Long Beach Herald 01-12-2023

Also serving Point Lookout & East Atlantic Beach

Long Beach kids jam with hip-hop legend DMC

When Lars Sorensen was in kindergarten and first grade in Long Beach schools, he continually tapped out a beat on his desk, according to his mother, Jeanine Sorensen. His teacher, she said, thought he had rhythm, but he didn’t help his classmates concentrate on their lessons. So Lars practiced music practically every day — outside school.

Now, at 15, he attends the Long Island High School for the Performing arts, and plays drums for a Long Beach band called Deez Guyzz.

At age 6, Paul Vivot admired his sis-

In an emergency, city now has more ways to let you know

A few days before Christmas, Long Beach was hit with severe rain that caused flooding in some areas, particularly in the West End and the canals. The city is no stranger to storms, big and small.

As a result, it has decided to step up its emergency notification system, switching to what it calls CivicPlus Mass Notification, or CivicReady, which will send emergency as well as routine alerts and notifications to residents. The alerts can be delivered by text message, email, pager or voicemail

instead of just robocalls.

About 9,000 residents have signed up for the notifications thus far.

“This isn’t necessarily something highly localized, like ‘There’s an accident on this road that will be cleared up in an hour,’” City spokesman John McNally said of the new system. “It’s really for things like the flooding during the holidays. We would keep everybody posted if there’s another Hurricane Sandy, if we’re expecting some real severe weather or if there’s a snow emergency declared and cars have to be off the streets.”

So far, last month’s flooding has been the lone time the city

has used the system. It has been fully operationally since Jan. 1. The new system is also less expensive for the city than the one it used previously, OnSolve CodeRed — a robocall network

— and gives Long Beach “a superior product,” McNally said. The city had not disclosed the difference in cost by press time.

The new system will not necessitate any changes in procedure at the city’s police, fire and emergency response departments. It simply lets the community know about weather and

other emergencies faster.

“This is a positive thing where the city is able to communicate super fast with the residents in times of emergency,” Fire Commissioner Joseph Miller said. “To be able to do that without delays and get people the information they need is a plus for the community.”

This is a positive thing where the city is able to communicate super fast with the residents in times of emergency.

JoSEPh MillER fire commissioner

Schumer promises push for tech, environment

Chuck Schumer has three goals for the new year: improve mass transit, ensure water and air quality are safe, and promote high technology on Long Island.

The New York Democrat who maintained his role as majority leader in the U.S. Senate after last year’s mid-terms, told more than 1,000 people attending last week’s Long Island Association breakfast in Woodbury that he has, in the past two years, secured federal money to help the Metropolitan Transportation Authority recover from the worst of the Covid pandemic, while still getting money earmarked to protect the Long Island Sound and even clean up aging lead pipes.

The event at Crest Hollow Country Club was LIA’s annual State of the Region gathering that attracted both movers and shakers, as well as elected leaders like the executives from both Nassau and Suffolk counties. Schumer’s participation comes after he was elected to a fifth six-year term in the upper chamber of Capitol Hill, defeating Joseph Pinion, a conservative columnist who claimed Schumer had been in office too long with too little to show for it.

But history is written by the victors, and Schumer had a lot of history to share.

“We had one of the most productive legislative sessions in years,” the senator

said, ticking off a list of legislative wins that included his role in shepherding through President Joe Biden’s $1 trillion infrastructure bill, as well as securing $15 billion for the MTA, which operates the Long Island Rail Road.

“No one was riding the trains” during the pandemic, Schumer added.

“For the first time, New York state got back more money that it gave out,” the senator said, referring to the give-andtake of funding with the federal government. New York has traditionally been a “giving” state, meaning its federal dollars usually went to help other states. This past year, the state was more of a receiver.

How productive the next two years will be is a big question. Republicans took control of the U.S. House — but only by a slim margin. That might mean pushing through bills that could win over at least some moderate Republicans.

One of those efforts will focus on improving transportation. The MTA funding, for example, would pay for repairs and upgrades of cars, tracks and electronic systems. Money also would be directed to portions of the Sunrise Highway in Nassau and Suffolk counties.

Another $5 million will build a transit hub in Ronkonkoma.

Schumer also budgeted $106 million to clean up Long Island Sound, and that’s just the beginning. He also plans to use $60 million to help remove some of the contami-

nants from the Long Island aquifer.

Yet, the Senator sounded most enthusiastic about a project to install electricitygenerating windmills off Long Island’s South Shore — likely within the next few years.

Equinor, a multibillion-dollar Norwegian conglomerate specializing in petroleum, hopes to build a wind energy farm just a few miles off the coast with a substation delivering power directly to Island Park — a plan that has aroused controversy with neighbors.

The $3 billion project must still pass a plethora of bureaucratic hurdles, however.

“Long Island will be the capital for offshore wind,” Schumer said, “not just in New York, but across the country.”

The senator also wants to promote two of Long Island’s largest high-technology institutions — Brookhaven National Lab and SUNY Stony Brook.

“Long Island can be the center for (microchip) production and manufacturing,” Schumer said. “BNL and Stony Brook are at the cutting-edge of technology.”

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, told the Herald there was more in the works for this part of Long Island as well. He’s heard chatter about a strong interest in securing a casino, possibly at the Nassau Hub.

But for that to happen, anyone developing it would need to make sure the facility is first acceptable to the community.

“We wouldn’t be interested in anything but a first-class hospitality venue with a casino,” Blakeman said.

No dogs allowed at Long Beach dog park

For 18 years, Steve Kritzberg has brought his dogs to the park dedicated just for them at Nickerson Beach. He’s part of an early morning social group, and then comes back to socialize with afternoon and weekend pet owners as well.

There, Kritzberg meets up with other dog lovers to shoot the breeze, all while their four-legged best friends have the times of their lives running around free.

A tired dog is a happy dog, Kritzberg says. But that changed on a recent trip, when he found a fence and closed gate — the first time he can remember the park being closed, except for when the remnants of Hurricane Sandy hit Long Beach.

Kritzberg waved down a police officer he found patrolling nearby, hoping for some answers while his dog waited patiently in the car. Instead, he got a warning to stay away.

“As soon as I entered the gate, he turned on his light, did a U-turn, and came at me,” Kritzberg said. The officer was visibly upset, telling him the park is closed. And if Kritzberg stuck around any longer, he’d get a ticket.

That’s how Kritzberg and many others learned the dog park concession rights were sold by Nassau County officials to a company known as the Dover Group, which closed the park, with no public plans on when — and how — it might reopen.

“It was just kind of a kick in the gut, you know?” Kritzberg said. “We have a really nice community of people I’ve

known 18-plus years. We’ve gone through all kinds of things — deaths, having funerals for friends that went to the dog park, birthday parties, Christmas and holiday parties. It’s just become a very nice community.”

That’s because the park is more than just a park. It’s a gathering place for dog lovers to meet and chat, bird watchers to wait and hopefully catch a glimpse of a snowy owl, and other naturalists to enjoy.

But there were signs of change coming, Kritzberg said. Dog walkers noticed garbage starting to pile up in trash cans. When the garbage was finally removed, so were the cans removed.

Then, the park closed.

Officials typically only close one public park for the winter, and the one at Nickerson Beach isn’t it. No one from Dover Group — which took over maintenance of the park, cabanas, pool and recreational vehicle center — returned calls seeking comment.

“The easy answer for him was, ‘I’m just going to close the park and then I don’t have to deal with the garbage,’” Kritzberg said. “That’s my theory.

“I’m just so very fed up. It’s taking me away from a community that Saturday and Sunday mornings, we go down there in blizzard conditions and we go down there for a hour or just for an hour-and-ahalf. We sit there. We have coffee. We catch up on chewing the fat. And it’s just been yanked. The rug has been yanked out from under our feet. It’s pretty hurtful.”

Jack Dicken has been visiting the park from Freeport since he retired in 2000. Catching his fellow dog walkers just after sunrise is important, because many of

them are the only faces he might see all day.

“This is the only time they talk to other people,” Dicken said. “Like, it’s my wife and I. We’ve been together 47 years — even more. And other than my wife, these are the only other people I talked to generally, every day. So, it’s a social thing also with the dogs itself.”

Nassau County Legislator Denise Ford has reached out to the Dover Group trying to schedule a meeting. In the nearly two decades she’s been in office, Ford says she can’t ever recall any one person or group taking control over the entirety of a county-owned park facility.

So why it’s happening with Nickerson Beach is a mystery to her.

“Technically, this is a county park, and the county still owns it,“ Ford said. “We

PAtty LIguORI’s dOg, Luna, stood forlornly outside the locked gate at Nickerson Beach dog park. Although no one could know what was going through her mind, it was evident that Luna didn’t understand why her favorite recreational haunt was closed.

are still basically responsible for the park. But last year, during the rules committee — which I was not a part of — they opted to allow the Dover Group to run Nickerson Beach.

“It was our understanding during this hearing that simply they would operate to the extent that residents wouldn’t even be aware of the fact that it was a change in operations. Unfortunately, that is not proven to be true.”

Ford urges shut-out park-goers to contact the parks commissioner as well as County Executive Bruce Blakeman, and let them know their feelings about the closure of the only county park on the barrier island.

“I’ve made some lifelong friends,” Kritzberg said. “Now we’re not allowed to use the park until springtime.”

Sixth-grade experiments will be out of this world

An experiment designed by Long Beach sixth-graders will soon be out of this world.

The experiment, “How does Microgravity Affect the Germination of Oyster Mushroom Spawns,” will be launched into space in June 2023, as part of the National Center for Earth and Space Science Education’s Student Spaceflight Experiments Program.

Out of 58 proposals written, 41 were submitted to the Step 1 Local Review Board, who chose the top 3 to be adjudicated by the Step 2 National Review Board.

The winning recognition was submitted by FrankDepace, Jr., Nathaniel Kaplan, Jackson Spitz, Gregory Seifert, Giuliana Urrego, and their teacher, Regina Dean.

Long Beach Public Schools Director of Science Cristie Tursi said, “While Frank, Nathaniel, Gregory, Jackson, and Giuliana showed true dedication, curiosity, insight, all 6th grade students, teachers, co-teachers, and staff deserve major kudos and accolades for herculean efforts and collaborative contributions! I am very proud of the entire community.”

Tursi said, “We all are looking forward to learn how the microgravity affects the germination of Oyster Mushroom Spawns and compare the results with the ground

experiment performed by all our sixthgrade students.”

The opportunity to submit a proposal was offered to the entire sixth grade at

projects were: “How Does Microgravity Affect Biodegradable Plastics,” and “How does Microgravity Affect the Germination of Baby Lima Bean Seeds?”

Throughout the rest of the year, the SSEP selected team will set up the space experiment to be performed by astronauts, and their classmates will work in teams to perform the control experiment. “This is real science as a verb: engaging, authentic, project- based learning that inspires students to dream big!” Tursi said.

