front pocket because the rubber band is sticky and makes it hard for a pickpocket to get the wallet out.”
She addressed several other topics, such as the growth of phone scams and how to know when a phone or email contact from an institution like a bank or government agency is legitimate.
For free information about the many facets of self-defense and safety, seniors can contact the Nassau County Office for the Aging at (516) 227-8900, or email seniors@hhsnassaucountyny.us.