In June 2023, these patches will be launched to the International Space Station (ISS) along with the science experiment designed by the 6th grade students, and the patches will return to Long Beach with embossed certificates. Onboard the ISS, the patches and experiment will fly at an altitude of 260 miles above Earth’s surface.

In the next phase of the project,, Tursi and the Science Department will collaborate with the Long Beach Director of the Arts and the K-12 Art Departments on the Mission Patch Art and Design Contest.

Long Beach Public Schools will be holding two contests: one for students in Grades K-5 and one for students in Grades 6-12.

Deez Guyzz are planning their own concerts

ter’s clarinet playing. He started learning the recorder, and then switched to guitar. At 10, he is a guitarist for Deez Guyzz.

As a toddler, Bridie Bermingham loved to listen to the radio on the way to visit her grandparents in the Bronx. Her grandfather is a well-known trombone player in Ireland, and she recalls loving the sound of music even before she was able to talk. She eventually started playing piano, and now, at 11, she’s the band’s base player.

Quinn Siegel, 10, used to play drums, but his teacher switched him to vocals, and he is now the band’s vocalist.

Alejandro Coronado was in swimming class in 2017, a class he did not like. His father switched him to music, and now, at 11, he is Deez Guyzz’ keyboardist.

of Hollis, Queens, a founder of RunDMC.

Deez Guyzz were the creation of Ben Metzger, owner of Studio Noir in Long Beach,, which offers music lessons to people of all ages. All of them were Metzger’s students at one time or another, and he arranged for them to learn to play together.

At the Long Beach Public Library last Saturday night, the five young musicians, all Long Beach residents, made local entertainment history. The library has hosted many musical events, its director, Tara Lannen-Stanton, but this one featured “probably the biggest name in terms of mainstream artists.”

That artist was one of the country’s best-known rappers, Darryl McDaniels,

“I taught every single one individually,” Metzger said. Lars, he said, has been with him the longest. Quinn started as a drummer, Metzger said. But he kept picking up the microphone and rapping. “He was good,” Metzger said. So he became a vocalist.

Alejandro, he said, ran into the studio one day and, according to Metzger, said, “This is where legends are made.”

Metzger said that all five may become professionals one day. “They’re already playing on a professional level,” he said, adding that the band is planning concerts of its own.

On Saturday night, they were playing with McDaniels, who is also a comic book writer and has written children’s books. Along with Joseph Simmons and Jason Mizell, he formed Run-DMC in 1983. In 2004, Rolling Stone magazine ranked the group No. 48 on its list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time. In 2007, Run-DMC was named the Greatest Hip Hop Group of All Time by MTV. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2009.

On Saturday night, McDaniels talked for nearly an hour about his struggles growing up in Queens, his beginnings in the world of music, and his advice for young people. He had battled drug abuse, he said, and came out on top.

and Deez Guyzz, according to Sorensen, who is a psychologist in the Long Beach School District, came about when the young band members posted “It’s Tricky,” a Run-DMC song, on social media. McDaniels liked what he heard.

Happy New Year to all!

There have been significant changes in the law in a number of areas as of January 1, 2023. The gift tax exclusion, which many people still think is $15,000, is now $17,000, up from $16,000 in 2022. Each person may give up to $17,000 to as many people as they want to without incurring any Federal gift tax liability and without using any of their Federal estate tax exemption at death.

Speaking of the Federal estate tax exemption, that has been raised from $12,060,000 to $12,920,000. Since the exemption amount is adjusted for inflation, and inflation was high in 2022, there was a large jump. Same for the New York estate tax exemption which jumped from $6,110,000 to $6,580,000.

The higher Federal exemption is due to tax reform initiated by President Trump commencing in 2016. Fiscal restraints required that the higher Federal exemption expire after ten years. At the end of 2025 then the Federal exemption is slated to return to

New York levels. Since you can use any of your now almost $13,000,000 per person as a tax-free gift while you are living, many savvy clients have moved and are continuing to move family wealth to trusts for their children. Often, the parents choose to maintain control of these trusts, and they not only get the assets out of their estate while the getting is good, they also get all of the growth on those assets out of their estate.

Medicaid rates have changed so that an individual who needs care, either at home or in a nursing facility, may keep up to $28,133.00 in assets. If one spouse is at home, and the other spouse is in a nursing home, the spouse at home may keep up to about $150,000 in assets. The value of the home, up to $1,033,000 is exempt from Medicaid if a spouse is living there (while the other is in a facility) or for an individual receiving Medicaid for home care.

Finally, the age at which an individual must take their IRA required minimum distribution has been raised from age 72 to 73.

“All of you in this room are hope and motion,” McDaniels said. He said that when he was growing up, he listened to New York City radio stations. “What was beautiful about them is that they were not segregated,” he said.

“The fortunate thing that happened to me,” he said, “was that hip-hop came over the bridge.”

The connection between McDaniels

He contacted the group, and arrangements were made for him to appear at the library, Sorensen said. “There was a lot of communication going back and forth,” he said. Before they gathered at the library, McDaniels gave the young musicians some songs to practice.

They said they would never forget their evening with McDaniels. “It was pretty great,” said Alejandro. “I didn’t think about playing with somebody who was famous. I was just so happy. I saw my dad and my and my uncle. They were happy too.”

This is where legends are made.

Walsh ready to step in as interim city manager

After Donna Gayden, who had been Long Beach’s city manager through almost three tumultuous years, unexpectedly resigned her position last Tuesday, Police Commissioner Ron Walsh stepped in as the interim. With the change, he wants to ensure the community is comfortable with his appointment.

Walsh has been in public service for about 35 years. He spent nine years on the Locust Valley School Board and was on the Nassau-Suffolk school board as well. He has been Long Beach’s police chief since being sworn in in early 2021. Now as the interim city manager, he has a whole new slate of responsibilities, but wants residents to know he’s up for it.

“I spent all my career learning how to provide for constituents,” Walsh said. “My philosophical approach has developed itself to how we can help the greatest number of people and what I can focus on to represent everyone.”

Walsh went back to school to get a master’s degree in public administration so he could bring an “educational point of view, philosophical point of view and a policy point of view” to the Long Beach government. He said he wants the community to know that even though changes and improvements, where they’re needed, may not be seen immediately, they are underway.

“People are not going to be sweeping changes overnight,” he said. “What we need to do here in the city, is really pay attention to the changes that we can

make to move the city in the direction that the residents want to move. That comes from government, that comes through our council, who’s elected by the public to represent the needs of the city, and make sure that the vision for the city is set in the right direction.”

Walsh said the city will be unveiling its comprehensive plan and comprehensive financial plan as well, which is currently being worked on. He also plans to work on not only recovering and continuing the recovery of the city’s finances, but also handling those “qualityof-life types of situations to make everybody feel as if the city is really on the upswing.”

Even with being the interim city manager for the foreseeable future, Walsh will remain the police commissioner as well. His involvement with the police department will not change, and it will continue being the first place he stops at every morning. As for his daily management of the city, he said it’s through the department leaders. He has, and will continue, meeting with the department leaders, and the city council, to set the priorities they feel they need to move on.

“I have a lot of trust in the team that is here,” he said of the city’s government. “You need to take an amalgamation of everybody’s input and come out with the path that benefits the most people the greatest way as we move into the future. That’s really the way I lead everything.”

Walsh’s first city council meeting as interim city manager will be next week, Jan. 17.

PRESS RELEASE

Chairman of the Nassau County Bridge Authority Issues Response to Decal Concerns

Dear Atlantic Beach, Long Beach and Neighboring Resident Communities: The Nassau County Bridge Authority (NCBA) is a separate functioning Authority. Unlike other bridges, the NCBA does not receive Tax Payer, Property Tax, County and State Funding. The NCBA funds 100% of its operations through toll revenue. The Atlantic Beach Bridge spans 1173 feet (40%+ greater than its neighboring Long Beach Bridge)

When I was nominated for this role, I was honored to give back to the communities. Unfortunately, timing is not something we can all control.

My first initiative as Chairman was to review the status of our finances, revenues and capital needs. My second initiative was to work with our engineers at Hardesty & Hanover and our auditor to ensure that we have adequate capital to address our required infrastructure needs. My third initiative and quite an important one, was to address the public outcry on the failing toll plaza.

Over the past three-years, the Authority has lost nearly $1M per year (excluding goodwill). One can assume that this was due to the COVID pandemic and loss of toll revenue. While the Authority was hoping for a return back to profitability, unfortunately this proved impossible at our current revenues.

Just like all American businesses, citizens and public authorities, we are not immune to inflation. We have encountered inflation unlike anyone has seen in 40+ years. This has affected all aspects of the Authority’s finances. We are scheduled to lose over $2M in 2023 and headed towards a path of insolvency unless we address the issues.

In my learnings, I discovered that our prior toll increase took place roughly 17 years ago and the study at the time, indicated that it was only good for about 5 years. The prior board did as much as they could to extend this until now. However, no-one could have predicted the pandemic and subsequent high inflation.

After a vigorous review, our auditor and board determined that a toll increase is required for the viability of the Bridge Authority. As a point of reference, bridges are rated 7 to 1, 7 being in excellent new condition and 1 being the opposite. The Atlantic Beach Bridge is rated a 5, which is incredible for a 70-year-old bridge. Make no mistake, this is because we were setup as a separate Authority from the start, in order to maintain our own bridge.

The decision to raise tolls does not come lightly, especially at a time when our residents are hurting due to high inflation. That is why we made the decision to raise the residents at a much lower amount vs. non-residents and commercial vehicles. While going from $2.00 to $3.00 seems excessive, until EZ-Pass is implemented, it is still far below what $2.00 would be worth 17 years later with inflation.

The implementation of EZ-Pass was sound and logical considering the latter. The board could have simply spent similar amounts to upgrade the failing system and keep it as a cash toll. This seemed counterintuitive given the number of complaints ranging from pedestrians not having cash, commercial vehicles having to pull to the side, delivery drivers not knowing what to do and of course the dangerous conditions it causes when vehicles must back out. This is on top of the heavy summer traffic build-up on the 878, that occurs due to only accepting cash.

The biggest issue I want to clarify, is the circulation of ongoing misinformation (see figure #1 below). Misinformation has been circulating that the Decal system and its benefits are being completely eliminated. This could not be farther from the truth. In fact, we are upgrading how we treat Decals. While we are phasing out the Decal “stickers” by mid-2023, we are incorporating the Decal benefits into the EZ-Pass system. Travelers will be able to enjoy all of the benefits of their prior Decals with the current EZ-Pass Reader/Transponder. Travelers will be able to login to their EZ-Pass account and add the Atlantic Beach Bridge to their annual unlimited use for $199 (residents) and $349 (non-residents).

As our commitment to the Atlantic Beach, Long Beach and Neighboring Resident Communities, presently we do not plan to raise tolls again until at least January 2028 and beyond. We are looking towards other revenue streams to help offset our costs and to date are pursing the following:

1. Placing our liquidity in higher interest-bearing accounts at today’s rates. This will result in a financial benefit of roughly $200K annually.

2. Restricting overnight openings for the drawbridge to a schedule which will decrease costs by roughly $100K.

3. We have explored refinancing the bonds and are waiting for the right opportunity to save significantly.

4. Exploring the use of vacant land.

Lastly, with the EZ-Pass upgrade, the security gates in the toll lanes will remain in place. We are planning to add better LED lighting to the bridge, security cameras and having more of a police presence at the Bridge Authority. Rest assured that we are working for the benefit of the people. Sincerely,

Figure #1: Misinformation:

***Please Note The Bridge Authority of Nassau County is*** changing the prices of the Atlantic Beach Bridge from $2 to S3 for all Nassau County Residents, and $4 for all Non-Nassau County Residents. They are also planning to remove the Atlantic Beach Bridge pass entirely in 2024. This means that the price will rise from $130. a year (the current decal price for nassau county residents), to approximately $4000. per car per year, because in 2024 the decals will be eliminated. We need to have a meeting with the Nassau County Bridge Authority to determine what can be done to minimize damage to residents and businesses in Atlantic Beach, Long Beach, Lido Beach, Point Lookout, and the entire Barrier Island who rely on using the Atlantic Beach bridge for work, school, shopping, and life’s activities.

I spent all my career learning how to provide for constituents.

RoN WAlsh Interim City Manager

spotlight athlete

Herald sports

Calhoun sinks Long Beach

The performances and leadership qualities of Calhoun’s Matt Kalfas, Sean DiPaola and Tommy Bello has carried over from one court to another and is a big reason why the Colts are in the early driver’s seat in Nassau Conference A-1 boys’ basketball.

JaMes DesiMoNe

Clarke Senior Basketball

a thiRD-YeaR vaRsitY starter, DeSimone is a major part of Clarke’s impressive 9-1 start. An All-County selection last season after earning a Nassau coaches award in the Covidshortened campaign, he’s averaging close to 16 points per game to go along with 4.4 assists. He’s scored in double digits in every game so far while hitting 21 three-pointers. He hit for a seasonhigh 23 against Long Beach on Dec 5.

gaMes to WatCh

Friday, Jan. 13

Boys Basketball: G.N. North at Sewanhaka 5 p.m.

Boys Basketball: Lynbrook at Plainedge 5 p.m.

Boys Basketball: Friends Academy at V.S. South 5 p.m.

Boys Basketball: Hewlett at Carey 5 p.m.

Boys Basketball: Long Beach at New Hyde Park 5 p.m.

Girls Basketball: Plainedge at Lynbrook 5 p.m.

Boys Swimming: Long Beach at Jericho 5 p.m.

Girls Fencing: Valley Stream at Hewlett 5 p.m.

Girls Basketball: East Rockaway at Malverne 5:30 p.m.

Boys Basketball: Malverne at East Rockaway 6:30 p.m.

Boys Basketball: South Side at Garden City 6:45 p.m.

Boys Basketball: East Meadow at Baldwin 7 p.m.

Girls Basketball: Plainview at Oceanside 7 p.m.

Girls Basketball: Jericho at Calhoun 7 p.m.

saturday, Jan. 14

Wrestling: Baldwin Tournament 9 a.m.

Wrestling: V.S. Central Tournament 9 a.m.

Boys Basketball: Wheatley at West Hempstead 12 p.m.

Boys Basketball: V.S. Central at Port Washington 12 p.m.

Boys Basketball: Oceanside at Plainview 12 p.m.

Girls Basketball: Baldwin at East Meadow 12 p.m.

Girls Basketball: Farmingdale at Freeport 12 p.m.

Girls Basketball: Seaford at Carey 12 p.m.

Girls Basketball: Port Washington at V.S. Central 12 p.m.

With Bello, its starting center, nursing an injury suffered the previous week, Kalfas poured in 23 points and DiPaola added 21 to lead Calhoun to a 62-53 victory over visiting Long Beach on Jan. 4. All three seniors were major pieces to the Colts’ winning their second volleyball county championship in three years a few months ago.

“Those three kids are coming off a very long volleyball season and for the last three weeks they’ve been coming on strong,” head coach Jay Kreutzberger said after Calhoun (6-5 overall, 3-0 in A-1) won for the sixth time in its last seven games. “They’ve been scoring and they’ve been leaders,” he added. “Now we might have to learn to adapt without Tommy for a while, but I really like where this team is at.”

Senior Jack Shields (15 points) and juniors Michael Main (13) and Blake Solice-Mitchell (10) all scored in double figures for Long Beach (4-5 overall), which slipped to 1-3 in conference games.

“The effort is always there, but we need to be more consistent,” Marines head coach Scott Martin said. “Tonight we couldn’t hit free throws and that was probably the difference in the final score. In the second half they switched away from zone and limited our three-point shots, which is something we do well. And those two kids [Kalfas and DiPaola] were tough to stop.”

Kalfas scored 18 first-half points, including a dozen in the opening quarter, to set the tone for the hosts, who were also without sophomore starting guard Riley Bhunut due to illness. Senior Adam Gardner’s three-pointer just before halftime gave Calhoun a 36-31 lead at intermission.

“We might have been down two starters but we had other kids step up,” said Kreutzberger, noting the play of senior PJ

Kakalos (7 points) and juniors Joey Goodman and Josh Edouard.

Long Beach scored 21 first-half points from behind the arc, with Shields nailing three long-distance shots and Main and senior Sebastian Muzikar two apiece, which led to Kreutzberger adjusting his defensive approach. “We have excellent versatility on defense,” he said.

The Marines had just one trey in the second half and that came from Shields with just over two minutes remaining after the Colts built their largest lead at 59-43. Long Beach never led after halftime

but got within 38-37 early in the third quarter before Calhoun scored seven straight.

“These guys might be the team to beat in the conference,” Martin said of Calhoun. “We’ll see them down the road in our gym. At 1-3 in the conference, we’ve got a hole to dig out of.”

Said Kreutzberger: “We played a very difficult non-league schedule against Syosset, Harborfields, North Shore and Floral Park and started 0-4. Those are the kind of games that make a team stronger in the long run.”

Long Island’s city leaders discuss an aging population

Long Island’s two cities, Glen Cove and Long Beach, are communities that don’t typically interact. Although the two cities are on opposite parts of the island — about a 30 minute drive — officials from both met at the Glen Cove Senior Center to get to know each other and share the workings of their government, culture and aging population.

However, the meeting almost didn’t happen. Two days before their scheduled lunch at the senior center with Glen Cove Mayor Pamela Panzenbeck, Donna Gayden, who has been Long Beach's city manager for almost three years, unexpectedly resigned. Police Commissioner Ron Walsh is temporarily filling her seat until a permanent replacement is found.

Although Walsh had only been city manager for about 48 hours at the time, that didn’t stop him from coming to the senior center to fulfill a promise made by the previous administration.

“I wanted to hit the ground running,” Walsh explained.

The senior center is a place that is near and dear to Panzenbeck, especially since her aunt is a member of the adult day program in the center’s lower level. Panzenbeck said that when she was discussing the center with the previous Long Beach administration, she thought it best to invite them for a visit, rather than talk about the center over the phone.

Officials met to tour the center, which is home to programs such as the Age

Friendly initiative and medical transport services as well as holding various classes and networking events for seniors. Panzenbeck said programs like these are vital to the city’s growing senior population.

“When you come here, it’s warm and loving,” Panzenbeck said “Everybody is so happy to be here.”

Walsh said that while touring the center, he was impressed with the efforts the center put into the socialization opportunities available to seniors as well as the designated space for them in the middle of the city.

“The level of services that they provide your senior population is something great.” Walsh said. “I would love to try to get programs like this into Long Beach, it’s very impressive. The level of care that they're showing is terrific.”

He was also impressed with the center’s lower level and said he was thinking of ways to implement similar programs into Long Beach.

“We're going to take a lot of ideas here and we're going to try and work them into some of our operations.” Walsh said. “We'll be in contact with the mayor.”

John McNally, the city’s public relations coordinator, said Long Beach has programs that cater to senior citizens, but they mostly focus on physical activity and computer literacy.

“We’re here because of the awards that this city has won with regard to their senior programming.” Walsh said.

“One of the things that we want to make sure that we're doing a little bit is modeling best practices, and Glen Cove is a best practice to learn from.”

For Immediate Release: December 13, 2022

Nassau County Bridge Authority Announces Greater Discounts for Barrier Island Residents

Lawrence, NY - The Nassau County Bridge Authority is proud to announce the implementation of an Electronic Tolling System, E-ZPass® on the Atlantic Beach Bridge. Set to take place in the Spring of 2023, this significant improvement will make the customer’s driving experience safer and timelier.

In addition to the implementation of E-ZPass®, the Authority has proposed significant discounts for Barrier Island residents, shown in the chart below. These proposed rates are scheduled to be voted on by the Board of Commissioners. NCBA tolls remain among the lowest in the region and deliver support for critical infrastructure improvements for the Atlantic Beach Bridge.

“After a public hearing and consultation with elected officials and community leaders, I am recommending to the board that we adopt our initial plan amended with a further reduction in the annual fee for Barrier Island residents who use the bridge on a daily basis.” Said Nassau County Bridge Authority Chairman Samuel Nahmias. “The bridge has not had a toll increase in 17 years, and in order to guarantee the safe operation of the bridge into the foreseeable future, in these inflationary times, it is necessary for the board to take this action.”

2022 2023

Annual Fee - Barrier Island Resident Passenger Vehicle $130.00 $162.50

E-ZPass® - Barrier Island Not Available Resident Passenger Vehicle in 2022 $2.50

Annual Fee - Nassau County Resident Passenger Vehicle $130.00 $199.00

Annual Fee - Non-Nassau County Resident Passenger Vehicle $175.00 $349.00

Pass CardPassenger Vehicle 20 trip $15.00 $30.00 All Cash Tolls Passenger Vehicle $2.00 $4.00

Note: Effective January 1, 2023 all Cash Tolls will be $3.00 until the implementation of E-ZPass®, at which time all Cash Tolls will increase to $4.00.

Decals will be phased out in 2023. Decals will be replaced by unlimited E-ZPass®, which will provide the same function as the decal.

We’re here because of the awards that this city has won with regard to their senior programming.

RON WAlSh Police Commissioner and acting Long Beach City Manager

Healthy outlook for a healthy year

NResolve to achieve a better you in 2023

ew Year’s resolutions are full of expectations. Common goals like eating healthier or losing weight are admirable, but there are plenty of other goals you can set in 2023 as well, like upping your sleep regimen, talking with a friend every day, or going on more walks.

Since the emergence of Covid, it has become more essential than ever to take care of yourself and enhance your immunity. In addition to physical health, mental health is equally important. Many people make New Year’s resolutions that they soon forget. It can be due to a lack of commitment, self-doubt, or unrealistic goals.

So, start by making short-term and realistic goals you can achieve without putting too much pressure on yourself. Once you list what you want to achieve this year, stick to it and believe in yourself to accomplish them.

Exercise more

Much like changing a diet, exercising is often seen as a means to weight loss. While that’s a positive side effect of daily exercise, daily or frequent exercise is an all-around health benefit.

According to the American College of Sports Medicine, exercise helps lower the risk of heart disease and hypertension by 40 percent while lowering the risk of depression by 30 percent. In addition, men and women with a family history of diabetes should know that regular exercise lowers their risk of type 2 diabetes by nearly 60 percent. So while exercise is a great means to losing weight, it’s even better at helping reduce the risk for serious disease.

When incorporating exercise into a daily routine, start slowly and gradually work your way up to more vigorous exercise regimens. Going full speed from the outset is a great way to increase risk of injury, and no one wants that.

Find 30 minutes a day to walk

Getting the recommended 30 minutes of exercise each day can be as simple as taking a walk. If you’ve got a busy schedule, take three 10-minute walks throughout your day.

“That’s 10 minutes before work, 10 minutes at lunch and then 10 minutes after work. Make it fun! Grab a partner at work to get you through your lunch routine. Then have a friend or family member meet you for an evening stroll,” suggests physical therapist Stacie Page.

Your diet matters: healthy and well-balanced is achievable

This year, promise to eat right. Choose whole foods instead of packaged ones. Crash diets and eliminating foods from your daily intake can deprive you of needed nutrition and may not be effective in the long run.

Keep your mental health in check

Mental health is as vital as physical health, and it needs attention. The daily stress of life and other factors may lead to serious health issues, including depression and anxiety. Mental health issues can make it hard for you to cope with everyday life and interfere with your work and relationships.

If you feel something is wrong, believe your instinct and get help. Practicing self-care techniques can also help combat mental health issues. Try to find the positives and adopt habits that can benefit your well-being, such as meditating.

Manage stress

Stress is a cause of many serious illnesses, such as heart disease. It can negatively impact your physical and mental health. Stress can become regular if you are always busy or have other problems related to finances or relationships. It is crucial to take steps to manage your stress. You can manage stress through meditation, exercise, or other relaxation techniques.

Sleep well

Improve the quantity and quality of your sleep. Getting enough sleep enhances your health by ensuring the smooth functioning of your body. It is also critical that you have a sound sleep. Regular interruptions can disrupt your sleep pattern, causing low energy and fatigue during the day. Getting a good night’s sleep is definitely something you should add to your 2023 checklist.

Limit social media usage and screen time

Just as you’ve decided to finish a task or go to sleep, you receive a social media notification alert. As you check the notification, something else catches your attention, and before you know it, you’ve spent an hour doomscrolling. Invariably, this leaves you feeling worse than before. If this resonates with you, you are not alone.

Social media, particularly when used for long hours, is reported to have contributed to an increased risk of a variety of mental health concerns like anxiety and low mood. This could be because of social comparison, isolation and cyberbullying. It also increases screen time, which can impact sleep and leave you less time to engage in other activities. Reducing your social media usage might help your anxiety, depression, loneliness, sleep problems and the fear of missing out.

Practise meditation and mindfulness

Meditation and mindfulness give you space to pause and reflect, allowing you to slow down and increase your emotional awareness, in a chaotic and bustling world. In fact, practising meditation and being mindful can help you in improving emotional regulation, reduce physical pain and alleviate symptoms of anxiety and depression. Meditation and mindfulness require consistent effort. Starting with mindfulness for even one minute every day can be helpful. You can slowly increase the time as you see fit. Mindfulness and meditation apps like have also proven to be useful in improving mental health.

Create (and keep) those resolutions

Taking a good, hard look at daily behavior is the key to setting realistic self-improvement goals

The early Babylonians believed that what people did on the first day of the year affected what they did for the rest of that year. Many of us see the New Year as a perfect opportunity to start over or to change bad habits.

According to several surveys, the most popular resolutions people make are related to health and fitness (eating better, losing weight, and exercising), reducing consumption of alcohol, caffeine, quitting smoking, and becoming more financially responsible by promising to spend less and save more.

Unfortunately, over 70 percent of resolutions are broken by the end of January, and this can leave a person feeling discouraged.

You might even consider New Year’s resolutions like romantic relationships: They’re easier to start than maintain.

One in four people who makes a New Year’s resolution will drop out within the first seven days, statistics show. About half jump ship within six months.

Resolutions are complicated, and being able to achieve them usually requires taking a hard look at our thoughts and behaviors. Setting goals keeps us on track, but stamping out old habits is difficult, and may even require the help of a professional for some.

But there’s hope.

Striving for self-improvement and setting goals for ourselves gives us a sense of purpose and hope for the future. Be sure to make your goals a priority, be specific, and work at them daily.

Your goal should be specific and measurable. Make your goal concrete, and if necessary, break it down into smaller steps.

Setting vague goals such as “I want to lose weight” can be ineffective. Instead, ensure your resolution is quantifiable. If your goal is to shed some pounds, identify the number you’d like to lose within a specified period of time. If your aim is to exercise more in 2023 set a specific objective for the number of hours you’ll work out each week.

Or, if your resolution is to consume fewer carbohydrates, resolve to eat carbohydrates only at one meal per day rather than resolving to eliminate carbohydrates entirely. Once you are successful, begin to decrease your consumption further.

Don’t set unrealistic resolutions that will be impossible to keep. If you resolve to eat healthier by cutting down on desserts, switch to an alternative you enjoy rather than forcing yourself to eat a vegetable you’ve hated since childhood. For example, swap ice cream for Greek yogurt or fruit rather than raw cauliflower sprouts (unless you enjoy them, of course).

Be nice to yourself. Changing habits isn’t easy, so you’re likely to struggle at some point in your journey. Take it easy. Minor bumps are normal. The important part is jumping back on the bandwagon and continuing momentum forward.

Write your resolution down and put it somewhere where you can see it on a daily basis. This will help you to stay focused.

Keep it manageable. Keep the scope of your New Year’s resolution practical by working toward changing one or two behaviors at a time.

Have coping strategies in place to deal with obstacles that may arise along the way. For example, if your goal is to drink less alcohol you may consider skipping parties or events that involve a lot of drinking or bring a sober friend along to provide you with support and to help keep you on track.

On the bright side. Stay focused on the benefits of the change you’re making rather than what you’re giving up. Rally your mind around how much better you’ve been feeling instead of lamenting the loss of your daily chocolate-chip muffin.

Photo: Sometimes it’s the littlest things that make the biggest impact. Rather than setting a major health or fitness goal that takes you far out of your comfort zone, start the new year by committing to small changes here and there.

Hold yourself accountable and lean on others. Use a support network to help stay motivated. Discuss your resolution (and the accompanying struggles) with friends and family members. Consider joining a group with common goals, whether a collection of friends teaming up to quit smoking or an exercise class at the gym.

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With the heart of winter upon us, it can be tough to stick with our fitness goals. And so much for our new resolve to exercise more.

But wait! It doesn’t have to be so. Fitness experts offer some helpful tips to reinvigorate those resolutions.

Treat exercise as your personal “time out.” Your time to exercise is your opportunity to “recharge your battery.” It refreshes your mind, spirit, and energy. It not only benefits you, it has a positive impact on your relationships, your work and how you cope with stress.

Set realistic, incremental goals. Start with small, attainable goals that you can achieve with relative consistency. 15 minutes a day is a meaningful starting point. Build from there.

Do what you enjoy. Physical activity comes in many forms. Will a brisk walk in the open air help you unwind and relax? Is it a workout at the gym with state-of-the-art equipment and the energy of others that helps motivate you? Is it the convenience of jumping rope in your basement that will keep you feeling good about yourself? The possibilities are endless.

Schedule it as you would any important appointment. Designating a time to exercise is a key factor in making it happen. Put it on your calendar. But remember, regular exercise doesn’t have to mean regimented exercise.

Track it. Whether you track it on paper, your computer or an app, you reinforce your commitment to taking care of yourself, and you see the progress you are making.

Make it social. One of the greatest benefits of exercise can be the quality time you spend with friends and family. An exercise buddy or group can help motivate you to stick with it, while offering social interaction and the additional support you may need. Surround yourself with people who also want to enjoy the benefits of physical activity. Motivation and lifestyle choices are contagious! Note: Health clubs are filled with people who have the same goals as you.

Be flexible and allow yourself breaks. Exercise is a lifestyle

choice that will improve your quality of life throughout your entire lifetime. If you need to miss a workout or several it’s okay. Just get back to it as soon as you can. It’s the long-term commitment to taking care of yourself and enjoying the physical and emotional benefits of exercise that will keep you going.

Mix it up. Add variety to sustain your interest. Feel free to be creative in what you do. Modern-day gym equipment is great. Or try out a new class. Or ask a trainer to show you some bodyweight exercises.

Incorporate other activities you love. If your idea of relaxing is listening to music, reading a good book, or watching a funny television show, find ways to exercise while engaging in these pastimes you really enjoy.

Reward yourself. You have reason to feel proud when you take care of yourself through exercise. In today’s sedentary, overscheduled world, it’s not an easy thing to do. So go ahead and reward yourself in healthy ways when you’ve met your goals. Treat yourself to a massage, buy music you enjoy, or get that new outfit you’ve been wanting.

But remember: the greatest reward you can give yourself is that feeling of well being that comes when you make exercise a regular part of your life.

STEPPING OUT

Culinary inspiration for a wintry weekend

January is the ideal time to decompress and get into the kitchen and work on those “Top Chef” skills. It’s not that difficult with some great comforting — healthy — foods to nourish and warm our soul.

Experiment with new culinary creations that incorporate bold flavors for delicious results. Nothing pleases the senses quite like a hearty dish on a chilly evening. Try adding these recipes to your repertoire.

Rustic Roasted Winter Vegetable Chowder

• 1/2 small butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cut into 1-inch dice (about 2 cups)

• 3 medium parsnips, peeled, cut into 1-inch dice (about 1 cup )

• 1 medium sweet potato, peeled, cut into 1-inch dice (about 1 cup)

• 2 medium carrots, peeled, cut into 1-inch dice (about 1 cup)

• 1/2 fennel bulb, quartered & sliced thin (about 1 cup)

• 1/2 teaspoon plus 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt or coarse sea salt

• 2 tablespoons plus 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided

• 1 medium onion, diced (about 2 cups)

• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

• 4 cups vegetable broth

• 2 medium russet potatoes, peeled, cut into 3/4-inch dice (about 2 cups) 4-5 fresh thyme sprigs

Hearty Beef Stew

• 2 tablespoons olive oil

• 1 1/2 lb beef chuck roast, cut into 1-inch pieces

• 1 large onion, chopped

• 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped

• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour

• 1 cup Burgundy, Zinfandel or other red wine

• 3 cups beef broth

• 1 1/2 cups ready-to-eat baby-cut carrots

• 4 medium parsnips, peeled, cut into 1/2-inch pieces

• 1/2 pound small red potatoes, cut in half

• 2 dried bay leaves

• 6 sprigs fresh thyme

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 1/2 teaspoon pepper

In 4-quart Dutch oven, heat 1 tablespoon of the oil over medium heat. Cook beef in oil 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until browned. Remove beef to bowl; cover to keep warm.

In Dutch oven, heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil over medium-high heat. Cook onion and garlic in oil 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until tender. Return beef to Dutch oven. Sprinkle with flour; cook and stir 1 minute. Add wine; cook 1 minute, scraping to loosen any browned bits from bottom of pan. Stir in broth, carrots, parsnips, potatoes, bay leaves, thyme, salt and pepper.

Heat to boiling; reduce heat. Cover; simmer about 40 minutes, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are tender. Remove bay leaves before serving.

• 1 cup milk or unsweetened plain almond milk

Additional salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

More pepper and thyme leaves for garnish

Heat oven to 400 F.

In a large bowl, toss the butternut squash, parsnips, sweet potatoes, carrots, and fennel with 2 tablespoons olive oil and 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt. Spread in a single layer on a large baking sheet and roast until tender and browned in places, about 40 minutes, turning a couple of times while roasting.

While the veggies are roasting, prepare the base of the soup. To a large saucepan over low heat, add 3 tablespoons olive oil. Add the onion along with a pinch of salt and a bit of pepper, then cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, about 10 minutes.

Stir in the flour and cook for 3 minutes, stirring constantly.

Stir in the vegetable broth. Add the potatoes and thyme. Bring to a boil over medium heat then reduce heat to low. Simmer uncovered for 15 minutes or until potatoes are soft. Remove from heat. Pick out the thyme stems and discard.

Stir in the roasted vegetables. Carefully transfer about 3 cups of the chowder to the pitcher of a blender. Puree until smooth. Return the pureed mixture to the pot and stir to combine. The soup should be thick, rich, and creamy.

Stir in the milk. Place the pot back on the burner, and, with the heat on medium-low, return to a simmer, stirring often to prevent burning.

Taste and add additional salt and pepper if desired. Serve garnished with an additional turn of cracked pepper and thyme leaves.

Lucky Chops

This big, brassy and unapologetically bold six-piece band comes at you with every hue in the rainbow. Their sound pays homage to New Orleans brass band tradition while incorporating eclectic rock, Caribbean, Arabic, Eastern European, funk, jazz, ska, gospel and EDM influences. Their irresistible groove is led by co-founder Josh Holcomb’s soulful trombone, Daro Behroozi’s soaring sax and Joshua Gawel’s powerful trumpet. Their high-energy brassy funk has attracted listeners since forming in New York City in 2006. Starting in the underground halls of subway stations, Lucky Chops went viral when a video of their mash-up of Lipps Inc.’s ‘Funkytown’ and James Brown’s ‘I Feel Good’ amassed hundreds of millions of views across social media, and led to an online subscriber base almost two million strong. They’re now back on tour for the first time since the end of 2019.

Thursday, Jan. 26, 7:30 p.m. $33. Jeanne Rimsky Theater at Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington. (516) 767-6444 or LandmarkOnMainStreet.org.

America

The perennial classic rock favorite enters 2023 on the road again as founding members Gerry Beckley and Dewey Bunnell celebrate the band’s 53rd anniversary. The pair (along with former band mate Dan Peek), who met in high school in London in the late 1960s, quickly harmonized their way to the top of the charts on the strength of their signature song ‘A Horse With No Name.’ More than 40 years later, these friends are still making music together, touring the world and thrilling audiences with their timeless sound. Yet beyond their impressive catalog of hits, listeners discovered there was always much more to America than surface perceptions. The combination of Beckley’s melodic pop rock and Bunnell’s use of folk-jazz elements, slinky Latin-leaning rhythms and impressionistic lyric imagery contrasted well with Peek’s more traditional country-rock leanings and highly personal lyrics.

Friday, Jan. 27, 8 p.m. $99, $79, $69, $59. Tilles Center for the Performing Arts, LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Blvd., Brookville. (516) 299-3100 or TillesCenter.org.

ith the holidays behind us, cozy up to some comfy winter nesting. And, of course, it’s time to refocus on healthier eating now that we’re finished with weeks of festive over-indulgence.

THE SCENE

Art talk

Grab your lunch and join Nassau County Museum of Art Docent Riva Ettus for her popular “Brown Bag Lecture” live, via Zoom, Thursday, Jan. 19 , 1 p.m. She’ll discuss the current exhibition, “The Big Picture: Photography Now.” Participants are invited to ask questions at the end of the program. Also Feb. 23. Register at least 24 hours in advance to receive the program Zoom link. Also Feb. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. (516) 484-9337 or NassauMuseum.org.

Low-Impact Cardio

The Long Beach Public Library will have a lowimpact cardio class to on Tuesday, Jan. 17 . All levels are welcome, including beginners. The class will be held in the auditorium, 111 W. Park Ave., and on zoom, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. For more information, visit LongBeachPL. LibraryCalendar.com.

In concert

David Alterman returns to the stage with Altzim, Friday, Jan. 13, at My Father’s Place supper club. Enjoy an evening of music that Alterman describes as “Dylan with a twist,” with special guest Cathy Rose Virgilio. Rich Demand and his band also appear. Doors open at 6 p.m., concert is at 8 p.m. The Metropolitan, 3 Pratt Blvd., Glen Cove. For tickets/ information, visit MyFathersPlace. com or call (516) 580-0887.

Gentle Yoga

Participate yoga class for health and peace, Saturday, Jan. 14, at the Long Beach Public Library, 111 W. Park Ave. The class is designed to build strength and flexibility along with a calmer mind. The class will be in the public library’s auditorium and on Zoom, for those you cannot go in person, from 9:45-10:45 a.m. Poses will be a combination of standing and seated. For more information, visit LongBeachPL. LibraryCalendar.com.

Polar Bear Splash

The Long Beach Polar Bears will make their annual splash into the ocean on Sunday, Feb. 12 The splash will take place on Laurelton Boulevard and people will start going into the water at 1:30 pm. For more information, visit LongBeachNY.gov.

Mindful Meditation

Relax and unwind at the Long Beach Public Library during a meditation class on Thursday, Jan. 19. Re-center while focusing on your senses and aliveness in the auditorium and on zoom from 2:15 to 3 p.m. For more information, visit LongBeachPL.LibraryCalendar. com.

Pop-Up Eats

The Cabana Restaurant continues its weekly Pop-Up Eats, Monday, Jan. 16, in their parking lot, 1034 W Beech St. Various vendors serve up delicious bites; the bar will be open as well. Pop-Up Eats starts at 4 p.m.; no reservations are necessary. For more information visit TheCabanaLBNY.com.

Forest Bathing

Take a meditative Forest Bathing walk, led by certified guide Linda Lombardo, Saturday, Jan. 21, 2-4 p.m. Based on the Japanese tradition of ShinrinYoku, a wellness practice developed in the 1980s, the walk, on the grounds of the former summer residence of Howard Gould and later Daniel and Florence Guggenheim, inspires mindful connections with the natural elements of the woods for a range of healthful benefits. $40, $35. Pre-registration required. Sands Point Preserve, 127 Middle Neck Road. For information, visit SandsPointPreserveConservancy. org or call (516) 571-7901.

Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative March

The City of Long Beach and the Martin Luther King Jr. Center hold the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative March, Monday, Jan. 16. The march will begin on Laurelton Boulevard and West Park Avenue at 11:30 a.m. It ends at the MLK Center. For more information, visit LongBeachNY.gov.

Snowflake 4-Mile Race

The City of Long Beach will have its annual Long Beach Recreation 4-mile Snowflake Race, Saturday, Feb. 4 Registration begins at the Long Beach Catholic Regional School Gymnasium at 6:30 a.m.; the race begins at 9 a.m. For more information, call (516) 431-3890.

Having an event?

Items on The Scene 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 thescene@liherald.com.

On exhibit

Photography’s ascent in the art world is an international phenomenon. Nassau County Museum of Art’s star-studded exhibition spans the historical roots of the medium. View works by Ansel Adams and his generation and the thrilling, large-format color works of such contemporary masters as Cindy Sherman, Thomas Struth, James Casebere and Gregory Crewdson, among others. From the documentary to the painterly, images bear witness to the times. On view through March 5. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Drive, Roslyn Harbor. (516) 484-9337 or NassauMuseum.org.

Let Freedom Ring with MLK

Visit Long Island Children’s Museum for a workshop honoring Martin Luther King, Jr., Monday, Jan. 16. Families will learn about MLK beyond his “I Have a Dream” speech and gain a better understanding of his impact on the civil rights movement. Also participate in a gallery walk of images from the Civil Rights Movement and then create a bell to “let freedom ring.” $4 with admission, $3 members. Long Island Children’s Museum, Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 224-5800 or LICM.org.

New town redistricting long way from finish

Voters talked, but at least according to them, a committee tasked with drawing new boundaries for Hempstead town elected officials didn’t listen.

At least that was the takeaway during the latest public hearing last week over the state of redistricting in the town.

Yet, it was a meeting just before the winter holidays that took most of the attention — a meeting where a number of speakers during public comment demanded lines be redrawn for the six town districts in what they called a more balanced representation through the inclusion of three “minority-majority” districts. That is, where an overall ethnic minority would be grouped into a majority as a way to help diversify a leadership board like the town council.

That same week, new map proposals were released. Yet, after further review, critics of the earlier drafts claimed most of their recommendations were ignored.

“While I hope that the commission changes course on these maps, I doubt (they) will because (they) have to show us that (they’re) listening to what residents are saying,” said Amil Virani of Valley Stream.

But there were changes. For example, the committee has proposed grouping together Elmont, North Valley Stream, a portion of the Five Towns and Franklin Square into a single district. Baldwin — which went from three to two representatives on the latest maps — was split in half.

The idea, according to Hempstead town attorney John Maccarone, was to ensure villages were kept whole, in accordance with the law. However, hamlets like Baldwin don’t enjoy the same protections.

Elmont, Valley Stream and Franklin Square are per-

fect for this new district, said Elmont resident Mimi Pierre-Johnson, but it should also have included Bellerose, Bellerose village, South Floral Park, Floral Park and New Hyde Park.

“That would’ve been a perfect minority-majority,” she said. “Everyone in that district would have had a fair share of choosing their elected official.”

Baldwin has been split into three council districts since the 2010 census. The Baldwin Civic Association collected more than 400 signatures on a petition urging the committee to place the entire hamlet of Baldwin under the 11510 ZIP code and one Town of Hempstead council district.

“Again, (the redistricting committee) has cracked Baldwin,” Janet Poretsky said. “My vote in Baldwin Harbor won’t count, it will be canceled out by someone in Wantagh-Seaford. I don’t think that’s fair, and I have nobody who is really representing my area.”

The last time officials got together to redraw district lines, it was done to benefit legislators without any concern for the needs of Nassau County communities, said Karen Moskowitz, cochair of the League of Women Votgers of Nassau County’s redistricting committee — specifically communities of color.

The lATesT RedisTRicTiNg map for Hempstead town elected officials reveals little change to what a number of people asked for ahead of the revision last month. Their desire is to see a better chance of creating a more diverse town council by creating ‘minority-majority’ districts.

As a town where 40 percent of its residents are people of color represented by a council that is mostly white, Moskowitz added that the latest map proposals show this intention has not changed in Hempstead.

The 2020 census revealed a 12 percent drop in the town’s white, non-Hispanic population, according to supporters of the minority-majority district concept. At the same time, the Hispanic and Latino population grew 32 percent, while the Black population increased by 4

percent.

“The league takes positions on a variety of policy issues, but never supports or opposes any political party or candidate,” Moskowitz said. “Our review of the commission’s proposed maps reveals deliberate manipulation of district lines.”

Another redistricting meeting was scheduled for Jan. 9, and the town attorney confirmed more such meetings will be scheduled before the board votes on a new map.

Public Notices

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT. NASSAU COUNTY. L&L ASSOCIATES HOLDING CORP., Pltf., vs. KATHLEEN O’LEARY, et al, Defts. Index #608995/2018. Pursuant to judgment of foreclosure and sale dated March 21, 2019, I will sell at public auction on the North Side steps of the Nassau Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY on January 24, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. prem. k/a Section 59, Block 138, Lots 26-27. Sold subject to terms and conditions of filed judgment and terms of sale and the right of the United States of America to redeem within 120 days from the date of sale as provided by law. Foreclosure auction will be held “rain or shine.” If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, then the court appointed referee will cancel the auction.

MICHAEL VENDITTO, Referee. LEVY & LEVY, Attys. for Pltf., 12 Tulip Dr., Great Neck, NY. #99941 136220

The foreclosure sale will be conducted in accordance with 10th Judicial District’s Covid-19 Policies and foreclosure auction rules. The Referee shall enforce any rules in place regarding facial coverings and social distancing. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, then the Court Appointed Referee shall cancel the foreclosure auction. Foreclosure Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine.” Ellen Durst, Esq., Referee PNNY046 136227

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT NASSAU COUNTY DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, AS TRUSTEE FOR RESIDENTIAL ACCREDIT LOANS, INC., MORTGAGE ASSETBACKED PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2007-QS1, Plaintiff against OMAR ARANA, et al Defendant(s) Attorney for Plaintiff(s) Fein Such & Crane, LLP, 1400 Old Country Road, Suite 103N, Westbury, NY 11590. Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered October 18, 2019, I will sell at public auction to the highest bidder at North Side Steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on January 23, 2023 at 2:00 PM. Premises known as 149 West Chester Street, Long Beach, NY 11561. Sec 59 Block 69 Lot 53-55. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, situate, lying and being in the City of Long Beach, County of Nassau and State of New York. Approximate Amount of Judgment is $690,257.04 plus interest, fees, and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No 602259/2018.

SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU Deutsche Bank National Trust Company as Trustee for the Holders of New Century Home Equity Loan Trust, Series 2005-A, Asset Backed Pass-Through Certificates, Plaintiff AGAINST Andrea Reda, et al., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered February 5, 2020, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on January 19, 2023 at 2:30PM, premises known as 83 Wyoming Avenue, Long Beach, NY 11561. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the City of Long Beach, County of Nassau and State of New York, SECTION: 59, BLOCK: 235, LOT: 38. Approximate amount of judgment $300,481.37 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #005473/2014. The afore mentioned auction will be conducted in accordance with the NASSAU County COVID-19 Protocols located on the Office of Court Administration (OCA) website (https://ww2.nycourts.gov /Admin/oca.shtml) and as such all persons must comply with social distancing, wearing masks and screening practices in effect at the time of this foreclosure sale. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, then the court appointed referee will cancel the foreclosure auction. Foreclosure Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine”. For sale information, please visit Auction.com at www.Auction.com or call (800) 280-2832. Brian J. Davis, Esq., Referee Frenkel Lambert Weiss Weisman & Gordon, LLP 53 Gibson Street Bay Shore, NY 11706 01-054900-F01 74135 136022

SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU CITIMORTGAGE, INC., Plaintiff -against- SCOTT UNGER, et al Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered herein and dated April 25, 2017, 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, NY on January 26, 2023 at 2:30 p.m. premises situate, lying and being in the City of Long Beach, County of Nassau and State of New York, bounded and described as follows: BEGINNING at the corner formed by the intersection of the Easterly side of Lafayette Boulevard with the Southerly side of Hudson Street; being a plot 100 feet by 60 feet by 100 feet by 60 feet. Section 59 Block 44 Lot 1, 2 and 3.

All bidders must wear a face mask/shield at all times and social distancing must be observed by all bidders at all times. Bidders who do not comply with the face mask and/or the social distancing mandate will be removed from the auction.

Said premises known as 520 LAFAYETTE BOULEVARD, LONG BEACH, NY

Approximate amount of lien $830,835.20 plus interest & costs.

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale.

If the sale is set aside for any reason, the Purchaser at the sale shall be entitled only to a return of the deposit paid. The Purchaser shall have no further recourse against the Mortgagor, the Mortgagee or the Mortgagee’s attorney.

Index Number 014534/2012.

MATTHEW HUNTER, ESQ, Referee David A. Gallo & Associates LLP Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 47 Hillside Avenue, 2nd Floor, Manhasset, NY 11030 File# 9024.106 {* LONG BEACH*} 135994

I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction at the North Side Steps of the Nassau Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on January 26, 2023 at 2:00 PM premises known as 85 Dalton St, Long Beach, NY 11561.

Please take notice that this foreclosure auction shall be conducted in compliance with the Foreclosure Auction Rules for Nassau County and the COVID 19 Health Emergency Rules, including proper use of masks and social distancing.

All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the City of Long Beach, in the County of Nassau and State of New York. Section 59, Block 181 and Lot 25 and 26.

Approximate amount of judgment $371,916.17 plus interest and costs.

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment. Index #611496/2017.

Gerald Chiariello, Esq., Referee, Aldridge Pite, LLPAttorneys for Plaintiff - 40 Marcus Drive, Suite 200, Melville, NY 11747 136322:

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT

COUNTY OF NASSAU, MTGLQ INVESTORS, L.P., Plaintiff, vs. CARMEN JAQUE, ET AL., Defendant(s).

Pursuant to an Order Confirming Referee’s Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on December 10, 2019, 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 on February 2, 2023 at 4:00 p.m., premises known as 565 East Olive Street a/k/a 565 Olive Street, Long Beach, NY 11561.

All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the City of Long Beach, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 59, Block 171 and Lots 69 & 70.

So far, about 9,000 have signed up for new alert system

Along with emergency notifications, announcements about non-emergency incidents can also be sent out — for significant transportation problems or police or fire activity, for example.

Residents can also be informed about planned city events, including parades and celebrations. “You can be notified when fireworks are taking place on such a date,” McNally said. “We want to try and use the robocalls very sparingly, so people don’t tune them out. But this would allow people to get updates on different city events, whether it’s a run

that’s going on or a concert series, or things of that nature that are not an emergency.”

Residents will soon see the second notification, and the first non-emergency: An announcement of the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day march, set for Monday.

“It’s extremely important that people sign up for these notifications,” Interim City Manager Ron Walsh said. “You can always manage the number of notifications and the type of notifications you get, but you’ll never know if you don’t sign up.”

Public Notices

Thomas R. Scanlon, Esq., Referee

Knuckles, Komosinski & Manfro, LLP, 565 Taxter Road, Suite 590, Elmsford, NY 10523, Attorneys for Plaintiff 136409

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU BANK OF AMERICA, NA, Plaintiff, AGAINST JAMES E MULVANEY, JR., BARBARA FISCHKIN, et al. Defendant(s)

Pursuant to a judgment of foreclosure and sale duly entered on December 3, 2019.

Approximate amount of judgment is $669,824.95 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #009689/2014. Cash will not be accepted. This foreclosure sale will be held on the north side steps of the Courthouse, rain or shine. COVID-19 safety protocols will be followed at the foreclosure sale. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, the Court Appointed Referee will cancel the sale.

SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB, D/B/A CHRISTIANA TRUST, NOT INDIVIDUALLY BUT AS TRUSTEE FOR HILLDALE TRUST, Plaintiff AGAINST MARY MARKS, RON MARKS AKA RON EVAN MARKS, ET AL., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered September 16, 2022, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on January 30, 2023 at 2:30PM, premises known as 47 EAST BEECH STREET, LONG BEACH, NY 11561. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected,

situate, lying and being in the City of Long Beach, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 59, Block 99, Lot 61-64. Approximate amount of judgment $1,405,702.49 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #600924/2018. The aforementioned auction will be conducted in accordance with the NASSAU County COVID-19 mitigation protocols and as such all persons must comply with social distancing, wearing masks and screening practices in effect at the time of this foreclosure sale. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, then the court appointed referee will cancel the foreclosure auction. Foreclosure Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine”. Fay Mattana, Esq., Referee Gross Polowy, LLC 1775 Wehrle Drive Williamsville, NY 14221 19-005692 74404 136311

LEGAL NOTICE

Notice of formation of AXELROD PERFORMANCE CHIROPRACTIC PLLC, a professional limited liability company, Arts. Of Org. filed with the Secretary of State of the State of NY (SSNY) on 11/04/2022. Office location: Nassau County. SSNY has been designated for service of all process. SSNY shall mail a copy of any process to the PLLC, 275 Harbor Drive, Long Beach, NY 11561. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. 135827

PUBLIC & LEGAL NOTICES

To

meeting will be held at the Fire District office located at 102 Lido Boulevard, Point Lookout, New York 11569. All meetings of the Board of Fire Commissioners of the Lido and Point Lookout Fire District are open to the public.

This notice is being publicized and posted in accordance with the provisions of Section 104 of the Public Officers Law of the State of New York. By order of the Board of Fire Commissioners of the Lido and Point Lookout Fire District.

Dated: Point Lookout, New York

516-569-4000 x232 or send an email to: legalnotices@liherald.com

LEGAL NOTICE

LIDO AND POINT LOOKOUT FIRE DISTRICT BOARD ORGANIZATION MEETING

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Board of Fire Commissioners of the Lido and Point Lookout Fire District in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau, State of New York, has re-scheduled its Annual Organization Meeting from Thursday, January 5, 2023 at 7:30 p.m. to Thursday, January 12, 2023 at 7:30 p.m. The

January 6, 2023

TERRI RYAN District Secretary Lido and Point Lookout Fire District 136656

PUBLIC AND LEGAL NOTICES… Printed in this publication can be found online. To search by publication name, go to: www.newyorkpublicnotices.com TO PLACE AN AD CALL 516-569-4000 x 232

To place a notice here call us at 516-569-4000 x232 or send an email to: legalnotices@liherald.com

Richner

send resume & salary requirements to: careers@liherald.com

CLEANING PERSON FT Needed For Local Cleaning Company. Will Train. If Interested Call Bill 516-678-5943

CONSTRUCTION WORKERS Assist

General Contractor. Drivers License. Knowledge Of Construction. Call Mike. 516-887-8877.

DRIVERS WANTED

EDITOR/REPORTER

The award-winning Herald Community Newspapers group, covering Nassau County's North and South Shores with hard-hitting news stories and gracefully written features, seeks a motivated, energetic and creative editor/reporter to join our dynamic (and awesome) team! This education and general assignment reporting position offers a unique experience to learn from some of the best in the business. Historically, reporters who have launched their careers with us have gone on to The New York Times, Newsweek, Newsday, the New York Daily News, New York Post, CNN, BBC, NBC News and The Daily Mail, among many others. We look for excellent writers who are eager to learn, enhance their skills, and become well-established and respected journalists in our industry. To apply: Send a brief summary in the form of a cover letter describing your career goals and what strengths you can bring to our newsroom, along with a resume and three writing samples to mhinman@liherald.com

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individuals to supervise elementary school aged children from 2:45 pm to 5:00 or 6:00 pm weekdays. Experience helpful. If interested email merrickbasp@aol.com or call (516)379-4245

Hewlett

Spacious Side Hall Colonial Near All

Nestled in the prestigious school district 14, you will find this bright and airy Side Hall Colonial that also offers plenty of space. This home features 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths and a finished basement that provides additional living space for entertainment. The formal dining room and living room are perfect for hosting guests while the kitchen with an island allows for plenty of prep space when cooking up your favorite meals. The backyard deck and lush lawn provide a great spot to relax or entertain friends. You're also just minutes' walk from Grant Park - perfect for enjoying a beautiful day outdoors. This home is conveniently located close to transportation, shops, and restaurants. Don't wait - come see this wonderful home today! For a private tour contact us at 516.791.1313.

Adding to the attic

Q. A few contractors have looked at my attic so I can finish it for more bedrooms and a family room. The 1920s house has a very large attic with stairs to the second-floor landing. The attic stairs are much steeper and narrower, and the contractor says the walls will need to be taken down and wider and longer stairs put in. Is this necessary? The stairs are already there, and even though they’re steep, they work. Also, one of the contractors said that the horizontal 2x4s going across the attic, which are too low to walk around, could be removed or raised. Is that true? He said we could put them higher and add more so we can add finished wallboards to them. Do you agree, and is there anything I should know about doing this before we start?

A. Good thing you asked before you started. Instead of starting, you need to stop and take a few steps back. What you’re describing has multiple issues that you have to address.

Ask The Architect

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Monte Leeper

First, your state building code doesn’t allow the occupancy of a third floor in a single-family, woodframed dwelling. This is because of the many dangers involved in surviving a fire at that level. In the process of getting the permit to occupy a third story, which you left out of the description of your investigation, you would need to have a licensed architect or engineer prepare plans that include specific methods of escape, including the correct size and number of windows, distances to exterior and interior levels below to escape to, sprinkler locations along the entire path of travel to get out of the dwelling, heights of ceilings and fire-rated materials to be installed. This is because, as I have often written, the chances of surviving a fire in the third floor of a wood-framed dwelling are statistically remote, only 5 percent. That means you or your loved ones could be among the 95 out of 100 who will die from smoke inhalation or burns.

The plans for a finished third story are submitted to both your local building department, which will rightfully reject them, and to the State Codes Division for a public hearing, where your case will need to be represented by a code-knowledgeable professional. I have seen people represent themselves, which generally doesn’t go very well, since safety is the reason for the codes, and there are many laws and standards that the average owner is unaware of.

The stair access must be 3 feet wide, and the tread must be at least 10¼ inches, while the risers cannot exceed 8¼ inches. The horizontal 2x4s you described are collar ties, and they serve the important function of holding the roof together, especially in high winds and under snow loads. Moving or removing them can be dangerous. The higher up, the less effective, and without first calculating several factors, it should not be done.

© 2022 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.

CEMETERY

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PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Education

OpINIONS LIRR to Grand Central Madison? We’re still waiting.

Once again, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority has left coal in the stockings of Long Island Rail Road commuters.

Every Christmas since 2011, the MTA has failed to initiate the promised East Side Access to Grand Central Madison service. The original Federal Transit Administration capital investment — or New Starts — grant agreement with the MTA was approved in 2006.

time in the coming weeks.

The ESA project cost has grown to $11.6 billion. This doesn’t include debt service payments of $1 billion for borrowing costs buried in the MTA’s operating budget. There are also $4 billion worth of LIRR readiness projects to support the start of service — including such things as third-track construction and capacity improvements at Jamaica Station — which are separate from the official budget. Without these projects, the LIRR lacks the expanded operational capabilities to support the new service.

It included a project cost of $6.3 billion, with the start of passenger service — including a promise to run 24 hourly trains on the LIRR’s 10 branches to Grand Central Madison during rush hour — in 2011. We still don’t know when that service will begin.

The temporary shuttle service that did not start last month, as promised, will come nowhere close to meeting this commitment. I can just imagine the overcrowding on shuttle trains between Jamaica and Grand Central Madison when this service begins — likely some-

Even when East Side Access service begins, thousands of potential new LIRR customers will continue to be out of luck in Hunters Point, Long Island City, Sunnyside, Elmhurst and Woodhaven, Queens because of limited or no service. The LIRR currently runs a handful of morning rush-hour trains westbound from Jamaica to Hunters Point and Long Island City, returning east in the evening rush hour. There is no rush-hour, hourly off-peak or evening bi-directional service to those other communities.

Another problem: Penn Station is a

24/7 facility. Grand Central Terminal is closed overnight from 2 to 5:15 a.m. Unlike the LIRR, Metro North provides no service in or out during that time period. The LIRR has the advantage, but Long Islanders who commute at odd times — or come home late from events in Manhattan that end well after midnight — and want to use Grand Central will lose that advantage to incomplete service. A simple analysis of the proposed schedules reveals that depending on your branch or station, there will be no LIRR service to or from Grand Central Madison for three to five hours overnight on weekdays or weekends.

Catherine Rinaldi is the first MTA official to serve as president of both the LIRR and Metro North. Those extrahours riders might want to ask her why the LIRR must be subject to the Metro North’s schedule shortfalls. Isn’t it time to make Grand Central, too, a 24/7 facility?

As well, whenever East Side Access service to Grand Central Madison begins, the LIRR will suspend virtually all direct, one-seat, ride-through service between Jamaica and Atlantic Terminal

Brooklyn. Thousands of LIRR riders bound for downtown Brooklyn, Wall Street, the World Financial Center, the World Trade Center or other destinations in downtown Manhattan via Atlantic Terminal Brooklyn will now have longer commutes. One rider’s gain in time savings — being able to get to Manhattan’s East Side via Grand Central Madison instead of Penn Station — will be a loss for another rider trying to access destinations via Atlantic Terminal Brooklyn. Was investing $12.6 billion in East Side Access worth it? The verdict is still out. It is doubtful, in a post-Covid-19 world, that there will be anywhere near the anticipated 160,000 daily riders using Grand Central Madison, as the MTA predicts. Time will tell if commuters and taxpayers will see all of the benefits from this project, which has been promised for decades by elected official and MTA and LIRR presidents. When it comes to East Side Access, the LIRR’s 1960s motto, “Line of the Dashing Dan,” should be changed to “Line of the Slow Moving Sloth.”

Larry Penner is a transportation advocate, historian and writer who worked in the Federal Transit Administration Region 2 New York Office of Operations and Program Management for three decades.

Writing predictions in disappearing ink

As I look back on my New Years’ columns over these last many years, I might as well have been writing in disappearing ink. Pretty much nothing I expected came to pass, and a whole lot of stuff I never saw coming changed my life and yours, too. So why even try to predict? It’s in our DNA, I suppose, conferring the illusion of control when we have none.

ies is and will be zero.

With that as a caveat, let me hope rather than predict that we will not have a recession; that the markets will rally in 2023 and, somehow, all the thousands of people who are literally dying to get into our country will be matched with all the jobs that are begging to be filled.

Will Covid surge again? Will some new bug emerge from the virulent epidemic in China? I wonder if Kim Jung-un will hold on to his rockets or let them fly. When will Ukraine find peace, and will it be before Putin snaps? How will our children and teenagers recover from the grief and academic setbacks of the pandemic lockdown? When can we feel safe in our lives again?

No one, except for Bill Gates and some epidemiologists who were ignored, predicted the greatest catastrophe of our lifetime, the coronavirus pandemic, the more than 1 million deaths here at home and more than 6 million deaths worldwide.

Everyone predicted a huge Republican sweep in the midterms, and that didn’t happen. And with the MAGA loonies running the GOP, to predict what will happen in 2023 would be folly indeed.

Bullish? Bearish? Last week the big dailies posted predictions for the markets. Inflation, recession, deflation, higher mortgage rates? Columnist Jeff Sommer wrote in The New York Times: “It’s simply impossible to forecast the path of the markets six months or a year ahead with accuracy and consistency, as many academic studies have shown. That the financial services industry continues to label these unreliable numbers as forecasts is a triumph of breathtaking chutzpah — a technical term for shameless audacity.”

In politics, too, the prediction business is bust. We — all of us — lived through the 2016 presidential election, in which pretty much everyone with an opinion, from columnists to people on the street to professional pollsters to Las Vegas bookies and even many supporters of Donald Trump, absolutely did not believe that he would or could win. How many times did we hear pundits say that his path to victory was slim to none? How much airtime and ink were wasted on the assumption of a Hillary Clinton victory and how that would play out? Folks thought DJT would ride that escalator into oblivion.

On New Year’s Eve we toasted 2023 with wishes for good health and peace on earth and peace of mind. Wishes. As hostages to fate and dysfunctional politics, that’s the best we can do. We humans have never tolerated the existential uncertainty of being a person alive on earth. So we turn to exit polls and Svengalis and any grifter who hangs out a palm-reading sign. The truth? I’m even down on Punxsutawney Phil.

I can’t and won’t believe anyone who ever again purports to know the future of an election or an economy or the course of a disease or the likelihood of an earthquake striking any particular location at any particular time.

We are in the game, and it changes day to day.

Yearning for a seed of certainty, yesterday I booked a hotel in Dallas for April 8, 2024, when a full solar eclipse will be seen for two minutes and 20 seconds. I predict, with 100 percent certainty, that it will occur.

Which leads me to predict that the value of their elaborate algorithmic stud-

The very least we could take away from that election was healthy skepticism. Pollsters, even the academic knowit-alls, have little success predicting the results of an election or anything else.

In our personal lives, it’s painful to accept that we cannot know what the future will bring. Life reads like a mystery, not an itinerary. We can’t know what comes next or if we’ll make an appearance in the next chapter.

The track record of clairvoyants is abysmal.

What isn’t sure is if I will get to see it. There may be clouds overhead, or clouds in my life. I am choosing to have faith that the eclipse will occur as scheduled, on April 8 in Dallas. I plan to be there. It’s a small thing, but I’m counting on it.

Copyright 2023 Randi Kreiss. Randi can be reached at randik3@aol.com.

Life reads like a mystery, not an itinerary. We can’t know what comes next.

2 Endo Boulevard

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Phone: (516) 569-4000

Fax: (516) 569-4942

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E-mail: lbeditor@liherald.com

We all deserve a chance to pursue our dreams

the federal minimum wage has been stuck at $7.25 an hour for 14 years — a time period during which mere adjustments for inflation would now have it over $10.

Congress isn’t expected to act on raising that wage anytime soon, so many municipalities and states — like New York — have taken matters into their own hands. New York City and Long Island both have a $15 minimum wage, as does Westchester County. Last week, upstate New York rose to $14.20.

In fact, 27 states raised their minimum wage at the beginning of 2023, according to the National Employment Law Project, with new baselines ranging from $9.95 in states like Montana to $15.74 in Washington state.

We hear a lot about the minimum wage. What we don’t ever talk about is something that many may not even know exists: the subminimum wage.

It’s real, and it has been since the Fair Labor Standards Act, which first established a federal minimum wage, was signed into law by President Franklin Roosevelt in 1938. Many have credited the law with helping to guide the United States out of the Great Depression. And the framework of the Fair Labor Standards Act — 40-hour work weeks, child labor restrictions, extra pay for overtime — fuels our labor economy to this day.

But if you look closely at the law — particularly at Section 14(c) — you might be surprised to learn that not everyone is eligible for the minimum wage. Even at $7.25. It allows employers to apply for a certificate from the federal government to pay less than minimum wage to workers with disabilities.

It’s an archaic law based on an archaic

way of thinking when it comes to people with disabilities.

When the legislation was first passed, “it was assumed that a worker with a disability was less productive than a non-disabled worker,” former Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge wrote in a 2021 opinion piece in USA Today. “In retrospect, it was a flawed assumption. We want to be fair to the intent of the original legislation, which was to provide individuals with disabilities an opportunity to enter the workforce.”

When the former Pennsylvania governor wrote those words, he was nearing the end of a long chairmanship of the National Organization on Disability, an advocacy group for a class of people who are, more often than not, overlooked. Ridge described paying people with disabilities less than minimum wage as “no less than another critical civil rights issue.”

And he was right. Treating an entire group of people differently from everyone else simply because they have disabilities is a relic of the distant past that should stay in the distant past.

Yet efforts to eliminate this disparity over the years, by both Republicans and Democrats, have come up short on the federal level. Most recently, President Biden tried to remove the subminimum wage as part of the American Rescue Plan at the beginning of his administration, but never got it through Congress.

Since then, however, more than a dozen states have abolished the subminimum wage, according to the Association of People Supporting Employment First. But New York isn’t one of them. Not that our legislators haven’t tried — it’s just that none of their efforts have ever made it out of committee.

Closer to home, there are many who are trying to make a difference — like the Backyard Players & Friends of Rockville Centre, which describes its mission as seeking “unity without uniformity, and diversity without fragmentation.” The organization opened the Front Porch Market next to its headquarters on North Long Beach Road, conceived to provide creative work in a retail environment, treating everyone equally no matter what they bring to the table.

The market officially opens Jan. 17, and will feature crafters from around the community, classes on creating things like candles and soap, along with small retailers like Popcorn for the People and Smile Farms Hot Sauce.

The percentage of people with disabilities finding jobs is growing, but only 1 in 5 in that community is working. And of those, more are finding employment because they’re working for themselves rather than getting hired by someone else — a rate far higher than those without disabilities.

Even if the subminimum wage were finally abolished, there are many other hurdles that must be swept away for those with disabilities, and they can’t be ignored, either. But right now, hundreds if not thousands of our neighbors and community members aren’t getting the same consideration for pay as those without disabilities.

That must change. And if it can’t happen on the federal level, we need to focus our efforts much closer to home, blocking the availability of subminimum wages in our state.

Because as Tom Ridge made very clear, “all Americans should have the opportunity to pursue their dreams.”

letters

Elected officials should resolve to be transparent this year

To the Editor:

Many will start the new year with goals to exercise more, eat better and lose weight. January will also be when newly elected public servants or incumbents starting another term take office across New York state.

Old habits are hard to change in people — and especially hard to change in government. The biggest issue in government today is the lack of trust the public has in their elected leaders. The best way to build trust as an elected official is through transparency.

Elected officials should begin 2023 by conducting the public’s business in an open and transparent way. To show their commitment to open government, elected officials serving on a village board,

Long Island’s energy future: vision vs. mirage

Follow the money. This adage never gets old.

For decades, gas pipelines and other delivery infrastructure have been a reliable cash cow for utility companies, which recover the costs of building their distribution systems from our utility bills, which give them a fat return on their investments. This traditional utility profit model is now at odds with a climate-driven energy transition, creating all kinds of perverse incentives. And while hikes in heating costs are grabbing the headlines, the jostling over the future of heating isn’t getting much attention.

In order to succeed in the challenging but essential task of decarbonizing its economy in the coming decades — as mandated by the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, which it passed in 2019 — New York state will need to embrace an all-electric future and eschew fossil fuels, including natural gas. Utilities like Con Edison and the Long Island Power Authority, which together serve about 60 percent of the state’s electric customers, have endorsed this scenario. Many builders and households are already going all-electric, because gas fouls our homes and communities, and modern electric homes are cheaper and superior.

This is the approach espoused by almost all experts because, as the electric grid becomes cleaner, the rest of the economy will naturally follow. This is also the most cost-effective and energy-efficient decarbonization strategy for buildings, because electric heat pumps use only a fraction of the energy of their fuel-based counterparts.

Heat pumps and Long Island are a match made in heaven. With relatively mild winters, Long Island homes don’t need the top-gun units for efficient, reliable heating and cooling. LIPA’s electric load peaks at around 5 gigawatts in the summer, but barely makes it to 3 gigawatts in the winter. Adding winter load will spread the fixed grid costs over more usage and reduce per-kilowatt-hour prices.

In an effort to conserve their profitable gas distribution system, some utilities have floated their own “clean energy vision” involving green hydrogen and biomethane, marketed as renewable natural gas, or RNG — a so-called fossil-free duo that could supposedly flow through their pipeline network forever.

But consider the science and the economics of this vision. It took NASA months to fix hydrogen leaks on its recent Artemis 1 moon mission. Any proposal to pump highly explosive hydrogen, which

Letters

town board, City Council, community board or county legislature should introduce and pass a New Year’s resolution stating they will:

■ Post timely notice of all meetings at least one week prior to those meetings.

■ Post online meeting agendas and all meeting documents at least 24 hours before a meeting.

■ Post draft meeting minutes online, no more than two weeks after a meeting.

■ Allow members of the public to speak at the beginning of a meeting regarding agenda items and non-agenda items — whether they attend in person or remotely.

■ Livestream meetings by video and post the video recording online afterward.

■ Only conduct private executive sessions on rare occasions, in accordance with the New York State Open Meetings Law.

Just because you can hold an executive session doesn’t mean that you have to. A motion to hold an executive session to discuss “litigation,” “personnel” or “collective bargaining”

isn’t sufficient, as the Open Meetings Law requires motions to state more information when holding an executive session.

■ Agree not to hold private political party caucus meetings. There is no reason, at the local level, to hold private political party caucus meetings to discuss political business or public business. Secret meetings build a lack of trust among the public.

■ Have information regarding the Freedom of Information Law posted in a visible place on their websites. Proactively post documents online as much as possible so the public can access information without having to file a FOIL request. Post an easy fill-inthe-blank form that assists the public in filing a FOIL request by email on the website.

■ Commit to ensuring that all FOIL requests are acknowledged within five days, as required by law, and that information is provided to the public promptly.

Wolf is president of the New York Coalition for Open Government.

has the tiniest molecules in the universe, through 50,000 miles of pipe in New York should raise serious doubts. Multiple studies have also warned of the risk of damage to the steel in pipes and appliances posed by gas blends with significantly more than 5 percent hydrogen.

Moreover, it shouldn’t take a NASA scientist to question the wisdom of heating homes by burning the stupendously expensive green hydrogen produced from renewable electricity, when that electricity can directly power energysipping heat pumps. Not surprisingly, expensive experiments and demonstration projects involving the use of hydrogen for heat, the kind of boondoggles being developed in the Town of Hempstead, are already being scrapped or failing in other parts of the country and the world.

Hydrogen’s partner in crime, RNG, is produced by capturing and refining the naturally produced biogas in landfills and wastewater treatment plants. But naturally derived biomethane can meet only a minuscule fraction of the home-heating demand, so much of it will need to be artificially generated from organic waste streams. Its global warming potential isn’t much lower than that of fossil gas because of inevitable releases and leaks of methane, which is much more destructive to the climate than carbon dioxide.

Fossil-free doesn’t mean emissionsfree, and the scheme doesn’t satisfy the science-based methane accounting methodology of New York’s climate law.

Produced naturally or intentionally, RNG is significantly more expensive than fossil gas, and its supplies will be limited by feedstock availability. Even the rosiest projections in the gas utilities’ own studies show that there won’t be enough of it for every possible use that those companies are touting it for, home heating being the least practical one.

The gas utilities’ so-called fossil-free clean-energy vision based on hydrogen and RNG is a mirage that doesn’t pass scientific, technical, economic or legal muster. To make matters worse, burning hydrogen would produce high levels of nitrous oxide, a health hazard, and RNG would cause indoor pollution from leakage and combustion akin to fossil gas, which is linked to myriad health risks, with the latest research attributing almost 19 percent of all childhood asthma in New York to gas stoves.

Pollution for profit shouldn’t have a place inside homes and businesses.

Anshul Gupta is a Steering Committee member of the Climate Reality Project’s NYS Coalition. Gordian Raacke is executive director of Renewable Energy Long Island.

Framework by Tim Baker